USA > New York > Queens County > Flushing > History of the town of Flushing, Long Island, New York > Part 4
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Where the Dutch influence prevailed, Sunday-afternoon visiting was a common custom. To the Dutch we are in- debted for Santa Klaas, and for the custom of hanging up stockings at Christmas. New Year's day was celebrated with noise and hospitality. A group of men would assemble before the door of a neighbor and salute him with the discharge of guns. The person thus saluted would invite his friends into his house, to partake of refreshments, and would then join them in saluting others. The company would thus go from house to house, until all the men of a neighborhood were collected together, when they would proceed to some rendezvous, and pass the day in athletic sports and shooting at a target. St. Valentine's day was also celebrated with great hilarity. The whole of Easter week was a time of merry making, and was marked by the custom of presenting colored eggs to one's friends.
for solemnizing the marriage of Thos. Nuton, widower, and Joan, the daughter of Richard Smith, without the consent of the bride's parents and contrary to the law of the Prov- ince. The parties were legally married on the 16th of the same month. Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, I,115.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Money was very scarce. Trade was carried on by the exchange of different kinds of produce, at prices fixed by law, or the Indian wampum was used as a circulating medium.
Punishment for different misdemeanors was inflicted by whipping, branding, putting in stocks, banishing from the Province, or hanging. 12
12 "September 15th., 1733, Edward King, a tinker, was hanged for killing William Smith on the road near Flush- ing." History of Queen's County, p. 51.
PART III-The English Colonial Period
CHAPTER VII
THE DUKE'S LAWS-SEDITION AMONG FLUSH- ING'S MILITIAMEN-GEORGE FOX'S VISIT.
While Flushing was thus torn by three contending fac- 1664 tions, things were hastening to an end in Europe. On the twenty-second of March, Charles II gave to his brother James, the Duke of York, a patent for Long Island and that part of the main-land lying between the Connecticut river and the Delaware Bay. Lord Sterling's heirs surrendered their claims for a stipulated amount, though it does not appear that the price was ever paid. Colonel Richard Nicolls, a devoted Royalist, was appointed Governor of the Province, and Commander of the fleet that was sent against New Netherland. New Amsterdam was surrendered to the English, on the eighth of September.1 New Amsterdam became New York: and Fort Amsterdam became Fort
1. Brodhead's New York. I, 742. O'Callaghan's New Nether- land, II, 536.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
James. Director-General Stuyvesant surrendered, because compelled to do so by his own people, the burghers of New Amsterdam.
Peter Stuyvesant, though arbitrary and quick-tempered, was a brave and patriotic man. After the surrender, he went to Holland to give an account of his action, and then returned to New York. There he lived, for a few years, on his farm. He was buried beneath a chapel which he had built on his estate. This chapel-St. Mark's in the Fields --- has since been replaced by the present St. Mark's Church. 2 Beneath this church, no longer in the fields, rest the bones of the most illustrious Governor of New Netherland.
Under the rule of Governor Nicolls, Long Island, Staten Island, and West Chester were united to form the district, or county, of Yorkshire. The present Suffolk county be- came the East Riding; Staten Island, Kings County, and Newtown constituted the West Riding; West Chester and Queens County, except Newtown, made the North Riding. Thus Flushing (the name Newwarke was dropped, without official action) was in the North Riding of Yorkshire. An assembly of delegates from the various towns met in Hemp- stead, early in the next year, and adopted the Code of laws
1665
2. Flint's Long Island, p. 297,
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THE DUKE'S LAWS
that are known as the "Duke's Laws. "3 The Duke's Laws were intended. ultimately, for the whole Province, but many of the provisions were evidently applicable to Yorkshire alone. A high-sheriff over Yorkshire was to be appointed, annually, by the Governor and Council. An under-sheriff was to be appointed for each riding. Justices of the peace were to be appointed, in each riding, and were to continue in office during the Governor's pleasure. These justices of the peace were to hold a "Court of Sessions," three times a year, in each riding . The "Court of Assizes" was to be held, once a year, in New York. Each town was to elect, annually, a constable and eight overseers. The constable and six of the overseers were to constitute a local court, for the trial of cases not involving more than £5. From this court of the constable and overseers, an appeal might be made to the Court of Sessions. The jurors of the Court of Assizes were to be chosen from the town overseers.
The Church of England was not established in the Province by the Duke's Laws. These laws required that every town was to build and maintain a church. No minis- ter was to be allowed to officiate, who "had not received ordination either from some Protestant Bishop or minister,"
3. The delegates from Flushing, were Elias Doughty and Richard Cornhill. Brodhead, II, 68.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
within his Majesty's dominion, or within the dominion of some foreign prince of the Reformed Religion. The overseers in each town were to act as assessors. Two of them were to be chosen to "make the rate," for the support of the Church and clergyman. +
William Wells, of Southold, was the first High Sheriff of Yorkshire. Captain John Underhill appears again, as the Deputy-Sheriff of the North Riding. Elias Doughty, son of the Rev. Francis Doughty, was appointed Constable of Flushing. Doughty now brought suit against John Hicks, Captain William Lawrence and Captain John Under- hill, for the year's salary due his father. Why this matter had been allowed to rest for eighteen years, we are unable to say. The contract between the town and the Rev. Mr. Doughty could not be found. It had been destroyed a year before. Captain Lawrence's wife confessed that she had "put it under a pie in an oven." Doughty recovered six hundred guilders. Each party was to pay its own costs. It came out in the trial that the sum now awarded to Mr. Doughty had already been offered to him, and that he had declined to accept it as the full amount due him.
1666
There was much dissatisfaction on Long Island, because the new laws made no provision for a representative form of
4. Brodhead's New York, II, 70, 71.
SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 63
government. Several persons were arrested and fined for seditious utterances. Among them, was William Lawrence, of Flushing, who was fined £5, and required to make public acknowledgment of his fault. 5
1667
Governor Nicolls came to Flushing, July 3, 1667, accom- panied by Captain Betts, to inspect the militia and put it into an effective condition. The militiamen were assembled and were addressed by the Governor and Captain Betts. Then occurred the following scene, according to the depo- sition of Captain Betts: "After the Governor, among other matters, had told the people met together, that he would furnish them with powder for their present occasions, and would be content to receive fire-wood for it: he heard Wil- liam Bishop speak these words aloud, (vizt. ) 'That there was another cunning trick!' Upon which, the said Capt. Betts told the said Bishop, that if he had anything to say in answer to what had been proposed by the Governor, he was best to speak it to the Governor himselfe who was hard by, and not to mutter such words among the people-to which he made answer: 'It is very like that he hath sett ye here to hearken to what we say, that you may tell him? Whereunto Capt. Betts replied, 'It was not so, but since he thought so, he should take further notice of what he said.'
5. Brodhead's New York II, 108.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
Then Bishop returned answer, 'What have I said? I said nothing, but there is another cunning trick.' "6
For these "seditious words spoken at Flushing, " Bishop was sentenced "to be made fast to the whipping-post, [in New York] there to stand, with rods fastened to his back. during the sitting of the Court of Mayor and Aldermen, and from thence to be conveyed unto the Common Goale till further order. "7
There must have been other evidence of disloyalty on that memorable third of July. The Governor sent orders that a town meeting be summoned, and that, at the meeting, an accompanying letter be publicly opened and read. This was done. The letter, which was addressed to the inhabi- tants of the town, stated that the Governor had, on the third of July, spoken, at the head of the militia company, of the necessity of cheerful and ready support. " I did very much wonder, "-he proceeds-"and am not lesse troubled at your absurd returns which have given me just cause to
6. Mandeville, page 44, cites this as an instance of the persecution of Quakers. There is no evidence that Bishop was a Quaker. That he was a militiaman and, after his punishment, volunteered to serve again. is evidence that he was not a Quaker. The occurrence had nothing to do with Quakerism. It was apparently part of the general discontent with what was regarded as an arbitrary form of government.
7. Mandeville, p. 45. Brodhead, II, 124.
SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 65 call back my former favours to you and not to qualify you hereafter to receive from mee the civilityes truly intended. Now, because you have given me just reason to suspect your fidelities and your courage, at a season when a true English- man is most zealous, and seeks the first occasion to serve the king and country . . . You are to expect all the scorne and disdaine that lyes in my power against such meane spirited fellowes." After these bitter words, follow the orders which the local authorities were to enforce. The commissioned and non-commissioned officers are to be suspended : the colors, presented to the company by the Governor, are to be returned; twelve matchlocks are to be returned to his Majesty's store, at the fort; none of the company is to presume to appear in arms, without a special warrant; "none of that company which I saw stand in arms, under his Majesty's colors ( whose names are enclosed ) shall presume, upon any private occasion, to resort to New York for three months, under penalty of being arrested as a spy, unless he first report to the officer of the guard in the fort, state his business, and the length of time he desires to stay. "8
The offence must have been grave that caused the Governor thus to humiliate the inhabitants of Flushing.
8. Documents XIV, 597.
.
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HISTORY OF FLSUHING
His action, however, seems to have put an end to all sedi- tion, during his administration. That some of the militia repented is evident from the fact that, on the twelfth of August, fourteen men sent their names to the Governor, stating that they were "ready to serve him on all occa- sions." In the list was the name of William Bishop. The others were: John Elce, Aaron Foreman, Edw. Griffin, Jos. Hedger, Richard Long, William Noble, Nich. Parcell, Thos. Sadler, George Tippetts, Jos. Thorn, Jno. Thorne, Geo. Wright, Jonathan Wright. 9 The Governor directed Mr. Cornhill to form them, and others "sensible of their late error," into a company, and forward the list to him. Later in October, a town-meeting was called, to elect two men each for the positions of captain, lieutenant, and ensign. From these, the Governor appointed the officers of the company. 10
Some time during the next year, Elias Doughty and William Noble, overseers of the town of Flushing, were summoned before the Court of Sessions, at the Sessions House in Jamaica, for neglecting to pay the public rates of the town, and for failing to make an assessment for building a Sessions House. 11
9 Documents XIV, 598.
10 Documents, XIV, 609.
11 Documents, XIV, 605.
SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 67
About the middle of August, Governor Nicolls, who had for some time desired to be relieved of his duties in New York, surrendered the government of the Province to Colo- nel Francis Lovelace, who was a brother of John, Lord Lovelace, and a favorite of the king. Nicolls embarked, August 17th., amid many demonstrations of respect and regret on the part of those whom he had governed. It was said of him, at the time, that he had "kept persons of different judgments and diverse nations, in peace and quietness, during a time when a great part of the world was in wars. "12
The agitation for a representative form of government, which had met with no success during Nicolls's term of office, was resumed shortly after the arrival of Governor Lovelace. At the November Assizes, a petition was presented from Flushing, asking for privileges similar to those enjoyed by his Majesty's other subjects in America-"which priv- ileges," said the petition, "consist in advising about and approving of all such laws, with the Governor and his Council, as may be for the good and benefit of the common- wealth . . . by such deputies as shall be yearly chosen by the freeholders of every town or parish. "13 Similar petitions
12 Maverick's letter to Lord Arlington Brodhead, II, 142. 13 Brodhead, II, 160. .. .
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
were sent in from the other Long Island towns, but Lovelace had no authority to grant such requests.
1670
We have still preserved for us, a description of this part of the Island, as it appeared to a writer of that period which we have now reached in our history. Daniel Denton, the son of the Rev. Richard Denton, of Hempstead, was at one time Clerk of Hempstead, and later held the same office in Jamaica. He published, in London, in 1670, "A Brief Description of New York," in which much space is given to Long Island. Hell Gate, he says, at flood tide, "contin- ually sends forth a hideous roaring, enough to affright any stranger from passing any further." "The fruits natural to the Island are Mulberries, Posimons, Grapes, great and small, Huckleberries, Cramberries, Plums of several sorts, Roseberries and Strawberries, of which last is such abundance in June, that the Fields and Woods are dyed red: Which the Countrey-people perceiving instantly arm themselves with bottles of Wine, Cream and Sugar, and instead of a Coat of Male, every one takes a Female upon his Horse behind him, and so rushing violently into the fields, never leave till they have disrobed them of their red colour, and turned them into the old habit . . . In May you shall see the Woods and Fields so curiously hedecke with Roses, and an innumerable multitude of Flowers, not only pleasing the
1672
SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 69
eye, but smell, that you may behold Nature contending with Art, and striving to equal if not excel many Gardens in England." Denton reported the "Indians few and harm- less," in his day. "It hath been generally observed," he says, "that where the English come to settle, a Divine Hand makes way for them, by removing or cutting off the Indians, either by Wars one with the other, or by some raging mortal Disease. "14
An examination of the palisades around Fort James, revealed the fact that they were in a bad state of decay. The Court of Assizes, therefore, ordered that a tax be levied on the towns of Long Island, to furnish means for the necessary repairs. This met with such violent opposition that the order was never enforced. Two years later, the Governor asked for a voluntary contribution, or "benev- olence," from each of the towns. To this request Flushing promptly responded and forwarded a contribution of £20 15 s. 6 d. The Council, thereupon, ordered that thanks be given to the inhabitants, for their "forwardness. "15
It was in June of this same year, that George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends, visited Flushing. He describes his visit, in these words: "From Oyster Bay, we
14 A Brief Description of New York, etc., p. 2, 4, 7.
15 Documents, XIV.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
passed about thirty miles to Flushing, where we had a very large meeting, many hundreds of people being there; some of whom came about thirty miles to it. A glorious and heavenly meeting it was (praised be the Lord God !) and the people were much satisfied. "16 This "glorious and heavenly meeting" was held in the open air, the speaker standing under the great oaks that ever afterwards bore his name. The Fox Oaks were two in number and stood near each other. One of them fell on the twenty-fifth of October, 1841, and the other, in the year 1863. A stone, near the side- walk, on the west side of Bowne avenue, opposite the Bowne house, marks their site. Gabriel Furman describes the oaks, as they appeared in 1825. "Among other ancient remains, " he says, "may be reckoned the two venerable oak trees at Flushing, under the shade of which the famous George Fox preached, in 1672. I visited these trees, Aug. 4, 1825, in company with Messrs. Spooner and Bruce, and assisted Bruce in measuring them, which we did around the trunk, six feet from the ground. We found one to be thir- teen feet in circumference, and the other twelve feet, four inches, in circumference. "17
16 Fox's Journal, p. 453.
17 Long Island Antiquities, p. 78.
SEDITION AMONG FLUSHING'S MILITIAMEN 71
During Fox's visit in Flushing, he was the guest of John Bowne. The couch on which Fox rested, after his exhaust- ing labors, is still to be seen in the Bowne house, together with many other quaint articles of furniture belonging to those olden days.
CHAPTER VIII
ANOTHER YEAR OF DUTCH RULE
The war which broke out between England and Hol- land in 1672, had its effect on the American colony of New York. The Governor, Francis Lovelace, had gone to Hart- ford, to confer with Governor Winthrop about a post-office scheme which had for some time claimed much of Love- lace's thought. On his way home, he heard, at Mamaroneck, that the Dutch had taken New York. He at once crossed to Long Island to raise troops. At Justice Cornwell's, near Flushing, he met Secretary Matthias Nicolls. It was agreed that Nicolls should go on to the fort and that the Governor should keep out of the way of the enemy, and attempt to raise troops for the recapture of New York. Lovelace was, however, induced, by one of the Dutch ministers, to revisit his old quarters in New York. On his arrival he found that his house had been plundered, and he was arrested for debt. He was told that he could leave the country, if he would pay his debts. The Orange flag again waved over Manhattan ; New York Province again became New Nether-
1673
73
ANOTHER YEAR OF DUTCH RULE
land, and the city became New Orange. Flushing and the other English towns were compelled to submit to the Dutch. These towns were ordered by the Council "holden in Fort William Hendrick," Aug. 13th., "to send hither immedi- ately their Deputies, together with their Constables' staves and English flags, when they would, as circumstances per- mit, be furnished with Prince's flags instead of those of the English."1 The deputies of Flushing appeared, on Aug. 22nd., and surrendered "one English flag and one Constable's staff." They expressed a willingness to submit to the Dutch. The inhabitants of the town were, therefore, par- doned, and to them were promised "the same privileges and rights which are given to the inhabitants and subjects of the Dutch nation." The deputies were, however, warned that any further acts of disloyalty would certainly result in the ruin of the town ..
William Lawrence was appointed Schout, and Carel Van Brugge, 2 Secretary, for the five towns of Flushing, Jamaica, Middleburgh, Oyster Bay and Hempstead. Captain Wil- liam Knyff and Lieutenant Jeronymous de Hubert, accompanied by Ephraim Hermann, were sent to these
1 Mandeville, p. 30.
2 Van Brugge died at Flushing in 1682. New Nether- land Register, p. 27.
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HISTORY OF FLUSHING
towns to administer the oath of allegiance. 3 They reported, on the first of September, that there were sixty-seven men in Flushing. Fifty-one of these had taken the oath of allegiance; the others were not at home. Of these sixty- seven, twenty were Dutch. Before the middle of September, all the men in Flushing had taken the oath of allegiance to the States General. The magistrates were instructed to "take care that the Reformed Christian Religion be main- tained, in conformity to the Synod of Dordrecht, without permitting any other sects attempting anything contrary thereto. "4 Thus the Dutch Reformed Church was estab- lished in Flushing, but the village was not provided with a resident minister. "Cases relating to security of peace and justice, between man and man," were to be settled by the magistrates, without the right of appeal, when the amount involved did not exceed sixty florins. The Schout and Schepens were to settle such matters as laying out roads, disposing of lands, enforcing the observance of the Sabbath, and erecting churches and school houses. Francis Blood- good was appointed a special officer, to guard the interests of the Dutch inhabitants of . Flushing and the neighboring towns. He was to instruct them to be always ready, on the
3 Documents, II, 589.
4 Laws of New Netherland, p. 476.
75
ANOTHER YEAR OF DUTCH RULE.
receipt of notice of the arrival of an English ship, to repair, with arms, to New Orange. The magistrates were compelled to give up all arms furnished by former Governors of the Province. 5
Thus Flushing again became a Dutch town. But the Dutch government, and Dutch customs, did not long con- tinue. Before the close of the following year, the Province 1674 passed finally into the hands of the English. The record of an official act, during this second period of Dutch supremacy, helps to give us a picture of the times. On the twenty-second of February, 1674, James N., of Flushing, was brought to trial for "divers evil deeds and actions, using force in breaking doors open, beating women and children, burning houses and threatening further acts of arson." The court decided that the prisoner was "not in possession of his right reason." He was, therefore, pardoned and sent to Staten Island, where he was to be put to work by the mag- istrates, who were "empowered to punish him if he behave badly. "6
5 Documents, II.
6 Documents, II, 689.
1
CHAPTER IX
REVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS
1674
Peace between England and Holland, was declared. The treaty of Westminster restored the Province of New York to England. The English quietly took possession, on the tenth of November. New Orange again became New York. A day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. But it was not observed by all of the inhabitants of Flushing, as wit- nesses the following record: "On the twenty-first of November, Daniel Patrick and Francis Coley were arrested, for "contemptuously working on Thanksgiving Day and giving reproachful language to the magistrates that ques- tioned them. " They were sent to the New York Court of Sessions, by Justice Cornell and Mr. Hinchman.
Major Edmund Andros was appointed Governor of New York, by the Duke of York. He was not a popular Governor, and had much trouble with the rather contentious population at the east end of Long Island. Andros visited Flushing, on September 15, 1675. There were indications that the Indians were becoming restless; and the white inhabitants
1675
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REVOLUTIONS AND NEW LAWS
began to fear a general uprising. The Governor, to quiet the Indians and to reassure his white subjects, sent an armed sloop to cruise in the Sound, and went, himself, in his pinnacle, "as farre as Mr. Pell's, to the Indyans there, and from thence to fflushing, and home by land, the better to settle the People's mindes. "1
During the first thirty years of its existence, Flushing passed through many and great changes. The English were now secure in their possession of the province. Public and private affairs moved along in a quiet and orderly manner and left few marks in history. 2
Colonel Thomas Dongan, succeeded to the governorship of New York, in August, 1683. The instructions given to
1. Documents, XIV.
2. The taxes collected in Flushing. in October of this year, 1675, amounted .to £18.3.10. The taxable property, of the town, consisted of " Negeres, Landes, Madoes, Horses, three ver olds, to yere olds, yerlinges, oxen and boles, cowes, thre yer oldes, yerlinges, swine and shepe." The collector of taxes, appends this note at the close of his report : "Cap. Thoms hikes hath not yet prought in a list of his estate." The tax returns for 1683 amounted to £26.15.10. Documentary History of New York, II, 263, 300.
In 1680 IIenry Willis and John Bowne protested to the Governor and Council against the action of the Court of Sessions in fining them £10 for allowing marriages con- trary to the laws. When Willis and Bowne refused to pay the fines. Joseph Lee, Under-sheriff, seized a barn of corn from Willis and took from Bowne five milch cows. Docu- ments, V, 753.
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