USA > New York > Kings County > Gravesend > History of the town of Gravesend, N.Y. > Part 2
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These three original patents, written upon parchment, in an excellent state of preservation, are still to be found in the town clerk's office at Gravesend ; and! (with the other town records), unlike those of the sur- rounding towns, are in the English, instead of the Dutch, language.
Thus furnished with the requisite authority, Lady Moody and her associates began in earnest the work be- fore them. In view of the natural advantages which the town possessed, they no doubt hoped to make it, at some future day, a large and important commercial center. From its situation at the mouth of "The Narrows," and with a good harbor of its own; with the ocean on the one side, and the then-flourishing village of New Amster- dam (New York) on the other, there did indeed seem to be good ground for such an expectation. But un- fortunately, as the event proved, Gravesend Bay, though affording secure anchorage for smaller craft. would not permit vessels of large tonnage to enter its quiet waters with perfeet safety. And so the idea of building a " city by the sea," which in extent, wealth. and business enterprise, should at least rival New Amsterdam, was reluctantly abandoned.
However, with this end in view, as the work begun would seem to indicate, they commenced the laying ont of the village. Selecting a favorable site near the cen- ter of the town, they measured off a square containing about sixteen aeres of ground, and opened a street around it. This large square they afterwards divided into squares of four acres each, by opening two streets at right angles through the center. The whole wa- then enclosed by a palisade-fence, as a protection, both against the sudden attacks of hostile Indians, and the depredations of wolves and other wild animals which were then common upon the island. Upon one of the oldest maps of the town, on file in the clerk's office, we find a perfeet representation of the village-plan as orig- inally laid out. From this we learn that each of the four squares was divided into equal sections, laid off around the outside of each square and facing the outer street. These were numbered from one to ten, in each of the four squares. This gave forty sections in all: and thus one section was allotted to each of the forty patentees. By this arrangement every family could reside within the village, and share alike. its pali-ade- defence. In the center of each square was reserved a large publie yard, where the eattle of the mihabitants were brought in from the commons, and herded for the
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Ye ANCIENT PLOT OF YO LOWNE OF S'GRAVESENDE
1645
(Copied from the Original In the Town-Clerk's Office.)
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INDIAN PURCHASES-DIVISION OF LANDS.
night, for their better protection. At a later period, if not at this early date, a small portion of each square was devoted to public uses; on one was the chureb, on another was the school-house, on another the town- hall, and on the fourth the burying-ground. The orig- inal plan of the town is preserved, in its main features, to this day, after almost two hundred and fifty years.
The farms, or "planters' lots," as they were then called, were also 40 in number, and were laid out in triangular form, with the apex resting upon the village, and the boundary-lines diverging therefrom like the radii of a circle. This plan would thins enable each man to go from his house within the village-defences to luis farm, with least trouble and exposure to himself, and without trespassing upon his neighbor. Several town-farms have retained to the present time this peculiarity of ontline.
From the fact that the village was divided into 40 sections, and that 40 farms radiated therefrom, we have naturally inferred that there were 40 patentees. If this be so, one of them, very early in the history of the town, must have dropped out of the original number, either by death or removal ; or, as tradition has it, forfeiting by his profligate life all his right, title and interest, in the property allotted him. This would seem to be more than mere conjecture; for, in all subsequent divisions of lands lying beyond the home- farms, there were 39 sections in each division, and only 39 names as including all the patentees.
By reference to the old map above mentioned, we are able to locate precisely the land allotted to Lady Moody, which has been to some, of late, a matter of doubt and inquiry. In the original allotment of land to the patentees, a majority of them were granted what were called "plantation lots," as we have seen; but to Lady Moody a "Bowery," or farm. On the map this " Bowery " is located north-east of the town- square, embracing the land belonging to the late Judge Barent Jolison, and possibly a part of the present Prospect Park Fair Grounds. But her land must have extended west of the village also, probably by subse- quent purchase, although this is not indicated upon the map. We so judge, from the fact that Robert Pen- noyer's land, as we have already seen in considering his patent, is therein described as lying "between the land of Antony Jansen and Meladie Moody," which could not be true except upon the above supposition. The late TUNIS G. BERGEN, in his Early Settlers of' Kings County, thinks it probable that her land in- cluded the farm of the late Ex-Mayor Smith, of Brooklyr, together with the farms of Jacobus Lake and Cornelius D. Stryker, all west of the village. If this be true, her " Bowery " covered a large area of what is now most valuable property. But whatever property these Gravesend settlers possessed, whether mnich or little, they held with a clear title from its original owners.
Indian Purchases -Gravesend, at the time of it- settlement, was, like the rest of Kings county, the property of the Canarsie Indians ; and, from them, at different times, all the land within the present town. boundaries was fairly purchased. The earliest of these purchases is recorded in a deed (one of the few town- documents written in Dutch), on file in the Gravesend town-clerk's office, dated September 10, 1645, three months before the issue of Governor Kieft's patent. There are two other Indian deeds, dated in 1650 and 1654, being both for land on the present Coney Island (see chapter on Coney Island). In 1684, in view of the frequent changes of government, and preparatory to a confirmatory charter which they proposed to obtain from Governor Dongan, the people of Gravesend forti- fied their Indian title by the following conveyance. the original of which is still among the Gravesend records: :
"Know all men whome these presents may anywayes concerne, that we, Crackewasco, Arrenopeah. Mamekto. Annenges, the right and true proprietors of a certain parcel of land commonly called by the Indians Makeopaca. begin- ning at the most eastward end of the beach called by the Indians Moeung, bounded on the westmost side by the land heretofore purchased from Chippahig, and on the eastward side by the creek commonly called the Strome Kill. and soe along from the head of said creek, through the middle of the meadow and valley, till they come to a white-oak tree standing by the Flatland wagon path and soe running to another white oak tree standing by Utrecht wagon path. and soe upon a direct line to the Flatbush fence, and uten the west side bounded by the field of Utrecht, Doe hereby acknowledge and declare, that, for and in consideration of one blanket, one gun, one kettle, to have sold. assignedl az i made over all our right, title, interest and claim, to the sali parcel of land, from us, our heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever unto the freeholders and inhabhants of Gravesend in Kings County, their heirs, executors, adminis trates and assigns forever, for them the said inhabitants to have, hold. possess and enjoy the same as their own free land of inherita ce or otherwise to dispose of as to thez !! shall seem meet without any molestation from us or any other. Witness our hands the 20th of the 5th month. called his hls July, 1684. Cake N wasco, Areun X- apoech. Arma O sat. mark mark his his Mus V kheok, witnessed by us Pense u mend, Wope 7 :3. mark mark his his Jack \ kahna, Slip C amore, Wer J ransobling. Joan mark mark Tilton, Senior. Samuel Spicer, Barent Juriansen. Joachim Guylerk. Recorded by me John Emans, Clercke.
This fair and honorable dealing won for the settler- the respect and friendship of their Indian neighbors. with whom at first they maintained most pleasant and familiar relations. But familiarity bred contempt. ar.i the savages finally began to demand, as their right. what had previously been granted as a matter of kindness er policy. Little resentments arose on both sides, and so it happened that private and personal wrong- were committed by both parties, paving the way for the open and bitter hostilities which soon followed. Uales- Vedly, the ill-advised policy of Director Kieft teuded as
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
was openly charged against him at the time), to precip- itate upon the colony the Indian war which broke ont in 1643-44, and resulted in great distress and destruc- tion of life and property.
Upon the Gravesend people, then in the first year of their settlement, and but illy prepared for such attacks, this new danger fell with great force. But they stoutly defended their village against several very and- den and fierce attacks. During these perilous times, every settler was compelled, by town ordinance, to share in building and keeping in repair the palisades, which surrounded the town-square and formed its de- fence. Each man was also obliged to keep, constantly on hand, one gun, and a certain quantity of powder and lead. in order to be prepared for any sudden emer- gency. During the year above mentioned, the Indian raids npon the town were unusually frequent and se- vere, and the inhabitants were kept in constant fear. The house of Lady Moody, according to Gov. Win- throp, seems to have been the principal point of at- tack; perhaps, because it was the largest and most conspicnous, and better fitted than the rest for a com- mon rallying-point.
On one occasion her house was bravely defended by forty inen (probably the whole number of able-bodied men in the settlement), some of whom had the reputa- tion of being expert Indian-fighters. At another time the inhabitants, greatly ontnumbered by the Indians. were compelled to flee to Imersfort (Flatlands), where they remained till the danger was passed. It is proba- ble that, at this time, the town had not been put in a proper condition of defence, for want of time to build their palisade-fortifications. During this year, how- ever, a treaty of peace was made with Pernowits, the crafty chief of the Canarsies (See Thompson's Hist. Long Island), ending, for a time at least, all open hos- tilities between the settlers and the Indians upon Long Island.
It is probable that the dangers and anxieties of this first year led Lady Moody to think serionsly of re- turning to Massachusetts; for there is extant a letter from Deputy-Gov. John Endicott to Gov. Winthrop, dated "Salem, 22 of the 2d month, 1644," referring to a request which she had made for permission to return, and strongly nrging the Governor to refuse her unless she would confess her previous error, and leave her opinions behind her.
After this time we hear of but little disturbance from the Indians till the year 1655, when occurred probably the fiercest attack from the Northern Indians which the town had yet sustained. Dr. STRONG's History of Flatbush says:
" In 1655, a large body of Indians from the north, follow- ing the course of the Hudson river to the sonth, left death and desolation in their track along the Jersey shore, then crossed over to Staten Island, and here killed sixty seven white set- thers, beside destroying much property: they then crossed
the Narrows, and made a fierce attack upon Gravesend. The inhabitants were unable to drive away the invading foe, but bravely stood their ground until relieved by a detach- ment of soldiers sent from Fort Amsterdam."
So far as we know, this was the end of all the Indian troubles in which the people of Gravesend were con- cerned.
Division of Lands .- As we have already seen, an allotment of land was made to each of the patentees, and those who were associated with them. In each grant of land made, we find in the early records an entry like the following : "To Thomas Cornish was granted a planter's lott with all the privileges thereunto appertaining." These were undoubtedly the lots radi- ating from the village-center, to which reference has already been made. We have no data for determining the precise area of a " planter's lott;" but, from the con- dition of things at this carly period, we infer that it contained only a few acres at most. It happened in some cases, however, that a larger tract of land, or " bouwery," came into the possession of certain individ- uals by special grant, as in the case of Lady Moody, for what reason we are not told.
The grant for a Bowery contained 30 acres of npland, with more or less meadow, according to their need of pasturage. The following town-record is in point : Sept. 27. 1646. " It was agreed by the town that for such as should have Boweries, should have fifteen mor- gen af upland with meadow proportionable to their stocks." This meadow-land was also made inseparable from the farm, for, at the same meeting, "It was then agreed upon that none of the said inhabitants should dispose or sell awaye his meadow from hi- lott, but that it should remain entire to it."
Whatever the number of acres originally allotted to each settler, their possessions did not remain the same for any length of time. Farms and town-lots rapidly exchanged hands. The town-records, for the first tifty years, are largely taken up with the transfer of real- estate, either by purchase or exchange. After a few years, as we can readily see, the amount of land which each one individually possesed was large or small, as his enterprise or necessities led him to buy or sell. In every subsequent sale of land, however, the town reserved the first right to purchase; " but if the town would not bnye it, then said inhabitant had leave to sell to any one unless he was notorion-ly detected for a scan- dalons person, or a publicke disturber of the common peace."
In order to secure permanent and useful citizens. rather than more adventurous speculators, at a town- meeting held Sept. F. 1910.
" It was then and there ordered and agreed uppon by se major parte of ve said Inhastants that i can they did not build a habitable heute bis the best of Maye next, which will be in yo year 181-Que te -Holding esta should be
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
portion lying between the village and Coney Island, was divided and assigned, so that every man might know his own ; and Sergeant Hubbard was appointed to do the work at the expense of the town.
In the year 1657 another division of land was agreed upon. One thousand aeres, supposed to be that lying adjacent to the town-lots, were divided, according to the record, among thirty-eight families. The north- quarter, as it was ealled, was divided into 12-acre lots, and the west-quarter into 20-aere lots. The eastern part of the town, then and since known as the " Neek," was at this time ealled also " the general eorn-field." This seems to have been, as its name indicates, the eom- mon property of the town, where, under certain restric- tions, each inhabitant was at liberty to choose and cul- tivate such a number of aeres as he could properly manage. Ten or twelve years later this land was also divided, and either sold or given to the inhabitants. The land on the south side of the present highway lead- ing to " Gerretsen's Mill " was divided into thirty-nine 12-acre lots, and some of them remain to-day as they were originally laid out. The land on the north side of the highway was divided into the same number of lots, but containing probably a larger number of acres. This division was made in 1668-9, as seen from an old map, dated 1674.
The north part of the town, then thiekly wooded, as were other portions of it at the time of its settlement, was called the "North Woods." This was also di- vided in 1684, and distribution made to the inhabi- tants.
Within forty years of its settlement, therefore, the most valuable part of the town was thus disposed of.
Town Organization .- In 1646 the inhabitants availed themselves of the privilege granted by their patent "to erect a body politique and civil combina. : tion," and to " elect, nominate and choose three of the ablest, approved honest men," who should act as justi- ces in the town-eourt, when confirmed by the Gov- ernor-General. The three inen first elected and so confirmed were Lieut. George Baxter, Edward Brown
Facsimile of George Baxter's Signature. and William Wilkins. Sergeant James Hubbard was
Affe (Lubtari)
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clark," with a salary of one gilder (40 ets.) from every inhabitant of the town.
J
Facsimile of John Tilton's Signature.
Jan. 9, 1651, a town-order was made regulating the manner in which the magistrates should be chosen. thus: the town was to choose the first man, and he was to choose the second; these two a third, and so on nin- til six had been chosen. The first three chosen were to act as magistrates for one year; the second three as- sisting in court when necessity required. The next year, the second three were to act officially and the first three to assist; and so they were to alternate. All were to be approved by the town, and confirmed by the Governor.
The Board were empowered to fill all vacancies oc- easioned by the death or inability of any of its num- ber.
Town-meetings were, at first, held monthly, at some private house, as evidenced by the following town- order, "May 3d. 1652, voted to hold regular town- meetings the last Saturday of every month at ye house of James Hubbard at 12 o'clock, MI., and ye drum to beat one hour before ye time." Also, it was voted to choose at every meeting a person who should act a- "speaker for their more orderly proceedings, peace and credit." Fines were imposed upon those who were absent from these meetings, without sufficient excuse. After the purchase of a school-house in 1728, it was probably used for this purpose.
The first record of a town-meeting is dated in the year 1646. From that time the records are regularly and carefully kept. Public meetings, in case of emer. geney, were assembled by the beating of the drum, and general gatherings for town-work by the blowing of a horn.
In those days it was deemed to be not only the privilege, but the duty of every man to be present at these public gatherings, and have a voice in the man agement of town-affairs. Henee, in 1656, a man was chosen to warn the inhabitants of all general and pri- vate meetings of the town; and those failing to appear. without good excuse for their absence, were liable to a fine of 5 gilders for each offenee. At the same meet- ing it was agreed that six men present at any meeting should form a quorum for the transaction of all town- business.
In 1646 the town "allotted to each man ye juste pportion of fence every man was to maintain for his peenliar lott, which is 20 poles."
Peremptory measures were sometimes necessary to Facsimile of James Hubbard's Signature. prevent the careless from nogleeting this part of their chosen schout or constable, and John Tilton, "tonon- public daty. So, in the following spring, when one;
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
Applegate failed to put up his fence according to law, the town voted "to hyer a man to doo it and paye him, and Applegate to answer to ye town."
In 1652 three men were chosen as "fence-riewers," who were to go their rounds once every fortnight, and compel all owners of land to keep their fences in or- der, under a penalty of 5 gilders. In 1674 the penalty was fixed at 20 gilders.
In 1646 a public pound was made, and 2 stivers (4 cts.) were allowed for pounding cattle or swine.
In 1649 it was ordered, by town-vote, "yt every man shall provide himself of a ladder of 20 foot or above by New Yeare's day nexte," under penalty of two gilders and 10 stivers per week while in default. It was also ordered, at the same meeting, that each man should provide himself with arms within two months, and also one pound of powder and two pounds of lead " to lye in Baneke."
The following vote was also passed: that " ye pasture att ye end of ye lotts shall be for ye use of any of ye inhabitants for a calf or cow yt is sick, or for a horse in case a stranger comes to ye town." In the last clause of this enactment we find the evidence of that warm-hearted Duteh hospitality, for which their de- seendants are still noted.
The fines collected for violation of law were at first put into the " common or poor stock " of the town; but in 1652 it was voted that the fines should be used in defraying the common charges, or town-expenses.
A Bureau of Vital Statistics was established in 1650. The record is as follows: "It was also agreed unto that all burials and marriages and for all yt shall be borne, notice should be taken thereof and recorded."
For the first half century of the town's existence marriages were performed by a magistrate; but those intending marriage, whether by a Justice or minister, were obliged to have the banns published from the nearest church, as preseribed by law. A marriage is recorded with the following endorsement, dated 1689: " A certificate of ye minister at Flatbush. Isaac Hassel- berg and Elizabeth Baylis have had their proclamation in our church as commonly our manner and custom is, and no opposition or hindrance come against them, so as that they may be confirmed in ye banns of matrimony, whereto we wish them blessing.
MITTWOUT, ye 17 March 1689. RUDOLPH VARRICK, Minister."
In accordance with the above permission, they were married in Gravesend by Justice Nicholas Stillwell.
In 1664, Dee. 31, Sergeant James Hubbard was inarried, by a magistrate, to Elizabeth Baylis. This was his second marriage. At the same time, as justice, he united in marriage James Bowne and Mary Stout.
The following are the first entries under the new law. " Ang. ye 2d. Peter Simson was by publick au- thority married." " Aug. ve 11. The sonn of William Wilkins was borne, and Ang. Us, he was buried."
"Sept. 9. Thomas Cornwell deecased and was buried." His widow seems to have been speedily consoled, how- ever, for the very next record, and bearing the same date as the above, is as follows. "Sept. 9, 1650. John Morris and Elizabeth Cornwell, widow of Thomas. were married."
Cattle and Fences .- All horses and colts turned into the common pasture at Coney Island were, by law, marked, and a description of them kept on the town-reeords.
In 1675 three men were chosen, by the town, to go to the "flys " (marshes) about the 2d hour, and see if any beasts were mired, and if so, help them out. If any beast should die through their neglect, they were to pay the damage; and if any man should be warned to go and help these men and should refuse, he was to be fined 5 shillings and pay all damage resulting from his neglect.
Early Temperance Laws .- The liquor traffic oc- cupied the attention of the people considerably at a very early date. A license law was passed regulating its sale to the white population, and a stringent prohi bitory law preventing its sale to the Indians. The lat- ter is as follows:
" April 16, 1656. Att an assemblie of ye Inhabitants uppon a lawful warning given, it was inacted, ordered and agreed uppon that hee. she or they whatsoever, that should tapp. draw out, sell or lett any Indian or Indians in this corpora- tion have any brandie, wine, strong liquor or strong drink, should, it so foetd, paye the summ of fifty gilders, and for the next default one hundred gilders, according to the law of the country."
The law also provided that not more than one pint should be sokl, at one time, to the whites.
Before the Town Court, Oct. 8, 1663, " Richard Stont declareth that Nathaniel Brittain hath slandered him that he hath sould wine to the Indians. The said Nathaniel denyeth it, but said that the Indians told his wife that they had bought wine of Stout." The Court, however, ordered Nathaniel to pay the cost of proseeu- tion.
Prosecutions were not uncommon under these laws, not ouly before the Town Court, but also before the Court of Sessions. Ambrose London was before the Town Court, charged with selling more than a pint of wine at once. The defence was the same weak plea -
that men so often make now to satisfy their conscience and justify their violation of law, viz .: that people would have it, and if he did not furnish it some one else would; but the Court tined him to the full extent of the law. Being afterward tried and found guilty of selling liquor by false measure, he was again heavily fined.
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