USA > New York > Kings County > Gravesend > History of the town of Gravesend, N.Y. > Part 5
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However, in the year 1873 the old house was sold to give place to the present large and commodious town- hall, and it was purchased at public sale by Charles M. Ryder for $26.50 ; moved to his property near by, and fitted for a tenement-house. And thus keeping, for the most part, its old outward form and appearance, after almost a hundred years, we find it still doing faithful service in furnishing shelter to this remote generation.
In 1838, as before mentioned, a new school-site was purchased of Cornelius Emans, on the north-west side of the town-square, and a new school-house erected bet- ter suited to the needs of the district. In 1874 it was enlarged by the addition of a wing, to be used for a primary-department. Thus stands District No. 1 to-day, with a good school-building, a primary and grammar- department, two teachers, and a large number of scholars.
Teachers .- The following list is taken from the old records, supplemented by the memory of several of the oldlest inhabitants, and the names given as nearly as possible in the order of their service.
Messrs. Proctor ; Garahan ; Barnardus C. Lake; Pat- rick Noouan ; Benj. Mercer ; David Turnbull ; John- son ; Abram Emmans ; John Wyckoff ; Charles Good- rich ; Richard Kyles ; Dr. C. H. Schmopps ; James M. Fulton ; Spafford ; Brown ; Pillings ; Geo. Berget ; Norton ; Edward Benjamin; Rowell ; Requay; Bates; Wm. II. Stillwell ; Andrew Hegeman ; Gilbert H. Wickham ; Le Grand Payne.
Assistant Teachers were Miss Aletta Ditmars and Miss Nellie Stormn.
Judge Wickham was for 21 years the faithful teacher of this school, until the close of 1876, when he resigned to take the position of Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions. In 1877 Mr. Payne became principal, with Miss Storm as assistant, and they still retain their posi- tions.
District No. 2 .- In 1811 it became necessary, for the greater convenience of the spreading population, to di- vide the district, or create a new one in the eastern part
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
of the town. Accordingly the residents in that neigli- borhood combined together for the erection of a new school-house. Land was purchased of Mr. Isaac De- uyse ; a building erected 18x30 feet, and paid for by subscription. In 1847, to meet the demand for more room, an addition of 10 feet was made to the length of the house, at a cost of some 8200, makin _ a long, low building, uninviting in external appearance, and very gloomy within. Therefore, one row of seats only was made next to and facing the wall ; thus enabling the pupil to give his undivided attention to his studies; while at the same time it afforded the teacher the oppor- tunity to keep, nnobserved, a watchful eye over those who were more inclined to be mischievous than studious. This old building continued to serve the purpose of a school-house till 1879, when it was abandoned for the new one.
The deed of the lot was made out in the name of Mr. John S. Garretson, and it remains in possession of his heirs to-day.
In 1879 a new site was purchased on Ocean avenue, and a large and convenient school-house built, which does credit to the district. It is a two-story wooden building, 35x55 feet, well painted, and kept in good repair. Jacobus Voorhees was the architect and builder. Its cost was $2.700. Teachers of this school, from the beginning, have been Messrs. John D. Wat- kins; Martin; Mercer; Benson; John S. Fulton; Isaac S. Perry; R. H. Stanton: Joulon; Gorman; Edmund Williams; W. H. Stillwell; Kelley; P. D. Voorhees; B. F. Ladd; Rev. Charles Battersby; William Vraden- burgh; Brown; Rev. J. H. Battersby; John B. France; A. H. Battersby; Johannes Kouwenhoven and Edward Bennett. The two latter are now in charge of the school.
Districts No. 3 and 4. Application was made Octo- ber 25th, 1870, for a division of District No. 1, and the establishment of a separate district in the village of Unionville; and also, at the same time, for a division of District No. 2, and a new school opened at Sheepshead Bay. Mr. Voorhees Overbaugh, who was then school- commissioner, granted the application and set off from District No. 1, the Unionville District, called No. 3.
A neat one-story school-house was at once built in a cedar-grove, and for the past twelve years has been in a flourishing condition. The names of the teachers are as follows: A. Ketcham; Reynolds; Miss Addie Sin- derin; Miss Elizabeth Campbell; Wm. Span; Miss Maggie Thompson; Miss Kate Voorhees; Benjamin Wallace, and Miss Cora Morris-the two last named now in charge of the school.
In the same year Mr. Overbaugh divided District No. 2, making a new one at Sheepshead Bay, called No. 4. The old M. E. church building was purchased October 31st, 1870, by the new trustees, and a school immediately started This arrangement continued un- til the year 1878, when (October 1st) a new one-story
building was completed on a new site upon the same avenue. This house was neat in appearance, and ample for the accommodation of the district. The trustees, by a system of wise economy, while maintain- ing a first-grade school, at the same time have saved money enough from the annual town-allowance, and the State money, to pay every dollar of their indebtedules. for the new house, without tax upon the district. The following teachers have been here employed: Rev. Mr. Morris; Rev. J. H. Battersby; John B. France, and the present teacher, Isaac MeKane.
District No. 5. In 1874 a branch school from Dis- triet No. 1, and under the care of the trustees, was es- tablished at Coney Island, and an extra allowance of $500 was made to the district for its support. The school was first held in the little Union Chapel, for- merly built for religions services, but which at this time was mocenpied. In 1876 the town appropriated $500 for its purchase, which was accordingly done. In 1878 application was made by the residents of Coney Island to be set off as a district by themselves. The applica- tion was granted by the school-commissioner, C. Warren Hamilton. They immediately elected trustees from their own number, and took matters into their own hands. The chapel continued to be used for school purposes until the year 1882. In the early part of this year a beautiful two-story house was erected, with blinds and a handsome cupola, at a cost of some $8,000. The work was done by our enterprising builder and town supervisor, John Y. MeKane. This is one of the largest and finest school-buildings in town.
District No. 6 .- Abont the same time another school was started in South Greenfield, the northern part of the town, as a branch of District No. 2, and 8500 were annually appropriated to carry on the work. In 1878 or 1879 this portion of the town was. upon application, set off from District No. 2, and assumed the dignity of a school-district, known as No. 6. The trustees very soon built a fine, two-story brick school- honse, which, from an architectural point of view, is, without doubt, the handsomest publie building we have in town. The cost, when furnished, will probably not be less than $10,000. Owing, however, to what would seem to be a most unjust and foolish opposition on the part of a portion of the district, the new school-house remains empty and useless; while the scholars are crowded into a small, ill-ventilated building. which would better become the enterprise and finances of two hundred years ago.
Mrs. Jane Wise was the first teacher, followed by Mr. Thomas Taylor, and he in turn by the present teacher. Several private schools have been, from time to time. established, which have fulfilled their mission and passed into history. There are now, at least, two four- ishing private schools for youuger eluldren, in addition to the six school-districts to which attention ha- been given.
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REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
The salary of the teachers was formerly raised by a direct tax upon each scholar, in addition to the State allowance. In 1860, however, we learn that a portion of the money received for liquor licenses was devoted to school purposes. But, after a time, this money was applied to the support of the Inebriates Home, at Bath; and from that time a portion of the town revenue, . arising from the rental of the common lands at Coney Island, has been annually set apart for this worthy pur- . pose. One thousand dollars is the annual allowance to each school-district, a sum which, in the aggregate, if wisely used, would be sufficient to meet our present needs.
Despite its financial advantages, the educational in- terests of Gravesend have not kept pace with the growth and importance of the town. No town in Kings county can offer a finer location or better inducements for an institution of a high order than Gravesend. And yet, there is neither academy or high-school of any grade above the common distriet-school. The rev- enue of Coney Island should, in the hands of honest commissioners, furnish ample means for a most liberal endowment of such an institution, without a dollar of tax upon the people, as is necessarily and willingly done in other towns, where no such resources are available.
Revolutionary Incidents .- The landing of the British forces, August 22, 1776, was made at Gravesend Bay, within a mile of the village ; through which passed the column under Lord Cornwallis, towards Flatbush. An encampment was made by a British de- tachment, on the march thither, in the large farm-yard of Joost Stillwell, now owned by his grandson, Nicholas R. Stillwell. The old homestead of that day still re- mains in good preservation. In the disastrous battle of L. I., on the 27th, there were a number of Gravesend men among the soldiers who were surrounded by Gen- eral Clinton's flanking movement, but their acquaint- ance with the hills and woods enabled them to escape safely to their homes within a day or two after. Nicho- las Stillwell, Rntgert Stillwell, Barnardus Ryder, Peter Williamson, Stephen Donly and John Voorhees, were active patriots during those days.
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During the British occupation of Kings county, which followed the battle of Long Island, the people of Gravesend were much troubled by lawless tories, or " plunderers " as they were called, who made frequent marauding forages upon the farms of the villagers. One of these expeditions was defeated by the vigilance of a young maiden, Altje Stillwell (afterwards the grandmother of Mr. Jacobus Lake), who displayed a signal light ; and the villagers, rallying, gave the tories such a warm reception that they fled in di-may, leaving one of their number dangerously wounded. He con- cealed himself among the drift on the shore at Fort Hamilton until morning, when a farmer going to the shore for drift found him, and, pitying his suffering condition, took him home, and concealed him in his own
barn till he was able to be taken to the Engli-2 camp.
On another occasion Mr. Court Lake discovered an English soldier coming from the Old Mill-the ruins ... which may now be seen-carrying a bag of meal. which he had stolen. In attempting to stop him by force, a hand-to-hand encounter took place, in which, at length :. both fell to the ground, with the soldier uppermost. The latter drew from his pocket a large knife, which le attempted to open with one hand and his teeth. Mr. Lake, by a desperate effort, threw the soldier from him and gained his feet. Then, seizing the enemy's gun. which had fallen near by, he quickly fired. The charge entered the soldier's neck, making a terrible wound. Mr. Lake at once informed the nearest neighbor, by the name of Turnbull, who came with his wagon and took the wounded man to his own camp within the Engli-2 lines. Whether the shot proved fatal or not, Mr. Lake was never able to learn.
There are still extant, among the town-records, two old papers, one of which is dated in 1778, and reads as fol- lows: "A return of the officers and an exact Acct. of what every Inhabitant of Gravesend has against each officer, for his Board at six shillings N. Y. currency. and weeks from the time they were Billited until the 31 day of March, 1778, inclusive." It gives the name of each officer, his rank, time billeted, naine of the inhabi :- ant where quartered, time he had been there and amoaz: due. In this " Return" we find the names of eighty- eight officers, in rank from ensign to captain. and the names of thirty inhabitants where they were boar ling. Some of the officers were charged with over a year'- board. It is signed by Joost Stillwell, Captain.
A similar paper, dated 1782, reads as follows : " 1 list of the money due the Inhabitants of the towash !! of Gravesend for the Boarding of Continentals and other officers, Prisoners, and some friends, as will her. - unto appear by the following accounts. Gravesen 1. July 13, 1782." Only forty officers are mentioned 3: this paper, and about the same number of inhabian', as before. The board of these officers eventually :.. come a State charge ; as we find that in Angust. 1 .. . Congress voted $38,000 " towards payment of persons in Kings County for subsisting American prisoners dur- ing the late war."
During the Revolutionary war the rebel freehooters. Heyler and Marriner, were a terror to the tories in ti ... neighborhood of New York, and doubtless remlere ! material aid to the American cause, on many occasion .. although we would not attempt to justify their mode of procedure.
Heyler's most brilliant exploit was the capture of a British sloop-of-war, of 20 tons, off Coney Island. He had only two whale-boats, but, spying the sloop lying quietly at anchor in a secure place, as they suppo ... 1. 1 :- sent one boat to reconnoitre. They found the .# 1. careless and playing cards in the cabin, and wi.l. :..
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND.
watch set. The other boat being signalled to, came up. Capt. Heyler and his men boarded the sloop from both sides, taking them all prisoners without loss of life, and even without resistance. A few articles were removed and the ship fired. There were on board $40,000, with many valuable articles, all of which were lost. It is said that the captain of the ship, while being conveyed a prisoner to the American head-quarters, loudly lamented his folly and carelessness. These facts rest on the authority of Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, who received them direct from one of Heyler's men.
After the war was over, the farmers were obliged to appear before the Governor at Albany and prove their loyalty to the Colonial government, before they could retain their lands; or, pay a certain sum of money to keep them. Samuel Stryker, of this town, whose farm lay west of the village, started for Albany for this pur- pose (as related by his great-grandson), but was taken at Poughkeepsie with a severe attack of typhoid fever. Before he had sufficiently recovered, to be able to give the matter his attention, the appointed time for proving his loyalty had passed, and the consequence was he had to pay twice for his farm. Though afterwards assured by competent legal authority that he could recover, under the circumstances, be never made the attempt.
In the year 1789, on Tuesday, October 20, as we learn from his private diary, General Washington visited Gravesend ou his general tour of inspection throughout Long Island. He stopped in the center of the town- square, near the school-house, where the town-hall now stands; and the school-children were all dismissed that they might pay their respects to His Excellency the President of the United States. Mr. Coert Lake was one of those fortunate enough to shake hands with him; an honor which he never forgot, and which he was always proud to relate to his children and grand- children.
Several Hessian soldiers remained after the war was over, married and settled in Gravesend, and made hon- est and respectable citizens.
War of 1812 .- There were also several residents of Gravesend actively engaged in the War of 1812, some of whom lived to a great age, and have but lately passed away. The last one, Evert Stellenwerf, died March, 1883, having reached the ripe age of 97 years.
The following is a partial list, probably including nearly all, of those who served in the War of 1812 : Richard Stillwell ; Nicholas Stillwell ; Rutgert Still- well ; Rutgert Stillwell, 2d ; Garret Williamson ; Isaac Van Dyck ; Henry Van Dyck ; John Donly; Rem Van Cleef ; Coert Lake ; Hendriek Van Cleef ; Evert Stel- lenwerf ; Stephen Ryder. "Aunt Katie Ryder," widow of the last-mentioned, Stephen Ryder, was buried April 29, 1883, having reached her 93d year. She regularly drew her husband's pension for services in this war up to the present year. And now, so far as this town is
concerned, there is no living comeeting link between the present generation and the War of 1812.
Some anmsing anecdotes are told of camp-life in Brooklyn. The sokliers had looked with envious eyes, for some time, upon a flock of geese which pastured near their camp, and longed for a change of diet from the common soldier's fare. So, one day, a man named Conklin, full of fun and fruitful in expedients, procured a fish-hook, to which he attached a strong cord ; hav- ing baited well the hook, he sallied forth among the flock, trailing his baited hook. The old gander of the flock, seeing the rare opportunity for a relish, embraced it without unnecessary delay. His object accomplished, Conklin started upon a run for the camp; the gander following, with out-spread wings, at an equal pace. An old lady, near by, seeing the man running and the goose in full chase, but not observing the strong attraet- ive power which compelled the following, cried after him: "Don't be afraid, my good man, he won't hurt you !" Although thus kindly assured of his safety, the soldier continued to flee and the goose to pursue, until both disappeared in the camp.
In our late Civil War the town furnished her full quota of men, either by enlistment or by furnishing substitutes, as the law provided.
In the year 1700 we find, in the list of officers of the State militia, the following : "Of ye foot Company in ye town of Gravesend, John Lokes, Capt. Chr. Bemoyns, Lieut. Albert Coerten, Ensign."
Miscellaneous .- An obituary notice from one of the Brooklyn papers of sixty years ago read thus:
" Died in Gravesend Aug. 23, 1823, Rutgert Stillwell. aged 78. It is a remarkable fact that he has not been off his own farm in more than 40 years. No persuasion or inducement could move his resolution in this particular, which is sup- posed to have been caused, in the first instance. by some hasty determination. He was a bachelor, and devoted much of his time to reading and study: possessing a strong mind and memory singularly retentive, so much so as to be often consulted in doubtful cases. He was pleasant in manner. very fond of company and conversation, and apparently as well acquainted with the city and country in his neighbor- hood as if he had really visited them."
This statement has been authenticated by relatives now living.
Church History .- The oldest and most prominent church in town is the Reformed (Dutch) church, located in the village, on one of the town-squares. Its early history is somewhat obscure, and historians widely differ in their opinion as to the date of its organization.
Dr. Corwin, in his Marad of the Reformed Church, covering the period between 1625 and ISts. puts the date as far back as 1655. But, from the data before us, we cannot accept such a conclusion.
After much careful research, we have been unable to find anything which would warrant more than a mere inference of its possibility. On the contrary, there is sufficient evidence, amounting to a very strong proba-
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EARLY CHURCH HISTORY.
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bility, that there was no regular organization until the latter part of the 18th century.
In the first place, as we have already seen, the early settlers of Gravesend were English; and, consequently, could not be supposed to have any special leaning towards the Dutch church. Indeed, if the early ae- counts we have of their religious belief be true, we must regard them as lacking some of the most essential ele- ments of Dutch theology. In a report of the state of the churches in New Netherland, made to the Classis of Amsterdam in 1657, by Dominies Megapolensis and Drisins (Doc. Hist., Vol. III., 1850), we find the religious condition of the Gravesend colony summed up as fol- lows : " Those at Gravesend are reported Mennonists ; yea, they, for the most part, reject Infant Baptisin, the Sabbath, the office of Preacher, and the Teachers of God's word, saying that through these have come all sorts of contention into the world. Whenever they meet together the one or the other reads something to them." This, if it be a statement of fact, as no doubt it is, does not strongly favor the theory of a Dutch church in Gravesend at this early date.
We know, also, from other sources, that Lady Moody, while, perhaps, not denying the ordinance of infant baptism, was yet accused of denying that it was an ordinance of God. It was this that brought her in con- flict with the Puritan religious sentiment of Massachu- setts, and afterwards, for a time at least, somewhat dis- turbed her amicable relations with the Dutch authori- ties of New Netherland. We are well convinced, also, that there was a strong free-thinking or atheistic ele- ment among thiem, which doubtless prepared the way for Gravesend to become early one of the strongholds of Quakerism on Long Island. We do not suppose, as has been erroneously believed, that Lady Moody and her fellows settled Gravesend as a colony of Quakers ; for George Fox, the founder of that body, had not yet entered upon his publie ministry, nor did the order assume the dignity of an organized body until some years after this time. But, we may well believe, that their previous religious experience fitted them to take kindly to the peculiar principles of that society upon its first introduction among them.
We can find no record of this order in Gravesend before the year 1657. In August, of that year, an English vessel lauded in New Netherland, having on board eleven Quaker preachers. While they scattered in different directions, it fell to the lot of Richard Hodgson and two companions, to come to Gravesend. His preaching here seems to have met with success, as he declares his testimony was received. This, accord- ing to Hodgson's journal, was the first Quaker meeting on record in America.
This visit of Friends to Gravesend seems to have cre- ated no disturbanec; although the watchful Dutch Governor, Stuyvesant, was on the alert to detect such heresies. Six months after, however, John Tilton, the
town-clerk, was called to account for entertaining a Quakeress, a female preacher. He pleaded, however. that she got into his house in his absence; and he wa- permitted to go with simply a fine of #12 and cost of court. About a year after Hodgson landed, two other Friends, Cole and Thurston, came from Virginia. Gov. Stuyvesant had them arrested and sent to Staten Is- land, from whence they soon escaped, and came in an Indian canoe to Gravesend. Here, according to their own testimony, " they found some Friends in the truth. by whom they were much refreshed." They further state that "meetings were held at the house of Lady Moody, who managed all things with such prudence and observance of time and place as to give no offence to any person of another religion." Thus, in 165%, just before she died, Lady Moody seems to have adopted the peculiar tenets of the Friends.
In the following year, Mary Dyer and John Taylor made a tour of Long Island, and terminated their jour- ney at Gravesend. From this time, it has been said, this town became the " Mecca of Quakerism." In 1661 a Quaker meeting was held in Gravesend, and Gov. Stuyvesant sent his Sheriff, Waldron, to arrest the preacher. IIe, however, escaped, and left only his cloak, which the officer bore in trinmph to the fort. Samuel Spicer was arrested for entertaining him, and fined £12 for his grievous offence. John Tilton and wife were again arrested, and, by sentence, banishedl for harboring Quakers. The sentence was probably never carried into effect; for, in two years, he was again called to account for the same thing.
The mother of Samnel Spicer was also arrested. and charged with trying to entice even young girls to join the Quakers.
Up to this point we can see no evidence of a Dutch church in town. Neither could they have had a minis- ter, as appears from the following fact: An appeal wa- made, April 12, 1660, to Gov. Stuyvesant, probably by the few Dutch settlers who had come among them. for a minister, basing their appeal upon their great need of a religions teacher, " beenuse the people led such God- less lives, on account of the diversity of religious opin- ions among them." Gov. Stuyvesant replied that meas- ures would be taken at once to supply their spiritus! need; but there is not the slightest evidence that he ever fulfilled his promise.
In 1672 Geo. Fox, while on his first visit to this coun- try, came direct from Maryland to Gravesend. He says, in his journal, that after a long and tedious journey through the wilderness of Jersey, they came to the honse of Richard Harthorn, at Middletown, in East Jersey. After a night's rest, Mr. Harthorn took them. horses and all, in his own boat, and set them upon Long Island. He continues: "That night we got to friends at Gravesend, with whom we tarried that night, and then, with some friends from Gravesend. started flext day for half-year's meeting at Oyster Bay." AAfter vis.
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