USA > New York > New York 170 years ago : with a view, and explanatory notes > Part 2
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* The lowest taxed valuation was 300 guilders, (3s. 4d. or 41} cts. per guilder) ; the highest was Frederick Philipse, 80,000 guilders. The next was Cornelis Steenwyck, 50,000; Nicholas de Meyer, 50,000; Olof Stephensen Van Cortland, 45,000; John Lawrence, 40,000, and so on, from forty to thirty-five, thirty, twenty thousand, &c. The following names appear in the taxation list, viz:
Adolph Peterson, Andrias Jochems, Albert Bosch, Abram Carmar, Allard Anthony, Abraham Jansen, Carpenter, Anthony Jansen Van Salè, Adrian Vincent, Abel Hardenbroeck. Abraham Verplanck, Asser Leevy, Abram Lubbersen, Anthony De, Anna Van Borssum, Barent Coersen, Balthasar Bayard, Boele Roelofsen, Barnadus Hasfalt, Bay Croe Svelt, Balthasar de Haerts House, Claes Lock, Carsten Leursen, Cornelies Steenwyck, Cornelis Van Ruyven, Cornelis Janse van Hoo- ren, Claes Bordingth, Coenraet Ten Eyck, Christopher Hoogland, Cornelis Chopper, Corel Van Brugges's houses, Cornelis Van Borssum, David Wessels, Cornelis Direkson, from westveen, Cornelis Barentse Vander Cuyll, Dirck Smet, David Jochems, Daniel Hendricks, Dirck Van Cleef, Dirck Wiggerse, Dirck Sieken, Direk Claesse, Potter, Aegidius Lvyk, Egbert Wouterse, Evert Pieterse, Evert Wesselse Kuyper, Evert Duyckingh, Ephraim Harmans, Elizabeth Driseus, Elizabeth Bedloo, Ffrancois Rombouts, Ffredrick Philipse, Ffredrick Arentse, turner, Ffredrick Gisberts, Guiliane Verplanck, Guiliam de Honioud, Gapriel Minville, Gerret Gullevever, Mary Loockermans, Harmanus Burger & Co. Hendrick Kip, sen. Hendrick Bosch, Hen- Hendrick Wessels Smit, Hendrick Gillesse, shoemaker, Hendrick Willemse Backer, Hermanus Van Borsum, Hans Kierstede, Hendrick Van Dyke, Hartman Wessels. Harmen Smecmar, Henry Bresier, Johnannes Van Brugh, Johnnis de Peyster, Jeronimus Ebbingh, Jacob Kip, Isaacq Van Vlecq, Jan Mleynder se Karman, Isack de Foreest, Junan Blanck, Jacob de Naers, Jan Hendrick Van Bommel, Jacob Leumen, Jeremias Jansen Hagenaer, Jacobus Van de Water, Jan
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THE VIEW."
The city at this date was within the present limits of Wall, Pearl, State, and Greenwich streets. Six streets have since been formed into the rivers, and the principal part of the Bat- tery is also an artificial formation. Here ledges of rocks pro- jected from the water that laved the shore of the Capsey or dividing point of the two rivers, now State street.
The city comprised probably not more than three hundred houses, and three thousand inhabitants, including the garri- son. 'The Province contained, it is asserted in one of the early records, not over six thousand, of whom there were not more than one New Englander to fifteen Hollanders.
Direkse Meyer, Isacq Van Tricht, in his brother's house, Jacob Abrahamse, shoemaker, Jan Van Bree Steede, Jonas Bartels, Jan Herberdingh, Jacob Teuniss Key, Jan Spiegelaer, Jan Jansen, car- penter, John Lawrence, James Matheus, Jan Reay, pipemaker, Jan Coely Smet, Jan Schakerley, Jan Joosten, barquier, Jacob Leyslaer, Jan Vigne, Jacob Varrevanger, Laurens Jan sen Smet, Luycas Andries, barquier, Laurens Van de Spiegel, Lammert Huybertse Moll, Laurens Holst, Luyckes Tienhoven, Marten Kregier, sen. Marten Jansen Meyer, Matheys de Haert, Nicholas de Meyer, Nicholas Bayard, Nicholas du Puy, Nicolas Jansen, backer, Olof Stevensen Van Cortland, Peter Jacobs Marius, Peter Nys, Paulus Richard, Peter de Riemer, Paulus Tureq, Pieter Van de Water, Pieter Jansen Mesier, Philip Johns, Reynier Willemse, backer, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, Simon Jantz Romeyn, Sibout Claess, S'ouwert Olp heresse, Thomas Leurs, Thomas Lodwerss, backer, Wilhelm Beeckman, Wander Wessels, Willem Van der Schueven.
* This view was copied from a manuscript copy of one which was originally published in Holland; and which copy was made in 1769, by Du SIMITIER, 2 French gentleman of antiquarian research, taste, and learning, who resided and died in Philadelphia. His manuscripts were preserved in the Loganian branch of the library of that city ; and by the liberality of the officers of that institution, the writer was permitted to transcribe ficely, such documents, os he deemed useful, for the illustration of the History of New York. Satisfied of its authority, as a correct delineation immediately prior to the conques: in July, 1673, upon various
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VIEW .- A. The vessels lying on the North River side of the Capsey, (fig. 1.) were Fort Orangiensche oft Albanishe Jachten : Fort Orange or Albany sloops.
Fig. 1. The Capsey, or dividing point between the North and East Rivers.
The first row of buildings from fig. 1 to S, were near State street, and extended to White Hall street. The next row near the fort, formed Pearl street, or Parrell street as it is called · in one of the records of 1673, which then extended only to White Hall street. Between Pearl street and the fort, stood the large wooden-horse ten or twelve feet high, with an edged back, on which the culprit was seated, and his legs fastened with a chain to an iron stirrup, and sometimes a weight was fastened to the foot.
B. Vlagg-Spil daer de vlag wordt opgehaelt als er comen Scheepen in dese Haven, the flag-staff whereon the flag was hoisted upon the arrival of vessels into the harbor.
C. Fort Amsterdam, genaamt James Fort by de En- gelsche. Fort Amsterdam, otherwise called James Fort by the English. The name officially given to the fort in 1673, was " Fort Willem Hendrick." It was first erected and finished in 1635, by Gov. Van Twiller, neglected by Governor Kieft, repaired and surrounded by a stone wall by Governor Stuyvesant, and demolished, and the ground levelled in 1790 and '91.
D. Gevangen Huys. The prison-house or goal. It was of stone and built by Governor Kieft.
E. Gereformeerde Kerek. The Reformed Dutch Church was erected within the fort, by Governor Kieft, in 1642. It was of stone, and covered with oak shingles, which exposed to the weather, soon resembled slate.
The contract for the election of this church is upon record. It was made in May, 1642, before the Secretary of the New
grounds in the recapitulation of which it is not necessary to occupy the readers at- tention, the writer caused this interesting relic to be engraved, and has added the following notes in explanation of the names of edifices, streets, &c. appended to the original map.
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Netherlands, between " William Kieft, Church Warden, at the request of his brethren, the Church Wardens of the church in New Netherland, and John Ogden, of Stanford, and Rich- ard Ogden, who contracted to build the church of rock-stone, 72 feet long, 52 broad, and 16 feet high above the soil, for 2500 gilders (£416 13 4) " in beaver, cash or merchandize, to wit, if the Church Wardens are satisfied with the work, so that, in their judgment, the 2500 gilders shall have been earned-then said Church Wardens will reward them with one hundred gilders [£16 13 4] more," in the mean time assist them whenever it is in their power, and allow them the use, for a month or six weeks, of the Company's boat, to facili- tate the carrying of the stone thither.
The church was not completely finished until the first year of Governor Stuyvesant's administration. In July, 1647, he and two others were appointed Kerk Meesters, [Church Wardens,] to superintend the work, and complete it the ensu- ing winter. The town bell was removed to this church.
Between the church and goal, was the corps de garde.
F. Governeur's Huys. Governor's house. The " big house" was built by Van Twiller, partly of logs and brick, but a much superior one of stone erected by Kieft, 100 feet long, 50 wide, and 24 high, with two outside walks the length of the house, the one nine, and the other ten feet broad ; entry 50 feet long, and 20 broad, with a partition and double chimney, with cellars, windows, doors, &c.
The Secretary's office was at the north gate, at the north- east bastion of the fort. It was built in behalf of Cornelius Tienhoven, who was Secretary of New Netherlands under Van Twiller and Kieft.
The buildings within the fort were burned during the famous negro plot, in 1741.
S. Stuyvesant Huys. Governor Stuyvesant's house or dwelling was built about four years before he surrendered his government to the English.
Fig. 2, 3. The public wharf (2) and harbor or dock, (3) were built by the burgomasters of the city about the year 1658. Here vessels loaded and unloaded. and a wharfage
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duty was exacted at first of eight stivers* per last.t The harbor (3) was constructed to accommodate vessels and yachts, in which, during winter, the barques stationed there might be secured against the floating ice ; for which large vessels paid annually " one beaver, and smaller in proportion, to the city, to keep it in order." This wharf and harbor are now a part of Whitehall street, Whitehall slip having since been formed into the river.
H. De Waegh. The weigh, or balance. This was erected in 1653, by Governor Stuyvesant, and the standard weight and measure kept in the balance house, was accord- ing to those of the city of Amsterdam. To this standard merchants were obliged to conform, and to pay the eyck- meester for marking their weights and measures. Goods were here also brought in bulk and weighed, before they were stored in the public store house (G.)
G. 'T Magazyn. The magazines or public store houses, or pack huysen, formerly of the Dutch West India Company, the "lords patroons" of this city, were situated in Winckel straet, (Store street) now Stone street, which then extended from the now Whitehall street to Broad street.
Between Winckel street, and the dock (3) and the wall along the harbor, and in the direction across the bridge (6) at the foot of Heeren gracht (see I.) was the Brug straet (now Bridge street,) and between this and the dock or wall was that portion of the present continuation of Pearl street, which was after this view called Dock street, on the border of which, between de wacgh and bridge a small market house (5) was erected in 1656, and a market established every Saturday on the shore.
In rear of Winckle street, and between that and Beever gracht, now Beaver street, was an open space called markt- velt, where a market had been held, and an annual fair or cattle-show exhibited, before the market house on the shore was erected. It embraced the plain before the fort, and a lane
* A stiver was two pence. t A last 81} bushels.
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reaching from Marketfield (4) to Broad street, and called- Marktvelt-steegje, Marketfield lanc, is now Marketfield street. «
The most westerly buildings in this view bordered on the east side of Breede-weg, or the Broadway, which on the west side was carefully left open for the range of the cannon of the fort. Along the west side from the fort, as far as the present Trinity Church, was formerly the West. India Company's gar- den, and thence beyond the city walls was the Company's farm, afterwards the King's farm, and extending to the pre- sent Duane street.
I. Heeren-gracht. Gentlemen's, or Lords' canal, now (Broad street.) It was called the Moat in the time of Gover- nor Kieft, and the Great Dyke at the close of the English Governor Lovelace's administration, (1672,) when it was or- dered to be contracted and cleaned, and when also the streets of the city were paved. The Dutch called it Breede-gracht as well as Heeren-gracht ; and the street, Gracht-straet, or Canal street; and after, Breede-stract, or Broad street. Three years after this view, (viz., 1676,) the gracht (canal) was ordered to be filled up, and the street levelled and paved. Beever-gracht entered the Heeren-gracht from the west, and Prince's-gracht, or Prince straet, (now a continued part of Beaver street,) extended castward, and terminated in a Sloot, or ditch, whence has been derived the name of Sloat lane.
In the vicinity of the Heeren-gracht was the Schapen-wey, or the sheep pasture, sometimes called the sheep valley.
From the Heeren-gracht to the Stadt-huys (K) inclusive, was Hoog stract, (High street,) that is, from a point a little north-west of the corner of the present Pearl and Broad streets to the south of the lane leading from Coenties slip into the present Stone street.
K. Stadt-huys, State House, or City Hall, denominated also Stadt-herberg, or City Tavern, was situate opposite the
* Benson's Memoir has aided the writer of these notes in locating some of the streets.
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first half-moon (R. 1) at the corner of Hoog-straet, (which afterwards was called Little Dock street, and now Pearl street,) and the lane running from Coenties slip westward into the street which is now a continuation of Stone street.
The Stadt-herberg was built by Governor Kieft, and finished in 1642, for the purpose, in part, of relieving himself from the burden of hospitality with which he had been taxed while his New England neighbors tarried at the " Manha- does" on their voyages to Virginia. It was built at the ex- pense of the West India Company, and called the Company's Tavern. It was afterwards, upon application of the Burgo- masters granted to the city for the puposes of a Stadt-huys, City House, as well as the "Great" or "Public Tavern." This celebrated building is supposed to have been standing opposite Coenties slip, and though afterwards divided into two departments or buildings, is the same that was formerly owned or occupied by Brinckerhoof and Van Wyck; in 1806 by Abraham Brinekerhoof, and afterwards by his heirs.
The first Stadt-huys was a three story house, with a schroe- ringe."
In front of the City Hall, Jacobus Van de Water, the Mayor, with the guard of the citizens, is represented as upon the evening parade. In 1673, at the beat of the drum, half an hour before sun-set, the militia (scuttery) of the city, then on guard held their parade before the City Hall. The Mayor then proceeded to the city gates and locked them at sun-set, and at sun-rise he opened them.
In front of the City Hall were the stocks and whipping- post. The ducking-stool, or rather cucking stool, was not yet erected, notwithstanding the Lutheran Minister, in 1673, pleaded in bar to a public prosecution against him for striking a female, that she "provoked him to it by scolding."
R. 1. Rondeel, redoubt, or half-moon, was also in front of the City Hall, and is now a part of Coenties slip, or Coen and Antye Ten Eyck's slip.
* Moat, ditch, or canal, lined with planks, to prevent the carth from tumbling.
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In the rear of the City Hall was Styk-steeg, Mire lane ; and a tannery extended from the north corner of the lane, passsing from Coenties slip to Mire lane, on which a bark mill stood. Hence the present Mill street. In rear of this was elevated ground, and near it was de Warmoes-straet, (Street of Vegetables,) now Exchange place; near which were the Citizens' Guard House, and the Lutheran Church, (L) or Lu- thersche Kerck. From the City Hall, following the curva- ture of the shore to Smet-stract, (fig. 7,) that is, from Coen- ties slip along Pearl street as it winds into William by Hano- ver square, was the Cingel, Encircling, or Exterior street. 'T'hence from Rondecl, or Half Moon, (R. 2,) now a part of Old : lip, towards the Water-poort, (M) was the Burgers' (or Citizens') path, between the row of buildings (fig. 10) and the wall along the shore.
These buildings were situated on the ground, now the wes- tern side of Pearl street, along Hanover square towards Wall street. At the southern end of the row, near the Cingle, commenced Smeer-street, (Greese street,) or Smet-stract, af- terwards called Smith street, and now the lower end of Wil- liam street.
(R. 3.) This Rendeel, or half-moon,* is now a part of Coffee House slip.
(T) The East River, running between the Island Manhat- tan and Yorkshire, or Long Island.
The Block House, at the Water Gate, (M) was at the north-east corner of the present Pearl and Wall streets.
The City Wall was of earth, thrown up from a moat dug in 1653 from the East to the North River, at first four or five feet deep and ten or eleven broad, somewhat sloping at the bottom. On the top of this wall was a closely connected line of pali- sadoes, extending a like distance from the Water-gate along the north-east side of the present Wall street (fig. 10) to the North River. Hence was derived the name of the present Wall street, which coursed along the southern base of the moat.
* Literally, & "round bulwark."
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(M) Water-poort. The Water port, or Gate, sometimes called the East River Gate, was connected with the Block House at the east end of the wall.
(O) Land-poort. The Land-port, or City Gate, was in the Broadway ; thence the wall and palisadoes extended to a fortification in the rear of Trinity Church, which was not built till eighteen years after the date of this view.
(Fig. 11.) The Lady's Valley, a fashionable resort in the days of Governor Kieft, was probably the same place which was denominated, in the period of his successor, Maagde- paetje, (the Virgins' path,) now Maiden lane.
(N.) Smidt's Valey, abbreviated to Smet, or Smee's Vly, was a marsh, extending from the rising ground, a liitle north of the city walls, along the East River, or shore of the present Pearl street, to the rising ground near Fulton street.
(P.) Weg na't versche water. The way to the fresh water, or fresh water pool or de Kolck, north of the rising ground, filled up within a few years, and Collect street and others laid out in this part of the city.
(Q.) Wint Molen. This wind-mill was erected in 1662, outside of the " City land port," (O) in Broadway, between the present Liberty and Courtlandt streets.
CONCLUSION.
Such was the City of New York under the denomination of New Orange, one hundred and seventy years ago. Not a vestage remains of its ancient structure or character. Where now its proud fortress ? Its stadt huys and stadt herberg ? Its lords' canal ? its gardens, orchards, and shade trees ? its Burgers' path, where patriotism infused its public spirit, as it mused over the fancied imperishability of the city ? its Ladies' Valley, where the impassioned strain was whispered by the gallant of the day in the ears of his inamorata ? All have disappeared. New Orange lies buried beneath the super- structures of modern magnificence. Is it possible that in the
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short space of two lives, such a total wreck, such an oblivion of an entire city, should have occurred ? Even so. Nay, further, the very language, customs, costume, amusements, govern- ment, laws, and currency, have vanished with those who held authority, swayed fashion, and fretted their brief day as the opulent burgers of the city ! What a comment on the pride of family wealth and power ! Why, the very names sound strangely in modern ears ; and yet among them, there were virtues, which gave lustre to humanity, mingled with follies and vices and crimes. Such is the mixed character of human nature in every age and clime.
But the predominance of virtue over vice depends from the influences of the social condition. Without inquiring whether those of the period we have reviewed were more congenial to virtue than the present, it will be admitted that modern New York is a proof that the present age surpasses any former in mere invention and external improvement. The extraordinary progress of New York within half a century must be ascribed to modern commerce, cherished by, and cherishing liberal in- stitutions. The armed commercial monopolies of Holland, and that undefined liberty which the Prince of Orange battled for, and the United Belgic Provinces feebly represented and conceived, have been succeeded in this, their transatlantic scene of operations, by an unrestricted commerce, and a code of constitutional liberty. These are the causes which have precipitated the total annihilation of New Orange -- by an effort almost as sudden and complete as if some convulsion of nature had swept away an entire city, and entombed it as a mystery of the pasí.
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