USA > New York > New York County > Harlem > Revised History of Harlem (City of New York): Its Origin and Early Annals. : Prefaced by Home Scenes in the Fatherlands; Or Notices of Its Founders Before Emigration. Also, Sketches of Numerous Families, and the Recovered History of the Land-titles > Part 15
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By his wife, Styntie Pieters, whom he married in 1641, Barent left two sons, Jan, born 1644, and Claes, born 1650. His daughter Engeltie, born 1652, married Adam Vrooman, of Schenectady, and another daughter named Tutie, born 1654, married Lembert Jansen Van Dyck. Jan Barentsen Blom became a farmer in Flatbush, married Mary, daughter of Simon Hansen, and had issue, Barent, of Flushing (died about 1735, having by wife Femmetie, sons Garret, born 1695; John, 1697; Abraham, 1703; George, 1706, and Isaac. 1709); Simon, of Jamaica (died 1722, having by wife Gertrude, sons John, born 1706; Isaac, 1708; Beruardus, 1710; Abraham, 1713; Jacob, 1715, and George, 1716, of whom Bernardus, of Newtown, blacksmith, 1731-'84, was father of Simon and grandfather of Capt. Bernardus Bloom, see Annals of Newtown), and George, of Flatbush, who died without children about 1737. Claes Barentse Blom married 1685, Elizabeth, daughter of Paulus Dericksen and widow of Paulus Michielse Vandervoort. He remained in his native town, Brooklyn, and was still living in 1737. He had several children, of whom was Barent, of Bedford, also Jennetie, who married Jacobus Lefferts and Peter Luyster, the first the grandfather of the late Judge Lefferts, of Brooklyn. Barent, of Bedford, whose wife was also named Femmetie, died in 1756, having children Nicholas, Jacob, Phebe. Elizabeth, Jane, Barbara and Maria. Nicholas died at Bedford about 1782, leaving Jacob and Mattie. Consult Bloom wills, Surro- rogate's Office. New York. For other facts touching this lineage we refer, with pleasure, to the Bergen Genealogy, in its new and improved form, a perfect thesaurus of our Dutch family history, yet, to our regret, must take issue with it upon the Bloom ancestry.
Frederick Arents Bloem, ancestor of the Bloom family of New York City, distinct from the former, was from Swarte Sluis, between Zwolle and Meppel, in Overyssel, and came over via Amsterdam, in 1654, with and under engagement to Laurens Andrisz Van Boskrk, turner and common ancestor of the Van Buskirk family. Bloom, also a turner, and hence often called "De Drayer," married at New Amsterdam, in 1656, Grietie Pieters, from Breda; issue, nine children, four being sons, viz .: Arent, born 1657; Pieter, 1661; Johannes, 1671, and Jacob, 1676, of whom at least the first and last married and had children.
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tion of Dr. Montagne, and at his own cost. Then,-it was the ap- proved custom,-when the assembled burghers had gravely lit their pipes and spent some honest regrets, over their wine and beer, at the untimely exit of one thus snatched away at the manly age of thirty-one years, the scene closed over Henry De Forest.
As De Forest was childless, his estate fell to the widow and next of kin. Dr. Montagne took charge of the plantation, and saw the ripening crops properly harvested. He also finished the house and barn, till which he boarded at the house of Van Curler. An account of his expenses while in charge of the farm affords us a bill of fare which might challenge the luxuries of a European table. Items "powder, shot, and balls" suggest not only a care for their personal security, but as well the means of supplying their larder with savory venison, deer being so plentiful in the island as often to stroll within gun-shot of the farm house. Be- sides a variety of game, with fish, and "salted eels," pea soup, wheat and rye bread, butter, eggs, and poultry, they adopted the wholesome native dish called sapaan, a mush made of Indian corn.
The year following, Andries Hudde, an ex-member of Van Twiller's council, won the heart and hand of the young widow De Forest, and they were married. Preparing to visit Holland with his bride, Hudde engaged Hans Hansen, from Bergen in Norway, by trade a shipwright, but with some knowledge of farming, and who during eleven years' residence had "borne a respectable character," to cultivate tobacco, upon shares, on the De Forest farm, Hudde pledging to send him six or eight farm laborers, with suitable tools, "by the first opportunity of any vessel leaving a port of Holland." Lastly, prior to leaving, Hudde made good his title by a "groundbrief," or patent, from Director Kieft, dated July 20th, 1638, none having been taken out before; in fact, no such deeds had yet been issued to any of the settlers. Only on June 24th preceding had the governor and council, upon a petition from "the free people," resolved to give titles for the farms in course of improvement. This conveyance to Hudde, here given entire, is the earliest of its kind known relating to Harlem lands, if not the very first, in point of date, issued by the govern- ment.
We, the Director and Council of New Netherland, residing on the Island of Manhatas and in Fort Amsterdam, under the authority of the High and Mighty Lords, the States General of the United Netherlands, and the General Incorporated West India Company, at their Chambers at Amsterdam; By these presents do publish and declare, that pursuant to the Liberties and Exemptions allowed on the 7th day of June, A. D. 1629, to Lords Patroons, of a lawful, real and free proprietorship; We have
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granted transported, ceded, given over and conveyed: and by these pres- ents We do grant, give over and convey. to and for the beboot of Andries Hadde, a piece of land containing one hundred morgen. situated on the North East end of the Island of Manhatas. behand Curler's land; on condition that he and his successors stall acknowledge their High Mightiness, the Managers aforesand as their Sovereign Lords and Pa- troons, and shall render at the end of ten years after the actual settle- ment and cultivation of the land. the just tenth part of the products with which God may bless the soll, and from this time forth annually for the House and Lot, deliver a pair of capons to the Director for the Holidays; constituting and substituting the aforesaid Hadde in our stead and state, the real and actual possessor thereof. and at the same time giving to him or to his successors full and irrevocable might, authority and special license, tanquam actor et procurator in rem suain at propriom, the afore- said land to enter, peaceably to possess, inhabit. cultivate, occupy and use. and also therewith and thereof to do, bargain and dispose, in like manner as he might do with his own lands honestly and lawfully obtained, without they, the grantors, in their said quality, thereto having, reserving, or saving in the least, any part, action or ownership. other than heretofore specified: Now and forever, finally desisting. abstaining. withdrawing and renouncing by these presents; promising, moreover, this their trans- port, and what may be done by virtue thereof, firmly, inviolably and irrevocably to maintain, fulfil and execute. as in equity they are bound to ; in all good faith, without fraud or deceit. In witness whereof, these presents are confirmed with our usual signature and with our Seal. Done in Fort Amsterdam the 20th of July, 1638. WILLEM KIEFT, DR.
All their arrangements made, including authority to Do. Bogardus to administer the De Forest estate in their absence, Hudde and his Gertrude sailed for Holland, we believe in the company's ship the Herring. of twenty guns, which had brought out Director Kieft. Naturally, after a nine years' absence, Hudde longed to see his native city, Amsterdam, and his widowed mother, Aeltie Schinckels ; his father, Rutger Hudde, was dead. Besides the business of his wife's estate, certain sums due him from his guardians at Amsterdam and deposited in the Orphan Chamber required to be looked after. as well as moneys coming from his deceased brother, Claes Hudde, and a legacy at Campen, left him by his old aunt Seurbeeck, who had lately died; amounting in all to nearly 8,000 Al .!
Since Montagne took charge of the plantation he had ex- pended over a thousand guilders, in paying claims against it, in completing the improvements, and for current expenses, as per his statement rendered to Dominie Bogardus July 23d, and which had been approved and taken to Holland. Wishing a settlement, he petitioned the council, September 16th, that Bogardus as adminis- trator be required to assume the care of the farm and refund him the amount which he had advanced upon account of it. As Bogardus was not prepared to do this except by a sale of the property, the court at their next meeting thought best and so
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decreed, that the plantation should be put up at public vendue in Fort Amsterdam, October 7th, "for the benefit of the widow," and that from the proceeds of the sale Bogardus should pay Mon- tagne "such moneys as he had disbursed for the improvement of the bouwery." The sale taking place, the farm, with its fixtures, was struck off to Montagne for the sum of 1700 gl. Included were portions of the recent crops of tobacco and grain, two milch cows and other cattle, two goats, domestic fowls, farming tools, and a "wey schuyt" or boat used by the farmers to bring salt hay from their meadow.
But Montagne had now to meet a new vexation, for no sooner had the farm changed owners than Tobias and Willem, refusing to work, applied to the council, October 14th, to be released from their engagement, as they were not hired by the defendant, but by his uncle." Montagne, however, "produces the contracts made between the plaintiffs and Gerard De Forest, from which it clearly . appears that the plaintiffs are bound to serve said De Forest or his agent for three sucessive years after their arrival in New Netherland, and the defendant further exhibiting power and au- thority from the said De Forest to employ the plaintiffs in his service till the expiration of their bounden time; all this being con- sidered, the plaintiffs are condemned to serve out their term with La Montagne without further objection, he promising to pay them the wages which shall be due them at the expiration of the said term." The secret of the dissatisfaction with Tobias, and which had caused him to vent a little Dutch spleen against his employer, would appear in his complaint to others that he had been stinted in his allowance of meat at Montagne's house. But when put to the proof of this also before the court, he confessed to having wronged Montagne in what he had said, admitting "that he had his share of the beef as well as the plaintiff." Thus this trouble ended.
Jonkheer Van Curler. constantly in the public service, and now engrossed with the duties of inspector of merchandise under the new director, found it expedient, May 18th, 1638, to lease the Otter-spoor farm, which he improved at great expense, to Claes Cornelissen Swits, for a term of three years, the lessee en- gaging to employ a good plowman, and Van Curler an active boy to assist him. The rent was to be paid in produce, and the land, when vacated, to be left well sowed. But some months later the Otter-spoor changed owners, Cornelis Van Tienhoven, provincial secretary. becoming its purchaser, "at the request and on behalf of Mr. Coenraet Van Keulen, merchant, residing in
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Amsterdam," for the sum of 2900 gl. The Van Keulens of that city were much interested in New Netherland, one of them, Mat- thys Van Keulen, being a principal partner director of the West India Company in the Amsterdam Chamber. Coenraet, a kins- man of Matthys, we presume, with his friend Elias De Raet, also a prominent director of the company, and who had befriended Kieft in getting the directorship here, invested in lands on Manhat- tan Island, and subsequently Kieft became their agent to manage this property, including the Otter-spoor after Van Tienhoven's charge of it ceased. On January 25, 1639, Van Tienhoven gave a new lease to Swits, and with him, as a partner, Jan Claessen Al- teras, late planter on Verken, or Blackwell's Island. Two span of horses, three cows, farming utensils, and "twelve schepels of grain in the ground" were included in the lease, which now was to run for six years, the rent payable in live stock and butter and "one eighth of all the grain with which God shall bless the field."
Claes Cornelissen Swits' earlier history is little known. Cap- tain De Vries, in noting the circumstances of his death, styles him a Duytsman, by which term the Hollanders of that day meant a German. But his true nationality is clearly indicated by the ad- junct to his name, which when used is commonly written Switz or Switzer, and so we may accept the tradition held by his descend- ants that he was a Swiss. He and his family had sojourned in the Island of Schouwen, and thence came to Amsterdam, boarding with other Germans at Peter De Winter's inn before embarking for this country. He had been here now some five years, being advanced in life, and on a chosen spot at Turtle Bay, on the East River, "had built a small house and set up the trade of a wheel- wright." With a still vigorous manhood, some education and means, and a fair business tact, Claes Rademaaker, or Claes the Wheelmaker, as from his occupation he was familiarly called, proved "a very useful man," given to enterprises outside of his regular calling, assisted probably by his sons Cornelis and Adrian, as he was by Alteras at the Otter-spoor. All this made his tragic death some years later the more regretted. He was killed by an Indian, and, strangely enough, his son Cornelis, from whom the present Swits family are descended, met with a similar fate at Harlem, as will be further noticed.
Van Tienhoven had obtained his deed for the Otter-spoor
* Jacobus Van Curler remained many years in this country. He took an active part, in 1657, in the settlement of New Utrecht, where he built one of the first houses, and served as town clerk and magistrate. At the age of sixty years he re- turned to Holland, sailing from New York, May 29, 1669, in the ship Duke of York. On losing his first wife, Adriana, Van Curler had married, in 1652, a worthy but much-injured maiden, Lysbet Van Hoogvelt, whom the false-hearted Van Tienhoven,
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from Jacobus Van Curler* only the previous May, and having now "been fully satisfied and paid" by Van Keulen of Amsterdam, he executed a conveyance to the latter for that valuable property, August 22d. 1639, subject only to the lease to Swits. From its new owner this large section became known in all the subse- quent history of the town as Van Keulen's Hook.
A most valuable accession was now made to the settlers, re- sulting from the more liberal measures recently adopted by the States General and the West India Company to promote coloni- zation to New Netherland. Captain Jochiem Pietersen Kuyter,. a Danish gentleman, born in the district of Ditmarsen in Hol- stein, and liberally educated, had arisen to position, having held a command in the East Indies under commission of King Christian IV. He was now in his prime, forty-two years of age, and had acquired considerable means. Resolving to come to this country, he made his plans known to the directors of the company at Amsterdam, who showed him marked attention, not only giving him every assurance, but instructing Director Kieft to afford him all needed facilities, in order the better to encour- age others. Engaging the Fire of Troy, a private armed vessel at Hoorn, he shipped "a large cargo of cattle," perhaps of the fine breed for which his native Ditmarsen was famous, and sailed for New Netherland, accompanied by his friend and coun- tryman, Seignior Jonas Bronck. Each was attended by his family and a number of farmers or herdsmen, and with them came several laborers sent out by Andries Hudde, from which person, it is highly probable, Kuyter had received such informa- tion respecting the grazing lands upon Manhattan Island as served to direct him in his choice of location. Early in July, 1639, the ship, with its valuable cargo, reached New Amsterdam, where its arrival was hailed as a great public good.t In the joy of his honest heart, Captain De Vries, who returned to Manhattan on July 16th, but a few days after Kuyter had arrived, wrote in his journal, "It were to be wished that one to three hundred such families, with laborers, had come, for then this would soon be made a prosperous country."
So warmly commended to the favor of Kieft, Kuyter imme-
when . in Amsterdam, in 1650, had cruelly deceived by a promise of marriage, and induced to accompany him to this country, though he had a wife and children living here. Exposing him publicly in court, Lysbet found great sympathy, and Tienhoven's baseness being proved by testimony sent for to Holland, it came near going hard with him, but he escaped punishment only to become a few years later a public swindler, a fugitive from justice, and, as was believed, a suicidel
t De Vries, in the journal of his voyages, places Kuyter's arrival under June, but it is shown by other data that the journal is here at fault as regards the month.
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diately obtained from him a grant of that extensive and beautiful tract before noticed, called Schorakin. On these rich lands was found ample pasturage for his stock, and here Kuyter built his thatch-roofed dwelling and out-buildings, enclosing the whole with a high palisade fence, with proper gates. In due time fruit-trees and various improvements adorned his home. This plantation, which embraced about four hundred acres, may now be located in general terms as that section of Harlem bordering on the Harlem River north of what composed the old village lots, and referred to in title deeds, even till a modern date, as Jochem Pietersen's Flat; though Kuyter, in the gratitude of his pious heart, named it Zengendal, or Vale of Blessing.
Montagne had chosen for his bouwery,-its air of sweet re- pose so in contrast with the turbulent scenes of his early life,-the name Vredenval, or Quiet Dale. Alas, he was to realize but little of the happiness which he anticipated in its possession and use! Tobias and Willem, his two farmers, having served out their time, were now to leave him, the former to occupy a bouwery near Papparinamin. A question arising as to some extra pay due them, under an agreement made before Montagne came, and to which Jacob Stoffelsen was privy, he being at that time "werkbaas" over the company's negroes, who usually assisted in the heavy work on new bouweries, such as cutting palisades. clearing the land, etc., Stoffelsen testified "that in the year 1636 Henry De Forest promised to pay the said persons twenty florins annually for their improvements." Parties came to a set- tlement March 5th, 1640, when Teunissen and Bont gave a receipt in full, acknowledging themselves to have been well treated and paid to their satisfaction by Mr. La Montagne during and for their three years' service on the farm Vredendal.
After a year's absence Mr. and Mrs. Hudde returned to New Netherland, apparently in the Herring, which arrived here again July 7th, 1639, bringing goods and supplies purchased by Hudde in Amsterdam, where before sailing he had been obliged to borrow two hundred carolus guilders from Mr. Jonas Bronck, to be paid when they should arrive in New Netherland. But Hudde now learned of the sale of the farm Vredenval and the defeat of his plans as a tobacco-planter. Some questions arose. as was natural, and for a full year the legal transfer of the prop- erty from Hudde to Montagne was delayed, though the latter had made the former a payment upon it of 200 gl. July 18th, soon after he arrived from Holland. But the parties finally came
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to terms July 12th, 1640, and on August 28th ensuing Dr. Mon- tagne received his deed .*
This plantation and those at Zegendal, the Otter-spoor, and Great Barent's Island were the only places yet occupied in this vicinity, with one exception. When Kuyter set him down at Schorakin, his friend Bronck located at Ranachqua, on the other side of the Great Kill, directly opposite Kuyter's land. Bronck was of a family long distinguished in Sweden, though probably himself from Copenhagen, where some of his kindred lived. He last resided at Amsterdam, and had there married his. wife, daughter of Jurlaen Slagboom. His interviews there with Hudde and Kuyter upon the subject of New Netherland having quickened, if they did not originate, his purpose to emigrate, he at once applied his ample means to securing a proper outfit, and with his family, farmers, female servants, and cattle, arrived here in the Fire of Troy, as before stated. Immediately, with consent of the government, he purchased from the Iidian sachem Tackamack and his associates the large tract of land called by them Ranachqua, lying between the Great Kill and the river Ah-qua-hung, now the Bronx, conprising over five hundred acres, and since included in the Manor of Morrisania. Here Bronck began at once to make substantial improvements, including "a stone house, covered with tiles, a barn, tobacco house, two barricks," etc. Pieter Andriesen and Laurens Duyts also leased portions of his land, July 21st, 1639, for three years, for raising tobacco and maize, from the proceeds of which they were to reimburse Bronck for their passage money in the Fire of Troy, which he had paid. Upon the same "stipula- tions," Cornelis Jacobsen Stille (later of Harlem)and his brother Jan took, August 15th, part of Bronck's land, with a good dwel- ling and some stock, for six years. With his house neatly if not richly furnished for those times, and his vrouw pronounced "a good housekeeper," Bronck was pleasantly situated.
North of Bronck's land, only separated from it by the kill Mannepies (the Indian name of Cromwell's Creek) was the hilly tract or district of Kaxkeek, "lying over against the flats of the Island of Manhatas, extending in its length along the kill" from
Andries Hudde, as before said, was the son of Rutger Hudde, of Amsterdam, and was born in 1608. He arrived in New Netherland in 1629, and in 1633, became a permanent member of Van Twiller's council; in 1642 was appointed the public sur- veyor, and in 1644 was sent as chief commissary to the Delaware, where he subse- quently held other offices, and also officiated as voorleser in the church, under the ministry of Dominie Lock. Here he lost his wife, she that had been Mrs. De Forest, but he married again in 1657. Dismissed at his own request from the public service, he left for Maryland, intending to set up a brewerv there, but died at Appoquinimy, November 4. 1663. On April 19, 1667. Isaac De Forest, "representing Andries Hudde, deceased," sold his house and lot on the Heere-weg.
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"opposite the high hill of the flat land" till it reached "the source of the said kill." On August 3d, 1639, just about the time of Bronck's purchase, Kaxkeek was also bought for the company, from Tacka- mack aforesaid and others. Now a populous district of Westchester, in fact forming a part of New York City, then it had yet to welcome its first white occupant, and Bronck and his farmers had only for neighbors the native tenants of the forest, the prowling beast and savage. But the devout Bronck had an arm whereon to lean; a Lutheran in faith, he had brought with him Luther's catechism and other devotional books, with his most prized folio Danish Bible. And as he drew therefrom a name for his own home, Enmaus, it carried with it the sweet assurance that even in this secluded wilderness his risen Lord would reveal himself, if not visibly, as to the two disciples of old, yet with tokens of his presence no less comforting because no less real to his eye of faith.
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CHAPTER VIII.
1640-1645.
INDIAN TROUBLES.
T HRICE happy was the colonist in the friendship of the Indian; for he coveted his furs, to be had for a trifle, but worth at New Amsterdam a good price in cash or its equivalent; he ate of his maize when his bread failed, and often stood in need of his labor or other service. And the advantage was mutual. The red man was quick to see that various articles in use among the Dutch would be of equal use to him. He admitted the superiority of the Holland duffels,-a thick-napped woolen cloth, blue or red, -by adopting it for his own wear. No longer prostrating himself through fear on the discharge of a musket, he could now handle this firearm, and would give a pile of beavers for an old gun and some ammunition. But of worse consequence, he acquired a taste for the Dutch fire-water, and for a draught of the exhilarating beverage would strip the last fur covering from his body!
His visit to the bouweries or farms upon peaceful errands, usually for something which he needed and to barter a little game or peltry, was no longer a novelty, and the sight of these savages in their canoes, daily passing and repassing on the streams and rivers, or engaged in their favorite employment of fishing, excited no apprehensions. "The farmers," writes Kuyter, "pursue their out- door labor without interruption, in the woods as well as in the field, and dwell safely, with their wives and children, in their houses, free from any fear of the Indians."
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