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 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
174
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
quished people such a piercing cry as palsied the weakened arm of the invader, and nerved the patriots to an uncompromising resistance,-freedom was virtually achieved for the United Prov- inces! Noble Haerlem! illustrious example of courage, endur- ance and sacrifice, ever to live thy memory, and tenderly to be cherished among the proudest and dearest of Fatherland !
Thus the name New Haerlem was aptly chosen. Like its great exemplar, it might be called upon to withstand the on- slaught of a savage and relentless foe. In such dark and trying hour,-and who could tell, after the gloomy experience of past years, but it might come,-the inspiration of a glorious name was something to incite its people to noblest proofs of fortitude and heroism. Peril was in the new enterprise, equally with labor and hardship; and those entering upon it had clearer apprehensions than we can well understand what they might be called to do or suffer to maintain and defend their new home .*
The beginning was not auspicious. Summer in 1658 brought "an unusually distempered atmosphere," and "many persons died." Others were prostrated for weeks and months "with sickness and debility." Then "flooding rains, which came about the time of harvesting." so damaged the fruits and crops as to cause "a scarcity of bread." Many feared it would "be impos- sible to get in winter forage for the cattle." With so serious a check upon labor and enterprise, but slow progress was made at New Harlem.
With a view to urging the work forward, the Director and Council, on November 27th, issued a peremptory order in these words: "All persons whom it may concern are hereby fore- warned and notified. that all those who have obtained lots or plantations in the newly-begun village of Harlem shall take possession, or cause possession thereof to be taken, and com- mence preparations for fencing and planting the same. within the space of six weeks from the date hereof, on pain of having
* Haerlem, in writing which we now drop a letter for brevity, is derived by Dutch writers from Heer Lem (Lord Willem, or William), an early prince of Fries- land. in Holland, the reputed founder of Haerlem, from him called the stadt (town) of Heer Lem; whence the easy transition into Haerlem, or Haarlem, as the Hol- landers now write it.
Among the oldest of our historic names, significant for reference. and entering into the corporate titles of our churches, our railway and navigation companies, etc., how preposterous the suggestion that this time-honored designation is become useless. and should be ignored! Rather cherish it, together with the more local names within Harlem, many of which it has been our good fortune to rescue. Apropos of this-has justice been done the worthy pioneers of Harlem. in selecting names for the streets. avenues and places? Mount Morris, from its former owners, would surely find a more significant name in Mount Benson. And Kortright Avenue, for a like reason. more happily apply to Harlem Lane than Avenue St. Nicholas! Since "God's Acre" has been desecrated, and the forefathers' gravestones uprooted as things obso- lete and useless, what more proper tribute to their memory than that here suggested?
175
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
the lots and plantations which are not entered upon within that time given and granted to others who may be disposed to im- prove them."
This premonition was not without its effect, but the winter setting in early and with severity must have retarded the work. However, in place of those who abandoned their lots came other settlers, who put up buildings and undertook to cultivate the soil. The number of landholders thus augmented, during the ensuing spring and summer building after building began to adorn the new village, among the earliest to take up a permanent resi- dence there being the Slots, Cressons, Tourneur and Montagne junior, who all bore an active part in its affairs. For the se- curity of the settlers, all of whom were required to be well armed, the government furnished eight or ten regular soldiers from Fort Amsterdam, in the pay of the company, whose presence were a necessity in the "newly-begun village," as the Indians were yet a source of anxiety, especially to the wives and families of the colonists ; the recent murder of a Swedish family at Mespat Kills serving to heighten this feeling among their fellow Swedes, of whom there were several in the new community at Harlem .*
This public disquietude arose to an actual panic when, on September 23d. the startling news arrived at the Manhattans, that a firce and bloody war had broken out between the Esopus savages and the settlers there. A general consternation seized the inhabitants upon Manhattan Island and in the neighboring settlements, many of whom forsaking their bouweries, crops and cattle, fled hastily to New Amsterdam. Operations at New Harlem were wholly suspended for a time, especially as every soldier and public servant had to leave and accompany Stuy- vesant on an expedition to Esopus. These soon returned, but things continued in a very threatening attitude the whole win- ter; and until the renewal of peace with the Wickquaskeeks and other tribes about Manhattan, early in the spring, brought some quiet to the public mind in this quarter. But the Direc- tor-General, on a second visit to Esopus, finding the savages there still hostile, resolved to give them their fill of war. He sent a message to the secretary, Van Ruyven, that the entire country was in danger, and directed him to warn the out set-
* Eldert Engelberts, one of the murdered Swedes (see Annals of Newtown, 46, SI), married, in 1656, Sarah Walker from Boston; issue Anna Maria, born the same year at Maspeth Kills, and who married, 1680, Clement Elsworth, of New York. He and three brothers (sons of Stoffel Elsworth) all left families, whence those of this name. Capt. Verdine Elsworth, of Orange County, a descendant of Clement, married Dorothy Gale, in New York, 1759, and took an active part in the old French war.
-
176
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
tlements around Manhattan to carefully guard against a sur- prise. This having been done, the next day, being March 23d, 1660, the people at New Harlem were further notified that since it was "highly necessary to keep a good watch in the newly-settled village," the Council had appointed as its mili- tary officers, Jan Pietersen Slot, as sergeant; Daniel Tourneur, as corporal, and Jaques Cresson, as "lancepesade." They called upon all the inhabitants to obey the commands of Sergeant Slot, till other orders should be given by the Director and Council. This was the first step taken for the establishment of local au- thority at Harlem. Furnished with a supply of powder from the public magazine by Derick Looten, the commissary, the inhabitants were prepared for defense. This state of unrest lasted for several months, when it was relieved by news that a peace had been ratified with the Esopus Indians, and approved by the river tribes.
Meanwhile the settlers, having steadily increased in numbers, now deemed themselves entitled to a Court of Justice, agreeably with the original conditions under which they had settled here. They met therefore and nominated a double number of the best qualified persons among them, to bear rule as "commissaries" or magistrates, and submitted their names to the Director and Council, who, by the following ordinance, confirmed three of the nominees in that office, and defined their duties and powers :
The Director-General and Council of New Netherland, To all those who shall see or hear these Presents read, send greeting and make known. That for the welfare of the community, for promoting the growth and success of the new Village of Harlem, and for the easier adminis- tration of Justice, they have deemed it necessary to erect in the afore- said village, an Inferior Court of Justice, which shall consist, provis- ionally, of the three undernamed Commissaries, to wit: Jan Pietersen, Daniel Tourneur, Pierre Cresson, before whom in the first case shall be brought all Questions, Actions and Differences arising in the said Village, between Lord and Subject, Master and Servant, Mistress and Maid, Neighbor and Neighbor, Buyer and Seller, Lessor and Lessee, Landlord and Laborer, and other such like; also all criminal actions, consisting of Misdeeds, Threats, Fighting or Wounding, whether moved and instituted by the parties or by the senior Commissary, who, until further order, shall represent the Sheriff in that place.
Said Commissaries shall do justice, to the best of their knowledge, between parties appearing before them, and may decree the giving of Bail, Acquittal or Condemnation, as the circumstances of the case shall war- rant. But any party feeling himself aggrieved, may appeal to the Director- General and Council of New Netherland, according to custom here. from all judgments exceeding Fifty Guilders, pronounced by said Com- missaries. And said Commissaries are hereby specially commissioned and authorized to enact proper Ordinances that the arable Lands and
1
177
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Gardens be carefully fenced, kept enclosed, and the broken fences properly repaired.
They hereby command all Inhabitants of the said Village, and those who may in future reside there, to respect the aforesaid Commissaries in the office to which they are now qualified, and acknowledge them as such; and all this until it be otherwise ordained by the Director-General and Council aforesaid. Thus done at the meeting of the Director-General . and Council, held at Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, the 16th .August, 1660.
The new Board of Commissaries, the duties of schout or deputy sheriff devolving upon Jan Pietersen Slot, as senior member, gave early attention to the religious needs of the com- munity. With neither a church nor a minister, the benefits of the sanctuary could be enjoyed only by making a toilsome jour- ney of eight miles, by land or by water, to Fort Amsterdam. Strong in their religious faith and attachments, so natural in a people who had but recently emerged from great convulsions in the church, and shaken off the old clogs of superstition and error, the faithful at Harlem set a high value upon God's word and ordinances. It were a mistake to suppose that they did not fell keenly the loss of those advantages which they had enjoyed in Holland, where not the cities only, but every considerable hamlet had its pastor and house of worship. The promise of "a pious orthodox minister," and of aid in sustaining him, was a great inducement for them to settle here. As yet they felt them- selves unable to do much toward supporting one, but it was all-important to secure the preaching of the Gospel within their own bounds. Through the commissaries, who had the supervis- ion of such matters, and who were all professors of the Reformed religion, this urgent need of a minister was made known to Gov- ernor Stuyvesant, and by him brought to the notice of the Direc- tors in Holland, in a letter dated October 6th, 1660.
But, providentially, one Michiel Zyperus had arrived here in the preceding year from the Dutch island of Curacao, in the West Indies, where he had labored as a proponent or licentiate. Something had caused the vice-director, Beck, in writing to Stuyvesant in August of that year, to speak of the dominie in terms ambiguous, but not flattering. He said, "Dominie Michiel Zyperus goes, with his wife, to your country, by this opportunity, in the hope of there securing a call in one place or another. I believe it would be a good chance for him, could he depart with a good testimonial, and had so comported himself as to deserve it!" The "opportunity" was by the ship Sphera Mundi, then about to sail, and in which Zyperus and his wife, Anna Duur- koop, had engaged passage for New Amsterdam, having in ad-
178
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
vance, May 16th, shipped hither "a keg of sugar," consigned to H. J. Vander Vin. But the Sphera Mundi not leaving as soon as expected, it was not till October 25th that they reached New Amsterdam.
The innuendo of Beck, as it lost its force ere it gained this cooler latitude, seems not to have harmed the young dominie. At once finding friends, the secretary, Van Ruyven, and his wife, the daughter of Dominie Megapolensis, stood as sponsors for his son Cornelius, at his baptism, December 21st. Having good letters to the church at New Amsterdam, with which he united January 4th, 1660, Dominie Zyperus is not again named till the following autumn. Perhaps he was seeking "a call in one place or another." As late as October 6th, the date of Stuyvesant's letter, it is evi- dent he had not engaged at Harlem, where there was yet no church to receive him. But before the letter bespeaking a min- ister for this place could have reached Holland, the faithful here had joined themselves in church fellowship, and secured Zyperus' services ; apparently, late in November. His purchase of a house and lot here, with the usual bouwland, etc., shows a purpose of remaining.
Unhappily, but few particulars can be given as to the origin of the church, from the paucity of records at this period. Pat- terned after the Reformed Church of Holland, it was to be under the care of the Consistory at New Amsterdam, having at the first no officers from its own membership, except a single deacon, to which place Jan La Montagne, Jr., was now chosen. Thus its organization was quite informal and incomplete. Another deacon was added after some years, whence ensued a regular succession of these officers, intrusted with the financial and elee- mosynary work of the church. Their resources were the Sunday collections, fines levied in the town court for the benefit of the poor, rent from the church lands, and burial fees, with the usual legacy left by testators of from ten to fifty guilders. Thus were met the wants of needy members and other worthy poor, as also the dominie's salary and sexton hire. And after Zyperus left, till they secured a resident pastor, which was a long period, the deacons provided a horse and wagon to bring the dominie and return him to his house in the city .*
We know little of Dominie Zyperus' services here. Obviously
No proper record of the organization of this church has been found; but of the date we may be reasonably assured. Montagne's term as deacon (which agreeably to usage in the Dutch establishment must have covered two years) expired November 30. 1662. It began, then, in 1660, the earliest date consistent with the existence of a church here, as it was just after the magistracy was instituted; prior to which there could have been no church organization. The same date is given in Corwin's Manual.
179
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
he was never installed as pastor over this church; and as a mere licentiate, he could preach and teach, but not administer the ordinances. Still more obscure is his previous history. His name, in its unlatinized form, was probably the French Cipierre, an honored one in Huguenot story; his knowledge of both the Dutch and English languages, and, as will appear, his evident predilection for episcopacy, seem to warrant the belief that he had resided in Holland, but had acquired his theology in an English divinity school; the latter opinion strengthened by the fact that the records of the Leyden University, and of that city and Amsterdam, are silent as to his name. Nor is his former service in a Dutch colony any proof that he went thither under Holland licensure, since the Church of England was quite ready to both license and ordain the Dutch ministers, though Zyperus, as is plain, had not been ordained.
His disability to administer the sacraments, to admit to church membership, or perform the marriage rite, constrained the flock at Harlem, for these several objects, to resort to Stuy- vesant's Bouwery, where Rev. Henry Selyns, pastor of the church of Brooklyn, over which he had been installed September 7th, 1660, had, at the governor's desire, instituted a Sunday afternoon and evening service, in his private chapel, on the site of the present St. Mark's Church. Only five miles to enjoy these valued privil- eges, and Dominie Selyns an able and attractive preacher, it natur- ally resulted that many of those living at Harlem sought and were received into membership at the Bouwery, during the four years that Selyns officiated, and who were wont to attend there, es- pecially to celebrate the Lord's Supper, and present their infants for baptism. Most of the marriages among them, from that of Sigismund Lucas. October 31st, 1660, were also performed by Dominie Selyns. The practice was to first publish the bans in the church at Fort Amsterdam; and this being formally certified to the dominie, he tied the nuptial knot. These Harlem marriages still stand upon the church register at Brooklyn. A few of the Harlem members not enrolled by Dominie Selyns at the Bouwery retained a connection with the lower church in the Fort. At one or the other place their children's baptisms were performed and recorded; save in only two cases, where the parties went to Brooklyn for that purpose.
No mention of a church edifice, or any effort to erect one here, occurs till four years later, and it but shows the general struggle with poverty, in the origin of the settlement. As in the older community at Brooklyn, where they still held public wor-
180
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
ship in a barn; so the infant church at New Harlem during this time had no better sanctuary than a private house, or outbuilding; as happened once again, for a like term of years, at the close of the Revolutionary War.
CHAPTER XII.
1661-1662.
REARRANGEMENT OF LANDS: NEW ALLOTMENTS.
OBACCO, though still cultivated, had been supplanted as a leading crop by others needed for home consumption, mainly wheat, maize, rye, buckwheat, peas, flax, etc. But although full garners of corn,-which term then stood for all the grains, -were rewarding the toil of these husbandmen, as yet they had no mill to grind it. This was now the felt need. If, with their grist in the canoe, they rowed some miles to Burger Joris' mill at the Dutch Kills, being the nearest; this at best could only grind three schepels per day, or two and a quarter bushels, on the word of Mark Disosway, who had lately run it under a lease ! To the distance, the dangers of Hellgate added an objection. It had been contemplated to build a tide mill and dam upon Mon- tagne's Kill, and many thought the time come to act upon it. But needing no demonstration, while backed by those convincing Dutch arguments, capacious stomachs and good appetites, yet the effort spent itself in fluent talk and foaming beakers; and it was not undertaken till done by the energy and capital of a distinguished stranger.
But out of the mill question while yet rife, and the demand for additional homes and bouweries to supply the newly-arriv- ing colonists, grew another plausible project. The farm Vreden- dal, stretching along the stream aforesaid, and still owned by Dr. Montagne, had lain for some years unused, except as cattle and goats browsed in its deserted clearings and woodlands. The Montagne family now proposed to occupy it, as is set forth in the following petition to the Director and Council, July 4th, 1661 :
To the Noble, Great and Worshipful, the Director-General and High Council in New Netherland: Represent with due respect, John De La Montagne, Junior, Jacob Kip, who married the daughter of La Mon- tagne, Senior, and William De La Montagne, for themselves and in behalf of the absent heirs, the true proprietors, pursuant to the letters patent, of the land lying back of New Harlem, called Vredendal, or commonly, Montagne's Land, to your Honors well known; how that they the peti-
182
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
tioners are willing and inclined to take possession of their land, which is situated nearly a mile (cen quartier vergaens) from New Harlem. And whereas from there it cannot be conveniently cultivated, lying beyond a kill, whereon in time a water-mill for the use of the said village can, and as they are now informed, is actually to be made; and whereas they the petitioners,-for whose greater convenience it will not only serve, in the cultivation of their lands there, but will be for the better protection of the village of New Harlem, as for the benefit of the said mill, and also afford a resting place for strangers, whether they have lost their way, or be looking for their cattle, or others,-are inclined to form there a concentration of six, eight or ten families, to remain under the jurisdiction of New Harlem, in a similar manner as this has been granted by your Honors to others; they therefore with all respect petition that they may be allowed to establish such concentration there, either on the point of the flat land, opposite the place where the mill is to be built, on the heights near the spring (fonteyn)* or otherwise wherever your Honors may deem most proper, within the jurisdiction of New Harlem; which, if your Honors are pleased to permit, they promise to settle there before the next winter, six, eight or ten families. Praying your Honors' favorable consideration of this request, we remain your Honors' servants, LA MONTAGNE, Junior. JACOB KIP, WILLEM DE LA MONTAGNE
To this came the following negative: "The request is dis- missed, because it is tending to the great prejudice and retarding of the village of Harlem; and is also contrary to the privileges granted said village some years ago." Though he does not expressly say it, we doubt not the Director, even then, had his own purpose in regard to the Montagne lands ; to be made mani- fest in due time, and that not far distant.
The decision was highly satisfactory to the people of Harlem. for several reasons. A rival settlement so near them, indeed within their very limits, was not to be thought of! Not only would it tend to weaken them by drawing away some whom they could ill afford to spare, but would naturally attract persons who otherwise would come hither to settle. Thus it would greatly obstruct and hinder their present growth; and, looking to the future, the very lands proposed to be settled. would be required for the proper subsistence and development of their own village. For three years this had been steadily growing. and at the close of 1661 contained over thirty adult male resi- dents, mostly heads of families and freeholders. The following
. Montagne's Spring .- Perennially flowing, as in the virgin days of the settle- ment, this spring is still to be found in Central Park. Its source is on a hillside. at a point (where the ways mentioned extended into the Park) on the line of 105th Street, some 200 feet west of Sixth Avenue. But this natural basin is now covered over, the water being led by a subterranean conduit to the foot of the hill, where, in a secluded. romantic nook in the rocks, it again leaps forth as playfully as of old, when it was known among the Dutch inhabitants as the "fonteyn;" whence, in following its ancient outlet or run, it is soon lost in the modern Harlem Lake. Should it not be called Montagne's Spring?
183
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
are the names of these pioneers, who first succeeded in planting the seeds of civilization and religion in this vicinity.
Michel Zyperus,
French.
Jan Sneden,
Hollander.
Jan La Montagne, Jr.,
Michiel Janse Muyden,
Daniel Tourneur,
Lubbert Gerritsen,
Jean Le Roy,
Meyndert Coerten,
Pierre Cresson,
.6
Aert Pietersen Buys,
Jaques Cresson,
Sigismundus Lucas,
..
Philippe Casier,
Jan Pietersen Slot,
Dane.
David Uzille,
Nicolaes De Meyer,
Jacques Cousseau,
Jan Laurens Duyts,
Philippe Presto,
Jacob Elderts Brouwer,
Francois Le Sueur,
Nelis Matthyssen,
Swede.
Simon De Ruine,
Walloon.
Monis Peterson Staeck,
«
David Du Four,
Jan Cogu,
Jean Gervoe,
66
Adolph Meyer,
German.
Jan De Pre,
Adam Dericksen,
Dirck Claessen,
Hollander.
Hendrick Karstens,
66
6€
La Montagne, of all these, had been longest in the country, namely, twenty-five years; and Duyts was the only one born here, being twenty years of age, and the son of Laurens Duyts, who came out with Bronck, the good Kuyter having stood as god- father for Jan at his baptism. Karstens, Gerritsen, and Claessen had had a dozen or more years' experience in the New World, Tourneur and Le Roy nearly ten, but the others less. Casier, Uzille, and Meyer, had come to Harlem only the last year. Casier and family arrived here from Mannheim in June, 1660, having in company Matthew Blanchan, and his son-in-law, An- toine Crepel; these two going to Esopus, while Casier, at New Amsterdam, engaged, "with his three beside," in timber sawing. Here De Meyer and Cousseau were in trade, as had been Mon- tagne, and Tourneur was a "sworn butcher." Slot and Matthys- sen were carpenters, Muyden a soap-boiler, De Pre a cooper, Claessen a pot-baker. Elderts a brewersman, Lucas a shoemaker, Gervoe and Coerten soldiers, Karstens, before a seaman, now worked as a mason, and Cogu had a lime-kiln, and soon took in Staeck as partner. Most of these also took up land. Pos- sibly one or more, who appear a little later, should be added. Several had already gone, after a short stay, as Matthys Boon and Simon Lane, of whom we know little but their names .*
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.