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 25
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But, abating none of his vigilance, the zealous Waldron soon found more work at hand. A quilt had been stolen from Jan Dircksen, usually called, from his former occupation, "Jan the Soldier." Waldron searched in all the houses without finding it. He then called the townsfolk together in the square, and remind- ing them that no stranger had been in the village, declared that some one of them must have taken the quilt. Hereupon it oc- curred to Pierre Cresson that Jan Teunissen, the brother-in-law of Dircksen, had told him, one day before the quilt was missed, that Jan the Soldier had only an empty chest in the house. Sus- picion at once fastened upon Teunissen; and the more readily as during the previous winter Verveelen's negro had been caught by· his master taking a schepel of grain from his barn toward Teunissen's house, and had laid it upon Teunissen; albeit, the integrity of the negro, as will be seen by and by, was not above suspicion. Waldron therefore asked Teunissen "how he knew that there was nothing in Jan the soldier's chest." Getting a curt answer, Waldron retorted, "You may as well be guilty of stealing the quilt, as of Sieur Verveelen's corn!" This roused Teunissen to defend his injured reputation, and forthwith he summoned Waldron before the Mayor's Court, to answer for having "accused him of being a thief."
But when the case came up, August 22d, Waldron rehearsed
219
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
with such effect all the suspicious circumstances, backed up by written testimony, as to completely turn the tables against Teu- nissen, who was not only made to pay for defendant's lost time, with the costs of suit, but was sharply reprimanded in these terms: "And if further complaints of your improper conduct . come before the court, you shall be punished as the merits of the case may require, for an example to others !"
This case perhaps was clearer to the court than the record makes it, but it should be viewed in the light of certain collateral facts. The conflicting views and feelings which had divided society at Harlem into the English and anti-English parties, had brought various individuals and families into most unfriendly and even hostile relations. It plainly crops out both in the na- ture and increased amount of the business which occupied the two courts. This ill-will, added to the spirit of lawlessness before noticed, while it lent eagle eyes to suspicion, disposed the courts to be strict; their decisions, especially when based upon circum- stantial evidence, to which in those early times undue weight was often attached, were very liable to be partial, if not to wholly ignore such mitigating or rebutting circumstances as might even warrant an acquittal. Then Waldron, his official training akin to that of a modern detective, intent only on finding the evidence leading to conviction, and with ideas of the rigid Stuyvesant stripe, whose severity often met a rebuke from superiors in Hol- land, was prone as magistrate to administer justice sternly, and law to the letter. Add to this Teunissen's uniform good stand- ing, and there is. room to question whether he was fairly treated. The same may apply to the case of another person, most respect- ably connected, who the same year was accused of theft, declared guilty, and forbidden a residence in the town."
. Jan Teunissen, better appreciated by a later court held December 14, 1666, was appointed, with Lubbert Gerritsen and Jeremias Jansen Hagenaer, to arbitrate in a difference between Nelis Matthyssen and Cornelis Jansen, concerning timber; and again at another court, October 24, 1667, when the high sheriff Manning presided, was named, with Valentine Claessen as referee in re Johannes Buys vs. Jan Duyts and Lubbert Gerritsen. He was rarely referred to while living at Harlem, otherwise than as Jan Teunissen, but from his birthplace, Tilburg, as before noticed, he ultimately took the name Van Tilburg. Jan Teunissen married at New Amsterdam, 1655. Tryntie Pieters Cronenberg, an orphan, though 23 years of age, who had been sent out that year at the charge of the city of Amsterdam. They settled at Fort Orange, Teunissen getting a house and lot; but for selling liquor to Indians he fell under severe penalties. He thence went to' the Delaware to follow his trade as carpenter, found times hard, and applied to be a soldier. Returning, in 1659, he worked some time on Long Island, and then came to Harlem. Engaging in farming, he bought Dirck Claessen's place, but was unable to keep it, though he took it up again in 1668, on a lease from Tourneur, then the owner. The next year he hired one of Archer's farms at Fordham, but finally removed to New York. Here his wife joined the church in 1674, and he the year after. In their will, made January 24, 1686, they name their children, Peter, Barent, Johannes, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham, who are to share equally their real and personal estate. Teunissen outlived Tryntie, married again in 1691, and in 1703 had his third wife.
Peter Van Tilburg. born 1658, at Albany, became a bolter in New York, married,
·
220
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Soon after this, Montagne, the Vermilyes, and some others, fell into a sore wrangle with Tourneur, and all because Tour- neur's dog had bitten one of Montagne's hogs. It went so far that Tourneur cited Montagne and two others before Waldron's court, September 28th, when each of the three was fined a pound flemish, "for the benefit of the poor." They appealed, but the Mayor's Court sustained the sentence. The natural effect was to still more sour the parties. Montagne, cherishing the pur- pose to sell out and leave (arrangements for which he completed only just before his death), now disposed of his village property and bouw-land, recently his brother's, with the crop he had just sown thereon, to David Demarest, late of Staten Island, who became a resident of the town, where he at once took a promi- nent position.
One of the three individuals fined as aforesaid was Monis Peterson, who was also complained of at the same session of the town court for an assault upon Jacques, "the herdsman of said village," with whom he had a dispute about his oxen. For this he was fined 100 gl. The burly Swede not only refused to pay the fine, but threatened the constable to serve him as he had Jacques! This, even from the belligerent Monis, was insuffer- able; Waldron arraigned the offender before the Mayor's Court, which, approving the former sentence, directed Staeck to be kept in custody till he gave security for his good behavior. But enough. These cases, which illustrate the times, and possess interest as showing the then procedure, are but samples of the many which engaged the courts, and supplied topics for the village coteries, during the latter half of 1665.
But the signal event of that year, in the town's history, awakens more agreeable reflections, and deserves a particular notice. Do. Selyns had received into his spiritual fold at the Bouwery, up to his leaving for Holland, July 23d, 1664, seven- teen of the Harlem residents of both sexes, whose names, after 1685, Lysbeth, daughter of Frans Van Hooghten, and had children (with three named Frans who died in infancy), Johannes, born 1686; Abraham, 1694; Frans, 1699; Catherine, 1700; Petrus, 1703. The Negro Plot of 1712 was begun by a slave of Mr. Van Tilburg's, who, at midnight, April 6, set his master's outbuildings on fire. when the citizens running thither, the negroes killed several. Peter died at Newark, N. J., in 1734, aged 76 years. Barent Van Tilburg, born at Flatbush, married, 1686. Marritie, daughter of Adam Brower, and widow of Jacob Pietersen. He had children, Geesie, born 1691, and Jan, 1697, and was a widower in 1793, living in New York. Johannes Van Tilburg was born at New Utrecht. He and his brother, Isaac, served Leisler as soldiers in 1600. He married, 1686, Anna Maria Van Giesen, and, 1690, Margaret, daughter of John Conselyea, who survived him, and married Claes Bogert, 1703. Children, Teunis, born 1693; Peter, 1694; John, 1702, and Catherine, 1703, who married Cornelius Turk, Jr. Jacob Van Tilburg, born at Harlem, married, 1688, Grietie, daughter of Abraham Kermer, and widow of Hendrick de Boog; was a mariner, and had children, Metje, born 1692; Catherine, 1698; Abraham, 1700. His widow married Derick Benson, of New York. Isaac Van Tilburg, born 1670, at Ford- ham, married, 1693, Aeltie, daughter of Hendrick Barens Smith, of Bushwick. He survived but four years; his widow, in 1698, married Pierre Chaigneux, of New York.
1
221
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
he left, were transferred to the register of the church at Fort Amsterdam, to which several of them had previously belonged. Other communicants living at Harlem (Vermeille, Waldron and Slot, and their wives) still held their original connection with that church. This seems indicative of two facts,-the yet im- perfect organization of the church at Harlem, and its dependence, by mutual agreement, upon the city pastors and consistory .*
The ensuing winter the congregation, though not strong in numbers, undertook to build a house of worship. A pleasant little episode growing out of it was "a feast' given to General Stuyvesant by the three magistrates Tourneur, Montagne, and Verveelen, but probably acting as well in their specialties of deacon, voorleser, and innkeeper. It came off January 23d, 1665, costing the deacons' fund 21 gl. I st., and so was plainly identified with the building movement, as to which, and probably other matters affecting their interests, they naturally sought counsel of their honored guest before he should leave on his intended voyage to Holland,-he whose advice they had hitherto so greatly leaned upon and valued, both as their governor and an old elder and father in Israel. In order to provide the ways and means it was resolved to lay out additional tuynen, or gar- dens, suitable also for building lots, to be sold to actual free- holders, or residents, at 25 gl. each," for the benefit of the town." This was at once carried into effect. The gardens, twenty in number, and containing about half an acre each, lay at the west end of the village plot, and ran north and south from street to street. To distinguish them from the others they were called the Buyten Tuynen, or Out Gardens, as they lay outside the palisade. Dirck Claessen bought No. I, next to the town plot; Daniel Tourneur, No. 2; Claude Le Maistre, No. 3, and Nicholas
· The church members referred to were the following:
Jan La Montagne, Jr., and Maria Vermeille, his wife. Daniel Tourneur and Jacquline Parisis, his wife. Johanes Verveelen and Anna Jaersvelt, his wife.
Joost Van Oblinus, Sr., and Martina Westin, his wife.
Joost Van Oblinus, Jr., and Maria Sammis, his wife. Glaude le Maistre and Hester du Bois, his wife.
Pierre Cresson and Rachel Cloos, his wife.
Jaques Cresson and Maria Renard, his wife.
Jean le Roy.
Isaac Vermeille and Jacomina Jacobs, his wife.
Resolved Waldron and Tanneke Nagel, his wife.
Pieter Jansen Slot and Marritie Van Winckel, his wife.
Of former residents or landholders here the following had been church members; De Meyer, though a non-resident, being still a proprietor: Nicholas de Meyer and I.ydia Van Dyck, his wife.
Hendrick F. Vander Vin and Wyntie, his wife.
Jacques Cousseau and Madeline du Tulliere, his wife. Philip Casier and Marie Taine, his wife.
Willem de la Montagne. Anna Verveelen.
Arent Jansen Moesman.
Juriaen Hanel.
:
222
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
De Meyer, No. 4. Captain Delavall engaged the next four num- bers, but the rest went off slowly. For the history of the church erection, at best obscure, yet its every detail interesting, we are largely indebted to Montagne's accounts as treasurer, showing what the deacons expended for materials, labor, etc .* Doubtless, as is usual in new settlements, the people undertook the incipient labor of preparing the timber, etc., as a voluntary offering. This work, of which no record remains, had evidently been completed and the building enclosed and ready for seats at the date of the "feast" aforesaid, as the deacons' accounts indicate.
The church was built on the north side of the Great Way (since the Church Lane), on a vacant lot between the east end of the old gardens and the river, seemingly reserved for this purpose. The work, suspended during the farming season, was resumed on the approach of winter by the mechanics Jan Gulick and Nelis Matthyssen, in order to make the house more comfort- able before cold weather should set in. And some special, genial occasion it must have been, most likely a dedicatory service,
* The Deacon's accounts covering the time the church was building are sufficiently curious to be given entire. The charges are in florins and stivers
The Worthy Deaconry, Credit:
1665, 23 Jan. By feast given Stuyvesant by D. Tourneur, J. Verveelen and J. Montagne ...
" a book by J. Montagne.
:
5 planks for benches at the Church.
7: 10
labor making the benches.
8 : 0
16 1b. nails for ditto. 12
to Wessels for bringing the Dominie
7 : 0
.. to the Sexton (Koster) ditto
6 :
o
20 Dec.
nails for the house on the Church lot.
15 :
O
nails for the Church ..
49 : 2
wages for labor at the Church.
36 : 13
a piece of gold to the Preacher.
50 0
nails for the church ...
16 : 5
1666, 27 Jan.
3 Feb.
to the Sexton.
6 : 0
25 Mar.
ditto
6 : 0
..
25 Apl.
17: 18
planks for the Church.
90 : 0
..
Hendrick Karstens for raising up the Church and making the foundation (stander) .
30 : 0
" ditto for plastering the same.
6 : o
I Dec.
to the Sexton.
18 : o
1667, 30 Jan.
at allotment of the seats ..
4 : 0
Jan Teunissen for a plank for the Church.
1 :10
7 Mar.
" to the Sexton ...
6 : O
Nelis far making the table.
3
. I lb. nails ...
3 :
o
3 planks for the table and benches.
4: 10
" Bart the mason.
O
Sept.
to the Sexton
6 : O
2 schepels rye to sow upon the Church lot.
9 :
o
1668,
Jan.
to the Sexton.
6 : o
a town book.
4 : 0 19
Matys for taking away the Dominie.
" to the masons and lime by Verveelen
19 : 0
f. 369 : 18
27
40 :
.€ wages for labor at the Church to Jan Gulcke and Nelis .. ditto to ditto.
24 : 40 : o
nails for the Church
f. 21 : 19
6 : 0
223
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
which in midwinter brought the dominie, and drew forth the generous acknowledgment of twenty dollars in gold! Do. Samuel Megapolensis had now taken Selyns' charge, his father being senior pastor at New York, and Samuel Drisius his colleague. To one of these, doubtless, Harlem was indebted then, as at stated times thereafter, for ministerial visits and services,-always notable occasions, and welcome interruptions to the ordinary routine of the voorleser.
Better for the peace of the village had Madam Gossip never made her debut there; but, alas! the unfriendly prejudices which had crept into the community gave a tempting opportunity to employ her insinuating but venomed tongue to the injury of a worthy church member ; for "slander loves a shining mark." To speak plainly, three Dutch matrons, Sarah Teunis, Tryntie Peiters, and Mayke Oblinus, with no fear of law or husbands before their eyes, had "falsely accused of theft" a French woman, and neigh- bor, none other than the wife of Jacques Cresson. The first two being the wives of Jan the soldier and Jan Teunissen; may be it was a retort upon the Cressons, for the affair of the stolen quilt. Upon the injured lady's complaint, Mayor Delavall, March 27th, 1666, directed the under sheriff and constable at Harlem to inter- rogate the fair transgressors, "regarding the matter at issue," and advise him by the hand of Mrs. Cresson. So much for her advantage did the investigation prove, that the Mayor required the trio to make a public confession before the court at New Harlem, and also sign a writing to that effect, that they knew nothing of her whom they had defamed, "except what is honor- able and virtuous." But mark the inevitable costs of justice in these neat little bills which the clerk at Harlem presented to the amiable litigant.
Marie Renard, Dr.
To an extra court. f. 25 : 0
seven citations 4 : 4
a copy of examination. 2 : 0
a copy of the appeal . (nullatie) . 2 : 0
a copy of the account. 12
f. 33 : 16
To after signing
I : 3
« signing the certificate. I : 3
copy of the certificate. 2 : 6
" notice of extra court. 3 : 0
copy of the appeal. 3 : 0
f. II : 0
.
224
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Marie, thus injured in her good fame and purse, was of Huguenot parentage and of unquestioned piety, her husband also being one of the "real Reformed of France." Once having "some remarkable experiences, of a light shining upon her, while she was reading in the New Testament about the sufferings of the Lord Jesus," it greatly startled her, yet "left such a joy and testimony in her heart as she could not describe." Constrained, as she was, to speak to others about "this glory," her brother-in- law, Nichols De La Plain, rashly told her, "You must not go to church any more; you are wise enough." These words, the tempter's prompting to spiritual pride, impressed and grieved her, " for not to go to church, and to leave the Lord's Supper, she could not in her heart consent." So, seeking higher counsel, she remained steadfast in her religion, whose support she so much needed in the peculiar trials which fell to her lot .*
. This lady died at Philadelphia, October 1, 1710. (See N. Cresson's letters, p. 401.
CHAPTER XV.
1666-1667.
..
THE NICOLLS PATENT; THE COURT, MILL, CHURCH.
H ARLEM was now a well-ordered rural hamlet, owning some eighty head of neat cattle. These, from April till Novem- ber, were to be seen grazing on the commons west of the village, usually in care of a herder, hired by those who kept stock, on terms such as were at first made with Du Four and Peterson .* For the same reason the young horses, cattle, and swine, after being branded or marked, with the initials of the owner's name, or otherwise, were turned out to feed in the common woods, free as the native deer, till necessary to look them up and install them from autumn rains and winter snows. The growing need of en- larged commonage, and of having the limits thereof fixed, natu- rally brought up the subject of applying for a general patent, which should confirm the community in these and their other rights and privileges, and also secure to them the large outlays made in building their houses, as well as what it had cost them to clear, fertilize, and fence their lands. Governor Nicolls, on
· Mans Staeck was from Abo, in Finland, and was best known as Monis Peter- son, bearing a prenomen common among the Swedes. Being at New Amsterdam when the order issued for laying out the village of Harlem, he took part in that enterprise by securing a house and bouwery, but which he first rented and then disposed of, entering into a three years' partnership, January 17, 1662, with Jan Cogu, a fellow Swede, but better educated, from whom Peterson received the half of his allotment of land, with house, barn, etc., for 125 guilders, giving Cogu in exchange a half interest in a lime kiln, with a canoe valued at 15 guilders, and a balance in cash. With farm and lime kiln and the herding to attend to, they also engaged, August 22, 1662, to work Tourneur's land, "already under the plough;" but Cogu died near the time the partnership expired, which was on February 1, 1665. Peterseon held minor offiffices in town, and here married, in 1663, as before noticed. Unlettered, but by nature gifted, much reliance was placed upon his judgment; yet strong drink often made him abusive and violent, and this failing marred his whole life. The heavy penalties put upon him in 1665 may have led him to quit Harlem, and he soon re- moved to Elizabethtown, N. J., taking his lumber thither in a canoe, aided by Gillis Boudewyns; and there Monis took the oath of allegiance, February 19, 1666. By a previous appointment by the court as a referee to fix the damages in a case of tres- pass, he reported at Harlem, July 3, ensuing. Within ten years he went to the Swedish colony at Upland, Penn., and got land at Calkoen Hook, where he was yet living in 1693. Too often mastered by his bad habit, once for scolding a magistrate, he was fined 1,000 guilders, but the fine was remitted at the request of the injured party, upon Monis asking pardon for his abuse, and pleading that he said it "in his drink." His native frankness and good sense disarmed resentment, and despite his weakness won respect. His sons, Peter, Matthew and Israel, are understood to have been the ancestors of the Stuck family.
.
226
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
knowing their case, sent to Cortilleau, the surveyor, who had first laid out the village, "a warrant directing a line to be drawn for the range of cattle." It read :
Whereas, you have formerly received order to draw a line from the River near the Town of Harlem, upon this Island, one mile into the woods, somewhat in relation as it stands from this place, some particu- lar point of the compass; These are to authorize you to draw the said line from the River against the middle of the said Town, one mile directly into the woods, for the greatest conveniency of range of cattle belong- ing to the.said Town, not considering so exactly how it lies from hence. whether southerly, or westerly, or otherwise. For so doing, this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand, at Fort James, in New York, the 20th day of March, 1665-6.
To Mr. JAQUES CORTILLEAU.
RICHARD NICOLLS.
The lines being run out pursuant to this order, and a return of the survey made to the governor, he thereupon gave written directions for drafting a patent, in which he specified three things to be observed, namely :
"There is one condition, which is, that that town is to be forever thereafter called by the name of Lancaster."
"To build one or more boats fit for a ferry."
"There is also liberty of going further west into the woods with their horses and cattle, for range, as they shall have occa- sion."
In due time the patent was received, and read as follows :*
RICHARD NICOLLS, Espr., Governor under His Royal Highness James, Duke of York, &c., of all his territories in America; To all to whom these Presents shall come, sendeth Greeting. Whereas there is a certain Town or Village, commonly called and known by the name of New Harlem, situate and being on the east part of this Island, now in the tenure or occupation of several freeholders and inhabitants, who have been at considerable charge in building, as well as manuring, plant- ing and fencing the Town and lands thereunto belonging; Now for a confirmation unto the said freeholders and inhabitants, in their en- joyment and possession of their particular lots and estates in the said Town, as also for an encouragement to them in the further improve- ment of the said lands, Know ye that, by virtue of the commission and authority unto me given by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, I have thought fit to ratify, confirm and grant, and by these Presents do ratify, confirm and grant unto the said freeholders and inhabitants, their heirs, successors and assigns, and to each and every of them, their par- ticular lots and estates in the said Town, or any part thereof, And I do likewise confirm and grant unto the freeholders and inhabitants in gen- eral, their heirs, successors and assigns, the privileges of a Town, but . "A patent granted unto the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Harlem, alias Lancaster, upon the Island of Manhattan."
Such is the title or heading given to the patent as recorded in the Secretary of State's office, Albany, in the original book of patents, Liber 1, page 57, but stands disconnected from and forms no part of the instrument, although so appear- ing in the copies printed by Mr. Adriance. In the date the day is left blank. By a careful collation with the original records, we are enabled to present exact copies of the several Harlem patents; only conforming to modern orthography.
227
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
immediately depending on this City, as being within the liberties thereof; Moreover, for the better ascertaining of the limits of the lands to the said Town belonging, the extent of their bounds shall be as followeth, viz., That from the west side of the fence of the said Town, a line be run due West four hundred English poles, without variation of the compass, At the end whereof another line being drawn to run North and South, with the variation, that is to say, North to the very end of a cer- tain piece of meadow ground commonly called the Round Meadow, near or adjoining to Hudson's River, and South to the Saw Mills over against Hog Island, commonly called Ferkins Island; It shall be the West bounds of their lands. And all the lands lying and being within the said line, so drawn North and South as aforesaid, eastward to the Town and Harlem River, as also to the North and East Rivers, shall belong to the Town; Together with all the soils, creeks, quarries, woods, meadows, pastures, marshes, waters, fishings, hunting and fowling, And all other profits, commodities, emoluments and hereditaments to the said lands and premises within the said line belonging, or in anywise appertain- ing, with their and every of their appurtenances; To have and to hold all and singular the said lands, hereditaments and premises, with their and every of their appurtenances, and of every part and parcel thereof, to the said freeholders and inhabitants, their heirs, successors and assigns, to the proper use and behoof of the said freeholders and inhabitants, their heirs, successors and assigns forever. It is likewise further con- 'firmed and granted, that the inhabitants of said Town shall have liberty, for the conveniency of more range of their horses and cattle, to go farther west into the woods, beyond the aforesaid bounds, as they shall have occasion, the lands lying within being intended for plowing, home pastures and meadow grounds only; And no person shall be permitted to build any manner of house or houses within two miles of the afore- said limits or bounds of the said Town, without the consent of the in- habitants thereof. And the freeholders and inhabitants of the said Town are to observe and keep the terms and conditions hereafter expressed; that is to say: That from and after the date of these Presents the said Town shall no longer be called New Harlem, but shall be known and called by the name of Lancaster; and in all deeds, bargains and sales, records or writings, shall be so deemed, observed and written. Moreover the said Town lying very commodious for a Ferry to and from the Main, which may redound to their particular benefit as well as to a general good, the freeholders and inhabitants shall be obliged, at their charge, to build or provide one or more boats for that pur- pose, fit for the transportation of men, horses and cattle, for which there will be such a certain allowance given as shall be adjudged reason- able. And the freeholders and inhabitants, their heirs, successors and assigns, are likewise to render and pay all such acknowledgments and duties as already are, or hereafter shall be, constituted and ordained by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, and his heirs, or such Governor and Governors as shall from time to time be appointed and set over them. Given under my hand and seal, at Fort James, in New York, on Manhatans Island, the day of May, in the eighteenth year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., and in the year of our Lord God, 1666.
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