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 35
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
pal farmer, and the old neighbor of Gillis Mandeville, in the Veleuwe,-the other of Delavall's houses had been occupied by Pieter Roelofsen, twice constable here. Beyond this point we soon reach the Buyten Tuynen, or Out-Gardens, the two farther ones soon to be the home of Arent Harmens Bussing, lately married and just appointed one of the schepens.
But from the quiet west end, retracing our steps, on the south side of the street, we come to the dwelling of the venerable Isaac Vermeille. Seated upon the end of lot 5, Van Keulen's Hook, "over against the garden of Jaques Cresson," as it was till of late; his erf, which extends back to a strip of flag marsh stretching across the lot, is well stocked with fruit trees, the pride of the Huguenot settlers, and in which culture they excelled. On either side of Vermeille lie vacant lots, but that on the west, No. 6, soon to be built upon and occupied by its owner, Laurens Jansen, aforesaid. Lot No. 4, on the east side of Vermeille, and which Adolph Meyer had gotten with his wife from her father, Verveelen, was at this end fit only for pasturage, being marshy; but a plot here was bought from Meyer November 2, 1673, by his friend Jan Dyck- man, who for the many years before he moved to Spuyten Duyvel occupied a house built upon two of Tourneur's out-gardens, received by his wife Madeleine. Adjoining lot No. 4, and opposite to Oblinus, lives the most influential man in the town, Resolved Waldron, at present the shout, or sheriff, and next to him, easterly, his son-in-law Jan Nagel. Going still toward the river, to the two small erven opposite Cornelis Jansen and Dela- mater (granted Jean Demarest and Johannes Pelszer, but seem- ingly never improved by them), on the corner of the Pelszer lot, where the road runs down by the green to the creek, stands, or later stood, the village smithy, where William Haldron, an English- man, plied his hammer and bellows, waking the neighbors at early dawn with the music of his anvil, as did, within the same century, his successor in the smithshop, Zacharias Sickels, whose descendants are yet among us .*
· Zacharias Sickels, the common ancestor and father of Zacharias aforesaid, was from Vienne, in Austria. Finding his way to Holland, he went out to Curacao, and served in the military rank of adelborst or cadet. When Stuyvesant returned from a visit to that island, in 1655, Sickels came with him, being soon after attached to the garrison at Fort Orange. In 1658 he was a tapster. He remained at Albany after the surrender, in 1664, and worked as a carpenter, having married Anna, daughter of Lambert Van Valkenburgh, by whom he had sons, Robert, Lambert, Zacharias and Thomas, and daughters, Anna, Elizabeth, Maria, Margaret and Leah. Anna married Abraham Isaacs, and Elizabeth married William Peelen. In 1670 to '72, and 1681 to '83, Sickels was town herder, and had 18 guilders a head for the season. He next held the responsible place of rattle watch, so called from the rattle, used to give warning, in making his nightly rounds. He was also town cryer, to call the people together on needed occasions; and porter, or keeper of the city gates, to close and lock them at night and to open them in the morning. His sons Robert and Lambert removing to New York, he. with his other sons, etc., followed them in 1693, his vacated office being given to his son-in-law Isaacs. In 1698 he was admitted a freeman of New
.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
On the Ist of November, Vander Vin's three years' service having ended, he was engaged for another year as clerk and voorleser, on the same conditions as of the 23d of October, 1670, to wit: 400 guilders, dwelling house, and fuel. It was also stipu- lated that the people should keep the house and the garden fence in repair. The salary was to be paid half-yearly in grain at market value, and "according to the old list of the free-will con- tributors," namely :
The Free-will Contributors to the Voorleser's office for this ensuing year :
Resolved Waldron f. 30 : 0
Glaude le Maistre.
Jean le Maistre 4 : 0
Joost van Oblinus
25 : 0
Daniel Tourneur
30 : 0
Adolph Meyer
30 : 0
David des Marest.
15 : 0
Arent Hermens
8
: 0
Pierre Cresson
20 : 0
Cornelis Jansen
20 : 0
Jan Nagel 15
: 0
Jean le Roy
6 : 0
Jan Dyckman
8 : 0
Meynard Journee
16 : 0
The Widow of Jan La Montagne.
Jan Louwerens van Schoonrewoert.
Simeon Cornier
Jean le Roy, rent of the Town's allotment. 120 : 0
Rent of the meadows, beginning Ist May, 1671, of which are to pay each year :
David des Mareset. f. 24 : 0
Jan Nagel
10 : 7
Lubbert Gerritsen IO : 7
Johannes Vermelje
IO : 7 55 : I
Glaude le Maistre's annual contribution had been 25 guilders, but, for reasons which will hereafter appear, he declined to renew his subscription. The three others wanting the amount were new subscribers of the previous year. The items of rent for the town lands being added brought the figures up to 406 gl. I st.
Some of the neighboring English, exasperated at the recap- ture of the country by the Dutch, now began to make trouble ; as will appear from the following minutes of proceedings at Harlem :
Aº. 1673, the 7th November. Tuesday.
Present. Schout, Magistrates and all the Inhabitants of this village col- lected.
Whereas by daily reports we are informed that some wicked and insolent persons, of the English nation, their riotings make about these
0
Lubbert Gerritsen
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
countries, threatening to give one and another some molestation and trouble by robbing and burning; before which threats those of us who live outside will not prove secure. But as much that is feasible to be done rests upon our care, through heed and keeping watch upon such as may be disposed to do the same some hurt and damage, owing to their ability to escape away to a great distance; So it is that we, Schout, Magistrates, and the whole community, being assembled, have found good and deemed necessary to watch by turns during the nights; and that it may take place more orderly, we have thought it necessary to appoint a suitable person as Captain, to command as many as go on watch, to whom we promise obedience and submission in all that which he shall therein command, upon forfeiture of the fines also hereby ordered; and by a majority of votes is thereunto chosen and confirmed the person Cornelis Jansen, as Captain. And moreover the community are divided into four companies or corporalships, in order, by turns with their fellow soldiers, to keep the night watch, and to go the rounds as needful, and each his arms to keep ready, provided with powder and lead as required. Whoever neglects the watch without lawful reason, or those whose arms are not ready, wanting necessary powder and lead, or the command of the Captain, or his Corporal oppose, shall forfeit each time three guilders, for the use of the whole company. Thus done at N. Haerlem, the 7th November, 1673.
LIST OF THE CORPORALSHIPS.
I. Jan Nagel, Corporal, Joost van Oblinus, Jan Helmont, Jean le Maistre, Jean le Roy, Robert Hollis.
2. Simeon Cornier, Corporal, Lubbert Gerritsen, Samuel Pell, Jacque el Roe, Barent Waldron, Samuel des Marest.
3. Jan Dyckman, Corporal, Arent Hermens, David des Marest, Jr., Jan Tincker, Conradus Hendricksen, Cornelis Theunissen.
4 Adolph Meyer, Corporal, Laurens Matthyssen David des Marest, Daniel Tourneur, Jochem Engelbert, Meyndert Journee.
The gratitude of the Dutch inhabitants at the restoration of the country to Holland, now found expression throughout the colony in the observance, not of a day merely, but of a series of public thanksgivings. The following letter and proclamation from the new governor explains it:
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Honest, Beloved, Faithful, the Schout and Magistrates of the village Haerlem.
Honest, Beloved, Faithful,
These serve to accompany the inclosed proclamation of a general day of thanksgiving, fasting, and prayer, which you are required to publish at the usual time and place, and to take care that it be observed after the tenor thereof; let also the inclosed be seasonably sent on to the village of Fordham. Whereon relying, I remain, after greetings, your friend,
A. COLVE.
Fort Willem Hendrick, 20th November, 1673.
Proclamation."
Honest, Beloved, Faithful,
Considering the manifold blessings and benefits wherewith the only good and merciful God has favored this province and its inhabitants, of which by no means the least is their fortunate restoration under their former lawful and natural rulers, and that which is above all to be prized, the continuance of the reformed worship, which also, like all other blessings and benefits to us, not only imposes a debt of gratitude, but also, in truth, humility and repentance for our manifold and weighty sins, so that the Almighty God may continue His blessings, and this land and people be freed from His righteous judgments and well-deserved punish- ment; Therefore it is that we have judged it highly necessary by these to ordain and proclaim a general day for thanks, fasting, and prayer, which everywhere within this province shall be observed every first Wed- nesday in each month, beginning on Wednesday, the 6th December next coming, and so following on each first Wednesday in the month. And that all may be the better practised and observed, so by these interdicted and forbidden, on the aforesaid thank, fast, and prayer day, all labor, and play of tennis-court, ball-tossing, fishing, hunting, gaming, sailing, dice- playing, excessive drinking, and all tapping of liquors by innkeepers; the whole upon penalty of arbitrary correction. For the observance of the same, the Magistrates, Officers, and Justices of this province to whom these shall be sent, are required and charged strictly to provide that the trans- gressors be proceeded against as they should be; and to make known this our proclamation by timely publication where such is necessary. Herewith committing you to the protection of the Most High; Honest, Beloved, Faithful,
Your affectionate friend, A. COLVE.
Fort Willem Hendrick, 15th November, 1673.
In fitting mood was the community at Harlem to receive this message, for on that self-same day, November 21st, one much esteemed in the town, Lubbert Gerritsen, late an overseer, departed this life .* The town was also full of the alarms which
* This interesting document is newly translanted from the Dutch, the old transla- tion printed in N. Y. Col. Doc. ii., 658, being faulty .
* Lubbert Gerritsen, having lived at Gravesend, L. I., till after his youngest child was born, appears at Harlem in 1661, when he bought the house and land of Matthys Boon, who then left the town. He was chosen adelborst in 1663, and held several town offices afterward, serving as overseer the year before he died. His property has been shown, as in his inventory taken November 27, 1673. His children, all born in this county, and by his first wife, Grietien Dircks, were, Lysbeth, born 1651, who married Dirck Evertson Fluyt and Joris Burger, both of New York; Gerrit and Dirck, twins, born 1653; Gerrit, born 1655, and Eva, born 1657, who married Arent Har- mans Bussing. Lubbert's second marriage with the widow Femmetie Coenraets has been noticed. Their contracts, respectively providing for their former children, are
İ
:
3II
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
had dictated the institution of the night watch, and excited over the arrest at Spuyten Duyvel of one Francois Beado, aged about 27 years, a native of London, for being concerned, as was be- lieved, in a conspiracy against the Dutch. From Verveelen's, where during his detention he had tried to induce one James Pinnet, of Fordham, "to assist him to kill the ferryman and other people, saying they were but Dutch," he was taken and lodged in the fort at New Orange. At his examination before the Governor and Council, November 28th, Pinnet and George Tip- pett gave evidence against him. The following deposition was also taken:
"William Smith, aged about 46 years, inhabitant of Ford- ham, declareth upon oath that Francois Beado, now in prison, about six weeks ago came to the deponent at Fordham and inquired what neighbors he had; then saying further that he had a commission from the * * * on this side, Canada, to burn, take, kill, and ruin all the Dutch; because he and his father, and cousin, had lost by them about 800 pounds, which he was resolved to get again; and when this deponent questioned his commission, the copy of which he did read to the deponent, he, the said Beado, replied that if he had no other, his sword and his half-pike (which he had in his hand) was his commission, the Dutch being his enemies,-and the second day after the said Beado came again to the deponent, and said he was beset by three rogues, but that he had two friends in the woods with whom he was resolved to meet them; inquiring further what woman Michiel Bastiaensen, his wife was, saying that he would burn Mr. Verveelen's and the said Michiel's house, but he was afraid that the said woman would betray him, she having seen his half-pike; and desired further that this deponent would warn Mr. Gibbs, who quartered .
at Michiel's house, of his intention."
Beado also confessed "without torture," and being found guilty of disturbing and breaking the peace, was sentenced to be publicly bound to a stake and branded on the back with a red-hot iron, and then banished from the province, for a term of twenty-five years, which sentence was put in execution on December 20th.
The intense excitement which these things created in the community at Harlem was heightened by the fears generally
dated June 28, and their marriage bans July 7, 1669. Lubbert chose as guardians of his children's inheritance, Jan Gerritsen de Vries, from Workum, and Adrian Dirck- sen Coen, from Maasen, in Utrecht. Judging from their patronymics, these may have been, one his brother, the other his first wife's brother. Dirck and Gerrit Lub- bertsen are not again named here; the last no doubt the "Gerrit Lubbertsen, from New York," who married Alida Everts, at Albany, in 1684. Pearson's Alb. Settlers.
312
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
entertained that an attempt would be made by the English gov- ernment to recover possession of the province. The following letter received from Governor Colve has reference to this:
To the Schout, Magistrates, and Inhabitants of the Towns of New Haerlem and Fordham.
Good Friends,
On last Tuesday week I had some conference in the town of Midwout with the Magistrates and chief officers of all the Dutch towns situated on Long Island, concerning the present condition of the country, and had wished indeed that time and the season of the year had permitted me to visit you the same as the rest; but time not allowing this, I have therefore deemed it necessary hereby to incite you to your duty, and with many of the other good inhabitants to fulfil your oath and honor, whereof I entertain not the least doubt, being herein partly assured by the Schouts of your respective towns. Therefore nothing remains but to recommend you to keep a wakeful eye on all designs which may be concocted against this province or yourselves in particular, and always to be ready to transport your families and movables hither, on certain informa- tion of the enemy's approach, or on special command from me; and that such may be executed in good order, Schout Resolved Waldron is hereby appointed chief officer of the militia of the towns of Haerlem and Ford- ham, with order to communicate these presents to the inhabitants of said towns, who, for the preservation of better order in each town, are hereby required to choose a Sergeant, and not to fail to give me informa- tion of all that occurs. Whereupon relying, I remain,
Your friend, A. COLVE.
Fort Willem Hendrick, 27th Xber, 1673.
This coupling of Harlem and the adjacent parts of West- chester in one jurisdiction, seen thus early to be expedient, was fully consummated just two centuries later, in 1873.
The panic at Harlem was almost as great as if the enemy were already at their doors. Influenced by rumors of their approach, many left for the city or other places, and the Sabbath congregations were reduced to a mere handful. The Secretary, Vander Vin, on January 21, 1674, makes this entry in the dea- con's accounts: "Owing to the daily reports of the coming of the English, the inhabitants being fled with their families and movable goods, little was collected and found at the date of January 21st." But this excitement soon spent itself and sub- sided, things became more settled, the fast-days were regularly observed, and the Sunday services better sustained.
About this time complaint was made against Hendrick Kiersen and Reyer Michielsen, of Fordham, for shooting a hog belonging to Jean le Maistre. These two, according to their statement, came over to this Island. on Monday, January 29th, to look for a hog which had strayed. In their hunt they shot a deer, and soon after that Kiersen, espying, as he thought. the
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
missing hog, told Reyer to shoot it, which he did. As they could carry but one with them, they took the dear, and left the hog for another time. Reyer went for it two days after, when some- one seeing it was curious enough to examine the head, and found upon the ear the mark of young Lodewyck Ackerman, from whom Le Maistre had gotten the hog. Reyer passed an examination before the magistrates at Harlem on February Ist, and the case was referred to the Burgomasters,-Cornelis Jansen, who was cousin to the accused, becoming his bail. The Burgomasters, February 3d, sent the case back to the magistrates for further inquiry. This was made on the 5th, the testimony being sent to the Burgomasters, and from them to the Governor and Coun- cil, by whom the case was again referred back to the local court at Harlem, to be there decided, "unless they find it to be crim- inal." As a curiosity, we give the minute of the examination on February 5th :
On 5th February, Monday. Present, the Heeren, RESOLVED WALDRON, Schout. DAVID DES MAREST, JOOST VAN OBLINUS, & Magistrates. ARENT HERMENSEN,
Interrogatories to be put to Reyer Michielsen and Hendrick Kiersen, both living at Fordham, about the shooting of a hog upon this Island, belonging to Jean Le Maistre, &c. QUESTION. ANSWER.
I. What is your name?
2. Where were you born?
3. How old are you?
4. Who has given you orders to shoot hogs upon this Island?
5. You knew well that you might hunt no hogs upon this Island without the knowledge of the magistrates of N. Haerlem?
6. Why do you shoot other people's hogs?
7. When you had shot the hog, did you not well know that it was not yours ?
Ist. Reyer Michielsen.
2d. Hendrick Kiersen.
Ist. In the Prince's Land, about Schoonrewoert.
2d. At Giest, in the Land of Drent.
Ist. About 20 years.
2d. About 25 years.
Ist. No one has given orders.
2d. Thought not that he was doing wrong to fetch his own hog.
Ist. Well knew that such was the order under the English rule, but knew not that it continued under the Dutch.
2d. As above.
Ist. Knew not that it was another person's hog, but his brother-in- law, Hendrick Kiersen, said that it was his.
2d. Thought that it was his own hog
Ist. Knew well that it was not my hog, but my brother-in-law still knew not better than 'twas his own.
2d. Knew not better than 'twas his own hog.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
8. Why did you not take it away at Ist. Because that he, having shot a the first?
deer, thereupon for that time had enough to carry.
9. Why did you skin the hog?
2d. That they had to carry a deer.
Ist. Because I saw that in the night it would freeze, and then the hair would not come off.
2d. Because that he thought it to be his, and therewith might do as he saw fit.
10. Why did you carry it in sacks?
Ist. Because he thought that they could carry it better in sacks.
2d. Because it was to be better car- ried in sacks; but has not been near there.
II. Why sought you to conceal it when you perceived our folks?
12. Why did you not fetch the hog the next day?
Ist. Denied that; and said he had had no thought to hide the sacks. Ist. Because the kill was frozen, and the canoe could not get off.
2d. That he was busy with thresh- ing, and also gave it no thought, as it was a lean hog.
The result was that proceedings were dropped, the evidence not clearly showing a criminal intent; but at the desire of the magistrates, the Governor and Council, on April 18th, issued a stringent order in regard to the offence of shooting hogs in the common woods of this Island, without consent of the Harlem or City authorities.
The attention of the government was also drawn to the matter of securing the horses of the late governor, Lovelace, and of Captain Delavall and others, "now running in the woods upon Manhattan Island," and the magistrates of Harlem were notified to employ the whole community on the second day of the com- ing Whitsuntide, "to collect and drive into their village all the horses" belonging to the aforesaid persons, and other of the late English officials. This order was given by the Governor April 27th.
Little more of interest transpired in the "dorp" for some months succeeding, except a few transfers of property, from which may be had an idea of the value of Harlem lands at that period. On May 2d Jean le Roy executed a deed to Simeon Cornier for his farm, consisting of a house, barn, and erf, a lot on Jochem Pieters, and one on Van Keulen's Hook, with meadows; for which Cornier had a bill of sale, dated February 24, 1672, the price paid being 1,400 gl. At a public sale, July 5th, of the estate of the late Lubbert Gerritsen, a lot of tillable land, No. 9, Jochem Pieters, with the crops thereon, and the meadows thereto belonging, and the erf with house and barn,
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
were struck off to his stepson, Conrad Hendricksen, for 875 fl. His lot No. 4, Jochem Pieters, with its meadows, and a garden .(No. 11), for a building plot, "west of the village and north of the street," and "between Cornelis Jansen and Joost Van Oblinus," was sold to David Demarest, Sr., for 925 Al.
But now came news of a peace in Europe, welcome enough . in itself, but which cost the Dutch inhabitants a tearful regret when they learned that, by stipulation, the colony was to be again given up to the English. The news was officially communicated in a letter of July 3d, from Secretary Bayard, inclosing the Gov- ernor's proclamation of peace, dated June 30th, and postponing the fast-day for eight days, and changing it into a day of thanks- giving. It directed that on July 11th, in the forenoon, religious service should be held, and the proclamation of peace published.
Several months passed before an English government suc- ceeded to the Dutch, and the interval was marked by a little shrewd preparation for it. This caused considerable litigation in the town court; several parties sued the Tourneurs, to recover for work done for Delavall, by direction of the elder Tourneur, while acting as his agent, and in connection with which suits the old story of Tourneur's having killed a man in France was again revived by the Disosways, and as the widow said, "to the great damage of herself and children." These demands for payment were generally sustained, though it appeared that the late Tourneur had declared to Martin Hardewyn, "I will no more pay the debts of Delavall, but I will give you an order upon him to pay you."
It is pleasing to note the regularity with which both civil and church affairs proceeded, amid all these disturbing causes. The new nomination for magistrates was made on September 24th, and the choice and confirmation by the Burgomaster's court, October 4th. Waldron was continued as shout, and Oblinus as schepen, the new schepens being Adolph Meyer and Jan Dyckman. On October 29th, Dominie Nieuwenhuysen came up and installed as new deacon Simeon Cornier, to serve with Joost Van Oblinus, then holding the office. He was attended by the Heer Van Cortlandt, one of the city elders, and the accounts of the church from July 26, 1672, were taken up, audited, and pronounced correct .* During that period there had been col-
· Olof Stevens Van Courtlandt, the common ancestor of the Van Cortlandt family in this country, was a wealthy brewer, ocupying a residence in Stone street, adjoining his "malthouse;" and here he died April 4. 1684. His son Jacobus, a prominent mer. chant, bought of Jacques Tourneur, September 28, 1705, about two acres of salt meadow on the Harlem side of the Spuyten Duyvel, which remaining in the family 168 years before it was sold, became very valuable. In a communication to Mr.
.
316
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
lected on the Sabbath, fast-days, and Fridays, for preparation for the communion (as also on Christmas; when services were held and the largest collection realized), the sum of 184 florins, 9 stivers, and 8 pennings, from which 71 florins had been ex- pended in alms, etc., leaving a balance of 113 fl. 9 st. 8 p. in the deacon's chest. Thereupon Secretary Vander Vin closes the account with the following formal entry:
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