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 36
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"On the date, 29th October, 1674, these accounts collected, and agreeing with the above donations, are found to be correct, with the assistance of the Heer ()lof Stevens Van Cortlandt, Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ in the city of New Orange. and the same are also closed."
Dominie Nieuwenhuysen had already had a useful ministry : since he came, about twenty of the Harlem people had been received to church membership, mostly young men and women. The last accessions were Adolph Meyer, Cornelis Jansen, Conrad Hendricksen. and Jean le Maistre, on March Ist preceding ; and the next were received December 13th following, namely, Barent Waldron, his sister Ruth, afterward Mrs. Jean le Maistre, and Eva Lubberts, afterward married to Arent Harmans Bussing.
Impatient to see the English rule re-established, a few rest- less spirits in Westchester, who had already given the Dutch much annoyance, now began to bluster about the country venting their spleen on the Hollanders, and vaunting their loyalty to the king. Of these was Thomas Hunt, Jr., who having at first refused to take the oath of allegiance, and been ordered to leave the province, was, at his father's request, allowed to remain on accepting the oath and giving security for its observance. On Monday, November 5th, Hunt and five or six others came riding toward the village. Accosting Pierre Cresson, who was engaged fixing his fence, with a "Howd'ye do." to which he replied, "So and so," they passed on, falling in with a flock of geese, which they began to chase, heeding not Pierre's remonstrance to "let the geese alone." At several houses in the village they stopped, demanding in an insolent manner feed for their horses, and bread and beer for themselves. Mrs. Tourneur told them she had nothing to give, but said, "There is water; if you are thirsty, drink it." Her daughter, Madeleine (Mrs. Dyckman), pertly added. "If we had them we should not give them to you. Finding Jan Nagel at his house, they called out, "Here, give us oats for our horses ; or else peas or wheat." Nagel, not the one
Samuel E. Lyon, of New York, May 2. 1873, just previous to said sale, we had the pleasure of restoring the knowledge of the old title, which had become lost, to the owners.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
to be intimidated, answered, "I have no oats; but peas and wheat are strange food for horses !" Said Hunt, "I must and will have some, nevertheless." Nagel repeated that he had none for him; whereupon Hunt asked "Does not Waldron live here?" Nagel signified that he did. "He does not," replied Hunt, "you know very well where he lives." And, so saying, they rode on. Waldron was not at home; but his wife, Tanneke Nagel, like her namesake, showed a proper courage. "Give us oats for our horses," demanded Hunt; to which Mrs. Waldron replied, "I have none." "Then give us peas or wheat," said he. "There are none threshed, and I cannot get any," was the answer. With his usual oath, Hunt said, "I will have some, threshed or un- threshed"; then adding, "Or give us wine or rum; have you nothing for the king's soldier's?" "I know no king's soldiers," said the matron. "I am a soldier of the king, by the blood of God," said Hunt, striking his breast, "and I shall and will have it! Is not your husband the Constable?" he further demanded. "No," said the spirited Tanneke, "but my husband is the Schout of this town." Venting curses upon Waldron, Hunt turned and left with his companions.
Waldron entered a complaint to Governor Colve, and by his order the magistrates on the 7th held a court of inquiry upon the matter. But Hunt just escaped merited punishment, owing to an important event which happened only three days after, and of which the careful Vander Vin makes the following minute:
"1674, the 10th November, New, or 31st October, Old Style, was the fort Willem Hendrick again to the English governor yielded up, and the governor, A. Colve, with his people, there- from departed : the fort again named Fort James, and the city, New York."
·
CHAPTER XX.
1674-1677.
ENGLISH RULE RESTORED ; REFUGEES; CAPTAIN CARTERET ; INDIAN WAR: LAND GRANTS; SPUSTEN DUIVEL OCCUPIED.
SIR EDMUND ANDROS, the new governor referred to, was accompanied, besides his own retinue of officers and soldiers, by several families of French refugees who had fled to England from the Palatinate, lately invaded and laid waste by the ruthless armies of Louis XIV. under Marshal Turenne. Among these refugees were Nicholas de Vaux ( whence our De Vouw, and De Viel, Isaac See, Isaac See. Junior, and Jean le Comune, all of whom were related. These, with Gerard Magister. events of the same hand, came directly to Harlem on account. as at would seem, of old Mannheim acquaintances Demarest and when Some brought their household goods but as choicer :WAS The HAN Scriptures in French, the French Psai Book, and the the highly prin! Book of Martyrs De Vaux Le ``vaste, saad their wives esited with the church on the first sppor- .1 : when is inaktive, and by is order Find a J':Ne asaber si per-
. .
-
319
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
stock and farming tools, for three years from May Ist ensuing. The Tourneurs apparently intended an early removal to their farm on Montagne's Flat, which was to be Daniel's inheritance. They were still annoyed by that injurious report, the more keenly felt, now that the object of it lived only in their affffec- tions. But the widow, bent on putting a stop to it, had on December 22d made a complaint to the Mayor's Court, that Elizabeth Nightingale "had greatly defamed her husband de- ceased." Thereupon "the Court ordered that, it being formerly determined, the defendant shall, either at Harlem or in this court, make an acknowledgment and pay all costs." Lysbet had to comply, but preferred a journey to the city to facing exultant adversaries whom she would meet at the town court. Her ap- pearance, January 19th, the day the magistrates were sworn in, is thus noticed: "The Deft brought into ye Court her suplicatory peticon, in wch was her acknowledgmt for her wrong and injury to ye Plts husband; wch ye Court accepted off, conditionally she behaved her selfe well, and pay all costs."*
. Marc du Sauchoy, ancestor of the Disosway family, has place in our introductory sketches of the French refugees, etc. As we follow these homeless refugees from ex- citing scenes in the Old World, when, no longer the suffering victims of despotism, we can only contemplate them amid peaceful walks and engaged in commonplace pur- suits, we cannot but mark with interest the happy effects of the change in their am- bitious and laborious efforts to provide a home and living for themselves and families- the admirable versatility, especially in the choice of new callings, with which they adapted themselves to circumstances every way extraordinary. Our Disosway, late wool-carder, on his first visit to this country, found employment in cleaning up some land at Flatbush for Cornelis Van Ruyven. Well pleased with the island, and being present, June 17, 1655, when his countryman, Pierre Terracon, bought a farm at Mespat, Disosway went there on his return in 1657, and leasing Burger Joris' mill, at Dutch Kills, the former wood-cutter now became a miller. This proving a failure, but by no fault of his, gave it up for a plantation, and turned to farming in the town of Brooklyn, to which place he and wife, April 10, 1661, transferred their church connec- tion from New Amsterdam. Selling his farm a year later to Pierre Prae, from Dieppe, who had refuged at Leyden when Disosway was there, Marc appears at Harlem, January 3, 1664, as prosecutor of a claim against Glaude le Maistre for 951% guilders, and soon after removed here and hired lands of Jean le Roy. How long was the lease we know not, but it had expired March 15, 1667, date of their settlement. Archer now induced him to take a farm in Fordham, where he continued to live a number of years.
The quarrel with the Tourneurs, grown bitter as many in feudal story, was shown in the mutual disposition to vex one another. The charge of homicide, reiterated so persistently, was met by recriminations even worse, till the local magistrates became weary of it. Wisely, the Mayor's Court cooled Dame Disosway's itching to push her adversary to the wall by making good her charge; and but for the rejection of her offer to send to France for proof, we might know more of the affair in question. The settlement of some old accounts between the parties, March 4, 1674, in presence of the magistrates, was another step toward cessation of hostilities. Still Lysbet, but four days after, made another charge in the Mayor's Court against the widow Tour- neur, but it was dismissed as "a vexatious suit," with costs to the plaintiff; and no more is heard of this quarrel.
Disosway must have had means, to pay 80 guilders for "a Book of Martyrs and others," from the estate of Jean le Comte, as he did July 2, 1675. He bought lots Nos. 8, 9, on Hoorn's Hook, from Jan Delamater, November 29, 1679, but presently sold them. On June 7, 1683, he and wife took letters from the Dutch to the French church, newly formed under Rev. Pierre Daille. He soon moved to Staten Island, where 225 acres of land near Daniel's Neck were laid out to him April 5, 1684, and for which he got a patent July 16,1685. In 1689 Staten Island partook of the Leisler excitement. Disosway informed the government that many of his neighbors had left their houses and taken to the woods, "for fear of the Papists." He was still living, October 1, 1706. His children, as far as known, were Madeleine, born 1657, who married Martin Hardewyn (as the Dutch wrote it, but perhaps Ardenne); Marcus,
320
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
On January 11, 1675, the community renewed their engage- ment with Vander Vin, for two years' service as parish clerk and schoolmaster, running from October 23d preceding. The terms were as before, to wit, 400 gl. per mannum, with fuel, etc. The following persons promised, of their free-will, to give the sums set opposite to their names :
Resolved Waldron f. 30
Joost van Oblinus
38
Cornelis Jansen. 25
Jan Dyckman IO
Adolph Meyer. 14
..
30
Daniel Tourneur.
30
Meynard Journee
16
Jan Nagel.
18
Maria Montagne
10
Jean le Maistre.
IO
Arent Hermens
8
Conradus Hendricks
8
Lourens Jansen.
8
Barent Waldron
6
Pierre Cresson.
4
David des Marest, Jr.
4
Isaac Vermeille.
..
3
Total f. 272
Glaude le Maistre and David des Marest, Sen., declined to subscribe : but the remaining deficiency was to be made up by rent from Jean le Roy for the use of the town lot, being 120 gl. Few events worth naming marked the close of the winter, 1675. The town court was much occupied with petty cases. On February 4th it was resolved to remind Jan Bos ( Terbosch) to pay 25 gl., due "since the year 1667." for an erf charged to him ( that bought of Robert le Maire), or to enforce payment in the Mayor's Court. On February 6th, the Jansens, Cornelis and Lourens, completed a division of the lands bought of De Meyer :# Cornelis taking the farm (two lots) on Montagne's
born 1659: Jeanne, born 1662, married Conrad Hendricks Boch. of Harlem; Jean, born 1665, and Maria, born 1669. Marcus joined the Dutch church, New York. No- vember 30. 1676, but later took a letter to the French church. Succeeding to his father's lands, he petitioned, November 27, 1708. for two vacant tracts next to him, stating that he "hath been an inhabitant of Staten Island, and hath followed husbandry upwards of thirty years past, and hath nine children, four whereof are sons, brought up to husbandry along with him." This was no doubt granted, as by his will, made December 33. 1713. and proved January 27, 1714. he gives each child a farm, ranging from 88 to 05 acres. But three sons were then living. viz .: Job, who married Sarah Deny; Israel. who married Gertrude Van Deventer. and Gabriel. His daughters were, Elizabeth. wife of Peter Barberie; Susannah. wife of Daniel Hendricks; Mary, wife of Thomas Fyres: Dianah, wife of Hendrick Brees, and Sarah, unmarried. Part of the original Disosway farm, with the old stone house upon it. is still owned and occupied by some of the descendants.
. Nicholas de Meyer, originally from the city of Hamburgh, was one of the most enterprising and successful merchants of his day, often visiting Europe in the prose- cution of his business. Few men enjoyed so much of the public confidence. He was
Jan Louwe van Schoonrewoert.
321
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Flat, lots No. 18 Jochem Pieters and 15 Van Keulen's Hook, and the outgardens; and Lourens, No. 2 Jochem Pieters and No. 6 Van Keulen's Hook, with the two erven, and also the orchard occupying two north gardens, later forming the John P. Waldron homestead. Lourens' part being of most value, as it included the buildings, he agrees to give his brother 600 gl. This property, as thus divided, composed the beginnings, respec- tively, of the Kortright and Low estates.
Among the newly-arrived French refugees before noticed was Jean le Comte, with his wife Mary Laurens and one child. For want of a dwelling, they were allowed by the constable, Demarest, to put their household effects in his barn. The father was now prostrated by a sickness which no efforts of the "chirur- geons" employed could help, and he died May 24th. His per- sonal estate, per inventory taken July 2d, amounted, less ex- penses, to 606 gl., of which the widow set apart 300 for her little son Moses, who afterward married Glaude le Maistre's daughter, and settled at Esopus, leaving descendants called De Graaf. which was the Dutch for Le Comte or Lecount.
There had recently arrived at Harlem "a person of quality," as he is styled, Captain James Carteret, descended remotely from the famous Lords de Carteret of the Cotentin in Normandy, and directly allied to the De Carterets, Lords of St. Ouen, in the island of Jersey, noticed in our opening chapter, and at which place various members of the family were now enjoying prom- inent civic positions .* The captain's father, Sir George De several times an Alderman of New York, and once Mayor. He was chosen a member of Governor Sloughter's Council, but when the Gocernor arrived, March 19, 1691, Mr. De Meyer had just died. He left a fine estate, partly in Europe, as we conclude from his son William's estate. He married, in 1655, Lydia, daughter of the Fiskael, Hendrick Van Dyck, and, in 1689, Sarah Kellenaer, widow of Rev. John Weekstein, of Esopus. His children were, Johannes, born 1656; Wilhelmus, born 1657; Anna Catrina, born 1661; Deborah, born 1664; Elizabeth, born 1666, and Henricus, born 1668. Johannes died before 1689, without issue. (Johannes De Meyer, so called, of New York, who left a will dated September 13, 1725. was a Meyer, not a De Meyer). Anna Catrina De Meyer married, 1680, Jan Willems Neering, from Bordeaux, and went to New Castle, Del .; Deborah married, in 1684, Thomas Crundall, in 1691, Capt. Thomas Lyndon, and, in 1697, William Anderson- all Englishmen; Elizabeth married, in 1687, Philip Schuyler, of New York, merchant, afterward of Kingston. Henricus De Meyer, of New York, merchant, married, 1689, Agnes, daughter of Jacob De Key. He bought his late father's mansion, near the Stadt Huys, July 20, 1691, but dicd in 1692; in 1696 his widow married William Jane- way, Esq. Henricus De Meyer left issue, Ludia, born 1691, and Hericus, born 1692. The latter died in 1739, leaving a daughter, Agnes, wife of Edward Nicoll, and of whom my friend, Mr. Joseph O. Brown, is a descendant. Wilhelmus De Meyer, called in the will of Nicholas the eldest son, married, 1678, Catherine Bayard, sister of Col. Nicholas Bayard. He settled in Kingston, Ulster Couunty, where he inherited property from his father; was made deacon in 1681, and elder in 1692. He was much in public life, became lieutenant-colonel of militia, and died in 1710, his wife surviving. His will, dated January 10, 1705, proved January 8, 1711, divides his property "as well in this province as in Europe," among his children therein named being Lydia, born 1681; Nicholas, born 1683; Annecke, born 1685; Catrina, born 1689, and Deborah, born 1693. Lydia married Andries Douw. Nicholas De Meyer married Elsie Schoonmaker, and died on his farm, near Esopus Creek, in 1766, having sons, William. Jeremiah and Benjamin, and a daughter, Catherine, who married Christopher Kiersted.
* Amice de Carteret and Charles de Carteret, Esquires, were Jurats of the
322
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Carteret, Baronet, had been governor of that island as early as 1626, was knighted twenty years later, and now held a seat in the Honorable Privy Council of England, being also "Vice- Chamberlain of His Majesty's household"; which eminence he had gained by marked devotion to Kings Charles I. and II. Capt. James Carteret, being the second son, was bred to the sea. took command of a merchantman in the India trade prior to the Restoration, and subsequently of a British man-of-war. He was captain-general of the forces which in 1666 attempted the recov- ery of St. Kitts from the French, and later had command of marines in the Duke of York's ship. In 1671, on being made a landgrave of Carolina, of which colony Sir George was part owner, he embarked directly for America to visit his new domains, but bearing also certain instructions and powers from the Lords Proprietors of New Jersey, advisory, if not supervisory (as more than his own words plainly show). touching the affairs of that province, over which his younger kinsman, Governor Philip Car- teret. had for several years presided. On coming to New Jersey Captain Carteret found the people full of complaints against their governor for alleged violations of their rights, and matters grow- ing worse soon led to an open revolt, and a pressing call upon the senior Carteret to interfere,-which the latter felt himself jus- tified in doing. For the details of this short but manly struggle of the people to rid themselves of a supercilious and incompetent ruler. with the sympathy and under the lead of the generous- hearted captain, reference may be had to the annals of that State .* Meanwhile.our Carteret, in 1673, married Frances, daughter of
island; Mr. Nicholas de Carteret, Sergeant of Justice, in Greuville Parish, and Edward de Carteret. Knight (uncle of Capt. James). was first Gentlemen U'sher in Ordinary to the King. and Usher of the "Verge Noire Bailly;" as per an old parchment of July 29, 1678. in my possession.
* Capt. Carteret. in a letter dated Elizabeth Town. New Jersey, June 14, 1672. and addressed to Governor Lovelace and Council, in reply to one of theirs, charges Capt. Philip Carteret with having "for several years past threatened and forbidden our people, upon pain of death, not to exercise themselves in military affairs or dis- cipline," besides "other gross miscarriages;" by which he had "unjustly dissatisfied and impoverished the King's subjects in this Province." .As to differences between himself and said Philip Carteret. he has no doubt "but they will in time be healed or cured by the Honorable Lords Proprietors, unto whom they are already presented and referred." But he deems "a true understanding." to still quote his words, "unnecessary to be declared to unconcerned persons, seeing that I am not under obligation to render the same to any but to his Majesty, and my superiors, the Lords Proprietors, by whose orders and instructions I act. I shall, in an orderly, meck, and peaceful way, en- deavor to suppress such as do most falsely, without either show or color, repute me a disturber of the country. These have very lately published me. by their writs, a rebel and mutineer . who am proprietor of my father's interest in this Province. And if God spare life. I will give his Royal Highness an account of them by the first occasion, and after, second it myself by a verbal declaration, how I am used in his territories, as also who they be that have appeared like enemies to king and country." This frank and spirited letter, which does the writer no discredit, may be found, with the one which called it forth, in vol. 4. General Entries, Secretary of State's Office. Albany. But advices from England put an end to_Capt. Carteret's authority; the king, by letter, dated December 9. 1672, directing Capt. John Berry, Dep. Gov. of N. J. to enforce obedience to the laws and government established in that colony by authority of Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret.
323
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Captain Thomas Delavall; soon after which, submitting to a decision of the king and the Lords Proprietors in favor of Gov- . ernor Philip, and to the wishes of his father, he left New Jersey, and in July following, attended by his wife, sailed for Carolina. Unluckily the vessel was taken by the Dutch fleet on its way to the capture of New York, but the Carterets wishing to gain their destination, were set ashore in Virginia. Captain Delavall mean- while, his estates confiscated by the victorious enemy, had returned to England and engaged in merchandise in London. But on the eve of the new governor Andros' departure for New York, to reclaim it from the Dutch, Delavall procured the Duke of York's order for the restitution of all his estate in this colony, with the evident purpose of sending it by Andros. The order, however, was not placed on record here till January 23, 1675, which was near the date of Carteret's reappearance, empowered to take charge of his father-in-law's property at Harlem ; whence we infer that it was recorded and promulgated only when Carteret arrived from Carolina.
-
Taking part in the public affairs of the town, Captain Car- teret found himself courted for his abilities, and his influence with the ruling powers, Governor Andros being his kinsman. Con- sequently, when the inhabitants resolved to ask that governor to confirm their patent, Carteret was deputed with others as the bearer of their petition, which was couched in the following words, and for the governor's information was accompanied by "the Great Patent in English," and "the Confirmation in English," both being referred to in the petition.
To his Excellency the Governor General, at New York.
We the Constable, Overseers and common Inhabitants at the village of New Haerlem, declare to have constituted and empowered, as by these we do constitute and empower, the Hon. Capt. James Cartaret, David des Marest, constable, Joost van Oblinus, overseer, and Resolved Waldron, for and in behalf of this town's jurisdiction and privileges, to request and obtain from his Excellency, the Governor of this province, the maintenance and confirmation of their Patent granted by the late Governor Richard Nicolls, dated the IIth October A°. 1667, and con- firmed by his Excellency, Governor Francis Lovelace, on the date 22d June A°. 1670; promising for good, durable and of value, to hold and to ratify whatever by the aforesaid, our committee, in the premises, shall be done and executed concerning it, whether the case require greater or special burden, whereupon we shall fully rely and hold our peace; therefore humbly pray your Excellency to be pleased to maintain and protect our liberties and privileges, according to the agoresaid Patents, against every one who may design or think to trouble the same; Where- for we shall remain your Excellency's good and obedient subjects, etc., the Constable, Overseers and common Inhabitants at the village of N. Haerlem. Done N. Haerlem, 16th June, 1675. By order of the same,
HENDR. J. VANDR. VIN, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
William Palmer, ship carpenter, was now engaged building a "ketch" at Harlem, and with his family occupied a house as tenant of Captain Carteret. Etienne Rochelle,* employed by Carteret, went thither on Sunday, July 4th, to pick cherries. He was in one of the trees which stood beside Palmer's house, with Nicholas de Vaux, whom he had asked to assist him in picking, when Palmer came out and roughly bade them get down. Stephen refused, "saying that he had orders from his master to pick cherries." Then Palmer jerked Stephen by the foot, plied him with oyster-shells, and finally took a stick to him, when the latter was forced to leave the tree. Running to tell the constable, and then Waldron, neither of whom were found at home, he was overtaken by Palmer, who had followed him, crying "Papist, Papist !" and who first struck him with his stick, then seized him by the throat and tried to choke him; but Stephen breaking away fled into the house of Meynard Journee. Palmer then turned upon William Noird, Carteret's bookkeeper, who had come to Stephen's aid, and giving him a blow with his stick he also thought best to retreat. Palmer now spit out his spleen before the house of Journee, shaking his stick and uttering threats against the persons within, while Noird, finding Demarest the constable, got an order from him to restrain Palmer from picking the cherries, and delivered it to Palmer's wife. Many of the villagers, brought out of their houses by the uproar, as Cornelis Jansen, Jan Hen- dricks Kyckuyt (or Brevoort), Jean le Maistre, Jan Nagel and his wife, and Mrs. Cornier, saw the affray, and the assaults made on Carteret's people. Palmer returning to his house and finding himself served with an injunction from the constable, boiled with rage, and going over to Noird's toward evening, found Daniel Tourneur there engaged in slaughtering a sheep, for which pur- pose Noird had sent for him. Palmer asked William by whose directions he had procured the constable's order forbidding him to pick cherries. "By my master's," said Noird, "and if I had no orders I should have done it, knowing well how to answer for it." On which Palmer retorted, "Had I been at home as well
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