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 37
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* Geneau, or Gano. (See Notes pp. 107, 120.) He bought property in New Amsterdam, April 29, 1662; again July 15. 1670, a house and lot in Broadway; and his wife, Lydia Metereu, another, on the Bever Graft, April 22, 1672. In 1676, he was granted 85 acres of land on Staten Island, "near the commons." Geneatt was a Huguenot. "Flight or the relinguishment of the Protestant religion was the only means of preserving his life. One of his neighbors had been martyred; he was de- termined on as the victim for the next day, information of which he received in the dead of the night. He therefore chartered a vessel, removed his family on board, and in the morning was out of sight of the harbor." From his son, Francis, whom he brought with him, come all of the name, so far as known. The above ex- tract is from the Memoirs written by his descendant, Rev. John Gano. chaplain in the American army in the Revolution, and afterward a pastor in New York, who died at Frankfort, Ky., in his 78th year, August 10, 1804.
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as my wife, I would have quickly paid you off, and made you find your legs, and possibly the constable the same, though it was Sunday; yes, even though your master had been present."
This breach of the peace was duly reported to the Governor, and an investigation ordered, which took place two days after, Noird taking a copy of the testimony; but we hear no more of it, for news of graver import now filled the minds of the com- munity.
On that self-same Sunday, about three o'clock in the morn- ing, Governor Andros was aroused from his slumbers to hear the startling intelligence that the Indians had taken up arms at Narragansett, in New England, and murdered some of the set- tlers; at the head of this rising being the shrewd and powerful chief of the Wampanoags, from whom the bloody conflict which ensued took the name of "King Philip's War." The same eve- ning the Governor sailed with a military force for Connecticut River, but soon returned on finding he was not needed there.
The possibility that the Indians in this province, from sym- pathy for their brethren at the east, might be induced either to join them or take up the hatchet against our own inhabitants here, led the Governor and Council to the precaution of inviting some of the chiefs to an interview to renew the bond of friend- ship; seeing no reason for breaking with these tribes "upon account of the war between our neighbors and their Indians." But it was enjoined upon the several towns to maintain a strict watch. And to allay or prevent excitement at Harlem, a mes- sage from the Mayor was published in the village, August 9th, charging all there at their peril not to beat the drum nor to hold any meetings, neither to ferry any stranger across the river, without the knowledge and sanction of the constable. This had reference to the practice long in vogue in the town before they had a bell. of beating the drum to call the people together, upon all occasions .*
Verveelen at Spuyten Duyvel was required to exercise all his vigilance. It happened that Jan Hendricksen, alias Kyckuyt, "inhabitant here," having been sent by the constable of Harlem
· The venerable bell still in use at the Reformed Church, 3d avenue and 121st street, is the first within the bounds of Harlem of which we have knowledge. "It was cast in Holland expressly for this church. Among other metals, it contains twenty dollars' worth of gold and twenty dollars' worth of silver;" at least, so says a com- munication made by "Knickerbocker" to the Harlem Traveler, in January, 1863. The writer probably knew whereof he affirmed, but it would be gratifying could we trace this statement to its source. The bell, only relic of the old stone church erected in 1686, has the following inscription:
AMSTERDAM, ANNO 1734, ME FECIT.
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to Fordham, with a warrant that came from New York, arrived at Verveelen's door just after sunset. Presently there was a knock at the door, and a messenger from Fordham came in, who said, "Verveelen, I am sent to warn you to come to the watch." Verveelen replied that he could attend to no watch other than to pass people over the ferry, and that there was a person then in the house with a warrant, and who must be ferried over again. But as the other insisted, and argued the risk of refusing, "Let them call me before his Honor the Governor," said the resolute ferryman, " and I will answer them there." The messenger left. but at midnight there came three or four persons before the ferry-house making a great clamor, and trying to force the door, calling upon Verveelen to come to the watch. No heed being paid to them, they finally went away in great rage. It was then suspected, as it afterward turned out, that no such order had been sent ; and this ruse to decoy the ferryinan from his post of duty while they executed some mischief which they were brewing, had succeeded but for Verveelen's firmness. At this time a most unfriendly feeling existed between Verveelen and Archer. The latter had cut the hay on Verveelen's meadows; the Mayor's Court, to which Verveelen complained August 17th, appointed arbitraters, who decided "that the meadow in controversy be- longed to the plaintiff." Nevertheless Archer carried off about four loads of hay, to recover which Verveelen petitioned the Governor and Court of Assize. And during the next winter. "about the month of January," Archer and his confederates went to Verveelen's, and "by force and arms" took out of his house "a quantity of wheat, and divers merchandises and household goods," to the value, as Verveelen alleged, of 980 gl., and to recover which he afterward sued Archer in the Mayor's Court. But we will not anticipate.
Mid-autumn, 1675, brought new alarms. In vain had the Governor a few weeks before issued a proclamation to assure the people of "the falsity of the late reports of Indians' ill in- tents." King Philip's Indians were said to be advancing west- ward in order to destroy Hartford and other places this way as far as Greenwich. This done, what could stay their onward march to New York? The Governor, to prevent any co-opera- tion on the part of our Indians, immediately directed that their canoes on the shores of the Sound should be laid up where they could not be used, and ordered the Wickquaskeeks at Ann's Hook, now Pelham Neck,-then one of their summer haunts, and where to our day are many Indian graves,-"to remove
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
within a fortnight to their usual winter quarters within Hellgate upon this island."
This winter retreat was either the woodlands between Har- lem Plains and Kingsbridge, at that date still claimed by these Indians as hunting grounds, or Rechawanes and adjoining lands on the Bay of Hellgate, as the words "within Hellgate" would strictly mean, and which, by the immense shell-beds found there formerly, is proved to have been a favorite Indian resort. That this was the locality referred to, seems indeed to follow from the fact that the Indians, removing in obedience to the above order, attempted to pass up the Harlem River, but were stopped at the village by Constable Demarest. They said they were "going to Wickquaskeek," but could show no pass. Demarest thereupon detained them, and dispatched a letter to the Governor, to which came the following answer :
Mr. Constable,
I have just now seen, by yours of this day sent express by Wm. Palmer, of your having stopt 10 or 12 Indian canoes, with women, chil- dren, corn and baggage, coming as they say from Westchester, and going to Wickers-creek, but not any Pass mentioned: So that you have done very well in stopping the said Indians and giving notice thereof. These are now to order all the said Indians to stay in your Town, and that you send some of the chiefest of them to me early to-morrow, and one of your Overseers for further orders; and that it may be better effected, you are to order them some convenient house or barn to be in. and draw up their canoes until the return of them you shall send: and that you double your watch
Your loving friend, E. ANDROS.
N. York, Octobr. the 21st, 1675.
A long and restless night, we dare say, was that to some timid souls, with these Indians, friendly but always distrusted, perhaps prowling about their streets and their very doors, despite the utmost vigilance of the watchman; but the morning came without harm to any, and the unwelcome visitors soon departed.
All the settlements, indeed. were in astate of feverish anxiety, and taking measures for defence. The people of Fordham erected fortifications. and "Archer, proprietor of the Town," called upon all the neighbors round to come "into his town" and assist. But four families seated on the Yonker's Land near Spuyten Duyvel, including those of John Heddy, William Beets, and his son-in-law, George Tippett, "being removed from Mr. Archer, his town above a mile, and being strong enough, or thought so, to resist this heathenish war, having a good and strong blockhouse," objected "to leave their houses and goods, to please the humors of said Mr. Archer." and therefore at their
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
request were excused by the Governor from going to Fordham. On October 16th, Andros had ordered all the towns to keep "double and strict watches," and to the Harlem people on the 2Ist, as seen, had reiterated the caution, "Double your watch." This was complied with, so far as was practicable at that busy season, when much of the fall work was yet to be done, but. with the setting in of winter the Night Watch was formally organized as follows; the Governor, at the town's charge, furnishing pow- der, "for the Indian war":
On the 6th December, A°. 1675, Monday. Present : Their Honors, Jan Dyckman, Constable. Joost van Oblinus. Resolved Waldron. Meynard Journee.
The following are, according as they rank, appointed upon the Night Watch, organized by order of his Excellency the Governor-General, and divided into four Corporalships, each consisting of seven persons, to wit: I. - III.
I. Adolph Meyer, Corporal.
2. Meynard Journee.
3. David des Marest.
4 Daniel Tourneur.
5. Nicholas de Vaux.
6. Isaac Kip.
7. Jan Hendricks Boch.
I. Simeon Cornier, Corporal.
2. Cornelis Jansen.
3. Samuel des Marest.
4. Laurens Jansen.
5. William Palmer.
6. Jaco el Roe .*
7. Gerard Magister.
II. IV.
I. Jan Nagel, Corporal.
2. Joost van Oblinus.
3. Jan Hendricks Kyckuyt.
+ Jan le Maistre. -
5. Johannes Vermelje.
6. Jean le Roy.
7. Isaac le Maistre.
i
I. Robert Hollis, Corporal.
2. Resolved Waldron.
3. Arent Hermensen.
+ Coenrad Hendricks Boch.
5. David des Marest, Jun.
1
6. Cornelis Theunisz.
7. Isaac See, Jun.
Ist. The whole or half corporalships, whose turn it is to watch, shall, in the evening, at the hour of eight, upon beat of the drum, be in full number at the watch-house, shall place their sentinels, and take the neces- sary rounds ; and shall not retire before the beating of the morning reveille ; upon a forfeiture, fixed or to be fixed, of 3 guilders.
2d. Whoever neglects the watch without a lawful cause, or making the same known to his corporal beforehand, shall each time forfeit 6 guilders.
* Jacques Laroe was born in 1657. From his name, and affiliation with the French refugees, we conclude he was himself French, though Vander Vin, usually careful, writes his surname, the first two or three times, el Roey or el Roeyl, and finally adopts the form of el Roe. As he must have had warrant for this, probably Jacques was of mixed blood, Spanish and Walloon. He is always called by Vander Vin, Joco, a juvenile form of his name used by the Walloons. In 1677 Jacques joined the church in New York, but the next year accompanied the Demarests to Hackensack. Here he married Wybrecht, daughter of Hendrick Teunisz Helling. She was five years younger than he, and bore him sons, Peter, Hendrick, Samuel, Abraham, Johannes and as many daughters. On the decline of the French Church of Kinkachemeck, which he must have helped to form, he took a letter to the Dutch Church of Hackensack, April 5, 1696. We think this family, under the name Laroe, has become widely extended, at least in the States of New York and New Jersey.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
3d. Each watchman coming to the watch shall be provided with suit- able side and hand arms; also with sufficient powder and lead, upon forfeit of 3 guilders.
4th. The watch shall be kept quietly, without much calling or noise, upon penalty of 3 guilders.
The Indian excitement continued through the winter and spring, 1676. Suspicions were entertained that the Wickquas- keeks (or Wickers-creeks, as now commonly called) intended to join "the North Indians." But some eighteen of these, with their sachems and "Claes ye Indian," visited the Governor, Jan- uary 7th, bringing a present of venison and deer-skins, and re- newed their pledge of friendship. The Governor assured them of his continued good-will and desire to protect them, but said that as they had now gone out of his reach he could not "mind them as before." Then, to quote the record of the interview, "the Governor in return would give them coates, but they desired drink, which is ordered for them."
Upon this hint the Indians asked leave to return to their old maize lands on Manhattan Island; whereupon the Governor and Council, on February 6th, passed the following :
"Resolved, That the Wickers-creek Indians, if they desire it, be admitted with their wives and children, to plant upon this Island, but nowhere else, if they remove; and that it be upon the north point of the Island near Spuyten Duyvel."
Still the settlers at Harlem were on the alert. On March 2d the Night Watch was reorganized, each corporal's squad being composed of five instead of six. The corporals were now: Ist, Lourens Jansen ; 2d, Arent Hermansen Bussing; 3d, Adolph Meyer, and 4th, Jan Nagel. For various reasons the following names disappear from the roll, to wit: Journee, Tourneur, Kip, Le Roy, Cornier, C. Jansen, Palmer, Hollis, and See; and the following new ones appear: Barent Waldron, Michiel Bastiaen- sen, Reyer Michielsen, Hendrick Kierson, Frederick de Vaux.
The last of these persons, born in the Walloon country, had lately left the Lower Palatinate, with many other French, on account of the troubles there; De Vaux coming via England to join his brother Nicholas in this country. He was now a widower, but a little later married a daughter of Daniel Tour- neur deceased, from which union sprang the respectable De Voc family in the lower sections of Westchester County, first seated at De Voe's Point, near which Frederick obtained by his wife a fine property .*
. Frederick de Vaux's passport, brought with him from Mannheim, is still pre- served. We are indebted for a copy in German to one of his descendants, Col. Thomas F. De Voe, of New York. Here follows a translation.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
On April 8th the Council "ordered that all boats and ves- sels that pass through Hellgate do take a permit from the Cus- tom House, by reason of the Indian troubles, which permit ( unless for merchandise ) to be given gratis and with all dispatch."
But now fear of the Indians gradually subsided : the Wick- quaskeeks proving their friendship sincere, had their canoes restored to them. The close of the war at the eastward conse- quent upon the death of King Philip, who with many of his warriors was slain, August 12th, in the great swamp fight near Mount Hope, was a principal means of allaying apprehension.
The ordinary domestic interests were not neglected amid all this public disquietude, and the extra drafts upon the time and energies of the inhabitants. Planting and harvesting allowed of no interruption. A common fence inclosed their cultivated lands on Pochem Pieters Flat, and on Van Keulen's Hook, and no partition fences were vet set up: the lots being merely staked off that everyone could know and make use of his own. Strict rules were required to maintain these common fences ; so import- ant since the entire planting of the community was at the mercy of any one member through whose neglect to keep up his part cattle might get in and destroy ; and none so offending but had to meet the public frown, it not a lawsuit to recover losses. When new fence-masters were appointed, April 24, 1675 .- Cor- nelis Jansen and Conrad Hendricks, to succeed Arent Hermens and David Demarest, Jr ..- it was resolved that each inhabitant should forthwith repair his part of the common fencing, and that by the spring of 1676 these fences should be generally renewed and made at least five and one-half feet high. English measure: and anyone failing it should be done by the town at his expense. Again. November 22d. because of daily and manifold complaints of damage done by horses and cattle running upon the sowed lands, an ordinance was passed and posted up requiring the fences still unrepaired to be attended to within fourteen days punctually, under penalty of 25 guilders for every case of neglect :
"We. Director, Sheriff, Burgomaster and Council of the Electoral Paltz City Mannheim, hereby make known and publish, that the bearer of this. Frederick de \'aux, late a Burgher of this city, for his own business is intending to travel in Holland. and from thence further to England: in which behalf every one is requested to let the said Frederick de Vaux pass free, safe, and unmolested, at all places, and also to show him all good will and consideration; we engaging to do the same for every city. according to merit. In witness hereof. we have attached our usual Seal. Done at Mannheim, this 23d February. old style. Anno one thousand six hundred and seventy- five,"
SEAL.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
and also repeating the former order, that by the first of March ensuing all the common fences should be built anew, with posts and six rails, five and one-half feet high, English measure, upon the same penalty; and further, no one should let his calves, or other beasts, run within the sowed land without a herder, as any such being found trespassing upon another man's grain would subject its owner to a fine of 12 gl.
The yeomen were already much straitened in the breadth of their acres. In other words, the need of more arable land to meet the growing wants of the old residents and the newly- arrived families was becoming urgent. The town had reached a point in its history when the limited amount of improved land was mostly absorbed by the older and well-to-do settlers, who, aiming to enlarge rather than to reduce their area, held their lands at a high price. It was not easy to purchase any, except perchance an .estate was to be closed up, or it happened that parties were leaving town, as was the case this year with Journee and Le Roy, who removed to Staten Island; whither also went the Sees, father and son, unable to suit themselves with land here .*
With the immability of Dutchmen, and moreover as a matter of policy, the present freeholders had been slow to move in a further division of the common lands, which hight tend to lessen the value of the improved farms. Their aim was, if possible, to retain the control of these lands, and hence the anxiety to secure new confirmations of their patent from the successive gov- crnors. But the late petition to. Andros for his confirmation, interfered with doubtless by the Indian troubles, had effected nothing ; while, on the other hand, the governor was beset with applications for land upon Manhattan Island, and which he resolved to satisfy by dividing up various tracts of woodland among such applicants as were most worthy, and would under- take to clear and improve their grants. At this the Harlem freeholders took alarm, especially as they understood that these grants were to extend to the unappropriated lands within their own patent. No time was lost, therefore, in preparing a second memorial to Governor Andros in these terms:
. The See family, whose name in early records takes the several forms of Cie. du Cie, Sieck, Zy, and Sie, consisted, so far as appears, of the heads, Isaac See and wife Esther, their son, Isaac, Jr., and daughter, Maria, wife of Nicholas de Vaux. The wife of Isaac, Jr., was also named Maria. The Sees obtained two farms, 194 acres, on Karle's Neck, Staten Island, by patent of September 29, 1677. But after living there some years, they removed to Philips Manor, Westchester County, the father and son appearing as church members at Sleepy Hollow, or Tarrytown, in 1697. Then the name was usually written Sie. Isaac and Maria had sons, Peter, born in Europe; Jacob, born 1675: Simon, born 1679, etc. The family is still numbered among the most respectable residents there, and from its branches have come several well- known clergymen.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
To his Excellency the Governor General at New York.
The Constable, Magistrates and Inhabitants of the Town of New Haerlem respectfully represent that your petitioners have understood and been informed by their Constable and Joost van Oblinus that your Excellency's purpose is to distribute the lands lying within their town's jurisdiction, for bouweries and plantations; wherefore they the petition- ers and undersigned request that each may be allowed a part of the same to build upon and plant, etc. Remaining meanwhile your Excel- lency's most willing subjects. New Haerlem, Wednesday, 30th August, 1676.
CONRADUS HENDRICKS,
GERARD MAGISTER,
JAN HENDRICKS,
DAVID DES MAREST, JUN.,
JAN NAGEL,
JACO EL ROE,
ARENT HERMENSEN,
SAMUEL DES MAREST,
JAN LE MAISTRE,
ADOLPH MEYER,
CORNELIS JANSEN,
FREDERICK DE VAUX.
LAURENS JANSEN,
ISAAC LE MAISTRE.
PIERRE CRESSON,
GLAUDE LE MAISTRE,
NICHOLAS DE VAUX,
ABRAHAM LE MAISTRE,
HENDRICK J. VANDER VIN,
BARENT WALDRON,
DAVID DES MAREST,
FRANCOIS BRETEAU.
Andros favored this application, but as none of the magis- trates had signed it, he referred it to them to make out and pre- sent him a list of those to whom such grants might properly be made. This they prepared, omitting the petitioners Cresson, Vander Vin, David des Marest, Jr., El Roe, the Le Maistres, and Breteau : and designating instead Jan Dyckman, Resolved Wald- ron, Joost and Pieter Van Oblinus, Jan Louwe Bogert, and Jean Baignoux .- but the last-named, who was a tenant of Mr. Ver- veelen, was erased from the list, Andros making him a special grant upon Hoorn'sHook. The list was headed: "Persons for land in Harlem bounds, given in by ye Constable and overseers as fitt persons, Je 4th of 7ber, 1676."*
Pending the new grants. the town employed Robert Ryder, government surveyor, to run out the lot lines on Van Keulen's Hook, in order to assign each owner his proper quantity, or at least to equalize them, as these lots had never been accurately surveyed, and nearly all were known to much exceed the pre- scribed three morgen or six acres. The. survey, finished before the close of 1676, put most of the owners who had inclosed and
* Francois Breteau, as he signs his name, was sometimes styled "Frenchman." V'ander Vin wrote his name Bartou, showing how pronounced. If he, as we suspect. was the same with Francois Beado, mentioned on page 348. he was born in London in 1646. About the date of this petition for land, Breteau was in the employ of Glaude le Maistre: but no land being granted him, he procured soon after 12 acres at Flushing. He petitioned, September 28, 1680. for more land, giving as a reason that he had nine children to support. He was still living there, with his wife Mary. in 1698, having sons John and Francis. These two married and had families; John had sons. John, born 1709. who removed to Vermont, and Francis, born 1711, who settled at Hempstead, Long Island, in which localities, respectively, their descendants are still found. (See N. Y. G. & B. Rec., and Bartow Genealogy, by Rev. Evelyn Bartow).
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
built upon the north ends of these lots to the necessity of shift- ing their fences .**
William Waldron, eldest son of Resolved, had learned the cooper's trade, and established himself in New York, where he married the daughter of the wealthy Stoutenburgh, city treas- urer, and now enjoyed the position of inspector of pipe-staves. He and his partner, Jan Pietersen, undertaking to cut timber for use in their business, in the common woods upon Hoorn's Hook, the town officers stopped them, upon the ground that they were non-residents. The coopers made their plaint to the . Mayor's Court, November 14th, against the "Constable of Har- lem and several other Inhabitants, for discharging them from cutting of wood upon this Island, just against Hellgate, not being within fence." To the surprise of the defendants the case went against them; this decision being rendered:
It is Ordered, That the said William Waldron and John Petersen may cut timber upon this Island, within one mile of any plantation fence; and the timber already cut they to carry away; and the town to pay the charges.
The approaching winter promised but little leisure. The inhabitants had been called upon to cut and draw to the water side 5,000 stockades twelve feet long and four inches thick, to be used in making "a harbor before the City of New York." They met October 3d, formed themselves into four corporalships, and apportioned the work; choosing as corporals Laurens Jansen, Arent Bussing, Adolph Meyer, and Jan Nagel. Another call was from Vander Vin, the clerk, whose house had become unfit to live in. At his request it was resolved at a meeting in October to remove him for the winter into the school-house (or church), after it should be repaired and adapted to the purposes of a dwelling by putting in a bedroom (bedstede), chimney, and mantel, and making the door and windows tight. It was further decided "to repair (vermaeken) the old house the following spring." In repairing the school-house, the elder Demarest was employed upon the work in "the loft," and also put a lock upon the door, and glazed the windows, while Floris Gerritsen, mason,
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