USA > New York > Essex County > Bloomingdale > The New York of yesterday; a descriptive narrative of old Bloomingdale, its topographical features, its early families and their genealogies, its old homesteads and country-seats, the Bloomingdale Reformed church, organized in 1805 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
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The latter and Johannes Hardman and Johannes Pro- voost, Jr., went to the front in 1690. On March 4th, Johannes de Bruyn and said Provoost and Milborne were deputed to proceed to Albany to take command of all the forces raised in New York and adjacent counties, and to control the fort and affairs generally. (IV.) Queen Anne's War and the Second Expedition against Canada covered the years 1709 to 1711, during the ad- ministrations of Richard Ingoldesby, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, and Robert Hunter, Governor. Nicholson was appointed commander-in-chief of all the forces raised by the provinces of New York, Connecticut, and Pennsyl- vania. Col. Peter Schuyler commanded all the Indians engaged in behalf of the colonists. Jacob de Kay, Lieutenant, and Johannes Hardenbrook, Lieutenant of the 4th Company of the militia regiment, appointed June 26, 1710, were Bloomingdale representatives, as was Gerrit Cosine. The troops of this expedition were disbanded in April, 1712.
Those who composed the first distinctive company of the Outward are recorded in vol. 1, page 582, of Hast- ings's Reports. This designation comprised both Bloom- ingdale and Harlem. The company was mustered into his Majesty George II.'s service in 1738, when George Clarke was Lieutenant-Governor of the province. As a matter of historical interest so much of the roll of this organization as fits the occasion is appended, mod- ern spelling being substituted where obviously required :
Capt., Gerard Stuyvesant Left., Jacobus Kip Ensign, Philip Minthorne Sergeants
John Horn Derick Benson William Waldron
Marten van Evera
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Men
Christian Hardman William Low John Minthorne Frederick Webbers
John Harsen Jacob Horn Arnout Horn John Kip
Resolvert Waldron
John van Oblines
Isaac de Lamontanye
Jacob Dyckman
David de Voor, Sen'r
Jacob Dyckman, Jun'r
David de Voor, Jun'r
John Nagel, Jun'r
Jonathan Hardman
Harman van de Water
John Bas, Sen'r
Adrian Hooglandt Edde van Evera
John Bas, Jun'r
Abraham de Lamater
John Dyckman
Burger van Evera
Nicholas Dyckman John Webbers Jacob van Orden
John Waldron van Horn's Hoek Isaac Webbers
Benjamin Waldron
Cornelius Webbers
John Waldron Aaron Kortright
John Hopper Andrew Hopper
John Benson
John Couwenhoven
Isaac Mier
Folkert Somerindick
John Sickels
Isaac de Lamater
Abraham Myer, Jun'r Aaron Myer
John Mandeville
Yellis Mandeville
David de Voor
Cornelius Webbers
Peter Waldron
Cornelius Dyckman
Adolf Benson
Adolf Myer, Jun'r John Myer, Jun'r Samuel Waldron, Jun'r John Waldron van Hogt John Dyckman Lawrence Low
The company was composed of 86 men.
Other worthies living in the Outward who served in the militia this year were:
John Sprong John de Voor
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Corneles Cozeijn appears on the list of Capt. Joseph Robinson's company of foot, January 21, 1737-8.
Gert Harsen, Sergeant of Gerard Beekman's Co. Stanley Holmes, Cornelius Quackenbosh, Johan France Waldron, and William Hopper were members of Capt. Charles Laroexs's company.
Of Capt. Abraham Boelen's company, Henry Beek- man was Second Lieutenant and William de Peyster, Ensign. Others who served therein were Cornelius van den Berg, Sampson Benson, John Couzyn, Harman Benson, Garret Cozyn, and Adriaen Hogeland.
Henry Benson was sergeant of Capt. Cornelius van Horne's company, of which these individuals were members, viz .: Samson Benson, Sam's son, Samson Benson, Thewe's son, Samuel Maghee, Alexander Maghee, Samuel Couwenhoven, Henry van de Water, Isaac Varian, and Richard Waldron.
In Capt. Henry Cuyler's company served Humphrey Jones and Richard Ray.
Isaac de Peyster was Lieutenant in foot company, commanded by Joseph Robinson. Others serving therein were Benjamin Quackenbos, Richard Hopper, John Oblines, Albertus van de Water, Hendrick van de Water, Adam van de Bergh, Cornelius Cozeijn, Isaac Bussing, Aaron Bussing, John van Orden, John Post, and John and Jacob Montagne.
I738. Isaac de Peyster, commissioned Captain,
Aug. 18.
Henry Beekman,
First Lieut.
I9.
Abel Hardenbrook
24.
Philip Minthorne,
Second Lieut.
28.
William de Peyster, 66
3I.
Humphrey Jones,
Ensign
Sept. 12.
Robert Benson,
15.
John Barberie,
" 16.
John Benson,
20.
T
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Bloomingdale Militant
(V.) The war of the "Austrian Succession," be- tween the old enemies England and France, opened in 1744, and was concluded by the Peace of 1748. An expedition against Canada during the administration of George Clinton was undertaken. So far as we know only two bearing Bloomingdale names volunteered : John and Thomas Stillwell were mustered in Sept. 25, 1746.
(VI.) In the French and Indian War of 1754, during which the battle of Lake George was fought, Sept. 8, 1755, and in the expedition against Crown Point the following year, no local enlistments are found.
The roll of men in Capt. George Brewerton, Jr.'s. company, taken April 26, 1759, contains these names and particulars :
Cornelius van de Water, enlisted March 18th, age 19, 5 feet 32 inches tall, with a round face, brown hair, gray eyes, and light complexion; and
Volkert Somerindyck, enlisted March 26th, age 38, 5 feet 14 inches tall, long face, brown hair, gray eyes, and ruddy complexion.
May 10, 1762, John Dyckman, aged 38, of New York, enlisted for expedition against Canada in Capt. John Grant's company. Stature, 5 feet II2 inches, blue eyes, brown hair, and fair complexion.
December 28, 1763, John Horn enlisted at New York for Captain Grant's company.
In these early days wars and rumors thereof did not much ruffle the serenity of village life. Bloomingdale's baptism of blood was now to be evolved.
The Revolution
On the list of those who issued calls for the Provincial Congress appear these later Bloomingdale names :
3
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John Broome, Robert Benson, John de Lancey, and William W. Ludlow. The Congress made three calls on the people of New York for assistance, the first in 1775, the second early in 1776, and the third during the summer of that year.
The militia of New York County in 1775 comprised a number of independent foot companies. These were amalgamated into regiments of volunteers, the first being commanded by Col. John Lasher. It was composed of the Grenadier Company, of which Lasher had been Captain, the Fusileers, the German Fusileers, the Union Company, the Sportsman Company, the Corsicans, the Bold Foresters, the Light Infantry, the Oswago Rangers, and a company of Rangers-ten com- panies in all-to which should be added two companies of artillery. Vol. ii., p. 143, of Hastings's Reports alters these names. Instead of the Union, Corsicans, and Bold Foresters are mentioned the Prussian Blues, Hearts Oak, and Light Horse. Each company appears to have been uniformed differently. Among the officers were the "most respectable" citizens, many being members of the "Sons of Liberty." The Fusileer Company was captained by Rudolphus Ritzema-he of the fine Dutch patronymic-of which Henry G. Livingston and James van Zant were Lieutenants. Its uniform was blue with red facings, topped with a bear-skin cap. On the latter and on the pouch were brass plates bearing the word "Fuzileers," and encircling the last, the motto: "Salus populi suprema lex est." George Harsen of the Grena- diers and Oliver Mildeberger of the German Fusileers served as Lieutenants of Militia in 1775 and 1777, either in this or the Second Regiment. Harsen entered him- self as willing to serve his country on January 31, 1776 (Archives State N. Y. in Rev., p. 51), and was ap-
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pointed Adjutant of Levies July 1, 1780. Garish (Gar- ret?) Harsen wrote to his cousin, William Radclift, at Rhyn Beck (Rhinebeck) on February 13, 1776, telling of the terror and confusion caused in the city by the coming of the British regulars. 1137046
Governor Tryon wrote the Earl of Dartmouth on Feb- ruary 8th, that one half the inhabitants had withdrawn their effects and that hundreds were without means to support their families. Many refugees sought tempo- rary asylum in Bloomingdale and the country north. Capt .- Lieut. Henry Livingston of the Fusileers, who also entered himself for service in January, 1776, is the Judge who later lived in Bloomingdale, at which time he had discarded his Christian name and assumed the middle cognomen Brockholst.
The Second Regiment of the city, of which John Broome was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel Novem- ber 3, 1775, sent three of its officers to offer its services as a regiment, provided it was taken into “constant pay" as Minute-men. They appeared before the Com- mittee of Safety on March 19, 1776. The independent companies composing it were accepted for two months and were to consist of at least seven, each to contain eighty-six men, including sergeants, corporals, and drum and fife corps, besides a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel, a major, an adjutant, and a quartermaster. John Web- bers and Garret Beekman, of Capt. Benjamin Egbert's company, served with the command on fatigue at the fortifications, commencing on the 17th of this month.
Colonel Lasher's regiment "founded a Breastwork around the Hospital" site at Duane Street, in April (the building itself being nearly destroyed by the fire of Feb. 28, 1775, while yet unfinished), composed of sod and dirt, ten feet thick and seven feet high, with a ditch
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twelve feet wide and seven feet deep surrounding the whole, which would afford a safe retreat from musketry fire. It is stated that they gained great honor by erect- ing the circular battery nominated after them, and received the thanks of General Stirling "in a most pub- lick manner." This was the beginning of the institu- tion, the country annex of which cut such a large figure in the Bloomingdale of the next century. In this month, also, a guard from this regiment relieved one of citizens which had been watching the colonial records, removed by order of the Provincial Congress (Feb. 11th) to the house of Alderman Nicholas Bayard of the Outward. Others who served in this troop were Garret Kip and Yellis Mandeville, Jr.
A renowned Bloomingdale personage was John Morin Scott, who resided in November, 1775, at the seat since known as "The Hermitage" and the "Temple of Health," which remained until a recent date in West 43d Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. He was one of the earliest, most able, and most determined of "The Sons of Liberty." Born, 1730, in this city, he entered Yale, where he graduated, 1746. Having adopted the profession of law, he soon became a leading member of the provincial bar, where many of the ablest minds of America were then practising. An early op- ponent of the Government, he was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775; on June 9, 1776, he was appointed Brigadier-General of Provincial troops, with whom he was engaged in the battle of Long Island. He left the service in March, 1777, to become Secretary of State of New York, and in 1782 and 1783 served in the Continental Congress. He died in this city, Sept. 14, 1784.
One of the scarcest articles for the equipment of the
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Bloomingdale Militant
soldiery was lead. On June 8, 1776, Samuel Prince and two assistants took the window weights from the City Hall and the Exchange, and the following month began the taking of leads from the windows of private residences. Among those in Bloomingdale whose houses were thus despoiled were the families of Beek- man, Clarkson, de Lancey, de Peyster, Harsen, Hopper, Jauncey, Jones, Kortright, Lawrence, Leake, Living- ston, McEvers, and Quackenbos. The one hundred tons of lead secured in this manner from New York City proved invaluable. The fate of the American cause, says N. Y. in the Revolution (Supplement), printed by the State, might have been much more doubtful had it not been for this supply. From July to December about twenty tons had been delivered to the army. This lead was paid for by the State Treasurer at nine pence per pound, on the termination of hostilities.
The fleet under Sir William Howe arrived off Sandy Hook, June 29, 1776, and the troops were debarked July 2d and 3d. The advent of these forces fore- shadowed the coming storm, and was the forerunner of the event of greatest renown in Bloomingdale history, viz .; the battle of Harlem Heights.
After the catastrophe on Long Island, August 28, 1776, and the affair at Kip's Bay, the Americans with- drew up the island, time for which retreat being gained, so it is claimed, through the instrumentality of Mary Lindley Murray (the wife of Robert Murray, the father of Lindley, the grammarian), who entertained General Howe and his officers at luncheon on Sept. 15, 1776, at her house, at present Park Avenue and 36th Street. During the two hours thus engaged, Putnam and his command, in their straggling and disorderly retreat along the Bloomingdale Road, had passed in safety to
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The new Dork of Desterday
within a mile of the Morris house where Washington's headquarters were maintained. When the British realized the fact that the patriots had joined the main army, they encamped that night along Apthorp Lane, Sir Henry Clinton taking possession of the mansion, and threw up fortifications just north of that lane, ex- tending across the island from Hoorn's Hoek on the East River to Striker's Bay on the Hudson. Earl Cornwallis was in command of the Reserve, while differ- ent generals led the English, Scotch, and Hessians. The first line of works thrown up by the Americans was located about 147th Street, near the Kortright house, and the hill as far south as "The Hollow Way," the valley through which Manhattan Street now passes, was occupied by them. Generally these were the posi- tions of the two forces on September 16th. On that morning, Col. Thomas Knowlton, who had seen service at Lexington, Bunker Hill, and Long Island, was di- rected by Washington to make a reconnoissance of the enemy's position. Moving southward with his Connect- icut Rangers along the westerly side near the Hudson, they were screened from view by the woods covering Hooglandt's farm. It was not until they reached Nich- olas Jones's farmhouse, about sunrise, that the British pickets, light infantrymen, were encountered. Evi- dently stationed on the Bloomingdale Road at about 104th Street, their regiments were encamped a short distance to the south. During the brisk skirmish which now took place, the woods along the dividing line be- tween the Jones and Hooglandt farms echoed the sharp firing from both sides. The forces were so dispropor- tioned as to numbers, and the object of the movement having been attained, Knowlton ordered a retreat which was effected without confusion or loss. He had
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PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF HARLEM HEIGHTS.
SEPTEMBER 10.1710 Reproduced from Prof. Johnston's " Battle of Harlem Heights " by permission of Columbia University Press.
Hollow !Way."a
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Bloomingdale Militant
ten, however, killed in action. They fell back along the line of the Road, closely pursued. The enemy halted at the elevation known as "Claremont," from which point they could catch glimpses of General Greene's troops on the opposite slopes. This was the third time within a month that the British had scat- tered or driven Washington's men with ease, and it only remained on this occasion for their bugler to sound the contemptuous notes of the hunting field, across the Hollow into the American lines. To quote one of the latter's officers: "The enemy appeared in open view and in the most insulting manner sounded their bugle horns as is usual after a Fox-chase; I never felt such a sensation before-it seemed to crown our disgrace."
Washington had gone down to the advanced position held by these patriots and heard the firing. He was urged to reinforce the Rangers, but was not immedi- ately persuaded of the advisability of forcing the fight- ing. Eventually he determined on a strategical plan, viz .: to make a feint in front of the hill and induce the enemy to advance into the Hollow, and second, should this prove effective, to send a strong detachment cir- cuitously around their right flank to their rear and hem them in. This plan succeeded in so far that the enemy, seeing the advance on our part, promptly accepted bat- tle, "ran down the hill and took possession of some fences and bushes," from which vantage a smart fire was begun, but at too great a distance to do much exe- cution. The flanking party, composed of Knowlton's Rangers, now back at the lines, was reinforced with three companies of riflemen from the Third Virginia Regiment under Major Andrew Leitch of Stafford County, that colony. In some unlucky manner the attack was premature "as it was rather in flank than
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The new Dork of Desterday
in rear." Both the brave leaders fell in this engage- ment, Knowlton living but an hour. Leitch survived until October 2d, when he died at a little blacksmith's shop in the neighborhood of (now) 129th Street. Noth- ing daunted, the Rangers and Riflemen pressed on. The British who had been inveigled into the Hollow Way had in the meantime been put to flight by the use of artillery, and were pursued back towards their camp along the line of the Road to a buckwheat field on top of a high hill. Heretofore the manœuvring had taken place largely on the Hooglandt farm; now the main action is transferred to Van de Water's Heights.
The general limits of this "hot contest" were the high ground extending from Columbia University around westwardly and northerly to Grant's Tomb and Clare- mont. The fighting grew into a pitched battle, lasting from noon until about two o'clock. Nearly 1800 men were engaged on our side, composed of commands rep- resenting New England, Maryland, and Virginia, with volunteers from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsyl- vania. The enemy finally retreated, followed in close pursuit, and the day was won. The route crossed an orchard just north of IIIth Street and terminated in the vicinity of Jones's house, where Knowlton first found them in the early morning. It was considered prudent to" withdraw and late in the afternoon the troops re- turned to camp, rejoicing in a success they had not anticipated. It is estimated that about thirty men were killed, and not over a hundred wounded and miss- ing. A total British loss of one hundred and seventy- one was reported. This action put new courage into the patriots and exerted a wide influence over subse- quent events.
The above account of the battle of Harlem Heights
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PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF HARLEM HEIGHTS. BEPTEMBER 10, 1770 Reproduced from Prof. Johnston's " Battle of Harlem Heights" by permission of Columbia University Press.
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Bloomingdale Militant
follows the narrative as related by Henry P. Johnston, Esq., who had access to documents which were inac- cessible to other writers on the subject. One of Ma- jor Leitch's descendants has undertaken to criticise many of Professor Johnston's conclusions, and his strictures thereon are entertaining if of no other value. Washington fittingly referred to "the gallant and brave Colonel Knowlton, who would have been an honor to any country," and the same day (Sept. 17th) most heartily thanked "the troops commanded yester- day by Major Leitch." The commander-in-chief's method of showing his commendation of the perform- ance of these two participants should be conclusive, and any family traditions current in Virginia cannot alter the facts of history. At one time it was thought that the contest was fought on Washington Heights, and accordingly the Sons of the Revolution erected a bronze tablet to Colonel Knowlton and Major Leitch, which was imbedded in the wall surrounding Trinity Cemetery at 153d Street and Amsterdam Avenue. The inscription thereon has been altered to fit the facts as hereinabove related.
And now as to some of the landmarks on the field of action, and first the Apthorp mansion. It was here that Washington waited until his little army of 3500 men, none of whom had had any breakfast or sleep, had passed in retreat from the oncoming enemy, following them to the Roger Morris house (Jumel man- sion) at 162d Street, where he made his headquarters until after the battle. Standing between 9Ist and 92d Streets, just west of Columbus Avenue, as at present laid out, the house became the headquarters of Generals Howe, Clinton, Cornwallis, and Carlton, at successive stages of the British occupation. The land
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The new Dork of Desterday
on which it was built was a part of the original farm of Theunis Eydese van Huyse, who in his old age laid it out into eight lots of fifty-seven and one half acres each. Of these, the first five numbers were subsequently owned by Apthorp. When Howe took possession, it was whispered about that he was made welcome there, and when the war was over the lawyer was included in the list of persons suspected of being Tory sympathiz- ers. Although indicted for treason, he was never tried for his alleged crime. Property which he owned in Massachusetts in connection with his brother was con- fiscated, but the New York realty was left untouched. His name is generally spelled incorrectly in local history. We have in possession a deed dated 1764, executed by him, in which he spelt the name, Apthorp, without the finale e, and we are assured by a number of his descend- ants that this is the proper orthography. Access to the mansion was gained via "The new Bloomingdale cross-road" or the "cross-road to Harlem," which left the Bloomingdale Road in the block between 93d and 94th Streets, and joined the old Post Road at a point near the line of 96th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues within the present confines of Central Park. Colonel Smallwood's regiment of Marylanders were posted at this latter spot before the battle and on the arrival of Clinton's column from the south had retired to join the main army. Clinton did not follow the Post Road on through McGown's Pass, but turned into this cross-road and reached the Bloomingdale end just as Silliman's troops, abandoning the extremity of the island, had passed north. A few minutes earlier and the patriots would have been intercepted.
Van de Water Heights, mentioned in the records of the battle, and owned by Harman van de Water,
THE APTHORP MANSION, 1855
C
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stretched between 106th and 124th Streets, and in- cluded a part of present Morningside Park. These Heights were a portion of the De Key tract, which was conveyed by the Mayor, etc., to Jacob de Key for £237, July 21, 1701, containing 235 A., 3 R., and 18 P. (Vide Grants, N. Y. City Comptroller's Office, vol. II., 28), and were bounded south by the land of Theunis Ei- deyse van Huyse, and east by Harlem Commons. Van de Water and Adriaen Hooglandt purchased one half of the tract from de Key in 1738. The executors of Johannes Hooglandt, the father of Adriaen, viz., Benjamin and William Hooglandt, sold the deceased's lands to Nicholas de Peyster, Dec. 7, 1785, and Benja- min van de Water, who succeeded to the ownership of Harman's interest in the de Key tract, conveyed it to James W. de Peyster, together with other land on Har- lem Lane (present St. Nicholas Avenue), Oct. 16, 1785. The Hooglandts of Bloomingdale Heights descend from Cornelis Dircksen Hooglandt, b. 1599, who was living at Breuckelin (Brooklyn) in 1638. His sons Johannes and Adriaen removed to New York, where the latter, a merchant, was murdered by his slave, Robin, in the negro outbreak of April, 1712. Johannes m. 1686, Anna Duyckinck, widow of Peter van de Water of Amsterdam; Peter being the grandfather, it is thought, of said Harman through his son Benjamin. The farm of these two families was surveyed in 1786 by Casimer T. Goerck.
The Kortright property adjoined on the east and lies partly in Central Park. Laurens C., second son of Cornelis Jansen Kortright, the pioneer, succeeded to the homestead on Harlem Lane (later the Valentine Nutter farm). His son Lawrence, who d. s. p. 1761, alienated his inheritance. It was his great-grand-
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The new Dork of Desterday
daughter, Elizabeth, who m., 1786, Hon. James Mon- roe, afterwards the President.
The house and property of Humphrey Jones, succes- sively owned by the Jones, Kemble, and Rogers fam- ilies, was a female academy just prior to its purchase by Frederick Weber. Francis B. Cutting and Nicholas C. Heyward, executors of Ann Rogers, widow, sold the estate at auction in 1835. Sixty-four lots thereof, numbered from 281-344 on a map of the estate, were bid in by him for $27,520, and the conveyance, dated " July 3d, to Frederick Weber, Gentleman, is of record in L. 339, P. 330. Included therein was the "Mansion House," and other buildings on land bounded north- westerly by the Hudson River, northeasterly by 102d Street, as laid out by the Commissioners of Streets and Roads, southeasterly by the Eleventh Avenue, as so laid out, and southwesterly by 10Ist Street. Approach to the mansion was gained via Cherry Lane, which left the Bloomingdale Road near present IoIst Street, and was a raised causeway supported by stone walls. Because of its peculiar construction it was a noted landmark, bordered along its length with trees which in season produced an abundant crop. About 1843 Weber rented the whole property, "some 65 lots," as recited in the recorded lease next below mentioned, to Killaen H. van Rensselaer, who opened the house as a driving resort under the name of the " Abbey Hotel." In September of that year van Rensselaer and his wife Matilda stood sponsors at the baptism of two of Weber's children who were christened at St. Michael's Church. On Nov. 1, 1845, said Weber executed a lease "of the property in the Twelfth Ward known as the Abbey Hotel now in the occupation" of said van Rens- selaer at the yearly rental of $900 (L. 469, 474), to
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