USA > New York > Queens County > Newtown > The annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New York; containing its history from its first settlement, together with many interesting facts concerning the adjacent towns; > Part 11
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and premises, KNOW YE, that I, the said THOMAS DONGAN, in consideration of the premises, and for divers other good and lawful considerations, by virtue of the commission and authority in me now being, from and under his said Majesty, and power in me residing, I have ratified, confirmed and grant- ed, and by these presents do ratify, confirm and grant unto Captain Rich- ard Betts, Thomas Stevenson, Gershom Moore, Jonathan Hazard, Samuel Moore, Daniel Bloomfield, Caleb Leverich, Edward Stevenson, Joseph Sack- ett, Samuel Scudder, Robert Field, Sen. Thomas Wandell, John Ketcham, Thomas Pettit, John Way, Robert Field, Jun. Jonathan Strickland, John Smith, Josias Furman, Sen., George Wood, Sen. Nathan Fish, Edward Hunt, Jeremiah Burroughs, Richard Betts, Thomas Betts, John Scudder, Jun. Jo- nathan Stevenson, Thomas Case, John Albertus, James Way, Cornelis Jan- sen, Abram Joris, John Coe, Samuel Fish, Joseph Burroughs, William Os- born, John Burroughs, Thomas Robinson, Jane Hays, Jacob Reeder, John Reeder, Richard Owen, Wouter Gysbertsen, John Pettit, Thomas Morrell, John Roberts, Isaac Swinton, Elias Doughty, Thomas Lawrence, William Lawrence, John Lawrence, William Hallett, Sen. William Hallett, Jun. Sa- muel Hallett, Hendrick Martensen, Robert Blackwell, John Parcell, William Parcell, Joris Stevensen, Thomas Parcell, Steven Jorissen, John Bockhout, Engeltie Burger, Thomas Skillman, John Woollstoneroftes, Jan Jansen Fyn, Jane Rider, Peter Boekhout, Johannes Lourensse, Richard Alsop, John Allene, John Denman, John Rosell, Hendrick Barent Smith, Henry Mayle, Sen. Henry Mayle, Jun. Joseph Reed, John Reed, Joseph Phillips, Theophilus Phil- lips, Roelof Pietersen, Benjamin Severens, Gershom Hazard, Anthony Gleane,1 Jacob Leonardsen vander Grift, Luke Depaw, Francis Way, John Wilson, Nathaniel Pettit, Moses Pettit, John Furman, Stoffel Van Laer, Samuel Ketch- am, John Ramsden, Rynier Willemsen, Abraham Rycke, Jan Harcksen, Philip Ketcham, Benjamin Cornish, Francis Combs, Isaac Gray, Josias Fur- man, Jun. Henry 'Sawtell, Thomas Etherington, Content Titus, Lambert Woodward, Nathaniel Woodward, Joseph Reeder, Jeremiah Reeder, John
1 Anthony Gleane had served in the time of Gov. Nicoll, as a drummer in the garrison at New-York. He bought a small estate in Newtown, married Esther, widow of Samuel Sallis, and died here in or about 1691, aged 60 years. Many years later his house was still standing somewhere between the premises of Mr. Mack and Mr. Bretonniere. He left sons, William, Thomas and Anthony, the first of whom died in 1704, having served as town clerk, and as a church warden of the Jamaica parish. His two brothers removed to Flushing, where Anthony died, May 10th, 1734, leaving a large personal property as appears by the original inventory, now in possession of his great grandson, Mr. John Glean, of Saratoga, New-York. He left sons, William, born 1709, Anthony, born 1715, and James, born . 1718, the first of whom remained on the paternal farm in Flushing till his death. The others settled in New-York, where the descendants of Anthony still reside. James died at Pittstown, New-York, aged 75 years, Aug. 15th, 1793. His son Anthony was a valiant soldier of the Revolution, and was in the service during the whole war, after which he settled upon a farm at Saratoga, in this state, sus- taining the reputation of a respectable and good man. He died in his 92d year, May 1st, 1842, leaving issue, John, Oliver and Hannah.
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Bull, John Fish, John Moore, Thomas Morrell, Jun. the present freeholders and inhabitants of the said town of Newtown, their heirs, successors and assigns for ever, all and singular the before recited tracts, neck and parcels of land and meadows mentioned and set forth limited and bounded as afore- said, by the afore recited patent, together with all and singular a certain neck or parcel of land called Plunder's Neck, situate likewise on the south side of Long Island, having on the east Jamaica limits, on the west a small brook, as also all and singular the houses, messuages, tenements, fencings, buildings, gar- dens, orchards, trees, woods, underwoods, pastures, feedings, common of pas- tures, meadows, marshes, lakes, ponds, ereeks, harbors, rivers, rivulets, brooks, streams, easements, and highway or highways, as also all and singular the is- lands, mines, minerals, (royal mines only excepted) fishing, hawking, hunting, and fowling, and all other franchises, profits, commodities, emoluments, here- ditaments, and privileges whatever to the said tracts of land, meadow, and premises belonging or in any wise appertaining ; To HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singular the said tracts of land and premises with their and every of their appurtenances to the several and respective uses following, and to and for no other use, intent and purposes whatsoever, that is to say, as for and concerning all and singular the several and respective parcels of land and meadow, (part of the granted premises,) in any wise taken up and appropriated by virtue of the said before recited deed or patent, before the day of the date hereof, unto the said Capt. Richard Betts, Thomas Stevenson, Gershom Moore, Jonathan Ha- zard, Samuel Moore, Daniel Bloomfield, Caleb Leverich, Edward Stevenson, Joseph Sackett, Samuel Scudder, Robert Field, Sen. Thomas Wandell, John Ketcham, Thomas Pettit, John Way, Robert Field, Jun. Jonathan Strickland, John Smith, Josias Furman, Sen. George Wood, Sen. Nathan Fish, Edward Hunt, Jeremiah Burroughs, Richard Betts, Thomas Betts, John Scudder, Jun. Jonathan Stevenson, Thomas Case, John Albertus, James Way, Cornelis Jan- sen, Abram Joris, John Coe, Samuel Fish, Joseph Burroughs, William Osborn, John Burroughs, Thomas Robinson, Jane Hays, Jacob Reeder, John Reeder, Richard Owen, Wouter Gysbertsen, John Pettit, Thomas Morrell, John Ro- berts, Isaac Swinton, Elias Doughty, Thomas Lawrence, William Lawrence, John Lawrence, William Hallett, Sen. William Hallett, Jun. Samuel Hallett, Hendrick Martensen, Robert Blackwell, John Parcell, William Parcell, Joris Stevensen, Thomas Parcell, Steven Jorissen, John Bockhout, Engeltie Burger, Thomas Skillman, John Woollstoneroftes, Jan Jansen Fyn, Jane Rider, Peter Bockhout, Johannes Lourensse, Richard Alsop, Jolın Allene, John Denman, John Rosell,1 Hendrick Barent Smith, Henry Mayle, Sen. Henry Mayle, Jun. Joseph Reed, John Reed, Joseph Phillips, Theophilus Phillips, Roelof Pietersen, Benjamin Severens, Gershom Hazard, Anthony Gleane, Jacob Leonardsen vander Grift, Luke Depaw, Francis Way, John Wilson, Nathaniel Pettit, Moses Pettit, John Furman, Stoffel Van Laer, Samuel Ketcham, John Ramsden, Rynier Willemsen, Abraham Rycke, Jan Harcksen,
] Nathaniel Rosell, a son of John above mentioned, settled at Hopewell, New Jersey, where his descendants remain ; the oldest male representative of the family, at present, is Major Nath. Beakes Rossell, U. S. A.
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Philip Ketcham, Benjamin Cornish, Francis Combs, Isaac Gray, Josias Fur- man, Jun. Henry Sawtell, Thomas Etherington, Content Titus, Lambert Woodward, Nathaniel Woodward, Joseph Reeder, Jeremiah Reeder, John Bull, John Fish, John Moore, Thomas Morrell, Jun. the said several and re- spective present inhabitants and freeholders of the said town of Newtown, to their several respective uses and behoofs, and to the use and behoof of their several and respective heirs and assigns, for ever; and as for and con- cerning all and every such pareel or pareels, tract or tracts of land and mea- dow, remainder of the granted premises, not yet taken up or appropriated to any particular person or persons, by virtue of the before recited deed or patent, before the day of the date hereof, to the use and behoof of the said Capt. Richard Betts, Thomas Stevenson, Gershom Moore, Jonathan Hazard, Samuel Moore, Daniel Bloomfield, Caleb Leverich, Edward Stevenson, Joseph Sackett, Samuel Scudder, Robert Field, Sen. Thomas Wandell, John Ketcham, Thomas Pettit, John Way, Robert Field, Jun. Jonathan Strickland, John Smith, Josias Furman, Sen. George Wood, Sen. Nathan Fish, Edward Hunt, Jeremiah Burroughs, Richard Betts, Thomas Betts, John Seudder, Jun. Jona- than Stevenson, Thomas Case, John Albertus, James Way, Cornelis Jansen, Abram Joris, John Coe, Samuel Fish, Joseph Burroughs, William Osborn, John Burroughs, Thomas Robinson, Jane Hays, Jacob Reeder, John Reeder, Richard Owen, Wouter Gysbertsen, John Pettit, Thomas Morrell, John Ro- berts, their heirs and assigns, for ever, in proportion to their respective pur- chases thereof made as tenants in common, without any let, hindrance, or molestation, to be had or reserved upon pretence of joint tenancy or survi- vorship, any thing herein contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstand- ing, and I do hereby ratify, confirm and grant unto the inhabitants and free- holders of the said town, all the privileges belonging to any town within this government, and I do also give and grant for and in behalf of his said Ma- jesty, his heirs and successors, free and lawful power, ability and authority, that they or any of them, any messuages, tenements, lands, meadows, feedings, pastures, woods, underwoods, rents, reversions, services, and other heredita- ments whatsoever, within the said Queen's county, which they hold of his said Majesty, his heirs and successors, unto the aforesaid freeholders and in- habitants of the town of Newtown, shall and may give, grant, sell, bargain, alien, enfeoff, and confirm, to be holden of his most sacred Majesty, his heirs and successors, in free and common socage, according to the tenure of East Greenwich, in the county of Kent, in his Majesty's kingdom of England; yielding, rendering and paying therefore, yearly and every year from hence- forth, unto our sovereign lord the King, his heirs, successors and assigns, or his or their receiver, commissionated or empowered to receive the same, on the five and twentieth day of March, yearly, for ever, the chief, or quit rent of three pound four shillings, current money, of this province of New-York, in full of all rents, or former reserved rents, services, or acknowledgments and demands whatsoever.1 IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have caused these pre-
1 This quit rent continued to be paid to the " King's collector, at New-York," till the close of the Revolution, after which the people of the state, being considered
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sents to be entered upon record in the secretary's office of this province, and the seal of the said province to be hereunto affixed, this 25th day of Novem- ber, Anno Dom. sixteen hundred eighty-six, and in the second year of his Majesty's reign.
THOMAS DONGAN. [SEAL.]
In this patent the boundaries are defined with a little more explicitness than in that of Gov. Nicoll. Bushwick having withdrawn her consent to have a patent of a date parallel with that of Newtown, procured one a year or more later, confirm- ing the arbitration of 1672. It gave strength to that decision, and had a manifest influence on the final determination of this controversy.
As will be observed, this patent reserves to the forty-six individuals first named therein, being original purchasers of the township, or possessed of purchase rights, the exclusive control of the unappropriated land within the purchase lines ; the exercise of which right subsequently became a cause of dissatisfaction among the remaining inhabitants. In that sec- tion of the town formerly known as the out-plantations, very little vacant land remained, but this was government property.
to have taken the place of the crown, a law was passed by the legislature, in 1786, providing for the collection of the arrears of quit rent, which had accrued on the numerous patents granted by the colonial governors. Newtown did not, however, avail herself of the terms of commutation proffered in the said act. It was not till the year 1815, that the arrearages which had been accumulating upon her patent since March 25th, 1783, were liquidated. In the above year, notice was given the town, that pursuant to a law of the state, passed Oct. 14th, 1814, authorizing the peremptory sale of such patents as yet remained subject to quit rent, the public land of Newtown would be set up for sale on a given day, by the comptroller, at Albany. Steps were immediately taken at a special meeting of the people of New- town, on August 19th, to arrest this measure, and cancel their arrears of quit rent. James Hedenberg, as the town's agent, proceeded to Albany, and obtained the postponement of the sale, and a few days after, to wit, on Nov. 22d, 1815, the same person paid into the hands of the comptroller, in three per cent. stock, the sum of $347 81 cents, and the town was released from all further demand on the score of quit rent.
This exaction of the quit rent premises the validity of the early colonial patents, but this point is clearly admitted by the constitution of this state, which annuls all colonial grants and charters made subsequent to Oct. 14th, 1775, but affects none given previous to that date. 'The Newtown patents and Indian deed were all in existence as late as 1756, when they were delivered into the keeping of Justice Philip Edsall. They and some other valuable papers, are not now to be found. In 1816, as appears by the town books, Thomas Cumberson and Thomas H. Betts were appointed " to go to Westchester in search of records belonging to this town," but I understand that this mission was not performed.
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The principal, if not the only tract, lay in Hellgate Neck, and was bounded on the south by the line of the Indian purchase, to the eastward by the poor's bouweries, to the westward by the lines of the patents belonging to the inhabitants of Mespat Kills, and to the north by the lands of William Hallett. On the 18th of March, 1686, John Tuder, of New-York, an at- torney-at-law, and subsequently recorder of the city, applied to the council for the above described land, which was grant- ed him, and a patent issued July 22d, following, reserving an annual quit rent of one bushel of winter wheat. Two years after, Mr. Tuder sold his patent to three of the inhabitants of Newtown; it was subsequently divided, and is now in- cluded in the farms of the late Isaac Rapelye, Cornelius Purdy, and the heirs of Charles Rapelye, deceased.
The Rev. Morgan Jones had again changed his ministerial relations. The people of Eastchester had long desired to have him, and, perhaps, had enjoyed his services for a few months in the fall and winter of 1683. They now offered liberal in- ducements, and he began to officiate there August 3d, 1685. The original agreement with him at Newtown never having been fulfilled, either as respected his salary or the fitting up of his residence, he applied to the governor and council for redress. A summons to the town authorities to appear and answer, was sufficient ; they satisfied Mr. Jones, and on April 28th, 1686, he gave them receipts in full.1
Of his services in Newtown little is known beyond what has been related. His administration of baptism and the mar- riage vow is incidentally mentioned. He was a ready speaker, and of a conciliatory disposition, but different accounts are given of his character and qualifications. Dr. Calamy, in
1 These receipts are entered, by his own hand, in the town records, the last of which reads literatim as follows :
Whereas, I, Morgan Jones, have officiated for some time as a minister, in Newtown, without any agreement for a certain salary with the town, upon ye promise of some particular persons of the town, to allow me some small pension of y" own accord, I do hereby freele aequitt and discharge ye town of Newtown of all salarys, moneys, goods, wares, land, or ytever I have elaimed for such my ministry, reserving to myself the power of demanding and re- eeiving of ye partieular persons, ye several summs ych they promised me. In witness whereof, I have hereto sett my hand, this 28th Aprile, 1686.
MORGAN JONES.
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speaking of him while settled in Wales, intimates that he wanted capacity, but was honest. But Dr. Mather in his Mag- nalia, sets him in a positively bad light, yet I attach but little importance to his statements about Mr. Jones, because they are not only improbable and puerile, but are given at second hand, and not on the personal knowledge of the doctor, whose credulity was equal to his learning. The history of Mr. Jones, so far as known, affords nothing positive against him; and it may be stated in his favor, that he enjoyed the acquaint- ance and confidence of Dr. Thomas Lloyd, of Pennsylvania, and his brother, Charles Lloyd, Esq. of Dolobran, Wales, who were his college mates at Oxford.
In the meantime, the efforts of the last few years to pro- mote the settlement of the southern borders of the township, had stirred up the jealousies of the people of Flatbush, who claiming the land as far north as the hills, obtained a patent to that effect, Nov. 12th, 1685. This embraced plantations made by inhabitants of Newtown. Over these, Flatbush began to extend authority, and in December of the present year, news came that the farmers there had met with serious interruption. Jonathan Hazard and Edward Stevenson were forthwith de- spatched to Flatbush, to demand "why they disturb our inhabitants;" and, if need be, inform the governor. Means were also taken to secure their borders, and to this end Mr. Philip Wells was engaged to run out the boundaries of the township, and the line of the Indian purchase on the north-west, which was accomplished in the spring of 1687, and the draft deposited in the town clerk's office. They next proceeded to lay out lots along the whole extent of their south bounds, extending back from said bounds sixty rods, and in breadth fifteen rods each; to be given to cvery freeholder in the township who had paid " scot and lott," (or town charges,) for the last two years; on condition that they should not sell the same to residents of other towns; and that those lying to the westward of John Scudder's land (where Bushwick's claim began) be occupied immediately. The allotment was made on April 6th, 1687, in which the inhabitants of Hellgate Neck and vicinity shared, and these lots were for many years denominated the Draught Lots, or the Little Lots.
Resistance to these measures was expected, and Messrs.
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Richard Betts and Jonathan Hazard were empowered to de- fend the township against any encroachments of the adjoining towns upon their "purchase and patent." But the people of Newtown, having thus entrenched themselves, the attacks of their neighbors seem to have been for several years suspend- ed. Indeed, paramount interests now demanded the public attention.
The expectations of an enlightened liberty, awakened in 1683, had ended in fell disappointment, the course of events having fully proved that the advances then made towards a popular government were designed merely to conciliate public feeling. After the third annual assembly these popular bodies were expressly prohibited by the Duke of York, who, having ascended the throne of England, under the title of James II. disclosed his true character in his endeavors to establish an arbitrary government here, and introduce the Roman Catholic religion among the protestant inhabitants of New-York, by the appointment of papists to the principal offices of trust and influence. The state of things in Europe clothed these designs with terror. There the sword of persecution was unsheathed, England still bled under its stroke, and Lewis XIV. had but just revoked the edict of Nantes, whereby the protestants of France were again subjected to prison and the stake, or sought security in flight; a considerable number of these exiled Hu- guenots seeking a home in this province. With these facts fresh in mind, and the victims of papal intolerance before their eyes, the intelligent people became greatly alarmed for the safety of their country and religion.
Such was the gloomy posture of affairs at New-York, in- 1689, when the public mind was suddenly and happily relieved by the news of the abdication of James II. and the succession of William and Mary, who were protestants, to the throne of England. The citizens of New-York, regarding with suspi- cion the minions of King James, who yet held the reins of the provincial government, and incited by a report, then current, that the catholics intended to rise and massacre the protes- tants, assembled in arms, on June 2d, seized the fort, and placing at their head Capt. Jacob Leisler, a respected merchant, and commander of one of the train bands, undertook the go- vernment of the province, in the name of King William.
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The community at Newtown, having experienced like fears with the populace at New-York, were no less rejoiced at the news of the revolution in England, and the fall of the unprincipled James; while, for the most part, they heartily acquiesced in the popular movements just mentioned. At a meeting of part of the inhabitants, held on June 11th, Capt. Richard Betts and Lieut. Samuel Moore were delegated to a convention to be held in the city, with instructions "to act as they should see cause for the good and benefit of the country." The town further resolved, June 15th, to provide and main- tain two soldiers to strengthen the garrison at New-York. They also sent delegates to Jamaica, for the purpose of elect- ing two persons to represent the county in a committee of safety, which it was proposed to form for the direction of public affairs at this critical juncture. One of the members of said committee, chosen for Queen's, was "loyal Mr. Samuel Edsall," of Newtown, who was thus styled because of his warm attachment to the cause of the revolution, and the lead- ing part that he acted.
The committee of safety, having convened at New-York on June 26th, appointed Capt. Leisler commander-in-chief of the province, and instituted such regulations as were deemed requisite to preserve the public peace and security, including sundry changes in the civil and military departments. Pur- suant to orders, the people of Newtown proceeded to a new election of town officers, Oct. 2d. Capt. Gershom Moore, Lieut. Samuel Moore, and Ensign Joseph Sackett, were re- elected to their respective offices in the militia ; Samuel Edsall was appointed justice of the peace; and Content Titus, Jona- than Hazard, and Jeremiah Burroughs, were chosen commis- sioners of the town court, of whom the last named was also appointed town clerk in the stead of Daniel Phillips. Ben- jamin Severens retained his place as constable, being at this time deputy sheriff of Queen's county. Delegates to a county committee for the choice of a sheriff, were also appointed, one of whom, John Coe, was chosen to fill that office, and was commissioned by Leisler, on Dec. 13th.
In the beginning of winter, despatches were received from . the royal government, in England, of such a nature as, in the opinion of the committee of safety, to warrant Capt. Leisler
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in assuming the title of lieutenant-governor, which he accord- ingly did, and selected a council, who entered upon their office December 11th, and of which Mr. Edsall was the member for Queen's county. William and Mary were immediately pro- claimed king and queen at New-York, and in the several county towns, while the lieutenant-governor and council ex- erted their energies to establish the authority of their new sovereign.
This, however, was not so easy a task; for while the bitter opposition of the friends of the late king threatened to rend the province in sunder, the inroads of the French, on the northern frontiers, were creating the most lively apprehensions. To meet this two-fold danger, Leisler sought to strengthen and increase the military force of the province. By his order the militia of Newtown, which, even in the spring of 1687, could muster "125 men, armed with firelocks," was divided into two com- panies, of one of which the officers were Capt. Content Titus, Lieut. Jeremiah Burroughs, and Ensign Robert Coe; and of the other, Capt. Samuel Moore, Lieut. Joseph Sackett, and Ensign Gershom Moore. These were commissioned by Leisler, and were instructed to exercise their companies in arms, and maintain good order and discipline ; the tactics then practised in the town being, as expressed in a late return, " distance, facings, doublings, counter-marchings, wheelings, and firings."
Early in 1690, the alarming intelligence reached New-York of the burning of Schenectady, and the cruel massacre of its inhabitants by the French army and their Indian allies, on the night of Feb. 8th. And the people of Albany, apprehending a visit from the enemy, earnestly begged a reinforcement of troops for their protection. Sympathizing with his fellow- citizens in their peril, Gov. Leisler, on Feb. 16th, despatched Mr. Edsall to Newtown, with an order to Major Thomas Law- rence, who commanded all the forces of Queen's, to expedite the raising of fifty men in said county, for this service.
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