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 15
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Meanwhile the dispute abated not in violence. There arose a difficulty in collecting taxes from residents on the contested lands. The freeholders of Newtown, on April 5th, 1715, voted to " bear the collector harmless " in gathering the rate from William Howard, widow Sarah Betts, Richard Betts, and others, living on the tract claimed by Flatbush. The first of these having some years previous, seated himself in a log hut on the south side of the hills, had already experienced rough treatment from his Dutch neighbors, who, when he was preparing to raise a new house on the site of that now occu- pied by his aged descendant of the same name, came over in a body, and burnt his frame. Not discouraged, Howard pro- ceeded to ereet another house. Now the trustees of Flatbush demanded taxes of him, and in default thereof, seized and held possession of his premises. The justices of Queen's
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county interfered, and in turn were prosecuted by the trustees of Flatbush. Newtown voted to defend the justices, and re- pay the damage which they might sustain. Thus fuel was added to the flame of contention.
Turn we now to more interesting events of this year. As a majority of the Newtown people were Congregationalists in sentiment, so had they always maintained an intercourse with the New England churches of that persuasion, and conducted their religious affairs mainly after the plan of those churches. And up to the coming of Mr. Pumroy, the settling of ministers, as well as all other ecclesiastical business, was transacted by the inhabitants in public town-meeting. And it is clear that at his settlement the church was Congregational. But a change in this respect was now instituted, to which several causes probably contributed. While the abuses which had been witnessed and endured, resulting from the interference of the civil authority in matters ecclesiastical, tended to pro- duce disgust at the coalition of church and state, danger may also have been apprehended from the increase of Episcopal influence in the councils of the congregation. But it was per- haps more directly owing to the efforts of the Rev. George Macnish, a Scotch clergyman, then settled at Jamaica, that this church was led to yield their old form of church govern- ment, and adopt that of the Presbyterians. He was a leading member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and "through his influence," Mr. Pumroy was led to make an application, Sept. 23d, 1715, for admission to that body, then in session at New Castle, which is thus noticed in their minutes :- "The Rev. Mr. Samuel Pumroy, minister at Newtown, on Long Island, offered himself to be a member of this Presbytery, and was heartily and unanimously accepted, he promising subjection to the Presbytery in the Lord." From this date, therefore, this church, it is presumed, began to assume the characteristics of Presbyterianism, though some years elapsed before a session was constituted.
Already was it contemplated to erect a new church, for in the lapse of years that built in 1671, had become much dilapidated. The site of the present edifice was selected, and Jonathan Fish, who owned the premises, presented a
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deed,1 May 10th, 1715, for a lot four rods square, to Robert Wilson, Thomas Hazard, James Renne, and Silas Titus, as trustees on behalf of the "Dissenting Presbyterian congrega- tion of Newtown." Possession of the premises was received March 22d, 1716, and the erection of the church followed. But it appears that the building was not wholly completed, or at least was not furnished with a pulpit, till the year 1741. This was a smaller edifice, and of simpler architecture than the one now occupying its place, and was adorned with a spire, in which a small bell was suspended. It remained till the Revolution.
The attempt to effect an arrangement of the boundary dis- pute by an act of assembly, was repeated in 1717. The inha- bitants of Newtown having resolved upon this course, at their instance, a bill was introduced in that body, October 8th, entitled " An Act for the better ascertaining the division line between King's and Queen's county, on the Island of Nassau." Remonstrances against this measure poured in from Flatbuslı, Brooklyn, Bushwick, and the proprietors of the patent granted to Ann Bridges and company. Moreover, effectually to frus- trate the object proposed by the above bill, they caused ano- ther to be introduced for uniting King's and Queen's counties, under the name of King George's county, which received a very favorable consideration. But the objections to the first bill were deemed insufficient, and the assembly, on Nov. 28th, passed it. And now there was hope of a settlement; but it soon vanished, for on the presentation of the bill to Gov. Hunter, he refused to sanction it.
In the interim, a reconciliation with Flatbush was hap- pily effected. On the 30th of October, Peter Striker, Daniel Polhemus, and Engelbert Lot, trustees of that town, and Joseph Sackett, Robert Field, and Richard Alsop, on behalf of Newtown, passed deeds, in which the division line of the said towns was declared to "begin at the north-west corner of the bounds of the town of Jamaica, in Queen's county
1 This deed is recorded in "Newtown Great Book of Records," p. 33. The site of the old church, which was on the opposite side of the street, is alluded to in the town records, under date of 1710, as "the meeting-house commons," and again, in 1726, as " a small gore of land whereon formerly stood the old Presbyterian meeting-house."
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aforesaid, and thence westerly, as the hills run, along the top thereof, so that the south side of the said hills shall be for ever accounted to be in the bounds of the town of Flatbush afore- said ; including all the lands now in the possession of William Howard, Claes Simonse, Simon Losee, Peter Lot, and Sarah Betts."
The breach with Flatbush being healed, a special commit- tee was appointed, in 1718, to treat with the trustees of Brook- lyn, but with what result is not known. However, the main difficulty was now with the "Fauconniers," as the patentees of 1708 were called, from Peter Fauconnier, Esq. an attendant of Lord Cornbury to this country, in 1702, and afterwards a New-York merchant, and receiver-general of the province, who, having in 1717 purchased Milward's interest in the pa- tent, had become a leading member of the company. Yet nothing decisive was done. The purchasers of Newtown expressed dissatisfaction with their heavy expenditures, and were disposed to censure the trustees for an extravagant use of the public money. On Aug. 26th, 1720, those living with- in the purchase lines met and appointed a new board of trus- tees, consisting of Joris Brinckerhoff, Thomas Hazard, Nicho- las Berrien, Robert Coe, Elnathan Field, and Josias Furman. These were instructed to examine the accounts of all the trus- tees for the last eight years, and allow or disallow the same; and to make an assessment to cancel the debts contracted in behalf of the purchasers. For seven years after this datc, there is trace of continued troubles with the Fauconniers; it then ceases to be mentioned, and the final issue of the dispute with them is involved in doubt. The silence of the supreme court records, journals of the assembly, and council minutes, seems to indicate a more private mode of settlement. It may be that the rights of the patentees being acquired by the inha- bitants of Bushwick, the two interests became merged in one. Certain it is, the controversy now reassumed the form of a dis- pute "between the township of Boswyck and the township of Newtown." Yet nothing worth noting was done for many years.
CHAPTER IX.
Social and personal enterprize awakened .- The Friends erect a Meeting-house .- Education advancing .- School-house built at Middletown .- Agriculture .- Pro- duce .- Mechanics .- Manufactures .- Trade .- Manners .- Dress .- Socialities .-. Dutch and Episcopal churches erected .- School-houses built at Berrien's Neck, White Pot, and the English Kills .- A new Town-House .- The learned profes- sions .- Physicians .- Grist-Mill built at Hallett's Cove .- Fatal casualties .- Sla- very .- Opening of the French war .- Battle of Lake George .- Exile of the French Neutrals ; one family arrives at Newtown .- A hurricane sweeps over the town .- Troops quarter here .- Freuch officers on parole .- Abercrombie's Defeat .- Capture of Fort Frontenac .- Col. Isaac Corsa .- The 44th Regiment winters at Newtown .- Capt. Morse of this town has a command at the siege of Fort Niagara .- The next year is at the capture of Montreal .- End of the war .- Further account of the Neutrals .- Effects of the French war .- Classi- cal School opened at Hallett's Cove .- Teacher's card .- Boundary question re- vived .- A bill passes the Assembly appointing commissioners to settle it .- Their report .- The dispute ended .- Several carpenters remove to St. Croix. 1720 to 1775.
The period between 1720 and 1755 was one of much social and personal enterprize, and the incident with which it is made up is nearly all directly illustrative of this fact. There was little to paralize honest effort and divert from useful pursuits. The "time of the Indian wars," long a fearful epoch in the town's history, now served but as a theme to beguile the win- tery evening; no outward foes were dreaded, and a sense of public security in respect to civil and religious rights, pervaded the now well-regulated society. And industry had brought the means of successfully prosecuting many plans for private and public good.
The Friends, or Quakers, who hitherto had held connection with the society at Flushing, having increased to a goodly number, resolved to erect a house of worship in the village of Newtown. On Feb. 25th, 1720, Robert Field, a leading member of that persuasion, bought of Benjamin Moore about half an acre of ground, on the corner now occupied by the re- sidence of Robert Mack, which he conveyed, July 5th, 1722, to Joseph Rodman, Richard Betts, and Richard Hallett, “in trust for and in behalf of the people of God called Quakers,"
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and a meeting-house was immediately erected thereon, where the Friends long continued to hold their convocations.
The subject of education was also exciting more attention, but by education must be understood those few and simple attainments which the mass of the people were wont to regard as a competency ; in most instances not extending beyond the ability to read, write, and east plain accounts, and, in the ease of girls, no further than "to read English in the Bible." These seemed sufficient for the exigencies of the time and place, and many of the honest yeomen were themselves without even these meagre acquirements. The village had occasionally en- joyed the services of a school-master, and the situation was now filled by Mr. George Reynolds, who appears to have oc- cupied the town-house, as a vote was passed April 5th, 1720, to rent him these premises. Here, to the village school, re- sorted a troop of ruddy-faced urchins from the surrounding neighborhood, but the families in distant parts of the town could hardly share its benefits. Feeling the deprivation to which their children were subjeet, several of these formed the bold design of starting another school, at what has since borne the name of Middletown, and associating, built a school-house upon a piece of ground appropriated for the purpose by Jo- seph Hallett. On the 20th of May, 1721, this gentleman exe- cuted a deed, admitting Samuel Hallett, Samuel Moore, Joseph Moore, Thomas Skillman, and Isaac Bragaw as joint owners with himself of the said premises, which he describes as "thirty foot long and twenty foot broad, in my lot lying next to George Brinckerhoff's wood-land, for the use and benefit of a school- house, now erected and standing thereon by the roadside from Hallett's Cove to Newtown; to be equally enjoyed by them and their heirs severally, and me and my heirs, for ever, hav- ing, all and every of us, our heirs, and every of them, the same equal share, right and title to the above said land and school-house, and full power and authority to send what num- ber of children we shall think fit." This was looked upon as a hazardous undertaking, and one which none, for many years, were found ready to incur the expense of imitating.1 Indeed,
1 This house having been sold some years since, now forms the kitchen to the dwelling lately occupied by the widow Tilton. An incident connected with it, which occurred about forty years ago, created quite a stir at the time.
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the advantages of education and intelligence were as yet too little understood to be valued, except so far as they seemed to bear on the promotion of business and the acquisition of wealth.
The inhabitants were given to agriculture, and had pur- sued it so assiduously that in 1723, all the land in the town- ship had been taken up, except a few small parcels which were then directed to be sold to defray the expense of their public suits. But; husbandry was then quite a different thing from what it now is. The art of cultivating the soil was but imper- fectly understood, and farming implements were few in number, rude and clumsy. Yet these disadvantages were counterba- lanced by the great fertility of the soil, which produced abun- dant crops many years in succession, without requiring manure. Wheat was the favorite article of culture, and received the most attention, but enough of rye, barley, corn, hemp, flax, and to- bacco, were raised for home consumption, besides a variety of fruits and vegetables, including that most valuable one, the potatoe, with which the first settlers were wholly unacquainted. But domestic fowls and hive bees, had been reared from the beginning of settlement. Much land was left for grazing and browsing, for the farmers also raised a considerable number of horses, cattle, and sheep, from breeds originally brought from New England and Holland. Such as lived convenient to the water, conveyed their produce to market in a canoe or peri- auger, one of which they usually owned. Produce brought low prices. In January, 1730, wheat sold in this town at 3s. 3d. per bushel ; barley at 3s .; flax at 9d. per pound ; butter at 1s. and wood 3s. 6d. a load. Common labor was worth about 3s. a day, then considered a round price, but there were few laborers to be hired even at that rate.
But though husbandry prevailed over every other occupa-
This was the discovery by one of the school-boys, of a bag of gold to the value of $840, which had belonged to one John Kearns, who had taught school here during the Revolution. The money was taken possession of by the teacher, whose name was Neal, but the neighbors hearing of it, collected, and took him before William Leverich, Esq. by whose order the money was forced from him. Owing, however, to some irregularity in the proceeding, Neal prosecuted the several persons engaged in searching him, including the justice, and reeovered damages for assault and battery ; while N. Moore, as administrator of Kearns, sued and obtained the money.
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tion, there seems to have been no lack of mechanics. In 1662, the town thought itself fortunate in having two tailors, one carpenter, a cooper, a mason, and a blacksmith. Since that time, mechanics had multiplied, with the increase of popula- tion, and in addition to the above trades, there are found wheelwrights, woolcombers, butchers, saddlers, and weavers, the latter by far the most numerous. The government discouraged manufactures, and hence there were few if any in the town, beyond what the inhabitants had use for. Most families made coarse woollen cloth, and linen, for their own wear, which was woven by the itinerant weavers who came to their houses for that purpose; for every family had its own loom as well as spinning-wheels. Two, if not three grist-mills were in opera- tion, and in 1720, Richard Alsop projected the erection of another, at the English Kills, on the small creek that separated .his farm on the east from that of William Case, but whether it was really built does not appear. At this day, the process of flour making differed from the present mode, in that the flour after being ground, was bolted by hand. Coe's mill was at this time provided with bolting-mills, separate from that which did the grinding. At a quite early day, William Hal- lett established a lime-yard at Hallett's Cove. In the same vicinity, on the north side of the Ridge, clay was dug, from which bricks were made, in considerable quantities, by the Halletts. In 1721, William Vallence set up a bark-mill and tannery in the village, adjoining the Horsebrook. A starch factory was also put in operation in the same place, and at the head of Flushing Bay, Joris Rapelje conducted an extensive brewery, being the "chief brewer of the town."
Trade was principally by way of barter. This was con- venient and necessary as money was scarce. At an early day, there was absolutely none, except wampum, or Indian shell money, which was the circulating currency. Therefore, nearly everything was paid for in produce, including wages and rates or taxes. In 1661, a person gives for a house and land "six hundred weight of tobacco, a thousand clapboards, and half a fat of strong beer." Another exchanges "a negro boy " for land. Even at the date under which I write, there was very little silver afloat, but its place was partially supplied by the paper bills of the province. As the wants of a family were
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comparatively few, and these chiefly supplied by their indus- try, from the products of their own farm, there was but little occasion to patronize the store-keeper, and their few groceries were usually obtained in New-York, on market days. Hence the first notice of a merchant in Newtown is in 1722, Nathan- iel Hazard having opened a store ; but, probably for want of encouragement, he soon discontinued it, and removed to New- York, and subsequently to Philadelphia.
The state of society in the township at this day was cha- racterized by an honest plainness. The toils of many years had brought comfort and plenty, but few luxuries. Their dwellings were now more spacious and of substantial build, and the days of thatched roofs were passing away. The furni- ture was such as necessity, not fancy, suggested. There were beds in abundance, and a good store of homespun linen and blankets ; there were durable oak tables, and chairs of the same material and strength ; and there were massive walnut wardrobes, of which some continue until now, and may for centuries to come. Floor-carpets were a superfluity almost if not quite unknown. The table was set with pewter platters and plain earthen ware. Some few could display china and even pieces of silver plate, but they were rare. And the sim- plicity of manners is shown in that until recently very few families used table-forks, but ate with their fingers. Tea was just beginning to be known among the more polished and wealthy. The popular dress was homespun linsey-woolsey, and the economy of the times appears in the fact that when a coat became the worse for wear, it was sent to the tailor's to be turned. A black or grey coat of the above material; tight breeches and hose, the former made usually of leather and fastened with huge buckles at the knee; a capacious beaver hat, and stout shoes ornamented with brass or silver-plated buckles ;- these, in the main, composed the usual dress suit of the more affluent farmer. But the major part of the inhabitants at that day were singularly plain in attire, in manners, and in speech ; yet did they manifest for each other a degree of genu- ine friendship now rarely observable. For instance when one had cut his winter store of wood, his neighbors stood ready to aid with their teams in carting it home ; or if he needed help in his harvesting, it was cheerfully, given, and as cheerfully
11
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reciprocated when there was occasion. And the corn-husking, and the spinning-frolic, evinced the same neighborly feeling. At the latter, the wives and daughters attended with their wheels, and there was a merry hum of spindles and mingling of voices, till the flax or wool of the hostess was converted into thread. Ah! by-gone days of true social happiness !
A leading feature in the character of the inhabitants was their attachment to the ways of virtue and religion. A Re- formed Dutch church had been organized, and in 1733, they began to erect a house of worship on the present location, which was given them for that purpose by Peter Berrien. The members of the Church of England emulating this lauda- ble example, applied to the town the same year for a building spot, whereupon a plot twenty rods square lying " between the town-house and the starch-house " was assigned them, and their church was erected two years after, being the ancient edifice still remaining. At this era, therefore, the village was adorned with four church edifices, where the respective con- gregations met on holy-day to render homage to their common benefactor. Their particular history must be reserved for a future chapter upon the ecclesiastical annals of the township.
With this display of Christian effort, came other evidences of an increase of general intelligence; education, the hand- maid of true religion, was advancing. In the year 1734, several individuals living in Hellgate Neck, combined and erected " a small house for a school to be kept in for the edu- cation of their children." It was located on the river road, near Berrien's Point, where John Lawrence had presented " one square rod of land" as a site for the building, and for which premises he, on Feb. 24th, 1735, gave a deed to his as- sociates, Joseph Moore, Thomas Lawrence, Cornelius Berrien, William Leverich, and Hendrick Wiltsee. A school-house, (of late used as a dwelling,) occupied the above spot until re- cently. This plan having now commended itself, became popular, and was followed, within a few years by similar efforts. The residents south of Newtown village took mea- sures, in 1739, to build a school-house a little west of White Pot, on a plot of ground "twenty foot square " given by Ja- cobus Springsteen, who, on April 21st of the above year, exe- cuted a deed for the same to his "loving friends," Daniel Ste-
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venson, Benjamin Coe, Gabriel Furman, Nowel Furman, David Springsteen, Ezekiel Furman, William Van Duyn, Jeromus Remsen, Jacob Skillman, Rem Remsen, Abraham Morrell, Joseph Furman, Edward Titus, and Dow Suydam, who were all farmers, residing thereabouts. A stone school-house was erected, which afterwards gave place to a wooden one, and that has in turn been supplanted by a third erection, being the present house. The people near the English Kills were not behind their neighbors in efforts to advance education. About this period they erected a school-house, near the residence of Richard Betts, where a new house has since been built, com- monly known as "the brook school-house." Jacob Reeder was the preceptor here for a long period; a useful man in his day, and the town clerk for above thirty years. In the year 1740, another school-house was erected "near the bridge at New- town," the villagers being assisted by contributions from libe- ral persons in other parts of the town. At this date, therefore, five school-houses, located at various points, testified to the growing desire of the inhabitants to furnish the means of edu- cation for their offspring. And how opportune and provi- dential a provision for those who, destined for the times that tried men's souls, required all the force of character which education imparts, to lead them to right action in matters vitally affecting their own and succeeding generations.
The delapidated state of the town-house led to measures, in 1744, to build a new one, and on April 20th of that year, the inhabitants voted an appropriation for it; at which time also, the old town-house was set up at public vendue, and struck off to Capt. Samuel Fish for one pound twelve shillings. The plan of the new building was also determined, and the trustees were directed to proceed in the erection, but it was not completed till 1747. It was rented, "reserving privilege for the town to meet in said house from time to time." It was a two story building, enclosed with shingles, instead of clap- boards, and stood upon ground adjoining the old town-house, which latter occupied the place of the present building.1
1 On April 5th, 1803, the trustees of the town, N. Moore, and W. Leve- rich, were authorized to buy material for a new town-house in Newtown, and under their direction the building was finished, during the summer of 1805, and yet remains. It is now private property, having been sold on June
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Little to interest, marked the years which immediately ensued. The farmer, surrounded by ease and plenty, quietly pursued his vocation ; his sons, if too ambitious and enter- prizing to follow the plough, went abroad to seek a more ex- tensive means of business. Others aimed at usefulness in the learned professions. Of lawyers, there were none in the town, and their services were seldom needed. There were always from the first settlement persons competent to transact busi- ness relating to the transfer of lands. Peter Berrien, who had died recently, had done great service in this respect, for which he was peculiarly fitted, being a scholar, a superior penman, a skillful surveyor, and equally conversant with the Dutch and English languages. Most of the deeds and many public writ- ings of that day are in his hand. The first minister of the gospel born in this town was the Rev. Samuel Sackett, whose ministry was spent in Weschester county. Of the physicians, up to this period, it is to be regretted that little can be said be- yond a mere mention of their names. The first noticed is James Clark, "surgeon," at Mespat Kills, in the Dutch adminis- tration. Between that and the close of the century, were, in succession, Dr. Folcks, Dr. John Greenfield, and Dr. Hazard. Since 1720, Doctors Evan Jones, Berrien, Hugh Rogers, Tho- mas Sackett, and Joseph Sackett, are found officiating in the best families. Dr. Jacob Ogden, of Jamaica, also practiced considerably in this town during his life.
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