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 4
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1 The title Goodman was at this period a familiar term of address among the English. For its origin see " Mather's Magnalia," i. 17. Mr. de- noted a higher degree of respect, and was seldom applied to any but ministers, magistrates, or schoolmasters.
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
ed. On a plantation of 150 acres, lying on the northeast side of Annetie Jans' farm, or Dominie's Hook, lived Pieter An- driessen de Schoorsteenveger, who had obtained a groundbrief, Oct. 19th, 1645. Three or four canoes of savages, prowling about Hellgate, surprised Pieter Andriessen and carried him away into captivity. This new outrage was not at all calculated to lull the anxiety of the settlers at the Dutch Kills, and the following incident, which occurred there soon after, more fully illustrates the melancholy state of feeling that existed. Joris de Caper, ancestor of the Van Alsts, was engaged threshing his grain, assisted by his father-in-law Harmen Hendricksen, and Teunis Jansen van Commel. On the night of Thursday, Nov. 4th, these three lay down in the garner to sleep, but were soon after disturbed by the hens cackling, upon which they lis- tened, and presently there came a loud knocking at the door, with cries of ho ! ho ! ho ! the unearthly yell of the savage, rend- ing the midnight air! Greatly frightened, the three escaped from the barn, and each sought a place of security. Harmen ran across the farm toward the house of Schoorsteenveger, and, creeping up to the door, he heard a word in the Dutch lan- guage, whereupon he entered, found a fire blazing on the hearth, and the pretended Indians, who were no other than several Dutchmen from the Manhattans, preparing to spit the fowls. The miscreants endeavored to excuse themselves by alleging that hunger drove them to it, and begging Harmen to say nothing about it, promised to pay for the fowls on their return to the city. Thus the unsettled state of the country offered an occasion with the unprincipled to practice vile deeds and lay them at the door of the Indian. Aptly was this gloomy period called, in after years, "the troublesome time."
The year 1656 was productive of events not less dangerous to the peace of the community, and perhaps more to be depri- cated than those just witnessed. To secure the public ordi- nances of religion, had been a primary object with the settlers at Middelburg, who could not but attach value to those sacred institutions for which many of them had periled the ocean and wilderness. The people were partly Independents and partly Presbyterians. The latter were too few or too poor to support a minister, but the former enjoyed the services of the Rev. John Moore, who preached, but administered no sacraments.
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
For the public accommodation, and with the approbation and help of the Director-general, the ground lately occupied by the old Episcopal parsonage had been appropriated, and a build- ing erected thereon by the town, which served the double pur- pose of a church and a residence for the minister.1 Now it occurred, during a temporary absence of Mr. Moore, that cer- tain individuals convened for religious worship, ignorant or regardless of the fact that such meetings had been declared ille- gal unless convoked by an authorized clergyman. On hearing what had transpired at Middelburg, the Dutch ministers in New Amsterdam, Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius, laid the matter before the Director and Council, stating " that they are informed by different persons residing at Middelburg, within the jurisdiction of this province, that since the departure, and in the absence of the Rev. Moore, before a minister of the gospel in that place, some inhabitants and unqualified persons did not hesitate to hold conventicles, and to act as ministers, from which nothing else can be expected but discord, confu- sion, and disorders in church and state, not only in that village, but even to a bad example to others in this province; they so- licit therefore that your honors will provide against it by your authority, and that you will appoint during the absence of Mr. Moore, some other able person, who on Sunday may preserve suitable religious worship, by reading the Bible, and some edi- fying orthodox author."
In reply, the Council, on Jan. 15th, remark that their former edicts provide a remedy against "conventicles," and "preach- ing of the gospel by unqualified persons;" and request the reverend gentlemen to visit Middelburg, and with the advice of the magistrates and principal men, seek out " a person quali- fied to give desirable lectures." On the back of this the Coun-
1 Thomas Reede was the builder of this house, for whose payment Thomas Stevenson and other responsible citizens became the town's security. Many of my readers will recolleet the old Episcopal parsonage which was standing a few years since on the spot now occupied by the residence of the Misses Palmer. There is reason to believe that this antiquated building was the identical one mentioned in the text. This is inferred from a known resemblance in their construction, and the fact that the late parsonage house bore all the marks of extreme age, and even anterior to the Revolution was so much in decay that it was then debated whether to pull it down or repair it, the latter course being finally adopted.
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
cil issued a flaming ordinance against conventicles and persons "who deign to explain the holy word of God without being enabled to by any political or ecclesiastical authority," thereby originating " many calamities, heresies, and schisms." It de- clared a heavy fine against those who should officiate at such assemblies, "either as preachers, readers, or singers," or who should even attend the same. We are not informed who were the individuals in Middelburg whose piety was thus called to endure the rebuke of the sectaries in church and government. It was the first violation of the rights of conscience in New Netherland, and the beginning of a series of intolerant mea- sures that fixed a lasting stain on the administration of Stuy- vesant.
The troubles yet experienced from the savages were now so alarming as to require that the Dutch residents on or in the vicinity of Mespat Kill, should concentrate themselves for their mutual safety ; for not without great hazard could they remain on their bouweries or farms. They therefore formed a village on "Smith's Island" at the English Kills, now known as Fur- man's or Maspeth Island. The Hon. Nicasius De Sille, one of the governor's council, to whom a patent for the island was granted March 27th, 1656, had the direction of the new settle- ment, to which was given the name of De Sille's native place, Aernhem, a strongly fortified and secure town on the Rhine, and capital of the province of Guelderland. Streets and lots were laid out, cottages erected, and improvements made; and the hamlet arose as if by magic. The month of April found the new villagers actively employed in mowing the adjacent meadows.
But in so doing, they exceeded their limits, and trespassed on "the meadows which were previously given to the village of Middelburg." This was made known to the Council by Ro- bert Coe, one of the magistrates, who requested that a division line might be run between the hayland of the respective vil- lages; in compliance with which a resolution was passed to send thither two commissaries to fix their boundaries. This was the germ of a protracted dispute respecting the meadows at Mes- pat Kills.
The inhabitants of Middelburg now began to experience the disadvantage of having no town patent, none having yet
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
been granted them, notwithstanding the complaints which this omission had years before produced. The reason or reasons which prompted Stuyvesant to deny them a patent cannot be positively affirmed, but it probably resulted in no small degree from his arbitrary nature, influenced by jealousy of the increas- ing number and strength of the English settlers. Middelburg had manifested but little attachment to his government, and considerable for that of New-England, but the Director did not perceive that this alienation was the result of his own fatal policy towards them. His procedure in relation to their patent was opposed to the spirit, if not the letter, of the charter of freedoms and exemptions, as well as to custom; for general patents had been granted to their neighbors composing the towns of Hempstead, Flushing, and Gravesend. The people of Middelburg rightly estimated the legal value of such an instru- ment, for with their bounds yet undetermined, they lay open to continual encroachment from the adjacent settlements, to which that of Rustdorp or Jamaica was also added this year. Failing, therefore, to secure a title for their lands from the nominal owners, they turned to the Indians, the genuine pro- prietors of the soil, to obtain one from them by an equitable purchase. Negotiations for that purpose were entered into with Rowerowestco and Pomwaukon, sachems claiming propriety in the Middelburg lands, who in consideration of the sum here- after specified, subscribed a deed on April 12th, 1656, in which they assigned their entire right in the said lands, except a tract of " upland lying under the hills southward from the town place now seated," which they reserved as hunting ground, conveying only the "grass for mowing, and feed and timber," but giving to the people of Middelburg the preemptive right to the said reservation whenever they should conclude to sell it. The bounderies set forth in this deed did not differ very materially from those of the Doughty patent.
This purchase reflects honor upon the memory of the pio. neer settlers of Middelburg. Actuated by the same principles of justice towards the artless savage which has given the name of William Penn an eternal fame, they secured not only the good will of the red man, but also the comfortable reflection that their land title was of the best possible character, because derived from those whom the Great Spirit had constituted the
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
true proprietors of the soil. Each of the "purchasers "-as they continued to be called-gave according to his possessions at the rate of a shilling per acre, and most fortunately their names are preserved, together with the sums they respectively paid. The list is entitled "the Indian rate," and presents a nearly perfect list of the male residents of Middelburg in 1656, four years after the town was planted.
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
RICHARD GILDERSLEEVE, 2 10 0
JAMES STEWART, 1 12 6
ROBERT COE, . 4 O THOMAS PAINE, .
0 10 0
JOHN MOORE, 2 0 THOMAS LAWRENCE, . 1 10 0
JOHN REEDER,
1 10 0 JAMES SMITH,
1 00
THOMAS REEDE, 0 15 0 PETER MEACOCK,
1 00
WIDOW STEVENS, 1 0 0
EDMUND STRICKLAND, 0 10 0
SAMUEL WHEELER, 1 0 0 THOMAS NEWTON, 0 15 0
RALPH HUNT, 1 00
ELIAS BAYLEY, . 0
10 0
JOHN LAYTON, . 1 10 0
JAMES BRADISH, 0 10 0
JAMES HEROD, 1 00
JOSEPH FOWLER, 1 00
THOMAS HAZARD, 1
50
RICHARD BETTS, . 1 10 0
PAYA, . 0 10 0
ROBERT PUDINGTON, 1 10 0
JOHN LAURONSON, 1 10 0
WILLIAM HERRICK, 2 0 0
JOHN BURROUGHES, 1 10 0
THOMAS WANDELL,
1 10 0
EDWARD JESSUP, .
4 00
SAMUEL TOE, . 1 10 0
JOHN GRAY, 2 50
THOMAS REEDE, . 1 00
HENDRICK JANSEN, 1 10 0
RICHARD WALKER,
1 0 0
JAMES WAY,
0 20
THOMAS ROBINSON, .
1 00
JAMES LAURONSON, . 1 0 0
THOMAS STEVENSON, 2 00
BRUMME, . 0 10 0
JOHN COE, . 0 12 0
AARON, . 1 13 4
NICHOLAS CARTER, 1 00
BRIAN NEWTON, 1 13 4
WILLIAM PALMER, 1 10 0
SMITH'S ISLAND, . 1 16 8
JOHN FURMAN, . 0 2 6
THOMAS GREEDY, .
1 00
WILLIAM LAWRENCE, . 0 10 0
JOHN HOBBY, . 0 20
HENRY FEEKE, 2 00
TRAPSAUS, 0 20
WILLIAM WOOD, . 1 00
£ 68 16 4
JOHN HICKS, . 1 10 0
COLESAY, .
1 00
RICHARD BULLOCK,
1 00
,
1
CHAPTER III.
Proposal to erect a grist-mill .- Dispute about the Town House .- Death of Rev. Mr. Moore .- Indian outrage at Mespat Kill .- Intemperance makes its appearance .- Its effect illustrated .- General good character of the founders of Middelburg .- Care to preserve sound morals .- Curious penalties for crime .-- Elias Bayley, the rnarshal, becomes unpopular and loses his office .- Wolves trouble the inhabitants. ---- First schoolmaster in Middelburg .- Village of Aernhem broken up .- Stuyve- sant grants the meadows at Mespat Kill to Bushwick, which creates discontent. -Several regulations and changes instituted .- Tithes or tenths become due .- Town House repaired .- Plunders Neck purchased .- Call of Rev. William Lever- ich .- Political troubles .- Connecticut claims all Long Island .-- Responded to by Middelburg and the other English towns .- Way preparing for open revolt .- Captain Coe corresponds with Connecticut .- Efforts to effect a combination against the Dutch .- James Christie arrested and taken to New Amsterdam .- Causes an uproar at Middelburg .- The people take up arms .- Christie's release demanded .- Excitement increases .- Curious letter to Stuyvesant .- Middelburg received under the jurisdiction of Connecticut .- Its name changed to Hastings. -Inhabitants sign a declaration of their allegiance to England .- Choose town officers in the name of the King .- Adopt the English laws .- Truce between Stuyvesant and the English towns .- Stuyvesant sends letters to Hastings .- Are referred to Connectient Court .- Measures to settle the Indian reservation .- A third of Seller Neck bought .- Hellgate Neck purchased by William Hallett .- Hewlett's Island. 1657 to 1664.
The acquisition of the native right to the soil appears to have given a new impulse to public enterprise. Though one flouring mill, owned by John Coe, was in operation at the mouth of the Horsebrook, Edward Jessup contemplated the erection of another on the stream emptying at Fish's Point, which bore the Indian name Sackhickneyah, but was "com- monly called Wessel's Creek," and afterwards from a person who lived at this date on the poor's bouwery "Lodowick's Brook." Upon this creek " Wessel's mill " had formerly stood, but was probably destroyed in the Indian troubles when the savages visited Mespat with the destructive fire- brand, and the out-plantations were even more obnoxious to their attacks.
"The work being matter of charge and hazard," Mr. Jes- sup applied to the Council, January 15th, 1657, for "the liberty of the above-said creek, with a small tract of land, as your
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
honors see expedient for a work of that nature, with a piece of meadow if it be there to be found, and also that you would be pleased to order that none shall erect either mill or mills so near the mill that I intend to build, as may be a hindrance or prejudice to the said mill : she doing the work well and sufficiently, and dealing honestly, as is requested in the premises ; and likewise that the said creek may be free from engagements to any other. It is not my desire to be a hin- drance to any man, or any prejudice to my loving and res- pected friend Mr. Coe, but so far as I apprehend, as yet his mill is overwrought, and the country may well employ two mills, and both have work enough."
It does not appear that this project was executed, or the request granted, and it is hardly to be supposed that the influential proprietors of the poor's bouwery would have given their assent to the monopoly of this stream, which formed the eastern bounds of their plantation. In fact, within a few years the deacons disposed of a part of their land for a mill seat, and a grist mill was erected where that of Mr. Jack- son now stands.
The Rev. Mr. Moore having returned to Middelburg to resume his official duties, the inhabitants of the town, in effect- ing an agreement with him concerning his clerical services, gave him a title to the town-house under the hands of the clerk and one of the magistrates. This was done "in a publique meeting," but the measure was opposed by a number of individuals, who, perhaps, belonged to the Presbyterian party. They held that the building was town property, and at its erec- tion was intended to be kept for the use of the ministry succes- sively. A remonstrance was therefore got up and sent to the Director-general. It was written by John Burroughes, and read thus:
To the Honorable Governor :
WORTHY SIR : We whose names are underwritten, desire to make our humble requests known in respect to the house builded here by the town of Middelburg for public use for a minister for continuance, which some of the town hath given away to Mr. Moore for his own property, and his after him ; wherein we think we are wronged, and the town left destitute, if Mr. Moore please to leave us, or if he should die, for we know men are mortal ; then we are to seek both for minister and house to entertain him into ;
4
4
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
therefore we do humbly entreat that your honor would be pleased to take it into consideration, and judge the equity of the thing, and the damage that may ensue. Thus leaving you to God and his grace, we rest,
JOHN BURROUGHES, THOMAS CORNISH,
Jan. 22d, 1657.
JOHN LAYTON, NICHOLAS CARTER,
ROBERT PUDINGTON,
SAMUEL TOE.
FRANCIS SWAINE,
Stuyvesant gave a decision for the remonstrants. He could hardly credit that the house of the minister, built for a public use, had been disposed of as stated, and summoned the magistrates to render the reasons for this novel proceeding. They were also charged not to harm the bearer, John Layton.
The allusion made in the above remonstrance to the com- mon mortality of our nature seemed prophetic as regarded Mr. Moore, for he was soon called to exchange his earthly tene- ment for a quiet repose in the " narrow house." He ceased from his labors, in September, 1657, leaving four sons to perpetuate his name, whose descendants are now wide spread and very numerous.
Little of interest as connected with Middelburg, character- ized the year or two which immediately succeeded the death of Mr. Moore. One event, however, is worthy of record, as illustrating the perils of that period. This was the wanton murder of a Dutch family at Mespat Kills, on the night of August 26th, 1659. That day three Raritan Indians came to the house of Eldert Engelberts, a native of Eland, in East Friesland, who resided with his family in an isolated place at the Kills. While the savages were engaged by the fire " pick- ing and boiling pigeons," they became acquainted with the fact that there was seventy or eighty guilders' worth of wampum in the house. Avarice took possession of the savages, and that night they murdered Engelberts, his wife and two men living in the family, rifled the house, and escaped. Immediate effort was made by the Director-general to discover the mur- derers, but with what result is not known.
But an enemy more insidious and fatal to the peace of the settlement, was lurking about its habitations. Intemperance had appeared to such an extent as to call for some restrictions upon the sale of spirituous liquors. On August 22d, 1659, the town court ordered that no inhabitant of the place should sell any liquors or strong drink by retail, after the first of the ensuing
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
September, without an order from the magistrates, upon pe- nalty of fifty guilders, or about nineteen dollars. The neces- sity that existed for wholesome regulations to check the mad- dening influence of ardent spirits, is shown by the follow- ing; a humiliating illustration of the abiding truth of the Divine declaration, " Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging." It occurred early in 1660, that Ellen Wall, who "tapped " li- quor at the English Kills had received an anchor of brandy- wine at the landing-place. While it lay there unguarded, two men, overpowered by the temptation to test its quality, broached the cask and not only drank themselves, but invited an acquaintance who lived hard by, to enjoy it with them. For the fourth time was the " porringer " filled, and with it the two in their boat left the landing, when they were met by Joseph Fowler coming up the Kill, in his canoe; observing the pot of liquor in the bottom of their canoe, he jocosely asked the men whether that liquor was for him. "Drink," replied one of them, " but you must hold down your head." Crime always seeks concealment. Merry over their exploit, and boasting that they " did draw four porringers full of Old Nelly's drink," the free use of her brandy-wine soon reached the ears of Ellen, who the next day fell into a sharp dispute about it with the wife of one of the offenders, which, shameful to tell, ended in a pitched battle between these female pugilists, in which Ellen was bruised and roughly handled, and the air was made to resound with their cries; the disgraceful scene being wit- nessed by Mr. Fowler from his field, and by other neighbors. Ellen sued and recovered pay for her liquor, but the court also fined the women each six guilders, and ordered them for the future " to refrain such drunken bouts."
Such broils were rare exceptions to the usual harmony which prevailed within the bounds of Middelburg. The good character of the inhabitants generally, is seen in the care which they took to preserve good morals, by excluding from their society such persons as were likely to endanger them. No individual could find a residence among them except he were admitted by a popular vote. And instances occurred where persons were threatened to be turned out of the town for improper conduct. The town court was active and rigid in the imposition of penalties against the violators of law and
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
good order, and though the punishment inflicted was often mild, it was as humbling in its effects as it was peculiar in kind. This year, 1660, Capt. Coe " laid an indictment " against an individual for feloniously taking corn from his mill, and being convicted of the crime, the culprit was sentenced, besides making amends to Capt. Coe, "to walk from Mr. Doughty's house, with two rods under each arm, and the drum beating before him, until he comes to Mr. Jessup's house, and then he is to have his liberty," and further, " to refrain walking at unseasonable hours, for time to come, because it gives cause of suspicion." Other instances might be cited illustrative of the manner in which criminal jurisprudence was administered in those days, one of which was sitting in the stocks on the court days. Justice dispensed so publicly must have had a salutary effect upon the offender, or at least imposed a strong restraint upon others inclined to similar practices.
The marshal of the town court at this day was Elias Bayley, who had filled the office for a series of years, but like too many others clothed with a brief authority, he ventured upon an abuse of his powers, and, now found himself at a sore issue with the inhabitants. In 1655 Mr. Bayley was directed by the magistrates to execute a certain judgment against Thomas Stevenson. The marshal seized upon one of his yoke cattle, and deaf to the entreaties of Stevenson, who tendered him part of the money, the balance of which Mr. Coe, the magis- trate, on being appealed to by Stevenson, kindly offered to advance, he proceeded to kill the ox. Mr. Stevenson made complaint to the Council, which decided May 8th, 1657, that Bayley should make reparation ; declaring it "contrary to divine and human laws " to deprive a man of his work-ox. This rashness, especially unbecoming in an officer of justice, served to render the marshal unpopular, and he was finally removed by a vote of the town, and Thomas Pettit, Sen. chosen in his stead. Bayley, however, continued to assert his right to the office in defiance of the people, which so incensed the public mind against him, that on March 9th, 1660, the inhabitants " being generally met together for the choosing of magistrates and marshal," not a vote was cast for him. Ne- vertheless he still declared his intention to serve "in spite of the town," and it was only through an application of the
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ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.
inhabitants to the Director-general, in which they complained of his " usurping the place of an attorney also, pleading any cause, which they suppose to be against the law of the land," that Bayley was set aside.
But the honest inhabitants of Middelburg had other ills to contend with, in the wild animals that infested their forests ; the wolves proved especially annoying, failing not in their nightly prowlings to prey upon the flocks and herds. To check this evil, a bounty was offered for wolves killed within the town, and the inhabitants at the above meeting formed a subscription for this object. The Indians, from their pecu- liar habits, proved valuable agents in the destruction of these public enemies.
After the demise of the Rev. John Moore, his bereaved family were left in the quiet possession of the town-house for four and a half years, during which period the town was destitute of the public means of grace. But the deficiency was now to be in part supplied by the services of a school- master, and it was expected that Mr. Doughty, who had married the widow of Mr. Moore, would surrender the premises to the use of the new teacher. To this he objected, which gave rise to the following interesting memorial pre- sented to the Director and Council.
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