The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 14

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 14

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CHAPTER III.

HOUSES AND FURNITURE AMONG THE DUTCH PIONEERS.

T WIIE domestic history of Kings county can hardly be said to have commenced earlier than about 1636, when the first land was purchased from the Indians. Between 1623, when the ship "New Netherland " brought thirty families to Man- hattan Island, and 1636, when the settlement of Kings county was commenced, isolated families may have established residences there, but no record of the fact remains.

The earliest Dutch traders led an unsettled and semi-savage life. The restraints of civilization did not reach them. They found native concubines wherever

they went, and these were changed with every temporary change of location; while the children were left to be reared by their savage mothers.

A different life was led by the pioneers who came with their families. They had left the Fatherland and crossed the ocean to make this their permanent home, and they at once entered on the realities of the life before them. Their first dwellings were of the rudest kind. Some were constructed of saplings, covered with bark; and some were cellars exeavated in the sides of hills, lined with bark and thatched with reeds. As soon as improving circumstances permitted, better dwellings were built. The earliest saw-mills furnished the timber for these, which were small, one-story build- ings, with straw-thatched-roofs, stone fire-places, and ovens, and chimneys of boards plastered inside with inortar or mud. Each of these houses was protected against the attack of Indians by a surrounding of pali- sades. These dwellings were fitted with furniture of the simplest form, and of domestic manufacture. Rough shelves served instead of cupboards or pantries, and " slaap bancks," sleeping benches, or bunks, were used for bedsteads. Though unpretentious in appear- ance, these houses were the abodes of comfort. After the lapse of some years they were succeeded by larger and more substantial edifices, modeled, of course, after the houses in the Fatherland, with only such modifications as the change of circumstances demanded. After the es- tablishment of a brick-yard at N. Amsterdam, in 1666, brick houses became the fashion with the few who eould afford the expense. But the best edifices of that day were very cheap, rarely exceeding $800 in value; while the cost of an ordinary house ranged from $200 to $500 of our present currency, and rents varied from $25 to $100.

STILES says of the farm-houses of Long Island, which succeeded the first rude cabins of the settlers on the shores of the Waale-boght, and at "the Ferry," " that they were generally constructed in a rough but substan- tial manner of stone, lighted by narrow windows, con- taining two small panes of glass-and protected against the "overloopen " or escalading of any savage foe, by strong well-pointed palisades ; snugness, cconomy, safety, were the characteristics of these country dwellings." But little change occurred in the style of arehitecture here during many years, for the Dutch were slow to adopt innovations.

An interesting description of the manner in which the old farmers of Breuckelen lived, is given by the Labadist travellers, who visited this eountry in 1679. Among others, they visited Simon de Hart, whose old house is yet standing near the Gowanus Cove, at the foot of the present 38th street :

" He was very glad to see us, and so was his wife. He took us into the house and entertained us exceedingly well. We found a good fire, half-way up the chimney, of clear oak and hickory, of which they made not the least scruple of burn-

INTERIOR OF THE DUTCH SETTLERS' IIOUSES.

ing profusely. We let it penetrate us thoroughly. There had been already thrown upon it, to be roasted, a pail full of Gowanus oysters, which are the best in the country. They are fully as good as those of England, and better than those we eat at Falmouth. I had to try some of them raw. They are large and full, some of them not less than a foot long, and they grow sometimes ten, twelve, and sixteen together, and are then like a piece of rock. Others are young and small. In consequence of the great quantities of them, everybody keeps the shells for the purpose of burning them into lime. They pickle the oysters in small casks, and send them to Barbadoes and the other islands. We had for supper a roasted haunch of venison, which he had bought of the Indians for three guilders and a half of seewant, that is fif- teen stivers of Dutch money (15 cents), and which weighed thirty pounds. The meat was exceedingly tender and good, and also quite fat. It had a slight aromatic flavor. We were also served with wild turkey, which was also fat and of a good flavor, and a wild goose, but that was rather dry. Every thing we had was the natural production of the country. We saw here, lying in a heap, a whole hill of water- melons, which were as large as pumpkins, and which Simon was going to take to the city to sell. They were very good, though there is a difference between them and those of the Carribby islands ; but this may be owing to its being very late in the season, and these were the last pulling. It was very late at night when we went to rest in a Kermis bed, as it is called, in the corner of the hearth, alongside of a good fire."

They also visited Jacques Cortelyou, in New Utrecht, who had just built an excellent stone house, the best dwelling in the place. "After supper," they say, "we went to sleep in the barn upon some straw spread with sheepskins, in the midst of the continuous grunting of hogs, squealing of pigs, bleating and coughing of sheep, barking of dogs, crowing of cocks, cackling of hens, and especially a goodly quantity of fleas and vermin, of no small portion of which we were par- ticipants, and all with an open barn-door, through which a fresh north wind was blowing. * * We could not complain, since we had the same quarters and kind of bed that their own son usually had, who now, on our arrival, crept in the straw behind us."

STILES says (History of Brooklyn) that " most of the later dwellings of the Dutch on Long Island were of wood, shingled on the side, as well as the roof ; some few of brick ; and, here and there, a substantial stone house. These were all one-story edifices, with either an 'overshot,' or projecting roof, forming a piazza both on the front and rear ; or the 'overshot ' in front, with the roof extending on the rear until within a few feet of the ground. The low-browed rooms were unceiled, showing overhead the broad, heavy oak beams, upon which the upper, or garret floor was laid. The lower half of the wall inside the houses was wainscoted, the upper half plastered. The fireplaces were usually very large, generally extending, without jambs, to a width suffi- cient to accommodate the whole family with seats near tlie fire. The chimneys were capacious, and in them the meat was hung for roasting, or to be 'cured' by smoking. They were usually kept clean by 'burning out' during a rainy day, to avoid danger from fire. Tlie jambs, when the fireplace had any, were usually set around with glazed blue delft-ware tiles, imported from Holland, representing scenes and Scriptural subjects, a never-failing source of amusement and instruction to the children, who frequently gained their first Bible instruction from these tile-pictures, aided by the explanations of the elder members of the family. Huge andirons and heavy fire-shovel and tongues were necessary for these fireplaces. The 'front stoop' was an important

feature in these houses. In some a seat ran the length of the 'stoop,' but in others there were seats at each end. It was, in good weather, the common gathering place of the family and their visitors.

" Before the English conquest of the Netherlands, the do- mestic habits and customs of the Dutch were simple and democratic in their character. All had come hither in search of fortune, and had brought little with them in the begin- ning. Some, indeed, through industry or peculiar sagacity, had attained positions of wealth, and of increased influence, yet it might justly be said of the Dutch, that their social circles were open to all of good character, without regard to business pursuits, or any factitious considerations. Rich and poor mingled together with a freedom and a heartiness of enjoyment which can hardly be expected to exist, except in the formative stage of society. The advent of the En- glish, many of whom had high social connections at home, and corresponding habits, etc., brought change into the social life of the colony, and necessarily developed an aristo- cratic state of society previously unknown.

"In the ' best room' of every house, whether of the wealthy or humbler class, the high-posted, corded, and unwieldly bed- stead was a principal object, and, with its furniture and hangings, formed the index of the social standing of its owner. Upon it, according to the old Dutch fashion, were two feather beds-one for the sleeper to lie upon, and another, of a lighter weight, to be used as a covering. The pillow-cases were generally of check patterns; and the cur- tains and valance were of as expensive materials as its owner could afford ; while in front of the bed a rug was laid, for carpets were not then in common use. Among the Dutch, the only article of that sort, even up to the time of the Revo- lution, was a drugget cloth, which was spread under the table during meal-time, when, upon 'extra occasions,' the table was set in the parlor. But even these were unknown among the inhabitants of the neighboring Long Island towns. The uniform practice, after scrub- bing the floor well on certain days, was to place upon the damp boards the fine white beach sand (of which every family kept a supply on hand, renewing it by trips to the seashore twice a year), arranged in small heaps, which the members of the family were careful not to disturb by treading upon; and, on the following day, when it had become dry, it was swept, by the light and skillful touch of the house- wive's broom, into waves or other more fanciful figures. Rag carpets were unknown in Kings County until about the middle of the present century. The capacious chest, brought from Holland, occupied a prominent place in the house, for several generations: as was also the trundle (or 'Kermis ') bed concealed under the bed by day, to be drawn out for the children's couch at night. Chairs, straight and high backed, were mostly of wood, sometimes covered with leather and studded with brass nails, but more frequently seated simply with matted rushes. Tables, except for kitchen use, were unknown to the earlier Dutch, and for many years to their successors. In the principal room, which held the fine bed, and was, also, tea and dining room on special occasions, was generally a round tea-table, with a leaf which could be dropped perpendicularly when not in use, and a large square table, with leaves, for use at tea-parties. Looking-glasses, in the early days, were generally small, with narrow black frames; and window-curtains were of the simplest and cheapest des- cription, being no better in the best apartments than a strip of ordinary cloth run upon a string. Clocks were rare, and most families marked their tinie by the hour-glass ;- the great eight-day clock, which we sometimes see as leir-looms in our oldest families, being first introduced in this country about

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

1720. Earthenware, until about 1700, was but little used in ordinary table service, wooden and pewter being then univer- sally in use by all classes and preferred because it did not dull the knives. The few articles of china, kept by some for dis- play upon the cupboard, were rarely used; and, though earth- enware came into partial use about 1680, pewter was still the most common up to the period of the Revolution. Among the wealthy, blue and white china and porcelain, curiously ornamented with Chinese pictures, were used 'for company.' The teacups were very diminutive in size, for tea was then an article of the highest luxury, and was sipped in small quanti- ties, alternately with a bite from the lump of loaf-sugar, which was laid beside each guest's plate. Sometimes china plates were used as wall-ornaments, suspended by a strong ribbon passed through a hole drilled in their edges. Silverware, in the form of tankards, beakers, porringers, spoons, snuffers, candlesticks, etc., was a favorite form of display among the Dutch, inasmuch as it served as an index of the owner's wealth, and was the safest and most convenient form of investment for any surplus funds. Of books our ancestors had but few, and these were mostly Bibles, Testaments and Psalm-Books. These Bibles were quaint specimens of early Dutch printing, with thick covers, massive brass, and some- times silver, corner-pieces and clasps. The Psalm-Books were also adorned with silver edgings and clasps, and on Sab- baths, hung by chains of the same material to the girdle of matrons and maidens. Merchants who kept school-books, psalm-books, etc., as a part of their stock, about the middle of the last century, were provided with an equal number of books in the Dutch and English language; showing that, even at that late period after the termination of the Dutch power, the greater part of the children of Dutch descent continued to be educated in the language of the Fatherland. Spinning-wheels were to be found in every family, many having four or five-some for spinning flax and others for wool. A Dutch matron, indeed, took great pride in her large stock of household linen (then cheaper than cotton); and it was the ambition of every maiden to take to her husband's house a full and complete stock of such domestic articles. Light was furnished only by home-made tallow 'dips.' "

The wealthier Duteh eitizens had highly ornamented brass hooped easks in which to keep their liquors, which they never bottled. Holland gin, Jamaiea rum, sherry, Bordeaux wines, English beer, or porter, beer from their own brewers, and eider, were common drinks in early times. When a wealthy young man among these settlers was about to be married, he usually sent to Madeira for a pipe of the best wine, a portion of which was drunk at his marriage, another portion at the birth of his first son, and the remainder was preserved to be used at his funeral.

CHAPTER IV.

PRIMITIVE INDUSTRIES-DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS -SLAVERY-EDUCATIONAL BEGINNING.

T THE common means of travelling, were the lumber- wagons, and in winter the sleigh, running upon split saplings, and drawn, at a uniform dog-trot paee, by pot-bellied nags. During the early part of the 17th century, the two-wheeled one-horse

ehaise came gradually into use, and was the fashionable vehiele up to the time of the Revolution. In riding horsebaek, the lady was mounted upon a pillow or padded eushion, fixed behind the saddle of the gentle- man or servant, upon whose support she was therefore dependent ; and this was the common mode of eountry travel for ladies at that day, when roads were generally little else than bridle paths. Side- saddles only came into partial use in the 18th century.

The manners of the people were simple, unaffected; and economieal. Industry was cultivated by all ; every son was brought up to the exereise of some mechanical employment, and every daughter to the knowledge of household duties. In those days, farmers made their own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their own shoes, did their own earpentering, wheelwrighting, and blacksmithing ; while the females spun wool and flax, frequently taking their spinning-wheels with them when they went abroad to spend an afternoon with a neighbor's wife.

The Dutch were rather given to nicknaming-even in the publie records we find sueh names as Friend John, Hans the Boore, Long Mary, Old Bush, and Top Knot Betty, evidently applied as expressing some individual peculiarity of person or eharaeter.

The agriculture of the country, during its earlier years, was probably equal to that of the " Fatherland " at that day, all due allowanee being made for the novel and peculiar eireumstances which surround the settler in a new and unimproved country. At the period of the Revolutionary War, the farmers of Kings County were in the habit of raising their own tobacco ; and during the century previous it was extensively exported-some of the best tobaeeo sent to Europe from the American colonies being raised on the Duteh tobaeco plantations around the Wallabout, in the town of Brooklyn. The farmers of this vieinity, also, for some time previous to the Revolution, were in the habit of raising cotton- although to a very limited extent, and solely for the domestie uses of their own households. FURMAN says in 1836 : "We have now a bedspread in our family, made of cotton and wool, eolored blue and white, and woven in neat and handsome figures, the cotton of which, as well as the wool, was raised on my grand- father's farm in Kings County, L. I., in the year 1775, and which was cleaned, eolored, and woven by the women of his family. It is now in use, and in good condition, and is one of the best fabries I ever saw."

Slavery was a feature of domestie history, which existed from an early period, and formed a considerable branch of the shipping interests of the Dutch. The mereantile value of a prime slave, both under the Duteh and English dynasties, was from $120 to $150, and when, from time to time, by natural inerease and by importation, the number of slaves aeeumulated beyond the demand, the slave-trade deereased. Almost every domestie establishment of any pretensions in

DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS .- SLAVERY.

city or country was provided with one or more negro servants. These did the most of the farm labor, and their number was considered as a significant indication of the relative wealth of different families. They were, as a general thing, kindly treated and well cared for. The institution of slavery, however, commended itself to the Dutch mind rather as a necessity than as a desirable system. In the city, the association of so many blacks gave rise to much trouble, and even to several outbreaks during the half century preceding the Revolution, seriously affecting the public peace ; and in the rural districts, cspecially on Long Island, the intercourse of the city negroes with their own house and farm servants, was strongly deprecated and discouraged. After the Revolution, and under the beneficent influences of a more enlightened State legis- lation, slavery gradually disappeared. The last public sale of human beings in the town of Brooklyn is be- lieved to have been that of four slaves belonging to the widow Heltje Rappelje, of the Wallabout, in the ycar 1773. It occurred at the division of her estate, and was, even at that time, considered an odious de- parture from the time-honored and more humane prac- tice, which then prevailed, of permitting slaves who wished to be sold, or who were offered for sale, to select their own masters. Indigent immigrants, also, sold their services for definite periods, during which they were as much the subject of purchase and sale as veritable slaves.

As to some of the peculiar funeral customs of the Dutch, FURMAN says:

" Among our Dutch farniers in Kings County, it has been from time immemorial, and still is a custom for all the young men, after becoming of age, to lay up a sufficient sum of money in gold to pay the expense of their funerals. In many families the money thus hallowed is not expended for that purpose, but descends as a species of heir-loom through sev- eral generations. I have seen gold thus saved from before the Revolution, and now in the hands of the grandson, him- self a man of family, having sons grown up to manhood, and which consisted of gold Johannes or Joes ($16 pieces), guineas, etc."

Another practice was to lay aside for each member of the family a linen shirt, handkerchief, etc., and never suffer them to be worn, but keep theni clean to be buried in. In case a woman died in childbed, a white sheet, instead of a black pall, was spread over her coffin as she was taken to the grave. At funerals, wines, pipes and cold collations were provided for the guests, and often linen scarfs, funeral cakes, etc., were distributed among them.

Rev. P. VAN PELT, in a sketch of Dominie Schoon- maker of Brooklyn, thus describes a Dutch funeral:

" It was in 1819 that I last heard, or recollect to have seen, the venerable old dominie. It was at the funeral of one of his old friends and associates. A custom had very generally prevailed, which, though then very rarely observed, yet in this instance was literally adhered to. The deceased had, many years before, provided and laid away the materials for his own coffin. This one was of the best seasoned and smooth-

est boards, and beautifully grained. Other customs and ceremonies then existed, now almost forgotten. As I entered the room I observed the coffin elevated on a table in one cor- ner. The dominie, abstracted and grave, was seated at the upper end; and around, in solemn silence, the venerable and hoary-headed friends of the deceased. All was still and serious. A simple recognition or a half-audible inquiry, as one after another arrived, was all that passed. Directly, the sexton, followed by a servant, made his appearance, with glasses and decanters. Wine was handed to each. Some declined; others drank a solitary glass. This ended, and again the sexton presented himself, with pipes and tobacco. The dominie smoked his pipe, and a few followed his example. The custom has become obsolete, and it is well that it has. When the whiffs of smoke had ceased to curl around the head of the dominie, he arose with evident feeling, and in a quiet, subdued tone, made a short but apparently impressive address. I judged solely by his appearance and manner; for, although boasting a Holland descent, it was to me speaking in an unknown tongue. A short prayer concluded the service; and then the sexton, taking the lead, was followed by the dominie, the doctor, and the pall-bearers, with white scarfs and black gloves. The corpse, and a long procession of friends and neighbors, proceeded to the churchyard, where all that was mortal was committed to the earth, till the last trump shall sound and the grave shall give up the dead. No bustle, no confusion, no noise nor indecent haste, attended that funeral."

It was a custom of the Dutch families in this county to bury their dead in private or family burial grounds, without monuments. Many such, especially Bushwick, have been obliterated, within a few years, by the extension of the city.

It seems to have been customary, also, among the Dutch, about the close of the last century, to designate a widow as " the last wife" of her deceased husband, and a widower as "the last man " of his deceased wife.

J. M. STEARNS, Esq., of Williamsburgh, remarks: " that the old Dutch wills seem not to trust the widow in a second marriage." The restraints placed upon remarriages, by wills, were generally in favor of the children of the first marriage; and the widows thus restricted generally signed consents to accept the bequests in lieu of dower, for the good reason that pro- pricty did not allow them to refuse so soon after the death of their first husband; and, because the devises and bequests in lieu of dower vested an estate for life, or three-thirds of the estate subject to a contingency in their own control, instead of one third absolutely. The will of Cornelius Van Catts, of Bushwick (1726), expressed in a sort of half Dutch dialect, devises to his wife, Annetjie, his whole estate to her while she remains his widow-both real and personal.

" But if she happen to marry, then I geff her nothing of my estate, neither real or personal. I geff to my well-beloved son, Cornelius, the best horse that I have, or else £7 10s., for his good as my eldest son. And then my two children, Cor- nelius Catts and David Catts, all heef [half] of my whole effects, land and movables, that is to say, Cornelius Catts heef of all, and David Catts heeff of all. But my wife can be master of all, for bringing up to good learning my two children (offetten) school to learn. But if she comes to marry

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

again, then her husband can take her away from the farm, and all will be left for the children, Cornelius Catts and David Catts, heeff and heeff."

So also, John Burroughs, of Newtown (1678), devises to his son John his then dwelling-house, barn, orchard, out-houses, and land, etc.

"But not to dispossess my beloved wife during the time of her widowhood. But if she marry, then her husband must provide for her, as I have done."

They took special care to provide for the education of their children. Teachers were appointed only on the recommendation of the Governor, and their duties were very accurately prescribed. This subject, how- ever, will be more fully treated in our chapter on Edu- cation in Kings Co.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I, Part 14

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1114

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed. cn; Brockett, L. P. (Linus Pierpont), 1820-1893; Proctor, L. B. (Lucien Brock), 1830-1900. 1n
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1114