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 33

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 33

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IX. Between Mr. Pierrepont's southerly line and the present Joralemon street was the remainder of the Remsen estate, owned by Peter Remsen. After his death, Maj Fanning C. Tucker, Robert Carter, Adam Treadwell, and Mr. Pierrepont, purchased that portion nearest the river, and bounded by Joralemon, Clinton and Remsen streets; which streets were laid out and named by Mr. Pierrepont. The remaining portion of the estate, that bounded by Clinton, Joralemon and the Old road (Fulton street), was retained by Henry Rem- sen and his sister Matilda, children of Peter. The most easterly extremity of their land was purchased as a site for the City Hall; and, finally, they sold out all their property in Brooklyn. The old Remsen house now forms Nos. 2 and 4 Joralemon street, near Furman, and the old well is still under the baptismal font of Grace Church.

The Heights at that day were handsomely wooded ; at the southern extremity (above the present corner of Joralemon and Furman streets) was a large grove, with ravines leading down to the shore, beautifully shaded with cedars. This was called "Lover's (or Hy- men's) grove." Under the cliff stood the old (St. George's) Ferry house, occupying nearly the same site as the old Eagle tavern.

From Fulton avenue, down Red Hook lane, and thence along the river-side, to Joralemon's lane, includes the district now known as South Brooklyn. This lane diverged from Fulton avenue, as previously stated, a short distance east from Du Flon's Military Garden. It seems to have been laid ont, according to record, about the 6th of June, 1760; appears upon Ratzer's map (1766-67) and all subsequent maps; and, although mostly swallowed up by the growth of the city, a rem- nant still survives, between Fulton avenue and Livings- ton street, and is particularly noticeable as containing the modest retreat of the Board of Education.

This lane passed on the east of the old Potter's field and along Judge Joralemon's land, until, at about the junction of the present Court and Pacific streets, it met a very considerable conical-shaped hill (Ponkiesbergh, or Cobble-hill, of Revolutionary memory), which reared it- self above the surrounding corn-fields. Red Hook lane passed in a westerly direction around and along the base of this hill for about three hundred feet, then turned southwardly. Just at this turn, on the west side, com- menced the private road or lane called Patchen's lane,

131

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

which led down to Ralph Patchen's house, near the foot of the present Atlantic street, where there was a public landing-place six rods long at low-water mark. Upon the incorporation of the village, in 1816, this lane was absorbed by District street, which followed the same course and became the southern boundary of the village. District street, in turn, merged its identity in Atlantic street.

Near the southern boundary of Patchen's land an- other private road diverged from the easterly side of Red Hook lane, known as Freeke's lane, or the Mill- road. From its point of divergence, on the line of Court street, between East Warren and Baltic, it ran southerly to the mills of John C. Freeke and Nehemiah Denton,- thence to Gowanus. Further down the lane, between the lands of Anthony Worthington on the west and Jacob Bergen on the east, was a small framed school-house, built by the farmers of the neighborhood; and near it, on the west side of the lane (at near the junction of present Butler and Court streets), was a gate opening into Cornell's lane, leading down towards the river to the house of Isaac Cornell, farmer and dis- tiller.

From this point (Cornell's gate), the Red Hook lane passed along, still through Bergen's land, in a southerly · direction, towards Red Hook. On its easterly side, in a retired and beautiful spot, near the line of the present Carroll, between Clinton and Henry streets, was a small cottage occupied, for many years in the early part of the present century, by the well-known actress, MRS. CHARLOTTE MELMOTII.

MRS. MELMOTH was much esteemed for her excellent pri- vate character ; and, compelled at length by advancing age to leave the stage, she purchased this cottage in the quiet and beautiful Red Hook lane, and took boarders. Stuart, the artist, was, for a while, an inmate of her family; and his board- bills seem to have been paid, in part, at least, with some of his inimitable portraits, which adorned Mrs. Melmoth's parlor, and one of which, that of Judge Egbert Benson, after- wards found its appropriate resting-place upon the walls of the Long Island Historical Society. At this time, also, or subsequently, Mrs. Melmoth kept a school for young ladies and children at her residence, her pupils mostly belonging to the Cutting, Cornell, Pierrepont, (John) Jackson, and Luquer families. Some of these children, now men and women grown, arestill living, and enjoy very pleasant and respectful memories of their old school-mistress, with whom they boarded during the week, returning to their respective homes on Saturday to spend the Sabbath. The nearest neighbor was Mr. Suydam's, where they took turns in going daily for milk, wherewith to furnish the suppan and milk, which was a favorite article of food. Her family consisted of herself, her friend Miss Butler, and two aged Dutch negro-slaves, a man and a woman. In person, she was fleshy and heavy, some- what dignified in manner, but kind in word and deed. She always spoke with emphasis, and was esteemed by her patrons as peculiarly successful in advancing her pupils in reading and elocution. After a residence of some ten or twelve years in Brooklyn, she died here, in October, 1823, aged 72 years, much regretted by her friends, and was interred in the burial-ground of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York city.

After her decease the house was converted into a tavern, which became a favorite resort for the dissi- patcd young men of the town, who there indulged in drinking, eating oysters, raffling for turkeys, geese, etc., their orgies being carried on with a freedom to which the retired character of the spot was peculiarly con- ducive.

Beyond Mrs. Melmoth's, on the westerly side of Red Hook lane, was a high and beautiful elevation, which sloped gently off to the river, and which was subse- quently known as Prospect hill, or Hoyt's hill, from its owner, Mr. Charles Hoyt, who first (about 1826) pushed streets through it, and brought it into the market. It is said that the first lithographic property-maps, since so commonly used among real-estate men, were made to illustrate this property. On the highest point of this elevation, Mr. James W. Moulton, the accom- plished historian of our State, erected a very elegant residence of the Gothic style, which, upon his removal to Roslyn, L. I., was purchased and occupied by A. J. Spooner, Esq. The extension of Summit street in- volved its destruction.

The road made a bend between Rapalje and Coles streets, on the line of Hicks, around to the residence and mill of Nicholas Luquer. The long, low and cozy- looking homestead was surrounded by trees, through whose branches a pleasant breeze secmed always to play. It fronted the mill-pond, whercin Mr. Luquer, a thin French-looking man, raised oysters of extraordi- nary size and delicacy. His mill (called on Ratzer's map the I. Seabring mill) was mostly employed for grinding grain for the use of Mr. Pierrepont's distillery at the foot of Joralemon's lane. Between Luquer's resi- dence and mill, and in about the line of the present Coles street, ran a road down to Jordon Coles' țide- mills. Coles' mill-pond, like that of Luquer, was con- structed artificially. Across the road, near Coles' house, was a gate, which prevented cattle from straying on to Red Hook. From Luquer's mill, at corner of present Hicks and Huntington streets, the road turned to the corner of the present William and Columbia streets, crossed Bull creek, Koenties kill, or Cow's creek, and, by a bridge, the stream which divided Red Hook from the mainland.

Red Hook was, at that time, in the possession of Matthias and Nicholas Van Dyke. The southern por- tion of the Hook was a high hill covered with locust, poplar, cedar, and sassafras-trecs. This hill was cut down, in 1835, by Messrs. Dikeman, Waring and Un- derhill, for the purpose of filling up the neighboring mill-ponds, lower ground and drowned marsh. There were, on the island proper, only six buildings. On the extreme south-western point, known as Powder-house point, was a brick powder-house erected by Messrs. Jeromus Johnson, Charles J. Howell, and John Hoff (afterwards surveyor of the port of New York), who purchased from the Van Dycks an acre of land for that

132

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

purpose. Johnson and his associates had formerly a powder-house upon a little island, called "Cornell's island," situated about five hundred yards north of Bull ereek, but this had been washed away by the tide. On the northern end of the island was the dwelling of the Van Dyek brothers; on the east side, their two mills and a small house oeeupied by the miller. Mat-

. thias' mill was known as "Ginger-mill," from its being used solely in the grinding of that article; while Nieholas' was ealled the "Flour," or "Tide-mill." The large adjoining mill-pond extended to Boomties Hook, and was famous for its fine oysters. The brothers Van Dyke always lived together in the same house- Nicholas being a bachelor. Matthias died first, and his estate was sold in 1834, under a deeree of the eourt of chaneery, to parties who organized the Red Hook Building Co., having for its objeet the sale of the lands, and the issuing of stoeks, at one dollar per share, redeemable at a half per eent. discount in Wall street. The undertaking, however, proved too heavy for those who had undertaken it; and, in 1835, it was taken hold of by Messrs. Voorhees, Stranalian & Co., who organ- ized the well known Atlantie Dock Company, and erected thereon the extensive warehouses and stores known as the Atlantie Doeks.

Along the western side of the Hook, at low water, was a large flat, extending up to Pierrepont's distillery at the foot of Joralemon's lane. Northward, along the shore of the East river, were the following farms, all lying between the river and Red Hook lane, viz .:

I. Cornell's, previously alluded to in passing down Red Hook lane, which formed its eastern boundary.

II. Parmenus Johnson's estate, lying between the river and the lane, and extending from Baltie nearly to Congress street. Mr. Johnson eame from Oyster Bay, L. I., about 1818, and purchased sixteen aeres of the old Rynier Suydam farm; to which he added forty or more aeres by filling in and doeking out upon his water front. The old Rynier Suydam house, a venerable Duteh edifice, stood on the site of Mr. Johnson's pres- ent residenee, on the corner of Hicks and West Baltic streets, surrounded with pear-trees a eentury old; and the water, at that time, came up as high as the present line of Henry street.

III. The estate of Cornelius Heeney.

IV. Ralph Patchen's farm, extending from Congress to Distriet (now Atlantie) street. He was one of the old Fly Market butehers, an honest man, but rough in conversation, and at times very severe and personal; he had, however, the confidenee of his fellow-citizens, who several times placed him in publie offiee. He purchased the distillery of Isaac Cornell, and the land of William Cornell. The large doek near his distillery was long known as Patchen's dock ; and his residenee was on the line of the present Hieks street, a few doors south of Atlantie.

V. The Joralemon estate, extending from the East

river to the lane, and from about 100 feet north of pres- ent State street, to Joralemon's lane. This was pur- chased, in 1803, by Tunis Joralemon, from the executors of Philip Livingston, Esq.

TUNIS JORALEMON, a native of New Jersey, was born in 1760, and was, for a while, a harness and saddle-maker near Flatbush. After his purchase of the Livingston estate, le devoted his attention to his garden ; sold milk and vegetables in the New York market, and was a prominent man in the Dutch church. He was, at one time, justice of the peace, and a trustee of the village in 1817, '18, '19, '20, '21. In per- son he was tall, slim and slightly bent ; his austere features strongly resembling the portraits of Dante, the great Italian poet. He was indeed of Italian descent, and his manner ener- getic and determined. He was most obstinately opposed to having streets opened through his farm. In 1826 Mr. Charles Hoyt forced Henry street through it, which was the com- mencement of the spread of land-speculation in Brooklyn. Shortly afterwards Mr. Pierrepont, who had laid out a street through his own estate, called Clinton street (because it was projected at the time that that celebrated statesman suc- ceeded in carrying out his great project of the canal), endeav- ored to force it through Joralemon's land by action of the village trustees. Mr. Joralemon opposed it bitterly, mainly because he disliked Clinton and his big ditch, and did not wish a street named after him. He died in 1840, leaving behind him the name of an honest man, and a property which, at the time, was estimated as worth from six to seven hundred thousand dollars. In 1841 the old Livingston man- sion, which he had so long occupied, was destroyed by fire. . Two mayors of Brooklyn, the Hon. Samuel Smith and Hon. T. G. Talmadge, married daughters of Mr. Joralemon.

Livingston street, and, also, Sidney Place, were laid out on the old map of 1801, by which the Livingston farm was sold-but no names were then affixed, they being simply called new roads.

Along the river-front of Joralemon's property lay what was ealled " the Fishing-place," it having been, from time immemorial, a favorite resort of the towns-people to draw their nets for fish; and it is said that Mr. Liv- in ston, the former owner of the Joralemon estate, was aeeustomed to grant a privilege to fish at this place, at a stipulated price per day.

The region along the Brooklyn and Flatbush turn- pike (Fulton and Fiatbush avenues), to the town-line ; along the Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike (Fulton avenue), to Bedford Corners ; and, down the Fort Greene roud to the Wallabout, may now be noticed. The old Ferry road has been deseribed as far as the junetion of the present Fulton street, Myrtle avenue, and Washington street. Myrtle avenue had not been opened, although its germ existed in a little street ealled Myrtle street, which extended only a short dis- tanee eastwardly from the main road. A little way from this Myrtle street, on the north side of the road, and elevated several feet above its level, on the site of the Halsey buildings, was Nieholas Rouse's groeery store and garden. Nicholas was a German, who had been for many years a resident of the village, and was much respeeted. His whole yard was covered by a

133

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

fine grape-vine, which bore abundantly; and the citizens of Brooklyn were wont, during the warm summer months, to resort here in great numbers to partake of his excellent mead-cakes ; while, in autumn, they sought the grateful shades of his arbor, to enjoy the delicious grapes and the fine prospect; there being, at that time, no houses between his place and the Wallabout. After Brooklyn began to improve, and new streets werc opened and old ones repaved, it disturbed Mynheer Rouse so that he removed to New York.

Beyond Rouse's, near the point of the present Wil- loughby street, stood the large and pleasantly willow- shaded residence of Mr. Nathaniel Howland, father of George S. Howland. On the point, now occupied by Jones' Building, where the L. I. Savings Bank is located, stood Ralph Malbone's grocery. Immediately adjoin- ng this was Howland's rope- walk, extending along the north- erly line of the Duffield estate, from Fulton to near Bridge street. From this point, the Duffield estate extended along the northerly side of the turn- pike to about the present junc- tion of Duffield street and Ful- ton avenue. This estate, like the Johnson property, was of a triangular shape, its apex rest- ing on the site of the present City park.

The old Duffield house (No. 4, Map B) stood near the west- erly corner of the present Duf- field street as it enters Fulton avenne, and its portrait is well preserved in the view of the old Brooklyn Church elsewhere given. During the Revolu- tionary war it was occupied by the British; and its door-posts bore the broad-arrow mark which indicated appro- priation to army uses. Its owner, at that time, was Mr. Johannes Dc Bevoise, who received it as a wedding-day gift from his father. Hc was clerk of the town, and, for many years also, of the old Dutch church, which stood near by ; and his residence very naturally became the Dominic's house, where the minis- ters were always expected to stay for rest and refresh- ment between church services on the Sabbath ; for receiving applications for baptism, membership, ctc. ; for meeting the consistory, church-masters and others, and for attending generally to their official duties when- ever they visited Brooklyn. Mr. De Bevoise's wife is said to have burned in her oven a large quantity of the old church papers and documents, alleging, with house- wifely hatred of such lumbering trash, that old papers always made so much trouble. Margaret Dc Bevoise,

the daughter of the worthy town-clerk Johannes, married Dr. John Duffield, an American army-surgeon.

The private burying-ground of the Duffield family (No. 5, Map B) formerly stood upon the southerly side of the road, a little westward of the present Gold street. When the road was straightened into the present Fulton avenue, the little burial-place found itself in the very centre of the avenue, and was blotted out of existence.

From the corner of the present Duffield street, to the junction of the present Fulton and De Kalb avenues, the Samuel Fleet estate fronted on the turnpike, stretch- ing back to the site of the present City park.

The name of FLEET seems to have been a slight change from that of the English ancestor of the family, Admiral Fleetwood. During the emigration which followed the troubles between Charles T. and his Parliament, one of that

THE FLEET MANSION. (Fulton Avenue, corner of Gold Street).

The erection by the Fleet family of a row of handsome stone-front stores on Fulton avenue, has obliterated this fine old-fashioned homestead, with its beautiful lawn and trees, which had so long formed a most attractive feature of Brooklyn's principal thoroughfare.

family, Capt. Thomas Fleet, came from London, accom- panied by his family, in his own vessel, and located near the head of Huntington Bay, which offered peculiar advantages for the prosecution of trading operations with the West Indies. Some idea may be formed of the growth and extent of his business, from the fact that, as early as 1675, he was assessed on the rate-list of the Town of Huntington for forty vessels, beside land and stock. From 1681-'85 he became an extensive freeholder ; and, in 1688, was one of the patentees named in the patent for lands granted by Governor Dongan.

SAMUEL FLEET, the owner of this mansion, was a farmer, and made a snug property during the war of 1812, when grain and produce were very high ; and, by the purchase of this farm. and other property in Brooklyn, became a very wealthy man. His life furnished a bright example of uprightness and punctuality.

A little above the present junction of De Kalb and Fulton avenues was the Black Horse tavern, kept, for many years, by Isaac De Voe, and afterwards owned by

134

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Robert De Bevoisc. Just this side stood the old sycamore tree which marked the place where the carth-work line of defense crossed the turnpike, in the Revolutionary war, and, also, in the war of 1812.

Beyond, and on the corner of a road which ran east to Fort Greene, stood another tavern kept by Charles Poling, who was connected with the horse-artillery of the county, the members of which generally assembled here before parade, etc. Opposite the tavern, which

MAP B.

Showing (by dotted lines) the course of the old Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike, between the present City Hall and Bond street.

REFERENCES.

1. Du Flon's " Military Garden."

2. The Willoughby Mansion.

3. Site of the Old Dutch Church.

4. The Duffield House. (See also picture of the Old Dutch Church-chapter on Ecclesi- siastical History of Kings County.)

5. The Duffield family burial- place,

N. B. - The squares, in light lines, indicate the sites of old houses removed by the opening of the present Fulton avenue.

ESTATE.

JACKSON

CARLL FLEET DE KALB

BOND ST

DE BEVOISE ESTATE.

ELM PL.

1 1

DUFFIELD S!

nnn

HOYT ST

BRIDGE ST

$13

DUFFIELD ESTATE.

LAWRENCE!

GALL'N P!

SMITH ST

JAY ST /

SPEARLIST

RED HOOK -

BOERUM

- WILLOUGHBY

FULTON

ESTATE.

JORALEMON

faced on this side of the road, was a hay-scales, bear- ing, in an niche, high upon its front, in an oval, an excellent profile, designed for, and understood to be, during the Revolution, that of King George III. When peace was again restored, however, it was found to be expedient, in order to save it from harm, to inscribe upon it the name of Franklin, and it ever after passed for a bona-fide representation of that American.

The road before mentioned as passing eastward, past

Poling's tavern, led to a house on Fort Greene, occu- pied by a milkman namcd George McCloskey, who was the father of the present Roman Catholic Cardinal archbishop of New York.

From McCloskey's house the road ran northwardly until it entered the Newtown turnpike, ncar the east- erly termination of the Wallabout bridge, abont at the junction of the present Flushing and Portland avenues, where a toll-gate controlled the travel over both roads. A little south of the easterly end of the bridge was a mill ; and over the Wallabout Flats was another wind- mill. Proceeding along the Newtown turnpike, on the south side was the dwelling of William Cornell (son of old Whitehead Cornell), who owned a valuable farm lying east of the toll-bridge, and which included a part of Fort Greenc.

Beyond Uncle Billy's house, on both sides of the New- town turnpike, to the town line between Brooklyn and Bushwick, there were only some ten houses, occupied by farmers, milkmen, and gardeners.

Beyond Poling's tavern, on the Jamaica turnpike, were three or fonr small dwellings and a carriage-shop, before coming to the estate of John Jackson, extending along the easterly side of the turnpike, from a point opposite the junction of Livingston street and present Flatbush avenue, to the southerly side of Hanson place. His residence was located on the north-east corner of the present Navy strect and Lafayette avenue, while back, on the line of Raymond street and Lafayette ave- nue, were his barns, stables and gardens.

Retracing our steps, now, to Red Hook lane, we find on the southerly side of the turnpike, at the corner of Boerum and Fulton streets, a short distance back from the street, a two-story framed house, occupied at that time by Christopher Codwise. It was built by Dr. Benjamin Lowc, brother of the Rev. Peter Lowe, interred at Flatbush.

Beyond this was the residence of Tunis Johnson; then the grave-yard belonging to the Dutch church ; then, with a considerable intervening space, an old frame house, shaded in front by two enormons black-walnut trees, and occupied by one Voorhis, who kept a carriage and blacksmith-shop nearly adjoining his residence. Then, opposite the Jackson estate, the residence of George Powers, who purchased this farm from Michael Grant Bergen, who emigrated to Nova Scotia, with many other loyalists, shortly after the close of the Revolu- tionary war.

GEORGE POWERS, Senior, demands at least a line of record. Although tradition says he was a Hessian soldier during the Revolution, an examination of the subject proves that he was not of those hirelings ; but, on the other hand, he was among those who suffered much for their love of country. Before the Revolution he was a butcher in the old Fly Market, from which, in 1774, he advertised a run-away. On the breaking out of the Revolution, he took sides with the Sons of Liberty, and joined the Brooklyn Troop of Horse, under Capt. Adolph Waldron, then an inn-holder, at Brooklyn Ferry. When

FLEET ESTATE.

GOLD IST

AVENUE

SAMUEL SMITH ESTATE.

JOHN B. JOHNSON ESTATE.

135

BROOKLYN SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO.

his company was ordered off Long Island, Powers and several others crossed the sound, from Huntington to Norwalk, leaving their horses behind, which were lost to them ; and we find these men in Dutchess county, in October, 1776, in destitute circumstances ; when they received their pay from the Convention. In 1782, before the termination of the war, although it was known to be near, Powers returned to Brook- lyn, where he again commenced business. His early return gave him many advantages in establishing a profitable busi- ness before the British troops left the country ; also, there were offered many opportunities for investing a small amount of money in various ways, as in teams of horses and cattle, wagons, etc., which the retreating British troops could not carry away with them. These investments, after a few years, returned large profits. His gains were laid out principally in landed property in the town, which afterwards became very valuable.

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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 33

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