USA > New York > Ulster County > Kingston > The history of Kingston, New York : from its early settlement to the year 1820 > Part 51
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Frederick left one son, Rev. Cornelius D. Westbrook. D.D. He married Hannah, daughter of Isaac Van Wyck, of Fishkill. After her death he married Sarah, daughter of Tjerck Beekman, and had a large family of children-four by his first and eight by his second wife.
WYNKOOP .- Cornelis Wynkoop was in Albany as early as 1657. He removed to Kingston prior to 1671, for in that year he was an elder in the Kingston Church. His wife was Maria Janse Langen- dyck. Their children were :
Johannis, known as Major Johannis Wynkoop, who married, June 7th, 1687, Judith Bloodgood. After her death he married. in 1696, Cornelia, daughter of Dirck Wessels Ten Broeck, of Albany.
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
Maria married Moses, son of Nicholas Depuy.
Evert, who married, August 26th, 1688, Gertrude, daughter of Jacobus Elmendorf and Greetje Aertse Van Wagonen. After her death he married Antje, daughter of Roeloff Kierstede and Eicke Roosa.
Gerrit married Hillitje, daughter of Gerrit Fokker and Jacom- yntje Slecht.
Benjamin married, October 20th, 1697, Femmitje, daughter of Abraham Vanderheul and Tryntje Hendrick Kip.
NOTE .- The following history of the Houghteling family was received too late for insertion in its proper alphabetical order, and is therefore placed here.
HOUGHTELING .- Jan Hooghtyling was the ancestor of the Kings- ton branch of this family ; he married Ariantje Appel. Their son. Jan Hooghtyling, Jr., married Maria Colevelt. Their son Wil- helmus was born in New York, and baptized there on the 17th of September, 1699, married Marytjen Tappen, at Kingston, on the 18th of November, 1720. Their son Teunis, on the first day of November, 1747, married Elizabeth Beekman, at Kingston. Their son Johannis, who was baptized in New York, November 25th, 1757, married on the 20th of April, 1777, Anna Muyretta Roosa, at Kingston. They had three sons : Teunis, baptized April 5th, 1787, Cornelius, baptized August 23d, 1789, and Henry, baptized October 16th, 1791.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
INDIAN RELICS.
TT was not the intention of the writer when he commenced the preparation of this book to have anything to say in regard to the history or manners and customs of the Indians, except so far as might be necessary to elucidate the history of the early settle- ment of Europeans among them. But as it may be of interest to some of his readers he has added this chapter, principally devoted to an account of some Indian relics which have been found in this county, and are still preserved as mementoes of the past.
Before proceeding to that, however, it will be noted that there was, until a comparatively recent period, but not probably within the recollection of any one now living, an Indian inscription in the vicinity of Kingston, which is described by Mr. Schoolcraft in his history of the Indian tribes of North America, as follows :
" There is a pictographic Indian inscription in the valley of the Hudson above the Highlands, which from its antiquity and char- acter appears to denote the era of the introduction of fire-arms and gunpowder among the aboriginal tribes of that valley. This era may with general accuracy be placed between the years 1609, the date of Hudson's ascent of that stream above the Highlands, and the opening of the Indian trade with the Iroquois by the erection of Fort Orange in 1614.
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" The location of the inscription is on the west embankment of the Hudson at Esopus Landing. My attention was first directed to it by Peter Force, Esq., of Washington, D. C., a gentleman who had passed his youth in the vicinity, and had frequently visited the declivity on which it is cut ; being a convenient spot, as he told me, for undressing, as was the custom of boys in the vicinity to swim in the river. Other indications have been reported at sundry times of the skill of these ancient Indians in inseribing figures on rocks. Tracks of human feet are among these objects, but the progress of building in that vicinity and the existence of but little curiosity on that head appears to have destroyed these interesting traces of a people who once fancied themselves important, but who now live only in history."
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
The inscription on the rock at Esopus Landing was the figure of an Indian with plumes on his head and holding a gun in his right hand at rest, and a wand or some other instrument in his left.
Mr. Schoolcraft particularly describes and comments thus upon the figure : "The inscription may be supposed, if the era is prop-
erly conjectured, to have been made with metallic tools. The lines are plainly and deeply impressed. It is in double lines. The plumes from the head denote a chief or man skilled in the Indian medico-magical art ; the left appears to support a wand. It is in the rampant Indian style. Such an inscription, recording the intro-
duction of the gun, would not be made when that era had long past and lost its interest."
It is a well-known and at the same time interesting fact that the aborigines of this country were accustomed to record upon rocks, stones, and other substances historical and biographical events by pictorial scrolls and other devices, and they also in like 32
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manner registered the heroic deeds of their departed chiefs and distinguished warriors upon the ad-je-da-tic (monumental or grave tablet), consisting of a stone slab or post. The pictographic records upon wood and other perishable materials have, of course, long since passed away ; but those engraved upon the more imper- ishable substance are still occasionally found in places where the
Indians when lords of the country centuries ago resorted and where the besom of destruction and improvement has had no occasion to wipe them out of existence.
In order that the reader may more fully comprehend the charac- ter of the relics referred to, the accompanying plates are inserted,
which are made from photographic copies, and correctly represent the originals.
The first two pictures represent the two flat surfaces of a stone slab, irregular in shape and apparently having portions or at least a corner broken off. It is twenty inches in length and twelve inches in breadth. When found it was standing in a slanting posi-
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tion resting against other stones and thickly covered with moss, only a small point at the top projecting. From its position and appearance when found it is evident it had been there a long time.
It is covered with Indian marks on both sides. It is supposed to be a part of the adjedatic or gravestone of some Indian chief or warrior, the bird thereon indicating the " totem" or insignia of the tribe, family, or class to which the deceased belonged, and the other marks thereon recording his exploits (p. 497).
It is well known also that the Indians frequently recorded their
RIGHT SIDE OF TUSK.
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LEFT SIDE OF TUSK.
LOWER SIDE OF TUSK. UPPER SIDE OF TUSK
war, hunting, and other expeditions and extraordinary events by. pictographs, not only on rocks, but upon small stones, bark of trees, and other portable things which could be hung up in their wigwams or carried about with them. They were the Indian's autobiographical records of his achievements and triumphs. It is supposed that the stone represented in this engraving is one of that character (p. 498).
The stone is five inches long, three and a half inches wide, and a little over an inch in thickness, with edges rounded as if worn by water. On one side of the stone can be noticed a camp-fire and also two chiefs, indicated by their head-dress and their respective totems, one a turtle and the other a bear or wolf.
The next relic represented is a tusk carved with Indian picto- graphs. The four figures in the engraving represent the different sides of the tusk and exhibit the respective figures thereon. When
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
found the hollow inside was filled with fine stuff resembling rotten wood.
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INDIAN ORNAMENTS.
The fondness of the Indian for beads and other small ornaments is so well understood that it is unnecessary to mention it-it is pro-
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HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
verbial. They were worn by chiefs and others in great profusion, and when the Indian was buried his ornaments and all he had were buried with him.
The last picture contains, on the top line toward the left, four Indian arrow-heads made of white metal discolored by exposure ; the rest are beads, shells, and ornaments of different kinds, a few very handsome ones of pearl.
Indian tribes and clans have had no foothold or settlement in this country for two hundred years and over. Their favorite re- sorts and resting-places have been by them, during that long time, deserted and abandoned to the possession and control of the Euro- pean settlers and their descendants. It is not, therefore, strange that they should have left behind them in the graves of their chiefs and warriors, as well as occasionally by accident on the surface, coveted and cherished ornaments, as well as articles of use and necessity in their mode of life. It will be noticed, in regard to these relics, that the only instruments of war represented on any of them are the bow and arrow and the war-club-no fire-arms ; nor is an European represented on any of them. The white man in Indian pictography is represented always with a hat.
The author's task is now done, and it is a relief to him, as he supposes it will be to his readers after wading through the volume, to be able to say, IT IS FINISHED.
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APPENDIX.
FIRST CHARTER OR PATENT GRANTED TO WILT- WYCK, 1661.
Copy of Translation.
CHARTER OF WILTWYCK, 1661.
PETRUS STUYVESANT, in behalf of the High and Mighty Lords, the States General of the United Netherlands, and the Lords Directors of the Privileged West India Company, Director-general of New Netherland, Curacoa, Aruba, and Buenaire and depen- dencies, together with the High Council, To all who shall see, or hear this read, Greeting. Be it known, that their Honors, hoping and wishing nothing else but the prosperity and welfare of their good inhabitants generally, and particularly that of the residents in the village of Wiltwyck, situated in the Esopus ; and desiring that this may be effected and preserved with more love, peace and harmony, and to show to each inhabitant of the aforesaid village, and prove by deed its effects ; so is it, that the aforesaid Director- general and Council, considering the increased population of said village, resolve to favor its inhabitants with a subaltern court of justice, and to organize it as far as possible, and the situation of the country will permit, in conformity with the customs of the city of Amsterdam in Holland, but so, that from all judgments an ap- peal may be made to the Director-general and Council in New Netherland, who shall reserve the power to give their final decision. It is therefore, necessary, so that everything may be effected with due order and respect, that there be chosen as judges, honest, intelligent persons possessing real estate, peaceable men, good sub- jects to their Lords and Patroons, and the high administration appointed by them in this country, professors of the Reformed religion, as it is now preached in the United Netherlandish churches,
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APPENDIX.
in conformity to the word of God, and the orders of the synod of Dordrecht ; which court of justice for the present time, till other- wise shall be ordained by the aforesaid Lords Patroons in their authorized administration, shall consist of a Schout, being in loco, who shall summon in the name of the Director-general and Council, the appointed Schepens, and preside at their meeting ; and with him three Schepens, who for the present time and ensuing year, beginning with the last of May next, are elected by the Director- general and Council aforesaid, and confirmed after they shall have taken their oath, Evart Pels, Cornelis Barentsen Slecht, and Elbert Heymans Roose. Before whom all cases relative to the police, security and peace of the inhabitants of Esopus, so too all suits between man and man, shall be brought, heard, examined and determined by definitive judgment, to the amount of fifty guilders and below it, without appeal. But on higher sums it shall be left to the discretion of the aggrieved to appeal to the Director-general and Council aforesaid, provided that he enters the appeal in due time, and procures bail for the prosecution and expenses of the law- suit, according to law.
If there be a disparity of votes and opinions on any occurrent affairs, then the minority shall coincide with the majority without contradiction. But it is permitted to those who adopt another opinion or advice, to have their sentiments and advice registered on the roll or protocol. But they shall by no means publish out of court their advice, or communicate the same to the parties, under arbitrary correction, at the discretion of the bench.
The Schout shall, in conformity to the first article, preside at the meeting, collect the votes, and act as secretary till further orders, or until the population is increased. But, whenever he shall either act for himself, or in behalf of the rights of the Lords Patroons, or in behalf of justice in the place of the Attorney-general, in all such cases he shall leave his seat, and absent himself from the bench, and in such cases he shall not have an advisory, much less a cast- ing vote. In all such cases, one of the oldest Schepens shall pre- side in his place.
What in the aforesaid article is decreed with regard to the Schout shall take place in a similar manner with respect to the Schepens, whenever, in the aforesaid court, any cases or questions might occur between them as parties or others, nearly allied in blood to the appointed Schepens, as when a brother, a brother-in- law, or a cousin is concerned, viz .: in the first and right line.
All inhabitants of the Esopus are, till further orders, either from the Lords Patroons, or their higher magistrates, subjected and may be summoned before the aforesaid Schout and Commis- saries, who shall hold their court, in the village aforesaid, every
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APPENDIX.
fortnight-harvest time excepted-unless necessity or occasion might otherwise require.
To procure the good inhabitants of Wiltwyck a civil and easy administration of justice, the Schout as President, and the Schepens of this court, shall, for the better conveniency of parties, appear at the appointed day and place, on the fine of twenty stivers, to be disposed of by the college, when they shall have been informed by the court messenger, qualified for that purpose by the Director- general and Council, at least twenty four hours, of the sessions of the court, and double this sum for the President, except by sick- ness or absence. If they arrive too late, or after the stated hour, the penalty shall be six stivers.
No extraordinary sessions shall, at the expenses and burdens of the parties, be called, except at the request of both parties, with submission to the costs, in case of the loss of the suit ; which costs shall previously be secured by the solicitant or plaintiff, viz .: for each Schepen, fifteen stivers ; for the President, three guilders ; besides a provision for the clerk, yet to be appointed, the court messenger, and other necessary costs, agreeably to law.
All criminal cases shall be directly referred to the Director-gen- eral and Council in New Netherland, provided that the court re- mains obliged to apprehend, arrest, detain and imprison the delin- quents till they have a proper opportunity to transport them with safety before the supreme magistrate of the land, while in the mean time, they are holden to take good and correct informations . with regard to the committed crime, at the expense of the crim- inal, or in behalf of the Attorney-general, and transmit these together with the delinquent.
Lesser crimes, as quarrels, injuries, scolding, kicking, beating, threatenings, simply drawing a knife or sword, without assault or bloodshed, are left to the judicature and decision of the aforesaid court, in which cases the Schout may act as plaintiff before said court, with reservation of the clause of appeal, if the condemned feel himself aggrieved by the decision of said court.
All criminals and delinquents guilty of wounding, bloodshed, fornication, adultery, public and notorious thefts, robberies, smug- gling or contraband, blasphemy, violating God's holy name and religion, injuring and slandering the Supreme Magistrates, or their representatives, shall, with the informations, affidavits and wit- nesses, be referred to the Director-general and Council of New Netherland.
Should the situation of affairs be such that the President and Schepens deem it advisable for the security and peace of the inhab- itants, during the absence of the Director-general and Council, for the greater advantage and peace of the village and court aforesaid,
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APPENDIX.
to issue in said district any orders, respecting public roads, en- closure of lands, gardens or orchards, and further, what might con- cern the country and agriculture ; so, too, relative to the building of churches, schools, and other similar public works ; as well as the means from which, and in what manner, these shall be regu- lated, they are authorized to bring their considerations on such subjects in writing, support these by argument, and deliver them to the Director-general and Council, to be, if deemed useful and necessary, confirmed, approved and commanded by the Director- general and Council.
The aforesaid Schout and Schepens shall further take care, and are obliged to see the laws of our Fatherland, and the ordinances and placards of the Director-general and Council, already pub- lished, or which may be published, in future, carefully executed and kept in strict observance, and not to permit that, under any pretext, anything shall be done contrary thereto, but that the transgressors shall be prosecuted according to law.
The aforesaid Schout and court are not permitted to enact any ordinances, placards or similar acts, or publish and affix these, except by previous consent of the Director-general and Council.
The Schout and Schepens shall further take care and be holden, to assist the Noble Lords Directors, as Lords and Patroons of this New Netherland province, under the sovereignty of the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces, and to aid to maintain them in their high jurisdiction, rights, domains, and all their other pre-eminences.
Whereas, it is customary in our Fatherland and other well regu- lated governments, that annually some change takes place in the magistracy, so that some new ones are appointed, and some are continued to inform the newly appointed, so shall the Schepens, now confirmed, pay due attention to the conversation, conduct and abilities of honest and decent persons, inhabitants of their respec- tive village, to inform the Director-general and Council, about the time of the next election, as to who might be sufficiently qualified to be then elected by the Director-general and Council. Done, and given by the Director-general and Council, at their meeting in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, this 16th day of May, 1661,
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ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION TO THE ENGLISH, 1664.
THESE articles following were consented to by the persons here- under subscribed at the Governor's bowery August 27th, 1664.
1. We consent that the States General or the West India Com- pany shall freely enjoy all farms and houses (except such as are in the forts), and that within six months they shall have free liberty to transport all such arms and ammunition as now does belong to them, or else they shall be paid for them.
2. All publique houses shall continue to the uses which they are for.
3. All people shall continue free denizens, and shall enjoy their lands, houses, goods, wheresoever they are within this country and dispose of them as they please.
4. If any inhabitant have a mind to remove himself, he shall have a year and six weeks from this day to remove himself, wife, children, servants, goods, and to dispose of his lands here.
5. If any officer of State, or publique minister of State, have a mind go for England they shall be transported fraught free in his Majesty's frigotts when those frigotts shall return thither.
6. It is consented to that any people may freely come from the Netherlands and plant in this colony, and that Dutch vessels may freely come hither, any of the Dutch may freely return home, or send any sort of merchandise home, in the vessels of their own country.
7. All ships from the Netherlands or any other place and goods therein, shall be received here, and sent hence after the manner which formerly they were before our coming hither for six months next ensuing.
8. The Dutch here shall enjoy the liberty of their conscience in divine worship and church discipline.
9. No Dutchman here or Dutch ship here, shall, upon any occa- sion, be pressed to serve in war against any nation whatsoever.
10. That the townsmen of the Manhattans shall not have any soldiers quartered upon them without being satisfied and paid for them by their officers, and that at this present, if the fort be not capable of lodging all the soldiers then the burgomasters by their officers, shall appoint some houses capable to receive them.
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APPENDIX.
11. The Dutch here shall enjoy their own customs concerning their inheritances.
12. All publique writings and records which concern the inherit- ance of any People or the regiment of the church or poor, or orphans, shall be carefully kept by those in whose hands now they are, and such writings as particularly concern the States General may at any time be sent to them.
' 13. No judgment that has passed any judieature here shall be called in question ; nor if any conceive that he hath not had justice done him, if he apply himself to the States General, the other party shall be bound to answer for the supposed injury.
14. If any Dutch living here shall at any time desire to travaile or traffique into England or any place or plantation in obedience to his Majesty of. England, or with the Indians he shall have (upon his request to the Governor) a certificate that he is a free denizen of this place, and liberty to do so.
15. If it do appeare that there is a publique engagement of debt by the town of Manhatoes and a way agreed on for the satisfying of that engagement it is agreed that the same way proposed shall go on, and that the engagement shall be satisfied.
16. All inferior civil officers and magistrates shall continue as now they are (if they please) till the customary time of new elec- tions, and then new ones to be chosen by themselves, provided that such new chosen magistrates shall take the oath of allegiance to his Majesty of England before they enter upon their office.
17. All differences 'of contracts and bargains made before this day, by any in this country, shall be determined according to the manner of the Dutch.
18. If it do appear that the West India Company of Amsterdam do really owe any sums of money to any persons here, it is agreed that recognition, and other duties payable by ships going for the Netherlands, be continued for six months longer.
19. The officers military, and soldiers, shall march out with their arms, drums beating, and colors flying, and lighted matches : and if any of them will plant, they shall have fifty acres of land set out for them ; if any of them will serve as servants, they shall continue with all safety and become free denizens afterward.
20. If at any time hereafter the King of Great Britain and the States of the Netherlands do agree that this place and country be redelivered into the hands of the said States, whensoever his Majestie will send his commands to redeliver it, it shall immedi- ately be done.
21. That the town of Manhattans shall choose deputyes and those deputyes shall have free voyces in all publique affairs as much as any other deputyes.
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22. Those who have any property in any houses in the fort of Aurania shall (if they please) slight the fortifications there, and then injoy all their houses as all people do where there is no fort.
23. If there be any soldiers that will go into Holland, and if the Company of West India in Amsterdam, or any private persons here, will transport them into Holland, then they shall have a safe passport from Colonel Richard Nicolls, deputy governor under his royal highness, and the other commissioners, to defend the ships that shall transport such soldiers, and all the goods in them, from any surprizal or acts of hostility to be done by any of his Majestie's ships or subjects. That the copies of the King's grant to his royal highness, and the copy of his royal highness's com- mission to Colonel Richard Nicolls testified by two commissioners more and Mr Winthrop, to be true copies shall be delivered to the Honorable Mr Stuyvesant, the present governor, on Monday next, by eight of the clock in the morning, at the old miln and those articles consented to and signed by Colonel Richard Nicolls, deputy governor to his royal highness, and that within two hours after the fort and town called New Amsterdam, upon the isle of Manhatoes shall be delivered into the hands of the said Colonel Richard Nicolls, by the service of such as shall be by him there- unto deputed by his hand and seal.
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