USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > The history of the town of Flatbush in Kings County, Long Island > Part 11
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Flatbush was now in the hands of the British, and con- tinued within their lines until the close of the war. During the short tarry of the army in the village, they committed many depredations. They pillaged the houses and de-
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stroyed as much property as they well could. It was sad indeed to the inhabitants to witness this on re-visiting their homes. As soon as the British had taken possession of New-York, and the army had left the Island, the in- habitants of Flatbush began to return. Some were absent only a few days, but others did not reach their homes until nearly mid-winter. The scene presented to the view of those who came back soon after the battle, was distress- ing indeed. The place where the encampment had been, was strewed with feathers, straw, papers and pieces of furniture, which had been taken from the houses. In the street, which was grown over with high grass, in conse- quence of the frequent rains, which occurred at that time, and the interruption of nearly all travelling, were to be seen, in addition other things, skins of hogs, which had been slain, and heads of cattle, with their horns on them, presenting a frightful picture of the haste and waste which had characterized the army. On visiting their houses, they found the greater part of their furniture broken and almost every thing valuable about their prem- ises injured. So wanton had been the waste, that feather beds had not only been ripped up, and the contents scat- tered, but in some instances the feathers had been emptied into wells. The best rooms in the houses had been used as stables for the horses, while the drawers in their cup- boards and bureaus had served as mangers and feeding troughs. As we may well suppose, the whole town exhib- ited a scene of wide spread desolation.
On their return the males were obliged to take the oath of allegiance to the British crown. This most of them did. It was administered in the church. It may be here asked, why did they not join the American army and fight in be- half of the country. The answer to this question is found
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in the fact, that all their property-their families and their homes were in the hands of the British. By return- ing and submitting to their authority, they would be able to preserve these from destruction; whereas, had they connected themselves with the American army, no doubt every thing they had on the earth would have been swept from them, a sacrifice which we believe few, if any, made during that eventful struggle. But we are not to sup- pose that there were no friends of the American cause at that time, and during the war, in Flatbush. We shall presently see that in a most important way they aided in achieving our national independence.
After the battle on Long-Island, the church and the old school-house were used for the accommodation of the pris- oners and the sick. Three private houses were also em- ployed as hospitals. The house now occupied by Mr. J. C. Bergen, the house belonging to the heirs of Cornelius Antonides, and the dwelling of Mr. Rem Vanderbilt. In this latter house, in which Mr. Seymour now resides, and which then stood on the opposite side of the road, the wounded American officers were brought. The principal hospital for the soldiers was the old school-house. Many of these wounded prisoners appear soon to have died; for when one individual returned, who was absent but thir- teen days, she counted twenty-eight new graves in the churchyard, and it is probable that most of these con- tained more than one body.
After the capture of Fort Washington, which took place in November of this same year, (1776,) a great number more prisoners were brought to Flatbush, and billetted on the inhabitants. It is supposed that no less than four hundred were kept in the southern towns of Kings County.
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The only regiment left in Flatbush after the battle, was 42d Regiment of Highlanders. They however soon re- moved, and were succeeded by a guard of fifty men under Lieut. Dalrymple. These continued for some time, when upon their removal, Col. Axtell, who resided in the house now owned by Mr. Mowatt, and who was a violent Tory, collected a company called the Nassau Blues. The com- mand of this was committed to his nephew Capt. De- peyster. They appear to have been taken from the lowest ranks, and were mostly persons of bad moral character. Col. Axtell wished that they should be united with the militia of the town, but the militia opposed it, and would by no means give their consent to such a measure. These Nassau Blues, from their low and generally miserable appearance, were nicknamed by the inhabitants the "Nasty Blues." They were not billetted upon the town, but had possession chiefly of the court-house. Of so bad a character were they, that in their blasphemy, they called themselves " the Holy Ghosters."
After the return of the inhabitants of Flatbush to their houses, in the fall of 1776, an epidemic broke out among them, arising as was supposed from the effluvia connected with the Hessian and British encampment, and which in consequence was called the camp-fever. It seized great numbers, and proved fatal to many; and among others, to some of the most respectable and influential persons in the town.
We should be glad to furnish a list of all the American prisoners who were billetted in Flatbush during the war, particularly the names of the officers, but this is impos- sible. Among the latter were Gen. Silliman, Col. Raw- lings, Col. Magaw, Col. Miles, Col. Atlee, Col. (after-
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RESIDENCE OF JAMES MOWATT, 1842
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wards Gen.) Williams, Col. Barby, Capts. Fitzhugh Ran- dolph, Bailey, Biles, Patton, the subsequent Postmaster of Philadelphia, and a number of others. But we cannot forbear a special notice of Major David Lenox. He was billetted upon Mr. Bateman Lloyd. During his residence as a prisoner, he was visited by his brothers Robert and William, with a view to bring him to abandon the Ameri- can cause. They tried every motive, and pressed him by considerations the most tender. The interview was had under the large linden-tree near the house. On their leaving him, he was met by the present Mrs. Lloyd, who observing him to be bathed in tears, asked what was the cause of his distress. He told her that his brothers had been endeavoring to prevail with him to forsake the Americans and join the British. But said he with Ro- man firmness, "I will never do it."
The circumstances which led to the removal of Major Lenox from Flatbush, show his noble daring and firmness, and at the same time the spirit of oppression which distin- guished the officers of the British army. The news of the capture of Burgoyne in 1777, having reached the American prisoners paroled on Long-Island, Major James Hamilton and Dr. Stewart repaired to Flatbush to celebrate together with Major Lenox an event so propitious to the cause of their country, and so congenial to their best hopes and most sanguine wishes. The night was passed at the festive board, but their conduct was in no way calculated to of- fend; no extravagant symptom of exultation was shown, for boistering mirth would have degraded a feeling of de- light, silent but sincere. In the morning, a fish-car filled with shad, passing through the village, Major Lenox asked the proprietor if he would sell a part of his load : " not to
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a rebel scoundrel," he replied, "though he be starving." The offensive answer was no sooner given than resented. Major Lenox struck the speaker to the earth. A fray was the immediate consequence, in which the American offi- cers, as might have been expected, were overpowered and severely beaten. But this was not the last of their suffer- ings. Charged with an assault and conducted upon the testimony of their adversary, before General Pigot, Major Lenox, in a plain unvarnished representation of facts, stated the provocation, and asked "if it were possible to have withheld punishment from a rascal, who so wantonly sought and so richly deserved it." "It is our business," replied the General, " to protect and cherish such of your countrymen as seek our protection. You must submit therefore to ask pardon for the outrage committed, or take the consequences that must inevitably follow." " Ask par- don of that scoundrel," said Lenox, " never "! " Will you, sir," said the General to Hamilton: "May I perish if I do," was the reply. The question was then put to Dr. Stewart, and answered with equal indignation. "You must be introduced then," said the irritated General, "to the Provost Marshall. Mr. Cunningham, they are your pris- oners, you know your duty." Six months of close and rigorous confinement in the Provost, (a place of misery, second only to the celebrated prison ship, Jersey,) was the consequence of an act, that a generous enemy would not only have thought just, but commendable.
The American prisoners had the liberty of all the southern towns. They were required to report themselves at certain times and places. When the French fleet, un- der Count De Estaing was expected, and when after their arrival they laid off the shore, these prisoners went daily
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to the top of Vanderbilts hill, to view them. And with regard to this hill, we may remark, in passing, that Gen- eral Clinton, once rode down it so rapidly, that his Aids could not follow him.
Among the prisoners in the county was Capt. William Marriner. He was quartered on parole, at Mr. Rem Van Pelt's, at New-Utrecht. In the exercise of his privilege, he often visited Flatbush. Dr. Van Buren's tavern, the house now occupied by Duryee Wiggins, was a place of great resort. Here he met among others, with the lead- ing tories in the place. These were Colonel Axtell, Colo- nel Matthews, the Mayor of New-York, Major Sherbrook, Mr. Beach and Major Moncrief. On one occasion, prob- ably in consequence of the too free use of his sarcastic wit, he was insulted and ill treated by this clan, particu- larly by Major Moncrief. After Captain Marriner's ex- change, in 1780, he determined to visit Flatbush, and capture, if possible, all these abusive tories, who were very obnoxious to the American officers. He was a brave and daring man. For the purpose of carrying his design into execution, he repaired to New-Brunswick, and pro- cured a whaleboat, which he manned with twenty two volunteers. With this he crossed the bay, and landed at Bath, about half-past nine o'clock in the evening. He made prisoners of three black men, who were fishing, and then leaving two persons in charge of his boat, he marched off with the rest of his party towards Flatbush. On his way, he stopped at the house of Rem Van Pelt, his old quarters, and also at his father's, in consequence of which, these persons were afterwards apprehended and confined in Provost, in New-York, on suspicion of being concerned with him. Marriner reached the Flatbush church without molestation. Here he divided his men into
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four squads, assigning a house to each. Each party had a heavy post, for the purpose of breaking in the doors. The village was all silence. The houses were all known, and it was agreed, that when the party detached for Colonel Axtell, whose dwelling was farthest from the church, struck his door, each party should do the same at the other houses. Captain Marriner selected the house of George Martense, the father of the present Mrs. Catin, where his friend Major Moncrief quartered for himself. Time was given for the parties to arrive at their several houses, and then, at the concerted signal, the doors were all burst open, nearly at the same time. The first stroke at the door where Major Moncrief resided, alarmed him, and he fled to the garret, and hid himself behind the chimney. " I entered his room," says Marriner, " and finding his bed warm, I ordered aunt Jannetie to bring a candle. We ran to the garret and found our prize shivering behind the large Dutch chimney, with his breeches in his hands. We took him to the church, our place of rendezvous, where we put on his small clothes." Mr. or Major Beach, who resided in the house lately vacated by Mr. Michael Schoonmaker, was also seized, as well as Colonel Sher- brook, who lived in the old house belonging to Garret Martense, Esq. which stood in front of Mr. Seymour's, and has been divided as we have heretofore stated, and made into two small barns. But Colonel Axtell and Colo- nel Matthews, the mayor of New-York, who resided in the house belonging to Jacobus Vandeventer, which' stood where the dwelling of Judge Lott now stands, escaped, in consequence of their being that night in New-York. The several parties having assembled again at the church, they marched off with their prisoners, unmolested to their boat,
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although it was a fine moon-light night, in the middle of summer. In his account of the matter, Captain Marriner says, that Dom. Rubell rung the alarm bell, before we were half a mile from the church, and Dr. Van Samper, who lived at Mr. Martense's, sung out, " Goedt luck, Goedt luck: not me, not me." The spirits called from their sleep by the alarm bell, did not pursue Captain Mar- riner, and he arrived safe at his boat, and carried his distinguished prisoners to New-Brunswick. Time will not permit us to pursue this affair farther, and give an account of the taking up and imprisoning of certain per- sons in New-Utrecht, on suspicion of being connected with Marriner in the enterprize .*
The inhabitants of Flatbush during the war, particu- larly those who were supposed to be in favor of the Amer- ican cause were subject to a variety of exactions from the British authorities. Their property too was often stolen, cattle were taken from the fields, hogs from their pens, and horses from their stalls. The hen roosts were fre- quently robbed, and almost every kind of plundering and thieving committed. When horses were wanted by the British for any service, they were seized without cere- mony. On one occasion, Colonel L *** , of Flatlands, at- tempted to take the horses of Captain Vanderveer, while he was ploughing with them in the field. The Captain
* In the account heretofore published of this incident, the name of Major Moncrief does not appear, while Colonel Sherbrook is repre- sented as the principal object of capture by Marriner. But this is incor- rect. It was Major Moncrief who had principally insulted him, and he was the person whom he desired chiefly to take. The account given above, contains the true statement of the whole affair.
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refused to give up his horses, and showed his protection, and orders from Captain Dalrymple. This so disconcerted the Colonel, that he was quite enraged, and in a violent manner exclaimed, "You, Flatbushers are always med- dling." He went then and seized the horses of Judge Lott and of Judge Vanderbilt, who had no protection.
During the greater part of the war, a guard was kept up in the village. For a considerable time this was done by the militia of the town. The object was, not so much to watch the prisoners, as to detect sailors and stragglers, who would leave their vessels off the beach and come through the village, on their way to New-York, for the purpose of escaping being taken by the press-gang, who were coasting on the waters, in and about the city. The guard detailed for duty consisted usually of seven, of whom two were sent out on patrol. Several amusing anec- dotes occurred relative to this guard, but we have not room to narrate them.
In 1781, a regiment of new recruits, under Colonel Hew- lett, raised chiefly in Queens County, came to Flatbush and were billetted on the inhabitants. After these, a regiment who had been taken prisoners in the West-In- dies, from Waldeck in Germany, commanded by Colonel De Horn, were sent to the place, and billetted upon the in- habitants to a certain extent. They were obliged to find them quarters, but not provisions. The officers had their own rooms, and the soldiers generally occupied the kitch- ens of the houses. This regiment behaved well; no depre- dations were committed by them. We cannot refrain from giving an account of one of them. His name was Raymond. He was desirous of joining the American army; for this purpose he deserted, and at great risk, got
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on board of an American merchant ship,-unfortunately for poor Raymond, this ship was soon captured by the British, and the deserter was sent back to Flatbush to his regiment. A court-martial was held upon his case, and he was sentenced to pass through the gantlet, as it was called, ten times, and each time to be whipped. He was prepared with bare back accordingly, and the regiment being arranged in open file, poor Raymond passed with a file of soldiers before him to prevent his going faster than such a gait, through the long line, while every man on either side was required to give him a cut with a whip. At the end of each turn, a sergeant passed through the line with a fresh supply of whips, and every soldier drew from the bunch a new rod, with which more severely to punish Raymond. This was enacted ten times-and one would have supposed that at the end of it, Raymond would have fallen down dead. His back, as might have been sup- posed, was dreadfully lacerated, almost every whip draw- ing blood; but as if by a miracle, the poor fellow survived, and eventually got well. But all this whipping did not drive out of him a love to the American cause. He de- termined again to desert; but before doing so, wished to revenge himself by killing his Colonel. But his associ- ates would not agree with him in this undertaking. He however, with some few others, eventually deserted and got safely within the American lines, and on visiting Philadelphia and making his story known, he was treated with such signal attention, as almost to compensate him for his past trials and sufferings.
Among others who were billetted in Flatbush, were the soldiers who had fought in Canada, in the French war. Of these nothing particular is told. For accommodating
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these, as well as the regiment of the Waldeckers, no com- pensation was allowed to the inhabitants. Among the many troops belonging to the British, who from time to time were in Flatbush, many were desirous of going over to the American army, and several desertions took place. Among others, a Captain Lyman of Boston. He became involved in debt and sold his commission in the British service. He was soon greatly reduced in his circumstances, and had to sleep in the open air under the stacks. The American prisoners hearing of his situation, made a col- lection for him-had a suit of coating made for him at the house of Captain Cornelius Vanderveer, and furnished him with means to escape beyond the British lines. He travelled safely towards the east end of the island, passed over to Connecticut, and eventually joined the Americans.
Near the close of the war, a Saxon regiment, who were dressed in French clothing, came to Flatbush, and were quartered upon the inhabitants. Many of these, and in fact the whole regiment, was desirous of going over to the American army. One of the soldiers who was billetted at Captain Vanderveer's, came to the present J. C. Van- derveer, Esq. one morning very early, before he had left his bed, and told him their wishes, and offered him money if he would pilot them. Mr. Vanderveer told him of the entire impracticability of the enterprize, on account of the distance of the American lines, and the waters which they would have to cross. He was induced in consequence of this, to leave him. But next morning he brought one of his officers to Mr. Vanderveer, who told the same story -that the whole regiment were ready to join the Ameri- cans, and pressed him to guide them. He told them again that the matter was utterly impossible; that if they at-
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tempted it, there was no escaping detection and death, and accordingly they desisted. But the soldier and some others did attempt to desert, and were taken and put on board a man-of-war. After a short time, the whole regi- ment was removed. The incident is interesting and im- portant, as showing how popular the cause of the Ameri- cans was, even with many who were brought here to fight against them.
AID AFFORDED
TO THE
AMERICAN CAUSE DURING THE WAR OF THE
REVOLUTION.
We now open an interesting chapter in the History of Flatbush. It relates to the pecuniary aid afforded by this, in common with some of the other towns in Kings County, to the advancement of the American cause, during the struggle which eventuated in our independence. While from the circumstances in which the inhabitants of this part of the country were placed, they could not personally enlist in the army without sacrificing their all; many of them furnished money, appropriately called the sinews of war, with which to carry on the contest. This, in view of the situation of the country at various times during the revolutionary conflict, was exceedingly important. The currency of the country consisted chiefly in continental paper. This had become so much depreciated, that it was of little value, and it was absolutely essential to the success of the American cause, that specie should be ob- tained. It was therefore contrived to borrow money for the use of the army, from the whigs, on the west end of Long-Island, who had in their possession large sums of
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gold and silver. The agent in effecting these loans, was Major Hendrick Wyckoff. He was the only son of Mr. Cor- nelius Wyckoff, of New-Lots, in this town. His father was a staunch whig, and his son the Major, early enlisted with all his heart, in the cause of his country. He left Long- Island with the American army, in September, 1776, and remained in the service, and virtually an exile from his home, till the British left the country, in 1783. He was a confidential friend of Governor George Clinton, and a brave, discreet and enterprising officer, a man of sterling integrity and honesty. His country's enemies were his ene- mies, and her friends his friends. Being well acquainted with the inhabitants of the west end of Long-Island, and who among them were true friends of American Independ- ence, after the plan of obtaining money from them was suggested, the execution of it was committed to him.
The loaning of money appears to have originated with Lieutenant Samuel Dodge, who was taken prisoner at Fort Montgomery, in October, 1777. The officers who were captured in the Fort at that time, were brought to New-York, and distributed on parole in Kings County. Lieutenant Dodge and Captain Gilleland, were quartered at the house of Mr. Barent Johnson, the father of the present General Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn. He was exchanged in the early part of the following November. On his return, Mr. Johnson, who was a firm and devoted whig, loaned him a small sum of money, and probably suggested the idea of obtaining specie in Kings County. Colonel Ellison, who was a prisoner in New-Utrecht, on parole, was advised on the subject, and when he was ex- changed in December, 1777, he obtained a loan of £700, to the State from Mr. Barent Johnson, which he carried with him. This was the first loan, for which a simple
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private receipt on account was given. Several receipts of the like import, amounting to $5000, were taken by Mr. Johnson before his death in 1782, a noble testimony to his devotedness to the interests of his country.
The practicability of obtaining money in Kings County being thus manifest, the whole conducting of the affair was intrusted to Major Wyckoff. It was an enterprize attended with imminent danger, and one which required great skill and secrecy in its execution. The plan usually pursued by the Major, was to cross the sound from Con- necticut, and conceal himself at Cow Neck. The house in which he was usually secreted, was that of Peter On- derdonk, a warm friend of the American cause. He was entrusted by Governor Clinton, with blank notes, signed by him, which the Major was to fill up to certain indi- viduals, for such sums as he received from them. He had his agents in this part of Kings County, who obtained money for him, and took it to him. Judge Cowenhoven of New-Utrecht, the father-in-law, of Mrs. Catin, was one of these. He carried to the Major, the chief part of the money raised for this object, in Flatbush. Major Wyckoff would occasionally venture himself within the · British lines. He visited his father's house in New-Lots, and in the winter of the year 1780, he was several days at the house of Mr. Remsen, at the Wallaboght, in sight of the prison ship, Jersey. In the evening they rode out, when Mr. Remsen would borrow money, with which they would return at night. In the day they would count it on a blanket, and bag it. When the Major had as much as it was safe to take, Mr. Remsen took him and the cash to Mr. Onderdonk's, at Cow Neck. In effecting this service for his country, Major Wyckoff ran many risks of his life. On one occasion he was concealed for two or more days
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and nights in a thicket of briar bushes, from which he could see the men who were in pursuit of him.
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