USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > The history of the town of Flatbush in Kings County, Long Island > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
In compliance with the provisions of the Act above re- cited, the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush purchased public securities, to the amount of £162. 9. 0. which amount they paid to Gerard Bancker, the Treasurer of the State, on the 18th, day of December, 1786, and upon the payment thereof obtained from him the following re- ceipt, or certificate.
"Patent granted to the inhabitants of Flatbush, in Kings County, dated 12th November, 1685, Quit Rent, eighteen bushels wheat per annum.
48
years.
Balance due 25th, March, 1765. 3 12 12.
From 25th, March, 1765,
to 25th, Decem, 1786.
y. m.
21 9
(Deduct for the period of revolution,) 8
13 9 at 18 B. Wt.
pr. Ann.
247} " 6s. 74 5
14 years commut.
252 "6s. 75 12
£162 9 0.
Received, 18th, December, 1786, from Philip Nagle, of Flatbush, Public Securities, which with the interest allowed thereon, amount to one hundred and sixty two pounds, nine shillings, in full, for arrears of Quit Rent, and commutation, for the future quit rents that would have arisen on the above described Patent.
GERARD BANCKER, Treasurer."
£162 9 00.
The town of Flatbush upon the payment of the above- mentioned sum of money, for arrears of quit rent, and commutation of future quit rents became exhonerated from all further exactions on the score of such rents.
But to return from this digression, to the regular his- tory of the town of Midwout, which was brought down to the time in which Governor Dongan administered the Colonial Government. The woodlands still remained in common and undivided, because the farms previously al- lotted, had all along furnished timber sufficient for build- ing, fuel and other needful purposes. But as these re- sources began gradually to diminish, it became necessary
49
as well as dictated by prudence, that some order should be taken on the partition and division of the common woodlands. About the year 1700, these lands were sur- veyed, and laid off in separate allotments or grand divi- sions, and these were again severally subdivided into forty-eight smaller allotments, corresponding with the original division of the town. These smaller allotments were all laid out in oblong forms with parallel lines, and usually containing about five acres apiece. Upon the completion of the survey, the several wood lots were al- lotted to the inhabitants of the town, in proportion to the farm lots by them respectively owned, and the church drew its proportionate share with the several owners.
The meadows had been previously subdivided into sim- ilar lots, and allotted in like manner, with the exception of one lot in the Canarsee Meadows, which was set apart for the use of the schoolmaster, for the time being. Cor- laer's and Twiller's Flats, so called after the names of the original purchasers, Anthony Van Corlaer and Wou- ter Van Twiller, the first Dutch governor, were also previously subdivided, but not fully alloted, with the ex- ception of a small tract of woodland lying between, and adjoining these Flats, which was assigned to some of the patentees, and a lot reserved for the use of the school.
About the year 1706, an encroachment was made on the patent of the town of Flatbush, by inhabitants of Newtown, and on the 3d day of April, in the same year, the town unanimously agreed that every patentee should contribute six shilling to carry on and pay the expenses of a law suit, in defending the Patent from this encroach- ment. From this time forth at the annual town meet- ings, two persons were chosen to guard the interests of the town in regard to their meets and bounds, as set forth
50
in their Patent. These were called "Dorps mannen," or Townsmen, and subsequently Defenders of the Patent. This controversy appears not to have been satisfactorily adjusted until the year 1721.
Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, remained unoccupied un- til the close of the revolutionary war. They were then sold by the proprietors and owners, at the rate of sixteen dollars per acre. The proceeds of the sale of Corlaer's Flats, were chiefly devoted to the erection of "Erasmus Hall Academy," while those arising from the sale of Twiller's Flats, were divided among those who would not consent to relinquish their right for the benefit of the academy, in reference to which, chiefly the sales had been effected. The academy was greatly benefitted by this sale, but we shall have occasion to speak more at large upon this, when we come to trace the Literary His- tory of the town.
On the 12th of November, 1695, the court made an or- der requiring each of the towns to cause to be immedi- ately erected, a good pair of stocks, and a good pound, by which it seems, they were resolved to keep both man and beast in proper subjection. Whether this order at the time was strictly complied with on the part of the town of Flatbush, we know not. But twenty-nine years after this, on the records of the Board of Supervisors of the county, under date of the 17th of November, 1724, there is the following charge.
" To a Stocks for Flatbush, - - £1. 9. 6." These stocks remained for a number of years. They were erected in front of the court-house, and many will remember to have seen them. There was also about these same premises, a whipping-post, which was used partly for offenders in the town, and partly for the pun-
51
ishment of persons convicted of small crimes; for there was a public whipper, whose fee was fixed for a year, at three pounds. The fee for whipping one person, was three shillings. These charges frequently appear on the Minutes of the Board of Supervisors. This mode of pun- ishment was not in that day, considered improper or cruel, and was resorted to, probably, partly in consequence of the number of slaves which were then held by the sev- eral inhabitants, who were kept in subjection and pun- ished for minor offences, in this summary manner. We have reason to be thankful that under the benign influ- ence of mild and wholesome laws, this remnant of the reign of cruelty and terror has passed away.
As early as the commencement of the eighteenth cen- tury, if not sooner, a public brewery was established in the town. The principle of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate was not then known or practiced, and beer or malt liquor was the common beverage of the inhabitants, and continued to be so until the orchards were planted and came into full bearing, when cider became a substitute. The brew-house was situated in the southern part of the town, a little north of the dwelling-house of the late Jacob Duryee and on the same side of the road. It is presumed by some that there was also another public brewery in the north of the town. It is certain, however, that there were two private ones; one on the lot of the late Peter Stryker back of the store now occupied by Messrs. Birdsall & Ald- worth, and another on the property of Rem Vanderbilt, the proprietor of the farm now in the tenure of Matthew Clarkson, Esq. The public brewery was divided into four- teen shares, which were subdivided into halves and per- chance quarters. These rights were apportioned to the several farms and considered appurtenant to them, and en-
52
titled the proprietors to the privilege of brewing in the establishment. These rights were disposed of by deed or testamentary devise. A will is in existence dated as late as 1773, devising the right of the testator in the brewery to his son; and several wills and deeds of early date are to be found, containing provisions relative to the same sub- ject. So important was the right in this establishment at that time deemed by the proprietors. The public brew- house continued to stand until after the close of the Amer- ican Revolution. It was then sold, together with all its fix- tures, and the proceeds divided among the shareholders.
We may here briefly advert to the style of building, and domestic habits of the early inhabitants of Flatbush. The designs of their houses were probably brought from Fa- derland. They were chiefly built of wood, but some few of brick, which was manufactured in the place. They were of one story, either with an overshot-roof, both in front and rear forming a piazza-or an overshot in front, and the roof in the rear, extending some distance back un- til it came within a few feet of the ground. A specimen of this last style of architecture may be seen in the house belonging to the heirs of the late Cornelius Antonides, which is probably the oldest house now standing in the village. The rooms inside were not ceiled, but above were the broad heavy oak beams on which the floor of the upper-part of the house was laid. The fire-places usu- ally were very large, generally extending without jambs in width sufficient to accommodate the whole family with a seat near the fire. The chimneys were very large and spacious, sufficiently so to admit their meat to be hung in them, for the purpose of being smoked, which was the usual practice. When jambs were added to any fire- place, they were generally set round with earthen glazed
53
tiles, which were imported from Holland ornamented with various scenes, some of which were of a Scriptural char- acter. Many of these were quite beautiful and gave a very ornamental appearance to the fireside, as well as formed the means of much amusement and instruction to the younger part of the family. The last of these fire- places thus ornamented was removed when the house of the late Lefferts Martense was pulled down, to give place to the spacious mansion now occupied by Judge Garrit Martense. To many of the houses the barns also were quite closely connected. This was generally the case with the Keuters. This style of building corresponded with the habits of the earlier inhabitants. These were very simple, unaffected and economical. No people could have been more independent than they. They brought up their children in habits of industry. As has been stated every son was taught some mechanical art, and every daughter was required to become well acquainted with all household duties. The farmers burnt their own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their own shoes and boots, and attended to much of their own carpenter- ing, and wheel-wrighting. While the males were engaged in the cultivation of the farms, the females were actively employed in some industrious avocations in the house. The spinning-wheel was set in motion in every family as soon as flax and wool could be prepared in the fall, and all materials for the clothing of the family, white as well as colored, were manufactured at home, nor was she considered a suitable candidate for matrimony who could not show her stores of domestic linens and other - evidences of industry and economy. So economical were the females of their time, that they almost invariably took their spinning-wheels with them when they went to
54
spend a sociable afternoon with a neighbor. Nor did they even refuse to help the males in the field during the harvest, the gathering of corn, and other busy seasons. It was a very common thing for them to be seen working side by side with their husbands, fathers and brothers, at such times. The modern invention of a dirt-cover, as it would in those days have been esteemed, which we now call a carpet, was not then known. The floors were regu- larly scoured and scrubbed, and kept as white and clean almost as the table. They were sanded with beach sand, of which every family always had a sufficient store, it be- ing the rule to go twice a year to the beach for that then, indispensable article. It was put on the floor with great care on certain days, being always laid in small lumps or heaps, and the members of the family were required very cautiously to tread between these heaps so as not to dis- turb the economy of the good housewife. When on the next day the sand had become dry, it was swept in waves or some other figures, by the broom being drawn lightly over it, and was in truth a good specimen of the general neatness and cleanliness which pervaded the whole prem- ises. When the first imported carpets were introduced we know not, but the first rag carpet was made about fifty years ago. It was wove by Adrian Hegeman for the widow of George Martense, the mother of the present Mrs. Catin. Frugality, economy and industry, character- ised all. They lived chiefly within themselves, and knew but little of the dangers and diseases incident to luxury and indolence. And well would it be for the present age, if instead of ridiculing and despising them they practiced more of their simple, unaffected, economical habits. For one I love to dwell upon them, and every thing connected with them is interesting.
·
55
In the early part of this century a murder was com- mitted in the town, and in fact the only one that we have any account of. It occurred on the farm now in the ten- ure of Mrs. Catin. The dwelling-house of the ancestor of the family of Martense, who possessed a very extensive tract of land, was situated on the rear of the farm. From his owning and cultivating so large a quantity of land, he was called by way of distinction Martin De Boer, (Martin the Farmer.) He built a new house on the main road in front of his farm near the site of the present dwelling of Mrs. Catin. When he moved to this house he left in the cellar of his former old dwelling an Indian. This person it appears had been guilty of killing some person or persons on Staten Island. In consequence of this, certain Indians from Staten Island came to Flat- bush, found him living alone in the cellar of the house which stood separate from the other dwellings, and mur- dered him-thus glutting their revenge. During the first half of the last century, the inhabitants of Flatbush were chiefly engaged in certain difficulties of an ecclesiastical character, and during the latter half were occupied with the troubles growing out of the Revolutionary struggle. These will be made the subject of more extended notice hereafter, and we pass them for the present.
The introduction of foreign manures, forms an era in the agricultural history of the town. For more than a century the farmers depended entirely upon their barn yards to furnish the means of enriching their lands, to- gether with such quantities of shell lime as they could manufacture for themselves. There was a lime kiln, sit- uated not far from the place now occupied by the public pound, at which, large quantities of shells were burnt. The lime thus procured, was spread upon the ground, and
56
tended, no doubt, greatly to increase its productiveness. But a short time previous to the American Revolution, the attention of the farmers was called to foreign manures, particularly to ashes. The first that was introduced into the village was by Jacobus Van Deventer. He brought it up from Brooklyn, in bags. It was tried and found to an- swer a good purpose, and then three other persons, viz. John Lefferts, Cornelius Vanderveer, and Judge Lott, united with him in carting it from the ferry. It could then be purchased at a very moderate rate. From that time the attention of the farmers was more directly turned to the enriching of their lands, and vast quantities of manures of various kinds have since been employed, in consequence of which, the land has been rendered rich and fertile.
In the year 1758 a new court-house was erected in the town. The first edifice was quite small, and was a dis- tinct building from the jail. One of these buildings took fire in the winter of 1757-8 and burnt to the ground, the other was saved chiefly by throwing snow-balls upon it. It was however subsequently taken down, and in the new building which was put up, accommodations were made for both the court and jail. It was two stories high. The lower floor was divided by an entry, on the south side of which was a room for the use of the jailor, and on the north a room for the confinement of prisoners. The second story was fitted up in a large room for the accommodation of the courts of the county. During the Revolutionary war the British officers then in the place took out all the seats in this room and converted it into a ball-room. This building which cost £448, remained with some repairs, un- til the year 1792. It being then found inconvenient, too small, and much out of repair, a new one was erected which was placed considerably farther back on the lot,
57
and was of much larger dimensions. It was of two stories, and planned in general after the model of the old one. This plan was drawn by Mr. James Robinson, and is called in the minutes of the Board of Supervisors " the wooden plan," from the fact probably that the erec- tion was to be a frame building. John Vanderbilt, Jo- hannes E. Lott and Charles Doughty, Esqs., were first appointed the Commissioners to superintend the build- ing of this court-house and jail. Mr. Vanderbilt having resigned the appointment, Rutgert Van Brunt, was after- wards commissioned in his place. The old building was then sold at public auction. It was purchased by Michael Van Cleef, for the sum of seventy-one pounds. The tim- ber was afterwards bought by the Rev. Martinus Schoon- maker, and used in building the house lately occupied by his son, Stephen Schoonmaker. The court-house and jail was completed in the year 1793. It was a very respectable looking frame building, surmounted by a small cupola. The jail, however, was not very secure; several escapes were made from it, although it was often repaired and strengthened. On the 30th of November, 1832, it took fire from some unknown cause, and was burnt to the ground, and from that time Flatbush ceased to be the county town, and the courts and all judicial business, were removed to Brooklyn.
The ancient government of the town of Flatbush was similar to that of all the towns under the administration of the Dutch authority. In the infancy of the settlements, the Governor appointed magistrates in the several vil- lages, with more or less power, as he judged proper. Usu- ally these public officers were a scout or constable, a clerk and an assessor, all of which, were appointed by the Gov- ernor. The duties of these officers consisted in preserving
58
the peace, and regulating the police of the town. They appear also to have had power to give judgment in some cases of judicial proceedings. In consequence of a defi- ciency in the records of the town, we are not able to give the names of those who held these offices during the dynasty of New-Netherlands. After the surrender of the colony to the English, in 1664, and the adoption of the Dukes Laws, some alterations were made in the number and character of the town officers. It was then ordered, that in addition to a clerk, each town should elect one con- stable and eight overseers. The duties of the constable were laid down with great particularity. They were to hold town courts, with the overseers, and with them to make assessments, &c. to whip or punish offenders, raise the hue and cry after murderers, manslayers, thieves, rob- bers, burglars : and also apprehend without warrant, such as were overtaken with drink, swearing, sabbath-breaking, vagrant persons, or night walkers, "provided they be taken in the manner, either by the sighte of the constable, or by present informacon from others; as alsoe to make searche for all such persons, either on ye sabbath daye, or other, when there shall bee occation, in all houses li- censed to sell beere or wine, or any other suspected or dis- ordered places, and these to apprehend and keepe in safe custody, till opportunity serves, to bring them before the next justice of ye peace, for further examinacon." The constable was chosen out of the number of overseers, whose term of service had expired.
The list of the constables will be given subsequently.
The overseers were appointed in the following manner, according to the provisions of the Dukes Laws. "Over- seers shall be eight in number, men of good fame and life, chosen by the plurality of voiyes of the freeholders in
59
each towne, whereof foure shall remaine in their office two yeares successively, and foure shall be changed for new ones, every yeare; which election shall preceed the elec- tion of constables, in point of time, in regard the con- stable for the yeare ensuing, is to bee chosen out of that number which are dismist from their office of overseers." The following is a summary of the duties of the overseers, as stated by Judge Furman, in his notes on Brooklyn. They were authorized together with the constable, to hold town courts, for the trial of causes under £5. On the death of any person, they were to repair with the constable to the house of the deceased, and inquire after the manner of his death, and of his will and testament; and if no will was found, the constable, in the presence of the overseers, was, within forty-eight hours, to search after the estate of the deceased, and to deliver an account of the same, in writ- ing, under oath, to the next justice of the peace. They to- gether with the constable, made all assessments. If any ' overseer died during his term, the rest of the overseers by a major vote, made choice of another in his place: and if the person so chosen, refuse to serve, he forfeited the sum of £10. towards defraying the town charges. They were to settle the bounds of the town, within twelve months after the bounds were granted. They had the power of regu- lating fences. They were authorized, together with the constable, to make choice of two out of the eight over- seers, of church affairs. They and the constable were fre- quently to admonish the inhabitants, "to instruct their children and servants, in matters of religion, and the lawes of the country." They, with the constable, appointed an officer "to record every man's particular marke, and see each man's horse and colt branded." The constable and two of the overseers, were to pay the value of an Indian
60
coat for each wolf killed; and they were to cause the wolf's head to be "nayled over the door of the constable, their to remaine, as also to cut of both the eares, in token that the head is bought and paid for."
The following is the most complete list of the overseers of Flatbush that could be obtained.
1675. Simon Hansen, and John Roloffson.
1676. Arian Ryers, and Garrit Sneger.
1679. Joseph Hegeman, and Derick Jansen Van Vleet.
1680. Barent Claas, Cornelius Berrian, and Joseph Hegeman.
1681. Cornelius Berrian, Rinier Aertsen, Barthold Claases and Jan Remsen.
1682. Rynier Aeartsen, Jan Jansen, Jan Remsen and Arian Ryersen.
1683. Aris Janse, Jan Aeartsen, Jan Jansen, and John Auky.
In the year 1683, the " overseers," were changed to " commissioners." The act regulating their appointment, and prescribing particularly their duties, was passed by the first General Assembly of this Colony, November 1st, 1683. It is not necessary to recite the provisions of this act. The only list that we have been able to obtain of the commissioners appointed under this act, in the town of Flatbush, is the following :
1684. Adrian Ryersen, Cornelius Baronson and John Auky.
1685. Stoffle Probasco, and Joseph Hegeman.
1686. Arian Ryers and Pieter Stryker.
1687. Aris Janse, and Stoffle Probasco.
1688. Pieter Stryker, and Cornelius Bardulph.
The constables, overseers and commissioners, were sworn before the court of Sessions, before they entered
61
upon the discharge of the duties of their respective offices.
The office of " Commissioner " continued until the first Tuesday of April, 1703, when " Supervisors " were elected for the several towns of Kings County. The first meeting of this board, was held on the first Tuesday in October, of the same year. It is probable, that at first they kept no minutes of their proceedings, as the first record is that of a meeting which took place at the court-house in Flat- bush, on the first Tuesday in October, in the year 1714. The Supervisor who then attended from Flatbush, was Ryck Hendrickson. The board at this, their first recorded meeting, made choice of Samuel Garretson, of Gravesend, as their Clerk, and John Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, as Treasurer of the county. At that time, the ordinary and · contingent expenses of the county, (including the per diem compensation of the two members of the Colonial Assembly from the county, for their attendance during the year 1703.) amounted to only £71. 0. 6. or $177.56. This sum was apportioned among the several towns in the county in the following manner.
Brooklyn, £19. 9. 3.
Flatbush,
15. 1. 6.
New-Utrecht
9. 18. 9.
Flatlands,
8. 14. 9.
Bushwick,
9. 3. 0.
Gravesend,
8. 13. 3.
£71. 0. 6 .- $177.56.
The following is a list of the Supervisors of the town of Flatbush, from the year 1703, to the present time.
62
Names.
Dates.
Aris Vanderbilt,
From April, 1703 to April 1705.
Daniel Polhemus,
1705
1706.
Jacob Hendrick Ryck,
1706
1707.
Aris Jansen Vanderbilt,
1707
1708.
Jan Vanderveer,
1708
1710.
Benjamin Hegeman,
1710
1711.
Ryck Hendricks,
1711
66
1712.
Jan Cornelise,
66
1712
66
1713.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.