Notes Geographical And Historical, Relating To The Town Of Brooklyn, In Kings County On Long-Island

GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL, RELATING TO THE IN KINGS COUNTY ON

Illustration: text decoration BY GABRIEL FURMAN. Illustration: text decoration Illustration: text decoration BROOKLYN : PRINTED BY A. SPOONER, NO. 50 FULTON-STREET. Illustration: text decoration 1824 . ...

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ADVERTISEMENT.

Illustration: text decoration The Compiler offers these notes to the inhabitants of his native town, in the hope that they may be in some small degree useful and entertaining in discussions relating to the history and rights of this thriving place. He claims no merit for this performance, and neither does he write from the vanity of being considered an author, but is only actuated by a desire to rescue from oblivion such facts as may be interesting to his fellow-citizens. The Compiler would cons

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SITUATION.

This town is situated in Kings County, on the west end of Long-Island, in the State of New-York. It is bounded north by the City and County of New-York; east by the township of Bushwick; south by the township of Flatbush and New Utrecht; and west by New-York Bay; and contains the village of Brooklyn, which is about a mile square. This town formerly composed part of a powerful Indian Sachemdom; and with the other parts of the Island bore the Indian name of Matowcas. This part of the Island, as fa

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ANCIENT NAMES AND REMAINS.

In 1667, this town was known by the name of Breucklen. In the act to divide the province of New-York into shires and counties, passed Nov. 1, 1683, it is mentioned by the name of Breucklyn. It is also called Broucklyn in the act to divide the province into shires and counties, passed, Oct. 1, 1691. The present name Brooklyn, does not appear to have been generally adopted until after the Revolutionary war. Heads of Indian arrows, beds of oyster and clam shells denoting the former residence of the

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SOIL AND CLIMATE.

The soil of this town appears to be mostly alluvial, though some few primitive rocks are to be met with. Several years since, in digging a well on some of the highest ground in Brooklyn, a hemlock board was found at the depth of 30 feet, and again at the depth of 73 feet, oyster and clam shells were met with, which crumbled on being exposed to the air. The shores of Brooklyn, where they are not defended by wharves, are undergoing continual and rapid changes, in consequence of the velocity of the

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ANCIENT GRANTS AND PATENTS.

In the year 1638, William Kieft, Director General and Counsellor for their high mightinesses the States General, and his highness the Prince of Orange, granted to Abraham Rycken, a tract of land in the present town of Brooklyn. September 11, 1642, William Kieft Director General, &amp;c. patented to Jan Manje, a piece or parcel of land containing 20 morgan, or 40 acres, in the town of Brooklyn. A copy of which patent is hereto annexed as a specimen of those ancient instruments: “By William Ki

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Town Rights and Ferries.

The difference between this town and the city of New-York relative to the water rights of the former, has deservedly excited the attention and interest of our inhabitants, as involving property to a great amount, and unjustly withholding from our town a revenue which would enable it to improve with almost unparalleled rapidity. In order that each person so interested may form a correct opinion of the subject matter in dispute, the Compiler has thought proper, under this head, to lay before them

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ROADS AND PUBLIC LANDING PLACES.

This town appears to have entered early into the contest respecting roads. There are many instances on record previous to 1683, of the Constable of Brooklyn being ordered to repair the roads, and in case of neglect, fined; and in one instance he was ordered by the Court not to depart until further order. The main road, or as part of it is now called, Fulton-street, in the village of Brooklyn, was laid out March 28th, 1704, by Joseph Hageman, Peter Cortelyou, and Benjamin Vandewater, Commissioner

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COMMON LANDS, AND THE DIVISION THEREOF.

The town having acquired so great an extent of Common land by the purchase of 1670, from the Indians, the inhabitants thought proper to take some order for the division and defending thereof, together with their other lands—accordingly, “at a Town meeting held the 25th day of February, 169⅔, att Breuklyn, in Kings County. Then Resolved to divide their common lands and woods into three parts, in manner following to witt: 1. All the lands and woods after Bedford and Cripplebush, over the hills to

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DIFFERENCES AS TO BOUNDS.

The difference between this town and the city of New-York, having been treated of under the head of Town Rights and Ferries, the compiler will confine himself to the disputes which formerly existed between this town, and the towns of Bushwick, Flatbush and New-Utrecht, respecting their bounds. The following proceeding relates generally to the defence and settling of the limits of this town. “Towne meeting held this 7th day of February, 1701-2, by order of Hendrick Vechten, Justice.—The Justice H

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DIFFERENCE WITH BUSHWICK.

The difference as to the bounds of these two towns seems generally to have been contested between individuals. The following is the only general order on record respecting the same: At a Court of Sessions, held at Flatbush for Kings County, May 10, 1699. “Uppon the desire of the inhabitants of Breucklyn, that according to use and order every three yeare the limmitts betweene towne and towne must be runn, that a warrant or order may be given, that upon the 17th day off May, the line and bounds be

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DIFFERENCE WITH FLATBUSH.

The dispute between this town and Flatbush, respecting their bounds, appears to have been of more importance than that with any other place, excepting New-York. At a Court of Sessions, held for the West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long-Island, the 18th of December, 1678, the following order was made: “There being some difference between the townes of Flat Bush and Breucklyn concerning their bounds, the which they are both willing to refer to Captain Jaques Corteleou and Captain Richard Stillwell t

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DIFFERENCE WITH NEW-UTRECHT.

February 14, 1702. George Hansen, Jacob Hansen and Cornelius Van Duyn, Trustees on the part of the town of Brooklyn, and Cornelius Van Brunt, Peter Cortelyou, and Aert Van Pelt, Trustees on the part of the town of New-Utrecht, entered into an agreement, which, after setting forth the said Trustee’s powers to enter into the same, proceeds to say, “that the courses and lines hereafter specified shall be the exact bounds between the said two towns of Brookland and New Utrecht and soe to continue to

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REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.

This town had a full share of the military operations during the Revolutionary war; and was for a long time in the possession of the British army. It is covered with the remains of fortifications which were thrown up by the Americans [14] and English for their defence against each other. In this town was fought the most sanguinary part of the battle of Long-Island, August 27, 1776; which took place on the retreat of the American army within their lines, and the attempt of a portion of them to fo

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ANCIENT GOVERNMENT.

The first public officer appointed by the Dutch Government for this town after its settlement in 1625, was a “Superintendant,” whose duties were to preserve the peace, and regulate the police of the town. A few years after the office of Superintendant was abolished, and the offices of Schout, Secretary, and Assessor, created; these officers were also appointed by the Governor. In 1646, the town having considerably increased, the inhabitants were permitted to elect two magistrates; subject, howev

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First—the Town Government.

The government of the town is administered by A Supervisor , elected by the people, at the annual town-meeting, on the first Tuesday of April. The duties of this officer are principally confined to the apportionment of taxes, presiding at elections, &amp;c. He is also ex officio a commissioner of excise for granting tavern licenses in the town, and the general guardian of the town rights. There is no salary attached to this office: the supervisor receives a compensation of two dollars per da

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Second—the Village Government.

April 12, 1816, the village of Brooklyn was incorporated by an act of the legislature of this state. By this act the freeholders and inhabitants are authorized annually to elect, on the first Monday of May, “Five discreet freeholders, resident within the said village, Trustees thereof;” and these trustees are authorized to appoint a president and clerk. The first trustees, Messrs. Andrew Mercein, John Garrison, John Doughty, John Seaman, and John Dean, were appointed by the legislature, and cont

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First, Churches.

The first Church established in Kings County was, October 13, 1654, when the Rev. Joannes Theodorus Polhemus, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, was permitted by Governor Stuyvesant, to preach at Midwout, (Flatbush) and Amersfort, (Flatlands). [21] The congregation was gathered at this time; but the order of Governor Stuyvesant for building the Church is dated December 15, 1654. February 9, 1655, the Governor ordered the inhabitants of Brooklyn and Amersfort, which at that period, together

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Second, Markets.

A market was established in this town as early as the year 1676, which will appear from the following order of the General Court of Assizes, made in the month of October, 1675. “Upon proposall of having a fayre and Markett in or neare this City. (New-York) It is ordered, That after this season, there shall yearely bee kept a fayre and markett at Breucklen near the ferry, for all grayne, cattle, or other produce of the countrey, to be held the first Munday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, in November; an

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Third, Public Institutions.

Of public institutions we have not many to boast—they may be strictly confined to one Bank, a Fire Insurance Company, and an Apprentices’ Library. The “Long-Island Bank” was incorporated, April 1st, 1824, with a capital of $300,000, divided into six thousand shares of $50 each. The present officers are, Leffert Lefferts, Esq. President, and D. Embury, Cashier. The “Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company” was incorporated, April 3, 1824, with a capital of $150,000, divided into six thousand shares of $2

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POPULATION AND INCREASE.

Within a few years this town, and particularly the village has increased very rapidly. In 1814, the town of Brooklyn contained 3805 inhabitants; and in 1816, the town contained 4402 inhabitants. In 1820, the census was as follows, (being almost two thirds of the population of the County.) The following account of the population of Kings County at different periods, may not be uninteresting to many readers. In 1706, There were 64 freeholders in the town of Brooklyn. In 1802, their number had only

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Newspapers.

Four Newspapers have been published in this town in the following chronological order: June 26, 1799. The first number of the “Courier, and New-York and Long-Island Advertiser,” published by Thomas Kirk, Esq. This was the first newspaper established on Long-Island. May 26, 1806. The first number of the “Long Island Weekly Intelligencer,” published by Mess’rs. Robinson and Little. June 1, 1809. The first number of the “Long Island Star,” published by Thomas Kirk, Esq. March 7, 1821. The first num

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Moral Character.

It is a delicate subject for a writer to treat of the morals of a people among whom he is a resident, lest by telling the truth too plainly, he awaken unpleasant feelings in the breasts of some whom perhaps he would not wish to offend. On the other hand, if glaring faults are slightly passed over, or palliated, it calls down on his devoted head all the envenomed attacks of malicious criticism. The compiler, however, flatters himself that neither will be the case in this instance. The people of B

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FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Although this might with some propriety be placed under the head of Public Institutions , the compiler has thought proper to make it a head of itself; and he hopes that the following few historical facts relative to this valuable department, may be useful to such as feel an interest in its progression and improvement. By an act passed by the legislature of this state, March 15, 1788, “for the better extinguishing of fires in the town of Brooklyn,” the number of firemen was limited to eight, who

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MISCELLANEOUS.

June 7, 1625, Sarah De Rapalje, born in this town. Tradition says that she was the first white child born in the colony. Her parents were Walloons; from whence is derived the name of Wallaboght, or Walloons Bay, where they lived. [26] She was twice married. Her first husband was Hans Hanse Bergen, by whom she had six children, viz. Michael Hanse, Joris Hanse, Jan Hanse, Jacob Hanse, Brechje Hanse, and Marytje Hanse. Her second husband was Teunis Guysbertse Bogart, by whom she also had six childr

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A.

This Indenture made the twelfth day of October, in the sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady William and Mary, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King and Queen, defenders of the faith, &amp;c. and in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety-four, between William Morris, now of the ferry, in the bounds of the town of Breuchlen, in Kings County, on Long-Island, Gentleman, and Rebecca his wife of the one part, and the Mayor, Alderme

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B.

Brookland, November 14th, 1753. A Town meeting called by warrant of Carel Debevois, Esq. and Jacobus Debevois, Esq. two of his Majesty’s Justices for the township of Brookland, in the County of Kings, to elect and chuse Trustees to defend our Patent of Brookland against the Commonalty of the City of New-York.—And the Trustees so elected and chosen by the freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Brookland aforesaid, are as follows: Jacobus Lefferts, Peter Vandervoort, Jacob Remsen, Rem Rems

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C.

To his Excellency. —The humble peticon of Volkert Brier, inhabitant of the towne of Broockland, on the Island of Nassau. May it please your Excellency your peticoner being fined five pounds last Court of Sessions, in Kings County for tearing an execucon directed to him as Constable. Your peticoner being ignorant of the crime, and not thinking it was of force when he was out of his office, or that he should have made returne of it as the lawe directs, he being an illiterate man could not read sai

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D.

Sir ,—I am in expectation of a complaint coming to his Excellency by Coll. Beeckman against me, and that his Excellency may be rightly informed of the matter, my humble request to you is, that if such a thing happen, be pleased to give his Excellency an account thereof, which is as follows: A Ffriday night last, the Justices of the County and I came from his Excellency’s; Coll. Beeckman happened to come over in the fferry boat along with us, and as we came over the fferry, Coll. Beeckman and we

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[E]

We the deputies duly elected from the several towns upon Long-Island, being assembled at Hempstead, in general meeting, by authority derived from your royal highness unto the honorable Colonel Nicolls, as deputy governor, do most humbly and thankfully acknowledge to your royal highness, the great honor and satisfaction we receive in our dependence upon your royal highness according to the tenor of his sacred majesty’s patent, granted the 12th day of March, 1664; wherein we acknowledge ourselves,

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APPENDIX, NO. 2.

The following is a copy of the first charter by which the corporation obtained any color of title to the land between high and low water mark, on the Brooklyn side. “Anne, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Queen, defender of the Faith, &amp;c. To all whom these presents may in any wise concern, sendeth greeting. Whereas the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New-York, by their petition to our trusty and well-beloved cousin Edward, Viscount Cornbury, [

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ADVERTISEMENT.

The Compiler here closes his notes, and has only to remark, that throughout the whole of this little work, he has been less solicitous about his reputation as an author, than a correct compiler. Studies of this nature are but ill calculated to admit of a luxuriance of diction or sentiment, and to these he has in no place aspired. His business was to collect authentic information concerning subjects at once obscure and interesting, and in what degree he has effected this object he leaves his read

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