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THE HISTORY

OF THE

TOWN OF FLATBUSH,

IN

KINGS COUNTY, LONG-ISLAND,

BY THOMAS M. STRONG, D. D.,

PASTOR OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, OF FLATBUSH.

PUBLISHED BY REaUEST.

N E W - Y O R K :

THOxMAS R. MERCEIN, JR., PRINTER, 240 Pearl street, cor. Burling-slip.

1842.

V

PREFACE,

This History was prepared as a part of a course of Lectures by the "Flatbush Literary Association," during the winter of 1841-2. In yielding to the request which has been made to him from several sources to have it published, the author would remark, that he has made some additions and corrections in it since it was delivered. His object has been to make it as copious and authentic as practicable. He has aimed more at fulness and accuracy of detail than at ornament or display of composition. The great difficulty in accomplishing a work of this nature, arises from the fact, that the early history of the town is wrapped up in manuscripts written in the Dutch language, and many of them too in a very small and cramped cha- racter. These but few can decipher and translate. The author has happily been favored with the assistance of two gentlemen of Flatbush, who have aided him very materially in this particular. Several papers of impor- tance relating to the civil and ecclesiastical history of the Town, have been translated by them for the purpose of furthering this work. To these gentlemen, John C. Vanderveer and Jeremiah Lott, Esq's., the author would

return his grateful acknowledgments. The latter gentle- man, in addition to several translations and other docu- ments, has also kindly furnished the draft of the map which accompanies the volume. Assistance has also been derived from " Smith's History of New- York," " Thompson's History of Long-Island," and " Furman's Notes, &c.,"of the Town of Brooklyn." Besides these sources of informa- ation, GeneralJeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn, and several elderly persons living in the village of Flatbush, have been consulted. From these individuals important facts relative to the scenes which took place during the re- volutionary war and the times immediately preceding and following that great event, have been obtained. The plan of the work now presented to the public, embraces five divisions : The Civil — the Ecclesiastical — the Literary History of the Town — the incidents which transpired therein during the war, which resulted in our American Independence, and a description of some of the changes or improvements which have been introduced in more modern times. The author is conscious that in regard to the earlier history of Flatbush, there is much that is de- fective— arising from the want of sufficient sources of in- formation. These will not probably be fully supplied until the return and publication of the report of Romeyn Brodhead, Esq., who is now in Holland as a Commission- er from the State of New-York, to collect information relative to the settlement and early History of this State. He has already obtained possession of a great

amount of valuable facts, which will throw much light upon both the early civil and ecclesiastical affairs, not only of the Dynasty of New-Netherlands generally — but particularly of the west end of Long-Island. When this work shall appear, it will supply all that is defective in the present volume, as far as relates to the early history of the town. In the mean time, trusting to the candor and generosity of the public to receive with favor, an attempt to regain and preserve the facts connected with the history of one of the oldest towns in the state, consent has been given to the publication of this work.

Flatbush, L. I., April 4. 1842.

HISTORY.

Long-Island was discovered in the year 1609, by- Henry Hudson. He was an Englishman by birth, but was engaged by the East India Company of Holland to discover a passage to the East Indies in a westerly direc- tion from Europe. He had been employed in the same service by the English, and had failed in his enterprise, and been dismissed from their employ. Upon which he was engaged by the Dutch, and fitted out with a vessel called the Half Moon. After coasting in his third voyage as far south as Virginia, he turned to the north again and saw for the first time the highlands of Neversink. On the 3d of September 1609, he entered the great bay between Sandy Hook, Staten-Island and Amboy. He observed among other things, that the waters swarmed with fish and some of very large size. On the 4th5 he sent his men on shore, and relates that he found the soil of white sand and a vast number of plum trees loaded with fruit, and many of them covered with grape vines of different kinds. The natives are represented in general as mani- festing all friendship, when Hudson first landed among them. But on one occasion shortly after his arrival, their bad feelings were from some cause not stated, excited. Hudson sent out a boat under command of one Colman to catch fish, and the Indians attacked the men. One of the arrows which they discharged, headed with a sharp

8

flint stone, struck Colman in the throat and mortally wounded him. The sailors not being able to defend themselves, hastened back to the ship, carrying poor. Colman dying with them. His body was taken on shore after his death and buried on the island which is now called Coney Island — a corruption of the ori- ginal name Colman, which was given it by Hudson and his company, in commemoration of him who was buried there, and who was the commander of the boat which bore the first Europeans through the passage so familiarly known to us all as the Narroios. De Laet, a Dutch historian, says, that at this time the natives were clothed in the skins of elks, foxes and other animals. Their canoes were made of the bodies of trees ; their arms, bows and arrows with sharp points of stone fixed to them. They had no houses, he says, but slept under the blue heavens : some on mats made of brush or bul- rushes, and some upon leaves of trees. Hudson passed up the river which still bears his name, and left it to others to discover that the land on which he had touched, was an island. This was done by Adrian Block, in 1614. He sailed from New-Amsterdam, now New-York, through the sound to Cape Cod, and visited the intermediate coasts and islands. He appears to have been the first who ascertain- ed that Long-Island was separate from the main land. Long-Island at this time, bore the name of Matiouicake, or Meitowak and Sewanhackey — the last of which, means the isle or land of shells, and was no doubt given to it in con- sequence of large quantities of seewant or shell money, being manufactured here.

The objects of the Dutch being at first chiefly of a mercantile character, but few settlements were made in the country by them. The first was established on an is-

land near the present site of Albany, in the year 1614, where they built a fort, which in honor of their sovereign, they called Fort Orange. It was not however, till the year 1624, that any settlement was made on Manhattan Island. In that year Fort Amsterdam was built and the foundation laid for the city of New-Amsterdam, now New- York. The resources of the country and the prospect of a "very lucrative trade with the natives in fur being made known in Holland, soon induced many to emigrate to this new country. The object of the first settlers evidently was trade. But as it soon became known that lands equal in fertility to those of Holland were to be found here, and advantages of no ordinary character were offered to the agriculturist, many familes were induced to leave their father land and settle in this country. The first settle- ment on the west end of Long-Island, appears to have been made as early as 1625, in which year, according to a family record in the hands of General Johnson of Brook- lyn, the first child of George Jansen De Rapalje, was born at the Wallaboght — and it is the tradition among the Dutch, that this was the first white child that was born on the island. It is however not probable, that many emi- grants had yet arrived from Holland with the object of cultivating the soil, as the earliest deed for land in the town of Brooklyn, is a grant to Abraham Rycken, in 1638, and the earliest deed on record, is a grant to Thomas Bes- ker, in the year 1639 ; and the earliest grant for lands in Kings County that has been discovered, was in 1636. The first purchase from the Indians on Long-Island that has been discovered, was in the year 1635 ; and the earliest deed for land to individuals, was from these Indians to Jacobus Van Corlear, for the tract subsequently called Corlear's Flats, The description of this tract in the deed, is a3

10

follows : — " The middlemost of the three flats to them belonging, called Castoleeuw, on the island by them call- ed Sewanhackey, between the bay of the North-river and East-river of the New-Netherlands, extending in length from a certain kill coming up from the sea, mostly north- erly till into the woods, and a breadth of a certain valeye eastward also to the woods." About the same time, a deed was given by the same Indians, to Andries Hedden and Wolphert Garritsen, for what is called the Little Flats ; and another to Wouter Van Twiller the Director, for what has since been denominated Twil- ler's Flats. The deed is dated June 6th,1636. These three latter tracts lie partly in Flatbush and partly in Flatlands. It is not improbable, however, that con- siderable settlements were made before any formal grants or Patents of lands were obtained. It was soon ascertained that the lands in and about Flatlands, were level and free from woods. This was a strong inducement to settlers who came from the level country of Holland, and who had no domestic animals for the plough, to oc- cupy this part of the island. It is believed that as early as the year 1630, a settlement was effected in that town, which was then called New-Amersfort, after Amersfort, a town in the province of Utrecht, in Holland, from which probably some, if not most of the earlier settlers came. It also received the name of De Baije, or the Bay. In 1634, this town appears to have contained quite a num- ber of inhabitants.

But about this time, the Dutchmen found that the plain clear land was not so strong and productive as that which bore heavy timber ; this induced many of them to seek a settlement somewhat farther to the north — and from the best account it would appear that- about the year 1634, tho

11

settlement of Flatbush commenced. It then comprised a tract of woodland bounded on the north by the Hills, on the south by Flatlands, and extending east and west in one continual forest. This tract was evidently purchased by the governor of the colony, or by the first settlers, from the native Indian proprietors, but the amount of consideration paid cannot now be ascertained. At the time of the purchase, it was heavily covered with timber, (consisting principally of hickory and white and black oak,) with the exception of two small parcels which were clear and destitute of trees, lying to the east of the town, then called by the names of Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, and another on the south of the town adjoining Flatlands, called the Little Flats. The land thus described, from its being principally covered with timber, and from its pe- culiar location, having the hills on the north and Flatlands on the south, was appropriately called by the first settlers, by the name of Midwout, or Middlewoods.

The first settlements in the town were made along an Indian path leading from the Hills to New-Amersfort, which is now the present highway or street through the village of Flatbush. All subsequent settlements were principally confined to the same path, and will readily account for the crooked direction of the present road. The first settlers were intent upon making agriculture their principal means of subsistence. In order therefore to concentrate their dwellings as much as possible, so as to protect their families from Indian intrusions or other depredations, and to form a village of farmers, they de- termined to lay out their farms in narrow oblongs fronting on both sides of the path above mentioned. The farms were accordingly laid out into forty-eight lots or tracts of land, extending six hundred Dutch rods on each side of

12

the Indian path, and having severally an average width of about twenty-seven rods. The lots or farms on the east side of the path, were all laid out in a direction running east and west: while those on the west side thereof, had a south-westerly inclination so as to correspond with the direction of the Hills adjoining the north-westerly side of the town. An allotment was then made between the several proprietors of mostly two lots or more a peice, and for the support of the gospel among them according to their own religious faith, the most central and eligible lots were reserved and set apart for their church. The dis- tribution among the proprietors, was probably made by lot, which appears to have been the almost invariable practice of the Dutch in dividing the lands which they patented. A considerable portion of wood-lands lying on the west, north and east sides of the towns, together with Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, were left in common and remained for years undivided.

There can be no doubt that the existing governor in order to secure the inhabitants of Midwout in the quiet possession of their purchase from the native Indian pro- prietors, confirmed the same to them by his Ground Brief or Letters Patent. But when this was granted cannot now be ascertained with entire certainty. In the year 1684, twenty years after the surrender of the Colony to the English, an order was issued by the Gover- nor and Council, commanding all the inhabitants of the Dutch towns in the provinces of New- York and New-Jersey to bring their Dutch Patents and Indian Deeds into the ISecretary's Office in New- York. This order was no doubt complied with by this as well as the other Dutch towns on Long-Island, and thus the origi- nal patent with those of the other towns, except Graves-

end, (which being settled chiefly by English emigrants, was favored by the Governor,) was destroyed or sent to England. The object of this arrangement was to cause the towns to take out new Patents, and thus not only acknowledge the English government, but increase the rfevenue of the English Governor. It is probable how- ever, that the first patent obtained from the Dutch Gover- nor was only for that part of Flatbush which goes under the name of the old town, which was granted about the year 1651 or 1652. The original proprietors according to H. C. Murphy, Esq., of Brooklyn, were Jan Snedecor Arent Van Hatten, one of the Burgomasters of New- Amsterdam, Johannes Megapolensis, one of the ministers of the same city, and others. On the 20th day of June, in the year 1656, a Ground Brief or Patent was granted by Governor Stuyvesant to the " indwellers and inhabi- tants of Midwout," for the Canarsee Meadows, which are therein described as "a parcel of meadow ground, or valley, lying on the east north-east of the Canarsee Indian planting lands." This is the only original Dutch Patent of any part of the town which has been discovered.

These meadow lands lying at Canarsee, appear to have been divided and an allotment made of them among the proprietors about the time of obtaining this Patent, or ve- ry shortly after, as in some of the Ground Briefs to indi- viduals mention is made of certain portions of these mea- dow lands as appertaining to the farm, and they are desig- nated by particular numbers.

Subsequently to the allotments made by, and between the inhabitants of Midwout, of the several parcels of land to them respectively allotted, many were desirous to have written titles to their lands ; and for this purpose applied to, and obtained from Governor Stuyvesant, Letters Pa-

2

14

tent to secure them in their possession. These Patents to individuals bear different dates, and some as late as within a year or two previous to the surrender of the country to the English. Some of them were recorded in the town books, even several years after the surrender.

Flatbush appears to have increased in the number of its inhabitants very rapidly after its first settlement ; for as early as the year 1658, it was the seat of Justice for the County, and a market town. At that time the public officers of the county, the Minister, Sherift', Secretary or Clerk, as well as a public School-Master resided in it. The courts were held here, and the general business of this section of Long Island was transacted here. Four years previous to this, viz : in the year 1654, the order of the Governor was issued for building the first church. But this we shall more particularly allude to when we come to speak of the ecclesiastical history of the town.

Governor Stuyvesant the last of the Dutch Governors, was unquestionably a brave and an honest man. But va- rious causes of discontent arose previous to, and during his administration, which called for the remonstrance of the people. The laws were imperfect, and many of them not at all adapted to the times. The voice of the people was not had in the choice of magistrates, nor in the enac- ment of the statutes, by which they were to be governed. Causes of Justice were too frequently decided from mere wantonness and caprice, and the Governor and Council appeared indisposed to remedy many existing evils in the administration of civil and criminal jurisprudence. The sense of public insecurity in time, produced a spirit of general discontent, and the people with great unanimi- ty resolved to state their grievances to the Governor, and respectfully demand redress. Accordingly the Burgo-

15

masters of New Amsterdam, called upon the several Dutch Towns to send delegates to a convention to be held in that city on the 26th. of November, 1653. At this con- vention delegates appeared from Flatbush as well as from the other towns. The convention adjourned to the 11th. of December following, when after mutual consultation, and discussion of various matters, they adopted a remon- strance, which in an able but respectful manner set forth their grievances. This ancient document is interesting as showing that at that early day the people had intelli- gence enough to understand their rights and know the legitimate objects of civil government. The remonstrance was signed by all the members of the convention. The delegates from Flatbush whose names are attached to it were " Elbert Elbertson, and Thomas Spicer." The Gro- vemor and Council gave no formal answer to the remon- strance of the deputies, but entered one on their minutes, in which they denied the right of Flatbush and of Brook- lyn and Flatlands to send delegates, and protested against the meeting, although it had been called at the request of the Governor himself. Entertaining a just sense of the responsibility attached to them, the deputies made anoth- er but ineffectual attempt to obtain a recognition of their rights. On the 13th of December 1653, they presented another remonstrance, in which they declared, that if they could not obtain a redress of their grievances from the Governor and Council, they would be under the necessi- ty of appealing to their superiors, the States General. This so irritated Governor Stuyvesant that he ordered them " to disperse, and not to assemble again upon such a business."

In 1654, it appears that the country was much infested with robbers. The inhabitants of this and the neighbor-

16

ing towns were much annoyed by their depredations. To guard themselves against these, the magistrates of Mid- wout united with those of Brooklyn and Amersfort in form- ing a military volunteer company against " robbers and pirates," as they expressed themselves. This company was formed on the 7th, of April, 1654, and determined that there should be a military officer in each town, call- ed a Sergeant, as well as a public patrole in each vil- lage. On the day following the organization of the com- pany, the Governor issued his proclamation against cer- , tain robbers, whom he states " had been banished from New-England, and were wandering about on Long- Island."

In 1655, a large body of Northern Indians, made a de- scent on Staten Island, and massacreed sixty-seven per- sons ; after which, they crossed to Long-Island and in- vested Gravesend, which was relieved by a party of sol- diers from New- Amsterdam. To guard against similar attacks, as well as to defend themselves from the encroach- ments of their neighboring Indians, the inhabitants of Flatbush were ordered by Governor Stuyvesant in 1656, to enclose their village with palisadoes. These fortifica- tions were required to be kept up under the English govern- ment, as will appear by the following record of the court of Sessions for the West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island, December 15th, 1675. " The Town of Flatbush having neglected the making of ffortifications, the court take notis of it, and reffer the censure to ye Governor." It is further ascertained from traditionary information, that the first church was fenced in with strong pallisa- does, and that the early settlers went out in the day time to cultivate their farms, and returned in the evening and lodged within the enclosure during the night time for

17

their safety and mutual protection ; and that this practice continued until there was a sufficient number of substan- tial dwellings erected, so as to render the precaution un- necessary.

In the original Dutch Patent of the town, there was some reserve of quit rent to be paid to the Governor. But as the Patent cannot be found, the amount, or the kind of this quit rent cannot be ascertained. But on the 6th of June, 1656, Governor Stuyvesant issued a peremptory order, prohibiting the inhabitants of Flatbush, as well as those of Brooklyn and Flatlands, from removing their crops of grain from the fields until the tythes reserved by their Patents had either been taken or commuted for.

It is not distinctly known to what branches of agricul- ture our early Dutch ancestors devoted themselves. But as for a considerable time they had to cultivate the ground without the aid of animals, and chiefly by the hoe and spade, it is probable that they turned their attention to that which would yield the most profit from the smallest piece of ground. There is reason to believe that in com- mon with some other places, on the west end of Long- Island, tobacco was raised in considerable quantities in this town during its early settlement. For in addition to that consumed in the Colony, shipments of this article were made from New-Amsterdam to Holland. As early as 1643, a grant for a tobacco plantation at the Walla- bought was made. Tobacco became too, at an early day a standard of value for lands and other property : And in 1638, an Act was passed, commonly called the Tobacco Statute, in which, mention is made of the high estimation in which the tobacco shipped from New. Netherlands was held in the European market, and va- rious regulations are prescribed relative to the manner

2*

18

in which it shall be cultivated, inspected, and sold. We have no doubt that the inhabitants of Midwout early engaged in the production of this article. (See Thomp- son's History of Long-Island for the Tobacco Statute, page 177.) Great attention too was paid to the raising of Barley. Vast quantities of malt liquors were made in New- Amsterdam, and of consequence, a ready market was there found for this article. It became in some subsequent years almost the staple of this part of Long- Island ; so much so, that 20,000 bushels of Barley were annually sold from Flatbush alone.

Van der Donk, in his History of New-Netherlands, which was published in 1655, also states that much atten- tion was paid by the Dutch agriculturalists to the cultiva- tion of the best vegetables and fruits of various kinds • and a great variety of beautiful flowers.

Nothing of very special interest occurred in Flatbush, from the date which we have last mentioned, until the pe- riod of the surrender of the country to the English, which took place in the year 1664. The number of the inha- bitants in the town, appears to have increased quite rapidly up to this time, when it is supposed it contained a larger population than at the conclusion of the revola- tionary war, in 1783.

We will be pardoned for digressing here for a few mo- ments, for the purpose of narrating the manner, and some of the terms and conditions, on which the surrender of the country was made to the English authorities. King Charles, by Letters Patent, granted to his brother, James, the Duke of York, his heirs and assigns, Long-Island, all Hudsons' River, and all lands from the west side of Con- necticut River to the east side of Delaware Bav, toircther with all royalties and riglit of governmei^. This embra-

V

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19

ced all the countries then governed by the Dutch. Soon after the grant of this Patent, King Charles despatched a small force, for the purpose of subduing the country. The Dutch inhabitants were apprized of the designs of the English, ^by the vigilance of Governor Stuyvesant, who had received information, that an expedition was pre- paring against them, consisting of three vessels, of forty or fifty guns each, having on board about three hundred soldiers, and laying at Plymouth in England, waiting for a fair wind. The Dutch authorities were called togeth- er, by their Governor, and they ordered the fort to be put in the best state of defence. As soon as the vessels arrived in the outer harbor of New- York, which was in August, 1664, Governor Stuyvesant sent a polite note to the En- glish commander, dated, August 19th, 1664, desiring the reason of their approach and continuance in the harbor without giving the Dutch notice. This letter was sent by John Declyer, one of the chief council, the Rev. John Megapolensis, minister, Paul Lunden Vander Grilft and Mr. Samuel Megapolensis, doctor of physic. On the next day, Col. Richard Nicolls, who was the commander of the expedition, and was clothed with the powers of Governor^ sent an answer, and demanded a surrender of the country. In this document he informed Governor Stuyvesant, thai he had been sent out by the King of England, for the maintainance of his unquestionable rights, and that he had been commanded to demand the surrender of the country, and in his name he now required such surrender. He however assured him, thai; every Dutch inhabitant who should readily submit to the King of England, should be secured in his estate, life and liberty. He despatched the summons by four persons, through whom he expected to receive an answer. These persons were George Cart-

20

Wright, one of his Majesty's commissioners in America, Captain Robert Needham, Captain Edward Groves and Mr. Thomas Delavall.

Governor Stuyvesant promised an answer the next morning, and in the mean time convened the council and Burgomasters. He was, unquestionably a brave soldier, and had lost a leg in the service of his country, and was desirous to defend the place by all the means in his pow- er. He therefore refused both to the inhabitants and the Burgomasters a sight of the summons, lest the easy terms proposed might induce them to capitulate. The inhabi- tants were called together at the Staatds House, and informed of the Governor's refusal. On the 2d day of September, 1664, the Burgomasters came in coun- cil, and demanded to see the summons, which the Go- vernor then in a fit of anger tore to pieces. But not- withstanding the yielding disposition of the inhabitants to the British commissioners, which arose, no doubt, from a growing .discontent with the Dutch government, which had existed for several years irk the country, Governar Stuyvesant resolved upon a vigorous resistance, and sent to the English commander a long letter, vindicating the justice of the Dutch claiiTK to the territory which they oc- cupied.

While the Governor and council were contending with the Burgomasters and people, in the city of New-Amster- dam, the English commissioners published a proclama- tion in the country, encouraging the inhabitants to sub- mit, and promising them all the privileges of British sub- jects. Many, on discovering from Governor Stuyvesant's letter, which was then likewise published, that he was averse to the surrender, being fearful of the impending storm, resolved to join the strongest party, and began to-

21

beat up for volunteers, particularly on Long-Island. The Governor being thus invaded by a foreign foe, and threatened to be deserted by those on whose friend- ship he had depended, perceiving that resistance would only occasion a wanton effusion of blood, agreed to appoint six distinguished citizens on his part, who, in conjunction with an equal number of British commis- sioners should conclude a treaty for the surrender of the country.

The commissioners on the part of the Dutch were

John D. Deckar,

Nicholas Verleet,

Samuel Megapolensis,

Oleffe Stevens Van Kortlandt,

James Cousseau,

Cornelius Steenwick, On the part of the English, they were

Robert Carr,

George Carteret,

John Winthrop,

Samuel Willys,

Thomas Clarke,

John Pinchen. This treaty was agreed upon. It consisted of twenty- three articles, of which it is sufficient to give the outlines of some of the most prominent. The Staats General, or the Dutch West India Company were to enjoy all farms and houses except those in the forts, and had liberty with- in six months to transport all arms and ammunition which belonged to them. The people might remain free denizens, and occupy or dispose of their lands, houses and goods, as they pleased. They were to enjoy free liberty of conscience, and retain their own customs respecting

22

their inheritances. No judgment which had passed any of the courts of judicature could be called in question, and all previous differences respecting contracts, were to be determined according to the manner of the Dutch. No Dutchman nor Dutch ships could be pressed to serve in war against any nation whatever, and no soldiers quarter- ed on the inhabitants. Inferior civil officers might con- tinue to fill their stations till the customary time of anew election, and the inhabitants were entitled to choose depu- ties, who should have free voices in all public affairs. The soldiers were to march out with the honors of war, and each of them who chose to remain in the country was entitled to fifty acres of land. The Articles were approv- ed by Colonel Richard Nicolls, on the 7th, of September, and on the 9th, of September, 1664, by Governor Stuy- vesant.

About the time of the surrender of the country to the Duke of York, there appears to have been a considerable contest as to the boundary line between the towns of Mid- wout and New-Amersfort, which was attended with fre- quent collisions, and particularly so,, in the mowing and ingathering of hay on the Canarsee meadows. This even- tually led to an application to Governor Richard Nicolls for the settlement of the subject in controversy, between the contending parties. Governor Nicolls in the year 1666 appointed arbitrators to view and settle the matters in difference between them. The arbitrators thus appoint- ed, accordingly met, for the purpose of viewing the pre- mises and issuing the differences between these towns on the 17th, of October, 1666. They were accompanied by many of the inhabitants, and after a careful survey, a designated line was agreed upon. The line thus consent- ed to was designated by marked trees, wherever practica-

23

ble, and in other instances, by prominent stakes, or a fence set up between the two towns. In the Canarsee mea- dows, which were esteemed valuable at that time, it was described with greater precision, and was designated by an instrument similar to the mariners compass, and was to run according to the terms of Governor Stuyvesant's Patent, granted to Midwout, in 1656, from the woodland to the mouth of the kill or creek, (now called the first creek, or Vanderveer'smill creek,) with an East line half a point northerly, without variation of compass. The award and determination of the arbitrators was made to Governor Nicolls, in accordance to the above arrange- ment, and the line being marked, and staked out, in con- formity thereto, the award received his approbation and sanction, on the 20th, day of April, 1667.

This controversy being thus happily terminated, and the southern boundary of the town permanently fixed, the inhabitants of Flatbush, in the year 1667, applied to Governor Nicolls for a confirmatory grant, to secure them in their possessions, as he was required to do, by virtue, and in pursuance of the Articles of capitulation. On the 11th, of October, in the year 1667, the Governor granted letters patent, to the freeholders and inhabitants of Mid- wout, alias Flatbush, of which, the following is a conden- sed abstract :

" Richard Nicolls, Esq. &c. Whereas there is a cer- tain town within this government, known by the name of Midwout, alias Flatbush, &c. now for a confirmation, (fee. Know ye that I have given, ratified, confirmed and grant- ed unto Mr. Johannes Megapolensis, one of the ministers of this city, Mr. Cornelius Van Ruyven, one of the justices of the peace, Adrian Hegeman, Jan Snediger, Jan Stry- ker, Frans Barents Pastor, Jacob Stryker, and Cornelius

Janse Bougaert, as Patentees, for, and on behalf, of them- selves and associates, freeholders and inhabitants of the said town, their heirs, successors and assigns; All that tract, together with the several parcels of land, which al- ready have, or hereafter shall be purchased or procured for, and on behalf of the said town ; whether from the na- tive Indian proprietors or others, within the bounds and limits hereafter set forth and expressed, viz : That is to say : The said town is bounded to the south by the Hills, to the north by the fence lately sett between them and the tOAvn of Amersfort, alias Flatlands : Beginning at a certain tree, standing upon the Little Flats, marked by or- der and determination of several arbitrators, appointed by me, to view and issue the differences between the two towns, concerning the same, w^hich accordingly they did, upon the 17th, day of October, 1666, and to the east and west by the common woodlands, including two Flats, heretofore called by the names of Corlei's and Twillei*s Flats, which lye to the east of the town : As also a par- cel of meadow ground or valley on the east northeast side of the Canarsee planting land, and having to the south the meadow ground belonging to Amersfort, alias Platlands, according to the division made by an east line •unning half a point northerly, between them, without va- cation of the compass, and so to go to the mouth of the ^reek or Kill ; which said meadows were upon the 20th, 'f April last, by common consent staked out, and by my ipprobation allowed of : All which said tracts and par- cels of land, meadow ground, &;c. Dated, October, 11th, 667."

The first settlers of Midwout, or Flatbush, were a bar- ly body of farmers, inured to labor, and acquainted more )r less, with some mechanical trade. This wascalculat-

25

ed to promote their domestic comfort, to render themselves useful to one another, and make them quite independent of extraneous aid. It is worthy of remark", that it was a ge- neral rule for every parent to cause his sons to be in- structed in some useful mechanical business, although in- tended for farmers, and that this practice was invariably continued until the commencement of the revolutionary war. In the original subdivision of the town amongst the different proprietors, it will be perceived, as above sta- ted, that the allotments of land were made only for tliose who intended to obtain the means of subsistence by the cultivation of the earth. There was therefore no provi- sion as yet made for mechanics, who might desire to make a permanent residence here. Upon the introduction of a few mechanics, it was perceived that from the ability and employments of the inhabitants generally, there was but lit- tle prospect of their being able to support themselves, and their families in any comfortable way, without the culti- vation of some land, at least for family subsistence. The attention of the inhabitants was directed to this subject, and the church lands were thereupon divided into suitable and convenient parcels, so as to accommodate the mecha- nics, and let to them for low and reasonable rents. A tract of woodland was also purchased and patented, ly- ing to the east of the town and north of what is called Flatlands Neck, expressly for the benefit of the mecha- nics, and appropriately called Renters Hook, or Mecha- nics Hook. The inhabitants of the town were at, and about that time, divided into two classes, called Keuters or mechanics, and Boers, or Farmers ; and this distinc- tion was kept up for years afterwards. The date of the Patent of Keuters Hook cannot now be ascertained with

3

26

precision, but was probably not very long after the sur- render of the country to the English.

About this time the court was removed from Flatbush to Gravesend. This was no doubt, in consequence of the latter town being chiefly settled by English emigrants, and the authorities were disposed from this circumstance to favor them. The first records of the court, now in the Clerk's oflice of the county, are dated at Gravesend, in the years 1668. — 69.

Shortly after the surrender of the colony to the English, the towns of Brooklyn, Bushwick, Midwout, or Flatbush, Amersford, or Flatlands, and New-Utrecht, were formed into a separate district, for certain purposes, by the name of the " Five Dutch Towns." For these towns a Secreta- ry or Clerk, was specially appointed, whose duties appear to have been confined to the taking acknowledgments of transports and marriage settlements, and proof of wills, &LC. In 1674, thisofHce was held by " Nicasius De Sille, in the absence of Sr. Ffrancis De Brugh." He was sue- | ceeded in the year 1675, by Machiel Hainelle, who had been schoolmaster in Flatbush during the previous year. In the acknowledgments which he took, he styles himself " Clerk," In the same year the court of Sessions for the "West Riding of Yorkshire,* which tlien sat in Gravesend, after setting forth the appointment of Hainelle, and call- ing him " Secretary," declared, " It is the opinion of the court, that for what publique or private business he shall doe, he ought to have reasonable satisfacon."

* The West Riding was composed of the towns of Brooklyn, Bush- wich, Flatbush, Flatlands, Ncw-Utrccht and Gravesend, together with Staten Island and Newtown.

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New Lots, which was originally called Ostwout, or East- Woods, on account of its lying east of Midwout or the Old Town of Flatbush, was no doubt purchased and procured from the native Indian proprietors, by the inha- bitants of Midwout. But at what particular time cannot be distinctly ascertained. It was probably not far from the period when the Patent of Governor Nicolls was grant- ed, which was in 1667. It was a tract of woodland co- vered with the same description of timber as that of Mid- wout. Its situation was also somewhat similar, having the Hills on the north, the Bay, which was then called the Sea, on the south, and extending easterly to the bounds of Jamaica. An extensive tract of meadows was includ- ed in these limits, lying in front of the upland, and ex- tending to the Bay. All this land appears to have been subdivided in the same manner, as Midwout, or the Old Town of Flatbush, and the church also received its share in such allotment, with the inhabitants of the town. The meadow was, without doubt, also subdivided about the same time, and similarly allotted, as the upland. This opinion appears to be confirmed by the fact, that the first conveyances of land recorded in the town records always include one or more parcels of meadow therewith. The meadows must also have been esteemed valuable, on ac- count of producing spontaneously an annual crop of hay, and that, without previous labor or tillage. This tract of country generally was called the New Lands, and princi- pally settled by the inhabitants of Midwout, or the Old Town, and afterwards assumed the name of the New- Lots. The Patent for this was obtained under the ad- ministration of Sir, Edmond Andros, the second English Governor, to which we shall advert presently.

In the year 1665, a meeting of delegates from the seve- ral towns on Long-Island, was held at Hempstead, for the

28

purpose of adjusting any conflicting claims to lands, and settling the boundaries of the several towns, and of receiv- ing and acknowledging the code of laws, which had been prepared by the Duke of York, for the government of the Colony, commonly called the " Dukes Laws." At this meeting; the Governor himself attended, and the delegates "were so much orratified with his manners, and the liberal views which he professed on the occasion, that they drew up, and signed an address to His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, full of gratitude and loyalty, but at which, as soon as their constituents found that they were to have no voice in the selection of magistrates, or a share in le- gislation, they manifested their disapprobation, and censu- red the deputies with so much severity, that the civil au- thorities thought it necessary to interfere. And accord- ingly, at a court of As-size, held in October, 1666, it was resolved that whoever thereafter should detract, or speak against any of the deputies, signing the address to His Royal Highness, at the general meeting at Hempstead, should be presented to the next court of Sessions : and if the justices should see cause, they should thence be bound over to the Assizes, there to answer for the slander by plaint or information.

The delegates who attended this convention from Flat- l)ush, and signed the address, were John Stryker and Hendrick Gucksen. It is not necessary here to give any summary of the Dukes Laws, which were then promul- gated, and continued to be the law of the land until Octo- ber, 1683. There are in them many quite curious provi- sions. There was nothing in them peculiar to any town, except the fixing the mark by which horses were to be ■ branded. Each town was required to have a marking or flesh brand for this purpose. The town mark for Flat- bush was the letter O.

t

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It is probable that at this assembly, which fixed the bounds of the several towns, the names of many of them were altered. The town of Rutsdorpe, was called Jamai- ca, Amersfort was changed to Flatlands, Middleburgh to Newtown, and Midwout to Flatbush, or Flakkebos,that is, Flat Woods. This name was given to it from its being situated on an apparently level plain, and surrounded on almost every side by woods. But it is here proper to re- mark, that the ground in and about Flatbush, is far from being a dead level. It is an inclined plane gradually ex- tendino; and lesseninor in inclination to its southern boun- dary. Hence, here are no stagnant pools or marshes, but all surplus water from rains and storms, passes offgradu- ally, but yet in a very short period to the ocean. This renders the situation of the town healthful, and hence it has seldom if ever, been visited with any prevailing epide- mic.

The tract of country now comprising the town of Flat- bush as we have stated, was originally obtained by pur- chase from the Canarsee Indians, who were the true and original owners. The first Dutch settlers of the town, in their various purchases of the Indian proprietors, dealtfair- ly and honorably with them. They did not drive them from their possessions by force, but gave what was then esteem- ed by themselves to be a valuable consideration, for their lands. This integrity and uprightness of conduct, secured a lasting friendship with the Canarsee Indians, which con- tinued till the total extinction of that Tribe. These purchases were confirmed to the inhabitants of Flatbush by sundry Patents, issued to them by the Dutch and En- glish Governors.

The inhabitants continued in the peaceable enjoyment of these premises thus obtained, without any claim, hindrance or molestation, from any person or persons, until the year

3*

so

1670, when Eskemoppas, Sachem of Rockaway, and his two brothel^, laid claim to the same, as the true Indian owners and proprietors thereof. There can be no doubt, that this claim was ill founded, but the Dutch inhabitants of the town for the purpose of quieting the title to their possessions, consented to take a conveyance from him and his two brothers, for which they paid a valuable considera- tion, vrhich is set forth in a schedule subjoined to their deed. It may be gratifying to some to know the terms of this purchase, and the contents of this ancient document. The Deed is as follows : — " To all christian people to whom this present writing shall come : Eskemoppas, Sa- chem of Rockaway, upon Long Island, Kinnarimas and Ahawaham, his brothers, send greeting : Whereas they the said Sachem, Eskemoppas and his two brothers, aforementioned, do lay clainv to the land now in the ten- ure and occupation of the inhabitants of Midwout, alias Flatbush, as well as to other lands thereto adjacent, as the right born Indian owners, and proprietors thereof: Know ye, that for, and in consideration of certain sums of see- want, a certain sum of wampum and divers other goods (hereinafter specified,) unto the said Sachem, and his bro- thers, in hand paid, and received, from Adrian Hegeman, Jacob Stryker, Hendrich Jorise and Jan Hansen, for and on behalf of themselves and the rest of the inhabitants of Mid- wout, alias Flatbush, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, and themselves to be fully satisfied and paid : Have given, granted, contracted and sold, and by these presents, freely and absolutely do give, grant, bar- gain and sell, unto the said Adrian Hegeman, Jacob Stry. ker, Hendrick Jorise and Jan Hansen, for and in behalf of themselves and the inhabitants aforesaid, their heirs and successors : All that parcel and tract of land where the said town of Midwout stands, together with all the

31

lands lying therein, stretching on the east side to the limits of Newtown and Jamaica, on the south side to the meadow ground and limits of Amersfort ; on the west side to the bounds of Gravesend and New- Utrecht, and on the north side along the Hills ; that is to say, all those lands within the limits aforementioned that have not been already purchased by any of the inha- bitants of the town aforementioned, nor is granted to any in their respective Patents. And also excepting such meadow or valley in the possession of the said inhabitants and in their Patent particularly set forth. To have and to hold, all the said parcel and tract of land and premises together with all and singular, every thing thereunto be- longing, or in any wise appertaining, as before mentioned, together with the said valley or meadow ground, unto the said Adrian Hegeman, Jacob Stryker, Hendrick Jorise and Jan Hansen, for, and on behalf of the inhabitants afore- said, their heirs and successors, to the proper use and be- half of the said inhabitants, their heirs and successors for- ever. In witness whereof, the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals, this 20th, day of April, in the 22d, year of his Majesty's Reign, in the year of our Lord, 1670.

ESKEMOPPAS, ^ mark, (seal.) KINNARIMAS, b) mark, (seal.) AHAWAHAM, ^ mark, (seal.)

Signed and delivered in the presence of

Thomas Lovelace, Cornelius Van Ruyven.

Recorded the day and year within written,

Per Mathias Nicolls, Secretary.

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The payment agreed upon for the purchase herein mentioned, was as follows : viz :

10 Fathoms of black seewant or (wampum.) 10 Fathoms of white seewant or (wampum.) 5 Match coats of Duffells.

4 Blankets. 2 Gunners sight guns. 2 Pistols.

5 Double handfulls of Powder, (gispen bunches of

powder.)

5 Bars of Lead. 4 10 Knives.

2 Secret aprons of Duffells, (Cuppas of DufTell.) 1 Half fat or halfbarrell of Strong Beer.

3 Cans of Brandy.

6 Shirts. All the above particulars were received by the Sachem,

and his two brothers, in the presence of the persons under written, as witnesses hereof.

John Manning,

Sylvester Salisbury,

John Hough,

Jacob Van Cortlandt, i ci i t i

Teunis Jacob Hav, ( f'PPOsed Judges or

Edward Carlisle.' S ""'''' "^ ""' ^''^'"'-

Acknowledged before me, the Sachem and his two bro- thers, and the goods delivered in my presence, the day and year within written.

FRANCIS LOVELACE."

It was one of the provisions of the Duke's Laws, that no purchase of land from the Indians should be valid with- out a licence from the Governor to make such purchase, and the purchaser was required to bring the Sachem or

t

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33

right owner, before the Governor, to confess satisfaction. It was in accordance with this provision, that not only Jus- tices were appointed to superintend the above purchase, but the Sachem and his brothers appeared before Gover- nor Lovelace, and in his presence the payments were made, and the purchase concluded. The provisions rela- tive to purchases from the Indians, to which we have alluded, were subsequently adopted, and embodied in a specific act, by the first Colonial Assembly, which met in the year 1683, under Governor Dongan.

So much of the land thus acquired as the inhabitants of Flatbush had occasion for, they took up, enclosed, and improved. The rest was left in common, until by the in- crease of their population it should be needed. They re- mained thus in quiet possession of all their lands until the year 1675, when Captain Richard Betts laid claim to a certain parcel or tract, lying in the New Lots, for which he said he had obtained a deed from the Indians, of prior date to the one just recited, given in the year 1668. We are not able to locate precisely the premises thus called in question. The matter was tried at the court of Ses- sions, held in Gravesend, for that year, when the deed of Mr. Betts was allowed, and a verdict given in his favor. But an appeal was taken by the inhabitants of the town, to the General Court of Assizes, which was holden in the same year, 1675, in the city of New-York. Hereupon a full and fair hearing of the case, the verdict rendered at the court of Sessions was set aside, and the court ordered, as follows : — " That the land shall lye in common to fflatbush, and the townes adjacent, as it heretofore hath been, and that the towns who have the beneffit of the com- onage shall pay their equall proportion of the purchase money to the Indyans and costs of this suite."

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It was probably in consequence of this suit, that the in- habitants of Flatbush sought and obtained a separate pa- tent for that part of the town called New-Lots. This was granted by Gov. Edmond Andros on the 25th day of March, in the year 1677, to Arian Lamberse and others, to the number of thirty-seven persons. This Patent we have not been able to procure. It was probably granted on condi- tion of the payment of a certain quit rent to the Governor, which opinion is confirmed from the fact, that complaint was subsequently made to the court of Sessions, held at Gravesend, against the constable of New Lots, for not ta- king up and paying over the same, upon which diverse or- ders were passed by the court relating thereto. About the time of the settlement of New Lots, several of the in- habitants of Midwout, or Flatbush, also removed to New- Jersey, and formed settlements on the Raritan and Milstone rivers, and also in the county of Monmouth, then called Neversink. Their numerous descendents now occupy these and other different parts of New-Jersey.

Shortly after this period, it would appear from some re- cords of the Court of Sessions, held at Gravesend, that there was some dissatisfaction between the towns of Flat- bush and Flatlands, relative to their boundary line. It was fixed under the administration of Governor Nicolls, in the year 1666. But another award and agreement on the subject was made, bearing date the 11th day of May, 1677. What the precise terms of this agreement were, we are un- able to tell, as we have not been able to find the document. But not long after, it appears from the following extracts, from the records of the court, that the town of Flatlands complained of some trespass committed by the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush. At the session of the court held June 1679, we find the following record. "The inhabitants

35

of fflatlands, complayning that the inhabitants of Flatbush have trespassed upon the land belonging to fflatlands aforesaid, contrary to an award made and agreed upon between both towns, and an order of court punctually to observe the same, which being proved by the constable, and one of the oversees of Flatlands, aforesaid, and they not appearing to answer the complaint, and for their con- tempt in not observing the said award and order of court. The court orders that the said inhabitants shall pay as a fine to the publique, the sum of ten pounds, and to observe the said order of court. They also complayn, that the inhabitants of Flatbush have chopt of the marke of a tree, &c. To be deferred to the next court of Sessions, and thev to have notice of it to answer the same."

In December of the same year, (1679,) is the following record on the same subject. " The inhabitants of Flat- lands complain of the inhabitants of Flatbush, for trespass- ing on their lands, contrary to an award made and agreed upon as hath formerly been made appear, and the said in- habitants of Flatbush fined the last court, the sum of ten pounds, for not observing the said award and agi'eement. Severall debates arising about running the line, the court being satisfyed the inhabitants of Flatbush committed a trespass upon the inhabitants of Flatlands, doe order that the said fine shall be forthwith paid, or else exccucon to issue forth for the same. The defendants moved for an appeal, which is granted."

We might here introduce several somewhat curious ex- tracts from the minutes of the court of Sessions, relative to the town. We will simply present the following :

In 1681, it is recorded, " The court doe order, that John Gerritson Van Marken, shall deliver up to the constable and overseers of Flatbush, all the books and writings be-

36

longing to the town aforesaid, which, if he shall refuse to deliver, that then the constable of the said town is hereby ordered and empowered to take them from the said Mar- ken."

In the same year, " There being a strange man in the custody of the constable of Flatbush, and no person lay- ing claim to him, the court order ye man shall be apprais- ed and sold, and if any person shall hereafter lay lawful claim to him, and desire to have him again, he paying what lawi'ul charges are out upon him, may have him again."

In the same year, (1681,) is the following : " At the re- quest of some of the inhabitants of Flatbush, this court doe order, that the constable of the town give speedy notice to the inhabitants, that tlrey forthwith fence their cornfields, and after legal warning given, any person shall be found defective herein, that then said person or persons, so offen- ding, shall be proceeded against, according to law, and to be complained against at the next Sessions."

In 1682, is the following : "Upon the complaint of the constable of Flatbush, that there are severall persons in the said town, who doe refuse to pay there minister. The court doe order, that such persons who sliall refuse to pay their said minister, it shall betaken from them by distress." From the general prevalence of the voluntary principle at the present day, in the support of the gospel, and the abolishing of the unlioly union of church and state, we look almost with wonder at such provisions and enact- ments.

In the year 1683, there is another record relative to an alleged trespass b)^ the inhabitants of Flatbush, upon the town of Flatlands, of nearly the same import with the one which we have quoted above, but we need not recite it.

S7

In 1685, in an action between Derick Storm, and the in- habitants of Flatbush, it is recorded, " An agreement read between Storm and Joseph Hegeman, Cornelius Ber- rian, John Stryker, William Guilliamsen, and others, in behalf of ye town of Fflatbush, uppon which. Storm prayed a sallarry, may be allowed him, for serving the town as schoolmaster to their children. Ordered that Court Steephens and Symou Jansen, examine ye accounts, and agreement between them, and these partys to stand to their determination."

In the same year, Theodorus Polhemus, for refusing to stand constable for Flatbush, although legally elected, was by the court fined five pounds to the public.

On the 7th, of November, 1685, at the session of the second colonial assembly, held under the administration of Governor Dongan, an act was passed for removing the court of Sessions of Kings county, from Gravesend to Flatbush. The cause for this, stated in the preamble of the act, is the inconvenience to which the inhabitants of the county are subjected, in travelling so far as Gravesend. Flatbush is about the geographical centre of the county of Kings, and afforded in this respect the most eligible pla<?e for holding the courts and presented the least disadvanta- ges to the inhabitants of the county, who might have ju- dicial business to attend to. It was thenceforth named as the seat of justice for the county, and continued such till the year 1832, when the court-house was destroyed by fire. A court-house was accordingly erected in Flatbush, in 1686, for the accommodation of the county, on the spot of ground v/hich is still called the court-house lot. It re- 'mained till a larger one was built in the year 1758, an account of which we shall subsequently give.

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A controversy arose as early as 1678, between Flat- bush and Brooklyn, relative the boundary line between the respective towns. The northern boundary of the town of Flatbush according to their purchase from the In- dian proprietors and the patent which they had obtained was described to be by the hills. The inhabitants of Brooklyn, contended that their right of ownership extend- ed to the foot of the hills, and that this was the true and proper boundary line between the two towns, and that the Indian conveyances to both parties would admit of this and of no other construction. The inhabitants of Mid- wout on the other hand, contended, that such a construc- tion of their northern boundary interfered with their just rights, and would lead to great embarrassment, doubt and uncertainty ; nay, that from the general surface of the town of Flatbush, being an inclined plane, gradually slo- ping to the south, such a construction would locate their northern boundary in the town of Flatlands, and perhaps even in the Bay, or waters edge. In consequence of this difference, the matter was submitted to the decision of the ♦

Court of Sessions. At a session of that court, held at

j

Gravesend, on the 18th, of December, 1678, the subject ; of difference was, by consent of both towns, referred to i Captain Jaques Cortelyou, and Captain Richard Stillwell, to decide, and it was ordered that their " report should be determinative." Messrs. Cortelyou and Stillwell complied with the requisition of the court, and five years after- wards submitted the following report.

" To the Worshipfull Court of Sessions, now sitting at Gravesend, June 21st, 1683. These may certific, that in obedience to an order from said court, and by consent of both towns, of Brooklyn and Flatbush, to runnthe line be-

39

twixt the said townes which are we underwritten have done, and marked the trees betwixt towne and towne, as wittnesse our hands, the daye and yeare above written,

JACQUES CORTELYOU, RICHARD STILLWELL."

One of the trees thus marked by these arbitrators was a large white oak, standing near what is called the Port Road, and mentioned in the Patent granted by Governor Dongan, as one of the boundaries of the town. This tree remained till the time of the revolutionary war, when it was cut down by the Americans, and fallen across the road for the purpose of intercepting the British. A red free stone monument, with a proper inscription has subse- quently been set up, at and near the stump of this tree, (which is yet in existence) by General Jeremiah Johnson, on the part of Brooklyn, and John C. Vanderveer, Esq. on the part of Flatbush. But unfortunately the stone has been so defaced by certain persons, who seem to take de- light in mutilating every thing, that only a few letters of the inscription can now be decyphered.

The award of Messrs. Cortelyou and Stillwell, relative to the boundary line, notwithstanding the order of the court, appears not to have been " determinative." For in the next year, 1684, the line was run out by Philip Wells, a surveyor of Staten Island, and Jacobus Cortland, who were appointed for this purpose, by the two towns.

The certificate of these gentlemen, is in the words fol- lowing : " To satisffie whom itt may concerne, that I be- ing with Mr. Jacobus Cortland, about the 20th, day off November, 1684, imployed by Breuckland and Fflack- bush, to vew and run out the line betweene the two townes, to the south of the hills, found that the line run

40

f!brmerly by Capts. Jaques Cortelyou and Mr. Stilwell, is right and just, which wee both being agreed, give in our approbation of the same.

PHILIP WELLS, Surveyor:'

Staaten-Island, in the County of Richmond, this 4th, day of April, 1687."

Notwithstanding this, differences continued to exist for some years subsequently, but at length they have been amicably settled, upon the following principles, viz : That the summit of the hills or the first perceptible southerly declivity of any hill, should be deemed and taken as the fixed and determined line, and wherever the hills are cut off or interrupted by an intervening valley or hollow, the boundary line should extend in the shortest possible direc- tion, from the summit of one hill to that of the opposite one. In conformity with this determination, proper monuments have been placed on the boundary lines, to prevent, if pos- sible, all future disputes.

At an early period distinctive names were given to the several parts of the village of Flatbush. The north end was called Steenraap or Stone Gathering ; the south end, Rustenburgh, or resting place or borough ; while the centre was denominated Dorp, or the Town. The Dutch words appropriated to either end of the village were appropriate, inasmuch as the ground on the north end of the town con- tains many small stones, on, and just below the surface, while comparatively few of these are found in the south end, which in consequence is more easy to cultivate. In the northern section of the town, on the farm now in posses- sion of the Widow Lefferts, were erected at an early period, two brick kilns, one on the back of the farm, and another near the large pond, not far from the main road, which from

^1

this circumstance has obtained the naipe of the Stein Bakerie Pond. At these kilns brick were burnt for the use of the inhabitants, but only small remains of them are now to be seen.

On the 12th, day of November, 1685, the inhabitants of Flatbush applied to, and obtained from Colonel Thomas Dongan, the fourth English Governor of the Colony of New- York, a confirmatory Patent for the whole town, including the several former grants, or Patents of Midwout, or Flat- bush, the Canarsee Meadows, Keuters Hook and Oustwout, or New-Lots. This Patent runs thus, to wit :

" Thomas Dongan, Lieutenant Governor and Vice- Admiral of New- York, &c., under his majesty James the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.. Supreme Lord and Proprietor of the Colony and Province of New- York and its dependencies in America. To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth Greeting : Whereas, there is a certain town in Kings County, upon Long- Island, called and known by the name of Midwout, alias, Flatbush, the bounds whereof, begin at the mouth of the Fresh Kill, and so along by a certain Ditch which lies betwixt Amersfort and Flatbush Meadows, and so running along the ditch and fence to a certain white oak marked tree, and from thence upon a straight line to the western- Bfiost point of a small island of woodland lying before John Stryker's bridge ; and from thence with a straight line to the northwest hook or corner of the ditch of John Oakies meadow ; and from thence along the said ditch and fence to the swamp of the Fresh Kill, and so along the swamp and hollow of the aforesaid Kill to the land of Keuter's Hook ; thence along the same to a

marked white oak tree ; from thence with a straight line

4.*

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to B. black oak marked tree standing upon the northeast side of Twiller's Flats, hawing a small snip of flats upon the southeast side of the line ; and so from thence to a white oak tree standing to the west side of Moschito Hole to a small island, leaving a snip of flats in the Flatlands bounds; and from thence to a certain marked tree or stump, standing by the highway which goes to Flatlands upon the Little Flats, about twenty rods from Flatbush Lots, and so along the fence six hundred Dutch rods, to the comer of Flatbush fence, and so along the rear of the lots to a sassafras stump standing in Cornelius Jansen Ber- rian's lot of land ; and from thence with a straight line to a certain old marked tree or stump, standing by the Rush Pond under the hills, and so along upon the south side of the hill till it comes to the west end of the Long Hill, and so along upon the south side of the said hill, till it comes to the east end of the long hill ; and then with a straight line from the east end of the said long hill, to a marked white oak tree, standing to the west side of the road, near the place called the gate or port of hills ; and so from the east side of the port or gate aforesaid upon the south side of the main hills, as far as Brooklyn Patent doth extend ; and so along the said hills to the bounds of Jamaica Patent ; and from thence with a southerly line, to the kill or creek by the east of the Plunders Neck, and so along the said kill to the sea, as according to the several deeds or purchases from the Indian owners, the Patent from Governor Nicolls, and the award between Brooklyn and the town of Flatbush, relation thereunto being had, doth more fully and at large appear ; And, whereas, application to me hath been made for a confirmation of the aforesaid tract and parcels of land and premises : Now Know ye, that by virtue of the commission and authority unto me given by his majesty,

43

James the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scot- land, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, Supreme Lord and Proprietor of the Province of New- York, in consideration of the premises and the quit rent hereinafter reserved, I have given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these presents, do give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto Cornelius Vanderwyck, John Okie, Joseph Hegeman, Aries Jansen Vanderbilt, Lafibrd Pieterson, William Guilliamsen, Hendrick Williamse, Pieter Wil- liamse, Arien Ryers, Peter Stryker, John Stryker, John Remsen, Jacob Hendricks, Derick Vandervleet, Hendrick Ryck, Okie Johnson, Daniel Polhemus, Peter Lott, Cor- nelius Vanderveer, Derick Johnson Hooglandt, Denise Teunis, John Johnson, Ditimus Lewis Jansen, William Jacobs, Hendrick Hegeman and Garrit Lubbertse, for and on the behalf of themselves and their associates, all the freeholders and inhabitants of the said town of Flatbush, and to their heirs and assigns forever, all the before recited tract and tracts, parcel and parcels, of land and islands within the said bounds and limits, together with all and singular, the woods, underwoods, plains, hills, meadows, pastures, quarries, marshes, waters, lakes, causeways, rivers, beaches, houses, buildings, fishing, hawking, hunt- ing and fowling, with all liberties, privileges, heredita- ments and appurtenances to the said tract of land and premises belonging, or in any wise appertaining : To have and to hold the said tract of land and premises before mentioned, and intended to be given, granted and con- firmed, unto the said Cornelius Vanderwyck, John Okie, Joseph Hegeman, Aries Jansen Vanderbilt, Lafibrd Pie- terson, William Guilliamsen, Hendrick Williamse, Peter Guilliamsen, Arien Ryers, Peter Stryker, John Stryker, John Remsen, Jacob Hendricks, Derick Vandervleet, Hendrick Ryck, Okie Johnson, Daniel Polhemus, Peter

44

Lott, Cornelius Vanderveer, Derick Johnson Hooglandf, Denise Teunis, John Johnson, Ditimus Lewis Jansen, William Jacobs, Hendrick Hegeman, and Garrit Lub- bertse, the said patentees and their associates, their heirs and assigns, forever. To be holden of his majesty in free and common soccage, according to the tenure of East Greenwick, in the county of Kent, in his majesty's king- dom of England : Yielding, rendering, and paying there- for, yearly, and every year, at the city of New- York, unto his majesty, his heirs or successors, or to his or their offi- cer or officers, as by him or them shall be appointed to re- ceive the same, eighteen bushels of good merchantable wheat, on or before the five and twentieth day of March, yearly and every year.

" In Testimony whereof, I have caused these presents to be entered upon record, in the Secretary's office in the said Province, and the seal thereof, have hereunto affixed, and signed with my hand, this twelfth day of November, in the first year of his majesty's reign. Anno Domini, 1685.

THOMAS DONGAN."

It will be perceived, that by the above recited Patent granted by Governor Dongan, to the freeholders and inha- bitants of the town of Midwout alias Flatbush, that the te- nure by which they held their lands is denominated a te- nure " in free and common soccage," The tenures of lands which were authoratively established in England, in the reicm of William the Conqueror, were principally of two kinds, according to the services annexed. They were either denominated tenures by knight service, or tenures in free and common soccage. The tenures by knight service, in which the services were occasionally uncertain, were altogether of a military nature, and esteemed highly hono- rable according to the martial spirit of the times. These

45

tenures however, in addition to the obligation of fealty and the military services of forty days in a year, were subject to certain other hard conditions, which we need not here enumerate, but which gradually rendered them more and more oppressive and increased the power of the feudal lords. At length upon the restoration of Charles the Se- cond, to the crown of Great Britain, the tenure by knight service with all its grievous incidents, was abolished by law, and the tenure of land was, for the most part, turned into free and common soccage, and every thing oppressive in that tenure was also abolished.

A soccage tenure according to which the town of Mid- wout, or Flatbush, was patented, denotes lands held by a fixed and determinate service which is not military nor in the power of the lord to vary at his pleasure. It was the certainty and specific nature of the service, duty, or rend- er, wiiich made this species of tenure such a safeguard against the wanton exactions of the feudal lords, and ren- dered it of such inestimable value in view of the ancient English. It was deemed by them a point of the utmost im- portance, to change their tenures by knight service, into te- nures by soccage.

All lands granted by Patent by Governor Dongan, and the other subsequent English governors, were in hee and common soccage, and subject to an annual render or rent charge, called quit rent. In the Patent of the town of Mid- wout, this render or rent charge was fixed at eighteen bush- els of good winter merchantable wheat, to be yielded, ren- dered and paid yearly and every year, at the city of New- York, on or before the 25th, of March, in every year to the king, his heirs and successors, or to such officer or officers as he or they should appoint to receive the same. This render and delivery of wheat, was regularly and annually

46

made by the freeholders and inhabitants of this town, to an officer residing in the city of New- York, appointed to re- ceive the same, and styled " the Receiver General." The quit rent continued to be paid in kind, till it became more convenient for the inhabitants to pay, and the crown to re- ceive money, in the place of wheat. The Receiver General was then authorized and required in equity and good conscience, to estimate the standard value of wheat in money. According to his determination, wheat was valued in money, at four shillings and eight pence a bushel. New- York currency. This appears to have been the standard value thereof for years. From this time onward, the quit rents of the town were regularly paid in money, according to the then estimated value every year, until the 25th, day of March, 1762. Why the payments were not regularly and annually continued, from and after that time, does not appear. The delay may perhaps be ascribed to the agita- tions then existing in the country, caused by events M^hich led to the war of the revolution.

Soccage tenures are however considered by Chancellor Kent, from whose commentaries on American laws, the above recited account of tenures is taken, as of feudal ex- traction, and retain some of the leading properties of feuds. But most of the feudal incidents and consequences of soc- cage tenures were expressly abolished in the State of New. York, shortly after the termination of the revolutionary war, and they are wholly and entirely annihilated by the Revised Statutes, which took effect on the 1st, of January, 1830. But soccage lands were not to be deemed discharg- ed of any rents, certain or other services, incident or be- longing to tenure in soccage, due to the people of the State (who were considered to stand in the place of the crown.) Therefore on the 1st, day of April, 1786, the Legislature

47

of this State passed an Act, entitled " An Act for the collec- tion and commutation of Quit Rents." By this act it is provided that it shall and may be lawful to, and for every person and persons, being citizens of the United States, who is, or shall be seized of any lands, or tenements, in this State, charged with an annual quit rent, to commute for the same, by paying fourteen shillings for every shil- ling, of such annual quit rent, at any time on or be- fore the first day of May, 1787, in any public secu- rities receivable in payment on sales of confiscated estates, or in any other securities or certificates, is- sued or to be issued by the Treasurer of this State, and at the same rate, such securities and certificates are re- ceivable in payment for confiscated estates, to the Treasur- er of this State, for the time being, for the use of the people of this State : and the said Treasurer shall, upon such pay- ment, give the person making such payment a receipt or certificate, expressing the sum paid, the annual quit rent in lieu of which the same is paid, and the land on which the said annual quit rent was charged or reserved, and shall enter the same receipt in a book, by him to be kept for that purpose, which receipt or certificate, or the entry thereof, shall be a good discharge of such quit rent forever.

Incompliance whh the provisions of the Act above recit- ed, the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush purchased pub- lic 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 receipt, or cer- tificate.

" Patent granted to the inhabitants of Flatbush, in Kings County, dated 12th November, 1685, Quit Rent, eighteen bushels wheat per annum.

4d

years. Balance due 25th, March, 1765. 3 12 12.

From 25th, March, 1765,

to 25th, Decern, 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 al- lowed 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 com- mutation 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 histo- ry of the town of Midwout, which was brought down to the time in which Governor Dongan administered the Coloni- al Government. The woodlands still remained in common and undivided, because the farms previously allotted, had all along furnished timber sufficient for building, fuel and other needful purposes. But as these resources began gradually to diminish, it became necessary as well asdic-

49

tated by prudence, that some oider should be taken on thfe partition and division of the common woodlands. About the year 1700, these lands were surveyed, and laid olf in separate allotments or grand divisions, and these were again severallysubdivided into forty-eight smaller allotments,cor- responding 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 allotted 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 similar lots, and allotted in like manner, with the excep- tion of one lot in the Canarsee Meadows, which was set apart for the use of the schoolmaster, for the time being. Corlaer'^ and Twiller's Flats, so called after the names of the original purchasers, Anthony Van Corlaer and Wou- ter Van T wilier, the first Dutch governor, were also pre- viously subdivided, but not fully alloted, with the exception 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 meetings, two persons were chosen to guard the interests of the town in regard to their meets and bounds, as set forth in their

5

50

Patent. These were called " Dorps mannen," or Towns- men, and subsequently Defenders of the Patent. This controversy appears not to have been satisfactorily adjust- ed until the year 1721.

Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, remained unoccupied until 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 History of the town.

On the 12th of November, 1695, the court made an order requiring each of the towns to cause to be im- mediately 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.

"Toa 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 several inhabitants, who were kept in subjection and punished for minor offences, in this summary manner. We have rea- son to be thankful that under the benign influence 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 century, 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 & Aldworth, and another on the property of Rem Vander- bilt, the proprietor of the farm now in the tenure of Mat- thew Clarkson, Esq. The public brewery was divided into fourteen shares, which were subdivided into halves and perchance 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 estab- lishment. These rights were disposed of by deed or testa- mentary 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 subject. 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 American 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 until it came witliin 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 usual- ly 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

5S

tiles, which were imported from Holland ornamented with various scenes, some of which were of a Scriptural cha- racter. 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 Renters. 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 ac- quainted 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 carpentering, 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 fam- ily, white as well as colored, were manufactured at home, nor was she considered a suitable candidate for matrimo- ny 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

5*

54

spend a sociable afternoon with a neighbor. Nor did they even refuse to help the males in the field during the har- vest, 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 disturb 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 premises. When the first imported carpets were introduced we know not, l*ut 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, characterised 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 toFlatbush, found him living alone in the cellar of the house which stood separate from the other dwellings, and murdered him — thus glutting their revenge. During the first half of the last century, the inhabitants of Flatbush were chiefly en- gaged 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 cen- tury the farmers depended entirely upon their barn yards to furnish the means ofenriching their lands, together with such quantities of shell lime as they could manufacture for themselves. There was a lime kiln, situated not far from the place now occupied by the public pound, at which, large quantities of shells were burnt. The lime thus pro- cured^ was spread upon the ground, and tended, no doubt,

56

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 answer a good purpose, and then three other persons, viz. John LefTerts, Cornelius Vanderveer, and Judge Lott, united with him in carting it from the ferry. It could then be purchased as a very moderate rate. From that time the attention of the farm- ers was more directly turned to the enrichino; of their lands, and vast quantities of manures of various kinds have since been employed, in consequence of which, tlie 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 jailoi', 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 email, 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 sto- ries, 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 pro- bably that the erection was to be a frame building. John Vanderbilt, Johannes E. Lott and Charles Doughty, Esqs., were first appointed the Commissioners to superin- tend the building of this court-house and jail. Mr. Van- derbilt having resigned the appointment, Rutgert Van Brunt, was afterwards commissioned in his place. The old building was then sold at public auction. It was pur- chased by Michael Van Cleef, for the sum of seventy-one pounds. The timber was afterwards bought by the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, 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, surmount- ed 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 ju- dicial business, were removed to Brooklyn.

The ancient government of the town of Flatbush was si- milar 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 villages, with more or less power, as he judged proper. Usually these public officers were a scout or constable, a clerk and an assessor, all of which, were appointed by the Govern- or. 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 dy- nasty of New-Netherlands. After the surrender of the 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 ta- ken 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 voiyos of the freeholders in each

59

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 consta- ble for the yeare ensuing, is to bee chosen out of that num- ber 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 writing, under oath, to the next justice of the peace. They togeth- er with the constable, made all assessments. If any over- seer 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 overseers, of church affairs. They and the constable were frequent- ly 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 coat

60

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 Aeartsen, 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 Flat- bush, 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 Stoflle 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 I 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 record- ed meeting, made choice of Samuel Garretson, of Graves- end, 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 compen=!ation 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.-8177.56.

The following is a list of the Supervisors of the town of Flatbush, from the year 1703, to the present time.

6

62

Names.			Dates.
Aris Vanderbilt,	From	April	, 1703 to	Apr	il 1705
Daniel Polhemus,	a	ii	1705	ii	1706
Jacob Hendrick Ryck,	a	ii	1706	a	1707
Aris Jansen Vanderbilt,	u	ii	1707	ii	1708
Jan Vanderveer,	ii	ii	1708	a	1710
Benjamin Hegeman,	a	ii	1710	a	1711
Ryck Hendricks,	a	a	1711	a	1712
Jan Cornel ise,	a	a	1712	ii	1713
Jacob Hendrickson,	ii	ii	1713	a	1714
Ryck Hendrickson,	a	a	1714	ii	1715
John Vanderveer,	u	ii	1715	a	1716
Daniel Remse,	u	a	1716	a	1717
Jacob Suydam	((	a	1771	a	1718
Dominicus Vanderveer,	ii	ii	1718	ii	1719
Lieut. Philip Nagle,	u	a	1719	ii	1720
Cornelius Cornell,	u	ii	1720	ii	1721
Abraham Lott,	((	ii	1721	a	1722
Ryck Hendrickson,	«	ii	1722	ii	1723
John Vanderveer,	i(	a	1723	a	1724
Cornelius Cornell,	i(	ii	1724	ii	1726
Peter Lefferts,	((	a	1726	a	1727
Johannes Ditmarse,	ii	a	1727	ii	1728
Ryck Suydam,	ii	ii	1728	a	1741
John Van Kerk,	ii	ii	1741	a	1743
Peter Stryker,	n	ii	1743	ii	1744
John Van Kerk,	n	ii	1744	ii	1749
Dominicus Vanderveer,	ii	ii	1749	ii	1751
Johannes Lott, Jun.	((	Oi	1751	ii	1759
Jeremias Vanderbilt,	ii	a	1759	a	1763
Johannes Lott, Jun.	ii	ii	1763	a	1782.
Philip Nagel,	((	a	1782	li	1787.

63

Johannes J. Lott, From April, 1787 to April 1804.

John C. Vanderveer, " " 1804 " 1832.

John WyckofF, " " 1832 to Feby. 1837.

Isaac Cortelyou,	From Febry. 1837 " 1839
Jacob Rapelje,	" " 1839 toApl. 1841
Isaac Cortelyou,	" April 1841 '• 1842

The following is a list of the Town Clerks of the town of Flatbush, from the year 1659, to the year 1842.

Names.

Adrian Hegeman, from

Jacop Joosten, '•

Francays De Bruynne, "

Michael Hainelle, "

Jan Gerrit Van Marckje, "

Derick Storm, "

Johannes Van Eklen, "

Johannes Schenck, "

Abraham Lott, "

Jan Gancell, "

Adrian Hegeman, "

Jores Remsen, "

Jeremias Van Der Bilt, " Petrus Van Steenbergh John LefTerts, Philip Nagle,

John Van Der Bilt, «

John C. Vanderveer, " Garret Stryker,

Abraham Vanderveer "

Garret Stryker, "

Adrian Hegeman, "

u

II

n

	Dates.
1659	to	1771
1671	u	1673
1673	ii	1674
1674	u	1675
1675	u	1680
1680	u	1683
1683	ii	1700
1700	li	1711
1711	ii	1716
1716	ii	1719
1716	ii	1741
1741	i(	1754
1754	ii	1762
1762	ii	1773
1773	ii	1776
1776	ii	1792
1792	ii	1794
1794	ii	1804
1804	ii	1810
1810	ii	1816
1816	ii	1819
1819	ii	1823-

	64			,
William Ellsworth,	From	1823	to	1827
William Hegeman,	((	1827	u	1828
John A. Lott,	((	1828	((	1842

The following is the mosi complete list of the Consta- bles of the town of Flatbush, that could be obtained from the year 1669, to the year 1842.

Names.

From

li

a

u

it

u

((

Jacob Stryker,

Bartholf Clairesen,

Cornelius Barentse,

Minne Johannes,

Cornelius Jansen,

Joseph Hegeman,

Cornelius Jansen Berrian, "

Rien Aeartsen, "

Cornelius Barentse,

Rinier Aeartsen,

Jan Ditmarsen

Simon Hanssen

Pieter Stryker,

Daniel Polhemus

Jan Bennem,

Jacob Van Der Boergh

Jan Bennem,

Jacob Van Der Boergh

Jan Bennem,

Hendericus Kip,

John Van Der Veer, >

John Bennet, Dep. ^

Cornelius Cornell,

((

((

a

u

u

	uaies	:i
1669	to	1670.
1670	u	1675.
1675	((	1676.
1676	((	1679.
1679	u	1681.
1681	((	1682.
1682	u	1683.
1683	((	1685.
1685	u	1686.
1686	u	1687.
1687	((	1688.
1688	u	1689.
1689	a	1690.
1690		A
1705	((	1707.
1707	((	1708.
1708	u	1709.
1709	<(	1710.
1710	u	1713.
1713	((	1716.
1716	u	1717;
1717	a	1718.

65

Johannes Symonsen,	From	1718	to	1719
Isaac Snedecker,	ii	1719	(I	1720
Jan Bennet	a	1720	a	1721
Jan Walderom,	n	1721	11	1722
Abraham Lott,	ii	1722	11	1723
Joris Bloom,	li	1723	ii	1724
Peter Luyster,	li	1724	li	1725.
Johannes Lott,	<c	1725	11	1726.
Isaac Lefferts,	ii	1726	u	1727.
Lawrence Ditmarse,	ii	1727	((	1728.
Jacob Remsen,	ii	1728	u	1729.
Johannes Ditmarse,	li	1729	ii	1730.
Robert Betts,	a	1730	ii	1731.
Philippus Nagel,	ii	1731	11	1732.
Nicholas Wyckoff,	a	1732	li	1733.
Gilliam Cornell,	a	1733	11	1734.
Peter Stryker,	a	1734	ii	1735.
Nicholas Stillwell,	(I	1735	ii	1736.
Jacob Boerum,	ii	1736	11	1737.
Joseph Benham,	c "	1737	11	1738.
Cornelius Suydam,	ii	1738	11	1739.
Nicholas Andriesen,	ii	1739	11	1740.
Garret Van Duyn,	(I	1740	11	1742.
Jeremias Van Der Bilt,	ii	1742	11	1743.
Jan Laen,	a	1743	ii	1745.
Thomas Doxse,	a	1745	il	1746.
Cornelius Van Cleeff,	ii	1746	ii	1748.
Leffert Lefferts,	"	1748	il	1749.
Aris Morffee,	ii	1749	11	1751.
Adriaen Hegeman,	li	1751	ii	1769.
Vincentius Antonides,	ii	1769	li	1791.
William Merrill,	a	1791	il	1792.
William x\llireo,	11	1792	1 1	1794.

6*

66

William Merrill, From

William Allgeo, "

William Merrill, "

Michael Van Cleeff, "

Rem Hegeman, "

William Allgeo, " Suydam Hegeman,

a

1794	to	1795".
1795		1796,
1796		1797.
1797		1810.
1810		1815.
1815		1840.
1840		1842.

From among the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush, the county have selected at different times many individu- als to fill their county offices, as well as to represent them in the legislative assemblies of the country. From the year 1714, at which date the first minutes of the Board of Supervisors of the county commence, till the 3'ear 1840, the treasui'ers of the county were, with one exception, residents in the town of Flatbush. The fol- lowing is a list of the individuals who have served in this responsible office : —

.Tohn Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, from October, 1714, to

to October, 1737. Peter Lefferts, of Flatbush, from October, 1737, to

October, 1772. Jeremias Vanderbilt, of Flatbush, from October, 1772,

to May, 1786. Philip Nagel, of Flatbush, from May, 1786, to June,

1792. Johannes J. Lott, of Flatbush, from June, 1792, to De- cember, 1806. Hendrick J. Lott, of Flatlands, from December, 1806,

to October, 1811. John Lefferts, of Flatbush, from October, 1811, to

September, 1813. John C. Vanderveer, of Flatbush, from September, 1813, to August, 1837.

67

John A. Lott, of Flatbush, from August, 1837, to

August, 1840. John Skillman, of Brooklyn, from August, 1840, to

August, 1842.

The following is a specimen of the usual Minute of the Board of Supervisors, in the former part of the last century, relative to auditing the accounts of their Trea- surer. It is full, unique and characteristic of the age.

" The Supervisors have examined their Treasurer and called in their warrants, and have taken the reckonings of their Treasurer, John Vanderbilt, and found that he had done as an honest man, and he is acquitted of all reckonings concerning the Supervisors, and is in Cassa or money, the sum of £00. 06. 4."

The following is a list of the Clerks of the Board of Supervisors, from 1714 to 1842.

1714 to 1715, Samuel Garritson, Gravesend.

1715 to 1724, J. M. Sperling, Flatbush.

1724 to 1725, Adrian Hegeman, "

1725 to 1727, J. M. Sperling, " 1727 to 1752, Adrian Hegeman, '< 1752 to 1775, Simon Boerum, Brooklyn. 1775 to 1782, Johannes Lott, Flatbush. 17^82 to 1784, Johannes J. Lott, "

1784 to 1785, Nicholas Couwenhoven, New-Utrecht.

1785 to 1801, Jacob Sharpe, Jr., Brooklyn. 1801 to 1842, Jeremiah Lott, Flatbush.

Among the Judges of this county anterior to the Ameri- can Revolution, we find the following from Flatbush.

Cornelius Sebring, from 1715 to 1718.

68

Peter Stryker, from 1720 to 1722.

Daniel Polhemus, " 1722 to 1724.

Ryck Suydam, " 1732 to 1739.

Johannes Lott, " 1742 to 1745.

Abraham Lott, " 1745 to 1749.

John Lefferts, " 1761 to 1777.

Philip Nagel, " 1770 to 1777.

Englebert Lott and Jeremiah Vanderbilt,

1777 to 1780.

After the Revolution, the second first Judge of the county, was Johannes E. Lott, of this town. He remain- ed upon the bench about six years. Beside these several associate judges of the court, have from time to time been taken from Flatbush, which we need not name.

But among those who have represented this county in the Legislative Assemblies of the country, we find many who were inhabitants of Flatbush. In the Colonial as- semblies, who met at different periods, from 1683 to 1775, we notice the following names.

Johannes Van Ecklen, from 1693

Henry Filkin, "

Cornelius Se bring, "

Gerardus Beekman, "

Cornelius Sebring, "

Johannes Lott, "

Abraham Lott, " Dominicus Venderveer, "

Among the Deputies from the county of King, who met in the city of New-York, in convention, April 10th, 1775, for the purpose of choosing delegates to the first Continen- tal congress, was John Vanderbilt, who from his being subsequently a member of the Senate of the State, was

1693	to	1698.
1694	to	1695.
1695	to	1698.
1698	to	1699.
1699	to	1726.
1727	to	1761.
1737	to	1750.
1750	to	1759.

69

called Senator John, to distinguish him from Judge Johiv Vanderbilt. Among the delegates chosen by this conven- tion, to represent this county in that congress, were no less than three from this town, viz : Johannes Lott, John Lefferts, and John Vanderbilt. These delegates conven- ed at New- York, on the 22d, of May, 1775, and contin- ued to meet at different places, from time to time, till the adoption of the Constitution of the State, in April, 1777. John Lefferts of this town, was also a member of the Pro- vential Congress, from this county, which met on the 30th, day of June, 1776. His son Peter Lefferts, whose wi- dow still survives, was one of the two delegates from this county, to the convention which met at Poughkeepsie, on the 27th, day of June, 1778, to adopt the constitution of the United States. He was subsequently also a member of the Senate of Jthis State, in which he appeared in a suit made entirely of homespun cloth, but of so fine a texture and finish, that it attracted special notice. His son, John Lefferts, whose widow is still spared to us, was a member of Congress, from this district, and also a delegate to the convention of 1821, which met for amending the constitu- tion of the State.

Several persons have been selected from this town to- represent the county of Kings, in the Assembly of the State, since the Revolution.

In 1784 Johannes E. Lott,

" 1785-6 John Vanderbilt,

'•' 1787-8 Cornelius Wyckoff,

" 1789-91 Aquila Giles,

" 1793 Aquila Giles,

'• 1802 JohnC. Vanderveer,

" 1811 to 1813 JohnC. Vanderveer,

" 1814 Jeremiah Lott,

70

In 1815 Teunis Schenck,

" 1816 & 1817 Richard Fish,

" 1819 & 1820 Teunis Schenck,

" 1821 & 1822 Jeremiah Lott,

" 1829 John WyckofF,

" 1839 Jeremiah Lott, '{

" 1842 John A. Lott.

1840, inclusive.
	Years-	Population
	1810,	1,159.
	1820,	1,062.
	1825,	1,027.
	1830,	1,049.
	1835,	1,143.
	1840,	1,537.

1817,	$368,057.	$34,399,	$403,056.
1818,	367.107.	32.633.	399.739.
1819,	384.657.	162.904.	547.561.
1820,	363.358.	14L050.	504.408.
1821,	357.238.	115.990.	473.228.
1822,	355.713.	117.795.	473.508.
1823,	320.158.	102.365.	422.523,

y^

Statement of the population of the Town of Flatbush, including New-Lots, from the year 1810, to the year

Statement of the aggregate valuations of real and per- sonal estates, in the Town of Flatbush, including New- Lots, as revised and corrected by the Board of Supervi- sors of the county of Kings, from the year 1817, to 1841, inclusive.

Year. Real Estate. Personal Estate. AggH Valuation.

71

1824,	301.300.	88.930.	390,230.
1825,	325.402.	93.140.	418 542.
1826,	317.714.	89.330.	407.044.
1827,	331.892.	90.480.	422.372.
1828,	319.840.	84.638.	404.478.
1829,	325.665.	83.580.	409.245.
1830,	321.310.	73.900.	395.210.
1831,.	314.301.	62.050.	376.351.
1832,	316.396.	68.300.	384.696.
1833,	319.640.	64.475.	384.115.
1831,	387.601.	62.450.	450.051.
1835,	822.120.	144.850.	966.970.
1836,	833.970.	167.150.	1.001.120.
1837,	836,035.	167.250.	1.003.285.
1838,	860.495.	168.000.	1.028.495.
1839,	877.630.	181.850.	1.059.480.
1840,	880.055.	220.500.	1.100.555.
1841,	899.900.	218.500.	1.118.400.

Thus have we sketched some of the leading facts, rela- ting to the civil history of the town of Flatbush. We cannot but mark the good hand of providence in all. He has favored the spot with health ; rendered its soil fertile ; and prospered its inhabitants. The latter have steadily pursued the even tenor of their way, and while they have enjoyed liberally the gifts of a benificent providence, have advanced in wealth and solid comforts. While in other sections of our country, the lands possessed by the original proprietors, have passed from their descendants ; here, but few farms comparatively, have changed hands ; the spirit of roving not having been cherished. Most of the farms are still in the possession of the descendants of

72

the first patentees and proprietors. Numerous families in the town too, can trace back their genealogy to the early settlement of the place. May they continue to em- ulate the virtues of their fathers, and go on in the enjoy- ment of the good land which God has given them, thank- ing Him, that " the lines have fallen to them in pleasant places, and that they enjoy so goodl}' a heritage."

4

tee, 'k tervi fed tlieu

.1 1

I

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

In commencing the Ecclesiastical History of Flatbush, it is proper to premise, that as all the early settlers of this and the neighboring towns, came from Holland, they were united in one religious faith. They all professed the doc- trines, and order, which were established by the national Synod, which met at Dordrecht, in the year 1618-19. This Synod was summoned by the authority of the Staats General of Holland, and was attended by the most emi- nent divines of the United Provinces, and deputies from the reformed churches of England, Scotland, Switzerland, Bremen and other places. Seldom, if ever, has a more learned, pious and venerable assembly convened. The early inhabitants of the west end of Long Island, received as the symbols of their faith, the Belgic Confession, the Heidleburgh Catechism, and the Canons of this Sy- nod. But as there was no ecclesiastical organization iii. this country, at that time, they were placed under the the oversight and authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, to whom the interests of all the Dutch and German churches in America were confided. A standing com- mittee was appointed by this Classis, called the commit- tee ad extcras and sometimes ad res maritimas to whom the affairs of these churches were referred, during the in- tervals of session by the Classis. This committee mana- ged all the correspondence with these churches, provided them with ministers, and gave them such counsel as they

7 •

74

needed. This arrangement continued until the year 1772, when the organization of the present Reformed Dutch Church, in this country took place, and independent Classes and Synods were established, on the model of the church in Holland. On Long-Island, each town had its own consistory, or bench of church officers ; but all the churches in Kings county were combined, and constituted one charge, for the period of about one hundred and fifty years. Their ministers were colleagues ; preached in turn in all the churches, and drew their salaries in cer- tain fixed proportions from the several congregations. The place of their residence was Flatbush.

Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush.

Although it is known that the inhabitants of Long- Island had among them the ordinances of the gospel at a very early date, yet the first account of building a church, is not till the year 1654. On the 15th of December, of that year. Governor Stuyvesant issued an order appoint- ing the Rev. Mr. Megapolensis, who was one of the min- isters of New-Amsterdam ; John Snedicor and John Stryker, commissioners to build a church at Midwout. On the 13th of October, in the same year, it appears that an order was passed by the Governor, who seems to have exercised a controlling power in ecclesiastical as well as civil and military affairs, penniUing the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhenms, a minister of the Reformed Church of Holland, to preach at Midwout and Amersfort, (or Flatlands.) The spot selected for the building of the church, was the site now occupied by the present build- ing. The order of the Governor, directed that it should be sixty, or sixty-five feet long, twenty-eight feet broad, and from twelve to fourteen feet under the beams ; that

-"* Jv-V'^'Sr- '5' '''"^*'''^ ■■■■

•i^^A^^^- —f"'

'" " V

<rJ^-

to

it should be built in the form of a cross, and that the rear should be reserved for the ministei's dwelling. It is most probable that this building, which was the first church erected in the county, was of wood, and that it was com- menced, if not completed, in the succeeding year. For on the 9th of February, 1655. the Governor ordered the inha- bitants of Brooklyn and Amersfort, which were then con- nected together, with Flatbush, as one pastoral charge, and continued so for a number of years, to assist the peo- ple of Midwout in cutting timber to build their house of worship. The entries in the Deacons book of the church of Flatbush, of collections taken up on the Sabbath com- mence on the first Sabbath of January, 1655, and these entries are regularly continued, at intervals of seven days, from that time forward. From this, it is evident that di- vine service was statedly performed on every Sabbath after that period, in Flatbush. How long previously to this time this was the case, cannot be ascertained. Nor is there any record by which it can be known, when the first Consistory was ordained and the church organized. But it appears from subsequent minutes, that until the year 1681, the Consistory consisted of only two Elders and two Deacons.

In September, 1660, those who had the charge of erecting the building, reported that it had cost 4,637 guil- ders, or about $1,800. Of this sum, a very considerable amount was collected by voluntary subscription, in New- Amsterdam, Fort Orange, (now Albany,) and in the dif- ferent settlements on Long-Island. An account of these several subscriptions, is still preserved in the records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush. It is as follows : —

Guilders.	Stiv(
90
50
1,876	3
35	10
112	10
120
17	10
427
588

76

'' To the buildino; received." From Fort Orange,

" Esopus,

" New-Amsterdam,

" Gowanus,

*' Brooklyn,

" Amersfort,

" New-Utrecht,

<' Midwout,

" E. (India probably,) Company,

" the fii'st preaching, (collection

probably,) 90

" The Hon. Fiscal, or Attorney

General, 30

" Also, in addition, 113

" Marriage Fees, 43

" Hempstead, by bequest, 50

To aid in liquidating the debt which still remained upon the building, the Governor himself, contributed 400 guil- ders, leaving still a balance of 800 against the church.

From the Dutch Records in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany, we gather the following facts. " On the 6th, of August, 1655, the Governor ordered the She- riff, to convene the inhabitants of Brooklyn, Flatbush and Flatlands, for the purpose of inquiring whether they were satisfied with their minister, and if they were satisfi- ed, what sallary they would pay him. ' The Sheriff reported, that they approved of their minister, and would pay him a sum equal to 8416.66 per year. This was approved as a good call, and accepted." The minister concerning whom this order was made, was the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, who was the first Pastor of these churches. " February, 8th, 1656, the above towns applied to the Governor for an order to raise money by a

77

tax, to pay their minister. Granted." " December, 20th, 1659, the Rev. J. Polhemus represented to the Governofl.' that his church wanted painting, to preserve it, and re- quested assistance from the Governor. Reply, — this re- quest shall be transmitted to the directors by the first op- portunity." " September 18th, 1660, the minister peti- tioned for windows for his church, Ordered that one window be furnished him."

It having been reported, that the church was indebted to the amount of 624 guilders, it was ordered to be satis- fied out of the treasury, as soon as funds should be recei- ved. On the 15th of March, 1656, an ordinance was pass- ed by the Governor, on petition, regulating the times and places of public worship on the sabbath. It was directed that the morning service for Brooklyn, Flatbush and Flat- lands, should be held at Midwout, or Flatbush, and the afternoon service alternately, at Brooklyn and Flatlands. The first church at Flatlands was ordered to be erected in the year 1662, and that at Brooklyn, in the year 1666. The Rev. Mr. Polhemus the first pastor, was at this time quite advanced in life, and unable to perform the services appertaining to so extended a charge. In consequence of this, on application to Governor Stuyvesant, permission was granted to the church of Brooklyn, to call another minister. A request to this effect was sent to Holland, and on the 16th, of February, 1660, a call upon the Rev. Henry Solyns, or Henricus Selwyn, was approved by the Classis of Amsterdam, and an honorable dismission given to Mr. Solyns, wishing him a safe and prosperous jour- ney by land, and by water, to his congregation, in the New-Netherlands. He was installed in the church at Brooklyn, on the 3d, of September, 1660, in the presence

of the Fiscal and Burgomaster Krigier, by the order of

"7*

78

Governor Stuyvesant. His salary was six hundred guil- ders per annum, equal to a little rising two hundred dol- lars.

Although nothing certainly is known of the services of Mr. Solyns, in Flatbush, it is probable, from the infirmities of Mr. Polhemus, and the friendship which existed between them, that occasionally, at least, he must have preached in Flatbush ; although he was regarded as more especial- ly the minister of the church of Brooklyn, and received as such, from the Rev. J. Polhemus, on the 12th, of Septem- ber, 1660, a list of his members, containing thirty-seven names. Mr. Solyns was a man of more than ordinary ta- lents and learning. This was soon discovered, and in the year 1662, an arrangement was made, by which he preached at the Governor's house, on his " Bowerie," or Farm, on Sunday afternoons. His ministry at this time, in this country however, was of short continuance ; for on the 22d. of July, 1664, he took leave of his congregation, and sailed in the ship Beaver, for Holland. He subsequently returned to this country, and was pastor of the Dutch church, in New-York, from 1682, to 1700. He was a man of classical taste and learning, and highly esteemed in his day. He prefixed a Latin poem to Cotton Mather's " Magnalia Christi Americana," bearing date, October, 16th, 1697.

After the departure of Mr. Solyns, the churches were left to such services as the Rev. Mr. Polhemus, in his old age 6ould confer upon them. He appears however to have been assisted at this period by the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, one of the ministers of the city of New- Am- sterdam. This arrangement continued till the year 1676, on the 8th, of June, in which year, Mr. Polhemus died. Application was then made to the Classis of Amsterdam,

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for another minister, by whom the Rev. Casparus Van Zuren who had been settled at Gouderack, was sent out. He was installed on the 6th, of September, 1677. It is probable, that about this time, the church of New-Utrecht was organized, .and received into the combination : for the first election of Elders and Deacons in this church, took place in the month of October, 1677. The record in the hand writing of the Rev. Mr. Van Zuren, under date 1677, which gives the account of the change of Elders and Deacons in the several churches of Brooklyn, Amers- fort, Flatbush and New-Utrecht contains the following minute relative to the last named church " At New- Utrecht, while there has never heretofore been an election of Elders and Deacons, the assembled congregation have now chosen for Elders Jan Gysbertse and Mainderd Courtes ; for deacons, Auris Williamse Brower and Jan Hanse, and this has all taken place in the beginning of October, and they have been ordained about the same time and at the same place."'

In the year 1631, the Consistory of the church of Flat- bush was enlarged, by the addition of one Elder and one Deacon, chosen from among the members at New-Lots. None of the consistories of the churches on the island as yet, consisted of more than two Elders and two Deacons, and this appears to have been the case for some years subse- quent to this period, with the exception of the church of Flatbush. The minute relative to the enlargement of the Consistory of the church of Flatbush is as follows :

" N. B. In consequence of the increase of the commu- nicants and housekeepers, at Oostwoud, together with that of the children (where for the instruction and edification of the young and aged, a schoolmaster is required.) It is unanimously ordained and approved of by the Honora- ble Consistory of Midwoud, that at Oostwoud, under the

so

jurisdiction of Midwoud, there ought to be chosen an Elder and a Deacon, who shall be members of the Consis- tory of Midwoud, to have the oversight of the members of Oostwoud, in particular and over those of Midwoud in ge* neral, and in matters of importance, whenever the mem- bers of the Consistoiy are assembled, they must always be requested to meet with them to obtain their advice as well as that of others. And to that end, are chosen for Elder, William Jacobse Van Boerun;*; for Deacon, Rem Rem- sen. Concluded in Consistory of Midwoud, on the 6th of January, 1681. The above elected persons having been several times proclaimed, were ordained at Midwoud, on the 30th, of January."

Little is known with regard to the Rev. Mr. Van Zu- ren's ministry or character. He appears to have been a man of great industry and system. He has left the most copious minutes of the services which he performed. In addition to the lists of the members of the churches, and the records of baptisms and marriages, he has noted the times and places of administering the Lord's Supper, together with the texts of scripture from which he preached, and the election of new Elders and Deacons in the several churches in each year, t02;ether with the time of their induction into their respective offices. His record of bap- tisms commences on the 16th of September, 1677, and of marriages on the 29th of September, 1677. He contin- ued to serve these congregations till the year 1685, when he received a call from his former church in Holland, and returned to his native land. He was succeeded by the Rev. Rudolphus Varick in the same year. He continued till the year 1694, when the Rev.Wilhemus Lupandus was called, who officiated until the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1701 or 2. Of these two gentlemen nothing now is known.

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In the year 1698, a subscription was taken up for the purpose of erecting a new church. This subscription, which was confined to the inhabitants of the old town and New-Lots, amounts to 15,728 guilders and 5 stivers, which reckoning a guilder at forty cents, is equal to $6,291.20. The precise time at which the church was built, is not known ; but it was no doubt during that year or the one that succeeded. The committee to whom the erection of the church was entrusted, were, Captain Daniel Polhemus, Captain Aries Vanderbilt, Adrian Ryers, Rem Remsen, and Rem Aertson. This building, which was located on the spot on which the first church stood, was a stone edifice, fronting the east, with a large arched double door in the centre, having a steep four-sided roof coming nearly together at the top, on which was erected a small steeple. The building was wider in front then in depth, being about sixty-five north and south, and about fifty feet east and west. The roof rested on the walls, and was partly supported by them, and partly by two large oak columns, standing in a line within the building, in a northerly and southerly direction, and at a suitable distance from each other. The two columns supported a plate in the centre of a lofty arched planked ceiling, the north and south ends of which, rested on the wall, in conse- quence of which, the north and south walls of the build- ing were considerable higher than those of the east and west. There were two large and broad braces extending from each column to the plate. The roof appeared to be badly constructed. Its pressure on the walls was so great, that in process of time, the upper part of the north- erly wall was pressed out more than a foot over the foun- dation, and the four braces attached to the columns within the building, were considerably bent from the weight and

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pressure above. The pulpit was placed in the centre of the west side of the building, fronting the door, having the Elders bench on the right, and the Deacons bench on the left. The male part of the congregation were seated in a continuous pew, all along the wall, which was divided into twenty apartments, with a sufficient number of doors for entrance: each person having one or more seats, in one or the other of these apartments. The residue of the interior of the building, was for the accommodation of the female part of the congregation, who were seated on chairs. These were arranged into seven different rows, or blocks, and every family had one or more chairs in some one of these blocks. This interior arrangement of the seats, w^as called by the significant Dutch term '-De Gestoeltens." Each chair was marked on the back by a number, or by the name of the family or person to whom it belonged. The windows of this church were formed of small panes of glass ; and those on either side of the pulpit, were painted, or ornamented and set in lead.

It is probable that about the year 1698, when the first church was pulled down, in which as we have seen, there was accommodation for the minister and his family, the first parsonage house was built. This is the south part of the present building now occupied by L. L. Van Kleeck, Esq. which has undergone so many important improvements under his hands.

About the time of the building of this second church, a certain paper was drawn up and adopted, entitled "Ar- ticles, Laws and Ordinances, by which the church of Flatbush shall be governed and occupied, by the inhabi- tants and builders." This document contains certain provisions : — 1st. Concerning the occupancy and posses- sion of the seats . 2ld. Concerning the tenure of the seats

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whenever the owners remove; and 3d. Concerning in- terments in the church. These provisions are all wise and prudent, but some of them appear at the present day somewhat curious. We shall only extract from this do- cument, the articles concerning " interments in the church." They are as follows : —

"1. Those who are inclined to be interred within the church, are required to pay for an adult corps of sixteen years and upwards, £4 ; for a corps under sixteen years, to six years of age, £3; and for a child of six years and under, £2 ; and this shall be paid to the Church Masters, for the profit of the church.

2. "Those who are inclined to be permitted to be interred in the church, are required to pay the expense of every person : for a corps of sixteen years and upwards, the sum of 27 guilders : for one under sixteen years to six years, 22 guilders : for a child of six years and under, 19 guilders, for the profit of the schoolmaster, for the time being, who shall be required to see that the graves are to be dug so deep that two coffins can be placed therein, one above the other, and that the grave for the under coffin is seven feet deep, and that he shall remove all dirt out of the church."

From this time, the practice of burying under the body of the church, became quite general. All the ministers who died after this date, (1701,) during the standing of that church, were inten-ed under the building ; and this indeed was the case with all whose friends could afford to pay the extra expense connected with this privilege ; and this accounts for the fact, that the grave yard now contains so few tomb stones of ancient date. Vast numbers of human bones were dug up when the earth was removed for the foundation of the steeple to the present church.

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These were all carefully preserved, and subsequently again buried. In front of the church, and under it have been interred the bodies of nearly three or four genera- tions.

At the time of the building of this church, the Rev. W. Lupardus, was pastor. After his death, which occurred towards the close of the year 1701, or in the commence- ment of the year 1702, the congregations of the county made an effort to call the Rev. Bernardus Freeman, then pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Schenectady. Three men were chosen in each of the four towns, of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands and New-Utrecht, for the purpose of prosecuting this call, in accordance with the provisions of the government, which then exercisd control over the church. An application was made to Lord Cornbuiy, the then, Governor of the Colony, for permis- sion to call Mr. Freeman. This request was, on the 23d of October, 1702, denied by the Governor; and the four congregations were directed to send to Holland for a min- ister, in conformity with their previous custom. It would appear that another effort was made to obtain the Rev. Mr. Freeman, in the year 1703. On the 27th of April, in that year, Lord Cornbury, issued a warrant granting full liberty to call Mr. Freeman. The congregation of Schenectady, however, remonstrated against the proceed- ing, and sent a petition to Governor Cornbury, requesting that the calling of Mr. Freeman should be interdicted. But this petition was denied by Lord Cornbury in an or- der issued by him bearing date June 24th, 1703. A call was accordingly presented to the Rev. Mr. Freeman, who in a letter dated August 2d, 1703, consents to accept the same, provided certain conditions which he names are complied with. On the 19th of August, 1703, these con-

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^itions were acceded to by the congregation of Flatbush. Previously however to this, it would appear that certain difficulties had arisen relative to this matter. Some, if not all, the persons who had been deputed from the seve- ral congregations to call the Rev. Mr. Freeman, for some cause which does not appear, became disaffected towards him. In consequence of this, they did not comply with the instructions which they had received — but not only neg- lected to answer the letter of Mr. Freeman, informinij him that the congregation had complied with his stipulations, but addressed a letter to the Consistory of Schenectady, stating that the most part of the congregation were in favor of sending to Holland for a minister — but that only some " stiff heads," as they term them, had enjoined them to make a call upon Dom. Freeman. Eventually, Mr. Freeman visited the island himself, and having ascertain- ed the true state of things, consented to accept the call. The matter, however, appears to have been in agitation for more than two years before he came. For he was not installed until the year 1705. This took place by procla- mation of the Governor, in the church at New-Utrecht, in November of that year. The service was performed on the occasion, by the Rev. Mr. Dubois. In the mean time, however, the disaffected persons wrote a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam, bearing date, December 10th, 1703, requesting that a minister should be sent out to these churches from Holland. This letter was received by the Classis of Amsterdam, on the 2d, June, 1704, and on the 6th, of October, 1704, they commissioned the Rev. Vin- centius Antonides, to proceed to America, for the purpose of becoming the pastor of the church of Flatbush, and of the Dutch churches adjoining. He was at the time pastor of the church of Bergen, in Friesland. In their letter to

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the churches, the Classis of Amsterdam, speak of him as a man of great learning, and of fine talents. He arrived in this country, and in connection with the Rev. Mr. Freeman, entered upon his duties in the year 1705. But a very unhappy controversy, which had its origin previ- ously to his arrival, continued to agitate the churches. We need not enter into the particulars of it. It is sufficient to state that the contest was so warm between the friends of these respective ministers, that the civil authority had to interfere, and one or two orders were passed on the sub- ject, by Lord Cornbury, the Governor. Some of these are curious, as exhibiting the powers which the Governor and his council exercised in the affairs of the church. These differences continued to agitate these several congrega- tions, until the year 1714, when they were harmoniously reconciled. On the 27th, of December, in that year, a meeting was held in Flatbush, composed of delegates from the churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, New- Utrecht, Bushwick and New-Jamaica, (as it is called in the document which gives the account of this meeting,) or the Reformed Dutch congregation of Queens County, which was then about being organized, and was supplied by the ministers from this county. This meeting was as- sembled in good friendship, as they state in the pream- ble to their transactions. They all agreed to lay aside their differences, and to receive the Rev. Messrs. Free- man and Antonides, as their pastors and teachers. They fixed the proportion of salary, to be raised by the several churches for their support, and the times and places of ad- ministering the Lord's Supper and of preaching. In re- gard to the communion, it was agreed, that Buskwick, Brooklyn and Flatbush, should commune together ; Flat- lands, Gravesend and New-Utrecht, together ; and the con- gregation of Queens County, should form another com-

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munion. In regard to preaching, it was agreed, that one minister should preach on one Sabbath in Bushwick, and 'the other in New-Utrecht ; that on the next Sabbath, one in Brooklyn, and the other in Flatlands ; and the third Sab- bath, one in Flatbush and the other in Jamaica, and thus on in regular rotation. From this time forth, for a num- ber of years the churches enjoyed peace.

The unhappy controversy to which we have alluded, was, by Him, who causes the wrath of man to praise Him, overruled for good. For, from that time forward, the churches of the county enjoyed the services of two ministers of the gospel who in addition to their pulpit ex- ercises, performed all the usual parochial duties ; such as visiting the sick, catechising the youth, pastoral visita- tion of families, and the like. All of which, had hereto- fore been attended to by one individual, who from the extent of the charge, could not possibly have rendered all the services which were needful and proper.

To accommodate these pastors, it became necessary to provide another parsonage. Accordingly, in the year 1711, the congregations purchased of Johannes Johnson, the house owned by Mr. John H. Hess, and recently oc- cupied by Mr. Michael Schoonmaker. Deeds for this property, in proportion to their several rights were given to the respective Dutch congregations in the county ; this 'church being entitled to the fourth equal part. This building was used as a parsonage, until the year 1809, when it was sold, an account of which will be subsequent- ly given. In this and the other parsonage adjoining the church, the Rev. Mr. Freeman, and the Rev. Mr. Antoni- des were accommodated, but we are not able to tell in which house they severally resided.

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Both these ministers appear to have been men of more than ordinary acquirements and talent. The Rev. Mr. Freeman, was a very learned divine. He wrote and pub- lished several works. Among others, one entitled, " Tri-* al of Grace," or the " Ballance," containing a series of sermons ; and another, entitled, " Apothems," which has been translated from the original Dutch, by General Je- remiah Johnson. The latter work discovers a vast amount of learning, and a mind of the deepest research. It is a treasure of truth.

In the year 1737, a meeting of ministers was held in New- York, for the purpose of taking measures to organize a Csetus or Assembly of Ministers and Elders, subordi- nate to the Classis of Amsterdam, with powers some- what similar to those now exercised by the Classes of the Reformed Dutch Church, in this country. At this meet- ing the Rev. Mr. Freeman attended, on behalf of the churches on Long-Island. A plan was adopted for the organization of such a body, and was submitted to the churches, for their approbation. On the 27th, of April, 1738, the meeting again convened, in the city of New-York, for the purpose of hearing the reports on this subject. At this meeting the churches on Long-Island were represented by the Rev. Mr. Freeman, and the Elders Pe- ter Nevius and Dirk BrinkerhofF. The plan having been approved by the churches generally, it was now ratified and adopted, and immediately sent over to the Classis of Amsterdam, for their approval. But for some cause not known, the approbation of the Classis did not reach this country until the year 1746. It was brought over by the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, of whom we shall presently speak.

Mr. Freeman died in the year 1741. He was succeeded by the Rev. Johannes Arondeus, in the year 1742, who,

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was the colleague of the Rev. V. Antonides till the year '1744, when the latter died.

On the death of Rev. Mr. Antonides, the Rev. Ulpianus Van Sinderen was called. He came from Holland, and entered upon his duties, in 1746, and continued to serve the congregation in connection with the Rev. Mr. Aron- deus until the year 1754, when Mr. Arondeus was called to his final account.

Mr. Van Sinderen was the bearer of the letter from the Classsis of Amsterdam, containing their approbation of the plan of the Ccetus which had been agreed upon in the meeting, held in New- York, in the year 1738. Shortly after his arrival in this country, a meeting was called to receive this letter. This meetino; was held in the citv of New-York, in the month of May, 1747. The Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, is named first among the six ministers who attended this meeting. Little more was done at this time than receive the letter of concurrence in the plan from the Classis of Amsterdam, and appoint the second Tuesday of the following September, for the meeting of the first Ceetus, to be held in the city of New-York, under this new plan. On that day, the representatives of the churches met in Caetus, and organized the first judicatory (if it can be so called) higher than a consistory, that was established in the Dutch Church in America. The Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen attended as a member of this body. The plan was how- ever opposed by several ministers, and churches, and eventually gave rise to very serious troubles, which it would be inappropriate here to narrate in detail.

Mr. Van Sinderen, though a man of talents, was quite eccentric in his manners. He was" short in statue, but very active.

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Tliough endowed with learning, he appears to have been deficient in sound judgment. He was too much in the habit of introducing the occurrences of the week pre- vious in his sermons, on the Sabbath, and often would al- lude to very trifling cii'cumstances. Some amusing an- ecdotes, are told of him, relating to this practice. On one occasion, a good old Elder, who had borne vvith the Do- mine in this particular, till his patience was exhausted, very injudiciously, under the excitement of his feelings, rose in his seat, during divine service, and interrupted Mr. Van Sinderen, by saying, they had called him to preach the gospel, and not to detail to them such matters. The Domine, indignant at being stopped in his discourse, lean- ed over the pulpit, and replied, " You, Phlip Nagle, if you can preach the gospel better than I can, come up here and try."

After the death of the Rev. Mr. Arondeus, the Rev» Anthony Curtenius was called. He commenced his min- istry in this place in the year 1755. But in the succeed- ing year, on the 19th, of October, he died, being in his 58th, year.

About this time, or probably, a little while before, this church was greatly agitated, in common with the whole Reformed Dutch denomination, with what was called the Csetus and Conferentie differences. This was a contest which excited great warmth. It related principally to the question of the right of ordination, and the exercise of church authority. The Csetus party contended that in consequence of the inconvenience of sending to Holland for ministers, and the increase of the churches in this coun- try, it should be exercised by the ministers of the church, already in America, and that for this purpose, there should be a regular organization of the churches into Clas-.

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ses, and Synods, as was the case in Holland, to whom should appertain all the rights and privileges belonging to such ecclesiastical bodies, in the mother country. The Conferentie party, on the other hand, maintained that all ministers should be ordained in Holland, and sent forth un- der the authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, or by their permission. The controversy was a very unhappy one, and continued to trouble the churches until the year 1772. This congregation was not exempt from the general dif- ficulties. So divided and embittered against each other were many on this subject, that the different parties would not worship together, nor even speak to each other. Sometimes they would not turn out when they met on the road. On one occasion, it is said that two of these re- doubtable opponents belonging to Flatbush, meeting each other in their waggons, and both refusing to give the road, they each deliberately took out their pipes, and began to smoke ! How long they continued at this very pacific em- ployment is not stated, nor is it said whether the difficulty between them was lost sight of by the cloud of smoke ob- scuring their vision, or whether their pipes were ever turned into the calumut of peace.

In August, 1759, the Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel, was called, who continued as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, until the year of his death.

The old or second church, which we have above des- cribed, continued without material change until about two years previous to the war of the American Revolution, when it was thought necessary to remodel or improve the seats, by introducing pews. Consequently, on the 6th of October, 1774, the church masters prepared a subscription paper, detailing the plan by which this desirable object should be accomplished. This paper was signed by every

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male adult person of the congregation who had an interest in the church. This document exhibits in a striking: man- ner,the wisdom, foresight, sound discretion and piety of the men of that day. In this too, as well as in almost every other public ecclesiastical document, they refer to the arti- cles of their faith, as established in the National Synod of Dordrecht, in the year 1618, 1619. Theassentof the whole congregation having been thus prudently obtained, they commenced in the year 1775 to remodel the seats. The chairs were removed, and sixty-four pews, containing six seats each, were introduced. The work having been com- pleted on the 28th, day of September, in the same year, the pews were drawn for, by the members of the congre- gation, and assigned to the respective owners by lot, and a record of the same accordingly made. The expense incurred by this improvement, amounted to j£290.16.9. or 8727.09, of which sum, the respective pew holders paid £190.4.6. equal to 8475.56. John Bennan, Thomas Lane, Isaac Martense, Adrian Martense and Vincent An- tonides, were the carpenters who performed the work, and the painting was done by William Post. There were two galleries along the easterly side of the church, divided by the door ; the one was occupied by the whites, and the other by coloured persons. The benches below, under these gal- leries were free, and usually occupied by non-residents. On each side of the church were two windows, and one upper window in each of the ends, at tlie north and south. These were all provided with shutters. The bell rope hung down in the centre of the church, was easy of access, and often used to give alarms, during the revolutionary war. Here were two benches with backs, one called the "Ye- frows Bench," and the other the "Blue Bench." The former, was for the accommodation of the minister's wife and fam-

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ily and the other was let out to other individuals, and from its position, was regarded as an honorable seat. Boards on which the first Psalm to be sung was noted, were hung upon the walls of the church, for the benefit of such as were not present when it was announced. The Dea- cons were furnished with long rods, at the ends of which, were velvet bags, in which to take up the collection, and they usually stood for a few moments with their poles in their hands in front of the pulpit, till the minister briefly reminded the congregation of their duty to the poor.

The Rev. Messrs. Van Sinderen and Rubel, continued to officiate in the church, until the close of the revolu- tionary war, in 1783. With regard to these individuals, several unpleasant difficulties arose in the five congrega- tions of the county, who were under their pastoral charge, — and as their residence, as that of all the previous min- isters had been, was at Flatbush, the inhabitants of this town took a warm and active interest in these differences. The particulars of these, it would not be edifying to re- late. In regard to politics, which during the revolutionary struggle, was a matter of deep interest ; the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen appears to have been in favor of the Ameri- can cause, and the Rev. Mr. Rubel, strongly opposed to it. On a fast day which was ordered to be kept by the Provincial Congress, the latter preached in Flatbush, from the text, " honor the king;" when among other things, he said, " people could do as well without a head as without a king." This gave great offence to those who were in fa- vor of throwing off the British yoke. - At the close of the war, in June 1784, at the request of the united Consistory, the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen resign- ed his charge, and on the 12th of July, in the same year, was declared Emeritus and a certain salary voted to him

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as such, which was regularly paid him, until the day of his death, which occurred on the 23d of July, 1796. He was interred in the grave yard at Flatlands, to which place he had removed some few years previously. The Rev. Mr. Ruble, was for certain causes, which it is not ne- cessary to mention, deposed from the office of the sacred ministry, by the Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, in the early part of the year 1784. He remained under this censure, till the time of his death, which took place in 1799. His remains lie interred in the public cemetery of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush.

In the year 1785, a call was made on the Rev. Marti- nus Schoonmaker, then officiating at Gravesend and Har- leam. He having accepted the call, the congregation of Gravesend was admitted formally into the combina- tion. On the 28th of October, 1787, the Rev. Peter Lowe, a native of Ulster County, who had completed his theological studies under the Rev. Dr. Livingston, was installed colleague pastor with Mr. Schoonmaker. These two continued to preach alternately in the old church, until it was taken down, in the year 1794. All the ser- vices of the above named ministers, were performed in the Dutch language, until the 10th of April, 1792, when it was resolved that the service in the afternoon, in the congregations of Brooklyn, Flatbush and New-Utrecht, should be held in the English language, on such days as the Rev. Mr. Lowe should preach in those places.

In the year 1785, the church became incorporated. As this introduced an important change in the manage- ment of the fiscal concerns, it may be proper here to present the following statement, of the manner in which the temporalities of the church had been previously ad- ministered, and the steps taken to obtain the incorporation.

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' The landed estate and general financial interests of the Church of Flatbush, from the time of its organization, were entrusted to the care and management of Church Masters, similar to the mode and usage practised by the Reformed churches in Holland. The Church Masters were three in number, elected by the " Gemeente," or assembled congregation, out of the Consistory, and held their offices for two years, corresponding with the official term of the Elders and Deacons. When the Church Masters were first chosen, they were divided into two classes, and the seat of the member of the first class be- came vacant at the expiration of the first year, and the seats of the two members of the second class, at the ex- piration of the second year, so that thereafter, one or the other members of each class might be annually chosen. They were required to render an annual statement of their receipts and expenditures, and the correctness of the accounts of the retiring Church Master, or Church Mas- ters, as the case might be, was always certified on the church books. The temporalities belonging to the church, and consisting of real and personal estate, appear to have been prudently and judiciously managed and preserved by the Church Masters thus chosen, down to the close of the year, 1784, a period of nearly one hundred and seventy years. The last Church Masters, were John Vanderbilt, Isaac Snediker and Johannes E. Lott, whose accounts were examined by the Trustees of the church, and by them found satisfactory : whereupon the following certifi- cate was entered upon the church books. "John Van- derbilt, Isaac Snediker and Johannes E. Lott, Church Masters, having come together, and rendered an account of their receipts and expenditures to the Trustees who are chosen in their place, and the Church Masters have been

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found faithful in their trust, are thanked by us, the under- written Trustees, for their services."

On the 6th day of April, in the year 1784, the Legis- lature of the State of New- York, passed an Act, entitled " An Act to enable all religious denominations in this State, to appoint Trustees, who should be a Body Corpo- rate, for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective congregations, and for other purposes therein mentioned." As the revolutionary war was now just closed, and peace again restored, the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush, at once saw the advantages which their church might derive from this Act authorizing the incor- poration of religious societies. Accordingly, on Sunday the 26th day of December, 1784, public notice was given by the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, the minister of the church, by a publication therein, immediately after divine service, and before the congregation was dismissed, notify- ing all male persons who statedly worshiped in the said church, to meet therein, on the 17th day of January, then next ensuino^, at one o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, for the purpose of electing Trustees to take care of the temporalities of the said church, pursuant to the provisions of the above-mentioned Act. The same notification was again made, in the said church, by the same minister, on the 2d day of January, 1785, in manner aforesaid. In pursuance of which notifications, the male persons who statedly worshiped in the said church, accordingly met at the time and place appointed, and in the presence of Jere- mias Van Der Bilt and Joris Martense, Elders and Judges of the election, did then, and there, by plurality of voices, elect Plilip Nagel, Cornelius Wyckoff, Hendrick Suy- dam, Peter Lefferts and John R. Vanderbilt, Trustees to take care of the temporalities of the said church, pur-

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suant to the directions in the said Act mentioned and pre- scribed. The style, name and title, by which the said Trustees and their successors should forever thereafter be called, known and distinguished, was designated to be, " The Trustees of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush." These proceedings were all certified under the hands and seals, of Jeremias Vanderbilt and Joris Martense, tlie above-named Elders and Judges of the elec- tion, and duly acknowledged and recorded in the Clerk's office of the County of Kings, on the said 17th day of January, 1785. Upon the organization of the Board of Trustees, Philip Nagel was appointed their Treasurer, and they made a record of all the real and personal es- tate belonging to the church.

The church of Flatbush continued under the above- «ientioned Act, providing for the incorporation of religious societies generally, until the 19th day of December, 1804. Some few years anterior to this time, the Legislature of the State, passed a special Act providing for the incorpo- ration of the Reformed Dutch Churches, and therein desig- nated who should be the Trustees of every Dutch church, and the manner of their appointment. By this Act, it is provided that the minister or ministers, and elders and deacons, and if during any time there be no minister, then the elders and deacons during such time, of every Reform- ed Protestant Dutch Church or congregation, now, or hereafter to be established in this State, and elected ac- cording to the rules and usages of such churches within this State, shall be the Trustees for every such church or congregation. The Act then prescribes the mode in which the Trustees and their successors shall become a body corporate, and the name or title of such incorpora- tion. In the same Act, further provision is made that it

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shall be lawful for the Trustees of any Reformed Protes- tant Dutch Church or congregation, elected by virtue of any former law of this State, by writing under their hands and seals, duly proved and acknowledged, and also re- corded in the office of the clerk of the county, to declare their will, not to continue any longer a body corporate under such former law, and thereupon such body corpo- rate shall cease, and all the estate, real and personal held by them, shall pass and be vested in the Trustees of the church or congregation made a body corporate, in the manner provided for the Dutch churches.

Under the provisions of the Act last above-mentioned, John Hegeman, Johannes E. Lott, Court Van Brunt and Andrew Suydam, " The Trustees of the Refor3IED Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush," elected ac- cording to the provisions of the Act, entitled " An Act to enable all religious denominations in this State, to appoint Trustees, who shall be a body corporate, for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective congregations, and for other purposes therein mentioned," Passed April 6th, 1784, did on the 19th day of Decem- ber, 1804, by a certificate executed under their hands and seals, certify and declare, that they would not continue any longer a body corporate, under the said recited Act ; which certificate was duly proved, acknowledged and re- corded, as the Act requires. On the same day, (Decem- ber 19th 1804,) Martinus Schoonmaker and Peter Lowe, ministers, Peter Stryker, John Williamson, Johannes E. Lott and Hendrick H. Suydam, Elders, and Joseph Hege- man, Cornelius Stryker and Lawrence Voorhees, Deacons elected according to the rules and usages of the Reform- ed Protestant Dutch Cliurch of Flatbush, did by a certifi- cate, executed under their hands and seals, also certify and declare, that they and their successors, forever should

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be known and distinguished as a body corporate, by virtue of the Act entitled " An Act, to provide for the incorpora- tion of religious societies." Passed March 27th, 1801, (see Revised Laws of the State of New- York, by Kent and RadclifF, vol. 1, page 3-36,) by the name or title of "The Trustees of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Town of Flatbush, in Kings County." This certificate was also duly proved and acknowledged, and recorded in the Clerk's office, of the County of Kings. And the minister or ministers. Elders and Deacons of the church, have ever since been continued, under the provi- sion« of the last mentioned Act, as a body corporate, by the name or title expressed and set forth in the original certificate now remaining of record.

On the 19th of August, 1793, the inhabitants of the town of Flatbush, assembled in public meeting at the church, and having again declared their adherence to the doctrines and order of the Dutch Church, as ratified by the National Synod, held at Dordrecht, unanimously re- solved to erect a new house for public worship. Certain conditions and stipulations were agree upon, and a build- ing committee, consisting of the Trustees of the church, then five in number, and five Commissioners were ap- pointed to carry their design into execution. The names of these Trustees and Commissioners, were Cornelius Vanderveer, John Bennem, Johannes J. Lott, Peter Stry- ker, John Vanderveer, John Vanderbilt, Hendrick H. Suydam, Johannes E. Lott, John Williamson and Adrian Martense. This committee immediately proceeded to their work. They engaged Thomas Fardon as the architect and master builder, and Simeon Back, Frederic Cleaveland, Abijah Baldwin, Gideon Seaman, and other carpenters under him. The master mason was John Sanford, who was assisted by his two brothers and others under him.

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The painting of the church, when completed, was done by Matthew Hall, the father of George Hall, the first Mayor of the city of Brooklyn. This edifice, which is the one now standing, was three years in building. It was commenced in December, 1793, and finished in De- cember, 1796. It is most substantially built — all the stones of the former church being placed in its founda- tion, which is at least six feet broad. Most of the stones for the walls, were quarried at Hurlgate. They were l)rought by water to Gowanus and Denton's mill, by Je- remiah Van Dyke, from whence they were carted to Flat- bush, by the inhabitants. The brown stone which forms the three upper courses just above the foundation, were broken out of the Brooklyn woods. The brick around the doors and windows, which by the way, is almost the only matter of bad taste about the building, came from Hol- land, as ballast, in one of the ships belonging to the Ho- norable John Vanderbilt.

The cost of this edifice was £4873. 7. 7. equal to 812.183, 44. exclusive of the labor and cartage perform- ed by the members of ihe congregation, which was an item of very considerable amount. On the 6th day of December, 1796, the pews in the church amounted to nine- ty-seven, exclusive of those reserved for the Elders and Deacons, the Pastor, the Justice of the peace, and a few for strangers, were sold at public auction, for the aggre- gate sum of £2013. 7. 9. equalto85.033, 47. wliichdid not meet the expense of the building by more than #7.000. A suitable register of the pews was then made, and of their respective owners. At the completion of the church, in the year 1796, a fine bell, imported expressly from Holland, was presented for its use, by the Honorable John Vanderbilt, lor which a vote of thanks was passed by the Consistory, a copy of which was ordered to be transmitted

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to the liberal donor. The vessel in which this bell was shipped, was captured by the British, on her passage to this country, and carried into Halifax, — and from the fact that the bell had on it, this inscription, '- Presented to the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush, by John Vander- bilt," it was presumed that both vessel and cargo, belong- ed to a Holland merchant, and she was on the point of being condemned, when JMr. Charles Clarkson, the son-in- law of Mr. Vanderbilt, went to Halifax and testified that he was a citizen of the United States. It is something of a remarkable fact, that the second or third time that this bell was used, was on the occasion of the funeral of this noble spirited man. Although we shall have occasion hereafter to mention this distinn;uished individual, we trust we shall be pardoned for here stopping for a moment, to render the tribute of respect to his memory. He was a man of great nobleness of mind, of liberal views, and of enlarged public spirit. He died on the 18th of No- vember, 1796, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. His monumental stone, bears the following testimony to his worth. '• He was a merchant of distinguished probity — a real patriot — an affectionate relative — a sincere friend, and a worthy man. Blessed with affluence, he displayed a spirit of munificence in promoting the interests of his country, of religion and virtue. The moderation and conciliatory disposition which accompanied and conducted his virtues, secured him through life, an esteem almost unrivalled, and rendered his death, a great loss to the public, and to his family irreparable."

The church after its completion, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, in the month of January, 1797. The Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, preached a sermon in the Dutch language, on that interesting occasion, and the

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Rev. Peter Lowe, preached in English in the afternoon of the same day.

The combination between the six congreo^ations of the county, to which we have alluded, continued until the year 1805, when the church of Brooklyn, called the Rev. Selah S. Woodhull, as their pastor exclusively. In the year 1808, the churches of Flatbush and Flatlands, united in a call upon the Rev. Peter Lowe, to become their pastor, which was accepted, and he continued in that relation, until the time of his death, which occurred on the 10th day of June, 1818. He was much beloved by tjie people of his charge ; a man of fervent piety and of active usefulness. His death was that of the triumphant Christian. His remains lie interred in the public ceme- tery of this church.

In the fall of the year 1818, the churches of Flat- bush and Flatlands, made a call on theRev. Walter Monteith, who was installed their pastor in the year 1819. He continued his connection with this people only for a little more than a year, — for on the 13th of April, 1820, he resigned his charge, having accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church in Schenectady. After the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Monteith, the congrega- tions remained vacant for upwards of two years. In the month of May, 1822, a call was made out by the church of Flatbush alone, on the present pastor, which was accepted by him, in August of that year, and on the 17th day of November ensuing, (1822,) he was installed by the Clas- sis of Long-Island. The combination between the six Dutch churches in the county, was not however finally dissolved, until the death of the Rev. Martinus Schoon- maker, which took place on the 20th day of May, 1824, when he was at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. This venerable man was eminent for his faithful perfor-

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mance of duty, and his devotion to his Masters work. He continued to preach until within a few months of his death, — after having served the people of his charge for nearly forty years, he was gathered to his fathers, and his end was peace.

In the year 1830, measures were first taken for the erection of the Consistory Room of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush. The want of accommodation for religious services, other than those on the Sabbath, and particularly of a suitable place in which to hold the Sab- bath Schools, had been long felt ; one of the school rooms in the Academy, had been used for the former purpose, and the church for the latter. But neither was such as circumstances catled for. Arrangements were according- ly made for the erection of a seperate building, which was completed in 1831, at the expense of 81,195.82. To meet this, a voluntary subscription, amounting to about 8600, was taken up among the members of the congrega- tion, and the balance was paid by a donation from the Ladies' Sewing Society, and by the Consistory, who contri- buted nearly $400.

During the winter of 1836-37, some important im- provements were made in the interior of the Reformed Dutch Church in Flatbush. We need not particularly specify them, as they are all well known to the present inhabitants. The pews on the ground floor, were all re- modelled, and rendered more comfortable, and a gallery was erected across the east end of the church.

Reformed Dutch Church at New-Lots.

In the year 1823, measures were taken for the erec- tion of a church edifice in New-Lots. The building was

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commenced in that year, and finished in the succeeding spring. It was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, in July 1824, on which occasion the Rev. John Alburtis, then a minister of the Presbyterian Church, officiated. During the period when the building was erecting, efforts were made to have that part of the congregation of Flat- bush organised into a separate church. But they had been ineffectual. On the 12th of August 1824, however, the Classis of Long-Island resolved that they should be- come a distinct congregation; and took measures ac- cordingly, to organize them into a church, which took place in the latter part of that month, the late Rev. David S. Bogart, by order of the Classis, officiating on the oc- casion. During the succeeding winter, they united with the church of Flatlands in making out a call upon the Rev. William Crookshank, a licentiate from the Theolo- gical Seminary at New-Brunswick, who in February. 1825, was ordained by the Classis, and installed pastor of the churches of New-Lots and Flatlands. He continued his connection with this people, for a little more than ten years. In April 1835, he resigned his charge and re- moved to the village of Newburgh. On the 22d of jMarch 1836, the Rev. J. Abeel Baldwin, having accepted their call, was installed pastor of these churches, who is still officiating among them with much acceptance and useful- ness.

Episcopal Church at Flatbush.

In June 1836, incipient steps were taken to organize an Episcopal Church in Flatbush. The first service pre- paratory to this, was held by the Rev. Dr. Cutler, of Brooklyn, in the Consistory Room of the Reformed Dutch

vj^BSsgW^^^'

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Church, which had been offered for the occasion, by the Consistory. In reference to this enterprize, although it was the first attempt to introduce the services of another denomination of Christians in the town, the kindest feel- ings were entertained and expressed, and such facilities were afforded to further it as Christian courtesy dictated, on behalf of the officers and members of the Reformed Dutch Church. On the 11th of July, 1836, the follow- ing persons were chosen to constitute the first Vestry, viz : Matthew Clarkson and Robert J.Crommelin, Wardens ;

'■ David Johnson, James Mowatt, George Cornell, C. Du-

t rand, Charles Waldron, A. Norrie, William H. Story

) and Samuel Richards, Jr., Vestrymen.

! The corner stone of the church was laid in accordance with the forms and provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church, on the 13th day of August, 1836, by the Right Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, Bishop of the Diocese of New- York, wlien Tt was named the " St. Paul's Church of Flat- bush." An address was delivered on the occasion, by the Rev. Benjamin C. Cutler, D. D. The building, which will well compare with any of its size, for beauty, neat- .ness and symmetry, was finished in the fall of the same year. The cost of this edifice, including certain improve- ments around the church, and the organ, was $8,480. To meet this, a subscription was taken from sundry indi- viduals, amounting to $2,398. The balance, which was $6,082, was generously contributed by Matthew Clark- son, Esq.

On the 23d of December, 1836, the Rev. Thomas S. Brittain, was chosen the first rector. The church was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, by the Bishop of the Diocese, on the 29th day of December, in the same year. The instrument of donation was read by the Rev.

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Mr. Brittain, the rector, and the instrument of consecra- tion, by the Rev. John F. Messenger, assistant. From that time forth, services were regularly held in the church on every Sunday ; the Rev. Mr. Brittain the rector, offi- ciating in the afternoon, and the Rev. Mr. Messenger, the assistant, in the morning. On September 1st, 1837, the Rev. Mr. Messenger resigned, and on the 3d of the same month, the Rev. James Coghlan commenced officiat- ing in his place. The Rev. Mr. Brittain resigned his rectorship, on the 29th of March, 1838, and on the 6th day of April, in the same year, the Rev. Mr. Coghlan succeeded as rector. He continued to officiate as such, until the fall of the succeeding year, when, in conse- quence of his removal to England, he resigned. This took place on the 21st of October, 1839. On the 30th of March, 1840, the Rev. William Barlow, the present worthy rector, was elected to that office, with whose excel- lencies of mind and character, the inhabitants of the to\vn are well acquainted.*

Reformed Dutch Church at East New- York.

In the year 1838, a new Reformed Dutch Church was built at East New- York, a settlement of some considera- ble extent, w^hich has grown up in the north west part of New-Lots, bordering on the turnpike. This church was dedicated to the service of God, in the spring of the suc- ceeding year, and in the month of May, of that year, 1839, the Rev. William H. Campbell, was installed as their pas- tor. He continued his connection with them until the fall

♦ The Rev. Mr. Barlow, resigned his rectorship, on or about the 1st of April, 1842,

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of 1841, when he removed to Albany, to take charge of the Third Reformed Dutch Church of that city.

Thus, in the good providence of God, have churches been multiplied within the bounds of the town of Flat- bush. Twenty years ago there was but one edifice for the accommodation of all the community. Now we have four respectable churches, besides a building which a few years ago was put up in the woods, between this and New. Lots, for the use of the colored population, particularly of the Methodist denomination. Would, that while these fa- cilities for divine worship are afforded, and the various ministers in our bounds are from Sabbath to Sabbath pro- claiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, all our inha- bitants may become wise unto salvation.

LITERARY HISTORY.

Village School.

No principle was more deeply engraved upon the heart of the Hollander than that " the church and the school must be maintained ;" a principle of the soundest wisdom, and of the most practical utility. For, without education, morality and religion, there can be no foundation for so- cial order and prosperity. These are the great safeguards of the community, and where these are fostered and en- couraged, we have reason to expect not only intelligence and virtue, but a due respect to the laws of the land, and to all the rights and privileges of those who are associated in any one community. Accordingly, the early Dutch settlers in Flatbush, imbued with the principle which has just been mentioned, soon after their settlement, took mea- sures for the education of their children, and the mainte- nance of suitable schools. Among the first records of the town, we find notice of the employment of a schoolmaster. Much care seems to have been taken, not only in the se- lection, but in the agreements formed with the teachers of their children. The first schoolmaster of whom we have any knowledge, was Adrian Hegeman. He was one of the original proprietors of the town, and was the owner of the farm lying immediately north of the property now in the tenure of Mr. Isaac Cortelvou. He was the ances- tor of the widow of the late Peter Lefferts, and probably

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of the whole family of Hegemans, now living. He was engaged as schoolmaster from 1659, to 1671.

From the records of the town, it appears that the schoolmaster acted as Town Clerk, and as the rates of tuition were low, previously to the American re- volution, the offices of sexton, and " Foresinger," or chorister, of the church, were conferred upon him, with a view to increase his emoluments. He receiv- ed all interment fees, for infants and adults, accord- ing to a scale of established prices, and for his services as chorister, he was paid an annual salary by the Consisto- ry of the church. The chorister, in addition to his duty of taking the lead in setting und singing the Psalms and Hymns, was also required to ring the bell for all public ser- vices, to read the commandments at the commencement of the morning worship, and the Apostles creed, in the after- noon. These latter services were all performed in the Dutch language, and uniformly continued so until about the year 1790, at the time when Mr. Gabriel Ellison, the first English schoolmaster left the village.

The following is a list of the schoolmasters of the town of Flatbush, from the year 1659, to the year 1$02, when the village school was removed into the Academy.

Adrian Hegeman, from 1659 to 1671.

Jacop Joosten,

Francays De Burynne

Michael Hainelle

Jan Gerrit Van Marckje

Derick Storm,

Jan Tiebout, "

Johannes Van Eckkellen, '•

Johannes Schenck, "

Jan Gancell, "

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(.

ii

a

1671	1673.
1673	1674.
1674	1675.
1675	1680.
1680	1681.
1681	1682.
1682	1700.
1700 *	* 1711.
1711	1719.

1719	to	1741.
1741		1762.
1762		1773.
1773		1776.
1776		1790.
1790		1793.
1793		1798.
1798

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Adrian Hegeman, from

Jores Remsen, "

Petrus Van Steenburgh, "

Anthony Welp, "

Gabriel Ellison, "

John Rubell, "

Michael Schoonmaker, "

Patrick Dillon, "

Patrick Noon, " 1802.

Specific and very particular agreements were made with these several schoolmasters, which are entered at large, upon the town records. It may be interesting to pre- sent one or two of these, to show the duties which these persons formerly were required to perform, and the man- ner in which they were to instruct the children. The fol- lowing is a translation of the agreement made with Johan- nes Van Eckkelen, who commenced his duties as school- master, in Flatbush, in the year 1682.

" Johannes Van Eckkelen, a young man from New- Alba- ny, is hereby called and accepted, on the first day of Oc- tober, 1681, with the advice and consent of the Honorable Magistrates, to perform the duties heretofore required of Jan Thibaud, in manner following : (1 .) He shall serve the Church and School, according to the existing ordinances, in the same manner, as they have been heretofore perfor- med by the above named Jan Thibaud, and as hereunder written. — (2.) This contract shall take effect, from the first day of October, Inst, and continue to the first day of May next, for the purpose of making a trial of each other in the mean time. — (3.) For the performance of the above duties, he shall be entitled to receive the sum of 234 guil- ders, in grain, valued in Seewant, with the other privile- ges appertaining to the calling, during the time specified.

Ill

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT

WITH

JOHANNES VAN ECKKELEN.

Accepted Schoohnaster and Chorister of Flathush.

School Service. — I. The school shall begin at eight o'clock, and go out at eleven ; and in the afternoon shall begin at one o'clock, and end at four. The bell shall be rung when the school commences.*

II. When the school begins, one of the children shall read the morning prayer, as it stands in the catechism, and close with the prayer before dinner ; in the afternoon it shall begin with the prayfer after dinner, and end with the evening prayer. The evening school shall begin with the Lord's prayer, and close by singing a psalm.

III. He shall instruct the children on every Wednesday and Saturday, in the common prayers, and the questions and answers in the catechism, to enable them to repeat them the better on Sunday before the afternoon service, or on Monday, when ihey shall be catechised before the congregation. Upon all such occasions, the schoolmas- ter shall be present, and shall require the children to be friendly in their appearance and encourage them to an- swer freely and distincly.

IV. He shall be required to keep his school nine months in succession, from September to June, in each

♦ The bell used on these occasions was the church bell. The prac- tice of ringing tliis bell at the opening of the school continued till the year 1794, when the second church was taken down. The church bell was also used by the Academy, for nearly ten years.

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year, in case it should be concluded upon to retain his services for a year or more, or without limitation ; and he shall then be required to be regulated by these articles, and to perform the same duties which his predecessor, Jan Thibaud, above named, was required to perform. In ev- ery particular therefore, he shall be required to keep school, according to this seven months agreement, and shall always be present himself.

Church Service. — I. He shall keep the church clean, and ring the bell three times before the people assemble to attend the preaching and catechising. Also before the sermon is commenced, he shall read a chapter out of the Holy Scriptures, and that, bet]j^een the second and third ringing of the bell. After the third ringing he shall read the ten commandments, and the twelve articles of our faith, and then take the lead in singing. In the afternoon after the third ringing of the bell, he shall read a short chapter, or one of the Psalms of David, as the congrega- tion are assembling ; and before divine service commen- ces, shall introduce it, by the singing of a Psalm ^r Hymn.

II. — When, the minister shall preach at Brooklyn, or New-Utrecht, he shall be required to read twice before the congregation, from the book commonly used for that pur- pose. In the afternoon he shall also read a sermon on the explanation of the catechism, according to the usage and practice approved of by the minister. The children as usual, shall recite their questions and answers out of the catechism, on Sunday, and he shall instruct them therein. He, as chorister, shall not be required to perform these duties, whenever divine service shall be performed in Flatlands, as it would be unsuitable, and prevent many from attending there.

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III. — For the administration of Holy Baptism, he shall provide a basin with water, for which he shall be entitled to receive from the parents, or witnesses, twelve styvers. He shall, at the expense of the church, provide bread and wine, for the celebration of the Holy Supper ; He shall be in duty bound promptly to furnish the minister with the name of the child to be baptized, and with the names of the parents and witnesses. And he shall also serve as messenger for the consistory.

IV. — He shall give the funeral invitations, dig the grave, and toll the bell, for which service he shall receive for a person of fifteen yearsand upwards, twelve guilders, and for one under that age, eight guilders. If he should be required to give invitations beyond the limits of the town, he shall be entitled to three additional guilders, for the invitation of every other town, and if he should be re- quired to cross the river, and go to New-York, he shall receive four guilders.

School Money. — He shall receive from those who at- tend the day school, for a speller or reader, three guilders a quarter, and for a writer four guilders. From those who attend evening school, for a speller or reader, four guilders, and for a writer, six guilders shall be given.

Salary. — In addition to the above, his salary shall con- sist of four hundred guilders, in grain, valued in Seewant, to be delivered at Brooklyn Ferry, and for his services from October to May, as above stated, a sum of two hun- dred and thirty-four guilders, in the same kind, with the dwelling house, barn, pasture lot, and meadows, to the school appertaining. The same to take effect from the first day of October, Instant.

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Done and agreed upon in Consistory, under the inspec- tion of the Honorable Constable and Overseers, the 8th, of October, 1682.

Constable and Overseers. The Consistory.

Cornelius Berrian Casparus Van Zuren, Minister^

Rynier Aertsen, Adriaen Reyerse,

Jan Remsen, Cornelis Barent Vandewtck.

I agree to the above articles, and promise to perform them according to the best of my ability.

JOHANNES VAN ECKKELEN."

Many of the provisions of this agreement are caFculat- ed at this day to excite a smile. But in one particular it is to be admired. It shows how careful and exact our forefathers were, in embuing the minds of the young and rising generation, with a reverence for the God of their ex- istence, and with a knowledge of the principles of our ho- ly religion. These are matters which we cannot too sa- credly guard. Mere secular knowledge is not a safe- guard to personal virtue, nor to the security of the State. Sound education consists not simply in the cultivation of the mind, but in the infusion of moral and religious prin- ciples. Without the latter, it is but a frail support of the great temple of liberty and independence. But when mo- ral principles are inculcated in connection with intellectu- al light, we may hope to see the youth growing up in vir- tue and proving ornaments in their day, and supports to the church and the state. Such was the deep rooted sen- timent of the early Dutch settlers, and was transmitted by them to their immediate descendants. And hence the careful provisions in all their agreements with their school-

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masters. At that time religious instruction could be in- troduced in the schools without any difficulty, as all the community were of one faith — All adhering to theBelgic Confession, the articles of the Synod of Dort, and the Ca- techisms of the Reformed Dutch Church. Such a mode of instruction however, from the present state of society, and the multiplication ofreligioussects, cannot now be pursued. But we deprecate the day, when the Bible shall be exclu- ded from our common schools, and no care taken to in- still into the minds of the young, sound moral principles, the principles of the religion of Christ.

We have presented an agreement formed with a school- master, in the year 1682. We now give one made in the year 1773, nearly one hundred years after, with Anthony Welp, the last teacher of the Dutch language. As will be seen, it contains many of the provisions of the former, and is based in general, upon the same principles.

" In Kings County, " Flatdush, August 18, 1773.

'•' The undersigned, PhilippusNagel, Johannes Ditmars and Cornelius Vanderveer, Jr., being authorized by the town of Flatbush, to call a schoolmaster for the same town, have agreed with Mr. Anthony Welp, to keep school in the following manner.

" First the school shall begin and end in a Christian- like manner : At 8 o'clock in the morning it shall begin with the morning prayer, and end at 11 o'clock, with prayer.

" 1st. For dinner. At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, it shall begin with the prayer after meat, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, end with the evening prayer.

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" 2d. The above named schoolmaster shall teach child- ren and adult persons, low dutch and english spelling and reading, and also cyphering to all who may desire or re- quest such instruction.

" 3d. The above named schoolmaster shall have for the instruction of every child or person, in low dutch spelling, reading and writing, the sum of four shillings : for those who are instructed in english spelling, reading and writ- ing, the sum of five shillings : and for those who are in- structed in cyphering, the sum of six shillings : and that for three months instruction : and also a load of firewood shall be brought for each scholar, every nine months, for the use of the school.

" 4th. The above schoolmaster shall keep school five days in every week : once in each week in the afternoon, the scholars shall learn the questions and answers in Borges Catechism : or the questions and answers in the Hei- dleburgh Catechism, with the scripture texts thereto be- longing, or as it may be desired by the scholar or by his guardian, for any other day in the week, so as to be most beneficial to the one instructed.

" 5th. The above named schoolmaster shall occupy the school-house, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, in the same manner as the same was occupied by the schoolmaster, Petrus Van Steenburgh. Also, the above named schoolmaster shall be yearly paid by the AVorthy Consistory, the sum of four pounds, to attend to the churcli services, such as reading and singing ; and for the inter- ment of the dead, the above named schoolmaster shall be entitled to receive so much as is customary in the above named town.

" 6th, and Lastly. The above agreement shall be obli- gatory for such length of time as the present schoolmas-

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ter shall render his services amongst us. But if it should so happen that the town should not require the services of the above named schoolmaster, any longer after the ex- piration of one year : in such case the schoolmaster shall have three months notice thereof, from the above authoriz- ed persons, or from such persons as may be thereto ap- pointed. And if the above named schoolmaster should desire to discontinue his services, he shall in like manner give the town three months previous notice of his intention.

For the mutual performance of this agreement, we have signed this with our hands.

N. B. The above sums of money mentioned in the Third Article, shall be paid by those who send the scho- lars to school.

" PHILLIPPUS NAGEL, JOHANNES DITMARS, CORS. V. D. VEER, Junk. ANTHONY WELP."

We have not been able to gather any information rela- tive to the character or attainments of these early school- masters. Nor have we met with any of their literary productions. We cannot, however, refrain in this place, from presenting the following rare specimen of poetic pro- ficiency, which we find on the title page of the first Minute Book of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Kings. It was composed by J. M. Sperling of Flat- bush, who was chosen clerk of the board, in the year 1716.

" My loving Friends of this County See, That you hereby may Regulated Bee —

Fear God and Keep the Law with Love of one accord

And be Obdient to our Soveraiane Lord

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Then you will meet with Men that Sees

Tliat Doth according to Law bv Words and Deeds

Imploy'd the same within your Port

Tliat is my advice now in short — "

The school-house referred to in the agreements which we have presented, was located on a triangular lot of ground situated on the east side of the main street, di- rectly opposite to the old parsonage and present Consisto- ry Room, on the site now occupied by the store of Mr. Michael Schoonmaker & Son. There were three distinct buildings joined together, and evidently erected at differ- ent periods of time. The most eastern, which was pro- bably the first erected in the town, was built of stone, and stood about sixty feet from the street, being one story high. The second was composed of wood, more elevated than the first, having a steep roof in front, and a long sloping roof in the rear, reaching so near the ground as to admit of only a small window behind. The third was also a frame building, of more modern date, the gable end of which fronted the street, and stood on a line with it, but built in the same style as the last — the roofs exact- ly corresponding with each other, and although it was probably erected fifty years subsequently, still the same model was tenaciously adhered to. The whole fronted to the south, with the gable end, as we have said, to the road, having two rooms in front and two small rooms in the rear, and in more modern times the east end of the building served as a kitchen. The westerly front room was always used as the school-room, and the small room in the rear of it, (usually called the " prison," from the fact that unruly boys were occasionally confined in it,) was also used for school purposes, when the number of schol-

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ars was too great to be accommondated in the front school- room. The residue of the building, with the kitchen and barn,wasoccupiedby the schoolmaster and his family. The village school was kept in this building until about the year 1803. In the year 1805, the old school-house was sold to Bateman Lloyd, Esq., who took it down, and with the timber and other materials of it, built a store on his own premises, a few feet north of his dwelling-house. The building erected with these materials, continued to be kept as a dry-goods and grocery store, until the year 1825, when it was removed and converted into a barn, now on the premises owned and occupied by Dr. Zabris- kie. After the school-house was removed, the lot on which it stood, laid in common for some time. During the last war with Great Britain, the government erected a gun house upon the north west angle of the lot, suffi- ciently large to hold two heavy field pieces. About the same time, the store now owned by Mr. Michael Schoonmaker, was built upon part of the premises, and in the year 1823, the present parsonage house was erected on the southern portion of it, which embraces all the ground commonly called the school lot.

The first person who taught English, was Petrus Van Steenburgh. He was schoolmaster from the year 1762, to 1773. At what time precisely he commenced teaching Encrlish we cannot tell. But he had at the same time, as well as his successor, pupils in both the Dutch and En- glish language. And as all the scholars were in the habit of speaking Dutch, it required some little manage- ment on the part of the worthy school-master to make his pupils who were learning English use that language en- tirely. His rule was that no scholar who was instructed in English should speak a Dutch word in school, and if

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he did so he should be punished. In order to detect these persons, he had a pewter token about the size of a dollar, which was given to the one who first spoke a Dutch word alter the school was opened. He gave it to the next one whom he heard speak Dutch, and so it passed from one to another ; but the boy in whose possession the token was found at the close of the school, appears to have been the scapegoat for the whole, for he was severely ferruled upon his hand by the faithful Petrus Van Steenburgh, who took great delight in finding the successful operation of his most ingenious device to detect the unhappy wight who spoke a Dutch word.

The first select Classical school, which was opened in this town, was commenced by one John Copp. His school was held at first in a small house lately belonging to Judge Garrit Martense, which stood on the lot now occu- pied by Mr. Seymour, and which has been cut in two, and converted into barns and stables. From this he removed and taught in the south room of the house of Cornelius An- tonides. At what date he opened his school, cannot be as- certained with precision. An advertisement over his name is found in " the New- York Journal, or General Advertis- er," published by John Holt, under the date of July, 4th, 1774. In this, he states, that " he has for sometime kept a grammar school in Flatbush." In this advertisement he "proposes" (to use his own words,) " to teach the Latin and Greek languages and Arithmetic in the correctest and best manner, besides reading, writing, and principles of English Grammar." His terms were $50 a year for boarding; and tuition not to exceed $15 yearly. He refers to the Rev. Dr. Cooper, President of Kings (now Columbia) College, to the Hon. William Axtell, who then resided in Flatbush, and to Andrew Elliott, Collector of His Majesty's Cus-

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toms in New-York. He adds — " Dr. Cooper proposes to visit the school quarterly, when the scholars will be ex- amined."

This school of Mr. Copp appears to have been well patronised. Many of the most respectable and influential inhabitants of New-York entrusted their children to his care. Henry Remsen, the late President of the Manhat- tan Company,was one of his scholars, besides many others. This school was broken up by the war of the American Revolution, and Mr. Copp afterwards joined the army.

During the period of the struggle for Am.erican Inde- pendence, the school in Flatbush was taught by Mr. Gab- riel Ellison. He was an Englishman by birth, and^was the first teacher who taught English exclusively. He had been a considerable time among the Indians in Cana- da— and although a man of eccentric habits, was a good schoolmaster, in proof of which, we may remark, that in addition to village scholars, he had many others from Brooklyn and other places. In order to entitle him to re- ceive all the emoluments which his predecessors had en- joyed, it was indispensably necessary that he should acquire a knowledge of the Dutch, so as to enable him to perform the duties of sexton and chorister in that lan- guacre. This he readily undertook, and although he committed many blunders in the onset, yet by diligence and perseverance, he overcome his many difficulties, and was soon fully inducted into the offices of sexton and chorister. These offices he held until he left the village school, about 1790, and performed them generally to the satisfaction of the inhabitants.

Many incidents of quite an amusing character, are re- lated of him during his residence here. We will mention

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one or two. As sexton, it was his duty to ring the bell and give alarms during the revolutionary war. The village was often disturbed during that period, and Mr. Ellison, from his office, and from his living near the church, usually warned the inhabitants by ringing the bell. On one occasion an alarm was sounded in the night time. Ellison not being able to find his small clothes, (for pantaloons were not known in those days,) seized his wife's calimanco petticoat, which he hastily drew on, and ran to the church, where he was found dressed in this style, pulling away like a lusty fellow at the bell rope. Such a sight must have put to flight all the fears of the inhabitants, and turned the scene of alarm into