U.- *^^###^=i^^^^-^^^=i^=!^^^-^^^^=««$!-^sfe***' HISTORICAL SKETCH OP BROOKLYN, ETC. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE CITY OF BROOKLYN, AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING THE VILLAGE OF WILLIAMSBURGH, AND THE TOWNS OF BUSHWICK, FLATBUSH, FLATLANDS, NEW UTRECHT, AND GRAVESEND. TO WHICH IS ADDED, AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES. BY J. T. BAILEY. X#^^ -< .^\ tcg) ^ BROOKLYN: / PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 39 Fulton Street. AND TO BE HAD OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS IN NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN. 1840. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1840, by J. T. BAILEY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. NEW YORK: ROBERT CRAIGHEAD, PRINTER 112 FULTON STREET. TO THE PUBLIC. The rapid progress of improvement which has taken place in Brooklyn, from the time of its incorporation as a city in 1834 up to the present period, the number of new buildings that have been erected, and the great increase in its population, is a matter of surprise and astonishment; but what renders it most worthy of the pen of the historian, is the fact that it was the spot where the memorable though unfortunate battle of Long Island was fought, during the revolutionary contest in 1776, when so many noble hearted American patriots fell in defence of the liberty and independence of their country. The history of such a place cannot fail to be inter- esting to every one who values those sacred rights and privileges, but particularly to those who were born and reside on the spot, or in the immediate neighborhood ; indeed every schoolboy should be familiarly acquaint- ed with it. The compiler has endeavored to embody in this his- torical sketch as much general information respecting IV the places named in the title, as possible ; also the prin- cipal occurrences and interesting incidents that took place at the battle of the 27th August, 1776. He is aware that several eminent and talented authors have preceded him on this subject, to whom he ac- knowledges himself greatly indebted for much valuable information ; their publications contain more particulars, and possess much greater merit than his own ; but they are also more expensive, and consequently beyond the reach of many citizens, who wish for information on this interesting subject of history. His object has been to publish a cheap work, and he confidently hopes to reap his reward from a liberal and enlightened public, by a general sale of it, BrooMyn, August Ist, 1840. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN, AND THE S UHK-O UNDING NEIGHBORHOOD The City of Brooklyn is situated at the south-western extremity of Long Island, in Kings county, on the East River, nearly opposite the lower part of the city of New York, with which place it has a constant and regular communication by four ferries, which have steamboats plying at all hours during the day, and some of them du- ring the night; these boats are kept in good order, are very commodious, and well adapted for the conveyance, not only of foot passengers, but horses and carriages of all descriptions. The facility of communication between the two cities, has tended no doubt to the increase and prosperity of Brooklyn, for many merchants, and other citizens, who carry on business in New York, have their private residences in Brooklyn, preferring it, not only on account of the beauty and salubrity of the situation, but also for the excellence of the water, in which respect it greatly surpasses New York. The four ferries are the Fulton, the Main-street, the Jackson or Navy Yard ferry, as it is called, and the South 6 BROOKLYN. ferry. The first of them, the Fulton^ is situated at the foot of Fulton-street, and is about 730 yards across the river to the foot of Fulton-street, New York. The Main- street ferry is at the foot of Main-street, it is east of the Fulton ferry, and is about 740 yards across to the foot of Catharine-street, New York. The Jackson ferry is at the foot of Jackson-street, it is about 700 yards across to the foot of Walnut-street, New York. And the South ferry is at the foot of Atlantic-street, Brooklyn, where the Long Island Rail-road commences ; it is about 1300 yards across the river to the foot of Whitehall-street, New York. The first European settler in New Netherlands was a man named G-eorge Janse de Rapelje, at the Waalboght, or Waaloons Bay, (as it was then called,) during the di- rectorship of Peter Minuit, under the charter of the Dutch West India Company. The first child of this Rapelje was unquestionably the first white child born upon Long Island ;'her christian name was Sarah ; she was born on the 9th of June, 1625, and was honored as the first born child of the Dutch settlers ; in consideration of which, during her widowhood (for she was twice married) she was pre- sented with a tract of land at the Wallabout. Her first hus- band was Hans Hanse-Bergen, by whom she had six children; and her second husband was Tunis Guisbertse Bogart, by whom she had also six children. In the journal of the Dutch Council in 1656, it is stated that " the widow Hans Hansen, the first-born christian daugh- ter in New Netherlands, (as the Dutch settlements were then called,) being burdened with seven children, peti- tioned for a grant of a piece of meadow-land, in addition to the twenty morgen granted to her at the Waalboght." There is also a tradition, that the Indians, induced by BROOKLYN. / the circumstance of her being the first white child born on the island, gave the lands adjacent or near to the bay, to her father and his brethren, hence it was called Hel- Waalboght, now corrupted to Wallabout bay. There is an elderly lady, about 75 years of age, the last remaining branch of this family, now residing at No. 13 Front-street ; she is the great grand-daughter of George Janse de Rapelje, in a direct line; she has been twice married; her present name is Sawyer, but her maiden name was Rapelje ; her father's name was G-arrett Rapel- je, he was a younger brother of John Rapelje, and he as well as his brother was obliged to take refuge in New Jersey during the revolutionary war, to avoid the perse- cution of the whigs, who suspected them of disaffection to the American cause. Mrs. Sawyer has many ancient documents and curious relics belonging to the family in her possession, and has a perfect recollection of many of the principal incidents that occurred during those trouble- some times. It appears by the Dutch records, that in 1634 a part of the land at Red Hook was the property of Wouter Van Twiller, being one of the oldest titles now existing. The earliest deed for land was from Governor Kieft to Abraham Rycken, in 163S, and the oldest grant recorded is to Thomas Besker in 1639. This may be considered as the commencent of permanent Dutch settlements on Long Island, as there is no evidence of any direct and. systema- tic efforts heing made for that purpose before this period. The town of Brooklyn, was first settled about the year 1636, and the name conferred upon the place by the Dutch was Breucklyn, (signifying broken land,) nor does the present appellation appear to have been generally 8 BROOKLYN. adopted until after the Revolution. Many changes have doubtless taken place on the shore, and it is believed that Governor's Island was formerly connected with Red Hook point. It is well known, that a short period before the war of independence, cattle were driven across what is called the Buttermilk channel, which is now sufficiently deep to afford a passage for vessels of a large class ; this may be accounted for in some measure by the construction of the wharves at New York, which by reason of their encroachment upon that side of the east river, have forced the current more over to the Brooklyn side, and conse- quently have been the cause of the Buttermilk channel becoming deeper. Between the years 1642 and 1647, grants were made by his excellency Governor Kieft,'to different individuals, for all the lands on the Brooklyn shore, from Red Hook point to the Wallabout bay; it is believed that a general patent of the town of Brooklyn was granted by Governor Stuyvesant in 1657, the same being frequently referred to in conveyances between individuals at an after period, which is evident by the following extract from the records. " August 10th, 1695. The patentees and freeholders of the town sold unto Stephen Van Coitlandt, the neck of land called Red Hook, containing by estimation fifty acres, which they state in their deed was formerly given and granted to the town of Breucklyn in the year 1557, by Governor Stuyvesant, the Dutch governor at that time, and since confirmed by the English governors Nicolls and Dongan." On the 18th of October, 1667, a full and am- ple patent was granted by Governor Richard Nicolls to Jan Everts, Jan Damen, Albert Cornelisson, Paulus Ver- beeck, Michael Eneyl, Thomas Lamberts, Teunis Guis- BROOKLYN. ^^-^ 9 belt Bogart, and Joris Jacobson, as patentees, for and on behalf of themselves and their associates, the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Breucklyn, their heirs, successors, and assigns, for " all that tract, together with the several parcels of land which already have been or hereafter shall be purchased or procured for and on be- half of the said town, whether from the native Indian pro- prietors, or others." In 1670, the inhabitants being desirous of enlarging the bounds of their common lands, by extinguishing the Indian claim, obtained a license from Governor Love- lace for that purpose, and a purchase of the land requi- red was agreed upon, the 14th of May, 1670, between them and the Indians, which is thus described in the deed of conveyance, as " all that parcell of land in and about Bedford, within the jurisdiction of Breucklyn ; beginning from Hendrick Van Aarnhem's land by a swampe of water, and stretching to the hills ; then going along the hills to the port, or entrance thereof, and so on to Rock- away foot-path." The port, or entrance, mentioned in this instrument, is the valley upon the Flatbush Turn- pike Road, a short distance beyond the three-mile-post from Brooklyn ferry, where a freestone monument has been placed to designate the line between Brooklyn and Flatbush. The price paid for all the land in and about Bedford, was one hundred guilders in Seawant, (the name of In- dian money,) half a ton oi strong beer, two tons oi good beer, three guns having long barrels, with each a pound of powder, and lead for bullets in proportion, that is, two bars to a gun, and four match-coats. On the 13th May, 1686, a new patent was granted to 10 BROOKLYI^. the town of Breucklyn, by Governor Dongan, confirming all the powers and privileges of the charter granted by Grovernor Nicolls in 1667, upon the payment of twenty bushels of good merchantable wheat, as a quit rent to the English government. Under this, and other patents, considerable sums of money have been paid at different times as quit rents, for which receipts have been preser- ved. During the early settlement of the colony, the old ferry was from near the foot of Jerolemon-street, to the Breede-Graft, (now Broad-street,) in the city of New York, and it appears that in 1693, John Areson, the les- see of the ferry, complained of his inability to pay the rent* .£147 British sterling per annum, and it was reduced to =£140. At this time, the ferriage for every single person was eight stivers in wampum, or a silver two pence ; each person in company half the above amount, and after sunset, double price ; each horse, or beast, one shilling if single, or nine pence if there was more than one. In 1698, Bip Van Dam was lessee of the ferry for seven years, at £165 per annum. During the Revolution, the old ferry was kept by Van Winkle and Bukett, at which time, the usual charge for crossing the river was sixpence. The corporation of the city of New York has long claim- ed and exercised the control of the ferry, which now pro- duces a considerable revenue. On the 1st of August, 1795, the ferry from the foot of Main-street was estab- lished by William Furman and Theodosius Hunt, on a lease from the corporation of New York. In May, 1814^ the first steam-boat commenced running upon the Fulton Ferry, since which time, all the other ferries have steam- boats also. The town having acquired so great an extent of com * BROOKLYJf. 11 mon land by the purchase made in 1670, from the Ca- narsee Indians, (a numerous tribe, then occupying the whole of Kings County, and the south end of Long Is- land,) the inhabitants thought proper to take some steps for dividing it, and defending it ; accordingly, on the 25th day of February, 1690, at a town meeting, they agreed to divide their common lands and woods into three parts, namely, Gowanis, or Gowanus, (as it is now called,) Bedford and Cripplebush, and Brooklyn proper, inclu- dinor the Wallabout. The following will serve to show the manner in which the inhabitants elected the trustees of their common lands, and the duties of the trustees so elected. " At a town meeting, held this 29th day of Aprill, 1699, at Breucklyn, by order of Justice Machiel Haussen, ffor to chose townesmen ffor to order all townes business, and to defend theire limitts and bounds, and to dispose and lay out sum part thereoff in lotts, to make lawes and orders ffor the best off the inhabitants, and to raise a small tax ffor to defray the towne charges, now being, or hereaffter to come, to receive townes revenues, and to pay townes debts ; and that with the advice off two justices off this said towne, standing the space and time off two years. Chosen ffor that purpose by pluralitie off votes, Benja- min Van de Water, Joores Haussen, Jan Garretse Dor- lant. By order off the inhabitants afforesaid. J. Van de Water^ Clarke." Although it may not be generally known, yet it is ne- vertheless true, that the records of the town of Breucklyn, from the time of its first settlement, to the end of the Revolutionary war, were either destroyed during the contest between Britain and her colonies, or carried off 12 BROOKLYN. at the close of it by some evil-disposed person. The consequence is, that many valuable materials for compi- ling a history of the place are wanting to complete it. A hope is entertained that these important documents are still in existence, and any one who could give a clue to the city authorities, where they may be found, would not only be rendering a great public benefit to the city, but no doubt would be well rewarded for so doing. Judge Furman, in his notes, speaking of the history of Brooklyn, observes, " that its great antiquity is apparent from the fact, that the English colonists, who came out from Holland for the professed purpose of settlement, u//^ ■'• whyere those brought out in 1623 (only two years before the settlement of Brooklyn) in the ship of Captain Kor- nelis Jacobse Mey ; and that soon after two shijDS of the West India Company brought, as agriculturalists, the "Wal- loons, who settled in Brooklyn." In 1646 the town was permitted to choose two magistrates, who were authorized " to give good judgment in all events as they should deem proper, not contrary to the charter of New Netherlands ;" and to give complete effect to their authority, the go- vernor ordered, that if any one disobeyed the decision of the magistrates, he should forfeit his right to the lands within the village. The first public officer appointed by the Dutch go- vernment for the town after its settlement in 1625, was a *' Superintendant,^^ whose duties were to preserve the peace and regulate the police of the town. But, ia a few years after, the office of superintendant was abolished, and the offices of schout, secretary, and assessor, were created by the governor in its stead. In order to secure the settlement against the depredations of the Indians, BROOKLYN. 13 the governor in 1660 required the inhabitants to fortify the town, and remove with their families within the en- closure, which was constructed of palisadoes, set close together, and made sharp pointed at the top. In October, 1675, an order was passed by the court of assize, that a fair or market should be yearly kept near the ferry, for the sale of grain, cattle, or other produce of the country, to be held the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, in November. Although the population of Brooklyn has augmented every year since its settlement, yet, previous to the in- corporation of it as a village in 1816, the increase was far less than it has been since that time; within the last 15 years, the increase in the number and wealth of the population has been greater than it was for one hundred years preceding. In 1706, the real and personal estate in the town was valued at c£3,112, and the tax thereon was <€41. In 1824, the valuation was over $2,600,000, and the taxes nearly $7,000. In 1834, the valuation was $7,257,473, being an increase of nearly $5,000,000 in lea years ; and it may be fairly concluded that there has been a corresponding increase in the valuation from 1834 to the present period. The controversies which have existed between the au- thorities of Brooklyn and the corporation of the city of New- York, in relation to the right of the ferries across the East river, and the claim of the latter to the soil below high water-mark along the Brooklyn shore, and also con- cerning the title of the government of the United States to a valuable tract of land at the Wallabout, are subjects of the highest importance to the inhabitants ; but their merits would require more space for examination and 2 14 BROOKLYN. inquiry into, than can be given to .them in this brief sketch. The first place for public worship erected in Brooklyn was a Dutch Church, which was built in 1666, and stood about forty years ; when another was erected on the same spot, which was taken down in 1810, and a new and substantial one built in Jerolemon-street. This last not being sufficiently large, has lately given place to a more splendid edifice, nearly on the same site as the old one. The Rev. Henricus Selwyn was appointed as the resi- dent minister on the third of September, 1660, (six years before the church was built,) with a salary of 600 guild- ers, or #240, a year. An episcopal society existed in Brooklyn as early as 1766j which was incorporated in 1787, and in 1795 St. Ann's Episcopal Church was opened for public worship. The building was of stone^ and was superseded by the present edifice in 1824. The first Methodist Church was incorporated and dedicated to public worship in 1794. The first Presbyterian Church in 1822. The first Baptist Church in 1823. The first Roman Catholic Church in 1822 ; and the first Congregational Church in 1839. The following is the number of churches in Brooklyn 9t the present time; namely, six Episcopalian, two Dutch Reformed, seven Presbyterian, two Baptist, four Episco- pal Methodist, one Centenary Episcopal Methodist, one Primitive Methodist, one Wesleyan Methodist, two Ro- man Catholic, one Unitarian Congregational Church, and one Friends [or Quakers] Meeting House. There are about two hundred dwelling houses, and other buildings, in course of erection, or have been erected, in Brooklyn, within the last twelve months. BROOKLYN. 15 The first printing press established in Brooklyn was by one Thomas Kirk in 1799, who issued a weekly news- paper, called " The Courier, and New-York and Long Island Advertiser," which was continued about four years. The first number of the "Long Island Star" was also published by Kirk on the 1st of June, ISO 9, rind was transferred by him to Aldeii Spooner in 1811. The " Brooklyn Advocate " has also been published for some years; it was conducted by John Douglas until No- vember, 1837, by whom it was then transferred to S. G. Arnold, and it is now published by Arnold and Van Ar- den, also the "Brooklyn Daily News,"' at No. 39 Fulton- street. The most compact part of Brooklyn was incorporated into a village on the 12th day of April, 1816, which, al- though greatly opposed by a portion of the inhabitants at the time, gave an impulse to the spirit of improvement, and has caused it to be ranked as the third city in the state of New- York. The village charter authorized the election of five trustees, and those named in the act were Andrew Mercein, John Garrison, John Doughty, John Seaman, and John Dean. This charter was several times amended and enlarged, as the increase of the population required, until it became necessary to endow the place with the name and privileges of a city. Accordingly, on the 8th of April, 1834, the whole territory of the tovm was incorporated under the name of the " CitTj of BrooJc- hjn^^' and its inhabitants as a body corporate and politic, by the style and title of " The Mayor and Common Coun- cil of the City of Brooklyn'' The powers of the corpo- ration are vested in the mayor and a board of aldermen, composed of two elected annually from each ward ; who 16 BROOKLYN. have the appointment of most of the subordinate officers of the city. The election for charter officers is on the second Tuesday of April every year. The mayor is chosen by the people for the term of one year. The city is divided into nine v^^ards ; there is one con- stable, tvt^o assessors, and one collector, elected in each vv^ard, and a general ticket for the first seven M^^ards, of five supervisors. One of the candidates for the last men- tioned office, must be taken from the eigth or ninth wards. These officers enter upon their duties the first Monday in May, and hold their offices for one year; but the as- sessors are required to organize as a board of assessors on the Tuesday after they have taken the constitutional oath. The common council may appoint a clerk, treasurer, attorney, and counsellor, a street commissioner, a comp- troller, a clerk of the markets, two city collectors, and marshalls not exceeding seven. The common council are required to publish, every yfear, a statement of the financial concerns of the city, ten days at least before the annual election. The mayor possesses and may exercise, in the courts of oyer and terminer, and the general sessions of the peace for Kings county, the same powers as are by law exercised by the judges of the county courts. The first seven wards of the city constitute a fire and watch district, the expenses of which are to be borne by the said wards. The members of the common council are fire wardens, and may appoint other fire wardens, If necessary. There are twelve fire engine companies, two hook and ladder companies, and one hose company, a chief en- "* BROOKLYN. 17 gineer, five assistants, and a foreman to each company, attached to the fire department. The common councillor such number of them as tliey may designate for the purpose, in conjunction with the mayor, are commissioners of excise for granting licenses to sell wines and spirits, and the common council may pass ordinances for regulating all ordinaries, victualing, and oyster houses or cellars, where porter, ale, beer, &c. may be drank. The common council are constituted aboard of health, of which the mayor is president; they have the power to appoint a health physician. The aldermen of each ward are fence viewers for their respective wards. The supervisors of the city, and the common council, meet together on the third Monday of May as a joint board, to determine what sum is required to be raised by tax for the public purposes of the city, not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, except it may be neces- sary for the fire department. The mayor and common council are empowered to raise, by way of loan, any sum for erecting public buildings, &c. not exceeding five hun- dred thousand dollars. Bedford, now the eastern part of Brooklyn, was for- merly a separate hamlet ; but it is so far swallowed up by the progress of improvement, as nearly to have lost its identity. G-owanus is that part of Brooklyn which joins Flatbush and the waters of the bay, consisting principally of a low tract of salt marsh, ponds, and creeks, over which a highway and bridge have been constructed ; as the city advances in that direction, it will become more valuable every day. The Wallabout is that part of Brooklyn which lies north-east from the ferry ; it was the scene of 2* 18 BROOKLYN. the most heart-rending sufferings during the revolution, many thousands of American citizens being confined on board the prison-ships stationed in the bay. 11,500 are said to have died from starvation, or disease produced by close confinement, bad provisions, bad water, and the want of proper medical attendance. A tomb has been erected to the memory of these patriotic martyrs to the cause of liberty and independence; it is situated in Jack- son-street, nearly opposite the end of Front-street; 13 cofl&ns filled with the bleached bones of the deceased patriots were interred in it in the year 1808 with great veneration and respect; there was a grand military and ci- vic procession, and 15,000 citizens without any distinc- tion of party are said to have attended on the occasion, to atone as it were for public neglect, in not paying an earlier tribute of respect to the memory of the departed heroes ; upwards of thirty years having elapsed at the time of the erection of the tomb, since they died in the glorious struggle to obtain and secure the liberty and in- dependence of their country. The tomb is a small square frame building, surmounted by an eagle on the point of the roof;' the interior is an ante-chamber to the vault be- neath, in which the coffins are deposited ; there is a row of posts and rails in front of the tomb, on which the names of the thirteen original states of the union are inscribed ; the area around the tomb is enclosed by a rail fence, over the entrance of which is the following inscription : " Por- tal to the Tomb of 11,500 Patriot Prisoners, who died in Dungeons and Prison-ships in and about the City of New- York during the Revolution." From the subjoined account of the battle of Long Island, it will be seen, that Brooklyn had a full share of *♦ BROOKLYN. 19 military operations during the revolutionary war; and was for a long time in possession of the British army. There are several remains of fortifications, which were thrown up both by the Americans and the English for defence against each other; Fort Green is the most con- spicuous of any of them, and a very important station it was. It was in Brooklyn and the immediate neighborhood that the most sanguinary part of the battle of Long Island was fought, August 27, 1776, which took place on the re- treat of the American army within their lines ; a portion of them attempted to ford the mill-pond at Gowanus, in which attempt nearly a whole regiment of young men from Maryland was cut off. The " Long Island Railroad^'' commences at the foot of Atlantic-street, near the South ferry, where here are convenient places for the storage of produce and merchandise ; also accommodations for passengers go- ing, or coming by the cars : the route of the road is through Jamaica to Hicksville, and measures are now in progress for extending it nearly the whole length of the Island to Greenport. There are convenient warm and cold salt water Baths, in Furman-street, under the Brooklyn Heights, near the South ferry. The view from the top of Brooklyn Heights, is one of the most picturesque ever was presented to the eye, so harmoniously are the beauties of nature and art combi- ned. A spirited company have lately erected buildings, and made a garden here for public recreation and amuse- ment, called the Colonnade Garden, which by judicious ma- nagement, will become a favorite and fashionable resort. The United States " Navy Yard^'' at the Wallabout, is 20 BROOKLYN. well worthy the notice of strangers visiting Brooklyn ; the government possess about forty acres of land, including the site of the old mill-pond ; there is a spacious yard, public store houses, machine-shops, and two immense edifices built of wood, in which ships-of-war of the lar- gest class are protected from the weather while they are building.* On the opposite side of the bay, the *' Naval Hospital,'^ which is a splendid and magnificent building, has been lately erected, the site on which it is built, is very beautiful and picturesque. One of the principal public buildings in the city, is " the Lyceum,''^ which is a fine specimen of architecture, built of granite, and every way adapted to the purpose of its projection. It is situated in Washington-street, near Concord. The institution was organized in October, 1833 ; the objects of it, are moral and intellectual im- provement, by means of certain specified committees, and by gratuitous and other public lectures. A course of lectures upon miscellaneous subjects, was commenced on the 7th of November, 1833, which has been varied occa- sionally by essays, chiefly from the pens of ladies. The " City Library^'' has been lately established here, which contains a great number of valuable literary works, and is highly deserving of the general patronage and support of the citizens. There is also an " Aj)prentices^ Lihi-ary," and the " Brooklyn Savings Bank," in this building ; both of which * The " United States Naval Lyceum,^'' is also in the Navy Yard ; this institution was organized by the Officers of the Navy and Marine Corps, in order to promote the diffusion of useful knowledge, and to foster a spirit of harmony, and a community of interest, in the service. There is also a " Naval School" for boys. . BROOKLYN. 21 are excellent institutions, and cannot be too much encou- raged and supported by the public. There are nine " Public District Schools " in the city, one in each ward, for the education of boys and girls, who are under the care of proper and competent teach- ers, subject to the supervision of two trustees for each ward. A " City Hospital " has been recently established in Adams, near Johnson-street, under the fostering care and patronage of the corporation ; but to render it truly efficient for the purposes of its projection, an increase in the funds is desirable ; it is an institution well worthy the support of the humane, benevolent, and wealthy por- tion of the citizens, either by donations, or annual sub- scriptions ; the object of it, is a place of reception for poor persons, who have met with serious accidents with- in the precincts of the city, or those who may require medical advice, in order that they may receive such im- mediate relief and assistance as the nature of their case requires ; and surely no institution can be more deser- ving of the support of those who have it in their power to contribute to it, than this. Doctor King, to his honor be it spoken, has been the chief promoter of it. The " Brooklyn Collegiate Institute, for young Ladies,^"* was incorporated in 1829. The building is large and beautifully located near the East River. It flourished for a few years, and gave promise of permanent utility ; but from want of sufficient patronage, the school has been given up. The " City HaJl,^' which was commenced a few years since upon a magnificent scale, has been interrupted in its progress, and doubts are entertained of its completion, at least upon the plan, and to the extent originally con- 22 SRooKLY^^ templated. It is situated in the triangle formed by Ful- ton, Jerolemon, and Court streets. Dufflon's '^Military Garden,^^ \s> situated near to the City Hall, at the junction of Jerolemon and Fulton streets; it is a pleasant place of resort at all times, but particularly on gala nights. The '' City Buildings,''^ are situated at the corner of Henry and Cranberry streets ; there is nothing in the architecture of the exterior of them worthy of notice ; they are used as courts, and offices of the corporation for the transaction of the public business of the city. The " Ki7igs County Courls,"" are held in the large building called '^ the Exchange,^^ situated at the corner of Cranberry and Fulton streets ; it is a plain brick build- ing, without any extraordinary architectural beauty. The ** Kings County Gaol, or Prison,''^ is situated in Raymond street, at the foot of Fort Green ; it is a dark heavy-looking, castellated gothic edifice, in front built of red sand-stone, with gothic windows at each side, and a large yard at the back ; the site where it is located, is not a very favorable one for the display of its architectu- ral front; had it been erected on the summit of Fort Green, it would have had a more commanding appear- ance, and have been a much more healthy location for the prisoners The Long Island Bank, in Fulton-street, is a fine specimen of modern architecture, but it would have had a much bolder appearance if the front of it had been widei'. It would occupy too much spqce to describe the archi- tecture of the different churches in the city ; it is suffi- cient to say, that most of them are neat, and some of them elegant structures ; the new Presbyterian Church, lately , BROOKLYN. 23 erected in Fulton, corner of Pine-Apple-street, is a good specimen of architecture ; the building is of brick, with modern gothic windows, and the door-ways, and part of the steeple, are of red sand-stone ; the whole of the exte- rior has a pleasing appearance, and the interior is in per- fect keeping with it. The private residences in the upper part of the city, are many of them very elegant buildings, particularly the Colonnade Row on Brooklyn Heights, and the elegant mansion of S. A. Willoughby, Esq., in Fulton, corner of Jay-street. The streets in general are well laid out^ and those in which the trees have grown up and spread their leafy shade over the foot- walks, have a very pleas- ing and beautiful appearance. There are many large and commodious wharves on the East River, botn to the east and south of Fulton ferry, and the widening of Furman-street, has greatly contri- buted to improve the frontage to the river, on that side of the city. Several manufactories in different branches of business, have been established here, too numerous to particular- ize ; and there seems to be nothing that retards the pros- perity of the city, but the general depression which has fallen upon trade all throughout the Union. The '^Greenwood Cemetery^^ — this rural depository for the dead, is situated on the heights above Gowanus, at the termination of Hammond Avenue; it comprises an area of two hundred acres of land; is bounded on the north- east by Twenty-first-street, on the southwest by Thirty- fourth-street, on the northwest by the Fifth Avenue, and on the southeast by the extreme part of the city adjoining Flatbush. The location is one of great capability and extraordinary beauty; the avenues and walks are laid ou 24 WILLIAMSBURGH. with good taste ; as yet, it is only in its infancy, but should it progress to maturity, it will greatly contribute to the picturesque beauty of that part of the city; the prospects of land and water scenery from it are varied and beautiful in the extreme, and it is in every respect well adapted for the purpose of its projection. Here, indeed, the ashes of the dead may rest in peace for ages yet to come. WILLIAMSBURGH. The village of Williamsburgh is situated opposite the very heart of the city of New York ; it has a bold water front upon tlia East river of a mile and a half in length, and sufficient depth of water for all commercial purposes; it possesses this advantage over Brooklyn, that its entire shore is under the control of its own local authorities. Several large and substantial wharves and docks have been constructed, affording safe and convenient mooring for vessels, even of the largest class. Its ferry is the nearest approximation to the upper parts of the city of New York from the eastern towns of Long Island, by two lines of steam ferry boats of the best kind, and re- markable for their accommodations and speed. The Peck-slip ferry may be said to unite Williamsburgh with the Fulton and Catharine markets; the Grand-street ferry with the centre of New York, and there is another ferry in contemplation to the foot of Houston-street, which will lead to the upper wards of New York and Harlsem. Williamsburgh has now upwards of seventy streets permanently laid out, about thirty of which have been graded and regulated, some paved, and one Mac- adamized. There are upwards of six hundred dwellings, WILLIAMSBtJRGH. 25 and about four thousand inhabitants. There is one Dutch Reformed Church and two Methodist Churches; ten fire companies, one hook and ladder company, two distilleries, one steam spice mill, five rope walks, an ex- tensive glue factory, two hat manufactories, one iron foundry, two lumber yards, two lime and brick yards, one coal yard, six hotels, several grocery stores, one drug store, and a due proportion of tradesmen and mechanics of all descriptions ; a newspaper, called the " The Wil- liamshurgh Gazette and Democrat,''^ has also been estab- lished here. A considerable number of elegant dwelling houses have been erected lately in the southern part of the village, owned and occupied by persons doing business in New York. There are many other inducements, besides an easy and speedy communication with New York, which will ensure a rapid influx of inhabitants, and an expan- sion of business. The improvements in contemplation, and partially in progress, along the shore south of the pre- sent ferries, will, in time, unite with those in the vicinity of the navy yard at Brooklyn, and may become one continu- ous city, as it were, from the mouth of Newtown creek to Red Hook, a distance of four miles. Williamsburgh is not only the principal settlement in the town of Bush- wick, but contains within its corporate limits more than two thirds of the whole population. This flourishing vil- lage was, till within a few years, an inconsiderable place, although it was commenced, by a few spirited individuals, nearly thirty years ago, who erected a few dwelling houses, and established a ferry between it and the foot of Grand-street, New York, at which time the houses on the New York side, in the vicinity of the ferry, were 3 26 WILLIAMSBURGH. scattering; and where extensive blocks of buildings are now erected, was then, in a great measure, an open field of broken ground. In the year 1817, a ferry boat, pro- pelled by horse power, gave a new impulse to the pro- gress of improvement, and Williamsburgh began to as- sume an importance unknown before that time ; still the main current of travel was by the way of Brooklyn. At that time, the road leading to the ferry was the principal thoroughfare of the village ; and where there are now wide and handsome streets partially built upon, was then cultivated fields, orchards, etc. Such was the state of the village, in a great degree, when the first act of incor- poration was obtained, on the 14th of April, 1827, which proved a new and important era in the increase and pros- perity of Williamsburgh. The territory embraced in the act is as follows : ** Beginning at the Wallabout bay, oppo- site the navy yard, in the city of Brooklyn, and running thence in an easterly direction along the division line be- tween the towns of Bushwick and Brooklyn, to the land of Abraham A. Remsen; thence northerly by the same to a road or highway, at a place called Sweed's Fly; thence by the said road or highway, to the dwelling house of the late John Vandervoort, deceased ; thence in a straight line northerly, to a small ditch or creek, against the mea- dow of John Skillman ; thence by the said creek to Nor- man's kill; thence by the middle or centre of Norman's kill, to the East river ; and thence along the East river, at low water mark, to the place of beginning." The first trustees appointed under this act, v/ere Noah Water- bury, John Miller, xlbraham Meserole, Lewis Sandford, and Thomas T. Morrill ; of whom the first named well- known and spirited individual was chosen president. The board, under the extensive and liberal provisions of BUSHWICK. 27 this charter, applied themselves immediately and vigor- ously to the laying oat of the streets and building lots, as the basis for future improvement ; and every thing was done by them v^hich the state of things at that time seemed to authorize or require. Nevertheless, the in- crease of business and population v^as not equal to the public expectations, until another portion of territory was included in the incorporated part of the village, and ad- ditional powers conferred upon the trustees, by the act of the 18th of April, 1835. This additional legislative pro- vision vested the concerns of the village in the hands of nine trustees, of which new board Edmund Frost was chosen President, and by whose zeal, industry, and per- severance, much has been accomplished for the increase and prosperity of the place. So great has been the pro- gress of improvement, that the ancient village of Bush- wick can scarcely be identified, having been amalga- mated, as it were, with the village of Willi amsburgh. Indeed, it now seems both a matter of surprise and re- gret, that public attention should not have been sooner and more efficiently attracted to a place possessing so many and superior natural advantages for the successful prosecution of every species of manufacture and com- merce, and the erection of pleasant and comfortable pri- vate residences. BUSHWICK. This town is situated in the northeast extremity of Kings county ; it is bounded westerly by the East river, northerly by Maspeth or Newtown creek, easterly by Newtown, and southerly by Brooklyn, and that part of ZO BUSHWICK. Flatbush called New Lotts. Its area is three thousand eight Imndred and sixty acres, of which a great portion is under cultivation; its proximity to the cities of Brook- lyn and New York rendering it highly valuable. The precise period of its settlement cannot be satisfactorily ascertained, but it is believed to have been some years later than Brooklyn and the more southern towns of Kings county. It was commenced by the Dutch, who were joined, many years after, by a liumber of Huguenot families, whose descendants are numerous and respecta- ble in this and the neighboring towns at the present time. The name is of Dutch origin, indicating that the location was remarkable for the v/oods which covered its surface in early times. There are some families here who can trace their ancestry nearly two hundred years back, pos- sessing, at that period, the identical lands now in the oc- cupation of their descendants. The increase of popula- tion in this part of the country, was so small as not to acquire a municipal character before the year 1648, at which time application was made to the governor for a patent or ground-brief. One was accordingly issued, un- der which the inhabitants remained till the conquest of the New Netherlands, in 1664. The government having now fallen into other hands, and many considerable de- fects being discovered in the charter granted by Govern- or Stuyvesant, the people of Bushwick, at a town meeting assembled for the purpose in 1666, ap- pointed a committee to wait upon Governor Nicolls, '« to solicit him for a new patent, and to request that the boundaries of the town might be more expressly defined and set forth therein." This patent was obtained on the S5th of October, 1667, KUSHWICK. 29 wherein the limits and bounds of the town are set forth in the following words : " Bounded by the mouth of a certain creeke or kill, called Maspeth-kill, right over against Dominie-Hook, so their bounds goe to David Jocham's Hook ; then stretching upon a south-east line along the said kill, they come to Smith's Island, inclu- ding the same, together with all the meadow ground or valley thereunto belonging ; and continuing the same course, they pass along by the ffence at the wood-side, soe to Thomas Vandall's meadow; from whence, stretch- ing upon a south-east by south line, along the wood land to the hills, taking in the meadow or valley there ; then pass along near upon a south-east by south line, six hun- dred rods into the woods ; then running behind the lots as the wood land lyes, south-east by south ; and out of the said woods they go again north-west to a certain small swamp ; from thence they run behind the New Letts, to John the Sweede's meadow ; then over the Norman's Kill, to the west end of his old house, from whence they goe alongst the river, till you come to the mouth of Mas- peth-kill, and David Jocham's Hook, whence they first began." From the time of the first organization of the town, till the year 1690, it was for certain civil purposes associated with the other towns in Kings county, except . Gravesend, constituting a separate district under the ap- pellation of the ^' Five Dutch Towns','^ and for which a secretary, or register, was specially commissioned by the governor, whose duty it was to take proof of wills and marriage settlements, also the acknowledgment of *' Transcri'£is^'' or conveyances, and many of the more important contracts and agreements, which were requi- red to be recorded. These five towps likewise formed 3* 30 BUSHWICK. but one ecclesiastical congregation, and joined in support of their ministers in common. The inhabitants, with few exceptions^, professed the doctrines promulgated at the synod of Dortin 1618, most of whose resolutions are still adhered to in the Reformed Dutch churches. In the year 1662 according to one authority, the dwellings in this town, did not exceed twenty-five, and were located on the site of the village of Bushwick, which together with the Octagon Church, built in 1720, were enclosed by pallisades, as most of the other settlements were at that time. The following entry is in the minutes of the court of sessions : " At a Court of Sessions held at Flat- bush, for Kings county, on the 10th of May, 1699. Up- pon the desire of the inhabitants of Breucklyn, that accord- ing to use and order every three years the limmitts be- tween towne and towne must be runn ,• that a warrant, or order may be given, that upon the 17th day off May, the line and bounds, betwixt said townes of Breucklyn and Boswick, shall be runn according to their pattents or agree- ments. Ordered, that an order should be past according to theire request." The population of Bushwick was very inconsiderable at the time of the revolution, compared wath other parts of the country ; yet they suffered greatly from the depre- dations of the enemy. They were particularly exposed to ihe invaders, who made, of course, an indiscriminate destruction of whatever their caprice or revenge dicta- ted. The close approximation of its forests to the gar- risons of New York and Brooklyn, led to the entire waste of the valuable timber which abounded at the com- mencement of the contest for liberty. On the return of the owners of the lands at the close of the war, they FLATBUSH. 31 found not only the woods and fences destroyed, but their dwellings in many instances greatly injured, and deteri- orated in value. FLATBUSH. This town, called by the Dutch Midwout, or Middle Woods, is bounded on the north by Brooklyn and Bush- wick, and a small part of dueens county, east by Jamai- ca, south by Jamaica bay, Flatlands, and Gravesend, and west by Gravesend ; it is of an irregular shape, and con- tains an area of about seven thousand acres, most of which is under cultivation. The settlement of this town was begun in 1651, and the next year a patent, or ground- brief, was obtained from Governor Stuyvesant, authorizing the inhabitants to establish and erect a town or planta- tion, with the usual privileges of other towns under the Dutch jurisdiction. In 1667, after the country fell into the hands of the English, application was made by the inhabitants to G overnor Nicolls for a patent of confirma- tion and assurance of fheir lands and boundaries ; and on the 11th day of October, in the same year, the patent was issued unto Johannes Megapolensis, one of the min- isters of the city of New York, Cornelius Van Ruyven, one of the justices of the peace, Adrian Hegeman, Jan Snedeger, Jan Stryker, Fraus Barents, (pastor,) Jacob Stryker, and Cornelius Janse Bougaert, as patentees, for and on behalf of themselves and associates, the freehold- ers and inhabitants of the said town, their heirs, succes- sors, and assigns, for the premises described therein. And on the 12th of November, 1685, a farther confirmatory patent was granted by Governor Dongan. On the 17th of December, 1654, Governor Stuyvesant, who seems to 32 FLATBUSH. have exercised entire authority in ecclesiastical, as well as civil and military affairs, gave orders that a house of public worship should be erected in this town; and on the 9th of February, 1655, he issued his commands that the people of Brooklyn and Amersfort should assist the people of Midwout, or Flatbush, in getting timber for it; soon after the church was finished, the Rev. Johannis Polhemus was engaged to officiate as minister, with a salary of one thousand and forty guilders (about four hundred and sixteen dollars) a year. In March, 1656, he was required by the governor to preach every Sunday morning at Midwout, or Flatbush, and in the afternoon at Amersfort and Brooklyn alternately. The church built here in 1663, of wood, stood, with occasional re- pairs, till 1717, when it was succeeded by another, built of stone. This building fronted the east, had a double arched door-way in the centre, and a steep quadrangular roof, with a small steeple rising from the middle. It was sixty-five by fifty feet, the pulpit being on the west side. It was repaired and altered in-1775, at an expense of more than seven hundred dollars ; but in 1794, it was taken down, and the present large and commodious building erected in its stead, which cost about twelve thousand dollars. It was completed in December, 1796, with a fine bell, imported from Holland, and presented to the church by John Vanderbilt, Esq. In 1818, the churches of Flatbush and Flatlands united in settling the Rev. Walter Monteith, who removed in a short time after; and in 1822, the Rev. Thomas M. Strong succeeded him. In 1824, a new congregation was organized, and a church erected in the eastern part of the town, called New Letts, from the circumstance of the land having FLATBUSH. ' 33 been divided or allotted among the inhabitants at a later period than some of the other sections of the town. The soil is generally of a good quality, and by careful cultiva- tion, it is made very productive. The village of Flat- bush is a delightful spot, hardly excelled by any other in this neighborhood as a country residence ; the spirit of improvement has reached it, and several splendid villas have been erected, all having the appearance of good taste, and conveying an impression of the wealth and opulence of the proprietors of these elegant mansions. A softer or more agreeable landscape than is here presented, is seldom met with, and can scarcely be wished for. Its surface is an inclined plane, elevated about fifty feet above the level of the ocean, towards which the descent is regular and gradual. The court-house of Kings county was erected, here in 1685, and the courts continued to be held there until it was destroyed by fire in 1832. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, in the village, was built in 1836, principally by the liberality and munificence of one of its citizens, Matthew Clarkson, Esq. ; it is a neat and handsome edifice. Erasmus IlaU, a noble academical institution here, was incorporated November 20th, 1787, being the second in point of time erected upon Long Island. It has always maintained a high reputation as a place of education, and its pupils are diffused over most parts of the United States. The building is not only spacious and airy, but replete with every convenience, and the grounds about it are ornamented with a planta- tion of shrubs and shady trees. A little to the north of the villago, there is an elevated situation, called Prospect Hill, which is estimated to be one hundred feet above the surrounding country, and the view from its summit is sublime and beautiful in the extreme, 34 FLATLANDS. The " Foor-House" of Kings county is located a short distance from the village. The farm contains about sixty- acres of very good land, which cost three thousand dol- lars. The principal building is forty-four feet square, w^ith two wings, each sixty by thirty- five feet. The whole is two stories in height. There is also a building detached from these, appropriated for patients laboring under in- fectious diseases; and also another for lunatics, where those unfortunate creatures are treated with all the care and attention which humanity dictates, and their situation requires. This benign establishment is an honor to the county, and well worthy of imitation by every state throughout the union. The soil of this town is inferior to none in the county, and most parts of it is in a high state of cultivation, furnishing abundance of produce to the Brooklyn and New York markets. Many of the farmers are wealthy, and there is an appearance of inde- pendence and comfort seldom witnessed in other places. FLATLANDS. This town, called by the Dutch New Amersfort, is bounded northerly by Flatbush, southerly by Jamaica bay, and westerly by Gravesend. Barren Island, situated upon the west side of Rockaway inlet, at the mouth of Jamaica bay, is attached to this town, and the south part of the town is indented by numerojus small bays. Along the shore of Jamaica bay is an extensive salt marsh, which yields abundance of hay of an inferior quality. With the exception of this marsh, there are no waste lands, the whole being divided into well cultivated and productive farms. The settlement was commenced in S'LATLANDS. » ^5 1636, cotemporaneously with Gravesend ; and one of the' first grants for land'was that of Barren Island, which at that time was a great deal larger than it is at present, and was also covered with cedar and other timber. The woods have long since disappeared, and much of the island is composed of sand-hills, affording a scanty sub- sistence for a few cattle. Ex-Governor Van Twiller had a farm in this town at the time of the settlement, call- ed Van Twiller's Bowery for a long time after. The village of Flatlands is a very pretty spot, in the centre of which stands the Dutch Church, originally erected in 1661, and has been twice rebuilt since. By the Duke's laws, (as they are called,) passed in 1665, in relation to public officers, it was declared, that the ** Overseers shall be eight in number, men of good fame and life, chosen by the plurality of voyces of the freeholders in each town, whereof four shall remain in their office two years successively, and four shall be changed for new ones every year; which election shall precede the election of constables, in point of time, in regard that the constable for the year ensuing is to be chosen out of the number which are dismissed from their office of overseer." It was the duty of the overseers, to- gether with the constable, to hold town courts, for the trial of causes under five pounds. They, and the constable, were frequently to admonish the inhabitants *' to instruct their children and servants in matters of religion and the law es of the country ; to appoint an officer to record every man's particular marke, and to see each man's horse and colt branded." The constable and two overseers were to pay the value of an Indian coat for each wolf killed ; and '* cause the wolf's head to be nayled over the door 36 FLATLANDS. of the constable, there to reraaine ; as also to cut off both the ears, in token that the head is bi*ought in and payd for." The custom of putting Dutch inscriptions upon tomb- stones, which was generally practised in former times, here and elsewhere in this county, was continued as late as 1770 ; and some may be seen even of a much later date in many of the burial-grounds. For the last fifty years the English language has been generally adopted in epitaphs and inscriptions. But many individuals, and even families, employ the Dutch language in their ordi- nary conversations with each other to this day. An extraordinary interview took place on the second of April, 1691, between the governor of New- York and a sachem of Long Island, attended by his two sons and twenty other Indians. The sachem, on being introduced, congratulated Governor Slaughter, in an eloquent man- ner, upon his arrival, and solicited his friendship and pro- tection for himself and his people ; observing that he had, in his own mind, fancied his excellency was a mighty tall tree, with loide spreading branches; and therefore he prayed leave to stoop under the shadow thereof. Of old (said he) the Indians were a great and inighty people, but now they are reduced to a mere handful. He con- cluded his visit by presenting the governor with ?>() fa- thoms of wampum, which he graciously accepted, and de- sired the sachem to visit him again in the afternoon. On taking their leave, the youngest son of the sachem handed a bundle of brooms to the officer in attendance, saying at the same time, "that as Leisler and his party had left the house very foul, he had brought the brooms with him for the purpose of making it clean again." In the afternoon PLATLANDS. 37 the sacliem and his party again visited the governor, who made a speech to them, and on receiving a few presents they departed. It is stated in the New-York Gazette of the thirteenth of August, 1781 : '* On the night of the 4th inst. the crew of a rebel whale-boat from New Jersey landed near Flat- lands on Long Island, and robbed the house of Col. Lett of about six hundred pounds, and carried off two of his slaves with them. They also robbed the house of Captain Lett of a considerable amount in specie." The surface of this town is, as its name indicates, a perfect level ; the soil is a light sandy loam, pleasant to till; and from the skill and industry of its farming popu- lation, it yields a great production, far more than is re- quired for the consumption of the inhabitants. The peo- ple are generally very economical, and modern fashion has not yet extinguished their love of simplicity and substantial comforts. The character of the inhabitants of this town, is well portrayed by James Stewart, (the traveller,) when he says, that " some of the farmers of Long Island are wealthy men, but are, in general, con- tented to live comfortably and hospitably, with all the ordinary necessaries and many of the conveniences of life, without ostentation or pride, and without seeming to care so much about money as many other classes of people do in this country." To satisfy any doubt that may be entertained in regard to the prevalence of good order and morality in this and the adjoining towns, the following facts afford tolerable satisfactory evidence. Elias Hubbard, Esquire, a respectable magistrate of this town, states, that he has held the office of justice of the peace therein for more than twelve years, and during 38 NEW UTRECHT. that period has transacted most of- the judicial busi-' ness for Flatlands, Flatbush, New Utrecht, and Graves- end; and dariag the whole time has scarcely had a dozen trials, and only two suits at law in which a jury was de- manded ; that another gentleman held the office of justice in the town of Gravesend for eight years, and during that period, there was but one trial by jury ; and, even in the case alluded to, the difference was compromised by the parties before the jury had delivered their verdict into court. Such a peaceable disposition in the people is highly creditable and honorable to them, as well as the local authorities under which they live. It was upon Barren Island that the notorious pirate, Gibbs, and his associates in crime, secreted a portion of the ill-gotten wealth they had acquired by plundering on the high seas ; a part of which only has been recovered. The names of the pirates were Charles Gibbs, Thomas Wans- ley, Robert Dawes, and John Brownrig. The last of whom saved his life by becoming a witness against his accomplices, who were convicted, and executed upon Gibbet Island, in the harbor of New- York, in the latter part of 1830. NEW UTRECHT. This town is bounded on the north by Brooklyn and Flatbush, east by Gravesend, and west and south by Gravesend bay, and the Narrows opposite Staten Island. It was settled in 1654, by about twenty families from Holland, and a few palatines ; who at first erected a block-house, as well for security against the natives, as from the hordes of wandering savages, robbers, and pi- rates, which at that time, and for several years after, in- NEW UTRECHT. 39 fested the country and the adjacent coast, to such a de- gree, that the interposition of the government became absolutely necessary for the protection of the inhabitants of this and the adjoining towns, who, from their position, were greatly exposed to their predatory excursions. The population of this part of the country increased in a very slow degree compared with other places in the vicinity, in consequence of the constant danger appre- hended from the attacks of enemies ; the first steps taken to organize a separate community was in 1660, when, on application to the governor, he appointed a schout or con- stable for the town, together with a secretary or clerk, and an assessor, with power to make a division among the inhabitants of the land held in common; to cause the same to be enclosed and cultivated ; to lay out a street or high- way through the village ; to make arrangements for erecting a place of defence, with a mill to it, and a well by it, at the common charge of the people ; to decide dif- ferences among individuals, and do as other village courts are accustomed to do. In 1662, a patent was obtained from G-overnor Stuy vesant, by which the inhabitants were liot only confirmed in the several purchases and divisions of land already made, but were vested with the right of pre-emption of all the remaining lands not included in the patents previously granted to the adjoining towns. By this patent they were partially incorporated, (as it were,) with power to build a town, to elect magistrates subject to the approval of the governor, and to hold town courts for the trial of causes not exceeding five pounds in value. Another patent or grant, in confirmation of the foregoing one, was issued by Governor Nicolls on the fifteenth of 40 NEW UTRECHT. August, 1666, in which the boundaries of the town are particularly described. The paucity of the records of this town, as well as the difficulty of deciphering them, such as there are, render it almost impossible to obtain any information relative to the early history of its inhabitants. It was off the shores of this town that the squadron un- der the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls, destined to be the future English governor of New York, anchored in 1664; and the first communication addressed to the Dutch governor bears date on board the ship Guyney, riding off Nayack, on the 20th of August of that year. The place at that time known by this name is near the present site of Fort Hamilton, and it is a delightful place of residence, being in sight of the ocean ; it commands a full view of all the shipping entering and leaving the har- bor of New York, and the steam boats passing down the bay. It has now become an important military station, by the construction of a fort and batteries, and the mainte- nance of a considerable garrison for the defence of the harbor. Several handsome buildings have been erected, and few situations can boast of a more sublime and beau- tiful prospect. A handsome Episcopal church, called St» John's, was built a few years since, which adds much to the appearance of the place. In 1836 a company was incorporated, for the purpose of making a Rail-road from Brooklyn to Fort Hamilton, Bath, and Coney Island, which has not been commenced as yet, but should it be accom- plished, would make them places of much greater resort during the summer than they are at present. The village of New Utrecht is pleasantly situated on a fine plain, about nine miles south of Brooklyn ; there are about fif- NEW UTRECHT. 41 teen or sixteen dwelling-houses, and a Dutch Reformed Church in it. This church was originally built in 1700 ^ and was occupied during the revolution, as most of the other Dutch churches were, for a store, a hospital, or a prison, as best suited the enemy. The present church was erected in 1829, nearly upon the site of the old one ; it is a substantial stone edifice, and an important feature in the general appearance of this delightful little village. Bath House and village is upon the margin of the bay, a mile and a half from the Narrows, or entrance of New York harbor, having a full view of the military works, and the commerce of the bay. It has been a favorite place of resort for sea bathing for many years. There is a good hotel here, which is well conducted ; it has a lawn in front, beautifully shaded by trees, where the luxury of the ocean breezes may be enjoyed to the fullest extent during the heat of summer. It is the nearest watering place to NewYork, and new accommodations have been recently erected within a short distance of the beach, which com- mands a charming prospect of the ocean. It was near to this delightful spot that the British army, under the com- mand of Sir William Howe, protected by the guns of their fleet, effected a landing on the 22d of August, 1776, which was followed, in a few days after, by the disastrous battle of Long Island. The surface of the town, south of the hills, is perfectly smooth and level; but along the shore of the Narrows it is rough and uneven. The woody ridge that borders the town is the western termination of the range of hills which extend to the eastern part of Southhold, and is generally denominated the spine of the ridge of Long Island. The shad fishery of this town is one of the most important and valuable in 4* 42 NEW UTRECHT. this part of the country, and many of .the inhabitants en- gage in it, during the season, and find it a very profita- ble employment. It is affirmed that ten thousand of these fish have been caught at a single draught. Some years ago, on digging a few feet below the sur- face at the Narrows, more than a wagon load of Indian stone arrow heads were discovered lying together, under circumstances calculated to induce the belief, that a large manufactory of those indispensable articles of Indian warfare once existed at this place; they were of all sizes, Trom one to six inches in length, some perfect, others only partly finished. There was also a number of blocks of the same kind of stone found in the same rough state as when brought from the quarry; they had the appear- ance of ordinary flint, and were nearly as hard ; not only arrow heads, but axes, and other articles of domestic utility, were made from these stones. It will perhaps forever remain a matter of surprise and conjecture, how these native artificers, destitute, as they were, of iron tools, or even a knowledge of the use of them, could form and polish, with such exquisite art, so many various instru- ments from so hard a material. In addition to the patents before mentioned, another was granted to this town by Governor Dongan, on the 13th of May, 1636, confirming the former patents. In 1706, the negroes, who had become numerous not only in the city of New York, but also in Kings county, Long Island, were so disorderly and dangerous to the peace and safety of the people, that the government was obliged to take measures for restraining their depreda- tions upon the community. ^, On the 26th of May, 1836, an act was passed to incor- GRAVESEND. 43 porate the New Utrecht Dock and Steamboat Company, but nothing has been done, as yet, to carry this very desi- rable measure into operation. GRAVESEND. This town occupies the most southerly part of Kings county, including Coney island, which is washed by the Atlantic ocean. It is bounded on the east by Flatlands, south by the sea, and west by New Utrecht ; it is of a triangular shape, with its base upon the ocean, and ter- minating northerly in a point adjoining Flatbush. Much of the territory of the town consists of salt-marsh, not more than one third of it being improved by cultivation ; the surface is generally pretty level, but near the sea shore there are some ridges of sand hills. This town, unlike the rest of the county, was settled by English peo- ple from Massachusetts, as early as 1640, who gave it the name of Gravesend, after the place from whence they came in England, when they embarked for America. They were soon after joined by a small colony of Eng- lish quakers, accompanied by Lady Deborah Moody, a woman of rank, wealth, and education, who, with several others residing at Lynn, Sandwich, and other towns in New England, had imbibed the sentiments of George Fox, and being objects of jealousy and persecution with the Puritans there, determined to settle elsewhere. Considering the situation of this town, calculated for a commercial village, they proceeded to lay out ten acres of ground, near the centre of it, into streets and squares, which they enclosed with a palisado defence. The plan of the village is still preserved in the clerk's office of the town, and is worthy of admiration for its beautiful sim= 44 G^RAVESfiNt). plicity. It seems that the project of making it a commer- cial port was abandoned, on it being discovered that there was not sufficient depth of water for vessels of a large class. One of the original squares of the contemplated city, was occupied by the courthouse of the county, so long as the court continued to be held there ; another, was the site of the first Dutch church ; and the third has long been used as a public cemetery. On the same plot also, there are many of the graves of the first quakers, the whole of which have long since been levelled by the plough, ex- cept that of Peter Sullivan and his wife, at the head of which is a large granite slab, on which is sculptured simp- ly the names of the deceased. As this particular sect make no use of such memorials, it was probably placed there by some friend or relative, who was not a quaker. The first patent, or ground-brief, of this town, was grant- ed by Governor Kieft, in 1643, to Antonie Jansen Van Sale, (or Anthony Johnson,) for one hundred raorgen of land, which was afterwards known as the old Bowery. A morgen of land was a little less than two acres, Dutch measure, consisting of six hundred square Dutch rods^ On the 14th of May, 1644, a patent was also granted to Guiesbert Op-Dyck of Coney island, called in the patent Cunny island, and by the Dutch, Conyen eylan4t, prob- ably from the name of an individual who had possessed some part of it. Tine Island, then called Conyne Hook, was at that time separated from the former by a creek, but it has since disappeared. The latter, was most prob- ably the spot where the discoverer, Hudson, and his crew, landed in 1609, "before entering the bay of New York. A general patent for this town, written both in Dutch and GRAVE SEND. 45 English, was granted by Governor Keift, on the 19th of December, 1645. The patentees named therein, are the Lady Deborah Moody, Sir Henry Moody, Baronet, En- sign George Baxter, and Sergeant James Hubbard, and their associates. The circumstance of this patent being granted to a fe- male, and she being the first named in it, is a matter of some curiosity ; and in connexion with events hereinafter mentioned, exhibits the Lady Moody in a very conspi- cuous light. She being a considerable personage in the early settlement of the town, the following particulars of her history will not be uninteresting to the reader. It is mentioned in the publication of Mr. Alonzo Lewis, entitled, " The History of Lynn,'' that the Lady Deborah Moody came to that town in the year 1640. In 1635 she went from one of the remote counties in England to Lon- don, where she remained in opposition to a statute which directed that no person should reside beyond a limited time from their own homes. On the twenty-first of April in that year, the court of star-chamber ordered that *' Dame Deborah Mowdie," and others, should return to their hereditaments in forty days, as a good example necessary for the poorer class. Soon after her arrival at Lynn, she united with the church of Salem ; and on the thirteenth of May, the court granted her four hundred acres of land. In 1641 she purchased the farm of the deputy-governor, John Humphry, called Swamscut, for which she paid c;€ 1,100. Sometime after she became imbued with the erroneous idea that the baptism of infants was a sinful or- dinance, and she was therefore excommunicated ; and in 1643 she removed to Long Island. Governor Winthrop, in his journal, says, that "in 1643 Lady Moody was in 46 GRAVE SEND. the colony of Massachusetts, a wise and anciently re- ligious woman ; and being taken with the error of deny- ing baptism to infants, was dealt with accordingly by many of the elders and others, and admonished by the church of Salem, whereof she was a member ; but per- sisting still, and to avoid farther trouble, &c. she removed to the Dutch settlements, against the advice of her friends." " After her arrival at Long Island, (says Mr. Lewis,) she experienced much trouble from the Indians, her house being assailed by them many times. Her wealth enabled her to render assistance to G-ovemor Stuyvesant, in some trouble with the neighboring settlers, in 1654; and so great was her influence over him, that he conceded, in part, the nomination of the magistrates to her. In the quarterly court records, her son is styled Sir Henry Moody." "At the same court, fourteenth of December, 1642, the Lady Deborah Moody, Mrs. King, and the wife of John Tilton, were presented, for holding that the baptism of infants is no ordinance of God," From these historical records we learn the reason why the Lady Moody, her son Sir Henry Moody, Ensign Baxter, Sergeant Hubbard, John Tilton, and others of her associates and friends, left New England, and located themselves at Gravesend, where they hoped to enjoy the most perfect freedom of opinion, unawed by the civil power, and be allowed unmolested to propagate those religious opinions which to them seemed most agreeable to their principles of reason and justice. All which, it seems, was intended to be secured by the patent above mentioned ; how far it was realized under the governor's successor, will appear hereafter, when we view the per- secutions practised upon the Quakers of this and other GRAVESEND. 47 towns under the Dutch jurisdiction. Lady Moody pro- bably retained a portion of her large real estate in New England ; for Governor Winthrop says, that in 1646 the house of Lady Moody, at Salem, was injured by a tempest, the roof being torn off; which fact he mentions in a letter to his son, John Winthrop, then living at Fisher's Island. A release or conveyance was obtained from the Canarsee Indians for Gravesend Neck and Conyne Island, on the seventh of May, 1654. Other conveyances in different parts of the town were procured at different times, both by the town and by individuals, which in the end occa- sioned no small difficulty, in consequence of the clashing of boundaries, the descriptions of which were frequently very inconsistent, not being properly defined in the deeds drawn up at that time. On the first of January, 1643, a soldier was convicted before the court of sessions at Gravesend of having left his station while on guard, and was punished by being compelled to sit upon a wooden horse during the parade, with a pitcher in one hand, and a drawn sword in the other, to show that he liked beer better than his duty, and that his courage was always in proportion to the quan- tity of beer he consumed. " At a town meetings held September the 27th, 1644, it was voted^ that those who have boweries, (farms,) should have fifty morgen of up- land, with meadow proportionable to their stock; and it' was further ordered, that if any did not build a habitable house upon it before the last day of May next, should be defaulted, and forfeit their land to the town." The re- cords of this town, which were uniformly kept in the English language, are still preserved almost entire. They comnjence with the year 1645, and for a series of years, 48 GRAVE SEND. are chiefly occupied with the records of wills, inventories, letters of administration, and a variety of private contracts, bargains, sales, &c. In January, 1648, the town elected Sergeant James Hubbard, a man of respectability and influence, to execute the ofiice of schout, or constable, which was considered as one of much importance. On the 14th of April, 1649, John Furman agreed with the town to keep their calves three months for twenty guilders a month, to be paid in money, tohaccOj or com, and some hitters, if desired. In March, 1650, it was required of every owner of a lot of ground, to pay one guilder towards the common charges of the town ; and in December of the same year, it was ordered that every man should fence the head of his lot upon the town square with a sufficient quantity of palisades ; within this enclosure, which included the original town-plot of ten acres, the inhabitants secured their cattle during the night, and themselves also, when apprehensive of danger from the natives, in which case an armed guard was employed. That wolves were both plentiful and mischievous at that time, appears from the fact, that on the 8th of August, 1650, three guilders were ofiered for each wolf killed in the town, and two guilders forafox. It was also ordered, that every man be provided with agun, a pound of powder, and two pounds of lead, or bullets. Every owner of a house was likewise required to provide himself with a ladder of twenty feet or more in length. It was also voted, and agreed upon in town meeting, that whoever should transgress in word or deed, by defaming, scandalizing, slandering, or falsely accu- sing any, to the hreacli of the peace, and the reproach of the place, should suffer condign punishment according GRAVE SEND. 49 to his demerit;, as might be thouglit fit by the magistrate, either by fine, imprisonment, or stocking (standing) at a ^public iiost. In 1654, Governor Stuyvesant rejected certain per- sons who had been nominated by the town for magis- trates; these were Baxter and Hubbard, who had ren- dered themselves obnoxious to him, by their fidelity to the people, and their opposition to the arbitrary mea- sures of his administration. This act gave great offence to the inhabitants, and the popular indignation rose to so high a pitch, that his Excellency found it expedient to go in person to Gravesend ; and in order to allay the general excitement, he was induced to avail himself of the popu- larity and influence of the Lady Moody, and even com- mitted the appointment of the magistrates to her discre- tion. Whether this remarkable woman continued here till her death, or returned to New England, is not known. It is supposed that while she remained here, she owned and occupied the farm of the late Van Brunt Megaw, now owned by Samuel Smith, Esq., one of the best in the coun- ty. It appears that the neighboring Indians were some- times very troubleseme to the white settlers ; and on one oc- casion, a considerable body of Indians from the main land attacked the place, particularly the house of Lady Moody, and would have destroyed her and her family, (as they did Lady Ann Hutchinson and her party, at Throg's Point, a short time before,) had they not been overpow- ered by the number and courage of the inhabitants. Up- on the Dutch records in the office of the state, is the fol- lowing entry, bearing date March 25th, 1643. " Where- as, in some time past, several misunderstandings have ta- ken place between the savages of Long Island, and our 5 50 GRAVESEND. nation, by which, from both sides, the .blood has streamed upon the land, the houses have been robbed and burned, with the killing of the stock, and carrying oiFthe corn by the Indians, so it is, that between us and them, who al- ready follow the banner of their great chief Pennowit, a solid peace has been established,^ so that all injuries, from whatever side, are hereby forgiven and forgotten." A confirmation patent for this town was obtained from Governor Nicolls, on the 13th of August, 1668, in which the boundaries do not vary from those described in the patent of Governor Kieft, in 1644. An additional patent was also issued on the 1st of July, 1670, by Governor Lovelace. On the 26th of March, 1677, an agreement was enter- ed into between the tow^ns of Gravesend and New- Utrecht, in relation totheir boundaries, which was confirm- ed by Governor Dongan on tha 10th of September, 1686. *' At a Court of Sessions, held at Gravesend, 21st of June, 1676, John Cooke and John Tilton being quakers, and refusing to take the oath, were ordered to give their engagement to Mr. Justice Hubbard, to perform their office as overseers, under the penalty of perjury." At the same court, holden December the 17th, 1679, Mr. Joseph Lee, deputy sheriff, presented Ferdinandus Van Strickland, for refusing to give entertainment to a stran- ger who came from Huntington, about business to this court ; upon which the court did order, that if the said Fer- dinandus does not make his submission to the sheriff and the justices to-morrow, that he be dismissed from tappings that is, to be deprived of his license. It is believed that many of the friends, (quakers,) who had settled in this town, removed to New" Jersey, at or about * GRAVE SEND. 51 tlie time that George Fox visited Longlsland, in the year 1672. Coney Island, on the seaboard, is a place of great resort for strangers during the summer season ; it is constantly fanned by cool sea breezes, and there is an unlimited view of the ocean. It is separated from the main of Long Island by a narrow creek or inlet, over which a handsome bridge has been erected. There is a fine spacious hotel here, called the Ocean House, which is conducted in a superior manner ; a rail-road is attached to the establish- ment, and cars leave the hotel for the beach, a distance of eighty rods, at particular intervals during the day. The bathing at this place is not surpassed by any in the United States. The beach is a beautiful white sand. The island is about five miles long and one wide, and is en- tirely an alluvial formation. The destructive effect of ocean storms has long been very visible here, for much of what was once Coney Island has now disappeared. It has been conjectured by some persons that Coney Island proper, two hundred years ago, lay at the entrance of Sandy Hook, and was separated from the present Coney Island by a channel of considerable width, which is sup- posed to have been entirely demolished by a storm about 1715. It is well ascertained that in 1643, there was a convenient harbor for vessels of a large size, which is now in a great measure filled up. The exposed situa- tion of this island subjects it to great encroachments of the sea, and to the probability that at some future (though perhaps distant) period it will be entirely destroyed. In a terrible gale which occurred upon the coast on the 26th of January, 1839, the whole of Coney Island, with the exception of a few sand-hills, was completely inundated 52 GRAVE SEND. by the sea ; the basement of the Ocean House was filled with water ; the bridge was carried away, several small vessels were cast on shore, and one was driven a consi- derable distance towards Flallands. The first church built in this town was by the Dutch in 1655 ; it was rebuilt in 1770, and stood till 1833, when the present church was erected. It is situated upon one of the original squares of the town-plot made by the first settlers, and near the place where the court-house for- merly stood. The court of sessions for Kings county was held here till the ridings were abolished in 1685, when it was removed to Flatbush. All the lands in this town were laid out in reference to the original plan of the village, the exterior lines of most of the farms con- verging towards the centre, like the radii of a circle. The soil is light and sandy, but is generally pretty well culti- vated; and the surplus produce of the farms is supposed to exceed forty thousand bushels of different kinds of grain annually, which is a permanent source of wealth to its inhabitants, whose number is nearly seven hundred. In many of the Dutch patents there was a clause, re- quiring the patentees and their associates, after the ex- piration of ten years from the date thereof, to pay, by way of quit-rent, to the governor, or his agent lawfully authorized to receive the same, one tenthpart of all the produce of the lands cultivated by them; and as difficul- ties and disputes sometimes occurred in reference there- to, Governor Stuyvesant issued a peremptory order, on the 6th of June, 1656, prohibiting the inhabitants of Flatlands, Flatbush, and Brooklyn, from removing their crops of grain from the fields, until the tythes reserved by their patents had either been taken or commuted for. The Census of Kings County, taken in 1835. * City of Brooklyn 1st Ward .2d do. Males. 680 2419 1204 2731 2391 1120 1078 286 438 Females. 843 2255 1560 2993 2119 1019 964 201 228 Totiil. 1523 4674 2764 5724 4510 2139 2042 487 666 .3d do. 4th do. 5th do. 6th do. 7th do. 8ih do. 9th do. Town of Bushwickj and Williamsburgh . . Flatbush 12347 12182 24529 1889 847 363 733 371 1436 690 321 554 324 3325 1537 684 1287 Flatlands New Utrecht Gravesend Total Population of Kings Co. (exclusive o f 231 P aupers) 32057] 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 iiinaDUuntj 7175 10791 . Increase. .3fi1fi 12403 1612 •24529 12126 not kn own. 1 The Census is not yet completed for 1840, but it is supposed the po- pulation of Brooklyn will exceed 35,000. PfOlTAiifAJHZa 1>J Cv .Tff;ir^ ' »^, H. S 1 1 fl r or a h -rt^^-iS^ All y ^, THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. After the commencement of hostilities in 1776, New York beinsr situated near the centre of the colonial sea- board, and consequently readily accessible from the sea, was selected by the British as the principal point for their future operations. AVith this view, the first division of their army arrived at Staten Island in the latter part of June that year, followed, about the middle of July, by the grand armament under Lord Howe, consisting of six ships of the line, thirty frigates, with smaller armed ves- sels, and a great number of transports, victuallers, and ships with ordnance stores. The Americans anticipating the invasion of Long Isl- and, had fortified Brooklyn before the arrival of the Bri- tish at Staten Island. A line of intrenchment was formed from a ditch near the late toll-house of the bridge at the Navy-yard to Fort Green, then called Fort Putman, and from thence to Freek's mill-pond. A strong work was erected on the lands of Johannis Debevoice and Van Brunt, a redoubt was thrown up on Boemus' Hill, opposite Brown's Mill, and another on the land of John Johnson, west of Fort Green. Ponkiesberg, now Fort Swift, was fortified, and a fort built on the land of Mr. Hicks, on Brooklyn Heights. Such were the defences of Brooklyn in 1776, while chevauxdefrise was sunk in the main chan- nel of the river below New York. The troops of both divisions of the British army, soon after their arrival in the bay, were landed on Staten Island to recruit their strength after the voyage, and prepare for the coming conflict. It was not until the middle of August, that a first landing on Long Island was made by them, which 56 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. was effected at New Utrecht or Bath. • Here they were joined by many royalists, who, it was supposed, acted the part of guides and informers to the enemy. Ge- neral Sir Henry Clinton also arrived about the same time, with the troops reconducted from the expedition to Charleston. And Commodore Hotham soon after ap- peared with reinforcements under his escort ; so that, in a short time, the hostile army amounted to about twenty- four thousand men, consisting of English, Hessians, and Waldeckers. Several regiments of Hessian infantry were expected to arrive shortly, when the army would be swelled to the number of thirty-five thousand, of the best troops of Europe, all abundantly supplied with arms and ammunition, and manifesting extreme ardor for the service of their king. Their plan of operations was, first to get possession of New York, which was deemed of the most paramount importance. Then, if General Car- leton, after having passed, as it was hoped he would, the lakes of Canada, could penetrate to the banks of the Hudson, and descend that river at the same time that General Howe should ascend it, their junction would have the immediate effect of interrupting all communica- tion between the provinces of New England, on the left bank, and the middle and southern provinces on the right* while General Howe was seconded in his inva- sion of New York by the twelve or thirteen thousand men from Canada under General Carleton. General Clinton was to operate in the provinces to the South, and to attack Charleston. The American troops being thus divided, and their generals surprised and pressed on all sides, it was not doubted but the British arms would soon obtain a complete triumph. But, in executing this bold BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 57 design, they had counted too much on an admirable con- currence of a great number of parts, and had not taken into account the difficulties of the winds and seasons. Admiral Howe did not arrive until after Clinton's expe- dition against Charleston had totally failed, and the army of Canada was interrupted at the lakes. It was still, however, confidently expected that General Howe alone would be able to make it a decisive campaign. To resist this impending storm, congress had ordered the construction of rafts, gun-boats, galleys, and floating batteries, for the defence of the port of New York, and the mouth of the Hudson. They had also decreed that thirteen thousand of the provincial militia should join the army of General Washington, who, being seasonably ap- prized of the danger of^New York, had made a movement into that quarter ; they also directed the organization of a corps of ten thousand men, to serve as a reserve in the central provinces. All the weakest posts had been care^ fully intrenched, and furnished with artillery. A strono- detachment occupied Long Island, to prevent the English from landing there, if possible, or to repulse them, should they effect a debarkation. But the army of congress was very far from being able to bear the brunt of so terrible a war. It wanted arms, and was wasted by diseases. The reiterated calls of the commander in chief for reinfurce- naents, had brought into his camp the militia of the neigh- boring provinces, and some regular regiments from Mary- land, Pennsylvania, and New England, which had swelled his army to twenty-seven thousand men in number ; but one fourth of these troops were invalids, and scarcely another fourth of them were furnished with arms. 58 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. The American army, such as it was, occupied the po* sitions that were best adaptedto coverthe menaced points. The corps which had been stationed on Long Island, was commanded by Major-General Green, who, on account of sickness, was afterwards succeeded by General Sulli- van. The main body of the army was encamped on the island of New York, which, it appeared was likely to re- ceive the first attack of the Ensrlish. o Two feeble detachments guarded Governor's island and the point of Paulus' Hook. The militia of the pro- vince, commanded by the American General Clinton, were posted upon the banks of the Sound, where they occupied East and West Chester, and New Rochelle, — for it was to be feared that the enemy, landing in force upon the north shore of the Sound, might penetrate as far as Kingsbridge, and thus entirely lock up all the Ameri- can troops on the island of New York. Lord Howe,. the commander in chief of the British forces, made some overtures of peace upon terms of submission to the roy- al clemency, which resulting in nothing, decided him in making an attack on Long Island. " Accordingly," says Botta, "on the twenty-second of August, the British fleet approached the Narroivs ; all the troops found an easy and secure landing place between the villages of Graves- end and New Utrecht, where they debarked without meeting with the least resistance on the part of the Americans. A great part of the American army, under the command of General Putnam, was encamped at Brooklyn, a part of the island which forms a sort of pe- ninsula. He had strongly fortified the entrance of it, with moats and intrenchments, his left wing resting upon Wallahout bay, and his light covered by the marsh con- BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 59 tiguous to Gowanus' Cove. Behind him he had Govern- or's island, and the arm of the sea which separates Long Island from the island of New York, which gave him a direct communication with the city, where the other part of the army was stationed under Washington himself. The commander in chief, perceiving that the battle was approaching, continually exhorted his men to keep their ranks, and summon all their courage j he reminded them, that upon their valor rested the only hope of American liberty ; that upon their firmness and resist- ance depended the preservation or pillage of their pro- perty; that they were about to combat in defence of their parents, their wives, and their children, from the outrages of a licentious soldiery ; that the eyes of America were fixed upon them as her champions, and expected from their success on that day either safety or total destruc- tion." The English having effected their landing, marched rapidly forward. The two armies wqyg separated by a chain of hills, covered with woods, called the heights, which, running from west to east, divide the island, as it were, into two parts. They are only practicable upon three points ; one of which is near the Narrows, the se- cond, the road leading to the centre through the village of FJatbusJi, and the third is approached, far to the right, by the village of Flatlands. Upon the summit of the hills, there is a road, which continues along the whole length of the range, and leads from Bedford to Jamaica, which is intersected by the two roads last described : these ways are interrupted by precipices, and exceedingly dif- ficult and narrow defiles. The American general, wishing to arrest the enemy in 60 BATTLE OF LOXG ISLAND. his progress, had carefully furnished .the heights with troops ; so that, if all had done their duty, the English would not have been able to force the passes without the greatest difficulty and danger. The posts werB so fre- quent upon the road from Bedford to Jamaica, that it was easy to transmit the most prompt intelligence of what passed upon these three routes, from one point to another. Colonel Miles, with his battalion, was ap- pointed to guard the road to Flatlands, and scour it con- tinually with his scouts, as well as the road to Jamaica, in order to reconnoitre the movements of the enemy. Meanwhile, the British army pressed forward, its left wing being to the north, and its right to the south ; the village of Flatbush being in the centre. The Hessians, commanded by General de Heister, formed the main body ; the English, under Major General Grant, the left; and other corps conducted by General Clinton, and the two Lords, Percy and Cornwallis, composed the right. In this wing the British generals placed their principal hope of success; and directed it upon Flatlands. Their plan was, that while the corps of General Grant, and the Hessians of General Heister, should distress and annoy the enemy upon the two first defiles, the left wing, tak- ing a circuitous rout, should march through Flatlands, and endeavor to seize the point of intersection of this road with that of Jamaica ; and then rapidly descending into the plain which extends at the foot of the heights upon the other side, should fall upon the Americans in flank and rear. The English hoped, as this point was the farthest from the centre of the army, the advanced guards would be found more feeble there, and perhaps more negligent; finally, they calculated that the Ameri' BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 61 cans vvoakl not be able to defend it against so superior a force. The right wing- of the Eno^lish was the most numerous, and entirely composed of the best and most select troops. The evenhig of the twenty-sixth of August, General Clinton commanded the vanguard, which consisted of light infantry ; Lord Percy the centre, composed of the grenadiers, the artillery, and the cavalry; and Lord Corn- wallis the rearguard, followed by the baggage, and some regiments of infantry and heavy artillery ; this part of the English army put itself in motion with admirable order and silence, and leaving Flatlands, traversed the country called New Lotts. Colonel Miles, who this night had relaxed in his duty, did not perceive the approach of the enemy ; so that two hours before day-break, the Eng- lish had arrived within half a mile of the road leading to Jamaica, upon the heights. Then General Clinton halted, and prepared himself for the attack. He met one of the American patriots, and made him prisoner. General Sullivan, who commanded all the troops in advance of the camp of Brooklyn, had no advice of what had passed in this quarter. He neglected to send out fresh scouts, supposing the English would direct their principal force against his right wing, that being the nearest to them j but in that he was mistaken. General Clinton, learning from his prisoners that the road to Jamaica was not guarded, hastened to avail him- self of the circumstance, and occupied it by a rapid movement. Without loss of time, he immediately bore on his left towards Bedford, and seized an important de- file, which the American generals had left unguard.'d. From that moment, the success of the day was decided 6 62 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. in favor of the English. Lord Percy came up with his corps ; and the entire column descended, by the village of Bedford, from the heights, into the plain which lay be- tween the hills and the camp of the Americans. During this time, General Grant, in order to amuse the eriemy, and direct his attention from the events which had taken place upon the route of Flatlands, endeavored to disquiet him upon his right ; accordingly, as if he intended to force the defile w^hich led to it, he put himself in motion about midnight, and attacked the miUtia of New York and Pennsylvania, v/ho guarded it. At first they gave ground ; but General Parsons being arrived, and having occupied an eminence, he renewed the combat, and main- tained his position till Brigadier General Lord Stirling came to his assistance with about fifteen hundred men. The action now became general and extremely animated on both sides, fortune favoring: neither one or the other. The Hessians had attacked the centre at break of day ; and the Americans, commanded by General Sullivan in person, fought valiantly. At the same time, the English ships, after making several movements, opened a brisk cannonade against a battery established at Red Hook Point, upon the right flank of the Americans, who com- bated against General Grant. This, also, was a diver- sion, the object of which was to prevent them from at- tending to what passed in the centre and on the left. The Americans, however, defended themselves wdth crreat bravery, ignorant, as they were, that so much valor was exerted in vain, as the victory was already in the hands of the enemy. General Clinton having descended into the plain, fell upon the left flank of the centre, Avhich was engaged with the Hessians. He had also previously BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 63 detached a small corps in order to intercept the Ameri- cans. iis soon as the appearance of the English light infantry- apprized the Americans of their danger, they sounded the retreat, and retired in good order towards their camp, bringing off their artillery. But they fell in with a party of royal troops which had occupied the ground in their rear, who charged them with fury ; and they were compelled to throw themselves into the neighboring woods, where they again met with the Hessians, who re- pulsed them back upon the English ; thus the Americans were driven several times against one or the other with great loss. They continued for some time in this despe- rate situation, till at length several regiments, animated by an heroic valor, forced their way through the midst of the enemy, and gained the camp of General Putnam; others escaped through the woods. The inequality of the ground, the great number of positions which it offered, and the disorder that prevailed throughout the line, were the cause for many hours of several partial combats taking place, in which numbers of the Americans fell. Their left wing and centre being discomfited, the Eng- lish, desirous of having a complete victory, made a rapid movement against the rear of the right wing, which, be- ing ignorant of the misfortune that had befallen the other corps, was engaged with General Grant. Finally, hav- ing received the intelligence, they retired from so unequal a contest. But, again encountering the English, who had cut off their retreat, part of them took shelter in the woods, others endeavored to make their way through the marshes of Gowan's cove, but mahy were drowned in the waters or perished in the mud ; a very small number 64 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. only escaped tlie hot pursuit of the visitors, and reached the camp in safety. The total loss of the Americans in this battle, was es- timated at more than three thousand men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Among the latter was General Sullivan, and Brigadier General Lord Stirling. Almost the entire regiment of Maryland, consisting of young men of the best families in that province, was cut to pieces. Six pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the victors. The loss of the English was very inconsidera- ble ; it did not amount to four hundred men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The enemy encamped in front of the American lines ; and on the succeeding night broke ground within six hundred yards of a redoubt on the left, and having thrown up a breast work on the Wallabout heights, upon the De- bevoice farm, commenced firing on Fort Putnam, and reconnoitred the American forces. The Americans were here prepared to receive them ; and orders were issued to the men to reserve their fire till they could see the eyes of the enemy. A few of the British officers reconnoitred the position, and one, on coming too near, was shot by William Van Cotts, of Bushwick. The same afternoon, Captain Rutgers, bro- ther of the late Colonel Rutgers, also fell. Several other British troops were killed, and the column which had in- cautiously advanced, fell back beyond the range of the American fire. In this critical state of the American army on Long Island, having a numerous and victorious enemy in front, with a formidable train of artillery, the Heet indicating an intention of forcing a passage up the East river, the BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 65 troops lying without shelter from heavy rains, fatigued and dispirited, General Washington determined to with- draw the army from the island ; and this difficult move- ment was effected not only with great skill and judgment, but with complete success. The retreat was to have commenced at eight o'clock in the evening of the 29th, but a strong north-east wind and a rapid tide caused a de- lay of several hours ; a south-west wind, however, spring- ing up at eleven o'clock, greatly facilitated the passage of the army from the island to New York city; and a thick fog hanging over Long Island towards morning, covered its movements from the enemy, w4io were so near, that the sound of their pick-axes and shovels were distinctly heard by the Americans. General Washington, as far as 'it was possible, inspected every thing himself, from the commencement of the action on the morning of the 27th, till all the troops had crossed the river in safety; he never closed his eyes, and was almost constantly on horseback. After the American army had evacuated Long Island, and the British troops and their allies, the tories and refugees, had taken possession of it, many distressing occurrences and heart-rendino-scenes of persecution took place. Those whigs, who had been at all active in behalf of the cause of independence, were exiled from their homes, and their dwellings subjected to indiscriminate plunder. Such as could be taken, were incarcerated in the churches of New Utrecht and Flatlands ; while royalists, wearing a red badge in their hats, were encouraged and protected. It is believed that had Lord Howe avail- ed himself of the advantage he possessed, by passing his ships up the river between New York and Brooklyn, he would have cut off their retreat, and the whole of the 66 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. American army must have been inevitably captured or annihilated. GJ-eueral Washington plainly saw the policy that he, (Lord Howe,) might have pursued, and therefore wisely determined to abandon the island, rather than run the risk of sacrificing his army, by a vain attempt to re- tain it. The unfortunate issue of the battle of Long Island,. W3& doubtless to be attributed, in part, to the misconduct of Colonel Miles, in neglecting his duty, by not keeping a better look out of the approach of the enemy towards the heights, and also to the illness of General Green, who had superintended the erection of the works, and was tho- roughly acquainted with the ground. In the hope of his recovery, Washington deferred sending over a successor, till the urgency of affairs rendered it absolutely necessa- * ry; and then General Putman took the command, without having any previous knowledge of the posts which had been fortified beyond the lines, or of the places by which the enemy could make their approach ; nor had he time to acquire this knowledge before the action commenced. The consequence was, that althongh he was the comman- der on the day of the battle, he never went beyond the lines at Brooklyn ; and could give no other orders in send- ing out the troops, than for them to meet the enemy at tlie different points where they appeared. The following is a letter to congress, written by Colonel Harrison, sec- retary to the commander in chief, describing the events of the day. NciD York, 8 o'clock P. M. Sir : 27 t7i August, 171 Q. I have this minute returned from our lines on Lonor Island, where I left his excellency, the General. From BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 67 liim I have it in command to inform congress, that yes- terday he went there, and continued till evening, when, from the enemy having landed a considerable part of their forces, and from many of their movements, there was rea- son to aj^prehend they would in a little time make a gene- ral attack. As they would have a wood to pass through before they could approach the lines, it was thought ex- pedient to place a number of men on the roads lead- ing from where they were stationed, in order to harrass and annoy them in their march. This being done, early this morning a smart engagement ensued between the enemy and our detachments, which being unequal to the force they had to contend with, have sustained a considera- ble loss ; at least many of our men are missing. Among those that have not returned are General Sullivan and Lord Stirling. The enemy's loss is not known certainly, but we are told by such of our troops as were in the en- gagement, and have come in, that they had many killed and wounded. Our party brought off a lieutenant, ser- geant, and corporal, with twenty privates, prisoners. While these detachments were eng'a2:ed, a column of the enemy descended from the woods, and marched to- wards the centre of our lines, with a design to make an impression, but were repulsed. This evening they ap- peared very numerous about the skirts of the woods, where they have pitched several tents, and his excellency inclines to think they mean to attack and force us from our lines by way of regular approaches, rather than in any other manner. To-day five ships of the line came up towards the town, where they seemed desirous of get- ting, as they tacked a long time against an unfavorable wind ; and, on my return this evening, I found a deserter 68 BATTLE OF LOXG ISLAND, from the twenty third regiment, who informed me, that they design, as soon as the wind will permit them, to come up to give us a severe cannonading, and silence our batte- ries if possible. I have the honor to be, in great haste, sir, your most obedient, ROBERT H. HARRISON. As the two generals, who commanded in the engage- ment, were taken prisoners, no detailed official account of the action was ever reported to the commander in chief. The following letter from Lord Stirling, and extracts from General Sullivan's, contain a few particulars not hitherto published. Lord Stirling was a prisoner on board of Lord Howe^s ship when he wrote. LORD STIRLING TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Eagle, 29^7i August, 1776. My dear General, I have now an opportunity of informing you of what has happened to me since I had the pleasure of seeing you. About three o'clock on the morning of the 27th, I was called up, and informed by General Putman that the enemy were advancing by the road from Flatbushto the Red Lion, and he ordered me to march with the two regiments nearest at hand to ineet them. These happen- ing to be Haslet's and Small wood's, with which I accord- ingly marched, and was on the road to the Narrows just as the daylight began to appear. We proceeded to within about half a mile of the Red Lion, and there met Colonel Atlee, with his regiment, who informed me the enemy were in sight ; indeed, 1 saw their front between us and the Red Lion. I desired Colonel Atlee to place his regi- BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 69 ment on the left of the road, and to wait their coming up, while I went to form the two regiments I had brought with me, along a ridge from the road up to a piece of wood on the top of the hill. This was done instantly, on very advantageous ground. Our opponents advanced, and were fired upon in the road by Colonel Atlee's regiment, who, after two or three rounds, retreated to the wood on my left, and there form- ed. By this time Kichline's riflemen arrived; part of them 1 placed along a hedge under the front of the hill, and the rest in front of the wood. The troops oppo- sed to me were two brigades, of four regiments each, under the command of General Grant; who advanced their light troops to within one hundred and fifty yards of our right front, and took possession of an orchard there, and some hedges, which extended towards our left. This brought on an exchange of fire between those troops and our riflemen, which continued for about two hours, and then ceased, by their light troops retiring to their main body. In the meantime, Captain Carpenter brought up two field pieces, which were placed on the side of the hill so as to command the road, and the only approach for some hun- dred yards. On the part of General Grant there were two field-pieces. One howitzer advanced to within three hundred yards of the front of our right, and a like de- tachment of artillery to the front of our left. On a rising ground, about six hundred yards distance, one of their brigades formed in two lines opposite to our right, and the other extended in one line to the top of the hills, in front of our left. In this position we stood cannonading each other till near eleven o'clock, when I found that General Howe, 70 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. with the main body of the army, was between me and our lines ; and 1 saw the only chance of escaping being all made prisoners, was to pass the creek near the Yellow Mills ; and, in order to render this more practicable, I found it absolutely necessary to attack the body of troops commanded by Lord Cornwallis, posted at the house near the Upper Mills. This I instantly did, with about half of Small wood's regiment ; first ordering all the other troops to make the best of their way through the creek. We continued the attack for a considerable time, the men having been rallied, and the attack renewed, five or six several tim es ; we were on the point of driving Lord Cornwallis fiom his station, when large reinforcements ar- riving, rendered it impossible to do more than provide for our safety. I endeavored to get in between that house and Fort Box ; but on attempting it, I found a considerable body of troops in my front, and several in pursuit of me on the right and left, and a constant firing on me. I immediately turned the point of a hill, which covered me from their fire, and v/as soon out of reach of my pursuers. I found that it would be in vain to attempt to make my escape, and therefore went to surrender my- self to General de Heister, commander in chief of the Hessians. WM. STIRLING. GENERAL SULLIVAN TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Whitemarsh, Oct. 25, 1777. I know it has been generally reported that I com- manded on Long Island when the action happened there- This is by no means true. General Putnam had taken the command from me four days before the action. Lord Stirling commanded the main body without the lines. I was to have commanded under General Putnam within BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. 71 the lines. I was uneasy about a road, through which I had often foretold that the enemy would come, but could, not persuade others to be of my opinion. I went to the hill near Flatbush to reconnoitre, and with a picket of four hundred men was surrounded by the enemy, who had advanced by the very road I had foretold, and which I paid horsemen fifty dollars for patrolling by night while I had the command, as I had no foot for the purpose. What resistance I made with these four hundred men against the British army, I leave to the officers who were with me to declare. Let it suffice for me to say, that the opposition of this small party lasted from half past nine to tw^elve o'clock. The reason of so few troops being on Long Island, was because it was generally supposed that the enemy's landing there was a feint to draw our troops thither, that they might the more easily possess themselves of New York. I often urged, both by word and writing, that, as the enemy had doubtless both these objects in view, they would first try for Long Island, which commanded the other ; and then New York, which was completely com- manded by it, would fall of course. But in this I was unhappy enough to differ from almost every officer in the army, till the event proved, my conjectures were just. JOHN SULLIVAN. A Mr. John Rapelje lived within the American lines at Brooklyn, but being suspected of disaffection to the American cause, was sent by the Whigs to the interior of New Jersey. His wife remained in the house, and probably felt more hostile to the party who had deprived her of her husband than she would have done, had they per- mitted him to have remained at home with her. The house was situated near the place where General Washington em- 29-^ n 72 BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND. , \ barked the army, in his memorable retreat after the battle of Long Island. She obtained early information of this move- ment the niglit it took place, and saw the first detach- ment push off. Thinking it was a good opportunity to be revenged upon those who she considered had deeply injured her family, she resolved to inform the British ar- my of what was taking place among their enemies. She had no one to send with the information but a black ser- vant; accordingly she dispatched him, with orders to communicate the intelligence to the first British officer he could find. The black succeeded in passing the Ame- rican sentinels, and made his way to the neighboring camp ; but, unluckily for the success of his mission, came to that part of it where the Hessians were stationed, and was stopped by a soldier who could not understand Eng- lish, and to whom, of course, he could not communicate the message. He was therefore committed to the guard, as a suspicious person, and kept till morning; when a British officer visiting the post, examined him, and was informed of what had taken place during the night. The alarm was instantly given, but it was too late. Washing- ton and his troops were all safely landed on the opposite shore. Many of the minor events connected with this battle, and the Revolutionary contest, are fast sinking into the shades of oblivion, and the bitter feelings they created should be suffered to die away too ; for to perpetuate them, can be productive of no good, and only tends to disturb that harmony and commercial intercourse which now so happily exists between this and the mother coun- try. Therefore, in conclusion, let us say — " Peace to the souls of the heroes." ^.