Part 6

On the 7th of September, 1660, a letter was written to the Rev. Mr. Polhemus, informing him of the installation of the Rev. Mr. Solinus in the Church of Brooklyn, and thanking him for his labours and attention to the Congregation. The letter was sent by a respectable person, to whom the Rev. Mr. Polhemus returned his thanks for the attention which the Church at Brooklyn had paid him, and furnished the messenger with a list of the names of the Church members, twenty-five in number.

Mr. Solinus’ salary was 600 guilders per annum, equal to $200. Three hundred guilders of which was to be paid by Brooklyn, and three hundred by Father land, (Holland). Some time after, the inhabitants of Brooklyn objected to raising their proportion of the salary; and May 25, 1662, petitioned the Governor, that Mr. Solinus should reside among them; setting forth as a reason, that if their minister resided with them more people would go to church, and they would be better able to raise the salary. Governor Stuyvesant, in order to accommodate this dispute, proposed to pay 250 guilders towards Mr. Solinus’ salary, on condition that he would preach in the Bouwery on Sunday afternoons.--This arrangement appears to have been entered into, for a short time after Mr. Solinus preached at the Bouwery half the time.

The Indians having on the 7th of June, 1663, attacked the town of Esopus, burnt the same, and destroyed many of the inhabitants, and took many prisoners; the event was communicated by Governor Stuyvesant to the church at Brooklyn, in the following manner.

“As a sorrowfull accident and wilfull masacre has been committed by the Esopus Indians, who have with deliberate design under the insidious cover of friendship, determined to destroy Esopus, which they effected or the 7th instant, killing and wounding a number of the inhabitants, and taking many prisoners, burning the new town, and desolating the place. Whereupon the congregation is directed and desired by his Excellency the Governor General to observe and keep the ensuing Wednesday as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer to the Almighty, hoping that he may avert further calamities from the New-Netherlands, and extend his fatherly protection and care to the country. And it is further ordered, that the first Wednesday in every month be observed in like manner. By order of the Director General, and Council, &c. Dated at Fort Orange, June 26, 1663.” Wednesday the 4th of July, 1663, was observed as a day of thanksgiving on account of a treaty of peace having been made with the Esopus Indians, and the release of the inhabitants who had been taken prisoners; and also for the success obtained over the British, who attempted with flying colours to take possession of all Long-Island for the King of England, which was prevented by the timely arrival of the Dutch fleet.

On the 23d of July, 1664, the Rev. Henry Solinus took leave of his congregation and sailed in the ship Beaver for Holland. After his departure, Charles Debevoise, the schoolmaster of the town, and sexton of the church, was directed to read prayers, and a sermon from an approved author, every Sabbath day in the church, for the improvement of the congregation, until another minister was called.

The first Dutch church in Brooklyn was built in the year 1666, although a minister had been settled to preach here for some years previous.--A second church was erected on the site of that built in 1666; which second church continued standing until about 1810, when a new and substantial church was erected on Joralemon-street, and the old one taken down. This old church was a very gloomy looking building, with small windows, and stood in the middle of the highway, about a mile from Brooklyn ferry. In removing it the workmen discovered the remains of a Hessian officer, who had been buried there in his uniform, during the Revolutionary war.

The Dutch congregations on this Island formed but one church, although they had different consistories.

The ministers under the Dutch government were not permitted to marry any persons without making the marriage proclamation on three succeeding Sabbaths in their churches. The same practice was observed after the Colony came under the British government. The last mentioned government however sold marriage licenses, which were granted by the Governor’s Secretary in New-York, for the sum of eight dollars each. The inhabitants generally preferred purchasing a marriage license, and thus contributed to the revenue of the Governor and Secretary.

During the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Solinus, the marriage fees were not the perquisite of the Minister, as appears by his account rendered by him to the Consistory, on the 29th of October, 1662, when he paid over to the consistory the sum of 78 guilders and 10 stivers, for fourteen marriage fees received by him.

The following is a list of ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church, who officiated in the church on this Island, (with the exception of Polhemus, and Solinus,) taken from a manuscript of the Rev. Peter Lowe.

Joannes Magapolensis, probably died 1668. Casperus Van Zuren, do 1677. Clark, do 1695. William Lupardus, do 1709. Bernardus Freeman,[22] from 1702, to 1741. Vincintius Antonides, from 1715, to 1744. Joannes Arondeus, probably died, 1742. Anthony Curtenius, from 1730, to 1756. Ulpianus Van Sinderen, from 1747, to 1796. John Casper Rubel, from 1760, to 1797. Martinus Schoonmaker, from 1785, to 1824. [This venerable pastor was 88 years of age at his death; and a short time previous, officiated in four congregations.]

Peter Lowe, from 1787, to 1818.

In the month of April, 1708, fifty-seven of the inhabitants of Brooklyn, entered into an agreement (which is written in Dutch) to call a minister from Holland, to preach in the church of this town. The elders of the church at that time were, Daniel Rapalie, and Jores Hanse.

The salary of the Clerk of the Church in this town was formerly raised by a tax on the whole town. At a town meeting, held February 1, 1568, It was resolved, that the sum of £20 10s. should be raised, and paid into the hands of the “church masters” for “the widow of Hendrick Sleght, ffor 1 year and 8 months salary, and being Clarke off the churche.”

The following singular proceeding may be amusing to some readers, and will serve to shew to what extremes, both the people and the magistrates carried themselves in former times. Hendrick Vechte, Esq. a Justice of the Peace, was presented at the Kings County Sessions, May 14, 1710, for coming into the Brooklyn Church, on Sunday, August 10, 1709, “with his pen and ink in his hand, taking of peoples names, and taking up one particular mans hat up, and in disturbance of the minister and people in the service of God, &c.” Vechte’s plea was that in obedience to an order of the Governor he did go into the church as alledged, “to take notice of the persons that were guilty of the forcible entry made into the Church, that by Abram Brower, and others, by breaking of said Church doore with force and arms, forcibly entering into said Church, notwithstanding the forewarning of Mr. Freeman the minister, and his people to the contrary.” The Court found that Justice Vechte was not guilty of a breach of the peace, and discharged him. It must be remembered that Justice Vechte was a member of the Court. There was a considerable difference of opinion and many disputes among the inhabitants of this town, and of the County, as to the right of the Rev. Mr. Freeman to preach; into the merits of which controversy, it is not to be expected that the Compiler can enter at this distant day. Excepting the above proceeding of the Court, the only document which the Compiler has been able to obtain relative to this controversy is a letter from Henry Ffilkin, Esq. to the Secretary at New-York, which will be found in the Appendix marked with the letter D.

December 18, 1814, the Trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church of the town of Brooklyn were incorporated. At which time the following gentlemen were officers of the Church.

Martinas Schoonmaker, } Ministers. Peter Lowe, }

_Elders._

Fernandus Suydam, Jeremiah Johnson, Walter Berry, John Lefferts.

_Deacons._

Jeremiah Brower, Abraham De Bevoise, Lambert Schenck, Abraham Remsen.

The present officers of this Church are, Rev. S. S. Woodhull, D. D. Pastor.

_Elders._

Leffert Lefferts, David Anderson, Tunis Joralemon, Nehemiah Denton.

_Deacons._

Theodorus Polhemus, Adrian Hegeman, James De Bevoise, Adriance Van Brunt.

September 18, 1785, an “Independent Meeting House,” was incorporated at this place. The officers of which were:

John Matlock, Pastor, George Wall, Assistant, John Carpenter, Treasurer, George Powers, Secretary.

_Trustees._

William Bunton, Robert Steath, Barnard Cordman, John Emery, William Hinson.

Their place of worship was a frame building on what is now the Episcopalian burying ground in Fulton-street. This congregation continued but a short time, in consequence of the seceding of its members to the Episcopalian Church, which was soon after established in this place.

The first celebration of Divine Service after the manner of the Protestant Episcopal church, in this town, subsequent to the Revolution, was at the old brick house known as No. 40 Fulton-street, and now owned by Mr. Abiel Titus.

About the year 1787, the Episcopal Church was established in Brooklyn, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Wright, at the house on the north-east corner of Fulton and Middagh-streets; which house was fitted up with pews, &c.

April 23, 1787, “The Episcopal Church of Brooklyn” was incorporated. The following are the names of the first

_Trustees._

Whitehead Cornell, Joseph Sealy, Aquila Giles, Mathew Gleaves, Joshua Sands, Henry Stanton, John Van Nostrand.

This congregation afterwards came into possession of the place of worship before used by the Independent Congregation, and continued to worship in that edifice until they erected the Stone Church called “St. Ann’s Church,” on Sands-street.

June 22, 1795. The Episcopal Church in this town was re-organized and incorporated by the name of “St. Ann’s Church.”

_Church Wardens._

John Van Nostrand, and George Powers.

_Vestrymen._

Joshua Sands, Paul Durel, Joseph Fox, William Carpenter, Aquila Giles, John Cornell, Gilbert Van Mater, Robert Stoddard.

The congregation at the same time resolved, that Monday in Easter week should be the time of their future elections for Church officers.

The stone church which was erected on Sands-street, has continued to the present time: but is now in bad repair, in consequence of the walls not having bee, properly erected. The Vestry passed a vote for erecting a new church to front on Washington-street, the corner stone of which was laid March 31, 1824. The new edifice is fast progressing, and promises to be a great ornament to the place.

The present officers of St. Ann’s Church are,

Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, Rector.

_Church Wardens._

William Cornwell, and Joshua Sands.

_Vestrymen._

James B. Clarke, Robert Bach, Adam Tredwell, Fanning C. Tucker, John H. Moore, Robert Carter, Losee Van Nostrand, A. H. Van Bokkelen, William Cornwell, Treasurer.

May 19, 1794, the “First Methodist Episcopal Church” in this town, was incorporated. The Trustees at which period were,

John Garrison, Thomas Van Pelt, Burdet Stryker, Stephen Hendrickson, Richard Everit, Isaac Moser.

The present Meeting-house of this denomination is erected on the site of their first place of worship, on Sands-street; and is a neat, plain edifice. The present officers are,

Rev. William Ross, Pastor in charge.

_Trustees._

John Garrison, Isaac Moser, William Foster, Jacob Brown, Andrew Mercein, George Smith, Isaac Nostrand, John G. Murphy, R. Van Voris. Isaac Moser, Treasurer.

January 12, 1818, The “African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church in the village of Brooklyn,” incorporated.

_First Trustees._

Peter Croger, Israel Jemison, Benjamin Croger, John E. Jackson, Ceasar Sprong.

The place of worship of this congregation is a frame meeting house situate on High-street.

March 13, 1822. The “First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn” was incorporated.

_First Trustees._

Jehiel Jaggar, Nathaniel Howland, Silas Butler, John B. Graham, Elkanah Doolittle, Joseph Sprague, Alden Spooner, George Hall, Charles H. Richards.

The corner stone of this church was laid, April 15, 1822. The Church is situate on Cranberry-street; and is a very handsome brick building, something in the Gothic style. The present officers are,

Rev. Joseph Sanford, Pastor.

_Elders._

Zechariah Smith, Selden Gates. Ezra C. Woodhull.

_Trustees._

Alden Spooner, Edward Coope, Henry W. Warner, Elkanah Doolittle, George Hall, Nathaniel Howland, Benjamin Meeker, Joseph Sprague, Silas Butler.

Elkanah Doolittle, President of the Board, Silas Butler, Clerk do Nathaniel W. Sanford, Treasurer.

November 20, 1822. “St. James Roman Catholic Church,” incorporated.

_First Trustees._

George S. Wise, Jun. Peter Turner, Patrick Scanlan, William Purcell, James Rose, Darby Dawson, William M’Laughlin.

The corner stone of this Church was laid, June 25, 1822. The edifice is of brick, and approaches nearer to the Gothic architecture than any other building in this town. It is yet unfinished. This is the first Roman Catholic Church erected on Long-Island. The present Trustees are,

---- ----, President.[23] Peter Turner, Secretary, William Purcell, Treasurer; James Rose, Darby Dawson, William M’Laughlin, Patrick Scanlan.

October 15, 1823. The “First Baptist Church in Brooklyn” incorporated.

_Trustees._

Eliakim Raymond, Elijah Lewis, John Brown, Richard Poland, Charles P. Jacobs.

March 24, 1824. Rev. William C. Hawley was ordained Pastor of this Church. This congregation have as yet, erected no building for public worship; but assemble for that purpose in the District School room, No. 1.

There are also in this town some of the denomination of Friends, and a small congregation of Universalists; neither of which have established places of public worship. The Universalists are under the pastoral care of the Rev. William Mitchill, and assemble for Divine service in the District School room, No. 1.

In the present year, this town purchased of Leffert Lefferts, Esq. a small farm situate at the Wallaboght; a portion of which was set off for a burying ground, and divided into convenient parcels; which were allotted in the following manner to the different congregations worshipping in the town, viz.

No. 1. Dutch Reformed, 2. Friends, 3. Presbyterian, 4. Roman Catholic, 5. Methodist Episcopalian, 6. Universalist, 7. Episcopalian, 8. Baptist, 9. Common.

_Second, Markets._

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

Previous to the year 1814, there were two markets in this place; one of which was situate at the foot of the old ferry-street; and the other at the foot of Main-street. Both these markets were taken down in 1814.

At present we have no public market; the inhabitants are supplied from several butcher’s shops for the sale of meat, and stands for vegetables, scattered about in different parts of the village.--The people have been for some time past endeavouring to obtain a public market, and the great difficulty appears to be the location of a proper site. At a village meeting, held June 26, 1824, the sum of $10,000 was voted to erect a brick market house and Village Hall, with other offices. This amount it was resolved, should be raised by a loan for not less than ten years, at six per cent; and that the proceeds of the market arising from the letting of stalls, &c. should be appropriated to paying the interest of said loan; and that if in process of time there should be a surplus, after paying the interest, the same should be converted into a sinking fund for extinguishing the principal. These resolutions have not as yet been carried into effect.

_Third, Public Institutions._

Of public institutions we have not many to boast--they may be strictly confined to one Bank, a Fire Insurance Company, and an Apprentices’ Library.

The “Long-Island Bank” was incorporated, April 1st, 1824, with a capital of $300,000, divided into six thousand shares of $50 each. The present officers are, Leffert Lefferts, Esq. President, and D. Embury, Cashier.

The “Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company” was incorporated, April 3, 1824, with a capital of $150,000, divided into six thousand shares of $25 each. The present officers of this institution are, William Furman, President, and Freeman Hopkins, Secretary.

There is also in this village a branch of the “Equitable Fire Insurance Company”; of which Abraham Vanderveer, Esq. is Agent.

The Apprentices’ Library Association, which has been formed but a short time, promises to be of great benefit to the apprentices of the place, by introducing among them, habits of reading and reflection, which, if properly attended to, will enable them to support the honourable character of good citizens.

The Library at present consists of about twelve hundred volumes, which have been presented by different individuals. About one hundred apprentices take books from it, regularly once a week.--This institution was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, passed in November, 1824. The present officers are,

Robert Snow, President; Thomas Kirk, Vice-President; Andrew Mercein, Treasurer; Robert Nicholls, Secretary.

Under this head it may be proper to notice, that there are two Masonic lodges in this town, and a Post office.

Fortitude Lodge, No. 81.--W. Levi Porter, Master.

Hohenlinden Lodge, No. 338.--W. Abiathar Young, Master.

The Post office is kept at No. 97 Fulton-street, by George L. Birch, Esq. Post Master. The mail is carried daily (Sundays excepted) between Brooklyn and New-York, and closes at Brooklyn at 8 A. M. and arrives at 4 P. M.

POPULATION AND INCREASE.

Within a few years this town, and particularly the village has increased very rapidly. In 1814, the town of Brooklyn contained 3805 inhabitants; and in 1816, the town contained 4402 inhabitants. In 1820, the census was as follows, (being almost two thirds of the population of the County.)

White males, under 10 years of age, 876 do. between 10 and 16 376 do. between 16 and 26 717 do. between 26 and 45 961 do. between 45 and upwards 379 ---- 3309

White females, under 10 years of age, 876 do. between 10 and 16 398 do. between 16 and 26 705 do. between 26 and 45 961 do. between 45 and upwards 379 ---- 3319 Free blacks, 657 Slaves, 190 ---- 7475 ----

Foreigners not naturalized, 252 Persons engaged in Agriculture, 264 do. in Commerce, 67 do. in Manufactures, 497

The following account of the population of Kings County at different periods, may not be uninteresting to many readers.

The population of Kings County in 1731 was 2150 1756 2707 1771 3623 1786 3966 1790 4495 1800 5740 1810 8303 1820 11187[24]

In 1706, There were 64 freeholders in the town of Brooklyn. In 1802, their number had only increased to 86, as appears from the list of Jurors at that period. In the year 1800, there were 253 votes given in this town, at a contested election for assemblyman. In 1824, on the same occasion 1013 votes were taken.

At the close of the Revolutionary war, the town of Brooklyn within the bounds of the present village contained 56 buildings. In 1821, the village contained 867 buildings; of which 96 were Groceries and Taverns, and several store-houses.--These store-houses depend principally, on the operation of the Quarantine laws, in the months of June, July and August, for business. On the 23d of July in the same year, there were lying at the wharves in this village, 13 ships, 9 brigs, 8 schooners, and 14 sloops. July 1, 1824, there were lying at the wharves in this village, 8 ships, 16 brigs, 20 schooners, and 12 sloops.

In 1822. 50 dwelling-houses were erected in this village. In 1823, 122 frame dwelling and 32 brick and brick front buildings were erected. January 1, 1824, the village of Brooklyn contained 113 stone, brick and brick front buildings. During the present year 143 frame dwelling-houses have been built in this village.

The town contains 8 Ropewalks, which manufacture 1130 tons of cordage annually; 4 Distilleries; 2 Spirits of Turpentine Distilleries; 1 Glue factory; 1 Chain cable manufactory; 2 Tanneries; 2 White lead works; 1 Whiting manufactory; 1 Glass factory and 1 Furnace for casting iron. The manufacture of Hats is conducted on a large scale in this place.

In the year 1703, a survey was made of “Broocklands improveable lands and meadows within fence,” and the same was found to amount to 5177 acres. At that period the greatest holder of that description of land was Simon Aersen, who owned 200 acres. In 1706, all the real and personal estates of the town of Brooklyn were assessed at £3122 12s. 0d. The tax on which was £41 3s. 7½d and the whole tax of the county £201 16s 1½d. In 1707, the real and personal estates of this town assessed at £3091 11s 0d, The government tax on which, was for the same year £116 7s 3d, payable in two payments; and the whole tax of the county £448 3s 7d. The present year, the real estate in this town was assessed at $2,111,390. And the personal estate at $488,690; being considerably more than one half of the whole value of the county. The State, county and town tax on which amounts to $6,497 71. At this period there are in the village 1149 taxable persons, and the village tax amounts to $2625 76, averaging about $2 29, each taxable person. This village tax includes $450 raised to meet the expenses of the Board of Health, and is exclusive of all local assessments for opening and improving streets, &c.

The receipts of the overseers of the poor of this town for the year 1823, amounted to $3108 77, and their expenditures to $3469 49, leaving a balance of $360 72 against the town.