Part 7

On the 22d of March, 1823, there were 54 persons in the Alms-house; 51 persons were admitted during the year ending March 30, 1824. During the same period, 34 were discharged, and 10 died. March 30, 1824, there were in the Alms-house 40 persons, viz. 11 men, 16 women, 5 girls, and 8 boys. In the winter of 1823-4, 93 loads of wood were distributed from this institution among the poor of the town.[25]

April 21, 1701, a piece of land about 100 feet square, lying within the present bounds of the village of Brooklyn, was sold for £75, “current money of the Province of New-York.” 1720 a dwelling-house and lot of ground containing 62 feet front, 61 feet rear, and 111 feet deep, near the ferry, on the north-east side of what is now called Fulton-street, sold for £260, “current money of New-York. In the year 1784, all the property owned by the Corporation of the City of New-York in this town was assessed at £365, New-York currency; which property is now worth $50,000 at the lowest calculation.

August 30, 1701. John Bybon sold to Cornelius Vanderhove, for £37 10s, the one equal half part of a brewhouse, situate at Bedford, in the town of Brookland, fronting the highway leading from Bedford to Cripplebush; together with one equal half part of all the brewing vessels, &c.

In 1685, a Windmill was erected in this town by John Vannise and Peter Hendricks, for Michael Hainell. There is great reason to believe that this was the first mill erected in this town. August 19, 1689, an agreement was entered into between Cornelius Seberingh of Brookland, and John Marsh of East Jersey, relative to building a water mill on Graver’s kill in this town. At present there are in this town seven water mills and two wind mills.--From February 16, 1823, to February 15, 1824, 5825 barrels of superfine flour, 260 barrels of fine flour, and 124 hogsheads of corn meal were inspected in this county. The most, if not all of which flour and meal was manufactured at the mills in this place.

SCHOOLS, NEWS-PAPERS, AND MORAL CHARACTER.

May 1661, Charles Debevoice was recommended by Gov. Stuyvesant as a suitable person for schoolmaster of this town, and also for clerk and sexton of the church, who was employed and received a good salary.

Immediately previous to the revolutionary war, that part of the town of Brooklyn which is now comprised in the bounds of the village, and for some distance without those bounds, supported but one school, of 19 scholars, five of whom were out of the family of Mr. Andrew Patchen. The school-house was situated on the hill, on property which was then owned by Israel Horsfield, but now belongs to the heirs of Carey Ludlow, deceased.--The teacher was Benjamin Brown, a staunch whig from Connecticut.

_District School, No. 1._ This school was organized at a public meeting, held Jan. 2, 1816, at which meeting Andrew Mercein, John Seaman, and Robert Snow were elected trustees, and John Doughty clerk of the school. The trustees were appointed a committee to ascertain a proper site for building a school-house, and report the probable expense thereof. At a meeting held January 12, 1816, the trustees reported that they could purchase four lots of ground on Concord street, of Mr. Noah Waterbury, for $550. The meeting thereupon resolved, that “the sum of $2000 should be raised by tax on the inhabitants of the said district, to purchase said lots and to build a school-house thereon;” and that in the mean time the “Loisian school be the common school of the said district;” and that “the trustees of the district be authorized to exonerate from the payment of teacher’s wages all such poor and indigent persons as they shall think proper, pursuant to the act of the legislature;” and that “it be recommended by this meeting, that the common school to be taught in this district, be on the Lancastrian plan of instruction.”

In the school of this district, which includes the village of Brooklyn, upwards of 200 children are taught. The price of tuition does not exceed four dollars per annum, and from that amount down to nothing, in proportion to the abilities of the parent. The School District No. 1, at present contains 1607 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, of whom 1157 go to the public or private schools.

In 1821 there were eight private schools in the village of Brooklyn.

In 1823 the town received from the state $418 13 for the support of common schools.

The present officers connected with the common schools of the town are--

_Commissioners._ Jordan Coles, Robert Nichols, Josiah Noyes.

_Inspectors._ Charles I. Doughty, Evan Beynon, Robert Snow.

_Trustees of District School No. 1._ William Cornwell, Joseph Sprague, Charles I. Doughty.--_Clerk_, Ralph Malbone.

_Newspapers._

Four Newspapers have been published in this town in the following chronological order:

June 26, 1799. The first number of the “Courier, and New-York and Long-Island Advertiser,” published by Thomas Kirk, Esq. This was the first newspaper established on Long-Island.

May 26, 1806. The first number of the “Long Island Weekly Intelligencer,” published by Mess’rs. Robinson and Little.

June 1, 1809. The first number of the “Long Island Star,” published by Thomas Kirk, Esq.

March 7, 1821. The first number of the “Long Island Patriot,” published by Geo. L. Birch, Esq.

In the month of November, 1810, proposals were issued by Benjamin F. Cowdrey, & Co. for establishing in Brooklyn a weekly newspaper, to be entitled “The Long-Island Journal, and American Freeman.” For some reason unknown to the compiler this paper was not published.

During the month of May, 1820, Brockholst Livingston, jun. issued proposals for publishing a weekly newspaper in this village, to be entitled the “Long-Island Republican.” Not meeting with sufficient encouragement, this attempt was abandoned.

The only two papers now in existence in this town, are “The Star,” published by Alden Spooner, Esq. and the “Long Island Patriot,” by George L. Birch, Esq.

_Moral Character._

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

The people of Brooklyn, it is true, cannot be considered as rigid in religious matters as the saints of Oliver Cromwell’s army, whose very cannon had on the inscription of “O Lord, open thou our lips, and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise!” But they are far from being irreligious; the churches are well filled, religious societies are liberally supported, vice discountenanced; and for the more effectual suppression thereof, in 1815, a society for the suppression of vice and immorality was formed, consisting of many of the most respectable inhabitants of the town. By the exertions of our Sunday school societies, attached to the different congregations, the morals of the younger part of the community have been greatly reformed; and it is highly gratifying to observe the improvement made in the general morals, of the town, in consequence of their benevolent exertions.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Although this might with some propriety be placed under the head of _Public Institutions_, the compiler has thought proper to make it a head of itself; and he hopes that the following few historical facts relative to this valuable department, may be useful to such as feel an interest in its progression and improvement.

By an act passed by the legislature of this state, March 15, 1788, “for the better extinguishing of fires in the town of Brooklyn,” the number of firemen was limited to eight, who were nominated and appointed by the freeholders and inhabitants of the fire district, which was comprised within nearly the same bounds with the present village, In the year 1794 the sum of £188 19_s._ 10_d._ was raised by subscription in this town, for purchasing a fire engine. On the 24th March in the following year, an act was passed by the legislature “for the better extinguishing of fires” in this town; by which act the number of firemen was increased to thirty.

1796. The sum of £49 4_s._ was raised by subscription for purchasing “a suitable bell for the use of the town of Brooklyn.” This is the present fire bell.

March 21, 1797, an act was passed by the legislature “for the prevention of fires, and for regulating the assize of bread, in the town of Brooklyn.” This act authorised the inhabitants to choose not less than three nor more than five freeholders, who might from time to time make such prudential by-laws as they judged necessary, for the prevention of fires by the burning of chimneys, and for sweeping and otherwise cleansing the same. The inhabitants accordingly met on the second Tuesday of May, in the same year, and appointed Mess’rs. Henry Stanton, John Doughty, Martin Boerum, John Van Nostrand, and John Fisher, to carry into effect the provisions of the above act. In the execution of which duty the persons so appointed ordained, that from and after the 11th day of July, 1797, a fine of ten shillings should be levied on each person whose chimney should take fire through carelessness, or be set on fire for the purpose of cleansing; and that “all penalties shall be received and recovered by the clerk of the fire company for the time being, if he be one of the persons so chosen; if not, the said persons elected shall nominate and appoint one of their number to serve for and receive in the same manner that the clerk is at present authorised.” From 1798 to August 6, 1806, the sum of £20 7s. was received for chimney fines.

For a considerable length of time, this town had but one small fire engine; they subsequently purchased another, which was called No. 2. About 1810, No. 3. now styled the “Franklin,” was purchased by the inhabitants of the Fire District. The Fire Department of the village at present consists of four Fire Engines (of which three are new, namely, Nos. 1, 2, and 4,) and a Hook and Ladder Company, viz.

No. 1, “Washington,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, Joshua Sutton.

No. 2, “Neptune,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, Gamaliel King.

No. 3, “Franklin,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, Jeremiah Wells.

No. 4, “Eagle,” full complement 30 men, Foreman, George Fricke.

Hook and Ladder Company, full complement 30 men, Foreman, John Smith.

There are also in the Navy Yard, two excellent Fire Engines, well manned, and which, together with those from New-York, generously come to our assistance when ever our place is visited by that dreadful calamity, fire.

The receipts of the Fire Department, from 1794 to 1815, amounted to £898 10s. 1d. and the expenditures from July 7, 1795, to November 15, 1816, amounted to £964 3s. 3d.

The office of Clerk and Treasurer of the Fire Department of this town, was held by John Hicks, Esq. until 1796; at which time John Doughty, Esq. was appointed, who held that office until the incorporation of the village in 1816, when he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Fire Department of the village, which office he held for one year. In 1817, William Furman, Esq. was appointed Chief Engineer, and officiated in that capacity until 1821, when, on the resignation of Mr. Furman, John Doughty, Esq. was again appointed, and continues to hold the office. The present officers of the Fire Department are,

John Doughty, Chief Engineer.

_Fire Wardens._ Joseph Moser, Edward Coope, Joseph Sprague.

April 16, 1823, an act was passed by the Legislature of this state to incorporate the firemen of this village, by the name of the “Fire Department of the Village of Brooklyn.” The act allows this corporation to hold, purchase, and convey any estate, real or personal for the use of the corporation; provided such real or personal estate shall not at any time exceed the yearly value of $1000. The following officers were appointed by the act of incorporation, viz.

John Doughty, President. Joshua Sutton, Vice-President. Richard Cornwell, Secretary.

_Trustees._ Jeremiah Wells, Morris Simonson, Michael Trapple, Joseph Moser, George Fricke, Gamaliel King, Simeon Back, Parshall Wells, George L. Birch.

The laudable object proposed by this institution, is to raise a fund for the relief of widows and children of deceased firemen.

By an amendment to the act of Incorporation of the village of Brooklyn, passed April 9, 1824, it is provided, “That all fines and penalties under any by-law of the said village, in relation to the burning of chimneys, and for the preventing and extinguishing of fires, and also, all fines and penalties either under such by-laws, or under any statute of this state, in relation to the manner of keeping and transporting gun-powder within the said village, shall be sued for in the name of the said Trustees, (of the village of Brooklyn) by the fire department of the said village, and when recovered shall be paid to the said fire department, for their own use.”

MISCELLANEOUS.

June 7, 1625, Sarah De Rapalje, born in this town. Tradition says that she was the first white child born in the colony. Her parents were Walloons; from whence is derived the name of Wallaboght, or Walloons Bay, where they lived.[26] She was twice married. Her first husband was Hans Hanse Bergen, by whom she had six children, viz. Michael Hanse, Joris Hanse, Jan Hanse, Jacob Hanse, Brechje Hanse, and Marytje Hanse. Her second husband was Teunis Guysbertse Bogart, by whom she also had six children, viz. Aurtie Bogart, Antje Bogart, Neeltje Bogart, Aultje Bogart, Catelyntje Bogart, and Guysbert Bogart. The account of Sarah De Rapelje in the archives of the New-York Historical Society contains the names of the persons to whom eleven of her children were married, and tells the places where they settled. The twelfth, Brechje Hanse went to Holland.

March 1, 1665, Hendrick Lubbertson and John Evertsen, appeared as deputies from the town of Brooklyn, at the Assembly convened at Hempstead, by order of Richard Nicolls, Deputy Governor under the Duke of York; at which assembly the code of laws called the “Duke’s laws” were adopted and published. In the appendix marked E. will be found the address which these deputies, together with the others, sent to the Duke of York; and which occasioned so much excitement in the Colony at that period.

1671, This town, with five other towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire upon Long-Island, petitioned the Court of Sessions “for liberty to transport wheate,” which petition was referred to the Governor.

1687. The Clerk’s office of Kings County was kept in this town, by the Deputy Register, Jacob Vandewater, who was also a Notary Public in this town at the same period. The Register, Samuel Bayard, Esq. resided in the city of New-York.

About the year 1691, there was a custom prevalent in this town of calling a widow the “last wife” of her deceased husband; and a widower the “last man” of his deceased wife.

The following is an Inventory of the estate which a bride in this town brought with her to her husband in the year 1691. The husband by various records appears to have been a man of considerable wealth; notwithstanding which, the following inventory was thought by both of them, of sufficient importance to merit being recorded, viz.

“A half worn bed, pillow, 2 cushions of ticking with feathers, one rug, 4 sheets, 4 cushion covers, 2 iron potts, 3 pewter dishes, 1 pewter bason, 1 iron roaster, 1 schuryn spoon, 2 cowes about five yeares old, 1 case or cupboard, 1 table.”

November 12, 1695, the Court of Sessions for Kings County, ordered that the Constable of this towns, “shall on Sunday or Sabbathday take law for the apprehending of all Sabbath breakers,” and “search all ale houses, taverns and other suspected places for all prophaners and breakers of the Sabbath daye,” and bring them before a Justice of the, Peace to be dealt with according to law. This was to be done by the Constable under the penalty of six shillings for each neglect or default.

The same Court also made an order, “that Mad James be kept by Kings County in general, and that the deacons of each towne within the said county doe forthwith meet together and consider about their propercons for maintainence of said James.” This is the first instance which has come to the compiler’s knowledge of the Court making an order for the county generally to support a pauper.

In the year 1758, the sum of £122 18s. 7d. was assessed in two assessments, by the Justices of the Peace, on this town, towards building “a new Court house and gaol” for Kings County. The whole amount assessed on the County was £448 4s. 1d.

The present Court house of Kings County, was built by contract in the year 1792, at an expense of $2944, 71, under the superintendence of John Vanderbilt, Johannes E. Lott, and Charles Doughty, Esq’rs. The contractor was Thomas Fardon, and plans were furnished for the building by Messrs. Stanton and Newton, and James Robertson.[27]

APPENDIX.

A.

_Deed from William Morris and wife to the Corporation of New-York._

This Indenture made the twelfth day of October, in the sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady William and Mary, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King and Queen, defenders of the faith, &c. and in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety-four, between William Morris, now of the ferry, in the bounds of the town of Breuchlen, in Kings County, on Long-Island, Gentleman, and Rebecca his wife of the one part, and the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New-York, of the other part, Witnesseth, that the said William Morris, by and with the consent of Rebecca his said wife, testified by her being a party to the sealing and delivery of these presents, for, and in consideration of a certain sum of good and lawful money to him, at and before the sealing and delivery hereof, by the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, in hand well and truly paid, the receipt whereof he the said William Morris doth hereby acknowledge, and thereof and therefrom and of and from all and every part thereof, he doth hereby acquit, exonerate and discharge the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, and their successors forever, hath granted, bargained, sold, assigned, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, assign, convey and confirm unto the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the said city of New-York, and their successors forever, All that messuage or dwelling house and lot of ground thereunto adjoining and belonging, with the appurtenances, situate, lying and being at the ferry, in the bounds of the town of Breucklen, in Kings County aforesaid, now and late in the possession of him, the said William Morris; as also one small house, now in the possession of one Thomas Hock, lying in the said City of New-York, over against the ferry aforesaid, Together with all and singular houses, barns, stables, yards, backsides, wharfs, easements, benefits, emoluments, hereditaments, and appurtenances to the same messuage or dwelling house and premises belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits of all and singular the premisses and the appurtenances, and all the estate, right, title interest, property, possession, claim and demand of him the said William Morris and Rebecca his said wife, of, in, unto or out of the said messuage or dwelling house and premises, or, of, in, unto, or out of, all or any part or parcel thereof, and all and singular grants, deeds, escripts, minuments, writings and evidences, touching, relating to or concerning the above-mentioned, to be bargained, messuage or dwelling house and all and singular, the premises with the hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging, or any part thereof, unto the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New-York, aforesaid, and their successors unto the only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New-York aforesaid, their successors and assigns forever. In witness, &c.[28]

_A Warrant for enforcing the payment of a town tax in the town of Brooklyn._

Whereas there was an order or towne lawe by the ffreeholders of the towne of Brooklyn, in Kings County aforesaid, the 5th day of May, 1701, ffor constituting and appointing of Trustrees to defend the rights of their quondam common wood lands, and to raise a tax ffor the same to defray the charge of that and theire towne debts, &c. which said lawe has bin since ffurther confirmed by said ffreeholders at a towne meeting at Bedford, the 11th of Aprill, 1702, and since approved of and confirmed by a Court of Sessions, held at Fflatbush, in said County the 13th day of May, 1702. And whereas by virtue of said lawe, a certaine small tax was raised on the ffreeholders in said towne proportionably to defray the charges aforesaid: And now upon complaint of the said Trustees to us made, that A. B. has refused to pay his juste and due proporcon of said tax wch amounts to _L_1 16s 0d, current money of New-York. These are therefore in her Majesty’s name, to command you to summons A. B. personally to be and appeare before us, &c., then and there to answer C. D. E. F. Trustees of said towne of Brooklin, in an action of tresspass on the case, to the damage of the said C. D. E. F. _L_1 16s 0d, current money as aforesaid, as it is said, and have with you then there this precept. Given, &c.

B.

Brookland, November 14th, 1753. A Town meeting called by warrant of Carel Debevois, Esq. and Jacobus Debevois, Esq. two of his Majesty’s Justices for the township of Brookland, in the County of Kings, to elect and chuse Trustees to defend our Patent of Brookland against the Commonalty of the City of New-York.--And the Trustees so elected and chosen by the freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Brookland aforesaid, are as follows: Jacobus Lefferts, Peter Vandervoort, Jacob Remsen, Rem Remsen, and Nicholas Vechte. And we the hereunder subscribers being freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Brookland, by these presents do fully impower and authorize the abovesaid Trustees, Jacobus Lefferts, Peter Vandevoort, Jacob Remsen, Rem Remsen, and Nicholas Vechte, elected and chosen by the freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Brookland aforesaid, to defend our patent where in any manner our liberties, privileges and rights in our patent specified is incroached, lessened or taken away by the Commonalty of the City of New-York. And that we hereunder subscribers of the township of Brookland, oblige ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators to pay to the abovesaid Trustees, all cost that they are at in protecting of the profits of our patent, and that money shall be collected in by the constable of our town. And that the abovesaid Trustees do oblige themselves to render upon oath a true account of all such moneys they have expended in protecting or defending our patent, to any person or persons, as the hereunder subscribers shall appoint for that purpose. And in defending our patent so that verdict shall come in our favour, where income of money or other profits should arise concerning the premises, all such profits or income should be kept towards defraying of all the necessary cost and charge of our township of Brookland, till such time as it is altered by the majority. And that the Trustees should have three shillings per day for their service and no more.

C.

_The Petition of Volkert Brier._

TO HIS EXCELLENCY.--The humble peticon of Volkert Brier, inhabitant of the towne of Broockland, on the Island of Nassau.