Part 8

May it please your Excellency your peticoner being fined five pounds last Court of Sessions, in Kings County for tearing an execucon directed to him as Constable. Your peticoner being ignorant of the crime, and not thinking it was of force when he was out of his office, or that he should have made returne of it as the lawe directs, he being an illiterate man could not read said execucon nor understand any thing of lawe: humbly prays yr Excellency yt you would be pleased to remit said fine of five pounds, yr peticoner being a poore man and not capaciated to pay said fine without great damage to himself and family. And for yr Excellecy yr peticoner will ever pray, &c.

D.

_A Letter from Justice Ffilkin to the Secretary at New-York._

SIR,--I am in expectation of a complaint coming to his Excellency by Coll. Beeckman against me, and that his Excellency may be rightly informed of the matter, my humble request to you is, that if such a thing happen, be pleased to give his Excellency an account thereof, which is as follows: A Ffriday night last, the Justices of the County and I came from his Excellency’s; Coll. Beeckman happened to come over in the fferry boat along with us, and as we came over the fferry, Coll. Beeckman and we went into the fferry house to drink a glass of wine, and being soe in company, there happened a dispute between Coll. Beeckman and myself, about his particular order that he lately made to Mr. Ffreeman, when he was President of the Councill, without the consent of the Councill; Coll. Beeckman stood to affirm there, before most of the Justices of Kings County, that said order, that he made then to Mr. Ffreeman as President only, was still in fforce, and that Mr. Ffreeman should preach at Broockland next Sunday according to that order; whereupon I said it was not in fforce, but void and of noe effect, and he had not in this County, any more power now than I have, being equall in commission with him in the general commission of the peace and one of the quorum as well as he; upon which he gave me affronting words, giving me the lie and calling me pittifull fellow, dog, rogue, rascall, &c. which caused me, being overcome with passion, to tell him that I had a good mind to knock him off his horse, we being both at that time getting upon our horses to goe home, but that I would not goe, I would fight him at any time with a sword. I could wish that these last words had bin kept in, and I am troubled that I was soe overcome with passion and inflamed with wine. The works of these Dutch ministers is the occasion of all our quarrells.[29] And this is the truth of the matter, there was no blows offerred, nor noe more done. Mr. Ffreeman has preached at Broockland yesterday accordingly, and the church doore was broke open, by whom it is not yet knowne. Soe I beg your pardon ffor this trouble, crave your favour in this matter, and shall alwayes remaine.

Sir, your ffaithful and humble servant, H. FFILKIN.

[E]

_The Address of the Deputies, assembled at Hempstead._

We the deputies duly elected from the several towns upon Long-Island, being assembled at Hempstead, in general meeting, by authority derived from your royal highness unto the honorable Colonel Nicolls, as deputy governor, do most humbly and thankfully acknowledge to your royal highness, the great honor and satisfaction we receive in our dependence upon your royal highness according to the tenor of his sacred majesty’s patent, granted the 12th day of March, 1664; wherein we acknowledge ourselves, our heirs and successors forever, to be comprized to all intents and purposes, as therein is more at large expressed. And we do publickly and unanimously declare our cheerful submission to all such laws, statutes and ordinances, which are or shall be made by virtue of authority from your royal highness, your heirs and successors forever: As also, that we will maintain, uphold, and defend, to the utmost of our power, and peril of us, our heirs and successors forever, all the rights, title, and interest, granted by his sacred majesty to your royal highness, against all pretensions or invasions, foreign or domestic; we being already well assured, that, in so doing, we perform our duty of allegiance to his majesty, as freeborn subjects of the kingdom of England inhabiting in these his majesty’s dominions. We do farther beseech your royal highness to accept of this address, as the first fruits in this general meeting, for a memorial and record against us, our heirs and successors, when we or any of them shall fail in our duties. Lastly we beseech your royal highness to take our poverties and necessities, in this wilderness country, into speedy consideration; that, by constant supplies of trade, and your royal highnesses more particular countenance of grace to us, and protection of us, we may daily more and more be encouraged to bestow our labors to the improvement of these his majesty’s western dominions, under your royal highness; for whose health, long life, and eternal happiness, we shall ever pray, as in duty bound.

_List of the Deputies._

New-Utrecht Jaques Cortelleau Younger Hope Gravesend James Hubbard John Bowne Flatlands Elbert Elbertsen Roeloffe Martense Flatbush John Striker Hendrick Gucksen Bushwick John Stealman Gisbert Tunis Brooklyn Hendrick Lubbertsen John Evertsen Newtown Richard Betts John Coe Flushing Elias Doughty Richard Cornhill Jamaica Daniel Denton Thomas Benedict Hempstead John Hicks Robert Jackson Oysterbay John Underhill Matthias Harvey Huntington Jonas Wood John Ketcham Brookhaven Daniel Lane Roger Barton Southold William Wells John Youngs Southampton Thomas Topping John Howell Easthampton Thomas Baker John Stratton Westchester Edward Jessup ---- Quinby

The people of Long-Island considered the language of this address as too servile for freemen; and were exasperated against the makers of it to such a degree that the court of assizes, in order to save the deputies from abuse, if not from personal violence, thought it expedient, at their meeting in October 1666, to declare that “whosoever hereafter shall any wayes detract or speake against any of the deputies signing the address to his royall highnes, at the general meeting at Hempstead, they shall bee presented to the next court of sessions, and if the justices shall see cause, they shall from thence bee bound over, to the assizes, there to answer for the slander upon plaint or information.”

The deputies subsequently to the address made to the duke of York, made one to the people, in which they set forth their reasons for agreeing to the code styled the duke’s laws.

APPENDIX, NO. 2.

The following is a copy of the first charter by which the corporation obtained any color of title to the land between high and low water mark, on the Brooklyn side.

“Anne, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Queen, defender of the Faith, &c. To all whom these presents may in any wise concern, sendeth greeting. Whereas the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New-York, by their petition to our trusty and well-beloved cousin Edward, Viscount Cornbury,[30] our captain general and governor in chief in and over our province of New-York, and territories depending thereon in America, and Vice Admiral of the same, &c. preferred in council; therein setting forth, that they having a right and interest, under divers antient charters and grants, by divers former governors and commanders in chief of our said province of New-York,[31] under our noble progenitors, in a certain ferry from the said city of New-York, over the East River, to Nassau Island, (alias Long-Island) and from the said Island to the said city again, and have possessed the same, and received all the profits benefits and advantages thereof for the space of fifty years and upwards; and perceiving the profits, advantages, and benefits usually issuing out of the same, to diminish, decrease, and fall short of what might be reasonably made of the same, for the want of the bounds and limits to be extended and enlarged on the said Island side, whereby to prevent divers persons transporting themselves and goods to and from the said Island Nassau (alias Long Island) over the said river, without coming or landing at the usual and accustomed places, where the ferry boats are usually kept and appointed, to the great loss and damage of the said city of New-York; have humbly prayed our grant and confirmation, under the great seal of our said province of New-York, of the said ferry, called the Old Ferry, on both sides of the said East River, for the transporting of passengers, goods, horses and cattle, to and from the said city, as the same is now held and enjoyed by the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the said city of New-York, or their under tenant, or under tenants; and also of all that vacant and unappropriated land, from high water mark to low water mark, on the said Nassau Island, (alias Long Island) lying contiguous and fronting the said city of New York, from a certain place called the Wall-about, unto the Red Hook, over against Nutten Island, for the better improvement and accommodation of the said ferry; with full power, leave and license to set up, establish, maintain, and keep one or more ferry, or ferries, for the ease and accommodation of all passengers and travellers, for the transportation of themselves, goods, horses and cattle, over the said river, within the bounds aforesaid, as they shall see meet and convenient, and occasion require; and to establish, ordain and make, bye laws, orders, and ordinances for the due and orderly regulation of the same: The which petition we being minded to grant, Know Ye, That of our especial grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, we have given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and in and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New-York, and to their successors and assigns, all that the said ferry, called the Old Ferry, on both sides of the said East River, for the transportation of passengers, goods, horses and cattle, over the said river, to and from the said city and island, as the same is now used, held and enjoyed, by the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New-York, or their under tenant or under tenants, with all and singular the usual and accustomed ferriage, fees, perquisites, rents, issues, profits, and other benefits and advantages whatsoever, to the said Old Ferry belonging, or therewith used, or thereout arising; and also all that the aforesaid vacant and unappropriated ground, lying and being on the said Nassau Island, (alias Long-Island) from high water mark to low water mark aforesaid, contiguous and fronting the said city of New-York, from the aforesaid place called the Wallabout to Red Hook aforesaid; that is to say, from the east side of the Wallabout, opposite the now dwelling house of James Bobine, to the west side of the Red Hook, commonly called the Fishing-place, with all and singular the appurtenances and hereditaments to the same belonging, or in any wise of right appertaining; together with all and singular the rents, issues, profits, advantages, and appurtenances, which heretofore have, now are, & which hereafter shall belong to the said ferry, vacant land, and premises, herein before granted and confirmed, or to any or either of them, in any wise appertaining, or which heretofore have been, now are, and which hereafter shall belong, be used, held, received, and enjoyed; and all our estate, right, title and interest, benefit and advantage, claim and demand, of, in or to the said ferry, vacant land and premises, or any part or parcel thereof, & the reversion & reversions, remainder and remainders; together with the yearly, and other rents, revenues and profits of the premises, and of every part and parcel thereof, except and always reserved out of this our present grant and confirmation, free liberty, leave and license to and for all and every person or persons, inhabiting or having plantations near the said river, by the water side, within the limits and bounds above mentioned, to transport themselves, goods, horses, and cattle, over the said river, to and from the said city of New-York, and Nassau Island, (alias Long-Island) to and from their respective dwellings or plantations, without any ferriage, or other account to the said ferry, hereby granted and confirmed, to be paid or given; so always as the said person or persons do transport themselves only, and their own goods, in their own boats only, and not any stranger or their goods, horses or cattle, or in any other boat. To have and to hold, all and singular the said ferry, vacant land and premises, herein before granted and confirmed, or meant, mentioned, or intended to be hereby granted and confirmed (except as is herein before excepted) and all and singular the rents, issues, profits, rights, members and appurtenances, to the same belonging, or in any wise of right appertaining, unto the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New-York, and their successors and assigns forever; to the only proper use and behoof of the said mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New-York, and their successors and assigns forever; to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and common soccage, as of our manour of East-Greenwich, in the county of Kent, within our kingdom of England; yielding, rendering, and paying unto us, our heirs and successors, for the same, yearly, at our custom-house of New-York, to our collector and receiver general there for the time being, at or upon the feast of the nativity of St John the Baptist, the yearly rent or sum of five shillings, current money of New-York. And we do further, of our especial grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty, and their successors, full and free leave and license to set up, establish, keep, and maintain one or more ferry or ferries, as they shall from time to time think fit and convenient, within the limits and bounds aforesaid, for the ease and accommodation of transporting of passengers, goods, horses and cattle, between the said city of New-York and the said Island (except as is herein before excepted) under such reasonable rates and payments as have been usually paid and received for the same; or which at any time hereafter, shall be by them established, by and with the consent and approbation of our governor and council of our said province, for the time being[32] And we do further, of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, give, and grant unto the said mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New-York, and their successors, full and absolute power and authority, to make, ordain, establish, constitute and confirm, all manner of by-laws, orders, rules, ordinances and directions, for the more orderly keeping, and regularly maintaining the aforesaid ferry that now is kept, or any ferry or ferries which shall at any time or times hereafter, be set up, established, or kept within the bounds aforesaid, by virtue hereof, or of, for, touching or concerning the same, (so always as the same be not contrary to our laws of England, and of our province of New-York) and the same at all times hereafter to put in execution, or abrogate, revoke, or change, as they in their good discretion shall think fit, and most convenient, for the due and orderly keeping, regulating, and governing the said ferry or ferries herein before mentioned. And lastly, our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby declare and grant, that these our letters patent, or the record thereof, in the secretary’s office of our said province of New-York, shall be good and effectual in the law, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, notwithstanding the not true and well reciting or mentioning of the premises, or any part thereof, or the limits and bounds thereof, or of any former or other letters patents, or grants whatsoever, made or granted; or of any part thereof, by us, or any of our progenitors, unto any person or persons whatsoever, bodies politic or corporate,[33] or any law or other restraint, incertainty, or imperfection whatsoever, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, and although express mention of the true yearly value, or certainty of the premises, or of any of them, or of any other gifts or grants by us or by any of our progenitors, heretofore made to the said mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the city of New-York, in these presents, is not made, or any other matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. In testimony whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent, and the seal of our said province of New-York, to our said letters patent to be affixed, and the same to be recorded, in the secretary’s office of our said province.--Witness our right trusty and well-beloved cousin, Edward Viscount Cornbury, captain general and governor in chief in and over our province of New-York aforesaid, and territories thereon depending in America, and vice admiral of the same, &c. in council, at our Fort, in New-York, the nineteenth day of April, in the seventh year of our reign, Annoq. Domini one thousand seven hundred and eight.

CORNBURY.”

At the time of printing that part of this work under the head of “Common lands and the division thereof,” the compiler was not aware of the existence of the following proceeding relating to the division of the said lands, he has therefore placed the same in this appendix.

“At a towne meeting held this twentieth day of Aprill, 1697, at Bedford within the jurisdiction of Broockland, in Kings County, upon the Island of Nassau, Resolved by all the ffreeholders of the towne of Broockland aforesaid, that all their common land not yet laid out or divided, belonging to their whole patent shall be equally divided and laid out to each ffreeholders of said towne, his just proporcon in all the common lands abovesaid, except those that have but an house and a home lott, which are only to have but half share of the lands aforesaid. And for the laying out of the said lands there are chosen and appointed by the ffreeholders abovesaid, Capt. Henry Ffilkin, Jacobus Vanderwater, Daniel Rapale, Joris Hansen, John Dorlant, and Cornelius Vanduyne. It is further ordered that noe men within this township abovesaid, shall have priviledge to sell his part of the undivided lands of Broockland not yet laid out, to any person living without the township abovesaid. It is likewise ordered, consented to, and agreed by the towne meeting aforesaid, that Capt. Henry Ffilkin shall have a full share with any or all the ffreeholders aforesaid, in all the common land or woods in the whole patent of the towne of Broockland aforesaid, besides a half share for his home lott; To have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever. It is likewise ordered, that noe person whatsoever within the common woods of the jurisdicon of Broockland aforesaid, shall cutt or fall any oake or chesnut saplings for fire wood during the space of foure years from the date hereof upon any of the said common lands or woods within the jurisdicon of Broockland patent, upon the penalty of six shillings in money, for every waggon load of saplings abovesaid soe cutt, besides the forfeiture of the wood or timber soe cutt as abovesaid, the one half thereof to the informer, and the other half for the use of the poor of the towne of Broockland aforesaid.

By order of the towne meeting aforesaid, and Justice Henry Ffilkin,

JACOBUS VANDEWATER, Towne Clerk.”

ADVERTISEMENT.

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

CONTENTS.

Page. Situation of the Town of Brooklyn, 5

Ancient Names and Remains, 6

Soil and Climate, 7

Ancient Grants and Patents, 8

Town Rights and Ferries, 21

Roads and Public Landing Places, 36

Common Lands, and the Division thereof, 40

Differences as to Bounds, 46

Revolutionary Incidents, 50

Ancient Government, 55

Present Government, 68

Public Buildings and Institutions, 73

Schools, Newspapers and Moral Character, 92

Fire Department, 95

Miscellaneous, 99

Appendix, 102

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The custom of changing the names of sons, or rather substituting the sur-names for the christian name, prevailed at this period; as in the above instance, the father’s name was Barent Janse, and the son was called Jan Barentse.

[2] According to the New-York doctrine, this boundary of the town can only be correct when the tide is flood, for when the water is low, the town is bounded by property belonging to the Corporation of the City of New-York, and not by the River.

[3] This town enjoyed this privilege in common with the other towns on Long-Island, and their cattle which ran at large were marked with the letter N.

[4] At the annual town meeting, April, 1823, a committee was appointed to inquire if this town at present, had any, and if any, what right to the above-mentioned tract of meadow ground called Sellers neck; what progress this committee made in their investigation, the compiler is uninformed. This meadow called Seller’s neck, the Compiler thinks was apportioned among the patentees and freeholders, and what leads him to this conclusion is, that on the 10th of May, 1695, John Damen, who was one of the patentees of this town, sold to William Huddlestone all his interest in the said meadow.