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Class Book.

SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT

THE

ANNALS OF NE¥TO¥N,

IN

QUEENS COUNTY, NEW-YORK:

/ V

CONTAINING

jts listorg lim its toi Sttttent,

TOGETHER WITH

M/Nl INTERESTING FACTS CONCERNING THE ADJACENT TOWNS;

ALSO,

A .TICULAR ACCOUNT OF NUMEROUS LONG ISLAND FAMILIES

NOW SPREAD OVER THIS AND VARIOUS OTHER

•STATES OF THE UNION.

By JAMES RIKEE, Jr.

" The benefits of God are to be kept in fresh memory and propagated to posterity."

Rev. WitLiAM Levericu.

NEW-YORK :

r0BLISHEB BY D. FANSHAW, 108 NASSAU-STREET,

Printing Office, 35 Ann-street, corner of Noisau.

1852.

,1.

r^

1- '

zt-i ,.

Entered according to Act of Congress, ill the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. by James Riker, Jr. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Unit, d States for the Southern District of New- York.

TO

JOHN L. RIKER, ESU.,

€amntUax at fato,

ESTEEMED BY HIS FELLOW-CITIZENS

FOR

ROFESSIONAL AND PRIVATE WORTH,

EXHIBITED

.'HROUGH MANY YEARS OF AN UNBLEMISHED LIFE ;

€\)w f nluine

IS, WITH THE author's COMPLIMENTS,

RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.

PREFACE.

Newtown, including the several islands known as Riker's, Berrien's, Luyster's, Yonker's Island, and the two Brothers, covers an area of twenty-six and a quar- ter square miles. Its valuable resources ; its contiguity and important relation to the city of New- York, as well as the pleasing character of its historic reminis- cences, are deemed sufficient to commend the follow- ing attempt to preserve its history. While the author, with much diffidence, submits his work to the public scrutiny, he asks leave to state that great pains have been taken to make the volume accurate and accepta- ble. In the collection and collation of his materials he has avoided that undue haste which is the too common error of ou¥ local annalists. During a period of seve- ral years he has made patient search in every quarter promising to yield him information ; but space will al- low only a brief summary of his authorities.

The voluminous manuscript records in the State Department at Albany, and the lesser ones in the clerks' offices of Kings and Q-ueens counties, as well as those existing in the surrounding town offices, have been carefully examined. The library of the New- York Historical Society has afforded a fund of valuable in- formation, both in print and manuscript. The probate

PREFACE

records at New- York, Brooklyn, and Jamaica, and the baptismal and marriage registers of the Reformed Dutch churches of Brooklyn and Flatbush, and the collegiate Dutch churches of New- York, have opened to him a mine of early genealogical matter ; which species of inquiry has been further aided by a multi- tude of family records and papers, tombstones, &c. &c. The author bears grateful testimony to the uni- form courtesy with which his investigations, both in public and private sources, have been treated. The European history and the armorial devices of Dutch and French families are mainly drawn from a rare and voluminous foreign work, entitled " European Her- aldry," These facts are not given to foster family pride, but only for their historical value.

Many individuals have evinced a friendly interest in his labors, by favoring him with communications, or in other respects aiding him in his inquiries. Among these are worthy of kindest mention the Hon. John M. Berrien, of Georgia ; Jos. H. Burroughs, Esq., Savan- nah, Geo. ; Hon. Jacob Brinkerhoff, Mansfield, Ohio ; Dr. John Brinckerhoff, Chicago, 111. ; A. D. Bache, Esq., Washington city ; Rev. Dr. Wm. M. Engles, and Asa I. Fish, Esq., Phila. ; Rev. Richard Webster, Mauch Chunk, Pa. ; the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, Prest. Princeton College ; Rev. Dr. Ab'm Messier, Somerville, N. J. ; Rev. Garret C. Schanck, Pompton Plains, N. J. ; Rev. Jas. K. Campbell, North Branch, N. J. ; Rev. John Gardner, Harlingen, N. J. ; Judge Jas. S. Lawrence, Cream Ridge, N. J. ; Samuel F. Haven, Esq., Worces- ter, Mass. ; Rev. Abner Morse, Sherburne, Mass. ; Hon. Charles R. Alsop, Middletown, Ct. ; Watson E. Law- rence, Esq., New Haven, Ct. ; Hon. Wm. A. Sackett, and G. V. Sackett, Esq., Seneca co., N. Y. ; Rev.

PREFACE.

Arthur Burtis, Cherry Valley, N. Y. ; Rev. Garret J. Garretson, Lodi, N. Y. ; Gen. Peter S. Post, Florida, N. Y. ; Messrs. T. V. W. Brinkerhoff", and R. H. Brincker- hoff, Fishkill, N. Y. ; the late Benjamin F. Thompson, Esq., of Hempstead, L. I. ; Rev. Dr. R. 0. Currie, and Tunis G. Bergen, Esq., New Utrecht ; Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Strong, Flatbush ; Rev. Dr. Jacob Schoonmaker, Ja- maica; Rev. Dr. John Goldsmith, Rev. Geo. A. Shel- ton, John L. Riker, Esq., and Dr. Hursey Baylies, of Newtown ; Hon. Jeremiah Johnson, Brooklyn ; Rev. Dr. Thos. De Witt, Hon. Hamilton Fish, Hon. Luther Bradish, Hon. Robert H. Morris, Charles King, Prest. Columbia College, William Betts, Prof, of Law, Co- lumbia College, Lambert Suydam, Esq., the late Hon. John L. Lawrence, the late Gen. Peter Van Zandt, and Rev. John Alburtis, of New- York city ; the Rev. E. H. Gillett, and E. Ketchum, Esq., of Harlem. And the author cannot fail to acknowledge in special terms the very generous and valuable assistance rendered him by the Hon. James Savage, of Boston, and Syl- vester, Judd, Esq., of Northampton, Mass., in the search for and communication of many important facts. Like- wise to Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan, of Albany, and H. Onderdonk, Jr., Esq., of Jamaica, he is indebted for important aid, other than that afforded him by their printed works, the Hist, of New Netherland, and Revo- lutionary Incidents, which were also found of invalua- ble service. To these might be added the names of many kind friends, who have been very helpful, but room would fail were this list thus extended.

With all these aids the compiler has been unable to observe at all times a uniform fulness of detail, owing mainly to a deficiency of records, and yet in part to the strange indifference of some to whom application for

PREFACE.

materials was made. And this in cases where their own family history was involved. Such, though per- haps insensible of it, have done theinselves an injury. In some instances family reminiscences have been ex- cluded because they were wholly traditionary, and found to be at variance with recorded facts. Hence, if the reader should find his family history as here given to conflict with some received tradition, let him not condemn too rashly ; records generally speak the truth, and facts are stubborn things. In matters of more re- cent date, based upon oral statements, notwithstanding the utmost care to secure accuracy, it can hardly be presumed that all errors have been avoided ; any such as may be detected by his readers, the author will es- teem it a high favor to be informed of Special pains have been taken to have the dates correct.

While the author hopes that no apology is neces- sary for any peculiarity of his work, one feature of the revolutionary history may require a passing allusion. In treating of that period, the names of the prominent loyalists have not been suppressed ; and for several reasons. It would seriously detract from the value and interest of the narrative. Most of them were already in print, in the public journals of the Revolution, Force's Archives, Sabine's American Loyalists, &c. And more- over, none at this remote day need feel aggrieved, since we now look with discrimination on the opposers of our Revolution, distinguishing between the honest loy- alist and that baser sort whose motives were mercenary or hands prone to violence.

Allusions in the following pages, to the present time, refer to the year 1851. In this ever-changing world often the truth of yesterday is falsified to-day. Hence, instances of death, change of residence, &c.

PRE FACE

during the passage of this work through the press, have made the language in several places not strictly appro- priate. Except these, and several mistakes, mostly ty- pographical, noticed in the Errata, the work is believ- ed to be a truthful and reliable record.

James Riker, Jr.

Harlem, New- York, Dec. 25^/i, 1851.

GENERAL CONTENTS.

T1B.ST PART.

CIVIL AND CHURCH HISTORY.

PAas.

Chapter i^ From the discovery of New- York, to the

decline of the Mespat colony, 1609 to 1650. . 13

Chapter II. From the founding of the village of Newtown, to the purchase of the town from the Indians, 1652 to 1656 26

Chapter III. From the Indian purchase, to the revolt

of Long Island from the Dutch, 1657 to 1661. . 44

Chapter IV. From the conquest of the country by the English, to the erection of the first church in New- town, 1664 to 1671 65

Chapter V. From the arbitration of the boundary dis- pute, to the taking of a census, 1671 to 1683. . 86

Chapter VI. From the first general assembly, to the fall of Gov. Leisler and the foundation of the colo- nial government, 1683 to 1691 103

Chapter VII. From the erection of the fulling-mill, to Cornbury's persecution of the dissenters, 1691 to 1707 122

Chapter VIII. From the revival of the boundary dis- pute, to the troubles with the Fauconniers, 1706 to 1720 139

Chapter IX. From the building of the first Quaker meeting-house, to the final settlement of the boun- dary dispute, &c., 1720 to 1775 153

Chapter X. From the rise of the American Eevolution, to the subjugation of Newtown by the British troops, 1774 to 1776 173

GENERAL CONTENTS.

Pack

Chapter XI. From the formal submission of Queens county to the King, to the end of the war of Inde- pendence, 1776 to 1783. . . . . .196

Chapter XII. History of the Presbyterian, Dutch, Epis- copal, Quaker, Baptist, and Methodist churches. . 224

Conclusion, Eeviewing modern improvements and the

present resources and prospects of the township. 257

*<,* For particular contents, see the head of each chapter.

SZSCOZVB FAS.T.

GENEALOGICAL HISTORY.

Embracing the Biography and Lineage of numerous Persons and Families, for whose names, see the Index at the close of the volume. The plan of the Genealogies is given in the Explanations which precede them . 263

A.— The Mespat Patent, in Latin, 1642 413

B.— Presbyterian Church Members, 1708 to 1771. . 415

C— Dutch Church Contributors, 1731 415

D.— Dutch Church Pew-holders, 1736 416

E. Communicants, Nov. 1, 1741 417

F.— List of Town Officers, 1652 to 1852. . . .418 G.— Freeliolders of Newtown, Dec. 4, 1666. , . .427

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN

i" i r 0 t |) a r t .

ITS CIVIL AND CHURCH HISTORY.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

CHAPTEE I,

]l\![espat or Newtown in a primative state, Its inhabitants, the prowling beast and the tawny Indian. New- York discovered by the Dutch and called New-Neth- erland. The West India Company establish trading posts here Followed by efforts to coloniee the country. Farmers begin to settle in Mcspat. The Rev. Francis Doughty, a persecuted clergyman, removes here from New England ; obtains a patent, and plants a colony. The settlement burnt by the Indians. A peace made with the savages, and the planters return to their lands. Mr. Doughty locates in New Amsterdam. Several planters take out their patents. Hendrick Harnienscn's plantation. Rupture between Mr. Doughty and his asso- ciates.— Ends in a suit at law. Mr. Doughty appeals. Is imprisoned by Direc- tor Kieft. Is refused the privilege of leaving the country. Settles in Flushing. Adversity still attends him. He is finally permitted to leave New Netherland. Ilis children. His farm in possession of Dr. Adriaen Van der Donck, from whom Yonkers Island takes its name. Decline of the Mespat colony. Rich- ard Smith leaves it. The venerable Roger Williams' account of this gentleman.

A. D. 1609 to 1650.

Scarce two centuries and a lialf have elapsed since Mespat,' ** by the Indian so called " was the undisputed domain of the red man. Those richly cultivated farms that now pay their annual tribute to the garner of the husbandman, then laj^ in all the wild grandeur of a primeval forest, whose lone recesses were only disturbed by the prowling beast, the peans of the bird of prey, or the stealthy tread of the Indian hunter. Where now graze the kine, the herd of graceful deer roved and fed in native pastures. Flocks of wild- fowl bathed in the streams across whose waters the timid beaver constructed its dams. Daylight was made vocal by hosts of plumed songsters, and the swamps echoed, through dismal glades, the nocturnal bowlings of rapacious wolves, as they pursued to death some ill-fated

' This, the Indian name for Newtown, is written Mespachtes by some of the earliest Dutch authorities, but it was usually shortened to Mespat, and in modern days corrupted to Maspeth, and confined to a small settlement near the head of Newtown Creek.

2

14 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

victim. In unison with the natural wildness, arose the rustic hamlet of the natives, a group of bark-clad wigwams, and their adjacent planting grounds. Here dwelt the untutored son of the forest, passing the period of his existence in the few and simple employments of savage life, the chief of which were the amusements of the game, or dance ; the graver pursuits of hunt- ing and fishing, or the fearful exploits of war.

Such, in brief, was Mespat, and such its proprietors, ante- rior to the discovery of this country by Henry Hudson, who, in the year 1609, sailing under Dutch patronage, found and ex- plored the noble river that bears his name, and conveying to Europe the news of his important discovery, turned the atten- tion of Holland intently towards the fertile country beyond the great waters, that soon after received the name of New Neth- erland, from the land of its adoption. The Dutch nation fol- lowed up the discoveries of Hudson with the most successful results. The developements respecting this section of the New World, its character and resources, convinced the merchants in Holland of the great advantages to be derived from the estab- lishment of trading posts in New Netherland, whose abundance of valuable furs presented the most flattering prospects for com- merce, and the speedy accumulation of wealth. Less than five years had elapsed, therefore, when ships were fitted out, and despatched to this country, and a mart for Indian traffic plant- ed on the southern point of the Island of Manhattan, where several houses were erected, and a trade opened with the sur- rounding tribes of natives. The settlement soon took the name of New Amsterdam.

But, in order more fully to reap the benefit of Hudson's discovery, a commercial organization, entitled the West India Company, was formed by the Holland merchants, for the pur- pose of establishing a closer intercourse with the New World, and to whom, by an act of incorporation, conferred by the States General of the Netherlands, in 1621, the trade to New Nether- land was exclusively conceded. Much profit attended this enterprise, and valuable cargoes of beaver and other skins were annually transported to Holland, to enrich the coffers of the Company. But as yet, no direct efforts had been made to co- lonize the country ; and, up to 1629 the population chiefly con- sisted of a few individuals in the employ of the Company, and

ANNALSOFNEWTOWN. 15

connected witli the several trading posts. But, in the above year, the adoption, by the States General, of a charter of Free- doms and Exemptions, authorizing the members of the West India Company to establish "colonies," or manors, gave a stimulus to emigration from the Netherlands, and produced the colony of Eensselaerswyck, on the head waters of the Hudson, and others that were soon after founded by several directors of the Company, who assumed the title of patroon, holding in their particular seignories, an authority akin to that exercised by the feudal lords of the Middle Ages. But ten years served to illustrate that these establishments, patterned after European feudal polity, were suited neither to the speedy growth of the population of the country, nor to its social, civil, or commercial advancement. Through neglect and mal- administration on the part of the Company, its fertile territory lay a howling wilderness, and its vast resources un- developed. Made acquainted with this state of things, the States General took the matter in hand, in 1638, and by a proclamation, declared the monopoly of the country abolished, and the New Netherland to be open to all, whether Dutch or foreigners, for the purposes of trade, or the cultivation of the soil; making, however, those who should emigrate thither, subject to the authority of the West India Company, from whom every such person was entitled to receive as much land as he or his family could properly cultivate ; for which, after it should have been a specified term of years under tillage, he was obligated to pay the lawful tenth of its produce. But the encouragement thus given to emigrants was greatly extended in 1640, by the grant of a new and more liberal charter of freedoms and exemptions, providing, among other things, for the administration of civil government in New Netherland, and establishing the rights and privileges of the inhabitants upon a footing parallel with those enjoyed in Holland. This charter formed the basis of the municipal rights afterward en- joyed by the towns and villages of New Netherland.

The enlarged agricultural and commercial advantages, as well as the religious and political freedom now promised to the inhabitants of New Netherland, had a benign effect upon its interests; and, as a consequence, gave an impulse to the work of emigration, both from the continent of Europe, and

iO ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

also from New England, whose inhabitants, in considerable numbers, availed themselves of the privilege of a residence in the territories of the Dutch, whither, unfortunately, the spirit of religious intolerance already enkindled in the land of the pilgrims induced many to flee, and take up their abode. Remembering Holland, the refuge of themselves or kindred, when the fires of persecution drove them from their homes in Britain, and still in pursuit of the priceless gem of religious freedom, they naturally turned to the daughter province, to find all the sympathy and security enjoyed in the parent country. It was to the operation of such hallowed motives, that Mespat owed the first combined attempt to reclaim its soil from the wildness of nature.

This section had already attracted the attention of colo- nists ; and individuals, both Dutch and English, were now en- tering, as pioneers, upon the work of converting its fertile lands to purposes of agriculture. At the head of the Kill of Mespat, or Newtown Creek, in a section called by the Dutch, 't Kreupel-bosch, now corrupted to Cripplebush, Hans Hans- sen, familiarly called Hans the Boore, obtained a plantation of 200 morgen, or 400 acres. Descending the stream, Richard Brutnell, a native of Bradford, England, was seated on the hook, or point, at the entrance, and east side of Canapaukah Creek, now the Dutch Kills, where he had a farm of near an hundred acres ; and, on the opposite side of the creek was the plantation of Tymen Jansen, who had been a ship-carpenter, in the employ of the West India Company ; next to whom, north- Avard, lay the land of Burger Jorissen, a respectable smith, from Silesia. Upon the northern border of Mespat, at what is now Fish's Point, Hendrick Harmensen, otherwise called Henry the Farmer, had a bouwery, or farm under cultivation. These were important beginnings ; but such single-handed eflbrts would have required a long period to convert the solitudes of the forest into arable fields and smiling gardens. They were, however, speedily seconded by a band of enterprising colo- nists from New England, the history of which is fraught with lively interest.

Among those who, for conscience sake, had followed the pilgrims of the Mayflower, to the " stern and rock-bound coast " of Massachusetts, hoping there to enjoy freedom of speech and

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 17

action in matters of religious faith, was the Eev. Francis Doughty, a dissenting clergyman, who is stated to have been a member of the ancient and honorable family of Doughtys, or Doutys, of Esher, in Surry, and Boston, in Lincolnshire, Eng- land. He settled at Cohannet, now Taunton, but here he dis- covered that he had plunged "out of the frying-pan into the fire." Differing, in some of his sentiments, from Mr. Hooke, pastor of the church at that place, and his assistant, Street, a " controversie " unhappily arose between them. Doughty as- serted that, according to the Abrahamic covenant, all children of baptized parents, and so Abraham's children, ought to have been baptized, " and spake so in public, or to that effect, which was held a disturbance ; and the ministers spake to the magis- trate to order him out, the magistrate commanded the constable, who dragged Master Doughty out of the assembly." Their dispute being laid before Wilson, Mather, and other divines, assembled at Taunton, " Master Doughty was overruled, and the matter carried somewhat partially, as is reported." Dough- ty "was forced to go away from thence, with his wife and children," and he sought a refuge in the island of Aquetneck, now Rhode Island, in ISTarragansett Bay. Here he resolved, with certain of his friends residing at Taunton and other places, to remove to the Dutch territory, " in order to enjoy freedom of conscience," being " undone " in point of worldl}-- resources, though he was " a man of estate when he came to the country."

Mr. Doughty, being empowered to act on behalf of his associates, made application to the authorities at JSTew Amster- dam for a tract of land, and a patent was immediately granted them for 13,332 acres at Mespat, which embraced nearly the whole of the present town of Newtown, as will be observed by a perusal of the instrument.

We, Willem Kieft, Director-general, and Council of New Netherland, for and in behalf of the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General of the United Netherland Provinces, his Highness the Prince of Orange, as well as the Most Noble Lords, the Lords Directors of the General Privileged West India Company ; to all those who shall see these Letters, Make Known, that We have given and granted, as by these presents We do give and grant, nnto Francis Doughty, and associates, their heirs and assigns, in real, actual, and perpetual possession, all and every tiiat certain parcel of land situate on Long Island, in this province, with the pastures and whatever

18 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

eke it includes, containing, in auperfices, six thousand, six hundred and sixty- six Dutch acres, or thereabouts, comprehended within four right lines, each two thousand Dutch perches long, the first whereof extends from the east angle of Hans Hanssen's meadow,^ dividing, according to the creek, the marsh into two unequal parts, unto the plantation of Richard Brutnall, and thence proceeds towards the north-east, passing through the middle of the fresh marsh to tiie rivulet surrounding the lands of Henry the Farmer, and following the same even to its mouth ; the othsr line taking its origin from thence, bends towards the south-east, according to the main bank, going along the same unto the other creek, following the course of which from its mouth, until it attains the eastern extremity of the said marsh, (from whence the aforesaid creek arises,) thence turns again towards the south-east, until it has gained the length of two thousand Dutch perches ; the third line taking its rise from the end of the latter, tends towards the west, of an equal length with the others; finally, the fourth running from the last-mentioned point towards the north-west, terminates at the above-mentioned eastern angle of Hans Hanssen's meadow, at which angle a large stone is erected for the greater certainty of the boundaries.

With power to establish in the aforesaid tract a town or towns ; to erect a church or churches; to exercise the Reformed Christian religion and Church discipline which they profess; also to administer of right, high, low, and middle jurisdiction, to decide civil suits, not exceeding fifty Dutch florins; to impose definitively, and without appeal, in criminal matters, fines to an equal amount; to pronounce the first sentence in other civil and criminal ac- tions of greater moment, and to execute the same, subject, however, to such execution being deferred, should an appeal be made to the supreme court of New Netherland ; Finally, to exercise all rights belonging to the aforesaid jurisdiction, with power, moreover, to nominate some of theirs, and to present them to the Director of New Netherland, that a sufficient number may be chosen from them for political and juridical government; together with the right of hunting, fowling, fishing, and of trading, according to the immunities granted, and to be granted, to the colonists of this province, without any ex- ception:—

Wherefore the aforesaid F. Doughty and his associates, their heirs and assigns, shall be obligated, so long as they are in possession of the above- mentioned lands, to acknowledge the aforesaid Lords for their sovereign Lords and Patroons ; to pay, after the lapse of ten years, the tenth part of the produce of the land, whether cultivated with the plough, hoe, or otherwise ; orchards and kitchen-gardens, not exceeding one Dutch acre, excepted; Finally, to use no other standard than that of Holland ; and so as to avoid confusion, to use Dutch weights, the Dutch ell and all other Dutch measures. All which we promise, under the foregoing conditions, inviolably to preserve, and bind our

1 The farm of Ilans Hanssen has been already noticed as lying near Cripple- bush. It comprised 400 acres, or nearly two-thirds of a square mile, and from a careful examination of the patent and those adjoining, I think it must have covered a part, and perhaps the whole of the present settlement at the Bushwick Cross- roads.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 19

successors to the faithful observance of the same, by virtue of the commip- Kion and supreme .-luthority granted to us by the Most Mighty Prince of Orange, Governor of the United Belgic Provinces. In testimony whereof we have subscribed these presents with our own hand, and caused them to be countersigned by the Secretary of New Netherland, and the seal of New Netherland to be affixed thereto. Given at Fort Amsterdam, on the Island Manhattans, in New Netherland, in the year 1642, the 28th of March.

WiLLEM KlEFT. By order of the Director and Council.

CoRNELis Van Tieniioven, Secretary.^

Endowed with these ample powers, Mr. Doughty and his associates made immediate preparations to begin a settlement. Less than a year had elapsed, therefore, when a number of fami- lies were comfortably located along the most easterly branch of Mespat Kill, among whom stood high in point of means and respectability, Richard Smith, from Taunton, who was a native of Gloucestershire, England. Mr. Doughty officiated as pastor of the flock, and affairs were tending prosperously, when the sudden breaking out of a war with several Indian tribes gave an unexpected and fatal check to the settlement.

This state of hostilities was begun by Director Kieft, who, upon a frivolous pretence of injury received from the natives, despatched two bodies of troops from Fort Amsterdam, at mid- night, February 25th, 1643, one of which fell upon the Indian settlement at Pavonia, on the Jersey shore, and the other upon those at Corlear's Hook, Manhattan Island. Both were fearfully successful, resulting in a horrid butchery of the sleeping In- dians. The natives at first thought it was their enemies, the terrible Mohawks, but they were soon undeceived, for only a few days after, the Dutch settlers near Flatlands, with the con- nivance of the Director, plundered those at Marreckawick, or Brooklyn, of a. large quantity of corn, killing two of the In- dians who attempted to defend their property. When the natives discovered Avho were the authors of these barbarities, they were inflamed to the utmost, and though hitherto the

' The Doughty patent is recorded iu Latin in the Secretary of State's Office at Albany. The above translation is, by Dr. O'Cailajrhan, but a copy of the original will be found in Appendix A. The MS. being written in small and obscure charac- ters, with many contractions, rendering the work of transcribing it both difficult and hazardous, a reference to the English translation was purposely avoided, during the process of copying, and the document made to explain itself by a collation of corresponding words and letters.

20 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

warm friends of tlie Dutch, they now became their implacable enemies. With fire-brand and scalping-knife they desolated the country around New Amsterdam, devoting property to destruction, and the inhabitants to a cruel death, save those who made a timely escape to the fort. Similar was the fate of the dwellers at Mespat. In an evil hour the savages broke in upon the settlement with merciless vengeance ; and some of the inhabitants, among whom was John Smith, fell victims to their fur3^' The remainder sought safety in flight, while the flame was applied to their dwellings, and they, with their contents, reduced to ashes ; their cattle and remaining property sharing no better fate. MesjDat presented but a few heaps of smoulder- ing ruins.

How changed was the condition of these settlers as they sought refuge in New Amsterdam, whither the terror-stricken inhabitants from all quarters now resorted. Bereft of means for the present, and hope of the future, the prospect was shrouded in impenetrable gloom. But one precious boon was still theirs ; Mr. Doughty performed Divine service, and im- parted to them the consolations of their holy religion. This gentleman had been an equal sufferer with his flock, having lost nearly everything in the general calamity, but he was in a measure sustained by public contributions.

The Director-general at length discovered his error, and made friendly overtures to the savages, to which they, having now satiated their desire for revenge, were willing to listen ; and to the joy of the sober people, a peace was concluded. There-

1 At a court of common pleas held at Jamaica May 12, 1703, Samuel Smith, aged about 67 years, and Elizabeth, wife of Nehemiah Smith, and formerly wife of William Ludlam, dec'd, of Southampton, L. 1. she being aged about 70 years, and botli residing at Jamaica, and persons " well known and worthy of good faith and credit," make deposition that "about sixty years ago, John Smith, fFather to these deponents, living at Taunton in Ply- mouth Colony, now under y*^ government of y*^ Massachusetts-bay, left his said habitation and went to Mashpatt JCills, in Queens county, on Nassau Island, then under government of y*^ Dutch, and was there killed by ye Indians. These deponents further say, that John Smith, eldest son of ye said John Smith, their ifather, and brother to these deponents, is now living at Hemsteed, in Queens county, on y'^ island abovesaid, in y'' colony of New-York, and further y^ deponents say not." Counly Clerk's Office, Ja- maica, L. I. Deeds, Lib. A, p. 1G6.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 21

upon some of the planters returned to their ruined habitations at Mespat, though not without fear of the wily savages. Mr. Doughty followed as soon as his total want of confidence in the existing peace and his destitute circumstances would allow. But, after abiding there half a year, he returned " at Thanksgiv- ing " to New Amsterdam, where he remained for several years, owning premises near the fort. In the church within Fort Amsterdam he statedl}^ preached to the English population.

Meanwhile, as a better day seemed dawning, several of the residents without the lines of the Mespat patent, took occasion to secure government titles for their lands. On July 3d, 1643, Bur- ger Joris before spoken of, took out his "ground brief " or deed, as did Eichard Brutnell and Tymen Jansen the same month, their lands lying upon opposite sides of the creek at the Dutch Kills, the farm of the last named individual being purchased several years after by Joris Stevensen de Caper, the ancestor of the Van Alst family. Joris de Caper afterwards added to his estate a neighbouring plantation, which had been granted March 23d, 1647, to Jan Jansen from Ditmarsen in Lower Sax- ony, and from whom is descended the present family of Dit- mars. Burger Joris had, in 1642, rented his bouwery and stock, consisting of goats, &c. to Robert Evans and James Smith, but he subsequently resumed his farm, and erected there a tide mill prior to 1654, and the creek was thence denominated Bur- ger's Kill.

Allusion has heretofore been made to Hendrick Harmensen, as engaged in the cultivation of a bouwery on the northern outskirts of the town, and who may be regarded as the first white man that turned a furrow in that section of the township. lie had erected a cabin, and obtained, in 1638, several heads of cattle, from a lot imported that year by the Director-general for the use of the colonists. But within a few years Harmensen died, and there is some reason to believe that he was slain in the Indian massacre of 1643. After his decease, his widow, Tryn Herxker, intermarried, in 1645, with Jeuriaen Fradell, a native of Moravia, and subsequently a deacon of the Dutch Church at New Amsterdam, who on September 5th of the above year, obtained a ground brief in his own name for the estate of Harmensen. It is therein designated as "a piece of land lying on Long Island, east of Hellegat, and next to the

22 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

great bend, (riglit over against three islands called tlie Three Brothers,) being the most westerly corner of the same land that lies easterly from the said bend ; and extends from the beach off next along a certain swamp, being west 216 rods, to a great fresh-water meadow ; along said meadow to a fresh-water creek, (which creek is the division betwixt the land of Mr. Doughty and this said parcel of land,) and runs further along the said creek, till to the aforesaid bend, and further along the river shore to the place of begining ; containing by measurement 69 morgens 183 feet : to this land appurtains also 8 morgens of the aforesaid meadow ; also to this belongs a little island lying about west from the house." A good deal of interest attaches to the history of this bouwerj^, which was subsequently owned by the corporation of the Dutch church at Ncav Amsterdam ; but of this particular mention will be made hereafter.' The island, fr-om the manner in which it was obtained by Fradell, received the name of the Huwelicken, or married island. It was afterwards in possession of Burger Jorissen.

Mespat slowly arose from the ashes ; but, alas, before it re- covered strength the settlement was doomed to experience another convulsion. This originated in a misunderstanding between Mr. Doughty and other principal patentees there. The former, regarding himself as vested by the Mespat patent with the powers and privileges of a patroon, assumed the right of disposing of land within the patent, and, it is alleged, re- quired of persons wishing to settle there, "a certain sum of money down for every morgen of land ; and then, moreover, a certain sum annually in shape of quit rent ; and sought also

' A tradition exists in the Riker family that their ancestor located, at a very early period, at what is now called the Poor Bowery, and obtained from the natives a large tract of land at that place that having previously been an armourer in the Dutch service, lie was accustomed to forge toma- hawks for the Indians round about him ; but that on a certain occasion the savages under a sudden excitement, assaulted him, and one of them gave him a fatal blow, and terminated his life with one of the very instruments of death that he had made for him ; that after this his widow remarried, and the pro- perty was disposed of to the Dutch Church. This tradition, which doubtless has a foundation in truth, can relate to none other than Hendrick Harmensen, the original proprietor of the farm above mentioned. He was a progenitor of the Riker family, as his daughter Margaret married Abraham Rycken, their ancestor.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 23

to make a domain thereof, in opposition to the co-interested of the colonie."

But it is clear that no such thing was contemplated by the patent. It conferred upon no one individual any exclusive ti- tle to the soil, but was a grant in common, and intended to be held in joint tenancy. It erected a town, and gave the settlers the town privileges of that day. Therefore, Mr. Doughty's claims were resisted by the other patentees, and a suit was en- tered before the court of New Amsterdam, by Kichard Smith and William Smith, who demanded that Mr. Doughty should be made to declare before the court who were associated Avith him. After some delay the trial ended in April, 1647, against the pretensions of Mr. Doughty. The Director and Council or- dered " that the co-partners should enter on their property, re- serving to Doughty the bouwery and lands which he had in possession." This decision the clergyman regarded as highly unjust, and in violation of the privileges guarantied him by the Mespat patent ; he, therefore, appealed from the sentence. This offended Kieft, who had previously cut off the right of appeal to the courts of Holland ; and telling Doughty that his judgment was final and absolute, the despotic governor fined the defenceless clergyman ten dollars, and locked him up for twenty -four hours in prison.

Quite discouraged of finding liberty in New Netherland, he requested the Director-general that, "as he had lived and done duty a long time without suitable support, and as his land was now confiscated," he might be permitted to take ship for the West Indies, or the Netherlands ; but the Director, for obvious reasons, declined giving consent. Thus thwarted in his wishes, Mr. Doughty, the same year, accepted a call from the people of Flushing, and settled there at a fixed salary of six hundred guilders ; where he remained a year or more, his ministrations being attended by Thomas Wandell, and perhaps other of the residents on Mespat Kill. But taking occasion in certain of his discourses to animadvert on the conduct of the government, it so roused the indignation of the famous Cap- tain John Underhill, who declared "that Mr. Doughty did preach against the present rulers, who were his masters," that he thereupon ordered the church doors to be shut against the minister, and he was denied access to the pulpit. This con-

24 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

tinued adversity induced Mr. Doughty again to request leave to depart the country, which was finally obtained ; but not until he had made a promise under his hand not to mention the ill-treatment he had experienced from Directors Kieft and Stuyvesant. Investing his son Francis with power to collect the salary due him from the people of Flushing, (part of which the latter afterwards got by recourse to law,) he took his de- parture for the " English Virginias" in 1648 or 1649. His bou- wery or farm on Flushing Bay, (now owned by Abraham and John I. Eapelye,) he had previously conferred on his daughter Mary, at her marriage, in 1645, with that distinguished "doctor of both laws," Adriaen Van der Donck, who obtained a patent for it May 17th, 1648. About three years after this date, Tho- mas Stevenson, an Englishman, living at Flushing, removed to this farm as a tenant for Van der Donck ; but after the departure of the latter to Holland, Stevenson got a patent from Stuyve- sant confirming these premises to himself. They passed through several hands; and in 1737 were bought by Abraham Eapelye, grandfather of the present occupants. The projection formed by the bay and creek long bore the name of "Stevens' Point." There originally belonged to this farm a singular wooded emi- nence, then containing twelve acres, lying in the Flushing mea- dows, and around Avhich the waters flowed at full tide. From the circumstance of Dr. Van der Donck being familiarly called the Yonker a Dutch title for a gentleman this piece of up land took the name of Yonker's Island, by which it is yet known to some.^

The colony of Mespat never recovered from the shock of

' It has been stated that the Rev. Mr. Doughty " was probably a Baptist, but afterwards turned Quaker." Now, his own dedarations in the dispute at Taunton show that he was not a Baptist; and it is equally improbable that he became a Quaker, since he left the country eight years before the first of that sect made their appearance here. O'Callaghan (Hist, N. Netherland, ii. 318) calls him a Presbyterian. He had sons Elias and Francis; the last of whom continued at Newtown many ^ears. Elias was a magistrate of Flushing, where he left posterity. He was regarded as an inhabitant of Newtown, and complimented by a gift of land, because his father had previously lived there. His sister ]\Iary, after the decease of Dr. Van der Donck in 1655, married Hugh O'Neale, Esq. with whom she removed to Maryland. This lady was born at " Heerastede;" but which of the several towns of this name, both in England and Holland, is intended, remains an uncertainty.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 25

savage warfare, and the no less fatal blows of intestine strife. It lost one of its leading citizens in tlie person of Richard Smith, the elder, who, with his family, sought a temporary re- sidence in New Amsterdam, but finally returned to an estate which he had in Rhode Island,' In 1619 there were "not many inhabitants ;" though a few of the patentees still dwelt there. In this year the reverses which it had sustained found their way to the ears of the States General in Holland, among other complaints preferred by the commonalty of New Ne- therland against the mal-administration in this colony. One of the deleo;ates who carried this remonstrance to Holland was Dr. Van der Donck, who had drawn up the paper, in which he made known the ill-usage experienced by his father-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Doughty. But though the aftairs of Mespat did not elicit much notice amid the weightier matters with which the remonstrance was burdened, yet was the latter so zealously presented and sustained by Van der Donck, that the States General actually ordered the recall of Stuyvesant; though they afterwards, for other considerations, thought fit to coun- termand it. And thus declined the ancient municipality of Mespat* whose origin had beamed with promise. Its territory seemed destined to remain the abode of untame beasts ; and the prospect of its speedy colonization vanished as a vision of the night. For years the hum of industry and the marks of civilization were confined to its marine borders, while the in- terior maintained all the grandeur of a wild unbroken wil- derness.

' Other particulars of Richard Smith and his descendants, usually called the " Bull Smiths," are given in Potter's History of Narragansett and Thomp- son's Long Island. In 1679 the Rev. Roger Williams, of Providence, ren- dered the following testimony to the worth of this pioneer of the Mespat colony.

" Mr. Richard Smith, for his conscience to God, left fair possessions in Glostershire, and adventured, with his relations and estates, to N. England, and was a most acceptable inhabitant and prime leading man in Taunton, in Plymouth colony. For his conscience sake, many ditferences arising, he left Taunton and came to the Nahiggonsik country, where, by God's mercy, and the favor of the Nahiggonsik sachems, he broke the ice at his great charge and hazard, and put up in the thickest of the barbarians, the first English

house amongst them He kept possession, coming and going, himself*

children, and servants, and he had quiet possession of his housing, lands, and meadow ; and there, in his own house, with much serenity of soul and com- fort, he yielded up his spirit to God, the Father of Spirits, in peace."

CHAPTER II.

The village of Middelburg founded by colonists from New England. Civil and re> lio-ious privileges granted them. First choice of magistrates. The "out-planta- tions.'"— Dominies Hook. William Hallett arrives. Peace interrupted by a war between England and Holland. Rumor of a conspiracy of the Dutch and In- dians aorainst the English. Great excitement at the English Kills Flight of the inhabitants. Middelburg also alarmed. They seek protection from New Eng- land.— Their fears prove groundless. Other sources of disquiet. A convention it remonstrates against the arbitrary acts of government. Its prayer reject- ed.— Appeal to the States-General English fleet preparing against New Ne- therland. Middelburg proposes to cooperate. Unexpected news of peace. Meadows at Mespat Kill granted to Middelburg. The Poor Bouvvery. Dutch Settlers in that section. Berrien's Island. Luyster's Island. Outbreak be- tween the Dutch and Indians. Citizens of Middelburg involved in the difficul- ty.— Capture of Pieter de Schoorsteenveger. A false alarm. Religious opinions of the settlers. Rev. John Moore. Dissentions. Rev. William Wickenden and William Hallett imprisoned for religion's sake. Settlers on Mespat Kill found the village Aernhem. A dispute arises about the meadows. Stuyvesant re- fuses a patent to Middelburg. They make a purchase of their lands from the Indians. Names of the "Purchasers." 1652 to 1656.

It was in tlie year 1652 that a goodly company of English- men arrived in this colony from New England, and obtained leave from Director Stuyvesant to plant a town within his ju- risdiction. The fertile lands of Mespat being yet, for the most part, unoccupied, offered a bright field for their enterprise. A locality well watered by springs, and having convenient fresh meadows, was selected in the interior, about midway between the Kill of Mespat and Ylissingen, (now Flushing,) the only English village for man}^ miles around, if we except the scat- tered tenements at Mespat Kill ; while Breukelen was the near- est Dutch village. Several of the new comers were direct from Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, and other villages along the Connecticut shore ; others are supposed to have recently arriv- ed from England; a few had been conspicuous in the promotion of settlements along Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay. Of these was Lieutenant William Palmer, who had represented Yar- mouth in the general court in 1644, and as late as 1651, being much respected. Another was Mr. Henry Feeke, an early set- tler at Lynn, whence he removed with others in 1637, and joined in the settlement of Sandwich, one of his associates be- ing Jonathan Fish, who either accompanied or soon followed

A N N A L S O F N E W T O \V N . 27

him to Mespat. Also among these first comers were Edward Jessup from Stamford, and Thomas Hazard from Boston, as were probably John Burroughes from Salem, and Eichard Betts from Ipswich, who appear as residents three or four years later. All these becamie men of note in the settlement. The new co- lonists were also joined by some respectable individuals from Heemstede, or Hempstead, but who had previously resided at Stamford, among whom were Eobert Coe, and Eichard Gilder- sleeve; and from the first named j^lace also, came the proposed pastor of the new settlement, the Eev. John Moore, of whose previous history nothing has been learned, except that he had been the " clergyman of the church of Heemstede."

The hamlet was begun upon the street, whereon the Presby- terian church in the village of Newtown now stands, on both sides of which lots were laid out. And then resounded the axe in the forest; the noise of the saw and the hammer told the ar- rival of a people, unlike any those wilds had ever known before. A scene of life and activity ensued, and a group of cottages foshioned after those of New England, of simple construction and roofed with thatch arose to adorn the new settlement, to which the name of Middelburg was given, after a place of some note in the Netherlands, the capital of the province of Zealand, and remembered with gratitude as the asylum of many of the English puritans. Next to providing a shelter for their fami- lies, the new settlers broke up the fallow ground, committed their seed to the earth, and the summer of 1652 witnessed the ingathering of the first harvest in Middelburg,

The privileges of the charter of 1640 were extended to the new villagers. Their lands were to be held without rent or tax for ten years, at the end of which term they would be re- quired to pay the tenth part of the produce. They were to enjoy the free exercise of the Protestant religion, and the choice of their own schepens, or magistrates ; making annually a double nomination of the best qualified persons in the town, from whom the Director-general and Council should select and confirm half in ofiice, whose authority extended to the collec- tion and disbursement of town revenues, and most other mat- ters affecting the peace and security of their municipality. They were to adjudge all suits arising in their district, except the sum in dispute exceeded one hundred guilders, in

28 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

which case an appeal could be made to the chief court, com- posed of the Director and Council, as could also be done in criminal cases, where the custom of Holland permitted it. In the case of such appeal, the magistrates were to enjoy a scat and voice in the higher court. The appointment of town offi- cers' other than schepens, to wit, a scout, or sheriff, a secre- tary, or clerk, to make and preserve a record of public transac- tions,^ and a court-messenger, or marshal to attend upon the court, execute the will and verdicts of the magistrates, and collect the rates or taxes to defray town charges, remained the prero- gative of the Director and council. But some of the English towns were permitted to choose these important functionaries, and Middelburg seems to have enjoyed that privilege. In a word, the civil and municipal rights guarantied to Middelburg were but a transcript of those conferred by patent, ten years before, on Mr. Doughty and his associates ; and their jurisdic- tion was essentially the same, embracing the seat of the Mespat colony, which obtained the name of the English Kills, to dis- tinguish it from the neighboring Dutch settlement along Bur- ger's creek, called the Dutch Kills. They were, moreover, promised a patent of incorporation ; and under these auspices the people of Middelburg convened in autumn to make their first selection of magistrates, and nominated Robert Coe, Rich- ard Gildersleeve, William Wood, Thomas Hazard, Edward Jessup, and William Herrick, from whom the Director and council, on November 11th, confirmed in that office Messrs. Coe, Gildersleeve and Hazard. Subsequently the choice of magistrates was made in the spring.

' For a list of town-officers, see Appendix F.

^ The public records of Newtown now in the clerk's office, begin in the year 1659, in which allusion is made to records of an earlier date, not now to be found. Thobe existing are very complete from the above year, and con- sist of seven manuscript books, some of them in a mutilated and perishing condition. Here are the minutes of the town court from 1659 to 1688; also the record of town proceedings, and, what is more valuable, the greater part of all the title-deeds for land within this town, from its settlement down to the American Revolution. Their loss could not be repaired, and there- fore it is respectfully recommended, that timely measures be taken to bind and index these interesting and valuable records, and secure them in a fire- proof safe, against the devouring element, by which Flushing and other towns in this state have been robbed of their early archives.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 29

The considerable extent of territory lying between the northeast boundary of Middelburg and the East river, com- prised, at this date, a small population of farmers, or planters, as they were then called, who were mostly Dutch, and had taken land from the government upon the terms prescribed by the charters of freedoms and exemptions, and for which they re- ceived individually a groundbrief, or deed, under the signature of the Director, and the seal of New Netherland, These farms were distinguished as "the out-plantations," and lay on the verge of the river ; extending from what is now called Fish's Point, on the north, around to Dominie's Hook, at the en- trance of Mespat Kill, which latter point took its name as early as 164:3, from its owner. Dominie Bogardus, the first minister of New Amsterdam, whose widow, Annetie Jans, on Nov. 26th, 1652, received a groundbrief for the same, then es- timated at 180 acres.' The out-plantations, which will attract a more particular notice hereafter, received a valuable accession to their population in the person of William Hallett, a native of Dorsetshire, England, who, on Dec. 1st, 1652, obtained a brief for 161 acres of land, which had previously been in possession of Jacques Bentyu, one of Director Van T willer's council. It was described as "a plot of ground at Hellegat upon Long Island, called Jacques' farm, and beginning at a great rock that lies in the meadow, goes upward southeast to the end of a very small swa"mp, two hundred and ten rods ; from thence northeast two hundred and thirty rods ; on the north it goes up to a running water, two hundred and ten rods; containing, in the whole, eighty morgen and three hundred rods." This tract is now in- cluded within the village of Astoria, which name (no credit to the restive, innovating spirit of the age) has been substituted for that of Hallett's Cove, the latter a time honored memorial of its ancient owner, some of whose posterity still occupy por- tions of the land held by their remote ancestor. The residents of the out-plantations were not a corporate community, bu^ continued for many years to be dependent for civil and reli-

' This tract was bought in 1697, by Capt. Peter Praa, through whom it descended to the Bennet family, who held it until a few years since, when it was purchased for Union College, Schenectady. Annetie Jans Bogardus was the owner of another patent, located at Hellgate, of which further notice will be taken presently.

3

30 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

gious advantages upon Flushing or New Amsterdam. Dis- putes at law arising in this district were usually taken to the last named place for trial.

Scarcely were the people of Middelburg seated in their new homes, when the occurrence of untoward events placed them in very doubtful relations with their adopted government. Jealousies, of many years standing, existed between the latter and the English colonies of Connecticut and New Haven, re- specting the limits of New Netherland. Complaints of mutual aggression had passed between the respective governments, and now, while these regarded each other with feelings far from friendly, the news was received that war had broken out be- tween the mother countries England and Holland. Director Stuy vesant, in pursuance of instructions from his superiors, and from a sense of his own weakness when compared with his powerful neighbors of New England, whence he had abundant cause to apprehend evil, prudently agreed with the adjacent Indian tribes for assistance, in case his fears should be realized. This arrangement being rumored abroad, soon sped its way into the adjoining colonies, where it was currently reported, and fully accredited that the Dutch governor had formed a league with the Indians for the destruction of all the English.

The report, in the meantime, flew like wildfire through the English towns on the west end of Long Island, which, though under the government of New Netherland, were made to be- lieve that they were to be included in the general slaughter. In haste a messenger arrives at Mespat Kill. It is their former neighbor, Richard Brutnell, sent by the people of Hempstead to apprise them of their imminent peril. He relates, minutely, the particulars of the bloody plot, as communicated to the peo- ple of Hempstead by an Indian chief: the substance of which was that the Director-general designed first to cut off the set- tlements of Hempstead and Middelburg, and then the other towns at his pleasure. Consternation immediately prevailed at Mespat, as the gloomy tidings were circulated from house to house ; and means were at once devised to elude the impending calamity. A removal, with all speed, was determined upon ; and Robert Brokham, with several of his neighbors, set out for Flushing, to engage Lambert Woodward to convey their goods, with themselves and famiUes, across the sound to Stam-

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 31

ford. They agreed to stop at Middelburg, and inform their countrymen there of the startling news from Hempstead. Ar- riving at the house of Lieutenant William Palmer, they re- hearsed to him what they had heard ; and thereupon most of the town were hastily called together, to whom the messengers repeated their sad story. Some of the villagers gave credit to the evil report ; others were incredulous. Mr. Coe, the magis- trate, " said he could not believe that the Dutch governor was BO base and vile as to hire the Indians to cut off the English." But Brokham earnestly debated the matter with the magis- trate; when the latter acknowledged, that being in company with the governor two days before, he told him that " if the English came against Jiim, he had spoken to Indians to help him against the English." This was admission enoagh for Brokham and his companions, who, strengthened in their fears, went on their way to Flushing, and succeeded in engaging the vessel. On April 29th, 1653, the terror-stricken company Bailed from the Kills for Stamford; to which place arriving, they gave free circulation to the story of their dangers and providential escape.

If the people of Middelburg were at first slow to believe these ill-favored rumors, the credit which the New England authorities gave to them, the grave action thereupon, and the hostile attitude which the more western colonies were as- suming, soon served to dissipate their unbelief. The neigh- boring villages of Flushing and Hempstead were becoming disaffected, instigated and urged on by Captain John Under- bill, who now renounced the service of the Dutch, and hoist- ing the Parliament's colors, called upon the inhabitants "to abjure the iniquitous government of Peter Stuyvesant." To add to the terrible aspect of affairs, an armed force, under Captain William Dyre, of Rhode Island, was patrolling Long Island, for the avowed purpose of maintaining, even to " the effusion of blood," the authority of the Commonwealth of England. Overawed by these alarming circumstances, and impelled by motives of self-protection, the people of Middel- burg united with their English neighbors in seeking advice and assistance from New England. For this purpose they sent two deputies, Robert Coe and Edward Jessup, (and Hemp- stead a similar number,) to propound to "the honorable Corn-

32 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

missioners now assembled at Bostcn," certain questions wliich were agitating the public mind. They inquired whether, in case their subjection to Parliament were demanded " by com- mission from England," they could act any longer by the Dutch laws ; and if not, what should they do till another go- vernment be settled. If there be no reconciliation among the Dutch and English, how should they ensure their safety, " having so many enemies round about them." If they must now " fall off from the Dutch," they desired protection from New England, under the Parliament, upon reasonable terms. Needing supplies, they requested that they might procure corn and victuals from the main, for the use of the English only; and also solicited powder and shot, and the favor of ten or twenty men, with a commander or at least the latter, to train the people, and go out with them if need be, and bear some sway in town affairs, to prevent division and confusion. For they feared that a party would be formed to cooperate with the " resolute fellows " under Dyre, who, it was apprehended, might fall upon the Dutch farms, and thus involve them in a state of actual hostihties. Declaring themselves "willing to cleave to New England," they proceeded to inquire whether the commissioners could empower some of their inhabitants to bear rule till further order could be taken ; and closed their memorial by begging their speedy assistance : for, say they, " our lives and estates lie at the stake, if the Lord, by some means, help us not."

The sending of this delegation forcibly exhibits the intense excitement that reigned in Middelburg, and her sister towns. It does not appear to have elicited any special notice from the Commissioners of the United Colonies, who were warmly dis- cussing the necessity of hostile measures against the Dutch New Haven and Connecticut loudly advocating such a course, while Massachusetts opposed it. This want of union averted, for the time being, the hostilities meditated against New Netherland.

The cruel fears which had racked the imaginations of the Middelburg people now subsided ; but only to give promi- nence to other sources of public disquietude. Indians and freebooters, taking advantage of the late confusion, had com- mitted serious depredations on the Long Island settlers. The

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 33

latter could expect no help from tiie government; for there existed a general distrust as well among the Dutch as Eng- lish— of its power and disposition to protect the inhabitants, either from external foes, or by a judicious administration of civil and criminal justice within its jurisdiction. Aroused by a sense of their losses and jDersonal insecurity, the English towns first called a meeting at Flushing, and then met the burgomasters of New Amsterdam in joint meeting, at the City Hall, on November 2oth, 1653. The delegates present from Middelburg were Kobert Coe and Thomas Hazard. The ob- ject of the convention was to devise some plan for their com- mon safety. They resolved, at the suggestion of the city delcr gates, to address the Directors of the West India Company; but wishing to have the opinions of the Dutch villages, an ad- journment to the 10th of December was carried. Stuyvesant reluctantly consented to the proposed meeting, and writs were issued to the several villages to elect their delegates, who, accord- ingly assembled at New Amsterdam on the last mentioned date Middelburg sending the same deputies as before. Har- mony prevailed among them ; for their dangers and griev- ances were in common. On the second day of their meeting they agreed upon a remonstrance to the Director and Council, and the States General. It opened with an assurance of their unchanged loyalty toward the government of the Netherlands, and a hearty acknowledgment of the authority of the Lords Directors of the West India Company ; under whose jurisdic- tion they had voluntarily placed themselves, expecting to en- joy rights and privileges harmonizing in every respect with those allowed the inhabitants of the Netherlands, the parent State. Under such encouragements they had, with immense labor and expense, transformed a wilderness of woods into a few small villages and cultivated farms ; but for some time, fear and alarm had broken their spirits, and discouraged them in their labors and callings. Instead of liberty, an arbitrary government is rearing its head among them, and laws affecting the lives and property of the commonalty are enacted, without the knowledge or approbation of the latter. The complaints of the Indians that they have not been paid for their lands, and the murders they commit in retaliation, keep the inhabi- tants in constant apprehension that a new war may be com-

Si ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

menced by them ; and yet, strange to tell, these murders are often passed over as the acts of far-distant savages. " On the promises of grants and general patents, of privileges and ex- emptions, various plantations have been made, at a great ex- pense of the inhabitants, through building houses, making fences, and tilling and cultivating the soil, especially by those of Middelburg and Midwout, with their dependencies ; besides several other places, who took up many single farms, and soli- cited the deeds of such lands, but were always put off" and dis- appointed, to their great loss. This creates a suspicion that some innovations are in contemplation, or that it is intended to introduce other conditions different from former stipulations." Other points of complaint there were, but in those above named the people of Middelburg were most interested.

To this bill of complaint Stuyvesant, though displeased, deigned to send a long reply. He refused to recognise the de- legates from Flatbush, Brooklyn, and Flatlands, because those villages had no jurisdiction, and therefore were not entitled to send deputies; and as the convention had acted illegally, he was not at all bound to acknowledge its proceedings. He examined in order each point of complaint, denied that the rights of the petitioners were the same as those of Netherland, and branded the English delegates as the " instigators and leaders of these novelties," notwithstanding that they and their countrymen en- joyed greater privileges than the Exemptions allowed the Dutch settlers. Touching the complaints of Middelburg, and Midwout, (or Flatbush,) respecting their patents, he replied that the lands in those villages had been granted to individuals whose deeds would be furnished whenever they chose to de- mand them; but they should never be carried to them,'

The delegates were not to be silenced by the sophistry of the Director-general. Feeling the responsibility of their posi- tion, they again called on him to consider their grievances, de- claring their intention in case of refusal, to appeal to his supe- riors in Holland. This excited the rage of Stuyvesant, and with threats, he abruptly ordered the assembly to disperse. True to their word the delegates forwarded their remonstrance to Hol- land.

' I presume these deeds were never applied for, as I have not met with a single one, either original or recorded.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 35

Stuy vesant was soon called to witness the evil of his impo- litic course. The colonies of Connecticut and New Haven had made such representations to the English government that a fleet was despatched for the reduction of the Manhattans, and on its arrival at Boston in the spring of 1654, New England im- mediately began to raise troops to aid the expedition. The Di- rector-general bestirred himself to meet the expected invaders, but found his strength paralized. " The occurrences of 1653 had seriously weaned men's aftcctions from the government, and oaths of allegiance were no longer considered binding." Some of the English villages openly discarded the authority of Stuy- vesant, and when the news arrived of the intended invasion, Middelburg proposed that the English should commence hostili- ties. At this crisis, when the enemy's fleet was about to sail from Boston, a vessel arrived there Avith the news of peace be- tween England and Holland. The intelligence reached the Manhattans on July 16th, in a ship which brought also the re- jection by the Directors at Amsterdam, of the remonstrance of the previous year.

But though the grievances of the populace were thus abso- lutely contemned, their remonstrance was not devoid of effect upon the conduct of the Director-general, who found it prudent to conciliate the good will of the inhabitants. In the month of May, Counsellor De Sille and others were commissioned to visit several towns upon Long Island, which had solicited "the con- cession of some hayland," and allot to each inhabitant, if possi- ble, " twenty-live morgen of land, and eight morgen of inter- vale." The meadows lying along the east side of Mespat Kill were appropriated to Middelburg, the magistrates of which town were authorised by an order from Stuy vesant, to apportion the same to their inhabitants. A good number of groundbriefs were also issued to the owners of the outplantations, thus quieting one cause of complaint specified in the late remonstrance. Turn- ing to this section of the town we are made acquainted with an extensive farm then in progress, "in the occupation and tenure of the deacons and officers of the Dutch church " at New Am- sterdam ; and by them kept under cultivation for the benefit of the poor. From this circumstance it was called the Armen Bouwery or the Poor's Farm, whence comes the name of Poor

36 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN;

Bowery, still applied to that section of tlie town.' It compris- ed the plantation formerly of Jeuriaen Fradell, with an addi- tional tract of land on the west, obtained of Director Stuyvesant, "with a view, if God the Lord blessed their cattle, to make a new plantation, or farm." These possessions (now included in the estates of T. B. Jackson, J. K. Herrick, S. Palmer, L. Kouwenhoven, and A. E. Luyster) were bounded on the west by the property of Abraham Eycken, a respectable plan- ter, who was descended from an ancient family in Lower Saxony. His farm, for which he obtained a groundbrief on Feb. 26th of this year, (1654,) is now owned by his descendant, John L. Riker, Esq. In this vicinity also was located Harck Siboutsen, formerly a ship-carpenter, a native of Languedoc, in the south of France, who joined Rycken on the west, where he had settled four years previously to taking out his patent, dated July 2d of this year. His farm now composes a part of that which was owned by the late Isaac Rapelye. Adjacent to him on the west side, lay a tract of woodland, belonging to the West India Company, beyond which, in the direction of " Newton's Point, or the Green Hook," now the property of Mr. Woolsey, was a succession of small plantations, owned by Jan Jacobsen Carpenel, otherwise called Jan van Haerlem, Adriaen Derickse Coon, Hendrick Jansen van Dueren, Lieven Jansen, and Simon Joost, These five lots, contained in strips of about fifty acres each, butted on the river or meadow, and extended back west-south-west some three hundred Dutch rods, to the " Great Swamp," also called Lubbert's Swamp, The briefs for these lots, which all bore date in 1653 or 1654, were afterwards bought up by Capt. Thomas Lawrence, who also obtained from Gov. Nicoll, Aug. 2od, 1665, a patent for the small island ad- joining, " commonly called the Round Island," and now known as Berrien's Island, which island, together with "a neck of land" included in the patent to Adriaen D. Coon, is now pos- sessed by Ezra N. Berrien. The Green Hook (now G. M. Woolsey 's) was patented to Jean Gerardy, Nov. 5th, 1653. On

' Some, unacquainted with this district, and ignorant of the origin of its name, have supposed it given with reference to the poverty of the soil. But in tliis sense tlie name is no way applicable, for the land here is exceed- ingly fertile, and not to be excelled by any on Long Island for productive- ness.

ANNALS OFNEWTOWN. 37

the same date Teunis Craye took out a brief for the Polhemus estate, and another had been granted, three days previous, to Philip Gerardy for the farm of Dr. Ditmars. On March 7th, 165-i, Annetie Jans Bogardus, who already held a grant at Dominie's Hook, obtained a patent for 42 morgen 54 rod of land, lying adjacent to the Pot Cove, and which was included in the farms late in possession of 'Squire John Lawrence, and Major Richard Lawrence. With a view still further to enlarge the poor's farm, the deacons of the Dutch church, on June 3d, 1655, petitioned the government for the island near their bou- wery, called the "Huwelicken, or Burger Jorissen's Island," " for the purpose of driving thereon their hogs and cattle," but they Avere informed that it had been disposed of long before. The deacons succeeded in buying it, and thence it was called the Poor Bowery Island; but being afterwards purchased by the ancestor of the Luyster family, it took the name of Luys- ter's Island, by which it is still known.'

But again the peace of the country was to be interrupted by Indian outrage : the fears set forth in the late remonstrance were to be realized. New Amsterdam, the metropolis, waa the first to feel the shock of savage warfare. Director Stuy ve- sant had just departed to chastise the Swedes for their en- croachments on the Delaware, when a horde of armed Indians, estimated at nineteen hundred, landed at New Amsterdam, early on the morning of Sept. 15th, 1655, and began to break into houses for plunder. The authorities hastily assembled, and held an audience with the chiefs, whom they persuaded to

' Burger Joris, whose name is closely identified with the enrly history of the town, was a native of Hersberg, in Silesia, and came to Rensselaerswyck in 1637, being by occupation a smith. There he lived for about five years, and then bought a vessel and became a trader on the Hudson, but he even- tually settled on his farm at the Dutch Kills, where he died in 1671, aged fifty-nine. He was evidently a man of character and ability, as he was re- peatedly called to assist in the civil government of the township. He mar- ried, in ] 639, Engeltie Mans, from Compst, in Sweden, and had sons, Joris, born 1647; Hermanns, born 1652; Claes, born 1657; Johannes, born 1661; and Elias, born 1664. These took the patronymic Burger, and in fact their father was sometimes called Mr. Burger. They settled in New-York, and from them the Burger family of that city have descended. Burger Joris' farm was sold to John Parcell, the progenitor of the Parcell family, and is now owned by Abraham and William Paynter.

38 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

retire with their warriors, without the walls ; but when night set in, the savages grew bolder, shot the Attorney-General with an arrow, and felled another to the ground with an axe. A great tumult now ensued, with cries of murder, and the sol- diers and armed citizens rushed from the fort, and fell upon the Indians, forcing them to take to their canoes, while the dead of both parties marked the scene of bloody encounter. The savages were inflamed to the utmost ; they burned Pavo- nia, then poured out their wrath on the settlers at Staten Island, and for three days the scalping knife and tomahawk descended in vengeance on the unprotected Dutch farmers, numbers of whom were slain, and others taken into captivity, while their bouweries were desolated by fire. Unfortunately for the peace of Middelburg, one of her chief citizens, Edward Jessup, together with Henry Newton, a resident at Mespat, and Thomas Newton, afterward, if not then, a landholder in Middel- burg, were all present at New Amsterdam on the night of the battle, and assisted in repulsing the savages. The latter swore vengeance against these three persons, and avowed their in- tention to send a formal demand for their surrender, though they professed to entertain no hostile feelings toward any other of the English settlers ; but the Dutch they threatened to extir- pate, and pick out of every town on Long Island. This alarm- ing intelligence being communicated to the people of Middel- burg by Lieut. Thomas Wheeler, of Westchester, several of the settlers near Mespat Kill, among whom were Joseph Fow- ler, Goodman Betts,' Samuel Toe, and his son-in-law William Reede, Joseph Safltbrd, and Thomas Reede, held a consultation, and despatched two of their number to lay the news before the Director and Council.

As a consequence, the most lively apprehensions existed at Middelburg, and particularly among the Dutch settlers on the out-plantations who, from their exposed position became sub- ject to harrassing fears, lest in the stilly hour of midnight the savages should execute upon them the bloody threats which they had uttered. Nor were their fears altogether disappoint-

' Tlie title Goodman was at this period a familiar term of address among the English. For its origin see " Mather's Magnalia," i. 17. Mr. de- noted a higher degree of respect, and was seldom ajiplied to any but ministers, magistrates, or schoolmasters.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 39

ed. On a plantation of 150 acres, lying on tlie nortlieast side of Annetie Jans' farm, or Dominie's Hook, lived Pieter An- driessen de Schoorsteenveger, who had obtained a groundbrief, Oct. 19th, 1645. Three or four canoes of savages, prowling about Hellgate, surprised Pieter Andriessen and carried him away into captivity. This new outrage was not at all calculated to lull the anxiety of the settlers at the Dutch Kills, and the following incident, which occurred there soon after, more fully illustrates the melancholy state of feeling that existed. Joris de Caper, ancestor of the Van Alsts, was engaged threshing his grain, assisted by his father-in-law Harmen Hendricksen, and Teunis Jansen van Commel. On the night of Thursday, Nov. 4th, these three lay down in the garner to sleep, but were soon after disturbed by the hens cackling, upon which they lis- tened, and presently there came a loud knocking at the door, with cries of ho ! ho ! ho ! the unearthly yell of the savage, rend- ing the midnight air ! Greatly frightened, the three escaped from the barn, and each sought a place of security. Harmen ran across the farm toward the house of Schoorsteenveger, and, creeping up to the door, he heard a word in the Dutch lan- guage, whereupon he entered, found a fire blazing on the hearth, and the pretended Indians, who were no other than several Dutchmen from the Manhattans, preparing to spit the fowls. The miscreants endeavored to excuse themselves by alleging that hunger drove them to it, and begging Harmen to say nothing about it, promised to pay for the fowls on their return to the city. Thus the unsettled state of the country offered an occasion with the unprincipled to practice vile deeds and lay them at the door of the Indian. Aptly was this gloomy period called, in after years, "the troublesome time." The year 1656 was productive of events not less dangerous to the peace of the community, and perhaps more to be depri- cated than those just witnessed. To secure the public ordi- nances of religion, had been a primary object with the settlers at Middelburg, who could not' but attach value to those sacred institutions for which many of them had periled the ocean and wilderness. The people were partly Independents and partly Presbyterians. The latter were too few or too poor to support a minister, but the former enjoyed the services of the Eev. John Moore, who preached, but administered no sacraments.

40 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

For the public accommodation, and Avith the approbation and help of the Director-general, the ground lately occupied by the old Episcopal parsonage had been appropriated, and a build- ing erected thereon by the town, which served the double pur- pose of a church and a residence for the minister.' Now it occurred, during a temporary absence of Mr. Moore, that cer- tain individuals convened for religious worship, ignorant or regardless of the fact that such meetings had been declared ille- gal unless convoked by an authorized clergyman. On hearing what had transpired at Middelburg, the Dutch ministers in New Amsterdam, Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius, laid the matter before the Director and Council, stating " that they are informed by different persons residing at Middelburg, within the jurisdiction of this province, that since the departure, and in the absence of the Rev. Moore, before a minister of the gospel in that place, some inhabitants and unqualified persons did not hesitate to hold conventicles, and to act as ministers, from which nothing else can be expected but discord, confu- sion, and disorders in church and state, not only in that village, but even to a bad example to others in this province ; they so. licit therefore that your honors will provide against it by your authority, and that you will ajopoint during the absence of Mr. Moore, some other able person, who on Sunday may preserve suitable religious worship, by reading the Bible, and some edi- fying orthodox author."

In reply, the Council, on Jan. 15th, remark that their former edicts provide a remedy against "conventicles," and "preach- ing of the gospel by unqualified persons ;" and request the reverend gentlemen to visit Middelburg, and with the advice of the magistrates and principal men, seek out " a person quali- fied to give desirable lectures." On the back of this the Coun-

' Thomas Reede wns the builder of this house, for whose payment Thomas Stevenson and otlier responsible citizens became the town's security. Many of my readers will recollect the old Episcopal parsonage which was standing a few years since on the spot now occupied by the residence of the Misses Palmer. There is reason to believe that this antiquated building was the identical one mentioned in the text. This is inferred from a known resemblance in their construction, and the fact that the late parsonage liouse bore all the marks of extreme age, and even anterior to the Revolution was 80 much in decay tiiat it was then debated whether to pull it down or repair it, the latter course being finally adopted.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 41

oil issued a flaming ordinance against conventicles and persons " who deign to explain the holy word of God without being enabled to by any political or ecclesiastical authority," thereby originating " many calamities, heresies, and schisms," It de- clared a heavy fine against those who should officiate at such assemblies, "either as preachers, readers, or singers," or who should even attend the same. We are not informed who were the individuals in Middelburg whose piety was thus called to endure the rebuke of the sectaries in church and government. It was the first violation of the rights of conscience in New Netherland, and the beginning of a series of intolerant mea- sures that fixed a lasting stain on the administration of Stuy- vesant.

The troubles yet experienced from the savages were now so alarming as to require that the Dutch residents on or in the vicinity of Mespat Kill, should concentrate themselves for their mutual safety ; for not without great hazard could they remain on their bouweries or flirms. They therefore formed a village on "Smith's Island" at the English Kills, now known as Fur- man's or Maspeth Island. The Hon. Nicasins De Sille, one of the governor's council, to whom a patent for the island was granted March 27th, 1656, had the direction of the new settle- ment, to which was given the name of De Sille's native place, Aernhem, a strongly fortified and secure town on the Rhine, and capital of the province of Guelderland. Streets and lots were laid out, cottages erected, and improvements made; and the hamlet arose as if by magic. The month of April found the new villagers actively employed in mowing the adjacent meadows.

But in so doing, they exceeded their limits, and trespassed on "the meadows which were previously given to the village of Middelburg." This was made known to the Council by Ro- bert Coe, one of the magistrates, who requested that a division line might be run between the hayland of the respective vil- lages ; in compliance with which a resolution was passed to send thither two commissaries to fix their boundaries. This was the germ of a protracted dispute respecting the meadows at Mes- pat Kills.

The inhabitants of Middelburg now began to experience the disadvantage of having no town patent, none having yet

42 ANNALS OF NKWTOWN.

been gi'antecl them, notwithstanding the complaints which this omission had years before produced. The reason or reasons which prompted Stuy vesant to deny them a patent cannot be positively affirmed, but it probably resulted in no small degree from his arbitrary nature, influenced by jealousy of the increas- ing number and strength of the English settlers. Middelburg had manifested but little attachment to his government, and considerable for that of New-England, but the Director did not perceive that this alienation was the result of his own fatal policy towards them. His procedure in relation to their patent was opposed to the spirit, if not the letter, of the charter of freedoms and exemptions, as well as to custom; for general patents had been granted to their neighbors composing the towns of Hempstead, Flushing, and Gravesend. The people of Middelburg rightly estimated the legal value of such an instru- ment, for with their bounds yet undetermined, they lay open to continual encroachment from the adjacent settlements, to which that of Rustdorp or Jamaica was also added this year. Failing, therefore, to secure a title for their lands from the nominal owners, they turned to the Indians, the genuine pro- prietors of the soil, to obtain one from them by an equitable purchase. Negotiations for that purpose were entered into with Rowerowestco and PomAvaukon, sachems claiming propriety in the Middelbvirg lands, who in consideration of the sum here- after specified, subscribed a deed on April 12th, 1656, in which they assigned their entire right in the said lands, except a tract of " upland lying under the hills southward from the town place now seated," which they reserved as hunting ground, conveying only the "grass for mowing, and feed and timber," but giving to the people of Middelburg the preemptive right to the said reservation whenever they should conclude to sell it. The bounderies set forth in this deed did not differ very materially from those of the Doughty patent.

This purchase reflects honor upon the memory of the pio- neer settlers of Middelburg. Actuated by the same principles of justice towards the artless savage which has given the name of William Penn an eternal fame, they secured not only the good will of the red man, but also the comfortable reflection that their land title was of the best possible character, because derived from those whom the Great Spirit had constituted the

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

43

true proprietors of the soil. Each of the " purchasers " as they continued to be called gave according to his possessions at the rate of a shilling per acre, and most fortunately their names are preserved, together with the sums they respectively paid. The list is entitled "the Indian rate," and presents a nearly perfect list of the male residents of Middelburg in 1658, four years after the town was planted.

Richard Gildersleeve, Robert Coe, .... John Moore, . . John Reeder, . . Thomas Reede, . Widow Stevens, . Samuel Wheeler, Ralph Hunt, . . John Layton, . . James Herod, . . Thomas Hazard,

Paya,

John Lauronson, . John Burroughes, Edward Jessup, . John Gray, . . . Hendrick Jansen, John Hicks, . , . James Way, . . Thomas Robinson, . Thomas Stevenson, John Coe, .... Nicholas Carter, William Palmer, John Furman, . . William Lawrence Henry Feeke, William Wood, .

£ s. d.

2 10 0

4 0 0

2 0 0

1 10 0

0 15 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 5 0

0 10 0

1 10 0 1 10 0 4 0 0

5 0 10 0 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

0 12 0

1 0 0

1 10 0 0 2 6

0 10 0

2 0 0

1 0 0

James Stewart, . Thomas Paine, . . Thomas Lawrence, James Smith, . . Peter Meacock, . Edmund Strickland Thomas Newton, Elias Bayley, . . James Bradish, . Joseph Fowler, . Richard Betts, . Robert Pudington, William Herrick, Thomas Wandell, Samuel Toe, . . Thomas Reede,. . Richard Walker, Colesay, .... Richard Bullock, James Lauronson, . Brumme, ....

Aaron,

Brian Newton, Smith's Island, . . Thomas Greedy, . John Hobby, . . . Trafsaus, . . .

£

1 0 1 , 1 1 0 0 0 0

1 1 1

2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 _0 £68

.'. d.

12 6 10 0 10 0

0 0

0 0

10 0

15 0 10 0 10 0

0 0

10 0

10 0

0 0

10 0

10 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

10 0

13 4 13 4

16 8 0 0 2 0 2 0

16 4

CHAPTER III.

Proposal to erect a grist-mill. Dispute about the Town House. Death of Rev. Mr. Moore. Indian outrage at Mespat Kill. Intemperance makes its appearance. Its effect illustrated. General good character of the founders of Middelburg. Care to preserve sound morals. Curious penalties for crime.— Elias Bayley, the marshal, becomes unpopular and loses his office. Wolves trouble the inhabitants. First schoolmaster in Middelburg. Village of Aeruhem broken up. Stuyve- Bant grants the meadovi's at Mespat Kill to Bushwick, which creates discontent. Several regulations and changes instituted. Tithes or tenths become due. Town House repaired. Plunders Neck purchased. Call of Rev. William Lever- ich. Political troubles. Connecticut claims all Long Island. Responded to by Middelburg and the other English towns. Way preparing for open revolt. Captain Coo corresponds with Connecticut. Efforts to effect a combination against the Dutch. James Christie arrested and taken to New Amsterdam. Causes an uproar at Middelburg. The people take up arms. Christie's release demanded. Excitement increases. Curious letter to Stuyvesant. Middelburg received under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. Its name changed to Hastings. Inhabitants sign a declaration of their allegiance to England. Choose town officers in the name of the King. Adopt the English laws. Truce between Stuyvesant and the English towns. Stuyvesant sends letters to Hastings. Are referred to ('onnecticut Court. Measures to settle the Indian reservation. A third of Seller Neck bought. Hellgate Neck purchased by William Hallett. Hewlett's Island. 1657 to 1664.

The acquisition of the native right to the soil appears to have given a new impulse to public enterprise. Though one flouring mill, owned by John Coe, was in operation at the mouth of the Horsebrook, Edward Jessup contemplated the erection of another on the stream emptying at Fish's Point, which bore the Indian name Sackhickneyah, but was " com- monly called Wessel's Creek," and afterwards from a person who lived at this date on the poor's bouwery "Lodowick's Brook." Upon this creek " Wessel's mill " had formerly stood, but was probably destroyed in the Indian troubles when the savages visited Mespat with the destructive fire- brand, and the out-plantations were even more obnoxious to their attacks.

"The work being matter of charge and hazard," Mr. Jes- sup applied to the Council, January 15th, 1657, for " the liberty of the above-said creek, with a small tract of land, as your

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 45

honors see expedient for a work of that nature, with a piece of meadow if it be there to be found, and also that you would be pleased to order that none shall erect either mill or mills so near the mill that I intend to build, as may be a hindrance or prejudice to the said mill : she doing the work well and sufficiently, and dealing honestly, as is requested in the premises ; and likewise that the said creek may be free from engagements to any other. It is not my desire to be a hin- drance to any man, or any prejudice to my loving and res- pected friend Mr. Coe, but so far as I apprehend, as yet his mill is overwrought, and the country may well employ two mills, and both have work enough."

It does not appear that this project was executed, or the request granted, and it is hardly to be supposed that the influential proprietors of the poor's bouwery would have given their assent to the monopoly of this stream, which formed the eastern bounds of their plantation. In fact, within a few years the deacons disposed of a part of their land for a mill seat, and a grist mill was erected where that of Mr. Jack- son now stands.

The Eev. Mr. Moore having returned to Middelburg to resume his official duties, the inhabitants of the town, in effect- ing an agreement with him concerning his clerical services, gave him a title to the town-house under the hands of the clerk and one of the magistrates. This was done "in a publique meeting," but the measure was opposed by a number of individuals, who, perhaps, belonged to the Presbyterian party. They held that the building was town property, and at its erec- tion was intended to be kept for the use of the ministry succes- sively. A remonstrance was therefore got up and sent to the Director-general. It was written by John Burroughes, and read thus :

To the Honorable Governor :

Worthy Sir : We whose names are underwritten, desire to make our humble requests known in respect to the house builded here by tlie town of Middelburg for public use for a minister for continuance, vvhich some of the town hath given away to Mr. Moore for his own property, and his after him ; wherein we think we are wronged, and the town left destitute, if Mr. Moore please to leave us, or if he should die, for we know men are mortal ; then we are to seek both for minister and house to entertain him into ;

4

46 ANNALS OFNEWTOWN.

therefore we do humbly entreat that your honor would be pleased to take it into consideration, and judge the equity of the thing, and the damage that may ensue. Thus leaving you to God and hi3 grace, we rest,

John Bukroughes, Thomas Cornish,

Jan. 22d, 1657. John Layton, Nicholas Carter,

Robert Pudington, Samuel Toe. Francis Swaine,

Stuyvesant gave a decision for the remonstrants. He could hardly credit that the house of the minister, built for a public use, had been disposed of as stated, and summoned the magistrates to render the reasons for this novel proceeding. They were also charged not to harm the bearer, John Layton.

The allusion made in the above remonstrance to the com- mon mortality of our nature seemed prophetic as regarded Mr. Moore, for he was soon called to exchange his earthly tene- ment for a quiet repose in the " narrow house." He ceased from his labors, in September, 1657, leaving four sons to perpetuate his name, whose descendants are now wide spread and very numerous.

Little of interest as connected with Middelburg, character- ized the year or two which immediately succeeded the death of Mr. Moore. One event, however, is worthy of record, as illustrating the perils of that period. This was the wanton murder of a Dutch family at Mespat Kills, on the night of AiTgust 26th, 1659. That day three Raritan Indians came to the house of Eldert Engelberts, a native of Eland, in East Friesland, who resided with his family in an isolated place at the Kills. While the savages were engaged by the fire " pick- ing and boiling pigeons," they became acquainted with the fact that there was seventy or eighty guilders' worth of wampum in the house. Avarice took possession of the savages, and that night they murdered Engelberts, his wife and two men living in the family, rifled the house, and escaped. Immediate effort was made by the Director-general to discover the mur- derers, but with what result is not known.

But an enemy more insidious and fatal to the peace of the settlement, was lurking about its habitations. Intemperance had appeared to such an extent as to call for some restrictions upon the sale of spirituous liquors. On August 22d, 1659, the town court ordered that no inhabitant of the place should sell any liquors or strong drink by retail, after the first of the ensuing

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 47

September, witliout an order from the magistrates, upon pe- nalty of fifty guilders, or about nineteen dollars. The neces- sity that existed for wholesome regulations to check the mad- dening influence of ardent spirits, is shown by the follow- ing; a humiliating illustration of the abiding truth of the Divine declaration, " Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging." It occurred early in 1660, that Ellen Wall, who "tapped" li- quor at the English Kills had received an anchor of brandy- wine at the landing-place. While it lay there unguarded, two men, overpowered by the temptation to test its quality, broached the cask and not only drank themselves, but invited an acquaintance who lived hard by, to enjoy it with them. For the fourth time was the " porringer" filled, and with it the two in their boat left the landing, when they wer§ met by Joseph Fowler coming up the Kill, in his canoe ; observing the pot of liquor in the bottom of their canoe, he jocosely asked the men whether that liquor was for him. " Drink," replied one of them, " but you must hold down your head." Crime always seeks concealment. Merry over their exploit, and boasting that they " did draw four porringers full of Old Nelly's drink," the free use of her brandy- wine soon reached the ears of Ellen, who the next day fell into a sharp dispute about it with the wife of one of the offenders, which, shameful to tell, ended in a pitched battle between these female pugilists, in which Ellen was bruised and roughly handled, and the air was made to resound with their cries ; the disgraceful scene being wit- nessed by Mr. Fowler from his field, and by other neighbors. Ellen sued and recovered pay for her liquor, but the court also fined the women each six guilders, and ordered them for the future " to refrain such drunken bouts."

Such broils were rare exceptions to the usual harmony which prevailed within the bounds of Middelburg. The good character of the inhabitants generally, is seen in the care which they took to preserve good morals, by excluding from their society such persons as were likely to endanger them. No individual could find a residence among them excej)t he were admitted by a popular vote. And instances occurred where persons were threatened to be turned out of the town for improper conduct. The town court was active and rigid in the imposition of penalties against the violators of law and

48 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

good order, and though the punishment inflicted was often mild, it was as humbhng in its effects as it was pecuhar in kind. This year, 1660, Capt. Coe "laid an indictment" against an individual for feloniously taking corn from his mill, and being convicted of the crime, the culprit was sentenced, besides making amends to Capt. Coe, "to walk from Mr. Doughty's house, with two rods under each arm, and the drum beating before him, iintil he comes to Mr. Jessup's house, and then he is to have his liberty," and further, " to refrain walking at unseasonable hours, for time to come, because it gives cause of suspicion." Other instances might be cited illustrative of the manner in which criminal jurisprudence was administered in those days, one of which was sitting in the stocks on the court days. Justice dispensed so publicly must have had a salutary effect upon the offender, or at least imposed a strong restraint upon others inclined to similar practices.

The marshal of the town court at this day was Elias Bay ley, who had filled the office for a series of years, but like too many others clothed with a brief authority, he ventured upon an abuse of his powers, and, now found himself at a sore issue with the inhabitants. In 1655 Mr. Bayley was directed by the magistrates to execute a certain judgment against Thomas Stevenson. The marshal seized upon one of his yoke cattle, and deaf to the entreaties of Stevenson, who tendered him part of the mone}'', the balance of which Mr. Coe, the magis- trate, on being appealed to by Stevenson, kindly offered to advance, he proceeded to kill the ox. Mr. Stevenson made complaint to the Council, which decided May 8th, 1657, that Bayley should make reparation ; declaring it " contrary to divine and human laws " to deprive a man of his work-ox. This rashness, especially unbecoming in an officer of justice, served to render the marshal unpopular, and he was finally removed by a vote of the town, and Thomas Pettit, Sen. chosen in his stead. Bayley, however, continued to assert his right to the of&ce in defiance of the people, which so incensed the public mind against him, that on March 9th, 1660, the inhabitants " being generally met together for the choosing of magistrates and marshal," not a vote was cast for him. Ne- vertheless he still declared his intention to serve " in spite of the town," and it was only through an application of the

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 49

inhabitants to the Director-general, in which they complained of his " usurping the place of an attorney also, pleading any cause, which they suppose to be against the law of the land," that Bayley was set aside.

But the honest inhabitants of Middelburg had other ills to contend with, in the wild animals that infested their forests ; the wolves proved especially annoying, failing not in their nightly prowlings to prey upon the flocks and herds. To check this evil, a bounty was offered for wolves killed within the town, and the inhabitants at the above meeting formed a subscription for this object. The Indians, from their pecu- liar habits, proved valuable agents in the destruction of these public enemies.

After the demise of the Kev. John Moore, his bereaved family were left in the quiet possession of the town-house for four and a half years, during which period the town was destitute of the public means of grace. But the deficiency was now to be in part supplied by the services of a school- master, and it was expected that Mr. Doughty, who had married the widow of Mr. Moore, would surrender the premises to the use of the new teacher. To this he objected, which gave rise to the following interesting memorial pre- sented to the Director and Council.

Whereas, God hath been pleased of late years to deprive us of Middel- burg, on Long Island, of the public means of grace and salvation, and also of the education of our children in schoolastic discipline, the way to true happiness : but yet God having in mercy at last provided for us a help meet for the discipline and education of our children, and, by the same person, help in the sabbath exercises, we therefore, who never gave, nor consented to the giving of tlie housing and lands built and fenced in, and also dedicated for the use of the public dispensation of God's word unto us, do humbly entreat your honorable lordship, that this our said schoolmaster, Richard Mills by nnme, may be by your lordship possessed of the said housing and lands, for his use and ours also, for our children's education and the sabbath exercise, tlie which God doth require, and we have need of for us and our children. As the housing now stands it is like to go all to wreck and ruin, the fences are falling down, the house and barn decaying and wanteth repair, and Francis Doughty doth not repair it, nor the town as it stands be- tween him and them, we will not repair it, and by tliis means it is like to come to nothing in a short time, and so we, and your lordship also, shall be disap- pointed; therefore our humble request to your lordship is, that this our

50 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

schoolmaster, and at present our soul's help in dispensing God's word to us and our children every Lord's day, may be settled in it, to enjoy it without any molestation from Francis Doughty, or any of his, for so long time as our God shall be pleased to continue him amongst us, or to provide another for us. Thus knowing that your lordship is as willing to further our souls' good as our bodies', we rest your lordship's humble petitioners.

Thomas Hunt, Mary Ryder,

Francis Swaine, John Barker,

James Bradish, John Lauronson,

James Lauronson, Thomas Cornish,

Nicholas Carter, Samuel Toe.

To this memorial was returned the following reply :

These presents do require and order Francis Doughty, and whoever it may concern, to give and grant unto the present schoolmaster, Mr. Richard Mills, a quiet possession of the said house and land ; it being with our knowledge, consent and help, built for the public use of the ministry, and therefore may not, cannot be given and transported for a private heritage. But if he or his wife hath to demand any remainder of means or salary of her deceased husband, Mr. John Moore, late minister of the aforementioned town, it is ordered, and these presents do order the magistrates and inhabitants of the said town to give unto the heirs what is due them. Done in Amsterdam, in New Netherland, this 18th of February, 166L

P. Stuyvesant.

In compliance with this order, the premises were vacated, and Mr. Eichard Mills, the first schoolmaster of Middelburg, was inducted into the town-house, and entered upon the responsible duties of his vocation.

This spring terminated the existence of the village of Aern- hem, on Smith's Island, It was broken up by order of the Direc- tor and Council, upon the ground that it might hinder the pro- gress of the new village of Bushwich, and the following year the tenantless cottages were removed upon the request of the magistrates of the new settlement, who feared they might be again occupied. Bush wick was planted in 1660, by a company of French, joined by a few Dutchmen, among whom was Joost Casperse, ancestor of the Springsteens, of Newtown. The succeeding year, upon invitation of the inhabitants, the Director-general visited the new village on the 14th of March, and conferred upon it the name of Boswyck, signifjnng a hamlet in the woods. The occasion was propitious, and the

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 51

people embrcaced it to request of the Director certain privileges, and the grant of a large tract of land adjoining, as pasturage for their cattle, the bounds of which were set forth as extending " from the east side of Smith's Island southward to the hills, and along said hills westward, to the heights of Merck's plan- tation, and from the said heights northerly, by Merck's plan- tation, to Bush wick, being a four cornered plot of land." ' Willing to favor the applicants, Stuyvesant gave them their request.

This grant infringed largely upon the Middelburg purchase, and produced great dissatisfaction among the settlers, some of whom went to the Director with their complaint. Thomas Wandell stated, that having understood that the whole hay meadow situated in Mespat Kills, had been allowed to the inhabitants and farmers of the village of Bushwick to be distributed among them by lot, he would of course lose his meadow granted him in the year 1654, by the magistrates of Middelburg, under the Director's order, " and lying between Smith's Island and the lands of Eldert Engelberts, at the place where he was massacred by the savages." He prayed that he might retain his meadow, which he was permitted to do, upon proving his title.

The current year seems to have been marked by no other event of general interest. During the spring of 1662 several votes were taken for the better regulation of the town. On March 13th " the town homelot and barn " were let to Thomas Roberts, upon condition of his repairing the barn and fences. Edward Jessup, Samuel Toe, John Layton and John Burroughes were empowered to levy a rate or tax of five stivers (about five cents !) on the acre, for the payment of the town debts. Thomas Lawrence, who had filled the office of town clerk for several 3''ears, was succeeded by John Bur- roughes, who in May was appointed clerk of the court also. And to guard against some actual or apprehended violation of the custom of the town, respecting the admission of new inhabitants, it was resolved, May 23d, "that the man coming into the town irregularly, at the call the best course shall be taken to remove him, being a man of an evil report."

1 Marcus de Suson, here referred to, had a plantation near Cripplebush.

52 ANNALSOFNEWTOWN.

In accordance with the terms of the Freedoms and Exemp- tions established in 1640, the founders of Middelburg, had hitherto been free from all imposts or taxes to the general government. The prescribed term for such exemption had now expired, and Director Stuyvesant, ever attentive to the interests of his superiors, dispatched the following epistle to remind them that they would thenceforth be required to ren- der annually the tenth part of their harvest, or commute for the same, on such terms as should be mutually agreed upon.

Loving Friends :

Whereas the time of ten years and also the freedom of tenths is expired, these presents do order the magistrates, and also all the inhabitants of the town of Middelburg, and all the other plantations in Mespat Kill, that none of them shall presume or undertake to remove their fruits or increase, as corn, maize, tobacco, &c. before they have agreed for the year about the tithes, with the Governor-genenil and Council, or their commissioners, upon forfeiture of fifty guilders. Done in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, on the 3d of July, 1662. P. Stuvvesant.

Upon the reception of this the inhabitants met on July 7th, and appointed Edward Jessup, Eichard Betts, and Francis Swaine, to wait upon the Director, and agree with him "for the tithes for the present year, both for town and kill."

The toils of harvest being ended, attention was turned to making the much needed repairs upon the town-house, as was called the only public building in the village, and which hitherto had served, as occasion required, the several purposes of a church, school-house, and parsonage. James Lauronson was engaged September 18th, for the sum of one hundred guilders, or forty dollars, to underpin, with stone and mor- tar, the house and the leanto ; to lath and plaster both rooms, (the town furnishing lath and nails) ; to build an oven, repair the chimney, and do what was needful in the chamber, all to be completed in six weeks. William Lawrence was also' employed to cover the roof with a good coat of thatch, for forty-two guilders, and Lauronson engaged to provide the thatch and deliver it at the town-house, for the additional sum of forty-five guilders. Payment was to be made these individuals, " after the value of wheat at six guilders a bushel."

While this work was in progress, Eichard Betts, Samuel Toe, John Scudder, John Coe, Geotge Sergeant, John Denman

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

53

and Thomas Eeede purchased, Oct. 3d, 1662, of the Indian chiefs Womatupa, Wonoxe, and Powatahuman the neck of meadow-land " commonly called Plunder's Neck by the Eng- lish," lying on the south side of Long Island, and " bounded on the eas't side by the river Hohosboco, with a small brook on the west side running into the river before mentioned." This acquisition of salt meadow was found highly conducive to the success of the Middelburg farmers, because salt hay was necessary to the healthy growth and sustenance of their cattle, which " were subject to diseases when they were pastured on new ground, and fed on fresh hay only."

The thorough fitting up of the town-house was probably with a view to the settlement of the Eev. William Leverich, who several months after is found occupying the building, and preaching the Gospel among the people of Middelburg. This learned and pious man graduated in 1625, at Cambridge, England, and eight years after came to New England, where he "labored in different places about twenty years, part of the time in instructing the Indians about Sandwich, for which purpose he acquired their language. In 1653, he re- moved to Oyster Bay, whence he spent about five years in propagating the gospel among the aborigines on the Island ; but settled, in 1658, as pastor of the church at Huntington, from which he removed with his sons Caleb and Eleazar to Middelburg, about the close of 1662, where his labors met with decided favor. Measures were taken to raise a salary for his support, and afterwards, " for his encoaragement among them," the town gave him two parcels of meadow, and as that was thought " not to be enough to supply his need," there were added twelve acres more at the east end of " Long Traines Meadow." The need of a more suitable place of worship was apparent, and on Jan. 9th, 1663, the town voted to build a ^ " meeting-house," but the execution of this design was inter- rupted by the extraordinary events which soon after transpired. The country was on the verge of revolution and civil war.

Never, perhaps, was there an administration whose pro- ceedings, while aiming to promote good order, morality, and religion, tended to results more directly opposite, than that of the impolitic Stuyvesant. A course of austere legislation; fines and banishment for difference in religious faith and prac-

54 ANNALSOF NEWTOWN,

tice ; injustice and violence to the savages, who in turn wreaked their revenge on the inoffensive settlers, all contributed to lessen the population and produce the deepest aversion to the government. Middelburg had not escaped the iron hand of this policy, as we have seen, and besides, several of the pur- chasers had been harshly dealt with. In 1661, Eichard Bul- lock was cast into prison for debt, but he managed to escape, and probably fled the province ; and five years before that, Thomas Greedy, a man of over seventy years, was, for a slight offence, banished the country. Such undue severity had a direct tendency to disgust and inflame the public mind the English population were totally estranged, and held the go- vernment in utter detestation.

Such was the dominant feeling in Middelburg, when Con- necticut received a charter from Charles II. confirming to that colony the "islands adjacent." By a wanton construction of the patent, Connecticut laid claim to Long Island, as one of the islands referred to. On October 27th, 1662, intelligence was sent to Middelburg and the surrounding English villages, that they were " annexed to the other side of the Sound." The long wished for deliverance offered, and the English towns hailed the event as affording a most opportune occasion to shake off the galling fetters of Dutch tyranny. Thus came the eventful year 1663, and though the design of a union with Connecticut was yet in embryo, Middelburg evinced a dispo- sition to assume the institutions of their English neighbors. On Jan. 9th, they appointed several citizens of trust, after the manner of the New England towns, to conduct their public affairs for the ensuing year. These were John Layton, Fran- _cis Swaine, William Blomfield, John Cochran, Samuel Toe, Eichard Betts, and Ealph Hunt, all or most of whom took an active part in the thrilling events which soon after transpired. The way was preparing for a political revolt; the tempest of opposition to the government which for long years had been gathering blackness, was about to pour forth its angry torrents. It was a season of peculiar trial to the Director of New Netherland, for to add to his sources of uneasiness, the red men were venting their cruelty upon the inhabitants of Esopus, on the Hudson. Stuyvesant resolved to despatch a military force to their assistance. He sent word to Middelburg, that on

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 55

June SOtli, lie would visit that village in person, or send liis depu- ties to obtain recruits for this service. But the application for aid was ill-timed, for when the recruiting officers, consisting of Lieutenants Couwenhoven and Stillwell, and Ensign Samuel Edsall, made their appearance, the magistrates and leading in- dividuals dissuaded the inhabitants from enlisting ; the period was critical, and the events to which they looked forward, might call forth the exercise of their undivided strength. The officers therefore left, having effected nothing.

Notwithstanding this ripening spirit of insubordination, Middelburg yet kept up a show of allegiance, dictated rather by motives of policy, than any genuine feelings of attachment. In the month of July, Thomas Wandell and two other citizens waited upon the Director, and commuted for the tithes for the current year, the amount fixed upon being fifty schepels' of wheat and fifty of peas : upon condition that these and the tithes for the preceding year which yet remained unpaid, should be delivered within a suitable time, at the Company's store- house. It may be doubted, however, considering the anarchy which succeeded, whether the government obtained a particle of this revenue.

Among those in Middelburg that warmly advocated an alliance with Connecticut, was Capt. John Coe, who in August addressed a letter on the subject- to the General Court, at Hartford, and dispatched it by James Christie. The latter delivered his message on the 22d of that month, (old stjde,) two hours after the court broke up, and Messrs. Talcott and Allyne returned an answer by the same person, expressing much regret that that being the case, they could not aid them according to their desire. They recommended an application to the court, at its meeting in autumn, when any memorial would be duly considered. "In the mean time," they add, " we suppose Stuy vesant dare not in the least offer any injury to any of you ; and after the meeting of the commissioners, at October court, they will the better know how to act towai'ds yourselves, or any of the towns about you. If there were a general concurrence in the desire of submitting to our govern- ment, we suppose it would much promote the end aimed at by you." Capt. Talcott also engaged Christie to visit the other

' A schepel was nearly three English pecks.

56 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

villages of Flushing, Hempstead, and Jamaica, "to try if tlie inhabitants were favorably inclined towards the governor of Hartford."

Christie having returned to Middelburg, the absence of Director Stuyvesant, who had sailed for Boston, to meet the Commissioners in relation to their differences, afforded a favor- able occasion to visit the English towns, and accomplish the proposed union in favor of Connecticut. He accordingly pro- ceeded with two others to Gravesend, with "a simple commis- sion signed Coe," and a copy of Talcott's letter ; and the town being called together, Christie produced his letters and informed the assembled villagers that they were no longer subject to the Dutch government, but to that of Hartford. But the sheriff, Nicholas Stillwell, a friend to the administration, regarded this as rather a dubious fact. He accordingly arrested Christie's person and papers, and sent intelligence of the proceeding to the Council, who thereupon detached a sergeant and eight men to convey the prisoner to Fort Amsterdam. On the arrival of the soldiers at Gravesend, messengers were immediately dispatched to Middelburg, to announce the fate of Christie; for which reason the sergeant and his men left with their pri- soner, at two o'clock at night, and returned to the city.

The arrest of their townsman, was heard with indignation at Middelburg, and John Coe and Edward Jessup, with five of the overseers of the town, immediately proceeded, by night, across to Westchester, and returned with Capt. Eichard Panton, a commissioned officer under Connecticut, and a company of men, "to beat arms against the Dutch." They were joined bj'' others in Middelburg, and the next day, Sept. 25th, proceeded to Gravesend, to the number, as was stated, of a hundred and fifty, mounted and on foot. Finding that Christie was beyond the reach of rescue, they determined to secure the person of the sheriff, whose house they surrounded about nine o'clock in the evening, shouting that they would have him, dead or alive, as he had been the instrument in apjDreheuding James Christie. They searched the house with lighted candles, but in vain ; the object of their pursuit had escaped amid the dark- ness, to the residence of his son-in-law. The mob then broached two anchors of brandy that lay in the cellar, and regaling them- selves, departed without fui'ther depredation.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 57

On the morrow Cliristie underwent a rigid examination before the Council. The same day Captains Coe and Panton, in the name of the town, despatched Richard Smith to New Amsterdam with a formal demand on the Attorney-general for his release, threatening, in case of a refusal, to " resent it as a breach of the peace, and act according to the nature of the case." The only reply which this elicited, was a circular letter to Middelburg and the other English villages, calling upon the people to seize any mutinous persons who might come into their town, or give information thereof to the Council, that the good inhabitants may continue in peace and unity, " as they have done, through God's blessing, hitherto." But the Council were alarmed, and at once despatched an account of this outbreak to the Director-general at Boston. The excitement in Middelburg was now at a high pitch, and in the exasperated state of the public mind it became a settled purpose to abjure and resist Dutch authority, and form a junction with Connecticut. But Stuyvesant had at least one English friend in Middelburg. This was John Lauronson, who wrote the following letter to the Director soon after his return, giving him a summary of the reigning disorders.

Right Honorable, the Lord Stevesant :

The cause of my presenting these few lines to your honor, is to let you understand what traitors there are in Middelburg. John Coe, Edward Jessup, Ralph Hunt, Richard Betts, Samuel Toe, John Layton, Francis _Swaine, went to Westchester in the night, and brought Panton, with a company of men, over, to beat arms against the Dutch, and have taken a copy of Panton's commission to kill and slay any that opposeth him. He beats up the drum under a color to train, and when the town is come together, then he plots against your honor. These seven men set almost the whole town against your honor ; they call private meetings, and there they conspire against you, and have put the town in an uproar. And Richard Betts said that he would spend his life and his estate in this cause, and John Layton abused your honor, and said that you are a devil, and a wooden leg rogue, and a picaroon, and rails against your honor that it is a shame to hear him. Edward Jessup hath been a traitor a long time ; he went to New Haven to see to put the town under them,' and I never knew of it, till they came for money as would go for his charges. If some come, be not

» I know not to what occasion this alludes, except it be to the mission of Jessup and Coe to Boston in 1653, when they may have touched at New Haven to secure the favor of that colony.

58 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

taken with them, they will never be at rest, but always a doing of mischief. So, having no more to trouble your honor, I rest your true and faithful subject,

John Lauronson.

At the meeting of tlie general court of Connecticut in October, Capt. John Coe, deputed by Middelburg, and others from the several English towns, proceeded to Hartford and presented petitions to be received to the protection and privi- leges of that colony, seeing " it hath pleased the Highest Majesty to move the heart of the King's Majesty to grant unto your colony such enlargements as comprehends this whole Island, thereby opening a way for us (as we hope) from our present bondage, to such liberties and enlargements as we are informed your patent affords." Agreeably to their request the court declared that " as the lines of their patent extended to the adjoining islands, they accepted those towns under their jurisdiction." On the other hand, an embassy which Stuyve- sant had sent to confer with the general court touching their boundaries, returned without having effected anything, further than to satisfy themselves by seeing the delegates from the disaffected towns on the most intimate terms with the princi- pal men there, "that the doings of Eichard Mills at West- chester, of Coe, Panton and others on Long Island, were done and put into execution at their instigation." The deputies had informed the general court of the detention of Christie : " A countryman of ours, for carrying a message to a neighbor plantation from some of yourselves, has been imprisoned for several weeks, and how long it will continue we know not." Hereupon the secretary of the court wrote to Stuy vesant, Oct. 22d, demanding the release of Christie.

It now remained for Connecticut to follow up the recent act of annexation, and establish formally, her authority on the Island. For this purpose Capt. John Coe, of Middelburg, and Anthony Waters, of Jamaica, who were duly empowered, proceeded, in November, with about eighty men, horse and foot, through the English towns, informed the people that the country belonged to the King, removed the old magistrates and appointed others, who took the oath of fealty to Con- necticut.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 59

Micldelburg was now in allegiance to King Charles II. In the ardor of their loyalty they discarded the name by which the township from its settlement had been designated, and adopted that of Hastings, after a town in Sussex, England, distinguished in history as the scene of the famous victorj^ of William the Conqueror, by which that monarch obtained the throne of Britain. Encouraged by the prospective growth and prosperity of the settlement, the inhabitants gave them- selves early in the winter to matters of public convenience. All persons were required to make " good sufficient fence where their share is to do it," and that by the first day of the ensuing March, upon forfeit of " half a crown," for every rod of fence defective. Four individuals wei^e chosen fence viewers, which is the first notice we have of this not very distinguished, but highly necessary office. Two " common fields," each a single enclosure, in which the villagers proposed unitedly to plough and plant, were directed to be laid out, one on the north and the other on the south of the village lots, which matter was entrusted to four persons, one of whom was James Christie, who had obtained his liberation from the prison of Fort Amsterdam, under bonds.'

1 James Christie was a native of ScotlancI, and at this time was thirty-two years of age. He is first named in 1661, when he bought the dwelling house of Lieut. William Palmer deceased. He was still living at Newtown in 1665, but the following year his widow Sarah married Humphrey Clay. There is reason to believe that he was the ancestor of those families bear- ing the name of Christie in New-Yoi"k city and vicinity.

Capt. Richard Panton, who acted so conspicuous a part in the late com- motions, had for years cherished feelings of hostility to the government, having, in 1656, suffered a brief imprisonment at New Amsterdam for an attempt to throw off the Dutch yoke at Westchester. After the conquest of the country by the English, he continued an influential man at Westchester, both in civil and church affairs, till his decease, in the beginning of the next century, at an advanced age.

Richard Mills, the late schoolmaster of Middelburg, did much to forward the revolt at Westchester, of which place he had become a resident and the leading magistrate. Stuyvesant had him arrested, and he remained in prison for more than a month, but pleading with much importunity to be liberated, being " ancient and weakly," and intending in September to sail for Vii-- ginia, the Council, on June 18th, 1663, passed an order for his release, and he, some time after, left the province.

60

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

The people of Hastings were in the mean while not devoid of apprehensions. Stiiy vesant having consented to a j^ropo- sition of Connecticut, by which the jurisdiction of both pro- vinces over the English on the west end of Long Island, was suspended, these towns were left, by this arrangement, without a head to look to. They thereupon invited Capt. John Scott of Setauket, a person of great influence, to come and settle their government. On his arrival, Hastings, and four other towns entered into a combination, Jan. 4:th, 1664, to manage their own affairs irrespective of Connecticut, until a government should be established among them by his Majesty of England, who, they were told by Capt. Scott, had granted Long Island to the Duke of York.

On the 4th of February'- ensuing, the inhabitants of Hastings met for the transaction of important business. They drew up and signed a compact, in which they set forth the grounds of their allegiance to England, with their determination to defend to any extremity the interests of their royal master. King Charles II. It ran as follows :

To ALL Christian people in any parte of the world, knowe that we, the inhabitants of Hastings, otherwise called Middelburg, on Long Island, in the south parte of New England, doe declare that we are by our birthright privileges subjects of his Majesty, Charles the 2d. of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Kinge ; and within the discoverys of his Royal! prede- cessors are providentially seated ; and by right of the natives, have to the soyle an .absolute righte of inheritance in free socage, to us and our heyrs and assigns for ever, which right, interest and propryety, with his Majesty's Royalty of government we promise to maintalne against any usurpers what- soever, and will further and more particularly doe any thing whereby or wherewith our dread sovereigne and successors may be owned as absolute Emperor in poynt of civill judicature, as by establishinge an authority elected by the major parte of the freehoulders of this towne of Hastings aforesayd, yearly ; this very Island being bounded within the letters pattante granted by Kinge James, of glorious memory, the 18th year of liis reigne, to George, Duke of Buckingham, James, Duke of Lennox, which pattante was bounded between 40 and 48 north lattitude, with all Islands;' and within the sayd

1 This was tlie patent granted in 1620 to the Duke of Lennox, Fernando Gorges and othsrs, under the name of " The Council of Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for planting and governing New England, in America." From this company the Puritans of Plymouth colony obtained their patent in 1627. Two years later the company granted Long Island to Wilham Alexander, Earl of Stirling.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 61

lattitude wee say our just propryetys of soyle being invaded, and iiis Majes- ty's rights usurped by y" Hollanders ; to tiie great scandall of government and discouragement of liis Majesty's hopeful plantation, wliich we will for the futter defend as Englisiimen, just propryetors and Loyall subjects, with our lives and fortunes ; in witness whereunto we have set to our hands this 4th of February, 1663.' [1664, New Style.]

All the inliabitants, with a few exceptions, attached their signatures to this high-toned instrument. '' James Way, Jona- than Hazard, William Lawrence, Samuel Moore, did not sub- scribe." The town proceeded to ballot for a president "for the ensuing year," and " Capt. John Scott, Esquire," received their unanimous vote for that ofiice. Town officers were elected in the name of "his Majesty, Charles 11." consisting of a clerk, constable and five townsmen. The latter were John Burroughes, Ealph Hunt, John Eamsden, Samuel Toe and John Layton. Eichard Betts and John Coe were appointed magistrates for the ensuing year, and deputies to a convention to be held at Hempstead on the 20th inst., " to embrace a body of laws already established in the Council of Connecticut, and to add others for the benefit and advantage of the inhabitants of this Island, in the respective plantations, and any other things whereby his Majesty's royalty and the inhabitants' rights and proprieties may be preserved and farther advanced."

At this crisis, in order to prevent actual hostilities and "the effusion of blood," an agreement was entered into, on Feb. 24th, by Capt. Scott, as president of the English towns and Director Stuyvesant, to preserve friendship and free in- tercourse for a year or longer, until the dispute respecting Long Island should be finally determined by his Majesty of England and the States General of the Netherlands. But Scott's authority was brief. The general court of Connecticut, jea-

' Under the Dutch, the mode of reckoning time in this town was after the new style. Now the old style, which was in use among the English, was in- troduced, according to which the year was understood to commence on the 25th of March, and the month began ten (and on and after March 1st, 1700, eleven) days earlier than by the new style. In 1752, the new style was adopted in this province, by order of Parliament. That year began on Jan. 1st; and on Sept. 3d, following, the old style ended, the next day being considered the 14th, new style. In this work I adhere to the style in use for the time being, but in all cases begin the year with January.

5

62 ANNALS OFNEWTOWN.

lous of liis proceedings on Long Island, sent a company of soldiers to arrest Lim, and lie was thrown into Hartford jail, and liarshly used. This caused dissatisfaction in the English villages, but Gov. Winthrop came over to the Island and in- duced the people to submit to Connecticut. Scott's magistrates were deposed, and others appointed.

Prior to this, an account of the critical state of affairs had been transmitted to the Directors and States General, who in January, 1664, sent over a circular letter to the several dis- affected towns, in which, addressing them as their subjects, they commanded them to continue faithful, under penalty of incurring their utmost displeasure.

On the reception of one of these letters at Hastings, accom- panied by another from Stuyvesant himself, the town met on May 5th, and agreed to refer them to " Connecticut Court," and by direction, James Bradish, the town clerk, immediately forwarded them with a suitable letter on behalf of the town, complaining of several unreasonable demands of the Dutch governor, and praying the court to take "some speedy course for their futter peace and comforte." '

This letter was probably laid before the general court by Capt. John Coe, who the same month took his seat in that body as a deputy from Hastings. During the sitting of said court, the Rev. William Leverich, Richard Betts, Samuel Toe, Caleb Leverich, Ralph Hunt, John Burroughes, John Ramsden, Nicholas Carter, Gershom Moore, and James Christie, made application and were admitted as freemen of Connecticut.

The truce now subsisting, afforded the inhabitants of Hast- ings time to consult upon other and more local interests. " Upon several considerations, the town thought it good to settle the upland lying under the hills southward from the town place now seated." This was the tract reserved by the Indians in their deed to the town, which it was now deemed prudent to secure from the encroachment of their Dutch neighbors, by an actual possession of the premises. At a

1 This letter is printed in Bolton's Hist, of Westchester county, ii. 20,

being supposed to I'efer to a portion of that county, but this is clearly a

mistake. The original is preserved in the Secretary of State's office, Hartford.

ANNALSOFNEWTOWN. 63

meeting of tlie inhabitants, on April 1st, it was resolved that such of the town-people as chose to locate there should each be allowed a six acre lot to build and plant upon, on condition that they should hold themselves as residents of the town, and Tpnj their share of the public charges. But they were to admit no stranger from any other town as an inhabitant with them, unless he had been duly received by a major vote of the peo- ple of Hastings. And whereas the whole town possessed a common interest in this tract, it was further resolved that all should contribute equally to its purchase from the Indian owners, except such as should decline to hold a right in it. Samuel Toe and Ralph Hunt were appointed to view the pre- mises, on the 3d instant, and lay off lots for such as were to locate there, among whom were James Gideons and Thomas Moore, who by a vote then taken, were received as inhabitants.

At this time it was also in contemplation to buy from Ja- maica a part of the " South Sea Meadows," as they were termed, lying on the South Bay. This object was affected the succeed- ing fall, through a committee sent to Jamaica, to " agitate and agree " respecting the said purchase, who happily made a bar- gain for the third of a certain tract, called " Seller Neck," another third of which was sold about the same time to Brook- lyn. It lay east of and adjacent to Plunder's Neck, ah-eady the property of several inhabitants of Hastings.

Another purchase, not less interesting, was that effected August 1st, of this year, by " William Hallett, Sen., of the town of Flushing," of a large tract of land, near Hallett's Cove, from Shawestcont and Erramohar, Indians residing at Shaw- copshee, upon Staten Island, by authority of Mattano, their sagamore, and in the presence of two Indians, Warchan and Kethcaneparan, and Eandell Hewitt, John Coe, Jonathan Rite, and Edward Fisher. It is described as " beginning at the first creek called Suns wick ; westward below Hellgate, upon Long Island, and from the mouth of the aforesaid creek, south to a markt tree fast by a great rock, and from that said markt tree southward, fifteen score rods, to another markt tree, which stands from another little rock a little westward, and from that markt tree east, right to the point of an island which belongs to the poor's bouwery, and from the point of the island belong- ing to the poor's bouwery round by the river through Hellgate

64 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

to the aforesaid creek westward where it began ; also an island whicli is commonly called Hewlett's Island, which island the aforesaid Hewlett did formerly live upon; as also all other islands within this tract of land aforementioned." On Dec, 6th, 1664, the sagamore, Mattano, ''chief of Staten Island and Nya6k," confirmed the above sale, and acknowledged to have received, in full payment for the land, "fifty-eight fathom of wampum, seven coats, one blanket, and four kettles." * This tract, called by the Indians " Sintsiuck," and embracing nearly the whole of " Hellgate Neck," was afterwards confirmed to Hallett by the English governors NicoU and Dongan, or "so much of the aforesaid Indian deed or purchase, as had not before been disposed of to others by groundbrief or patent." It therefore did not affect the several grants to individuals, lying within its limits.^ As Mr. Hallett no longer held himself amenable to the government of New Netherlands he could not have consulted Stuy vesant in making this purchase. This is evident also, from the fact, that on August 19tli, 1664, new style, Abraham Eycken, a planter on the north bounds of the town, obtained from the Director-general, (it being one of his last ofiicial acts,) a patent for Hewlett's Island, above named. It was so called from the ancestor of the Hewlett familj^, of Long Island, (probably Lewis Hewlett, a native of Bucking-

^ Recorded in Secretary of State's office, Albany, Deeds ii, 74, 75.

" In 1667, William Hallett entered a suit against Capt. Thomas Law- rence, for the recovery of Berrien's Island, whicli the latter had obtained a patent for, but Hallett's claim was not admitted.

The residents near this island may congratulate themselves on the failure of the late attempt to convert it into a Potter's Field for the city of New- York, which (in the words of a resolution of the Board of Health of Newtown, prohibiting public burials of the city of New-York, upon said island,) " would be a public nuisance, prejudicial to the health, and endangering the lives of the citizens of the said town." It can scarce be doubted, especially if it were managed a la mode Randell's Island ! Then add to this the conse- quent depreciation of property, while the pleasant water communication and avenues conducting thither, and adorned with country seats,would necessarily become the daily resort of sepulchral processions, and we discover additional propriety in the objections raised to the measure. Among the peculiar circumstances connected with this affiiir, the most ludicrous was an effort of a committee of the N. Y. Corporation, to show that Berrien's Island lay imiliinihe bounds of the county of Neiv-York ! See Document 6 of the N. Y. Board of Assist. Aid. for 1849.

ANNALSOFNEWTOWN. 65

hamsliire, England,) who at an earlier day had been driven from it by the Indians, with the destruction of his house and property. Gov. Nicoll, recognizing the authority of the Dutch governor, to dispose of the island, confirmed it to Eycken, Dec. 24th, 1667, and it is yet owned by the descendants of the original patentee, and known as Biker's Island.

CHAPTEE IV

Conquest of New Netherland by the English. Assembly at Hempstead. Name of Hastings changed to Newtown. Decision respecting the meadows on Mespat Kill. Overseers and Constable and their duties. First mihtia officers under the English. Swine driven to the South Bay to prevent damage to corn crops. An instance. Rules concerning fences, fields and highways. The town buy the Indian reservation. The Indian deed. Some conjectures as to what tribe of Indians inhabited Newtown. Gov. NicoH's patent to the town. Ja- maica paid for Seller Neck, and these meadows divided. The town without a meeting-house or a pastor. At a militia drill the people resolve to have a mi- nister if possible. Nature of the militia service. The constable's house burnt. Precautionary measures. Improvement of the public land. Surveyors chosen. Road laid out through Hempstead Swamp. Several landholders there. Sickness at the English Kills. Scudder's Pond. Regulations respecting the public land. Encouragement to mechanics and tradesmen. Rev. Mr. Leverich recalled to the town. Smith's Island occupied by order of the Purchasers. Bushwick complains to the Court of Sessions. Suit carried to the Council. Referred to the Assizes. Decided in Bushwick's favor. Arbitrary course of the Colonial Government. Newtown and others petition for redress. It effects but little. Roads laid out at the Dutch and English Kills. Ferry and bridge over Newtown Creek. Accidents occur on the latter. Ordered to be repaired. The first church erected in Newtown. 1664 to 1671.

King Charles II. having asserted a right to Long Island, the summer of 1664 witnessed the entire conquest of New Netherland by the English. His Majesty aiming at the total extinction of the Dutch power in North America, and having first purchased the claim of the Earl of Stirling in Long Island, executed an extensive grant of territory, including the whole of New Netherland, to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany, by letters patent, dated March 12tli, 1664. His High- ness, the Duke, thereupon despatched Col. Eichard Nicoll to take possession of his new dominions, who in the month of

66 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

August entered the harbor of New Amsterdam with a naval force, and demanding, received the surrender of the place, to which he gave the name of New- York. The whole of Long Island was now freely yielded up by Connecticut to NicoU, who held the commission of deputy governor.

The distracted state to which the country had been reduced, under her late masters, rendered it necessary that the several portions of it should be properly organized under one system of civil government. With this intent Gov. Nicoll addressed a circular letter to the several towns,' directing the inhabitants to elect delegates to a convention to be held at Hempstead, on Feb. 28th, 1665, to settle the affairs of the province.

This assembly met, and the town of Hastings was repre- sented by Eichard Betts and John Coe. The inhabitants of the out-plantations, who were yet a separate community, also voted for delegates to this assembly, uniting for this purpose, it is presumed, with the town of Flushing.'

A code of laws, previously framed and agreeing with those then in practice in New England, save that they were less severe in matters of conscience and religion, were with sundry amendments, passed, and promulgated, and distinguished as the "Duke's Laws." A variety of concerns, affecting more or less the well being of the community, were acted upon. The province was erected into a shire, called after that in England, Yorkshire, which was subdivided into districts termed, re- spectively, the East, North, and West Eidings. Hastings was included in the West Eiding of Yorkshire, and the township was enlarged by the addition of the out -plantations, comprising the Poor Bowery, Hellgate-Neck, etc. The territory thus brought within the jurisdiction of the town was equal to about one-third of its previous area, and the township as thus consti- tuted received the name of " the New Towne," an appellation by which it had been previously known to some extent. That of Hastings was abandoned.

As one object of the Hempstead convention was to deter-

^ Major Daniel Whitehead deposes, Jan. 10th, 1704, "that at the time of the coming of Coll. Nicoll, Esq. then Governor of the province of New- York, his father and he, then living at Mespatt Kills, (then not belonging to Newtown, they then being distinct from the town of Newtown,) chose depu- ties to send to the general meeting at Hempstead, as other towns did."

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 67

mine the limits of the several towns, the boundary between Newtown and Bushwick was considered on the 4th of March, when the latter town assumed the position of plaintiff, feeling herself aggrieved at the efforts of Newtown, to occupy the meadows at the English Kills and the upland lying south of them. After a hearing of their respective claims, the follow- ing decision was rendered : "The meadow ground in question between Bushwick and New Towne, shall remain to the inha- bitants of the town of Bushwick, as properly, and of right belonging to them ; that is to say, the meadoio lying on the west side of the most ancient Dutch house^ situate on the east side of the head of Mespat Kills, and the inhabitants of New Towne are no way to molest the said town of Bushwick, in the peaceable en- joyment thereof. Touching the upland, the bounds specified in the Middelburg deed, will sufficiently regulate the same."

This appears to have been a compromise of the question, the assembly conceding the meadows to Bushwick, but to Newtown the upland, as bounded in their Indian deed. So well pleased were the inhabitants of Bushwick with this de- cision, that they entered it in the Dutch language upon their records ; but strange to tell, two years later, resuming their old claim, they succeeded in obtaining a patent from Gov. Nicoll, which embraced both the meadows and the upland in question.

The Duke's Laws, by which the province was now to be regulated, erected an overseers' court in the several towns, whose j urisdiction should extend to actions of debt or trespass under five pounds ; a court of sessions to be held in each riding triennially, for the adjudication of all actions or cases from the value of five to twenty pounds, as well as actions of assault or battery, breach of the peace, or crime; a court oi oyer and terminer^ when required, for the more speedy trial of capital offenders, who otherwise awaited the sitting of the court of assi?:e, which was to be held annually in the city of New-York, and was a court of equity and the supreme court of the pro- vince. In this court was vested the legislative power, but being composed of the governor, and the justices who received their appointment from him, the people were still in truth without a voice in the enactment of the public laws, a fact that was no sooner understood by them, than it created the utmost dissatisfaction.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

It will be acceptable to my readers, I presume, to learn some of the leading provisions of the legal code now intro- duced, and by which the affairs of Newtown continued to be regulated till 1683. It enjoined upon each town or parish to build a church sufficient to accommodate two hundred persons ; and each inhabitant was required to pay his proportion of the minister's salary agreed upon, yet they were to enjoy liberty of conscience, and neither to be imprisoned, fined, nor at all molested for differing in judgment in matters of religion, pro- vided they did not deny Christianity.

For the orderly management of all town affairs, including the building and repairing the church, maintaining the minister, and providing for the poor, it was directed that eight of the most able men of each town or parish be appointed overseers^ who were required to be " men of good fame and life, chosen by the plurality of voices 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 preceed the election of constable in point of time, in regard the constable for the year ensuing is to be cho- sen out of that number which are dismist from their office of overseers." Before entering upon their office, they took the oath of allegiance, in the presence of the minister and the old overseers and constable, and then were presented by the said constable and overseers to the court of sessions next succeed- ing their election, and with the new constable took the oath of ofl&ce, which was usually done at the June sessions. They were authorized, together with the constable, to hold town courts weekly or monthly, as was required, where six with the constable, or seven in his absence, were a competent jury, and upon an equal division, the constable had the casting voice. They were to report twice a year to the sessions, "all such abominable sinnes " as came to their knowledge, and had not been punished, including prophane swearing, sabbath-break- ing, and drunkenness. They were frequently to admonish the inhabitants to instruct their children and servants in matters

1 In Sept. 1666, the court of assize ordered that the overseers in each town be reduced to four, and that they have the same authority that the eight possessed ; any two of them, with the constable, being empowered to hold town courta.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 69

of religion and the laws of the country, and to bring np their children and apprentices in some honest and lawful calling or employment. They made all assessments or rates, which usu- ally consisted of three, namely, the minister's rate, the town rate, and the country rate, the latter for the support of the general government. They also appointed from time to time, two persons to be inspectors of pipestaves, a common article of manufacture and export at that day ; and they were like- wise empowered to appoint a sealer of weights and mea- sures, and a public packer or inspector of meat and fish, bar- reled for exportation. Any one of the overseers might act as constable, if the latter was indisposed, or on any emergency, provided he carried with him the staif of the office. From among the overseers, the constable selected the jurors who attended the courts of session and assize. And in all mat- ters, such as the disposing, building upon, planting, and the like, of their lands and woods, granting of lots, election of officers, assessing of rates, &c. a majority of the overseers, with the consent of the constable, were empowered to ordain such "peculiar constitutions" as were necessary for the wel- fare of the town, provided they were not of a criminal nature, and the penalties did not exceed twenty shillings for one offence, and were not repugnant to the public laws, and were confirmed by the court of sessions.

The constable was ordinarily chosen on the first or second day of April, yearly, by the major vote of the freeholders in the town, and was presented in person by the old constable and overseers to the next court of sessions ensuing, when he was sworn into office, the insignia of which was a staff about six foot long, with the king's arms on it. Thence he was re- quired to attend each sitting of the court of sessions, unless an overseer, bearing the staff, should supply his place, or he be excused by the justices on the bench; under a penalty of five pound for every day's absence. The constable was to whip and punish offenders, raise the hue and cry after murder- ers, manslayers, thieves, robbers, and burglars; and also appre- hend without warrant such as were overtaken with drink, swearing, or sabbath-breaking, and vagrant persons, or night- walkers, provided they be taken in the manner, either by the

70 ANNALSOF NEWTOWN.

sight of the constable or by present information from others. He could command the help and assistance of any other per- son upon a penalty for their refusal ; and could, without war- rant, if the case was urgent, search any house or place suspected to be the receptacle of stolen goods, or the person of an offender. It was his business, where cases of debt or tresjDass under five pounds arose between neighbors, to nominate two indifferent persons as arbitrators He was to collect all fines and amerce- ments; and distrain for rates where they were refused to be paid. He, with the concurrence of two overseers, was to satisfy every person, either Christian or Indian, for the killing of wolves, to the value of an Indian coat for each wolf, to be paid out of the public rate; evidence being produced that the animal was killed on Long Island, and not elsewhere; and the constable and overseers were to cause the heads to be nailed over the door of the constable, there to remain, as also to cut off both the ears, in token that the head was bought and paid for. The constable was authorized to "famish the Indians with such quantity of powder and shot as may be thought necessary for their Idlling of wolves, and provisions ; and also may permit them to have their guns mended." *

Actuated by a very proper desire to become acquainted with the laws by which they were in future to be governed, the people of Newtown, at their next meeting, held on March 15th, 1665, for the election of town officers, resolved to provide themselves with a "law book." This code instituted regula- tions for the embodiment and discipline of the militia, equally minute and curious, and which will be noticed hereafter. In keeping therewith. Gov. Nicoll, on the 21st of April, issued commissions to the of&cers of Newtown, constituting Thomas Lawrence, captain, Kalph Hunt, lieutenant, and Gershom Moore, ensign.

Part of the advantage anticipated from the interest secured in the meadows at the south side of the island, was the privi- lege of driving thither the swine of the village, where in com- mon herds they might roam upon the beach, and subsist on the shell-fish that it afforded ; while the corn-fields would tlius

1 "A wolf killed by Peter, the Indian, the 9th of June, 1667." Newtown Records, A. 71.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 71

be preserved from tlieir depredations, whicli " in regard their fences were defective," had hitherto proved a great annoyance, and the cause of much litigation in the town court. Accord- ingly, "about the beginning of harvest," Caleb and Eleazar Leverich, with others of the inhabitants, drove their hogs thither, but those of William Blomfield, one of the company, could not be found at the time appointed, but were finally dis- covered in the corn of Francis Kitfield, employing themselves most assiduously. On inspection, it was found that the fence opposite Kitfield's corn " was no fence, but boughs and rotten sticks," yet it was supposed " that it might have kept out such swine that had not a taste of the corn." Damages were laid by Kitfield, at ten bushels of peas, and recovered.

Similar events, which tended to set neighbors at variance, induced the overseers to adopt a set of rules "■ for the well- subsisting of the town concerning fences, fields, and highways," which, being approved by the court of assize, Sept. 12th, 1665, were entered upon the records of the town court. They provided that all fences of common fields should be kept up and in repair constantly, in winter as well as in summer ; and all other fences to be set up and completed by the first of March, yearly. Any person found guilty of letting down any bars or fence, or setting open any gate to the damage of his neighbor, should repair damages, and be punished or fined at the discretion of the court. Trees felled upon the highway were to be removed within forty-eight hours ; and owners of lots were to stub and clear the highway in front of their land to the width of eight rods, or where there were lots on both sides, to the middle of the street, "for a highway both for carts and cattle to pass." This was to be done by the last of April, in default of which, others were to be hired to do it at the expense of those so negligent.

In the meantime, some progress having been made in the settlement of the Indian reservation, the inhabitants, in 1666, prepared to effect the purchase of this land from the Indians. At their desire, Capt. Eichard Betts went to New-York, on June 23d, and obtained the governor's licence for this purpose, and sixteen days after, the purchase deed was executed, and acknowledged by the chiefs before the governor, and head men of Newtown, and the Indian title to the territory -extinguished

72 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

for the sum of seventy-six pounds, nine shillings. The deed was as follows :

Know all men by these Presents, that We, Rowerowestco and Pom- waukon, do acknowledge and confess that we have firmly and jointly sold, alienated and made over all our lands from us, our heirs, executors, admi- nistrators and assigns, to the inhabitants of Newtowne, alias Middelburg, to them and their heirs for ever, as their own proper and free land or lands, im- munities, appurtenances, privileges and all whatsoever did unto the afore Sachems or Indians belong: from a small creek called by the Indians Cana- paukah, where Burger's mill stands ; from thence, going upon a straight line north-eastward to a certain creek called Sackhickneyah, where Wessel's mill stood: so bounded by the Bay side till it come to the mouth of Flushing creek, so commonly called : so running towards the south-east bounded by the creek side, till it extends itself to the south side of the hills upon the line: from thence running upon the line westward by the south side of the hills, till it meet with the south line which is extended from the west branch of Mespat Kills, called Quandoequareous, by a Dutchman's land, called Hans, the Boore : from thence to the mouth of Mespat Kills, by the Indians so called : these aforesaid bounds or tract of land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, we, the aforesaid Indians have sold in the year one thousand, six hundred, fifty and six, unto the aforesaid inhabitants : only we reserved the privilege of a certain part of upland lying on the south side of the aforesaid town, for our use for hunting, and sold them only the grass for mowing and feed and timber , and have really and fully sold them and theirs for ever the feeding, mowing and timber of tlie foresaid land ; and were firmly bound and engaged in our bill of sale, never to sell or dispose of the said privileges which we had there reserved, to any other but to the inhabitants of Newtowne : therefore, we the said Indians, according to our words and obligations, do here by these presents manifest ourselves to have received full satisf;iction of the foresaid inhabitants, for the privileges we then reserved in the foresaid tract of land, and do really and absolutely give them and their heirs for ever, as full right and title to all the privileges of the snid tract of land, as we can or may of any of our lands that we have or shall sell : denying ourselves of any interest therein, or any claims of any other whatso- ever of all the lands, appurtenances or privileges within the said bounds, we say, we have really sold as aforesaid to the inhabitants of Newtowne, as their own proper free lands: we say from us, our heirs, to them, their heirs, for- ever. Whereunto we have set to our hands, this 9th of July, 1666, and iH the 12th year of his Majesty's reign,

PoMWAUKON, X his mark. Rowerowestco, X his mark. Signed, sealed, in the presence of us,

John Pounds,

John Napper,

Armorehern, X his mark.

Chawescome, X his mark.

ANNALS OFNEW TOWN. 73

Recived of the inhabitants of Newtowne, full satisfoction for all the fore- said lands which herein is specified, we say received by us the 9th of July, 1666, the sum of fifty-five pounds for the first payment; the second and last payment, now paid, twenty-one pounds, nine shillings.

PoMWAUKON X his mark. RowEROwESTCo X his mark. Recorded in the office of New-York, the 13th of July, 1666, by me,

Matthias Nicoll, Secretary}

Careful inquiry as to what tribe these chiefs belonged has resulted in a reasonable probability that they, as well as those who sold Hellgate Neck to William Hallett, were of the Ca- narsee tribe, a clan of reputed power, whose jurisdiction extended over the whole of King's county, the islands in Hellgate, and says Ocallaghan, some part of Newtown.

The extinction of the Indian title to the soil forms an inte- resting epoch in the history of the town. The red man was no longer able to withstand the advance of civilization ; the country began to wear marks of human thrift that made it uncongenial with his ideas of wild solitude and savage life ; his hunting-grounds invaded, the deer and the beaver driven from their haunts, he must needs seek for himself a new home in the unbroken forests. It is probable that the most of them vacated the town at about the period of their last sale to the whites, though there is evidence that scattering ones re- mained for a number of years later, some of whom had their wigwams at Mespat Kills. But the memory of these has long since perished. Occasionally an exhumed relic reminds us that they once lived. The rude implements which they used in the pursuits of peace and the prosecution of war, are the only existing mementoes of the red men of NeAvtown. These consist chiefly of stone axes and arrowheads, and arrows of reed. The late Judge Furman, of Maspeth, had a handsome collection of them, procured in that neighborhood. Upon the property of Mr. Jackson, at the Poor Bowery, was an exten- sive deposit of burnt shells, the remains of their clam-roasts, from which Mr. Fish, former proprietor of the farm, is known to have carted scores if not hundreds of loads, to fertilize his land : and on the property of Mr. Kouwenhoven, adjoining,

1 Sec'y of State's Office, Albany, Deeds ii. 135; also entered in New- town Records, ii. 261.

74 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

there formerly existed a burial place, where, in nurabers, the remains of the red men sleep their last sleep, though every outward appearance of a sepulchre for the dead is now oblite- rated.

Having thus extinguished the Indian title to all their lands, and received a full acquittal from the natives, the inhabitants the succeeding autumn, proceeded to secure the governor's letters patent for the township.' On the 6th of October, they appointed Thomas Lawrence, Ralph Hunt, and John Burroughes to get a draft of the bounds of the town,^ and obtain a patent, pro- mising to bear the expense according to their respective free- hold. On March 1st, 1667, the inhabitants made choice of several trusty citizens to be named as patentees in behalf of the whole town, and the same month the gentlemen entrusted with the business obtained the following instrument under the governor's signet.

Richard Nicoll, Esq., Governor-General under his Royal Highness James, Duke of York and Albany, and of all his Territories in America; To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeih greeting : Whereas, there is a certain town in the West Riding of Yorkshire, upon Long Island, situated and lying on the north-west of the said island, commonly called and known by the name of New Towne, now in tlie tenure or occupation of several freeholders and inhabitants, who having heretofore made lawful purchase of the lands thereunto belonging, have likewise manured and improved a con- siderable part thereof, and settled a competent number of families thereupon; Now for a confirmation unto the said freeholders and inhabitants in their en- joyment and possession of the premises, Know ye, that by virtue of the commission and authority given unto me by his Royal Highness, I have ratified, and confirmed, and granted, and by these presents do ratify, confirm, and grant unto Capt. Richard Betts, Justice of the peace, Capt. Thomas Lawrence, Capt. John Coe, John Burroughes, Ralph Hunt, Daniel White- head, and Burger Joost, as patentees for and on the behalf of themselves and tlieir associates, the freeliolders and inhabitants of tlie said town, their heirs, successors and assigns, all that tract of land which already hath been, or that hereafter shall be purchased for and on the behalf of the said town, whether from the native Indian proprietors, or otherwise, within the bounds and limits hereafter set forth and exprest, vizt. That is to say, to be bounded east by Flushing creek ; north by the Sound ; south by Jamaica line, which runs on

1 For a list of the freeholders at this period, see Appendix G.

* An original draft of Newtown, drawn by John Burroughes, is extant, and is supposed to be the one referred to in the text. It is rudely drawn, and embraces plans of Seller and Plunder's Neck. The localities, Dominie's Hook, Hallett's Cove and Hewlett's Island are also noted.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 75

the south side of the hills ; and west by Mcspat Creek or Kills ; from the westerinost branch thereof to extend upon a south line to the south side of the hills ; from whence to run eastward along the said south side of the hills till it meet with the south line, which comes from the Iiead of Flushing creek aforementioned; all which said tract of land within the bounds and limits aforesaid, and all or any plantation thereupon, from henceforth are to belong and appurtain to the said town ; together with all havens, harbors, creeks, waters, rivers, lakes, fishing, hawking, hunting, and fowling, and all other profits, commodities, emoluments, hereditaments to the said land and premi- ses within the limits and bounds aforementioned and described, belonging or in any wise appurtaining ; and also one-third part of a certain neck of meadow ground called Seller Neck, as it is now laid out and described, lying within the limits of Jamaica, and to have free egress and regress, with liberty of cutting and felling of timber or trees for fencing, and as occasion serves, to make one or more highways through the upland belonging to Jamaica aforesaid, to pass to their said meadow at Seller Neck, or any other meadow to them appertaining at the soiith; to have and to hold all and singular the said lands, hereditaments and premises, with their and every of their appur- tenances, and of every part and parcel thereof, to the said patentees and tiieir associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, to the proper use and behoof of the said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, for ever ; Moreover, I do hereby ratify, confirm and grant unto the said pa- tentees and tlieir associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, all the privi- leges of a town in this government, and that the place of their present habi- tation shall continue and retain the name of New Towne, by which name and title it shall be distinguished in all bargains and sales, deeds, records and writings ; the said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, rendering and paying such duties and acknowledgments as now or hereafter shall be constituted and established by the laws of this government, under the obedience of his Royal Highness, his heirs and successors. Given under my hand and seal, at Fort James, in New-York, on the Island of Man- hattans, the 6th day of March, in the 19th year of the reign of our sovereign lord Charles the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord God, 1666. [1667 New Style.]

RICHARD NICOLL. [seal.]

Tliis spring also witnessed tlie payment of a debt due Ja- maica for the tliird of Seller ISTeck, a receipt for wliicli was obtained and deposited with the town records. Cotemporary with this, a partition of the said neck was effected by the three towns to which it belonged, and on the 3d of July following, the people of Newtown made an allotment of their portion to such of their number as were interested therein.

Pursuant to a decision of the Hempstead assembly, passed

76 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

Marcli 4tli, 1665, the town-house had been surrendered to Mrs. Dought}^, as relict of the Eev. John Moore, and the return of the Eev. William Leverich to Huntington, at about the same time, had left the township destitute of stated ministerial services, a state of things deeply regretted by the pious portion of the community. A militia drill was at hand, and on May 29th, 1667, the merry beat of the drum called the inhabitants to muster for parade, each equipped with musket or match- lock, and bandoleers after the fashion of those times. These occasions, in iNewtown, partook somewhat of the gravity that marked their occurrence in Kew England, where they were begun and ended with public prayer. Thus a " training day," then devoid the revelry that now characterizes it, was not an unbefitting occasion to discuss rehgious affairs. Indeed this preparation for their temporal security seemed to call to mind their souls' danger, while destitute of a spiritual leader. The subject was introduced, and resulted in the passage of a reso- lution to have a minister if they could procure one. But in the infancy of our country, preachers of the gospel were scarce, and not easily obtained, and whatever means were taken in the above instance, to carry out the wish of the people, failed, and they were left for about two years dependent upon such wholesome instruction as the pious fathers of the village were enabled to impart as they assembled in social meeting for praise and prayer. And when we consider that their piety had its birth in an age of trial, and was nurtured in the lap of persecution, it is not marvellous that in this wilderness home, even under adverse circumstances, the flame of Christian de- votion should continue to animate them, and exhibit itself in their eflbrts to secure the means of grace for themselves and offspring. May their descendants prize their religious privi- leges not the less.

Having alluded to one of their martial exercises, it may be well in this connection to take a glance at their military system. The inhabitants were organized into a single company, under a captain, lieutenant and ensign, which officers were elected by the company and commissioned by the governor. They were required to be "persons of best quality, such as are most complaisant to their men, of great courage to all virtuous actions, and only fearful of infamy."

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 77

All male persons above the age of sixteen, except certain judicial and professional characters, including the minister, constable, and schoolmaster, were required to do military duty four days in the year at the company drill, and once at the general training of the riding. Each was required to provide himself with " a good serviceable gunn, allowed sufficient by his military officer, to be kept in constant readiness for present service, with a good sword, bandoleers, or home, a worme, a scowerer, a priming wire, shot bag, and charger ; one pound of good powder, four pounds of pistol bullets, or twenty-four bullets fitted to the gunn, four fathom of serviceable match for match-lock gunn, or four good flints fitted for a fire-lock gunn." At their trainings they were " instructed in the comely handling and ready use of their armes, in all postures of warre, to understand and attend all words of command." In addition to this was the service of " watching and warding, when they are thereunto required and warned by their officers," this spe- cies of service being called for by the peculiar dangers and alarms to which, as the inhabitants of a new country, they were exposed.

Such, briefly, was the military service in Newtown at that early day, as enjoined by the laws of the province, for default of which fines were levied by the civil officers of the town, and applied to furnishing the company with halberds, or battle-axes, drums, and colors. Disorderly conduct upon parade, or upon watch or ward, was punishable by the com- missioned officers of the company, by " stocks, riding wooden horse, or other military ]3U.nishments ;" or they could turn the offender over to the civil authority. On one occasion, a com- plaint being made by Thomas Eoberts against Henry Jansen for breaking a drum, the town court pronounced this curious verdict: "The judgment of the court is that the defendant shall procure another drum rim as good as that was before it was broken ; and for his contempt for not appearing, that he pay all costs of court, and six shillings to Lieut. Moore and Thomas Eoberts, ybr_/ia:m^ another drumy

During the present and the succeeding year, the settlers seem to have given increased attention to the cultivation and improvement of their lands. This summer eleven landholders, oil the north side of the village, enclosed their premises in a

6

78 ANNALS OF NEWTOWI?.

single field, in wliicli tliey raised their usual crops. By tliis neighborly arrangement they secured great economy of labor in the construction of fences ; but as much depended upon the faithfulness with which each performed his part of the work, a formal agreement was first made, signed and recorded, by which each person was required to set up and maintain his share of the fence, under a penalty for neglect. Their agree- ment is dated Jan. 4, 1666-7, and undersigned by John Bur- roughes, Francis Doughty, Ealph Hunt, John Lauronson, James Lauronson, John Stevenson, Daniel Bloomfield, Eichard Osborn, John Keeder, Jonathan Hazard, and John Moore.*

The main articles of produce to which the farmers of New- town gave their attention at this period, were wheat, peas, rye, Indian corn, and tobacco, the last being a staple commodity. Attention had also been given to the culture of fruit trees, and luxuriant orchards of apples, pears, and peaches, began to repay the toil of the husbandman, and to yield quite as abun- dantly as the orchards of Europe, whence these productions had been imported by the settlers.^

Plans being laid, the succeeding winter, by some of the inhabitants, for the occupation of more land, the town thought it expedient to resolve, in public meeting, Jan. 31st, 1668, " that whosoever shall now or hereafter take up land shall not build anywhere but on their homelots, without the town's consent." This measure was evidently designed to prevent the settlement

' On Dec. 10th, 1667, tlie town court authorized Richard Owen to impound the cattle, &c. that should be found in the common field, and to receive for his services 12 pence each for horses, 6 pence a head for neat cattle, and for swine 4 pence a piece. The following is an imperfect list of pound-keepers in Newtown village from that date up to the Revolution : Henry Sawtell, appointed July 6th, 1669; Gershom Hazard, May 5th, 1699; Benjamin Se- verens, Feb. 4th, 1711, whose widow kept it after his death; Capt. Samuel Fish, Jr. April 6th, 1742 till 1757; James Wood, April 5th, 1757; Samuel Fish, Jr. April 4th, 1758, till 1767; Abraham Rapelye, 3d, April 5th, 1768;

Abraham Riker, Jr. April 4tli, 1769; Samuel Morrell, April 3d, 1770;

Bloodgood, April 2d, 1771; Samuel Wainwright, April 7th, 1772 till 1782; Elizabeth Wainwright, April 1st, 1783.

' The far-famed Newtown Pippin, which, " when perfectly matured, is con- sidered by some the finest apple in our country," was first cultivated in an orciiard near Newtown village by one of the Moore family. Last winter they sold in England at 5 cents each, or $20 a barrel, wholesale.

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from becoming scattered, that tHe inliabitants miglit be in a situation for united actioii ^ " any case of emergency ; and it was probably suggested by an alarming fire that occurred about this time on the premises of Ralph Hunt, the constable, by which his dwelling, barn^ out-houst-s, and all his effects were consumed, together with a quantity of coiv^''ta'J;. had been col lected of the inhabitants as public rates. ^ .T]ie discharge of a gun was understood to be the signal of alai-m when danger was near, and a fine of ten shillings was declarev"" against any one who should shoot off a gun after sunset, excepi": for the above object. The frequent taking up of land, rendered it necessary to appoint permanent surveyors, and at the before- named meeting, on January 1st, Ralph Hunt, Daniel White- head and John Burroughes were chosen to this office, and their fees were established at two pence an acre. The spring brought with it employment for these gentlemen. On the 23d of April a highway was laid out, running " about north-west and south-east," through Hempstead Swamp, and apportionments of woodland on either side of the way were made to Thomas Morrell, Gershom Moore, Henry Sawtell, Richard Fidoe, Tho- mas Pettit, Nathaniel Pettit, each ten acres, and to Jonathan Strickland six acres. Thus are we introduced to several of the earliest landholders in this section of the township, then a dense wilderness, but now including some of the best farms within the limits of the town.

Amid their honest toil the husbandmen of Newtown were not exempt from the common discouragements and afflictions incident to our nature. This fall the families about the Eng- lish Kills were visited by a distressing sickness, which is supposed to have been fever and ague. A pond of stagnant water was suspected as a principal cause, and the attention of the town court being directed to it, the following order was issued on October 2d : " Whereas there hath been com- plaint made to this court against John Scudder, Sen. by several of the inhabitants, for making a dam, which hath, and still doth stop the passage of the water, at or near to Fowler's Bridge or run, which is a great annoyance, and it is conceived a great cause of so much sickness among them ; the court doth there- fore order that the said John Scudder shall forthwith cut the said dam, whereby the said water may have free passage

80 A N N A L S O F N E W T OWN.

through it ; under the penalty of five pounds sterling." _This pond long retained the name of ^ ^adder's Pond, and obtained notoriety in connection with the boundary quarrel between Newtown and Bush wick. It eventually went in possession of the Schenks, who owned a grist-mill there, only the ruins of

which now raTiliK ;

As the season Ivad again arrived for activity in the woods, to ply the rinffjvig axe, cut fuel, make clearings, erect fences, and prepare f r the approaching seed-time, the inhabitants were led to adopt, during the winter of 1668-9, several measures for the encouragement of labor. It was resolved that any in- habitant might take up and cultivate any of the common land in the woods for five years, provided he would then sow it with hay-seed, and throw it in common again. Liberty was given the inhabitants to fell timber for their use in any of the unfenced lands ; but to prevent an abuse of this j)rivilege they Avere prohibited from carting such wood or timber to the water side, "for strangers of another town," under a penalty of ten shillings per load. To ofier an inducement for some j^ersons to undertake the clearing of Juniper Swamp, it was agreed that any inhabitant might take and clear land there to the ex- tent of thirty rods wide through the breadth of the swamp, and it should be his own. It was moreover resolved that all the common meadow belonging to the town should be equallv laid out to the several purchasers, reserving, however, forty acres of Trains Meadow " for poor men which have no mea- dow." The liberty of cutting timber or fuel on the common land, to sell, was afterwards confined to such only as should plant "two acres of corn." And in 1676, it was found necessary for the preservation of the timber, to enact that none of it except firewood should be transported out of the town.

Although agriculture was at this period the leading em- ployment of the inhabitants, yet they in most instances united Avith it some useful mechanical branch. That was an age when necessity largely developed social and domestic resources; when the well-regulated farm contained within its OAvn bounds the elements of a comfortable subsistence, and every neighbor- hood formed an independent community. But yet due encour- agement Avas given to honest craftsmen to settle among them. Such Avere gratuitously supplied Avith land for cultivation, and

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81

received the usual privileges of citizens, though there was not unfrequently annexed this or a similar provision : " that he do work for the town's people as cheap as we can have it of other workmen." ' The benefit of attracting into their society skill- ful mechanics and men of useful professions, seems to have been duly appreciated, and such persons were preferred to any other. Hence, in 1674, when it was found expedient to with- hold the giving of any more land to strangers "till all the inhabitants have their proportions," this saving clause was made in their vote, " except it be to some useful tradesmen."

Newtown was still destitute of a minister. During the summer of 1668 effort had been made to obtain some " able orthodox dominie " from New England, and the people declared themselves willing to provide "a comfortable maintenance, with other conveniencies." But this proving ineffectual, atten- tion was again directed to the Eev. William Leverich, and it was resolved, on Dec. 2d, of the last named year, to invite him to become their pastor, in case he was not under other engage- ments. At the desire of the town, several of the leading citi- zens, in conjunction with the constable and overseers, drew up and submitted proposals to Mr. Leverich, which he accepted. Preparatory to his removal to Newtown he purchased the residence of Jonathan Hazard, near that village, April 13th, 1669. Several days after he disposed of his estate in Hunt- ington, and soon entered upon his new charge, in connection with which he was destined to end his ministerial labors.

This year was marked by a revival of the dispute between Newtown and Bushwick, respecting the meadows at Mespat Kills. The latter town, not content with the decision passed at Hempstead, had obtained a patent from Gov. NicoU, Oct. 25th, 1667, covering a large part of the meadows in contro- versy, together with some twelve hundred acres of upland within the Newtown patent. Newtown then resumed its origi- nal claim ; measures were taken to allot all the unappropriated meadow land in the township, and on March 11th, 1668, all the public interest in Smith's Island, derived "either by pur-

' These were the terms accompanying a gift of land in 1679, to Francis Combs, a cooper. He died in 1700, and his two sons, Francis and Thomas, afterwards removed to Hopewell, N. Jersey. His daughter Elizabeth mar- ried Robert Blackwell, au uncle of Col. Jacob Blackwell, of the Revolution,

82 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

cliase or patent," was given unto James Way and John Hart. These proceedings stirred up the ire of Bushwick, and at the opening of the court of sessions, at Gravesend, March 17th, 1669, the inhabitants entered a complaint, and petitioned for a settlement of their title. But that body declined to act, upon the gTOund that one of its members, Capt. Betts, was interested, and referred it to the governor, should the parties, whom the court earnestly advised to conclude among themselves a friendly agreement, fail of affecting that object.

Meanwhile, to relieve the uncertainty of the dwellers on the disputed lands, who knew not in which township to regard themselves, the governor, in May, directed that Hendrick Smith, and others, residing there, should " attend the general training, and other military duties," in Bushwick, because "the military company of Newtown will be of a competent number without them, and those of Bushwick being far inferior in number."

No agi'eemcnt taking place, the parties, pursuant to an order from the governor, presented their cause for trial before the council of the province, on the 28th of June, when Capt. Richard Betts, Capt. Thomas Lawrence and John Burroughes, appeared on behalf of Newtown. The counsel employed by Bushwick founded their claim on the order issued by Governor Stuyvesant, directing that Bushwick have the meadows "if not formally granted to others," and on the decision given in their favor at Hempstead. In defence, Newtown plead their Indian purchase, and its confirmation by Gov. Nicoll, to Avhich were added the depositions of Eobert Jackson and Richard Gildersleeve, Jr. that the meadow in dispute "was laid out a long while since for Newtown, before Bushwick was a town." Robert Coe, and Richard Gildersleeve, Sen. former magistrates of Newtown, also testified that they laid out the said meadow for Newtown, by virtue of an order received from Gov. Stuy- vesant. The evidence strongly favored the claim of Newtown, but the council, apparently unable to determine the question, referred it to the court of assize.

In preparation for the further prosecution of this affair, Capt. James Hubbard, of Gravesend, was emploj'ed to make a survey of the disputed bounds, the draft of which is still pre- served, and purports to be a "description of Mispath Kills,

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 83

soe farre as to point out setuation of y'' place, for som ffar- ther information of two houses formerly inhabited, y" one by Hance y^ Boore w*^^ were Hance Hansonn, j^ other called y*^ Poles house." The latter stood on or near the spot now occupied by the dwelling of Underhill Covert, and is presumed to have been the "ancient Dutch house" mentioned in the Hempstead decision.

The subject came up for trial at the assizes, the supreme court of the colony, on Nov. 4th. Bushwick, the plaintiff, based her claim, as before, upon Stuy vesant's order, and the decision at Hempstead. In behalf of the defence, Mr. Eobert Coe, the high sheriff, deposed that the meadow was laid out for Newtown, and that they paid rates for it with their other land ; and Kichard Gildersleeve, Sen. testified that he, with Mr. Coe, aforesaid, had an order from Gov. Stuyvesant, to lay out the meadow in dispute for Newtown, and that his son paid part of the purchase thereof from the Indians. After a full hearing of the parties, the right of Newtown being plead by their own townsman, John Holden, the case was submitted to a jury of twelve, who gave in their decision in favor of the plaintiffs, the defendants to sustain the costs of suit ; and the court con- firmed the verdict.

While these things were pending, the English towns were awaking to a sense of the great injustice which they were suf- fering, in being debarred the privileges of a representative government. In September, 1669, a convention was held at Jamaica, at which Lieut. John Ketcham attended on behalf of Newtown. The result was the presentation of petitions by the several English towns to the court of assize, the burden of which was their exclusion from a share in public legislation in the persons of their rciDresentatives. But nothing satisfactory resulted from this effort, though a few trifling concessions were made, which had the effect of soothing the public mind for the time being.

At this period, the ill condition as well as the limited number of the public roads in the vicinity of the Dutch and English Kills, subjected the farmers to serious inconvenience. In pursuance of their petition, the town court, on March 8th, 1670, appointed Mr. Burger, Mr. Wandell, John Parcell, and Capt. Lawrence, to superintend the laying out of convenient

84 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

highways at the several kills, to be cleared by the last of this instant, March. They were moreover directed to observe that all fences be kept in good repair, and " to take care of all ways and fences to the poor's bowery, and Peter Cornelius his mill." * The court of sessions, which met in June following, directed the immediate execution of this order, and a report to ,be rendered.

At this time there was " a ferriage at Mespat Kills, for the accommodation of strangers." It was kept by Humphrey Clay, of Bushwick. The creek was crossed above by a bridge on the old highway leading from Brooklyn to Newtown, and both the road and the bridge being sadly out of repair, causing not only inconvenience, but danger to life and limb, the sub- ject engaged the attention of the same court of sessions, who issued the following order :

" Upon complaint of Ealph "Warner and divers others, concerning the insufficiency of a certain bridge by the Cripple- bush in the usual road betwixt Newtown and the Ferry, whereby great misfortunes have happened to several passen- gers, the court have thought fit and ordered that the constables and overseers of the several towns of Newtown, Brooklyn, and Bushwick, do appoint two persons out of each of their towns to view the said bridge ; and the town within whose bounds it shall be found to be, is forthwith to cause it to be repaired fit for travellers to go over without further danger ; and it is likewise ordered that the inhabitants of the respective towns aforementioned, do cause the roadway betwixt Newtown and Brooklyn to be cleared ; their several new fences having blocked up the usual old way, which causes many inhabitants, as well as strangers, to lose themselves in the woods."

While attention was thus directed to the temporal comfort and prosperity of the people, their moral and religious im- provement was hindered, the town being destitute of a suitable house for public worship. The Eev. Mr. Leverich was strait-

' This mill stood on the site of that now of Mr. Jackson, and had been recently erected by the ancestor of the Luyster family, Pieter Cornelissen Luyster, who bought the ground upon which it stood, from the deacons of the Dutch church, at New-York, and obtained the governor's confirmation July 16th, 1668. He however sold the premises "by publique outcrye," in New- York city, June 11th, 1670, to Capt. Thomas Delavall.

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85

ened in his labors, and seems to have meditated a removal, for the people having met on Dec. 13th, to consider the state of their religious affairs, " voted that Mr. William Leverich shall continue at this town to preach the word and be our minister," and also appointed persons, with the constable and overseers, to " agree with Mr. Leverich for his maintenance." They further resolved, "that a rate of forty pounds shall be made, for the building a meeting-house, the one-half to be paid in corn, the other half in cattle." Arrangements were forth- with entered into for the erection of the first church edifice that graced the village of Newtown, which enterprize was among the chief concerns of 1671. It was built upon '' a small gore of land," appropriated for the purpose, by Ralph Hunt,' a respectable resident of the town ; and this church remained for about forty years, the site being now occupied by the large house at the south corner of the main street and the Ja- maica road, formerly known as the " Corner House," and re- cently owned by Peter Duryea.

' Ralph Hunt was a useful citizen, as the records abundantly prove. He served long as a town surveyor, and as an overseer ; and during the reOccu- pation by the Dutch, held the office of schepen, or magistrate. He died early in 1677, leaving sons Ralph, Edward, John, and Samuel, and daughters Ann and Mary the former then the wife of Theophilus Phillips. Of the sons, Ralph and Samuel settled in Jamaica. John was a magistrate in Newtowrt for some years, and left a son Ralph, and perhaps others. Edward became a man of estate, and died in Newtown in 1716, having five sons, and as many daughters to wit: Edward, born February 4th, 1684; Richard, Ralph, Tho- mas, Jonathan, Sarah, Martha, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Abigail. The two sons last named continued in Newtown, but Edward and Richard settled in Hunterdon county. New Jersey. Of some one branch of this family, early transferred from Long Island to New Jersey, was Oliver Hunt, the grand* father of Col. George W. Hunt, of White Pot.

CHAPTER V.

JJe^vtown requests Gov. Lovelace to ordain arbiters between them and Cushwiclt.—- Referred to the Sessions. It affects nothing. Tlie governor appoints arbitra- tors.— They render a decision which is confirmed. The boundary. Newtown demands pay for their land as the terms of compliance^ War between England and Holland. New-York recaptured by the Dutch. Newtown makes obei- sance to the States General. Magistrates chose^i. Inhabitan'ts reluctantly swear allegiance. The return of peace ends the Dutch rule. English govern- ment restored. Andross' proclamation sent to Newtown. Mr. Burroughes, the town clerk, replies to it. His letter gives offence. The governor institutes an inquiry about it. A town meeting. 'Burroughes writes another letter. ^^Court ■of Sessions report on the affair. Burroughes arraigned -before the Council. A harsh sentence iutiicted upon him. Appearance of a new stct of Quakers at the English Kills. Their irregularities. A complaint against them, and verdict. Thomas Case and two others brought before the Sessions. Discharged under bonds to appear at the Assizes. Mrs. Case interrupts the congregation at New- town while engaged in worship. The Quakers tried at -the Assizes. Another excitement. Fear of hostilities from the Indians. The church enclosed with palisades, and other precautions taken. The cause of apprehension ceases. A public Packer chosen. Thomas Case goes down the Island preaching. Is arrested, and impri^oned in New-York. Death of Rev. Mr. Leverich. Steps taken to build a parsonage house, and to procure a minister. Trains M-eadow and others divided. Land appropriated for a parsonage farm. Rev. Morgan Jones engaged to preach. Finds difficulty in collecting his salary. He re- moves to Staten island. A chaisge m iShe mode of sustaining the mir.istry. Sundry occurrences.^A census taken. 1671 to 1683.

The boundary question was still in agitation between Busli- "wick and Newtown, and the latter town, anxious to have their limits permanently fixed, presented a request to the governor 'cind council to appoint some indifferent persons to view and ilay out the bounds between them and their neighbors of Bush- wick. The council referred the case to the court of sessions, before which the parties in dispute had a hearing in Bee. 1671. It resulted in the appointment of Capt. James Hubbard, Mr. Hichard Cornell, Capt. Elbert Elbertsz Stoothoff,^ and Capt.

' Capt. Elbert Elbertsz Stoothoff emigrated in 1637 from Nieukerken, settled at Flatlands, a»d there lived till the beginning of the next century. He was long a justice of the peace, and held other honorable offices. He was twice married, Jirsl, in 1645, to Aeltie Cornells, widow of Gerrit Wol- tTertse Van Couwenhoven; and secondly, in 1683, to Sara Roelofse. He was the common nneestor of all tkose aiixMig us now bearing the name of S^.oothoff,

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. ST

Jacques Cortelyou, to visit and review tlie lands in dispute and "endeavour a composure betwixt them." It was now iioped that parties would agree, but the summer of 1672 found them still at variance. They were willing to make some con- cession, and again the inhabitants laid several applications before the governor, who thereupon issued his commission, June 26th, to the gentlemen nominated by the court of ses- sions, and with them Thomas Delavall, Esq., and Mr. Matthias Nicoll, two members of the council, to take a careful observa- tion of the premises, advise with the respective parties, and do their "utmost to effect a conciliation. Those gentlemen (Elias Doughty, Esq. of Flushing, acting instead of Mr. Cornell,) immediately entered on their commission. Authorized depu- tations from the respective towns met them on the premises, and at length an agreement was effected. Bushwick conceded Smith's Island, and Newtown yielded the large tract of upland to the southward, mentioned in Bushwick patent. The com- missioners reported this gratifying result to Gov. Lovelace on the 28th of June, and his excellency was pleased to confirm the proceeding, as follows : " All the valley or meadow ground on the westernmost side of the creek of Mcspat Kills, shall be and belong to the inhabitants of Boswyck, that is to say, from the mouth of the said creek to run throvigh and part the mea- dow ground or valley about the middle, so to go on in the western branch of the said creek, to a certain pond into which the creek runs, called Scudder's Pond, near whereunto the fence of Ilendrick Barent Smith now stands, and that Smith's Island, commonly so called, and all the valley or meadow ground on the east side of the creek adjoining or contiguous to the said island, shall be and remain to the inhabitants of Mespat Kills or Newtown, although expressly mentioned in the patent of Boswyck, for that it seems more properly to be within the limits of Newtown ; in consideration whereof, and in lieu of six hundred rod, mentioned in their patent, to run into the woods upon a south-east and by south line, as also for an enlargement of their bounds as to the upland, of which they have occasion, the inhabitants of Boswyck shall have and enjoy all the land whether upland or other, beginning from the fence aforementioned, near Scudder's Pond, to run upon a south south-east line till it comes to the hills ; that is to say,

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all the land in the western side thereof, including the planta- tion, both u|3land and meadow ground, belonging to the said Hendrick Barent Smith, within the limits of their said town, or so much thereof as shall be within the line aforesaid, and that the said Hendrick be a member of said town,"

When the result became known to the people of Newtown, no little dissatisfaction was expressed at the terms of the com- promise. A meeting was held on the 23d of August, and a deputation appointed to wait upon the governor, and inform him that unless Bushwick should satisfy them for the expense incurred in the purchase of the land ceded to them by the committee, they were unwilling to yield it, but intended to hold possession " according as it was confirmed by Governor Nicoll."

Early in the succeeding year, 1673, the startling news was received that England and Holland were again involved in a war. Orders arrived to Gov. Lovelace to put the pro- vince in a state of defence, but so inefl&cient were the means toade use of to fortify the city of New- York, that a Dutch squadron under Commodores Binckes and Evertsen, returning from a predatory visit to the West Indies, entered the harbor, and on July 30th captured the place with very little opposi- tion. Most suddenly and unexpectedly the inhabitants found themselves under their old masters. Capt. Anthony Colve was appointed governor by the naval commanders, and imme- diately began to reinstate the Dutch government. He issued his proclamation to the several towns to come and make their submission to the States General.

Newtown prepared to obey "the order, and deputed Lieut, John Ketcham and John Burroughes, who on the 22d of August, new style, presented themselves before "the lords, commanders, and the noble military council," in the fort at New-York, bearing with them the English colors, and a constable's staff, in token of their submission, and at the same time petitioning for the uninterrupted enjoyment of their priv- ileges. In answer they were assured that they should be allowed the same immunities as were granted the inhabitants and subjects of the Dutch nation. They were directed to no- tify their town of " Middelburg " to nominate six persons, from whom the honorable court should select three for magistrates,

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 89

and also to appoint two deputies to unite with others of " Eust- dorp, Heemstede, Vlissingen, and Oyster Bay," in the presenta- tion of three nominees for the office of scout, or sheriff, and three for that of secretary, which two latter officers were to have authority over these five named towns, now to be united in one jurisdiction for the better subserving of the ends of justice. The town complied with this order on August 24:th. The candidates for the magistracy were Gershom Moore, Eich- ard Betts, Jonathan Hazard, John Ketcham,' Ealph Hunt, and John Burroughes, of whom the court, on the 31st, confirmed Messrs. Betts, Hazard and Hunt, who were sworn into office on the 6th of September.

In the meantime, Capt. William Knift, and some others, had been despatched to the towns and villages to administer the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants. On the last day of Auo-ust, they came to Newtown, which at that time numbered ninety-nine adult male residents, but only twenty -three could be found, the rest being absent. The former accepted the oath with due formality, while their names were written down by Capt, Knift's clerk. Directions were left with the magis- trates to administer it to the rest of the inhabitants, and forty- eight more were sworn on the 13th of September. Four Qua- kers scrupled to take the oath, but promised fealty. These were Samuel Scudder, John Way, John Scudder, Jun. and Nathaniel Pettit.

Written instructions were soon after received from the new governor, for the guidance of the magistrates in the future go- vernment of the town, though in some minor concerns at least the people continued to dispense their affairs according to the

' ' Lieut. John Ketchara was the progenitor of a considerable family, now extinct in Newtown, but to be found in other places. He first appears at Ipswich, Mass. in 1648, but removed a few years after to Huntington, L. I., which town he represented in the Hempstead assembly, in 1665. Coming to Newtown in 1668, he was the next year elected constable, from which time he was much in public life and enjoyed a large share of popular confi- dence. He bought the purchase right of Edward Jessup in the Newtown lands, and owned the farms now of Geo. I. Rapelye and Benj. Moore, near Newtown village. He died in 1697. His sons were John, who con, tinued at Huntington; Philip, who remained in Newtown, and left issue; Lieut. Samuel, who also left a family in this town; Nathaniel, who removed to Westchester county; and Joseph, who settled at Christian;), in Delaware'

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

laws before in force. In fact the transient rule of tlie Dutcli afforded time to introduce but few legislative changes. On the 5th of May, 1674, in pursuance of an order from Gov. Colve, Newtown elected Capt. Eichard Betts, a gentleman of great popularity, to sit at Jamaica, with magistrates from the associ- ated towns, as a court of justice for the trial of civil or criminal causes, without the right of appeal, except they exceeded the sum or penalty of 240 florins.

In the early part of this year a treaty of peace was con- cluded between England and Holland, which provided that this province should be restored to the English in exchange for Surinam ; and the new governor, Sir Edmund Andross, arriving at New- York, October Slst, received the surrender of the place, and by proclamation restored the English form of government. The Duke's laws were therein revived and con- firmed, together with such grants and privileges as had previ- ously been enjo3^ed under his Royal Highness ; all legal judicial proceedings during the late Dutch government were pronounced valid, while the inhabitants were secured in the possession of their lawful estates and property. An order was also issued on the 4th of November, reinstating in office for the period of six months, the magistrates, constables, and overseers who were serving when the Dutch came into power.

The people of Newtown, on receiving a copy of this j)ro- clamation, resolved to send a reply to his excellenc}^ John Burroughes, the clerk, in performing this duty on the 16th of November, embraced the occasion to speak of the grievances they had endured by reason of the arbitrary course of the former English government. The court of assize shared the censure of Burroughes as with honest freedom he expressed the views and feelings of himself and townsmen. But Andross, who possessed a most irritable disposition, and was withal wholly averse to such freedom of speech, took umbrage at the plainness of Burroughes. He forthwith issued a warrant to Capt. Betts, residing at the English Kills, which after inform- ing him that he had received a paper from the clerk of New- town " wherein there are divers unbeseeming and reflecting expressions, particularly upon the authority |of the general court of assizes," proceeded to direct him " to make inquiry and examine into the matters of the said paper, whether it be

ANNA19 or NEWTOWN* 9\

the act of the said town, or the contrivance of some particulay persons," and to make report to the next court of sessions, to be held at Gravesend,, on Dec. 17th.

Capt. B'etts set about the investigation. A town-meeting was called Dec. 5th, and it being "-put to vote whether the town sent the address to the governor,- the town generally voted that it is their act : that is to &aj, the copy of the paper which came from the governor being read in the public meet- ing, voted that the town are willing to send an answer to the governor's proclamation, with thankfulness for his care towards us." Upon the strength of this somewhat enigmatical vote, Mr, Betts proceeded to prepare an excuse for his towns- men, while Burroughes, feeling himself as fully sustained, addressed another letter to Andross, on Dec. 8tli, similar in tone to the former.

After the sitting of the court of sessions, both these letters were read before the members of the council, Jan. 8th, 1675, who thereupon directed that their author be summoned before them, together with the constable of Newtown, Jonathan Ha- zard, to whom a warrant was issued authorizing the arrest of Burroughes. On Jaa. 15th, Hazard, with the clerk in his custody, appeared before the governor and council. After some deliberation, "the constable was discharged, and the fault of the town passed by upon the favorable recommenda- tion of the court of sessions, at Gravesend, to whom Mr. Eichard Betts, a member of that court, had, in obedience to the governor's order, made report of the error of the town, and their acknowledgment thereof" But no plea availed for Burroughes. After a consideration of his case, it was ordered, " that he, the said John Burroughes be forthwith committed into the custody of the sheriff of this city, to remain in prison until some time on Monday next, then to be brought to the whipping-post, before the city hall, and being fastened there- unto, to stand an hour, with a paper on his breast setting forth the cause thereof to be for signing seditious letters in the name of the town of Newtown, against the government and court of assizes, and that he be rendered incapable of bearing any office or trust in the government, for the future."

Monday, Jan. 18th arrived, and at eleven o'clock, Mr. Bur- roughes, then fifty-eight years of age, was brought from his

92 ANNALS OF NEWTOWN.

prison by Sheriff Gibbs, pursuant to Gov. Andross' warrant, and submitted to the humihating sentence aforesaid, exposed to the gaze of the populace, and in presence of the common council of the city, who had been requested to attend. As Burroughes' letters have not been discovered, it is difficult to comment justly upon this proceeding. He probably handled the court of assize with some severity, having himself had a personal rupture with that body some years before ; but if he was seeking to stir up sedition, it must be admitted that he took a very unusual and honest method to promulge his senti- ments and enlist partisans. But the truth is, Andross was "an arbitrary tyrant over the people committed to his care," and therefore determined to crush, by the imposition of galling penalties, every attempt on their part to make known their grievances or assert their just rights.

The spring of this year was marked by the omission of the usual election for constable and overseers, and the old ones continued to serve till after the June sessions. The reason assigned at that court was, as recorded on the minutes, "noe new election, having not timel}^ notice." However, several regulations were made, in April, for the public convenience, namely, that swine should no longer run in the streets, and "that all the streets and lanes shall be fenced, and gates made convenient for travellers.'

But the year 1675 was marred by events even more pain- ful than the indignity offered to their town-clerk. At the English Kills there resided several individuals holding the religious opinions of the Friends or Quakers, and who had without doubt received the articles of their faith from the lips

1 The farmers early adopted the practice of setting up gates on the public roads crossing their land, so as to exclude strange cattle, and prevent their own from straying. The privilege to do this was usually obtained by a town vote. The first instance I notice, was in 1664, when John Ramsden was permitted " to hang two gates in the highway that goeth to Stevens' Point across liis land, provided that he doth not damnify the highway, but that all as have occasion thereof have free passage to drive cattle or cart without damage." A like privilege was granted to others on sundry occa- sions, and these gates were maintained in most case«;, I believe, until within a few years, and in several instances are still kept up. It was accounted a serious breach of courtesy, if not a violation of the farmers' rights, for a per- son to pass these gates without closing them behind him.

ANNALS OF NEWTOWN. 93

of the distinguislied George Fox during his recent visit to Long Island. Among them was Thomas Case who assumed the office of a preacher, and at his house at the Kills the faithful were wo-nt to convene for worship. He "set up a new sort of Quakerism," and labored with great zeal to pro- mulgate his views, not unfrequently continuing his meetings for many days in succession. But alas ! what extravagancies will men entertain. Inspired with a fancied holiness of his character and office, he "asserted that he was come to perfec- tion and could sin no more than Christ." Nay more, he de- clared himself to be God, but afterwards qualified it and said he was of God. And he maintained that when he should die, he would rise again the third day. Against the people, and often against particular individuals, he would denounce the judgments of the Lord. On one occasion he significantly remarked to John Woollstoncroftes, that he perceived a great smell of brimstone. To which the latter retorted, "he was afraid Case was going that way." One of his adherents claimed to have the gift of languages, and Case, on certain occasions, pretended to raise the dead. Among other vile principles they condemned marriage, and said it was of the devil, perverting that text of Scripture, " The children of the resurrection neither marry nor are given in marriage."

Most strangely were the meetings at Case's house con- ducted ; some singing or making odd noises, and either mov- ing about "in a dancing quaking manner," or "lying like dogs, hogs and cows." Attracted by Case's preaching and novelties, both men and women were led to forsake their families and neglect their household duties. This soon caused trouble. William Smith complained to the town court. May 16th 1674, in substance, that his helpneet had become no longer such, by reason of her constant presence at these meet- ings. Upon which the court ordered, " that Thomas Case shall not entertain "William Smith's wife in his house unknown unto her husband, as he will answer the contrary." This public proceeding gave occasion for an audible expression of secretly cherished prejudices. William Albertus protested that "the Quakers should have no right in court." However illiberal such sentiments, it must be admitted that the fanati- cal conduct of Case and his sect was calculated to excite them.

7

94 ANNALS OFNEW TOWN.

The conduct of the Quakers was at length declared to be a disturbance of the peace, a public scandal. Case and two of his adherents, Samuel Scudder and Samuel Furman were reported to the court of sessions, held at Gravesend, June 15th, 1675, whose action thereon is thus recorded. " The court hav- ing taken into consideration the miscarriages of Samuel Scud- der and Thomas Case, Quakers, by disturbing and seducing the people and inhabitants of this government, contrary to the peace of our sovereign lord, the king, do therefore order that they forthwith give security to the value of forty pounds each, before Mr. Justice Betts, for their good beha- viour and appearance at the assizes." Samuel Furman was bound over in the sum of twenty pounds, and charged "to go home about his occasions, and not to disturb the people."

The excitement already produced was now heightened by the improper conduct of Mary, wife of Thomas Case. En- tering the church at Newtown on