It must have been in 1822 or '3 that I first came to live in Brooklyn.
Lived first in Front street, not far from what was then call'd "the New
Ferry," wending the river from the foot of Catharine (or Main) street to
New York city.
I was a little child (was born in 1819,) but tramp'd freely about the
neighborhood and town, even then; was often on the aforesaid New
Ferry; remember how I was petted and deadheaded by the gatekeepers and
deckhands (all such fellows are kind to little children,) and remember
the horses that seem'd to me so queer as they trudg'd around in the
central houses of the boats, making the water-power. (For it was just
on the eve of the steam-engine, which was soon after introduced on the
ferries.) Edward Copeland (afterward Mayor) had a grocery store then at
the corner of Front and Catharine streets.
Presently we Whitmans all moved up to Tillary street, near Adams, where
my father, who was a carpenter, built a house for himself and us all. It
was from here I "assisted" the personal coming of Lafayette in 1824-'5
to Brooklyn. He came over the Old Ferry, as the now Fulton Ferry (partly
navigated quite up to that day by "horse boats," though the first
steamer had begun to be used hereabouts) was then call'd, and was
receiv'd at the foot of Fulton street. It was on that occasion that the
corner-stone of the Apprentices' Library, at the corner of Cranberry
and Henry streets--since pull'd down--was laid by Lafayette's own hands.
Numerous children arrived on the grounds, of whom I was one, and were
assisted by several gentlemen to safe spots to view the ceremony. Among
others, Lafayette, also helping the children, took me up--I was five
years old, press'd me a moment to his breast--gave me a kiss and set me
down in a safe spot. Lafayette was at that time between sixty-five and
seventy years of age, with a manly figure and a kind face.