Here in Bergen the first local Court in New Jersey was organized in
September, 1661, with Tielman Van Vleck as schout or sheriff, and
Michael Jansen, Herman Smeeman and Casper Stynmets, as schepens or
magistrates, something like justices or aldermen. The schout was
afterwards authorized "to fill and execute the office of auctioneer."
All criminal cases were referred to the Director General and Council
of Nieu Netherland. Only minor offenses, such as brawls, slanders,
scolding, threats, etc., could come before this Court. On July 19th,
1673, Mr. John Berry's house in Bergen was made "ye prison for the
Province," until a house could be built for that purpose, and Adrian
Post, the constable, was appointed keeper. Later a "lock up" was built
on the easterly side of the square near the school-house. On the
westerly side were the stocks and the whipping post. The stocks were
still standing in 1824, and even later, and the whipping post was a
terror to evil doers as late. In 1662, a well was dug in the center of
the square. Troughs were placed around it for the use of the cattle,
and a long sweep used to raise the water. This well was used into the
present century, when it was covered and during the war of 1812-14 a
liberty pole was erected in it. In 1870, when the square was paved the
pole was taken down and no trace of the well is left.
Engelbert Steenhuysen was the first schoolmaster in Bergen, having
been licensed October 6th, 1662. He was allowed two hundred and fifty
guilders in wampum annually and "some other stipulations beside the
school money, as reason and equity shall demand." It seems that he was
required "to look out and procure a suitable place in which to keep the
school." According to the Albany records (_vide_ Winfield) the people
of Bergen addressed a memorial to the Council that he might be obliged
to fulfill his contract to act as Voorleezer and Schoolmaster for two
years. The church records do not mention him as Voorleezer. In 1664 the
first school-house was built on the lot set apart for school purposes
on the northeast corner of the square. Mr. Winfield states that this
school-house was of logs, but from the records in the Deacons Account
books it evidently was not. It is not known positively whether it was
of stone, brick, or frame, but several entries of "lbs. of nails,"
"whitewashing" and "nailing boards in the gable," are included in the
account of work and repairs upon the building. Whatever it was, for
about fifty years it was used, and then a new school building was
erected on the site of the first. The records state that, "On Tuesday,
May 11, 1708, Mathews Bensum had made a foundation, and Mr. Adrian
Vermuelen, Voorleezer at Bergen, laid the corner stone."
The following is the itemized account of the expenses incurred:
1708 To Adrian Quackinbush for 100 boards st.
at 28 st. apiece f140.
" To Mathew Bensum, 10 days at 10f per
day; mason 100.
" To Martin Winne, 21 days at 10f; mason 210.
" To Risso, the hod-carrier, 21 days at 3
realtje per day 95.10
" To 6 lbs. nails at 3f per lb. 18.
" To the glazier, 23 feet of glass 69.
" To Samuel Bayard, for 84 lbs. nails at
3f per lb. 252.
" To 5 lbs. nails at 3f per lb. 15.
" To lock for the door 7.10
--------
Total for 1708 907.
1710 Expended over 1708 f907.
May 3 To Mathew Mott for iron work 84.
" To Helmigh Roelofse for paving stone
(steen blinkers) 86.
" To Cornelis Van Vorst, 2 lb. nails at 3f
per lb. 6.
" To Hendrik Clausse Kuyper for 4 lb. nails 12.
" To Gerrit Stynmets for 4 lb. nails 12.
Oct. 3 To Gerrit Roose for laying the ceiling 40.
" To his board 6.
" 10 lbs. nails 15.
" To 10 boards at 36 stivers apiece 18.
" For carting the boards 7.10
--------
Total cost f1,193.10
[Illustration: COLUMBIA ACADEMY.]
Several citizens, evidently gratuitously, carted materials to the site,
in all sixty-three loads of stone, twenty-one loads of clay, five loads
of sand, one load of lime. Repairs were made in 1782. In 1790 the
Columbia Academy was erected on the same site and stood until 1857,
when the present school-house, No. 11, was built. In the rear wall of
this building are many of the stones used in the old Academy and it is
ornamented with the same weather vane that adorned the former building.
Tradition states that this is the veritable weather vane that first
surmounted the steep roof of the Octagonal Church, then was removed to
the second church, from which it was placed on Columbia Academy when
the present church was erected in 1841.
In the early days of the little settlement, religious services
were undoubtedly held in the school-house, and in the absence of a
minister were conducted by the Voorleezer or clerk. In 1662 the schout
and schepens of the village petitioned the Council for a minister,
stating that certain persons had pledged themselves to subscribe four
hundred and seventeen guilders in wampum annually for the support of
a minister. But there was no local pastor of this first church in New
Jersey until 1750. Until then the pastors from New York came over at
stated times of the year, very often during week days, to administer
the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, admit new members,
install the elected elders and deacons and to conduct special services.
Also pastors from Long Island, Esopus, Fishkill, Tapan, Raritan and
other places preached occasionally at Bergen. These visiting pastors
received from the Bergen congregation from twenty-five to seventy-two
guilders per service besides expenses and board. The accounts show that
the New York ministers paid six guilders for ferriage and six guilders
for a carriage from the ferry to Bergen. Twelve guilders for board was
charged after every visit of a minister. From 1672 to 1680 Domine Van
Nieuwenhuysen preached and administered the sacraments at Bergen three
times a year on week days, for which he received "thirty bushels or
fifteen bags of wheat."
[Illustration: THE "LITTLE CHURCH."]