This head will be divided into three divisions--first, Churches; second,
Markets; and third Public Institutions.
_First, Churches._
The first Church established in Kings County was, October 13, 1654, when
the Rev. Joannes Theodorus Polhemus, a minister of the Dutch Reformed
Church, was _permitted_ by Governor Stuyvesant, to preach at Midwout,
(Flatbush) and Amersfort, (Flatlands).[21] The congregation was gathered
at this time; but the order of Governor Stuyvesant for building the
Church is dated December 15, 1654. February 9, 1655, the Governor
ordered the inhabitants of Brooklyn and Amersfort, which at that period,
together with Gravesend, were one congregation, to cut timber for the
erection of the Church at Midwout; which building was to be 60 feet in
length, 28 feet in breadth, and 14 feet in height below the beams.
In order to accommodate the four towns of Gravesend, Amersfort, Midwout,
and Brooklyn, the Governor ordered that Mr. Polhemus should preach every
Sunday morning at Midwout, and Sunday afternoons alternately at
Amersfort and Brooklyn.
In the year 1659, the inhabitants of this town applied to Governor
Stuyvesant for permission to call a minister for their congregation,
assigning as a reason for their application, the badness of the road to
Flatbush, the difficulty of attending divine service at New-York, and
the extreme old age and inability of the Rev. Mr. Polhemus to perform
his services at Brooklyn.
The Governor deemed the request reasonable, and sent Nicasius de Sille,
Fiscal of New-Netherland, and Martin Kregier, Burgomaster, of
New-Amsterdam, to this town, as a committee of inquiry, who reported in
favour of the application; whereupon the request of the inhabitants was
granted. The inhabitants prepared a call for the Rev. Henry Solinus,
alias Henricus Selwyn, from Holland, who was approved of by the classis
of Amsterdam, on the 16th of February, 1660, when the classis also gave
the Rev. Mr. Solinus a dismission, wishing him a safe and prosperous
journey by land and by water to his congregation in the New-Netherland.
The time of the arrival of this minister is not known. He was installed
in his church on the 3d of September, 1660, in the presence of the
Fiscal, and Burgomaster Kregier, by the order of Governor Stuyvesant,
who appears to have been at the head of the ecclesiastical, as well as
the civil and military government of the colony.
On the 7th of September, 1660, a letter was written to the Rev. Mr.
Polhemus, informing him of the installation of the Rev. Mr. Solinus in
the Church of Brooklyn, and thanking him for his labours and attention
to the Congregation. The letter was sent by a respectable person, to
whom the Rev. Mr. Polhemus returned his thanks for the attention which
the Church at Brooklyn had paid him, and furnished the messenger with a
list of the names of the Church members, twenty-five in number.
Mr. Solinus’ salary was 600 guilders per annum, equal to $200. Three
hundred guilders of which was to be paid by Brooklyn, and three hundred
by Father land, (Holland). Some time after, the inhabitants of Brooklyn
objected to raising their proportion of the salary; and May 25, 1662,
petitioned the Governor, that Mr. Solinus should reside among them;
setting forth as a reason, that if their minister resided with them more
people would go to church, and they would be better able to raise the
salary. Governor Stuyvesant, in order to accommodate this dispute,
proposed to pay 250 guilders towards Mr. Solinus’ salary, on condition
that he would preach in the Bouwery on Sunday afternoons.--This
arrangement appears to have been entered into, for a short time after
Mr. Solinus preached at the Bouwery half the time.
The Indians having on the 7th of June, 1663, attacked the town of
Esopus, burnt the same, and destroyed many of the inhabitants, and took
many prisoners; the event was communicated by Governor Stuyvesant to the
church at Brooklyn, in the following manner.
“As a sorrowfull accident and wilfull masacre has been committed by the
Esopus Indians, who have with deliberate design under the insidious
cover of friendship, determined to destroy Esopus, which they effected
or the 7th instant, killing and wounding a number of the inhabitants,
and taking many prisoners, burning the new town, and desolating the
place. Whereupon the congregation is directed and desired by his
Excellency the Governor General to observe and keep the ensuing
Wednesday as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer to the Almighty,
hoping that he may avert further calamities from the New-Netherlands,
and extend his fatherly protection and care to the country. And it is
further ordered, that the first Wednesday in every month be observed in
like manner. By order of the Director General, and Council, &c. Dated at
Fort Orange, June 26, 1663.” Wednesday the 4th of July, 1663, was
observed as a day of thanksgiving on account of a treaty of peace
having been made with the Esopus Indians, and the release of the
inhabitants who had been taken prisoners; and also for the success
obtained over the British, who attempted with flying colours to take
possession of all Long-Island for the King of England, which was
prevented by the timely arrival of the Dutch fleet.
On the 23d of July, 1664, the Rev. Henry Solinus took leave of his
congregation and sailed in the ship Beaver for Holland. After his
departure, Charles Debevoise, the schoolmaster of the town, and sexton
of the church, was directed to read prayers, and a sermon from an
approved author, every Sabbath day in the church, for the improvement of
the congregation, until another minister was called.
The first Dutch church in Brooklyn was built in the year 1666, although
a minister had been settled to preach here for some years previous.--A
second church was erected on the site of that built in 1666; which
second church continued standing until about 1810, when a new and
substantial church was erected on Joralemon-street, and the old one
taken down. This old church was a very gloomy looking building, with
small windows, and stood in the middle of the highway, about a mile from
Brooklyn ferry. In removing it the workmen discovered the remains of a
Hessian officer, who had been buried there in his uniform, during the
Revolutionary war.
The Dutch congregations on this Island formed but one church, although
they had different consistories.
The ministers under the Dutch government were not permitted to marry any
persons without making the marriage proclamation on three succeeding
Sabbaths in their churches. The same practice was observed after the
Colony came under the British government. The last mentioned government
however sold marriage licenses, which were granted by the Governor’s
Secretary in New-York, for the sum of eight dollars each. The
inhabitants generally preferred purchasing a marriage license, and thus
contributed to the revenue of the Governor and Secretary.
During the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Solinus, the marriage fees were not
the perquisite of the Minister, as appears by his account rendered by
him to the Consistory, on the 29th of October, 1662, when he paid over
to the consistory the sum of 78 guilders and 10 stivers, for fourteen
marriage fees received by him.
The following is a list of ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church, who
officiated in the church on this Island, (with the exception of
Polhemus, and Solinus,) taken from a manuscript of the Rev. Peter Lowe.
Joannes Magapolensis, probably died 1668.
Casperus Van Zuren, do 1677.
Clark, do 1695.
William Lupardus, do 1709.
Bernardus Freeman,[22] from 1702, to 1741.
Vincintius Antonides, from 1715, to 1744.
Joannes Arondeus, probably died, 1742.
Anthony Curtenius, from 1730, to 1756.
Ulpianus Van Sinderen, from 1747, to 1796.
John Casper Rubel, from 1760, to 1797.
Martinus Schoonmaker, from 1785, to 1824.
[This venerable pastor was 88 years of age at his death; and a short
time previous, officiated in four congregations.]
Peter Lowe, from 1787, to 1818.
In the month of April, 1708, fifty-seven of the inhabitants of Brooklyn,
entered into an agreement (which is written in Dutch) to call a minister
from Holland, to preach in the church of this town. The elders of the
church at that time were, Daniel Rapalie, and Jores Hanse.
The salary of the Clerk of the Church in this town was formerly raised
by a tax on the whole town. At a town meeting, held February 1, 1568, It
was resolved, that the sum of £20 10s. should be raised, and paid into
the hands of the “church masters” for “the widow of Hendrick Sleght,
ffor 1 year and 8 months salary, and being Clarke off the churche.”
The following singular proceeding may be amusing to some readers, and
will serve to shew to what extremes, both the people and the magistrates
carried themselves in former times. Hendrick Vechte, Esq. a Justice of
the Peace, was presented at the Kings County Sessions, May 14, 1710, for
coming into the Brooklyn Church, on Sunday, August 10, 1709, “with his
pen and ink in his hand, taking of peoples names, and taking up one
particular mans hat up, and in disturbance of the minister and people in
the service of God, &c.” Vechte’s plea was that in obedience to an order
of the Governor he did go into the church as alledged, “to take notice
of the persons that were guilty of the forcible entry made into the
Church, that by Abram Brower, and others, by breaking of said Church
doore with force and arms, forcibly entering into said Church,
notwithstanding the forewarning of Mr. Freeman the minister, and his
people to the contrary.” The Court found that Justice Vechte was not
guilty of a breach of the peace, and discharged him. It must be
remembered that Justice Vechte was a member of the Court. There was a
considerable difference of opinion and many disputes among the
inhabitants of this town, and of the County, as to the right of the Rev.
Mr. Freeman to preach; into the merits of which controversy, it is not
to be expected that the Compiler can enter at this distant day.
Excepting the above proceeding of the Court, the only document which the
Compiler has been able to obtain relative to this controversy is a
letter from Henry Ffilkin, Esq. to the Secretary at New-York, which will
be found in the Appendix marked with the letter D.
December 18, 1814, the Trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church of the
town of Brooklyn were incorporated. At which time the following
gentlemen were officers of the Church.
Martinas Schoonmaker, } Ministers.
Peter Lowe, }
_Elders._
Fernandus Suydam,
Jeremiah Johnson,
Walter Berry,
John Lefferts.
_Deacons._
Jeremiah Brower,
Abraham De Bevoise,
Lambert Schenck,
Abraham Remsen.
The present officers of this Church are, Rev. S. S. Woodhull, D. D.
Pastor.
_Elders._
Leffert Lefferts,
David Anderson,
Tunis Joralemon,
Nehemiah Denton.
_Deacons._
Theodorus Polhemus,
Adrian Hegeman,
James De Bevoise,
Adriance Van Brunt.
September 18, 1785, an “Independent Meeting House,” was
incorporated at this place. The officers of which were:
John Matlock, Pastor,
George Wall, Assistant,
John Carpenter, Treasurer,
George Powers, Secretary.
_Trustees._
William Bunton,
Robert Steath,
Barnard Cordman,
John Emery,
William Hinson.
Their place of worship was a frame building on what is now the
Episcopalian burying ground in Fulton-street. This congregation
continued but a short time, in consequence of the seceding of its
members to the Episcopalian Church, which was soon after established in
this place.
The first celebration of Divine Service after the manner of the
Protestant Episcopal church, in this town, subsequent to the Revolution,
was at the old brick house known as No. 40 Fulton-street, and now owned
by Mr. Abiel Titus.
About the year 1787, the Episcopal Church was established in Brooklyn,
under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Wright, at the house on the
north-east corner of Fulton and Middagh-streets; which house was fitted
up with pews, &c.
April 23, 1787, “The Episcopal Church of Brooklyn” was incorporated. The
following are the names of the first
_Trustees._
Whitehead Cornell,
Joseph Sealy,
Aquila Giles,
Mathew Gleaves,
Joshua Sands,
Henry Stanton,
John Van Nostrand.
This congregation afterwards came into possession of the place of
worship before used by the Independent Congregation, and continued to
worship in that edifice until they erected the Stone Church called “St.
Ann’s Church,” on Sands-street.
June 22, 1795. The Episcopal Church in this town was re-organized and
incorporated by the name of “St. Ann’s Church.”
_Church Wardens._
John Van Nostrand, and George Powers.
_Vestrymen._
Joshua Sands,
Paul Durel,
Joseph Fox,
William Carpenter,
Aquila Giles,
John Cornell,
Gilbert Van Mater,
Robert Stoddard.
The congregation at the same time resolved, that Monday in Easter week
should be the time of their future elections for Church officers.
The stone church which was erected on Sands-street, has continued to the
present time: but is now in bad repair, in consequence of the walls not
having bee, properly erected. The Vestry passed a vote for erecting a
new church to front on Washington-street, the corner stone of which was
laid March 31, 1824. The new edifice is fast progressing, and promises
to be a great ornament to the place.
The present officers of St. Ann’s Church are,
Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, Rector.
_Church Wardens._
William Cornwell, and Joshua Sands.
_Vestrymen._
James B. Clarke,
Robert Bach,
Adam Tredwell,
Fanning C. Tucker,
John H. Moore,
Robert Carter,
Losee Van Nostrand,
A. H. Van Bokkelen,
William Cornwell, Treasurer.
May 19, 1794, the “First Methodist Episcopal Church” in this town, was
incorporated. The Trustees at which period were,
John Garrison,
Thomas Van Pelt,
Burdet Stryker,
Stephen Hendrickson,
Richard Everit,
Isaac Moser.
The present Meeting-house of this denomination is erected on the site of
their first place of worship, on Sands-street; and is a neat, plain
edifice. The present officers are,
Rev. William Ross, Pastor in charge.
_Trustees._
John Garrison,
Isaac Moser,
William Foster,
Jacob Brown,
Andrew Mercein,
George Smith,
Isaac Nostrand,
John G. Murphy,
R. Van Voris.
Isaac Moser, Treasurer.
January 12, 1818, The “African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church in
the village of Brooklyn,” incorporated.
_First Trustees._
Peter Croger,
Israel Jemison,
Benjamin Croger,
John E. Jackson,
Ceasar Sprong.
The place of worship of this congregation is a frame meeting house
situate on High-street.
March 13, 1822. The “First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn” was
incorporated.
_First Trustees._
Jehiel Jaggar,
Nathaniel Howland,
Silas Butler,
John B. Graham,
Elkanah Doolittle,
Joseph Sprague,
Alden Spooner,
George Hall,
Charles H. Richards.
The corner stone of this church was laid, April 15, 1822. The Church is
situate on Cranberry-street; and is a very handsome brick building,
something in the Gothic style. The present officers are,
Rev. Joseph Sanford, Pastor.
_Elders._
Zechariah Smith,
Selden Gates.
Ezra C. Woodhull.
_Trustees._
Alden Spooner,
Edward Coope,
Henry W. Warner,
Elkanah Doolittle,
George Hall,
Nathaniel Howland,
Benjamin Meeker,
Joseph Sprague,
Silas Butler.
Elkanah Doolittle, President of the Board,
Silas Butler, Clerk do
Nathaniel W. Sanford, Treasurer.
November 20, 1822. “St. James Roman Catholic Church,” incorporated.
_First Trustees._
George S. Wise, Jun.
Peter Turner,
Patrick Scanlan,
William Purcell,
James Rose,
Darby Dawson,
William M’Laughlin.
The corner stone of this Church was laid, June 25, 1822. The edifice is
of brick, and approaches nearer to the Gothic architecture than any
other building in this town. It is yet unfinished. This is the first
Roman Catholic Church erected on Long-Island. The present Trustees are,
---- ----, President.[23]
Peter Turner, Secretary,
William Purcell, Treasurer;
James Rose,
Darby Dawson,
William M’Laughlin,
Patrick Scanlan.
October 15, 1823. The “First Baptist Church in Brooklyn” incorporated.
_Trustees._
Eliakim Raymond,
Elijah Lewis,
John Brown,
Richard Poland,
Charles P. Jacobs.
March 24, 1824. Rev. William C. Hawley was ordained Pastor of this
Church. This congregation have as yet, erected no building for public
worship; but assemble for that purpose in the District School room, No.
1.
There are also in this town some of the denomination of Friends, and a
small congregation of Universalists; neither of which have established
places of public worship. The Universalists are under the pastoral care
of the Rev. William Mitchill, and assemble for Divine service in the
District School room, No. 1.
In the present year, this town purchased of Leffert Lefferts, Esq. a
small farm situate at the Wallaboght; a portion of which was set off for
a burying ground, and divided into convenient parcels; which were
allotted in the following manner to the different congregations
worshipping in the town, viz.
No. 1. Dutch Reformed,
2. Friends,
3. Presbyterian,
4. Roman Catholic,
5. Methodist Episcopalian,
6. Universalist,
7. Episcopalian,
8. Baptist,
9. Common.
_Second, Markets._
A market was established in this town as early as the year 1676, which
will appear from the following order of the General Court of Assizes,
made in the month of October, 1675. “Upon proposall of having a fayre
and Markett in or neare this City. (New-York) It is ordered, That after
this season, there shall yearely bee kept a fayre and markett at
Breucklen near the ferry, for all grayne, cattle, or other produce of
the countrey, to be held the first Munday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, in
November; and in the City of New-York, the Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday following.”
Previous to the year 1814, there were two markets in this place; one of
which was situate at the foot of the old ferry-street; and the other at
the foot of Main-street. Both these markets were taken down in 1814.
At present we have no public market; the inhabitants are supplied from
several butcher’s shops for the sale of meat, and stands for vegetables,
scattered about in different parts of the village.--The people have been
for some time past endeavouring to obtain a public market, and the great
difficulty appears to be the location of a proper site. At a village
meeting, held June 26, 1824, the sum of $10,000 was voted to erect a
brick market house and Village Hall, with other offices. This amount it
was resolved, should be raised by a loan for not less than ten years, at
six per cent; and that the proceeds of the market arising from the
letting of stalls, &c. should be appropriated to paying the interest of
said loan; and that if in process of time there should be a surplus,
after paying the interest, the same should be converted into a sinking
fund for extinguishing the principal. These resolutions have not as yet
been carried into effect.
_Third, Public Institutions._
Of public institutions we have not many to boast--they may be strictly
confined to one Bank, a Fire Insurance Company, and an Apprentices’
Library.
The “Long-Island Bank” was incorporated, April 1st, 1824, with a capital
of $300,000, divided into six thousand shares of $50 each. The present
officers are, Leffert Lefferts, Esq. President, and D. Embury, Cashier.
The “Brooklyn Fire Insurance Company” was incorporated, April 3, 1824,
with a capital of $150,000, divided into six thousand shares of $25
each. The present officers of this institution are, William Furman,
President, and Freeman Hopkins, Secretary.
There is also in this village a branch of the “Equitable Fire Insurance
Company”; of which Abraham Vanderveer, Esq. is Agent.
The Apprentices’ Library Association, which has been formed but a short
time, promises to be of great benefit to the apprentices of the place,
by introducing among them, habits of reading and reflection, which, if
properly attended to, will enable them to support the honourable
character of good citizens.
The Library at present consists of about twelve hundred volumes, which
have been presented by different individuals. About one hundred
apprentices take books from it, regularly once a week.--This institution
was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, passed in November, 1824.
The present officers are,
Robert Snow, President; Thomas Kirk, Vice-President; Andrew Mercein,
Treasurer; Robert Nicholls, Secretary.
Under this head it may be proper to notice, that there are two Masonic
lodges in this town, and a Post office.
Fortitude Lodge, No. 81.--W. Levi Porter, Master.
Hohenlinden Lodge, No. 338.--W. Abiathar Young, Master.
The Post office is kept at No. 97 Fulton-street, by George L. Birch,
Esq. Post Master. The mail is carried daily (Sundays excepted) between
Brooklyn and New-York, and closes at Brooklyn at 8 A. M. and arrives at
4 P. M.