June 7, 1625, Sarah De Rapalje, born in this town. Tradition says that
she was the first white child born in the colony. Her parents were
Walloons; from whence is derived the name of Wallaboght, or Walloons
Bay, where they lived.[26] She was twice married. Her first husband was
Hans Hanse Bergen, by whom she had six children, viz. Michael Hanse,
Joris Hanse, Jan Hanse, Jacob Hanse, Brechje Hanse, and Marytje Hanse.
Her second husband was Teunis Guysbertse Bogart, by whom she also had
six children, viz. Aurtie Bogart, Antje Bogart, Neeltje Bogart, Aultje
Bogart, Catelyntje Bogart, and Guysbert Bogart. The account of Sarah De
Rapelje in the archives of the New-York Historical Society contains the
names of the persons to whom eleven of her children were married, and
tells the places where they settled. The twelfth, Brechje Hanse went to
Holland.
March 1, 1665, Hendrick Lubbertson and John Evertsen, appeared as
deputies from the town of Brooklyn, at the Assembly convened at
Hempstead, by order of Richard Nicolls, Deputy Governor under the Duke
of York; at which assembly the code of laws called the “Duke’s laws”
were adopted and published. In the appendix marked E. will be found the
address which these deputies, together with the others, sent to the Duke
of York; and which occasioned so much excitement in the Colony at that
period.
1671, This town, with five other towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire
upon Long-Island, petitioned the Court of Sessions “for liberty to
transport wheate,” which petition was referred to the Governor.
1687. The Clerk’s office of Kings County was kept in this town, by the
Deputy Register, Jacob Vandewater, who was also a Notary Public in this
town at the same period. The Register, Samuel Bayard, Esq. resided in
the city of New-York.
About the year 1691, there was a custom prevalent in this town of
calling a widow the “last wife” of her deceased husband; and a widower
the “last man” of his deceased wife.
The following is an Inventory of the estate which a bride in this town
brought with her to her husband in the year 1691. The husband by various
records appears to have been a man of considerable wealth;
notwithstanding which, the following inventory was thought by both of
them, of sufficient importance to merit being recorded, viz.
“A half worn bed, pillow, 2 cushions of ticking with feathers, one rug,
4 sheets, 4 cushion covers, 2 iron potts, 3 pewter dishes, 1 pewter
bason, 1 iron roaster, 1 schuryn spoon, 2 cowes about five yeares old, 1
case or cupboard, 1 table.”
November 12, 1695, the Court of Sessions for Kings County, ordered that
the Constable of this towns, “shall on Sunday or Sabbathday take law for
the apprehending of all Sabbath breakers,” and “search all ale houses,
taverns and other suspected places for all prophaners and breakers of
the Sabbath daye,” and bring them before a Justice of the, Peace to be
dealt with according to law. This was to be done by the Constable under
the penalty of six shillings for each neglect or default.
The same Court also made an order, “that Mad James be kept by Kings
County in general, and that the deacons of each towne within the said
county doe forthwith meet together and consider about their propercons
for maintainence of said James.” This is the first instance which has
come to the compiler’s knowledge of the Court making an order for the
county generally to support a pauper.
In the year 1758, the sum of £122 18s. 7d. was assessed in two
assessments, by the Justices of the Peace, on this town, towards
building “a new Court house and gaol” for Kings County. The whole amount
assessed on the County was £448 4s. 1d.
The present Court house of Kings County, was built by contract in the
year 1792, at an expense of $2944, 71, under the superintendence of John
Vanderbilt, Johannes E. Lott, and Charles Doughty, Esq’rs. The
contractor was Thomas Fardon, and plans were furnished for the building
by Messrs. Stanton and Newton, and James Robertson.[27]