Lot
Hendrick Rutgers Farm
Lot Group
Original Grants and Farms
Property Was Used in 1660 For:
Original Grants and Farms Document(s)
Grant Lot Document(s)
Tax Lot Events
Full Stokes Entry (See images below)
THE HENDRICK RUTGERS FARM Block Check List. 281-286-245-253-373-362-360-373.
This farm included
A. Bouwery No. 6 of the Dutch West India Co. Twenty eight and a half morgens, or fifty seven acres in extent.
B. A parcel of upland along the East River, south of that bouwery, containing twenty two morgens, about forty four acres.
C. A gore of land east of Catherine St., originally part of Wolphert's meadows.
Approximately one hundred acres, A, B, and C, together.
D. The meadow belonging to Bouwery No. 6.
A. Bouwery No. 6
This bouwery, which contained 28^ morgens — about 57 acres — touched the river only at the eastern end. A long parcel of upland intervened between the farm and the shore, from the Fresh Water outlet to the small fresh meadow.
The West India Co. may have reserved this land to itself; the explanation may be found in the "Instructions for Willem Verhulst, January 1625": "He is also to look out for a suitable place in which ships, sloops or barges could be laid
down, or to be repaired or caulked." — Van Rappard Doc. C.
It was well adapted for that purpose, as the Ratzer Map shows; in 1765, the entire frontage was occupied by shipyards. Ratzer shows the small fresh meadow perfectly.
The earliest occupant of Bouwery No. 6 was Wolphert Gerritsen van Couwenhoven, also called Wolphert Gerritsen from Amersfoort, Couwenhoven being an estate about four miles north-west from Amersfoort, in the province of Utrecht.
Wolphert Gerritsen may have been one of the colonists of 1624 whose farms were to be occupied for terms of six years. He was in Amsterdam on a visit when he signed a lease for 6 years, Jan. 8, 1630, for this bouwery. — Van RensselaerBowier MSS., 290, 291, 317. Killiaen van Rensselaer made a contract with him at that time. He was to live during a few months each year in Van Rensselaer's colony, to plant and sow, and purchase cattle for the patroon. — Ibid., 56-57.
Mr. van Laer believes that Gerritsen came over with the Hulft expedition, April, 1625. It is true that his name as one of the head-farmers is mentioned in the "Further Instructions for Director Verhulst," April, 1625, but he may then have been in possession of the bouwery. — See Van Rappard Doc. D., and note.
Gerritsen returned from Holland in "de Eendracht," arriving in New Amsterdam, May 24, 1630. By Aug. 6, he had witnessed the Indian deed to Van Rensselaer. — N. Y. Col. Docs., XIV: I ; Wilson, Mem. Hist. N. Y., I: 163. By September, hehad plowed Van Rensselaer's land at Fort Orange. An energetic capable man. The patroon when he released Wolphert from his service, July 20, 1632, wrote: "I had hoped that you would have settled in my colony but, as I am told, your wife was not much inclined thereto." — Fan Rensselaer-Bowier MSS., 170, 218, 805.
In 1636, when his lease of Bouwery No. 6 was to expire, Wolphert Gerritsen went to Long Island. His lands there are fully set forth in Vol. II: 201. He did not return to Manhattan. His sons were prominent citizens of New Amsterdam.
1639, March 31, Kieft made an agreement to lease for six years, on behalf of the West India Co., to Jan Cornelissen van Vorst, "the Bouwery No. 6, heretofore occupied by Wolphert Gerritsen, . . . belonging to the . . . West India Company, Chamber of Amsterdam." — Chronology.
Cornells van Vorst is always identified with New Jersey. — See II: 199-200. No indication has been found that he settled on Manhattan Island, even for a brief period.
Between Nov. 11 and 16, 1639, this lease was superseded by another, to Abraham Pietersen Gorter for twenty consecutive years. — Chronology. Gorter is, literally, groat miller, gort in Dutch meaning bruised barley or oats. This settler was The founder of the Van Deusen family in America. A very interesting account of him will be found in The Van Deusen Family, by Capt. Albert Harrison Van Deusen.
Pietersen farmed Bouwery No. 5, also, for a time. — Chronology, Mr I, 1642. He was miller for the Company — had a mill at Fresh Water outlet. His tavern on the site of 14-16 Broadway is shown on the Castello Plan, C. PI. 82, II: 231.
Long before Abraham Pietersen's lease was to have expired, but not until 1647, "'•''s Bouwery No. 6 granted.
Williem Kieft, Director etc., to Cornelis Jacobsen Stille. Ground-brief dated March 18, 1647. — Liber GG: 191; (Albany).
Conveys Bouwery No. 6, heretofore occupied by Wolphert Gerritsen (Van Couwenhoven) containing 28^ morgens.
Cornelis Jacobsen Stille conveyed the easterly one half of the bouwery to Augustine Herman. Deed not found: recited in the following confirmation of the westerly one half of the farm.
Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Cornelys Jacobs Stille. Confirmation dated Aug. 10, 1668. — Liber Patents, III: 81 (Albany).
"Whereas there was a pattent or ground-brief from Kieft to Cornelys Jacobs Stille for ye Bowery No. 6, lying and being upon this Island Manhatans & heretofore in ye tenure and occupation of Wolphert Gerrits, Conteyning according to ye Surveyors Certificate about 57 Acres or 28 Morgen & 14 W^h said pattent or ground-brief so granted as aforesaid beares date ye i8th day of March, 1647. Now ye said Cornelys Jacobs having conveyed & Transported ye one Moyety or halfe of ye Premises unto Augustine Herman, ffor a confirmation unto him the said Cornelys Jacobs in his possession & enjoymt of ye othr halfe or so much of ye p^'mises as remains untransported, &c Know ye" &c. This confirmed the westerly one half of Bouwery 6.
Francina Harmak (Herman) as atty. for her father, Augustine Harman (sic) of Bohemia in Maryland to WoLfert Webber and Hendrick Cornelissen, of the County of N. Y., yeoman. Deed dated Jan. 10, 1685. Consid., £67, los.
Conveys }4 or moiety (the easterly one half) "neare the ffresh water being the Bowery Number Six heretofore granted to Cornells Jacobsen Stille, containing about 57 Acres or 28^ morgen, more or less."
Recites conf. Nicolls to Herman, dated Aug. 10, 1668. Letter of atty. to Francina.
Right, title and interest of Augustine Herman to one half part only (the easterly halQ-
"Appurtences" mentioned.
Excepts and reserves "the Lott of Salt Meadow heretofore belonging to the said fFarme which for severall yeares past hath bin annexed to the said Augustine Harmans fFarme now in the tenure of Walter Dobs." — Liber Deeds, IX: 132 (Albany); Liber Deeds, XIII: 303 (New York).
Hendrick Cornelissen was a son-in-law of Cornells Jacobsen Stille, whose heirs now owned the entire farm.
In January 1728, Neiltje van Schaick, widow of Hendrick Cornelissen van Schaick, and other descendants of Cornells Jacobsen Stille conveyed their farm of 28^ morgens to Harmanus Rutgers. — Liber Deeds, XXXIII: 19-27 (New York). The conveyance recites a "Map by Robert Crooke near Fresh Water Hill," which has not been found. A protraction of the description gives the outline of the bouwery. The upland parcel is called "the land of Janeway," who may have leased it. Bouwery No. 6 thus became vested in Hermanus Rutgers.
Note: For the Stille and Van Schaick families, see Edwin R. Purple, in N. Y. Geneal. & Biog. Rec. (1876), 49-56.
B. The Upland Parcel
The long upland parcel, 22 morgens in extent, which intervened between Bouwery No. 6 and the river, seems to have no early history in the records. It is the only piece of land on the island of Manhattan that has not been traced back to a Dutch or English patent.
The ground-brief of Bouwery No. 6 certainly did not cover it, nor did it mention it. That farm contained 57 acres which, when carefully surveyed by Robert Crooke about 1728, expressly excluded the upland.
If the West India Co. reserved this shore front for ship yards and a careening place, there is no proof in the records that the government later used it for such a purpose. The occupant of the bouwery must have used the land along the water front.
The ground-brief of Bouwery No. 6 and the confirmation restricted the acreage to 28^-2 morgens. The clause " as formerly occupied by Wolphert Gerritsen " must have been construed as conveying this upland parcel to Stille, who claimed it. He sold the easterly half of the upland, as he sold the easterly half of the bouwery, to Augustine Herman. Deeds not found of record.
Herman conveyed the easterly half of the upland as a separate parcel.
THE UPLAND PARCEL, EASTERLY HALF
Augustine Herman to John Payne. Deed dated July 9, 1692 {1672).— Book 0/ Records 0/ Deeds & Transfers (16651672), 217, in city clerk's office, New York.
"Did Augustine Herman of Nova Bohemia in the Province of Maryland for a Certaine Sum of Money to him In hand Ensured Transport and make Over unto John Paine of Boston in New England, Merchant A parcell of Upland (without the Mash) heretofore belonging to Cornelius Jacobs Willie [Stille] being the one halfe of the twenty twoo Morgen of Upland of the said Wille [sic] lying and being upon this Island Manhatans beyond the fresh water neere Corkers hoeck, having to the East the fresh Mash or Meddow to the South the River & Schipper Louws point to the West the Lott of Corn Jacobs Aforenamed And to the North the land of the said Cornelius Jacobs Amounting to the quantity of About Eleaven Morgan or two & twentie Acres." — Land Papers, IV: 69, office of secretary of state.
1732, June 28, Thomas Fayerweather, grandson and heir of John Payne, deceased, conveyed his interest in the easterly part of the upland to Hermanus Rutgers. — Liber Deeds, XXXIII: 28 (New York).
the upland PARCEL, WESTERLY HALF
January 20, 1682/3, Cornells Jacobsen Stille, owning the westerly one half of the upland, executed a mortgage for 3,300 guilders, which was in effect a conveyance, to Thomas Lawrence and the other deacons of the city. The reversion, on non-payment of the mortgage, to be "for the use of the city's poor."
It covered the westerly half of the upland tract, and the Stille meadow beyond Corlaer's Hook.
This instrument was recorded in Liber Deeds, XII: 108, now missing from the register's office. New York Co,
The mortgage was paid, undoubtedly; there is no evidence that the deacons were ever in possession, and the westerly one half of the upland evidently passed to Hermanus Rutgers as appurtenant to the farm.
Harman Rutgers, second of that name in this country, died Aug. 9, 1753. He devised this farm to his younger son, Hendrick Rutgers. — Liber Wills, XVIII: 347 (New York).
Hendrick Rutgers bought a small piece of land east of Catharine St., when that street was laid out, to straighten the property lines. Part of Wolphert's meadows.
C. Part of Wolphert's Meadows
Jacobus Roosevelt, Evert Bancker, Anthony Rutgers, et al., to Hendrick Rutgers. Deed dated May 2, i-j6<).— Liber Deeds, XVIII: 228 (Albany).
Conveys "A parcel of meadow ground at Hughson's Point. ... to the eastward of a street laid out on Hendrick Rutgers' plan as Catharine street."
As to the oblong parcel at the north-west corner of the Rutgers' farm, called the Dutch ministers'.
A curious instance of a grant within a grant.
Jan. 23, 1653, Lawrence Cornelissen and Isaac De Forest obtained a Stuyvesant patent for a tract of eleven acres "by the Bouwery No. 6, then in the tenure or occupation of Cornells Jacobson Stille." This parcel was part of Bouwery No. 6 and later reverted to it. It is probable that Cornells Jacobsen had sold to the patentees; that the ground-brief confirmed that purchase. We have not the original text.
By 1664 the northerly half of the tract was owned by Dominie Megapolensis, the southerly half by Dominie Drisius. Both had houses in town; the farm evidently supplied them with food and firewood. Megapolensis died in 1669, Drisius, in 1673. — II: 218, 221.
In 1755, the land was still known as the farm of the Dutch Ministers (PI. 36-a, Vol. I).
Petrus SxuyvESANT, Director, etc., to Laurens CornelisSEN [van der Wel] and Isaac de Foreest. Ground-brief pated Jan. 23, 1653. Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, III: 166 (Albany).
Cornelissen and De Forest divided the farm "into equall halves."— /^iW., Ill: 65 (Albany). Tielman Van Vleck had purchased the southerly part of the tract before 1664. No deed found.
Tielman van Vleck to Do. Samuel Drisius. Deed dated May 3, 1664. Not found of record, recited in Ibid., Ill: 65 (Albany).
Conveys the southerly moiety of the tract, formerly belonging to Isaac De Forest.
At this time the northerly one-half, formerly of Laurens Cornelissen, was in the tenure of Do. Johannes Megapolensis. —Ibid., Ill: 65 (Albany).
Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Do. Samuel Drisius. Patent dated May 15, 166S.— Ibid., Ill: 65 (Albany).
Whereas "Tielman Van Vleeck did upon ye 3d day of May, 1664, transport and make over unto Do. Samuel Drisius a certain piece of land upon this Island Manhatans, lying and being towards ye East Ryver, next adjoining and on ye South of that parcell of land formerly belonging to Lawrence vander Well, now in the tenure or occupation of Do. Johannes Megapolensis, Conteyning about 5^ acres or 2}4 morgen, being of the same bigness w"" ye othr adjoyning thereunto they having been divided into equall halves. Now, Sic."
The following confirmation covers the entire tract:
Francis Lovelace, Governour, etc., to Widow and Relict of Do. Johannes Megapolensis and Do. Samuel Drisius. Confirmation dated Aug. 25, 1670. — Ibid., Ill: 166 (Albany).
Whereas "there was a patent or ground-brief bearing date 23rd Jan., 1653, heretofore granted by the late governor Petrus Stuyvesant unto Lawrence Cornelissen and Isaac De Forest for a certain piece of ground upon this Island lying and being near the Fresh Water by the Bowery No. 6 then in the tenure or occupation of Cornells Jacobsen Stille, beginning from the fence and containing in length on the north side 80 r. and in breadth behind 30 r. ; being in all about II acres or 5 morgens and ^2 and 144 r., leaving a space for two waggon-paths as in the said ground-brief is exprest. Now the said piece of ground having been since sold and transported in two equal moyeties or halves unto Do. Johannes Megapolensis and Do. Samuel Drisius, for a confirmation unto [Machtelt,] the widow and relict of the said Do. Megapolensis and unto Do. Samuel Drisius in their possession and enjoyment of each of them the one moyety or half of the premises; Know Ye, etc." This patent is reproduced verbatim, in Vol. I: 278.
There is an entry in Rec. N. Am., VI: 69, about the Dominies and their neighbours here.
Nothing has been found to show title out of the heirs of the Dutch Ministers. Before 1728 it was part of Cornells Jacobsen Stille's farm.
The Ratzer and Ratzen Maps show a fine orchard and garden in the parallelogram but do not show the house that certainly stood at the north-west corner. This house is shown on the manuscript map of 1732 (Vol. I, PI. 30), as "Rutgers," just across the road from the "Tavrin." PI. 36-a also shows it in its correct position, with reference to the garden and the orchard. The rope walk may have been as far north as there depicted, at that time. It was in the bed of Division St. later.
This house, the original Rutgers farm house, remained standing until November, 1779, certainly. It seems to have been demolished by October, 1797.
It was devised by the will of Hendrick Rutgers Aug. 28, 1775, to his four daughters — Catherine Bedlow, Ann Bancker, Elizabeth De Peyster, and Mary Rutgers, as "the house in which Ann Bancker lately lived." — Liver Wills, XXXIII: 201.
Nov. 16, 1779, Henry Rutgers, as eldest son and heir of his father, executed a quit claim deed to WiUiam Bedlow (husband of his sister Catherine), Ann Bancker, and Mary Rutgers. — Liber Deeds, XLVII: 206 (New York).
It is described as "that dwelling house in theOut Wardof the City of New York in which Ann Bancker lately lived, and the ground belonging thereto, bounded southerly on Harman Street [East Broadway], westerly on the King's Highway, northerly on the street laid out between James De Lancey and the said Hendrick Rutgers my Father [Division St.], and easterly by a street of Forty feet wide called Catherine Street, intended to be run and cut thru to the said Road between said De Lancey and my Father."
Recites death of Elizabeth De Peyster during the life time of her father; that Catherine Bancker had requested that her third should be conveyed to her husband. Recites a survey by Fr. Maerschalck, Aug. 9, 1775.
There is a survey of this house plot divided into irregular parcels by Casimer Th. Goerck, dated Oct. 28, 1797. The most northerly lot, triangular in form, was then occupied by the corporation watch house. — Copy annexed to Liber Deeds, CVII: 626 (New York).
A fine genealogy of the Rutgers Family of New York, prepared by Ernest H. Crosby Esq., a descendant, is printed in the N. Y. Geneal. & Biog. Rec. (1886), 82-93.
Mr. Crosby says: "In 1728 the farm house stood on the Bowery road at about what is now the southeast corner of East Broadway and Oliver Street." The deed quoted proves that it was in the block further north.
The mansion of Hendrick Rutgers, later the residence of William B. Crosby, is shown in two beautiful views — PI. 109-a & -b. Vol. III. The analysis (page 612) gives a brief history of the farm and its owners. See L. M. R. K., Ill: 952.
D. The Meadow Belonging to Bouwery No. 6
The meadow belonging to Bouwery No. 6 was divided into halves, as the bouwery and the upland were. The northerly one half, Augustine Heerman's parcel, finally vested in Abijah Hammond. See the introduction to these meadows.
The southerly one half, always appurtenent to Bouwery No. 6, passed to Hendrick Cornelissen with that bouwery.
Sept. I, 1687, Cornelissen procured a deed from the city of New York to extinguish any claim of the corporation. Land below high water being subject to such requisition then, as now.
The deed from the city described it as "a meadow on the east side of New York Island about one and a half miles north of the City, Containing dy^ acres, 17 rods." — Liber City Grants, A: 56.
The meadow passed with the farm into Harmanus Rutgers
This farm included
A. Bouwery No. 6 of the Dutch West India Co. Twenty eight and a half morgens, or fifty seven acres in extent.
B. A parcel of upland along the East River, south of that bouwery, containing twenty two morgens, about forty four acres.
C. A gore of land east of Catherine St., originally part of Wolphert's meadows.
Approximately one hundred acres, A, B, and C, together.
D. The meadow belonging to Bouwery No. 6.
A. Bouwery No. 6
This bouwery, which contained 28^ morgens — about 57 acres — touched the river only at the eastern end. A long parcel of upland intervened between the farm and the shore, from the Fresh Water outlet to the small fresh meadow.
The West India Co. may have reserved this land to itself; the explanation may be found in the "Instructions for Willem Verhulst, January 1625": "He is also to look out for a suitable place in which ships, sloops or barges could be laid
down, or to be repaired or caulked." — Van Rappard Doc. C.
It was well adapted for that purpose, as the Ratzer Map shows; in 1765, the entire frontage was occupied by shipyards. Ratzer shows the small fresh meadow perfectly.
The earliest occupant of Bouwery No. 6 was Wolphert Gerritsen van Couwenhoven, also called Wolphert Gerritsen from Amersfoort, Couwenhoven being an estate about four miles north-west from Amersfoort, in the province of Utrecht.
Wolphert Gerritsen may have been one of the colonists of 1624 whose farms were to be occupied for terms of six years. He was in Amsterdam on a visit when he signed a lease for 6 years, Jan. 8, 1630, for this bouwery. — Van RensselaerBowier MSS., 290, 291, 317. Killiaen van Rensselaer made a contract with him at that time. He was to live during a few months each year in Van Rensselaer's colony, to plant and sow, and purchase cattle for the patroon. — Ibid., 56-57.
Mr. van Laer believes that Gerritsen came over with the Hulft expedition, April, 1625. It is true that his name as one of the head-farmers is mentioned in the "Further Instructions for Director Verhulst," April, 1625, but he may then have been in possession of the bouwery. — See Van Rappard Doc. D., and note.
Gerritsen returned from Holland in "de Eendracht," arriving in New Amsterdam, May 24, 1630. By Aug. 6, he had witnessed the Indian deed to Van Rensselaer. — N. Y. Col. Docs., XIV: I ; Wilson, Mem. Hist. N. Y., I: 163. By September, hehad plowed Van Rensselaer's land at Fort Orange. An energetic capable man. The patroon when he released Wolphert from his service, July 20, 1632, wrote: "I had hoped that you would have settled in my colony but, as I am told, your wife was not much inclined thereto." — Fan Rensselaer-Bowier MSS., 170, 218, 805.
In 1636, when his lease of Bouwery No. 6 was to expire, Wolphert Gerritsen went to Long Island. His lands there are fully set forth in Vol. II: 201. He did not return to Manhattan. His sons were prominent citizens of New Amsterdam.
1639, March 31, Kieft made an agreement to lease for six years, on behalf of the West India Co., to Jan Cornelissen van Vorst, "the Bouwery No. 6, heretofore occupied by Wolphert Gerritsen, . . . belonging to the . . . West India Company, Chamber of Amsterdam." — Chronology.
Cornells van Vorst is always identified with New Jersey. — See II: 199-200. No indication has been found that he settled on Manhattan Island, even for a brief period.
Between Nov. 11 and 16, 1639, this lease was superseded by another, to Abraham Pietersen Gorter for twenty consecutive years. — Chronology. Gorter is, literally, groat miller, gort in Dutch meaning bruised barley or oats. This settler was The founder of the Van Deusen family in America. A very interesting account of him will be found in The Van Deusen Family, by Capt. Albert Harrison Van Deusen.
Pietersen farmed Bouwery No. 5, also, for a time. — Chronology, Mr I, 1642. He was miller for the Company — had a mill at Fresh Water outlet. His tavern on the site of 14-16 Broadway is shown on the Castello Plan, C. PI. 82, II: 231.
Long before Abraham Pietersen's lease was to have expired, but not until 1647, "'•''s Bouwery No. 6 granted.
Williem Kieft, Director etc., to Cornelis Jacobsen Stille. Ground-brief dated March 18, 1647. — Liber GG: 191; (Albany).
Conveys Bouwery No. 6, heretofore occupied by Wolphert Gerritsen (Van Couwenhoven) containing 28^ morgens.
Cornelis Jacobsen Stille conveyed the easterly one half of the bouwery to Augustine Herman. Deed not found: recited in the following confirmation of the westerly one half of the farm.
Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Cornelys Jacobs Stille. Confirmation dated Aug. 10, 1668. — Liber Patents, III: 81 (Albany).
"Whereas there was a pattent or ground-brief from Kieft to Cornelys Jacobs Stille for ye Bowery No. 6, lying and being upon this Island Manhatans & heretofore in ye tenure and occupation of Wolphert Gerrits, Conteyning according to ye Surveyors Certificate about 57 Acres or 28 Morgen & 14 W^h said pattent or ground-brief so granted as aforesaid beares date ye i8th day of March, 1647. Now ye said Cornelys Jacobs having conveyed & Transported ye one Moyety or halfe of ye Premises unto Augustine Herman, ffor a confirmation unto him the said Cornelys Jacobs in his possession & enjoymt of ye othr halfe or so much of ye p^'mises as remains untransported, &c Know ye" &c. This confirmed the westerly one half of Bouwery 6.
Francina Harmak (Herman) as atty. for her father, Augustine Harman (sic) of Bohemia in Maryland to WoLfert Webber and Hendrick Cornelissen, of the County of N. Y., yeoman. Deed dated Jan. 10, 1685. Consid., £67, los.
Conveys }4 or moiety (the easterly one half) "neare the ffresh water being the Bowery Number Six heretofore granted to Cornells Jacobsen Stille, containing about 57 Acres or 28^ morgen, more or less."
Recites conf. Nicolls to Herman, dated Aug. 10, 1668. Letter of atty. to Francina.
Right, title and interest of Augustine Herman to one half part only (the easterly halQ-
"Appurtences" mentioned.
Excepts and reserves "the Lott of Salt Meadow heretofore belonging to the said fFarme which for severall yeares past hath bin annexed to the said Augustine Harmans fFarme now in the tenure of Walter Dobs." — Liber Deeds, IX: 132 (Albany); Liber Deeds, XIII: 303 (New York).
Hendrick Cornelissen was a son-in-law of Cornells Jacobsen Stille, whose heirs now owned the entire farm.
In January 1728, Neiltje van Schaick, widow of Hendrick Cornelissen van Schaick, and other descendants of Cornells Jacobsen Stille conveyed their farm of 28^ morgens to Harmanus Rutgers. — Liber Deeds, XXXIII: 19-27 (New York). The conveyance recites a "Map by Robert Crooke near Fresh Water Hill," which has not been found. A protraction of the description gives the outline of the bouwery. The upland parcel is called "the land of Janeway," who may have leased it. Bouwery No. 6 thus became vested in Hermanus Rutgers.
Note: For the Stille and Van Schaick families, see Edwin R. Purple, in N. Y. Geneal. & Biog. Rec. (1876), 49-56.
B. The Upland Parcel
The long upland parcel, 22 morgens in extent, which intervened between Bouwery No. 6 and the river, seems to have no early history in the records. It is the only piece of land on the island of Manhattan that has not been traced back to a Dutch or English patent.
The ground-brief of Bouwery No. 6 certainly did not cover it, nor did it mention it. That farm contained 57 acres which, when carefully surveyed by Robert Crooke about 1728, expressly excluded the upland.
If the West India Co. reserved this shore front for ship yards and a careening place, there is no proof in the records that the government later used it for such a purpose. The occupant of the bouwery must have used the land along the water front.
The ground-brief of Bouwery No. 6 and the confirmation restricted the acreage to 28^-2 morgens. The clause " as formerly occupied by Wolphert Gerritsen " must have been construed as conveying this upland parcel to Stille, who claimed it. He sold the easterly half of the upland, as he sold the easterly half of the bouwery, to Augustine Herman. Deeds not found of record.
Herman conveyed the easterly half of the upland as a separate parcel.
THE UPLAND PARCEL, EASTERLY HALF
Augustine Herman to John Payne. Deed dated July 9, 1692 {1672).— Book 0/ Records 0/ Deeds & Transfers (16651672), 217, in city clerk's office, New York.
"Did Augustine Herman of Nova Bohemia in the Province of Maryland for a Certaine Sum of Money to him In hand Ensured Transport and make Over unto John Paine of Boston in New England, Merchant A parcell of Upland (without the Mash) heretofore belonging to Cornelius Jacobs Willie [Stille] being the one halfe of the twenty twoo Morgen of Upland of the said Wille [sic] lying and being upon this Island Manhatans beyond the fresh water neere Corkers hoeck, having to the East the fresh Mash or Meddow to the South the River & Schipper Louws point to the West the Lott of Corn Jacobs Aforenamed And to the North the land of the said Cornelius Jacobs Amounting to the quantity of About Eleaven Morgan or two & twentie Acres." — Land Papers, IV: 69, office of secretary of state.
1732, June 28, Thomas Fayerweather, grandson and heir of John Payne, deceased, conveyed his interest in the easterly part of the upland to Hermanus Rutgers. — Liber Deeds, XXXIII: 28 (New York).
the upland PARCEL, WESTERLY HALF
January 20, 1682/3, Cornells Jacobsen Stille, owning the westerly one half of the upland, executed a mortgage for 3,300 guilders, which was in effect a conveyance, to Thomas Lawrence and the other deacons of the city. The reversion, on non-payment of the mortgage, to be "for the use of the city's poor."
It covered the westerly half of the upland tract, and the Stille meadow beyond Corlaer's Hook.
This instrument was recorded in Liber Deeds, XII: 108, now missing from the register's office. New York Co,
The mortgage was paid, undoubtedly; there is no evidence that the deacons were ever in possession, and the westerly one half of the upland evidently passed to Hermanus Rutgers as appurtenant to the farm.
Harman Rutgers, second of that name in this country, died Aug. 9, 1753. He devised this farm to his younger son, Hendrick Rutgers. — Liber Wills, XVIII: 347 (New York).
Hendrick Rutgers bought a small piece of land east of Catharine St., when that street was laid out, to straighten the property lines. Part of Wolphert's meadows.
C. Part of Wolphert's Meadows
Jacobus Roosevelt, Evert Bancker, Anthony Rutgers, et al., to Hendrick Rutgers. Deed dated May 2, i-j6<).— Liber Deeds, XVIII: 228 (Albany).
Conveys "A parcel of meadow ground at Hughson's Point. ... to the eastward of a street laid out on Hendrick Rutgers' plan as Catharine street."
As to the oblong parcel at the north-west corner of the Rutgers' farm, called the Dutch ministers'.
A curious instance of a grant within a grant.
Jan. 23, 1653, Lawrence Cornelissen and Isaac De Forest obtained a Stuyvesant patent for a tract of eleven acres "by the Bouwery No. 6, then in the tenure or occupation of Cornells Jacobson Stille." This parcel was part of Bouwery No. 6 and later reverted to it. It is probable that Cornells Jacobsen had sold to the patentees; that the ground-brief confirmed that purchase. We have not the original text.
By 1664 the northerly half of the tract was owned by Dominie Megapolensis, the southerly half by Dominie Drisius. Both had houses in town; the farm evidently supplied them with food and firewood. Megapolensis died in 1669, Drisius, in 1673. — II: 218, 221.
In 1755, the land was still known as the farm of the Dutch Ministers (PI. 36-a, Vol. I).
Petrus SxuyvESANT, Director, etc., to Laurens CornelisSEN [van der Wel] and Isaac de Foreest. Ground-brief pated Jan. 23, 1653. Not found of record; recited in Liber Patents, III: 166 (Albany).
Cornelissen and De Forest divided the farm "into equall halves."— /^iW., Ill: 65 (Albany). Tielman Van Vleck had purchased the southerly part of the tract before 1664. No deed found.
Tielman van Vleck to Do. Samuel Drisius. Deed dated May 3, 1664. Not found of record, recited in Ibid., Ill: 65 (Albany).
Conveys the southerly moiety of the tract, formerly belonging to Isaac De Forest.
At this time the northerly one-half, formerly of Laurens Cornelissen, was in the tenure of Do. Johannes Megapolensis. —Ibid., Ill: 65 (Albany).
Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Do. Samuel Drisius. Patent dated May 15, 166S.— Ibid., Ill: 65 (Albany).
Whereas "Tielman Van Vleeck did upon ye 3d day of May, 1664, transport and make over unto Do. Samuel Drisius a certain piece of land upon this Island Manhatans, lying and being towards ye East Ryver, next adjoining and on ye South of that parcell of land formerly belonging to Lawrence vander Well, now in the tenure or occupation of Do. Johannes Megapolensis, Conteyning about 5^ acres or 2}4 morgen, being of the same bigness w"" ye othr adjoyning thereunto they having been divided into equall halves. Now, Sic."
The following confirmation covers the entire tract:
Francis Lovelace, Governour, etc., to Widow and Relict of Do. Johannes Megapolensis and Do. Samuel Drisius. Confirmation dated Aug. 25, 1670. — Ibid., Ill: 166 (Albany).
Whereas "there was a patent or ground-brief bearing date 23rd Jan., 1653, heretofore granted by the late governor Petrus Stuyvesant unto Lawrence Cornelissen and Isaac De Forest for a certain piece of ground upon this Island lying and being near the Fresh Water by the Bowery No. 6 then in the tenure or occupation of Cornells Jacobsen Stille, beginning from the fence and containing in length on the north side 80 r. and in breadth behind 30 r. ; being in all about II acres or 5 morgens and ^2 and 144 r., leaving a space for two waggon-paths as in the said ground-brief is exprest. Now the said piece of ground having been since sold and transported in two equal moyeties or halves unto Do. Johannes Megapolensis and Do. Samuel Drisius, for a confirmation unto [Machtelt,] the widow and relict of the said Do. Megapolensis and unto Do. Samuel Drisius in their possession and enjoyment of each of them the one moyety or half of the premises; Know Ye, etc." This patent is reproduced verbatim, in Vol. I: 278.
There is an entry in Rec. N. Am., VI: 69, about the Dominies and their neighbours here.
Nothing has been found to show title out of the heirs of the Dutch Ministers. Before 1728 it was part of Cornells Jacobsen Stille's farm.
The Ratzer and Ratzen Maps show a fine orchard and garden in the parallelogram but do not show the house that certainly stood at the north-west corner. This house is shown on the manuscript map of 1732 (Vol. I, PI. 30), as "Rutgers," just across the road from the "Tavrin." PI. 36-a also shows it in its correct position, with reference to the garden and the orchard. The rope walk may have been as far north as there depicted, at that time. It was in the bed of Division St. later.
This house, the original Rutgers farm house, remained standing until November, 1779, certainly. It seems to have been demolished by October, 1797.
It was devised by the will of Hendrick Rutgers Aug. 28, 1775, to his four daughters — Catherine Bedlow, Ann Bancker, Elizabeth De Peyster, and Mary Rutgers, as "the house in which Ann Bancker lately lived." — Liver Wills, XXXIII: 201.
Nov. 16, 1779, Henry Rutgers, as eldest son and heir of his father, executed a quit claim deed to WiUiam Bedlow (husband of his sister Catherine), Ann Bancker, and Mary Rutgers. — Liber Deeds, XLVII: 206 (New York).
It is described as "that dwelling house in theOut Wardof the City of New York in which Ann Bancker lately lived, and the ground belonging thereto, bounded southerly on Harman Street [East Broadway], westerly on the King's Highway, northerly on the street laid out between James De Lancey and the said Hendrick Rutgers my Father [Division St.], and easterly by a street of Forty feet wide called Catherine Street, intended to be run and cut thru to the said Road between said De Lancey and my Father."
Recites death of Elizabeth De Peyster during the life time of her father; that Catherine Bancker had requested that her third should be conveyed to her husband. Recites a survey by Fr. Maerschalck, Aug. 9, 1775.
There is a survey of this house plot divided into irregular parcels by Casimer Th. Goerck, dated Oct. 28, 1797. The most northerly lot, triangular in form, was then occupied by the corporation watch house. — Copy annexed to Liber Deeds, CVII: 626 (New York).
A fine genealogy of the Rutgers Family of New York, prepared by Ernest H. Crosby Esq., a descendant, is printed in the N. Y. Geneal. & Biog. Rec. (1886), 82-93.
Mr. Crosby says: "In 1728 the farm house stood on the Bowery road at about what is now the southeast corner of East Broadway and Oliver Street." The deed quoted proves that it was in the block further north.
The mansion of Hendrick Rutgers, later the residence of William B. Crosby, is shown in two beautiful views — PI. 109-a & -b. Vol. III. The analysis (page 612) gives a brief history of the farm and its owners. See L. M. R. K., Ill: 952.
D. The Meadow Belonging to Bouwery No. 6
The meadow belonging to Bouwery No. 6 was divided into halves, as the bouwery and the upland were. The northerly one half, Augustine Heerman's parcel, finally vested in Abijah Hammond. See the introduction to these meadows.
The southerly one half, always appurtenent to Bouwery No. 6, passed to Hendrick Cornelissen with that bouwery.
Sept. I, 1687, Cornelissen procured a deed from the city of New York to extinguish any claim of the corporation. Land below high water being subject to such requisition then, as now.
The deed from the city described it as "a meadow on the east side of New York Island about one and a half miles north of the City, Containing dy^ acres, 17 rods." — Liber City Grants, A: 56.
The meadow passed with the farm into Harmanus Rutgers
