HISTORY Books: Aid Afforded To The American Cause During The War Of The Revolution; Kings co., NY

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Book Title: History Of Flatbush

AID AFFORDED TO THE AMERICAN CAUSE DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

  We now open an interesting chapter in the History of Flatbush. It relates to
the pecuniary aid afforded by this, in common with some of the other towns in
Kings County, to the advancement of the American cause, during the struggle
which eventuated in our independence. While from the circumstances in which the
inhabitants of this part of the country were placed, they could not personally
enlist in the army without sacrificing their all; many of them furnished money,
appropriately called the sinews of war, with which to carry on the contest.
This, in view of the situation of the country at various times during the
revolutionary conflict, was exceedingly important. The currency of the country
consisted chiefly in continental paper. This had become so much depreciated,
that it was of little value, and it was absolutely essential to the success of
the American cause, that specie should be obtained. It was therefore contrived
to borrow money for the use of the army, from the whigs, on the west end of
Long-Island, who had in their possession large sums of gold and silver. The
agent in effecting these loans, was Major Hendrick Wyckoff. He was the only son
of Mr. Cornelius Wyckoff, of New-Lots, in this town. His father was a staunch
whig, and his son the Major, early enlisted with all his heart, in the cause of
his country. He left Long-Island with the American army, in September, 1776, and
remained in the service, and virtually an exile from his home, till the British
left the country, in 1783. He was a confidential friend of Governor George
Clinton, and a brave, discreet and enterprising officer, a man of sterling
integrity and honesty. His country's enemies were his enemies, and her friends
his friends. Being well acquainted with the inhabitants of the west end of
Long-Island, and who among them were true friends of American Independence,
after the plan of obtaining money from them was suggested, the execution of it
was committed to him.

  The loaning of money appears to have originated with Lieutenant Samuel Dodge,
who was taken prisoner at Fort Montgomery, in October, 1777. The officers who
were captured in the Fort at that time, were brought to New-York, and
distributed on parole in Kings County. Lieutenant Dodge and Captain Gilleland,
were quartered at the house of Mr. Barent Johnson, the father of the present
General Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn. He was exchanged in the early part of the
following November. On his return, Mr. Johnson, who was a firm and devoted whig,
loaned him a small sum of money, and probably suggested the idea of obtaining
specie in Kings County. Colonel Ellison, who was a prisoner in New-Utrecht, on
parole, was advised on the subject, and when he was exchanged in December, 1777,
he obtained a loan of £700, to the State from Mr. Barent Johnson, which he
carried with him. This was the first loan, for which a simple private receipt on
account was given. Several receipts of the like import, amounting to $5000, were
taken by Mr. Johnson before his death in 1782, a noble testimony to his
devotedness to the interests of his country.

  The practicability of obtaining money in Kings County being thus manifest, the
whole conducting of the affair was intrusted to Major Wyckoff. It was an
enterprize attended with imminent danger, and one which required great skill and
secrecy in its execution. The plan usually pursued by the Major, was to cross
the sound from Connecticut, and conceal himself at Cow Neck. The house in which
he was usually secreted, was that of Peter Onderdonk, a warm friend of the
American cause. He was entrusted by Governor Clinton, with blank notes, signed
by him, which the Major was to fill up to certain individuals, for such sums as
he received from them. He had his agents in this part of Kings County, who
obtained money for him, and took it to him. Judge Cowenhoven of New-Utrecht, the
father-in-law, of Mrs. Catin, was one of these. He carried to the Major, the
chief part of the money raised for this object, in Flatbush. Major Wyckoff would
occasionally venture himself within the British lines. He visited his father's
house in New-Lots, and in the winter of the year 1780, he was several days at
the house of Mr. Remsen, at the Wallaboght, in sight of the prison ship, Jersey.
In the evening they rode out, when Mr. Remsen would borrow money, with which
they would return at night. In the day they would count it on a blanket, and bag
it. When the Major had as much as it was safe to take, Mr. Remsen took him and
the cash to Mr. Onderdonk's, at Cow Neck. In effecting this service for his
country, Major Wyckoff ran many risks of his life. On one occasion he was
concealed for two or more days and nights in a thicket of briar bushes, from
which he could see the men who were in pursuit of him.

  The amount of money loaned to the State by the whig inhabitants of Flatbush
cannot be fully ascertained. We should be glad to name all who thus favored
their country's cause, but strange to say, no record of these transactions has
been made or preserved. We can only mention such as have come to our knowledge,
without designing to cast any reflection upon others. The mother of the present
old Mrs. Lefferts advanced £500, equal to $1250. On one occasion, when counting
out the money to the person who was about to take it to Major Wyckoff, a British
officer entered the house, and she came near being discovered and apprehended.
Captain Cornelius Vander-veer and Judge Lott, united in advancing on a certain
occasion, a sum of money. What the precise amount was we know not. But they
received the simple note signed by Governor Clinton. To preserve this voucher,
they enclosed it in a bottle. This being well corked, they buried it under one
of the posts of Mr. Vanderveer's barn. At the close of the war, they dug up the
bottle, but on opening it they found that all the writing on the note was
obliterated, except the signature of George Clinton. When the State repaid these
loans, this note among others, was presented. The Governor inquired into the
cause of its being so defaced, and at first hesitated to honor it. But on being
told the circumstances connected with it, he honorably discharged it.

  Mr. George Martense, the father of Mrs. Catin, probably advanced the largest
amount of money of any individual in the town. He loaned first and last, £2200,
equal to $5500. This was the more commendable on his part, as he was regarded by
the British as favorable to them. He had not fled when they entered the town,
and they injured no part of his property. At his house too, the British officers
often visited, and Major Moncrief had his quarters. All these sums were given in
specie, and when the loans, after the revolution were paid, it was in the same
currency. When Mr. George Martense went for his money, he took a cart, it is
said, and the silver completely filled it.

  The process of loaning money continued till the peace. Many timid whigs
ventured as the prospects of the country brightened, and loaned their money.
They knew the purpose and the danger in aiding the American cause. To tell was
death. A combination in what was esteemed treasonable acts, bound them strongly
together.
  It is supposed that before the wrar terminated, not far from $200,000, in
specie, had been loaned and carried out of the British lines, by this devoted
band. And what is remarkable, not a single person who aided in this business was
discovered. It is to be regretted, that a public record of these transactions,
so honorable to the whigs of Kings County, is not in existence. "I have
searched," says General Johnson, in a communication to the author, "the records
and public papers, of the war, at Albany, but no entries of this matter can be
found."

  Major Wyckoff after the peace engaged in mercantile business, with Judge Smith
(also an exile) under the firm of Smith and Wyckoff, New-York. He died in the
year 1791, at his father's house in New-Lots, being about fifty years of age.
His funeral was attended by a large concourse of people, desirous of paying
their last respects to a man, who had braved danger and difficulty, in the
service of his country. Among these, were the military officers of the city of
New-York, and his personal friend, George Clinton, the Governor of the State.

  At the close of the war, a liberty pole was erected in Flatbush. It was near
the spot where the present one stands. The occasion was one of great joy and
hilarity. Materials for the flag having been procured, a party of ladies
assembled at the house of Mr. John C. Vander-veer, for the purpose of making it.
Several young persons gathered together in the evening, and much dancing and
merriment were indulged in. But it was interrupted by a sensation of an
earthquake, which was then very strongly felt. The flag however, duly formed,
with its stripes and stars was completed and a time was set for the putting up
of the pole and displaying for the first time in Flatbush, the American signal.
A large concourse assembled on the occasion. It was celebrated with the firing
of cannon, and other demonstrations of joy. An unfortunate accident occurred,
however, which greatly marred the pleasure of the scene. Mr. Henry Van Beuren,
the brother of Courtland Van Beuren, the father of the present Mrs. Hasbrook,
was severely wounded. He was engaged in ramming down a charge in the cannon,
when from some cause the piece discharged itself. The ramrod was driven with
great violence from the cannon, and severely lacerated the hand and arm of poor
Van Beuren, and also passed along his thigh and laid open the flesh almost
through its whole extent. The wound was a very dangerous one, and it was feared
at the time, that it would prove fatal. He however, after a very long
confinement finally recovered.

  The evening of the day on which the liberty pole was erected, was spent in
festivity. A large public ball was held, the company using for the occasion the
court room, from which the British officers had previously removed the seats and
benches, to render it suitable for similar amusements on their part; little
dreaming that they whom they regarded as dastardly rebels, would use these
accommodations to celebrate, in the same place the achievement of their
independence from foreign oppression.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

1908 Reprint of Thomas M. Strong's "The History of the Town of Flatbush in Kings
County, Long Island" originally published in 1842.