During the Revolution, this place was much resorted to by the officers of the English army, and the fashionables of the day, as a scene of amusement. In the Royal Gazette of August 8th, 1781, published at New-York, Charles Loosley advertises a Lottery of $12,500, to be drawn at “Brooklyn Hall.” The same paper contains the following advertisement: “Pro bono publico. Gentlemen that are fond of fox hunting, are requested to meet at Loosley’s Tavern, on Ascot Heath, on Friday morning next, between the hours of five and six, as a pack of hounds will be there purposely for a trial of their abilities: Breakfasting and Relishes until the Races commence.—At eleven o’clock will be run for, an elegant saddle, &c. value at least twenty pounds, for which upwards of twelve gentlemen will ride their own horses.—At twelve, a match will be rode by two gentlemen, Horse for Horse.—At one, a match for thirty guineas, by two gentlemen, who will also ride their own horses.—Dinner will be ready at two o’clock, after which, and suitable regalements, racing and other diversions, will be calculated to conclude the day with pleasure and harmony. Brooklyn Hall, 6th August, 1781.”
Lieutenant Anberry, in a letter from New-York, to a friend in England, dated October 30th, 1781, says, “on crossing the East River from New-York, you land at Brooklyn, which is a scattered village, consisting of a few houses. At this place is an excellent Tavern, where parties are made to go and eat fish; the landlord of which has saved an immense fortune this war.” The public house referred to in the above advertisements, and letter, was the same house, which after the Revolution, and in the Compiler’s recollection, was called the “Corporation House.” It was a large, gloomy, old fashioned, stone edifice; and was destroyed by fire, September 23d, 1812.
This town was left by the British troops, the same day that they evacuated New-York.
ANCIENT GOVERNMENT.
The first public officer appointed by the Dutch Government for this town after its settlement in 1625, was a “Superintendant,” whose duties were to preserve the peace, and regulate the police of the town. A few years after the office of Superintendant was abolished, and the offices of Schout, Secretary, and Assessor, created; these officers were also appointed by the Governor. In 1646, the town having considerably increased, the inhabitants were permitted to elect two magistrates; subject, however, to the approval or rejection of the Governor. These magistrates had increased powers: they were authorised to give judgment in all cases as they might think proper; provided that the judgment so given be not contrary to the charter of New-Netherland. Subsequently this Town Court was new modelled by the Dutch Government, and its power and authority more clearly defined.
The inhabitants suffering very much under the arbitrary exercise of power on the part of the government, frequently remonstrated against the same. Finally a convention of delegates from this, and the other towns under the Dutch government assembled at New Amsterdam, November 26th, 1653, on an invitation from the Governor. Where they, on the 11th of December, following, entered into a remonstrance against the exclusion of the people from their share in legislation, and generally against their mode of government. The Governor and his Council sent them no answer, but entered one on the minutes; in which they denied the right of this town, Flatbush, and Flatlands, to send deputies, and protested against the meeting, notwithstanding the same was held at the Governor’s request. Entertaining a just sense of the responsibility attached to them, the deputies made another, but ineffectual attempt, to obtain a recognition of their rights, and on the 13th of the last mentioned month, presented another remonstrance, in which they declared, that if they could not obtain them from the Governor and Council, they would be under the necessity of appealing to their superiors, the States General.—The Governor in a fit of anger dissolved their meeting, and sent them home.
In 1654, it appears that the country was very much infested with robbers; to disperse whom, April 7, 1654, the magistrates of this town, together with those of Midwout and Amersfort, united in forming a company of soldiers to act against “robbers and pirates,” and determined that there should be a military officer in each town, called a Sergeant.
In order to prevent the depredations of the Indians, the Governor in 1660, ordered the inhabitants of Brooklyn to put the town in a state of defence; and commanded the farmers to remove within the fortifications, on the pain of forfeiting their estates.[15]
For the first two or three years under the English government, the magistrates of this town were but temporary officers. Nearly all that we know about the government previous to 1669, is, that Town Courts were established in this Colony.—The inference would be, that as this town was granted “all the rights and privileges belonging to a town within this government,” a town Court was also organized here.