in their Patent. These were called "Dorps mannen," or Townsmen, and subsequently Defenders of the Patent. This controversy appears not to have been satisfactorily adjusted until the year 1721.

Corlaer's and Twiller's Flats, remained unoccupied until the close of the revolutionary war. They were then sold by the proprietors and owners, at the rate of sixteen dollars per acre. The proceeds of the sale of Corlaer's Flats, were chiefly devoted to the erection of "Erasmus Hall Academy," while those arising from the sale of Twiller's Flats, were divided among those who would not consent to relinquish their right for the benefit of the academy, in reference to which, chiefly the sales had been effected. The academy was greatly benefitted by this sale, but we shall have occasion to speak more at large upon this, when we come to trace the Literary History of the town.

On the 12th of November, 1695, the court made an order requiring each of the towns to cause to be immediately erected, a good pair of stocks, and a good pound, by which it seems, they were resolved to keep both man and beast in proper subjection. Whether this order at the time was strictly complied with on the part of the town of Flatbush, we know not. But twenty-nine years after this, on the records of the Board of Supervisors of the county, under date of the 17th of November, 1724, there is the following charge.

"To a Stocks for Flatbush, - - œ1. 9. 6." These stocks remained for a number of years. They were erected in front of the court-house, and many will remember to have seen them. There was also about these same premises, a whipping-post, which was used partly for offenders in the town, and partly for the punishment of persons convicted of small crimes; for there was a public whipper, whose fee was fixed for a year, at three pounds. The fee for whipping one person, was three shillings. These charges frequently appear on the Minutes of the Board of Supervisors. This mode of punishment was not in that day, considered improper or cruel, and was resorted to, probably, partly in consequence of the number of slaves which were then held by the several inhabitants, who were kept in subjection and punished for minor offences, in this summary manner. We have reason to be thankful that under the benign influence of mild and wholesome laws, this remnant of the reign of cruelty and terror has passed away.

As early as the commencement of the eighteenth century, if not sooner, a public brewery was established in the town. The principle of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate was not then known or practiced, and beer or malt liquor was the common beverage of the inhabitants, and continued to be so until the orchards were planted and came into full bearing, when cider became a substitute. The brew-house was situated in the southern part of the town, a little north of the dwelling-house of the late Jacob Duryee and on the same side of the road. It is presumed by some that there was also another public brewery in the north of the town. It is certain, however, that there were two private ones; one on the lot of the late Peter Stryker back of the store now occupied by Messrs. Birdsall & Aldworth, and another on the property of Rem Vanderbilt, the proprietor of the farm now in the tenure of Matthew Clarkson, Esq. The public brewery was divided into fourteen shares, which were subdivided into halves and perchance quarters. These rights were apportioned to the several farms and considered appurtenant to them, and entitled the proprietors to the privilege of brewing in the establishment. These rights were disposed of by deed or testamentary devise. A will is in existence dated as late as 1773, devising the right of the testator in the brewery to his son; and several wills and deeds of early date are to be found, containing provisions relative to the same subject. So important was the right in this establishment at that time deemed by the proprietors. The public brewhouse continued to stand until after the close of the American Revolution. It was then sold, together with all its fixtures, and the proceeds divided among the shareholders.

We may here briefly advert to the style of building, and domestic habits of the early inhabitants of Flatbush. The designs of their houses were probably brought from Faderland. They were chiefly built of wood, but some few of brick, which was manufactured in the place. They were of one story, either with an overshot-roof, both in front and rear forming a piazza--or an overshot in front, and the roof in the rear, extending some distance back until it came within a few feet of the ground. A specimen of this last style of architecture may be seen in the house belonging to the heirs of the late Cornelius Antonides, which is probably the oldest house now standing in the village. The rooms inside were not ceiled, but above were the broad heavy oak beams on which the floor of the upper-part of the house was laid. The fire-places usually were very large, generally extending without jambs in width sufficient to accommodate the whole family with a seat near the fire. The chimneys were very large and spacious, sufficiently so to admit their meat to be hung in them, for the purpose of being smoked, which was the usual practice. When jambs were added to any fireplace, they were generally set round with earthen glazed tiles, which were imported from Holland ornamented with various scenes, some of which were of a Scriptural character. Many of these were quite beautiful and gave a very ornamental appearance to the fireside, as well as formed the means of much amusement and instruction to the younger part of the family. The last of these fireplaces thus ornamented was removed when the house of the late Lefferts Martense was pulled down, to give place to the spacious mansion now occupied by Judge Garrit Martense. To many of the houses the barns also were quite closely connected. This was generally the case with the Keuters. This style of building corresponded with the habits of the earlier inhabitants. These were very simple, unaffected and economical. No people could have been more independent than they. They brought up their children in habits of industry. As has been stated every son was taught some mechanical art, and every daughter was required to become well acquainted with all household duties. The farmers burnt their own lime, tanned their own leather, often made their own shoes and boots, and attended to much of their own carpentering, and wheel-wrighting. While the males were engaged in the cultivation of the farms, the females were actively employed in some industrious avocations in the house. The spinning-wheel was set in motion in every family as soon as flax and wool could be prepared in the fall, and all materials for the clothing of the family, white as well as colored, were manufactured at home, nor was she considered a suitable candidate for matrimony who could not show her stores of domestic linens and other evidences of industry and economy. So economical were the females of their time, that they almost invariably took their spinning-wheels with them when they went to spend a sociable afternoon with a neighbor. Nor did they even refuse to help the males in the field during the harvest, the gathering of corn, and other busy seasons. It was a very common thing for them to be seen working side by side with their husbands, fathers and brothers, at such times. The modern invention of a dirt-cover, as it would in those days have been esteemed, which we now call a carpet, was not then known. The floors were regularly scoured and scrubbed, and kept as white and clean almost as the table. They were sanded with beach sand, of which every family always had a sufficient store, it being the rule to go twice a year to the beach for that then, indispensable article. It was put on the floor with great care on certain days, being always laid in small lumps or heaps, and the members of the family were required very cautiously to tread between these heaps so as not to disturb the economy of the good housewife. When on the next day the sand had become dry, it was swept in waves or some other figures, by the broom being drawn lightly over it, and was in truth a good specimen of the general neatness and cleanliness which pervaded the whole premises. When the first imported carpets were introduced we know not, but the first rag carpet was made about fifty years ago. It was wove by Adrian Hegeman for the widow of George Martense, the mother of the present Mrs. Catin. Frugality, economy and industry, characterised all. They lived chiefly within themselves, and knew but little of the dangers and diseases incident to luxury and indolence. And well would it be for the present age, if instead of ridiculing and despising them they practiced more of their simple, unaffected, economical habits. For one I love to dwell upon them, and every thing connected with them is interesting In the early part of this century a murder was committed in the town, and in fact the only one that we have any account of. It occurred on the farm now in the tenure of Mrs. Catin. The dwelling-house of the ancestor of the family of Martense, who possessed a very extensive tract of land, was situated on the rear of the farm. From his owning and cultivating so large a quantity of land, he was called by way of distinction Martin De Boer, (Martin the Farmer.) He built a new house on the main road in front of his farm near the site of the present dwelling of Mrs. Catin. When he moved to this house he left in the cellar of his former old dwelling an Indian. This person it appears had been guilty of killing some person or persons on Staten Island. In consequence of this, certain Indians from Staten Island came to Flatbush, found him living alone in the cellar of the house which stood separate from the other dwellings, and murdered him--thus glutting their revenge. During the first half of the last century, the inhabitants of Flatbush were chiefly engaged in certain difficulties of an ecclesiastical character, and during the latter half were occupied with the troubles growing out of the Revolutionary struggle. These will be made the subject of more extended notice hereafter, and we pass them for the present.

The introduction of foreign manures, forms an era in the agricultural history of the town. For more than a century the farmers depended entirely upon their barn yards to furnish the means of enriching their lands, together with such quantities of shell lime as they could manufacture for themselves. There was a lime kiln, situated not far from the place now occupied by the public pound, at which, large quantities of shells were burnt. The lime thus procured, was spread upon the ground, and tended, no doubt, greatly to increase its productiveness. But a short time previous to the American Revolution, the attention of the farmers was called to foreign manures, particularly to ashes. The first that was introduced into the village was by Jacobus Van Deventer. He brought it up from Brooklyn, in bags. It was tried and found to answer a good purpose, and then three other persons, viz. John Lefferts, Cornelius Vanderveer, and Judge Lott, united with him in carting it from the ferry. It could then be purchased at a very moderate rate. From that time the attention of the farmers was more directly turned to the enriching of their lands, and vast quantities of manures of various kinds have since been employed, in consequence of which, the land has been rendered rich and fertile.

In the year 1758 a new court-house was erected in the town. The first edifice was quite small, and was a distinct building from the jail. One of these buildings took fire in the winter of 1757-8 and burnt to the ground, the other was saved chiefly by throwing snow-balls upon it. It was however subsequently taken down, and in the new building which was put up, accommodations were made for both the court and jail. It was two stories high. The lower floor was divided by an entry, on the south side of which was a room for the use of the jailor, and on the north a room for the confinement of prisoners. The second story was fitted up in a large room for the accommodation of the courts of the county. During the Revolutionary war the British officers then in the place took out all the seats in this room and converted it into a ball-room. This building which cost œ448, remained with some repairs, until the year 1792. It being then found inconvenient, too small, and much out of repair, a new one was erected which was placed considerably farther back on the lot, and was of much larger dimensions. It was of two stories, and planned in general after the model of the old one. This plan was drawn by Mr. James Robinson, and is called in the minutes of the Board of Supervisors "the wooden plan," from the fact probably that the erection was to be a frame building. John Vanderbilt, Johannes E. Lott and Charles Doughty, Esqs., were first appointed the Commissioners to superintend the building of this court-house and jail. Mr. Vanderbilt having resigned the appointment, Rutgert Van Brunt, was afterwards commissioned in his place. The old building was then sold at public auction. It was purchased by Michael Van Cleef, for the sum of seventy-one pounds. The timber was afterwards bought by the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, and used in building the house lately occupied by his son, Stephen Schoonmaker. The court-house and jail was completed in the year 1793. It was a very respectable looking frame building, surmounted by a small cupola. The jail, however, was not very secure; several escapes were made from it, although it was often repaired and strengthened. On the 30th of November, 1832, it took fire from some unknown cause, and was burnt to the ground, and from that time Flatbush ceased to be the county town, and the courts and all judicial business, were removed to Brooklyn.

The ancient government of the town of Flatbush was similar to that of all the towns under the administration of the Dutch authority. In the infancy of the settlements, the Governor appointed magistrates in the several villages, with more or less power, as he judged proper. Usually these public officers were a scout or constable, a clerk and an assessor, all of which, were appointed by the Governor. The duties of these officers consisted in preserving the peace, and regulating the police of the town. They appear also to have had power to give judgment in some cases of judicial proceedings. In consequence of a deficiency in the records of the town, we are not able to give the names of those who held these offices during the dynasty of New-Netherlands. After the surrender of the colony to the English, in 1664, and the adoption of the Dukes Laws, some alterations were made in the number and character of the town officers. It was then ordered, that in addition to a clerk, each town should elect one constable and eight overseers. The duties of the constable were laid down with great particularity. They were to hold town courts, with the overseers, and with them to make assessments, &c. to whip or punish offenders, raise the hue and cry after murderers, manslayers, thieves, robbers, burglars: and also apprehend without warrant, such as were overtaken with drink, swearing, sabbath-breaking, vagrant persons, or night walkers, "provided they be taken in the manner, either by the sighte of the constable, or by present informacon from others; as alsoe to make searche for all such persons, either on ye sabbath daye, or other, when there shall bee occation, in all houses licensed to sell beere or wine, or any other suspected or disordered places, and these to apprehend and keepe in safe custody, till opportunity serves, to bring them before the next justice of ye peace, for further examinacon." The constable was chosen out of the number of overseers, whose term of service had expired.

The list of the constables will be given subsequently.

The overseers were appointed in the following manner, according to the provisions of the Dukes Laws. "Overseers shall be eight in number, men of good fame and life, chosen by the plurality of voiyes of the freeholders in each towne, whereof foure shall remaine in their office two yeares successively, and foure shall be changed for new ones, every yeare; which election shall preceed the election of constables, in point of time, in regard the constable for the yeare ensuing, is to bee chosen out of that number which are dismist from their office of overseers." The following is a summary of the duties of the overseers, as stated by Judge Furman, in his notes on Brooklyn. They were authorized together with the constable, to hold town courts, for the trial of causes under œ5. On the death of any person, they were to repair with the constable to the house of the deceased, and inquire after the manner of his death, and of his will and testament; and if no will was found, the constable, in the presence of the overseers, was, within forty-eight hours, to search after the estate of the deceased, and to deliver an account of the same, in writing, under oath, to the next justice of the peace. They together with the constable, made all assessments. If any overseer died during his term, the rest of the overseers by a major vote, made choice of another in his place: and if the person so chosen, refuse to serve, he forfeited the sum of œ10. towards defraying the town charges. They were to settle the bounds of the town, within twelve months after the bounds were granted. They had the power of regulating fences. They were authorized, together with the constable, to make choice of two out of the eight overseers, of church affairs. They and the constable were frequently to admonish the inhabitants, "to instruct their children and servants, in matters of religion, and the lawes of the country." They, with the constable, appointed an officer "to record every man's particular marke, and see each man's horse and colt branded." The constable and two of the overseers, were to pay the value of an Indian