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Synoptical History of the Towns of 
 Kings County from 1 525 to 
 Modern Times 
 
 jntaining the origin of the names of the Streets, 
 Avenues and Lanes 
 
 led from the manuscripts of Stiles,, Ostrander, Furnam, 
 and other historians 
 
 by 
 
 E. A. CUSTER 
 
F/ZJ 
 
 
 XiWLf 
 
® 
 
 ORIGIN OF STREET NAMES— THE PERSONS, OR FAM- 
 ILIES, AFTER WHOM THE STREETS OF BROOK- 
 LYN WERE NAMED. 
 
 As many of the streets, lanes, avenues and alleys have 
 been made from paths, roads, and highways since 1860, it 
 is not possible, in 'a work of this size and object to fully ex- 
 plain the origin of all the later named streets, etc. 
 
 Many of the new streets were named by aldermanic vote, 
 after prominent (but otherwise unimportant) property-hold- 
 ers, real-estate speculators, minerals, points of the compass, 
 cities in Europe, and other countries from which the ances- 
 tor of holders of large property interests had emigrated. 
 
 These emigrants not having been prominent in the an- 
 nals of the city except as thrifty holders, or aceumualtors 
 of land, and as they are not historical personages except as 
 purchasers of cheap land, now immensely valuable, we have 
 omitted mentioning them. These land-holders were only, 
 if at all, conspicuous as the progenitors of large families, 
 whose descendants now take much pride, and derive great 
 satisfaction in the mere fact of natural descent from their 
 plebian, economical, and domestic ancestors. 
 
 As in other large cities, the names of some of the old„r 
 streets have been changed at the demand of inhabitants on 
 said streets. We do not have space to give the history of 
 these changes, their cause (often based on snobbishness, race 
 prejudice, or family pride), or a list of the earlier names, 
 and their present substitutes. A description o<f the causes, 
 or objects in the background, that brought enough influence 
 to bear to effect the changes, would make very humorous 
 and entertaining literature. 
 
 We have omitted any reference to streets bearing baptis- 
 mal names such as Alice, Christopher; natural history, as 
 Garden, Laurel, Rose, Ruby, Cypress, Emerald; inanimate 
 objects, such as Quay, Cross, Gem, Vine, etc. 
 
 3 ■:■■■] 
 
Ainslie street — After James Ainslie, a judge. 
 
 Lorimer street — From the middle name of John Lorimer 
 
 Graham. 
 Amerman — After Kirck Amerman. 
 Bais-leys lane- — After Thomas Baisley. 
 Bedford avenue — Prom the tract of land known by that 
 
 name. 
 Bennett — From the Bennett and Bentyn purchase in 1636. 
 Berger — From Hans Hansen Berger, a pioneer in the "Wool- 
 
 Bogt." 
 Boerum — After the Boerum family, especially J. Boerum, 
 
 farmer. 
 Bogart— After Tennis Gybertsen Bogart, an early settler of 
 
 the "Wallabout. 
 Brevoort — After J. Carson Brevoort. 
 Burnet — After Martin Burnet, a wheelwright of Fulton 
 
 street. 
 Bushwick — From the old district in Dutch times, known as 
 
 "Boswyck." 
 Canarsie avenue — Was formerly called "Glove Road." 
 Ch'auncey — After Commodore Chauncey. 
 Cheever — After Land Commissioner Samuel Cheever. 
 Clarkson avenue — After Matthew Clarkson. 
 Coney Island avenue — Formerly Coney Island Road, and in 
 
 the 40's as Coney Island Plank Road. 
 Clinton avenue — After Governor Clinton. 
 Conover— After John Conover. 
 Conselyea — After Lieutenant Joseph Conselyea. 
 Cooper — After John Cooper. 
 
 Cortelyou — From Jaques Cortelyou of the "Veehte House." 
 Crooke avenue — After General P. S. Crooke. 
 Dahlgren — After Commodore Dahlgren. 
 Debevoise — After the early family of same name, especially 
 
 Charles Debevoise. 
 Decatur — After Commodore Decatur. 
 
Degraw — After James De Graw. 
 
 De Kalb — After the German General Baron De Kalb. 
 
 Delaplaine — After the De Laplaine family. 
 
 Denton — From Denton's Mill in Gowanus. 
 
 Denyse lane — After Denyses Ferry. 
 
 Ditmas avenue — So named from the H. S. Ditmas Farm. 
 
 De Voe street — After the De Voes of Bushwick. 
 
 Division avenue — From the boundary between the cities of 
 
 Williamsburgh and Brooklyn. 
 Doughty — After Lieutenant C. J. Doughty. 
 Duryea — After J. R. Duryea. 
 East Broadway — Was formerly "Cow Dane." 
 Erasmus street — So named by Gerit L. Maitense in 1834, 
 
 after Erasmus Hall property. 
 Farragut — After Admiral Farragut. 
 Fellows — After Brigadied General Fellows. 
 Fillmore — After President Millard Fillmore. 
 Flatbush avenue — After "t Vlaacke Bosch," or flat bush, or 
 
 woods. 
 Flatlands, after the Flatlands Plains known to the Dutch as 
 
 "t Vlaacke Landt." 
 Flushing- — After the town of same name. 
 Foster — After James Foster. 
 
 Frost street — After Edmund Frost, real estate dealer. 
 Fulton — After Robert Fulton; formerly "the king's high- 
 way." 
 Freeman — After Hon. Gabriel Freeman. 
 Garden — After the Military Garden. 
 Gerritsen — From the Gerritsen estate in that portion of city 
 
 included between Fulton avenue, Smith and Nevins 
 
 streets. 
 Graham — After Augustus Graham. 
 Gravesend avenue — So named in 1875. 
 Gowanus — From the tribe of that name (Gowanis). 
 Greene — After General Greene. 
 
Hanson — After Kans Hansen. 
 
 Hegeman — After Adrian Hegeman, third constable of 
 
 "Breuckelen." 
 Hendrix — Prom the Ephriam Hendricks family. 
 Hubert — After Captain Joseph Hubert. 
 Hicks — After George Hicks of Doughty street. 
 Howard — After Joseph Howard. 
 Humboldt — After Alexander Humboldt. 
 Jackson — After Samuel Jackson. 
 Johnson street — After General Jeremiah Johnson. 
 Joralemon — After Dennis Joralemon. 
 Irving — After Judge Irving. 
 
 Kosciusko — After the great liberator, Thaddeus Kosciusko. 
 Kossuth — After the great patriot and statesman of Hungary. 
 Lefferts avenue — After Leffert Lefferts, Royalist. 
 Lawrence street — So named by Dr. Ad. Vanderveer. 
 Livingston — After P. Livingston, who lived opposite Coenties 
 
 Slip on the river shore, at the foot of present Jorolemon 
 
 street. 
 Lott — After Abraham Lott. 
 Ludlam — After Silas Ludlam. 
 Laquer — After the Laquer family. 
 Marsh — After John Marsh. 
 Martense — After Jooris Martense. 
 McDougal — After General McDougal. 
 Meserole — After Abraham Meserole. 
 Melrose street — After "Melrose Hall," built prior to the 
 
 Revolution. 
 Middagh — Afterthe family of Aert Anthonissen Middagh, a 
 
 Dutch settler of Wallabout. 
 Montauk — From the Indian tribe of that name. 
 Maujer street — After Daniel Maujer, Alderman. 
 Moultrie — After General Moultrie. 
 Patchen — After Ralph Patchen. 
 
Nassau avenue — After the city of the same name in 
 
 Germany. 
 Nichols avenue — After Governor Richard Nicolls. 
 Pierrepont — After Hez. B. Pierrepont. 
 Putnam — After General Putnam. 
 
 Polhemus — After the family of Rev. Theodorus Polhemus. 
 Pulaski — After the Polish Count Casimir Pulaski. 
 Prospect avenue — So named by Dr. Adrian Vanderveer. 
 Provost — After David Provoost, first constable of "Breuck- 
 
 elen." 
 Rapelye — Prom John Rapalje, owner of the largest estate in 
 
 Brooklyn, previous to the Revolution. 
 Red Hook — From "Roode Hoek," from the color of soil at 
 
 what is about Hicks and Huntington streets. 
 Remsen — From the Remsen family, probably Jous Remsen. 
 Richardson street — Was named after Lemuel Richardson, a 
 
 pioneer. 
 Ryerson — From Adriaen Ryerson. 
 Sackett — After Samuel Sackett. 
 Sands street — After Joshua Sands. 
 
 Sanford street — Was named after Edward Sanford, a lawyer. 
 
 Schenck — After Martin Schenck, a farmer, at the Wallabout. 
 
 Seigel street — Named after General Siegel. 
 
 Seabring — From I. Seabring's Mill, at the present Hicks and 
 Huntington streets, about 1766. 
 
 Skillman street — After John Skillman, St. 
 
 Smith — Named after Benjamin Smith, a tavern keeper. 
 
 Stillwell — After Richard Stillwell, Royalist. 
 
 Stryker street — After Cornelius Stryker estate. 
 
 Stuyvesant — From Governor Stuyvesant. 
 
 Suydam street — After Cornelius Suydam property. 
 
 Union street — So named by T. J. Bergen, 1868. 
 
 Vanbrunt — After Rutgert Van Brunt, Royalist. 
 
 Vanderbilt street — After John Vanderbilt. 
 
 Vandyke— From the family of Claes Thomas Van Dyck. 
 
Vannostrand — After Losee Van Nostrand. 
 
 Vanderveer street — Named after Dr. A. Vanderveer. 
 
 Van Sicklen — After Court Van Sicklen. 
 
 Varet street- — 'Was named after Lewis F. Varette, a land 
 speculator. 
 
 Wallabout — From "Wool-Bogt," or "Bay of the Foreigners," 
 or Walloons. 
 
 Windsor place — After "Windsor Terrace," so named by Rob- 
 ert Bell. 
 
 Withers street — After Reuben Withers, who owned the 
 Houston Street Ferry. 
 
 Wyckoff street — After N. Wyckoff, banker. 
 
1524 — It is claimed by some that Captain Giovanna de Veue- 
 zane, a Florentine in the employ of the King of 
 France, was the first European to set foot on Long 
 Island. The claim is disputed and the evidence pre- 
 sented is not sufficient to sustain the assertion. 
 
 1609, Sept. 3 — Hendrick Hudson, a Dutch navigator, an- 
 chored in Gravesend Bay, and doubtless found the 
 bivalves a rare treat. Afterwards, with his vessel the 
 Half Moon, he sailed up the Hudson. 
 
 1621 — On the 3d of June, 16 21, the Dutch West India Com- 
 pany received its charter from the States General. 
 
 1623 — A company of settlers was sent out from Holland in 
 1623 under the auspices of Peter Minuet, Director 
 General of the Colony, some of whom settled at the 
 Wallabout. They were the first actual settlers within 
 the limits of the present city of Brooklyn. 
 
 1625 — The first public official ever holding office either in 
 Kings County or Brooklyn, was appointed in 1625. 
 His title was Superintendent, his jurisdiction within 
 the limits of Brooklyn, and his duties were to con- 
 trol the police and keep the peace within the town. 
 The town of Brooklyn was named after a village 
 in Holland. It was spelt in many ways, to wit: 
 Breucklyn, Breuckland, Broucklyn, Brooklyn, Brook- 
 land and Brookline, signifying marshy land. The 
 title as given to our city was very appropriate, as our 
 older citizens remember its marshy character in for- 
 mer years. 
 
1636 — The first grant of land on Long Island, of which there 
 is any record, was to Jacob Van Corlear, in 1636. It 
 was located in the present town of Flatlands, then 
 called Amersfoordt. 
 
 In the same year Jansen de Rapelye purchased a 
 tract at the Wallabout from the Indians. It was in 
 the neighborhood of Hewes street, as at present laid 
 out. 
 
 1637 — William Adriance Bennett purchased about 900 acres 
 in this year at Gowanus. 
 
 1642 — Ferry established by Cornelius Dickson betwe€fi 
 Brooklyn and New York. 
 
 1643 — At the time of the settlement of Kings County, 
 Gravesend was looked upon as a suitable location for 
 a city. Courts were only constituted. The records 
 show that on the 1st of January, 1643, at a Court of 
 Sessions held at Gravesend, a soldier was convicted 
 for having left his station while on duty. Gravesend 
 was not settled by the English. A settlement was 
 formed with the consent of the Dutch General by 
 Lady Deborah Moody, who called it Gravenzande, 
 after a city in Holland. 
 
 1645 — A settlement was formed in the neighborhood of 
 Smith street, near this present building, by Jan 
 Evertson Bout, and called Breucklin. Amongst the 
 settlers the names of Cowenhoven and Corneillison 
 appear. 
 
 1646 — In this year the settlement was incorporated as a 
 village and called Breucklin. Jan Evertson Bout, its 
 founder, was elected Schepen. 
 
 10 
 
1653 Governor Stuyvesant granted to the respective 
 
 towns of Brecuklin, Midwout (Platbush) and Amers- 
 fordt, a form of government suitable to the wants of 
 the people. 
 
 1654 — A church was built by the Dutch at Midwout (Plat- 
 bush). Domine Polhemus became the pastor. He was 
 required to preach alternately in Flatbush, Breucklin 
 and Amersfordt. He served three congregations from 
 1654 to 1676. Prior to his coming to Long Island, 
 religious Dutchmen were compelled to cross the East 
 River to attend service. 
 
 1660 — A church was built in Brooklyn in 1660 and had for 
 its first pastor Domine Silwyns. The First Reformed 
 Church in Jerolemon street thus has been in exist- 
 ence as a religious society 225 years. 
 
 In this year (1660) the residents at the Walla- 
 bout petitioned the Director General for leave to form 
 a village on the margin of the river between the lands 
 of Bogeart & Kipp. The petition was granted on the 
 27th of February, 1664. 
 
 1660 — The first settler on the west side of Long Island was 
 Anthony Jansen Von Salee, an African who had been 
 a pirate. On the 1st of August, 1639, Director Gen- 
 eneral Keift gave him a lease of 200 acres for ten 
 years on the southwest corner of Ivy place, lying over 
 against Coney place, and having a privilege of 253 
 rods on the bay. He built a house, and subsequently 
 received a patent for the tract which became known 
 as "Anthony Jansen's bowery." In 1660 Van Salee 
 fearing the Indians and desiring the protection se- 
 cured by the palisadoes which surrounded Graven- 
 
 11 
 
zande, exchanged with Nicholas Stillwell his bowery 
 for a house in the village. 
 
 1661 — The town of Breucklin contained 30 families and 134 
 inhabitants. In this year the first schoolmaster made 
 his appearance in Breucklin. His duties were multi- 
 form, as besides teaching the young ideal how to 
 shoot, he was required to lead the singing in church, 
 ring the bell, dig the graves, and serve legal notices. 
 As the inhabitants could not raise sufficient for his 
 support, upon petition of the School and Schepen of 
 the Court of Brooklyn, the Director General and 
 Council of the New Netherlands, voted to pay him 
 annually $20 in wampum. The Dutch always advo- 
 cated the cause of education. It was customary with 
 them to send a schoolmaster with the minister. 
 Parochial schools were established in connection with 
 each church. These schools combined secular and 
 religious instruction. The Bible and Catechism were 
 taught, and in order to inpress it on their minds, the 
 minister would meet with the school and catechise 
 the children. The drilling was severe, and much 
 dreaded, both by boys and girls. 
 
 1664 — A convention was held at Flatbush to send delegates 
 to Holland to represent to the States General and the 
 West India Company the distressed state of the coun- 
 try; a similar convention was held in New York in 
 April following. 
 
 1664 — September 8, 16 64, was an eventful day in the colony 
 of the New Netherlands, of which Kings County 
 formed part. On that day the Dutch surrendered 
 possession to the English. Peter Stuyvesant who had 
 acted as Director General from May 11, 1647, was 
 succeeded by Colonel Richard Nicholls, who proceeded 
 
 12 
 
to organize a civil government, and to secure that 
 called a convention to meet in Hempstead, Queens 
 County, in March, 1665. 
 
 Long Island now formed a portion of the territory 
 conveyed by Charles II. on the 12th of March, 1664, 
 patent to his brother James, Duke of York and 
 Albany. This patent being granted, a fleet was fitted 
 and sailed for the New World, Accompanying the 
 fleet were commissioners clothed with power to settle 
 all difficulties in the New England Colonies, as well 
 as to take possession of the Dutch province of New 
 Amsterdam, and bring its inhabitants into subjection. 
 
 It might be well to state that the Mohawk Indians 
 called Long Island Pan Manacke. It was sometimes 
 called Mattanwake and Pamunke. In the patent is- 
 sued to the Duke of York it is called Meitowax, sig- 
 nifying a good thing or place. That the Indians had 
 a proper appreciation of Kings County, every loyal 
 resident will bear cheerful testimony. 
 
 1665 — An assembly of delegates from each town under the 
 jurisdiction of the Duke of York convened at Hemp- 
 stead, March 1. 
 
 Kings County was represented as follows: Brook- 
 lyn by Jan Evertson Bout and Frederick Lubbutzen. 
 Bushwick by John Stealman and Gisbert Tunis. Flat- 
 bush by John Strycker and Hindrick Yorrison. Flat- 
 lands by Elbert Elbertson, and Roelofla Martens. 
 Gravesend by John Bowne and James Hubbard. New 
 Utrecht by Jaques Cortelleau and Younker Fosse. 
 
 A code of laws called the Duke's laws was adopted 
 and continued in force many years. In this year 
 Long Island, with Staten Island, was created a shire 
 and called Yorkshire, out of respect to the Duke, the 
 English proprietor. The shire was divided into two 
 
 13 
 
districts called the East and West Riding. Kings 
 County with Newtown was called the West Riding. 
 
 1668 — A Court House was erected in the town of Gravesend 
 upon land in the neighborhood of the present Dutch 
 Church. 
 
 1673— On the 7th of August, 1673, a Dutch fleet of 23 ves- 
 sels, under the command of Commodores Evertson and 
 Eenckes, anchored in the harbor of New York. The 
 island was in a defenseless condition, and on the 9th 
 the officers in command surrendered to the Dutch. 
 The inhabitants rejoicingly accepted Captain Colve as 
 Governor, and proceeded to restore the old official 
 titles. Colve's authority was short lived. New Neth- 
 erlands was conceded to the English by the terms of 
 peace between England and Holland March 6, 1674, 
 and on the 10th of November Colve formally sur- 
 rendered to Governor James Edmund Andross, who 
 took possession in behalf of his Brittannic Majesty 
 the King of Great Britain. 
 
 1683— On November 1, 1683, Kings County was created. It 
 was composed of the five towns of Brooklyn, Bush- 
 wick, Flatlands, Flatbush and New Utrecht. 
 
 1685— An act was passed November 7, 1685, removing the 
 Court of Sessions of Kings County from Gravesend to 
 Flatbush. 
 
 1686— In this year a Court House was built in Flatbush, and 
 the Court was removed to the new building. This 
 structure remained until 175 8 when it was burned 
 and a new one erected in its place costing $448. The 
 money was raised by assessment. It continued until 
 
 14 
 
1792 when owing to its dilapidated condition a new 
 Court House and Jail was built, at a cost of $2,944.71. 
 This building stood until November 30, 1832, when 
 it was destroyed by fire. Ever since that time the 
 Court House and Jail has been in Brooklyn. After 
 the fire, and until the new jail was built, the Sheriff 
 took his prisoners to the old Bridewell in New York. 
 
 EARLY OFFICIALS. 
 
 Shortly after the conquest by the English, the 
 towns of Brooklyn, Bushwyck, Midwood, Amersfordt 
 and New Utrecht were formed into a separate district 
 for certain purposes by the name of the "Five Dutch 
 towns." A secretary, or clerk was especially ap- 
 pointed for these towns, with the limited power to 
 take acknowledgments of transports, and manage set- 
 tlements, and probate of wills. The first to fill this 
 important office was Herr Nicasius de Silli, a : resident 
 of New Utrecht, who held the office from 1671 to 
 1674. He was succeeded by Michael Haindle, who 
 continued in office until 1670. From 1676 to 1678 
 Tunis Guis Bergen was one of the trustees and over- 
 seers. He was the ancestor of the Bergen family. 
 Since that date until the present time, the name ap- 
 pears conspicuously in the annals of the village town 
 and city. The duty of the trustees was in conjunc- 
 tion with the constable to hold town courts for the 
 trial of cases under £5. They were also required to 
 visit the residence of persons lately deceased, and 
 make inquiries concerning the cause of his death, and 
 if he left a will; if no will was found, the constable 
 in the presence of the overseers was, within 48 hours, 
 
 15 
 
to send after the estate and make an inventory in 
 writing, and deliver it to the Justice of the Peace. 
 The overseers and constable also levied the assess- 
 ments. They were elected by the voice of the people. 
 It was a compulsory office. If any person was chosen 
 and refused to serve he forfeited £ 10 which was ap- 
 propriated to defray the expenses of the town. 
 
 1691 — Jacob Vande Water became Town Clerk, holding office 
 until 1705. 
 
 1705 — Henry Ffilkin became clerk in 1705 and continued in 
 office until 1714. 
 
 The succeeding town clerks were: Samuel Gar- 
 retson, 1714 to 1716; I. M. Sputing, 1716 to 1727; 
 Adrian Hegeman, 1727 to 1752; Simon Boerum, 175 2 
 to 1761; Leffert Lefferts, 1761 to 1777. 
 
 1719, Nov. 7 — Letters patent to Jacques Cortelyou and Peter 
 Cortelyou of New Utrecht for a ferry between Nas- 
 sau place and Staten place at rent of one pepper corn 
 annually for 21 years. 
 
 The records during the Revolutionary war are lost. 
 
 1745 — Smallpox raged in New York, and the Colonial As- 
 sembly held its sessions in Brooklyn, from March un- 
 til October of this year. Again for the same reason 
 the Assembly met in Brooklyn in 1752. At this ses- 
 sion on the 4th of June, 1752, bills of credit issued 
 by the city of New York, amounting to £3,602 18s. 
 and 3d. were cancelled. 
 
 1775 — a general town meeting was held in Brooklyn, May 
 20, 1775, whereat it was voted to join with the citi- 
 zens of New York and the other colonies in holding 
 
 16 
 
a Provincial Congress to take such action as might he 
 necessary to protect and preserve their rights. Harry 
 Williams and Jan Remsen were elected delegates to 
 the Congress, wheh assembled in New York May 22, 
 1775. 
 
 1776 — On May 27, 1776, the first battle of the Revolution 
 after the Declaration, was fought in Brooklyn. Battle 
 Pass, in Prospect Park, will ever be associated with 
 the brave deeds of American's citizen soldiery. 
 
 Wallabout Bay was the anchoring place of the old 
 Jersey and other hulks used by the British as prison 
 pens. Language cannot express the untold sufferings 
 "of the brave men who were confined in these ships. 
 Over 11,000 thousand of them were buried on the 
 shores of the bay. After peace was declared John 
 Jackson collected a large number of the bones of the 
 martyrs, and in 1803, through his instrumentality, 
 the Tammany Society presented a memorial to Con- 
 gress on the subject. In 1808 this society appointed 
 a committee called the Wallabout Committee, con- 
 sisting of Jacob Vandervoort, John Jackson, Burdett 
 Stryker, Issachar Cozzens, Robert Townsend, Jr., Ben- 
 jamin Watson and Samuel Coudray, for the purpose 
 of securing a suitable resting place for the heroes 
 The people became interested and land was given on 
 Jackson (now Hudson avenue) street by John Jack- 
 son. The vault was completed in 1808. On the 26th 
 of May, 1808, a grand and solemn procession escorted 
 the sacred relics to the Martyrs' Tomb. These re- 
 mains were subsequently removed to a tomb prepared 
 by the Park Commissioners at Fort Greene. 
 
 1776 _jacob Sharpe was clerk from 1784 to 1796; John 
 Doughty was clerk from 1796 to 1830. 
 
 17 
 
1785 — The first fire company was organized April 30, 1785. 
 Firemen were granted certain privileges in 1788. In 
 1793 there was 75 buildings in the fire limits. 
 
 1787 — The proportion of Kings County of the State tax was 
 £4,500 or one-eleventh of the entire tax. 
 
 1788 — The State of New York was admitted in the Union 
 July 26, 1788. At this time it was suggested that it 
 would be necessary to built a bridge across the East 
 River. 
 
 INCORPORATION OF TOWNS. 
 
 1788 — The first incorporation of the towns after the Revolu- 
 tion was March 7, 1788. The towns thus incorpo- 
 rated were Brooklyn, Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, 
 Gravesend and New Utrecht. Bushwick ceased to be 
 a town when it was annexed to Brooklyn by an act 
 of the Legislature passed April 17, 1854, and which 
 took effect January 1, 1855. The old town became 
 the 18th and 19th wards of the consolidated city. 
 
 Williamsburgh, which originally formed a part of 
 Bushwick, became a village April 14, 1827, a city 
 April 7, 1851, and was annexed to Brooklyn April 17, 
 1854, by act of the Legislature, which took effect 
 January 1, 1855. Its territor is now embraced in the 
 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th wards of Brooklyn. 
 
 The present town of New Lotts was formerly a part 
 of Flatbush and was created a town February 12, 
 1852. 
 
 1801, Feb. 1 — John Jackson sold the land used by the Navy 
 Yard to the government for $40,000. 
 
 1801 — On the 2d of April, 1801, Brooklyn was organized as 
 a village. 
 
 18 
 
1 
 
 1814 — The militia of Kings County was successful at Fort 
 Greene under command of General Johnson. 
 
 The first steam ferry boat, the Nassau, commenced 
 running on Fulton ferry May 10, 1814. 
 
 1816 — On the 12th of April, 1816, Brooklyn received a new 
 village charter. The trustees in 1816 were John 
 Garrison, Andrew Mercerin, John Dean, John Dough- 
 ty and John Scoman. Charles Doughty was clerk. 
 
 1816 — The Sunday School Union was organized in April, 
 1816. 
 
 1817 — James B. Clarke became clerk of the Board of Trus- 
 tees of Brooklyn in 1817, and continued as such until 
 1821. 
 
 General Jeremiah Johnson, third Mayor of Brook- 
 lyn, was Supervisor of the County from 1800 to 1823, 
 and again from 1825 to 1834. He also represented 
 Kings County in the Assembly in 1808-9-10, and 1840 
 and 41, and was Mayor of the city from 1837 to 1839. 
 He was a genial gentleman, a warm hearted friend, 
 and a valued citizen. General Johnson was the best 
 informed local historian Brooklyn ever had. The 
 manuscripts he left behind are invaluable to local his- 
 torians. He died October 20, 185 2, aged 86. He was 
 the oldest Mayor ever elected in Brooklyn. 
 
 1819 — The County Clerk's office was removed from Flatbush 
 to Brooklyn March, 1819. 
 
 1824 — At a special town meeting the purchase of 19% acres 
 near Fort Greene for a hospital and burying ground 
 was achieved at the cost of $3,720. 
 
 19 
 
1824 — The taxable value of real and personal property in 
 Brooklyn was $2,550,080. 
 
 18 24 — The First Island Bank, first in Brooklyn, incorpo- 
 rated. 
 
 1825 — On the 21st of January, 1825, a meeting was held at 
 the Military Gardens, on the site of the present Coun- 
 ty Court House, and a committee appointed to obtain 
 the removal of the Court House and Jail from Flat- 
 bush to Brooklyn. On the 4th of July, 1825, General 
 Lafayette laid the cornerstone of the Apprentices 
 Library, on the corner of Cranberry and Henry 
 streets. 
 
 1826 — An act was passed that the Courts should alternate 
 between Flatbush and Brooklyn. 
 
 On the 3d of May the board of trustees of the vil- 
 lage assembled for the first time in the Apprentices 
 Library building. 
 
 1826 — In this year the trustees of the village was increased 
 to ten, making two in each of the first districts. 
 
 18 2 9 — Through the instrumentality of Joseph Sprague, a 
 lockup was provided, and cells were built under the 
 old market in James street. In those days prisoners 
 were also confined in the Almshouse on the south 
 side of Nassau street, between Ivy and Bridge streets. 
 When the Almshouse was removed to the building on 
 Division street, the old Almshouse was sold to Mr. 
 Down. The old building is still standing, having 
 been converted into a dwelling. 
 
 20 
 
1830 — On the 14th of January, 1830, the Supervisors pur- 
 chased the Poor House Farm at Flatbush. The cor- 
 nerstone of this building was laid July 9, 1831. The 
 oration was delivered by General Johnson. 
 
 1831, Jan. 12 — Application was made for a railroad between 
 Brooklyn and Jamaica. 
 
 1833 — April 25. 1833, the Legislature passed an act for the 
 erection of a Court House and Jail in Kings County. 
 The Supervisors were authorized to raise $25,000 for 
 the purpose. 
 
 1834 — The city of Brooklyn was incorporated April 8, 1834. 
 It was divided into nine wards. 
 
 George Hall was elected the first Mayor of the city 
 by the Board of Alderman on the 20th of May, 1834. 
 Mayor Hall had the honor of being also the first 
 Mayor of the consolidated cities of Brooklyn and 
 Williamsburg and town of Bushwick, January 1, 
 1855. He died in Brooklyn April 16, 1868. He was 
 a man of noble and generous impulses, and during the 
 cholera epidemic of 1832-34-49 and the yellow fever 
 scourge of 1856, he exerted himself to the utmost to 
 relieve the wants of the sufferers. The citizens of 
 Brooklyn apprciated his services and presented him 
 a house. 
 
 1833 — The assessed value of Brooklyn taxable property in 
 1834 was $7,829,684 and of the rest of the county 
 $1,600,594. 
 
 1834 — An act was passed on the 27th of February, 1834, for 
 the erection of a Court House and Jail in Kings 
 County. 
 
 21 
 
1835 — On the 16th of April, 1835, an act was passed estab- 
 lishing the South Ferry. October 22, 1835, the cor- 
 nerstone of Brooklyn Lyceum in Washington street, 
 was laid. 
 
 1836 — On the 10th of March, 1836, Samuel Cheever, Isaac 
 Tiffany and Alonzo G. Hammond were appointed Com- 
 missioners to lay out the city of Brooklyn. 
 
 On the 17th of April, 1836, the ground was broken 
 for the Long Island railroad at Jamaica. 
 
 On the 28th of April the cornerstone for the City 
 Hall was laid with suitable ceremonies. Jonathan 
 Trotter, the Mayor of the city, delivered the address 
 on the occasion. 
 
 On the 4th of August, 1836, the Apprentices Li- 
 brary building having been purchased, was officially 
 declared to be the city's building. This building 
 stood until 1858 when it was taken down. 
 
 On the 23d of August, 1836, the cornerstone of the 
 jail in Raymond street was laid. 
 
 The ferry from Peck Slip to Williamsburgh com- 
 menced running on September 5, 1836. In the month 
 of May, 1836, the Atlantic Bank was incorporated. 
 
 1837 — March 2, 1837, the Long Island Railroad was opened 
 from Hicksville to Brooklyn. 
 
 The new County Clerk's office in Cranberry street 
 was first occupied July 20 of this year. 
 
 Owing to financial crash the building of the City 
 Hall was suspended August 7, 1837. As originally 
 designed this building was intended to cover the en- 
 tire City Hall Square. Its foundation stood for ten 
 years, when a new plan was adopted and the present 
 City Hall built. 
 
 22 
 
1837 — The construction of the Raymond street jail was ocm- 
 menced. 
 
 1838, April 18 — Greenwood Cemetery incorporated. 
 1840, June 15 — The Atlantic dock was commenced. 
 
 1840 — The King County Court was removed from the Ap- 
 prentices Libary and held in Horse Exchange build- 
 ing on the corner of Cranberry and Fulton streets. 
 The courtroom was on the second floor. 
 
 1843, Sept. 12 — A line of omnibuses was started from Fulton 
 Ferry to East Brooklyn. 
 
 1844 — On the 27th of July the Long Island Railroad was 
 completed to Greenpoint. 
 
 1845, May 1 — Brooklyn City Hospital incorporated. In 
 March, 184 5, the judges and supervisors designated 
 Raymond street jail as the place for holding the 
 courts. 
 
 1846, May 9 — The Legislature authorized the Mayor and 
 
 Aldermen to create an additional loan of $100,000 in 
 addition to loans already authorized to build a city 
 hall. 
 
 1847 — The cornerstone of the U. S. Dry dock was laid at the 
 Navy Yard May 12, 1847. The work when completed 
 reflected great credit on W. I. McAlpine, the engi- 
 neer. The total cost of the work was $2,133,173. 
 
 1848 — Brooklyn first lit with gas March 27, 1848. Com- 
 mencing to build sewers July 1, 1848. 
 
 23 
 
The great fire in Brooklyn September 9, 1848, 
 proved a disastrous event. Five entire blocks were 
 consumed and parts of five others. The burnt district 
 was between Washington and Henry streets, and 
 Pineapple and Maine. The First Presbyterian Church 
 on Fulton street, the Universalist Church, corner of 
 Fulton and Pineapple, the Baptist Church in Nassau 
 street, and the Sands Street Church were destroyed. 
 The loss by the conflagration was between $1,500,000 
 and $2,000,000. 
 
 1849 — The cholera visited the county in May, 1849. The 
 City Court organized November 24, 1849, with one 
 judge. The act amended by the constitution adding 
 two additional judges. The Common Council March 
 10, 1849, authorized to raise $50,000 to finish the 
 City Hall. 
 
 1853 — By act of Legislature of April 12, 1853, Truant 
 Home organized. 
 
 1854 — July 4, 1854, horse cars commenced to run on Myrtle 
 avenue, Fulton, Court street and Flushing avenue. 
 On the two former the fare was 4 cents. 
 
 On the 17th of July, act passed constituting Brook- 
 lyn, Williamsburgh and Bushwick into a municipal 
 government to take effect January 1, 1855. 
 
 September 11 the Packer College Institute for Girls- 
 as the successor of the Brooklyn Institute, opened its 
 doors. 
 
 185 4 — Although steps were taken were only later to secure 
 a penitentiary for Kings County, it was not until 
 January, 185 4, that the new building on Corn Hill 
 
 24 
 
was occupied. On the 21st of April, 1846, an act was 
 passed by the Legislature authorizing the work. In 
 June, 1846, a resolution was adopted by the Board 
 of Supervisors to purchase 18 acres of land at $20 
 an acre. The land was purchased and bonds issued. 
 The total amount so issued up to March 2, 1854, was 
 $155,000. On May 3, 1855, steps were taken to build 
 the female wing of the penitentiary. The peniten- 
 tiary was not completed until August, 185 6. The 
 total amount of bonds issued for the penitentiary 
 was $205,000. On the 15th of June, 1871, a portion 
 of the lots belonging to the county was sold for 
 $103,525. Previous to the occupation of the present 
 edifice, the old truant home on Clove road served for 
 a penitentiary. 
 
 On the 4th of July, 18 54, the horse cars com- 
 menced to run. The routes were Fulton and Court 
 streets, Myrtle and Flushing avenues. The fare was 
 4 cents on the Myrtle and Fulton avenue routes. 
 
 On the 17th of April, 18 54, the act consolidating 
 Brooklyn, Wiliamsburg and Bushwick was passed to 
 take effect January 1, 18 55. 
 
 September 11, 1854, the Packer Institute for Girls 
 as the successor of the Brooklyn Institute, opened its 
 doors for the reception of pupils. 
 
 1855 — The Fire Department of the City of Brooklyn was 
 incorporated. 
 
 On the 12th of April the Nassau Water Works of 
 the City of Brooklyn was incorporated. 
 
 The increase of business led the Supervisors to 
 consider the propriety of building a new court house. 
 Lots were proposed on Vanderbilt avenue. The site 
 was considered unsuitable and on the 10th of Octo- 
 ner, 1855, the subject was postponed indefinitely. 
 
 25 
 
1856 — Ground broken July 31, 1856, for the reservoir of the 
 Nassau Water Works. 
 
 1858, Dec. 4 — Ridgewood water first introduced into the 
 city. 
 
 1859, March 19 — Academy of Music incorporated. 
 
 1859 — On the 28th of April the citizens celebrated the in- 
 troduction of water. The military were out in full 
 force, and the exercises were worthy of the occasion. 
 After much agitation the property owners on At- 
 lantic avenue succeeded in having steam removed 
 from that thoroughfare. It was a very unwise meas- 
 ure as it diverted trade from Brooklyn. 
 
 1860 — On the 17th of April, 1860, the Legislature passed an 
 act to lay out Prospect Park. 
 
 On the 17th of April 1860, the Legislature author- 
 ized the Supervisors to build a new court house. The 
 land was purchased in March, 1861, for $70,000. 
 The ground on which the court house stands is 140 
 feet on Fulton and Joralemon streets, by 351 feet 
 deep. It was constructed under the direction of the 
 Board of Supervisors of which body General Philip 
 S. Crooke was chairman. The building committee 
 were Samuel Booth, Charles C. Talbot, William H. 
 Hazzard, Charles A. Carnavillo, Gilliam Schenck and 
 George G. Herman. The entire cost of the building, 
 land and furniture, was $551,757.28. Not a dollar 
 was used needlessly in its construction. It was fin- 
 ished in February, 1865. 
 
 1861 — The War of the Rebellion aroused the patriotism of 
 the Kings County boys. The Supervisors and Alder- 
 
 26 
 
men worked earnestly. Citizens vied with each other 
 in pledges to the families of such as volunteered. 
 The Medical Society of Kings County resolved to 
 render gratuitious professional services to the fam- 
 ilies of soldiers during their absence. The Union 
 Ferry Company offered to pay their employees fam- 
 ilies their salary during their enlistment, and to em- 
 ploy them on their return. The city and county was 
 a vast recruiting station, and its parks and public 
 places were decorated with tents. 
 
 1862 — Commander William L. Hudson, who laid the Atlan- 
 tic cable, a well known citizen of Brooklyn, died 
 October 15. 
 
 1863 — In February, 1863, the Long Island Historical So- 
 ciety was organized. 
 
 18 64 — The Sanitary Fair was opened at the Academy of 
 Music on Washington's Birthday. The fair closed 
 March 8, yielding $402,943.74, which was used by 
 the Sanitary Commission to relieve the wants of the 
 soldiers and their families. 
 
 Aside from private contributions the county is- 
 sued bonds to the extent of $726,000 for bounties to 
 volunteers. 
 
 The number of men furnished by the State of New 
 York during the war was 4 67,047. It is impossible 
 to state the exact number sent from Kings County. 
 It was in the neighborhood of 32,000. A large num- 
 ber of Kings County men enlisted elsewhere. The 
 regiments from Kings rendered effective service. 
 
 1864, April 11 — The Erie Basin and Dock Company was in- 
 corporated. 
 
 27 
 
1866 — Moses P. Odell, a well known citizen and member of 
 Congress, died June 13. 
 
 On the 25th of October, of this year, by order of 
 the Common Council, medals were presented to every 
 Brooklyn soldier who had returned alive. Addresses 
 were made hy Mayor Samuel Booth, Governor Fen- 
 ton, Rev. Dr. Storrs and ex-Mayor Alfred M. Wood 
 (late Colonel of the 14th Regiment). Two thousand 
 veterans and 148 officers appeared in the procession. 
 
 186 9 — The paid Fire Department of Brooklyn was organized 
 by act of the Legislature passed May 22, 1869. 
 
 1870, Jan. 3 — Construction of the Brooklyn Bridge com- 
 menced. The total length of the bridge is 5,989 feet. 
 The first wire was run out May 29, 18 77. Cable 
 making commenced June 11, 1877. The ceremonies 
 attending the completion of the bridge were held 
 May 24, 1883. Cars commenced to run on the bridge 
 September 24, 1883. This work, which is the great- 
 est engineering effort of the ages, owes its success to 
 the skill and untiring energy of John A. Roebling, 
 Washington A. Roebling and William C. Kingsley, 
 whose labors were ably aided by Hon. J. S. T. 
 Stranehan, William Marshall, Thomas Kinsella, 
 Henry C. Murphy, Henry W. Slocum, Colonel Julius 
 N. Adams and other members of the Board of 
 Trustees. 
 
 On the day of the opening ceremonies, prayer was 
 offered by Right Rev. Bishop Littlejohn. The pre- 
 sentation address on behalf of the trustees, was de- 
 livered by William C. Kingsley. Addresses of accept- 
 ance by Mayors Low and Edson, and orations by Hon. 
 Abram S. Hewitt and Rev. Dr. Storr s . Hon James S. 
 T. Stranehan presided. 
 
 28 
 
The cost of the work was about $15,000,000. The 
 • money was well invested. 
 
 1876 — Work upon the new municipal building was com- 
 menced in 1876, under an act passed May 1, 1876. 
 The building was completed in 18 78. The amount 
 appropriated for its construction was $200,000. The 
 cost of the building was $199,979.48, or $20 52/100 
 less than the appropriation. 
 
 1877 — On the 2 2d of August the Supervisors appropriated 
 $25,000 to purchase a site for the new jail. The 
 land was purchased and on December 30, 1878, the 
 County Treasurer was authorized to borrow $245,000 
 and advertise for .proposals to build the jail. On the 
 2 2d of April, 188 0, the Supervisors officially visited 
 and inspected the building. Almost immediately 
 therefore the prisoners were transferred from the old 
 to the new jail. The cost of the building and land 
 was $320,393.12. 
 
 18 78 — Railroad to Brighton Beach completed and com- 
 menced operations July 1, 1878. 
 
 1880, April 15 — The closing services in old St. Ann's Epis- 
 copal Church, previous to its removal by the Bridge 
 Trustees was held. Bishop Littlejohn officiating. 
 
 1884, Nov. 4 — The vote of Kings County was 122,799. 
 Cleveland's majority 15,715. 
 
 1885 — On the 21st of February William C. Kingsley, the de- 
 signer of the bridge, departed this life. Brooklyn 
 and Kings County lost a valuable citizen whose place 
 could never be filled. 
 
 On the 15th of January, 1885, ground was broken 
 for the Federal building on Washington street. 
 
 29 
 
1885 — On the 13th of May, 1885, the Brooklyn Elevated 
 Railroad commenced running its cars from York* 
 street to the corner of Broadway and Gates avenue. 
 
 1885 — In December, 1885, cornerstone of the new Hall of 
 Records laid. 
 
 The following is a list of the Mayors of Brooklyn: 
 George Hall, elected 1834; Jonathan Trotter, elected 
 1835; Jeremiah Johnson, elected 1837; Cyrus P. 
 Smith, elected 1839; Henry C. Murphy, elected 18 42; 
 Joseph Sprague, elected 1843; Thomas G. Talmage, 
 elected 1845; Francis G. Stryker, elected 1846; Ed- 
 ward Copeland, elected 1849; Samuel Smith, elected 
 1850; Conklin Brush, elected 1851; Edward A. Lam- 
 bert, elected 1853; George Hall, elected 1855; Sam- 
 uel S. Powell, elected 1857; Martin Kalbfleisch, 
 elected 1862; Alfred M. Wood, elected 18 63; Samuel 
 Booth, elected 1866; Martin Kalbfleisch, elected 
 1867; Samuel S. Powell, elected 1871; John W. Hun- 
 ter, elected 18 73; Frederick Schroeder, elected 1875; 
 James Howell, Jr., elected 1877; Seth Low, elected 
 1881. 
 
 Seven ex-Mayors are still living, to wit: Stryker, 
 Lambert, Wood, Booth, Hunter, Schroeder and How- 
 ell. Francis B. Stryker is the oldest living ex-Mayor 
 and the oldest ex-Sheriff. John M. Hicks is the old- 
 est living ex-County Clerk, having been elected in 
 1843, and Francis B. Stryker is the next oldest, hav- 
 ing been elected in 1849. 
 
 Population of county at different periods: 1790, 
 4,495; 1800, 5,740;" 1820, 11,187; 1830, 20,535; 
 1835, 32,037; 1840, 47,623; 1850, 138,882; 1860, 
 279,122; 1870, 419,921; 1880, 599,549; 1885, about 
 725,000. 
 
 30 
 
MANUFACTURES. 
 
 The census of the United States presents a very 
 interesting exhibit of the manufactures of Brooklyn. 
 The capital invested amounted to $68,828,703, pro- 
 ducing a return of $188,573,056. There was 5,164 
 establishments giving employment to 45,206 hands, 
 of whom 6,891 were females. During the year $22,- 
 903,683 was paid for wages. The sum of $10,946,000 
 was invested in the manufacture of sugar, yielding 
 a production of $59,711,168. The census placed 
 Brooklyn first as a sugar refining center; third in the 
 number of manufacturing establishments; fourth in 
 amount of capital invested and amount of wages 
 paid; fifth in number of hands employed; fourth in 
 amount of products, and first in average wages. By* 
 the census of 1880 it appears that there was manu- 
 factured in Brooklyn 39,485,335 cigars, 2,396,140 
 cigarettes, and 3,000,000 pounds of plug and fine 
 chewing tobacco, using 5,060,836 pounds of leaf and 
 other material. 
 
 COMMERCE. 
 
 More vessels load and unload in Brooklyn than in 
 any other city in the Union. 
 
 Valuation and taxation of Brooklyn at different 
 periods: 
 
 Date. Valuation. Taxation. 
 
 1834 $15,642,200 
 
 184 « 25,447,146 $134,139.66 
 
 18 50 36,665,399 411,044.78 
 
 1856 $95,859,735 $1,381,144.39 
 
 The foregoing did not include Williamsburgh. 
 
 1883 — Valuation of real and personal property in Brooklyn, 
 $298,936,506. 
 
 31 
 
In city towns $12,951,657; total $311,888,163. 
 The aggregate amount raised in Kings County by 
 taxation was $7,783,062.05. In 1884 real and per- 
 sonal property in Brooklyn was $317,874,350. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Brooklyn has a large number of excellent private 
 schools and a medical college. Besides these she has 
 one public central grammar school, 4 2 grammar 
 schools, 9 primary schools, 3 colored schools and 2 
 attendance schools. Number on register last report 
 65,782; average attendance 56,718. The tax levy of 
 18 84 gave the Board of Education $1,333,945.19 for 
 educational purposes. The county towns are abun- 
 dantly supplied with public schools. 
 
 In Brooklyn there are 4 nurseries, 6 orphan 
 asylums, over 100 benevolent societies, 19 Grand 
 Army Posts, 74 Masonic lodges and chapters, and 5 4 
 lodges of Oddfellows. The city in its Brooklyn Li- 
 brary boasts of one of the best selected libraries in 
 the United States. 
 
 Cereals raised in Kings County in 1880: 
 
 Acres. Bushels. 
 
 Buckwheat 7 142 
 
 Corn 1,256 52,990 
 
 Oats 88 2,052 
 
 Rye 88 2,652 
 
 Wheat 139 3,242 
 
 The census of 188 shows that in Kings County 
 1,05 6 acres was appropriated to raising hay, produc- 
 ing 1,496 tons; that 772,246 bushels of potatoes 
 were raised, and the value of garden products was 
 $842,617. 
 
 32 
 
The number of farms was 486; numiber of acres 
 under cultivation, 9075; value of farms and build- 
 ings, $4,872,855; value of farming implements, 
 $224,550; value of live stock, $254,728; cost of fer- 
 tilizers, $212,173; and estimated value of produc- 
 tions, $1,211,000. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 There are 28 5 churches in the city of Brooklyn, 
 and about 30 in the county towns. The Dutch 
 Church was the first organized in 1660. The Epis- 
 copal Church was started in Brooklyn about 1785, 
 and was incorpated April 23, 178 7. 
 
 179 4, May 19 — The first Methodist Episcopal Church was 
 incorporated. They erected a church on Sands street 
 and their successors still cling to the sacred spot. 
 
 1818, Jan. 12 — The African Methodist Church was incor- 
 porated. 
 
 1822, March 13 — The first Presbyterian Church was incor- 
 porated, and built an edifice in Cranberry street. In 
 184 6 the church was sold to the Plymouth congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 The cornerstone of St. John's Roman Catholic 
 Church on Jay street, was laid June 25, 1822. It is 
 probably the oldest church edifice in the city. 
 
 The first Baptist Church was incorporated October 
 15, 1823. 
 
 The membership in the Protestant churches is 
 about 77,000. With the membership of the Roman 
 
 33 
 
Catholic branch of the church of Christ added to this 
 number, it will appear that at least one-fifth of the 
 population profess the Christian religion. A recent 
 report gives the number of Sunday school scholars 
 in Brooklyn as 84,570. 
 
 There are over 85,000 buildings in Brooklyn. 
 Brooklyn contains 13,338 acres, 546 miles of 
 streets, of which 3 35 are paved. The parks and 
 cemetaries contain 1,347 acres. 
 
 The amount earned by the Brooklyn Post Office 
 over and above expenses for the years 1880, 1881 
 and 1882, was $325,714.82. The amount turned 
 over into the treasury last year was about $140,000. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTION. 
 
 This excellently managed branch of county service 
 deserves more than a passing notice. 
 
 The Commissioners made their last annual report 
 July 31, 18 8*4. At that time there was remaining in 
 the Almshouse 875, in the Hospital 35 7, in the In- 
 sane Asylum 1,330, and in the Penitentiary 934, 
 making a total of 8,877 inmates in these institutions. 
 During the year the number of admissions was as 
 follows: Into Almshouse, 3,072; Hospital, 3,313; In- 
 sane Asylum, 479; Penitentiary, 2,260; total, 9,133. 
 The total number maintained and treated during the 
 year was 12,373. The average number of inmates 
 was 3,390; average cost of each person supported 
 during year was $80.4 0; average cost of each per 
 week was $1.55 or twenty-two cents a day. The 
 total amount of disbursements was $401,588,74; total 
 
 34 
 
amount of receipts $129,047,96, leaving the actual 
 expenses $272,540.78. 
 
 On the Almshouse Farm there was raised 1,527 
 bushels of potatoes, 550 bushels of turnips, 7,500 
 heads of cabbage, 14,6 75 pounds of pork, and a large 
 quantity of vegetables. 
 
 In the Almshouse 4 males and 12 females between 
 85 and 95 years of age received support. Of these 
 admitted during the year 1,534 were males and 1,538 
 females; 551 were children under 12 years of age; 
 848 were single, and 101 died. 
 
 KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL. 
 
 The number of patients under treatment during 
 the year was 2,317 males and 1,344 females, total 
 3,661; of whom 1,5 8 recovered and 391 died. Thus 
 it will appear that 43 per cent, recovered and 11 per 
 cent. died. The principal nationalities of the pa- 
 tients were: Jewish, 1,284; United States, 1,19 0, 
 and Germany, 3 8 5, of these admitted 3 were physi- 
 cians and 3 teachers. 
 
 INSANE ASYLUM. 
 
 During the year there was 1,713 patients in this 
 asylum, 4 7 recovered and 101 died; 2 25 males and 
 254 females were admitted during the year. 
 
 35 
 
PENITENTIARY. 
 
 The receipts from all sources during the year 
 $91,702.84, the expenses $73,998.42, leaving a 
 profit over and above the disbursements of $ 
 704.42. Thsis surplus was the largest ever reali 
 
 Prisoners were received from the United St 
 courts and from Kings, Queens, Westchester 
 
 Richmond counties; 1,647 of the inmates c 
 read and write; 102 could read only, and 520 c 
 neither real nor write; 1,246 were single and 1 
 married; 7 79 were temperate and 1,496 intemper 
 329 were under 20 years. 
 
 36 
 
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