3B98 i£x Hthrta SEYMOUR DURST "t ' 'fort nteuw ^Amjlerdam. oj> Je JAantjatarus When you leave, please leave this book Because it has been said "Sver'tbing comes t' him wbo waits Except a loaned book." Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/greenwoodcemeterOOclea GREEN-WOOD CEMETEK1 A HIS TOBY OF THE INSTITUTION FROM 1838 TO 1S64. BY NEHEMIAH CLEAVELAND. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW YORK: AND E R SOX & A K C H E R , 430 BROOME STREET. 1866. CUfrlC5 AA Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S66, By THE GREEX-WOOD CEMETERY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. L VAN AND EN, PRINTER, BROOKLYN. In preparing this historical account of Green- Wood, the author had free access to the records and official documents of the Corporation. From members of the Board, also, who have been familiar with every transaction relating to the Cemetery, he received valuable information, explanatory or supplement- ary. So far as its facts are concerned, the work may be considered as authentic in its character, and as sanctioned by the Directors. For all mere comments and expressions of opinion, the writer is alone responsible. Illustrations. DRAWN BT 8. V. HUNT. — EMC CAT ED BY R. A. WILLIAMS. ORIGINAL ENTRANCE AND KEEPER'S LODGE. (1818). Between pages 42 and 43 ENTRANCE IN 1S45 40 " 47 KEEPER'S LODGE, ENLARGED 1545 40 " 47 GARDENER'S LODGE, OCEAN HILL 52 «■ 53 WESTERN ENTRANCE, 1S50 53 " 59 GARDENER'S LODGE. SOUTHERN ENTRANCE . . . 62 » 63 RECEIVING-TOMBS 74 " 75 ENGINE HOUSE SO M SI WESTERN ENTRANCE, 1SC0 84 " So GARDENER'S LODGE, BATTLE HILL S6 ■ -7 RESERVOIR AND FOUNTAIN U * 95 SOUTHERN ENTRANCE, 1S01 94 " 95 SUPERINTENDENT OF INTERMENTS HOUSE 90 97 STABLES 96 9T NORTHERN ENTRANCE 100 " 107 - OUTER GATE, NORTHERN ENTRANCE 100 » 107 PORTER'S LODGE • . 10S « 109 TOOL HOUSE 10S " 109 CONTENTS PAGE Prefatory Note ....... 3 A History of Green- Wood needed axd timely . . 5 Mount Auburn Founded ...... G Suggestion of Me. Pieeeepoxt .... 7 Lectuee of Ma joe Douglass ..... T Tiie Ground Exploeed axd Mapped .... 9 The Company Ixcoepoeated ..... 9 Names of the Commissioxees ..... 9 positiox of the geouxd . . . . . .10 Meetixg of the Laxd-Owxees . . . . . ]0 The Appeaisemext . . . . . . .10 Original Otvxees . . . . . . 11 Historical Associations . . . . . .11 Refeeence to Property Map . . . . . 13 Exorbitant Demaxds . . . . . .13 The Chagot Lots . . . . . . 13 The Questiox of a Name . . . . . .14 Dr. Dowlixg's Note ...... 14 Coxsext of Common Council . . . . .14 Bounds Established by State Commissioners . . 15 Apportioxmext of Shares . . . . . .10 Organization . . . . . . . 10 First Meeting of Stockholders . . . . 1G Names of the Directors . . . . . 1G First Meeting of the Board . . . . .17 Proposal from Trinity Church . . . . 17 Yiii CONTENTS. PAGE The Berg-ex Tract and Sylvan "Water . . . .17 The Joint-Stock Principle given up . . . . 18 Change of Constitution by Act op Legislature . . 19 A Narrow Escape ...... 20 Embarrassments . . . . . . .21 Scheemeehorn Mortgage . . . . . 21 Purchase of Two Hundred Acres . . . .22 Corporation Seal ...... 22 Kail Fence and Road . . . . . .23 Pamphlet of Major Douglass ..... 23 Green-Wood begins to be Known . . . .24 Extracts from Eeport ...... 24 Bonds Issued ........ 25 Forms of Subscription Advertised .... 25 Apparent Indifference and Probable Reasons . . .28 Xeedless Apprehensions . . . . . 20 Plan of Selling to CnuRcnES ..... 27 Expectation of Aid from " Trinity " cut off . . 27 Thomas Ludlow Ogdex ...... 28 regret axd coxsolatiox ..... 28 Discouragements of 1830 . . . . . . 29 The First Monument of Green-\Vood ... 30 Renewed Efforts in 1840 . . . . . .31 The First Interment . . . . . . 31 S. JST. Burrill ....... 31 Resignation of Major Douglass .... 32 Another Unsuccessful Effort . . . . .33 Zebedee Cook, President ..... 33 A Crisis in Affairs and Meeting of Trustees . . .33 Reference to Committee ..... 34 Van Wagenen's Report ...... 34 The Financial Situation . . . . - . 34 Opinion, Suggestion, Encouragement . . . .35 Schermerhorn Forecloses and offers to Sell . . 35 The Cemetery is too Poor to Buy . . . . 3G Green-Wood Surrounded by a Palisade Fence . . 36 Saint Ann's Church takes One Hundred Lots . . .37 CONTENTS. i-X PAGE Mr. Perry Accepts the Management .... 37 Public Meeting in Brooklyn, March, 1842 . . .38 Plan to set Free One Hundred Acres ... 38 Subscriptions Received ...... 38 Circular Issued ....... 38 Purchase of the Scheemerhorn Property . . .39 Sale to Churches of Two Hundred Lots . . . 39 Remarks in Note respecting those Sales . . .39 The Cemetery in Trouble ..... 40 Praiseworthy Action of Garret Bergen . . .40 Opening of Cemetery Advertised . . . . 41 Inauguration Proposed ...... 41 Superintendent of Interments Appointed ... 41 Issue of Bonds Authorized, Dec, 1842 . . . .42 The Prospect Improving ..... 43 Fence, Cottage, Bell-Tower, and Gate . . . .43 Visible Advance ....... 43 Slender Means ....... 44 Mr. Perry is made Comptroller .... 44 Lawn-girt Hill Conveyed ...... 44 Odd-Fellows 1 Association ..... 46 Important Land Purchase ...... 40 De Witt Clinton's Remains ..... 47 Clinton Monument Association . . . . .47 A Triumphal Arch on Paper ..... 48 Successful Effort ....... 48 Brown's Statue of Clinton ..... 48 Bay-side Dell ....... 49 Restrictions on Interments . . . . . 50 New Arrangement in regard to Bonds . . . .50 Robert Ray, President . . . . . . 51 Vista Hill Conveyed and Consecrated . . . .51 u What's Hallowed Ground?' .... 52 Evidences of Progress in 184G ..... 53 Tribute to the Bergens . . . . . 53 William Augustus White — Financial Committee . . 53 Permanent Surveyor Chosen ..... °^ X CONTENT? j PAGE Geeen-Wood Illusteated ...... 54 Second Seeies . . . . . . . 55 Teact Bought of the Beegens in 1847 . . . .56 Coloeed Oephan Asylum . . . . . 56 Reasons foe Opening a Westeen Enteaxce . . .50 Deixetxg-Shop Nuisaxce . . . . . 57 Difficulties of the Geoexd ..... 57 Desceiptiox of Buildixgs ..... 57 Gate foe Funeeals . . . . . . . 5S Depaeteee of the Liqeoe-Yexdees . . . . 58 Advance in Peice of Lots . . . . . .58 New Rule in eegaed to Geading .... 59 Opeeatiox of the System ...... 59 Sons of Tempeeance . . . . . . 59 Statistics ........ 60 Standing Committee Empoweeed . . . . 61 Statistical Peoofs of Peospeeity ..... 61 Death of Jonathan Goodhue . . . . . 61 William H. Aspinwall Elected Teustee . . . .61 Be-sueyey of Geeen-Wood ..... 62 Impoetance of Accueate Mapping ... . .62 Statistics of 1849 . . . . . 03 Wood Engeayings ....... 63 Chapel Hill ....... 63 New Bell . . . . . . 63 Geeen-Wood Dieectoey ...... 64 Biogeaphy ........ 64 Need of Guide-Book, and Peospect of Supply . . 64 Chaxge rx Time of Axxual Meeting . . . .65 Amexded Ciiaetee ...... 65 Doxatioxs to Chaeitable Associatioxs . . ... 65 Teibute to Ma joe Douglass ..... 65 Statistics of 1850 ....... 66 Appolxtmext of Me. Meewln as Examinee . . . 67 Beseevoie and Watee-Woeks . . . . .67 Value of the Impeoyement . . . . . 68 EXTEACT FEOM RePOET ...... 69 CONTEXTS. The Supply Well .... Buening of Well- House Appointment of Me. McCoy Statistics of 1851 .... Laege Puechase and Laege Sales Statistics of 1852 .... The Chapel Peoject .... Bieds in Geeen-Wood Impoetation of Bieds .... Expeelmext Fails .... Receiving Tomb Desceieed Its Advantages .... Amendments of the Chaetee . Maetexse's Lane .... Statistical Summary of 1853 . A CnAPEL Proposed .... New Peo visions in the Deeds . Statistical Account foe 1854 Committee of Finance .... Plan of Chapel .... Tombs foe Sale ..... Addition to the Ground Statistics of 1855 .... Completion of Water Works Aggressions ..... Green- Wood in Court Statistics of 1856 .... Threats and Attempts to Injure . Advance in Peice of Lots Statistics of 1857 .... Changes Required at Westeen Entrance Index: to Registee of Interments . J. C. Brevooet and A. A. Low Elected Teustees Me. Sanxay's Movement Statistics of 1858 .... The Maetense Geound Bought Alterations at Western Exteaxce xii CONTENTS. TAOE Statistics of 1859 . . . . . . .84 Removal of Difficulties ..... 85 a noetheen enteance ...... 85 Archway Completed ...... 85 Numbered Section-Posts ...... 85 The Teee-Woem ....... 86 Statistics of 1860 ... % . ... 86 Annual Meeting, and Contested Election ... 86 Misstatements ....... 86 One Thing Peoyed ...... 88 The Opposition Defeated . . . . . .88 Complaint and Suggestions ..... 88 Resolve to Publish the Accounts . . . .89 The Report a perfect Vindication .... 90 A Danger to be Guaeded Against « . . .90 Statement by the Comptroller .... 90 Railroad Stock and Bonds . . . . .91 Comptroller's Proposal . . . . . 91 The Price of Lots Advanced in 1861 . . . .92 Reasons for the Change ..... 92 compaeison of prices with other cemeteries . . .93 Favorable Result of the Change .... 93 Iron Fence ........ 93 Water from the City Mains ..... 9-1 A New Jet ........ 94 New Map and Change of Names .... 95 Peouibition in eegaed to tiie Planting of Trees . . 95 Quotation from Report ..... 95 Work at Northern Entrance . . . . .96 Statistics of 1861 ...... 96 Addition to the Ground in 1862 . . . . . 97 Purchase of Gravel Hill ..... 97 Photographic Views ...... 97 Application from New York City Council ... 98 Free Interment for New York Soldiers . . .98 Death of Stephen Whitney . . . . . 99 Statistics of 18G2 ....... 100 CONTEXTS. xiii PAGE A Prosperous Year . . . . . 101 Annexation . . . . . . . .101 Chapel Hill Brought into the Market . . . 101 A Change of Views, and how it Happened . . . 102 Edifice Needed for Monuments and Statuary . . 103 Death of Luther Bradish . . . . . .105 Election of Benjamin H. Field . . . . 105 Northern Entrance Completed . . . . .103 Entrance Described ...... 100 Groups of Sculpture . . . . . .107 Porter's Lodge, Stable, Superintendent's Houss . . 108 Financial Statement for 1863 ..... 109 Conclusion ....... 109 APPENDIX, PART 1 117 BATTLE HILL AND THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN . 117 Neglect and Forgetfulness of the Battle-Ground . . 118 The Fact Accounted for . . . . . 118 Toryism on Long Island . . . . . .119 General Lee and Lord Stirling . . . . 119 Washington —Campaign of 1776 . . . . 119 Position and Extent of the Defences . . . 119 Landing of the British Forces at New Utrecht . . 120 The Fight near Gowanus Bay . . . . 121 Lord Stirling is Flanked and Defeated . . .121 The Old Cortelyou House . . . . . 121 Sharp-Shooters on Battle Hill .... 122 Revolutionary Relics from the British Prison-Ships . 122 A Plea for their Sepulture and Honorable Commemoration 123 Erroneous Plans of the Gowanus Fight . . . 123 Major Douglass's Sketch ..... 123 The Defeat Inevitable, and not Disgraceful . . 124 Invaluable Lessons of Disaster .... 12o THE KEEPER'S LODGE— A Reminiscence . . . 126 The Cemetery Bell. By Arthur Morrell . . . 126 THE CLINTON MONUMENT 128 VISTA HILL— Dr. Farley's Address . . . .129 xiv CONTENTS. GREENWOOD PUBLICATIONS THE FOREIGN BIRDS . The Chagot Ground and Mount Washington Monsieur Chagot, a Benefactor . . TREES AND SHRUBBERY . The Native Growth of Green- Wood . The Tendency to an Excess of Foliage . Chestnuts and Weeping-Willows The Norway Spruce .... Too Much Shade — An Evil to be Checked FLOWERS Quotation from Loudon . Quotation from the "Hints" MODES OF INTERMENT Embalming, Burning, Entombing, and Interring Reasons foe Preferring the Tomb The Argument foe Interment Extract from the "Hints" The Tomb Facilities of Green- Yv'ood INCLOSURES IN CEMETERIES The Fence considered aesthetically Good Specimens in Gbeen-Wood Exception to the Rule. (See Note) Objections to the Iron Fence . Quick-Set Hedges The Curb-Stone Doubts in regard to General Effect INSCRIPTIONS ON MONUMENTS The Disuse of Epitaphs Accounted foe and Regretted The Early Monuments of Green-TFood Suggestion of a Monumental Chapel A Fear which nAs not been Realized "Epitaphs" — A Passage from the "Hints" REGISTER OF INTERMENTS .... THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCE (from " Green- Wood Illustrated THE SUPERINTENDENTS, Sceimgeour, Birrell, Gamgee The Operatives and their Work CONTENTS. xv PAGF John O'Shaughnessy ...... 153 THE SURVEYOR— Boyle. Wells ... 153 Cemetery Map ....... 154 APPENDIX, PART IL 155 David Bates Douglass ...... 155 Gaeeet Beegex ...... 156 Thomas Ludlow Ogden ...... 157 Jonathan Goodhue ...... 158 Geebit G. Van Wagenen . . . . .159 Geoege Geiswold ...... 161 Alonzo G. Hammond . . . . . .162 William Shepaed Wetmoee . . . . . 163 Stephen Whitney . . . . . . .164 Luthee Beadish ...... 165 APPESTDIX, PART III 167 Memorial to the Legislature .... 167 Act of Incorporation . . . . . .169 Action of Brooklyn Common Council . . . 171 Report of the Commissioners . . . . .173 The Appraisement . . . . . . 174 Land-Owners' Ageeement ..... 174 Memoeial to the Legislatuee . . . . 176 Action of Beooklyn Common Council . . . .178 Amendments of Chaetee (Passed 1839) . . . 178 Fiest Adyeetisement foe Suesceiption .... 181 Public Meeting in Beooklyn . . . . 182 Cieculae of Cook and Smith ..... 183 Amendments of Chaetee (Passed 1846) . . . 184 Amendments of Chaetee (Passed 1850) . . . 185 Amendments of Chaetee (Passed 1853) . . . 186 conteibutoes to the clinton monument . , . 188 COEPOEATOES, TeUSTEES, OfFICEES, AND ASSISTANTS . 190 Offices of the Cemetery in Xew York . . .195 List of Centenarians Buried in Green-Wood . . 195 Monuments and Tombs . . . . . .196 % CONTENTS. PAGB Correspondence — President Ray and Governor Morgan 107 By-Laws . . . . . * . .198 Annual Sales of Lots . . . . . 201 Prices of Lots ....... 202 Annual Receipts for Sales . . . . . 203 Annual Xumbee of Interments ..... 204 Annual Receipts on Account of Public Lots . . 205 Annual Receipts for Opening Graves and Vaults . . 206 Total Annual Receipts ..... 207 Annual Expenditure for Labor. . . . .208 xVnnual Expenditure for Improvements . . . 209 Annual Expenditure for Contingencies . . .210 Total Annual Expenditure . . . . . 211 Total Receipts and Expenditures .... 212 Cemetery Buildings . . . . . . 213 Avenues, Paths, Hills, Dells, and Lakes . . . 215 HISTORY OF GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY. Twenty-six years have passed since Green-Wood Cemetery entered upon its corporate existence. From a feeble beginning, and through a hard struggle, Ear]y which seemed, for a time, to be of doubtful issue, it dlfficultlC3 - passed at length to a secure position, and started on a career of eminent success. Yery few of the multi- tudes who visit those attractive grounds — very few even of those who have a proprietary interest in Green-Wood — know any thing of the difficulties which beset its early steps, and which, but for the faith and perseverance of a few individuals, would have proved fatal to the undertaking. It is certain, also, that the motive which prompted this effort, and the spirit which has animated it throughout, have not a history of Green-Wood always been fully understood or duly appreciated, needed. Although the conduct of the institution has com- manded almost universal satisfaction, still complaints have sometimes appeared, which, if made honestly, could proceed only from ignorance of the principles that govern the management, or of the reasons that led to particular measures. 3 6 GEEEX-WOOD CEMETERY. In view of these considerations, and of others which will readily suggest themselves, the time seems favor- Thc time a ble f° r l a J m g before the lot-owners of Green- Wood, f.noiabie. ^ ^ ^ interested in its welfare, a history of the institution. Its facts will be derived from the records and files of the corporation, and from state- ments, both oral and written, of gentlemen who have been connected with the enterprise from the very first. It will show, if I mistake not, that the purpose of the institution was purely philanthropic, and that it has uniformly been conducted with disinterested fidelity. It can hardly fail to deepen the interest already felt in Green-Wood, and to strengthen that confidence in its future which a judicious and ener- getic management has so generally inspired. The idea of a rural cemetery in this country was first developed in Boston. Crude conceptions of such an institution may have existed elsewhere and earlier ; Mount Au- but to Mount Auburn will ever belong the praise of burn Ccme- ea r I"63T. ind " having led the way in a much-needed reform. That cemetery dates from 1831, and its distinguished foun- der, Jacob Bigelow, still lives, and still presides over the successful institution, which has been so long the object of his care. In 1832, Mr. Hexey E. Pieekepoxt, of Brooklyn, returned from a visit to the new cemetery at Cam- bridge, with the desire awakened that iSfew York and Brooklyn should have a similar establishment, com- mensurate with their wants, and not unworthy of GEEEN-WOOD CEMETERY. 7 their greatness. The wooded heights of Gowanus, ^ H £° wa " with which he had been familiar from a boy, occurred to him as a site peculiarly favorable. During the following year, though absent from the country, his incipient purpose gathered strength while visiting the cemeteries and campos santos of Europe. On his return he found that Brooklyn, his native vil- lage, was about to take rank amon^ the cities of the land — an event which occurred in 1834. In the following spring, Mr. Pleeeepoxt was placed, by the citizens of Brooklyn, on a commission to lay out the new city in streets. It was while performing this Su^estion w of Mr. Pierre- dllty that he first brought forward his plan for reserv- P ont - ing, among the Gowanus Hills, a large tract for a cemetery. Ground, lying north of the present Green- Wood, and known as the Berry and Yan Brunt Farms, first attracted his attention ; but the owners were not ready to treat for their sale. The lands lower down, and nearer to the Bay, had been pur- chased with a view to disposal in city lots, and were, therefore, regarded as out of the question. At the time referred to, Major David B. Doug- lass, previously an officer of the United States Army, and an engineer of high reputation, was re- siding in Brooklyn, having just completed the pre- liminary surveys for the Croton water-works, and also the location of the Brooklyn and Jamaica rail- road. In the autumn of 1835, Major Douglass srnve Lecture of ° Major Doug- a public lecture in Brooklyn, on the capabilities Iass< 8 GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY. Hints ^ and prospects of the young and rising city. Mr. Pierrepoxt, to whom he applied for hints on the occasion, suggested the idea of a large rural ceme- tery, with an astronomical observatory on the grounds. The Major accepted the suggestion. The objections to interment in city vaults and crowded church-yards were undoubtedly well put, while the admirable fitness of the Gowanus grounds for ceme- tery purposes could have been shown by no one more competent. This is believed to have been the first public presentation that was made of the subject. Financial So far as it appears, this effort to impress the com- munity with the need and value of a rural cemetery produced no visible result, xlnother year, with its 1887? ^ deceitful flush of hollow prosperity, passed away, and was succeeded by the relapse of 1837. The dis- asters of that year, and the change which came over the prospects of dealers in real estate, revived the project of the cemetery. There was now a possi- bility of obtaining the Gowanus lands at prices within the bounds of reason. The larger owners of the property, some of whom had already shown a warm interest in the cemetery project, were found willing to negotiate. GREEX-WOOD CEMETERY. 9 1838. Mr. Pierrepoxt, with the efficient aid of Major 1838. Douglass, explored the ground, selected the portion Thegro^a which seemed best suited to the purpose, and mapped mapped, the same, with the names of all the proprietors. The aspect of the affair was now deemed sufficiently en- couraging to justify the formation of a company to carry out the design. A petition to the Legislature, in the winter of 1838, was followed by an Act of In- corporation, passed on the 11th of April in that year.* It created a joint-stock corporation, under The com- pany incor- the name of u The Greex- Wood Cemetery," with a p° r * ted - capital of three hundred thousand dollars, and the right to hold two hundred acres of land. By the Act, the petitioners were made Commissioners to receive subscriptions. These pioneers of the great enterprise were Samuel Ward, John P. Stagg, Charles King, JJfgJSnto. David B. Douglass, Bussell Stebblxs, Joseph A. 610ncrs - Perry, Henry E. Pierrepoxt, and Pltxy Freemax. Of these gentlemen, Mr. Ward, long known as an eminent New York banker, and still more distin- guished as a public-spirited citizen, died 27th No- vember, 1839. The decease of Mi*. Stagg, a highly respectable merchant of New York, occurred October 1, 1819. Major Douglass, whose name will often occur in this narrative, died October 21, 1819. * See Appendix, Part Third, Xo. L 10 GEEEN-WOOD CEMETEET. 1§3§. The remaining five are still here to witness the v ' success of their enterprise — a success which has trans- cended, probably, their early expectations, however high. kcted dse " ^ e g roun d which was finally selected by Mr. Pieeeepoxt and Major Douglass, with the approval of their associates, as best suited to their purpose, lies a little back of the Gowanus Bay. It extends, as marked on the city map, from Twenty-first street to Thirty-fourth street, and from the Fifth Avenue to the Brooklyn city line. Meeting of the land- As a step preliminary to further action, a meeting owners. Q £ ^ Q l auc ]_ owners (twenty-seven in number) was called in Brooklyn, and the cemetery project was laid before them. It was proposed that they should sell, at a fair valuation, such portions of their land as might come within the bounds of the cemetery. To this proposal a majority of the owners, including those who held the largest interest, gave their assent. The agreement between the proprietors and the com- missioners was signed June 28, 1838. See Appendix, Part Third, Xo. V. The board of appraisers author- ized by that agreement to fix the prices of the lands, were Mr. C. P. Smith, Mr. H. E. Pieeeepoxt, Major Douglass, and Judge Haaeaioxd. According to their appraisement, dated September 24, 1838, there were The land one hundred and seventy-eight acres of land, valued appraised. at §134,075.50, being an average per acre of $i 56.60. GREEN-WOOD CEMETEKT. 11 As tlie tract contained two thousand one hundred and I83§. forty-five city lots, the average price per lot was $62.75. For an abstract of this appraisement, giving the quantity and the prices of land for each of the five farms, see Appendix, Part Third, No. IY. It is proper to remark here, that in the final arrange- ments with the owners, the average cost of the ground was a good deal below that which was named by the appraisers. The owners of this property agreed to receive their pay in cemetery stock. The land thus purchased had belonged for several generations to the Bennett, Bergen, and Wyckoff Original ' owners. families, and had stood in these names from the first settlement of the country by their Dutch pro- genitors. From time immemorial it had been the outlying pasture-ground and woodland of substantial farmers, whose houses and homesteads were near the shore. During the first two hundred years of this occupancy, it must have been a quiet spot, varied only by such sights and sounds as occa- sionally invade the pastoral or the sylvan scene. There was, however, one memorable exception. In Historical associatior the Battle of Long Island, August 26, 1776, the con- 1773 flict raged for a spell on and near these very grounds. For all that is known in regard to the matter, the reader is referred to a paper in the Appendix, Part First, No. I. It was prepared in 1846, for " Green- Wood Illustrated," after much examination and in- quiry. On one occasion I went over the ground with 12 GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY. 1§3§. Major Douglass. The excavations and gradings which have so transformed the aspect of Gowanus, had then scarcely begun. We stood upon the hill- side where Lord Stirling posted a part of his force, and traced the old wall and hedge which formed their temporary and frail barricade. From this spot that accomplished officer and engineer pointed out to me what he believed to have been the position and move- ments of the contending forces, and the probable localities of the conflict. Of the scene on which we then looked, the swells and slopes of Green-"Wood, and the bright waters of the bay, are almost the only features that remain unchanged. c.owanns in The staid farmers of Gowanns, whose patriotism Revolution- ary times. d oes no t seem to have been of the irrepressible sort, went comfortably through the .seven years of Revolu- tion, in spite of British and Hessian soldiers quar- tered among and around them. "When peace and prosperity returned, they just kept on in the old way, and on the ground where myriads of the dead now repose, they still gathered their winter fuel, or drove their cows to pasture. For these back lands there was no demand, as they were considered un- healthy and unfit to live on. But the advancing waves of population and of speculation at length reached Gowanus, and the temptation of high prices proved too much even for Dutch tenacity. The purchases above referred to Showing the Original Owners of theXand. '///, (fatted tines show tin boundaries of tlu Cemetery as first enclosed. Total , \o of. /civs f/ / O Mi oOO/al (o/uu/t. Snya»r,BUcic* Stunv.92 WHi>raSt.N.T. GBEEN-WOOD CEMETERY. 13 were made in 1836. A reference to the Property 1836. Map will show the relative size and position of the Reference . , , to property different pieces included in the appraisement, and also map. the original ownership. The northwestern portion of the ground, formerly a part of the Dean, the Bennett, and Winant Ben- nett farms, had been laid out and sold in city lots, and had thus fallen into numerous hands. It con- tained the highest point in the whole range of hills, and its retention was thought to he very desirable. It became, however, a source of infinite vexation. Several of those who held the small lots took advan- tage of their position, and demanded prices far above the appraisement. The exorbitant demands were Exorbita long resisted. Some of the small proprietors held out for years, and one of them, as may be seen by reference to the map, holds out still.* demands. * The ground alluded to is a narrow strip occupying a part of Sec- tions 112, 113, and 114, with a small privilege in Meadow Water. It consists of twenty gores or fractions of lots, equal in area to fifteen full lots. The land has been several times appraised at its full value, and more than twice that amount has often been offered for it by tbe cemetery. But the extortionate demands of blinded avarice have remained unabated. After many frustrated attempts, and a long ex- perience of annoyance and menace, the trustees decided to complete the cemetery enclosure without reference to the Chagot tract, leaving, however, a way of access to it. During the entire existence of the cemetery this malicious intrusion has been an irritating thorn in its side. It is pleasant to state that this evil is at last removed. Within the present month (June, 1864) arrangements have been made which give to the cemetery absolute possession and uncpuestioned occu- pancy of the Chagot lots. For further remarks in regard to this matter, see Appendix, Part First, Xo. VII. 4 n GEEEX-WOOD CEMETERY. l§3§. When the question of a name for the proposed in- The qucs- stitution came up for consideration, various candi- name. ,l dates for the honor were presented. Kot a few were desirous, as we learn from Major Douglass, that it should be called the Necropolis. But this word, however classical and ancient, conveys an idea of city form and show, which the founders of the ceme- tery were particularly anxious to avoid. They fixed upon the pleasing and unpretending name which it bears, as appropriate to its wood-crowned heights, and as indicating that it should always remain a scene of rural quiet, and beauty, and leanness, and ver- dure." By the terms of charter, the corporation could acquire and hold lands for the proposed cemetery only "by and with the consent of the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Brooklyn." A peti- tion for such consent, dated August 6, 1838, and consent of signed by D. B. Douglass, H. E. Pieeeepoxt, and Brooklyn K. Stebbixs, was presented to the Common Council, and received their immediate and unanimous assent. See Appendix, Part Third, ~No. II. This impor- tant act confirmed and made fast the previous doings * For the following learned note on the word " cemetery," we are indebted to the Rev. Dr. Dowling : " The term was earlv applied to Christian places of burial. Chiwsostom, in the fourth century, thus gives the reason : Am rovro nai avrog b tottoc KOIMHTH- PION