Gerritsen's Mill, Gravesend

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Coordinates: 40°35′29″N 73°55′36″W / 40.59139°N 73.92667°W / 40.59139; -73.92667
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Gerretsen's Mill at Gravesend, L. I., also known as Johannes Gerritsen's Mill and the Whitney mill, derived its name from a 1750s Dutch miller in the area of Marine park, Brooklyn. The mill was situated near what is now known as Garritson's Creek and Mill Pond, formerly referred to as the Strome Kil. The origin of the name can be traced back to historical references, including an Indian deed mentioning land belonging to Hugh Garretson, likely referring to the same location. The farm was parceled to Dutch settler Wolfert Gerritse van Couwenhoven (1 May 1579 – 1662),an original patentee, director of bouweries (farms), and a founder of the New Netherland colony.[1] The three-hundred-year-old mill was destroyed by fire in 1935 by arson.[2]

Gerritsen Creek[edit]

The Gerritsen Creek tidal mill in the 19th century

Gerritsen Creek is a short watercourse in Brooklyn, New York City, that empties into Jamaica Bay.[3][4] The creek has been described as one of the "fingers" that formed the original shoreline of Jamaica Bay.[5] The creek lies just beyond the maximum extent of the Wisconsin Glacier.[6] It is listed as the earliest tide mill in North America.[7] Constructed prior to 1756, the mill was erected on the footprint of an earlier structure and featured wooden machinery, leather beltings, and large rotating millstones. Positioned on the periphery of a basin, it bordered the area where the sea water flowed in upon the opening of the floodgate at the dam spanning the narrowest section of the creek. As the water rose to the crest of the dam, the gates closed, creating a reservoir behind them. A manual mechanism, operated by a ratchet wheel, controlled a gate in the sluiceway behind the mill, regulating the flow of water onto the mill wheel as needed.[8][9]: 212 [10] In recent times the creek has been a dumping ground for recreational boaters detrius.[11][12][13]

The small salvage firm White Cap Marine Towing and Salvage, of Sheepshead Bay,[12][13] specializes in rescuing or salvaging keeps the area clear and seaworthy. It has a contract to keep the area clear of abandoned vessels.[14]

Genealogy[edit]

First tide-mill in North America

Johannes Gerritsen, identified as a miller of Gravesend, is documented in historical records, including his will dated December 20, 1765, found in the New York Surrogate's office. In his will, he bequeathed his estate to his son, Samuel Gerritsen, along with specific legacies to be paid. Johannes Gerritsen's lineage can be linked to Samuel Geretsen, as noted by Tunis G. Bergen in "Early Settlers of Kings County." It is inferred that Johannes Gerritsen was likely a son of Samuel Geretsen, born sometime after 1700.

The tradition of naming children after grandparents, common among Dutch families, is evident in the Gerritsen family, further supporting the connection between Johannes and Samuel Geretsen. Subsequent records, such as the will of Samuel Garritsen probated in 1822, continue to document the family's ownership and involvement in the mill's operation and land ownership in Gravesend. The mill's lineage continues through subsequent generations, as evidenced by the will of Samuel Garritsen, of Gravesend, recorded in Liber 2 of the Kings County Surrogate's office and probated in 1822. In his will, Samuel bequeaths hisgrist mill and farm to his son, John S., while also naming his daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. He appoints his son-in-law, John Lott, and his grandson, Van Brunt Magaw, as executors.

Historians place the original mill at that spot around 1645, it was once considered one of the oldest standing buildings in New York. Legend holds that the predecessor mill stood since before 1645, a notion reinforced by an Indian deed referencing Barren Island across the bay. The deed describes the island as surrounded by the vast ocean, with its westernmost point branching into a river flowing northward toward the land owned by Hugh Garretson. This river is presumed to be the same creek where the mill is situated.[15]

Van Brunt Magaw, born September 7, 1783, and died March 18, 1831, was the son of Colonel Robert Magaw, a distinguished Revolutionary War officer, and Marritje, daughter of Colonel Rutgert Van Brunt. Van Brunt Magaw married Adriana, daughter of Louwrens Voorhees and Jannetie, daughter of Samuel Garritson, on November 2, 1811.

Elizabeth Garritsen married John Lott, the second son of and Catharine Vanderbilt. They resided on the farm purchased by Judge Lott from the heirs of Philip Nagel, which he later bequeathed to John Lott upon his death. Their son, Samuel G. Lott, was the father of Theodore Lott.

The lineage of the mill's ownership further unfolds with the probate of John S. Gerretson's will on September 2, 1864, recorded in Liber 28. John S. Gerretson, identified as a miller of Gravesend, leaves his farm, meadows, and mill to his son, Samuel J. Gerretsen, and another farm acquired from the Stillwells to his son, Simon C. Gerretsen.

Samuel J. Gerretsen's will, recorded on October 31, 1876, and made on May 4 of the same year, reveals the continuation of the family's legacy. He bequeaths all his property, both real and personal, to his two daughters, Mary C., widow of Abraham Ditmas Polhemus, and Helen B., wife of Stephen H. Herriman, both residing in Brooklyn.

The genealogical record of the family provides insight into Samuel J. Gerretsen's marriage to Jane, daughter of Jacob Van Brunt and Esther Vanderbilt, born May 14, 1803, and died November 20th, 1861. Their children include Mary C., born July 7, 1822, who married Abraham D. Polhemus in 1846, and Helen B., born November 15, 1824, who married Stephen H. Herriman on April 25, 1853.

The ownership of the property underwent further changes over the years. On December 20, 1864, Samuel J. Gerretsen transferred a portion of the property to his son-in-law, Abraham Ditmas Polhemus. Subsequently, on November 14, 1879, the executors of Abraham D. Polhemus's will sold the premises he had acquired to Helen V. B. Herriman. Following the passing of Stephen H. Herriman, who inherited his wife's interest in the property, it was bequeathed to his three children: William S. Herriman, Maria Bell Hazen, and Helen Herriman. Upon William S. Herriman's demise, he left his share of the Gravesend property to his sister, Maria Bell Hazen.

1900s[edit]

In 1899, Mrs. Hazen and Miss Herriman sold the estate to the Honorable William C. Whitney. Under his ownership, the property underwent extensive renovations, reconstruction, and landscaping, transforming it into one of the most remarkable country estates in the vicinity of New York. Upon William C. Whitney's passing, his son, Harry Payne Whitney, inherited the property and assumed ownership.

Until the early twentieth century, the area remained undeveloped except for a few squatters’ bungalows clustered at the foot of Gerritsen Avenue.[16] The mill remained in use for hundreds of years, until 1890. There were early proponents of preserving heritage buildings who lobbied for its preservation.[17] Mayor Jimmy "Beau James" Walker was brought to the site to view the structure.[9]: 212  However, no efforts were made, and the abandoned building was burned by an arsonist in 1935.[18]

See also[edit]

List of tide mills on Long Island

References[edit]

  1. ^ "A century of banking in New York", p. 82; retrieved 25 October 2009.
  2. ^ "The Fiery End of Gerritsen's Mill". 5 September 2015.
  3. ^ "History of Marine Park". Archived from the original on 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2014-08-07. Around 1920 the creek north of Avenue U was converted into an underground storm drain.
  4. ^ Leslie Day, Mark A. Klingler, Michael R. Bloomberg (2013). Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City. JHU Press. pp. 48–50. ISBN 9781421411491. Retrieved 2014-08-07.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Officials Celebrate the Gerritsen Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project in Marine Park". US Army Corps of Engineers. 2012-08-14. Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2014-08-07. "Gerritsen Creek is one of the original "fingers" of the great "hand" of Jamaica Bay, and over the last century it has been the victim of human intrusions that have damaged its ecological functioning," said Parks Commissioner Benepe.
  6. ^ H. Arthur Bankoff, Christopher Ricciardi, Alyssa Loorya (1997). "Gerritsen's Creek: 1997 Archaeological Field Excavations" (PDF). New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2014-08-07.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Gerritsen's mill". 14 June 2013.
  8. ^ http://bklyn-genealogy-info.stevemorse.org/Town/dutch/gerrit.html
  9. ^ a b Kadinsky, Sergey (2016). Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs. New York, NY: Countryman Press. pp. 211–213. ISBN 978-1-58157-566-8.
  10. ^ Thomas J. Campanella (2001). "The Lost Creek". Terrain.org. Archived from the original on 2014-07-22. Retrieved 2014-08-08. "They" were the hardy Gerritsen clan, among the first European settlers in the region. According to Teunis Bergen's Register of the Early Settlers of Kings County (1881), the Gerritsens had for many years "owned a farm and the tide-mill . . . on the Strome Kil." The Gerritsens built their industrial plant in the early seventeenth century, and it operated continuously until the 1890s.
  11. ^ Nick Corasanti (2013-08-16). "When There's Trouble at Sea, This Captain Sees His Paycheck". New York Times. New York City. p. A16. Archived from the original on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-08-16. Captain Jack, as he is universally known at Gateway Marina in Sheepshead Bay, is a professional boat salvager and, along with his brother, Capt. Bernie Schachner, is a co-owner of White Cap Marine Towing and Salvage Inc. Summer is their busy season.
  12. ^ a b Gary Buiso (2008-06-27). "Abandoned boats plucked from Jamaica Bay". Brooklyn Daily. Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-08-16. Early in the morning of June 17, the National Park Service was joined by Sheepshead Bay-based White Cap Marine Towing and Salvage, a local business hoping to do its part to help the environment.
  13. ^ a b Richard Pyle (2008-06-22). "National park bay in NYC is nautical graveyard: Scores of boats litter the shores and lie submerged in shallow waters". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2013-08-16. Cruising Gerritsen Creek with Capt. Bernie Schachner at the helm of his 26-foot "emergency response" boat White Cap Salvor, Daskalakis pointed out a half-dozen abandoned boats lying in weeds along the shore. Up ahead, Schachner's brother and business partner, Capt. Jack Schachner, maneuvered another launch so his crewman could attach a line to a shabby motorboat on the beach.
  14. ^ Mara Gay (2014-03-02). "National Weather Alerts Bleed Into Coast Guard Radio Channel". Wall Street Journal. New York City. Retrieved 2014-08-06. Captain Jack Schachner, owner of Brooklyn-based White Cap Marine Towing and Salvage Inc., a Sea Tow franchise, said the temporary fix negotiated between the agencies is less than comforting. There would be a problem, he said, "If you happen to be calling a mayday while this thing was happening, and it was your last shot at getting help."
  15. ^ "Article clipped from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 28 August 1927. p. 21.
  16. ^ Ditmas, Charles Andrew, 1887-1938 (1909). Historic homesteads of Kings County. The Compiler ppg.94.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Brooklyn, New York • Wed, Jun 24, 1931Page 17
  18. ^ "Article clipped from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 26 August 1934. p. 20.

External links[edit]

40°35′29″N 73°55′36″W / 40.59139°N 73.92667°W / 40.59139; -73.92667

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