THE FERRY ROAD

LONG ISLAND

EUGENE L. ARMBRUSTER

THE KINGS HIGHWAY

In 1704 Governor CORNBURY appointed a commission, which laid out the Kings Highway.
The latter was built along the two lines of the Ferry Road, one leading to Jamaica, and
the other to Flatbush and Flatlands. There were also a number of branch-roads established,
which all were included under the appellation of the Kings Highway.
These were:
-Red Hook Lane, leading to the Red Hook;
-Gowanus Lane, running along the line of present Fifth Avenue to Gowanus Cove;
-Big Lane, or Church Lane, running from the Flatbush branch to Flatlands Neck;
-Little Lane, or Lott's Lane, running from the Flatbush branch to Canarsie;
-Clove Road, leading from Bedford Corners to the salt meadows and to Flatbush Village;
-Cripplebush Lane, running from Bedford Corners to the Cripplebush settlement;
-Old Bushwick Road, running from the Jamaica branch to the Bushwick Road.
At the point where the Old Bushwick Road branched off the Kings Highway the latter ran
through a depression in the hills, i. e., between two hills. This is what the British
termed the amaica Pass in 1776.

The Indian trail had skirted the easterly side of the easternmost of the two hills
and was called the Rockaway footpath. At about present Reid Avenue, where the Four Mile House
later stood, the Kings Highway struck the Hunterfly Road. The two main lines were both known
as the Ferry Road, from the ferry to Jamaica, as well as through Flatbush to Flatlands Village.

Within the later Brooklyn village limits the road was known as Ferry Road until a branch
road had been established along present line of Main Street in 1795; then there was an Old
Ferry Road and a New Ferry Road.

In 1817 the Old Ferry Road was renamed Fulton Street, in honor of Robert FULTON, and
the name was applied to the road within the yillage limits. Outside these limits the road
became Fulton Avenue when Brooklyn city came into existence. The popular name was, however,
the Jamaica Turnpike; the story of the turnpike road will be found elsewhere.

In the early 40's the road became known as the Jamaica and Brooklyn Plank Road above the
Four Mile House, and South Country Road it was beyond Jamaica. The branch leading to Flatbush
became known in 1809 as the Brooklyn and Flatbush Turnpike Road; in 1855, within the limits of
Flatbush and Flatlands as the Brooklyn and Flatbush Plank Road, and in 1856, within the Brooklyn
town limits, as Flatbush Avenue.

The mail stages from New York to Philadelphia were running in 1730 once a fortnight during
the winter months.
The trip, starting from the Crown and Thistle Tavern, near the Half Moon Battery and Whitehall,
down the bay, was made upon specially constructed boats;
-then Staten Island and Achter Kil had to be crossed. Arriving at the "Blazing Star" the road
was taken to New Brunswick, where the Raritan River was crossed in a scow;
-at Trenton the Delaware was crossed in the same way;
-a third river was crossed on a floating bridge of planks, and Philadelphia was reached on the
third or fourth day.
In 1741, Brooklyn Ferry was made a relay station for the mail coach connecting His British
Majesty's Colonies of New England and Virginia, and for a few short years the Kings Highway
experienced all the life connected with the Royal Mail Service.

Passengers were ferried over from New York, the mail coach with six, eight or more horses was
escorted by a number of soldiers on horseback and the journey was begun along the highway to
Flatbush, Gravesend and Denyse's Ferry (later Fort Hamilton). Here the stage coach was set over
the Narrows to Staten Island, the run was continued across the island and by ferry to Perth Amboy;
thence to Burlington, Philadelphia, etc.
After a few years this route was superseded by a more direct line.
In 1753, John LANE, informs the public that he now keeps the ferry at Yellow Hook on Long Island,
six miles below New York Ferry, and that he has provided good boats, well fitted with proper
hands and will be ready at all times, wind and weather permitting, to go to Smith's Ferry on
Staten Island "with a single man only" (i. e., with one passenger, if need be). He advises
travellers to observe, from Flatbush to Sand Ferry, to keep the marked trees on the right hand.
Connection could be made with the mail coach by this ferry, but the glory of the Royal Mail
Service had departed from the Kings Highway, and the redcoats. galloping along were now only
a memory, which furnished the material for the conversation carried on around the firesides
of many a farm house during the long winter evenings, when the howling wind, tried its best
to unroof the old homestead which had witnessed all these things in its younger days.

The clumsy farmer wagon was now supreme upon the Kings Highway until in 1772 a stage coach
route was established from Brooklyn Ferry to Sag Harbor, the stage coach running once a week,
and then came the Flushing coach. The stage coaches brought new life upon the highway; there
was no military splendor connected with them, but their appearance was an event in the quiet
life of the farmhouse dwellers along the road.
The Flushing stage coach began to run in 1801, and with various changes continued until 1854,
when the opening of the Flushing and North Shore Railroad put an end to its usefulness.

The various branches of the Kings Highway were the theatre upon which the Battle of Long
Island was enacted on that fateful morning of August 27th, 1776, and the skirmishes which
preceded that struggle. CORNWALLIS, who held Flatbush village was relieved by De HEISTER and
the latter advanced now against the American lines of outer defences which were near the village
across the Ferry Road and its vicinity and were commanded by
Gen. SULLIVAN,
Col. MILES,
Col. PARSONS,
Sir Henry CLINTON,
Lords PERCY,
CORNWALLIS and HOWE, had moved towards New Lotts and taken possession of the Rockaway Path, and
the entire force of the right wing of the British army marched now along the Kings Highway
toward Bedford, and spread its line all along down to the junction of the Jamaica and Flatbush
roads.
The left wing and centre of the army advanced under General GRANT along the Shore Road and
Martense Lane towards Brooklyn.
De HEISTER opened the cannonade from Flatbush village early in the morning and took the redoubt
at Valley Grove. The Americans were driven back.
A British force under CLINTON and CORNWALLIS, now cut through the American lines at the Clove
Road commanded by Col. MILES. The two sections of the Americans became entangled during the
retreat along the Port Road, which lead to Gowanus. They were exposed to the fire of the enemy's
cannon, which were set up along the Jamaica Road, paralleling their line of retreat.
The slaughter lasted from 9 o'clock until noon;
Gen. SULLIVAN was taken prisoner.
Gen. STIRLING had occupied a position upon the Gowanus Road at Gowanus Bay. Being informed of
the enemy's advance, he marched toward the Port Road. With him were the Delaware Battalion,
the Maryland Regiment, the Connecticut Regiment and Col. PARSONS forces; they were also joined
by Col. ATLEE'S Pennsylvania Regiment, which had fallen back before Gen. GRANT'S forces.
STIRLING took position near Greenwood. The British coming from the woods, the struggle began.
Col. ATLEE and his corps were captured.
STIRLING went to attack CORNWALLIS, who occupied the CORTELYOU house.
The Marylanders attacked that building three times, but in vain. Some escaped across the Gowanus marsh.
STIRLING surrendered to De HEISTER.
The American casualties were 2,500 killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 29th the remainder of
the American forces crossed the river to Manhattan Island. The embarkation was made at Brooklyn
Ferry, Gen. McDOUGALL superintending the movement. On the morning of the 30th the evacuation
of the island was completed and the British remained in full possession of the island until
hostilities ceased.

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