The MARTENSE-STORY Homestead





	The MARTENSE-STORY Homestead, though not among the oldest houses in Kings County, 
is of sufficient antiquity to interest us, and we would be attracted to it, not 
only on account of its personal charms, but the fact that Aunt Rachel MARTENSE, 
who livea to pass the century mile-stone of life, was born here. This place was 
recently sold at auction to settle the estates of Rachel MARTENSE and William H. 
and Joseph S. STORY, deceased. It consisted of a part of the farm of the late 
Adrian I. MARTENSE.

	Adrian I. MARTENSE lived in this house. He was born October 3rd, 1776; 
died September 18th, 1826. He lived the life of a farmer, and married Deborah BERRY. 
She was born September 25th, 1780, and died March 7th, 1865. They had issue :
Maria, who married first, Stephen SCHENCK in March, 1825. He died December 25th, 1825; 
and she married second, William W. STORY, on .January 25th, 1881. 
Captain STORY died on March lOth, 1875, aged 77 years.

	They had issue:

	William H. STORY, who married Myra BERGEN, a daughter of Mr. John C. BERGEN and 
		Berlinda ANTONIDIS, his wife. Mr. STORY was a civil engineer, and died in 1907 
		without surviving issue.

	Martense B. STORY married Augusta CRUIKSHANK. He was for many years connected 
		with the New York Dock Company, and at present resides in Flatbush.

	Joseph S. STORY, who for many years lived with his aunt, Rachel MARTENSE, 
		was not married and is now deceased.

	Rachel MARTENSE was born February 2nd, 1801, and died February 14th, 1905, 
		having earned the title of "Flatbush's oldest inhabitant." She never married, 
		and rumor says it was because of a love affair in her youth. What fortitude 
		she must have possessed to remain single all those years. She lived a Christian 
		life, working for others. A friend told me how, when she was nearly a hundred 
		years old and her eyesight was almost gone, she would sew on coarse garments, 
		such as underwear, for the poor.

	Jane MARTENSE, born in 1808; died October 30th, 1828, single. 

	Elizabeth MARTENSE, born in 1806; died July 26th, 1871; married May 12th, 1846, 
		to Henry L. CRABB, of Flatbush.

	On February 1st, 1865, Rachel MARTENSE, as individual and as trustee of her 
father's estate, Maria M. STORY and her husband, and Elizabeth CRABB and her husband, 
divided the land of their parents by deed of that date. This consisted of the land 
which they had inherited from their father and Gerret MARTENSE, who I believe was a 
great-uncle born September 19th, 1740; died November 9th, 1826, single. He with their 
father had held the land in common, until they divided it on February 2nd, 1819, 
as per deeds of that date.

	Adrian I. MARTENSE was a son of Isaac MARTENSE, who was born June 9th, 1748; 
		died November 12th, 1778; married November 5th, 1775, to Maria MESEROLE, 
		born October 22nd, 1758; died,June 18th, 1846.

	Isaac MARTENSE was a son of Adrian MARTENSE, of Flatbush, born October 24th, 1707; 
		died September 17th, 1780; married Neeltje, of Flatbush. On the division of 
		his father's plantation he received the west farm. He was a son of Martin ADRIANCE, 
		commonly called" Martin de BOER," from the fact of having the largest farm in 
		Flatbush. His homestead stood where the Parade Grounds are now.

	The farm of Martin ADRIANCE extended from Caton Avenue to the northerly line of 
Mrs. WILBUR'S present holdings along Flatbush Avenue, back to the boundary line 
between New Utrecht and Flatbush, south for some distance along the said boundary 
and across it into New Utrecht. On his death he divided it into three farms. The 
southern farm he gave to his son, Rem MARTENSE, from whom it descended to the 
CROOKE family. The northern farm he gave to his son, Gerret MARTENSE, from whom it 
has passed to Mrs. Lionel WILBUR, and part of it was owned by Mrs. J. M. FERRIS, 
who was a Miss MARTENSE before she married the distinguished editor of the Christian Intelligencer. 
The west farm descended as we have described in this sketch and in the sketch of 
the MARTENSE house proper.

	Martin ADRIANCE was born March 9th, 1668; died October 30th,1754; 
married Sarah REMSEN, born December 1st, 1670; died April 80th, 1728. He was a son of 
Adriaen REYERSE, who emigrated from Amsterdam to this country in 1646, and 
married July 29th, 1659, Annetje MARTENSE, daughter of Martin Roelofse SCHENCK, of Flatlands, 
who is spoken of elsewhere in this volume. Adriaen REYERSE died November 24th, 1710.


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