BROOKLYN

Brooklyn originally called Breuckelen, was named for a town in Holland. It was situated about a mile and a half southeast of the landing place on the East River. Like the other Dutch settlements, it was a farming community. Its few houses stood, for the most part, on both sides of the Indian trail that went from the East River to Jamaica Bay. It was chartered as a town in 1646 at which time it included the settlement at the landing place known as The Ferry, one at Gowanus and a few farms at the Waal-boght (Wallabout) or the Cove of the Foreigners. In 1663, Bedford, which was undoubtedly named for Berford in the Netherlands, was added to it. Its first school was opened in 1661 probably on the site of the Abraham and Straus store. Its church was built in 1666 in the center of what is now Fulton Street not far from Smith Street, and was later replaced by the one shown here. Under the English its name was corrupted to Brookland, Brockland, Brocklin, Brookline, and finally Brooklyn. Next Chapter..VECHTE - CORTELYOU HOUSE DUTCH Houses..Index Main Return to TOWN Index Main Return to BROOKLYN Index Main