FLATBUSH



	About 1652, STUYVESANT ordered a settlement to. be made on the wooded plain that 
lay midway between Breuckelen and Nieu Amersfoort. The land was laid out in comparatively 
narrow lots which extended many rods backward from both sides of the Indian trail that 
connected the East River with Jamaica Bay. Five or six of the lots were held for public 
use, and the others patented to farmers from the Netherlands. Town government was established.

	The place was called Middlewout, Midwout, Medwout (Middle Woods) as well as Vlakkebos 
(Flat Bush). Its central part was known as the Dorp; its northern limits, the Steenraap 
(stone pile) and its southern, Rustenburgh (or resting place).

	On Sunday, 9 February 1654, its Dutch Reformed Church was organized, tradition has it, 
in the afternoon. The building shown in the drawing was erected under specifications from 
STUYVESANT and was opened for worship probably in January 1655 when its first recorded 
collection was taken. Its minister was the Reverend Johannes Theodorus POLHEMUS.

	A school was opened as early as 1657 and a public brewery was established.

	In 1665, the English changed its name officially to Flatbush and in 1685 made it the 
county seat.

	On the eastern outskirts of Midwout was a small settlement called OostWout (East Woods). 
It was about six miles square with many of its farmsteads standing along the highway 
(Old New Lots Road), that led to Midwout. Its name was changed to New Lots by the English.


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