WOODARD - SCHOONMAKER  HOUSE



1306 Flushing Avenue

	For years it was called "the last house in Brooklyn" because it is almost 
on the line that divides Kings County from Queens. Its site was part of the land 
sold by Tunis and Mary TITUS to Johannis SCHENCK on 17 September 1711 and was 
probably part of the property sold by SCHENCK'S heirs to Nicholas WYCKOFF who left 
it to his sons, Nicholas N., Folkert and Peter.

	Folkert died intestate and Nicholas N. conveyed his share to Peter in 1814. 
Peter's grandson Peter, who owned the property in 1890, left it to his daughter, 
Mrs. Milford B. STREETER.

	The house was standing in 1769 when the arbitration line was laid and Joseph 
WOODARD was living in it. Ruth WOODWARD is named as its owner in 1814.

	There is a tradition that General CORNWALLIS used the WOODARD house as his 
headquarters after the battle of Long Island.

	At one time its tenant was James SCHOONMAKER whose son Peter married Jane, 
daughter of Nicholas N. WYCKOFF, 11 October 1846. James SCHOONMAKER, baptized Jacobus, 
was born 3 September 1774 in Gravesend. He married Gitty, daughter of Peter VANDERVOORT, 
sometime prior to 11 September 1808, when their daughter Catharine BERGEN was baptized 
in the Dutch Reformed Church of Newtown.

	James and Gitty joined that church on 13 October 1812 and later he was one of its 
deacons. Besides his daughter Catharine, he had 
Ann Elizabeth, 
James, 
Martin and Peter Paul, all of whom were baptized in the Newtown Church. 
He died 14 January 1847.

	Reverend Martinus SCHOONMAKER, father of James, was the last domine to preach in 
the Dutch language on Long Island. He was born in Ulster County, 1 March 1737, the son 
of Joachim and Lydia SCHOONMAKER: He studied theology in New Jersey and was licensed to 
preach in 1763. His first call was to the congregations of Harlem and Gravesend.

	In 1784 he was elected to the pastorate of the six Dutch churches of Kings County with 
a yearly salary of £150. At one time he made his home in Gravesend but later moved to 
Flatbush where he died 20 May 1824. He married Mary BASSETT 27 January 1761 and their 
children were :
Sarah, 
Martenus, 
John, 
Michael, 
Jacobus, 
Mary, 
Anne, 
Nicholas, 
Anna and Ellenor.

	Martinus SCHOONMAKER was a reserved, retiring man, courtcous and polite. He was an 
ardent patriot. There is a story about his inability to speak English which may, or may not, 
be true.

	At the celebration of a marriage, he decided to close the ceremony in English instead 
of Dutch which he was accustomed to use. He intended to say, 
"I pronounce you man and wife. and one flesh; whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder,"
but, his English failing, he said. "I pronounce you man and wife, and one beef."



DUTCH Houses..Index Main
Return to TOWN Index Main
Return to BROOKLYN Index Main