at Stony Brook in the earliest days of the famous Waldensian-Huguenot settlement. The Guyon-Clark and the Tysen homesteads, south of the village proper, the old Fountain house, back of the Black Horse Tavern, all still standing, were dwellings of that period; and the old Rose and Crown, which stood at the head of New Dorp lane until 1854, and the Britton house, near Oakwood station, which was demolished about five years ago, were built amid scenes that made up the earliest history of Staten Island. There was also a block fort near the Church and Court House. The brave Waldenses who built the little church at Stony Brook, came from a Christian community who inhabited a mountain tract on the Italian side of the Cothian Alps, south-west of Turin. The region is divided into three valleys, which lie between France and Italy. The inhabitants are thus brought into communication with both countries; indeed they speak a dialect more clearly allied to the Dauphiné than to those of Piedmont; and they have used French as well as Italian as the language of their liturgy. The religious doctrines of the Waldenses are now similar to those of the Dutch Reformed Church. Their own historians assert that the country has remained from apostolic times independent of the Church of Rome, and boast that they can now show a regular apostolic succession of bishops from the earliest period of Christianity till that of the Reformation. This, however, is disputed. Historians also differ as to the origin of their name. Some claim that they do not take it from that of a valley, but from Peter Waldo, a merchant of Lyons, who, in the Twelfth century, was the founder of a sect which struggled against the corruptions of the clergy. He had the four gospels translated, and maintained that laymen had a right to read them to the people. He exposed in this way the prevalent ignorance and immorality of the clergy, and brought down their wrath upon himself. Waldo's opinions were condemned by a general council in 1179, and he returned to the valley of the Cothian Alps. A long series of persecutions followed; but Waldo's followers could not be forced to abandon their opinions. They continued to be known as the Leonisti, from the place of their origin-the poor people of Lyons, from their voluntary penury-Sabotati, from the wooden shoes they wore-and Humilitati, on account of their humility. It was natural that a body cruelly persecuted should stand aloof from the church, and even offer armed resistance; yet we have no evidence of the manner in which the Waldenses first became a separate community. They are now known to have been identified with the followers of Waldo; but they must not be confounded with the Albiegenses, who were persecuted at the same period. The protest of the Waldenses against the Church of Rome only related to practical questions; that of the Albiegenses related to matter of doctrine. The Waldenses were subject to persecutions in 1332, 1400, and in 1478, and driven into many parts of Europe, where their industry and integrity were universally remarked. So widely had the sect been scattered, that it was said a traveler from Antwerp to Rome could sleep every night in the home of one of the brethren. The story of their persecutions covers many years, and forms some of the darkest pages in the criminal history of the world. People generally acted as if they not only thought it a privilege, but a blessed duty, to injure them by every means in their power. They were repeatedly attacked by troops and overpowered, and their survivors could make no conditions. They were imprisoned in Turin, where large numbers died, while others managed to emigrate. It is no wonder those tired, but brave, souls sought the comparative solitude of little Stony Brook, even amid all its dangers, and there to rear a house wherein to worship the Father in heaven. Those who reverence the past can scarcely recall the rude little structure with an unquickened pulse, nor recite its simple history with an unmoistened eye. It is clearly evident that those who caused it to be erected must have had some poetry in their imagination and love for the beautiful in their souls. Indeed, how far more beautiful to look upon the rude but pure simplicity of the early Christian, than the gorgeous pile of modern pride and ostentation. We find these simple, ancient relics, at odd intervals among the grandeur of the age; but they speak to us more plainly of man's decay, remind us more forcibly of the immortal day at hand, and tell us more earnestly of God. More than once the torch of the wicked savage-still smarting under the wrongs perpetrated upon his people by Governor Kieft-was applied, with the evident hope of burning the church to the ground; and more than once the brave Waldenses rallied "for the love of Christ" and "in His name” and saved the sacred structure from destruction. Scores, aye, hundreds of times, for aught we know, it was a source of refuge for the people of the little hamlet, when attacked by rum-crazed savages. And there, too, in the very shadow of the old church, is where they laid their dead to rest; there is where the mother of two centuries ago knelt and wept over the new-made graves of her loved ones who had gone home. The ravages of time have left little to tell us of this ancient church and burial place; but sufficient is known to enable us to point out their exact location. The Waldenses 2 who settled on Staten Island were a noble people, and were closely identified with the Huguenots, with whom they are 2 To remember our fathers-the years when erst they came here-the privations they endured; and to cherish and rehearse their virtuous enterprises, is both laudable to the present, and profitable to future generations, ⚫ of the numerous locations made, and settlements effected in the new wilderness country, as it was then emphatically styled. The settlement of Staten Island will doubtless be re garded with peculiar interest and pleasure by commonly confounded by the average writer of the present day. Some were Italians and others were French. It was no doubt the common cause for which they were persecuted, which has so easily and naturally placed them in history as one common people. They were an industrious people, and were, in their native land experts as spinners, weavers, dyers, fullers and charcoal burners, and their valiant deeds will never be forgotten while history shall proudly retain the names of Richard, the lion-hearted, and the bloody fields of the Crusades. The Waldenses were a hospitable people, and there is a well-founded tradition that they prevented many a cruel outbreak by the Indians at Stony Brook by the performance of kind acts, in their homes. Among the first settlers at Stony Brook, the clergy were also the physicians, and they were also expected to know a great deal about the arts and sciences. Over the door of the church, and in every house and workshop of those early Christians, was always to be found the cross of Malta, while underneath it were the never-dying legends, "For the Love of Christ," and " In His Name." In every house the story of Peter Waldo was as familiar as it was sacred. Every one knew how the prosperous merchant of Lyons was first awakened to the value of the Gospel for all men around him, and then gave himself and his means not only to feeding the hungry, and finding homes for the homeless, but to wayside instruction in the words of Christ. Indeed, he found one and another version of parts of the Old and New Testaments, in the Romance language, which he translated. The very oldest specimen of that language which we have to-day is a paraphrase, of a generation or two before Peter Waldo's time, of the Bible history. Stony Brook continued to be a distinct settlement, or village, for nearly two hundred years. Indeed, long after it ceased to be the county seat (1727) the various interests of the people of Staten Island centered there. Perhaps traditions and hallowed associations were responsible for the fondness displayed for the old place by the people. The Waldensian Church was demolished near the middle of the Eighteenth century; but a considerable portion of its foundation remains where our forefathers placed it. The block fort was destroyed by fire, about the same time, how and by whom no record is left to tell. Fifty houses, or more, built principally in the Holland style of architecture, at one time were included in the settlement. A considerable majority of these were built of stone, gathered in the neighborhood, and were constructed in a manner calculated to withstand the storms of centuries. Neglect, however, caused many of them to crumble and decay, and like their builders, they have, long ago, passed from sight and memory. About the close of the Seventeenth century, an effort was made by a London publisher to locate the establishment of churches of various denominations in the American colonies. From the mutilated and faded pages of a publication bearing upon Stony Brook, we are permitted to quote: 66 # * Ye settlement is located on a brook from which it derives its name. Ye chub is small and built of stone, * * erected when ye village was founded in 1658. * * * Ye preacher discourses in both French and English languages. Native Indians live near ye village, on friendly terms with ye Waldenses, when unscrupulous traders do not give them rum. Ye people cultivate * * ye land for a considerable distance about ye settlement, but not so far as to be unable to give alarm to ye fort. 66 half. * * * * * * * * Alongside of ye church is a burying ground, in one corner of which ye native Indians also deposit their dead. This was ye result of a treaty between ye settlers and Indians, and was thus so mutually sacred as to prevent destruction. There is a smith shop in ye settlement. Ye inhabitants number a hundred and a A distributing house [grocery] provides ye settlers with ye necessaries of life; these are first secured at New Amsterdam, and bro't to ye landg. in a vessel. Ye Indians bring their furs to ye distributing house and dispose of them for provisions. They take blankets, and are fond of gay colours. Articles of food are of less consideration than those which they wear. Ye king's courthouse and goal is located in this settlement; it is a small affair and contains criminal prisoners who have committed acts against ye peace of ye community; they are imprison'd here for trial. ye h'dquarters of ye military." There is every reason to believe that the settlement of Stony Brook was considered of much importance, and, according to tradition, was the abiding place of Lo-ha-tact-tah, an Indian chief whom the Delaware tribes had selected to rule over the Raritans of Staten Island. It is said of this chief that he was always desirous of living on friendly terms with the white settlers; but his weakness for "fire water" often prevented his good intentions from prevailing. The story comes down to us that this chief was once very ill, and his people gave him up to die; but, through the kindly efforts of the Waldenses, he was restored to health and lived for many years. It is a noteworthy fact that no white settler was disturbed during the remainder of his life, if it were in his power to prevent. We trace back some of our oldest families, whose names are familiar to us to-day, to the settlement of Stony Brook. The Bedells first settled there. Indeed, the old "Rose and Crown," which was in the Stony Brook neighborhood, was the birthplace of Bishop Bedell, one of the most eminent divines of the colonies in his day. The Guyons located there, and the original homestead stands to tell the ever-wonderful story of a great and noble people. The Latourettes helped to build Stony Brook; but succeeding generations wandered off to northern and western parts of the Island and settled. The Simonsons were among the very first to help erect the settlement, and they spread throughout the Island, there being scarcely a portion of it to-day where the name can not be found. The Androvetts recorded their name among the builders of Stony Brook, as also did the Bodines, the Colons, the Corsons, the Crugers, the Deckers, the Egberts, the Fountains, the Garrisons, the Housmans, the Johnsons, the Journeays, the Lafarges, the Lockmans, the Merrills, the Mersereaus, the Perrines, the Poillons, the Posts, the Van Pelts, and others. The first marriage on Staten Island, of which mention is made, occurred at Stony Brook, the first birth, no doubt, having been at Oude Dorp. The story of the marriage, however, is by tradition, and not by authentic record. It was that of Cornelius Britton and Charlotte Colon. We are informed that the record was made in a Bible which was destroyed by fire very many years ago, and that the event was kept fresh in memory by being repeated to each succeeding generation. It is probable that the first death from natural causes was that of Francis Corsen, a soldier, stationed at the block fort in Stony Brook, and that the first grave in the Waldensian cemetery was his. But Stony Brook long ago ceased to be a habitation by that name, and the graves of its early settlers are this many a year leveled and forgotten. We have had the exact spot where the Waldensian Church and the County Court House stood pointed out to us, by a resident who was so fortunate as to accompany a centenarian to the scene, who had seen and entered both buildings. A grand story would be that of Stony Brook and its people, could it be writen in full. There were the triumphs and defeats, the pleasures and sorrows, the happiness and heartaches-for all these came amid the sunshine and shadow of vanished years. |