Long Island Historical Society

In 1896 several influential individuals in Brooklyn, New York, decided to collect authentic authoritative materials relating to the past and present history of Brooklyn and its inhabitants. Therefore, on June 28, 1897, The Hon. Frederick W. Wurster, mayor of the city (of Brooklyn, New York), authorized the Long Island Historical Society to compile information covering the Dutch and English records of the earliest settled towns in Brooklyn which included Midwout (later Flatbush), Brooklyn, Amersfoort (later called Flatlands), New Utrecht, Gravesend and Bushwick. In 1897, the State Legislature "...authorized the city of Brooklyn to...provide for collecting and preserving materials for the history of Brooklyn... ." But, before anything further was done, the form of government changed. Brooklyn was now incorporated into the city of New York. In 1903, work began and the Dutch and English records were compiled begining with the year 1523. Ships from several different port cities in France, searching for a navigable passage to India, discovered the site of the borough of Brooklyn.

From the description of Brooklyn Historical Documents. (Brooklyn College). WorldCat record id: 468817392

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