The New York herald., 1867-03-31
THE CITY HALL PARK.

THE CITY HALL PARK.
nj E -~>~>~-~-~>~-,~~~~--~~~>
StarslInG Revelasions-T Park Part Of the
Old Bayard Farm-The Title vcsted In the
Kiersecd Fanily-A Suit Commencc In the
Supreme Court 10 Recover Pertien 81 the
GrOund-Other Claimants , PreparinG 90
Establish Their Righrs-The City Govern
nent More SQuatters on the S0ii-Copy Of
the Original Deed Of the ''COmmOns." &c.
Time 10 Q slow but sure avenger. Il has furnished
penalty and recompense for every wrong which has
disgraced the world; and although It's hours move a
slowly - thoss enumerated In the diary Of cupr its
justice at last 10 repe.s with the triumph Of mighty
conquest
The corporations Of ancient modern ages have never
realized this fact Soulless with eonscicnces Of Steel
they have been the authors Of spolaton which noble
autocrats would dsown but like the nations they dis
graced, they relapsed into provincial poverty.
One OF tho numerous instances Of reribution which
has followed corporate dishonesty injustice likely
70 honor the annals Of this CITY, In case which
will be tried In ample testimony will be
produced to show that portion OF the City Hall Park
is owned by the heirs Of the Provost family and suits
will follow which will elicit the startling fact from in
dsputabe Deeds maps and documentary evidence that
the residue OF the ground part Of the old Bayard
farm and that the municipal authorities in their halls
legislation moro squatters private domain
These statements may appear strange and extraordi
nary 10 the general pubc but the facts well known
70 every adept In the early history Of the city New
York, perhaps is the only city Of modern origin dis.
tinguished for the ambiguity Of It's landmarks When
the Dutch purchased the island from the Indians the
lower portion Of devoted to the purposes of
merce and scatt cred around the mercantile centre
the quaint old houses Of the adventuers who the
first Pilgrim Fathers of the continent As time rolled
towards the unucky period when the absorbing
rice Of England tempted her deprive the quiet Ho
landcrs Of their trivial possessions In tho New
World. the city was extended 70 the boundary
now known a. Wall street, and the region
above that section termed ''the Fieldsn
This name included "the Commons," or City
Hall Park which was also called the "viackte." or
Flat II then comparatively remote from the city,
and the marshy condition Of the adjoining lands
dered it Of but little value Around it. however,
the country seats Of the famous pioneers Of tho New
Netherlands and those upon its borders became
OF the Objectionable land by the peculiar loca.
tion Of their farms than by grants from the Dutch
government We shall prove these facts In the
Of this article After the captulaon when the British
obtained possession Of tho city, the Dutch titles to
houses, lands and property in general invested
with all the legal force they possessed before the
render This fact s well known TO every student Of his
tory and s fortified by the inherent virtue which such
deeds possess to this day 10 our courts We shall now
proceed to prove that the Park portion OF the old
Bayard farm.
II will be seen by the old Dutch and English maps
that the Park originally bounded the north by
the Kalch Hock or Fresh Water Pond, what Is now
known Broadway and Reade street, the northeast
by the house Of Bayard Of whose farm it formed part
on the southeast by the Swamp Hhe neighborhood Of
Ferry street, and Beekmans farm, which was located
near Park row, and on tho west BY the Kings
farm from Park place 70 Chambers street. portion
OF the land where Centre stands marshy
and comparatively valaeless, and the two
aieIy vergine on tho southwest Of Kach Hook (Reade
sreetl the farm Of the Bayard family which cx.
se
i've fact that this property was specially exempted in the
charter Of Governor Dongan. approprating In general
Any person Of ordinary intelligence who will consult
the map Of the old farms OF the city. IN Valentines
diagram which is merely analogous because II is only an
approximation Of imperfect official rccords) that the
farm Of Bayard located there near the verge Of the
Park. 1t 10 not possible that the shrewd Dutchman
would dssiaim the ownership Of fresh water pond
small lake that furnished two generations after his death
graphy was part Of his farm. Accrediting him. then,
with the ownership OF the pond, which Is named
S su on Of M
character nd the property according 70 the recog
nzed maps OF the city crnment ut the threshold OF
the southern section OF the commons.
II may be answered in behalf OF the city that the
Park in colonial times used for public meetings
OF the Sons OF Liberty, aud all who favored the
OF independence But this circumstance can furnish no
title to the ground The same argument might be used
by the municipal authorities century hence, 70 conHs
cate the great scene Of popular reunions Wood
other fields belonging u citizens Tbs hostility OF the
Baysrd and Kersed families to English oppression and
the times that tried mems souls doubtless led Ihem 70
permit the brave and good men Of the city TO use the
southern and unproductve portion Of their farm 10 pro
preparations support their protest by lead and steel
but the noble action OF the owners furnishes no ar
gument to justify the city In retaining or selling the
property.
Afer considerable research through the ancient
records OF the CITY, discovered the title OF Bayard to
the Park, original portion OF his farm With the
exception OF the commons, the Bayards and Kersedss
sold nearly all their lands and they form large
section Of the south and upper wards towards Prince
street. The deed may also be found in Murray Hofr-
mans celebrated treatise on the Rights OF the Corpora
tion Annexed is an abstract OF the document
Governor Fletcher Nicholas Bayard 2ls Of june, 1897
The eastward Of the fresh pond and swamp Ssgn91g
Hendrix seyns thence southery to the fence Of Web
properly qp the Park. Chambers street,; thence by
high Highway a' thence @ y .s formerly sssa
sa noS By 70 s me
wcbber and Hendrix ssiyns, and west BY the swamp
tho tasntsd and venerable Clerk of the Common coun
Gil, will answer Ferry street, and still retains the
name. Then the land west Of that and adjoining the
free negroes ground have been the City Hall Park
II there Is force and definite meaning In language, the
impartial examiner OF the records must como 70 this
conclusion. But happily the deed II fortified and
nothing Is left 70 mere conjecture, which, after
tho lapse Of few generations, 10 an un-
sc married. B.nSn.S Rssed ons o the .de:
mmortaizcd In the early annals OF this city, and his
marital relatives consequently obtained interest in the
estate A. length fell into the possession OF the Kier
stcds and the demise OF Samuel Kiersted, who died
intesatc his brother John took out letters Of admnis
trntion TO his right TO the land In this docu
ment, which was issued by the Colonial Court OF
Chancery in 1751-and copy Of which s now In pos
session OF agent OF the famiythe farm described
~ extending from Broadway and Bowery lane Park
row. TO tho Princess FARM from thence 10 the old Boston
road which continuation OF Bowcry lane and now
the Bowsry and from thence 10 the place OF
beginning The heirs TO the property are now making
preparations TO sue for its recovery.
This claim receives all the force necessary 70 render
concusvey tenablc from another remarkable circum-
stance There is at present suit pending against the
city o portion Of the park, obtain juss
and equitable consideration OF s value The ground
which the Superior Court stands claimed day by the
representatives Of the Provost family. 1ts our city
ted IN q bor.