Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-17
NEW YORK'S RUNNYMEDE.

NEW YORk'S RUNNYMEDE.
Field Where the People Made Their
Flight for Freedom-Hovv the Liberty
Boys of the City Fought King Georges
Officials.
From the Brooklyn Sum-
City Hall Park, the historic ground,
OF which the modern march of improve
ment has left only a few green patches,
deserves more honor than any other
spot within our corporate limits. From
the first it was the scene Of the peoples
gatherings to maintain their rights, and
for ten years prior to the Declaration
Of independence it was the cebatable
ground where citizens and soldiers met
to try the virtue of blows as well as az
gument.
In the old Dutch times the limits of
the Park were known as the Vlacte or
Flat, and was the scene of MANY a Paas
and Pinxter festival. 1t was early con-
secrated by a martyrdom for the liber-
ties of the people. On dreary. rainy
day in May, 1851, the Infatuated people
gathered to witness the execution of
Jacob Leisler, the last Dutch Governor
of New York, who, with his son-in-law
Jacob Milborne, was hung on an accu-
sation of treason. The scaffold was
erected just about where the SUI, build
ing now stands, upon Leisler's own
grounds and in full view of his country
seat. "What I have done," said the
fearless patriot, as he stood up to die,
81 has been but in the service of my
king and queen and for the Protestant
cause, and for the good of my country"
AS the drop fell, the populace rushed
forward with shrieks and cries to snatch
some relic of their martyred leader, and
not long after they had the pleasure of
following his remains in state to burial
in Garden Street Church-the attainder
of treason having been revoked. Leis-
Ter and Milborne were the first victims
of oppression and the pioneers of the
men who gave their lives for freedom
century afterward.
Under English rule the park was
known as the Commons (being part of
the common lands granted to the city
by the charter), and subsequently, as
the Fields. AS the name denotes, it
was merely an open pasture, where
cattle could feed, and available for any
purposes of public assemblage or mill
tary encampment. Before the close
of the seventeenth century, rude
blockhouse had been erected at the
southern end of the Park, which in
1869 was converted into temporary
prison. Subsequently this disappeared,
and the tract was unoccupied save by
public celebrations of the Kings birth
day, Guy Fawkes day, and all occasions
that warranted bonfires and feasting.
Finally a poorhouse was built on the
site Of the present City Hall, and
gallows, pillory, cage, whipping post
and ducking stool were erected near by,
for the special accommodation of tru-
ants, thieves, slanderers, tramps and
other offenders. To these were added
the Provost Prison (now the Hall of
RecOrds), built just prior to the Revo-
luton, and the Bridewell, erected sub
sequently.
Eleven years before the battle of
Lexington, in 1854, an indignant throng
of people seized the press gangs boat,
deliberately bore it up Broadway to
the Fields, and there publicly burned it.
That was their own protest against
the tyranny which tore men from home
and occupation. Press gangs did not
do much business in the city after
ward. This was the first time the
people of New York felt their strength
Next year they were ready to stand
together for the common cause. On
the first day Of November, 1865, an i'm
mense popular meeting was held in the
Fields, in opposition to the stamp act
A scaffold was erected, and Lieut.-Gov.
Cadwallader Golden was burned in eff
fgy. The next night another mass
meeting was held in the same place,
and the crowd pressed down Broadway
to get the stamps which were in posses
sioe of Gov. Golden and then inside the
fort. The mob dared the soldiers to
fire on them, and finally brought out
the Governors state coach, tore down
the wooden ratings that enclosed the
Bowling Green, made bonfire of the
material, and left nothing but the
ashes of Colden's handsome equipage.
They ended their nights work by sack
ing the British commanders elegant
country seat at what is now the corner
Of Worth street and West Broadway
Thereupon the stamps were delivered
up to the Mayor and Common Council.
and peace again reigned.
The obnoxious stamp act was repealed
in 1776, and on the next birthday of the
King, June 4, the people had grand
celebration on the Commons. An OK
was roasted whole, and the meat was
washed down by hogshead OF rum and
twenty-five barrels of strong beer At
the same time liberty pole was erected
on the Commons as a memento and a
trophy. The soldiers were always jeal-
Gus of this monument of the peoples
power, and were especially incensed
because on public occasion soon after
the people ran the colonial flag to the
top of the pole, while a small cannon
at its foot echoed every gun from Fort
George. It was determined by the red
coats that the flag must come down.
Accordingly, on the 10th of August, a
party of soldiers from the barracks that
were erected along Chambers Street,
came out by night and cut down the
liberty pole. The next night the people