Jeremiah Johnson manuscript
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Date
Creator
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Language of Materials
Abstract
A handwritten volume titled "Recollections of Incidences of the Revolution of the Colonies Occurring in Brooklyn, Collated from the Manuscripts and Conversations of General Jeremiah Johnson, Descriptive of Scenes Which he Personally Witnessed." Edited and arranged by Thomas W. Field.
Biographical note
Jeremiah Johnson (1766-1852) was a Brooklyn farmer, politician and writer. From 1796-1816 he was Trustee of the Town of Brooklyn; 1800-1840 he was Supervisor of Brooklyn; 1837-1839 he was Mayor of Brooklyn. He was a General in the War of 1812.
Arrangement
The handwritten volume is housed separately from the related loose papers, which are foldered. The chapters of the volume are in roughly chronological order.
Scope and Contents
A manuscript titled "Recollections of Incidences of the Revolution of the Colonies Occurring in Brooklyn, Collated from the Manuscripts and Conversations of General Jeremiah Johnson, Descriptive of Scenes Which he Personally Witnessed." Arranged and edited by Thomas W. Field in one handwritten volume. The collection also includes some loose papers with portions of the text written out.
To compose this narrative, the editor Thomas W. Field used Johnson's journals, manuscripts of lectures he delivered, manuscript statements used in evidence for establishing titles to real estate, letters, notes, "printed communications published in journals," and correspondence between Johnson and both Field and others.
Chapters
- Invasion of Long Island by the British
- British Prisons and American Prisoners
- Prison Ships in the Wallabout Bay
- Whaleboat Exploits. Captain Warriner and Captain Hyle's Adventures
- Crimes and Courts on Long Island during the Revolution
- British Spies and Guides in Brooklyn
- Incidents of the Hessians on Long Island
- The Spies and Secret Service of the Americans on Long Island
- Loyalist Families. Colonel Nicholas Cowenhoven and John Rapalye [Rapalje]
- Personal Adventures and Evacuation of the Island
- Wallabout Settlement
- [Transcriptions of documents and correspondence of Jeremiah Johnson]
- Confiscation of Rapalyea Estate - Public Records of Brooklyn Stolen
- Introduction [by the editor]
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is in the public domain. While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Jeremiah Johnson manuscript, 1974.065, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This item was found in the repository.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection's original finding aid referred to historical information regarding churches in Flatbush and Flatlands. It was determined that there had likely been confusion between this collection and the Jeremiah Johnson manuscript on the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church (1973.128). This finding aid was revised accordingly and the collection rehoused by Dee Bowers in 2023.
