New York History: 3 Things to Know About Brooklyn’s Founding
Living at Hub means you are surrounded by the excitement and energy of New York City. But how much do you know about the founding of Brooklyn? Here are three things you should know about the early years of Brooklyn.
Breuckelen
Believe it or not, the history of Europeans settling in Brooklyn actually spans more than 350 years. The colony would first be founded by the Dutch, before it was captured by the English. Later, of course, the new United States of America would claim ownership of the land.
The first settlers, the Dutch, named the colony New Netherland, and named the town “Breuckelen” after the Dutch town Breuklene.
The name is derived from two words. Broeck, which means bog or marsh, and lede, which means small water stream.
New Netherland
The colony in which Brooklyn was located was within New Netherland, a colony founded by the Dutch whose Duch West India Company oversaw the chartering of six new parishes, including Gravesend, Brooklyn Heights, Flatlands, Flatbush, Nieuw Utrecht and Bushwick.
During this time, the Dutch would set up America’s first tide mill, which can be visited today.
Providence of New York
In 1664, as a prelude to the Second Anglo-Dutch War, New Netherland was captured by the English during a Naval attack. The British would then rename the colony after their naval commander and future king James, Duke of York, who would one day become King James II.
During this time, the British would establish and expand on the identity of Brooklyn, recognizing the tract of land as a municipality for the first time.
Love learning about local history? Stay tuned for our next blog post with more about the history of Brooklyn.
New York History: 3 Things to Know About Brooklyn’s Founding
Living at Hub means you are surrounded by the excitement and energy of New York City. But how much do you know about the founding of Brooklyn? Here are three things you should know about the early years of Brooklyn.
Breuckelen
Believe it or not, the history of Europeans settling in Brooklyn actually spans more than 350 years. The colony would first be founded by the Dutch, before it was captured by the English. Later, of course, the new United States of America would claim ownership of the land.
The first settlers, the Dutch, named the colony New Netherland, and named the town “Breuckelen” after the Dutch town Breuklene.
The name is derived from two words. Broeck, which means bog or marsh, and lede, which means small water stream.
New Netherland
The colony in which Brooklyn was located was within New Netherland, a colony founded by the Dutch whose Duch West India Company oversaw the chartering of six new parishes, including Gravesend, Brooklyn Heights, Flatlands, Flatbush, Nieuw Utrecht and Bushwick.
During this time, the Dutch would set up America’s first tide mill, which can be visited today.
Providence of New York
In 1664, as a prelude to the Second Anglo-Dutch War, New Netherland was captured by the English during a Naval attack. The British would then rename the colony after their naval commander and future king James, Duke of York, who would one day become King James II.
During this time, the British would establish and expand on the identity of Brooklyn, recognizing the tract of land as a municipality for the first time.
Love learning about local history? Stay tuned for our next blog post with more about the history of Brooklyn.