304 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

constant dread of their visits, and would often climb to the roofs of their houses, where, spy-glass in band, they anxiously scanned the horizon. If they discerned whale-boats in the bay, the alarm was immediately given by signal-guns or horn-blowing, and all valuables were hastily bid away, leaving only a few articles in the house; and the robbers, after ransacking the premises, would curse the inmates for their poverty, and depart. In this way, stores were sometimes nearly emptied of their contents in an afternoon, and the goods replaced next morning. If, however, the owners were once caught, they ran a good chance of being tortured until the goods were forthcoming. Another more honorable employment of whale-boats, and one in which they rendered good service, was that of surprising and carrying off distinguished loyalists, in order to exchange them for Whig prisoners.1

At this period, and during the war, the whole of the land embraced between the brow of the Heights on the river and the present Fulton and Joralemon streets-now forming one of the most closely-built and beautiful portions of our city-was then under high cultivation. That portion of it nearest to Fulton street was either used for pasturage, with its beautiful crop of grass browsed upon by fat, well-kept cattle, or was kept, at times, in grain. The middle part was almost entirely occupied by fine and thrifty orchards of apple, pear, and other trees; and the lower portion was used for excellent gardens, which furnished an abundant supply of small fruit and vegetables to the New York markets. This tract of land belonged to several owners, among whom were the Middaghs, Bamper, Colden, Debevoise, Remsens. On the Heights (ante, p. 73) stood the mansion of Philip Livingston, Esq.,2 afterwards known as the “Joralemon House,” a large double frame-house, the more modern por-

1 The whale-boats were made sharp at each end, the sheathing not over half an inch thick, and so light as to be easily carried on men’s shoulders, either to be hid in the bushes or relaunched in the South Bay. Some were thirty-two feet long, and impelled by from eight to twenty oars, and would shoot ahead of an ordinary boat with great velocity, and leave their pursuers far behind. They were always on the lookout, and, in a calm, would row out of their lurking-places and board market-boats, or even cut off the detached vessels of a convoy.

2 Philip Livingston and his brother owned the land comprising the farms subsequently belonging to Joralemon and Hicks, which adjoined that of Whitehead Cornell. These farms were divided by a road leading from Red Hook Lane to a public landing