Dutch Reformed Protestant Church

     At the request of the corporation he wrote an account of the estate, revenue and income of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church in the City of New York for different years, viz.: 1770, 1776, 1784 and 1786, showing the assets and liabilities, from which it appears that the Manor of Fordham was sold in 1761, for £11,533, 17s., 9d. When the North Church was being built be placed under a pillar near the pulpit a plate of pewter on which was inscribed the names of the Elders and Deacons, who comprised the Building Committee, the names of the carpenters, masons, etc., and also the fact that "The first stone was laid, July ye 2d, 1767, by Mr. Jacobus Rosevelt, Senr. Elder, &c."

     This plate was found when the church was torn down in 1875, and is still
in possession of one of the members of the Consistory.

     Major Abeel married Nov. 19, 1760, Mary Byvanck, daughter of Evert
Byvanck and Mary Cannon.

     Evert Byvanck was born June 15, 1705; resided at his country seat on the East River near the foot of Delaney Street, which he was obliged to leave as soon as it was ascertained that the city would fall into the possession of British. He gives an interesting narrative of his efforts to get to horseneck, to which place he started on Aug. 31st, four days after the battle of Long Island. After relating some unimportant matters he says: "On Thursday, the 12th of September, I took my Chais, Horse and Negro Sam to drive, and went down to Corlears' Hook to my country seat.

There being heavy firing of cannon from the two Batteries on Long Island [then in possession of the British] and two of ours on Corlears' Hook, on both sides of the house, was advised not to proceed farther, but being so near my house, about three-quarters of a mile off, I went out of my Chais and ventured to walk through a Lane which led me to the back part of my place, ordering my man to follow me with Horse and Chais. P. heavy cannonade still kept on; as we were going there several cannon balls flew past us, and two balls struck a post and a rail of the Lane fence we passed through breast-high just before us; however, we got safe to the back part of my Land. That afternoon the Gentleman I took down with me in my Chais, came to me and importuned me to make all the haste I possibly could to get away out of imminent danger, as it was not in the least doubted but the King's Troops were preparing for landing, and by all likelihood would land next day or Sunday, at farthest, and I would or could not then escape being killed, wounded or taken prisoner, on which I took his advice, and after the firing of the Enemies' Cannon ceased, which was about six o'clock on Friday evening, 13 Sept., I ordered my man Sam to put the horse in the Chais, and I proceeded that evening as far as the hill above Harlem to the place where Mr. Lawe Kortright had retired to, being a house belonging to Mr. Eagans of St. Croix, where I was kindly received, who told me he had removed his family to Hackensack that day, and intended in one or two days to follow them; his house and outhouses were filled with officers, attendants and their horses. About ten o'clock we were all preparing to go to bed, when a General who was there received orders to be with his several companies of Soldiers at one o'clock that night opposite Turtle Bay and Kip's Bay, and to lay on their arms to obstruct the landing of the King's troops then hourly expected."
 

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Abeel and Allied Families

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