Timeline

Giovanni da Verrazzano explores New York Harbor, including what would become Brooklyn.

Dutch establish a fur trading settlement, later called New Amsterdam, on the southern tip of Manhattan.

New Amsterdam is officially founded, marking the beginning of Dutch settlement on Manhattan Island.

First Slaves in New York State

Willem Adriaensen Benet is granted land in what is now Brooklyn, marking the beginning of Dutch settlement in that area. European settlers begin purchasing land near Gowanus from the Lenape.

Kieft’s War (1643-1645), was a conflict between the New Netherland colony and the Wappinger and Lenape Indians in New York and New Jersey. It stemmed from Dutch demands for tribute and attacks on Native American settlements, that provoked a united resistance by several Algonquian tribes against the Dutch. The war was named after Willem Kieft, who was held responsible for killing Lenape without provocation.

Brooklyn founded when the Dutch West India Company authorizes the settlement of "Breuckelen" on Long Island.

New York City Slave Revolt. 23 enslaved Ghanaians set fire to a building on Maiden Lane near Broadway. While the local white inhabitants tried to put out the fire, the slaves, armed with guns, hatchets, and swords, fought the whites and then ran off. Over the next few days, colonial forces arrested seventy blacks and jailed them. 27 were put on trial, 21 of whom were convicted and sentenced to death.

The Conspiracy of 1741, also known as the Slave Insurrection of 1741, was a purported plot by slaves and poor whites in the British colony of New York in 1741 to revolt and level New York City with a series of fires. It was likely just white paranoia leading to execution of African Americans. More via Zinn Education Project.

Harriet Lee Truesdale born.

Thomas Truesdell was born in Woodstock, Connecticut.

One third of Brooklyn enslaved.

African Americans born these years are indentured by considered free. This is the discrete generation of self-conscious Black activists.

New restrictions on African American Rights

Constitution of 1846 abolished property requirement for white men, retained for Black men.

Thomas and Harriet Lee Truesdell move to Manhattan. William Lloyd Garrison visits them. Garrison had to travel in disguise to avoid getting lynched.

The Truesdells move to Brooklyn, living in various addresses.

227 Duffield built.
Seneca Falls, beginning of the Suffrage movement.
NYC is financial capital of Southern Slave system.

James Hamlet first African-American captured under the Fugitive Slave Act. He was a free man in Willamsburg, but the law did not allow him to defend himself.

Thomas & Harriet Lee Truesdell live at 185 Duffield Street, now called 227 Abolitionist Place.

Harriet dies, Thomas soon moves to NJ.

Gideon Mapes signed an anti-abolitionist petition published in the New York Times in 1866. He lived at 225 Duffield 1866-1867.

Gideon Mapes signed an anti-abolitionist petition published in the New York Times in 1866. He lived at 225 Duffield 1866-1867.

Only about 10,000 African Americans out of a population of 800,000 in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Black population explodes, especially in Bed-Stuy.

Harlem becomes the largest Black community in NYC.

Mayor Bloomberg sends letter to Mama Joy and several other buildings to confiscate and demolish their homes to build Willoughby Square Park.

NYC pays their beloved AKRF $500,000 to show that Duffield Street is NOT part of the Underground Railroad.

Brooklyn Legal Services, FUREE and Mama Joy WIN fight to demolish her home. An Article 78 suit proved NYC failed proper environmental process.

City Hall promises $2 Million to commemorate 19th Century Brooklyn Abolitionist History .

NY City Council co-names Duffield Street “Abolitionist Place”.

Mama Joy passes.

In Pursuit of Freedom opens—a great exhibition and fantastic use of the first $1 Million promised by Mayor Bloomberg in 2007.

Only 227 Abolitionist Place stands of the original Duffield 7.

227 is the only Abolitionist-era building in Downtown Brooklyn.

The second $1 Million remains unspent.

Developer gains ownership of 227 Abolitionist Place, files for demolition permit.

The new fight begins.

After gathering 17,246 signatures and epic organizing, the Landmarks Preservation Commission votes to preserve 227 Abolitionist Place.

After buying 227 from developer, NYC starts to stabilize the buildings. In the process it LOSES the Door to Freedom.

Friends of Abolitionist Place attains nonprofit status.

NYC likely will open Abolitionist Place park without mentioning 19th Century Abolitionist Movement.

Abolitionist Place Park opens, and Friends of Abolitionist Place are not invited.

We came anyway.

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership celebrates 1st anniversary of Abolitionist Place Park.
We weren’t invited.