This History was prepared as a part of a course of Lectures by the "Flatbush Literary Association," during the winter of 1841-2. In yielding to the request which has been made to him from several sources to have it published, the author would remark, that he has made some additions and corrections in it since it was delivered. His object has been to make it as copious and authentic as practicable. He has aimed more at fulness and accuracy of detail than at ornament or display of composition. The great difficulty in accomplishing a work of this nature, arises from the fact, that the early history of the town is wrapped up in manuscripts written in the Dutch language, and many of them too in a very small and cramped character. These but few can decipher and translate. The author has happily been favored with the assistance of two gentlemen of Flatbush, who have aided him very materially in this particular. Several papers of importance relating to the civil and ecclesiastical history of the Town, have been translated by them for the purpose of furthering this work. To these gentlemen, John C. Vanderveer and Jeremiah Lott, Esq's., the author would return his grateful acknowledgments. The latter gentleman, in addition to several translations and other documents, has also kindly furnished the draft of the map which accompanies the volume. Assistance has also been derived from "Smith's History of New-York," "Thompson's History of Long-Island," and "Furman's Notes, &c., of the Town of Brooklyn." Besides these sources of information, General Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn, and several elderly persons living in the village of Flatbush, have been consulted. From these individuals important facts relative to the scenes which took place during the revolutionary war and the times immediately preceding and following that great event, have been obtained. The plan of the work now presented to the public, embraces five divisions: The Civil—the Ecclesiastical—the Literary History of the Town—the incidents which transpired therein during the war, which resulted in our American Independence, and a description of some of the changes or improvements which have been introduced in more modern times. The author is conscious that in regard to the earlier history of Flatbush, there is much that is defective—arising from the want of sufficient sources of information. These will not probably be fully supplied until the return and publication of the report of Romeyn Brodhead, Esq., who is now in Holland as a Commissioner from the State of New-York, to collect information relative to the settlement and early History of this State. He has already obtained possession of a great amount of valuable facts, which will throw much light upon both the early civil and ecclesiastical affairs, not only of the Dynasty of New-Netherlands generally—but particularly of the west end of Long-Island. When this work shall appear, it will supply all that is defective in the present volume, as far as relates to the early history of the town. In the mean time, trusting to the candor and generosity of the public to receive with favor, an attempt to regain and preserve the facts connected with the history of one of the oldest towns in the state, consent has been given to the publication of this work.

                              Flatbush, L. I., April 4, 1842.