Fort Amsterdam was constructed on the southern tip of
Manhattan Island (now, the Battery) in the first half of 17th century. It was the center of trade
and the administrative headquarters for the Dutch colony of New Netherland,
later New York. The fort was designed by Kryn Fredericksen, chief engineer of
the New Netherland colony. The fort was razed in 1790, and the
Government House
was built on the site.
The Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam (now New York) was originally established in 1628, during the Dutch rule. In 1633, a wood building was erected as a church, on what is now the north side of Pearl Street, between Whitehall and Broad streets. According to Thomas DeWitt (A Discourse Delivered in the North Reformed Dutch Church in the City of New-York, on the Last Sabbath in August, 1856), «The early Dutch emigrants continued to worship in this frail edifice till 1642, when measures were taken, at the instance of the famed navigator, David Peterson De Vries, for the erection of a new edifice. He relates in his journal that dining one day with Gov. Kieft, he said to him "that it was a shame that the English, when they visited Manhattan, saw only a mean barn in which we worshipped. The first thing they built in New-England, after their dwelling-houses, was a fine church. We should do the same." This led to a conference as to the best means to be employed for the accomplishment of this object. A committee was appointed, and efforts used for procuring needed funds from individuals and the West-India Company. After discussion it was resolved that the new edifice should be erected within the Fort, (now the Battery,) at its southeast corner. Its dimensions were seventy feet by fifty-two, and built of stone. This continued to be their house of worship until the church in Garden street was opened for service in 1693. It was then relinquished to the British Government, and occupied by the royal military forces for public worship, until 1741, when it was burned down and not rebuilt. On its first construction there was a stone placed in front with, the inscription, "An. Dom. MDCXLII., W.Kieft Dir. Gen. Heeft de Gemeente dese tempel doen bouwen." In the year of our Lord 1642, W. Kieft being Director General, has this congregation caused this temple to be built." In 1790, when they were digging away the foundations of the fort, on the Battery, to make way for the government house, built on the site of what is now the Bowling Green, this stone was found among the rubbish. It was removed to the belfry of the church in Garden street, where it remained till both were destroyed in the great fire of December, 1835.»
