Stephen Haynes
Encyclopedia
Stephen Haynes was an alderman in early Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York. In about 1827 he was elected to the board of Supervisors. Mr. Haynes was twice elected to represent the Third District in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
.
Stephen Haynes was born in Bridgehampton, New York
Bridgehampton, New York
Bridgehampton is a hamlet in the South Fork of Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 1,381 at the 2000 census....
. At the age of 12 he was a drummer-boy in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. His father (David) was a captain in the war of 1812, and took a prominent part in repelling the attack of the British troops upon Sag Harbor. Stephen became an apprentice mason in the city of Newburgh, New York and after mastering his trade he settled in Brooklyn in 1822, when the population of Brooklyn did not exceed 5,000.
He was a builder of houses and later responsible as supervisor for the building of the Brooklyn City Hall (now Brooklyn Borough Hall
Brooklyn Borough Hall
Brooklyn Borough Hall was designed in 1835 by architect Gamaliel King, and constructed under the supervision of superintendent Stephen Haynes. It was completed in 1849 to be used as the City Hall of the City of Brooklyn...
) the Raymond Street Jail
Raymond Street Jail
The Raymond Street Jail was a jail in Brooklyn, New York City. With its cornerstone laid in a ceremony on August 27, 1836, Raymond Street Jail was the chief prison for Brooklyn before the latter was incorporated into New York City, and was closed on July 20, 1963...
in 1873, and the Washington Street M.E. church (1831), where he also was a member of the board or trustees. He was also contractor of Fort Green Park.
Haynes also organized the first uniformed militia company in Brooklyn, the Village Guards. He subsequently became Colonel of this militia; his commission signed by Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
as governor, dated 1828. He was also a long standing commissioner on the board that established and built Prospect Park
Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Prospect Park is a 585-acre public park in the New York City borough of Brooklyn located between Park Slope, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Kensington, Windsor Terrace and Flatbush Avenue, Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden...
. Mr. Haynes also served as member of the Board of Education, and also Trustee of Public School No. 5 for many years.
He was also associated with business as a director of the Atlantic and Long Island banks, trustee of the Dime Savings Bank, and of the Nassau and other insurance companies.
Stephen Haynes died at his home in Brooklyn at the age of 78, interment was at the Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
, Brooklyn.