This phenomenal site from the Brooklyn Historical Society traces the early history of this American city through the narrative of a single family. In 1661, Dutchman Pieter Janse Hagewout immigrated to the burgeoning colonies and purchased land in what came to be known as King's County. Over the decades, his descendants, the Lefferts, amassed land, wealth, and power, transforming the fertile soil into a booming agricultural hub, and eventually overseeing the transition of the space into into the bustling urban center that is present-day Brooklyn. This site provides a wealth of information. Readers may like to begin with The Lefferts Story, where they may read about Brooklyn's Dutch Frontier, the Lefferts Clan, Marriage and Family, and other topics. The site also boasts a fascinating Image Gallery, with death certificates, early maps of Brooklyn, snapshots of 19th century farms, and other treasures.