The Revolutionary War that began in 1775 was a great trial for the people of Flatbush. Washington’s ragtag team of untrained troops stood no chance against the well-trained British army in the Battle of Long Island. Had Washington not retreated across the East River, the patriots may not have lived to fight another battle. 
The British occupied Flatbush for seven years, until the end of the Revolutionary War, and many of the previous inhabitants of Flatbush had to flee their homes. The ones who stayed behind suffered greatly under the thumb of the British.[xxix]
Jacob Lefferts’ house in Flatbush was ransacked and robbed during that period when British soldiers commandeered a number of houses in Flatbush to hold their prisoners during the war.[xxx] During that time there was also a “fashionable” practice for the young girls in Kings County to fall in love with and marry the soldiers in the colonial army. Lefferts’ daughter Abigail fell for such a soldier, Captain Bateman Lloyd, and although Lefferts ultimately conceded to the marriage, he initially objected to the match for reasons such as Lloyd’s non-Dutch background and his different religion.[xxxi]
The Battle of Long Island was a disaster for Flatbush. The village was no longer the calm, peaceful place it had been. Houses were burned down, dead bodies covered the hills, crops were ruined, and there even was a fever that spread through out the town. The British army also stole horses and many tools from Flatbush.[xxxii
Many of the women and children of Flatbush were sent to Queens County or to New Jersey for safety reasons, but after the hostilities moved out of Flatbush they were brought back, and the attention of the British turned to making friends with the colonists. During this time, the Continental currency was of little value even though it basically the only money circulating within the American lines. In order for the Americans to carry on the Revolution was to secure as much gold as possible. Thanks to the Dutchmen who voluntarily became financers, Governor Clinton was able to gather and secure large amounts of gold. [xxxiii]
During the war, the people of Long Island were under the British control and were unable to support the Americans. Although there had been a lot of criticism that the farmers of Kings County favored and assisted the Continental army, it needs to be considered that about half of the population during the war was slaves. The slaves of the Loyalists were promised freedom if they would leave the rebels to side with the British. In New York City, which was under British occupation during the war, thousands of refugee slaves crowded into the city to gain their freedom, and many were freed later on throughout the first two decades following the Revolution.
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