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A  HISTORY 


OK 


LONG     ISLAND 


From  Its  Earliest  Settlement  to  the  Present  Time 


BY 


^W^ILLIAM  S.  PELLETREAXJ,  Js..  M. 


VOL.  II 


THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

New  York  and  Chicago 
1905 


INTRODUCTION 


PON    the   writer   of    this    has    devolved    the    task   of    editing    the    present    or    second 

volume  of  the  **  History  of  Long  Island."     While  overseeing  and  aiding  in  all, 

his  principal   labor  has  been  that  connected  with  the  history  of  his  native  county 

of    Suffolk.       In  this  field  it  has  been  his  chief  desire  and  plan  not  to  follow  and 

repeat  former  histories,  but  to  add  as  much  new  material  as  possible,  and  the  reader  must 

judge  as  to  the  degree  of  success  which  has  crowned   his  effort. 

It  is  painful  to  reflect  that  of  the  very  limited  editions  of  Hon.  Silas  Wood's  *' Sketch 
of  the  Early  Settlements  of  Long  Island,"  a  large  part  were  never  sold,  and  that  its 
honored  author  never  realized  sufficient  to  recompense  him  for  the  expenses  of  printing. 
Almost  the  same  may  be  said  of  Benjamin  F.  Thompson's  "History,"  for  the  profits  of 
that  masterly  work  never  yielded  a  reward  at  all  proportionate  to  the  time  and  labor 
expended  in  its  production.  These  works  are  now  so  dispersed  as  to  be  difficult  of  access. 
In  view  of  these  facts  the  publishers  of  the  present  work  are  to  be  highly  commended  for 
their  enterprise,  and  the  writer  has  taken  a  genuine  interest  in  aiding  them  in  their  work. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  histories  above  referred  to,  a  marked  change  in  public 
sentiment  has  taken  place.  There  was  never  a  time  when  the  general  interest  in  Histor- 
ical and  Genealogical  information  was  so  deep  as  at  present,  and  a  book  is  valued  in 
proportion  as  it  abounds  in  facts  adding  to  the  store  of  present  knowledge.  Another 
consideration  wh'ich  presents  itself  is  the  fact  that  the  greatly  increased  advantages  for 
education,  as  afforded  by  Academies  and  their  successors,  the  Union  Schools,  have  pro- 
duced a  vastly  increased  number  of  intelligent  readers  able  to  fully  appreciate  the  labor 
and  importance  of   historical  research. 

Among  the  new  material  contained  in  this  volume  may  be  mentioned  the  very  ex- 
tended accounts  of  the  Patentship  of  Moriches  and  of  all  the  region  on  the  south  side  of 
Long  Island  from  East  Hampton  to  the  former  Queens  County.  The  early  land  grants 
for  these  necks  of  land,  now  valuable  and  rapidly  increasing  in  value,  are  given  in  detail, 
with  their  subsequent  sales  and  transfers.  The  account  of  Humphrey  Avery's  Lottery  is 
a  most  interesting  episode  in  the  history  of  one  of  the  most  flourishing  villages  in  Snffolk 
County,  and  is  very  characteristic  of   the  former  days.  * 

In  one  respect  it  would  seem  as  if  recent  historical  research  came  too  late.  Long 
and    verv   exnensive   law  suits   have  been    the   result    of   a    too    limited    knowledp-e   of   ihf^    nrin- 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

ciples  upon  which  all  the  towns  in  Suffolk  County  were  founded.  The  publication  of  the 
Town  Records  shows  that,  in  the  beginning,  all  the  lands  were  purchased  by  a  few  persons 
who  were,  in  the  fullest  extent,  the  town,  and  were  the  sole  owners  of  the  lands  they  had 
purchased  and  paid  for.  AH  other  persons  who  settled  in  the  towns  were  not  owners, 
but  simply  neighbors,  and  had  no  share  in  the  undivided  lands  unless  they  purchased  such 
a  part.  So  long  as  any  lands  of  any  importance  (in  the  eyes  of  the  first  settlers)  still 
remained  undivided,  the  lists  of  the  Proprietors  and  the  rights  they  possessed  were  pre- 
served with  minute  care  and  accuracy.  But,  after  the  lands  were  divided,  this  was  no 
longer  done,  and,  at  the  present  time,  although  there  is  a  large  amount  of  property  of 
great  present  and  prospective  value,  which  in  reality  belongs  to  the  descendants  and  suc- 
cessors  of  the   original   Proprietors,  yet   it  is  now  utterly  impossible  to  tell  who  they  are. 

The  origin  and  growth  of  the  newspaper  press  in  Suffolk  County  has  been  fully  given. 
The  pioneer  newspaper,  founded  by  Frothingham  in  1791,  is  now  represented  by  twenty- 
five  papers,  and  the  number  seems  likely  to  increase,  while  far  the  largest  number  are 
well  supported.  The  Bibliography  of  the  County  is  a  most  interesting  and  valuable  addi- 
tion to  our  knowledge  on  that  subject. 

Among  those  to  whom   especial  thanks  are  due  for  valuable   assistance   in  this  work 
a  very  prominent    place    must    be    given  to   Mr.  William  Wallace  Tooker,  of    Sag   Harbor, 
whose    learned    researches    in    regard    to   the    Indian   language    have   given   his   name  a  well 
deserved  prominence.      To  him  also  we  are  indebted  for  most  of  the  information  "concern- 
ing the  early  newspapers  and   books  issued   in  the  early  days. 

To  Mr.  Orville  B.  Ackerley,  for  many  years  Clerk  of  Suffolk  County,  we  owe  many 
thanks  for  free  permission  to  examine  his  volumes  of  copies  of  ancient  deeds  and  docu- 
ments which  he  has  been  collecting  for  long  years,  furnishing  material  that  cannot  be 
found   elsewhere. 

Mr.  Nat  C.  Foster,  of  Riverhead,  has  been  long  identified  with  the  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety and  the  Historical  Society  of  Suffolk  County.  This  work  has  been  greatly  benefited 
by  his   contributions,  and   he  well  deserves  the  thanks  of  all  sons  of    Suffolk  County. 

The  writings  of  Rev.  Dr.  Epher  Whitaker,  a  valuable  mass  of  historical  matter,  have 
been  freely  drawn  upon,  with  the  permission  of   that   eminently  scholarly  writer. 

The  earlier  chapters  of  this  volume,  including  those  pertaining  to  the  present  Nassau 
County,  and  the  chapter  of  War  history,  are  from  the  pen  of  Captain  F.  Y.  Hedley,  of 
the  editorial  staif,  a  most  capable  writer,  with  whom  the  association  of  the  writer  has 
been  most  harmonious.  The  chapter  on  Catholic  Church  history  is  from  a  contribution 
by  Marc  F  Vallette,  LL.  D.,  President  of  the  Brooklyn  Catholic  Historical  Society,  and  a 
writer  of  acknowledged  credibility. 

William   S.   Pelletreau. 

Southampton,  Long  Island,  January  11,  1903. 


®6e 


Come  ye  who   have  gone  forth  from  this  fair  Isle, 

To  win  friends,  fortune,  fame — in  other  climes  — 
Back  to  your  early  haunts  and   homes  awhile, 
Unroll  with  us  the  records  of  old  times; 
Call  to  the  fresh  young  hours  now  fleeting  fast, 
'Ho,  hurrying  train,  what  of  the  dim  old   Past?' 

'What  of  the  dim  old   Past?      Why  seek  to  stay 

The  rushing  Present,  with  such  bootless  quest  ? 
Ask  the  gray  gravestones  crumbling  in  decay, 

Who  sleep  beneath,  in  deep  and  dreamless  rest? 
Ask  tireless  ocean,  booming  on  the  shore, 
Who  trod  these  wave-washed  sands  in  days  of  yore  ? 

'Who  trod  these  wave-washed  sands?      High  hearts  of  old! 

Strong  men  of  giant  minds,  and  stalwart  mould, 
By  goading  wrongs  to  daring  deeds  impelled, 

Patient  of  toil — in  danger  calm  and   bold — 
Wise,  wary,  watchful,  weighing  all  things  well, 
Men   whose  stern  will  oppression  could  not  quell. 

■'Neath  these  gray  stones,  who  sleep  in  dreamless  rest? 
Men  faithful,  fervent,  eloquent,  sincere, 

Names  loved  and   lispt  in  childhood's  earnest  tones  — 
Names  breathed  in  prayer  from  altars  and   hearthstones." 

(Written  in  1849,  by  Miss  Cornelia  Huntington, 
and  sung  at  the  two  hundredth  celebration  of  the 
settlement  of  the  town  of  East  Hampton.) 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    I. 


Eastern  Long  Island — Its  Physical  Characteristics — Notable  Landmarks  and  Points  of  Interest  — Ancient 
Windmills — Stories  of  Shipwreck  and  Piracy— Light  Houses  and  Life  Saving  Stations — Shipbuild- 
ing in  Olden  Times — Old  Time  Shipbuilders  and  Sailors  — Modern  Yachting 1 

CHAPTER    11. 

The  Counties  of  Nassau  and  Suffolk  — Characteristics  of  the  Pioneer  Colonists — The  Town  Meeting  and 
Early  Courts — The  Primitive  Church  and  School  — Early  Industries — The  Home  of  Long  Ago  and 
that  of  To-Day ' , : 49 

CHAPTER    III. 

Nassau  County  —  Its  Organization  —  The  Queens-Nassau  Agricultural  Association 74 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Hempstead — Its  Ancient  History  —  Early  Churches  and  Schools  — Garden  City  and  the  Cathedral — Towns 

and  Villages 82 

CHAPTER    V. 

North    Hempstead  —  Its    Separation    from    Hempstead — Roslyn    and    Its    Literary  Associations — William 

Cullen  Bryant — The  Bryant  Library — Towns  and  Villages 110 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Oyster  Bay — Early  Land  Grants — The  Rise  of  Churches — Home  of  President  Roosevelt — Glen  Cove  and 

Other  Villages 127 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Suffolk  County  —  Its  Early  History — Primitive  Manufactures — Visit  of  Washington  —  Churches  and  Schools 

— The  Long  Island  Bible  Society — Education  —  The  Rev.  Epher  Whitaker's  Historical  Resume 157 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Huntington — Early  Land  Titles — The  First  Settlers  —  Churches  and  Schools  —  A  Schoolmaster  of  Ye  Olden 

Tymme — Towns  and  Villages 172 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Babylon  —  Creation  of  the  Town — The  Village   of   Babylon  —  Revolutionary   Reminiscences — Washington, 

Prince  Joseph   Bonaparte,  and  Daniel  Webster  —  Amityville 189 


X  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    X. 


Smithtown  — The    First   Land   Titles  — Notable    Families — Churches    and    Schools  — Smithtown    and    Other 

Villages 198 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Islip  —  Its   Situation — Early  Land   Grants  —  Some   of  the   Notables   of   Long  Ago — Rise   of   Churches   and 

Schools — Towns  and  Villages 233 

CHAPTER    XII. 

Brookhaven— The  First  Land  Purchase — Some  of  the  Pioneers — Early  Patents  and  Deeds — The  Story  of 

Setauket  and  Caroline  Church — Bohemia —  Port  Jefferson  —  Patchogue — Moriches — Yaphank 252 

CHAPTER    XHI. 

Southampton  —  The  First  ImmigrantG — The  Earl  of  Sterling's  Authority  Asserted— Ancient  Grants  and 
Deeds — Old  Tombstones — Churches  and  Schools  —  Celebration  of  the  Sag  Harbor  Affair  of  Revo- 
lutionary Times 282 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

East  Hampton — Annals  of  the  Indians — Early  Land  Titles  and  Grants  —  Families  ot  the  Colonial  Days  — 

The  Beginning  of  Civil   Institutions — Contrast  Between  the  Past  and  the  Present 846 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Riverhead  —  Organization  of  the  Township  —  Early  Land  Grant  —  The  Village  of  Riverhead  —  Suffolk 
County  Agricultural  Society  —  Suffolk  County  Historical  Society  and  Its  Notable  Records  and  Relics 
— Aquebogue  and  the  Steeple  Church 380 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Southold — The   Early    Records    and    First    Settlers  —  Old   Tombstones    and  Their  Quaint   Inscriptions  — 

Ancient  Wills — Founding  of  the  Villages  of  Southold  and  Greenport 402 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Shelter  Island — Ancient  Titles — Notable  Families  of  the  Early  Days — Nathaniel  Sylvester  —  The  Havens 

Family — Early  Churches  and  Schools 443 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

In  Times  of  War — Early  Militia  Organizations — Dawn  of  the  Revolution  —  Preparing  for  the  Fray  — 
Suffolk  County  Troops  in  the  Battle  of  Brooklyn — The  British  Occupation  —  The  War  of  1812 — The 
Civil  War — The  Spanish-American  War 463 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

The  Whale  and  Menhaden  Fishery  —  Founding  and  Development  of  These  Enterprises  —  The  Industry  as 

Seen  by  a  Participant — The  Oyster  Industry 494 

CHAPTER    XX. 
Newspapers  of  Suffolk  County — Bibliography 504 

CHAPTER    XXL 

The  Catholic  Church  on  Long  Island — The  Pre-Diocesan  Period — Creation  of  the  Diocese — The  Founding 

of  Churches,  Schools  and  Charitable  Institutions 524 


INDEX. 


Aboriginal  Remains. — 157;  in  Southampton,  312. 
Agricultural  Socieues. — Queens-Nassau,  77;    officers 

of,  81;  of  Suffolk  County,  889. 
Amagansett.— 873. 
Amityville.— 196. 

Andros,  Governor. — Grant  from,  298. 
Aqu^bogue.— 400. 
Art  Gallery,  Southampton. — 809. 

Babylon, — Descriptive,  189;  Land  Titles,  190;  Early 
Homes,  198;  Churches,  195;  Villages,  196. 

Babylon,  Village  of. — 251;  Newspaper,  509. 

Baptist  Church. — At  Oyster  Bay,  138;  in  Suffolk  coun- 
ty, 162;  at  Babylon,  195;  at  Patchogue,  278;  at 
Greenport,  428. 

Bayles,  James  M.  -Shipbuilder,  45. 

Bayles,  Richard  M.— 509;  522. 

Baysw^ater  Yacht  Club.— 108. 

Beecher,  Rev.  Lyman. — 863;  his  successors,  364; 
printed  Sermons,  514. 

Bethpage. — 154. 

Bibliography. — 511. 

Bible  Societies.— The  Long  Island,  62;  the  Suffolk 
County,  163. 

Birds  of  Long  Island. — 19. 

Blydenburgh,  Isaac— 217. 

Bowne,  John.— 67. 

Bradford,  William.— At  Oyster  Bay,  181. 

Brewster,  Nathaniel.— 270. 

Bridge  Hampton. — 822. 

Brookhaveo. — Early  local  laws,  53;  Land  controver- 
sies, 217;  Descriptive,  252;  Early  settlers,  253; 
Deeds  and  grants,  256;  Diagram,  268;  Land 
division  by  Richard  Smith  and  Matthew  How- 
ell, 261;  Diagram  of  Mastic  lands,  264;  Ab- 
stracts of  df-eds,  267;  Winthrop  patent,  268; 
Early  churches,  270;  Setauket,  271  ;  Stony 
Brook,  273  ;  Port  Jefferson,  274  ;  Patchogue, 
276:  Moriches,  279. 

Bryant,  William  Cullen. — Home  at  Cedarmere,  114; 
Bryant  Circulating  Library,  116. 

Buel,  Rev.  Samuel. — 862;  his  sucessors,  868;  in  Revo- 
lutionary War,  484;  sermons  of,  516. 

Burgess,  Bishop. — 101. 

Burling,  Walter  R.— 510,  528. 

Cammann,  Edward  C. — 105. 

Canoe  Place  Division. — 384. 

Carpenter,  Joseph. — 150;  builds  a  mill,  151. 

Carll,  Jesse. — Shipbuilder,  45. 


Cauldwell,  Mrs.  M.  B.— 312. 

Churches.— The  Primitive,  59;    at  Huntington,  188; 

at   Southampton,  800;  at  Sag   Harbor,  326;  at 

Catchaponack,  388;  in   East  Hampton,  359;  in 

Riverhead,  389:  at  Southold,  420. 
Clinton  Academy. — 365. 
Cold  Spring  Harbor.— 187. 
Congregational  Church. — In  Suffolk   County,  162;  at 

Patchogue,  277;  at  Greenport,  427. 
Conklin,  Jacob. — 47;  his  property,  193. 
Conklin,  Nathaniel. — 194. 

Conkling,  John. — 175;  Acquisition  at  Southold,  405. 
Cook,  Capt.  Joel.— 194. 
Cooper,  James  M. — Quoted,  192. 
Coram. — 275. 

Country  Road. — Lawsuit  concerning,  238. 
Courts. — In  Hempstead,  55;  in  Suffolk  County,  167; 

in  Smithtown,  199. 
Cow  Neck.— 112. 
Cox,  Rev.  Philip.— 153. 
Cutchogue. — 419. 

Davenport,  Rev.   James. — His  visionary  religionism, 

423. 
Deeds. — Early  form  of,  179. 
Deer  Hunting. — 19. 
Denton,  Rev.  Richard.— 87. 
Dering,  Thomas. — 456. 
Dickerson,  Philemon. — At  Southold,  408. 
Dosoris, — 149. 
Dwight,  Rev.  Dr.  Timothy. — Visit  to  Long  Island,  69. 

East  Hampton. — Constitution  of,  52;  Descnptive,  346; 
Indian  deed,  349;  first  setilers,  350;  the  early 
local  government,  855;  land  division,  358;  the 
first  church,  359:  Clinton  Academy,  365;  the 
first  school,  367;  Montauk  deed,  368 ;  Lion 
Gardiner,  376. 

Eastern  Long  Island. —  Physical  Characteristics,  1; 
Climatrc  conditions,  3;  Towns  of,  12. 

East  Norwich. — 158. 

Eburne,  Samuel. — Purchase  in  Brookhaven,  255. 

Erskine,  Sir  William.— 482. 

Estates,  Notable.— 17. 

Far   Rockaway. — 11;    Pettit   and   Thompson  quoted, 

107;  Bayswater  Yacht  Club,  108. 
Fairs. — In  Colonial  times,  57;  in   Nassau  County,  76. 
Farmingdale. — 155. 


xn 


INDEX. 


Farrett,  James.— 127;  deed  to  Undertakers  at  South- 
ampton, 286. 

Fisher's  Island.— 438. 

Floral  Park —124. 

Floyd,  Richard.— 254. 

Flushing  Battery.— 488. 

Fort  Neck.— 246;  433. 

Franklinville.~^436. 

Freeport. — 102. 

Friends,  The. — At  Hempstead,  95;  at  Westbury,  125; 
at  Oyster  Bay,  132;  at  Jericho,  154;  Rev.  Elias 
Hicks,  154;  irial  of  Humphrey  Norton,  419; 
in  Revolutionary  War,  478. 

Fordham,  Robert. — 83;  his  associates,  84. 

Frothingham,  David. — 504;  prints  first  book  on  Long 
Island,  511;  prints  a  magazine,  513. 

Garden  City.— The  Cathedral,  96;  Bishop  Littlejohn, 
100;  Bishop  Burgess,  101. 

Gardiner,  David.^"Chronicles'*  by,  521. 

Gardiner's  Island. — Title  to,  375. 

Gardiner,  Lion. — Acquires  Gardiner's  Island,  376; 
his  life  and  death,  376;  his  descendants,  377. 

George's  Neck.— 247. 

Gibbs,  Andrew. — Patent  to,  242;  personal  history, 
243;  deed  from  Indians,  256. 

Glen  Cove. — 149;  early  emigrants,  150;  Glen  Cove 
Manufacturing  Company.  152;  Glen  Cove  Mu- 
tual Insurance  Company,  153. 

Godwin,  Parke. — His  home  near  Roslyn,  117. 

Goodyear,  Stephen. — Purchases  Shelter  Island,  445. 

Great  Neck.^112. 

Greenport. — 426;  newspapers,  508. 

Griffin,  Augustus. — Journal  by,  520. 

Hale,  Nathan.— Monument  to,  486. 

Halsey's  Manor.— 256. 

Hand,  Nehemiah. — 43. 

Harrison,  President. — Genealogy  of,  407. 

Hashamamock. — 415. 

Hauppauge. — 218. 

Head  of  the  Harbor.— 219. 

Heartte,  Nehemiah.— 193. 

Hedges,  Henry  P.— Works  by,  522. 

Hempstead. — Early  Courts,  55;  Geographical,  82; 
Early  Settlers,  83;  Early  religious  conditions, 
88;  the  present  village,  93;  other  villages:  Garden 
City,  96;  Rockville  Centre,  Freeport,  102;  New 
Bridge,  Seaford,  Bellmore,  Valley  Stream, 
Ridgewood,  Wantagh,  Baldwin's,  Norwood,  103; 
Long  Island  Camp  Meeting  Association,  105;  in 
Revolutionary  War,  465. 

Hewlett  Family. — 103;  Monument  erected  by  Abra- 
ham Hewlett,  109. 

Hicks,  Elias. — 154;  his  Journal,  520. 

Hicksville — 154;  Prime  quoted,  155. 

Holdsworth,  Jonas. — ^^Contract  as  school  teacher,  184. 

Hosford,  Miss. — Relic  of  Captain  Kidd,  47. 

Horse  Neck.— 176. 

Horton,  Barnabas. — At  Southold,  407;  his  home  lot, 
411;  will  of,  440;  old  homestead,  441. 

Howell  Family. — At  Southampton,  296. 

Howell,  George  R. — As  author,  521. 

Huntington. — Early  court  records,  55;  descriptive,  172; 
earlv  deeds,  174;  first  grants,  1666;  "Yorkers' 
Patent,"  178;  Early  school,  184;  Villages,  185;  in 
Revolutionary  War,  467;  in  the  Civil  War,  490; 
Newspapers,  507. 

Huntington  Bay.^ — 186. 

Huntting,  Rev.  Nathaniel. — 362;  his  successors,  363. 

Hyde  Park.- 124. 


Islip— 233;  early  land  grants,  285;  contested  titles,  238; 
Diagram,  239;  Gibb  Patent,  24'2;  Mowbray  Pat- 
ent, 243;  Willetts  Patent,  246;  list  of  Freehold- 
ers, 248;  village  of  Islip,  249;  Babylon  and  Say- 
ville,  251;  Newspaper,  510. 

Jackson,  Richard. — Deed  from  James  Farrett,  403. 
Jackson,  Robert. — 95. 
James,  Rev.  Thomas. — 360. 
Johnson,  Jerome  B. — 73. 

Jones,  J.  Wesley. — Founder  of  United  States  Life  Sav- 
ing Corps,  38. 

Keyes,  Dr.  E.  L.— Home  at  Water  Mill,  319. 

Laws,  Early. — 52. 

Leverich,  Rev.  William.— At  Oyster  Bay,  132;  referred 
to  by  C.  S.  Street,  179;  as  a  lawyer  and  litigant, 
181. 

Libraries. — In  Nassau  county,  75;  in  Suffolk  county, 
166. 

Life  Saving  Service.— 28;  Raynor  R.  Smith,  29;  Life 
Saving  Stations  on  Long  Island,  31;  Life  Savers 
and  their  equipment,  32;  United  States  Life  Sav- 
ing Corps,  37. 

Light  Houses. — 25;  at  Sandy  Hook,  26;  on  Long  Isl- 
and, 27;  at  Sands  Point,  110. 

Lindenhurst.— 197. 

Littlejohn,  Bishop. — 100. 

Lloyd's  Neck.— 175. 

Long  Island. — Physical  characteristics,  1 ;  Camp  Meet- 
ing Association,  105. 

Long  Island  Bible  Society. — Organization,  61. 

Lotteries. — 104. 

Louden,  John. — 196. 

Loughlm,  John  — Bishop  of  Brooklyn,  532. 

McDonnell,  Charles. — Second  Bishop  of  Brooklyn,  545. 

Mackay,  Clarence. — Estate  at  Roslyn,  120. 

Manhasset. — Indian  tradition,  13;  early  newspapers, 
122. 

Mansions  on  Long  Island,  15. 

Manufacturers,  early. — 161. 

Mapes,  Thomas. — 254. 

Masonic. — Lodge  at  Hempstead,  92. 

Massapequa. — 197. 

Mastic. — Land  diagram,  264. 

Matinecock. — 147. 

Mattituck.— 434. 

Meadow  Brook  Hunting  Club. — 18. 

Mechanics,  Pioneer. — 64. 

Mecox.— 321. 

Meigs  Expedition. — Celebration  of,  326. 

Menhaden  Fishing. — 498. 

Merrick.^104;  Free  Circulating  Library,  105;  Long 
Island  Camp  Meeting  Association,  105. 

Merritt,  Israel  J. — Wrecking  operations,  39. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Of  Hempstead,  91;  at 
Rockville  Centre,  102;  at  Merrick,  105;  Philip 
Cox,  113;  at  Oyster  Bay,  184;  at  Glen  Cove,  151; 
at  East  Norwich,  155;  in  Suffolk  county,  162;  at 
Babylon,  195;  at  Hauppauge,  218;  at  St.  James, 
220;  at  Smithtown  Branch,  222;  at  Blyden- 
burgh's  Landing,  223;  at  Islip,  249;  at  Patchogue, 
277;  at  Southampton,  805,  320;  at  Sag  Harbor, 
328;  at  Quogue,  341;  at  Greenport,  428;  on 
Shelter  Island,  462. 

Mills,  Historic— 20. 

Mills,  Richard.— 298. 

Mills,  Timothy.— 220. 


INDEX. 


xni 


Miller,  Andrew.— 254. 

Miller's  Place.— 275. 

Mineola. — Letter  from  Queen  Victoria,  12;  county  seat 
of  Nassau  county,  124. 

Motitauk.— Deed  to,  368. 

Moriches. — Patentship  of,  257;  the  villages,  279;  News- 
papers, 509. 

Mott,  Adam.— Will  of.  111, 

Mount  Sinai,— 275, 

Mowbray,  John. — Patent  to,  243;  disposes  of  land,  244; 
line  of  descent,  248. 

Murray,  Lindley. — 250. 

Nassau  County. — Its  creation,  74;  Civil  List,  75;  Statis- 
tics, 76;  Agricultural  Society,  76. 

New  Jersey, — S'-ttlement  of,  67. 

New  Lights.— 133. 

Newspapers. — at  Babylon,  195;  of  Suffolk  county,  504. 

Njcolls,  William. — Personal  history,  284;  his  land  pur- 
chases, 235, 

Nicolls,  William  (2d). — Inheritance  from  his  father, 
236;  Act  of  Legislature  for  relief  of,  237. 

North  Hempstead.— Boundaries,  110;  the  first  settlers, 
111;  early  churches,  113;  home  of  William  Cul- 
len  Bryant,  115;  the  Mackay  estate,  120. 

Northport— 187;  Newspaper,  509. 

Norton,  Humphrey,  the  Quaker. — Trial  of,  419. 

Noyack.— 332. 

Orient.^31. 

Onderdonk,  Henry,  Jr. — As  an  author,  520. 

Osborn,  Selleck. — 505. 

Oystering.— 113;  501. 

Oyster  Bay. — 127;  first  land  grant,  128;  settlement 
in  1653, 129;  first  freeholders,  130;  William  Brad- 
ford, 131;  Rev.  William  Leverich,  132;  early 
churches,  133;  present  village  of  Oyster  Bay, 
134;  Theodore  Roosevelt,  135;  villages,  149;  in 
Revolutionary  War,  464. 

Oyster  Ponds.— 418. 

Palmer,  Captain  John. — 106. 

Paper  Mill,  First  in  New  York. — 114. 

Parrish,  Samuel  L.— 299;  311. 

Patchogue.^277;  Newspapers,  508;  510. 

Paulding,  Admiral. — 490. 

Payne,  John  Howard. — 15. 

Pearsalls.— 102. 

Peconic. — 436. 

Pettit,  William  S.— Quoted,  106. 

Piracy. — 38;  Captain  Kidd,  46;  Lion  Gardirer  visited 
by  pirates,  46 ;  relic  of  Captain  Kidd,  47 ;  the  "San 
Antonio,"  47;  the  "Vineyard"  and  the"Haidee," 
48. 

Plum  Island.— 438. 

Port  Jefferson. — 273;  Newspapers,  509. 

Port  Washington.— 122. 

Presbyterian  Church. — Christ's  First  Church,  Hemp- 
stead, 87;  at  Roslyn,  113;  at  Oyster  Bay,  134;  at 
Glen  Cove,  151;  Organization  of  Presbytery,  162- 
at  Babylon,  195;  in  Islip,  250;  at  Setauket,  271 
in  Southampton,  301,  320;  at  Sag  Harbor,  826 
at  Quogue,  337;  in  East  Hampton,  360;  in  South 
old,  421;  on  Shelter  Island,  461. 

Prime,  Rev.  N.  S.— 187;  history  by,  519. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church, — St.  George's,  Hemp- 
stead, 89;  at  Manhasset,  113;  at  Glen  Cove,  151; 
in  Suffolk  county,  162;  at  Babylon,  195;  at  St. 
James,  220;  St.  John's,  Islip,  249;  Caroline 
Church,  Setauket,  271;  at  Patchogue,   278;  St. 


Andrews',  Southampton,  307;  at  Sag  Harbor, 
327;  in  East  Hampton,  865;  at  Greenport,  428; 
on  Shelter  Island,  462. 

Queen  Victoria. — Letter  from,  12. 

Quogue— Purchase  of,  315,  833;  village  of,  336. 

Reformed  Church.— At  North  Hempstead,  1 13;  in 
Islip,  250. 

Richbill,  John -175. 

Riverhead. — Aboriginal  remains,  380;  boundaries,  381 
Indian  deeds,  382;  Diagram  of  Land  Grant,  385 
pioneer  settlers,  388;  Agricultural  Society,  389 
Historical  Society,  395;  Savings  Bank,  400 
Newspapers,  508. 

Roads,  Ancient  and  Modern. — 8. 

Robin's  Island. — 486. 

Rockville  Centre.— 102. 

Rogers  Memorial  Library,  Southampton.— 310. 

Roman  Caiholic  Church. — At  Westbury,  113;  at  Baby- 
lon, 195;  at  Patchogue,  278;  at  Sag  Harbor, 
328;   General  History  of,  524. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore. — Address  by,  61;  Home  at  Oys- 
ter Bay,  134;  his  ancestry,  135;  his  entrance 
upon  public  life,  138;  his  military  career,  140; 
elected  Governor,  143;  Vice-President,  144; 
President,  145;  as  an  author,  146. 

Roslyn.— 117. 

Saggaponack. — 322. 

Saghtekoos. — Patent  to  Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt, 
245. 

Sag  Harbor. — 323;  old  bill  of  ladmg,  824;  early  set- 
tlers, 326;  churches  and  schools,  327;  Sag  Har- 
bor Savings  Bank, 829;  Newspapers,  504. 

Sailors,  Old  Time. — 45. 

Sands,  Col.  John — 470;  harries  Tories,  475. 

Sayville.— 251. 

Schools.— of  Nassau  County,  75;  at  Smithtown  Branch, 
222;  inBrookhaven,  271;  in  Patchogue,  279;  in 
Southampton,  298 ;  at  Sag  Harbor,  328 ;  at 
Catchaponack,  838;  in  East  Hampton,  367;  at 
Greenport,  428. 

Scott,  Capt.  John.— 205. 

Seabury,  Rev.  Samuel. — 90. 

Sea  Algae. — 5. 

Sea  Cliff.— 153. 

Sea  Shells.~3. 

Seaman,  Capt.  John. — at  Hempstead,  93. 

Setauket. — 271;  newspapers,  508. 

Shelter  Island. — Commission  to  James  Farrett,  443; 
sale  to  Stephen  Goodyear,  445;  Nathaniel  Syl- 
vester, 447;  his  history,  451;  the  Dering  family, 
456;  the  NicoU  family,  457;  first  town  meeting, 
458;  the  early  church,  459. 

Sherrawog. — 219. 

Shipbuilding  and  Shipbuilders. — 41;  at  Sag  Harbor, 
42;  at  Setauket,  Port  Jefferson  and  Greenport, 
43;  Nehemiah  Hand,  48;  James  M.  Bayles,  45; 
Jesse  Carll,  45. 

Shipwrecks. — 22;  Monument  to  the  lost  of  the  "Bris- 
tol" and  "Mexico,"  24. 

Skinner,  Col.  Abraham. — 198. 

Slavery  on  Long  Island. — 182. 

Smith,  Adam.— Ancient  Farm  Map,  227. 

Smith,  Caleb.— 217. 

Smith,  Ebenezer. — Land  Plat,  226. 

Smith,  Jesse. — Inn  at  Babylon,  195. 

Smith,  John.— 108. 

Smith,  Jonas. — Friends'  School,  222. 


XIV 


INDEX. 


Smith,  Josiah.—Commands  Militia,  470;  at  Battle  of 
Brooklyn,  471. 

Smith,  Ra>nor  R. — Medal  for  life  saving,  29. 

Smith,  Richard.— 198;  Land  Controversies,  204;  His 
home  and  family,  ii06;  will  of  his  widow,  209; 
Deed  made  by  Richard  Smith,  212;  sells  land 
to  Samuel  Eburne,255;  land  division, 261. 

Smithtown.— First  Settlers;  199;  Land  Titles,  200; 
First  Mill,  215;  Smithtown  Branch,  220;  Early 
Church,  221;  Ancient  Maps,  226-7-8;  in  Revo- 
,  lutionary  War,  468;  in  Civil  War,  491;  news- 
papers, 510. 

Smithtown  Branch.— 220. 

Social  Conditions. — In  Colonial  times,  68;  after  the 
Revolution,  69. 

Society  of  St.  Johnland. — 167. 

Southampton. — Descriptive,  282;  First  grantees,  285; 
List  of  inhabitants,  290;  Division  of  Lands,  292; 
Gov.  Andros'  Grant,  294;  the  Town  Trustees, 
295;  schools,  299;  churches,  300;  ancient  bill  of 
lading,  324;  the  Quogue  Purchase,  333  ;  the 
modern  village,  310;  in  Revolutionary  War, 
469;  Newspapers,  510;  Town  Records,  521. 

Southampton  Undertakers. — 283. 

Southold. — 402;  Grant  by  James  Farrett,  403;  founding 
of  the  town,  406;  descent  of  President  Ham- 
son,  407;  the  early  settlers,  408;  Indian  deeds, 
413;  division  of  lands,  418;  the  early  church, 
420;  Greenport,  426;  Orient, 432;  Horton  home- 
stead, Southold,  441;  in  Revolutionary  War, 
469. 

Southold  Academy. — 425. 

Spain,  War  with. — 492. 

Speonk. — 343. 

Spooner,  Alden. — 505;  prints  a  grammar,  515. 

Standish,  Miles.— 122. 

Slate  Hospital  for  Insane. — 168. 

St.  George's  Manor.~266. 

Stony  Brook.— 273. 

Street,  Charles  R.— Quoted,  179. 

Suffolk  County. — 157;  William  Wallace  Tooker  quo- 
ted, 157;  early  history,  160;  visited  by  Wash- 
ington, 162;  First  Sunday  School,  163;  Educa- 
tional, 164;  Libraries,  166;  Political  Divisions, 
166;  Almshouse  and  other  charitable  institu- 
tions, 167;  Civil  List,  168;  Rev.  Epher  Whita- 
ker,  quoted,  168;  Newspapers,  504;  Bibliogra- 
phy, 511. 

Suffolk  County  Agricultural  Society. — 389. 

Suffolk  County  Historical  Society. — 395, 

Sunday  School,  first  in  Suffolk  County. — 163. 

Sylvester  Manor  Estate. — 16. 

Sylvester,  Nathaniel. — At  Shelter  Island,  447;  his  his- 
tory, 451;  his  descendants,  455. 

Talmadge,  Colonel  Benjamin. — 273. 

Talmadge,  Rev.  Benjamin, — 273. 

Taverns. — 58. 

Taxation. — Under  Colonial  Rule,  66. 

Teachers'  Associations. — In  Suffolk  County,  164. 

Thanksgiving  Day.— Gov.  Stuyvesant's  Proclamation, 
5o. 

Thomas,  Dr.  T.  Gaillard.— at  Southampton,  307;  quo- 
ted. 310. 

Thompson,  Benjamin  F. ^History  by,  519. 

Thompson,  Charles  G.— 378. 


Tooker,  John.— 254;  sale  to  Samuel  Eburne,  255. 
Tooker,  William  Wallace.— Quoted,   157;    as   author, 

523. 
Town  Meeting.— 182. 
Town  Trustees. — Origion  of,  295. 
Training  Days.^57. 
Tredwell,  Mrs.  Amanda.— Letter  from  Queen  Victoria, 

12. 

Underbill,  Capt.  John.— 148. 
Vail,  Aaron  S.— 225. 

Wainscott.— 379. 

Wales,  Salem  H.— 311. 

War  of  1812.-487. 

War,  The  Civil.~487;  Flushing  Battery,  488. 

War,  Revolutionary. — 463;  Oyster  Bay,  464;  Hemp- 
stead, 465;  Suffolk  county,  466;  Huntington,  467: 
Smithtown,  468;  Southold,  469;  Southampton, 
470;  Colonel  Sands,  470;  Colonel  Josiah  Smith, 
471;  operations  of  his  regiment,  472;  British  oc- 
cupation, 474;  Whale-boat  campaign,  480;  Oper- 
ations of  the  patriots,  481;  Sir  William  Erskine, 
483;  Nathan  Hale,  485. 

Warrata.— 261. 

Washington,  General. — At  Hempstead  Harbor,  114; 
Visits  Suffolk  County,  162, 

Water  Mill.— 318, 

Wave  Crest.— 109. 

Wells,  William.— At  Southold,  407. 

Westbury.— 124;  Friends'  School,  125. 

Whale  Fishing.— 328;  494. 

Wheatly  Hills.— Palatial  Homes,  17. 

Whitney,  Henry.— 181;  buys  land,  190. 

Whitaker,  Rev.  Epher.— Quoted,  49;  168;  Pastor  at 
Southold,  425;  Quoted,  463;  as  an  author,  520. 

Willetts'  Point, — Fortifications,  11. 

Willetts,  Thomas  and  Richard.— Grant  to,  246;  land 
transfers,  247. 

Windmills,  01d.--21;  319;  321. 

Winnecomac  Patent.— 228;  Land  Title  Controversies, 
230. 

Winthrop  Patent.— 268. 

Wood,  Jonas.— 200. 

Wood,  Silas. — As  author,  518. 

Woodbury. — 155. 

Woodford,  Stewart  L.— 491. 

Woodhull,  Nathaniel.— 255. 

Woodhull,  Richard. — Purchases  land  in  Brookhaven, 
253;  his  colleagues,  254;  receives  patent,  255. 

Wrecking. — 39. 

Wright,  Peter.— Settles  at  Oyster  Bay,  130. 

Wyandanch  Club  House.— 224. 

"Yorkers'  Patent."— 178. 

Youngs,  Colonel  John. — 409. 

Youngs,  Rev.  John. — At  Southold,  406;  Indian  deed  to, 

413;  his  tomb,  421 ;  his  successors  in  the  ministry, 

421. 

APPENIMX 


Long  Island  Militia,  Colonial,  560. 
Revolutionary  Soldiers,  561. 
Civil  War  Soldiers,  575. 


CHAPTER  I. 


EASTERN   LONG  ISLAND. 

Its  Physical  Characteristics  and  Notable  Landmarks — Light    Houses  and  Life  Saving 
Stations — Shipbuilding  and  Yachting — Stories  of  Shipwreck  and  Piracy. 


X  the  previous  volume  is  contained  the 
general  history  of  Long  Island,  and  of 
the  counties  of  Kings  and  Queens.  Our 
present  concern  is  with  the  remaining 
counties,  their  peculiar  conditions,  and  their  his- 
toric associations. 

Long  Island  occupies  a  place  of  its  own,  not 
alone  in  its  uniqueness  as  a  geographical  loca- 
tion, but  in  the  purposes  to  which  it  has  been 
devoted.  Within  a  .space  of  time  not  much  more 
than  half  a  century,  resorts  for  health  and  pleas- 
ure have  been  established  at  almost  every  avail- 
able spot  on  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  from  the 
rugged  ocean  barriers  of  ]\Iaine  to  the  coral  reefs 
of  Florida.  Between  these  far  separated  ex- 
tremes are  cities  and  villages  presenting  every 
feature  of  attraction  and  desirability.  There  are 
spots,  i:s  along  the  coasts  of  Elaine  and  Massa- 
chusetts, which  are  delightful  in  summer,  but 
are  wellnigh  uninhabitable  in  winter;  and 
others,  as  in  Florida,  which  are  grateful  to  the 
1 


winter  sojourner,  but  are  almost  unendurable 
during  the  remiainder  o^f  the  year. 

Between  these  geographical  and  climatic  ex- 
tremes lies  Long  Island,  stretching  away  eastward 
from  the  southern  point  of  Manhattan.  On  the 
ocean  side  are  the  multitudinous  picturesque  in- 
lets dotting  the  waters  between  the  main  land  and 
a  series  of  beaches — Long  Beach,  Jones  Beach 
and  Oak  Island  Beach — and^  extending  farther 
eastwardly,  enclosing  Great  South  Bay,  is  the 
long  narrow  Fire  Island,  an  everlasting  barrier  to 
the  mighty  breakers  rolling  in  from  the  shore 
of  the  old  world.  This  ocean  coast  line  is  almost 
level  from  Brooklyn  to  the  faraway  picturesque 
Shinnecock  Hills. 

]\Iuch  of  the  eastern  territory  of  the  Island  on 
its  ocean  side  remains  as  nature  has  made  it, 
wild,  desolate  and  barren — a  plaything  for  the 
storms  and  for  the  wintry  waves  which  seem  to 
gather  strength  as  they  roll  across  the  Atlantic 
and  break  with   wild   impetuosity   on   its   shore, 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


lifting  up  miles  of  sand  bar  as  if  they  were  drift- 
wood, and  even  battering  down  the  rocky  bul- 
wark that  for  ages  has  carried  on  a  ceaseless 
warfare  'with  the  elements  but  has  gradually  got 
the  worst  of  it.  The  cliff  at  the  extreme  point  is 
slowly  but  surely  being  ground  to  powder  by  the 
remorseless  action  of  the  ocean,  and,  while  many 
of  the  boulders  and  pebbles  and  gravel  we  see  are 
the  results  of  glacial  movement,  much  of  the  de- 
bris is  part  of  the  volcanic  rocks.  The  &ea,  in 
fact,  is  steadily  encroaching  upon  the  land  and 
winning  back  to  its.  depths  that  which  had  been 
raised  above  its  level  in  some  primeval  struggle. 


But  the  verse  was  written  of  an  alder  country, 
where  the  voyager  might  stop  his  boat  and  gaze 
down  upon  the  rem-ains  of  a  city  sunken  below 
the  water,  and- what  has  disappeared  here  has 
been  ^ut  meadow  or  edge  of  forest. 

But  the  sea,  at  one  time  at  least,  returned  a  lit- 
tle of  what  it  had  won.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  district  we  call  Montauk  was  once  an  island, 
perhaps,  two— one  from  Napeague  Harbor  to 
Fort  Pond,  and  one  from  there  to  the  lighthouse 
on'  that 'hisitoric  Point 

Against  whose  breast  the  everlasting  surge 
Long  traveling  on  and  ominous  of  wrath 
Forever  beats. 


MONTAUK  POINT. 


Some  scientists  affirm  that  the  entire  Atlantic 
coast  of  this  continent  is  gradually  sinking,  and 
that  in  the  course  of  an  indeterminate  number  of 
years  practically  all  of  the  present  coast  regions 
will  have  disappeared.  Certainly  some  change 
is  apparent,  and  the  mind  recalls  some  lines  O'f 
Thomas  Moore: 

''On  Lough  Neagh's  banks  as  the  fisherman  strays 

When  the  clear,  cold  eve's  declining, 
He  sees  the  remains  of  other  days 

In  the  waves  beneath  him  shining. 
Thus  shall  memory  often  in  dreams  sublime 

Catch  a  glimpse  of  the  days  that  are  over, 
And,  sighing,  look  back  through  the  waves  of  time 

For  the  long  faded  glories  they  cover." 


Froan  Amagansett  to  Montauk  Point  is  a  re- 
gion of  desolation  and  gloom.  Sand  everywhere, 
sand  in  all  the  shapes  which  nature  can  twist  it, 
dunes  and  hills  and  wide  rolling  expanse.  It  is 
said  that  this  territory  was  once  fairly  well- 
wooded  in  spots,  but  we  find  no  signs  of  the  for- 
est now,  and  the  spots  appear  to  have  vanished. 
Sand,  sand  everywiiere,  and  long  stretches  of 
solitude,  the  M'ontauk  peninsula  looks  as  if  it 
were  intended  by  nature  to  be  left  alone  by  man. 
Yet  the  railroad  runs  through  it  now  almost  to 
the  point,  and  it  does  not  need  much  of  prophetic 


E  \STERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


power  to  say  that  within  a  quarter  of  a  century 
this  will  rank  among  the  favorite  resorts  along 
the  Atlantic  coast,  and  that  it  will  be  one  gor- 
geous parterre — for  three  months  in  each  year  at 
least.  Facing  Gardiner's  Bay,  the  coast  line  is 
rocky,  but,  except  on  the  coast,  there  is  no  eleva- 
tion of  land,  and  it  descends  by  an  easy  gradient 
to  the  Atlantic,  which  fringes  it  with  a  sandy 
bulwark.  In  the  west  and  north  are  quite  ex- 
tensive ranges  of  forests.  The  farmiing  lands, 
which  extend  to  where  the  Montauk  peninsula 
begins,  are  fairly  productive,  and  though  the 
holdings,  as  a  general  rule,  are  small,  they  sup- 
port a  thrifty  and  settled  population. 

The  cooling  sea  breezes  which  sweep  around 
Montauk  from  the  far  north  mingle  with  the 
balmy  zephyrs  from'  'the  -tropics,  and  the  waters 
of  old  ocean,  tempered  by  the  warmth  of  the 
Gulf  Stream,  are  unpolluted  by  stain  or  odor 
from  factory  or  mine.  According  to  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  New  York  Weather  Bureau 
(Eighth  Annual  Report),  the  July  isothermal 
line  of  74  degrees  passes  fromi  Brooklyn  to 
southern  New  Jersey,  thence  to  northern  Africa, 
to  France,  and  through  southern  Europe  to  the 
northward  of  Italy,  The  writer  of  the  same  pa- 
per takes  occasion  to  controvert  the  proposition 
that  the  Gulf  Stream  has  gone  astray,  as  has 
been  asserted  by  some  meteoroiogists,  and  bases 
the  occasional  eccentricities  of  temperature  upon 
the  erratic  movements  of  the  wind  currents,  argu- 
ing that,  equable  as  climatic  conditions  generally 
are,  they  would  be  far  more  so,  approaching  those 
of  the  Azores  Islands,  v^ere  the  prevailing  winter 
winds  from  the  southeast  instead  of  from  the 
northwest.  As  it  is,  it  is  a  matter  of  genetal 
knowledge  that  the  climate  of  Long  Island  can 
in  no  way  be  measured  by  that  of  New  York 
City,  with  its  excessive  humidity  and  habitual 
absence  of  sunshine.  On  the  contrary,  it  has 
been  shown  that  in  various  localities  on  Long 
Island,  where  observations  have  been  made,  sun- 
shine has  prevailed  312  days  in  the  year,  against 
235  days  in  New  York  City,  with  a  correspond- 
ing advantage  in  absence  of  excess-ive  humidity. 
These  and  other  like  conditions  point  to  the 
healthfulness  of  the  region,  and  amply  justify  its 


favorable  consideration  as  an  abode  for  health 
seekers. 

Never-ending  enjoyment  ds  there  here  for 
him  who  has  well  learned  even  the  rudiments  of 
the  teachings  of  Nature — who  discerns  the  fact 
that  man  has  never  equalled  her  works  in  delicacy 
and  beauty.  And  another  part  of  the  same  les- 
son— that  Nature  puts  the  products  of  her  skill 
before  all,  and  without  price,  only  asking  that 
they  look  and  hear.  But  this  lesson  has  been  illy 
learned  by  the  many,  and  we  are  all  guilty  of  its 
neglect  in  some  fashion  or  other,  seeking  some- 
thing we  call  great,  when  the  smallest  are  great 
if  only  viewed  aright. 

The  beach,  floored  with  smoothest,  cleanest 
sand  that  could  not  soil  the  fairest  foot,  is 
reached  twice  a  day  by  the  tide  which  brings  to 
it  a  wealth  of  ocean  life,  in  lines  of  shells  and 
seaweed.  These  arouse  (or  should  arouse)  our 
admiration  at  every  step,  in  the  auroral  tints  upon 
the  curved  scroll  of  the  shell ;  the  delioaite  carv- 
ing oi  the  sea  urchin;  the  prismiatic  lights  of 
the  medusae;  still  down;  to  those  lower  forms 
that  mark  the  confines  of  the  two  great  divisions 
of  organic  life,  animal  and  plant,  apparently  hav- 
ing so  little  in  common  with  each  other,  though 
always  mingling.  During  somie  months  of  the 
year,  the  briilliant  but  delicate  green's  and  scar- 
lets, browns  and  purples  of  sea  algas,  blend  with 
the  quiet  hues  oi  other  varieties  of  seaweed  and 
mosses  into  an  elusive  tint  that  evades  the  sense 
of  color,  and  in  these  lines,  sparkling  here  and 
there  with  jewelled  shells,  we  read  the  poeni'S  of 
the  sea. 

Two  of  the  most  delicately  colored  shells  are 
the  targe  snails,  natica  heros  and  natica  dupli- 
cata.  They  are  cast  up  on  the  strand  in  the  in- 
finitesimal specks  of  newly  hatched  young,  up  to 
the  adult  shell,  the  size  of  an  orange.  They 
move  rapidly  and  feed  upon  mussels  and  tender 
shells, .  which  they  perforate.  The  eggs  of  this 
shell-fish  are  deposited  in  a  nest  known  as  the 
**Nidas,"  or  sand  saucer;  this  is  composed  of  a 
glutinous  substance  mixed  with  sand,  in  form 
and  size  not  unlike  a  saucer,  and,  when  held  up  to 
the  light,  the  eggs  are  revealed  in  tiny  amber 
specks. 


HISTORY   OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


The  pholas  bakeri  is  a  burrowing  shell-fish, 
seldom  fooind  in  a  perfect  condition  on  the  beach 
cxoept  when  it  has  been  carried  up  in  the  ob- 
ject in  which  it  is  burrowing;  a  block  of  wood, 
for  dni&tance,  may  con'tain  a  dozen  fine  spieaimens 
that  have  burrowed  circular  tunnels  through  it, 
an(d  mot  in  any  case  doeis*  one  shell  encroach  upon 
its  n-eighbor  or  pierce  the  tunnel  made  by  anoth- 


fiogers.  The  "miano-se"  is  the  aristocrat  of  the 
clam  family  on  account  of  its  delicate  flavor.  It 
is  growing  too  'scarce  to  be  'an  article  of  com- 
merce to  any  great  extent. 

Moire  than  .seventy-five  varieties  of  shell-fish 
inhabit  the  Long  Island  waters.  Some  of  these 
are  carried  by  tihe  Gulf  Stream  from  the  tropics, 
and  survive  the  colder  waters  of  the  temperate 


■SEA  SHELLS. 


12     Natica  heros— Snails. 
13.     Natica  duplicata— Snails. 


Pholas  bakeri— Burrowing  Shellfish. 
Mya  arenaria— Mancse  Clam. 


er.  Fine  lateral  Hnes  radiate  from  the  hinge, 
and  the  beautiful  white  shell  adds  to  its  other 
channs  a  phosphorescent  appearance  that  gives  it 
a  peculiarity  seldom  found  in  other  shells. 

The  "manose"  (luya  arenaria)  is  found  on 
the  mud  flats ;  it  burrows  very  rapidly,  but  re- 
mains in  the  hole  it  has  once  made  for  its  home 
in  a  locality  overflowed  by  the  tide.  The  shell 
is  very  'soft,  amd  can  be  e:.:Mly  crushed  with  the 


regions  for  a  long 
and  their  numbers 
manner  described, 
character,  the  cowr 
ornament,  jewel  an 
and    the    keyhole 
among  the  number 
Plant  life  upon 
chids,  its  TOrgeous 


time,  but  do  not  propagate, 
are  reinforced  only  in  the 
Of  the  univalve  shells  of  this 
V  (cypro'dca)  which  was  the 
d  currency  of  savage  tribes, 
limpet,    fissitrlUa  listeria   are 

land  has   its  wonderful  or- 
or  sombre  blossoms  of  state- 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


ly  stalk  and  trailing  vine,  fomid  in  the  soil  to 
which  they  are  indigenous,  or  transplanted  and 
cultivated  by  skillful  hands  to  different  climes 
and  greater  perfection ;  but  plant  life  of  the 
ocean  remains  untouched  by  art  and  untram- 
melled in  its  growth  by  forced  migration.  No 
florist  trains  the  marvelous  length  of  the  chorda 
aium  over  trellised  arbors,  or  confines  the  wav- 
ing tangle  of  kelp  and  grasses  to  hanging  bask- 
ets or  beds  of  prescribed  geometric  lines.  More 
than  six  thousand  imarine  species  riot  over  the 
rocks  an'd  valleys  beneath  the  sea^  or  float  upon 
its  surface,  in  fitful  or  prolonged  life.  The  shal- 
low, green  waters  of  the  shores  and  inlets,  and 
the  blue  waters  of  the  deep  sea,  each  yields  its 
own  flora — as  far  removed  in  structure  and  hab- 
its as  land  plants  of  the  tropics  are  removed 
from  thoise  of  the  temperate  regions. 

The  favorable  location  of  the  Long  Island 
coast  presents  many  advanitages  for  the  growth 
of  different  varieties  of  ocean  flora.  Lying 
midway  between  the  extremes  of  vegetation 
which  affect  alike  'both  land  and  sea  plants,  to- 
gether with  the  ,shoal  waters  extending  far  out 
and  the  deep  sea  beyond,  it  yields  not  only  the 
growth  of  each  condition  of  the  waters,  but  the 
Gulf  Stream,  sweeping  from  the  tropics,  here  and 
there  leaves  portions  of  flotsam  which  the  tide 
catches  and  carries  up  on  the  beach,  laying  at  our 
feet  specimens  that  belong  to  far  distant  waters. 

Crytogams,  or  flowerless  plants,  including 
sea  algae,  are  without  true  stamens  or  pistils,  and 
propagate  by  spores,  and  these  are  divided  and 
subdivided  into  many  classes.  Roots  of  sea- 
weed fulfil  their  functions  when  they  secure  the 
plants  to  a  foundation,  and  have  but  little  influ- 
ence over  their  growth.  By  most  botanists  the 
clasBification  of  algae  is  on  the  basia  of  repro- 
duction, but  Prof.  W.  H.  Harvey,  of  Dublin, 
has  divided  them  into  three  clashes  distinguished 
by  their  color — grass  green  algae,  olive  brown 
or  green  algae,  and  red  or  purple  algae,  running 
into  brown  or  black. 

Chlorospermeae  is  a  bright  green-colored  sea- 
weed with  green  spores  growing  in  shallow  wa- 
ters. It  is  very  common  all  along  the  Atlantic 
coast,   and  is  the   lowest   order   in  organization. 


The  genus  nlva  includes  sea  lettuce  among  its 
coarser  plants.  This  is  found  adhering  to  shells 
and  piling  in  thin  papery  leaves  that  are  very 
perishable,  tearing  easily  and  withering  rapidly. 
It  resembles  in  color  and  shape  the  vegetable  of 
the  kitchen,  but  grows  in  the  wild  form  of  scat- 
tered leaves  and  not  in  heads.  It  is  not  valued 
in  a  collection,  as  it  cannot  be  preserved  by  ord- 
inary process,  although  the  effect  when  lying  on, 
the  beadi  against  the  gray  .siands  ^nd  driftwood 
is  very  pleasing.  Sea  beard  {cladopliora  rupes- 
ta)  figure  3,  bryopsis  pliunosj,  figure  I,  iboth  be- 
long to  this  genus  and  grow  in  deeper  waters, 
but  are  most  beautiful  in  their  dainty  pencilings. 
The  former  is  so  delicate  that  its  dense  tufts 
must  be  separated  and  mounted  in  single  sprays 
before  its  structure  is  revealed. 

Rhodospermeaej  rose  colored  seaweed,  wi-th 
red  and  purple  spores,  grows  in  deep  waters  and 
belongs  chiefly  to  the  temperate  zonesi.  Where 
it  is  abundant  the  waters  assume  a  rosy,  scarlet 
or  purple  hue  that  is  gorgeous  in  its  effect.  The 
seaweeds  of  this  order  vie  in  color  with  the  del- 
icate pink  of  the  wild  rose,  the  flaming  scarlet 
of  the  trumpet  creeper  and  the  purple  of  the 
passion  flower.  Their  fairylike  structure  is 
seen  in  figure  2,  dasya  clegaus,  da;rk  purple  in 
color;  figure  4,  grinelliaj  rosy  red;  figure  6,  cali- 
tlionininuij  pale  red  and  pink;  figure  3,  polysi- 
phonia,  iligiht  purple  shading  to  brown  and  black. 
So  delicate  are  many  of  the  plants  of  all  classes 
of  algae  that  they  cannot  be  discovered  on  the 
beach  with  the  naked  eye,  but  must  be  sought 
for  floating  in  the  water.  The  hair-like  plumes 
and  fronds  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  A 
spray  extending  over  four  or  five  square  inches, 
when  (mounted  on  a  card,  the  usual  -manner  of 
preservation,  wili,  when  rubbed  between  the 
thumb  and  finger,  disappear  like  goild-leaf,  leav- 
ing scarcely  a  trace. 

Gulf  weed,  or  seagrape  (sargassuin  bacci- 
forui)  and  sargassuin  vttlgare,  (figure  5,)  has 
clusters  of  air  vessels  like  tiny  cherries  attached 
coarser  plants.  This  is  found  adhering  to  shells 
to  its  thick-leavetl  foliage.  It  comes  up  in  de- 
tached sprat's  from  the  beds  that  float  on  the 
surface  of  the  ocean   in   different  parts   of  the 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


"v  ■■  t'.T^ 


mm"4ifM 


IfT  ■■.■A  >v-v 


SEA  ALGAE. 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


globe.  Its  presence  dn  the  great  masses  in  which 
it  collects  gives  name  to  the  "Sargossa  Sea."  It 
is  never  attached  to  any  object,  but  is  always 
found  floating. 

There  is  tan  indeiscribabk  charm  in  walking 
along  the  ocean  strand.  S'ome  object  never  seen 
before  is  ever  apt  to  m-eet  the  eye,  while  tihose 
which  are  familiar  grow  more  interesting.  Thus, 
the  study  is  never  ending,  the  charm  is  ever  new. 
A  fragment  of  Icelanyd  moss  carries  us  in  imag- 
ination to  the  iand  of  perpetual  snows,  and  the 
long  hollow  tube  of  the  sea  trumpet  transports 
us  to  the  sweltering  heat  and  luxuriant  vegeta- 
tion of  the  tropics ;  while  the  waves  of  the  great 
deep  roll  over  such  forms  of  life  that  we  know 
are  beyond  the  powers  of  mind  to  conceive  or 
imagination   to   fancy. 

The  best  time  to  gather  seaweed  is  in  the 
early  mornimg,  before  the  sun  has  withered  its 
dainty  orisp-ness  or  'bleajched  out  its  delicate  col- 
oring. The  Atlantic  coast  of  Long  Island,  and 
particularly  at  the  mouth  of  a  harbor  or  inlet, 
presents  a  splendid  field  for  the  delightful  pur- 
suit. Nature  in  her  primeval  majesty  and  love- 
liness is  ihere  reveailed  asi  the  sun  rises  out  of  the 
waters  and  lays  a  brilliantly  colored  pathway  to 
our  feet,  chajnging  the  banks  of  vapor  to  gold 
and  purple  and  crimson,  which  slowly  vanish  to 
give  place  to  the  clear  blue  ether  as  the  sun 
mounts  higher  in  the  heavens. 

Here,  too,  the  ocean  has  recorded  its  trag- 
edies in  the  unmistakable  characters  of  broken 
spars,  twisted  cordage  and  fragments  of  storm- 
torn  vessels.  What  the  mission  of  the  wrecked 
vessel  may  have  been,  or  whither  it  came  and 
for  what  port  it  sailed,  can  seldom  be  determined. 
In  imany  cases  there  wais;  a  tragedy  which  left  no 
witness.  So  broad  is  the  ocean  highway  that 
even  of  its  immense  traffic  no  passing  vessel  af- 
forded an  audience  when  death  rang  down  the 
curtain  to  the  roar  of  the  teimpest,  upon  the  last 
act,  when  mute  white  faces  were  covered  over, 
unshniven  by  priest  and  unhallowed  by  prayer,  in 
a  cemetery  where  no  separate  plot  is  dedicated  to 
burial  purposes,  and  no  gravestone  is  reared  to 
mark  the  place  of  sepulture. 

This   flotsam   of   the    sea   is   usually   thickly 


covered  over  with  an  infinite  variety  of  ocean 
life  gathered  from  the  deep.  Fragments  of 
wreckage  which  are  still  partially  submerged  re- 
tain much  of  these  stores,  and  we  are  enabled  to 
learn  the  growth  and  manner  of  attaching  to 
deep  sea  moorings  m'uch  better  than  if  these  spe- 
cimens had  not  been  cast 'up  by  the  tide.  Over 
battered  mast  and  yard  and  broken  oar,  trail 
lichens  and  algae  foreign  to  our  shores,  while 
groups  of  mussels  and  barnacles,  firmly  attached 
to  the  wood,  or  waving  by  long  threads  to  the 
motion  of  the  waves,  search  for  food  with  open 
imouths,  as  nature  has  ordained.  And  yet  far- 
ther does  nature  continue  her  work.  Where 
one  shell  dies,  or  has  fulfilled  its  mission,  it  serves 
as  a  habitation  or  foundation  far  smaller  ones, 
and  for  the  innumerable  varieties  or  hryozoa  or 
inferior  coral  to  build  upon,'  and  on  those,  in 
turn,  countless  varieties  of  seaweed  fasten  their 
roots  and  flourish.  An  old  shell  may  constitute 
a  valuable  zoological  and  botanical  garden  of  the 
sea,  which  years  of  study  wo-uld  not  exhaust. 

Unlike  the  land,  the  sea  is  largely  protected 
from  the  ravages  of  man.  "His  control  stops 
witlh  t)he  shore,"  and,  beyond  it,  nature  asserts 
her  sway,  undiisturbed  and  unmolested,  as  she 
'has  from  the  beginning  of  time,  withholding  her 
Wonders  from  curious  eyes,  save  as  she  reveals  , 
— sufficient  to  awaken  our  wonder — those  forms 
which  she  herself  has  cast  up.wfhem  their  span 
of  life  is  completed. 

Totally  different  in  appearance,  topography 
and  soil  is  the  northern  shore,  which  skirts  Long 
Island  Sound.  Here  the  sandy  beaches  have 
given  way  to  bold  amd,  in  many  cases,  precipit- 
ous bluffs,  into  which  the  Sound  has  broken  and 
spreads  itself  out  in  placid  and  pictuiesque  bays, 
and  great  arms  of  this  inland  sea  stretch  here 
and  there  into  the  interior.  Upon  their  shores 
are  charming  sites  for  summer  homes,  where 
the  loveliest  of  marine  views  may  be  enjoyed 
amid  surroundings  of  field  and  meadow  and 
copse,  and  where,  giving  out  an  aroma  grateful 
and  healing  to  long  oppressed  lungs  now  ex- 
panding' into  renewed  activity  in  breathing  the 
air  of  primeval  nature, 


8 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


"The  murmuring  pines 
Bearded  with  moss,  and  in  garments  green,  indistinct  in 

the  twilight, 
Stand  like  Druids  of  eld,  with  voices  sad  and  prophelic, 
Stand  like  harpers    hoar,  with  beards  that  rest  on  their 

bosoms." 

Here  and  -tihere,  hidden  away  within  the  for- 
est, are  placid  lakes  v^here  boating  may  be  en- 
joyed without  thougiht  of  fear.  At  another 
point  is  a  veritable  nature's  old  curiosity  shop, 
where  giant  trees  and  vines  take  on  all  sorts  of 
fantaistic  shape.  Again  is  found  a  little  body 
of  water  strikingly  remindful  of  the  lake  of  the 
Dismial  Swiaimp' — s.  rare  spot  to  visit  by  the  light 
of  the  moon.  Looking  up  the  tortuo-us  stream 
which  feeds  it,  the  straggling  moonbeam  which 
creeps  through  the  trees  fringing  its  banks  and 
glints  upon  its  waters  far  away,  would  seem  to 
be  a  sign  of  the  presence  of  the  phantom  Indian 
maiden,  and  the  voyager  almo&t  expects  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of 

"The  lover  and  maid  so  true, 

Seen  at  the  hour  of  midnight  damp. 
To  cross  the  lake  by  a  fire-fly  lamp 
And  paddle  their  white  cano'e." 

The  central  portion  oi  Long  Island  presents 
all  the  characteristics  of  a  farming  country  in 
which  agriculture  'has  made  advanced  strides  and 
has  been  brought  to  its  highest  perfection.  In 
soil  and  climatic  conditions  it  is  admirably  adapt- 
ed to  vegetable  and  fruit  farming.  Thousands  of 
its  broad  acres  are  being  scientifically  and  in- 
telligently tilled,  and  from  this  region  there  goes 
to  the  market  of  New  York  City  daily  contribu- 
tions in  enormous  volume,  and  of  the  finest  qual- 
ity. The  surrounding  waters  teem  with  the 
finest  varieties  of  salt-water  fisih,  and  the  world- 
famous  little  neck  clams.  The  blue  point  oys- 
teng  are  natives  of  the  Great  South  Bay,  on  the 
south  side. 

That  the  people  of  Long  Island  are  thorough- 
ly alive  to  the  desirability  oif  advancing  their  ma- 
terial interests  and  personal  comfort,  and,  also, 
of  making  the  region  as  attractive  as  possible  to 
those  cominig  to  them-  from  tlie  outside  world,  is 
attested  by  the  intelligent  attention  which  has 
been  given  to  highway  improvement,  and  by  the 


large  expenditures  which  have  been  and  are  being 
made  for  that  purpose. 

Indispensable  to  moiderh  commerce  as  are 
railroads  and  natural  or  artificial  navigable  wa- 
ters, the  country  road  is  of  first  importance.  It 
is  to  the  farmer  w'hat  the  river  is  to  the  harbor 
and  the  ocean.  It  reaches  the  door  of  every 
farmer  and  gardener  and  orchardist,  and  over  it 
must  be  conveyed  every  product  that  reaches 
either  the  small  market  in  the  village  near  by, 
or  goes  to  that  greater  one  where  hundreds  of 
thousands  are  to  be  fed. 

There  is  also  a  moral  'sdde  to  the  question,  as 
affect'ing  social  and  educational  interests.  Road 
improvement  tends  to  make  the  rural  districts — 
tlie  most  enjoyable  on  earth  for  a  home  and  in 
which  to  rear  a  family — ^more  pleasant  and  more 
profitable  to  live  in.  Their  people  are  thus  en- 
abled to  comfortably  reach  the  village,  not  only  to 
market,  but  to  attend  'church,  and  to  enjoy  the 
advantages  of  the  library,  the  lecture  and  the 
concert.  Thuisi  making  rural  domestic  life  more 
charming,  we  would  ibe  spared  that  large  exodus 
of  old  families  that  has  worked  so  woeful  a  tran- 
sition ini  many  parts  of  the  country.  Then  we 
shall  have  really  founded,  as  we  should,  homes 
in  which  our  descendants,  will  delight  to  dwell, 
and  which  they  will  cherish  as  does  the  English 
manorial  gentleman  'his  old  ancestral  home  with 
its  fragrant  memories  and  its  inspiring  tradi- 
tions— a  condition  which,  asi  a  matter  of  fact, 
obtains  upon  Long  Island  as  scarcely  anywhere 
upon  Am'erican  soil. 

It  is  only  in  recent  years  that  intelligent  care 
has  been  given  to  the  making  and  keeping  up 
of  the  country  road.  Even  now  the  matter  is 
sadly  neglected  in. some  of  the  moist  fertile  agri- 
cultural regions  in  the  country — where  the  soil 
Is  so  deep  that  in  rainy  season  the  wheel  of  the 
farm  wagon  sinks  into>  the  ruts  until  the  hub 
drags  along  the  road  isurface.  In  such  regions 
the  old  fasihioned  way  of  "working  the  road" 
yet  prevails.  For  one  or  two  days  each  year 
the  adjacent  property  owners  are  called  out  bv 
the  road  overseer,  and  for  a  few  hours  perform 


EASTERN    LONG  ISLAND. 


9 


an  inefficient  job,  filling  up  a  few  ruts,  or  draw- 
ing down  an  upheaval  by  means  of  a  scraper,  de- 
voting the  greater  part  of  the  day  to  sitting  in 
the  fence  corner,  discussing  politics  and  crop 
prospects. 

Years  a^go,  in  vario'Us  meetings  of  the  Queens- 
Nassau  Agricultural  Society  and  the  Suffolk 
County  Agricultural  Society,  was  discussed  the 
necessity  for  improved  roads  and  methods  to  that 
end.  At  a  later  day  appeared  the  bicycle,  which, 
for  a  time,  was  regarded  by  the  general  farm- 
ing public  as  being  such  a  nuisance  and  menace 
to  their  personal  safety  as  they  consider  the  au- 
tomobile to  be  to-day.  But  the  bicycle  was  an 
educator,  and  a  powerful  one.  Wheeling  clubs 
throughout  the  State  and  country  made  common 
cause  in  procuring  legislation  and  appropriations 
for  road  making,  and  introduced  better  methods 
tjherefor.  Under  these  combined  influences, 
rapid  improvement  was  made,  and,  except  in  re- 
mote regionisi,  tihe  roads  of  the  greater  part  of 
Long  Island  now  compare  favorably  with  any  in 
the  State,  while  those  in  the  vicinity  of  the  prin- 
cipal towns  and  villages  are  unsurpassable.  The 
accompanying  plate  presents  the  contrast  be- 
tween fopmer  and  present  road  conditions. 

Delightful  Long  Island,  which  in  area  exceeds 
the  Stat-e  of  Rhode  Island  by  more  than  four 
hundred  square  miles,  affords  room  and  accom- 
modations for  the  three  great  desirable  classes — 
the  millionaire,  the  man  who  is  in  what  is  termed 
comfortable  ciroum'stances,  and  the  prudent 
wage  earner  who  must  needs  secure  the  greatest 
possible  comfort  at  a  minimum  expense.  Pecu- 
liarly is  it  a  home  for  the  two  classes  first  named 
whose  business  concerns  are  in  the  great  metrop- 
olis, and,  in  these  conditions,  they  are  more 
hi'ghly  favored  than  are  their  fellows  in  any 
other  American  city,  or  on  the  globe,  for  that 
matter.  Generally  speaking,  there  is  a  well  de- 
fined line  of  separation  between  the  pleasure 
ground  and  the  residential  region.  The  towns 
known  as  pleasure  resorts  are  situated  on  the 
ocean  side  of  the  island,  and  do  not  extend  far- 
ther east  than  Rockaway.  The  remainder  of  the 
sea  front  and  all  the  Sound  shore  are  for  him 


who  seeks,  surcease  from  the  gnnd  of  business 
and  the  exactions  of  ultra-social  life  in  the  quiet- 
ness of  real  'home  life. 

Dotting  both  coasts  at  frequent  intervals,  and 
inland  as  well,  are  a  multitude  of  towns  and  vil- 
lages presenting  every  feature  of  architecture, 
from'  the  -modest  cottage  to  the  elegant  mansion, 
with  their  lawns  and  flower  gardens  of  exuber- 
ant foliage  and  exquisite  fragrance.  These 
towns  are  of  every  characteristic  save  one — there 
is  none  given  over  to  the  vicions,  nor  any  where 
good  morals  are  contemned  or  modesty  offended. 

There  are  veritable  cities  with  their  church 
edifices  which  would  grace  a  metropolis ;  libra- 
ries sufficient  for  all  needs  save  those  of  the  del- 
ver  in  the  deepest  fields  of  tedhnical  science;  op- 
era houses  and  clubhouses  ;  and  shops  displaying 
the  finest  fabrics.  They  are  also  world  famjous 
as  ocean  resorts,  affording  pleasures  and  social 
advantages  comparable  only  with  the  most  cele- 
brated European  watering  places.  Here  are  ho- 
tels really  palatial  in  their  vast  dimensions,  beau- 
tiful architecture  and  sumptuous  appointments, 
containing  under  a  single  roof  all  that  can  min- 
ister to  personal  comfort  and  give  indoor  de- 
lig'ht.  They  contain  spacious  apartments  for 
concert  and  ball,  and  the  ordhestra  maintained 
through  the  season  is  as  capable  of  giving  a  mas- 
terly rendition  of  the  delightfully  soft  and  sooth- 
ing nocturne  from  Mendelssohn's  "Midsummer 
Night's  Dream"  before  a  parlor  audience  as  of 
playing  the  inspiring  "Blue  Danube  Waltzes"  in 
the  spacious  ball  room.  There  are  billiard  and 
card  roomis,  and  special  play  rooms  and  grounds 
for  children.  Here  fashion'  has  its  unlimited 
sway.  Here  are  worn  costumes  which  would 
grace  a  queen's  drawing  room,  and  jewels  a 
princess   well   might   envy. 

There  are  also  many  modest  villages  which 
make  no  pretense  to  recognition  as  places-  of 
popular  resort,  nor  boast  the  advantages  sought 
by  the  world  of  fashion,  to  which  come  hosts 
of  those  in  quest  of  rest  and  mild  recreation, 
wiho  find  their  waants  supplied  at  a  moderate  ex- 
pense. Some  of  these  had  their  founding  in 
such  a  sentiment  as  was  expressed  by  the  gen- 
tle Quaker" poet,  who.  one  season  long  ago,  set 


10 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


ROAD  BEFORE  IMPROVEMENT. 


RdAD  AFTER-IMPROVEMENT. 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


11 


up  his  "Tent  on  the  Beach,"  far  from  the  tumult 
of  the  giddy  throng,  and,  looking  upon  old  ocean, 
and  listening  to  its  deep  solemn  diapason,  rever- 
entially wrote: 

"The  harp  at  nature's  advent  strung 
Has  never  ceased  to  play; 
The  song  the  stars  of  morning  sung 
Has  never  died  away. 

"And  prayer  is  made  and  praise  is  given 
By  all  things  near  an-d  far — 
The  ocean  looketh  up  to  heaven 
And  mirrors  every  star. 

"Its  waves  are  kneeling  on  the  strand 
As  kneels  the  human  knee, 
Their  white  locks  bending  to  the  sand, 
Th-c  priesthood  of  the  sea. 

+  *  *  *  4:  * 

"And  nature  keeps  the  rev'rent  frame 
With  which  her  years  began; 
And  all  her  signs'  and  voices  shame 
The  prayerless  heart  of  man." 

Many  of  the  towns  notable  for  their  historic 
associations  are  written  of  at  length  in  succeeding 
pages  of  this  work,  but  some  are  mentionied  in 
this  connection,  even  at  the  risk  of  some  little 
repetition. 

Far  Rockaway,  which  extends  to  the  south- 
em  division  line  between  the  counties  of  Queens 
and  Nassau,  was  a  favorite  resort  of  men  of  let- 
ters three-quarters  of  a  century  ago — Longfel- 
low, Willis,  Washington  Irving,  George  P ,  Mor- 
ris and  Herbert — and  it  is  believed  that  the  lat- 
ter named  Inhere  wrote  his  famous  lines — 

"On  old  Long  Island's  sea-girt  shore 

Many  an  hour  I've  whiled  away, 
Listening  to  the  breakers*  roar 

That  washed  the  beach  at  Rockaway. 
Transiixed  I've  stood  while  Nature's  lyre 

In  one  harmonious  concert  broke, 
And  catching  its  Promethean  fire 

My  inmost  soul  to  rapture  woke. 

"Oh,  how  delightful  'tis  to  stroll 

Where  the  murmuring  winds  and  waters  meet, 
Marking  the  billows  as  they  roll 

And  break  resistless  at  your  feet ; 
To  watch  young  Iris  as  she  dips 

Her  mantle  in  the  sparkling  dew, 
And,  chas-ed  by  Sol,  away  she  trips 

O'er  the  horizon's  quivering  blue — 

"To  hear  the  startling  night  winds  sigh, 

As  dreamy  twilight  lulls  to  skep, 
While  the  pale  moon  reflects  from  high 

Her  image  in  the  mighty  deep ; 
'Majestic  scene  where  Nature  dwells, 

Profound  in  everlasting  love, 
While  her  unmeasured  music  swells 

The  vaulted  firmanent  above." 


To  these  stanzas,  "inspired  by  the  measured 
rhythm  of  the  waves  breaking  against  the  mag- 
nificent jutting  headland  which  is  Rockaway 's 
pride,"  was  given  a  musical  setting,  and  were 
popular  in  concert  rooms  and  parlors  for  many 
years. 

Juist  across  the  island,  almost  due  northward- 
ly from  Far  Rockaway,  is  Willett's  Point,  fa- 
mous as  one  of  the  most  important  military 
posts  in  the  United  States.  Jutting  far  out  from 
the  general  line  of  the  land,  where  the  broad 
Long  Island  Sound  narrows  into  what  is  known 
as  East  River,  it  would  seem  as  though  nature 
had  prepared  it  especially  as  an  effectual  barrier 
against  a  hostile  fleet  seeking,  to  reach  the  me- 
tropohs.  Yet  it  long  lay  uuiutilized.  True,  the 
United  States  government,  as  far  back  as  1857, 
bought  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  its  land  for 
military  uses,  but  no  work  was  accomplished 
until  1862,  when  fortifications  were  begun.  The 
work  was  not  prosecuted  methodically,  however, 
and  the  ground  was  principally  used  as  a  camp 
of  instruction  for  soldiers  and  for  hospital  pur- 
poses during  the  civil  war.  After  the  close  of 
the  war,  a  battalion  of  the  United  States  Engin- 
eer Corps  was  stationed  here,  and,  since  that 
time,  the  Point  has  been  practically  a  school  of 
inistruction  for  this  highly  important  branch  of 
the  military  establishment.  Here  the  men  are 
instructed  in  all  the  departments  of  their  calling, 
practical  as  well  as  theoretical,  and  are  famil^ 
iarized  with  the  construction  and  laying  of 
bridges,  and  the  use  of  torpedoes,  high  explo- 
sives and  electrical  apparatus,  in  addition  to  all 
the  labors  formerly  devolving  upon  sappers  and 
miners.  The  original  fortifications  consisted  of 
a  stone  fort,  which  long  ago  became  obsolete 
through  the  introduction  of  long  range  guns. 
The  present  elaborate  forts  which  crown  the 
hills  are  massive  stone  and  earth  works,  mounted 
with  the  most  im-proved  ordnance,  among  which 
are  many  guns  mounted  on  disappearing  carri- 
ages. The  waters  thus  commanded  are  charted 
for  the  planting  of  torpedoes  in  case  of  neces- 
sity, as  during  the  recent  Spanish-American  war, 
when  alarm  was  occaisiioned  by  the  reported  ap- 
proach o'f  a  hostile  fleet.     The  post  is  a  verita- 


12 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


ble  community  in  itself,  with  its  sdiool  for  the 
children  of  officers  and  soldiers,  a  chapel,  a  print- 
ing office,  and  suitable  club  and  assembly  room's. 

A  pleasant  reminiscence  of  the  past,  which 
links  the  name  of  the  village  of  Mineola  to  that 
of  Victoria,  queen  of  her  sex  as  she  was  of  her 
great  realm,  was  resurrected  in  1875  by  the 
"Hempstead  Inquirer,"  from  which  we  condense 
the  narrative  which  follows : 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Samuel  Tredwell,  of 
Mineola,  which  occurred  September  25,  1873, 
was  found  among  his  papers  a  letter  written  in 
1774  by  Mrs.  Mary  Campbell,  then  a  resident 
O'f  Philadelphia,  addressed  to  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Frazer.  In  this  letter  the  writer  trans- 
cribed, for  the  edification  of  her  daughter,  some 
correspondence  from  her  sister,  a  Miss  Planta, 
who  was,  when  she  wrote,  tutor  to  the  children 
of  King  George  III,  w^hom  she  charmingly  de- 
scribed, as  the  following  excerpt  will  show : 

Philadelphia,  1774. 
My  dear  Rebecca :  I  know  you  love  the  King, 
and  in  consequence  will  be  pleased  to  have  a 
description  of  the  six  boys  and  three  girls  in 
King  George's  family,  all  of  them  being  praised 
for  their  beauty  and  princely  gifts.  Your  aunt 
says  they  are  all  healthy,  sensible  and  good  tem- 
pered and  would  attract  notice  though  they  were 
clothed  in  rags.  One  more  thing  common  to 
them  all  is  a  very  retentive  memory.  Their 
dress  is  as  unadorned  as  their  rank  will  admit. 
In  the  day  of  dress  the  little  sword's  the  boys  wear 
maked  me  laugh.  Imagine  yourself  little  Prince 
William  at  eighteen  months  old  in  his  nurse's 
arms,  with  a  sword  by  his  side  and  a  chapeau  bras 
under  his  arm.  Such  was  his  figure.  I'heir  diet 
is  extremely  plain  and  light.  I  believe  they  all 
love  me,  and  I  have  gained  their  afifections  by 
making  their  learning  as  much  a  play  as  pos- 
sible; by  gentleness  and  steadiness  I  have 
brought  them  not  to  ask  me  twice  for  the  same 
thing.  I  have  put  to'gether  a  set  of  cards,  which 
contain  the  history  of  England,  or  more  prop- 
erly an  idea  of  it,  and  have  reduced  the  chron- 
ology of  England  to  a  game,  by  which  the 
Princesses  are  better  chronologists  than  I  was 
three  years  ago.  Princess  Elizabeth  is  now 
learning  the  succession  of  kings,  according  to 
their  several  lines,  by  them.  The  Queen  did 
me  the  honor  to  say  that  she  would  translate 
them  into  German. 


Pray  do  not  consider  me  partial,  my  dear 
sister,  in  what  I  have  said;  for  indeed 

I  am  with  the  greatest  respect,  very  truly 
yours, 

(Mrs.  Samuel)' Amanda  Tredwell. 
East  Williston,  Queens  Co., 

New  York,  U.  'S.  A. 

This  letter  Mrs.  Tredwell,  widow  of  Dr. 
Tredwell,  transmitted  to  Queen  Victoria,  a 
graniddaughter  of  King  George,  with  the  follow- 
irug  note : 

October  2Sth,   1874. 
Queen  Victoria: 

Dear  Madam :  I.  found  the  enclosed  among 
some  papers  recently  come  into  my  possession. 
As  it  is  a  century  oid,  and  gives  an  account  of 
■your  grandfather's  family,  i  thought  it  might 
be  interesting  to  yourself  and  c'hildren,  which 
must  be  my  apology  for  sending  it. 

If,  in  looking  it  over,  you  are  pleased  to  ob- 
serve how  iprecocious  the  children  were,  and  how 
royally  they  deoorted  themselves,  I  shall  have 
my  xeward.  You  had,  my  dear  madam-,  my 
heartfelt  sympathy  in  your  great  sorrow,  and  I 
shall  ever  rejoice  in  the  happiness  and  prosperity 
of  yourself  and  family. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect,  very  truly, 
yours, 

(Mrs.  Samuel)  Amanda  Tredwell. 
East  Williston,  Queens  Co., 

New  York,  U.  S.  A. 

To  this  letter  was  returned  the  following  an- 
swer : 

Buckingham  Palace,  London, 
Jan.  21,  1875. 

Madam  :  The  Queen  desires  me  tO'  acknowl- 
edge your  letter  of  last  October,  and  the  letters 
you  enclosed,  which  interested  Her  Majesty 
greatly,  and  for  which  I  am  to  return  you  Her 
Majesty's  thanks. 

The  Queen  has  kept  the  letters  and  wishes 
you  to  accept  in  return  the  framed  photograph 
of  Her  Majesty,  which  I  have  forwarded  to  be 
delivered  to  you  per  the  British  Legation  at 
Washington. 

I  aim,  your  obdt,,  humble  servant, 

T.  'M.  Biddulph, 
Mrs.  (Dr.)  Samuill  Tredwell. 

This  letter,  so  characteristic  of  the  womanly 
grace  of  the  great  Queen;  was  sealed  with  the 
royal  signet,  and  the  portrait  accompanying  it 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


13 


was  a  half-length  miniature,  admirably  executed, 
showing  the  sovereign  seated.  The  frame  Avas 
of  gilt  bronze,  with  folding  enclosures  to  the 
picture,  anil  ornajiiented  with  open^-work  and  a 
beautifully  wrought  border.  Upon  the  solid 
back  was  inscribed  the  following : 

PRESENTED    BY 

HER   :sL\JESTV,    QUEEN   VICTORIA, 

TO 

Mrs.  (Dr.)  Samuel  Tredwell, 
Mineola,  L.  I. 

In  recognition  of  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Tredwell, 
of  an  old  family  letter,  dated  1774,  in  which  is 
a  most  interesting  description  of  the  children 
of  George  the  Third,  written  by  their  governess, 
Miss  Planta. 

1875. 

This  beautiful  token  from  the  Queen,  which 
was  entirely  unexpected,  is  carefully  preserved 
and  hi'g^hly  prized.  How  the  letter  oi  Miss 
Planta  came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  Tredwell 
is  not  known,  but  it  is  presumable  that  it  was 
handed  down  to  'him  by  his  father,  who  probably 
received  it  direct  from  Mrs.  Frazer  herself. 

In  the  old  village  of  Hempstead  is  yet  stand- 
ing tlie  old  'hotel  where  ^\''ashington  once  rested, 
and  in  Elmhurst  (formerly  Newtown)  is  yet 
the  old  church  in  which  the  same  great  soldier 
and  patriot  worshipped,  as  did  the  ill-fated  An- 
dre but  'shortly  before  he  paid  the  penalty  which 
was  more  properly  the  due  of  Benedict  Arnold. 

Garden  City  is  the  See  city  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Diocese  oif  Long  Island,  and  was 
founded  by  the  late  A.  T.  Stewart.  It  is  a  re- 
ligious, educational  and  social  center.  Grouped 
about  the  beautiful  Cathedral  are  a  number  of 
schools,  including  the  famous  St.  Paul's  school 
for  boys,  endowed  and  erected  by  Mrs.  A.  T. 
Stewart,  as  a  memorial  to  her  husband.  It  is  a 
splendid  building,  and  from  it  through  the  trees 
the  tall  spire  af  the  Cathedral  is  seen,  exquLsiite 
in  its  Gothic  beauty.  Here  is  also  located  St. 
Mary's  school  for  young  ladies. 

Roslyn  has  its  reminiscences  of  William  Cul- 
len  Bryant,  who  here  wrote  some  of  his  choicest 
verse,  and  compiled  bis  "Glossary  of  American 


Poetry."  Here,  too,  came  a  goodly  company  of 
his  intimate  friends — Ralph  Waldo  Emerson, 
John  G.  Whittier,  Hamilton  Mabie,  Henry 
Ward-Beecher,  Lyman  Abbott  and  other  noted 
literateuis. 

Near  Glen  Cove,  C.  A.  Dana,  the  veteran  ed- 
itor of  the  "New  York  Sun/"'  laid  out  his  mag- 
nificent estate,  known  as  Dana's  Island,  upon 
which  he  lavished  an  unremitting  care,  and  to 
which  he  brought  trees,  shrubs  and  plants  col- 
lected from  every  clime  and  nation. 

Manhasset  has  its  captivating  traditions,  and 
among  themi  is  the  story  that  hither  came  the  Pu- 
ritan Aides  Standish,  more  successful  as  a  soldier 
than  diplomatic  as  a  lover,  and  with  a  friend,  one 
Davis.  Davis  loved  an  Indian  n:iaiden,  and  was 
beloved  by  her.  She>  was  also  loved  by  a  young 
Indian  chief,  but  she  repulsed  his  advances  and 
fled  with  Davis.  The  white  lover  was  faithful 
unto  death.  After  a  long  pursuit,  the  pair  were 
overtaken  at  a  great  stone,  against  which  the 
doomed  Davis  placed  his  back,  and  fought  val- 
iantly until  he  fell  under  the  onslaught  of  his 
dusky  rival  and  his  companions.  After  her 
white  lover  had  fallen,  the  Indian  maiden  plucked 
from  his  breast  the  fatal  arrow  and  drove  it  into 
her  own  breast.  The  two  were  buried  where 
they  fell,  and  their  names  are  yet  to  be  discerned 
upon  the  stone  once  stained  with  their  blood,  and 
which  is  now  nearly  covered  with  moss  and 
rugged  vines.  It  is  a  romantic  story,  but  such  as 
has  been  told,  in  essence,  since  the  sexes  found 
each  other,  and  the  spot  upon  which  the  trag- 
edy occurred  is  often  the  shrine  to  which  lov- 
ers of  a  fairer  and  more  well  spoken  day  repair, 
to  repledge  their  vows  of  fealty  to  each  other. 

Hicksvilie  commemorates  the  name  oi  Elias 
Hicks,  a  leader  among  the  gentle  sect  of  Friends, 
or  Quakers.  As  if  in  marked  contrast,  not  far 
distant  is  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  which  in  re- 
cent day  has  been  a  point  upon  which  the  gaze 
of  the  world  has  been  fastened  as  the  home  of 
a  notable  representative  of  modern  vigor  and  ag- 
gressiveness, whether  in  military  or  civil  life — 
President  Roosevelt. 

At  Huntington  m  a  sacred  spot,  a  veritable 
shrine  of  patriotism.     Here  a  massive  stone,  ap- 


14 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


propriately  inscrited,  tells  the  trafi:ic  story  of 
Nathan  Hale,  who  came  to  aii  ignoble  death  for 
discharging  a  most  urgent  duty  devolved  upon 
him  by  the  great  Washington. 

Every  one  who  has  liisitened  to  the  aboriginal 
terms  oi  Lonig  Island  localities,  or  read  the  story 
of  its  early  days,  will  recognize  "Patchogue"  as 
an  Indian  name.  History  tells  us  that  more  than 
twelve  tribes  who'  were  in  their  time  numerouis 
and  powerful,  'have  left  their  names  indelibly 
stamped  on  Long  Island.  They  included  the 
Canarsies,  the  Rockaways,  Massapequaisi,  Patch- 
ogues,  Shinnecocks,  Monitauks,  Manhassets,* 
Amaganisetts,  Ronkonkomas  and  others. 

Westhampton  was  the  home  of  General  John 
A.  Dix,  who,  at  a  critical  period,  when  treason 
ran  rampant,  and  the  safety  of  the  government 
was  threatened,  in  1861,  gave  the  patriotic  order 
that  "If  any  man  attempts  to  haul  down  the 
American  flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot !"  The 
ancestral  place  is  now 'the  summer  home  of  the 
Generars  son,  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan  Dix. 

Ani'ong  the  traditions  to  which  Quogue 
clioigs  tenaciously  is  that  De  Witt  Clinton  and 
Daniel  Webster  were  accustomed  to  spend  their 
vacation  days  here,  enjoying  in  the  fullest  degree 
the  bathing  and  the  fishing,  with  the  attendant 
shore  dinner.  Hence  it  comes  that  fish  dinners 
arc  in  these  modern  days  the  popular  thing  at 
this  charming  little  place  by  the  sea. 

Connecting  the  waters  of  Peconic  and  Shin- 
necock  bays  is  an  ancient  and  long  disused  canal, 
and  near  it  is  a  tavern  of  ancient  times  but  mod- 
ern comforts.  There  are  growing  in  front  of  it 
two  immense  willows  grown  from  slips  brought 
from  St.  Helena  from  a  tree  planted  by  the  Finst 
Napoleon,  and  a  notable  exterior  decoration  is  a 
colossal  wooden  statue  of  Hercules,  the  weath- 
er-worn figure'head  of  the  famous  old  United 
States  warship,  "Ohio."  In  the  cemetery  of  a 
quaint  little  church  nearby,  in  which  he  preached, 
is  the  grave  o'f  the  last  of  the  Indian  missionaries, 
Rev.  Paul  Cuffee,  and  not  far  away  are  the  ruins 
of  an  old  fort. 

Southamipton  cherishes  the  memory  of  one  of 
its  old-time  whalers,  Mercator  Cooper,  who,  by 
returning  a  crew  of  shipwrecked  Japanese  sail- 


ors to  their  native  home,  first  invited  the  friend- 
ship of  Japan,  and  made  it  the  easier  for  Commo- 
dore Perry  to  succeed  in  opening  the  ports  of  that 
country  to  American  shipping. 

It  was  at  Easthampton,  so  says  tradition,  that 
Europeans  landed  before  the  Pilgrims  stepped 
foot  upon  Plymouth  Rock,  and  here  was  made 
one  of  the  first  actual  settlements  on  Long  Isl- 
and. Here  was  the  home  of  one  of  the  first  and 
most  famous  settlers,  Lion  Gardiner,  whose 
tomb  is  surmounted  by  the  efifigy  of  an  armored 
knight  recumbent.  And  here  was  born  John 
Howard  Payne,  the  author  of  "Home,  Sweet 
Home,"  known  to  every  ear  and  w^hich  has  been 
siung  by  nearly  every  voice  in  Christendom.  "An 
exile  from  home,"  the  unhappy  poet  bore  with 
him  those  tender  Tecollections  of  the  quaint  old 
cottage  and  of  the  guardians  and  companions 
of  his  youth  which  warmed  his  heart  and  tuned 
his  lyre  to  the  thrilling  yet  pathetic  lines  which 
will  for  all  time  voice  the  sentiments  of  the 
wanderer  who  has  found  this  world 

"A  fleeting  show 
For  man's  illusion  given — 
Whose  smiles  of  joy,  whose  tears  of  woe, 
Deceitful  shine,  deceitful  flow." 

The  residences,  whether  in  town,  or  villa 
standing  apart  from  others,  present  every  style 
of  architecture,  from  the  colonial  mansion  and 
farm  home  to  the  elegant  palace-like  edifice  and 
pretty  cottage  of  the  present  time.  Those  of  the 
latter  period  are  significant  of  the  cosmopolitan 
character  of  the  people  of  to-day  who  were  their 
creators  and  are  their  occupants.  They  have 
travelled  much,  and  they  brought  with  them  from 
foreign  lands  all  that  is  beautiful  and  desirable 
(and,  in  some  instances,  much  that  is  not),  in 
design  and  idea  for  material ;  indeed,  in  numer- 
ous cases,  even  material  has  been  brought  from 
workshops  abroad  for  interior  adornment.  From 
Rockaway  to  Southampton  and  beyond,  are 
homes  which  are  remindful  of  every  country  in 
Europe  where  science  has  a  home  and  art  is 
treasured. 

Beautiful,  too,  are  the  adornments  of  the 
grounds  surrounding  them.  In  the  more  an- 
cient dooryards  are  trees  and  hedges  and  flow- 


EASTERN   LONG  ISLAND. 


15 


ers   brought   long   ago    from   lands    beyond   the  rail-fences  of  Virginia,  the  osage  orange  hedges 

seas,   and   from   far-distant  places   in   our  own  of  Illinois  and  Ohio,  and  the  barbed  wire  of  the 

country.     The  locust  trees  w^hidh  are  now  found  farther  west — are  made  by  cutting  small  trees 

everywhere  upon  Long  Island,  and  give  a  glory  half  way  throug'h,  near  the  ground,  and  interlac- 

of  color  and  a  fragrant  perfume  in  early  sum-  ing  them  into  each  other,  making  a  continuous 


.iff.--^^ 


BOYHOOD  HOMK   OF  JOHN  HOWARD  PAYNE. 

Author  of  the  Words  of  the  Song.  "Home,  Sweet  Home." 


mer  to  the  lanes  and  byroads,  had  their  origin 
at  Sands  Point,  where  Captain  John  Sands,  two 
centuries  ago,  planted  trees  brought  from  Vir- 
ginia to  adorn  the  home  he  had  builded  for  Si- 
byl, his  fair  young  bride.  A  delightful  reminis- 
cence of  colonial  life  is  seen  in  the  picturesque 
hedgerows  known  now^here  else  in  America  than 
on  Long  Island,  and-  most  numerous  in  the  oldest 
parts  of  Suffolk  county.  These  hedgerows — 
which  here  serve  in  place  of  the  unsightly  up- 
turned tree  roots  of  upper  New  York,  the  stone 
walls  of  Pennsylvania  and   New   England,   the 


and  nearly  horizontal  line  of  branches,  into  which 
intertwine  wild  vines  bearing  flower  and  fruit. 
And  on  Shelter  Island  is  Sylvester  Manor,  with 
its  old  garden  with  a  multitude  of  flower  beds, 
and  the  most  ancient  box  shrub  (euphorbiaceae) 
known  in  America,  brought  and  planted  by  Gris- 
sel  Sylvester  in  1656.  And  near  it  stands  an 
old  sun  dial  bearing  the  motto,  peculiarly  signi- 
ficant of  the  beauties  of  Long  Island:  "I  tell 
only  of  sunny  hours."  The  present  mani&ion  is 
nearly  a  century  old,  and  it  stands  almost  upon 
the  site  of  the  original  building,  constructed  of 


16 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


brick  brought  from  Holland,  and  its  windows  and 
doors-  brought  from'  England.  Here  the  toler- 
ant and  warm-'hearted  Nathaniel  Sylvester  ex- 
tended his  hospitality  to  the  meek  Quakers,  driv- 
en out  of  New  England  by  the  intolerance  of  the 
Puritans. 

The  old  Sylvester  burying  ground,  not  far 
from  the  Manor  house,  is  one  of  the  attractions 
to  visitors  in  search  o'f  the  ancient  and  the 
picturesque. 

It  occupies  but  a  small  space,  measuring 
about  fifty  by  twenty-five  yards.  It  is  well 
shaded  and  is  in  every  way  such  a  spot  as 
would  be  selected  by  the  first  resident  pro- 
prietor of  the  manor  of  Shelter  Island.  Na- 
thaniel iSvlvester  would  have  taken  umbrage  at 


fence  around  a  seventeenth  century  graveyard. 
Relic  hunters  have  perhaps,  chipped  away  bits 
of  the  slate  head  stones,  but  the  weather, 
doubtless,  has  had  much  to  do  with  tiheir 
time  worn  appearance.  The  inscriptions  upon 
the  slate  headstones  are  much  more  easily  de- 
cipherable than  those  oi  the  granite  tablets.  "^£ 
these  headstones  there  are  nineteen. 

In  the  center  of  the  burying  place  ii  i 
monument  of  rather  imposing  dimensi<  . 
The  upper  and  the  lower  slabs  are  covered  \  i 
inscriptions.  The  upper  slab  is  of  marble  and 
the  inscription  denotes  that  buried  beneath  it 
is  the  body  of  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  "First 
Resident  Proprietor  of  the  Manor  of  Shelter 
Island,   Under   Grant    of    Charles    II,    A.    D., 


MONUMENT  ON  SYLVESTER  MANOR  ESTATE. 

From  Photograph  Furnished  by  Mrs.  George  Wilson  Smith,  of  New  York  City. 


one  feature,  of  ihis  earthly  resting  place.  It  is 
enclosed  by  a  fence  made  of  oaken  posts  and 
iron  piping.  Of  the  latter  there  are  two  rows. 
Above  the  top  row  is  a  strip  of  barbed  wire. 
It  looks  curiously  out  of  place,  and  one  won- 
ders why  it  was  put  there.  Had  the  fence 
been  of  wood  the  wire  would  have  been  no 
protection  against  relic  hunters,  but  even  the 
most  feeble  mintded  of  that  class  would  hardly 
contemplate  tOie  demolition,  bit  by  bit,  of  the 
iron  piping.  Besides,  there  is  som'ething  un- 
pleasantly   incongruous    about    a    barbed    wire 


1666."  It  also  contains  the  family  coat  of 
arms.  The  monument  is  approached  by  three 
stone  steps.  These  contain  the  following 
curious  inscriptions : 

"The  Puritan  in  his  pride,  overcome  by  the 
faith  of  the  Quaker,  gave  Concord  and  Lexing- 
ton and  Bunker  Hill  to  history. 

"The  blood  and  the  spirit  of  Victor  and  Van- 
quished alike  are  of  the  glory  of  Massachu- 
■  setts. 

"Daniel  Gould  bound  to  the  gun  carriage 
and  lashed. 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


17 


"Edward  Wharton,  the  much  scourged. 

"Christopher  Holder,  the  mutila-ted, 

"Ralph  Goldsmith,  the  shipmaster,  and  Sam- 
uel 'Shattuck  O'f  the  King's  missive ;  these  stones 
are  testimony, 

"Lawrence  and  Cassandra  Southwick,  de- 
spoiled, imprisoned,  starved,  whipped,  ban- 
ished. 

*"\Vho  fled  here  to  die. 

"]\Iary  Dyer,  Alarmaduke  Stevenson,  Will- 
iam Robinson  and  William  Leddra,  who  were 
executed  on  Boston  Common. 

"Of  the  suffering-  for  conscience  sake  of 
friends  of  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  most  of  whom 
sought  shelter  here,  including 

"George  Fox,  founder  of  the  Society  of 
Quakers,  and  of  his  followers." 

The  modern  lawns  are  set  out  with  all  the  var- 
iegated flowers  and  shruba  known  to  the  florist 
and  arboriculturist,  and  the  landscape  gardener 
has  proved  'himself  a  masterly  artist  in  displaying 
them  to  the  utmost  advantage.  He  has)  even,  in 
places,  so  chang-ed  the  ground  contour  as  to  give 
it  entirely  dilTerent  character.  Upon  a  plain 
he  'has  raised  up  a  goodly  hill,  and  elsewhere  he 
has  removed  a  hill  to  make  a  plain.  Was  the 
spot  destitute  of  tree  or  shrub,  he  made  a  grove 
and  hedges  and  flov/er  gardens  in  brief  season. 
At  Westbury,  on  the  Hempstead  Plain,  lives 
Henry  Hicks,  who,  at  the  behest  of  the  wealthy 
denizens  of  the  region,  Ihas  literally  changed  the 
face  of  nature.  With  his  father,  Isaac  Hicks, 
he  knows  every  tree  of  extraordinary  size  or 
peculiar  beauty,  and  every  hedgerow  on  Long 
Island,  and  he  will  contract  for  their  uprooting 
and  their  replacement  elsewhere  as  readily  as  the 
city  transfer  company  will  engage  to  move  a  piano 
from  one  house  to  another.  With  leverage  ap- 
paratus designed  for  the  purpose,  in  t^he  hands 
of  a  half-'hundred  men  or  less,  the  giant  oak  or 
elm,  thirty,  forty  or  fifty  feet  in  'height,  is  drawn 
out  of  the  ground  in  which  it  has  been,  apparent- 
ly, immovably  fixed  for  a  century  or  more,  with- 
out impairment  to  its)  wide-spreading  roots. 
Mounted  upon  a  truck,  two  c?r  three  span  of 
horses  transport  it  over  miles  of  country,  and  it 
is  reset  as  successfully  as  a  rose-bush  is  trans- 
planted. 

The  story  of  the  accomplishments  herein  re- 


ferred to,  is  of  real  interest,  and  its  telling  would, 
a  few  years  ago,  be  regarded  as  the  production 
of  the  novelist  of  vivid  imagination.  Of  a  truth, 
"necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention."  And  to 
this  proverb  may  be  added  the  fact  (for  such  it 
is)  that  whatever  wealth  seeks,  that  will  inven- 
tion supply.  Soon  after  Mr.  William  C.  Whitney 
had  purchased  'his  splendid  property  at  Wheatley 
Hills,  he  .bought  a  grove  of  two  hundred  trees 
of  various  varieties  and  had  them  reset  upon  his 
place.  On  Mr.  Stanley  Mortimer's  place,  upon 
the  summit  of .  Wiheatley  Hills,  are  many  large 
transplanted  cedars  and  other  evergreens,  and 
Norway  maples  of  great^size  have  been  moved 
to  the  estate  of  the  late  C.  Albert  Stevens,  near 
by.  "Wheatland's,"  Mr.  Edward  D.  Morgan's 
country  seat,  was  originally  a  bleak  spot,  but  it 
is  now  one  of  bhe  most  entrancingly  beautiful  on 
the  Wheatley  Hills,  made  .so  by  repeated  tree 
transplantations.  Among  these  adornments  of 
the  grounds  are  a  red  cedar  thirty-three  feet  in 
height,  a  beech  of  unusual  proportions,  a  horn- 
beam, red  maples  and  cedars  trimmed  to  re- 
semble bay  trees,  and  a  veritable  pine  forest.  A 
large  number  of  very  large  iSiilver  maples  were 
similarly  removed  to  the  estate  of  Mr.  O.  H.  P. 
Belmont,  at  Hempstead.  At  Cedarhurst,  Mr. 
Robert  C.  Burton  has  a  beautiful  avenue  of  pin- 
oaks  which  were  moved  across  the , country  from 
the  neighborhood  of  Mineola. 

The  Castlegould  estate  of  Mr.  Howard 
Gould,  at  Port  Washington,  will,  when  the  work 
is  completed,  afford  a  remarkable  illustration  of 
what  may  be  accomplished  in  the  way  of  tree 
transplantation.  Upon  the  grounds  are  two  fine 
avenues  of  majestic  wide-spreading  English 
elms  of  great  age.  Some  of  these  trees  stood 
there  from  the  far^distant  pasit.  By  judicious 
elimination,  the  avenuelike  effect  was  produced, 
and  the  avenues  were  perfected  by  setting  in 
proper  place  elms  of  size  and  shape  to  match  in 
height  and  proportions  those  among  which  they 
were  set,  and  all  these  were  brought  from  con- 
siderable distancesi.  On  either  end  of  the  ter- 
race, wihich  commands  a  beautiful  view  of  Long 
Island  Sound,  are  to  be  set  twO'  great  bay  trees, 
each  twenty-two  feet  in  height,  and  expending. 


18 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


high  up  in  the  air,  into  a  wide-spreading  mass 
fifteen  feet  in  diameter. 

At  Locust  Valley,  between  Glen  Cov-e  and 
Oyster  Bay,  Mr.  W.  D.  Guthrie  found  a  little 
forest.  This  he  eradicated,  root  and  branch, 
and  upon  the  ground  he  set  out  a  splendid  spruce 
tree  thirty  feet  in  height,  many  full  grown  sugar 
and  scarlet  maple  trees,  massive  elms,  and  an  old 
boxwood.  Some  of  -the  trees  now  on  these 
grounds,  and  others)  soo-n  to  be  placed  there,  are 
from  the  famous  tree  collection  of  the  late 
Charles  A.  Dana,  on  Dana's  Island,  Dosoris,  sev- 
eral miles  distant.  Notable  among  these  are  a 
Colorado  blue  spruce,  a  blue  Douglas  fir  from 
the  .siam'O  State,  a  great  Colorado  pine,  and  a 
Japanese  yew. 

One  might  here  digress  to  make  a  little 
preachment  in  answer  to  those  enivious  ones  who 
decry  what  they  are  pleased  to  term  the  extrav- 


Social  life,  as  associated  with  out-door  and 
water  sports,  find'S  its  fullest  development  on 
Long  Island.  In  many  localities  clubs  and  asso- 
ciations composed  of  wealthy  gentlemen  have  se.- 
lected  choice  sites,  and  erected  delightful  club- 
houses, in  which  they  have  set  up  all  the  luxuries 
and  conveniences  of  metropolitan  life.  Several  of 
these  clubs  have  purchased  or  leased  large  tracts 
of  land  to  make  a  summer  home.  Perhaps  the 
most  far  noted  organization  is  the  Meadow 
Brook  Hunting  Club,  of  ¥/estbury,  with  its 
membership  of  three  hundred  splendid  riders, 
all  men  of  wealth.  Indeed,  thisi  club  was  the 
great  attraction  for  numerous  millionaires,  whom 
it  drew  to  its  vicinage,  where  many  of  them 
erected  palatial  mansions,  among  them  Theodore 
Havemeyer,  who  has  brought  to  America  some 
of  the  best  huntinig  horses  which  ever  ran  to 
hounds.     The   club   was  also  primarily   respon- 


MEADOW  BROOK  HUNT. 


agances  of  the  rich  in  the  erection  of  magnificent 
homes  and  the  creation  of  ground  surroundings 
whidh  bear  all  conceivable  variety  of  beauteous 
vegetation.  Surely  the  buildera  and  creators  of 
these  have  not  wrought  only  for  themselves,  for 
their  works  are  open  to  sight  of  all,  and  are  won- 
drously  pleasing  to  all  eyes  save  those  of  him 
who  holds  bitterness  in  hisi  soul — 

"The  motions  of  whose  spirit  are  dull  as  night, 
And  his  affections  dark  as  Erebus." 


sible  for  Theodore  Roosevelt  (before  he  came  to 
his  present  high  position)  making  his  residence 
at  Oyster  Bay.  It  is  told  of  him  that  shortly  af- 
ter opening  his  establishment,  several  years 
ago,  while  on  a  before-breakfast  hunt,  he  was 
thrown  from  the  saddle  and  broke  an  arm' — an 
accident  w'hidh  he  endeavored  to  conceal  from  his 
fellows,  but  without  success.  Among  the  most 
persistent  and  enthusiastic  riders  of  the  imme- 
diate present  is  the  veteran  publisher,  P.  F.  Col- 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


19 


lier,  who,  near  about  the  seventy  years  age  mark, 
with  splendid  saddlers  and  a  fine  pack  of  hounds, 
abates  none  of  his  youthful  interest  and  daring. 
Other  ardent  sportsmen,  who  are  well  known 
in  financial  and  commercial  circles,  are  August 
Belmont  and  sons,  Reginald  and  Alfred  Vander- 
bilt,  Stanley  ^lortimer,  Samuel  Willets,  James 
L.  Kernochan,  E.  W.  Roby,  Sidney  D.  Ripky 
and  others   of  like  celebrity. 

Xor  is  the  sport  restricted  to  the  men  folk. 
There  are  daring  'horsewomen  whose  feats  have 
challenged  the  admiration  of  such  equestrian 
adepts  as  Lord  Charles  Beresford  and  the  Duke 
of  ]\Iarlborough,  w'ho  'have  been  delighted  partic- 
ipants in  meets  O'f  fhe  Meadow  Brook  club.  Fa- 
mous among  these  horsewO'men  are  j\Irs.  Emily 
Ladenburg  and  Alrsi.  James  L.  Kernochan.  5lrs. 
Ladenburg  grew  up  beside  her  brother,  Eben 
Stevens,  who  was  once  master  of  the  hounds,  and 
an  expert  rider  and  owner  of  several  fine  ani- 
m.als.  Her  exploits  have  Ibeen  admiringly  wit- 
nessed not  only  on  the  home  course  but  at  New- 
port and  in  England  and  Europe.  Airs.  Kernoc- 
han, who  is  equally  expert,  and  has  imported 
fine  saddlers  from  abroad,  is  an  enthusiastic  de- 
votee cf  the  sport  and  rides  several  days  a  week 
during  the  season. 

The  master  of  the  Meadow  Brook  hunt  is 
Ralph  Ellis,  who  keeps  a  number  of  splendid 
horses  and  is  as  enthusiastic  a  yachtsman  as  he  is 
a  hunter. 

F~arther  out,  away  in  the  island  interior,  is 
the  opportunity  for  'hunting  of  a  different  char- 
acter. There,  not  more  than  fifty  miles  from  the 
metropolis  (and  the  statement  will  "be  a  revela- 
tion to  many  who  think  themselves  acquainted 
with  all  the  Long  Island  region),  are  dense  for- 
ests and  tangled  underbrush  where  deer  are  yet 
to  be  hunted. 

The  most  attractive  points  of  rendezvous  are 
Ronkonkoma,  on  the  north  or  main  hne  of  the 
Long  Island  Railroad,  and  Sayville,  on  the  south 
branch.  While  it  is  true  that  the  full  range  of 
the  deer  is  but  ten  miles  square,  which  is  mostly 
covered  with  a  scrub  oak  and  pine  growth, 
there  is  within  this  larger  area  a  stretch  of  for- 
est, about  five  miles  square,  owned  as  a  private 


game  preserve  by  the  South  Side  Gun  Club,  an 
organization  of  wealthy  New  York  men.  This 
presei^ve,  its  boundaries  marked  by  a  single 
strand  of  wire  strung  on  stout  posts  on  the  far 
side  of  a  hundred-foot  "fire  line,''  is  seldom  shot 
over,  the  members  preferring  to  allow  the  deer  to 
remain  in  peace  within  the  preserve,  and  to  keep 
off  trespassers  and  poachers.  The  grounds  are 
patroled  by  a  large  corps  of  gamekeepers,  which 
is  increased  to  a  small  army  on  legal  shooting 
days.  Short  though  the  season  isi,  covering  only 
four  days  in  all  (the  law  reading  that  "deer 
shall  be  shot  only  on  the  first  two  Wednesdays 
and  the  first  two  Fridays  in  November  each 
year"),  it  claims  a  steadily  increasing  number  of 
devotees. 

It  is  estimated  that  in  1901  as  many  as  three 
hundred  deer  were  killed  on  the  Lo^ng  Island 
hunting  grounds.  Nor  is  there  immediate  dan- 
ger of  extermination,  the  law  providing  excellent 
.  protection  for  the  animals  except  during  the 
limited  open  season.  Again,  the  animals  have 
a  certain  degree  of  protection  in  the  perils 
which  beset  the  .sportsmen.  For  the  hunting  is 
extremely  dangerous  at  all  times,  with  the  great 
number  of  hunters  crow.ded  into  such  a  limited 
area,  and  the  rank  novices,  knowing  nothing 
about  the  handling  of  fire  arms  ;  others,  far  worse, 
shooting  with  reckless  and  criminal  disregard  in 
the  direction  of  every  rustling  leaf  or  breaking 
twig. 

In  these  regions,  and  elsewhere  in  the  inter- 
ior of  Long  Island,  are  to  be  found  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  species  and  sub-species  of  na- 
tive birds.  Among  these  are  the  ruby  crown 
and  the  golden  crown  kinglets,  two  tiny  song- 
sters whose  strains  are  entrancing;  the  downy 
woodpecker,  several  species  of  warbler,  of  which 
the  chestnut-siided  is  the  handsomest  and  most 
rare,  the  black-throated  blueback  warbler,  one 
of  the  sweetest  but  laziest  singers,  which  loves 
the  thick  foliage  of  the  maple  or  beech ;  and  also 
the  pine,  palm,  Parula  and  the  black  and  white 
creeping  warblers,  whose  notes  are  very  sweet. 
There  are  numerous  thrushes,  including  the 
brown,  the  wood  and  the  hermit,  and  field  and 


20 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


chirping  as  well  as  clear  voiced  song  .spar- 
rows, while  among  the  special  favorites  of  the 
woods  are  the  sprightly  white  eyed  and  blue- 
headed  vireos. 

Among  the  finest  local  nest  builders  is  the 
favorite  little  snow  bird,  or  slate-colored  jinco; 
the  provoking,  mischievous  catbird,  'the  noisy 
woodpecker  and  the  tiny  chickadee  that  falls  heir 
to  the  nest  of  the  woodpecker  when  he,  later,  is 
through  with  it.  There  are  also  specimens  of  the 
yellow-bellied  ,siap-sucker,  cowbird,  chewink, 
ovenbird  or  golden-crown  warbler,  and  robin 
redbreast.  '  Specimens  of  the  greater  number  of 
the  native  birds  have  been  taken  and  mounted  by 
Mr.  George  K.  Oherrie,  ornithologist  and  taxi- 
dermist of  the  Museum  o-f  the  Brooklyn  Insti- 
tute, and  a  naturalist  whose  work  is  known  all 
over  Europe  as  well  as  in  the  United  States,  He 
has  traveled  abroad  in  the  prosecution  of  his  or- 
nithological studies,  making  collections  not  only 
for  himself  but  for  the  Rothschild  Museum  in 
London,  England',  and  for  prominent  European 
scientific  institutions.  Mrs.  Cherrie  is  also  an 
accomplished  naturalist,  and  has  accompanied 
him  in  much  of  his  traveling. 

But  if  Long  Island  presents  such  scenes  as 
we  have  described,  which  have  inspired  and  ever 
will  inspire  the  poet,  it  is  also  prolific  in  such  as 
delight  the  artist,  whether  with  brush  or  cam- 
era. The  coast  regions,  from  whatever  view- 
point, present  an  old  yet  ever  new  field,  with 
their  changing  settings — at  times  the  glorious 
cloud  tints  under  a  brilliantly  shining  sun  or  a 
mildly  beaming  moon,  and  again,  the  dense  black 
heavens  rent  asunder  by  the  lightning's  flash. 
Then,  when  the  sea  is  boisterous  and  is  piling 
mountain  high,  those  who  love  to  paint  the  ocean 
in  its  wildest  fury  may  find  the  freest  .scope  for 
th-eir  genius.  Perhaps,  as  is  often  the  case,  some 
great  ship  will  be  tossed  far  up  on  the  beach, 
and  the  sturdy  life-savers  from  one  of  the  num- 
erous -stations  which  dot  the  shore  will  become 
living  and  unconscious  models  for  a  thrilling 
chef-d*oeuvre.  The  light-house  is  ever  a  con- 
spicuous feature  in  such  a  scene,  and  adds  to  its 
picturesquenesis. 


Inland,  the  woodlands,  the  meadows,  the 
broad  level  moorlands,  with  glimpses  of  the  sea 
beyond  and  between,  will  challenge  the  skill  of 
hand  and  eye  as  long  as  art  shall  last.  The  Dutch 
windmills,  choice  bits  of  antiquity  and  land- 
marks of  othe^  days,  have  been  in  the  past,  and 
will  be  in  the  future,  an  inspiration  for  many  a 
canvas. 

In  Nassau  county  we  begin  to  see  the  old 
mills  which  are  sfuch  prominent  features  of  the 
Long  Island  landscape.  Some  of  these,  notably 
out  by  Southampton  and  East  Hampton,  are  at 
least  a  couple  of  centuries  old,  and,  were  any  of 
them  removed,  the  appearance  of  their  surround- 
ings would  change  as  completely  as  though  a 
hill  had  been  leveled  or  a  natural  landmark  de- 
stroyed. 

On  the  North  Shore,  at  Port  Washington,  is 
the  largest  tidewater  mill  ever  built  on  Long  Isl- 
and. It  was  erected  by  Adam  Mott  in  1730,  near 
his  home,  which  is  still  called  the  "Mill  House." 
Wlien  the  troops  of  Lord  Howe  had  driven  the 
American  army  across  the  Harlem  River  this- 
old  mill  was  seized,  along  with  its  owner,  and 
thereafter,  until  the  war  of  independence  was- 
over,  the  unwilling  miller,  who  was  a  Quaker,, 
was  forced  to  grind  rations  for  the  invading 
army.  Another  large  mill  was  built  near  this,. 
one  in  1785,  and  to  these  two  mills  the  village 
of  Port  Was'hington  owes  its  early  importance.. 
The  mills  were  supplied  with  wheat  from  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  and  did  a  large  business. 

On  the  beautiful  shores  of  Manhasset  Bay,, 
formerly  known  as  Little  Cow  Neck,  stands  the 
well-known  Plasdome  Mill,  built  by  William 
Nicolls  in  1735.  It  was  spoken  of  as  Latham's- 
Mill  in  1746.  It  was  afterward  owned  by  the 
learned  and  renowned  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell — 
one  oi  Long  Island's  famous  men — who  named 
it  Plasdome,  meaning  a  pleasant  place.  Part  of 
it  was  carried  away  by  the  great  wind  and  flood 
of  August  10,  1826.  It  was  rebuilt,  and  remained 
unchanged  until  1863,  when  it  was  changed  to  its 
present   form,   with   additions. 

At  Babylon,  on  the  south  shore,  is  the  old 
Monfort  Mill,  rich  in  historic  interest  and  leg- 
ends of  olden  days,  when  the  sturdy  farmers  of 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


21 


OLD  WINDMILLS  ON   LONG  ISLAND. 

By  Courtesy  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad  Company. 


22 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Suffolk  county  'claimed  citizenship  with  N-ew 
England.  It  was  built  in-  1680,  and  is  one  of 
the  oldest  mills  on  Long  Island.  It  was  run  by 
Judge  Garret  Monfort  for  fifty  years.  The 
Monforts  sold  it  to  the  Oakleys,  a  family  of  mil- 
lersi,  who  ran  it  for  sixty  years  as  a  grist  mill. 
It  is  now  used  as  a  toy  whip  factory,  the  only 
one  in  the  United  States.  At  Mill  Neck  are  the 
ruins  of  the  old  Cocks  Mill  and  homestead,  dat- 
ing back  to  1675.  Old  Thomas  Cocks  was  a 
staid  owner,  and  only  on  certain  days  would  he 
turn  the  water  against  the  old  mill  wheel.  On 
other  days  be  would  attend  to  his  estate  of  180 
acres. 

At  Smithtown  is  another  old-time  mill,  built 
about  1725,  and  at  Cold  Spring,  across  from  the 
State  fish  hatcheries,  not  far  distant  from  the 
spot  wbere  Nathan  Hale  landed  on  his  perilous 
undertaking,  is  a  mill  dating  back  to  long  before 
the  Revolution.  This  is  one  of  the  few  mills  that 
are  now  run  by  the  overshot  wheel,  the  power  for 
which  is  obtained  from  a  narrow  canal  built  along 
the  hillside. 

Only  a  few  years  ago,  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting of  the  old  landmarks  was  removed  to 
make  way  for  modern  improvements.  This  was 
the  old  cloth  mill  of  'James  Mott,  at  Wheatley 
Hills — probably  tbe  only  one  ever  erected  on 
Long  Island,  and  one  of  the  first  to  be  built  in 
America  after  the  Revolution. 

James  Mott,  the  genial  old  Quaker  who  built 
the  quaint  oild  structure,  was  a  plain,  simple  farm- 
er who  had  never  sudied  the  mechanical  arts,  but 
he  deserved  to  rank  with  the  great  inventors  of 
his  age — ^Whitney,  Fitch,  Fulton  and  others — 
who  revolutionized  the  industries  of  the  country 
by  their  inventions.  It  was  long  before  the  in- 
troduction of  steam,  and  his  was  the  first  at- 
tempt to  supplant  the  spinning  wheel  by  the  use 
of  motive  power.  Upon  the  apex  of  the  quad- 
rangular roof  he  set  up  a  horizontal  wind-mill, 
whose  great  square  sailsi  caught  the  full  force  of 
the  wind,  from  v/hatever  quarter,  and  set  all  the 
interior  machinery  in  motion.  The  farmers  for 
miles  around  brought  their  flax  to  this  mill  and 
received  in  exchange  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
linen  fabrics  ever  produced  in  this  coumtry.  Linen 


tablecloths,  napkins,  towelsi,  sheets,  pilloAv  cases, 
beautifully  colored  bedspreads,  all  these  were 
manufactured  in  this  isolated  country  mill.  As 
this  volume  is  in  course  of  preparation,  a  move- 
ment is  afoot  to  construct  a  model  of  the  old 
mill  on  the  original  site  as  a  monument  to  the 
memory  of  a  most  worthy  and  useful  man. 

But  the  Long  Island  coast  has  its  dangers  and 
horrors,  as  well  as  its  beauties.  That  the  re- 
gion is  dangerous)  and  fatal  to  shipping  is  evi- 
dent in  view  of  the  fact  that,  along  the  greater 
part  of  the  ocean  front,  the  shore  shelves  gradr- 
tially  at  a  rate  of  descent  of  about  six  feet  to  the 
mile.  At  a  distance  varying  between  three  hun- 
dred and  eight  hundred  feet  from  the  visible 
beach,  the  depth  of  water  rarely  exceeds  two  feet. 
Hence,  a  vessel  driven  inland  by  stress  of  weath- 
er, must  inevitably  be  stranded  far  from  land, 
from  which  it  is  ^separated  by  an  intervening 
stretch  of  water  too  shallow  to  float  any  but- the 
lightest  of  boats  ordinarily  carried  by  ships.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  months,  particularly,  fierce  north- 
easterly winds  rage  for  long  intervals,  and  are 
often  accompanied  by  that  thick  heavy  weather 
which  is  so  deceiving  to  the  sailor,  obscuring 
landmarks  by  day  and  the  glare  of  the  lighthouse 
by  night.  These  are  the  perilous  conditions  that 
confront  a  great  proportion  of  the  immense  com- 
merce, domestic  and  foreign,  which  seeks  the  me- 
tropolitan harbor  of  the  United  States. 

Small  cause  for  wonder  is  there,  then,  that 
the  shores  are  strewn  with  the  relics  of  ships,  em- 
bedded in  the  sands  and  lodged  far  up  the  inlets, 
whither  they  have  been  borne  by  wind  and  tide. 
Statistics  fail  to  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
aggregate  of  sea  disasters.  As  early  as  1657  the 
ship  'Trins  Mauritz,"  with  emigrants  from  New 
Amsterdam,  went  ashore  in  a  gale  off  Fire  Isl- 
and and  was  completely  wrecked,  although  the 
passengers  and  crew  were  saved.  This  is  the 
earliest  disaster  of  importance  on  record. 

During  a  storm  on  the  night  of  January  22d, 
1781,  the  British  frigate,  *'Culloden,"  a  ninety- 
gun  ship,  was  wrecked  off  IMontauk,  and  the 
spot  where  it  went  do\  las  since  been  known 
as    "Culloden    Point." 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


23 


The  wrecking  of  the  British  ship-of-war 
"Sylph,"  nearly  opposite  Shinnecock  Point,  on 
the  night  of  January  25,  181 5,  was  one  of  the 
most  dreadful  disastersi  which  ever  occurred  on 
the  American  coast.  She  struck  on  a  reef,  and 
was  discovered,  early  in  the  morning,  by  Na- 
than White,  who  assembled  a  large  party  to  at- 
tempt the  rescue  of  the  people  on  board  the  ves- 
sel, which  was  already  breaking  up.  The  surf 
was  running  very  high,  a  furious  snow  storm  was 
raging,  and  the  weather  was  bitterly  cold.  After 
several     efforts,     a     fishing     boat     was     finally 


ment  was  erected  over  the  grave.  Mr.  John 
Pelletreau  was>  wreck-master  at  the  time  of  the 
disaster. 

The  wrecking  of  the  "Savannah,"  on  the 
beach  opposite  Fire  Island,  on  October  27, 
1822,  was  a  catastrophe  which  attracted  atten- 
tion on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  on  account  of 
the  history  of  the  vessel.  She  was  the  first  to 
cross  the  ocean  by  means  of  steam  power,  and 
was  built  in  New  York  City  by  Francis  Fickett. 
Her  engines  were  made  by  Stephen  Vail,  at  Mor- 
ris'town,  New  Jersey.   She  was  of  only  three  hun- 


A  SHIP  ASHORE. 


launched,  and  after  desperate  exertion  five  per- 
sons were  brought  ashore,  all  others  perishing, 
to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  souls. 
By  act  of  the  legislature  the  proceeds  of  the 
wreck,  after  payment  of  the  expenses,  were  di- 
vided among  the  religious  societies  of  the  town. 
The  ship  "Helen"  was  wrecked  off  Southamp- 
ton on  January  17,  1820.  Several  passengers 
were  lost,  and  among  them  was  Major  Robert 
Sterry,  U.  S.  A.  His  remains  w'ere  interred  near 
the  spot  where  they  came  ashore,  and  a  monu- 


dred  tons  burden,  and  her  fuel  carrying  capacity 
was  limited  to  seventy-five  tons  of  coal  and 
twenty-five  cords  of  wood- — quantities  so  insuffi- 
cient that  she  was  largely  dependent  upon  her 
sails.  May  25,  1819,  she  sailed  from  Savan- 
nah, and  reached  Liverpool  after  a  voyage  of 
twenty-six  days,  using  steam  for  eighteen  days 
of  this  time.  She  was  afterward  converted  into 
a  simple  sailing  vessel,  and  came  to  her  doom 
on  the  date  before  recorded,  while  under  the 
command  of  Captain  John  Coles,  of  Glen  Cove, 


24 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


Long  Island,  while  siailing  from  Liverpool  to 
New  York.  She  went  to  pieces,  and  all  on  board 
perished — ^her  commander  and  his  crew  of  ten 
m^en.  The  New  York  "Daily  Advertiser,"  in 
narrating  the  occurrence,  said  that  a  trunk  be- 
longing ito  Captain  Coles  was  thrown  upon  the 
beach  and  broken  by  the  force  of  the  waves,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  gold  and  silver  coin  which, it 
contained  was  scattered  along  the  strand,  along 
with  the  lifeless  bodies  of  the  shipwrecked  mar- 
iners. The  disas-ter  was  discovered  by  one  soli- 
tary man,  Smith  Muncey,  about  daylight,  and 
the  honest  fellow  turned  over  to  the  wreck-mas- 
ter every  dollar  which  he  found. 

The  brig  "Brilliant"  was  lost  on  Cedar  Isl- 
and Beach  at  a  later  time,  but  all  on  board  were 
saved  by  a  fisherman  named  Ezra  Sammis',  by 
means  of  a  small  boat.  A  romantic  incident  grew 
out  of  the  wrecking  of  the  vessel.  Some  years 
afterward,  John  Webber,  a  son  of  Captain  Web- 
ber, the  commander  of  the  "Brilliant,"  wedded 
a  daiighter  of  Sammis,  the  fisherman  who  had 
rescued  the  elder  Webber  from  impending  death. 
At  the  wedding.  Captain  Webber,  on  being  intro- 
duced to  the  father  of  his  daughter-in-law,  re- 
marked that  they  had  met  before,  but  the  old 
fisherman  had  no  recollection  oi  him  until  the 
shipwreck  scene  was  recalled  to  his  mind.  On 
the  following  day  Captain  Webber  was  s'hown 
in  the  neighborhood  a  small  building  which  was 
used  as  a  school  house,  and  which  he  recognized 
as  the  former  cabin  of  the  vessel  which  he  had 
comnTanded  and  had  gone  to  pieces  on  the  adja- 
cent beach. 

Rockaway  Beach  was  so  prolific  of  wrecks 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Hempstead  set  apart,  in 
the  cemetery  between  Rockville  Centre  and  Pear- 
sails,  a  plot  known  as  "the  Mariner's  Lot,"  for 
the  interment  of  the  unfortunates  cast  lifeless 
ashore.  Upon  the  lot  was  erected  a  monument 
to  commemorate  two  o£  the  most  stupendous  ca- 
tastrophes which  ever  occurred  upon  that  portion 
of  the  coast.  The  inscriptions  upon  the  stone 
relate  these  tragedies  of  the  sea  asi  follows : 

On  the  front:  "To  the  memory  of  "j^  per- 
sons, chiefly  emigrants  from'  England  and  Ire- 
land, being  the  only  remains  of  loo  souls,  com- 


poising  the  passengers  and  crew  of  the  Ameri- 
can ship  "Bristol,"  Captain  McKown,  wrecked 
on  Far  Rockaway  Beach,  November  21st,  1836." 

On  the  second  side :  "To  commemorate  the 
melancholy  fate  of  the  unfortunate  sufferers  be- 
longing to  the  'Bristol'  and  'Me&cico,'  this  monu- 
ment was  erected,  partly  by  the  money  found  up- 
on their  persons,  and  partly  by  the  contributions 
of  the  benevolent  and  humane  in  the  County  of 
Queens." 

On  the  third  side :  "To  the  memory  of  sixty- 
two  persons,  chiefly  emigrants  from  England 
and  Ireland;  being  the  only  remains  of  115  souls 
forming  the  passengers  and  crew  of  the  Ameri- 
can barque  'Mexico/  Captain  Winston,  wrecked 
on  Hempstead  Beach,  January  2d,   1837. 

In  this  grave,  from  the  wide  ocean,  doth  sleep 
The  bodies  of  those  that  had  crossed  the  deep ; 
And  instead  of  being  landed  safe  on  the  shore, 
In  a  cold,  frosty  morning  they  all  were  no  more. 

On  the  fourth  side:  "All  the  bodies)  of  the 
'Bristol'  and  'Mexico'  recovered  from  the  ocean 
and  decently  interred  near  this  spot,  were  fol- 
lowed to  the  grave  by  a  large  concourse  of  cit- 
izens and  strangers,  and  an  address  delivered 
suited  to  the  occasion  from  these  words:  'Lord, 
save  us,   we  perish.'  " 

Henry  P.  Hedges,  in  his  ''History  of  East 
Hampton,"  tells  of  the  wrecking  of  the  barque 
"Edward  Quesnel,"  on  Nepeague  Beach,  about 
the  year  1838.  Some  ten  or  twelve  of  the  crew 
were  drowned,  and  their  ghastly  corpses,  drawn 
up  on  the  sands,  side  by  side,  was  a  pitiful  sight. 
The  ship  was  a  total  loss,  but  a  portion  O'f  its 
cargo  of  sperm  oil  wasj  saved. 

One  record  says:  "The  Sound  steamer  "Lex- 
ington" took  fire  on  the  evening  of  January  13, 
1840,  when  off  Eaton's  Neck.  In  a  few  moments 
she  was  enveloped  in  flames  and  burned  to  the 
Vater's  edge.  One  hundred  and  eighteen  per- 
sons perished  either  by  the  flames  or  the  waters, 
only  four  of  all  those  on  board  surviving." 

About  1848  the  steamship  "Atlantic"  was 
wrecked  on  Fisher's  Island,  with  a  large  loss  of 
life.  The  point  which  witnessed  this  dire  catas- 
trophe was  so  dangerous,  and  wrecks  were  so 
common   there,   that,   soon   after   the   "Adantic" 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


25 


went  down,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  requir- 
ing the  coroner  of  Suffolk  county  to  make  his 
residence   at   Fisher's   Island. 

On  July  19.  1850,  the  ship  "Elizabeth"  was 
wrecked  off  Fire  Island,  and  among  the  pas- 
sengers lost  was  ^Margaret  Fuller,  the  famous 
American  writer,  her  husband  and  their  child. 
A  bronze  tablet  commemorative  of  this  disaster 
was  unveiled  at  Point  o'  Wood&,  on  Fire  Island 
Beach,  July  19,  1901.  The  tablet  describes  ]\Iar- 
garet  Fuller  as  "author,  editor,  poet  and  orator.'' 
She  was  a  power  in  her  day,  and  her  influence 
and  example  are  yet  potent  in  the  cause  of  the 
advancement  of  her  s^ex. 

The  ship  "Jdm  Alilton,"  of  New  Bedford, 
returning  from  the  Chica  Islands,  February  20, 
1858,  went  ashore  on  Alontauk,  in  a  snow  storm. 
She  wasi  a  vessel  of  nearly  fifteen  hundred  tons 
burden  and  was  loaded  with  guano.  The  entire 
crew,  comiposed  of  the  captain,  three  mates  and 
twenty-two  seamen,  and  a  number  of  passengers 
— all  on  board — -perished. 

The  schooner  "Helen  J.  Holway"  was 
wrecked  on  Flat  Beach,  opposite  Sayville,  April 
4,  1876,  with  a  loss  of  six  lives. 

About  1806  the  French  vessel  "Alexander 
Lavallie  ■  went  ashore  off  Southampton  during 
a  severe  storm.  All  on  board  were  rescued  in 
safety,  by  the  life  saving  crew,  under  the  volun- 
teer leadership  of  Captain  George  T.  White,  an. 
old  and  experienced  sailor,  and  an  experienced 
surfman. 

The  ship  "Circassdan"  was  stranded  on  the 
beach  opposite  Bridgehampton  on  December  30, 
1876.  The  entire  crew,  among  whom  were  a 
number  of  Shinnecock  Indians,  who  were  ex- 
pert mariners,  were  rescued  by  the  life  savers. 
By  a  strange  fatality,  the  greater  numl^er  of 
these  men  thus  snatched  from  death  during  a 
howling  storm,  came  to  a  dreadful  fate  a  day 
or  two  later.  They  returned  to  the  vessel,  in 
pleasant  weather,  to  assist  a  wrecking  crew.  The 
ship  was  floated  into  deep  water,  and  anchored 
near  the  bar.  During  the  following  night  an- 
other storm  arose,  and  she  was  broken  into  pieces 
by  pounding  upon  the  bar,  and  all  but  three  of 


the  lately  saved  sailors  perished  miserably  in  the 
sea. 

No  case  of  serious  earthquake  has  been 
known  on  the  island,  nor  have  there  been  any 
unusual  convulsions  of  nature.  The  storm  of 
December  23,  181 1,  however,  which  raged 
throughout  its  entire  territory,  is  unprecedented. 
Snow  'fell  without  intermisision  for  twenty-four 
hours,  and  the  wind  blew  in  tornado  fury.  Al- 
m.ost  every  vessel  afloat  between  Hell  Gate  and 
jMontauk  Point  was  driven  ashore,  involving 
much  loss  of  life  and  destruction  of  property. 
Thirty-six  bilged  and  stranded  vessels  were 
counted  in  one  day. 

Every  winter  adds  a  fresh  chapter  to  the 
story  of  disaster  and  death.  On  the  north  side 
the  battle  between  the  waves  and  the  rockbound 
coast  is  often'  a  terrific  one,  and  woe  to  any  un- 
fortunate vessel  which  at  such  times  gets  into  the 
power  of  the  sea  through  any  accident  or  mis- 
calculation. On  the  south  side  the  storms  beat 
with  awful  fury  on  the  great  sand  bar,  some- 
times seemingly  lifting  it  up  and  tossing  it  about, 
changing  its  appearance,  closing  one  inlet  and 
opening  another,  covering  one  stretch  entirely 
over  and  raising  a  temporary  sandhill  of  con- 
siderable proportions  on  another.  There,  again, 
danger  lurks  for  every  passing  vessel.  The 
light-houses,  with  their  beacons  and  whistles  and 
bells,  of  course,  do  much  to  lessen  the  number 
of  such  disasters,  while  the  life-saving  stations 
save  many  lives  each  winter. 

The  present  magnificent  light-house  system 
of  New  York  harbor  and  adjacent  waters  had 
its  beginning  at  Sandy  Hook,  New  Jersey,  but 
its  authors  were  business  men  f  New  York 
City.  The  foundations  of  the  system  were  laid 
in  the  necessity  for  providing  for  the  safety  of 
shore  property  during  a  state  of  ,war.  In  1746 
the  British  and  French,  nations  were  in  fierce 
hostility,  and  each  had  afloat  a  large  and  well 
appointed  navy  to  prey  upon  the  commerce  and 
colonies  of  its  enemy.  In  that  year  the  people 
of  New  York,  and  more  particularly  the  mer- 
chants, were  in  great  fear  that  French  war  ves- 


26 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


sels  would  enter  the  harbor  and  destroy  the  city. 
Among  other  preparations  for  defence,  the 
authorities  of  the  city  addressed  to  the  Councii 
of  New  Jersey,  in  session  at  Perth  Amboy,  a 
communication  urging  the  estabhshment  of  a 
beacon  at  the  Highlands  of  Navesink  to  give 
warning  of  the  approach  of  hostile  vessels.  The 
Council  promptly  acceded  to  the  request,  and 
John  Hamilton^  the  President  of  that  body,  is- 
sued instructions  to  the  colonel  of  the  Mon- 
mouth County  Militia  requiring  that  a  ''Prop- 
er Beacon  be  Erected  upon  the  said  Highlands 
of  Navesink/'  The  beacon  was  not  to  be  fired 
except  under  the  direction  of  a  field  officer  of 
the  regiment,  and  upon  occasions  of  emergency. 
It  was  expected  that  the  flame  would  be  visible 
in  New  York,  and  this  was  to  be  the  signal  call- 
ing troops  to  the  defence  of  the  city,  and  among 
them  the  mihtia  of  Bergen  and  Essex  counties*. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the  precaution  served  any 
good  purpose,  for  a  month  after  its  establish- 
ment a  beacon  was  lighted,  presumably  by  atc- 
cident,  without  attracting  attention  in  New  York, 
and  confidence  in  the  efficiency  of  the  system 
was  destroyed.  During  the  Revolutionary  war, 
however,  beacons  at  this  and  other  points  were 
of  frequent  service  in  assembling  the  militia  to 
defend  threatened  places  in  their  vicinity. 

Long  prior  to  this,  however,  an  attempt  had 
been  made  to  establish  a  light-house  at  Sandy 
Hook.  In  1679-80  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  had  suggested  to  Philip  Car- 
teret, Governor  of  East  Jersey,  the  desirability  of 
erecting  '*sea  marksi  for  shipping  upon  Sandy 
Point,"  as  Sandy  Hook  was  then  known,  and  he 
also  Urged  the  purchase  of  land  for  that  purpose. 
He  met  with  no  favorable  response,  and  the 
project  was  destined  to  lie  dormant  until  nearly 
a  century  later. 

In  1761  the  merchants  of  New  York  under- 
took the  establishment  of  a  light-house  on  Sandy 
Hook,  and  sought  to  purchase  four  acres  of  land 
for  the  purpose,  but  the  owner,  Isick  Harts- 
horne,  demanded  seven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
sterling  for  the  tract,  a  sum  which  was  consid- 
ered unreasonable,  and  the  plan  was  again  de- 
layed.    May  8,  same  year,  at  the  solicitation  of 


the  New  York  merchants,  the  Assembly  of  New 
York  authorized  a  lottery  for  procuring  a  sum 
not  exceeding  three  thousand  pounds  sterling 
with  \\^hich  to  purchase  land  and  erect  a  beacon. 
The  matter  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  committee 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Cruger,  Livingston,  Lis- 
penard  and  Bayard,  all  merchants  of  New  York, 
and  twelve  months  later  this  body  reported  that 
something  more  than  twenty-six  hundred  pounds 
had  been  realized.  Out  of  this  money  was  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  on  Sandy  Hook,  and  this 
transaction  was  recognized  by  the  crown  authori- 
ties, in  a  legislative  act.  May  22.,  1762,  forbid- 
ding trespass  on  the  land  designated,  and  mak- 
ing violation  thereof  actionable  in  the  New 
York  courts. 

The  money  derived  from  the  lottery  being 
insufficient  for  completing  the  light-house,  the 
Assembly  of  iNew  York  authorized  a  second  lot- 
tery for  a  like  'Sum  of  three  thousand  pounds 
sterling,  and  the  drawing  took  place  June  13, 
1763.  In  1764  was  completed  a  stone  edifice  one 
hundred  and  six  feet  in  height  from  the  ground 
surface  to  the  lantern,  and  this  light-house  is 
believed  to  be  the  second  in  the  American  col- 
onies, having  been  antedated  by  but  one,  that 
at  Brant  Point,  near  Nantucket,  Massachusetts, 
in  1759.  The  Sandy  Hook  light-house  is  re- 
ferred to  by  Smith,  in  his  "History  of  New  Jer- 
sey," published  in  1765,  who  notes  that  "at  the 
Highlands  of  Navesink  the  New  York  merchants 
have  lately  erected  a  commodious  light-house 
for  the  security  of  navigation."  It  also  appears 
on  a  "chart  of  the  bar  of  Sandy  Hook  and  en- 
trance o>f  Hudson's  River,"  made  from  surveys 
by  Lieutenant  Hills,  and  published  in  London  in 
1784,  and  the  "New  York  j\Iagazine"  of  August, 
1790,  gives  such  description  as*  to  identify  the 
site  with  that  upon  which  stands  the  present 
structure.  The  location  was  originally  five  hun- 
dred feet  from  the  northern  extremity  of  Sandy 
Hook,  but,  by  a  natural  process  of  land  pro- 
longation, about  one  hundred  years  later  the 
point  had  extended  itself  seven-eighths  of  a 
mile  to  the  northward.  In  the  last  twenty-five 
years  this  point  has  shown  little  change. 

The  first  lamps  were  of  copper,  enclosed  in 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


27 


a  lantern  of  ordinary  glass.  March  4,  1776,  the 
Provincial  Congress  decided  to  darken  the  bea- 
con for  the  discomfiture  of  a  British  fleet  which 
was  then  expected,  and  Major  Malconi,  to 
whom  the  task  was  entrusted,  brought  away  the 
glass  and  oil,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  a  light 
was  again  displayed  until  after  the  end  of  the 
war. 


A  MODERN  LIGHT  HOUSE. 

With  the  re-organization  of  the  Colonies  as 
States,  Sandy  Hook  came  within  the  territory  of 
Xew  Jersey,  and  that  State,  by  Act  of  Council, 
ceded  to  the  United  States  jurisdiction  in  and 
over  a  four-acre  tract  of  land  in  Monmouth  coun- 
ty, upon  which  stood  the  light-house.  February 
26,  1806,  the  federal  government  acquired  the 
property  by  purchase,  and  subsequently  secured 
additional  land,  extending  its  holdings  south- 
ward to  the  mouth  of  Young's  Creek. 


The  Light-House  Board  of  the  United  States 
has  established  the  following  lights  at  the  most 
diangerous  points)  on  Long  Island  and  in  the  vi- 
cinity : 

LIGHTHOUSES  ON  LONG  ISLAND  AND  VICINITY. 

Montauk  Point,  on  the  extreme  east  end  of  Long 
Island. 

Shinnecock  Bay,  on  Ponquogue  Point,  Shinnecock 
Bay. 

Fire  Island,  on  the  east  side  of  Fire  Island  Inlet. 

Fir-e  Island  Light  Vessel,  No.  68,  light  vessel  9.7 
miles  south  from  Fire  Island  Light  House. 

Race  Rock,  near  Fisher's  Island,  north  side  entrance 
to  Long  Island  Sound. 

Little  Gull  Island,  south  side  of  easterly  entrance  to 
Long  Island  Sound. 

Plum  Island,  Plum  Island,  Gardiner's  Bay,  north- 
east extremity  of  Long  Island. 

Long  Beach  Bar,  entrance  to  Orient  Harbor  and 
Peconic  Bay,  Long  Island. 

Cedar  Island,  entrance  to  Sag  Harbor. 

Greenport  Harbor,  on  outer  end  of  breakwater, 
Greenport  Harbor. 

Horton  Point,  on  Horton  Point,  north  of  Southold 
village. 

Stratford  Shoal,  in  Long  Island  Sound,  nearly  op- 
posite Port  Jefferson. 

Port  Jefferson  Breakwater,  east  side  of  entrance  to 
Port  Jefferson  Harbor. 

Port  Jefferson  West  Beacon,  west  side  of  entrance 
to  Port  Jefferson  Harbor. 

Old  Field  Point,  north  of  Setauket. 

Eaton's  Neck,  east  side  of  entrance  to  Huntington 
Bay. 

Lloyd  Harbor,  southeast  end  of  Lloyd  Neck. 

Cold  Spring  Harbor,  easterly  point  of  shoal,  en- 
trance to  Cold  Spring  Harbor. 

Great  Captain  Island,  near  Greenwich  Point. 

Execution  Rocks,  off  Sands  Point. 

Sands  Point,  on  northwest  extremity  of  Manhasset 
Neck 

Stepping  Stones,  near  Hart  Island. 

Throg's  Neck,  northwest  side  of  Fort  Schuyler. 

Whitestone  Point,  P.  L.,  on  Whitestone  Point. 

Flushing  Bay,  P.  L,  on  dike  in  Flushing  Bay. 

Riker's  Island,  P.  L.,  on  north  end  of  Riker's  Island. 

Oak  Bluff,  P.  L,  on  Oak  Bluff  to  east  of  Port 
Morris. 

North  Brother  Island,  south  end  of  North  Brother 
Island. 

South  Brother  Island  Ledge,  west  entrance  to  South 
Channel,  East  River.  . 

Lawrence  Point  Ledge,  west  entrance  to  South 
Channel,  EaFt  River. 

Sunken  !Meadow,  P.  L.,  on  Sunken  Meadow,  East 
River. 

Blackwell's  Island,  on  northern  point  of  'Blackwell's 
Island. 

Man-o'-War  Rock,  P.  L.,  opposite  foot  East  Thirty- 
eighth  street,  East  River. 

Governor's  Island,  P.  L.,  on  Castle  Williams,  Gov- 
ernor's Island. 

Coney  Island,  on  Norton  Point,  western  end  of 
Coney  Island. 

Fort  Lafayette  Fog  Bell,  east  side  of  Narrows. 


28 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


Fort  Wadsworth  Fog  Bell,  west  side  of  Narrows. 

Old  Orchard  Shoal,  on  Romer  Shoal,  northeast  side 
of  Swash  Channel.  N-ew  York  lower  bay. 

Navesink,  on  Highlands  of  Navesink,  New  Jersey. 

Scotland  Light  Vessel.  No.  7,  four  and  three-six- 
teenths miles  northeast,  three-fourths  east  'from  Navesink 
light. 

Sandy  Hook  Light  Vessel,  No.  48,  eight  and  one- 
eighth  miles  northeast  by  east,  three-fourths  east  from 
Navesink  light. 

Sandy  Hook,  on  Sandy  Hook,  seven  and  three- 
fourths  miles  west,  three-eighths  north  from  Sandy  Hook 
light  ves'sel. 

North  Hook  Beacon,  on  north  point  of  Sandy  Hook. 

Princess  Bay,  on  Staten  Island,  near  entrance  to 
Raritan  Bay. 

Elm  Tree  Beacon,  on  Staten  Island,  near  New  Dorp. 

Fort  Tompkins,  on  Staten  Island,  at  the  Narrows. 

Bergen  Point,  in  Kill  Van  KuU,  at  Newark  Bay  en- 
trance. 

Robbins  Reef,  in  New  York  Upper  Bay. 

Statue  of  Liberty,  inside  Fort  Wood,  Bedloe  Island, 
New  York  Harbor. 

Jeffreys  Hook,  P.  L.,  in  Hudson  River  at  Fort 
Washington. 

One  of  the  most  famous  liglit-houses  in  the 
United  States,  directly  across  the  Great  South 
Bay  from  Bayshore,  on  Long  Island,  and  reached 
by  steamer,  is  the  far-famed  one  on  Fire  Island, 
known  the  maritime  world  over  as  the  place  from 
whence  all  transatlantic  steamships  are  first 
sighted  and  their  arrival  telegraphed  to  New 
York.  This  island  is  a  low-lying  sand  key,  not 
over  a  mile  in  width  at  any  one  point,  and  full 
forty  miles  in  length.  It  forms  a  natural  break- 
water for  the  south  shore  of  Long  Island,  and 
between  it  and  the  main  shore  is  the  Great  South 
Bay  so  'frequently  referred  to  in  this  work. 
Some  years  ago  the  island  was  purchased  by  the 
State  of  Xew  York,  and  although  several  syndi- 
cates have  undertaken  its  purchase,  it  still  re- 
mains one  of  the  ptiblic  possessions.  The  great 
light-house,  whose  electric  beacon  of  twenty- 
three  million  candle-power  is  the  most  powerful 
in  the  country,  is  a  never-ending  source  of  in- 
terest to  visitors.  It  is  an  immense  structure, 
and  its  friendly  light,  w'hich  is  plainly  visible 
for  many  miles  at  isea,  has  brought  joy  and  com- 
fort to  many  a  storm-tossed  mariner. 

At  'Montauk  Point,  the  extreme  eastern  end 
of  the  Island,  is  another  famous  light-house,  with 
its  powerful  Fresnel  light,  which  throws  its  rays 
to  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  in  the  darkest  nie'ht. 


The  splendid  lantern  was  the  gift  of  the  French 
government. 

And  so  stand  these  sentinels  of  the  sea — 
silent^  yet  impressive  and  commanding,  ever 
pointing  the  way  to  the  safe  and  quiet  harbor. 
Among  all  the  hosts  who  are  called  to  the  serv- 
ice of  the  government,  in  its  various  depart- 
ments, perhaps  none  is  charged  with  duties  of 
such  moment  and  of  such  universal  usefulness  as 
is  the  light-house  keeper.  The  soldier  and  the 
statesman  protect  the  national  honor  and  the 
person  and  property  of  the  citizen,  and  their 
acts  are  performed  in  the  gaze  of  the  world. 
But  the  quiet  man  who  trims  and  lights  the  shore 
and  harbor  lights,  and  watches  them  through  the 
long  night  watches  lest  they  fade  out  and  bring 
death  to  sleeping  voyagers  upon  the  great  wa- 
ters, stands  his  vigil  for  all  humanity,  asking  no 
questions  as  to  the  nationality  or  purpose  of 
him  whom  he  directs  to  safety.  Nor  is  there, 
in  all  the  annals  of  the  service,  an  instance  where 
he  has  failed  in  his  duty.  On  the  contrary,  on 
many  occasions,  he  has  faithfully  perfo^rmed  his 
tasks  when  his  life  was  going  out  in  the  effort, 
and  dying  alone  at  his  post  at  the  very  moment 
when  came  the  relief  which  was  too  late  to  re- 
store his  overtaxed  strength. 

The  Life  Saving  Service  merits  mention  in 
this  connection.  To  no  man  comes  such  noble 
missioru  as  that  of  imperilling  his  own  life  in 
saving  that  of  another.  From'  the  earliest  days 
of  letters,  historians  have  delighted  in  narrating 
the  achievements  of  the  soldier  on  the  field  of 
battle,  and  poets  have  been  inspired  to  the  loftiest 
heights  in  singing  his  praises.  But  the  saver  of 
human  life,  not  its  destroyer,  is  he  who  merits 
the  greater  honor.  His  deeds  are  not  undertaken 
in  the  hot  blood  which  quickens  the  step  to  the 
charge,  nor  under  the  eye  of  a  leader  of  men 
whose  approbation  is  prized  as  was  the  knight- 
making  sword-stroke  of  the  monarch  in  days  of 
old,  nor  do  they  lead  to  those  high  places  in 
civil  and  military  life  to  which  the  gallant  soldier 
is  so  often  ^called.  On  the  contrary,  his  effort 
is  exerted  in  a  hazardous  undertaking  in  face  of 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND: 


29 


the  most  dreadful  forces  of  nature,  the  tempest 
and  the  storm,  frequently  in  the  darkest  hour  of 
the  night,  and  with  no  witnesses  save  his  few 
companions  on  an  errand  of  mercy  which  they 
may  not  accomplish,  and  in  which  they  may  be 
doomed  to  sudden  death,  and  with  no  record  of 
their  supreme  devotion  ^save  the  brief  mention 
made  in  a  ifoTmal  official  paper  which  never 
comes  before  the  public  eye.  The  horrors  of 
shipwreck,  the  heroic  efforts  of  those  who  es- 
say th-e  work  of  rescue,  and  the  dreadful  dangers 
which  they  encounter,  are  beyond  description. 
Shortly  after  the  French  steamer  "L'Amerique" 
went  ashore  at  Seabright,  New  Jersey,  in  1877, 
the  wreck  was  viewed  by  the  gifted  painter, 
Bierstadt.  He  saw  it  in  weather  like  to  that  at 
the  time  of  the  disaster,  and  he  listened  to  the 
narratives  of  gallant  men  'who  had  struggled 
nobly  in  the  merciful  work  of  rescue,  and  of 
those  whom'  they  had  saved.  Yet  he  confessed 
his  inability  to  portray  the  scene  upon  canvas. 
It  defied  his  art.  The  raging  storm,  the  howl- 
ing wind,  the  blinding  snow,  the  seething  foam, 
the  strange,  dim  lights  on  the  doomed  vessel, 
the  answering  signals  on  shore,  the  wild  shrieks 
of  the  imperilled  passengers  and  crew,  men, 
women  and  children,  and  the  seemingly  hopeless 
struggle  of  the  life  saving  crew  against  the  ele- 
ments— all  this  made  up  a  scene  not  to  be  de- 
lineated by  painter  nor  described  by  poet.  Yet 
in  such  a  dreadful  picture,  of  which  the  mind 
may  form  but  feeble  conception,  the  central  fig- 
ure was  the  life  saver. 

As  in  all  undertakings  essayed  in  behalf  of 
humanity,  the  present  United  States  Life  Sav- 
ing Service,  so  'beneficent  in  its  operations,  and 
whose  annals  are  adorned  with  countless  thrill- 
ing narratives  of  splendid  effort  and  tinquail- 
ing  courage,  had  its  foundation  in  urgent  neces- 
sity, and  its  development  was  slow  and  laborious. 

The  hardy  sailors  and  fishermen  of  the  Long 
Island  coast  were  among  the  first  life  savers. 
Long  before  there  was  organized  effort,  shore 
dwellers  who  were  accustomed  to  the  sea,  moved 
by  humane  purpose,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  and 
on  many  occasions,  manned  their  own  frail  boats 
and  rescued  'human  heings  from  vessels  strand- 


ed and  breaking  up  within  sight  of  their  dwell- 
ings. To  these  poor  people,  who  lived  upon 
scanty  fare  and  were  inadequately  clad,  the  flot- 
sam and  jetsam  from  a  wreck — rich  food  stuffs 
and  dainty  fabrics — were  a  great  temptation,  but 
enough  has  come  to  us  out  of  the  traditions  of 
their  times  for  us  to  know  that  usually  their 
first  care  was  to  bring  off  imperilled  pa&sengers 
and  crew,  leaving  to  a  later  time  the  cargo  sav- 
ing which  w^as  to  bring  them  reward.; 

The  achievements  of  these  life  savers  of  the 
long  ago  find  eloquent  attestation  in  the  record 
we  have  of  Captain  Raynor  Rock  Smith,  of  Free- 
port,  a  seafaring  man,  and  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  exemplary  men  of  his  day.  It  was 
largely  through  his  effort  that  a  number  of  the 
passengers  of  the  "Mexico"  escaped  a  dreadful 
fate  in  the  wrecking  of  the  vessel  named,  a 
disaster  which  has  been  hereinbefore  referred  to. 
A  number  of  citizens  of  New  York  City,  in 
recognition  of  his  heroic  services  upon  that  oc- 
casion, procured  a  silver  memorial  cup,  most 
elaborately  wrought  and  artistically  engraved. 
Upon  the  obverse  it  displays  the  ship  imbedded 
in  the  sand,  with  the  waves  breaking  over  her. 
Her  helpless  crew  are  seen  stretching  out  their 
imploring  hands.  A  boat  is  making  its  way 
to  them.  A  few  figures  stand  upon  the  beach, 
surrounded  by  masses  of  ice,  which  show  the 
severity  of  the  season  and  the  peril  of  the  un- 
dertaking. The  reverse  side  bears-  the  following 
inscription :  "Reward  of  Merit,  Presented  to 
Raynor  R.  Smith,  of  Hempstead  South,  L.  L, 
by  a  number  of  his  fellow  citizens  of  the  fifth 
ward,  as  a  token  of  regard  for  his  noble  daring, 
performed  at  the  peril  of  his  own  life,  in  saving 
the  eight  persons  from  the  wreck  of  the  fated 
ship  'Mexico/  on  the  morning;  of  Jan.  2nd, 
1837."  The  presentation  was  made  to  Captain 
Smith,  on  February  25,  1S37,  at  the  hotel  of 
Oliver  Conklin,  in  Hempstead,  and  the  relic  is 
carefully  preserved  by  the  descendants  of  the 
recipient. 

'  In  course  of  time  gallant  deeds  performed 
by  'these  volunteer  life  savers  came  tO'  the  notice 
o'f  humanely  disposed  men  of  means,  principally 
residents  of  New  York  City,  who  formed  such 


80 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


associations  as  the  Life  Saving  and  Benevolent 
Association  and  the  American  Shipwreck  Asso- 
ciation. These  organizations,  at  times  bestowed 
gold  medals  upon  gallant  men  "for  humane  and 
Christian  effort"  in  saving  lives  from  wrecked 
vessels.  They  also,  with  the  Board  of  Under- 
writers, provided  crude  equipments  for  volun- 
teer life  savers  at  particularly  dangerous  points 
on  the  coast,  and,  at  a  later  day,  they  aided  by 
their  influence  in  the  establishment  of  a  govern- 
mental .life  saving  service.  The  surf-boats  they 
provided  were  only  needed  at  intervals,  and  no 
one  was  specially  chargeable  with  their  care. 
As  a  result,  they  soon  became  useless  through 
inattention,  or  were  diverted  to  other  uses,  and 
so  this  feeble  attempt  resulted  in  little  good. 

In  succeeding  years  various  individuals  had 
devised  apparatus  for  life  saving  purposes, 
whidh  was  put  to  use  at  times,  and  one  of  these 
incidents  occurred  quite  near  to  Long  Island. 
In  1839  the  Hon.  William  A.  Newell,  of  New 
Jersey,  witnessed  the  wreck  of  the  Austrian 
brig  "Terasto"  (which  has  erroneously  ap- 
peared in  history  as  the  *'Count  Perasto"),  off 
Long  'Beach,  New  Jersey.  Thirteen  of  the  crew 
had  met  their  deaths  in  endeavoring  to  swim 
through  the  raging  surf.  Mr.  Newell  con- 
ceived the  idea  that  the  'unfortunate  men  could 
have  ibeen  saved  by  means  of  a  rope  with  which 
to  drag  them  to  land,  and  with  the  thought  oc- 
curred to  him  the  necessity  for  a  projectile  to 
carry  a  line  from  the  shore  to  a  vessel.  He  in- 
stituted 3.  series  of  experiments  for  the  carry- 
ing of  a  light  line  by  arrow,  rocket,  or  by  a 
shot  from  a  shortened  blunderbuss,  and  all  with 
some  degree  of  encouragement,  which  culmin- 
ated in  the  successful  use  of  a  mortar  or  cor- 
ronade  discharging  a  ball  with  a  line  attached. 

In  1846  Mr.  Newell  was  elected  to  Congress 
from  the  district  including  the  Atlantic  coa&t 
region  from  Sandy  Hook  •  Bay  to  Little  Egg 
Harbor.  In -1847  Congress  made  its  first  effort 
in  aid  of  life  saving,  by  making  an  appropriation 
of  $5,000  to  furnish  the  light-houses  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  with  means  of  rendering  assist- 
ance to  shipwrecked  mariners,   but  in  the  fol- 


lowing session  this  beggarly   sum  was  returned 
as  unexpended. 

January  3,  1848,  Mr.  Newell  offered  a  reso- 
lution instructing  the  ccmmittee  on  commerce 
to  enquire  "whether  any  plan  can  be  devised 
whereby  dangerous-  navigation  along  the  coast 
of  New  Jersey,  between  Sandy  Hook  and  Little 
Egg  Harbor,  may  be  furnished  with  additional 
safeguards  to  life  and  property  from  shipwreck, 
and  that  they  report  by  bill  or  otherwise."  In 
this  resolution  lay  the  germ  of  the  United  States 
Life  Saving  System,  as  it  now  exists,  and 
which,  to  the  present  time,  has  neither  counter- 
part nor  parallel  upon  any  other  shores  in  the 
world — save  the  Danish  system,  which  is  crude 
by  comparison — and  which  has  become  and  will 
remain  one  of  the  chief  features  of  ■  our  gov- 
ernmental system,  with  its  nearly  three  hundred 
rescue  stations,  manned  by  two  thousand  brave 
and  skillful  wreckers,  and  for  which  the  gov- 
ernment annually  appropriates  nearly  two  mil- 
lions of  dollars.  Yet  Mr.  Newell's  beneficent 
measure  was  ignored  by  the  committee,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  several  of  its  mem- 
bers were  from  maritime  States,  and  should  have 
reasonably  been  expected  to  appreciate  the  value 
of  his  suggestions,  and  to  lend  their  sympathy 
and  assistance  to  him  in  an  effort  at  once  phil- 
anthropic and  economic.  Yet  he  persisted,  mak- 
ing personal  appeals  to  men  of  great  distinction 
in  both  houses  of  Congress,  among  them  being 
John  Quincy  Adams,  Daniel  Webster,  Henry 
Clay,  John  C.  Calhoun,  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
Thomas  H.  Benton  and  Thaddeus  Stevens-,  but 
without  avail,  his  views  being  regarded  as 
chimerical,  and  as  tending  to  useless  and  ex- 
travagant expense.  Toward  the  close  of  the 
session,  however,  'he  procured  the  passage  of 
an  amendment  to  the  Senate  Light  House  Bill 
which  provided  for  surf-boats,  rockets,  car- 
ronades  and  other  necessary  apparatus  for  the 
better  ipreservation  of  life  and  property  from 
shipwreck  along  the  coast  of  New  Jersey,  be- 
tween 'Sandy  Hook  and  Little  Egg  Harbor,  and 
this  amendment  carried  an*  appropriation  of 
$10,000.    New  York  first  figures  in  national  life- 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


31 


saving  legislation  in  the  second  session  of  the 
same  Congress,  when,  under  an  additional  ap- 
propriation, stations  were  established  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  of  Long  Island. 

The  life  saving  apparatus  first  provided  was 
placed  at  eight  convenient  stations  on  the  New 
Jersey  coast.  ^Meantime  Josep'h  Francis,  a  noted 
boat  builder,  built  in  his  shops  in  Brookl3'n  the 
famous  corrugated  metal  life-boat  and  life-car 
which  bore  his  name,  aiid  brought  him  honoring 
recognition  from  almost  every  nation  in  Chris^ 
tendom.  The  Francis  boats  and  the  Newell 
carronade  and  life-line  were  first  used  on  Jan- 
uary 12,  1850.  in  bringing  ashore  two  hun- 
dred people  (all  but  one  of  those  aboard),  Eng- 
lish and  Irish  immigrants,  from  the  Scottish 
brig  "Ayrshire,"  which  went  to  wreck  off  Ab- 
secon  Beach,  in  New  Jersey.  Dr.  Robert  Laird 
witnessed  the  heroic  i-escue,  and  was  afterward 
deputized  to  present  the  gold  medal  of  the  New 
York  Life  Saving  Association  to  John  Maxson, 
who  shot  over  the  vessel  the  first  line  for  the 
saving  of  human  life  at  sea.  By  curious  for- 
tune, many  years  afterward,  the  ball  fired  at  the 
"Ayrshire"  was  found  in  a  fragment  of  her 
wreckage,  and  is  now  preserved  in  the  National 
Museum  in  Washington,  where  is  also  the  Fran- 
cis life-car,  which  proved  so  serviceable  on  the 
same  thrilling  occasion,  and  which,  when  it  was 
retired  from  service  in  1878,  had  been  the  means 
of  saving  nearly  fifteen  hundred  lives^in  exact 
figures,   1,493. 

The  system  was  imperfectly  organized,  how- 
ever, and  the  meager  equipment  provided  was 
left  uncared  for  by  any  responsible  custodian, 
and  went  to  ruin.  As  a  consequence,  dreadful 
shipwrecks  occurred  in  view  of  stations  which 
existed  only  in  name  and  were  powerless  to 
,  render  assistance.  In  this  emergency,  in  1854, 
Congress  passed  a  law  providing  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  superintendents  for  New  Jersey 
and  Long  Island.  To  this  time  the  life-savers 
had  performed  their  arduous  and  dangerous  du- 
ties without  compensation  or  reward.  In  1868 
an  ineffectual  effort  was  made  in  Congress  to 
reorganize  the  Life  Saving  Service  in  a  more 
perfect   manner.     In    1871    the   brilliant  orator, 


Hon.  S.  S.  Cox,  of  New  York,  then  in  Congress, 
made  a  splendid  appeal  to  the  House,  and  an  ap- 
propriation of  $200,000  was  made,  out  of  which 
new  stations  were  built  and  old  ones  were  re- 
paired for  the  housing  of  the  men  and  their 
boats  and  apparatus.  The  service  was  attached 
to  the  Revenue  Cutter  Division  oi  the  Treasury 
Department,  under  S.  I.  Kimball  as  Chief.  Un- 
der his  administration  the  service  was  made  non- 
partisan, a  code  of. signals  for  use  between  life 
saving  crews  and  vessels  in  jeopardy  was  adopt- 
ed, and  minute  regulations  were  laid  down  for 
the  management  of  boats  and  life-saving  ap- 
paratus. Somewhat  later  the  shore  patrol  system 
was  adopted.  In  1876  a  Aledal  of  Honor  w^as 
provided  for  by  Act  of  Congress,  to  be  bestowed 
upon  such  persons  as  had  performed  conspicuous 
service  in  life  saving  on  the  ocean  and  inland 
waters.  In  1878  the  Life  Saving  Service  be- 
came a  separate  governmental  institution  in  it- 
self. 

Tlie  Long  Island  coast  constitutes  the  Fourth 
Life  Saving  District,  in  which  are  thirty-three 
Life  Saving  Stations,  in  point  of  number  com- 
ing second,  New  Jersey  (the  Fifth  District)  hav- 
ing forty-two  stations.  The  Long  Island  stations 
are  as  follows : 

FOURTH   DISTRICT — COAST  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 

Montriuk  Point(a),  at  the  light. 

Ditch  Plain,  three  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Montauk  iig"ht. 

Hither  Plain,  one-half  of  a  mile  southwest  of  Fort 
Pond. 

Napeague,  abreast  of  Napeague  Harbor. 

Amagansett,  abreast  of  the  village. 

Georgica,  one  mile  soiith  of  village  of  East  Hamp- 
ton. 

Mecox,  two  miles  south  of  the  village  of  Bridge- 
hampton. 

Southampton,  three-fourths  of  a  mile-  south  of  the 
village. 

Shinnecock,  two  miles  east  southeast  of  Shinnecock 
light.  ^ 

Tiana,  two  miles  southwest  of  Shinnecock  light. 

Quogue,  one-half  of  a  mile  south  of  the  village. 

Potunk,  one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of  Po- 
tunk  village. 

Moriches,  two  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Speonk  village. 

Forge  River,  three  and  one-half  miles  south  of 
Moriches. 

Smith's  Point,  abreast  of  the  point. 

Bellport,  four  miles  south  of  the  village. 

Blue  Point,  four  and  one-half  miles  south  of 
Patchogue. 


32 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Lone  Hill,  eight  miles  east  of  Fire  Island  light. 

Point  of  Woods,  four  miles  east  of  Fire  Island 
light.  _ 

Fire  Island,  one-half  of  a  mile  west  of  Fire  Island 
light. 

Oak  Island,  east  end  of  Oak  Island. 

Gilgo,  west  end  of  Oak  Island. 

Jones  Beach,  east  end  of  Jones  Beach. 

Zachs  Inlet,  west  end  of  Jones  Beach. 

Short  Beach,  one-half  of  a  mile  east  of  Jones  Inlet. 

Point  Lookout,  two  miles  west  of  New  Inlet. 

Long  Beach,  near  west  end  of  Long  Beach. 

Far  Rockaway(t). 

Rockaway,  near  the  village  of  Rockaway. 

Rockaway  Point,  west  end  of  Rockaway  Beach. 

Coney  Island(c),  Manhattan  Beach. 

Eaton's  Neck,  east  side  entrance  to  Huntington 
Bay,  Long  Island  Sound. 

Rocky  Point,  near  Rocky  Point,  Long  Island  Sound, 
about  four  miles  northerly  from  Greenport. 

Each  station  is  in  charge  of  a  Keeper  who 
has  direct  control  of  all  its  affairs,  subject  to  the 
District  Superintendent.  The  position  held  by 
this  officer  will  be  recognized  at  once  as  one 
of  the  most  important  in  the  service.  He  is, 
therefore,  selected  with  the  greatest  care.  The 
indispensable  qualifications  for  appointment  are 
that  he  shall  be  of  good  character  and  habits, 
not  less  than  twenty-one  nor  more  than  forty- 
five  years  of  age;  have  sufhcient  education  to 
be  able  to  transact  the  station  .business ;  be  able- 
bodied,  physically  sound,  and  a  master  of  boat- 
craft  and  surfing.  He  keeps  a  daily  log  or  jour- 
nal, a  weekly  transcript  of  which  he  sends 
through  the  District  Superintendent  to  the  Gen- 
eral Superintendent,  who  is  thus  kept  advised  of 
all  that  transpires.  Immediately  after  the  oc- 
currence of  a  wreck  he  furnishes  a  complete  re- 
port of  every  detail  of  interest  concerning  the 
disaster^  and  from  time  to  time  various  other  re- 
ports are  required  of  him. 

The  crews  are  selected  by  the  keepers  from 
able-bodied  and  experienced  surfmen  residing 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  respective  stations.  A 
surfman,  upon  original  entry,  must  not  be  over 
forty-five  years  of  age,  and  must  undergo  a 
stringent  examination  as  to  physical  condition, 
character  for  courage  and  endurance,  and  sea- 
manlike qualifications,  and  it  is  all  but  impossible 
for  an  unfit  or  unworthy  man  to  secure  entrance 
to  the  service.  His  compensation  is  fifty  dollars 
per  month  during  the  active  season,  and  three 
dollars    for   each   occasion    of    service    at  other 


times.  He  cannot  be  discharged  from  the  Sei-v- 
ice  without  good  and  sufficient  reason.  For  well 
proven  neglect  of  patrol  duty,  or  for  disobedi- 
ence or  insubordination  at  a  wreck,  the  keeper 
may  instantly  dismiss  him;  in  all  other  cases 
special  authority  must  first  be  obtained  from 
the  General   Superintendent. 

In  case  a  Keeper  or  Surfman  becomes  dis- 
abled by  injury  received  or  disease  contracted  in 
the  line  of  duty,  he  is  entitled  to  receive  his  full 
pay  during  the  continuance  of  the  disability,  if 
it  does  not  exceed  one  year,  and,  upon  the 
recommendation  of  the  General  Superintendent, 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  may  extend  the 
time  for  a  second  year,  or  a  part  thereof,  but 
no  longer  in  any  case.  If  any  Keeper  or  Surf- 
man loses  his  Hfe  by  reason  of  injury  or  dis- 
easte  incurred  in  the  line  of  his  duty,  his  widow 
or  children  under  sixteen  years  of  age  may  re- 
ceive for  two  years  the  pay  that  the  deceased 
would  receive  if  alive  and  in  the  Service.  If 
the  widow  remarries,  or  a  child  survives'  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  the  amount  that  would  have  been 
paid  to  the  one  or  the  other  is  paid  to  the  re- 
maining beneficiaries,  if  any. 

The  number  of  men  composing  the  crew  of  a 
station  is  determined  by  the  number  of  oars 
required  to  pull  the  largest  boat  belonging  to  it. 
There  are  some  five-oared  boats  at  the  Atlantic 
stations,  but  at  all  of  them  there  is  at  least  one  of 
six  oars.  Six  men,  therefore,  make  up  the 
regular  crews  of  these  stations,  but  a  seventh 
man  is  added  on  the  ist  of  December,  so  that 
during  the  most  rigorous  portion  of  the  season 
a  man  may  be  left  ashore  to  assist  in  the  launch- 
ing and  beaching  of  the  boat  and  tO'  see  that  the 
station  is  properly  prepared  for  the  comfortable 
reception  of  his  comrades  and  the  rescued  people 
they  bring  with  them  on  their  return  from  a 
wreck ;  also  to  aid  in  doing  the  extra  work  that 
severe  weather  necessitates. 

At  the  opening  of  the  active  season,  the  men 
assemble  at  their  respective  stations  and  estab- 
lish themselves  for  a  residence  of  eight  months. 
They  arrange  for  their  housekeeping,  usually 
by  forming  a  mess,  taking  turns  by  weeks  in 
catering  and  cooking,  although  at  some  of  the 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


33 


stations  they  engage  board  of  the  Keeper  at  a 
rate  approved  by  the  General  Superintendent. 
These  preliminaries  being  settled,  the  Keeper 
organizes  his  crew  by  arranging  and  numbering 
them  in  their  ascertained  order  of  merit.  These 
numbers  are  changed  l^y  promotion  as  vacancies 
occur,  or  by  such  re-arrangement  from  time  to 
time  as  proficiency  in  drill  and  performance  of 
duty  may  dictate.  Whenever  the  Keeper  is.  ab- 
sent, Surfman  Xo.  i  assumes  command  and  ex- 
ercises his  functions. 

The  rank  of  his  men  being  fixed,  the  Keeper 
assigns  to  each  his  quarters  and  prepares  sta- 
tion bills  for  the  day  watch,  night  patrol,  boat 
and  apparatus  drill,  care  of  the  premises,  etc. 
For  every  week  day  a  regular  routine  is  ap- 
pointed.    For   ^Monday,   it  is   drill   and  practice 


method  adopted  for  restoring  the  apparently 
drowned;  and  for  Saturday,  cleaning  house. 

For  practice  with  the  beach  apparatus  there 
is  provided  near  each  station  a  suitable  drill 
ground,  prepared  by  erecting  a  spar,  called  a 
wreck-pole,  to  represent  the  mast  of  a  stranded 
vessel,  seventy-five  yards  distant  (over  the  water 
if  possiblej  from  the  place  where  the  men  op- 
erate, which  represents  the  shore. 

A  code  of  signals,  understood  by  all  seafar- 
ing men,  is  used  at  every  life-saving  station, 
flags  being  the  medium  of  communication  in 
day-time,  and  torches  or  rockets  at  .night. 
Among  the  most  important  phrases  signalled  at 
night  are:  "You  are  seen;  assistance  will  be 
given  as  soon  as  possible,"  indicated  by  a  red 
light  or  rocket ;  "Do  not  attempt  to  land  in  your 


LIFE  SAVING  STATION. 


with  t'he  beach  apparatus  and  overhauling  and 
examining  the  boats  and  all  apparatus  and  gear; 
for  Tuesday,  practice  with  the  boats ;  for 
Wednesday,  practice  with  the  international  code 
of  signals;  for  Thursday,  practice  with  the 
beach    apparatus ;    for   Friday,    practice    in    the 

3 


own  boats ;  it  is  impossible,"  indicated  by  a  blue 
light;  and  "This  is  the  best  place  to  land,"  in- 
dicated by  two  torches.  There  are  also  numer- 
ous signals  conveying  instructions  for  use  of 
boats,  hawsers  and  other  life-saving  appliances. 
The    life-saving   station   equipment     includes 


84 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


the  surf-boat,  often  called  the  life-boat,  specially 
designed  for  the  service;  a  life-car,  carrying  six 
to  eight  persons;  a  breeches  buoy,  which  con- 
veys one  person,  and  a  piece  of  life-saving  ord- 
nance with  its  appurtenances.  The  first  gun 
used  was  of  cast  iron,  weighing  288  pounds, 
throwing  a  spherical  ball  to  a  distance  of  420 
yards.  This  was  succeeded  by  the  Parrott  gun, 
weighing  266  pounds,  and  having  a  range  of 
470  yards.  In  1878  this  gave  place  _to  a  bronze 
gun  constructed  by  Lieutenant  D.  A.  Lyle,  of 
the  United  States  Ordnance  Department.  The 
Lyle  gun  weighs  185  pounds,  and  has  a  range  of 
695  yards,  or  nearly  a  half-mile,  and  surpasses 
in  mobility  and  effect  all  other  life-saving  ord- 
nance. I 

On  arriving  within  range  of  a  wreck,  the 
gun  is  fired,  discharging  a  projectile  to  which 
is  attached  a  light  line,  by  means  of  which  the 
crew  of  the  vessel  haul  inboard  a  strong  hawser. 
The  hawser  supports  by  means  of  rings  the  life- 
car,  or  the  breeches  buoy,  as  necessity  may  de- 
mand. The  life-car  is  a  covered  boat,  made  of 
corrugated  galvanized  iron,  furnished  with  rings 
at  each  end,  into  which  hauling  lines  are  bent, 
whereby  the  car  is  hauled  back  and  forth  on  the 
water  between  the  wreck  and  the  shore  without 
the  use  of  any  apparatus.  It  is  supplied,  however, 
with  hails,  one  near  each  end,  by  which  it  can 
be  suspended  from  a  hawser  and  passed  along 
upon  it  like  the  breeches  buoy,  if  found  neces- 
sary, as  is  sometimes  the  case  where  the  shore 
is  abrupt.  The  cover  of  the  boat  is  convex,  and 
is  provided  with  a  hatch,  which  fastens  either 
inside  or  outside,  through  which  entrance  and 
exit  are  effected.  Near  each  end  it  is  perforated 
with  a  group  of  small  holes,  like  the  holes  in  a 
grater,  punched  outward,  to  supply  air  for 
breathing,  without  admitting  much  if  any  water. 
It  is  capable  of  containing  six  or  eight  persons, 
and  is  very  useful  in  landing  sick  people  and 
valuables,  as  they  are  protected  from  getting 
wet.  On  the  first  occasion  of  its  use  it  saved  two 
hundred  and  one  persons. 

Aside  from  the  immediate  personal  danger  in- 
curred at  the  actual  scene  of  the  wreck,  the  life- 
saving  crews,  in  many  instances,  have  performed 


remarkably  arduous  labor  and  endured  the  se- 
verest exposures  in  reaching  the  spot  where  there 
services  were  needed.  On  occasion,  they  were 
obliged  to  travel  dis,tances  of  ten  and  even 
twenty  miles,  in  part  by  boat,  and  in  part  by  land, 
dragging  the  carts  containing  their  apparatus, 
and  arriving  at  their  destination  in  such  ex- 
hausted physical  condition  that  only  the  most 
supreme  courage  and  devotion  could  inspire 
them  to  their  final  humane  efforts.  A  volume 
would  be  needed  to  relate  these  achievements. 

The  labors  of  the  life-savers  do  not  end  with 
landing  those  imperilled.  After  rescue,  the  ship- 
wrecked people  are  taken  to  the  station  .and  pro- 
vided with  every  comfort  it  affords.  They  find 
hot  coffee  and  dry  clothing  awaiting  them,  with 
cots  for  those  who  need  rest  and  sleep.  If  any 
are  sick  or  maimed,  as  is  frequently  the  case, 
they  are  nursed  and  cared  for  until  sufficiently 
recovered  to  safely  leave ;  in  the  meantime  med- 
ical aid  is  called  in  if  practicable.  For  wounds 
and  ailments  requiring  only  simple  and  well 
known  remedies,  resource  is  had  to  the  medicine 
chest,  which  is  stocked  with  restoratives  and 
medicines  that  can  be  safely  used  according  to  a 
hand-book  of  directions.  Dry  clothing  is  pro- 
vided from  a  supply  constantly  kept  on  hand 
at  each  station  by  the  Woman's  National  Relief 
Association,  an  organization  established  to  af- 
ford relief  to  sufferers  from  disasters  of  every 
kind.  Libraries  are  provided  by  the  Seamen's  ' 
Friend  Society  and  by  benevolent  individuals. 
Several  newspaper  publishers  send  their  papers 
regularly  to  many  of  the  stations.  The  food  is 
prepared  by  the  station  keepers  or  the  messes, 
who  are  reimbursed  by  the  recipients  if  they  are 
financially  able,  and  otherwise  by  the  govern- 
m'ent. 

Occasionally  unfortunate  victims  of  the  sea 
who  are  to  all  appearances  dead  are  brought  to 
the  shore.  In  such  cases  the  life-saving  crews 
attempt  their  restoration,  according  to  methods 
for  restoring  the  apparently  drowned,  in  which 
they  have  been  thoroughly  drilled.  During  a 
given  period,  in  one  hundred  and  eighteen  at- 
tempts at  resuscitation,  sixty  were  successful, 
very  nearly  fifty  per  cent.  In  some  of  the  success- 


EASTERN   LONG  ISLAND. 


35 


ful  instances,  after  the  patient  was  taken  from 
the  water,  several  hours  elapsed  before  natural 
respiration  was  induced.  Success  has  followed 
even  after  reputable  physicians  had  pronounced 
the  patient  actually  dead.  In  the  saving  of  prop- 
erty, the  work  of  the  service  is  conspicuously 
useful.  This  is  accomplished  by  getting  vessels 
afloat  when  stranded,  a  task  in  which  the  surf- 
men  are  particularly  expert ;  in  extricating  them 
from  dangerous  situations ;  in  pumping  them  out 
when  leaking;  in  running  lines  between  wrecked 
vessels  and  tugs  when  it  can  not  be  done  with 
ordinary  boats ;  in  rendering  assistance  in  vari- 
ous ways,  and  in  warning  off  vessels  standing 
into  danger.  In  the  majority  of  casualties  the 
surfmen  succeed  in  saving  the  vessels  and  car- 
goes without  any  other  aid  than  that  afforded 
by  the  ship's  crew.  When  this  is  impracticable, 
they  act  in  conjunction  with  the  revenue  cutters 
■ — which  are  equipped  for  rendering  assistance 
in  such  cases — if  these  vessels  are  available,  or 
assist,  when  necessary,  when  other  relief  ap- 
pears. 

In  the  Fourth  (Long  Island)  District,  in 
1901,  there  were  thirty-four  disasters  to  vessels 
which,  with  their  cargoes,  were  valued  at  $235,- 
250,  and  of  this  sum  $197,510  was  saved,  leav- 
ing a  loss  of  only  $37,740.  But  two  vessels  were 
totally  lost.  The  number  of  persons  imperilled 
was  127,  and  but  one  life  was  lost.  It  is  to  be 
presumed  that  many  disasters  were  averted  by 
warnings  given  by  the  life-saving  crews  to  ves- 
sels in  jeopardy. 

The  services  of  a  life-saving  crew  may  be 
discerned  in  the  narrative  of  the  stranding  of 
the  Norwegian  steamer  ''Gwent,"  off  Long 
Beach,  on  March  26,  1901.  The  station  patrol 
discovered  her  plight  about  nine  o'clock  at  night, 
and  the  surfmen  at  once  pulled  to  her  through  a 
heavy  sea.  The  master  of  the  vessel  informed 
them  that  one  of  the  steamer's  boats  containing 
the  passengers  had  just  pulled  away  from  the 
vessiel.  The  keeper  pulled  after  the  boat,  over- 
took it,  and  transferred  four  passengers  to  the 
surf-boat;  then,  with  the  steamer's  boat  follow- 
ing, be  returned  to  the  steamer  and  advised  all 
hands  to  remain  on  board  until  the  next  morn- 


ing, as  the  vessiel  lay  high  up  on  the  beach  and 
was  in  no  immediate  danger  of  breaking  up. 
Had  not  the  steamer's  boat  been  brought  back 
it  would  undoubtedly  have  been  carried'  out  to 
sea  by  the  strong  wind  which  sprang  up  before 
morning.  Surfmen  carried  the  seven  passengers 
ashore  early  on  the  next  morning  and  they  took 
the  train  for  New  York.  The  steamer's  crew 
stood  by  their  vessel  until  a  wrecking  vessel 
floated  her  on  March  31st. 

October  16,  1901,  the  sloop  "Fenella"  went 
ashore  off  Rockaway,  with  the  loss  of  her  boom. 
The  surfmen  boarded  her,  but  by  that  time  the 
wind  had  driven  her  afloat.  The  nine  men  on 
board  were  fearful  their  craft  would  be  driven  to 
sea  in  her  disabled  condition,  and  the  station 
crew  made  her  fast  by  a  strong  line,  and  .brought 
all  her  people  ashore. 

The  only  life  lost  during  the  year  was  un- 
der circumstances  which  afford  a  vivid  idea 
of  the  severe  effort  which  life-savers  frequently 
make,  and  the  dangers  they  incur. 

On  December  3 1 ,  1900,  near  the  Quogue 
Life  Saving  Station,  three  colored  fishermen  put 
to  sea  in  a  small  dory.  The  sea  was  smooth 
when  they  went  out,  but  about  ten  o'clock  a 
flag  was  displayed  from  the  station  v\^arning 
fishermen  that  the  surf  was  becoming  dangerous 
for  small  craft.  Three  fishing  boats  were  out 
at  that  time,  and  the  keeper,  apprehending  that 
there  might  be  difficulty  when  they  should  at- 
tempt to  land,  mustered  his  entire  crew,  hauled 
the  surf-boat  down  to  the  water's  edge,  and  made 
all  ready  for  launching.  By  this  time  the  three 
boats  were  in  plain  view,  headed  for  the  shore 
in  the  vicinity  of  their  respective  fisth  houses. 
The  keeper  immediately  set  out  in  that  direction, 
in  order  to  be  close  at  hand  to  render  all  possible 
assistance  should  mishap  overtake  any  of  them. 
The  surf  at  that  point  turned  out-  to  be  much 
rougher  and  more  difficult  of  passage  than  it 
was  opposite  the  life-saving  station,  and,  there- 
fore, mounting  a  high  bank,  the  keeper  waved 
his  oilcoat  as  a  signal  to  the  dories  to  proceed 
further  westward,  which  they  immediately  did. 
One  of  the  fisher  boats  made  safe  landing,  but 
the   other    two,    when    thev    arrived    abreast   of 


36 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


the  life-saving  station  and  beyond  the  outer  bar, 
stopped  pulling  and  laid  by  for  a  time,  as  though 
in  doubt  whether  to  attempt  a  landing.  The 
keeper,  however,  being  uncertain  as  to  what 
their  purpose  might  be,  and  whether  or  not.  they 
wished  assistance,  determined  to  go  out  to  them 
with  his  surf-boat.  Taking  .with  him  six  men 
of  his  crew,  leaving  the  other  on  the  beach,  a 
launch  was  effected,  and  the  surf-boat  was  soon 
pulled  to  the  vicinity  of  the  two  doriesi.  To  the 
men  in  charge  of  each,  Edward  F.  Warner  and 
Herbert  G.  Smith,  the,  keeper  stated  that  the 
surf  was  pretty  rough,  and  requested  them  all  to 
get  into  his  boat  and  let  him  take  them  ashore, 
but  they  declined,  saying  they  would  endeavor  to 
make  the  passage  themselves. 

After  a  little  delay  for  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity, Warner's  boat  pulled  for  the  shore  and 
made  a  siafe  passage  through  the  breakers  of  the 
outer  bar,  followed  by  the  life-saving  boat,  which, 
in  turn,  was  followed  by  that  of  the  colored 
men,  who  were  using  a  drag  made  of  a  piece  of 
fish  net  filled  with  fish  and  towed  astern.  When 
all  three  boats  had  passed  the  bar,  they  held  back 
for  a  few  minutes  in  the  quieter  water,  waiting 
for  another  '"slatch"  which  would  afford  them  a 
fair  opportunity  to  pass  through  the  dangerous 
surf  tumbling  between  them  and  the  shore. 
Warner  again  started  first,  and  succeeded  in 
landing  without  serious  trouble.  About  this 
time  the  surf-boat  and  the  Smith  dory  started 
in.  The  Smith  boat  passed  the  first  roller  suc- 
cessfully, and  Flerbert  Smith,  who  had  com- 
mand, ordered  the  other  two  to  pull  hard,  in- 
tending to  follow  in  close  behind^  the  great  wave. 
Reginald  Smith,  however,  did  not  respond  \\'ith 
his  oars,  being  young  and  of  little  experience  in 
boating,  and,  therefore,  the  dory  lacking  the 
necessary  headway,  was  caught  by  the  next  great 
roller  which  lifted  the  stern  high  and  drove  her 
forward-  with  frightful  rapidity.  As  it  broke 
under  tlie  stern,  the  dory  slewed  s^harply  to  the 
westward,  and  Herbert  was  pitched  headlong 
into  the  sea.  Then  the  dory  rolled  over  broad- 
side to  the  beach  and  threw  out  the  other  two 
men. 

Half   swimming   and    half   wading,    Flerbert 


and  Frederick  scrambled  for  the  shore,  while 
the  boy  Reginald,  apparently  dazed,  attempted  to 
climb  on  the  bottom  of  the  capsized  dory.  The 
life-saving  boat  was  at  this  time  within  about 
fifty  feet  of  the  beach,  and,  under  the  circum- 
stances, there  was  nothing  to  be  done  but  first  to 
force  it  with  all  possible  celerity  to  the  shore, 
when  all  hands  jumped  overboard  and  rushed 
into  the  surf  to  aid  the  young  fellow  still  cling- 
ing to  the  dory.  Taking  the  end  of  a  small  line, 
Surfman  Overton  made  it  fast  around  his  waist, 
the  men  behind  holding  on  to  it  so  that  he  might 
not  be  swept  to  sea  by  the  undertow,  which  at 
this  point  is  unusually  strong  and  perilous  in 
consequence  of  its  concentration  from  both  sidea 
into  a  deep  gully  or  "sea-puss."  He  thus  s-trug- 
gled  out  toward  the  helpless  man,  to  whom  Her- 
bert Smith  from  on  shore  shouted  instructions 
that  he  let  go  of  the  boat  and  get  away  from  it 
as  soon  as  he  could.  Upon  this  injunction,  the 
young  man  appears  to  have  let  go,  and  was  now 
washing  helplessly  back  and  forth  just  inshore  of 
the  dory,  and  the  life-savers  resolutely  pushed 
toward  him  as  far  as  they  could  go,  but  he  was- 
vet  beyond  their  reach.  Once  he  was  swept  with- 
in fifteen  or  twenty  feet  of  Overton,  who  was 
barely  able  to  keep  his  place,  while  every  sea 
dashed  shoulder  high  against  him.  The  reced- 
ing waves  now  carried  young  Smith  back  to  the 
dory,  and  he  attempted  to  climb  upon  it  again,, 
but  a  heavy  sea  swept  him  oft",  and,  when  he  re- 
appeared, he  was  floating  face  downward  out- 
side of  the  boat,  drifting  slowly  away.  Then  he 
sank  and  was  seen  no  more. 

That  Keeper  Herman  and  the  several  mem- 
bers of  the  Quogue  Life  Saving  Crew  used  all 
judicious  and  necessary  precautions  on  this  occa- 
sion for  the  prevention  of  the  accident,  and,  after 
it  had  taken  place,  exerted  every  effort  within  the 
power  cf  man  to  effect  a  rescue,  is  clearly  shown. 
If  the  three  persons  in  the  Smith  boat  had  com- 
plied with  the  request  of  Keeper  Herman  to 
transfer  themselves  from  the  dory  to  the  station 
surf-boat,  all  would  have  been  landed  without 
any  trouble  whatever. 

A  veritable  honor  list  is  that  which  bears  the 
names  of  those  to  whom  the  povernmeiit  medal 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


37 


was  awarded  for  ithe  saving  of  human  life. 
Among  them  are  the  following,  who  are  well  de- 
serving of  remembrance : 

Dominick  J.  Ryder,  of  New  York,  for  the 
rescue  from  drowning  of  eleven  persons  at  Rock- 
away  Beach,  between  the  years  1876  and   1881. 

F.  C.  Bartholomew,  of  Stony  Creek,  Connec- 
ticut, for  rescuing  eight  persons  from  the  yacht 
''Prodigal,"  capsized  in  Long  Island  Sound,  Au- 
gust IT,  1883. 

Alarie  D.  Parsons,  of  Fireplace  Point,  Long 
Island,  for  rescuing  from  drowning  a  young 
man  and  a  little  girl,  July  7,  1883.  The  little 
girl  hero  was  then  only  ten  years  old. 

William  J.  \'enable,  of  New  York,  for  res- 
cuing thirty  persons  from  drowning,  at  Coney 
Island,  at  various  times  between  1879  and  1888. 

John  H.  Hanley,  of  New  York,  for  the  rescue 
of  several  persons  from  drowning  at  Rockaway 
beach,  in  1877-8. 

Philip  Bierschenk,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
July  T,  1900,  for  rescuing  from  drowning  a  boy 
who  had  fallen  overboard  from  a  tug  ijound  from 
Green  Point  to  Glen  Cove,  Long  Island.  Bier- 
schenk jumped  into  the  water,  swam  to  the  boy, 
and  supported  him  until  the  tug  turned  and 
picked  them  up,  the  boy  being  uncon:^cious,  and 
his  rescuer  so  ex^hausted  that  he  was  unable  to 
stand  or  speak. 

The  United  States  \'olunteer  Life  Saving 
Corps  is  a  body  maintained  by  humanely  disposed 
persons  of  means.  Its  membership  comprises 
shoremen,  fishermen,  sailors  and  )'achtsmen,  who 
serve  for  the  sake  of  humanity.  It  has  898  sta- 
tions, of  which  the  following  are  located  upon 
Long  Island : 

Brooklyn  Division. — ^vlanhaltan  Beach,  Co- 
ney Island,  Norton's  Point,  Sheepshead  Bay, 
Plum  Island,  Coney  Island  Creek,  Bay  27th  st, 
Ulmer  Park,  Gravesend  Bay  Yacht  Club,  Ben- 
sonhurst,  Bath  Beach,  West  End  Hotel,  River 
View  Pier,  Bay  17th  st.  Pier,  58th,  56th,  53(1  St., 
Bay  2Tst  and  20th  st.  piers,  Gowanus  Bay,  Erie 
Basin,  .\mity,  Harrison,  Baltic  and  Bridge  sts., 
Catharine  St.  Ferry,  Wallabout  Basin,  N.  8th  st., 
Newtown  Creek    and    Gowanus    Canal  brid.j^^es. 

Queens  County. — Canarsie,  Bergen  Beach, 
Ruffle  Bar,  Barren  Island,  Rockawav  Beach, 
Broad  Channel,  Old  Mill  Creek,.  Aqueduct, 
Breakwater,  Hammels,  Springfield,  Arvcrne, 
Edgmere,  Far  Rockaway  and  Long  Beach. 


Sound  Divisions. — Ravenswood  Boat  Club, 
Clinton  av.,  Astoria,  Bowery  Bay,  Steinway, 
College  Point,  iNorth  Beach,  Seawanhaka  Boat 
Club,  Flushing  and  Sanforcl  Points,  Wetzel's 
Island  and  Alax  Zehden's,  Flushing  Bay. 

The  crews  are  on  duty  at  all  the  seashore  re- 
sorts and  principal  shore  points  during  the  sum- 
mer months.  They  are  provided  with  metallic 
buoys,  air-chambered  cork  life-preservers  and 
long  life-lines,  and  also  with  chests  containing 
such  medicines  as  are  needed  for  the  restoration 
of  persons  recovered  from  the  surf  in  condition 
of  exhau&tion  or  apparently  drowned.  Life  boats 
are  provided  at  particularly  dangerous  points 
where  there  is  no  life-saving  station  under  the 
national  establishment.  \"arious  yacht  clubs  and 
crewsmen  of  coasting  craft  have  been  enrolled 
as  members  of  the  corps.  A  medal  of  honor  is 
awarded  to  life  savers  for  heroic  rescues.  The 
organization  is  maintained  l>y  the  contributions 
of  humanely  disposed  people.. 

In  1901  the  corps  organized  7,400  enrolled 
members,  and  the  expense  of  maintenance  was 
yi, 152.05..  In  eight  years  it  has  saved  3,574  lives 
and  its  executive  board  has  awarded  970  medals 
for  heroic  rescues  from  drowning. 

The  noble  organization  whose  work  has  been 
£0  beneficent  owes  its  origin  primarily  to  a  num- 
ber of  gentlemen  of  Brooklyn,  who,  in  1870, 
formed  a  Humane  Benevolent  Association  to 
reward  heroic  service  in  the  rescue  of  persons 
from  drowning  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and 
the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Father  Sylves- 
ter Malone  and  others  made  notable  speeches  on 
the  occasion  of  memorable  presentation  of  med- 
als. No  attempt  was  made  to  organize  life-sav- 
ing crews  or  to  provide  life-saving  equipments, 
and  the  Association  lapsed.  In  1890  the  Uni- 
ted States  Volunteer  Life  Saving  Corps  (Inland 
W'aters)  was  organized  by  act  of  incorporation. 
Its  s}-stem  of  orLianved  life-saving  was  first  de- 
veloped in  the  State  of  New  York,  the  legislature 
aiding  it  by  two  small  appropriations  to  extend 
it  over  its  numerous  lakes,  rivers  and  sounds, 
and,  from  this  beginning,  its  operations'  were 
gradually  extended  throughout  the  country,  in- 


38 


HISTORY  QF    LONG  ISLAND. 


eluding  inland  waters.  In  1898  the  chief  or- 
ganizer and  instructor  of  the  Corps,  Captain 
Davis  Dalton,  the  most  celebrated  swimmer  in 
the  world,  visited  all  the  noted  watering  places 
and  other  important  points  on  the  rivers  and  in 
the  harbors  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and 
organized  and  instructed  crews  of  life-savers, 
who  from  the  first  have  rendered  noble  and  effi- 
cient service,  increasing  in  numbers  and  useful- 
ness in  each  succeeding  year. 

Colonel  J.  Wesley  Jones,  the  founder  and 
managing  director  of  the  United  States  Volun- 
teer Life  Saving  Corps,  has  lived  a  most  use- 
ful and  eventful  life.  In  his  student  days  he  wit- 
nessed the  riot  in  Alton,  Illinois,  in  which  Love- 
joy  came  to  his  death  for  anti-slavery  sentiments 
expressed  in  his  newspaper,  and  he  was  twice 
mobbed  himself,  while  yet  under  age,  for  mak- 
ing anti-slavery  speeches.  In  1850,  as  captain 
of  cavalry,  he  commanded  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  to  protect  emigration  on  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia, and  at  one  time  he  received  six  arrow 
wounds  in  a  battle  with  Indians.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  performed  conspicuous  service  at 
tlie  national  capital,  and  in  command  of  cavalry 
in  the  field.  He  was  severely  wounded  while 
pursuing  General  Jubal  Early,  after  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  and  lay  in  the  hospital  for  sev- 
eral months.  Being  disabled  for  field  service, 
he  accepted  a  position  in  the  New  York  Custom 
Service.  A  lawyer  by  profession,  he  retired 
from  business  pursuits  some  years  ago  to  de- 
vote his  entire  attention  to  the  life-saving  serv- 
ice which  he  had  established  and  which,  despite 
his  advanced  age,  nearly  eighty  years,  he  con- 
ducts with  skill,  energy  and  hearty  enthusiasm. 
He  maintains  his  residence  in  New  York  City, 
and  the  offices  of  the  Volunteer  Life  Saving 
Corps  are  in  the  Pulitzer  Building. 

After  the  savers  of  human  life,  the  savers  of 
property  imperilled  by  the  sea  are  deserving  of 
recognition  for  heroic  effort  and  great  achieve- 
ments, often  undertaken  at  imminent  risk  of  life. 

In  the  early   days,   the  shore  fishermen  be- 
came also>  wreckers,  and  these  had  a  quasi  gov- , 
ernmental    recognition    in   appointment    by    the 


Governor  of  the  Province.  The  share  coming  to 
the  wrecker  was  pitifully  small.  He  took  des- 
perate chances  in  his  contest  with  the  elements, 
and  in  contact  with  the  flotsam  and  wreckage 
which  the  tempestuous  waves  hurled  against  him. 
Did  his  life  pay  the  penalty  of  his  daring,  there 
were  none  save  his  fellows,  as  poor  as  himself, 
to  succor  his  widow  and  orphans.  And  so,  it 
was  to  be  expected,  the  law  became  practically 
inoperative.  The  spoils  of  the  seas  were  in 
greater  part  appropriated  by  the  wrecker,  and  in 
this  he  was  justified  by  the  practice  of  the  times. 

Despite  their  poverty  and  necessities,  the 
wreckers  as  a  rule  kept  within  the  pale  of  the 
illy  defined  law  which  governed  their  calling,  and 
contented  themselves  with  the  goods  which  came 
ashore,  or  which  they  brought  from  the  wrecked 
vessel  after  its  abandonment  by  the  captain  and 
crew.  But  the  life  was  demoralizing.  Familiar- 
ity with  scenes  of  destruction  and  death  were 
dulling  to  the  sensibilities,  begetting  contempt 
for  human  life  and  a  rapacious  desire  for  plun- 
der. There  were  instances  where  the  wreckers 
became  lost  to  all  sens'e  of  honor,  even  between 
themselves.  In  the  winter  of  1830  the  ship 
'George  Cannon,"  from  Liverpool,  laden  with 
dry  goods  and  hardware,  went  ashore  on  the 
New  Jersey  coast,  below  Sandy  Hook.  The  shore 
people  scented  prey  and  came  in  throngs,  eager 
for  the  spoils,  and  cupidity  reigned  unrestrained. 
Neighbor  robbed  neighbor.  Boxes  of  goods 
were  burred  in  holes  made  in  the  hills,  and  while 
the  hider  was  gone  in  quest  of  more  plunder, 
another  would  dig  them  out  and  take  them  to 
other  places  of  concealment.  The  night  was  bit- 
terly cold,  and  two  men  perished  in  such  under- 
takings. 

Such  occasional  scenes  were  an  inspiration  for 
the  sensational  newspaper  writer  and  lurid  novel- 
ist of  the  period,  who  improved  the  occasion  to 
the  utmost.  According  to  their  telling,  cold- 
blooded deceit  was  practiced  to  bring  ashore  ves- 
sels for  sake  of  gain.  False  lights  were  dis- 
played by  night  and  false  hails  were  given  by 
day  to  lure  to  wreck  the  mariner  who  had  wan- 
dered away  to  an  unfamiliar  coast.  Even  then, 
the  annalist  averred  that  it  was  to  be  said,  in 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


39 


justice,  that  the  treacherous  wrecker  at  times 
permitted  his  humane  instincts  1o  prevail,  and 
hastened  to  siave  those  whose  hves  he  had  brought 
into  peril,  before  seeking  the  flotsam  upon  which 
he  was  at  heart  intent.  But  then  followed  the 
relation  of  scenes  of  shocking  inhumanity  and 
lawlessness — the  despoilment  of  corpses,  with- 
out regard  to  sex,  and  to  the  point  of  utter 
nakedness ;  passengers  and  sailors  were  made 
to  give  up  money  and  valuables  upon  their 
persons;  in  some  extreme  cases,  where  resist- 
ance to  the  act  of  robbery  was  attempted,  the  un- 
fortunate castaway  was  subjected  to  personal 
violence,  even  to  the  extremity  of  murder. 

Such  charges  as  these  were  of  frequent  repe- 
tition, particularly  between  1830  and  1835,  and 
at  intervals  thereafter.  In  1832  a  pirate,  Panda 
by  name,  attempted  a  horrible  crime  on  the  high 
seas.  Having  captured  the  brig  "^Mexican,"  of 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  he  drove  the  crew  between 
decks  and  battened  down  the  hatches.  After  re- 
moving to  his  own  craft  treasure  amounting  to 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  he  fired  the  captured 
vessel  and  sailed  away.  Providentially,  one  of 
the  sailors  left  in  this  miserable  plight  found 
his  way  to  the  deck  and  removed  the  hatches,  re- 
leasing his  fellows,  who  put  out  the  fire  and 
brought  their  vessiel  safely  into  port.  The  news 
of  this  affair  and  a  description  of  the  pirate  ship 
went  to  all  parts  of  the  globe,  and  two  years  af- 
terward she  was  captured  by  a  British  man-of- 
war  off  the  African  coast.  Seven  of  the  pi- 
rates were  brought  to  trial  in  Boston,'  where  they 
were  fully  identified  by  some  of  those  whom 
they  thought  they  had  burned  to  death,  and  their 
execution  speedily  followed. 

This  affair  had  excited  the  public  imagination 
and  indignation  to  the  utmost,  and  for  some 
years  nearly  every  disaster  on  all  the  coasts  adja- 
cent to 'New  York  was  magnified  into  a.  crime 
perpetrated   by   shore-dwelling  pirates. 

Charges  finally  became  so  specific  that  in 
1846  a  committee  of  the  New  Jersey  Legislature 
was  appointed,  pursuant  to  a  resolution  reciting 
an  allegation  that  at  the  time  of  the  distressing 
wreck  of  the  "J<^hn  Minturn''  and  other  vessels, 
February  15th  of  that  year,  on  the  coast  of  New 


Jersey,  some  persons  on  shore  neglected  and  re- 
fused to  render  relief  and  assistance  to  the  per- 
ishing passengers  and  seamen,  and  that  some 
plundered  the  bodies  of  the  dead  of  valuables, 
and  exacted  money  for  the  delivery  of  the  bodies 
to  their  friends.  The  charges  were  disproven, 
and  the  shore  dwellers  were  relieved  of  an  unde- 
served stigma. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  wreck- 
ing became  an  established  business,  and  itsi  de- 
velopment and  operations  find  accurate  telling 
in  the  story  of  the  career  of  a  representative 
wrecker,  Captain  Israel  J,  Merritt,  of  White- 
stone,  Queens  county,  Long  Island. 

From  his  very  youth  his  effort  has  been 
devoted  to  the  saving  of  human  life  and 
property,  and  it  was  his  good  fortune,  while 
yet  actively  engaged  in  his  calling,  to  have 
eloquent  evidence  that  his  name  was  held  in 
high  honor  as  that  of  -  a  real  benefactor  of 
his  fellow  men  in  saving  hundreds  of  souls 
from  awful  death  and  millions  of  dollars 
of  vessel  and  cargo  property  from  entire  loss.  To 
this  service,  during  more  than  a  third  of  cen- 
tury, he  not  only  devoted  his  personal  effort  at 
scenes  of  disaster,  but  hist  fertile  brain  originated 
devices  and  methods  which  have  been  utilized 
by  every  maritime  people  for  the  saving  of  im- 
periled and  wrecked  shipping,  and  have  won  for 
him  world-wide  renown.  His  entrance  upon 
this  work  marked  a  new  era  in  marine  engineer- 
ing, for,  up  to  that  time,  save  in  exceptionally  fa- 
vorable instances,  a  soinken  ship  was  utterly 
abandoned,  and  the  corpses  of  her  crew  and  the 
cargo  in  her  hold  were  left  to  sepulture  in  the 
ocean  ooze. 

Beginning  his  life  work  as  a  driver  of  a  ca- 
nal boat,  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  he  entered 
the  employ  of  a  wrecking  captain,  and  there 
found  his  true  vocation.  In  1-854  he  was  appoint- 
ed agent  for  the  Board  of  Marine  Underwriters, 
and  later  he  became  connected  with  the  Coast 
Wrecking  Company,  of  which  he  was  for  many 
years)  the  manager.  While  constantly  active  -in 
wrecking  operations  he  yet  found  time  to  devise 
methods  and  appliances  to  promote  the  efificiency 
of  the  wrecking  service,  his  most  important  in- 


40 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


vention  (in  1865)  being  the  pontoon  for  rais- 
ing sunken  vessels,  a  device  now  of  constant  use 
wherever  there  is  necessity,  and  so  perfected  that 
it  has  not  admitted  of  improvement. 

In  1880  Captain  Merritt  formed  the  Merritt 
Wrecking  Organizaition  (unincorporated) ,  in 
which  was  admitted  to  partnership  Israel  J.  Mer- 
ritt, Jr.,  who  had  been  for  s-everal  years  associ- 
ated with  his  father  in  practical  work.  The  new 
company  spared  no  expense  in  providing  a  fleet 
and  equipment  unrivaled  in  the  world,  and  its 
success  was  phenomenal,  surpassing  that  of  any 
similar  concern.  It  accomplished  practically  all 
the  heavy  wrecking  work  on  the  Atlantic  coa&t, 
and  saved  the  most  difficult' cases  known,  its  re- 
coveries amounting  tO'  many  millions  of  dollars. 
In  1897  the  ,Chapman  Company,  which  had  a 
large  derrick,  lighterage  and  inside  business,  was 
united  with  the  Merritt  \\''recking  Organization, 
the  consolidated  firms  taking  the  name  of  the 
Merritt  &  Chapman  Derrick  and  Wrecking  Com- 
pany, with  Captain  Merritt  as  president,  and 
his  son,  Israel  J.  M'Crritt,  Jr.,  as  treasurer. 
The  most  notable  undertaking  of  the  new 
company  was  its  work  upon  the  United 
States  battleship  "Maine,"  after  its  sink- 
ing by  explosion  in  the  harbor  of  Havana,  Cuba, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  Long  having  telegraphed 
an  appeal,  which  met  with  prompt  response  as 
a  patriotic  duty. 

The  career  of  Captain  ^lerritt  in  the  rescue  of 
human  life  and  the  saving  of  property  imper- 
illed at  sea,  justly  entitles  him  to  be  named 
among  genuine  humanitarians  as  well  as  with 
those  successful  in  an  honorable  and  useful  call- 
ing. To  merely  enumerate  the  notable  cases  in 
which,  through  his  instrumentality,  and  often  at 
his  own  great  peril,  hundreds  of  persons  were 
rescued  from  impending  death,  and  property  of 
ir:mense  value  was  saved  or  recovered,  would 
require  a  chapter  of  great  length.  Among  them 
n:ay  be  named  the  rescue  of  the  brig  "Kong 
Thryme."  on  Barnegat  Shoals,  in  midwinter, 
1856,  for  which  he  received  a  gold  medal  from 
the  Life  Saving  Benevolent  Association  of  New 
York ;  the  rescue  of  the  passengers  and  crew  of 
the  ship  "Chauncey  Jerome,"  at  Long  Branch, 


in  1853;  the  rescue  of  sixty-five  souls  from,  the 
steamship  "Black  Warrior,"  at  Rockaway  Shoals, 
in  1859,  for  which  he  was  awarded  five  hundred 
dollars  in  gold ;  the  saving  of  the  4,8so-ton  steam- 
ship "LAmerique,"  at  Seabright,  in  midwinter, 
1877 ;  the  rescue  of  the  crew  of  the  steamer  "Lou- 
ise H.  Randall,"  south  of  Long  Island,  in  1893; 
and  the  saving  of  the  steamship  "St.  Paul"  near 
Long  Branch  in  1886.  In  the  "St.  Paul"  and 
"L'Amerique"  instances,  Captain  Merritt  had 
entire  personal  charge  (as  in  many  others),  and 
in  the  case  of  "L'Amerique"  he  remained  at  his 
post  on  the  stranded  ship  for  ninety-three  days, 
until  he  floated  her  and  returned  her  to  the  com- 
mander. 

On  January  3,  1894,  Captain  Merritt  com- 
pleted a  half-century's  service  with  the  Board  of 
Marine  Underwriters,  and  that  body  made  the 
anniversary  the  occasion  for  foi'mal  recognition 
of  his  distinguished  service.  On  behalf  of  the 
board,  its  president,  John  D.  Jones,  who  was  also 
president  of  the  Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany, presented  to  him  a  splendid  silver  service 
costing  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  The 
principal  piece  bore  an  inscription  testifying  to 
his  eminent  services,  and  Mr.  Jones,  in  his  pre- 
sentation address,  gave  eloquent  utterance  to  the 
estimation  in  which  Captain  Merritt  was  held 
by  the  donors.  Other  recognition  has  come  to 
him  from  time  to  time  in  appreciative  letters  of 
admiration  from  distinguished  people  of  various 
nations,  and  in  almost  innumerable  medals  in 
c commemoration  of  special  deeds  of  daring  and 
success. 

The  invaluable  museum  in  the  New  York 
offices  of  the  Merritt  &  Chapman  Derrick  and 
Wrecking  Company  is  incomparably  unique,  be- 
ing made  up  of  relics  and  souvenirs  of  the  many 
famous  wrecks  in  which  Captain  ^lerritt  figured, 
and  there  are  few  piece's  but  have  direct  personal 
reference  to  himself. 

Dealing  so  largely  with  maritime  subject.^,  as 
we  do  in  this  chapter,  the  topic  of  shipbuilding 
naturally  presents  itself. 

Veritable  "hearts  of  oak"  were  the  vessels 
of  an  olden  time!     Built  under  the  very  eye  of 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


41 


him  who  was  to  command,  he  had  seen  every 
piece  of  material  entering-  into  the  construction, 
and  he  could  well  say  that  he  knew 

'"What  master  laid  thy  keel, 
Who  made  each  mast,   each  sail,   each  rope, 
What   anvils  rang,   what  hammers  beat, 
In  what  a  forge  and  what  a  heat, 
Were  shaped  the  anchors  of  thy  hope," 

When  builded  they  were  mastered  and 
manned  by  such  old-time  sailors  as  Dibdin  told 
of  in  verse,  and  whom  IMarryat  and  Cooper 
painted  in  graphic  story.  Their  crew  weighed 
anchor  by  pushing  the  capstan-bars  to  the  chanty 
of  the  old  country  man-o'-warsman  of  a  century 
ago,  and  when  once  it  was  at  the  cathead  the 
sailors  sprang  to  bowline  and  sheetrope,  one  af- 
ter another,  until  every  stitch  of  canvas  was  fully 
set.  No  machine-work  aided  in  propulsion  or 
sailing.  The  old  sea-dog  who  was  in  command 
was  at  once  master,  executive  officer  and  naviga- 
tor. He  read  the  skies  as  readily  as  he  did  his 
compass,  and  his  stentorian  voice  rang  out  from 
hour  to  hour  in  directions  to  send  aloft  studding- 
sails,  sky-scrapers  and  moon-rakers  when 
breezes  were  light,  or  to  shorten  sail  and  send 
down  the  upper  spars  on  indication  of  gale  or 
tempest. 

But — alas !  for  the  romance  of  the  sea — the 
old  skipper  and  the  old  sailor  and  the  old  ship 
have  vanished  into  the  past,  and  with  them,  too, 
the  literature  that  inspired  and  delighted  gen- 
eration after  generation.  For  who  can  weave  a 
romance  or  write  a  song  out  of  a  great  floating 
macl-ine  shop,  and  out  of  the  quiet  hfe  of  the 
well-groomed  gentleman  who  increases  or  re- 
duces speed  and  who  changes  his  course  by  his 
finger's  pressure  upon  a  button ! 

Some  of  the  pioneer  settlers  fashioned  their 
first  water  craft  in  the  same  manner  as  did  the 
savages  whom  they  came  to  supplant,  making 
dugout  canoes  by  burning  out  one  side  of  a 
great  log  and  shaping  it  into  the  rude  sem- 
blance of  a  boat.  In  a  later  day  they  built  such 
vessels  as  could  be  made  by  the  most  ordinary 
worker  with  saw  and  axe,  giving  little  attention 
to  symmetry  of  form  or  even  ease  of  propulsion, 
but   only  to  buoyancy.     Of  such  were  the  sail 


scow,  used  in  transporting  salt  hay  from  the 
marshes  to  the  farm,  and  the  garvey,  which  was 
used  in  gathering  and  bringing  to  shore  oysters 
and  clams. 

Prosaic,  certainly,  were  the  uses  of  these 
water  craft  with  their  burden  of  oysters,  fish  and 
marsh  hay.  Yet  there  were  occasional  pleasure 
boats  to  be  seen,  or  one  with  something  of  decor- 
ation, when  it  was  called  into  service  to  convey 
a  high  official  or  a  gentleman  of  importance  on  a 
public  errand  or  a  visit  of  ceremony — a  barge 
decorated  with  flowers  and  laurels,  with  men 
dressed  in  white  as  oarsmen. 

With  the  development  of  the  fishing  and  lum- 
ber industries,  the  latter  through  the  introduction 
of  the  sawmill,  vessels  of  larger  build  came  into 
vogue,  first  of  the  sloop  and  later  of  the  schoon- 
er type,  but  of  limited  size,  for  many  years  not 
exceeding  thirty  tons. 

Before  the  days  of  steamboats,  what  were 
known  as  market  sloops  were  sailed  between  the 
Raritan  Bay  ports  and  New  York.  These  ves- 
sels carried  what  produce  the  farmers  had  to  sell, 
such  as  hay,  potatoes,  apples  and  cider ;  also  many 
a  pail  of  butter  made  by  the  farmers'  wives,  in 
oak  pails  of  ten  to  fifteen  pounds,  the  handle  of 
which  had  their  initials  carved  upon  it.  Some  of 
this  butter  was  equal  to  the  creamery  produc- 
tions of  the  present  day,  and  was  eagerly  sought 
for   by  city   purchasers. 

The  market  or  sailing  day  was  quite  a  lively 
"  time.  The  landing  was  crowded  with  wagons 
and  carts  of  the  farmers'  bringing  their  products 
for  shipment,  and  the  stores  did  a  thriving  busi- 
ness. Many  people  availed  themselves  of  these 
vessels  to  visit  the  city.  The  time  of  sailing  was 
always  at  night,  at  such  hour  as  wind-  and  tide 
favored.  The  accommodations  on  these  boats 
were  very  small.  There  were  only  four  berths  on 
each  side  of  the  main  cabin,  and  as  many  in  the 
after  cabin  for  women.  It  was  expected  to  make 
the  trip  in  the  night,  and  to  arrive  at  the  dock 
in  the  morning,  but  on  many  occasions  the  sloops 
had  not  accomplished  more  than  half  the  distance 
when   morning  came. 

In  the  later  colonial  days  large  numbers  of 
open  boats  designed   for  fishing  purposes  were 


42 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


built  at  various  coast  points,  and  were  known 
as  whaleboats.  During  the  Revolutionary  war, 
craft  of  this  description,  but  of  larger  build,  came 
into  vogue,  and  nearly  every  coast  neighborhood 
where  was  an  inland  stream  had  its  association  of 
men  who  owned  and  manned  such  a  vessel.  The 
boat  was  usually  about  thirty  feet  in  length, 
pointed  at  bow  and  stern  to  facilitate  readiness 
of  movement  by  avoidance  of  turning,  and  with 
high  gunwales  in  order  to  admit  of  carrying  large 
loads.  The  material  was  cedar,  ana  the  boat  wasi 
so  light  that  a  few  men  could  conveniently  carry 
it  into  the  woods  for  concealment.  The  necessi- 
ty for  thus  ensuring  its  safety  lay  in  the  fact  that 
the  British  armed  boats  kept  the  coast  industri- 
ously patrolled.  The  crew  of  the  whaleboat  usu- 
ally (Consisted  of  fifteen  men,  selected  for  their 
physical  strength,  endurance  and  courage.  They 
were  trained  to  row  noiselessly,  and  were  able  to 
drive  their  boat  at  a  speed  of  twelve  miles  an 
hour.  Each  man  was  armed  with  a  cutlass  and 
pistols.  The  command  was  vested  in  one  who 
was  at  once  helmsman  aboard  the  boat  and  cap- 
tain ashore.  Many  daring  feats  were  performed 
by  such  crews. 

Many  of  the  vessels,  sloops  and  schooners 
which  were  engaged  in  peaceable  commerce  prior 
to  the  Revolutionary  war,  were  transformed  into 
privateers  when  the  struggle  for  liberty  began, 
and  others  were  hurriedly  constructed  for  a  sim- 
ilar purpose.  In  both  instances,  as  a  rule,  the 
builder  and  commander  was-  the  same  person.  In 
some  cases,  doubtless,  the  desire  for  gain  was 
the  more  powerful  incentive,  but  the  greater 
number  of  seamen  who  engaged  in  these  un- 
dertakings were  as  worthy  of  praise  as  were  their 
fellows  in  the  regular  service.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  these  privateers  were  invaluable  to  the  em- 
brvo  American  government,  which  was  destitute 
of  means  for  the  creation  of  a  regular  navy.  In 
the  necessity  of  the  case,  through  the  British  oc- 
cupation of  New  York  and  the  strict  surveillance 
of  the  adjacent  waters  maintained  by  the  British 
fleet,  the  privateersmen  were  a  most  efficient  ma- 
rine force;  and  they  continually  harrassed  Brit- 
ish commerce.  In  these  undertakings  the  pri- 
vateersmen  displayed   great  daring  and   superb 


courage,  and  many  of  their  deeds  were  worthy 
the  glowing  pen  of  a  Marryat  or  a  Cooper. 

During  the  war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812, 
another  generation  of  privateersmen  came  out 
from  the  same  and  adjacent  ports,  in  home  built 
vessels,  and  worked  great  injury  to  the  enemy. 
These  hardy  sailors  were  curiously  resourceful  in 
time  of  necessity.  On  returning  to  port,  in  or- 
der to  escape  the  eye  of  the  British  commander 
off  shore,  they  would  fasiten  pine  tree  branches 
into  their  rigging,  and  thus  lose  themselves  to 
sight  against  the  foliage  of  the  forest. 

About  1650  a  sloop  of  fifty  tons  was  a  huge 
vessel — the  majority  were  not  more  than  one- 
third  of  that  tonnage,  but  in  the  course  of  a  hun- 
dred years  the  sloops  had  doubled  in  size.  About 
1712  the  first  schooner  was  built — a  rig  which 
was  destined  to  become  a  favorite  down  to  the 
present  day.  Anent  this.  Judge  Henry  P.  Hedg- 
es, the  veteran  leader  of  the  Suffolk  county  bar 
and  a  well  known  local  annalist,  says  that  when 
this  first  schooner  was  launched,  a  spectator  said, 
''See  how  she  scoons"  or  skims,  and  the  owner 
replied,  "A  schooner  let  her  be/'  and  this  is  said 
to  be  the  origin  of  the  word  schooner. 

With  the  name  of  Sag  Hari>or  is  pleasantly 
associated  that  of  the  great  American  novelist, 
James  Fenimore  Cooper,  who  made  the  entire 
Long  Island  coast  a  favorite  resort,  and  it  is  said 
that  he  made  a  long  stay  in  the  village  named, 
and  there  wrote  "Precaution," 

Sag  Harbor  was  a  principal  ship  building 
point  from-  a  very  early  day,  and  authentic  rec- 
ords contain  mention  of  vessels  on  the  stocks  in 
1780.  They  were  for  whaling  purposes.  A 
"Captain  Prior"  obtained  the  lease  of  a  piece  of 
land  near  the  old  wharf  in  1795  for  the  purpose 
of  ship  building,  and  in  1806  it  was  voted  by  the 
trustees  of  the  town  that  Captain  Stephen  How- 
ell should  have  the  privilege  of  building  a  ship 
"near  the  old  wharf,  not  interfering  with  the 
road,  for  the  sum  of  16  shillings."  About  this 
time  many  vessels  were  built  by  Messrs.  Plowell, 
Huntting,  and  others,  which  made  to  their  own- 
ers rich  returns  in  prosperous  whaling  voyages. 

The  first  vessel  to  undertake  long  voyages 
was  the  ship  "Hope,"  owned  by  the  Gardiners 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


43 


and  commanded  by  Captain  Ripley.  The  result 
was  far  from  satisfactory,  and  the  enterprise 
proved  a  loss.  In  1785  Colonel  Benjamin  Hunt- 
ting  and  Captain  Stephen  Howell  sent  out  ves- 
sels which  finally  extended  their  voyages  to  the 
coast  of  Brazil.  The  average  duration  of  a  voy- 
age was  ten  or  eleven  months,  and  the  voyages 
were  almost  always  successful.  The  war  of  1812 
caused  a  temporary  suspension  of  business,  which 
soon  recommenced  with  increased  vigor.  In 
1807  there  were  four  ships  fitted  out  from  this 
port.  In  1845,  when  the  business  was  at  its 
highest  point,  there  were  seventy  vessels  engaged 
in  whaling.  In  1862  the  last  vestige  of  what  had 
been  a  great  and  extended  enterprise  disap- 
peared by  the  sale  of  the  brig  "Myra,'^  which 
was  the  last  remnant  of  the  once  powerful  whal- 
ing fleet. 

The  following  statistics  are  from  the  records 
bi  the  Sag  Harbor  Custom  House : 

In  .1794,  472  tons  registered;  473  tons  enrolled 

and  licensed  vessels. 
In  1800,  805  tons  registered;  1449  tons  enrolled 

and  licensed  vessels. 
In  1805,  1916  tons  registered;  2228  tons  enrolled 

and  licensed  vessels. 
In  1810,  1 185  tons  registered;  3223  tons  enrolled 

and  licensed  vessels. 
In  1815,  S08  tons  registered;  2719  tons  enrolled 

and  vessels. 
In  1820,  2263  tons  registered;  3416  tons  enrolled 

and  licensed  vessels. 

Bearing  in  mind  the  small  tonnage  of  those 
days,  the  magnitude  of  the  seafaring 'trade  may 
be  accounted  as  something  really  important. 

Setauket  was  another  considerable  ship- 
building point.  Records  show  that  as  early  as 
1662  Richard  Bullock  purchased  timber  and 
plank  of  John  Ketcham',  and  built  a  boat  here. 
The  size  of  the  vessel  is  unknown,  but  from  the 
fact  that  he  was  allowed  four  months  in  which 
to  complete  it,  and  that  he  was  then  to  leave  the 
town  with  it,  we  may  infer  that  it  was  designed 
for  the  sea.  In  the  period  not  many  years  re- 
mote from  Revolutionary  times  the  business  was 
carried  on  by  Benjamin  Floyd,  a  representative 
of  the  prominent  family  of  that  name.    The  scale 


upon  which  it  was  conducted,  however,  was  at  a 
later  period  enlarged.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century  the  building  of  sloops  was  ex- 
tensively carried  on.  David  Cleaves  was  en- 
gaged in  it  in  1820,  and  continued  until  about 
1835.  In  1832  were  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
Hand  shipyards,  with  which  the  family  name  is 
yet  associated. 

At  Port  Jefferson,  the  pioneer  shipbuilder 
was  John  Wilsie,  who  constructed  vessels  in 
1797,  on  the  ground  occupied  many  years  after- 
ward by  the  large  shipbuilding  hrm  of  James  M. 
Bayles  &  Son, 

The   first   vessel    built    at    Greenport   was    a 

sloop  named  ''Vam.  Buren,"  built  by  Calvin  Hor- 

ton,  in  1834.     The  first  ship  was  the  "J^'^^  A. 

Bishop,"  built  by  Hiram  Bishop,  and  named  af- 

\  ter  his  daughter. 

The  accomplishments  of  the  old-time  ship- 
builder may  be  discerned  in  the  stirring  careers 
of  several  who  are  of  comparatively  recent  times. 

Nehemiah  Hand,  of  Setauket,  born  in  Brook- 
haven,  in  1814,  became  apprentice  to  a  shipbuild- 
er when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  Be- 
fore he  was  of  age  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  a 
gang  of  men, 'and  attended  to  the  completion  and 
launching  of  a  vessel.  In  1836  he  built  his  first 
vessel,  the  schooner  "Delight,"  for  Adam  Bayles, 
and  the  next  year  he  made  the  models  and 
moulds  for  the  schooner  "Swallow."  In  later 
years  he  built  several  vessels  in  which  he  held 
an  ownership  interest.  In  1849  he  built  a  schoon- 
er upon  his  own  account,  and  named  her  the 
"Marietta  Hand,"  after  his  eldest  daughter,  and 
sold  one-half  to  Captain  Micah  Jayne,  and  Cap- 
tain Scudder  Jayne  was  put  in  command.  In 
four  years  the  vessel  had  earned  for  its  owners 
$7,200,  and  they  sold  her  at  an  advance  upon 
her  cost.  In  1850  Mr.  Hand  built  the  schooner 
"Nassau,"  for  Stephen  H.  Townsend  and  Cap- 
tain Richard  Edwards.  This  vessel  went  into 
the  Mediterranean  trade,  and  was  capsized  in  a 
storm,  but  one  man  being  saved.  In  1851  Mr. 
Hand  built  a  brig,  named  for  himself,  for  Turner 
&  Townsend,  in  which  he  owned  a  one-fourth 
interest.  This  vessel  cost  $14,600,  paid  her  own- 
ers $22,562  in  four  years,  and  was  sold  for  $10,- 


44 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


250,  In  1852  Air.  Hand  built  a  large  sloop,  the 
"Chase,"  which  ran  as  a  packet  between  New 
York  and  Providence.  On  one  of  her  trips,  while 
racing  with  the  sloop  "Pointer/'  her  mast  was 
carried  away.  But  the  sporting  sentiment  pre- 
vailed, even  then,  the  principal  owner,  who  was 
aboard,  remarking,  "Never  mind;  we  are  ahead." 

In  1853  Mr.  Hand  built  the  schooner  "Fly- 
ing Eagle"  on  his  own  account,  and  sold  one- 
half  interest  to  Captain  Benjamin  Jones  and 
others.  She  made  a  voyage  to  Constantinople 
during  the  Crimean  war,  and  earned  for  her  own- 
ers $5,000  for  carrying  a  single  cargo  of  rum  and 
pepper.  In  1854  Mr.  Hand  built  the  bark  "C. 
W.  Poultney,"  for  Baker  &  Studson,  at  a  cost 
of  $39,000,  for  the  Philadelphia  and  New  Or- 
leans trade.  The  next  year  he  built  the  brig 
"T.  W.  Rowland,"  at  a  cost  of  $28,000,  be  being 
a  one-fcurth  owner.  He  subsequently  built  the 
bark  "Urania,"  costing  $31,000,  in  which  he 
owned  a  three-eighths  interest.  She  was  built 
for  the  New  York  and  Brazil  coffee  trade,  and, 
when  the  Japanese  ports  were  first  opened  to  for- 
eign ocmmerce,  she  was  run  as  a  packet  between 
Shanghai  and  Nagasaki,  and  brought  home  a 
cargo  O'f  tea  and  silks,  the  freight  charges  upon 
which   amounted   to   $12,000. 

Mr.  Hand  built  various  other  vessels  down  to 
1S60,,  v/hen  he  ran  off  the  stocks  the  schooner 
"Aklebaran,"  in  which  he  gave  his  son  Robert  a 
one-eighth  interest,  and  made  him  commander, 
his  first  mate  being  Edward  Hawkins,  neither 
one  being  twenty  years  of  age.  The  vessel  left 
port  the  day  before  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon, 
sailiUig  for  Spain.  While  sailing  from  New 
York  to  Alarinham,  she  was  captured  on  March 
13,  1863,  by  the  rebel  privateer  "Florida,"  com- 
manded by  Captain  Moffit,  who  was  a  son  of  the 
Methodist  preacher  Moffit,  who  was  a  noted  re- 
vivalist, and  had  visited  Long  Island.  The  prize 
was  plundered  and  burned.  Young  Moffit  plead 
earnestly  for  his  chronometer,  nautical  instru- 
ments and  chart,  which  were  gifts  from  his  fa- 
ther, but  he  was  denied,  Captain  Moffit  declaring 
the  articles  to  be  contraband  of  war.  Captain 
Hand  and  his  crew  were  held  aboard  the  priva- 
teer for  ten  days,  and  were  then  put  on  board  a 


vessel  bound  for  Scotland,  entirely  penniless,  with 
nothing  save  their  clothes.  In  the  award  made 
by  the  claims  commission  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  the  owners  of  the  "Aldebaran"  received 
$30,160,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  four  per  cent. 

In  1863  the  Hands,  father  and  son,  became 
partners,  and  the  first  vessel  of  their  joint  build- 
ing was  the  brig  "Americus,"  in  1864-5,  which 
cost  $42,000.  The  junior  Hand  was  a  one-six- 
teenth partner  and  commander.  In  1868  the 
senior  Hand  built  for  Captain  Henry  Baker  the 
brig  "Mary  E.  Thayer,"  which  had  an  unfortu- 
nate career.  She  went  into  the  Mediterranean 
fruit  trade,  and  was  twice  disma&ted,  was  robbed 
of  $1,750  while  in  the  port  of  Lisbon,  Spain,  and 
her  owners  paid  $2,117  ^^^'  damages  accruing 
from  a  collision  when  the  captain  of  the  vessel 
sailed  in  mid  ocean  without  lights.  Another  un- 
fortunate vessel  of  Mr.  Hand's  building  was  the 
three-masted  schooner  "Georgetta  Lawrence," 
which  cost  $32,000.  Struck  by  lightning  off  the 
coast  of  Cyprus,  her  cargo  of  cased  coal  oil 
caught  fire.  The  vessel  was  saved  through  the 
heroism  of  Charles  Robinson,  the  mate,  who 
went  'tween  decks  and  threw  out  the  burning 
packages,  the  crew  throwing  water  upon  him 
while  he  was  so  engaged. 

Mr.  H.and  built  many  other  vessels  during  all 
these  years,  among  them  the  bark  'De  Zaldo," 
for  Waydell  &  Co.,  which  paid  her  owners  her 
cost  ($40,000)  in  five  years;  the  brig  "Daisy," 
for  Captain  Casey,  at  a  cost  of  $32,500,  which 
made  the  voyage  from  Cape  Henry  to  Stetten,  in 
the  German  Baltic,  in  twenty-six  davs,  and  paid 
her  owners  $10,000  the  first  year,- and  the  bark- 
entine  "Thomas  Brooks,"  which  went  into  the 
West  Indies  trade  and  carried  one  cargo  of  660 
hogsheads  of  sugar. 

About  1874  Mr.  Hand,  in  association  with 
Daniel  Bayles  as  superintendent,  undertook  the 
building  of  a  ship  of  3,500  tons,  a  mammoth  ves- 
sel for  that  day,  but  owing  to  the  remarkable  fi- 
nancial depression  of  that  decade  the  original  de- 
sign was  never  carried  out,  but  that  which  was 
intended  to  become  one  of  the  proudest  specimens 
of  marine  architecture  was  afterward  finished  as 
an   ungraceful  barge. 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


45 


In  all  his  large  and  varied  experience  as  ship 
builder  and  owner  (and  he  built  forty-four  ves- 
sels) Mr.  Hand  never  paid  as  much  as  $500  for 
insurance.  He  acted  upon  the  theory  that  if  in- 
surance companies  could  make  money  in  the  in- 
surance of  poor  vessels,  he  could  make  money 
by  taking  his  own  risk  upon  sound,  well  built 
craft,  and  his  ideas  were  amply  vindicated  in  his 
experience.  In  1873  he  left  his  shipbuilding  bus- 
iness to  a  worthy  successor,  his  son,  George 
Hand.  But  he  did  not  retire  to  lead  an  inactive 
life.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors  and  survey- 
ors of  the  railroad  route  from  Centerport  to  Port 
Jefferson,  and  he  was  a  leading  spirit  in  secur- 
ing state  legislation  for  the  improvement  of  the 
pilotage    system    in    New    York    waters. 

:-i.nother  famous  shipbuilder,  James  AL  Rayles, 
of  Port  Jefferson,  born  in  1815,  took  to  sea- 
faring pursuits  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old. 
When  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he  went  to 
work  as  a  ship  caulker  and  rigger.  In  1836  he 
built  his  first  vessel,  and  has  a  total  of  more  than 
one  hundred  to  his  credit,  furnishing  employment 
to  many  workmen. 

Jesse  Carll,  of  Northport,  whose  activities 
have  but  lately  ceased,  when  seventeen  years  of 
age  entered  the  shipyards  of  James  and  Lloyd 
Bayles,  at  Port  Jefferson.  Five  years  later  he 
and  his  brother  David  engaged  in  shipbuilding 
at  Northport  upon  their  own  account.  The  third 
vessel  of  their  building  was  the  double-decked 
bark  "Storm  Bird/'  of  650  tons,  contracted  for 
at  $35,000,  but  upon  which  they  lost  $7,000.  But 
their  work  was  a  marvel,  for  the  craft  was  built 
and  launched  within  the  short  period  of  eighty- 
seven  days-.  In  1865,  after  an  association  of  ten 
years,  the  brothers  dissolved  partnership,  dividing 
$50,000  as  the   fruits  of  their  mdustry. 

Mr.  Carll  subsequently  built  vessels  sufficient 
in  number  to  make  a  veritable  fleet.  A  monu- 
ment to  his  integrity  as  a  master  workman  was 
his  schooner  "Joseph  Budd,"  launched  in  1871, 
and  costing  $34,000.  While  laying  in  the  har- 
bor of  Brazos,  on  the  coast  of  Rio  Grande,  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  the  midst  of  a  sudden  tropical 
storm  and  tidal  wave,  the  vessel  was  driven  in- 
land, and  when  the  waters  subsided  she  was  two 


miles  from  the  shore,  Mr.  Carll  and  his  part- 
ner, Joseph  Budd,  on  information  given  them 
by  their  foreman,  George  Tillett,  contracted  with 
a  dredging  firm  to  build  a  canal  through  which 
to  float  the  vessel  to  the  water.  Work  was  pros- 
ecuted vigorously,  but  occupied  a  years  time  and 
cost  $23,000.  But  so  perfect  was  the  ship  in  ma- 
terial and  workmanship,  that,  after  twelve 
months'  exposure  to  the  intense  heat  of  .the  cli- 
mate, her  seagoing  qualities  were  unimpaired, 
and,  without  repairs,  she  safely  landed  in  New 
York  a  $160,000  cargo  of  hides,  wool  and  lead. 

There  were  able  commanders,  too.  Captain 
Isaac  Ludlow,  of  Bridgehampton,  was  thus 
spoken  of  in  all  truthfulness  by  a  friend:  "Few 
men  embody  more  prominently  the  higher  traits 
of  ocean  life  than  this^  man.  The  sea  molds  as 
if  to  itself  the  hardy  and  resolute  spirits  that  dare 
its  perils.  He  was  brave  as  a  lion,  sincere  as 
truth,  generous  as  a  prince,  sympathetic  as  a 
child,  tender  and  humane  like  the  good  Samari- 
tan; and  if  at  times  the  strong  emotional  nature, 
so  full  of  elevated  sentiment,  broke  the  bounds 
of  decorous  restraint  in  censure  of  aught  untrue 
or  dishonest  or  mean,  all  remembered  that,  rocked 
by  the  stormy  wave,  assailed  by  the  tempest's 
breath,  nurtured  in  the  rage  of  the  mighty  deep, 
something  of  its  elemental  wrath  seeaied  in- 
woven intoi  the  fibres  of  the  nature  and  the  frame 
they  nurtured  and  tried." 

Captain  Ludlow  became  a  sailor  when  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  in  all  he  made  as  many 
as  twenty  long  whaling  voyages  in  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  waters,  and  he  commanded  a  vessel  in  his 
last  eight  voyages.  In  August,  1853,  he  rescued 
from  the  island  of  Amsterdam,  in  the  Indian 
ocean,  the  shipwrecked  crew  and  passengers  of 
the  British  bark  "Aieridian."  His  care  for  them 
involved  the  failure  of  his  voyage,  and  was  but 
partially  compensated  by  the  gift  of  a  fine  chro- 
nometer from  the  British  admiralty  and  other 
presents  and  acknowledgments. 

A  native  of  Southampton,  born  in  1825.  Cap- 
tain James  R.  Huntting  went  before  the  mast  on 
a  whaling  voyage,  in  the  bark  ''Portland,"  Cap- 
tain William  H.  Payne,  when  he  was  sixteen 
years  old.     In  three  successive  voyao^es  in  the 


46 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


same  vessel  he  was  boat  steerer,  second  officer 
and  first  officer.  In  1848  be  commanded  tbe 
bark  *'Nimrod,"  and  returned  with  a  full  cargo  of 
whale  oil  and  bone  after  a  voyage  of  two  years. 
In  November,  1850,  as  master  of  the  ship  "Jeffer- 
son/' he  left  port  and,  after  a  voyage  of  two 
years  and  six  months,  returned  with  a  cargo  val- 
ued at  $150,000.  He  made  another  successful 
voyage  in  thp  same  vessel,  and  then  followed 
land  pursuits  until  i860,  when  he  again  went  to 
sea  and  sailed  successively  the  bark  ''General 
Scott,"  and  the  bark  "Fanny."  Returning  in 
1869  he  abandoned  the  sea  and  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile business. 

The  builders  and  commanders  named  by  no 
means  exhaust  the  list.  They  are  only  presented 
as  types  of  those  worthies  of  a  now  past  age  who, 
by  energy,  daring,  self-reliance  and  enterprise, 
wrested  from  distant  lands  the  wealth  that  has 
enlarged  the  commerce  of  America,  built  up  its 
maritime  cities,  and  presented  to  the  national  navy 
the  elements  which  have  made  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  the  emblem  of  heroic  achievements 
upon  every  sea. 

But  the  times  have  changed,  and  the  waters 
of  the  ocean  front  and  of  the  sound  bear  but  few 
of  the  sails  of  the  old  time  commerce.  In  their 
stead  are  fleets  of  the  finest  and  fleetest  pleasure 
craft,  sailed  by  hundreds  of  enthusiastic  amateur 
sailors.  Oyster  Bay  leads  in  priority  of  yacht 
club  organizations  and  membership,  its  Seawan- 
haka-Corinthian  Yacht  Club,  dating  from  1871, 
and  having  a  membership  of  500,  and  its  cup 
races  are  events  which  are  regarded  with  intense 
interest  in  yachting  circles  the  world  over.  Other 
clubs  are  the  Bayswater  Club,  at  Jamaica  iBay; 
the  Indian  Creek  Club,  of  Carnasie,  69  members, 
organized  in  1896;  the  Jamaica  Bay  Club,  Rocka- 
way,  150  members,  organized  in  1892  ;  the  Jeffer- 
son Club,  Rockaway  Beach,  25  members,  organ- 
ized in  1897;  the  Progressive  Club,  Rockaway 
Beach;  the  Vigilant  Club,  21  members,  organized 
in  1897;  the  Cedar  Island  Club,  New  Babylon; 
the  Hempstead  Bay  Club,  Elder  Island,  Great 
South  Bay,  94  members,  organized  in  1892;  the 
Hempstead  Harbor  Club,  Glen  Cove,  51  mem- 
bers, organized  in  1891 ;  the  Huntington  Club, 


Huntington,  60  members,  organized  in  1894;  the 
Keystone  Club,  Windmere,  56  members,  organ- 
ized in  1892;  the  Manhasset  Bay  Club,  Port 
Washington ;  the  Northport  Club,  Northport,  74 
members,  organized  in  1898;  the  Patchogue  Club, 
Patchogue;  the  Penataquit^Corinthian  Club, 
Bay  Shore,  96  members,  organized  in  1896;  the 
Point  o'  Woods  Club,  Point  o'  Woods,  100 
members,  organized  in  1899;  the  Quantuck  Club, 
Quogue,  85  members,  organized  in  1896;  the  Sag 
Harbor  Club,  Sag  Harbor,  35  members,  organ- 
ized in  1897;  the  'Sea  CHff  Club,  Sea  Cliff,  135 
members,  organized  in  1892; -the  Shelter  Island 
Club,  Chequit  Point,  90  members,  organized  in 
1896;  the  Shinnecock  Club,  Quogue,  50  mem- 
bers, organized  in  1897;  and  the  Yacht  Squadron 
of  the  West  Hampton  Country  Club,  West 
Hampton  Beach,  125  members,  organized  in 
1891. 

Tales  of  piracy  in  connection  with  Long  Isl- 
and were  plentiful  in  the  days  of  long  ago.  Coney 
Island  and  Rockaway,  in  particular,  were  hotbeds 
of' pirates,  principally  the  small  fry  who  o,ught  to 
be  more  properly  classed  as  smugglers,  but  who 
were  equally  as  ready  to  murder  and  to  rob  as 
to  cheat  the  revenue  of  what  the  government 
claimed  to  be  its  just  due.  Then  there  are  istor- 
les  of  Captain  Kidd,  who  is  claimed  to  have  hid- 
den treasures  in  so  many  places  along  the  coast 
that  if  he  had  only  dropped  one  strong  box  in  all 
the  places  alleged  to  he  his  "hiding  places"  he 
must  ihave  had  enough  of  such  boxes  to  have 
burdened  an  entire   fleet. 

John  Gardiner,  son  of  Lion  Gardiner,  asserted- 
during  his  life  that  in  the  summer  of  1699,  when 
he  was  eight  years  old,  Captain  Kidd,  "as  he 
sailed,''  made  a  visit  at  Gardiner's  Island.  Ac- 
cording to  John  L3^on  Gardiner's  narrative,  the 
redoubtable  rascal  "took  what  fr^sh  provisioris  he 
wanted ;  came  in  the  night  and  cut  the  old  gentle- 
man's hands  in  the  dark  with  their  cutlasses;  de- 
stroyed feather  beds ;  stayed  several  days  and 
lived  well;  tied  the  old  gentleman  up  to  the  mul- 
berry tree,  which  'is  now  standing  at  the  north  of 
the  house;  left  money,  etc.,  with  him.  It  was  hid 
in  a  swampy  place  at  Cherry  Harbor.  He  showed 


EASTERN  LONG  ISLAND. 


47 


JNIr.  John  where  he  put  it,  told  him  if  he  never 
called  for  it  he  might  have  it,  but  if  he  called  for 
it  and  it  was  gone  he  would  'take  his  son's 
head.'  After  the  apprehension  of  Kidd,  com- 
niissioners  came  to  the  island  and  were  given 
possession  of  the  valuables. 

jMiss  Hosford,  the  last  descendant  of  Na- 
thaniel Sylvester,  preserved  in  the  old  manor 
house  on  Shelter  Island  a  piece  of  gold  chain, 
several  links-,  which  was  given  to  a  Sylvester  by 
the  buccaneer  Captain  Kidd  in  payment  of 
some  supplies.  The  local  story. is  that  the  pirate, 
'*as  he  sailed,"  got  short  of  fresh  meat  and  land- 
ed at  the  head  of  a  party  of  his  desperadoes  on 
Shelter  Island  in  search  of  some.  In  the  manor 
house  yard  they  came  across  two  pigs,  which 
they  appropriated  in  the  easy  manner  usual  with 
pirates.  But  the  pigs  objected  and  began  to 
squeal,  and  the  racket  brought  out  on  the  scene 
a  servant  girl  who  defied  the  whole  gang  and  de- 
manded that  the  pigs  be  dropped.  A  cowardly 
historian  has  suggested  that  if  she  had  known 
she  was  dealing  with  Captain  Kidd  and  his  free- 
booters she  would  have  run  away  to  the  other  end 
of  the  island.  That,  however,  is  a  base  slander. 
Captain  Kidd  saw  that  he  had  a  determined 
woman  to  deal  with,  so  he  called  a  halt,  explained 
his  necessity  in  the  way  of  provender,  and  tore 
off  several  links  of  the  gold  chain  he  wore — far 
more  than  the  value  of  the  pigs.  She  accepted  the 
payment  and  left  the  pigs  to  their  fate,  and  hand- 
ed the  bullion  to  her  mistress,  who  had  watched 
the  entire  scene  with  fear  and  trembling  from 
an  upper  chamber  window.  She  had  recognized 
Kidd  and  would  willingly  have  let  him  take  all 
the  stock  he  could  lay  his  hand&  on  if  only  he  and 
his  crew  would  have  departed  in  peace.- 

But  Captain  Kidd,  on  one  occasion,  unwit- 
tingly contributed  to  the  population  of  Babylon 
one  who  became  a  most  useful  citizen  and  who 
reared  an  excellent  family.  This  was  Captain 
Jacob  Conklin,  who  had  been  impressed  on  board 
of  Captain  Kidd's  ship  and  served  under  him 
on  one  of  his  voyages.  On  Kidd's  return  from 
his  last  voyage,  and  while  his  vessel,  the  "San 
Antonio,"  lay  in  Cold  Spring  Harbor,  Conklin 
and  others,  having  been  sent  on  shore  for  water. 


hid  themselves  and  did  not  return  to  the  ship. 
Doubtless  they  feared  Kidd's  arrest  and  trial,  and 
dreaded  lest  they  might  be  punished  with  him. 
They  were  for  some  time  isecreted  among  the 
Indians.  Conklin  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land 
from  the  natives,  of  which  the  farm,  late  the  prop- 
erty of  Colonel  James  F.  Ca&ey,  is  part,  and  upon 
which  Conklin  built  a  fine  mansion,  which  is  yet 
standing.  The  house  was  probably  erected  about 
1710,  and  every  part  of  its  bears  evidence  of  its 
antiquity.  The  high  hill  behind  the  dwelling 
commands  a  splendid  though  distant  view  of  the 
ocean  and  bay.  Near  by  are  several  fine  springs 
of  water,  one  of  which  is  said  to  be  of  medicinal 
character. 

Captain  Conklin  was  born  in  Wiltshire,  Eng- 
land, probably  in  1675,  and  died  at  his  residence 
in  Babylon  in  1754.  His  wife  was  Hannah 
Piatt,  of  Huntington,  by  whom  he  had  several 
children,  among  them  Colonel  Piatt  Conklin, 
who  was  an  ardent  patriot  during  the  Revolution. 
The  latter  had  only  one  child,  Nathaniel,  who 
was  Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  was  the  third 
owner  of  the  premises  above  described.  This 
property  descended  to  the  grandchildren  of 
Sheriff  Conklin,  thus  having  been  owned  by  four 
successive  generations  of  the  family.  It  has  since 
been  owned  by  Dr.  Bartlett,  formerly  editor  of 
the  ''Albion,"  Colonel  James  F.  Casey  and  Ulys- 
ses S.  Grant,  Jr. 

A  treasure  laden  ship  said  to  have  come 
ashore  at  Southampton  through  treachery,  some 
time  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  has  al- 
ways remained  a  mystery.  Whether  she  was  an 
English  merchantman  or  a  Spanish  pirate  re- 
turning from  the  Carribean  sea  to  old  Spam,  will 
always  remain  unknown.  Spanish  money  was 
found  in  the  vicinity  frequently  afterward,  and 
the  hope  of  finding  more  sprang  up  in  the  minds 
of  many  avaricious  creatures.  All  that  is  known 
is  Captain  Terry's  story  of  how  on  a  Sunday  in 
June  the  vessel  hove  to  and  set  ashore  a  man,  and 
then  sailed  out  again.  The  ione  sailor  set  out  at 
a  brisk  pace  along  Napeague  Beach,  reaching 
Amaganset  at  dusk.  He  was  a  creature  of 
such  forbidding  appearance  that  lodgings  were 
repeatedly  refused  him,  and  where  he  passed  the 


48 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


night  is  not  knovvn,  bnt  at  Easthampton  and  at 
Southampton  he  was  seen  and  commented  upon. 
Who  the  unpleasant  appearing  stranger  was,  and 
what  his  errand  and  where  he  went,  were  mat- 
ters of  speculation   for  many  days. 

At  one  of  the  villages  where  the  Great  South 
Bay  widens  out,  he  was  boated  across  to  Fire 
Island  Beach,  and  there  he  lighted  a  signal.  In 
the  meantime  a  violent  storm  had  arisen  and  the 
sea  was  furious,  and  the  precious  ras- 
cals who  had  expected  to  escape  with  all  the 
treasure,  leaving  a  scuttled  ship  to  tell  no  tales, 
were  cast  helpless  upon  the  shore,  weighted  to 
death  by  the  gold  hidden  in  their  belts,  and  only 
three  escaped.  With  no  sense  of  mercy  or  honor, 
they  rifled  their  rascally  comrades,  and,  burying 
the  treasure,  fled  the  country  to  avoid  the  arrest 
which  their  suspicious  spending  of  money 
brought  upon  them.  Some  say  they  never  re- 
turned for  their  ill-gotten  booty. 

On  November  g,  1830,  the  splendid  brig 
''Vineyard"  left  New  Orleans  with  a  valuable 
cargo  and  $54,000  in  specie.  Had  this  last  de- 
tail not  been  known  to  the  crew,  all  might  have 
gone  well,  but  the  fact  that  it  was  on  board 
aroused  the  cupidity  of  the  fo'csle  and  the  appar- 
ently innate  desire  of  ignorant,  lawless  men  to 
get  rich  quickly.  A  mutiny  was  determined  upon 
so  as  to  gain  possession  of  the  money,  and  the 
plans  arranged  were  put  in  effect  when  the  brig 
was  off  Cape  Hatteras.  The  Captain  and  mate 
were  murdered  and  the  crew  of  seven  men  took 
possession  of  the  brig.  They  determined  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  Long  Island  shore  and  there  aban- 
don the  ship  and  scatter,  each  with  his  share  of 
the  plunder.  The  vessel  arrived  safely  within  a 
few  miles  of  Long  Island  and  was,  in  accordance 
with  their  plans,  burned  and  sunk.     The  mutin- 


eers took  to  the  small  boats,  intending  to  land  at 
different  places.  Then  their  troubles  began.  One 
boat  with  three  men  upset  and  its  occupants 
were  drowned.  The  other  boat  had  a  hard  time 
making  shore,  and  much  of  the  money  had  to  be 
thrown  overboard  to  lighten  the  little  craft.  The 
four  pirates  landed  near  Coney  Island  with  some 
$5,000,  and  then  began  quarrelling,  with  the  re- 
sult that  their  crime  became  known  and  their  ar- 
rest followed.  Two  of  them  were  hanged  on 
April  22,   1831. 

In  September,  1858,  the  brig  '^Haidee,"  of 
New  York,  was  scuttled  and  sunk  by  her  crew 
when  o£F  Montauk.  The  brig  had  been  to  the 
coast  of  Africa,  whence  she  had  taken  a  cargo 
of  960  slaves  to  Cuba.  After  landing  the  slaves 
the  captain  and  owners  sent  the  brig  in  charge 
of  the  mate  north  to  be  sunk.  The  entire  crew 
of  twenty-two  men  came  ashore  in  boats  and 
scattered,  some  going  to  New  York  and  others 
to  New  London.  The  mate  was  arrested  near 
New  Bedford,  and  three  of  the  men  in  New 
York. 

But  these  dreadful  tales  have  had  their  tell- 
ing, and  find  no  counterpart  in  the  narratives  of 
the  present  day.  The  pirate  and  shoresman  who 
thrived  upon  the  flotsam  from  the  wreck  have 
passed  away  forever.  Even  the  sea  is  far  less 
prolific  of  disaster,  thanks  to  the  splendid  per- 
fection of  the  lighthouse  service,  and,  when  a 
wreck  occasionally  occurs,  human  life  is  seldom 
lost,  so  perfect  is  the  work  of  the  life-savers,  gov- 
ernmental and  volunteer.  And  so  the  story  of 
■  the  historian  and  annalist  has  ceased  to  be  one 
of  horror  and  human  suffering,  and  comes  to  be 
of  those  things  which  arei 

"A  beauty   and   a   joy   forever." 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 

Characteristics  of  the  People — The  Foundations  of  Communities. 


"Beneath  the  roots  of  tangled  weeds, 
Afar"  in  country  graveyards,  lie 
The  men  whose  unrecorded  deeds 
Have  stamped  this  nation's  destiny. 

"We  praise  the  present  stock  and  man; 
But  have  we  ever  thought  to  praise 
The  strong,  still,  humble  lives  that  ran 
The  deep-cut  channels  of  these  days? 

"Beneath  those  tottering  slabs  of  slate, 
Whose  tribute  moss  and  mold  efface. 
Sleeps  the  calm  dust  that  made  us  great, 
The  true  substratum  of  our  race !" 

— James  Buckham. 


X  order  to  avoid  otherwise  necessary  repe- 
titions, it  is  well,  thus  early  in  the  narra- 
tive, to  dispose  of  the  Nassau-Suffolk  re- 
e^ion  in  so  far  as  their  characteristics  and 
history  are  -similar.  In  a  way  the  Jtwo  counties, 
the  strongly  alike;  and,  in  some  respects,  they 
differ  materially  from  the  counties  of  Queens  and 
Kings.  In  a  physical  sense,  the  former  preserve's 
in  greater  degree  its  original  features.  The  denser 
population  of  the  district  to  its  Avesitward  has  ne- 
cessitated the  obliteration  of  hill  and  forest,  and 
even  of  water-courses,  and  what  of  the  natural 
contour  remains  is  disguised  hy  the  multitude  of 
buildings  of  all  classes  and  style.  But  eastward 
from  ithe  line  separating  the  counties  of  Queens 

4 


and  Nassau  the  territory  is,  in  natural  conforma- 
tion, much  as  it  was  before  the  advent  of  the 
white  man.  With  that  line  we  may  be  said  to 
have  fairly  entered  upon  the  most  picturesque  of 
the  coast  region  of  Long  Island,  to  which,  in  its 
entirety,  some  reference  may  be  in  order,  &o  full 
is  it  of  interest  and  beauty  on  the  south,  so  wild 
and  romantic  is  it  on  the  north  side  of  the  island. 
On  the  sound  it  has  several  fine  harbors — Little 
Neck,  Hempstead,  Oyster  Bay  and  Cold  Spring, 
On  the  Atlantic  front  its  water  line  is  more 
adapted  for  summer  resorts  than  for  commerce. 
Hempstead  Bay  and  its  islands  present  countless 
spots  which  can  and  undoubtedly  will  be  utilized 
for  such  purposes,  and  quite  a  number  are  already 
high   class   residential  neighborhoods. 

But  we  may  particularise  somewhat  more 
closely.  In  an  address  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Epher  Whittaker,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Suffolk  County,  held  in 
Riverhead,  in  February,  1900,  that  scholarly 
gentleman  referred  to  the  gradual  sinking  of  the 
land  along  the  Atlantic  from  Cape  Cod  to  Flor- 
ida, and  observed  that  while  in  places,  and  nota- 
bly at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  this  subsidence 
has   been   attended  by   tremendous   convulsions, 


50 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


Long  Island  has  not  been  violeiitly  affected. 
There  has  not  been  entire  absence  of  earthquakes 
but  these  have  been  of  the  mildest  character. 
The  shores  have  shown  change,  but  in  no  radi- 
cal way.  Along  both  the  ocean  and  sound  sides, 
some  fruitful  land  has  been  lost  by  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  sea.  As  an  instance,  the  new  light- 
house at  Orient  Point  was  built  in  water  several 
feet  deep,  at  a  point  where  men  now  living  have 
seen  fields  of  grain  planted  and  harvested.  On 
the  other  hand,  nature  has  made  ample  compen- 
sation for  what  she  has  taken,  by  pouring  rich 
stores  of  soil  into  lakes  and  ponds  and  shallow 
streams,  and  these  have  been  added  to  farm  and 
.garden  spots,  making  this  one  of  the  most  pro- 
ductive regions  in  all  America,  adorned  with 
beautiful  homes  and  all  that  goes  to  make  happi- 
ness upon  earth. 

But  before  and  above  all  these  excellent  ma- 
terial conditions  is  to  be  admired  the  power 
which  has  mlade  them — ^the  people.  In  numbers 
native  to  the  soil  for  the  greater  part,  these  cher- 
ish with  affection  and  pride  the  ancestry  whence 
they  sprung  and  whose  worth  and  names  they 
have  commemorated,  in  many  instances,  in  en- 
during form.  For  the  people,  despite  the  tur- 
moil of  business  and  the  glamour  of  society,  are 
a  home-loving  and  family-loving  people,  and,  in 
their  homes,  their  schools  and  their  churches, 
they  are  rearing  to-day  a  generation  which,  in  its 
own  time,  will  doubtless  be  called  upon  to  engage 
in  effort  and  confront  obstacles  and  conquer  suc- 
cess after  the  manner  of  those  who  have  gone  be- 
fore them. 

Of  a  verity  were  their  forebears,  the 
worthies  of  two  and  a  half  centuries  agO',  the 
founders  of  a  new  England.  Suffolk  is  notable 
as  being  the  oldest  -purely  English  settlement — 
entirely  English  in  its  forms  and  institutions — 
within  the  limits  of  the  great  Empire  State,  and 
various  of  its  towns  had  a  healthy  existence  and 
were  practically  independent  and  self-governing 
communities  before  any  real  powers  of  ^sov- 
ereignty  were  sought  to^  be  exercised  over  them. 
The  same  fact  practically  obtains  in  those  towns 
which  were  recently  separated  from  Queens 
county  to  form  the  county  of  Nassau.    Indeed,  it 


may  be  said — and  the  fact  is  important — tthat  the 
Dutch  influence  was  scarcely  felt  within  the  re- 
gion now  known  as  Nassau  county,  and  was  not 
at  all  perceptible  in  Suffolk  county. 

At  the  risk  of  slight  repetition,  it  may  be  ob- 
served that  the  immigrants  acquired  title  to  their 
lands  through  purchase  from  the  Indians,  and 
through  grants  made  by  proprietors  holding  un- 
der the  English  crown. 

James  I  of  England  granted  to  the  Plymouth 
Company  a  charter  for  all  the  land  between  the 
fortieth  and  forty-eighth  degrees  of  north  lati- 
tude, extending  from  sea  to  sea,  which  territory 
bore  the  name  of  New  England.  In  1636  King 
Charles  I  procured  the  transfer  oi  the  whole  of 
Long  Island  and  the  adjacent  islands  to  William 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Sterling,  by  patent  from  the 
Plymouth  Company.  The  Earl  appointed  James 
Farret  as  his  general  deputy,  and  authorized  him 
to  select  for  his  own  use  a  tract  of  twelve  thou- 
sand acres  in  this  territory.  Farret  chose  Shelter 
Island  and  Robin's  Island  in  Peconic  Bay;  he 
made  various  sales  to  actual  settlers,  and  in  1641 
he  sold  the  remainder  to  Stephen  Goodyear,  of 
the  New  Flaven  Colony.  The  Earl  of  Sterling 
died  in  1640,  and  his  son  and  heir  died  a  few 
months  afterward.  The  next  in  heirship,  a  grand- 
son of  the  Earl,  for  a  consideration  of  £300,  sur- 
rendered to  the  crown  the  grant  acquired  from 
the  Plymouth  Company,  and  it  was  conveyed 
(April  2,  1664,)  to  the  Duke  of  York,  acording 
to  the  following  description :  "All  that  island  or 
islands  commonly  called  by  the  several  name  or 
names  of  Meitowacks,  or  Long  Island,  situate, 
lying  and  being  toward  the  west  of  Cape  Cod 
and  the  narrow  Higansetts,  abutting  upon  the 
mainland  between  the  two  rivers  there  called  or 
known  by  the  several  names  of  Connecticut  and 
Fludson's  River." 

To  this  region  came  a  splendid  race  of  men, 
many  of  whom  settled  in  Rhode  Island,  whence 
they  came  to  Long  Island.  They  were  English- 
men, and  their  ancestry  was  most  honorable. 
They  were  merchants  and  seafaring  men,  among 
the  most  enterprising  of  their  day.  The  major- 
ity came  with  means  of  support,  and  often  with 
what  in  those  days  was  considered  wealth.    They 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


51 


were  educated  beyond  the  average  yeomanry  of 
Great  Britain.  This  is  proven  by  the  fact  that 
a  majority  cou'ld  sign  their  own  names  to  the  legal 
documents  which  they  recorded.  Some  Scotch 
and  English  bordermen  of  the  highest  classes- 
signed  legal  contracts  "with  their  hands  to  the 
pen  led  by  the  clerk."  The  men  who  organized 
the  oldest  towns  and  townships  of  Long  Island 
were  men  of  the  world  of  business  and  affairs, 
far  beyond  the  average  villager  or  yeoman  of 
the  English  or  Scotch  rural  districts.  They  were 
men  of  thought  as  well  as  of  intelligence.  They 
were  exiled  not  as  blind  or  ignorant  rioters,  but 
as  men  who  had  contemplated  the  affairs  of  state, 
formed  their  opinions,  held  fixed  principles,  and 
they  were  ready  in  the  new  world  to  give  them 
the  test  of  practical  application.  They  were  in 
most  instances  the  clean,  honest  republicans  of 
the  ^'Republic  of  England"  (or  of  the  Common- 
wealth) who  would  not  sell  their  love  of  liberty 
and  their  manhood  to  the  degraded  policies  of  the 
.Stuarts  after  the  Restoration.  Some  of  the  other 
members  were  among  the  roundheads  of  Crom- 
well and  had  fought  at  Naseby,  and  by  their  side 
were  a  few  descendants  of  iHuguenots  who  had 
been  allied  with  Admiral  Coligny,  and  had  taken 
refuge  in  England  after  the  revocation  of  the 
Edict  of  Nantes. 

If  there  is  aught  in  the  history  of  Long  Isl- 
and that  is  so  completely  established  as  to  be 
wholly  outside  the  pale  of  controversy,  it  is  the 
fact  that  its  early  colonists  were  a  deeply  relig- 
ious people.  Indeed,  had  they  been  less  con- 
scientious and  less  unyielding  as  religionists,  the 
political  structure  which  they  aided  in  rearing 
would  doubtless  have  been  of  other  design.  It 
was  decreed  in  a  very  early  day  that  the  country 
was  to  be  essentially  English,  and  dominated  by 
English  thought  and  policies — the  withdrawal 
of  the  Dutch  fleet  and  the  Dutch  Governor  set- 
tled that  matter.  Had  the  Englishmen  and 
Scotchmen  then  on  the  ground  been  time-servers, 
had  they  abandoned  their  meetings  and  conven- 
ticles, they  would  doubtless  have  proven  as 
truculent  in  their  political  conduct,  and — would 
there  have  been  the  Revolution  ?  And  this  sug- 
gests   another    query:       Had    the    Established 


Church  of  England  utilized  the  Methodjsm  of 
Wesley  in  England,  and  displayed  a  conciliatory 
attitude  toward  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland,  is 
it  not  probable  that  there  would  have  been  an  Es- 
tablished Church  in  America,  with  Trinity  Church 
standing  in  the  new  land  for  what  Canterbury 
does  in  the  mother  country? 

A  fruitful  field  for  speculation  this,  but-  there 
is  sufficient  of  momentous  interest  in  what  did 
actually  occur.  And  so,  it  may  be  repeated  that 
the  early  colonists  were  a  deeply  religious  peo- 
ple, and  this  is  not  the  less  true  if,  as  was  the 
case,  with  different  standards,  their  conduct  was 
in  many  instances  somewhat  at  variance  with 
that  expected  of  professed  religionists  in  the 
present  day.  But  deeply  religious  these  people 
were,  yet  not  super-sentimental,  but  entirely 
practical.  Without  being  aware  of  it,  they  were 
the  most  astute  politicians  (in  the  best  sense  of 
the  term)  of  their  day,  and  they  were  anticipat- 
ing, albeit  all  unconsciously,  that  assertion  of 
political  liberty  which  culminated  in  independ- 
ence after  the  Revolution.  Religious  as  they  were, 
they  were  not  bigoted  or  intolerant.  While  ac- 
cording to  all  comers  a  broad  measure  of  per- 
sonal liberty,  they  jealously  guarded  against 
what  would  be  destructive  of  good  morals.  The 
early  government  of  the  little  communities  was 
by  the  town  meeting,  in  which,  in  nearly  all  in- 
stances, the  influence  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
was  predominant  until  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  and,  indeed,  for  many  years 
thereafter,  the  same  influence  continued  tO'  be 
important  in  community  affairs.  True,  the  towns 
differed  somewhat  as  to  the  details  of  govern- 
ment, but,  in  the  main,  there  was  a  noticeable 
similarity  of  method  as  there  wa&  entire  unani- 
mity of  purpose. 

The  social  life  of  a  community  is  but  the  re- 
flection of  the  personality  of  its  members.  Where 
the  leaders  in  affairs  are  men  of  strong  character, 
whose  conduct  is  dominated  by  stern  moral  con- 
victions, rectitude  of  conduct  prevails,  coloring 
the  present  life  of  the  community,  and  affording 
an  example  for  the  guidance  of  succeeding  gen- 
erations. 

Law  is  the  product  of  social  life,  rather  than 


52 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


its  maker.  Law  is  generally  enacted  only  when 
conditions  have  shown  the  urgent  necessity 
therefor — when  moral  tenets  and  personal  use- 
fulness seem  powerless  to  eradicate  or  mitigate  an 
evil  which  threatens  society.  Hence,  the  statute 
books  of  a  nation,  in  whatever  era,  may  be  un- 
derstood as  indicating  a  mjore  or  less  widespread 
existence  of  those  misdemeanors  and  crimes  for 
which  penalties  are  provided.  The  Mosaic  law  is 
the  most  convincing  instance  in  point  that  ap- 
pears in  all  ihuman  'history.  Its  minute  regula- 
tions for  the  conduct  of  the  individual,  even  to 
the  details  of  personal  cleanliness  and  foods,  re- 
veal an  existent  state  of  almost  savagery,  from 
which  the  children  of  Israel  were  upraised  by 
their  great  lawgiver,  ultimately  becoming  models 
in  these  respects  for  all  mankind  and  for  all  time. 
The  high  moral  and  religious  sentiments 
which  animated  the  makers  of  these  miniature 
commonwealths  upon.  Long  Island  may  be  dis- 
cerned in  the  constitution  of  East  Hampton,  en- 
acted by  the  people  on  October  24,  1654: 

East  Hampton,  October  24,  1654. — Foras- 
much as  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  by  the 
wise  dispensation  oi  his  Providence,  so  to  order 
and  dispose  of  things  that  we  the  Inhabitants  of 
East  Hampton  are  now  dwelling  together,  the 
word  of  God  requires  that  to  maintain  the  Peace 
and  Union  of  sudi  a  people  there  should  be  an 
Orderly  and  Decent  Government  established  ac- 
cording to  God,  to  order  and  Dispose  as  Occa- 
sion shall  rec[uire.  We  Do  therefore  associate 
and  conjoin  our  selves  to  be  one  Town  or  Cor- 
poratio^n,  and  Do  ^^'^  ourselves  and  successors, 
and  such  as  shall  be  adjoined  to  us  at  any  time 
hereafter,  enter  into  combination  and  confedera- 
tion together  to  maintain  and  preserve  the  purity 
of  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  JesuS'  Christ,  which 
we  now  possess ;  as  also  the  Discipline  of  the 
Church,  which  according  tO'  the  truth  of  said 
Gospel  is  now  practiced  among  us ;  As  also  in 
our  Civil  affaires  to  be  guided  and  Governed  by 
such  Laws  and  Orders  as  shall  be  made  accord- 
ing to  God,  and  which  by  vote  of  the  Major  Part 
shall  be  in  force  among  -us.  Furthermore  we 
do  engage  our  selves  that  in  all  vote&  for  choos- 
ing Officers  or  making  orders  that  it  be  accord- 
ing to  Conscience  and  our  best  light,  And  also 
we  do  engage  our  selves  by  this  Combination  to 
stand  to  and  maintain  the  authority  of  the  sev- 
eral Officers  O'f  the  Town  in  their  Determinations 


and  actions  according  to  their  Orders  and  Laws 
that  either  are  or  shall  be  made,  not  swerving 
therefrom-.  In  witness  whereof  each  accepted 
Inhabitant  set  to  our  hand." 

Th.e  duties  devolved  upon  the  law  officers 
were  deemed  so  important,  and  their  proper  dis- 
charge was  recognized  as  a  sacred  duty,  as  wit- 
ness the  following  oath  administered: 

"You,  being  chosen  by  this  court  for  the 
careful  and  comfortable  carrying  on  the  affairs 
of  this  town,  do  here  swear  by  the  name  of  the 
great  and  ever  living  God  that  you  will  faith- 
fully and  without  respect  of  persons  execute  all 
jury  laws  and  orders  as  shall  or  may  be  made 
and  established  by  this  court,  according  to  God, 
according  to  the  trust  committed  to  3^ou  during 
this  year  for  which  you  are  chosen,  and  until  a 
new  'one  be  chosen,  if  you  remain  among  us,  so 
help  you  God." 

Among  the  earliest  laws  enacted  were  those 
for  the  guarding  of  the  public  morals.  The  fact 
is  significant.  The  "people  were  deeply  imbued 
with  religious  sentiments  Which  had  been  their 
heritage  from  many  preceding  generations.  The 
community  was  in  its  formative  stage,  and  the 
laws  were  framed  rather  to  establish  a  standard 
for  conduct,  and  more  especially  for  later  immi- 
grants who  were  beginning  to  arrive,  than  out 
of  immediate  necessity.  Again,  the  legislators 
of  the  day  were  familiar  with  the  vicious  con- 
duct of  the  worst  classes  in  the  mother  country, 
and  they  did  not  clearly  discriminate  between  the 
conditions  in  an  old  and  thickly  populated  land, 
with  its  diversified  classes  and  those  in  a  new 
community  where  all  were  practically  upon  a 
common  level,  and  where  all  must  struggle  for 
an  existence,  practicing  industry  and  economy, 
with  little  time  or  means,  and  less  of  inclination, 
for  debasing  pursuits.  Again,  these  laws  may, 
in  part,  be  taken  as  having  origin  in  the  horror 
in  w^hicli  these  early  English  immigrants  held  the 
conduct  O'f  the  ruling  classes  at  home,  in  the  time 
of  that  "Merry  Monarch"  who  was,  to  use  the 
unique  phrase  of  Macaulay,  "much  addicted  to 
women,"  and  whose  profligate  behavior  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  in  public  gaze,  had  provoked  the 
pained  indignation  of  Pepys  and  Evelyn. 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


53 


The  town  meeting — the  general  assembly  of 
the  people — was  not  only  the  legislative  body, 
but  it  was  also,  in  some  cases,  the  judicial  body, 
when  it  was  kno'wn  as  the  general  court.     This 
body  was  constituted  without  written  constitu- 
tion or  governmental    warrant    except    in    the 
broadest  sense,  and  owed  its  being  solely  to  that 
organizing  power  which  has  resided  in  the  Briton 
from  time  immemorial,  and  which  he  has  made 
the  dominating  power  in  every  land  wherein  he 
has   established   a  firm  foothold.     It  taxed  the 
people  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 
churches  and  schools,  for  the  support  of  ministers 
and  teachers.     It  organized  military  forces  for 
the  defense  o-f  the  town,  and  erected  fortifications. 
The  boundaries  of  the  town  and  of  farms  and 
"home  lots"  were  recorded  in    the  town    book. 
Every  year  the  owners  of  adjoining  lands  met 
and  made  what  was  called  a  "perambulation  of 
the  bounds,"  and  every  three  years  there  was  a 
"perambulation"    by    the    officers    of    adjoining 
towns   of   the  boundaries   between   such   towns, 
and  a  record  made.     The  constables  and  over- 
seers were  empowered  to  establish  and  lay  out 
roads  and  designate  convenient  places  near  the 
highways  for  watering  domestic  animals.     The 
road  law  was  afterward  changed,  and  three  *'ser- 
veyors  and  orderors  of  roads"  were  elected  at 
town  meetings,  and  roads  were  in  the  control  of 
such  officers  until  about  1708,  when  John  Tuthill, 
Joseph  Parson  and  Thomas  Helme,  commission- 
ers appointed  by  the  governor  for  Suffolk  coun- 
ty, were  given  power  to  lay  out  roads  and  record 
those  already  in  use.     All   the  main   roads    in 
Huntington  and  somie  landing  places  were  estab- 
lished by  them  and  put  on  record  in  the  county 
clerk's  ofEce;  but  under  a  new  law  passed  in  1732 
John  Wickes  was  appointed  a  commissioner  for 
that  town  for  seven  years  to  lay  out  and  regulate 
roads.     Swinging  gates  were  then  first  author- 
ized in  certain  places.    Roads  were  now  required 
to  be  recorded  in  the  town  books.     This  contin- 
ued until  1739,  when  the  freeholders  at  a  town 
meeting  were  authorized  to  elect  commissioners 
to  lay  out  and  regulate  roads.     Afterward  what 
was  known  as  "the  three-county  act,"  applying 
to  Suffolk,  Queens  and  Kings  counties  only,  was 


enacted,  and  it  continued  in  force  until  a  recent 
period.  On  the  bay  shore,  landing  places  were 
established  for  loading  and  unloading  vessels. 
Each  town  adopted  a  peculiar  "town  mark"  to 
be  branded  by  the  constables  and  overseers  upon 
the  cattle  tO'  distinguish  them  from  animals  be- 
longing to  the  inhabitants  of  other  towns,  and 
the  owner  also  had  his  own  personal  brand. 

The  town  meeting  also  legislated  upon  every 
manner  of  question  that  could  enter  community 
life  or  the  conduct  of  the  individual,  short  of 
grave  crimes  and  misdemeanors.  It  named  the 
value  of  the  variousi  products  of  the  farm,  and 
fixed  the  wages  of  the  laborer.  A  day's  work 
was  adjudged  to  be  worth  2S  6d,  but  at  that  time 
a  night's  lodging  was  only  valued  at  twopence, 
and  two  days'  wages  paid  for  board  for  a  week. 
At  such  rates  the  laborer  of  1658  was  at  least  as 
well  paid  as  is  his  brother  of  the  present  day. 
Persons  coming  with  intention  of  making  a  per- 
manent settlement  were  placed  upon  a  proba- 
tion of  three  to  six  months,  when,  if  they  were 
not  deemed  desirable  neighbors,  they  were  no- 
tified to  seek  a  home  elsewhere.  In  places,  at- 
tendance at  church  was  deem'^d  a  first  duty,  and 
it  was  provided  that  any  man  or  woman  who 
did  not  attend  at  the  Sabbath  services  should  be 
fined  five  shillings — the  price  of  a  week's  board — 
for  the  first  offense,  ten  shillings  for  the  second, 
and  twenty  shillings  for  the  third.  Those  who 
continued  to  absent  themselves  after  being  so 
mulcted,  were  deemed  incorrigible  under  lenient 
measures,  and  were  to  be  dealt  with  by  means  of 
corporal  punishment,  and,  after  that,  if  this  rem- 
edy failed,  were  to  be  banished  the  town.  The 
sale  of  intoxicants  was  stringently  regulated, 
and  drunkenness  was  severely  punished,  as  were 
desecrations  of  the  Sabbath,  profanity,  slander 
and  lying. 

The  curious  nature  of  some  of  the  early  town 
regulations  may  be  discerned  in  the  following 
enactments  made  by  the  town  of  Brookhaven : 

"Orders  and  constatutio-ns  maed  by  the 
Athoaty  of  this  towne  8th  July  1674,  to  be  duly 
cept  and  obsarved. 

"i.  Whereas  there  have  beane  much  abuese 
a  prophaneing  of  the  lord's  day  by  the  younger 


54 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


sort  of  people  in  discourssing  of  vaine  things 
and  iRuning  of  'Raesses.  Therefore  we  make  an 
order  that  whoesoever  shall  do-e  the  lieke  againe 
notis  shall  he  taken  of  them,  and  be  presented  to 
the  nex  court,  there  to  answer  for  ther  falts 
and  to  Reseve  such  punishment  as  they  desarve. 

"2.  Whereas  It  have  bene  two  coman  in 
this  towne  for  young  men  and  maieds  to  be  out 
of  ther  father's  and  mother's  house  at  unseason- 
able tiems  of  niete,  It  is  therefore  ordered  that 
whoesoever  of  the  younger  sort  shall  be  out  of 
there  father's  or  mother's  house  past  nien^  of  the 
clock  at  niet  shall  be  summonsed  in  to  the  next 
court,  and  ther  to  pay  cort  charges  with  what 
punisthment  the  cort  shall  se  cause  to  lay  upon 
them,  ecksep't  thay  can  give  suffissient  Reson  of 
there  being  out  late. 

"3.  Whereas  godi  have  bene  much  dis'hon- 
ered,  much  pressious  tyme  misspent  and  men  Im- 
povershed  by  drinking  and  tipling,  ether  in  ord- 
nery  or  other  privet  houses,  therefor,  we  maek 
this  order  that  whoe  soe  ever  shall  thus  trans- 
gres  or  sett  drinking  above  two  houres  shall  pay 
5s.  and  the  man  of  the  house  for  letting  of  them 
have  it  after  the  tyme  prefixed  shall  pay  los., 
exsept  strangers  onely. 

"4.  that  whosoever  shall  run  any  Rases  or 
Run  otherwise  a  hors  back  in  the  streets  or 
within  t!he  towne  platt  shall  forfet  ids.  to  thee 
use  of  the  towne. 

*'These  above  sayed  orders  is  sett  up  and 
mad  knowne  the  flay  and  daete  above  written." 

Huntington  has  preserved  with  great  fidelity 
the  history  of  the  earlier  tribunals,  and  these 
present  a  most  interesting  picture  of  the  times. 
Stringent  regulations  were  made  with  reference 
to  the  sale  and  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  con- 
stables and  overseers  were  to>  admonish  parents 
and  masters  to  instruct  their  children  in  religion 
and  laws  and  to  bring  them'  up  in  some  useful 
calling,  and  the  children,  wilfully  refusing  "to 
harken  to  the  voice  of  their  parents  or  masters," 
were  to  be  whipped  by  the  constables.  Penalties 
were  provided  against  masters  cruelly  beating  or 
maiming  their  servants.  Laborers  must  "work 
in  their  calling  the  whole  day,  the  master  allow- 
ing them  sufficient  tyme  for  feed  and  rest." 
The  "court  of  three  men"  tried  all  ordinary  cases, 
and  the  edicts  of  the  courts',  of  the  town,  meet- 
ing, and,  after  a  while,  of  the  commonwealth 
beyond  the  Sound,  were  carried  into  effect  by 


the  constable,  ■\^^ho  was,  under  the  conditions,  a 
most  necessary  and  most  important  personage. 
"In  the  little  town  republics,"  write  Professor 
Johnston,  "the  ancient  and  honorable  office  of 
constable  was  the  connecting  link  between  the 
commonwealth  and  the  town.  The  constable  pub- 
lished the  commonwealth  laws  in  his  town,  kept 
the  "publike  peace"  of  the  town  and  the  com* 
monw^ealth,  levied  the  town's  share  of  the  com- 
monwealth taxation,  and  went  "from  howse  to 
howse"  to  notify  the  freemen  of  meetings  of 
the  general  court,  and  of  the  time  and  place  of 
election  of  deputies  thereto."  And  the  import- 
ance of  the  constable  was  made  to  appear 
through  his  emblem  of  authority,  which  was  thus 
prescribed  under  the  Duke's  laws :  "And  that 
no  man  may  pleade  ignorance  for  such  neglect,  or 
refuse  obedience,  constables  shall  have  a  staffe 
of  about  six  feet  long,  with  the  King's  arms  on 
it  as  a  badge  of  his  office."  "The  parish,''  said 
(John)  Selden,  "makes  the  constable,  and  when 
the  constable  is  made  he  governs  the  parish." 
But  the  constable  was  not  left  entirely  to  his 
own  devices.  He  was  the  actual  representative 
and  embodiment  of  the  law,  its  executive,  but 
he  does  not  seem  to  have  had  the  power  "to  gov- 
ern the  parish"  at  any  time,  even  between  the 
dates  of  the  town  meetings.  The  local  court 
was  always  in  session,  or  ready  to  be  called  in 
session,  and  it,  under  the  town  meeting,  was  the 
real  ruler  of  the  parish,  rather  than  the  con- 
stable, whose  doings  and  dictum  could  be  over- 
ruled by  it  on  short  notice,  s'hould  occasion  arise. 
On  entering  upon  his  office  (and  our  state- 
ment is  made  with  particularity  because  it  indi- 
cates how  law  was  enforced  throughout  the  vari- 
ous settlements)  the  constable  took  an  oath  to 
carry  on  his  work  "without  respect  of  persons 
-^  *  >ic  according  to  God,  according  to  the 
trust  committed  to  you."  in  1650  we  read  that 
in  East  iHampton  "there  were  chosen  4  men 
with  the  constable  for  ye  orderinge  ye  affaires 
of  ye  towne,  and  it  is  ordered  that  any  two  of 
them  shall  have  poweir  to  grant  a  warrant  for 
ye  bringing  of  any  delinquent  before  them  in 
any  case ;  also  ye  said  five  men  shall  have  power 
to  try  any  case  under  the  ;suni  of  40  shillings ;  but 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


55 


if  any  case  or  action  be  to  be  tryed  that  is  above, 
then  it  is  to  he  tryed  by  a  jury  of  seven  men." 
Thus  the  constable  had  not  full  power  to  make 
arrests ;  the  warrant  must  be  signed  by  two,  but 
it  would  seem  tfhat  he  could  even  sit  in  judg- 
ment in  the  causes  which,  by  virtue  of  his  office, 
he  !was  the  means  of  bringing  to  the  bar  of  jus- 
tice. But  even  this  court  was  not  omnipotent, 
and  had  its  limitations,  for  we  find  an  entry  (in 
1652)  that  '*if  any  man  'be  aggrieved  by  anything 
that  is  'done  by  the  men  in  authority  he  shall 
have  libertie  to  make  his  appeal  to  the  next  gen- 
eral court,  or  when  the  men  are  assembled  to- 
gether on  public  occasions."  At  the  same  time, 
while  its  powers  were  thus  subject  to  review,  the 
dignity  of  the  tribunal  was  jealously  upheld. 
Thus  (in  1655)  one  William  Simmons  was  fined 
five  shillings,  ''which  is  to  be  disposed  of  to 
make  a  paire  of  stocks,  for  his  provoking 
speeches  to  the  three  men  in  authoritie,  being  a 
disturbance  to  them-  in  their  proceedings."  And 
then,  "the  men  in  authoritie"  had  ample  means 
of  making  their  court  a  terror  to  evil  doers.  As 
early  as  1650  a  house  was  set  aside  as  a  lock-up, 
and,  as  we  have  seen,  it  was  not  long  afterward 
until  the  village  stocks,  the  pillory  and  the  whip- 
ping post  stood  in  public  view  as  a  visible  ex- 
ponent of  the  terrors  of  the  law  and  the  right- 
eousness and  certainty  of  judgment. 

The  transactions  of  such  a  primitive  tri- 
bunal as  has  been  described  are  seen  in  the  fol- 
lowing, taken  from  the  Hempstead  annals:  ; 

1658,  July  25. — Richard  Valentine  having  re- 
ported that  Thomas  Southard  went  up  and  down 
with  a  club,  the  latter,  meeting  him  one  morn- 
ing as  he  was  going  about  his  avocations,  struck 
him  on  the  face.  As  Southard  still  menaced  and 
threatened  to  further  beat  him,  he  took  oath  that 
he  stood  in  danger  and  fear  O'f  his  life,  and  re- 
quired the  peace  and  that  Southard  might  put  in 
security  for  his  good  behavior.  It  is  therefore 
ordered  by  Mr.  Richard  Gildersleeve,  for  that 
Thomas  Southard  idid  contemptuously  resist 
authority  in  refusing  to  obey  the  marshal  with 
his  warrant,  and  did  fly  the  same  and  betook 
himself  to  his  own  house  for  his  refuge,  in  con- 
sideration for  these  outrages  and  misdemeanors 
he  is  required  to  put  in  security  for  his  appear- 
ance at  court.    And  said  Southard  doth  bind  him- 


self and  all  his  lands,  ,goods  and  chattels,  to  ap- 
pear at  court,  and  meantime  tO'  keep  the  peace 
and  good  behavior. 

At  a  court  held  iDecember  28,  on  the  submis- 
sion of  Southard,  and  paying  all  costs,  the  pen- 
alty and  fault  are  remitted  in  hopes  of  his  refor- 
mation. Valentine  is  also  reconciled,  and  doth 
remit  the  abuse  done  unto  him. 

1659,  January  2. — Thomas  Ireland  complains 
of  Richard  ^Brudenell,  keeper  of  an  ordinary,  for 
using  deceitful  dealings,  and  produces  in  court 
the  following  witnesses : 

Mary,  wife  of  Richard  Willis,  sent  her  child 
for  a  pint  of  sack  and  he  afterward  demanded 
pay  for  a  quart. 

William  Jacocks  bought  four  cans  of  beer, 
c-ne  day-  last  spring,  and  was  booked  seven.  He 
paid  it. 

Thomas  Langdon  was  charged  for  four  bush- 
els 'of  oats  and  had  but  two,  and  a  few  oats  in 
a  piggin  and  a  tray — being  half  a  bushel. 

•Richard  Lattin,  four  or  five  years  ago,  agreed 
with  iBrudenell  for  diet  of  himself  and  son  for 
twelve  shillings  the  week,  and  had  it  a  week  and 
four  days,  which  did  come  to  twenty  shillings. 
Lattin  said  it  was  ten-  days,  but  Brudenell  made 
it  eleven^,  and  said  if  he  would  not  pay  for  eleven 
lie  would  show  him  such  a  trick  as  he  never  had 
seen ;  that  is,  he  would  set  upon  his  book  a  guil- 
der a  meal  and  eight  pence  a  night  for  his  bed, 
and  then  he  should  pay  whether  he  would  or  not. 

The  court  find,  January  14,  that  Brudeneirs 
books  are  false  and  not  fit  to  pass  in  law,  and  he 
is  to  pay  twelve  guilders  for  calling  a  court,  else 
execution  to  follow. 

1659,  January  14. — Robert  Lloyd,  'having 
spoken  imseemly  words  to  the  dishonor  of  God 
and  the  evil  example  of  others,  is  fined  ten  guil- 
ders. 'But  having,  February  11^  made  an 
acknowledgment  of  his  fault,  the  court  hath  re- 
mitted the  fine  om  his  reformation. 

1659,  January  :i6. — Daniel  Whitehead,  when 
he  lived  at  Hempstead,  lost  linen  and  other  goods, 
and  upon'  search  he  found  at  Richard  Brudeneirs 
a  brass  candlestick  'and  one  small  striped  linen 
carpet  and  one  table  napkin  which  he  doth  judge 
to  be  his  own.  IWhereas  Brudenell  would  not 
enter  into  recognizance  and  utterly  refused  the 
favor  of  the  court,  he  is  condemned  to  restore 
fourfold — that  is,  twenty-eight  shillings  sterling 
— else  'execution  to  follow  in  fourteen  days.  He 
appeals  to  the  e^overnor,  and  the  answer  in  Dutch 
may  be  seen  im  the  Hempstead  court  minutes. 

1659,  May  I. — Robert  Jackson  contra  Rich- 
ard Lattin — action  of  the  case,  defamation  to  the 
value  of  iioo  sterling  damages.     Jackson  in  his 


56 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


declaration  says  that,  having  occasions  of  ac- 
count with  Lattin,  upon  some  debate  he  gave  him 
very  bad  language  tendimg  to  his  defamation  and 
scandal,  and  amongst  other  evil  words  called  him 
a  rascal.  The  court,  June  5,  sentences  him  to 
forty  guilders  fint,  or  corporal  punishment,  un- 
less he  submissively  acknowledges,  in  presence 
of  the  court,  that  he  hath  wronged  Mr.  Jackson, 
and  is  sorry  for  it. 

1659,  May  I. — Robert  Williams  sent  to  the 
mill  of  Hempstead  six  bushels  of  good  Indian 
corn  and  delivered  it  into  the  keeping  of  Will- 
iam, son  of  Peter  Cornelissen,  to  be  ground.  He 
received  two  bushels,  but  the  rest  of  the  meal 
lay  on  the  mill-bed  and  had  been  spoiled  by  the 
rain  beating  upon  it,  and  was  grown  sour  and  not 
fit  for  man's  food.  When  Williams  demanded 
satisfaction  Cornelissen  refused,  and  said  he  had 
carried  corn  himself  to  Manhattan's  mill  and  it 
took  damage  and  he  could  get  no  recompense. 
He  then  desired  Cornelissen  to  put  out  the  meal 
and  give  him  the  sack,  but  he  told  him  he  would 
not  meddle  with  it.  The  court  adjudged  Cor- 
nelissen to  make  good  the  damage  done  unto 
the  sack  and  meal  by  giving  him  good  meal,  and 
in  case  they  can  not  agree,  then  to  stand  at  the 
judgment  of  two  indifferent  men  ;  and  Cornelis- 
sen is  to  pay  court  charges  and  give  satisfaction 
within  fourteen  days,  or  before  he  depart  the 
town,  else  execution  to  follow, 

1659,  June  II. — It  is  ordered  that  all  wills 
proved  in  this  court  at  Hempstead  shall  pay  six 
guilders  unto  the  use  of  the  court,  and  the  clerk 
and  marshal's  fee. 

1658,  September  2. — Among  other  items  in 
the  will  of  [Nicholas  Tanner  is  that  "a  beast  shall 
be  sold  to  buy  some  linen  to  bury  me  in,  and 
also  a  Siheet  and  other  things  that  shall  be  need- 
ful, and  the  white-faced  cow  killed  at  my  burial 
and  given  to  the  neighbors." 

1659,  Noivember. — Richard  Lamson  put  out 
a  cow  to  Joseph  Schott  to  winter.  He  removed 
that  winter  from  Hempstead,  and  the  cow  was 
to  be  returned  next  spring  to  Samuel  Clark,  his 
agent,  but  Schott  refused,  though  Clark  tendered 
security.  Schott  says  the  cow  proved  unsound  in 
her  bag,  and  the  .spring  following,  being  farrow, 
he  put  her  down  to  the  common  pasture  to  feed, 
and  in  the  fall  sold  her  to  D.  Whitehead.  Her 
calf  he  maintained  till  it  came  to  be  a  cow,  and 
she  had. one  calf,  and  another  w'hich  was  de- 
stroyed by  wolves.  The  cow,  being  well  so  far 
forth  as  he  knew,  was  found  dead  one  morning, 
leaving  a  calf.  The  court  order  Schott  to  pay 
for  the  cow  £6. 10,  and  20s  for  one  soinimer's 
milk,  with  one  guilder  on  the  pound  interest  upon 


interest  for  eight  years,  and  costs,  and  los  for 
the  plaintiff's  charges  for  this  journey.  Schott 
(ultimo  January,  ,1659)  makes  a  tender  of  goods 
to  the  valuation  of  the  aforesaid  sum,  to  be  pub- 
licly solid  at  outcry  by  the  marshal,  and  engages 
to  save  him  harmless.  Primo  February  Schott' s- 
barn  and  appurten'ance,  with  his  home-lot  (three 
acres),  is  sold  to  George  Hewlet  for  £5.4  in  pres- 
ent passable  pay,  I,  Thomas  Skidmore  (May  6, 
1659),  have  received  £15.9.6  in  full  satisfaction 
of  the  above  .sentence,  in  behalf  of  Edward  Hig- 
bie  of  Huntington. 

1660,  January  21. — John  Smith,  .Jr.,  sues 
Thomas  Ellison  in  an.  action  for  trespass,  for  that 
he  did  ride  bis  mare  double,  contrary  to  his 
knowledge,  and  his  mare  was  lamed  to  his  dam- 
age 40s.  Ellison  answers  that  he  was  at  John 
Carman's  door,  and  at  his  wife  Hannah's  request 
did  ride  before  her  to  Oyster  Bay,  on  Saturday, 
and  on  the  Lord's  day  kept  the  mare  there  and 
on  Monday  rode  her  back  and  delivered  her  to 
John  Carman.  The  court  doth  condemn  the 
plaintiff  in  all  the  court  charges,  to  be  paid  with- 
in fourteen  days,  else  execution  to  follow. 

At  a  later  day  was  put  into  effect  a  criminal 
code — "the  Duke's  Laws,"  so  called  because  pro- 
mulgated by  the  Duke  of  York— copied  in  large 
part  from  those  in  force  in  England.  Eleven 
crimes  were  enumerated  for  which  the  pre- 
scribed penalty  was  death,  these  including  false 
witness,  forgery,  arson,  denying  the  authority  of 
the  King,  and  against  children  for  smiting  a 
parent,  but  it  is  proper  to  note  that  in  England 
the  criminal  offenses  thus  punishable  were  of 
greater  number.  Punishments  savoring, of  the 
inquisition  were  provided  for  less  heinous  of- 
fenses. However,  the  cases  in  which  the  sever- 
est penalties  were  imposed  were  but  few.  Few 
persons  were  placed  in  the  stocks  or  whipped, 
and  the  records  do  not  reveal  any  instances  of 
branding,  tongue  boring  or  ears  cut  off.  When 
the  people  came  to  enact  their  own  laws,  in  as- 
semblies composed  of  representatives  chosen 
from  among  themselves,  the  bloody  code  was 
abrogated  and  replaced  with  one  much  more 
humane. 

The  Duke's  Laws  also  provided  for  a  military 
establishment,  and  the  regulations  were  minute 
and  elaborate.  "Every  male  over  sixteen  years 
of  age  and  under  sixty  years  was  to  provide 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


himself  with  one  good  serviceable  gun  fit  for 
present  service,  a  powder  horn,  a  worm,  a  prime 
rod  wire,  one  pound  of  powder,  seven  pounds  of 
pistol  bullets,  20  ibullets  fitted  to  the  gun,  four 
fathoms  of  serviceable  match  for  a  match-lock 
gun,  and  four  good  flinte  fitted  for  a  fire-lock 
gun."  On  forming  military  companies,  the  con- 
staible  and  overseers  S'ent  to  the  governor  the 
names  for  captains,  lieutenants  and  ensigns,  and 
he  appointed  them  unless  objectionable.     There 


AN  OLD    COURT    HOUSE. 

were  60  m'en  in  a  full  company.  The  captain  every 
three  months  or  oftener  examined  the  arms ;  if 
these  were  not  up  to  the  'standard  required,  the 
delinquents  were  feed  40  :&hillings,  and  if  the 
fine  was  not  paid  they  might  be  put  in  the  stocks. 

There  were  four  training  days  a  year  for  the 
town  and  one  general  training  for  the  "riding," 
■occupying  three  days ;  and  once  in  two  years 
there  was  a  general  muster  and  training  of  all 
the  soldiers  in  the  colony,  at  a  time  and  place 
appointed  by  the  governor.  Fines  were  imposed 
on  those  who  failed  to  attend  or  were  disobedient 
or  'disorderly.  For  sleeping  on  the  watch  the  fine 
was  iS- 

A  troop  of  horse  consisted  of  50  "troopes," 
with  a  captain,  lieutenant,  cornet,  quartermaster 


and  three  corporals ;  each  was  required  to  have 
"one  horse,  saddle,  bridle,  holsters,  pistols  or 
carbine,  and  a  good  sword ;"  it  was  a  is  offense 
for  a  trooper  to  sell  his  horse  without  leave  of 
his  captain. 

Under  the  colonial  government  the  people 
had  their  holidays,  made  for  them  by  the  British 
Parliament  or  by  royal  proclamation,  and  these 
were  invariably  to  convey  some  lesson  of  loyalty 
to  the  crown.  Thus,  the  principal  holidays  were : 
November  ist,  to  give  thanks  for  deliverance 
from  the  gunpowder  plot  of  Guy  Fawkes,  who 
sought  to  destroy  Parliament;  January  30th,  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  commemoration  of 
the  barbarous  murder  of  Charles  I,  whereby  to 
divert  God's  judgment  from  falling  on  the  whole 
nation ;  May  29th,  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II,  and  the  birthday  of  the 
King.  'It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  in  the  condition 
of  the  temper  of  the  people,  that  they  entered 
into  these  observances  with  any  heartiness,  but 
all  persons  were  required  to  abstain  from  labor 
(except  the  minister,  who  was  commanded  to 
preach),  and  they  devoted  the  time  to  the  sports 
then  prevalent. 

The  "training  day''  'had  a  pernicious  influ- 
ence, and,  at  a  later  day,  the  tavern  and  the  fair 
afforded  occasion  and  excuse  for  such  conduct 
by  those  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort  who 
by  and  by  crept  in,  as  was  viewed  with  reproba- 
tion iby  the  orderly  portion  of  the  community. 

So  early  as  in  1683  there  is  record  of  fairs. 
Three  years  later  they  were  authorized  by  the 
legislative  assembly,  and  were  permitted  for 
three  days  in  each  of  the  months  of  May  and 
October.  These  were  intended  for  the  purpose 
of  affording  farmers  an  opportunity  of  meet- 
ing for  the  exdiange  of  products,  mostly  domes- 
tic animals,  in  imitation  of  the  old  Englisih  coun- 
try fashion.  Property  oi  all  descriptions  could 
be  sold  freely,  without  payment  of  license.  These 
fairs  were  made  more  of  a  social  affair,  how- 
ever, and  revelry  and  mirth  prevailed.  Horse 
racing,  running,  jumping,  wrestling  and  pitching 
quoits  were  the  sports  engaged  in.  The  "fakir" 
of  his  day  was  always  present,  and  inveigled  the 
innocent  countrymen  into  games  with  which  they 


58 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


were  unacquainted,  and  in  wliich  they  were  only 
successful  in  parting  with  their  money.  Drink- 
ing was  common  on  such  occasions,  and  at  times 
there  were  serious  personal  affrays  in  settlement 
of  old  quarrels  or  out  of  grievances  at  the  mo- 
ment. Law  was  practically  abrogated  during  the 
fair,  all  persons  being  privileged  from  arrest, 
except  for  offenses  committed  against  the  crown 
or  for  flagrant  crime  on  the  spot.  Court  days 
were  regarded  as  holidays,  and  the  same  sports 
were  indulged  in  as  at  fairs. 

Again,  the  exct;&ses  beginning  in  the  later 
colonial  days  and  e::tending  far  beyond  the  close 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  are  traceable  in  large 
degree  to  the  tavern.  Taverns  were  established 
to  meet  the  wants  of  travelers,  to  provide  them 
with  food  and  lodging.  According  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  timesi,  ardent  spirits  were  dispensed 
on  call,  but  the  tavern  was  by  no  oneans  in- 
tended to  be  a  mere  tippling  place.  Always  on 
an  important  line  of  travel,  it  was  m  many  cases 
a  terminal  or  relay  point  for  travelers,  and  its 
customers  were  therefore  numerous.  It  also 
gained,  in  the  absence  of.  public  buildings,  cer- 
tain prestige  as  the  place  of  assembly  for  courts 
and  local  boards  of  officers,  and  for  the  holding 
of  elections.  It  sheltered  from  time  to  time  the 
highest  dignitaries  and  most  emment  men  in  the 
land — Governors,  Judges,  lawyers  and  clergy- 
men. These  were  the  newsbeai'ers  and  oracles 
of  the  day,  and  their  presence  attracted  the  prin- 
cipal men  of  the  neighborhood,  who  gathered 
to  listen  to  their  utterances,  and  to  enter  into 
discussion  upon  events  present  and  impending. 
The  tavern  keeper,  by  reason  of  his  more  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  his  distinguished  guests, 
to  whose  comfort  he  ministered  with  scrupulous 
care  and  much  tact,  was  a  man  of  commanding 
importance  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  ex- 
ample which  he  set  in  liis  personal  conduct 
found  many  ready  imitators. 

But  the  few  brawlers  and  wrongdoers  were 
not  the  makers  of  the  conmiunity.  They  would 
occasionally  mar  its  peace  and  blemish  its  good 
name,  but  they  could  not  materially  affect  its 
morals.  From  the  beginning,  religion  had  a 
first  claim  upon  the  attention  of  the  people.     Of 


the  old  meeting-house  itself,  it  is  to  be  said  that, 
according  to  a  neighborhood  tradition,  it  was  pri- 
marily built  for  town  purposes.  It  passed  into 
decay,  but  the  spiritual  light  kindled  within  its 
walls  survived  its  fall,  to  illuminate  other  neigh- 
borhoods and  other  generations  of  worshippers. 
Prom  what  we  know  of  the  beginnings  of  a 
church  in-  a  new  settlement,  it  would  appear  that 
the  early  meeting-house  was  what  would  be 
now  called  a  Union  Church,  such  as  many  Long 
Islanders  yet  living  have  aided  in  establishing 
in  the  western  States — a  church  wherein  people 
of  all  denominations  assembled  for  wor&hip,  min- 
istered to  by  clergymen  of  various  denomina- 
tions, until,  as  the  community  increased,  there 
came  to  be  a  sufficient  number  of  a  particular 
faith  to  separate  from  their  fellows  and  set  up 
a  church  society  of  their  own. 

And  here  it  is  appropriate  to  note  that  as 
early  as  1662  a  Day  of  Thanksgiving  was  pro- 
claimed, and  this  by  Peter  Stuyvesant,  the  last  of 
the  Dutch  Governors,  'and  was  appointed  for  the 
mid-winter,  whereas  in  the  New  England  col- 
onies the  time  designated  was  in  the  fall,  after 
the  harvests  had  been  gathered.  This  paper  is 
"SO  richly  appropriate  in  sentiment  and  verbiage 
that  it  is  well  worth  preserving: 

"Honest  Dear  Commons.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  Great  God  and  Righteous  Judge,  has  in 
the  past  year,  on  account  of  our  sins  (among 
which  not  the  least  are  our  ingratitude  for  re- 
ceived favors,  blessings  and  protection;  against 
foreign  and  domestic  enemies)  severely  visited 
this  province  in  general  and  many  inhabitants 
in  particular,  with  dire  pestilences  and  unheard 
of  fevers,  diseases  and  afflictions  in  some  places^ 
with  unexpected  rains  and  floods  in  isummer,  by 
which  the  crops  were  destroyed,  in  others  with 
too  much  drouth  and  heat  of  the  sun  through 
which  the  products  of  the  fields  were  scorched 
and  well  nigh  ruined ;  besides  which  other  visita- 
tions, if  not  punishments ;  still  as  a  ]\Ierciful  and 
gracious  Father  he  has  thoug'hts  of  commisera- 
tion for  ii^s  in  the  midst  of  his  Righteous  Judg- 
ments, by  blessing  this  province  in  general  and 
many  inhabitants  in  particular  with  great  favor 
^.nd  benefaction,  not  the  least  among  which  are 
the  turning  aside  and  cure  of  the  above  named 
strange  diseases  and  fevers,  the  continuance  and 
needed   rest   and    peace    in  the  mia-st  of  many 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


59 


enemies,  and  notwithstanding  so  many  rumors 
of  wars,  disturbances,  trials  (or  straits)  and 
again  in  clemency  cheering  other  places  with  an 
abundant  and  satisfactory  harvest,  and  what  is 
to  be  appreciated  a'bove  all,  the  maintenance 
among  us  of  pure  religion  and  the  practical  en- 
joym.ent  of  the  bright  and  undimmied  light  of 
the  Gospel  upon  our  candlestick,  w'hich  light  in 
many  places  has  often  been  dimmed  through  per- 
secution or  darkened  through  human  inventions. 

"These  and  many  more  favors  and  blessings 
and  benefactions,  ought  not  only  to  make  us  feel 
thankful,  but  the  blending  of  them  with  his  pa- 
ternal chastisements,  if  not  iDunishments,  should 
lead  us  to  observance  in  order  to  keep  the  first 
named  through  thankful  prayer,  and  to  turn  the 
last  named  awa}  from  us  throug*h  genuine  hu- 
mility and  patience. 

"The  Director  General  and  Council  have 
therefore  thoue^ht  it  necessary  to  plan  and  appoint 
a  day  of  general  thanksgiving,  fasting  and  pray- 
er, which  shall  be  generally  'done  within  the 
province,  on  Wednesday,  being  the  15th  day  of 
March. 

"Wherefore  all  inhabitants  of  this  province, 
officers  as  well  as  subjects;,  are  ordered  to  appear 
on  the  appointed  day,  in  the  churches  or  in  such 
places  where  it  is  customary  to  preach  the  word 
of  God  to  call  w^ith  fervent  and  contrite  hearts 
most  earnestly  upon  the  Lord's  name  to  pray 
and  to  beseech  H;im  that  it  may  please  His  Di- 
vine Majesty  to  turn  aside  and  to  stop  His  just 
plagues  and  well  deserved  punishments,  to  con- 
tinue among  us  peace  and  peaceful  relations  with 
our  neighbors,  take  this  only  a  just  developing 
province  under  his  'paternal  protection,  and 
carry  her  through  all  danger  to  bless  his  field 
with  crops,  with  early  and  late  rains,  and  above 
all  to  make  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  his  name 
grow  and  increase  amiong  us,  and  to  make  us  hate 
our  own  sins. 

''The  Director  General  and  Council  in  order 
to  make  the  observance  more  general,  forbid,  on 
the  forementioned  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  all 
games  of  tennis  and  ball,  fishing,  navigating, 
rowing,  plowing  or  sowing,  besides  all  unlawful 
games,  as  playing  at  dice  and  drinking,  under 
penalty  as   heretofore   threatened  against  them. 

''We  also  request  the  ministers  of  the  Di- 
vine Word  within  this  province,  to  arrange  their 
sermons  and  prayers  so  as  to  befit  the  occasion. 
"This  given  and  done  in  the  mieeting  of  the 
Director  General   and   Council,   holden   at  Fort 


Amsterdam   in    New    Netherlands,  January   26, 
1662. 

P.  Stuyvesant, 
''By  the  Director  General  and  Council  of  New 
Netherlands 

"C.  VanRuyoen_,  Secretary'' 


AN  OLD  CHURCH. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  no  record 
of  the  manner  of  observance  of  this  early 
Thanksgiving  Day,  but  it  is  to  be  presumed  that^ 
on  account  of  the  wide  dispersion  of  the  early 
colonists,  and  the  difficulty  of  transmitting  in- 
telligence, the  day  received  little  if  any  recog- 
nition in  the  interior  of  Long  Island. 

The  early  church  building  was  of  the  utmost 
plainness,  for  the  people  were  plain  in  them- 
selves and  in  all  about  them,  and  there  was  no 
market  to  provide  luxuries  and  adornments. 
The  plain  board  or  shingle  sides  were  destitute 
of  paint,  inside  and  out,  and  it  was  long  be- 
fore there  was  either  fireplace  or  stove.  The 
pulpit  stood  (high  up,  and  in  front  of  it  was  a 
low  platform  whereon  were  seated  the  deacons. 
The  worshippers  came  well  prepared  for  their 
religious  duties.  With  them  the  Sabbath  was 
already  v/ell  begun.     The  women  devoted  Sat- 


60 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


urday  to  cooking  food  for  that  sacred  day  where- 
on no  avoidable  labor  was  to  be  performed, 
and  Saturday  night  had  been  given  to  religious 
meditation.  At  such  sm  hour,  too,  some  mem- 
ber of  the  family  would  read  a  chapter  or  two 
from  the  Scriptures,  or  from  one  of  those  vol- 
umes treasured  in  nearly  every  Presbyterian 
home — often  the  entire  family  library — Bun- 
yan's  "Pilgrim's  Progress,"  'Baxter's  "Saints' 
Everlasting  Rest,"  Young's  "Night  Thoughts," 
or  Dodridge's  "Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  in 
the  Soul." 

The  Sabbath  church  service  began  with  a 
solemn  prayer  which  continued  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  or  more,  and  after  this  a  chapter  of 
the  Bible  was  read  and  expounded.  The  sing- 
ing was  most  impressive.  Only  the  Psalm-s 
w^ere  used — it  was  before  the  days  of  hymns — 
and  these  according  to  the  quaint  version  of 
Roulse,  of  which  the  following  (Psalm  xxii)  is  a 
beautiful  exampile: 

''The  Lord's  my  Shepherd,  I'll  not  want, 
He  makes  me  down  to  lie 
In  pastures  green;  he  leadeth  me 
The  quiet  waters  by. 

"My  soul  he  doth  restore  again, 
And  me  to  walk  doth  make 
Within  the  paths  of  righteousness 
Ev'n  for  his  own  name's  sake. 

"Yea,  though  I  walk  in  death's  dark  vale. 
Yet  will  I  fear  none  ill; 
For  thou  art  with  me,  and  thy  rod 
And  staff  me  comfort  still. 

"My  table  thou  has  furnished 
In  presence  of  my  foes ; 
My  head  thou  dost  with  oil  annoint. 
And  my  cup  overflows. 

"Goodness  and  mercy  all  my  life 
Shall  surely  follow  me; 
And  in  God's  house  for  ever  more 
My  dwelling-place  shall  be." 

The  Psalm  was  "given  out''  by  the  minister 
or  an  elder,  two  lines  at  a  time,  although  there 
was  probably  not  one  in  the  congregation  who 
had  it  not  firmly  anchored  in  the  memory.  Mu- 
sical instruments  were  not  tolerated — they  were 
too  suggestive  of  prelatic  worship  or  of  sinful 
amusements — and  the  Psalms  were  sung  slowly 
and  heartily  to  some  dear  old  tune  brought  from 


the  land  of  Knox,  after  the  home-country  fash- 
ion, as  told  of  by  Burns : 

"They  chant  their  artless  notes  in  simple  guise. 
They  tune  their  hearts,  by  far  the  nobler  aim. 

Perhaps  "Dundee's"  wild,  warbling  measures  rise, 
Or  plaintive  "Martyrs,"  worthy  of  the  name, 

Or  noble  "Elgin"  beats  the  heav'nward  flame, 
The  sweetest  far  of  Scotia's  holy  lays." 

The  sermon  was  usually  pronouncedly  doc- 
trinal, and  was  of  considerable  length,  often  ex- 
ceeding an  hour.  In  many  churches  an  hour- 
glass stood  upon  the  pulpit,  and,  on  ordinary 
occasions,  the  preacher  was  expected  to  finish 
the  "lastly"  of  his  discourse  with  the  running 
out  of  the  sands,  but  there  were  instances  when 
the  glass  was  turned  the  second  and  even  the 
third  time  before  the  condusion  was  i^eached. 
If  no  minister  were  present,  an  elder  would  read 
a  discourse  from  a  volume  of  sermons  by  some 
noted  divine  of  an  earlier  day,  even  so  ancient 
a  worthy  as  the  martyred  Latimer.  After  the 
sermon,  another  prayer  was  offered,  and  another 
Psalm  was  sung.  On  occasion  a  baptism  took 
place,  immediately  after  the  regular  service,  and, 
once  each  month,  the  .Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered  in  connection  with  the 
service.  There  was  frequently  an  afternoon 
service,  but  very  seldom  was  there  one  at  night, 
and  not  then  until  the  days  of  sconces  and  tallow 
dips. 

But  the  primitive  house  of  worship  has  passed 
away,  and  the  old-time  Christian  ministers  and 
laymen  have  left  no  descendants  of  their  own 
kind.  Each -sect  now  rears  ,such  ornate  temples 
as  its  means  will  permit,  and  frequently  antici- 
pates the  future  by  incurring  a  great  debt  in 
its  building.  In  the  condtuct  of  worship  only 
the  staid  Quakers  maintain  any  semblance  of  the 
original!  simplicity,  and  even  they  have  their 
regular  preaching  and  their  Sunday-school.  The 
Presbyterians,  who  so  abhorred  anything  at  all 
imitative  of  what  they  regarded  as  Catholicism, 
repeat  the  Creed,  chant  the  Gloria,  read  the 
Psalms  antiphonally  with  the  minister,  and  sing 
popular  hymns  led  by  a  grand  organ-  and  a 
salaried  choir.  In  only  a  few  feeble  congrega- 
tions of  Covenanters,  well  back  in  the  remote 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK 


61 


hill  regionts,  are  the  old  traditions  preserved. 
The  followers  of  Wesky  vie  with  their  Presby- 
terian brethren  in  making  their  service  elaborate, 
•even  to  the  introduction  of  vested  choirs,  and 
the  old-time  revival  and  powerful  exhortation 
remain  only  in  story. 


agencies  for  good  has  been  and  is  the  Long 
Island  Bible  Society,  which  was  organized  Au- 
gust I,  1815,  antedating  by  one  year  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society,  to  which  it  became  auxiliary 
September  16,  1817.  In  October,  1815,  the  Suf- 
folk County   Bible  Society   was  organized,   and 


MODERN  CHURCHES. 


But,  to  end  this  little  interlude,  and  to  re- 
turn to  the  old  church.  The  ministers  were  sup- 
ported by  the  towns,  and  "so  early  as  1678  their 
salaries  were  from  £40  to  £70  per  annum,  with 
the  use  of  a  house  and  a  tract  of  land.  In  1677 
complaint  was  made  at  Huntington  that  the 
Quakers  disturbed  the  meetings — a  curious 
averment,  ocnsidering  the  quiet  disposition  of  the 
sect  thus  charged,  and  the  further  fact  that  there 
were  but  few  of  them  in  the  neighborhood.  Ten 
years  before,  there  were  only  nine  Quakersi  reg- 
istered, and  only  two  of  these  at  Huntington. 

The  hold  which  religion  has  ever  had  upon 
the  people  of  Long  Island  is  apparent  in  their 
churches,  record  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  con- 
nection with  the  narratives  concerning  the  in- 
dividnal  villages,  and  additional  evidence  is 
found  in  the  annals  of  various  societies  organized 
for  religious  purposes.     One  of  the  miost  potent 


this  was  afterward  merged  into  the  Long  Island 
Bible  Society.  The  latter  named  body  held  its 
eighty-sixth  annual  meeting  on  November  12, 
1901,  at  Jamaica,  and  it  was  a  notable  event.  On 
that  occasion,  Hon.  Theodore  Roosevelt,  then 
President  of  the  United  States,  delivered  an 
address,  which  was  thus  commented  upon  by 
"The  Bible  Society  Record:" 

*'The  address  of  President  Roosevelt  on  the 
Bible  has  attracted  the  widest  attention.  The 
demands  for  it  have  kept  our  presses  more  than 
busy.  They  come  from  all  classes  and  conditions 
— the  heads  of  schools  ;  the  ministers  of  churches  ; 
business  men ;  publishers  of  periodicals,  and  many 
individuals.  It  has  reappeared  in  print  in  vari- 
ous journals,  notably  in  the  British  and  Foreign 
''Monthly  Reporter."  The  chaplain  of  a  large 
penitentiary  asked  for  enough  copies  to  give  each 
prisoner  one,  feeling  sure  that  it  will  do  much  to 
persuade  them  to  read  the   Scriptures:     It  has 


62 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


been  translated  into  Spanisli  in  Mexico,  and 
will  no  doubt  circulate  largely  there.  "Winged 
words"  like  these  fly  through  the  earth.  Who 
can  measure  their  influence  for  good?" 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  at 
Far  Rockaway,  November  ii,  1902,  overtures 
were  made  by  the  Brooklyn  Bible  Society,  look- 
ing to  a  consolidation  of  the  two,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appoinJ;ed  to  take  the  proposal  un- 
der consideration  and  make  report  at  a  future 
time, 

The  Long  Island  Bible  Society  was  organized 
in  ai  time  when  the  region  was  sparsely  popu- 
lated, and  its  people  were  widely  dispersed.  In 
many  localities  there  was  no  church  or  minister. 
It  was  before  the  day  of  cheap  printing,  and 
many  families  were  without  \a  copy  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures.  Philanthropic  people  made  liberal 
contributions  for  procuring  copies  in  quantity, 
and  colporteurs  made  their  journeys  through  the 
island  to  supply  the  destitute. 

That  necessity  yet  exists  for  a  Bible  So- 
ciety i9  discernible  from  reports  presented  at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  body  to  which  reference  is 
made.  During  the  preceding  fiscal  year,  the  de- 
positories at  Port  Jefferson,  Greenport,  Lake 
Grove,  Northport,  Orient,  Port  Washington, 
Sag  Harbor,  Shelter  Island  and  Southampton 
had  distributed  105  Bibles,  30  Testaments  and 
two  part  volumes,  amounting  in  value  to  $100.90. 
The  liberality  with  which  the  Society  is  sus- 
tained is  shown  by  the  report  of  the  treasurer. 
The  sum  of  $1,080  had  been  donated,  this 
amount  to  be  expended  in  constituting  thirty- 
six  life  members  of  the  American  Bible  Soci- 
ety. Other  receipts,  for  the  direct  purposes  of 
the  local  society,  ■amounted  to  $829.74,  from  the 
following  sources :  Queens  county,  $94.34 ; 
Nassau  county,  $49;  Suffolk  county,  $225.30; 
and  East  New  Yiork  Comference,  $129.  The 
following  named  were  elected  officers : 

President,  the  Rev.  Richard  S.  Campbell,  D. 
D.,  Southampton :  vice-president,  President  The- 
odore Roosevelt,  Oyster  Bay;  Henry  P.  Hedges, 
Bridgehampton ;  the  Rev.  Corneliua  L.  Wells,  D. 
D.,  Flatbush;  the  Rev.  William  P.  Estes,  Oyster 


Bay;  Daniel  H.  Buckingham,  Port  Jefferson; 
the  Rev.  James  S.  Chadwick,  presiding  elder; 
Lewis  L.  Fos'dick,  Jamaica;  Jobn  S.  Havens, 
Patchogue;  Joseph  S.  Osborne,  Easthampton ; 
Charles  C.  Overton,  Coney  Island ;  the 
Rev.  James  Montgomery,  presiding  elder; 
corresponding  secretary,  Minot  C.  Mor- 
gan, Far  Rockawav;  recording  secretary, 
the  Rev.  William  Jay  Peck,  M.  D.,  Co- 
rona; treasurer,  Nat  W.  Foster,  Riverhead; 
executive  committee,  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Camp- 
bell, D.  D.,  the  Rev.  C.  L.  Wells,  D.  D.,  the  Rev. 
T.  S  Gardner,  -the  Rev.  J.  H.  Hdbbs,  the  Rev. 
W.  J.  Peck,  M.  D.,  the  Rev.  M.  C.  Morgan,  Nat 
W.  Foster,  A.  H.  Beers,  B.  F.  Hallock. 

The  following  named  have  been  the  princi- 
pal officers  from  the  date  of  organization  to  the 
present  time : 

Presidents. — Adrian  Sinderen,  Newtown, 
1815-43;  Rev.  John  Goldsmith,  D.  D.,  New- 
town, 1843-53;  Laurens  Reeve,  Esq.,  Jamaica, 
1853-65;  Judge  John  A.  Lott,  Flatbush,  1865- 
78Vjudge  John  J.  Armstrong,  Jamaica,  1878-86; 
Rev.  Samuel  Whaley,  Riverhead,  1886-99;  ^^v. 
Richard  S.  Camj^bell,  D.  D.,  Southampton,  1899- 
[903. 

Corresponding  Secretaries.  —  Rev.  David 
Schuyler  Bogart,  North  Hempstead,  1815-23; 
Rev.  John  V.  E.  Thorn,  Flushing,  1823-25;  Rev. 
John  Goldsmith,  D.  D.,  Newtown,  1825-43 ;  Rev. 
Melancthon  W.  Jacobus,  D.  D.,  Brooklyn,  1843- 
51;  Rev,  Jonathan  Greenleaf,  D.  D.,  Brooklyn, 
1851-52;  Rev.  N.  Locke,  D.  D.,  Hempstead, 
1852-59;  Rev.  John  P.  Knox,  Newtown,  1859- 
68;  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Stead,  Astoria^  1868-79; 
Rev.  Franldin  Noble,  Hempstead,  1879-80:  Rev. 
Cornelius  L.  Wells,' D.  D.,  Flatbush,  1880-86; 
Rev.  W.  S.  C.  Webster.  D.  D.,  Islip,  1886-97; 
Rev.  E.  C.  Lawrence,  Ph.  D.,  West  Ham.pton 
Beach,  1897-1902;  Rev.  W.  J.  Peck,  M.  D., 
Conona,  IQ02  to  date. 

Recording  Secretaries. — Rev.  Jacob  Schoon- 
makcr,  D.  D.,  Jamaica,  1815-24;  Rev.  Thomas 
AI.  Strong,  D.  D.,  Flatbush,  1824-28;  Rev  Elias 
W.  Crane,  Jamaica,  1828-35;  Rev.  Ichabod  S. 
Spencer,  D.  D.,  Brooklyn,  T835-36;  Rev.  George 
A.  Shekon;  Newtown,  1836-64;  Rev.  William  H. 
Moore,  D.  D.,  Hemipstead,  1864-68;  Gilbert 
Sayres,  Esq.,  Jamaica,  t868-8i  ;  Rev.  Arthur  H. 
Allen,  Islip,  1881-85;  l^ev.  W.  S.  C.  Webster, 
Islip,  1885-86;  Rev.  W.  Jay  Peck,  M.  D.,  Corona, 
1886-1902;  Rev.  M.  C.  Morgan,  '1902  to  date. 

Treasurers. — John     Titus,     Esq.,     Flushing, 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


63 


1815-20;  Van  Wyck  Wicks,  Esq.,  Jamaica, 
1820-36;  Hiosea  Webster,  Esq.,  Brooklyn,  1836- 
52;  Henry  Onderdonk,  Jr.,  Jamaica,  1852-80; 
Lewis  L.  Fosdick,  Esq.,  Jamaica,  1880-88;  Nat. 
W.  Foster^  Esq.,  Riverhead,  1888  to  date. 

Information  concerning  educational  condi- 
tions during  'the  early  colonial  times  is  exceed- 
ingly meager,  but  we  do  know  that  there  was 
a  vast  difference  between  the  school  then  and  its 
modern  successor.  In  the  former,  moral  and 
religious  training  were  the  most  important  fea- 
tures, while  in  our  day  secular  instruction  takes 
precedence  over  all  else. 

In  the  early  days,  the  teacher  was  not  ex- 
pected to  teach  other  than  the  most  rudimentary 
branches.  He  was  usually  paid  in  greater  part 
in  farm  produce,  and  sometimes  in  wampum. 
As  late  as  1763,  in  Hempstead,  his  compensation 
was  £25  and  board  the  year,  the  school  contin- 
uing throughout  the  year,  albeit  few  if  any 
scholars  attended  from  beginning  to  end,  com- 
ing in  and  going  out  as  circumstances  would 
permit.  The  teacher  collected  his  stipend  from 
the  people,  as  a  rate  bill.  The  boy  scholars  were 
obliged  to  cut  wood  and  build  the  fires,  while 
the  girls  swept  the  floor  and  kept  the  room  in 
order. 

But  there  was  another  school  between  that  of 
the  very  long  ago  and  that  of  the  present,  which 
was  almost  as  primitive,  and  it  existed  within 
the  memory  of  the  writer  of  these  pages,  and 
it  was  in  one  such  that  he  made  his  beginning  in 
education.  The  picture  will  be  readily  recog- 
nized by  many  who  will  peruse  this  narrative. 

The  school  house  was  a  log  building  with 
two  windows.  A  great  fireplace,  wide  enough 
to  take  in  a  cordstick,  occupied  one-half  the 
width  of  the  room.  The  seats  were  rough  planks 
supported  by  legs  let  into  auger  holes  at  either 
end,  and  without  backs.  At  the  sides  of  the 
building  were  rough  planks  resting  upon  punch- 
eons, and  at  these  stood  the  pupils  over  un- 
ruled copy  books,  laboriously  tracing  with  a 
goose-quill  pen  the  copy  set  by  the  master — 
capitals  and  small  letters,  and  then  such  allitera- 
tive sentences  ,as  "Many  Men  of  Many  Minds," 
It  was  before  the  days  of  ''Readers,**  too,  and 


two  or  three  generations  learned  to  read  and 
spell  from  the  Bible.  If  the  master  was  an  ami- 
able creature,  he  would  turn  the  children  to  the 
plain  short  word  passages  in  the  Gospels.  If  he 
was  irascible  and  domineering,  he  would  "give 
out"  a  chapter  in  the  pentateuch,  and  his  gorge 
would  increasingly  rise  as  the  .frightened  young- 
sters stumbled  over  the  unpronounceable  names 
in  the  old  genealogies.  But  the  youth  thus 
taught  became  admirable  readers,  and  the  pul- 
piteer or  rostrum  speaker  who  was  taught  in 
such  fashion  had  no  difficulty  in  being  clearly 
understood  by  his  readers.  Indeed,  were  there 
no  other  reason  to  cling  to  the  Bible,  it  were 
valuajble  before  all  other  books  for  its  splendid 
influence  in  the  formation  of  a  clear  and  con- 
cise use  of  the  English  language,  whether  in  ut- 
terance  or  in   writing. 

Aside  from'  the  Bible  there  was  no  uni- 
formity of  text-books  in  those  early  schools,  each 
scholar  bringing  such  as  the  family  closet  would 
afford,  and,  as  a  consequence,  there  were  rarely 
two  alike.  Those  were  the  palmy  times  of  the 
"Three  R's" — "readin,'  *ritin'  and  'rithmetic." 
He  was  accounted  something  of  a  mathematician 
who  was  ready  in  vulgar  fractions,  tare  and 
tret,  and  the  double  rule  of  three.  If  perchance 
one  had  a  grammar,  or  a  geography,  he  was 
viewed  by  his  less  favored  fellows  as  one  whose 
learning  would  enable  him  to  make  a  great  mark 
in  the  world.  And  the  learned  despot  who 
ruled  in  this  hall  of  learning!  The  typical 
schoolmaster  of  the  period  was  a  Scotchman  or 
Irishman,  who  wrote  a  clerkly  hand  and  had 
some  knowledge  oi  the  classics.  His  post  of  ob- 
siervation  was  in  the  chimney  corner,  where  he 
sat  enjoying  a  pipe,  and  apparently  immersed 
in  a  book,  but  not  so  abstracted  but  that  he 
noted  any  inattention  to  study  or  disposition  to 
horseplay,  which  brought  from  him  a  sharp 
"draw  near,"  and  a  volley  of  blows  from  his 
convenient  birch  (almost  a  cudgel)  when  the 
head  or  shoulders  of  the  offender  were  within 
reach.  Similar  punishment  attended  a  failure 
in  a  lesson,  and  it  was  a  lucky  lad  who  worried 
through  a  day  without  a  castigation  more  or  less 
severe. 


64 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Tender-hearted,  after  all,  in  a  fashion,  was 
this  old-time  schoolmaster,  and  in  later  years, 
when  old  and  infirm,  he  would  drag  himself  to 
the  office  or  home  of  him  who  had  been  his 
scholar,  whom'  he  regarded  with  almost  paternal 
affection,  and  whose  punishing,  he  firmly  be- 
lieved,  was   the   chief  instrumentality   in   form- 


and  the  yet  later  practice  of  granting  subsidies  to 
induce  their  establishment.  The  blacksmith  was 
so  useful  in  his  calling  that  he  became  a  man 
of  influence  in  the  community.  In  Brookhaven, 
on  December  lo,  1686,  the  townsmen  voted  "that 
Cristofer  Swaine  be  admitted  and  incouraged 
as  a  smith  for  this  town,  and  that  a  shop  shall 


OLD  SCHOOL  HOUSE. 


ing  his  character,  and  providing  him  with  that 
mental  equipment  which  enabled  him  to  take 
an  honorable  and  useful  position  among  men. 
But  reminiscence  may  not  have  too  free  a 
rein,  and  we  would  drop  the  subject,  referring 
the  reader  to  the  general  educational  chapter  in 
the  previous  volume  and  to  the  various  town 
histories  to  follow. 

The  people  of  the  primitive  towns  gave 
hearty  welcome  to  the  mechanic,  anticipating,  in 
a  way,  the  doctrine  of  fostering  infant  industries 
as  taught  by  Henry  Clay  in  a  much  later  dav, 


This  old-time  blacksmith  was,  perforce,  a  busy 
man..  Every  nail  driven  in  every  board  must 
be  built  for  ye  'sd  Cristofer  about  May  next." 
needs  be  hammered  out  aeparately  upon  his  anvil. 
He  made  every  horse-shoe,  and  every  nail  which 
bound  it  to  the  hoof  of  the  animal.  The  shoe- 
maker was  almost  as  necessary.  He  usually  took 
his  kit  'of  tools,  and  went  from  house  to  housse, 
staying  at  each'  so  long  as  was  necessary  to 
make  shoes  for  the  entire  family.  The  weaver 
was  another  useful  man,  although  many  families 
did  their  own  weaving.  For  a  time  the  settlers 
were  obliged  to   send  their    grain    across    the 


THE  COUNTIES  OF    NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


65 


Sound  over  into  Connecticut  to  be  ground.  Sub- 
sequently mills  were  established  in  all  the  towns, 
usually  through  aasistance  rendered  by  the  peo- 
ple. Thus,  in  Brookhaven,  on  October  lo,  1664, 
eighteen  of  the  principal  inhabitants  agreed  that 
if  one  Lane  would  build  a  substantial  mill  and 
keep  it  in  repair  for  the  grinding  of  the  town's 
corn,  they  would  erect  a  strong  dam,  and  also 
pay  him  twenty  shillings  a  lot  for  the  proprietary 
rights  which  they  represented.  Further,  he  was 
to  have  absolute  possession  of  the  mill  and  dam, 
and  was  to  have  a  tollage  of  two  quarts  in  every 
bushel  of  English  grain,  and  a  pint  in  every 
bushel  of  Indian  corn.  The  importance  of  the 
mill  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  at  one  time  the 
miller  was  notified  by  the  authorities  that  unless 
he  put  his  mill  in  good  and  sufficient  repair  with- 
in six  months,  the  privilege  of  the  water  power 
would  be  sold  at  public  sale. 

The  simple  and  industrious  habits  of  the 
people,  and  their  predilection  for  farming  pur- 
suits, is  evidenced  in  the  annals  of  all  the  town- 
ships. The  following  agreemenc  made  at  Oyster 
Bay,  January  20,  1670,  well  exemplifies  the  fact : 

"This  is  an  agreement  made  between  me  and 
Thomas  Youngs  jr.  and  Richard  Youngs,  his 
brother.  First  they  are  to  have  the  free  use  of 
my  team,  cart  and  plow,  with  the  iron  chains, 
with  all  tilings  thereto  belonging ;  and  they  are 
to  stub  and  break  up  and  manure  all  the  land  now 
within  fence  that  is  fit  for  it ;  and  t^ey  are  to  look 
well  and  carefully  after  all  my  creatures;  and 
they  are  to  have  for  their  team  and  plow  two- 
thirds  of  the  increase  of  all  the  land  manured 
that  I  own  there.  And  they  are  to  liave  two- 
thirds  O'f  the  fruit,  and  I  reserve  one  of 
two  barrels  for  John  Youngs  and  so  every 
}'ear  folloAving  as  they  enjoy  it.  Then  for 
the  sheep ;  there  are  thirty,  and  they  arc 
to  deliver  thirty  pounds  of  wool  per  year, 
that  is  one  pound  for  one  sheep;  and  there  are 
nine  lamljs,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  and  a 
half  they  are  to  deliver  me  thirty  sheep  and  nine 
lambs.  Xow  for  the  cattle;  we  are  to  have 
half  the  milk  and  one-third  of  the  increase,  and 
they  two-thirds,  and  they  are  to  find  or  provide 
me  a  beast  to  ride  on  when  I  please ;  and  they 
are  to  provide  me  wood  to  burn,  what  is  needful. 
Four  cows,  one  two-year-old  heifer,  one  two- 
year-old  bull,  four  yearlings.  And  the  principals 
5 


engage  to  me  to  make  good  at  the  term  and  time 
of  three  }'ears  and  a  half  of  all  these  creatures; 
they  do  also  engage  to  sow  so  many  acres  of 
wheat  and  rye  on  the  gro'und  as  there  is  now, 
at  the  end  of  three  years  and  a  half,  and  to  leave 
all  my  goods  and  carts  and  plows,  and  them  with 
all  things  ebe  that  they  receive  of  me,  as  good 
as  they  are  now  (two  broad  chisels,  two  narrow, 
chisels,  one  saw,  two  adze,  compasses,  one  inch- 
and-a-'half  auger,  three  lesser  augers -and  bung- 
borer,  one  pruner  bit,  one  mattock,  two  forks, 
three  pair  of  new  traces  and  one  old  pair,  two 
new  collars,  two  old  collars,  one  pair  of  cart 
traces  with  iron  hooks,  with  a  new  collar,  one 
cross-cut  saw,  one  new  file,  a  beetle,  three  wedg- 
es, one  saw-set,  two  great  clevises  with  bolts,  two 
lesser  clevises  with  the  bolts).  And  they  are  to 
tan  my  hides  for  one-third.  And  they  are  to 
leave  all  my  farm  and  tools  in  as  good  order  and 
repair  as  they  are  now,  with  all  things  else,  with 
six  bushels  of  oats,  two  bushels  and  half  peas, 
twoibushels  of  barley,  one  bushel  and  half  of  flax- 
seed. 

"As  witness  our  hand  and  seal  the  manner  as 
within. 

Thomas  Youngs^   Senior."' 

And  Gaine's  Mercury  thus  throws  light  on 
the  state  o'f  agriculture:  "December  18,  1768, 
the  Xew  York  Society  for  Promoting  Arts  ad- 
judged a  premium  of  iio  to  Thomas  Youngs, 
of  Oyster  Bay,  for  the  largest  nursery  of  apple 
trees.  It  contains  twenty-seven  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  trees." 

The  old  families  of  those  da^^s  were  certainly 
healthy,  thrifty,  moral  men  and  women,  who 
made  the  very  best  of  citizens.  Brought  up  to. 
consider  ^hard  work  honorable,  and  an  honest 
name  their  best  inheritance,  they  labored  per- 
severingl}',  lived  frugally,-  and  prospered  by  pru- 
dence. Their  well-tilled  farms  afforded  them 
d  good  living,  and  in  most  instances  a  small 
yearly  income  besides.  This  little  surplus,  by 
careful  saving,  made  many  of  them  rich,  and" 
placerl  nearly  all  in  comfortable  circumstances. 
The  representatives  of  these  old  families  cling 
affectionately  to  the  ancestral  acres;  and  it  is  not 
unusual  to  find  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  first 
settler  of  the  name  still  residing  on  the  old 
homestead,  which  in  several  instances  is  held  by 
a  deed  running  back  to  the  first  settlem|ent  of 


66 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


the  country  and  attested  by  the  curious  signs  of 
the  Indian  chiefs. 

The  interior  of  Long  Island,  too,  has  had 
many  representatives  in  the  great  cities  and  other 
busy  marts  of  commerce  and  industry,  as  the 
farmers  have  been  in  the  habit  of  encouraging- 
some  of  their  sons  to  fifthemselves  for  business 
pursuits.  Some  of  tlie  mos't  respected  and 
wealthy  merchants  in  New  York,  both  at  pres- 
ent and  in  times  past,  were  there  born  and 
were  the  sons  of  farmers.  These  merchants,  with 
scarcely  an  exception,  when  they  acquired  a  com- 
petence, themselves  returned -or  sent  their  sons 
to  occupy  and  improve  some  part  of  the  home 
farm,  thus  demonstrating  that  inherited  love  of 
the  freedom  and  independence  of  a  country  life 
survives  amid  the  cares  of  business  and  the  lux- 
uries of  the  city. 

The  conditions  of  the  colonists  may  be  dis- 
cerned in  some  degree  from  the  tables  of  prop- 
erty values  as  returned  for  taxation — ^these  show- 
ing, at  least,  of  what  they  were  possessed.  The 
principal  occupation  was  farming,  and  the  prod- 
ucts were  mainly  corn  and  cattle.  Under  the 
administration  of  Governor  Andros  the  taxes 
levied  for  the  support  oif  the  government  in  New 
York  were  only  a  penny  in  the  pound  sterling, 
but.  the  valuations  were  excessive :  Improved 
land,  £i  fhe  acre;  oxen,  £6  per  head;  cows,  ac- 
cording to  age,  ii.io  tO'  £$;  horses,  £3  to  £12; 
hogs,  £1  tper  head;  goats-,  8  shillings,  and  sheep 
6  shillings  eight  pence.  Remonstrance  was 
made  as  to  horses,  and  the  values  were  reduced 
to  about  one-third,  and  the  complaint  was  yet 
made  that  this  was  heyond  the  real  market  value. 
In  addition,  an  assessment  of  £18  was  made  as 
a  poll  tax — probably  upon  each  adult  male.  The 
improved  and  meadow  lands  were  returned  as 
5,867  acres,  and  the  animals  'owned  were  4,297 
cattle,  896  horses,  2,030  hogs,  1,262  sheep,  and 
a  few  gO'ats.  In  1675  the  assessment  of  the  vari- 
ous towns  of  Suffolk  county  was:  Southamp- 
ton, £13,667;  Southold,  £10,195  los. ;  East- 
ham'pton,  £6,842  i6s  8d;  Huntington,  £6,339  ^I'^d 
Brookhaven,  £3,065  i6s  8d.  At  the  rate  oi  one 
penny  to  the  pound,  the  aggregate  annual  tax 
paid  to  the  Governor  and  his  New  York  estab- 


lishment was  about  £170.  Shortly  afterward, 
negro  slaves  were  listed,  and  they  were  valued  at 
from  £30  to  £35. 

Such  people  as  these  we  have  feebly  por- 
trayed— the  founders  of  the  town  meeting,  of  the 
primitive  school  and  of  tlie  church  without  char- 
ter save  their  own  act  of  creation — were  the 
settlers  throughout  the  region  now  known  as  the 
counties  of  Nassau  and  Suffolk.  Mighty  build- 
ers were  they,  building  'far  better  than  they 
knew,  for  their  works  have  followed  them 
through  the  centuries  and  yet  endure  in  cumula- 
tive influence  and  results. 

No  colonies  coming  out  of  England  ever 
had  more  auspicious  beginning  than  those  found- 
ed uipon  Long  Island,  nor  did  ever  colonists  dis- 
play more  masterly  ability  for  self-government. 
But  these  salutary  conditions  were  not  to  long 
endure.  Royal 'governors  'began  petty  intermcd- 
dlings,  interfering  with  the  local  authorities  in 
their  conduct  of  the  affairs  of  their  little  towns, 
placing  restrictions  upon  ministers  and  upon 
congregations  who  practiced  their  religion  in 
what  tlie  great  little  Poobah  at  New  Amster- 
dam was  pleased  to  deem  a  heterodox  manner, 
and  imposing  annoying  taxes,  as  for  marriage 
licenses.  And  this  impolitic  intermeddlement  led 
to  events  most  remarkable  as  viewed  from  an 
after  day.  Elsewhere  this  volume  narrates  the 
results  in  New  York.  But  there  was  a  more 
remarkable  result,  all  things  considered,  to  come 
out  of  the  exodus'  of  Long  Islanders  to  Nova 
Csesarea,  or  New  Jersey.  True,  these  English- 
men who  had  come  voluntary  expatriates  from 
their  native  land,  to  New  England,  to  again  be- 
come wanderers  and  searchers-  out  for  a  new- 
home,  were  not  of  the  Nassau-Suffo-lk  region 
which  we  have  been  considering.  But  they  were 
fellow-countrymen,  and  they  had  come  to  Amer- 
ica with  the  same  purposes  and  the  same  ends 
in  view.  They  were,  under  then  existing  condi- 
tions, neighbors  with  those  who  remained  on 
Long  Island,  and  their  efforts  in  the  establish- 
ment of  civil  institutions  had  been  along  the 
same  lineis.  And  it  was  their  destiny  to  work 
to  the  same  ends,  though  in  different  fields. 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


67 


In  1663  a  number  of  Long  Islanders  formed 
a  company   for  the  exploration  and  occupation 
of   the    unknown  region   lying   south   of     New 
York    Bay — Nova    Csesarea,    or    New    Jersey. 
Their  names  are  as  worthy  of  preservation  in  the 
history  of  New  York  ai&  in  that  of  New  Jersey, 
where  they  are  revered  and  will  be  for  all  time 
to   come.      They   were  John     Bowne,     Gerrard 
Bowne,  Jam-es  Bowne,  William  Bowne,  William 
Compton,    John   Conklin    (earlier    from    Salem, 
Massachusetts),  Thomas  Cox,  Richard  Gibbons, 
William  Goulding,  James  Grover,  James  Grover, 
Jr.,  William  Lawrence,    Bartholomew    Lippen- 
cott,  Richard  Lippenoott,  Richard  Moor,  Thomas 
Moor,  John  Ruckman,  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  Ben- 
jamin Spicer,  Samuel  Spicer,  John  Stout,  Rich- 
ard Stout,  John  Tilton,  Peter  Tilton-,  Nathaniel 
Tompkins,  John  Townlsend,  John  Wall,  Walter 
W^all,  Thomas  Wansick  and  Thomas  Whitlock. 
Not  all  of  these  became  actual  residents  in  the 
new  land,  but  many  of  them  did.     They  were 
such  men  as  we  have  portrayed  on  a  preceding 
page — Godly  men^,  men  who  had  demonstrated 
their  ability  to  govern  themselves  in  model  com- 
munities of  their  own  e'S'tablishment,  and  among 
them  were  those  who  had  been  the  victims  of 
religious  persecution,  more  or  less  bitter  in  de- 
gree, and  some  of  these  are  to  be  named.    They 
were  mostly  from'  Gravesend,  but  they  were  of 
the  same  class  as  we  have  heretofore  portrayed. 
John  Tilton,  when  he  first  came  from,  Eng- 
land,   located    at    Lynn,    Massachusetts.      His 
wife  was  a  Baptist,  and  in  December,  1642,  she 
was  indicted  for  ''holdinge  that  the  Baptism  of 
Infants'  is   no  Ordinance   of   God."     They   left 
Massachusetts  with  Lady  Deborah  Moody  and 
other  Anabaptists  and  settled  at  Gravesend,  Long 
Island,  where  again  they  were  m^ade  to  suffer. 
In  1658  Tilton  was  fined  by  the  Dutch  authori- 
ties for  allowing  a  Quaker  woman  to  stop  at  his 
house.     In   September,   1662,   he  was  fined   for 
"permitting  Quakers  to  quake  at  his  house."    In 
October  of  the  same  year  himself  and  wife  were 
summoned    before    Governor    Stuyvesant    and 
Council,  charged  with  having  entertained  Quak- 
ers and   frequently   attended  their  conventicles, 
and  they  were  ordered  to  leave  the  province  un- 


der  pain  of  corporal   punishment.     They  were 
among  the  Jersey  settlers  of  1665. 

Samuel  Spicer  had  resided  at  Gravesend, 
Long  Island.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  and  had  been  severely  dealt  with  by 
Governor  Stuyvesant  for  nonconformity  to  the 
established  religion. 

Richard  Stout  was  head  of  one  of  the  first 
five  families  who  settled  on  the  Indian  purchase 
in  Jersey  in  1664.  He  had  previously  lived  a 
number  of  years  on  Long  Island. 

There  were  others,  but  the  royal  man  and 
leader  of  them  all  was  John  Bowne,  who  sailed 
from  Gravesend,  Long  Island,  in  December, 
1663,  and  wa'S'  a  leader  in  the  first  purchase 
from'  Indians  in  Monmouth  county.  New  Jersey, 
and  his  was  one  of  the  first  five  families  which 
made  a  permanent  settlement  on  the  tract.  He 
was  the  most  important  citizen  of  the  county, 
esteemed  for  his  integrity  and  ability.  He  was 
a  deputy  to  the  first  Assembly  in  Governor 
Carteret's  time,  which  met  May  26,  1668,  the 
members  of  the  Lower  House  being  then  called 
"burgesses."  He  was  deputy  again  in  1675;  in 
the  first  legislature  under  the  twenty-four  pro- 
prietors;  in  1683,  he  was  a  member  and  the 
Speaker,  and  be  acted  until  the  December  fol- 
lowing. He  held  other  position's  of  trust. 
March  12,  1677,  a  co^mmission  was  issued  to  him 
as  president  of  the  court  to^  hold  a  term  at  Mid- 
dletown.  In  December,  1683,  shortly  after  his 
last  illness,  he  was  appointed  major  of  the  militia 
of  ^Monmouth  county.  He  was  the  first  minister 
in  that  count}^  but  who  can  say  of  what  sect 
was  he,  or  what  his  creed,  after  reading  his 
"woiids  of  a'dvice  or  councell  to  his  children  as  he 
lay  on  his  death  bed,"  January  3,  1683-4: 

"There  is  no  way  in  the  rwhole  world  for  a 
man  to  obtain  felicity,  in  this  world  or  in  the 
world  to  come,  but  to  take  heed  in.  the  ways  of 
the  Lord,  and  to  put  his  trust  in  Him,  who  deals 
faithfully  and  truly  with  all  men ,  for  He  knocks 
at  the  door  of  your  hearts,  and  calls  you  to  come 
and  buy,  without  money  and  without  price. 

"My  desire  is,  that  in  all  actions  of  Meum 
and  Teum  you  deal  not  deceitfully,  but  plane 
hearted  witla  all  men,  and  remember  that  your 
dying  Father  left  it  with  yon  for  your  instruc- 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


tion,  that  when  trust  is  with  your  Honor  to  pre- 
serve it.  And  in  ail  contract^  and  bargains  that 
you  nmke,  violate  not  your  promise,  and  }ou 
will  have  praise.  Let  your  Mother  be  your 
Counsellor  in  all  matters  of  difference,  and  goe 
not  to  Lawyers,  but  ask  her  councell  first.  If 
at  any  time  any  of  you  have  an  advantage  of  a 
poor  man  lat  law,  O  pursue  it  not,  but  rather  for- 
give him'  if  he  hath  done  you  wrongue,  and  if 
you  do  so,  you  will  have  the  help  of  the  Law  of 
God  and  of  his  people.  Give  not  away  tO'  youth- 
ful jolities  and  sports,  but  improve  yonr  leisure 
time  in  the  service  of  God.  Let  no  good  man 
be  dealt  churlishly  by  you,  but  entertain  when 
they  come  to  your  house.  But  if  a  vitious,  wicked 
man  come,  give  him  meat  and  drink  to  refresh 
him,  and  let  him  pass  by  your  doors.  It  has  been 
many  times  in  my  thoughts,  that  for  a  man  to 
marry  a  wife  and  have  children,  and  never  take 
any  care  to  instruct  them,  but  leave  them  worse 
than  the  Beasts  of  the  Field,  that  if  la  man  ask 
concerning  the  things  of  God,  they  know  not 
what  it  means.  O,  this  is  a  very  sad  thing.  But 
if  we  can  season  our  hearts,  so  as  to  desire  the 
Lord  to  assist  us,  He  will  help  us,  and  not  fly 
from  us." 

Such  as  these  were  the  men  who  fled  froui 
the  petty  tyrrany  exercised  by  the  colonial  gov- 
ernors O'f  Xew  York — who  became  the  settlers 
of  South  Jersey,  and  there,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Shrewsbury  river,  organized  the  first  townis  with 
their  town  meetings,  and  there  resisted  another 
persecution,  and  were  among  the  first  to  give 
formal  and  emphatic  utterance  to  the  doctrine 
that  those  actual  colonists  abiding  upon  its  soil, 
holding  title  by  honest  purchase  from  the  na- 
tives and  by  compliance  with  legal  requirements, 
were  freemen  and  not  serfs.  The  "Monmouth 
Declaration  of  Independence''  in  v/hich  this 
principle  was  embodied,  as  was  also  that  of  local 
self-government,  was  of  weighty  importance  in 
the  formation  of  that  public  opinion  which  a  cen- 
tury later  found  final  and  unequivocal  expression 
in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  by  all  the 
Colonies.  Their  coming  to  Long  Island,  and 
their  going  thence  to  Xew  Jersey,  was  the  open- 
ing of  a  new. chapter  in  the  history  of  civiliza- 
tion as  written  by  the  English  speaking  race — 
that  history  which  began  at  Runnymede  and,  in 
cur  day,  has  had  continuation  under  the  Amer- 


ican flag  in  the  islands  of  the  isea,  a  history  which 
gives  an  added  significance  to  the  poet's 
thought — 

"For  Good  i&  not  a  shapely  mass  of  stone, 

Hewn  by  man's  hand  and  worked  by  one  alone. 

It  is  a  seed  God  suffers  man  to  sow; 

Others  will  reap,  and  when  the  harvests  grow 

He  giveth  increase  through  all  coming  years, 

And  lets  men  reap  in  joy  seed  that  was  sown  in  tears." 

But  what  of  those  who  remained  on  Long 
Island?  Theirs  were  not  the  opportunities  of 
their  brethren  who  'went  to  New  Jersey.  But, 
for  the  greater  number,  they  acted  well  their 
parts.  They  kept  alive  the  spirit  of  'self-gov- 
ernment, thoiugh  they  often  submitted  to  tyr- 
rany. Their  geographical  position  during  the 
Revolutionary  period  placed  them  in  an  awkward 
situation  in  relation  to  political  affairs.  But 
they  sustained  little  moral  harm — less  in  some 
respects  than  did  others^  who  were  ir  the  immedi- 
ate track  of  war.  Even  then.,  they  did  not,  at 
least,  retrograde,  and  it  may  be  said  that  their 
progress  has  steadily  and  constantly  been  up- 
ward, each  generation  showing  improvement 
over  that  which-  had'  'preceded  it. 

After  peace  was  restored,  the  churches'  re- 
sumed their  functions,  and  the  people  of  this 
war-ridden  region  turned  to  the  taisk  of  repair- 
ing their  shattered  fortunes,  setting  out  upon 
a  new  career  as  modest,  quiet,  God-fearing  peo- 
ple, rearing  their  families  in  ways  of  decency, 
and  isetting  up  anew,  and  upon  more  solid  foun- 
dations, the  church  and  the  school — the  bulwarks 
of  virtue  and  good  order.  Hospitable  they  al- 
ways were,  and  never,  before  nor  since,  so  much 
?o  as  then.  The  wayfaring  man' — he  would  be 
termed  a  ''tramp"  to-day — was  ever  welcome, 
and  was  ever  well  entertained.  If  only  needy, 
he  was  fed  and  lodged  for  sake  of  that  Dear 
Lord  who  loves  and  pities  all  his  children,  and 
who  said  "inasmiKh  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  ■ 
of  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren,  ye  have  done 
it  unto  me."  If  he  was  a  man  of  intelligence,  he 
was  gladly  hailed  as  a  messenger  from  an  outer 
world,  and  the  news  which  he  brought  and  the 
views  which  he  expressed  were  listened  to  with 
respectful  attention  and  interest. 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


69 


Social  conditions  under  the  colonial  estab- 
lishment have  already  been  narrated.  The  Rev- 
olutionary period  was  a  crucial  one  for  society 
and  for  civil  institutions.  The  track  of  the 
British  'soldier  and  hiis  foreign  allies  was  seen 
in  wasted  fields  and  the  ashes  of  homesteads, 
and  in  some  homes  was  an  agony  worse  than 
death.  The  effect  upon  the  people  was  in  a  man- 
ner demoralizing,  and  some,  who  under  peaceful 
conditions  would  have  lived  exemplary  lives, 
gave  their  time  tO'  idleness  and  dissipation,  bid- 
ding defiance  to  all  moral  restraints  and  respect- 
ing the  law  but  little.  Some  of  these  had  been 
Continental  soldiers,  and  for  them  was  a  certain 
measure  of  excuse.  They  were  but  mere  youths 
when  they  'set  out  in  a  war  which  engaged  them 
for  seven  long  years  of  untold  privation  and 
•danger.  They  had  gone  to  the  life  of  the  camp 
and  march — demoralizing  unider  the  most  favor- 
able conditions — before  character  was  formed, 
and  without  knowledge  of  the  temptations  and 
vicious  influences  \vhich  were  to  beset  them. 
They  returned  full  grown  men,  to  enter  intO'  a 
world  which  was  new  to  them,  one  wherein  was 
no  home  they  could  call  their  own,  nor  occupa- 
tion for  which  they  seemed  to  be  fitted.  But 
iS'Uch  were  the  exceptions,  and  far  the  greater 
numiber  turned  readily  to  the  peaceful  pursuits 
of  life. 

In  the  times  preceding  the  Revolutionary 
war,  nearly  all  manufactured  articles  came  from 
England,  and  the  cost  was  such  as  to  deter  all 
but  a  highly  favored  few  from  indulging  in  ar- 
ticles of  luxury.  Inventories  made  of  goods  at 
this  time  show  that  in  general  personal  property 
was  of  the  rudest  and  simplest  kind  compatible 
with  civilized  Life.  These  people,  isolated  from 
the  rest  of  the  world,  and  destitute  of  skilled 
artisans,  tools,  and  materials  necessary  in  pro- 
viding ornaments  and  articles  of  luxury,  were 
compelled  to  content  themselves  with  rudely  con- 
structed household  furniture  and  plain  but  sub- 
stantial dress.  Indeed,  they  were  compelled  to 
this  'by  the  policy  of  the  British  government, 
which  was  avowedly  hostile  to  the  idea  of  permit- 
ting the  people  of  the  colonies  to  be  aught  else 
than  a  community  of  self-expatriates  who  should 


esteem  it  a  privilege  to  be  permitted  to  merely 
maintain  an  animal  existence.  Even  so  stanch 
a  fniend  of  America  as  wa-s  W'illiam  Pitt  frowned 
upon  the  idea  of  permitting  its  people  to  lessen 
in  any  degree  their  servile  dependence  upon  the 
mother  country,  and  declared  that  they  had  no 
right  to  make  so  much  as  a  horse-shoe  nail,  but 
should  be  compelled  to  purchase  all  products  of 
skilled  labor  in  the  British  markets ;  and,  to  com- 
pel acquiescence  in  such  doctrine,  taxes  were 
imposed  by  Parliament,  which  were  virtually  in 
prohibitions  of  American  manufactures.  And  so, 
as  Dr.  Epher  Whittaker  said  of  the  people  of 
Southold :  ''Within  their  dwellings  they  used 
tables,  chairs,  drawers-,  chests,  bedsteads,  beds, 
bedding,  shovels,  tongs,  andirons,  trammels,  pot 
hooks,  pots,  pans,  knives,  wooden  ware,  pewter 
ware,  especially  plates  and  ;&poons,  and  some- 
times a  little  earthen  ware,  and  perhaps  a  few 
pieces  of  silver — as  a  tankard  and  a  cup.  But 
stoves,  tin  ware,  plated  ware  of  every  kind,  china, 
porcelain,  queensware  and  all  kinds  of  fine  work 
of  the  potter's  art  seem  to  have  been  unknown 
among  them.  So  were  table  cloths,  and  especial- 
ly table  forks.  They  had  no  carpets,  and  few 
had  any  pictures,  watches,  musical  instruments 
or  works  of  art  for  the  adornment  of  their  homes. 
Tea  and  coffee  were  not  on  their  tables.'' 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  RevO'lutionary 
war,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Timothy  Dwight,  the  leighth 
president  of  Yale  College,  one  of  the  most  schol- 
arly men  and  most  careful  observers  of  his  time, 
made  a  journey  through  a  large  portion  of 
Long  Island,  and  said  of  it  that  because  of  its 
insular  position  "the  people  muse  be  always^  nar- 
row and  contracted  in  their  views,  affections  and 
pursuits;  that  they  were  destitute  of  the  ad- 
vantages that  were  calculated  to  awaken  and 
diffuse  information  and'  stimulate  energy,  and 
that,  if  such  were  to  spring  up  here,  they  would 
emigrate,  and  that  it  must  continue  for  an  in- 
definite period  to  be  a  place  where  advantages 
that  were  enjoyed  elsewhere  would  be  imperfect- 
ly realized."  But  even  as  he  wrote,  there,  was 
dawning  a  brighter  day,  giving  promise  of  a 
higher  development,  yet  affording  no  prophecy 
of  what  the  region  was  to  become,  a  wonderfullv 


70 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


productive  garden  spot,  the  abode  of  a  prosper- 
ous and  cultured  people,  and  the  pleasure  ground 
of   the   American   metropolis. 

At  the  time  of  Dr.  Dwight's  coming,  the  resi- 
dences remained  unchanged  outwardly,  but  the 
changes  were  many  within.  A  carpet  covered 
the  floor  of  the  best  room,  if  none  other;  people 
of  means  purchased  an  imported  article,  while 
the  poorer  cla'sses  made  their  floor  coverin'g  out 
of  woven  rags.  The  family  no  longer  dined  in 
the  kitchen,  but  in  another  room,  which  was  also 
the  sitting  room.    The  furniture  was  simple  but 


silks  and  figured  shawls.  They  usually  knitted 
their  own  stockings  and  their  gloves.  Jewelry 
was  affected  only  by  the  wealthy,  excepting  the 
wedding  ring,  without  which  no  woman  claiming 
to  be  married  was  regarded  as  respectable.  In- 
land travel  was  principally  by  horseback,  which 
finally  gave  way  to  the  old-fashioned  horse-cart. 
Such  multiplication  of  comforts  and  luxuries 
excited  a  keen  mental  stimulation.  By  and  by 
the  weekly  newspaper  came  with  its  message  from 
the  outer  world,  and  this  created  desire  for  yet 
m^ore  knowledge,  and  the  book  followed.     Social 


DWELLING  OF    REVOLUTIONARY  TIMES. 


substantial,  usually  home  made,  of  the  splendid 
native  pine,  walnut  and  cedar,  then  common 
and  cheap,  but  now  scarce  and  costly.  Clothing 
for  mei;i  had  not  yet  changed  in  style,  but  it  was 
of  better  quality  and  'frequently  of  limported 
goods.  Boots  and  shoes  were  made  by  the  trav- 
eling shoemaker,  from  home  dressed  leather. 
The  female  sex  revealed  its  constant  fondness 
for  finery.  The  poorest  wore  homespun  and 
linsey-woolsey,  but  they  had  learned  to  make 
dyes  from  barks  and  roots,  and  their  garments 
were  of  varying  hues.  Those  in  better  circum- 
stances wore  goods  of  foreign  make,  linens,  and 


gatherings  came  into  vogue,  and  these  soon  led 
to  the  debating  society  and  the  singing  school. 
The  two  last  named  were  admirable  in  an  in- 
structional way,  and  those  who  3^et  remain  with 
us,  who  were  participants  in  them  in  their  youth- 
ful days,  are  acustomed  to  recall  them  with  deep 
pleasure,  and  to  the  disparagement  of  much  that 
IS  peculiar  to  the  present  fair,  well-spoken  days. 
For  many  years  the  only  musical  instrument  in 
the  farm  or  village  home  was  the  violin  or  flute, 
and  a  fair  performer  on  either  was  a  gladly 
hailed  acquisition  to  any  company,  and  frequent- 
ly in  sacred  music  in  such  churches  as  were  not 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


71 


sternly  set  against  the  use  of  instruments  in  di- 
vine worship.  It  was  not  until  about  1850  that 
the  seraphine  or  melodeon  became  at  all  familiar, 
and  ten  years  later  a  piano  was  a  great  curiosity 
in  many  good  sized  towns. 

In  the  commundty  where  a  half  century  ago 
a  book  was  uncommon,  is  now  a  well  stored  li- 
brary. Where  were  but  few  isolated  instru- 
ments of  music  is  now  an  orchestra  capable  of 
performing  the  music  of  the  great  masters.  The 
humble  cottage  has  given  place  to  the  elegant 
mansion  with  its  luxurious  furnishings,  and  the 


stately  temple  stands  where  did  the  modest  plain- 
walled  country  church. 

But  here  and  there  i&  an  old-time  dwelling 
of  the  long  ago,  or  an  old  church  so  far  from  the 
busy  throng  that  it  has  not  been  deemed  worthy 
of  destruction  to  make  way  for  one  more  mod- 
ern. Such  are  pleasant  to  look  upon,  and  in 
gazing  upon  them  there  come  to  .us  fragrant 
memories  and  a  reverent  feeling  sometliing  akin 
to  that  "benediction  that  follows  after  prayer." 

The  constant  progression  which  has  led  to 
these  conditions  cannot  be  more  accurately  de- 
picted than  by  presenting  the  .words  of  Dr.  Whit- 


taker,  the  writer  referred  to  in  the  opening  sen- 
tences of  this  chapter,  and  which  are  as  pertinent 
to  Nassau  county  as  they  are  to  Suffolk  county, 
of  which  he  more  particularly  wrote : 


After  the  greater  part  of  Long  Island  was 
torn  govemmentally  from  its  kindred  New  Eng- 
land in  1662,  the  ipeople  here  were  doubly  isolat- 
ed. The  Sound  and  the  ocean  were  less  of  a  bar- 
rier than'  the  repulsive  governm,ent  and  the  un- 
cong-enial  population  of  New  York.  Hence  our 
people  lived  signally  within  themselves  for  sev- 
eral generations.  The  county  produced  its  own 
men  and  women: — its  own 
farmers,  mechanics,  sailors, 
fishermen,  ministers,  lawyers, 
doctors.  It  produced,  also,  in 
great  measure,  its  own  food, 
clothing,  utensils,  buildings, 
and  other  supports  and  re- 
ceived little  benefit  from  the 
great  world  beyond  it.  This 
somewhat  undesirable  but 
thoroughly  natural  state  con- 
tinued until  near  the  middle 
of  the  century  which  has  just 
ended,     h:     *     * 

Many  causes  have  been 
active  to  effect  the  changes  al- 
ready indicated.  The  build- 
ing of  the  railroad  from  one 
end  of  the  island  to  the  other 
brought  into  the  county  a 
small  army  of  men  born  on 
the  other  side  of  the  sea. 
Many  of  them'  saw  the  fitness 
of  the  land  to  reward  indus- 
tr}',  to  afford  health  and  to 
make  pleasant  living.  They 
set  up  their  barriers  all  along  the  road,  and  they 
have' not  ceased  for  half  a  century  to  call  their 
kindred  and  countrymen  effectively  to  their 
standard.  These  and  their  descendants  are  now 
an  important  part  and  element  of  our  people. 
The  railroad  has  notably  fostered  a  change  in  the 
agriculture  of  the  county  by  making  quick  and 
ready  acces:&  to  the  ^best  markets  for  the  produce 
of  the  soil.  And  this  change  has  summoned  a 
multitude  of  men  of  alien  birth  to  w^ork  the 
ground.  The  facilities  of  travel  by  cats  and 
steamers  between  the  great  emporium'  and  our 
beautiful  shores  and  villages,  with  their  ocean 
waters  'and  health-giving  air,  have  brought  hither 
in  ever  increasing  throngs  the  summer  visitors 
who  have  profoundly  affected  our  native  citizen's 


72 


HISTORY  OF    LOXG   ISLAND. 


and  rural  ways.  The  opportunities  for  thrift  and 
gain  of  riches  here  have  also  led  many  other 
classes  of  persons  to  build  their  homes  within  our 
bounds. 

These  enlargements  of  the  life  of  our  coun- 
ty have  not  turned  away  our  people  from  agri- 
culture as  their  chief  employment.  They  are 
well  pleased  with  the  ways  of  Cincinnatus  and 
the  Master  of  Mount  \>rnon.  But  they  have 
revolutionized  the  methods  of  their  fathers. 
These  gave  a  large  part  of  their  time  and 
strength  to  the  work  of  gathering  fertilizers  for 
their  fields.  The  seaweed  of  the  ocean,  the  grass 
of  the  'bays,  the  sedge  of  the  marshes,  the  fishes 
of  the  briny  deep,  and  even  the  leaves  of  the 
trees  were  diligently  and  toilesomely  collected  to 
be  used  in  giving  heart  to  the  land  and  making  it 
yield  fruitful  harvests. 


The  products  of  the  soil  in  those  days  were 
little  else  than  grain,  potatoes,  turnips  and  hay. 
Step  ^by  Istep  the  farmers  have  had  recourse  to 
cheni'ically  prepared  fertilizers  and  to  the  raising 
of  a  wiide  range  of  marketable  crops.  The  vast 
regions  of  the  west  and  northwest  of  our  coun- 
try have  made  the  cultivation  of  grain^  on  Long 
Island  unprofitable.  Formerly  this  land,  in 
broad  fields,  raised  wheat  and  rye  and  oats.  For 
these  crops  its  occupation  is  gone. 

On  the  other  hand,  our  nearness  and  facili- 
ties of  access  to  the  great  markets  in  the  popu- 
lous cities  of  New  lYork  and  New  England  en- 
able O'Ur  farmers  to  raise  and  sell  green  crops  to 
advantage.  Strawberries,  cranberries,  cabbage, 
cauliflower,  and  kindred  vegetables,  as  well  as 
various  fruits,  have  come  to  be  a  prominent  part 


of  the  .sources  of  our  support  and  wealth.  Li- 
crease  of  this  kind  of  industry  and  profit  has 
come  from  the  ever-increasing  accession  of 
sammier  guests  and  cottages  and  from  the 
multiplication  of  factories  for  canning  fruits 
and  vegetables  in  the  neighborhood  of  their 
growth. 

All  of  this  transformation  has  been  animated 
and  fostered  by  the  beginning  which  invention 
has  made  in  the  creation  of  manifold  and  effec- 
tive agricultural  implements.  The  farmer  of 
fifty  years  ago,  if  he  should  now  return  to  us, 
would  not  know  the  names  of  half  the  tools  and 
utensils  that  his  son  now  employs.  He  could  not 
name  a  monkey  wrench;  and  the  boys  of  to-day 
will  hereafter  use  more  implements  of  future 
invention  than  all  that  now  exist.  The  weeder, 
the  mower,  the  tedder,  the  reaper,  the  binder,  the 
thresher,  the  sifter,  the  planter,  the 
drill,  the  digger,  and  others,  separate 
or  combined,  and  with  or  without 
steam'  po-wer,  have  come  after  the  hoe, 
the  spade,  the  plow  and  the  harrow, 
but  there  are  many  more  to  follow 
that  have  not  yet  been  invented. 
These  inventions  have  already  made 
the  farmer's  life  easy  'and  pleasant 
in  comparison  with  his  toilsomie'  days 
and  weary  nights  five  decades  ago. 
He  does  not  now  sling  a  peck  of 
wheat  over  his  shoulder,  trudge  over 
soft,  uneven,  plowed  ground,  and 
scatter  the  seeds  with  his  ever  swing- 
ing and  ever  increasingly  weary  arm. 
He  pours  his  grain  into  a  box,  mounts 
his  seat  behind  his  fine  span  of  horses, 
says  to  them  "go,"  and  the  drill  does 
the  rest. 

The  conditions  above  depicted  did  not  form- 
erly exist  as  universally  as  they  do  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  While  the  Nassau-Sufi'olk  region  was 
always  famed  as  an  agricultural  country,  many 
of  its  people,  and  particularly  those  along  the 
shores,  were  adventurous  spirits,  and  were  not 
to  be  restricted  to  the  dull,  tame  land,  but  made 
for  themselves  splendid  record  as  sailors, 
whether  in  ships  of  commerce  or  o'f  war,  and 
their  descendants  of  a  later  day  emulated  their 
example. 

An  illustration  of  the  character  above  depict- 
ed is  found  in'  the  person  of  one  who  is  now  liv- 
ing a  quiet  una'ssuming  life  as  sherifif  of  Nassau 


THE  COUNTIES  OF  NASSAU  AND  SUFFOLK. 


73 


county — Mr.  Jerome  B.  Johnson — the  record  of 
whose  life  is  a  veritable  romance,  worthy  the  pen 
of  a  Alarryat  or  Cooper. 

^Ir.  Johnson  is  probable  the  sole  survivor  of 
the  famous  "Foreign  Legion/'  that  band  of 
young  daredevils  which  practically  put  down  the 
Taeping  rebellion  in  Cbina  in  1859.  He  was  at 
that  time  -a  mere  yo'Uth  and  was  attracted  to 
China  by  a  longing  for  adventure.  He  shipped 
as  third  mate  on  a  ship  bound  for  Shanghai,  and 
on  arriving  at  that  port  enlisted  in  the  Chinese 
navy  and  was  giveil  a  commission  to  raise  a  com- 
pany b}-  the  Governor  of  Shanghai.  It  is  an  in- 
teresting document,  yellow  with  age,  and  reads 
as  follows : 

"I,  Toutal  of  Shanghai^  representative  of  the 
Emperor  of  China,  authorize  herewith  Jerome 
B.  Johnson  to  form  a  company,  of  100  to  200 
men  and  to  take  charge  of  them  to  operate  against 
Souchow  OT  any  places  in  that  vicinity.  I  here- 
with give  him  the  'command  of  said  company 
and  he  may  choose  four  per  cent,  of  the  men  as 
officers,  according  to  his  choice.  .1  hereby  com- 
mand also  the  said  J.  B.  Johnson  to  pay  such  men 
the  sum  of  $50  a  month,  and  officers  as  follows : 
First  officer,  $90 ;  second  officer,  $80 ;  third  offi- 
cer, $70 ;  fourth  officer,  60.  All  their  salaries  are 
to  he  paid  at  the  end  of  each  month,  and  beside 
he  has  the  power  to  reward  them  w^ho  distin- 
guish themselves  in  their  imperial  cause  accord- 
ing to  their  merits.  Provisions  will  be  supplied 
by  the  commissary,  who'  has  to  act  according  to 
his  orders  from  the  said  J.  B.  Johnson. 

"Done  this  day  as  the  palace.'' 

This  company  was  recruiited  from  dis- 
charged men  and  officers  of  the  various  foreign 
vessels  in  port,  and  many  seamen,  eager  for  ad- 


venture, deserted  their  ships  and  joined  Mr. 
Johnson.  The  officers  of  the  Foreign  Legion- 
were  Ward,  the  intrepid  American;  an  Italian, 
whose  name  Sheriff  Johnson  does  not  remember; 
Ashley,  another  American,  who  had  charge  of 
the  commilS'sary,  and  Sheriff  Johnson.  The  bulk 
of  the  men  were  Filipinos,  and  were  armed  with 
Sharp's  rifles,  while  the  sailors  in  the  company 
rendered  themselves  invaluable  by  improvising 
scaling  ladders. 

The  Taepings,  a  fierce  Chinese  tribe,  were  in 
rebellion,  and  were  gaining  strength  each  day,  so 
that  the  situation  was-  becoming  very  serious. 
The  first  fighting  done  by  SherifL"  Johnson's  com- 
pany was  before  the  walled  city  of  Sungkiang. 
An  attempt  was  made  to  scale  the  walls,  but  was 
met  with  a  reputse,  and  the  Foreign  Legion 
suffered  heavily  and  was  forced  to  retreat  to  the 
boats  and  make  their  way  to  Hongqua.  In  this 
engagement  Mr.  Johnson  was  wounded  six 
times  and  afterward  had  a  very  severe  attack  of 
fever. 

After  his  recovery  Mr.  Johnson  returned  to 
this  countr}^  and  enlisted  in  the  Union  navy  and 
fought  on  Admiral  Farragut's  flag-ship,  also  par- 
ticipating in  the  severe  fighting  around  Galves- 
ton, Texas. 

At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  Mr.  John- 
son's thirst  for  adventure  was  not  satisfied,  and 
he  isailed  for  South  America  and  spent  several 
years  in  the  Argentine  Republic  working  on  the 
large  cattle  ranches.  Tiring  at  Itist  of  a 
vaquero's  life,  the  adventurer  returned  once 
more  to  his  native  land  and  settled  down  to 
peaceful  avocations. 


^  ^  ^  ^  ^ 


CHAPTER  III. 


NASSAU   COUNTY. 


g 


T  is'  not  to  'be  expected  that  a  county 
^^'hich  d'a^tes  back  only  three  of  four  years 
affords  any  fertile  field  for  investigation 
as  a  political  division.  The  res  gestae 
lies  in  the  sitory  of  the  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  its  towns  and  villages,  and  this  is  in  part 
contained  in  the  chapter  pertaining  to  Queens 
county  and  in  that  i'mmediately  preceding  this, 
and,  for  the  remainder,  will  appear  in  con/nection 
with  the  annals  which  are  presented  on  other 
pages  to  follow. 

Nassau  county  owes  its  creation  to  the  move- 
m'cnt  which  brought  about  the  Greater  New 
York.  It  is  to  be  said,  in  this  connection,  that 
the  separation  was  not  unattended  by  conflict  of 
ideas  and  .strenuous  opposition  in  some  quarters. 
Many  of  an  older  class  of  people,  whose  remote 
ancestors  were  among  the  first  white  occupants 
of  the  region,  objected  on  sentimental  grounds. 
Up  to  the  time  of  the  creation  of  the  new  county, 
the  three  Long  Island  counties  of  Kings, 
Queens  and  Suffolk  ihad  been  unaltered  in  boun- 
daries and  extent  from  their  original  creation  by 
act  of  the  colonial  legislature  in  1683,  save  in  one 
instance — when,  in  1881,  Lloyd's  Neck  was 
transferred  from  the  jurisdiction  of  Queens 
county  to  that  of  Suffolk.  On  the  other  hand, 
a  potent  argument  for  the  separation  of  'Nassau 
from  Queens  was  the  discontent  of  many  of 
the  people  of  the  projected  new  county,  due  to 
the  previous  expenditure  of  the  public  funds  and 
large  bond  issues,  much  after  the  fashion  of  a 
new  mushroom  county  out  west  during  the 
''boom'''  times. 


The  new  county  of  Nassau  was  constituted 
by  act  of  the  legislature,  which  became  operative 
when  that  act  received  the  signature  of  Gov- 
ernor Black,  April  28,  1898.  It  became  the  sixty- 
finst  county  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  it 
stood,  at  its  creation^  the  thirty-finst  in  order 
of  size  and  wealth.  It  was  made  to  comprise 
the  towns  of  Oyster  Bay,  North  Hempstead,  and 
that  part  of  -Hempstead  set  o€  as  a  part  of 
Queens  county,  the  latter  separation  being  mark- 
ed by  a  line  extending  almost  due  northwardly 
from  Floral  Park  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  the 
Far  Rockaway  Beach,  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 
The  total  area  of  the  new  county  is  320  squai^ 
miles,  containing  162,000  acres,  including  waters 
well  enclosed  by  land,  and  is  sixteen  miles^  in 
width  from  the  borough  of  Queens  to  the  county 
line  of  Suffolk,  and  twenty-two  miles  in  length 
from.  Long  Island  Sound  to  the  Atlantic. 

The  first  officials  of  Nassau  county — ^County 
Judge  and  Surrogate,  District  Attorney,  Sheriff, 
Treasurer,  Clerk  and  Superintendent  of  the 
Poor— were  elected  November  8,  1898,  and  the 
county  commenced  business  on  January  3,  1899, 
when  the  first  Board  of  Supervisors  assembled 
in  Mineola,  the  new  county  seat,  and  adopted  a 
seal — "a  golden  lion  rampant,  between  seven 
golden  billets,  on  an  azure  field." 

In  1903  the  civil  list  of  Nassau  county  was 
as  follows : 


State  Senator,  Luke  Keenan;  Assemblyman, 
G.  Wilbur  Doughty ;  County  Judge,  Robert  Sea- 
bury  ;  Sheriff,  Jerome  B.  Johnson ;  County  Clerk, 


NASSAU  COUNTY 


75 


Thomas  S.  Clieshire;  Supervi'sors^  Smith  Cox, 
Edwin  Willetts  and  William  H.  Jones ;  County 
'  Treasurer,  Charks  F.  Lewis ;  District  Attorney, 
James  P.  Nieman;  Superintendent  of  Poor, 
George  W.  Smith;  School  Commissioner,  James 
S.  Cooley. 

Nassau  county  is  in  the  Second  Congres- 
sional District,  and  is  represented  by  Hon.  Town- 
send  Scudder,  elected  in  1902  to  succeed  Hon. 
Frederick  Storms. 

When  Nassau  county  was  erected,  the 
bonded  debt  of  Queens  county  was  about  $14,- 
000,000  and  the  real  estate  valuation  was  a  trifle 
more  than  $83,000,000.  The  new  county  of  Nas- 
sau entered  upon  its  existence  with  about  twenty- 
three  per  centum  of  the  population  of  the  old 
county  of  which  it  was  formerly  a  part,  and  with 
a  trifle  larger  percentage  of  the  assessed  realty 
valuation.  Perhaps  the  greatest  inconvenience 
to  the  people  of  Nassau  county  is  the  necessity, 
in  case  of  real  estate  title  litig^ation,  of  searching 
records  in  Queens  as  well  as  in  their  own  county. 

While  the  county  as  a  political  division,  as 
has  been  remarked,  has  practically  no  history, 
its  townships  are  among  the  richest  in  that  re- 
spect on  Long  Island,  and  to  them  we  will  pres- 
ently return.  They  are  the  towns  of  Oyster  Bay, 
North  Hempstead  and  the  greater  part  of  Hemp- 
stead. Mineola,  the  county  seat  is  in  North 
Hempstead  township,  and  has  a  population  of 
some  Qoo.     There  are  the    following    villages: 


Oyster  Bay,  with  a  population  of  2,000 ;  Hemp- 
stead, 5,000;  Freeport,  2,500;  Glen  Cove,  4,000; 
Rockville  Centre,  2,000;  Hicksville,  1,500; 
Farmfngdale,  1,100;  Manhasset,  800;  Sea  Clifif, 
1,300;  E-Oslyn,  1,300;  Port  Washington,  1,250; 
Lynbrook,  1,000;  and  Garden  City,  800.  All  are 
delightful  for  resi-dential  purposes,  and  those  on 
the  bay  waters  of  the  Atlantic  or  on  Long  Island 
Sound  combine  all  the  natural  advantages  of 
sea-shore  life  with  those  of  retiring  quiet  home 
life.  There  are  in  the  villages,  besides,  all  the 
elevating  and  refining  agencies  belonging  to  our 
civilization.  Garden  City,  with  its  Episcopal 
cathedral  and  schools,  and  splendid  array  of 
homes,  churches,  etc.,  promises  in  time  to  develop 
into  one  of  tlie  most  important  towns  on  Long 
Island  'for  educational  purposes. 

In  Nassau  coujity  there  were,  at  the  time  of 
its  organization,  ninety-one  houses  of  worship, 
including  the  magnificent  cathedral  at  Garden 
City.  At  Garden  City  are  two  libraries — ca- 
thedral and  school — with  five  thousand  volumes 
each.  There  are  also  two  libraries  at  Hemp- 
stead, aggregating  8,000  volumes,  one  each  at 
Massapequa,  Oyster  Bay,  Rockville  Centre, 
Roislyn  and  Sea  Cliff,  and  in  many  of  the  public 
schools. 

The  public  schools  arc  fifty-nine  in  number, 
and  several  of  the  buildings  represent  a  value  of 
from  $25,000  to  $60,000  each.  The  following 
table  gives  the  statistics  for  the  year  1900: 


.  NASSAU    COUNTY— SOLE    DISTRICT 


TOWNS 

IN 

DISTRICT 

Teach- 
ers Em- 
ployed 
for  Legal 
Term 

Whole 
Number  of 
Children 
Attending 

School 

Average  Days' 
Attendance 

During 
School  Year 

Assessed 
Valuation 

of 
Districts 

Amount  of 

Public  Money 

Received 

from  State 

Amount  of 

Money 
Raised  by 
Local  Tax 

Value  of 
School 
Houses 

and  Sites 

Volumes 

in 

School 

Libraries 

131 

44 
73 

5,27(i 
1,921 

2,991 

(595,914 

245,030 
410,309 

$  7,781,202 
5,091,156 
9,726,130 

$12,904.55 
4,621.92 
8,482.04 

$  85,512.77 
35,176.76 
46,265.58 

$282,605 
117,400 
141,075 

North  Hempstead 

Oyster  Bay 

Totals 

248 

10,188 

1,351,253 

$22,598,494 

$26,008.51 

$167,255.11 

$541,080 

17,274 

76 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


That  the  people  of  Xas^^au  county  are  awake 
to  their  splendid  natural  conditions,  and  that  they 
are  determined  to  add  to  the  attractiveness  of 
their  regfion  l^v  all  possible  means,  is  attested  by 
the  fact  that  when  the  new  county  entered  upon 
its  separate  existence,  it  wa&  estimated  that  there 
were  within  its  borders  more  than  three  hundred 
miles  of  neXv  macadamized  roads  of  the  'best 
possible  material  and  construction.  The  re- 
sourceis  of  the  county  may  be  ascertained  from 
an  inspection  of  the  following  valuation  and  tax 
lists  for  1899 — the  year  the  county  was  fully  or- 
ganized— and  the  figures  show  a  material  in- 
crease since  that  time: 


Nassau  county  is  pre-eminently  an  agricul- 
tural region,  and  the  fairs  of  the  Agricultural 
Society  of  Queens-Nassau  Counties,  held  in  Min- 
eola,  now  the  county  seat  of  Nassau  county,  have 
been  for  mlany  years  the  most  important  event  in 
the  history  of  the  two  districts  named. 

The  foundation  of  the  Society  lies  far  back 
in  the  history  of  Long  Island.  In  1693  a  fair  was 
established  at  Jamaica  after  the  English  method, 
under  authority  of  an  act  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  the  Colony  of  New  York,  "to  remedy 
the  inconvenience  of  a  want  of  certain  market 
days,  and  that  trade  may  be  better  encouraged. 
This  so-called  fair  was  to  be  held  every  Thurs- 


TOWNS 

Assessed. 

Value 

Real  Estate 

Assessed 

Value 
Personal 
Property 

Town 
Taxes 

County 
Taxes 

State 
Taxes 

State  Tax 

for 
Schools 

North  Hempstead 

Hempstead 

Oyster  Bay 

$  4,405,785 
6,845,502 
8.499,015 

$    429.100 
394,660 
756,920 

$  42,590.90 
97,950.44 
45,170.93 

$  9,637.89 
13,970.98 
17.687.23 

$10,700.7(i 
15,511.76 
19,6;-J7.05 

$  4,500.56 

13,316.03 

8,510.07 

Totals 

$19,S10,B62 

$1,580,680 

$185,718.27 

$41,296.10 

$45,849.57 

$20,327.26 

Population,  census  of  ] 

900,   55,44S. 

There  are  in  the  county  two  useful  charitable 
institutions.  The  Nassau  iHospital  Association, 
located  at  West  Hemp'Stead,  owns  real  estate 
valued  at  $3,000.  In  a  recent  year  its  receipts 
were  $7,058,  and  it  expended  $6,284,  and  ren- 
dered assistance  to  213  persons.  The  Temporary 
Home  for  Children,  at  .Mineola,  established  in 
1884,  with  the  purpose  of  caring  for  children 
between  the  ages  of  four  and  fourteen,  owns 
property  valued  at  $20,000. 

A  peculiar  institution,  of  Nassau  county — and 
the  !same  is  to  be  said  of  Suffolk — is  a  splendid 
fire  company  organization  which  exists  in  nearly 
every  town  of  any  'size  and  makin'g  pretensions 
to  keeping  pace  with  the"  times.  These  com- 
panies, in  the  older  villages,  are  of  considerable 
antiquity,  and  the  wealthiest  men  are  pleased  to 
be  of  their  active  membership.  Their  annual 
meetings  are  marked  with  a  grand  parade,  and 
the  event  is  notable  as  a  society  function. 


day,  from  eight  o'clock  until  sunset,  for  sale  or 
barter  of  cattle,  grain,  victuals,  provisions  ar.d  all 
other  necessities,  and  no  toll  was  exacted.  At 
Jamaica  was  also  established  a  semi-annual  fair  of 
four  days  in  ]\Iay  and  a  like  period  in  October, 
which  was  presided  over  by  a  governor  or  ruler 
of  the  fair.  This  was  for  the  sale  of  horses  and 
cattle-,  and  a  toll  ^gatherer  made  a  record  of  each 
transaction,  entering  in  a  book  the  distinguish- 
ing marks  of  each  animal  sold,  with  the  names  of 
seller  and  buyer,  and  for  this  was  paid  nine  pence 
tollage  in  each  case.  In  1728  a  great  quantity  of 
various  descriptions  oi  merchandise,  as  well  ais 
many  fine  horses,  were  exposed  lor  sale.  It  is  of 
interest  to  note  that  on  this  occalsion  we  have  the 
dawn  of  the  "show"  busiiVess,  a  lion  being  exhib- 
ited to  add  to  the  attractions  of  the  fair.  It  is 
presumable  that  at  this  time  many  urchins  who 
not  long  afterward  attained  distinction  in  mili- 
tary and  civil  life  were  delighted  witnesses  to  the 


NASSAU  COUNTY. 


77 


performances  of  "Punch  and  Judy/'  given  by 
itinerant  performers.  In  1774  John  Rapelye  was 
governor  and  superintendent  of  the  fair,  and 
Robert  Brooks  was  clerk  of  'two  fairs  for  Queens 
county — one  at  Jamaica,  in  May,  and  another  at 
the  sam-e  place  in  Octol)er. 

But  the  fair  as  we  know  it  in  substance  to- 


lips,  Recording  Secretary ;  and  Daniel  Kissam, 
Treasurer.  The  purpose  of  the  .society  was  to 
improve  methods  of  farming  and  stock  raising, 
and  for  mutual  improvement  in  rural  economy. 
In  November  following  the  first  exhibition  was 
held  in  and  about  the  court  house.  The  exhibits 
were    entirely    of    local    production.      Premiums 


LONG  ISLAND   LIVE  STOCK. 

(By  Permission  of  Long  Island  Railroad  Company.) 


day  had  its  beginning  with  the  formation  of  an 
agricultural  associajtion  at  the  old  court  house 
near  Mineola,  November  11,  1817,  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  a  permanent  organization  was 
effected  until  June  21,  1819,  when  officers  were 
elected  as  follows  :  Rufu's  King,  President ;  Ef- 
fingham Lawrence,  Singleton  Mitchell  and  Will- 
iam Jones,  Vice  Presidents;  the  Rev.  David  S. 
Bogart,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  Thomas  Phil- 


amounting  to  $200  were  distributed,  and  among 
the  awards  were  to  Towni=end  Cock,  for  his  cele- 
brated horse  ''Duroc,'  to  Rufus  King  for  the  best 
milch  cow,  and  to  Joseph  (  hiderdcnk  for  ruta- 
bagas. 

In  1 82 1  the  premium  list  was  increased  to 
$369,  and  some  of  the  awards  are  interesting  as 
indicating  what  'the  industries  of  the  little  agri- 
cultural community  were.  Henry  Covert  received 


78 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


$io  for  a  garden  plow  and  a  machine  for  plant- 
ing 'beans  and  sowing  turnip  seed.  Garrett 
Laton  received  a  similar  amount  for  the  largest 
quantity  of  cloth  made  in  one  family,  his  exhibit 
being  202  yards  of  woolen  and  363  yards  of  linen 
cloth. 

In  1822  the  programm-e  was  varied  with  some 
displays  of  oratory — ^by  General  Rufus  King  and 
Judge  Effingham  Lawrence.  The  premiums 
amounted  to  $263.50.  Samples  of  cotton  were 
exhibited  by  Colonel  Leverich,  of  Newton,  by 
Tunis  D.  Covert,  of  South  Jamaica,  and  by  Dan- 
iel Coles,  of  Oyster  Bay,  the  latter  named  having 
raised  sufficient  cotton  to  make  twenty  yards  of 
muslin.  Public  interest  had  flagged,  however, 
and  the  society  went  out  of  existence. 

The  recent  Queens  County  Agricultural  So- 
ciety had  its  founding  in  a  meeting  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  New  York  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  held  in  New  York  City,  July  21, 
1 841.  At  this  time  was  mooted  the  formation  of 
a  society  in  Queenls  county,  and  the  following 
named  were  appointed  a  comlmittee  to  carry  the 
purpose  into  effect :  Grant  Thorburn  and  Gar- 
ret Cowenhoven,  Newtown;  John  W.  Lawrence 
and  Effingham  Lawrence,  Flushing;  Singleton 
Mitchell  and  Robert  W.  >Mott,  North  Hemp- 
stead; John  Wells  and  Albert  G.  Carll,  Oyster 
Ba-y;  John  Bedell  and  Edward  H.  Seaman, 
Hempstead;  and  IWilliam  R.  Grace  and  John 
Johnson,  Jamaica.  October  9  of  the  same  year 
the  Isociety  was  fully  organized  with  the  follow- 
ing named  officers :  Effingham  Lawrence,  Presi- 
dent; George  Nostrand,  William  H.  Carter, 
Thomas  B.  Jackson,  Piatt  Willets,  Singleton 
Mitchell  and  George  D.  Coles,  Vice  Presidents ; 
Albert  G.  Carll,  Corresponding  Secretary;  John 
G.  Lambert,  Recording  Secretary;  and  Daniel 
K.  K.  Youngs,  Treasurer.  A  circular  was  issued 
appealing  to  the  people  of  the  county  to  "unite 
with  the  society  and  give  it  your  encouragement, 
and  not  let  it  be  said  that  the  farmers  of  Queens 
county  have  not  sufficient  spirit  to  keep  an  agri- 
cultural society  in  existence." 

The  ffrlst  faic  was  held  in  Hempstead,  Oc- 
tober 13,  1842.  On  the  day  appointed  the  entire 
populace  and  a  host  from  a  distance  participated 


in  the  event.  A  grand  procession  of  the  clergy, 
officers  and  members  of  the  society  and  citizens 
generally,  headed  by  the  Hempstead  Brass  Band, 
marched  from  Anderson's  Hotel  to  the  Metho- 
dist Church,  where  Vice-Chancellor  McCoun  de- 
livered an  address,  and  an  ode  composed  by  Will- 
iam Cullen  Bryant  was  sung.  The  receipts  (in- 
cluding $91  contributed  by  the  State)  amounted 
to  $338,  and  the  premiums  awarded  amounted  to 
$250.  At  the  second  fair,  in  1843,  more  than  six 
thousand  people  were  present — a  vast  concourse 
in  that  day.  Lieutenant-Governor  Daniel  S. 
Dickinson  delivered  an  address,  and  one  of  Bry- 
ant's odes  was  sung.  The  third  fair  was  held  in 
Jamaica,  October  10,  1844,  and  was  notable  for 
a  larger  display  of  fruits,  vegetables  and  articles 
of  domestic  manufacture.  Gabriel  Furman  was 
the  speaker  of  the  occasion.  At  the  fourth  fair,  at 
Hempstead,  October  9,  1845,  ^^^  weather  pre- 
vented a  large  attendance.  Some  relics  were 
here  placed  upon  exhibition — an  inkstand  which 
had  been  used  by  William  Penn,  and  specimens 
of  continental  currency. 

Some  interesting  innovations  were  intro-^ 
duced  at  the  fifth  fair,  which  was  held  in  Flush- 
ing, October  9,  1846.  The  United  States  Military 
Band  from'  Governor's  Island  was  present,  con- 
veyed through  the  village  in  a  tastily  decorated 
wagon,  drawn  by  thirty-six  yoke  of  oxen.  An  ad- 
dress was  delivered  by  Dr.  Gardiner.  At  the  close 
of  this  fair,  exhibitors  were  permitted  to  sell 
their  animals  and  wares  on  the  ground.  Literest 
waned  after  this,  and  in  1849  the  receipts  were 
so  .small  that  subscriptions  were  called  for  to  pay 
a  premium  deficit.  In  1850,  at  Hempstead,  a  tent 
fifty  feet  in  diameter  sufficed  to  contain  all  the 
exhibits.  After  thi!s',  fairs  were  held  in  turn  at 
Hempstead,   Flushing  and  Jamaica. 

To  the  writer  it  is  miost  interesting  to  trace 
the  record  of  these  fairs,  and  he  trusts  that  the 
reader  shares  in  Ihi's  interest.  There  is  not  in 
America  an  agricultural  association  which  pro- 
trays  more  vividly  the  gradual  development  of 
industries  than  does  that  oi  which  we  write,  and 
it  is  to  :be  said  that  the  influence  was  far-reach- 
ing. In  the  then  west— Ohio,  and  beyond, 
throughout  Indiana  and  Illinois,  and  to  a  slight 


NASSAU  COUNTY. 


79 


extent  in  that  part  of  Missouri  bordering  the 
Mississippi  River — the  fairs  which  were  held 
within  the  'decade  heginning  in  1850  were  pat- 
terned in  large  degree  after  that  of  Queens  coun- 
ty, and,  in  many  instances,  Long  Islanders  who 
had  taken  the  advice  of  Horace  Greeley  to  "go 
west,  young  man,  and  grow  up  with  the  country" 
were  concerned  in  their  management,  and  aip- 
plied  the  methods  they  had  learned  at  home, 
And  hence  no  farther  excuse  is  made  for  continu- 
ing the  narrative  in  order  to  discover  the  salient 
points  in  the  development  of  the  country  fair 
idea. 

The  fair  of  1852  was  held  in  Flushing.  This 
was-  a  notable  success,  and,  as  the  writer  has 
cause  to  know,  proved  a  great  stimulus  to  those 
held  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  the  two  following 
years.  There  was  prelsent  a  delegation  from  the 
American  Institute,  and  'these  gentlemen  and 
other  invited  guests  rode  from  the  steamboat 
wharf  to  the  fair  grounds  in  a  decorated  wagon 
drawn  by  fifty-six  yoke  of  oxen,  with  a  brass 
band,  and  a  military  escort — Bragg's  Horse 
Guards  and  the  Hamilton  Rifles.  The  State  fair 
was  outdistanced  in  the  horse  display,  which  in- 
cluded 'some  splendid  descendants  of  the  most 
famous  animals  of  America,  ''Eclipse/'  ''Mes- 
senger,''" ''Engineer,"  "Mambrino"  and  "Ab~ 
dallah."  The  premiums  amounted  in  value  to 
about  $800,  and  comprised  seven  silver  medals, 
numerous  articles  of  Isilver,  book,  and  cash  pre- 
miums, and  three  hundred  diplomas  were  issued. 
The  display  of  flowers  and  fruits  was  very  beau- 
tiful. An  interesting  feature  of  this  fair  was  a 
plowing  match. 

In  1853  woman's  handiwork  received  recog- 
nition. Premiums  were  offered  for  the  best  loaf 
of  bread  made  by  a  woman  under  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  and  for  home-made  cheese,  pre- 
serves and  needle  work. 

In  1857  'the  Society  had  so  largely  increased 
its  membership  and  added  to  its  treasury  that  in- 
corporation was  decided  upon,  and  the  scope  of 
the  organization  was  broadened,  as  the  charter 
phrased  it,  "to  encourage  and  improve  agricul- 
ture, horticulture  and  the  mechanic  arts."  The 
incorporators   were   John  Harold,   John   Bedell, 


Joseph  Tompkins,  William  T.  McCoun,  Samuel 
T.  Jackson',  Benjamin  W.  Doughty,  Jeremiah 
Valentine,  Uriah  Mitchell,  Samuel  L.  Hev^lett 
and  James  P.  Smith.  To  the  first  named  was 
presented  a  silver  service  in  recognition  of  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  the  Society. 

The  fair  of  1858  was  held  in  Flushing,  a  local 
committee  of  citizens  defraying  all  expenses.  A 
ten-acre  lot  enclosed  in  a  high  board  fence  con- 
tained a  quarter-mile  track  for  the  display  of 
horses,  one  individual,  Simon  R.  Browne,  bring- 
ing twenty  fine  animals.  E.  A.  Lawrence  exhib- 
ited a  2500-pound  ox.  Seven  thousand  people 
assembled  upon  this  occasion,  including  a  con- 
siderable delegation-  from  those  regions  of  the 
metropolis  which  graduate  fakirs  and  pickpock- 
ets, and  these  classes  reaped  a  rich  harvest.  The 
receipts  were  over  $1400. 

In  1859,  at  Hempstead,  three  premiums  were 
offered  for  trotting  horsels  and  seven  premiums 
for  carriages,  wagons  ,and  harness.  About  one 
hundred  cattle  were  exhibited,  and  nearly  as 
many  horses.  The  fruit  interests  were  exempli- 
fied by  Isaac  Hicks  and  Jacob  Williams,  who  put 
on  exhibition,  respectively,  eighty-seven  and 
eighty  varieties  of  apples  and  pears. 

Substantial  advancement  was  seen  in  i860,  at 
the  fair  held  in  Jamaica,  which  was  attended  by 
'eight  thousand  people.  The  various  classes  of 
stock,  implements,  fruits  and  vegetables  and 
products  of  woman's  skill  were  well  filled.  The 
educational  feature  made  its  appearance  at  this 
time,  cash  awards  being  made  for  essays  upon 
the  agricultural  history  of  Queens  county,  upon 
horses,  and  upon  the  potato  and  its  diseases.  In 
1861  the  fair  officers  were  designated  by  .suitable 
badges.  In  1862  the  fair  was  held  on  the  Fash- 
ion Course  at  Newton,  and  largely  increased  pre- 
miums were  offered  for  horses.  The  Flushing 
Railroad  Com/pany  gave  $100  for  the  best  trotter 
in  harness,  driven  by  the  owner,  $20  for  the  best 
saddle  horse,  and  $250  for  the  best  trained  pair 
of  road  horses.  Liberal  premiums  were  also 
offered  for  all  classes  of  thoroughbred  cattle.  At 
this  fair  premiums  were  also  offered  for  speci- 
mens of  penmanship  by  public  school  pupils. 

In  1866  the  Society  saw  its  way  clear  to  make 


80 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


for  itself  a  permanent  home.  April  3  of  that 
year,  at  the  annual  town  meeting  in  Hempstead, 
it  w^s  voted  to  grant  to  the  Society  a  forty-acre 
tract  of  land  near  the  village  of  Alineola,  to  be 
used  'by  the  Society,  and  to  revert  to  the  town 
should.it  be  diverted  from  its  legitimate  pur- 
poses— the  promotion  of  agricultural  and  me- 
chanical interests.  This  proffer  was  accepted, 
and  it  was  given  legislative  sanction  on  April  23, 
1867,  and  since  that  time  the  grounds  so  desig- 
nated have  been  the  permanent  abiding  place  of 
the  Society. 

June  18,  of  the  same  year  in  which  it  ac- 
quired the^  property  designated,  the  board  of 
managers  met  to  consider  plans  for  necessary 
buildings.  Work  was  begun  July  26,  and,  by  the 
aid  of  volunteer  'workmen,  the  grounds  were 
available  for  the  fair  on  September  27-8  follow- 
ing. The  cost  of  construction,  making  no  al- 
lowance for  volunteer  labor  and  donations,  was 
$8,115.32  for  the  agricultural  hall,  and  $9,809.47 
for  stables,  stalls,  etc.  The  receipts  of  the  first 
ten  years  of  the  existence  of  the  Society  were 
$4,101.59,  and  for  the  next  ten  years  they  were 
$19,096.11.  The  receipts  for  the  first  four  years 
of  permanent  location  at  Alineola  .were  about 
$40,000.  'Receipts  steadily  increased  from  year 
to  year,  and  in  1900  had  reached  such  a  sum  that 
$12,831  were  expended  in  premiums  alone,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  expense  of  maintaining  the  prop- 
erty. 

The  gradual  development  of  the  fair  since  its 
establishment  at  Mineola  can  only  be  shown  by 
tracing  the  innovations  from  time  to  tmie.  The 
first  agricultural  exhibition  was  held  in  1867, 
when  was  also  held  a  ladies'  festival  which  netted 
$846.75.  In  1869  a  splendid  horticultural  and 
floral  shoiw  wa's  given,  when  one  individual  (T. 
W  Kennard,  of  Glen  Cove),  put  one  hundred 
and  twenty  varieties  of  roses  on  exhibition.  At 
the  horticultural  show  on  June  14,  1871,  Allen  & 
Co.  laid  out  a  beautiful  miniature  garden.  In 
1874  over  $8,000  was  expended  in  erecting  a 
grand  stand,  and  increasing  the  stabling  capacity. 
At  the  fair  that  year  was  a  bench  show  of  dogs, 
with  one  hundred  and  twenty  entries.     In  1876 


the  centennial  celebration  of  the  founding  of  the 
nation  called  out  an  enthusiastic  interest,  and  the 
crowning  feature  of  the  fair  was  the  exhibition 
of  relics  of  the  colonial  and  revolutionary  pe- 
riods— implements  of  war  and  peace,  ancient  ar- 
ticles of  dress,  historic  documents,  etc. 

The  year  of  1880  was  one  of  disaster.  The 
usual  cattle  display  was  wanting  because  of  the 
alarm  occasioned  by  the  epidemic  of  pleuro-pneu- 
monia  among  domestic  animals.  In  the  fall, 
ninety-two  horse  sheds  were  destroyed  ]:)y  fire, 
and  the  insurance  did  not  more  than  half  repay 
the  loss. 

In  1899  the  Association  disbursed  something 
more  than  $32,000,  of  which  amount  $13,077.98 
was  for  premiums.  In  1900  the  premiums  paid 
amounted  to  $12,831.25,  and  in  1901  to  $12,- 
666.50, 

The  Association  was  known  as  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society  until  1899,  when 
the  creation  of  the  new  county  of  Nassau  made 
a  change  of  title  advisable,  and,  at  the  annual 
meeting,  the  title  "The  Agricultural  Society  of 
Queens-Na^ssau   Counties"  was  adopted. 

Before  this  action  was  definitely  agreed  upon, 
Hon.  Harrison  S.  Aloore  had  been  consulted  rela- 
tive to  any  complications  likely  to  arise  by  reason 
of  the  location  of  the  grounds  in  Nassau  County, 
while  the  Society  was  reorganized  as  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society.  Legislative  action 
was  deemed  necessary,  and  other  steps  were 
taken  to  insure  the  receipts  from  State  appro- 
priations and  from  other  sources.  While  the 
title  has  been  changed,  the  word  "Queens"  is 
retained,  so  that  the  original  name  may  not  be 
entirely  lost  sight  of.  The  Association  has  an 
effective  ally  in  the  Ladies'  Festival  Association, 
which  provided  means  for  remodeling  and  im- 
proving the  interior  of  the  house  devoted  to  the 
art    exhibitions. 

In  J902,  June  18-19,  'the  Association  held  its 
thirty-sixth  summer  exhiblition.  The  exhibits 
included  all  classes  of  road  horses,  horticultural 
and  iioricultural  products  and  farming  imple- 
ments. In  the  same  year^  September  23-27.  was 
held  the  sixty-first  annual  exhibition,  including 


NASSAU  COUNTY. 


81 


local  products  of  farm,  field  and  orchard,  to- 
gether with  domestic  products  and  a  fine  art 
display. 

Subjoined  are  the  names  of  the  presidents  of 
the  Association  from  the  date  of  organization. 

Effingham   Lawrence 1841 

Singleton  -Mitchell 1845 

WiUiam   T.   McCoun 1847 

John  A.  Ring 1848 

William  T.   McCoun 1856 

David  iR.  Floyd-Jones 1858 

Edward  A,  Lawrence i860 

Daniel  K.  Youngs 1861 

John  C.  Jackson 1863 

Samuel  T.  Taber 1866 

Peter  C.  Bamum^ 1868 

Samuel  T.   Taber 1869 

Charles  H.  Jones 1870 


Robert    Willets 1873 

John    C.    Jackson 1874 

Horatio  S.  Parke 1876 

Thomas  Messenger '^'^77 

George  T.  Hewlett 1878 

Townsend   D.  Cock 1879 

Frederick  N.  Lawrence 1882 

George    S.    Downing 1883 

Samuel  S.  Aymar 1885 

Charles    Post 1888 

Edward    Cooper 1890 

G.   Howland   Leavitt 1893 

Thomas   Mott 1895 

J.  William  Ahles 1897 

George  P.  Titus 1899 

For  nine  years  past,  Lott  Van  de  Water  has 

been  secretary,  and  Thomas  H.  Bacon  hais  been 
treasurer. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


HEMPSTEAD. 


I  HE  town  of  Hempstead,  as  a  political  di- 
vision, originally  'extended  from  Long 
Island  Sound  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
with  the  town  of  Ovster  Bay  as  its 
eastern  boundar\',  and  the  towns  of  'Flushing 
and  Jamaica  as  its  western  boundaries.  In  1784, 
by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  the  territory  now 
known  as  North  Hempstead  was  taken  from  it, 
reducing  it  to  its  present  proportion's.  It  was  the 
largest  town  in  Queens  county  when  it  was  1>odily 
detached  therefrom  to  form  a  portion  of  the  new 
county  of  Nassau,  one  hundred  square  miles,  or 
sixty-four  thousand  acres.  Its  ocean  frontage  is 
a'bout  twenty  miles. 

There  are  many  evidences  of  the  Indian  oc- 
cupation, and  the  instances  adduced,  aside  from 
the  history  of  the  aborigines  in  their  relations 
with  the  whites,  are  of  considerable  interest. 

In  1862  two  copper  axes,  with  four  of  jasper, 
were  found  at  Rockville  Centre,  three  feet  below 
the   surface.     They   were   surrounded  by   spear 


heads  of  flint,  set  upright  in  a  circle.  The  cop- 
per axes  were  evidently  of  native  copper,  and 
wrought  into  form  by  hammering.  One  of  these, 
in  posseis'sion  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  So- 
ciety, is  'seven  inches  long  by  four  and  oiTe-half 
broad.  These  relics  are  rude  in  pattern  and  the 
deep  corrosion  of  their  surface  indicates  that 
they  are  of  considerable  antiquity.  These  axes 
were  prefsumably  from  the  copper-bearing  re- 
gions of  the  upper  lal<:es,  and  upon  this  hy- 
pothesis it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that  the 
Long  Island  Indians  were  in  intercourse  with 
those  of  the  copper  region. 

There  is  nothing  to  lead  us  to  believe  that . 
the  Indians  of  Long  Island  knew  anything  of 
the  'working  of  copper.  They  were  workers' of 
stone,  but  not  of  metals.  Stone  axes,  clubs  and 
spear  and  arrow  'heads  were  found  at  an  early 
date  throughout  the  island.  All  these  are  of  the 
same  material  as  composes  the  rocks  of  Long 
Island,  and  include  flint,  quartz,  jasper,  compact 


HEMPSTEAD. 


83 


sandstone  and  slaty  rock  pestles,  mortars,  whet- 
stones .and  pottery,  but  not  as  frequently  as  one 
would  expect  from  the  density  of  the  Indian 
population.  A  large  whetstone  or  milling  ston'e 
of  silicious  slaty  rock  was  foiund  at  Rockaway^ 
and  a  well-formed  skull  was  taken  from  an  In- 
dian grave  in  Rockaway.  It  was  found  enclosed 
in  a  round  urn^shaped  vesisel,  the  skeleton  being 
upright  and  the  vessel  turned  over  the  'head; 
on  the  outside  it  is  rudely  worked  or  carved. 
The  entire  skull  and  about  half  of  the  urn  were 
preserved. 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  the  old  town  of 
Hemipstead  has  long  been  held  in  doubt.  Thomp- 
son derived  it  from  the  English  town  of  the 
same  name,  and  this  is  presumably  correct,  when 
we  rememiber  that  the  early  settlers  were  Eng- 
lishm-en.  But  the  name  has  also  appeared  in 
an  antiquated  Dutch  form,  that  of  Heemstede, 
which  lin  form  and  meaning  is  akin  to  the  Eng- 
lish Homestead.  In  the  early  days  the  people 
of  the  northern  and  southern  divisionls.  were  prac- 
tically two  communities,  who  together  cut  grass 
upon  the  south  meadows  and  until  as  late  as 
1815.  After  the  division,  litigation  began  (in 
1797)  between  the  two  towns  with  relation  to 
grass  cutting  rights,  which  wafe  only  finally  set- 
tled in  December,  1S28,  with  such  victory  as 
there  was  to  Hempstead.  It  was  at  best  a  mis- 
erably petty  dispute,  and,  like  most  of  the  bound- 
ary dispute's  which  were  so  frequent  in  the  early 
history  of  the  various  Long  Island  towns,  seems 
to  us  to  have  been  silly  enough.  Empty  land 
was  all  about  them,  yet  they  wrangled  for  }'ears 
oyer  a  field  or  two,  as  if  there  were  not  room 
eniough  for  their  insignificant  population — the 
epithet  relating  to  their  numbeils,  of  course.  In 
1830  Hemipstead  disposed  of  all  its  public  lands 
by  auction,  a  consummation'  that  added  greatly 
to  the  internal  peace  of  the  settlements.  Down 
to  1784  the  history  of  the  two  towns — ^Hemp- 
stead  and  North  Hempsteaid — ranst  be  consid- 
ered as  one  topic  which  relates  to  both.  After 
the  division  this  story  follows  the  fortunes  of 
the  southern  division,  that  section  which  now 
bear!s  the  plain  title  of  Hempstead. 


While  much  is  doubtful  as  to  the  early  his- 
tory of  Hempstead,  two  things  seem  certain.  It 
was  a  theocratic  colony,  like  SouthoM,  and  it  was 
peopled  by  a  congregation,  or  part  of  a  congre- 
gation, from'  Stamfoird,  Connecticut,  most  of 
them  being  natives  of  England.  One  of  the  first 
things  they  set  up  was  a  building  for  public  wor- 
ship, as  already  told  in  this  work.  But  the 
town  had  a  civil  history  as  well.  Among  the 
early  settlers  who  came  after  arrangements  for 
their  reception  had  been  completed  by  Robert 
Fordham  and  John  Carman,  were  Richard  Gild- 
ersleeve,  Edward  Raynor,  Thurston  Raynor, 
William  Raynor,  the  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  Mat- 
thew Mitchell,  John  Underbill,  Robert  Coe,  An- 
drew Ward,  Jonas  Wood,  John  Ogden  and  Rob- 
ert Jackson.  Most  of  these  people,  if  not  all 
of  them,  were  possessed  of  more  or  less  means, 
and  several  had  been  p>rominent  in  public  life  in 
Connecticut,  such  as  Richard  Gildersleeve, 
Thurston  Ra3aior,  Robert  Coe  and  others.  The 
patent  was  obtained  from  Governor  Kieft  in 
1644,  which  may  be  accepted  as  the  legal  date 
of  the  foundation  of  the  township,  although  .an- 
tiquaries place  it  a  year  earlier,  when  Fordham 
and  Carman  had  bought  the  township  from  the 
Indian's.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  nature  of 
that  transaction,  it  was  confirmed  on  July  4, 
1647,  when  the  Indians  of  Hempstead,  repre- 
sented' by  the  sachems  Takapousha  and  Wantagh, 
with  seven  other  head  men  of  their  tribe  made  an 
•  agreement  as  follows  : 

July  the  4th,  1647.  Stilo  Novo. 
Know  all  men  by  these  Presents,  that  We, 
the  Indians  of  Marsapege,  j\Iericock,  and  Rock- 
away,  whose  Names  be  underwritten,  for  our- 
selves, and  all  the  rest  of  the  Indians  that  doe 
Claime  any  Right  or  Interest  in  the  Purchase 
that  hempsteed  bought  in  the  year  1643.  And 
within  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  AA^hole  tract 
of  Land,  Concluded  upon  with  the  governor  of 
Alanhatans  'als-  it  is  in  this  paper  Specified,  Doe, 
by  thse  p'rsents,  Ratifie  and  Confirme  to  them 
and  their  heires  forever,  freely,  firmly,  quiettly 
and  Peaceably,  for  them  and  their  heires  and 
successVs  for  Ever  to  enjoye  without  any  Mo- 
lestacon  or  trouble  from  us,  or  any  that  'shall  pre- 
tend Any  Clame  or  title  unto  itt. 


84 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


In  Witness  whereof  Wee,  whose  names  bee 
here  under  written,  have  hereunto  subscribed. 

The  'Marke  of  Takaposha. 
The  Sachem  of  Marsapeague. 
The  Marke  of  Wantagh. 
The  Montake  Saci-iem. 
The  AIarke  of  Chegone. 
The  'Marke  of  Romege. 
The  'Marke  of  Wangwang. 
The  Marke  of  Rumasackromen. 

The  Marke  of . 

The  Marke  of  Woronmcacking. 
In  the  presence  of  us, 

Richard  Gildersleeve. 
John  Seaman. 
John  Hicks. 

Vera     copia     concordans     cum     originahs 
scripsit,  per  me,  John  Ja^ies^  clerk. 

According  to  Charles  B.  Moore  ("Early  His- 
tory of  Hempstead")  the  following  named  were 
residents  of  the  town  in  the  year  in  which  this 
above  described  deed  was  executed : 

Robert  Ashman,  Thomas  Armitage,  Sam- 
uel Baccus.  John  Carman,  Samuel  Clark,  Ben- 
jamin and  John  Coe  and  their  father,  "Robert, 
Rev.  iRichard   Denton   and   his   sons,  kuel, 

R(ichard,  Nathaniel  and  Daniel  (the  historian), 
John  Ellison,  John  Foucks,  Rev.  Robert  Ford- 
ham  and  son  John,  Christopher  Foster,  Thom- 
as Foster,  Richard  Guildersleeve,  John  Hicks, 
John  Hudd,  Henry  Hudson,  Thomas  Ireland, 
Robert  Jackson,  John  Lawrence,  William  Law- 
rence, John  Lewis,  Richard  Lewis,  Roger 
Lines,  John  Ogden,  Richard  Ogden,  Henry 
Pierson,  Thomas  Pope,  Edward  Raynor,  Will- 
iam Raynor,  AVilliam  Rogers,  Joseph  Scott. 
William  Scott,  Simon  Sering,  John  Sewel], 
William  Shadden,  Thomas  Sherman,  Abraham 
Smith,  James  Smith,  John  Smith,  sen,  and  John 
Smith  jr.,  William  Smith,  Thomas  Stephenson, 
John  Storye,  John  Strickland,  Samuel  Strick- 
land, Nicholas  Tanner,  John  Topping,  William 
Thickstone,  Richard  Valentine,  AX'Illiam  Wash- 
burne,  Daniel  AAHiitehead,  Henry  Whitson, 
Thomas  Willett,  Robert  Williams,  William 
Williams,  Edmund  AA'ood,  Jeremiah  Wood,  Jo- 
nas Wood,  Francis  Yates. 

While  out  of  'the  chronological  order,  a  final 
disposition  of  the  land  buying  affair  of  1643  ^'^^Y 
be  here   made  by   stating  that  the   last   install- 


ment of  the  purchase  money  (or  whatever  else 
it  was)  was  paid  February  14,  1660,  when  the 
Lidian  chiefs  executed  to  the  Rev.  John  Ford- 
ham  and  John  Carmian,  who  represented  the  set- 
tlers, the  following  curiou'sly  written  release, 
which  presumably  covers  the  same  tracts  as  were 
described  in  Governor  Kieft's  grant  in  1644: 

We  the  Indians  under  written  do  hereby 
acknowledge  to  have  received  of  the  magis- 
trates and  inhabitants  of  Hemsteede  our  pay 
in  full  satisfaction  for  the  tract  of  land  sould 
unto  them  according  to  agreement  and  accord- 
ing to  patent  and  purchase.  The  general 
boundes  is  as  followeth :  beginning  at  a  place 
called  Mattagarrett's  Bay,  and  soe  running  up- 
on a  direct  line  north  and  south,  from  sea  to 
sea;  the  bounds  running  from  Hempsteede 
Harbour  due  east  to  a  pointe  of  treese  adjoin- 
ing to  the  lande  of  Robert  Williams,  where  we 
left  markt  treese ;  the  same  line  running  from 
sea  to  sea;  the  other  line  beginning  at  a  markt 
tree  standing  at  the  east  end  of  the  greate 
plaine  and  running  a  due  south  line,  at  the 
south  sea  by  a  markt  tree  in  a  neck  called 
Maskachoung.  And  wee  doe  further  engage 
to  uphold  this  our  present  act  and  all  our  form- 
er agreements  to  bee  just  and  lawful;  and  wee 
doe  binde  ourselves  to  save  and  defend  them 
harmless  from  any  manner  of  claime  or  pre- 
tense that  shall  be  made  to  disturb  theire  right. 
Whereunto  we  have  subscribed  this  eleventh 
day  of  May  Anno  1658,  stilo  novo. 

Waautauch, 
CheknoWj 
Sayasstock, 
Tackapousha, 

ALVRTOM, 

Pers-Roma. 
Subscribed    by    A\'acombound,    Afontauk  sa- 
chem after  the  death  of  his  father,  this  14th  day 
of  February  1660,  being  a  general  town  meet- 
ing at  Hemsteede. 

John  James,  clerk. 

To  return  to  the  proper  order  of  events,, 
it  is  to  be  remarked  that  ithe  white  set- 
tlers got  along  remarkably  well  with  the 
aborigines  upon  whom  they  had  intruded. 
Indeed,  -we  are  not  certain  but  they  behaved  a 
great  deal  better  than  some  Americans  have 
since  behaved,  as  witness  some  of  our  dealings 
with  foreigners  coming  to  our  shores,  with  tlie 


HEMPSTEAD. 


85 


Indians  of  the  far  west  during  the  century  just 
passed,  and  with  others  who'  might  be  named. 
It  is  fair  to  presume  that  in  larger  measure  such 
unpleasantness  as  occurred  had  its  origin  in 
misunderstandings,  such  as  were  inevitable  in 
that  early  contact  of  two  widely  differing  peo- 
ples, each  unknown  to  the  other.  At  any  rate, 
there  were  several  unpleasant  occurrences  in  the 
early  relations,  but  it  would  seem  to  a  less  ex- 
tent than  waJs  the  case  in  most  of  the  other, set- 
tleni'ents.  A  sort  of  treaty  of  peace  governing 
the  relations  of  the  two  races  was  made,  by  a 
conference  with  the  colonists  and  the  sachem.s  and 
head  men  of  the  Marsapeagues  and  other  tribes 
in  interest,  on  March  12,  1656,  at  Hempstead. 
It  was  then  and  there  agreed  that  all  injuries 
**foniierly  passed"  since  the  year  164-5,  "shall  be 
forgiven  and  forgotten ;"  a  house  or  fort  was  to 
be  built,  and  ''to  be  furnished  with  Indian  trade 
and  commodities;"  the  inhabitants  of  Hem- 
steede,  according  to  their  patent,  were  "to  enjoy 
their  purchase  without  molestation  from  ye 
sachem  or  his  people,  and  the  sachem  will  live 
in  peace  with  all  ye  English  and  Dutch  within 
this  jurisdiction,  and  the  governor  doth  promise 
for  himself  and  all  his  people  to  live  in  peace 
with  ye  sachem  and  all  his  people,"  and  it  was 
finally  provided  that  "in  case  an  Indian  do 
wrong  to  a  Christian  in  person  or  elstate,  and 
complaint  be  made  to  the  sachem,  he  shall  make 
full  satisfaction ;  likewise  if  a  Dutchman  or 
Englishman  shall  wrong  an  Indian  the  governor 
shall  make  satisfaction'  acording  to  equity." 

The  original  conjdition  on  which  the  first 
patent  was  granted  was  that  the  people  should 
pay  to  the  Council  at  New  Amsterdam  a  tax 
of  one-tenth  part  of  their  farm  produce  ten  years 
after  the  first  general  peace  with  the  Indians. 
It  would  seem  that  it  was  not  until  1658  that  the 
people  declared  their  readinesis  to  contribute  to 
Stuyvesant^si  treasury.  In  that  'year  they  in- 
formed the  Governor  that  they  had  'Voted  and 
put  upon  denomination  our  former  Magistrate, 
Mr.  Gildersleeve,  and  with  him  William  Shod- 
den,  Robert  Formian  and  Henry  Pearsall/'  all 
of  them  known  as  "men/  of  honest  life  and  of 


good  integrity,"  as  their  magistrates.  That  this 
choosing  of  officers  was  regarded  as  a  most 
solemn  act,  wholly  different  from  the  perfunc- 
tory methods  of  the  present  day,  can  not  be 
gainsaid  after  reading  the  humble  prayer  of  the 
petitioners : 

After  the  remembrance  of  our  submissive 
and  humble  respects,  it  hath  pleased  God,  aft- 
er a  sickly  and  sad  sommer,  to  give  us  a  sea- 
sonable and  comfortable  autumne,  wherewith 
wee  have  beene  (throw  mercy)  refreshed  our- 
selves and  have  gained  strength  of  God  soe 
that  wee  necessarily  have  ibeen  employed  in 
getting  wiinter  foode  for  our  cattell,  and  there- 
by have  something  prolonged  our  wonted 
tyme  of  chosing  magestrates,  for  ye  wch  wee 
hope  yor  honour  will  hold  us  excused;  and 
now,  according-e  to  our  accustomed  manner, 
wee  have  voted  and  put  upon  denomination 
our  former  magestrate,  Mr.  Gildersleeve,  and 
with  him  William  Shodden,  Robert  Forman 
and  Henry  Pearsall ;  all  of  whom  are  knowing 
men  of  honest  life  and  good  integrity ;  there- 
fore wee  desire  your  honour  to  appoint  two 
of  them,  and  always  according  to  cur  duty 
shall  pray  the  most  high  God  to  bless  and  pre- 
serve yor  honour  with  much  health  and  pros- 
perity, in  all  your  noble  designs,  wee  humbly 
take  our  lea\'e. 

Ever  honour  sr.,  your  Loyall,  true  and 
obedient  servants,  the  inhabitants  of  Hem- 
steede. 

John  James,  clerk. 

Stuyvesant,  invariably  gracious  to  the  Eng- 
lish settlements,  at  once  confirmed  the  selection. 
The  same  year  ^Magistrate  Gildersleeve  was 
authorized  to  go  to  New  Amsterdam  and  ar- 
range about  the  paymient  of  the  taxes,  provided 
the  Governor  was  reasonable  in  his  views  of 
the  matter,  als  he  seems  to  have  been. 

The  change  brought  about  by  the  downfall 
of  the  Dutch  Government  and  the  institution  of 
English  authority  seems  to  have  been  accepted 
with  equanimity  by  the  Hempstead  settlers.  Gov- 
ernor Nicolls  introduced  among  them  a  new 
"industry,"  that  of  horse-racing,  for  which  pur- 
pose the  great  Hempstead  "plain  was  iso  well 
adapted,  and  'his  lead  in  that  regard  was  still 
further  developed  by  his  successor,  Governor 
Lovelace,  and  Salisbury  Plain,  near  the  present 


86 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


pleasant  village  of  Hyde  Park,  became  celebrated 
on  both  sides  of  tbe  Atlantic  for  its  sporting 
events.  The  sport  still  oontinues  a  favorite 
one  in  Hempstead,  although  it  has  there  lost 
some  of  its  vulgar  and  debalsing  features,  and, 
as  at  Mineola,  where  is  an  exhibition  of  racing, 
pure  and  simple. 

The  Duke's  Laws  were  felt  in  Hempstead,  as 
elsewhere,  to  be  oppressive  and  unjust,  and  it 
cam  not  be  Isaid  that  when  the  Dutch  regime 
in  1673  was  once  more  established  in  New  Ams- 
terdam, the  Hempstead  people  mourned  over  the 
change.  As  soon  as  Governor  Colve  took  hold 
of  the  reins  of  power,  he  <sent  a  letter  of  in- 
structions in  which  he  really  granted  as  full 
a  mealsiire  of  local  self-government  as  was  con- 
ceivable in  those  days.  Some  of  his  instruc- 
tions (which  were  sent  to  the  other  Long  Isl- 
and towns,  and  to  which  they  equally  refer) 
were: 

3.  All  cases  relating  to  the  Police,  Securi- 
ty and  Peace  of  the  Inhabitants ;  also  to  Justice 
between  man  and  man,  shall  be  finally  deter- 
mined by  the  magistrates  of  each  of  the  afore- 
said Villages,  to  the  amount  of  sixty  florins, 
Beaver,  and  thereunder  without  appeal :  In 
case  the  sum  be  larger  the  aggrieved  party 
may  appeal  to  the  meeting  of  the  Sheriff  and 
Councillors  delegated  from  the  Villages  sub- 
ject to  his  jurisdiction,  for  which  purpose  one 
person  shall  be  annually  appointed  from  each 
Village  who  shall  assemble  in  the  most  con- 
venient place  to  be  selected  by  them,  and  who 
shall  have  power  to  pronounce  final  judgment 
to  the  amount  of  fl.  240  Beavers  and  there- 
under. But  in  all  cases  exceeding  that  surn 
each  one  shall  be  entitled  to  an  appeal  to  the 
Governour  General  and  Council  here. 

4.  In  case  of  inequality  of  votes,  the  mi- 
nority shall  submit  to  the  majority;  but  those 
who  are  of  a  contrary  opinion  may  have  it 
recorded  in  tbe  minutes  but  not  divulge  it 
without  the  meeting  on  pain  of  arbitrary  cor- 
rection. 

5.  Whenever  any  cases  occur  in  the  meet- 
ing in  which  any  of  the  ^Magistrates  are  in- 
terested, such  Magistrate  shall,  in  that  in- 
stance, rise  and  absent  himself,  as  is  herein- 
before stated. 

6.  All  the  Inhabitants  of  the  abovenamed 
Villages    shall    be    citable    before    said    Sheriff" 


and  Schepens  or  their  delegated  Councillors 
who  shall  hold  their  meetings  /and  courts  as 
often  as  they  shall  consider  requisite. 

7.  All  criminal  offences  shall  be  referred 
to  the  Governour  General  and  Council,  on 
condition  that  the  Sheriff  he  obliged  to  ap- 
prehend the  ofl'enders,  to  seize  and  detain  them 
&  to  convey  them  as  prisoners  under  proper 
safeguard  to  Chief  Magistrate  with  good  and 
correct  informations  for  or  against  the  of- 
fenders. 

8.  Smaller  offences,  such  as  quarrels,  abu- 
sive words,  threats,  fisticuffs  and  .such  like, 
are  left  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrates 
of  each  particular  Village. 

9.  The  Sheriff  and  .Schepens  shall  have 
power  to  conclude  on  some  ordinances  for  the 
welfare  and  peace  of  the  Inhabitants  of  their 
district,  such  as  laying  highways,  setting  off 
lands  anJ  gardens,  and  in  like  manner  what 
appertains  to  agriculture,  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  erecting  churches,  school  houses  or 
similar  public  works.  Item,  against  fighting 
&  wrestling  and  such  petty  offences — provided 
such  ordinances  are  not  contrary  but  as  far  as 
is  possible,  conformable  to  the  Laws  of  our 
Fatherland  and  the  Statutes  of  this  Province; 
and  therefore  all  orders  of  any  importance 
shall,  before  publication,  be  presented  to  the 
Chief  Magistrate  and  his  approval  thereof  re- 
quested. 

With  the  return  of  the  British  power  and 
the  advent  of  Governor  Andros  upon  the  scene, 
the  "Duke's  Laws"  were  again  enforced,  even 
more  rigidly  than  before.  Under  Governor  Don- 
gan,  the  great  charter  monger,  in  1685,  much 
against  the  will  of  the  majority  of  its  people, 
the  towo  was  compelled  to  take  out  a  new  char- 
ter. It  (seems  to  have  taken  three  years  of  ne- 
gotiations to  perfect  an  instrument  which  was 
thoroughly  satisfactory  to  Hempstead,  and  prob- 
ably the  gift  which  the  people  gave  to  Dongan 
of  a  plantation  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  acres  had 
something  to  do  with  directing  his  mind  in  the 
right  direction  on  many  mooted  points  of  boun- 
dary, and  in  the  annual  tax  of  the  township  be- 
ing placed  at  twenty  bushek  of  good  winter 
wheat  or  four  pounds  of  good  current  money — 
a  reasonable  enough  impo.st. 

From  that  time  until  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolutionary  struggle  there  is.  little  to  tell  of  the 


HEMPSTEAD. 


87 


civil  history  of  Hempstead.  In  1775,  wheii  the 
crisis  with  the  mother  country  became  acute, 
Hempstead  was  pronouncedly  against  any 
change  in  the  relatione  between  the  crown  and 
the  colonies,  and  a  public  meeting  held  on  April 
4th  pledged  renewed  allegiance  to  King  George 
HI  and  declined  to  send  deputies  to.  any  pro- 
vincial congress  or  assembl}^  It  seems,  how- 
ever, to  have  changed  its  views  so  far  as  to 
elect  ThomaiS'  Hicks  and  Richard  Thome  to  rep- 
resenit  it  iu  the  provincial  congress,  but  Hicks 
refused  to  attend,  saying  that  Hempstead  wanted 
to  remaini  peaceable  and  quiet.  Under  the  cir- 
cumstances we  can  understand  its  becoming  a 
favorite  hunting  ground  for  Tories  in  the  days 
immediately  preceding  the  landing  of  the  Brit- 
ish forces  in  1776.  Colonel  Heard  and  the  other 
Continental  raiders  captured  many  stacks  of 
arms  and  stores  O'f  ammunition  in  Hempstead 
and  sent  many  of  the  local  Tories  into  exile. 
That,  however,  did  not  win  the  inhabitants  over 
to  the  .  side  of  the  patriots,  although,  under 
orders  from  tlie  Wliig  leaders-,  it  contributed  sev- 
eral companies  to  the  Queens  county  militia  un^ 
der  Colonel  John  Sands. 

But  when  that  time  came,  when  the  British 
were  in  posses'sion  of  the  island  and  Hempstead 
was  overrun  with  redcoats,  the  people  found 
small  comfort  in  their  Toryism.  The  soldiers 
rode  roughshod  over  Whig  and  Tory  alike, 
helped  themselves  to  produce  and  provender 
without  stint,  paid  prices  of  their  own  choO'S- 
ing,  burned  up  fences  and  barns  for  firewood,  and 
robbed  orchards  and  farm  buildings  without 
fear.    But  this  story  is  told  in  another  place. 

The  local  hii=tory  of  the  village  of  Hemp- 
stead is  of  peculiar  interest,  and  particularly  in 
that  of  its  religious  bodies.  ''Christ's  First 
Church,"  which  is  held  to' have  been,  the  first 
Presbyterian  Church  organized  in  America,  has 
been  mentioned  in  the  chapter  on  religiouls  his- 
tory in  the  previous  volume. 

On  Sunday,  October  14,  1894,  Christ's  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Hempstead,  celebrated 
its  250th  anniversary.  The  historical  address 
was  delivered  by  the  Rev,  Frank  M^elville  Kerr, 


the  pastor.  From^  hi:&  discourse  the  following 
narrative  is  principally  derived. 

If  not  founded  by  th-e  Rev.  Richard  Denton, 
he  was  certainly  its  first  minister,  serving  from 
the  time  of  his  coming,  in  1644,  until  1659,  when 
he  returned  to  England,  where  he  died  three 
years  later,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

Mr.  Denton  was  a  Prelsbyterian  nuinister  of 
Coby  Chapel,  Parish  of  Halifax,  England,  "sl 
good  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  and  affluent  in  his 
worldly  circumstances.  In  his  time  came  out 
the  book  for  .sports  on.  the  Sabbath  days.  He 
saw  he  could  not  do  what  was  required,  feared 
further  persecution  and  therefore  took  the  op- 
portunity of  going  into  Xew  England.'' 

This  "Book  of  Sports"  was  the  cause  for 
a  considerable  exodus  from  England.  In  1618  a 
royal  proclamation  was  drawn  up  by  Bishop 
Morton  for  James  I,  which  was  called  "The 
Book  of  Sports."  The  object  of  this  proclama- 
tion walS"  to  encourage  the  people  who  had  at- 
tended divine  service  to  spend  the  remaining  part 
of  the  day  in  such  "lawful  sports"  as  dancing, 
archery,  leaping,  vaulting.  May  games,  Whit- 
sun  ales.  Morris  dances,  setting  of  May  polels, 
etc.  This  royal  document  was  aimed  at  the 
Puritans.  To  carry  his  plan  to  oompletioil  the 
king  ordered  this  "Book  of  Sports''  to  be  read  in 
every  church  in  the  kingdom.  Many  of  the 
dissenting  mini)sters  refused  to  do  this,  prefer- 
ring the  wrath  of  the  king  and  bishops  to  the 
violation  of  conscientious  scruples,  and  some, 
like  Denton,  left  the  kingdom. 

Mr.  Denton  labored  first  at  Watertown,  Mas- 
sachusettlS',  but  in  1635,  on  account  of  opposition 
to  his  Presbyteriandsm'  by  the  Congregationalists 
of  Massachusetts,  he  started  a  new  settlement 
in  Connecticut,  and  gave  it  the  name  Weathers- 
field.  In  1 641  he  became  the  owner  of  valuable 
real  estate  in  Staanford,  Connecticut,  then  in  the 
jurisdiction  of  New  Haven,  and,  after  his  re- 
moval to  Hempstead  in  1644,  he  sold  his  place  to 
the  Rev.  John  Bis'hop,  his  successor  in  work  at 
Stamford. 

The  first  church  building  was  completed  in 
1648.     It  stoo'd  at  the  northwestern  part  of  the 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


town,  near  Burley  Pond,  now  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Fulton  and  Franklin  streets.  The  build- 
ing was  twenfty-four  feet  square,  and  had  con- 
nected with  it  a  fort  or  stockade,  for  protection 
in  case  the  Indians  manifested  any  hostility.  The 
buiMing  was  also  used  for  town  meeting  and 
other  public  purposes,  and,  after  a  time,  it 
was  given  over  entirely  to  the  latter  uses.  In 
1770  it  was  sold  and  removed  to  North  Hemp- 
stead. 

''At  A  Jeneral  townd  meeting  held  in  Hemp- 
stead the  7th  day  of  Janeuary  in  the  yere  of  our 
Lord  1677  it  was  agreed  oni  by  the  major  vote 
that  they  should  bild  a  rmeeting  house."  This 
house,  as  afterward  agreed  upon  by  a  town 
meeting,  was  thirty  feet  long,  twenty-four  wide 
and  twelve  hig'h,  with  a  lean-to  on  each  side.  The 
building  was  completed  in  1679  ^^^  stood  a  few 
ro'ds  south  of  the  present  po-sition  of  the  Epis- 
copal church.  This  building,  whidh  was  en- 
larged in  1770,  was  roofed  with  cedar  shingles, 
had  clapiboard  sides,  and  the  interior  was  lined 
with  pine.  For  seats  there  were  benches.  A 
parsonage  was  built  in  1682,  and  was  used  for 
about  one  hundred  years. 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Denton,  the 
church  sent  Joseph  Meade  "on  a  voyage  from 
Stamford  to  Fairfield,  about  procuring  a  min- 
ister,'' and  allowed  himi  the  munificent  sum  of 
nine  shillings  for  expenses.  Mr.  Meade's  jour- 
ney and  outlay  were,  however,  in  vain.  In  1660 
the  church  secured  the  Rev.  Jonas  Fordham, 
who  remained  for  some  years,  and  met  with 
such  favor  im  the  eyes  of  his  parishioners  that 
the  town  voted  to  him  allotments  the  same  as 
made  to  other  inhabitants,  and,  in  addition,  gave 
him  a  three-hundred-acre  estate. 

Jeremiah  Hobart  became  pasto.r  in  1683,  and 
was  allowed,  so  long  as  he  served  as  pastor,  a 
house  and  three-acre  lot,  fifty  acres  of  woodland 
and  pasturage  privileges  for  his  cattle.  He 
was  also  to  be  paid  the  same  salary  as  was  paid 
to  his  predecessor,  £20^  but  tlie  amount  was  not 
easily  obtainable,  and  in  1696  he  appealed  to 
the  law  to  make  payment  a  certainty.  It  would 
appear,  reading  between  the  lineSi  that  non-pay- 
ment was,  in  the  case  of  some  of  the  subscribers, 


due  to  dissatisfaction;  Quakers,  and  probably 
others,  resenting  the  idea  of  contributing  to  the 
maintenance  of  a  religion  with  which  they  were 
not  in  sympathy.  In  1696  Mr.  Hobart  removed 
to  Jamaica,  where  he  preached  for  a  time,  then 
going  to  Haddam,  Connecticut,  where  he  min- 
istered for  seventeen  years.  He  must  have  been 
a  man  o-f  wonderful  vitality,  for  he  was  eighty- 
seven  years  of  age  when  he  died,  expiring  on  a 
Sunday  afternoon;  shortly  after  preaching  a 
powerful  discourse. 

It  would  appear  that  about  this  time  the 
church  property  came  into  possession  of  those 
who  favored  the  Church  of  England,  and  con- 
ducted worship  after  its  naanner.  The  Presby- 
terian congregation!  (as  it  is  regarded  to  have 
been)  lost  a  large  pairt.  of  its  membership,  but 
those  who  held  to  the  faith  assembled  for  worship 
in  various  houses  in  the  village  until  about  1722, 
when  they  built  another  church  edifice,  near  the 
site  oif  the  original  one.  In  1762  a  fourth  house 
of  worship  was  erected,  and  this,  as  nearly  as  can 
be  ascertained,  stood  upon  the  site  of  the  present 
edifice. 

In  1772  the  Rev.  Joshua  Hart  became  the 
settled  minister.  He  came  in  troublous  times, 
and  his  disquietude  was  increased  on  account  of 
his  unswerving  patriotism,  his  utterances  being 
frequently  against  those  of  the  people  who  were 
not  pronounced  against  British  arroganee.  It  is 
related  of  Air.  Hart  that,  while  holding  serv- 
ices some  little  distance  from  the  village,  short- 
ly after  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  a  British  captain  stationed  a  band  in  front 
of  the  building  in  order  to.  interrupt  the  min- 
ister. Mr.  Hart  asked  his  congregation  to  re- 
main seated  and  listen  to  the  music,  and,  after 
the  band  had  gone  away,  he  resumed  and  com- 
pleted his  discourse. 

'The  village  church  was  greatly  injured  dur- 
ing the  British  occupation,  being  used  by  the 
soldiers  as  a  statble.  After  peace  was  restored, 
it  was  repaired,  and,  when  it  came  to  be  re- 
opened, for  the  first  time  in  eight  years,  the 
people  were  so  afifected  that  they  set  to  work 
to  build  another  edifice.  This  was  totally  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  in  March,   1803.     A  new  build- 


Built,  1733.     Opened,  April  22,  1735,  by  Gov.  Cosby, 
Taken  Down,  1821.     New  Edifice  ErectjEd,  1822. 


HEMPSTEAD. 


89 


ing  was  erected,  which  was  used  until  1846,  when 
the  present  ho'Use  of  worship  was  built,  at  a 
cost  of  $7,000,  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
Sylvester  Woodbridge,  Jr.  The  old  church  was 
reconstructed  as  a  parsonage  at  an  expense  of 
something  more  than  $2,000.  The  present 
church  membership  is  about  300,  and  the  Sun- 
day-school has  a  like  membership.  A  chapel  was 
erected  in  1855.  In  1891  albout  $2,500  was  ex- 
pended in  an  extension  to  the  church  buildiijig, 
and  in  the  purchase  and  placing  of  a  fine  organ. 
In  answer  to  the  averment  by  some  that  tlie 
Hempstead  church  has  not  had  a  continuous  ex- 
istence, Mr.  Kerr  said,  in  his  historical  address 
on  the  anniversary  occasion  heretofore  referred 
to,  speaking  of  the  period  during-  which  the 
Ghurch  of  England  people  were  in  possession  : 

But  that  does  not  necessarily  mean  that  the 
church  lost  its  existence.  Tliey  were  poor, 
few  and  confronted  by  a  strong  and  eloquent 
Episcopal  ministry  ;  and  had  to  get  what  sup- 
plies they  could.  That  they  kept  together  at 
all  and  managed  to  perpetuate  the  name  and 
histories  of  the  church,  indeed,  is  a  miracle. 
At  the  present  time  we  do  not  say  that  a  church 
ceases  to  exist  because  there  is  no  pastor  or 
church  had  ever  been  reorganized,  but  on  the 
has  perished  in  the  flames;  but  the  congrega- 
tion has  not  ceased  to  exist,  and  will  not,  un- 
til they  agree  to  disband  and  go  as  they  indi- 
vidually desire.  Woodbridge,  in  a  letter  writ- 
ten from  San  Francisco,  September  g,  1876,  to 
Rev.  Franklin  'Noble,  then  pastor,  says  that 
he  could  not  learn  from  any  of  the  old  people 
of  his  day,  whose  memory  went  back  to  a  per- 
iod preceding-  the  Revolutionary  war,  that  this 
church  had  ever  been  reorganized,  but  on  the 
contrary  had  always  been  here. 

The  subjoined  list  of  pastors  and  supplies, 
which  has  been  prepared  after  careful  search, 
shows  that  there  was  little  time  when  the  church 
was  without  the  ministrations  of  the  Go'spel.  The 
list  is  as  follows : 

Richard  Denton,  i644-'59;  Jonas  Fordham, 
1659-1681;  Jeremiah  Hobart,  1682-1696;  Jo- 
seph Lamb,  1717-1725;  Benjamin  Woosey, 
1736-1756;  Abraham  Kettletas,  1760-1765, 
stated  supply;  'Hotchkiss,  1770-71,  supply; 
Joshua     Hart,     1772-76,     supply;     and     again 


1787-90,  supply;  Samuel  Sturges,  1791-3,  supply; 
Davenport,  i794-'98,  supply;  Joshua  Hart, 
again,  1798-1803,  supply;  William  P.  Kupors, 
i8o5-'ii,  pastor;  Josiah  Andrews,  i8i2-'i6,  sup- 
ply; Samuel  Robertson,  i8i6-'i8,  supply; 
Charles  Webster,  March  '16,  i8i8-'37,  pastor; 
Sylvester  Woodbridge,  February,  1838-^49,  pas- 
tor; Charles  M.  Shields,  1849-^50,  pastor;  N. 
C.  Locke,  i85o-'6o,  pastor;  J.  J.  A.  Morgan, 
i86o-'67,  pastor;  James  B.  Finch,  i867-'75,  pas- 
tor; Franklin  Noble,,  i875-'8o,  pastor;  F.  E, 
Hopkins,  i88i-'82,  supply;  F.  E.  Hopkins, 
1882-84,  pastor;  Charles  E.  Dunn,  July  21. 
1884-88;  Joihn  A.  Davis,  January,  1890-Septem- 
ber  '03 ;  and  Frank  Alelville  Kerr,  April  25th, 
1894,  present  pastor. 

St.  George's  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal, 
not  as  ancient  as  the  church  before  written  of, 
is  fully  as  interesting  to  the  antiquarian.  In 
1702  the  Rev.  George  Keith  and  others  pro- 
cured, through  the  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  of  London,  the 
appointment  of  the  Rev.  Jo'hn  Thomas,  of  Phila- 
delphia, as  a  mdssioner  to  Hempstead.  He  came, 
armed  with  a  letter  oir  commission  from  Gov- 
ernor Cornbury,  but,  although  there  were  influ- 
ential people  to  greet  him,  he  had  difihcdlty  in 
organizing  a  parish,  on  account  of  the  small 
number  of  English  speaking  residents,  the 
Dutch  largely  predominating.  Mr.  Thomas  'held 
services  in  a  building  which  was  also  used  for 
town  purposes,  and  made  his  abode  in  another 
house,  also  belonging  to  the  town.  He  had 
strong  prejudices  to  overcome,  and  was  obliged 
to  submit  at  times  to  disrespect,  but  he  was  of  a 
kindly  disposition,  and  he  finally  won  his  way 
into  the  regard  of  the  people.  He  served  in 
the  ministry  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  and 
until  his  death.  He  wa&  grandfather  of  Major- 
General  Thom.as  Thomas,  of  the  Continental 
army. 

Two  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas, 
his  place  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Jen- 
ney,  who  proved  toi  be  a  worthy  successor.  He 
obtained  from  the  town  a  grant  of  the  church 
building  and  residence,  and  this  tran&fer  was 
confirmed  to  the  parish  by  a  charter  from  the 
crown  in  1735.  The  title  of  this  ran  to  "The  In- 
ha'bitants  of  Hempstead  in  Communion  with  the 


90 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


Church  of  England/'  and  this  foini  has  been 
retained  to  the  present  time.  This  fact  remains 
unique  in  the  history  of  religious  bodies,  inas- 
much as  mo'st  (probably  all)  others  obtained  a 
change  oi  charter  wihen  the  American  govern- 
ment was  firmdy  established.  Under  Mr.  Jenney 
a  new  house  of  worship  was  erected,  and  it  was 
opened  on  St.  George's  Day,  April  22,  1735, 
with  imposing  ceremonies  and  the  attendance  of 
the  militia  of  the  county,  and  the  presence 
of  Governor  Cosby  and  many  of  the  principal 
men  of  the  province.  After  a  rectorate  of  sev- 
enteen years  Mr.  Jenney  removed  to  Philadel- 
phia to  become  rector  of  Christ  Church,  and 
v/as  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury. 

Mr.  Seabury  was  a  descendant  of  John  Alden, 
of  Puritan  -meuiiory.  He  had  left  Yale  College, 
dissatisfied  with  the  defection  of  its  president 
and  other  leading  men  to  EpiscO'palianism,  but 
he  afterward  experienced  a  change  and  was  or- 
dained by  the  Bishop  of  London.  He  was  for 
a  time'  minister  at  New  London,  Connecticut, 
whence  he  came  to  Hempstead.  Mr.  Seabury 
officiated  also  at  Oyster  Bay  and  in  other  vil- 
lages, some  of  them  twenty  miles  apart.  After 
a  time  he  was  obliged,  in  order  to  maintain  him- 
self, to  open  a  classical  school,  and  in  this  were 
educated  some  who  became  distinguished  men. 
Mr.  Seabury  died  in  1764,  after  a  pastorate  of 
thirty-eight  years.  When  he  came  to  Hemp- 
stead, his  son  Samuel  was  a  boy  thirteen  years 
of  age,  and  this  lad  wasi  he  who  became  the 
first  bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church 
in  the  United  States.  Bishop  Seabury's  mitre, 
it  will  not  be  amiss  to  note  in  passing,  is  pre- 
served in  the  library  oi  Trinit)-  College,  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  and  it  was  this  emblem  oi 
ecclesiastical  authority,  borne  by  one  who  had 
been  a  Hempstead  lad,  which  inspired  Bishop 
Coxe  to  write  his  verses  on  ''The  First  Mitre  of 
the  West:" 

"This  mitre  with  its  crown  of  thorn, 

Its  cross  upon  the  front, 
Not  for  a  proud  adorning  worn, 

But  for  the  battle's  brunt. 
Type   of   the  Lord's  commission  given 

To  this  our  western  shore, 
The  rod  of  Christ — the  key  of  heaven 

Through  one  to  thousands  more: — 


"  'Tis  better  than  a  diadem, 

The  crown  that  Bishop  wore, 
Whose  hand  the  rod  of  David's  stem 
The  further  westward  bore." 

Two  }'ears  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Seabury, 
came  to  the  rectorate  the  Rev.  Leonard  Cutting, 
the  progenitor  of  the  family  of  that  name  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  He  was  of  English  birth, 
was  a  graduate  of  Cambridge,  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  became  a  classical  tutor  in  Kings  (now 
Columbia)  College,  New  York.  He  was  or- 
dained in  1763  by  the  Bishop  of  London,  and 
in  1764  went  as  a  missionary  to  New  Bruns- 
wick, New  Jersey.  Two  years  later  he  came 
to  Hempstead.  His  career  was  peaceful,  pleas- 
ant and  useful  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war.  A  Tory  himself,  and  with  a  congre- 
gation most  of  whom  entertained  similar  views 
with  himself,  he  did  not  escape  annoyance  at 
the  hands  of  the  British,  and  even  his  church 
was  desecrated.  When  the  independence  of  the 
colonies  was  established,  his  embarrassments  be- 
came so  annoying  that  he  left  his  parish  with- 
out the  formality  of  resignation,  and  went  to 
Maryland.  He  subsequently  returned  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  died. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Lambert  Moore  was  called 
to  the  vacant  rectorate  about  the  time  of  the 
restoration  of  peace.  He  had  been  ordained  in 
England,  had  served  as  chaplain  on  board  a 
British  man-of-war,  and  on  coming  to  America 
was  engaged  as  a  missionary  at  Islip,  Suffolk 
county,  whence  he  was  called  to  Hampton.  Here 
his  service  was  particularly  useful.  He  was 
one  of  the  thirteen  persons  who  took  the  initia- 
tive for  the  institution  of  the  Pi^otestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  United  States,  the  change  be- 
ing necessary  on  account  of  the  new  political 
conditions  which  had  separated  America  from 
the  Church  of  England.  For  his  service  pur- 
poses he  continued  to  use  the  old  desk  prayer- 
book,  which,  with  a  silver  comimunion  set,  had 
been  presented  to  the  church  by  Queen  Anne, 
in  171 1,  but  he  adapted  it  to  the  necessities  of 
the  times  by  writing  out  and  pasting  in  prayers 
for  the  President  and  the  Congress  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  place  of  those  for  the  Monarch  and 
the  Parliament. 


HEMPSTEAD. 


91 


In  this  church,  m  1785,  the  first  ordina- 
tion in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
United  States  took  place,  when  John  Lowe  was 
admitted  to  holy  orders.  Lowe  was  a  native  of 
Scotland,  a  man  of  many  fine  qualities,  and,  hav- 
ing received  a  university  training,  was  for  a  time 
employed  as  tutor  in  the  family  of  a  wealthy, 
landed  proprietor  in  Galloway,  not  far  from  the 
English  border.  He  fell  in  love  with  one  of  the 
young  ladies  of  the  family,  and  it  is  said  she 
reciprocated  his  affection,  but  somehow  the  in- 
tended JTiarriage  never  took  place.  While  the 
billing  and  cooing  was  going  on,  one  of  the 
sisters  of  the  young  lady  dreamed  that  she  saw 
her  sweetheart,  a  ship  surgeon,  and  that  the 
wraith  had  told  her  that  the  ship  with  all  on 
board  had  gone  down,  and  urged  her  not  to  weep 
for  him,  as  she  would  soon  join  him  in  the  other 
world.  After  many  months  it  was  learned  that 
the  lover  had  actually  been  drowned  at  sea.  On 
hearing  the  dream  related,  Lowe  went  to  his 
room  and  wrote  the  following  pathetic  lines : 

"The  moon  had  climbed  the  highest  hill 

Which  rises  o'er  the  source  of  Dee, 
And  from  the  eastern  summit  s-hed 

Her  silver  light  o'er  tower  and  tree, 
When  Mary  laid  her  down  to  sleep, 

Her  thoughts  on  Sandy  far  at  sea; 
When,  soft  and  low,  a  voice  was  heard, 

Sayin-g,  'Atary,  weep  no  more  for  me!' 

"She  from  her  pillow  gently  raised 

Her  head,  to  ask  who  there  might  be, 
And  saw  young  Sandy  shivering  stand. 

With  visage  pale  and  hollow  e'e; 
'O  -Mary,  dear!  cold  is  my  clay — 

5t  lies  beneath  a  stormy  sea; 
Far,  far  from  thee  I  sleep  in  death — 

So,  Alary,  weep  no  ,more  for  mc  ! 

"  'Three  stormy  nights  and  stormy  days 

We  tossed  upon  the  raging  main, 
And  long  we  strove  our  bark  to  save, 

But  all  our  striving  was  in  vain. 
Even  then,  when  horror  chilled  my  blood, 

My  heart  was  filled   with  love  for  thee; 
The  storm  is  past,  and  I  at  rest. 

So,  Mary,  weep  no  more  for  me! 

"  'Oh,  maiden  dear,  thyself  prepare, 
We  soon  shall  meet  upon  that  shore 
Where  love  is  free  from  dotibt  and  care, 

And  thO'U  and  I  shall  part  no  more.' 
Loud  crowed  the  cock,  the  shadow  fled, 

No  more  of  Sandy  could  she  see; 
But  soft  the  passing  spirit  said, 

Sweet  Mary,  weep  no  more  for  me !'  " 


This  song,  the  only  piece  of  poetry  Lowe 
wrote  that  is  worth  reading,  has  won  for  him  an 
honored  place  among  the  minor  poets  of  his 
native  land.  When  his  love  passage  ended, 
Lowe  came  to  this  country  and  studied  for  holy 
orders,  which  resulted  in  his  ordination  in  St. 
George's  Churc'h.  He  afterward  went  to  Vir- 
ginia, made  an  unfortunate  marriage,  fell  into 
dissipated  liabits,  and  died  at  Fredericksburg  in 

1798. 

In  1799  Air.  Aloore  passed  away,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Hobart,  who  re- 
mained but  a  short  time,  being  called  to  a  posi- 
tion with  Trinity  Church,  New  York  City,  from 
which  he  was  elevated  to  the  bishopric.  His 
successor,  the  Rev.  Seth  Hart,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, occupied  the  rectorate  for  a  period  of 
more  than  twenty-eight  years,  during  which 
time  the  old  church  edifice  was  (in  1823)  re- 
placed hy  a  new  one.  After  him,  the  church  was 
favored  with  the  ministry  of  a  line  of  talented 
divines ;  several  of  them  became  prominent  in 
the  affairs  of  the  church  at  large. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  from  this  old  St. 
George's  Church  sprang  Christ  Church,  Man- 
hasset ;  Christ  Church,  U3-stcr  Bay ;  Grace 
Church,  South  Oyster  Bay;  St.  Paul's- Church, 
Glen  Cove ;  Trinity  Church,  Rockaway ;  Trinity 
Church,  Roslyn,  and  the  Garden  City  Cathedral, 
all  O'f  these  being  contained  within  the  territory 
which  was  designated  in  1693  as  the  Parish  of 
St.   George. 

The  Alethodist  Episcopal  Church  had  its  re- 
mote beginning  in  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev. 
John  Wilson,  a  preacher  on  the  Jam'aica  cir- 
cuit. He  came  into  Hempstead  one  Sunday 
morning  in  1800,  immediately  after  the  close  of 
the  Episcopal  services,  and,  mounting  a  wagon, 
he  sang  a  hymn  and  then  delivered  a  fervent 
exhortation.  It  does  not  appear  that  'he  made 
any  atteni/pt  to  organize  a  congregation.  Dur- 
ing the  succeeding  twelve  years  occasional  serv- 
ices were  held  by  preachers  of  the  Jamaica  cir- 
cuit— Thomas  Ware,  David  Buck,  "Billy"  Hib- 
bard  and  others.  In  1S12  William  Thatcher  was 
appointed  to  the  circuit,  and  he  held  services 
once  a  month.     He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 


92 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


nine  years,  after  devoting-  sixty  years  of  his  life 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  In  1816  a  house 
was  rented  for  meeting  purposes,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  a  school  building  was  purchased 
and  fitted  with  pews  and  a  pulpit.  In  1820  a 
church  building  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
present  edifice,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  and  the  dedi- 
catiion  took  place  December  31,  1822.  Trustees 
were  elected  the  same  year — James  Cooper, 
Isaac  Wri'ght,  Stephen  H.  Skidmore,  Richard 
Carman  and  Stephen  C.  Bedell.  This  work  was 
accomplished  during  the  ministry  of  Samuel 
Coohran,  who  labored  as  a  preacher  and  pastor 
through  a  tenn  of  thirty-eight  years.  In  1834 
a  lot  was  purchased  and  a  parsonage  erected  at  a 
cost  O/f  $1,400.  In  the  next  year  $1,700  was  ex- 
pended in  enlarginig  the  church.  Instrumental 
music  was  introduced  in  1852,  and  in  1872  Mr. 
P.  J.  A.  Harper  presented  to  the  church  an  ex- 
cellent organ.  In  1866  was  celebrated  the  cen- 
tennial of  Methodism  in  America,  and  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  Hempstead  Church,  upon 
which  occasion  $10,000  was  subscribed  for  cen- 
tenary and  church  extension  purposes,  and  out 
ai  this  amount  was  built  the  Sunday-school  edi- 
fice, at  a  cost  of  nearly  $7,000.  In  1854  a  new 
church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $14,651, 
and  in  1856  a  parsonage  costing  nearly  $4,000 
was  built.  Various  important  improvements 
have  since  been  made. 

Various  interesting  reminiscences  pertaining  * 
to  the  village  are  narrated  on  other  pages  of 
this  work — in  the  chapter  on  Revolutionary  his- 
tory and  others.  H^ere  it  may  be  stated  that 
after  the  war  President  George  Washington 
stopped  for  some  days  at  the  ancient  Sammis 
tavern.  This  ancient  hostelry  was  first  opened 
by  Nehemiah  Sammis,  son  of  the  first  Sammis 
who  came  from  England  in  1650.  Seven  genera- 
tions of  the  Sammis  family  were  here  born,  and 
it  is  still  in  the  possession  of  one  of  itfs  members. 
Morton  Lodge,-  No.  6;^,  F.  &  A.  M.,w'as  chartered 
June  23,  1797.  The  first  officers  were  David  R. 
F.  Jones,  Master ;  Jacob  S.  Jackson,  Senior 
Warden;  and  Thomas  Carman,  Junior  Warden. 
The  Lodge  preserves  a  Bible,  which  was  saved 
when   the  lodge  room'  was  burned  about   1832, 


in  which  is  inscribed  the  following:  "Presented 
to  the  Worshipful  Master,  Wardens  and  Breth- 
ren of  M'orton  Lodge,  No.  62,,  by  their  affection- 
ate brother,  Jacob  Morton,  Deputy  Grand  Master 
of  Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Jan.  8, 
1798."  The  first  newspaper  printed  in  the  vil- 
lage was  'The  Schoolmaster,"  in  1850,  by  Tim- 
othy Clowes,  but  it  did  not  long  endure. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  past  century,  the 
village  of  Hempstead  commenced  slowly  to 
grow,  for  it  became  noted  as  a  place  of  summer 
residence,  and  many  people  from  New  York 
began  spending  a  season  there,  and,  as  a  result, 
quite  a  number  of  attractive  homes  were  added 
to  it  year  after  year.  Communication  with 
Brooklyn  was  maintained  by  means  of  stages, 
and,  until  the  advent  of  the  railroad,  Hempstead 
had  a  regular  service  of  three  stages  in  each 
week.  The  streets  are  lined  with  trees,  and  are 
well  and  cleanly  kept,  and,  down  to  the  pres- 
ent day,  when  it  is  credited  with  a  population  of 
nearly  4,000,  the  toAvn  retains  many  of  the  rural 
features  which  made  it  so  attractive  in  the 
past,  and  which  half  a  century  ago  enabled  it 
to  start  upon  its  modern  era  of  prosperity.  It 
is  a  residential  town,  its  manufactures  amount- 
ing to  little  in  a  business  way,  and  it  depends 
to  a  great  extent  on  the  trade  which  comes  to 
it  from  the  needs  of  the  villa  residents  and  its 
summer  population.  It  has  all  modern  improve- 
ments in  the  way  of  gas,  electricity,  macadamized 
I'oads  and  social  features  of  the  highest  class. 
Near  it  the  ^Meadow  Brook  Farm  and  Kennel 
Clubs  have  their  headquarters,  and  attract  to  it 
year  after  year  many  hundreds  of  people  repre- 
sentative of  what  are  called  the  foremost  classes 
in  the  aristocratic  circles  of  New  York  City. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war  with  Spain, 
I-Iempstead  came  prominently  before  the  people 
of  the  State,  for  near  to  the  north  of  it  was  lo- 
cated Camp  Black,  where  for  many  months  sev- 
eral thousand  volunteers  were  housied  and  drilled 
in  readiness  to  be  sent  to  the  front  or  into  other 
active  service  according  to  the  requirem^ents  of  the 
War  Department.  Had  the  war  lasted  any  length 
of  time,  there  is  no  doubt  that  Camp  Black  would 
have  been  retained  as  a  military  depot,  but  the 


HEMPSTEAD. 


93 


rapid  victories  of  the  American  forces  on  land 
and  sea  brought  hostilities  to  a  more  speedy- 
conclusion  tlian  had  been  anticipated,  and  the 
camp  was  abandoned  and  has  since  been  ''a 
waste  of  furze   and  brush." 

In  point  of  historic  antiquity  the  settlement  in 
the  township  which  dates  closest  to  that  of  Hemp- 
stead village  is  that  of  Jerus'alem,  now  a  hamlet- 
which  has  lost  all  its  former  prestige  and  pre- 
eminence, and  has  apparently  been  forgotten.  It 
is  on  the  border  line  of  Oyster  Bay  township, 
the  creek  known  as  Jerusalem  river  separating  it 
from  that  territory.  When  the  exodu&  from 
Stamford,- Connecticut,  which  peopled  Hemp- 
stead, took  place,  in  1644,  two  of  the  immigrants, 
Captain  John  Seaman  and  Robert  Jackson,  pur- 
chased on  their  own  account  1,500  acres  of  land 
from  the  Indians  and  settled  upon  it  with  their 
families.  Their  houses,  as  usual,  were  placed 
almost  side  by  side;  and  after  a  time  the  dwell- 
ings O'f  their  children  (Captain  Seaman  had  eight 
sons  and  eight  daughters,  it  is  said,  while  Jack- 
son had  two  sons  and  two  daughters)  made  up 
quite  a  village  a  few  hundred  feet  east  of  the 
Jerusalem  river.  Additions  to  the  real  estate 
holdings  were  made  from  time  to  time,  until  the 
village  territory  included  some  6,000  acres — some 
of  it  the  most  fertile  land  on  Long  Island. 

Captain  John  Seaman  came  from  England 
about  the  year  1635.  Not  much  is  known  of 
his  early  life.  The  family  from  which  he  came 
claimed  descent  from  Danish  stock  which  set- 
tled in  England  after  the  defeat  of  the  Danes 
by  King  Alfred.  Their  Danish  origin  seems  to 
find  confirmation  in  the  old  famdy  coat-of-arms 
— the  sea-horse  as  a  crest,  and  the  motto  '*We 
make  our  name  known  by  our  deeds" — which 
is  similar  in  nature  to  those  borne  by  others  O'f 
that  seafaring  people..  But  the  achievements 
of  Captain  Seaman  were  worthy  of  any  ancestry, 
or  would  ennoble  him  were  he  ancestorless,  He 
was  a  man  of  masterly  ability,  and  he  conducted 
himself  as  a  true  colony  founder  and  leader 
should,  exercising  a  paternal  care  for  his  peo- 
ple. It  would  appear  that  a  very  large"  part 
of  his  time  during  more  than  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury was  given  to  conducting  the  affairs  of  the 


Hempstead  colony,  a  task  abounding  in  diffi- 
culties and  requiring  constant  watchfulness  and 
rare  sagacity.  As  one  of  the  largest  land  pro- 
prietors in  the  town,  through  his  purchase  from 
the  Indians,  he  was  v^ell  known  to  Governors 
Kieft,  Nicolls  and  Dongan,  each  of  whom  ex- 
ecuted patents  to  him  or  confirmed  patents,  and 
he  was  almost  constantly  employed  in  some  pub- 
lic capacity,  occupying  positions  of  trust  and  ex- 
ecuting missions  between  the  royal  authorities 
and  the  people,  and  between  them  and  the  In- 
dians. His  eminent  fitness  for  the  latter  task 
was  abundantly  demonstrated  on  many  occasions. 
His  strong  sense  of  justice  and  fair-dealing 
found  no  limitation ;  he  was  invariably  as  fair  to 
the  untutored  savage  as  he  was  to  those  of  his 
own  race,  and  the  Indians  never  once  accused' 
him  of  wronging  them,  and  held  him  in  regard 
as  a  friend,  where,  in  sO'  many  instances,  the 
vv'hite  man  had  oppressed  and  mistreated  them. 
Upon  one  occasion,  when  the  Indians,  exasper- 
ated by  some  wrong  done  them  by  some  of  the 
colonists,  had  planned  a  geneial  massacre  of 
the  whites,  one  of  their  number  gave  warning 
to  Captain  Seaman,  and  the  calamity  was 
averted. 

So  largely  occupied  as  he  was  in^  colony  af- 
fairs, Captain  Seaman  had  little  time  to  give 
to  his  plantation,  and  he  committed  its  care  to 
four  of  his  sons,  and,  with  the  two  others,  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Hempstead.  In  1694, 
when  his  will  was  executed,  he  appears  to 
have  been  living  on  what  he  calls  "the 
hom_e  lot,  adjoining  the  land  of  James 
Pine."  His  descendants  are  legion,  num- 
bering more  than  two  thousand  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  many  of  them  have  held 
positions  on  the  bench,  in  the  learned  profes- 
sions, and  in  the  civil  and  military  service.  To 
trace  the  family  through  its  multitudinous  rami- 
fications were  a  vast  task  in  itself,  and  the  men- 
tion' must  be  brief. 

From  Jonathan,  son  of  Captain  Seaman,  de- 
scended a  goodly  company :  Isaac,  an  officer  in 
the  colonial  forces,  who  served  under  Wolfe  at 
the  capture  of  Quebec;  Zebnlon,  a  very  promi- 
nent member  of  the  colonial  legislature  for  many 


94 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


years ;  Zebulon's  son  Zebulon,  a  lieutenant  of 
the  Jerusalem  militia,  whO'  joined  the  patriot 
army  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution;  the  first 
Zehulon's  second  son,  John  W.,  who'  commanded 
the  Oyster  Bay  militia  and  also  served  through- 
out the  Revolutionary  war^  and  was  afterwards 
for  many  years  surrogate  of  Queens  county; 
and  the  igrandson  of  John  W.,  John  A.  Searing, 
who  was  a  congressman  from  the  First  New 
York  District.  Benjamin,  the  third  son 
of  Captain  Seaman,  was  the  ancestor  of 
Benjamin,  who  was  chairmjan  of  the  New 
York  committee  of  correspondence  in  the 
early  Revolutionary  days,  and  whose  re- 
port "that  all  attempts  of  single  States  must 
prove  futile;  that  the  efforts  and  organization 
should  be  made  continental,"  presumably  gave 
origin  to  the  title  "Continental  Congress."  From 
him  was  also  descended  Hefnry  I.,  of  Staten  Isl- 
and, who  became  a  congressman  from  the  First 
New  York  District.  From  other  sons  of  Cap- 
tain Seaman,  Jonathan  and  Richard,  descended 
Jordan  Seaman,  an  unflinching  patriot  during 
the  Revolutionary  period,  who  was  afterwards 
a  judge  of  Queens  county,  and  became  the  father 
of  Henry  Onderdonk  Seaman,  who  was  for 
many  years  a  justice  of  Hempstead,  a  county 
judge,  a  member  oi  the  assembly,  and  held  other 
important  offices.  From  Thomas,  sixth  son  of 
Captain  Seaman,  descended  James  M.  Seaman, 
of  Ridgewood,  who  was  for  many  years  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  Hempstead,  and  subse- 
quently became  an  associate  justice  upon  the  su- 
preme bench. 

The  daughters  of  Captain  John  Seaman  were 
also  the  ancestors  of  many  notable  men.  Eliza- 
beth became  the  wife  of  John  Jackson,  son  of 
Robert  Jackson,  Captain  Seaman's  fellow  pro- 
prietor. From  this  pair  descended  the  greater 
number  of  the  Jacksons  of  Long  Ilsland  and 
New  York,  and  the  numerous  descendants  of 
William  and  Phoebe  Jones,  of  West  Neck,  Oyster 
Bay.  Of  these  were  iSamuel  Jones,  who  became 
an  eminent  jurist,  and  his  sons  Chancellor  Sam- 
uel, Judge  David  S.,  jNIajor  William  and  vari- 
ous of  their  descendants — a  long  line  of  dis- 
tinguished men  who  held  'high  public  and  social 


positions  for  more  than  a  hundred  years.  Sarah, 
another  daughter  of  Captain  Seaman,  married 
a  Mott,  and  from  this  union  descended  numer- 
ous men  of  high  character  and  some  of  notable 
ability.  Another  daughter  of  Captain  Seaman, 
Martha,  became  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Pearsall, 
and  from  them  sprang  an  excellent  family,  of 
which  General  James  B.  Pearsall  of  a  recent  gen- 
eration was  a  conspicuous  representative.  De- 
borah, another  daug^hter  of  Captain  Seaman, 
married  a  Kirk,  and  from  them  was  directly  de- 
scended Benjamin  C.  Kirk,  of  Glen  Cove.  Han- 
nah and  another  daughter  of  Captain  Seaman 
became  the  wives  of  the  Carmian  brothers,  Caleb 
and  Joshua,  and  numerous  respected  and  useful 
descendants  came  of  these  marriages.  Mary,  yet 
another  daughter  of  Captain  Seaman,  became 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Pearsall,  and  from  them 
descended  Gilbert  Pearsall,  late  of  Flushing. 

Of  the  grandsons  of  Captain  Seaman,  John 
remained  in  Plempstead;  Joseph  founded  a  nu- 
merous family  at  Little  Egg  Harbor,  New  Jer- 
sey; of  Jonathan's  descendants,  mjany  settled 
along  the  Hudson  river  and  thence  dispersed 
into  Virginia,  while  others  were  the  progenitors 
of  the  Jericho,  Jamaica  and  New  York  branches 
of  the  family.  The  elder  branch  of  Benjamin's 
family  settled  on  Staten  Island,  and  the  others 
remained  at  Jerusalem.  Solomon's  sons  settled 
near  the  village  of  Hempstead,  except  two  who 
went  to  Maryland.  The  greater  numlber  of 
Samuel's  descendants  settled  in  Suffolk  county, 
Long  Island,  and  in  1800  the  most  of  Thomas' 
descendants  were  residing  abotit  Jerusalem.  Of 
Nathaniel's  descendants,  one  branch  remained  at 
Hempstead,  and  another  settled  at  Westbury. 
The  children  of  Richard  settled  near  Success, 
Hempstead  Harbor  and  Jericho,  in  Oyster  Bay. 

The  farm  known  as  Chenjwood  was  the 
first  seat  of  Captain  Seantan,  and  here  was  build- 
ed  his.  first  home.  It  descended  from  him  to  his 
sixth  son,  Thomas,  and  from  him  to  his  eldest 
son,  John,  to  his  third  son,  Thomas,  and  from 
him  to  his  son-in-law,  Zebulon  Seaman,  and 
daughter,  Mary;  from  them  to  their  son,  Ardon, 
and  from  him  to  his  son,  Edward  H.  Seaman. 
Upon  this  old  homestead  stood  what  had  been 


HEMPSTEAD. 


95 


known  through  many  successive  generations  as 
"the  old  apple  tree."  It  bore  fruit  as  late  as 
1870,  when  it  had  become  so  badly  decayed  that  it 
was  cut  down.  It  was  then  known  to  be  two 
hundred  and  eight  years  old.  The  venerable 
old  tree  was  removed  by  Albert  \Y.  Seaman,  of 
New  York  City,  a  son  of  Edward  H.  Seaman, 
the  then  owner,  and  a  portion  of  the  wood  taken 
from  it  was  made  into  a  beautiful  frame  which 
now  'encloses  a  copy  of  John  Du  rand's  fine  en- 
graving of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  with  a  stanza 
from  his  poem  "Planting  the  Apple  Tree,"  and 
an  autograph  of  the  genial  poet,  with  the  date, 
April,  1872. 

The  Seaman  famfily,  in  the  earlier  generations 
of  tho;se  remaining  at  home,  were  in  greater 
number  buried  on  the  farms  belonging  to  the 
descendants  of  Benjamin  and  Thomas.  These 
primitive  cemetery  spots  long  ago  passed  into 
the  hands  of  strangers,  and  nearly  every  vestige 
of  the  graves  of  long  ago  have  been  obliterated 
for  many  years. 

Of  'Robert  Jackson,  who  was  Captain  Sea- 
man's associate  at  the  founding  of  the  tlemp- 
stead  colony,  very  little  is  known.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  settlers  at  Stamford,  Connecticut, 
in  1640-41,  and  the  records  preserved  by  his  de- 
scendants set  forth:  "  A  portion  of  the  settlers 
of  Stamford,  becoming  dissatisfied,  sent  a  com- 
mittee over  to  Long  Island  in  1643,  who  suc- 
ceeded in  making  a  purchase  of  the  Indians ;  and 
in  April,  1644,  the  company  crossed  the  sound 
to  Hempstead  Har^bor,  and  began  the  settlement 
on  the  present  site  of  Hempstead  village.  Rob- 
ert Jackson  and  his  wife  were  of  this  company." 

Robert  Jackson  was  for  many  years  active 
in  community  affairs.  His  "vvill,  dated  May 
26,  1683,  mentions  his  sons  John  and  Samuel, 
and  his  daughters  Sarah  and  Martha,  who,  re- 
spectively, became  the  wives  of  Nathaniel  Moore 
and  Nathaniel  Coles.  His  son  John,  Who  was 
also  a  patentee  of  the  town  under  Governors 
Kieft  and  Dongan,  was  a  man  of  great  promi- 
nence. He  was  high  sheriff  of  Queens  county 
from  1691  to  1695 ;  a  m-ember  of  the  assembly 
from  1693  to  1709  and  from  1710  to  1716;  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  1707;  a  county  judge  from 


1710  to  1723,  and  occupied  other  positions  until 
his  death  in  1725.  In  1685  he  married  Elizabeth, 
the  eldest  daughter  o-f  Captain  Seaman.  From 
them  descended  their  son  John,  before  m^en- 
tioned ;  their  grandson,  also  named  John ;  and 
in  a  far  later  generation,  Thor.ias  S.  Jackson, 
of  Newtown,  who  was  for  many  years  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  a  county  judge  and  a  member  of 
congress,  and  his  brother  James,  who  was  also  a 
justice  and  a  county  judge. 

Robert  Jackson  builded  his  home  about  eight 
hundred  feet  distant  fromi  that  of  Captain  Sea- 
man. So  remotely  were  they  situated  as  to 
neighbors,  that  it  was  eight  miles  westward  to 
the  Hempstead  settlement,  and  sixty  miles  of  al- 
most impassable  wilderness  lay  between  them 
and  their  nearest  ..settlement  to  the  eastward. 
The  Seaman  and  Jackson  families  grew  up  al- 
most side  by  side.  Captain  Seaman's  sons,  John, 
Jonathan,  Benjamin,  Solomon  and  Samuel,  as 
they  arrived  at  manhood,  there  made  their 
homes,  and  not  far  from  them  were  the  younger 
Jacksons.  Of  the  last  named  were  John  and 
Samuel,  whose  descendants  extended  southward 
until  they  reached  the  shore. 

The  Jackson  family  have  maintained  and 
carefully  protected  a  family  burying  ground  since 
1744,  and  the  earliest  burial  therein  was  Phebe, 
daughter  of  the  second  John  Jackson,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Wil'liami  Jones,  of  West  Neck, 
Oyster  Bay. 

The  Seamans  and  Jacksons  and  their  col- 
lateral branches  devoted  themselves  to  agricul- 
ture, and  the  settlement  would  have  passed  on 
without  attracting  much  attention  but  for  the 
fact  that  it  became  one  of  the  gathering  places 
of  the  Long  Island  Quakers  The  Seaman 
family,  or  many  of  them,  early  adopted  the  ten- 
ets held  by  these  "peculiar  people,"  as  they  were 
then  described  by  those  who  regarded  them  most 
tenderly,  and  for  nearly  a  century,  from  1793, 
regular  meetings  for  worship  were  held  in  one 
or  other  of  the  Seaman  homes  at  more  or  less 
regular  intervals.  A  regular  meeting  house  was 
built  in  1827,  and  there  Ardon  Seaman  preached 
and  labored  until  his  death,  in  1875.  By  that 
time,  however,,  the  Society  of  Friends  had  lost 


96 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


its  hold  in  the  vicinity,  many  oi  the  old  settlers 
moved  away,  the  land  through  a  long  series  of 
years  of  mismanagement  had  lost  its  fertility^ 
and  the  new  settlers  who  came  in  belonged  to 
other  ccmmimions.  So  the  meeting  place  was 
abandoned,  and  with  its  passing  Jernsalem  be- 
gan to  fade.  Early  in  the  nineteenth  century, 
whei:!  it  was  seen  that  the  land  was  losing  its 
original  fertility,  an  effort  was  made  to  introduce 
n-^anufactures ;  a  grist  mill  and  a  paper  mill 
were  built,  and  long  afterward  a  tannery  and 
wood  mill  were  introduced;  but  none  of  them 
made  much  headway.  It  iseems  a  pity  that  a 
place  so  full  of  treasured  memories  should  pass 
into  oblivion,  but  such  seems  to  be  the  fate  in 
store  for  Jerusalem  unless  a  change  speedily  sets 
i%  and  of  that  .there  is  yet  no  sign. 

The  crowning  glory  of  Hempstead  is  Gar- 
den City,  which  was  founded  in  1869  by  Alex- 
ander Turney  Stewart,  long  the  most  noted  of 
the  merchant  princes  o'f  the  great  metropolis. 
A  shrewd,  far-,seeing  and  wonderfully  success- 
ful man  in  his  business,  Stewart,  when  wealth 
came  to  him,  engaged  in  schemes  which  he 
deem.ed  philanthropic,  and  .which  at  the  same 
time  were  likely  to  return  to  him  the  money  act- 
ually expendedon  them.  He  gave  several  large 
donations  to  charity,  but  as  a  general  rule  he 
had  no  conception  of  giving  away  money  in  the 
fashion  of  more  modern  millionaires.  Hie  was 
ready  to  help  pubHc  enterprises  with  his  means, 
willing  to  inaugurate  an  undertaking  which  was 
to  benefit  the  people,  but  he  wanted  some  return 
for  the  money  expended.  For  instance,  one  of 
his  schemes  was  the  erection  ol  a  hotel  ,solely 
for  women  in  New  York,  by  which  he  thought  he 
could  benefit  the  hundreds  of  professional  wo- 
men in  the  great  city  and  the  hundreds  of  wo- 
m(en  who  visited  it  from  day  to  day,  and  at  the 
same  time  gain  five  or  six  per  cent,  on  the 
money  he  should  invest  in  it.  The  hotel  was 
built,  but  its.  restrictions  were  5uch  that  no  one 
was  satisfied,  and  it  was  soon  abandoned. 

So,  too,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  erecting  a 
town  which  would  in  its  way  be  a  model  com- 
munity, a  little  republic,  a  revival  in  nineteenth 


century  days  of  the  old  theocratic  settlements. 
It  would  be  far  enough  away  from  New  York 
to  keep  away  excursion  parties,  its  land  should 
be  common  property  and  should  not  be  sold  out- 
right, and  even  the  houses  would  be  built  by  the 
corporation  and  only  leased  to  the  settlers.  It 
would  be  a  complete  community  within  itself; 
it  would  make  and  enact  its  own  laws,  have  a 
large  hotel  capable  of  accommodating  the  most 
refined  travelers,  wide  streets,  superb  schools, 
and  all  manner  of  modern  improvements  and 
equipments.  Everything  would  be  hedged  about 
with  restrictions,  the  place  would  be  exclusive 
and  refined,  and  the  entire  community  should  so 
commend  itself  that  it  would  be  regarded  as  a 
garden  spot — a  veritable  Eden.  With  these  no- 
tions of  town  building,  Mr.  Stewart  looked 
about  for  a  site  and  in  1869  he  selected  a  plot 
of  7,170  acres  on  the  historic  Plempstead  Plain, 
not  far  from  the  old  village,  for  which  he  paid 
to  the  township  $394,350.  By  an  act  of  legisla- 
ture this  money  was  to  be  invested  and  the  pro- 
ceeds devoted  to  educational  purposes  in  the 
town  he  proposed  to  establish,  and  for  the  sup- 
port of  its  poor,  should  it  have  any  poor. 

■So  the  place  received  t^e  name  of  Garden 
City.  It  was  surveyed,  cut  up  into  streets  and 
avenues,  the  hotel  was  built  and  houses  erected, 
but  the  people  did  not  flock  in.  Americans  do 
not  like  to  be  hampered  by  restrictions,  and  the 
class  of  people  he  aimed  at  securing  preferred 
to  ov/n  their  country  homes  outright,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  Garden  City  would  end  in  be- 
ing regarded  as  a  merchant's  folly.  For  two 
or  three  years  its  main  purpose  was  to  advance 
the  price  of  Hempstead  real  estate,  and  to  afford 
the  land  boomers  a  chaiice  to  throw  into  the 
market  other  tracts  of  the  great  plain.  Stewart 
died  in  1876,  before  he  had  time  to  fully  mature 
his  plans  for  the  success  of  the  new  town,  but 
it  is  difficult  to  understand  how  the  policy  he 
had  outlined,  and  which  he  would  have  clung  to 
with  all  the  dogged  pertinacity  of  his  nature, 
would  have  ended  in  anything  but  failure. 

But  with  his  death  a  change  came  over  Gar- 
den City.  Maiiy  of  his  objectionable  restrictions 
were   quietly   thrown   aside,   and  the  town  was 


HEMPSTEAD. 


97 


permitted  to  .grow  on  the  reg;ular  lines  of  sup- 
ply and  demand.  But  the  deniand  would  have 
been  slow  had  not  his  widow  designed  to  make 
the  town  a  m-emorial  of  her  husiband.  She  de- 
termined to  build  in  it  a  grand  cathedral,  rival- 
ling in  size  and  beauty  some  of  the  great  Europ- 
ean religious  shrines,  and  to  associate  with  it 
a  school  whose  educational  advantages  should  be 
unsurpassed.  Some  have  averred  that  the  ca- 
thedral and  school  were  but  a  part  of  A.  T. 
Stewart's  original  scheme,  but  that  is  merely  sur- 
mise. The  millionaire  left  the  bulk  of  his  vast 
estate  to  his  wife,  untrammeled  by  obligations, 


CATHEDRAL  AT   GARDEN  CITY. 

and  the  cathedral,  the  school  and  the  bishop's 
palace  were  her  free  offering,  and  all  she  asked 
in  return  was  that  the  group  of  buildings  should 
become  the  seat  of  the  Bishop  of  Long  Island, 

7 


and  that  the  crypt  of  the  cathedral  should  be  the 
last  resting  place  of  her  own  body  and  that  of 
her  hus'band,  whose  memory  she  thus  desired 
to  honor.  Mrs.  Stewart's  purposes  were  heartily 
approved  by  Bishop  Littlejohn  and  his  clergy, 
architects  were  set  to  work  and  plans  prepared, 
arid  on  June  28,  1877,  the  corner  stone  of  the 
cathedral  was  laid  by  the  Bishop  with  imiposing 
ceremonies. 

The  plan  of  the  edifice  is  cruciform,  with 
tower  and  spire,  baptistery,  organ  apse,  crypt 
and  mausoleum.  The  style  employed  is  decorated 
gothic  of  the  thirteenth  century,  but  the  architect 
has  given  freshness  and  independence 
to  the  treatment  by  adopting  the  foli- 
age and  flowers  of  this  country  and 
following  nature  rather  than  the  old 
and  stiff  conventional  forms.  Un- 
usual beauty  and  grace  are  attained 
in  this  manner  in  all  the  carved  work 
of  the  triforium,  capitals,  bosses  and 
corbels,  'which  furnish  everywhere 
varied  and  pleasing  subj  ects  for 
study.  The  exterior  is  constructed  of 
Bellville  (New  Jersey)  stone,  and  the 
interior  of  Berea  (Ohio)  stone,  with 
the  use  of  native  and  foreign  marbles 
in  the  pavement,  chancel  steps,  bap- 
tistery and  mausoleum.  The  pro- 
portions of  the  building  are  admir- 
able, the  extreme  length  measuring 
190  feet,  width  of  the  transept  in- 
cluding the  porches  109  feet,  of  the 
nave  and  aisles  52  feet.  The  choir 
and  chancel  are  60  feet  deep,  sepa- 
rated by  mart)le  steps,  with  the  bish- 
op's throne  on  the  north  side  and  the 
dean's  on.  the  south.  The  tower, 
which  is  monumental  in  character, 
w^ith  bold  buttresses,  ornate  gables 
and  pinnacles,  is  124  feet  high;  and 
the  delicately  tapering  spire,  crock- 
eted  and  surmounted  by  a  large  illuminated  cross 
of  colored  gems,  is  97  feet,  making  the  whole 
height  221  feet.  In  the  upper  stage  of  the  tower 
is  hung  the  chime  of  bells,  thirteen,  in  number, 


98 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


exhibited  at  the  Centennial  exhibition  in  Phila- 
delphia, from  the  noted  McShane  foundry  in 
Baltimore.  The  spire  of  the  baptistery  is  beau- 
tiful in  design  and  workmanship,  with  its  flying 
buttresses  and  pierced  belfry;  and  from  the  aisle 
walls  also  spring  flying  buttresses  to  the  nave, 
giving  lightness  and  elegance  to  the  general  ef- 
fect of  the  exterior,  while  the  cornices  are  en- 
riched with  gargoyles  and  pinnacles.  The  roof 
is  islated,  and  finished  at  the  apex  with  a  bronze 
crest,  bearing  a  crown  at  the  junction  of  the 
nave  and  the  transepts,  and  a  cross  over  the 
chancel. 

In  the  interior  the  work  is  equally  elaborate 
and  carefully  finished.  The  baptistery  is  con- 
nected with  the  choir  and  transept  by  large 
arches,  filled  with  elegant  stone  tracery,  and  is 
finished  with  columns'  of  variegated  foreign 
marbles,  with  capitals  of  statuary  marble  ex- 
quisitely carved,  supporting  the  gothic  groin- 
ing of  the  dome  above.  Around  the  walls  runs  a 
wainscoting  of  statuary  marble  with  panels  of  vert 
antique.  In  the  center  of  the  inlaid  marble  pave- 
ment stands  the  white  marble  font,  adorned  with 
appropriate  symbols  and  figures,  and  covered  by 
a  rich  canopy.  The  seats  of  the  bishop  and 
dean  as  well  as  the  stalls  of  the  clergy  in  the 
ante-chancel  are  of  mahogany,  with  elaborately 
carved  canopies;  and  in  the  sanctuary  the  stalls 
and  canopies  are  of  carved  stone,  as  well  as  the 
piscina  and  credence.  On  a  platform  of  raised 
steps  stands  the  altar,  constructed  of  the  purest 
statuary  marble,  with  panels  presenting  in  bold 
relief  the  chief  events  of  our  Lord's  incarnate 
life,  with  their  prophetical  types  in  the  old  dis- 
pensation. The  pavement  of  this  portion  ol  the 
edifice  is  a  rich  mosaic  of  colored  marbles.  In 
the  choir  and  transepts  are.  large  niches  for  ap- 
propriate figures,  executed  in  marble. 

The  crypt  is  connected  with  the  choir  and 
nave  pby  staircases,  and  contains  a  large  chapel, 
with  a  spacious  hall  and  vestibules  of  carved 
oak  filled  with  panels  of  stained  glass.  At  the 
west  end  under  the  choir  is  another  smaller 
chapel,  and  adjoining  it  the  mausoleum,  which 
is  po'lygonal,  having  fourteen  bays,  wrought 
in  the  most  elegant  manner  in  statuary  marble, 


with  clustered  columns  of  the  costliest  Euro- 
pean marbles  at  eadh  angle  of  the  walls,  sup- 
porting the  vaulting  and  its  pendent  crown.  The 
symmetry  and  variety  of  the  columnar  treatment, 
the  exquisite  finish  of  the  floriated  capitals,  cor- 
bels and  muUions,  all  of  which  are  separate 
studies,  the  stained  glass  presenting  the  story  of 
our  Lord's  passion,  death  and  resurrection,  the 
graceful  statuary  and  the  massive  sarcophagus, 
all  combine  to  render  this  mortuary  temple  a  tri- 
umph of  architectural  genius. 

The  architect  was  Henry  G.  Harrison,  of 
New  York,  and  the  contractor  James  H.  L'Hom- 
medieu,  of  Great  Neck,  Long?  Island.  The 
stained  glass  of  the  crypt  was  from  the  manu- 
factory of  Colgate,  New  York;  and  that  of  the 
mjausoleum  and  the  cathedral  itself  from  the 
celebrated  London  firms  of  Heaton,  Butler  & 
Bayne,  and  Clayton  &  Bell.  The  cost  of  the 
edifice  was  $1,000,000. 

The  organ,  built  by  H.  L.  Roosevelt,  of 
New  York,  ranks  among  the  largest,  and  in 
several  respects  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
in  the  world.  It  has  four  manual  keyboards 
and  one  pedal  keyboard,  and  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  speaking  stops  and  about  eight 
thousand  pipes.  Though  placed  in  different  parts 
of  the  cathedral,  it  is  all  played  from  one  key 
box,  situated  in  the  choir,  the  remote  portions 
being  connected  by  cables  of  electric  wire,  over 
twenty  miles  of  which  are  used  for  this  purpose. 
The  main  body  of  the  instrument  is  in  an  oc- 
tagonal chamber  built  on  the  north  side  of  the 
choir  for  this  purpose.  The  next  largest  por- 
tion is  at  the  other  end  of  the  building,  in  the 
stage  of  the  tower  immediately  below  the  chimes 
and  separated  from  the  church  by  a  stained  glass 
window,  which  is  opened  and  shut  from  one  of 
the  swell  pedals  in  the  choir  by  means  of  elec- 
tricity. A  third  part  is  in  the  chapel  under  the 
nave,  and  can  be  played  there  from  its  own  key- 
board for  chapel  services.  A  fourth,  above  the 
ceiling,  is  called  the  Echo  organ,  and  is  played 
also  from  the  choir.  Two  other  portions  are  on 
either  side  of  the  choir.  The  chimes  are  also 
played  from  the  .solo  manual  by  electricity,  or 
from  a  separate  keyboard  in  the  tower.     The 


HEMPSTEAD. 


99 


oombiniation  pedals  are  so  arranged  that  the 
organist  can  change  any  combination  to  suit 
himself,  small  knohs  being  placed  above  the 
drawstops  for  this  purpose.  Three  steam  en- 
gines, located  in  different  parts  of  the  building, 
are  employed  to  work  the  bellows.  The  cost 
of  the  instrument  was  over  $60,000,  and  the 
ornately  carved  m^ahogany  cases  cost  about  $30,- 
000  additional. 

The  Cathedral  School  of  St.  Paul's  occupies 
a  sightly  position  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
northwest  of  the  cathedral.  It  is  in  style  an 
adaptation  of  English  gothic,  and  is  massively 
constructed  of  brick,  made  at  the  brick  works  of 
the  estate,  with  brown  stone  and  Dorchester  yel- 
low stone  for  windows,  doorways,  porches  and 
other  ornamental  features. 

The  edifice  consists  of  an  imposing  facade, 
which  with  the  port-cochere  is  290  feet  long, 
and  three  wfings  170  feet  deep,  forming  a  ground 
plan  something  like  the  letter  E;  and  is  four 
stories  in  height,  with  additional  stories  in  the 
center  and  at  the  angles,  which  have  high  man- 
sard roofs.  Besides  these  projections  the  exterior 
is  diversified  with  ornate  porches  of  carved 
stone,  a  clock  and  bell  tower  and  a  broach  spire 
in  copper  for  the  ventilation  of  the  laboratory. 
Over  the  main  entrance  is  inscribed:  "In  Me- 
MORiAM  Alex.  Turney  Stewart/'  with  the 
name  of  the  school  beneath,  and  over  the  east 
and  west  doorways,  "Historia  et  Scientia,"  and 
'*Ars  et  Philosophia." 

The  interior  arrangements  have  been  care- 
fully planned,  and  appear  to  successfully  com- 
bine the  best  features  of  modern  collegiate  edi- 
fices, whether  in  this  country  or  abroad.  The 
whole  building  is  fire^proof,  admirably  ventilat- 
ed, and  supplied  with  gas  and  hot  and  cold  water 
in  every  room,  with  abundant  bathing  facilities, 
and  steam  heating  apparatus  after  the  Holly 
system.  The  different  stories  are  connected  by 
two  elevators,  and  several  commodious  stair- 
ways, constructed  of  iron  and  stone.  The  first 
floor  comprises  the  main  hall,  270  feet  long  and 
10  wide,  and  lateral  corridors  170  feet  long, 
wainscoted  with  tiles  and  marble,  and  paved 
with  Minton  tiles  of  beautiful  designs;  reception 


rooms  on  either  side  of  the  central  entrance,  con- 
necting with  a  library  and  parlor,  each  21  by  50 
feet,  the  headmaster's  and  the  matron's  apart- 
ments, dormitories  in  the  east  wing;  the  dining 
hall  in  the  central  wing,  43  by  62  feet,  with  serv- 
ing rooms ;  and  the  two  assembly  rooms  in  the 
west  wing  for  the  higher  and  lower  school, 
about  50  feet  square,  with  several  recitation 
and  lecture  rooms,  each  20  by  24  feet.  The  sec- 
ond story  is  devoted  to  teachers'  and  pupils' 
rooms,  varying  in  size  from  9  by  20  feet  to  18 
by  25  feet;  and  in  the  center,  occupying  two 
stories,  is  the  chapel,  42  by  65  feet,  which  is  ar- 
ranged with  longiitudinal  sittings  for  some  four 
or  five  hundred  pupils,  and  has  at  the  north  end  a 
chancel,  organ  and  sacristy.  On  the  third  floor 
are  situated  in  front  of  the  music  rooms,  the  art 
gallery,  25  by  62  feet;  the  infirmary,  25  by  40 
feet,  with  apartments  for  nurses,  and  in  the  cor- 
ridors a  large  number  of  dormitoiries.  The 
fourth  story  contains,  besides  dormitories,  the 
laboratory,  20  by  44  feet,  studios  for  art  pupils, 
and  the  gymnasium,  37  by  62  feet,  with  dressing 
rooms,  in  the  central  mansard.  In  the  basement 
are  play  room's  in  the  school  wing,  the  armory, 
the  laundry  and  'drying  rooms,  the  steward's 
room  and  the  servant's  hall,  the  store  room, 
butcher's  shop,  refrigerators,  dairy,  engine  room, 
ovens,  kitchen,  scullery,  eac. ;  and  in  the  east 
wing  the  servants'  dormitories.  Throughout  the 
building  the  wood  work  is  of  ash,  black  walnut, 
oak  and  mahogany,  finished  in  the  most  elegant 
and  substantial  manner,  with  solid  and  appropri- 
ate furniture  specially  manufactured  for  the 
school  after  the  most  approved  designs. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  Diocese  of  Long  Isl- 
and, the  [Rev.  Beverley  Betts  designed  an  epis- 
copal arms  therefor,  which  is  the  basis  of  the 
corporation  seal  of  the  Cathedral.  This  is  at 
once  strikingly  emblematic,  and  richly  aristic. 
The  heraldic  terms  are  obscure  tO'  the  ordinary 
reader,  but  the  significance  of  'the  entire  display 
cannot  but  be  of  interest.  The  technical  descrip- 
tion as.  given  by  the  designer  is  as  follows : 

''Or,  a  chevron  barry-wavy,  argent  and 
azure   between    three    crosses,    crosslet    fitchy 


100 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


gules.  The  shield  is  of  gold  and  with  the 
crosses  is  a  part  of  the  arms  of  the  MacDon- 
aids,  ancestors  of  William  Alexander,  Earl  of 
Sterling,  first  Lord  Proprietor  of  Long  Island. 
The  chevron,  with  harry-wavy  gules,  blue  on 
silver,  is  also  part  of  his  arms.  These  tinctures 
are  the  well-known  Stewart  colors,  and  con- 
tain a  graceful  allusion  to  the  benefactions  of 
Mrs.  A.  T.  Stewart,  by  whom  the  cathedral  at 
Garden  City  was  founded  and  endowed.  The 
arrangement  of  "barry-wavy"  is  the  conven- 
tional symbol  of  "waters"  and  with  the  Bibli- 
cal motto  below,  'T  will  set  his  dominion  in 
the  sea,"  indicates  the  insular  "jurisdiction." 
The  'Crosses,  customary  emblems  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  are  red.  The  rnitre  is  of  gold 
with  lining  and  bands  in  red,  indicating  the 
episcopal  character  of  the  corporation. 

JMuch  ^significance  attaches  to  the  jewels 
of  the  mitre.  Of  these  the  five  rubies  repre- 
sent the  five  wounds  of  Christ,  the  three  sap- 
phires have  reference  to  the  Trinity,  and  the 
two  emeralds  are  symbols  of  the  dual  nature 
of  Christ,  the  human  land  divine.  These  pre- 
cious stones  were  chosen  as  being  especially 
significant  and  appropriate  from  the  allusions 
made  to  them  in  the  Scriptures: — the  ruby 
suggesting  charity,  dignity,  divine  power ;  the 
sapphire  constancy,  truth  and  virtue;  the 
emerald,  immortality. 

The  'Right  Rev.  A.  N.  Littlejohn,  D.  D.,  the 
first  Protestant  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Long  Is- 
land, entered  upon  his  residence  at  Garden  City 
as  soon  as  a  home  was  prepared  for  him,  and 
from  there  managed  the  affairs  of  the  diocese 
until  his  death  on  August  3,  1901.  The  sad  event 
took  place  at  Williianistown,  Massachusetts, 
where  the  venerable  prelate  was  spending  a  brief 
vacation  from  his  many  and  exacting  duties. 
His  sudden  death  created  a  profound  sentiment 
of  regret,  not  alone  on-  Long  Island,  but  through- 
out the  Church  of  which  he  was  so  long  recog- 
nized as  a  leader. 

Dr.  Littlejohn  was  born  December  13,  1824, 
at  Elorida,  Montgomery  county,  New  York. 
Entering  Union  College,  Schenectady,  when 
seventeen  years  oM,  he  was  graduated  with  hon- 
ors in  1845,  and,  after  a  course  of  three  years  in 
theological  studies,  he  was  ordained  a  Deacon 
by  Bishop  Williami  H.  DeLancey,  in  1848.  His 
first  church  position  was  that  of  assistant  in  St. 


Anne's,  Amsterdam,  New  York,  whence  he  went 
not  long  afterward  to  accept  a  corresponding 
place  in  St.  Andrew's,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

In  11850  he  was  called  to  Springfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, ias  rector  of  Christ  Church,  but  he 
remained  there  only  a  year,  leaving  to  take 
charge  of  the  important  parish  of  St.  Paul's,  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut.  It  was  while  in  this 
church  that  he  began  to  be  w^ell  known  through- 
out this  country  and  Europe,  his  writings  on  ec- 
clesiastical and  literary  subjects  attracting  favor- 
able attention  generally. 

After  ten  years  at  New  -Haven,  Dr.  Little- 
john, who  in  the  meantime  had  been  honored 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Brooklyn 
to  be  rector  of  the  Holy  Trinity  Church,  at  Clin- 
ton and  Montague  streets.  Before  this  he  had 
been  offered  the  Presidency  of  Geneva  College, 
now  called  Hobart  Gollege,  but  had  declined  the 
position.  He  had  also  been  a  lecturer  on  pas- 
toral theology  in  the  Berkley  Divinity  School, 
Middletown,  Connecticut,  for  seven  years.  He 
was  the  second  rector  of  Holy  Trinity  Church  in 
Brooklyn,  succeeding  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  H. 
Lewis. 

During  the  nine  years  Dr.  Littlejohn  stayed 
there  the  debts  of  the  church  were  paid  off,  and 
the  steepile,  which  had  been  unbuilt  for  lack  of 
funds,  was  reared  to  its  full  height. 

Dr.  Littlejohn's  career  was  distinguished  by 
an  occurrence  that  is  said  to  be  unique  in  the 
records  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
this  country.  When  the  Diocese  of  Central  New 
York  and  Long  Island  were  formed  he  was 
elected  Bishop  for  both  of  them,  almost  simul- 
taneously. His  acceptance  of  the  latter  territory 
was  made  on  the  ground'  that  he  was  more  fa- 
miliar with  the  needs  of  the  diocese  where  he  had 
been  working  than  with  those  of  the  one  up  the 
State.  He  was  consecrated  on  January  27,  1869, 
Bishop  Henry  C.  Potter  officiating,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  eight  other  Bishops. 

In  1874  Bishop  Littlejohn  was  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  churches  established  in  Europe 
by  the  Protestant  Episcopalians  of  America,  and 
he  consecrated  the  Church  of  St.  Paul's- Within- 


HEMPSTEAD. 


101 


the-Walls,  in  Rome,  and  opened  the  American 
Church  in  Paris.  Later,  however,  he  was  forced 
to  transfer  his  foreign  duties  to  the  Bishop  of 
North  Carolina,  church  affairs  in  Long  Island 
demanding  his  entire  attention. 

The  University  of  Cambridge,  England, 
made  Bishop  Littlejohn  a  Doctor  of  Laws  in 
1880,  and  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Civil  Laws  from  the  University  of  the  South, 
at  Sewanee,  Tennessee,  in  1897.  From  the  time 
of  his  residence  in  New  Haven  he  continued  to 
write  regularly.  Among  his  ipublished  works 
are  "The  Philosophy  of  Religion,"  "The  Meta- 
physics of  'Cousin,''  ''The  Life  and  W  ritings  of 
Coleridge,"  "The  Poetry  of  George  Herbert," 
"The  Bible  and  Common  Sense,"  ''The  Out- 
wardness of  Popular  Religion,"  "Human  Pro- 
gress," "The  Alt-Catholic  Movement,"  "Con- 
ciones  ad  Clerum,"  "Stephen's  Lectures  on  the 
History  of  France,"  "Roger's  Eclipse  of  Faith," 
and  "The  Christian  Ministry  at  the  Close  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century." 

In  February,  1899,  services  commemorative 
of  the  Bishop's  thirty  years  of  service  were  held 
in  the  Cathedral  of  the  Incarnation.  The  last 
public  service  of  unusual  importance  that  Bishop 
Littlejohn  attended  was  that  which  celebrated 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of 
the  Church  Charity  Foundation,  in  which  he  had 
always  been  interested.  It  was -noticeable  at  this 
service  that  he  was  very  feeble,  and  since  then 
there  was  frequent  talk  of  his  having  a  coadju- 
tor. He  persistently  refused  this  offer,  even 
taking  occasion  to  say  at  a  meeting  of  the 
clergyman  and  laymen  of  the  diocese  that  he  was 
well  able  to  take  care  of  the  affairs  of  the  diocese. 

Dr.  Littlejohn  was  a  strict  Churchman,  and 
was  heard  to  express  himself  emphatically  more 
than  once  about  certain  innovations  in  the  wor- 
ship of  his  church  that  he  regarded  as  altogether 
wrong.  Although  his  reputation  as  a  writer  and 
scholar  was  the  greater,  he  achieved  no  small 
note  as  an  orator,  and  there  were  those  who 
ranked  him  among  the  best  pulpit  preachers. 

Bishop  Littlejohn  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Frederick  Burgess.     He  was  born  in  1853, 


in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  a  son  of  Frederick 
Burgess,  of  that  city.  His  family  is  one  of  dis- 
tinction in  the  annals  of  the  Church.  His  uncle, 
George  Burgess,  was  the  first  Bishop  of  Maine, 
a  diocese  founded  in  1820,  and  another  uncle, 
Alexander  Burgess,  was  first  Bishop  of  the  dio- 
cese of  Quincy,  which  was  organized  in  1878. 
Dr.  Burgess  received  his  early  education  in  his 
native  city,  and  was  graduated  from  Brown's 
University  there  in  1873.  He  then  studied  two 
year's  at  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in 
New  York,  and  afterwards  for  a  year  at  Oxford, 
On  his  return  in  1876  he  was  ordained  deacon  by 
Bishop  Niles  in  Grace  Church_,  Providence,  hav- 
ing been  presented  for  ordination  by  Dr.  Greer, 
then  rector  of  that  parish.  In  Grace  Church, 
also,  he  was  ordained  priest  in  1878  by  Bishop 
Clark,  having  served  in  the  meantime  at  Mend- 
ham,  New  Jersey.  After  his  ordination  to  the 
priesthood  he  was  for  five  years  in  charge  of 
Grace  Church_,  Amherst,  Massachusetts,  and  then 
for  six  years  at  Christ  Church,  Pomfret,  Con- 
necticut. In  the  summer  of  1879,  while  on  his 
way  to  Great  Neck,  Long  Island,  he  suffered 
shipwreck  on  the  ' '  Sea wanhaka,"  which  was 
burned  off  Ward's  Island ,  near  Hell  Gate. 
Twenty-four  lives  were  lost  in  this  disaster,  and 
the  terrible  experience  deepened  the  natural 
seriousness  of  the  future  bishop's  character.  Dr. 
Burgess  remained  at  Bala  for  seven  years ;  then 
he  went  to  Christ  Church,  Detroit,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1898,  when  he  was  called  to  Brook- 
lyn to  the  rectorate  of  Grace  Church  on  the 
Heights,  as  successor  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Chauncey 
B.  Brewister,  D.  D.  His  rectorates  have  been 
signalized  by  successful  work  among  men,  and 
his  power  to  draw  them  to  the  Church.  His 
genius  for  preaching  without  notes  has  added 
greatly  to  his  influence  over  m|en.  Clergymen 
of  all  parties  join  in  commendation  of  his  ad- 
ministrative ability,  and  feel  assured  of  a  united 
forward  movement  under  his  guidance  in  every 
department  of  diocesan  work. 

Bishop  Burgess  was  married  in  'Mendham, 
New  Jersey,  in  188 1,  to  Miss  Caroline  G.  Bar- 
tow, daughter  of  Edgar  J.  Bartow,  who  provided 


102 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


the  funds  for  the  erection  of  Holy  Trinity 
Church,  Brooklyn.  Mrs.  Burgess  died  in  1894, 
leaving  four  sons. 

Even  with  all  its  advantages,  the  popu- 
lation of  Garden  City  has  crept  up  but  slowly. 
In  1891  it  had  something  like  600,  in  1896  it  had 
increased'  to  700,  and  in  1900  it  had  added  about 
fifty  more,  and  there  it  remains.  But  time  is  on 
its  side,  and  it  will  undoubtedly  grow  in  import- 
ance and  influence  as  the  years  speed  on.  It  is 
now  recognized  as  a  splendid  centre  of  church 
and  educational  work;  the  beauty  of  its  streets 
and  of  its  situation  is  yearly  becoming  more 
widely  known ;  its  hotel  has  even  now  become  a 
resort,  and'  in  many  respects  it  is  the  pride  of 
Nassau  county.  'Mrs.  Stewart  has  been  lying  at 
rest  in  the  cathedral  crypt  for  several  years,  and 
it  is  presumed  that  the  body  of  her  husband  is 
there  also,  although  nothing  on  that  point  is 
known.  The  Stewart  millions  have  been  dissipat- 
edj  some  of  themi  in  a  fashion  that  would  have 
roused  his  indignation.  But  the  haste  which  his 
widow  made  in  erecting  this  great  architectural 
pile  and  in  sO'  lavishly  providing  endowments 
have  been  amply  justified  by  the  story  of  the  dis- 
posal of  these  milions,  and  prove  that  her  native 
shrewdness  had  almost  forecasted  the  end  of  it 
all.  'So  Garden  City's  cathedral  has  become  the 
merchant's  enduring  monument,  and  still  keeps 
by  its  healthful  agencies  part,  at  least,  of  his  own 
great  fortune  engaged  in  useful  and  beneficent 
work. 

There  has  for.  some  time  been  talk,  more  or 
less  vague,  of  a  municipal  union  between  Hemp- 
istead  village  and  Garden  City,  and  while  the 
time  for  it  seems  hardly  ripe,  there  appears  no 
reason  to  doubt  its  taking  place  ultimately,  unless 
the  Greater  New  York  takes  another  leap  and 
adds  Nassau  ■  county  to  its  domain.  Even  that 
has  already  been  mooted,  and  certainly  as  un- 
likely things  have  happened  in  the  history  of  the 
great  city. 

Rockville  Centre,  which  now  claims  a  popula- 
tion of  some  2,500,  was  settled  mlainly  in  1854, 
but  its  Methodist  Church  has  an  existence  dating 
back  to  1790,  when  a  small  hamlet  sprang  up 


around  it.  The  first  church  was  torn  down  in 
1817  and  a  new  edifice  was  built  on  its  site,  which 
served  until  1874,  when  the  present  structure 
was  erected.  As  usual,  the  first  church  was 
erected  as  a  meeting  house  for  the  use  of  any 
body  of  worshippers,  and  its  surrounding  ceme- 
tery was  for  the  reception  of  the  fathers  of  the 
little  hamlet,  as,  one  by  one,  they  fell  into  that 
sleep  which  knows  no  waking.  But  after  a  while 
it  appears  that  there  were  no  residents  of  the 
vicinity  who  belonged  to  other  than  the  Metho- 
dist body,  and  so  they  seem  to  have,  entered  into 
full  possession.  In  1870  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  St.  Mark's  erected  a  temporary  church, 
which  in  the  following  year  gave  way  to  the  now 
existing  building.  Rockville  Centr-e  remains  a 
residential  village.  Its  high  school  is  a  most  at- 
tractive edifice,  and  as  a  spot  for  home  building 
the  town  possesses  many  peculiar  attractions. 

As  much  may  be  said  of  Pearsalls,  which  also 
dates  practically  from  the  mliddle  of  last  century, 
but  without  any  old  church  to  bind  it  to  the  re- 
mote past.  From  a  religious  point  of  view  Pear- 
sails  may  be  regarded  as  the  sister  of  Rockville 
Centre,  for  the  religious  work  and  influence  of 
the  one  is  always  shared  by  the  other.  In  1841 
the  old  'Methodist  Church  at  Rockville  Centre 
helped  to  found  a  church  at  Pearsalls,  and  St. 
James'  Church  in  the  last  named  village  was  the 
result  of  a  division  of  the  work  of  St.  Mark's. 
A  school  house  was  one  of  the  first  buildings 
erected  at  Persalls  after  it  was  laid  out,  and  the 
construction  of  the  water-works  for  Brooklyn 
made  it  a  busy  place  in  1857.  After  that  com- 
motion passed,  it  assumed  its  proper  place  as  a 
residential  point,  which  it  has  since  retained.  Its 
present  population  is  estimated  at  1,400.  The 
town  derives  its  name  from  the  Pearsall  family, 
which  has  been  established  here  for  considerably 
miore  than  a  century  past.    ' 

Freeport  (otherwise  known  as  Hempstead 
South  or  Raynorville) ,  twenty-three  miles  dis- 
tant from-  New  York,  is  a  town  of  comfortable 
arid  attractive  homes,  handsome  churches  -and 
excellent  isociety.  Its  streets  lead  down  to  the 
Great  South  Bay,  where  oyster  culture  is  carried 
on  upon  a  large  scale. 


HEMPSTEAD. 


103 


New  Bridge  is  the  name  given  to  the  little 
settlement  upon  both  sides  of  the  brook  separat- 
ing what  was  formerly  known  as  Whale  Neck 
from  Little  Neck.  The  ground  is  known  to  have 
been  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Merikoke  Indians, 
and  relics  of  their  occupation  are  yet  found  by 
farmers  while  upturning  the  soil.  During  the 
revolutionary  war,  General  Jacob  S.  J.  Jones  was 
stationed  here  with  a  brigade  to  protect  the  peo- 
ple against  the  depredations  of  sailors  from  the 
British  fleet  which  made  the  point  a  favorite 
anchorage. 

Seaford,  Bellmore,  Valley  Stream,,  Ridge- 
wood,  iWantagh,  Baldwin's  and  Norwood  are  all 
pleasant  villages,  some  of  them  ■  beautifully 
located,  and  all  presenting  attractions  for  quiet 
home-seekers. 

One  of  the  most  lovely  of  these  smaller  vil- 
lages is  Merrick,  twenty-four  miles  from  New 
York.  The  name  is  of  Indian  origin,  that  of 
a  tribe  of  Indians,  and  has  appeared  in  the  va- 
rious forms  or  Meric,  Meroks,  Merikoke,  Me- 
rock,  Meroque.  The  history  of  the  town  was 
written  in  the  year  1900  by  Mr.  Charles  N.  Kent, 
and  was  published  in  a  pamphlet,  which  is  made 
in  large  part  the  basis  of  our  account. 

The  first  actual  settler  was  John  Smith,  who 
came  to  be  known  as  John  Rock  Smith  and  John 
Smith  Rock — the  appellation  being  bestowed  up- 
on him  in  recognition  of  his  ingenuity  in  build- 
ing his  house  at  Stamiford,  Connecticut,  over  a 
rock  which  was  too  large  to  be  removed,  and 
which  was  thus  utilized  as  a  part  of  the  wall  and 
also  as  a  back  to  his  fireplace.  The  Carman 
family  sent  representatives  from  the  isettlement 
on  Hempstead  Plains  to  Merrick  at  a  very  early 
day.  The  first  white  child  born  in  the  Merrick 
settlement  was  Caleb,  a  son  of  John  Carman, 
January  9,  1645.  The  Carman  and  Smith  families 
intermarried,  and  appear  to  have  held  land  in 
common,  westward  from'  the  eastern  line* of  what 
is  now  the  property  of  H.  H.  Cammann,  on  Mer- 
rick Avenue.  These  two  families  pre-empted 
the  entire  territory  from  Merrick  river  east  to 
Cove  Spring  Landing,  Merrick  Cove,  and  from 
the  bay  north  to  Hempstead  Plains. 

John  Rock  Smith  settled  west  of  the  present 


lakes  on  either  side  of  Merrick  road — his  house 
on  the  north  and  barn  on  the  south  side.  Jon- 
athan Smith  Black  laid  out  his  farm  east  of  Mer- 
rick path,  which  afterward  became  the  Hemp- 
stead turnpike,  and  Jonathan  Smith  Rock  settled 
to  the  west,  there  being  between  themi  a  wedge 
of  land  known  as  the  Hewlett  farm.  It  is  re- 
ported that  this  wedge  was  contributed  equally 
by  the  two  Smiths  to  induce  the  Hewletts  to  set- 
tle thereon. 

From  carefully  preserved  records  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  George  T.  Hewlett  and  Mr. 
George  M.  Hewlett  it  appears  that  the  first  of 
their  family  to  reach  America  was  one  of  the 
judges  who  passed  sentence  of  death  upon  King 
Charles  (1648).  The  signature  of  this  Hewlett 
in  the  King's  death  warrant  is  differently  spelled 
and  it  is  supposed  to-  have  been  purposely  chang- 
ed afterward  to  avoid  pursuit  and  detection. 

The  Hewlett  coat-of-arms  represents  two 
owls  upon  a  shield,  with  the  mottoes :  "To  stake 
one's  life  for  the  truth,"  and  "By  courage,  not 
by  craft."  The  name  was  sometimes  spelt  Hulit, 
and  also  "Owlett,"  the  latter  probably  derived 
from  the  Yorkshire  dialect  and  the  representa- 
tive owls. 

The  first  Hewlett  settlement  (about  1649) 
was  on  Riker's  Island,  near  Hell  Gate.  The 
house  was  destroyed  by  Indians,  although  the 
family  being  warned,  escaped,  and  we  next  hear 
of  them  in  Hempstead,  whither  they  probably, 
migrated.  There  were  then  three  brothers, 
George,  John  and  Lewis,  and  one  sister.  George 
and  John  both  died  unmarried,  the  former  at 
Hempstead,  the  latter  at  Cow  Neck.  Of  the 
others  there  is  no  record.  The  first  George  Hew- 
lett to  come  to  Merrick  settled  "between  Whale 
Neck  and  New  Bridge  road,"  including  what  is 
now  known  as  Cedar  Swamp.  There  is  also 
record  of  an  early  Hewlett  settlement  upon  the 
farm  of  Mr.  George  M.  Hewlett,  which  has  al- 
ways remained  in  the  family.  The  original  house 
has  been  incorporated  in  the  more  modern  resi- 
dence occupied  at  the  present  time.  An  old 
clothes  press  brought  from  England  is  still  in  its 
garret,  as  well  as  portraits  of  Colonel  Hewlett 
and  his   wife.     The  Hewletts  were  among  the 


104 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


leaders  oi  the  Royalist  party,  and  at  times  were 
in  imniiinent  danger,  but  finally  a  declaration  of 
submission  to  the  Continental  Congress  was 
drawn  up,  and  among  its  signers  were  John  Car- 
man, John  Smith  Rock,  Williaml  Smith  Black, 
Benjamin  Hewlett,  Benjamin  Hewlett  (2d),  Jo- 
seph Hewlett,  George  Hewlett  and  John  Hew- 
lett. 

The  Hewlett  family  were  continuously  in  the 
eyes  of  the  /people,  known  as  enterprising  and 
successful  folk.  Thus,  the  following  copied 
from  an  old  newspaper  dated  February  28,  1800, 
will  serve  as  an  example:  "The  curious  are  in- 
vited to  a  sight  of  one  of  the  most  astonishing 
productions  in  nature,  a  large  ox,  raised  by  Mr. 
George  Hewlett.  He  is  to  he  seen  at  Mrs. 
Deloaif's  Flymarket.  Admittance,  one  .shilling. 
To  give  an  idea  of  this  o!x,  it  need  only  be  men- 
tioned that  he  is  nineteen  hands  high,  seventeen 
and  a  half  feet  in  length,  and  nine  feet  in  girth, 
forming  a  tremendous  mass  of  animation.  Not 
to  view  him  as  he  now  stands  argues  that  want 
of  curiosity  which  tends  to  enlarge  the  mind." 
And  again,  in  1S31,  we  read:  "George  Hew- 
lett, of  Merrick,  has  a  cornstalk  on  which 
grew  thirteen'  perfect  ears." 

On  one  occasion,  George  Hewlett  was  in 
command  of  a  militia  detachment  in  pursuit  of 
some  whale-boat  robbers.  Not  long  afterwards, 
while  ihe  was  with  two  friends,  gunning  on  the 
marsh,  a  whale-boat  rowed  up,  took  his  gun, 
silver  sleeve  buttons,  and  som^e  money,  and  con- 
sulted whether  they  should  take  their  hats  and 
coats. 

In  the  last  generation  of  our  first  George 
Hewlett's  descendants  there  were  twelve  brothers 
and  sisters.  Of  these,  Mr.  George  T.  Hewlett 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Willetts  were  in  1900  the  sole 
survivors. 

Richard  Valentine  had  land,  undescribed,  in 
Merrick  as  early  as  1657,  He  was. a  town  mar- 
shal and  a  man  of  some  parts. 

The  old  Merrick  Path,  beginning  near  the 
present  Hempstead  turnpike  and  passing  east  of 
the  house  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Seaman,  in  a  north- 
erly direction  to  the  plains,  was  probably  the  first 
road  in  this  part  of  the  new  township.    It  is  said 


that  one  with  sharp  eyes  can  still  discern  its  out- 
lines. It  Avas  simply  "brushed  out,"  and  indi- 
cated more  distinctly  by  "blazed  trees."  This 
path  later  on  was  known  as  the  "Hempstead 
Road,"  and  then  as  the  turnpike.  About  1850  a 
company  was  organized  for  the  construction  of 
the  South  Oyster  Bay  Turnpike,  including  the 
Merrick  Road  from  Babylon  to  the  Old  Hemp- 
stead Turnpike  in  Merrick,  and  thence  north  to 
Hempstead  Plains.  The  work  seems  to  have  been 
accomplished  with  but  little  delay  and  resulted  in 
pretty  general  satisfaction  to  all  but  stockholders. 
Later,  there  were  regular  lines  of  stages  on  the 
new  -turnpike  from  Ba-bylon  to  Hempstead — 
thence  to  Jamaica  ancj  Brooklyn.  South  Oyster 
Bay  had  a  postoffice^  and  one  was  soon  after 
established  for  Merrick  in  the  old  hotel  and 
store  combined  on  the  Hempstead  Turnpike, 
north  of  the  present  railroad  crossing. 

Merrick  avenue,  extending  from  th^  Bay 
north  to  the  railroad  and  thence  to  and  beyond 
the  camp  grounds,  is  perhaps  as  fine  a  road 
with  its  surroundings  as  can  be  found'  on  Long 
Island.  It  is,  the  greater  part,  beautifully  shad- 
ed, and  has  a  macadam  foundation.  Previous 
to  1850,  however,  it  was  but  a  cow  path,  more 
particularly  designated  as  "Whale  Neck  Road," 
from  the  stranding  of  a  whale  at  Whale  Neck 
Point,  which  whale  was  later  subdivided  and 
transferred  in  carts  over  the  cow  path  to  settle- 
ments further  north.  A  pair  of  bars  then  closed 
Merrick  avenue  to  the  public  at  its  junction 
with  the  Merrick  road.  The  necessity  for  mak- 
ing the  path  a  highway  soon  became  apparent, 
and  it  was  accordingly  set  apart  for  that  purpose 
and  reconstructed.  Freight  from  the  Merrick 
dock,  at  the  foot  of  this  avenue,  before  the  days 
of  a  railroad,  was  then  received  from  vessels  and 
conveyed  in  wagons  to  all  parts  of  the  surround- 
ing country.  Indeed,  at  this  period,  nearly  all 
freight  t6  and  from  Hempstead  and  New  York 
was  so  transferred.  The  good  ship  "Native  of 
America/'  commafided  by  Captain  Thomas  Ray- 
nor,  made  regular  trips  between  the  two  ports. 

Some  of  the  early  enterprises  were  founded 
out  of  funds  procured  by  lottery,  and  this  agency 
was  at  times  resorted  to  in  aid  of  schools  and 


HEMPSTEAD. 


105 


even  churches.  Thus,  in  1763,  the  Reverend 
Samuel  Seabury  recorded  in  his  diary :  '*The 
ticket  No.  5866  in  the  Light  House,  drew  in  my 
favor,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  isoo,  for  which 
I  now  record  to  my  posterity  my  thanks,  and 
praise  to  Almighty  God,  the  Giver  of  all  good 
gifts.    Amen." 

"In  Merrick,"  writes  Thompson,  ''the  Meth- 
odists have  a  meeting  house,  erected  in  1830,  and 
■  another  east  in  1840."  This  first  meeting  house 
referred  to  has  ibeen  identified  as  one  which 
stood  near  Hempstead  Turnpike  in  Freeport, 
about  one  mile  north  of  the  Merrick  Road ;  it 
was  formerly  known  as  the  Sand  Hill  Church. 
The  graveyard,  with  its  headstones,  is  yet  to  be 
seen  in  the  still  kept  inclosure  where  the  building 
formerly  stood.  The  edifice  east^  to  which 
Thompson  refers,  was  probably  the  Alerrick 
school  house,  where  ^services  were  occasionally 
held  and   a   regular   Sunday-school   maintained. 

The  first  building  erected  within  Merrick 
precincts  for  religious  services  was  undoubt- 
edly the  Union  Chapel,  commenced  in  the  fall 
of  1875,  completed  in  the  summer  of  1876,  and 
dedicated  Sunday,  August  27th,  of  that  year,  by 
Methodist  Elder  Graves. 

The  first  school  house  in  Merrick  was  built 
early  in  the  last  century.  It  was  of  rough  boards 
and  timbers  hewn  from  logs — from  its  size  evi- 
dently not  intended  for  a  large  number  of  pupils. 
The  remnants  of  this  building  may  still  be  seen 
in  rear  of  Mr.  William  E.  Hewlett's  residence, 
where  until  fallen  into  decay  they  did  duty  for 
m|any  years  as  a  chicken  house.  The  old  boards 
and  logs  bear  indications  that  the  boys  then,  as 
well  as  now,  had  jack  knives  and  knew  how 
to  use  them;  they  record,  cut  deep  in  the  wood, 
initials  of  many  a  girl  and  boy,  long  since  passed 
away,  and  of  whom  there  is  probably  no  other 
memorial  extant. 

The  second  school  house,  on  the  Merrick 
Road,  east  of  Mr.  Hewlett's,  was  erected  in 
1644,  and  used  until  the  modern  building 
further  east  was  completed  in  1892.  In  this  .sec- 
ond edifice  many  of  the  present  residents  of  Mer- 
rick received  their  education ;  and  for  years  this 
school  produced  the  best  scholars  and  gave  the 


most  thorough  instruction  of  any  on  Long  Isl- 
and. The  early  teacher  lived  on  the  premises, 
sleeping  over  the  school  room,  and  cooking  his 
frugal  meals  upon  the  rough  apology  of  a  box 
stove.  It  is  said  of  one  that  his  chief  nutri- 
ment was  derived  from  buckwheat  cakes  in  their 
season,  and  other  kinds  of  cakes  during  the  rest 
of  the  year.  An  "old  boy"  remembers  that  his 
teacher  was  famous  for  his  skill  in  cooking, 
''and  when  the  process  was  about  to  comimence 
the  scholars  gathered  around  to  watch  him  flop 
the  cakes  on  top  of  the  hot  iron." 

The  Merrick  of  to-day  is  a  delightful  resi- 
dential city,  affording  all  the  advantages  of  the 
day.'  The  principal  church  is  the  Church  of 
the  Redeemer,  Protestant  Episcopal.  Its  prop- 
erty was  originally  the  old  Union  Church  before 
referred  to,  upon  which  was  erected  a  new  edi- 
fice, which  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Littk- 
john,  July  26,  1887.  In  the  following  year  a 
rectory  was  built. 

The  villagers  feel  a  just  pride  in  the  Mer- 
rick Free  Circulating  Library.  This  had  its 
beginning  through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
proprietors  of  "The  Messenger,"  a  parish  jour- 
nal, and  at  first  consisted  of  about  fifty  con- 
tributed volumes  kept  upon  improvised  shelves  in 
the  hay  loft  of  a  vacant  stable.  Mr.  Edward 
C.  Cammann  gave  to  the  library  his  untiring 
interest,  and  used  his  means  liberally,  and  the 
Merrick  Library  (now  incorporated)  occupies  a 
neat  building  of  its  own,  a  goodly  collection  of 
books,  and  a  valuable  museum  of  Long  Isl- 
and relics  and  curios  which  is  receiving  constant 
additions. 

About  one  mile  from  the  village,  on  the 
Whale  Neck  Road,  are  the  grounds  of  the  Long 
Island  Camp  Meeting  Association,  comprising 
nearly  sixty  acres,  upon  which  are  nearly  sixty 
residences.  The  first  cOiSt  of  grounds  and  build- 
ings was  about  $26,000.  The  Association  was 
formed  in  1864,  and  was  a  moving  body  until 
1869,  when  it  located  permanently  at  Merrick. 
During  the  summer  months  the  cottages  are 
well  filled,  making  a  little  community  of  three 
hundred  people,  and  this  number  is  largely  in- 
creased during  the  regular  camp  meeting  sea- 


106 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


son.  The  superintendent  has  known  as  many 
as  ten  thousand  people  present  at  one  time,  but 
there  was  a  touch  of  regret  in  his  accompanying 
statement  that  this  was  before  Coney  Island  and 
Long  Beach  had  become  so  attractive. 

Probably  the  most  widely  known  portion  of 
the  town  of  Hempstead,  the  portion  which  at- 
tracts the  greatest  number  of  visitors  each  re- 
turning year,  and  has  done  so  for  nearly  half  a 
century,  is  the  great  sand  bar  which  practically 
stretches  along  the  entire  south  front  of  Long 
Island,  forming  a  succession  of  inland  seas — 
Hempstead  iBay,  Jamaica  Bay  and  South  Bay — 
and  which  is  now  knowni  by  various  names.  The 
part  included  in  Hempstead  township,  and  now 
called  Long  Beach — virtually  a  continuation  of 


AN  INSHORE  SCENE. 

Rockaway  Beach — has  become  famous  as  Far 
Rockaway,  now  incorporated  in  the  Greater  New 
York. 

According  to  Mr.  William  S.  Pettit's  "History 
of  the  Rockaways,"  from  which  our  information 
is  in  part  derived,  the  land  was  purchased  from 
the  Indian  occupants  in  1685  by  Captain  John 
Palmer,  and  comprised  nearly  all  upon  which 
stand  the  villages  of  Far  Rockaway,  Edgemere, 
Arverne  and  Rockaway  Beach.  For  this  tract, 
now  worth  many  millions  of  dollars,  the  pur- 


chaser paid  a  trifle  more  than  £25.  in  money, 
spme  liquor,  fire  arms  and  wampum:  With  the 
surrender  of  their  lands  went  the  name  of  their 
tribe,  Re-kan-a-wa-ha-ha,  signifying  "we  live 
near  laughing  waters/'  which  by  corruption  be- 
came Rockaway. 

About  1687  Palmer  sold  his  possessions  to 
Richard  Cornwall,  at  a  considerable  advance  over 
his  investment,  the  purchase  being  for  £200.  The 
entire  tract  was  held  in  the  Cornwall  family  as 
late  as  1809,  and  portions  of  it  are  yet  held  by  its 
descendants,  who  are  legion,  and  extend  through- 
out the  entire  United  States.  The  old  family 
homestead  was  erected  about  1690,  near  the  site 
of  the  Dickerson  mansion  in  the  village  of  Wave 
Crest,  and  stood  until  1833,  when  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  The  old  family 
burying  ground  is  yet  to  be  seen-. 
In  '1720  a  school  was  estabhshed, 
its  founding  growing  out  of  a  letter 
addressed  by  Mr.  Thomas  to  "The 
Venerable  Society  of  the  Town," 
in  which  he  requests  a  money  grant 
wherewith  to  employ  a  catechisf, 
setting  forth  that  "the  children 
hereof,  for  want  of  letters  and  ed- 
ucation, are  as  Avild,  uncultivated 
and-  unimproved  as  the  soil  was 
when  their  fathers  first  had  it.'' 
At  a  later  'day  a  school-mistress 
was  employed,,  and,  'according  to 
the  records,  the  vestry  allowed  her 
forty  shillings,  "to  be  dealt  out  to 
her  a  little  at  a  time  so  as  to  last 
her  all  winter."  In  1735  Colonel 
Cornwall  entertained  Governor 
Cosby  and  his  family,  Who  were  greatly 
pleased  with  their  reception  and  with  the  place. 
In  1748  the  widow  of  John  Cornell  (a  corruption 
of  Cornwall)  manumitted  her  slaves,  eight  in 
number.  During  the  Revolutionary  period  the 
inhabitants  took  no  active  part  in  war,  the  great 
majority  of  them  being  Quakers. 

This  portion  of  Long  Island  was  a  fashion- 
able resort  for  pleasure  seekers  from  the  metrop- 
olis as  long  ago  as  two-thirds  of  a  century.  The 
"New  York  Mirror"  said  in  1833 : 


HEMPSTEAD. 


107 


"For  a  number  of  years  the  Rockaway 
beac'h  has  attracted  numbers  of  our  to"wnsmeu 
with  their  famiHes  to  that  healthful  and  agreea- 
ble part  of  Long  Island.  The  -atmosphere 
there  is  fresh,  cool  and  delightful ;  invalids  soon 
find  themselves  invigorated  by  the  constant 
sea  breeze ;  and  the  tired  denizen  of  the  town, 
whose  scorching  pavements  have  long  blistered 
his  feet,  and  whose  heterogeneous  and  fanciful 
odors  from  gutters,  sewers,  piles  of  filth,  dust 
and  smoke,  have  regaled  his  olfactory  organ, 
finds  a  plunge  (5r  two  in  the  Atlantic  a  truly 
delicious  luxury.  They  have  a  real  pleasure 
in  prospective,  who  have  never  iridden  do^wn 
to  that  broad,  white,  endless,  magnificent 
beach,  where  the  heavy  swell  of  the  ocean  rolls 
so  superbly  to  the  snowy  and  silvery  sand. 
One  after  another  forever  the  waves  come 
heaving,  swelling,  breaking,  tumbling,  flashing, 
foaming  and  roaring  in.  Hither  the  stranger 
delights  to  resort  when  the  fervor  of  the  long 
summer  day  begins  to  abate.  For  miles  and 
miles  around  ithe  eye  wanders  over  the  dead 
level.  Fearless  of  interruption,  he  loves  to 
feel  the  grateful,  wet,  velvet  sand  crushed  be- 
neath his  feet  as  he  wanders  into  the  f^eani- 
ing  tide,  for  the  next  billow.  Soon  it  comes ; 
he  takes  his  place  so  as  to  stand  exactly  within 
its  green,  transparent  curve,  when  it  lifts  its 
head  just  in  the  act  of  breaking.  The  emerald 
wall  rises  suddenly  before  him,  and,  with  a 
skillful  spring,  he  plunges  headlong  into  the 
liquid  'mass,  which  bursts  above  him  with 
stately  and  measured  sweep,  while,  with  a  few 
well  timed  strokes,  or,  with  an  attitude  braced 
with  more  than  ordinary  care,  he  stems  the 
swift  current  of  the  returning  flood,  rejoicing 
in  this  exercise  of  his  amphibio'us  abilities,  till 
some  crab,  perhaps  as  large  as  his  thumb  nail, 
seizes  him  by  the  foot,  as  if  the  ocean  were 
not  big  enough  for  them  both,  and  warns  him 
that  he  is  but  a  timid  intruder  in  the  empire 
of  Neptune." 

Howe,  in  a  history  written  in  1841,  said  "Far 
Rockaway,  about  twenty-nine  miles  from  New 
York  (by  the  old  road),  has  grown  into  import- 
ance as  a  fashionable  watering  place.  The  Marine 
Pavilion,  a  splendid  hotel,  was  erected  here  in 
1834,  near  the  beach,  seventy  rods  from  the 
ocean."  This  celebrated  caravansary  stood  near 
the  Cheever  m|ansion  in  Wave  Crest,  and  was 
erected  by  an  association  of  New  York  men  of 
wealth  and  leisure  at  a  cost  of  $43,000. 


Of  this  Thompson  wrote:  "It  is  a  large 
and  splendid  edifice  standing  upon  the  margin 
of  the  Atlantic,  and  has  hitherto  been  kept  in  a 
style  not  excelled  by  any  hotel  in  the  Union. 
The  main  building  is  two  hundred  and  thirty 
feet  front,  with  wings,  one  of  which  is  seventy- 
five,  and  the  other  forty-five  feet  long.  The 
peristyles  are  of  the  Ionic  order,  the  piazza  be- 
ing two  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  in  length  by 
twenty  in  width.  The  dining  room  i&  eighty  feet 
long,  and  the  drawing  room  fifty.  The  sleeping 
apartments  number  one  hundred  and  sixty." 
This  splendid  old  hotel,  miemorable  for  its  old- 
time  hospitality  and  the  distinguished  persons 
who  patronized  it,  among  whom  were  conspicu- 
ousi — ^Longfellow,  N.  P.  Willis,  Washington  Irv- 
ing, Trumbull,  the  artist,  and  General  George 
P.  Morris,  and  Herbert — was  destroyed  by  fire, 
June  25,  1864. 

Other  celebrities  of  their  day  made  their  sum- 
mer homes  in  this  region,  among  them  the  Frank- 
lins, of  Philadelphia ;  the  Blennerhassets,  of 
Blennerhasset,  on  the  Mississippi;  the  Livings- 1 
tons,  of  Livingston  Manor ;  the  Van  Rensselaers, 
descendants  of  the  famous  patroon ;  Admiral 
Wilkes;  the  Bleeckers,  the  Hoffmans,  the  As- 
pinwalls,  and  the  famous  Mme.  Jumel,  widow  of 
Aaron  Burr. 

Until  1832,  when  the  Long  Island  Railroad 
built  its  line  from  Brooklyn  to  Jamaica,  all  travel 
to  the  region  was  by  carriage  and  stage  coach, 
driving  hy  way  of  Hempstead.  Before  the  bar 
wasi  formed  opposite  Far  Rockaway,  the  beach 
at  low  tide  stretched  out  many  rods  and  was 
known  as  The  Strand.  Here,  as  told  by  Mr. 
Pettit,  in  his  brig'ht  little  monograph,  "during 
the  height  of  the  season  it  was  custom(ary  to  see 
the  white  sand  dotted  with  portable  tents,  under 
whose  shelter  were  groups  of  gay  young  folk 
from  the  city  and  adjoining  towns.  Bathing 
was  then  carried  on  in  a  peculiar  fashion.  The 
bath  houses  were  on  wheels  and  driven  directly 
into  the  surf.  The  bath  chair  was  also  in  vogue. 
The  scene  resembled  that  of  Brighton,  in  Eng- 
land." 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury various  delightful  little  villages  sprang  up. 


108 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Lawrence  received  its  name  from  Mr.  John  Law- 
rence. He  had  desired  to  here  found  a  "New 
Venice,"  but  the  natural  obstacles  were  insuper- 
able, and  he  learned  with  Byron  that  "man's 
control  stops  with  the  shore."  Lawrence  is  a 
beautiful  residential  spot,  charming  in  its  scen- 
ery, and  possesses  all  the  advantages  desirable  to 
a  cultured  community.  Cedarhurst  takes  its 
name  from  the  exuberant  primeval  trees  which 


LAWRENCE. 

surround  it.  It  fronts  upon  Hempstead  Bay, 
and  commands  every  .advantage  of  siea  and  shore. 
Here  an  ultra-fashionable  set  Have  erected  their 
beautiful  summer  cottages,  and  here  is  the  lav- 
ishly appointed  home  of  the  Rockaway  Hunt 
Club,  an  organization  which  has  added  greatly 
to  the  popularity  of  polo  throughout  the  neigh- 
borhood. In  1880  Mr.  R.  Vernon  found  a  bleak 
expanse  of  sand  where  now  stands  the  pleasant 
village  "Arverne,"  its  name  coined  from  its  own, 
or,  more  properly,  a  counterfeit  thereof.  Edge- 
mere  has  become  a  fashionable  summer  resort 
through  the  establishment  of  the  magnificent 
hotel  bearing  its  name,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
aristocratic  houses  of  entertainment  on  the  en- 
tire Atlantic  coast. 

Far  Rockaway,  known  by  its  prefix  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  Rockaway,  taking  the  shire 
town,  Hempstead,  as  the  view  point,  is,  par  ex- 
cellence, the  most  attractive  home  spot  upon 
Long  Island  for  the  business  man  of  the  metrop- 


olis. A  veritable  city  by  the  sea,  it  enjoys  all  the 
advantages  of  proximity  to  and  distance  from 
the  great  mart  of  finance  and  trade.  It  is  readily 
accessible,  but,  when  reached,  all  the  hurly-burly, 
whether  of  business  or  the  extremes  of  amuse- 
ment, disappears.  The  residences  are  of  all  ar- 
chitectural styles,  and  all  are  pleasing  to  the 
eye.  The  streets  are  well  mlade  and  abundantly 
shaded,  and  the  driveways  into  the  surround- 
ing country  are  unsurpassed.  The 
various  religious  bodies  occupy 
beautiful  houses  of  worship.  The 
educational  facilities  are  exception- 
ally excellent.  The  high  school 
and  grammar  school,  with  their 
efficient  corps  of  teachers,  stand 
second  to  none  in  educational  ad- 
vantages. The  attractive,  con- 
venient and  imposing  high  school 
'building  was  erected  in  1894.  Since 
that  time  the  school  has  grown  to 
a  surprising  extent.  In  1896  it  was 
necessary  to  add  two  wings  on  the 
north  and  south  ends,  thus  nearly 
doubling  the  size  of  the  original 
building.  In  1900  a  well  equipped 
was  added,  together  with  a  new 
several  hundred  volumes.  Dur- 
ing the  early  part  of  last  year  the  Board  of 
Education  set  up  a  physical  laboratory  and  busi- 
ness department,  which  is  a  new  and  admirable 
feature  of  public  school  education.  As  this  work 
ia  nearing  completion,  it  is  about  to  begin  the 
work  of  building  a  $20,000  library  building,  pro- 
vided for  under  the  library  establishment  benevo- 
lence of  Mr,  Andrew  Carnegie,  the  great  steel 
manufacturer. 

West  of  Far  Rockaway  lies  beautiful  Jamaica 
Bay,  on  the  shore  of  which  nestle  many  unique 
and  handsome  cottages.  The  Bayswater  Yacht 
Club,  incorporated  in  1892,  lies  situated  some 
four  hundred  feet  from  the  shore,  surrounded 
by  water.  This  is  the  m,eeting  place  for  those 
who  are  fond  of  yachting  and  social  pleasures. 
On  its  roll  of  membership  are  to  be  found  the 
names  of  Judge  Edmund  J.  Healy,  John  M. 
Frucks,    S.    B.    Althause,  Thomas   Henderson, 


gymnasumi 
librar}'-    of 


HEMPSTEAD. 


109 


Watkiii  W.  Jones,  Edgar  iNIott,  Richard  Mott, 
.F.  L.  Richmond,  Daniel  Whitford,  John  Rene- 
han,  John  Dohse,   David  N.   Carvalho,   Charles 

E.  Pretz,  Rev.  Henry  Alesier,  E.  A.  Brinker- 
hoff,  Sr.,  Frederick  'Hawley,  Hubert  Cillis,  John 
Guilfoyle,  John  W  F.  Nicols,  P.  F.  Griffin, 
Frank  jNI.  Cronise,  Franklin  B.  Lord,  Louis  J. 
Bosaert,  John  F.  Schumann,  Edward  Roche,  An- 
drew McTig'ue,  E.  N.  Dickerson,  Hermann 
Miller,  ^Malcolm  R-  Lawrence,  Harold  Werner, 
John  N.  ~\Ioser,  John  W.  Masury,  H.  G.  Heyson, 

F.  J.  Heney,  S.  N.  Decker,  C.  R.  Betts.  A.  C. 
Haynes,  J.  A.  North.  D.  L.  Starks,  William  J. 
Buckley,  R.  W.  Buckle,  Otto  L.  Roche,  Andrew 
L.  Sullivan,  Frank  Jenkins,  Philip  R.  Simmonds, 


WAVE  CREST. 

Houghton  Wheeler,  James  Lynch,  Henry  Friel- 
man  and  others-. 

The  property  designated  as  Wave  Crest  (so 
named  by  -Mr.  John  H.  Cheever)  on  the  west 
boundary  of  Far  Rockaway,  includes  the  land 
form,erly  owned  by  the  Marine  Pavilion  Associa- 
tion, and  what  was  known  as  the  Clark  estate. 
Until  a  recent  date  the  grounds  were  enclosed 
as  a  private  park,  with  lodges  at  the  entrances. 

To-day  the  gates  of  Wave  Crest  are  open 
to  the  public  and  it  is  the  delight  of  all  to  drive 
through  the  picturesque  park,  with  its  meander- 
ing roads  and  beautiful  lake.  Among  the  resi- 
dents .are':  Messrs.  A.  W.  Nicholson,  E.  A. 
Brinkerhoif,  John  Cowdin,  Murray,  Benjamin 
F.  lEinstein,  L  A.  Bach,  M.  Foster,  Louis  Auer- 
bach,  Lowenstein  and  A.  J.  'Bach,  Mrs.  E.  N. 
Dickson   and   Mrs.  J.    Cheever. 

Perhaps  before  closing  this  sketch  it  would 
be  appropriate  to  tell  what  finally  became  of  the 


Rockaway  tribe  of  Indians.     Alas!     They  met 
the  same  sad  fate  as  the  Mohicans. 

To  the  whites  these  aborigines  were  jus't, 
generous  and  hospitable,  and  less  warlike  than 
m'any  other  tribes  of  North  America.  Their  ad- 
mirable qualities  were  esteemed  by  our  Quaker 
forefathers,  and,  from  the  time  of  the  treaty  of 
1657,  there  never  was  an  actual  breach  of  friend- 
ship between  the  English  and  the  Rockaway  In- 
dians. 

After  the  natives  sold  their  property  at  Far 
Rockaway,  for  a  few  cents  an  acre,  they  moved 
eastward  to  Cedarhurst  and  lived  for  nearly  a 
century  in  that  vicinity,  thence  removing  in  a 
body  to  Barnum's  Island,  at  East  Rockaway,  and 
there,  with  the  aid  of  the  white 
man's  firewater,  they  went,  one  by 
one,  to  the  happy  hunting  grounds. 
For  them  the  beau'tiful  waters 
laugh  no  more,  for  the  J)ale-faces 
are  masters  of  the  earth,  and  the 
time  of  the  red  man  has  gone, 
never  to  returm. 

One  of  their  number,  however, 
survives  in  memory,  and  his  name 
will  endure  long  after  many  who 
aided  in  thrusting  his  people  from 
off  the  face  of  the  earth  shall  have 
been  forgotten.  This  one  was 
Culluloo  Telawana,  the  last  of  the  sachems  of 
the  Rockaway  tribe,  and,  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Takapousha. 
He  was  personally  known  to  Mr.  Abraham^  Hew- 
lett, when  he  was  a  boy  and  the  chief  was  an 
aged  man.  And  over  the  grave  of  the  last  rep- 
resentative of  an  ancient  people,  stands  a  beauti- 
ful monument  bearing  the  following  inscription : 

Here  lived  and  died 

Culluloo  Telawana 

A.  D.  1818, 

The  last  of  the  Rockaway 

Iroquois  Indians, 

Who  was  personally  known  to  me 

in  my  boyhood. 

I,  owning  the  land,  have 

erected  this  monument 

to  him  and  his  tribe. 

Abraham'  Hewlett.  1 


CHAPTER  V. 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD. 


HE  present  town  of  North  Hempstead 
was  taken  from  the  original  Hempstead 
township  in  1784.  It  hes  upon  Long 
Island  Sound  between  Hempstead  Har- 
bor and  I^ittle  Neck  Bay,  while  to  the  south  it  ex- 
tends to  the  center  of  Hempstead  Plains.  It.  was 
computed  to  contain  34,470  acres.  A  range  of 
hills  extend  east  and  west  near  the  center,  and 
from  them  spurs  extend  to  the  Sound,  giving  to 
the  northern  part  of  the  township  a  ipeculiarly 
hilly  character.  The  coast  line  is  rocky  and  rugged 
and  is  indented  with  several  deep  and  irregular 
has — Hempstead  Harbor,  Manhasset  Bay,  and 
with  several  "points/'  Hewlett's,  Sand's,  Baker's 
- — while  immediately  off  the  coast  are  a  great 
number  of  half  sunken  rocks — such  as  the  Exe- 
cution Rock — and  the  whole  coast  line,  as  may 
readily  be  conceived,  is  dangerous  to  navigation. 
The  soil,  as  a  general  rule,  is  light  and  sandy, 
but  in  the  northern  section  is  a  stretch  of  loai^' 
which  is  markedly  adapted  to  farming  purposes. 
Harbor  Hill  is  the  highest  point  on  Long 
Island — 380  feet  above  tide  water.  This  has  long 
been  a  favorite  observation  poitit,  commanding 
an  unsurpassable  view  of  sea  and  land.  From 
its  summit  may  be  had  a  comprehensive  birdV 
eye  view  of  Long  Island,  of  Connecticut  and  the 
Atlantic  ocean.  On  a  clear  day— when  the  air 
is  not  laden  with  the  foul  smoke  from  soft  coal, 
as  during  the  recent  tie-up  of  the  anthracite 
fields — the  Brooklyn  Bridge  and  many  of  the 
great  sky-scraper  buildings  of  New  York  City 
are  visible  to  the  naked  eye. 


While,  however,  the  coast  is  dangerous,  it  is 
very  beautiful,  sometimes  beautiful  even  in  its 
ruggedness  and  desolation,  somfetimes  in  its 
stretches  of  sand,  its  coves  and  eddies,  and  many 
charming  villas  have  been  erected  in  these  open 
places,  notably  on  Great  Neck,  and  quite  a  num- 
ber of  private  residences  have  sprung  up  in  its  vi- 
cinity. Communication  with  New  York  by  rail 
is  ample,  while  from  Boston,  Glen  Cove,  Sea 
Cliff  and  other  placets  there  are  abundant  facilities 
for  water  commlunication  with  the  great  city. 

At  the  northern  extremity  of  Cow  'Neck, 
where  it  projects  itself  well  out  into  the  Sound, 
the  national  government  in  1809  erected  the  fa- 
mous Sands  Point  light-house,  upon  a  five-acre 
tract  of  land  purchased  from  'Benjamin  Hewlett. 
The  light-house  was  built  by  Captain  Noah  Ma- 
son, who  was  its  first  keeper  and  had  charge 
of  it  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1841. 
Forty  yearsj  later  a  light-house  was  erected  about 
a  half-mile  northward  from  the  Sands  Point 
light,  on  what  has  been  long  known  as  "Execu- 
tion Rock,"  a  dangerous  stretch  of  reef  directly 
in  the  course  of  vessels  passing  into  or  out  from 
the  metropolis.  During  the  war  with  Great 
Britain  this  point  was  (September  10,  1814)  the 
scene  of  an  engagement  between  the  British 
frigate  "Acosta"  and  a  flotilla  of  thirty  Amer- 
ican gunboats. 

The  earliest  settlement  of  Which  we  have 
record  was  in  1640,  when  a  party  of  adventurers 
from  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  armed  with  a  per- 
mit from!  Lord  Stirling's  agent,  .landed  on  the 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD. 


Ill 


west  side  of  Cow's  Neck,  tore  down  the  arms  of 
the  Netherlands,  which  they  saw  nailed  to  a 
tree,  so  that  all  the  world  might  know  their 
"High  Mightinesses"  held  sway  there,  and  carved 
a  fool's  face  on  the  tree  in  its  'stead.  Then  they 
took  possession  of  the  land,  erected  dwellings 
and  entered  into  negotiations  with  the  Indians 
for  the  sale  of  a  generous  slice  of  the  soil.  The 
aborigines,  however,  carried  information  of  these 
wayward  doings  to  Governor  Kieft,  and  the 
blood  of  that  peppery  little  man  boiled  with  in- 
dignation at  the  recital.  The  settlement,  un- 
•  authorized  as  it  was,  might  be  forgiven  and 
arranged,  but  the  insult  to  the  arms  of  the  Fa- 
therland could  not  be  condoned.  So  he  sient 
twenty-five  picked" soldiers  to  Cow  Bay  and  made 
short  work  with  the  settlers.  They  took  most 
of  them  captives,  demolished  their  houses  and 
effectually  quenched  their  aspirations.  Many  of 
those  thus  summarily  dispossessed  aided  in  the 
settlement  of  Southampton.  The  more  method- 
ical settlemlent  under  Fordham  and  Carman  in 
1644  (referred  to  in  another  chapter)  'was 
arranged  peacefully  enough,  and  settlements 
gradually  spread  north  as  well  as  south  from 
Hempstead  village.  In  1676  Great  Neck  was 
fairly  well  settled  and  the  records  tell  of  other 
early  colonies. 

North  Hempstead  has  always  been  pre-em- 
inently an  agricultural  town.  A  few  grist  mills 
and  other  small  manufactories  were  scattered 
about  in  favorable  locations,  but  the  'principal 
occupation  of  the  inhabitants  was  the  tillage  of 
the  soil.  The  location  of  the  township  upon  Long 
Island  Sound,  with  its  shores  indented  by  deep 
and  safe  harbors,  offered  peculiar  facilities  for 
the  cheap  and  easy  carriage  of  its  products  to 
market,  and  before  the  construction  of  railways 
regular  lines  of  market  boats  made  frequent 
trips  to  New  York  and  convenient  landings  upon 
the  shore.  Both  the  products  of  the  soil  and 
the  manner  of  obtaining  them  have  varied  great- 
ly since  the  first  settlement  of  the  country.  The 
early  farmers  cultivated  a  great  variety  of  crops, 
some  of  which,  such  as  tobacco  and  flax,  have 
long  since  been  abandoned.  The  proximity  and 
rapid  growth  of  the  great  cities  of  New  York 


and  Brooklyn  constantly  modified  the  conditions 
tmder  which  profitable  farming  could  be  con- 
ducted on  Long  Island. 

Among  the  early  settlers  was  the  family  of 
Sands,  who  figure  elsewhere  in  this  work.  They 
were  very  large  landowners  and  held  a  large 
tract  about  Sands  Point,  which  took  its  name 
from  them.  This  family  is  now  ah  but  extinct 
in  the  region  to  which  their  ancestors  first  camie. 
Other  early  families  dating  back  to  colonial 
times,  of  whom  there  are  many  descendants, 
were  as  follows:  Allen,  Brinkerhoft',  Bogart, 
Burtis,  Cornwall,  Cox,  Cock,  Denton,  Dodge, 
Hewlett,  Hegeman,  Hicks,  Hoagland,  Kissam, 
Mitchell,  Morrell,  Mott,  Onderdonk,  Piatt,  Pear- 
sail,  Post,  Powell,  Robbins,  Remsen,  Rapelyea, 
Schenck,  Smith,  Sands,  Titus,  Treadwell, 
Thorne,  Underbill,  Valentine,  Willets,  Willis, 
Williams  and  Woolley.  There  were  alsoi  those 
of  the  following  names,  many  of  whom  have 
now  no  recognizable  posterity:  Appleby,  Adri- 
ance,  Albertson,  Baker,  Burr,  Burt,  Bedell,  Ben- 
nett, Baldwin,  Baxter,  Craft,  Covert.  Crooker, 
Carpenter,  Cheeseman,  Cornell,  Duryea,  Down- 
ing, Demilt,  Ellison,  Frost,  Foster,  Fowler, 
Hutchings,  Haines,  Haviland,  Hawkshurst, 
Hagner,  Ketcham,  Kirk,  Kirby,  Jackson,  Jarvis, 
Lewis,  Losee,  Layton,  -Mudge,  Nostrand,  Peters, 
Poole,  'Sell,  Seaman,  Sealy,  Townsend,  Toffey, 
Van  Nostrand,  Van  Wyck,  Vandewater,  Van 
Dyne,  Whitson,  Wood  and  Wiggins.  The  most 
prominent  of  these  are  named  in  connection  with 
important  events  of  their  time. 

Adam  Mott  was  a  resident  of  the  village  of 
Hempstead,  but  he  also  owned  large  tracts  of 
land  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  North  Hemlp- 
stead,  to  which  the  family  subsequently  removed. 
His  will  is  of  peculiar  interest,  affording  us  some 
knowledge  of  the  particularity  of  the  prudent, 
methodical  man  of  his  day: 

"I,  Adam  J\[ott,  lying  now  very  weak,  do 
now  declare  this  to  be  my  last  will  and  testa- 
ment from  this  day,  I  being  through  God's 
mercy  in  my  right  senses.  I  do  humbly  sur- 
render and  give  my  soul  and  spirit  to  God 
which  gave  it  me,  and  my  body  to  the  earth, 
to  be  buried  in  decent  manner;  that  all  just 


112 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


debts  that  shall  be  made  appear  shall  be  paid 
justly  to  the  creditors  so  applying.  I  do  give 
to  my  eldest  son,  Adam  Mott,  fifty  acres  of 
land  that  he  is  to  take  up  and  five  shillings  in 
money ;  to  my  son  Jeames  I  give  two  cows  and 
a  hollow  lying  by  the  Harbor  parth  and  my 
Kersey  westcoat  and  my  Searsy  drawers  and 
my  new  Hatt ;  to  my  daughter  Grace  I  give 
four  great  pewter  platters,  and  those  Hollows 
lying  between  the  Great  Rim  and  Tanner's 
Hook,  those  two  hollows  which  lyeth  on  the 
left  hand  of  the  parth  going  to  the  Town  from 
Madnan's  Neck,  and  three  Hollows  lying  on 
next  to  the  other  side  of  the  parth  by  the  great 
Run,  the  said  land  to  remain  to  her  and  her 
heirs  forever ;  to  my  son  John  I  do  give  m.y 
Lott  of  Meadow  lying  at  the  Wheat  Neck 
and  my  Hollow:  lying  by  the  Harbor  parth, 
to  my  son  Joseph  I  give  a  hundred  acres  of 
land  where  he  shall  see  good  to  take  up  for  his 
use  'which  is  yet  untaken  up,  and  a  Hollow 
lying  by  the  West  Hollow  in  the  Sandy  Hol- 
lo.w.  To  my  Gershom  I  do  give  five  cows ;  to 
my  son  Henry's  three  children  I  do  give  one 
two  years  old  Heifer.  To  my  dear  wife  Eliza- 
beth Mott  and  all  the  children  I  have  by  her 
I  do  give  and  bequeath  my  house  and  lott  upon 
Madman's  Neck,  and  with  all  the  rest  of  my 
said  Estate  except  mentioned  in  my  will  afore- 
said, Moveables  and  Immoveables,  with  all 
and  every  part  thereof,  to  stand  and  remain  to 
my  wife  and  children,  only  my  House  and  Or- 
chard and  home  Lott  at  Hempstead  and  the 
Mill  Hollow  in  particular  I  do  give  to  my 
younger  son  Adam.  But  in  case  my  wife  Eliza- 
beth should  see  cause  to  marry,  that  then  the 
Estate  which  I  have  given  to  my  wife  and 
children  shall  be  Equally  divided  into  four 
parts,  and  my  wife  Elizabeth  to  have  and  en- 
joy the  one  part  and  those  children  which  I 
have  had  by  ber  shall  have  the  other  three 
parts,  to  be  Equally  divided  between  them. 
And  I  do  give  unto  my  wife  Elizabeth  for  her 
life  time,  If  she  shall  \see  Cause,  my  House 
and  Land  on  Madnan's  Neck  and  a  Lott  of 
Meado'W ;  and  If  my  Wife  doth  Remain  a  Wid- 
ow^ that  [there  should  be  none  of  the  children 
to  enjoy  any  of  the  said  Estate  until  they  mar- 
ry. Except  that  my  wife  shall  see  cause  to  the 
Contrary.  As  to  four  proprietyships  which 
I  have  in  the  bounds  of  Hempstead  I  do  give 
untO'  my  wife  Elizabeth  and  her  children,  first 
to  take  her  choice  of  two  of  the  said  propriety- 
ships  and  the  Other  two  to  be  Equally  divided 
amongst  my  four  Eldest  Sons  in  Equall  pro- 
portions; and  with  all  and  Every  Part  of  this 


my  will  and  Testament  I  do  heartily  desire 
may  be  performed  in  all  particulars,  as  wit- 
ness my  hand  and  seal,  this  12th  day  of  March 
Anno  Dom.  1681." 

The  history  of  the  town  is  closely  inter- 
woven with  that  of  Hempstead,  from  which  it 
was  separated.  Cow  Neck,  containing  about 
6,000  acres  of  land,  was  at  the  earliest  settlement 
of  the  original  town  of  Hempstead  used  prin- 
cipally for  pasturing  cattle  by  the  inhabitants  of 
other  portions  of  the  town.  Great  Neck,  con- 
taining about  4,000  acres  of  land  and  formerly 
known  as  Madnan's  Neck,  was  earliest  per- 
manently settled,  religious  services  being  estab- 
lished there  as  "early  as  1676.  For  a  long  period 
and  up  to  about  1676  Cow  Neck  continued  to 
be  used  by  residents  in  distant  parts  of  the  town. 

The  majority  of  the  settlers  in  this  township 
were  opposed  to  the  separation  from  the  mother 
country^  but  the  narrative  of  these  events  is 
contained  elsewhere,  and  we  pass  over  the  Revo- 
lutionary period.  It  need  only  be  said  that  the 
British  occupation  unsettled  all  order  and  author- 
ity except  that  upheld  by  the  rigors  of  martial 
law,  and  all  classes  of  the  people  suffered  from 
its  continuance. 

The  real  history  of  North  Hempstead,  as  re- 
lated to  the  present,  began  in  1784,  when  the 
conflict  was  well  over,  and  "King  George 
reigned  no  more."  At  that  time  the  supervisor 
(the  first)  was  Adrian  Onderdonk,  grandfather 
of  Henry  Onderdonk,  Jr.,  of  Jamaica,  the  well 
known  industrious  historian.  But  there  re- 
mained some  traces  of  the  recent  unpleasantness. 
Under  a  trespass  law  enacted  by  the  legislature, 
now  composed  almost  entirely  of  men  who  had 
waged  war  upon  the  British,  either  as  soldiers  or 
helpful  non-comibatants,  suits  were  brought 
against  all  who  were  reachable  who  had  rendered 
themselves  obnoxious  by  impressing  property  un- 
der the  British  authority,  and  many  farmers  re- 
covered damages  for  animals,  feed-stuffs  and 
other  property  taken.  Two  farms  were  confis- 
cated to  the  State — one  at  Flower  Hill,  compris- 
ing 330  acres,  belonging  to  Daniel  Kissam,  and 
which  was  bid  in  by  his-  widow  for  £2,000,  and 
one  belonging  to  a  -Ludlow.     About  the  same 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD. 


lis 


time  the  Whigs  of  North  Hempstead,  in  order 
to  separate  themselves  from  the  LoyaHsts  of 
South  Hempstead,  procured  a  legislative  act  di- 
viding the  town  "by  the  line  of  the  county  road." 

From  the  very  first,  North  Hempstead  has 
been  a  religious  comlmunity,  and  it  became  a 
stronghold  of  Quakerism  and  Methodism.  At 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  town 
contained  four  houses  of  worship — the  Reformed 
Church  near  Success  Lake  (now  Lakeville), 
erected  in  1732;  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Searington ;  a  Friends'  meeting  house  at  West- 
bury  and  another  at  Manhasset. 

The  Reformed  Church  was  organized  April 
II,  1730,  out  of  the  Hollanders  m  the  vicinity — 
the  Schenck,  Onderdonk,  R.apelyea,  Bogart,  Rem- 
sen,  Rhodes,  Van  Nostrand,  Brinkerhoff,  Cor- 
nell and  other  families.  A  huilding  site  was  pur- 
chased at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  shillings,  and  a 
building  fund  amounting  to  £173  i6s  was  se- 
cured by  subscription,  with  which  a  house  of 
worship  was  erected,  as  appears  fromi  the  date  on 
the  corner  stone,  in  1732.  'It  was  an  octagonal 
structure,  about  fifty  by  sixty  feet,  the  largest 
church  edifice  in  Queens  county  at  the  time,  with 
a  steep  pyramidal  roof.  The  seats  were  let  at 
twenty-five  shillings  for  men,  and  twenty  shill- 


of  the  churches  at  Newton  and  Jamaica,  and 
services  were  held  but  once  a  month.  The  first 
minister  was  Johannes  Henricus  Goetschius,  who 
came  from  Holland  at  their  call  in  1741.  Sol- 
omon Froeleigh  became  pastor  in  1775.  His  was 
a  troublous  experience.  Being  an  ardent  Whig, 
the  British  forced  him'  to  flee,  and  in  a  later 
year  he  withdrew  from  the  denomination.  There 
were  no  services  from^  1775  to  1785,  when  Rynier 
Van  Nest  became  the  mi'inister.  In  1813  the  peo- 
ple living  in  the  northern  part  of  the  parish  with- 
drew to  form  a  church  at  Manhasset,  and  this  so 
weakened  the  parent  congregation  that  it  dis- 
b'anded,  and  the  old  church  was  sold  and  razed 
to  the  .ground. 

When  Philip  Cox,  the  first  Methodist  cir- 
cuit preacher  on  Long  Island,  came  in  1784,  he 
found  a  miserable  condition  of  afifairs.  The  so- 
ciety at  Jamaica  had  become  extinct,  and  the  two 

8 


remaining  societies  at  Newtown  and  Comae  num- 
bered but  twenty-four  members  in  the  aggre- 
gate. Mr.  Cox  preached  in  Searington,  in  the 
house  of  Hannah  Searing,  an  aged  widow 
woman,  "and  very  many  attended  until  an  alarm 
was  sounded  that  the  false  prophets  foretold  in 
Scripture  had  come.  The  word  of  truth,  how- 
ever, did  ■  not  fall  to  the  ground.  Souls  were 
awakened,  and  a  society  formed  which  remains 
to  this  day."  Among  the  persons  known  to  have 
united  in  forming  this  first  class  was  Albert  Van 
Nostrand,  who  afterward  became  a  useful  and 
honored  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  died  in  1797. 

The  Friends,  or  Quakers,  were  numerous 
and  influential  from  an  early  period,  but,  as  their 
principal  seat  was  in  Oyster  Bay,  extended  men- 
tion of  theml  is  deferred  until  we  reach  that  point. 
All  the  other  denominations  represented  are  of 
modern  date.  The  Episcopalians  did  not  erect 
a  house  of  worship  until  1803,  when  Christ 
Church  was  huilt  at  Manhasset,  and  the  first 
meetings  of  the  Presbyterian  body  were  held  at 
Roslyn  in  1849,  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^^  Roman  Catholic 
place  of  worship  was  that  of  St.  Bridget's,  West- 
bury  Station,  which  was  dedicated  in  1856 — the 
second  Roman  Catholic  church  erected  east  of 
Brooklyn.  The  history  of  none  of  these  bodies 
Q„ n  the  scope  of  this  narrative. 

A  few  salient  points  in  the  educational  his- 
tory of  the  town  are  to  be  briefly  stated.  The 
early  schools  were  of  the  primitive  character  such 
as  has  been  described  in  a  previous  chapter.  For 
nearly  a  half  century,  and  until  the  establish- 
ment of  the  public  school  system  in  1829,  Christ 
Church  Academly  was  the  only  school  of  any 
note  in  Manhasset.  The  famous  Friends'  school 
at  Westbury  is  written  of  in  connection  with  that 
town. 

From  the  first,  the  township  has  been  oc- 
cupied by  an  agricultural  community,  and  their 
farms  have  been  justly  famed  for  many  years 
for  the  abundance  and  excellence  of  their  prod- 
ucts, both  of  the  field,  of  the  herd  and  of  the 
flock.  In  1832  oyster  culture  vvas-  added  to  the 
industrial  field  of  the  town  through  the  efforts 
of  'Henry  Cock  and  John  Mackey.  Since  then 
that  business  has  grown  to  wonderful  propor- 


114 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


tions,  and  the  oysters  of  Cow  Bay,  in  particular, 
are  in  high  repute;  the  clams  with  which  that 
shore  abound  have  also  given  rise  to  a  most  ex- 
tensive industry.  But  still  the  main  feature  of 
North  Hempstead  is  agriculture  and  floriculture- 
— ^the  products  of  the  soil — varied  within  the  past 
two  decades  with  the  "summer  boarder  busi- 
ness/' which,  however,  lasts  only  about  two 
months  in  each  year. 

The  principal  villages  in  this  township,  with 
their  present  population,  are  as  follows :  Great 
Neck,  1, 600;  Port  Washington,  1,250;  Manhas- 
set,  800;  Mineola,  900;  Rodyn,  1,300;  West- 
bury  Station,  400;  Thomaston,  350;  New  Hyde 
Park,  500;  Old  Westbury,  375;  Herricks,  125;. 
Searington,  150;  Alberson,  240.  Some  of  these 
may  now  be  considered  in  detail. 

ProbaJbly  the  best  known  of  them'  all  is  Ros- 
lyn,  not  so  much  on  account  of  its  own  inherent 
beauty,  but  because  it  is  associated  with  the  name 
and  fame  of  William  CuUen  Bryant,  one  of  the 
greatest  American  poets.  Independent,  how- 
ever, of  this  it  has  considerable  historical  data 
connected  with  it  to  invest  it  with  interest  to 
the  antiquary.  Down  to  the  middle  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  it  bore  the  name  of  Hempstead 
Harbor,  and  hesides  being  the  leading  village  of 
the  township  was  known  as  a  manufacturing  cen- 
ter. The  first  paper  mill  in  the  Province  of  New 
York  was  established  here  in  1773  by  Hendrick 
Onderdonck,  grandfather  of  the  two  bishops  of 
that  name,  along  with  Hugh  Gaine,  a  well  known 
New  York  printer  of  that  time,  and  Henry  Rem- 
sen.  There  were  also  several  grist  mills  at  an 
early  date,  one  at  least  dating  from  prior  to  1700. 
General  Washington,  who  visited  Hempstead 
Harbor  in  April,  1790,  when,  while  President, 
he  drove  through  the  country  in  his  quaint  old 
coach,  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  and  visited 
and  commended  such  local  industries  in  pleasant 
terms.  Indeed,  it  is  said  that  the  great  man 
watched  so  closely,  from^  start  to  finish,  the  mak- 
ing of  a  sheet  of  paper  in  a  paper  mill,  that  it 
was  carefully  preserved  and  exhibited  as  his  own 
work.  Several  paper  mills  were  established  at 
later  dates,  but  did  not  seem  to  prosper,  and  in 
1880  -a  silk  mill  was  added  to  the  industries  of 


the  village.  It  is  a  prosperous  community,  with 
savings  bank,  public  library  and  other  accessories 
demanded  by  modern  culture  and  requirements, 
and  although  its  industries  are  still  important 
it  has  developed  of  late  years  more  and  more  as 
a  settlement  of  refined  homes.  .  In  this  there  is 
no  doubt  William  C.  Bryant  led  the  way. 

The  life  story  of  this  brilliant  man  of  let- 
ters is  part  of  the  literary  history  of  the  United 
States  and  need  not  be  dwelt  upon  here  at  any 
great  length.  He  was  born  at  Cummington, 
Massachusetts,  November  3,  1794,  and  was  ed- 
ucated at  Williams  College,  and  when  in  his 
twenty-first  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  legal  profes- 
sion at  Plainfield,  and  after  a  while  he  removed 
to  Great  Barrington,  where,  it  is  said,  he  won 
considerable  prominence  in  the  local  courts.  But 
his  success  was  not  substantial.  The  law,  as 
Sir  Walter  Scott  used  to  say,  is  a  jealous  mis- 
tress, and  Bryant,  even  before  he  had  assumed 
the  dignity,  of  a  full-fledged  lawyer,  had  been 
coquetting  with  literature,  so  much  so  that  he 
was  recognized  as  a  man  of  letters  even  ere  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  When  thirteen  years 
of  age  he  was  a  recognized  contributor  of  poetry 
to  the  country  papers,  and  had  written  a  long  ef- 
fusion in  the  nature  of  a  political  squib,  which 
was  justly  considered  an  extraordinary  produc- 
tion by  those  interested  in  the  lad  and  the  ar- 
gument, but  is  now,  happily,  forgotten.  When 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  wrote  his  remarkable 
poem,  "Thanatopsis,"  which  at  once  assumed  a 
foremost  place  in  American  poetic  literature,  and 
still  remains  the  most  popular  and  most  widely 
read  of  all  his  works.  The  poem  first  appeared 
in  the  ''North  American  Review,"  and  at  once  at- 
tracted wide  attention,  and  as  soon  as  the  author- 
ship became  known  gave  him  a  place  in  the  high- 
est literary  circles  of  his  time.  He  also  contrib- 
uted several  prose  articles  to  the  "Review,"  and 
so  demonstrated  that  he  wielded  a  facile  pen  in 
prose  and  was  a  graceful,  clear  and  cogent  writer 
on  whatever  theme  he  concentrated  his  thought. 
Lender  these  circumstances  it  was  easy  to  foresee 
that  with  law  on  one  side  and  literature  on  the 
other,  each  claim'ing  his  attention  and  each  de- 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD. 


115 


manding  all  his  powers,  that  one  would  have 
to  be  abandoned,  and,  happily,  he  turned  away 
from  law  and  made  literature  his  sole  com- 
panion. 

In  1825  Mr.  Bryant  settled  in  New  York  and 
became  one  of  the  editors  of  "The  'New  York 
Review."  A  year  later  he  became  associated 
with  the  "Evening  Post/'  and  a  'few  years  later 
assum'cd  the  duties  of  editor-in-chiejf  and  main- 
taining his  connection  with  it  until  the  end  of  his 
long  career.  But  while  engrossed  in  the  editorial 
cares  of  a  newspaper,  which  became  in  his  hands 


that  all  the  world  was  really  akin,  and  where- 
ever  he  went  he  was  a  ceaseless  student  of  lan- 
guage, art,  manner  and  customs,  thoughts  and 
aspirations.  All  that  became  reflected  in  his 
poems,  his  orations  and  even  in  his  editorial  and 
critical  articles  in  the  "Post."  Before  settling 
in  New  York  he  had  published  at  Cambridge 
a  small  volum'e  of  poetry.  In  1832  he  again 
printed  that  work,  with  additions,  and  several 
editions  followed.  In  i'866  he  issued  a  volume 
entitled  "Thirty  Poems/'  which  has  since  been 
incorporated  in  his  collected  writings.     He  was 


CEDARMERE,  HOME  OF  WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT. 


one  of  the  most  powerful  in  the  country  and 
one  that  exercised  a  most  marked  influence  upon 
the  political,  economic  and  literary  history  of  its 
time,  he  did  not  neglect  his  own  literary  work. 
PTis  frequent  visits  to  Europe  had  made  him  per- 
sonally acquainted  in  all  the  literary  centers 
there,  and  had  broadened  and  widened  his  own 
views  of  men  and  matters,  had  made  him  see 


an  indefatigable  worker  and  after  he  had  at- 
tained his  seventieth  year  he  began  the  transla- 
tion in  blank  verse  of  Homer's  "Iliad,"  and  fol- 
lowed it  up  with  a  version  of  the  "Odyssy,"  and 
his  work  as  a  translator  was  conceded  by  many 
of  the  most  competent  critics  and  scholars  to  be 
the  best  English  dress  which  had  been  given  to 
the     marvelous     writings     of     "the     first     of 


116 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


poets."  Literally  Mr.  Bryant  was  busied  with 
his  pen  alm'ost  to  the  very  moment  when  came 
his  summons  to  join  the  innumerable  caravan 
which  ever  moves  to  the  mysterious  realms  of 
death. 

The  greater  part  of  his  time  m  his  later  years 
was  spent  at  Roslyn,  and  he  took  a  most  active 
part  not  only  in  promoting  the  beauty  and  amen- 
ity of  the  village,  but  in  enhancing  its  material 
prosperity.  His  own  home,  to  which  he  gave 
the  name  of  Cedarmere,  he  loved  almost  as  pas- 
sionately as  Scott  loved  Abbotsford.  The  house 
was  originally  built  in  1787  by  Richard  Kirk,  a 
zealous  Quaker,  who  seemed  to  have  taken  a 
considerable  interest  in  laying  out  the  house  and 
its  land,  about  forty  acres.  Then  it  passed  into 
the  possession  of  Joseph  White  Moulton,  the 
historian  and  antiquary,  joint  author  with  T.  V. 
N.  Yates  of  a  history  of  New  York,  and  was 
sold  by  him  to  Bryant  in  1846.  Bryant  remod- 
eled the  house,  enlarged  it  on  all  sides  and  intro- 
duced many  peculiar  architectural  features  and 
added  to  its  surrounding  grounds  until  they 
measured  two  hundred  acres.  It  was  his  king- 
dom, his  hobby,  his  pride,  even  more  than  his 
literary  triumphs ;  every  field  had  for  him  a  story 
and  some  peculiar  feature  greeted  the  visitor 
at  almost  every  step^,  and  visitors  to  Cedarmere 
came  in  plenty,  for  Bryant  was  never  happier 
than  when  acting  as  host  and  surrounded  by  his 
literary  and  artistic  friend's.  It  was  amid  these 
scenes  that  the  genial  poet  penned  one  of  his 
sweetest  poems,  which  may  be  regarded  as  an 
apostrophe  to  his  home  and  its  surroundings : 

"Is  this  a  time  to  be  cloudy  and  sad, 

When  our  mother  Nature  laughs  around ; 

When  even  the  deep  blue  heavens  look  glad, 

And  gladness  breathes  from  the  blossoming  ground? 

"There  are  notes  of  joy  from  the  hang-bird  and  wren, 
And  the  gossip  of  swallows  through  all  the  sky; 

The  ground-squirrel  gayly  chirps  by  his  den, 
And  the  wilding  bee  hums  merrily  by. 

"The  clouds  are  at  play  in  the  azure  space 

And  their  shadows  at  play  on  the  bright  green  vale, 

And  here  they  stretch  to  the  frolic  chase, 
And  there  they  roll  on  the  easy  gale. 

"There's  a  dance  of  leaves  in  that  aspen  bower, 
There's  a  titter  of  winds  in  that  beechen  tree. 

There's  a  smile  on  the  fruit,  and  a  smile  on  the  flower, 
And  a  laugh  from  the  brook  that  runs  to  the  sea. 


"And  look  at  the  broad-faced  sun,  how  he  smiles 
On  the  dewy  earth  that  smiles  in  his  ray, 

On  the  leaping  waters  and  gay  young  isles; 
Ay,  look,  and  he'll  smile  thy  gloom  away. 

Mr.  Bryant  died  June  12,  1878,  and  his  re- 
mains were  laid  away  in  the  beautiful  Roslyn 
cemetery,  by  the  side  of  those  of  his  wife,  and 
over  them  was  reared  a  stately  monument  bear- 
ing the  following  inscription : 

WILLIAM    CULLEN.BRVANT, 

Born  in  Cummington,  Mass.,  Nov.  3,  1794, 
Died  in  New  York,  June  12,  1878. 

FANNY   FAIRCHILD   BRYANT, 

■the  beloved  wife  of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  an 
humble  disciple  of  Christ,  exemplary  in  every  re- 
lation of  life,  affectionate,  sympathetic,  sincere, 
and  ever  occupied  with  the  welfare  of  others. 

The  poet's  grandchildren,  children  of  Parke 
Godwin,  are  buried  in  the  same  plot.  Some  of 
the  names  of  others  buried  in  this  cemetery  are 
Abercrombie,  Bogart,  Brown,  Cahart,  Cham- 
berlaiUj  Clapham,  Denton,  Dickenson,  Ely, 
Francis,  Hegeman,  Ketcham,  ,Kilpatrick,  Kirby, 
Losee,  McNally,  Mott,  Moulton,  Oakley,  Rogers, 
Smith,  Snedeker,  Strong',  Underbill,  Vickers, 
Wanser,  Wiggins  and  Wilson. 

As  these  pages  were  passing  into  the  hands 
of  the  printer,  all  of  that  portion  of  the  famous 
old  house  above  the  first  story  was  burned.  This 
disaster  occurred  on  the  afternoon  of  Novenuber 
15,  1902.  The  furniture  and  library  of  the  poet 
were  removed  when  the  building  was  leased  to 
Mr.  \y.  Butler  Duncan.  The  property  yet  belongs 
to  the  descendants  of  Mr.  Bryant,  who  are  pro- 
hibited from  selling  it  while  one  of  the  family 
line  is  living.  Cedarmere  is  now  the  property  of 
the  poet's  grandson,  Harold  Godwin. 

But  while  the  Bryant  home  is  net  as  it  was, 
there  are  constant  reminders  of  the  genial  poet. 
A  fitting  memorial  exists  in  the  Bryant  Circu- 
lating Library,  named  in  his  honor,  housed  in  a 
beautiful  building,  which,  with  its  grounds,  was 
presented  to  the  village  by  his  daughter,  Miss 
Julia  S.  Bryant,  in  accordance  with  an  expressed 
wish  of  the  venerable  poet  shortly  before  his 
death. 


/  fc^CCc^-^t^  c-^t.f^c^-vt^ 


NORTH    HEMPSTEAD. 


117 


The  library  still  continues  to  be  the  main 
feature  of  the  village  Hfe.  Within  the  past  year 
or  so  it  has  been  the  object  of  much  kindly  in- 
terest on  the  part  of  Mrs.  Clarence  jMackay, 
wife  of  one  of  the  owners  of  one  of  the  modern 
baronial  estates  on  Long  Island,  whose  palatial 
home,  as  will  be  seen,  is  in  the  immediate  vi- 
cinity of  Roslyn  village.  Shortly  after  settling 
there  Mrs.  Mackay  asked  permission  from  the 
trustees  to  take  possession  of  the  library  and 
furnish  it,  and  stipulated  that  no  one  was  to 
make  any  suggestions,  as  she  wished  to  be  free 
to  do  as  she  liked.  Her  desire  was  granted,  and 
she  secured  Miss  Maud  Johnson  and  Miss  Susan 
Clendenning,  graduates  of  Pratt  Institute, 
Brooklyn,  both  trained  librarians.  After  inspect- 
ing the  books  then  on  the  shelves  four  hundred 
were  retained  and  fo-ur  hundred  and  fifty  new 
ones  added,  and  all  arranged  after  modern  meth- 
ods. Miss  Johnson,  who  is  an  ardent  book  lover, 
and  who  has  assisted  in  classifying  and  cata- 
loguing many  rare  and  valuable  collections,  was 
interested  deeply  in  the  discovery  of  the  old 
books.  The  books  were  such  as  the  general  pub- 
lic does  not  care  for  and  therefore  were  allowed 
to  drop  oiit  of  sight.  Their  neglect  seems  to  in 
a  way  justify  the  criticisms  of  Mr.  Bryant  by 
his  friends  and  neighbors  at  the  time  he  gave 
the  library  for  bestowing  such  works  upon  so 
small  an  institution. 

Outsiders  have  often  come  to  the  rescue  of 
the  librar}^  The  Bryant  family,  the  Godwin 
family,  and  George  A.  Thayer  preceded  Mrs. 
Mackay  in  aiding  it.  Besides  adding  to  the  num- 
ber of  books  and  rcbinding  the  old  ones,  Mrs. 
Mackay  has  redecorated  and  recarpeted  the 
rooms. 

There  is  as  usual  an  inharmonious  note  heard, 
due  to  the  removal  of  the  portraits,  fine  litho- 
graphs of  Bryant  and  Longfellow,  and  some 
engravings  given  by  the  Godwin  and  Bryant 
families.  These  no  longer  appear  on  the  walls 
and  some  of  the  old  residents  who  are  not  in 
sympathy  with  the  radical  changes  and  who  re- 
tain a  loyal  affection  and  gratitude  for  the  poet 
founder,  think  this  is  a  mistake. 

But   with   this    passing   of    William     Cullen 


Bryant,  Roslyn  did  not  lose  its  literary  celebrity, 
for  his  place  was  at  once  taken  by  his  son-in- 
law,  Parke  Godwin,  who  was  long  associated 
with  him  on  the  ''Evening  Post"  and  had  v^on  a 
measure  of  success  as  a  man  of  letters  even  when 
he  married  the  poet's  eldest  daughter,  and  for 
many  years  his  home,  Clover  Croft,  was  a  gath- 
ering place  of  famous  men,  just  as  Roslyn  had 
been.  Nowadays  Mr.  Godwin  has  no  home,  in 
one  sense,  in  Roslyn.  He  gifted  over  Clover 
Croft  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  F.  N.  Goddard,  when 
he  began  to  feel  the  need  of  husbanding  his 
strength  to  complete  his  literary  work;  but  no 
man  is  better  known  in  Roslyn  than  he,  and  his 
frequent  visits,  spent  either  at  Clover  Croft  or 
Cedarmere,  keep  up  his  connection  with  the  vil- 
lage which  has  now  continued  over  m'any,  many 
years. 

Writing  of  Clover  Croft  and  Mr.  Godwin,  a 
recent  visitor  says : 

"The  great  attic  of  Clover  Croft,  which  is 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  house,  has  a 
big  storage  of  theater  flies  and  stage  details, 
which  in  the  past  were  often  called  into  requi- 
sition for  impromptu  entertainments,  when 
the  neighbors  were  hastily  bidden  to  meet 
some  prominent  actor  or  singer.  The  dra- 
matic strain  in  Mr.  Godwin's  many  sided  na- 
ture has  always  been  in  evidence,  whether 
as  an  enthusiastic  and  appreciative  frequenter 
of  his  box  at  the  opera  or  during  the  win- 
ter's series  of  plays,  or  w^hen  as  a  brown  haired 
man  he  took  part  in  the  amateur  theatricals 
at  Clover  Croft,  when  Roslyn  was  but  a  little 
hamlet  and  the  summer  home  of  Charles  A. 
Dana,  Bryant,  Richard  Storrs  Willis  and  the 
brilliant  friends  they  entertained.  The  wit  and 
humor  of  Mr.  Godwin's  character  songs,  his 
strong,  rich  voice,  natural  grace  and  intense 
magnetism,  made  him  the  life  of  all  gatherings 
which  he  shared. 

"There  has  been  a  wide  range  of  experi- 
ence, in  his  eighty-seven  years,  and  his  mar- 
velous memory  recalls  this  to  the  happy  lis- 
tener, when  Mr.  Godwin  is  in  the  mood  to  talk. 
Had  he  been  less  the  dreamer,  poet,  philos- 
opher and  student,  with  ambition  equal  to  his 
abilities,  these  would  have  kept  him  contin- 
ually before  the  public  eye  and  ear.  He  has, 
however,  responded  reluctantly  to  appeals, 
especially  when  desired  as  a  speaker,  but  his 


118 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND, 


addresses  are  notable- as  fine  mosaics  of  terse 
phrases,  graceful  imagery,  sound  sense  land 
a  wide  range  of  knowledge.  Memorable  ad- 
dresses are,  one  delivered  in  the  Century  Club 
on  its  fiftieth  anniversary,  his  eulogy  on 
George  W.  Curtis,  at  the  same  place,  and  at 
Paterson  when  that  city  celebrated  its  cei\- 
tennial  and  he  stood  before  a  great  audience 
as  the  oldest  living  representative  of  the  first 
w^hite  settler,  Abraham  Godwin,  when  Pater- 
-  son  was  Tatwana.  His  latest  addresses,  the 
one  at  the  memorial  service  of  Edwin  Booth, 
and  at  Cummington,  when  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  Bryant's  birth  was  celebrated, 
were  made  when  his  plenitude  of  years  might 
have  caused  a  weakening  lof  the  old  forces, 
but  his  magnetic  earnestness,  rich,  clear  and 
sonorous  tones  made  him,  as  in  the  past,  the 
chief  attraction. 

"A  marked  feature  of  the  Booth  commem- 
oration ceremonies  was  the  volume  of  cheers 
the  newspaper  men  gave  the  great  journalist 
when  he  came  forward  on  the  stage,  one  of  a 
group  comprising  Henry  Irving,  Tomasa  Sal- 
vini  and  Joseph  Jefferson,  and  the  next  day 
they  reported  that  'Mr.  Godwin's  delivery  was 
even  finer  and  more  impressive  than  that  of 
any  of  the  three  professional  actors  who  spoke 
from  the  stage,'  and  'we  think  that  any  per- 
son in  the  audience  who  did  not  know  the 
men  on  the  stage  would,  in  judging  by  ap- 
pearance, have  picked  out  the  seventy-seven- 
year-old  Parke  Godwin  as  the  greatest  trage- 
dian of  the  lot.' 

"Mr.  Godwin  is  an  art  critic  of  intelligence 
and  discrimination,  and  his  lectures  on  'art 
given  at  Princeton,  his  alma  mater,  are  held 
up  to  the  students  as  models  in  diction  and 
kn'owledge.  In  his  personal  relations  as 
friend  and  neig^hbor,  he  is  delightful,  and 
when  the  ball  of  thought  is  sent  rolling  into 
the  past  it  is  a  great  privilege  to  be  a  listen- 
er. iHe  likes  to  tell  how  strangely  the  cur- 
rent of  his  life  was  changed,  when  as  a  young 
lawyer  he  tried  to  wait  patiently  for  the  cases 
so  slow  in  appearing.  At  this  time  his  Sun- 
day afternoons  were  spent  with  a  young  mar- 
ried cousin,  of  whom'  he  was  very  fond,  and 
to  whom  he  went  for  advice  and  sympathy. 
On  one  of  these  occasions  he  inquired  if  in 
her  neighborhood  he  could  find  a  boarding 
place  where  accommodations  were  pleasant 
and  prices  reasonable,  and  was  referred  to 
*a  house  across  the  way,  lately  changed  from 
a  school  to  a  select  boarding  place.'  This 
soon  became  a  popular  resort- for  clever  men, 


and  not  long  after  Mr.  Godwin's  establish- 
ment there  he  noticed  a  finely  intellectual 
looking  man,  always  grave,  silent  and  thought- 
ful and  alone. 

"There    was    something    so     distinguished 
about   his   personality   that    Mr.    Godwin   asked 
of  one  of  the  attendants  the  stranger's  name. 
The  answer  was  so  carelessly  given  that  the 
next   day   Mr.    Godwin   again   made    inquiries 
and  was  told  that  the  man  was  William  CuUen 
Bryant,    who    was    a    transient    boarder    dur- 
ing the  absence  of  his  family  from  the  city, 
and    that    he    had    sought    this    unpretentious 
place  because  of  its  quiet  and  nearness  to  the 
office  O'f  the  "Evening  Post."     The  interest  was 
mutual,    however,    and    ordinarily    shy    and 
reticent  as  Mr.  Bryant  was,  he  one  day,  find- 
ing himself  seated  near   Mr.   Godwin,   and  the 
two  the   only  occupants   of   the   room,   inter- 
rogated him  in  a  friendly  way  as  to  his  occu- 
pation, which   Mr.   Godwin  frankly  acknowl- 
edged was  only  in  embryo.     'Then,'  said  the 
elder  man,  'as  you  are  not  busy,  Why  can  you 
not  take  the  place  of  my  assistant,  who  is  ill.* 
Godwin   tells  with,  much  hu,mor   that  he   as- 
sured Mr.  Bryant  he  could  be  of  no  earthly  use 
to  him,  as  he  had  never  been  in  a  newspaper 
office.    But  he  accepted  the  offer,  and  the  reg- 
ular assistant  dying  soon  after,  he  continued 
to  serve  with  Mr.  Bryant  the  interests  of  the 
"Evening  Post"  from  1837  to  1853,  and  after  a 
long  interval    resuming   editorship   in    1865   for 
another  period  of  years.     The    business    rela- 
tions   with    Mr.    Bryant   led    to    a    friendly   in- 
timacy, resulting  in  the  marriage  of  Mr.  God- 
win to  Mr.  Bryant's  eldest  daughter.    An  epi- 
sode of  his  journalistic  life  which  was  always 
of  interest  to  him  was  when  as  editor  of  "Put- 
nam's Magazine"  Miss  Bacon  presented  to  him 
her  appeal  to  the  public  to  dethrone  Shakes- 
peare and  substitute  Bacon  as  the  author  of 
the  immortal  plays  and  sonnets.     Mr.  Godwin 
has  always  been  an  ardent  student  of  Shakes- 
peare, and  he  published  the  article  only  as  a 
literary  curiosity,  the  mental   disorder  of  the 
writer   being    quite    apparent,    and    it    was    a 
satire  of  iate  that  Miss  Bacon  should  offer  her 
uncanny  imaginings  to  a  man  who  had  studied 
his  Shakespeare  as  devoutly  as  he  loved  and 
believed  in  his  personality. 

"In  the  early  years  of  Mr.  Godwin's  mar- 
ried life  he  occupied  in  the  summer  an  old- 
fashioned  home  on  the  southern  part  of  Mr. 
Bryan's  estate  at  Roslyn.  It  was  simple 
in  construction,  but  quaintly  attractive  and 
stood  midway  between  the  waters  of  Hemp- 


NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


119 


stead  Harbor  and  the  winding  lake  from 
which  the  place  takes  its  name.  It  was  here, 
on  the  grassy  slope  just  above  the  salt  waters, 
where  Margaret  Fuller,  a  frequent  and  be- 
loved guest,  would  throw  herself  after  a  swim 
in  the  harbor  and  talk  breezily  to  her  friends 
with  that  captivating  magnetism  w:hich  made 
her  a  'beloved  companion  at  Brook  Farm). 

"When  the  Godwins  were  living  at  Roslyn 
occurred  the  frightful  storm  which  ship- 
wrecked on  Long  Island  Sound  the  vessel  on 
which  ]\Iargaret  Fuller  Ossoli,  her  husband 
and  child  were  passengers,  and  it  was  a  curious 
psychological  fact  that  Mrs.  Godwin  was  so 
much  under  the  influences  of  the  night  of 
disaster  that  she  could  not  sleep,  but  rest- 
lessly walked  her  room  until  morning,  insist- 
ing that  some  one  they  knew  and  loved  was 
in  danger.  The  first  person  Mr.  Godwin  met 
the  next  morning  near  the  "Evening  'Post" 
building  was  Bayard  Taylor,  who  told  him 
of  the  sad  news  which  was  a  mutual  sorrow. 

"In  the  gradual  developing  'of  ^the  Cedar- 
mere  grounds  the  low  "brown  house  was  torn 
down,  and  some  time  later  on  its  site  was 
built  an  attractive  cottage,  known  as  Golden 
Rod.  It  has  of  recent  years  been  rented  for 
the  summer,  one  of  its  tenants  having  been 
Albert  Sterner,  who  used  the  west  balcony  for 
a  studio.  Among  the  changes  Mr.  Godwin 
deplores  is  the  shutting  out  of  the  Sound  view 
from  Clover  Croft  piazzas  by  the  magnificent 
trees  of  Willow  Mere.  When  these  were 
planted  by  the  direction  of  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Richard  Storrs  Willis,  Mr.  Godwin  foretold 
they  would  prove  a  future  barricade  to  his 
view;  but  his  neighbor  assured  him  that  they 
would  not  be  likely  to  give  him  trouble,  as 
•  years  would  come  and  go  before  they  would 
attain  such  proportions  as  to  change  the  land- 
scape. To-day  Mr.  Godwin  is  the  only  one 
left  to  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  his  pre- 
diction. 

"For  a  man  who  has  in  his  nature  the  es- 
sentials of  a  dreamer  and  a  poet,  Mr.  Godwin 
has  had  a  keen  and  practical  interest  in  poli- 
tics, and  at  one  time  was  deputy  collector-  of 
the  New  York  Custom  House.  Many  of  the 
reforms  he  advocated  in  the  "Democratic  Re- 
view" were  afterward  embodied  in  the  consti- 
tution and  code  of  New  York.  Mr.  Godwin's 
years  of  Shakespearean  research  have  culmi- 
nated, since  his  retirement  from  newspaper 
work,  in  an  analytical  arrangement  of  the 
sonnets  of  Shakespeare.  He  began  by  careful 
and    continuous    reading,    determined  to  find 


the  author's  meaning,  which  he  believed  the 
sonnets  were  written  to  convey,  at  last  group- 
ing them,  adding  marginal  notes,  after 
thoughtful  readings,  and  now  he  declares  that 
the  key  to  their  various  moods  is  that  they 
tell  the  history  of  the  author.  Mr.  Godwin, 
with  this  loving  tribute  to  the  great  master, 
closes  his  literary  work.  He  believes  that  his 
vigorous  physical  and  mental  vitality  is  due 
not  only  to  the  inheritance  of  a  sound  mind 
and  body,  but  to  his  restful  summers  at 
the  Roslyn  countr}^  home  and  the  exercise 
of  horseback  riding.  Friendly  guests  at  both 
homes  of  whom  Mr.  Godwin  often  speaks  are 
Bayard  Taylor,  Hawthorne,  Fitz-Greene  Hal- 
leek  and  Richard  Storrs  Willis,  Edwin  Booth, 
Salvini,  Lord  Houghton,  Sir  Henry  Irving, 
Justin  McCarthy.  Orville  Dewey,  Robert  Coll- 
yer,  Edwin  Forest,  Horatio  Greenough,  Samuel 
J.  Tilden  and  scores  of  others,  of  whom  many 
v/ere  women  prominent  as  singers,  writers  and 
artists." 


TOWER  AT  ROSLYN. 

It  has  been  said  that  Bryant  brought  fame 
to  Roslyn  and  made  its  beauties  known  to  thou- 
sands, inducing  many  to  build  homes  within  its 
boundaries  or  to  select  it  as  a  place  in  which  to 
recuperate  mind  and  body  in  a  summer  rest  each 
year.  Byrant,  and  later,  Parke  Godwin,  used  to 
declare  that  they  owed  much  of  their  triumlph 
over  the  wear  and  tear  of  years  by  the  splendid 
health-giving  qualities  of  Roslyn's  pure  air  and 
its  restfulness.  Perhaps  the  most  advanced 
form  of  this  spirit  of  home  building  has  been  the 
palace  on  Harbor  Hill,  which  has  'been  erected 


120 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


for  Clarence  Mackay,  son  of  one  of  the  Cali- 
fornia millionaires.  By  it  Harbor  Hill  is  now 
closed  to  the  public,  and  the  palace  rises  on  the 
apex  where  for  many  years  the  United  States 
Government  maintained  an  observatory  by  the 
undignified  right  of  "squatter"  'sovereignty. 
When  he  selected  the  site  for  his  sumlmer  resi- 
dence, Mr.  Mackey  boug'ht  up  as  much  of  the 
surrounding  farmland  as  he  deemed  was  neces- 
sary for  his  purpose  and  the  proper  seclusion  of 
his  home  and  of  its  appendages  in  -the  way  of 
barns,  stables,  cottages  for  work  people,  etc.,  and 
now,  it  is  said,  is  in  possession  of  some  650  acres 
all  enclosed  and  all  in  process  of  development, 
for  at  the  date  of  this  writing  neither  the  house 
nor  the  "improvements"  on  the  property  have 
been  com'pleted.  The  whole  "scheme"  of  the 
estate  is  being  worked  out  according  to  carefully 
thought-out  plans,  covering  the  most  minute 
details,  and  everything  has  had  to  give  way  to 
these  from  Uncle  Sam's  observatory  and  public 
roads  to  a  humble  negro  burying  ground,  which 
had  been  in  use  for  a  century  or  more.  The  fol- 
lowing newspaper  account  of  the  details  of  the 
work  is  fairly  correct  and  it  is  worth  preserving : 

The  estate  itself  v/as,  and  to  a  great  extent 
is  iyet,  simply  a  wild  waste  of  hill  and  dale, 
covered  with  a  tangled  mass  of  undergrowth, 
so  thickly  intertwined  that  in  most  places  it 
is  impossible  to  force  a  way  through  it  without 
an*  ax  and  a  bush  hook.  Stately  oaks,  massive 
hickories,  groves  of  mammoth  chestnuts,  pine, 
cedar  and  maple,  undisturbed  by  the  wood- 
man's ax,  abound.  It  is  a  wilderness  which 
for  hundreds  of  years  has  been  invaded  only 
by  the  hunter.  Two  roads  only  intersect  the 
property;  one,  the  primitive  road  cut  through 
from  the  village  to  the  site  of  the  old  United 
States  observatory ;  the  other  a  mere  bridle 
path  running  diagonally  across  the  estate, 
the  closing  of  which  a  month  or  so  ago  aroused 
the  animosity  of  a  few  of  the  villagers.  The 
daily  papers  had  the  stories  of  how  the  Ros- 
lyn  residents  purposed  to  invoke  the  law  to 
uphold  their  alleged  prescriptive  rights  to  pass 
through  the  property  over  this  road.  When, 
a  week  ago,  I  made  inquiries  about  Roslyn  in 
reference  to  the  alleged  unlawful  closing  of 
the  old  road,  I  was  unable  to  find  a  resident 
of  the  place  who  v^ould  admit  that  he  had  any 


grievance  against  Mr.  Mackay  on  account  of 
his  action  in  the  matter.  They  all  said  that 
it  was  simply  a  path  through  the  jungle,  which, 
although  it  had  been  used  for  many  years, 
never  was  a  road,  and  consequently  had  not 
become  a  right  of  way  by  prescription. 

Early  in  the  course  of  the  preparation  of 
plans  Mr.  Mackay  made  known  his  preference 
for  the  natural  wilderness  of  the  estate  and  of 
his  desire  to  preserve  this  feature  as  much  as 
possible. 

It  was  decided  that  the  house  should  be 
built  on  the  very  apex  of  the  hill,  with  a  tower 
which  should  extend  even  higher  than  the  old 
United  States  observatory,  which  formerly  oc- 
cupied the  space,  so  that  an  even  better  gen- 
eral view  of  the  surrounding  country  could  be 
obtained.  To'  reach  this  spot,  high  above  the 
surroundings,  a  long  road  was  necessary.  The 
point  nearest  the  road  station,  only  about 
three  .minutes'  ride  by  carriage  from  it,  was 
chosen  for  the  site  of  the  lodge,  the  entrance 
to  the  estate.  Here  it  was  decided  to  build 
a  gate,  modeled  after  the  old  English  style. 
The  lodge,  the  foundation  of  which  has  already 
been  ;completed,  is  to  be  of  solid  granite.  It 
will  'consist  of  two  houses  or  structures,  with  a 
bridge  containing  other  rooms,  connecting  the 
two,  over  the  roadway  leading  into  the  estate. 

The  problem  w^hich  was  submitted  to  the 
civil  engineers  connected  with  the  huge  staff 
engaged  in  the  work  of  laying  out  the  estate 
was,  how  to  run  the  road  to  the  summiit  of  the 
hill  so  that  the  grade  might  be  uniform 
throughout  the  whole  distance,  without  abrupt 
rises,  or  too  many  short  turns.  That  they  have 
solved  the  problem  is  a  feather  in  their  caps, 
wthich  all  engineers  who  have  looked  over  the 
work  are  willing  to  recognize.  A  topographical 
map  of  the  entire  estate  was  first  made,  and 
from  it  the  route  was  laid  out.  It  winds  in 
and  out  like  a  snake,  through  cuts. in  the  hills, 
over  seemingly  natural  bridges,  through  defiles 
and  over  filled-in  ravines,  keeping  the  same 
relative  rise  for  its  entire  distance,  of  from  a 
mile  to  a  mile  and  a  half,  all  within  the  Mackay 
domain,  until  it  finally  ends  at  the  terrace  lead- 
ing to  the  house.  This  road  is  nearly  com- 
pleted. There  is  no  portion  of  it  less  than  six- 
ty feet  wide,  and  in  many  places  it  broadens 
out  to  100  feet.  Throughout  its  entire  length 
it  is  to  be  macadamized,  under  a  guarantee 
that  it  will  be  as  lasting  as  the  best  macadam 
road  in  the  city. 

In  its  windings  it  meets  hills,  through  which 
it  is  necessary  to  bore.     This  has  been  done, 


NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


121 


and  in  one  instance  the  cut  is  between  thirty 
and  forty  feet  deep.  Then  it  meets  ravines, 
which  ihave  been  filled  in,  some  of  them  to  the 
depth  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet.  In  one 
instance  it  was  necessary  to  skirt  a  hill  with 
a  sheer  almost  perpendicular  descent  of  a  hun- 
dred or  more  feet,  A  portion  of  the  side  of 
the  hill  had  to  be  excavated,  but  as  in  a  short 
time,  if  left  in  that  condition,  the  weather 
would  have  washed  the  new  road  entirely  away, 
it  was  necessary  to  build  a  stone  stay  or  abut- 
ment on  the  precipitate  side.  This  was  done 
with  unhewn  rocks  dug  from  other  portions 
of  the  road.  The  retaining  wall  at  its  deepest 
point  is  about  fifty  feet,  and  extends  from  one 
side  of  the  gully  to  the  other,  something  over 
500  feet. 

This  retaining  wall  at  the  bottom  is  twenty 
feet  thick,  tapering  up  to  a  nine-foot  thickness 
at  the  level  of  the  roadbed.  Just  before  reach- 
ing the  apex  of  the  hill,  where  the  castle  is 
to  be  situated,  a  valley  is  met,  which  has  taxed 
the  ingenuity  of  the  engineers.  After  trying 
all  sorts  of  plans,  it  was  finally  decided  to  fill 
it  in  for  a  roadway,  and  this  is  now  being 
done.  ' 

Mr.  Mackay  has  kept  careful  count  of 
everything  that  has  transpired  in  the  effort  to 
transform  the  howling  wilderness  into  a  lux- 
urious abode,  and  has  personally  conducted 
many  of  the  plans.  He  is  jealous  of  his  wild 
woodland  effect,  and  is  spending  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  in  -saving  the  trees.  One  in- 
stance of  this  was  shown  when  he  ordered  a 
change  from  the  original  lines  of  the  road,  be- 
cause if  the  work  .were  continued  on  the  origin- 
al plan  it  would  cut  through  a  noble  grove  of 
old  chestnuts  and  naturally  destroy  many  of 
them.  It  cost  him  between  $4,000  and  $5,000 
to  change  the  route,  but  he  seemed  to  consider 
the  money  well  spent  w^hen  it  -saved  his  be- 
loved grove  of  chestnuts  from  destruction. 
Strict  orders  were  given  by  him  that  no  tree 
or  shrub,  hov/ever  insignificant,  should  be  de- 
stroyed if  money  could  save  it. 

In  complying  with  these  orders,  thousands 
of  trees  which  grew  in  valleys  along  the  site 
of  the  road,  and  which  would  have  to  be  buried 
or  half  buried  in  filling  in  the  ravines  for  the 
road,  were  encased  in  boxes  from  the  roots  to 
a  height  above  the  level  of  the  filling,  with  air 
space  between  the  trunk  of  the  tree  and  the 
boxing.  One  noble  oak  which  I  noticed,  stand- 
ing just  on  the  edge  of  the  surveyor's  line, 
in  the  bottom  of  a  valley,  would  have  been 
buried  to  its  lower  branches  in  the  filling  in 


earth,  and  would  have  eventually  died  had  it 
not  been  boxed  in  from  the  roots  to  the  lower , 
branches,  fully  twenty-five  feet.  The  tree  meas- 
ured fully  four  feet  in  diameter  at  the  bottom. 
To  encase  it  for  twenty-five  feet  took  a  square 
box  four  by  four  by  twenty-five  feet,  allowing 
for  the  necessary  air  space.  The  timber  used 
was  spruce — worth  five  (cents  a  foot.  The 
saving  of  this  one  tree  cost  twenty  dollars,  for 
material  alone,  not  counting  the  extra  labor. 
One  little  maple  sapling,  which  the  owner  in- 
sisted upon  saving  and  whidh  the  ordinary 
mortal  walking  through  the  woods  would  smash 
with  his  cane,  without  a  second  thought,  cost 
him  eight  dollars  for  boxing,  so  that  it  should 
not  die ! 

■His  love  for  nature  at  her  wildest,  together 
with  his  fear  lest  some  portion  of  his  magnifi- 
cent domain  should  be  marred  by  the  ruth- 
less hand  of  the  contractor  and  his  employes, 
has  led  Mr.  Mackay  into  extravagance  which 
he  scarcely  could  have  contemplated  in  the 
beginning.  The  original  contract  for  cutting 
through  the  mile  or  so  of  road  to  the  site  of 
the  residence  was  moderate.  His  exactions 
since  then,  in  respect  to  the  saving  of  trees, 
shrubbery,  etc.,  which  was  not  contemplated 
in  the  original  agreement,  will  probably  aug- 
ment the  total  cost  to  at  least  three  times  the 
original  contract  price. 

The  approach  to  the  mansion  alone  will 
cost  close  to  $150,000,  and  this  is  only  the 
actual  approach  and  does  not  include  the  ap- 
propriation for  the  landscape'  engineer.  Every 
cut  through  a  hill  will  have  to  be  sodded, 
seeded,  planted  and  set  out  so  as  to  carry  out 
the  general  scheme  of  native  wilderness.  All 
of  the  ravines  which  have  been  filled*  in  will 
have  to  be  mossed  over  and  made  to  look 
natural.  Every  portion  of  the  approach  will 
have  to  be  so  treated  hy  the  gardeners  and 
architects  in  order  that  it  may  be  a  complete 
contrast  to  the  surrounding  estates.  So  much 
for  the  approach  to  the  house'  alone. 

Then  will  come  the  fencing  in.  A  portion 
of  the  vast  estate  will  be  inclosed  by  heavy, 
substantial  stone  walls.  Another  portion  will 
have  a  high  and  closely  woven  wire  fence  as 
a  protection,  and  still  another  section  will  be 
inclosed  by  a  thick  thorn  hedge.  It  will  depend 
entirely  upon  the  topography  of  the  ground. 
And  this,  also,  is  but  the  beginning. 

The  house,  which  Mr.  Mackay  has  said 
would  be  "his  little  summer  place,"  will,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  probably  be  the  most  magnifi- 
cent  summer    home    in    America.      It    is    i\Ir. 


122 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


Mackay's  ambition  to  eclipse  all  others.  The 
homes  of  the  Vanderbilts,  Astors,  Whitneys 
and  Goulds  are  to  be  nothing  in  comparison 
to  the  splendid  place  planned  by  Mr,   Mackay. 

The  approach  to  the  house  is  to  be  a  marvel 
of  beauty,  built  on  the  old  Roman  order  'of  ar- 
chitecture. Just  in  front  of  the  house  will  be 
an  oblong  plaza,  nearly  as  large  as  the  main 
front  of  the  'house.  In  the  center  of  this  will 
be  a  fountain,  capable  of  presenting  prismatic 
effects  in  the  evening.  Around  this  will  be 
rare  plants,  and  on  the  outside  a  marble  walk, 
surrounded  by  solid  marble  balustrades.  At 
the  side  opposite  the  house  three  steps  will 
lead  down  to  another  marble  plaza,  with  an- 
tique lamp  posts  at  either  end.  Three  more 
steps  will  lead  down  to  a  third  level  like  the 
second,  and  so  on  until  the  final  circle  is 
reached,  where  the  carriages  stop.  ■  For  )Use 
on  rainy  days,  when  the  owner  may  not  wish 
to  ascend  the  graduated  plazas,  a  road  will 
be  built  from  the  carriage  circle  to  the  left, 
and  through  a  tunnel  under  the  main  plaza 
into  the  cellar  of  the  house,  where  an  elevator 
will  take  the  occupants  to  the  rooms  above. 

It  is  proposed  by  Mr.  Mackay  to  keep  the 
property  as  far  as  possible  in  its  present  state 
of  wilderness,  and  it  will  be  stocked  with 
game  of  various  kinds. 

It  is  estimated  by  those  who  are  conversant 
with  Mr.  Mackay's  plans  that  it  will  cost  all 
of  $5,000,000  to  carry  them  out,  and  that  the 
place  will  be  one  of  the  most  magnificent,  if 
not  the  most  magnificent,  of  America's  sum- 
mer residences. 

Great  Neck  has  risen  in  importance  and  in- 
creased ip  population  since  the  opening  of  the 
railroad  through  it,  but  although  it  has  been 
settled  since  aboiit  1670,  there  is  little  about 
it  to  call  for  notice  beyond  -saying  that  it  is  a 
prosperous  agricultural  community.  Here  the 
country  begins  to  reach  a  greater  height,  and 
the  'scene  becomes  picturesque.  The  splendid 
estate  of  ex-Mayor  William  R.  Grace,  of  New 
York,  which  bears  the  name  of  Graceland,  is  one 
of  many  attractive  properties  which  wealth  and 
taste  combined  have  created  out  of  what  was  in- 
deed a  wilderness. 

Port  Washington  is  the  terminus  of  one 
branch  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  and  from 
the  opening  of  that  bit  of  railroad  line  in  1898 
its  story  as  a  modern  resort  will  in  the  future 


date.  But  at  present  its  story  is  mainly  of  the 
past.  Up  to  1875  it  was  known  as  Cow  Bay,  and 
its  oystering  business  gave  emiployment  to  the 
bulk  of  its  adult  population,  and  it  could  rejoice 
in  its  antiquity,  as  it  was  the  scene  of  the  sur- 
render of  the  English  to  the  Dutch,  already  nar- 
rated in  this  chapter.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century  two  tidewater  grist-mills 
were  erected  at  Cow  Bay,  and  with  them  the  vil- 
lage may  be  said  to  have  begun.  It  is  delight- 
fully situated,  commands  a  beautiful  view  of  the 
Sound,  and  possesses  all  the  advantages  of  an 
ideal  residential  village.  The  roads  are  of  mac- 
adam, and  that  to  the  Sands  'Point  Lighthouse 
is  a  most  enjoyable  drive.  The 'Manhasset  Yacht 
Club  has  its  club  house  and  anchorage  grounds 
here^/' 

^/-^Manhasset  looms  up  a  little  more  prominently 
than  its  two  neighbors  we  have  just  been  writing 
a'bout,  from  the  historian's  point  of  view.  It  was 
formerly  called  Cow  Neck  by  its  white  inhabit- 
ants, and  'Sint  Sink  by  the  red  men,  but  Manhas- 
set has  been  its  legal  designation  since  1850. 
Since  the  opening  up  of  the  railroad  it  has  added 
greatly  to  its  population,  and  it  promises  ere 
long  to  be  one  of  the  most  popular  resort  towns 
on  the  north  shore.  In  most  of  the  guide  books 
a  traditionary  story  is  printed  which  connects 
Manhasset  with  the  redoubtable  Miles  Standish, 
but  this  is  told  in  another  chapter.  At  Manhas- 
set was  printed  the  first  newspaper  in  the  town- 
ship, the  "North  Hempstead  Gazette."  This  was 
established  December  3,  1846,  by  William  H. 
Onderdonk,  then  a  young  lawyer,  who  subse- 
quently rose  to  eminence  in  his  profession.  In 
1848  the  paper  was  removed  to  Roslyn,  and  in 
1852  the  material  was  taken  to  West  Farns,  in 
Westchester  county. 

Turning  to  another  section  of  the  town,  we 
find  the  rifle  ranges  of  Creedmoor,  where  year 
after  year  the  State  militia  compete  for  marks- 
men's badges  and  where  the  famous  series  of  in- 
ternational rifle  matches  for  the  "Palma"  trophy 
were  held  in  the  seventies.  At  that  time  he 
rifle  butts  of  Creedmoor  were  as  well  known  as 
those  of  Wimbledon,  but  in  recent  years  its 
competitions  have  been  local  and  humdrum. 


NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


123 


IN  AND  AROUND  PORT  WASHINGTON 


124 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Not  far  distant  is  a  spot  faroous  for  one  of 
the  most  delightful  of  the  arts  of  peace,  that  of 
floriculture — Floral  Park,  known  throughout 
the  whole  land  for  the  flowers  and  seeds  that  go 
out  from  it.  John  Lewis  Childs  performed  a 
monumental  work,  one  of  magnificent  beauty  as 
well  as  utility,  for  the  nurseries  form  one  of  the 
most  handsome  scenes  human  eye  ever  rested 
upon. 

So  successful  has  been  the  raising  of  seeds 
that  the  business  has  spread  over  the  town  to  the 
exclusion  of  nearly  all  other  enterprises.  Every 
condition  of  soil  and  climate  favors,  and  there 
seems  to  be  no  good  reason  why  the  raising  of 
flowerSj  as  well  as  seeds,  cannot  be  carried  on 
to  the  point  where  the  city's  great  demand  can 
be  almost  wholly  supplied.  The  little  park 
whence  the  town  gets  its  name,  reached  just  be- 
fore the  station,  is  a  thing  of  beauty  when  all 
abloom  during  the  summer.  From  an  observa- 
tory in  it  one  can  look  over  this  great  seed  and 
flower  farm,  for  such  it  is,  and  see  the  pretty 
houses  and  cottages  that  dot  it.  The  village 
itself,  of  but  recent  date,  numbers  a  population 
of  about  400. 

Hyde  Park  was  formerly  a  horse-racing  cen- 
ter, and  at  one  time  bore  the  name  of  New- 
market. Hyde  Park  was  formerly  the  residence 
of  Judge  George  D.  Ludlow,  and  his  mansion 
was  for  many  years  the  most  xiotable  dwelling 
in  the  neighborhood.  Judge  Ludlow  was  an  in- 
tense Tory  during  the  Revolution,  and  his 
brother  Gabriel  was  colonel  of  a  regiment  of 
American  loyalists  during  the  same  p-eriod.  As 
a  result  of  this,  when  peace  was  declared,  their 
estates  were  forfeited  and  the  two  brothers  set- 
tled in  New  Brunswick,  Canada,  and  Hyde  Park 
saw  them  no  more.  In  1816  William  Gobbett, 
the  English  political  reformer  and  agitator,  was 
compelled  to  leave  London  on  account  of  hav- 
ing excited  the  ire  of  the  Government  of  that 
day,  and  coming  to  this  country  until  the  storm 
should  blow  over,  leased  a  farm  at  Hyde  Park. 
He  resided  in  the  old  Ludlow  mansion,  and  it 
was  while  in  his  occupancy,  in  181 7,  that  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.     Cobbett  did  not  remain  long 


in  America,  for  in  1819  he  was  again  in  England 
and  earning  his  livelihood  by  his  pen. 

Mineola  has  sprung  into  new  prominence 
since  1898,  when  was  formed  the  new  county  of 
Nassau,  of  which  it  is  the  judicial  seat.  Since 
1866  however,  the  exhibitions  of  the  Queens- 
Nassau  County  Agricultural  Society  have  been 
held  there,  and  these  have  steadily  increased  in 
attractiveness  until  the  annual  fair  has  become 
one  of  the  most  fashionable  functions  of  not  only 
the  people  in  the  immlediate  neighborhood  but  of 
the  entire  borough  of  Queens.  At  these  fairs 
there  is  always  an  'excellent  showing  of  the  rich 
bounties  of  the  Nassau  County  and  Queens 
Borough  farnis  and  their  finest  blooded  stock. 
It  is  the  country  supporting  this  fair  that  long 
ago  gave  to  Long  Island  its  great  reputation  for 
farm  and  garden  products  of  unsurpassable  ex- 
cellence. The  history  of  the  Agricultural  So- 
ciety is  given  at  length  in  a  previous  chapter. 


QUEENS  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE. 

The  village  of  .'Mineola  is  of  comparatively 
recent  founding.  In  French's  "Gazetteer"  of 
i860  it  is  described  as  a  "scattered  village  at  the 
junction  of  the  Long  Island  and  Hempstead 
Branch  Railroads."  In  1892  the  population  was 
600,  and  this  nuriiber  had  increased  to  some  900 
in  1902. 

Westbury  derives  its  name  from  Westbury, 
Wiltshire,  England,  that  being  the  birthplace  of 
Henry  Willis,  who,  with  Edward  Titus,  first  set- 
tled within  the  present  precincts  of  the  village  in 


NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


125 


1670  and  applied  the  name  to  it.  A\[illis  was  a 
Quaker,  and  had  suffered  much  persecution  be- 
fore crossing  the  Atlantic.  Westbury  was  long 
noted  as  one  of  the  centers  of  Quakerism  on 
Long  Island,  and  most  of  its  old  families  still  be- 
long to  that  body.  Among  these  were  the 
Hickses,  Posts,  Seamans,  Rushmores,  Town- 
sends,  Treadwells  and  Willetts. 

For  many  years  the  Quakers  (Friends) 
maintained  an  academical  school  which  was 'fa- 
mous upon  Long  Island,  and  known  to  the  sect 
throughout  the  United  States.  This  was  known 
as  the  Friends'  School.  For  thirty  years  after 
the  division  of  the  Friends  into  two  bodies 
through  the  Hicksite  movement,  each  branch 
conducted  a  school  under  the  mianagement  of  a 
committee.  About  1852  the  Hicksites  lost  their 
school  property  by  iire,  after  which  the  two  so- 
cieties united  in  the  formation  of  the  Westbury 
Educational  Association,  which  was  charged 
with  the  conduct  of  one  school;  Nominally  it 
was  undenominational,  and  so  it  was,  practically, 
in  fact,  albeit  it  was  dominated  by  Quaker  in- 
fluences. For  many  years  it  enjoyed  a  prosperous 
career,  and  it  commanded  the  presence  of  such 
accomplished  men  and  famous  lecturers  as  Pro- 
fessor Edward  Livingston  Youmans,  George  W. 
Curtis,  Theodore  Tilton,  William  Lloyd  Gar- 
rison, and  others  of  similar  repute.  Something 
like  a  quarter  of.  century  ago  the  school  was 
closed,  and  the  building  came  to  be  used  for  dis- 
trict purposes,  as  it  is  at  the  present  'time. 


But  the  quaintness  and  simplicity  of  the  days 
agone  have  disappeared,  giving  way  before  the 
spirit  of  a  new  age.  The  town  'has  moved  stead- 
ily into  those  industrial  pursuits  which  necessi- 
tate the  whirr  of  machinery  and  the  incoming  of 
a  new  population — some  factory  operatives,  and 
others,  men  of  means  and  comparative  leisure, 
with  whom  the  automobile  has  become  a  neces- 
sity. The  ground,  too,  has  become  a  golfing 
ground  since  the  craze  for  that  ancient  and  royal 
Scottish  game  has  assumed  its  present  American 
popularity,  and  quite  a  number  of  handsome 
homes  and  large  -and  well  appointed  club- 
houses have  in  recent  years  been  added  to  its  old 
attractiveness. 

Before  leaving  this  catalogue  of  the  more 
important  villages  of  North  Hempstead,  some 
brief  mention  should  be  made  of  one  which 
seems  in  recent  years  to  be  retrograding, 
but  which  had  a  bit  of  history  attaching  to  it  that 
is  worth  remembering.  That  is  the  village  of 
Lakeville,  almost  on  the  old  border  line  of  Flush- 
ing. Indeed,  it  is  to  its  closeness  to  Flushing  that 
is  due  its  historical  interest.  It'  contained  a 
country  seat  belonging  to  Governor  Dongan,  and 
part  of  the  six  hundred  acres  or  sO'  ,which  he  re- 
ceived when  Flushing  and  Hempstead  received 
their  charters,  and  which,  while  not  exactly  a 
bribe,  was  at  least  a  diplomlatic  gift.  Lakeville 
was  formerly  called  Success  from  a  pond  in  its 
neighborhood  which  bore  that  name. 


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'ts 


126 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


OYSTER  BAY  AND  VICINITY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


OYSTER  BAY. 


HE  township  of  Oyster  Bay,  which  is 
the  largest  in  Nassau  County,  as  it 
was  the  largest  in  the  old  County  of 
Queens,  extends  across  the  entire  island 
from  the  Sound  to  the  ocean.  The  north  shore 
is  deeply  indented,  and  on  the  south  it  is  separated 
from  the  ocean  by  the  Great  South  Bay,  with 
Jones  or  Seaford  Beach  in  front.  The  bay  en- 
closes several  small  islands  which  are  included 
in  the  township,  but  for  the  most  part  they  are  of 
very  little  value. 

The  earliest  deed  for  the  disposal  of  land  in 
Oyster  Bay  Township  was  unearthed  some 
years  ago  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Pelletreau.  It  was 
issued  in  1639  by  the  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Ster- 
ling, and,  althoug-h  Mariner  Sinderland  does  not 
seem  to  have  profited  by  the  deed,  it  may  be 
inserted  here  as  it  shows  the  value  of  the  land, 
and  also  proves  that  even  in  spite  of  the  grant 
of  the  "Royal  King''  the  Indians  had  to  be 
reckoned  with : 


Know  all  men  whom  this  p'snt  writeing 
may  concearne  that  I,  James  ffarrett,  gent., 
Deputy  to  the  right  Honorable,  the  Earle  of 
Starelinge,  doe  by  these  p'sents,  in  the  name 
and  behalfe  of  the  said  Earle,  and  in  my  own 
name  as  his  deputy  as  it  doth  or  may  any  way 
concerne  myselfe,  give  and  graunt  free  leave 
and  liberty  unto  Mathew  Sinderland  Seaman 
at  Boston  in  New  England,  to  possesse  and 
ymprove  and  enjoy  two  little  necks  of  Land, 
the  one  uppon  the  East  side  of  Oyster  Bay 
Harbour,  and  the  other  uppon  the  west  side  of 
the  said  Harbour,  w'ch  two  necks,  and  every 


part  of  them,  and  all  belonging  thereunto  or 
that  the  aforesaid  two  necks  may  afford,  to 
remain  unto  the  said  Mathew  Sinderland,  his 
heires  and  assignes  for  now  and  ever,  with  full 
pO'wer  to  the  said  Mathew  to  dispose  thereof 
at  his  own  pleasure.  But  forasmuch  as  it 
hath  pleased  our  Royall  King  to  grant  a  patent 
of  Long  Island  to  the  said  Earle,  in  considera- 
tion thereof  it  is  agreed  upon  that  the  said 
Mathew  Sinderland  shall  pay  or  cause  to  be 
paid  yearely  to  the  said  Earle  or  his  deputy 
tenn  shillings  lawfull  money  of  England,  and 
the  first  payment  to  bee  and  beginn  at  our 
Lady  day  next  ensuinge,  in  the  year  of  God 
one  thusand  six  hundred  and  fforty  yeares,  and 
so  to  continue.  And  it  shall  bee  lawfull  for 
the  said  fMathew  to  compound  and  agree  with 
the  Indians  that  now^  have  the  possession  of 
the  said  necks  for  theire  consent  and  good  will. 

In  witness  I  have  sett  my  hand  and  seale 
this  day,  beinge  i8th  of  June  1639. 

James  Farrett. 

Robert  Turner. 

Whereas  Mathew  Sinderland,  seaman,  hath 
apporcon  of  Land  at  Oyster  Bay  on  Long 
Island  from  one  James  Farrett,  in  the  name 
and  behalfe  of  the  Earle  of  Starelinge,  and  the 
said  iMathew  is  to  pay  for  the  said  proportion 
tenn  shillings  a  year  to  the  said  Earle  or  his 
deputy,  Know  you  that  I  James  ffarrett  to 
have  received  from  the  said.  Mathew  twenty 
shillings,  and  for  the  rent  of  the  said  land  for 
the  first  yeare  of  his  possession,  beinge  from 
thirty-nine  unto  the  fortieth,  w'ch  I  reseaved 
and  graunt  the  receipt  thereof. 

Witness  my  hand  the  4th  of  September 
1639.  James  Farrett, 

Recorded  the  ist  of  March  1660,  by  me. 
Will:  Wells^  Recorder. 


128 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


In  1667  the  first  patent  issued  .by  Governor 
Nicolls  was  confirmed  by  Governor  Andros, 
whose  patent  reads  as  follows : 

Edmond  Andres  Esqr.,  Seigneur  of  Saus- 
mares,  Lieu't.  and  Governor  General  under  his 
Rbyal  Highness  James  Duke  of  York  and  Al- 
bany &c.  of  all  his  Territories  in  America,  To 
all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come  sendeth 
greeting. 

Whereas  there  is  a  certain  Town  in  the 
North  Riding  of  Yorkshire  on  Long  Island 
commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
"Oyster  Bay,  situated,  lying  and  being  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Island,  toward  the  Sound, 
having  a  certain  Tract  of  land  thereunto  be- 
longing; the  East  bounds  whereof  begin  at  the 
head  of  the  Cold  Spring,  and  so  to  range  upon 
a  Southward  line  from  the  Sound  or  North 
Sea  to  the  South  Sea,  across  the  Island  to  the 
South  East  bounds  of  their  South  meadows  at 
a  certain  River  called  by  the  Indians  Narras- 
ketuck;  thence  running  along  the  said  coast 
westerly  to  another  certain  river  called  Arras- 
quaung;  then  northerly  to  the  Eastermost  ex- 
tent of  the  Great  Plains  where  the  line  divides 
Hempstead  and  Robert  Williams'  bounds; 
from  thence  stretching  westerly  along  the  mid- 
dle of  the  said  Plains  till  it  bears  South  from 
the  said  Robert  Williams'  marked  Tree  at  the 
point  of  Trees  called  Cantiagge;  thence  on  a 
north  line  to  the  said  marked  tree,  and  then 
on  a  north  west  line  somewhat  westerly  to  the 
head  of  Hempstead  Harbor  on  the  East  side, 
so  to  the  Sound ;  and  from  thence  Easterly 
along  the  sound  to  the  aforementioned  North 
and  South  line  which  runs  across  the  Island 
by  the  Cold  Spring  aforesaid :  Bounded,  on 
the  North  by  the  Sound,  on  the  East  by  Hunt- 
ington limmitts,  on  the  South  part  by  the  Sea 
and  part  by  Hempstead  limmitts,  and  on  West 
by  the  bounds  of  Hempstead  aforesaid,  includ- 
ing all  the  Necks  of  Land  and  Islands  within 
the  aforedescribed  bounds  and  limmitts. 

Know  ye  that  by  virtue  of  His  Majesty's 
Letters  Patent  and  the  commission  and  au- 
thority unto  me  given  by  his  Royal  Highness 
I  have  Ratified,  Confirmed  and  Granted,  and 
by  these  presents  do  hereby  rattify,  Confirm 
and  grant  unto  Henry  Townsend  senr.,  Nich- 
olas Wright,  Thomas  Townsend,  Gideon 
Wright,  Richard  Harcker,  Joseph  Carpenter, 
and  Josias  Latting,  as  patentees  for  and  on  be- 
half of  themselves  and  of  their  associates  the 
Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of 'the  said  Town 


their  Heirs,  Successors  and  Assigns,  all  the 
afore  mentioned  Tract  of  Land  within  the  said 
bounds,  with  the  Islands  and  Necks  of  Land 
aforesaid,  together  with  all  the  Wood  lands, 
Plains,  Meadows,  Pastures,  Quarries,  Marshes, 
Waters,  Lakes,  Rivers,  Fishing,  Hawking, 
Hunting  and  Fowling,  and  all  of  the  profits, 
commodities,  emoluments,  Hereditiments  to 
the  said  Town  Tract  of  Land  and  premises 
within  the  limmitts  and  bounds  aforemen- 
tioned described  belonging  or  in  any  wise  ap- 
pertaining; To  have  and  To  hold  all  and  sin- 
gular the  said  lands,  Hereditiments  and  prem- 
ises, with  their  and  every  of  their  appurte- 
nances and  part  and  parcel  thereof,  to  the  said 
Patentees  and  their  Associates,  their  Heirs, 
Successors  and  Assigns,  to  the  proper  use  and 
behoof  of  them  the  said  Patentees  and  their  As- 
sociates, their  Successors  and  Assigns  forever. 
The  Tenure  of  the  said  lands  and  premises  to 
be  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Manour  of 
East  Greenwich  in  the  County  of  Kent  in  Eng- 
land, in  free  and  Common  Soccage  and  by 
Fealty  only.  Provided  allways  notwithstand- 
ing that  the  extent  of  the  bounds  afore  recited 
in  no  way  prejudiced  or  infringed  the  particu- 
lar propriety  of  any  person  or  persons  who 
have  right  by  labour  or  any  other  lawfuU  claim 
to  any  part  or  parcell  of  Land  or  Tenement 
within  the  limmitts  aforesaid,  only  that  all  the 
lands  and  Plantations  within  the  said  limmitts 
or  bounds  shall  have  relation  to  the  Tow^n  in 
general  for  the  well  Government  thereof;  and 
if  it  shall  so  happen  that  any  part  or  parcell  of 
the  said  land  within  the  bounds  and  limmitts 
afore  described  be  not  all  ready  purchased  of 
the  Indians  it  may  be  purchased  (as  occasion) 
according' to  Law. 

I  do  hereby  likewise  confirm  and  grant  unto 
Ihe  said  Pattentees  and  their  associates,  their 
Heirs,  successors  and  assigns,  all  the  privi- 
leges and  immunities  belonging  to  a  Township 
within  this  Government,  and  that  the  place  of 
their  present  habitation  and  abode  shall  con- 
tinue and  retain  the  name  of  Oyster  Bay,  by 
which  name  and  Stile  it  shall  be  distinguished 
and  known  in  all  bargains  and  Sales,  Deeds, 
Records  and  writings,  they  making  improve- 
ments thereon  according  to  Law,  and  yielding 
and  paying  therefor  yearly  and  every  year 
unto  his  Royal  Highness'  use  as  a  Quit  Rent 
one  good  fat  Lamb  on  the  25th  day  of  March 
unto  such  Officer  or  Officers  as  shall,  be  em- 
powered to  receive  the  same. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  Province  in  New  York  this  29th  day 


OYSTER  BAY. 


129 


of  September  in  the  29th  year  of  his  Alajesty's 
Reign,  Anno  Domini  1677.  Andros 

Examined  by  me,  AIathew  Xiciiols,  Sec. 

This  is  a  true  Record  of  the  original  patent 
of  Oyster  Bay.  written  and  examined  by  me, 
John  Xewmax,  Recorder. 

On  the  back  side  of  the  before  written  pat- 
ent is  the  following  endorsement: 

New   York^   Xovember   ist,   1684. 

Alemorandum. — That  it  is  agreed  and  con- 
sented unto  by  us  whose  names  are  underwrit- 
ten, deputed  from  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  to 
adjust  and  ascertain  the  bounds  and  limmits 
between  the  towns  of  Oyster  Bay  and  Hemp- 
stead before  the  governor  and  council  at  Fort 
James  in  New  York,  that  the  bounds  and  lim- 
mits between  Oyster  Bay  and  Hempstead  be- 
gin at  the  Barrow  Beach,  according  to  an 
agreement  made  the  25th  day  of  October  1677. 
Witness  our  hands — Thos.  Tow^nsend,  Na- 
thaniel Coles,  John  Weeks,  Isaac  Horner. 

Signed  in  the  presence  of  John  Spraguc, 
George  Farewell,  George  Brewerton. 

Governor  Andres's  patent  was  needed,  for 
the  vagueness  of  the  boundary  lines  had  given 
trouble.  The  Indians  had  not  been  promptly 
paid  in  the  first  place  and  that  involved  con- 
siderable negotiations,  and  the  precise  limits  of 
the  western  boundary  involved  another  dispute 
with  the  red  men,  while  a  similar  trouble  was 
started  in  1663  with  Huntington  'over  the  eastern 
boundary,  but  that  dispute  lasted  for  over  a 
century  and  its  details  are  too  wearisom^e  to  be 
followed,  especially  as  the  matter  has  long  ago 
lost  its  living  interest — if  it  ever  really  had  any 
except  to  a  handful  of  people. 

This,  however,  is  anticipating.  The  history 
of  the  township  begins  much  earlier  than  the 
documents  last  mentioned  would  imply,  and  in 
that  history  was  one  of  the  sorrows  af  old  Peter 
Sruyvesant.  It  was  neither  English  nor  Dutch. 
The  English  held  it;  the  Dutch  claimed  it;  so  it 
was  a  sort  of  no-man's  land,  caring  little  for  the 
Dutch  laws  and  looking  to  Connecticut  for  pro- 
tection, although  nominally  under  Dutch  jurisdic- 
tion. Sovereignty  was  claimed  for  a  time  by  the 
9 


colony  of  New  Haven,  but  Stuyvesant  never 
formally  admitted  that  claim,  although  there  is 
iittle  doubt  that  it  was  a  just  and  lawful  one,  as 
jUst  and  lawful  as  a  treaty  could  accomplish.  But 
the  accession  of  Governor.  Nicolls  settled  all 
such  disputes,  overthrew  the  Dutch  rule,  made 
Long  Island  an  integral  part  of  the  Province 
of  New  York,  and,  except  for  the  brief  interval 
of  the  Colve  opera  bouffe  supremacy,  crushed 
for  ever  its  hopes  of  being  part  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Confederacy.  But  all  this  has  already  been 
told  in  an  earlier  part  of  this  work,  and  treaties 
and  the  like  may  be  passed  by  here  and  the  story 
of  actual  settlement  be  dwelt  upon.  ^ 

The  first  real  settlement  was  begun  in  16^, 
when  land  was  bought  from  the  Matinecock 
Indians  by  Peter  Wright,  Samuel  Alayo  and 
William  Leverich,  and  the  purchase  included  the 
present  bounds  of  Oyster  Bay  Village.  The  price 
paid  was  on  a  much  more  liberal  scale  than 
usual  and  included  "six  Indian  coats,  six  kettles, 
six  fathom  of  wampum,  six  hoes,  six  hatchets, 
three  pair  of  stockings ;  thirty  awl  blades  or 
muxes,  twenty  knives,  three  shirts,  and  as  much 
peague  (wampum  shells)  as  will  amount  to  four 
pounds  sterling."  The  others  included  in  the 
purchase  were  William  Washburne,  Thoir^as 
Armitage,  Daniel  Whitehead,  Anthony  Wright, 
Robert  Williams,  John  Washburne  and  Richard 
Holbrook,  and  these  men  may  justly  be  regarded 
as  the  pioneers  of  the  township.  Several  others 
joined  immediately  after  the  agreement  was 
made,  if^thc}^  were  not  even  then  on  the  exact 
spot.\Twcnty  lots  were  laid  out  at  first,  of  six 
acres  each.^N^ot  much  is  known  of  the  personal 
history  of  any  of  the  settlers.  ATr.  Leverich  we 
have  already  met  in  our  story  of  Newtown. 
In  Oyster  Bay  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
recognized  as  a  leader,  although  he  was  the  ac- 
cepted minister  of  the  settlement  until  1657.  His 
great  aim  in  settling  on  Long  Island  seems-  to 
have  been  to  work  among  the  Indian  tribes,  and 
he  certainly  found  many  opportunities.  Samuel 
Mayo  was  a  remarkably  enterprising  fellow.  He 
owned  the  good  ship  "Desire,"  of  Barnstable, 
and  in  it  carried  the  adventurers  and  their  goods 
and  possessions  tO'  Oyster   Ba}-.     He   seems  to 


ISO 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


have  been  the  busmess  man  of  the  enterprise  and 
looked  after  the  affairs  of  the  colony,  apportion- 
ing its  plantations  or  farms  to  those  new-comers 
who  proved  agreeable  to  the  town  m,eeting.  But 
he  had  not  always  smooth  sailing  in  the  carrying 
on  of  his  enterprises.  Being  engaged  to  convey 
the  goods  of  Mr,  Leverich  to  Oyster  Bay,  his 
vessel  was  seized  in  Hempstead  Harbor,  by  one 
Thomas  Baxter,  under  the  pretense  of  au- 
thority from  those  in  charge  of  affairs  in  Rhode 
Island.  Thompson  says  that  "this  Baxter  was 
beyond  all  question  a  turbulent  and  unprincipled 
fello'w/'  and  the  general  court  at  Hartford  cen- 
sured him'  "for  his  reproachful  speeches  against 
that  jurisdiction,"  and  imposed  a  fine  upon  him. 
He  was  also  obliged  to  reimburse  'Mayo  for  seiz- 
ing his  vessel  under  false  pretenses.  Mayo 
died  at  Oyster  Bay  in  1670. 

Peter  Wright  is  regarded  as  the  founder  of 
Oyster  Bay.  He  was  one  of  three  brothers  who 
came  from  England  to  Massachusetts,  probably 
about  1636.  He  'was  the  only  one  of  the  original 
three  purchasers  who  made  a  permanent  settle- 
ment, and  it  would  appear  that  he  was  regarded 
as  the  leading  'man  in  the  little  community. 
Richard  Holbrook  built  the  first  house  in  what 
is  now  Oyster  Bay  village.  Robert  Williams  is 
described  as  having  been  a  near  relative  of  the 
celebrated  Roger  Williams,  and  was  the  first 
purchaser  of  the  property  which  afterward  be- 
came known  as  Dosoris.  Daniel  Whitehead  soon 
removed  to  Jamaica,  Anthony  Wright  prospered 
in  Oyster  Bay  until  his  death  in  1680,  and  the 
Washburnes  moved  to  Hempstead.  Most  of  them 
were  natives  of  England,  and  while  the  settle- 
ment they  formed  was  not  a  religious  one,  it  was 
a  imoral  community  in  every  way.  They  seem 
to  have  freely  admitted  new-comers  to  share  in 
the  privileges  of  settlement,  and  Governor  An- 
dros's  pateijt  presents  us  with  several  new 
names. 

It  would  seem  that  at  first  the  land  was  to 
be  held  in  common,  except  the  six-acre  home 
lots.  That  theory,  however,  was  soon  departed 
from,  and  in  practice  all  sorts  of  notions  pre- 
vailed. Privileges  were  granted  to  one  and  with- 
held from  another.     Some  lots  carried  rights  to 


privileges  in  the  meadows,  pastures  and  wood- 
lands, others  did  not ;  sometimes  lots  were  given 
to  people  with  the  proviso  that  they  should  build 
houses  on  them;  others  received  lots  without 
any  proviso  at  all.  It  was  the  rule  that  the  town 
meeting  should  pass  upon  the  merits  or  demerits 
of  intending  settlers,  but,  after  a  while,  lots 
were  transferred  without  asking  the  leave  of  the 
meeting.  All  this  in  the  long  run  led  to  con- 
fusion and  bickering,  recrimination  and  law- 
suits. The  fathers  seemed  to  have  had  some 
ideas  of  settling  the  land  question,  but  appeared 
unable  to  carry  them  out  and  the  result  was 
trouble  all  around.  So  burdensome  did  all  be- 
come that  a  town  meeting  was  held  in  1677,  when 
there  was  confirmed,  by  name,  ''every  freeholder 
which  hath  a  free  vote  for  giving  and  granting 
of  common  rights,  and  not  otherwise;  and  that 
from  henceforward  no'  grant  of  township  or  com- 
mon rights  shall  be  confirmed,  or  hold  legal 
grants,  without  every  freeholder  hath  legal 
warning  that  such  a  meeting  is  to  be  appointed, 
or  that  there  are  land&  to  be  given  out ;  and,  after 
legal  warning  given  them  by  the  officer  appoint- 
ed, it  shall  be  held  legal,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, all  gifts  or  grants  by  common  rights  to 
either  man  or  men,  given  by  the  majority  of  free- 
holders that  doth  appear  at  the  time  and  place  ap- 
pointed. And  it  is  further  agreed  that  for  every 
town  right  that  any  freeholder  doth  possess  he 
shall  have  so  niany  votes  in  the  giving  and  grant- 
ing land  and  common  rights,  and  not  otherwise 
to  be  understood,  but  to  grant  and  divide,  as  they 
shall  see  cause.'' 

The  freeholders  named  were :  Henry 
Townsend,  Joseph  Dickin:son,  Edmund  Wright, 
Anthony  Wright,  Joseph  Ludlum,  Samuel 
Weeks,  Nicholas  Simpkins,  John  Jones,  Francis 
Weeks,  William  Frost,  John  Rogers,  John  Dick- 
,inson,  William  Buckler,  Nicholas  Wright,  Job 
Wright,  Elizabeth  Townsend,  John  Townsend, 
Josiah  Latting,  Nathaniel  Coles,  Richard  Har- 
cott,  Adam  Wright,  Latamore  Sampson,  (Simon 
Cooper),  Daniel  Coles,  John  Wright,  John 
Townsend,  Caleb  Wright,  Isaac  Doutty,  James 
Townsend,  John  Weeks,  Samuel  Andrews,  Mat- 
thias   Harvey    Fyde,    Samuel    Furman,    AHce 


OYSTER  BAY. 


131 


Crabb,  Henry  Townsend,  Jr.,  Gideon  Wright, 
Richard  Crabb,  George  Dennis,  Thomas  Town- 
send,  Joseph  Weeks,  John  Weeks,  of  Warwick, 
Thomas  Weeks,  Moses  Furman,  James  Weeks. 

Only  freeholders  could  vote  in  town  nueet- 
ing,  but  all  lot  owners  were  not  freeholders,  and 
thereby  arose  another  complication.  In  fact  the 
early  land  question  in  Oyster  Bay  is  about  as 
interesting  a  puzzle  as  a  legal  antiquary  would 
find  to  study. 

From  the  first  the  settlers  looked  to  New 
Haven  as  their  suzerain,  so  to  speak,  and  it 
would  seem  that  New  Haven  accepted  the 
charge,  and  in  1662  named  John  Richbill  as 
constable  of  Oyster  Bay.  The  colonists  seemed 
to  have  thought  this  hardly  in  keeping  with  their 
ideas  of  municipal  liberty  and  in  1664  they  joined 
with  Hempstead,  Newton,  Jamaica  and  Flushing 
to  make  up  a  sort  of  federation  and  manage  their 
own  affairs  without  crossing  the  Sound.  How 
this  federation  would  have  panned  out  is  hard  to 
say.  Certainly  Connecticut  would  have  opposed 
it,  and  just  as  certainly  Stuyvesant  would  not 
have  tolerated  it  so  far  as  such  places  as  Flusihing 
and  Newtown  and  Jamaica  were  concerned.  But 
the  advent  of  Richard  NicoUs  settled  all  such 
matters,  as  has  already  been  said.  It  is  said  that 
Richbill  became  so  unpopular  in  Oyster  Bay  vil- 
lage owing  to  his  willingness  to  accept  Connec- 
ticut's nomination,  that  he  was  glad  to  sell  his 
property  and  wander  away. 

Richbill  is  described  by  some  as  the  pioneer 
merchant  of  Oyster  Bay  and  Newtown.  The  sec- 
ond was  a  George  Dennis,  who,  however,  if  he 
was  the  second  merchant  was  the  first  bankrupt, 
for  we  are  told  that  he  had  to  make  his  goods 
over  to  his  creditors. 

As  early  as  1668  a  grant  of  land  was  made 
for  the  construction  of  a  wharf  on  Oyster  Bay, 
at  the  point  called  Ship  Point,  but  this  scheme 
was  not  carried  into  effect.  In  1661  the  first  grist 
mill  was  erected  by  Henry  Townsend.  The  mil- 
ler' engaged  to  operate  it,  Richard  Harcutt,  was 
not  a  very  polished  or  a  very  politic  gentle- 
man and  seemed  to  offend  several  of  the 
customers  of  the  mill,  and  much  grumb- 
ling ensued.     The  matter,  as  was  certain,  was 


discussed  at  a  town  meeting  in  1672  with  the 
following  result:  *'That  if  any  person  or  per- 
sons do  not  like  their  usage  at  the  mill  they  are 
to  give  notice  of  it  to  the  miller  and  attend  him- 
self, or  his  wife  if  he  have  one,  and  see  their 
corn  grinding  if  they  will;  but  if  they  will  not 
attend  the  grinding  *  ^  =i^  they  are  at  lib- 
erty to  grind  in  another  place  and  the  miller  is 
at  his  liberty  whether  he  will  grind  again  for 
any  such  person  or  persons.''  It  is  computed 
that  in  1699  one-third  of  the  goods  imported  into 
the  colony  of  'New  York  come  into  the  Long 
Island  ports  of  Setauket,  Mosquito  Cove,  South- 
old  and  Oyster  Bay,  and'  a  half  century  later  the 
Oyster  Bay  merchants  had  an  extensive  trade 
with  the  various  Sound  ports,  and  even  with 
the  West  Indies.  The  outbreak  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  however,  dissipated  all  that  pros- 
perity and  (blighted  even  the  work  of  the  fields 
for  many  years. 

But  we  are  not  to  forget  one  of  the  old  mer- 
chants of  Oyster  Bay — no  less  a  personage  than 
the  famous  William  Bradford,  who  was  the  first 
printer  in  New  York.  For  several  years  prior 
to  1703  he  executed  deeds  in  which  he  described 
himself  as  "merchant  of  Oyster  Bay  and 
printer  of  New  York."  It  is  well  enough  known 
that  Oyster  Bay  was  an  important  commercial 
point;  indeed,  it  was  largely  with  a  view  to  that 
end  that  it  came  to  be  settled ;  and  it  is  curious- 
ly interesting  to  read  the  following — the  first 
known  newspaper  advertisement  referring  to 
Long  Island — which  appeared  in  the  "Boston 
News  Letter"  of  May  8,  1704: 

"At  Oyster  Bay  on  Long  Island  in  the 
Province  of  New  York  There  is  a  very  good 
Fulling  Mill  to  be  Let  or  Sold,  as  also  a  Plan- 
tation, having  on  it  a  large  new  Brick  house, 
and  another  good  house  by  it  for  a  Kitchen  & 
wash  house,  with  a  Barn,  Stable  &c.,  a  young 
orchard  and  20  Acres  of  Cleared  land.  The 
Mill  is  to  be  Let  with  or  without  the  Planta- 
tion. Enquire  of  Mr.  Wilham'  Bradford  Printer 
in  New  York  and  know  further." 

Probably  the  people  of  Oyster  Bay,  whether 
Whig  or  Tory,  felt  relieved  when  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  ceased  and  the  horrors  of  martial 


13i 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


law  became  a  thing  of  the  past.  When  peace 
was  proclaimed,  industry  was  resumed,  but  the 
township  had  been  so  seriously  drained  of  its 
resources,  its  fields  had  been  sO'  trampled  on 
and  destroyed,  its  granaries,  when  spared,  had 
been  so  emptied,  and  its  financial  resources  so 
reduced,  that  it  took  a  long  time  to  regain  what 
had  been  lost  during  the  few  years  of  conflict. 
Agriculture  was  at  that  time  the  main  industry, 
for  the  war  had  shattered  the  shipping  trade 
which  had  been  promising  so  much  prior  to  1776. 
But  the  soil,  not  the  sea,  was,  after  all,  the 
mainstay  of  the  people,  and  so  until  the  nine- 
teenth century  had  pretty  well  advanced,  the 
story  of  the  township  might  be  a  record  of  im- 
provements in  crops,  in  farm  stock,  in  extension 
of  the  farm  land  by  a  steady  clearance  of  the 
brush  and  wildwood,  and  in  the  development  of 
the  breed  of  horses,  horses  for  pleasure  as  well 
as  for  work.  The  apple  seems  to  have  been  the 
principal  fruit  cultivated,  and  Oyster  Bay  be- 
came noted  for  its  cider. 

We  may  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  re- 
ligious life  of  Oyster  Bay,  a  subject  which  is 
of  equal  interest  and  importance  with  its  civil 
history.  It  has  already  been  said  that  the  first 
community  was  not  a  theocracy,  although  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Leverich  was  among  the  pioneers  and 
was  regarded  as  their  minister.  In  the  internal 
government  of  the  township  Ihe  town  meeting 
ruled  in  everything — so  far  as  is  known  no  cler- 
gyman waS'  appointed  in  i\Ir.  Leverich's  place 
when  he  left,  and  it  was  many  years  before  a 
meeting  house  was  erected.  In  1693  the  town 
meeting  "met  together  in  order  tO'  a  late  act 
of  Assembly  for  settling  two  ministers  in  the 
county,  but  nothing  done  about  it;  but  made  re- 
turn that  it  was  against  their  judgment,  there- 
fore could  act  nothing  about  it."  Now  it  is  im- 
possible to  believe  that  these  people  were  with- 
out public  worship  from  the  time  Mr.  Leverich 
left  in  1656  or  thereabouts,  and  the  probability 
is  that  the  Quaker  doctrines  had  made  headway 
among  them. 

It  is  lield  that  in  1659  a  regular  meeting  of 
the  Society  of  Friends  was  established  at  Oyster 
Bay,  in  the  residence  of  Anthony  Wright,  and 


a  marriage  was  solemnized  there  between  Sam- 
uel Andrews  and  2^Iary  Wright,  August  8,  1663. 
There  are  some  signs  also  that  some  of  Mrs. 
Hutchinson's  converts  visited  Oyster  Bay  and 
held  religious  meetings,  so  that  in  one  way  or 
another  the  place  was  not  without  its  spiritual 
leaders,  and  Oyster  Bay  became  the  religious 
center  for  a  wide  district.  In  1672  George  Fox 
paid  it  a  visit  and  preached  in  the  woods,  with 
a  rock  for  a  pulpit,  because  there  was  no  house 
in  the  place  large  enough  to  accommodate  the 
number  of  his  auditors,  and  it  was  in  that  year 
that  Anthony  Wright  gave  land,  part  of  his  house 
lot,  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  on  which  to  erect 
a  meeting  house  and  lay  out  a  burial  plot.  The 
house  was  finished  early  in  the  following  year 
and  seems  tO'  have  been  a  comfortable  little  struc- 
ture, with  double  doors,  eight  windows  and 
plain  benches.  The  Society  waxed  strong,  and 
large  congregations  were  formed  in  Matinicock 
in  1671,  Jericho  in  1676,  and  in  Bethpage  in 
1698,  while  on  the  lonely  farms  the  simple  faith 
of  the  Society  was  that  held  by  possibly  nine- 
tenths  of  the  people.  For  a  time  it  would  seem 
that  next  to  Flushing,  Oyster  Bay  was  the  most 
important  center  of  the  Society  on  Long  Isl- 
and. So  the  burly  and  blusterous  Keith  reported, 
in  1701,  as  the  result  of  his  personal  observa- 
tion. But  even  then  a  change  had  taken  place, 
and  the  adherents  of  the  Society  gradually  fell 
off  in  the  village.  The  first  meeting  house  was 
taken  down  in  1693,  and  a  second  was  not  built 
until  1749.  In  1797  the  number  of  Friends  had 
dwindled  down  until  little  more  than  "a  rem- 
nant." 

This,  however,  was  not  caused  by  any  fall- 
ing off  in  the  religious  spirit  of  the  town,  but 
because  other  influences  had  been  at  work  and 
had  weakened  the  hold  of  the  Society.  The 
Baptists  had  been  zealously  at  woidc  even  when 
the  Society  seemed  supreme,  and  had  gradually 
won  converts  to  their  views.  About  the  year 
1700  William  Rhodes  settled  in  Oyster  Ba\-  vil- 
lage from  Rhode  Island,  and  at  once  began  to 
hold  regular  meetings,  and  so  organized  a  con- 
gregation— a  congregation  that  was  made  up 
mainly,  if  not  wholly,  of  persons  who  had  been 


OYSTER.  BAY 


133 


numbered  among  the  Quakers.  It  has  been  held 
that  he  was  not  an  ordained  minister^  that  he 
was  without  denominational  authority,  but  in  the 
early  history  O'f  either  the  Quakers  or  the  Bap- 
tists such  matters  were  not  deemed  of  prime 
importance  in  the  face  of  results.  In  1724  a 
Baptist  meeting  house  was  erected,  but  the  con- 
gregation lost  its  up-builder,  for  J\Ir.  Rhodes 
in  that  year  was  called  to  his  reward.  He  was 
succeeded,  Prime  tells  us,  by  ''an  individual  by 
the  name  of  Robert  Feeks,  the  son  of  a  Quaker 
preacher,"  who  had  been  his  assistant.  "He  was 
ordained,"  says  Prime,  *'in  1724  by  elders  from 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  what  was  called  a  Free- 
will Baptist,  and  as  nO'  other  quaHfication  was 
considered  necessary  in  a  candidate  for  bap- 
tism than  a  desire  to  be  saved,  his  church  was. 
of  course,  numerous.  *  *  ^  He  labored 
man}  years,  and  died  [1773]  in  the  89th  year  of 
his  age.''  But  he  was  not  without  his  troubles. 
In  1745  the  Rev.  Thomas  Davis  was  appointed 
his  colleague,  and,  being  a  stern  unyielding  Cal- 
vinist,  his  sentiments  were  on  many  points  ut- 
terly opposed  to  thoise  of  his  senior.  This  led 
to  bickerings  and  confusion  and  might  have 
caused  the  creation  of  another  congregation  had 
not  Davis,  after  some  three  years  of  agitation, 
retired  from  the  vineyard  on  account  of  ill 
health.  The  people  then  held  together,  each  sec- 
tion certain  of  ultimate  triumph.  Caleb  Wright, 
a  grandson  of  the  pioneer  Rhodes,  had  been  ed- 
ucated for  the  ministry  and  was  to  be  ordained 
and  installed  as  Mr.  Feeks's  colleague.  The  peo- 
ple listened  to  his  preaching  for  over  a  year, 
and  there  was  a  strong  hope  that  he  would  lead  ■ 
the  people  into  quiet  waters,  that  he  would  heal 
the  past  differences.  But  the  day  appointed  for 
his  ordination  turned  out  to  be  that  of  his  burial, 
and  the  Rev.  Isaac  Still,  of  New  Jersey,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  ordain,  preached  his  fun- 
eral sermon.  After  that  contention  broke  out 
worse  than  ever.  Mr.  Davis  returned  for  a  brief 
visit  in  the  hope  of  restoring  peace,  but  seems 
to  have  made  the  confusion  worse  than  ever,  and 
if  we  read  Prime's  story  of  the  trouble  aright, 
he  and  the  now  venerable  Pastor  Feeks  had  a 
regular   set-to   in    the   pulpit   one    Sunday,    and 


Davis  proved  the  victor,  put  Feeks  out  and 
preached  the  sermon ! 

In  1759  David  Sutton  was  called  to  the  pas- 
torate, and  for  a  short  time  peace  prevailed,  but 
the  result  was  a  schism  aiid  the  formation  of 
a  new  congregation,  calling  themselves  the  "New 
Lights.''  The  pastor  of  this  body,  or  its  spokes- 
man and  preacher,  was  Peter  Underbill  (a 
grandson  of  the  famous  Captain  John.  Under- 
bill), but  its  real  leader  was  his  mother-in-law, 
I\Irs.  Sarah  Townsend,  who,  having  in  her  early 
years  been  a  schoolmistress,  was  generally 
known  as  Aladame  Townsend ;  a  woman  of  much 
ability,  evidently,  and  one  who  had  certainly 
studied  the  Scriptures  closely  and  believed  in  ex- 
pounding them  according  to  her  lights.  She 
refused  to  believe  in  denominational  restraints, 
believed  in  the  indiscriminate  outpouring  of  the 
Spirit,  and  believed  that  all  would,  at  one  time 
or  other,  be  converted.  When  the  new  body  at- 
tempted, after  a  little  experience,  to  draw  up 
a  set  of  rules  to  maintain  order  and  decorum, 
she  shouted  '^Babylon!"  and  withdrew.  How- 
ever, she  seems  to  have  soon  returned,  and  the 
little  community  lasted  for  ,some  thirty  years, 
when  she  and  Undei-hill  and  the  others  gave  up 
the  struggle  and  became  associated  again  with 
the  regular  Baptist  Church.  By  that  time  that 
body  had  been  reduced  to  nine  members,  and 
even  six  years  later  it  was  only  blessed  with  a 
membership  of  forty.  In  1801  the  Rev.  Mar- 
maduke  Earle,  having  settled  in  Oyster  Bay  to 
assume  charge  of  the  academy,  also  agreed  to 
supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  un- 
der his  ministry,  which  continued  until  his  death, 
in  1856,  the  Baptist  body  has  had  a  history  in 
Oyster  Bay  in  every  way  worthy  of  its  aspira- 
tions and  its  high  position  as  a  body  of  earnest, 
devoted   Christian  workers. 

Along  with  the  Baptist  body  the  Episcopalians 
aided  in  the  disintegration  of  the  Quaker  su- 
prem^acy.  Keith,  the  renegade  Quaker,  mentions 
that  he  bad  considerable  success  in  his  proselytiz- 
ing efforts  in  Oyster  Bay,  among  other  places 
on  Long  Island,  in  170 1.  A  church  building  was 
erected  in  1707,  but  for  many  years  the  congre- 
gation   was    under   the   pastoral    charge    of   the 


184 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


clergyman  at  Hempstead.  After  the  Revolu- 
tion services  were  conducted  irregularly,  but  the 
congregation  remained  intact  and  the  church 
authorities  in  New  York  in  1787  appointed  An- 
drew Fowler  as  "reader"  to  the  people  at  Islip, 
Brookhaven  and  Oyster  Bay.  Mr.  Fowler  after- 
ward became  rector  at  Oyster  Bay.  He  did  not 
remain  long  with  the  people  after  being  or- 
dained a  priest.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  church 
building  was  much  used  after  the  Revolution  for 
Divine  servite,  as  the  Hessian  troops  had  used 
its  timber  for  their  own  purpo.ses  and  destroyed 
much  of  the  internal  fittings.  In  1804,  how- 
ever, the  structure  was  blown  down  and  the 
material  of  which  it  was-  composed  was  then  sold 
for  ^6^,  which  sum,  however,  the  local  church 
authorities  did  not  receive  until  1845.  Its  site 
was  used  for  the  Oyster  Bay  Academy.  With 
the  removal  of  Mr.  Fowler  in  1791,  the  congre- 
gation seems  to  have  again  passed  under  the  care 
of  a  reader,  with  occasional  visits  from  the  rec- 
tors at  Huntington  and  North  Hempstead. 
When  the  Academy  was  completed  the  people 
worshipped  in  one  of  its  rooms.  In  1835  it  was 
made  a  missionary  station  under  the  Rev.  Isaac 
Sher^voo'd.  In  1844  Oyster  Bay  again  became 
a  district  charge,  a  new  church  building  was 
erected  in  1845,  and  the  modern  history  of  the 
congregation  may  be  said  to  have  then  begun. 
The  present,  beautiful  .structure  in  which  the  con- 
gregation now  worships  was  erected  in  1878, 
when  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  the  then  rec- 
tor, the  Rev.  George  R.  Van  de  Water,  now  of 
New  York. 

A  Methodist  Society  was  formed  in  1833, 
and  the  little  congregation  was  first  ministered  to 
by  the  Rev.  A.  Hulin  and  the  Rev.  R.  Wymond, 
of  the  Huntington  circuit.  In  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year,  a  quarterly  conference  was  held, 
and  a  class  of  nineteen  members  received  Joseph 
Latting  as  leader.  For  several  years  meetings 
were  held  in  the  old  academy  building.  In  Au- 
gust, 1856,  a  building  fund  was  secured,  and  a 
house  of  worship  was  erected,  which  was  dedi- 
cated by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Milburn,  in  1859.  The 
first  settled  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Abraham  S. 
Emmons,  who  came  in  1870.  The  Sunday-school 


was  organized  in  the  year  following  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  church  edifice. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  De- 
cember 18,  1845,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Long 
Island.  The  congregation  was  .served  by  visit- 
ing clergymen,  most  prominent  among  whom 
was  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Woodbridge,  Jr.,  of 
Hempstead,  until  late  in  1846,  when  the  Rev. 
John  T.  Clark  became  the  first  installed  pastor. 
Meetings  were  at  first  held  in  the  old  academy 
building.  In  1848  a  church  edifice  was  erected 
at  a  co.st  of  $3,000,  and  in  1873  the  congrega- 
tion had  so  increased  in  numbers  and  wealth 
that  it  was  enabled  to  erect  a  more  substantial 
and  commodious  building  at  a  cost  of  $16,000. 

Of  the  early  educational  conditions  we  have 
little  account.  There  was  a  schoolmaster  in 
1677,  for  it  is>  of  record  that  Thomas  Webb, 
who  served  as  such,  was  appointed  town  clerk. 
In  a  later  day,  a  school  was  maintained  in  con- 
nection with  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  there 
were  private  schools  from  that  time  until  the 
establishment  of  the  public  school  .system. 

The  present  village  of  Oyster  Bay  has  a  pop- 
ulation of  2,320.  In  1846,  in  a  moment  of  irre- 
sponsibility, it  was  decided  to  change  its  name 
to  Syosset,  but  the  change  only  lasted,  fortunate- 
ly, for  about  a  week.  Besides  its  important 
oystering  and  shipping  trade  it  is  the  center  of 
a  colony  of  summer  homes  of  the  very  highest 
clas,s.  Its  importance  has  steadily  increased  since 
the  railroad  gave  it  easy  access  to  the  outer 
world.  Its  cottages  are  most  picturesque  and 
reach  out  from  it  in  all  directions,  and  it  is  well 
supplied  with  hotels  and  boarding  houses.  As 
the  home  of  the  Seawanhaka  Yacht  Club  it  is  a 
center  for  that  class  of  sport,  and  the  club  house 
of  that  organization,  a  most  imposing  structure 
at  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  with  more  or  less  of  its 
"fleet"  in  front  and  its  dock  always  a  busy,  bust- 
ling place  during  the  season,  is  itself  a  prime 
attraction  to  visitors.  Oyster  Bay,  in  fact,  has 
become  quite  a  fashionable  center,  and  its  dig- 
nity in  this  respect  seems  certain  to  steadily  in- 
crease. Of  recent  years  it  has  come  into  especial 
prominence  as  the  residence  of  Theodore  Roose- 
velt, ex-Governor  of  New  York  and  President  of 


-lam 


OYSTER  BAY. 


135 


the  United  States.  His  splendid  cottage  has  been 
the  scene  of  many  an  important  gathering  .since 
his  return  from  Cuba,  where,  as  Colonel  of  the 
famous  "Rough  Riders/'  he  won  a  national  pre- 
eminence and  became  one  of  the  foremost  figures 
in  American  public  life.  Inasmuch  as  the  name 
of  this  distinguished  man  will  ever  be  associated 
with  that  of  this,  his  home  village,  it -is  entirely 
proper  that  the  story  oi  his  eventful  life  should 
be  here  told. 

The  eyes  of  the  nation  never  turned  with 
more  anxious  questioning  to  one  man  than  to 
Theodore  Roosevelt ;  they  came  to  rest  upon 
him  with  good  will,  confidence  and  trust.  Un- 
der the  administration  of  President  McKinley 
the  country  had  enjoyed  over  four  years  of 
marked  growth,  advancement  and  progress. 
Through  his  kindly  nature,  his  great  diplomacy 
and  powers  of  statescraft  he  had  done  more  than 


Rmst'^di 


any  other  individual  to  bring  the  whole  country 
into  harmony  and  unity,  and  had  given  it  prestige 
among  the  great  world  powers.  The  marvelous 
hold  which  he  had  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  east  and  west,  north  and  south,  was  mani- 
fested in  the  universal  grief  which  reached  its 
culmination  in  the  five  minutes  of  absolute  si- 
lence which  prevailed  throughout  the  land  in 
every  avenue  of  life  as  the  hour  for  his  burial 
arrived. 


And  the  people  turned  to  their  new  ruler 
anxiously  and  yet  with  faith  in  their  hearts, 
for  he  had  proved  his  bravery  on  the  San  Juan 
hills,  had  manifested  the  purity  and  strength 
of  his  purpose  in  public  office  and  in  his  earn- 
est and  purposeful  way  had  shown  himself  to 
be  the  peer  of  some  of  the  most  gifted  men  of 
the  nation.  He  is,  however,  the  youngest  chief 
executive  that  has  presided  over  the  destinies 
of  the  United  States,  but  since  he  has  handled 
the  reins  of  government  he  has  shown  a  won- 
derful insight  into  public  affairs  of  every  de- 
scription. The  man  of  war  has  become^  the 
man  of  peace ;  the  man  of  action  has  become 
the  man  of  thought;  hi&  diplomacy  has  elicited 
the  highest  commendation ;  and  while  his  great 
strength  of  purpose  has  in  no  wise  diminished, 
he  has  directed  it  in  different  channels,  having 
marked  influence  upon  the  public  good.' 

President  Roosevelt  springs  from  one  of  the 
old  a.nd  distinguished  families  of  Dutch  orig- 
in. This  family  was  one  of  considerable  import- 
ance in  Holland,  as  shown  by  the  coat  of  armor, 
indicating  the  origin  of  the  family.  Arms,  ar- 
gent on  a  mount  vert,  a  rose  bush  with  three 
roses  ppr. ;  crest,  three  ostrich  feathers  per 
pale,  gules  and  argent ;  motto,  Qui  plantavit 
curabit  (the  one  who  planted  it  will  take  care 
of  it).  This  is  the  same  in  substance  as  that 
borne  on  the  arms  of  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, viz.:  Qui  transtulit  sustinet  (he  who  trans- 
planted sustains). 

Claes  Martinzen  Van  Roosevelt,  meaning 
Nicholas  the  son  of  Martin,  of  the  Rosefield, 
who  emigrated  to  America  from  Holland  in  1654, 
was  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  country.  His 
descendants  intermarried  with  the  Schuylers, 
Bogaerts,  Provosts,  Van  Schaicks,  DePeysters, 
Latrobes,  Hoffmans,  Barclays,  Van  Courtlandts, 
Lispenards,  etc.  The  family  early  obtained  an  ex- 
tensive tract  of  land  in  New  York  City,  extend- 
ing from  Chatham!  street  to  the  East  river,  lying 
between  Pearl,  Roosevelt  and  Catharine  streets, 
or,  as  it  was  originally  called,  Ruger's  old  farm. 
Hence  in  this  way  and  by  its  commercial  en- 
terprises it  has  become  affluent.  The  family  has 
been   represented   in   Colonial   and   State  affairs 


136 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


through  every  generation  down  to  the  present 
period,  and  owing  to  the  achievements  of  the 
present  representative  of  the  family  the  name 
is  as  famihar  to  every  schoolboy  throughout  the 
country  as  is  that  of  Washington  or  Grant. 

The  wife  of  Claes  Martinzen  Van  Roosevelt 
was  Jannetje  Samuels  or  Thomas,  probably  the 
latter. 

Nicholas  Roosevelt,  fourth  child  O'f  Claes  and 
Jannetje  Roosevelt,  was  baptized  October  2,  1658. 
and  married  December  26,  1682,  Heytje  Jans, 
who  was  an  alderman. of  New  York,  1698  to 
1 701,  He  removed  to  Esopus,  and  died  July  30, 
1742. 

Johannes  Roosevelt,  eldest  cliild  of  Nicholas 
and  Fleytje  (Jans)  Roosevelt,  was  baptized  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1689.  He  was  assistant  alderman  of 
New  York  from  1717  till  1727  and  alderman 
from  1730  until  1733.  He  married  Heltje 
Sjverts.  This  name  is  also  spelled  Hyla  Suerts 
in  the  Dutch  records  of  New  York.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Olphert  Suerts,  who  married 
Margrieji  Cloppers,  born  May  30,  1708,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Cornelius  Jansen  Cloppers. 

Jacobus  Roosevelt,  fifth  child  of  Johannes, 
was  born  August  14,  1724.  He  married  An- 
netj  e  Bogart,  and  his  second  wife  was  Ele- 
nora  Thompson.  The  sixth  of  their  seven  chil- 
dren was  Jacobus  Roosevelt,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 25,  1759,  and  died  August  13,  1840.  He 
was  known  as  JameS'  I.  Roosevelt,  and  was  com- 
missary during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  giving 
his  services  gratuitously.  "Getting  supplies"  for 
the  Continental  army  became  so  impressed  on  his 
mind  as  to  enter  into  his  every-day  transactions, 
and  long  after  the  war,  whenever  he  went  to 
market,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  head  of  the 
family  in  those  days,  taking  a  servant  along  to 
carry  the  basket,  he  always  referred  to  it  as  go- 
ing for  "supplies."  He  married  Mary  Van 
Schaick. 

Cornelius  Van  Schaick  Roosevelt,  youngest 
child  of  Jacobus  (2),  was  born  January  30, 
1794.  From  his  father  and  grandfather  he  in- 
herited a  large  fortune,  and  this  he  augmented 
by  various  successful  financial  ventures,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  richest  men  in  New  York.     For 


many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  importation 
of  hardware  and  plate  glass.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  founded  the  Chemical  Bank  on  the 
single  principle  of  honesty,  and  that  institution 
has  never  failed  to  pay  its  obligations  in  gold, 
and  during  the  Civil  war  redeemed  its  notes  at 
one  time  at  $280  in  greenbacks.  He  introduced 
in  business  the  principle  of  giving  no  notes.  Mn 
Roosevelt  married  Margaret  Barnhill,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  Hei' 
grandfather  was  Thomas  Potts,  a  member  of 
the  Continental  Congress.  The  issue  of  this 
marriage  was:  Weir,  C.  V.  S.,  Jr.,  James  A., 
Robert  and  Theodore   (ist). 

Theodore  Roosevelt  (i),  youngest  child  of 
Cornelius  Van  Schaick  Roosevelt  and  Margaret 
(Barnhill)  Roosevelt,  his  wife,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  September  29,  183 1,  and  died  there 
February  9,  1878.  He  joined  the  firm  of  Roose- 
velt &  Company,  glass  importers,  then  located 
at  No.  2  Maiden  Lane,  and  continued  in  that 
business  till  1876,  when  he  established  a  bank- 
ing house  in  partnership  with  his  son  at  No.  32 
Pine  street.  Mr.  Roosevelt  was  among  the  pio- 
neers in  the  development  of  what  was  known 
as  the  up-town  district  of  ^Manhattan  Island. 
He  built  an  elegant  residence  on  West  Fifty-sev- 
enth street,  and  there  he  passed  the  last  hours  of 
his  life. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Roosevelt  was 
one  of  the  three  state  commissioners  of  public 
charities,  a  position  for  which  he  was  admirably 
fitted  by  his  experience  and  his  peculiar  devotion 
to  philanthropic  enterprises.  He  was  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Union  League  Club  and  a  member 
of  the  Century,  St.  Nicholas  and  various  kindred 
organizations.  When  C.  A.  Arthur  was  supposed 
to  bo  on  the  point  of  giving  up  the  position  of 
collector  of  the  port  of  New  York,  attention 
was  turned  upon  Mr.  Roosevelt  as  a  gentleman 
conspicuously  fitted  for  it,  and  one  who,  it  was 
thought,  would  discharge  its  functions  to  the 
advantage  of  the  community  and  his  own  honor. 
At  first  an  opposition  was  made  on  account  of 
his  participation  in  an  importing  business,  from 
which  some  believed  he  had  not  entirely  alienated 
himself.    He  was  tendered  the  position  by  Presi- 


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irxje 


OYSTER  BAY. 


187 


ident  Hayes,  but  the  senate,  for  the  above  named 
reasons,  failed  to  confirm  the  appointment. 

Mr.  Roosevelt's  charitable  enterprises  were 
so  numerous  and  varied  in  character  that  it  is 
difficult  to  refer  to  them  all,  but  perhaps  no  more 
useful  institution  owes  to  him  a  share  of  its 
paternity  than  the  Orthopaedic  Hospital  in  Fifty- 
ninth  street,  near  Ninth  avenue,  New  York. 
Knowing  that  prompt  and  skilled  treatment 
would  in  many  instances  spare  the  victims  of  ac- 
cident or  disease  from  becoming  deformed,  he 
had  lent  his  best  exertions  to  establish  an  insti- 
tution where  such  permanent  treatment  would 
be  readily  accessible.  The  Newsboys'  Lodging 
House  is  also  deeply  indebted  to  him  for  its 
success.  From  its  inception  he  paid  special  at- 
tention to  the  development  of  its  resources  and 
the  perfection  of  its  management.  The  up-town 
branch  of  the  establishment  devolved  entirely 
upon  him  for  a  support  which  was  liberally  ac- 
corded. He  also  greatly  enlisted  himself  in  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  aided 
by  his  counsel  and  his  pur.;e  in  developing  its 
usefulness.  In  fact,  during  a  business  career 
which  absorbed  a  great  part  of  his  time  and 
thought  for  the  amelioration  of  his  fellow  crea- 
tures' conditions,  he  was  evolving  plans  for  hav- 
ing charity  more  widely  distributed  and  turned 
to  the  best  advantage.  When  the  scheme  of  unit- 
ing all  benevolent  organizations  for  the  purpose 
of  mutual  assistance  .and  general  co-operation 
was  proposed,  Mr.  Roosevelt  warmly  encouraged 
the  movement.  He  took  part  in  organizing  the 
Bureau  of  United  Charities,  which  he  believed 
would  subserve  a  great  object,  but  was  forced 
with  his .  associates  to  give  over  his  design  by 
the  disinclination  of  some  charitable  institutions 
to  make  their  methods  and  resources  public. 

He  married  Martha,  daughter  of  James  and 
Martha  Oswald  Bulloch,  of  Roswell,  Georgia. 
Her  maternal  great-grandfather  was  Daniel 
Stewart,  who  joined  the  Revolutionary  army 
when  a  boy  and  was  captured  by  the  British, 
but  escaped  from  a  prison  ship  and  afterward 
served  as  captain  under  Sumter  and  Marion. 
Martha  Bulloch's  paternal  grandfather  was 
James  Bulloch,  who  was  a  captain  of  the  Georgia 


troops  in  the  Revolution  and  an  original  member 
of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.  James  Bul- 
loch's father  .was  Archibald  Bulloch,  first  Revo- 
lutionary Governor  of  Georgia,  who  married 
Alary  de  Vaux,  whose  paternal  grandfather,  a 
Huguenot,  fled  from  France  after  the  Revoca- 
tion of  the  Edict  oi  Nantes.  Her  maternal 
grandfather  was  Edward  Bellinger,  one  of  the 
Carolina  landgraves.  Archibald  Bulloch's  father 
was  James  Bulloch,  who  came  from  Scotland 
about  171 5  and  settled  in  Georgia,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  held  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  a  blood  rela- 
tive of  the  Douglasses,  Bartons  and  other  promi- 
nent families.  Their  children  were  Anna,  wife 
of  Captain  W.  S.  Cowles,  of  the  United  States 
Navy;  Theodore;  Elliott;  and  Corinne,  the  wife 
of  Douglas  Robinson,  Jr.  Airs.  Roosevelt  died 
February  15,  1884.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hall's  church,  and  took  a  deep  interest 
in  many  charities,  including  the  Orthopaedic 
Hospital,  of  which  her  husband  was  one  of  the 
founders. 

Theodore.  Roosevelt,  the  leading  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  New  York  City,  Octo- 
ber 27,  1858,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  with 
the  class  of  1880.  Among  the  early  New  York 
families  to  establish  a  summer  home  at  Oyster 
Bay,  Long  Island,  was  that  of  Cornelius  Van 
Schaick  Roosevelt,  the  grandfather  of  the  Presi- 
dent. The  place  where  he  resided  was  known 
as  Tranquility,  and  to  him  it  was  all  that  the 
name  implied — rest,  peace  and  quietness.  His 
son,  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Sr.,  became  very  much 
attached  to  the  place  and  spent  the  long  sum- 
mer and  autumn  months  at  this  most  delightful 
resort.  Thus  it  happened  that  the  early  child- 
hood of  young  Theodore  was  spent  amid  these 
surroundings.  It  was  said  that  "he  was  a  mere 
wisp  of  a  boy,  pale,  puny,  without  health  or 
strength;  but  he  had  a  will,  and  determined  to 
overcome  his  lack  of  physical  vigor."  The  boys 
in  the  neighborhood  knew  him  as  the  wiry,  earn- 
est, determined  little  fellow,  perfectly  fearless 
and  ready  to  encounter  any  difficulty  or  danger 
that  would  add  to  ihis  bodily  health  and  strength. 
He  "rode  and  swam  and  climbed  and  jumped;" 


188 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


his  "yacht"  was  a  rowboat  in  which  he  could  ex- 
ercise his  muscles  and  toughen  every  Hmb,  and 
this  ''toughening"  process  was  continued  years 
after  on  his  western  ranch. 

Memories  of  his  childhood  days  at  Oyster 
Bay  clung  to  him  long  after  he  left  home  to 
prepare  for  his  great  life  work,  and  not  long  after 
his  graduation  in  1880  he  purchased  one  hundred 
acres,  mostly  woodland,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  "Sagamore  'HiH"--a  name  at  the  time 
having  no  .particular  significance — ^but,  associ- 
ated with  his  subsequent  achievements,  it  is  fitly 
named. 

Politics  seemed  to  have  a  fascination  for  Col- 


it,"  said  Hutchinson;  "there's  an  opening  for 
young  men  of  independent  fortune  and  good  ed- 
ucation in  public  life.  You  ought  to  make  the 
experiment."  Young  Roosevelt  "made  the  ex- 
periment" and  succeeded,  as  he  has  in  every  sub- 
sequent "experiment"  of  his  life.  The  word 
"fail"  is  not  a  part  of  :his  vocabulary.  He  liter- 
ally "batters  down"  all  opposition  as  he  did  on 
the  famous  field  of  San  Juan,  and  then  quietly 
surveys  the  situation  and  sums  up  the  cost  pre- 
paratory to  a  second  onslaught  if  necessary. 

Young  Roosevelt  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly as  a  Republican.  He  led  the  minority  dur- 
ing the  session  of   1882,  was  active   in  reform 


HOME  OF    PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT. 


onel  Roosevelt  from  an  early  age,  but  before  en- 
tering the  field  he  called  on  his  Uncle  Robert  and 
said,  "Uncle  Bob,  I  want  your  advice.  Shall  I 
run  for  the  Assembly?"  "I  can't  say,"  replied 
his  uncle.  "Here  is  Colonel  Charles  Hutchinson, 
of  Utica,  who  may  answer  the  question."    "Take 


measures,  and  on  his  re-election  in  1883  was 
largely  instrumental  in  carrying  out  the  State 
civil-'service-reform  law  and  an  act  for  regulat- 
ing primary  elections.  As  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  cities  in  1884  he  succeeded  in  abolish- 
ing the  fees  of  the  county  clerk  and  register  and 


OYSTER  BAY 


139 


in  providing  for  their  payment  by  salaries;  cur- 
tailing abuses  in  the  sheriff's  and  surrogate's  of- 
fices ;  and  securing  the  passage  of  a  bill  that  de- 
prived aldermen  cf  the  power  to  confirm  ap- 
pointments to  office,  and  centered  in  the  mayor 
the  responsibility  of  administering  municipal  af- 
fairs. He  was  chairman  of  the  New  York  dele- 
gation to  the  National  Republican  Convention  in 
1884,  and  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  Mayor 
of  New  York  in  1886.  He  was  nominated  as  an 
independent  but  was  indorsed  by  -the  Re- 
publicans. In  May,  1889,  President  Harrison 
appointed  him  Civil  Service  Commissioner,  and 
he  served  as  President  of  the  board  until  May, 
1895.  He  succeeded  in  changing  the  whole  sys- 
tem of  public  appointments  and  in  establishing 
important  reforms.  He  resigned  in  -May,  1895, 
to  accept  the  position  of  president  of  the  New 
York  Board  of  Police  Commissioners,  and  with 
characteristic  energy  and  vigor  he  began,  the 
work  of  reform  by  the  application  of  civil-service 
principles  in  the  appointments  to  and  promo- 
tions on  the  force.  He  rigidly  enforced  the  ex- 
cise law  and  succeeded  in  closing  the  saloons  on 
Sunday,  and  in  purifying  the  city  of  many  cor- 
rupting influences  which  then  existed. 

Colonel  Roosevelt's  life  on  his  ranch  on  the 
borders  of  the  Little  Missouri  river  in  the  far 
west,  with  all  of  its  exciting  adventures,  'has  heeh 
given  in  his  "Hunting  Trips  of  a  Ranchman." 
He  went  out  as  a  "tenderfoot,"  but  he  was  soon 
able  to  give  the  cowboy  and  the  ranchman  points 
that  they  little  dreamed  of. 

Colonel  Roosevelt  is  as  modest  as  he  is  brave, 
and  his  most  intimate  friends  could  never  suc- 
ceed in  drawing  from'  him  any  incident  of  his 
life  the  description  of  which  necessitated  any 
reference  to  himself  as  the  'hero.  The  following 
incident  would  probably  never  have  found  its 
way  into  print  but  for  the  fact  that  the  local  ed- 
itor considered  the  joke  on  the  "profession"  too 
good  to  be  suppressed.  It  appears  that  the  Col- 
onel, while  stopping  at  a  'hotel  in  a  border  town, 
was  approached  by  a  typical  western  "tough," 
who  with  accustomed  western  politeness  invited 
the  "tenderfoot"  to  take  a  drink.  The  invitation 
was  politely  declined  with  thanks.     It  was  re- 


peated, and  this  time  pressed  by  the  "tough" 
with  his  finger  on  the  trigger  of  his  gun.  Sud- 
denly he  felt  something  between  his  eyes,  and 
the  ball  struck  wide  of  the  mark  and  entered 
the  ceiling  above.  He  fell  backward  and  went 
to  sleep.  iWhen  he  awoke  he  was  not  certain 
whether  he  had  been  struck  with  a  cannon  ball 
or  'thiC  heels  of  a  mule;  he  concluded,  however, 
that  it  was  not  always  safe  to  meddle  with  a 
"tenderfoot." 

Colonel  Roosevelt  first  became  known  to  the 
general  public  outside  of  his  own  State  when 
he  accepted  the  position  of  Assistant  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  in  1897.  Shortly  after  he  assumed 
the  duties  of  office  he  asked  for  an  appropriation 
of  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  ammuni- 
tion for  practical  target-shooting  in  the  navy, 
and  a  few  months  later  for  another  appropriation 
of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  same 
purpose.  The  results  at  Manila  and  Santiago 
justified  what  was  considered  at  the  time  reck- 
less extravagance.  His  connection  with  the 
Spanish  war  which  followed  is  best  told  in  the 
language  of  Colonel  Watterson  in  his  "History 
of  the  Spanish-American  War."     He  says : 

"It  is  the  nature  of  Americans  to  welcome 
bold  experiments  and  to  applaud  success.  There 
was  no  volunteer  body  of  the  war  that  received 
as  much  attention  and  invited  as  much  interest 
as  the  regiment  of  cavalry  known  as  Roosevelt's 
Rough  Riders.  That  was  its  popular  name,  al- 
though Lieutenant-Colonel  Roosevelt  was  but 
second  in  command.  His  was  the  resolute  spirit 
that  prom.pted  its  organization  and  fixed  pubHc 
interest  upon  it. 

"The  Hon.  Theodore  Roosevelt  was  Assist- 
ant Secretary  of  the  Navy  at  the  opening  of  the 
war,  one  of  those  'characteristics  personalities 
in  the  public  and  private  life  of  the  United  States 
that  represent  the  vigor  of  democracy  without 
regard  to  difference  of  opinion.  Of  the  old 
Dutch  stock  of  New  York's  oldest  settlers,  he 
was  born  to  great  wealth  and  with  determined 
character.  Carefully  educated  in  universities,  he 
made  his  entrance  into  politics  early,  with  vigor- 
ous ideals  and  practical  methods.  Greeted  with 
the  epithet  of  the  *dude  poHtician,'  he  received 
the  epithet  with  the  good  nature  that  an  athletic, 
courageous  and  good  natured  man  would  nat- 
urally exhibit.     He  v/as  soon  a  representative  in 


140 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


national  conventions,  was  the  forlorn  hope  of  his 
party  for  the  ma3^oralty  of  Xew  York,  was 
appointed  President  of  the  Civil  Service  Com- 
mission, was  Police  Commissioner  of  New  York, 
and  became  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navv  in 
1897.  Recognizing  then  the  probaTDilities  of  the 
war  with  Spain,  he  began  to  encourage  the  sys- 
tem of  State  naval  reserves,  and  made  many  ad- 
dresses in  which  he  upheld  the  manful  necessity 
of  war  to  compel  peace  and  secure  justice.  The 
good  condition  of  the  navy  at  the  outbreak  of 
war  was  largely  due  to  his  labor  and  enthusiasm. 
When  the  war  was  inevitable  he  resigned  his  po- 
sition as  Assistant  Secretary  and  asked  for  a 
commission  to  organize  a  regiment  of  cavalry  of 
which  Dr.  Wood  was  to  be  commissioned  Col- 
onel. 'Great  was  the  public  surprise.  His 
friends  remonstrated  with  him  and  urged 
that  he  was  jeopardizing  his  career.  The  author- 
ities suggested  that  he  would  be  invaluable  in 
the  Navy  Department.  'The  Navy  Department;' 
he  answered,  'is  in  good  order.  I  have  done  all 
I  can  here.  There  are  other  men  who  can  carry 
it  on  as  well  as  I ;  but  I  should  be  false  to  my 
ideals,  false  to  the  views  I  have  openly  expressed, 
if  I  were  to  remain  here  while  fighting  is  going 
on  after  urging  other  men  to  risk  their  lives  for 
their  country.'  He  declined  a  colonel's  commis- 
sion and  asked  it  for  'his  friend  Dr.  Wood. 
There  was  his  answer  in  this  self-reliant  courage 
of  American  manhood.  Air.  Roosevelt  had  writ- 
ten admirable  historical  works,  exciting  stories 
of  adventure  in  'hunting  'big  game'  while  he  was 
leading  the  life  of  a  ranchman  in  the  far  west, 
He  was  at  once  at  the  beginning  and  the  end 
of  the  American  type,  rich,  intelligent,  thought- 
ful, cultured,  and  had  'sand.'  " 

Referring  to  Colonel  Roosevelt's  participa- 
tion in  the  battle  of  San  Juan,  Plon.  Henry  B. 
Russell  in  "The  Story  of  the  Two  Wars"  said : 

"A  little  before  4  o'clock  occurred  the  second 
thrilling  episode  of  the  day.  Under  the  brow 
of  the  little  hill  a  council  of  war  was  held,  the 
question  being  whether  they  should  push  on  and 
take  the  main  hill  where  the  Spanish  block- 
bouses  were.  Colonel  Roosevelt  volunteered  tb 
head  the  charge.  It  seemed  a  mad  rush.  A 
foreign  officer  standing  near  the  position  when 
the  men  started  out  to  make  the  charge  was  heard 
to  say:  /Men,  for  heaven's  sake  don't  ^o  up 
that  hill.  It  will  he  impossible  for  human  beings 
to  take  that  position.  You  can't  stand  the  fire.' 
But  with  a  terrific  yell  they  rushed  up  to  the 
enemy's  works,  and  the  Spanish,  whose  courage 


had  fled  after  the  first  charge,  retired,  and  when 
night  came  thev  had  been  driven  back  upon  the 
city." 

Colonel  Watterson,  in  describing  the  charge, 
said: 

After  a  moment's  pause  for  formation,  the 
volunteers,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Roo'sevelt 
marching  in  front  of  the  line,  made  a  dash 
for  the  blockhouse,  the  men  raising  the  terrible 
yell  of  the  western  Indians  as  they  went.  A 
murderous  fire  poured  from  the  block-house. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Roosevelt  turned,  and,  waving 
his  sword,  called  on  his  command  to  follow  him 
up  the  hill.  Tlie  Spaniards  poured  a  steady  fire 
and  for  a  second  the  volunteer  fighters  hesitated 
under  the  shock  of  it.  At  that  critical  moment 
the  Tenth  Cavalry  on  the  valley  road  to  our 
left  and  the  First  Cavalry  in  the  rear  that  had 
been  ordered  against  the  wings  of  the  eneniy 
had  made  their  attacks  and  charged  up  the  slopes 
with  the  intrepidity  O'f  disciplined  veterans.  The 
sound  of  the  guns  was  echoed  by  cheers  from 
the  Rough  Riders,  who  dashed  against  the  block- 
house with  cyclonic  force.  At  the  sight  of  such 
impetuous  daring  the  enemy  burst  from  the  fort 
and  ran  to  the  cover  of  the  woods  behind,  leaving 
seventeen  dead  on  the  ground  as  they  fled.  Then 
they  gave  way  on  both  wings  and  three  thousand 
Spaniards  were  in  full  flight  before  nine  hun- 
dred and  fifty  Americans  that  had  fought  against 
enormous  odds  and  disadvantages.  No  pursuit 
was  possible,  and  our  victorious  troops  camped 
on  the  ground  and  held  it." 

The  most  authentic  as  well  as  the  most 
graphic  account  of  the  famous  charge  of  Colonel 
Roosevelt  is  that  given  by  himself  in  his  volume 
on  "The  Rough  Riders."    He  says: 

"The  infantry  got  nearer  and  nearer  the 
crest  of  the  hill.  At  last  we  could  see  the 
Spaniards  running  from  the  rifle  pits  as  the 
Americans  came  on  in  their  final  rush,  then 
1  stopped  my  men  for  fear  they  would  injure 
their  comrades,  and  called  to  them  to  charge 
the  next  line  of  trenches  on  the  hills  in  our 
front,  from  which  we  had  been  undergoing  a 
good  deal  of  punishment.  Thinking  that  the 
men  would  all  come,  I  jumped  over  the  wire 
fence  in  front  of  us  and  started  at  the  double- 
quick;  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  troopers  were 
so  excited,  both  with  shooting  and  being  shot, 
and  shouting  and  cheering,  that  they  did  not 
hear,  or  did  not  heed  me,  and  after  running 
about  a  hundred  yards  I  found  that  I  had  only 


OYSTER  BAY. 


141 


five  men  along  with  me.  Bullets  were  ripping 
the  grass  all  around  us  and  one  of  the  men, 
Clay  Green,  was  mortally  wounded ;  another, 
Winslow  Clark,  a  Harvard  man,  was  shot  first 
in  the  leg  and  then  through  the  body.  *  '^  ''' 
There  was  no  use  going  with  the  remaining 
three  men,  and  I  bade  them  stay  where  they 
were  while  I  went  back  and  brought  up  the 
rest  of  the  brigade.  This  was  a  decidedly  cool 
request,  for  there  was  really  no  possible  point 
in  letting  them  stay  there  while  I  went  back; 
but  at  the  moment  it  seemed  perfectly  natur- 
al to  m.e^  and  apparently  so  to  them,  for  they 
cheerfully  nodded  and  sat  down  on  the  grass, 
firing  back  at  the  line  of  trenches  from  which 
the  Spaniards  were  shooting  at  them.  Alean- 
while  I  ran  back,  jumped  over  the  wire  fence 
and  went  over  the  crest  of  the  hill,  filled  with 
anger  against  the  troopers,  and  especially  those 
of  my  own  regiment,  for  not  having  accom- 
panied me.  They,  of  course,  were  quite  inno- 
cent of  wrong  doing;  and  even  while  I  taunted 
theni  bitterly  for  not  having  followed  me,  it 
was  all  I  could  do  not  to  smile  at  the  look  of 
injury  and  'Surprise  that  catne  over  their  faces. 


THEODORE    ROOSEVELT. 

while  they  cried  out,  'We  didn't  hear  you;  we 
didn't  see  you  go.  Colonel ;  lead  on  now,  we'll 
sure  follow  you.'  I  wanted  the  other  regiments 
to  come,  too,  so  I  ran  down  to  where  General 


Sumner  was  and  asked  him  if  I  might  make  the 
charge,  and  he  told  me  to  gO'  and  that  he  would 
see  that  the  men  followed.  By  this  time  every- 
body had  'his  attention  attracted,  and  when  I 
leaped  over  the  fence  again,  with  Major  Jenkins 
beside  me,  the  men  of  the  various  regiments 
Which  were  already  on  the  hill  came  with  a  rush 
and  wc  started  across  the  wide  valley  which  lay 
between    us    and    the    Spanish    intrenchments. 

*  "^  "^  Long  before  we  got  near  them  the 
Spaniards  ran,  save  a  few  here  and  there,  who 
either  surrendered  or  were  shot  down.  *  ^  * 
Lieut.  Davis'  first  sergeant,  Clarence  Gould, 
killed  a  Spanish  soldier  with  'his  revolver  just  as 
the  Spaniard  was  aiming  at  one  of  my  Rough 
Riders.  At  about  the  same  time  I  also  shot  one. 
I  was  with  Henry  Bardshar,  running  up  at  the 
double-quick,  and  two  Spaniards  leaped  from  the 
trenches  and  fired  at  us,  not  ten  yards  away.  As 
they  turned  to  run  I  closed  in  and  fired  twice, 
missing  the  first  and  killing  the  second.  My 
revolver  was  from  the  sunken  battle-ship  Maine, 
and  had  been  given  me  by  my  'brother-in-law, 
Capt.  W.  S.  Cowles,  of  the  Navy.  At  the  time  I 
did  not  know  of  Gould's  exploit,  and  supposed 
niy  feat  to  be  unique ;  and  although  Gould  had 
killed  his  Spaniard  in  the  trenches  not  very  far 
from  me,  I  never  learned  of  it  until  weeks  after. 

"There  was  a  very  great  confusion  at  the 
time,  the  different  regiments  being  'completely 
intermingled — white  regulars,  colored  regulars 
and  Rough  Riders.  General  Sumner  had  kept 
a  considerable  force  in  reserve  on  Kettle  Hill, 
under  Major  Jackson  of  the  Third  Cavalry.  We 
were  still  imder  a  heavy  fire,  and  I  got  together 
a  mixed  lot  of  men  and  pushed  on  from  the 
trenches  and  ranche  houses  which  we  had  just 
taken,  driving  the  Spaniards  through  a  line  of 
palm-trees  and  over  the  crest  of  a  chain  of  hills. 
When  we  reached  these  crests  we  found  ourselves 
overlooking  Santiago. 

"While  I  was  re-forming  the  troops  on  the 
chain  of  bills,  one  of  General  Sherman's  aides, 
Captain  Robert  Howze — as  dashing  and  gallant 
an  officer  as  there  was  in  the  whole  gallant  cav- 
alry division,  bv  the  wa}' — came  up  with  orders 
to  me  to  halt  where  I  was,  not  advancing  further, 
but  to  hold  the  hill  at  all  hazards. 

'T  now  had  under  me  all  the  fragments  .of 
the  six  cavalry  regiments  which  were  at  the  ex- 
treme front,  being  the  highest  officer  left  there, 
and  T  was  in  immediate  command  of  them  for 
the  remainder  of  the  afternoon  and  that  night. 

*  *  '*'  The  Spaniards  who  ihad  been  hold- 
ing the  trenches  and  the  line  of  hills,  had  fallen 
back  upon  their  supports  and  we  were  under  very 


142 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


heavy  fire  both  from  rifles  and  great  guns.  Our 
artillery  made  one  or  two  efforts  to  come  into 
action  on  the  firing  line  of  the  infantry,  hut  the 
black  powder  rendered  each  attempt  fruitless. 
The  Spanish  guns  used  smokeLess  powder,  so  that 
it  was  difficult  to  place  them.  As  night  came  on 
the  firing  gradually  died  away.  Before  this  hap- 
pened, however,  Captains  Morton  and  Bough- 
ton,  of  the  Third  Cavalry,  came  over  to  tell  m',e 
that  a  rumor  had  reached  them  to  the  effect  that 
there  had  been  some  talk  of  retiring,  and  that 
they  wished  to  protest  in  the  strongest  manner. 
1  had  been  watching  them  both,  as  they  handled 
their  troops  with  the  cool  confidence  of  the  vet- 
eran regular  officer,  and  had  been  congratulating 
myself  that  they  were  off  toward  the  right  flank; 
for  as  long  as  they  were  there  I  knew  I  was 
perfectly  safe  in  that  direction.  I  had  heard  no 
ninior  about  retiring,  and  I  cordially  agreed  with 
them  that  it  would  be  far  worse  than  a  blunder 
to  abandon  our  position. 

''Soon  after  dark  General  Wheeler,  who  in  the 
afternoon  had  resumed  command  of  the  cavalry 
division,  came  to  the  front.  A  very  few  words 
with  General  Wheeler  reassured  us  about  retir- 
ing. He  had  been  through  too  much  heavy  fight- 
mg  in  the  Civil  War  to  regard  the  present  fight 
as  very  serious,  and  he  told  us  not  to  be  under 
any  apprehension,  for  he  had  sent  word  that  there 
was  no  need  whatever  of  retiring,  and  was  sure 
we  would  stay  where  we  were  until  the  chance 
came  to  advance.  He  was  second  in  command, 
and  to  him  more  than  to  any  other  one  man  was 
due  the  prompt  albandonment  of  t^he  proposal  to 
fall  back — a  proposal,  which,  if  adopted,  would 
have  meant  shame  and  disaster.  Shortly  after- 
ward General  Wheeler  sent  us  orders  to  intrench. 
■K  ^  *  We  finished  digging  the  trench  soon 
after  midnight,  and  then  the  worn-out  'men  lay 
down  in  rows  on  their  rifles  and  dropped  heavily 
to  sleep.  *  *  *  Before  any  one  had  time  to 
awake  from  the  cold,  however,  we  were  all 
awakened  by  the  Spaniards,  whose  skirmishers 
suddenly  opened  fire  upon  us.  ^^  ^  ^  j\±  the 
alarm  everybody  jumped  to  his  feet,  and  the  stiff, 
shivering,  haggard  men,  their  eyes  only  half 
opened,  all  clutched  their  rifles  and  ran  forward 
to  the  trench  on  the  crest  of  the  hill. 

'The  sputtering  shots  died  away  and  we  went 
to  sleep  again.  But  in  another  hour  dawn  broke 
and  the  Spaniards  opened  fire  in  good  earnest. 
*  *  *  In  this  fight  our  regiment  had  num- 
bered four  hundred  and  ninety  men,  &s,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  first  fight, 
some  had  to  go  to  the  hospital  for  'siclcness  and 
some  had  been  left  behind  with  the  baggage  or 


were  detailed  on  other  duty.  Eighty-nine  we 
killed  and  wounded,  the  heaviest  loss  suffered  1 
any  regiment  in  the  cavalry  division.  The  Spa: 
iards  made  a  stiff  fight,  standing  firm  until  v 
charged  home.  They  fought  much  more  stu' 
bornly  than  at  Las  Guashnas.  We  ought  to  hai 
expected  this,  for  they  have  always  done  well  : 
holding  entrenchments.  On  this  day  they  show€ 
themselves  to  be  brave  foes  worthy  of  honor  f< 
their  gallantry. 

'Tn  the  attack  on  the  San  Juan  hills  ot 
forces  numbered  about  6,6oo.  There  were  aboi 
4,500  'Spaniards  against  us.  Our  total  loss  i 
killed  and  wounded  was  1,071.  Of  the  cavalr 
division  there  were  all  told,  some  2,300  officei 
and  men,  of  whom  375  were  killed  and  wounde( 
Li  the  division  over  a  fourth  of  the  officers  wer 
killed  or  wounded,  their  loss  being  relatively  ha] 
as  great  again  as  that  of  the  enlisted  mien, — whic 
was  as  it  should  be.  I  think  we  suffered  mor 
heavily  than  the  Spaniards  did  in  killed  an^ 
wounded,  though  we  also  captured  some  score 
of  prisoners.  It  would  have  been  very  extraor 
dinai-y  if  the  reverse  was  the  case,  for  we  dv 
the  charging ;  and  to  carry  earthworks  on  foe 
wdth  dismounted  cavalry,  when  the  earthwork 
are  held  by  imbroken  infantr)'-,  armed  with  th 
best  modern  rifles,  is  a  serious  task." 

The  city  surrendered  on  the  17th  of  July,  an( 
soon  after  this  the  men,  being  relieved  from  thi 
constant  strain  and  'excitement,  began'  to  feel  thi 
effects  of  the  climate.     Colonel  Roosevelt  says 

''Every  officer  other  than  myself  except  on( 
was  down  with  sickness  at  one  time  or  another 
Very  few  of  the  men,  indeed,  retained  theii 
strength  and  energy,  and  though  the  percentage 
actually  on  the  sick  list  never  got  over  twenty 
there  were  less  than  fifty  per  cent,  who  were  fi' 
for  any  kind  of  work-  Yellow  fever  also  broke 
out  in  the  rear,  chiefly  among  the  Cubans.  I1 
never  became  epidemic,  but  it  caused  a  perfecl 
panic  among  some  of  our  own  doctors  and  es- 
pecially in  the  minds  'of  one  or  two  generals  and 
of  the  home  authorities.  *  *  *  jihe  Wash- 
ington authorities  seemed  detemiined  that  we 
should  stay  in  Cuba.  They  unfortunately  knew 
nothing  of  the  country  nor  the  circumstances  oi 
the  arm.y.  Several  suggestions  were  made  and 
among  others  it  was  proposed  that  we  should 
go  up  the  mountains  and  make  our  camps 
there.  ^  ^  ^  The  soil  alon^  the  sides  of  the 
mountains  was  deep  and  soft,  while  the  rains 
were  heavy.  W^e  could,  with  much  difficulty, 
have  got  our  regiments  up  the  mountains;  but 


OYSTER  BAY. 


143 


not  half  the  men  would  have  got  up  there  with 
iheir  belongings ;  and  once  there  it  would  have 
been  an  "impossibility  to  feed  them.  About  the  last 
of  July,  General  Shafter  called  a  conference  dn  the 
palace  of  all  the  division  and  brigade  command- 
ers. *  *  =k:  ii-  ^y^g  deemed  best  to-  make  some 
record  of  our  opinion  in  the  'shape  of  a  letter  or 
report  which  wonld  show  that  to  keep  the  army 
in  Santiago  meant  its  absolute  and  objectless 
ruin,  and  that  it  should  at  once  be  recalled.  At 
first  there  was  naturally  some  hesitation  on  the 
part  of  the  regular  officers  to  take  the  initiative, 
for  their  entire  future  career  might  be  sacrificed ; 
so  I  wrote  a  letter  to  General  Shafter,  reading 
over  the  rought  draft  to  the  various  generals 
and  adopting  their  corrections.  Before  I  had 
finished  making  these  corrections,  it  was  de- 
termined that  we  should  send  a  circular  letter 
on  behalf  of  all  of  us  to  General  Shafter,  and 
when  I  returned  from  presenting  him  mine  I 
found  this  circular  letter  already  prepared  and 
we  all  of  us  signed  it.  Bath  letters  were  made 
public.  The  result  was  immediate.  Within  three 
days  the  army  was  ordered  to  be  ready  to  sail 
for  home.  This  letter  v/as  known  as  the  famous 
'Round  Robin/  " 

Colonel  Roosevelt  with  his  Rough  Riders 
was  encamped  at  iMontauk  Point,  Long  Island, 
and  in  the  following  autumn,  peace  having  been 
formally  declared,  he  bade  farewell  to  his  men, 
every  one  of  whom  was  devoted  to  him,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  at  Oyster  Bay. 

On  September  27,  1898,  Colonel  Roosevelt 
was  nominated  for  Governor  of  New  York  State. 
He  conducted  his  own  cam^paign,  visiting  every 
important  town  in-  the  State.  His  brilliant  mili- 
tary record  gave  him  great  prestige,  and  he  was 
enthusiastically  received  wherever  he  went.  He 
carried  the  State  by  a  plurality  of  18,079.  -^s 
Governor  he  encouraged  honest  legislation  and 
carried  through  every  reform  measure  to  which 
he  had  pledged  himself.  He  carefully  scrutin- 
ized every  bill  and  withheld  his  signature  from 
all  that  had  the  least  taint  of  irregularity,  re- 
gardless of  party  obligations.  No  man  ever  had 
a  more  difficult  task  to  carry  forward  the  work 
of  reform  which  he  had  planned  than  did  Gov- 
ernor Roosevelt  at  this  time.  The  political  pres- 
sure brought  to  bear  upon  him  by  the  leading 
m'en  in  his  own  party  was  very  great,  but  he  re- 
mained firm  and  true  to  his  own  convictions,  even 


at  the  risk  of  losing  the  influence  of  those  on 
whom  he  relied  for  support.  Above  all,  he  put 
in  office  as  high-minded  and  able  a  set  of  public 
officials  as  the  State  has  ever  had  since  its  founda- 
tion. It  was  his  wish  -to  be  elected  for  a  sec- 
ond term^  that  he  might  complete  the  work  he 
had  begun,  but  circumstances  beyond  his  control 
and  that  of  his  friends  changed  all  his  future 
plans. 

Governor  Roosevelt  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  convention  held  at  Philadelphia  in 
the  summer  'of  1900.  The  renomination  of 
President  McKinley  was  a  foregone  conclusion. 
Two  or  three  candidates  were  brought  forward 
for  the  vice-presidency,  but  from  the  very  be- 
ginning a  pressure  was  brought  to  bear  by  those 
who  sought  to  defeat  his  aspirations  for  a  sec- 
ond term  as  Governor  to  force  on  him  the  nom- 
ination for  Vice-President.  They  failed,  how- 
ever, to  accomplish  their  object,  and  Governor 
Roosevelt  compelled  the  New  York  delegation  to 
definitely  abandon  its  efforts  to  put  him  for- 
ward, and  at  the  same  time  he  introduced  the 
name  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Woodruff,  hoping 
thereby  to  secure  his  nomination,  but  the  dele- 
gates simply  refused  to  consider  any  other  can- 
didate and  insisted  on  the  Governor's  nomina- 
tion in  order  to  save  the  electoral  votes  of  half 
a  dozen  western  .States  and  thereby  assure  a  ma- 
jority in  Congress.  Under  these  circumstances 
Governor  Roosevelt  felt  that  he  was  in  duty 
bound  to  accept,  and  he  was  nominated  for  Vice- 
President,  amid  the  greatest  excitement  and  en- 
thusiasm, the  East  and  the  West,  the  North 
and  the  South,  rallying  around  him  and  pledging 
him  their  earnest  support. 

The  presidential  campaign  of  1900  was  the 
most  remarkable  of  all  ever  held  in  this  coun- 
try, and  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  Gov- 
ernor Roosevelt  fought  the  battle  almost  single- 
handed  and  alone.  He  represented  honest 
money,  honest  principles  and  a  defense  of  Presi- 
dent McKinley's  administration;  while  his  op- 
ponent, William  J.  Bryan,  clung  to  his  ''16  to  i" 
silver  policy,  on  which  he  had  been  defeated  four 
years  previously,  and  exposed  the  "expansion'* 
policy  of  the  administration.     Colonel  Roosevelt 


144 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


traveled  from  one  end  of  tlie  country  to  the  other, 
even  invading  the  home  territory  of  his  opponent, 
speaking  several  times  a  day  from  the  train 
platform,  in  the  open  air  on  ni:iprovised  plat- 
forms and  in  public  halls,  and  wherever  the  peo- 
ple could  gather  to  hear  him.  With  one  or  two 
exceptions  he  met  with  a  hearty  reception  where 
ever  he  went, — even  in  ''the  enemy's  country." 
The  result  was  one  of  the  grandest  victories  ever 
achieved  by  the  Republican  party,  and  Governor 
Roosevelt  was  duly  inaugurated  Vice-President 
of  the  United  States  on  the  4th  of  March,  1901. 
In  his  inaugural  address  he  said : 

"The  history  O'f  free  government  is  in  a  large 
part  the  history  of  those  representing  legislative 
bodies  in  which,  from  the  earliest  times,  free 
government  has  found  its  loftiest  expression. 
They  must  ever  hold  a  peculiar  and  exalted  posi- 
tion in  the  record  which  tells  how  the  great  na- 
tions of  the  world  have  endeavored  to  achieve 
and  preserve  orderly  freedom.  No  man  can  ren- 
der to  his  fellows  greater  service  than  is  rendered 
by  him  who  with  fearlessness  and  honesty,  with 
sanity  and  disinterestedness,  does  his  life  work 
as  a  member  of  such  a  body.  Especially  is  this 
the  case  when  the  Legislature  in  which  the  ser- 
vice is  rendered  is  a  vital  part  in  the  govern- 
mental machinery  of  one  of  those  world  powers 
to  whose  hands,  in  the  course  of  the  ages,  is  en- 
trusted a  leading  part  in  shaping  the  destinies  of 
mankind.  For  weal  or  for  woe,  for  good  or  for 
evil,  this  is  true  of  our  own  mighty  nation.  Great 
privileges  and  great  powers  are  ours,  and  heavy 
are  the  responsibilities  that  go  with  these  privi- 
leges and  these  powers.  Accordingly  as  we  do 
well  or  ill,  so  shall  mankind  in  the  future  be 
raised  or  cast  down. 

;!j  :|;  :};  ^  ^  :sK  ^ 

"A  great  work  lies  ready  to  the  hand  of  this 
generation ;  it  should  count  itself  happy,  indeed, 
that  to  it  is  given  the  privilege  of  doing  such  a 
work.  A  leading  part  iherein  must  be  taken  by 
this,  the  august  and  powerful  legislative  body 
over  which  I  have  been  called  to  preside.  Most 
deeply  I  appreciate  the  privilege  of  my  position, 
for  high,  indeed,  is  the  honor  of  presiding  over 
the  American  senate  at  the  outset  of  the  twen- 
tieth century." 

On  Friday,  September  6,  1901,  the  startling 
news  was  flashed  over  the  wire  that  President 
AIcKinley,  while  visiting  the  Pan-American  Ex- 
position, had  been  shot  by  a  Polish  anarchist 
named  Czolgosz.    Vice-President  Roosevelt  has- 


tened to  Buffalo  as  quickly  as  possible,  reaching 
there  the  following  day.  He  was  completely 
overwhelmed  by  the  news,  but  on  arriving  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Milburn,  where  the  President  had 
been  taken  and  where  he  had  been  stopping  with 
his  family  for  some  days'  previously,  he  was 
overjoyed  to  learn  from  the  attending  surgeons 
that  the  wound  was  not  necessarily  fatal  and 
that  there  were  hopes  of  his  recovery.  He  re- 
mained in  Buffalo  for  a  few  days,  until  the 
danger  point  seemed  past.  He  then  went  on  a 
hunting  trip  in  the  Adirondacks'.  Soon  after 
this  a  change  for  the  worse  took  place  in  the 
President's  condition,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  found 
that  death  was  inevitable,  messengers  were  sent 
to  the  Vice-President,  who  traveled  day  and 
night,  reaching  Buffalo  some  hours  after  the 
President's  death.  He  was  driven  at  once  to  the 
house  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Ansley  Wilcox.  As 
soon  as  he  entered  Mr.  Roosevelt  was  told  that 
it  had  been  planned  for  him  to  take  the  oath  of 
office  at  once.  This  agreement  had  been  reached 
at  a  meeting  of  the  cabinet  held  during  the 
forenoon  at  the  Alilburn  residence.  The  new 
President  refused  to  recognize  it  as  an  agree- 
ment, and  he  declared  he  was  not  ready  to  take 
the  oath  yet.  He  was  here  more  for  the  purpose 
of  paying  hl^  respects  to  William  McKinley  than 
of  qualifying  as  William  ^McKinley's  successor. 

"But,  Mr.  President,"  he  was  expostulated 
with,  "everything  is  in  readiness.  Don't  you 
think  it  would  be  far  better  to  do  as  the  cabinet 
has  decided?" 

"No,"  retorted  the  President;  "it  would  be 
far  worse.  I  intend  to  pay  my  respects  at  Will- 
iam AIcKinley's  bier  as  a  private  citizen  and 
offer  my  condolence  to  the  members  of  the  fam- 
ily as  such.  Then  I  will  return  and  take  the 
oath." 

In  the  face  of  such  an  emphatic  stand  by  the 
new  chief  executive,  all  arguments  availed  noth- 
ing and  President  Roosevelt  had  his  own  way. 
He  left  the  Alilburn  house  about  half  past  two 
o'clock  and  entered  his  carriage  alone.  When 
he  found  that  he  was  being  escorted  by  a  squad 
of  mounted  policemen  he  stood  up  and  shouted: 
"Get  back!     I  want  no  escort.     I  will  have  no 


OYSTER    BAY. 


145 


escort.  I  am  now  on  a  mission  as  a  private  citi- 
zen." He  then  drove  swiftly  to  the  Milburn 
house  and  after  paying  his  respects  to  the  dead 
President  returned  to  the  Wilcox  house  to  take 
the  oath,  reaching  there  .shortly  after  three 
o'clock.  All  the  members  of  the  cabinet  and  a 
number  of  others  were  assembled  there.  Among 
these  was  Judge  Hazel,  who  was  to  administer 
the  oath. 

"President  Roosevelt,"  said  Mr.  Root,  "I 
have  been  requested  by  all  the  members  of  the 
cabinet  of  the  late  President  who  are  here  in  the 
city  of  Buffalo,  being  all  except  two,  to  request 
that  for  reasons  oi  weight  affecting  the  adminis- 
tration of  government,  you  should  proceed  with- 
out delay  to  take  the  Constitutional  oath  of  of- 
fice." 

A  silence  fell  upon  the  group.  It  lasted  but 
a  minute  and  then  Mr.  Roosevelt  spoke:  "Mr. 
Secretary,  I  shall  take  the  oath  at  once,  agree- 
able to  the  request  of  the  members  of  the  cabinet, 
and  in  this  hour  of  trouble  and  national  bereave- 
ment I  wish  to  state  that  it  shall  be  my  aim  to 
continue  absolutely  unbroken  the  policy  of  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  for  the  peace  and  prosperity  and 
honor  of  our  beloved  country."  He  then  took 
the  oath,  and  Vice-President  Theodore  Roosevelt 
became  the  twenty-sixth  President  of  the  Uni- 
ted States.  During  the  one  year  incumbency 
of  his  high  office,  he  has  discharged  his  duties 
with  a  degree  of  sagacity,  independence  and  un- 
alloyed patriotism  which  has  challenged  the  ad- 
miration of  those  who  were  not  in  sympathy  with 
his  views.  Attestation  of  this  was  touchingly 
displayed  when,  late  in  1902,  he  experienced 
painful  injuries  from  the  accident  in  which  .he 
was  thrown  from  Oiis  carriage,  and  when  the  na- 
tion held  its  breath,  fearful  of  a  fatal  termination. 

It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  any  one  so  thor- 
oughly absorbed  in  public  affairs  could  find  time 
to  devote  to  literary  work,  and  yet  Colonel 
Roosevelt  has  achieved  a  world-wide  reputation 
as  an  author,  and  his  works  have  become  stand- 
ard on  the  subjects  he  has  treated.  Among  the 
best  known  are :  "History  of  the  Naval  War 
of  1S12"  (1882)  and  "Hunting  Trips  of  a 
Ranchman"  (1883).  As  a  biographer  he  has 
10 


won  fame  as  the  author  of  the  "Life  of  Thomas 
Benton"  (1886)  ;  and  "Life  of  Gouverneur  Mor- 
ris" (1888).  He  has  also  published  "History 
of  the  City  of  New  York"  (1890)  ;  "Essays  on 
Practical  Politics"  (1898)  ;  and  has  collaborated 
with  Captain  A.  S.  Mahan  in  writing  the  "Im- 
perial History  of  the  British  Navy;"  he  is  also 
joint  author  with  Henry  Cabot  Lodge  of  "Hero 
Tales  from  •  American  History."  The  most  im- 
portant of  his  works,  however,  are  the  volumes 
bearing  the  collective  title  "The  Winning  of 
the  iWest."  These  have  for  their  subject  the 
acquisition  by  the  United  States  of  the  ter- 
ritory west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  in  their 
intrinsic  merit  and  their  importance  as 
contributions  to  history  they  rank  with  the 
works  of  Parkman.  His  books  have  been  char- 
acterized as  "marked  by  felicity,  vigor  and  clear- 
ness of  expression,  with  descriptive  power." 

As  a  man  of  letters  it  may  be  said  as  more 
■  completely  true  of  Mr.  Roosevelt  than  any 
other  writer  whose  books  are  as  numerous  and 
widely  read  as  his  are,  that  he  has  merely  adopt- 
ed literary  expression  with  the  aim  of  placing 
before  the  public  facts  and  ideas  which  he  sin- 
cerely believes  to  be  worthy  of  consideration  and 
preservation.  His  presentation  of  facts,  how- 
ever, is  useful  and  stimulating  rather  than  merely 
entertaining,  while  his  ideas  represent  an  elo- 
quent appeal  for  a  general  and  wholesome  ex- 
amination of  the  truths  which  he  so  fervently 
believes  and  so  ardently  advocates.  In  other 
words,  Mr.  Roosevelt  is  in  no  sense  a  profes- 
sional author.  The  books  he  has  written  simply 
represent  one  phase  of  a  very  active  career.  On 
the  title  page  of  "Ranch  Life  and  Hunting 
Trail"  we  find  cited  that  passage  from  Brown- 
ing ending  with  the  words — 

"How  good  is  man's  life,  the  mere  living," 

which  speaks  more  eloquently  and  is  more 
characteristic  of  Mr.  Roosevelt  as  a  man,  and, 
therefore,  necessarily  as  an  author,  than  all 
that  literateurs  have  written  and  all  that  poets 
have  sung  about  the  beauties  of  rhetoric  and 
the  philosophy  of  style. 

Mr.    Roosevelt's    first    published    work    was 


146 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


his  history  of  'The  Naval  War  of  1812/'  which 
bears  the  date  of  1882,  and  it  is  a  singular  co- 
incidence that  his  most  recent  production,  writ- 
ten just  as  his  term  as  Vice  President  of  the 
United  States  was  to  be  brought  to  a  fateful 
close,  should  be  a  contribution  to  an  English 
work  on  the  same  subject, — "The  Royal  Navy," 
Vol.  VI,  by  Laird  Clowes.  A  comparison  of 
these  works  offers  an  excellent  opportunity  to 
observe  the  mental  development  of  the  man  in 
a  most  important  field  of  historical  study  and  ob- 
servation. One  was  written  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three ;  the  other  at  forty-two.     It  is  not 


terprise  and  courage.  Moreover,  it  is  not  singu- 
lar that  his  historical  works,  particularly  'The 
Winning  of  the  West,"  should  have  a  vitality 
which  few  histories  possess.  It  is  because  he  has 
lived  with  and  knows'  intimately  the  trapper,  the 
hunter,  the  frontiersman  of  to-day,  that  he  has 
been  enabled  to  reproduce  the  distant  predecessors 
of  these  men  and  their  surroundings  with  mar- 
velous   intimacy. 

In  the  last  nineteen  years,  Mr.  Roosevelt  has 
written  over  a  dozen  books,  which  are  included 
in  many  departments — history,  biography,  travel^ 
observation   and   politico-ethical   discussion.     At 


PRESIDENT  ROOSEVELT'S  LIBRARY. 


from  the  fact  that  we  find  the  patriotism  less  in- 
tense, or  the  presence  of  any  taint  of  Anglomania 
in  the  latter  work,  but  because  the  man  has 
learned  to  think  for  himself,  has  freed  himself 
entirely  from  the  anti-British  prejudices  which 
for  years  have  inspired  the  makers  of  many 
American  school  books;  and  he  has  from  a  fuller 
knowledge  been  able  to  appreciate  the  merits  of 
the  enemy  and  to  point  out  the  reasons  for  his 
misfortunes  in  a  clear,  almost  scientific  manner 
and   without   undue  laudation  of  American   en- 


the  same  tim'e  he  has  occupied  successively  va- 
rious positions  in  public  life  upon  which' he  has 
left  the  stamp  of  his  individuality  and  the  results 
of  his  tireless  energy.  What  these  offices  were 
and  what  he  did  in  them  have  taken  their  place 
in  our  State,  municipal  and  national  history,  and 
are  now  more  or  less  familiar  to  every  one.  But 
the  more  one  becomes  familiar  with  Mr,  Roose- 
velt's public  achievements  the  more  must  one 
marvel  that  he  could  have  produced  the  books 
that  he  did,  which,  from  the  point  of  view  of 


OYSTER    BAY. 


147 


mere  mechanical  and  ni-ental  labor,  would  have 
been  considered  more  than  adequate  to  establish 
the  literary  reputation  of  a  professional  writer. 

To  attempt  a  character  sketch  of  Colonel 
Roosevelt  is  a  more  difficult  undertaking.  He 
can  be  judged  only  by  his  acts.  'His  motive  is 
always  apparent,  for  he  is  incapable  of  duplicity. 
His  utterances,  both  public  and  private,  are  clear, 
distinct  and  unequivocal.  Whether  his  opinions 
are  right  or  wrong  they  are  honestly  held  and 
stated  with  simplicity  and  directness.  He  is  em- 
phatically a  man  of  action,  and  his  writings  deal 
with  matters  of  observation  rather  than  thought ; 
he  is  no  theorist  but  intensely  practical.  With 
determination  and  undaunted  courage  he  com- 
bines tenacity  of  purpose.  If  he  ever  experienced 
the  sensation  of  fear  it  is  known  only  to  himself. 
He  has  the  instinct  of  a  soldier,  and  in  emerg- 
encies does  not  stop  to  consider  whether  or  not 
the  odds  are  against  him,  but  obeys  orders  with 
decision  and  accepts  the  consequences.  He  is  as 
generous  as  he  is  brave;  bears  no  malice;  and 
after  inflicting  punis'hment  on  an  adversary  he 
would  instantly  seek  to  alleviate  the  pain  he  has 
caused.  With  the  heart  of  a  lion  in,  danger,  he  is 
moved  to  pity  at  the  sight  of  suffering,  and  with- 
out a  moment's  hesitation  would  befriend  a 
fallen  adversary.  His  qualities  and  achieve- 
ments have  made  him  a  popular  hero,  and  in  a 
democratic  society  like  ours  there  is  no  distinc- 
tion which  he  may  not  hope  to  attain. 

Colonel  Roosevelt  married,  first,  Miss  Alice 
Hathaway  Lee;  second.  Miss  Edith  Kermit 
Caron,  and  his  children  are  Alice,  Theodore,  Jr., 
Kermit,  Ethel,  Archibald  and  Quentin.  The 
children  rough  it  at  their  country  home,  Saga- 
more Hill,  as  did  their  father,  enjoying  the  ut- 
most freedom,  apparently  unconscious  of  the 
honors  that  have  been  showered  upon  the  father 
by  a  grateful  and  appreciative  constituency.  The 
veteran  war  horse  "Texas"  that  carried  him 
through  the  Santiago  campaign  munches  his 
oats  and  hay  in  the  stable  in  peace  and  quietness, 
glad  no  doubt  that  his  campaigning  days  are  over 
and  that  for  the  remainder  of  his  life  he  can  en- 
joy the  cool  breezes  of  Oyster  Bay  in  summer 
and  a  warm,  comfortable  stall  in  winter. 


The  entrance  to  Sagamore  Hill  is  up  a  wind- 
ing road  through  a  thickly  wooded  country  for 
some  distance  until  a  "private  road"  leads  up  to 
the  homje  of  the  President.  The  view  on 
reaching  the  crest  of  the  hill  is  a  most  beautiful 
one,  although  partly  obscured  on  the  west  &nd 
south  sides  of  the  house  by  the  de^se  growth  of 
forest  trees.  From  the  east  and  south  sides  a 
fine  view  of  the  bay  is  presented.  A  lawn  of  sev- 
eral acres  slopes  down  to  the  wall  of  forest  trees, 
and  the  other  side,  which  is  nearly  level,  is  de- 
voted to  farming  purposes.  The  character  of  the 
exterior  of  the  dwelling  is  known  as  the  Queen 
Anne  style  of  architecture.  It  is  a  substantial 
edifice,  the  first  story  being  of  brick,  the  second 
and  third  stories  of  frame.  A  wide  piazza  ex- 
tends around  two  sides,  from  which  a  beautiful 
view  of  the  'surrounding  country  is  obtained. 
The  entrance  to  the  house  is  through  a  vine- 
covered  port-cochere.  The  wide  hall,  simply 
furnished,  contains  numerous  trophies  of  the 
Colonel's  life  in  the  far  West.  The  large  library 
looks  like  the  .workshop  of  an  active  brain 
worker.  A  portrait  of  the  father  which  hangs 
on  the  wall  looks  benignly  down  on  the  son,  who, 
with  unceasing  energy  and  tireless  industry, 
works  out  the  great  problems  of  life,  stimjulating 
in  others  a  desire  to  be  something  and  do  some- 
thing for  their  fellow  men. 

]\Iatinecock  is  now  better  known  to  the  out- 
side world  from  the  fact  that  its  "point"  has  be- 
come a  "mark"  in  the  local  yachting  competi- 
tions. Yet,  in  spite  of  that  and  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  its  population  increases  but  slowly  (125 
at  last  reckoning),  it  'has  a  most  interesting  his- 
tory. For  a  long  time  it  was  claimed  by  Hemp- 
stead as  part  of  its  territory,  as  is  attested  by  the 
fact  than  on  July  4,  1661,  tlie  town  of  Hempstead 
granted  to  Thomas  Terry  and  Samuel  Deering 
the  right  to  settle  upon  lands,  at  'Matinecock  and 
hold  the  same.  This  grant  bore  a  singular  re- 
striction, the  tenants  being  obligated  "not  to 
trespass  against  the  town  of  Hempstead  by  let- 
ting any  of  fheir  calff  trespass  on  any  great 
playne  and  spoil  thire  com  or  doe  like  harmi; 
and  if  they  shall  to  make  satisfaction  to  ani  per- 


148 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


son  or  persons  soe  ronged ;"  and  the  following: 
"alsoe  'fhe  above  sayd  planters  doe  ingage  them- 
selves or  ani  that  they  shall  bring  or  thire  suc- 
cessors not  to  bring  in  any  Quakers  or  such  like 
opinions." 

May  26,  1663,  the  Indians  sold  a  part  of  Mat- 
inecock  to  Captain  John  L^nderbill,  John  'FiX)st 
and  William  Frost ;  and  the  following  document, 
which  is  preserved  in  the  Frost'  family,  shows  the 
syle  of  conveyance : 

""This  instrument  of  writing  or  deed  of  sale 
witnesseth  to  all  Christian  people  to  whom  it  may 
come  or  any  ways  concern.  Know  ye  that  for  us 
we  underwritten,  Susconaman  alias  Runasuck, 
Samouse  And  Querripin,  all  three  Indians,  be- 
ing empowered  by  ye  rest  of  ye  Indians  and 
proprietors  of  Cheaf  ye  lands  called  by  ye  Eng- 
lish Matinecock,  situate,  lying  and  being  within 
ye  patent  of  Oys-ter  Bay  wth'n  Queens  county 
upon  Long  Island,  And  by  Virtue  whereof  And 
for  ye  ffull  of  twenty  pounds  silver  or  equiva- 
lent to  silver  money  in  goods,  to  us  paid  before 
ye  signing  and  sealing  thereof,  have  bargained 
and  sold  and  by  present  possession  deliver  unto 
John  Underbill,  John  Ffeexes,  and  William 
Ffrost,  all  three  inhabitants  of  Matinecock,  and 
all  our  Comons,  or  individual  lands  unsold, 
lying  and  being  to  ye  northward  of  ye  now  high- 
way between  ye  iBeaver  Swamp  so  called  and 
Mosquito  Cove,  lands  being  to  be  understood  ye 
the  highway  from  Oyster  Bay  to  Mosquito  Cove 
to  ye  sound  or  North  Sea,  be  it  more  or  less;  ex- 
cepting twenty  acres  to  be  laid  out  to  John  Pryor 
at  ye  rere  of  his  lands  bought  of  Joseph  Eastland 
fforman,  by  grantal.  *  *  *  It  is  to  be  un- 
derstood that  every  inhabitant  below  the  path 
settled  are  to  have  equal  privileges,  provided  they 
pay  ye  above  three  persons  nominated  their  equal 
proportions  in  money  according  to  agreement." 

April  20,  1669,  the  Indians  made  a  further 
conveyance  to  Richard  Latting;  another  on  the 
1st  of  December,  1683,  to  Thomas  Townsend; 
and  on  the  9th  of  January,  1685,  the  chiefs, 
namely:  Susconaman,  alias  Runasuck,  Chec- 
hagen,  alias  Quaropin,  and  Samose,  son  of  Tack- 
apousha,  conveyed  the  residue  of  Matinecock, 
with  somie  other  lands,  for  the  price  of  sixty 
pounds  current  merchantable  pay,  to  James 
Cock,  Joseph  Dickerson,  Robert  Townsend, 
Samuel     Dickerson,     Stephen    Birdsall,     James 


Townsend,  Daniel  Weeks,  Isaac  Doughty^  John 
AVood,  Edmund  Wright,  Caleb  Wright,  John 
Wright,  William  Frost  andl  John  Newman,  and 
the  grantees  accepted  as  joint  purchasers  with 
themselves  the  following  inhabitants  and  free- 
holders of  the  town — comprising  the  most  com- 
plete list  of  names  which  the  records  present  at 
that  period :  George  'Downing,  John  Townsend^ 
Sr.,  Richard  Harcutt,  Daniel  Tov^nsend,  Nathan- 
iel Coles,  Jr.,  John  Dewsbury,  John  Cock,  Will- 
iam Crooker,  John  Weeks^  John  Applegate,  Hen- 
ry Franklin,  Thomas  Youngs,  John  Townsend, 
Jr.,  John  Rogers  of  Lusum,  'Hannah  Forman  for 
her  son  Moses,  Henry  Bell,  Richard  Willett,  John 
Robbins,  Meriam  Harker,  Thomas  Townsend, 
Hope  Williams  of  Lusum,  Samuel  Birdsall,  Jo- 
sias  Carpenter,  Lawrence  Mott,  Sampson  Hawx- 
hurst,  "William  Buckler,  Adam*  Wright,  Josias 
Latting,  Thomas  Weeks,  Thomas  Cock,  John 
Pratt,  William  Flawxhurst,  Thomas  Willets, 
Elizabeth  Dickson,  Samuel  Weeks,  James  Bleven, 
Joseph  Weeks,  Daniel  Whitehead,  Peter  Wright, 
Samuel  Tiller. 

Perhaps  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  early  set- 
tlers was  Captain  John  Undefhill,  whose  mili- 
tary exploits  have  been  elsewhere  narrated.  He 
was  of  English  birth,  and  had  served  as  an  offi- 
cer in  'the  British  forces  in  the  Netherlands,  in 
Ireland  and  in  Spain.  Coming  to  America  he 
engaged  in  the  Pequot  war,  and  afterv/ard  set- 
tled at  Stamford,  Connecticut,  whence  he  came 
to  Long  Island,  settling  at  Flushing.  In  1665  he 
was  a  delegate  from,  Oyster  Bay  to  the  Hemp-  ' 
stead  Assembly,  and  was  the  under-sheriff  of 
the  North  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  or  Queens  coun- 
ty, under  commission  issued  by  Governor  Nic- 
olls.  In  1667  he  received  from^  the  Matinecock 
Indians  a  deed  to  150  acres  of  land,  and  to  this 
tract  he  gave  the  nam-e  of  Cillingworth  or  Kenil- 
worth.  His  remains  repose  in  a  grave  upon  this 
ancient  farm,  which  to  this  day  remains  in  the 
possession  of  his  descendants.  It  i«  gratifying 
to  record,  as  these  pages  are  pa&sing  into  the 
hands  of  the  printers,  that  the  unmarked  grave 
of  the  sturdy  old  pioneer  is  at  last  to  he  properly 
marked.  The  site  of  the  monumait  which  is  to 
be  erected  has  not  been  definitely  settled',  but  a 


OYSTER    BAY. 


149 


piece  of  ground  has  been  donated  by  Miss 
Maria  F.  Townsend  and  Charles  DeKay  Town- 
send,  who  are  direct  descendants  of  Captain  Un- 
derhill,  consisting-  of  a  triangle  near  the  office  of 
the  town  clerk  at  the  intersection  of  Audrey  ave- 
nue and  Spring  street,  at  Oyster  Bay.  Mrs  R. 
Ogden  Doremus,  wile  of  the  noted  chemist,  is 
president  oi  the  Underbill  Society  of  America, 
and  it  is  mainly  through  her  efforts  'that  a  suffi- 
cient sum  ($10,000)  has  been  raised  to  erect  the 
monument. 

With  reference  to  fbe  actual  settlement  we 
find  that  people  from  Matinecock  attended  serv- 
ices of  the  Society  of  Friends  at  Oyster  Bay  in 
1659.  About  the  time  Captain  Underhill  ac- 
quired his  land,  his  brother-in-law,  John  Feeks, 
a  Quaker  preacher,  bought  an  adjoining  tract, 
and  the  dwellings  of  these  two  worthies  were 
erected  close  together.  The  only  son  of  John 
Feeks  became  the  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist 
Church  in  Oyster  Bay.  In  1682  a  stated  meet- 
ing of  the  Society  of  Friends  was  inaugurated 
here,  and  the  same  year  a  meeting  house  was 
erected,  which  was  followed  by  the  erection  of 
a  larger  structure  in  1725.  From  the  first  Matine- 
cock has  been  a  farming  community  and  so  re- 
mains. 1        I 

Jjocust  Valley  (formerly  known  as  Buck- 
ram), with  its  population  of  625,  is  a  pleasant 
little  village,  and  is  famed  for  its  early  enter- 
prise in  educational  affairs.  The  Cock  family 
have  been  foremiost  in  such  works,  and  one  of 
its  members  some  years  ago  made  a  donation  of 
$5,000  toward  the  erection  of  a  school  edifice. 

Other  villages  taken  out  of  the  former  terri- 
tory of  Matinecock  are  Bay^nlle  (population 
400),  which  is  the  ,site  of  the  Downing  Vaca- 
tion House,  an  establishment  for  the  benefit  of 
working  women — an  eloquent  expression  of  the 
humanitarianism  of  a  public-spirited  people;  and 
Lattington,  with  a  population  of  200. 

Dosoris  dates  from  1668,  when  Robert  Will- 
iams bought  1,000  acres  there  from  the  Matine- 
cock Indians,  including  two  islands  known  by 
the  prosaic  nam.es  of  East  and  West,  the  former 
containing  about  seventy-five  acres  and  the  lat- 
ter fifty  acres.    The  same  year,  Governor  Nicolls 


executed  a  confirmatory  grant.  In  1670  Will- 
iams sold  the  property  to  Lewis  Morris,  o-f  Bar- 
badoes.  After  several  changes  it  came  into  pos- 
session of  Daniel  Whitehead,  of  Jannaica,  who 
bequeathed  it  to  bis  daughter,  the  wife  of  John 
Taylor.  It  was  inherited  by  the  only  offspring 
of  that  marriage,  a  daughter,  Abigail,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Benjamm  Woolsey, 
of  Southold.  He  it  was  who  gave  it  its  name — 
a  contraction  or  adaptation  of  the  'Latin  Dos 
Uxoris—B.  wife's  dower. 

Dosoris  is  beautifully  situated  and  presents 
many  features  of  interest  to  the  antiquarian.  Nu- 
merous skeletons  and  implements  of  tlie  chase 
attest  the  former  Indian  occupation.  Nearby 
the  village  are  the  burial  grounds  where  )rest 
the  remains  of  the  earlier  Woolseys,  ancestors 
of  the  famous  presidents  of  Yale  College.  The 
old  Woolsey  mansion,  which  has  been  somewhat 
modernized,  is  yet  reminiscent  of  the  historic 
past.  Among  its  treasures  are  fine  specimens  of 
colonial  furniture,  a  beautiful  portrait  of  Wash- 
ington by  Rembrandt  Pearl — his  first  copy  of  the 
original  painting  made  from  fife — and,  of  a  later 
day,  two  columns  once  in  the  palace  of  the 
Caesars,  which  were  brought  from  Egypt  at  the 
same  time  when  the  obelisk  from  the  same  far- 
off  land  was  transported  bither  by  Captain  Gor- 
ringe,  U.  S.  A.,  and  set  up  in  Central  Park,  New 
York.  For  many  years  Charles  A.  Dana,  of  the 
"New  York  Sun,"  occupied  West 'Island,  and 
Townsend  Cox,  a  long  and  leading  politician  in 
New  York,  had  his  home  on  West  Island. 

Glen  Cove  has  a  peculiarly  interesting  his- 
tory. It  was  formerly  known  'as  Musceata  Coufe, 
and  afterward  as  Pembroke,  receiving  its  present 
name  by  vote  of  the  people  in  1834.  It  is  a  beau- 
tiful and  progressive  little  village,  with  well 
maintained  churches,  excellent  educational  insti- 
tutions, and  all  that  makes  up  the  life  of  a  cul- 
tured community. 

In  1668  Joseph  Carpenter,  a  resident  of 
Rhode  Island,  after  a  short  &tay  at  Oyster  Bay, 
bought  some  land  from  the  Indians  at  Mosquito 
Cove  for  Nathaniel  Coles,  ,  At)ra  Carpenter, 
Thomas  Townsend  and  Robert  Cole.  That  pur- 
chase was  taken  to  mark  the  beginning  of  Glen 


150 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


Cove  by  the  local  antiquaries.  The  Httle  colony 
was  soon  enlarged,  and  in  1786  the  settlement 
had  no  fewer  than  32  taxpayers.  They  were: 
Caleb  Coles,  125;  Benjamin  Coles,  100;  Ja- 
cob Valentine,  277;  Colts  Mudge,  80;  Jordan 
Coles,   19;  James  Bennett,  3;  Henry  Mott,  26; 


Joseph  Carpenter,  the  first  purchaser,  appears 
to  have  resided  for  some  time  with  his  father, 
William,  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island;  from 
there  he  moved  to  Oyster  Bay  early  in  the  year 
1667,  and  thence  to  -Mosquito  Cove. 

Nathaniel  ColeS  was  the  son  of  Robert  Coles, 


DOSORIS. 

(By  Permission  of  Long  Island  Railway  Company.) 


Charles  Thorne,  19;  Thomas  Kipp's  estate,  6; 
Joseph  Wood,  120;  Benjamin  Craft,  73;  Joseph 
Craft,  147;  Solomon  Craft,  60;  Morris  Carpen- 
ter, 15 ;  William  Hyde,  11  ;  Coles  Carpenter,  200; 
Albert  Coles,  75;  Derich  Coles,  62;  William 
Coles,  48;  Benjamin  Coles,  Jr.,  100;  I&aac  Coles, 
19;  Daniel  Coles,  120;  Ananias  Downing,  156; 
W^illiam  Hopkins,  So;  Thomas  Hopkins,  140; 
Silas  Downing,  20;  Jeromas  Bennett,  80;  George 
Bennett,  80;  Thomas  Pe'arsall,  185;  Charles 
Frost,  3;  John  Frost,  3:  William  Bennett,  6. 


one  of  the  associates  of  Governor  Winthrop  in 
the  settlement  of  Ipswich,  Massachusetts.  Hfe 
came  to  Long  Island  in  1654,  in  company  with 
Robert  Williams,  and  settled  at  Oyster  Bay. 
]^vlany  of  the  descendants  of  these  t\\^  men  are 
still  living  in  the  village  and  vicinity. 

The  first  indlustry  outside  of  agriculture 
was  that  of  milling.  Joseph  Carpenter  erected 
the  first  sawmill  and  in  1677  added  a  grist  mill, 
in  connection  with  which  he  entered  into  the  fol- 
lowing agreement  with  his  neighbors : 


OYSTER    BAY. 


151 


AN    INLAND    VIEW. 


Agreed  yt  whareas  I,  Joseph  Carpenter,  have- 
ing  Built  A  grist-mill  joyneing  to  oure  new  saw- 
mill, and  upon  ye  stream  which  belongeth  to  us 
five  purchasers — Nathanell  Colles,  Daniel  Colles. 
Robert  Colles,  Nickolas  Simkins  and  my  selfe — 
and  in  consideration  of  three  parts  in  ye  streme 
and  timbar  I  Joseph  Carpenter  doe  pledge  my 
selfe,  my  heyres,  Exsexetors,  Administrators, 
and  Asignes,  soe  long  as  my  selfe,  my  heyres, 
"Exsexetors,  Administrators,  or  Asignes  shall 
keep  or  maintaine  ye  said  mill,  itto  grind  ye  afore- 
said proprietors'  corne  and  grayne  for  each  of 
their  famylies  well  and  Tolle-free  for  ever ;  and 
iff  my  selfe,  my  heyres,  Exsexetors,  Administra- 
tors, or  Asignes  for  ye  futar  shall  'see  case  'to 
Lett  ye  sayde  grist-m'ill  fall,  and  not  to  keep  it 
in  Tepayre  for  ye  fulfilling  of  ye  conditions  as 
aliove  inserted,  that  then  and  after,  forever,  ye 
aforesayde  streme  to  remaine  tO'  us  five  pro- 
prietors and  our  heyres  and  Asignes  for  ever, 
to  order  and  disipose  of  as  we  shall  see  Case — to 
which  I  have  sett  my  hand  and  seale  ye  14th  of 
Janewry  T677.  Joseph  Carpenter. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  ye  presence 
of  us — Tho.  Townsend,  Samuel  Pell. 

These  mills  appear  to  have  done  quite  a  large 


business,  and  indeed  prosperity  seems  to  have 
been  the  characteristic  of  life  at  Mjosquito  Cove 
until  the  crisis  of  1776.  Its  people  then  were 
mainly  found  on  the  side  of  the  patriots,  and 
quite  a  number  of  its  youth — a  company  indeed 
— marched  away  to  the  scene  o'f  hattle  and  gave 
up  their  lives  under  the  leadership  of  the  gallant 
Woodhull,  whose  own  life  was  also  sacrificed 
for  the  cause  of  liberty. 

It  has  been  held  that  a  Methodist  congrega- 
tion was  formed  in  Glen  Cove  as  early  as  1785 
under  Jesse  Coles  as  class  leader.  The  services 
were  held  in  private  residences  until  1827,  when 
provision  was  made  for  them  in  the  school  huild- 
ing,  and  a  Sab'bath  school  was  organized.  In.  1844 
a  church  building  was  erected,  which  gave  way 
in  1861  to  a  much  more  commodious  structure. 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  was  founded  here 
in  1833,  and  was  at  first  close'ly  associated  with 
the  church  at  Manhassett,  and  a  Presbyterian 
Church  was  organized  in  1868  with  fifteen  mem- 
bers. 

P'roni   the   declaration  of   peace,   Glen  Cove 


152 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


seems  to  have  been  forgotten  by  the  world,  until 
about  1828,  when  a  joint  stock  company  was  or- 
g-anized  to  run  a  steamer  between  it  and  New 
York  and  intermediate  ports.  A  steamer,  the 
"Linneus,"  had  for  some  time  'been  run  between 
Glen  Cove  and  New  Rochelle  by  Captain  Peck. 
The  stock  company  built  a  splendid  new  dock 
and  the  adventure  proved  quite  a  success.  It  is 
still  continued,  even  although  many  thought  that 
the  railroad  would  force  its  cessation.  Some  of 
the  most  su'bstantial  boats  that  ever  plied  on 
I^ng  Island  Sound  'have  been  on  this  route,  the 
""Flushing,"  "American  Eagle,"  "Mayflower," 
"General  Sedgwick/'  among  them.  Two  of  the 
beats,  the  ''Glen  Cove"  and  the  "Long  Island," 
were  sent  south  during  the  Civil  war  and  were 
there  burned.    The  saddest  incident  of  the  line's 


NASSAU  COUNTRY  CLUB. 

story  was  that  of  the  burning  of  the  "Seawan- 
haka/'  on  June  28,  1880.  She  'bad  left  her  pier 
in  New  York  on  that  date  with  some  300  pas- 
sengers on  board.  When  passing  Ward's  Island, 
the  vessel  seemed  suddenly  to  become  a  mass 
of  flames  and  the  captain  hastil}-  determined  to 
run  it  on  to  a  marsli  known  as  the  Sunken  Mead- 


ows. By  this  action  the  lives  of  most  of  those 
on  board  were  saved,  but  between  deaths  by 
burning  and  drowning  the  casualties  reached  61. 
It  was  the  establishment  of  the  Glen  Cove 
Manufacturing  Comipany— for  the  making  of 
starch— in  1855  that  has  given  to  the  village  its 
position  as  a  manufacturing  place  and  made  its 
name  to  be  known  almost  all  over  the  civilized 
world.  The  product  was  perfect  from  the  start 
and  speedily  won  its  way;  while  the  awards  it 
received  at  the  great  London  Exhibition  of  1862 
gave  it  a  position  which  it  has  since  maintained, 
that  of  making  a  starch  which  is  not  surpassed 
for  purity  by  any  in  the  world.  The  subsequent 
'^world's  exhibitions"  at  Paris,  Philadelphia,  Chi- 
cago and  elsewhere,  emphasized  the  praise  be- 
stowed on  it  by  the  London  experts  when  it  first 
entered  into  open  comspetition  with  all 
other  makes.  Its  first  factory,  erected 
m  1856,  was  deistroyed  by  fire  in  Febru- 
ary, 1858,  but  a  new  establishment  was 
erected  at  once.  Nowadays  the  com- 
pany operates  an  immense  establishment, 
and  to  it,  more  than  to  any  other  single 
agency,  Glen  Cove  owes  its  eminence  as 
the  most  richly  populated  village  in 
Oyster  Bay  township,  the  latest  returns 
placing  it  at  4,700. 

An  old  and  well  estafblished  insti- 
tution is  the  Glen  Cove  Mutual  In-sur- 
ance  Company,  which  grew  out  of  the 
great  fire  in  the  city  O'f  New  York,  which 
wrecked  nearly  all  the  insurance  com- 
panies in  that  city  in.  the  winter  of 
1^35-6-  The  company  Avas  organized 
principally  through  the  efforts  of  Will- 
iam M.  Weeks,  a  merchant  of  Glen 
Cove. 

In  September,  1868,  Glen  Cove  cele- 
brated its  biennial,  and  there  was  a  pro- 
cession, music,  oratory — mainly  an  ora- 
tion by  Mr.  H.  T.  Scud'der — and  a  feast  of 
clams,  sandwiches,  coflfee,  etc.  It  was  a  good 
old  fashioned  jollification,  and  was  open  to  all 
who  chose  to  listen  or  partake,  and  when  the 
day  was  over  the  good  folks  of  the  village  were 
ready  to  affirm  that  Glen  Cove  had  not  its  equal 
in    all   Lono-   Island. 


OYSTER    BAY. 


153 


Adjacent  to  the  village  is  the  Pratt  property, 
an  estate  of  eight  hundred  acres^  magnificently 
located,  with  a  frontage  on  Long  Island  Sound. 
On  the  Pratt  estate  is  the  tomb  of  the  late  Charles 
Pratt,  in  his  lifetime  the  most  promiinent  person- 
age identified  with  Glen  Cove.  He  located  his 
country  home  upon  the  estate  above  referred  to, 
and  established  a  model  educational  school  build- 
ing for  the  town,  which  he  designed  to  stand  as 
his  most  enduring  monument.  He  died  before 
the  realization  of  his  hopes,  but  ihis  sons  carried 
out  as  a  sacred  injunction  the  favorite  design 
of  his  lifetimie,  and  the  building  was  dedicated 
with  due  solemnity  on  May  24,  1893.  The  insti- 
tution ma'intains  an  agricultural  department 
which  is  operated  upon  a  portion  of  the  estate, 
and  here  tlie  students  are  initiated  into  the  best 
and  latest  researches  of  modem  farming. 

Contiguous  to  the  Pratt  estate  the  veteran  edi- 
tor of  the  "New  York  Sun,"  recently  deceased, 
laid  out  bis  magnificent  possessions,  known  as 
"Dana  Island."  This  beautiful  property  is  known 
far  and  wide,  and  the  late  Chades  A.  Dana  lav- 
ished upon  it  a  constant  and  unremitting  care. 
It  is  as  celebrated  in  the  records  of  horticulture 
as  the  famous  Shaw's  Garden  of  St.  Louis,  and 
contains  trees,  plants  and  shrubs  collected  from 
every  portion  of  the  globe.  Dull  care  and  busi- 
ness was  never  allowed  to  enter  this  ideal  spot. 
To  Mr.  Dana  it  was  a  happy  valley  of  Rasselas. 
His  last  hours  were  spent  here,  and  the  estate 
is  to  be  maintained  in  its  integrity  and  beauty 
with  the  same  reverent  care  as  was  lavished 
upon  it  by  its  lamented  owner.  1 

Sea  ClilT,  which  might  be  called  a  suburb  of 
Glen  Cove,  was  founded  in  1871  as  a  religious 
settlement  by  a  corporation  'having  its  headquar- 
ters in  New  York.  It  was  to  be  a  place  for  the 
summer  residence  of  Christian  families  of  mod- 
erate means,  where  they  might  lease  a  small  plot 
of  ground,  erect  modest  cottages  and  enjoy 
fresh  air  and  rest,  with  such  spiritual  enjoyments 
as  camp  meetings  and  other  form's\  of  public 
worship.  The  ground  was  at  first  intended  to 
be  leased,  not  sold,  and  an  annual  rent  of  ten 
dollars  on  each  lot  was  to  be  devoted  to  paymg 
the  interest  on  the  money  invested  and  in  im- 


proving the  grounds,  opening  uip  and  grading 
the  streets,  policing,  etc.  The  lands  of  the  as- 
sociation emjbraced  a  total  purchase  of  240  acres. 
The  original  cost  of  the  land,  together  Avith  the 
buildings  and  furniture,  the  tents,  docks  and 
piers,  the  water  works,  the  cost  of  laying  out  and 
mapping  the  grounds,  building  of  streets  and  av- 
enues, aggregated  the  sum  of  $270,000.  Add  to 
this  the  Sinn  since  expended  in  repairs,  interest, 
taxes  and  improvements,  and  the  total  was  sev- 
eral hundred  thousand  dollars  greater.  The  as- 
sociation purchase  embraced  about  a  mile  of 
water  front. 

r»ut  the  beauty  of  the  place  soon  overturned 
these  primitive  calculations.  There  was  too  much 
in  the  site  and  its  surroundings  to  attract  a  pleas- 
ure seeking  population.  Occupying  a  command-- 
ing  situation,  "like  a  sentinel  against  the  'sky," 
it  commands  an  expansive  view  of  bay  and  shore. 
And  so,  after  a  while,  the  early  restrictionjs'  were 
abandoned,  the  streets  were  widened,  the  size 
of  the  lots  increased,  and  palatial  villas  began  to 
arise  beside  the  modest  cottages.  The  system 
of  leasing  gave  way  to  selling  outright,  and  Sea 
Cliff  is  now  one  of  the  most  popular  of  Long  Isl- 
and's "summer"  cities,  and  has  a  population  es- 
timated at  1,475.  It  ^^^  good  'hotels,  splendid 
bathing  accommodations,  and  in  many  respects  is 
a  model  settlement. 

East  Norwich  was  named  after  their  father's 
birthplace  in  England  by  James  and  George 
Townsend,  sons  of  John  Townsend,  of  Oyster 
Bay.  They  secured  a  tract  of  land  in  1680,  about 
two  miles  south  of  Oyster  Bay  village,  and 
around  their  farms  a  small  village  gradually 
sprang  up.  It  was  never  very  populous,  and  now 
only  claim's  425,  but  at  an  early  period  in  its 
history  it  became  a  center  of  'Methodism,  and  the 
light  started  there  in  1784  is  still  burning.  The 
history  of  East  Norwich  really  centers  round  its 
little  M'ethodist  Church,  and  as  it  is  curious  in 
many  ways,  the  following  story  of  its  career  by 
Mr.  H.  IL  Frost  may  not  be  without  interest  to 
the  general  reader : 

''The  Rev.  Philip  Cox,  a  Methodist  minister 
belonging  to  the  Jamaica  circuit,  preached  in  this 
place   in   1784.      Services   were  beld   at  private 


154 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


houses.  From  1784  to  1822  traveling  ministers 
of  the  Jamaica  circuit  officiated  here.  In  1822 
the  Rev,  Joshua  Burch  was  located  'here,  and 
held  services  at  the  residence  of  Thomas  Che- 
shire. During  the  summer  of  1833  a  grove  meet- 
ing was  held  at  Muttontown,  then  called  Chris- 
tian Hill.  This  grove  meeting  was  a  memorable 
one ;  out  of  it  grew  a  well  organized  and  efficient 
working  Methodist  society  in  this  place,  and  the 
erection  of  a  suitable  building.  About  forty 
persons  were  converted  upon  this  occasion,  and 
among  them  we  find  the  name  of  James  Vernon. 
The  first  thought  of-this  good  man  after  his  con- 
version was  to  devise  plans  for  a  suitable  place 
of  worship.  He  aroused  enthusiasm  among  a 
few  neighbors.  They  held  a  meeting  in  a  barn 
now  standing,  drew  up  a  paper  stating  their  ob- 
ject, and  'Mr.  Vernon  started  the  list  of  subscrib- 
ers with  $40,  a  very  large  sum  in  those  days.  At- 
tached to  this  paper  are  seventy-four  names,  with 
the  amount  promised.  George  iPeters,  Thomias 
Qieshire,  Henry  Cheshire,  John  Nostrand,  Abra- 
ham Rem'sen,  Catherine,  Mary  and  'Sally  Peters 
and  Andrew  C  Hegeman  gave  $25  each ;  Thomas 
Cheshire  and  William  Duryea^  $20  each;  John 
Van  Cott,  $15  ;  Jackson  Vernon,  George  Remsen, 
John  Jackson,  John  Layton,  John  Cheshire, 
Charles  Cheshire,  Josejph  White,  C.  &  J.  Stores, 
Samuel  Mott,  Gideon  Wright  and  Townsend  W. 
Burtis,  $10  each;  and  others  from  five  dollars 
down  to  one  as  they  were  able.  The  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends  also'  contributed  liber- 
ally. 

"The  church  was  built  in  1834,  and  it  has 
been  of  great  use  and  benefit  to  the  entire  neigh- 
borhood. It  is  31  by  37  feet,  located  just  south  of 
the  village,  and  is  worth,  with  the  ground  at- 
tached, about  $2,500.  'The  -site  was  a  gift  from 
James  Vernon.  The  parsonage  situated  a  short 
distance  north  of  the  village  is  a  two-story 
structure  built  in  1866  or  1867,  and  with  the  plot 
of  ground,  worth  perhaps  $1,500. 

Bethpage  is  another  commtmity  which  for 
long  was  a  religious  center.  Tliomas  Powell,,  a 
Quaker,  from  Huntington,  bought  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  1695,  and  in  1698  a  Friends'  meeting 
was  established,  which  was  maintained  until  a 
year  or  two  ago,  when  it  seems  to-  have  died  out. 
The  population  at  present  is  given  as  150,  and 
brickmaking  is  the  only  industiy,  except  farm- 
ing. 

A  much  more  important  religious  center  was 
Jericho,  a  pleasant  village  near  the  center  of  the 


town.  It  was  settled  first  about  1650,  and  the 
present  population  of  325  is  mainly  descended 
from  the  first  settlers,  such  as  Seamans,  Willets, 
Underbill,  Williams.  In  early  times  Jericho  was 
known  as  "The  Farms,''  or  Springfield,  and  the 
Indians  called  it  Lusum.  Most  of  tlie  early  set- 
tlers were  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  meet- 
ings for  worship  were  held  in  the  'homes  of  the 
people  with  more  or  less  frequency,  from  1676 
to  1787,  when  a  regular  meeting  house  was  built. 
In  that  tabernacle  some  wonderful  reunions  have 
been  held,  and  Elias  Hicks  preached  in  it  for 
several  years.  It  is  still  a  place  of  worship,  but 
the  old  palmy  days  have  gone,  although  the  sixty 
members  on  its  roll  mtake  up  a  congregation  as 
earnest  and  devoted  as  any  that  ever  assembled 
within  its  walls. 

The  mention  of  the  venerated  name  of  Elias 
Hicks  recalls  to  us  the  town  named  in  his  mem- 
ory and  which,  although  it  ,&eemed  for  a  long 
time  incapable  of  growth,  now  has  a  population 
of  1,300,  a  number  of  factories  and  industries, 
and  appears  des'tined  to  grow  steadily  in  import- 
ance as  a  manufacturing  center,  even  if  it  fails 
to  become  a  resort.  It  was  founded  in  1836, 
when  Hicks  and  other  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  bought  part  of  the  land  on  whic'h  it  is 
situated,  and  laid  out  a  few  streets  on  a  map  and 
gave  it  the  name  of  Hicksville.  But  the  popula- 
tion expected  did  not  appear,  and  the  place 
seemed  dead.  In  1842  the  Long  Island  Railway 
reached  it  and  built  a  station,  an  engine  house 
and  some  storage  places,  and  ori  the  strength  of 
all  that  the  original  projectors  took  heart  and 
erected  a  hotel  and  a  dozen  cottages.  But  the 
venture  even  then  seemed  a  failure.  For  some 
reason  or  other  the  Rev.  Dr.  Prime,  the  historian, 
was  bitterly  opposed  to  Hicksville,  mainly  be- 
cause he  was  opposed  to  the  doctrines  of  Elias 
Hicks.    He  wrote  in  1845  '• 

'Tt  (Hicksville)  is  a  village  of  recent  origin 
situated  on  the  western  line  of  the  town  about 
midway  O'f  the  great  plain.  It  originally  con- 
sisted^ of  a  large  depot  and  Avorkshops,  a  hotel 
with  its  outhouses  and  five  or  six  small  private 
dwellings.  The  railroad  having  been  extended 
to  Greenport   in    1844,  the  depot  being  burned 


OYSTER    BAY. 


155 


down  about  the  same  time,  and  no  additions 
Whatever  being  made  to  the  private  dwellings, 
the  'village'  bids  fair  to  remain  ;in  statu  quo.  Its 
business,  however,  is  undiminished,  as  it  is  a 
point  at  whch  several  stages  and  private  con- 
veyances arrive  daily  with  passengers  from  the 
adjoining  villages,  and  after  remaining  an  ihour 
or  two  depart  with  their  return  cargoes.  Of 
course,  its  principal  trade  consists  of  hay  and  oats 
for  horses,  and  cakes  and  pies  and  Icoffee,  or 
whisky,  for  men,  all  of  which  are  articles  of 
foreign  production,  as  there  is  no  land  under 
cultivation.  Indeed,  all  the  houses  stand  'out  of 
doors'  without  any  enclosure  except  a  small 
garden  attached  to  the  hotel.  And  although  the 
whole  territory  is  as  level  as  a  barn  floor  and 
building  lots  can  be  purchased  far  cheaper  than 
in  New  York,  the  public  seems  determined  not 
to  buy  them.  *  "^  *  It  does  not  seem  likely 
to  be  selected  as  a  place  of  residence  of  any  man 
in  his  senses.    East  New  York  and  Jamesport  are 


Dr.  Prime  may  have  been  a  very  good  preacher, 
he  is  without  honor  as  a  prophet;  for,  in  1849, 
Frederick  H.eyne  purchased  1,000  acres  of  land, 
and  several  others,  Germans,  like  him'self,  also 
purchased  land  in  the  vicinity.  In  1850  the  idea 
was  broached  of  making  Hicksville  a  German 
settlement,  and  the  idea  was  quickly  put  into 
practice.  Streets  were  again  surveyed  and  lots 
staked  out,  and  in  1852  a  school  house  was  erec- 
ted. The  people,  mostly  Germans,  b'Cgan  to  buy 
up  the  lots  and  build,  and  long  before  Dr.  Prime 
died,  in  1856.  he  could  have  seen  a  thriving  vil- 
lage rising  on  the  spot  concerning  which  he  ut- 
tered his  sarcasms  and  his  lamentations. 

Farmingdale  is  a  thriving  village  of  some 
1,600  inhabitants,  and  with  its  church,  edoacatioiial 
advantages,  its  School  of  Technology,  its  one  or 


HOME  OF  CAPT.  CHARLES  HEWLETT  NEAR  WOODBURY. 


privileged  spots  compared  with  Hicksville.  The 
name  may  live,  but  the  Village'  is  a  miserable 
abortion." 

All  of  which  only  goes  to  show  that  while 


two  factories,  and  its  beautiful  situation,  it  is 
one  of  the  pLeasantest  little  towns  to  be  met  with, 
even  in  Long  Island.  It  lies  at  the  foot  of  the 
Comae  Hiills  and  is  really  one' of  the  healthiest 


156 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


places  to  be  found  within  a  wide  circle  of  New 
York.  In  olden  times  it  rejoiced  in  the  name  of 
Hardscrabble,  but  how  or  when  such  a  cognomen 
was  first  applied  has  not  come  down  to  us  in  any 
satisfactory  shape. 

Among  the  other    villages    in    Oyster    Bay 
township  mention  might  be  made  of  Glen  Head, 


"a  sumni'er  city,"  with  a  population  of  500; 
Plainview,  230;  South  Oyster  Bay,  475;  Syos- 
set,  638;  Wheatly,  175;  Laurelton,  125;  Green- 
vale,  192;  Central  Park,  375;  Glenwood  Land- 
ing, 268;  Mill  Neck,  200;  New  Cassell,  225; 
Woodbury,  350;  and  Plain  Edge,  137. 


CHAPTER  VIL 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


UFFOLK  county  includes  all  of  Long 
Island  tO'  the  east  of  the  township  of 
Oyster  Bay,  and  comprises  about 
two-thirds  of  its  area.  Its  greatest 
length  is  about  ninety  miles,  and  its  greatest 
breadth,  irom  Eaton's  Neck  to  the  Great 
South  Bay,  is  twenty  miles,  and  its  area  measures 
about  1,200  square  miles.  The  eastern  extrem- 
ity of  the  county  is  divided  by  Great  and  Little 
Peconic  liays  and  Gardiner's  Bay,  with  two  nar- 
row, unequal  branches,  between  which  are  Gar- 
diner's Island,  Shelter  Island  and  Robin's  Island, 
which,  with  a  number  of  smaller  islands,  form  a 
part  of  the  territory  of  the  county. 

The  natural  conditions  of  the  region  are  else^ 
where  narrated.  There  are  countless  remin- 
scences  of  the  original  occupants  of  the  soil.  . 
Many  Indian  legends  concerning  Suffolk  county 
have  been  unearthed  by  Dr.  William  Wallace 
Tooker,  of  Sag  Harbor,  and  concerning  the  abor- 
iginal inhabitants  of  his  home  town  and  the  me- 
morials they  left  behind  in  the  way  of  place 
names,  he  writes  as  follows : 

In  a  former  time,  under  primitive  conditions, 
on  the  roUing  ground  and  plain,  to  the  northward 
of  the  range  of  hills  that  extend  west  and  east 
across  the  eastern  portion  of  the  present  village 
of  Sag  Harbor,  were  located  the  picturesque 
wigwams,  corn  fields  and  other  accessories  of  the 
village  of  Wegwagonock.  A  large  portion  of  the 
elevation,  on  the  southern  slopes  of  which  the 
most  compact  part  of  the  village  had  been  sit- 
uated, was  leveled  about  fifty  years  ago  and  its 
contents  distributed  over  the  adjoining  meadow 
in  order  to  increase  the  area  and  stability  of  the 


ship  and  oil  yards  of  Mulford  and  Sleight.  The 
writer  was  informed  by  the  -  late  William  R. 
Sleig'ht  that  human  bones,  supposed  to  have  been 
those  of  Indians,  very  friable  and  decayed,  were 
unearthed  during  the  excavating;  but,  if  any 
objects  aboriginal  were  deposited  with  them  at 
the  time  of  burial,  they  were  overlooked  in  the 
haste  and  carelessness  of  the  digging. 

The  situation  of  this  summer  dwelling  place 
of  the  red  men,  Which  it  must  undoubtedly  have 
been,  for  in  the  winter  they  lived  back  in  the  for- 
ests where  it  was  less  exposed  and  more  shel- 
tered, was  highly  favored  naturally  for  their  pur- 
poses and  their  primitive  mode  of  living.  From 
evidences,  surface  or  otherwise,  that  have  been 
discovered  from  time  to  time,  this  village  ex- 
tended, with  the  wigwams  in  .scattered  iorder, 
along  the  edge  of  the  meadows  where  the  late  E. 
M.  Cooper  and  Charles  L.  Phillips'  houses  stand, 
skirting  the  base  of  the  hills  as  far  as  the  Fahys 
Watch  Case  Factory.  At  the  present  day  a  large 
portion  of  this  area  has  been  obliterated  of  its 
aboriginal  marks  by  the  march  of  improvements 
until  but  a  small  part  of  the  site  indicates  what 
it  must  have  been  at  the  period  of  which  I  write ; 
that  portion  in  close  proximity  to  the  depression 
which  has  been  known  from  my  childhood  as  the 
"Frog  Pond"  is  about  the  only  part  remaining 
that  may  still  be  studied  by  the  student  of  prehis- 
toric anthropology  with  much  interest  and  sat- 
isfaction. 

The  conditions  Avhich  gave  rise  to  this  vil- 
lage in  aboriginal  times  were  these :  First,  its 
nearness  to  the  tidal  waters  in  front  made  their 
food  quest  an  easy  one,  for  fish  abounded  here. 
Second,  the  sand-flats,  bare  at  low  water,  bor- 
dering the  shore  in  every  direction,  undoubted- 
ly teemed,  as  it  does  to-day,  with  shell-fish  of 
various  kinds.  The  abundance  of  the  univalve, 
commonly  called  the  periwinkle,  in  the  various 
coves  and  bays  hereabouts,  gave  the  name  'Meh- 


158 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


tanawack,  "country  of  the  ear-shell/'  to  this  part 
of  Long  Island.,  thus  making  it  a  place  of  note 
to  the  natives  on  the  neighboring  main.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  whatever  but  that  the  manu- 
facture of  wamipum  was  carried  on  to  a  great 
extent  at  this  Indian  village,  and  that  it  was  fre- 
quently visited  by  the  Dutch  for  the  purposes  of 
trading  in  this  commodity.  All  the  facts  dis- 
closed by  excavating  on  this  village  site  proves 
it;  the  numerous  columella  or  stock  of  periwinkle 
scattered  about  this  village  site  bears  mute  testi- 
mony of  this  manufacture. .  The  writer,  in  dig- 
ging here,  discovered  a  cache  of  these  shells 
which  had  evidently  been  stored  for  future  use. 
He  has  discovered  like  deposits  in  other  places 
which  bears  out  Roger  Williams'  observation  in 
1643,  viz. ;  "Most  on  the  sea-side  make  Money, 
and  store  up  shells  in  Summer  against  Winter 
whereof  to  make  their  money."  Again,  at  the 
mouths  of  the  tidal  creeks  could  be  found  in 
aibundance  the  round  clam  which  Roger  Williams 
said  "the  Indians  wade  deepe  and  dive  for,  and 
after  they  have  eaten  the  meat  ithere  (in  those 
which  are  good)  they  break  out  of  the  shell, 
about  halfe  an  inch  of  a  blacke  part  of  it,  of 
which  they  make  their  suckau  hock,  or  black 
money,  which  is  to  them  precious."  It  is  very 
rare  we  find  a  whole  valve  of  the  round  clam 
{venus  nicrcenaria) ,  but  fragments  exist  in  great 
quantity,  showing  breakage  of  the  shell  in  order 
to  obtain  the  "blue  eye"  so  ihighly  desired  for 
beads.  The  debris  which  marks  the  -settlement 
is  composed  of  shells,  ashes,  charcoal,  burnt 
stones  which  were  probably  the  'hearths  of  the 
wigwams,  pottery  sherds,  both  ornamented  and 
plain,  arrow  points,  hammer  stones,  celts,  stone 
axes  and  other  objects  that  carry  the  age  of  the 
village  back  to  a  past,  previous  to  the  dawn  of 
settlement  by  the  English,  and  the  layers  of 
which  prove  that  the  occupation  of  the  site  by 
the  Indians  was  not  continuous  but  was  revisited 
time  and  time  again.  Again  in  the  top  layer  has 
been  found  a  few  gun  flints,  glass  beads, and 
brass  buttons,  indicating  occupation  within  his- 
toric times.  On  the  surface  it  was  the  writer's 
fortune  to  find  a  brass  arrow-point  identical  with 
that  figured  by  Dr.  Abbott  on  ipiage  421  of  his 
"Primitive  Industry,"  which  also  'belongs  to  the 
writer.  There  is  something  peculiar  about  these 
two  points  in  tlie  fact  that  when  placed  one  on 
the  other  it  is  indicated  seemingly  that  they  Tvere 
both  cut  by  a  die,  for  the  perforations  and  out- 
lines are  exact  in  both  specimens.  There  is  no 
question  but  what  careful  examination  on  the 
site  of  this  village  would  bring  to  light  many  ob- 
jects of  aboriginal  use  and  workmanship.     It  is 


only  a  few  years  ago  that  my  friend,  Dr.  C.  S. 
Stilwell,  who  owns  the  hill  and  land  adjoining, 
was  digging  to  reset  a  post  on  the  lowest  part 
of  this  village  site,  when  he  drew  out  at  the 
depth  of  about  three  feet,  a  perfect  grooved  stone 
axe.  It  was  quite  lare^e  and  very  nicely  finished, 
and  its  accidental  discovery  indicates  to  some  ex- 
tent what  may  lie  buried  underneath  the  soil  in 
this  vicinity. 

The  neighboring  meadows  and  the  marshy 
pools  of  water  where  the  rushes  grew  and 
where  the  cat-tails  flourished  in  abundance, 
were  frequent  places  of  resort  in  order  to 
gather  flags  for  making  mats,  baskets  and  cov- 
erings for  their  wigwams.  The  adjoining 
hills,  then  all  wooded,  were  roamed  over  in 
search  of  game,  and  the  occasional  arrow-point 
picked  up  on  the  surface  or  overturned  by  the 
plow  is  a  reminder  of  the  arrow's  flight  either 
in  time  oi  war  or  peaceful  pursuits.  The  notch- 
ed or  grooved  sinker  is  also  a  token  of  the  foot- 
steps of  the  Indian  fisherman  and  indicates 
where  his  nets  sometimes  were  left  to  dry  on 
the  upland  bordering  the  shore.  Thus  on  every 
hand  hereabouts  may  be  met  some  token  of  the 
dweller  in  the  villaee  of  Wegwagonock.  Across 
the  bay  could  be  seen  the  island  of  Ahaquatu- 
wamuck,  "the  sheltered  fishing-place,"  now 
known  as  Shelter  Island,  of  which  its  southern 
end  directly  opposite  Wegwagonock  still  re- 
tains its  aboriginal  appellation  of  Meshomack, 
a  term'  denoting  "where  there  is  going  by  boat," 
indicating  the  ferry  between  that  point  and  Three 
Mile  Harbor  or  to  Wegwagonock.  Further 
northward,  also  within  sight  where  now  we  see 
the  residence  of  Dr.  S.  B.  Nicoll,  was  the  wig- 
wam qf  the  Sachem  Ambusco  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  which  gives  the  name,  "Sachem's  Neck" 
to  the  locality.  The  trail  or  path"  froni  Weg-- 
wagonock  led  to  Ashawagh  at  Three  Mile  Har- 
bor, to  Weckatuck  at  the  north  side,  with 
branches  in  various  directions  wherever  the 
footsteps  of  the  Indian  might  lead  him. 

The  name  Wegwagonock  or  Wigwagonock, 
as  designating  the  locality,  was  retained  in  the 
early  records  of  East  Hampton  and  probably  in 
the  speech  of  our  first  settlers  until  the  year  1731, 
when  it  disappears  from  the  written  page  and 
from'  the  memory  of  our  oldest  inhabitant  until 
it  was  brought  again  to  light  by  the  publishing 
of  the  records.  Among  other  notices  we  find  one 
dated  April  30th  ,  1718-,  when  "It  was  agreed 
"^'^  "  *  that  all  the  land  lying  to  the  westward 
of  Joseph  Stretton's  meadow  at  Wigwagonock 
shall  lie  ^  *  ^  ,33  common  land  forever 
*     *     =*^    all  the  land  lying  between  the  bound 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


159 


line  and  the  north  side  to  the  utmost  limits  of 
East  Hampton  bounds."  This  record  identifies 
the  locality  'beyond  a  shadow  of  doubt,  for  the 
"bound  line,"  "north  side,"  "utmost  limits  of  the 
bounds  of  East  Hampton,"  could  not  have  ap- 
plied to  any  other  locality  than  that  north  of  the 
site  of  where  I  place  the  village  of  Wegwago- 
nock.  By  the  inroads  of  the  sea  and  other  causes 
mJuch  of  the  meadow  hereabouts  has  disappeared 
and  it  is  impossible  to  locate  any  of  the  tracts  of 
meadow  first  allotted  to  the  inhabitants  of  East 
Hampton;  although  in  1728  Ananias  Conkling, 
Jr.,  entereth  his  land  joining  his  land  .at  Weg- 
wagonock — near  the  bound  line,  which  was 
probably  what  is  now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Will- 
iam R.  Sleight  and  of  the  others  in  the  rear,  ex- 
tending back  to  the  bay,  including  the  site  of 
Wegwagonock  and  meadow  to  the  eastward,  and 
terminating  in  Conkling's  Point,  so  named  after 
its  first  owner. 

Indian  place  names  are  invariably  descriptive 
of  the  place  to  which  they  are  applied,  and  were 
therefore  topographical,  and  not  mere  marks  to 
distinguish  one  place  from  the  other  like  all  our 
names.  Wegwagonock  belongs  to  the  same 
class  and  denotes  "land  or  place  at  the  end  of 
the  hill,"  which  fully  describes  the  location  at 
the  foot  of  what  has  been  known  for  many 
years  as  "Sleig^it's  Hill."  John  Eliot,  the  emi- 
nent Indian  Missionary,  would  probably  have 
written  it  in  the  'IMassachusetts  dialect  as  We- 
quae-adn-ohke,  from  Wequae,  "at  the  end  of," 
"as  far  as,"  limit,  etc.,  and  "a  hill,"  used  in  com- 
pound words  only, — ock,  "land  or  place."  The 
name  being  descriptive  is  found  in  varying 
forms  in  other  parts  of  New  England.  It  was 
also  the  name  of  an  Indian  village  in  Sharon, 
Conn.,  as  written  by  the  Moravian  missionaries, 
Wequadn'ach.  Once  I  asked  a  Chippeway  In- 
dian what  Wegwagonock  meant,  giving  the 
sounds  as  represented  here ;  he  was  unable,  how- 
ever, to  translate  it,  but  just  as  soon  as  I  told  him 
that  it  was  the  same  as  Waiekwadnach  in  his  own 
language,  he  recognized  its  identity  and  translat- 
ed it  as  given  above  without  my  assistance.  The 
same  name  is  found  in  Columbia  and  Dutchess 
Counties,  New  York,  applied  to  a  tribe  of  In- 
dians who  were  called  the  Wayaughtanocks  or 
Wawyachtonocks,  from  the  fact  that  they  dwelt 
"at  the  end  of  a  hill  or  mountain." 

By  such  people  as  those  of  Gravesend  and 
Hempstead,  and  after  sim'ilar  fashion  and  with 
similar  institutions,  as  has  been  previously  nar- 
rated, were  settled  the  historic  old  points  in  Suf- 


folk county — Gardiner's  Island  in  1639;  South- 
ampton and  Southold  in  1640;  Easthampton  in 
1648;  Shelter  Island  in  1652;  Huntington  in 
1653;  ai^d  Sm'ithtown  about  1663.  With  the 
exception  of  Smithtown  and  Shelter  Island, 
which  did  not  immediately  set  up  as  independ- 
encies, these  towns  formed  alliances  with  the 
New  England  colonies — Southampton  with  Con- 
necticut in  1644,  Southold  with  New.  Haven  in 
1648,  and  the  others  with  Connecticut:  East- 
hampton in  1657,  Brookhaven  in  1659  and  Hunt- 
ington in  1660.  These  associations  were  entered 
into  and  maintained  for  miutual  assistance  and 
protection  against  the  Indians  and  the  Dutch, 
and  the  nidependence  of  the  towns  and  their 
mode  of  self-government  were  in  no  manner  to 
be  infringed  upon. 

Shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  towns 
named,  plans  were  laid  for  the  union  of  South- 
old,  Southampton  and  Easthampton,  whose  peo- 
ple appointed  committees  to  confer  with  the  gen- 
eral court  at  Hartford,  with  a  view  to  such  an 
agreement  and  the  establishment  of  a  general 
seat  of  government  in  their  midst,  presumably 
after  the  fashion  of  the  New  Haven  community. 
For  some  reason  the  scheme  did  not  materialize, 
but  in  .T662  the  Connecticut  Colony  laid  claim  to 
Long  Island,  asserting  right  under  that  clause 
of  its  charter,  granted  in  that  year,  which  gave 
it  jurisdiction  over  "the  islands  adjacent,"  and 
two  years  later  it  sent  a  commission  tO'  the  isl- 
and to  enforce  its  pretensions.  But  these  plans 
were  nipped  in  the  bud  on  the  instant.  In  the 
same  year  Governor  Richard  Nicolls  cam|e  as 
deputy  under  the  Duke  of  York,  to  wliom  the 
lands  had  been  granted  by  the  King,  and  he  be- 
came at  once  landlord  and  ruler.  In  the  former 
capacity  he  was  a  law  to  himself  and  he  exer- 
cised a  wide  discretion.  Where  the  Indian 
claims  had  been  satisfied  he  was  content  with  a 
royalty  of  a  penny  per  acre,  but  when  the  pur- 
chaser assumed  the  responsibility  of  dealing  with 
the  aboriginal  owner  or  occupant,  he  placed  his 
price  as  low  as  two  shillings  and  sixpence  for 
one  hundred  acres. 

The  political  history  of  Suffolk  county  begins 
with  the    famous  "Hempstead    Convention"   of 


160 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


1665.     Prior  to  the  assembling  of  this  body,  Col- 
onel Nicolls  had  exhibited  to  Governor  Winthrop, 
of  Connecticut,  the  royal  grant  conveying  Nev^ 
York  and  its  adjacent  territory  to  the  Duke  of 
York,  and  the  Governor  had  informed  the  Eng- 
lish on   I-ong   Island  that   Connecticut   had  no 
longer  any  claim  upon  thems — -"that  what  they 
had  done  for  them  was  for  the  welfare,  peace  and 
quiet  settlement  of  his  Majesty's  'subjects,  they 
being  the  nearest  organized  government  to  them 
under  his  'Majesty;  but  now  that  his  'Majesty's 
pleasure  was  fully  signified  by  his  letters  patent, 
their  jurisdiction  had  ceased  and  become  null/' 
The  calling  of  the  Hempstead  Convention  by 
Coltine'l  Nicolls,  its  personnel  and  its  transactions 
■ — all  this  has  been  narrated  in  the  previous  vol- 
ume.    It  is  9nly  to  be  repeated  here  that  Long 
Island   and  'Staten   Island   were   erected  into   a 
shire,   called  Yorkshire,  after  that  in  England, 
and  of  this  the  towns  now  included  in  Suffolk 
county  constituted  the  East  Riding.     It  is  pre- 
sumable that   in  this    convention    the    original 
names  of  some  of  the  towns  were  changed  to 
those  which  they  now  bear.     At  this  time  was 
created  the  court   of  sessions,   to  meet  twice  a 
year,  and  to  consist  of  the  justices  of  the  peace 
of  the  county.     Three  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed in  each  town  to  constitute  a  local  court, 
with  power  to  decide  cases    not    exceeding    £5 
value.     This  Assembly  also  provided  for  a  rev- 
enue to  the  government  from  duties  on  imports 
as  follows :     Rum,  brandy  and  distilled  liquors, 
4  pence  a  gallon;  Madeira,  Malaga,  sherry  and 
all  sweet  wines,  40  shillings  per  pipe ;  powder, 
12  shillings  a  barrel;  lead,  6    shillings  per  hun- 
dred weight ;  every  gun  or  gun  barrel  with  lock, 
6  shillings ;  general  merchandise  not   otherwise 
specified,  an  ad  valorem,  duty  of  2  per  cent. ;  all 
merchandise  intended  for  the  Indian  trade,   lo 
per  cent.     The   following  merchandise  was  ex- 
empt:     Salt,   brick,   pan-tiles,  coal,   fish,   sugar, 
molasses,  cotton,  wool,  ginger,  logwt)od,  "brasa- 
lette,"  fustic,  West  India  hides,  tobacco,  bullion 
and  plate.     An  excise  was  also  placed  upon  all 
liquors  sold  in  less  quantities  than  five  gallons. 
of  12  pence  a  gallon,    except    beer    and    cider, 
which  were  rated  at  6  shillings  a  barrel.    An  ex- 


port duty  was  also  laid  upon  all  skins  of  animals 
sent  away.  In  computing  the  value  of  skins  and 
the  duty  thereon  a  whole  beaver  skin  was  taken 
as  the  standard  or  unit  of  value,  and  other  skins 
were  reckoned  by  it.  The  duty  on  a  whole  beav- 
er was  nine  pence,  and  the  same  on  its  equiva- 
lent in  any  other  skins,  as  follows :  Two  half- 
beavers,  four  "lapps,''  three  ''drillings,"  ten  "ra- 
toons,"  four  foxes,  four  "fishers,"  five  cats,  twen- 
ty-four '*mees-catts,"  ten  "mailers,"  twenty-four 
pounds  of  deer  skin  and  the  same  weight  of 
moose  skin. 

In  1683  the  first  Colonial  Assembly  was  con- 
vened under  a  call  made  by  Governor  Dongan, 
and  this  body  abolished  the  "ridings"  and  erected 
the  three  counties  of  Kings,  Queens  and  Suffolk. 
Under  the  various  administrations  of  Governor 
Leisler,  the  following  county  officers  were  com- 
missioned :  John  Howell,  Richard  Smith,  Sam- 
uel Mulford,  Thomas  Mapes  and  Ebenezer  Platt^ 
justices;  and  Matthew  Howell,  High  Sheriff, 
and  at  a  council  meeting  on  December  17,  1689^ 
Captain  Ebenezer  Piatt,  of  Huntington,  was  com- 
missioned to  administer  the  o^^h  to  the  other 
Justices.  The  Governor  also  commissioned  offi- 
cers of  a  militia  company.  In  1690  he  made  a 
call  for  an  assembly,  two  from  each  county.  Suf- 
folk county  refused  to  send  assemblymen,  and 
the  Governor  sent  Samuel  Edsall,  a  member  of 
his  Council,  to  secure  acknowledgment  of  his 
autltority  and  compliance  with  his  demand,  but 
his  success  was  meager. 

After  the  overthrow  of  Leisler,  the  original 
government  was  re-established  and  remained 
stable  until  the  revolutionary  period.  Land  titles 
were  quieted  by  confirmation  of  former  grants, 
and  the  Assembly  was  again  established  and  was 
never  afterward  abolished.  Courts  were  cre- 
ated— the  county  court,  or  court  of  common 
pleas,  composed  of  a  Judge  and  the  Justices,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor.  This  court  had  cog- 
nizance of  civil  actions  except  where  the  title 
of  land  was  concerned,  and  final  power  in  cases 
of  value  less  than  £20  \  the  court  of  sessions, 
composed  of  the  justices  of  the  county;  and  the 
justices'  courts,  wherein  a  single  justice  had 
power  to  decide  a  controversy  to  the  amount  of 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


161 


forty  shillings.  The  justices  were  appointed  by 
the  Governor.  Surveyors  oi  highways,  collec- 
tors, assessors  and  constables  were  elected  by  the 
people.  In  1693  Isaac  Arnold  was  judge  of  the 
common  pleas,  Josiah  Hobart  was  sheriff,  and 
the  justices  were  Jdhn  Howell,  Samiuel  Mulford, 
Richard  Smith,  William-  Barker,  Matthew  Hjow- 
ell,  Ebenetus  (Epenetus?)  Piatt  and  Thomas 
Mapes.  Their  names  appear  frequently  in  the 
annals  of  their  times,  and  they  were  evidently 
men  of  importance.  ^ 

While  agriculture  was  the  principal  pursuit 
of  the  people,  many  were  engaged  in  more  stir- 
ring occupations,  as  shipbuilding  and  whaling, 
as  written  of  elsewhere.  Gradually  other  indus- 
tries were  introduced.  About  1700  fh'e  manu- 
facture of  woolen  cloth  was  begun,  and  this  en- 
terprise, insignificant  as  it  was,  at  once  occa- 
sioned alarm  to  the  crown  officials.  Governor 
Cornbury  was  particularly  disquieted,  and  wrote 
(in  1705)   to  the  home  government  as  follows: 

'T  am  wel'l  informed  that  upon  Long  Island 
and  Connecticut  they  are  setting  up  a  woolen 
manufacture,  and  I  myself  have  seen  serge  made 
upon  Long  Island  that  any  man  may  wear. 
Now,  if  they  begin  to  make  serge,  they  will  in 
time  make  coarse  cloth  and  then  fine.  =k  *  * 
I  hope  I  may  be  pardoned  if  I  declare  my  opin- 
ion to  be  that  all  these  colonies,  which  are  but 
twigs  belonging  to  the  main  tree  (England), 
ought  to  be  kept  entirely  dependent  upon  and 
subservient  to  England ;  and  that  can  never  be  if 
they  are  suffered  to  go  ion  ini  (the  notions  they 
have,  that  as  they  are  Englishmen  iso  they  may  set 
up  the  same  manufactures!  here  as  people  may  do 
in  England;  for  the  consiequence  will  be  that  if 
once  they  can  see  they  can  clothe  themselves,  not 
only  comfortably  but  handsomely,  too,  without 
the  help  of  England,  they,  who  are  not  very  fond 
of.  submitting  to  government,  would  soon  think 
of  putting  in  execution  designs  they  had  long 
'harbored  in  their  brea&ts.  TMs  will  not  seem 
strange  when,  you  consider  what  sort  of  people 
this  country  is  inhabited  by." 

Three  years  later  (in  1708)  Caleb  Heathcote, 
a  member  of  the  council,  wrote  to  England: 
"They  are  already  sol  far  advanced  in  their 
Manufacoryes  that  ^  of  ye  linen  and  Wollen 
they  use  is  made  amongst  them,  especially  the 
11 


Courser  sort;  &  if  some  speedy  and  effectual 
ways  are  not  found  to  putt  a  stop  to  it  they  will 
carry  it  on  a  great  deal  further,  &  pei^haps  in 
time  very  much  to  the  prejudice  of  our  manu- 
factor3^s  at  home." 

These  alarming  opinions  were  not  held  by  all, 
however.  In  1732  Governor  Cosby  wrote  to  the 
Board  of  Trade  that  "the  inhabitants  here  are 
more  lazy  and  inactive  than  the  world  generally 
supposes,  and  their  manufacture  extends  no  far- 
ther than  what  is  consumed  in  their  own  fam- 
ilies— a  few  coarse  woolseys  for  clothing,  and 
linen  for  their  own  wear.''  And  Governor  Moore 
wrote,  in  i  "j^"] : 

'Tt  does  not  appear  that  there  is  any  estab- 
lished fabric  or  -broadcloth  here;  and  some  poor 
weavers  from  Yorkshire,  who  came  over  lately 
in  expectation  of  being  engaged  to  make  broad- 
cloths, could  find  no  employm'ent.  But  there  is 
a  general  m'anufactory  o'f  woolen  carried  on  here, 
and  consist  of  two  sorts,  the  first  a  coarse  cloth 
entirely  woolen,  %  of  a  yard  wide;  and  another 
stuff,  which  they  call  linsey  woolsey.  The  warp 
of  this  is  linen  and  the  woof  woolen,  and  a  very 
small  quantity  of  it  is  ever  sent  to  market. 
*  *  *  The  custom  of  making  these  coarse 
cloths  in  private  families  prevails  throughout 
the  'whole  province,  and  almost  in  every  house  a 
sufficient  quantity  is  manufactured  for  the  use  of 
the  family,  without  the  least  desien  of  sending 
any  of  it  to  market.  This  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  in  the  late  itour  I  made,  and  had  the 
same  accounts  given  me  by  all  those  persons  of 
whom  I  made  any  inquiry;  for  levery  house 
swarms  with  children,  who  are  set  to  work  as 
soon  as  they  are  able  to  spin  and  card,  and  as 
every  family  is  furnished  with  a  loom  the  itiner- 
ant weavers  who  travel  about  the  country  put 
the  finishing  'hand  to  the  work." 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century 
tanning  came  into  vogue,  but  the  product,  as 
leather,  was  very  inferior.  About  1715  beaver 
fur  was  used  in  hat  making — an  industry  which 
became  so  important,  being  carried  on  in  shops 
in  many  of  the  villages  in  the  county,  that  Par- 
liament enacted  a  law  forbidding  the  exportation 
of  hats.  In  171 5  was  also  begun  the  manufacture 
of  linseed  oil.  Shortly  before  the  revolution,  pa- 
per mills  were  established,  and  in  1791  the  first 


162 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


newspaper  in  the  county  was  printed — the  "Long 
Island  Herald/'  at  Sag  Harbor,  May  loth,  by 
David  Frothingham. 

After  the  Revolutionary  war^  the  county  was 
visited  by  General  Washington,  then  President, 
and  it  is  pleasant  to  record  the  notes  which  "he 
made  in  his  diary  concerning  it : 

''April  21,  1790 — We  dined  at  Captain  Zebu- 
Ion  Ketchani's,  Huntington  South,  which  had 
been  a  public  house,  but  now  a  private  one; 
that  is,  receives  pay  for  what  is  furnished.  This 
house  was  about  14  tmiles  from  South  Hemp- 
stead, and  ,a  very  neat  and  decent  one.  After 
dinner  'we  proceeded  to  a  'Squire  Thompson's, 
such  a  house  as  the  last ;  that  is,  one  that  is  not 
public,  but  will  receive  pay  for  everything  it 
furnishes  in  the  same  manner  as  if  it  was.  The 
road  on  which  I  passed  to-day  and  the  country 
here  is  more  mixed  with  sand  than  yesterday, 
and  the  soil  {is  \oi  inferior  quality;  yet  with 
manure,  which  all  the  corn  ground  receives,  the 
land  yields  on  an  average  30  bushels  tO'  the 
acre,  often  more.  Of  wheat  they  do  not  grow 
much  on  account  of  the  fly,  but  the  crops  of  rye 
are  good. 

"April  22. — About  8  o'clock  we  left  Mr. 
Thompson's,  halted  awhile  at  one  Green's,  dis- 
tance II  miles,  and  dined  at  Hart's  tavern,  in 
Brookhaven  township,  five  miles  farther.  To 
this  place  ,we  traveled  on  what  is  called  the  South 
road,  but  the  country  through  which  it  passed 
grew  more  and  more  sandy  and  barren  as  we 
traveled  eastward,  so  as  to  become  very  poor  in- 
deed ;  a  few  miles  further  eastward  the  land  took 
a  different  complexion,  as  were  informed.  From 
Hart's  we  struck  across  the  island  for  the  north 
iside,  passing  the  east  end  of  bushy  plains  and 
Coram,  8  miles ;  thence  to  -Setauket,  seven  miles 
more  to  the  house  of  Captain  Roe,  which  is  tol- 
erably decent,  with  obhging  people  in  it.  The 
first  five  miles  of  the  road  is  too  poor  to  -admit 
inhabitants  or  cultivation,  being  a  low,  scrubby 
oak,  not  more  than  two  feet  high,  intermixed 
with  small  and  ill-thriving  pines.  Witliin  two 
miles  of  Coram  there  are  farms,  but  the  land  is 
of  indifferent  qualii"  miuch  mixed  with  'sand. 
Coram  contains  but  few  houses.  From  thence  to 
Setauket  the  soil  improves,  especially  as  you  ap- 
proach the  sound,  but  it  is  far  from  being  of  the 
first  quality,  still  a  good  deal  being  mixed  with 
sand.  The  road  across  from  the  south  to  the 
north  side  is  level  except  a  small  part  south  of 
Coram,  but  the  hills  are  trifling." 


The  first  churches  were  independent,  and 
congregational  in  government,  Presbyterian- 
ism  obtained  a  substantial  foothold  within  the 
first  half  century  of  the  settlement  of  the  county. 
The  Presb3^tery  of  Long  Island  was  organized 
at  Southampton,  April  17,  1717,  and  belonged 
to  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia.  As  the  denomina- 
tion grew,  there  came  necessity  for  another 
Presbytery,  that  of  Suffolk,  which  was  formed 
April  9,  1747.  A  reorganization  was  effected  in 
October,  i/Qo,  under  the  title  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Long  Island,  and  this  name  has  been  pre- 
served, although  the  territorial  limits  have  been 
changed  from  time  to  time. 

While  the  earliest  churches  were  congrega- 
tional in  form,  those  belonging  to  the  denomina- 
tion known  by  that  name  came  far  later.  In 
1791,  at  Riverhead,  was  organized  the  strict  Con- 
gregational Convention  of  Long  Island,  which 
comprised  a  few  churches.,  principally  within  the 
county.  This  body  was  dissolved  in  April,  1845, 
and,  in  time,  other  Congregational  Associations 
were  form.ed. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  its  be- 
ginning shortly  before  the  Revolutionary  war 
period.  It  made  rapid  growth,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  numbers  a  larger  membership  and  more 
church  edifices  in  the  county  than  does  any  other 
denomination. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  had  its 
founding  about  1730,  and  was  of  slow  growth. 
In  1704  a  communicant  complained  that  "in  Suf- 
folk county,  in  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  there 
is  neither  a  Church  of  England  minister  nor  any 
provision  made  for  one  by  law,  the  people  gen- 
erally being  Independents,  and  upheld  in  their 
separation  by  the  New  England  emissaries." 

The  Baptist  Church  was  established  some- 
what later  than  was  the  Church  of  England,  and 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church  came  long  afterward, 
about  1837. 

Religious  influences  have  been  at  various 
times  greatly  strengthened  by  the  aid  of  organi- 
zations having  for  their  purpose  moral  advance- 
ment and  primary  religious  instruction.  Short- 
ly before  the  Civil  war,  the  Suffolk  County  Sab- 
bath  School   Association  was   oragnized,  and  it 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


163 


performed  a  useful  work  for  many  years.  Dur- 
ing a  large  part  of  its  early  period  a  journal  was 
published,  the  "Suffolk  County  Sabbath  School 
Journal,"  under  the  management  of  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Association.  In  this  connection  it  is 
of  interest  to  note  that  Mrs.  Phoebe^  Wickham, 
a  sister  of  John  Ledyard,  the  famous  traveler, 
at  her  home  near  Mattituck,  established  the 
first  Sunday  school  in  Suffolk  county,  in  1793, 
only  eleven  years  after  such  schools  were  opened 


Of  course  education  had  its  beginning  in  such 
primitive  schools  as  have  been  previously  de- 
scribed in  this  work.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
last  century  the  towns  were  divided  into  school 
districts.  The  educational  system'  was  in  its 
crude  state,  but  fhere  were  earnest  and  capable 
men  who  put  it  in  a  constant  condition  of  pro- 
gression. In  1830  was  organized  the  Teachers' 
Association  of  the  Town  of  Islip,  with  Amos 
Doxsee,    Henry    Brewster,    Wil'Iianii    Brewster^ 


OLD    CHURCH. 


in  London,  England,  by  Robert  Raikes,  known 
the  world  over  as  the  "Father  of  the  Sunday 
school." 

The  Suffolk  County  Bible  Society  was  organ- 
ized October  3,  1815,  with  the  Rev.  Zachariah 
Green  as  president.  For  many  years  it  accom- 
plished much  good  in  supplying  the  Scriptures 
to  destitute  families  before  the  era  of  extrava- 
gantly cheap  printing,  and  in  securing  means 
wherewith  to  supply  missionaries  in  foreign 
lands.  Later  it  was  merged  into  the  Long  Isl- 
and Bible  Society,  which  is  elsewhere  mentioned. 
The  Suffolk  County  Temperance  Society  was  or- 
ganized in  1850,  and  exerted  a  salutary  influence 
for  very  many  years. 


Henry  Doxsee  and  Jonas  Jarvis  as  its  moving 
spirits,  and  it  performed  a  useful  work  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1842  Samuel  A.  Smith,  who  was 
then  county  superintendent  of  schools,  suggested 
the  organization  of  a  similar  body  at  Hunting- 
ton, and  it  held  profitable  monthly  meetings  dur- 
ing a  period  of  about  twelve  years.  Occasional 
me^etings  were  also  held  to  further  educational 
interests,  among  which  was  one  called  by  Selah 
B.  Strong,  at  South  Haven,  in  1837,  and  one 
held  in  1844,  ,at  Riverhead,  which  was  iad- 
dressed  by  some  of  the  foremost  men  of  the 
day. 

The  foundations  of  the  present  Teachers'  As- 
sociation were  laid  by  the  Suffolk  County  Teach- 


164 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


ers*  Association,  which  was  organized  at  River- 
head  in  June,  1852,  with  an  original  membership 
consisting  of  Jamies  H.  Tuthill,  H.  H.  Skinner, 
L.  IL  De  Loss  Crane,  B.  IHl  Saxton,  J.  Andrew 
Hallock,  'M.  D.  Loper,  A.  M.  Young,  S.  Orlando 
Lee,  G.  O.  Wells  and  W.  C.  Booth.  This  Asso- 
ciation at  first  met  iquarterly,  in  various  villages 
in  turn,  on  invitatiom  of  those  of  their  people 
interested  in  its  objects.  As  towns  developed  and 
schools  multiplied,  auxiliary    associations    were 


formed  in  various  portions  of  th'e  ^county,  while 
the  parent  organization  maintained  its  existenjce, 
and  covered  the  larger  field.  In  1842  the  <^ce 
of  county  superintendent  of  schools  was  created, 
and  from  that  day  the  cause  of  education  has 
shown  constant  progre'S'sion,  and!  the  schools  of 
Suffolk  county  to-day  stand  among  the  foremost 
in  efficiency,  personnel  bf  teachers  and  equip- 
ment. In  1900  the  public  school  statistics  for 
the  county  were  as  f  olloiw's : 


SUFFOLK   COUNTY  — FIRST   DISTRICT 


TOWNS  IN 
DISTRICT 

Districts 

with 
School 
House 

in 
County 

Teach- 
ers Em- 
ployed 
for  Legal 
Term 

Whole 
Number  of 
Children 
Attending 

School 

Aggregate 

Days' 
Attendance 

During 
School  Year 

Assessed 
Valuation 

of 
Districts 

Amount  of 

Public 

Money 

Received 

from  State 

Amount  of 

Money 
Raised  by 
Local  Tax 

Value  of 
School 
Houses 

and  Sites 

Volumes 

in 

School 

Libraries 

East  Hampton 

Riverhead 

Southold   

4 
15 
16 
22 

1 

13 
23 
38 
52 
4 

527 

878 
1.481 
2,098 

204 

65,029 

119.630 

207,818 

285,611 

27,636 

$  1,851,955 
3,329,034 
6,061,499 
8,093,475 
1,544,800 

$  1,237.14 

2.669.05 

4,682.17 

5.978.97 

474.91 

$  8,245.80 

9.615.48 

18.873.36 

29.077.79 
2.780.64 

$  18,250 

40,680 

51,100 

114,025 

8,500 

Southampton 

Shelter  Island. 

Total 

58 

130 

5.188 

705.724 

$20,831,268 

$15,042.24 

$68,592.07 

$332,555 

10,839 

SECOND    DISTRICT 


TOWNS  IN 
DISTRICT 

Districts 

with 
School 
House 

in 
County 

Teach- 
ers Em- 
ployed 
for  Legal 
Term 

Whole 
Number  of 
Children 
Attending 

School 

Aggregate 

Days' 
Attendance 

During 
School  Year 

Assessed 
Valuation 

of 
Districts 

Amount  of 

Public 

Money 

Received 

from  State 

Amount  of 

Money 
Raised  by 
Local  Tax 

Value  of 
School 
Houses 

and  Sites 

Volumes 

in 

School 

Libraries 

Babvlon    

7 
35 

18 
13 

7 

27 
74 
48 
58 
10 

1.254 
2,634 
1,832 
2.293 
232 

170.681 

333,846 
228,554 
319.625 

37,774 

$  2,239,722 
9.571.289 
5,328,011 
5,126,390 
1,295.267 

$  2,990.03 

38.559.28 

5.453.52 

6.425.99 

1,118.06 

$  20.920.17 

37.300.78 

25.178.57 

41.595.82 

4,325.25 

$  54,790 

96.172 

176,305 

130,100 

13,985 

Brookhaven  

Huntington 

Islip     

Smithtown 

Total 

80 

217 

8.248 

1,110,480 

$23,560,779 

$24,546.88 

$129,320.59 

$471,352 

^  20,584 

The  above  exhibit  as  to  the  school  libraries 
Speaks  volumes  for  the  usefulness  of  the  school's 
and  the  liberality  with  whidh  they  are  mainitained. 
Something,  also,  is  deserving  to  be  said  of  the 
o^bservance  of  Arbor  Day,  which  in  this  county 
is  entered  into  with  genuine  enthusiasm.  Its  in- 
fluence can  not  be  too  highly  estimated,  not  alone 
on  the  material  side,  in  educating  the  children  to 


the  value  of  the  grand  oM  trees  which  here  rise 
to  such  noble  proportions,  but  in  opening  their 
minds  to  the  beauties  of  nature.  Great  effort  has 
been  made  in  the  fourteen  years  during  which 
the  Arbor  Day  law  has  been  in  effect,  to  stimu- 
late the  children  to  a  hearty  participation  in  the 
exercises  of  the  occasion. 

Included  in  the  public  scho</l  establishment  of 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


165 


H 

'x^,... 

' ^?^W?^' &*'■■■     -'■•■J  ''Ak'  ■-  "         ■    '  .    ^aT-*'  ■-'■j-- " 

>|gaa»-   ■■Ijg  .■             ■  ^V*-.             ""*'■         '"^V." 

OLD  SCHOOL  BUILDING.  COLD  SPRING  HARBOR. 


NEW  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  COLD  SPRING  HARBOR. 


166 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Suffolk  county  are  two  schools  for  the  children 
of  the  few  remaining  Shinnecock  Indians — one 
at  Poospatuck  and  one  at  Shinnecock.  '  The  for- 
mer is  reported  as  progressing  satisfactorily 
with  good  attendance  and  reasonable  attention,  to 
study.  At  Shinnecock,  however,  the  conditions 
are  different,  and  the  teacher  reports  some  ob- 
stacles. The  teacher,  who  is  also  a  preacher, 
"will  do  better  when  'he  has  learned  the  ways  of 
the  pupils."  .But  the  'worst  trouble  is  the  golf 
players,  who  hire  the  boys  out  of  school  to  act 
as  caddies. 

A  splendid  adjunct  to  tbe  excellent  educa- 
tional institutions  of  the  county  is  found  in  the 
numerous  well  selected  and  liberally  maintained 
libraries,  which  are  accessible  to  students  as  well 
as  to  the  general  public.  These  are  as  follows : 
The  Hampton  Library,  at  Bridgehampton,  5,254 
volumes;  the  .Free  Library,  at  Eastham-ptoii, 
1,526  volumes ;  the  Association  Library,  at  IsHp, 
1,000;  the  Lloyd  Jones  Library,  at  Massapequa, 
1,050  volumes;  the  Public  Library,  at  Northville, 
62,7  volumes;  the  Circulating  Library,  at  Pat- 
chogue,  1500  volumes;  the  Free  Library,  at 
Riverhead,  800  volumes ;  the  Library  Association 
at  Sag  Harbor,  1,893  volumes;  the  Public  Li- 
brary, at  Sea  Cliff,  >i,o62  volumes;  the  Emma 
Clark  Library  at  Setauket,  2.304  volumes ;  the 
Rogers  Memorial  Library,  at  Southampton,  4,- 
000  volumes ;  the  Free  Library,  at  Westhampton, 
1,200  volumes;  and  the  Circulating  Library,  at 
Yaphank,  650  volumes.  In  addition  to  these 
public  school  libraries  are  maintained  in  the  prin- 
cipal towns. 

One  of  the  former  great  industries  of  Suffolk 
county,  whaling,  has  practically'  disappeared. 
Another,  shipbuilding,  presents  but  a  shadow 
of  its  formier  great  proportions,  although  many 
small  vessels  are  yet  run  off  the  stocks  up  the 
principal  harbors. 

Oystering  is  profitable  in  many  localities 
along  the  shore,  as  is  also  fishing.  In  and  near 
many  of  the  towns  are  various  manufactories  of 
the  smaller  kind — for  carriage  building,  harne'ss 
making,  brick  and  pottery  works,  and  the  like, 
which  are  a  source  of  considerable  revalue,  and 
do  not  materially  detract  from  the  beauty  of  the 


locality  or  from  its  desirability  for  residential 
purposes.  But  the  occupation  of  the  larger  por- 
tion of  the  population  is  farming,  dairying  and 
stock  breeding,  and  in  these  lines  the  Suffolk 
county  farmer  enjoys  a  high  distinction.  His  soil 
is  fertile,  his  animals  and  implements  are  of  the 
best,  and  his  products  are  unsurpassable  in  quan- 
tity and  quality,  while  his  immediate  surround- 
ings are  those  of  the  ideal  ■Country  farm  house. 
Largely  contributing  to  these  magnificent  re- 
sults has  been  that  really  excellent  body,  the  Suf- 
folk County  Agricultural  Society,  a  narrative  of 
which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Up  to  1872  Suffolk  county  was  divided  into 
nine  townships.  In  that  year  the  present  town  of 
Babylon  was  formed,  making  the  entire  number 
ten,  as  follows : 


Huntington. 
Babylon. 
Smithtown. 
Is  lip. 
Brookhaven. 


Riverhead. 

Southampton. 
Easthampton. 
Southold. 
Shelter  Island. 


Change  ever  begets  change^  and  where  a 
long-existing  order  of  things  is  once  broken,  al- 
most inevitably  follows  other  innovations,  or,  at 
least,  a  feeling  of  restlessness  which  provokes  at- 
tempt at  such.  And  so,  for  some  years,  there 
have  been  influential  men  who  have  sought  to 
dism'em.ber  the  ancient  co'unty,  and  make  of  it 
two.  The  advocates  of  this  plan  argue  that  the 
western  portion  of  the  county  is  too  remote  from 
the  shire  town,  Riverhead,  and  that  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  the  western  population,  in  order 
to  reach  the  county  seat,  are  obliged  to  make  long 
and  circuitous  journeys. 

The  advocates  'of  the  new  scheme  propose 
to  form  the  townships  of  Islip,  Babylon,  Smith- 
town,  Huntington  and  Brookhaven  intb  a  new 
county.  But,  in  all  probability,  it. will  be  a  long 
time  before  this  plan,  or  any  looking  to  division, 
is  consummated,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  the 
antagonisms  which  will  arise  between  rival  vil- 
lages seeking  the  honor  of  being  made  the  coun- 
ty seat.  But,  som.e  day,  when  the  population  be- 
comes more  dense,  there  will  undbubtedly  be  a 
division. 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


167 


The  courts  •of  Suffolk  county  were  held  in 
Southold  (with  an  occasional  term  in  Southamp- 
ton) umtil  T729,  when  Riverhead  was  made  and 
yet  continues  to  be  the  seat  of  justice.  In  1728 
a  court  house  was  there  erected,  in  the  center  of 
the  business  portion  of  the  town.  In  1854-5  a 
new  edifice  was  erected  in  what  was  then  the 
northwestern  suburb  of  the  village,  at  a  cost 
of  $17,800.  The  building  stands  upon  a  stone 
basement  and  is  of  brick,  two  stories  in  height. 
It  is  said  that  on  one  occasion  Chancellor  Kent 
came  to  hold  a  term-  of  oyer  and  terminer,  but  he 
found  neither  lawyers  or  prisoners,  and  he  de- 
parted without  bearing  a  single  case.  An  old 
jail,  dating  back  to  almost  time  immemorial,  af- 
ter being  condemned  annually  by  the  grand  jury 
for  many  years,  was  replaced  in  1881  by  a  sub- 
stantial octagonal  stone  structure. 

Until  1870  each  town  cared  for  its  own  poor 
— so  far  as  they  were  cared  for  — for  in  absence 
of  a  system  there  were  many  abuses,  not  the  least 
of  which  was  the  "farming  out"  of  the  homeless 
to  such  as  would  maintain  thetti  at  least  expense 
to  the  county.  But  in  the  year  designated,  a  coun- 
ty farm'  was  agreed  upon,  and  one  suitable,  at 
Yaphank,  was  purchased,  upon  which  buildings 
were  erected  at  a  total  outlay  of  almost  $70,000. 
Additional  buildings  were  subsequently  erected 
as  necessity  demanded.  This  property  is  official- 
ly known  as  the  Suffolk  County  Almshouse  and 
Children's  Home.  In  a  recent  year  the  alms- 
house report  showed  that  157  pers'ons  were  cared 
for — chargeable  to  Huntington,  17;  Babylon, 
14;  Isliip,  19;  Smithtown,  9;  Brookhaven,  20; 
Riverhead,  10;  Southampton,  13;  Easthampton, 
4;  Southold,  9;  Shelter  Island,  3;  boarders,  5; 
Suffolk  county,  34.  The  report  of  the  Children's 
Home  showed  the  receipts  for  the  year  to  have 
been  $5,039.06,  with  expenditures  amounting  to 
$6,572.41.  The  cost  of  food  and  clothing  was 
$2,682.32.  The  number  of  children  remaining 
in  the  home  was  49 ;  received  during  the  year,  56 ; 
discharged,  68;  remaining  September  30,  1899, 
37.  Chargeable  to  Huntington,  4;  Is'lip,  4;  Baby- 
lon, I;  Smithtown,  i;  Brookhaven,  11;  River- 
head  ,  I ;  Southampton,  i ;  Easthampton,  2 ; 
Southold,  5. 


Among  the  other  charitable  institutions  are, 
at  Amityville,  the  Long  Island  Home  for  the 
Insane,  founded  in  1881,  and  the  Louden  Hall 
for  Aged,  Decrepit  and  Mentally  Enfeebled;  at 
Central  Is'lip,  the  Manhattan  State  Hospital, 
with  its  splendid  buildings  affording  accommo- 
dations for  1,500  inmates;  and  at  King's  Park, 
the  Long  Island  State  Hospital. 

In  addition  to  these  is  to  be  noted  the  hbmes 
maintained  by  the  Society  of  St.  Johnland,  at 
King's  Park.  There  is  no  more  useful  or  more 
truly  charitable  work  carried  on  anywhere  than 
in  these  institutions,  where  aged  men  are  en- 
abled to  await  the  close  of  life's  generally  disas- 
trous and  poverty-stricken  journey  in  comfort 
and  peace,  and  where  children  are  received, 
clothed,  fed  and  educated  in  a  manner  calculated 
to  develop  them  into  'strong,  active  and  intelligent 
citizens  whose  labors  in  years  to  come  will  add 
to  the  general  welfare  of  whatever  section  where 
their  lots  may  be  cast.  During  the  year  ending 
December  i,  1901,  the  Society  had  miaintained 
in  these  institutions  51  aged  men,  83  boys  and 
60  girls',  at  a  per  cajpita  cost  of  about  $175,  and 
had  received  legacies  during  the  s'ame  period 
amounting  to  $27,761,  which  had  been  added  to 
its  general  fund — the  fund  which  insures  the 
permanence  of  the  work.  Truly  in  this  case  the 
perpetual  power  of  good  is  clearly  illustrated. 
Dr.  Miihlenburg,  the  founder  of  the  institution, 
has  long  rested  from  his  labors,  leaving  behind 
a  sainted  memory,  y^t  his  example  and  his  work 
still  bring  forth  good  fruit  and  daily  render 
grand  service  to  the  cause  of  humanity — ^the 
cause  of  'Christianity.  At  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Society  of  St.  Johnland  held  in  the  clos- 
ing week  of  'I901,  the  following  officers  were 
elected : 

Tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  Mottet,  President;  Will- 
iam Alexander  Smith,  Vice-President;  Dr.  Fred- 
erick D.  Hyde,  Secretary;  'Francis  M.  Bacon, 
Treasurer.  Trustees — W.  Alexander  Smith, 
Bishop  Htenry  C.  Potter,  A.  W.  Hard,  George 
Blagden,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mottet,  John  A.  McKim, 
Joseph"  Park,  J.  H.  Hewson,  James  McLean,  F. 
M.  Bacon,  Theodore  Thomas,  Roswell  Eldridge, 
Dr.  F.  E.  Hyde,  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  M.  Grosvenor, 
John  H.  Cole,  George  E.  Chisholm,  John  Seely 


168 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


Ward,  Jr.,  the  Rev.  Jannes  E.  Freeman,  Avery 
D.  Andrews,  Alfred  G.  Vanderbilt,  S.  Nicholson 
Kane,  William  N.  Wilmer,  James  K.  Gracie,  and 
William  G.  Davies.  Superintendent — Rev.  N. 
C.  Halsted. 

At  King's  Park  is  located  the  splendidly 
equipped  Long  Island  State  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane, occupying  property  valued  at  $3,700,000. 
In  T901  the  inmates  numbered  2,783.  The  cost 
of  maintenance  was  $464,329,  and  $180,609  was 
expended  for  improvements. 

It  is  estimated  that  in  1650  the  population  of 
Suffolk  county  was  500,  one-fifth  of  the  total  ac- 
credited to  the  [province  of  New  York.  In  1731 
the&e  figures  had  increased  to  7,675  for  the 
county  (including  715  Indians)  ,and  50,289  in 
the  province.  In  1771  the  county  numbered 
13,128  people,  but  the  number  in  the  province  had 
increased  to  168,007.  ^^  ^79^  the  population  of 
Suffolk  county  was  16,640,  and  it  had  very  near- 
ly doubled  in  1840,  when  it  was  32,469.  In  1875 
the  population  was  51,873,  of  which  but  little 
more  than  eleven  per  cent,  were  of  foreign  birth^ 
and  fully  seventy-one  per  cent,  were  born  within 
the  county.  In  1 900  the  population  had  in- 
creased to  77,582,  of  which  nearly  twenty  per 
cent,  (t^-1,757)  were  of  foreign  birth. 

In  1903  the  civil  list  of  Suffdlk  county  was 
as  follows  :* 

State  Senator,  Edwin  Bailey,  Jr. ;  Assembly- 
men, Willis  A.  Reeve,  Orlando'  Hubbs ;  County 
Judge,  Walter  H.  Jaycox;  Sheriff,  Henry  How- 
ard 'Preston ;  County  Clerk,  Sollomon  Ketcham ; 
Supervisor,  William  R.  Fanning ;  pCounty  Treas- 
urer, Henry  S.  Brush ;  District  Attorney,  Living- 
ston Smith;  Superintendent  of  Poor,  John  J. 
Kirkpatrick ;  School  Commissioners,  Charles  H. 
Howell,  Millard  H.  Packer. 

Suffolk  county  is  in  the  First  Congressional 
District,  and  is  represented  by  Hon.  Townsend 
Scudder,  elected  in  1902  to  succeed'  Hon.  Fred- 
erick Stone. 

Early  in  this  work,  brief  quotations  were 
made  from  a  paper  of  real  historical  value — 
"Fifty  Years  of  Suffolk  County,"  read  in  Febru- 
ary,  1900,  at  Riverhead,  at  the  annual  meeting 


of  the  Suffolk  County  Historical  Society,  by  the 
Pev.  Epher  Whittaker,  of  that  body.  Some  fur- 
ther quotations  from  this  excellent  paper  will 
better  serve  the  readers  of  these  pages  than  would 
aught  else,  and  we  quote  freely,  by  permission  of 
the  talented  author: 

Men  are  greatly  affected  by  the  climate  in 
which  they  live.  ^It  may  be  cold,  hot,  dry,  moist, 
rare  or  dense.  In  many  places,  as  in  our  own 
county,  the  climate  depends  more  or  less  upon 
the  presence  or  absence  of  forests.  In  many 
parts  of  our  county  the  half  century  has  seen 
forest  land  converted  into  fruitful  fields.  But 
this  advantage  has  produced  no'  want  of  balance 
in  our  healthful  climate.  Tens  of  thousands  of 
trees  for  (fruit,  shade  and  beauty,  with  shrubs 
and  vines  for  ornament  and  use,  have  well  sup- 
plied the  absence  of  comm.on  trees.  Villages  that 
fifty  years  ago  were  in,  the  summer  season  scorch- 
ing in  the  glowing  sun  now  resemible  pleasant 
parks  adorned  with  good  trees  of  resplendent 
variety  and  attractiveness.  The  desert  has  be- 
come paradise.  Furthermore,  many  of  these 
well-adorned  vil'lages  have  doubled  their  size 
since  1850.  The  people  of  the  county  have 
changed  far  more  than  the  soil  they  occupy  or 
the  healthful  and  genial  air  which  they  breathe. 

For  two  hundred  years  young  people  had 
swarmed  from  the  teeming  hive.  Few  persons 
from  abroad  had  made  their  homes  within  its 
bounds.  Now  and  then  a  young  man,  who,  for 
trade  or  toil,  had  gone  forth  and  foimd  the  treas.- 
ure  of  his  life  elsewhere,  returned  v^ith  his  bridie. 
But  cases  of  this  kind  were  rare.  For  Suffolk 
county  girls  were  then,  as  they  are  now,  good 
enough  for  any  man.  When  this  uncommonness 
of  our  condition  terminated,  the  population  of 
our  county  was  about  37,000.  In  these  fifty  years 
!t  has  nearly  doubled  its  resident  citizens.  Dur- 
ing the  summer,  including  visitors  and  cottages, 
it  is  above  100,000. 

The  rate  of  increase  in  wea'lth  has  been  far 
greater  than  in  population.  An  indication  of 
this  fact  is  seen  in  the  establishment  of  banks. 
The  county,  it  is  supposed,  had  no  bank  in  it  fifty 
years  ago.  It  certainly  had  no  savings  bank. 
It  now  has  two  national  banks  in  Greenport,  one 
in^  Sag  Harbor,  one  in  Southampton,  one  in 
Riverhead,  one  in  Patchogue,  one  in  Babylon, 
one  m  Port  Jefiferson,  and  one  or  more  elsewhere. 
There  is  a  private  bank  in  Easthamipton,  one  in^ 
Sag  Harbor,  one  in  Riverhead,  and  others,  it 
may  be,  in  different  places. 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


169 


The  Southold  Savings  Bank  was  organized 
in  1858.  This  'has  been  followed  by  the  organ- 
ization of  those  of  Riverhead,  Sag  'HJarbor  and 
Patchogue.  These  savings  banks  now  'have  six 
millions  of  dollars  deposited  in  them.  It  is  believed 
that  the  Suffolk  county  depositors  in  savings 
banks  equal  in  number  one-tenth  of  its  whole 
population,  as  many  as  balf  the  men  'who  voted 
last  3^ear  at  the  eliection  for  county  officers. 
Furthermore,  our  citizens  have  millions  of  dol- 
lars invested  in  life  insurance.  It  is  needless  to 
conjecture  how  many  millions  they  have  in 
Government  bonds  and  in  other  bonds  and  stocks. 

The'  coasting  trade  and  the  fisheries  contin- 
ued to  be  available ;  and  our  vessel-builders  made 
the   best   of   these    important   and    valuable   re- 


OLD  FARM  HOUSE. 

mainders.  In  the  'harbors  along  ihe  'Sound,  and 
at  Greenport  and  other  places,  the  enterprise  of 
our  shipwrights — no  other  workers  are  more  en- 
terprising than  they — rose  to  t!he  height  of  the 
demand  miade  upon  their  genius  and  diligence. 

But  unhappily  they  had  in  those  days  to  fig^ht 
another  battle,  which  soon  became  a  somewhat 
unequal  contest.  It  was  the  defensive  battle  of 
the  wind  against  the  invading  power  of  steam. 
It  was  essentially  the  same  kind  of  a  combat 
which  steam  is  now  compelled  to  wage  against 
the  encroaching  power  of  magnetism.  It  is  said 
that  when  Edison  crossed  the  ocean  he  could  not 
sleep  during  the  voyage.  This  was  not  due  to 
the  ceaseless  tossing  of  the  s(hip  whicb  conveyed 
him,  but  to  his  inability  to  see  how  he  could  har- 


ness the  forces  of  the  waves — old  Neptune's 
steeds — and  make  them  work  rfor  mlan  under  hu- 
man control  and  direction  on  the  land.  Well,  he 
ned  not  be  too  much  cast  down;  for  doubtless 
the  whole  globe  is  a  magnet,  and  Edison,  Bell 
and  Marconi  and  others  are  following  Henry 
and  Morse  and  showing  how  it  can  be  put  into 
harness  on  both  land  and  sea. 

The  Hon.  Lewis  A.  Edward's,  of  Orient,  one 
of  our  society's  in  memoriam  members,  was  a 
man  whose  s'oul  was  com'mensurate  with  the 
stateliness  of  his  physical  frame  and  with  the  dig- 
nity and  winsomeness  of  his  bearing  and  m'an- 
ners.  Not  a  small  part  of  bis  well-earned  and 
comfortable  fortune  was  at  one  time  invested  in 
sailing  vessels.  I  remember  distinctly  how  he 
said  to  me:  "I  formerly  believed  that  steam 
would  never  master  wind  upon  the 
high  and  open  sea  for  the  convey- 
ance of  freight.  I  believed  that  the 
inexpensiveness  of  the  one  would  be 
more  than  a  match  for  the  greater 
constancy  and  certainty  of  the  other. 
But. I  have  changed  my  mind.  The 
last  two  years  have  decided  the  bat- 
tle, and  the  steamers  have  won  the 
victory."  That  was  perhaps  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  and  'Our  Suffolk 
county  shipwrights  were  building 
sailing  vessels. 

Furthermore,  this  was  not  the 
only  battle  fought  and  lost  which 
affected  the  shipbuilders  of  the  coun- 
ty. 'Another  contest  was  that  of  iron 
and  steel  against  wood,  and  the 
triumph  of  the  former,  while  our 
shipwrights  were  generally  workers 
in  wood.  To  maintain  their  business 
and  make  it  profitable  they  had  to 
unite  in  themselves  the  daring  of 
the  mariner,  the  courage  of  the  soldier,  the 
venturesomeness  of  the  merchant  and  the 
genius  and  skill  of  the  engineer.  One  fact 
shows  their  eminent  ability ;  they  have  at 
no  time  ceased  to  build  seafaring  vessels — crafts 
of  nearly  every  kind,  rowboats,  fishing  smacks, 
pleasure  yachts,  scollopers,  sloops,  schooners, 
barks,  brigs.  The  trader  has  given  employment 
to  hundreds  of  men;  and  they  have  matched  in 
the  excellence  of  the  fruits  of  their  toil  that  of 
the  worthy  architects,  builders  and  mechanics 
who  have  erected  houses,  barns,  mills,  bridges 
and  other  structures  whiA  ihave  'within  the  last 
fifty  years  utterly  changed  the  face  of  the  county 
for  the  better  so  far  as  this  can  -depend  on  the 
work  of  men's  hands.     For  the  period  in  review 


170 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


has  made  nearly  all  things  new  in  the  villages 
not  only,  but  also  on  the  farms.  Advance  and 
improvement  in  size  style  and  surroundings  are 
seen  everywhere.  Increase  in  wealth  has  made  the 
delightful  change  not  more  than  the  growth  and 
progress  of  intelligence  and  the  elevation  and  re- 
finement of  taste.  •       ) 

The  builders  of  houses  have  perhaps  made 
no  more  remarkable  advancement  tlhan  men  in 
other  employments  'have  manifested.  In.  every 
department  of  mechanic  arts  are  seen  the  grati- 
fying improvements  of  the  half-century. 

In  other  directions  may  be  seen  noteworthy 
changes  in  the  employments  and  conditions  of 
our  industrious  and  thrifty  fellow  citizens. 

Within  the  last  decades  many  poultry  farms 
have  been  established.  From  some  of  these  sev- 
erally three  or  four  thousand  ducks  are  sent  to 
market  every  year.  Others  yield  one  or  two 
thousand  each.  Changes  for  the  better  in  the 
incubators  and  other  apparatus  as  well  a&  in  the 
buildings,  and  the  business  generally,  have  been 
made  and  continue. 

The  schools  of  the  county  have  become  less 
numerous  than  formerly,  and  have  lost  in  some 
measure  their  individual  traits  of  character.  They 
have  generally  approximated  an  uninteresting 
and  typical  sameness  of  manner  and  quality. 

The  public  schools  having  become  a  part  of 
the  machinery  of  the  political  parties,  with  ex- 
treme power  of  taxation,  and  millions  of  money 
m  the  hands  oif  a  few  central  operators,  to  be 
used  for  their  purposes  every  year,  these  schools 
have  a  character  distinctly  unlike  those  of  earlier 
days.  They  have  been  effective  in  gradually  clos- 
ing the  academies  that  were  formerly  sources  of 
intellectual  life  in  tihe  several  villages  of  East- 
hampton^  Remsenberg,  Bellport,  Southampton, 
Franklinville,  Riverhead,  Miller's  Place  and  else- 
where. 

These  academies  were  generally  taught  by 
able  and  ambitious  young  men  of  liberail  educa- 
tion, whose  instruction,  impulse,  example  and  in- 
spiration animated  and  impelled  their  bright  pu- 
pils to  aim  at  excellence  and  noble  ends.  These 
teachers  sometimes  entered  upon  othe'r  pursuits 
and  won  eminence,  distinction  and  honor  in 
walks  of  professional  usefulness.  Thus  they  led 
onward  an  attractive  and  aspiring  procession  of 
worthy  followers.    Their  day  is  past. 

The  schools  of  the  county  are  now  far  less 
individually  distinctive  and  far  more  mechanical. 
They  work  with  magnetic  energy  to  bring  all 
their  pupils  to  the  same  level  in  their  respective 
classes.  All  the  public  schools  were  made  free 
about  thirty  years  ago.    'More  recently  the  attend- 


ance at  schools  of  children  within  certain  ages 
has  been  made  compulsory,  and  by  these  means 
the  likelihood  of  deplorable  illiteraicy  has  been  di- 
minished. 

The  churches  within  the  past  half  century 
have  more  than  doubled  in  number,  and  increased 
more  rapidly  than  the  whole  population  of  the 
county.  This  is  not  twice  as  numerous  as  it  was 
fifty  years  ago.  These  churches  combined  are 
now  served  by  as  mlany  as  140  clergym'cn.  The 
full  pastoral  service  of  a  minister  does  not  prob- 
ably exceed,  on  the  average,  twenty  years.  To 
maintain  the  supply  requires  an  accession  of  seven 
each  year.  At  this  rate  three  hundred  and  more 
come  and,  go  in  half  a  century.  Doubtless,  200 
have  passed  away  since  1850. 

Jn  the  various  towns  of  the  county,  from  their 
origin,  250  years  ago,  there  has  always  been  a 
Christian  ministry  of  high  character  in  morals 
and  religion,  of  eminent  ability,  and  of' liberal 
education.  There  has  been'  no  lowering  of  the 
standard  during  the  period  under  review. 

Among  those  who  have  passed  away  in  this 
period  may  be  mentioned:  Baptist — Charles  J. 
Hopkins,  Alvin  Ackley.  Congregational — 
Charles  J.  Kno'wles,  Henry  T.  Cheever,  Christo- 
pher Youngs,  Thomas  N.  Benedict,  Charles 
Hoover,  Aaron  Snow,  Henry  Woodruff,  Eusebius 
Hale.  Methodist  Episcopal — Thomas  G.  Os- 
born,  Seymour  Landon,  Marvin  R.  Lent,  George 
W.  Woodruff,  Edward  Warriner,  George  Hollis, 
Stephen  Rushmore,  Samuel  A.  Seaman.  Presby- 
terian— Enoch  C.  Wines,  Ed-ward  Hopper,  Hugh 
N.  Wilson,  William  B.  Reeve,  M.  D.,  Augustus 
T.  Dobson,  William  H.  Cooper,  Daniel  N.  Lord, 
Carson  W.  Adams,  Daniel  Beers,  James  T.  Ham- 
lin, Phineas  Robinson,  Abraham.  Luce,  George 
F.  Wiswell,  Zachariah  Green,  Ezra  King,  James 
S.  Evans,  James  McDougalL  Protestant  Episco- 
pal—D.  V.  M.  Johnson,  J.  M',  Noll.  Roman 
Catholic— John  McKenna.  Universalist— Dr. 
Emerson. 

The  flood  of  years  has  borne  away  from  the 
legal  profession  some  of  the  ablest  judges,  coun- 
sellors and  advocates  of  justice  who  have  at  any 
time  given  dignity  and  worth  to  the  judicial  office 
of  the  county. 

Selah  B.  Strong  was  a  judge  who  had  few 
peers  in  the  highest  court  of  the  Empire  State- 
upright,  imjpartial,  recondite,  diligent,  consider- 
ate, and  pure  and  -spotless  as  the  snowy  ermine, 
the  precious  emblem  of  his  proud  and  conspicu- 
ous office. 

^  Worthy  to  be  associated  with  him  were  the 
judges  of  our  county  who  have  passed  away 
within  the  period  in  band :    Hugh  Halsey,  Abra- 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


171 


ham  T.  Rose,  William  P.  Buffet,  George  Miller, 
J.  Lawrence  Smith.  The  successors  of  these 
men  are  their  peers.  There  has  been  no  abate- 
ment of  the  lofty  judicial  standard. 

The  surrogates,  James  H.  Tuthill  and  others, 
when  not  the  same  as  the  judges  of  the  county, 
have  not  been  inferior  to  them  in  legal  knowl- 
edge, elevation  of  character  and  soundness  of 
judgment.  Their  decisions  have  not  been  often 
contested — rareiy  overruled  by  higher  courts. 

Of  the  clerks  of  the  county,  George  S.  Phil- 
lip, Samuel  A.  Smith,  Joseph  Wickham  Case, 
like  the  judges  of  the  county  who  have  died  with- 
in the  'half  century,  have  been  known  tO'  me. 
What  a  splendid  list  of  courteous  and  capable 
gentlemen  they  'and  their  successors  present  to 
grace  the  annals  of  our  county  for  the  last  fifty 


years 


It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  be  free  from 
all  unpleasant  grips  of  the  sheriffs  of  oid  Suf- 
folk. But  I  have  been  the  guest  of  these  faith- 
ful and  courageous  officers  who  have  joined  the 
great  majority,  namely:  Richard  W.  Smith, 
Silas  Horton,  John  Clark,  Samuel  Phillips,  John 
Shirley. 

The  attorneys  and  counsellors  who  have  been 
officers  of  the  courts  of  the  county  include  a 
goodly  array  of  legal  gentlemen,  eminent  for 
honor,  learning  and  eloquence.  One  calls  to 
mind  among  the  departed,  Samuel  S.  Gardiner, 
SelaJh  B.  Strong,  William  H.  Gleason,  James  H. 


Tuthill,  Abraham  T.  Rose,  J.  Lawrence  Smith, 
Henry  J.  Scudder,  Everett  A.  Carpenter  and 
others. 

Among  the  physicians  and  surgeons  who  have 
adorned  their  benevolent  profession  and  conferred 
priceless  benefits  upon  their  fellow  men  were 
Doctors  Ebenezer  Sage,  Frederick  W.  Lord, 
Henry  Cook,  Levi  D.  Wright,  Ezekiel  D.  Skin- 
ner, Franklin  Tuthill,  Abraham  B.  Luce,  Rich- 
ard H.  Benjamin,  John  E.  Hartranft,  James'  L 
Baker,  Nathaniel  Miller,  Abraham  G.  Thom^pfion, 
and  a  score  of  their  compeers. 

There  are  not  many  features  in  the  face  of 
the  county  where  its  life  has  made  a  more  charm- 
ing and  notable  change  than  in  its  live  stock. 
Herein  the  Suffolk  County  Agricultural  Society 
has  been  efficient,  and  among  die  chief  who  have 
made  this  improvement  may  be  named  Richard 
B.  Conklin,  the  breeder  of  Rarus;  Henry  L. 
Fleet,  the  owner  of  Black  Eagle ;  Carll  Burr,  Da- 
vid Carll  and  Edward  Dayton,  whose  oxen  in 
strength  and  beauty  were  admirable  types  of 
their  kind ;  and  when  the  did  Greek  poets,  the 
most  tasteful  and  artistic  of  mfankind,  wished  to 
put  the  finishing  touch  to  their  description  of 
the  Queen  of  Heaven,  they  called  her  ox-eyed. 

It  is  not  in  the  lower  forms^  of  life  only  that 
improvement  is  seen.  The  people  of  the  county 
have  advanced  to  a  higher  degree  of  intelligence, 
culture,  refinemient  and  manifold  traits  of  Chris- 
tian excellence. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


HUNTINGTON. 


HIS  township,  as  originally  constituted, 
extended  its  territory  and  authority  from 
Smithtown,  on  the  east,  to  Oyster  Bay 
on  the  west,  and  had  for  its  northern 
boundary  Long  Island  Sound,  and  for  its  south- 
ern boundiary  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  .giving  it  a 
length  of  twenty  miles  between  the  waters  and  a 
breadth  of  ten  miles.  In  the  period  of  boundary 
controversies,  by  act  of  the  colonial  legislature, 
October  i,  1691,  it  was  declared  to  be  a  part  of 
Queens  county,  and  it  became  attached  to  the 
town  of  Oyster  Bay.  It  was  subsequently  attach- 
ed to  the  territory  of  Huntington,  of  which  it  was 
always  a  part  geographically,  and  from  which  it 
should  never  have  been  'd'etached  politically. 

Huntington  Bay,  the  splendid  inlet  which  sep- 
arates Lloyd's  Neck  from  Eaton's  Neck,  early 
attracted  the  attention  of  adventurous  sailors. 
Adrian  Van  der  Donck  visted  it  in  1649,,  and  it 
was  particularly,  reported  upon  to  the  States  Gen- 
eral by  Secretary  Van  Tienhoven,  in  the  follow- 
ing, written  March  4,  1650: 

"This  bay  is  much  deeper  and  wider  than 
Oyster  Bay  and  runs  westward  in,  divides  into 
three  rivers,  two  of  which  are  navigable;  the 
smallest  stream  runs  up  in  front  of  the  Indian 
village  called  Martinne-houck,  where  they  have 
their  plantations.  This  tribe  is  not  strong,  and 
consists  of  about  30  families.  There  was  former- 
ly in  and  about  this  hay  great  numbers  of  Indian 
plantations,  which  now  lie  waste  and  vacant. 
This  land  is  mostly  level  and  of  good  quality, 
well  adapted  for  grain  and  all  'Sorts  of  cattle; 


on  the  rivers  are  numerous  valleys  of  sweet  and 
salt  meadows.  AH  sorts  of  fish  are  caught  there." 

The  Indian  name  of  the  region  was;  Ketewo- 
moke,  for  which  the  English  substituted  that  of 
Huntington,  which  some  writers  have  taken  to 
be  a  corruption  of  Huntingtown,  the  latter  be- 
ing significant  of  the  abundance  of  wild  game 
when  settlement  began.  On  the  other  hand,  it  has 
been  held  that  the  name  was  given  it  in  its  pres- 
ent form  after  that  of  the  home  of  Oliver  Crom- 
well, in  England,  whence  came  (presumiafbly) 
some  of  the  colonists. 

The  Indians  were  few  in  number,  and  gave 
little  trouble.  They  were  but  remnants,  in  lact, 
of  the  Matinecock,  Marsapeague  and  Seucatogue 
tribes,  and  the  advent  of  the  whiitc  man  com- 
pleted the  process  of  extinction  which  had  been 
begun  by  the  evil  fortunes  of  war  with  the  tribes 
on  the  mainland. 

As  ha's  been  shown  in  a  previous  chapter, 
the  settlement  of  Suffolk  county  was  made  by 
distinctively  English  colonists,  and  their  man- 
ners of  doing  were  somewhat  different  from  those 
which  were  in  vogue  farther  to  tlie  west- 
ward, where  the  Dutch  influence  was  thoroughly 
felt.  Just  when  and  where  the  first  settlements 
in  Huntington  were  made  is  not  altogether  clear. 
But  the  newcomers  were  careful  as  to  one  thing 
—they  made  their  first  dealings  with  the  Indians. 
Their  first  deed  was  from  Raseocon,  the  chief  of 
one  portion  of  the  Matineoock  tribe,  then  num- 


HUNTINGTON. 


173 


HUNTINGTON  VIEWS. 


174 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


bering  nearly  two  score  heads  of  families,  and 
was  as   fdlo'ws: 

Articles  of  agreement  betwixt  'Rasokan,  Sag- 
amore of  Mattinicoke,  of  the  one  part,  and  Rich- 
ard Houlbrock,  Robert  WilMams,  Danial  White- 
head, of  the  other  party,  witnesseth  as  followeth : 

Know  all  men  whom  these  present  writings 
may  in  any  way  concern  that  I  Raseokan  do  sell 
and  make  over  unto  the  aforesaid  parties — Rich- 
ard Houlbrock,  Robert  Williams  and  Danial 
Whitehead,  their  heirs,  executors  or  assigns- — a 
certain  quantity  of  land  lying  and  being  upon 
Long  Island,  bounded  upon  the  west  side  with 
a  river  commonly  called  by  the  Indians  Nacha- 
quetack,  and  the  North  side  with  the  sea^  and 
going  eastward  to  a  river  called  Opcatkontvcke, 
on  the  south  side  to  the  utmost  part  of  my  bounds ; 
promising  and  by  virtue  hereof  I  do  promise  to 
free  the  above  said  lands  from  all  title  ofiE  and 
claim  that  shall  be  made  unto  it  by  reason  of  any 
former  act ;  in  consideration  of  which  land  the 
aforesaid  Richard  Houlbrock,  Robert  William's 
and  Danial  Whitehead  doth  promise  unto  the  said 
Raseokan  as  followetli :  6  coats,  6  kettles,  6  hatch- 
ets, 6  howes,  6  shirts,  lo  knives,  6  fathoms  of 
wampum,  3  muxes,  30  needles.  Further  the  said 
sachem  doth  promise  to  go  or  send  some  one  in 
twenty  days  to  show  and, mark  out  the  bounds, 
and  in  case  it  prove  not  according  to  expecta- 
tion, then  this  writing  to  be  void  and  of  no  ef- 
fect ;.  but  in  case  it  be,  tben  this  writing  to  stand 
in  full  force,  power  and  virtue.  Witness  our 
hands  the  second  day  of  April  1653. 

His 

Richard  (R)  Houlbrock^ 

Mark. 

Robert   Williams, 
Danial  Whitehead. 
Raseokan,  Sagamore. 

The  above  described  tract  covered  an  area  of 
somewhat  more  than  six  miles  -square,  and  had 
for  its  boundaries  Long  Island  Sound  (not  in- 
cluding Eaton's  Neck,  nor,  as  was  afterward 
settled,  Lloyd's  Neck)  on  its  north,  the  head  of 
Northport  Harbor  on  the  east.  Cold  Spring  Har- 
bor on  the  west,  and  the  line  of  what  was  after- 
ward known  as  the  Old  'Country  Road  on  the 
south.  The  purchasers  of  this  tract  were  resi- 
dents of  Oyster  Bay,  and,  on  the  same  day  on 
which  they  made  their  purchase,  they  assigned 
it  in  its  entirety  to  the  people  of  Huntington. 

In  1656  Asharoken,  who  had  succeeded  to  the 
leadership  of  the  Matinecock  tribe,  with  his  as- 


sociate tribe  members,  made  deed  to  the  eastern 
portion  of  this  territory,  lying  between  the  stream 
at  the  'head  of  Northport  Harbor  and  Smithtown 
Harbor,  southward  to  the  great  plains,  and  north- 
ward to  the  sound,  including  Eaton's  Neck.  This 
deed  was  as  follows : 

This  indenture,  made  in  the  year  1656,  on  or 
about  the  last  day  of  July,  betwixt  Asharoken, 
Matinnioock  Sachem^,  and  the  rest  of  the  Indian 
owners  witb  him,  on  the  one  part,  and  Jonas 
Wood,  William  Roggrs,  Thomas  Wickes,  for 
themselves  and  the  rest  of  their  associates,  on 
the  other  part,  witnesseth  that  I  Asharoken  have 
sold  unto  Jonas  Wood,  William's  Roggrs,  Thom- 
as Wickes,  all  the  meadows,  fresih  and  salt,  lying 
and  being  upon  the  north  side  of  Long  Island 
from  our  former  bounds.  Cow  Harbor  brook,  to 
Neesaquocke  river ;  all  the  meadow  within  these 
bounds.  West  and  East,  and  to  the  North  side  to 
as  far  as  Asharoken's  bounds  goeth,  southward 
as  far  as  the  neck  called  Eaton's  Neck,  Crab 
meadows,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  meadows  within 
ihe  aforesaid  bounds ;  with  all  the  arbige  that  is 
or  shaH  be  hereafter  upon  the  iwood  lands  within 
the  aforesaid  bounds,  to  be  the  aforesaid  Jonas's, 
William/s  and  Thomas's,  to  them  and  their  asso- 
ciates, heirs  and  executors  forever;  reserving  to 
the  Indians  liberty  to  plant  and  hunt  within  these 
aforesaid  bounds ;  and  that  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  2  coats,  4  s'hirts,  7  qts.  licker,  11  oz,  pow- 
der, in  witness  hereof  we  have  sot  to  our  hands : 

Jonas  Wood. 
WiLiAM  Roggrs. 
Thomas  Wickes. 

Asharoken. 

Makamah. 

Syhar. 

FOGER. 

poynepya. 
Namerows. 

MOHEMOS. 

Mamarad. 
Manateorye. 

The  claim-  of  the  above  named  grantees,  so 
far  as  it  relates  to  Eaton's  Neck  and  ad'jacent 
territory,  was  'subsequently  resisted  by  those  who 
claimed  under  Theophilus  Eaton,  former  gov- 
ernor of  the  New  Haven  colony,  who  held  title 
under  a  claimed  gift  made  to  him  by  the  Chief 
Kaseocon,  in  1646,  long  prior  to  these  transac- 
tions.   And  notwithstanding  the  clearness  of  de- 


HUNTINGTON. 


175 


scription  in  the  deed  made  to  Jonas  Wood  and  his 
associates  by  Asharoken  and  his  tribal  brethren, 
the  Eaton  Neck  claim  of  Eaton  was  held  good 
(the  ''adjoining  territory  excluded")  and  the 
property  ran  from  him  direct  to  the  present  own- 
ers, 

The  Indian  title  was  now  in  course  of  rapid 
extinguishment  and  among  the  records  of  the 
times  are  the  following :  i 

Jonas  Wood  of  Huntington  for  himself  and 
his  neighbors  of  Huntington  bought  five  necks 
of  meadow  lying  next  adjoining  to  Messapeagus 
Sachems  land,  and  agreed  to  pay  to  the  Sachem  of 
Meantauhett  .12  coats,  20  hoes,  20  'hatchets,  20 
knives,  10  pounds  of  powder,  10  pounds  of  lead 
and  I  great  kettle  and  i  hatt.  The  Sachem 
Wyandance    agrees  to  the  same.     June  i,  1657. 

Kecoseacock,  Sachem  of  Secowtoke,  reisigns 
all  claim  to  the  same. 

Wyandance,  Sachem  of  Pawmmacke,  or  by 
ye  English  called  Long  Is'land,  sells  to  Henry 
Whitnee  of  Huntington  (August  17,  1658)  for 
the  use  of  the  whole  town  of  Huntington,  three 
whole  necks  of  meadow  lying  on  the  southward 
side  of  their  towne,  and  westerly  from  the  six 
necks  which  we  bought  before  these  three  necks 
of  Mashapeahe  land.  And  'he  sent  his  agent 
Checanoe  to  deliver  it  on  condition  of  the  pay- 
ment of  12  coats,  each  coat  being  two  yards  of 
trucking  cloth,  and  20  pounds  ot  powder,  20 
Dutch  hatchetts,  20  Dutch  hoes,  20  Dutch  knives, 
TO  shirts,  200  muxes,  four  paire  of  handsome 
stockings,  i  good  Dutch  hatt,  and  a  Great  faire 
Looking  Glasse.  And  Checanoe  for  his  wage 
and  going  to  mark  out  the  land  is  to  have  i  coat, 
4  pounds  of  powder,  6  pounds  of  lead,  i  Dutch 
Hatchett  and  16  shillings  in  Wampum'. 
Witness 

Ambrose  Sutton. 

Richard  Brush 

The  various  purchases  were  made  on  cheap 
enough  terms.  The  Indians  were  well  pleased 
to  accept  all  sorts  of  gew-gaws — discarded  mili- 
tary uniforms,  glass  beads,  mirrors,  liquor  and 
the  like.  There  was  one  notable  exception  to  the 
rule,  in  the  person  of  Takapousha,  the  chief  of 
the  Marsapeague  tribe,  who  refused  to  join  in 
bartering  away  his  birthright  for  so  miserable  a 
mess  of  pottage,  and  stood  inflexible  on  the  as- 
sertion of  his  patrimonial  right  so  long  as  he 
lived. 


But  the  Indians,  while  guileless  in  one  re- 
spect, antedated  Bret  Harte's  "Heathen  Chinee'' 
in  the  practice  of  "ways  that  are  dark  and  tricks 
that  are  vain."  They  had  no  respect  for  a  bar- 
gain, but  would  barter  away  their  lands  a  second 
time,  if  opportunity  offered,  as  when>  Raseocon 
resold  the  Hbrse  Neck  tract,  as  shown  by  the 
following  deed,  which  bore  the  isignatures 
(marks)  of  fourteen  Indians : 

September  the  20  1654. 
This  writing  witnesseth  that  I  Ratiocan,  sag- 
amore of  Cow  Harbor,  have  sold  unto  Samuel 
Miayo,  Daniel  Whitehead,  and  Peter  Wright  my 
necks  of  land  which  m-akes  the  east  side  of  Oys- 
ter Bay  and  the  west  side  of  Cow  Harbor,  on  the 
north  side  bounded  with  the  sound,  called  by 
Indians  Caumsett.  For  and  in  consideration  of 
which  neck  of  land  we  the  aforesaid  Samuel 
Mayo,  Daniel  Whitehead,  and  Peter  Wrig^ht  do 
promise  to  pay  to  the  aforesaid  Ratiocon,  saga- 
more, three  coats,  three  shirts,  three  hatchets, 
three  hoes,  two  fathom  of  wampum,  six  knives, 
two  pair  of  stockings,  two  pair  shoes. 

This  is  an  example  of  the  tangled  web  of 
grants  and  counter-grants  and  conflicting  claims 
in  which  the  early  landlords  became  involved. 
To  dispose  of  the  instance  in  point :  Mayo, 
Whitehead  and  Wright  sold  tbeir  interests  to 
Samuel  Andrews,  a  London  merchant,  who  for- 
tified his  purchase  by  making  some  presents  to 
Wyau'dance,  an  Indian  chief  who  was  supposed 
to  possess  some  paramount  authority,  and  se- 
cured his  ratification  of  the  transaction.  After 
the  death  of  Andrews,  the  Horse  (Lloyd's) 
Neck  tract  came  into  pO'Ssession  of  John  Rich- 
hill,  of  Oyster  Bay.  A  dispute  as  to  title  be- 
tween him  and  John  Conklin,  of  Huntington, 
was  decided  in  bis  favor,  and  he  was  put  in  pos- 
session under  a  mandate  of  Governor  Nicolls. 
This  settlement,  however,  did  not  close  the  inci- 
dent, and  the  dispute  became  a  veritable  cause 
celehre.  Richbill  was  so  •  distiirbed  in  his  pos- 
session that  he  brought  an  action  against  the 
people  of  Hunting^ton,  alleging  "unjust  molesta- 
tion." In  1665  the  cause  was  heard  in  the  general 
court  in  New  York,  composed  of  die  Governor 
and  his  Council  and  the  Trustees  of  the  Peace, 
and  was  tried  by  the  following  jury:     Richard 


176 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


Gilder&leeve,  foreman,  and  William  Hallet,  Henry 
Pierson,  John  Barrows,  John  Symonds',  Edward 
Titus  and  Thomas  Smith,  and  the  lawyers  had 
their  innings,  too — John  Rider  appearing  for 
Richbill,  and  the  Rev.  William  Leverich  for  the 
people  of  Hun'tington.  The  case  presented  some 
notable  features,  involving  not  only  consideration 
of  all  the  various  written  deeds,  but  of  the  evi- 
dence of  White'head  and  his  associates,  who 
testified  that  when  the  Indian  c'hief  executed  the 
deed  conveying  the  Horse  Neck  region,  Horse 
Neck  itself  'was  reserved  to  his  tribe  by  a  verbal 
provision,  and  the  two  days  trial  rdstilted  in  a 
verdict  in  favor  of  Huntington,  and  it  was  de- 
creed that  the  plaintiff  should  be  mulcted  in 
costs.  In  a  subsequent  rehearing  before  the 
Governor  and  .Council,  the  following  decision 
was  rendered: 

The  court,  having  heard  the  case  in  difference 
between  the  plaintiff  and  defendants  debated  at 
large  concerning  their  title  to  a  certain  pSLVtel  of 
knd  commonly  called  Horse  Neck,  and  having 
also  seen  and  perused  their  -several  writings  and 
evidences  concerning  the  same,  it  was  committed 
to  a  jury,  who  brought  in  their  verdict  for  the  de- 
fendant; upon  w-hich  the  court,  demurring,  did 
examine  further  into  the  equity  of  the  cause,  and 
upon  mature  and  serious  consideration  do  find 
the  said  parcel  of  land  called  Horse  Neck  doth  of 
right  belong  to  the  plaintiff,  it  being  purchased 
by  said  plaintiff  for  a  valuable  consideration,  and 
by  the  testimony  of  the  first  purchasers,  under 
whom  the  defendants  claim,  was  not  conveyed 
or  assigned  by  them  to  the  defendants  with  their 
other  lands ;  upon  which  and  divers  other  weighty 
considerations  the  court  doth:  decree  that  the  said 
parcel  of  land  called  Horse  NecK  doth  belong  and 
appertain  unto  the  plaintiff  and  his  heirs,  and  it 
is  hereby  ordered  that  the  high  sheriff  or  under 
sheriff  of  the  North  Riding  of  Yorkshire  upon 
Long  Island  do  forthwith  put  the  said  plaintiff 
or  his  assigns  in  possession  thereof ;  and  alll  per- 
sons are  hereby  requested  to  forbear  the  giving 
the  said  plaintiff  or  his  assigns  any  molestation 
in  the  peaceable  and  quiet  enjoyment  of  the  prem- 
ises. 

So  Richbill  finally  came  into  possession, 
Huntington  prosecuting  its  claim  no  further. 
The  tract  in  question  afterward  passed  to  James 
Lloyd,  of  Boston,  w'ho  received  from  Governor 


Dongan  a  patent  constituting  it  an  individual 
local  body,  called  Queen's  Village,  but  usually 
known  as  Lloyd's  Manor.  This  manorial  au- 
tonomy was  extinguished  by  the  revolution. 

After  thus  tracing  the  derivation  of  land  titles 
from  the  Indians,  and  considering  the  most  not- 
able of  the  litigation  arising  therefrom^,  we  turn 
to  the  governmental  relations  of  the  early  colo- 
nists. 

In  1664  the  following  patent- was  granted  by 
Governor  Nicolls : 

Ordered,  that  the  town  of  Huntington  shall 
possess  and  enjoy  three  necks  of  meadow  land  in 
controversie  between  them  and  Oyster  Bay,  as 
of  right  belonging  to  them,  they  having  the  more 
ancient  grant  for  them.  And  as  it  is  pretended 
that  Checanoe  marked  out  four  necks  of  land 
for  Huntington  instead  of  three,  if  upon  a 
joynt  view  of  them  it  shall  appear  to  be  so,  then 
Huntington  shall  mjake  over  the  outmost  neck, 
next  to  Oyster  Bay,  to  the  Inhabitants  thereof. 

R.  NiCOLL. 

In  1665  at  the  Hempstead  Convention,  so 
called,  the  deputies  from  the  various  towns  were 
required  to  bring  for  examination,  by  the 
agents  of  the  governor,  their  evidences  of  title, 
•and  to  receive  new  grants.  That  for  Hunting- 
ton was  as  follows : 

A  Patent  granted  unto  the  Inhabitants  of  Hunt- 
ington. 

Richard  Nicolls  Esqr.,  Governor  General  un- 
der his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Yorke  and 
Albany,  etc.,  of  all  his  territories  in  America,  to 
all  to  whome  these  pr'ts  shall  come  sendeth 
greeting.  1 

Whereas  there  is  a  certain  Tofwne  within  this 
Government  commonly  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  Huntington,  situate  and  being  in  Long 
Island,  now  in  the  tenure  or  occupation  of  sev- 
eral Freeholders  and  inhabitants  there  residing, 
who,  having  heretofore  made  lawful  purchase  of 
the  lands  thereunto  belonging,  have  likewise 
manured  and  improved  a  considerable  part 
thereof  and  settled  a  competent  number  of  fam- 
ilyes  there  upon,  and  for  a  confirmation  of  the 
said  Free'holders  and  Inhabitants  in  their  enjoy- 
ment and  possession  of  the  premises,  know  ye 
that,  by  virtue  of  ye  commission  and  authority 
unto  me  given  by  "his  Royal  Highness,  I  have  rat- 


HUNTINGTON. 


177 


ified,  confirmed  and  granted  and  by  these  pr'sts 
do  hereby  ratify,  confirm  and  grant  unto  Jonas 
Wood,  WiUiam  Leveredge,  Robert  Seely,  John 
Ketcham,  Thomas  Scu'dmore,  Isaac  Piatt,  Thom- 
as Joanes  and  Thomas  Weeks,  in  the  behalfe  of 
themselves  and  their  associates  the  Freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  the  s'd  Towne,  their  heirs,  suc- 
cessors and  assigns,  all  y't  lands  that  already  have 
beene  or  hereafter  shall  bee  purchased  for  and  in 
the  behalfe  of  the  Towne  of  Huntington,  either 
from  the  natives,  proprietors  or  others  within 
the  limitts  and  bounds  herein  exprest :  (vizt) 
That  is  to  say,  from  a  certaine  river  or  creeke 
on  the  West  com'only  called  by  the  Indyans  by 
the  name  of  Nackaquatok  and  by  the  English  the 
Coldspring,  to  stretch  eastward  to  Xasaquack 
River;  on  the  north  to  bee  boimded  by  the  Sound 
running  betwixt  Long  Island  and  the  ]\Iaine; 
and  on  ye  South  by  ye  sea,  including  there  nine 
several  necks  of  Aleadow  Ground;  all  of  which 
tract  of  land,  together  with  the  s'd  necks  there- 
unto belonging,  within  the  bounds,  limitts  afore- 
said, and  all  or  any  plantacon  thereupon,  are  to 
belong  to  the  said  Towne  of  Huntington ;  as  also 
all  Havens,  Harbors,  Creekes,  Quarryes,  Wood- 
land, Meadows.  Pastures,  Marshes,  Lakes,  Fish- 
ing, Hawking,  Hunting  and  Fowling,  and  all 
other  profitts,  commodityes,  Emolum'ts  and  He- 
riditam'ts  to  the  said  land  and  premises  within 
limitts  and  bounds  aforementioned  described, 
belongmg  or  in  anv  wise  appertaining,  to  have 
and  to  hold  the  said  Lands  and  necks  of  lands, 
Hereditam'ts  and  premises,  with  their  and  every 
of  their  appurtenances,  and  of  every  part,  part 
and  parcel  thereof,  to  the  said  patentees  and  their 
associates,  to  the  proper  use  and  behoofs  of  the 
said  patentees  and  their  associates,  their  Heirs, 
Successors,  and  assigns  forever ;  and  I  do  like- 
wise hereby  confirme  and  Grant  unto  the  said 
Patentees  and  their  associates,  their  Heires,  suc- 
cessors and  assigns  all  the  privileges  belonging 
to  a  Towne  within  this  Governm't,  and  that  the 
place  of  their  present  Habitacon  shall  continue 
and  retaine  the  name  of  Huntington,  by  which 
name  it  shall  be  distinguist  and  knowne  in  all 
Bargains  and  sales,  deeds,  records 'and  writings. 
Ihey,  the  said  patentees,  and  their  associates, 
their  Heirs,  successors  and  assigns  rendering  and 
paving  such  dutyes  and  acknowledgem'ts  as  now 
or  hereafter  shall  be  constituted  and  establist  by 
the  Laws  of  this  Colony  under  the  obedience  of 
his  Royal  Highness,  his  heirs  and  successors. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  scale  at  Fort  James 
m  Xew  York,  the  30th  day  of  November,  in  the 
i8th  year  of  his  Majesties  reign  and  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1666.  Richard  Nicolls. 

12 


On  June  25.  1685,  John  Palmer,  John  Royse 
and  Richard  Cornhill  obtained  from  Governor 
Dongan  a  license  permitting  them  to  purchase 
the  lands  between  Cow  Harbor  (Northport)  and 
P'resh  Pond,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Smith- 
town  town,  and  called  Crab  Meadow  by  the 
whites  and  "Katawamac"  bv  the  Indians.  Octo- 
ber loth  following,  a  deed  covering  this  tract  was 
made  to  the  parties  named,  by  two  Indians,  and 
December  23rd  of  the  same  year  Governor  Don- 
gan issued  a  patent  conveying  the  same  bound- 
aries. This  territory  was  within  the  Huntington 
limits,  and'  occasioned  great  disquietude  among 
the  inhabitants  of  that  town,  whoi  soon  sought  to 
reconcile  difficulties  by  admitting  Palmer  as  one 
of  themselves,  but  almost  immediately  reconsid- 
ered this  and  left  him  out  in  the  cold,  where  he 
appears  to  have  remained,  for  his  claim  seems  to 
have  been  extinguished  when  was  executed  the 
next  patent,  now  to  be  considered. 

August  2,  1688,  Governor  Dongan  made  a 
confirmatory  grant  w'hich  was  remarkable  for  its 
verboseness  and  repetitions,  written  after  the 
manner  of  an  embryo  legal  penny-a-liner.  It 
made  no  boundary  alterations,  and  the  confirma- 
tory clause  was  as  follows : 

And  by  these  presents  do  give>  grant,  ratify 
and  confirm  unto  Thomas  Fleet  senior,  Epenetus 
Piatt,  Jonas  Wood  senior,  James  Chichester, 
senior,  Joseph  Bailey,    Thomas    Powell    senior, 

John  Sammis,  Isaac  Piatt  and  Thomas  , 

Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  Huntington,  here- 
in erected  and  made  one  Body  Corporate  and  pub- 
lique  and  willed  and  determined  to  be  called  by 
ye  name  of  ye  Trustees  of  ye  Freeholders  and 
Comonalty  of  ye  Towne  of.  Huntington,  and  their 
successors,  all  ye  above  recited  Tracts  of  Land 
within  ye  Limitts  and  Bounds  aforesaid,  together 
with  all  and  singular  ye  Houses,  Messuages, 
Tenements,  Buildings,  M^ills,  Milldames,  fenc- 
ing, enclosures.  Gardens,  Orchards,  fields,  pas- 
tures, woods,  underwoods,  trees,  timbers,  feed- 
ings and  Common  of  pasture,  meadows,  marshes, 
swamps,  plaines,  Rivers,  Rivoletts,  waters,  Lakes, 
Ponds,  Brooks,  Streams,  Beaches,  Quarries, 
Creekes,  Plarbours,  Highways  and  Easements, 
fishing,  hawking,  hunting  and  fowling,  mines, 
minerals  (silver  and  gold  mines  excepted),  and 
all  franchises,  profits,  commodityes  and  Herid- 
itaments  whatsoever  to  ye  said  Tracts  of  Lands 


178 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


and  premises  belonging  or  in  anywise  appertain- 
ing, etc. 

But  this  unique  documient  went  farther,  and 
conferred  corporate  powers  in  .such  ampUtude 
that  no  modern  "trust"  would  ask  for  auglit  more 
ail-comprehending.  It  was  to  act  through  trus- 
tees to  be  elected  out  of  the  body  of  its  member- 
ship, and  it  was  empowered  to  acquire,  hold, 
manage  and  dispose  of  real  and  personal  property 
and  maintain  and  defend  suits  at  law.  It  was 
aibo  authorized  to  use  a  "seale,"  which  was  ac- 
cordingly made  and  has  been  perpetuated  in  use 
to  the  present  day — circular,  about  three-quarters 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  bearing  in  its  center  the 
town  mark,  a  capital  letter  ''E,"  and  in  the  mar- 
gin the  letters  '*H  V  N,"  an  abbreviation  of 
''Huntington,"  the  second  letter  being  the  old 
Roman  letter  for  which  *'U"  is  the  present  Eng- 
lish equivalent. 

Benjamin  Fletcher,  wlio  became  governor  on 
December  i,  1693,  evidently  found  it  necessary 
to  do  something  to  disiplay  his  authority,  and  he 
began  following  the  example  of  hr&  predecessor 
in  requiring  the  land  grantees  to  make  applica- 
tion for  new  patents.  This  demand  was  ac- 
quiesced in  by  the  inhabitants,  and  Governor 
Fletcher,  on  October  5,  1694,  received  from  the 
inhabitants  his  fees  of  £58,  and  issued  a  patent 
covering  twenty-six  folios,  by  its  terms  consti- 
tuting Joseph  Bayley,  Thomas  Wicks,  Thomas 
Brush,  Jonas  Wood,  John  Wood,  John  Wicks 
and  John  Adams  "trustees  of  the  freeholders  and 
commonalty  of  our  said  town  of  Huntington," 
declaring  them  to  be  "the  first  modern  trustees 
and  freeholders',"  and  giving  to  them  and  their 
successors,  'forever,  "sole  license  of  purchasing 
from  ithre  natives  any  land  or  meadow  within  the 
limits  and  bounds  next  aforementioned."  The 
boundaries,  however,  were  not  coincident  with 
those  designated  in  the  former  patent,  and  Hunt- 
ington was  bereft  of  a  large  strip  of  its  territory 
by  the  substitution  of  Fresh  Pond  for  the  Nesa- 
quake  River  as  its  eastern  boundary.  The  people 
of  Huntington  "were  subjected  to  considerable 
annoyance,  being  solicited  to  protect  from  rival 
towns  the  territory  of  which  they  had  been  de- 


prived. They  held  aloof  from  all  entanglements, 
however,  and  the  people  of  the  disputed  tract 
eventually  found  a  place  for  themselves,  as  else- 
where narrated. 

September  10,  1708,  there,  was  granted  to 
Joihn  Johnson,  Sr.,  and  John  Johnson,  Jr,  "All 
that  tract  of  land  or  meadow  land  on  the  south 
side  of  Long  Island,  bounded  east  by  Huntington 
line,  west  by  Hempstead  line,  south  by  the  sea 
on  the  south  side  of  the  beach  at  low  water  mark, 
north  by  the  bay  that  parts  the  beach  from  the 
meadow."  [This  is  ,south  of  Oyster  Bay,  in 
Queen  County.] 

April  II,  1706,  a  patent  was  granted  to  Isaac 
De  Reimer,  John  Evertse,  William  Creed,  Ben- 
jamin Ashe,  Samuel  Staats,  Peter  Fawconier 
and  Barent  Christianse,  for  "A  tract  of  land  in 
Suffolk  County.     Beginning  at  a  white  oak  tree 

near  a  little called  by  the  Indians  Mene- 

copinonup,  from  thence  northward  by  a  path 
called  Jeremiah  Smith's  path,  two  miles  south- 
ward, from  thenee  westward  three  miles,  and 
from,  thence  northward  two  miles  and  from 
thence  eastward  three  miles  upon  a  square." 
This  description  seems  to  be  defective,  but 
is  copied  exactly  as  the  original  Patent  reads. 
The  Patent  was  in  thirteen  shares  oi  which  Isaac 
De  Reimer,  Benjamin  Ashe  and  Peter  Fawconier 
each  owned  three  shares,  the  others  owned  one 
share  each.  They  were  all  prominent  citizens  of 
New  York,  and  the  tract  was  popularly  known  as 
the  "Yorkers'  Patent." 

It  is  well  at  this  point,  not  only  with  reference 
to  the  township  in  which  we  arc  now  interested, 
but  in  order  to  avoid  repetition  when  considering 
the  remaining  towns,  to  point  out  the  manner 
in  which  individual  titles  to  land  were  made  and 
transferred.  As  has  already  appeared,  defensible 
legal  title  was  based  upon  the  crown  grants, 
whidh  were  made  to  individuals  named,  who  were 
made  a  body  corporate.  Individual  titles  were 
long  deferred.  The  expenses  attending  the  pro- 
curement of  the  patent  were  met  by  the  parties 
in  interest — usually  those  who  had  united  in 
purchasing  from  the  Indians — and  individual  in- 
terests were  apportioned  in  proportion  to  their 
individual  contributions   to  the  purchasing  and 


HUNTINGTON. 


479 


patent  funds,  and  these  interests  were  made  a 
matter  of  record.  The  deeds — the  earliest  docu- 
ments of  their  kind — He  at  the  foundation  of  all 
modern  method  of  conferring  title,  and,  for  this 
reason^  the  form  most  frequentlly  used  is  here 
given : 

"To  all  Christian  people,  greeting.  Know  yee 
that  we  ye  under  written,  having  this  yeare  re- 
ceived a  Patent  from  Sr  Edmond  Andross, 
Knight,  Governor  for  his  Royall  Highness  the 
Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  and  dated  at  New 
York  in  ye  31  day  of  October  in  ye  yeare  1676, 
in  ye  behalfe,  of  our  selves  and  of  all  the  free- 
bdlders  Inhabitants  of  this  Towne,  who  are  there 
in  called  Associates,  wherein  is  contained  a  con- 
firmation of  all  ye  Lands  pertaining  to  and  now 
in  the  possession  of  the  respective  freeholders  of 
sd  towne  of  Southold,  with  all  such  rights,  lib- 
erties, and  properties,  as  are  more  at  large  in  sd 
patent  contained,  all  which  ffreeholders  wee  doe 
fully  own,  admit  and  declare  to  be  our  onely  as- 
sociates in  sd  Patent,  and  no  others ;  to  whom  we 
do  hereby  give  full  power  to,  To  have  and  to 
Hold,  possess  and  enjoy,  to  themselves,  their 
heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  all  such  common  rights 
as  are  contained  in  sd  Patent,  and  all  such  par- 
ticular shares  and  allotments  which  are  now  in 
their  possession,  as  fully,  amply  and  freely  as  if 
they  and  every  of  them  had  been  therein  named. 
And  in  further  confirmation  of  all  their  proper- 
ties and  shares  in  the  premises,  to  such  our  Asso- 
ciates, their  heirs  forever,  we  have  caused  to  be 
recorded  in  the  page  next  following  all  such  par- 
ticular rights,  tracts'  and  parcells  of  Land  as  doe 
of  right  appertain  and  belong  unto  them,  their 
heirs  and  assigns  in  said  patent  and  Township. 
In  testimony  whereof  we  the  patentees  have  here- 
unto afiixed  our  hands  and  seals,  in  Southold 
ye  27  day  of  December  in  the  28  yeare  of  the 
reigne  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  Charles  the  2nd  of 
England,  Scotland,  France  and  Ireland,  King, 
defender  of  the  faith  &c.,  and  in  ye  yeare  of  our 
Lord  1676." 

Under  the  patent  of  1694,  were  created  trus- 
tees who,  acting  for  the  original  [proprietors, 
made  division  from  time  to  time,  and  the  lands 
so  divided  were  recorded  descriptively  in  the 
town  book.  When  subsequent  sales  were  made, 
seller  and  buyer  went  upon  the  ground,  and,  in 
token  of  transfer  O'f  title,  the  one  gave  to  the 
other  a  twig  broken  from  a  tree  and  a  fragment 


of  turf  taken  from  the  soil,  thus  giving  ex- 
planation to  the  phrase  which  frequently  occurs 
m  ancient  deeds :  "Sold  by  ye  turf  and  twig." 
And,  referring  to  these  primitive  customs,  Mr. 
Charles  R.  Street,  who  has  written  of  the  fore- 
going, makes  mention  of  the  fact  that 'ancient 
deeds,  and  especially  those  written  on  parchment, 
had  irregular  or  scalloped  edges,  which  was  due 
to  the  custom  of  writing  the  deeds  in  duplicate 
on  one  sheet,  and  then  dividing  them  by  a  curved 
line,  each  party  to  the  transaction  taking  one  of 
these  portions.  This,  in  case  of  the  genuineness  of 
the  deed  being  questioned,  made  possible  abso- 
lute identification  by  the  perfect  fitting  together 
of  the  two  sheets,  and  this  gave  rise  to  the  for- 
mula used  in  the  outset  of  legal  documents, 
"this  indenture,"  which  is  perpetuated  to  the 
present  day,  albeit  the  custom  to  which  it  re- 
lates no  longer  exists.  It  is  to  be  observed  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Huntington  claimed  no  patent 
right  upon  this  process — it  was  a  method  which 
they  had  brought  with  them  from  their  home 
across  the  sea. 

Leaving  this  subject,  our  return  is  to  a  time 
in  which  both  writer  and  reader  can  take  greater 
interest — ^the  personality  of  the  early  colonists, 
and  the  manner  in  which  they  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  civil  order. 

^  Where  the  pioneer  white  settlers  came  fram 
seems  most  uncertain.  Mr.  C.  S.  Street  says: 
"I  incline  to  the  belief  that  the  first  and  oldest 
company  came  across  the  Sound,  perhaps  und'er 
the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  William  Leverich 
from  the  vicinity  of  New  Haven  and  IBranford, 
landing  at  Huntington  Harbor  and  locating  prin- 
cipally along  the  valley  where  the  eastern  part  of 
Huntington  village  now  is,  this  having  been  al- 
ways caliled  "the  town  spot"  or  "old  toiwn  spot;" 
that  the  second  immigration  was  an  offshoot 
from  the  Hempstead  colony,  led  thither  by  the 
Rev.  Richard  Denton  soon  after  1640,  originally 
from  Wethersfield,  Massaditi'setts,  and  for  a  time 
at  Stamford,  Connecticut;  and  the  third  influx 
came  from  the  vicinity  of  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
after  stopping  a  'short  time  in  Southold  and 
Southampton,  principally  in  the   former  town." 


180 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


However  this  may  be,  the  various  companies  of 
settlers  came  so  nearly  together  that  the  ques- 
tion of  priority  is  of  comparatively  little  conse- 
quence. They  were  all  English,  ■and  nearly  all, 
if  not  quite  all,  were  of  that  class  of  noncon- 
formists which  had  been  outraged  'by  the 
persecution  of  the  crown  authorities,  and  fied 
to  America,  there  to  lind  a  more  congenial  moral 
and  political  atmosphere.  The  greater  number  of 
them  iwere  presumably  in  the  very  prime  of  life, 
and  were  self-respecting,  self-relying  and  enter- 
prising. Many  were  known  as  "Master"  or 
''Goodmian/'  indicating  that  they  were  men  rec- 
ognized for  their  worth  and  as  leaders.  Perhaps 
the  most  conspicuous  among  them  was  Thomas 
Fleet,  for  whom  it  is  claimed  that  he  was  de- 
scended from  Admiral  Fleetwood  (the  original 
form  of  the  family  name),  who  was  a  man  of 
note  lin  England.  He  cam'e  in  1660,  and 
engaged  in  trading  operations  witli  New  York 
and  West  Indian  ports,  and  was  assessed  on  the 
rate  list  of  the  town  as  the  owner  of  forty  vessels, 
besides  much  land  and  other  pro'perty.  He  was 
a  freeholder,  and  was  one  of  the  proprietors  un- 
der the  Dongan  patent.  The  Rev.  William 
Leverich,  whom  we  have  already  met  in  our 
studies,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  and  we  shall 
meet  with  him  again.  Joseph  Bayle  was  town 
clerk  for  several  years,  and  a  captain  of  the  train 
band.  Thomas  Benedict  was  deacon,  town  clerk 
and  representative.  John '  Budd  was  at  New 
Haven  in  1639,  engaged  in  the  settlement  of 
Southold,  and  is  supposed  to  have  returned  to 
England  and  taken  part  in  the  revolution  under 
Cromwell.  John  Conklin  was  influential  in  the 
affairs  of  the  town  and  church ;  his  son  Timothy 
was  probably  the  ancestor  of  the  Conklin  family 
of  Hdnitington  of  recent  times.  Jeffrey  Estey 
was  the  father  of  Tonsfield  Estey,  who'se  wife 
was  (so  says  Savage)  executed  as  a  witch,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1692.  Richard  Latten  (or  Latting) 
came  to  Hempstead  in  1653,  and  in  1660  to  Hunt- 
ington, whence  he  was  expelled  (in  1663)  for 
refusing  to  acknowledge  the  supremacy  of  the 
New  Haven  authorities,  and  he  returned  to 
Oyster  Bay.  His  son  Josiah  became  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Oyster  Bay,  and  a  daughter  married 


John  Davis,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
Brookhaven.  Jonas  Mathews  was  a  ship  owner 
and  carried  on  a  large  trade  with  the  West  In- 
dies. Mark  Meggs  was  owner  of  the  old  mill, 
which  he  sold,  "having  grown  ancient  and  desir- 
ing peace  and  quiet."  Richard  Ogden  was  a  part- 
ner with  his  brother  in  building  a  church  in  New 
Amsterdam,  under  a  bargain  made  with  Gov- 
ernor Kieft.  Thomas  Powell  was  a  Quaker,  and 
at  various  times  held  nearly  every  town  office. 
Isaac  and  Epenetus  Piatt  were  patentees  of  the 
town  and  large  landowners,  and  both  held  many 
important  public  positions.  The  Scudder  brothers 
— Thomas,  Henry  and  John — were  all  men  of 
prominence  and  left  numerous  descendants. 
Thomas  Scidmore  was  probably  the  first  town 
clerk  of  Huntington.  Robert  Seeley,  after  hold- 
ing  numerous  public  positions,  was  killed  in  bat- 
tle with  the  Indians.  John  Strickland  was  an 
early  justice  of  the  peace.  The  Titus  brothers — 
Abial,  John,  Samuel,  Henry,  Content  and  Ed- 
ward — were  all  large  landholders,  and  the  first 
named  was  for  many  years  paid  for  beating  the 
drum  to  call  the  people  to  religious  services  on 
Sunday.  Joseph  Whitman,  from  whom  de- 
scended the  poet,  Walt  Whitman,  was  'sued  by 
Henry  Whitney  for  marrying  his  daughter 
Sarah,  "against  her  -mother's  mind,"  but  the  case 
was  not  sustained.  This  Henry  Whitney  buik 
the  first  mill  for  Mr.  Leverich,  under  contract. 
He  was  a  man  of  violent  temper,  and  'became  in- 
volved in  manv  law  suits  against  Leverich  and 
others.  Jonas  Wood  of  Oram  (so  called  to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  another  of  the  same  name) 
was  a  justice  oi  the  peace  under  the  New  Haven 
government  and  also  under  the  Duke  of  York; 
he  w'as  deputy  to  the  Hempstead  Convention  in 
1665,  and  held  many  official  positions. 

'Tn  the  first  years  of  the  settlement,"  says  Mr. 
C.  R.  Street  in  his  "Town  Records,"  Vol.  I,  p. 
13.  "the  pioneers  built  their  ruddy  constructed 
dwellings  around  and  near  the  *town  spot,'  where 
they  had  a  fort  and  watch  houses  and  where  the 
'train  hands'  were  drilled.  Their  animals  were 
daily  driven  out  and  herd'ed  under  guard,  some 
in  the  'east  field,'  now  Old  Fields,  and  some  in 
the   'west  field,'  now  West  Neck,  and  at  night 


HUNTINGTON. 


181 


the  cattle  were  driven  back  and  carailled  near  the 
watch  house.  Gradually,  however,  the  more  ad- 
venturous pushed  out  in  all  directions  and  made 
themselves  homes  where  they  found  the  richest 
soil  and  most  attractive  'Surrounding^s,  and  at 
their  meetings  grants  of  'home  lots'  were  made. 
At  first  the  woniien  pounded  their  corn  in  mortars, 
and  the  men  wroug'ht  logs  and  clapboards  for 
building  wifh  axes  and  cleavers,  but  isoon  dams 
were  constructed  across  the  streams,  small  mills 
were  bui'lt  for  grinding  grain  and  sawing  lum- 
ber, rude  tanneries  were  constructed  for  tanning 
leather,  and  spindles  or  looms  were  made  or  pro- 
cured for  the  manufacture  of  coarse  flaxen  or 
woolen  fabrics  for  clothing.  The  ox-cart  was 
their  only  vehicle  for  travel  and  cart-paths  their 
only  highways.  They  used  wooden  ploughshares 
tipped  ^^■ith  iron.  Their  match-lock  guns  were 
even  more  clumsy  than  the  old  flint-locks,  but 
some  of  their  swords  were  wrought  by  Spanish 
artisans  and  were  tempered  with  a  skill  that  is 
among  the  lost  arts/' 

Perhaps  t'lie  most  active  and  prominent  per- 
son in  that  primitive  community  was  W^illiam 
Leverich,  who  preached  to  the  people,  but  he  was 
necessarily  absent  from  among  tbem  frequently, 
and,  besides,  his  worldly  occupations  must  have 
occupied  quite  a  part  of  his  time.  He  built  and 
operated  the  first  mill  in  the  town,  and  seems  to 
have  been  a  general  merchant,  selling  cloth  and 
other  articles.  He  was  an  'able  minister,  and 
something  of  a  lawyer,  for  'he  attended  to  his 
own  litigation,  which  was  considerable,  and  fre- 
quently appeared  as  attorney  for  parties  in  suits. 
His  was  certainly  a  strenuous  life,  as  appears 
in  part  from  a  narrative  of  his  missionary  ca- 
reer, in  the  preceding  volume,  and  from  what  is 
to  follow. 

When  Air.  Leverich  came  to  the  town,  he  en- 
gaged Henry  Whitney  to  build  a  mill  for  him. 
Whitney  was  a  man  of  ability  and  influence,  but 
he  was  of  ungovernable  temper  and  possessed 
that  unruly  member  which  liias  made  trouble  for 
its  owner  and  those  about  ihim,  In  all  the  days  of 
the  world.  Business  disputes  arose  between  the 
two  men,  and  these  were  presumably  intensified 
through  Whitney  regarding  Leverich  as  an  in- 


terloper, for  he  (Whitney)  had  been  prominent 
in  dhurdi  affairs  'before  the  coming  of  Leverich, 
and  he  was  wont  to  assert  with  his  caustic  tongue 
thiat  the  town  had  prospered  more  greatly  before 
the  arrival  of  the  newcomer.  At  any  rate,  Whit- 
ney entered  suit  for  debt  against  Leverich,  and 
a  few  days  later  'he  broiig'ht  another  action  for 
slander.  Leverich  brought  a  counter  siiit,  alleg- 
ing sJander,  breach  of  contract  and  defamation, 
as  well  as  debt.  The  evidence  was  voluminous, 
and  s'hows  that  Leverich  had  complained  bitterly 
that  the  people  ihad  not  paid  him  according  to 
contract,  and  that  he  had  threatened  to  preac^h 
no  more  in  Huntington.  Whitney  was  charged 
wiith  saying  that  Leverich  "lived  among  a  com- 
pany of  hypocrites  and  dissemblers,"  and  with  de- 
claring that  Leverich  was  guilty  of  "a  breach  of 
the  Sabbath  and  profained  it."  As  to  the  ques- 
tion of  'debt,  both  recovered  a  part  of  what  they 
respectively  claimed.  In  the  matter  of  slander,  - 
both  parties  were  required  to  make  public  ac- 
knowledgment of  wrong  doing,  or  pay  a  fine  of 
£5.  Mr.  Leverich  must  have  emerged  from  the 
ordeal  practically  unhurt,  for  he  continued  to 
serve  the  people  as  minister  for  ten  years  after- 
ward. 

The  town  as  a  settled  and  self-goveniing 
community  dates  before  the  Nicolls  patent,  for 
the  town  meeting  was  in  operation  as  early  as 
1659.  and  one  would  judge  from  one  entry  in  the 
records  that  the  brethren  had  advanced  so  far  in 
the  art  of  governing  that  by  1660  the  stocks  had 
been  built  wherewith  to  detain  and  punish  of- 
fenders. Nor  was  the-  town  a  theocracy.  Its 
early  magistrates  were  elected  by  the  people,  and 
if  the  confirmation  of  the  General  Court  at  Hart- 
ford was  asked,  it  was  more  in  the  nature  of  a 
formality  than  anything  else.  The  town  meet- 
mg  at  once  rose  into  power.  It  divided  and 
awarded  lands,  voted  allegiance  to  Connecticut, 
elected  deputies  to  the  General  Court  at  Hart- 
ford, made  and  repaired  highways,  fixed  'legal 
fees,  administered  justice  in  criminal  as  well  as 
in  civil  cases  (thirty  trials  being  recorded  up  to 
1664) ,  apparently  according  to  the  pioneers' 
ideas  of  justice  until  the  Duke's  laws  were  forced 
upon  them ;   elected   constables ;   ordered  fences 


182 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


built  to  keep  cattle  and  hogs  from  wandering; 
and  lined  without  niercy.  The  town  meeting 
even  banished  a  man, — Richard  Latting, — agree- 
ing "that  ould  Laten  shalle  take  away  his  cattel 
out  of  this  town  bounds  wathin  a  fortnight,  or 
14  days,  or  pay  to  the  town  10  shillings  a  head." 
His  imputed  offense  was,  according  to  Mr. 
Street,  'his  refusal  to  recognize  the  'sovereignty 
of  Connecticut,  but  he  must  have  been  a  bad  man 
clear  throug'h,  for  he  was  afterward  expelled 
from  the  imm;ediate  jurisdiction  of  Hartford, 
where  he  had  taken  refuge,  for  his  "turbulent 
conduct."  He  then  apparently  wanted  to  settle 
in  Huntington  once  more,  but  the  town  meeting 
would  have  none  of  him,  and  resolved  that  if  any 
person  "shall  either  by  way  of  gift  or  paye  do 
give  or  selle  entartanement  tO'  Richard  Laten  for 
more  than  the  spase  of  one  week  every  person  so 
offending  shall  pay  forty  shillings  fine  for  every 
time  he  shall  offend  in  brakeing  this  order  made 
for  the  pease  of  the  Town." 

But  the  most  significent  evidence  of  inde- 
pendence was, — as  in  all  of  the  town  meetings 
in  the  Island  towns, — that  the  meeting  was  the 
sole  arbiter  as  to  who  -shoidd  settle  within  their 
domain,  and  in  1662  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leverich,  Will 
Smith,  Thoma's  Weekes,  John  Lum,  Goodman 
Jones,  James  Chichester  and  Jonas  Wood  were 
(appointed  as  a  committee  to  pass  upon  the  char- 
acter and  credentials  of  every  applicant  for  ad- 
mission into  the  little  community.  No  one  inter- 
fered with  the  town  meeting's  edicts ;  it  was  a 
law  unto  itself;  its  verdict  was  supreme,  and 
there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any  idea  of  an 
appeal  from  its  decision  to  a  hig'her  court.  With 
Governor  Nicolls  and  the  Duke's  laws  tbat  state 
of  independence  pas:sed  away. 

The  independent  spirit  of  the  people  is  dis- 
cerned at  various  stages.  They  assemhled  and 
denounced  the  arbitrary  rule  of  Governor  An- 
dros.  Nor  were  they  to  be  deterred,  even  when 
visited  with  the  condign  displeasure  of  the  great 
magnate  over  at  New  Amsterdam.  Thus,  in 
1681,  Isaac  Piatt.  Epenetus  Piatt,  Samuel  Titus, 
Jonas  Wood  and  Thomas  Wicks  were  arrested  on 
the  order  of  the  Governor,  who  had  them  con- 
veyed to  New  York,  where  they  were  committed 


to  prison,  solely  upon  his  authority  and  without 
an}^  form  of  trial ;  charged  with  no  offense  save 
that  of  attending  meetings  of  their  people  called 
to  take  measures  looking  to  a  loyal  and  humble 
request  for  a  redress  of  grievances.  At  a  later 
date,  the  town  meeting  made  an  appropriation 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  their  incarcerated  rep- 
resentatives and  to  reimburse  them  for  their  loss 
of  time. 

But  the  rights  asserted  by  the  people,  as  ex- 
pressed through  their  town  meeting,  finds  most 
curious  and  abundant  exemplification  when,  in 
1689,  they  became  aroused  in  sympathy  for 
Governor  Leisler,  of  unhappy  memory,  and 
"voted  and  consented"  that  one  of  their  number. 
Captain  Epenetus  Piatt,  "shall  have  by  virtue  of 
the  town's  choice,  full  power  to  act  as  civil  and 
military  head  officer  of  this  town" — a  virtual  de- 
claration of  martial  law.  The  first  court  of  which 
we  find  record  was  holden  on  January  10,  1659, 
with  Jonas  Wood  as  the  magistrate,  and  he  seems 
to  have  made  his  residence  the  seat  from  which 
justice  was  dispensed.  In  the  following  year 
the  justices  were  John  Strickland  and  Thomas 
Benedict ;  Jonas  Holsworth  was  clerk,  and  Jo- 
seph Jenning  was  marshal.  In  the  greater  num- 
ber, the  earlier  causes  were  for  debt,  but  there 
were  graver  cases  which  were  lieard  by  the  mag- 
istrates. Thus,  Jonas  M''ood  hroug^ht  an  action 
against  Thomas  Brush  for  slander,  setting  forth 
that  the  accused  had  slandered  him  "in  that  he 
goeth  about  to  make  him  pay  money  twice,  and 
also  charged  him  with  keeping  a  false  book."  And 
the  court  having  heard  the  evidence  "find  for  the 
plaintiff,  and  whereas  the  defendant  has  sland- 
ered him  with  that  he  cannot  prove,  the  defend- 
ant is  to  give  satisfaction  in  the  open  court  or 
pay  five  poimcls,  with  all  the  costs  and  charges 
of  the  court."  The  record  closes  with  the  entry 
"Thomas  Brush  has  given  satisfaction,"  and  the 
presumption  is  that  he  made  due  apology  and 
saved  his  money. 

Through  the  painstaking  labor  of  the  early 
annalists  there  is  preserved  to  us-  knowledge  of 
the  institution  of  slavery  in  this  region.  In  1655 
the  Dutch  had  brought  to  New  York  in  the  ship 
"White  Horse."  a  cargo  of  black  slaves,  and  this 


HUNTINGTON. 


183 


was  followed  by  later  importations.  A  number 
of  these  slaves  were  brought  to  Huntington,  and 
in  1755  they  and  their  descendants  numbered 
eighty-one  persons  or  "head,"  who  were  dis- 
tributed among  53  families.  Under  acts  of  the 
legislature  passed  in  1799  and  subsequently, 
these  slaves  were  gradually  manumitted. 

The  history  of  the  town  during  the  later 
colonial  days  was  so  prolific  of  events  which 
found  their  conclusion  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
that  it  is  relegated  to  the  diapter  upon  that  sub- 
ject. When  hostilities  ceased  the  population  was 
only  a  little  over  1,000,  and  the  township's  losses 
by  the  occupation  were  figured  at  about  £75,000. 
Civil  law  v^^s  quickly  restored ;  the  town  meet- 
ing again  held  its  supireme  position  as  the  arbiter 
of  local  afi""airs,  and  farm  and  mill  combined  -to 
make  Huntington  once  more  a  prosperous  as 
well  as  a  peaceful  commiunity.  By  1790  the 
township  had  doubled  its  population,  but  it  would 
seem  that  some  of  the  newcomers  had  not  proved 
either  well-doing  or  prosperous,  or  perhaps  de- 
serving of  neither,  for  that  year  the  overseers  of 
the  poor  found  it  necessary  to  'buy  a  building  in 
the  village  for  the  purposes  of  a  poor-house. 
This  house  was  continued  to  be  used  for  that 
purpose  until  1868,  when  a  poor  farm  was  bought 
at  Long  Swamp.  In  1872  the  paupers  belonging 
to  the  township  were  removed  to  -the  county  in- 
stitution at  Yaphank,  Brookhaven  township.  In 
the  same  year  the  township  was  divided  by  the 
general  consent  of  the  people,  the  southern  part 
becoming  an  independent  township  under  the 
name  of  Babylon.  It  was  said  at  the  time  that 
the  ireason  for  this  cliange  was  simply  a  lack  of 
sympathy  or  coherence  between  the  people  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  township  and  those  on  the 
south,  but  possibly  the  real  re^ason  was  that  the 
Long  Island  Railroad,  when  it  had  completed  its 
road  from  Hicks ville  to  Greenpoint  in  1844, 
practically  divided  the  township  into  two  sections, 
and  in  1868  the  northern  half  got  a  railroad  of 
its  own  by  the  extension  of  the  branch  from 
Syosset. 

The  seat  of  all  public  concerns  was  what  be- 
came known  as  the  village  of  Huntington.     The 


principal  interest  of  the  early  times  clusters 
about  the  church.  Tlie  people  were  Puritans  in 
sentiment  and  Congregationalists  in  method,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  intolerant  of  all  religious  ex- 
cept their  own,  and  Quakers  were  particularly 
obnoxious  to  them.  Mr.  Leverich  was  installed 
as  pastor  in  1657  (but  it  is  probable  that  he  oc- 
casionally officiated  for  a  year  or  twO'  prior  to 
that  time)  and  he  remained  until  1670.  For  sev- 
eral years  the  services  were  held  in  private 
houses.  In  1662  the  town  ordered  the  procuring 
of  a  house  for  the  minister,  and  it  was  secured 
the  following  year  and  was  occupied  until  1672, 
when  it  feM  into  decay  and  was  converted  into 
a  public  house.  The  first  churc'h  edifice  was 
built  in  1665,  on  Meeting-House  Brook.  It  was 
a  small  frame  structure  and  was  not  heated.  The 
church  was  supported  and  its  buildings^  were 
erected  and  maintained  by  a  tax  levied  upon  all 
the  inhabitants.  One  of  their  number,  Thomas 
Powell,  a  Quaker,  was  bitterly  disinclined  to  aid 
in  supporting  a  religion  to  which  he  was  in  con- 
science opposed,  and  he  stubbornly  refused  to 
pay  his  stipend.  After  six  years,  however^  he 
was  given  the  alternative  of  paying  or  leaving 
the  town,  and  he  rehictantly  chose  the  former 
course. 

Mr.  Leverich  was  succeeded  in  the  pastorate 
by  the  Rev.  Eliphalet  Jones,  hut  he  was  chosen 
by  the  representatives  of  the  town  mieeting,  and 
as  a  result  of  a  vote  at  a  town  meeting,  and  not 
so  far  as  we  can  see  on  the  initiative  of  the 
dhitrch  session  and  congregation;  as  such  ]\lr. 
Jones  ministered  in  the  town  until  his  death,  in 
1 73 1.  He  had  then  attained  the  patriarchal 
age  of  ninety-three  years,  and  his  pastorate  ex- 
tended over  a  period  of  fifty-nine  years.  It  was 
in  his  time  (in  1715)  that  a  new  church  building 
was  erected,  and  its  "bell  was  probably  the  first 
ever  heard  in  Huntington.  Mr.  Jones  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime,  who  had  been 
an  assistant  to  Mr.  Jones.  During  Mr.  Prime's 
ministry,  the  famous'  revivalist,  Whitefield, 
came  to  Long  Island,  and  he  preached  in  Hunt- 
ington on  several  occasions,  and  left  a  marked 
influence  for  good.  As  Mr.  Prime  becam'e  over- 
taken by  the  infirmities  of  age,  the  Rev.  John 


184 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Clo'se  (in  1766)  became  .associate  pastor  with 
him,  and  served  in  that  capacity  tinti'l  1773,  when 
he  was  dismissed.  Services  were  suspended  Avith 
the  entry  of  the  British,  who.  first  used  the  church 
building-  as  a  store  house  and  then  destroyed  it. 
Mr.  Prime,  an  outspoken  and  detested  ''rebel/' 
was  obhged  to  hastily  seek  3,  -refuge  elsewhere. 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Prime  was  the  last  min- 
ister settled  by  the  town,  and  this  is  doubtless  a 
fact,  inasmuch  as  on  April  26,  1785,  the  con- 
gregation organized  as  "the  Corporation  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Hun'tington,"  and  elected 
trustees.  The  first  pastor  under  the  Presbyterian 
form'  was  the  Rev.  Nathan  WoodhuU.  In  1863 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized, 
taking  its  membership  from  the  parent  body. 

In  1746  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  was 
constituted  under  the  name  of  Trinity  Church. 
It  was  ministered  to  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Sea- 
bury,  rector  at  Hemip'Stead.  In  1749  the  first 
church  building  was  erected,  and  in  1773  the 
Rev.  James  Greatoai,  oi  Boston,  was  called  as 
the  first  sole  rector.  His  widow,  an  accomplished 
lady,  lived  for  some  time  in  the  rectory,  and  sub- 
sequently married  Dr.  Benjamin.  Y.  Prime, 
whom  she  survived  for  about  fifty  years.  The  old 
church,  with  its  high-backed,  old-fashioned 
pews  and  its  antiquated  sO'Un ding-board,  was  re- 
placed in  1 861  with  a  more  modern  structure. 

The  Methodist  Church  was  erected  about 
1830,  although  a  society  had  held  meetings  for 
some  years  previously,  and  a  notable  camp  meet- 
ing was  held  near  'the  cove  at  East  Neck  as  early 
as  1814.  In  1836  a  Universalist  society  was 
formed,  and  a  church  building  was  erected  the 
following  year.  A  Baptist  Church  was  organized 
prior  to  1842,  and  a  Cathollic  Church  was  built  in 
1870,  although  services  had  been  held  many  vears 
prior  to  that  date. 

The  first  school  dates  as  far  back  as  1657, 
four  years  after  the  first  settlement  Avas  made, 
and  this  is  notable  as  having  been  established 
upon  the  public  school  system  which  claims  to  be 
among  the  comparatively  modern  improvements. 
The  first  schoolmiaster  was  Jonas  Holdsworth  or 
Houldsworth, — the  same,  in  all  probability,  who 
sailed  from  England  to  Virginia  in  1635,  when 


he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  and  subsequently 
came  to  Southo'ld,  whence  he  removed,  as  early 
as  1657,  to  Huntington,  where  he  was  town  clerk 
in  1661,  The  minute  care  with  which  was  made 
his  agreement  to  teach,  would  lead  us  to  conclude 
that  the  undertaking  was  regarded  as  a  moist  mo- 
mentous one,  and  it  may  be  inferred  that  it  was 
so  much  of  an  innovation  that  the  schoolmaster 
elect  was  not  overly  sanguine  -as  to  proper  com- 
pensation unless  his  contract  was  made  in  all- 
binding  terms.  This  curiosity  of  literature  and  of 
self-protection  was  as  follows  : 

*'A  covenant  and  agreement  made  the  eleventh 
day  of  February  1657  at  a  Corte  or  Town  meet- 
ing, betwixt  'the  Inhabitants  of  ye  Towne  of 
Hunttington,  of  the  one  partie.  And  Jonas 
Houldsworth,  of  the  other  partie,  whereby  the 
said  Jonas  Houldsworth  doth  engage  himself 
to  the  saide  Inhabitants  during  ye  terme  of  foure 
years,  to  be  expired  from  the  13  day  of  April  next 
ensueing  the  day  of  the  date  hereof,  For  to 
s'choole  such  persons  or  children  as  shall  be  put 
to  him  for  that  end  by  ye  said  Inhabitants.  And 
likewise  the  said  Inhabitants  doth  alsoe  engage 
themiselves  to  the  said  Jonas  Houldsworth  for  to 
build  him  a  sufficient  house,  and  to  give  liira  with 
ye  said  house  a  percell  of  grounde  adjoining  to 
it  for  accommodation  thereunto.  And  further- 
m.ore  the  said  inhabitants  doth  likewise  engage 
themselves  to  pay  unto  said  Jonas  Houldsworth, 
and  in  consideration  of  his  said  schooling,  twenty- 
five  pounds  (English  accompt)  and  "his  diet  the 
first  year,  and  also  tO'  allow  him  what  more  may 
come  in  by  }'e  schooling  of  an}-  that  come  from 
other  parts.  The  said  twenty-five  pounds  is  to 
be  paid  ye  said  Jonas  as  followeth  :  Three  pounds 
twelve  shillings  in  butter  at  six  pence  ye  pound, 
and  seven  pounds  two  shillings  in  good  well 
sized  merchantable  ^vampum,  that  is  well  strung 
or  strand,  or  in  such  comodityes  as  will  suite  him 
for  clothing.  These  to  be  paid  him  by  ye  first  of 
October,  and  three  pound  twelve  shillings  in 
corne,  one-half  in  wheat  and  ye  other  in  Indian, 
at  three  and  five  shillings  ye  bushel  (provided  it 
be  good  and  merchantable),  to  be  paid  by  ye  first 
of  Alarch.  Also  ten  pounds  fourteen  shillings  in 
well  thriving  young  cattle,  that  shall  then  be  be- 
twixt two  and  four  years  old,  the  one  half  being 
in  the  steare  kind, — these  to  be  delivered  him 
when  the  yeare  is  expired.  And  also  the  two 
next  ensuing  yeares  To  pay  the  said  Jonas 
Houldsworth  Thirty-five  pounds  ye  yeare,  with 
ye  foresaid  alowance  of  what  may  come  in  by 


HUNTINGTON. 


185 


such  as  come  from  other  parts.  The  said  Thirty- 
five  pounds  is  to  be  paid  as  followeth,  viz. :  five 
pounds  in  butter  at  six  pence  ye  pound,  and  ten 
pounds  in  such  wampum  as  is  above  mentioned, 
or  in  such  comodityes  as  will  suit  him, — these  all 
to  be  paid  by  ye  first  of  October ;  and  five  pounds 
in  come  by  ye  first  of  March,  the  half  in  wheat 
the  other  in  Indian,  at  five  and  three  shillings  per 
bushel  (so  that  it  be  good  and  merchantable)  ; 
and  fifteen  pounds  in  well  thriving  cattle  betwixt 
two  and  four  years  old,  the  half  being  in  ye  steare 
kind, — these  are  to  be  delivered  when  ye  yeare 
is  expired  (being  valued  by  indiferent  men). 
And  the  fourth  or  last  yeare  to  pay  the  said  Jonas 
Houldsworth  forty  pounds  in  such  pay  as  is 
above  mentioned,  according  to  tlie  nature  and  time 
proportionately,  and  at  the  foresaid  times  of  pay- 
ment. Also  it  is  agreed  of  that  firewood  be  got- 
ten and  brought  for  the  schoole  when  ve  season 
shall  require  it,  by  such  as  send  their  children  to 
school ;  and  that  the  said  Jonas  Houldsworth 
shall  have  liberty  yearly  for  to  choose  foure  men 
that  shall  be  bound  to  him  for  the  true  perform- 
ance of  the  foresaid  engagement." 

But  the  people  seem  to  have  been  intent  upon 
the  establishment  of  their  school,  for  a  building 
was  soon  erected. 

A   splendid   efl^ort   in   aid   of   education   was 


Western  view  of  Huntington  Village, 

made  about -1793,  when  some  fifty  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Huntington  built  a  two-story  building 
with  a  belfry — a  most  imposing  edifice  for  the 
times — and  instituted  "the  Academy."  The  school 
was  designed  to  afford  such  instruction  as  would 


fit  the  }'outh  to  enter  colleges,  and  it  fulfilled  its 
mission  most  successfully  for  about  half  a  cen- 
tury, numbering  among  its  teachers  some  of  the 
most  capable  educators  of  their  day.  The  hon- 
ored old  building  was  razed  to  the  ground  about 
1857  to  make  way  for  a  modern  union  school 
building,  and  the  old  bell  was  transferred  to  the 
engine  house  of  the  Huntington  Fire  Company. 
Among  the  benefactors  of  old  Huntington  was 
Nathaniel  Potter,  a  man  of  great  excellence  of 
character  and  a  genuine  humanitarian.  Dying 
in  T841,  his  will  gave  $10,000  to  the  Presbvterian 
Church  and  a  like  amount  to  be  expended  in  the 
education  of  poor  children  in  the  town.  A  por- 
tion of  this  educational  bequest  was  applied  to 
the  support  of  the  Academy,  so  long  as  it  existed, 
and  afterward  to  the  support  of  the  union  school. 
It  was  subsequently  transferred  to  the  public 
school  fund. 

Huntington  has  been  notable  for  its  early 
journals.  In  1821  Samuel  A.  Seabury  estab- 
lished the  "American  Eagle,"  which  in  1825 
came  into  the  hands  of  Samuel  Fleet,  and  was 
transmogrified  into  the  much-titled  "Long  Isl- 
and Journal  of  Philosophy 
and  Cabinet  of  Variety."  Thi.^ 
name,  perhaps,  was  a  handi- 
cap, for  in  1827  it  was 
changed  to  "The  Portico," 
and  two  years  later  it  lapsed. 
In  1838  appeared  "The  Long 
Islander,*'  with  one  for  editor 
who  was  afterward  destined 
to  be  numbered  aniong  the 
poets  of  America  —  A\'alt 
Whitman,  a  native  of  West 
Hills,  in  the  town  of  Hunt- 
ington. 

The  modern  village  of 
Huntington  is  more  properly 
a  city,  and  a  thriving  one, 
proud  of  its  past  and  more  than  hopeful  as  to  its 
future — one  of  the  most  important  towns  on  the 
Long  Island  Railroad.  With  a  population  of 
4,000,  it  has  eight  churches,  exceptional  educa- 
tional    advantages,    including    a    well-equipped 


186 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


academy,  two  newspapers,  a  bank,  and  numerous 
well  sustained  benevolent  and  fraternal  associa- 
tions. Handsome  private  cottages  abound,  and 
beautiful  'homes  have  been  built  up  by  prominent 
New  Yorkers  and  Brooklynites.  There  are  spa- 
cious and  well  managed  hotels  and  a  number  of 
pleasant  homes,  open  to  the  summer  sojourner. 
Well  supplied  stores  of  various  descriptions  sup- 
ply all  wants  from  those  of  necessary  to  tho;se 
of  luxury. 

Among,  the  adornments  of  which  the  people 


men  of  Huntington  who  gave  their  lives  for  their 
country  during  the  Civil  war. 

Huntington  Bay  is  about  a  mile  from  the  vil- 
lage, and  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  "bits/'  as 
a  landscape  painter  might  say,  along  the  coast 
of  Long  Island  Sound.  *'As  a  whole/'  to  quote 
a  graphic  writer  (Scribner's  Magazine,  May, 
1881),  "it  resembles  the  track  of  a  bird.  The 
rear  claw  is  the  narro'w.  entrance  from  the  sound; 
the  center  of  the  foot  is  the  main  body  of  water, 
and   three   or  fo-tir  claws  are  spread  from  this 


THE   LIBRARY. 
(By  Permission  of  Long  Island  Railroad  Company.) 


of  Huntington  are  proud,  is  a  massive  boulder 
of  their  procuring,  appropriately  carved,  com- 
memorating the  youthful  patriot,  Nathan  Hale, 
whose  tragic  fate  is  known  by  every  schoolboy 
in  the  land,  and  is  told  in  our  Revolutionary  war 
chapter.  This  eloquent  appeal  to  patriotic  sen- 
timent finds  a  fitting  counterpart  in  a  fine  public 
library  raised  to  the  memory  of  the  gallant  young 


w-estward,  southward  and  eastward.  Each  long, 
narrow  harbor  is  diversified  with  many  points 
and  coves  that  surprise  you  as  you  explore  it. 
You  pass  farther  and  farther  inland,  among  the 
wooded  hills  and  along  thQ  clean  sand  beaches. 
A.  slopijng  field  here  and  there,  an  orchard  cov- 
ering a  low  farm-house  or  a  villa  on  a  command- 
ing knoll,  are  minor  points  in  the  changing  pano- 


HUNTINGTON 


187 


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a 

H 

o 

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O 

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td 
O 


188 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


rama  of  the  shores.  In-and-out,  in-and-out,  is 
the  course  of  land'  and  water;  and  in  ;their  de- 
vious way  they  play  many  tricks  at  hide-and-seek, 
and  draw  you  on  from  nook  to  nook  by  the  most 
attractive  pictures.  At  last  you  reach  the  head 
of  the  harbor,  with  its  'sa'lt  meadow  of  waving 
grass,  its  old  tide  mlill,  its  pond,  and  the  shady 
village  sheltered  antong  the  encircling  hills.  You 
can  explore  still  farther  with  pleasure  by  follow- 
ing the  roads  and  lanes  through  scen'es  of  unusual 
beauty.  The  road  may  skirt  the  beach  of  a  sand- 
locked  bay  bordered  with  forest ;  it  may  lead 
past  old  farm  houses,  orchards  and  typical  barn- 
yards ;  or  it  may  mount  the  hills  of  a  b-eadland 
or  neck  commanding  extensive  views  of  tortu- 
ous harbors,  rounded  headlands,  long  tongues  of 
white  sand  dividing  the  blue  water,  the  wide  'hor- 
izon of  the  continent,  and  the  sound  stretched 
eastward  to  the  Atlantic." 

Northport,  formerly  Great  Cow  Harbor,  has 
a  Presbyterian  Church  with  a  record  dating  from 
1794,  although  it  was  not  always  located  in  the 
village.  The  most  famous  'of  its  ministers  was 
the  Rev.  Joshua  Hartt,  w'ho  held  forth  to  its 
people  from  about  1780  until  1809,  by  which  time 
the  congregation  bad  dwindled  down  until  only 
a  'handful  remained.  The  Rev.  N.  S.  Prime,  the 
historian  of  Long  Island,  then  becam^e  pastor 
and  succeeding  in  reviving  it  so  that  at  the  con- 
clusion of  his  stay  of  eighteen  months  it  'had  a 
membership  of  forty.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hartt  con- 
tinued to  act  as  "pulpit  supply"  until  his  death, 
in  1825.  He  was  a  great  "marrying  minister," 
for  some  reason  or  other,  and  probably  mated 
more  couples  in  Huntington  than  any  other  cler- 
gyman, one  record  placing  the  number  as  high 
as  500.  The  town  is  beautifully  situated  upon  a 
body  of  water  which  formis  a  portion  of  Hunting- 
ton Bay,  and  is  ^  place  of  considerable  import- 
ance with  numerous  manufactories.  One  of  its 
chief  industries  is  the  Edward  Thompson  Pub- 


lishing Company,  one  of  the  largest  law  publish^ 
ing  houses  in  the  United  States,  employing  sev- 
eral hundred  people. 

Cold  Spring  Harbor  is  a  quaint  and  attrac- 
tive village,  situated'  upon  a  lovely  bay  of  the 
same  name,  which  is  one  of  the  noblest  estuaries 
of  the  sound.  The  surroundings  are  as  charming 
as  those  of  the  Lake  of  Como.  The  shores  at 
times  are  wide  lawns  of  velvet,  sloping  gradually 
back  into  broad  parks  of  green  to  an  elevation 
overlooking  the  waters  for  many  miles.  At  Cold 
Harbor  the  BrooMyn  Biological  Laboratory  has 
established  a  sumfmer  course  of  study,  and  many 
eminent  scholars  lecture  here  upon  topics  per- 
taining to  biological  science.  Students  from  the 
best  families  of  the  State  attend  in  large  num- 
bers, making  of  this  antique  village  a  modem 
college  tO'wn.  Like  many  of  the  old  seaports 
of  Long  Island,  Cold  Spring  Harbor  was  once 
tlie  seat  of  an  extensive  oil  industry.  Scores  of 
arctic  whalers  were  fitted  out  at  'this,  point  for 
their  perilous  voyages  to  the  north,  and  among 
the  inhabitants  of  the  village  are  yet  to  be  found 
numbers  of  old  salts,  those  rugged  and  hardy 
characters  of  the  Eastern'  shipping  population 
which  made  the  American  seaman  typical  tlie 
world  over.  Near  the  village  are  three  large 
fresh  water  lakes,  and  here  the  State  has  estab- 
lished one  of  its  principal  fish  hatcheries,  the 
product  of  which  reaches  many  millions  a  year 
and  serves  to  bountifully  replenish  the  waters 
of  the  sound  and  vicinity  with  a  constantly  in- 
creasing store  of  the  finny  tribes. 

There  are  several  other  smaller  settlements 
all  through  the  township.  It  possesses  many 
splendid  agricultural  sections,  but  its  glory  lies 
in  the  part  lying  between  the  railroad  and  the 
coast,  and  in  that  portion  of  the  township  there 
is  little  doubt  that  rapid  and  wonderful  devel- 
opments are  certain  in  the  immediate  future. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


BABYLON. 


^ 


TRICTLY  speal^ing,  the  history  of 
Babylon  township  only  commences 
with  ]\Iarch  13,  1872,  when  she  was 
constituted  to  the  dignity  of  a  sej)- 
arate  community  with  the  following  as  her 
boundary  lines,  according  to  the  act  oi  the  Leg- 
islature : 

On  the  north  by  a  line  commencing  at  the 
boundary  line  between  the  towns  of  Hunting- 
ton and  Oyster  Bay,  one  mile  north  of  the 
line  of  the  Long  Island  Railway,  and  running 
thence  easterly  and  parallel  with  said  Long 
Island  Railway  until  it  reaches  a  point  on  the 
boundary  line  between  the  towns  of  Hunting- 
ton and  Islip  one  mile  north  of  the  Long  Island 
Railroad;  on  the  east  by  the  town  of  Islip;  on 
the  south  by  the  'Atlantic  Ocean ;  on  the  west 
by  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay;  the  eastern  and 
western  boundaries  being  the  lines  now  estab- 
lished and  recognized  as  the  town  divisions  of 
the  said  several  towns  respectively. 

The  land  surface  is  remarkably  level  except- 
ing along  the  ocean  front,  which  is  'bordered 
with  sand  dunes,  and  an  inland  ridge  known  as 
the  Halfway  Hollow  Hills.  The  central  portion 
was  covered  with  a  heavy  pine  'forest  until  the 
railroad  era,  w^hen  numierous  ifires  occurred, 
mostly  kindled  by  sparks  from  locomotives,  caus- 
ing great  destruction  to  the  pine  timber,  and  there 
are  now  only  found  thick,  tangled  scrub  oaks 
and  stunted  pines.  Only  a  small  portion  of  this 
kind  of  land  is  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
The  soil  is  mostly  a  sand  loam.     The  land   is 


easily  cleared,  and  is  adapted  to  the  growing 
of  grain  and  root  crops,  and  probably  in  a  few 
years  large  tracts  will  be  cleared  and'  cultivated. 
The  marsh  land  portion  of  the  town  adjoins  the 
northern  and  southern  sides  of  the  Great  South 
Bay.  The  tract  on-  the  south  side  of  the  bay  ad- 
joins the  beach,  and  extends  the  entire  length  of 
the  town ;  it  is  but  about  a  half  -mile  in  width, 
and  the  land  is  overflowed  at  'high  tide. 

Down  to  the  time  of  the  enactment  of  the 
law  separating  it  from  Huntington,  as  before  re- 
lated, the  general  history  of  Babylon  is  contained 
in  that  of  the  parent  town.  It  had  its  revolution- 
ary experiences  and  heroes,  it  had  its  little  ex- 
citements in  1812,  and  it  contributed  its  full  pro- 
portionate share  to  the  heroes  who  went  to  the 
front  in  the  Civil  war,  yet  these  are  part  of  the 
history  of  Huntington  and  only  belong  to  Baby- 
lon in  a  sort  of  reflected  light  as  the  glory  of 
Shakespeare  and  j\[ilton  belongs  to  the  literature 
of  America.  And  yet  it  had  and  has  an  identity 
of  its  own,  and  is  not  to  be  treated  lightly  simply 
'because  it  hoasts  no  antiquity  as  a  political  di- 
vision. The  ancient  land  titles  are  in  large  part 
covered  by  the  early  transactions  which  have 
been  told  of  in  connection  with  Huntington,  but 
some  of  these  are  to  be  referred  to  herein  tO'  pre- 
serve the  symmetry  of  'the  local  narrative,  and 
to  avoid  turning  to  other  pages,  and  certainly 
the  Babylon  tract  figured  as  extensiveh^  as  a 
land  dealing  region  as  any  upon  Long  Island. 

A  number  of-tjhe  original  deeds  given'  by  In- 


190 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


dian  chiefs  for  land  in  this  town  are  emong  the 
town  records  of  Huntington.  One  dated  June 
5,  -^657,  between  Jonas  Wood,  of  Huntington, 
and  "Meantaquit  [Montauk]  sachem,"  witnesses 
that  Wood,  for  himlself  and  his  neighbors  oi 
Huntington,  "bought  five  necks  of  land  lying 
next  adjoining  to  Massapaugs  sachem's  land," 
giving  for  it  ''twenty  coats,  twenty  howes,  twen- 
ty hatohet'S,  twenty  knives,  ten  pounds  of  pow- 
der, ten  pounds  of  l-ead,  and  one  great  settell, 
and  one  hat,  present  in  hand;  and  doth  furtiher 
promi's  to  give  the  above  said  sachem'  every  year 
a  coat  for  six  years  next  ensuing," 

A  deed  dated  July  23,  1657,  m;ade  between 
Jonas  Wood  and  Wyandanch,  "the  sachem  of 
Secotaughe,"  conveyed  to  Wood  for  himself  one- 
half  neck  of  a  meadow  lying  "betwixt  a  river 
that  bounds  the  necks  bought  by  the  inhabitance 
of  Huntington  eastward  and  so  to  trees  that  are 
marked,  being  next  going  to  Masisapeqs  sachem's 
land,"  "for  and  in  consideration  oif  one  new  gun 
and  one  pistol  and  two  pounds  of  powder."  Tliis 
deed  was  "signed  in  ^the  presence  of  John  Strick- 
line,  John  Lion." 

May  12,  1659,  Wyandanch  confirmed  the  sale 
last  mentioned,  speaking  of  the  land  as  "that  half 
neck  from  the  water  along  the  creek  into  the 
highway  that  headeth  it."  The  deed  of  confirma- 
tion was  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  pres- 
ence of  David  Gardiner,  Jeremiah  Conklin  and 
Lion  Gardiner. 

Ey  deed  dated  August  17,  1658,  the  same 
sachem  "sold  to  Plenry  Whitney,  of  Huntington, 
for  the  use  of  the  whole  town  of  'Huntington 
three  wOiole  necks  of  meadow  land  lying  on  the 
southward  side  of  this  town,  and  westerly  by 
the  six  necks  which  were  bought  before;"  and 
sent  his  "agent  Oheoanoe  to  deliver  upon  condi- 
tions as  followeth:  first  they  shall  pay  or  cause 
to  be  paid  to  me  or  my  assigns  these  following 
goods  punctually,  that  is — first,  twelve  coats,  each 
coat  being  two  yards  of  tucking  cloth,  twenty 
pounds  of  powder,  twenty  dutch  hatchetts,  twen- 
ty dutch  howes,  twenty  dutch  knives,  ten  shirts, 
two  hundred  of  muxes  [awl  blades],  five  pairs  of 
handsome  stockens,  one  good  dutch  hat,  and  a 


great  fine  looking  glass;  and  for  Checanoe  for 
his  wages  and  going  to  mark  out  the  land  shall 
have  for  himself  one  coat,  seven  pounds  of  pow- 
der, six  pounds  of  lead,  one  dutch-  hatchet,  as 
also  seventeen  shillings  in  wampum." 

A  most  unique  document,  and  one  which 
might  well  arouse  a  query  as  to  tihe  real  under- 
standing of  the  Indians  of  the  papers  which  they 
.subscribed,  is  a  deed  of  July  12,  1689,  whereby 
Jeffery,  Will  Chepie  and  Whawacem,  Secatouge 
Indians  and  proprietors  of  a  neck  of  land  lying 
on  the  south  side  of  the  island  commonly  callled 
Santepauge,  with  the  consent  of  Pamequa  and 
Wampas,  and  the  rest  of  the  owners  of  that  neck 
of  upland,  "for  the  kindness  and  great  love" 
they  had  unto  Captain  (Epenetus)  Piatt,  Thom- 
as Wicks,  Jonathan  Rogers,  Sr.,  Nathaniel  Fos- 
ter and  the  rest  of  'fhe  owners  of  the  meadow 
line  of  that  neck  aforesaid,"  conveyed  to  them  all 
that  "tract  or  parcel  of  land  aforesaid  from 
the  edge  of  the  fresh  meadow  southward  unto 
the  Indian  path,  northward  as  now  it  is,  and 
from  the  river  eastward  that  parts  Guscomgi- 
raram  from  the  said  Sautapague  and  unto 
the  river  westward  that  parts  Sautapague 
and  OSfaguntepague;"  stipulating  "that  the  up- 
land aforesaid  may  be  equally  divided  with  every 
English  owner  of  mieadow  and  upland  ans*wer- 
able  to  their  proportion  of  meadow,  to  the  end 
that  the  English  and  Indians  may  not  be  tres- 
passers one  to  the  other  but  that  there  may  be 
neighborly  love  continued  between  English  and 
Indians.  *  *  *  Whereas  it  is  said  in  the  17 
line  the  upland  to  be  divided  according  to  the 
proportion  of  meadow,  it  was  a  mistake — the 
upland  is  to  every  man  alike  according  to  the 
intent  of  the  Indians." 

A  deed  dated  July  13,  1689  "witnesseth  that 
Jeffrey,  the  Indian  living  at  Secotauke — ^that  be- 
ing the  name  that  it  is  commonly  called  by" — 
had  sold  to  Robert  Kellum'  of  Huntington  "eight 
acres  of  land  at  Neguntatagu-e,  he  having  a  right 
there  whensoever  the  Indians  see  cause  to  sell 
it.  And  the  said  Jeffrey  doth  engage  that  the 
said  Robert  Kellum'  s'halil  have  this  eight  acres 
of  upland  at  the  south  end  of  the  neck  above 


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BABYLON  LAND  GRANT. 


192 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


mentioned  where  the  said  Robert  Kellum'  shall 
see  cause  to  take  it  in."  This  was  witnessed  by 
Jonathan  Harnott  and  Elizabet3i  Whitte. 

On  November  5,  1689,  Waudias,  Pamequa, 
Chippas,  Will  Cheepye,  Wamerweeram  and 
Peetawas,  chief  heads  of  the  Sequatogue  In- 
dians, "sold  to  Jonas  Ward,  Sr.,  Thomas  Fleet, 
Isaac  Piatt  and  Captain  Piatt,  oi  Huntington, 
**a  certain  neck  of  meadow  land  lying  and  being 
on  t'he  south  side  of  this  island  eastermO'St  of 
all  the  purc'hased  necks,  comimonly  called  or 
known  by  the  name  of  Sampawams  [Sumpa- 
wans]  bounded  on  the  south  side  with  the  sound 
[here  meaning  the  Great  South  Bay],  the  east 
■with  a  river  or  creek,  and  north  witb  the  Indian 
path  that  now  is  the  west  with  a  river  or  creek. 
We  ma}'  say  all  tlie  aforesaid  neck  of  meadow 
land,  both  fresh  and  salt,  with  its  upland  within 
the  bounds,  and  wood  'for  sellars,  gards  and 
firings  above  the  Indian  path,  unto  the  said  Jonas 
Wood  sen.  and  others,  their  heirs  &  assigns ;  and 
the  use  of  the  town  of  Huntington,  for  and  in 
consideration  of  the  sum  of  fower  score  and  ten 
pounds,  in  silver  or  goods  at  silver  prices,  all  in 
hand  secured  before  the  selling  and  delivery 
hereof."  This  was  the  neck  of  land  now  'occu- 
'  pied  by  that  part  of  the  village  of  Babylon  lying 
south  of  Prospect  street. 

Alarch  7,  1691,  subsequent  Indian  convey- 
ances to  land  now  in  Babylon  township  were 
made  to  Robert  Kellum;  to  Epenetus  Piatt,  Rich- 
ard 'Brush,  Jonas  Wood  and  Thomas  Brush ;  to 
John  AA'ood ;  to  Jonas  Wood ;  to  John  Ketcham 
and  Jonas  Piatt;  to  John  Ketcham,  James  Chi- 
chester and  Timothy  Conklin,  Sr. ;  to  Thomas 
Fleet  and  Nathaniel  Foster;  and  toothers.  One 
of  the  most  important  sales  took  place  as  late  as 
April  T4,  1702,  when  the  town  trustees  bought 
the  Sampaunes  .Creek  tract,  north  of  Pro'spect 
street,  in  the  village  of  Babylon,  and  south  of  the 
Long  Island  Railroad,  and  subsequent  purchases 
from  the  Indians  were  made  as  late  as  1705, 
when  (November  20)  the  native 'proprietors  con- 
veyed to  the  town  of  Huntington  a  tract  on  the 
south  side  of  the  'island  upon  a  neck  called 
Naguntatogtie ;  "bounded  on  the  south  side  by 
land  lying  above  the  meadows  purchased  by  the 


town  of  Huntington  aforesaid;  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  heads  of  the  two  swamps  and  the 
last  land  purchased  by  the  town  of  Huntington; 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  river  that  parteth 
this  said  neck  and  the  little  neck ;  to  them  as 
tenants  in  comm/on,  without  any  pretense  of  joint 
tenancy  or  survivorship ;  always  providing  * 
*  *  that  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  said  Indians 
to  hunt  on  ye  said  land." 

Mr.  James  M.  Cooper,  the  local  historian, 
has  remarked  that  it  is  doubtless  true  few  if 
any  dwellings  or  other  buildings  were  erected 
in  this  portion  of  Huntington  previous  to  the 
year  1700.  The  land  first  purchased  on  the  south 
side  was  bought  by  the  settlers  on  the  north  shore. 
They  bought  the  marshy  necks  of  land  on  the 
South  Bay,  which  were  then  and  are  now  cov- 
ered with  an  abundant  growth  of  salt  sedge 
and  black  grass.  These  lands  at  that  period  ap- 
pear to  have  been  more  highly  prized  by  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  than  the  uplands.  The 
farmers  were  in  great  need  of  hay  with  which 
to  feed  their  domestic  animals,  and  English 
grasses  were  but  little  cultivated  on  Long  Isl- 
and until  about  1800.  The  early  yeomen  spent 
the  early  portion  of  the  fall  months  in  cutting, 
curing  and  carting  the  hay  from  these  marshes 
to  their  north  side  homes,  ]\Ir.  Cooper  also  said 
that  it  is  rather  a  singular  fact,  although  more 
than  two  centuries  have  elapsed  since  the  town 
has  been  settled  by  the  white  race,  and  its  west- 
em  limits  are  only  about  thirtv* miles  from  New 
York  City,  more  than  three-quarters  of  the  land 
in  the  town  remains  in  an  uncultivated  state, 
that  portion  which  is  cultivated  being  on  the 
eastern  and  northwestern  parts  and  along  the 
southern  or  post  road.  This  was  said  three  dec- 
ades ago,  nor  has  there  been  a  marked  change 
since  then,  much  of  the  land  yet  lying  idle.  The 
population  has  increased,  however,  from  4,739 
in  1880,  to  7,1  T2  in  1900,  the  advance  being  fully 
apace  with  the  remainder  of  the  county,  except- 
ing those  villages  which  have  attracted  an  un- 
usual number  of  newcomers  through  their  su- 
perior residential  advantages. 

The  principal  interest  attaches  to  the  village 


BABYLON. 


193 


of  Babylon,  situated  in  the  southern  portion  oi 
the  town,  on  Sum/pawams  Neck,  and  now  having 
a  population  of  2,157.  ^^  would  appear  that  tihe 
village  was  given  its  name  in  the  form  of  New 
Babylon,  in  1803,  by  Mrs.  Conklin,  the  mother 
of  Nathaniel  Conklin,  but  its  prefix  "New"  has 
been  discarded. 


OLD  MILL. 

The  first  house  erected  on  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage was  probably  the  Heartte  residence,  about 
1760.  In  the  following  ten  years  a  number  of 
others  had  been  built,  but  they  were  so  few  that 
the  settlement  was  not  regarded  as  worthy  of 
the  designation  of  hamlet,  let  alone  village.  The 
Heartte  family  were  owners  of  large  tracts  at 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  Babylon,  and  Nehemiah 
Heartte  resided  on  the  home  place  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  One  of  his  sons,  Philip,  re- 
moved to  Troy,  New  York,  and  Jonas,  son  of 
the  latter  named,  became  mayor  of  that  city. 

But,  insignificant  as  it  was  in  these  far^back 
days,  the  village  preserves  some  interesting  rem- 
iniscences of  old-time  worthies  who  were  upon 
its  ground.  The  -old  Conklin  house,  the  oldest 
in  the  place,  and,  perhaps,  in  the  county,  was 
built  by  Captain  Jacob  Conklin,  about  whose 
name  is  a  glamour  of  romance  as  before  related. 
Conklin  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  from  the 
natives,  of  which  the  farm  late  the  property  of 

13 


Colonel  James  F.  Casey  is  part,  and  upon  wh'ch 
the  venerable  mansion  above  alluded  to  is  sit- 
uated. The  house  was  probably  erected  about 
1710,  and  every  part  of  it  bears  evidence  of  its 
antiquity.  The  high  hill  behind  the  dwelling 
commands  a  splendid  though  distant  view  of  the 
ocean  and  bay.  Near  by  are  several  fine  springta 
of  water,  one  of  which  is  said  to  be  of 
medicinal  character. 

Captain  Conklin  married  Hannah 
Piatt,  of  Huntington,  by  whom  he 
had  several  children,  among  them  Col- 
onel Piatt  Conklin,  who  was  an  ardent 
patriot  during  the  Revolution.  The 
latter  had  only  one  child,  Nathaniel, 
who  was  sheriff  of  the  county.  He 
was  the  third  owner  of  the  premises 
above  described.  This  property  de- 
scended to  the  grandchildren  of 
Sheriff  Conklin,  thus  having  been 
owned  by  four  successive  genera- 
tions of  the  family.  It  has  since 
been  owned  by  Dr.  Bartlett,  formerly 
editor  of  the  "Albion,"  Colonel 
James  F.  Casey,  and  Ulysses  S. 
Grant,  Jr. 
Babylon  was  also  the  home  of  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  patriot  soldiers  of  Long  Isl- 
and— Colonel  Abraham.  Skinner.  When  the 
revolutionary  struggle  began,  he  was  a  young 
lawyer  in  New  York  City,  his  birthplace.  He 
was  of  excellent  family,  related  to  the  Van 
Cortlandts,  De  Peysters  and  De  Lanceys. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  (in  1773)  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Catherine  Foster,  of  Jamaica.  He 
was  an  ardent  Whig,  and  gave  his  hearty 
support  to  the  patriot  cause.  He  was  on  terms 
of  personal  friendship  with  Washington,  Gen- 
eral Nathaniel  Greene  and  other  worthies  of 
those  stirring  times.  Washington  made  him  a. 
commissary  of  prisoners,  and  he  represented  bis 
government  in  all  relating  to  the  exchange  of  and 
treatment  of  the  unhappy  men  incarcerated  in 
the  prisons  of  New  York  and  on  board  the  prison 
ships  in  the  harbor.  He  subsequently  acted  as 
quartermaster  and  an  account  book  kept  by  him 
while  he  was  acting  in   that  capacity  shows  a 


194 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


marked  resemblance  of  handwriting  to  that  of 
Washington.  This  book  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  James  B.  Cooper,  of  Babylon.  Dur- 
ing the  New  Jersey  campc^ign,  Skinner  held  the 
rank  of  captain,  and^  for  a  time,  served  as  secre- 
tary in  the.  field  to  the  illustrious  commlander-in- 
chief. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Colonel  Skinner 
took  up  his  residence  in  Jamaica,  whence  he  re- 
moved about  1808,  to  Babylon.  He  represented 
Queens  county  in  the  state  assembly  in  1784  and 
1785,  and  about  three  years  later  he  was  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  that  county,  serving  until  1796, 
and  he  also  served  as  master  in  chancery.  He 
was  a  successful  lawyer,  and  an  orator  of  high 
ability.  He  was  a  stanch  Federalist,  and,  in  com-  ' 
mon  with  the  great  majority  in  that  party,  he 
was  strongly  opposed  to  the  second  war  with 
Englanid.  While  that  war  was  at  its  height  the 
Rev.  Joshua  Hart,  of  Smithtown,  a  famous 
preacher  of  his  day,  came  here  and  filled  the 
pulpit  of  the  old  Presbyterian  Church,  now  occu- 
pied as  a  dwelling  by  the  Misses  Sammis. 
"Priest"  Hart,  as  he  was  termed,  in  his  sermon 
made  a  strong  plea  for  the  vigorous  prosecution 
of  the  war,  defending  every  act  of  President 
Madison.  Colonel  Skinner  was  present  and  was 
much  displeased  at  the  sermon.  At  its  close  he 
took  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hart  to  task  for  it,  but  the 
venerable  divine  would  not  retract  anything  he 
had  said,  and  the  argument  that  ensued  was  quite 
spirited.  The  clergyman  and  the  old  soldier 
were  friend's  of  long  standing,  however,  and  the 
dispute  on  that  occasion  did  not  disrupt  their 
friendship. 

Colonel  Skinner's  promotion  to  a  colonelcy 
at  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  did  not 
carry  increase  of  pay,  and  it  was  not  until  twenty 
years  after  the  war  closed  that  tlie  first  pension 
act  was  passed,  and  Skinner  had  become  desper- 
ately poor.  The  first  pen'sion  law  provided  only 
for  the  compensation  of  such  officers  as  were 
known  to  be  in  need,  and  to  take  advantage  of 
it  a  very  humihating  declaration  was  required. 
Skinner  avoided  asking  for  a  pension  as- long  as 
possible,  but  was  finally  obliged  to  do  so,  and 
when  it  was  awarded  him  he  lived  in  comparative 


comfort,  although  the  amount  was  small.  The 
pension  ceased  with  his  death  and  his  widow 
was  left  in  almost  destitute  circumstances.  His 
death  occurred  in  1825  and  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  adjoining  Grace  Church, 
in  Jamaica.  No  stone  was  ever  placed  over  his 
last  resting  place  and  it  is  doubtful  if  the  exact 
location  of  his  grave  is  known.  He  left  no  chil- 
dren, his  only  child' — a  son — ^^having  died'  in  his 
youth.' 

Another  worthy  of  the  same  day  was  Cap- 
tain Joel  Cook,  who  died  in  the  village  on  De- 
cember 8,  1851.  He  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
and  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  began.  He  sought  to  enter  the  arriiy, 
but  was  rejected  on  account  of  his  undersize  and 
youth,  but  managed  to  gain  the  favor  of  a  conti- 
nental officer,  whom  he  accompanied  as  a  body 
servant.  A  year  later  he  entered  the  ranks  and 
bore  arms  during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 
In  1 81 2  he  formed  a  company  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  and  was  commissioned  captain.  He 
fought  in  several  engagements,  including  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe,  in  which  Tecumseh,  the  fa- 
mous Indian  warrior,  was  killed.  He  was  of  the 
garrison  at  Detroit,  and  was  among  the  troops 
surrendered  by  General  Hull.  He  was  held  pris- 
oner in  Canada  for  a  time,  was  exchanged,  and 
returned  to  service,  Ini  1814  he  was  inspector 
of  customs  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  In  .1840, 
while  a  resident  of  Yonkers,  New  York,  he  was 
the  guest  of  honor  at  a  Fourth  of  July  banquet, 
and  upon  that  occasion  Hon.  W.  W.  Schrugan, 
afterward  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court,  acting 
on  behalf  of  the  citizens,  presented  to  the  veteran 
a  gold  medal,  which  bore  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : 

"Presented  to  Capt.  Joel  Cook,  by  the  citizens 
of  Yonkers,  in  honor  of  his  patriotic  services  in 
defense  of  libertv.     July  4,  1840. 

"At  the  Battles  of  Danbury,  White  Plains, 
Trenton,  Stony  Point,  Springfield  and  Tippe- 
canoe." 

The  activity  of  the  modem  village  was  coin- 
cident with  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. In  1 80 1  Nathaniel  Conklin  built  a  tannery, 


BABYLON. 


195 


and  a  cloth  mill  was  set  in  operation  about  1810 
by  Timothy  Carll.  About  the  same  time  Abra- 
ham S.  Thompson  kept  the  principal  store;  he 
subsequently  became  a  prominent  merchant  in 
New  York  City.  It  was  also  near  this  time  that 
an  inn  was  opened  by  Jesse  Smith,  and  the  busi- 
ness then  established  is  still  known  as  the  Amer- 
ican House.  It  has,  perhaps,  from  the  historian's 
point  of  view,  a  more  interesting- record  than  any 
existing  house  of  entertainment  on  Long  Island, 
It  was  one  of  the  stopping  places  in  the  days 
prior  to  1841  of  the  coaches  carrying  the  mails, 
and  was  then  a  popular  place  of  "refreshment  for 
mian  and  beast."  Among  its  many  distinguished 
guests  mention  is  made  of  Prince  Joseph  Bona- 
parte, ex-King  of  Spain  and  a  brother  of  Na- 
poleon the  Great,  who  in  the  course  of  a  tour 
through  Long  Island  in  1816  put  up  at  the  hos- 
telry for  -several  days — longer  than  he  intended 
to — but  he  was  overtaken^  by  a  sudden  illness. 
This  distinguished  individual  traveled  around 
with  a  good  deal  of  style,  and  his  illness  was 
doubtless  a  most  fortunate  source  of  increase  to 
the  week's  financial  returns.  An  Italian  gentle- 
man was  his  traveling  companion,  and  in  his 
train  he  had  several  carriages.  The  vehicle  in 
which  he  rode  was  drawn  by  four  splendid 
horses ;  another  carriage  carried'  his  cooks  and 
other  servants,  and  the  third  was  loaded  with  sil- 
verware, wines  and  cooking  utensils.  The  Prince 
was  in  search  of  a  piece  of  property  on  which 
he  might  settle,  but  apparently  was  unable  to 
find  what  he  wanted  and  continued  the  search 
elsewhere,  finally  locating  at  Bordentown,  New 
Jersey.  In  1840  a  much  greater  man  than  this 
kmg,  who  had  retired  from  business,  was  a  guest 
for  a  night  at  the  American  House — the  immor- 
tal Daniel  Webster — who  rested  at  Babylon-  "Wfhile 
on  his  way  to  arouse  the  Patchogue  Whigs  into 
a  proper  condition  of  enthusiasm.  This  he  did, 
for  on  such  an  expedition  failure  with  him  was 
an  impossibility. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Babylon  claims 
an  existence  since  1797.  That  was  when  the 
Presbyterian  Church  government  was  effected  by 
the  election  of  a  session  and  trustees,  and  the 
charge  of  the  congregation    was    formally    as- 


sumed by  the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island,  April 
II,  1797.  It  seems  to  have  been  an  offshoot 
from  a  congregation  which  in  1730  built  a  church 
in  Is'lip  township.  Its  first  house  of  worship  was 
demolished  by  the  British  soldiers  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  the  miaterial  being  taken  to 
Hempstead  and  used  in  the  erection  of  barracks. 
A  new  edifice  was  built  about  1783.  In  1797  the 
congregation  was  ministered  to  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gleason,  who  also  conducted  services  at  Smith- 
town.  Of  but  limited  education,  he  was  a  pleas- 
ing speaker  and  a  companionable  man,  and  his 
popularity  was  increased  by  his  service  as  a  chap- 
lain in  the  Continental  army.  In  1804  he  was 
brought  to  trial  for  intemperance,  and  on  confes- 
sion of  his  faults  and  promise  of  reforrnation  he 
was  continued  in  the  pastoral  office.  Two  years 
later  more  grave  charges  were  preferred  against 
him,  and  the  trial,  which  continued  for  fiy&  days, 
created  much  feeling  in  the  community.  Being 
found  guilty  and  put  under  sentence  of  suspen- 
sion he  was  again  charged  with  iflagrant  of- 
fenses, whereupon  he  refused  to  stand  trial  and 
was  deposed.  A  portion  of  the  congregation  re- 
sented this  action  and  sought  his  reinstatem'ent, 
and  this  failing,  a  division  of  the  church  took 
place,  and  the  differences  were  not  reconciled  un- 
til several  years  later. 

The  Methodist  congregation  dates  from  1840, 
and  Trinity  Episcopal  Church  from  1862,  „  but 
that  parish  was  afterward  merged  into  that  of 
Christ  Church,  "West  Islip.  The  Baptists  founded 
their  church  in  1872,  and  St.  Joseph's  Roman 
Catholic -Church  dates  from  1878. 

The  first  pO'Stoffice  was  establis'hed  in  the  early 
part  of  the  last  century,  and  was  known  for  a 
score  of  years  as  Huntington  South.  The  first 
postmaster  was  Major  Timothy  Carll.  The  first 
newspaper  was  the  "Suffolk  Democrat,"  founded 
in  1859  by  Hon.  John  R.  Reid,  who  removed  the 
material  from  Huntington,  where  the  paper  had 
been  previously  published.  Various  manufac- 
tures are  carried  on  and  oystering  and  clamming 
are  important  industries. 

The  Babylon  of  the  present  day  is  a  beautiful 
spot,  located  directly  upon  the  Great  South  Bay, 
enjoying  the  uninterrupted  and  unoontaminated 


196 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAN-D. 


breezes  from'  off  the  ocean.  The  village  is  much 
sought  by  ipermanent  residents  and  summer  so- 
journers of  the  most  desirable  classes.  Vast  ho- 
tels have  sprung  up,  some  of  them'  among  the 
most  perfectly  fitted  up  and  most  beautifully  at- 
tractive of  any  near  the  metropolis,  golf  links 
have  been  laid  out  .and  sporting  clubs  of  all  sorts 
have  been  organizied,  notable  among  the  latter  be- 
ing the  Westminster  Kennel  Club.  The  vicinity 
has  also  its  attractions,  and  even  the  sandy  wastes 
of  Oak  Island  and  M'uncie  Island  have  been 
adapted  to  the  uses  of  man,  transformied  into 
health  or  pleasure  resorts.  At  Muncie  Island  is 
the  famous  'Muncie  Surf  Sanitarium.  Steamers 
ply  between  Babylon  and  Fire  Island  and  Oak  Isl- 
and, and  near  by  are  the  elegantly  appointed 
buildings  of  the  Wawayanda  and  Short  Beach 
Clubs,  and  made  up  in  greater  part  of  New  York 
and  Brooklyn  men  of  affairs. 

Amitwille,  which  was  once  known  as  West 


ARGYLE  LAKE. 

Neck,  seems  also  to  have  had  its  origin  in  a  grist 
and  saw  mill,  and  dates  back  to  about  1780.  It 
had  an  inn  as  early  as  the  date  of  Washington's 
tour  through  Long  Island,  for  we  read  in  Onder- 
donk's  ''Annals"  that  the  Father  of  his  Country 
''dined  at  Zebulon  Ketcham's  Huntington  South 


and  begged  the  landlord  to  take  no  trouble  about 
the  fare,  and  on  leaving  gave  a  half  Joe  and  a 
kiss  to  his  (Ketcham's)  daughter."  The  present 
village  must  be  classed  as  a  modern  town.  Its 
oyster  business  is  large  and  prosperous,  its  hotels 
are  modem  and  well  appointed,  and  its  health 
sanitarmms  are  famous  all  over  the  country.  It 
has  all  modern  improvements  in  the  way  of  splen- 
did roads,  electric  lights  and  boating  and  fishing 
appliances  for  pleasure  seekers,  and  attracts  a 
yearly  increasing  colony  of  summer  residents  of 
the  highest  social  class. 

One  of  the  famous  institutions  of  Long  Isl- 
and is  located  at  Amityville — the  Long  Island 
Hotel,  designed  for  the  treatment  of  those  dis- 
ordered mentally.  Its  founder  was  John  Lou- 
den, a  native  of  'Maine.  His  early  years  were 
given  to  mercantile  pursuits  in  his  native  town. 
During  the  Civil  war  he  served  with  a  Maine  reg- 
iment. His  was  a  varied  career  for  some  rears 
afterward.  He  was  an  advance 
agent  for  Cooper  Brothers'  cir- 
cus, and  he  was  a  deputy  mar- 
shal and  aided  in  the  capture  of 
the  notorious  St.  Alban's  bank 
robbers.  In  1869  he  took  up  his 
residence  in  Babylon,  Long  Isl- 
and. For  six  years  he  was  su- 
perintendent of  the  Suffolk 
County  Alms  House  in  Yap- 
hank,  and  in  the  management 
of  that  institution  he  introduced 
numerous  important  innovations, 
conducting  it  with  rare  intelli- 
gence and  himianity.  He  em- 
ployed the  inmates  in  labor  on 
the  county  farm,  to  the  improve- 
ment of  their  health  and  morals,, 
and  to  the  financial  advantage  of 
the  taxpayers  by  reducing  the 
expense  of  maintaining  the  pau- 
pers. His  success  in  this  field  led  to 
his  appointment  as  deputy  superintendent 
and  afterward  as  superintendent  of  the  work 
house  at  Blackwell's  Island,  and  he  was 
subsequently  general  inspector  of  the  charita- 
ble   and    correctional     institutions    of    the    city 


BABYLON. 


197 


of  New  York.  In  1881  he  became  superintend- 
ent of  the  hong  Island  Home  Hotel  at  Amityville, 
an  establishment  which  primarily  grew  out  of  his 
efforts.  It  was  a  calling  for  which  he  was  emi- 
nently well  fitted.  While  superintendent  of  the 
alms  house  at  Yaphank  he  had  the  care  of  many 
demented  persons,  and  his  experience  with  them 
led  him  into  new  methods  of  treatment.  Realiz- 
ing their  helplessness,  his  humane  feelings  were 
touched,  and  he  devoted  his  attention  to  ame- 
liorating their  condition,  banishing  the  straight 
jacket  and  other  scientific  modes  of  torture,  and 
substituting  kindly  treatment,  and  finding  his 
reward  in  evident  improvement  in  many  cases. 
In  his  new  establishment,  entirely  under  his  own 
control,  he  continued  the  same  manner  of  treat- 
ment, with  greater  opportunity  of  observing  par- 
ticular cases  and  caring  for  them  in  the  light  of 
their  individual  necessity.  It  need  only  be  fur- 
ther said  that  his  work  has  been  a  real  boon  to 
a  class  of  afflicted  humianity  which  is  absolutely 
unable  to  minister  to  itself. 

Two  miles  north  of  Amityville  the  Roman 
Catholic  sisterhood  of  St.  Dominick  founded  a 
community  upon  a  sixty-acre  tract  of  land,  and 


upon  which  were  erected  a  massive  building 
costing  $256,000,  including  the  Church  of  the 
Rosary,  the  convent,  the  novitiate,  the  orphanage 
and  the  apartments  for  the  aged.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  May  8,  1878,  and  the  dedication 
took  place  March  3,  1879,  the  Rev.  M.  May, 
vicar  general,  officiating. 

Lindenhurst,  formerly  Breslau,  only  dates 
back  to  1869,  when  it  was  founded  as  a  German 
colony,  with  manufacturing  as  its  feature,  and 
that  feature  it  still  retains.  It  now  has  a  popu- 
lation estimated  at  1,080,  an  increase  of  only 
about  100  in  a  decade.  It  is,  however,  a  thriv- 
ing place,  and  well  adapted  as  a  manufacturing 
center. 

South  Oyster  Bay,  under  its  modern  name  of 
Massapequa,  has  within  the  past  few  years  as- 
sumed considerable  importance  as  a  summer  res- 
idential village,  with  its  fine  hotel  and  many  beau- 
tiful and  attractive  villas.  It  has  an  estimated 
population  of  about  500.  Deer  Park,  with  an 
estimated  population  of  275,  West  Deer  Park, 
with  200,  North  Babylon,  with  257,  and  May- 
wood,  with  60,  are  among  the  other  settlements 
in  this  township. 


JO 

Hi 

% 


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V 


afe 


%. 


ii 


MOUTH  OF    NISSEQUOGUE  RIVER. 

(By  favor  of  W.  L,   Mathieson,  Esq.) 


CHAPTER  X. 


SMITHTOWN. 


s 


N  the  town  records  of  SoutharnptoiT, 
und>er  date  of  October  26,  1643,  occurs, 
the  following: 


"It  is  ordered  that  Thomas  Hyldrefli 
shall  satisfy  unto  Mr.  Smith  to  the  value  of  three 
pounds  and  twelve  shilings  and  four  pence,  to  bee 
payd  unto  him  in  English  w'heate  after  the  rate  of 
foure  shillings  by  the  bushell  betwixt  this  and  the 
first  of  March,  and  that  this  order  shall  bee  a 
finall  ende  of  all  matters  of  Controversie  what 
soever  betwixt  them." 

Such  is  the  first  mention  made  of  a  man  who 
was   destined   to  act   an   important  part   in   the 


history  of  Long  Island.  Of  his  previous  history 
we  know  absolutely  nothing,  and  the  most  care- 
ful ;ah-d  painstaking  investigation  has  failed  to 
throw  any  light  on  the  subject.  He  is  said  by 
some  historians  to  have  come  from  a  certain  vil- 
lage in  Yorkshire,  England,  but  the  evidence  is 
not  sufficient  to  warrant  us  in  stating  it  as  a 
fact.  How  long  he  had  been  in  Southampton 
before  the  above  date  is  not  known,  but  he  had 
time  enough  to  become  involved  in  a  contro- 
versy with  one  of  its  inhabitants.  On  March  7, 
1644,  the  men  of  Southampton  were  divided  into 
four   "Wards"    for   the   purpose   of   cutting  up 


SMITHTOWN. 


199 


whales  cast  upon  the  shore.  Richard  Smith 
was  in  the  "fourth  Ward/'  and  in  1653,  when 
they  were  divided  into  four  ''Squadrons,"  for 
the  same  purpose,  he  was  leader  of  the  first 
"Squadron/' 

From  the  very  first  he  seems  to  have  been  a 
leader  in  the  settlement.  His  home  lot  was  one 
of  the  most  eligible  in  the  town.  The  fact  that 
he  owned  a  full  proprietor's  right  shows  that 
he  was  a  man  of  means,  and  the  title  of  ''Mr." 
(then  much  more  than  an  unmeaning  compli- 
ment) is  sufficient  indication  of  his  social  posi- 
tion. In  'March,  1647,  he  was  one  of  the  "five 
men"  appointed  to  lay  out  land,  and  on  October 
7,  1648,  he  was  chosen  freeman  of  the  town,  and 
thus  became  a  member  of  the  General  Court  and 
eligible  to  any  office.  On  December  17,  1651, 
he  was  prosecuted  by  Mark  Meggs  "in  an  ac- 
tion of  slander  and  defamation,"  but  the  judge 
decided  in  his  favor.  In  November,  1648,  he 
was  one  of  the  general  committee  to  regulate  the 
laying  out  of  land  on  the  "Gre^t  Playn^s/''and 
in  1649  he  held  the  same  position. 

January  11,  1650,  Deborah  Raynor  entered  a 
suit  for  breach  of  promise  of^inarriage  (the  first 
probably  that  ever  occurred '^'in  Long  Island) 
against  "John  Kelly,  carpenter,"  who  assured  her 
that  his  fonner  wife  was  dead,  but,  wheri,  brought 
before  the  Court,  and  it  was  proved  that  she  was 
still  living," he^"atterripted  to  exclase  bimself  by 
saying  that  he  meant  shee  was  deade  in  tres- 
passes and  sinnes,"  a  plea  which  did  not  save 
him  from  well  merited  punishment.  Mr.  Smith 
was  one  of  the  arbitrators  who  levied  upon  him  a 
very  substantial  fine  to  be  paid  to  Deborah  for 
her  injured  feelings. 

On  October  7,  1650,  by  vote  of  the  General 
Court,  he  was  chosen  constable,  an  office  at 
that  time  of  great  dignity  and  honor.  Shortly 
afterwards  he  had  a  suit  against  Thomas  Doxy, 
and  won  the  case,  which  must  have  been  of  some 
importance,  as  he  gained  £15  6  shillings  and  2 
pence  damages.  On  May  3,  1654,  he  was  grant- 
ed an  addition  to  his  home  lot.  His  entire  ca- 
reer in  Southampton  shows  him  to  have  been  a 
man  of  active  enterprise,  foremost  among  his 
equals,  and  of  the  same  rank  as  Edward  Howell, 


Lion  Gardiner  and  Richard  Woodhull,  the  three 
famed  leaders  of  Long  Islafid  settlements.  Fin- 
ally, on  September  17,  1656,  occurs  the  follow- 
ing: 

"It  is  ordered  by  ye  General  Court  that  Rich- 
ard Smith  for  his  irreverent  carriage  towards  the 
Magistrates,  contrary  to  the  order,  was  adjudged 
to  bee  banished  out  of  the  Towne,  and  hee  is  to 
have  a  weeke's  liberty  to  prepare  himiself  to  de- 
parte,  and  if  at  any  time  hee  bee  found  after 
that  limited  weeke  within  the  Towne  or  the 
bounds  thereof,  hee  shall  forfeit  twenty  shillings." 

It  seems,  however,  that  the  magistrates 
thoug'ht  better  of  it,  and  did  not  insist  upon  his 
leaving  within  the  specified  time,  for  some  weeks' 
later  he  was  still  in  the  town,  and  engaged  in  a 
controversy  with  Henry  Pierson.  What  was  the 
real  nature  of  his  offense  we  do  not  know.  It 
is  very  evident,  however,  that  there  was  noth- 
ing of  a  criminal  nature  connected  with  it.  His 
offense  Avas  simply  what  would  now  be  called 
a  very  aggravated  case  of  contempt  of  court.  His' 
whole  career  shows  him  to  have  been  a  man 
of  most  determined  will  and  great  persistency  of 
purpose,  and  it  is  quite  possible  thJat  he  mav 
have  disobeyed  some  order  which  he  cor 
unreasonable,  and  may  have  used  la 
toward  the  court  that  was  more  emphal 
complimentary. 

Upon  leaving  Southampton  he  seems 
sold  his  house,  lot  and  meadows  to  Maj( 
Howell,  and  they  remained  in  the  posse; 
his  descendants  for  many  years' after.     P 
place  of  residence  was  Setauket,  where, 
for  a  tieighbor  Richard  Woodhull,  who  t 
\nously    lived    in    Southampton.      His    dwelling 
place  'was'  on  the  west  side  of  the  street,  and  no 
doubt  the  exact  spot  could  be  identified  With  a 
little  antiquarian  efi'ort.    The  great  aspiration  of 
his.  life  seems  to  have  been  a  desire  tO'  be  an  ex- 
tensive landholder,  and  to  possess  a  domain  of 
which  he  was  to  be  the  sole  owner  and  free  from 
the  domination  of  other  jurisdictions. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  here  that  Richard 
Smith  has  be,en  wnitten  of  by  some  historians  as 
two  entirely  different  persons.  The  first  is  Rich- 
ard' Smith,  who  was  an  early  owner  of  a  wide 


200 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


lot  on  the  north  side  of  Pearl  street,  in  New 
York,  near  Hanover  Square.  He  and  his  son 
of  the  same  name  went  to  Rhode  Island,  and  are 
frequently  mentioned  in  the  records  of  that  col- 
ony. The  other  Richard  Smith  was  a  Quaker, 
who,  it  seems,  had  lived  in  Southampton  and  had 
gone  to  Massachusetts,  whence  he  had  been  de- 
ported to  Long  Island,  as  an  ''emissary  of  Sa- 
tan/' -He  is  known  in  Southampton  as  "Richard 
Smith,  of  North  Sea,''  and  is  mentioned  in  the 
East  Hampton  records.  As  he  was  an  illiterate 
man  who  signed  his  name  with  a  mark,  it  is  need- 
less to  say  that  he  was  not  the  patentee  of  Smith- 
town.  The  history  of  Smithtown  begins  at  a 
period  somewhat  later  than  the  other  eastern 
towns  on  Long  Island. 

At  the  time  of  the  settlement  by  the  whites 
in  1650  it  was  inhabited  by  the  Nesaquake  or 
Nissequogue  tribe,  who  dwelt  on  bofh  sides  of 
the  Nissequogue  River,  from  its  mouth  to  its 
head  in  the  southern  part  of  Hauppauge;  as  far 
east  as  Stony  Brook  and  as  far  west  as  Fresh 
Pond  and  Gomac,  The  tribe  and  the  river  de- 
rived their  name  from  Nesaquake,  an  Indian 
sagamore,  the  father  of  Nasseconset,  the  latter 
being  the  sagamore  at  the  tinne  of  the  convey- 
ances to  the  whites  hereinafter  referred  to. 

The  first  conveyance  of  these  lands  found  on 
record  was  made  by  Nasseconset  in  1650.  In  that 
year  he  and  his  councilors  madfe  the  following 
first  Indian  deed : 

Articles  of  agreement  between  Nasseconseke, 
Sachem  of  Nesequake,  of  the  one  part,  and  Ed- 
mond  Wood,  Jonas  Wood,  Jeremy  Wood,  Tim- 
othy Wood  and  Daniel  Whitehead  of  the  other, 
and  Stephen  Hudson. 

This  writing  witnesseth  that  I  Nasseconsack, 
Sachem  of  Long  Island,  do  sell  and  make  over  to 
the  aforesaid  partyes,  Edmond  Wood,  Jonas 
Wood,  Jeremy  Wood,  Timothy  Wood,  Stephen 
Hudson  and  Daniel  Whitehead,  a  certaine  quanti- 
ty of  land,  beginning  at  a  River  called  and  com- 
monly knowne  by  the  name  of  Nesaquake  River, 
and  from  that  River  Eastward  to  a  River  called 
Memanusack,  lying  on  the  iNorth  side  of  Long 
Island,  and  on  the  South  side  from  Conecticott 
foure  Necks  westward ;  promising,  and  by  vertue 
of  this  writing  do  promise,  that  the  aforesaid 
partyes  shall  quietly  possess  and  enjoy  the  said 


quantityes  of  Land  without  any  trouble  or  dis- 
turbance from  any  other  Indyans  whatsoever. 
In  consideration  of  which  land,  we  the  aforesaid 
Partyes  do  promise  to  pay  unto  the  aforesaid 
Naseconsake,  Six  Coatts,  Six  flathom  of  Wam- 
pone,  Six  Howes,  Six  Hatchetts,  Six  knives. 
Six  kettles,  one  hundred  Muxes,  to  be  paid  on 
or  before  the  29th  of  September  1650. 

Attached  to  the  above  deed  is  the  following: 

I  Jonas  Wood  do  hereby  testifie,  that  I  and 
Jeremy  Wood  and  Daniel  Whitehead  went  to 
view  the  foure  Necks  of  meadow,  lying  west- 
ward from  Conecticutt  River,  mentioned  in  the 
bill  of  Nessaquake  purchase,  and  there  lived  an 
old  Homes  and  his  sonne  whose  name  was 
Wanequaheag,  who  owned  those  Necks  and  we 
told  them  that  Naseconsake  had  undertaken  to 
sell  us  those  four  necks,  and  they  seemed 
very  willing.  Jonas  Wood. 

May  2S,  1663. 

This  deed  covers  the  territory  between  Nis- 
sequogue River  and  Stony  Brook.  The  grantees 
sold  parts  of  their  purchase  to  other  parties,  as 
will  be  hereafter  seen.  At  that  time  Wyan- 
danch,  the  great  sachem  of  Montauk,  was  the 
acknowledged  ruler  of  all  the  other  sachems  on 
the  east  end  of  Long  Island.  All  the  smaller  tribes 
paid  tribute  to  him,  and  it  was  generally  under- 
stood that  no  conveyance  of  land  was  vaHd  with- 
out his  concurrence.  In  many  instances  he  held 
the  title  to  the  lands  by  gift  or  purchase  from  the 
subordinate  chief,  and  conveyed  those  lands  to 
the  whites  in  his  own  name;  and  in  others  he 
joined  with  the  lesser  sachems  or  sagamores  of 
the  tribes  in  conveying  the  lands  within  his  jur- 
isdiction. Wyandanch  and  his  tribe  were  in  con- 
stant dread  oif  the  Pequots  and  Narragansetts, 
warlike  tribes  of  Indians  on  the  Connecticut 
shore,  between'  whom  and  the  Montauks  was 
waged  a  continuous  warfare,  by  reason  of  which 
the  Montauks  were  so  much  reduced  in  numbers 
as  to  be  in  danger  of  annihilation,  and  were 
obliged  to  leave  their  possessions  at  Montauk 
and  seek  refuge  and  protection  among  the  whites 
at  East  Ham'pton.  In  one  of  the  incursions  of 
the  Narragansetts  across^  the  sound  they  seized 
and  carried  off  into  captivity  the  daughter  of 


SMITHTOWN. 


201 


Wyandanch  on  the  evening  of  her  wedding. 
Lion  Gardiner,  patentee  of  Gardiner's  Island,  the 
first  white  man  Who  settled  on  the  east  end  of 
Long  Island,  had  been  on  intimate  terms  with 
and -commanded  the  respect  of  the  Connecticut 
Indians  while  commander  of  the  fort  at  Say- 
hrook.  After  his  purchase  of  Gardiner's  Island 
he  acquired  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
Montauks,  and  was  their  friend  and  counsellor 
in  all  their  troubles.  By  his  interposition  the  fair 
Indian  miaiden  was  surrendered  by  her  captx)rs 
and  restored  to  her  grief-stricken  father.  In  re- 
turn for  this'  kindness  Wyandanch  gave  to  his 
benefactor  a  deed  for  the  Nesaquake  lands.  The 
original  deed  was  discovered  by  the  late  Caleb 
Smith,  of  Comae,  among  his  father's  papers.  He 
presented  it  to  the  Long  Island  Historical  Soci- 
ety, and  it  hangs  in  the  society's  building  in 
Brooklyn.    It  is  as  follows  r 

East -Hampton,  July  14th,  1659. 
Be  it  known  unto  all  men  both  English  and 
Indians,  especially  the  inhabitants  of  Long  Isl- 
and, that  'I,  Wyandance,  sachem  of  Paumanack, 
with  my  wife  and  son  Wyandanbone,  my  only 
son  and  heir,  having  deliberately  considered  how 
this  twenty-four  years  we  have  been  not  only  ac- 
quainted with  Lyon  Gardiner,  but  from  time  to 
time  and  from  much  kindness  of  him  by  coun- 
cell  and  advice  in  our  prosperity,  but  in  our  great 
extremity,  when  we  were  almost  swallowed  up  of 
our  enemies — then,  we  say,  he  appeared  to  us  not 
only  as  a  friend,  but  as  a  father  in  giving  us  his 
mbney  and  goods,  whereby  we  defended  our- 
selves, and  ransomed  my  daughter ;  and  we  say 
and  know  that  by  this  means  we  had  great  com- 
fort and  relief  from  the  most  honorable  of  the 
English  nation  here  about  us ;  so  that,  seeing  we 
yet  live,  and  both  of  us  being  now  old,  and  not 
that  we  at  any  time  have  given  him  anything  to 
gratify  his  love  and  care  and  charge,  we 
having  nothing  left  that  is  worth  his  accept- 
ance but  a  small  tract  of  land  left  us,  we  desire 
him  to  accept  for  himself,  his  heirs;,  executors 
and  assigns  forever.  Now  that  it  may  be  known 
how  and  where  this  land  lyeth  on  Long  Island, 
we  say  it  lyeth  between  Huntington  and  Se- 
tauket,  the  western  bound  being  Cow  Harbor, 
easterly  Acatamunk,  and  southerly  crosse  the 
island  to  the  end  (of  the  great  hollow  or  valley, 
or  more  than  'half  way  through  the  island 
southerly;   and   that   this   is   our   free   gift   and 


deed  doth  appear  by  our  band  mark  under 
written.  Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the 
presence  of 

Richard  Smythe. 
Thomas  Chatfield. 
Thomas  Tat.mage. 

Wyandance  F  M  his  mark. 
Wyandbone  III,  his  mark. 

The  sachem's  wife  S.  M.,  her  mark. 

It  seems  that  Lion  Gardiner  sold  this  tract 
to  Richard,  as  is  mentioned  in  a  deed  from  the 
Sachem  Nesatesconsett  (the  same  sachem  named 
as  Nasseconseke  in  the  deed  to  Edmond  Wood 
and  others)  as  will  be  seen.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  Richard  Smith  was  one  of  the  witnesses 
of  the  deed  given  to  Lion  Gardiner,  and  there 
can  be  little  doubt  but  that  the  whole  affair  had 
been  prearranged  between  Gardiner  and  Smith. 
Richard  Smith  lost  no  time  in  applying  for  a 
patent  for  bis  lands  from  Governor  Richard 
Nioolls  and  received  the  following : 

A  confirmation  of  a  tract  of  land  called 
Nesequauke  granted  unto  Richard  Smith  of 
Long  Island. 

Ricb'ard  Nicholls,  Esq.,  Governor,  under  his 
Royall  highness  James  Duke  of  Yorke  &c  of 
all  his  Territories  in  America ;  To  all  to  whome 
these  presents  shall  come  isendeth  greeting. 
Whereas  there  is  a  certain  parcel  or  tract  of 
land  situate,  lying  and  being  in  the  East  Rid- 
ing of  Yorkshire  upon  Long  Island,  commonly 
called  or  known  by  the  name  of  Nesaquake 
Land,  Bounded  Eastward  with  the  Lyne  lately 
runne  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Seatalcott  as  the 
bounds  of  their  town ;  bearing  Southward  to  a 
certaine  ffresh  Pond-  tailed  Raconkamuck, 
from  whence  Southwestward  to  the  Head  of 
Nesaquauke  River  so  ffar  as  it  is  this  present  in 
ye  possession  of  Richard  Smith  'as  his  proper 
right  and  not  any  wayes  claymed  or  in  con- 
troversy betweene  any  other  persons;  which 
said  parcell  or  tract  of  land  (ambngst  others) 
was  heretofore  given  and  granted  by  the 
Sachems  or  Indyan  proprietors  to  Lyon  Gardi- 
ner of  Gardiner's  Island,  deceased,  and  his 
heirs,  whose  interest  and  estate  therein  hath 
beene  sold  and  conveyed  unto  Richard  Smith 
and  his  Heires,  by  vertue  of  which  hee  claymes 
his  property;  and  whereas  the  commissioners 
authorized  by  a  Genall  Court  held  at  Hertford 
in  his    Maties    Colony  of  Connecticot  did  here- 


202 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


tofore — That  is  to  say  in  ye  month  of  June 
1664 — make  an  agreement  with  the  said  Rich- 
ard Smith;  That  upon  the  conditions  therein 
exprest  hee  the  said  Richard  Smith  should 
-place  Twenty  ff  amilyes  upon  the  said  land ; 
Now  know  yee  that  by  vertue  of  the  commis- 
sion and  authority  given  unto  mee  by  his 
Royall  Highness  the  Duke  of  Yorke,  I  do  rat- 
ify and  confirme  the  said  agreement,  and  do 
likewise  hereby  give,  confirme  and  graunt 
unto  the  said  Richard  Smith,  his  heirs 
and  ^  assignes  the  said  Parcell  or  Tract 
of  land  called  or  knowne  by  the  name 
of  Nesaquauke  Lands,  bounded  as  aforesaid, 
together  with  all  the  lands,  wood's,  meadows, 
Pastures,  Marshes,  Waters,  Lakes,  fhshings. 
Hunting  and  Ifowling,  and  all  other  profHtts, 
commiodityes  and  iEmoluments  to  the  said  parcel 
or  tract  of  Land  and  Premisses  belone:ing,  with 
their  and  every  of  thdr  appurtenances  and  of 
every  part  and  parcell  thereof.  To  have  and  to 
hold  the  said  Parcell  or  Tract  or  Land,  with  all 
and  singular  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said 
•Richard  Smith,  his  Heirss  and  Assignes,  to  the 
proper  use  and  behoof e  of  the  said  Richard 
Smith,  his  Heires  and  assign's  for  ever,  upon  the 
condition  &  Termes  hereafter  exprest.  That  is  to 
say :  That  in  Regard  there  hath  arisen  some  dis- 
pute and  controversy  between  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  Towne  of  Huntington  and  Captaine  Robert 
Ceely  of  the  same  place  concerning  that  Parcell 
of  land  lying  to  ye  westward  of  Nesaquauke 
River,  which  for  the  consideracon  vertue  of  the 
aforementionied  Ao;reement  was  to  enjoy,  But 
now  is  molested  and  hindered  in  the  quiet  Pos- 
session thereof.  The  said  Rich'd  Smith  shall 
bee  oblieged  to'  Settle  onely  tenne  ffamilyes  on 
the  land's  before  mentioned  withini  the  space  of 
three  years  after  the  date  hereof.  But  if  it  shall 
hereafter  hapjpen  that  the  said  Richard  Smith 
shall  cleere  his  Title  and  bee  lawfully  possest  of 
the  premises  as;  aforesaid,  that  then  hee  the 
said  Richard  Smith  shall  settle  the  full  number 
of  Twenty  familyes  within  Five  yeares  after  such 
Clearing  of  his  Title,  and  being  lawfully  Possest 
as  aforesaid,  and  shall  fulfill  whatsoever  in  the 
said  Asrreem't  is  required.  And  for  an  encour- 
agement to  the  said  Richard  Smith  in  his  settling 
the  ffaniilyes  aforementioned  the  Plantations 
upon  the  said  Nassaquauke  Lands  shall,  from  the 
first  settlement  untill  the  expiration  of  the  Terme 
or  Termes  of  years,  bee  free  from  all  Rates  or 
Taxes,  and  shall  have  no  dependence  upon  any 
other  place;  fcut  in  all  respects  have  like  and 
equall  priviledges  with  any  Town  within  this 
Governm't,  Provided  always  That  the  said  Rich- 
ard Smith,  his  Heires  and  Assignes  shall  render 


and  pay  such  other  acknowledgements  and 
dutyes  as  are  or  shall  be  Constituted  and  Or- 
dained by  his  Royall  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Yorke  and  'his  Heires,  or  such  Governor  or  Gov- 
ernors as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  appointed 
and  Sett  over  them. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  Seale  at  ffort 
Tames  in  New  Yorke  this  3d  day  of  March  in 
the  Eighteenth  yeare  of  the  Rayne  of  our  Sov- 
ereign Lord  Charles  the  Second  by  the  Grace  of 
God  King-  of  England,  Scotland,  ffrance  and 
Ireland,  Defender  of  the  ifaith  &c.,  and  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  God  1665. 

RiCPIARD    NiCOLLS. 

The  next  thing  Smith  did  was  to  perfect  his 
Indian  title.  A  reservation  which  was  claimed 
was  extinguished  by  the  following : 

This  writing  witnesseth,  that  v/hen  Nasses- 
conset  sould  that  part  oi  land  on  the  est  siede  of 
Nessequage  River  unto  Jonas,  Jerime,  Timothy 
wood,   and   daniell   whitehead,   and  others,   that 
then  my  sayed  unkle  did  Resarve  half  the  sayed 
Neck,  called  and  Knowne    by  the  name  of  Nese- 
quage     neck,     to     himselve      and      Nesequage 
Indiens,    to    live    and    to    plant    on.      I    Nas- 
sekege,   being  sole  ihaire   to    all "  Nassesconset's 
land  on  the  Est  siede  of  Nesequage  River,  doe 
by    these    pressents     for    me    and    n 
make  over  all  our  interest  in  the  sayed  1 
unto  Richard  Smith,  of  Nessequag,  S' 
same  to;  have  and  to  hould,  to  him  and 
forever;  and  Nassekege  doth  further  i 
my  knowledge  that  Nineponi  share  was 
apoyntel      Nesaconnopp      and      myse 
apoynted  by  young  Nassescorisett  Tny 
Joynt  haires  to  them  both,  to  mark  tl 
of  Neseequag  land  ifor  Richard  Smitt 
did  doe  it  acotding  to  the  saels  which 
formerly  made  unto  Raoonkumake,  a  f 
aboute  the  midle   of  long  Island,    aoordmg    to 
the  order  that  they  'both  did  give  to  us,  being 
acompanied    with    John    Catchem    and    Samuel- 
Adams  and  Mawhew,  to  mark  the  trees— aperell 
6th  1664.    I  Nassakeag,  doe  owne  that  the  above 
saied  was  wittnessed  by  Richard  Odell,  and  Rich- 
ard Harnett  doth  promis  to  own  the  above  saied 
before  the   governor  or  any   else,   Nasskeag  X 
mark  having  Reserved  full  satisfacktion  for  the 
premisees  to  his  content. 

witnes  MassetuseX  his  mark. 

the  wrieting  above  was  owned  by  Nase- 
keage  and  IMassetuse  to  be  true  in  my  presens. 

Richard  Woodhull. 
Dorothy  Woodhull. 


SMITHTOWN. 


203 


Nasseconset,  the  Nesaquake'  sagamore, 
claimed  that  in  his  deed  to  Wyandanch  of  the 
Nesaquake  lands  he  had  reserved  to  himself  a 
strip  of  land  at  the  west  side  of  and  adjoining 
the  river,  indicated  byniarked  trees,  and  made 
complaint  to  the  commissioners  of  Hartford,  then 
sitting  as  a  court  at  Setauket,  that  Richard 
Smythe  had  taken  from  him  his  land.  The  com- 
missioners did  not  decide  the  controversy,  but 
recommended  Smythe  to  buy  up  the  Indian  claim. 
Beitig  a  shrewd  and  careful  business  man,  Smythe 
was  unwilling  to  buy  and  pay  for  what  the  saga- 
more might  be  unable  to  deliver  to  him — a  clear 
title;  so  he  hurried  off  to  the  Montauks  to  in- 
vestigate the  sagamore's  claimi.  The  Montauk 
Indians  had  removed  from  Montauk  to  the  "calf 
pasture"  at  the  south  end  of  East  Hampton  vil- 
lage, where  they  had  been  scourged  and  greatly 
reduced  in  numbers  by  th'e  smallpox,  and  Wyan- 
danch's  widow  and  the  young  chief  Wyancom- 
bone  were  two  of  the  victims.  The  tribe  then  re- 
moved to  a  place  then  and  now  known  as  the 
Indian  highway,  at  the  west  side  of  the  'head  of 
Three-mile  Harbor.  Here  Smythe  'found  the 
young  squaw  at  whose  restoration  he  had  assist- 
ed ;  after  sharply  cross-examining  her  in  the  pres- 
ence of  several  Ea^t  Hampton  people  he  became 
satisfied  tjiat  Nasseconset's  claim  was  meritorious 
and  he  hastened  home-arid  settled  'with  him  for 
a  gun,  a  kettle,  te'h  coats,  a  blanket  and  three 
handfuls  of  powder  and.  shot.  Before  the  deed 
was  executed  another  ,  claimant^ .  enjoying  the 
euphonious  xame  of  Catawumps;  appeared.  But 
he  was  quickly  silenced  by  throwing  in  two  more 
coats,  and  Smythe  received  the  following  deed : 

Whereas  Richard  Smith  of  Smithfield  hath 
bought. all  the  land  between  Huntington  Harbour 
and  Nesaquauke  River  of  Lyon  Gardiner,  as  may 
appear  by  a  deed  bearing  date  '63,  Nasettecon- 
sett,  Sagamore  of  Nesaquauke,  complaint  to  ye 
commissioners  of  Hertford  at  a  court  held  at 
Seatalcott  in-  '64  that  Richard  Smith  had  taken 
away  his  land.  And  did  then  owne  that  he  had 
given  Catawaunuck  [Crab  Meadow]  to  Wyan- 
daunce,  for  the  said  Lyon  Gardiner's  use,  which 
was  by  Mr.  Odiell  and  others  Bounded  as  may  by 
marked  trees  appear.  But  Nassetconsett  .said 
that  the  Land  betweene  those  marked  trees  and 


Nesaquauke  River  was  his.  The  Court  advised 
me  to  buy  the  Land  of  him,  in  case  he  had  not 
sold  it  before ;  whereupon  I  Rich'd  Smith  went  to 
sipeake  with  ye  Sauck  Squaw.  ■  She  did  before 
many  of  East  Hampton  owne  that  Nesaquauke, 
Sagamore,  did  give  Catawamuck  to  her  ffather 
Longe  ago;  and  that  hee  Nassetconsett  did  give 
the  other  part,  unto  Nesaquauke  River,  to  her 
Brother  Wogancombone ;  But  finding  nothing 
under  his  hand  to  show,  and  shee  owning  him  to 
be  the  true  Proprietor  at  first,  I  thought  good  to 
buy  the  sSid  Land  of  Nessateconsett,  and  have 
agreed  with  him  for  one  Gunn,  one  Kettle,  tenn 
Coates,  one  Blankett,  three  hands  of  powder,  and 
three  handfulls  of  Lead. 

These   are  to  certify   that   I    Xessetsconsett, 
Sagamore  of  Nesaquauk,  have  for  me  and  my 
heires  sold  all  of  my  land  on  the  West  side  of 
Nesaquauk  River  with  all  the  Benefits  and  Priv- 
ileges of  Land  and  water,  unto  Richard  Smith 
of  Smithfield  and  his  Heirs  or  assigns  forever, 
and  have  rec'd  pay  for  the  same  to  my  content: 
Whereas  Catawump  doth  lay  clayme  to  half  the 
aforesaid  Land,  It  is  agreed  that  he  is  to  have  two 
Coates  more,  and  so  doth  joyne  wth  Nassetconsett 
in  the  Sale.    And  do  both  agree  for  us  and  Our 
Heires,    to    maintaine    the     right    of     Richard 
Smith  and  his  heires,  for  ever,  in  all  the  land^ 
aforesaid,     reserving     the     liberty     of     Matts, 
Canooes,  and  Eagles  and  Deare  Skinns  Catcht  in 
the  water;  by  canooes  is  meant  Indyan  Built,  that 
is   to  say,   rack;   this 'to   my   selfe  and   heires. 
Witness'  our  hands  and  Scales  'May  4th,  1665. 
The  mark  ^of  Nesatesconsett, 
CatawumpSj  his  mark.' 
Tanatingo_,  his  mark. 
Witness: — Richard  ^^''ooDHULL. 
Daniell  Lane, 
his 
Quarter  X  Sachem, 
'     marke. 
Mcinorand: — That  ye  Land  afore  mentioned 
was  bought  and  part  of  the  Pay  delivered  neare  a 
yeare  before  the  Signing  hereof. 

This  deed  is  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State,  Liber  2  of  Records,  page  121. 

Lion  Gardiner  died  in  1663,  and  the  follow- 
ing is  endorsed  upon  the  original  deed  fronl 
Wyandance  to  Lion  Gardiner : 

Memorandum,  That  I  David  Gardiner  of 
Gardiner's  Island,  do  acknowledge  to  have  re- 
ceived satisfaction  of  Richard  Smythe  of-Nisr 
saquake    for   what   concerns    me   in    the   within 


204 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


written  deed.    In  witness  whereof  I  have  set  my 
hand  this  15th  day  of  October  1664. 

David  Gardiner. 

The  following  extract  from  the  records  of 
East  Hiampton  throws  mtiich  light  upon  the  pur- 
chase from  Lion  Gardiner : 

Jeremyah  ConkHnge,  Deposed  Testifyeth, 
that  Mr.  Richard  Smith  of  Nessaquauk,  came  to 
my  mother  Gardiner's  house  and  fell  into  dis- 
course with  her  about  a  parsell  of  land  which 
he  had  bought  of  Mr.  Lyon  iGardiner,  lying  be- 
yond Nessaquauk.  Mr.  Smith  said  he  thought 
he  should  meete  with  a  great  dele  of  trouble 
about  the  land.  Mrs.  Gardiner  made  answer  of 
this,  rather  than  shee  would  have  any  trouble 
about  it  she  would  let  thie  bargain  bee  voide,  or 
to  that  purpose.  Whereupon  Mr.  'Smith  said 
that  he  would  have  the  bargain  stand  and  he 
would  paie  according  to  the  agreement  with  her 
husband,  and  he  would  take  all  the  trouble  on 
himself.  Which  agreement  was  that  Mr.  Gardi- 
ner sould  to  Mr.  Smith  all  his  right  in  that  ipar- 
sell  of  land.  This  testimony  was  taken  at  East 
Hampton  this  21  day  of  March  1670-1,  before 
me. 

John  Mulford. 
Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  date  of  the  above  conversation  is  not 
given,  but  it  was  probably  before  tbe  release 
from  David  Gardiner,  and  seems  to  indicate  that 
no  formal  deed  had  been  given  by  Lion  Gard- 
iner. 

The  controversy  between  Richard  Smith  and 
the  town  of  Huntington  was  of  long  continuance. 
In  1656  "on  or  about  the  last  day  of  July,"  Asha- 
roken,  the  Matinecock  sachem,  sold  to  Jonas 
Wood  and  others,  for  themselves  and  the  rest  of 
their  associates,  "all  the  meadows,  fresh  and  salt, 
lying  and  being  upon  the  north  side  of  Long  Isl- 
and, from  all  former  bound's.  Cow  Harbor  ito 
Nesaquake  River."  The  patent  given  to  Hunt- 
ington by  Governor  Nicolls,  'November  30,  1666, 
describes  that  their  boundaries  "were  to  stretch 
east  to  Nesaquake  River.''  Ricbard  Smith,  rely- 
ing upon  his  title  obtained  from  Lion  Gardiner, 
brought  suits  for  trespass  against  persons  who, 
under  the  claim  of  Huntington,  were  occupying 
lands  at  Fresh  Pond.    Some  of  these  suits  were 


tried  at  Southampton,  and  finally,  about  1670, 
came  to  the  court  of  assizes.  The  claim  of  Hunt- 
ington was  sustained  as  far  easitward  as  Nese- 
quake  River,  upon  condition  that  Huntington 
settle  families  there  within  three  years,  and  a 
systematic  effort  was  made  to  comply  with  these 
conditions. 

In  1674  the  Dutch  recaptured  New  York  and 
Richard  Smith  appealed  to  the  Dutch  govern- 
ment for  a  new  trial.  In  this  Smjith  claimed 
that  Huntington  had  produced  a  false'  bill  of  sale 
in  Assepokin's  name,  and  several  false  witnesses. 
The  principal  claim,  however,  was  that  the  land 
"did  not  belong  to  Assepokin,  ye  Matinecock  Sa- 
chem, but  to  Nasetconset,  the  Sachem  of  Nese- 
quake,"  who  sold  the  land  to  Smith  "by  order 
of  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Hartford  Commissioners," 
and  that  under  this  "he  had  possessed  it  peace- 
ably for  7  or  8  years."  The  land  in  controversy 
was  bounded  west  by  Whitman's  Hollow  & 
ye  Fresh  Pond."  The  summons  was  doubtless 
written  in  the  Dutch  language  and  was  served 
upon 'the  inhabitants  of  Huntington.  They  re- 
turned it  with  this  reply : 

Neighbour  Smith  of  Nesaquag:  by  this  ye 
may  understand  that  you  left  a  paper,  for,  as  you 
say,  the  towne,  in  the  hands  of  Joseph  Whitman, 
written  in  an  imknown  tongue  to  us;  'from 
whence  it  came  or  what  it  is  we  know  not, 
neither  what  you  intend  bv  it  we  know  not,  but 
this  we  know — yt  we  shall  take  no  notice  of  it, 
neither  can  do;  and  if  you  would  have  us  to 
know  your  mind  you  must  speak  and  write  in  a 
known  tongue  to  us.  Likewise  take  notice  yt 
we  have  and  intend  to  know  more  fully  shortly  yt 
you  and  yours  have  acted  the  part  of  the  cur- 
rish nabour  by  usurping  with  impudence  and 
shameless^  bouldness,  to  come  upon  our  ground 
and  to  seize  upon  our  grass  for  your  own  use, 
an  unheard  of  practice,  andi  never  practiced  by 
honest  men;  therefore  we  doe  by  these  protest 
against  your  course,  and  we  are  resolved  first  to 
defend  ourselves  and  our  estates  from  the  hands 
of  violent  aggressors,  which  is  no  more  than  the 
law  of  nature  and  nations  allowes.  Secondly, 
when  the  season  comes  you  may  expect  to  have 
and  reap  the  due  defeat  of  such  demerits. 

from  Huntington  July  17:74 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  his  neighbors  of 


SMITHTOWN. 


205 


Huntington  were  as  ignorant  of  t'he  contents  of 
this  summons  as  they  professed  to  be.  The 
Dutch  governor  and  council  appointed  "Mr. 
Jan  Lawrence,  merchant  oi  this  city,  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Cornwell  of  Flushing,  Mr.  Richard  Odell 
and  Mr.  Thomas  Townsend,  magistrates  of  Oys- 
ter Bay  and  Setalcot,"  as  commissioners  to  ex- 
amine the  case  and  report. 

Before  this  was  done  New  York  was  restored 
to  the  English.  A  new  trial  "was  granted  to 
Richard  Smith  in  October,  1675,  and  the  court 
decided  that  the  lands  in  question  belonged  in 
equity  to  Richard  Smith,  'and  he  was  to  be  put 
in  possession  if  they  were  not  otherwise  deliv- 
ered up.  The  present  inhabitants  were  to  have 
leave  to  stay  till  the  first  day  of  May,  and  to  have 
all  their  crops.  "However,  the  said  land  to  bee 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  iHuntington  as  within 
their  patent,  though  the  property  is  adjudged  to 
the  plaintiff."  Accordingly,  the  land  was  laid 
out  by  Thomas  Wickes  in  obedience  to  the  order 
of  the  court  of  assizes,  the  west  bounds  to  be 
**from  the  west  most  part  oi  Joseph  Whitman's 
Hollow  and  the  west  side  of  the  leading  hollow 
to  the  Fresh  Pond  Unthemamuck,  and  the  west 
side  of  the  pond  at  high  water  mark."  Some 
years  before  this  a  new  individual  had  appeared 
on  the  scene.  This  was  the  notorious  Captain 
John  Scott,  whose  numerous  escapades  had  kept 
the  various  towns  on  Long  Island  in  hot  water. 
His  favorite  scheme  was  to  pretend  ownersfhip 
of  lands  and  then  sell  them  to  unwary  people 
who  found  others  in  possession  with  a  better 
title.  It  was  not  strange  that  he  should  profess 
some  claim  to  the  lands  purchased  by  Richard 
Smith,  who,  to  quiet  matters,  executed  the  fol- 
lowing : 

This  writing  Witnesseth  an  Agreement  Be- 
tween Capt.  John  S'cott  of  Ashford,  and  Rich- 
ard Smith  sen.  ejusdem.  That  all  that  (tract)  of 
land  once  in  the  possession  of  Lion  Gardiner, 
and  lying  Between  Cow  Harbour  and  Neesa- 
quak  River,  shall  be  equally  divided  between 
Captain  Scott  and  ye  said  Richard  Smith,  ye 
said  Captain  John  Scott  being  to  pay  to  Rich- 
ard Smith  ye  sume  of  twenty  five  pounds,  sterl- 
ing upon  Demand,  next  after  this  date  Nov.  22, 
1663.     further  ye  said  Captain  Scott  is  to  enjoy 


ye  said  tract  of  land  to  him  and  his  heirs  for- 
ever, and  wee  doe  bind  ourselves  to  doe  anything 
that  may  tend  to  ye  Strengthening  of  our  right 
in  ye  premises.  Witness  our  hands  ye  date  afore 
said. 

Richard   Smith. 

John  Scott 
Witness :     Thomas  James,  Henry  Pierson. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  Whereas 
I  Richard  Smith  of  Asbford  alias  Setauket  on 
Long  Island,  bave  by  writing  bearing  date  No- 
vember 22  1663,  made  a  full  and  firme  Covenant 
with  Caplain  John  Scott  of  ye  said  Town,  Es- 
quire, Concerning  ye  lands  I  bought  of  Lieuten- 
ant Lion  Gardiner,  which  said  lands  are  a  cer- 
tain tract  lying  and  being  Bounded  between  ye 
river  Neesequauk  and  ye  head  of  ye  Cow  Har- 
bour, ye  next  river  south  or  south  east  from 
H.unttington,  and  distant  about  three  miles  from 
ye  said  Hunttington,  and  ye  said  Captain  John 
Scott  being  by  ye  said  agreement  to  have  halfe 
ye  said  land  upon  a  just  Division  for  which  he 
is  to  pay  me  Twenty  five  pounds,  and  whereas 
hee  ye  said  Captn:  Scott  did  lay  Claime  to  all 
ye  said  tract  of  land  I  purchased  aforesaid,  by 
vertue  of  Bargaine  with  ye  said  Lieutenant  Gar- 
diner formerly.  By  meanes  whereof  hee  ye  said 
Captin  John  Scott  became  debtor  unto  him^  ye 
said  Lyon  Gardiner.  I  say  I  ye  forenamed  Rich- 
ard Smith  doe  hereby  bind  tny  selfe,  my  heirs 
&c.  that  neither  ye  said  Lyon  Gardiner  nor  any 
in  his  right  or  name  sball  molest  him  ye  said 
Captain  Scott  or  his  heirs  &c.  in  Respecte  of  ye 
said  Bargain  or  Covenant  between  them  concern- 
ing ye  said  lands,  and  I  further  bind  my  selfe  my 
heirs  &c  never  to  make  any  claim'  of  interest  in 
3''e  said  proportion  of  lands  made  over  as  afore 
said,  by  ye  said  Covenants.  Witness  my  hand 
this  22d  November  anno  Domini,  1663. 

Richard  Smith.  ' 

Witness:  Henry  Pierson,  Richard  Howell, 
John  Yungs. 

Captain  John  Scott  afterward  reached  the 
limit  of  his  power  to  make  trouble,  and  abscond- 
ed and  left  the  country.  He  had  married  De- 
borah, daughter  o'f  Thurston  Raynor,  of  South- 
ampton (the  same  Deborah  Raynor  who  had  the 
suit  against  John  Kelly,  as  stated  before),  and  had 
abandoned  her.  The  governor  and  council  ap- 
pointed her  brother,  Joseph  Raynor,  and  Rich- 
ard Howell  "to  gather  in  the  estate  of  Captain 
John  Scott  for  the  use  of  his  wife  and  children." 
They  sold  to  Richard  Smith  all  "the  rigbt  that 


206 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


Scott  ever  had  to  the  land  on  the  west  side  of 
Neesequage  River  for  £25  S'terling,  November  29, 
1667,  and  this  ended  the  episode. 

In  1676  a  claim  .was  made  to  these  lands  on 
the  strength  of  the  deed  given  by  the  Indian 
sachem  to  Edmiond  Wood  and  others.  These 
parties  had  sold  an  equal  share  of  th€  lands  to 
"Mr.  Thomas  Willett  and  Mr.  Padie,  merchants 
of  Plymouth,"  September  4,  1650.  In  1676  John 
Saffin,  as  administrator  of  the  estate  of  Captain 
Thomas  Willett,  "appeared  in  the  secretary's 
office  on  August  i6th  and  entered  claim  to  two- 
eighths  parts  of  all  the  land  called  Nessaquage." 
As  no  further  mention  is  made  it  is  presumed 
that  Richard  Smith  obtained  their  interests. 
Thomas  Willett  released  all  his  cl'aims  to  the 
heirs  of  Richard  Smith.  Daniel  Whitehead  and 
John  Wood,  son  of  Timothy  Wood,  sold  all 
their  rights  to  Richard  Smith  March  3,  1684-5. 

Among  the  various  papers  connected  with  the 
case  is  tJhe  "declaration  of  Pauquaitown,  form- 
erly Chiefe  Counselor  to  the  Old  Sachem^  Wyan- 
dance,"  that  to  his  knowledge  Cattawamnuck 
I'and  did  belong  to  the  forefathers  of  the  Old 
Sachem  Wyandance,  and  "that  the  grandmother 
of  the  forenamed  Sachem  lived  on  that  land 
formerly,  and  that  those  Indians  that  lived  on. 
said  land  owned  the  Sachem  as  Chiefe  owner, 
and  such  Indians  as  lived  on  the  land  did  give 
him  the  tribute  skin  of  all  drowned  deer  when  he 
demanded  it/'  The  Sunk  Squaw  of  Mbntauket 
also  declared  "that  the  fforesaid  land  was  her 
father's  own  laaid,  and  that  those  Indians  if  he 
were  living  dttrst  not  deny  it."  ',Tauquatown 
since  testifieth  that  the  old  Sachem  Wyandance 
appointed  Sakkatakka  and  Chekanno  to  marke 
out  the  said  Rattaconeck  lands,  and  after  that  ye 
said  Pauquatown  saw  the  trees  marked  all  along 
the  bounds,  and  the  Sachem  being  with  him  he 
heard  him  the  said  Sachem  say  it  was  marked 
right.  And  that  there  is  a  fresh  pond  called  Ash- 
amaumuk  which  is  at  the  parting  of  the  bounds 
of  the  foresaid  lands  from  where  the  trees  were 
marked  to  ye  pathway."  This  was  signed  Oc- 
tober 18,  1667,  in  presence  of  John  Mulford. 

The  western  bounds  of  the  town  as  then  fixed 
have  remained  unchanged.     The    natural    land- 


marks, of  course,  still  remain.  "Whitman's  Hol- 
low," which  looks  like  the  bed  of  a  dried  up  lake, 
is  at' the  south  end  of  the  line  at  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  Winnecomac  patent.  We  may  re- 
mark here  that  "Chekanno,"  who  was  one  of  the 
Indians  who  marked  out  the  lines,  was  very 
noted  in  those  days  and  is  said  to  have  assisted 
the  saintly-  Eliot  in  translating  the  Bible  into  the 
Indian  language.  An  extremely  interesting  book 
concerning  him.i  has  been  written  by  Dr.  William 
\^^allace  Tooker,  of  Sag  Harbor,  who  is  a  well 
recognized  authority  on  Indian  affairs. 

After  more  than  ten  years  of  dispute  the 
title  of  Richard  Smith  was  at  length  fully  estab- 
lished, and  to  make  assurance  doubly  sure,  he 
obtained  a  new  patent  from  Governor  Andres, 
March  25,  1677. 

A  depression  in  the  ground  on  the  farm  of 
Edmund  T.  Smith  at  Nissequogue,  at  the  corner 
of  the  Horse-race   lane,  marks  the   spot  where 
stood   the  patentee's   dwelling.     A  .stately  pear 
tree  standing  near  it  is  said  to  have  been  planted 
by  his  hand.     He  broug-'ht  with  him  his   wife 
Sarah  (who  is  supposed  to  have  been  Sarah  Fol- 
ger  of  Newburyport)   and  nine  childr 
than,   Obadiah,     Richard,    Job,    'Danie 
Samuel,  Elizabeth  and  Deborah.    With 
he  had  very  little  difficulty  in  peoplir 
main  with  the  ten  families  required  b 
patent. 

His  sons  were  located  near  him. 
occupied   a   part  of   the   homestead.    ] 
was  about  midway  between  his  father 
Misses  Harries',  on  the  spot  where  the 
house  formerly  stood.     It  was  demoli&..v,v.  ^^w... 
T  8-1-5  ^y  Edmund  T.  Smith,  whose  handsome  res- 
idence was  erected  on  the  commanding  eminence 
above.    Daniel  located  on  "]\Iud  Island,"  former- 
ly the  residence  of  Hon.  Edward  Henry  Smith. 
"Richard  was  located  on  the  hill  afterward  occu- 
pied by  the  Misses  Harries.     He  was  one  of  the 
first  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  county.    His  son 
of  the  samie  name  was  the  person  frequently  al- 
luded to  in  the  records  as   Lieutenant  Richard 
Smith ;  and  his  grandson  Richard  Smith,  v/ho  re- 
sided on  and  owned  the  place  was  called  "Shell 
Dick,"  from  the  fact  that  on  bis  farm  were  great 


SMITHTOWN. 


207 


Indian  shell  banks^  which  he  utilized  to  enrich 
his  farm  and  sold  for  use  as  a  fertilizer.  Joh 
was  located  at  the  next  house  eastward,  after- 
ward the  residence  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Rogers. 
?Ierc  was  born  and  raised  th.e  beautiful  and  ac- 
complished Sally  Rogers,  afterward  the  cele- 
brated Mrs.  Richard  K.  Haight,  for  many  years 
a  leader  of  fashionable  society  in  New  York. 
Adam  settled  at  Sherewog,  Avhere  formerly  lived 
successively  three  Nathaniel  Smiths.  The  home 
lot  of  Samuel  Snuith  was  on  the  east  side  of  Nis- 
sequogue  River,  and  is  now  the  north  part  of 
the  homestead  fam:i  of  the  late  Caleb  T.  Smith. 
The  highway,  called  Horse  Race,  is  the  eastern 
boundar\\  Obadiah,  the  second  son  of  the  pat- 
entee, was  drowned  at  the  inlet  of  Smithtown 
Harbor.  His  grave  is  in  the  old  family  burying 
ground  at  Nissequogue.  The  inscription  on  his 
tomb,  almost  obliterated  by  time,  is  as  follows : 

''Here  lies  hurried  ye  body  of  Obadiah  Smith, 
son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  Smith,  aged  about 
20  vears,  drowned  on  the  7th  day  oi  August 
1680." 

This  was  the  first  man  buried  in  Smithtown. 
The  patentee's  grave  is  near  his,  but  is  not 
marked  by  any  stone. 

Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter,  married'  Col- 
onel William  Lawrence,  one  of  the  patentees  of 
Flushing.  She  was  his  second  wife,  and  by  her 
he  had  several  children.  Her  marriage  license 
was  granted  by  Governor  Nicolls.  Her  husband 
died  in  1680,  and  in  1681  she  married  Philip 
Carteret,  governor  of  New  Jersey;  she  removed 
to  that  province  and  there  brought  up  her  seven 
young  children  by  her  first  husband.  The  town 
of  Elizabeth  was  named  after  her.  She  was  an 
intelligent  and  attractive  lady,  but  always  had  a 
keen  eye  to  business.  In  contracting  marriage 
with  Carteret  she  took  care  to  preserve  her  own 
separate  estate,  and  her  ante-nuptial  contract  is 
recorded  in  the  Queens  county  clerk's  office. 
Carteret  died,  and  by  his  will  gave  all  his  prop- 
erty in  this  country  to  his  wife.  She  afterward 
married  Colonel  Richard  Townley,  her  third  hus- 
band, who  came  over  in  the  suite  of  Lord  Effing- 
ham Howard,   governor  of   Virginia,  in    1683, 


and  settled  in  Elizabethtown.  The  encomium 
passed  on  this  lady  by  Thompson  probably  be- 
longed in  part  to  Lady  Carteret,  wife  of  Sir 
George  Carteret. 

Deborah,  th.e  youngest  daughter  of  the  pat- 
entee, married  WilHam  Lawrence  2d,  the  son  of 
her  eldest  sister  Elizabeth's  husband,  of  Flush- 
ing, and  from  her  is  descended  the  numerous 
Lawrence  family  in  and  around  Flushing, 

The  six  sons  of  the  patentee  all  had  families, 
and  appear  on  the  Smithtown  tax  roll  in  1683. 

During  his  life  Smith  conveyed  to  his  sons 
tracts  of  land  in  various  parts  oi  the  town.  He 
died  at  Nissequogue,  March  7,  1692,  and  was  bur- 
ied in  the  family  burying  ground  there.  He  left 
a  will  dated  March  5,  1692,  in  which,  after  mak- 
ing some  bequests  and  devises,  he  gives  all  his 
real  estate  with  almost  exact  equality  among  his 
children,  except  Elizabeth.  The  following  is  a 
copy : 

March  ye  5th  1693^.  In  ye  naine  of  God, 
Amen.  I  Richard  Smith  Senr.  of  Smithtown  in 
ye  County  of  Suffolk  on  Long  Island,  in  ye  prov- 
ince of  New  York,  being  sicke  &  weake  in  body 
but  of  sound  and  perfect  memory  thanks  be  to 
God,  calling  to  mind  ye  uncertain  state  of  this  life 
and  that  we  must  submit  to  God's  Will  when  it 
shall  please  him  to  call  us  out  of  this  life,  doe 
make,  constitute  and  ordain  this  our  last  will  & 
testament,  hereby  revoking  &  annulling  any  form- 
er or  other  Will  or  Testament  made  by  us  either 
by  word  or  writing. 

''Impriums  We  give  our  soules  to  God  who 
gave  t'hem  &  ourbodyes,  being  dead,  to  be  decent- 
ly buried  in  such  place  and  manner  as  to  our 
Executors  hereafter  named  shall  seem  conven- 
ient, and  as  for  ye  lands,  goods  &  chattels  where- 
with it  has  pleased  God  to  endue  us  withall,  our 
Just  Debts  &  Legacyes  being  first  paid,  we  order 
and  dispose  In  manner  and  forme  following: 

"Ifju.  To  Jonathan  Smlith  our  oldest  son  we 
give  &  bequeath  our  house,  barn  &  orchard  joyn- 
ing  to  his  home  lot,  and  ye  homestead  as  far  as 
ye  old  fence  Northward  and  halfe  way  from  ye 
said  house  to  Samuell's  house  and  thence  to  ye 
West  end  of  ye  barne,  and  ye  wood  close  on  ye 
East  side  of  ye  little  brooke  over  against  ye 
house,  and  forty  acres  of  land  more  than  his 
equall  share  in  division  with  ye  rest  of  our  chil- 
dren, and  that  lot  of  meadow  over  against  ye 
hill  on  ye  West  side  of  ye  River. 


208 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


"If  in.  To  our  son  Richard  we  give  &  be- 
queath our  negro  Harry  and  an  equall  share  of 
land  in  division  with  ye  rest  of  our  children. 

'^It'jii.  To  our  son  Job  we  give  &  bequeath 
our  negro  Robin  for  ye  terms  of  twelve  yeares  and 
an  equall  share  of  land  in  division  with  ye  rest 
of  our  children,  and  at  ye  end  of  sd  twelve  yeares 
the  said  Robin  shall  be  free. 

"If in.  To  our  son  Adam  we  give  an  equal! 
share  of  Land  in  division  with  ye  rest  of  our  chil- 
dren. 

"/f  7H.  To  our  son  Samuel  Smith  we  give  & 
bequeath  ye  orchard  Southward  of  the  house,  & 
half  ye  pasture  bounded  by  ye  httle  Creek,  ye 
Eastward  parte  thereof,  &  ye  lower  or  northward 
most  fresh  island  on  ye  East  side  of  ye  river,  with 
an  equall  share  of  land  in  division  with  ye  rest 
of  our  children,  and  the  swamp  called  ye  North 
swamp,"  with  ye  land  on  ye  East  side  which  is 
fenced. 

'^Ifm.  To  our  son  Daniell  we  give  and  be- 
queath ye  other  halfe  of  ye  pasture  Southward 
of  his  house,  ye  westward  part  of  it,  and  an 
equall  share  of  land  in  division  with  ye  rest  of 
our  children;  &  our  will  is  that  James  Necke 
sball  be  and  remaine  for  ye  use  &  improvement 
of  my  six  sons  above  sd  &  their  heires  forever. 

^'It'ni.  To  our  daughter  Elizabeth  Townley 
we  give  &  confirme  that  land  &  meadow  at  a 
place  called  Sunk  Meadow  as  it  is  mentioned  in 
a  deed  made  by  us,  &  also  ye  one  haife  of  my 
cloathing. 

"It'm.  To  our  daughter  Lawrence  we  e^ive  & 
bequeath  an  equall  parte  &  share  of  land  in  diwte 
ye  rest  of  our  children  whei^e  it  shall  be  most 
suitable  &  convenient;  also  ye  other  halfe  of  my 
clothing. 

Lastly  we  do  hereby  nominate  and  appoint 
our  beloved  sons  Jonathan  &  Richard  Smith  Ex- 
ecutors of  this  our  last  Will  &  Testament,  to 
pay  all  our  just  debts  and  to  make  an  equall  par- 
tition amongst  all  our  children  of  all  ye  goods  & 
chattels  &  what  moveable  estate  shall  be  left. 

In  Witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our 
hands  and  seales  the  day  &  year  above  named. 
Richard  Smythe   [Seal]. 
Sarah  Smythe  [Seal]. 

This  will  appears  tO'  have  been  proven  May 
2,  1693,  but  for  many  years  the  book  containing 
it  could  not  be  found.  Hence  it  was  supposed 
by  Thompson  that  the  will  recorded  in  Boston 
was  the  will  of  this  Richard,  and  others  that  he 
left  no  will.  By  the  research  of  that  industrious 
and  indefatigable  antiquarian  Charles  B.  Moore, 


O'f  New  York,  the  book  was  found  among  the 
papers  of  Eleazer  Latham,  of  Southold,  who  de- 
posited it  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  accompanied 
by  the  following  letter : 

"To  the  County  Clerk  or  Surrogate  of  Suffolk 
County: 

"Sir:  I  am  informed  that  Colonel  William 
Smith  was  appointed  judge  of  the  prerogative 
court  for  Suffolk  county  on  15th  May  1691,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Giles  Sylvester  on  13th  June 
1706. 

"I  understand  that  the  clerk  of  the  court  of 
sessions  or  county  clerk  was  the  clerk  of  this 
court,  and  that  Thomas  Helme  was  such  clerk 
in  1 69 1  or  1692  and  for  about  ten  years  after- 
ward. William  Smith  (of  the  judge's  family) 
was  clerk  from  1730  until  1739. 

"After  the  Revolutionary  war  the  Hon.  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu  was  county  clerk  under  the  new 
State  government  from  1784  to  1810,  and  again 
in  181 1.  He  died  27th  September  181 1.  My 
father,  Thomas  S.  Lester,  was  an  executor  of 
Mr.  LTIommedieu's  will,  and  had  charge  of  some 
of  his  books  and  papers.  My  father  died  13th 
September  1817,  when  1  was  only  six  years  of 
age.  After  I  came  of  age  some  of  my  father's 
papers  came  to  my  hands,  and  among  them  this 
book  of  wills,  &-C.  It  has  been  carefully  pre- 
served. I  have  no  doubt  it  is  a  genuine  and  orig- 
inal record  book;  the  last  page  'entered  April 
2.5'  ^733'  in  the  handwriting  of  the  then  clerk, 
William  Smith,  and  the  other  entries  embracing 
the  dates  from  2Sth  May  1691  to  ist  April  1703, 
doubtless  in  the  handwriting  of  Thomas  Helme. 
The  parchment  cover  is  of  later  date,  1762,  and 
may  be  supposed  to  have  come  from  the  old 
county  clerk's  office.  Where  the  book  belongs  I 
do  not  know,  but  I  conclude  that  it  should  be  re- 
turned and  deposited  in  the  county  clerk's  office, 
or  else  in  the  surrogate's  office,  and  I  accordingly 
send  it  herewith;  wishing  your  receipt,  stating 
that  you  will  place  it  among  the  records  of  your 
office  for  preservation. 

''Respectfully, 

Thomas  S.  Lester.'" 

It  appears  to  have  been  the  custom  in  those 
days  for  the  wife  to  join  in  her  husband's  will. 
Sarah,  his  wife,  executed  the  will  with  him.  She 
appears  to  have  claimled  a  joint  interest  with  him 
in  the  property  and  the  right  to  dispose  of  it  by 
will.  She  resided  in  the  old  family  mansion  and 
died  there,  having  first  miade  her  will,  as  follows: 


SMITHTOWN. 


209 


In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.     I  Sarah  Smith, 
rehct  of  Richard  Smith  Sen.,  deceased,  of  Saiiith- 
town  in  ve  County  of  Suffolk  &  in  ye  province 
of  New  Yorke,  Doe  make  my  last  Will  and  Tes- 
tament in  manner  following:     First.     I  commit 
my  soul  into  ye  hands  of  God  whch  gave  it,  and 
my  body  to  a  decent  buriaU  at  ye  discresion  of 
my  Executor   hereafter   named,    in   comfoi'table 
hopes  of  a  happy  and  glorious  resurection  thro 
the  power  &  merits  of  my  Lord  &  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.     And   as   for   my   outward  estate,   after 
debts  and  my  funerall  charges   are  paid  I  give 
and  bequeath'  as  foUoweth :    Imp.  I  give  and  be- 
queathe to  my  son  Richard  Smith  his  eldest  son 
Richard  all  the  houses,  orchards,  and  all  my  lands 
that  my  husband  left  me  in  ye  possession  oi,  & 
that  I  am  at  this   present  in  possession'  of,  he 
yielding  and   paying   me  ten  pounds   a  y^ar  & 
yearly  as  long  as  I  shall  live,  &  at  my  death  to 
liave  above  mentioned  premises,  &  his  heirs  for- 
ever, with  all  the  priviledges  and  accommodations 
thereunto  belonging.     I  also  give  to  my  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth   one   trunk,    with   all   my    linen   & 
wearing  clothes.     I   give  to  my   son  Richard's 
two  daughters  my  silk  whod  &  scarfe.     I  give  a 
Necke  called  James  Necke  to  be  equally  divided 
amongst  my  six   sons,  Jonathan,  Richard,  Job, 
Adam,  Samuel  and  Daniell.    I  give  my  son  Rich- 
ard's eldest  Sonne  my  blunderbus.    I  give  my  son 
Richard's  wife  my  cloaks;  I  give  all  ye  hous- 
hold  stuff  not  here  bequeathed  to  be  equally  di- 
vided amongst  my  six  sons  above  mentioned.     I 
give  ni.  George  Phillips  a  Cow ;  &  all  ye  rest 
of  my  stock  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  my 
six  sons  above  mentioned ;  it  must  be  understood 
that  what  I  have  given  my  son  Richard  is  to 
oblige  him  to  quitt  and  null  alil  debts  yt  he  pre- 
tends is  owing  to  him  by  my  husband  or  myselfe, 
s'o  it  may  prevent  future  differences  among  my 
children ;  and  also  all  ye  rest  o£  my  children  to 
null  &  void  all  debts  from'  husband  or  myselfe  & 
to  acebt  of  what  I  have  given  them  in  full  satis- 
faction.   I  desire  also  what  I  gave  to  Mary  Pet- 
reche  she  may  have  it,  &  to  be  maintained  equally 
amongst  my  children. 

I  hereby  null  &  revoke  all  former  wills  &  in- 
struments whatsoever,  &  constitute  &  aptpoint  my 
well  beloved  son  Richard  Smith  tO'  be  my  execu- 
tor 8<c  to  take  &  see  that  this  will  be  to  the  true 
intent  of  it  performed. 

In  testimony  hereof  that  this  is  my  last  will 
^  testament  I  have  hereunto  affixed  my  hand 
and  seale  this  twentieth  dav  of  Jan'y  1707-8. 

Her 
Sarah  (X)  Smith.  [Seal.] 
mark. 

14 


Signed,  sealed  and  declared  to  be  her  last 
Will  ik  Testamt.  in  presence  of  us  Witnesses. 

George  Phillips, 
Elias  Nodine. 

Recorded  in  the  Suffolk  county  clerk's  office, 
Liber  B,  page  25'''- 

The  sons  of  the  patentee  made  numerous  ex- 
changes and  conveyances  between  themselves,  and 
in  1735  his  grandchildren  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment appointing  three  coanmissioners  to  divide 
the  unappropriated  lands,  as  follows :         ' 

"Articles  of  Agreement  made  this  13th  day  of 
March  Annoq.  Doni.  1735  by  the  Inhabitants, 
freeholders  and  commoners  of  the  land  in  Smith- 
town,  att  a  meting  apointed  have  agreed  to 
nominate  and  appoint  Richard  Woodbull,  Esq., 
and  John  Hallock  of  Brookhaven,  James  Dick- 
inson and  Richard  Willitts  of  Smithtown,  George 
Townssen.  surveyor,  to  lay  out  and  judge  of  & 
equelise  all  the  free  holders  and  copmmoners  in 
ye  undivided  lands  and  thatchbeds  according  to 
their  just  rights  therein,  wee  further  agree  that 
QY^ry  person  having  a  right  in  ye  said  lands  shall 
keep  his  just,  lawful  and  reasonable  improve- 
ment, now  wee  also  agree  that  any  person  hav- 
ing ouer  or  above  his  just  Right,  so  that  all  ye 
owners  or  free  holders  cannot  be  equallised  in 
land,  then  and  in  such  cases  it  is  agreed  on  that 
the  persons  so  chosen  and  improved  for  the  equal- 
lising  and  deviding  the  above  sd  land  and  thatch- 
beds shall  judge  and  determine  whether  such  per- 
sons haveing  such  lands  shall  turn  out  the  lands 
or  pay  the  valey  of  itt  in  money  within  six 
months  after  ye  judgment  of  the  said  men  to  the 
persons  to  whom  dtt  is  Due.  wee  also  agree  that 
good  and  lawful  deeds  made  by  our  grandfather 
Richard  Smith  shall  stand  good,  which  said  men 
are  to  have  all  Deeds  to  lay  out  by ;  &  Whereas 
their  is  ocqupaticn  Deeds  by  our  grandfather 
Richard  Smith  granted  to  his  sons,  wee  alow 
them,  to  be  good  as  far  as  evidence  and  circum- 
stances shall  prove  was  in  each  persons  pos- 
session &■  improvement  att  the  time  when  given 
&  granted;  &  also  our  grandfather's  will  and  our 
agreement  made  in  the  year  1725  to  be  good.  We 
also  agree  that  ye  six  hundred  acres  which  is 
upon  the  record  should  be  the  whole  of  Willetts' 
Right.  We  also  agree  that  any  three  of  the  men 
above  said  shall  be  chosen  by  the  major  part  of 

*Under  date  of  August  31st,  1705,  Willets  released 
the  claim  under  the  first  Indian  deed  to  Jonathan,  Rich- 
ard, Job,  Adam,  Samuel  and  Daniel  Smith. 


210 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


us  subscribers  from  time  to  time  till  ye  whole  ^ 
division -be  accomplished;  which    said    men    so' 
chosen  &  improved  as  aforesaid  shall  have  full 
power  to  survey,  Lay  out,  Judge  of  &  equelise 
all  the  commons  Lands  and  thach  beds  to  every 
person  according  to  their  just  Right,  and  ye  same 
equalising  and  deviding  to  be  given  under  their 
hands  in'  writing  to  whome  itt  doth  conce'rn.  & 
itt  is  further  agreed  on  that  in  case  of  sickness, 
Death  or  refusall  of  either  of  ye  fore  said  per- 
sons, then  and  in  such  cases  wee  the  major  part 
may  chuse  and  improve  other  men  for  ye  same 
service,  they  having*  the  same  power  to  servey, 
indge  of  and  equalise  as  aforesaid,     itt  is  also 
■agreed  by  us  that  such  men  so  chosen  and  im- 
ployed  as  aforesaid  shall  judge  of  and  Determine 
all  Diference  and  controversies,  Disputes  which 
may  or  shall  hereafter  arise,  conserning  Laying 
out  and  equalising  ye  above  said  Land  and  thach- 
beds.    itt  is  hereby  covenanted  &  agreed  and  con- 
cluded by  all  and  every  of  us  the  subscribers  to 
these  presents  that  wee  and  every  of  us  doe  hereby 
covenant,  grant  and  agree  to  and  with  each  other 
for  ourselves  our  heirs  Exr.  &  Admr.  &  each  of 
us  separately  doth  covenant  and  agree  to  and 
with  ye  other  of  the  subscribers,  their  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors and  Administrators,  to  pay  our  full  pro- 
portion of  the  charges  of  Laying  out,  Deviding 
&  equalising  ye  land  &  thach  beds  according  to 
our  rights  ;  &  if  any  person  or  persons  concerned 
will  not  agree  to  a  division  in  manner  aforesaid 
that  wee  or  ye  major  part  of  us  will  use  such 
methods  by  Law,  equity,  or  other  wise  to  comi- 
pell  them  to  a  Division  of  the  aforesaid  land  and 
thachbeds.      for   all   which   every  person  hereto 
subscribing  shall  and  will  pay  to  such  person  pr 
persons  as  by  the  major  part  of  us  shall  be  nom- 
inated and  appointed  to  Demand  and  Receiv  the 
same  our  respective  equal  and  proportionate  part 
of  all  such  charges,  costs,  expenses  &  Disburse- 
ments as  shall  be  occasioned  by  the  premises  from 
time  to  time  until  ye  same  shall  be  accomplished, 
and  compleated ;  and  for  the  true  performance 
of  all  &  every  part  of  ye  ahove  written  articles, 
covenants,  agreements  and    conditions    all    and 
every  of  us  the  subscribers,  each  for  himself  and 
for  his  heirs,    Executors    and    Adtn.inistrators, 
Doth  covenant,  grant  and  agree  to  and  with  all 
and  every  of  us  the  subscribers,  our  heirs,  execu- 
tors, administrators  of   all  and  every  of  them, 
and  .Doth  bind  himself  and  themselves  each  to  the 
other  Respectively  on    the    forfeiture    of    three 
hundred  pounds  good  money  of  'New  York,  to 
be  paid  by  the  party  failing  to  observe  &  comply 
with  all  &  every  part  of  the  above  said  covenants, 
articles,  conditions  and  agreements  to  ye  party 


or  partys  performing  or  willing  to  performe.  in 
Witness  whereof  wee  ye  subscribers  have  put  to 
our  seals  the  day  &  year  above  written. 

'*Daniet.  Smith.  Joxatj-ian  Smith. 

''Edmund  Smitii.  Job  S^rrn-i. 

"Ebengzer  Smith.         Richard  Smith. 

"Richard  Smith.  Aaron  S>jith. 

"Zephaniah  Pi-att.       Obadiah  Smith. 

"Joseph  Smith.  Dancel  Lawrence. 

"TiMOTPiY  Smith. 

"Sealed  in  presence  of 

"Shubeale  ]\Lvrchant. 
"Christopher  Crosgrove. 
"Nathan  Curren. 
"Ruth  S:\riTH."" 

The  rights  of  the  several  signers  to  this  agree- 
ment are  set  out  in  a  document  found  in  the  pos- 
session of  Nathaniel  Smith,  endorsed  on  a  copy 
of  the  agreemeiit,  as  follows :  ' 

"Children  of  old  Richd.  Smith,  each  to  have 
T-7  part  of  Smithtown. 

"Jonathan  Smith. — Had  a  son  Jonathan  ye  2d 
(the  signer),  who  by  deed  gave  part  of  his  share 
to  his  son  Piatt  Smith ;  who  died  intestate,  where- 
by his  part  descends  upon  his  two  daughters 
Elizabeth  and  Abigail,  infants,  as  coparceners. 
Jonathan  Smith  by  will  gave  the  rest  to  his  two 
daughters,  viz.  Tabitha,  now  the  wife  of  Nicoll 
Floyd,  and  to  Ruth,  now  the  widow  of  Henry 
Smith.  Note — that  Ruth  since  her  being  a  widow 
has  sold  to  Nicoll  Floyd,  so  that  Jonathan  the  ist 
his  share  now  belongs  to  Elizabeth  and  Abigail, 
the  daughters  of  Piatt,  and  to  Nicoll  Floyd  in 
his  own  right,  and  to  him  and  his  wife  in  his  said 
wife  Tabitha's  right. 

"Job  Smith. — Gave  his  share  to  his  six  sons, 
viz.  Job  the  2d,  Joseph,  Richard,  Aaron,  Timothy 
and  James  (now  James  sold  to  Job  the  2d),  so 
that  this  share  belongs  to  the  other  5  sons,  who 
have  all  signed  the  articles. 

"Saml  Smith.— Had  Obadiah  the  signer,  who 
has  his  share. 

"Daniel  Smith. — Had  Daniel  the  signer,  who 
has  his  share. 

*'Adam  Smith. — Had  Edmund,  deed.,  who 
gave  it  to  his  4  sons  Edmimd,  Floyd.  Thomas 
and  Adam.  Edmund  the  2d  has  signed  and  Floyd 
is  now  of  age.     Thomas  and  Adam  are  infants. 

"Richd.  Smith.— Had  Ricd.  the  3d  and  Ebe- 
nezer,  who  are  both  signers  and  have  his  share. 

Deborah  Smith.— Sold  to  her  son  Daniel 
Lawrence. 


SMITHTOWN. 


211 


Three  of  the  persons  named  in  this  agree- 
mient  were  designated  to  carry  it  into  effect,  as 
follows :  "Att  a  Town  m-eeting  of  the  propria- 
tors  of  Smithtown  on  ye  first  day  of  March 
1736  then  chose  and  Imploued  RidTard  Wood- 
hull,  John  Hallock  and  George  Townsend,  to  Lay 
out  and  divide  all  the  proprietors  land  &  thach 
beds  in  Smithtown  agreeable  to  our  articles  bare- 
ing  d'ate  ]\Iarch  the  thirteenth  1735." 

Pursuant  to  the  agreement  the  cornmissioners 
divided  a  large  part  of  the  land.  In  August, 
1751,  Townsend  withdrew  from  the  commission, 
and  William  Nicoll  was  appointed  in  his  place. 
By  the  commission  the  greater  part  of  the  lands 
and  meadows  were  divided  and  alloted.  In  the 
descriptions  of  these  divisions  the  houses  of 
Mary  Liscom,  Shubal  Merchant,  James  Dickin- 
son and  Aloses  Ackerly  are  often  mentioned  as 
landmarks.  Mary  Lisooaii's  house  was  on  the 
east  of  the  river.  It  was  afterward  occupied  and 
owned  by  Nicholas  Smithy  then  by  'his  son  Fred- 
crick  Halsey  Smith,  and  is  now  by  the  son  of 
1he  latter,  Samuel  O.  Smith.  ' 

Shubal  jNIerchant  lived  at  the  first  house  on 
the  south  side  of  the  road  in  entering  Nisse- 
quogue  from  the  east,  adjoining  the  woods.  The 
old  house  was  demolished  and  the  present  house 
erected  about  sixty  years  ago. 

Captain  James  Dickinson  owned  a  tract 
bounded  west  by  the  land  of  Frederick  Lenhart, 
and  extending  to  the  road  to  Hauppauge. 

Moses  Ackerly  was  at  Fresh  Pond,  oh  the 
corner  lately  occupied  by  Albert  G.  Mulford,  and 
now  by  Scudder  Smith. 

''Wheeler's"  was  at  Hauppauge,  at  or  near 
the  house  of  the  late  Thomas  W.  Conkling  at 
the  fork  of  the  roads  opposite  Wallace  Donalds 
son's  store. 

At  the  time  when  the  title  of  Richard  Smith 
was  confirmed  there  were  a  few  families  living 
on  the  tract  west  of  Nissequoge  River  who  held 
their  land  under  grants  from  Huntington,  The 
patentee  seems  to  have  d'ealt  fairly  with  them  and 
gave  them  deeds  for  farms.  Among  these  fam- 
ilies were  Edward  Ketcham,  John  Jones,  Benja- 
min Jones,  William  Brotherton  and  Robert  Ar- 
thur and  David  Scudder.    The  patentee  and  his 


wife  also  gave  various  tracts  of  land  to  their  sons. 
He  also  gave  to  his  son-in-law,  William  Law- 
rence, 500  acres  O'f  land  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  This  land  (or  a  part  of  it)  had  been  form- 
erly in  possession  of  Benjamin  Jones.  The  south 
line  seems  to  have  been  a  small  stream,  called 
Pesapunk  Brook,  and  extended  north  to  where 
was  formerly  the  poor  house  land.  Many  papers 
connected  with  this  are  in  the  town  clerk's  office. 
The  following  is  the"  deed  for  the  landing  on 
the  river. 

"These  presents  witnesseth  that  I  Richard 
Smith  Senr.  of  Smithtown  in  the  County  of  Suf- 
folk, upon  Long  Island  Gent,  for  ye  wellfare  & 
benefit  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Smithtown,  afore- 
said for  their  landing  and  spreading  of  creek 
thatch.  Hath  given  and  granted  &  doth  by  these 
(presents)  give  and  grant  unto  Jonathan  Smith, 
Richard  Sanith  &  their  associates  the  Inhabitants 
aforesaid,  Five  acres  of  upland  adjoining  to  the 
east  side  of  Nissequogue  river  on  the  fittest  place 
for  landing  to  the  south  side  of  William  Law- 
rence his  meadow.  To  Have  and  To  Hold  the  said 
five  acres  of  upland  to  the  said  Jonathan  Smith 
and  Richard  Smith  and  their  associates  afore- 
said, their  heirs  and  successors  forever.  To  the 
only  proper  use  benefit  and  behoofe  of  them  the 
said  Jonathan  Smith  Richard  Smith  and  their  as- 
sociates,  their  heirs  and  successors   forever. 

"In  witness  whereof  the  said  Richard  Smith 
hath  hereunto  sett  his  hand  &  seale  the  30th  day 
of  August  in  the  fourth  year  of  his  majestys 
Reigne,  Annoque  Dom.  1688. 

"Witness, 
Eis 

"John  (X)  Mosier, 
mark. 

"Humphrey  Su.es.'"' 

This  is  now  called  "Blydeniburg's  Landing.'* 
The  deed  has  been  lately  recorded  in  the  Suffolk 
county  clerk's  ofhce. 

The  only  original  document  in  the  handwrit- 
ing of  Richard  Smith  is  a  deed  to  Daniel  White- 
head, dated  March  3,  1684-5.  This  was  the  same 
day  that  Daniel  Whitehead  conveyed  to  Richard 
Smith  all  his  right  to  the  land  sold  by  the  In- 
dian Sachem^,  Nasseconsehe,  to  Edmond  Wood 
and  others ;  and  "my  hand  been  given  in  consider- 
ation of  that  conveyance."  A  fac-simile  and  com- 
plete copy  are  given  on  the  page  following : 


212 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


1^ 


CcA^ 


The  following  is  a  transcript  of  the  forego- 
ing document : 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Rich- 
ard Smythe  senior,  of  Smythtown,  doe  promise  to 
deliver  into  the  possession  of  Daniell  Whitehead 
a  lott  of  land  adjoining  to  the  lott  of  mv  sonn 
Jobe  and  as  large  as  his  lott,  with  liberty  of  Com- 
monidge  h  this  to  bee  done  uooon  demand  for 
to  halv  ^  hold  tO'  the  said  Daniell  bis  beires  or 
assignes  for  ever,  and  for  the  reall  performance 
thereof  I  binde  me  my  beires  exenuitors  admin- 
istrators &  assignes,  my  sonn  Jobes  lott  contains 


at  least  14  or  16  ackres  witnes  my  hand  &  seal 
halveing  receaved  satisfaction  to  mv  content. 

"March  3  1684-5. 

"Richard  Smythe 

"Witness :  William  Creed,   Samuel  Ruscoe." 

The  original  deed,  of  which  the  above  is  an 
exact  copy,  was  lately  in  possession  of  Richard 
B.  Smith,  Esq.  It  is  the  only  document  known 
to  be  in  existence  written  by  the  patentee  of 
Smithtown.  The  land  is  on  the  west  side  of 
Stony  Brook  Harbor. 


SMITHTOWN. 


213 


Major  Daniel  Whitehead,  named  above,  was 
th-e  son  of  Daniel  Whitehead,  of  Newtown, 
where  he  died  in  1669.  Major  Daniel  White- 
head married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Thomas  Ste- 
venson. He  died  in  1704,  leaving  children,  Jon- 
athan (who  died  in  1735),  Benjamin,  Susannah, 
wife  of  Benjamin  Hewlett,  and  Thomas. 

Richard  Smith  made  the  following'  deed  to 
his  sons: 

"This  Indenture  made  the  thirtyeth  day  of 
August  in  the  fourth  years  of  the  Reigne  of  our 
-Sovereign  Lord,  James  the  Second,  by  the  Grace 
of  God  King  of  England,  'Scotland,  ffrance  and 
Ireland,  Defencder  of  the  ffaith  &c.  Between 
Richard  Smith  Senr.  of  Smithtown,  in  the  Coun- 
ty of  Suffolk  u|X)n  Long  Island  in  the  Province 
of  New  York, within  the  Territoryes  of  New  Eng- 
land, Gent,  of  the  one  part,  &  Job  Smith  of  the 
same  place  of  the  other  part  Witnesseth.  That 
the  sd  Richard  Smith  by  and  with  the  consent  of 
Sarah  his  wife,  Testifyed  her  being  a  party  by 
her  sealing  and  delivering  of  these  pesents,  for 
and  in  consideration  of  the  naturall  affection  hee 


the  said  Richard  Smith  in  &  to  the  premises  &  in 
8z  to  every  part  and  parcel!  thereof.  To  Have 
and  Hold  the  said  tract  of  land  &  premises  to 
him  the  said  Job  Smith  to  the  only  proper  use 
benefit  and  bohoof  of  him  the  said  Job  Smith, 
during  his  naturall  Life,  and  after  his  decease  to 
the  use  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  four  sons  of  the 
sd  Job  Smith,  viz. :  Job,  Richard,  Joseph  and 
Timothy  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  be 
equally  divided  'betv/een  them,  the  said  Job,  Rich- 
ard, Joseph  and  Timothy  their  heirs  and  assigns. 
In  Testimony  whereof  the  parties  have  hereunto 
sett  their  hands  and  seales  'at  Smithtown  the 
day  and  yeare  first  above  written," 

As  stated  previously,  Richard  Smith,  the 
Patentee,  died  March  7,  1692.  His  wife  survived 
him  several  years.    Their  dhildren  were : 

1st.  Jonathan,  who  died  about  1718.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Brewster,  and  left  two  children,  Jona- 
than (2nd)  and  Deborah,  wife  of  Joseph  Blyd^n- 
burgh.  Jonathan  Smith  (2nd))  was  born  No- 
vember 9,  1676,  and  died  in  1744.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daugihter  of  Epenetus  Piatt,  and  had 
three  children,  Piatt  Smith,  born  October  i,  1706, 


<^M^^    'Wj-^^.-.a^ 


beareth  unto  the  caid  Job  Smith  his  well  beloved 
Sonne,  and  Job,  Richard,  Joseph  and  Timothy 
the  sonnes  of  the  said  Job  Smith,  and  other  good 
causes  &  considerations  him  thereunto  moving. 
Hath  given,  granted,  enfeofed  Released  &  con- 
firmed, and  doth  by  these  presents  fully  clearly  & 
absolutely  give,  grant  enfeof  Release  &  confinn 
unto  the  said  Job  Smith  All  that  twenty  acres  of 
land  situate  lying  and  being  to  the  east  ward  of 
the  land  in  the  occupation  of  the  said  Job  Smith 
— upon  the  North  neck  together  with  all  &  sin- 
gular the  privileges  appurtenances  &  meriddta- 
tnents  to  the  said  twenty  acres  of  land  belonging 
or  in  any  ways  appertaining,  and  all  the  estate 
right  title  interest  claims  and  Demands  of  him 


and  died  August  24,  1743;  Tabitha,  born  Febru- 
ary 18,  1704,  and  died  January  17,  1755  (she 
married  Nicoll  Floyd  and  they  were  the  parents 
of  a  large  and  distinguished  family;  Ruth, 
wife  of  Colonel  Henry  Smith,  grandson  of  Colo- 
nel William  Smith,  the  head  of  the  "Tangiers" 
Smith  family. 

2nd.  Richard,  born  about  1647,  ^"-^  died  in 
1720.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  John 
Tooker,  who  'survived  him  and  died  in  1730. 
Their  children  were  Richard,  Nathaniel,  Sarah 
(wife  of  General  Nathaniel  WoodhuU),  Hannah 
(wife  of  James  Fanning),  and  Ebenezer.  Rich- 
ard Smith  was  the  owner  of  the  patentship  of 
Moriches. 


214 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


3d.  Samuel,  who  was  born  in  1654  and  died 
April  2,  1717.  He  married  Hannah  Longbotham. 
Their  children  were  Obadiah,  Richard  (who  was 
called  Quaker  Richard),  Mary,  Phebe  (wife  of 
Nathaniel  Brewster),  and  Hannah,  wife  of  John 
Stratton. 

4th.  Daniel,  who  probably  died  before  1715. 
He  married  (ist)  Ruth  Tooker  and  (2nd)  Mary 
Holton.  His  children  were  Daniel,  Solomon, 
Deborah  (wife  of  Colonel  Rudyard),  Irene, 
Sarah  (wife  of  Jacob  Rogers),  and  Mary,  'wife 
of  Zebulon  Bunce.  He  is  also  said  to  have  had 
a  daughter,  Lorinda,  who  married  Thomas  Skid- 
more. 

5th.  Obadiah,  who  was  drowned  in  Nisse- 
quogue  river,  August  7,  1680. 

6th.  Elizabeth,  who  married  Colonel  Will- 
iam Lawrence,  of  Flushing.  They  had  seven 
children — Mary,  Thomas,  "Joseph,  Ridhard,  Sam- 
uel, Sarah  and  Jam-es.  Colonel  William  Law- 
rence died  in  1680,  anid  the  following  year  his 
widow  married  Governor  Philip  Carteret  of  New 
Jersey.  He  died  December,  1682,  leaving  no 
children.  His  widow  married  for  her  third  hus- 
band, Colonel  Richard  Townley.  They  had  two 
sons,  Charles  and  EfHngham  Townley. 

7th.  Deborah,  who  married  Mia j  or  William 
Lawrence  (son  of  Colonel  William  Lawrence  by 
a  former  wife).  Their  children  were:  William, 
Richard,  Obadiah,  Daniel,  Samiuel,  Joshua, 
Adam,  Elizabeth  (wife  o£  John  Willetts),  Caleb 
and  Stephen. 

8th.  Adam  Smith  died  in  1720.  He  married 
Eliza'beth  Brown,  of  Boston,  and  left  one  son 
Edmund  Smith. 

9th.  Job  Smith,  died  about  1719.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Thompson,  Esq., 
of  Setauket.  Their  children  .were  Job  2nd,  Rich- 
ard called  "Saint  Richard,"  Timothy,  Aaron, 
James,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth,  who  is  said  to  have 
been  the  second  wife  of  Rev.  Daniel  Taylor. 

All  of  these  families,  have  a  numerous  off- 
spring, and  it  is  believed  that  the  living  descend- 
ants of  Richard  Smith  number  more  than  1,200 
persons.  Within  the  last  few  years,  a  monument 
has  been  placed  in  the  ancient  burying  ground 
at  Nissequoge,  to  mark  the  grave  of  the  pat- 
entee. No  autograph  of  Daniel  Smith  is  known 
to  exist,  but  the  autographs  of  the  other  sons  of 
the  Patentee  are  here  given,  as  they  appear  upon 
a  deed  made  by  them  in  1715  to  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Taylor,  who  was  the  first  minister  of  Smith- 
town: 


''Whereas  the  inhabitants  and  proprietors  of 
Smithtown,  by  Articles  of  agreemJent  bearing  date 
the  13th  of  'March,  1735,  have  appointed  several 
persons  to  lay  out  and  proportion  their  lands  and 


<"<:/G^A^  ^//^ 


ail  L01 


'iff 


^^-iJU.     i/?=7#^^^^f 


^  ^^^-^i^i^^M^ 


(^<^^zf  :^:m/^ 


Wi 


'/If 


c/A^J  /^/t 


SMITHTOWN. 


215 


meadows,  and  thatch,  some  of  which  are  since 
dead  and  some  others  have  refused.  Now  in  pur- 
suance of  said  agreement  all  whose  names  are 
hereunder  written  do  nominate  and  appoint  Mr. 
Richard  Wood'hull,  John  Hollock,  and  William 
Nicoll,  Jr..  for  the  same  purpose  and  with  all  t'he 
powers  and  authorities  contained  and  specified 
in  the  said  agreement. 
^'Witness  our  hands  this  I3'th  oi  August,  1753." 

Richard  Smith,  the  first  signer,  was  son  of 
Job  (ist)  and  was  known  as  ''Saint  Richard" 
and  "Richard  Smith  of  Stony  'BrooK."  O'badiiah 
Smith  was  son  of  Samuel  Smifh,  son  of  the  pat- 
entee. Daniel  Smith  was  son  of  Daniel  (rst.). 
The  next  signature  which  frequently  occurs  in 
old  documents  is  that  of  Richard  Smith  (3'd),  son 
of  Richard  (2nd).  Edmund  S-miith  was  son  of 
Edmund  (ist),  son  of  Adam  Smith.  Job  Smith 
was  eldest  son  of  Job  (2nd),  and  was  known  as 
Captain  Job.  The  next  signature  is  that  of  Jo- 
seph Smith,  son  of  Job  (ist),  and  brother  of 
"Saint  Richard."  Isaac,  Jonathan  and  Samuel 
Mills  were  three  'of  the  sons  of  Timothy  Mills, 
the  ancestor  of  the  family  at  'Milk  Pond.  Floyd 
Smith  was  son  of  Ednlund  Smith  (ist),  son  of 
Adam  Smith. 

How  greatly  the  town  had  increased  in  num- 
bers may  be  seen  by  the  following  list  of  heads 
of  families,  made  in  1776 : 


Epenetus  Smith. 
Zophar  Wheeler. 
Ruth  Blydenburgh. 
Daniel   Tillotson. 
James  Payne. 
^Samuel  Blydenburgh. 
Ruth  Traves. 
William  Phillips, 
John  L'Hommedue. 
James  L'Honmiedue. 
Shadrach  Terry. 
Joshua  Smith. 
Jacob  Longbotton, 
Richard  Smith. 
Samuel  Mills. 
Nathan  Wheeler. 
Abner  Smith. 
Obadiah  Smith,  Jun. 
Isaac  Gerard. 
William  Ward. 
Alexander  Mencil. 
Daniel  Smith. 
Margaret  Floyd. 
Margaret  Smith. 
Job  Smith, 


Joseph  Piatt. 
Jonathan  Sammis. 
Jesse  Arthur. 
Jacob  Balis. 
John  Stratton. 
Zephaniah  Piatt. 
Henry  S'hadden. 
Elemuel  Soper. 
'  Solomon  Smith. 
Obadiaih  Smith,  Sr. 
Aaron  Smith. 
Jacob  Smith. 
Mary  Vargason. 
Zophar  Scidmore. 
Samuel  Phillips. 
Samuel  Ketcham. 
Samuel  Tillotson. 
Caleb  Smith. 
Nath'l  Gerrard. 
Zophar  Mills. 
Joshua  Hart. 
William  Arthur. 


Epenetus  Wood.  " 
Xath'l  Piatt. 
Reuben  Arthur. 
Thomas  Trediwell. 
Jeremiah  Wheeler. 
Jeremiah  Conkling. 
Gamaliel  Conkling. 
Jonah  Soper. 
Jeffrey  Smith. 
Philetus  Smith. 
Nathaniel  Smith. 
Hamble  Darling. 
William  Thompson. 
Joseph  Jane. 
Daniel  Brush. 
James  Jane. 
Elisha  Jillit. 
Benjamin  Nicoll. 
Stephen  Smith. 
Ebenezer  Smith. 
Joseph  Gould,  Sen. 
Joseph  Gould,  Jun. 


William  Smith,  Jun. 
Shubal  Marchant. 
Nathaniel  Taylor. 
William  Smith,  Sen. 
Micah  Smith. 
Stephen  Smith,  Sen. 
Gilbert  Smith. 
Joseph  Smith. 
Gershom  Smith. 
Edmond  Smith,  Jun. 
Floyd  Smith. 
Elemuel  Smith. 
Jonas  Mills. 
Jacob  Mills. 
Isaac  ]^Iills. 
Jonathan   Mills. 
Timothy  Mills. 
Benjamin  Gould. 
William  Biggs. 
Jonathan  L'Hommedue. 
Mary  Biggs. 
Silas  Biggs. 
Benjamin  Newton. 
Merrit  Smith. 


Abigail  Ward. 
The  total  population  was  then  555. 

The  first  mill  was  at  a  place  called  the  Old 
M'ill.  This  is  the  first  streamlet  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Nissequogue  river  southward  of  the 
"town,"  and  is  now  the  site  of  a  small  trout  pond 
on  the  line  between  the  Ogilvie  and  Petty  places. 
The  mill  'here  was  of  short  duration.  As  pop- 
ulation increased  the  power  was  insufficient  to 
do  the  work,  and  the  mill  was  abandoned. 

The  foillowing  document  gives  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  present  mill  site  on  the  river.  It  is 
not  dated,  but  was  probably  written  about  1775: 

"On  the  25th  dav  of  :^[arch,  1684.  Ridhard 
Smith,  Patentee  of  Smithtown,  conveyed  to  his 
son-in-law  William  Lawrence,  500  acres  of  land 
at  the  common  passage  and  the  river  Nisse- 
quogue.   Bounded  east  by  the  river." 

In  some  after  period  A\'illiam  Lawrence 
conveys  the  above  five  hundred  acres  of  land  to 
Isaiah  Harrison.  Isaiah  Harrison  conveys  the 
five  hundred  acres  to  Amos  Willetts,  of  Islip. 
Amos  Willetts,  while  in  possession  of  the  above 
five  hundred  acres  of  land,  about  fifty  years  past, 
in  conjunction  with  his  brother,  Richard  Wil- 
letts, Daniel  Smith  and  Richard  Smith,  built  a 
dam  across  the  river  and  erected  a  sawmill,  each 


216 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


building  and  owning  a  quarter  oi  said  mill. 
Daniel  Smith  and  R'ichard  Smith  convey  each 
their  quarters  to  Daniel  Bates,  after  two  or  three 
years,  with  their  right  to  the  pond,  upon  which 
Daniel  Bates  erects  the  first  fulling  mill,  and 
Amos  Willetts,  afterward,  the  first  grist  mill, 
Daniel  Bates  conveys  his  title  to  the  sawmill 
and  fulling  mill  to  James  Chipman,  and  Amos 


to  Isaiah  Harrison  April  20,  1702,  for  £400,  and 
he  and  his  wife  Abigail  sold  it  to  Amos  Willetts 
June  12,  1 721.  In  after  years  a  new  mill  was 
built  here  by  George  Phillips,  a  son  of  the  min- 
ister at  Setauket  and  has  ever  since  been  in  op- 
eration. 

At  a  general  town  meeting  January  27,  1698, 
it   was    "agreed  by   a   major   vote    that    Adam 


OLD  MILL  AT  SMITHTOWN. 


Willetts  conveys  his  half  of  the  sawmill  and  the 
grist  mill  to  Richard  Smith,  surnamed  "the 
Quaker. '^  December  28,  1730,  James  Chipman 
conveys  to  the  above  Richard  Smith  and  his 
brother  Obadiah  his  half  of  the  sawmill  and 
fulling  mill,  with  half  the  privilege  of  stream 
and  water  and  so  much  land  as  is  needful  for  the 
pond  to  flow.  August  21,  1735,  the  above  Rich- 
ard Smith  conveys  the  whole  of  his  title  to  the 
said  mill  to  his  brother,  Obadiah  Smith,  bound- 
ing him  east  by  the  eastermost  part  or  side  of 
,the  stream  at  the  run.  From  the  document  it 
is  plain  that  the  dam  and  the  first  mill  were 
built  as  early  as  1725,  and  probably  some  years 
earlier. 

William  Lawrence  sold  the  five  hundred  acres 


Smith  shall  have  the  town's  right  of  the  stream 
called  Stony  Brook,  with  two  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining thereto  which  may  he  most  convenient, 
on  condition  that  he  erect  and  build  a  good  .suffi- 
cient grist-mill  and  maintain  the  same,  the  towns- 
men first  building  the  dam,  which  he  the  said 
Smith  shall  keep  in  repair  himself,  and  that  he 
do  hereby  obligate  to  grind  for  all  the  townsmen 
who  shall  in  due  portion  assist  in  making  the 
dam,  at  the  rate  of  two  quarts  on  each  bushel 
of  wheat  and  three  of  corn  and  rye." 

This  agreement  was  modified  May  8,  1699, 
Adam  agreeing  to  malvc  the  dam  himself,  and  to 
be  allowed  one-tenth  toll  on  wheat  and  one- 
eighth  on  corn  and  rye. 

This  stream  was  the  boundary  line  between 


SMITHTOWN. 


217 


the  two  towns ;  Adam  own-ed  half  the  stream 
and  the  Brookhaven  grant  carried  the  other  half. 
The  mill  was  erected  and  is  still  in  operation. 
The  pond  flows  back  almost  to  the  Stony  Brook 
Hotel,  and  is  both  useful  and  ornamental  to 
Stony  Brook  and  its  environs. 

In  1798  Caleb  Smith,  Isaac  .Blydenburgth 
and  Joshua  Smflth,  who  owned  larg^e  tracts  of 
land  on  either  side  of  the  Nissequo'gue  river, 
erected  a  dam  at  a  place  ever  isince  called  the 
New  Mill,  and  flowed  back  the  water  on  several 
hundred  acres  of  forest  land,  where  the  trees 
had  been  cut  and  the  stumps  left  standing.  They 
have  stood  for  nearly  a  century  in.  a  perfect 
state  of  preservation,  and  -give  to  the  pond  the 
well  known  name  of  Stump  Pond.  There  is  a 
very  fine  water  fall  of  eight  feet,  with  authority 
and  ability  to  increase  it  to  ten  feet ;  a  isawmill 
and  gristmill  make  use  of  it.  In  1827  Richard 
and'  Isaac  W.  Blydenburgh  erected  here  a 
cloth  factory^  and  for  many  years  carried  on  an 
ex1;ensive  business  in  mianufacturing  woolen 
cloths.  Isaac  BIydenburgh's  land  was  on  the 
northeast  side  of  the  river.  His  grandson  Ben- 
jamin B,  Blydenburgh  lately  owned  the  mill 
and  mill  pond,  while  his  other  grandsons,  Tim- 
othy and  Theodore  Blydenburgh,  occupy  large 
farms — part  of  the   family   domain. 

Caleb  'Smith,  comlmonly  remembered  as 
'Squire  Caleb,  who  owned  land  on  the  'SOUth 
side  of  the  river,  embracing  the  western  part 
of  Hauppauge,  then  resided  where  the  late  Major 
Ebenezer  Smith,  his  son-in-law,  afterward  re- 
sided and  died.  Caleb  removed  to  Comae  and 
erected  the  dwelling  afterward  occupied  by  his 
son  Caleb  and  now  b\'  his  grandson  Robert 
Smith.  The  two  Calebs,  father  and  son,  were 
influential  in  town  affairs. 

At  tjhe  head  of  Stump  Pond,  near  the  head 
of  this  branch  of  the  river,  Timothy  Wheeler 
and,  after  him,  Samuel  Brush,  had  a  small  tan- 
nery and  shoe  factory.  Here  Captain,  Elijah 
Brush  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking.  Here, 
at  the  head  waters  of  the  river,  the  town  authori- 
ties laid  out  a  public  watering  place. ' 

There  was  some  dispute  with  Brookhaven 
about  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  town,  which 


was  submitted  to  the  arbitrators  (Theophilus 
Howell,  Isaac  Halsey,  Elisha  Halsey  and  David 
Pierson  of  Southampton,  and  Cornelius  Conk- 
ling,  John  Hedges  and  Elipihalet  Sitratton  of  East 
Hampton),  who  by  their  award,  March  11,  1725, 
decided  that  the  head  of  the  middle  branch  of 
Stony  Brook,  where  they  put  down  a  stake, 
should  be  "one  of  the  bounds  between  ye  said 
towns,  and  so  running  southward  to  Ronconca- 
muck  Pond,  to  a  certain  tree  marked  with  two 
notches,  by  ye  pond  side,  the  line  running  near 
Ben.  Ackerly's  barn,  which  is  ye  south  end  of 
Smithtown  line,  and  then  from  the  aforesaid 
stake  at  ye  head  of  Stony  Brook  to  run  north- 
erly down  ye  beach  into  fhe  harbor,  and  so  into 
the  sound;  and  that  ye  isaid  be  ye  standing 
bounds  between  ye  said  towns.'" 

The  changes  in  the  Stony  Brook  stream  and 
in  the  channel  caused  other  disputes,  and  in 
1841  commissioners  were  appointed — ^on  the 
part  of  Brookhaven,  Selah  B.  Strong,  Charles 
Phillips  and  Davis  Norton,  and  on  the  part  of 
Smithtown  Joshua  B.  Smith,  William  Wickham 
Mills  and  Joseph  R.  Huntting — to  settle  the  dis- 
pute, or,  if  they  could  not  agree,  to  appoint  an 
arbitrator.  They  appointed  Hon.  Charles  H. 
Ruggles,  of  Poughkeepsie,  the  circuit  judge,  as 
arbitrator.  He  made  his  award  February  14, 
1842,  by  whidh  he  decided  "that  the  boundary 
line  between  the  towns  from  the  mill  dam  at 
Stony  Brook  to  Long  Island  Sound  begins  in 
the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  middle 
branch  of  the  said  Stony  Brook  at  the  said  mill 
dam,  and  runs  thence  down  the  middle  of  the 
said  main  channel  of  said  stream  until  it  comies 
to  the  harbor,  and  so  along  the  channel  or  deep- 
est part  thereof  into  Long  Island  Sound ;  and 
the  middle  oi  the  main  channel  of  said  stream 
until  it  comes  to  the  harbor  and  thence  the  mid- 
dle of  the  channel  of  the  harbor  is  adjudged 
to  be  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  towns 
from  the  mill  dam  to  the  Sound." 

There  are  several  branches  or  heads  of  the 
Nissequogue  river,  and  the  exact  point  or  spot 
of  the  head  waters  of  the  river  mentioned  in  the 
Smithtown  patent  and  the  Winnecomac  patent 
was  claimed  to  be  immediately  in  that  neighbor- 


21« 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


hood,  but  was  for  a  long  time  in  dispute  between 
William  Nicoll  (son  of  the  Islip  patentee)  and 
the  Smi'thtown  people;  and  in  1763  they  sub- 
mitted the  question  of  boundary  to  the  arbi- 
tration of  Samuel  -Willis,  Zebulon  Seaman  and 
Richard  Willctts,  of  Jericho,  who  on  the  31st 
day  of  May,  1763,  m^ade  the  award  in  writing, 
deciding  that  the  western  branch  of  Nissequogue 
river,  on  which  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Win- 
necomac  patent  is  bounded,  "is  and  ought  to  be 
taken  and  deemed  the  head  of  Nissequogue 
river,  and  the  place,  at  the  head  of  said  river, 
in  the  brook  eastward  from  the  present  path 
or  road  that  goes  around  the  river,  and  two  rods 
westward  from!  the  old  path  or  going  over  tlhe 
river,  in  the  brook,  is  the  present  station  which 
we  fix  as  the  head  of  isaid  river ;  and  that  a  right 
line  run  from  the  old  bound  or  near  Ronkon- 
koma  (that  is  already  agreed  upon  by  both  par- 
ties) to  the  Ihead  of  the  western  branch  of  the 
Nissequogue  river  at  the  station  before  men- 
tioned shall  be  for  the  future  taken  and  deemed 
and  esteemed  by  the  parties  to  be  the  partition 
or  division  between   Soiithtown  and  Islip,"  etc. 

In  the  old  records  this  spot  is  called  the 
"Head  of  the  River,"  and  it  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  the  present  village  of  that  name, 
two  miles  or  more  further  down  the  stream. 
From  this  watering  place  eastward  on  the  line 
between  the  towns  of  Smithtown  and  Islip  runs 
the  village  street  of  Hauppauge. 

At  the  south  side  of  the  town  is  the  district 
or  locality  called  Hauppauge.  This  is  the  In- 
dian name  for  the  'springs  of  water  at  the  ex- 
treme head  oi  Nissequogue  river,  where  it 
touches  the  Islip  line.  On  March  9,  1762,  Dan- 
iel Smith,  son  of  Daniel  (ist),  gave  to  his  son 
Joshua  Smith,  "for  love  and  affection"  the  tract 
of  land  thus  described : 

"The  Farm  or  tract  called  Hauppauge  Neck, 
bounded  westerly  by  the  middle  of  the  river, 
northerly  by  the  brook  of  the  North  East  Branch, 
easterly  by  the  middle  of  a  Brook  ^running  out 
of  the  North  East  Branch,  and  southerly  by  Is- 
lip. Also  mv  right  in  the  Thatch  lot  called  Law- 
rence Lot,  on  the  Long  Beach  Great  Thatch  Bed. 
Also  a  tract  of  land  in  Islip,  purchased  by  Capt. 


Richard  Smith  ai  messrs  Thomas  and  William 
Gibbs,  the  equal  half  of  which  was  released  to 
me  by  said  Richard  Smith.  Also  a  piece  of  land 
and  meadow  at  the  Common  Landing,  bounded 
east  by  the  Landing  Path,  west  by  the  river,  south 
by  Richard  Blydenburgh's  land,  and  the  'hig*h- 
way,  as  it  is  now  fenced.  Containing  20  acres 
more  or  less.  Also  a  piece  of  meadow  in  Islip 
in  Joseph  Saxton's  neck,  formerly  the  property 
of  Jeremiah  Piatt,  deceased,  which  I  purchased 
of  Zephaniah  Piatt." 

"Witness-:    Daniel  Smith,  Jr.,  Job  Smith." 

"Daniel  Smith." 

The  above  abstract  was  made  from  the  orig- 
inal deed  in  possession  of  the  late  Edward  Mow- 
bray. This  estate  was  left  to  his  son  Joshua, 
who  was  a  noted  and  leading  man  in  the  town. 
He  represented  Suffolk  county  in  the  Legisla- 
ture in  1794-7  and  1799,  was  a  memlber  of  the 
Con.stitutional  Convention  in  1781,  State  Senator 
in  18127-9,  and  first  judge  of  the  county,  from 
1823  to  1828.  He  was  born  in  1764,  and  died  in 
1845.  This  large  'estate  of  Hauppauge  Neck 
descended  to  his  son  Joshua  B.  Smith,  who  was 
member  of  Assembly  1839-1843,  and  'State  Sen- 
ator from  1844  to  1847,  and  in  1858-9.  After 
a  life  of  usefulness  and  honor  he  died,  leaving 
an  only  daughter  Ellen,  who  married  Dr.  James 
R.  'Mowbray,  of  Islip.  She  was  the  last  to  in- 
herit the  ancestral  mansion,  which  is  now  owned 
by  the  heirs  of  Charles  A.  Miller.  The  house 
still  -stands,  an  interesting  relic  of  the  days  that 
are  passed. 

Major  Ebenezer  Smith  (a  brother  of  Joshua 
B.)  was  also  prominent  here.  He  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Caleb  Smith,  and  was  the  father 
of  Ethelbert  M.,  Caleb  T.  and  Joshua  Smdth,  all 
well  known  citizens.  His  daughter  Elizabeth  H. 
married  W.  C.  Lawrence,  Esq.,  and  the  home- 
stead is  now  in  possession  of  his  descendants. 

The  Methodist  Church  at  Hauppauge  was 
organized  in  1806.  The  church  was  built  in 
1812,  and  was  the  first  of  its  denomination  in  the 
town.  About  1830  several  Irish  families  settled 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  in  1845  they  erected 
a  small  Roman  Catholic  Church,  which  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  more  commodious  building  in  1874. 
The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev,  John  O'Donnell. 


SMITHTOWN. 


219 


The  entire  ,east  side  of  Stony  Brook  Harbor 
was. originally  called  Sherrawog.  Adam  Smith, 
son  of  the  patentee,  setted  here,  on  the  farm 
afterwards  occupied  by  Nathaniel  Smith  and  his 
son  Edmund  N.  Smitlh.  Adam^  devised  it  to  his 
only  son  Edmund,  and  he  to  his  two  sons  Ed- 
mund and  Floyd.     Edmund  took  the  homestead 


The  southern  part  of  Sherrawog,  formerly 
(and  sometimes  at  present)  called  the  Head  of 
the  Harbor,  is  a  village  situated  in  a  green  val- 
ley running  from  the  Moridhes  road  to  the  har- 
bor. Here  were  settled  in  early  days  Gershom 
Smith,  Job  Smith  and  Gilbert  Smith,  whose  nu- 
merous   descendants    still    people    the    village. 


JOSHUA^B.  SMITH  HOMESTEAD. 


and  Floyd  took  the  place  afterward  occupied 
by  Henry  Wells  an'd  more  recently  by  the  late 
Jona&  Smith.  Floyd  was  the  father  of  Jesse 
Smith,  commonly  called  "Scoggins,"  and  the 
grandfather  of  the  late  Edwin  A.  Smith.  This 
farm  of  Nathaniel  Smith  is  one  of  the  many 
farms  of  this  town  which  have  never  been  con- 
veyed. The  place  occupied  by  Nathaniel  Smith 
was  formerly  occupied  by  Jonas  Hawkins,  the 
grandfather  of  ex-Mayor  Wickham,  of  New 
York,  who  for  m'any  years  owned  and  carried  on 
a  large  distillery  there,  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Hither  Brook  road  and  near  the  harbor.. 


Jonas  Smith  (not  Captain  Jonas)  occupied  the 
residence  and  farm  of  the  late  Samuel  Carman, 
covering  an  extensive  territory  and  some  of  the 
most  commanding  views  along  the  sound.  Car- 
man's barn,  on  the  highest  point,  is  a  well  known 
landmark  to  mariners  passing  through  the 
sound. 

Near  this  and  on  a  part  of  Jonas  Smith's 
farm  is  the  country  seat  of  the  late  Prescott  H. 
Butler,  a  pleasant  cottage  of  the  early  colonial 
style,  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  sound  and 
Stony  Brook  Harbor. 

About  a  mile  east  of  the  Head  of  the  Harbor 


220 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


is  Mills  Pond,  a  hamlet  near  a  small  pond,  from 
wlhich  it  derives  its  name.  The  first  settler  here 
was  Timothy  JMiUs,  one  of  whose  descendants, 
the  late  William  Wickham  Mills,  owned  and  oc- 
cupied the  old  family  mansion.  He  was  for 
several  years  supervisor  of  the  town,  was  one 
of  the  largest  landholders  and  a  man  of  much 
influence.  William  ]\Iills,  another  descendant  of 
the  original  settler,  occupied  the  farm  now  owned 
by  William  C.  Powell.  He  was  the  father  of 
the  late  Ethelbert  S.  Mills,  Mrs:  Josiah  O.  Low, 
of  (Brooklyn,  and  James  M.  Mills,  of  New  York. 
Another  of  the  family,  Gideon  Mills,  resided 
where  Benjamin  Mott  now  lives. 

Samuel  Bailey,  another  early  settler,  lived  on 
the  east  side  of  the  pond,  on  the  farm  afterward 
occupied  by  his  grandson,  J.  Henry  Bailey. 

In  1853  the  Episcopalians  in  the  town  who 
had  worshiped  at  Caroline  Churchy  Setauket,  and 
at  the  Episcopal  churches  in  Islip.  organized  a 
society  and  erected  an  Episcopal  church,  called 
St.  Jam'es  church,  in  compliment  to  James  Clinch, 
of  New  York,  through  whose  instrumentality 
and  liberality  tihe  church  was  organized  and, 
in  its  infancy,  mainly  supiported.  The  first  offi- 
cers of  the  corporation  were :  Wardens,  Will- 
iam W,  Mills,  J.  Lawrence  Smifh ;  vestrymen, 
Edward  H.  Smith,  Charles  S.  Seabury,  Edmund 
F.  Smith,  Joel  L.  G.  Smith,  Gideon  Smith,  Will- 
iam W.  Ivlills,  Jr.,  Charles  Henry  Wells  and 
Henry  Smith. 

A  neat  wooden  building,  designed  by  Mr. 
Upjohn,  gothic  in  style,  was  erected,  mainly  by 
contributions.  A  plat  of  two  acres  was  donated 
by  Joel  L.  G.  Smith.  On  thisare  the  church, 
a  neat  rectory  with  barn,  etc.,  and  a  cemetery. 
The  church  has  also  a  glebe  of  four  acres.  The 
chancel  is  adorned  with  a  large  stained  glass 
window,  a  memorial  of  ]\lr.  Mills,  the  senior 
warden,  and  his  wife.  A  sm'aller  window  of 
stained  glass,  made  by  Lafarge,  in  memory  of 
the  patron,  Mr.  Clinch,  and  his  wife,  is  near  the 
chancel. 

The  first  rector  was  the  Rev.  Carlton  Maples. 
He  remained  about  two  years,  and  after  him 
came  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Williams,  who  remained 
several  years  and  rembved  to  Brooklyn.     Then 


came  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Buckmaster,  who  remained 
two  years  and  was  called  to  Greenport.  After 
him  Rev.  Hemry  Degen  served  two  or  three 
years.  He  was  called  to  South  Orange,  New 
Jersey,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James 
H.  Lee,  Who  after  a  little  while  1  eceived  a  call  to 
a  fine  church  at  Canandaigua.  After  Mr.  Lee 
came  the  Rev.  I.  W.  N.  Irvine,  who  remained 
three  or  four  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Archdeacon  be- 
cam'e  rector  in  1880  and  remained  several  years, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  present  rector,  Rev. 
Mr.  Holden. 

Soon  after  this  church  was  erected  a  post- 
office  was  established  under  the  name  of  St. 
James,  and  from  that  time  the  locality  has  borne 
that  nam'e.  The  late  Joel  L.  G.  Smith,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  church,  built  the  fine  dwelling 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Milton  G.  Smith,  and 
afterward  removed  to  his  late  residence  near 
Mills  Pond. 

Near  St.  James  churdh,  and  on  an  eminence 
overlooking  the  sound  and  the  harbor,  was  erect- 
ed in  1873  a  Methodist  church.  The  society  was 
organized  under  the  name  of  'Thompson  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.'' 

The  first  trustees  were  J.  B.  Meeker,  G.  S. 
Hodgkinson,  Thomas  Hubbs,  G.  N.  Pedrick  and 
Ernest  Myers,  and  the  first  minister  was  Rev. 
J.  S.  Brundage.  He  was  pastor  from'  1874  to 
1878;  Rev.  Samuel  Thompson,  1878,  1879;  Rev. 
S.  A.  Sands,  1879-81. 

Smitlitown  Branch  takes  its  name  from  the 
northeast  branch  of  the  Nissequogue  river.  On 
the  north  side  of  the  street  or  main  road,  all  the 
land  from  the  farm  lately  owned  by  Frederick 
Lenhart,  to  the  road  to  Hauppauge,  was  owned 
in  the  earliest  times  by  Captain  James  Dickin- 
son, who  came  from  Oyster  Bay  and  bought 
land  from  Obadiah  Smith  March  30,  1732.  He 
resold  it  to  Obadiah  Smith  in  1741.  The  land 
of  Frederick  Lenhart,  and  the  exten'sive  tracts 
of  the  BIydenburgh  family,  form  what  was 
formerly  known  as  Brushy  Neck. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  street,  east  of  the 
road  to  Nissequogue,  is  the  ancient  BIydenburgh 
nmnsion,  probably  the  oldest  in  the  town.     The 


'I  'M^\ 


lNn« 

msssssT- 

.,>j^ 

f=r»(RR 

1 

lit 

(Hi 
lil: 

Ir- 

i 

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ii.il 

m 

MMi 

SOUTH  AHD  FROHT  YIEW  OF  PRESBYTERIAH  CHURCH  AHD  MEMORIAL  CLOCK. 


BAST  SIDE  OF  PRESBYTERIAH  CHURCH  AHD  MEMORIAL  CLOCK,  SMITHTOWH  BRAHOH. 


SMITHTOWN. 


221 


land  was  given  by  Jonathan  Smith  to  Joseph 
Blydenburgh,  who  married  his  daughter  De- 
borah in  1690.  The  house,  probably  built  at 
that  time,  'has  been  handed  down  from  father 
to  son,  and  is  now  owned  by  Theodore  Blyden- 
burgh.  This  family  has  always  been  important 
and  influential  in  the  town. 

In  1769  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the 
town  was  Dr.  John  Howard.  In  that  year  he 
built  the  house  whic^h  now  belongs  to  Mr,  George 
W.  Hallock.  When  it  was  rebuilt  in  i88i  Dr. 
Howard's  name  and  the  date,  1769,  were  found 
written  on  one  of  the  boards.  Dr.  Howard  was 
a  relative  of  Mrs.  William'  Payne,  who  was 
teacher  of  Clinton  Academy  in  East  Hampton. 
It  was  his  custom,  when  going  to  or  from  New 
York,  to  stop  over  night  with  his  relatives.  On 
one  occasion  he  remarked  to  him,  ''Doctor,  I 
had  a  son  born  the  other  day,  what  shall  I  name 
him?"  The  Doctor  replied,"  Give  him  my  name," 
and  the  boy  was  named  "Jc^hn  Howard  Payne," 

"One  of  those  few  imm'ortal  names, 
That  were  not  born  to  die." 

It  is  of  some  interest  to  know  that  the  famous 
poet  received  his  name  in  this  house  and  from 
its  owner.  Dr.  Howard  was  the  maternal  grand- 
father of  John  H.  Hunt,  the  well  known  editor 
of  the  "Sag  Harbor  Exipress." 

A  large  tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of 
the  street,  west  of  fhe  road  to  Nissequogue,  was 
in  the  early  times  owned  by  two  generations  of 
Epenetus  Smith.  Here  a  tavern  was  built, 
which  was  the  regular  stopping  place  for  trav- 
elers through  the  island.  Samuel  Arden  Smith, 
a  grandson,  in  the  days  oi  his  prosperity  built  the 
elegant  mansion  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
David  J.  Ely.  Prosperous  and  wealthy  in  early 
life,  his  later  years  were  passed  in  poverty  and 
suffering. 

The  first  church  in  the  town  was  erected  at 
Nissequogue,  on  the  land  late  of  Caleb  T.  Smith 
and  near  his  gate  at  the  comer  of  the  Horse- 
race lane.  The  inhabitants  of  Smithtown  con- 
tributed toward  the  support  of  the  Rev.  George 
Phillips,  of  Setauket,  and  are  said  to  have  wor- 
shiped for  a  season  at  the  Setauket  church.     It 


is  not  ascertained  that  ^Ir.  Phillips  ever  preached 
at  Nissequogue,  or  that  there  was  any  organized 
church  there.  The  town  voted  Mr.  Phillips  a 
tract  of  land  adjoining  the  Brookhaven  line  and 
the  road  from  ]Mills  Pond  to  Stony  Brook,  prob- 
'  ably  with  the  intention  that  he  should  settle  there 
and  be  convenient  to  both  parties ;  but  Air.  Phil- 
lips continued  to  live  in  the  old  parsonage  at 
Setauket,  and  died  there.  The  patentee's  widow 
gave  him  a  cow  in  her  will.  He  was  one  of  the 
witnesses  to  the  will. 

The  first  settled  minister  oi  whomi  we  have 
any  account  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  Taylor,  who 
preached  at  Nissequogue  from  1712  to  1716.  In 
the  latter  year  the  proprietors  of  Smithtown 
granted  him  fifty  acres  of  land  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river,  near  the  present  Landing  AI.  E. 
church,  in  consideration  of  four  years'  faithful 
service  to  them  as  a  minister.  How  long  Mr. 
Taylor  preached  there  is  not  ascertained.  He 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Abner  Reeve,  who 
prached  there  from  twelve  to  fourteen  years  pre- 
vious to  1750. 

The  church  was  removed  to  the  Branch  in 
1750.  The  paths  between  the  then  houses  of 
Epenetus  Smith  and  Richard  Blydenburgh  were, 
altered  so  as  to  accommodate  the  building,  and 
Obadiah  Smith,  who  then  owned  the  triangular 
piece  between  the  two  paths,  gave  one-quarter 
of  an  acre  of  land  for  the  site.  The  highway 
leading  from  Nissequogue  to  the  Branch  then 
ran  west  to  the  present  church  site.  The  build- 
ing was  erected  on  the  land  then  occupied  by 
the  hig'hway.  It  stooid  about  six  feet  in  the  rear 
of  the  present  church.  It  was  a  mere  shell,  sim- 
ply a  covered  frame,  having  no  plaster  on  its 
walls ;  the  open  Tafters  and  the  shingles  of  the 
roof  formed  the  ceiling.  The  old  building  was 
removed  in  1827  and  used  as  a  woolen  factory 
at  the  New  Mills,  and  the  present  substantial 
edifice  was  erected. 

The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  Napthali 
Dagget,  who  remained  five  years ;  and  then 
came  Thomas  Lewis,  from  1763  to  1769;  then 
David  Avery,  who  remained  only  a  shore  timt. 
Then  Joshua  Hart  occupied  the  place  fromi  1774. 
to    1787.     After   some   temporary   supplies    the  - 


222 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


Rev.  Luther  Gleason  commenced  his  ministry  in 
1797.  He  remained  several  years,  and  after  him 
came  the  Rev.  Bradford  Marcy,  from  181 1  to 
1814;  then  successively:  Henry  Fuller,  1816-21 ; 
Richard  F.  Nicoll,  1823-27;  Ithamar  Pillsbury, 
1827-32;  James  C.  Edwards,  1835-52;  Rutgers 
Van  Brunt,  until  1856,  when  he  resigned  and  E. 
F.  Munday  was  called.  He  was  succeeded  by 
S.  H.  McMuIlen  in  1861,  and  he  in  1865  by 
James  Sinclair.  Mr.  Sinclair  was  succeeded  by 
the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Porter,  who  remained  six 
years.  The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Henry 
A.  Lewis,  who  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  J.  O. 
Gray,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  parsonage  was  erected  in  1835.  The 
site  was  given  by  William  BIydenburgh  to  be 
u&ed  for  a  parsonage  only,  the  deed  only  to  be 
valid  so  long  as  the  ground  was  used  for  that 
purpose.  The  first  parsonage  occupied  by  the 
Presbyterian  minister  after  the  removal  of  the 
church  to  the  Branch  was  the  residence  formerly 
of  Benjamin  Mills,  afterward  of  Samuel  A. 
Smith  and  of  Mr.  Campbell,  at  the  crossroads 
west  of  the  railroad  depot.  This  place  was 
owned  and  occupied  as  a  parsonage  for  many 
years.  It  was  conveyed  by  the  church  in  1801 
to  the  Rev.  Luther  Gleason,  then  the  minister. 
In  January,  1823,  William  BIydenburgh,  who 
then  owned  the  house  and  four  acres  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road  near  the  brook,  known 
as  the  Burnt  house  property,  conveyed  it  to  the 
church  for  a  parsonage,  and  it  was  occupied  as 
such  until  Rev.  Mr.  Pillsbury  came  here.  He 
purchased  the  parsonage  and  occupied  it  dur- 
ing his  ministry,  and  when  he  left  he  sold  it  and 
the  church  was  without  a  parsonage  until  the 
lot  now  owned  was  purchased. 

In  1845  a  Methodist  Episcopal  society  was 
formed  and  the  present  church  building  erected 
on  the  lane  north  of  the  residence  of  J.  Law- 
rence Smith.  The  first  trustees  were  Richard 
Wheeler,  Elijah  Brush,  George  K.  Hubbs,  Sam- 
uel Gould  and  James  Darling.  The  name  of  the 
corporation  is  "The  Trustees  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  Congregation  of  the 
Branch."  This  church  was  then  and  still  is  in 
the   Smithtown   circuit.      Its  'first   minister   who 


officiated  in  the  whole  circuit  (then  composed 
of  this  church  and  the  churches  at  Lake  Grove, 
Hauppauge,  Comae  and  Landing)  was  Rev. 
George  Hollis,  who  continued  here  till  1848. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1862,  an  agreement  was 
entered  into  between  the  five  churches  then  form- 
ing the  Smithtown  circuit  to  the  effect  that  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  parsonage  at  the  Branch 
was  purchased  and  repaired  with  their  common 
funds,  and  that  the  deed  for  it  should  be  taken 
in  the  nam'e  of  the  Branch  church,  and  held  by 
it  for  therr  common  benefit  and  managed  as  the 
majority  should  direct.  Under  this  agreement 
the  parsonage  was  held  and  used  for  the  equal 
benefit  of  all  until  the  division  of  the  circuit. 

In  the  spring  of  1879  the  circuit  was  di- 
vided, the  churches  at  Comae,  the  Landing  and 
the  Branch  forming  the  Smithtown  circuit,  and 
St.  James,  Lake  Grove  and  Hauppauge  form- 
ing a  new  circuit  called  the  Lake  Grove  cir- 
cuit. 

The  old  school  house  was  a  private  institu- 
tion,  built  by  subscription,  and  a  select  school 
was  taught  until  181 6.  In  that  year  the  village 
was  organized  as  school  district  No.  i,  and  on 
the  6th  of  November  the  inhabitants  voted  "that 
the  trustees  purchase  the  school  house  from  its 
present  owners  for  the  use  of  the  district  for 
$500."  Benjamin  B.  Blydenburgii  was  the  first 
clerk  of  the  district.  He  died  in  1816,'  but  the 
organization  has  continued,  and  from  the  school 
many  well  educated  men  have  gone  forth. 

In  1867  Captain  Jonas  Smith,  of  Stony 
Brook,  a  native  of  St.  James,  devised  to  J.  Law- 
rence Smith,  Joel  L.  G.  Smith  and  Lyman  B. 
Smith  in  trust  $8,000,  to  be  appropriated  to  the 
cause  of  education  in  this  district.  A  corpora- 
tion under  the  union  free  school  law  was 
formed,  the  school  house  lot  was  enlarged,  and 
the  present  commodious  and  convenient  building 
was  erected  in  1868.  The  school  has  since 
maintained  a  high  standard.  On  the  front  of 
the  building,  under  the  roof  of  the  porch,  is  a 
marble  tablet,  the  inscription  of  which  is  as  fol- 
lows: 

*'To  the  memory  of  Jonas  Smith,  the  found- 


SMITHTOWN. 


223 


er,  and  to  his  esteemed  widow,  Nancy  SmitHj 
the  patron,  these  halls  are  respectfully  dedicated. 
Without  opportunity  for  education,  or  assistance 
from  friends  in  youth,  he  was  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortune.  Far  seeing,  clearly  discerning, 
soundly  judging,  and  promptly  deciding,  he 
marked  whatever  he  touched,  A  ipattern  of  so- 
briety, integrity  and  industry,  he  wanted  only 
the  polish  of  education  to  make  him  the  perfect 
man.  He  leaves  this  legacy  to  you  pupils  that 
you  may  here  enjoy  in  early  life  the  privileges 
which  were  denied  to  him." 

The  Landing,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called 
"Blydenburgh's  Landing,"  on  the  Nissequogue 
river,  is  a  public  landing  and  watering  place  laid 
out  by  the  towm  authorities.     Here  Richard  Bly- 


farm'ers,  for  convenience  in  shipping  their  cord- 
wood  and  receiving  fertilizers  from  the  city. 
The  first  bridge  across  the  river  here  was  built 
about  the  years  1806  or  1807.  In  1869  the  more 
commodious  and  substantial  structure  was  erect- 
ed which  now  spans  the  river. 

Beyond  the  bridge  is  the  residence  of  Eben- 
ezer  Jayne,  an  industrious  and  prosperous  farm- 
er, and  a  short  distance  beyond  is  the  Landing 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  w^hich  he  was  chief- 
ly instrumental  in  constructing.  A  half  acre  of 
land  was  conveyed  to  the  society  by  Adam-  Dar- 
ling, July  II,  1834.  The  society  w^s  incorpor- 
ated April  26,  1834,  under  the  name  of  ''The 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church   and  Congregation 


ELIAS  SMITH  HOMESTEAD. 


den  burgh  and  Henry  Conkling  kept  a  country 
store.  In  1806  they  erected  a  dock  along  the 
river  for  the  convenience  of  scows  and  lighters 
going  up  and  down.  Hence  it  is  called  Blyden- 
burgh's  Landing.    Several  other  docks  have  been 


of  Smithtown  Landing."  The  first  trustees  w^ere 
Joseph  B.  Jayne,  Fletcher  E.  Wheeler,  John  A. 
Darling,  George  K.  Hubbs  land  Elkanah  Wheel- 
er. This  church  is  a  part  of  the  Smithtown  cir- 
cuit. 


erected  along  the  river  in   that  vicinity  by  the  April  26,   1823,  the  trustees  of  the  Presby- 


224 


HIbTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


terian  church  in  Smithtown  made  a  contract  with 
George  Curtiss  to  build  the  present  church  edi- 
fice. The  trustees  were  to  furnish  all  the  ma- 
terial and  Mr.  Curtiss  was  to  do  all  the  work 
for  $825.  The  house  was  to  be  46  feet  long 
and  34  feet  wide,  "with  a  cupola  on  the 
same."  It  was  to  be  completed  before  Decem- 
ber 25th,  except  painting,  .and  the  work  was 
to  be  done  "in  all  respects  equal  to  the  meeting" 
house  at  Patcho-gue,"  except  that  the  galleries 
were  to  have  twelve  inches  more  pitch,  and  the 
aisles   somewhat  wider. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  river  was  the  home- 
stead and  farm  of  Elias  Smith,  a  very  extensive 
land  owner.  On  this  estate  was  "x\aron's  Land- 
ing," much  used  in  early  days.  For  some  years 
it  was  owned  and  occupied  by  his  grandson, 
William*  C.  Lawrence,  and  by  his  daughter  and 
son-in-law,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Hilton  Brown. 


WYANDANCII    CLUB  HOUSE. 

Mrs.  Bro'wn  has  a  more  extensive  collection  of 
ancient  documents  relating  to  <the  history  of  the 
Smith  family  than  any  other  person,  and  her  line 
of  descent  from  the  patentee  oi  Smithtown  may 
be  traced  in  nine  or  ten  different  ways.     To  her 


assistance  the  writer  is  most  deeply  indebted- in 
all  'his  efforts  to  preserve  the  records  and  history 
of  the  town. 

The  tract  and  institution  known  as  St.  John- 
land  was  founded  by  the  late  Rev.  William 
Angus  Muhlenberg,  D.  D.  A  farm  was  pur- 
chased in  1865  and  additions  made  at  a 
later  date,  the  whole  now  embracing  over  500 
acres.  The  institution  was  incorporated  in  1870. 
It  is  in  reality  an  industrial  rural  parish  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  with  a 
plan  for  benevolence  very  far  reaching  in  its 
effects,  and  its  influence  for  good  is  universally 
admitted. 

To  the  west  oi  St.  Johnland  is  a  locaHty 
known  as  Sunk  Meadow,  whose  appearance  suf- 
ficiently explains  the  name.  It  has  also  given  the 
name  to  a  large  tract  of  land  aidjacent.  The 
meadows  were  laid  out  in  lots  in  1735.  In  the 
early  days  they  were  valuable 
for  the  meadow^  grass  that 
grew  annually,  but  of  late  years 
considered  of  very  little  value. 
West  of  the  Sunk  Mead- 
owsi,  and  between  them  and  the 
Huntington  line,  is  the  tract 
known  as  Treadwell's  Neck,  for- 
merly the  property  of  Timothy 
Tread  well.  In  1784  it  was  sold 
by  Thomas  Treadwell  to  John 
Gardiner  "of  the  Isle  of  Wight" 
for  the  large  sum  of  £2,900. 

Near  this  was  the  extensive 
homestead  of  Joseph  Buffett,. 
who  purchased  the  land  from 
the  executors  of  Timothy 
Treadwell  in  1778.  It  was  in 
late  years  the  residence  of 
Judge  William  P.  Buffett,  who- 
died  there  in  1874.  The  man- 
sion was  burned   in   1893. 

West  of  the  river  and  near 
the  center  of  the  town  is  a  locality  known 
as  Willow  Pond.  This  is  a  mill  pond,  raised 
on  a  brook  that  runs  into  the  river.  The 
ancient  road  known  as  "Willetts'  Path," 
( long    since    discontinued )    crosses   the    stream 


SMITHTOWN. 


225 


a  short  distance  above  the  mill.  Here 
was,  in  pioneer  days,  the  residence  of  Paul 
Smith  and  liis  son  Theodorus.  Paul  Smith  built 
the  dam  and  a  saw  and  grist  mill  about  the  year 
1795.  It  has  been  known,  from  its  different 
owners,  as  Seacord's,  Oakley's,  Horton's  and 
Davis'  mills.  The  recent  owner  was  Captain 
Lewis  W.  Davis,  who  sold  it  to  the  Wyandanch 
Club  for  a  price  that  would  .have  astounded  his 
predecessors.  The  club  house  has  taken  the  place 
of  the  residence  of  Paul  Smith.  The  leading 
spirit  of  'this  club,  which  by  lease  controls  a  very 
lar^e  part  of  Smithtown  lands,  is  John  L.  Hill, 
Esq.,  a  prominent  New  York  lawyer,  and  under 
his  skillful  care  and  management  it  has  become  a 
very  popular  institution. 

Near  this  place  was  the  residence  of  Aaron 
S.  Vail,  which  is  still  standing,  and  known  as 
"the  Vail  House,"  and  is  a  relic  of  the  old  times. 
It  was  a  place  of  resort  for  many  noted  men 
during  the  fishing  season,  and  now  belongs  to 


THE    VAIL    HOUSE. 

the  Wyan-danch  Club.  The  Fresh  Pond,  called 
by  the  Indians  Un-she-man-muck,  which  is  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  town,  is  no  longer  a 
pond,  but  has  grown  up  to  meadow. 

15 


About  three  miles  southeast  of  Fresh  Pond 
is  a  locality  known  as  "Indian  Head."  It  was 
so  called  from  the  head  of  an  Indian  carved  in 
stone  which  was  placed  on  a  rock  on  the  west 
side  of  a  pond  in  the  vicinity.  A  large  Indian  set- 
tlement wa>s  around  the  pond.  The  Indians  re- 
vered this  head  and  believed  that  if  removed  from 
the  rock  by  a  sacrilegious  hand  it  would  surely 
return  and  resume  its  place.  David  W.  Smith, 
an  aged  citizen,  now  deceased,  remembered  see- 
ing it  in  his  youth,  but  the  image  and  its  wor- 
shipers have  both  long  since  disappeared.  The 
descendants  of  Samuel  Smith  are  still  living 
here. 

Next  to  Smithtown  Branch  the  most  consid- 
erable village  is  the  Head  of  the  River,     Here 
is  situated  the  Smithtown  postoffice.     While  the 
town  business  was  always,  in  early  times,  trans- 
acted at  the  Branch,  the  postoffice,  the  only  one 
in  the  town,  was  at  the  Head  of  the  River.   After 
the    inauguration    of    President    Harrison    the 
Smithtown    postoffice    was    re- 
moved to  the   Branch,  creating 
great  dissatisfaction   among  the 
residents    at    the    Head    of    the 
River.      The   difficulty   was   fin- 
ally   compromised   by   establish- 
ing a  new  office,  called   Smith- 
town  Branch,  in  the  new  place, 
and  carrying  back  the  old  post- 
office     with    its    old    name    of 
Smithtown  to  the  Head  of  the 
River.  Here  are  the  large  grist- 
mill,   sawmill,    and    fulling   and 
cardingmills   erected  by   George 
Phillips ;  the  tide  flows  back  and 
forth  to  the  foot  of  the  mill  dam. 
Here   v/as  the  residence  of  Dr, 
Charles    H.    Havens,    a    noted 
physician    and    politician    in    his 
day,  and  one  of  the  early  clerks 
of  the  county.     Here,  too,   was 
the  residence  of  George  S.  Phil- 
lips,   a    lineal    descendant   of    the    Rev.    George 
Phillips,  of  Setauket,  and  another  of  the  early 
county   clerks,  and  for  a  long  time  supervisor 
of  the  town.     The  first  country  store  in  the  vil- 


226 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


lage  was  kept  in  the  basement  of  George  S, 
Phillips'  house.  It  was  then  removed  across 
the  dam  and  kept  by  George  Mills,  in  the  build- 
ing now  occupied  by  Justice  Edmund  Wheeler ; 
from  there  it  was  removed,  about  the  year  1816, 
to  its  present  site,  and  kept  by  Jesse  Mills  and  his 
son  Egbert  S.  Mills,  who  retired  after  acquiring 
a  competency,  and  were  succeeded  by  the  present 
proprietors,  M.  R.  Smith  &  Company.  Here, 
too,  is  the  residence  of  Hon.  Edward  H.  Smith, 
a  native  and  former  resident  of  Mud  Island  at 
Nissequogue,  and  for  many  years  supervisor  of 
the  town.  He  represented  this  congressional 
district  in  the  thirty-seventh  congress,  and  has 
always  been  a  power  in  the  politics  of  the  county. 
The  bridge  across  the  river  here  was  erected 


corporated  under  that  name.  The  road  was  after 
miany  years'  use  abandoned  as  a  turnpike  and 
became  a  public  highway. 

The  region  west  of  Stony  Brook  Harbor 
was  known  as  Rasapeage.  A  certain  locality  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Harbor  was  called  Old 
Rasapeage,  and  the  part  next  the  Sound  was 
North  Rasapeage.  The  original  homestead  of 
Ebenezer  Smith  (son  of  Richard  2nd)  was  a 
lot  next  east  of  the  school  house  at  Nissequogue, 
and  the  original  map  as  laid  out  in  1736,  is  here 
given.  The  full  description  will  be  found  in  the 
printed  records  of  Smithtown,  page  444. 

Upon  the  high  lands  overlooking  the  Sound, 
between  St.  James  and  Stony  Brook  Harbor, 
are  the  elegant  country  seats  of  the  late  Pres- 


i_CAf^l>   OF  EBENEZER    s 


:^^-fJvi^   JJ3  pcK^oy 


M/THS 


r  'SN     Tg'ST/  >V\ 


'^^ct.yLyt;i^ 


about  the  year  1805.  Before  that  the  river  was 
fordable  at  low  tide,  but  when  the  tide  was  high 
travelers  to  the  village  were  obliged  to  go 
around  on  the  hill  by  Blyndenburgh's  and  across 
the  mill  dam.  Now  a  substantial  bridge  spans 
the  river,  of  sufficient  height  to  permit  the  pas- 
sage of  loaded  scows  under  it.  This  was  the 
terminus  of  the  Jericho  and  Smithtown  turn- 
pike,  which  was  constructed  by  a  company  in- 


«^^ 


cott  Hall  Butler,  Stamford  White  and  Mrs. 
Wetherell.  For  excellence  of  location  and  com- 
manding view  these  places  are  excelled  by  few  in 
Suffolk  county. 

Smithtown  has  more  ancient  maps  and  sur- 
veys of  the  early  divisions  of  land  than  any  town 
in  the  county,  but  the  oldest  map  is  that  of  the 
farm  of  Adam  Smith,  at  Sherrewog.  A  large  part 
of   this   farm  is  now  owned  by  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 


SMITHTOWN. 


227 


Devereux  Emmett,  and  their  elegant  mansion 
stands  on  the  site  of  Adam  Smith's  house. 
Among  the  Tnany  ancient  m'aps  is  one  of  the  land 
laid  out  to  Daniel  Smith  (2nd)  in  1736.  It 
was  given  by  him  to  his  .son  Obadiah  Smith,  and 
by  him  to  his  son  Adam  Smith,  and,  in  turn,  to 
Lyman  Beecher  Smith.  A  large  part  is  still 
owned  by  his  son,  Coe  D.  Smith,  Esq.,  who  has 
the  original  map  and  many  other  documents  of 
great  value,  and  he  also  possesses  a  fund  of  in- 
formation concerning  former  days  which  is  sur- 
passed by  very  few. 


others.  The  two  small  lakes  called  Mill  Pond 
were  called  by  fhe  Indian  name  -Cuttscuns^uck, 
and  are  thus  named  in  old  wills  and  deeds.  Tim- 
othy Mills,  who  came  'from  Jamaica  in  1705,  was 
the  ancestor  of  a  very  numerous,  wealthy  and 
influential  family  and  extensive  owners  of  real 
estate.  The  homestead  of  William  Wickham 
Mills,  one  of  the  most  promiinent  of  the  name, 
is  now  the  residence  of  his  grandson,  Dubois 
Smith,  Esq.  South  of  the  country  road,  and 
extending  to  the  town  line,  is  a  large  tract  called 
in  the  old  surveys  Ronconkomy  Plains.     The  far 


^ 

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/. 

"' 

%^~^ 

^%^ 

'^^  /V-j'^p^  ^ 

*, 

■■■.-fe-... 

On  the  north  side  of  the  country  road,  east 
of  the  village  of  Smithtown.  Branch,  were  laid 
out  a  row  of  lots  called  the  "50-acre  lots,"  this 
being  their  original  size,  but  they  were  very 
largely  increased.  They  extend  east  nearly  to 
the  Brookhaven  line,  but  between  themi  and  the 
line  was  a  tract  owned  by  Nathaniel  Smith  and 


famed  Lake  Ronkonkoma  is  at  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  town,  but  is  a  part  oi  the  Nicolls 
Patent  in  Islip.  The  west  part  of  the  town  is  a 
range  of  what  was  called  the  "Long  Lots,"  and 
extended  from  the  Huntington  line  east  to  the 
lotted  land,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

The  records  of  the  town  were  printed  in  1898 


228 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


WINNECOMAC  TATF-NT. 


SMITHTOWN. 


229 


and  contain  a  vast  fund  of  information  concern- 
ing the  laying  out  of  lands  and  the  early  his- 
tory. This  work  was  very  carefully  performed 
by  Williaml  S.  Pelletreau,  and  was  published  by 
the  town.  In  preparing  this  sketch  the  writer 
is  greatly  indebted  to  the  labors  and  researches 
of  the  late  Hon.  J.  Lawrence  iSmith,  to  whose 
memory  we  accord  all  dtie  honor. 

The  Patent  of  Winnecomac  is  a  large  tract 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town,  and  its 
history  is  entirely  independent  of  that  of  the 
lands  of  Richard  Smith,  of  which  it  formed  no 
part.  The  following  documents  tell  its  early 
history : 

"This  Indenture,  Made  ye  first  day  of  Novem- 
ber in  ye  Tenth  yeare  of  the  Raigne  of  our 
Soverne  Lord  William  the  third,  King  of  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  ffrance  and  Ireland,  defender  of 
the  faith,  Sz  in  the  yeare  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  ninety-eight,  betweene 
A^^ameas  &  Tuskin  &  Charles  Pamequa  of  Seca- 
tugu  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  on  the  Island  of 
Nassau,  in  the  Province  of  New  York  in  Amer- 
ica of  the  one  party,  and  John  Scidmore  and  John 
AA'hitm-an  of  the  other  party  of  Hunttington,  In 
the  County  ik.  Province  aforesaid,  Witnesseth,  ye 
said  Wamous  Sachem  &  Touskin  &  Charles 
Pamequa  and  all  us  hose  names  are  underwrit- 
ten, doth  for  the  consideration  of  a  considerable 
sum  of  good  and  Lawful  'monev  of  the  Province 
allready  Received  and — In  hand  at  or  before  the 
ye  Inseling-  &  delivering  these  presents,  the  Re- 
ceipt whereof  we  the  said  Wam^eas,  Tuskin  & 
Charles  Pamequa  doth  hereby  acknowledge,  and 
themselves  and  each  of  them  therewith  to  ibe  fully 
Satisfied  contented  and  paid,  and  of  and  there- 
from and  of  and  from  Every  Part  and  Parcel! 
thereof  Doth  hereby  acquitt,  exonerate  &  Dis- 
charge ye  said  John  Skidmore  and  John  Whit- 
man there  heirs  and  executors  administrators, 
and  hath  given  Granted  Bargained  and  Sould 
enfeofed  released  and  confirmed,  and  by  these 
Presents  doth  hereby  give  grant  Bargain  sell  en- 
feofe  release  and  Confirme  to  the  said  John  Skid- 
more  and  John  Whitman  their  heirs  and  assignes, 
forever,  a  Sartin  Tract  of  Land  lying  on  the  east 
side  of  Hunttington  nattent  bounds,  Called  and 
known  by  the  name  Wenycomimick  'bounded  on 
the  north  side  by  Whitman's  hollow.  Running 
Eastward  by  the  marked  trees  to  the  hed  of  the 
South  west  branch  of  Nesoquage  River,  upon 
the  East  side  upon  A  south  Lyne  to  the  pine 
Plains,  upon  the  South  side  by  the  southward 


Pints  of  trees  to  Hunttington  patent,  lying  on  the 
west  side  to  Whitman's  hollow.  This  above 
mentioned  tract  of  Land  with  all  and  singular 
the  hereditaments  and  Appurtenances  thereunto 
belonging  as  or  by  Timbers  or  in  any  ways  ap- 
pertaining, and  all  the  rights  title  Interest  Pos- 
session, property  Claimes  and  demands  whatso- 
ever of  them  the  said  Wameas,  Tuskin,  Charles 
Pamequa  made  in  and  ito  the  aforementioned 
Land  and  in  and  to  all  and  every  part  and  par- 
cell  thereof  TO  'HAVE  AND  TO  HOLD  ye 
said  land  with  the  appurtenances  unto  the  said 
John  Skidmore  and  John  Whitman,  their  heirs 
executors  and  administrators,  To  the  sole  and 
only  proper  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  John  Skid- 
more and  John  Whitman  their  heirs  and  assigns 
forever.  And  the  said  Wameas,  Tuskin,  Charles 
Pamequa,  Doth  for  themselves,  their  heirs  their 
executors  and  administrators  promise  covenant 
and  agree  to  and  with  ye  said  John  Skidlmore  and 
John  Whitman  their  'heirs  and  assigns  that  they 
the  said  Wameas,  Tuskin,  Charles  (Pamequa) 
now  at  ye  Inseling  and  Delivering  hereof,  stand- 
eth  and  is  soley  only  and  Rightfully  seized  of  ye 
said  Premises,  of  good  absolute  and  perfect  title 
in  fee  simple  to  them  their  heires  and  assigns 
forever  and  that  the  Premises  now  are  'and  for- 
ever after  shall  be  and  Remaine  to  the  said  John 
Skidmore  and  John  Whitman  their  heirs  and  as- 
signes  free  and  clearly  acquitted  released  and 
Discouraged  of  and  from  all  and  all  manner  of 
other  and  former  bargains,  sales  alienations, 
mortgages  Judgments  Executions  Easements-  and 
all  charges  and  Incumbrances  whatsoever,  and 
moreover  that  the  said  AA'ameas,  Tuskin,  Charles 
and  their  heirs  here  in  before  granted  and  mien- 
tioned  promise  unto  the  said  John  Skidmore  and 
John  Whitman,  their  heirs  and  assigns  shall  and 
will  at  any  Time  or  Times,  upon  Request  made, 
shall  give  any  further  Security  as  they  the  said 
John  Skidmore  and  John  Whitman  or  their 
Larned  Councell  In  the  Law  thinks  fit.  As  wit- 
ness our  hands  and  scales.  Signed  and  delivered 
in  the  presence. 

"Chippose  his  mark  X 
"Wameas  his  mark  X 
"Pom PCS  his  mark  X 
*'TusKTN   his   mark   X 
"MKj\rsowoRRON  his  mark  X 
"Charles  Pame  his  mark  X 
"Cattone  his  mark  X 
"Napanick  his  mark  X 
"Witnesses:  "Perwineas  his  mark  X" 

Edward  Caush 
Nathaniel  Ketcham 
ZRBur.oN  Whitman"' 


230 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


"iNIemorandum,  that  on  ye  Sixth  day  of  Feb- 
ruary annoque  Domini  170^4  Appeared  'before 
me  John  Wood  one  of  his  majesties  Justices  of 
the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  Wamohas 
Sachem  and  Tooskins  and  Charles  Pamoqua  and 
Choopons  and  Sawam.os  and  Cottone,  and  doth 
acknowledge  this  within  written  Conveyance  to 
be  their  free  and  voluntary  act  and  deed. 

Test.  John  Wood. 
''Warrent  for  survey  date  Sept.   12  anno  1702, 
Dec.  I.  I. 

New  York  21  Dec.  1702.    Perused. 

"August  Graham,  Surveyor  Gen' 
"Recorded   in   the    Secretary's   office,  lin   the 
booke  of  Indian  Deeds  &c  beginning  Anno  1691 
folio  102.  Dan  Honan,  Secretary. 

"Received  of  Captain  Thomas  Higbie,  John 
Skidmore  and  John  Whitman  the  full  satisfac- 
tion for  a  tract  of  land  Comonly  called  Winna 
Comniack  I  say  Received  by  us  whose  names 
are  marked  are  underwritten,  and  by  order  of 
the  Rest  of  our  natives  for  the  use,  which  said 
tract  of  lan'd  lying  being  bounded  on  the  High- 
way by  Whitmans  hollow,  Stretching  Easterly 
to  the  westermost  branch  of  Nesequage  River, 
and  Southerly  to  the  brushy  plains  to  Huntting- 
ton  Patent,  and  so  up  to  the  side  of  Whitmans 
Hollow  northerly.  I  say  Reed  for  us  this  26 
day  of  May  anno  1705. 

"Wameas  X  Ibis  mark 
Chepous  X  his  mark 
Nepownich  X  his  mark 
Roaum  X  his  mark 
Charles  Pamoqua  X  his  mark 
Sawatomas  X  his  mark 
Chepous  X  his  mark 
Joseph  X  his  mark 
Hary  X  his  mark 
Catow  X  his  mlaxk 
Aroisheis  X  his  mark 
CowAMUTHis  X  his  mark 
PoMi^OTT  X   his  mark.""' 
"Witness  our  hands 
Jo  PIN  Peaeody 
Samonka  X  his  mark 
Jonas  Wood 
Timothy  Conklin." 

By  a  private  agreement  made'  between  the 
purchasers  of  this  tract  it  was  agreed  that  a 
patent  should  be  taken  for  the  same  in  the  name 
of  Charles  Congreve,  who  was  a  prominent  mer- 
chant in  New  York.  In  accordance  with  his  pe- 
tition he  received  a  patent  from  Governor  Corn- 
bury,  May  5,  1703. 


On  November  22,  1703,  Charles  Congreve 
conveyed  to  "Rip  Van  Dam,  merchant  of  New 
York,"  one-quarter  of  the  tract,  the  deed  ex- 
pressly stating  that  the  said  Van  Dam'  had  paid 
one-fourth  of  the  purchase  money,  and  that  the 
name  of  Charles  Congreve  was  only  used  in  the 
Settlers'  Patent  by  agreement  of  Rip  Van  Dam 
and  others.  Charles  Congreve  conveyed  to 
Thomas  Higbie,  John  Skidmore  and  John  Whit- 
man one-half  of  the  said  tract,  and  on  May  6, 
1707,  John  Whitman  sold  to  Rip  Van  Dami  his 
one-third  of  the  half.  On  February  23,  1713, 
Captain  Thomas  Higbie  also  sold  his  one-sixth 
of  the  same.  The  whole  tract  was  laid  out  and 
divided  on  -March  26,  1726,  by  Robert  Crooke, 
deputy  surveyor.  It  contained  3,625  acres,  of 
which  Rip  Van  Dam  owned  1,812  acres  and  his 
son  Richard  150  acres.  Johnson  and  Hig-- 
bie  owned  720  acres  and  Captain  Congreve 
owned  943  acres. 

In  1768  there  was  a  law  suit  between  Mary 
Tredwell  and  Elnathan  Weekes  and'  the  com- 
plaint and  answer  contain  so  many  facts  in  rel-ar 
tion  to  the  early  history  of  this  tract  they  are 
here  given  in  extended  abstracts : 

"'abstract    of    complaint    of     MARY    TREDWELL 

AND   EXECUTORS   OF   TIMOTHY  TREDWELL 

AGAINST   ELNATHAN    WEEKES. 

''This  complaint  recites  the  original  facts, 
and  that  Charles  Congreve  sold  to  Rip  Van  Dam 
1-4  of  his  Winnecomack  Patent  November  22, 
1703,  and  that  he  also  sold  1-2. the  Patent  to 
Thomas  Pligbee,  John  Skidmore  and  John  Whit- 
man Nov.  22,  1703.  Thomas  Higbee  sold  his 
1-6  to  Rip  Van  Dam  Feb.  23,  1712.  John  Skid- 
more sold  his  right  to  Williami  Johnson  and  Jo- 
siah  Higbee.  So  Charles*  Congreve  had  3-12, 
Rip  Van  Dam,  7-12  and  Jdhnson  and  Higbee  2-12. 
That  in  1726  a  division  was  made  into  4  lots 
and  a  lot  57  chains  wide  at  west  end^  and  20 
chains  wide  at  east  end  was  laid  out  for  Con- 
greve 3-12,  A  Jot  8  chains  wide  at  west  end  and 
four  chains  at  east  end,  was  laid  out  for  Rich- 
ard Van  Dam,  son  of  Rip  Van  Dam,  as  they  be- 
lieved he  had  conveyed  it  to  him,  but  Rip  Van 
Dam  afterwards  purchased  it  back  again.  In 
1 73 1,  one  John  Mott  and  others  entered  upon  the 
lots  of  Rip  Van  Dam,  under  him,  and  built  a  small 
house  on  the  lot  marked  for  Richard  Van  Damv 


SMITHTOWN. 


231 


near  the  north  'division  line  between  that  lot  and 
the  lot  of  Charles  Congreve,  and  lived  in   the 
same  quietly  for  some  years,  and  then  left  it,  and 
then  one  Isaac  Totten  entered  into  said  house 
under  Rip  Van  Dam'  and  held  the  same  some  7 
years,  and  afterwards  Rip  Van  Dam  by  deed  No- 
vember 2,    1745   sold  the  said  lots  to  Timothy 
Tredwell  for  £1,200,  the  description  being:    Be- 
ginning at  a  stake  standing  in  a  line  97  chains 
distant  from  Whitman's  Hollow,  on:  a  course  S. 
9  1-4  W.,  then  running  S.  75,  E.  267  chains,  then 
S  9  1-2  AV   44  chains,  then  W.  o  1-2  N.  to  Hunt- 
ington Bounds,  268  chains,  then  along  Hunting- 
ton bounds  11.'^  chains  to  beginning,  containing 
2,076  acres.     Some  time  before  this   Rip   Van 
Dam   employed  one  Ananias   Carle,   an  ancient 
man,  since  deceased,  as  he  was  acquainted  with 
the  lands  and  knew  the  division  made  by  Robert 
Crooke,  to  get  the  same  remeasured.    Whereupon 
in  the  beginning  of  1745  Ananias  Carle  applied 
to  one  Samuel  Willis,  a  surveyor,  and  went  with 
him  to  survey  the'  Patent  and  division  lines,  and 
he  found  that  by  the  Patent  the  north  line  was 
280  chains  long  (though  Cooke  had  only  made  it 
250,  though  for  what  reason  'he  knew  not)  and 
that  laying  it  down  that  length  would  not  inter- 
fere with  any  older  Patent  to  the  eastward.     He 
accordingly  laid  it  down  as  280  chains  and  then 
laid  out  the  lot  of  Johnson  and  Higbee  40  chains 
at  the  west  end  and  16  chains  at  the  east  end, 
as  said  Robert  Crooke  had  done  in  his  survey. 
And  next  to  that  he  laid  the  lot  of  Charles  Con- 
greve  57  chains  at  the  west  end,  and  20  at  the 
east  end;  as  laid  out  in  Crooke's  survey.    And  at 
the  end  of  97  chains  from  the  Hollow  he  struck 
a  stake  for  the  division  'between  the  lot  of  Con- 
greve  and  Rip  Van  Dam,  and  in  running  from 
thence  to  the  east  end  of  the  Patent,  the  lines 
of  marked  trees,  as  marked  by  Crooke  and  Wil- 
lis, agreed  as  exactly  as  could  be  supposed  that 
two  lines,  run  by  two  different  surveyors,  at  such 
a  distance  of  time  could  agree.    And  he  laid  out 
the  lot  of  Rip  Van  Dam  T03  chains  wide  at  the 
west  end  and  44  at  the  east  end,  as  Crooke  had 
done,  although  by  that  means,  the  whole  west 
line  was  to  chains  longer  than  it  oueht  to  be  bv 
the  Patent,  it  being  stated  to  be  only  200  chains, 
and  found  the  lot  of  Rip  Van  X)am  to  contain 
2,076  acres  as  by  original  survey.     And  so  Rip 
Van  Dam  in  deed  to  Timothy  Tredwell  made  the 
east  and  west  lines  longer  than  in  the  survey  of 
Crooke.    Soon  after  the  purchase  Timothy  Tred- 
well entered  into  the  same,  and  took  possession 
of  the  same  house,  built  by  John  Mott,  near  the 
north  line  between  Congreve  and  Van  Dam,  and 
died  siezed  of  the  same  Nov.  6,   1749.     He  by 


will,  dated  June  2.  1747,  directed  the  remainder  of 
his  estate,  of  which  the  lands  of  Rap  Van  Dam 
are  a  part,  to  be  sold,  and  after  paying  debts, 
the  remainder  was  to  go  to  his  wife  Mary  and 
his  children,  except  his  son  Elias,  and  made  his 
wife  and  Benjamin  Tredwell  and  Zophar  Piatt 
executors.  They  found  that  Elnathan  W^ickes 
had  taken  possession  and  claimed  4  chains  in 
breadth  of  the  stake  set  up  by  Willis,  as  the  be- 
ginning of  Rip  Van  Dam's  lot,  and  4  chains  more' 
than  the  ^y  in  Crooke's  survey,  and  that 
took  in  the  house  and  about  200  acres  of  land. 
And  on  their  complaining  he  agreed  to  give  it  up, 
if  they  would  give  him  a  watering  place  on  said 
land,  which  for  peace  sake  they  agreed  to  do, 
and  expected  an  end  of  all  trouble,  but  no'  agree- 
ment being  agreed  to  by  him,  they  began  suit 
for  ejectment.  They  admit  that  the  original  map 
of  Robert  Crooke  is  in  their  hands,  and  Zophar 
Piatt  says  that  some  time  before  the  suit  he 
showed  it  to  him',  and  a  copy  was  made  b}'  one 
Solomon  Ketcham." 

ABSTRACT    AXD    ANS\\ER    OF    ELXATHAN     WICKES. 

Charles  Congreve  presented  a  petition  for  a 
Patent  for  lands  at  Winnecomack,  and  the  Pat- 
ent was  granted.  Sir  Jeffry  Jeffrys,  late  Alder- 
man of  Ton  don,  loaned  to  Charles  Congreve  £10, 
Nov.  30,  r704.  He  afterwards  loaned  him  £20 
and  then  £70,  and  about  the  year  1707,  Charles 
Congreve  removed  from  London  to  New  York. 
About  3  years  after  Sir  Jeffry  Jeffrys  died,  and 
by  his  will  made  Edward  Jeffrys  his  executor, 
who  made  xA.dolph  Phillipse  his  attorney.  To  se- 
cure payment  of  the  debt,  Charles  Congreve  and 
his  Avife  Rebecca  gave  a  mortgage  for  %  of  the 
land,  and  on  August  17,  1737,  he  conveyed  the 
said  ^  in  fee  to  Adolph  Phillipse,  who  conveyed 
it  to  Edward  Jeffrys  April  28  in  the  nth  year 
of  King  George  H.  Edward  Jeffrys  died  in 
1740,  and  left  the  property  to  Jeffry  Jeffrys  who 
shortly  after  becaiTie  a  lunatic,  and  bis  wife  Mary 
was  made  a  committee  of  his  estate.  She  and  his 
father.  Nicholas'  Jeffrys,  by  permission  of  Court 
made  over  to  Isaac  Levy,  all  claims  against 
Charles  Congreve,  including  the  mortgage  and 
release  of  equity,  and  he  sold  to  Elnathan  Wickes 
the  %  of  lands  in  Winnecommack.  Rip  Van 
Dam,  Wm.  Johnson  and  Josiah  Higbee  were  ten- 
ants in  common  with  Charles  Congreve,  and  on 
March  20,  1726,  they  by  Robert  Crook,  surveyor, 
divided  the  Patent  into  3  parts,  and  the  share  of 
Johnson  and  Higbee  was  to  begin  at  a  red  oak 
tree  standing  in  a  place  called  Whitman's  Hol- 
low, and  from  thence  to  run  S.  10  W.  to  a  wal- 


23: 


ORs) 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


nut  tree  marked  with  3  notches  on  the  north, 
east  and  south  sides.  And  from  the  said  red  oak 
tree  to  run  S.  59  E.  along  ^marked  trees  to  a  tree 
at  the  east  corner  of  the  Patent,  then  S.  11.  15 
W.  to  a  white  oak  tree  at  the  east  extremity  of 
the  Patent,  and  from  said  white  oak  tree  N.  67 
W.  to  the  walnut  tree  above  mentioned.  The 
part  of  Charles  Congreve  was  tO'  begin  at  the 
walnut  tree,  and  from  thence  to  run  S.  10  W. 
to  a  white  oak  tree  marked  with  three  notches 
on  the  east,  south  and  west  sides,  thence  by  a 
line  of  marked  trees  to  a  black  oak,  on  the  east 
bounds  of  the  Patent,  then  N.  11.  15  E.  to  the 
southwest  bounds  of  the  lot  of  Johnson  and 
Higbee.  The  remainder  of  the  Patent  was  to 
belong  to  Rip  Van  Dam.  The  parties  agreed  to 
abide  by  this,  and  articles  of  agreement  were  in 
the  hands  of  Thomas  Moon  .of  Flushing,  who 
upon  demand,  refused  to  let  Elnathani  Weekes 
see  them.  In  1750  he  again  demanded  to  see 
them  and  was  told  that  he  had  given  them  to  the 
executors  of  Timothy  Tredwell.  In  1755,  the 
said  Weekes  .sent  his  son  to  demand  sight  of 
them  and  Moon  said  they  were  in  the  hands  of 
Zopher  Piatt,  and  'he  and  Mary  Tredwell  also 
refused.  And  the  title  to  Rip  Van  Dam's  part 
was  then  claimed  by  Mary  and  Thomas  Tred- 
well. 


The  controversy  was  settled  by  a  release  from 
Elnathan  Weekes  to  Mary  Tredwell  and  others 
to  the  strip  of  land  in  controversy,  leaving  the 
lots  as  they 'were  originally  laid  out.  This  was 
dated  February  11,  1768.  Timothy  Tredwell  by 
his  will  directed  all  his  lands  in  Winnecomac  to 


be  sold,  and  his  executors  sold  the  same  to 
Philetus  Smith  of  Smithtown.  He  left  it  to  his 
two  sons,  Tim;othy  Tredwell  Smith,  of  Kingston, 
and  Elias  Smith.  They  made  a  division  May  27, 
1797,  and  Elias  Smith  had  the  eastern  part,  which 
was  165  chains  long  on  the  south  side  and  163^^ 
chains  on  the  north  side.  On  April  25,  1745, 
Samuel  Willis,  surveyor,  made  a  survey  of  the 
lot  of  Rip  Van  Dam  and  computed  the  area  to 
be  2,076  acres. 

In  1768,  at  the  time  of  the  law  suit,  an  elab- 
orate survey  and  map  of  the  whole  patent  was 
made  by  Samuel  Willis  and  Solomon  Ketcham. 
Frorri  this  we  learn  that  the  land  in  controversy 
was  a  strip  on  the  north  side  of  the  Van  Dam 
lot,  15  rods  wide  and  267  chains  in  length  and 
containing  about  100  acres.  Elnathan  Weekes 
had  a  house  close  to  the  north  line,  and  his  well 
and  cider  mill  and  press  were  on  the  disputed 
tract.  The  northeast  corner  of  the  Patent  was 
the  southwest  branch  of  Nissequogue  rivet,  near 
a  place  of  springs,  called  by  the  Indians  "Hap- 
pogs."  Here  we  have  very  plainly  the  origin 
of  the  name  now  spelled  Hauppauge,  and  applied 
to  a  village  and  district  some  ways  to  the  east 
of  the  original  locality.  The  original  map  is 
now  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of  Charles  Ar- 
buckle,  who  in  recent  years  purchased  that  part 
of  the  patent  formerly  owned  by  Elias  Smith. 
A  very  accurate  copy  is  in  possession  of  William 
S.  Pelletreau. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


ISLIP 


^ 


F  Babylon  township  be  practically  stripped 
of  its  ancient  history,  its  neighbor,  Islip, 
fully  makes  up  for  it  in  this  regard,  even 
lalthough  its  career  as  a  township  only 
dates  from  1710  and  the  township  records  from 
1720.  It  has  an  area  of  about  72,000  acres, 
is  about  sixteen  miles  in  length,  and  in  breadth 
measures  about  eight  miles,  from  the  "backbone" 
of  the  island  to  the  shores  of  the  Great  South 
Bay.  It  never  was,  it  probably  never  wHl  be,  a 
fertile  region,  except  in  its  southern  portion,  and 
it  was  a  region  of  slow  growth  until  it  was  dis- 
covered by  the  summer  boarder.  In  1880  its 
population  was  6,490,  in  i8go,  11,073,  and  in 
1900,  12,545.  In  the  latter  decade  it  had  not 
only  been  discovered  by  the  summer  boarder  but 
had  been  taken  up  by  society  and  had  been  made 
fashionable. 

In  his  survey  of  the  history  of  this  township, 
Mr.  Prime  corn'mences  with  a  plaint  that  is  much 
better  founded  than  most  of  his  pessimistic  ut- 
terances— and  there  are  many.  He  said  :  ''Here 
we  have  a  striking  illustration  of  the  pernicious 
influence  on  the  interests  of  population  resulting 
from  the  accumulation  of  land  in  the  hands  of 


a  few  owners ;  especially  where  that  accumu- 
lation is  perpetuated  by  the  old  feudal  law  of 
entailment.  Although  a  large  portion  of  this 
town  is  naturally  incapable  of  maintaining  a  large 
population,  as  it  embraces  extensive  tracts  of 
sterile  plains  and  vast  swamps,  yet  the  necks 
and  other  tracts  of  land  are  good  and  capable 
of  sustaining  a  much  larger  number  of  inhabi- 
tants than  it  now  contains ;  and  as  the  law  of 
entailment  is  now  abrogated,  it  may  be  expected 
that  the  evil  will  be  gradually  remiedied,  though 
time  will  'be  required  to  render  the  work  ef- 
fectual." This  was  written  in  1845,  and  the 
troublq  complained  of  has  been  most  effectually 
remedied,  but  it  is  to  be  questioned  whether 
Islip's  real  popularity  and  prosperity  were  re- 
tarded even  for  a  year  by  the  arrangement  com- 
plained of.  The  iron  horse  was  the  great  clearer 
of  feudal  notions  and  Puritanical  isolations  on 
Long  Island  as  elsewhere. 

Its  coast,  on  the  Great  South  Bay,  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly beautiful  one,  while  the  waters  of  the 
bay  itself  afford  aquatic  sport  of  all  kinds.  Its 
shores  are  lined  with  pleasant  cottages  and  huge 
hotels,   summer  boarding  places  of  all  descrip- 


284 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


tionSj  while  here  and  there  rise  veritable  palaces, 
and  now  and  again  we  encounter  enclosures 
of  private  property  almost  rivaling  in  size 
baronial  manors  and  certainly  exceeding  most 
of  such  old-time  relics  in  the  elegance  of  their ' 
equipment  and  the  extent  of  their  resources. 
Even  Fire  Island,  that  part  of  the  great  sand 
bar  which  separates  the  Great  South  Bay  from 
the  Atlantic,  has  been  brought  into  requisition 
for  the  summer  boarder  trade,  although  it  must 
be  confessed,  without  the  same  degree  of  finan- 
cial success  that  has  crowned  the  efforts  of  the 


•W*5^- 


c/f7  ^^^'^f^%i/M  A/^^ 


upbuilders  of  such  resorts  on  the  mainland  of 
the  township.  In  the  northeastern  portion  of 
the  township  is  the  famous  Lake  Ronkonkoma, 
which  is  more  particularly  told  of  on  other 
pages. 

The  story  of  Islip,  the  story,  that  is,   from 


the  time  when  the  white  man  generally  took  up 
its  burden  from  the  red  man,  introduces  us  in 
the  first  place  to  a  single  landgrabber  rather,  as 
in  other  townships,  to  an  organization  of  men 
seeking  to  benefit  their  worldly  prospects  or  to 
promote  their  religious  freedom  and  fellowship, 
or  to  enjoy  civil  liberty  according  to  their  own 
ideas.  Matthias  Nicolls,  the  compiler,  it  is  al- 
leged, of  *'the  Duke's  Laws,"  and  secretary  of 
the  Province,  and  connected  in  one  way  or  an- 
other with  it  in  an  official  capacity  almost 
until  his  death,  in  1687,  was  so  fond  of 
Long  Island  that  he  secured  quite  a  large  estate 
at  Great  Neck  in  the  present  township  of  North 
Hempstead. 

William  Nicolls,  son  of  Matthias  Nicolls,  fol^ 
lowed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  and  becam-e 
famous    as   a   lawyer,   a   local    politician  and  a 
land  getter.  His  name  appears  at  times  as  Nicolls 
and  again  as  NicolL     In   1683  he  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  from  the  natives,  of  which 
more  anon,  and  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 
clerk  of  Queens  county.    In  1687  he  was  appoint- 
ed Provincial  Attorney  General.     After  his  fa- 
ther's death  he  settled  in  New 
York    and   became    a   leader   in 
politics  and  at  the  bar.    He  op- 
posed   the    little    movement   of 
Jacob  Leisler,  and  was  held  by 
that   serio-Gomic  potentate  as  a 
prisoner.     When  that  crisis  was- 
over  he  got  his  reward  in  being 
made  a  member  of  Council,  and 
in  1695  he  was  sent  by  the  New 
Vork  Assem-bly  on  a  mission  to 
the  crown  with  the  view  of  get- 
ting the^ther  colonies  to  share 
in    the   cost   of   the    defense  of 
Britain's   strip  of  coast  against 
the  inroads  of  the  French,  which 
fell    almost    wholly   upon   New 
from     its     geographical     position.      In 
in     the     course     of     the     kaleidescopic 


York 
1698, 


change  so  frequent  in  the  history  of  American 
politics,  Nicoll  was  again  among  the  outs.  Gov- 
ernor Bellomont  summarily  dismissed  him  from 
the  Council.     However,  he  soon  showed  the  ex- 


ISLIP. 


235 


tent  of  his  influence,  for  in  1701  he  was  elected  a 
miember  of  the  Assembly  from  Suffolk  county, 
but  was  not  permitted  to  take  his  seat  on  the 
ground  that  his  election  was  illegal,  he  being  a 
non-resident.  He  soon  got  over  this  by  erecting 
a  mansion — I  slip  Grange — ^on  the  Great  South 
Bay,  and  in  1702  was  again  chosen  to  represent 
Suffolk  and  so  continued  for  twenty-one  years, 
and  for  sixteen  years  was  Speaker  of  the  As- 
sembly.   He  died  at  Islip  Grange  in  1723. 

The  land  which  William  Nicolls  bought  from 
the  Indians  wa-s  confirmed  to  him  by  the  follow- 
ing patent : 

Thomas  Dongan,  Lieut,  and  Governor  Gen- 
eral and  vice  Admiral  under  hds  R'oyal  Highness, 
James,  Duke  of  York,  &c.  of  New  York  and  its 
dependencys  in  America,  To  all  to  whom  these 
presents  shall  come  sendeth  Greeting.  Whereas 
by  one  indenture  of  bargain  and  sale  bearing  date 
the  nine  and  twentieth  day  of  November,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  1683,  and  in  the  35th  year  of 
the  rcigne  of  cur  Sovrcigne  Lord,  Charles  the 
second,  of  England,  &c  King,  &c.,  William  Nic- 
olls of  New  York,  gentlem^an,  did  make  purchase 
of,  and  Winnequaheagh,  Indian  Sachem,  of  Con- 
etquot,  bargained  and  sold  unto  the  said  William 
Nicolls,  his  'heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  all  that 
neck  tract  pr  parcel  of  land  scituate  and  being  on 
the  south  side  of  Long  Island,  bounded  on  the 
east  by  a  certain  river  called  Conetquot,  on  the 
south  by  the  Sound,  on  the  west  by  a  certain 
river  called  Cantasquntah,  and  on  the  north  by 
a  right  line  from  the  head  of  the  said  river  called 
Conetquot,  to  the  head  of  the  said  river  called 
Cantasquntah,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  said  neck 
or  parcel  of  land,  with  all  and  singular,  unto  the 
said  William  Nicolls  his  heirs  and  assigns  for 
ever. 

Now  Know  ye  that  by  virtue  of  the  Commis- 
sion and  authority  unto  me  given  under  his  Royal 
Highness.  *  *  'and  in  consideration  of  Ithe 
Quit  rents  herein  after  reserved.  *  "^  I  have 
given,  granted  .ratified  and  confirmed,  unto  the 
said  William  Nicolls.  *  "^  all  the  before  re- 
cited neck  tract  and  parcel  of  land,  with  all  and 
singular,  woods  waters  runns,  stream,  ponds, 
marshes,  fishing  'hawking  huntting  and  fowling 
*  "*"  unto  said  William  Nicolls,  his  'heirs  and  as- 
signs, in  free  and  common  soccage,  according  to 
the  tenure  of  East  Greenwich,  in  the  County  of 
Kent.  ^=  "^  yielding  therefor  yearly,  in  lieu 
and  stead  of  all  services  and  demands,  as  a  quit 


rent  for  his  Royal  Highness  use  fivt  bushells  of 
good  winter  wheat,  or  25  shillings  good  and  law- 
ful money  of  this  Province,  on  or  before  the  25th 
day  of  March  yearly  unto  such  officer  as  shall 
be  appointed  to  receive  the  same.  Given  under 
my  hand,  and  sealed  with  the  seal  of  the  Prov- 
ince, at  Fort  James  in  New  York,  the  S  day  of 
December  1684. 

Thomas  Dongan. 

In  1686  Nicolls  added  to  his  holdings  by 
further  purchases  from  the  Indians  and  Gov- 
ernor Dongan  issued  a  confirmatory  patent,  cov- 
ering the  same  territory.  The  following  are 
self-explanatory : 

LICENSE    TO    PURCI-IASE    LANDS. 

Recorded  for  William  Nicoll.  By  his  Excel- 
lency the  Governor  in  Council  the  17  June  1697. 

Whereas  William  Nicoll  Esquire,  by  his  at- 
torney hath  prayed  liberty  and  license  to  purchase 
from  the  native  Indians,  a  certain  tract  of  vacant 
land  in  S'uffolk  County,  bounded  north  by  the 
Country  road,  east  by  a  line  to  be  drawn  from 
the  head  of  a  river  called  Peatuck,  south  by  the 
land  of  said  William  Nicoll  and  Andrew  Gibb, 
and  west  by  a  Hne  to  be  drawn  from  the  head  of 
a  river  called  Orowake,  to  run  northerly  to  the 
Country  road,  aforesaid ;  together  with  the  Pond 
called  Raconckony  for  his  improvemient.  I  have 
by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Council,  granted 
and  I  do  hereby  grant  unto  the  said  William 
Nicoll  free  liberty  and  license  to  purchase  the 
said  land  and  lake  or  Pond  in  order  to  his  ob- 
taining a  patent  for  the  same  under  the  Seal  of 
the  Province.  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal 
at  New  York  in  Council  the  day  and  year  above 
said. 

Ben.  Fletcher. 

indian  agreement  to  sell  lands. 

Memorandum.  That  on  this'  day,  the  14th 
of  September,  Anno  Domini  1697,  appeared  be- 
fore me  Nicholas  Bayard,  one  of  his  majesties 
Council  for  the  Province  of  New  York  Masaro- 
ken,  an  Indian  woman,  with  Taschanes  her  hus- 
band, and  Taanheesocks,  Passaque  and  Miskas- 
sen,  all  Indian  natives  of  Nassau  Island,  or  Long 
Island,  who  declared  that  the  above  named  Mas- 
carooken  was  the  chief  proprietresse  and  the  said 
Taankeesocks,  Passaque  and  Miskassen  with 
some  others  not  present,-  were  the  right  and 
lawful  owners  and  proprietors  of  ttie  lands  herein 


236 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


after  mcncioned,  situate  lying  and  being  on  said 
Island  of  Nassau  in  Suffolk  County,  bounded 
easterly  by  a  brook  or  river  called  by  the  Indian 
name  of  Manacotasquet,  lying  to  tlhe  westward 
of  a  Point  called  Blue  Point,  containing  four 
necks  of  land,  being  bounded  eastwardly  by  the 
said  river,  westwardly  by  the  Conetquot  river, 
southwardly  by  the  sound,  and  extending  from 
the  sound  to  the  middle  of  the  said  Island,  called 
the  Island  of  Nassau;  and  did  promise  and  en- 
gage that  they  the  above  named  Indians,  who 
declared  that  they  were  also  interested  for  the 
rest  of  the  Proprieters,  and  for  several  reasons 
would  sell  and  dispose  of  the  three  eastermo^st 
necks  of  land  to  William  Nicoll,  of  the  city  of 
New  York  Esquire,  and  to  no  other  person  or 
persons  whatsoever,  as  soon  as  he  the  said  N-ic- 
oll  should  return  from  England,  and  if  i\Ir.  Nic- 
oll should  die  before  his  return,  that  then  they 
would  sell  it  only  to  his  widow  and  children,  and 
that  the  last  neck  of  land  they  would  keep  for 
their  own  planting,  but  whenever  sold  that  j\Ir. 
Nicoll  should  have  the  preference.  Dated  in  New 
York  the  day  and  year  above  said,  acknowledged 
and  promised  before  me  'by  the  interpretation  of 
Mrs.  Blandina  Bayard. 

N,  Bayard. 

In  accordance  with  this  the  same  Indians 
gave  a  deed  to  William  Nicoll  for  the  ^same 
lands    February   17,    1702. 

THE  THIRD  PATENT. 

i 

William  the  Third  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King 
of  England  &c.  To  all  to  whom  these  Presents 
shall  come  sendeth  Greeting.  Whereas  our  lov- 
ing subject  William  Nicold  Esq.  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  our  Council,  for  our  province  of  New 
York,  by  his  humble  petition  presented  untO'  his 
Excellency  Col.  Benjamin  Fletcher,  and  Captain 
General  and  Governor  in  Chief  of  our  Province 
of  New  York,  prayed  our  grant  and  confirma- 
tion of  a  certain  parcel  of  vacant  uniraiproved 
land  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  in  the  island  of 
Nassau,  adjoining  to  the  land  of  our  said  lov- 
ing subject,  and  of  Andrew  Gibb,  bounded  east- 
erly by  a  brook  or  river  to  the  westward  of  a 
point  called  the  Blew  Point,  known  by  the  In- 
dian name  of  Manowtassquott,  and  a  north  and 
by  east  line  from  the  head  of  said  river  to  the 
Country  road,  thence  along  the  said  road  west- 
erly until  it  bears  nortih  and  by  east  to  the  head 
of  Orawake  river,  and  thence  by  a  south  and 
west  line  to  the  head  of  the  said  river,  and  so 


running  easterly  along  by  the  land  of  said  Will- 
iam Nicolis  and  Andrew  Gibb  to  the  head  of 
Conetquot,  and  down  said  river  to  the  sound, 
and  from  thence  along  the  sound  easterly  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Manowtassquott,  aforesaid,  together 
with  a  certain  fresh  pond  called  Raconckony 
Pond.  Which  reasonable  request  we  bein?  will- 
ing to  grant  Now  Know  ye  that  of  our  special 
Grace  '■'  *  we  have  given  and  granted  and 
confirmed  unto  the  said  William  Nicoll,  all  that 
said  certain  tract  of  land,  and  Raconckony  Pond, 
limited  and  bounded  as  aforesaid.  Together  with 
all  and  s<ingular  &c.  To  have  and  to  hold  &:c. 
yielding  yearly  *  unto  us,  and  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors the  annual  rent  of  six  shillings  New  York 
mony  in  lieu  of  all  other  rents  &c. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  the 
great  seal  of  our  said  Province  to  be  affixed.  Wit- 
ness our  said  trusty  and  well  beloved  Col.  Benja- 
min Pletcher  and  Capt.  General  and  Governor  '&c 
the  20  of  September  i6g7. 

Benjamin  Fletcher. 

Thompson  estimates  the  area  of  Nicolis'  hold- 
ings at  sixty  square  miles.  Nicolis  died  March 
25,  1780,  and  it  was  found  that  he  had  disposed 
of  his  vast  estate  by  the  following  Avill : 

I  give  and  devise  unto  my  son  William  Nic- 
oll, all  my  lands  and  hereditamients  at  Islip  in 
the  County  Suffolk  (not  hereinafter^disposed  of 
to  my  daughters)  for  and  during  his  natural  life, 
subject  to  the  authority  therein  after  p-iven  to  my 
executors,  with  remainder  unto  the  Hon.  George 
Duncan  Ludlow  Esq.  and  the  Hon.  Whitehead 
Hicks  Esn.  and  their  heirs  during  the  life  of  ye 
said  son  Wiiiiam,  to  preserve  the  contingent  re- 
mainders, hereinafter  limited,  with  the  remainder 
to  the  first  son  of  mv  said  son  William,  to  pre- 
serve the  contingent  remainders  hereinafter  lim- 
ited, to  wit.  with  remainder  to  the  first  every 
other  son  and  sons  of  the  eldest  son  of  my  said 
son  William,  successively  according  to  their  se- 
niority. To  hold  the  same  in  tale  male  '^  * 
And  i  think  it  pi-oper  to  declare  that  after  con- 
sidering my  estate  and  my  family,  I  think  it  will 
be  best  not  only  to  entail  the  estate  but  to  pre- 
vent the  hasty  docking  of  it,  and  therefore  it  is 
m.y  general  intent  to  continue  the  estate  at  Is- 
lip, first  in  the  male  descendants  of  my  son  Will- 
iam, then  in  the  male  issue  of  his  daughters,  and 
then  in  the  male  issue  of  my  son  Samuel  Ben- 
jamin Nicoll,  and  then  in  the  male  issue  of  my 
own  three  daughters  and  that  it  shall  not  be  in 
'the  power  of  any  of  my  descendants  before  my 


ISLIP. 


237 


great  grand  children,  to  cut  off  the  entail.  *  * 
The  lands  at  Islip  are  defined  to  be  ''All  the  lands 
lying  northward,  westward  and  southward  of 
the  river  Namke  that  runs  by  Blue  Point,  as  they 
are  described  in  the  several  Patents  or  grants 
thereof,  made  to  my  honored  grand  father  Will- 
iam Nicoll  of  Islip,  except  such  part  thereof  as 
is  hereinafter  given  to  my  three  daughters." 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  said  three  daugh- 
ters Charity,  Gloriana  and  Joanna  Rachel,  one  of 
my  rights  to  land  at  \\'est  Neck  on  Shelter  Isl- 
and, and  all  that  neck  of  land  adjoining  to  Blue 
Point,  in  Islip,  aforesaid. 

I  give  to  my  three  daughters,  Charity^  Glori- 
ana and  Joanna  Rachel  42  poutids  per  year  to 
each  of  tliem  for  twelve  years,  and  100  pounds 
per  year  for  12  years'  to  my  son  Samuel  Benja- 
min NicoUs,  which  said  sums  I  direct  my  son 
William  to  pay.    Dated  August  19,  1778. 

WilHam  Nicolls,  the  heir  to  this  great  prop- 
erty, was  greatly  embarrassed  by  the  terms  of  the 
will,  and  was  practically  a  poor  man.  So  great 
were  the  necessities  of  his  case,  that  he  sought  re- 
lief at  the  hands  of  the  legislature,  and  Samuel 
Benjamin  Nicolls,  Who  had  a  contingent  remain- 
der in  the  land,  also  by  petition  signified  his  de- 
sire that  the  relief  prayed  for  by  Wi^Uiam  Nicolls 
should  be  afforded. 

Accordingly,  on  May  3,  1786,  the  legislature 
passed  an  act  "for  the  relief  of  Wil'liam  Nic- 
olls." This  instrument  quotes  the  terms  of  the 
will  and  then  proceeds : 

And  whereas  the  said  WiUiam  Nicoll,  the 
son,  hath  presented  his  petition  to  the  Legisla- 
ture setting  forth  that  doubts  have  arisen 
whether  the  estate  which  he  holds  be  an  estate 
tail,  or  only  for  life,  and  that  many  of  the  farms 
in  Islip  were  at  the  time  of  his  father's  decease 
leased  at  very  low  rents,  and  that  he  is  charged 
by  said  will  with  the  paymlent  of  annuities  to 
the  amount  of  £126  for  ten  years  to  his  three  sis- 
ters, and  an  annuity  of  iioo  for  twelve  years  to 
his  brother,  that,  conceiving  himself  to  be  pos- 
sessed of  an  estate  in  tail,  he  had  been  induced 
to  contract  debts  to  a  large  amount,  and  that  the 
doubts  respecting  his  estate  render  it  impractica- 
ble to  sell  any  part  of  his  lands  to  discharge  his 
debts,  and  that  a  number  of  executions  have  been 
issued  against  him,  and  if  they  shall  be  levied 
on  his  estate,  while  the  doubts  respecting  it  re- 
mains,  it   would   prove  insufficient   to  pay  'his 


debts,  and  he  must  be  turned  out  of  possession 
and  deprived  not  only  of  the  means  of  suitably 
educating  his  children,  but  of  subsisting  his  fam- 
ily, and  the  greater  part  of  his  creditors  be 
ruined  ;  and  that  if  Trustees  were  to  be  apoointed 
by  the  Legislature  with  authority  to  sell  lands  to 
the  amount  of  £4,000  evils  might  be  prevented, 
and  he  enabled  by  honest  industry  to  discharge 
the  remainder  of  his  debts." 

The  act  then  provided  that  William  Nicoll 
should  convey  to  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  William 
Floyd  and  Selah  Strong,  Esquires,  all  his  lands 
in  Islip,  in  trust,  to  sell  as  much  as  would  raise 
the  sum  of  £4,000,  and  discharge  the  debts.  The 
remainder  they  were  to  lease  to  the  best  advan- 
tage for  the  payment  of  the  annuities,  the  resi- 
due to  be  paid  to  said  William  Nicoll  during  his 
life,  and  tben  to  the  uses  of  the  will. 

In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the'act^  Will- 
iam' Nicoll  conveyed  all  his  lands  to  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu, William  Floyd  and  Selah  Strong,  No- 
vember 16,  1786,  and  they  mad'e  the  following 
sales  of  large  tracts  of  the  lands : 

1st.  To  Cornelius  Ray,  February  2^,  1790, 
"A  certain  tract  of  land  in  Islip,  Containing  960 
acres,  bounded  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  a  lot  of  960  acres  sold  by 
them  to  Alexander  Macomb,  and  80  chains  west 
from  the  line  that  divides  the  town  of  Islip  from 
Wlnthrops  Patent,  at  the  distance  of  one  mile  on 
the  said  line  from  the  Country  road,  on  the  south 
side  of  Long  Island,  fromi  thence  running  north 
240  chains,  thence  west  40  chains,  thence  south 
240  chains,  thence  east  40  chains  to  the  place  of 
beginning." 

2nd.  To  Willett  Green,  December  20,  1786, 
price  £480,  "A.11  the  moiety  or  one  equal  half- 
part  of  a  certain  neck  and  tract  of  land  in  Islip, 
and  bounded  as  follows :  Beginning  at  the  mid- 
dle of  the  brook  westward  of  the  house  where 
James  Morris  formerty  lived,  on  the  road,  from 
thence  extending  northward  on  a  straight  line, 
as  the  general  course  ^f  the  said  brook  runs,  the 
distance  of  one  mile;  from  thence  running  a  due 
east  course  until  it  strikes  the  middle  of  the 
brook,  and  from  thence  along  the  middle  of  the 
brook  last  mentioned  southward  to  the  Bay, 
southward  upon  the  bay,  and  westward  by  the 
middle  of  the  brook  that  parts  the  said  neck  of 
land  from  Green's  Neck,  extending  northward  by 
the  first  mentioned  brook  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning.    The  said  V\^illett  Green  to  have  the  wes- 


238 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


termost  half  of  the  said  neck  in  quantity  and 
quality,  to  be  divided  between  him  and  John  Ed- 
ward, who  has  purchased  the  east  half  of  said 
neck." 

3d.  To  Sampson  Flemming,  February  23, 
1790,  "A  certain  tract  of  land  in  Islip  contain- 
ing 960  acres,  bounded  as  follows :  Beginning 
at  the  distance  of  one  mile  north  of  the  Country 
road,  on  the  south  side  oi  Long  Island,  on  the 
line  that  divides  the  town  of  Islip  from^  the  Win- 
throp  Patent,  from  thence  extending  north  240 
chains,  from  thence  west  40  chains,  thence  south 
240  chains,  thence  east  40  chains  to  the  place  of 
beginning." 

4th.  To  Alexander  Macomb,  A  tract  of  960 
acres,  one  mile  north  of  the  Country  road,  'bound- 
ed east  by  the  line  of  Winthrop's  Patent,  west  by 
the  lot  of  960  acres  sold  to  Cornelius  Ray. 

In  1836  a  law  suit  occurred  known  as  ''J^^ii^'S 
Jackson  ex  deni.  William  Nicoll  and  others  ver- 
sus Francis  Woodhull  and  others,  heirs  of  Rich- 
ard Woodhull,  deceased."  This  case  was  to  de- 
cide whether  a  certain  tract  of  land  near  Lake 
Ronkonkoma  was  in  the  Nicoll  patent  or  in 
Brookhaven.  The  question  was  as  to  the  loca- 
tion of  the  "Country  Road,"  the  plaintiffs  assert- 
ing that  it  ran  between  Smithtown  and  IsHp, 
north  of  Lake  Ronkonkoma,  and  the  defendants 
declaring  that  it  meant  a  road  much  farther  south. 
The  printed  case  (which  is  extremely  rare,  only 
two  copies  being  known  to  exist)  has  preserved 
a  great  many  facts  in  regard  to  process  at  law. 

Nicoll  Floyd,  for  plaintiff  testified  that  he 
was  over  seventy  years  old  and  had  been  surro- 
gate for  thirty  years  and  treasurer  for  the  same 
period.  That  he  knew  the  roads  well ;  that  the 
country  road  was  the  one  leading  through 
Smithtown  and  Coram,  easterly  to  Riverhead, 
and  A^esterly  to  Jamaica,  and  was  the  road  form- 
erly principally  traveled,  and  until  lately  there 
was  very  little  travel  on  the  south  road.  He 
testified  that  a  line  north  by  east,  starting  at 
Blue  Point,  would  strike  the  said  country  road 
not  far  from  Coram.  He  Jmew  a  house  called 
Titus  Gould'^s  Tavern,  (formerly  Horseblock 
Smith's).  There  was  a  road  turning  from 
the  country  road  at  his  house  southwest- 
erly towards  the  Pond,  and  when  he  first 
knew  the  place  there -were  old  houses  and  set- 
tlements on  this  road,  also  on  the  north  side  of 
the  pond.  John  Newton,  Caleb  Newton  and  one 
Smith  had  houses  on  the  northeast  side  of  the 
Pond.    A  road  ran  there  nearly  parallel  with  the 


country  road  between  it  and  the  Pond,  and 
turning  off  to  the  southward  some  distance  east 
of  the  Pond,  going  down  towards  Patchogue, 
This  was  called  the  Horseblock  road.  A  road 
called  Portion  road  ran  east  from  the  Pond  be- 
ginning at  Caleb  Newton's  house,  which  was 
upon  the  bank  of  the  Pond.  There  was  an  old 
settlement  at  the  junction  of  the  Portion  at 
Horseblock  road. 

Charles  T.  Dering  testified  that  he  assisted 
in  running  out  the  Nicoll  Patent  about  six  years 
ago.  They  began  at  the  head  of  the  Namke  and 
then  ran  dfue  north.  They  came  out  about 
three  miles  east  of  Richard  Woodhull's  house, 
which  was  on  the  Portion  road  about  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  east  of  the  Pond;  In  survey- 
ing they  stopped  at  the  Portion  road  and  ran 
west  along  it  to  the  Pond  at  Caleb  Newton's. 
They  then  began  to  survey  the  west  side  at  a 
brook  ca'lled  the  Winganhappagh,  and  now 
called  Champlain  creek,  and  then  north  to  a 
road  called  the  Happagh  road,  and  then  fol- 
lowed it  east  to  the  Pond,  and  then  ran  around 
on  the  north  side  of  the  Pond  to  the  Portion 
road.  They  surveyed  the  patent  as  they  could 
make  it  out.  There  was  a  small  old  house  south 
of  the  Pond  surrounded  by  an  old  clearing  occu- 
pied by  William  Gould. 

The  defendant  claimed  that  the  north  bound 
of  the  Nicoll  Patent  was  a  road  which  crossed 
Conetiquot  river  (the  western  boundary  of  the 
Smith  Patent)  at  or  near  Carmans,  and  ran  west 
along  the  present  south  country  road  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  until  it  came  near  a  house  form- 
erly of  Jeffrey  Brewster's  and  now  Osborn's, 
then  crossed  Brewster's  Swamp,  Mud  Creek, 
the  head  of  Swan  Creek,  Patchogue  Swamp 
about  three  miles  north  of  Patchogue,  Terry's 
Swamp,  then  running  near  the  head  of  Coneti- 
quot river,  then  south  of  Wheeler's  liill,  near  the 
Wheeler's  village,  and  passing  Conklin's  (now 
Seaman's)  and  so  to  Hempstead.  That  the 
premises  in  dispute  were  north  of  this  road  and 
were  covered  by  the  Brookhaven  Patents.  That 
the  Indians,  by  deeds  prior  to  the  Nicoll  Patent, 
sold  to  Richard  Woodhull,  and  he  to  the  Trus- 
tees of  Brookhaven,  all  that  part  of  the  Brook- 
haven Patent  bounded  north  by  Long  Island 
Sound  and  south  by  the  middle  of  the  Island  and 
they  allotted  all  that  all  part  west  of  the  Coneti- 
quot river,  east  of  the  Smithtown  line,  south  of 
the  present  middle  country  road  and  north  of  the 
middle  of  the  island  to  different  Proprietors, 
under  whom  the  defendants  claim.  That  the  line 
called  Hart's  Line  was  nm  in  1791,  as  the  south 
line  of  that  tract. 


240 


HISTORY  OF    hOSG    ISLAND. 


It  may  be  stated  that  the  defendants  claimed 
that  the  "middle  of  the  Is^land"  meant  from  the 
Sound  to  the  ocean;  the  claim  of  the  plaintiffs 
was  that  it  meant  from  the  north  side  of  the 
Great  South  Bay,  and  this  latter  view  was  sus- 
tained. 

Richard  Udall,  for  defendant,  testified  that  he 
was  eighty  years  old  last  November,  and  was 
born  in  Islip,  where  he  now  lives  on  the  present 
south  country  road,  about  six  miles  west  of  the 
Winganhappagh  brook.  When  he  first  recol- 
lects a  road  passed  his  house  to  the  east  as  far  as 
the  brook.  The  Quakers  settled  about  there  and 
made  the  road  passable  as  far  east  as  the  brook, 
but  could  not  pass  the  swamp  there.  The  peo- 
ple of  Islip  made  the  swamp  passable.  This  was 
seventy-three  years  ago.  Before  that,  there  was 
a  road  called  NicoU's  old  road,  leading  from 
Nicoll's  house  north  to  the  Conklin  road,  Whicli 
Lawyer  Nicoll  used  to  travel  to  New  York.  His 
father  told  him  that  the  Conklin  road  was  called 
the  "Old  Country  road"  and  the  "King's  High- 
way." The  house  on  the  north  edge  of  Racon- 
kony  Pond  was  an  old  house  when  he  first  knew 
it,  and  was  held  by  the  Nicolls.  Conklin's  tav- 
ern was  about  ten  miles  west  of  the  Branch  in 
Smithtown. 

Daniel  Smith,  for  defendant,  testified  that  he 
was  born  in  Coram,  and  will  be  sixty-six  years 
old  in  October  next.  Ever  since  he  was  six 
months  old  he  had  lived  on  Swan  Creek  Neck, 
near  Patchogue,  and  has  never  been  absent  from 
home  three  nights  together  since  he  was  born. 
Before  the  south  road  was  openel,  there  was  an- 
other road,  much  used,  known  as  the  Old  Fish- 
erman's road  or  highway.  The  road  went  across 
the  head  of  Jeffrey  Brewster's  Swamp,  then 
across  the  head  of  Swan  Creek  and  the  head  of 
Patchogue  stream,  next  across  Jeremy  Terry's 
S'wamp  till  you  came  about  three  miles  west  of 
Patchogue,  then  it  ran  smartly  to  the  northwest 
till  you  croissed  the  Conetiquot  river  (passing 
an  ox  head  which  hung  there  many  years)  and 
then  by  the  plains  along  Wheeler's  hills  and  then 
west.  He  had  heard  old  people  call  it  the  Fish- 
erman's Old  Road  and  the  King's  Highway. 
His  father  was  born  in  1729.  It  was  a  very 
crooked  road,  owing  to  the  different  lengths  of 
the  streams.  The  Horse  block  road  ran  from 
near  Fire  Place  to  the  west. 

Nathaniel  Smith,  for  defendant,  saxs  he  is 
seventy-four  years  old  and  was  born  in  Coram, 
in  a  house  about  a  mile  from  Richard  Smith's. 
The  old  road  called  the  Fish  road  is  pretty  much 
grown  up.  It  was  about  three  miles  north  of  Pat- 
chogue.   It  was  used  iii  carting  fish  from  Quogue. 


The  Coram  road  to  Smithtown  is  the  principal 
road.  It  is  an  old  roadi.  The  villages  are  upon  it. 
On  the  Fish  road  there  was  no  house  nor  settle- 
ments. Titus  Gould's  house  was  about  two  miles 
northeast  of  the  Pond.  John  'Newton  had  a 
house  a  little  northeast  of  the  Pond.  It  was  an 
old  house  with  considerable  land.  Below  it  was 
Caleb  Newton's.  There  was  a  good  deal  of 
cleared  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  Pond.  On 
the  south  side  of  the  road,  pretty  much  north  of 
the  Pond,  was  an  old  house  occupied)  by  old  'Mr. 
Hallock.  There  were  houses  along  on  the  south 
side  of  the  road  down  to  the  Portion  road.  John 
Ackerh''s  was  an  old  house  with  considerable 
clearing. 

Brewster  Terry,  for  defendant,  says  he  was 
sixty-two  years  old  last  March. 

Jedediah  Williamson  was  seventy-six  years 
old  last  ]\iarch.  He  knew  a  road  called  Conklin's 
road.  David  Willetts,  John  Mowbray  (father  of 
Anning  ]\Iowbray,  who  would  now  be  over  100 
years  old  if  living),  and  other  old  people,  called  it 
the  cauntry  road.  Air.  Mowbray's  possession  un- 
der the  Mowbray  Patent  extended  north  to  this 
road,  and  the  family  claimed  up  to  this  road  as 
their  north  line  and  no  further. 

Jacob  Hawkins  was  eighty-one  years  old  last 
February,  and  had  always  lived  near  Setauket 
When  a  boy  he  used  to  go  with  his  father  to  the 
south  side  of  the  island  for  hay.  They  crossed  a 
road  about  three  miles  north  of  Patchogue.  It 
was  an  old  road  seventy  years  ago.  It  went  west 
to  Conklin's  road.  It  was  the  principal  road  the 
market  men  had.  John  Newton  lived  near  the 
Pond;  he  was  grandfather  of  Caleb  Newton. 
Timothy  Smith  lived  in  a  house  on  the  northwest 
side  of  Raconkony  Pond,  and  then  Wilham 
Smith,  and  both  'held  under  the  Nicolls.  It  was 
about  eig'ht  or  ten  rods  west  of  the  Pond.  There 
were  about  forty  or  sixty  acres  of  cleared  land 
around  it.  The  Portion  road  from  John  Acker- 
le)''s  to  the  Pond  was  cut  about  seventy  years 
ago. 

John  Newton  says  he  was  eighty-one  last 
August,  and  had  always  lived  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Raconkony  Pond.  Flis  father  built 
the  house,  and  informed  him  that  there  was  an 
old  house  there  previously.  William  Gould  had 
a  house  south  of  the  Pond;  he  remembers  when 
it  was  built.  There  is  a  large  swamp  at  the  north 
end  of  the  pond,  and  at  the  corner  of  this  swamp 
there  was  a  house  built  by  Daniel  Briggs,  and 
James  Smith  lived  there, 

Phillip  Longbotham  says  he  is  sixty-three 
years  old,  and  knows  the  old  country  road. 

Richard  AA'   Smith  showed  a  deed  from  Will- 


ISLIP. 


241 


iam  Bohr  to  Isaac  Smith,  dated  December  22, 
1780,  for  one-half  of  lot  30  in  Winthrop's  Patent, 
at  the  head  of  Swan  Creek,  beginning  at  the 
country  road  and  running  north  to  the  middle 
of  the  Island. 

Moses  Benjamin  was  thirty-seven  years  old, 
and  about  fifteen  years  ago  an  old  man  named 
Voorhees,  of  Plempstead,  who  was  eighty-five 
years  old,  told  him  there  was  a  direct  road  from 
Hempstead  to  Fire  Place  'Called  the  King's  High- 
way, when  he  was  young  and  there  was  no  other 
country  road  at  that  time.  It  came  out  at  Conk- 
lin's  formerly  Seaman's  tavern. 

Richard  F.  Blydenburgh  testified  that  in  j\Iay, 
1832,  he  was  employed  to  run  a  line  from  a  cer- 
tain cedar  hassock  in  Stony  Brook  mill  pond  to 
the  sound.  Then  they  returned  and  measured  due 
south  from  the  cedar  hassock  to  the  Great 
South  Bay,  allowing  four  and  one-half  degrees 
for  variation.  They  then  calculated  the  distance 
in  the  same  course  across  the  bay  and  beach,  and 
they  thus  ascertained  the  distance  across  the  Isl- 
and, bay  and  beach,  which  they  found  to  be 
nineteen  miles  and  some  chains  over.  They 
then  ascertained  one-half  this  distance,  and  it 
fell  near  the  Bridge  road,  about  twenty 
chains  north  of  it.  The  distance  across  the 
bay  was  four  miles  and  twenty  rods,  across 
the  beach  was  twenty  chains  and  seventy-five 
links,  from  the  sound  to  the  middle  road  (by 
Titus  Gould's)  was  >four  and  one-half  miles, 
from  that  road  to  the  South  Bay  was  nine  miles 
and  sixty  rods.  Half  the  distance  'across  the 
Island  from  the  Sound  to  the  bay  was  full  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  Raconkony  Pond. 
From  the  cedar  hassock  to  the  Sound  was  sixty- 
eight  chains,  seventy-three  links,  but  he  did  not 
measure  out  as  far  north  as  Crane  Neck  Point. 
His  line  went  south  to  an  extreme  point  of  land 
projecting  into  the  South  Bay. 

Daniel  Saxton  says  that  he  was  twenty-nine 
years  old  in  1790,  when  Joshua  Hart  made  his 
survey  which  purported  to  be  the  premises  de- 
scribed in  the  Brookhaven  Patents.  The  survey 
was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1790  and  finished  in 
the  summer  of  1791.  They  began  at  a  cedar 
hassock  which  was  the  east  bound  of  Smith- 
town  Patent,  and  ran  a  due  north  line  to  the 
Sound  at  West  Meadows  on  the  east  side  of 
Smithtown  bay.  They  then  ran  a  due  south 
course  to  the  Great  South  Bay,  which  they  struck 
at  the  end  of  Newton's  Point.  They  calculated 
by  trigonometry  the  distance  across  the  bay. 
They  also  measured  across  the  island  on  a  due 
north  and  south  course,  on  the  east  bounds  of  the 
Patent  oif  Brookhaven,  and  by  dividing  the  line 

16 


measurements  they  obtained  a  line  which  they 
then  denominated  the  middle  of  the  Island.  The 
line  was  run  at  the  expense  of  a  number  of  the 
people.  Their  object  was  to  get  a  definite  line, 
as  they  claimed  to  the  middle  of  the  Island. 

William  Tooker  testifies  that  he  is  sixty-five, 
that  in  1790  he  lived  near  Mooney  Pond,  and 
helped  make  the  Hart  survey.  He  now  lives  at 
Star  Neck  ijust  east  of  Winthrop  Patent.  He 
knows  the  road  called  Bridge  road,  also  called 
the  Ox-head  road.  He  once  traveled  the  Conk- 
lin  road  more  than  thirty-five  years  ago,  with  one 
Jolm  Ackerly,  who  was  a  much  older  man  than 
he.  He  heard  aged  people  call  the  Conklin  road 
the  country  road.  The  Wheeler  road  went  from 
Star  Neck  across  the  bridge  (over  Conetiquot 
river)  through  the  Hoppoghs,  and  so  on  to  Conk- 
lin's  near  Commack.  The  Wheelers  at  the  Hop- 
pogh  had  a  life  lease  of  one  of  the  necks  near 
Blue  Point,  and  they  cut  the  road  to  get  their 
hay.  This  was  called  Wheeler's  road.  Daniel 
Wheeler,  now  dead,  who  would  be,  is  living,  over 
one  hundred  years  old,  told  him  his  family  cut 
the  road. 

The  deposition  of  Daniel  Smith  3d  (who  was 
too  infirm  to  attend  court)  says  he  is  eighty-six 
years  old,  and  was  born  at  Coram  where  Rich- 
ard W.  Smith  now  lives,  and  resided  there  with 
his  father,  who  kept  an  inn,  until  he  was  thirteen. 
Remembers  there  was  a  controversy  as  to  the 
middle  of  the  Island.  The  middle  Island  peo- 
ple wished  to  measure  from  the  ocean.  The 
south  people  (the  owners  of  Nicoll  Patent) 
wished  to  measure  from  the  bay. 

The  "Furrows"  was  a  strip  of  land  cleared 
of  trees,  and  plowed  up,  so  as  to  prevent  fires 
spreading  to  the  north  side  of  the  island.  These 
were  claimed  to  be  the  middle  island. 

William  Tooker  states  that  he  lived  on  lots 
16-17-18  of  the  Brookhaven  allotments.  The 
lots  began  at  the  Pond  and  numbered  eastward. 
The  defendant's  lots  were  a  little  west  of  this.  He 
held  them  under  John  Ackerly  for  seventeen 
years.  Lot  No.  10  or  11  was  owned  by  Robert 
Ackerly,  who  died  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  it  Avas  an  old  settled  farm  and  had  an  old 
house  on  it  when  he  first  knew  it.  Richard 
Woodhull  (the  defendant)  and  Brewster  Wood- 
hull  were  the  two  children  of  John  Woodhull. 
TJie  premises  in  controversy  were  a  part  of  six 
lots  west  of  No.  10,  which  were. formerly  Jona- 
than Smith's.  [He  seems  to>  have  had  sons, 
Isaac  (known  as  "black  Isaac''),  James  and 
Alexander] . 

Jesse  W  Conklin,  twenty-five  years  old,  was 
born  at  Commack,  states  that  the  road  called  by 


242 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


old  people  the  old  oouutry  road,  is  about  three 
miles  south  of  Jeffrey  Woodhull's.  It  appeared 
to  be  a  very  old  road,  but  not  much  traveled  at 
present. 

Joel  Rutland,  fifty-one  years  old,  says  he  lived 
in  Islip,  four  miles  west  of  Patchogue.  He  heard 
Robert  Jayne  ( who  if  now  living  would  be  one 
hundred  years  O'ld)  sa}-  that  he  remembered 
when  the  present  South  r'oad  was  scarcely  pass- 
able. 

Several  witnesses  testified  that  it  was  an  old 
tradition  originally,  that  the  bay  at  Islip  and  east, 
was  very  shallow,  and  was  meadows  and  swamps, 
and  It  was  impossible  to  cross  it  on  horseback,  and 
that  the  opening  of  the  Fire  Island  inlet  had 
flooded  land  formerly  dry  land  and  meadow. 

Joshua  Sniith  says  that  he  was  seventy  last 
July,  and  is  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas.  The  Wheeler  settlement  is  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  southwest  of  his  house  and 
about  seven  miles  east  of  Conkliri's.  [Note,  the 
Joshua  Smith  house  is  yet  standing  at  Hoppogue, 
1902.]  The  Conklin  road  turned  from  the  Coun- 
tr}'  road  at  Smithtown  Branch  and  ran  south- 
west and  then  west  to  Conklin's.  The  Bridge 
road  called  W'heeler's  road  began  at  the  Conk- 
lin road  -about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of 
Wheeler's  settlement.  It  ran  southeasterly  and 
crossed  Conetiquot  river  where  there  was'  a 
bridge  formerly ;  it  then  proceeded  till  it  crossed 
a  road  called  Terry's  road.  After  passing  this 
there  was  an  ox  head  fixed  along  side  of  it,  and 
it  was  called  the  Ox  Head  road.  He  never  heard 
it  called  the  Country  road.  He  knew  the  Wheel- 
er family  from  boyhood.  There  are  three  aged 
men  living,  Jacob  Wheeler,  if  living,  would  now 
be  about  ninety  years  old.  He  told  him  that 
the  Wheeler  family  owned  a  neck  called  Blue 
Point,  and  the  Wicks  family  owned  Pine  Neck. 
They  cut  this  road.  He  says  the  Orowahe  river 
is  west  of  the  river  called  Champlin's,  or  Wing- 
anhappagh.  The  road  from  the  Hoppaghs  to 
Ranconkony  Pond  has  been  made  since  the  Rev- 
olution. The  Conklin  road  is  about  200  yards 
south  from  bis  door  and  in  sight.  The  Wheeler 
road  from  the  Coiiklin  road  to  Patchogue  is 
about  fifteen  miles,  and  not  a  house  on  the  road 
in  its  whole  extent. 

Nicoll  Floyd  testifies  that  he  knew  Benja- 
min Havens,  a  fish  carter,  during  the  Revolu- 
tion. His  father  asked  him  how  he  escaped  the 
British.  He  said  he  had  a  new  road  through 
the  plains  called  the  Fish  road,  traveled  mostly 
by  fishermen,  and  used  on  account  of  the  British 
l^lundering  e\-ery  one  on  the  Country  road. 

William    Brown,   seventv   years   old,   has   al- 


ways lived  in  Islip,  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
bay.  Never  heard  the  Wheeler  road  called  the 
Country  road. 

Abijah  Ketcham,  sixt3'-two  years  old.  His 
fatehr  if  living  would  be  ninety.  Has  heard  his 
father  say  that  the  Wheeler  road  was  cut  within 
his  remembrance. 

Jacob  Morris,  sixty-two  years  old,  was  born 
in  Islip,  where  he  now  lives.  He  heard  William 
Terry  say  (who  if  alive  would  be  eighty)  that 
the  iW'heeler  road  was  cut  to  cart  logs  to  Wheel- 
er's and  Wicks'.  The  Wicks  owned  Pine 
Neck. 

Ephraini  Smith,  sixty-seven  years  old,  states 
that  he  is  one  of  the  persons  against  whom  suits 
for  ejectment  under  Nicoll  title  are  pending.  His 
father  used  to  live  on  Smith's  Neck,  west  of 
Patchogue.  He  knew  the  Fisherman's  road,  and 
heard  it  called  the  old  Country  road. 

One  of  the  witnesses  was  James  M.  Fanning, 
a  surveyor,  who  made  a  survey  and  measured 
"the  distance  between  the  Sound  and  the  ocean. 
By  his  survc}^  the  ''middle  of  the  island,"  meas- 
uring north  from  the  South  Bay,  was  one  mile 
north  of  Ra.nconkony  Pond.  Measuring  from 
the  ocean  it  was  i  mile,  26  chains,  46  links 
north  of  the  Bridge  road. 

The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  for  defendant. 
The  judge  charged  that  the  term  "middle  of  the 
Island"  meant  a  line  half  way  between  the  bay 
and  the  Sound. 

An  interesting  chapter  of  history  this,  the 
foregoing  shedding  light,  as  it  does,  upon  the 
difficulties  which  attended  the  settlement  of  land 
titles  where  large  tracts  of  land  were  ambigu- 
ously described  and  there  was  conflict  as  to 
boundary  lines. 

Next  west  of  the  lands  of  William  Nicoll 
comes  a  tract  granted  to  Andrew  Gibb,  a^nd 
known  as  "the  Gibbs  Patent.''  Upon  a  petition 
presented  to  Governor  Richard  Ingoldsby  a  grant 
was  made  to  Andrew  Gibb  for  "All  that  certain 
tract  of  vacant  land  on  Long  Island  commonly 
called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Winganhop- 
poge  Neck,  bounded  on  the  east  by  Winganhop- 
poge  river,  south  by  the  ba)'.  west  by  Orawahe 
river  and  north  by  a  right  line  from  the  head  of 
Winganhoppoge  river  to  the  head  of  Orawahe 
river,  whereon  he  intendeth  to  make  some  set- 


"vLETYHO  QHYa  dllSI 


ISLIP. 


243 


tlement  and  improvement."  The  annual  quit- 
rent  was  4  shillings.  This  is  dated  March  26, 
in  the  fourth  year  of  William  and  Mary,  King 
and  Queen,  etc.,   1692. 

Andrew  Gibb  mortgaged  this  tract  to  Will- 
iam Richardson,  October  30,  1703. 

Andrew  Gibb  was  a  man  of  importance  in 
his  day,  and  held  many  high  positions.  He  was 
county  clerk  of  Queens  county  and  town  clerk 
of  Brookhaven.  What  became  of  him'  is  a  ques- 
tion that  has  not  been  answered.  There  is  no 
will  nor  letters  of  administration  to  tell  where 
and  when  he  died.  A  man  of  the  same  name  was 
living  in  Westchester,  but  there  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  he  was  a  different  person.  Nothing 
more  is  learned  concerning  this  tract  except  that 
in  1773  it  was  owned  by  Amos  Willetts.  His 
widow,  Rebecca,  and  his  son,  Joseph  Willetts, 
sold  the  east  half  of  the  neck  to  Benajah  Strong 
March  18,  1773.  He  died  in  1796  and  left  it  to 
his  wife  Elizabeth  and  his  children  Samuel, 
Benajah,  William  and  Silas  C.  Strong.  They 
sold  it  to  John  T.  Champlin,  May  10,  1814,  and 
since  then  it  has  been  divided  among  many  dif- 
ferent owners. 

Next  to  the  land  of  Andrew  Gibb  comes  the 
Mowbray  Patent.  John  Mowbray,  the  owner  of 
this  tract,  was  living  in  Southampton  in  1685. 
There  is  on  record  there  in  the  town  books  the 
contract  made  with  him  to  teach  school  from 
May  to  November,  1694,  at  the  the  rate  of  twelve 
shillings  for  each  scholar.  His  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  John  Anning,  who  was  also 
Hving  in  Southampton.  From  that  town  John 
Mowbray  went  to  Islip  in  1695.  Among  the 
original  documents  now  in  existence  the  peti- 
tion of  John  Alowbray  states  that  in  1695  Eben- 
ezer  Willson,  Esq.,  obtained  from  Governor 
Fletcher  a  license  to  purchase  from  the  native 
proprietors  ''a.  certain  tract  of  waste  and  unim- 
proved land."  John  [Mowbray  purchased  an 
assignment  of  this  license  in  1701,  by  virtue  of 
which  he  purchased  part  of  the  lands  from  the 
Indians  and  part  from  Olaf  Van  Cortlandt, 
Philip  Van  Cortlandt  and  Stephen  Van  Cort- 
landt, in  1705.  He  therefore  prays  that  a  patent 
may  be  granted.     This   petition   was    duly   ap- 


proved by  the  Governor  and  Council  October  8, 
1708,  and  the  following  is  an  abstract: 

Anne  by  the  Grace  of  God,  Queen  of  Great 
Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  etc.  Whereas  our 
loving  subject  John  Mowbray  by  his  petition 
to  our  well  beloved  Cousin,  Edward,  Viscount 
Cornbury,  Capt.  General  and  Governor,  etc., 
hath  prayed  our  confirmation  of  a  certain  piece 
of  land  o  nthe  south  side  of  Lcmg  Island.  Be- 
ginning from  the  South  bay,  up  Orawack  brook 
or  river,  to  the  Country  road,  northerly,  and  from 
thence  along  the  said  Country  road  westerly  till 
it  comes  to  the  east  brook  of  Apple  Tree  Neck, 
upon  a  south  line,  and  from  thence  along  the 
South  bay  to  the  mouth  of  Orawack  brook  or 
river." 

This  grant  is  then  made  on  the  usual  terms, 
upon  condition  of  his  * 'yielding  and  paying  at 
or  upon  the  feast  day  of  the  birth  of  our  Lord 
God,  commonly  called  Xmas,  the  rent  of  10 
shillings."     This  is  dated  October  19,  1708. 

The  lands  he  bought  of  the  Van  Cortlandts 
are  described  in  the  following  deed : 

Olaf  Van  Cortlandt,  Philip  Van  Cortlandt 
and  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt,  "of  New  York, 
Gentlemen,"  to  sell  tO'  John  Mowbray  of  Awixa, 
in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  "All  that  certain  neck 
of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island,  called 
by  the  Indians  by  the  name  of  Campawis,  extend 
ing  northwest  from  the  Indian  path  5  English 
miles.  Bounded  south  by  the  sea,  east  by  a  neck 
called  Aloxihtak,  and  west  b}-  a  neck  called 
Mispotuck ;  also  all  the  certain  neck  called  by  the 
Indians  Mispotuche  neck,  bounded  south  by  the 
sea,  west  adjoining  to  Apple  Tree  neck,  north 
by  Huntington  farms,  and  east  by  other  lands." 
Price  £100,  March  2,  1705. 

The  whole  tract  patented  to  John  Mowbray 
included  seven  necks,  of  which  the  above  were 
the  two  westermO'St.  By  a  deed  dated  May  30, 
1701,  "Wayumpe  alias  Pashamish  and  other  In- 
dian natives  of  Sequatogue,  sell  to  John  Mow- 
bray, of  South  Hampton,  all  that  certain  neck  of 
land  and  meadow  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  Long  Island,  commonly  called  and  known  by 
the  Indian  name  oi  Aweeksa,  bounded  east  by 
the  land  late  in  tenure  of  Samuel  Haight  and 
Charles  Doughty,  south  by  the  sound  or  bay, 
westward  bv  the  east  side  of  the  neck  of  land 


244 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


called  by  the  Indians  Watchogue,  running  north- 
ward from  the  heads  of  Cagaqunks  and  Penata- 
quit  rivers  to  the  bounds  between  the  north  and 
south  Indians."  This  deed  is  signed  by  twenty 
or  more  Indians. 

John  Mowbray  soW  the  neck  next  east  of 
Aweeksa  (and  extending  east  to  the  Gibb  Pat- 
ent) to  Daniel  Saxton,  and  it  was'  known  as 
Saxton's  neck.  John  Mowbray's  second  wife 
was  Ruth  (Stratton),  widow  of  James  White, 
of  Southampton.  By  deed  dated  July  ii,  1702, 
John  Mowbray  gives  "to  his  two  sons-in-law 
(stepsons),  Charles  White  and  Stephen  White, 
and  to  their  heirs  male,"  ''All  that  my  neck  of 
land  commonly  called  Pannataquit  neck,  bounded 
south  by  Watcho'gue  river  or  creek,  west  and 
north  by  the  Brushy  Plains,  at  the  extent  of 
said  river  at  Panataquit  river,  which  is  the  east 
bounds  of  said  neck,  and  parts  this  neck  from- 
John  Mowbray's  land." 

On  January  18,  1708,  John  Mowbray  gives 
a  deed  with  the  same  description  to  his  stepson, 
Stephen  White,  and  it  is  probable  that  Charles 
White  had  died  in  the  interval.  This  neck  of  land 
continued  to  be  known  by  its  ancient  aborig- 
inal name  of  Panataquit,  till  about  forty  years 
since  it  was  changed  to  Bay  Shore. 

By  a  deed  dated  July  20,  1712,  John  Mowbray 
gave  to  his  son,  Anning  Mowbray,  the  neck 
called  Awixa,  described  as  "beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  Awixa  creek  and  running  north  of  the 
east  side  of  said  river,  by  Daniel  Saxton's  land, 
to  the  head  of  the  same,  then  along  the  north 
bounds  of  Saxton's  land  till  it  comes  to  Mr. 
NicoU's  path  or  road  that  goes  to  New  York, 
then  along  the  path  till  the  head  of  Watchogue 
river  bears  due  south  and  by  east,  then  upon  the 
said  south  and  by  east  line  until  it  comes  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  Stephen  White's  land, 
then  east  along  the  bounds  oif  the  same 
until  it  comes  to  the  head  of  the  Panata- 
quit river,  then  along  the  west  side  of  said 
river  to  the  Sound  or  South  Bay,  then  along  the 
bay  east  to  the  east  side  of  Awixa  river.  To- 
gether with  the  dwelling  house,  etc." 

By  deed  dated  July  31,  1712,  John  Mowbray 
and   Ruth,   his   wife,    sell   to   Amos    Willetts   of 


Islip,  "All  that  certain  neck  of  land  and  meadow 
called  by  the  Indians  Compams,  bounded  east 
by  a  neck  called  by  the  Indians  Manatek,  on 
the  south  by  ye  bay,  on  ye  west  by  a  neck  called 
by  ye  Indians  Muscritux,  at  ye  north  at  five 
miles  northward  of  the  Indian  Path.  With  all, 
etc."     The  price  paid  was  £200. 

On  January  13,  1708,  John  Mowbray  ''of 
Awixa"  gave  to  Thomas  Powell,  Jr.,  of  Beth- 
page,  in  Queens  county,  a  perpetual  lease  of  "All 
my  right  to  a  neck  on  the  south  side  of  Long 
Island,  called  by  the  Indian  name  of  Watchogue, 
bounded  west  by  the  middle  of  Manetuck  brook 
or  river,  to  the  head  thereof,  then  north  and  by 
west  to  the  north  side  of  the  Pines,  then  east  and 
by  north  until  the  head  of  Watchogue  river  bears 
due  south  and  by  east,  thence  over  the  same 
course  to  the  head  of  said  river,  thence  along  the 
west  side  of  said  river  to  the  South  bay,  and 
along  the  same  to  the  middle  of  Manetuck  brook 
or  creek."  The  yearly  rent  was  to  be  one 
shilling  six  pence. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  neck  sold  to 
Amos  Willetts  was  the  eastermost  of  the  two 
necks  bought  of  the  Van  Cortlandts,  and  the 
neck  sold  to  Thomas  Powell  was  next  east  of 
that.  According  to  a  deed  dated  "the  23d  day 
of  the  3d  month  called  May,  1735,"  the  title  to 
this  neck  was  in  some  dispute.  That  Thomas 
Powell  and  Thomas  Willetts,  Sr.,  had  purchased 
it  from  the  Indians,  and  that  Thomas  Willetts 
had  released  his  claim  to  Thomas  Powell  by 
deed  January  15,  1708,  and  that  John  Mowbray 
had  sold  his  right  by  -the  above  deed.  Thomas 
Powell  died,  and  by  his  will  he  made  his  wife 
Mary  and  his  sons,  Thomas  and  Wright  Powell, 
and  his  brother,  Wright  Powell,  his  executors, 
with  power  to  sell.  The  will  was  dated  "the  16- 
day  of  the  9th  month,  1731."  The  executors 
sold  the  whole  neck  to  Amos  Powell  of  Islip 
May  23,  1735.  He  sold  it  to  John  Smiith  of 
Stony  Brook,  June  23,  .1740. 

John  Mowbray  by  his  will  dated  October 
28,  1779,  and  proved  December  23,  1784,  left 
all  his  lands  to  his  son  Anning  Mowbray,  and  he 
was  to  pay  i6o  to  his  three  sisters,  Anne,  Charity 
and  Lucretia.     On  October  27,   1794,  an  agree- 


ISLIP. 


245 


ment  was  made  between  William  Nicoll  and 
Anning  Mowbray  that  "the  head  of  Orowak  river 
should  be  at  a  maple  tree  standing  about  one 
rod  north  of  where  an  old  road  crosses  the  head 
of  said  brook  and  thence  west  and  by  south  until 
the  head  of  Cachinucack  river  bears  south  and 
by  east,  according  to  an  old  conveyance  given 
by  John  Mowbray  to  Daniel  Saxton." 

On  June  3,  1814,  the  trustees  of  Hunting- 
ton sold  to  Anning  Mowbray  "the  south  half 
of  the  Pine  Plains  lying  between  Nicolls  road 
(or  Candlewood  road)  and  the  road  commonly 
called  the  Middle  Country  road,  or  Conklin's 
road.  To  extend  from  a  line  running  due  north 
from  a  tree  at  the  head  of  Orowack  brook,  160 
chains,  5  links,  and  from  thence  due  west  to  a 
line  running  due  north  from  the  east  bank  of 
Apple  Tree  neck." 

The  river  called  above  Cachinucack,  is  doubt- 
less the  stream  on  the  east  side  of  Penataquit 
neck. 

On  April  15,  1786,  "Zebulon  Saxton  and 
wife  Phebe  and  Elizabeth  Saxton^  the  elder,"  sold 
to  Gilbert  Carl  of  Huntington  "the  west  half  of 
the  neck  of  land  and  meadow  called  Arewock," 
with  half  of  a  sawmill.     The  price  was  i250. 

To  the  west  of  the  Mowbray  Patent  comes  a 
neck,  the  original  Indian  name  of  which  was 
Saghtakoos.  On  September  26,  1692,  a  license 
was  granted  to  Colonel  Stephanus  Van  Cort- 
landt  to  purchase  this  neck  from;  the  Indians. 
This  purchase  was  acquired  by  a  deed  dated  Oc- 
tober I,  1692,  the  .consideration  being  £45. 

On  January  12,  1692-3,  an  order  was  made 
to  Augustine  Graham,  Surveyor  General  of  the 
Province,  "to  survey  and  return  a  platt  of  Saghte- 
koos,"  and  pursuant  to  this  a  return  was  made, 
dated  October  9,  1693.  Thereupon  a  patent  was 
granted  to  Colonel  Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt  for 
*'A  neck  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Huntington 
in  Suffolk  county,  called  by  the  Indian  name  of 
Sagtakoos,  and  by  the  Christians  called  Apple 
Tree  neck,  being  bounded  west  by  Oakenock 
creek  to  an  Indian  foot  path,  and  north  by  the 
footpath  to  the  Saghtakoos  creek,  and  east  by  the 
east  bank  of  Saghtakoos  creek  as  it  runs  to  the 
bay,  and  south  by  the  bay  to  the  said  Oakenock 


creek.  Containing  150  acres."  The  patent  and 
Indian  deed  also  include  the  west  bank  of  Oake- 
nock creek,  though  this  description  was  not  con- 
tained in  later  deeds.  The  east  bank  of  Saghta- 
koos creek  still  belongs  to  the  neck,  a  fact  of 
considerable  importance  at  the  present  time.  The 
annual  quit  rent  was  "one  shilling  current 
money." 

After  the  death  of  Colonel  Van  Cortlandt 
his  widow,  Gertrude,  and  his  sons,  Philip,  Ste- 
phen and  Olaf  Van  Cortlandt,  sold  the  whole 
neck  to  Timothy  Carle  of  Huntington,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1706.  From  him  it  descended  to  his 
oldest  son  and  heir,  Ananias  Carle,  v/ho  left  it 
by  will  to  his  son,  Silas  Carle,  who  sold  the  whole 
to  Jonathan  Thompson  of  Brookhaven,  May  4, 
1758,  for  the  sum  of  ii,20o.  The  tract  had 
been  greatly  increased  in  size,  as  rnay  be  seen  by 
the  following  description : 

Bounded  west  l;)y  the  brook  that  divides  this 
neck  from  the  neck  of  Richard  Wil'letts,  Be- 
ginning at  a  peperidge  tree  on  the  south  side  of 
the  road  that  runs  east  and  west  across  the  neck 
amd  stands  about  four  or  five  feet  north  of  the 
old  Indian  path  that  used  to  cross  the  neck,  and 
then  north  by  the  main  branch  as  far  as  the  brook 
runs,  and  thence  by  the  middle  of  the  swamp 
to  the  head,  and  thence  a  due  east  line  8  chains, 
15  links,  to  a  marked  tree,  and  thence  north  3 
English  miles  on  a  straight  line  from  said  Indian 
path,  and  from  the  end  of  the  said  3  miles  a 
due  east  line  about  20  chains,  thence  a  due  south 
line  to  a  peperidge  tree  at  the  fork  of  the  two 
branches  of  the  swamp  that  separates  this  neck 
from  the  neck  of  John  Scudder,  then  south  along 
the  middle  of  the  brook  unto  the  creek  between 
the  said  necks,  then  along  the  east  side  of  the 
creek  to  the  bay  or  salt  water,  then  west  along 
the  bay  to  the  creek  that  runs  up  between  this 
neck  and  Richard  Wrlletts'  neck,  and  up  the 
middle  of  the  creek  and  brook  to  the  first  men- 
tioned peperidge  tree.  With  dwelling  house, 
etc. 

The  addition  was  made  by  purchase  from 
the  Indians  November  20,  1699.  ^^^  original 
patent,  Indian  deed  and  other  interesting  relics 
of  the  past  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Hon. 
Frederick  Diodati  Thompson,  the  present  Lord 
of  the  manor  of  Sagdikos,  as  it  is  now  called, 


246 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


who  by  purchase  from  other  heirs  became  the 
sole  owner  in  1894. 

To  the  west  of  the  manor  of  Sagdikos  or 
Apple  Tree  neck  are  two  necks,  which  extend  to 
the  old  line  of  Huntington  (now  Babylon).  The 
title  is  as  follows: 

'  Wameas,  Sachem,  and  other  Indian  pro- 
prietors of  the  land  at  Sequatogue,  sell  to  Thomas 
Willetts  and  Richard  Willetts  of  Jericho,  in  the 
town  of  Oyster  Bay,  a  certain  parcel  of  meadow 
land  known  bv  the  name  of  Sequatogue  meadow, 
containing  two  necks,  that  is  to  say,  the  caster- 
most  neck,  called  Fort  Neck  meadow,  and  the 
wiestermost,  known  by  the  name  of  George's 
neck  or  meadow,  which  said  necks  lye  together 
and  adjoining.  Bounded  west  by  a  neck  of 
meadow  within  Huntington  bounds  called  Sampo- 
wams,  on  the  north  by  the  upland,  east  by  a  river 
called  Gheconneck,  and  south  by  the  sea."  This 
is  dated  September  19,  1692. 

Following  this  a  patent  was  granted  by  Gov- 
ernor Fletcher  to  Thomas  and  Richard  Willetts 
for  ''Two  necks  of  land  and  meadow  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Island  of  Nassau,  called  Fort 
neck  and  George's  neck.  Beginning  at  the  east 
side  of  Fort  neck  at  a.  peperidge  tree  standing 
on  the  bank  of  Oakenecke  creek,  and  from'  thence 
running  along  said  creek  as  it  runs  to  the  bay, 
39  chains,  then  by  the  bay  as  it  runs  to  the  creek 
parting  the  two  necks,  then  north  up  the  said 
creek  as  it  runs,  40  chains,  then  crossing  to 
George's  neck  runs  southerly  down  the  said 
creek  as  it  runs  to  the  bay,  then  by  the  bay  to 
Sampwams  creek,  22  chains,  then  by  said  creek 
to  the  head  thereof,  then  on  a  due  north  line 
to  the  north  side  of  Sampwams  swamp,  then  a 
due  east  line  running  until  it  meets  with  a  due 
north  line  running  from  the  marked  tree  on  the 
northwest  bounds  of  Colonel  Van  Cortlandt's 
land,  and  thence  to  Oakeneck  creek  and  the 
peperidge  tree  where  it  began."  This  is  dated 
October  10,   1695. 

The  same  Indians  named  before  gave  a  new 
deed  on  May  8,  1696,  for  George's  neck,  which 
was  bounded  on  the  east  of  Sequatogue  river  or 
brook,  the  deed  to  include  all  the  brook. 

On  October  31,  1701,  the  same  Indians  gave\ 
another  deed   for  a  tract  of  upland  at   Sequa- 


togue neck,  "hounded  east  by  a  swamp  lying  to 
the  west  of  the  house  late  in  occupation  of  said 
Richard  Willetts,  which  is  about  one-half  mile 
east  of  Sequatogue  river,  and  extending  north  to 
the  Indian  Fence." 

These  deeds  show  that  the  original  name  of 
Fort  Neck  was  Sequatogue,  and  was  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Indian  tribe.  Richard  Willetts 
sold  all  his  right  to  the  land  and  m'eadow  in  the 
patent  to  his  brother,  Thomas  Willetts,  for  £300, 
April  I,  1702. 

On  October  25,  1705,  Wameas  and  the  other 
Indians  sold  to  Richard  and  Thomas  Willetts 
"All  that  tract  of  Pine  Plains  land,  bounded 
east  by  the  land  of  Thomas  Willetts  and  so  run- 
ning east  by  Colonel  Van  Cortlandt's  land  un- 
til it  comes  to  Compawams  brook  or  swamp, 
and  so  running  north  until  it  com-es  dear  of  the 
pine  trees,  and  then  running  west  along  the  edge 
of  the  pines  to  Sampwams  hollow,  and  south 
along  the  hollow  to  Thomas  Wiletts'  bounds." 

''Compowams  brook''  is  the  eastern  boundary 
cyi  the  neck  called  in  the  old  deeds  "Aluscritux," 
and  is  the  westermost  neck  in  the  Mowbray 
patent. 

In  April  23,  1710,  Thomas  Willetts  gave  to 
his  son,  Thomas,  a  tract  of  land  bounded  east 
by  Sequatogue  river  and  extending  west  along 
the  bay  to  a  small  creek  called  Soquams,  123 
rods,  and  running  north  one  mile. 

He  also  gave  to  his  oldest  son,  Richard  Wil- 
letts, a  tract  bounded  west  by  Sequatogue  river 
and  south  by  the  bay.  He  also  gives  to  his 
son  Thomas  a  tract  next  east  of  Richard's  land, 
extending  "along  the  bay  to  Kemscommon 
creek."  In  these  deeds  the  whole  tract  is  men- 
tioned by  the  name  of  ''Hocum." 

The  Indian  nam'e  of  Okeconneck  Was  cor- 
rupted into  "Oak  Neck." 

On  January  i,  1710,  the  Indians  gave  a  deed 
to  Thomas  and  Richard  Willetts  for  a  tract  of 
lajnd,  "bounded  east  by  Oaka  river,  where  the 
old  Indian  fence  began,  and  running  west  by 
the  fence  half  way  to  Sequatogue  river,  then 
southerly  to  the  west  branch  of  Kemscommon 
swamp,  and  then  south  to  the  meadows,  taking 
in    all    the   island   of   upland    that    lyeth   in   the 


^ 


ISLIP. 


247 


meadows,  and  along  the  bay  to  Oaka  river,  and 
along  it  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

George's  neck,  which  is  next  to  the  town  of 
Babylon,  is  a  corruption  of  "Goorgo  his  neck,'J 
and  is  probably  the  name  of  some  Indian  sachem. 

On  the  west  side  of  this  neck  in  the  early 
part  of  the  last  century  was  an  extensive  farm 
owned  by  William  Conkling.  In  his  old  age  he 
married  ^lary,  widow  of  Francis  Pelletreau,  and 
gave  her  the  estate,  which  fell  to  her  two  chil- 
dren, Henry  Pelletreau  and  Cornelia,  wife  of 
Rev.  Ralph  Smith.  It  is  now  known  as  ''Sutton 
Park." 

Richard  Willetts  sold  the  east  part  of  Oak 
neck  (or  Sequatogue  neck)  to  Colonel  Piatt 
Conkling  in  1779. 

The  Commissioners  sold  to  Jeremiah  Terry, 
of  Islip,  December  16,  1786,  for  ^415,  "one-half 
of  a  certain  neck  of  land  on  which  Jeremiah 
Terry  now  lives.  Bounded  east  by  the  middle  of 
a  creek  that  divides  the  said  neck  from  the  lands 
of  Samuel  Tobey,  to  the  head  of  said  creek,  and 
from  thence  adjoining  the  land  of  said  Samuel 
Tobey  to  the  Country  road ;  northward  upon  the 
said  Country  road,  being  the  South  Country 
road;  westerly  by  the  middle  of  the  river  on 
which  Jeremiah  Terry's  sawm'ill  now  stands,  with 
the  privilege  of  damming  and  raising  a  pond 
on  the  little  neck  commonly  called  the  Forks; 
southerly  by  the  Bay."  This  is  the  eastern  half 
of  said  neck. 

In  1793,  ^lay  2,  Gershom  Hawkins  sold  to 
Jeremiah  Terry  "All  his  right  to  the  west  half 
of  a  neck  of  land  on  which  we  now  live,  in  Islip, 
except  fifteen  acres  of  salt  meadow,  on  the  west 
side  of  said  neck,  south  of  Joseph  Young's 
mteadow." 

The  above  named  tracts  are  probably  the  vil- 
lage of  Sayville. 

Among  the  few  original  deeds  for  lands  in 
the  Nicoll  Patent  is  the  following': 

This  indenture  made  the  nine  and  twentieth 
day  of  November  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1683 
Between  Wenequaheag,  Indian  Sachem  and  Pro- 
prietor of  Coneticutt  on  ye  one  part,  and  William 
Nicolls  now  of  ye  city  of  New  York,  Gent,  of 
the  other  part,  Witnesseth  that  for  and  in  con- 


sideration of  a  certain  sum  of  money  in  hand 
paid  by  the  said  William  Mcolls.  The  said 
Wenequaheag  hath  granted  bargained  and  sold 
'^'  '"  All  that  neck  tract  or  parcel  of  land  situ- 
ate lying  and  being  on  ye  south  side  of  Long 
Island,  Bounded  on  the  east  by  a  certain  River 
called  Connettcutt,  On  ye  South  by  ye  Sound- 
On  ye  west  by  a  certain  River  called  Contasquatt- 
ahab,  and  on  ye  North  In'  a  right  line  froin  ye 
head  of  said  River  called  Conetticutt  to  ye  head 
of  the  before  mentioned  River  called  Contas- 
quatah.    To  Have  and  to  Hold  etc." 

The  mark  of  \A'exeouaheag, 
Witnesses : 

Tliomas  Townsend, 

John   W^icL's,   Constable  of  Oyster  Bay, 

AFunguagb  X  Sachem  of  Rokaway, 

Nathaniel  Colles, 

William  Creed, 

William  White. 

Practically  all  of  the  present  township  of  Islip 
was  held  by  the  proprietors  named  heretofore  in 
this  narrative  excepting  a  small  portion  in  the 
north  which  no  one  seemed  to  want.  Mowbray 
seems  to  have  gone  into  the  business  of  selling 
portio'ns  of  his  extensive  real  estate  as  soon  as 
all  the  legal  requirements  which  invested  him 
with  proprietorship  had  been  complied  with.  The 
others,  however,  held  on  to  theirs,  probably  as  in. 
the  case  of  Nicolls  and  his  heirs,  with  the  view 
of  keeping  intact  a  great  estate,  which  would 
by  its  very  extent  confer  .distinction. 

But  under  such  circumstances  the  territory 
did  not  attract  much  additions  to  its  population. 
William  Nicolls  did  not  spend  much  of  his  time 
for  many  years  at  Islip  Grange,  and  there  is  a 
tradition  that  Andrew  Gibb,  in  his  anxiety  to 
have  a  neighbor  he  could  speak  to,  deeded  a 
large  share  of  his  land  to  Amos  Willetts,  a 
Quaker,  on  condition  that  the  latter  should  live 
near  him,  and  the  bargain  was  carried  out. 
There  is  also  a  tradition  that  William  Nicolls 
tried  to  mduce  a  settlement  in  or  near  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Islip,  but  was  not  very  successful. 
It  was  probably  not  until  all  of  the  original  pat- 
.entees  had  been  gathered  to  their  fathers  that 
the  entrance  gates  were  unbarred  sufficiently  to 
permit  others  to  enter  and  "enjoy  the  land."  The 
Nicolls  estate  descended  to  William  Nicolls  (6), 


248 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


who  died  in  1823;  with  him  the  entailment 
ceased,  and  it  passed  to  his  children,  William 
(7)  and  Frances  Louisa,  who  m'arried  General 
William  H.  Ludlow. 

The  other  earl}^  proprietors  remain  to  be 
mentioned.  Thomas  and  Richard  Willetts  were 
Quakers  from  Rhode  Island,  and  from  them  are 
.  descended  the  widely  dispersed  memlbers  of  the 
family  name.  Stephen  Van  Cortlandt  came  from 
New  Amsterdam,  where  he  had  been  a  merchant. 
He  was  also  probably  the  most  active  oi  the 
local  statesmen  of  his  time,  filling  every  office  of 
importance  in  the  Province  except  that  of  Gov- 
ernor. He  was- a  soldier,  a  merchant.  Mayor  of 
New  York,  member  of  Council,  Judge  of  the 
Common  Pleas  in  Kings  county,  and  it  is  hard  to 
tell  all  what.  Little  is  known  of  Andrew  Gibb, 
and  he  does  not  appear  to  have  left  descendants 
upon  Long  Island.  The  Mowbray  line  was  pre- 
served to  local  history  beyond  all  other  of  the  irn- 
migrant  families,  and  has  a  direct  descendant  in 
Dr.  Jai-vis  R.  Moubray,  who  died  but  recently. 

In  1720,  when  the  records  of  the  township, 
as  such,   commence,   the   freeholders   were : 

Benjamin  Nicolls   (Supervisor) . 
Thomas  Willetts  C Assessor). 
John  Mowbray  (Assessor). 
Isaac  Willets  (Collector). 
James   Saxton    ( Constable) 


William  Nicolls 
David  Akerly, 
Joseph  Dow, 
John  M^oger, 
William  Gi'hb, 
George    Phillips 
John  Arthur, 
Amos  Powell, 
John  Smith, 
Samuel  Muncy, 
William  Green, 
Eichard  Willets 


Anning  Mowbray, 
Joseph  Saxton, 
James  M^orris, 
Israel  Howell, 
John   Scudder, 
Jr. J       Ananias  Carll, 
Ste])hen  White, 
Amos  Willets, 
Daniel  Phillips^ 
Joseph  Udall, 
Samuel  Tillotson. 


In  1757  the  tax  list  of  the  town  was  as  fol- 
lows : 


Jesse  Willets, 
Eunice  Conkhng,, 
Joseph  Wells, 
Joseph  Dow, 
Israel  Smith, 


Isaac  Smith, 
Joseph  Foster, 
Israel  Howell, 
John  Mov^Hbray, 
Sarah  Mowbray, 


Amos  Willetts, 
John  Rogers, 
Samuel  Moncey, 
Joseph  Udell, 
Amy  Willetts, 
Margaret  Willetts 
Richard  Willetts, 
Alexander  Smith, 
Daniel  and  Israel 
Daniel  Willetts, 
Nathaniel  Smith, 
Jonathan  Smith, 
Jacob  Willetts, 
Samuel  Willetts, 
Joseph  Willetts, 
Rebecca  Willetts, 
William  Smith, 
Wm.  Nicoll, 
Zebulon  Robins, 
Eleazer  Hawkins, 
John  Arthur, 
John   Moger, 
Mowbray  Smith, 
George  Philhps, 
Samuel  Phillips, 
William  Phillips, 
Benjamin  Gold, 
Eliphalet  Piatt, 
Obadiah  Green, 
James  Morris, 


Joseph  Saxton, 
Eunice   Saxton, 
Mary  Piatt, 
Timothy  Carll, 
Thomas  Wheeler, 
Timothy  Wheeler, 
Joseph  Blydenbureh, 
Joseph  Blvdenburgh,  Jr. 
Lewis, Timothy  Smith, 
Mary  Newton, 
Isaac  Newton, 
Caleb  Newton, 
Clement  Bartow, 
Morris  Bartow, 
Simon  Haff, 
Nathaniel  Ackerley, 
Philip  Ackerley. 
Benjamin  Nicoll, 
Nathaniel  Davis, 
Alexander  Hawkins,. 
William  Smith, 
David  Da^'ton, 
Samuel  Hawkins, 
Jonas  Mills, 
Phebe  Powell, 
Sarah  Willetts, 
Sarah  Powell, 
Rachel  D'Honeur, 
Anne  Morris. 


The  town  meeting  was  a  weakly  affair  until 
long  after  the  nineteenth  century  had  dawned. 
It  could  not  be  otherwise  in  the  presence  of  the 
large  landed  interests  which  were  on  every  side 
of  "the  precinct  of  Islip."  In  1737  Ananias 
Carll,  John  Arthur  and  John  Scudder  were  elect- 
ed Overseers  of  the  Poor,  which  may  be  accepted 
as  evidence  of  increasing  population  and  advanc- 
ing civilization,  but  the  principal  work  of  the 
town  meetings  even  up  to  1820  was  to  attempt 
to  restrict  the  harvest  of  the  sea,  or  as  much  of 
it  as  lay  before  them,  to  the  actual  residents. 
Fishing  was  for  long  the  main  industry  of  the 
people,  and  clamming  and  oystering  in  time 
reached  large  proportions,  and  continued  to  af- 
ford employment  to  several  thousands  of  people 
in  one  way  or  another.  For  many  years  the  for- 
ests of  pine  and  oak,  which  seemj  to  have  in, 
primitive  times  covered  the  township,  afforded 
a  revenue  for  the  patentees  and  much  employ- 
ment to  the  people.     But  as  the  timber  was  cut 


ISLIP. 


249 


down  it  was  not  -replaced,  and  as  the  supply  of 
nature  gave  out  the  employment  ceased,  the  mills 
which  had  been  built  to  cut  the  wood  into  staves, 
etc.,  fell  into  decay,  and  the  ground  on  which 
the  ''monarchs  of  the  forest"  stood  was  given 
over  to  brushwood.  Several  mills  were  started 
from  time  to  time,  and  no  part  of  Long  Island 
was  better  adapted  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
but  few  had  any  pronounced  success,  few  lasted 
over  a  decade  in  any  one's  hands.  Stock  raising, 
although  extensively  engaged  in  for  some  years, 
gradually  became  unprofitable,  and  in  1876  was 
abandoned  altogether  as  a  recognized  industry. 
The  population  increased  slowly;  in  1820  it  was 
figured  as  1,150,  in  1830  as  1,653,  i^  1^4^  ^s 
1,909,  and  in  1850  as  2,602.  It  was  not  until  the 
land  monopoly  was  abandoned  and  the  railway 
crossed  its  territory  that  Islip  began  to  assume 
its  modern  position  and  popularity. 

The  village  of  Islip,  as  does  the  town,  takes 
its  name  from  the  town  of  the  same  name  in 
>sorthampton shire,  England,  the  seat  of  the  fam- 
ily of  Nicolls. 

The  early  church  record  of  Islip  is  an  ex- 
tremely scanty  one,  as  might  easily  be  imagined 
from  the  way  in  which  its  territory  was  por- 
tioned off.  Thompson  gives  the  first  church 
building  as  that  of  St.  John's  Episcopal,  "a 
grotesque-looking  edifice  of  small  dimensions  and 
singular  shape,  standing  upon  the  Country  road 
near  the  middle  of  Nicolls'  patent.  It  was  erect- 
ed in  the  year  1766,  principally,  if  not  entirely, 
at  the  expense  of  the  then  opulent  proprietor 
of  that  immense  estate."  Prime  places  the  erec- 
tion of  the  building  three  years  later,  saying :  *Tn 
1769  a  small  church  edifice  was  erected  by  the 
patentee  near  the  middle  of  the  town  on  the 
south  road,  designed  for  the  celebration  of  divine 
worship  according  to  the  forms  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  was  occasionally  used  for  "that 
purpose,  though  it  long  remained  unblessed  by 
prelatical  hands.  From  1814  the  'Rev.  Charles 
Seabury,  rector  of  Caroline  church,  at  Setauket, 
acted  as  missionary  to  this  congregation  and  de- 
voted a  iportion  of  his  time  to  its  service.  In 
1843  this  church  was  repaired  and  enlarged,  and 


on  the  6th  of  July  duly  consecrated  by  the 
Bishop."  Prime  also  mention-s  an  Indian  con- 
gregation, but  seems  to  doubt  if  it  had  a  regular 
house  of  worship. 

-The  Methodist  Church  dates  from  18 10,  al- 
though the  first  church  was  not  erected  until 
1828.  It  was  a  wooden  structure  measuring 
about  22  by  32,  and  was  erected  so  as  to  be  as 
convenient  as  possible  to  the  brethren  in  Penata- 
quitj  as  Bay  Shore  was  then  cailled.  It  was  not 
until  1850  that  Methodism  organized  a  separate 
society  at  Bay  Shore,  and  about  1854  a  small 
chapel  was  erected.  The  best  of  feeling  during 
all  the  separation  preceding  seems  to  have  pre- 
vailed between  the  brethren  at  Islip  and  those 
at  Penataquit.  Amos  Doxsee,  the  leader  of  the 
class  at  the  latter  place,  was,  like  all  of  his  fam- 
ily, a  stanch  supporter  of  Methodism,  a  believer 
in  the  most  literal  interpretation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures and  in  their  verbal  interpretation.  It  is 
told  of  him  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  clergy  and 
laity,  to  give  expression  of  their  views  on  danc- 
ing, which  was  beginning  to  creep  into  the  early 
church,  having  held  back  and  being  appealed 
to  by  the  pastor  for  his  opinion,  be  stood  up  and, 
slowly  raising  his  gaunt  figure  on  tiptoe,  said : 
"Now  I'll  tell  you  what  I  think  about  dancing. 
Let  a  man  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  if 
he  wants  to  dance,  let  him  dance." 

One  of  his  brothers,  Leonard,  was  class  lead- 
er for  over  twenty  years,  and  another  brother, 
Benjamin,  was  a  trustee  for  some  forty  years 
and  was  proud  at  being  able,  in  spite  of  the 
weight  of  years,  to  work  a  little  on  the  walls  of 
the  Tabernacle  of  1892,  the  latest  development 
of  the  home  congregation  which  his  family  had 
been  so  prominent  in  founding.  Many  of  the 
old  members  of  the  church  even  now  recall  the 
grand  "seasons  of  refreshing"  in  1877  and  1878, 
when  the  Rev.  Stephen  Rushmore  led  in  a 
series  of  revivals  which  are  said  to  have  stirred 
Bay  Shore  to  its  depths. 

St.  Mark's  Episcopal  Church  at  Islip  was 
organized  in  1847  under  the  Rev.  William 
Everett.  Its  present  building  was  erected  in 
i88o  by  William  H.  Vanderbilt.  This  church 
has  mission  stations  at  Central  Islip  since  i^ 


250 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


and  at  Brentwood  since  1872.  Emanuel  Church 
at  Great  River  was  organized  in  1862  by  St. 
Mark's,  but  in  1878  it  was  erected  into  a  sep- 
arate parish.  Christ  Church,  West  IsHp,  dates 
from  1869,  and  St.  Ann's,  -  at  Sayville,  from 
1866.  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ishp  had 
its  beginning  in  1854,  and  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  dates  its  entrance  into  the  township  from 
1866,  one  year  before  its  church  at  Sayville  was 
erected. 

During  the  Revolutionary  period  resided  with 
Judge    Isaac   Thompson   one   whose   name   was 
better    known    two    or    three    generations    ago 
than     it    is     to-day — Lindley 
Murray.  He  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon    county,     Pennsylvania, 
and  was  educated  for  the  bar, 
but  abandoned  all  attempt  to 
practice  during  the  war.    It  is 
supposed   that   while   in   Islip 
he   was   occupied    in    writing 
his    famous   grammar,    which 
was     completed    during     his 
residence  in  England,  whither 
he  had  gone  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health  and  where  he  died 
in  1826.     He  was  a  Quaker, 
and  royalist  during  the  Revo- 
lution.      His    father    Robert 
Murray  him'self  went  to  Eng- 
land   with    his    family,    but    returned    in    1775 
and    engaged    in    mercantile    pursuits    with    his 
son    Lindley,    under    the    firm    nam-e    O'f    Mur- 
ray,   Sansom    &    Company,    London    and    New 
York.      Although     a     Quaker,     he     kept     his 
coach,  which  he  called  his  ^'leathern  vehicle  for 
conveniency."    Many  deeds  and  wills  written  by 
Lindley  iMurray  are  yet  to  be  found  in  Suffolk 
county. 

The  present  Islip  (population  1,956)  is  not 
only  a  pleasant  home  village,  but  it  has  become 
fashionable.  Its  splendid  hotels  and  club  houses, 
and  the  magnifkent  estates  of  W.  K.  Vanderbilt, 
F.  G.  'Bourne,  W.  K.  Astor,  the  Cutting  family, 
as  well  as  the  hundreds  of  palatial  villas  which 
have  -been  erected  mainly  by  New  Yorkers  for 
their  summer  homes,   have   drawn  to  it  people 


of  the  very  highest  class,  people  who,  by  their 
means  and  tastes,  have  made  even  much  of  'its 
sandy  wastes  blossom  into  veritable  gardens. 
There  is  an  air  of  exclusiveness  outside  of  the 
villages  and  hotels  which  seems  to  be  especially 
pleasing  to  those  who  regard  themiselves  as  the 
fashionable  world,  while  such  enterprises  as  the 
group  of  Moorish  houses,  erected  by  H.  0. 
Havemeyer  at  Bayberry  Point,  near  Islip,  is  an 
experiment  in  the  way  of  co-operation  among 
the  very  rich  which  will  be  watched  with  curious 
interest.  The  Vanderbilt  estate  at  Oakdale,  with 
its  new  mansion  costing,  it  is  said,  $1,600,000, 


MOORISH  HOUSE. 

and  its  thousand  acres  of  farm  and  garden  and 
wood  land,  and  its  iron  fence,  beautiful  en- 
traces,  lodges,  farm  buildings,  game  preserves, 
and  it  is  hard  to  tell  all  what,  is  a  veritable  fairy- 
land and  one  of  the  wonders  of  Islip.  It  is  a 
part  of  the  old  Nicolls  patent,  and  when  it  first 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Vanderbilts  was  a 
mass  of  brush  and  shrub,  half-starved  fields 
and  broken-down  steadings.  Now  its  gardens, 
its  groves  of  oak  and  m)aple,  its  well  kept  lawns 
and  smiling  fields  seem  to  speak  eloquently  of 
how  man  can  triumph  over  nature  with  the  aid 
of  determination,  taste,  ambition  and  money. 
During  late  years  trees  have  been  planted  liberal- 
ly all  along  the  line  of  population,  and  Islip  now 
boasts  of  her  pine  and  other  forests,  while  na- 
ture has  also  been  at  work  replacing  the  damage 


ISLIP. 


251 


done  by  the  depletion  of  a  generation,  that  has 
now  passed,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  value 
of  such  forests  is  now  too  highly  appreciated 
to  permit  again  of  their  wanton  destruction  for 
purposes  of  firewood. 


equal  variety  if  not  quantity  of  goods.  Here 
are  the  spacious  grounds  of  the  Bay  Shore  Driv- 
ing Park  Association  and  of  the  Olympic  Club. 
Across  the  Great  South  Bay,  reached  by  steamer, 
is  the  world-known  Fire  Island. 


A  LODGE. 


Writing  a  score  of  years  ago,  an  Islip  an- 
nalist said  that  "so  thickly  are  summer  resi- 
dences scattered  along  the  South  Road  through 
this  town  that  it  is  almost  a  continuous  village." 
For  some  years  past  that  word  ''almost"  could 
be  eliminated  and  the  sentence  would  hold  good 
to-day.  All  along  the  line  of  the  railroad  and 
the  South  Road  is  a  continuous  succession  of 
villages,  hamlpts,  country  seats  and  villas  from 
Udall's  Road  to  .Bayport. 

Babylon,  after  Islip,  is  the  most  ancient  vil- 
lage in  the  township,  but,  like  its  neighbor,  its 
chief  characteristic  is  its  modernity.  It  was  once 
called  Mechanicsvilk,  and  then  Penataquit,  from 
a  small  stream  in  its  vicinity.  It  boasts  a  popu- 
lation of  3,135,  and  is  a  delightful  home  spot  all 
the  year  round.  The  village  contains  a  great 
number  of  the  most  elaborate  residential  estab- 
lishments to  he  found  on  Long  Island,  with  ele- 
gant church  and  school  buildings  ^nd  hotels, 
Shopping  facilities  are  almost  equal  tO'  those  of 
the  city,  the  wellkept  stores  presenting  almost 


Sayville  was  meant  to  be  known  as  Seville, 
after  the  famous  city  of  that  name  in  Spain,  but 
the  secretary  of  the  organizing  meeting  blun- 
dered in  his  orthography,  and  the  present  form 
of  the  name  was  recorded  upon  the  rolls  of  the 
Postoffice  Department  in  Washington,  and  has 
been  preserved  to  the  present  time.  A  Meth- 
odist class  was  organized  here  about  1838  by 
members  of  the  church  at  Patchogue,  but  it  was 
not  until  1847  that  a  house  of  worship  was  erect- 
ed, and  it  continued  to  be  associated  with 
Patchogue  until  1866,  when  it  became  a  sep- 
arate charge.  The  village  (population  3,369) 
has  several  modern  hotels,  and  the  private  resi- 
dences are  of  the  best  cottage  style,  while  some 
are  more  pretentious.  Near  by  are  the  scientific 
trout  ponds  of  'Mr.  R.  B.  Roosevelt. 

At  Central  Islip  is  located  the  Manhattan 
State  Hospital,  one  of  the  finest  institutions  of 
its  kind  in  the  country.  Other  pleasant  villages 
are  Youngsport  and  Great  River. 


CHAPTER  XIL 


BROOKHAVEN. 


ROOKHAVEN  is  the  largest  township 
on  Long  Island,  and  its  geographical 
center  is  57  miles  from  the  city  hall 
in  New  York.  It  extends  the  en- 
tire width  of  the  island  and  has  twenty 
mi'les  of  coast  line  on  the  Sound,  221  on  the 
Great  South  Bay  and  about  thirty  on  the  At- 
lantic, facing  Fire  Island  or  Great  South  Beach. 
Its  acreage  has  been  figured  at  152,500,  its 
square  mileage  at  250.  The  land  surface  is  di- 
versified. The  north  side  is  elevated,  broken 
and  rugged  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
above,  but  more  level  a  few  miles  inland. 
Through  the  middle  a  range  of  hills  extends 
from  west  to  east,  and  in  their  neighborhood  the 
land  is  rolling,  and  ponds,  marshes,  streams,  clay 
beds  and  rich  deposits  of  muck  or  peat  abound. 
South  O'f  this  range  the  land  is  fiat  and  low, 
having  an  almost  imperceptible  slope  to  the  sea. 
Spots  of  rich,  heavy  loam  may  be  found  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  town,  but  they  are  most  com- 
mon upon  the  north  side.  The  soil  of  the  central 
and  southern  parts  is  considerably  enlivened  with 
sand. 

The  water  inlets  cover  an  area  of  70  square 
miles,  and  are  Conscience  Bay,  Setauket  Harbor, 
Port  Jefferson  Bay  and  Mount  Sinai  Harbor 
upon  the  north  side,  and  on  the  south  side  East 
Bay  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  Great  South 
Bay,  sections  of  which  are  known  as  Brook- 
haven,  Patchogi^e  and  Bellport  Bays. 

The  first  purchase  of  land  was  made  in  1655 
from   the   Setalcott  Indians   by   a   party   of   six 


pioneers,  who  were  eviaently  acting  on  behalf  of 
others,  prospecting,  as  it  were,  for  a  spot  on 
which  to  establish  a  colony.  Five  of  these  were 
from  Massachusetts  —  John  Scudder,  John 
Swezie,  Jonathan  Porter,  Roger  Chester  and 
Thomas  Charles,  and  one,  Thomas  Mabbs  or 
Mapes,  belonged  to  Southold  and  was  one  of 
the  original  settlers  of  that  township.  Probably 
he  accompanied  the  others  as  being  a  man  of  ex- 
perience in  dealing  with  the  natives ;  it  could 
hardly  be  because  he  had  any  knowledge  of  the 
land.  The  party  had  with  theml  the  usual  col- 
lection of  coats,  hatchets,  powder,  knives  and 
the  like  with  which  to  do  a  land  business  with 
the  Indians,  and  appear  to  have  made  a  pretty 
good  bargain. 

Pretty  soon  those  for  whom  the  prospectors 
were  acting  'began  to  arrive;  most  of  them  were 
from  New  England,  but  several  came  from  other 
portions  of  Long  Island,  from  Soiithamlpton  and 
even  *from  Jamaica.  Within  a  few  years  the  fol- 
lowing were  found  in  the  settlement  according  to 
a  list  in  "Thompson's  History:" 


Zachartah  Hawkins, 
Peter  Whitehaire, 
John  Jenners, 
Henry  Perring, 
Andrew  Gibb, 
William  Satterlv, 
Thomas  Biggs, 
John  Tooker, 
Henry  Rogers, 
William  Fancy, 
Jacob  Longbotham. 


Richard  Woodhull, 
John  Roe, 
John  Budd, 
Henry  Brooks, 
William  Williams, 
Robert  Woolley, 
Samuel  Akerly, 
Arthur  Smith, 
John  Combs, 
Richard  Waring, 
Joseph  Mapes, 


BROOKHAVEN. 


253 


Daniel  Lane, 
Richard  Floyd, 
Francis  Aluncy, 
Obed  Seward, 
John  Wade, 
William  Salyer, 
Robert  Smith, 

,  Edward  Avery,  \/ 

^John  Smithy 
Samuel  Dayton, 
John  Davis, 
William  Frost, 
John  Thomas, 
Elias  Baylis, 
John  Thomipson, 
Thomas  AA^ard, 


Thomas  Thorp, 
Richard  Bryant, 
Samuel  Eburne, 
Timothy  Brewster, 
John  Brewster^ 
William  Poole, 
Daniel  Brewster, 
Thomas  Sharpe, 
George  Phillips,, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Moses  Burnet, 
Richard  Smith    [Bull] 
Thomas  Helme, 
Jcsliua  Garlick, 
John  Moger, 
Robert  Akerlv. 


It  was  essentially  a  New  England  community 
and  as  usual  the  scheme  of  town   government 
was  at  once  set  up.     A  town  was  fixed  at  what 
afterward  became  Setauket  and  aronnd  it  were 
the  home  lots,  one  of  which  was  reserved  for  a 
meeting  house  and  one  for  a  minister,  when  he 
should  come.     Each  of  the  original  settlers  had 
a  home  lot  and  a  further  allotment  of  meadow, 
or  a  lot  on  the  beach,  besides  each  settler  was  at 
liberty  to  buy  what  additional  land  he  pleased, 
only  the  purchases  should  be  confirmed  by  town 
meeting.     The  power  was  put  in  operation  very 
early  in  the  history  of  the  colony;   probably   a 
town  meeting  decided  the  primal  allotment  of  the 
lands.    A  town  house  was  built  upon  the  home 
lots,  which  served  the  purpose  oi  a  place   for 
town  meetings  and  for  divine  worship  until  the 
first  church  was  built  in   1671.     So  far.  as  can 
be  seen  the  colony  was   an  independent  body; 
its  town  meeting  was   the  supreme  dictator  of 
all   its   affairs    until    1661,    when    it   voluntarily 
acknowledged  itself  as  under  the  gO'vernraent  of 
Connecticut    and    sent    Richard   Woodhull   and 
Thomas  Pierce  to  represent  it  in  General  Meet- 
ing.    That  connection,  sentimental  as  it  mainly 
was,   did  not  last   long,   and   Governor   NicoUs 
made  it  clear,  soon   after  he  assumed   control, 
that  the   Long   Island   colonies    should   look   to 
New  York  and  not  to  Hartford  for  protection 
and  support. 

The  town  of  Setauket  had  hardly  been  found- 
ed than  additional  tracts  of  land  were  secured 
by  the  colony  from  the  Indians.    In  1657  a  large 


tract  at  M'astic  was  purchased ;  in  1664 
their  purchases  gave  them  a  vast  tract  from  the 
Great  South  Bay  to  the  middle  of  the  Island, 
■and  for  a  coat,  a  knife,  a  pair  of  stockings,  two 
hoes,  two  hatchets  and  two  shirts  they  secured 
practically  the  land  along  the  shore  from  Old 
Man's  Harbor  to  Wading  River.  In  1675  the 
purchase  of  all  the  land  from  Stony  Brook  to 
Wading  River  was  confiimied  by  the  Indian 
Sachem  Gy,  and  bit  by  bit  all  the  territory  in- 
cluded in  the  present  limits  of  the  town'ship,  and 
indeed  much  more,  was  given  up  to  its  repre- 
sentatives so  far  as  the  Indian  power  of  disposal 
w^as  concerned.  In  accomplishing  all  this  quite 
a  large  variety  of  coats,  stockings,  penknives, 
powder  and  the  like  was  doubtless  expended,  but 
the  Indians  were  m'ade  complaisant  in  another 
way,  for  in  1671  the  buyers  were  told  to  "take 
some  likers  with  them  to  the  Indians,"  and 
charge  the  cost  to  the  town. 

The  principal  negotiator  in  all  these  trans- 
actions, evidently  the  leading  and  mo'st  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  the  young  town,  was  Rich- 
ard Woodhull,  and  his  importance  in  early  af- 
fairs, and  as  the  progenitor  of  descendants  who 
became  distinguished  in  the  State  and  Nation 
to  the  present  generation,  warrants  sufficient  di- 
gres'sion  to  here  notice  him  at  some  length. 

Richard  Woodhull  was  a  man  of  superior 
attainm'ents,  a  practical  surveyor,  of  undoubted 
personal  courage,  a  born  diplomat  and  an  able 
executive,  all  the  qualities  in  fact  which  were 
reproduced  in  the  most  famous  of  his  descend- 
ats.  General  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  the  Long  Isl- 
and hero  of  the  Revolution.  He  is  said  to  have 
descended  through  an  ancient  lineage  from  a 
subject  of  William  the  Conqueror  who  came 
with  him  from  Normlandy  into  England  in  1066. 
He  was  born  in  Northamptonshire,  England, 
September  13,  1620,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
come  to  this  country  when  a  young  man.  His 
first  appearance  is  at  Southampton  about  1644, 
and  he  may  have  come  from  Lynn  with  the  orig- 
inal com'pany  of  settlers  of  Southampton.  He 
appears  to  have  manifested  there  the  same  un- 
tiring energy  and  active  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  town  that  made  hitn  afterward  so  con- 


254 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


spicuous  in  Brookhaven.  He  was  frequently 
placed  on  juries,  on  committees  and  on  many 
important  missions.  He  seems  to  have  left 
Southampton  about  1655,  and  after  a  year  or 
two  appears  among  the  early  settlers  of  Brook- 
haven,  where  July  20,  1657,  he  purchased  of 
Wyandanch  two  necks  of  meadow  at  Mastic 
for  the  town.  He  was  appointed  a  magistrate 
for  the  town  by  the  court  at  Hartford,  May  16, 
1661,  which  position  he  held  for  many  years. 
He  was  one  of  the  patentees  of  1666,  and  again 
of  1686,  and  wa's  a  surveyor  and  conveyancer 
of  superior  abilities.  He  was  appointed  to  many 
offices  and  acted  on  many  important  commis- 
sions, one  O'f  the  most  conspicuous  of  which  was 
that  masterly  stroke  of  diplomacy  by  which  the 
title  of  the  town  to  the  whole  northern  territory 
was  forever  freed  from  the  complication  of  In- 
dian claim's  under  which  it  was  liable  to  fall. 
His  was  a  character  which  for  principles  of 
honor  and  justice,  unselfish  motives,  far-seeing 
discretion,  kindliness  of  manners,  and  constant 
zeal  in  public  service  has  few  superiors  among 
the  honored  names  that  grace  the  first  pages  of 
American  history. 

Something  may  be  said  of  some  of  Wood- 
hull's  colleagues  and  of  some  who  came  im- 
m'ediately  after  the  founding  of  the  colony.  Rob- 
ert Akerly  was  an  inhabitant  in  1664,  and  was  a 
town  trustee;  in  1718;  Samuel  (presumably  his 
son)  was  a  herdsman  for  the  people  in  1672,  and 
in  1695  was  a  fence  viewer.  Robert  Arnold  came 
in  1662,  and,  with  John  Jenners,  and  one  Smith 
and  another.  Tucker,  was  appointed  the  same 
year  to  settle  differences  between  contestants, 
having  almost  magi'sterial  powers.  Edward 
Avery  was  a  blacksmith,  and,  as  a  highly  useful 
member  of  the  community,  he  was  accorded 
special  privileges.  John  Budd,  whom  we  have 
met  in  the  history  of  Huntington,  was  also 
among  the  early  settlers,  but  did  not  remain 
long.  John  Dier  was  an  early  freeholder ;  he  did 
not  remain  long,  but  left  hrs  name  to  the  point  of 
land  known  as  Dier's  Neck,  between  Port  Jeffer- 
son and  Setauket.  Ralph  Dayton  was  fathe'r  of 
Samuel  Dayton,  who  figured  as  a  commissioner 
to   the   Indians,    and   was   presumably   the   pro- 


genitor of  the  numerous  family  of  his  name  in 
the  present  day.  Richard  Floyd  became  a  large 
land  owner,  and  is  supposed  to  have  brought  the 
first  negro  slave  to  the  town.  He  held  almost  all 
the  town  offices,  and  numerous  of  his  descendants 
became  conspicuous  in  the  county  and  State. 
Zachariah  Hawkins  was  a  man  of  influence,  and 
his  descendants  are  numerous.  John  Jenners 
was  a  juror  in  1663,  a  patentee  in  1666,  and  a 
delegate  to  convention  in  1691.  William  Jayne, 
whose  descendants  are  numerous,  was  one  of  the 
active  men  in  community  affairs.  Daniel  Lane 
was  a  man  of  large  business  capacity,  and  built  a 
mill  in  1667.  Thomas  Mapes-or  (Mabbs),  one 
of  the  six  land  buyers  in  1655,  was  a  justice  of 
the  peace  in  1693,  and  removed  to  Southold, 
where  he  was  a  captain  of  militia.  Andrew  Mil- 
ler was  founder  of  what  came  to  be  the  beauti- 
ful hamlet,  IMiller's  Blace,  where  his  descendants 
resided  into  the  twentieth  century.  Nathaniel 
Norton  was  a  carpenter,  and  was  absolved  from 
taxes  for  six  years  for  his  services  in  the  building 
of  the  meeting-house;  he  is  yet  represented  by 
a  numerous  posterity.  William  NicoUs,  one  of 
the  proprietors,  has  been  previously  written^oi, 
in  connection  with  the  town  of  Islip.  John_Rc>e 
was  a  shoemaker,  and  acquired  various  town 
offices ;  his  descendants  are  numerous.  Richard 
Smith,  who  came  in  1656,  was  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  ability,  and  was  elected  to  promi- 
nent positions ;  he  was  founder  of  the  town  which 
bears  his  name,  ^^^illiam  Simson  was  an  enter- 
prising man  and  sailed  a  mierchandise  boat  be- 
tween the  settlement  and  the  Connecticut  shore. 
John  Scott  was  a  lawyer,  and  practiced  in  South- 
ampton three  years  before  his  coming  to  Brook- 
haven  in  1663.  Eben  Salsberry,  who  came  in 
1666,  was  high  sheriff  in  1670.  John  Tookcr, 
whose  name  is  perpetuated  in  numerous  de- 
scendants of  the  present  day,  was  a  highly  use- 
ful man — he  was  an  inn-keeper  and  held  various 
offices,  and  in  1677  the  town  made  him  a  land 
grant  of  fiftv  acres  for  "writing  the  records  to 
date.'' 

December  27,  1686,  a  grant  was  made  to  An- 
drew Gibb  of  a  tract  of  land  commonly  called 
the    Indian    Ground,    situate   on    a   place   called 


BROOKHAVEN. 


255 


^linassoack,  or  the  Little  Xeck,  bounded  east  by 
the  Harbor^  south  by  the  five  acre  lot  late  in  ten- 
ure of  Richard  Smith  of  Smithtown,  west  by 
land  now  .or  late  in  tenure  of  John  J\Iunsey  and 
Samuel  Alunsey,  at  north  by  the  Harbor. 

September  2g,  1677,  a  Patent  was  granted 
to  Richard  Woodhull  and  Nathaniel  Wood- 
hull  "for  a  certain  parcell  of  land  at  the  Wad- 
ing Creek  to  the  east  of  Setalcott  upon  Long 
Island^  containing  120  acres  of  upland.  That  is 
to  say,  40  acres  lying  in  the  N-eck  of  \'ekhies' 
wigwam.  Bounded  by  a  creek  or  fresh  run  on 
the  east,  and  the  long  fresh  brook  on  the  west, 
the  meadow  and  Wading  Creek  on  the  north 
and  the  Commons  on  the  south.  And  80  acres 
more  lying  westward  from  the  aforesaid  fresh 
brook  near  a  mile,  at  a  place  commonly  called 
the  Long  Chesnut  Trees,  being  in  length  north 
and  south  160  poles,  and  in  breadth  80  poles. 
Bounded  by  the  commons  on  all  f^ur  sides. 
Together  with  40  acres  of  meadow,  jinded  on 
the  north  with  the  Wiading  Creek,  on  the  east 
by  the  same  creek,  which  parts  Southold 
bounds  and  Setalcott,  on  the  south  b\'  the  upland. 
As  considered  to  be  convenient  for  two  farms." 
The  land  thus  granted  or  a  part  of  it,  is,  we  be- 
lieve, still  in  the  possession  of  the  WoodhuU. 
family. 

Richard  Smith,  the  Patentee  of  Smithtown, 
sells  to  Samuel  Ebume,  April.  5,  1686,  "All  his 
entire  right  and  interest  in  all  lands  in  the  Town 
of  Brookhaven."  This  includes  a  House  Lot, 
bounded  west  by  highway,  north  lot  formerly 
of  Samuel  Terrill,  south  by  land  of  widow 
Fancz,  containing  5  acres.  Also  a  5  acre  lot  in 
Newtown,  being  No.  7,  lying  between  Zachariah 
Hawkins  and  John  Tooker.  Also  lot  No.  24  in 
Xewtown,  between  the  land  of  John  Roe  and 
John  Jenners.  Also  "lands  in  the  Old  field,  in  a 
place  called  Cranes  Neck."  And  50  acres  at  the 
Old  Mans,  ''bounded  north  by  the  North  Sea,  and 
west  by  the  path  going  down  upon  the  beach." 
A  large  number  of  pieces  of  land  and  meadow 
are  mentioned.  The  price  mentioned  is  £90, 
which  must  have  been  a  nominal  consideration. 

Samuel  Eburne  also  purchased  from  WiMiam 
Jane,  John  Thomas  and  others,  various  tracts  of 


land,  which  must  mave  made  him  an  extensive 
land  owner. 

John  Houlton  and  wife  Sarah  sell  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Eburne  'A  parcel  of  land  that  the  town 
gave  m'e,  being  about  8  acres,  lying  between  Ar- 
thur Forthy's  and  John  Tooker's,  tailor."  Dated 
February   17,    1685. 

John  Tooker  (or  Tucker)  tailor,  sells  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Eburne  "A  certain  tract  of  land  given 
to  me  by  the  Town,  and  situate  between  John 
Houlton's  land  given  by  the  Town,  and  that 
which  was  apointed  for  a  minister's  lot."  Feb. 
13,  1686. 

Mr,  Eburne  thus  became  the  owner  of  three 
lots  adjoining  each  other,  and  opposite  the 
church. 

The  following  deeds  are  alsoi  on  record : 
"Whereas  John  Thompson  by  virtue  of  a  grant 
from  the  freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  Brook- 
haven,  stands  now  possessed  of  one  home  lot 
of  land  situate  lying  at  and  being,  in  said  Town, 
and  aginst  the  Aleeting  House,  bounded  to  ye 
eest  and  southeest  by  the  land  of  Anthony 
Thompson  and  Jacob  Longbottom,  to  the  west  by 
the  land  of  John  Tooker,  containing  five  acres, 
with  all  rights,  etc.  Also  his  share  of  meadow  at 
Mattamummax  bounded  east  by  the  meadow  of 
Wm.  Thompson,  north  by  upland,  west  by  mead- 
ow of  Thomas  Briggs,  south  by  the  Bay  or 
Sound."  He  sells  these  and  some  other  parcels  of 
land  to  John  Palmer,  of  New  York,  Gentleman, 
for  iioo,  March  2,  1685. 

The  manner  in  which  titles  were  derived  will 
appear  from  the  following  deeds,  grants  and 
records,  with  reference  to  lands  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Setauket: 

"This  Indenture  made  the  28  day  of  Novemi- 
ber  1685.  Between  Goodyer,  Bombrash,  alias 
Washassaquohague,  and  Robin,  alias  Cutcha- 
wahton,  Indians  oi  Brookhaven,  in  Suffolk  Coun- 
ty, of  the  one  part  and  Andrew  Gibb  of  the  same 
place,  merchant.  Witnesseth  that  in  considera- 
tion of  £45  they  sell  to  said  Andrew  Gibb  All 
their  farm  or  tract  of  land  situate  upon  Minas- 
sonche  or  Little  Neck  in  the  township  of  Brook- 
haven,  adjoining^  to  the  Five  acre  lot  belonging 
to  Richard  Smith,  southerly,  and  to  the  land  in 
occupation  of  John  and  Samuel  Muncey,  wester- 


256 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


ly,  being  bounded  as  by  the  Records  of  Brook- 
haven  Containing  70  acres." 

Based  upon  this,  Andrew  Gibb  obtained  the 
following  Patent: 

Thomas  Dongan,  Capt.  General  and  Governor 
iSrc.  to  all  &c.  Whereas  Andrew  Gi^bb  of  Brook- 
haven,  Gentleman,  by  my  lycense  hath  purchased 
from  the  Indian  natives,  a  certain  tract  or  par- 
cell  of  land,  commonly  called  the  Indian  Ground, 
situate  on  a  certain  place  called  by  the  name  of 
Minassonke  or  the  Little  Neck,  in  the  town  of 
Brookhaven.  Bounded  east  ward  by  the  Har- 
bour, southerly  by  the  five  acre  lot  late  in  the 
occupation  of  Richard  Smith,  of  Smithtown, 
westerly  by  the  land  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  of 
John  Muncy  and  Samuel  Muncey,  and  northerly 
by  the  Harbor.  Now  Know  you  that  by  virtue 
of  our  commission  We  have  given  granted  &c 
to  the  said  Andrew  Gibb  all  and  singular  the  said 
tract  of  land  *  "^  He  rendering  and  paying 
yearly  and  .every  year  the  Quit  Rent  of  one 
bushell  of  good  winter  wheate.  In  testimony  &c. 
We  have  caused  the  Seal  of  the  f*rovince  to  be 
afhxed  Dec.  27  t686. 

Thomas  Dongan. 

On  'May  8,  1687,  Andrew  Gibbs  obtained  a 
new  deed  from  Catchegon  Sachem,  and  Pame- 
quage,  Cayoson,  Wills,  Quering,  Trepe,  Mon- 
sonce,  Pumsham,  John  Mahue,  Pisecataonse, 
Packham,  Alassamihair,  Petunkes,  Amputinue, 
and  Ambramcke,  "Indians,  Proprietors  of  a 
tract  of  land  on  Minassouke  or  Little  Neck, 
commonly  called  the  Indian  Ground,"  confirm- 
ing the  above  deed  and  reciting  the  Patent. 

On  June  17,  1697,  a  Patent  was  granted  to 
Colonel  William  'Smith,  granting: 

"Sundry  tracts  of  land  and  meadow  on  Long 
Island,  comprising  all  the  vacant  lands  lying  be- 
tween the  'bounds  of  the  towns  O'f  Brookhaven, 
Southold,  Southampton  and  St.  Georges  Manor. 
The  northermost  bounds  thereof  being  the  Wad- 
ing river  or  Red  Creek,  'being  the  east  and  west 
bounds  of  the  towns  of  Brookhaven  and  South- 
old.  From  thence  in  a  direct  line  to  a  creek  or 
brook  called  the  Red  Creek,  into  which  fresh 
M^ater  runneth,  called  by  the  Indians  To  Youngs, 
which  runneth  with  an  arm  of  the  sea  or  river 
lying  between  the  lands  of  Southold  and  South- 
ampton,   called    Peconick   river,   being   Southold 


Scuthermost  bounds ;  and  from  thence  in  a  direct 
line  to  a  marked  tree  at  the  head  of  a  river  or 
creek  called  Seatuck,  being  the  utmost  bounds  of 
Southampton;  and  from  thence  in  a  due  south 
line  to  the  main  sea,  being  the  eastermjost  bound- 
ary of  the  Manor  of  St.  George.  And  the  west- 
ward bounds  being  the  eastermost  line  running 
north  and  south  of  the  said  town  of  Brookhaven, 
By  all  other  ways  or  bounds  adjoining  to  the 
said  Manor  of  St.  George.  But  excepting  there- 
from so  much  of  the  marshes  and  necks  of  land 
and  meadow  of  Moritches  and  Mamanuck  form- 
erly purchased  by  Col.  Thomas  Willetts,  Dr. 
Henry  Taylor  and  Thomas  Townsend." 

This  second  Patent  embraced  a  large  tri- 
angular tract  in  Riverhead,  and  also  a  large  ex- 
tent of  the  western  part  of  Southampton.  This, 
however,  being  covered  by  the  earlier  patents, 
never  held  and  was  never  claimed.  It  also>  in- 
cluded the  Patentship  of  Aloriches,  and'  the 
necks  to  the  west,  and  these  were  all  quitclaimed 
as  before  stated.  North  of  the  Moriches  Patent 
and  west  of  the  Southampton  line  was  a  vast 
tract  oi  woodland  which  was  covered  by  the 
above  patent,  and  the  title  was  free  from  dispute. 
It  remained  in  possession  of  Colonel  Smith  dur- 
ing h'is  lifetime  and  then  fell  to  his  heirs,  March 
30,  1 7 16,  William  Henry  Smith,  his  son,  con- 
veyed to  Captain  Isaac  Halsey,  of  Southampton, 
a  very  large  tract  of  land  which  in  the  deed  is 
described  as  follows : 

"A  certain  tract  &  parcell  of  land  which  is 
situated,  lying  &  Being  within  ye  Manor  of  St. 
George  aforesd  in  ye  County  abovesd  and  as  but- 
ted and  Bounded  on  ye  west  as  followeth — ^by  a 
line  running  from  ye  Head  of  Moriches  River 
due  North  over  to  Pueaconnock  River — on  ye 
East  of  Southampton  Patton  and  on  ye  South 
by  ye  land  of  Justce  Richard  Smith,  Israel  How- 
ell &  Ezekiel  Howell." 

This  deed,  after  remaining  unrecorded  for 
a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  was  placed  on  record' 
in  1867.  From  its  owner  this  tract  took  the 
name  of  ''Halsey's  ]\Ianor/'  and  contains  about 
10,000  acres.  Captain  Isaac  Halsey  sold  one- 
seventh  of  the  whole  to  Theophilus  Howell,  who 
died  in  1759  and  left  it  to  his  sons,  Theophilus 
and   Elihu,   who  'sold  it  to-  Matthew   Smith,  of 


BROOKHAVEN. 


257 


Moriches.  He  also  sold  a  share  to  Abraham 
Howell,  who  left  it  to  his  son  John  Howell  and 
it  was  sold  to  Matthew  Smith  about  1750.  He 
also  gave  to  Timothy  Hudson  a  deed  which  was 
lost,  but  the  other  owners  agreed  in  1786  that  he 
was  entitled  to  2,500  acres.  Captain  Isaac 
Halsey  died  in  1757  and  left  his  remaining  part 
to  his  sons,  Cornelius  and  Sylvanus.  Cornelius 
left  his  part  to  his  sons  Timothy,  William  and 
Frederick,  in  1782.  Captain  Isaac  Halsey  sold 
to  James  Smith,  of  Moriches,  1,000  acres,  Oc- 
tober 4,  174-,  for  ^15.  Cornelius  and  Sylvanus 
Habey  sold  to  David  Howell  and  Josiah  Smith 
2,000  acres,  April  i,  1760.  Timothy  Hudson  sold 
to  Jam^es  Smith  .500  acres  ''in  any  part  except 
the  mill  that  Hudson  built,"  March  10,  1741., 
Price  £S.  Jos.iah  Smith  and  Mathew  Smith,  by 
various  deeds,  owned  6,429  acres.  Matthew 
Smith  also  owned  a  large  amount.  In  1786  the 
whole  tract  was  divided  among  its  owners,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  map,  of  which  a  copy  is  here 
given.  In  1798  Phebe  Howell,  daughter  of 
John  Howell  sold  to  Zephariah  Bowers  of  Kill- 
ingswofth,  Connecticut,  one-half  of  lot  7. 
Oliver  Sm'ith  sold  to  Benjamin  Downs  one-half 
-  of  lot  No.  10.  The  greatest  part  of  one  of  these 
was  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  owned 
by  William  Jane,  who  purchased  of  Colonel  Jo- 
siah Smith.  About  forty  years  since  it  was 
owned  by  two  New  York  lawyers,  and  from 
this  it  was  called  the  "Barrett  and  Beebe 
farms."  It  was  subsequently  mortgaged  far  'be- 
yond its  value,  and  sold  under  foreclosure  and  is 
now  owned  by  the  Oxford  Gun  Club. 

West  of  Halsey's  Manor  was  a  very  large  ex- 
tent of  woodland,  bounded  south  by  Dongon's 
line,  east  by  the  land  sold  to  Captain  Isaac 
Halsey  and  west  by  the  line  of  the  Brookhaven 
Patent.  This  was  sold  by  William  Smith  (son 
of  Colonel  William'  Smith)  to  Benjamin  Youngs, 
of  Southold,  February  4,  1721,  for  i8o.  This 
tract  was  afterward  called  "Brookfield."  Ben- 
jamin Youngs  sold  the  whole  to  James  Reeves, 
Joshua  Tuthill,  Mathias  Dickinson,  Richard 
Terry,  Charles  Booth,  Thomas  Goldsmith,  Caleb 
Horton,  David  Horton,  Daniel  Tuthill,  Joshua 
Wells,  Samuel   Conkling,  Thomas  Reeves,   Na- 

17 


thaniel  Warner,  Josiah  Youngs,  Daniel  Parschal, 
Joseph  Wickham,  Joshua  Wells,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Hulse  and  Jonathan  Dimar,  Feb.  4,  1721.  Ben- 
jamin Youngs  reserved  a  share  for  himself.  This 
tract  remained  undivided  for  many  years.  It 
was  surveyed  and  divided  among  its  owners 
October  2,  11793,  and  the  survey  and  partition  is 
in  the  Records  of  Brookhaven.  The  whole  tract 
contains  6,600  acres  and  in  1793  was  owned  by 
forty  persons  in  various  shares. 

In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town  of  Brook- 
haven is  a  large  tract  of  land  known  by  the  name 
of  East  Moriches,  and  extending  from  Seatuck 
river  (which  is  the  boundary  between  this  and 
the  town  of  Southampton)  to  Terrill's  river  on 
the  west.  This  is  known  in  history  as  the  Pat- 
entship  of  Moriches,  and. includes  three  necks — 
Mattuck,  Watchogue  and  Moriches. 

The  papers  connected  with  this  have  fortun- 
ately been  preserved  and  the  complete  chain  of 
title  is  here  given.  The  first  is  a  deed  from  John 
Mayou  (or  Mahew)  which  reads  as,  follows: 

"This  deed  of  conveyance  witnesseth  to  all 
Christian  people  to  whom  it  may  come  or  in  any 
waye  consern  that  I  John  Mayou,  an  Indian 
proprietor  of  sartin  lands  lying  and  being  within 
ye  pattin  and  privileges  of  Seatoaket  upon  Long 
Island,  doe  by  these  presents  freely  grant  give 
and  make  over  from  me  itny  heirs  executors  ad- 
ministrators or  assigns  unto  Thomas  Townsend 
of  Oyster  Bay,  to  him  his  heyres  executors  ad- 
ministrators or  assigns,  ye  full  quantity  of  one 
hundred  achres  of  upland  upon  ye  south  side  of 
this  island  commonly  called  ye  South  land,  with- 
out ye  pattin  and  township  of  Seatoaket,  with  a 
convenient  quantity  of  meadow  thereunto  adjoin- 
ing upon  a  sartin  neck  called  by  ye  Indian  name 
Wattshoge.  I  say  I  have  freely  given  and  made 
over  ye  aforesaid  hundred  achres  of  land  with  a 
convenient  quantity  of  meadow  thereunto  belong- 
ing as  above  expressed,  fro^m  mee,  my  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors, administrators  or  assigns  forever,  unto 
ye  above  said  Thomas  Townsend,  his  heires,  ex- 
ecutors, administraters  or  assigns,  for  ever.  To 
have  and  to  hold  as  his  or  their  oune  proper 
right,  title  and  interest,  for  ever  peaceably  to  pos- 
sess and  injoye  from  any  further  lett  hindrance 
or  molf'station,  having  received  full  satisfaction 
for  ye  same,  as  witness  my  hand  and  scale  in 
Huntington  this  30th  daye  of  May  1679.  ^-ud  in 
ye  first  year  of  the  Reigne  of  our  soureign  king 


BROOKHAVEN  LAND  GRANT. 


BROOKHAVEN. 


259 


Charles  ye  Second  by  ye  Grace  of  God,  King  of 
Great  Brittain,  france  and  Ireland. 

his 
''John  X  Mayhu ." 
mark'. 
"Witness  for  us,  William  Williams,  Jonathan 
Scudder,  Abiel ." 

Endorsed  upon  this  is  an  assignment  of 
Thomas  Townsend  of  all  his  interest  in  the  above 
deed  to  Robert  WooUey,  of  Southampton,  dated 
in  Oyster  Bay,  July  14,  1679. 

By  a  deed  dated  November  8,  1701,  Robert 
Woolley  sold  all  "his  right  and  claim  to  Colonel 
William  Smith,  of  the  ]\Ianor  of  St.  George,  for 
''twelve  shillings  in  hand,"  and  twelve  pounds 
to  be  paid  when  Robert  Woolley  should  furnish 
a  good  title.  Endorsed  upon  this  is  a  receipt, 
dated  April  30,  1703,  by  which  Robert  Woolley 
acknowledges  the  receipt  oi  the  twelve  pounds. 
By  another  endorsem'ent  Colonel  William  Smith 
assigns  all  his  right  to  Richard  Smith,  Esq.  and 
Colonel  Matthew  Howell,  Dated  March  29,  1703. 

On  October  31,  1677,  Dr.  Henry  Taylor 
"Chirugeon  and  inhabitant  of  Flushing,"  re- 
ceived a  grant  from  the  Governor,  Sir  Edward 
Andros,  "for  ye  acquiring  and  purchasing  of 
lands  of  ye  Indians  at  ye  south  side  of  this  island, 
ye  eastward  of  Seatalicott  lands."  By  an  instru- 
ment dated  December  16,  1679,  he  admitted  as 
associates  and  equal  partners  in  the  said  grant 
Major  Thomas  Willetts,  of  Flushing,  and  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Townsend,  of  Oyster  Bay.  These 
three  men  then  obtained  deeds  from  John 
Mayhu,  the  Indian,  as  follows  : 

"This  Instrument  of  writing  witnesseth  to 
all  Christian  People.  Know  yee  that  I  John  May- 
hu an  Indian  proprietor  of  a  certain  neck  of  land 
upon  the  south  side  of  Long  Island,  lying  be- 
tween Southampton  pattent  and  Seatakett  pat- 
tent,  called  and  known  by  the  name  in  the  Indian 
language  Watshoge,  I  do  by  these  presents,  free- 
ly and  absolutely  give  alienate  and  make  over  the 
above  said  neck  of  land  called  by  the  name  of 
Watshoge  '■=  *  unto  my  loving  friend  Thom- 
as Townsend  of  Oyster  Bay,  his  heirs  and  as- 
signs for  ever.  That  is  to  say  and  be  understood, 
all  the  meadows  fresh  and  salt  upon  the  said 
neck,  and    all    the    upland    or    woodland,  from 


river  to  river,  being  two  miles  in  breadth,  and 
from  the  meadow,  north  ward  one  mile  into  the 
woods,  and  what  wants  of  the  two  miles  of  the 
breadth  of  the  neck  is  to  be  added  to  the  mile  in 
depth,  but  if  the  neck  holds  out  to  be  two  miles 
or  more  then  he  is  to  have  but  one  mile  in  depth. 
Including  all  etc.  ^  "^  To  the  confirmation 
whereof  I  have  subscribed  my  hand  and  set  to 
my  seale  in  Oyster  Bay,  this  12  day  of  February, 
1679.  It  is  to  be  understood  that  I  gave  one 
hundred  acres  of  this  neck  to  the  said  Thomas 
Townsend  before,  w^hich  is  within  the  bounds  re- 
cited. 

his 
"John  X  Mayhue/' 
mark. 
"Witness,   John  Jones,   John   Pitts,    Thomas 
Webb,  clericus. 

Endorsed  upon  this  is  the  following: 

"I  Ahuncham,  Indian,  cuzzen  to  John  May- 
hue,  and  being  concerned  in  ye  land  with  him, 
do  by  these  persents  confirm  the  within  deed." 
Feb.  12,  1679. 

Also  the  following  1 

"I  Worishon,  having  a  propriety  with  John 
Mayhue  in  the  land.  Watshoge  within  this  (leed 
do  hy  these  presents  confirm  the  same  to  Thomas 
Townsend,    June  2,  1680." 

Worishon  X  his  mark. 

"In  presence  of 

"John  Cole,  interpreter. 

"Hasawomp  X  his  mark." 

By  a  deed  dated  June  10,  1680,  John  ;May- 
hue,  Indian,  sells  to  Thomas  Townsend,  "A 
sartin  small  neck  of  land  at  ye  west  'side  of  Wat- 
choge,  where  my  kinsman  Warishone  now  liveth. 
Ye  west  bounds  whereof  beginneth  at  ye  head  of 
a  boggy  swamp  north  west  bounds,  and  from 
thence  east  northeast  or  thereabouts  upon  a 
straight  line  to  the  white  oak  tree,  the  first 
boundaries  Of  ye  said  Thomas  Townsend's  land 
or  neck  Watchoge,  including  ah  the  upland 
and  meadow,  etc." 

By  an  endorsement  on  the  deed,  John  Town- 
send  conveys  all  his  right  to  Richard  Smith,  of 
Smithtown,  October  10,  1694.  The  land  sold  by 
this  deed  is  the  neck  called  Mattuck.  "Lu&om" 
(supposed  to  be  a  contraction  of  Lewisham)  is 
now  Jericho,  in  Oyster  Bay. 


260 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


.John  Townsend,  of  'Tusom"  sold  the  land 
he  purchased  of  John  'Mayhue  .to  Richard  Smith, 
of  Smithtown,  October  15,  1694.  It  is  described 
as  ^'bounded  by  a  river  called  Setucke  eastward 
and  a  neck  called  Moriches,  westward,  and  ye 
salt  sea  southward,  &  by  ye  trees  marked  north- 
ward, as  is  specified  by  deeds,  granted  by  John 
Mayhue  ye  Indian  Proprietor."  The  price  was 
^'fifteen  pounds  in  isilver."  By  an  endorsement, 
John  Townsend  agrees  ''to  pay  it  back  again,  if 
Richard  Smith  does  not  record  the  said  lands." 
This  was  probably  a  precaution  against  any 
claim  that  Captain  William  Smith  might  have, 
whose  purchase  right  he  held  to  include  part  of 
the  lands.. 

By  a  deed  dated  November  15,  1697,  Colonel 
Thomas  Willetts  and  Dr.  Henry  Taylor  sell  to 
Richard  Smith,  ''A  certain  tract  of  land  and 
meadow,  being  our  proportion  or  ye  two-third 
part  in  partnership  with  Thomas  Townsend  and 
is  bounded  by  a  river  called  Setuck  eastward, 
and  a  river  called  Pacotuck  westward,  and  the 
salt  sea  southward,  and  by  trees  marked  north- 
ward, being  ye  two-thirds  of  ye  tract  comprised 
in  the  deed  from  John  Mayhu  ye  Indian  pro- 
prietor.'' 

Thomas  Townsend  conveyed  all  his  right  and 
title  to  the  lands  of  John  Townsend,  Jr.,  of 
Lusom,  June  11,  1689,  and  John  Townsend  sold 
it  to  Richard  Smith  by  endorsement  on  deed,  Oc- 
tober ID,  1694. 

In  this  manner  Richard  Smith  became  the 
owner  of  the  whole  tract.  He  was  the  son  of 
Richard  Smith,  the  Patentee  of  Smithtown,  the 
ancestor  of  the  family  known  as  the  ''Bull 
Smiths." 

To  secure  his  title,  Richard  Smith  obtained  a 
Patent  from  the  Royal  Governor,  Benjamin 
Fletcher,  March  15,  1703.  This  Patent  describes 
the  tract  as  "bounded  on  the  west  by  a  river  on 
the  west  side  of  Moriches  neck,  called  Paqua- 
tuck,  on  the  north  by  a  line  from  the  head  of 
said  river  to  a  white  oak  tree  marked,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  neck  called  ^^'atshoge  by  a  pond, 
and  from  thence  to  a  line  east  of  Setuck  river, 
on  the  east  by  Setuck  river,  and  on  the  south  by 
the  sea." 


Shortly  after  this,  Richard  Smith  sold  one- 
half  of  his  Patent  to  Colonel  Matthew  Howell, 
of  Southampton,  but  no  deed  can  be  found. 

Nothing  was  more  common  in  early  times 
then  for  one  Patent  to  encroach  upon  the  bound- 
aries of  another.  The  patent  for  the  lands  of 
Colonel  William  Smith,  of  the  Manor  of  St. 
George,  seems  to  include  a  part  of  the  whole  of 
Moriches.  To  settle  all  dispuies,  Colonel  Will- 
iam Smith  gave  a  deed  of  release  to  Richard 
Smith  and  Matthew  Howell,  March  15,  1703. 
The  lands  are  described  as  "the  tract  called 
Moriches,  Watshoge  and  Mattuck  and  bounded 
on  the  west  by  the  river  called  Pauquatuck  to  its 
head  of  the  spring  of  said  river,  from  thence  by 
a  line  running  northeast  or  easterly  something 
above  a  mile,  to  the  north  west  bank  of  Wat- 
choge,  which  is  near  about  a  mile  and  a  halfe  due 
north  from  the  head  of  the  spring  of  Moriches 
river,  and  thence  a  straight  line  running  near  due 
east  about  a  mile  and  three-quarters  to  Setuck 
river,  where  the  road  made  by  Matthew  Howell 
crosses  the  river,  which  iis  about  half  a  mile 
northward  of  Southampton's  bound  tree  stand- 
ing by  Setuck  river,  on  the  east  Setuck  river,, 
and  south  by  the  South  Bay  round  all  the  necks 
and  points  to  the  mouth  of  Pauquatuck."  To 
make  their  Indian  title  doubly  sure,  they  obtained 
the  following  deed : 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  where- 
as by  certain  deeds  or  conveyances  made  here- 
tofore by  John  Mayhue,  Indian,  deceased,  pro- 
prietor of  certain  necks  of  land  unto  Col.  Thomas 
Willetts,  Doctor  Henry  Taylor  and  Thomas  and 
John  Townsend,  all  of  them  of  Queens  County, 
which  said  necks  are  situate  lying  and  being  on 
the  south  side  of  the  island  of  Nassau,  in  the 
County  of  Suffolk,  and  are  commonly  known  by 
the  names  of  Moriches,  Watshoge  and  Mattuck, 
butted  and  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  river 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Pauquatuck, 
which  divides  the  neck  called  Warratta  and  the 
aforesaid  neck  Moriches,  and  southwardly  with 
the  water  of  the  South  bay,  and  eastwardly  with 
a  river  known  by  the  name  of  Seatuck,  and  so 
running  into  the  woods  two  miles,  and  the  said 
necks  of  land  having  been  since  conveyed  from 
the  afore  said  gentlemen  unto  Mr.  Richard 
Smith  of  Smithtown,  Gentleman,    and    by   him 


BROOKHAVEN. 


261 


Patented  from  the  Governor.  And  the  one  mo- 
iety of  which  necks  of  land  and  premises  having 
been  by  him  the  said  Richard  'Smith  sold  and 
conveyed  unto  Matthew  Howell  of  Southampton. 
Now  Know  yee  that  I  Wyangonhott,  Indian 
Sachem  of  the  Plantation  of  Indians  belonging 
to  a  place  commonly  knowne  by  ye  name  of 
Unquachouge,  for  divers  good  causes,  but  more 
especially  for  as  that  I  know  the  said  John  May- 
hue  though  not  a  Sachem,  had  an  undoubted  right 
to  dispose  of  all  the  said  lands  and  also  for  the 
sum  of  eighteene  shillings  to  me  paid  by  the 
said  Richard  Smith  and  Matthew  Howell.  I  the 
said  Wyangonhott  do  for  ever  release  the  same 
to  the  said  Richard  Smith  and  Matthew  Howell 
*  •*  In  full  confirmation  I  have  set  to  my  hand 
and  scale  in  Southampton  the  21  day  of  August 
1703.  His 

Wyangonhott  X  Sachem, 
mark. 
His 
Pamsfeag  X  Indian." 
mark 

''Witness,  Joshua  Halsey,  Jeremiah  Jagger. 

« 

January  14,  1702,  Richard  Smith  and  Mat- 
thew Howell  made  a  division  of  their  lands.  The 
partition  deed  recites  that  each  owned  one-half 
and  gives  (the  bounds  as  described  in  the  Patent. 
It  was  agreed  that  Matthew  Howell  should  have 
one^half  of  the  neck  called  Moriches  and  some 
part  of  the  west  side  of  the  neck  called  Wat- 
choge.  His  part  of  Moriches  neck^  was  bounded 
as  follows:  The  north  line  of  the  neck  was  to 
be  a  ''straight  line  from  the  usual  going  over  the 
river  Pauquatuck  to  the  head  of  the  swamp  of 
the  river  or  pond  called  Pamachees/'  and  his 
north  bound  was  to  'be  the  east  half  of  that  line, 
on  the  east  it  was  "bounded  partly  by  the  swamp 
and  river  Pamachees.  and  partly  by  the  south 
bay,  and  partly  by  a  ditch  cut  through 
the  meadow  that  separates  the  island  called 
Catchemenchouge  from  the  southeast  part  of  the 
river  Moriches,  southwardly  and  partly  on  the 
west  by  a  salt  water  cove,  that  runs  in  near  the 
middle  of  the  neck,  and  partly  by  a  straight  line 
running  from  the  head  of  the  swam'p  at  the 
head  of  the  cove,  to  the  middle  of  the  said 
straight  line."  To  this  was  added  a  small  part 
of  Watchoge  neck,  bounded  west  by  the, 
swamp  and  river  Pamachees,  down  southwest  to 


a  cove,  and  southwardly  and  eastwardly  to  the 
head  of  the  cove,  and  east  by  a  line  runing  north 
''until  it  comes  upon  a  square,  with  the  head  of 
the  swamp  Pamachees."  The  north  line  was  to 
be  50  rods  long. 

The  remainder  of  Watshoge  neck  remains 
undivided,  also  the  island  now  called  Moriches 
Island.  The  line  of  division  of  lyEoriches  neck 
is  well  defined  and  is  the  east  line  of  a  lot  now 
owned  by  Miss  Alice  Wines.  All  the  lands  north 
of  this  were  divided  at  a  late  day.  Colonel  Mat- 
thew Howell  died  JMay  4,  1706,  and  left  his  lands 
to  his  sons  Israel  and  Ezekiel.  The  undivided 
part  of  Watshoge  was  left  to  Israel  who  sold  it 
to  Richard  Smith,  August  3,  1730.  The  land  at 
Aloriches  was  left  to  Ezekiel,  and  the  next  we 
know  it  was  owned  by  James  Smith,  of  Smith- 
town,  and  in  recent  years  by  Theophilus  Smith, 
probably  his  grandson. 

Richard  Smith,  by  deed  October  2.jy  1719, 
gave  all  his  lands  on  Moriches  Neck  to  his  son 
Nathaniel  Smith,  and  also  his  share  of  the  isl- 
and. Richard  Smith  died  in  1720,  and  left  his 
lands  at  Watshoge  to  Nathaniel,  and  also  one- 
half  of  Mattuck  Neck.  The  other  half  of  Mat- 
tuck  was  left  to  his  son  Richard  who  sold  it  to 
his  brother  Nathaniel,  and  he  thus  became  the 
sole  owner  of  all  the  Smith  right  in  the  patent, 
and  a  large  part  is  now  owned  by  his  descend- 
ants. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  that  the 
name  Moriches  properly  belongs  to  the  neck 
next  east  of  Terrill's  river,  but  it  has  been  ex- 
tended to  a  very  large  district,  known  as  East, 
Centre,  and  West  Moriches. 

Next  west  of  Terrill's  river  is  the  neck  called 
Warrata.  June  25,  1687,  Governor  Thomas 
Dongan  granted  a  patent  to  John  Mayhu, 
"native  Indian,"  reciting  that  the  said  John 
IMayhu  had  made  application  to  him  for  a  patent 
for  "a  certain  neck  of  land  called  Warracta,  on 
the  south  side  of  Long  Island.*'  Accordingly 
the  neck  is  granted  to  him — ^one-half  to  him  and 
his  heirs  and  assigns,  and  the  other  half  to  him 
and  the  heirs  of  his  body,  and  failing  heirs,  then 
to  return  to  his  'Majesty.  By  this  he  only  had 
power  to  sell  one-half. 


262 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


April  lo,  ,1688,  John  Mayhu  sold  to  Elias 
Doughty,  of  Flushing,  "All  the  one-half  or 
moiety  of  a  certain  neck  or  tract  of  land  called 
Warracta,  late  granted  to  ye  said  John  Mahue, 
by  His  Excellency  Governor  Dongan  by  Patent." 

The  next  we  know  of  this  neck  is  a  deed  from 
Jacob  Doughty,  of  Jamaica,  to  Samuel  Terrill,  of 
Brookhaven,  October  17,  1698,  for  "one-half  of  a 
certain  neck  of  land  called  Warracta,  lying  on 
the  .south  side  of  Nassau  island,  Bounded  east  by 
a  creek  called  JMoriches,  west  by  a  creek  called 
Swiniches.  With  all  and  singular  etc."  The 
price  paid  was  £23.  Samuel  Terrill  was  a  black- 
smith, and  came  from  East  Hampshire,  where  he 
had  carried  on  his  trade  for  some  years.  From 
him  the  river  Pauquatuck  took  the  name  of  Ter- 
rill's  River,  which  it  still  retains.  April  16,  1706, 
Colonel  Henry  Smith,  of  the  manor  of  St. 
George,  gave  a  deed  to  Samuel  Terrill,  reciting 
that  his  father,  Colonel  William  Smith,  had  sold 
to  Samuel  Terrill,  for  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds, 
all  his  right  and  title  to  said  neck,  but  died  before 
executing  a  deed.  Colonel  Smith  therefore  con- 
tinues the  same,  as  then  in  possession  of  Samluel 
Terrill.  In  the  deed  it  is  described  as  "A  neck 
called  Warracta  neck,  bounded  eastward  irom 
the  bay  by  I\Ioriches  river,  to  ye  head'  thereof, 
and  northward  by  a  line  running  west  from  ye 
said  river,  until  met  by  a  direct  line  running 
from  ye  head  of  Senitches  river,  and  soe  west- 
ward by  ye  said  river  to  ye  bay,  thence  .south- 
ward along  ye  bay  to  Moriches  river."  This 
deed  was  simply  a  quit  claim  tO'  quiet  title,  as 
the  land  was  apparently  within  the  bounds  of  the 
patent  to  Colonel  Smith.  Sam,uel  Terrill  was  to 
pay  yearly  "one  bushel  of  good  merchantable 
winter  wheate." 

September  29,  1721,  William  Smith,  of  the 
manor  of  St.  George,  sells  to  Thomas  Conkling, 
of  Southold,  one-third  of  a  certain  neck  of  land 
in  the  manor  of  St.  George,  called  Warratta  Neck, 
the  description  being  the  same  as  in  the  preceding 
deed.      The  price  was  £40. 

.  March  20,  1755,  Thomas  Conkling,  of  Shelter 
Island,  sells  to  John  Havens,  of  the  manor  of 
St.  George,  "one-half  of  a  certain  neck  in  the 
manor  of  St.  George  known  by  the  name  of  War- 


racta Neck,"  the  whole  neck  being  described  as 
before.  Price  £500.  In  August,  1775,  John 
name  of  Warracta  neck,  with  one-half  of  the 
of  the  farm  or  neck  that  the  .said  John  Havens, 
Sr.,  now  possesses  and  enjoys,  known  by  the 
name  of  Warracto  neck,  with  one-half  of  the 
dwelling  house  and  other  buildings."  His  wife, 
Kenturah  Havens,  also  signs  the  deed.  October 
29,  1782,  Thomas  Conkling,  Jr.,  of  Southaven, 
sells  to  John  Havens  "1-3  of  the  neck  called 
Wacta."     This  was  perhaps  a  confirmatory  deed. 

Fron^  that  time  to  the  present,  Warratta  has 
been  in  possession  of  the  Havens  family.  The' 
ancestor  of  the  family  was  William  Havens,  who 
was  an  early  settler  in  Shelter  Island.  In  the 
history  of  that  island,  recently  published,  is  a 
very  elaborate  genealogy  of  the  family  which 
renders  a  more  extended  notice  here  unnecessary. 
Captain  John  Havens,  who  died  June  18,  1809,  at 
the  age  of  61,  was  very  prominent  in  the  Revo- 
lution. His  descendants  are  possessed  of  well 
earned  wealth  and  well  merited  political  honors. 
The  name  "Warracta"  is  believed  to  be  that  of  an 
Indian  Sachem'  who  lived  on  the  neck. 

Next  west  of  Warratta  and  extending  to 
Mastic  river,  are  five  necks,  embraced  in  the  fol- 
lowing chain  of  title. 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  Presents  shall 
come.  John  'Mayhew,  Indian  sends  Greeting. 
Know  yees  that  the  said  John  Mayhew  for  and  , 
in  consideration  as  well  of  a  competent  sum  of 
money  to  him  in  hand  Payed  by  the  Honourable 
Coll.  Thomas  Dongan  the  Receipt  of  which  he 
doth  hereby  acknowledge,  as  of  a  Patent  agreed 
to  be  made  unto  the  sayd  John  Mayhew,  his 
heirs  and  asigns  by  the  said  Col.  Thomas  Don- 
gan, of  and  for  a  certain  neck  of  land  called  or 
known  by  the  name  of  Wlrachtag  here  in  after 
reserved,  wherewith  the  said  John  Mayhew  doth 
acknowledge  himselfe  to  be  fully  satisfied  and 
Payed.  Hath  granted  and  sold  unto  the  said  Col. 
Thomas  Dongan  his  heirs  and  assigns.  All  that 
large  tract  of  land  situate  lying  and  being  on 
the  south  side  of  Long  Island  Bounded  on  the 
west  by  Mastick  river,  on  the  south  by  the  maine 
ocean,  on  the  east  by  the  River  Seatukk,  and  on 
the  north  by  a  straight  line  to  be  drawn  from 
the  head  of  said  ATastick  River,  to  the  head  of 
Seatukk  river  aforesaid.  Excepting  a  certain 
Tract   or   Parcell   of   land   formerly   granted  to 


BROOKHAVEN. 


263 


Major  Thomas  Willett  and  Doctor  Henry  Tay- 
lor. Excepting  also  the  above  mentioned  Par- 
cell  or  Neck  of  land  called  Wirachtag.  To- 
gether with  all  and  singular  etc.  In  witness 
whereof  I  have  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  First 
day  of  December  J  1685. 

The  mark  X  of  John  Mayhew. 
Witness  John  Spragge,  George  Baxter,  Ste- 
phen Van  Cortlandt. 

■The  lands  reserved  in  this  deed  include  the 
patentship  of  Moriches,  and  the  neck  Warratta. 
Governor  Thomas  Dongan  held  this  tract  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  and  by  his  will  (recorded 
on  Staten  Island)  he  left  it,  with  other  lands  far 
more  valuable,  to  his  nephews  *'to  build  up  the 
house  of  Dongan,"  a  hope  and  expectation  that 
was  never  realized.  To  make  the  title  sure,  Wal- 
ter Dongan,  one  of  the  nephews,  obtained  a  deed 
from  William  Smith,  of  the  manor  of  St.  George, 
which  conveyed  "All  those  .several  necks  of  land 
within  the  limits  of  the  manor  of  St.  George  at 
or  near  a  place  called  Moriches,  being  five  necks 
of  land  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Orchard 
Neck,  Ariskunk,  Skyes'  Neck,  and  Pine  Neck, 
with  a  small  point  or.  neck  of  land  called  Little- 
worth,  which  said  necks,  with  other  lands,  are 
said  to  be  formerly  purchased  from  one  John 
Mayhew,  the  Indian  owner  and  proprietor,  and 
are  to  extend  north  as  far  as  the  heads  of  the 
two  creeks  or  rivers  Mastick  and  Seatuck,  and 
are  bounded  north  by  (a  line  to  be  run  from  the 
head  of  the  river  Mastick  to  the  head  of  the  river 
Seatuck."  The  price  paid  was  £120.  This  deed 
is  dated  October  5,  1734. 

Of  these  necks,  Orchard  Neck  is  the  eastern- 
most, and  is  bounded  east  by  the  river  or  creek 
Senitches,  which  separates  it  from  Warratta. 
The  rest  follow  west  in  regular  succession.  There 
are  no  deeds  to  be  found  from  the  Dongans  for 
any  of  these  necks,  with  one  exception,  which  will 
be  mentioned. 

The  north  line  of  these  necks  was  surveyed 
in  later  years,  and  is  still  known  as  ''Dongan's 
Line,"  though  very  few  persons  know  the  origin 
of  the  name. 

In  1790,  John  Havens,  Sr.,  owned  the  east 
part  of  Orchard  Neck,  extending  "north  to  Col. 


Dongan's  Line."  He  gave  this  tract  to  his  son, 
John  Havens,  Jr. 

The  next  neck  west  is  still  known  by  the  In- 
dian name  of  Ariskunk.  August  i,  1796,  the 
entire  neck  was  sold  by  John  Gardiner  to  Jere- 
miah Havens  for  £1100.  It  was  bounded  east 
and  west  by  creeks,  and  north  by  Dongan's  Line. 
The  lands  of  Hon.  Charles  S.  Havens  are  on  this 
tract. 

Next  comes  Skye's  Neck,  which,  like  many 
other  necks,  derives  its  name  from  some  Indian 
who  lived  there  in  early  days.  Many  years  ago 
the  writer  found  a  deed  most  beautifully  written, 
by  which  Thomas  Dongan  and  Magdalen  his 
wife  conveyed  to  Israel  Howell,  of  Islip,  "A 
tract  or  neck  of  land  commonly  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Skies  Neck,  Bounded  east  by  the 
brook,  which  parts  it  from  a  neck  called  Aris- 
cunk,  west  by  the  creek  which  divides  it  from 
the  neck  where  Joshua  Hallock  now  lives, 
south  by  the  meeting  of  the  brook  and  creek, 
and  extending  north  by  parallel  lines  to  Colonel 
Dongan's  Line."  This  is  dated  January  25. 
1 75 1.  Knowing  its  value,  the  writer  of  this  had 
it  placed  on  record.  The  creek  on  the  east  side 
is  known  as  Senex  creek. 

Of  the  next  neck,  called  Pine  Neck,  and  now 
called  Old  Neck,  we  know  nothing  except  that  in 
1 75 1  Joshua' Hallock  was  living  there.  Next  west 
is  evidently  'the  small  point  or  neck  of  land  called 
Littleworth."  It  was  later  loiown  as  Hog  Neck, 
and  was  owned  by  Henry  Havens  in  1771. 

The  neck  west  of  Senex  creek  or  river,  are 
probably  the  same  as  the  "two  small  tracts  of 
upland  and  meadow  lying  east  of  Mastic  river, 
called  Puencatone  and  Hoggs  Neck,"  mentioned 
in  the  Patent  for  St.  George's  Manor,  as  will  be 
seen  hereafter.  Upon  Pine  Neck  (now  called 
"Old  Neck")  has  been  erected  in  recent  years 
the  elegant  mansion  of  the  late  John  W.  Masory, 
a  wealthy  paint  manufacturer. 

Mastic  Neck  was  purchased  by  Colonel  Will- 
iam Smith  from  Tobacus,  Sachem  of  Uncha- 
cluded  in  the  Manor  of  St.  George,  but  some  of 
them  held  by  other  owners  by  prior  purchase. 

Mastic  Neck  was  purchased  by  Colonel  Wil- 
liam  Smith   from  Tobacus,   Sachem  of  Uncha- 


264 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


choke,  but  the  deeds,  are  not  on  record  and 
the  originals  are  doubtless  amo'ng  the  ijionu- 
menta  majorum  of  the  Smith  family  which  we 
trust  will  some  day  be  brought  to  light. 


Next  west  of  Mastic  comes  the  neck,  called 
from  its  Indian  owner,  VVinnecroscum's  Neck. 
This  iWinnecroiscum  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the 
Sachems  in  the  Indian  deed  for  the  South  beach 
in  1685.  This  neck  seems  to  have  been  un- 
purchased till  1686,  when  the  following  Patent 
was   given : 

"Thomas  Dongan  Esq.  Capt.  General  and 
Governor  &c.  Whereas  there  is  a  certain  Neck 
or  piece  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Isl- 
and called  Winnecroscum's  Neck.  Containing  by 
estimation  100  acres,  adjoining  to  the  meadow 
ground  now  in  the  tenure  and  possession  of  Ben- 
jamin Smith  a  Freeholder  and  Inhabitant  of  the 
Town  of  Brookhaven.  Which  said  Neck  is  wood 
land  unimproved,  and  not  as  yet  granted  to  any 
person  whatsoever.  The  same  is  hereby  granted 
to  the  i^aid  Benjamin  Smith.  December  9,  1686. 
He  paying  an  annual  Quit  rent  of  one  bushell  of 
good  winter  wheat." 

Next  west  of  Winnecroscum's  Neck  is  Snake 
Neck,  which  was  Patented  to  Samuel  Eburne,  as 
hy  the  following  Patent: 

"Thomas  Dongan,  Esq.  Capt.  General  and 
Governor  &c.  Where  as  there  is  a  cei-tain  tract 
■or  Neck  of  land  called  Snakes  Neck  on  the  South 
side  of  Long  Island  within  the  bounds  of  Setal- 
■cott,  Bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Neck  commonly 


called  Winnecroscums  Neck,  on  the  west  by 
Padersquash  river,  on  the  north  by  the  Com- 
mons, and  on  the  south  by  the  meadows  ad- 
joining to  the  bay.  Containing  by  estimation  300 
acres.  Which  said  land  is  wood  land  and  unim- 
oroved  and  not  yet  granted  to  any  person  what- 
soever. The  said  Neck  is  hereby  granted  to  Sam- 
uel Eburne  'Gierke'  of  Setalcott.  Paying  annu- 
ally as  a  Quit  rent  one  fbushell  and  a  halfe  of 
good  winter  merchantable  wheat. 
'"Dated  December  2y,  1686." 

Samuel  Eburne  ^'Gierke"  sells  "To  the  heirs 
of  Richard  Woodhull,  in  consideration  of  a  sum 
of  money  paid  by  Richard  Woodhull,  deceased, 
for  the  purchase  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  on  the 
south  side  of  Long  Island,  at  a  place  called  Snake 
Neck,  and  also  for  £6  paid  by  Temperance 
Woodhull,  his  executor,  he  releases  to  them  all 
his  right  to  the  land  in  Snake  Neck,"  October 
22,  1700. 

This  neck  was  afterwards  the  home  of  Gen- 
eral Nathaniel  Woodhull,  whose  tragic  fate  is 
one  of  the  most  important  events  of  our  Revo- 
lutionary history,  and  here  his  honored  remains 
are  buried.  A  large  portion  of  that  neck  is  now 
owned  by  the  Lawrence  family. 

Next  to  Snake  or  Eburne's  Neck  comes 
Floyd's  Neck.  The  original  name  of  this  was 
Paderquasli  Neck.  In  the  Town  Clerk's  office 
of  Southampton  is  recorded  the  following: 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  John 
Jennings  of  Southampton,  marsliali,  having  sev- 
erall  fees  due  me  from  the  County.  And  the 
WorshipfuU  Court  of  Sessions  having  given  and 
granted  unto  the  said  John  Jennings  the  land 
that  was  fallen  unto  the  Court  of  Sessions  for 
the  default  of  Mohave  an  Indian  by  his  non 
payment  of  his  fine  and  Court  charges.  I  the 
said  John  Jennings  do  sell  the  same  to  Lieut. 
Richard  Floyd  of  Brookhaven.  Lying  and  be- 
ing in  a  place  commonly  called  and  known  by 
the  name  of  Padesquash  Neck  on  the  South  side 
of  Long  Island."  The  price  was  £19.  Dated 
March  24,  168  3-4. 

It  is  possible  that  "Mohave"  the  Indian  may 
have  been  our  old  friend  "John  Mayhue  In- 
dian" with  his  name  misspelled.  To  confirm  this 
title  Richard  Floyd  obtained  the  following: 

"Thomas  Dongan  Esq.  Capt.  General  and 
Governor  &c." 


BROOKHAVEN. 


265 


"Whereas  there  is  a  certain  parcell  of  land 
on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island,  within  the 
bounds  of  Setalcott.  Bounded  on  the  south  by 
the  meadow,  on  the  east  by  the  Pattersquash 
river  or  creek,  on  the  west  by  the  Unquechogh 
creek,  and  on  the  north  by  the  woods  unlaid  out. 
Containing  in  all  500  acres.  Wbich  is  not  as 
yet  laid  out  or  appropriated  to  any  person.  And 
whereas  Richard  Floyd  hath  made  application 
imto  me,  the  same  is  hereby  granted  to  the  said 
Richard  Floyd.  He  paying  annually  as  a  Quit 
rent  the  sum  of  two  bushells  of  good  merchanta- 
ble winter  wheat. 

'^Dated  ,  1686. 

"Examined  January  12,  1686,  and  passed  in 
Council." 

Next  to  this  comes  the  neck  called  Unque- 
chogue  or  Unchechogue.  There  is  a  peculiar  in- 
terest connected  with  this  from  the  fact  that  it 
seems  to  have  been  the  seat  and  chief  settlement 
of  the  tribe  that  had  an  extensive  territory.  A 
document  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
shows  that  their  claim  extended  to  Apocock 
creek,  or  river,  (now  Beaver  Dam)  in  the  town 
of  Southampton  and  this  was  admitted  to  be  the 
bounds  between  them  and  the  Shinnecock  In- 
dians ,  to  the  west,  their  bounds,  extended  probab- 
ly as  far  as  Islip.  On  this  neck  lived  Tobacus  the 
Sachem,  who  figures  so  extensively  in  Indian 
deeds,  and  "Wyangonhott,  Sachem  of  Un- 
queahogue,''  who  gave  the  confirmatory,  deed  for 
the  Patentship  of  Moriches  in  1703. 

On  September  16,  1670,  we  find  that  ''John 
Tooker  and  Mr.  Daniel  Lane  have  bought  a 
tract  of  upland  and  meadow  of  Waphege,  he 
undertaking  for  his  associates,  that  is  to  say,  on 
Unchechoge  neck,  at  the  'south  side  of  the  Island, 
running  by  the  lands  of  Patersquass,  being  the 
east  bounds,  with  a  straight  line  to  the  head  of 
a  swamp,  west  being  hounded  with  the  great  bay, 
being  all  that  land  and  meadow  commonly  called 
Patersquass."  On  September  19,  1674,  Tobac- 
cus,  Sachem  of  Unkerchoke  sells  "to  the  town  of 
Setalcott,  all  the  mowable  meadow  land,  whether 
hier  land  or  lower,  that  lieth  between  a  river 
called  Conneticutt,  to  another  river  called 
Mastic."  This  was  called  the  "New  Purchase 
Meadows  at  South"  and  they  were  laid  out  in 
1675- 


The  neck  lying  next  to  Concticutt  river  was 
called  Sebomack.  This  name  is  probably  the 
same  as  Seponack  in  Southampton,  and  means 
a  "  ground  nut  place."  All  these  necks  are  now 
included  under  the  general  name  of  Mastic, 
which  originally  applied  only  to  the  neck  next  to 
Mastic  river,  the  original  name  of  which  seems 
to  have  been  Musqutux  creek. 

By  warrant  of  Governor  Benjamin  Fletcher, 
the  Surveyor  General,  Augustine  Graham,  sur- 
veyed several  tracts  of  land  for  Colonel  William 
Smith,  September,  1693,  and  lying  between 
Coneticutt  river  to  Mastic  river,  and  extending 
north  to  the  country  road.  In  his  report  he 
states  that  "within  these  bounds  there  are  three 
patents  granted  by  Governor  Dongan,  and  that  ail 
the  meadows  had  been  long  since  purchased  and 
enjoyed  by  the  town  of  Brookhaven."  The  map 
attached  shows  the  location  of  the  necks.  Based 
upon  this  survey,  Governor  Fletcher  gave  a  Pat- 
ent to  Colonel  William  Smith  for  a  tract  of  land 
as  follows : 


"Bounded  westv/ard  from  the  main  sea  or 
ocean  to  the  west  most  Tianks  of  a  certain  river 
called  East  Coneticott  and  so  along  the  banks 
of  said  river  to  a  creek  running  out  of  said  river 
called  Yamphank,  and  so  along  the  south  west 
bank  of  ye  said  creek  unto  the  head,  the  whole 
creek  included,  and  soe  in  a  direct  north  line 
until  it  comes  to  the  banks  of  Coneticott  river, 
and  from  there  along  the  westermost  banks  of 
said  river,  unto  the  said  river  head,  the  whole 
river  and  all  the  branches  thereof  included,  and 
from  there  along  the  west  side  of  Conneticott 
Hollow  to  the  Country  road,  near  the  middle 
of  the  Island,  the  whole  hollow  included,  and 
so  bounded  north  by  the  (Country  road  to  a 
marked  tree  five  and  a  half  miles,  and  so  in  a 
direct  south  line  to  a  marked  tree  at  the  head  of 
the  main  branch  of  Mastick  river,  and  from 
thence  along  the  caster  most  banks  of  Mastick 
river,  the  whole  river  and  all  its  branches  in- 
cluded to  the  main  sea.  Also  the  small  tracts  of 
upland  and  meadow  Lying  east  of  Mastic  river 
called  Puncatone  and  Hoggs  neck,  hounded 
eastward  from  the  main  sea  to  a  river  or  creeke 
called  Senekes  river,  and  thence  in  a  direct 
north  line  to  the  Country  road,  and  bounded 
west  bv  the  lands  aforesaid." 


2m 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


This  is  dated  October  9,  1693.  The  whole 
tract  was  to  be  a  "Lordship  or  Manor  '  under 
the  name  of  "St.  George's  Manor,"  with  man- 
orial privikges.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  necks 
previously  sold  were  only  a  small  part  of  the 
tract,  and  Colonel  Smith  finally  became  the 
owner  of  the  greater  part. 

By  a  deed  dated  July  2,  1700,  Colonel  Smith 
recites  "Tobacus  and  other  Indian  proprietors 
of  certain  tracts  of  land  on  the  isouth  side  of 
Long  Island,  near  Unquechoge,  had  by  several 
deeds  conveyed  to  him  their  lands."  He  there- 
fore gives  to  "Wisquo'suck,  Jose,  Wionconow, 
Potaquom ,  Steven,  Werampes,  Penaws,  Top- 
s'hana,  iWepsha,  Tocome  and  Jacob,  Indian  na- 
tives of  Unquechoge,  and  to  their  children  and 
the  posterity  of  their  children,  the  right  to  plant 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  land." 
Of  this  land,  100  acres  was  to  be  on  Mastic 
Neck,  50  acres  at  Poospaton,  15  acres  on  Con- 
stable's Neck  and  10  acres  at  Qualicon,"  The  an- 
nual rent  was  to  be  "Two  yellow  ears  of  Indian 
corn."  On  this  right  the  last  remnant  of  the 
tribe  of  Uncachoges  still  remain  under  the  name 
of  ''Poospatuck  Indians."  This  manor  lias  been 
the  home  for  generatioiTs  of  families  famous  in 
the  history  of  the  State  and  nation,  -and  the  his- 
tory of  the  Smiths,  the  WoodhuUs  and  the 
Floyds  are  the  history  of  the  town. 

William  Smith  sells  to  John  Wood  "All  the 
upland  of  the  lower  part  of  a  certain  neck  now  in 
his  tenure,  in  the  manor  of  St.  George,  com- 
monly called  by  the  Indian  natives,  Towapi- 
onke,  containing  100  acres,  bounded  east  by  Pus- 
ecunck'^si  creek,  west  by  Sunkapawk  creek,  north 
to  a  hollow,  south  to  the  mouth  of  Mastick  river. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  in  my  Court 
Book,  at  my  hou'se  in  the  manor  of  St.  George." 
December  20,  1693.  This  deed  is  of  interest,  as 
it  gives  local  Indian^  names  perhaps  otherwise 
unknown. 

On  May  17,  1718,  William  Smith,  "of  the 
Manor  of  St.  George,"  sold  to  Richard  Floyd 
for  a  "reasonable  sum  of  money"  "a  tract  of 
land  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Mastic  river,  and 
along  the  river  to  the  head  of  the  same,  thence 
due  north  to  the  middle  of  the  Island,   thence 


due  west  one  English  mile,  then  due  south  till 
the  head  of  the  Mastic  river  bears  due  east,  and 
then  south  on  a  straight  line  to  the  head  of 
Patersquash  creek,  from  thence  as  the  land  of 
said  William  Smith  doth  extend  to  the  place 
where  it  begins,  with  all,  etc." 

On  December  6,  17S7,  Benjamin  Floyd  sold 
to  Dr.  Christopher  Roberts  700  acres  of  Floyd's 
neck,  then  bounded  west  by  William  Smith,  east 
by  late  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  south  by  the  bay. 
The  price  was  £2.750.  This  tract  still  remains 
in  the  possession  of  the  descendants  of  Dr. 
Roberts. 

The  neck  of  land  called  Yamphank,  on  the 
creek  of  that  name,  was  sold  by  "Wopekege  alias 
forridge,  Indian,"  to  Samnel  Terrill^  "for  good 
will  and  affection'  and  divers  other  good  cau'ses," 
and  >was  described  as  "A  tract  of  land  and 
meadow  bounded  east  by  a  river  called  East 
Coneticott,  south  by  a  small  river  called  Yamp- 
hank, west  by  a  tree  at  the  head  of  said  Yamp- 
hank, and  north  by  a  swamp  called  Asawsum." 
This  is  dated  November  13,  1688.  Many  years 
after  Samuel  Terrill  was  dead,  on  April  11, 
1738,  the  town  trustees  "acknowledged  that 
Samuel  Terrell  did  live  in  the  town,  and  did  al- 
low him  to  be  the  proper  owner  of  Yamphank 
neck."  This  was  no  doubt  in  relation  to  some 
dispute  between  the  town  and  the  Smith  family. 

On  April  10,  1745,  Mordicai  Homan,  Jr., 
Richard  Floyd  and  NicoU  Floyd,  sold  to  John 
■  Havens,  of  Shelter  Island,  "All  the  neck  Yamp- 
hank, as  described  in  the  deed  of  Samuel  Ter- 
rell, with  a  grist  mill,  saw  mill  and 
fulling  mill.  The  price  was  £720,  or  $1,800, 
a  large  stun  in  those  days.  A  note  adds, 
"Possession  given  same  day,  and  money  re- 
ceived in  full."  John  Havens  was  a  man  of  ex- 
tensive means,  when  he  came  from  Shelter  Isl- 
and.    This  region  was  called  Southhaven,  May 

3>  1757. 

West  of  Coneticutt  river  comes  the  large  ex- 
tent of  territory  now  known  as  Brookhaven,  or 
Bellport,  but  originally  Fire  Place  Xeck,  and  Oc- 
combomack.  The  earliest  deed  is  dated  July  20, 
1657,  when  Wyandance,  the  Mmtauk  Sachem, 
and  Wenecohage  sell  to  Richard  Woodhull,  "for 


BROOKHAVEN. 


267 


himself  and  the  rest  of  his  neighbors,  at  Setal- 
cott,  two  great  necks  of  meadow,  lying  from  a 
river  called  Coneticott  to  a  river  called  Wegon- 
thotok.  The  price  paid  was  "20  coats^  20  hoes, 
20  hatchets,  40  needles,  40  muxes,  10  pounds  of 
powder,  10  pounds  of  lead,  6  pair  of  stockings, 
6  shirts,  i  Trooper's  coat,  made  of  good  cloth, 
20  knives  and  i  gun."  Concerning  the  title  to 
this  tract,  there  never  seems  to  have  been  any 
dispute. 

\\'eaump  and  iive  other  Indians  "of  the 
south  side  of  Nassau  Island,"  sell  to  Richard 
Floyd  and  Jonathan  Rose  and  other  inhabitants 
of  Brookhaven,  "All  that  tract  of  upland  and 
meadow  on  the  south  side  of  said  Island,  from  a 
ma;rked  tree  westward,  near  the  Fresh  Pond, 
west  of  Occombomack,  as  far  as  the  Fire  Place 
creek,  containing  all  the  meadow  and  upland  as 
far  as  the  middle  of  the  Island,  and  to  the  bay. 
or  ,salt  water."  July  17,  1705.  Probably  this 
was  intended  as  a  confinmation. 

These  necks  were  laid  out  at  a  very  early 
day,  and  the  original  lots  could  no  doubt  be  lo- 
cated with  little  antiquarian,  effort.  The  fol- 
lowing abstracts  of  deeds  may  be  of  interest : 

George  Norton  sells  to  \A'illiam  Jane  "All 
that  share  of  meadow  and  15  acres  of  upland 
lying  at  a  place  commonly  called  the  Fire  Place, 
in  Brookhaven,  in  the  little  Vly  at  the  south  side, 
and  known  as  No.  28,  and  lots  in  the  possession 
of  ye  father  Nathaniel  Norton."  1701.  (Vly  is 
a  Dutch  word  meaning  a  low  swampy  piece  of 
ground. ) 

Andrew  Miller  sells  to  Richard  Hulse  "a  15 
acre  lot  and  share  of  meadow  in  Fire  Place 
Neck,  No.  31."  Samuel  Acrely  sells  to  Richard 
Hulse  the  lot  No.  32,  which  was  next  nortb. 
1706. 

Thomas  Ward  sold  to  Benjamin  Gould  ''A 
certain  parcel  of  land  and  meadow,  lying  in 
Brookhaven,  at  a  place  commonly  called  by  the 
name  of  Fire  Place  Neck,  being  No.  15.  Also 
another  lot  adjoining  thereto."  Benjamin  Gould 
mortgaged  them  to  Job  Sayre,  of  Southampton, 
and  came  to  him  by  judgment  of  Court,  and  be 
sold  them  to  Thomas  Hunter,  of  Brookhaven, 
June  25,  1691. 

Richard  Floyd  sells  to  Thomas  Rose  "a  15 
acre  lot  with  a  share  of  meadow  on  a  neck  com- 
monly called  Fire  Place,  being  No.  25."    July  12, 


1704.  Benjamin  Smith  sold  to  Thomas  Rose  the 
lot  No.  26. 

Thomas  Thorpe  sells  to  Jonathan  Rose  "My 
15  acre  lot  of  upland  at  Occumbomack,  with  the 
meadow  thereto  belonging.  Bounded  west  by 
Thomas  Smith,  east  by  John  Coombs."  Oct.  12, 
1 681. 

Jonathan  Rose  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Robert 
Rose,  who  originally  lived  in  Southampton  and 
moved  tO'  East  Hampton,  and  died  there  before 
1665.  His  sons  Jonathan,  Thomas  and  John 
moved  to  Brookhaven. 

Zachariah  tiawkins  and  wife  Alary  sells  to 
Jonathan  Rose,,  "cooper,'  "*A  certain  15  acre  lot 
of  upland  and  i  share  of  meadow  in  a  certain 
neck  called  Occumbomack.  Bounded  east  by 
land  of  Thomas  Smith,  south  by  Sound  or  Bay, 
west  by  land  late  in  tenure  of  Thomas  Jenner, 
and  north  by  Commons."  Price  ii8.  April  4, 
1696. 

Richard  Floyd  sells  to  "Jonathan  Rose,  of 
Occumbomack,  2  Fifteen  acre  lots  of  upland, 
and  2  shares  of  meadow,  lying  upon  Occum- 
bomack Neck.  Being  lots  laid  out  by  the  Town 
Surve3'or ;  one  to  Richard  Floyd,  and  the  other 
to  John  Coombs,  and  bounded  as  by  Record." 
May  12,  1696. 

Samuel  Dayton,  Sr.,  gives  to  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth "and  my  two  daughters  which  God  bas 
given  me  by  her,  viz  Sarah  and  Elizabeth.  All 
my  now  dwelling  house,  and  all  land  and  mead- 
ows thereto  belonging,  that  I  bave  upon  this 
Neck  w^ich  was  laid  out  to  me,  with  the  swamp, 
and  also  serveral  parcels  of  land  which  I  have 
purchased.  To  my  said  wife  for  life  and  then  to 
my  two  daughters,  that  they  may  be  incouraged 
to  be  loving  and  helpful  to  their  mother."  This 
is  dated  "at  my  dwelling  house  in  Brookhaven 
South  July  4,  1690."  Witness,  Jonathan  Rose, 
Jane  Rose,  Samuel  Terrill.  Samuel  Dayton  was 
tbe  first  settler  in  Bellport. 

William  Weatherby  sells  to  Jonathan  Rose, 
"A  lot  of  meadow  on  the  east  side  of  the  land 
of  Jonathan  Rose  at  a  place  called  Occum- 
bomack, and  a  piece  of  land  near  the  same, 
formerly  in  possession  of  Samuel  Dayton,  my 
father-in-law,  late  of  Brookhaven,  decea^ecU 
being  15  acres,  and  granted  to  me  as  a  part  of 
the  portion  of  my  wife,  the  daughter  of  said 
Samuel  Dayton."    April  11,  1699. 

John  Halliock  sells  to  Jonathan  Rose  "Three 
15  acre  lots  and  meadow  lying  together,  situate 
at  a  place  called  Occumbomack.  Bounded  west 
by  land  formerly  of  Zachary  Hawkins  and  by 
bim  given  to  his  son  (in  law)  Nathaniel  Brew- 
ster, east  by  Dav-ton's  river,  south  by  the  bay, 


268 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


north   by   lands,   as    laid   out."      May    19,    1702. 
Price  £30. 

Samuel  Terrill  and  wife  Abigail  sell  to 
Jonathan  Rose  *'A  certain  tract  of  land  in  Oc- 
combomach  Neck,  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Isl- 
and, being  four  15  acre  lots  of  upland  and  4 
shares  of  meadoAv,  as  the  same  was  laid  out  to 
Thomas  Thorpe,  Zachariah  Hawkins,  Thomas 
Smith  and  Thomas  Jenner.  Also  one-half  of  a 
whole  right  of  Commonge  late  in  tenure  of  one 
Robert  Goldsbury.  Also  20  acres  of  upland 
already  laid  out  and  joining  to  the  said  15  acre 
lots."    Price  f8o.    June  17,  1697. 

The  eastern  boundary  of  Winthrop's  Patent 
was  at  a  Fresh  pond.  The  following  unrecorded 
deeds  may  throw  some  light  upon  early  owner- 
ship. 

The  trustees  of  Brookhaven  sell  to  Richard 
Floyd  Jr.  for  £25,  "A  mesuage  or  tract  of  land, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  township  of  Brookhaven. 
at  a  place  called  Stars  Neck,  bounded  on  the 
south  by  the  15  acre  lots,  west  by  Governor 
Winthrop's  land,  east  by  a  certain  creek  or  brook 
running  between  said  land  and  Accombomack 
Neck,  and  so  running  north  until  it  comes  to  a 
west  line  from  the  head  of  a  certain  creek  called 
Dayton's  creek,  on  the  east  side  of  Robert  Rose's 
land,  with  all,  etc." 

Richard  Floyd  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  give 
the  above  tract  to  his  brother,  Nicoli  Floyd, 
dated,  October  8,  1736,  "for  love  and  affection 
and  £25." 

John  Brewster  sells  to  Nicoli  Floyd  "all  his 
right,  claim  and  demand  to  a  certain  tract  of  land 
and  meadow  within  the  bounds  of  the  Patent 
granted  to  Governor  Winthrop,  bounded  south 
by  the  bay,  on  the  east  by  the  middle  of  a  creek 
which  divides  the  tract  now  in  possession  of  said 
Nicoli  Floyd  and  Benjamin  Rider,  and  running 
north  in  the  middle  of  the  creek  until  it  meets 
a  north  line  from  a  place  called  a  pond  formerly 
on  the  east  side  of  Accombomack  point,  and 
to  extend  on  this  line  north  until  it  comes  to 
the  midle  of  the  Island.  On  the  west  it  is 
bounded  by  a  ditch  running  from  a  point  on  the 
west  side  of  Star's  Neck,  south  to  the  bay  and 
north  it  shall  extend  to  the  middle  of  the  Island. 
The  southwest  part  of  the  tract  of  land  com- 
monly called  with  the  name  of  Star's  Neck." 
The  price  paid  was  £350. 

John  Brewster  sefls  to  Nicol]  Floyd  "All  that 
upland  and  meadow  lying  east  of  the  middle  of 
the  creek  that  part  Star's  Neck  from  Acom- 
bomack,  bounded  south  by  the  bay  west  by  the 


middle  of  the  creek  that  part  of  Star's  Neck  from 
Acombomack,  and  eastward  it  is  bounded  by  a 
place  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  pond,  on  or 
near  Acombomack  Point,  from  which  place  or 
pond  it  runs  south  to  the  bay,  and  north  to  the 
creeks  which  make  the  westward  bounds,  the 
nortli  bounds  coming  to  a  point,  the  land  called 
by  the  name  of  Acombomack.  The  one-half  of 
all  the  above  bounded  lands."  April  i,  1754. 
Price  iii5,  15  s, 

Nicoli  Floyd  leases  the  above  tract  to  John 
Brewster  for  four  years,  at  £25  rent  and  he  is 
to  "set  out  and  take  care  of  100  apple  trees." 
September  19,  1754. 

Nathan  Dayton,  of  East  Hampton,  sells  to 
Nicoli  Floyd  "a  tract  of  land  in  Accombomack 
Neck,  bounded  west  by  land  of  Samuel  Conkling, 
south  by  the  bay,  east  by  the  land  of  Nathaniel 
Brewster,  and  west  by  the  lotted  lands  of  Brook- 
haven, as  was  held  by  Daniel  Terry,  deceased. 
Also  a  piece  of  meadow,  bounded  north,  east  and 
south  by  land  of  Samuel  Conkling  and  west  by 
creek  that  divides  Acombomack  Neck  from 
Star's  Neck."  April  9,  1761.  Dayton's  creek  is 
probably   the   one   now   called    Osborne's  creek. 

Next  west  of  Occombomack  (now  Bellport) 
and  extending  to  the  Islip  town  line  is  the  exten'- 
sive  tract  Icnown  a^  Winthrop's  Patent,  having 
an  extremely  interesting  history. 

On  JNIarch  29,  1680,  a  Patent  was  granted 
to  "Major  John  Winthrop,  formerly  Governor 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticutt,"  reading  as  fol- 
lows : 

"For  a  tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of 
Long  Island,  opposite  to  Setalcott  and  to  the 
Nessequake  river,  the  said  tract  consisting  of 
upland  and  meadow  ground  there.  The  same  be- 
ing bounded  on  the  west  by  a  river  called  by  the 
Indians  Namke,  and  on  the  east  bv  a  fresh  pond 
adjoining  to  a  place  called  Acombaniock,  extend- 
ing northwards  to  the  middle  of  the  Island.  As 
conveyed  on  or  about  the  9th  day  of  June  1664 
by  Tobacus  Sachem  of  Onchechaug  to  the  said 
\\'inthrop  as  appears  bv  the  records  of  Setall- 
cott. 

FoAroxD  Andros,  Gov." 

This  tract  included  nine  necks  of  land,  named 
as  follows,  beginning  from  the  west:  Blue 
Point,  Tucker's  Neck,  Smitli's  Neck,  Short 
Neck,  Pochaug,   Swan  Creek  Neck,  Pine  Neck, 


BROOKHAVEN. 


269 


Moger's  Neck  and  Francis  Neck.  This  tract  re- 
mained in  possession  of  Governor  Winthrop 
until  the  time  oi  his  death.  His  son^  John  Still 
Winthrop,  sold  the  two  eastern  necks,  'Moger's 
Neck  and  Francis  Neck,  to  Thomas  Strong  and 
John  Brewster,  October  14,  1719.  On  March 
27,  1752,  John  Still  Winthrop,  of  New  Haven, 
sells  to  Jij^mphrey  Av^ry,  of,  Boston^  the  re- 
mainder, described  as  follows : 

''A  tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Long 
Island.  Bounded  south  by  the  Great  Bay,  east 
by  the  middle  of  the  river  that  parts  Pine  Neck 
from  Moger's  neck,  until  the  said  river  intersects 
tlie  road  that  crosses  the  head  of  said  necks, 
from  thence  north  to  the  middle  of  the  Island, 
bounded  north  by  the  middle  of  the  Island,  and 
west  by  the  river  Namke.  Containing  seven 
necks,  called  Pine  neck.  Swan  Creek,  Pochaug, 
Short  neck,  Smith's  neck,  Tucker's  neck,  and 
Blue  Point."  The  price  paid  was  ^2599 
los. 

Humphrey  Avery  being  involved  in  debt  was 
permitted  by  Act  of  Governor  and  Council,  No- 
vember 27,  1756,  "to  make  sale  of  his  estate  by 
Lottery."  Richard  Floyd,  Nathaniel  Smith  and 
William  Nicoll  were  appointed  managers  and 
duly  ^sworn.  "They  published  a  Scheme.''  The 
whole  estate  was  valueid  at  £6900,  and  was  di- 
vided into  36  lots.,  valued  from  i20  to  iiooo. 
The  number  of  tickets  issued  were  8000  and  were 
sold  at  30  shillings  each.  There  were  36  land 
prizes,  valued  at  £6900,  1580  cash  prizes  at  £3 
each  and  £360  was  allowe-d  'ior  expenses.  The 
whole  affair  was  liberally  advertised  in  the  "New 
York  Gazette,"  the  principal  New  York  news- 
paper of  that  day.  Each  neck  south  of  the 
Country  road  was  a  lot  by  itself.  The  wood  land 
north  of  the  road  was  divided  into  lots  of  com- 
paratively little  value.  The  extent  and  value  of 
the  lots  below  the  road  are  as  follows : 

Upland  Meadow 

Acres  Acres  Value 

1  Pine  Neck 300  100  iiooo 

2  Swan  Creek 400  56  750 

3  Pochaug  Neck 400  75  900 

5  Short  Neck 120  45  324 

6  vSm.ith's  Neck 306  46  650 

7  Tucker's  Neck 190  43  574 

8  Blue  Point 1  qo  60  618 


Lot  No.  4  will  he  described  hereafter.  The 
drawing  was  made  in  June,  1758.  There  were 
1616  prizes,  and  6384  blanks.  The  advertise- 
ment stated  that  "there  never  was  a  Lottery  in 
America  that  had  so  many  large  and  valuable 
Prizes  in  it,  therefore  it  is  not  doubted  but  the 
tickets  will  be  sold  very  soon,  especially  consid- 
ering that  the  situation  of  the  land  is  a  Place 
freed  and  absolutely  secured  from  the  Inroads  and 
Ravage  of  the  Enemy."  This  last  statement  is 
a  reminder  that  the  "Old  French  War"  was  then 
raging.  '  The  drawing  was  finished  June  21, 
1758.  Unfortunately  we  know  only  the  names 
of  a  few  of  the  fortunate  ones  who  drew  prizes. 
Lot  No.  4  was  drawn  by  "Captain  Thomas 
Clarke,  of  Chelsea,  in  New  York."  He  was  the 
grandfather  of  Clement  Clarke  Moore,  the  fa- 
m'ous  author  lof  the  "Night  Before  Christmas." 
This  lot  was  valued  at  £700,  and  was  "bounded 
south  partly  by  the  road  and  partly  by  lot  No.  3 
extending  east  from  the  Pachoug  river,  218  rods, 
then  north  125  rods,  thence  west  to  the  mill 
pond,  and  including  the  mill  pond  and  swamp, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  between  the  old  go- 
ing over  and  the  mill  dam,  together  with  the 
mill,  etc."  Lot  No.  3,  which  was  Pachoug  Neck, 
was  drawn  by  Lellord  Leffords,  of  Bedford,  in 
Kings  County.  Lot  8,  on  Blue  Point  Neck,  was 
drawn  by  Jonathan  Wright.  Lot  No.  7,  or 
Tucker's  Neck,  !was  drawn  by  Abraham^  Pol- 
hemus,  of  Jamaica. 

The  lottery  was  a  complete  success  for 
Humphrey  Avery,  who  not  only  realized  enough 
to  pay  all  his  debts,  but  repurchased  a  very  large 
part  of  the  tract.  Captain  Thomas  Clarke  sold 
back  to  him  lot  No.  4  for  £500.  He  must  have 
also  have  repurchased  Lots  i,  2  and  5,  for  he  gave 
Pine  Neck  and  Swan  Creek  Neck  and  Short 
Neck  to  his  son,  Humphrey  Avery,  Jr.,  February  ^ 
27.  1759-  Blue  Point  also  came  back  to,  him,  and  ' 
a  very  large  and  valuable  part  of  these  lands  are 
still  in  the  possession  of  his  descendants.  Owing 
to  unrecorded  deeds,  it  is  impossible  to  make  a 
clear  chain  of  title  to  Patchogue  Neck,  but  on 
September  21,  1789,  Jacob  Baker  and  Jonathan 
Terry  Baker  sold  to  Nathan  Mulford,  of  East 
Hampton,   200   acres   on  the   east   side   of   Pat- 


270 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


chogue  creek,  and  including  all  the  bay  shore 
east  to  Little  Swan  Creek.  The  price  paid  was 
£350,  or  $875.  This,  it  will  be  seen,  includes  the 
business  part  of  the  present  village  of  Patchogue. 

Reducing  all  legal  records  to  their  simplest 
terms,  it  is  to  be  said  that  in  1666  the  town  re- 
ceived a  patent  from  Governor  Nicolls  and  in 
1686  that  patent  was  confirmed  by  a  fresh  one 
issued  by  Governor  Dongan.  Besides  the  terri- 
tories contained  in  these  patents  there  were  four 
annexed  to  the  town  of  Brookhaven — the 
Moriches  Patent,  on  land  originally  purchased 
from  the  Indians  in  1677,  the  Winthrop  Patent 
for  land  between  Islip  and  Bellport  and  extend- 
ing to  the  center  of  the  island,  Halsey's  Manor, 
bought  in  1716  from  Colonel  W.  H.  Smith,  and 
the  Smith  Purchase,  the  largest  of  them  all. 
When  these  became  part  of  the  legal  territory 
of  the  township  it  started  in,  in  1797,  to  define 
its  boundaries,  and  then  ensued  a  series  of  squab- 
bles with  its  neighbors,  iwhich  were  not  wholly 
settled  until  i860. 

There  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any  idea 
of  anything  but  a  civil  government  at  Setauket 
(where  was  made  the  first  settlement  in  Brook- 
haven),  and  the  town  meeting  passed  the  usual 
laws  for  the  regulation  of  affairs  just  about  the 
same  as  we  have  seen  similar  bodies  legislating 
in  previous  chapters  of  this  history.  And  the 
colonists  had  their  early  troubles,  too,  as  colonists 
elsewhere  ihad,  as  appears  from  one  of  the  earli- 
est current  records : 

On  January  14  1672  "Mr.  John  Thompson,  of 
Seatauket  enters  an  action  of  slander  and  Def- 
famation  against  John  Beswick."  This  case  was 
settled  by  the  following  acknowledgment : 

"Know  all  whom.e  it  may  concerne,  that 
whereas  I  John  Beswich,  have  taken  up  an  evill 
reporte  against  Mr.  John  Tomson,  which  I 
made  not  of  my  self  but  took  it  up  of  another 
man,  in  saying  yt  I  was  never  banished  from 
Stamford,  as  he  was,  which  I  acknowledge  that 
I  know  noe  such  thinge  of  him  of  my  own 
knoAvledge.  By  which  I  acknowleds^e  that  I 
have  done  the  aforesaide  John  Tomson  much 
wrong  and  am  very  sorry  for  it.  As  witness  my 
hand  this  16  of  January  1672. 

his 
"John  X  Beswick." 
mark 


John  Beswick  afterward  removed  to  South- 
ampton and  set  up  his  trade  of  bri'ckmaking. 

Of  course  there  was  a  clergyman  in  the 
community,  and  he  was  a  man  of  parts,  one  who, 
if  he  was  not  one  of  the  first  colonists,  came 
so  early  that  he  is  acknowledged  as  the  first 
minister.  He  was  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Brewster, 
a  grandson  of  William  Brewster,  one  of  the 
Pilgrim  Fathers.  His  three  sons  were  among 
the  pioneers  and  it  is  thought  that  he  merely 
went  to  Setauket  to  visit  them  and  was  induced 
to  stay.  These  sons  were  Timothy,  Daniel  and 
John,  who  became  prominent  in  town  affairs,  the 
first  named  serving  for  twenty-three  years  as 
clerk,  and  the  second  being  continued  in  that 
office  for  twenty-six  years  following. 

There  is  no  record  in  the  earlier  years,  how- 
ever, to  show  that  Mr.  Brewster  was  regarded 
as  the  minister  of  the  town.  In  fact,  in  1662, 
the  town  meeting  extended  a  call  to  a  dominie 
named  Fletcher  to  become  the  minister  at  a 
salary  of  £40  a  year,  but  whether  he  accepted 
or  not  cannot  be  determined.  But  from  his  ar- 
nval  Brewster  acted  as  minister,  and  in  1665 
seems  to  have  fully  accepted  the  charge,  for  a 
house  wa:&  purchased  for  his  use  as  a  manse.  It 
was  evidently  a  mo'&t  superior  structure,  for  it 
had  doors  and  glass  windows  and  other  modem 
improvements.  Brewster  died  in  1690.  In  1685 
he  was  laid  aside  from  active  work  thraugh  ill- 
health,  and  Samuel  Eburne,  one  of  the  men  in 
Thompson's  list,  was  chosen  as  his  successor. 
He  was  to  receive  a  salary  of  £60  per  annum 
"Soe  long  as  liee  should  continue  to  preach 
amongst  them."  At  the  end  of  the  year,  how- 
ever, the  salary  was  not  forthcoming — probably 
they  did  not  think  much  of  his  preaching — and  he 
appealed  to  Governor  Dongan  to  enforce  pay- 
ment. This  the  Governor  ordered,  but  prob- 
ably the  controversy  destroyed  Mr.  Eburne's 
usefulness  and  closed  his  ministerial  career.  In 
1687  Mr.  Jonah  Fordham,  of  Southampton,  be- 
came minister,  and  from  then  on  the  town  meet- 
ing was  always  zealous  in  seeing  that  the  spir- 
itual interests  of  the  people  were  attended  to, 
but  the  church  as  such  had  no  special  power  in 
the  community. 

Education   had   early  attention,   for  we  find 


BROOKHAVEN. 


271 


that  as  early  as  1687  the  town  employed  Francis 
Williamson  as  schoolmaster,  at  a  salary  of  £30 
per  amniniy  one-third  of  the  amount  to  be  paid  by 
a  general  tax  and  two-thirds  by  a  school-rate  to 
be  paid  by  the  parents  of  the  pupils.  In  1704, 
John  Gray  was  the  schoolm.aster,  and  he  was 
permitted  the  use  of  the  meeting-house,  he  being 
responsible  for  any  idamage  to  property  caused 
by  the  scholars,  and  seeing  that  the  room  was 
left  in  proper  order  for  religious  services  on 
Sunday.  In  1718  a  school  building  was  erected. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  coloniial  period 
school  buildings  were  annually  erected  through 
personal  subscriptions,  the  town  donating  the 
necessary  ground. 

In  the  Revolutionary  struggle  Brookhaven 
was  mo'St  emphatically  on  the  side  of  the  Pa- 
triots from  the  beginning.  During  that  period 
it  was  the  scene  of  many  exploits  which  are 
chronicled  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  and  it  had 
its  own  full  share  of  the  hardships  and  wrongs 
of  the  days  of  the  occupation.  But  the  special 
glory  of  Brookhaven  in  this  connection  is  in  the 
men  she  contributed  to  the  cause  of  American 
liberty — General  Woodhull ;  William  Floyd,  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence; Caleb  Brewster,  a  descendant  of  Setauket's 
first  minister,  and  who  did  such  grand  service 
with  his  fleet- of  whaleboats;  Major  Benjamin 
Talmadge,  a  son  of  a  minister  of  Setauket  and 
born  in  that  village;  Captain  Nathaniel  Norton, 
who  was  at  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  and  his 
army;  Colonel  Josiah  Smith,  who  led  the  Suffolk 
county  militia,  and  many  others  who  might  be 
named.  Her  record  in  the  Civil  war,  while  it 
did  not  furnish  so  many  brilliant  names,  amply 
demonstrated  that  the  fighting  qualities  of  its 
citizens  had  not  diminished  with  the  years  of 
"inactive  ease."  To  that  conflict  it  furnished 
nxore  men  by  far  than  were  demanded  by  the 
drafts,  while  in  a  financial  sense  its  contributions 
were  most  generous. 

The  modern  story  of  Brookhaven  presents 
little  to  detain  us.  After  the  Revolution  was 
over  it  resumed  the  quiet  and  even  tenor  of  its 
ways  and  until  the  advent  of  the  iron  horse 
was  apparently  forgotten.    Its  people  were  farm- 


ers, shipbuilders  and  fishermen,  and  very  little 
manufacturing  was  done  within  its  bounds.  For 
many  years  shipbuilding  was  the  greatest  of  its 
industries,  the  one  that  kept  it  most  in  touch 
with  the  world,  but  as  the  era  of  wooden  sliips 
passed,  so  passed  that  industry,  although  yacht 
building  has  in  recent  years  made  some  of  the 
old  yards  look .  lively  again  and  opened  many 
new.  ones.  Manufacturing  has  been  tried  at 
Setauket,  but  has  never  reached  anything  like 
the  proportion  it  was  at  one  time  hoped  it  would 
attain,  and  it  remains  yet  a  village  with  only 
some  600  inhabitants. 

Yet  Setauket  is  a  place  with  a  good  deal  of 
historic  interest.  Tradition  says  that  its  ancient 
"Green'*  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Setalcott 
Indians  and  that  on  it  the  bargain  was  struck 
by  which  the  red  men  abandoned  their  lands 
for  a  few  trinkets.  The  Green  still  remains  the 
center  of  Setauket's  story.  The  origin  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  as  a  town  meeting-house, 
has  already  been  touched  upon.  A  new  and 
large  structure  devoted  wholly  tO'  religious  uses 
was  built  in  1671  and  around  it  lay  the  spot 
which  the  fathers  had  selected  as  the  town's 
burying  ground.  This  structure  served  until 
1714,  when  a  grander  building  was  erected  on  its 
site  and  by  a  vote  of  the  town  was  to  be  "a 
Presbyterian  meeting-house  forever."  It  gave 
way,  however,  to  another  building,  still  larger, 
in  1766,  which  was  used  by  the  British  during 
the  occupation  as  a  barracks  and  before  they 
left  was  completely  destroyed.  However,  it  was 
soon  replaced.  The  church  during  its  long  ex- 
istence has  had  many  well-known  pastors,  the 
Rev.  David  Youngs  from  1745  to  1751;  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Talmadge  from  1754  to  1786; 
the  Rev.  Zachariah  Greene  from'  1797  until  1858. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry  Mr.  Greene_ 
had  several  "helpers,''  and  the  last  of  these,  the 
Rev.  James  S.  Evans,  entered  the  charge  in  1850, 
and  continued  until  1867,  when  he  was  succeeded 
in  1868  by  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Littell,  who  is  still  its 
pastor. 

Setauket  has  another  church — Caroline  (Pro- 
testant Episcopal)  Church — the  history  of  which 
is  replete  with  interest,  and  has  been  interest- 


272 


ingly   written   by   Mr.   R.    M.    Bayles,   a 
investigator  of  local  affairs,  and  from  whose  nar- 
rative we  condense  what  follows. 

This  church  grew  out  of  the  effort  of  the 
London  (England)  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel,  which  sent  out  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wet- 


HISTORY   OF    LONG  ISLAND 

careful 


CAROLLNE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

more  as  a  missioncr  in  1723.  That  the  services 
of  the  Gnirch  of  England  were  known  here,  and 
worship  in  accordance  with  that  form  was  con- 
ducted many  yt-ars  Ix-ffn-c  that  date,  there  is 
scarcc]\-  room  tu  deiil)!.  It  is  imt  known,  how- 
c-vc-r,  that  the  church  had  an  cditicc  of  its  own  un- 
til the  [)rc.srnl-  (.no  was  erected  in  1730.  Fur  this 
building,  which  appears  to  he  onjoyino-  a  robust 
old  a^c,  is  claiinc-d  the  double  honor  of  having 
been  tin-  first  church  edifice  tvor  erected  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Episcopal  denomination  on  Long 
Island,  and  as  at  iirescnt  being  the  oldest  church 


edifice   standing    on   the    island.      The    original 
name  of  the  church  was  Christ  Church,  but  the 
name  was  changed  to  its  present  one  in  compli- 
ment to  Queen  Caroline  of  England,  who  had 
presented  to  the  parish  a  silver  communion  serv- 
ice  and   embroidered   altar   cloths.     This  royal 
gift    was    sacrilegiously   abstracted  during  the 
Revolutionary  period.     Through  a  long  term  of 
years  the  society   in  London  helped  to  sustain 
the  missionary  stationed  here  by  a  contribution 
of  from  £50  to  i6o  a  year.     The  church  was 
stronger  and  its  sei-vices  were  more  largely  at- 
tended during  the  colonial  period  than  for  many 
years  afterward. 

Within  a  few  years  past  the  parish  has  re- 
covered somewhat.  Since  1878  a  new  fence  has 
been  set  up  around  the  churchyard,  a  rectory 
of  handsome  appearance  and  comfortable  dimen- 
sions has  been  erected,  and  the  church  repaired. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  rectors,  which 
also  shows  the  term  each  served  the  church,  as 
nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  : 

Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore,  1723-1725;  Rev.  Mr. 
Standard,  1725-28;  Rev.  Alexander  Campbell, 
1728-30;  Rev.  Isaac  Brown,  1733-43;  Rev.  James 
Lyons,  1746;  Rev.  T.  Lambert  Moore,  1781-83; 
Rev.  Andrew  Fowler,  1788-90;  Rev.  Mr.  Sands, 
1800;  Rev.  N.  B.  Burgess,  1811-14;  Rev.  Charles 
Seabury,  1814-44;  Rev.  William  Adams,  1843- 
44;  Rev.  Frederic  M.  Noll,  1844-77;  Rev. 
Robert  T.  Pearson,  1878.  (Rev.  D.  Marvin  is 
the  present  rector.) 

The  Rev.  Charles  Seabury,  of  whom  we  have 
heretofore  written,  died  after  thirty  years'  faithful 
service,  and  a  pillar  marks  his  tomb.  Rev.  F. 
j\L  Noll,  who  served  the  church  thirty-three  years, 
was  unmarried,  and  for  many  years  occupied 
rooms  at  the  rear  of  the  church,  where  the 
graves  in  the  surrounding  churchyard  lay  so 
near  that  one  could  step  upon  them  from  his 
threshold  or  reach  the  marble  slabs  fromi  his 
bedroom  windows.  Amid  such  gloomy  sur- 
roundings he  enjoyed  undisturbed  seclusion. 

In  1662  the  shipbuilding  industry  in  Setauket 
appears  to  have  had  its  beginning  and  the  yards 
afterward  turned  out  some  famous  craft.  The 
Hand  family  were  for  years  conspicuous  in  this 


BROOKHAVEN. 


273 


line,  and  as  late  as  1870  David  Bayles  constructed 
a  vessel — the  Adorna — of  1,700  tons,  but  the 
industry  has  since  then  lost  its  vitality. 

At  East  Setauket  yet  stands  the  parsonage 
which  was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
Talmadge,  and  was  the  birthplace  of  his  son, 
Colonel  Benjamin  Talmadge,  of  revolutionary 
fainie.  A  view  of  the  old  building  is  here  pre- 
sented. 


■;^     BIRTHPLACE  or  COL.  BENJAMIN  TALMAOGE, 
EAST  SETAUKET, L.I. 


Near  Setauket  is  Strong's  Neck — Little  Neck, 
as  it  was  formerly  called.  It  was  once  a  favorite 
seat  of  the  Indians.  The  principal  part  of  the 
neck  was  bought  from  the  red  men  by  Daniel 
Lane,  whose  title  was  transferred  to  the  town 
proprietors  in  1663. 

Stony  Brook  now  boasts  a  population  of 
some  700,  and  can  trace  its  history  to  1699,  when 
a  mill  was  established  by  a  pioneer  bearing  the 
afterward  famous  name  of  Adam  Smith.  Its 
population  grew  slowly,  but  surely,  and  in  1801 
it  reached  the  dignity  of  having  a  school  house, 
and  in  1817  a  church  building.  For  many  years 
its  principal  trade,  outside  of  farming,  was  the 
manufacture  of  cord  wood  and  fertilizers,  and 
in  1843  it  boasted  a  fleet  of  one  brig,  eight 
schooners  and  fifteen  sloops.  Then  it  became  a 
Httle  manufacturing  place,  but  that  soon  passed, 
and  it  slowly  drifted  backward  until,  with  the 
opening  up  of  the  railroad,  it  received  a  new 
lease  oi  life  and  is  steadily  winning  a  place 
among  the  popular  resorts.  In  1902  it  had  a 
population  of  500,  so  its  progress  has  been  fairly 

18 


satisfactory.  Its  situation  is  one  of  exceeding 
beauty,  and  it  possesses  many  rural  and  aquatic 
attractions. 

A  few  miles  from  Stony  Brook  is  one  of  the 
quaintest  villages  on  Long  Island.  Its  one  main 
street  contains  stores  and  shops,  whose  signs 
bear  names  of  the  proprietors  and  of  goods  in 
words  mostly  made  up  of  consonants.  The  name 
of  the  place  is  Bohemia,  and  the  300  inhabitants 
are  people  from  that  land  for  which  it  is  named. 
They  maintain  their  native  language,  manners 
and  customs.  The  men  wear  the  heavy  shoes, 
short  jackets  and  caps,  and  the  women  the 
wooden  shoes  of  their  fatherland.  A  New 
Yorker  happening  here  would  scarcely  think  him- 
self in  America.  The  men  are  mostly  farmers, 
some  working  tracts  which  they  own  and  which 
lie  beyond  the  village.  Others  work  for  Amer- 
ican farmers  in  the  neighborhood.  They  are 
sober  and  industrious  and  hard  times  have  never 
'Struck  the  village.  Here  on  a  Sunday  afternoon 
the  people  give  themselves  up  to  amusement. 
The  music  sounds  strange  to  the  American,  but 
it  is  that  of  the  ancient  kingdom.  The  villagers 
gather  in  ithe  public  dance  halls  and  young  and 
old  dance  and  make  merry.  The  provisions  of 
the  Sunday  liquor  law  do  not  seem  to  apply  to 
the  village,  and  betw^een  the  dances  the  hop-brew 
and  wines  of  the  old  country  pass  freely  around. 
\Miile  the  men  are  good  citizens,  still,  there  is 
more  talk  of  the  happenings  in  the  country 
across  the  sea  than  of  what  is  going  on  in  the 
United  States. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  features  of  the 
village  is  a  monument  erected  to  John  Huss. 
It  stands  near  the  village  church.  Recently  tlie 
monument  has  fallen  into  decay  and  some  of  the 
leaders  of  the  village  have  started  a  fund  to  re- 
pair "it. 

Port  Jefferson  enjoys  an  ideal  location,  and  its 
crescent-shaped  harbor,  one  of  the  finest  on  Long 
Island  Sound,  is  associated  with  many  stirring 
scenes.  Captain  Kidd  rendezvoused  here,  and 
there  are  local  legends  of  various  of  his  exploits. 
During  the  Revolutionary  period  it  was  an  ad- 
mirable vantage  ground  for  the  patriots,  among 
them  Paul  Jones.     One  of  his  vessels  was  here 


274 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


fitted  out,  and  'he  killed  two  officers  belonging 
to  the  British  frigate  "Nahant."  In  the  war  of 
1812  two  British  frigates  sailed  into  the  bay  and 
made  off  wth  six  sloops,  and  a  seventh  which 


PORT  JEFFERSON   HARBOR. 

they  burned  at  Dyer's  Neck.  And  at  this  time, 
and,  indeed,  as  late  as  1836,  the  place  was  known 
as  Drown  Meadow. 

The  real  history  of  Port  JeffersO'n  may  be 
dated  from  1797,  when  John  Wilsie  began  the 
shipbuilding  industry.  At  that  time  there  were 
only  five  houses  in  the  village,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  the  increase  was  small.  Wilsie 
built  a  dock  into  the  bay  on  his  property,  and 
seems  to  have  done  a  good  trade,  but  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1818,  the  shipbuilding  in- 
dustry remained  in  his  hands  and  added  but  little 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  place.  But  a  beginning 
had  been  made,  and  l)y  1825  there  were  several 
firms  in  the  business.  The  history  of  the  village 
bas  been  written  at  length  by  R.  J\I.  ]]a>'les,  and 
his  narrative  is  largely  drawn  upon  in  this  sketch. 


According  to  this  writer  about  1836  a  new  era 
seemed  to  open  to  the  progress  of  this  industry 
and  the  improvement  of  the  village  generally. 
This  was  in  considerable  measure  owing  to  the 
enterprise  of  Captain  William 
L.  Jones,  who  probably  ven- 
tured more  capital  and  energy 
in  developing  the  village  than 
any  other  man  has  ever  done. 
Captain  Jones  was  a  member 
of  a  native  family,  and  was  born 
about  the  year  1792.  In  early 
life  he  naturally  took  to  the 
water.  His  parents  were  Daniel 
and  Bethia  Jones.  He  inherit- 
ed considerable  landed  prop- 
erty about  Comsewogue,  which 
furnished  him  the  means  for 
carrying  out  the  designs  of  an 
inventive  and  enterprising  geni- 
us. The  estate  of  the  Roe  fam- 
ily -comprised  the  greater  part 
of  the  present  village  site,  and 
from  this  Captain  Jones  pur- 
chased a  large  tract,  reach- 
ing from  about  the  site  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  along  the 
west  and  north  sides  of  Main 
street  to  the  neighborhood  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  so 
northerly  to  the  shore  of  the  bay,  including  also  a 
tract  on  the  east  side  of'  ]\Iain  street,  up  Pros- 
pect street  as  far  as  the  residence  of  John  R.  Ma- 
ther. November  10,  1837,  he  received  a  grant  from 
the  town  for  a  dock  into  the  bay  from  the  shore 
of  his  property,  and  at  the  same  time  entered 
into  an  agreement  to  construct  a  causeway  over 
the  salt  meadows  to  the  dock  through  his  land, 
so  as  to  make  a  ^public  highway  18  feet  wide, 
to  be  stoned  up  on  either  side  and  of  sufficient 
height  to  be  above  ordinary  high  tides.  This 
two-fold  enterprise  was  completed  in  a  few  years, 
at  a  cost  of  several  thousand  dollars.  The  dock 
is  maintained  in  part,  and  the  highway  thus 
opened  over  the  flooded  meadows  is  now  the 
busy  street  that  runs  from  Hotel  square  to  the 
shore.     Nearly  ^alf  the  business  of  the  present 


BROOKHAVEN. 


275 


village  is  carried  on  upon  the  land  that  forty 
years  ago  was  owned  by  Captain  Jones^  the 
greater  part  of  which  was  made  available  for 
business  by  the  improvements  just  noticed.  Cap- 
tain Jones  was  married  November  30,  1814,  to 
Hetta  Hallock.  After  her  death  he  married  the 
widow  of  Richard  JMather,  and  his  third  wife 
was  Hannah  Hallock,  who  survived  him.  He 
died  in  i860. 

For  a  time  Port  Jefferson  prospered  beyond 
its  fellow  villages,  and  its  shipbuilding  industry 
grew  until  it  had  the  largest  business  of  that 
kind  of  any  town  in  Suffolk  county,  and  other  in- 
dustries— notably  milling — found  entry.  A 
M'Cthodist  Church  was  erected  in  1836,  a  Presby- 
terian Church  ;n  1854,  and  a  Congreg-ational 
tabernacle  in  1855. 

At  the  present  time  the  village  is  thrifty, 
and  appears  to  be  well  started  upon  a  career  of 
even  greater  usefulness — one  which  the  late  P. 
T.  Barnum  hoped  for,  when  he  took  a  fancy  to 
the  place,  and  undertoiok  its  building  upon  a 
larger  scale.  It  has  a  splendid  body  of  citizens 
and  a  large  population — 2,026. 

Sailing  vessels  often  start  from  Port  Jeffer- 
son for  an  extended  tour  along  the  Sound  shores. 
A  steamer  plys  between  this  place  and  Bridge- 
port, Connecticut,  which  is  directly  across  Long 
Island  Sound.  From  Port  Jefferson  the  railroad 
passes  through  the  attractive  rural  villages  of 
Rocky  Point,  Miller's  Place  and  Wardenclyffe, 
to  Wading  River,  the  terminus  of  this  branch 
of  the  railroad.  The  immense  structure  erected 
by  Professor  Tesla  for  the  operation  of  his 
wireless  telegraphic  invention  was  located  at 
Wardenclyffe. 

Mount  Sinai,  a  village  which,  according  to 
the  records,  formerly  boasted  a  larger  popula- 
tion than  now,  lies  on  the  coast  some  three  miles 
eastward  from  Port  Jefferson.  It  was  called  by 
the  Indians  Non-o-wan-tuck,  but  the  more  com- 
monplace New  England  settlers  dubbed  it  "Old 
Man's."  It  seems  to  have  come  into  use  as  soon 
as  the  choice  plots  in  Setauket  were  appropriated, 
for  its  rich  meadows  appeared  desirable  selling 
places,  while  its  forests  stretched  away  in  the  dis- 
tance in  seemingly  inexhaustible  extent.  But  the 


soil  did  not  prove  as  fruitful  as  it  looked,  land 
Old  Man's  grew  very  slowly.  Early  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  sioopbuilding  was  begun,  and  for 
mlany  years  cordwood  was  -shipped  in  great  quan- 
tities, and  the  business  in  clams  reached  large 
proportions.  In  1720  a  preaching  station  in  con- 
nection with  the  Setauket  Presbyterian  Church 
was  established,  and  it  grew  into  a  iseparate  con- 
gregation in  1760.  It  has,  however,  long  since 
disappeared.  A  Congregational  Church,  found- 
ed in  1789,  upon,  it  is  supposed,  the  ''remnants" 
of  the  Presbyterian  fold,  has  fared  better,  and 
still  continues  to  shed  the  light  of  the  Gospel 
with  an  active  membership  of  120.  The  total 
population  of  Mount  Sinai  is  about  225. 

Still  eastward  along  the  'Sound  is  Miller's 
Place,  a  settlement  with  a  population  of  some 
200,  which  takes  its  name  from  its  original  set- 
tler, Andrew  Miller,  who  removed  there  from 
East  Hampton  in  1671.  Its  antiquity  is  all  that 
calls  for  remark,  as  it  is  a  wide  scattered  farm- 
ing community.  Rocky  Point  and  Woodville  are 
small  settlements  between  Miller's  Place  and 
Wading  River — the  latter  town  lying  on  the 
boundary  line  between  Brookhaven  and  River- 
head,  but  belonging  mainly  to  the  latter.  From 
St.  James'  to  Wading  River,  Brookhaven  pos- 
sesses a  magnificent  stretch  of  shore  line  which 
will  some  day  be  utilized  for  resort  purposes 
and  will  bring  to  the  township  a  degree  of  pros- 
perity it  has  not  yet  dreamed  of.  The  oppor- 
tunity lies  waiting  and  only  needs  energy,  en- 
terprise and  capital  to  develop  rich  and  lasting 
results. 

Coram,  in  the  center  of  the  township,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  settlements,  and  Middle  Island  has 
liekwise  som.e  claim  to  considerable  antiquity. 
Both  are  small  farming  communities.  Yaphank 
started  in  1739  as  a  mill-site,  and  in  time  other 
mills  were  started  and  a  settlement  grew  slowly, 
but  it  was  not  until  1853  that  it  was  large  enough 
to  have  a  church,  and  in  that  year  St.  Andrew's 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  erected.  In 
187 1  the  Suffolk  County  Almshouse  was  erected 
in  the  village  on  a  farm  o'f  170  acres,  and  which, 
in  1879,  was  extended  by  the  addition  of  80 
acres. 


276 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


Patchogue  Neck^  as  previously  stated,  was 
lot  No.  3  of  Winthrop's  patent,  as  disposed  of 
by  lottery.  On  February  6,  1772>  ^Y  ^^^  ^*^^  ^^ 
the  Colonial  Assembly  it  was  enacted  "That 
Winthrop's  Patent  shall  be  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Town  of  Brookhaven," 

In  this  manner  Patchogue  and  the  neighbor- 
ing district  first  became  a  part  of  the  town.  As 
a  village  the  principal  support  for  long  years 
was  the  rich  supply  of  oysters,  and  fishing  an 
general,  but  in  later  years  other  important  in- 
dustries sprang  up  and  were  prosperous.  This 
was  the  over-night  stopping  place  for  the  'Stages 
which  ran  from  East  Hampton  to  Brooklyn,  car- 
rying the  weekly  mail,  and  the  ancien^  Roe's  Tav- 
ern")^ which  stood  on  the  east  corner  of  Main 
street  and  Coram  road,  was  a  welcome  resting 
place   for   wearied  travelers. 

Before  1750  a  mill  had  been  built  on 
Patchogue  river,  and  it  was  valued  at  £700, 
which  shows  its  importance  at  that  early  day. 
The  value  of  the  stream  in  this  neighborhood 
was  so  apparent  that  dams  and  mills  for  grind- 
ing grain  were  soon  built,  and  later  devoted  to 
more  important  industries. 

The  modern  Patchogue,  the  most  thriving 
village  in  the  town  of  Brookhaven,  and  one  of 
the  largest  on  Long  Island,  is  beautiful  of  situ- 
ation, and,  with  the  adornments  given  it  by  the 
architect  and  landscape  gardener,  its  splendid 
hotels,  its  handsome  stores  and  its  general  air 
of  wealth  and  refinement,  it  fully  justifies  the 
appellation  which  has  been  given  it — *'the  Queen 
City  of  the  South  Shore."  A  fine  Soldiers'  Mon- 
.ument  stands  at  once  as  an  impressive  memorial 
of  the  patriot  dead  and  an  eloquent  attestation 
of  the  patriotic  spirit  which  has  ever  pervaded 
the  community.  The  resident  population  is 
4,250,  and  this  number  is  multiplied  fourfold  in 
the  summer  season,  when  the  village  is  in  its 
greatest  glory.  It  is  a  gathering  place  for  bi- 
cyclists, canoeists,  yachtsmen,  automiobilists  and 
all  sorts  and  descriptions  of  pleasure  seekers ;  its 
roads  are  among  the  best  on  Long  Island,  its 
streets  are  macadamized  and  lighted  by  elec- 
tricity, its  bathing  facilites  are  of  the  best,  and 
it  caters  in  a  sensible  and  progressive  way  to  the 


wants  and  wishes  of  the  great  army  of  "summer 
folks"  who  descend  upon  it  year  after  year,  and 
add  to  its  popularity  and  its  material  wealth. 
It  is  also  quite  an  industrial  center,  with  its  ex- 
tensive silk  mills,  and  an  oyster  trade  which 
has  reached  wonderful  proportions,  while  some 
of  the  fastest  yachts  of  the  South  Shore  waters 
are  from  such  yards  as  those  of  S.  C.  Wicks 
&  Company,  Fillmore  Baker,  G.  Smith  and  De 
Witt  Conklin. 

Patchogue  was  for  many  years  the  home  of 
one  who  was  in  his  day  a  leading  literary  celebri- 
ty, famed  throughout  the  land — ^Seba  Smith, 
better  known  under  his  pen  name,  "Major  Jack 
Downing."  He  was  a  native  of  Maine,  where 
he  became,  in  turn,  editor  of  the  "Eastern  Argus" 
and  the  "Bridgeton  Daily  Courier,"  and  in  the 
journal  last  named  he  published  his  celebrated 
"Downing  Letters,"  which  at  once  established 
his  reputation  as  a  political  satirist  and  wit  of 
a  high  order.  In  1832  he  removed  to  New  York 
City,  and  about  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the 
Civil  war  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Patchogue. 
His  wife,  who  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Oakes  Prince, 
was  a  congenial  helpmeet  and  made  a  position 
of  her  own  in  a  literary  career. 

The  first  factory  in  Patchogue  was  a  paper 
mill  located  near  the  present  site  of  the  lace  mill, 
which  was  owned  by  Jonas  Wicks,  who  made 
strawboard  and  wrapping  paper.  This  mill  was 
built  in  1798  and  destroyed  by  fire  in  1850. 

In  the  early  years  of  1800  there  was  a  cotton 
twine  mill  just  west  of  the  paper  mill  owned  by 
Frederick  Odell,  which  was  bought  by  Justus 
Roe,  'grandfather  of  Justus  Roe,  in  1816,  who 
sold  a  one-half  interest  to  George  Fair,  of  New 
York,  in  1823.  -Many  years  later  this  mill,  which 
is  now  a  part  of  the  lace  mill,  was  rebuilt  by 
John  E.  Roe,  who  also  owned  another  twine  mill 
at  the  east  lake.  In  1880  Hon.  John  S.  Havens, 
then  owner  of  the  west  mill,  leased  it  to  Carl'S- 
low,  Henderson  &  Company,  of  Scotland,  who 
began  the  manufacture  of  crinoline.  Later  they 
imported  lace  curtains  and  bleached  and  finished 
them  for  the  market.  Looms  were  then  brought 
to  this  country  and  placed  in  the  mill  for  the 
manufacture  of  lace  curtains.     In  1890  the  mill 


BROOKHAVEN. 


277 


was  sold  to  the  Patchogue  Lace  Manufacturing 
Company.  The  plant  has  been  enlarged  and  new 
looms  and  machmery  added  from  time  to  time 
until  it  is  now  one  of  the  largest  lace  curtain 
mills  in  the  country. 

In  1822  Daniel  Haff  owned  a  two^story  wool- 
en mill,  which  stood  on  the  grounds  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  electric  light  plant.  The  farmers 
brought  their  'wool  to  the  mill.  It  was  carded, 
spun  and  woven  into  blankets  and  cloth. 

The  first  mill  on  the  west  stream  of  the  vil- 
lage was  built  by  Nathaniel  Smith  and  Daniel  C. 
Gillette,  in  1S32.  There  were  also  iseveral  other 
enterprises  in  operation  in  the  past,  among  them 
an  iron  forge,  several  tanneries  and  a  machine 
shop  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  machines 
for  making  envelopes. 

About  i'85o  shipbuilding  in  Patchogue  was 
an  important  industry.  Many  large  coasting 
schooners  were  built,  and  this  business  proba- 
bly did  more  toward  the  building  up  of  the  vil- 
lage than  any  other  industry. 

In  1869  the  Hon.  Edwin  Bailey  took  the 
initiative  step  in  the  lumber  business  which  has 
grown  and  developed  to  its  present  capacity. 
The  firm  of  E.  Bailey  &  Sons  has  now  the  largest 
and  most  complete  lumber  yards  and  mills  on 
Long  Island. 

In  1878  Justus  Roe  began 
the  manufacture  of  steel  tapes 
and  reels  for  surveyors'  use. 
The  firm  of  Justus  Roe  & 
Sons  has  now  a  large  factory, 
do  an  extensive  business,  and 
their  surveyors'  instruments 
are  used  in  every  State  in  the 
Union  and  Canada,  They  also 
manufacture  bicycles,  horse 
clipping  machines,  and  make  a 
specialty  of  iron  and  steel 
work. 

Just  north  of   the   village 
is  a  paper  mill  owned  by  Hon.  John  S.  Havens, 
where  strawboard  and  wrapping  paper  are  manu- 
factured. 

The  first  church  in  Patchogue  was  erected 
in  1794  by  a  union  of  Congregationalists,  Meth- 


odists, Baptists  and  Presbyterians,  each  sect  oc- 
cupying but  a  portion  of  the  time.  A  Congre- 
gational Society  was  organized  January  14,  1793, 
by  the  Rev.  Noah  Hallock.  It  consisted  of  eight 
members,  and  was  the  Second  Congregational 
Church  of  'Brookhaven,  but  had  for  a  long  time 
no  settled  pastor.  In  1820  the  meeting  house 
mentioned  above  was  rebuilt  and  enlarged.  The 
Presbyterians  and  Baptists  had  fallen  out  of  the 
race,  and  the  Methodists,  having  greatly  in- 
creased, wanted  the  use  of  the  house  for  a  great- 
er proportion  of  the  time.  The  Congregational- 
ists purchased  their  right,  and  the  first  church 
in  the  place  became  their  own.  The  Rev. 
Noah  PL  Gillett,  who  .was  pastor  at  Mount 
Sinai  (or  "Old  Man's''  :as  it  was  then 
called ) ,  divided  his  labors  with  this  church 
until  1833.  His  successors  were  the  Rev. 
Smith  P.  Gammage,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Moore,  the 
Rev.  Parshal  Terry,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Beattie,  and 
the  Rev.  B.  Matthias,  who  was  there  in  1893. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Gammage  afterwards  became  a 
disciple  of  Miller,  the  'Second  Adventist,  and  car- 
ried with  him  58  of  the  members.  These  or- 
ganized a  new  church,  but  as  the  expected  end 
of  the  world  did  not  come,  they  all,  with  the 
minister,  went  back  to  the  old  fold.  The  church 
in  1845  had  increased  to  204  members,  and  the 


View  of  Patchogue  in  Brookhaven,  Long  Island. 


congregation  embraced  115  families.,  making  it 
by  far  the  leading  denomination.  The  old  church 
was  replaced  by  an  elegant  structure  on  Pine 
street  in  1858,  and  a  parsonage  was  added  in 
1862.      The    Methodist   Episcopal    Church    was 


278 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


first  organized  in  1791,  bqt  had  no  regular  place 
of  meeting  until  the  old  meeting  house  was  built 
in  1794,  when  they  occupied  it  for  one  quarter 
of  the  time.  Circuit  riders  or  local  preachers 
furnished  the  means  of  grace.  When  the  Con- 
gregationalists  purchased  the  old  building,  the 
Methodists  erected  a  new  one  about  1833.  The 
engraving  which  appears  opposite  gives  a  view  of 
the  vilkge  as  viewed  from  the  west  'side  of  the 
west  mill  dam  in  1840.  It  shows  distinctly  the 
first  Congregational  church  and  the  first  Meth- 
odist, afterwards  the  first  Roman  Catholic, 
church.  The  former,  the  larger  building,  is  now 
a  tenement  house,  while  the  latter  has  been  de- 
stroyed. This  was  sold  to  the  Roman  Catholics 
and  a  new  one  was  built  in  1853.  The  present 
elegant  edifice  was  built  in  1891.  The  congre- 
tion  and  membership  is  constantly  increasing. 

A  Baptist  meeting  house  was  built  on  Ocean 
avenue  and  dedicated  August  9,  1876.  The  next 
year  a  church  was  organized  with  five  members, 
but  for  some  time  it  had  no  regular  preacher. 

On  September  12,  1888,  a  meeting  was  called 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Sunday-school 
under  the  Baptist  influence,  and  on  January  17, 
1889,  the  sodety  disbanded  in  order  to  organize 
a  Baptist  Church,  and  on  Friday,  January  18, 
1889,  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Patchogue 
was  organized.  Mrs.  James  L.  Whiting  was  its 
first  church  clerk,  and  the  first  deacons  were 
James  L.  Whiting,  H.  W.  Paine  and  William 
Revere,  with  eleven  members.  The  Rev.  John 
T.  Vine  was  the  first  pastor  and  commenced 
services  under  the  Baptist  Church  on  March  14, 
1889,  when  it  was  recognized  as  a  Baptist 
Church.  The  Rev.  L.  Evans  was  its  second 
pastor.  The  Rev.  L.  W.  Jackson,  the  present 
pastor,  commenced  his  labors  in  December, 
1898. 

The  first  congregation  of  Roman  Catholics 
purchased  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  meet- 
ing house  about  1854.  In  this  church  they  wor- 
shipped with  occasional  services  by  priests  from 
other  localities.  The  increasing  congregation 
rendered  larger  and  better  accommodations  a  ne- 
cessity, and  in  1888  the  present  church  of  St. 
Francis  de  Sales  was  erected.     The  first  priest 


was  Father  Felix  O'Callahan,  who  died  here  in 
1891.  The  present  priest  is*  Father  J.  J.  Cronin, 
who  is  a  preacher  of  marked  ability  and  great 
influence.  His  pastorate  dates  from  July  3,  1897. 
He  had  been  previously  pastor  at  Flushing  and 
at  King's.  Pairk. 

St.  Paul's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was 
built  about  1845,  and  at  first  was  connected  with 
St.  Ann's  Churdi  at  Sayville.  For  many  years 
the  rector  was  Rev.  John  H.  Prescott. 

The  history  of  Freemasonry  in  Patchogue 
dates  from  June,  i860,  when  South  Side  Lodge 
was  instituted  and  the  officers  installed  by  Will- 
iam Z.  King,  of  Peconic  Lodge,  as  follows: 
William  S.  Preston,  master;  Sanford  W.  Chapel, 
senior  warden;  William  J.  Horton,  junior  war- 
den ;  George  F.  Carman,  senior  deacon ;  Charles 
W.  Miller,  junior  deacon;  Henry  Parks,  tyler. 
The  present  membership  is  165. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  grand  chapter  of  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  of  New  York,  February  10,  1866, 
a  dispensation  for  the  institution  of  Suwassett 
Chapter,  at  Port  Jefferson,  was  granted,  and  on 
April  14  the  first  meeting  was  held  in  that  vil- 
lage with  Effingham  Tutliill  as  high  priest.  On 
December  14,  1875,  John  Ferguson  of  Patchogue 
was  elected  high  priest,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
'  grand  chapter  in  February,  1876,  a  permission 
was  granted  by  that  body  to  remove  the  chapter 
'  to  Patchogue,  since  which  time  the  chapter  has 
continued  to  prosper.  In  1894  the  chapter  was 
costumed  and  now  works  its  various  degrees  in 
full  regalia. 

The  order  of  Odd  Fellows  is  represented  in 
Padiogue  by  Brookhaven  Lodge,  No.  80,  which 
was  instituted  on  August  19,  1846,  with  five 
charter  members,  as  follows :  Dr.  William  S. 
Preston,  Nathanid  Conklin,  Henry  Ketcham, 
Lewis  G.  Davis  and  D.  Wichham  Case. 

Farragut  Council,  No,  54,  Junior  Order  Uni- 
ted American  Mechanics,  was  instituted  Decem- 
ber 27,  1895,  with  69  charter  members.  The 
first  councilor  of  the  society  was  Dr.  E.  Agate 
Foster. 

Court  Advance,  No.  159,  Foresters  of  Amer- 
ica, was  instituted  February  24,  1891,  with  105 
charter   members.     The   late   M.   B.   Vandusen 


BROOKHAVEN. 


279 


was  the  first  chief  ra'nger  of  the  society.  As  a 
beneficial  institution  it  stands  first  among  those 
of  Patchogue.     Tlie  present  'membership  is  190. 

Previous  to  the  middle  of  the  last  century, 
Patcjiogue  included  four  school  districts,  each 
with  a  rude  schoolhouse  of  the  ancient  pattern, 
and,  as  a  schoolmaster  of  that  day  expressed 
it,  "filled  with  young  barbarians."  The  practice 
of  having  the  teacher  "board  around"  v^as  uni- 
versal. The  branches  taught  were  few,  conven- 
iences for  study  fewer  still,  and,  of  elegancies, 
none.  Both  teachers  and  scholars  labored  under 
every  inconvenience,  ^-et,  as  a  rule,  the  in- 
structors were  faithful  to  their  duties,  and,  as 
there  were  "brave  men  before  Agememnon,"  so 
there  were  good  schoolmasters  before  Professor 
Gordon.  .Of  the  schoolmasters  of  the  olden 
time,  foremost  was  Brewster  Saxton,  who  taught 
not  only  in  each  of  the  four  districts,  but  prob- 
ably in  more  different  localities  than  any  school- 
master in  Suffolk  county.  His  great  hobby  was 
mental  arithmetic.  Nothing  suited  him  so  well 
as  to  call  out  on  the  floor  some  scholar  whom 
he  had  drilled  for  weeks,  and  ask  him  "How 
much  will  3  hogsheads,  i  barrel,  15  gallons,  3 
quarts,  i  pint  and  2  gills  of  wine  cost  at  6  cents 
a  gill?"  And  it  was  with  pleasure  which  he 
did  not  conceal  that  he  witnessed  the  amaze- 
ment of  the  visitor,  as  the  boy  went  through 
this  calculation  and  gave  the  answer.  He  never 
failed  to  remark  to  the  visitor,  "If  you  don't 
think  he  is  right  you  can  try  it  on  a  slate,"  an 
invitation  that  was  seldom  accepted.  In  spite  of 
many  harmless  eccentricities  he  was  successful 
for  the  time  in  which  he  lived,  and  we  honor  his 
memory.  He  was  the  last  of  the  old-time  school- 
maj&ters. 

The  Patchogue  Union  School  was  organized 
m  1869  by  the  union  of  four  districts  under  the 
general  law.  In  1870  the  present  building  was 
erected  by  the  Hon.  Edwin  Bailey,  and  at  that 
time  was  the  finest  building  of  its  kind  in  Suf- 
folk county.  The  first  board  of  education  con- 
sisted of  Dr.  W.  S.  Preston,  president;  E.  T. 
Moore,  clerk;  Hon.  Edwin  Bailey,  Hon.  George 
F.  Carman,  Smith  L.  Newins,  Oliver  Perry 
Smith  and  Alfred  C.   Mott.     Professor  A.    M. 


Drummond  was  the  first  principal,  and  opened 
the  school  in  the  fall  of  1871.  He  was.  a  scholar 
and  an  excellent  teacher  and  good  organizer. 
Under  his  influence  the  school  at  once  took  a 
high  rank  in  the  county.  He  had  five  assistants, 
and  registered  about  four  hundred  pupils.  After 
four  years  of  liard  work,  which  resulted  in  a 
thorough  organization  of  the  school.  Professor 
Drummond  left  for  another  field  of  labor,  and 
Professor  Levi  Seeley  was  elected  principal.  He 
carried  forward  the  work  so  well  begun  by  bis 
predecessor,  and  by  various  means  succeeded  in 
so  popularizing  the  school  that  when  he  left, 
after  six  years  of  faithful  service,  the  most  pop- 
ular institution  in  the  community  was  the 
Patchogue  Union  School.  Its  registration  had 
■  increased  to  over  five  hundred,  and  eight  .as- 
sistants were  employed.  In  1881  Professor 
Seeley  left  to  become  superintendent  of  schools 
at  Lansingbur^,  New  York,  and  Professor  W. 
E.  Gordon,  the  present  principal,  was  elected  to 
succeed   him. 

Professor  Gordon,  the  principal,  was  born  at 
Batchellerville,  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
in  1848.  Until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age 
his  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm,  and  by 
attending  school  during  the  winter  months  he 
fitted  himself  to  enter  the  junior  second  class 
at  the  Albany  Normal  School,  from,  which  he 
graduated  in  1870.  His  first  school  was  at 
Orient,  Long  Island,  where  he  taught  one  year. 
While  teaching  in  this  school  he  was  engaged  to 
take  charge  of  the  Shelter  Island  school.  From 
here  he  was  called  to  the  principalship  of  this 
school,  after  which  he  took  a  three-years'  course 
in  the  school  of  pedagogy  of  the  University  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  and  received  from  that 
institution  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Pedagogy  in 
1892. 

In  1888  a  kindergarten  department  was  or- 
ganized with  Miss  Lucretia  Titterton  in  charge. 
This  was  the  first  kindergarten  in  connection 
with  a  pnblic  school  in  Suffolk  county,  if  not 
on  Long  Island.  In  1892  the  academic  depart- 
ment was  admitted  to  the  supervision  of  the  re- 
gents with  a  full  high  school  course. 

Moriches,    a   district   rather   than    a   village, 


280 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


and  generally  understood  as  covering  Moriches, 
Centre  Moriches  and  East  Moriches,  may  be 
said  to  lie  between  Forge  River  and  the  vil- 
lage of  Eastport,  on  the  line  of  Southampton 
township.  The  territory  formed  a  part  of  the 
Moriches  patent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
resorts  on  Long  Island  for  an  excellent  class  of 
people — such    as    prefer   the   wholesome   enjoy- 


the  visitor  will  find   himself  in  touch  with  all 
the  conveniences  of  an  ideal  summer  resort. 

The  Presbvterian  Church  at  East  Moriches 
was  organized  on  February  20,  1902.  It  was 
composed  of  twenty  members,  who  had  previ- 
ously belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Centre  Moriches.  The  pulpit  of  the  new  church 
was  supplied  by  Rev.  Augustus  C.  Kellogg,  and 


kkik^JMiawittrtiiiiiJi^^ 


NEAR  MORICHES. 


ments  of  outdoor  life  before  the  attractions  of 
the  more  fashionable  resorts.  Hundreds  of  fam- 
ilies from  New  York  and  Brooklyn  make  this 
place  their  summer  home,  and,  knowing  its 
charms,  would  not  for  a  moment  entertain  an 
idea  of  going  anywhere  else.  For  these  there 
are  the  ample  accommodations  afforded  by  large 
hotels  and  those  of  less  pretentiousness.  No 
more  ideal  spot  could  be  found  for  those  who 
love  the  water.  Moriches  Bay  is  practically 
land-locked,  and  perfectly  safe  for  sailing  or 
rowing  at  all  times.  There  is  neither  danger  of 
sudden  squalls  or  rough  water.  Along  the 
beach  of  the  bay  the  stilUwater  bathing  is  de- 
lightful, and,  as  at  other  nearby  places,  a  short 
sail  takes  those  who  wish  a  plunge  in  the  surf 
over  to  the  outlying  island,  where  the  ocean 
breaks  upon  one  of  the  finest  beaches  in  America. 
The  .train   service   from  here   is   excellent,   and 


he  was  installed  as  stated  supply  on  October  14, 
1902. 

St.  John's  F-piscopal  Church,  at  Centre 
Moriches,  was  organized  in  February,  1898,  and 
for  two  years  services  were  conducted  by  Mr. 
L.  G.  Marony,  a  lay  reader.  The  old  village 
school  house  was  purchased  and  was  repaired 
and  greatly  improved  and  is  a  church  building  of 
elegant  simplicity,  and  well  furnished  with  all 
necessary  accessories  for  church  services.  Rev. 
Harry  Willard  Raymond  Stafford,  B.  D.,  the 
Priest  in  charge,  was  born  September  20,  i860. 
After  a  three  years'  course  of  study  at  St. 
Stephen's  College,  Annandale,  he  graduated 
from'  the  Eprscopal  Theological  School,  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  June  16,  1886,  was 
ordained  Deacon  the  same  year,  and  Priest 
on  May  27,  1888.  He.  was  Rector  of  Grace 
Church',     Hamden,     Connecticut,     1887^88,    and 


BROOKHAVEN. 


281 


Curate  of  the  Church  of  the  Incarnation,  Brook- 
lyn, in  1898.  From  that  place  he  came  to  this 
parish  January  21,   1900.     Under  his  energetic 


NATHANIEL  SMITH'S  HOME. 

labors  the  church  has  been  prosperous,  and  there 
is  little  doubt  but  that  it  will  soon  be  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  in  the  country. 

Among  the  other  villages  in  the  township  are 
Yaphank,    near    the    center    of    the    territory,    a 


delightful  village  with  a  population  of  about 
500;  Bellport  (795)  well  elevated,  with  a  fine 
frontage  on  the  Great  South  Bay,  and  possessing 
excellent  accommodations  for  the  summer  guest; 
Mandeville  (380),  another  pleasant  village; 
Old  Field,  population  200;  Mastic  (50)  a  quiet 
little  spot;  Blue  iPoint  (355)  ;  Brookfield,  380; 
Dyer's  Neck,  150;  .Lake  Grove,  330;  Eotdr,  355; 
and  Brookhaven,  325.  The  last  named  village 
was  known  as  Fire  Place  up  to  about  1876.  It 
is  entirely  a  place  of  modern  growth,  its  first 
church  society  dating  from  1848.  South  Haven, 
a  neighboring  village,  is  much  older,  although 
its  population  is  only  about  100.  It  was  large 
enough  in  1745  to  have  a  Presbyterian  meeting 
house  and  several  mills.  At  that  time  it  was 
known  •  as  Yamphank  Neck.  The  name  was 
changed  to  'South  Haven  in  1757  as  the  result  of 
a  vote  of  its  people,  so  we  see  that  the  fashion 
of  substituting  more  fanciful  names  for  the  often 
homely  but  always  expressive  primitive  ones  is 
not  quite  as  modern  a  fad  as  is  commonly  sup- 
posed. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


HE  town  of  Southampton  is  bounded  as 
follows:  ''Beginning  at  the  easter- 
nmost point  of  Hog  Neck,  over  against 
Shelter  Island ;  from'  thence  on  .  a 
straight  line  to  a  point  in  Sag  Harbor  op- 
posite to  the  center  of  Division  street,  and 
the  center  of  a  two  pole  highway  laid  out  be- 
tween the  towns  ■  of  Southampton  and  East 
Hampton,  in  the  year  1695;  to  the  south  side  of 
the  Country  road.  From  this  point  it  is  bounded 
south  by  East  Hampton,  as  far  west  as  the  cen- 
ter of  the  Wainscott  road.  Thence  south  along 
the  center  of  this  road,  and  the  same  line  ex- 
tended to  the  Atlantic  ocean,  at  high  water  mark. 
From  thence  westward  along  the  ocean  shore  to 
a  place  called  Seatuck,  at  a  point  opposite  a 
monument  placed  by  commissioners  in  the  year 
1S73,  thence  to  said  monument,  and  on  the  same 
line,  between  Clam  Island  on  the  east  and  Long 
Point  on  the  west  to  the  bay,  thence  in  a  straight 
line  to  the  centre  of  the  mouth  of  Seatuck  river 
and  so  northerly  up  the  centre  of  Seatuck 
river  to  the  centre  of  the  mill  dam,  formerly 
of  one  Pye,  but  lately  of  George  W.  Tuthill. 
From  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  place 
where  the  bound  tree  formerly  stood,  now 
marked  by  a  brown  stone  and  a  white  "mar- 
ble monument,  on  the  north  side  of  the  covtn- 
try  road,  at  the  southeast  icorner  of  what  is 
known  as  the  Barrett  and  Beebe  farm;  which 
is  also  the  southeast  corner  of  the  large  tract  of 
land  known  >as  Halsey's  manor.     Thence  north- 


erly along  the  east  line  of  the  town  of  Brook- 
haven,  to  a  brown  stone  standing  a  few  rods 
from  the  shore  of  Peconic  river,  or  the  mill  pond, 
and  on  the  same  line  to  the  river."  The  town  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  the  centre  of  the  stream 
of  Peconic  river  to  tide  water  in  Peconic  Bay. 
From  thence  it  is  'bounded  north  by  Peconic  Bay, 
at  ordinary  highwater  mark,  and  so  along  the 
shore  of  the  bay  (including  Great  Noyach)  to 
the  most  easterly  point  cff  Hog  Neck,  where  it  be- 
gan. 

This  includes  the  branches  and  creeks  of  Pe- 
conic Bay,  which  are  within  the  boundaries ;  and 
also  Shinnecock  Bay,  and  a  part  of  the  Great 
South  Bay. 

The  history  of  this  town  begins  March  10,  in 
the  year  1639,  ^^  which  time  a  company  of  men 
in  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  had  made  preparations 
for  settling  a  new  plantation  or  town  on  Long 
Island,  and  had  built  or  purchased  a  small  vessel 
for  that  purpose.  The  Company  consisted  of  Ed- 
ward Howell,  who  disbursed  £15;  Edmond  Far- 
rington,  iio;  Josias  Stanborough,  £5;  George 
Welbe,  iio;  Job  Sayre,  £5;  Edmond  Needham, 
£5;  Henry  Walton,  £10,  and  Thomas  Sayre,  £5. 
This  Company,  who  called  themselves  the 
''Undertakers,"  sold  their  shares  in  the  vessel 
to  Daniel  How,  upon  the  condition  that  "hee  is 
to  transporte  them  so  much  goods,  as  their  sev- 
erall  sommes  of  'Money  shall  amount  unto,  and 
also  for  each  man  a  person  and  a  tunne  of  goods 
free."     It   was   also   agreed   that  Daniel  How 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


283 


should  make  three  voyages  a  year  to  the  intended 
plantation,  "namely,  the  first  moneth,  the  fourth 
moneth  and  the  eighth  moneth,"  these  being,  ac- 
cording to  the  "old  style"  of  reckoning  then  in 
use,  March,  June  and  October.  In  the  meantime, 
Allen  Bread,  Thomas  Halsey  and  W^illiam  Mar- 
ker had  by  the  consent  of  the  company  become 
partners  with  the  rest.  It  was  a  part  of  the 
agreement  that  each  man  who  disbursed  £5 
should  be  entitled  to  a  "house  lot,  planting  lott 
and  farme,"  and  to  these  new  members  Edward 
Howell,  Daniel  How  and  Henry  Walton  each 
gave  one  of  their  -shares.  And  it  seems  that 
Daniel  How  had  contributed  £15  as  his  part. 

The  Company  of  "Undertakers"  then  drew 
up  an  agreement,  which  is  the  most  interesting 
and  valuable  document  in  the  history  of  the  town, 
and  is  here  given  in  full : 

"For  as  much  as  wee  Edward  Howell,  Ed- 
mond  ffarrington,  Edmond  Needham,  Daniell 
How,  Josias  Stanborough,  Thomas  Sairs,  Job 
Saires,  George  Welbe,  Henry  Walton  &  Thomas 
Halsey,  Allen  Bread,  William  Harker,  have  dis- 
bursed ffourscore  pounds  ffor  the  settinge  for- 
ward A  Plantacon,  and  in  regard  wee  have  taken 
vpon  vs  to  transporte  at  or  owne  prop  Gosts  and 
charges  all  such  psons  as  shall  goe  at  the  first 
voyage  whenn  those  of  or  Gompany  that  are 
Chosen  thereunto  shall  goe  vpon  Discovery  and 
search,  and  to  beginne  and  settle  a  Plantacon, 
and  further  more  in  regarde  all  such  psons  soe 
goeinge  vpon  or  accompt  have  in  or  vessell  the 
iifreedcme  of  halfe  A  Tunne  of  goods  a  pson, 
it  is  thought  meete  that  wee  the  fore  named  vnd- 
dertakers  should  not  any  tyme  nor  tymes  here- 
after be  h'able  to  any  rates,  taxes  or  Imipositions, 
nor  be  putt  vpon  any  fenceings,  buildinge  of 
meetinge  house,  erecting  ffortifications,  buildinge 
of  bridges,  repairinge  high  wayes,  nor  otherwise 
charged  for  any  Cause  or  reason  whatsoever 
duringe  the  tyme  of  or  discontinuance  in  or  in- 
tended Plantacon,  except  yt  in  the  fencinge  in  of 
Plantinge  Lotts,  every  man  shall  (with  his  neigh- 
bore)  fence  or  cause  to  be  fenced  by  the  first 
day  of  April  wch  shall  be  1641. 

"ffurthermore  hecause  delaying  to  lay  out  the 
boundes  of  Townes,  and  all  such  land  within  the 
saide  boundes  hath  bene  generally  the  ruin  of 
Townes  in  this  Country,  therefore  v^e  the  said 
vndertakers  have  thought  goode  to  take  Vpon  vs, 
the  dispose  of  all  lands  v^ithin  our  said  boundes 
soe  yt  yt  wch  wee  lay  out  for  A  house  Lott,  shall 


at  all  tymes  from  t}-me  to  tyme  hereafter,  con- 
tinue to  be  A  house  lx)tt,  and  but  one  DwelHng 
house  shall  be  builded  vpon  it,  and  those  Lottes 
yt  wee  lay  out  for  plantenge  Lotts,  shall  not  at 
any  tyme  nor  tymes  hereafter,  be  made  house 
lotts  whereby  more  Inhabitants  might  be  re- 
ceaved  into^  or  said  Plantacon  to  the  ouer  charge- 
ing  of  Commons  and  the  Impoverishinge  of  the 
Towne,  and  yt  allsoe  what  is  layed  out  for  Com- 
mons shall  Continue  Common  &  noe  man  shall 
presume  to  Incroach  vpon  it  soe  much  as  A 
hands  breadeth,  and  whatsoever  wee  lay  out  for 
farmes  shall  so  remaine  for  after  tyme,  and  ye 
dispose  of  all  such  landes  sO'  layed  o-ut  shall  also 
bee  at  all  tymes  and  from  tyme  to  t}'me  hereafter 
at  the  will  &  pleasure  of  vs  the  said  vndertakers 
or  executors  Administrators  and  Assigns.  Name^ 
ly  the  disposinge  of  the  ^lande  *  *  -1=  shall 
be  disposed     *     *     -k      [nearly  two  lines  gone]. 

"And  allsoe  whosoever  selleth  his  Accomo- 
dations in  the  Towne  shall  sell  house  Lott  & 
plantinge  Lott  or  Lotts  &  meddow  Intirely  and 
if  hee  sell  his  farme  he  shall  not  devide  it  butt 
sell  it  together,  viz,  his  ffarme  Intirely  &  his  Ac- 
comodations in  ye  Towne  Intirely. 

"Moreover  whosoever  cometh  in  by  vs  shall 
hould  himself  Sattisfyed  with  foure  Achres  to- 
an  house  Lott  &  twelve  Achres  to  a  plantinge 
Lott,  8z  soe  much  meddow  &  vplande  as  may 
make  his  Accomodations  fiifty  Achres,  except  wee 
the  said  vndertakers  shall  see  cause  to  Inlarge 
that  proportion  by  A  farme  or  otherwise. 

"ffurthermore  noe  pson  nor  psons  whatsoever 
shall  challenge  or  claime  any  proper  Interest  in 
Seas,  rivers,  creekes  or  brookes,  howsoever 
boundeinge  or  passinge  througe  his  grounde,  but 
fifreedome  of  fishinge,  fowlinge,  &  navigation 
shall  be  Common  to  all  within  the  bankes  of  the 
said  waters  whatsoever. 

"And  whosoever  shall  fell  any  tree  or  trees 
in  highwayes,  is  either  to  grubb  them  up  by  the 
rootes  or  else  to  cutt  them  smooth  vp  euen  by 
the  grounde  and  putt  the  tree  or  trees  out  of  all 
such  highways. 

"And  whosoever  felleth  any  tree  or  trees  in 
the  common,  shall  either  carry  away  the  'body  or 
bodyes  thereof  with  ye  Aptenances,  or  else  sett 
or  lay  it  vp  on  heapes  soe  as  the  pasture,  for  Cat- 
tell  or  passage  for  man  or  beast  may  not  haue 
any  Annoyance. 

"'Likewise  noe  pson  nor  psons  -wtever  shall 
fell  or  lopp  or  carry  away  any  Tree  or  trees,  fire 
wood  or  otherwise  off  or  ff  roim  any  Lott  or  Lotts 
wtsoeuer,  for  ais  is  the  lande,  soe  shall  ye  Apt- 
nances  bee,  CA^erv  mans  owne  peculiar  ppriety. 

"Neither  shall  any  pson  or  psons  make  or  vse 


284 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


any  highwayes  paths  or  otherwise  over  any  per- 
sons house  Lott  plantinge  Lott  or  medow,  but 
shall  vpon  all  occasions  vse  the  Allowed  wayes 
layed  out  for  yt  end. 

"ffurthermore  it  is  thought  meete  that  if  the 
said  vndertakers  make  any  Composition  with  any 
pson  or  psons  yt  claim  to  them  to  make  many- 
fest  his  or  their  right  in  any  pt  or  pts  or  in  all 
*  *  *  of  the  place  where  God  .shall  direct 
vs  to  beginne  or  intended  Plantacon  *  *  * 
[a  line  gone]. 

"And  it  come  to  passe  yt  wee  the  said  vnder- 
takers shall  either  in  our  owne  names,  or  in  the 
names  of  the  Inhabitants  In  generall  promise  to 
pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  any  somme  or  sommes  of 
money,  goods  or  Chattell,  fines  or  rates  or  the 
like,  as  may  hereafter  be  thought  meete  propor- 
tionably  to  what  they  Injoy,  And  that  then  every 
pson  or  psons  Inhabitinge  within  the  boundes 
of  our  Plantacon  beinge  owners  of  I'ande  there, 
that  they  shall  be  contented  and  pleased  to  help 
to  beare  a  share  or  shares,  from  tyme  to  tyme 
and  at  all  tymes  hereafter  of  all  such  payments 
as  may  be  required  of  vs  the  forenamed  vnder- 
takers or  executors  Administrators  or  Assignes 
and  yt  his  or  their  Subscribeinge  to  these  pres- 
ents may  be  a  sufficient  Declaration  vnder  all 
such  psons  handes  yt  they  doe  approve  of  all  the 
preniises  here  specified. 

''Lastly  wee  the  said  vndertakers  testify  by 
these  prsents  in  our  Admittinge  of  Inhabitants  • 
to  our  Intended  Plantacon  that  wee  without  any 
kinde  of  reseruation  leave  m,en  ffree  to  choose 
and  determine  all  Causes  and  Controuerseys 
Arbitrary  amonge  themselues.  And  that  when- 
soener  it  shall  please  the  Lord  &  he  shall  see  it 
good  to  adde  to  vs  such  men  as  shall  be  fitt 
matter  for  A  church,  that  then  wee  will  in  that 
thinge  lay  ourselves  downe  before  ye  Consti- 
tutes thereof  either  to  bee  or  not  to  be  receaved 
as  members  thereof  accordinge  as  they  shall  dis- 
cerne  the  worke  of  god  to  be  in  our  hearts. 

"John  Cooper  Ye  marke  of 

''Edward  Howell  "Edmund  X  fifarrington 

"Edmund  Needham  "Daniell  How 

"Josiah  Stanborough  "Job  Sayre 

"Henr.  Wahon  "George  Welbee 

the  mark  of  "Thomas  Plalsey 

"Allen  X  Bread  "William  Harkei^ 
"Thomas  Sayre 

Vndertakers. 
the  marke  of 
"Thomas  X  Newell 
'John  ffarington 
the  marke  of 
"Richard  X  Rvall 


"These  are  to  give  notise  that  wee  the  ifore- 
said  Company  of  vndertakers  doe  ffuUy  and  ffree- 
ly  give  our  Consent  that  John  Cooper  shall  and 
is  Admitted  an  vndertaker  with  the  like  full  & 
Lyrnmitted  power  with  ourselves  in  all  Cases 
yt  may  Concerne  our  Plantacon. 

Edward  Howell 
the  mark  of  Edmond  X  ffarrington. 
Edmund   Needham 
Thomas  Halsey. 
the  m.ark  of  Allen  W.  Bread. 
Daniell  How. 
Henr.  Walton." 

"Know  all  men  whom  these  presents  may 
concerne  yt  whereas  it  is  expressed  in  on  Arti- 
kle  that  the  power  of  disposing  of  Land  &  Ad- 
mission of  Inhabitants  into  our  Plantacon  shall 
at  all  tymes  remaine  in  the  hands  of  vs  the  said 
vndertakers  to  vs  and  our  heires  forever,  yt 
our  true  intent  and  meaneinge  is  that  when 'our 
Plantacon  is  laid  out  by  those  Appointed  accord'- 
mge  to  our  Articles  &  that  there  shall  be  a  church 
gathered  and  constituted  accordinge  to  the  minde 
of  Christe,  that  then  wee  doe  ffreely  lay  downe 
our  power  both  of  orderinge  and  disposeinge  of 
the  plantacon  &  receaveinge  of  Inhabitants  or 
any  other  thinge  that  may  tende  to  the  good  & 
welfare  of  ye  place  at  the  ffeete  of  Christe  and 
his  Church,  provided  that  they  shall  not  doe  any 
thing  contrary  to  the  true  meaninge  of  the 
fformer  Articles. 

"ffurther  more  whereas  it  is  expressed  in  A 
fformer  Article  yt  the  lande  of  vndertakers 
should  at  all  tonnes  remaine  ffree  from^  AfForde- 
inge  any  helpe  to  builde  meeting  house  or  make- 
ing  of  bridge  or  bridges  or  mendeinge  of  high 
wayes  or  the  like  dureing  the  tyme  of  their  dis- 
continuance ffrona  the  plantacon,  it  is  thought 
meete  that  yt  shall  take  place  &  stande  in  force  but 
two  years  vnless  there  be  some  .eood  reason  given 
for  it  &  then  those  shall  have  land  only  for  the 
third  yeare  provided  yt  within  the  thirde  yeare 
they  come  backe  againe.  [nearly  two  lines  gone] 
*    *    ye  4th  day  of  ye  4th  16 — 

"In  witness  of  these  two  Articles  foregoinge 
wee  have  sett  to  our  hands. 


the  marke  of 
Edmond  X  Harrington 
Daniell  How 
Thomas  Sayre. 


"Phillip  Kyrtland 
"Nathaniel  Kyrtland 
"Thomas  ffarrington 
'Thorn—  Terry." 


John  Cooper 
Edmund  Needham 
Henr.  Walton. 
Edward  Howell. 
Thomas   Halsey 

"These  are  to  give  notis  that  wee  the  afore- 
sayd  vndertakers  doe  ffully  and  f£r&ely  give  our 
Consent  that  Mr.  John  Gosmeere  shall  and  is  ad- 
mitted an  vndertaivcr  with  the  like  full  and  Lim- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


285 


etted  power  with  ourselves  in  all  Cases  yt  Con-      borough,    Thomas    Sayre,    Job    Sayre  ,  Thomas 


serne  our  plantatyon. 

Edward  Howell 
Edmund  Needham. 
Henr.  Walton 
John  Cooper 
William   Harker 
Thomas  Savre. 


the  marke  of 
Allen  X  Breade 
The   marke   bf 
Edmund  X  ffarring^ton. 
Thomas  Halsey 


Halsey,  John  Cooper  and  John  Gosmere.  The 
Farringtons  seem  to  have  gone  to  Flushing. 
Thomas  Terry  may  have  been  the  same  man  who, 
at  a  later  date,  was  a  settler  in  Southold.  The 
rest  probably  returned  to  New  England. 

As  stated  in  an  earlier  portion  of  this  history, 


ff7. 


— r 


./ 


^— —       .'--'-'      -      ■  ■  ■  ■  — — —  .       .1,1  ,.Bn 


/ 


AUTOGRAPHS  OF  FIRST  GRANTEES. 


The  date  of  this  last  Instrument,  which  is 
given  as  "Ye  4th  day  of  ye  4th  16 — "  is  of  the 
greatest  value.  Although  a  part  of  the  same 
document  and  on  the  same  paper,  it  appears  to 
have  been  added  at  a  later  date,  and  means  the 
4th  day  of  June,  1640.  In  addition  to  the  origin- 
al Company  several  more  names  are  found. 
Some  of  these  names  never  appear  again  in  our 
records.  These  persons  probably  abandoned  the 
settlement  soon  after  its  commencement.  The 
only  men  who  remained  and  were  identified  with 
our  history,  were  Edward  Howell,  Josias  Stan- 


King  Charles  I  of  England,  on  April  22,  1636, 
requested  the  Plymouth  Colony  to  issue  to  Will- 
iam Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  a  patent  for 
Long  Island  and  the  islands  adjacent.  This  was 
done,  and  on  April  20,  1637,  the  Earl  gave  a 
power  of  Attorney  to  James  Farrett  to  dispose  of 
his  lands,  A  certified  copy  of  this  power  of  At- 
torney is  now  in  the  town  clerk's  ofhce  in  South- 
ampton, 

The  "Undertakers"  of  the  new  Plantation,  in 
order  to  obtain  a  legal  title  to  such  lands  as  they 
might  settle  upon,  procured  from  James  Farrett 


HISTORY   OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


the   following   Deed  of   permission   to   settle  on 
Long  Island : 

"Know   all    men    whom   this    pr&ent    writing 
mav  concerne  that  I  James  ffarret  of  Long  Isl- 
and Gent  Deputy  to  the  right  honrbl  the  Earle  of 
Starling  Secretary  for  the  kingdom  of  Scotland 
doe  by  these  presents  in  the  name  and  behalf  of 
the  said  Earle  and  in  mine  O'wne  name  allsoe  as 
his  D^eputy  as  it  doth  or  may  any  way  concerne 
myself,  Give  and  grant  free  leave  and  liberty  to 
Daniell   how,  Job   Sayre,  George    Willby    and 
William   Harker   together   with   their   associates 
to  sitt  downe  upon  Long  Island  afforesaide,  there 
to  possess  improve  and  enjoy  eight  miles  square 
of  land  or  soe  much  as  shall  containe  the  said 
quantity,  not  only  upland  but  alsoe  whatsoever 
meadow    marish    ground,    harbors     Rivrs    and 
creeks  lye  within  the  bounds    or    limitts  of  the 
said  eight  miles,    The  same  and  every  pt  thereof 
quietly  and  peaceably  to  enjoy  to  them  and  theire 
heyres  forever  without  any  disturbance,  lett  or 
mollestation  from  the  said  earle  or  any  by  his 
appoyntment  or  prcurement  for  him  or  any  of 
his.     And  that  they  are  to  take  their  choise  to 
sit  down  upon  as  best  lyketh  them  and  alsoe  that 
they  and  their  associates  shall  enjoy  as  full  and 
free  liberty  in  all  matters  that  doe  or  may  con- 
cerne them  or  theires  or  that  may  conduce  to  ye 
good  and  comfort  of  them  and  theires  both  in 
church  order  and  civill  Governmt  together  with 
all  oth-er  Easemts  conveniences  and  accommoda- 
tions whatsoever   which  the  said  place  doth  or 
may  afford,  answerable  to  what  other  plantations 
enjoy  in  Massadhusctts  Bay.     But  in  as  much  as 
it  hath  pleased  our  Royall  King  to  Give  and  grant 
the  patent  of  Long  Island  to  the  afiforesaid  Earle: 
In  consideration  thereof  it  is  agreed  uppon  that 
the  trade  with  ye  Indians  shall  remaine  to  the 
said  Earle  of  Starling  to  Dispose  of  from  time 
to  time  and  at  all  times  as  best  liketh  him.  Onely 
ye  aforesaid  Daniell  How   and    his    copartners 
sliall  have  lihcrtie  to  make  choice  of  one  man 
amongst  them  that  sail  freely  trade  witli  the  In- 
dians  in    theire   behalf   f(^r   any   victualls   within 
theire  owne  plantation,  but  not  for  wampum.  And 
if  any  of  the  afforcsaid  i)'sons  or  any  of  them 
shall   secretly  trade  with   the   Indians  for  wam- 
pum whither  directly  or  indirectly  without  leave 
or  license  from  the  said  Farle  or  his  Assignes 
tlie   pson  or  psons  soe   offending  shall  pay  for 
every  fathom  soe  traded  to  the  said  Earl  or  his 
assignes  the  sum  of  twenty  shillings:  ffurthcr  it 
is    Agreed    uppon     thai     wliatsocver    shall    bee 
thought  meole  hy  the  rt  W'orpl  John  W'inthrop 


Esp.  Govemr  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  to  bee 
given  to  the  Earl  of  Starling  in  way  of  acknowl- 
edgement as  the  Patenttee  of  the  place  shall  be 
duely  and  truely  paid,  ffurthermore  it  is  agreed 
upon  that  noe  man  shall  by  vertue  of  any  gift 
or   purchase  lay  any  claimie  to  any  land  lying 
within  the  compass  of  the  eig^t    miles    before 
mentioned  but  onely  the  afforesaid  Inhabitants 
shall  make  purchase   (in  theire  owne  names  at 
theire  owne  leisure   from  any  Indians  that  In- 
habit or  have  lawful  right  to  any  of  the  afore- 
said land)  all  or  any  pt  thereof,  and  thereby  as- 
sure it  to  themselves  and  theire  heyres  as  theire 
Inhabitance  for  ever.     In  witness  "whereof  wee 
have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seales  the  17th 
day  of  April,  1640.  ^ 

"Memorandum.  That  the  true  meaning  of 
Mr  ffarret  is  that  whereas  hee  hath  formerly 
purchased  sartam  lands  in  Long  Island  for  the 
Earle  of  Starling  or  himself,  That  hee  doth  by 
these  presents  fully  release  all  claime  and  Inter- 
est in  the  land  above  mentioned  or  psons  that 
shall  sitt  down  upon  it  with  all  to  Governmt 
whither  in  church  or  in  commonwealth.  All 
which  IS  to  be  clearly  and  fully  drawne  up  ac- 
cording to  the  trew  meaning  of  this  agreement 
when  things  shall  be  settled  and  concluded  by 
the  rt  worpl  John  Winthrop  above  mentioned. 

^  James  ffarrett  [seal]." 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 
Theoph:  Eaton 
John  Davenport. 

With  this  authority,  a  portion  of  the  company 
went  with  their  vessel  to  select  a  place  for  set- 
tlement.   The  place  they  selected  was  at  the  head 
of  Cow  Bay,  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  North 
Hempstead,  and  probably  on  the  present  site  of 
the  village  of  Fort  Washington.    They  made  a 
landing  here  May  10,  1640,  and  finding  the  arms 
of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  erected  upon  a  tree, 
Lieutenant  Howe   (the  owner  of  the  vessel  and 
leader  of  the  enterprise)  pulled  them  dow-n.  The 
Indian  Sachem  who  had  sold  the  lands  to  the 
Dutch    sent   word   to    Governor    \^''illiam   Kieft 
that  "some  foreign  strollers"  had  arrived  there, 
and  were  felling  trees  and  building  houses  and 
"had  even  hewn  down  the  arms  of  their  High 
^[ightenesses"  and  in  their  place  had  drawn  *'an 
uiihaml'sonie  face."    On  ]\[ay  13,  the  Council  of 
New  Amsterdam  ordered  Cornelius  A^on  Thien- 
hoven  to  arrest  and  bring  before  them  the  "strol- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


287 


lers  and  vagabonds"  who  had  invaded  their  ter- 
ritory. He  went  with  tw^o^  officers  and  twenty 
men,  and  on  arriving  there,  on  May  isth,  they 
found  "eight  men,  one  woman  and  a  little  child." 
They  had  built  one  house  and  were  building  an- 
other. Upon  being  asked  "why  they  had  cut 
down  their  high  Mightinesses  arms,  and  set  up 
a  fool's  face  in  its  stead,"  some  answered  that 
it  was  done  by  a  person  who  was  not  then  pres- 
ent. Another  said  it  was  done  by  order  of  a 
Scotchman,  James  Farrett,  and  that  he  and  Lieu- 
tenant Howe  were  then  at  Red  Hill  ( New 
Haven).  This  shows  that  Howe  after  landing 
the  company  had  immediately  returned  with  his 
vessel.  Six  of  the  men  were  taken  to  New  Am- 
sterdam. Upon  examination  they  stated  that 
they  went  to  Long  Island  from  Lynn,  Massa- 
chusetts, under  authority  from  James  Farrett, 
and  with  consent  of  Governor  Winthrop.  It 
was  intended  to  bring  twenty  families,  and  many 
more  would  com^e  if  the  land  was  good.  "They 
should  live  free  under  their  own  laws,  and  would 
have  been  obedient  to  whomsomever  was  lord  oi 
the  land."  Of  the  six  men.  Job  Sayre  stated 
that  he  was  born  in  Bedfordshire,  England,  and 
was  twenty-eight  years  old;  George  Wilbye  was 
born  in  Northamptonshire,  and  was  twenty-five; 
Phillip  Kirtland  was  twent^'^-six,  and  Nathaniel 
Kirtland  was  twenty-two,  and  they  and  John 
Farrington  (who  was  twenty- four)  were  all 
from  Buckinghamshire.  William  Harker  was 
from  Lincolnshire,  and  was  twenty-four  years 
old.  They  were  discharged  on  j\Iay  19th,  as  not 
being  guilty  of  tearing  down  the  Dutch  arms, 
and  were  set  at  liberty  on  condition  that  they 
should  depart  from  the  territory  and  never  to 
return  to  it  without  the  consent  of  the  Directors. 
Such  was  the  end  of  the  first  English  settlement 
on  Long  Island. 

In  considering  the  different  dates  above 
given,  it  is  very  necessary  to  understand  that  the 
year  at  that  time  began  on  March  25,  and  March 
was  called  the  "First  month."  And  that  March 
10,  the  date  of  the  disposal  of  the  vessel,  and  all 
the  following  dates,  were  in  the  same  year,  1640. 

The  Company  appear  to  have  gone  without 
delay  to  the  east  end  of  Long  Island.     On  June 


12,  1640,  James  Farrett  gave  a  deed  of  confirma- 
tion to  Edward  Howell,  Daniel  How,  Job  Sayre 
and  their  associates  "for  all  those  lands  lying  and 
being  bounded  between  Peaconeck  and  the  east- 
ermotst  point  of  Long  Island,  with  the  whole 
breadth  of  the  said  Island  from  sea  to  sea,  with 
all  lands  and  premises  contained  within  said 
limits."  This  would  seem  to  intimate  that  a  new 
settlement  had  been  actually  begun  on  the  lands 
mentioned,  and  this  date  (June  12,  1640)  is  now 
celebrated  as  "Founders'  Day"  in  the  town. 
On  July  7,  1640,  a  confirmation  of  the  patent 
was  given  by  James  Farrett,  as  follows : 

"^Memorandum:  It  is  agreed  upon  between 
Jataes  ffarret  agent,  and  Edward  Howell,  John 
Gosmer,  Edmund  ffafrington,  Daniel  Howe, 
Thomas  Halsey,  Edmund  Needham,  Allen  Breed, 
Thomas  Sayre,  Henry  Walton,  George  Welby, 
William  Harker  and  Job  Sayre:  that  whereupon 
it  is  agreed  upon  in  a  covenant  passed  between- 
us  touching  the  extent  of  a  olantacon  in  Long 
Island,  that  the  aforesaid  Mt  Edward  Howell 
and  his  cotpartners  shall  enjoy  eight  miles  square 
of  land  or  so  mucb  as  the  said  eight  miles  shall 
containe,  and  that  now  lie  in  said  bounds  being 
layed  out  and  agreed  upon :  It  is  to  begin  at  a 
place  westward  from  Shinnecock  entitled  the 
name  of  the  place  where  the  Indians  drawe  over 
their  cannoes  out  of  the  north  bay  over  to  the 
south  side  of  the  island,  and  from  there  to  run 
along  .that  neck  of  land  eastward  the  whole 
breadth  between  the  bays  aforesaid  to  the  easterly 
end  of  an  Island  or  neck  of  land  lying  over 
against  the  Island  commonly  known  by  the  name 
of  Mr  f^arret's  Island,  To  enjoy  all  and  every 
parte  there  of  according  as  yt  is  expressed  in 
our  agreement  elsewhere,  with  that  Island  or 
neck  lying  over  against  Mr,  fifarret's  Island 
form.erly  expressed. 

James  Farret." 

"Thomas  Dexter 
"Richard  Walker 

Witnesses" 

This  giving,  as  it  does,  local  names  which 
could  only  have  been  known  by  actual  residence 
on  the  spot,  shows  that  the  settlement  was  in  ac- 
tual existence  at  that  time.  The  "easterly  end  of 
the  Island  or  neck  of  land"  mentioned,  is  the 
east  point  of  Hog  Neck,  opposite  Shelter  Island, 
and   this   has   always  been   held   as   the  eastern 


288 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


extremity  of  the  town.  The  tract  of  land  above 
described,  and  extending  from  Canoe  Place  to 
the  'bounds  of  East  Hampton,  was  considered  the 
equivalent  of  the  ''eight  miles  square"  granted 
in  James  Farrett's  first  deed,  and  has  always  been 
called  the  "Town  Purchase,"  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  purchases  made  at  a  later  date  of  the 
western  part  of  the  Town. 

On  August  12,  1640,  William  Alexander, 
Earl  of  Stirling,  confirmed  all  the  sales  made  by 
James  Farrett  to  Edward  Howell,  Daniel  Howe 
and  others,  by  virtue  oi  his  power  of  attorney, 
and  confirmed  them  in  their  possessions. 

The  question  having  arisen  as  to  what  should 
be  paid  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling  as  a  quit  rent,  or 
acknowledgment  of  his  title,  this  question  was 
referred  to  John  Winthrop,  the  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  who  gave  the  following,  on  Oc- 
tober 20,  1641 : 

'T,  John  Winthrop  within  named,  haying  sea- 
riously  considered  of  that  which  in  this  writing 
is  reifered  to  my  determination,  although  I  am 
very  unwilling  to  take  it  vpoi>me  &  as  unfitt  also, 
the  rather  being  to  seeke  of  any  rule  orapproued 
precedent  to  guide  me  herein,  yet  being  called 
hereunto,  I  shall  xpress  what  I  conceive  to  be 
equall  vpon  the  considerations  here  ensueing,  viz. : 
The  land  within  granted  being  a  meere  wilder- 
ness, and  the  natives  of  the  place  pretending  some 
Interest  which  the  planters  must  purchase,  and 
they  might  have  had  land  enough  gratis  (and 
as  convenient)  in  the  massachusets  or  other  of 
the  Collonies,  with  liberty  to  trade  with  the  In- 
dians (which  they  are  barred  from),  and  for 
that  they  had  possessed  and  improved  this  place 
before  any  actual  claim  made  thereto  by  the 
Right  horibbl  the  Earle  of  Sterling  or  had  any 
neede  of  his  lordships  patent;  and  v\^hereas  his 
lordship  (vpon  consideration  I  suppose  of  the 
premises)  required  nothing  of  them  but  in  way 
of  acknowledgement  of  his  interest,  I  doe  here- 
upon conceive  and  doe  accordingly  (so  farr  as 
power  is  given  mee)  order  and  sett  downe  that 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  tract  of  land  within  men- 
tioned, or  the  plantation  now  called  Southamp- 
Icn,  vpon  Long  Island,  and  their  successors  for 
ever  shall  pay  yearely  to  the  said  Earle  of  Ster-- 
ling,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  vpon  the  last  day  of 
7  ber,  att  Southampton  aforesaid,  foure  bushells 
of  the  best  Indian  Corne  there  growing,  or  the 
value  of   soe  much,  in   full   satisfaction  of  all 


rents  and  services  (the  5th  part  of  gold  and  sil-' 
ver  oare  to  the  Kings  majesty  reserved  allways 
excepted).  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  here- 
unto sett  my  hand,  dated  20   (8)    1641 

"]o.  Winthrop/' 

The  above  is  written  on  the  back  of  James 
Farrett's  deed  of  April   17,   1640. 

The  next  thing  in  order  was  to  obtain  a  deed 
from  the  Indians,  the  original  and  equitable  pro- 
prietors of  the  soil,  and  some  time  after  the  set- 
tlement was  begun  the  following  deed  was 
given : 

This  Indenture,  made  the  13th  day  of  De- 
cember Anno   Dom.   1640,  betweene  Pomatuck, 
Mandush,   Mocomanto,  Pathemanto,  Wybbenett, 
Wainmenowog,  Heden,    Watemexoted,    Checke- 
puchat,  the  native  Inhabitants  &  true  owners  of 
the  eastern  pt  of  the  Long  Island,    on   the   one 
part,    and    Mr.    Jorn    Gosmer,    Edward   Howell, 
Daniel  Plow,  Edmond   Needham,  Thomas  Hal- 
sey,  John  Cooper,  Thomas  Sayre,  Edward  ffar- 
mgton.  Job  Sayre,  George  Welbee,  Allen  Breade, 
Willm  Harker,  Henry  Walton,  on  the  other  part, 
witnesseth,  that  the  sayed  Indians,  for  due  con- 
sideration of  sixteen  coats  already-  received  and 
alsoe  three  score  bushells  of  indian  corne  to  be 
payed  vpon  lawfull  demand  the  last  of  Septem- 
ber, which  shall  bee    in    the   year    1641,  &  fur- 
ther in  consideration  that  the  above  named  Eng- 
lish shall  defend  vs  the  sayed  Indians  from  the 
uniust  violence  of  whatever  Indians   shall  ille- 
golly  assaile  vs,  do  absolutely  &  for  ever  give  & 
grant,  and  by  these  presents  do  acknowledge  ovr- 
selues  to  have  'given  &  granted,  to  the  partyes 
above  mentioned,  without  any  fraude,  guile,  men- 
tal reservation  or  equivocation  to  them  and  theire 
heires  Sz  successors  for  ever,  all  the  lands,  woods, 
waters,    water    courses,    easements,    proffits    & 
emoluments  thence  arising  whatsoever,  from  the 
place  commonly  knowne  by  the  place  where  the 
Indians  hayle  oven  their  cannoes  out  of  the  North 
Bay  to  the  south  side  of  the  Island,  from  thence 
to  possess  all  the  lands  Iving  eastward  between 
the  foresaid  bounds  by  water,  to  wit,  all  the  lands 
pertaining  to  the  parteyes  aforesaid,  as  also  all 
the  old  ground  formerly  planted  lying  eastward 
from  the  first  creek  at  the  westermore  end  of 
Shinecock  plaine;  to  have  &  to    hold    forever, 
without  any  claime  or  challenge  of  the  least  tit- 
tle,  interest  or  propriety  whatsoever  of  vs  the 
sayd  Indians  or  our  heires  or  successors  or  any 
others  by  our  leave,  appointment,  license,  coun- 
sel or  authority  what  soever,  all  the  land  bounded 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


289 


as  is  above  said.  In  full  testimone  of  this  our  ab- 
solute bargaine,  contract  &  grant,  indented,  & 
in  full  and  complete  satisfaction  &  establishment 
of  this  our  act  &  deed  of  passing  over  aill  our  title 
and  interest  in  the  premises,  with  all  emolu- 
ments &  proffits  thereto  appertaining  or  any 
wise  belonging  from  sea  or  land,  within  our  lim- 
its above  specified,  withoait  all  guile  wee  have  set 
to  our  hands  th  day  and  yeare  aboye  sayd.  Mem- 
orand. — Before  the  subscribing  of  this  present 
writing  it  is  agreed  that  the  Indians  aboue 
named  shall  have  the  libertie  to  break  vp  ground 
for  theire  vse  to  the  westward  of  the  creek  above 
mentioned  on  the  west  side  of  Shinnecock  plaine. 
Witne&s  of  the  deliverie  &  subscribinge  this 
writing :  Abraham  Pierson,  Edward  Stephenson, 
Robert  Terry,  Joseph  Howe,  Thomas  White- 
hone,  Joshua  Griffiths,  William  How,  Manata- 
cut  X  his  mark,  Mandush  x  his  mark,  Wybenet 
X  his  mark,  Howes  x  his  mark,  Secomm'ecock  x 
his  mark,  Mocomanto  x  his  mark.  These  in  the 
the  name  of  the  rest. 

The  following  agreement  was  entered  into  at 
a  subsequent  time : 

Indian  Agreement  between  the  Town  of 
Southampton  and  Seaponack  Indians,  December 
28,  1649.  To  remove  all  trou^ble  on  account  of 
the  Indians  planting  on  ground  that  did  not  be- 
long to  them.  It  is  agreed  that  the  Indians  are 
to  have  planting  land  west  of  the  Long  Creek 
beyond  the  Great  Playnes  toward  Shinecock  unto 
the  Long  Creek  of  Seaponack  aforesayd,  where 
a  ware  house  belonging  unto  the  said  English 
did  formerly  stand.  The  Indians  are  to  make  a 
fence  for  their  planting  ground. 

The  above  agreement,  which  is  recorded  in 
the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  explains  the 
meaning  of  the  clause  in  the  Indian  Deed  of 
1640,  where  it  spoke  of  ''the  old  ground  form- 
erly planted,  at  the  west  end  of  the  westermore 
end  of  Shinecock  plaine."  This  land  is  men- 
tioned m  old  deeds  as  ''Seaponack  old  Ground" 
and  is  on  the  north  side  of  Tuckahoe  street,  next 
east  of  Shinnecock  Hills.  The  'long  creek  of 
Seaponack"  is  now  called  Bull  Head  Bay,  and 
this  agreement  show^s  that  a  landing  for  vessels 
was  here  very  soon  after  the  settlement.  In  1678 
William  Baker  had  a  warehouse  at  a  place  still 
called  "Barker's  island,"  which  was  at  the  west 

19 


end  of  the  fence  of  Shinnecock  Hills,  and  prob- 
ably very  near,  if  not  on  the  same  site,  as  the  one 
mentioned  above. 

By  an  agreement  made  before  Governor 
Nicolls,  October  4,  1665,  it  was'  agreed  that  the 
bounds  of  the  Shinnecock  Indians  extended  west 
to  Apocock  creek,  now  Beaver  Dam,  and  that 
the  bound's  of  the  Unchechoge  Indians  extended 
east  to  the  said  Apocock  creek.  '"'The  middle  of 
the  river  to  be  the  bounds,  but  either  nation  may 
cutt  flaggs  for  their  use  on  either  side."  The 
Indian  name  Apocock  signifies  a  place  where 
flags  grow.  The  Unchechoge  Indians  had  their 
principal  seat  on  the  neck,  called  Unchechoge, 
near  Mastic. 

The  original  settlement  was  made  at  a  place 
which  has  ever  since  borne  the  name  of  "Old 
Town,"  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  present 
main  street  of  Southampton.  The  very  few  al- 
lusions to  it  in  our  ancient  records  render  it  im- 
possible to  exactly  locate  the  houses  of  the  first 
settlers.  We  have  evidence  that  the  Piersors 
family  owned  the  south  part  of  the  land  of  late 
Colonel  Benjamin  H.  Foster  on  the  east  side  of 
Old  Town  Pond,  and  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson  was 
,  doubtless  the  first  owner.  Edward  Howell,  the 
leader  of  the  Colony,  appears  to  have  owned  the 
north  corner  of  Old  Town  Lane  and  Wickapogue 
street,  but  beyond  these  we  have  no  certaii's 
knowledge. 

For  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence^ 
Southampton  was  an  independent  government.- 
Among  the  very  first  documents  as  recorded  im 
the  Town  Clerk's  office,  is  "An  Abstract  of  the- 
Lawes  of  Judgment  as  given  by  Moses  to  the 
Commonwealth  of  Israel,  soe  farr  foarth  as  they 
bee  of  Morall,  that  is  of  perpetuall  and  universall 
Equity.  Among  all  nations,  Especially  such 
where  the  church  and  Commonwealth  are  com- 
planted  together  in  holy  couenant,  and  fellow- 
shippe  with  God,  in  Jesus  Christ,  being  joyntly 
and  unanimously-  consented  vnto  as  funda- 
mental! by  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Colony  of 
Southampton."  These  laws  were  based  upon  the~ 
Mosaic  code  as  given  in  Exodus.  They  include 
the  damage  to  be  paid  in  case  of  trespass  by  cat- 
tle or  swine,  and  for  injuries  inflicted  by  vicious 


290 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


animals,  and  provide  that  blasphemy,  idolatry 
and  witchcraft  shall  all  be  punished  with  death, 
and  the  same  for  heresy,  murder,  perjury,  adul- 
tery and  rebellion.  ''Heresie"  was  defined  as  "the 
mayntaynance  of  som€  wicked  error,  over- 
throwing the  foundation  of  Christian  Religion 
with  obstinacy/'  Profane  swearing  was  to  be 
punished  "by  corporal  punishment,  eyther  by 
stripes  or  by  branding  them  with  an  hott  yron, 
or  boareing  them  through  the  tongue,  as  he  hath 
boared  and  pierced  God's  nam€."  "Drunken- 
ness, as  transforming  God's  Image  into  a  Beast, 
is  to  be  punished  with  the  punishment  of  a  Beast. 
A  whippe  for  the  horse,  and  a  rodde  for  the 
fooles  backe." 

The  highest  authority  was  the  town  meeting. 
This  was  composed  of  all  the  freeholders  of  the 
to-^n.  Universal  suffrage  was  unknown  till  many 
years  after  the  Revolution.  From  the  free- 
holders were  chosen  a  select  number,  called 
^'Freemen,"  and  these  seem  to  be  the  only  men 
eligible  to  hold  office.  The  "Generall  Courte" 
for  election  was  held  yearly  on  October  ist. 
"Quarter  Courts"  were  to  be  held  on  the  first 
Tuesdays  of  March,  June,  September  and  Decem- 
ber. These  "Quarter  Courts"  were  for  the  trial 
of  general  offenses  and  lawsuits,  but  the  parties 
could  appeal  to  the  "General  Court."  The  mag- 
istrates were  appointed  by  the  General  Court, 
and  they  were  the  great  men  of  the  town.  One 
of  the  things  that  the  first  settlers  brought  with 
them  was  "respect  for  magistrates,"  and  this, 
we  are  happy  to  say,  has  continued  till  the  pres- 
ent day.  The  position  of  "Freeman"  not  only  in- 
volved the  power  to  hold  office,  but  rendered  the 
person  'liable  to  jury  duty,  and  was  more  of  an 
honor  than  an  advantage.  In  1647  it  was  found 
necessary  to  enact  that  if  any  man  should  be 
chosen  freeman  and  refuse  the  position,  he  should 
pay  forty  ishillings  as  a  fine.  The  first  list  of 
freemen  on  record  is  in  1650,  and  they  were: 
Mr.  Edward  Howell,  Josiah  Stanborough, 
Thomas  Talmage,  Thomas  Halsey,  William 
Rogers,  Thomas  Sayre,  John  White,  Mr.  John 
Gosmer,  Mr.  Richard  Odell  (Woodhull)  Rich- 
ard Barrett,  John  Cooper,  Mr.  Robert  Ford- 
ham,  Edward  Johnes,  Mr.  Thurston  Raynor,  Mr. 


William  Browne,  John  Howell,  Mr.  Thomas 
Topping,  Mr.  Richard  Smith. 

In  the  early  settlement,  social  position  was 
more  clearly  marked  than  at  present.  The  first 
settlers  brought  with  them  the  same  rank  that 
they  held  in  their  native  land.  Only  a  few  were 
entitled  to  be  called  "Mr."  or  "Gentleman."  A 
man  who  was  not  of  sufficient  importance  to  en- 
joy these  titles  was  known  as  "Goodman.''  His 
wife  would  be  called  "Good  woman,"  which  was 
shortened  into  "goody."  These  distinctions  are 
very  frequently  seen  in  our  early  records. 

That  all  the  inhabitants  were  not  virtuous 
is  shown  by  an  entry  of  March  6,  1645.  "^^  is 
ordered  that  the  five  pounds  that  are  due  from 
Thomas  Farrington  and  Edward  Farrington 
unto  the  Towne,  shall  be  layed  out  for  the  pro- 
viding of  a  prison."  On  November  14,  1648, 
it  is  voted,  "That  there  shall  hereby  be  provided 
a  sufficient  payre  of  stocks,  John  White  having 
undertaken  to  make  them."  These  stocks  (or 
their  successors)  and  a  whipping  post  were 
standing  on  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Job's 
Lane  as  late  as  181 1.  The  last  person  so  pun- 
ished was  a  colored  woman  detected  in  steal- 
ing. 

On  October  7,  1650,  the  Court  of  Election 
chose  five  men  "to  order  all  towne  affairs  what- 
soever, excepting  matters  of  admitting  inhabi- 
tants or  giving  of  land."  These  persons,  known 
as  the  "Towns  men,"  had  a  great  variety  of  du- 
ties, their  principal  duty  being  laying  out  lands 
by  order  of  the  General  Court.  The  following 
were  inhabitants  of  the  town  before  1650: 

Edward  Howell,  Thomas  Halsey,  Thomas 
Sayre,  Job  Sayre,  William  Harker,  William 
Wells,  John  Moore,  Thomas  Talmadge  jr., 
Thomas  Talmadge  sen.,  Abraham  Pierson,  Hen- 
rv  Pierson,  Daniel  Howe,  Richard  Barrett,  Will- 
iam Rodgers,  Fulk  Davis,  Nathaniel  Kirtland, 
Phillip  Kirtland,  Thomas  Farrington,  John  Far- 
rington, Richard  Mills,  Thomas  Tomson,  Allen 
Breade,  Henry  Walton,  Josiah  Stanborough,  Ed- 
mond  Needham,  Thomas  Terry,  George  Welbee, 
John  Gosmer,  John  Cooper,  Henry  Seymonds, 
Richard  Post,  John  Stratton,  Thomas  Hildreth, 
Isaac  AVillman,  John  Budd,  Thomas  Burnett, 
Thurston  Raynor,  John  Odgen,  John  White,  Ar- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


291 


thur  Rosttxk,  Richard  Smith,  Joshua  Barnes, 
Theodore  Vale,  Thomas  Topping,  Jonas  Wood, 
George  Wood,  John  Mulford,  Richard  Odell, 
Edward  Johnes,  \\^i'liiam  Browne,  John  Robbin- 
son,  John  Kelley,  WiUiam  Barnes,  Robert  Rose, 
EUis  Cook,  John  Cor\^,  Robert  Marvin,  Jeremiah 
Howe,  Christopher  Foster,  John  Lum,  William 
Mulford,  Robert  Talmage,  Robert  Bond,  John 
Ogden,  Mark  Meggs,  Thomas  Beale,  Thomas 
Pope,  Isaac  Willman,  Richard  Woodhull,  Rich- 
ard Jacques,  John  Hand,  Tristram  Hedges.  Sam- 
uel Dayton,  Raphael  Swinfield,  John  Jessup, 
John  J  agger,  Thomas  Doxy,  Thomas  Robinson. 

Of  these  many  remained  but  a  short  time, 
and  somie  of  them  were  arn'Otig  the  first  set- 
tlers of  East  Hampton.  Richard  Smith  re- 
moved from  the  town  'at  an  early  date  and  be- 
came the  founder  of  Smithtown,  and  his  name 
is  celebrated  in  Long  Island  history  as  "Bull 
Smith."  It  is  generally  believed  that  Rich- 
ard Odiell  and  Richard  Woodhull,  Whose 
names  appear  as  above,  were  one  and  the  same 
person,  who  afterward  settled  in  the  town  of 
Brookhaven,  and  whose  illustrious  descendant 
General  Nathaniel  Woodhull  has  left  an  im- 
perishable name  as  a  marytr  to  the  cause  of 
Long  Island  liberty. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  first  settlement  was 
at  Old  Town,  but  this  locality  being  for  some 
reason  considered  unsuitable  for  a  permanent 
village,  we  find  the  following  order: 

'This  instant  23d  of  the  first  (March)  1648. 
it  is  ordered  by  ye  five  men,  apoynted  for  towne 
affaires,  that  ye  whole  Towne  shall  be  called  to- 
gether on  the  second  day  next,  at  the  setting  of 
the  sunne,  to  consider  of  a  Towne  Plot  that 
shall  be  then  presented  to  them,,  and  to  deter- 
mine concerning  ye  said  Plot,  or  some  other, 
that  may  be  presented  by  any  other  man's  advice, 
and  also  to  consider  of  such  home  accomoda- 
tions as  may  be  most  suitable  to  the  comfort 
peace  &  welfare  of  this  Plantation." 

The  new  plan  thus  established  is  the  present 
main  street  of  Southampton  village,  and  ancient 
deeds  for  home  lots  upon  it  are  described  as 
being  "in  the  Town  Plot."  The  first  mention  of 
a  home  lot  on  this  street  is  October  7,  1648, 
when  "it  is  ordered  by  the  freemen  of  this  towne 


that  Isaac  Willman  hath  the  house  lot  next  vnto 
Ellis  Cook,  vpon  the  south  side,  granted  him, 
provided  that  if  he  shall  remove  from  this  place 
before  3  years  be  expired,  then  he  shall  not  sell 
the  sayd  lott,  vnless  he  have  improved  it  by 
building,  fencing  or  manureing."  This  is  the 
home  lot,  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  of 
the  late  Edwin  Post.  It  remained  in  the  fam- 
ily of  Isaac  Willman  for  two  or  three  genera- 
tions. The  second  church  in  Southampton  was 
built  upon  it.  It  was  decided  that  each  50- 
pound  right  should  be  entitled  to  a  house  lot  of 
four  acres.  Those  who  owned  more  than  one 
right  had  additional  lots. 

In  the  beginning  Edward  Howell  and  his 
band  of  associates  were  the  town.  They  owned 
all  the  land  purchased  from  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 
and  owned  it  in  proportion  to  what  each  man  had 
paid.  New  comers  to  the  town  were  only  ad- 
mitted by  their  approbation,  and  great  care  was 
taken  to  exclude  any  who  would  not  be  de- 
sirable neighbors.  To  those  who  were  admitted 
they  would  give  specified  parcels  of  land,  and 
sometimes  such  persons  bought  lots;  but  all  that 
remained  undivided  or  unsold  belonged  to  the 
original  company.  The  number  of  inhabitants 
had  increased,  most  of  whom  seem  to  have 
bought  shares  in  the  company.  On  June  11, 
1648,  we  find  the  following  important  order: 

"It  is  ordered  by  all  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Towne  this  day  that  this  towne  is  to  be  devided 
into  fortie  house  lots,  some  bigger,  some  less, 
as  m.en  have  put  in  a  share,  six  thousand  pounds 
to  be  devided  into  fortie  parts." 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  "Proprietors' 
rights."  A  full  share  in  this  division  would  be 
£150,  two-thirds  of  a  share  would  be  iioo,  while 
one-third  of  a  share  would  be  £50.  This  last 
was  for  many  years  the  smallest  division.  The 
names  of  all  the  proprietors,  and  the  share  that 
each  owned,  were  too  well  known  to  be  disputed. 
It  was  well  understood  that  no  man  had  any 
share  in  the  undivided  lands  unless  he  had  pur- 
chased such  a  share,  or  it  had  been  given  unto 
him  by  the  town.  In  1649  a  tract  of  land  in  the 
"Create  Plavne"  was  "laid  out  for  in  comers.''' 


292 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


This  land  was  divided  into  forty-five  parts,  each 
part  containing  six  acres.  Three  oi  these 
parts  miade  a  £150  Joit.  The  "Great  Playme" 
is  the  w^hole  tract  of  land  between  the  town 
pond  and  Shinnecock  Bay^  or  what  is  known 
as  the  head  of  the  creek,  and  includes  First 
Neck,  Cooper's  Neck,  Halsey's  Neck  and  Cap- 
tain's Neck. 

In  1651  we  find  that  the  town  granted  to 
Christopher  Foster  a  £150  lot,  to  Jeremy  Veale 
and  John  Loome  each  a  iioo  lot,  and  to  John 
Cooper  and  Siniion  S-earing  each  a  £50  lot.  The 
expression  so  frequently  found  in  old  deeds  and 
wills,  "a  50  of  commonge,"  "a  100  of  com- 
monge/'  mean  respectively  a  £50  and  a  £100 
right  in  the  undivided  lands.  In  1712  a  complete 
.  account  was  made  of  all  the  proprietor  rights. 
At  that  time  there  were  found  to  be  153  £50 
rights,  m^aking  51  whole  shares,  and  all  the  lands 
subsequently  divided  were  divided  into  51   lots. 

The  first  regular  division  of  lands  among  the 
proprietors  were  41  lots  laid  out  at  Saggaponack 
and  Meacox,  and  land  on  the  east  side  of  Water- 
mill  creek,  in  1653.  The  second  division  (1654) 
was  the  salt  meadows  at  Shinnecock  and  Se- 
ponack,  on  the  shores  of  the  bay.  These 
meadows,  although  bounded  by  the  lands  of 
Shinnecock  Neck,  and  Shinnecock  Hills,  are  still 
owned  by  private  individuals.  The  next  division 
was  in  1657,  and  was  the  meadows  on  the  South 
Beach,  west  of  Cooper's  Neck. 

In  1651  the  'Tittle  Plain"  was  laid  out.  This 
includes  all  the  land  south  of  Gin  Lane,  between 
Town  Pond  and  Old  Town  Pond.  There  were 
three  tiers  of  lots  running  east  and  west.  The 
encroachment  of  the  beach  has  obliterated  a  large 
part  of  this  tract.  About  1666  a  new  division 
was  laid  out.  A  large  part  of  this  was  additions 
to  the  home  lots  on  the  east  side  of  the  street, 
and  the  remainder  in  other  places.  The  Ox  Pas- 
ture is  a  tract  of  land  bounded  north  by  the  road 
to  Shinnecock  Hills,  or  Hill  street,  south  by  Cap- 
tain's Neck  Lane,  east  by  Town  Pond,  and  west 
by  the  Head  of  the  Creek.  This  was  laid  out 
in  1676.  In  1677  a  large  division  of  land  was 
laid  out  at  Saggaponack  and  Meacox.  This 
was  the  most  fertile  part  of  the  farm  lands  in 


the  town.  The  large  tract  of  wood  land  ex- 
tending from  the  East  Hampton  line  to  Millstone 
■brook  was -laid  out  in- 1738  in  two  divisions, 
known  as  the  Great  North  and  the  Great  South 
Division. 

In  1679  was  laid  out  the  40-acre  Division. 
The  greater  part  of  this  was  on  each  side  of  the 
range  of  ponds  known  as  Long  Pond,  and  at 
Scuttle  Hole.  Three  of  the  lots  were  at  Mill 
Pond  head.  The  farm  at  Seven  Ponds,  lately 
owned  by  the  Archibald  family,  was  one  of  the 
lots  in  this  division,  and  was  laid  out  to  Joshua 
Barnes.  The  peninsula  called  Great  Noyack 
was  also  a  lot  and  was  laid  out  to  John  Jessup, 
as  his  share  in  the  division. 

The  30-acre  Division  was  laid  out  in  1712. 
This  included  the  lands  north  of  Bridgehamp- 
ton  village  and  at  Paugasebogue  (Poxabog), 
and  on  Lumber  Lane.  The  20-acre  Division,  or 
North  Side  Division,  was  also  laid  out  in  1712. 
This  includes  scattered  lots  west  of  Noyack,  and 
in  the  region  known  as  "North  Side."  These 
two  divisions  derive  their  names  from  the  num- 
ber of  acres  in  each  lot. 

The  last  division  of  land  east  of  Canoe  Place 
is  called  the  "Little  South  Division,"  laid  out 
in  1763.  It  is  composed  of  scattered  parcels  of 
land  from  East  Hampton  to  Shinnecock  Hills. 
The  "Drake  farm,"  at  the  north  end  of  South- 
amptoin  village,  is  a  part  of  this  division;  also 
lands  at  Tuckahoe. 

When  the  various  divisions  were  laid  out,  if 
one  lot  was  not  equal  in  value  to  another,  a  piece 
would  be  added  to  the  less  valuable  lot  in  some 
other  locality.  These  pieces,  so  laid  out  to 
equalize  the  lots,  were  called  "Amendments," 
and  were  sometimes  larger  than  the  lots  them- 
selves. 

The  method  of  allotting  the  lands  to  the 
various  proprietors  was  simple,  3'et  ingenious,, 
and  perfectly  fain  The  town  trustees  Avould 
select  a  number  of  persons  whose  rights  taken 
together  would  be  a  £150  lot.  These  names, 
with  the  rights  of  each,  would  be  written  on  a 
ticket  and  placed  in  a  box.  A  number  of  tickets, 
equal  to  the  number  of  lots  to  be  drawn,  with 
the  number  of  a   lot  on  each  ticket,   would  be 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


293 


placed  in  another  box.  They  would  then  draw, 
alternately,  a  ticket  from  each  box,  and  fasten 
them  together.  The  numbers  of  the  lots  and  the 
names  of  the  persons  who  drew  them  would  be 
recorded  in  the  town  clerk's  ofRce.  This  is  the 
basis  of  title  to  all  lands  in  the  town  of  South- 
ampton, and  that  the  divisions  were  rightly  made 
is  proved  by  the  fact  that  they  were  always  ac- 
cepted in  good  faith.  It  w*as  only  in  recent 
years,  when  arose  a  class  ignorant  of  town  his- 
tory, that  ^'Proprietor  rights"  were  ever  dis- 
puted. 

Two  other  divisions  will  be  mentioned  in  the 
sketch  of  the  village  of  Sag  Harbor. 

By  right  of  discovery  the  title  to  all  lands  in 
the  Province  of  New  York  was  vested  in  the 
English  Crown.  After  the  death  of  the  Earl  of 
Stirling,  his  heirs  sold  all  their  rights  on  Long 
Island  (excepting  the  lands  already  sold  by 
James  Farrett)  to  the  King,  Charles  II,  and  on 
March  12,  1664,  he  granted  the  whole  terri- 
tory to  his  brother  James,  Duke  of  York  and  Al- 
bany. The  Duke  immediately  took  measures  to 
conquer  his  Province  from  the  Dutch,  then  in 
possession  of  New  Netherlands.  In  August, 
1664,  an  Eniglish  fleet,  under  oonmiand  of  Col- 
onel Richard  Nicolls,  appeared  before  New  Am- 
sterdam. The  city,  utterly  unprepared  for  resist- 
ance, surrendered,  and  with  it  the  Duke  of  York 
came  in  possession  of  the  entire  region.  The 
terms  of  capitulation  were  favorable  to  the 
Dutch,  who  remained  in  peaceable  possession 
of  their  estates.  They  were  only  required  to 
recognize  fully  the  authority  of  the  new  ruler. 
The  inhabitants  of  New  Netherland  lost  no  time 
in  obtaining  from  Governor  Nicolls  "Patents  oi 
Confirmation"  for  the  lands  they  held  under  title 
from  the  Dutch  government.  This  being  done, 
they  had  no  further  trouble.  But  on  the  east 
end  of  Long  Island  an  entirely  different  state  of 
things  existed.  The  people  of  Southampton,  al- 
though perfectly  willing  to  recognize  the  author- 
ity of  the  British  Crown,  did  not  feel  inclined 
to  admit  the  title  of  the  Duke  of  York  to  the 
lands  they  had  already  purchased  from  the  Earl 
of  Stirling,  their  lawful  owner.  They  took  no 
pains  to  procure  a  patent  from  Governor  Nicolls, 


and  things  remained  in  this  condition  until  the 
arrival  of  Governor  Edniond  Andros,  who  im- 
mediately demanded  that  the  people  of  the  east- 
ern towns  should  recognize  his  title  by  obtaining 
a  new  patent.  The  town  responded  in  a  letter, 
still  in  existence,  giving  their  reasons  for  not 
complying  with  the  demand.  Andros  was  not 
a  man  to  be  trifled  with.  His  reply  was  prac- 
tically, "Get  a  new  patent  or  be  declared  rebels, 
with  danger  of  having  your  lands  confiscated." 
This  had  its  effect,  and  the  patent  was  applied 
for  and  obtained : 


"Edmond  Andross,  Esqr.,  Seigneur  of  Saus- 
marez,  Lieut,  and  Governor  Gen'all  under  His 
Royall  Highness  James  Duke  of  York  and  Al- 
bany &c.  of  all  his  Territoryes  in  America,  To 
all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  sendeth 
Greeting.  Whereas  there  is  a  certain  Towne  in 
the  East  Riding  of  Yorkshire  upon  Long  Island 
commonly  called  and  knowne  by  the  name  of 
South  Hampton,  situate,  lying  and  being  on  the 
South  side  of  the  said  Island,  toward  the  Maine 
sea,  having  a  certaine  Tract  of  Land  thereunto 
belonging,  the  Eastward  Bounds  whereof  extend 
to  a  certain  place  or  plaine  called  Wainscutt, 
where  the  bounds  are  settled  betwixt  their  Neigh- 
bors of  the  Towne  of  East  Hampton  and  them'! 
Their  southern  bounds  being  the  Sea,  and  so 
runs  westward  to  a  place  called  Seatuck,  where 
a  Stake  was  sett  as  their  farthest  extent  that 
way ;  Then  crossing  over  the  Island  to  the  North- 
ward to  Peaconick  great  River  (not  contradict- 
ing the  agreement  made  betweene  their  Towne 
and  the  Towne  of  Southhold  after  their  tryall 
at  the  Court  of  Assizes),  and  soe  to  run  East- 
ward! along  the  North  bounds  to  the  Eastermost 
point  of  Hogg  neck  over  against  Shelter  Island ; 
Including  all  the  Necks  of  land  and  Islands  with- 
in the  afore  described  bounds  and  Limits ; 

"Now  for  a  confirmation  unto  the  present 
Ereeholders  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Towne  and 
precincts,  Know  Yee  that  by  virtue  of  his  Majes- 
tie's  Letters  Pattents  and  the  Commission  and 
Authority  unto  me  given  by  his  Royall  Highness 
I  have  Ratified,  Confirmed  and  Granted  *  * 
unto  John  Topping  (Justice  of  the  Peace),  Cap- 
tain John  Howell,  Thomas  Hailsey  Senior,  Jo- 
seph Raynor  (Constable),  Edward  Howell,  John 
Jagger,  John  Foster,  and  Francis  Sayre  (Over- 
seers), Lieut.  Joseph  Fordliam,  Henry  Pierson, 
John  Cooper,  Ellis  Cooke,  Samuel  Clarke,  Rich- 
ard Post  and  John  Jennings,  as  Patentees,   for 


294 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


and  on  behalfe  of  them  selves  and  their  Associ- 
ates the  ffreeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  said 
town,  *  *  *  All  the  afore  mentioned  tract 
of  land  *  *  =5'  with  all  Rivers,  Lakes,  wat- 
ers, Quarrys,  Woodlands,  Plains,  Meadows, 
pastt-ires,  Marshes,  ffishing,  Hawking,  Hunting 
and  ffonling.  And  all  other  Proffits  and  Commod- 
ities *  *  *  To  Have  and  to  Hold  all  and 
singular  their  said  lands  and  premises.  *  *  * 
The  Tenure  of  said  land  to  be  according  to  the 
custcme  of  the  Manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  the 
County  of  Kent  in  England,  in  Free  and  Com- 
mon Soccage  and  by  fealty  only.  -s=  ^  * 
And  I  doe  hereby  likewise  Confirme  and  grant 
unto  the  said  Patentees  and  their  Associates  all 
the  privileges  and  Immunities  belonging  to  a 
Towne  witbin  this  government.  And  that  the 
place  of  their  present  habitacon  and  abode  shall 
continue  and  retaine  the  name  of  South  Hamp- 
ton, by  which  name  and  Stile  it  shall  be  dis- 
tinguished and  known  in  all  Bargaines  *  *  * 
and  writings.  Yeilding  and  paying  therefor  as 
an  acknowledgement  or  Quit  rent  One  fatt  Lamb 
unto  such  officer  or  officers  there  in  authority 
as  shall  be  Empowered  to  receive  the  same. 

"Given  under  my  hand  and  sealed  with  the 
Seal  of  the  Province,  in  New  York,  the  first  day 
of  November  in  the  Eight  and  twentieth  year  of 
his  A-Iajestie's  reign,  Annoque  Domini  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and    seventy-six. 


King  Charles  II  died  in  1685,  and,  as  he  left 
no  children,  the  throne  descended  to  his  brother, 
who  now  appears  as  "James  the  II,  by  the  Grace 
of  God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ire- 
land, Defender  of  the  Faith."  A  new  governor 
in  the  person  of  Thomas  Dongan  ruled  the  Prov- 
jnce.  The  town  of  Southampton  had  been 
doubled  in  extent  by  purchase  of  lands  west  of 
Canoe  Place,  and  more  enlarged  privileges  of 
town  government  M^ere  greatly  desired.  In  ac- 
cordance with  a  vote  of  the  town.  Major  John 
Howell,  who  was  one  of  the  patentees  in  the 
Andros  patent,  made  application  to  the  gov- 
ernor for  a  new  patent. 


This  patent,  which  is  dated  December  6, 
1686,  is  a  document  of  great  length,  and  written 
on  two  large  sheets  of  parchment  with  the  great 
seal  of  the  Province  attached,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  relics  in  the  town  clerk's  office. 


SEAL  ATTACHED  TO  PATENT. 

From  its  great  length,  only  an  abstract  can  here 
be  given : 

'^Thomas  Dongan,  Capt.  Generall,  Governor 
in  Chiefe  and  Vice  Admirall  in  and  over  the 
Province  of  New  England  and  Territoryes  de- 
pending thereon  in  America  &c  unto  his  majesty 
James  the  second.  By  the  Grace  of  God,  King  of 
England  France  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the 
Faith  &c.  To  all  whom  this  shall  come  sendeth 
Greeting." 

The  patent  then  goes  on  to  recite  the  patent 
given  by  his  predecessor,  Governor  Andros, 
and  gives  the  same  boundaries  to  the  town.  It 
also  recites  that  Major  John  Howell,  by  order 
of  the  freeholders,  had  made  application  that 
the  said  tracts  of  land  should  be  confirmed  to 
the  freeholders  "in  a  more  full  and  ample  man- 
ner,'' and  that  the  difference  between  the  Indians 
and  the  town  should  be  determined,  and  that  the 
lands  should  be  erected  into  one  township. 
"Now  Know  vee  that  I  the  said  Thomas  Dongan, 
having  examined  the  matter  in  variance  between 
the  Freeholders  and  the  Indians,  doe  finde  that 
the  Freeholders  of  the  town  of  Southampton 
have  lawfully  purchased  the  lands  and  have  paid 
them  according  to  agreement." 

The  patent  then  grants  and  confirms  all  the 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


295 


lands  so  purchased  and  included  in  the  limits  of 
the  town  unto  twelve  trustees,  viz. :  Major  John 
Howell,  Thomas  Halsey,  Sr.,  Edward  Howell, 
John  Jagger,  John  Foster,  Francis  Sayre,  Joseph 
Fordham,  Henry  Pierson,  Samuel  Clarke,  Job 
Sayre,  William)  Barker  and  Isaac  Halsey.  And 
then  comes  the  most  important  part  of  the  patent. 
These  trustees  were  to  hold  the  lands,  which 
had  already  been  divided  and  allotted,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  respective  owners  and  freeholders. 
"And  as  for  and  concerning  all  and  every  such 
parcel  or  parcels  of  land,  remainder  of  the 
granted  premises,  not  yet  taken  up  or  appropri- 
ated to  any  particular  person  or  persons,  for  the 
benefit  of  such  as  have  been  purchasers  there- 
of, in  proportion  to  their  several  and  respective 
purchases.'*  They  were  to  be  ''a  body  Corporate 
and  PoHtique,''  under  the  name  of  the  "Trustees 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  Freeholders  and  Comonal- 
ty  of  the  Town  of  Southampton,"  and  to  have 
perpetual  succession.  They  had  the  control  and 
management  of  the  undivided  lands  for  the  ben- 
efit of  the  Proprietors.  These  twelve  trustees 
and  two  constables  and  two  assessors  were  to 
be  elected  annually  at  a  town  meeting  to  be  held 
on  "the  First  Tuesday  in  April  forever."  And 
finally,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his  Majesty's 
title,  and  as  a  quit  rent,  they  were  to  pay  an- 
nually (the  sum  of  40  shillings. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  town  trustees,  the 
most  im'portant  officers  in  the  town.  At  that 
time  the  undivided  lands  were  nearly  nine-tenths 
of  the  town.  All  the  divisions  of  land  among 
the  proprietors  were  made  by  them.  They  acted 
in  a  dual  capacity.  For  all  town  affairs,  such  as 
the  support  of  the  poor  and  levying  of  taxes  for 
public  charges,  they  acted  for  the  town  at  large, 
but,  in  all  cases  in  which  the  tmdivided  lands 
were  concerned,  they  acted  for  the  proprietors, 
who  were  the  heirs  and  assigns  of  the  original 
purchasers.  A  total  misunderstanding  of  the 
meaning  of  the  patent  has  been  the  cause  of  many 
expensive  lawsuits,  happily  now  ended.  The 
cost  of  paying  for  the  patent  was  paid  by  the 
proprietors  in  proportion  to  their  rights  of  50's, 
lOo's  and  150's,  and  a  few  rights  of  commonge 
were  sold  to  raise  a  portion  of  the  money,  and 


thus  the  number  of  proprietor  rights  were  in- 
creased to  51,  the  highest  number.  As  the  un- 
divided lands  were  divided  in  the  different  di- 
visions, the  value  of  a  proprietor's  right  became 
less,  and,  as  there  are  now  no  undivided  lands, 
they  exist  only  in  name.  About  1818  a  violent 
dispute  arose  in  the  town  concerning  the  own- 
ership of  the  waters  of  the  town,  the  proprietors 
claiming  them  as  part  of  their  property,  while  a 
very  large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  held 
that  they  were  the  property  of  the  town  at  large. 
To  settle  this  dispute,  the  proprietors  agreed  to 
relinquish  all  claims  to  the  waters,  on  condition 
that  the  town  should  give  up  all  claims  to  the  un- 
divided lands.  An  act  of  legislature  passed  in 
that  year  incorporated  the  proprietors  of  the  un- 
divided lands,  with  power  to  elect  their  own 
trustees  for  the  management  of  their  affairs. 
The  town  meeting  still  continued  to  elect  town 
trustees,  who  managed  the  waters  of  the  town 
very  badly,  and  in  such  a  manner  that  the  town 
as  a  body  derived  no  benefit.  In  183 1  the  town 
trustees  were  also  incorporated  by  act  of  the 
legislature.  They  were  to  continue  to  be  twelve 
in  number,  to  be  elected  annually  at  town  meet- 
ing, and  had  full  power  to  manage  the  waters 
and  productions  of  the  waters,  as  their  pre- 
decessors had  power  to  do.  In  accordance  with 
this  and  the  terms  of  the  Dongan  patent,  the 
trustees  have  been  elected  down  to  the  present 
5^ear.  At  the  town  meeting  held  in  1901  a  reso- 
lution was  passed  that  the  number  of  trustees 
be  reduced  to  five.  In  accordance  with  this  the 
legislature  passed  an  act,  March  13,  1902,  pro- 
viding that  at  the  biennial  town  meeting  to  be 
held  in  April,  1903,  there  should  be  five  trustees 
elected,  who  should  hold  their  office  for  two 
years.  On  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  1902,  the 
greater  part  of  the  town  supposed  that  no  town 
meeting  would  be  held;  but  twenty-seven  per- 
sons met  in  Agawam  Hall,  in  the  village  of 
Southampton,  and  duly  organized  a  town  meet- 
ing and  elected  twelve  trustees  for  the  next  year. 
The  old  board  of  trustees  professing  to  believe 
that  their  term's  of  office  extended  till  1903,  re- 
fused to  recognize  the  new  trustees  as  being  duly 
elected,  and  thus  the  matter  stands  at  present. 


296 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


The  proprietors  of  the  undivided  lands  con- 
tinued  to  elect  their  trustees  annually,   and  on 
November   7,    1882,   they  made   a  final   sale  of 
all  the  property  yet  remaining  to  them.     They 
£old  to  Stephen  B.  French,  Everett  B.  Carpenter 
and  others  all  their  right  or  rights  they  might 
have  to  Mecox  Bay.  They  also  sold  to  the  ''Long 
Island   Improvement   Company"   all   their   right 
.and  title  to  Shinnecock  Bay,  Bull's  Head  Bay, 
-Cold   Spring  Bay   and  that  part  of  the  Great 
.South  Bay  which  lies  in  Southampton,  together 
with  all   their  undivided   lands,   whatever    they 
might  be,  in  Quogue  and  Topping's  Purchase, 
excepting  Red  Creek  Pond,  which  was  sold  to 
William  S.  Pelletreau.    All  their  right  to  all  un- 
divided lands  east  of  Shinnecock  Fli'lls  was  sold  to 
Rufus    Sayre,    who    shortly    after    conveyed    all 
Jiis  purchase  to  Edwin  Post  and  James  H.  Foster. 
By  these  sales  all  their  property  and  rights  were 
conveyed.      At   a  .meeting   of   the   trustees     the 
president,    clerk    and    all    the    trustees    resigned 
iheir  office.    No  new  ones  have  been  since  elected 
and,   although  the  corporation  still  has  a  legal 
existence,   it  has  no  officers,  owns  no  property 
and  owes  no  debts.     Whenever  the  proprietors 
sold    lands    they    always    gave    quitclaim    deeds, 
and  thus  avoided  all  chances  of  lawsuits.     The 
men  who  purchased  Mecox  Bay  became  incor- 
porated  as   the    "Mecox    Bay    Company."       By 
vote  of  a  town  meeting  the  town  trustees  com- 
menced a  suit  of  ejectment  against  them.     This 
case,   contested   by   most   able   counsel   on   both 
sides,  brought  out  a  vast  amount  of  historical  in- 
form'ation,  and  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  town, 
and  on  appeal  to  the  general  term  of  the  supreme 
court  and  to  the  court  of  appeals  the  judgment 
■was  affirmed.    This  case,  of  course,  also  decided 
the  title  to  Shinnecock  Bay  and  the  other  waters 
of  the  town,  and   after  some  delay  the  "Long 
Island  Improvement  Company"  conveyed  to  the 
iown  trustees  all  their  claim-  to  the  waters  pur- 
chased by  them. 

Another  important  lawsuit  was  commenced 
by  the  town  trustees,  in  which  they  were  fully 
sustained  by  public  opinion.  This  was  in  rela- 
lion  to  the  ancient  South  End  Burying  Ground, 


of  which  an  account  will  be  found  in  another 
place. 

In  1881  the  proprietors  sold  tO'  C.  Wyllis 
Betts  and  John  H.  Howell  the  beach  and  beach 
banks  south  of  the  Town  Pond.  Emboldened 
by  their  success  in  the  Mecox  Bay  case,  the  town 
trustees  resolved  to  test  the  title  to  the  lands 
thus  sold.  This  suit,  in  reality,  was  a  test  of 
the  proprietor  rights  and  the  validity  of  sales 
made  by  them.  C.  Wyllis  Betts,  the  purchaser 
of  a  part  of  these  lands,  had  died,  leaving  them 
to  his  nephew,  and  the  suit  was  commenced 
against  him.  In  this  case,  as  in  the  Mecox  Bay 
suit,  the  whole  history  of  the  land  tenure  of  the 
town  was  thoroughly  examined  and  the  validity 
and  meaning  of  the  town  patents  was  very  care- 
fully examined.  After  a  very  careful  and  long 
extended  examination  the  learned  judge  decided 
that  the  action  could  not  be  sustained,  and  di- 
rected a  verdict  for  the  defendant.  The  "law's 
delay"  was  in  this  case  very  fully  exemplified, 
and  it  was  several  years  after  the  comimencement 
of  the  suit  before  a  final  determination  was  given 
by  the  court  of  appeals.  The  judgment  of  the 
lower  court  was  affirmed,  and  the  rights  of  the 
proprietors  and  their  assigns  were  fully  sus- 
tained. There  are  very  few  who  can  appreciate 
the  amount  of  mischief  that  would  have  .been 
done  had  this  case  come  back,  '*new  trial  or- 
dered.' Such  lis  a  brief  review  of  the  history  of 
the  land  titles  in  this  town.  To  narrate  fully 
the  story  of  town  and  proprietor  rights  would 
make  a  volume. 


The  first  settlers  of  Southampton  did  not 
find  a  place  "where  men  do  not  die."  The  first 
death  of  which  we  have  any  record  is  that  of 
William  Browne,  who  died  shortly  before  July 
23,  1650.  Edward  Howell,  the  leader  of  the 
settlement,  died  before  October  6,  1655.  In  the 
wills  of  Major  John  Howell  and  his  brother, 
Edward  Howell,  both  give  directions  that  they 
should  be  buried  "by  their  honored  father's  sep- 
ulchre." The  tombstone  of  Major  John  is  stand- 
ing to  this  day  and  shows  approximately  the  lo- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


297 


cation  of  the  grave   of  the   founder  of   South- 
ampton. 


For  what  particular  reason  this  location  was 
first  chosen  for  a  cemetery  must  remain  forever 
unknown,  but  probably  Edward  Howell  was  not 
the  first  one  who  was  there  laid  to  rest.  The 
following  record  occurs : 

"January  5,  1665.  The  Overseers  have  agreed 
with  James  Herrick,  that  hee  shall  have  one  acre 
of  land  at  the  reere  of  his  home  lott,  in  consider- 
ation of  a  foot  way  for  people  vp  his  lott  to  the 
burying  place,  where  th-e  towne  have  one  acre 
for  that  vse  &  James  Herrick  is  to  have  the 
hearbidge  of  it." 

This  shows  that  at  that  time  the  burying 
ground  was  bounded  north,  east  and  south  by 
common  land,  for  the  land  at  the  rear  of  those 
home  lots  was  not  taken  up  till  1666.  When  we 
consider  that  tombstones  could  not  be  procured 
nearer  than  Connecticut,  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  earliest  graves  remain  unmarked.  The  old- 
est tomhstones  bear  the  following  inscriptions: 

"Here  lyes  ye  Body  of  Reverend  Josiah  Tay- 
lor, aged  31.  who  deceased  April  4th  1682." 

"Here  lyeth  buried  ye  body  of  Abigill  How- 
ell, ye  wife  of  Abraham^  Howell,  aged  2.J  years^ 
deceased  ye  19th  of  June  1688." 

"Here  lies  the  body  of  Abigail  Halsey,  aged 
26  years,  who  died  the  loth  of  October,   1696." 


"1696  Here  lies  the  body  of  Major  John  How- 
ell, deceased  November,  aged  71." 

"Here  lyeth  the  body  of  Coll.  Matthew  How- 
ell, and  one  of  the  House  of  Representatives  for 
their  Majesties  province  of  New  York,  Deceased 
may  ye  4th  Anno  1706.  Aetas  sua  55." 

Colonel  Matthew  Howell,  whose  honored 
grave  i's  thus  marked,  was  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  of  his  day,  and  was  a  representa- 
tive for  Suffolk  county  in  the  Colonial  Legisla- 
ture in  1691-2,  and  from  1694  to  1706.  The 
statement  that  he  died  at  Newtown,  Long  Isl- 
and, is  disproved  by  a  notice  in  a  Boston  news- 
paper, from  Southampton,  which  says,  "died 
here  much  lamented  iMatthew  Howell." 

For  more  than  two  centuries  this  hallowed 
spot  remained  in  a  condition  of  utter  neglect, 
but  the  bounds  were  clearly  defined  by  ancient 
ditches  and  fences  erected  by  the  owners  of  ad- 
joining lands.  In  1885  Edwin  Post,  whose  lands 
bounded  it  on  the  south,  trespassed  upon  the 
ground,  using  it  as  a  cartway.  The  town  trus- 
tees commenced  a  suit  for  trespass,  a  suit  which 
met  the  approval  of  the  entire  community.  Mr. 
Post  claimed  that  the  ancient  record  only  men- 
tioned one  acre,  all  the  land  beyond  that  quan- 
tity belonged  to  him.  The  case  was  decided  in 
favor  of  the  town  by  Hon.  Jasper  W.  Gilbert, 
who  was  appointed  referee  by  the  supreme  court. 
His  opinion,  which  entered  largely  into  the  early 
history  of  the  neighborhood,  showed  very  clear- 
ly that  this  ancient  cemetery  had  been  from  the 
earliest  times  dedicated  to  the  public  use.  The 
case  was  appealed  to  the  general  term,  and  thence 
to  the  court  of  appeals,  and  in  both  cases  the 
decisions  of  the  referee  were  unanimously  af- 
firmed. As  the  entire  population  of  the  village 
from  1640  to  1 72 1  are  buried  here,  the  ground 
must  be  wholly  occupied  with  graves,  though 
but  few  gravestones  exist.  It  is  safe  to  say  that 
all  of  the  original  settlers,  except  Josiah  Stan- 
borough,  here  found  their  last  resting  place.  The 
Colonial  Society  of  the  Village  of  Southampton 
have  taken  it  under  their  charge,  and  it  i'S  now 
well  cared  for.  There  are  in  all  thirty-two  grave 
stones.  The  oldest  person  is  Captain  Isaac  Hal- 
sey, who  died  May  18,  1757,  aged  ninety-seven. 


298 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


The  youngest  is  William  Ludlam,  son  of  An- 
thony Ludlam,  who  died  April  27,  1716,  aged 
thirteen.  The  inscriptions  are  all  printed  in 
Howell's  "History  of  Southampton." 

The  North  End  Burying  Ground,  at  the  junc- 
tion of  Main  street  and  the  road  to  North  Sea, 
was  one  of  the  original  home  lots  laid  out  in 
1648.  It  was  owned  by  William  Russell,  who 
had  a  house  upon  it  in  1667.  It  was  'Sold  to 
Obadiah  Sale  in  about  1674.  He  sold  it  to 
George  Heathcote,  a  merchant  of  New  York, 
in  1679,  and  he  left  it  by  will  to  his  cousin,  Col- 
onel Caleb  Heathcote,  in  1710.  Colonel  Heath- 
cote  sold  it  to  the  trustees  of  Souith- 
ampton,  December  13,  1 71 2 .  The  origi- 
nal deed  is  now  in  ithe  town  clerk's 
office.  It  wa;9  then  bounded  north  by  the 
home  lot  of  Josiah  Laughton,  "'which  lyeth  now 
Common,"  and  south  by  Jeremiah  Jagger's  home 
lot.  The  cart  path  leading  across  it  at  the  east 
end  was  to  remain  unfenced.  In  172 1  the  town 
trustees  voted  that  the  south  part  of  the  lot 
should  be  used  for  a  burying  ground.  A  tomb- 
stone in  this  part  of  the  yard  tells  its  own  story: 

''Heare  Lyes  yc  Body  of  Joseph  Post,  de- 
ceased 10  November.' Aged  abovt  72,  1721." 

Upon  the  footstone  is  the  following: 

"Post  Joseph,  the  first  entared  in  this  plas." 

In  process  of  time  the  whole  of  the  lot  be- 
came covered  with  graves,  and  a  lot  for  a  new 
cemetery  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  to 
Seponack  wias  purchased  by  Dr.  David  R.  Hal- 
lock,  in  1886. 

Richard  Mills,  who  filled  the  double  position 
of  schoolmaster  and  town  clerk,  was  here  with- 
in a  few  years  after  the  settlement,  and  was  one 
of  the  freemen  in  1650.  <.)n  April  11,  1651,  the 
town  gave  him  the  old  meeting  house  for  the 
purpose  of  enlarging  hi'S  dwelling  house,  and  he 
was  to  keep  "an  ordinary"  or  tavern.  On  March 
7,  1652,  he  sold  his  house  and  lot  to  John  Cooper, 
Jr.,  and  left  the  town.  He  was  schoolmaster  in 
Middleburgh,  Long  Island,  in  1660;  from  there 


he  went  to  Westchester,  and  was  town  clerk  in 
1661.    Here  he  found  himself  in  hot  water.    The 
whole   region    was   held   and   occupied    by    the 
Dutch,  and  claimed  by  the  English.     He  soon 
becam-e  prominent   among  the   English   faction, 
and  finally  he  and  a  number  of  ''English  thieves  " 
as   Governor   Stuyvesant   called  them,  were  ar- 
rested and  put  in  prison  in  New  Amsterdam.    A 
few   weeks'   experience  in   confinement  brought 
him  to  his  senses,  and  he  addre&sed  a  very  pit- 
eous letter  to  Peter  Stuyvesant,  or,  as  he  terms 
him.,  "my  dear  Lord  Stevensen,"  asking  for  re- 
lease; but  the  individual  known  in  the  veracious 
history  of  "Diedrich  Knickerbocker,"  as  "Peter 
the  Headstrong,"  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  his  en- 
treaties,   and  he   continued   to  languish.     Some 
time  after  he  made  petition  to  the  High  Court  of 
New  Amsterdam,  stating  that  he  "had  been  ten- 
derly brought  up,"  and  urging  as  an  additional 
inducement  for  ,his  release  his  intention  tq  "go 
about   his   affairs   to   Virginia."     He   was  soon 
after  set  at  liberty,  on  his  promise  not  to  com- 
mit any   act  hostile   to  the   Dutch   government. 
The  English  account  states  that,  owing  to  his 
imprisonment,    "he    shortly    afterwards    died." 
Such   was  the  unhappy   fate  of  the  first  town 
clerk    of    Southampton,    and   the  first  English 
schoolmaster  in  the  Province  of  New  York.    In 
1710  Richard  Mills,  of  Cohansey,  New  Jersey, 
speaks  of  himself  in  a  deed  as  "grandson  and 
sole  heir  at  law  of  Mr.  Richard  i\Iills,  formerly 
of  Westchester." 

On  September  22,  1663,  it  was  ordained  "that 
Jonas  Holdsworth  shall  have  £35  for  his  schoole- 
ing  per  annum,  for  the  term  of  two  years  at  least, 
and  his  pay  to  be  answerable  to  ye  pay  engaged 
to  him  at  Hempstead,  with  ye  allowance  of  12 
days  in  ye  yeare  liberty  for  his  own  particular 
occations." 

On  September  5,  1664,  "At  a  towne  meeting 
it  is  ordered  that  there  shall  bee  a  school  howse 
of  20  foot  long  and  15  foot  wide  built  ajt  the 
townes  charge  and  finished  fit  for  use  before  win- 
ter." This  schoolhouse  stood  on  the  west  street 
of  the  village  (or  Wind  ^lill  Lane),  on  the  rear 
of  the  home  lot  of  the  Jate  Captain  George  G. 
White,  south  of  the  burying  ground.    Thk  school 


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SOUTHAMPTON. 


299 


house  stood  for  a  great  many  years.  The  coun- 
ty courts  were  held  here  after  thev  were  estab- 
lished. The  following  entry  is  a  curious  relic  of 
oiir  school  history: 

'*I  John  Mowbray,  doe  binde  myselfe  faith- 
fully &  dilligently  to  teach  and  instruct  a  school 
in  Southampton,  att  twelve  shillings  in  cash  per 
Scholler  for  the  Terme  of  Six  months.  Com- 
menseing  from  ye  first  day  of  May  next,  and 
Ending  ye  first  of  November  next  enswing,  and 
to  teach  them  in  the  hours  following  viz.  from 
eight  to  eleven  o'clocke  in  ye  forenoone  and 
from  one  to  five  of  the  clocke  in  ye  afternoone. 
As  witness  my  hand  in  Southampton  this  28th 
day  of  April  1694. 

"John  Mowbray/' 
"Signed  in  presence  of  us, 
"Matthew  Howell,  Thomas   Stephens." 

Then  follows  a  list  of  "Mr.  Mowbray's 
scollers." — Matthew  Howell  2,  Lieutenant  Ste- 
phens I,  Richard  Howell,  Jr.,  i,  Joseph  Good- 
ale  I,  Ensign  Fordham  2,  Hannah  Sayre,  i, 
Walter  Alelvin  i,  Isaac  Willman  i,  William  Ker- 
rick  I,  Joseph  Foster  i,  Abraham  Howell  i, 
James  White  i,  Samuel  Johnes  i,  Mrs.  Johanah 
Cooper  I,  Jonas  Bower  i,  John  Woodruff  2,  Jo- 
seph Hildreth   i. 

John  Mowbray  was  afterward  the  patente€ 
and  owner  of  the  extensive  necks  of  land  at  what 
is  now  Bay  Shore,  in'  Islip,  and  part  of  it  is  still 
owned  by  his  descendants. 

The  old  school  house  seems  to  have  stood 
for  more  than  a  century.  On  August  7,  1767, 
William'  Johnes  sold  to  Isaac  Post,  Cornelius 
Halsey,  William  Woolly  and  Elias  Cooper,  as  a 
committee,  504  square  feet  of  land  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  his  home  lot.  On  this  was  built 
a  schoolhouse  which  is  well  remembered  by 
many  of  the  present  generation.  This  lot  was 
then  bounded  south  by  the  home  lot  of  Dr,  Isaac 
Halsey,  deceased.  On  December  10,  1804, 
Elizabeth  Kent,  daughter  of  Dr.  Isaac  Halsey, 
sold  to  Obadiah  Rogers,  Nathan  Cooper,  Jonas 
Pierson,  Oliver  Howell  and  Herrick  Rogers,  as 
a  committee,  a  lot  south  of  the  school  house. 
On  this  an  addition  to  the  former  building  was 
built,  making  in  all  a  schoolhouse  sixty  feet 
long.    A  few  years  later,  when  the  district  was 


divided,  the  schoolhouse  was  sawed  in  two,  and 
the  south  half  moved  to  a  lot  bought  of  Edward 
Reeves,  on  the  south  side  of  Job's  Lane.  The 
old  schoolhouse  at  the  "north  end"  remained  as 
it  was  until  1857,  when  it  was  sold  to  E.  Wines 
Payne,  who  moved  it  to  his  premises.  On  July 
21,  1876,  his  barn  was  struck  by  lightning,  and 
schoolhouse  and  other  buildings  were  destroyed. 
It  had  stood  for  nearly  no  years.  The  site  of 
this  ancient  schoolhouse  was  on  the  west  side 
of  Main  street,  directly  opposite  to  the  Bridge 
Hampton  road.  A  new  street  opened  by  Dr. 
John  Nugent  occupies  the  place.  In  1857  a  new 
schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  west  sid'e  of 
"Windmill  Lane,"  on  a  Lot  purchased  of  Lewis 
Howell,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  present 
Union  School  lot.  It  was  built  by  a  committee 
consisting  of  William  R.  Post,  Jonathan  Fithian 
and  Captain  Charles  Goodale,  the  first  mentioned 
doing  all  the  work  of  superintending  its  erection 
and  deserving  all  the  credit.  It  was  exceedingly 
well  built  and  co'st  $1,100.  A  few  years  later 
a  new  schoolhouse  was  built  in  tlie  "South  End 
District,"  a  few  feet  east  of  the  old  one.  The  old 
building  was  sold  to  Edwin  Post,  and  in  later 
years  was  moved  to  his  homestead,  and  is  still 
U'sed  as  an  outbuilding. 

When  the  village  had  begun  greatly  to  in- 
crease in  population  a  successful  movement  was 
made  to  establish  a  Union  School,  the  com- 
munity being  almost  a  unit  in  its  favor.  Through 
the  energetic  influence  of  James  H.  Foster,  the 
justice  of  the  peace,  a  large  lot  was  purchased 
on  the  west  street,  and  the  ynion  School  building 
was  erected.  It  was  opened  for  school  in  No- 
vember, 1891,  and  came  under  the  care  of  the 
regents  of  the  State  University,  December  14, 
1892.  The  first  principal  was  Frederick  A. 
Johnson,  who  was  born  at  Burlington  Flats,  New 
York,  October  20,  i860.  His  father,  Charles 
M.  Johnson,  was  a  descendant  of  early  settlers 
who  went  from  Massachusetts  tO'  central  New 
York.  He  was  educated  at  Richfield  Springs 
and  at  the  New  York  State  Normal  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  June,  1888.  He  was  for 
a  while  professor  of  mathematics  in  Albany 
Business  College,  and  principal  of  a  school   in 


300 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


White  Plains,  New  York.  His  active  and  en- 
ergetic efforts  to  raise  the  Southampton  Union 
School  to  the  highest  rank  were  crowned  with 
complete  succe&s.  After  a  term  of  eight  years 
of  successful  and  well  appreciated  serving,  he  re- 
signed the  position  in  the  fall  of  1899,  and  went 
to  Binghamton,  New  York,  where  he  is  now 
the  principal  of  the  public  school.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Professor  Charles  Ernst  Keck,  who 
was  born  at  Clinton,  New  York,  October  27, 
1874.  His  father,  Nathaniel,  and  his  grandfa- 
ther, Peter  Keck,  went  to  Oneida  county  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  Clinton  Grammar 
School.  He  graduated  from  Plamilton  College 
in  1897  with  high  honor,  and  was  principal  of 
the  Union  School  at  Palatine's  Bridge,  Mont- 
gomery county.  New  York.  He  succeeded  Pro- 
fessor Johnson  in  the  Southampton  school,  and 
after  a  brief  but  creditable  service  he  resigned 
in  March,  1901,  and  is  now  in  the  employ  of  a 
publishing  house  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state. 

In  1 83 1  an  academy  was  established  in  South- 
ampton, the  moving  spirit  in  the  enterprise  be- 
ing 'Rev.  Daniel  Beers,  who  was  then  the  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  owners  were 
a  company  of  about  fifty  men,  most  of  whom 
took  stock  under  the  impression  that  it  would 
be  financially  a  paying  investment,  an  expecta- 
tion that  was  never  realized.  The  builder  was 
William  French,  who'  came  from  Rhode  Island, 
bringing  'Some  advanced  ideas  on  the  su^bject  of 
building.  The  lot  on  the  oorner  of  Main  street 
and  Job's  Lane  was  purchased  from  Stephen 
Sayre,  at  a  cost  of  $90,  considered  a  large  price 
at  that  time.  It  was  a  well  proportioned,  two- 
story  building,  with  a  high  steeple  surmounted 
with  a  wooden  fish  as  a  vane.  The  first  teacher 
was  John  Ingram,  who  is  said  to  have  come  from 
Massachusetts,  but  concerning  whom  we  can 
obtain  no  information.  Under  able  instructors, 
it  was  for  many  years  an  institution  of  great  and 
lasting  benefit.  In  the  early  summer  of  1853  it 
was  struck  by  lightning  and  greatly  damaged, 
and  the  'steeple,  which  was  destroyed,  was  never 
rebuilt.     In  its  later  years  it  was  not  successful. 


As  it  scarcely  paid  expenses,  giving  the  prin- 
cipal only  a  very  m^eager  salary,  it  is  nat  strange 
that  teachers,  trustees  and  owners  lost  all  in- 
terest in  its  welfare.  The  neglect  of  its  trustees 
was  the  principal  cause  of  its  failure.  In  1886 
its  career  ended  as  a  school,  and  after-  standing 
a  few  years  vacant,,  it  was,  sold  and  is  nio.w  a 
paint  shop  ou  Job's  Lane. 

In  a  community  like  the  early  settlers  of 
Southampton,  to  build  a  meeting  hous-e  would  be 
one  of  the  first  things  to  be  done.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that  one  was  erected  within  a  year 
after  the  settlement.  The  first  mention  is  July 
7,  '1645:  "Yt  is  ordered  that  from  time  to  time 
hereafter  that  the  meeting  house  shall  be 
sweeped  vpon  the  last  day  of  every  weeke,  of 
each  family  by  turns,  vpon  notice  given  by  those 
who  sweeped  it  last.  And  each  family,  from  the 
first  of  October  to  the  15th  of  April,  shall  by 
turne  lykewise  make  a  fire  in  the  meeting  house 
vpon  each  Sabath  daye."  To  neglect  this  would 
cost  them  a  fine  of  "two  shillings  and  sixe 
pence,"  quite  a  sum  in  those  days.  This  meet- 
ing house  stood  at  Old  Town,  on  the  homestead 
of  the  late  Joseph  King.  An  old  deed  for  this 
lot,  bounded  east  by  Old  Town  street,  and  north 
by  the  highway,  has  endorsed  upon  it  the  words 
"Deed  for  Old  Meeting  House  Lot,"  and  many 
years  ago  the  writer  found  among  the  oldest 
inhabitants  a  tradition  to  the  same  effect.  An 
agreement  had  been  made  previous  to  March 
20,  1 65 1,  between  the  town  and  Richard  Post 
and  Ellis  Cook,  to  build  a  new  meeting  house  30 
feet  long  and  24  feet  wide,  and  8>^  feet  "from 
ye  ground  to  ye  plate."  The  carpenters  and  la- 
borers were  to  have  "two  shillings  a  day,  the  pay 
to  be  in  merchantable  wampum,  strung  or  un- 
strung.'' In  April,  165 1,  the  old  meeting  house 
was  given  to  Richard  Mills,  to  enlarge  his  house, 
which  is  pretty  goiod  evidence  that  the  new 
church  was  finished  at  that  time.  The  location 
of  this  church  is  well  known.  It  stood  on  the 
south  part  of  the  home  lot  of  Isaac  Willman 
(now  the  homestead  of  the  late  Edwin  Post), 
and  opposite  the  parsonage.  Between  the  south 
side  of  the  meeting  house  and  the  south  line  of 


H 

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I— I 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


301 


Isaac  Willman's  lot,  next  to  James  Herrick's 
home  lot,  there  was  a  small  piece  of  land,  con- 
cerning which  there  was  ''long  time  a  difference'' 
between  Mm  and  the  town.  This  was  settled 
in  1672  by  giving  him  some  land  on  the  west 
side  of  Saggaponack'  Pond.  On  November  29, 
1659,  the  town  made  over  to  j\Ir.  John  Ogdai 
certain  monies  due  from  the  Indians,  and  he 
agreed  to  "pay  the  cost  of  flooring  and  seating 
the  meeting  house,  which  amounteth  to  toward 
sixty  pounds."  On  August  4,  1681,  a  vote  was 
passed  that  "the  building  of  galleries  in  the  meet- 
ing house  shall  be  deferred  until  the  next  yeare/' 
This  meeting  house  stood  for  nearly  fifty  years, 
or  until  the  third  church  was  built.  The  lot 
where  it  stood  was  afterwards  used  for  a  pound 
by  vote  of  the  town  trustees,  and  finally  sold  to 
Dr.  John  Mackie.  This  church  was  furnished 
with  a  bell,  which  superseded  the  ancient  custom 
of  beating  the  drum  on  Sunday  morning.  In  1693 
a  new  bell  was  obtained  from  London.  The  old 
one  was  sent  there  to  be  sold,  with  a  letter  which 
stated  that  it  was  *'nott  only  cracked  but  too 
little;  it  waighs  65  lb."  The  new  bell  weighed 
173  pounds  and  cost  £10  is  lod.  The  old  one  sold 
for  £2  8s,  and  the  balance  was  paid  in  whale  oil. 

On  August  20,  1707,  Obadiah 
Rogers  sold  to  Benjamin  Howell  and 
John  Mitchell  a  piece  of  land  thirty- 
six  feet  wide  and  forty-six  feet 
in  length.  This  was  the  southwest 
corner  of  'his  home  lot,  and  directly 
opposite  to  the  present  church.  On 
the  27th  of  the  same  month  Benjamin 
Howell  and  John  Mitchell  conveyed 
the  same  to  94  men,  which  probably 
included  all  the  persons  who  con- 
tributed to  the  purchase,  the  deed 
stating  that  "the  said  persons  had 
pious  intentions  for  building  a  con- 
venient house  and  structure  for  the 
worship  of  Almighty  Godi  according 
to  the  usage  land  discipline  of  those 
churches  known  by  the  name  and  style 
•of  Presbyterian."  Upon  this  the  third 
church  was  erected.  It  was  begun  as 
early  as  September  18,  1707,  but  was 


not  finished  before  November  15,  1709. 
The  cost  seems  to  have  been  £55  7s  5d,  but 
doubtless  the  timber  and  much  bf  the  work 
was  given.  The  builder  w^as  a  man  named 
Townsend,  probably  from  Queens  county.  A 
steeple  was  built  in  1751.  Mr.  William  Howell, 
,of  .'Moriches,  a  native  of  Southampton,  told  the 
writer  about  1880  "John  Sayre  told  me  more  than 
fifty  years  ago  that  about  1775  the  old  church 
had  windows  set  in  lead,  and  that  there  was  a 
large  cannon  in  the  street  near  by,  which  was 
fired  and  it  broke  the  windows,  and  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Fordham  (grandfather  of  the  late  Daniel 
Fordham)  mended  them.  The  steeple  was  built 
in  1751.  This  I  saw  narrated  in  a  diary  of 
Caleb  Cooper,  who  said  he  attended  a  parish 
meeting  to  take  measures  for  building  it."  This 
church  remained  until  1845,  when  it  was  sold  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  and  removed. 
The  lot  was  sold  to  Captain  Albert  Rogers,  whose 
great-great-grandfather  had  sold  it  138  years  be- 
fore. 

The  following  plate  represents  the  old  build- 
ing as  it  appeared  until  1845.  The  plate  on  the 
opposite  page  shows  it  after  its  removal  and 
conversion  to  use  as  a  gymnasium. 

The  fourth  church,  now  standing,  was  built 


802 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


in  1S43,  o^  ^  1^^  purchased  from  George  Mackie, 
and  may  well  compare  with  any  of  the  village 
churches  in  the  county.  In  1879  it  was  presented 
with  a  fine  organ,  the  gift  of  Miss  Harriet  Jones 
Rogers.  The  lot  next  south  of  the  church  was 
purchased  and  an  extensive  addition  made  to  the 
church  building. 

The  first  minister  of  the  church  in  South- 
ampton was  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson.  He  was 
from  Yorkshire,  England.  He  was  graduated 
at  the  University  of  Cambridge  in  1632,  and 
came  to  New  England  in  1639.  He  was  ap- 
.  pointed  in  October,  1640,  to  be  the  pastor  of  the 
new  church  to  be  set  up  in  Southampton.  In 
November  of  the  same  year  he  was  ordained  as 
minister  of  the  same  church,  '^composed  of  in- 
dividuals who  had  emigrated  and  settled  in 
Southampton."     That  he  was  here  on  December 


13th  is  evidenced  by  his  being  a  witness  to  the 
Indian  deed.  The  desire  of  Mr.  Pierson  was 
that,  in  this  town,  church  and  State  should  be 
identical,  but  Southampton  was  not  based  upon 
this  idea,  and  preferred  to  join  the  Colony  of 
Hartford  rather  than  New  Haven.  With  this 
union  he  was  probably  dissatisfied,  and  he  re- 
moved from  this  town  to  Branford,  Connecticut, 
in  1647,  and  there  organized  a  church,  of  which 
he  was  pastor  for  about  twenty-three  years. 
From  there  he  went  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and 
was  the  first  pastor  of  what  is  now  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  died  there  August  9, 
1678.  Among  his  other  work  he  published  a 
catechism  in  the  Indian  language.  The  only 
relic  of  him  in  Southampton  is  his>  autograph 
as  witness  to  the  Indian  deed,  a  f%c-simile  of 
which  is  given  above. 


The  second  minister  was  the  Rev,  Robert 
Fordham,  who  was  the  son  of  Philip  Fordham, 
of  Sacombe,  Hertfordshire,  England,  and  was 
born  in  1603.  As  a  more  extended  account  of 
him,  from  the  able  pen  of  Dr.  William  Wallace 
Tooker,  one  of  his  descendants,  appears  in  this 
work,  we  will  only  state  that  he  came  to  this 
town  from  Hempstead  in  April,  1649.  ^^  was 
to  receive  £60  for  his  first  year's  salary,  and  i8o 
per  annum-  afterward.  He  also  had  a  £150  right 
of  Commonge,  and  drew  lands  in  the  various 
divisions,  besides  other  lands  which  were  given 
him  by  the  town.  Among  these  were  fifty  acres 
bounded  south  by  the  road  to  Bridge  Hampton 
and  west  by  David  White's  land,  and  now  owned 
by  J.  Horace  Fanning  and  others.  He  had  wife 
Elizabeth,  and  children,  Hannah,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Clarke  (of  Old  Town),  Mary,  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Howell,  Joseph,  Jonah 
and  John.  He  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1674,  leaving  a  large  prop- 
-^        ,  erty    for    those    days.      His    de- 

fl     — — ^-  .,         scendants   are   numerous   in  the 
town. 

Among  the  town  records  is 
a  document  written  in  short 
hand,  which  upon  being  trans- 
lated proved  to  be  an  agreement 
dated  June  5,  1674,  between  the  town  and  the 
Rev.  John  Harriman,  from  which  we  learn 
that  Mr.  Fordham  had  become  incapacitated 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  Mr.  Har- 
riman had  been  employed  as  a  colleague. 
The  town  engaged  to  give  him  the  use 
of  thirty  acres  of  land  in  the  ''Ox  Pasture,^'  and 
the  pars'onage  lot  lately  purchased  of  John  Coop- 
er, and  agreed  to  build  upon  the  same  "a  good 
house  of  two  stories,  with  a  brick  chimney  and 
two  chamber  chimnies."  Mr.  Fordham  relin- 
quished half  his  salary,  and,  in  addition,  :\Ir. 
Harriman  was  to  have  i20  per  year;  "and  if  Mr. 
Fordham  should  be  wholly  taken  away  from  the 
work  of  the  ministry"  he  should  have  the  same 
salary  as  his  predecessor.  Several  other  items 
are  added  which  show  that  Mr.  Harriman  was 
alive  to  his  own  interests  and  lost  no  opportunity 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


308 


of  advancing  them.  He  remained  here  until 
1679,  but  was  absent  for  a  ipart  of  the  time, 
preaching  as  a  candidate  in  various  places  in 
Connecticut.  After  his  removal  he  sent  a  let- 
ter to  the  town  demanding  his  last  half  year's 
salary.  This  letter  was  presented  to  the  town 
meeting  on  April  i,  1680,  and  it  was  promptly 
voted  "that  Mr.  Harriman  was  soe  long  absent, 
and  the  towne  paid  soe  much  for  him,  which  he 
promised  to  repay;  that  Mr.  Harriman  ought  in 
equity  to  make  ye  towne  compensation,  than 
that  they  should  pay  him  one  penny." 

In  1679  a  call  was  made  to  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Taylor,  a  son  of  John  Taylor,  of  Cambridge,  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
(1669)  and  was  for  a  time  a  tutor  in  that  uni- 
versity. He  was  minister  in  New  Haven  at  the 
time  of  his  invitation  to  Southampton.  In  1680 
he  came  here  as  the  fourth  pastor.  The  agree- 
ment made  by  the  town  was  exceedingly  liberal. 
He  was  to  receive  iioo  a  year,  to  be  paid  in  win- 
ter wheat  at  5s  per  bushel ;  or  summer  wheat 
at  4s  6d  a  bushel ;  or  Indian  corn  at  2s  6d  a  bush- 
el; tallow^  at  6d  a  pound;  green  hides  at  3d,  or 
dry  hides  at  6d  a  pound ;  beef  at  40s  or  pork  at 
£3  TOs  a  barrel ;  whale  bone  at  8d  and  oil  at  30s 
a  barrel.  He  had  the  use  of  the  parsonage  land, 
and  a  house  and  lot,  now  the  homestead  of  the 
late  Henry  A.  Fordham,  on  First  Neck  lane.  He 
died  here  and  his  tombstone  is  in  the  South  End 
burying  ground.  He  seems  to  have  left  no  chil- 
dren and  his  house  and  lands  descended  to  Abra- 
ham and  Joseph  Fordham  (sons  of  Joseph  and 
Martha  Fordham),  who  mention  liim  as  their 
*'Uncle  Taylor."  Among  his  lands  was  a  close 
at  Halsey's  Neck,  on  the  v^est  side  of  the  lane, 
and  Taylor's  creek  derives  its  name  from  him. 
He  left  a  widow,  Martha,  who  after  married  John 
Howell,  Jr. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Whiting,  the  sixth  pastor, 
was  a  graduate  of  Harvard.  He  succeeded  his 
father  as  minister  at  Lynn,  and  was  settled  there 
when  called  to  Long  Island,  in  June,  1682.  He 
probably-  came  here  soon  after.  At  a  town  meet- 
ing in  April,  1687,  it  was  stated  that  Mr.  Whit- 
ing, "our  present  minister,"  and  the  town  had 
not  yet  come  "to  any  settled  conclusion  for  his 


yearly  maintenance."  An  agreement  was  made 
upon  nearly  the  same  terms  as  those  made  with 
Mr.  Taylor.  He  remained  here  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  His  tombstone  in  our  ancient 
burying  ground,  tells  us  of  his  decease,  April  7, 
1723,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  His  wife,  Re- 
becca, survived  him  and  died  April  21,  1726, 
aged  sixty^three.  He  left  souiS,  whose  de- 
scendants reside  in  New  England. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Gelston,  the  seventh  pastor, 
was  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  with  his 
brother  Hugh  came  to  this  country  in  1715.  He 
was  called  to  this  church  in  1716  and  was  installed 
on  April  17,  171 7.  He  remained  here  about  ten 
years,  being  a  portion  of  the  time  a  colleague  of 
Mr.  Whiting.  In  1728  he  was  called  to  a  church 
in  Chester,  Pennsylvania.  After  many  changes 
and  much  trouble  he  is  said  to  have  died,  Oc- 
tober 22,  1782,  at  the  age  of  ninety.  The  only 
personal  relic  of  Mr.  Gelston  which  has  met  the 
eye  of  the  writer,  after  very  extended  research, 
is  a  single  autograph  sign-ature  as  witness  to  a 
deed  in  1726. 

The  eighth  pastor  was  Rev.  Sylvanus  White. 
He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  White,  the  first 
minister  of  Bridge  Hampton,  and  was' born  in 
1704,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1723,  and  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  this  church.  He  lived  in  unin- 
terrupted health  through  a  ministry  of  fifty-five 
years  and  died  after  a  week's  illness  October  22, 
1782,  in  his  seventy-ninth  year.  Of  all  that  he 
must  have  written  during  his  long  life,  nothing 
remains  except  his  day  book  of  accounts,  in 
which  all  articles  bought)  or  sold  are  entered 
with  scrupulous  care,  and  give  a  very  accurate 
picture  of  family  life  at  that  time.  His  tomb- 
stone is  in  the  North  End  burying  ground,  and 
his  dwelling  house  is  now  owned  by  his  descend- 
ants. 

The  ninth  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Joshua  Will- 
iams, who  preached  as  a  candidate  from  Septem- 
ber to  December,  1784,  and  received  a  call  on  De- 
cember 14th.  By  an  agreement  signed  by  120 
persons,  he  w^as  to  receive  £70  ($175)  and  forty 
loads  of  wood  yearly,  and  he  was  to  have  the  full 
use  of  the  parsonage  and  parsonage  lands.  The 
parish  was  to  put  the  fences  in  good  repair,  and 


304 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


he  was  to  keep  them  so.  If  he  died  here  and  left 
a  widow,  she  was  to  have  ^40.  He  labored  here 
until  April,  1789,  and  that  his  labors  were  not 
in  vain  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  there  were  ad- 
mitted to  communion  during  that  time,  486  per- 
sons. 

Rev.  Hermian  Dagigett,  the  Lenth  pastor,  was 
a  son  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Daggett,  and  was  born  at 
WalpO'le,  Massachusetts,  September  11,  1766. 
He  graduated  from  Brown's  University  in  1784, 
and  became  minister  here  April  12,  1792.  He 
remained  for  less  than  four  years.  Difficulties 
concerning  the  "Half  Way  Covenant"  caused 
his  withdrawal  in  1796.  He  then  became  the 
pastor  of  the  church  in  West  Hampton,  from 
September,  1797,  to  September  1801.  He  then 
left  on  account  of  inadequate  is,upport.  He  was 
afterwards  in  Fire  Place,  and  Middle  Island,  and 
in  many  other  places.  After  a  laborious  life,  he 
died.  May  19,  1832.  He  is  said  to  be  buried  at 
Cornwall,   Connecticut. 

The  eleventh  pastor  was  the  Rev.  David 
Schuyler  Bogart,  of  an  ancient  New  York 
family,  born  January  12,  1770,  and  graduated 
at  Columbia  College,  1790.  Having  received  a 
call  to  this  church,  he  resolved  to  accept  it  on 
May  20,  1796,  but  before  being  installed 'he  re- 
ceived a  call  from  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Albany,  and,  accepting  it,  he  remained  there  until 
August,  1797.  He  then  returned  to  South- 
ampton and  was  installed  in  the  fall  of  1798.  In 
1806  he  accepted  a  call  to  one  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed churches  in  New  York.  He  was  re- 
instated in  Southampton  and  remained  here  until 
April  15,  1813.  He  died  in  New  York,  July  10, 
1839.  He  probably  had  greater  powers  of  elo- 
quence than  any  minister  that  ever  occupied  the 
pulpit.  The  Rev.  Joshua  Hart  and  other  minis- 
ters supplied  the  vacancy  until  November  19, 
1817,  when  Rev.  John  M.  Babbit  was  imstalled. 
His  salary  was  $300,  and  it  is  characteristic  of 
the  economical  habits  of  the  times,  that  with  the 
help  of  an  industrious  wife,  he  was  able  to  lay  up 
money  yearly ;  which  may  be  explained  by  the 
fact  that  the  board  of  himself  and  wife  in  a  re- 
spectable family  only  cost  o^ne  dollar  a  week. 
During  his  ministry  the  church  membership  was 


increased  from  70  to  280.  He  was  dismissed 
April  18,  1821.  The  Rev.  Peter  H.  Shaw  was 
installed  here  September  19,  1821.  He  was  son 
of  William  Shaw  who  came  from  Greenock,  in 
Ccotland.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College.  His  ministry  is  worthy  of  mention  for 
two  things.  He  started  the  first  Sunday  School 
in  the  town,  an  institution  still  continued,  with 
ever  increasing  powers  for  good.  He  Avas  also 
the  originator  of  the  temperance  reform,  at  a 
time  when  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  was  all  but 
universal.  In  this  he  stood  alone,  and  none  of 
his  brother  ministers  had  the  courage  to  stand  by 
his  side.  He  labored  here  for  eight  years,  and 
removed  June  2,  1829. 

Rev.  Daniel  Beers  came  to  this  placejn  1829, 
and  was  installed  June  8,  1830,  and  remained 
here  until  April  21,  1835,  when  he  resigned,  and 
went  to  Orient,  in  Southold,  and  to  Greenport, 
where  he  labored  for  many  years.  To  Mr.  Beers 
is  justly  due  the  credit  of  being  the  founder  of 
Southampton  Academy,  and  for  this,  if  nothing 
more,  his  memory  should  be  hallowed  in  the 
minds  of  a  grateful  people. 

The  fifteenth  pastor  of  the  church  was  the 
Rev.  Hugh  N.  Wilson.  His  father  was  James 
Wilson,  Esq.,  of  EHzabeth,  New  Jersey.  He  was 
born  May  7,  1813,  and  graduated  at  Princeton, 
April  23,  1835.  He  began  his  labors  here  in 
September,  1835,  land  was  ordained  October  7, 
183s,  and  installed  June  29,  1836.  In  1837  he 
married  Jane,  daughter  of  Captain  James  Post. 
After  several  years  of  usefulness  he  resigned  his 
pastorate,  and  in  April,  1852^  went  to  Hacketts- 
town,  New  Jersey,  and,  in  1858,  to  the  Second 
Dutch  church  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey. 
He  returned  to  Southampton  in  the  summer  of 
1863,  and  was  again  installed  on  the  second  Sab- 
bath of  October,  18^4.  He  resigned  the  charge 
May  I,  1867,  and  he  moved  to  Germantown, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  lived  for  man}-  years  in 
great  weakness  of  body,  but  with  unimpaired 
strength  of  mind,  and  died  there  June  4,  1878. 

The  Rev.  John  J.  A.  ]\Iorgan  became  pastor 
January  20,  1853,  and  remained  until  September, 
1855.  He  afterwards  preached  at*  Bridesbury, 
Pennsylvania,  from  which  place  he  removed  to 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


305 


Hempstead,  Long  Island,  and  entered  secular 
pursuits. 

From  1855  until  the  second  installation  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson,  the  following  ministers 
served  as  stated  supplies :  Elias  N.  Crane  until 
1856,  David  Kennedy  until  1858,  William  N. 
Cleveland  from  January  i,  1859,  ^^  J^^Lv  2'  ^^^3- 

The  Rev.  Frederick  Shearer  began  his  ser- 
vices as  colleague  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson,  April 
29,  1866.  In  1867  he  was  installed  as  pa&tor, 
but  resigned  in  1870,  and  became  the  agent  for 
the  American  Tract  Society  in  California,  and  is 
now  connected  with  the  same  society  in  New 
York. 

The  Rev.  Andrew  Shiland,  D.  D.,  was  called 
November  8,  1870.  Dr.  Shiland  was,  born  at 
Cambridge,  New  York,  July  4,  1820.  After 
preparation  at  Cambridge  Academy,  he  entered 
Union  College  and  graduated  in  1844.  For  two 
years  he  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Peter  Bul- 
lions, an  eminent  scholar  and  theologian,  and 
completed  his  studies  at  Princeton  Theological 
Seminary,  graduating  in  the  class  of  1845.  ^^^ 
two  years  he  was  a  teacher  in  Albany  Academy, 
and  was  ordained  for  the  ministry  November  25, 
1847.  I^  1S49  he  received  a  call  to  the  Associ- 
ate Presbyterian  church  of  West  Hebron,  New 
York,  and  resigned  his  charge,  to  accept  a  call 
to  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Mount  Kisco,  New 
York,  where  he  remained  a  faithful  pastor  until 
1870.  During  these  years  he  also  maintained  a 
private  school  of  a  high  order,  and  many  of  his 
pupils  held  Ijigh  rank  in  their  various  professions 
in  later  years.  His  faters  in  Southampton  con- 
tinued until  September  13,  1883,  and  he  retired 
from  the  active  ministry  in  1884.  In  1879  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon 
him  by  Union  College.  The  latter  part  of  his 
life  was  passed  in  New  York,  and  he  died  there 
at  his  residence.  No.  272  West  84th  St.,  on  Jan- 
uary ID,  1901.  During  his  pastorate  in  South- 
amipton,  he  endeared  himself  to  a  very  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  who  were 
capable  of  appreciating  his  many  excellencies. 
Never  descending  to  unwortliy  means  to  gain 
popularity,  he  sought  the  consciousness  of  duty 
well  performed,  and  not  the  applause  of  men. 
20 


Pie  was  a  faithful  minister  and  not  a  theological 
mountebank ;  and  to  his  memory  the  writer  glad- 
ly adds  his  humble  tribute  of  appreciation  and 
respect. 

The  Rev.  Walter  Condit  was  installed  April 
30,  1887,  and  resigned  October  i,  1888. 

The  Rev.  Robert  C.  Hallock  became  pastor 
December  17,  1889.  Resigned  December  31, 
1892,  and  is  now  pastor  of  a  church  in  Clinton, 
Ne\v   York. 

The  Rev.  Richg^rd  S.  Campbell  began  his  la- 
bors in  April,  1894,  and  was  installed  April  9, 
1895,  and  is  pastor  at  the  present  time. 

In  the  old  church,  from  1707  to  1845,  there 
was  no  provision  of  any  kind  for  heating,  and 
until  the  close  of  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Wilson,  it  was  the  practice  to  have  three  sermons 
on  Sunday.  The  evening  discourse  being  shorter 
than  the  others,  was  called  "a  lecture."  Each  of 
these  sermons  was  over  an  hour  in  length,  and 
entirely  written. 

When  Methodism  was  introduced,  one  of  the 
charges  against  their  ministers  was  that  the}^ 
"only  talked"  instead  of  writing  their  sermons 
in  the  orthodox  way.  The  JMcthodists  retorted 
Ijy  styling  the  Presbyterian  ministers  "College 
bred  readers  of  sermons."  Dr.  Wilson's  salary 
during  his  first  term  was  $600  per  year,  after- 
wards raised  to  $800,  which  was  considered 
large. 

The  first  person  who  preached  Alethodism  in 
Southampton  was  James  Sowden,  from  Sag 
Harbor,  but  concerning  him  we  have  no  infor- 
mation whatever.  It  is  scarcely  possible  at  the 
present  time  to  fully  realize  the  bitter  prejudice 
that  wa/Sc  excited  against  them.  They  were  not 
allowed  to  hold  meetings  in  the  schoolhouse,  and, 
as  for  the  church,  it  would  be  just  as  pO'Ssible 
for  a  ]\Iormon  elder  to  obtain  permission  to 
preach  his  peculiar  doctrines  there  at  the  present 
time.  The  first  meetings  held  here  were  about 
1 810.  The  old  house  at  the  south  end  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  lately  owned  by  Thomas  NIcoll  \\'hite, 
was  at  that  time  owned  by  James  Raynor.  He 
became  attracted  by  their  preaching  ynd  allowed 
them  the  use  of  his  house.  For  this,  he  vvas  con- 
sidered a  sad  wanderer  from  the  highway.     Mr. 


306 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


Raynor  and  his  wife  Phoebe  were  among  the  first 
members  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Sag  Harbor. 
The  members  of  this  denomination  had  in-creased 
to  such  an  extent  that  a  church  was  organized 
about  1840.  When  the  new  Presbyterian  church 
was  built  in  1845,  there  was  great  fear  that  *'it 
might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Methodists." 
To  prevent  so  great  a  sacrilege  it  was  sold  to 
Major  Samuel  Bishop,  who  proposed  to  move  it 
for  a  barn.  Pie  was  occasionally  subject  ito  fits 
of  hypocondria,  during  which  he  took,  a  very 
gloomy  view  of  his  prospects  for  a  future  world. 
Taking  advantage  of  one  of  these  "turns,"  some 
of  the  Methodists  assured  him  that  his  chances 
for  eternal  salvation  would  be  by  no  means  in- 
creased by  turning  the  house  of  God  into  a  barn, 
whereupon  he  sold  it  to  them  for  the  same  price 
ihe  had  paid.  A  lot  was  purchased  at  the  south 
.side  of  the  home  lot  of  Captain  Charles  Howell, 
.and  the  ancient  building  was  moved  to  the  spot 
where  it  still  remains,  in  1845. 

The  first  minister  of  this  church  was  Rev. 
Gilbert  Osborn,  a  native  of  Riverhead,  Long  Isl- 
and. 'In  1862  the  church  edifice  was  raised  up 
three  and  one-half  feet  and  the  basement  en- 
tended  the  whole  length  of  the  building.  In 
1883,  the  congregation  having  greatly  increased, 
a  lot  was  purchased  from  Albert  J.  I*ost  on  the 
north  corner  of  Main  street  and  Poet's  Crossing, 
upon  which  the  present  church  and  parsonage 
w^ere  erected  the  same  year.  In  1884  the  old 
church  and  lot  were  sold  to  a  company,  and  used 
for  some  years  as  a  village  hall  and  place  for 
meetings.  In  1901  they  sold  it  to  James  Parrish 
Esq.,  and  it  is  now  used  as  a  gymnasium.  From 
the  time  the  church  was  established  until  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war,  the  salary  of  the  minister 
was  $150  a  year,  and  .$200  if  married,  and  the 
question  of  raising  even  this  amount  was  one  of 
very  serious  difficulty.  The  most  prominent 
members  of  the  society  were  Captain  Jeremiah 
Reeve,  of  North  Sea,  Captain  Charles  Goodale, 
William  Jagger,  Zebulon  Jessup  and  Nathaniel 
Hubbard,  of  Tuckahoe,  the  latter  named  being  a 
"local  preacher"  of  natural  eloquence. 

Until  within  recent  years  there  were  very  few 
Catholic   families   in  this   entire  region.     James 


Cavanagh  gave  a  lot  on  his  homestead,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Bridge  Hampton  road,  and 
about  a  mile  east  of  Main  street,  and  upon  this  lot 
a  plain  building  was  erected,  and  consecrated  in 
1878.  In  recent  years  the  rapid  influx  of  New 
York  residents,  bringing  their  domestics  with 
them,  make  the  church  too  small  to  accommodate 
the  worshippers.  In  order  to  have  a  church  in  a 
more  desirable  location,  a  lot  was  purchased  on 
the  south  side  of  Hill  street,  and  an  elegant  edifice 
erected,  which  was  consecrated  in  1892.  The 
former  church  was  sold  to  Captain  Daniel 
Havens,  and  moved  and  is  now  a  dwelling  house, 
near  the  Union  School.  This  was  the  first  Ro- 
man Cathoilic  church  on  the  south  side  of  the 
island,  east  of  Patchogue.  The  services  were 
conducted  by  a  priest  from^  Sag  Harbor.  The 
first  resident  priest  w.as  the  Rev.  William  Kirby, 
who  was  born  in  New  York,  August  10,  1863, 
and  was  educated  at  Manhattan  College.  His 
first  assignment  was  to  St.  Anthony's  church  at 
Greenpoint,  and  from  thence  to  St.  Malachi's 
in  East  New  York,  and  St.  Agnes,  in  Brooklyn. 
He  was  installed  in  the  church  in  Southampton 
in  1889.  It  was  through  his  energetic  efforts 
that  the  new  church  and  parsonage  were  built. 
He  died  January  31,  1902,  greatly  lamented,  and 
w^as  laid  to  rest  in  Holy  Cross  cemetery,  in  Flat- 
bush,  His  successor  is  the  Rev.  Francis  J. 
O'Hara. 

The  Rev.  David  Schuyler  Bogart,  formerly 
pastor  in  Southampton,  had  three  grandsons, 
Charles,  August  Brunei  and  Leon  Depierre  De 
Bost.  These  three  boys  were  sent  to  South- 
amj)ton,  boarded  in  ^respectable  families  and  at- 
tended the  Academy.  They  were  very  popular 
among  the  young  people,  and  retained  their  in- 
terest in  the  place  for  long  years  after  their 
school  days  were  ended.  They  never  failed  to 
spend  a  portion  of  each  summer  in.  the  village 
where  they  had  enjoyed  life  so  well.  In  1866 
Leon  Depierre  De  Bost  purchased  a  lot  and  built 
a  summer  residence.  In  1854  there  was  living  in 
Southamptoai  an  old  man  namted  Sylvanus 
Howell.  Having  no  family,  he  concluded  to  sell 
his  property,  and  pass  his  last  days  with  his 
brother,  Ucal  Plowell,  in  the  western  part  of  the 


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SOUTHAMPTON. 


307 


state.    Among  his  possessions  was  a  lot  of  four- 
teen acres  at  the  south  end  of  the  villag.e.     This 
was  oiTered  at  public  auction,   and  ^he  highest 
bid  was  $25  per  acre,  which  was  not  satisfactory. 
The  next  day  Captain  Charles  Goodale  offered 
$27.50    per   acre,    which    was    accepted.      When 
Dr.  Thomas   offered  $200  per  acre  in   1867,   it 
was    considered    a    very    high    price,    and    very 
speedily  taken,   and    upon   this    lot   the    Doctor 
built    his     present    residence.       This     was    the 
beginning    of    Southampton    as    a    fashionable 
summer  resort.     On  the  same  day,  the  lot  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  street,  next  to  the  road  to  the 
beach,  was  sold  to  Captain  Edward  Sayre,  for 
$50  per  acre.     This  was  considered  a  great  deal 
more  valuable  than  the  former  lot,  because  that 
was  next  to  the  ocean,  "and  the  ocean  was  a  bad 
neighbor."    Upon  the  lot  thus  sold  the  costly  and 
elegant  mansion  of  Mr.  Robbins  was  erected  in 
1901.     The  coming  of   Dr.   Thomas  was   very 
quickly    followed   by    C.    WyUis    Betts    and    his 
brother  Frederick  H.   Betts,  Uriel  A.   Murdock 
and  Blaise  Lorillard   Harsell,   and   Hon.    Salem 
H.  Wales.     The  first  house  on  the  west  side  of 
Town    Pond    was    built    by    Mrs.    William    H. 
Hoyt,    (a  daughter  of  Chief  Justice  Salmon  P. 
Chase,)    on  a  lot  purchased  from  Augustus  E. 
Halsey.     This  house   was  built  to   resemble  as 
much   as   possible,    an   old    fashioned   residence, 
with  a  "gambrel  roof,"  and  many  ancient  incon- 
veniences.     This    mansion   was    afterward   pur- 
chased by  Charles  T.  Barney,  who  enlarged  and 
improved  it  at  a  great  expense.    It  was  burned  on 
the  night  of  November  16,  1901,  and  totally  de- 
stroyed. 

As  the  coming  of  a  few  brought  many  others 
the  village  very  rapidly  increased.  Southampton 
was  incorporated  under  the  General  Village  In- 
corporation Act.*  The  first  president  of  the  vil- 
lage was  Albert  I.  Post,  an  old  resident,  and  de- 
scendants from  the  ancient  families,  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent judgment  and  conservative  views.  After 
remaining  in  office  for  several  years,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1901  by  Samuel  L.  Parrish, 
who  was  re-elected  in  1902.  He  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  February  28,  1849.  His  fa- 
ther,  Dr.    Isaac    Parrish,    and    his    grandfather, 


Dr.  Joseph  Parrish,  were  very  prominent 
physicians  in  that  city.  Mr.  Parrish  came  to 
Southampton  in  1886,  and  at  once  proceeded  to 
take  as  much  interest  in  village  affairs  as  if  it 
were  his  own  native  town. 

The  'tliree  principal  adornmerbts  of  the  mod- 
ern Southampton  are,  in  the  order  of  their  estab- 
lishment, St.  Andrews'  Dune-Church,  the 
Rogers  Memorial  Library,  and  the  Southampton 
Art  -  Museum. 

St.  Andrews'  Dune-Church,  one  of  the  most 
unique   and   picturesque   Episcopal   churches   on 
Long  Island,  was  founded  in   1879,  as  St.  An- 
drews-by-tlie-Sea,    and    the    present    name    was 
adopted  in  1884.    The  edifice  and  its  furnishings 
comprise   relics   of   great   historical   significance. 
The  central  part  of  the  nave  was  originally  the 
life-saving  station,  erected  in  185 1  on  the  west 
shore    of    the    Town    Pond    (Lake    Agawam) . 
Upon  the  completion  of  a  new  life-saving  station, 
the    original    station    was    purchased    by    Dr.T. 
Gaiilard  Thomas,  and  presented  to  the  church, 
and  was  removed  to  its  present  location  upon  the 
Dunes,  this  site  having  been  given  by  the  late 
Mr,  C.  Wyllys  Betts.    The  side  aisles  of  the  nave 
and  the  north  and  south  transepts  were  added  in 
1883,   were   enlarged   in    1887   after   designs   of 
Edward  H.   Kendall,  and  again  in   1894.     The 
choir  and  chancel  extension  were  also  added  in 
1887  and  enlarged  in  1894.     In  the  west  wall  of 
the  church  are  placed  three  stones  from  York 
Minster,  England.     These  were  presented  to  the 
church    by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  York  Mins- 
ter.    One  of  these  stones  is  interesting  from  hav- 
ing been  a  part  of  the  moulding  of  the  tomb  in 
the   north    aisle,    of    the    Minster  of   Roger   de 
I'Eveque,  Archbishop  of  York,  from  A.  D.  1154 
to  A,  D.   1 181.  The  oak  corbels  supporting  the 
corner    posts    under    the   belfry    roof    are    from 
Blytheburg   church,    Suffolk,    England,   built    in 
1442.     They   were   presented  by   the  patron  of 
that  church,   Sir   John  Blois,   in    1882,   through 
Mr.  C.  Wyllys  Betts.     A  tablet  on  the  east  wall 
of  the  north  transept  records  their  history.     The 
reredos,    altar    and    decorations    were    added   in 

1893. 

Over  the  altar  is  a  tapestry  representing  the 


808 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


"Miraculous  Draught  of  Fishes"  (after 
Raphael's  cartoon  at  Hampton  Court  Pal- 
ace) worked  by  the  Pelham  School  of  Art 
Needle  Work,  and  presented  by  Mrs.  William  S. 
Hoyt.  The  circular  children's  window  over  the 
altar  was  the  gift  of  the  children  of  the  congre- 
gation. The  embroidered  altar  cloth  was  pre- 
sented by  the  late  Miss  Helen  T.  Barney.  The 
.Credence  table,  supported  upon  a  shaft  and  base 
of  Purbeck  marble  from  one  of  the  doorways  of 
Netley  Abbey,  Southampton,  England,  erected 
by  King  Henry  III  in  1239.  The  Altar  hook 
(from  the  Chiswick  Pres's)  is  the  gift  of  Mr. 
Henry  B.  Barnes.  The  embroidered  Altar  linen 
is  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Frederic  H.  Betts.  The 
Altar  cross  is  the  gift  of  Rev.  Dr.  John  Wesley 
Brown.  Among  the  Eucharistic  vessels  are  a 
silver  paten  of  Irish  manufacture,  bearing  the 
hall-mark  of  1684,  and  a  Florentine  chalice  bear- 
ing enamel  figures  (much  defaced),  which  ap- 
pear to  be  those  of  St.  Dominic,  St.  Giovanni, 
GualbertO',  St.  Catherine  of  Siena,  and  St.  Caith- 
erine  of  Alexandria.  An  inscription  seems  to 
bear  the  name  of  Angelo  A'aiiini,  who,  about 
1550  was'  abbot  of  X'ajano,  a  Dominican  nion- 
astery  near  Florence,  of  the  order  of  Valambrosa. 
These  vessels  were  the  gift  of  Mr.  Frederic  H. 
Betts.  The  pipe  organ  was  {)iircha=ed  from  a 
fund  donated  to  the  church  by  Mrs.  Dr.  P.  F. 
Chambers  as  a  thanksgiving  for  recovery  from 
illness.  An  old  English  Bible  and  P'rayer-Book 
is  chained  to  a  bracket  desk  in  the  choir.  This 
was  printed  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I,  1638,  and 
Avas  presented  by  Mr.  C.  Wyllys  Betts  in  1881. 
The  chancel  and  choir  chairs  are  of  ancient  Eng- 
lish workmanship.  One  bears  the  date  of  1681. 
The  font  is  of  stone,  and  was  i)resented  in  1880 
l\v  Zion  church,  New  York  cit\'.  The  peal  of 
bells  in  the  tower  of  the  church  were  placed  there 
in  1900  principally  through  the  generosity  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Allen  Butler,  Jr.,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  William  A.  Kobbe. 

The  alms  box  is  upheld  b}-  a  stone  bracket 
from  Tintern  Abbey  (prescnteil  In-  Afr.  Fred- 
eric H.  Betts),  and  bears  a  plate  with  the  follow- 


nig  mscnption : 


^TJie  stone  under,  this  Ijox  is      ] 


from  tht  ruins  of  the  Cistercian  .-ibbey  of  Tin- 


tern,  MonuwuthsJiirc,  England ^  founded  by  Wal- 
ter de  Clare,  A.  D.  iiji.  Erected  by  Roger 
Bigod,  Earl  of  Norfolk,  A.  D.  1268-1288.  Dis- 
solved A.  d:  1537 a 

The  historical  tablets  are  of  rare  interest.  A 
large  brass  tablet  commemorates  the  two  hun- 
dred and  fiftieth  anniversary  in  1890  of  the  found- 
ing of  Southampton  in  June,  1640.  It  bears  the 
names  of  the  eight  founders  (or  "undertakers") 
of  Southampton  and  an  extract  from  their  orig- 
inal "Declaration  of  Intention,"  as  follows : 

'^Our  true  intent  and  ineaninge  is  that  zehen 
our  Plantacon  is  loyed  out  by  those  appointed  ac- 
"cordine  io  our  Articles,  and  there  shall  be  a 
"Chtirch  gathered  and  constituted  accordinc  to 
''the  Mind  of  CHRIST,  that  then  zcee  doe  ffrecly 
''lay  dozvne  our  poiver  both  of  ordcringe  and  dis- 
^'poseing  of  the  Plantacon  and  reccaviugc  of  In- 
'  habitants  or  any  other  thinge  thai  may  Tend  to 
''the  Good  and  IFelfare  of  ye  Place,  at  the  fcete 
-of  CHRIST  and  His  ChnrchA 


The  "Colonial  Tablet"  records  the  principal 
events  in  the  colonial  history  of  Southampton 
from  1640  to  1775.  It  bears  the  texts,  ''Beata 
Gens  Cujus  est  Dominus  Deus  Ejus"  (Ps. 
XXXIII^  12)  and  '^Generatio  ct  Generatio  laudar- 
bit  opera  TuaA 

The  "Revolutionary  Tablet,"  in  memory  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Southampton  who  served  or 
suffered  in  the  cause  of  the  Revolution,  1775- 
1783,  records  the  names  of  the*  officers  of  the 
two  Southampton  comfpanies.  The  tablet  also 
bears  the  following  tribute:.  "/;;  recognition  also- 
of  the  character  and  conduct  of  the  JJritish  coui- 
nninder  at  Southampton,  General  Sir  U'illiam 
Erskine,  "lAio  tempered  the  rigors  of  a  hostile 
occupation  by  a  policy  of  conciliation  and  the 
practice  of  justice." 

The  "Union  Tablet"  records  the  names  of  the 
soldiers  from  Southampton  whoi  served  in  the 
war  for  the  Union,  1861-1865.  It  bears  the  text: 
"Praise  the  Lord,  for  He  hath  strengthened  the 
bars  of  thy  gates.  He  hath  blessed  thy  children 
lAthiu  thee. .  He  inaketh  peace  in  thv  borders.'^ 

Two  dreadful  disasters  are  commemorated 
\v  tablets.  One  is  in  niemorv  of  the  seventeen 
ofificers  and  men  drowned  near  the  church  in  the 


w. 

I— I 


P 
CO 

M 

M 

o 
en 

1—1 


o 
o 

CO 

fa 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


809 


gicat  g^le  of  August  24,  1893,  which  wrecked 
the  steame.-  "Panther  '  and  the  barge  "Lykens 
Valley.''  The  "Lykens  Va'Uey"  was  stranded 
about  one-half  of  a  mile  to  the  east  of  the  church, 
and  all  on  board  perished.  The  "Panther"  found- 
ered opposite  the  church  while  endeavoring '  to 
put  further  to  sea,  and  the  engineer  and  two 
members  of  the  crew  were  rescued  in  the  surf. 
The  tablet  bears  the  words :  "God  is  our  refuge 
and  strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trouble: 
Therefore. li'ill  ice  not  fear,  though  the  earth  be 
rcviiovcd,  aud  though  the  inountaius  be  carried 
into  the  midst  of  the  sea:  Though  the  uraters 
thereof  roar  and  are  troubled;  and  though  the 
mountains  shake  with  swelling  thereof  (Ps. 
XLVI  1-3).  Oh,  hear  us  when  we  cry  to  THEE 
for  those  in  peril  on  the  sea/' 

On  the  same  wall  is  a  tablet  recording  the 
wreck,  on  the  night  of  January  16-17,  1815,  of 
the  British  sloop-of-war  "Sylph,''  22  guns,  Cap- 
tain George  Dickens.  The  wreck  occurred  near 
the  site  of  the  churchy  at  the  close  of  the  war  of 
1812-1815,  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain.  The  "Sylph"  had  been  active  in  Long 
Island  Sound  during  the  war;  but,  in  passing 
near  the  south  coast  of  the  island,  lost 'her  reckon- 
ings in  a  fog.  Except  the  purser  and  five  sea- 
men, a  crew  of  12  officers  and  121  seamen  were 
all  lost.  The  border  of  the  wall  tablet  and  the 
wheel  above  it  are  made  from  pieces  of  the  red 
cedar  frame  of  the  *'Sylph."  The  tablet  bears 
the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  ship,  and  the  fol- 
lowing text:  "In  rebus  arduis  et  extremis  etuim 
hostes  in  niemoriam  habeantur.'^ 

The  walls  and  windows  of  the  church  are 
occupied  by  rolemorials  of  trustees  of  the  church 
and  members  of  their  families. 

The  Art  Gallery,  Botanical  Garden  and  Gym- 
nasium' are  graceful  and  valuable  contributions  to 
the  social  and  intellectual  Hfe  of  the  community, 
and  were  founded  in  1867  by  Air.  Samuel  L.  Par- 
rish,  who  made  grateful  acknowledgment  oi  the 
hberahty  and  warm  interest  of  Mr.  Henry  G. 
Marquand,  president  of  the  Metropolitan  Mu- 
seum of  Art  of  New  York,  in  carrying  to  suc- 
cess   the    establishment   of    the   principal    enter- 


prise, the  art  gallery,  the  most  complete  museum 
in  America. 

The  art  colilection.  embraces  a  splendid  ex- 
hibit of  painting,  sculpture  and  other  works 
of  art.  These  include  the  Bayeux  tapestry,  of 
the  exact-  size  of  the  original,  reproduced  by  the 
autotype  process  and  coilored  by  hand,  and  pre- 
senting a  striking  resemblance  to  the  original 
work.  This  copy  .was  taken  from  plates  in  the 
possession  of  the  British  government,  and  there 
is  one  other  reproduction  in  the  United  States, 
that  in  the  Pennsylvania  Museum,  in  Fairmount 
Park,  Philadelphia. 

A  series  of  effigies  of  British  royalties,  in  half 
length,  are  copies  from  electrotype  reproductions 
in  the  ownership  of  the  National  Portrait  Gal- 
lery, in  London,  England,  and  were  modeled 
from  the  effigies  themselves  upon  the  royal 
tombs  in  Westminster  Abbey  and  Canterbury 
Cathedral.  These  include  Henry  HI,  Eleanor 
of  Castile,  Edward  HI,  Edward  ^'the  Black 
Prince,"  Richard  II,  Henry  IV,  Henry  VII  and 
his  mother,  Lady  Margaret,  Countess  of  Rich- 
mond, Ehzabeth  of  York,  wife  of  Henry  VII, 
portrait  bust  of  Henry  VIII,  Queen  Elizabeth, 
and  a  portrait  bust  of  Mary  Stuart,  Queen  of 
Scots.  The  collection  of  pictures  was  made,  in 
greater  part,  during  several  visits  made  to  Italy 
by  Mr.  Parrish,  and  were  mostly  obtained  in 
Venice  and  Florence  and  in  the  neighborhood 
of  these  cities,  although  some  were  procured  in 
other  .continental  art  centers,  and  a  few  in  Lon- 
don and  New  York.  A  considerable  number 
of  these  are  painted  on  panel  during  the  period 
between  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenlih  century 
and  reaching  down  to  the  latter  part  of  the  sev- 
enteenth century.  During  this  time  the  artists 
of  Italy  and  of  their  school  were  remarkably 
numerous  and  industrious,  and,  in  many  in- 
stances, the  name  of  the  individual  artist  has 
been  lost,  but  all  the  paintings  in  the  Southamp- 
ton Art  Gaillery  are  recognizable  as  belonging  to 
them  and  their  day.  The  subjects  are  in  large 
majority  of  a  religious  character,  with  some  al- 
legorical scenes  founded  upon  the  classic  poets, 
and  portraits.    In  some  instances  the  pictures  are 


310 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


presumably  from  'the  brush  of  pupils  O'f  some  of 
the  great  Italian  masters,  and,  while  the  names  of 
these  minor  artists  are  not  preserved,  their  work 
is  readily  discernible  as  belonging  to  the  period 
of  the  Italian  Renaissance. 

The  reproductions  in  marble  and  plaster  were 
obtained  from  Florence,  Paris,  London  and  New 
York.  The  world  famous  "Laocoon,"  the  Faun 
of  Praxiteles,"  the  "Wrestlers,"  the  "Winged 
Victory  of  Samathrace,"  and  others,  were  ob- 
tained from  the  Atelier  d'e  ]\Ioulage,  or  plaster- 
cast  department  of  the  Museum  of  the  Lo'uvre, 
in  Paris,  France,  and  conducted  by  the  govern- 
ment. The  plaster  reproduction'  of  the  Par- 
thenon Frieze  was  from  the  Metropolitan  Mu- 
seum of  Art  of  New  York. 

In  the  reading  room  are  numerous  volumes 
of  particular  interest  to  art  students  and  con- 
noisseurs, pertaining  to  the  history  of  art,  and 
biographies  of  artists  of  every  school  and  day. 

In  the  summer  of  1902  Mr.  James  C,  Par- 
rish,  a  brother  of  the  founder  of  the  Art  Gallery, 
made  a  splendid  wing  addition  to  the  original 
building,  in  order  to  provide  "^accommodations 
for  musical,  literary  and  other  entertainments. 

The  Rogers  Memorial  Library  was  founded 
upon  a  bequest  made  by  Miss  Harriet  Jones 
Rogers,  and  was  dedicated  in  1895.  Miss  Rogers 
was  the  only  child  of  Obadia!h  Jones  Rogers  and 
Clara  (Herrick)  Rogers,  of  Southampton,  and 
the  library  was  established  as  a  memorial  to  the 
memory  of  the  mother  of  the  donor  and  to 
herself.  Miss  Rogers  also  presented  a  fine  or- 
gan to  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  library 
building  is  an  architectural  ornament,  and  is 
most  conveniently  arranged.  It  contains  7,500 
well  chosen  volumes,  and  the  reading  room  is 
supplied  with  the  principal  books  of  reference 
and  the  leading  magazines  and  newspapers  of 
the  day.  The  library  is  open  every,  day  and 
evening  and  its  privileges  are  free  to  all,  both 
residents  and  transient  visitors. 

At  the  western  extremity  of. Job's  Lane  is  a 
unique  monument  to  the  memory  of  those  Amer- 
ican soldiers  and  sailors  who  served  their  coun- 
try in  times  of  war.  It  is  doubtful  If  there  can 
be  found  in  the  land  a  more  eloquent  and  ap- 


propriate monumental  tribute.  This  was  erected 
under  the  supervising  care  and  largely  out  of  the 
generosity  of  General  Thomas  H.  Barber,  him- 
self a  gallant  veteran  of  the  Civil  war. 

The  story  of  the  new  Southampton  was  told 
most  interestingly  in  a. letter  to  a  friend  by  Dr.- 
T.  Gaillard  Thomas,  a  prominent  physician  of 
New  York,  and,  while  not  intended  for  pubH- 
cabion,  will  prove  an  acceptable  addition  to  our 
narrative.    Dr.  Thomas  said: 

"In  September,  1863,  worn  out  by  the  cares 
of  a  very  large  practice  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
I  sought  leisure  and  repair  of  health  in  a  drive 
along  the  southern  shore  of  Long  Island,  and  a 
return  to  New  York  by  the  northern  shore.  In 
a  light  wagon,  capable  of  carrying  a  trunk,  with 
my  wife  as  a  companion,  and  behind  a  good  pair 
of  horses,  I  drove  across  the  34tb  Street  ferry  on 
my  way  to  Babylon  as  my  first  destination. 
Stopping  at  the  charming  old  hostelry  of  Selah 
Smith  for  a  couple  of  days,  we  went  on  to 
Quogue  as  our  next  resting  place,  and  thus  visit- 
ing the  villages  along  the  south  shore,  South- 
ampton among  the  number,  -we  gradually  worked 
our  way  to  Montauk  Point,  where  we  found 
pleasant  accommodations  at  the  li.g-ht-house. 
From  this  point  we  went  to  Sag  Harbor,  after 
being  nearly  devoured  by  the  phenomenal  hordes 
of  mosquitos  which  attacked  us  and  our  horses 
in  crossing  Napeague  Beach,  and  the  morning 
after  our  arrival  there  we  embarked  for  Green- 
port  and  made  our  way  home.  On  leaving 
Southampton,  I  remarked  to  my  wife,  T  am 
charmed  with  this  quiet  old  village;  most  agree- 
ably impressed  by  its  great  advantages  and  by 
the  respectability  and  apparent  worth  of  the 
good  people  who  inhabit  it.  and  I  am  fully  de- 
termined that  should  I  ever  build  a  summer 
home  it  shall  be  located  here.' 

"Thirteen  years  afterwards  I  decided  to 
build  a  summer  place  and  came  to  Southampton 
to  investigate  with  my  friend,  Mr.  Leon  De- 
pierre  DeBost,  a  native  of  the  village,  then  liv- 
ing in  New  York,  bought  fifteen  acres  of  land 
on  the  dunes  from  Captain  Goodale,  and  built 
the  house  in  which  I  now  reside,  and  have  made 
this  by  summer  home  for  twenty-five  years,  my 
appreciation  of  the  place  and  mv  friendly  regard 
for  those  who  inhabit  it  increasing  distinctly  and 
steadily  as  this  quarter  of  a  century  lias  slipped 
almost  imperceptibly  away. 

"As  I  came  here  with  my  friend,  'Mr.  De- 
Bost, and  was  his  guest  for  a  short  time,  it  has 


o 
Q 

o 

h- ( 


o 
o 


o 

H 

en 
1=5 
O 
CO 

CO 


CO 

o 

W 

fq 
o 

Piq 
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(^ 
o 

M 

CO 

CO 

fa 

p:i 

CO 
Oh 

o 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


311 


been  very  generally  supposed  that  he  introduced 
me  to  Southampton  and  its  people,  and  I  have 
taken  little  care  to  correct  the  error.  But  the 
facts  I  now  give  are  stated  exactly  as  they  oc- 
curred. 

"The  erection  of  my  house  in  the  ancient 
village  of  Southampton  was  an  era  in  its  history, 
it  being  the  first  house  ever  erected  here  outside 
the  strict  limits  of  the  village,  for  the  purposes 
of  summer  residence,  by  a  man  not  born  in  the 
community.  The  limits  of  the  village  on  the 
south  were  marked  by  the  homes  of  Mr.  Nicoll 
White  and  JMr.  Isaac  Foster.  ]\[r.  DeBost  was 
born  in  Southampton  in  the  house  of  his  grand- 
father, who  had  lived  here  for  two  generations 
before  the  birth  of  this  grandson,  and  Mr.  Dc- 
Bost's  house  was  built  to  the  north  of  those  resi- 
dences just  mentioned,  and  was  therefore  dis- 
tinctly within  the  village  limits. 

*Tor  one  year  I  was  entirely  without  neigh- 
bors, not  another  cottage  existing  between  Me- 
cox  Bay  on  the  east,  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on  the 
south,  the  gate  of  the  Shinnecock  reservation  on 
the  west,  and  Long  Springs  on  the  north.  One 
year  after  my  settlement  here  two  cottages  were 
built — one  by  Air.  W.  S.  Hoyt  and  one  by  Dr. 
Albert  H.  Buck,  both  of  whom  have  since  re- 
moved from  Southampton,  their  places  falling 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Charles  T.  Barney.  In 
the  third  year,  a  cottage  was  built  by  Mr.  Fred- 
eric H.  Betts,  as  a  place  of  residence,  and  an- 
other, called  'The  Gables,'  for  the  purpose  of 
renting,  by  his  brother  Mr.  C.  Wyllis  Betts.  In 
the  fourth  year  Mr.  Wyllis  Betts  built  several 
more  cottages  for  renting,  which  were  fortunate- 
ly filled  by  persons  who  proved  of  great  ad- 
vantage to  the  new  Southampton,  my  venerable 
and  valued  friend,  Mr.  Salem  H.  Wales,  to 
whom  the  community  is  very  greatly  indebted 
for  constant  and  able  efforts  for  its  advancement, 
being  one  of  them. 

"After  this  year  we  grew  so  rapidly  rich  in 
hnt  cottages  and  excellent  neighbors  that  I  find 
it  impossible  to  keep  the  tally  accurately.  I 
would  merely  say  that  about  this  time  Alessrs. 
George  R.  and  William  H.  Schieffelin,  Colonel 
Siebert,  a  German  ex-army  officer,  Messrs.  Uriel 
A.  Murdock,  James  T.  Kilbreth  and  others  dis- 
tinctly increased  the  prosperity  of  the  settlement 
by  adopting  it  as  their  summer  home.  In  the 
year  1880  Mr.  Wales  built  the  fine  residence  in 
which  he  now  resides,  and  soon  after  his  son- 
in-law,  the  secretary  of  war,  Mr.  Elihu  Root, 
created  himself  his  neighbor.  At  the  present 
time  there  are  in  the  summer  colony  of  South- 


ampton between  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  cottages  many  of  which  equal  those  of 
any  summer  place,  with  the  exception  of  New- 
port, in  our  country. 

'T  cannot  refrain  from  speaking  of  some  of 
those  of  my  fellow  citizens  who,  as  the  years  have 
passed,  have  created  steps  by  the  mounting  of 
which  this  place  has  climbed  into  prominence  and 
prosperity.  To  Mr.  Frederic  H.  Betts  we  owe 
the  charming  Episcopal  chapel,  called  St.  An- 
drew's Dune- Church,  which  for  twenty-two 
years  has  proved  a  centre  around  which  has 
gathered  the  healthy  sentiment  which  character- 
izes our  community.  To  Mr.  Salem  H.  Wales 
we  are  indebted  for  the  excellent  bank,  which 
has  greatly  advanced  the  prosperity  of  the  town. 
To  Mi:rs  Rogers,  now  deceased,  we  owe  the  Rog- 
ers Memorial  Library,  an  ornament  to  the  place 
and  a  blessing  to  its  people.  Bat  we  must  not 
forget,  in  connection  with  it,  the  long  and  faith- 
ful services  of  its  president,  Air.  Wales,  who  has 
done  much  to  secure  its  great  success.  To  Mr. 
John  \V.  Kilbreth  we  are  indebted  for  two:  bene- 
factions— a  pure  and  plentiful  water  supply  and 
a  well-conducted  and  efficient  company  for  elec- 
trical lighting.  To  Mr.  R.  H.  Robertson,  the 
eminent  architect,  we  owe  the  architectural  effects 
in  our  library,  and  many  other  public  buildings 
which  fascinate  our  visitors.  To  Air.  Samuel 
L.  Parrish,  and  more  recently  to  his  brother.  Air. 
James  C.  Parrish,  we  are  indebted  for  the 
charming  museum,  hall  of  music,  and  gymna- 
sium, which  will  surely  do  a  vast  deal  for  the 
elevation  of  the  community.  To  Mr.  Edward 
S.  Aiead  and  Air.  Samuel  L.  Parrish  acknowl- 
edgments are  especially  due,  though  many  oth- 
ers were  associated  with  them,  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Shinnecock  Hills  Golf  Club,  which 
has  had  a  vast  influence  on  the  development  of  the 
place;  and  our  profound  thanks  are  due  to  Mr. 
John  B.  Cauldwell  for  the  handsomest  and  most 
commodious  depot  and  grounds  which  adorn  any 
station  between  Alontauk  Point  and  Long  Island 
City. 

"There' is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  as  to  the  great 
influence  in  the  development  of  our  colony  which 
has  been  exerted  by  the  ALeadow  Club,  but 
it  is  difficult  to  decide  to  whom  its  creation  be 
accredited.  Those  gentlemen  who  were  chiefly 
instrumental  in  the  work  are  Judge  Henry  E. 
Howland,  Messrs.  F.  H.  Betts,  B.  Aymar  Sands, 
Bowers  Lee,  C.  R.  Henderson,  and  J.  Hamden 
Robb. 

"In  the  year  1900,  a  club  for  gentlemen,  known 
as  the  Southampton  Club,  was  inaugurated  by 


312 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


Mr.  George  R.  Schieffelin,  which  now  owns  a 
handsome  and  commodious  club-house,  and 
which  is  entirely  successful  in  every  way. 

''What  the  influence  of  the  Southampton 
Horse  Association  with  its  line  race-track,  its  at- 
tractive grand  stand,  and  other  appropriate  fea- 
tures will  be,  remains  to  be  tested  by  time.  But 
I  feel  so  confident  that  these  dangerous  pos- 
sessions will  be  wisely  safeguarded  and  de- 
terminedly protected  against  evil  results,  that  I 
point  with  satisfaction  to  ]\[r.  Henry  W.  Mac- 
Vickar  as  the  originator  of  the  enterprise,  and 
as  one  to  whose  energy  we  are  indebted  for 
much  of  the  rapid  and  satisfactor}'  development 
which  has  attended  it. 

"Within  the  last  year  or  two,  thanks  to  the 
energy  and  enterprise  of  three  gentlemen  of  our 
community,  a  large  sum  of  money  has  been  col- 
lected bv  subscription  for  the  improvement  of 
the  roads,  particularly  of  those  penetrating  the 
woods  within  a  radius  of  eight  miles  of  the  vil- 
lage. Already  a  good  deal  of  very  satisfactory- 
work  has  been  done  and  the  promise  pi  the 
ftiture  is  most  gratifying.  The  committee  which 
has  laid  us  under  so  great  an  obligation  consists 
of  ^Messrs.  Henry  E.  Coe,  Henry  P.  Robbins, 
Howard  Townsend  and  Dr.  George  A.  Dickson. 

"In  this  narrative  I  have  depended  entirely  up- 
on memory,  with  the  painful  consciousness  that 
it  will  give  oiffence  to  some  whose  good  works 
I  have  forgotten  to  acknowledge.  If  this  be  so, 
1  beg  them  to  attribute  the  shortcoming  on  my 
part  to  the  head  and  not  the  heart." 

Dr.  Thomas  has  taken  a  deep  interest  in  com- 
munity affairs,  and  was  particularly  useful  in 
the  establishment,  building  and  furnishing  of 
the  beautiful  Protestant  Episcopal  church  edi- 
fice referred  to  on  previous  pages. 

Among  the  principal  ornaments  of  the  new 
Southampton  is  the  splendid  estate  of  Hon.  Sa- 
lem H.  Wales.  This  place,  known-  as  Ox  Pas- 
ture, fronting  oai  Agawam  Lake,  comprises 
.twenty-four  acres  of  land,  which  'Mr.  Wales 
purchased  in  the  year  of  his  coming,  1880. 
From  its  totally  unused  and  unimpro'ved  con- 
>dition,  he  has  transformed  it  into  one  of  the  m!ost 
beautiful  summer. home  places  in  the  entire  resi- 
dential portion  of  Long  Island.  The  grounds 
are  laid  out  artistically,  and  bear  an  abundance 
of  ornamental  trees  and  shrubbery,  arbors,  beds 
of    flowers,    and    all    those    outdoor    ornaments 


which  go  to  make  a  suitable  setting  to  an  ideal 
family  residence.  Mr.  Wales  has  taken  an  act- 
ive and  most  useful  part  in  all  movements  for 
the  advancement  and  development  of  the  village. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  bank,  and 
has  charge  of  the  new  water  system,  and  he 
superintended  the  erection  of  the  Rogers  Memo- 
rial Library.  He  is  a  trustee  of  St.  Andrew's 
Dune- Church,  and  is  connected  with  all  the  local 
clubs. 

On  Ox  Pasture  Lane  is'  Darene,  the  home  of 
Mrs.  M.  B.  Cauldwell,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
handsome  specimens  of  colonial  architecture  on 
Long  Island.  This,  with  others  of  varying  type, 
afford  some  idea  of  the  beauties  of  the  modern 
Southampton. 

It  will  be  rem^embered  that,  by  the  terms  of 
Governor  Dongan's  patent,  the  town  was  to  pay 
annually  forty  shillings  as  a  quit  rent.  After 
the  Revolution  this  became  due  to  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  by  act  of  legislature  April  i, 
1786,  it  was  ordered  that  all  quit  rents  should 
be  paid  into  the  treasury,  and  that  persons  hold- 
ing lands  I:)}'  quit  rent  might  commute  the  same 
by  paying  14  shillings  for  every  shilling  of  the 
rent.  Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  of  the  town  trus- 
tees held  February  26,  1787,  Dr.  Silas  Halsey 
was  instructed  to  take  enough  of  the  proprietors' 
money  to  discharge  all  arrears  and  commute  the 
quit  rent.  This  was  done,  and  thus  disappeared 
the  last  vestige  of  the  colonial  form  of  govern- 
,ment. 

The  entire  region  now  the  town  of  South- 
ampton was  O'wned  and  occupied  by  an  Indian 
tribe  known  as  the  Shinnecocks.  whose  sachem 
was  subordinate  to  Wyandanch,  the  sachem  of 
Montauk.  The  word  Shinnecock  is  said  to  mean 
"level  land,"  and  seems  to  have  been  the  naane 
of  the  plain  of  which  Shinnecock  Neck  is  a  part. 
The  number  of  the  tribe  ^vas  probabl}-  not  very 
large,  and  it  is  ver}-  doubtful  if  they  ever  num- 
bered two  hundred  fighting  men.  In  the  census 
of  1698  there  were  reported  52  Indians  upward 
of  fifteen  years  of  age.  and  about  the  same  num- 
ber of  women  and  children.  Put  this  was  not 
the  whole  number,  for  [Matthew  Howell,  the  cen- 


o 
o 


CO 


td 
o 
d 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


313 


sus  taker,  says  "The  heathen  are  so  scattered  to 
and  fro  that  they  can  neither  be  summonsed  in 
nor  counted."  Their  chief  seat  was  on  Shinne- 
cock  Neck,  and  as  a  locaHty  on  the  west  side  of 
the  neck,  adjoining  a  branch  of  the  bay,  is  men- 
tioned in  deeds  as  early  as  1660  as  "Old  Fort," 
and  still  retains  the  name,  it  is  to  be  supposed 
that  an  Indian  fortification  once  existed  there, 
but  at  present  no  trace  remains.  Near  it  is  an 
aboriginal  burying  ground  and  many  Indian 
rehcs  have  been  foimd  in  the  vicinity.  Some 
years  ago  excavations  were  made  in  the  old 
burial  place  and  four  skeletons  were  discovered. 
These  had  been  buried  in  a  sitting  position,  and 
with  them  were  many  curious  relics.  Among 
them  was  a  gun  barrel  nearly  six  feet  in  length, 
several  glass  bottles  and  an  earthen  cup,  and  a 
considerable  quantity  of  traders'  beads  and  a 
quantity  of  wampum  (the  latter  being  cylindrical 
beads  of  shell  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in 
length  and  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  pierced  longitudinally),  and  a  copper  box 
containing  a  few  silver  coins  bearing  the  date 
of  1656.  A  basket,  which  had  probably  con- 
tained food,  had  also  been  buried,  and  a  por- 
tion was  so  well  preserved  as  to  show  that  it  had 
been  woven  of  flags.  There  were  also  portions 
of  a  woolen  blanket*.  We  conclude  from  this  that 
the  aboriginal  customs  of  burying  the  dead  were 
continued  for  many  years  after  ihe  advent  of  the 
white  settlers.  Some  years  since  there  was 
found  in  the  mud  of  a  swamp  at  Potiuik  a  stone 
axe  or  hatchet  with  a  handle  of  oak  about  two 
feet  in  length,  secured  to  the  axe  by  being  placed 
against  the  flat  side  and  a  withe  wound  firmly 
around  in  the  same  manner  as  a  rope  is  belayed, 
thus  holding  it  very  securely.  In  the  spring  of 
1880  a  man,  w>hile  catching  eels  in  the  creek  at 
Canoe  Place,  drew  up  on  his  spear  a  wooden 
paddle  which  had  evidently  been  used  in  pro- 
pelling a  canoe  in  olden  time.  It  was  about 
three  feet  long,  including  the  blade,  which  was 
about  a  foot  in  length.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century  the  Indians  Hved  entirely  in  wig- 
wams, most  of  them  at  Shinnecock,  but  several 
were  at  Canoe  Place  and  at  the  outlet  of  Cold 
Spring  Bay.     From  an  entry  in  the  town  records 


we  learn  that  in  1647  the  sachem's  house  was 
near  the  brook  that  runs  into  VVooley's  Pond, 
near  Towd.  The)'  doubtless  moved  their  fragile 
dwellings  whenever  they  thought  best,  but  gen- 
erally located  where  fish  and  clams  were  plenti- 
ful, l^hey  afterward  began  tq  build  small  frame 
houses,  and  wigwams  disappeared  about  1850. 
As  these  only  exist  in  the  traditions  of  the  past,  it 
may  be  well  to  describe  their  construction. 

A  circular  space  about  twelve  feet  in  diam- 
eter was  cleared  of  bushes,  and  the  turf  removed 
to  the  depth  of  ten  or  twelve  inches.  This 
was  heaped  around  the  circumference,  miaking  a 
low  bank.  Small  poles  about  twelve  feet  long 
were  sharpened  at  the  large  end,  and  stuck  firm- 
ly in  the  top  of  the  embanlanent.  The  tops  were 
then  brought  nearly  together,  leaving  a  small 
circular  hole  at  the  top.  Slender  "hoop  poles'' 
were  then  fastened  horizontally  to  the  upright 
sticks  at  intervals  of  about  ten  inches.  To  these 
the  covering  was  fastened.  This  consisted  either 
of  mats  woven  of  flags  and  rushes,  or  thatch  of 
a  coarse  kind  of  grass  which  still  grows  in  the 
swampy  places  at  Shinnecock,  and  which  the  na- 
tives called  "bluevent."  A  fire  was  made  within 
a  small  circle  of  stones  in  the  center  of  the  wig- 
wam, and  the  smoke  found  an  outlet  at  the  top 
These  stone  "fireplaces,"  being  the  only  thing 
about  the  wigwam  that  was  indestructible,  are 
still  to  be  found  and  mark  the  places  where  wig- 
\vams  stood  in  the  ^days  long  past.  A  flat  stone 
with  a  hollow  in  the  top,  large  enough  to  hold  a 
pint  of  corn,  was  used  as  a  mortar,  and  these, 
together  with  stone  pestles,  are  to  be  seen  in  col- 
lections of  Indian  relics.  Stone  arrow  heads 
are  frequently  found,  but  those  O'i  quartz,  which 
were  probably  made  by  the  tribe  dwelling  here, 
are  not  as  finely  formed  as  those  of  obsidian 
and  other  stones  which  were  probably  obtained 
by  barter  from  other  parts. 

The  ancient  language  and  customs  have  long 
since  disappeared.  The  lasf  Indian  of  pure 
blood  was  known  as  "Joe  Tony,"  and  he  died  in 
1850.  The  last  Indian  custom  that  survived  was 
that  of  carrying  the  "back  basket"  by  a  strap 
that  passed  around  the  forehead  of  the  bearer. 
It  was  carried  in  this  manner  by  an  old  Indian 


314 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


woman  who  died  in  1879.  Th^  present  tribe 
are  entirely  derived  from  negroes,  most  of  whom 
came  from  other  places  and  married  ■  Indian 
women,  thus  securing  a  right  to  live  on  the  In- 
dian land. 

A  Congregational  Church  was  organized  by 
the  Rev.  Paul  Cuffee,  the  Indian  preacher,  about 
1808,  but  never  had  a  settled  ^ninister.  A  few 
years  since  it  became  incorporated  to  enable  it 
to  receive  a  legacy  left  in  the  will  of  Pyrrhus 
Cancer,  a  highly  respected  colored  man,  who 
lived  in  Southampton.  "June  meeting,"  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  June,  is  a  religious  anniversary, 
instituted  by  the  Rev.  Paul  Cuffee,  but  in  late 
years  has  ceased  to  be  a  source  of  religious  bene- 
fit. About  1845  ^  "Second  Adventist"  society  was 
organized  among  the  Indians  by  James  Lee,  an 
escaped  slave  from  Virginia,  who  married  into 
the  tribe.  The  most  important  of  its  members 
were  lost  in  the  wreck  oi  the  ship  "Circassian," 
in  1876,  since  which  time  it  has  dwindled  al- 
most to  nothing. 

In  1686  a  new  generation  of  Indians  were 
on  the  scene,  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  sale 
of  the  lands  made  by  their  ancestors.  To  quiet 
them  a  new  deed  was  obtained  from  the  sachem 
then  in  power,  and  in  1703  a  fresh  agreement 
was  made.  A  new  deed  signed  by  Pomqumo, 
Chice  and  Mahanum  as  sachems,  and  signed  by 
34  other  members  of  the  tribe,  conveyed  to  the 
trustees  of  the  commonalt_y  of  Southampton,  for 
the  sum  of  f20,  '*A11  that  tract  of  land  of  ye 
Township  of  Southampton,  bounded  at  ye  south 
with  the  main  ocean,  on  the  north  by  ye  bay  and 
Peconick  great  niver,  and  eastward  by  a  line  run- 
ning frbm  ye  most  .eastward  pinte  of  Hogg  Neck 
across  ye  said  branch  of  ye  Island  to  a  stake  upon 
Wainscutt  plains,  and  westwardly  from  an  inlet 
out  of  ye  sea  or  main  ocean,  com/monly  known 
by  ibhe  niaiiie  of  Cupsogue  gut,  intO'  ye  south  bay, 
and  running  northerly  up  Seatuck  River  to  ye 
marked  bound  tree,  standing  upon  ye  west  side 
of  the  main  branch  of  Seatuck  River,  and  from 
said  tree  extending  northerly  to  Peconick  great 
river  as  aforesaid." 

To  make  'the  matter  more  sure  a  deed  was 
obtained  from  Giangonhut,  sachem  of  Unckacho- 


hok,  in  the  present  town  of  Brookhaven,  and 
Sumono,  his  sister,  who  was  wife  of  Pomqumo, 
by  which  they  acknowledged  that  ^the  lands  east 
of  Seatuck  belonged  to  the  Shinnecock  tribe. 
These  deeds  were  executed  August  16,  1703,  and 
are  recorded  in  the  town  clerk's  office. 

Up  to  1703  the  Indians  seem  tO'  have  roamed 
at  large,  though  their  principal  place  of  residence 
was  on  Shinnecock  Neck,  and  they  had  "free 
fishing  and  fowling."  At  the  time  of  giving 
of  the  second  Indian  deed  it  was  found  necessary 
to  restrict  them  to  some  particular  place.  The 
town  trustees,  therefore,  gave  to  the  Indians  the 
following  lease  for  Shinnecock  Hills-  and  Shinne- 
cock Neck,  dated  August  16,  1703  : 

"This  Indenture  made  between  the  Trustees 
of  the  Coftionalty  of  the  Towne  of  Southampton, 
on  the  one  part,  and  Pomquamo  Chice  and  Mana- 
man,  and  their  people  belonging  to  Shinnecock, 
Witnesseth  that  the  said  Trustees  *  *  *  for 
divers  good  causes  and  one  ear  of  Indian  com 
to  be  paid  annually  on  the  first  day  of  November. 
*  =t=  -t  have  demised,  granted,  and  to  farm 
let,  ^  *  =i=  All  the  certain  tract  of  land, 
called  by  the  name  of  Shinecock  and  Sebonac, 
bounded  west  by  Canoe  Place,  alias  Niamug,  and 
bounded  southward  by  Shinecock  Bay,  and  east- 
ward by  a  line  running  from  the  head  of  Shine- 
cock Creek,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  James 
Cooper's  close,  and  from  thence  northwardly  to 
the  westward  part  of  Jonathan  Rayners  land  at 
Sebonac  old  ground,  and  from  thence  on  a  direct 
line  'to  a  place  called  the  warehouse  by  the  North 
Bay,  and  on  the  north  by  said  bay,  meadows, 
marshes,  grass  'herbage  feeding  and  pasterage 
and  highways,  excepted.  *  h^  *  for  the  term 
of  1000  years  next  ensuing  to  the  date  hereof. 
Provided  that  the  Indians  do  not  keep  any  part 
of  the  land  enclosed  from  the  last  of  October  to 
the  first  of  April  in  each  year.  ^ 

The  trustees  also  gave  the  Indians  liberty  to 
cut  flags  and  bulrushes  and  such  grass  as  they 
usually  make  their  mats  and  houses  of,  and  ito 
dig  ground  nuts  (mowing  lands  excepted)  any- 
wherein  the  bounds  of  the  town.  In  this  way 
the  Indians  had  the  right  to  plow  and  plant, 
while  the  proprietors  had  the  right  of  pasture. 
In  a  lawsuit  that  arose  many  years  later  the 
court    of    appeals    decided    that    if    the    Indians 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


315 


planted  'crops  they  must  do  all  the  fencing  re- 
quired to  protect  them,  and  after  that  very  little 
planting  was  done  on  the  Hills.  The  meadows 
along  the  ba}-  had  been  divided  soon  after  the 
original  settlement  and  were  owned  by  private 
individuals.  The  same  rules  held  good  on  Shinne- 
cock  Neck.  The  inconvenience  of  holding  lands 
in  tihis  manner  soon  became  manifest.  The 
courts  decided  that  the  seaweed  drifting  on  the 
shores  belonged  to  the  Indian's,  and  this  was  fot 
many  years  a  source  of  revenue.  In  1859  the 
proprietors  agreed  to  release  to  the  Indians  all 
their  rights  to  Shinnecock  Neck  in  exchange  for 
the  Indian  rights  to  Shinnecock  Hills.  This  was 
agreed  to  by  a  very  large  majority  of  the  Indian 
tribe,  and  the  consent  of  the  State  was  given  by 
an  act  of  legislature.  The  proprietors  then  of- 
fered Shinnecock  Hills  for  sale,  and  they  were 
purchased  at  public  auction  by  a  company  of 
men  residing  in  Southampton  for  $6,250.  This 
included  Ram  Island,  which  was  not  Indian  land. 
They  were  incorporated  under  the  title  of  "The 
Trustees  of  Shinnecock  Hills/'  and  held  it  as 
tenants  in  common  for  pasturage  for  several 
years. 

About  1884  a  company  of  English  capitalists, 
through  agents,  purchased  all  the  shares  of  the 
owners  of  Shinnecock  Hills,  and  also  purchased 
large  tracts  of  "wild  land"  in  other  parts  of 
Long  Island.  As  they  were  aliens  they  could 
not  take  title  in  their  own  names,  but  associating 
with  two  New  York  lawyers,  they  were  incor- 
porated as  the  "Lodig  Island  Improvement  Com- 
pany," the  two  lawyers  and  two  or  three  of  their 
clerks,  all  owning  a  very  small  ititerest,  being  the 
officers^  The  Hills  were  afterwards  sold  to  a 
new  company,  known  as  the  "Shinnecock  Hills 
Company." 

On  March  31,  1892,  the  Long  Island  Im- 
provement Company  conveyed  to  the  town  trus- 
tees a  rigiht  O'f  way  "for  persons,  vehicles  or  ani- 
mals" along  the  shore  of  Shinnecock  Bay  and 
Bull's  Head  Bay,  Cold  Spring  Bay  and  Peconic 
Bay,  the  said  road  to  be  50  feet  wide,  except  the 
road  along*  Peconic  Bay,  which  was  to  be  75  feet 
wide,  all  measuring  from  mean  high  water  mark. 
They  also  release  all  claims  to  any  lands  under 


water  which  had  been  sold  by  the  proprietors 
to  William  H.  Alaxwell,  for  the  company,  on 
November  7,  1882.  Several  tracts  on  the  Hills 
have  been  sold  to  private  individuals  and  hand- 
some dwellings  erected  and  an  "Art  School"  es- 
tablished. 

The  original  "Town  Purchase"  was  the  land 
east  of  Canoe  Place.  On  June  10,  1658,  Wyan- 
danch,  "Sachem  of  Paumanack,"  sold  to  Lyon 
Gardiner  "A  certain  tract  of  beach  land,  with  all 
the  rest  of  ye  grass  that  joynes  to  it,  not  sep- 
arated from  it  by  water.  Which  beach  begins 
eastward  at  the  west  end  of  Southampton 
bounds,  and  westward  where  it  is  separated  by 
ye  waters  of  ye  sea  coming  in  out  of  ye  ocean 
sea.  Being  southward  by  the  great  sea,  north- 
ward with  the  inland  water.  This  land  and  the 
gras's^  for  a  range  for  to  feed  horses  or  cattle  on." 
This  was  for  "a  considerable  sum  of  money  and 
a  yearly  rent  of  25  shillings."  "But  the  whales 
that  shall  be  cast  up  on  this  beach  shall  belong 
to  me,  and  the  rest  of  the  Indians  in  their 
bounds,  as  they  have  been  anciently  granted  to 
them  formerly  by  my  forefathers.''  On  December 
3,  1658,  Lyon  Gardiner  transferred  his  title  to 
John  Cooper.  This  includes  all  the  beach  be- 
tween a  point  opposite  Canoe  Place  to  \Adiat  was 
known  as  "Cupsogue  Gut,"  or  inlet,  and  now 
the  west  line  of  the  town. 

The  second  purchase  is  known  as  the 
"Quogue  Purchase."  On  May  12,  1659,  Wyan- 
danch,  "Sachem  of  Paumanack,"  sold,  to  ^Ir. 
John  Ogden  "A  certain  tract  of  land  beginning 
at  the  westward  end  of  Southampton  bounds, 
which  land  is  bounded  eastward  with  Southamp- 
ton bounds,  and  with  a  small  piece  of  meadow 
which  I  gave  to  ]Mr.  John  Gosmer.  Northward 
to  the  water  of  the  bay  and  to  the  creek  of 
Accaboucke.  Westward  to  the  place  called 
Peheconnache,  and  southerly  to  Potunk,  three 
miles  landward  in  from  the  high  water  mark 
and  creek  of  Accaboucke  and  soe  to^  the  west. 
But  from  that  three-mile  breadth  of  land  south- 
ward all  the  land  and  meadow  toward  the  South 
sea,  the  beach  only  excepted,  is  sold  to  John 
Cooper."    This  was  on  the  condition  that  Thorn- 


316 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


as  Halsey  and  his  associates  sbould  have  the  use 
of  a  "piece  of  meadow  called  Quaquanantuck  for 
the  term  of  years  formerly  granted  to  them." 
This  was  for  a  yearly  rent  of  25  shillings,  the 
Indians  to  have  the  right  ''of  fishing  and  fowling 
and  gathering  berries."  John  Ogden  sold  this 
tract  to  Captain  John  Scott  (whose  exploits  in 
tjlie  way  of  land  speculations  left  the  early  set- 
tlem^ents  on  Long  Island  in  hot  water  for  a  long 
term  of  years),  and  he  soM  it  to  the  town  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1663. 

On  April  10,  1662,  Weany  Sunk,  squaw, 
Anabackus  and  Jackanapes  "all  of  them  residents 
of  Shinecock  near  Southampton,"  sold  to  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Topping  O'f  So'Uthampton  '*all  our 
right  and  title  to  a  certain  tract  of  land  being 
westward  of  Shinnecock  and  the  lawful  bounds  of 
Southampton.  To  begin  at  Canoe  Place,  other- 
wise Niamuck,  and  soe  to  runn  westward  to  a 
place  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Seatuck, 
from  thence  to  run  northward  across  the  said 
Island  or  neck  of  land  unto  a  place  called  the 
bead  of  the  ba}-."  Together  with  half  the  profits 
and  benefits  of  the  beach  in  respect  to  fish,  whale 
or  whales  that  shall  by  God's  Providence  be 
cast  up."  This  was  in  consideration  of  "four 
score  fathoms  of  wampum  or  other  pay  equiva- 
lent." 

This  deed  included  the  entire  western  part 
of  the  town,  including  the  land  sold  to  John 
Ogden.  These  deeds  excited  the  jealousy  of  the 
town,  and  the  parties  who  sold  to  Captain 
Topping  were  not  recognized  as  having  any 
right  to  sell,  and  a  long  and  bitter  controversy 
ensued.  On  September  17,  1666,  a  deed  was 
given  by  the  son,  daughter  and  widow  of  Man- 
dush  (who  was  one  of  the  sachems  who  gave  the 
original  deed  in  1640)  and  other  head  Indians 
of  the  ShinnecO'ck  tribe,  ]:)y  which  they  sold  all 
the  lands  described  in  the  deed  to  Captain  Thom- 
as Topping,  "unto  our  loving  friends,  the  towns- 
men of  Southampton,  with  this  proviso,  that  if 
General  Nicolls,  whom  we  acknowledge  the  hon- 
orable and  discreet  Governor  of  this  Island,  doth 
upon  examination  find  us  to  be  the  true  propri- 
etors of  ye  said  lands." 

Governor  Richard  Nicolls  decided  that  Cap- 


tain Topping  and  John  Cooper  should  resign  all 
their  claims,  and  the  said  lands  should  belong  to 
the  town  of  Southampton,  that  is^  to  those 
townsmen  who  had  paid  the  purchase  money. 
The  town  should  pay  to  Captain  Topping  £5 
and  to  the  Indians  "four  score  fathoms  of 
wampum,  at  six  for  a  penny,"  and  that  Captain 
Topping  should  have  a  £150  allotment  in  the 
meadows.    This  was  dated  October  3,  1666. 

The  part  of  the  town  west  of  the  land  sold 
to  John  Ogden  has  always  been  called  Topping's 
Purdhase,  and  the  east  boundary  is  a  lime  run- 
ning froiii  the  mill  dam  at  Beaverdam  to  River- 
head.  The  cost  of  the  purchase  of  the  w-est  part 
of  the  town  was  £70,  and  was  paid  by  41  per- 
sons. A  list  of  these  will  be  found  in  Vol.  II, 
Town  Records,  page  250. 

The  first  division  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town  was  made  in  1673.  This  included  the 
meadow  along  the  bay  and  creeks  from  the  west 
side  of  Assop's  Neck  to  a  short  creek  at  the 
bottom  of  Fourth  Neck.  The  short  creek  here 
mentioned  was  called  by  the  Indian  name  of 
"Anock,"  and  it  divided  Fourth  Neck  into  two 
parts' — Little  Fourth  Neck  and  Great  Fourth 
Necki  These  meadows  were  the  most  valuable 
part  of  that  portion  of  the  town.  One  acre  of 
meadoiw  was  worth  more  than  iwenty  acres  cov- 
ered with  heavy  pine  timber. 

The  next  division,  was  in  1683,  and  included 
all  the  meadows  beginning  with  Little  Assop's 
Neck  (now  Quoioge)  and  extending  to  the  west 
part  of  Womunk  (or  Onuck),  and  including 
Catchoponack  and  Potunk. 

The  next  division  was  in  1686.  This  was  the 
Accabog  meadows,  west  of  Red  creek. 

The  next  division  was  the  meadows  west  of 
Wonunk,  beginning  with  Apocock  Neck  and  in- 
cluding the  meadows  at  Speonk.  This  was  in 
1712. 

The  vast  tracts  of  woodland  were  not  divided 
until  1738.  The  first  was  the  "Lower  Division, 
in  Quogue  Purchase."  This  included  a  large 
tract  bounded  north  by  the  Country  road  and 
extending  west  from  Shinnecock  Bay  to  Fourth 
Neck,  with  some  small  lots  farther  west.  This 
was  in  1738. 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


317 


In  the  same  year  was  laid  out  the  North  or 
''Upper  Division^."  This  was  bounded  north  by 
the  'Country  road,  west  by  ,Beaverdani,  or  the 
Hne  between  Quogue  and  Toppuig's  Purchase, 
south  by  highways  laid  across  each  neck,  and 
east  by  the  creek  called  Achabacawesuck,  which 
separates  Pine  Neck  from  Fourth  Xeck. 

The  Canoe  Place  division  was  laid  out  the 
same  year.  Tl^is  was  bo'unded  east  by  Canoe 
Place,  south  by  the  Country  road,  north  'by  the 
beach  on  Peconic  Bay,  west  by  a  line  from  Tiana 
to  Red  creek. 

The  Accabog  division  is  bounded  east  by  Red 
creek,  south  by  a  dine  running  due  west  from 
the  south  end  of  Red  Creek  Po-nd  to  the  road 
from  Quogue  to  Riverhead,  and  west  hy  that 
road.    This  was  laid  out  in  1763. 

The  "Last  Division  in  Quogue  Purchase" 
is  bounded  south  by  the  Countr}^  road  from 
Tiana  to  Beaverdam,  west  by  rhe  line  of  Top- 
ping's Purchase,  and  north  b\^  the  south  line  of 
the  Accabog  division,  and  east  by  a  Hne  from 
Red  Creek  Pond  to  Tiana.  The  southwest  cor- 
ner of  this  division  is  some  distance  north  of 
the  mill  at  Beaverdam,  at  the  place  where  the 
old  Country  road  crossed  the  stream. 

In  Topping's  Purchase  thei?e  are  two  di- 
visions, besides  the  meadows  at  Speonk  and  other 
necks.  ~ 

The  Speonk  division  is  bounded  east  by 
Beaverdam  river,  no-rth  by  the  Country  road, 
called  the  Moriches  road,  west  by  Seatuck  river 
and  south  by  the  bay  and  the  meadows  formerly 
divided. 

The  "Last  Division  in  Topping's  Purchase"  is 
a  vast  tract  of  woodland  bounded  south  by  the 
Country   road,   east   by    the    Quogue   Purchase, 
north  by  Peconic  river,  and  west  by 
the  Brookhaven  line.     It  was  laid  out 
in  1782.    By  the  teruTS  of  the  deed  of 
Sachem  Wyandanch  to  John  Ogden  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  north  side,  near 
Flanders,    was     not   included  in    Quogue   Pur- 
chase.    This  is  called  the  "Accabog  Division  in 
Quogue   and   Topping's    Purchase."      This    was 
laid  out  in  1763,  and  includes  the  necks  west  of 


Red  creek.  The  west  line  is  White  brook,  which 
is  the  first  brook  one  crosses  in  going  from 
Riverhead  to  Flanders. 


On  the  terms  of  the  Indian  deed  for  Southold 
and  the  description  of  the  bounds  in  the  Andros 
patent,  which  was  based  upon  it,  a  claim  was  set 
up  by  that  town  tO'  a  triangular  tract  of  land 
and  meadow  in  Southampton,  bounded  east  by 
Red  ereek  and  westerly  by  a  line  running  from 
the  head  of  Red  creek  to  the  head  of  Wading 
river.  Some  of  the  most  interesting  and  curious 
river.  Some  of  the  most  interesting  and  curious 
ed  with  this  dispute.  The  great  point  in  the  con- 
troversy was  to  decide  what  tribe  of  Indians 
were  the  owners  of  the  land.  It  was  shown  to 
be  an  ancient  custom  that  if  young  eagles  were 
taken  in.  the  nest  or  a  bear  or  a  deer  happened  to 
be  drowned  in  the  waters,  the  eagles  and  the 
skins  of  the  animals  were  sent  to  the  sachem 
that  owned  the  land.  It  was  proved  by  Indian 
witnesses  that  upon  a  time  a  bear  had  been 
drowned  in  the  water,  and  that  the  skin  had  been 
sent  to  the  sachem  at  Shinnecock.  After  a  long 
controversy  the  case  was  tried  before  the  court 
of  assizes  in  New  York  in  November,  1667,  and 
was  decided  in  favor  of  Southampton.  An  ap- 
peal in  equity  was  allowed,  to  be  heard  at  the 
next  court  to  be  held  in.  October,  1688,  but  the 
court  recommended  that  both  parties  should 
agree.  The  affair  was  settled  by  a  committee 
from  each  town.  It  was  agreed  that  the  land 
was  to  be  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Southampton, 
but  that  certain  parts  of  the  meadow  were  to  be- 
long to  Southold  men  as  individuals.  This 
agreement  is  alluded  to  in  the  patents  for  both 
towns. 

The  first  town  clerk  was  Richard  }^lills,  who 
was  also  the  first  schoolmaster  of  whom  an  ex- 
tended notice  has  been  given.  His  autograph 
has  been  preserved,  and  appears  aboA-e. 


318 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


He  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Pierson  (1650- 
69),  whose  elegant  penmanship  is  so  conspicuous 
in  our  early  records.  The  following  is  the  list 
of  his  successors : 

John  Howell,  1669-1692;  Job  Sayre,  1693; 
Matthew  Howell,  1693-1706;  Joseph  Fordham, 
1706-1709;  Thomas  Stephens,  1710;  Christopher 
Foster,  1711-1742;  John  Howell,  2nd,  1743-1748; 
Obadiah  Rogers,  1748-1752 ;  Stephen  Rogers, 
1753-1783;  Isaac  Post,  1783-1785;  Silas  Hal- 
sey,  1786-1790;  William  Herrick,  1791-1811  ; 
James  Post,  1812-1820;  William  Herrick, 
1821-1822 ;  William  P.  Herrick,  1823-1824; 
Jonathan  Fithian,  1825-1843;  Robert  R.  Rhodes, 
1844-1847;  Jonathan  Fithian,  1848-1849;  Robert 
R.  Rhodes,  1S50-1856;  Noah  D.  Ellsworth, 
1857;  Albert  J.  Post,  1858-1861 ;  William  S. 
Pelletreau,  1862-1869  \  Edward  H.  Foster, 
1870-T886;  Henry  A.  Fordham,  1886;  Lewis 
Rowden,  1887.  Mr.  Bowden  was  also  elected  in 
1888,  but  died  a  few  days  later.  William  J.  Post 
was  then  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  and  has 
been  elected  till  the  present  time. 

On  October  21,  1692,  ''At  a  town  meeting 
holden  in  Southampton  by  virtue  of  an  order 
from  the  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  chuse  a  man 
of  this  Town  to  Supervise  the  county  charge  with 
the  rest  of  the  men  soe  chosen  by  the  severall 
townes,  to  meet  in  Southampton  upon  the  first 
Wednesday  of  November  next.  By  major  vote 
of  the  said  Inhabitants  at  this  meeting  Thomas 
Cooper  is  chosen  Supervisor  for  this  year  afore- 
said."   The  following  is  the  list  of  supervisors : 

Thomas  Cooper,  1692;  William  Herrick, 
1693;  Samuel  Cooper,  1694-1696;  Joseph  Pier- 
son,  1695;  Joseph  Fordham,  1697-1708;  Theo- 
philus  Howell,  1709-1718;  David  Pierson,  1719- 
1733;  Josiah  Howell,  1734-1737-1747 ;  Job  Pier- 
son, 1738-1746;  Abram  Halsey,  1748--1759;  Job 
Pierson,  1760-1762;  Thomas  Cooper,  1763; 
David  Howell,  1764-1780;  David  Hedges,  1781- 
1786;  Silas  Halsey,  1787-1791 ;  Jonathan  Rogers, 
1792-1794 ;  David  Hedges,  1795-1810 ;  David 
Rose,  1811-J813;  Henry  Corwithe,  1814-1816; 
Samuel  Huntting,  1817,  David  Rose,  1818-1821 ; 
James  Post,  1822-1827;  Selden  Foster,  1828- 
1832:  Abram  Halsey,  1833;  Benjamin  Huntting, 
1834;  Selden  Foster,  1835-1836:  David  R.  Rose, 
1837:  Cilbert  C.  Hunttin,s:,  i8'^8-  David  R.  Rose, 
1839;  Maltby  G.  Rose,  1840;  Edwin  Rose,  1841 ; 


Samuel  L'Hommedieu,  1842;  David  R.  Rose, 
1843-1848;  David  Pierson,  1849;  George  0. 
Post,  1850;  Josiah  Douglass,  1851 ;  William  R. 
Post,  1852-1855;  Jonathan  Fithian,  1856-1858; 
Edwin  Rose,  1859-1861 ;  Jonathan  Fithian,  1862- 
1864;  William  R.  Post,  1865-1876;  James  R. 
Huntting,  1877;  James  M.  'Halsey,  1878-1880; 
James  H.  Pierson,  1881,  till  the  present  time. 

We  now  give  the  ancient  history  of  the  vari- 
ous villages  and  localities  in  the  town  of  South- 
ampton. 

Watermill  derives  its  name  from  the  water 
mill  'Wthich  was  built  by  the  town  in"  1644.  An 
agreement  was  made  by  which  Edward  Howell 
agreed  to  erect  the  mill,  and  the  town  was  to 
build  /the  daim  and  open  a  channel  between  the 
bay  and  the  ocean.  This  channel  bore  the  name 
of  "Sepoose,"  and  Indian  name  for  "little  river." 
Mr.  Howell  was  tO'  have  forty  acres  of  land  ad- 
joining. This  is  now  the  homestead  of  the  late 
D.  Hedges  Sandford.  The  mill  and  privileges 
soon  after  passed  into  the  hands  of  William  Lud- 
1am,  who  came  from  Matlock  in  England.  He 
died  in  1665  and  left  it  to  his  sons,  Henry  and 
Joseph.  The  latter  named  removed  to  Oyster 
Bay.  The  mill  continued  in  the  possession  of 
the  descendants  of  Henry  Ludlam  until  1733, 
when  Jeremiah  Ludlam  sold  it  to  John  Conkling, 
of  East  Hampton.  In  1790  it  was  owned  by 
Hugh  Smith,  of  Moriches,  whose  heirs  proba- 
bly sold  it  to  Jonathan  Conkling  about  1794. 
It  was  purchased  in  1815  by  John  Benedict,  by 
whom  it  was  for  many  years  used  as  a  fulling 
and  carding  mill,  and  also  as  a  grist  mill,  and 
it  is  still  owned  by  his  descendants.  In  1746 
a  lot  for  a  burying  place  was  laid  out  by  the 
town  trustees,  and  is  still  used  for  that  purpose. 
The  earliest  settlers  here  were  Captain  Thomas 
Stephens,  who  owned  the  farm  of  Theodore  A. 
Halsey,  and  families  of  Rose,  Halsey  and  Sand- 
ford,  who  were  also  here  at  early  date.  In  1813  a 
school  district  was  established  and  a  school 
house  erected,  which  in  1870  was  replaced  by  an 
elegant  building.  The  purchase  of  lands  by 
wealthy  persons  from  New  York,  Who  have- 
erected  costly  residences,  has  almost  entirely 
changed   the    character   of   this    ancient    village. 


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SOUTHAMPTON 


319 


In  the  vicinity  are  some  of  the  most  de- 
Hghtful  natural  situations  and  most  beautiful 
adornments  to  be  seen  on  Long  Island.  A  con- 
spicuous type  is  the  elegant  summer  home  of 
Dr.  E.  L.  Keyes.  The  grounds  of  "Grass  Land/' 
by  which  name  the  estate  is  loioiwn,  comprise  a 
-  tract  of  eleven  acres,  purchased  about  seven  years 
ago,  and  have  a  frontage  of  some  seven  hundred 
feet  on  Alecox  Bay,  affording  a  commanding  view 
of  the  water  as  it  expands  oceanward ;  inland,  the 
estate  overlooks  the  Hampton  road  and  the  pub- 
lic square  at  Water  Mill.  The  grounds  are 
adom'ed  with  a  profusion  of  ornamental  trees 
and  shrubbery,  all  set  out  after  the  artistic  fash- 
ion of  the  accomplished  landscape  gardener.  The 
residence  is  in  ithe  Queen  Anne  style  of  archi- 
tecture and  forms  a  bright  feature  of  a  pictur- 
esque scene. 

Reference  has  been  made  on  a  previous  page 
to  the  old  windmills  which  have  survived  the 
iconoclast  and  him  who  improves  after  the  mod- 
ern fashion.  All  too  many  of  these  ancient 
landmarks  have  disappeared,  and  the  few  which 
remain  have  an  added  quaint  impressiveness  be- 
cause of  their  loneliness.  One  of  the  most  noted 
of  these  old  structures  has  been  saved  through 
the  thoughtfulness  of  Dr.  Keyes. 

The  old  windmill,  which  has  been  painted  on 
many  a  canvas  and  caught  on  many  a  camera 
film,  was  originally  put  up  at  Sag  Harbor,  and, 
as  shown  by  the  date  inscribed  upon  one  of  the 
stairs,  it  began  to  grind  on  August  i,  1800, 
sometihing  more  than  a  century  ago.  In  1820 
it  was  bought  by  James  Corwith  and  conveyed 
piecemeal  to  Watermill,  where  it  was  operated 
by  the  ownier  until  his  death,  ,in  1863.  His  son, 
Samuel  Corwith,  was  brought  up  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  his  father,  worked  with  him  during  his 
life,  and  after  his  death  operated  the  mill  until 
1887.  In  that  year  the  old  mill  began  to  fall 
into  decay.  Besides,  the  utility  of  its  old  and 
cumbersome  mechanism  was  a  thing  of  the  past. 
It  was  abandoned  and  was  about  to  be  destroyed 
when  Dr.  Keyes  purchased  it  for  preservation 
as  a  historic  landmark  and  relic.  He  has  won 
a  certain  reward,  too,  in  the  gratitude  of  resi- 
dent lovers  of  the  ancient  and  picturesque,  who 


continue  to  regard  the  rickety  old  mill  as  an  old 
familiar  friend,  and  of  that  class  of  visitors  who 
delight  in  placing  themselves  in  touch  with  the 
remote  past. 

Mecox  was  the  original  name  for  all  that 
tract  of  country  between  the  "Mill  creek"  at  the 
Water  mill,  and  Saggaponack  Pond.  The 
ancient  and  most  traveled  road  from  the  Water 
mill  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  ran  through 
the  lane  on  the  north  side  of  the  homestead  of 
Theodore  A.  Halsey,  and  thence  east  through 
the  farm  of  David  Halsey  to  the  "wading  place," 
ax:ro&s  Hay  Ground  creek,  from  thence  to  the 
lane  leading  to  Mecox  street,  and  through  the 
street  to  the  road  to  the  ocean,  and  probably 
around  Saggaponack  pond  by  the  beach.  On 
July  22,  1686,  the  town  voted  £50  towards  build- 
ing a  bridge  over  Saggaponack  pond,  and  this 
was  confirmed  on  August  24,  the  same  year.  In 
April,  1687,  it  is  mentioned  as  in  actual  exist-  ■ 
ence.  The  bridge  was  built  by  Ezekiel  Sand- 
ford,  and  was  a  little  south  of  the  present  one. 
The  road  to  it  was  purchased  from  Isaac  Wil- 
man.  The  bridge  fell  out  of.  repair  and  ceased 
to  be  used  as  a  highway,  and  in  1765  the  road 
was  sold  by  the  town  trustees  to  John  Sandford, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  hundred  years  it  was  al- 
most forgotten.  In  1876  a  new  bridge  on  the 
site  of  the  old  one  was  built  by  Silas  Tuttle,  of 
Speonk,  who  had  purchased  land  at  Sagg,  and 
in  1882  a  new  road  was  laid  out  by  the  town  on 
the  same  site  as  the  road  bought  of  Isaac  Wil- 
m;an,  nearly  two  hundred  years  before. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  original  road  was  a 
small  piece  of  land,  also  bought  of  Isaac  Wil- 
man,  near  the  pond,  and  upon  this  was  built  the 
first  church  in  Bridgehampton,  about  the  time 
when  the  bridge  was  finished.  This  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  new  church,  built  in  1737,  and  stood 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road  to  Saggaponack, 
about  forty  rods  ea^t  of  the  road  to  the  ocean. 
The  building  was  54  feet  long  and  38  feet  wide, 
and  stood  105  years.  The  present  church  was 
built  in  1842,  and  is  one  of  the  finest  country 
churches  in  the  county.  The  first  minister  was 
the  Rev.  Ebenezer  W  hite,  who  was  ordained  Oc- 
tober 9,  1695.     He  was  here  in  May,  1695,  for 


320 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


fifteen  acres  of  land  were  then  granted  to  him, 
and  on  April  17.  the  same  year,  he  purchased 
from  Jonas  Wood  and  wife  Lydia,  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  New  Jersc}',  "10  acres  of  land  at  Sagga- 
ponack,  with  housing  &c. -bounded  east  and  south 
by  highways,  west  by  street,  nor.th  by  Col. 
Heniry  Pierson."  This  was  opposite  the  burying 
ground,  and  the  old  house  in  which  he  lived  was 
torn  down  about  i860.  It  was  a  large  double 
two-story  house,  built  after  the  ancient  manner, 
fronting  the  south,  and  had  a  long  roof  oin  the 
north  side  which  reached  nearly  to  the  ground. 
Mr.  White  labored  here  fifty-three  years  and 
died  February  4,  1756,  aged  eighty-four.  His 
tombstone  may  be  seen  in  the  Sagg  burying 
ground.  His  descendants  form  a  numerous  and 
very  respectable  family.  The  fifteen  acres  given 
him  by  the  town  May  27,  1695,  is  now  part  of 
the  homestead  of  the  late  Captain  Jeremiah  Lud- 
low, south  of  Bridgehamptoii  village.  Mr.  White 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  James  Brown,  who  was 
ordained  June  15,  174S.  He  resigned  his  charge 
March  27,  1775,  and  removed  to  a  farm'  at  Scut- 
tle Hole,  now  owned  by  George  Strong.  His 
tombstone,  in  a  sadly  neglected  burying  gvound 
in  that  vicinity,  bears  the  inscription  'Tn  memory 
of  the  Revd.  James  Brown,  Pastor  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  in  Bridge  Hampton,  who  died  April 
22,  1788,  in  the  68  year  of  his  age."  The  pulpit 
was  for  a  long  time  vacant,  but  on  August  30, 
1787,  a  pastor  was  ordained,  whose  life  was  one 
long  and  bright  example  of  the  deeds  that  adorn 
and  the  virtues  that  exalt  humanity.  The  Rev. 
Aaron  Woolworth,  D.  D.,  was  a  native  of  Long- 
Meadow,  Massachusetts,  and  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College.  His  pastorate  continued  for  thir- 
ty-four years.  The  fourth  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Amzi  Francis,  was  ordained  April  17,  1823. 
After  a  pastorate  of  twenty-three  years  he  was 
called  to  his  eternal  rest  October  18,  1845,  at 
the  age  of  52.  The  Rev.  Cornelius  H.  Edgar  came 
to  this  place  November  21,  1845,  ^'^'^^'^  '^^^  i^^"  ' 
stalled  June  10,  1846.  He  remained  until  October 
1853^  when  he  resigned,  and  removed  to  Easton, 
Pennsylvania,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Re- 
formed Church.  The  Rev.  David  M.  Miller  was 
installed  April  27,   1854,  after  having  preached 


three  months  as  stated  supply.  His  ministry 
w^as  terminated  by  his  untimely  death  in  June, 
1855.  Shortly  before  his  death  he  was  married 
to  the  only  daughter  of  Hon.  Hugh  Halsey. 
The  Rev.  Thomas  M.  Gray  was  installed  April 
23,  1856,  and  remained  until  April  10,  1866. 
He  was  'sucoeeded  by  the  Rev.  William  P. 
Strickland,  D.  D.,  who  oame  in  ^lay,  1866,  and 
preached  as  stated  supply  itill  October  5,  1875, 
when  he  was  duly  installed.  Failing  health 
caused  his  resignation  in  October,  1878.  He 
was  distinguished  for  eloquence^  and  ability.  He 
died  in  New  Jersey  in  1883.  The  Rev.  William 
S.  Dodd  served  here  as  stated  supply  for  three 
years.  The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  Arthur 
Newman,  was  born  in  Goshen,  New  York,  grad- 
uated at  Princeton  College  in  1875,  and  from 
L'niOn  Theological  Seminary,  1879,  and  was 
assistant  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Goshen  for  two  years  and  a  half.  On  Alarch 
I,  1883,  he  was  installed  here.  During  his  pas- 
torate the  church  has  greatly  prospered ;  250 
persons  have  been  added  to  the  membership  and 
$15,000  has  been  raised  for  improvement  of 
church  property. 

In  1820  a  Methodist  Church  was  organized 
and  a  small  house  of  worship  erected  which 
stood  in  the  street  on  the  east  side  oi  the  resi- 
dence of  William  H.  H.  Rogers..  This  was  dis- 
posed of  and  a  much  larger  house  built  in  1833, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  main  street,  east  of  the 
hotel  lately  owned  b^-  John  Howell.  It  was 
moved  to  its  present  site  and  enlarged  and  im- 
proved   in    1870. 

In  1718  a  remarkable  religious  revival  took 
place,  knowii  as  the  "New  Light  Movement." 
The  origin  of  this  excitement  was  the  preaching 
of  the  Rev.  James  Davenport,  of  Southold,  who, 
according  to  his  biographer,  "became  satisfied 
that  God  had  revealed  to  him  that  his  kingdom 
was  coming  with  great  power,  and  that  he  had 
an  extraordinary  call  to  labor  for  its  advance- 
ment." A  new  church  organization  was  soon 
established,  and  a  small  house  of  worship  was 
erected.  This  stood  -on  the  south  side  of  the 
main  road  to^  East  Hampton,  on  the  west  side  of 
•'Rose's  Lane/'  and  nearly  opposite  the  west  end 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


321 


of  the  Hay  Ground  cemetery.  Although  the 
early  enthusiasm  soon  died  out,  still  a  distinct 
church  was  kept  up,  under  the  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  Elisha  Paine.  His  tombstone  in  the  Hay 
Ground  cemetery  tells  us  that  he  was  a  native 
of  Nantucket,  and  was  son  of  Elisha  Paine,  and 
he  removed  to  Canterbury,  Connecticut,  where 
be  practiced  law.  He  was  settled  in  Bridge- 
hanipton  in  1752,  and  died  in  1775,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three.  He  left  a  son,  Elisha,  who  lived  in 
Cardigan,  Grafton  county.  New  Hampshire,  in 
1776.  J\lr.  Paine,  like  all  ministers  of  his  time,  de- 
pended for  a  portion  of  his  subsistence  upon 
farming.  H^  owned  a  tract  of  land  at  j\Iecox, 
at  Swan  creek,  and  known  as  '*Mr.  Paine's 
Neck."  This  was  sold  by  his  son,  Elisha,  to 
Jonathan  Rogers,  Stephen  Halsey  and  William 
Rogers,  May  13,  1776.  A  small  part  of  this  was 
Amendment  No.  51  iu' the  Little  South  Division. 
The  church  died  out  in  the  early  part  of  the 
past  century,  and  the  building  was  sold  and  is 
now  a  dwelling  house,  standing  next  south  of  the 
district  sdhool  ihouse  in  Bridgehampton. 

The  need  for  better  educational  facilities  was 
met  by  the  founding  of  an  academy  -in  1859.  The 
first  trustees  were  Colonel  Edwin  Rose,  Silas  W. 
Corwith,  Alanson  Topping,  William  D.  Halsey 
and  James  E.  Haines.  The  principals  were  Sam- 
uel E.  Herrick,  i860;  Albert  W^hite,  1862; 

Warner,  1863;  George  R.  Howell,  1867;  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Lawrence,  1869;  Edwin  Hedges,  1870; 
Lewis  W.  Hallock,  1873.  In  1874  Professor 
Hallock  became  the  principal  owner  of  the  stock 
and  he  has  continued  the  work  to  the  present 
time  with  well  merited  success.  This  institution 
was  in  1873  incorporated  by  the  regents  of  the 
State  under  the  name  of  "Bridge  Hampton  Lit- 
erary and  Commercial  Institute,"  and  ranks  high 
among  the  high  schools  of  Long  Island. 

Tlie  first  settlement  at  Mecox  was  about 
1660,  and  the  first  house  is  believed  to  have  been 
built  by  Ellis  Cook  on  the  south  side  of  Mecox 
street,  where  'his  descendants  row  live.  A  neck 
near  Calf  creek,  was  owned  by  William  Lud- 
1am,  and  afterward  by  his  son  Anthony  Ludlam. 
who  had  a  house  here  in  1665,  and  it  descended 
from  father  to  son,  the  latesit  owner  being 
21 


Charles  Ludlam  (or  Ludlow,  the  name  being 
changed  in  later  years),  who  sold  the  remaining 
part  in  the  spring  of  1902. 


MILL  AT  BRIDGE  HAMPTON. 

Among  the  early  settlers  were  Thomas 
Cooper,  who  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  street, 
next  east  of  the  marshy  hollow ;  Benony  New- 
ton;  John  Beswick,  ''brick  maker/'  who  in  1671 
sold  his  house  on  the  east  side  of  Swan  creek  to 
Isaac  Miller;  and  next  east  of  Thomas  Cooper 
lived  James  Hildreth,  whose  ancient  homestead 
was  standing  in  recent  years.  In  1678  the  town 
gave  to  Ezekiel  Sandford  fifteen  acres  of  land, 
on  the  condition  that  he  would  settle  and  carry 
on  his  trade  of  making  cart  wheels.  This  tract 
is  next  south  of  the  homestead  of  Hon.  Henry 
P.  Hedges,  while  next  south  of  this  was  a  tract 
he  purchased  of  Robert  Woolley,  and  on  it  the 
ancient  house  of  Ezekiel  Sandford  was  standing 
till  recent  times.  In  the  old  burying  ground  at 
Mecox  is  a  tombstone  with  the  inscription : 
"Here  lyeth  the  Body  of  Anthony  Ludlam,  who 
dyed  March  the  17.  Anno  168 1-2  in  the  31st 
year  of  his  age."  This  is  the  oldest  tombstone 
in  the  town  of  Southampton. 


322 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


The  land  adjoining  to  Mecox  bay  was  laid 
out  in  1653,  and  "Ludlam's  Neck"  is  doubtless 
the  tract  called  the  ''Miller's  land/'  and  was  left 
by  William  Ludlam  to  his  son  Anthony  in  1665. 
(See  Printed  Records  of  Southampton,  Vol.  i, 
Page  99).  In  the  earliest  times  there  was  a  gate 
across  the  highway  running  south  to  the  beach, 
at  the  east  end  of  Mecox  street.  This  was  to 
prevent  cattle  from  running  on  the  beach  and 
meadows,  and  was  called  "Mecox  gate,"  and  is 
frequently  mentioned  in  ancient  deeds.  The  land 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kelly's  Pond  was  laid  out  in 
1677  and  a  full  description  may  be  found  in  Vol. 
II,  Printed  Records,  Page  261.  "Calf  Pen 
Neck,"  next  north  of  Calf  creek,  was  laid  out  to 
Captain  John  Howell  in  1672.  It  was  after- 
wards owned  by  his  son,  Theophilus  Howell, 
who  left  it  to  his  son  Theophilus  in  1739,  and 
he  left  it  to  his  nephew,  Theophilus  Howell,  in 
1775.  He  sold  it  to  Phebe  Sandford,  July  25, 
1789.  She  left  it  to  her  daughter  Phebe,  wife  of 
Dr.  Rufus  Rose,  who  sold  to  Theophilus  Cook. 
In  1 89 1  it  was  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Captain 
Albert  Jennings. 

The  first  hoiise  in  what  is  now  the  village  of 
Bridge  Hampton  was  built  by  John  Wick  about 
1712.  It  was  on  the  west  corner  O'f  the  main 
road  and  Lumber  Lane.  Wicks  was  a  magiiSn 
trate  and  man  of  note,  and  died  January  16,  1719, 
in  the  59th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  buried  on  his 
own  hom-estead,  about  forty  rods  north  of  the 
main  road,  and  the  same  distance  west  oi  Lum- 
ber Lane.  His  remains  rest  in  their  original 
grave,  but  the  tombstone  was  removed  by  Lem- 
uel Wick  (his  last  descendant  in  the  town)  to 
the  new  cemetery  in  Southampton  village.  The 
lands  north  of  the  village,  and  on  both  sides  of 
Long  Pond  and  at  Scuttle  Hole,  were  laid  out  in 
the  "Forty  Acre  Division"  in  1679. 

Saggaponack  was  the  general  name  for  all 
the  tract  east  of  Sagg  pond.  It  is  of  Indian  or- 
igin, and  signifies  "The  place  where  the  biggest 
ground  nuts  grow,"  and  has  always  been  ac- 
counted the  most  fertile  land  in  the  town.  The 
land  next  the  ocean,  at  the  south  end  of  Sagg 
street,  was  laid  out  in  1653,  and  a  settlement 
was  made  here  as  early  as   1658.     Among  the 


first  settlers  was  Captain  Thomas  Topping,  who 
was  living  in  Milford,  Connecticut,  in  1639. 
The  first  mention  of  him  in  Southampton  is 
March  31,  1650;  previous  to  that  he  seems  to 
have  been  in  Jamaica,  or  Hempstead,  Long  Isl- 
and. His  home  lot  in  the  village  of  Southamp- 
ton is  now  the  'homestead  of  Henry  H.  Post. 
His  ihome  lot  at  Sagg  (which  he  obtained  by 
draft  and  purchase)  was  on  the  east  side  of  the 
street,  south  of  the  road  to  Sagg  Pond.  His 
sons,  Elnathan,  John  and  James,  had  home- 
steads north  of  his  own.  Next  west  of  Captain 
Topping  lived  Josiah  Stamborough,  who  was 
one  of  the  Original  "Undertakers"  of  the  settle- 
ment in  Southampton.  With  iiim  was  his  son. 
Peregrine  Stamboroug^h,  whose  tombstone  in 
the  village  burying  ground  states  that  he  died 
"January  ye  4,  1701,  in  ye  62  year  of  his  age." 
This  shows  that  he  was  born  the  same  year  that 
Southampton  was  settled,  and  he  was  probably 
the  first  white  child  born  in  the  town.  The  land 
on  the  east  side  of  the  street,  north  of  the 
road  to  P'airfield,  was  laid  out  in  1677.  The  land 
on  the  west  side  of  the  street  and  extending  to 
Sagg  Pond  appears  to  have  been  laid  out  at 
different  times.  Ten  acres  of  land  were  laid  out 
to  Benjamin  Palmer  in  1677.  December  16, 
1679  George  Harris  sells  to  Henry  Pierson,  Jr., 
"a  tract  of  land  at  Saggaponack,  bounded  south 
by  William  Barnes,  Josiah  Stamborough  and 
Shamgar  Hand ;  west  by  Saggaponack  Pond ; 
north  by  land  of  Benjamin  Palmer,  east  by 
street."  This  is  probably  the  homestead  of  the 
late  David  Emmett  Pierson.  The  land  of  Will- 
iam Barnes  and  others  was  Lots  21-22  of  the 
Saggaponack  Division,  and  probably  extended 
south  to  the  Bridge  Lane.  Henry  Pierson,  Jr., 
whio  was  the  son  of  the  Town  Clerk,  and  after- 
wards known  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry  Pier- 
son, was  foir  many  years  Speaker  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Assanbly,  and  one  of  the  most  prornd- 
nent  men  of  his  time.  His  homestead  was  on  the 
east  side  of  the  street,  north  of  the  home  lot  of 
John  White.  His  tombstone  bears  the  inscrip- 
tion:  "Coll  Plenry  Pierson,  Deceased,  Novem- 
ber the  15,  in  the  50  year  of  his  age,  1701."  This 
tombstone  has  in  recent  years  been  restored  by 


SOUTHAMPTON 


323 


Mrs.  Russell  Sage,  who  is  one  of  his  descend- 
ants. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  Captain  Thomas 
Topping  removed  to  Branford,  Connecticut,  and 
died  there  in  1688.  His  son,  Captain  Elnathan 
Topping,  died  March  26,  1705,  aged  64,  and 
"John  Topping,  Justice  of  the  Peace,"  died 
May  29,  1686,  aged  50  years.  Captain  Thomajs 
Topping  at  one  time  owned  all  the  western  part 
of  t!he  town,  as  we  have  sho-wn.in  anoth^er  place. 
The  descendants  of  Colonel  Henry  Pierson 
in  later  years  owned  almost  all  of  Sagg.  At  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  Lemuel  Pierson  owned 
a  large  farm  on  the  west  side  of  the  street.  This 
was  purchased  April  28,  1784,  by  Deacon  Daviid 
Hedges,  w^ho  was  for  twenty  years  Supervisor 
of  the  Town,  and  for  many  years  a  member  of 
the  legis'lature.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Hon. 
Henry  P.  Hedges,  who  has  during  his  long  life 
been  very  prominently  identified  with  the  affairs 
of  town,  county  and  State. 

Major  John  Howell,  in  his  will,  (1696)  left 
his  land  at  Sagg  to  his  son,  Theophilus  Howell. 
His  house  lot  is  the  north  part  of  the  present 
homestead  of  G.  Clarence  Topping,  Esq.  It  re- 
mained in  the  possession  of  the  descendants  of 
Thmphilus  Howell  until  about  i860.  The- 
ophilus Howell,  Esq.,  died  March  12,  1739,  aged 
"]"]  years. 

Among  the  residents  of  this  region,  in  recent 
years,  few  deserve  a  more  prominent  mention 
than  Dr.  Nathaniel  Topping,  who  was  practic- 
ing physician  for  many  years,  and  also  a  member 
of  assembly  and  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  a  useful  and  honored  man. 

The  opportunities  for  obtaining  useful 
knowledge  have  been  greatly  increased  by  the 
establishment  of  the  Hampton  Library.  This 
owes  its  origin  to  the  liberality  of  William  Gar- 
diner and  Charles  Rogers,  who  were  possessed 
not  only  of  wealth  but  of  the  ennobling  spirit 
which  prompts  a  liberal  use  of  it  for  the  good  of 
others.  It  was  founded  in  1873^  and  contains 
about  5000  volumes. 

Sag  Harbor  merits  considerable  attention. 
The  first  landing  place  for  vessels  in  the  town 


of  Southampton  was  at  North  Sea,  but  in  later 
years,  when  the  population  of  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town  had  increased,  a  more  convenient 
landing  was  greatly  needed,  and,  as  Sagga- 
ponack  was  the  principal  village,  the  new  harbor 
was  called  the  "Harbor  of  Sagg."  There  must 
have  been  considerable  -business  done  here  as 
early  as  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, for  on  March  15^  1694,  a  petition  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Colonia;!  Legislature  "to  have  a 
Port  of  entry  at  Southold  or  Southampton." 

The  first  mention  of  Sag  Harbor  by  name 
is  in  the  tOMm  trustee's  books  in  1707,  when 
the  clerk  makes  a  charge  "For  going  to  Sag 
Harbor  to  evidence  for  ye  towne,  3s '6d."  It 
seems  that  about  this  time  a  man  nanned  Rus&ell 
had  "squatted"  on  Hog  Neck,  for  an  entry  of 
May  I,  1707,  says,  "Paid  to  Captain  Theophilus 
Howell  for  warning  Mr.  Russell  of  Hog  Neck 
to  depart  from^  ye  neck,  5  shillings."  We  have 
evidence  that  a  family  named  Russell  was  living 
on  Hog  Neck  in  1727,  and  in  1745  Samuel  Rus- 
sell had  a  house  on  the  site  of  the  railroad  depot, 
and  so  far  as  we  know,  this  was  the  first  house 
in  the  place.  He  is  mentioned  in  1751  as  running 
a  vessel,  and  about  1760  he  sold  his  house  to 
Nathan  Pordham,  Jr.  This  house  was  a  noted 
resort  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  when 
a  tavern  v^as  kept  there  by  his  grandson,  Pele- 
tiah  Fordham,  who,  from  certain  personal  pecu- 
liarities, was  well  known  to  his  contemporaries 
as  "Duke  Fordham."  At  his  tavern  James  Feni- 
more  Cooper,  the  prince  of  American  novehsts, 
wrote  his  first  work,  "Precautions." 

The  oldest  original  document  which  we  have 
seen  relating  to  Sag  Harbor  port,  is  a  bill 
of  lading  given  to  Francis  Pelletreau,  of  South- 
ampton, in  1 73 1,  for  goods  shipped  to  New 
York,  on  board  the  "good  sloop,  Portlands  Ad- 
venture, now  riding  at  anchor  in  the  Harbor  of 
Sagg,"  of  which-  Richard  Hartshorne  was  mas- 
ter. In  this  bill  of  lading  the  blanks  and  margin 
are  in  the  handwriting  of  Francis  Pelletreau, 
and  signed  by  the  master.  A  facsimile  of  the 
original  is  given  on  the  page  following. 

At  the  time  of  the  settlement,  there  was  a 
wide  extent  of  meado-w,  upon  which  Main  street 


324 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


s 


Hipped  by  the  Grace  of  G  0  D,  in  good  Order  and  well  Conditioned,  by 

^^^retn  cl i  ^oU-etra  A,4A^    —    -      — :;— 

In  and  upon  thegood  Sfo^:>  . called.  The  Sl^^^  ^j  d^^^-r^^l^  a 

,         -  v-N      wliereofis  Mailer  under  GOP  For  this  prefent 
Voyage   Jl^^^(^/Mt\lf /C^CA^rJ!-  I  and  now  Riding  atAnchor 

In  the  ka^^en^^  ^^^j^>^/ -    andbyGQU^s 

Gta!e  bound  foi  ai/^Vv  ^j£^A     ~  7 -"   ''•^''■^' 

'^^  a>x-L  '^'{M  ^J*  ^9fl    ^^^  if^  tu^  i^YO pe.^  acc^ 
hflij  ^^t*  /  t^-^f^Xt  c  i^'^<£  /^'^  e!W  Jj  /c,  cii  Cmi  '<:^  ^  t  f ' 


ll^VKV 


/                                  BelngMarked  andNumbred'  as  In  theMargent,and  are  to  be  delivered  in  tha 
^tM^//lft7*D4J-^  like  good  Order  and  wellConditioned,at  the aforefaid  Port  oUi/i^'^cr/y) 
'^  ^    r  fi11d^_      ^__ . (the  Danger  of  th«  Seas  only  excepted)  unto/;^;^;^C</J 


pt  t^    A'^i  mfl5gns,he  or  they  pay  ipg  Fjeight  for  the  faidGooa|^.^^- 

WithPritnage  andAyerage accuftotned.  In  witnelswhereof theMaRer  orPur- 
ferofthefaid  :S'^<rit  —  hath  affirmed  to  -fiv^o^  Bills  of  Lading,all 
of  this  Tenor  and  Date,  One  of  which  --t^-^rt  -  Bills  being Accomplifliedj 
the  other  /mc  to  Hand  Void.  And  fo  GOD  fend  ihegood,  Ji^ffj  " 
to  h«  delired  Pott  in  fafeiy,  AMENJ   T)atii  in  J<n^^>^ 

-   < — 6     ^ 


has  greatly  encroached.  This  is  frequently  men- 
tioned in  ancient  deeds  as  "the  Great  Meadow" 
and  "Smith's  Meadow."  This  was  laid  out  and 
divided  at  the  same  time  as  Hog  Neck,  in  June 
1680.  Between  the  meadow  and  the  East  Hamp- 
ton line,  all  the  land  was  included  in  a  very  wide 
highway.  In  1745  this  highway  was  narrowed 
to  the  present  limits  of  the  main  street,  and  the 
land  to  the  east  was  laid  out  into  a  "division"  of 
seventeen  lots,  with  the  same  number  of 
"amendments,"  which  were  drawn  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  town  in  the  usual  manner.  At 
that  time  there  was  a  high  cliff  along  the  shore; 
lot   numbered    i    was   where   John    De    Castro's 


livery  stable  lately  stood,  and  Avas  bounded  north 
by  the  cliff.  The  south  line  of  this  division  was 
at  the  junction  of  the  roads  to  Sagg  and 
Southampton.  The  lots  and  amendments  were 
quidcly  bought  up  by  speculators,  and  the  origi- 
nal lines  obliterated,  but  we  know  that  Wash- 
ington street  lies  between  amendments  5  and  6. 
South  of  this  division  was  a  tract  originally  re- 
served for  the  proprietors  to  sell,  and  was  called 
"Tweh'e  Acres."  This  was  laid  out  in  1761,  into 
seventeen  lots,  and  drawn  as  usual.  The  south 
bounds  oi  the  "Twelve  Acres"  was  the  Great 
South  Division.  The  north  line  of  the  bur}ing 
ground  is   a  part  of  the   boundary.     The  resi- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


325 


dence  of  the  late  Stephen  B.  .French  stands  on 
Lot  5  of  this  division. 

The  first  landing  place  for  vessels  is  said  to 
have  been  near  the  foot  of  Howard  street.  The 
cliff  -which  was  near  the  shore  has  long  since  dis- 
appeared. Several  store  houses  and  other  build- 
ings were  there,  which  were  soon  after  moved 
away.  On  May  5,  1742,  it  was  voted  by  the 
Town  Trustees,  "that  Abraham  Pierson,  Josiah 
Pierson,  David  Topping  and  John  Cooper  shall 
goe  down  to  Sagg  Harbour,  to  make  choice  of  a 
place  to  build  a  wharf  at  said  harbor,  and  to  get 
as  many  people  as  they  can  to  assist  in  building 
said  wharf.  The  inhabitants  of  ye  town  having 
the  privilege  of  said  wharf  before  any  others 
and  the  town  to  be  at  noe  charge  by  any  con- 
tract or  compulsion  in  building  said  wharf  at 
present."  It  is  not  probable  that  any  wharf  was 
built  at  that  time,  for  in  1748  another  com- 
mittee was  sent  '"to  agree  with  John  Russell  to 
build  a  wharf  at  Sagg  Harbor.''  There  was  evi- 
dently still  more  dela}',  for  it  was  voted,  April 
3,  1753,  "that  the  Commissioners  of  Highways 
shaU  goe  to  Sag  Harbor  to  stake  out  the  piece  of 
land  where  John  Russell  is  to  build  a  wharf  if 
he  see  cause.  The  said  men  to  be  paid  by  said 
Russell."  On  April  7,  1761,  it  'was  "voted  that 
Nathan  Fordham,  Jr.,  and  James  Foster  shall 
have  the  liberty  of  building  a  wharf  and  setting 
up  a  try  house  at  Sag  Harbor,  at  such  place  as 
is  thought  fit  and  convenient"  by  certain  persons 
who  v;ere  authorized  to  select  a  place,  "and  to 
set  the  bounds  of  said  house  and  wharf."  To 
this  is  added  the  important  statement  ''The  Town 
reserving  the  privilege  of  landing  their  whale 
upo^n  said  wharf  at  all  times ;  and  they  shall  re- 
ceive it  into  their  try  house  and  try  said 
whale  on  reasonable  tennis."  Plere  we  have  the 
first  intimation  of  the  whale  fishery  being  car- 
ried on  in  vessels.  After  this  it  wajsi  the  custom 
to  cruise  along  the  shore  in  sloops,  and,  after  the 
capture  of  a  whale,  to  carry  the  blubber  and  bone 
to  the  harbor,  where  the  former  was  tried  into 
oil ;  and  this  practice  continued  until  vessels  of 
greater  size,  fully  equipped,  ventured  upon 
longer  voyages,  which  in  after  years  extended  to 
the  most  distant  portions  of  the  globe. 


In  1770  a  number  of  inhabitants  entered  into 
an  agreement  to  build  a  wharf,  and  petitioned 
the  Trustees  for  their  consent.  Accordingly  it 
was  voted  that  the  proprietor  of  the  wharf  shall 
have  Hberty  to  build  a  wharf,  provided  that  the 
water  should  be  left  clear  from  Mr.  John  Fos- 
ter s  yard,  48  feet  eastward,  and  from  thence  the 
water  granted  eastward,  150  feet."  The  old 
wharf  was  a  considerable  distance  west  of  the 
main  street,  and  is  said  to  have  been  where  is 
the  bridge  leading  up  to  Hog  Xeck.  The 
wharf,  so  well  remembered  of  the  old  whaling 
days,  was  built  in  1794.  A  description  o>f  the 
highway  along  the  beach  laid  out  in  1798  indi- 
cates that  the  "old  wharf"  was  about  37  rods 
west  of  Alain  street. 

After  the  disastrous  result  of  the  battle  of 
Long  Island,  the  old  wharf  was  reported  as 
crowded  with  people,  anxious  to  escape  to  Con- 
necticut with  their  families  and  effects. 

Among  the  principal  inhabitants  at  the  time 
of  the  Revolution  was  John  Foster,  whose  house 
stood  on  the  south  corner  of  J\Iain  and  Howard 
streets.  He  was  at  one  time  a  large  ship  owner 
and  made  voyages  to  Eairope  in  his  own  vessels. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  Provincial  Con- 
gress and  held  a  high  position.  By  various 
changes  in  fortune,  his  last  years  were  passed 
in  greatly  reduced  circumstances,  and  he  was  to 
a  great  extent  supported  by  the  liberality  of  his 
friends.  He  died  in  1816,  and  rests  in  an  un- 
marked grave  in  the  North  End  burying  ground 
in  Southampton. 

Captain  Nathan  Fordham  lived  in  the  old 
house  lately  owned  by  Jesse  Halsey,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road,  near  Otter  Pond  bridge,  and 
owned  a  large  farm  adjoining.  He  died  ]\Iay 
t8,  1805,  aged  84.  His  tombstone,  in  the  old 
burying  ground  records  that  "he  was  one  of  the 
first  who  commenced  the  settlement  of  this 
place." 

The  most  remarkable  event  connected  with 
the  Revolutionary  history  of  Sag  Harbor  was 
the  famous  expedition  made  by  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel Return  Jonathan  Aleigs,  on  the  night  of 
May  23,  1777,  'as  narrated  elsewhere  in  this 
work.     On  Afa}'  30,   1902,   a  most  enthusiastic 


326 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


meeting  was  held  at  Sag  Harbor  to  commemor- 
ate this  victory,  and  this  meeting  derives  an  ad- 
ditional interest  from  the  fact  that  it  was  graced 
by  the  presence  of  Captain  Joseph  Vincent 
Meigs,  of  Boston,  and  his  cousins,  Mrs.  Ethel 
M'cigs  Knox,  Mrs.  Jennie  Meigs  Dunham  and 
Misses  Harriet  and  Florence  Meigs,  all  great- 
grandchildren of  the  hero.  Upon  this  occasion, 
stone  monuments,  Suitably  in'scribed,  were  placed 
to  mark  the  spot  where  the  house  stood  in  which 
the  outpost  was  surprised,  as  well  as  other  his- 
torical 'localities.  An  exteremely  interesting  and 
valuable  historical  address  was  delivered  by 
Francis  H.  Palmer,  Esq.,  who  bad  with  much 
labor  collected  all  the  details  of  the  expedition. 


Northern  view  of  Sagg  Harbor,  Long  Island, 


The  population  of  Sag  Harbor  had  increased 
to  such  an  extent  that  on  February  24,  1766,  a 
meeting  was  held  ''to  consult  upon  the  affairs 
of  erecting  a  house  for  publick  worship  at  Sag 
Harbor.''  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  "to  get 
the  timber  and  erect  the  house  as  soon  as 
conveniency  will  admit.''  Committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  collect  material,  and  it  was  further 
agreed  upon  that  any  dispute  that  might  arise 
should  be  decided  by  John  Foster,  of  Southamp- 
ton, Maltby  Gelston,  of  Bridge  Hampton,  and 
William  Hedges,  of  East  Hampton.  The  church 
was  'to  be  Presbyterian'  in  its  form  -oi  govern- 
ment, and  a  permanent  committee  was  appoint- 
ed, consisting  of  Joseph  Conkling,  James  How- 


ell, Captain  Nathan  Fordham,  John  Mitchell  and 
Constant  Havens.     The  church  then  built  stood 
where  the  Episcopal  church  now  stands,  and  was 
torn  down  in  1817.     A  second  church,  built  on 
the  sam-e  site  in  the  above  year,  was  used  until 
1893.     The  increased  prosperity  of  the  village 
then  justified  the  building  of  the  present  church 
edifice,  which  was  dedicated  May  16,  1844,  and 
is  one  of  the  finest  on  Long  Island.  To  assist 
the  feeble  church  in  its  beginning  the  Town,  in 
1767,  voted  that  the  Sag  Harbor  parish  should 
have  the  use  of  certain  meadows  near  Hog  Neck, 
and   a   piece  of  land   was   purchased  of   David 
Hand   "at  or  near  Sag  Harbor  meeting  house, 
as  it  is  laid  out  and  staked  off,  for  a  burying 
place,  to  be  to  the  Trustees  of 
Southampton    and   their   succes- 
sors for  ever."     This,  is  the  old 
burying   ground   of   the   village, 
and  is  the  north  end  of  Lot  No. 
I,    Great    North    Division.      In 
exchange  for  this,  David  Hand 
received  land   by  his   home  lot, 
which  is  on  the  north  side  of  the 
main  road  from  Bridge  Hamp- 
ton to  East  Hamptcn,  and  now 
(or    lately)     owned    by    James 
Austin.      At    the    time    of    the 
building   of   the   church   in   Sag 
Harbor,   there   were   only   three 
churches  in  the  town^ — at  South- 
ampton,   Bridge    Hampton    and 
Beaver  Dam.     We  might  add   the  New  Light 
meeting  house  at  Bridge  Hampton.     The  min- 
isters of  the  church,  were:     John  Taylor,  1789; 
James    Richards,    D.    D, ;    Daniel    Hall,    1797 ; 
Aaron  Jordan  Bogue,  Nathaniel  S.  Prime,  1806- 
09;  Stephen    Porter,    John  D.    Gardiner,   1812- 
1832;   Samuel   King,    1832;   Ithamar    Pillsbury, 
1834;  Joseph  A.    Copp,    1835-1851;  John  Low- 
ery,  1863-1867;  Wilham  G.  Barnes,  1868-1872; 
Alexander  W.  Spraile,  May  20,  1873,  till  October 
16,  1883;  Edward  H.  Camp,  stated  supply,  1884- 
1886.     The  Rev.  Clarence  H.  Wilson,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  was  born  in  New  Wilmington,  Penn- 
sylvania.     Graduated    from    Westminster    Col- 
lege,   1881,   and    from    Union    Seminary,   New 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


327 


York,  1887,  and  on  April  24,  same  year,  was  or- 
dained pastor  in  Sag  Harbor.  He  resigned 
January  15.  1902,  after  a  useful  and  successful 
service  of  fourteen  years,  and  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Centre  Church,  Crawfordsville,  Indiana. 

Early  in  1845  a  little  company  of  persons  as- 
sembled in  an  upper  room  of  the  arsenal  build- 
ing for  the  first  regular  services  of  the  Protest- 
nnt  Episcopal  Church  in  the  town.  The  services 
were  conducted  by  Plenry  Floyd  Roberts,  a  can- 
didate for  orders,  sent  as  a  missionary  by  certain 
churches  in  Brooklyn.  These  services  were 
afterwards  held  in  the  session  room  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  which  had  been  rented  for  that 
purpose,  and  the  society  was  incorporated  under 
the  title  of  Grace  Church.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Rob- 
erts, who  had  been  ordained,  was  the  first  rector. 
The  first  Presbyterian  church  building  was  then 
for  sale,  and  was  purchased  by  a  committee  on 
August  25,  1846.  Extensive  repairs  and  im- 
provements were  made,  and  it  was  dedicated 
on  December  16  of  the  same  year,  by  the  Right 
Rev.  Dr.  Ives,  Bishop  of  NoTth  Carolina.  The 
Rev.  Henry  Floyd  Roberts  w^as  rector  until 
April  2,  1847,  ■^^'hen  he  resigned,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Richard  Whittingham, 
nephfew  of  the  late  Bishop  of  Maryland.  At 
that  time  there  were  32  families  and  19  com- 
municants connected  with  the  church,  and  a 
Sunday  school  of  16  scholars.  Mr.  Whitting- 
ham resigned  in  1849.  ^^  "^^as  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  G.  C.  Foot.  February  r,  1850.     January  i, 

1853,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pardee  became  rector.  He 
resigned  on   account  of  ill   health,   in   October, 

1854,  and  died  in  New  York  in  1857.  For  many 
years  the  church  suffered  great  depression  by 
reason  of  the  decline  of  the  whaling  business. 
The  establishment  of  an  Episcopal  church  in 
East  Hampton  caused  the  withdrawal  of  many 
families  connected  with  the  church  in  this  vil- 
lage. Services  were  for  some  time  conducted 
by  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Musgrave,  and  Rev.  Gordon 
Huntington  was  called  to  the  rectorship  in  June, 
1856.  He  resigned  in  1864,  and  services  were 
again  conducted  by  Mr.  Musgrave.  The  Rev. 
David  F.  McDonald  was  called,  and  remained 
until  1870,  when  he  resigned  and  was  succeeded 


by  the  Rev.  S.  Hubbell,  who  in  1873  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  Rev.  William  Mowbray.  After  a 
brief  service  of  usefulne&s,  Mr.  Mowbray  died 
July  26,  1875,  and  the  Rev.  John  Jay  Harrison 
became  rector  the  following  September.  During 
the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Harrison,  the  church  re- 
covered to  a  great  extent  its  former  prosperity. 
After  a  very  useful  and  acceptable  service  of  ten 
years,  Mr.  Harrison  resigned,  July  i,  1884,  The 
Rev.  \\^il]iam  Frisbee  served  as  supply  until  the 
calling  of  the  Rev.  William  B.  Walker,  October 
28,  1884.  He  resigned  in  the  latter  part  of  1885, 
and  was  succeeded,  January  11,  1886,  by  the 
Rev.  J,  B.  Jennings,  who  remained  until  No- 
vember I,  1887.  April  6,  1888,  the  Rev.  J.  W. 
Smith  became  rector  and  continued  until  June  i, 
1890.  The  successor  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith 
was  the  Rev.  Gordon  T.  Lewis,  who  was  then 
a  student  in  the  General  Theological  Seminary, 
amd  suppHed  the  chancel  until  'bis  graduation  and 
ordination.  Fie  was  then  called  as  rector  in  the 
fall  of  1892,  in  which  position  he  still  remains. 
Mr,  Lewis  was  born  in  Yarmouth,  Nova  Scotia, 
March  23,  1862,  and  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  that  place,  and  at  a  College  in  New  Bruns- 
wick. In  early  manhood  he  came  t9  the  United 
States,  and  while  living  at  St.  James,  Long  Isl- 
and, lie  was  led  to  study  for  the  ministry,  and 
graduated  from  the  General  Theological  Semin- 
ary in  1892.  Early  in  1892  the  church  became 
free  from  debt,  through  the  generosity  of  a  sum- 
mer resident,  Mrs.  James  Aldrich,  of  New  York, 
and  on  Miay  29  of  the  same  year  it  was  conse- 
crated by  Bishop  Littlejohn.  The  cburch  edifice 
was  also  greatly  enlarged  and  beautified  by  Mrs. 
Aldrich,  as  an  act  of  filial  devotion  to  the  mem- 
ory of  her  lamented  father.  In  the  fall  of  1901 
the  church  came  in  possession  of  a  fine  property, 
the  gift  of  Miss  Mary  Juliana  King,  daughter  of 
the  Rev.  Samuel  King,  who  was  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  1832.  Miss  King  died 
November  i,  1901,  aged  82  years. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  services  were 
held  as  early  as  1807,  and  in  1809  a  house  of 
worship  was  erected.  The  first  preacher  appears 
to-  have  been  a  man  named  James  Souden,  who 
was  instrumental  in  establishing  a  congregation 


328 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


in  Southampton.  The  increase  of  the  congre- 
gation in  this  place,  which  was  commensurate 
with  the  rapid  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  vil- 
lage, made  a  much  larger  edifice  a  necessity,  and 
in  1837  a  very  elegant  church  was  erected  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  village,  upon  a  hill  command- 
ing a  very  extensive  view.  In  1864  this  building 
was  removed  to  its  present  locality  in  the  centre 
of  the  place.  The  first  church  was  sold  to  the 
Roman  Catholic  society  and  is  now  standing  at 
the  north  side  of  Union  street  and  used  as  a  pa- 
rochial school. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church  was  established 
about  1840.  The  first  Methodist  church  was 
purchased  and  was  used  until  1872,  when  a  very 
elegant  church  and  parsonage  were  built  on  the 
corner  of  Union  and  Division  streets. 

April  21,  1 798,  the  commissioners  laid  out 
a  highway  to  the  old  wharf,  "Beginning  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  house  of  Captain  John 
N.  Fordham,  and  running  west .  13  degrees, 
south  17  rods  to  a  red  stone  set  in  the  beach 
ranging  along  an  old  ditch  in  the  meadow  to 
the  northivcst  corner  of  the  school  house."  ThiS' 
is  the  first  mention  of  a  school  house  in  Sag 
Harbor.  The  following  list  is  so  valuable  that 
it  is  pfiven  in  full : 


"Names  of  scholars  that  hath  attended  the 
School  of  Sag  Harbor  from  September  i,  1795, 
to  Alarch   To^  1796. 

John  Atwood,  James  Parker, 

Lorenzo  Bates,  Simeon  Parker, 

James  Beebee,  James  Rogers, 

Asa  Corey,  Edmond  Rogers, 

John  Corey,  Josiah  Rogers, 

Nathan  Fordham,  Sayre  Stuart, 

Peletiah  Fordham,  Garret  Satterly, 

Sybil  Fordham,  Stephen  Satterly, 

Charles  Fordham,  Nancy  Satterly, 

Austin  Fordham,  Sally  Topping, 

Jeremiah  Gardiner,  Jane  Topping, 

Eliphalet  Halsey,  John  Topping, 

Lodowick  Hedges,  William  Fordham, 

Maria  Howell,  Edmund  Dennison, 

Nancy  Halsey,  Abram  Woodruff, 

John  Hicks,  Ephraim  Niles, 

Syivanus  Hicks,  Samuel  Ells, 

Betsy  Havens,  Huldah  Lincoln, 


Mehitabel  Hildreth, 
Rebecca  Jermain, 
Alanson  Jermain, 
Julia  Jermain, 
Samuel  L'Hommedieu, 
Sally  L'Homni'edieu, 
Polly  LTIommedieu, 
Ruth  Latham, 
Abigail  Latham, 
Sally  Latham, 
Sally  Mason, 
Abraham  Parker, 


Polly  Hall, 
Lucretia  Hall, 
Eiias  Howell. 
George  Lugar, 
Christopher  Lugar, 
Clarisa  Hand, 
Howes  Crowell, 
Phebe  Foster. 
Francis  D avail, 
Reuben  Cone, 
Howell  Hedges, 
Jesse  Hedges, 


Jesse    Hedges,    teacher;    Samuel   L'Hommedieu. 
FL  P.  Deling,  Noah  Mason,  Trustees. 

This  school  (hou:s€  was  succeeded  by  one 
which  stood  a  short  distance  south  of  the  present 
Methodist  church.  When  it  was  built  we  do 
not  know.  It  was  a  long,  low,  unpainted  build- 
ing, surmounted  b}'  a  belfry  of  a  magnitude 
entirely  disproportioned  to  the  building,  and  pre- 
senting a  most  grotesque  appearance.  In  181 5 
an  academy  was  built  on  Suffolk  street,  which 
was  destroyed  by  incendiary  fire  in  1864.  The 
want  of  a  suitable  school  building  was  seriously 
felt,  and  in  1870  the  vvant  was  fully  met  by  the 
purchase  of  a  large  brick  building  on  the  east 
side  of  ]\lain  street,  which  had  been  built  for 
a  hotel,  and  was  known  as  the  "Mansion  House.'' 
It  is  a  striking  instance  of  the  decline  in  the 
value  of  real  estate  which  followed  the  decay  of 
whale  fishing  that  this  building,  which  originally 
cost  $17,000,  was  purchased,  with  the  lot,  for 
$7,000.  That  thiis  building  was  obtained  was 
owing  to  the  benevolence  of  Dr.  Frederick 
Crocker,  who  generously  subscribed  the  greater 
part  of  the  cost.  After  being  thoroughly  re- 
fitted it  was  formally  opened  as  a  Union  school. 
Among  the  teachers  of  this  school  was  Rev.  John 
Jay  Harrison,  who  was  principal  for  many  years, 
and  under  his'  care  the  school  attained  a  very  high 
degree  of  efficiency. 

An  account  of  the  whale  fishing,  which  built 
up  the  village,  will  be  found  in  a  separate  chap- 
ter in  this  work.  The  building  of  vessels  was 
begun  here  as  early  as  1780.  A  Captain  Prior 
obtained  the  lease  of  a  piece  of  land  near  the 
old  wharf  in  1795  for  the  purpose  of  shipbuild- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


329 


iiig,  and  in  1806  it  was  voted  by  the  town  trus- 
tees that  Capt.  Stephen  Howell  should  have 
the  privilege  of  building  a  ship,  "near  the  old 
wharf,  not  interfering  with  the  road,  for  the  sum 
of  16  sthillings."  About  this  time  Capt.  Ste- 
phen Howell,  Benjamin  Huntting  and  others 
built  many  vessels  for  the  whale  fishing  and  for 
trade  with  the  A\'est  Indies.  A  fire  which  oc- 
curred in  1817  destroyed  a  large  part  of  the  busi- 
ness portion  of  the  village,  and  the  loss  had  been 
fully  repaired,  but  on  the  evening  of  November 
1-^,  18.15,  *^  ^-^^  occurred  which  sw^ept  away  al- 
most the  entire  western  part  of  the  place. 

After  the  failure  of  the  whale  fishing  it  was 
fondly  hoped  that  the  lost  prosperity  could  be 
restored  by  starting  a  manufacturing  enterprise, 


the  neighboring  village,  who  were  led  to  believe 
that  the  returns  would  be  large  and  the  security 
ample.  The  factory  was  finished  in  1850  and 
proved  an  utter  failure.  The  buildings  were  fin- 
ally sold  at  a  heavy  loss  to  a  company  of  New 
England  capitalists.  On  the  night  of  October 
21,  1879,  the  mill  caught  fire  and  was  entirely  de- 
stroA-ed.  Shortly  after  the  lot  and  the  ruins 
were  purchased  by  Joseph  Fahys,  who  resolved 
to  transfer  to  the  place  his  immense  business  of 
watch  case  manufacturing.  Within  a  year  the 
building  w^as  rebuilt  and  greatly  enlarged,  and 
a  business  of  great  importance  and  prosperity 
has  been  established. 

The    Sag   Harbor    Savings    Bank   was    char- 
tered April  12,  1860.     The  first  cfiicers  were  J. 


MODERN  SAG  HARBOR. 

{By  Permission  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad  Company.) 


and  in  1845  steps  were  taken  to  raise  funds  to 
build  a  cotton  factory.  A  company  was  formed, 
of  which  Major  John  Hildreth  was  president, 
and  the  new  enterprise  was  fairlv  begun.  INIuch 
of  the  money  was  furnished  by  the  farmers  of 


Madison  Huntting,  of  East  Hampton,  president ; 
Wdliam  A.  Woodbridge,  treasurer ;  and  Will- 
iam H.  Gleason,  secretary.  At  the  regular  meet- 
ing on  Ottober  i,  of  the  same  }'ear,  the 'deposits 
had  amiounted  to  $9,620.     Mr,    Huntting,    the 


330 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


president,  died  in  1868,  and  Isaiah  Douglass  was 
chosen  in  his  place  and  held  the  position  until  the 
time  of  hiisi  death,  February,  1869.  Hon.  Henry 
P.  Hedges  was  then  elected.  Upon  the  resigna- 
tion of  Mr.  Fledges,  a  few  years  since,  Hon. 
James  H.  Pierson  was  chosen  in  his  place. 

Many  years  later  the  Peconic  Bank  was  es- 
tablished, with  John  Jay  Harrison  as  president 
and  Francis  H.  Palmer  as  cashier.  This  insti- 
tution has  enjoyed  well  merited  prosperity,  its 
present  resources  amounting  to  $167,000. 

In  1880  an  association  was  formed  under  the 
name  of  the  "East  Long  Island  Pottery  Coa-n- 
pany."  A  lot  was  procured  near  the  railroad 
depot,  and  kilns  and  the  necesisary  buildings 
were  erected,  and  work  was  expected  to  begin  at 
ani  early  day,  but  on  the  night  of  August  15, 
1 88 1,  the  budlding  was  set  on  fire,  and  all  that 
was  combustible  was  quickly  consumed.  On 
July  28,  previous,  a  fire  destroyed  a  large  num- 
ber of  buildings  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street, 
'  and  the  general  aspect  of  things  was  desolate 
indeed.  February  18,  1879,  a  still  more  disas- 
trous conflagration  occurred.  This  commenced 
in  a  small  building  near  the  wharf  owned  by 
Matthew  H.  Gregory,  and  this  and  the  adjoining 
buildings  were  quickly  consumed.  The  prin- 
cipal buildings  destroyed  were  the  hotel  known 
as  the  "Nassau  House,"  and  the  Huntting  block. 
The  'latter  was  a  large  brick  building,  which 
stood  west  of  the  wharf,  and  ihad  been  built  by 
Benjamin  and  Samuel  Huntting  when  the  vil- 
lage was  in  its  palmiest  days.  It  was  considered 
fireproof,  and  at  the  time  of  its  building  it  was 
the  finest  business  block  in  Suffolk  county.  The 
word  "Bank"  in  large  gilded  letters  "conspicu- 
ous from  afar,"  which  appeared  on  the  west  part 
of  the  building,  reminds  us  of  the  first  banking 
institution  in  the  place.  It  was  a  private  enter- 
prise, conducted  for  many  years  by  William 
Adams  as  president.  By  a  robbery,  about  1859, 
it  experienced  a  loss  from  which  it  never  recov- 
ered, and  by  its  disastrous  failure  in  1865  -many 
persons  were  financially  embarrassed. 

A  steam  flouring  mill,  which  had  been  built 
east  of  the  wharf,  was  also  completely  destroyed 
and  never  rebuilt. 


The  peninsula  called  Hog  Neck  was  laid  out 
in  June,  1680,  and  a  description  O'f  the  survey 
may  be  found  in  the  printed  records  of  South- 
ampton, Vol.  II,  page  88.  A  highway  was  laid 
out  from  the  end  of  the  beach,  the  entire  'length 
of  the  neck,  which  was  490  poles  in  length,  and 
is  still  the  road  to  the  Shelter  Island  ferry.  The 
meadows  of  Sag  Harbor  and  Brushy  Neck  were 
laid  out  at  the  same  time.  The  dimensions  of 
the  lots  on  Flog  Neck  are  not  given,  but  they 
seem  to  have  been  about  25  acres  each.  The 
original  bounds  of  the  lots  are  now  entirely  ob- 
literated except  in  a  few  cases.  At  a  town  meet- 
ing, November  15,  1676,  it  was  ordered  that 
Hog  Neck  should  be  laid  out,  but  that  no  per- 
son should  sell  any  lot  to  any  person  "but  to 
such  as  shall  bee  approved  of  by  ye  Justices,  the 
minister,  ye  constable  &  overseers  of  ye  Town 
that  shall  there  bee  in  place."  If  this  was  now 
enforced,  it  might  make  some  difference  with 
a  portion  of  its  owners.  It  was  not  tmtil  a  great 
many  years  later  that  any  settlement  was  made 
here.  A  man  named  Russell  had  "squatted'' 
on  Hog  Neck,  and  was  warned  off  by  the  town 
trustees  in  1707.  A  family  of  that  name  was 
hving  here  in  1727,  and  Samuel  Russell,  had  a 
house  at  Sag  Harbor  in  1745.  In  1719  Peletiah 
Fordham  sells  to  John  Mitchell  20  acres  at  Hog 
Neck  Point  for  £65,  bounded  north  by  highway, 
east  and  south  by  water.  In  1765  the  town  trus- 
tees sold  to  John  Mitchell  16  acres  and  158 
poles  of  land,  being  the  whole  of  a  highway 
across  the  said  neck,  370  rods  long  and  6  poles 
wide.  John  Mitchell  agreed  to  keep  good  gates 
or  ibars  across  the  road,  and  to  allow  all  per- 
soms'  to  pas's  as  required.  "Hog  Neck  Spring" 
is  a  locality  very  frequently  mentioned  in  old 
deeds.  Lot  29  of  the  20-acre  division  was  near 
that  place.  It  seems  to  be  at  the  west  end  of 
Hog  Neck  beach.  William  Paine,  by  will,  1742, 
leaves  his  land  on  Great  Hog  Neck  to  his  son 
Cornelius,  and  to  his  sons  William  and  Isaac 
all  his  land  at  Hog  Neck  Spring.  November  24, 
1742,  Cornelius  Paine  sold  to  John  Havens,  of 
Shelter  Island,  two-thirds  of  lot  8,  and  two-thirds 
oif  lot  9,  ■bounded  north'  and  east  by  highways 
and  south  by  water,  containing  53  acres.    About 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


381 


the  same  time  he  purchased  many  other  tracts  in 
the  same  place,  and  by  various  purchases  became 
the  owner  of  considerable  land.  In  1748  John 
Havens  gave  to  his  son  John  a  tract  of  land  on 
Hog  Neck,  with  the  house  and  orchard  standing 
on  the  same.  In  1761  Constant  Havens  by  will 
left  to  his  grandson  Walter  Havens  50  acres  at 
the  south  end  of  his  farm  running  from  the  high- 
way to  the  Cliff  J  joining  to  Jonathan  Paine's 
land.  He  left  all  the  rest  O'f  his  land  to  his  sons 
Constant  and  Jonathan,  the  latter  to  have  the 
dwelling  house  and  homestead  and  Constant  was 
to  have  "the  part  where  he  now  lives." 

In  1772  John  Mitchell,  by  his  will,  left  to  his 
son  James,  all  his  lands  and  buildings  on  Hog 
Neck. 

Peter  Paine,  in  1783,  left  his  lands  to  his 
sons  Daniel,  Zaccheus,  Rufus  and  Nicholas.  His 
executors  are  to  sell  the  tract  he  bought  of 
Walter  Havens. 

The  various  tracts  bought  by  John  Havens 
Jind  his  descendants  became  what  was  known  in 
recent  times  as  the  ''Havens-Gleason  farm,"  and 
is  a  tract  of  great  prospective  value,  owned  by 
Henry  F.  Cook  'and  others. 

Previous  to  1825  John  Paine  owned  a  farm 
of  about  120  acres.  It  was  divided  in. that  year 
between  Timothy  Paine  and  Captain  Stephen 
Howell. 

In  1806  Joseph  Crow  ell,  Zephaniah  Hedges 
and  DavidI  LTTommedieu  owned  premises  known 
as  the  ''Salt  Works,"  containing  i  Yz  acres, 
bounded  east  by  bay,  270  feet,  north  and  west 
by  Charles  Payne,  south  by  Lewis  Howell. 

The  beautiful  and  extensive  tract  owned  in 
recent  times  by  the  Paine  family  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Joseph  Fahys  and  Henry  F.  Cook. 

The  following  ds  the  list  of  scholars  attend- 
ing school  on  Hog  Neck  in  1796,  when'  Samuel 
Waters,  of  East  Hampton,  was  teacher,  and  Con- 
stant Havens,  John  Payne  and  Phineas  Duvall 
were  trustees: 


Polly  Havens, 
David  Havens, 
Selah  Payne, 
Wilson  Payne, 
Marcy  Payne, 
Charles  Payne, 
Ezekiel  Havens, 


Minerva  Gardiner, 
Rebecca  Gardiner, 
Zebrisch  Payne, 
Clarissa  Payne, 
Mehitabel  Payne, 
Silas  Havens. 


Austin  Duvall, 
Rebecca  Duvall, 
Jeremiah  Payne, 
Hiiram  Havens, 
Nancy  Havens, 


Sally  Havens, 
Samuel  Rider, 
Thomas  Rider, 
Harriet  Duvall, 
Timothv  Rider, 


The  above  shows  that  there  were  very  few 
families  on^  the  neck  at  that  time. 

The  road  through  Hog  Neck  and  the  ferry 
to  Shelter  Island  were  for  long  years  the  prin- 
cipal means  of  communication  between  the  north 
and  soutli  branches  of  Long  Island,  being  the 
regular  mail  route.  A  family  named  Tindall 
were  for  generations  the  ferrymen.  George 
Tindall,  who  died  February  22,  1902,  at  the  age 
of  seventy,  was  the  successor  of  his  father  in  the 
business,  and  is  in  turn  succeeded  by  another  of 
the  family. 

In  the  early  times  Peconic  Bay  was  called  the 
"North  Sea"  in  contradistinction  from  the  ocean. 
On  the  west  side  of  North  Sea  Harbor  a  point 
O'f  land  projects  into  the  creek,  which  has  al- 
ways been  called  "Conscienoe  Point."  Tradi- 
tion sa3^,S'  that  when  the  first  settlers  came  tO'  the 
town  they  landed  here  and  one  woman,  as  she 
stepped  on  shore,  exclaimed  "For  conscience 
sake,  Tm  on  dry  land  once  more.''  This  tradi- 
tion we  heard  from  the  oldest  inhabitant  a  great 
many  years  ago. 

In  1647  '^^  town  voted  that  John  Ogden  and 
his  company  should  have  Cow  Neck  and  Jeffreys' 
Neck  and  plowing  land  to  the  extent  of  324 
acres,  provided  they  should  settle  six  families. 
They  were  also  to  have  all  the  mieadow  on  Pe- 
conic Bay  between  Hog  Neck  Spring  "and  the 
brook  by  the  Sachem's  house."  This  brook  is 
probably  the  one  that  empties  into  "W^oolley's 
Pond,"  east  of  town.  The  first  settlers  were 
John  Ogden,  Jonas  Wood  "of  Oram"  (so  called 
in  distinction  from  Jonas  Wood  "of  Hallifax", 
who  afterward  lived  in  Huntington) ,  Samuel 
Dayton,  Vincent  Meggs,  Mark  Meggs,  Saim-uel 
Clark,  Fuller  Davis,  Edmond  Shaw  and  Samuel 
Barker.  All  these  names  have  long  since  dis- 
appeared from  the  place. 

At  a  later  date  were  John  Jennings  (1670), 


332 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


who  lived  on  the  homestead  of  the  late  Jeremiah 
Reeve  (now  George  L.  Saiidford).     Next  south 
was  the  lot  of  Samuel  Barker,  bought  by  B'en- 
jamin  Haines  in  1668.     It  remained  in  his  fam- 
ily until  1877,  when  it  was  sold  by  the  heirs  of 
Samuel  Haines  to  Hewlett  Reeve.     His  son-in- 
law,  Charles  Harlow,  sold  it  to  Charles  T.  Bar- 
ney.   George  Harris  probably  lived  on  the  home- 
stead of  the  late  Captain  Joseph  Harris,  nearly 
opposite  the  school  house.    Charles  Sturmy  lived 
on  the  place  of  the  late  Austin  Rose,  now  Ad- 
dison Jennings'.     Christopher  Lupton    probably 
lived  on  the  homestead  of  the  late  Lewis  Scott. 
Samuel  Clark  had  a  mill  on  the  stream  which 
crosses    the    street.     His    homestead    was    prob- 
ably that  of  the  late   Stephen  Harris.     Henry 
Harris,  before    1769,  owned    the    homestead    of 
the  late  Captain  Jeter  R.  Rose,  and  left  it  to  hiis 
son,  George  Harris.     The  lot  on  the  north  side 
of  the  road  that  runs  west  from  the  street  was 
owned  by  John  Lum,  who  went  to  Huntington. 
It  is  still  known  as  "Lum's  Lot,"  and  is  owned 
by    Henry    Norton.     John    Rose  was    probably 
a  son  of  Robert  Rose,  who  was  in*  Southampton 
in   1644.     John  Rose,  in  1660,  bought  a  house 
and  lot  of  John    Scott.     This    is    the  old    Rose 
homestead,  on  the  east  side  of  the  street,  and  is 
now  owned  by  Mi,s:s  Emma  Rose.    Captain  John 
Scott,  who  was    so    famous    in  the  early  davs 
of    Long    Island,    married     Deborah      Raynor, 
daughter  of  Thurston  Raynor.     They  had  one 
son,  Captain  Jeckomiah  Scott,  who  married  Mary 
Jackson,  daughter  of  Colonel  James  Jackson,  of 
Hempstead.     (This  fact  has  not  been  mentioned 
in  any  other  history.)     They  were  the  ancestors 
of   all   the  famihes   of  that  name   in  the  town. 
His  home  lot  at  North    Sea    was    probably  the 
homestead  of   the   late    Samuel    Scott.     Richard 
Shaw  and  John  Davis  probably  owned  the  home 
lot  which  was  afterwards    owned    by    Benjamin 
Haines,  mentioned  before.     John  Davis  had  in 
early  times  a  mill  on  the  brook  that  runs  into 
Woolley's  Pond,  and  the  road  to  it  was  called 
"Davis   mill  path;''   it   is   now   the  road  to  the 
homestead  of  Harrold  Rose. 

The  lands  in   North   Sea  were  owned  by  a 
set    of    men    known    as    the    "North    Sea    Pro- 


prietors," who  were  entirely  distinct  from  the 
"Proprietors  of  the  undivided  lands  of  South- 
ampton." If  there  are  any  undivided  lands  in 
North  Sea  they  are  owned  by  those  proprietors, 
but  it  M^ould  probably  be  impossible  to  know 
M'ho  they  are.  The  North  Sea  line,  which  sep- 
arates North  Sea  from  Southampton,  begins  at 
a  rock  a  few  rods  west  of  Mill  Stone  brook,  at 
Seponack,  and  runs  to  a  stone  a  few  rods  south 
of  the  head  of  Fish  Cove.  It  crosses  Great 
Fresh  Pond.  In  1659  Anthony  ^^^aters  was  liv- 
ing in  North  Sea  and  bought  a  house  and  lot 
of  Samuel  Dayton.  He  afterwards  moved  to 
'  Jaimaica,  where  he  was  a  prominent  citizen  and 
has  many   descendants. 

The  point  called  Noyack  was  granted  to  John 
Jessup  as  his  share  Oif  the  "Forty-acre  Division," 
in  1679.  (See  Printed  Records,  Vol.  II,  page 
289.)  It  was  given  by  him  to  his  son,  Isaac 
Jessup,  who  settled  here  as  early  as  1712.  The 
Jessup  homestead  was  where  the  residence  of 
David  Wiggins  now  stands.  In  an  old  family 
burying  ground  near  the  house  is  a  slate  tomb- 
stone with  the  inscription  "Here  lyes  ve  bodv 
of  Abigail  Jessup,  Daughter  of  Mr.  Isaac  and 
^Irs.  Sarah  Jessup,  who  deceased  in  November, 
T724,  aged  about  11  years."  The  estate  contin- 
ued in  the  family  until  about  1800,  when  Silas 
Jessup  sold  it  to  the  father  oi  the  late  Judge 
John  S.  Osborn,  who  owned  it  for  many  years, 
and  after  his  death  it  was  sold  to  David  Wig-e-ins, 
who  had  formerly  been  a  merchant  in  Sag  Har- 
bor. The  stream'  at  Noyack  was  granted  in  1686 
to  Obadiah  Rogers  "to  set  a  fulling  mill  on." 
He  gave  it  up  and  in  1690  it  was  granted  to 
John  Parker.  In  17 18  it  was  granted  to  Jonah 
Rogers.  As  early  as  1738  it  seems  to  be  owned 
by  Charles  Rugg,  and  afterwards  by  Joseph 
Rugg,  and  was  known  for  a  long  time  ajs.  "Rugg's 
mill."  It  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands  of  a 
family  named  Budd.  In  1874  the  ponds  ad- 
joining were  purchased  by  G.  W.  Thompson,  oi 
Oakland,  California,  who  improved  them  at 
great  expense  as  trout  ponds,  and  made  it  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  places  on  Long  Island. 

The  isthmus  known  as  the  Canoe  Place  was 
the    western    extremity    of    the    original  "Town 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


333 


Purchase''  of  Southampton.  The  first  sale  of 
land  at  this  place  is  mentioned  in  the  deed  from 
the  Indian  Sachem  W'yandanch  to  John  Ogden, 
May  12,  1659,  which  mentions  "a  small  piece  of 
meadow  which  I  gave  to  Air.  John  Gosmer." 
This  was  next  to  Shinnecock  Bay.  In  1739  the 
trusitees  of  the  town  sold  to  Jeremiah  Culver 
a  piece  of  land  at  Canoe  Place,  which  enbraced 
the  present  hotel  property,  running  east  to  Shin- 
necock Hills.  The  lot  of  meadow  given  to  John 
Ogden  was  given  by  him  to  bis  grandson,  John 
Woodruff,  and  in  1694  it  was  sold  by  Oliver 
Russell  to  Gershom  Culver,  described  as  '*lving 
at  Canoe  Place,  bounded  south  by  Shinecock  Bay, 
north  by  upland."  Jeremiah  Culver  built  a  house 
on  his  land.  Until  after  the  Revolution  this 
was  the  only  house  in  the  wilderness  between 
Riverhead  and  Southampton,  and  there  were  not 
more  than  one  or  two  east  of  Ouogue.  Before 
1756  it  seems  to  have  been  sold  to  Stephen  Her- 
rick,  who  in  his  will  directisi  that  his  "house  at 
Canoe  Place,  with  the  land  on  which  it  stands," 
sihould  be  sold.  It  was,  however,  owned  during 
the  Revolution  by  his  son,  Ala j or  George  Her- 
rick,  who  sold  the  place  to  John  Howell,  3d  (who 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  Mortimer  D. 
Howell),  in  1785.  From  him  it  passed  into 
the  lands  of  Israel  Conkling,  and  afterwards 
w^as  for  many  }'6ars  owned  by  George  Seaman 
and  his  son-in-law,  James  Horton.  A  few  years 
since  it  was  purchased  by  ]\Iiles  B.  Carpenter, 
of  New  York,  by  whom  it  was  rebuilt  and  great- 
ly enlarged,  and  the  premiseis  were  widely  known 
as  *'Canoe  Place  Inm"  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Carpenter  it  was  purchased  by  Miraibeau  L. 
Tov.iis.  the  present  owner. 

A  little  west  of  the  junction  of  the  old  road 
to  Riverhead  is  a  small  tract  of  land  owned  by 
the  Shinnecock  tribe  of  Indians,  though  ho\v  it 
came  into  their  possession  is  now  unknown. 
Upon  this  tract  is  a  plain  marble  tombstone, 
surrounded  by  a  neat  fence.  This  marks  the  last 
resting  place  of  Rev.  Paul  Cuffee.  The  tomb- 
stone tells  its  own  story:  "Erected  by  tihe  New 
York  ^Missionary  Society,  in  Memory  of  the 
Rev.  Paul  Cuffee,  an  Indian  of  the  Shinnecock 
tribe,  who  was  employed  by  that  Society  for  the 


last  thirteen  years  of  bis  life  on  ihe  Eastern  part 
of  Long  Island,  where  he  labored  with  fidelity 
and  success.  Humible,  pious  and  indefatigable  in 
testifying  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  he  fin- 
ished his  course  with  joy  on  the  7th  of  March, 
1812,  aged  55  years  and  three  da3^s."  The  origin- 
al fence  around  the  enclosure  having  fallen  into 
decay,  the  present  one  was  built  by  Mr.  ^liles  B. 
Carpenter.  The  joumeyings  of  Paul  Cuffee  ex- 
tended from  Poosepatuck  to  Montauk,  and  were 
made  on  foot. 

The  entire  district  embraced  in  Good  Ground 
and  Pond  Quogue  is  a  part  O'f  the  "Lower  Di- 
vision in  Quogue  Purchase,"  laid  out  in  1738, 
and  a  full  description  may  be  found  in  Vol.  II, 
page  97,  Southampton  Printed  Records.  The 
name  "Pond  Quogue"  is  a  corruption  of  the 
original  name  Pauganquaquanantuck.  At 
the  lower  part  oif  the  neck  a  highway  was 
laid  out  east  and  west  across  the  neck 
and  another  highway  north  and  south  from 
the  Country  road  to  the  highway  above  men- 
itioned.  The  lots  in  this  division  ran  south  from 
the  first  highway  to  the  bay,  while  the  Amend- 
ments ran  east  and  west  from  the  middle  high- 
way, and  were  bounded  east  by  Shinnecock  Bay 
and  west  by  "Tiana  water."  A  little  west  of 
the  middle  highway  was  a  tract  of  land  some- 
what better  than  its  surroundings,  and  called 
"the  Good  Ground,"  from  which  the  village  de- 
rives vtis  name. 

There  were  17  lots,  beginning  with  No.  10, 
on  the  west  side  o^f  Rampasture  Neck,  to  No.  17, 
on  the  same  neck.  There  were  14  lots  at  die  bot- 
tom of  Pond  Quogue  Neck,  beginning  with  No. 
25  on  the  east  side,  where  the  light-house  stands, 
and  running  west  to  No.  38,  which  iisi  next  to 
the  Long  Cove,  east  of  Rampasture  Neck.  Lot 
No.  39  is  a  tract  of  118  acres,  Avhich  was  bound- 
ed north  by  the  Country  road,  east  by  Canoe 
Place  and  vvest  by  the  middle  road,  and  south 
bv  Amendment  No.  38.  In  1810  this  was  sold 
by  Elias  Culver  to  Samuel  Bishop.  It  was  then 
bounded  ea&t  by  land  o^f  Israel  Conkling  and 
"south  by  the  Indian  Amendment."  Samuel 
Bishop  sold  it  to  Micaiah  Herrick  and  Herrick 


334 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Rogers  in  1811,  and  it  was  afterwiards  sold  to 
Alvin  Squires.  This  shows  that  Amendment  No. 
38  must  have  been  purchased  by  the  Shinnecock 
tribe  or  members  of  it  before  1810.  Amend- 
ment No.  35  "was  sold  to  Jesse  Culver  by  Thomas 
Sandford  in  1760  for  £30  or  $75.  Lots  36  and 
37  were  sold  by  Thomas  Sandford  to  Dr.  Will- 
iam Smith,  of  Southampton,  1765.  The  Amend- 
ment No.  29  was  drawn  by  Abram  Halsey  and 
Peter  Hildreth,  the  former  owning  five-sixths  of 
it.  In  1752  Abram  Halsey  sold  his  part  to  Jonas 
Foster,  and  his  son  Jedediah  Fo'Ster  isold  36  acres 
on  the  west  end  to  Elias  Pelletreau,  May  20,  1802. 
Elias  Pelletreau  sold  the  north  half  to  his  broth- 
er, John  Pelletreau,  and  it  was  sold  by  Charles 
Pelletreau  to  William  Smith  Bellows,  about  1858. 
In  1802  it  was  bounded  north  by  Zebulon  Howell, 
east  by  James  Pierson  and  Ananias  Halsey,  south 
by  Abraham  Fordham  and  pastures  by  Amend- 
ment No.  38.  In  1 8 10  this  was  sold  near 
Cormorant  Point."  In  amendment  No.  34 
two-thirds  was  drawn  by  Obadiah  Rogers,  and 
it  remained  in  his  family  until  recent  years, 
and  was  lately  owned  by  Captain  Jetur  R. 
Rogers.  From  these  landmarks  the  bounds  of 
the  various  amendments  may  be  readily  found. 

In  1828  John  Edwards  sold  to  Abraham  Ed- 
wards ''A  lot  at  iGood  Ground,  containing  I28j4 
acres,  bounded  north  by  the  Post  road,  west  by 
Tiana  brook,  south  by  land  of  Prosper  King, 
Samuel  Hand,  John  Jackson  and  heirs  of  Zophar 
Howell,  east  by  highway  to  Pond  Quogue." 
Price  $605.  This  evidently  includes  Amendment 
No.  15  and  the  greater  part  of  No.  14. 

All  the  land  north  of  the  Country  road  is  in 
the  Canoe  Place  Division.  After  the  disastrous 
battle  of  Long  Island,  in  August,  1776,  there  was 
great  alarm  on  the  east  end  of  the  Island,  At 
this  time  a  fort  was  thrown  up  at  Canoe  Place, 
traces  of  which  were  visible  in  recent  years.  It 
was,  however,  soon  abandoned.  The  entire 
region  was  almost  uninhabited  previous  to  1800. 
At  that  time  the  only  house  was  a  little  west 
of  the  house  of  the  late  Elisha  King,  and  was 
owned  by  a  widow  named  Goodale.  The  next 
building  is  said  to  have  been  a  log  house  built 
in  1804,  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Williamson. 


The  first  resident  at  Pond  Quogue  was  proba- 
bly Wakeman  Foster.  He  had  children — John 
S. ;  Phebe,  wife  of  Joseph  Penny ;  Maltby ; 
Lydia,  wife  of  Abraham  Edwards ;  and  Jemima, 
wife  of  Rogers  Squires.  His  sons  and  sons-in- 
law  all  settled  here,  and  his  descendants  are  now 
very  numerous. 

The  family  of  Squires,  who  have  always  been 
prominent  and  numerous  in  this  section  are  de- 
scended from  John  Squirej  an  early  resident  in 
East  Hampton.  Ellis  Squiresi  was  here  very 
early  in  the  last  century.  The  Bellows  family 
(of  French  origin,  and  originally  spelled  "Bel- 
leaux")  and  Joseph  Penny  were  here  before 
1816.  Prosper  King,  of  a  Southold  family,  was 
here  in  1820; 

TJae  bay  privileges  brought  many  people  from 
less  favored  regions  and  the  isettlement  gradual- 
ly increased.  A  sufiicient  number  of  people 
were  dwelling  here  to  organize  a  Methodist 
church  in  1836,  and  a  meeting  house  was  built, 
which  was  succeeded  by  a  larger  and  better  edi- 
fice in  1863.  Within  the  last  few  years  measures 
have  been  taken  which  are  likely  to  change  en- 
tirely the  order  of  things.  The  great  advan- 
tages of  this  region  as  a  summer  resort  have  in- 
duced many  prominent  people  from  New  York 
to  purchase  lands  and  build  country  seats. 
Among  them  are  Judge  O'Brien,  of  the  supreme 
court;  James  C.  Carter,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent lawyers  in  the  State;  and  Hon.  Wauhope 
Lynn.  The  latter  named,  with  a  full  apprecia- 
tion of  the  prospective  importance  of  this  region, 
has  made  very  extensive  purchases,  and  has  done 
far  more  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  neigh- 
borhood and  to  make  its  many  attractions  known 
far  and  wide  than  any  other  person.  His  ef- 
forts in  this  respect  have  met  with  the  fullest 
public  appreciation,  and  a  few  years  hence  will 
probably  see  it  one  of  the  most  popular  resorts  in 
the  ■country. 

The  South  beach,  opposite  Pond  Quogue,  and 
extending  from  the  "Finest  Division''  west  to 
Quogue,  was  sold  by  the  proprietors  Oif  the  undi- 
vided lands  to  OHver  Post  and  others,  about  fifty 
years  ago.  In  addition  to  his  already  extensive 
purchases,  'Mr.   L)'nn  (has  ibought  a  very  large 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


335 


part  of  this  beach,  which  will  doubtle&s  soon  be 
the  scene  of  great  improvements. 

^Through  the  liberality  of  Judge  Morgan  J. 
O'Brien'  and  others  who  have  recently  become 
residents  of  this  place,  a  Roman  Catholic  church 
has  been  erected  at  Good  Ground,  the  corner 
stone  being  laid  August  29,  190 1,  and  is  an  ele- 
gant an'd  tasteful  building. 

The  light-house  on  Pond  Quogue  Point  was 
built  in  1857  and  was  first  lighted  January  i, 
1858.  It  is  160  feet  in  height  above  the  level  of 
the  sea,  from  which  it  is  one  mile  distant.  This 
light-house  stands  on  lot  No.  25.  The  Bay  View 
Hotel  was  built  in  1875  and  is  an  extensive  and 
well  patronized  establishment.  The  western  part 
of  this  place  is  a  school  district  known  as  Spring- 
ville.  Its  natural  advantages  will  soon  mjake  it 
widely  known. 

Ram  Pasture  and  Pine  Neck  are  included  in 
the  Lxj-wer  Division  of  Quo^gue  Purchase,  the 
former  being  10  lots,  from  No.  10  to  17,  in^- 
clusive.  No.  17  is  the  north  end  of  the  neck,  and 
the  original  owners  :had  the  privilege  of  placing 
a  ''swing  gate"  across  the  highway  down  the 
neck.  From  this  it  took  the  name  of  "The  Swing 
Gate  Lot."  Pine  Neck,  which  is  next  west  of 
Tiana  Bay,  includes  6  lotsi  with  amendments. 
The  (highway  across  the  neck  was  laid  out  in 
1757,  and  was  of  the  extraordinary  width  of  21 
rods.  The  north  part  of  this  neck  was  laid  out 
as  an  amendment  to  the  lots  at  the  lower  end. 
These  amendments  were  divided  in  1763,  and  a 
full  description  is  in  Vol.  Ill,  Printed  Records, 
pages  241,  252.  This  neck  remained  almost 
wholly  uninhabited  until  a  very  recent  period.  A 
large  boarding  house,  built  by  Benj  amin  F. 
Squires,  on  Tiana  Bay,  has  been  and  is  still  a 
favorite  resort  for  sportsmen. 

Next  west  of  Pine  Neck  is  a  very  large  tract 
of  land  originally  called  ''Fourth  Neck,"  as  be- 
ing the  fourth  neck  east  of  Quogue.  The 
meadows  at  the  lower  end  of  this  neck  were  laid 
out  in  1673  (Vol.  II,  Records,  page  252).  The 
upland,  which  is  almost  all  the  neck  was  laid 
out  in  1738,  and  is  a  part  of  the  "Upper  Divi- 
sion in  Quogue  Purchase."  The  eastern  bound- 
ary of  this  neck  is  a  creek  and  stream,  called 


by  the  Indian  name  of  "Achabackawesuck,"  but 
now  contracted  into  "Wesuck."  At  that  time 
roads  were  laid  out  across  the  neck  and  also  at 
the  upper  end.  This  division  is  recorded  in  Vol. 
Ill,  p.  1 17- 1 17,  Records.  At  the  bottom  of  Fourth 
Neck  is  a  small  creek  which  divides  the  neck  into 
two  parts,  the  eastern  of  which  is  called  "Little 
Fourth  Neck."  In  the  will  of  EHsha  Howell, 
1771,  this  creek  is  mentioned  by  its  Indian  name 
of  "Anock  creek,"  and  this  is  the  only  time  it 
occurs.  At  that  time  Elisha  Howell  had  a  house 
and  considerable  land  on  Little  Fourth  Neck  and 
left  it  to  his  son  Lewis  Howell.  Elisha  Howell 
was  probably  the  first  settler  here.  The  neck 
was  known  by  its  original  name  (which  was  ap- 
propriate and  geographically  correct,  until  about 
1852,  when  a  postoffioe  was  established  and  was 
called  Atlanticville.  A  few  years  ago  the  name 
was  changed  to  East  Quogue.  A  Methodist 
church  was  built  here  in  1850. 

At  the  point  where  the  Country  road  crosses 
the  railroad  and  where  the  Atlanticville  station 
formerly  stood  there  was  standing  until  recent 
years  a  very  large  oak  tree,  evidently  of  great 
age,  and  called  the  "Box  Tree."  This  from  the 
fact  that  in  fo^rmer  tim^eis-,  when  the  mail  was 
carried  in  stages  that  anade  weekly  trips  to  New 
York,  it  was  the  custom  to  leave  letters  and 
papers  for  this  place  in  a  box  nailed  on  this 
tree. 

Next  west  of  Fourth  Neck  lies  Third  Neck 
or  "Short  Neck."  This  comprises  two  lots  in 
the  "Lower  Division,"  Nos.  8  and  9.  In  1740 
the  greater  part  of  this  neck  was  owned  by  Sam- 
uel Johnes,  who  also  owned  other  land  adjoin- 
ing. His  son,  William  Johnes,  sold  to  Jonathan 
Cook  in  1748  60  acres  of  land,  bounded  north 
by  highway,  south  by  bay,  west  by  Josiah  Howell 
and  east  by  John  Post.  Also  lot  9  on  Third  Neck 
and  one-third  of  iot  8,  "with  all  buildings  and 
fences  thereon."  This  is  the  first  indication,  of  a 
settlement  at  this  place.  Jonathan  Cook  lived 
here  and  died  March  7,  1754,  aged  54  years.. 
His  home  farm  includes  the  ihomestead  now,  or 
late,  of  Henry  Gardiner. 

Next  west  of  Third  Neck  is  Second  Neck. 
The  meadows  in  this  neck  were  laid  out  in  four 


88t) 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


lots  in  1673.  The  upland  in  this  and  also  in 
Ogden's  Neck  and  Quogue  appears  to  have  been 
laid  out  to  the  owners  of  the  meadows,  in  1686. 
(See  \'ol.  IT,  Records,  page  112.)  A  very  large 
part  O'f  Second  Neck  was  owned  by  William 
Herrick,  who  bought  out  the  original  owners. 
In  ihis  will  (1707)  be  leaves  to  'his  son  William 
"all  ithe  west  part  of  my  land  at  Second  Neck 
with  the  buildings  and  all  the  meadow  on  the 
west  side  oi  Second  Neck."  He  leaves  to-  his 
son,  Nathan  Herrick,  all  the  east  part  of  Second 
Neck,  with  the  meadow  and  improvements.  Na- 
than Herrick  was  living  here  in  1738,  on  the 
estate  now  (or  late)  of  George  F,  Stone.  His 
tombstone  tells  us  he  died  March  24,  1783,  in 
the  eighty-third  year  of  his  age.  He  left  his 
place  here  to  his  son  Nathaniel,  who  died  four 
days  after  his  father. 

Next  west  of  Second  Neck  is  Ogden's  Neck, 
which  derives  its  name  from  John  Ogden,  who 
was  the  original  owner  of  "Quogue  Purchase." 
In  1747  a  large  part  o>f  this  neck  was  owned  by 
Josiah  Howell  and  William  Johnes.  The  60 
acres  of  land  which  William  Johnes  sold  to  Jon- 
athan Cook  was  the  east  part  of  the  neck.  John 
Post  owned  a  lot  oif  upland  and  meadow  in  this 
neck,  which  he  and  his  wife  Abigail  had  from 
the  estate  of  her  father,  Joshua  Halsey.  In 
1708  William  Herrick  sells  to  Josiah  Howell  one- 
third  of  lot  20  on  the  west  side  of  Ogden's 
neck,  in  exchange  for  one-third  of  lot  27  on 
the  east  side.  Josiah  Howell  sold  to  John  Post 
one-third  of  lot  27.  Matthew  Howell  sold  to 
John  Post  one-third  of  lot  27. 

Quogue  is  one  of  the  most  important  villages 
in  the  town.  The  original  name  of  the  neck  was 
Quaquanantuck,  which  has  been  abbreviated  to 
its  present  form.  The  western  boundary  is  a 
rivulet  called  Cutting's  Creek,  its  eastern  bound- 
ary being  Ogden's  Pond.  The  meadows  in  this 
neck  were  also  laid  out  in  1673,  being  13  lots. 
The  upland  south  of  the  street  was  laid  out  to 
the  owners  of  the  meadow  lots  in  1686.  The 
original  lots  Avere  bought  from  their  owners,  and 
the  whole  was  afterwards  owned  by  a  few  per- 
sons. In  the  middle  or  the  latter  part  of  the  last 
century  tlie  neck   was  divided  into   four  tracts. 


The  eastern  one  was  owned  by  Deacon  Thomas 
Cooper;  next  west  was  the  farm  of  Thomas 
Jessup ;  next  came  Captain  Thomas  Stephens,  and 
west  O'f  all,  next  to  Cutting's  creek,  was  Josiah 
Howell.  Captain  Obadiah  Rogers'  house  was 
north  of  the  road  and  very  near  the  present  house 
of  S.  D.  Craig,  while  somewtot  east  of  him,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  road,  was  the  house  of  John 
Halsey. 

Among  the  early  settlers  was  Captain  John 
Post,  whom  we  have  mentioned  as  owning  land 
in  Ogden's  Neck.  His  homestead  has  descend- 
ed to  his  great-grandson,  Hon.  Erastus  F.  Post. 
Captain  John  Post  died  January  3,  1792,  aged 
ninety-two,  and  his  wife,  Abigail,  died  March 
17,  1772,  aged  sixty-seven. 

When  John  Foster,  of  Southampton,  made 
his  will  in  1761  he  left  to  his  son,  Josiah  Foster, 
"all  lands,  meadows  and  buildings  west  of  Canoe 
Place."  This,  although  expressed  in  very  few 
words,  embraced  a  ver\'  large  amount  of  real  es- 
tate, of  which  his  descendants  at  Quogue  now 
have  the  benefit.  He  was  among  the  very  first 
to  attempt  the  subjugation  of  the  wilderness.  He 
built  his  house  on  the  place  now  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  Erastus  F'oster,  and,  after  a  long  life, 
left  a  large  estate  to  his  sons,  with  a  remarkable 
faculty  for  increasing  it. 

Quogue  is  the  first  locality  east  of  Rocka- 
way  where  access  may  be  had  to  the  ocean  with- 
out crossing  the  bay.  This  fact  has  been  the 
making  of  the  place  financially,  and  its  privileges 
have  been  for  many  years  fully  appreciated  by  a 
class  of  wealthy  citizens  who  wish  to  spend  the 
heated  season  on  "Old  Long  Island's  sea-girt 
shores."  The  business  thus  erected  has,  from 
a  very  small  beginning,  very  largely  increased, 
and  the  place  is  now  almost  wholly  composed  of 
large  boarding  houses,  which  are  very  liloerally 
patronized.  A  few  years  since  an  attempt  wa's 
made  to  establish  the  'business  of  extracting 
iodine  'from  sea  water,  but  it  failed  to  be  re- 
munerative. An  effort  was  also  made  to  manu- 
facture steel  from  the  magnetic  iron  sand  which 
abounds  on  the  sea  beach.  It  was  soon  found 
that  although  the  finest  kind  of  steel  could  be 
made,  the  cost  was  too  great  to  make  it  a  sue- 


SOUTHAMPTON 


^37 


cessful  business,  and  the  buildings  and  works 
were  sold  at  a  great  sacrifice.  Afterwards  the 
iron  ore  was  separated  from  the  sand  by  means 
of  magnets  and  sent  to  other  places  to  be  manu- 
factured* 

In  the  spring  of  1896  a  nunnber  of  ladies  in 
Quogue  resolved  to  attempt  the  establishment 
of  a  library,  and  their  efforts  met  with  encourag- 
ing success.  At  first  the  books  were  left  in  one 
of  the  village  stores,  and  in  1897  Mr.  Abram  S. 
Post  gave  a  lot,  and  his  brother,  Mr.  William  H. 
Post,  and  his  sister  furnished  funds  for  a  build- 
ing, which  was  opened  for  the  purpose  in  July 
of  that  year.  It  is  not  a  free  library,  but  is  sup- 
ported by  subscriptions  and  donations.  The 
number  of  volumes  is  now  1,350,  with  a  steady 
annual  increase.  Among  the  mo-st  active  in  its 
support  is  Miss  Mary  Post,  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  information. 


THE  FOSTER    HOMESTEAD,   QUIOGUK,  L.  I. 

Next  west  of  Cuttings  Creek  and  Quogue 
is  a  tract  known  from  the  earliest  times  as  As- 
sop's  Neck,  also  called  Assop's  Stalk  (or  stoake). 
This  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  Quantuck  Creek. 
Assop's  Neck  was  divided  in,  1673  into  seven' 
lots.  The  east  lot,  No.  7,  was  next  to  Cutting's 
Creek,  and  was  drawn  by  Ellis  Cook  (Vol.  II,' 
Printed  Records,  page  252).  The  heirs  of  Ellis 
Cook  sold  it  to  Captain  Thomas  Stephens,  May 
29,  1690,  and  it  was  described  as  "a  £150  Lot- 
22 


ment  at  Assop's '  Neck  alias  Assups  Stoake." 
Isaac  Halsey  (by  will,  1750)  leaves  to  his  son 
John  "A  Lot  of  upland  and  meadow  at  Asap's 
Neck."  Elisiha  flowell,  in  1771J  leaves  to  his  son 
Lewis  Howell,  "all  my  meadow  on  the  great 
point  in  Assop's  Neck,"  and  to  his  son  Ed- 
mond  "all  my  land  and  meadow  in  Assop's  neck, 
except  the  great  point."  Obadiah  Rogers,  in 
1782,  leaves  to  his  son  Zephaniah,  his  lot  of 
meadow  "on  the  short  point  at  Assop's  Neck," 
and  to  his  grandson  Jeremiah  Rogers  all  the  rest 
of  his  lands  there. 

West  of  this,  and  between  Quantuck  Creek 
and  Aspatuck  Creek,  is  a  neck  called  in  our 
ancient  records  Little  Assop's  Neck,  or  Quiogue. 
The  latter  name  is  now  in  use.  This  neck  was 
laid  out  in  1683  (Vol.  II,  Records,  pages  113, 
278),  at  the  same  time  as  the  neck  further  west. 
The  whole  neck  was  two  lots,  Nos.  38  and  39, 
and  were  drawn  by  Christopher  Foster  and 
Thomas  Halsey.  The,  right  of  Christopher  Fos- 
ter descended  to  his  grandson,  Daniel  Foster, 
who  left  to  his  son  Jonas  "all  his  land  at  Little 
Quiogue." 

In  1832  the  Presbyterian  church  was  built 
here  and  dedicated  January  20th.  A  new 
church  on  the  same  site  has  been  built  in 
recent  years.  During  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  since  the  church  has  been  here  the  pastor 
was  the  Rev.  William  B.  Reeve,  who,  after 
serving  as  "stated  supply"  for  twenty  years,  was 
finally  duly  installed  as  pastor  in  1875.  After 
a  long  and  faithful  service  he  was  called  to  his 
rest  September  10,  1888.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Reeve  the  Rev.  Henry  Schlosser  was  pastor 
for  a  short  time.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  E. 
C.  Lawrence,  who  came  in  March,  1890,  and  was 
called  to  the  pastorate  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  During  his  pastorate  the  church  has  en- 
joyed great  prosperity.  In  1891  a  very  handsome 
parsonage  was  erected.  After  a  very  acceptable 
pastorate  of  twelve  years  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lawrence 
resigned,  and  preached  his  farewell  sermon  Oc- 
tober 6,  1901,  and  removed  to  Schenectady.  In 
proportion  to  its  numbers,  it  is  believed  that  the 
church  of  Quioge  has  done  more  for  the  cause 
of  foreie'u  missions  than  any  church  in  the  Pres- 


338 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


bytery.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Reeve  a 
chapel  was  built  in  Quioge  in  connection  with  the 
church. 

West  of  Asapotuck  creek  is  the  neck 
known  by  the  name  of  Catchaponack.  This  is 
an  Indian  name,  denoting  "a.  place  where  large 
ground  nuts  grow/'  Like  the  other  necks  in  this 
region,  the  meadows  were  laid  out  in  1683,  and 
the  upland  adjoining  in  1686.  There  were  17 
Lots  in  this  neck.  A  settlement  was  probably 
commenced  as  early  as  1738,  at  which  time  Jona- 
than Raynor  had  a  house  and  orchard  here.  He 
owned  the  entire  lot  No.  22,  and  probably  pur- 
chased other  lots.  In  his  will  (1741)  he  leaves  to 
his  son  Elihu  Raynor  *'and  his  male  heirs  to  the 
end  of  time,  all  my  lands  and  buildings  lying  at 
Catchaponack  neck,  and  all  the  rest  of  ye  lands 
and  meadows  from  Asapotuck  creek  to  Beaver 
dam."  These  lands  are  still  owned  by  his  de- 
scendants. The  original  homestead  is  now 
owned  by  Elihu  Raynor.  Among  the  early  set- 
tlers was  Jonah  Bower,  of  a  Southampton  family 
now  extinct.  His  farm  was  bounded  south  by 
the  road  and  east  by  Asapotuck  creek. 

The  Howell  family,  so  long  identified  with 
this  place,  is  descended  from  John  Howell  (a 
son  of  Captain  Josiah  Howell,- of  Southam'pton) 
who  was  generally  known  as  '*John  Howell,  of 
Canoe  Place,"  from  his  keeping  a  house  of  en- 
tertainment there  after  the  revolution.  He  was 
also  known  as  "J'^t^^  Howell  3d."  About  1750 
William  Albertson  (son  of  William  Albertson 
who  owned  the  mill  at  Riverhead),  was  the 
owner  of  an  extensive  tract  in  Catchaponack,  and 
left  it  to  his  son  WilHam,  in  1761.  By  a  deed 
dated  March  11,  1786,  William;  Albertson  and 
his  mother.  Charity  Albertson,  sold  to  Josiah 
Howell  and  John  Howell  3d  "All  our  lands  at 
Catcliaponack,  bounded  north  by  highway,  east  b\' 
David  Howell,  John  Bishop  and  highway,  south 
by  water,  and  west  by  Elihu  Raynor,  deceased." 
"Also  5  acres  of  meadow  on  an  island  called 
Reedy  island,  and  >^  of  the  blank  lot."  Josiah 
Howell  and  wife  Phebe  sold  their  half  to  John 
Howell  3d  April  5,  1786.  John  Howell  3d  was 
the  grandfather  of  Charles  Howell  to  whom  the 
above  land  descended. 


The  Great  South  Bay  here  ends  in  a  narrow 
channel  (crossed  by  a  bridge)  which  connects 
it  with  Quantuck  Bay.  A  portion  of  the 
Howell  property  was  some  years  since  sold  to 
General  John  A.  Dix,  who  built  an  elegant  coun- 
try seat.  A  hotel  owned  by  Mortimer  D. 
Howell  has  been  for  many  years  a  resort  for  a 
very  superior  class  of  people  from  the  city,  and 
the  vicinity  has  many  attractions  which  are  fully 
appreciated.  A  Union  chapel  built  in  a  style  of 
elegant  simplicdty  is  one  of  the  finest  features  of 
the  village. 

A  school  was  taught  in  Catchaponack  in  1795 
and  1796,  the  teachers  being  Jared  Gardiner  and 
Theophilus  Smith.  The  teachers'  pay  was  £10 
per  quarter"  ($25).  The  Trustees  were  Abra- 
ham Howell  and  Timothy  Halsey.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  list  of  pupils : 


PTannah  Stephens, 
AVilliam  Howell, 
Josiah  Howell, 
William  Halsey,  Jr., 
Shepard  Halsey, 
Walter  Halsey, 
Sally  Raynor, 
Charles  Raynor, 
Martha  Jessup, 
Cynthia  Jessup, 
Pamela  Howell, 
Charles  Grover, 
Oliver  Russell, 
Zebulon  Reeves, 
Nathan  Bishop, 
Phebe  Bis'hop, 
Miriam  Halsey, 
Anne  Raynor, 
Nathan  Raynor, 
David  Bishop, 
Anne  Bishop, 
Charles  Havens, 
Julia  Russell, 
James  Raynor, 
Polly  Stephens, 
Hiram  Halsey, 
David  Plowell, 


Milicent  Wright, 
NanCv  'Russell, 
Polly"  Wright, 
Susan  Ha'lsey, 
Polly  Howell, 
Harry  Gardiner, 
Hetty  Bishop, 
Betsey  Howell, 
Josiah  P.  Howell, 
Polly  Hal'sey, 
Patty  Halsey, 
Cephas  Halsey, 
Apollos  Halsey, 
Abram  Stephens, 
Jehiel  Howell, 
Wood  Raynor, 
Timothy  Raynor, 
Susan  Raynor, 
Richard  Jessup, 
Eldad  Brewster, 
Pamela  Howellj 
Silvanus  Jessup, 
James  Brewster, 
Silvanus  Russell, 
Silas  (negro), 
Polly  Raynor. 


The  manner  of  church  establishment  may  be 
discovered  from  the  following  subscription  list 
made  for  the  support  of  a  minister  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  town : 

"Feb.   29,    1765,    Southampton  bounds,   very 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


339 


dear  friends  and  Neighbors.  Let  us  try  once 
more  to  enjoy  so  valuable  a  blessing  as  a  preached 
Gospel  is.  Let  us  see  what  we  can  raise  toward 
settling  Mr.  Thomas  Paine,  and  .so  every  one 
give  what  he  thinks  he  can  pay  yearly" 


Jonathan  Russell, 
William  Bower, 
Elisha  Howell, 
John  Jessup,  Jr.. 
John  "Strong, 
Nathan  Raynor, 
Silvanus  Halsey, 
Qiarity  Al^bertson, 
John  Bishop, 
Nathaniel  Wickes, 
Stephen  Rogers, 
Samuel  Chard, 
Benjamin  Homan, 
Timothy  Bishop, 
Josiah  Foster, 
Josiah  Howell, 
Nathaniel  Howell, 
Thomas  Jessup, 
(Amount  raised 


James  Ro.gers, 
Ephraim  Howell, 
John  Post, 
Micaiah  Herrick, 
Jeremiah  Smith, 
Thomas  Norris, 
.Phineas  Bower^ 
Silas  Topping, 
William  Phillips, 
Edward  Petty, 
Edward  Petty,  Jr., 
Daniel  Brewster, 
Simeon  Biabcock, 
Daniel  Bower, 
Jonathan  Havens, 
Daniel  Foster, 
Stephen  Jagger. 

£31,  12,  6.) 


December  17,  1765,  another  subscription  list 
was  made  for  the  same  object.  The  same  names 
are  given  with  the  following  additions : 


Grant  Bower, 
Jonah  Bower, 
James  Lane, 
Stephen  Jessup, 
Samuel  Howell, 
EInathan  Topping, 

(About  the  same  amount  raised). 


Daniel  Cook, 
Edward  Herrick, 
Capt.  Obadiah  Rogers, 
Thomas  Stephens, 
Justice  Thomas  Cooper. 


The  following  record  is  of  a  later  date : 

"January  the  25,  1773,  Whereas  the  western 
part  of  Southampton,  or  parrish  of  Catchapo- 
nack,  being  destitute  of  a  preached  Gospel,  have 
thought  proper  to  give  Mr.  Joseph  Avery  a  call 
to  preach  with  us,  hoping  that  our  condition 
may  be  considered  and  proposals  accepted.  And 
for  the  Incoragement  and  support  of  said  Mr. 
Avery  the  subscribers  hereof  do  oblige  them- 
selves yearly  to  pay  to  the  said  Mr.  Avery  the 
sum  of  forty  pounds.  Also  the  use  of  our  par- 
sonage, that  is  to  say,  thirty  pounds  in  money, 
and  ten  pounds  in  labour,  as  gitting  of  Hay,  or 
such  labour  as  may  be  most  needful,  each  sub- 
scriber doing  his  proportion  of  la'bour." 


Potunk  Neck  is  next  west  of  Catchaponack, 
and  is  separated  from  it  by  a  creek  and  swamp 
called  Monobaugs,  Potunk  is  an  Indian  name 
signifying  *'a  place  where  the  foot  sinks  in  the 
ground/'  The  laying  out  of  this  neck  may  be 
found  in  Vol.  H,  Printed  Records,  Pages  114-277. 
The  corner  lot  on  the  south  side  of  the  street,  op- 
posite the  house  of  Nathan-  Jessup,  is  supposed 
to  be  Lot  14  of  the  original  Division.  It  was  sold 
by  Jonathan  Jagger  to  Nehemiah  Sayre,  of 
Southampton,  in  1759,  and  continued  in  posses- 
sion of  his  descendants  until  recent  times,  when 
it  was  sold  to  the  Stephens  family. 

Isaac  Jessup,  who  lived  at  Noyack,  in  his 
will  (1750)  left  to  his  son  John  Jessup  ''all  his 
houses,  lands  and  meadows,  at  a  place  called 
Potunk  and  'Little  Onuck."  These  are  still 
owned  by  his  descendants.  Deacon  John  Jes- 
sup, who  is  well  remembered  by  the  present 
generation,  was  during  a  long  life  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  and  his  sons,  Cap^tain  Frank  Jessup,  Issac 
Jessup  and  Nathan  Jessup,  are  Avell  known  citi- 
zens. 

Thomas  Stephens,  of  Southampton,  in  his 
will  (1779)  leaves  to  his  son  William  Stephens, 
all  his  divided  lands  and  meadows  at  Potunk, 
and  all  his  lands  were  of  Asapotuck  creek.  His 
descendants  are  istill  remaining  in  the  section. 

June  2,  1888,  the  Town  Trustees  granted  to 
Nathan  C.  Jessup  the  privilege  of  building  a 
bridge  across  the  bay  to  the  beach.  The  bridge 
was  built,  but  the  loose  slipshod  manner  in 
which  the  grant  was  given  has  -not  only  been 
the  cause  of  expensive  law  suits,  but  has  pre- 
vented the  public  from  having  any  benefit  from 
the   enterprise. 

West  of  Potunk  are  the  two  necks  known 
in  our  early  records  as  Wonunk  and  Little  Wo- 
nunk,  the  name  having  been  (Changed  to  Onuck, 
as  it  is  now  called.  A  large  part  of  these  necks 
was  drawn  by  Thomas  Halsey.  Isaac  Halsey 
purchased  additional  land  and  had  a  hous-e  here 
in  1758.  By  his  will  (1751)  he  left  to  his  son, 
Ephraim  Halsey,  the  use  of  all  his  lands,  mead- 
ows and  buildings,  during  his  life,  with  rever- 
sion to  his  grandsons,  Cornelius  and  Sylvanus. 


340 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


The  two  necks  are  almost  entirely  owned  by  his 
descendants.  Ephraim  Halsey  died  August  20, 
1764,  aged  71.  Cornelius  Halsey  died  April  19, 
1782,  aged  61.  On  the  site  of  the  house  built 
by  the  original  settkr,  stands  the  residence  of 
the  late  Dennis  K.  Halsey,  who  died  November 
15,  1901,  aged  y6.  The  late  Isaac  C.  Halsey  and 
Edwin  C .  Halsey,  both  well  known  and  re- 
spected citizens,  owned  large  tracts  of  the  an- 
cestral  heritage. 

The  stream  and  creek  now  called  Beaver- 
dam,  is  the  boundary  between  the  Quogue  Pur- 
chase and  Topping's  Purchase,  the  northern  part 
of  the  boundary  being  a  straight  line  from  the 
mill  dam  to  the  bridge  at  Riverhead.  In  1738  the 
"Upper  Division  in  Quogue  Purchase''  was 
laid  out.  This  w^as  bounded  north  by  a  road  that 
crossed  the  stream  and  the  upper  part  of  Onuck 
Neck.  A  ''blank  lot"  of  100  acres  wa&  laid  out 
bounded  west  by  the  stream,  south  by  the  Lower 
Division,  north  by  the  road  above  mentioned, 
and  east  by  Lot  No'.  i.  This  "Blank  Lot"  was 
sold  by  the  Trustees  to  Hezekiali  Howell,  in 
1738,  and  he  sold  one- fourth  to  Nathaniel 
Howell.  The  proprietors  reserved  full  Hberty 
to  build  a  dam  and  mill.  The  northwest  cor- 
ner of  this  lot  is  sO'me  ways  north  of  the  pres- 
ent mill  dam,  and  is  where  the  old  road  crossed 
the  stream.  The  houses  in  the,  village  of 
Beaverdam  stand  on  this  lot. 

The  original  name  of  the  creek  and  stream 
was  Apocock  Creek,  and  the  neck  next  west  was 
Apocock  Neck.  This  is  an  Indian  name,  de- 
noting a  "place  where  flags  grow."  These  were 
used  by  the  Indians  to  cover  their  wigwams. 

At  a  meeting,  April  i,  1746,  "it  was  voted 
that  Abigail  Howell,  widow  of  John  Howell, 
Jr..  should  have  the  use  and  improvement  of  the 
stream  called  the  Beaverdam,  with  all  the  nec- 
essary conveniences  for  a  mill,  and  making  a 
dam,  for  twelve  years  to  come  and  them  to  re- 
turn to  the  town."  The  mill  w^as  built  soon 
after,  and  i's  mentioned  1748.  In  1758  it  was 
granted  to  Benjamin  Homan  for  thirteen  years, 
"provided  the  said  Homan  shall  keepe  and  main- 
tain a  good  griste  mill,  and  grind  for  one-tenth 
of  what  be  grinds,  and  shall  not  by  any  means 


or  pretentions,  take  or  exact  any  more  on  for- 
feiture of  the  use  of  the  stream,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  term,  the  stream  to  return  to  the 
Town."  In  1771  the  same  was  granted  to  Jere- 
miah Homan  (probably  a  son  of  Benjamin)  for 
ten  years.  He  was  to  "keep  the  mill  in  good 
order,  and  grind  after  the  common  custom,  and 
to  maintain  a  good  road  over  the  mill  dam,  and 
to  keep  a  good  road  from  the  meeting  house 
across  the  river,  four  poles  wide,  at  his  own 
cost."  As  the  mill  was  built  some  distance  be- 
low the  old  road,  the  highway  was  turned  so  as 
to  cross   the   dam. 

The  exact  time  when  a  church  was  erected 
here  is  unknown,  but  it  was  previous  to  1758. 
It  stood  in  what  is  now  the  burying 
ground,  very  near  the  gate.  It  remain- 
ed until  1 83 1 ,  when  the  church  was  built 
at  Quioge.  It  was  Presbyterian  in  its  or- 
ganization, and  for  many  years  the  parish  was 
connected  with  Moriches.  The  first  minister 
was  the  Rev.  Nehemiah  Greenman,  who 
preached-  in  1748  and  1749.  The  Rev.  Abner 
Reeve  was  ordained  in  1755.  It  became  a  dis- 
tinct parish  in  1763,  but  for  twenty  years  after 
that  time  there  was  no  settled  pastor.  A  com- 
plete list  of  pastors  may  be  found  in  Prime's 
"History  of  Long  Island."  In  1771  the  town 
granted  to  the  western  parish  the  use  of  a  tract 
of  wood  land,  extending  from  the  east  side  of 
the  mill  pond  to  a  point  twelve  rods  east  to  the 
meeting  house,  and  running  north  to  the  "old 
road,"  for  the  use  of  a  school  house  and  meet- 
ing house,  and  it  still  remains  for  the  same 
purpoise.  The  burying  ground  contains  the  re- 
mains O'f  the  early  settlers,  the  oldest  tombstone 
being  that  of  Eljsha  Howell,  Jr.,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 8,  1754,  aged  17.  A  monument  erected 
by  public  subscription  in  1866  to  the  memory  of 
the  soldiers  who  fo'Ught  and  fell  in  the  War  for 
the  Union  bears  the  following  names :  Cap- 
tain Franklin  B.  Hallock,  Sergeant  Cyrus  D. 
Tuthill,  Corporal  Hirani'  H.  \Vines,  Reeves  H. 
Havens,  Timothy  W.  Robbinson,  Thomas  M. 
Smith,  Edward  Stephens,  James  E.  Griffing, 
Henry  S.  Raynor. 

West  of  Apocock  are  two  necks,  known  in- 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


341 


the  old  records  as  Great  Tanner's  Neck  and 
Little  Tanner's  Neck.  The  meadows  in  these 
two  necks,  and  also  in  Apocock  Neck  and 
Speonk  Neck  were  laid  out  in  1712  (Vol.  II, 
Records,  Page  155.)  With  the  meadows  there 
was  also  laid  out  a  quantity  of  upland  which  ibe- 
longed  to  those  who  owned  the  meadows.  The 
uplands  in  the  upper  part  of  the  neck  -east  of 
Speonk  river  were  laid  out  in  1748,  at  the  same 
time  as  the  Speonk  division,  and  are  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  Moriches  road. 

Among  the  first  settlers  in  Tanner's  Neck 
was  Jonathan  Jagger.  As  early  as  1740  he 
purchased  many  lots  of  the  original  owners,  one 
of  his  purchasers  being  of  Daniel  Wicks,  who 
sold  him  "2^^  lots  bounded  west  by  the  middle 
of  the  Swamp  which  separates  Little  Tanner's 
Neck  from  Great  Tanner's  Neck."  Here  he 
built  a  house  which  stood  south  of  the  road,  not 
far  from  the  residence  of  his  descendant,  the 
late  Seth  R.  Jagger.  Hugh  Raynor  also  pur- 
chased large  tracts  and  owned  the  land  west  of 
Apocock  creek,  or  Beaverdam  river.  In  1799 
he  'sold  the  north  part  of  the  tract  to  Thomas 
Rogers,  of  Riverhead.  This  is  now  owned  by 
the  heirs  of  Lester  H.  Rogers. 

James  Haines  sold  to  Jonathan  Jagger,  in 
I739j  3^  lots  of  meadow  and  upland  in  Tan- 
ner's Neck,  "with  my  part  of  house  on  said 
neck."  Price  £70.  In  1743  James  Herrick, 
John  Mackie  and  Nathaniel  W^oodruff  sold  to 
Jonathan  Jagger  Lots  21-22-23-24  at  Little 
Tanner's   Neck.      Price   /70. 

Jeremiah  Culver  and  wife  Phebe  sold  to 
Jonathan  Jagger,  in  1804,  "A  tract  of  land  in 
Little  Tanner's  Neck,  bounded  north  by  high- 
way, east  by  Jonathan  Jagger,  west  by  Brushy 
neck,  south  by  bay."  Also  a  tract  of  wood  land 
north  of  the  highway,  bounded  north  by  the 
Country  road,  300  acres.     Price  £1300  ($3250). 

In  the  earliest  times  it  was  customary  for 
persons  who  owned  lots  or  meadows  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  town  to  build  small  houses  on 
the  upland  near  by.  In  these  houses  they  lived 
during  the  haying  season,  when  the  meadow 
hay  was  cut  and  stacked.  In  the  early  part  of 
winter   they    would   drive   their  cattle   to   these 


places  and  fodder  them  on  the  hay,  the  person 
attending  the  stock  living  in  the  houses  until 
spring.  This  explains  the  mention  of  houses 
long  before  there  was  any  actual  settlement. 

"To  the  Proprietors  of  Quago  purchase. 

Gentlemen  :  My  Humble  petition  to  you  is, 
that  you  will  be  pleased  to  grant  me  the  liberty 
of  taking  in  one  acre  of  land  lying  northward 
and  eastward  of  my  House  at  Ketchaponack, 
and  in  so  doing  I  will  make  such  satisfaction  for 
the  same  as  any  two  of  the  Proprietors  shall 
think  fit.  Hezekiah    Howell."" 

This  was  granted,  and  it  is  the  first  mention 
of  a  house  in  that  region.  It  stood  on  the  land 
now  (or  lately)  belonging  to  Mortimer  D. 
Howell,   near  the  bay. 

In  1831  Reuben  Harris  was  a  Methodist  cir- 
cuit preacher  who  preached  occasionally  at  this 
place.  The  first  convert  seems  to  have  been 
Ezra  Jagger.  He  established  a  class,  and  for  six- 
teen years  was  a  faithful  itinerant  j)reacner,  and 
died  in  1850.  The  first  members  of  the  congre- 
gation were  Ezra  Jagger,  Silas  Tuthill,  Thomas 
Rogers,  Charles  Howell,  William  Raynor,  Will- 
iam Jessup,  Phebe  Jagger,  Phebe  Corwin  and 
John  Gordon.  In  1833  a  church  was  erected 
on  land  given  by  Deacon  Cephus  Jagger,  who 
afterwards  joined  the  society.  For  a  few  years 
it  was  called  the  West  Hampton  mission,  but  in 
1836  it  became  a  self-sustaining  circuit.  A 
parsonage  was  built  in  1856,  and  in  1859  the 
church  was  enlarged  and  improved. 

Brushy  Neck  is  next  east  of  Speonk  river. 
April  6,  1742,  it  was  voted  at  Town  meeting 
"That  Bushy  neck  lying  in  ye  west  bounds 
of  Southampton  shall  be  for  a  parsonage,  for  ye 
use  of  a  Gospel  Presbyterian  minister  that  shall 
be  suteably  qualified  for  ye  gospell  rule  'by  our 
people  yt  shall  call  him,  there  unto,  and  on  de- 
fault thereof  the  said  Brushy  neck  shall  return 
to  ye  Proiprietors  again." 

Speonk  was  the  original  name  of  the  entire 
tract  west  of  Speonk  river,  but  Speonk  Neck 
proper  was  next  west  of  the  river  and  extend- 
ing to  the  pond.  The  meadows  in  Speonk 
Neck  were  laid  out  in  1712  (II  Vol.  Records, 
Page  155)  ;  141  acres  of  upland  were  also  laid 


342 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


out  to  the  meadows.  This  was.  'bounded  north 
by  the  best  going  over  into  Brushy  neck.  The 
first  notice  we  have  is  in  1745,  when  it  was  voted 
by  the  trustees  that  Abram  Halsey  (who  was  son 
of  Thomas  Halsey,  2d)  should  have  some  land 
at  Speonk  runnmg  from  the  swamp  to  his 
house.  There  may  be  some  doubt  whether  this 
was  a  permanent  dwelling  or  only  used  for  a 
part  of  the  year.  The  rest  of  the  land  in  this 
region  was  laid  out  in  the  Speonk  Division 
(1748)  the  lots  being  bounded  at  the  north  by 
the  Moriches  road.  Seatuck  Neck  includes  the 
land  between  Seatuck  river  and  the  stream  where 
the  mill  and  pond  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Howell 
lately  were.  Middle  Neck  included  the  land  be- 
tween this  stream  (sometimes  called  Little  Sea- 
tuck) and  the  Great  Pond.  East  of  Great  Pond 
was  Basket  Neck,  which  extended  east  to 
Speonk  Neck,  or  the  little  pond.  This  Division 
is  in  Vol.  Ill,  Records,  Page  136.  At  that  time 
Captain  Halsey's  house  is  mentioned,  and  a 
highway  was  laid  out  to  it.  This  stood  on  the 
east  side  of  the  road  funning  by  the  house  of 
the  late  Joel  Tuthill,  and  about  80  rods  south  of 
it.  Abram  Halsey  bought  many  lots  in  this  Di- 
vision. He  had  a  son,  David,  who  had  sons  Hi- 
ram and  Oliver,  from  whom  the  present  families 
are  descended.  In  175 1  Isaac  Halsey  leaves  to 
his  grandson  Sylvester  Halsey,  all  his  lands, 
meadows  and  buildings  at  Speonk.  Stephen 
and  David  Rogers  also  owned  land  here  in  1748, 
and  mention  is  made  of  land  having  been  sold  to 
them  by  the  trustees.  Stephen  Rogers,  hy  will, 
left  to  his  eldest  son  Vincent  Rogers  all  his 
homestead,  houses  and  land  south  of  the  road. 
He  left  to  his  son  Stephen  45  acres  north  of  the 
road,  and  all  his  meadow  on  Speonk  river.  The 
homestead  was  left  to  Vincent,  was  left  by  him 
to  his  son  Thomas,  who  sold  it  to  Oliver  Tuthill, 
and  it  was  afterwards  sold  to  Charles  Halsey, 
Warren  Ruland,  Henry  Fordham  and  Philip 
Brady,  who  are  its  recent  owners.  The  land 
left  to  Stephen  was  sold  by  him  to  Henry  Cor- 
win,  who  gave  it  to  his  son  Henry,  and  he  sold 
to  Captain  John  Rogers  and  Noah  Tuthill.  All 
the  above  lands  were  in  Speonk  Neck. 

All  the  Lots  in  Seatuck  neck  appear  to  have 


been  purchased  from  the  original  owner  by  Ed- 
ward Petty.  April  17,  1775,  Edward  Petty  and 
wife  Sarah  sold  to  John  Tuttle  ''A  certain  neck 
of  land  at  Setuck,  being  7  Lots,  beginning  at  No. 
I  on  the  west  or  at  the  river  where  Capt.  Josiah 
Smith  and  David  Howell  hath  a  gristmill  and 
saw  mill  now  standing.  The  neck  being  bounded 
on  said  river  the  west  side,  on  the  south  end  by 
the  hay  or  water,  and  on  the  eas-t  by  the  water 
until  it  comes  to  a  certain  stake  at  Silas  Schel- 
lenger's  mill  tail,  being  a  bound  between  Lot 
No.  7  and  No.  8,  and  from-  said  stake  by  the 
'land  of  the  fore  mentioned  SiLas  Schellenger 
unto  a  certain  bound  at  Moriches  path,  and  on 
the  north  !by  said  path.  Except  one  acre  which 
I  convey  unto  Capt.  Josiah  Smith  for  the  benefit 
of  a  mill."  Witness,  David  Arnold  and  Mary 
Arnold.     Seatuck  then  contained  7  Lots. 

Joseph  Rogers,  who  lived  in  Bridge  Hamp- 
ton, sold  his  house  and  land  at  that  place  to 
Thomas  Stanford,  in  exchange  for  "all  his  lot- 
ted land  and  meadow  at  Speonk."  This  em- 
braced all  of  Middle  Neck,  between  Little  Sea- 
tuck stream  and  the  Great  Pond,  and  included 
Lots  8  to  23,  inclusive.  This  estate  is  still 
for  the  greater  part  in  possession  of  his  de- 
scendants. 

May  4,  1754,  Daniel  Bower  sold  to  Jeremiiah 
Smith,  of  Huntington,  "A  parcel  of  upland  and 
meadow  and  marsh  ground,  situate  at  a  place 
called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Speonk,  being 
12^  lots,  lying  in  the  neck  formerly  called  the 
Basket  Neck,  where  the  said  Daniel  Bower  now 
liveth.  Beginning  on  the  west  side  of  said  neck 
with  Number  24,  including  up  and  to  No.  36^ 
that  is  to  the  middle  of  No.  36.  Not  to  include 
any  amendments.  Also  all  my  piece  of  marsh 
or  meadow  land  lying  along  by  the  east  of  the 
Great  Pond,  between  the  upland,  or  the  above 
said  lot  of  land,  to  No.  29,  adjoining  also  on  the 
west  of  the  creek  or  gut,  and  to  the  bay  south. 
Also  J/2  of  all  the  lots  of  meadow  or  meadow 
land  dying  on  Speonk  river,  that  were  laid  out 
to  the  above  said  Basket  Neck,  not  including  any 
amendments.  The  said  I2)4  lots  are  bounded 
north  by  Moriches  road,  south  by  the  bay." 
Price  ^250.     Jeremiah  Smith  and  wife  Hannah 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


343 


sold  the  entire  tract  to  William  Phillips,  of 
Brookhaven ,  July  13,  1757.  In  1771,  Joseph 
Rogers  sold  to  William  Phillips  and  Josiah  Phil- 
lips ''all  that  part  of  his  estate  lying  east  of  the 
new  road  running  across  my  neck.  The  "new 
road"  is  the  one  running  from  Speonk  to  Water- 
ville  or  Eastport,  by  the  house  of  the  late  Will- 
iam E.  Phillips,  now  of  Theodore  Tuttle. 

Daniel  Bower,  who  was  of  an  old  Southamp- 
ton family,  now  extinct,  was  undoubtedly  the 
first  actual  resident  in  this  region. 

The  Phillips  family,  four  brothers,  were  de- 
scendants of  the  Rev.  George  Phillips,  who  was 
minister  at  Setauket.  In  1782  the  four  brothers 
bought  of  Henry  Ludlam  "A  certain  tract  of 
land  and  meadow  at  Speonk,  bounded  east  by 
tlie  bay  and  land  of  William  Chard,  south  by 
bay,  west  by  land  of  Vincent  and  Stephen 
Rogers,  north  by  Moriches  road."  This  is  the 
estate  of  the  late  Joseph  Phillips.  William 
Chard  may  have  been  a  son  of  Samuel  Chard, 
who  is  mentioned  in  the  will  of  Isaac  Halsey,  in 
1752,  as  renting  land  of  him. 

The  bract  in  Basket  Neck,  bought  by  Will- 
iam Phillips,  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Grin 
Dayton  and  Theodore  Tuttle.  John  R.  Dayton, 
by  opening  a  wide  channel  between  the  Great 
Pond  and  the  bay,  has  greatly  improved  this 
section. 

The  saw  mill  and  pond  on  Little  Seatuck 
(fomerly  owned  by  Silas  Schellenger)  was  sold 
by  Jesse  Ruland  to  Joshua  Terry,  July  10,  1808, 
described  as  "30  acres,  with  house,  saw  mill  and 
stream,  bounded  north  by  Country  road,  'east 
by  Josiah  Phillips,  west  by  John  Tuttle,  south 
by  Josiah  Ray  nor." 

The  Tuthill  family,  now  so  numerous,  are 
descended'  from  John  and  James  Tuthill,  uncle 
and  nephew,  who  came  from  Southold  about 
1760.  The  former  named  was  generally  known 
as  "Hunter  John."  He  bought  an  extensive 
tract  of  land,  now  greatly  subdivided.  His 
house  stood  south  of  the  residence  of  the  late 
Herman  Rogers.  His  tombstone  in  a  burying 
ground  near  by  bears  the  inscription,  "in  mem- 
ory of  John  Tuthill,  who  died  November  4, 
1^5^    aged    ^^   years."      His    wife    Sarah    died 


December  ir,  1820,  aged  84.  The  Seatuck  Neck, 
which  he  bought  of  Edward  Petty,  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  a  great  many  people. 

The  first  church  in  this  village  was  built  in 
1846,  and  was  a  neat  and  substantial  structure. 
It  was  originally  Presbyterian.  In  later  years 
it  was  connected  with  the  Methodist  Society, 
and  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  minister  of 
West  Hampton. 

Years  ago  occurred  an  event  which  created 
an  excitement  and  animosity  out  of  all  propor- 
tion tO'  the  exciting  cause.  In  February,  1895, 
the  Rev.  Alinot  S.  Arorgan,  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Speonk,  procured  signatures  to  a  petition  to 
the  Postmaster  General,  asking  a  change  of 
name  of  the  postofhce  at  that  place.  He  had  been 
pastor  there  for  a  few  months,  and  had  taken  a 
very  serious  dislike  to  the  aboriginal  name  of  the 
village.  A  counter  petition  was  prepared  by  Air. 
Rensselaer  Dayton,  which  was  largely  signed. 
Mr.  Morgan  then  started  on  a  new  line.  Dr. 
Charles  Remsen,  a  wealthy  summer  visitor,  and 
descendant  of  a  very  ancient  and  honorable 
family,  was  very  much  es.teemed  by  the  com- 
munity. His  father,  Mr.  William  Remsen,  died 
]\Iarch  3,  1895.  Dr.  Remsen,  being  much  at- 
tached to  the  place,  contemplated  the  erection 
of  a  church  or  library  or  public  hall.  Mr.  Mor- 
gan is  said  to  have  proposed,  or  made  his  per- 
sonal engagement,  that,  if  the  church  was  built, 
the  name  of  the  village  would  be  changed  to 
Remsenburg,  in  recognition  of  the  gift.  Dr. 
Remsen  informed  Mr.  Morgan  that  this  would 
be  acceptable,  proyided  no  objection  was  made 
by  the  people.  Mr.  ]\Iorgan  then  solicited  sig- 
natures to  a  new  petition  to  the  Postmaster 
General,  representing  to  the  citizens  that  Dr. 
Remsen's  proposed  gift  was  conditional  upon 
the  new  name.  This  representation  and  respect 
entertained  for  Dr.  Remsen  caused  many  to 
sign  it,  and  his  canvass  of  the  village  was 
pressed  with  great  alacrity  before  those  who 
were  opposed  could  offer  theit  objections. 
Under  the  changed  aspects  of  the  case,  some 
signed  who  had  formerly  opposed,  and  among 
them  was  the  principal  leader  of  the  opposition. 
In    the  counter   movement,    Captain   Ernest   A. 


344 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


Des  Marets,  Elias  P.  Tiittle  and  Lewis  Tuttle 
took  the  lead,  and  a  very  vigorous  public  senti- 
ment was  aroused  against  changing  the  ancient 
name.  Feeling  ran  high,  and  out  of  eighty  land 
owners,  fifty-two  signed  the  counter  petition, 
some  alleging  that  they  had  been  misled.  In 
July,  189s,  Mr.  JMorgan  went  to  Washington 
and  presented  his  petition  to  the  Fourth  Assist- 
ant Postmaster  General.  At  a  later  date,  Cap- 
tain Des  ]\Iarets,  Elias  P.  Tuttle  and  Lewis  Tut- 
tle also  went  and  .sought  a  hearing,  but,  the 
Fourth  Assistant  Postmaster  General  being  ab- 
sent, they  placed  their  petition  on  file  and  re- 
turned. The  application  to  change  fhe  name  to 
Remsen  was  rejected  on  the  ground  that  there 
was  an  office  of  tlie  name  in  New  Jersey.  The 
name  of  Remsenburg  was  substituted,  and  the 
petition  was  granted  in  October,  1895.  The 
first  letter  postmarked  "Remsenburg''  was  sent 
out  from  the  Old  Speonk  postoffice,  November 
20,  1895.  The  Long  Island  Railroad  refused  to 
change  the  name  of  the  Station  for  a  long  time, 
but  finally  yielded,  under  the  general  rule  that 
each  Station  should  be  named  after  the  nearest 
postoffice.  But  it  was  "Remsenburg"  for  only 
one  month  and  two  days,  for  a  new  postoffice 
was  established  and  called  by  the  old  name  of 
Speonk.  This  was  on  July  9,  1897.  This  was 
in  accordance  with  a  petition  presented  by  Cap- 
tain Des  Alarets  and  others,  and  signed  b)-  sixty- 
five  persons,  in  the  spring  of  1897.  It  should  be 
observed  that  Dr.  Remsen  was  not  a  party  to  the 
controversy.  The  principal  argument  used  by 
the  advocates  of  "Remsenburg"  was  that  the 
old  name  of  Speonk  was  a  detriment  to  the 
place,  and  had  a  tendency  to  prevent  summer 
visitors  from  making  it  a  place  of  summer  resi- 
dence. However,  the  new  church  was  built  and 
dedicated  as  a  Presbyterian  church  on  "Septem- 
ber 13,  1896. 

At  what  time  a  school  was  established  here 
is  not  known,  but  it  was  before  1796- 
The  teacher  was  Elias  Woolley,  of  Southampton. 
The  trustees  were  John  Culver  and  Moses  Phil- 
lips. The  following  is  the  list  of  scholars  in  the 
year  given : 


Benjamin  Phillips, 
Stephen  Phillips, 
Susanna  Phillips, 
Elijah  Phillips, 
Abiraham  Culver,- 
John  Culver, 
Eunice  Culver, 
William  H.  Phillips, 
Sally  Phillips, 
Edmund  Fanning, 
Alexander  Fanning, 
Harriet  Fanning^ 
Phineas  Phillips, 
Hannah  Phillipse, 
Jacoib  Raynor, 
Jerusha   Raynor, 
Sally  Raynor, 
David  Tarbell, 
Rebecca  Tarbell, 
David  Sweezv, 


Nathan  Sweezy, 
Bethiah  Sweezy, 
John  Raynor, 
Nathan  Raynor, 
Ruth  Raynor, 
Betsey  Raynor, 
Jotham  Raynor, 
Charles  Rogers, 
Clarissa  Rogers,. 
Martha  Rogers, 
Oliver  Rogers, 
William  Tuthill, 
Thomas   Rogers, 
Phebe  Culver. 
Jesse  Rogers, 
Peter   (negro), 
Shadrach    (negro) , 
Joe   (negro), 
Catharine  (negro). 


The  old  school  house  stood  on  the  north  side 
of  the  street,  in  front  of  the  homestead  of  Orin 
Fordham  and  his  son  Jonathan  Fordham.  It 
was  a  small  unpainted  building.  The  present 
school  building  was  erected  in  1894,  and  is  \yell 
suited  for  its  purpose.  The  old  school  house 
was  used  for  some  time  as  a  church  by  the  por- 
tion of  the  community  who  declined  accepting 
Remsenburg  a?  the  name  of  the  place.  It  was 
burned  on  ]\Iarch  12,  .1898. 

The  road  from  Renisenburg  (or  Speonk)  to 
Waterville  was  opened  about  1771,  and  was 
then  called  the  "new  road."  In  1772  Colonel 
Josiah  Smith  and  David  Howell,  of  Moriches, 
built  the  mill  on  Seatuck  river,  and  raised  the 
pond.  Edward  Petty,  by  deed,  May  27,  the 
same  year^  sold  them  an  acre  of  land  for  build- 
ing a  dam.  This  mill,  which  was  one  of  the 
most  important  in  the  town,  continued  till  very 
recent  years.  For  a  long  time  it  was  owned  by 
one  Pye,  and  was  widely  known  as  "Pye's  mill." 
About  1878  it  was  sold  to  George  W.  Tuthill. 
A  few  years  since  it  was  sold  with  the  pond  to 
the  Oxford  Gun  Club,  who  demolished  the 
building  that  had  stood  so  long.  As  this  mill 
was  on  the  west  side  of  the  dam,  it  was  in 
Brookhaven.  The  street  through  this  village 
was  cut  through  the  forest  by  John  Tuthill  after 


SOUTHAMPTON. 


345 


his  purchase  of  the  neck.  The  oldest  house  is 
that  of  the  late  Cephus  Tuthill,  which  was  built 
by  John  Tuthill,  Jr.,  about  1806.  A  church  was 
organized  here  in  1822  and  belonged  to  the  de- 
nomination known  as  "Stillwellites."  It  was 
afterwards  changed  to  Protestant  Methodist. 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  school  bouse  and  pri- 
vate dwellings,  and  the  present  church  was  built 
in    1853. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  road  that  runs  clown 


Potunk  Neck  was  standing  until  recently 
an  old  house  that  fifty  years  ago  was  owned  by 
Elisha  Howell.  This  was  probably  the  same 
house  owned  originally  by  CorneHus  Halse}^ 
and  left  by  him  to  his  son  Timothy  in  1779. 
This  house  was  torn  down  and  the  old  church 
which  formerly  stood  at  Quioge  was  moved  to 
the  site  and  enlarged  and  now  does  duty  as  a 
boarding  house,  owned  and  occupied  by  Na- 
than C.  Jessup. 


.# 


# 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


HIS  town  occupies  the  extreme  eastern 
portion  of  the  south  branch  of  the  isl- 
and. It  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  the 
town  of  Southampton,  and  the  bound- 
ary is  described  in  the  history  of  that  town, 
while  on  the  north,  the  east  and  the 
south  nature  has  fixed  the  boundaries,  and 
around  it  the  ocean  and  the  bay  are  everlast- 
ing bounds.  As  in  the  adjoining  towns,  the  im- 
proved and  cultivated  lands  bear  a  small  pro- 
portion to  the  part  that  continues  in  "  a  state 
of  nature,  and  the  forest  still  occupies  the  west- 
ern and  much  of  the  northern  portion  of  the 
town.  The  range  of  hills,  which  are  probably 
the  moraine  of  an.  ancient  glacier,  do  not  extend 
to  this  town,  and  west  ai  Montauk  there  are  no 
high  elevations  of  land.  The  portion  next  the 
ocean  is  a  low  plain,  while  the  shore  itself  is 
fringed  by  the  line  of  sand  hills  or  beach  banks 
which  form  so  prominent  a  feature  of  the  Long 
Island   coast. 

Upon   the  north   side,   by  the   shore   of   Pe- 
conic  Bay  and  Gardiner's  Bay,  we  find  the  sur- 


face more  hilly,  and  the  beach  on  the  bay  itself 
is  bounded  by  cliffs,  in  some  places  of  consider- 
able height.  The  action  of  the  waves  during 
storms  gradually  undermined  the  clififs,  and  land 
slides  on  a  small  scale  are  not  unfrequent.  The 
lighter  portions  of  the  soil  are  swept  away, 
while  the  boulders  are  left  as  monuments  to 
mark  the  places  which  the  land  once  occupied. 
This  encroachment  has  produced  great  geo- 
graphical changes  in  the  past,  and  there  is  very 
little  doubt  but  that  Shelter  Island  and  Gardin- 
er's Island  were  once  connected  with  the  ad- 
joining shores.  The  bay  thus  gradually  en- 
croaches upon  the  land  to  a  much  greater  ex- 
tent than  is  generally  supposed.  In  the  suit  be- 
tween the  Trustees  of  the  Town  of  Easthamp- 
ton  and  Josiah  Kirk,  the  point  in  question  was 
the  right  of  the  town  to  the  beach  between  the 
bay  )and  the  upland  of  the  defendant,  the  prem- 
ises being  at  that  portion  of  the  town  known 
as  "Northwest."  It  was  shown  from  the  rec- 
ords that  when  the  land  was  originally  laid  out, 
in  1736,  the  lots  were  bounded  not  by  the  bay 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


347 


but  by  the  cliff,  and  it  was  most  conclusively 
shown  by  the  evidence  that  the  bay  had'  en- 
croached to  such  an  extent  that  the  place  where 
the  cliif  was  then  must  now  be  under  water. 
The  process  of  encroachment  is  especially  dis- 
cerniible  at  'Montauk.  The  whole  region  there 
is  evidently  of  glacial  formation,  and  composed 
of  earth,  clay,  gravel  and  boulders  of  all  sizes, 
from  large  rocks  to  small  pebbles,  mixed  to- 
gether. The  cliff  at  the  extreme  point  is  about 
seventy  feet  in  height,  and  the  encroaching  pro- 
cess above  described  has  covered  the  coast  with 
rocks  which  extend  in  <an  unbroken  line  acrosis 
to  Block  Island,  and  reaches  south  to  a  distance 
of  ntany  miles,  showing  conclusively  tihat  this 
part  of  Long  Island  is  but  a  mere  fragment  of 
its  former  self. 

Separating  Montauk  from  the  western  part 
of  the  town  is  a  desolate  tract  known  as  Na- 
peagne  Beach .  This  is  some  five  miles  in 
len'gth,  and  its  width  is  from  Gardiner's  Bay 
to  the  ocean.  It  is  composed  entirely  of  sand, 
which  is  blown  into  hills  by  the  winds.  On  the 
■north  side  are  small  pieces  of  meadow  which 
in  early  times  were  of  considerable  value  on  ac- 
count of  the  meadow  grass,  which  yielded  an  un- 
failing crop.  The  remainder  produces  nothing 
but  a  few  scanty  bushes  of  the  beach  plun>  and 
other  plants  which  are  adapted  to  their  barren 
dwelling  place.  This  region  was  probably  cov- 
ered by  the  sea.  There  is  a  tradition  that  at  an 
early  date  the  skeleton  of  a  whale  was  visible 
near  the  western  end  of  the  beach,  nearly  mid- 
way between  the  ocean  and  the  highlands.  This 
must  have  been  left  by  the  receding  ocean  or 
carried  to  the  place  by  some  extraordinary  tide. 
The  marshy  places  render  it  the  paradise  of 
mosquitoes,  and  here,  if  we  may  speak  from 
experience,  may  be  found  the  most  annoying 
specimens  of '  that  bloodthirsty  race.  Next  to 
this  comes  the  peninsula  of  Montauk. 

In  the  early  times  the  whole  of  the  land 
now  embraced  in  the  town  was  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  a  tribe  of  Indians  known  from  their 
seat  of  principal  residence  as  the  Montauks. 
This  tribe  seems  to  have  been  miore  powerful 
than  any  other  on  the  east  end  of  I-ong  Island, 


and  all  the  other  tribes  within  the  limits  of  Suf- 
folk county  were  to  some  extent  under  their 
control.  They,  in  turn,  stood  in  great  dread 
of  the  Pequot  and  Narragansett  Indians.  Their 
comparative  proximity  and  the  facility  with 
which  they  could  land  upon  their  shores  with 
their  fleets  of  war  canoes,  rendered  them  sub- 
servient to  the  fierce  tribe  which  was  the  terror 
of  the  New  England  settlements.  It  was  in" 
reference  to  these  that  a  clause  was  inserted  in 
the  Indian  deed  for  Southampton,  that  the  Eng- 
lish should  defend  them  against  the  attack's  of 
any  other  Indians  who  should  unlawfully  as- 
sail them.  At  the  head  of  the  J\Iontauk  tribe 
wag  the  great  chief  Wyandanch,  who  assumed 
the  title  of  Sachem  of  Pawmanack,  or  'Long 
Island.  At  what  time  this  title  was  assumed  is 
uncertain,  but  in  a  curious  affidavit  made  by 
Thomas  Halsey,  of  Southampton,  whose  wife 
was  murdered  by  some  Indians,  in  1649,  ^^ 
deposes  "That  at  the  time  of  the  trouble  in 
Southampton,  by  reason  of  murther  committed 
by  the  Indians,  I  saw  Mandush,  whoe  was  a 
man  reputed  and  acknowledged  to  be  the  great 
Sachem's  son  of  Shinecock,  cutt  up  a  turf  of 
ground  in  Southampton  and  delivering  it  to 
Wyandanch  gave  up  all  his  right  and  interest 
unto  him.  And  bee  the  said  Mandush,  with 
many  others  of  the  chiefe  of  Shinecock  Indians, 
did  manifest  their  consent  by  their  ordinary 
signs  of  streaking  Wyandanch  on  the  back. 
And'  since  that  time  the  said  Wyandanch  (who 
was  Sachem  of  Meantauk)  hath  acted  upon  ye 
afore  said  interest  given  to  him,  as  by  letting 
and  disposing  of  lands  at  Quaquanantuck  and 
elsewhere."  This  was  sworn  to  September  19, 
1666.  According  to  the  statement  of  the  author 
of  ''Chronicles  of  East  Hampton,"  the  Long 
Island  tribes  were  under  the  control  and  subject 
to  Poggatacut,  Sachem  of  the  Manhassett  tribe, 
which  inhabited  Shelter  Island,  "who  had  un- 
der him  ten  or  fifteen  sachemsi  to  whom  his  word 
was  law."  Poggatacut  died  in  1651,  and  wasi 
succeeded  by  his  brother  Wyandanch,  who  then 
became  the  grand  Sachem'  of  Long  Island.  As 
a  place  of  refuge  against  their  enemies,  the  In- 
dians built  a  fort  at  the  west  end  of  Montauk, 


348 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


not  far  from  the  line  separating  it  from  Na- 
peague  beach.  This  fort  must  have  been  aban- 
doned at  an  early  date,  for  in  the  deed  for  Mon- 
tauk,  given  in  1661,  allusion  is  made  to  its  site 
as  the  place  "wli^ere  the  old  Indian  fort  stood." 
At  that  time  a  new  fort  had  been  made  on  the 
northeast  side  of  Fort  Pond,  on  what  is  still 
called  Fort  Hill.  The  outlines  of  this  work  are 
yet  visible,  and  show  that  it  was  a'bout  one  hun- 
dred feet  square,  with  a  round  tower  at  each 
corner.  Its  position  was  Avell  chosen  for  de- 
fense, and  must  have  afforded  comparative 
security  against  an  enemy  who  did  not  pos- 
sess the  means  or  the  patience  to  carry 
on  a  regular  siege.  Relics  of  ancient  burial 
places  are  found  in  the  vicinity,  and  doubtless 
here  rest  the  remains  of  many  a  warrior  whose 
deeds  are  long  since  forgotten  and  are  unre- 
corded in  song  or  story.  In  the  great  hattlc 
at  Mystic  Fort  the  power  oi  the  Pequots  was 
destroA'ed  forever,  and  the  few  of  that  tribe 
who  were  among  the  Long  Island  Indians  were 
hunted  out  and  destroyed.  After  this,  the  Narra- 
gansetts,  seeing  the  destruction  of  the  Pequots, 
became  jealous  of  the  growing  power  of  the 
English,  and  their  chief,  Miantonomah,  endeav- 
ored to  induce  the  neighboring  tribes  to  unite 
in  a  comtnon  cause  and  destroy  the  English  set- 
tlements at  one  blow.  Accordingly,  he  visited 
the  Montauks  and  made  every  effort  to  enlist 
the  Sachem  in  his  enterprise.  He  represented 
that  the  whites  had  already  taken  the  'best  of 
their  lands,  that  game,  once  so  abundant,  was 
now  scarce,  and  in  a  short  time  the  Indians  must 
perish  before  the  advancing  power  of  their  new 
enemy.  "For  this  purpose,"  said  the  wily  sav- 
age, "I  have  come  secretly  to  you,  because  you 
can  persuade  the  Indians  and  sachem's  of  Long 
Island  what  you  will.  P>rothers,  I  will  send 
over  fifty  Indians  to  Block  Island,  and  thirty  to 
you  from  thence,  and  take  an  hundred  of  South- 
ampton Indians,  with  an  hundred  of  your  own 
here,  and  when  you  see  the  three  fires  that  will 
he  made  at  the  end  of  forty  days  hence,  in  a 
clear  night,  then  do  as  we  shall  do  and  follow 
and  kill  men,  women  and  children,  but  not  the 
cows — they  will  serve  for  provisions  till  the  deer 


be  increased."  Fortunately  the  Montauk 
Sachem  did  not  listen  to  this  appeal.  Had  he 
done  so,  and  thrown  his  powerful  influence  into 
the  scale  of  war,  it  is  almost  certain  that  the 
settlements  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island 
would  have  been  swept  from  the  face  of  the 
earth.  As  it  was,  he  communicated  his  knowl- 
edge to  the  magistrates  in  Connecticut,  and,  as 
Lion  Gardiner  quaintly  remarks,  "so  the  plot 
failed  and  the  plotter  next  spring  after  died,  as 
Ahab  died  at  Ramoth  Gilead."  Ninigret,  who 
was  afterward  the  Sachem  of  the  Narragansetts, 
attempted  to  carry  out  the  same  plan,  and  in 
the  same  manner  endeavored  to  obtain  the  help 
of  the  Montauks.  Failing  in  this,  he  began  a 
war  with  that  tribe,  which  was  carried  on  by 
both  sides  with  great  vigor.  Learning  that  the 
enemy  was  on  Block  Island,  the  Montauk 
Sachem  proceeded  thither  with  a  large  force,  and 
in  a  sudden  attack  killed  about  thirty  of  the 
Narragansetts.  After  this,  Ninigret  made  a  de- 
scent upon  Montauk,  which  he  ravaged,  burn- 
ing wigwams-,  destroying  cornfieldis  and  killing 
many  of  the  bravest  warriors.  It  was  during 
this  attack  that  he  carried  off  the  daughter  of 
Wyandanch,  the  Montauk  Sachem.  As  the 
story  runs,  the  daughter  of  the  Sachem  was  to 
be  married  to  a  young  chief  of  his  tribe  at  Fort 
Pond.  Knowing  that  all  precautions  would  be 
overlooked  in  the  revelry  of  the  festive  occasion, 
Ninigret  camie  down  in  force  upon  his  unpre- 
pared enemy,  slaughtered  half  the  tribe,  includ- 
ing the  bridegroom,  and  bore  away  the  bride 
as  his  captive  to  the  main  land.  Through  the 
interference  and  aid  of  Lion  Gardiner,  she  was 
restored  to  her  people,  and  Wyandanch,  in  grati- 
tude, gave  to  Gardiner  the  greater  part  of  what 
is  now  Smithtown,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  his- 
tory of  that  tO'wn.  In  this  war  the  power  and 
strength  of  the  Montauks  was  almost  entirely 
destroyed,  and  their  case  was  rendered  almost 
hopeless  by  a  -sickness  which  prevailed  in  the 
years  1658  and  1659.  Among  the  victims  was 
the  great  Wyandanch,  and  the  tribe,  having  lost 
their  greatest  warrior,  was  compelled  to  ask  the 
help  and  protection  O'f  the  English  at  East 
Hampton,     This   was   readily  granted,   and  the 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


349 


remnant  of  the  tribe  was  permitted  to  reside  on 
the  parsonage  land  at  the  south  end  of  the  vil- 
lage. 

Wyandanch  left  a  widow  who  is  mentioned 
in  the  records  as  the  "Sunk  Squaw/"  and  an 
only  son,  Wyancomhone,  who  is  mentioned  in 
the  Southampton  Records.  He  died  of  small- 
pox at  an  early  age,  and  the  "line  of  the  great 
Sachem  was  extinct.  After  things  became  more 
quiet,  the  remnant  of  the  tribe  lived  on  their 
ancient  heritage  of  Montauk,  with  constantly 
dwindling  numbers,  until  the  present  day.  Their 
present  status  will  be  given  in  the  sketch  of 
IMontauk. 

The  work  of  David  Gardiner,  "Chronicles 
of  East  Hampton/'  is  a  book  of  the  greatest 
value,  and  a  more  extended  notice  will  be  found 
in  the  chapter  on  "Bibliography." 

The  lands  now  included  in  East  Hampton 
lay  vacant  and  unclaimed  until  the  spring  of 
1648,  when  Theophilus  Eaton,  Governor  of  the 
Colony  of  New  Haven,  and  Edward  Hopkins, 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  obtained  the  follow- 
ing deed   from  the  Indians : 

This  present  Writing  testifieth  an  agree- 
ment between  the  Worshipful  Theophilus 
Eaton,  Esquire,  Governor  of  the  Colony  of  New 
Haven,  And  the  Worshipful  Edward  Hopkins, 
Esquire,  Governor  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut, 
and  their  associates,  on  the  one  part,  And  Po- 
gatacut,  Sachem  of  IManhanset,  A\'yandanch, 
Sachem  of  Meantauket,  Momowoton,  Sachem  of 
Corchauk,  Nowedonah,  Sachem  of  Shinecock, 
and  their  assotyates,  the  other  Part.  The  said 
Sachems  having  sould  unto  the  foresayed  Mr, 
Eaton  and  Mr.  Hopkins  with  their  assotyates 
all  the  land  lying  from  the  bounds  of  the  In- 
habitants of  Southampton  unto  the  East  side  of 
Napeak,  next  unto  Meantacut  highland,  with  the 
whole  breadth  from  sea  to  sea,  not  intrenching 
upon  any  in  length  or  breadth  which  the  In- 
habitants of  Southampton  have  and  do  possess, 
as  they  by  Lawfull  right  shall  make  appear;  for 
and  in  Consideration  of  twentie  coats,  twenty- 
four  looking  glasses,  twenty-four  hoes,  twenty- 
four  hatchets,  twenty-four  knives,  one  hundred 
muxes,  already  received  by  us  the  forenamed 
Sachems,  for  ourselves  and  assotiates,  and  in 
consideration  thereof  wee  doe  give  up  unto  the 


said  Purchasers  all  our  right  and  Interest  in  the 
said  land  to  them  and  their  heyers  for  ever. 

Allsoe  we  doe  bind  ourselves  to  secure  ^their 
right  from  any  claim  of  any  others,  whether  In- 
dians or  other  nations  whatsoever,  that  doe  or 
may  hereafter  challenge  Interest  therein.  Allsoe 
wee  the  said  Sachems  have  Covenanted  to  have 
Liberty  to  fish  in  any  or  all  the  creeks  and  ponds 
and  to  hunt  up  and  downe  in  the  woods  without 
Molestation,  they  giving  the  English  Inhabitants 
noe  just  offence  or  Injurie  to  their  goods  or  cat- 
tle. Lykewise  they  are  to  have  the  fyns  and 
tayles  of  all  stich  whales  as  shall  be  cast  up,  to 
their  proper  right,  and  desire  they  may  be  friendly 
dealt  with  in  ye  other  part.  Allsoe  they  reserve 
liberty  to  fish  in  all  convenient  places  for  shells 
to  make  wampum.  Allsoe  if  the  Indyans  hunt- 
ing of  any  deer  they  should  chase  them  into  ye 
water  and  the  EngHsh  should  kill  them,  the  Eng- 
lish shall  have  the  body  and  the  Sachem  the  skin. 
And  in  Testimony  of  our  well  performance  here- 
of we  have  set  to  our  hands  the  Day  and  yeare 
above  written. 

The    mark    of    X  Poggatacut,  Manhanset    Sa- 
chem. 
The  mark   of   X   Wvandancii,    ]\Ieantacut   Sa- 
chem. 
The  mark  of  X  Momoweta,  Corchake  Sachem. 
The    mark    O'f    X    Nowedonai-i,    Shinecock    Sa- 
chem. 
Witnesses  to  this  :  Richard  \\'oodhull,  Tho.  Stan- 
ton, Robert  Bond,  Job   Sayre,   Chectanoe  X  his 
mark,  their  Interpreter." 

By  an  evident  oversight  the  date  of  the  deed 
was  omitted,  but  that  it  was  on  April  29,  1648, 
appears  by  the  following  entry: 

Whereas,  by  direction  from  Theophilus 
Eaton,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Edward  Hopkins,  a  pur- 
chase was  made  by  Thomas  Stanton  and  others 
of  a  part  of  the  Eastern  part  of  Long  Island, 
of  the  Indian  Sachems,  the  true  proprietors 
thereof,  in  the  name  of  Theophilus  Eaton,  Esq., 
aforesaid  and  myself  with  our  associates,  as  bv 
the  said  agreement  dated  the  29th  of  April  1648 
mav  more  fully  appear,  which  said  purchase  was 
paid  by  me  Edward  Hopkins,  and  amounted  to 
the  sum  of  thirty  pounds  four  shillings  eight 
pence,  as  may  appear  by  a  note  of  particulars 
under  the  hand  of  Thomas  Stanton,  to  whom  the 
said  sum  was  paid,  now  delivered  to  Robert  Bond 
of  East  Hampton;  this  writing  wdtnesseth  that 
I  have  received  the  fore-mentioned  sum  of  thirty 
pounds    four   shillings   eight   pence,   of   the   In- 


850 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


habitants  of  East  Hampton,  and  have  deUvered 
unto  them  the  writings  of  the  said  purchase,  and 
all  the  interest  that  thereby  was  purchased.  In 
witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  subscribed,  the 
i6th  of  April  1651.  I  say  received  £30  4s  8d 
per  me.  Edward  Hopkins. 

The  deed,  as  a  matter  of  security,  was  re- 
corded in  the  town  clerk's  office  of  Southamp- 
ton, and  at  a  later  date  in  the  records  of  Suf- 
folk county.  It  will  be  seen  that  it  was  signed 
by  the  Sachems  of  Manhanset  (Shelter  Island), 
Montauk,  Corchake  (now  Cutchogue,  in  South- 
old)  and  Shinnecock.  This  was  doubtless  to  re- 
move all  uncertainty  as  to  conflicting  claims  of 
the  various  tribes. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  town,  the  men  for 
whom  Governors  Eaton  and  Hopkins  purchased 
the  territO'ry,  were  John  Hand,  Thomas  Tal- 
mage,  Daniel  Howe,  Thomas  Thompson,  John 
Stratton.,  Robert  Bond,  Robert  Rose,  Joishua 
Barnes  land  John  Mulford.  All  of  these  men 
were  originally  living  in  Southampton.  John 
Hand  was  living  there  in  1644,  and  was  one 
of  the  members  of'  a  ''whaling  squadron." 
Thomas  Talmage,  Sr.,  was  living  there  in  1642, 
and  had  land  granted  to  him.  Thomas  Tal- 
mage and  Robert  Talmage.  were  also  there  at 
the  same  time,  and  so  was  Thomas  Thompson. 
Daniel  Howe  was  one  of  the  original  "under- 
takers'^  of  the  settlement  of  Southampton,  but 
did  not  remain  there.  He  was  also  the  first  man 
to  "sell  out"  his  "accomodations"  in  East  Hamp- 
ton, which  he  did  to  Thomas  Baker, -May  10, 
1650.  He  had  two  sons,  Daniel  and  William. 
John  Stratton  was  a  brother  of  Richard  Strat- 
ton,  who  was  there  in  1644,  and  probably  both 
went  to  the  new  settlement.  Robert  Bond  had 
land  in  Southampton  in  1643.  He  was  a  black- 
smith, and  was  forbidden  to  make  "harping 
irons"  (harpoons)  for  the  Indians.  He  removed 
from.  East  Hampton  to  Elizabethtov^n,  New  Jer- 
sey, about  1668.  He  had  a  son,  Joseph  Bond. 
Robert  Rose  lived  in  Southampton  in  1644.  He 
married  Dorothy,  who  was  probably  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ananias  Conkling.  They  had  children, 
Thomas,  John,    Samuel,   Mary    and    Jonathan. 


Thomas  Rose,  the  eldest  son,  went  to  Southamp- 
ton, and  sold  his  father's  estate  in  East  Hamp- 
ton to  George  Miller,  December  19,  1665.  Jon- 
athan went  to  Brookhaven.  A  "John  Rose, 
aged  17,"  was  servant  of  Anthony  Waters  of 
North  Sea,  Southampton,  October  2,  1665. 
John  Mulford  and  his  brother  William  were 
living  in  Southampton  in  1643.  Josihua  Barnes, 
William  Barnes  and  Charles  Barnes  were  prob- 
ably brothers.  The  records  expressly  state  that 
Charles  Barnes  was  the  son  of  William  Barnes, 
of  Eastwinch,  County  of  Norfolk,  Englanid. 
William  and  Charles  'both  went  to  East  Hamp- 
ton. Joshua,  although  an  owner  in  the  East 
Hampton  purchase,  remained  in  Southampton 
and  died  there.  He  had  sons,  William  and  Sam- 
uel ;  the  former  went  to  Westchester  and  was 
very  prominent  there. 

These  facts  refute  the  idea  that  the  first  set- 
tlers came  directly  from  Lynn,  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  some  of  them  were  living  there  be- 
fore  going  to   Southampton. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  who  are  not  men- 
tioned in  the  above  list  are  the  following: 

Thomas  Osborn,  the  ancestor  of  a  numer- 
ous family,  is  mentioned  as  "of  East  Hampton" 
in  Southampton  Records,  in  1650.  He  had  a 
ison  Thomas,  who  was  a  prominent  citizen,  who 
died   in   1712. 

Ralph  Dayton  lived  in  Southampton  and  died 
there  in  1658.  He  had  a  son  Robert  Dayton, 
who  was  living  in  East  Hampton  in  1658.  In 
1647  ^^^  Samael  Dayton  came  to  Southampton 
from  Flushing.  He  was  living  in  North  Sea  in 
1658.  Whether  he  was  related  to  Ralph  is  un- 
certain, 

Thomas  Chatfield  came  from  Sussex,  Eng- 
land, and  was  here  in  1652.  He  died  in  1686, 
leaving  sons,  Thomas  and  John. 

William  Fithian  was  a  soldier  in  Cromwell's 
army  and  witnessed  the  execution  of  King 
Charles  I.  He  was  here  in  1653,  and  died  in 
1678. 

John  and  Sam'uel  Parsons  were  'brothers  and 
were  here  in  1653.  The  former  died  in  1685, 
and  left  sons,  Samuel  and  John. 

Joshua  Garlick  is  supposed  to  have  been  a 


EAST  HAMPTON, 


351 


brother  of  Joseph  GarHck,  who  was  Uving  in 
Southampton  J  in  1645.  Joshua  Garlick  was  here 
in  1653.  He  died  March  7,  170Q,  at  the  age  of 
100  years. 

Fulk  Davis  was  one  of  the  earhest  settlers  in 
Southampton,  and  had  land  laid  out  for  him  in 
1642.  He  afterwards  moved  to  North  Sea  and 
lived  near  the  locality  known  as  "Towd."  He 
had  land  here  in  1653.  In  1660  he  seems  to 
have  been  living  again  in  Southampton,  and 
land  here  is  spoken  of  as  "formerly  Fulk  Davis.'" 

Nathaniel  Bishop  was  son  of  Richard  Bishop, 
of  Salem,  where  he  was  freeman  in  1642,  His 
brother,  John  Bishop,  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
families  in  Southampton.  Nathaniel  Bishop  was 
here  in  1653. 

Jeremiah  \^eale  was  a  blacksmith  from 
Salem.  He  had  land  given  him  in  Southamp- 
ton, 1651.  In  1655  he  seems  to  be  working  for 
Lion' Gardiner  under  a  contract  which  had  not 
expired.  The  name  at  a  later  date  was  changed 
to  Vaile  or  Vail. 

Thomas  Baker  (or  "Backer '  as  it  appears  in 
the  earliest  records)  came  here  in  1650  from 
Milford,  Connecticut.  He  bought  the  "accomo- 
dations" (that  is,  the  lands  and  commonage)  of 
Daniel  Howe,  who  probably  left  Southhamp- 
ton at  that  time.  The  wife  of  Jdhn  Baker  was 
Alice,  daughter  of  Ralph  Dayton.  They  were 
married  June  20,  1643.  Her  gravestone  is  in 
the  Amagansett  burying  ground. 

Josiah  Stanborotigh  had  land  here  in  1651, 
but  he  never  lived  here.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  Southampton  and  lived  at  Saga- 
ponack. 

John  Kirtland  (sometimes  spelled  Cort- 
land) had  a  lot  granted  to  him  on  April  9,  idsi, 
provided  he  "comes  to  live  here  before  the  last 
of  July."  He  came  here  and  lived  many  years. 
He  may  have  'been  a  brother  or  son  of  Philip 
Kirtland,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Southamp- 
_  ton. 

James  Goodman  was  here  in  165 1.  As  he  is 
spoken  of  as  "Mr.,''  we  conclude  that  he  was  of 
some  social  importance. 

Luke  Lillie  was  also  here  in  165 1.     In  1654 


he  was  chosen  recorder.  He  died  before  Oc- 
tober 29,    1667. 

Richard  Brooks  is  first  mentioned  May  9, 
1651. 

Benjamin  Price  is  first  mentioned  July  14, 
1651,  but  was  probably  here  before  that  time. 
He  was  chosen  "secretarie,"  October  7  of  that 
year.    He  was  thirty-four  years  old  in  1655. 

Captain  Josiah  Hobart  appears  to  have  been 
living  here  on  September  24,  1651,  but  on  De- 
cember 18,  1676,  he  is  mentioned  as  "having  been 
lately  accepted  as  an  inhabitant."  He  was  after- 
wards high  sheriff  of  the  county. 

William'  Simon ds  was  here  November  17, 
165 1.  In  the  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Lion 
Gardiner  (1664)  is  mentioned  "the  house  Si- 
monds  lives  in."  He  was  a  landowner  here  in 
1653.  In  1684  his  son  Thomas  wais  living  in 
Albemarle  county,  North  Carolina. 

William  Edwards  is  first  mentioned  January 
5,  165 1-2.  His  descendants  are  numerous  and 
respected. 

"Goodman"  Meggs,  who  had  a  lot  in  1651, 
was  probably  Vincent  Meggs,  who  was  living 
in  Southampton  in  1656.  See  his  agreement 
about  the  mill. 

James  Still  (or  Till)  was  here  in  1651,  but 
M'as  evidently  unacceptable  to  the  town,  as  it 
was  voted  that  he  should  not  stay  here. 

John  Meigs  (or  Meggs)  was  here  in  1653, 
and  had  a  suit  with  James  Till.  He  and  Vin- 
cent may  have  been  sons  or  brothers  of  Mark 
Meggs,  of  Southampton,  who  afterwards  went 
to  Huntington. 

William  Hedges,  the  ancestor  of  an  honored 
family,  is  first  mentioned  June  10,  1652.  Of 
his  antecedents  nothing  appears  to  be  known. 
Tristram  Pledges  was  living  in  Southampton  in 
1649,  but  it  is  uncertain  whether  there  was  any 
relationship. 

Samuel  Belknap  was  here  June  13,  1653, 
and  was  a  land  owner. 

Nathan  Birdsall  owned  meadow  at  North- 
west, July  5,  1653. 

Annatiias  Conklin  was  freeman  at  Salem, 
Massachusetts,   May    18,    1642.     He  is   said  to 


352 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


have  come  to  East  Hampton  in  1650^  but  is  first 
mentioned  July  5,  1653.  He  died  before  Octo- 
ber 5,  1657.  His  brother,  John  Conklin,  was 
a  prominent  settler  of  Southold. 

Daniel  Howe,  who  was  one  of  the  original 
settlers,  had  sons,  Daniel  and  William,  but  it 
is  doubtful  if  they  lived  here.  Daniel  Howe 
was  cousin  to  Alexander  Bryan,  prominent  in 
Connecticut. 

Jeremy  Aleecham  was  here  February  i,  1653, 
and  had  land  laid  out  in  1655.  In  1660  he  was 
in  Southampton,  and  went  to  Salem  in  1668. 
He  seems  to  have  been  living  in  East  Hampton 
in  1664,  and  was  one  of  the  appraisers  of  the 
estate  of  Lion  Gardiner. 

Daniel  Fairfield  was  a  servant  of  Joshua 
Garlick  before  1654. 

John  Woolley  was  servant  of  Jeremiah 
Vayle,  *'of  the  Isle  of  Wight."  He  was  between 
seventeen    and    eighteen   years    old    Ocfeober    2, 

1655- 

ShubaL  Walker,  aged  eighteen,  was  working 
for  Lion  Gardiner.  December  20,  1655. 

Roger  Smith  is  mentioned  September  15, 
1657.  He  died  before  May  28,  1686.  His  widow, 
Rebecca,  married  Joha  Hopping.  His  son^  Daniel 
Smith,  sold  to  them  all  his  right  to  the  estate. 
May  28,  1686. 

Captain  Edward  Codnor  was  witness  to  the 
Indian  deed  for  Montauk,  February  11,  1661. 
He  married  Alice,  widow  of  John  Hand.  She 
was  sister  of  Josiah  Stanborough  of  Southamp- 
ton. 

John  Miller  was  living  in  Southampton  in 
1653,  and  George  I\Iilner  (Miller  ?)  in  the 
same  year.  They  both  appear  in  East  Hampton 
in  1657.  Mary  Miller  is  mentioned  in  a  document 
in  Printed  Records,  dated  January  8,  1667,  but 
probably  should  be  1657.  George  Miller  was 
killed  by  the  kick  O'f  a  horse  about  December  3, 
i()C)S.  He  married  Hester,  daughter  of  An- 
nanias  Conkling.  For  a  more  extended  notice 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  valuable  history 
prepared  by  Hon.   H.  P.  Hedg-es. 

Nathaniel  Foster  first  appears  in  1657.  He 
had  wife  Sarah  and  son  Nathaniel. 

Andrew  Miller,  brother  of  John,  came  here 


in  1657.     He  went  to  Brookhaven  and  founded 
"Miller's  Place." 

John  Squire  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Edwards,  in  1676,  and  her  father  gave  them 
a  good  outset  in  lands.  He  may  have  been  the 
son  of  Thomas  Squire,  who  was  living  here 
January  13,  1659-1685.  A  branch  of  the  family 
are  very  numerous  in  the  western  part  of  South- 
ampton, 

Reineck  Garrison  (alias  De  Freese)  was  a 
Dutchman  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  master  of 
a  trading  vessel  in  1659,  ^^^  made  trips  to 
East  Hampton.  As  he  desired  to  settle  here, 
the  town  gave  him  "a  parcel  of  land  toward 
the  northeast  end  of  the  Towne,  westward  of 
the  'New  highway  that  goeth  to  the  three  mile 
harbour,''  1673. 

Richard  Shaw  was  son-in-law  of  Joshua 
Garlick,  who  gave  him  land  and  meadow  at 
Northwest   in   1660. 

Richard  Bennett  first  appears  on  February 
27,  1662-3,  when  he  enters  "an  accoii  of  slander 
against  Nathaniel  Foster  in  sayinge  that  he  the 
sd  Richard  Bennett  was  drunke  at  goodman 
Garlicks." 

Thomas  Diament  was  living  in  Southamp- 
ton June  21,  1655,  and  with  several  others  made 
an  unlawful  seizure  of  a  vessel  belonging  to 
"a  Dutchman."  December  15,  1658,  he  was 
"censured  for  several  miscarriages"  among  them 
"calling  Joseph  Raynor  and  John  Scott  dogge 
and  hounde."  He  and  his  wife  Mary  made  ac- 
knowledgment. In  September,  1663,  he  was  in 
East  Hampto-n,  and  William  Tomson,  of  New 
London,  agrees  to  pay  him  thirty-one  pounds. 
After  this,  on  March  i,  1663-4,  he  bought  a 
house  and  lands  oi  Richard  Smith.  His  eldest 
son,  James,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Janes,  about  August  21,  1677. 
This  family  has  always  held  a  respectable  posi- 
tion. After  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  one 
branch  in  the  person  of  Isaac  Diament  returned  ^ 
to  Southampton,  where  his  descendants  are  re- 
spected citizens.  The  name  in  late  years  has 
been  changed  to  Dimon,  w^hich  is  to  be  re- 
gretted. 

Charles  Barnes,   the  ancestor  of  the  family 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


353 


of  that  name,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
and  Alice  Hand.  He  died  before  November  23, 
1663. 

John  Oldfield  came  to  Southampton  in  165 1 
and  remained  until  1664.  He  is  said  to  have 
married  a  daughter  of  Richard  Post.  April  2^, 
1664,  he  purchased  from  Nathan  Birdsall  his 
house  and  "accomodation  of  a  thirteen  acre  lot." 
He  sold  the  same  to  Joshua  Garlick,  Jr.,  No- 
vember I,  1664,  and  went  to  Jamaica.  While 
here  he  carried  on  his  trade  as  a  tanner. 

Samuel  Dayton  had  a  sister,  Alice,  wife  of 
Thomas  Baker.  On  December  25,  1664,  he 
gives  them'  his  son  Jacob,  for  the  term  of  14 
years.  He  also  gives  his  son  Caleb  to  Joshua 
Garlick,  Sr.,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  for  the 
term  of  sixteen  years.  August  26  Thomas 
Baker  and  Robert  Dayton,  "being  desired  by 
Samel  Dayton,''  transfer  the  son  Caleb  to  John 
Jushup  (Jessup)  for  twelve  years  and  fO'Ur 
months. 

James  Skellenger,  on  October  22,  1667,  pur- 
chased from  Benjamin  Conklin,  of  Elizabeth- 
town,  New  Jersey,  a  house  and  lot  in  Eaist 
Hampton. 

Samuel  Fyler  was  here  in  1677.  George 
Filer  died,  leaving  a  widow,  before  May  3,  1681. 
Land  had  been  granted  to  him  previously. 

Edward  Avery,  a  blacksmith,  had  a  home 
lot  granted  to  him  and  ten  acres  of  land,  on  con- 
dition that  he  remain  and  carry  on  his  trade  for 
three  years  from  June  8,  1668. 

Thomas  Wheeler,  of  New  Haven,  had  wife 
Alice.  He  died  before  1661,  and  she  then  mar- 
ried Josiah  Stanborough,  of  Southampton. 
Thomas  Wheeler  left  three  children,  John, 
Thomas  and  Mary.  John  Wheeler  was  a  man 
of  great  importance  in  his  day,  and  held  many 
important  offices.  He  died  June  18,  1727,  aged 
about  eighty.  He  had  sons  John  and  Thomas. 
A  family  of  Wheeler,  once  quite  numerous,  re- 
siding at  Smithtown,  are  said  to  be  his  descend- 
ants. 

Thomas  Skidmore,  a  blacksmith,  came  here 
from  Huntington  and  on  February  12,  1668, 
he  had  a  house  and  lot  granted  to  him  on  con- 


dition that  he  worked  here  at  his  trade  for  six 
years.     He  left  before    167 1. 

Nathaniel  Dominy  is  first  mentioned  De- 
cember 18,  1669,  when  he  is  about  to  marry 
Sarah,  daughter  of  William  Edwards,  who  gives 
them  a  home  lot  and  other  land.  He  died  be- 
fore October  20,  1687,  and  his  wife  was  ap- 
pointed administratrix  on  that  date.  His  de- 
scendants are  still  here,  and  the  family  for  gen- 
erations, have  been  noted  for  a  remarkable  me- 
chanical genius. 

Philip  Alcock  was  schoolmaster  here  Decem- 
ber 24,  1669.  He  was  here  in  1672,  and  was 
defendant  in  a  suit  of  William  Edwards,  in 
which  he  had  to  pay  for  eleven  pounds  worth 
of  whale  bone,  "and  the  Court  charge,  only  a 
pint  of  wine  subtracted,"  which  throws  some 
light  on  court  expenses  at  that  time. 

James  Loper  is  first  mentioned  May  11,  1673, 
when  the  town  sold  him  two  acres  of  land  "ly- 
ing in  the  Calf  pasture  next  to  Stephen  Hedges' 
house  lot."  This  was  on  condition  that  he  "doth 
follow  his  trade  of  shoemaking."  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Arthur  Howell.  He  en- 
gaged extensively   in  whaling. 

John  O'sborn  was  the  first  settler  at  Wains- 
cott,  in  1670,  and  was  "accepted  as  an  inhabi- 
tant, with  all  the  privileges  and  appurtenances 
belonging  to  a  thirteen  acre  lot."  He  was  son  ot 
Thomas  Osborn. 

Thomas  Smith  was  a  blacksmith,  and  on 
May  II,  1 67 1,  the  town  granted  him  the  same 
house  and  lot  that  had  been  given  to  Thomas 
Skidmore.  He  agreed  to  stay  six  years  and  to 
"faithfully  perform  the  work  of  his  trade  for 
the  town's  service  according  to  his  abilitie,  god 
giving  him  health  and  life."     He  left  in   1672. 

Anthony  Waters  and  Jeremy  Vaile  were 
farmers  for  Lion  Gardiner  in  June,  1655.  The 
former  removed  to  North  Sea  in  Southampton. 
His  descendants  are  now  in  Queens  county. 

Philip  Leeke  and  his  brother  Ebenezer  were 
here  on  March  27,  1672.  The  town  gave  to 
Philip  eight  acres  of  land  bounded  south  by  the 
rear  of  John  Pansons'  house  lot,  "and  east  by 
the  highway  that  goeth   down  to   the   harbor." 


23 


854 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Ebenezer  Leeke  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Baker,  Sr.,  who  gave  them  several  lot^ 
of  land,  June  12,  1678.  Their  descendants  are 
yet  in  the  town. 

'Roger  Earle  was  here  on  April  10,  1672,  and 
must  'have  been  here  the  year  before,  for  on  that 
date  he  was  sued  by  William  Edwards  ''for  un- 
faithfulness in  his  sheep  keeping  the  summer 
last  past."  The  case  was  nonsuited.  He  was 
here  in  1688. 

John  Hopping  was  here  in  3670  when  Pere-^ 
grine  Stanborough,  of  Soiuthampton,  sold  him 
"one-third  of  a  whole  alotment  of  a  fifteen  acre 
lot,"  which  he  had  bought  of  Thomas  Osborn, 
Sr.,  with  one -third  of  the  commonage,  etc.,  be- 
longing to  it. 

William  Rundle  married  Hannah,  daughter 
of  William  Edwards,  who  gave  them  several 
lots  of  land.    She  died  before  May  7,  1674. 

Janes  'Bird  was  here  June  13,  1673,  and 
shortly  before  that  married  his  wife  Han- 
nah   . 

Samuel  Terrill  was  here  in  1675  and  1681. 
He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  the  town  gave  him 
in  1676  eight  acres  of  land.  "April  8,  1678,  the 
town  gave  him  "a  small  quantitie  of  land  in 
the  streete,  8  poles  long  and  2^/3  poles  wide." 
He  was  to  have  it  so  long  as  he  worked  here  at 
his  trade.  He  afterwards  went  to  Brookhaven 
and  bought  Warratta  Neck,  next  west  of  Ter- 
rills  river,  which  derives  its  name  from  him. 
Thomas  Terrill,  who  was  here  in  1688,  may 
have  been  his  son. 

John  Laughton  came  here  from  Southampton, 
August  10,  1675,  as  a  schoolmaster.  He  had 
served  in  that  capacity  for  several  years  in 
Southampton. 

Edward  Jones,  ''carpenter,"  had  six  acres 
of  land  given  him  by  the  town,  October  2,  1677. 
Ho  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Chatfield. 
Richard  Stratton  was  son-in-law.  of  Nathaniel 
Baker,  April  11,   1678. 

John  Kirle  was  a  servant  of  "John  Mulford 
"for  several  years."  Afterwards,  on  January 
13,  1677,  John  Mulford  gave  him  six  acres  of 
land,  "being  part  of  the  accomodation  which  I 
bought   of   Thomas    Tomsin,    lying    among   the 


second  home  lots,  bounded  by  the  street  south 
and  the  highway  west."  The  name  afterwards 
appears  as  "Carle."  He  left  sons  John  and 
Abiel  Carle. 

Mr.  William  Darvall  bought  from  Thomas 
Diament,  Sr.,  40  square  poles  of  ground  at  the 
corner  of  his  home  lot,  March  15,  1679.  He 
was  a  merchant  of  New  York,  and  bought  whale 
oil,  etc. 

Abraham  Hawk  owned  a  lot  of  six  acres 
here,  'and  sold  it  to  Jacob  Daiton,  February  18, 
1 68 1.  Bounded  west  by  the  street,  north  by 
William  Barnes,  south  and  east  by  Benjamin 
Osborne.     He  was  a  weaver    from    New  York, 

GeoTge  Filer  was  living  here  with  his  wife. 
He  died  before  May  3,  1681. 

William  Simonds  was  here  November  17, 
165 1.  In  the  inventory  of  the  estate  of  Lion 
Gardiner  (1664)  is  mentioned  "the  house  Simons 
lives  in."  He  was  a  land  owner  here  in  1653. 
In  1684  his  son  Thomas  was  living  in  Albe- 
marle county.  North  Carolina,  and  in  a  letter  to 
David  Gardiner  he  mentions  "my  uncle  Fithian," 
and  states  "my  father  and  mother  are  both 
dead." 

Richard  Shaw  married  a  daughter  of  Joshua 
Garlick.  He  died  before  1692.  Had  sons  Rich- 
ard, Edmund  and  John.  The  last  named  was 
living  at  Cape  May  in  1693. 

John  Stratton,  who  died  before  1699,  left 
sons  John,  Joseph,  Cornelius  and  Stephen. 

Daniel  Turner  was  here  October  7,  1651. 
It  was  ordered  that  he  should  "either  sojourn  in 
some  family  as  a  servant,  or  else  depart  from 
the  Town." 

Such  'is  a  brief  notice  of  the  early  settlers 
whose  names  appear  before   1680. 

As  mentioned  previously,  the  cost  of  obtain- 
ing the  lands  included  in  the  original  purchase 
was  £30  4s  8d.  There  is  recorded  a  receipt  from 
Edward  Hopkins  to  "Robert  Bond — inhabitant 
of  East  Hampton  for  £34,  4,  8.  being  the  amount 
of  monies  paid  for  the  purchase  of  the  Lands," 
and  a  certificate  of  the  delivering  of  said  Bond 
the  writings  of  the  said  purchase  and  all  the 
Interest  that  was  thereby  purchased  dated  i6th 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


355 


April,  1 65 1.  On  a  blank  leaf  of  one  of  the  old 
Books  of  Records  are  seen  these  words :  "Rob- 
ert Bond  delivered  unto  the  Govr  for  the  pur- 
chase of  our  Lands^  for  the  towns  use  the  sum 
of  ii.  3.  10.  Robert  Bond  for  his  expenses,  go- 
ing to  the  ]\Iayne  land  in  the  Town's  service  the 
sum  of  ii.  3s.  6d."  From  this  it  would  seem' 
that  the  entire  cost  of  the  purchase  was  £35  7s 
I4d  in  pounds  sterling,  or  about  $177.03,  and, 
of  course,  Avas  paid  'by  the  purchasers,  the  orig- 
inal "townsmen"  of  East  Hampton,  and  it  was 
plainly  understood  that  they  were  the  sole  own- 
ers in  fee  simple  and  absolutely,  a  fact  that  some 
attempted  to  ignore  at  a  later  date. 

Like  the  town  of  Southampton,  East  Hamp- 
ton was  for  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence 
an  independent  government  and  a  pure  democ- 
racy. All  of  the  officers  were  elected  by  the  peo- 
ple, and  were  men  of  the  highest  standing  in  the 
community.  The  first  to^wn  clerk  was  Thomas 
Talmage,  Jr.,  and  his  salary  was  20  shillings. 
There  was  also  a  "pounder,''  who  had  charge 
of  cattle  trespassing.  The  executive  commit- 
tee, called  the  "Three  men."  settled  all  dis- 
putes of  a  minor  nature  and  all  higher  suits  went 
to  the  general  court.  For  the  first  few  years 
there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  any  magistrate 
or  justice  of  the  peace. 

The  first  record  we  have  is'  of  a  "Court  of 
elections,"  held  the  first  Tuesday  of  October, 
1650,  and  four  men  with  the  constable  were 
chosen  "for  ye  ordering  of  ye  affaires  of  ye 
Towne." 

The  first  order  was  "It  is  ordred  }1;  whoso- 
ever shall  take  up  a  lot  in  Toune  shall  live  upon 
it  himself  and  also  yt  no  man  shall  sel  his  alot- 
ment  at  any  part  thereof,  unless  it  be  to  such  as 
ye  Towne  shall  approve  of  and  give  Consent  to 
ye  sale  thereof."  If  any  man  refused  or  neg- 
lected to  come  to  town  meeting  he  was  fined 
twelve  shillings. 

The  dead  whales  cast  upon  the  ocean  shore 
were  matters  of  great  importance,  and  every 
householder  was  obliged  'to  take  his  part  in  se- 
curing them  and  cutting  them  out.  They  were 
also  to  take  turns  in  looking  out  for  them  and 
giving  notice,  and  it  cost  him  five  shillings  to 


neglect  this  duty.  If  an  Indian  found  a  whale 
and  reported  it  he  was  to  have  five  shillings  as 
a  reward,  "and  if  any  Inglishman  of  ye  Town 
doe  accidentally  find  a  whale  &  doe  bring  ye  first 
tidinge  of  it  he  shall  have  a  peece  of  whale  3 
foot  broad." 

Such  were  some  of  the  enactments  of  the  first 
Town  meeting  in  East  Hampton.  Next  is  found  a 
mutual  agreement  between  this  town  and  South- 
ampton "for  the  settling  of  a  firm  peace"  be- 
tween them.  The  men  who  were  chosen  to 
make  this  treaty  with  what  was  really  another 
nation  were  Hobert  Bond,  John  ]\Iulford  and 
Thomas  Baker.  It  principally  related  to  cattle 
accidentally  trespassing  over  the  town  line. 

The  next  court  is  dated  March  7,  1650,  which 
was  really  1651,  as  the  year  began  on  March  25 
in  those  days.  Ralph  Dayton  was  appointed  to 
go  to  "Keneticot  to  procure  evidence  for  our 
lands,  and  an  acquittance  for  the  payment  of  our 
money,"  and  also  "for  a  'boddie  of  lawes." 

Wolves  at  that  time  were  dangerous  and  nu- 
merous, and  persons  were  in  the  practice  of  set- 
ting guns  for  them.  It  was  ordered  that  they 
should  set  no  guns  within  half  a  mile  of  the  town, 
and  "allsoe  yt  noe  man  shall  traile  any  bait  for 
the  wolves,  within  half  a  myle  of  the  Town,  and 
likewyse  yt  noe  man  shall  set  any  guns  but  he 
shall  look  tO'  it  while  the  stars  appear,  and  also  to 
take  the  gun  upp  by  the  sun  risinge."  By  such 
guns,  stray  cattle  were  in  danger  of  being  killed, 
and  if  this  happened  the  loss  was  to  be  borne  by 
the  town,  every  man  to  pay  the  damage  "accord- 
ing to  his  land." 

It  was  ordered  "yt  there  shall  be  a  cart  way 
over  to  the  east  side  of  the  Towne,  made  in  the 
hollow  between  Goodman  Osborne's  and  Good- 
man Hand's  lands.  This  was  to  be  done  "be- 
tween this  and  the  nth  of  June  next."  It  was 
postponed  until  September  20.  That  is  the  first 
record  of  a  highway  in  the  town. 

On  March  19,  1651,  appears  the  following: 
"It  is  ordered  that  Mr.  Stanborough  shall  have  50 
shillings  per  annum  in  lieu  of  Drawing  of  water 
if  the  water  mill  doth  for  the  time  that  hee  main- 
taineth  the  mill,  hut  if  the  watermill  doth  not, 
then  this  order  to  be  void."    The  meaning  of  the 


356 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


order,  and  where  the  mill  was  to  stand,  we  con- 
fess is  far  beyond  our  knowledge,  but  it  is  the 
first  mention  of  a  mill  in  this  town. 

On  November  17,  165 1,  "The  3  men  chosen 
for  Town  officers  are  ordered  to  sett  out  the  place 
for  a  meeting  House,  and  they  shall  have  power 
to  marrie  during  the  year." 

The  dignity  and  authority  of  these  Town  of- 
ficers was  fully  sustained,  and  on  October  3,  1655, 
we  find :  "It  is  ordered  that  Williarxi  Simons  for 
his  provoking  speeches  to  the  3  men  in  authoritie, 
being  a  disturbance  to  them  in  their  proceedings, 
that  he  shall  forthwith  pay  5  shillings,  which  is 
to  be  disposed  of  to  make  a  pair  of  stocks." 

The  stocks  and  whipping  post  were  regular 
features  in  all  New  England  towns  at  that  period. 
As  an  instance  of  their  power  to  exclude  undesir- 
able people  we  find  in  1650  that  "It  is  ordered 
that  Goodman  Meggs'  lot  shall  not  be  laid  out  for 
Janes  Still  lor  (Till)  to  go  to  work  on,  and  that 
he  shall  not  stay  here."  Nor  would  they  allow 
freeholders  to  sell  lands  to  such  persons,  as  in 
1657  we  find:  'Tt  is  agreed  by  a  voate  of  the 
Town  that  the  bargain  yt  Goodman  Davis  made 
with  Goodman  Birdsall  in  selling  of  his  lands  is 
annuliified  and  not  to  stand." 

In  1654  the  Town  adopted  what  might  be 
termed  a  Constitution.  This  was  a  copy  of  the 
Connecticut  Combination,"  to  which  they  made 
an  addition,  (which  is  quoted  elsewhere  in  this 
work)  and  under  this  Combination  the  town  con- 
tinued until  it  was  united  with  Connecticut, 
March    19,    1657,   as   witness   the  following: 

"It  is  ordered  and  by  a  major  voate  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  agreede  uppon  yt 
Thomas  Baker  and  John  Hand  is  to  go  into 
Keniticut  for  to  bringe  us  under  their  Govern- 
ment, according  unto  the  terms  as  Southampton 
is,  and  also  to  carrie  up  'Goodwife  Garlick  yt 
she  may  be  delivered  up  to  the  Authorities  there 
for  the  trial  of  the  cause  of  witchcraft  which  she 
is  suspected  for." 

Under  'this  government  the  town  remained 
until  the  English  conquest  of  New  Netherland 
entirely  changed  the  order  of  things.  All  the 
land  titles  in  the  city  of  New  Amsterdam  and 
the  western  part  of  Long  Island  and  the  Dutch 


settlements  on  the  Hudson  river  rested  upon 
"Ground  Briefs"  granted  by  the  various  Dutch 
governors.  On  the  eastern  end  of  Long  Island 
a  different  state  of  things  existed.  The  town  of 
Southampton  and  Shelter  Island  held  their  lands 
by  virtue  of  titles  derived  from  James  Farrett,. 
the  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling.  The  Dutch  in- 
habitants lost  no  time  in-  obtaining  from  Gover- 
nor Richard  Nicoll,  "Patents  of  Confirmation,"" 
for  their  lands  and  had  no  further  trouble. 
Southampton  and  Southold  made  several  pro- 
tests, but  obtained  patents  as  did  the  owners  of 
Shelter  Island.  The  title  to  East  Hampton  lands 
rested  entirely  upon  the  Indian  deed,  and  the 
town  had  really  no  excuse,  for  recognizing  the 
authority  of  the  Duke  of  York  and  to  confirm 
their  title  they  obtained  a  patent  from  Governor 
Nicolls,  March  13,  1666.  This  document  was  in 
terms  similar  to  others  executed  by  him,  and 
which  appear  on  other  pages  of  this  work.  The 
grant  was  made  to  John  Mulford,  Thomas  Baker,. 
Thomas  Chatfield,  Jeremiah  Conkling,  Stephen 
Hedges,  Thomas  Osborne,  iSr.,  and  John  Os- 
borne, as  patentees,  for  themselves  and  their  as- 
sociates, and  the  bounds  of  the  grant  were  as 
follows : 

"Their  west  bounds  beginning  from  the  East 
Limitts  of  the  bounds  of  Southampton,  as  they 
are  now  layed  out  and  staked  according  to 
Agreement  &  Consent.  Soe  to  stretch  East  to 
a  certaine  Pond  commonly  called  the  Fort  Pond,, 
which  lyes  within  the  old  Bounds  of  the  lands 
belonging  to  the  Montauk  Indians,  and  from. 
thence  to  goe  on  still  East  to  the  utmost  extent, 
of  the  Island.  On  the  North  by  one  bounded  by 
the  Bay,  and  on  the  South  by  the  Sea  or  maine 
ocean." 

The  obtaining  of  this  Patent  satisfied  the 
claims  of  the  Duke  of  York.  The  cost  of  the 
Patent  was  paid  by  the  inhabitants  in  proportion 
to  the  lands  which  they  owned. 

Upon  the  death  of  King  Qiarles  II,  his 
brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  became  King  of 
England  in  1686.  In  "the  meantime  the  town 
of  East  'Hampton,  like  Southampton  and. 
Southold  had  largely  increased  their  lands, 
and    even    if    King   James,    through    his   Royal. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


357 


Governors,  had  not  insisted  that  the  towns 
should  take  out  new  patents^,  it  was  very 
much  to  their  interest  to  do  so.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  some  protest  about  their  rights, 
the  following  was  obtained : 

*'Thomas  Dongan,  Captain  General,  Gover- 
nor in  Chiefe  and  vice  Admirall  of  the  Province 
of  New  York  and  its  Dependencys,  under  his 
majesty,  James  the  Second  by  the  Grace  of  God, 
of  England,  Scotland,  France  and  Ireland  King, 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c." 

The  patent,  which  is  of  great  length,  recites 
the  patent  of  Governor  Nicolls,  with  the  de- 
scription of  the  lands.  It  then  goes  on  to  state  that 
a  portion  of  ]\Iontauk  yet  remains  unpurchased 
from  the  Indians,  and  that  Samuel  Mulford  and 
Thomas  Janes  'had  made  application  for  liberty  to 
purchase  the  same  in  behalf  of  the  freeholders  of 
the  town,  and  that  all  the  premises  might  be  con- 
firmed b}'  a  new  Patent.  Accordingly  Thomas 
Janes,  Captain  Jo'siah  Hobart,  Captain  Thomas 
Talmage,  Lieutenant  John  Wheeler,  Ensign 
Samuel  Mulford,  John  Alulford,  Thomas  Chat- 
field,  Sr.,  Jeremiah  Conkling,  Stephen  Hand, 
Robert  'Dayton,  Mr.  Thomas  Backer,  and 
Thomas  Osborne,  freeholders,  were  incorporated 
by  the  name  of  the  "TruiSitees  of  the  freeholders 
and  Comonalty  of  the  Town  of  East  Hampton," 
with  full  power  to  purchase  from  the  Indians 
"the  land  called  Montack,"  and  if  the  Indians 
should  refuse  to  sell,  then  the  trustees  should  be 
the  only  persons  capable  of  buying  the  same. 
And  here  follows  the  most  important  part  of  the 
Patent.  The  trustees  were  to  hold  all  the  lands  in 
the  town  in  trust.  Those  parts  which  had  been  al- 
ready taken  up  and  appropriated  to  particular  in- 
dividuals were  to  be  for  them  and  their  heirs  and 
assigns.  And  the  undivided  lands  were  to  be 
held  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  had  been  pur- 
chasers thereof,  in  proportion  to  their  purchases 
as  tenants  in  common.  The  persons  named 
above  were  to  be  the  first  Trustees,  and 
their  successors  were  to  be  annually  elected  on 
the  "First  Tuesday  in  April  for  ever.''  Also  two 
Constables  and  two  assessors.  The  quit  rent  was 
to  be  the  sum  of  40  shillings,  to  be  paid  yearly  on 
the  25th  of  March.     Dated  December  9,  1686. 


The  cost  of  the  Patent  must  have  been  con- 
siderable, for  on  January  24,  1687,  a  "rate"  of 
i2oo  was  to  be  raised,  of  which  ii20  was  to  be 
paid  by  the  proprietors  of  the  Town,  and  iSo 
upon  the  land  on  Montauk,  "to  defray  the  charge 
about  the  Patent."  The  original  parchment 
patent  is  now  in  the  town  clerk's  office,  a  ven- 
erable relic  of  antiquity. 

Thi's  body  of  Town  Trustees  thereafter  man- 
aged the  town  affairs  down  to  the  time  when 
the  state  government  was  established.  Their  du- 
ties were  manifold.  They  fixed  the  price  of 
grain  and  other  articles.  They  repaired  the 
meeting  house  and  paid  for  ringing  the  bell  and 
sweeping.  They  raised  the  money  for  the  min- 
ister's salary,  decided  where  the  negroes  should 
sit  in  church,  and  ordered  the  curfew  bell  to  be 
rung  at  9  o'clock.  They  attended  to  the  school 
house  and  hired  the  schoolmaster.  They  made 
arrangements  for  preventing  the  beach  'bank  and 
sand  hills  from  blowing  away,  built  the  town 
poor  house  and  raised  money  for  support  of 
paupers,  paid  a  doctor  dn  a  case  of  emergency, 
made  laws  about  cattle  on  Montauk  and  on  the 
commons,  put  up  guide  boards  on  the  Sag  Har- 
bor road,  made  a  box  in  the  meeting  house  gal- 
lery "for  Mr.  Dimon  to  put  his  Psalm  book  and 
pitch  pipe  in,"  leased  land  for  a  wharf  at  Sag 
Harbor,  agreed  that  Colonel  John  P.  Decatur 
might  dig  earth  on  Montauk  for  the  purpose  of 
making  paint,  and,  mindful  of  the  dead  as  well 
as  the  living,  ordered  two  biers  to  ^be  made  at 
public  expense.  They  managed  the  undivided 
lands,  fully  recognizing  the  rights  of  the  pro- 
prietors, gave  permission  to  neighborhoods  to 
fence  their  burying  grounds;  in  short,, it  would 
be  difficult  to  tell  what  they  did  not  do. 

From'  a  very  careful  examination  of  the 
records  we  derive  the  following  conclusion: 
The  original  settlers  of  the  town  paid  an  equal 
proportion  of  the  cO'St,"  and  consequently  owned 
an  equal  share  in  the  premises.  Of  the  original 
laying  out  of  the  home  lots  no  record  remains, 
but  it  seems  as  if  each  man  had  thirteen  acres 
for  a  home  lot,  and  an,  equal  share  in  all  the  land 
that  was  undivided.     From  this  a  "13  acre  lot" 


358 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


m'eant  a  whole  share,  and  was  the  same  as  a 
£150  lot  was  in  Southampton.  If  a  man  sold  his 
lot,  it  meant  that  he  disposed  of  his  home  lot 
and  his  share  in  the  undivided  lands,  which  was 
called  his  "Right  of  commonage." 

There  is  no  record  of  the  laying  out  of  the 
original  home  lofcst,  which  were  few  in  number, 
but  on  May  14,  1651,  "It  is  ordered  that  every 
man  shall  have  a  certain  quantitie  of  land  join- 
ing to  the  rear  end  of  their  house  lots,  every 
man  to  have  4  acres  to  one  iioo  estate,  accord- 
ing to  the  division  that  every  man  have  in.  the 
plain  and  house  lots,  and  this  land  every  man 
shall  have  some  part  of  his  addition  of  land  to 
join  so  to  his  house  lot  that  every  man  may  go 
from  his  house  lot  upon  his  other  division  with- 
out trespassing  upon  any  other." 

At  the  same  time  that  the  first  home  lots 
were  laid  out,  land  was  alsO'  laid  out  on  the 
"Plains."  This  is  the  tract  of  land  extending 
from  the  south  end  of  the  village  to  Lily  Pond, 
and  embracing  the  locality  known  by  the  Indian 
name  of  "Apoquogue,"  the  place  where  flags 
grow.  In  165 1  "the  Plain  in  the  eastern  side  of 
the  town"  was  laid  out.  This  was  divided  into 
four  divisions.  Land  near  the  village  'being 
more  desirable  than,  land  more  remote,  an  at- 
tempt to  equalize  this  was  m!ade  as  follows : 
The  first  division  was  next  the  town,  and  each 
proprietor  had  an  acre  for  each  acre  of  com- 
monage he  posisessed.  To  the  lots  in  the  second 
division  an  allowance  was  made  of  10  poles  to 
each  acre.  To  lots  in  the  third  division  20  poles 
were  added  to  each,  while  to  the  lots  in  the 
fourth  division  30  poles  were  added.  The 
meadows  at  Accobonack  were  also  laid  out  in 
1651,'  and  the  three  men  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose were  to  do  so  "according  to  their  best  light 
and  discretion." 

The  first  list  of  proprietors  that  we  find  is 
in  connection  with  "the  charge  for  the  meeting 
house"  about  1654.  This  gives  the  names  of  the 
proprietors  and  the  number  of  acres  of  com- 
monage they  possessed. 


Thos.  Talmage,  Sr.,  16. 
Wm.  Hedges,  16. 
Tho.  Osborn,  Sr.,  20. 
Tho.  Osborn,  15. 
John  Hand,  22. 
John  Stratton,  18. 
Thos.  Talmage,  Jr.,  15. 
Robert  Bond,  20. 
John  Mulford,  20. 
Tho.  Baker,  21. 
Tho.  Tomson,  20. 


Win.  Fithian,  14. 
Ri.  'Brooks,  13. 
Wm.  Barnes,  13. 
Samuel  Parsons,  13. 

Daiton,  26. 

Chatfield,  21. 
Fulke  Davis,  18. 
Samuel   Belknap,   13. 
Widow  Rose,  13. 
Joshua  Garlick,  13. 


Wm.  Simons,  13. 
Wm.  Edwards,  20. 
Benj.  Price,  14. 


Wm.  Hand  (?), 
Luke  Lillie,  14. 
Ri.  Stratton,  14. 


16. 


From  an  entry  made  July  7,  1652,  the  town 
seems  to  be  divided  into  34  lots,  but  some  of 
them  were  not  "taken  up"  that  is  allotted  to  any 
person.  The  meadow  at  Accobonack  and  North- 
west was  laid  out  in  that  year.  ' 

The  general  divisions  were,  as  said  before, 
divided  into  lots.  The  convenient  highways  for 
giving  access  were  first  laid  out,  and  were  not 
regarded  as  part  of  the  lots.  The  common  law 
principle  that  highways  are  an  easement  and 
that  the  fee  of  the  land -belongs  to  the  adjoin- 
ing owners  was  not  recognized,  but  all  roads 
were  considered  "commons."  One  or  two  of 
the  earlier  highways  are  thus  described: 

"5-acre  division,  an  highway  laid  out  from 
Amagansett  to  Abraham  Conkling's,  4  poles 
Avide ;  and  an  highway  4  poles  wide  along  the 
path  that  goeth  to  ye  brick  kilns  to  ye  cleft  'south- 
ward of  ye  Fresh  Pond ;  and  an  highway  along 
the  path  that  goeth  from  Amagansett  to  Barnes 
his  hole,  consistenting  of  4  poles  wide." 

At  the  time  of  the  granting  of  the  Dongan 
Patent  the  greater  part  of  the  town  was  undi- 
vided land.  From  time  to  time  various  divisions 
were  made  by  the  trustees  among  the  propri- 
etors according  to  their  rights  in  commonage. 
So  long  as  there  were  any  undivided  lands,  the 
list  of  proprietors,  with  their  respective  rights, 
was  very  carefully  kept.  After  this,  when  the 
rights  in  commonage  were  of  little  or  no  value, 
the  lists  were  no  longer  kept,  and  at  the  present 
time  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  tell  who 
the  proprietors  are.  If  there  were  any  undi- 
vided lands  the  trustees  had  control.  "A  right 
in  commonage"  is  now  nothing  but  a  name. 

The  first  transfer  of  land  in  East  Hampton 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


359 


was  on  J\lay  lo,  1650,  when  Daniel  How  sold 
to  Thomas  Backer  ''all  his  accomodations  in 
East  Hampton,  with  all  what  he  now  possesi&eth, 
and  what  is  or  may  belong  unto  him  with  rela- 
tion to  his  lott  as  his  right  to  his  settling  there." 
The  price  was  "the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  to  be 
paid  on  the  29  day  of  September  next/'  at  which 
time  the  premises  were  to  be  delivered  free  of 
all  charge.  As  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  Daniel 
How  owned  as  much  as  any  of  the  others,  the 
above  shows  the  value  of  a  full  share  at  /that 
time. 

A  religious  organization,  a  minister  and  a 
meeting  house  were  in  every  New  England 
town  the  things  to  be  first  considered,  and  to 
this  East  Hampton  was  no  exception.  T\\e  first 
meeting  for  religious  service  was  held  in  the 
house  of  Thomas  Baker,  and  it  was  voted  that 
he  should  "have  eighteen  pence  for  every  Lord's 
Day  that  the  meeting  shall  be  at  his  house." 

On  November  17,  165 1,  "It  is  ordered  and 
agreed  upon  by  us  the  Inhabitants  that  there 
shall  be  a  meeting  house  built  20  feet  longe,  20 
foot  broade  and  8  foot  stoode."  Like  all  build- 
ings at  that  time  it  had  a  thatched  roof,  and 
William  Edwards,  William  Fithian,  Richard 
Brookes,  Williani  Simons  and  Samuel  Parsons 
were  appointed  "to  gett  sixe  loade  of  thatch 
within  fourteen  days,"  under  penalty  of  ten 
shillings.  The  "3  men"  were  to  select  the  place 
for  the  church,  and  the  thatch  was  to  be  fenced 
in  an  enclosure  near  it.  The  expense  of  building 
seems  to  have  'been  about  ^13.  It  was  also  used 
as  the  place  for  holding  courts.  In  1682  the 
building  seems  to  have  been  enlarged  and  re- 
paired. John  'Mulford  made  an  agreement  to 
"under  pin  and  clapboard  up  ye  Meeting  House." 
A  gallery  was  built.  There  are  sundry  charges 
for  boards,  timber  and  ground  silling  and  "nayls." 
Among  other  items  we  find  "2  barrels  of  beefe 
lent  to  buy  bords."  There  was  also  "24  foot 
of  glasse  for  ye  meeting  House."  We  are  of  the 
opinion  that  the  original  meeting  house  was 
thatched,  both  roof  and  sides,  and  that  at  this 
time  it  was  entirely  rebuilt.  How  it  was  cared 
for  thus   appears:      "Memorand,   the   Constable 


&  overseers  agree  with  James  Bird  to  Looke  after 
the  boys  at  meeting  for  one  whole  yeare  for 
fifteen  shillings;  he  began  the  25  day  of  June, 
1682."  And  the  following  notice  appears  in 
1688: 

"This  is  to  certifie  all  the  inhabitants  of  this 
Towne,  that  the  Constable  and  overseers,  taking 
Noti's  O'f  the  great  disorder  that  is  at  the  meeting 
house  upon  the  Sabbath  day,  to  the  great  dishonor 
of  god  &  reproach  to  Religion  by  any  persons 
staying  abroade  in  time  of  publick  worship  and 
spending  their  time  in  sleaping  or  talking,  Not 
being  able  to  profit  by  ye  word  preacht.  Not- 
withstanding the  care  that  is  taken  to  provide 
Roome  in  the  house;  doe  therefore  signifie  that 
if  such  persons  who  have  been  guilty  bee  not 
upon  this  warning  Reclaym,  we  resolve  to  take 
a  list  of  their  names,  and  present  them  to  the  next 
sessions  for  Sabbath  breaking,  as  the  Law  Re- 
quires us,  also  w^e  doe  desire  all  Masters  of  fam- 
ilies, to  take  particular  care  of  their  owne  chil- 
dren and  servants  that  so  there  may  not  bee  that 
disorder  which  Now  is,  by  boys  &  girls,  Run- 
ning out  and  in,  in  time  of  public  worship." 

Sixteen  years  later,  when  the  population  had 
much  increased,  the  question  arose  as  to  Avhether 
a  new  meeting  house  should  be  built  or  the  old 
one  repaired.  At  a  vote  taken  May  23,  1698, 
the  majority  agreed  to  build  a  new  meeting 
house,  and  Captain  Samuel  Mulford,  Mr.  John 
Mulford,  William  Schellinx,  Abraham  Schellinx 
and  Richard  Shaw  were  appointed  "to  take  the 
full  oversight  oi  agreeing  for  the  building  and 
finishing  the  said  new  meeting  house,  and  provid- 
ing all  necessaries  for  that  purpose." 

But  there  will  always  be  opposition,  even  in 
building  meeting  houses,  and,  on  the  same  day^ 
Richard  Stratton  and  John  Hoppin  made  public 
protest  against  building  the  new  meeting  house, 
and  declared  that  they  "would  bee  at  no  charge 
so  long  as  the  olde  meeting  house  may  bee  serv- 
iceable unto  that  use."  The  matter  was  recon- 
sidered, and  on  June  2  a  majority  voted  to  re- 
pair the  old  meeting<  house.  This  was  done. 
"Alicsander  ye  Joyner"  seems  to  have  been  the 
architect,  but  we  know  as  little  about  him  as 
about  "Alexander  the  coppersmith."  On  Feb- 
ruary i,'i698-99,  we  find  various  charges,  among 


360 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


them  toi  Thomas  Chatfield  for  1,650  nailes,  for 
14  shillings'.  Also  "  a  vane  and  stake  and  spikes 
for  ye  meeting  house  £2  lis."  Shingles  are 
mentioned  and  so  far  as  we  know  this  is  the 
first  mention.  Also  "seder  for  the  windows." 
People  were  called  to  meeting  by  beating  the 
drmn,  and  in  168-3  James  Diament  was  paid  2 
pound's  for  this  service  and  £1  3s  6d  was  paid  to 
Jeremiah  Conkling  "for  sweeping  the  meeting 
house." 

In  1 717  a  new  church  building  was  erected. 
This  stood  on  the  south  side  of  a  lot  which  orig- 
inally belonged  to  William  Edwards,  and  now 
belongs  (or  lately  belonged)  to  Samuel  G.  j\Iul- 
ford,   and  nearly  opposite  to  Clinton  Academy. 


TAH      I'HINf     EAhT    llAiriUN 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

It  is  said  that  a  large  part  of  the  timber  was 
given  'by  the  owner  of  Gardiner's  Island.  At 
the  time  of  its  building  it  is  said  to  have  been  the 
-largest  and  most  co'Stly  church  edifice  on  Long 
Island.  Externally  it  was  45  by  80  feet,  and 
originally  covered  with  clapboards,  but  after- 
wards with  three  foot  cedar  shingles,  fastened 
■with  wrought  naife.     A  tower  in  front  was  sur- 


mounted by  a  steeple  and  spire  with  a  large  cop- 
per vane,  with  the  figures  1645-1717,  the 
former  date  denoting  the  settlement  of  the  town. 
It  was  also  furnished  with  a  clock  and  bell,  and 
the  who'le  was  built  in  the  most  massive  and  sub- 
stantial manner. 

In  recognition  of  substantial  assistance,  one 
of  the  most  eligible  pews  was  devoted  to  the  ex- 
clusive use  of  the  Gardiner  family,  and  for  gen- 
erations was  known  as  the  "Gardiner's  Island 
pew."  The  first  person  baptized  in  the  new 
church  was  Alary,  daughter  of  Cornelius  Conk- 
ling, Jr.,  ^[ay  29,  1718.  The  church  was  proba- 
bly not  occupied  till  very  near  that  time.  The 
last  sermon  preached  in  this  venerable  edifice 
was  on  September  i,  1861, 
and  it  was  destroyed  in  1864. 
It  was  then  the  oldest  church 
edifice  on  Long  Island  except 
the  old  Presbyterian  church 
in  Southampton,  built  in  1707. 
The  present  church  was  erect- 
ed in  1862,  at  a  cost  of  $13,- 
500,  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
churches  in  the  county. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  James 
was  the  first  pastor  of  this 
ancient  church.  He  arrived 
in  this  country  June  5,  1632. 
His  father,  Thomas  James, 
Sr.,  had  been  a  minister  in 
Lincolnshire,  England.  x\ft- 
er  coming  to  America  Air. 
James  was  settled  at  Charles- 
tOM'n,  Massachusetts,  whence 
he  removed  to  New  Haven. 
Tradition  states  that  he  was 
a  very  young  man  when  he 
came  to  East  Hampton.  This 
must  have  been  the  case,  or  else  he  must 
have  attained  an  age  beyond  the  ordinary 
limit  of  human  life.  The  first  notice  of 
Mr.  James  appears  April  22,  1651,  at  which 
date  an  extension  of  time  was  granted  him 
to  make  his  log  fence.  This  would  indicate 
that  land  had  been  granted  him  previous  to  this 
date.     On  August  23d  it  was  ordered  in  a  town 


;f^,jf, 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


361 


meeting  that  Mr.  James  should  "have  for  his 
work  in  the  minii&try  for  the  ensuing  year  £45, 
and  his  lands  to  lie  rate  free ;  and  for  future  time 
£50  a  year  and  rate  free  for  the  time  of  his 
standing  in  office  in  the  ministry  among  them." 
In  1659  his  salary  was  raised  to  i6o.  From'  that 
time  until  age  and  infirmity  had  laid  their  hands 
upon  him  he  appears  to  have  been  an  active,  pub- 
lic spirited  man,  who  had  a  deep  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  this  world  as  well  as  of  the  next.  All 
the  information  we  have  concerning  his  relations 
with  his  fellow  townsmen  tends  to  show  that 
they  were  of  the  most  satisfactory  nature.  Their 
confidence  in  his  business  capacity  is  exhibited 
by  their  conferring  upon  him  offices  not  connect- 
ed with  his  sacred  calling.  Among  other  evi- 
dences of  his  mental  power  he  seems  to  have 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  Indian  language, 
and  a  good  acquaintance  with  their  customs. 
This  was  often  of  the  greatest  value.  ^Ir.  James 
prepared  a  catechism  in  the  Indian  language 
for  which  he  received  the  thanks  of  the  royal 
governor,  and  his  services  were  extremely  valu- 
able as  an  interpreter. 

The  name  of  the  first  wife  of  Mr.  James  does 
not  appear,  but  a  contract  of  marriage  was  made 
between  his  daughter  Hannah  and  James  Dia- 
ment  before  August  21,  1677.  They  were  mar- 
ried and  had  a  i&on  Thomas,  previous  to  Decem- 
ber 27,  1680.  On  August  14,  1669,  a  very  busi- 
ness like  contract  of  marriage  was  made  between 
Mr.  James  and  a  widow,  Katherine  Blux,  who 
was  then  living  in  Southampton,  and  was  ap- 
parently a  relative  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Fordham. 
The  sequel  is  thus  recorded:  "Mr.  Thomas 
James  was  maryed  the  second  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1669."  The  date  of  her  death  is  unknown, 
but  she  was  living  in  1674.  An  abstract  of  the 
will  of  Mr.  James  is  here  given : 

'The  last  will  and  lestament  of  me  Thomas 
James,  Preacher  of  ye  Gospel  &  minister  of 
East  Hampton,  in  ye  County  of  Suffolk,  upon 
ye  Isle  of  Nassau  alias  Long  Island,  within  ye 
Province  of  New  York,  as'  followeth :  -^  ^  •■■•' 
To  my  eldest'  daghter,  Sarah,  wife  of  Pere- 
grine Stanborough  (having  already  given  her 
m^re  than  any  of  the  rest  of  my  children),  *  * 


'^  four  score  pounds,  in  cash  current  of  this 
Province,  also  an  equal  part  with  my  other 
children  of  my  personal  goods,  '''  *  '^  also  ye 
small  part  I  have  in  ye  ship  called  ye  "Speed- 
well" (being  half  a  quarter),  also  ye  feather 
bed  I  lye  upon  &  ye  green  rug  with  it.  To  mv 
second  daghter,  Alary,  wife  oi  John  Stratton, 
an  hundred  pounds  in  cash.  ^  ^f^  *  To  my 
daughter  Hannah,  wife  of  James  Diament,  one 
hundred  pounds.  I,  having  very  latelv  deliv- 
ered to  my  son-in-law  Thomas  Harris  in  behalf 
of  his  wife,  my  4th  daghter,  Ruth,  one  hundred 
pounds  upon  same  conditions,  doe  confirm  it  ab- 
solutely to  her;  I  also  give  her  my  feather  bed 
in  ye  large  chamber,  with  ye  furniture  to  it.  '^'• 
"^  "  I  give  to  my  grandchildren  Mary  Stanbor- 
ough  and  Mary  Stratton  £50  a  piece,  and  a 
feather  bed  and  two  pairs  of  sheets,  ^  *  =^  also 
to  each  of  them  a  cow  and  six  sheep,  and  an  iron 
pot  of  ye  bigger  sort,  *  =^  *  two  pewter  plat- 
ters, a  silver  spoon.  '''  "^^  "^  To  my  daughter 
Anne  Howell,  now  wife  of  Air.  Abraham  How- 
ell of  Southampton,  £20,  provided  she  bring  in 
noe  after  reckoning  on  account  of  her  first  hus- 
band, my  son  Nathaniel,  deceased.  ^  *  *  To 
my  eldest  grandson,  John  Stanborough,  f  10.  To 
my  two  daughters-in-law  [  step-daughters  ?] 
Mary^  wife  of  Mr.  John  Mulford,  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Joseph  Osborn,  iio.  '■'•  =1=  ^  I  appoint 
Peregrine  Stanborough,  John  Stratton  and  James 
Diament  executors.  As  for  what  debts  is  owing 
to  me  from  this  Towne  of  East  Hampton,  either 
former  arrears  or  for  last  year,  amounting  to 
above  four  score  poimds,  I  give  to  all  my  grand- 
children excepting  those  mentioned  in  this  will. 
Only  this — that  if  ye  Towne  freely  and  readily 
will  take  ye  best  and  speediest  way  they  can  for 
yc  discharge  oi  ye  debts  afore  said,  then  I  give 
to  ye  towne  £20  towards  ye  maintaining  of  a  good 
school-master  in  this  towne ;  otherwise  not.  "^ 
^^  ^^  I  give  to  my  son-in-law  John  Stratton  what 
time  I  have  in  my  man  Charles  Jones,  my  execu- 
tors to  make  good  his  indenture  and  allow  him 
40s.  in  pay  more.  ^  =!=  ^  Xo  my  son-in-law 
James  Diament  my  Share  in  ye  horse  mill.     '''  "^ 

'Thomas  James." 
Dated  June  5,  1696. 

Tradition  states  that  at  his  own  request  he 
was  buried,  contrary  to  the  usual  custom,  with 
his  head  to  the  east,  in  order  that  he  might  face 
his  congregation  at  the  Judgm,ent  Day.  His 
tombstone,  placed  in  accordance  with  his  desire, 
still  stands  in  the  ancient  graveyard,  and  near 
the  spot  where  stood  the  church  which  was  the 


362 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


scene  of  his  lifelong  labor.     It  bears  the  follow- 
ing inscription : 

''Mr.  Thoiiias  James  Dyed  The  i6th  day  of 
June  in  the  yeare  1696,  He  was  Minister  of 
The  gospel  and  Pasture  of  the  church  of  Christ." 

By  grants  of  land  from  the  town  and  by  many 
purchases  >he  became  an  extensive  land  owner. 
On  November  20,  1655,  he  sold  all  his  estate 
to  John  Gardiner  for  £500,  reserving  the  use  of 
the  same  during  his  life. 

In  1691  Mr.  James  had  become  aged  and  in- 
firm, and  a  letter  was  sent  by  the  town  to  the 
Rev.  John  Davenport  inviting  him  to  be  his  as- 
sistant at  a  salary  of  i6o.  His  reply  indicated 
an  intention  of  visiting  them  "next  spring."  An- 
other letter  was  sent  December  17,  1691,  repeat- 
ing the  invitation,  which  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  accepted.  On  June  4,  1694,  an  agreement 
was  made  with  the  Rev.  William  Jones,  Mr. 
James  agreeing  to  give  £40  of  his  own  salary, 
and  the  town  added  £20  more  and  his  firewood. 
On  August  21,  1695,  the  same  was  renewed. 
On  Alay  14,  1696,  it  was  voted  that  the  town 
trustees  "should  improve  the  most  convenient 
opportunity  for  the  obtaining  of  a  suitable  man 
to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  ministry." 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Huntting,  the  second 
pastor,  was  a  son  of  Elder  John  Huntting  of 
Dedham,  Massachusetts,  where  his  father,  John 
Huntting,  was  pastor  of  the  church.  He  was 
born  November  15,  1675,  graduated  at  Harvard 
in  1693,  cam'e  to  East  Hampton  as  early  as 
1696,  and  was  ordained  the  13th  of  September, 
1699.  His  salary  was  fixed  at  £60  a  year,  and 
he  had  in  addition  to  this  a  house  and  the  use  of 
the  parsonage  land.  He  married  Mary  Green, 
of  Boston,  in  1701,  and  had  six  children — Na- 
thaniel, Edward,  Samuel,  Jonathan,  Mary  and 
John.  The  descendants  of  these  children  are 
numerous  and  widely  scattered.  Samuel,  the 
third  son,  settled  in  Southampton  in  1739,  and 
his  descendants  still  remain  in  that  town.  Na- 
thaniel, the  eldest  son,  married  Mary  Hedges 
September  11,  1728,  and  had  children,  Nathaniel, 
Joseph,  William  and  Mary.    From  the  son  Will- 


iam are  descended  David  H.  Huntting,  the  pres- 
ent representative  of  the  family  in  East- Hamp- 
ton, and  also  the  families  of  that  name  in  South- 
old.  When  we  consider  that  this  was  one  of  the 
Puritan  towns  of  the  strictest  class  it  seems 
strange  to  read  the  written  record  that  at  the 
time  of  Mr.  Huntting's  settlement  the  church 
numbered  only  six  male  members  and  twenty- 
two  females.  The  lack  of  religious  enthusiasm 
was  greatly  deplored  by  the  faithful  pastor.  In 
his  record  of  deaths  he  mentions  in  1752  the  de- 
cease of  six  persons  in  less  than  six  days,  and 
adds,  ''Never  did  East  Hampton  see  the  like!" 
Oh,  that  for  holiness  too  yt  there  never  was 
the  like!"  After  a  pastorate  of  fifty  years  he 
was  called  to  hiis  eternal  rest  on  the  21st  of 
September,  1753,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
Sylvanus  White,  of  Southampton,  and  his  virtues 
and  learning  received  a  well  merited  eulogium. 

Many  of  Mr.  Huntting's  sermons  are  still 
in  existence,  but  a  more  lasting  monument  is  a 
carefully  kept  record  of  marriages  and  deaths, 
begun  in  1696  and  continued  till  the  end  of-  his 
ministry.  In  it  much  incidental  knowledge  is 
conveyed  concerning  the  habits  of  the  people 
and  the  nature  of  the  most  common  diseases 
which  carried  his  parshioners  to  the  tomb. 

His  venerated  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in 
the  same  enclosure  consecrated  by  the  tomb  of 
his  sainted  predecessor,  and  his  modest  monu- 
ment bears  the  inscription. 

"In  memory  .of  the  Revnd  ]\Ir.  Nathaniel 
Huntting,  who  died  Septmr  ye  21  1753,  in  ye 
78th  year  of  his  age." 

Previous  to  Mr.  Huntting's  death  several  per- 
sons had  been  employed  as  his  assistants,  and 
among  them  Rev.  James  Davenport,  whose  er- 
ratic views  and  half  insane  enthusiasm  produced 
the  "New  Light  movement;"  through  his  agency 
the  same  "root  of  bitterness''  was  introduced 
into  this  church  to  mar  the  harmony  so  long 
existing.  After  some  trouble  all  differences  were 
happily  arranged  by  the  settlement  of 

The   Rev.    Samuel   Buel,    D.   D.,    whose   in- 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


363 


fluence  was  so  deep  and  lasting,  was  born  at 
Coventry,  Connecticut,  September  i,  1716,  grad- 
uated at  Yale  in  1741,  and  settled  as  pastor  here 
September  19,  1746.  He  remained,  alike  during 
the  calm  of  peace  and  the  storms  and  anxieties 
of  the  Revolution,  the  same  faithful,  laborious 
preacher  and  patriotic  citizen.  As  with  his  pre- 
decessor James,  there  was  something  about  him 
that  brought  'him  near  to  the  popular  heart; 
and  the  man  who  could  reconcile  the  feuds  of 
religious  schism,  and  without  sacrificing  in  the 
slightest  degree  his  political  convictions  could 
ingratiate  himself  with  his  country's  enemies, 
and  yet  retain  to  the  fullest  extent  the  love  and 
confidence  of  his  people,  must  have  possessed'  in 
no  small  measure  the  heaven-born  gift,  the  art 
of  pleasing.  It  is  probable  that,  unlike  Mr. 
James,  :he  was  not  a  man  O'f  business,  and  his 
neglect  to  continue  the  register  so  carefully  kept 
by  Mr.  Huntting,  which  he  admits  was  a  "faulty 
omission,"  and  the  irregular  manner  in  which 
his  part  was  performed  would  indicate  a  person 
of  unmethodical  habits..  Mr.  Buel  was  married- 
in  May,  1745,  to  Jerusha,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jo- 
seph Meacham,  of  Coventry.  He  had  several 
children,  most  of  whom  died  at  an  early  age. 
The  loss  of  his  only  son,  Samuel,  was  especially 
mourned,  as  he  was  a  young  man  who  seemed 
likely  to  inherit  the  talents  of  his  father.  A 
daughter  Jerusha  married  David  Gardiner, 
grandfather  of  Hou.  Samuel  Buel  Gardiner,  the 
present  owner  of  Gardiner's  Island.  His  second 
wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Elisha  Mulford. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Prime  in  his  "History  of  Long 
Is-land"  speaks  with  refreshing  coolness  of  Dr. 
Buel's  "weakness*'  in  marrying  a  youthful  wife 
in  his  old  age.  The  circumstances  of  his  court- 
ship (if  such  it  could  be  called)  are  exceedingly 
characteristic  of  the  Doctor  and  the  place.  The 
story  goes  that  Mary,  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Miller  was  a  blooming  belle  of  17  and  had  a 
mpst  ardent  admirer  in  the  person  of  a  young 
man  named  Conkling.  The  young  lady  did  not 
reciprocate  his  affection,  and  the  young  man 
went  to  Dr.  Buel  and  requested  his  good  offices 
to  assist  him  in  winning  the  heart  of  the  ob- 
durate beauty.     The  Doctor  consented,  and  tak- 


ing a  favorable  opportunity  "labored"  with  the 
young  lady,  but  found  her  unwilling  to  consent 
to  the  proposed  union.  "Well,"  said  the  Doctor, 
who  evidently  did  not  think  it  well  for  men  or 
women  either  to  live  aione,  "If  you  don't  marry 
him  you  ought  to  miarry  somebody.  Will  you 
marry  me?"  Whether  the  young  lady  was 
moved  by  sudden  love  for  the  good  minister,  or 
(as  is  more  likely)  was  dazzled  by  his  high  social 
position,  we  do  not  know.  But  she  assented,  and 
the  man  of  70  led  his  blooming  bride  to  the 
altar.  Strange  to  say  young  Conkling  did  not 
seem  to  appreciate  Dr.  Buel  and  his  excellencies 
as  much  as  he  did  before.  Airs.  Mary  Buel's 
tombstone  records  her  death  December  27,  1844, 
aged  79.  Dr.  BueFs  youngest  daughter,  Mary, 
married  Rev.  Aaron  Woolworth,  of  Bridge- 
hampton. 

A  tomb,  crowned  with  a  heavy  slab  of  stone, 
bears  the  following  epitaph: 

"Reader,  behold  this  tomb  with  reverence  and 
respect.  Here  lie  the  remains  of  that  eminent 
Servant  of  Christ,  the  Reverend  Samuel  Buel, 
D.  D.,  53  years  pastor  of  the  Church  in  this  place. 
He  was  a  faithful  and  successful  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  a  kind  relation,  a  true  friend,  a  good 
patriot,  an  honest  man  and  an  exemplary  Chris- 
tian. Was  born  September  ist,  171 6,  died  in 
peace  July  19,  1798,  aged  82  years." 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  pastorates  of  these 
three  men  embraced  a  period  of  154  years. 

The  mantle  of  Samuel  Buel  fell  upon  a  man 
whose  fame  is  not  bounded  by  the  limits  of  his 
native  land,  the  Rev.  Lyman  Bcecher.  He  was 
ordained  here  September  5,  1799.  To  give  any 
extended  account  of  Dr.  Beecher  would  be  super- 
fluous, for  his  life  and  ministry  are  a  part  of 
the  'history  of  our  country.  The  writer  once 
asked  an  old  man  who  had  attended  his  meet- 
ings, "How  did  Lyman  Beecher  preach?"  "How 
did  Lyman  Beecher  preach?"  was  the  reply,  "I'll 
tell  you  ho'w;  he  would  get  up  in  the  pulpit  and 
make  a  prayer,  and  read  the  Psalm  and  a  chap- 
ter in  the  Bible,  just  like  other  ministers.  Then 
he  would  take  his  text  and  shut  up  the  book  and 
lean  over  the  pulpit,  a7id  the  zvay  that  man  would 
talk  ivas  a  caution''    Probably  this  was  the  great 


864 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


secret  oi  Dr.  ,Beecher'.s  power — instead  of  read- 
ing a  sermon  at  his  people  he  talked  to  them. 
Dr.  Beecher  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request 
in  1810. 

The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Phillips'  was  a  son  of 
Philetus  Phillips,  of  Greenville,  New  York,  and 
a  descendant  ,of  Rev.  George  Phillips,  second 
minister  of  Setauket.  He  was  ordained  here 
May  5,  181 1.  Failing  health  compelled  his  resig- 
nation March  16,  1830,  and  he  removed  to  Car- 
mel,  New  York,  where  he  died  in  184 — . 

The  R€v.  Joseph  D.  Condit  was  settled  here 
September  i,  1830.  He  was  dismissed  April  22, 
1835,  and  removed  tO'  Massachusetts. 

The  Rev.  Sam'uel  R.  Ely,  after  preaching  as 
a  stated  S'Upply,  was  ordained  in  1835.  His 
labors,  which  were  highly  satisfactory,  were  ter- 
minated on  account  of  failing  health  and  his  fare- 
well sermon  was  preached  October  25,  1846. 
He  resided  for  some  time  at  Roslyn,  Long  Isl- 
and, but  has  since  died. 

The  Rev.  Alexander  B.  Bullions  was  or- 
dained and  installed  November  5,  1846.  Mr. 
Bullions  had  just  graduated  from  the  seminary, 
where  he  had  earned  the  reputation  of  a  close 
student  and  one  of  fine  literary  attainments. 
He  was  a  m'an  of  modest  and  unobtrusive  man- 
ners. The  loss  of  his  wife  and  child  weighed 
heavily  upon  his  mind,  for  he  had  deep  sensi- 
bilities, and  this  is  usually  considered  the  cause 
of  his  resignation,  June  26,  1848. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Huntting,  the  ninth  pastor, 
was  the  son  of  Deacon  Edward  Huntting,  of 
Southampton,  and  inherited  all  the  virtues  of 
his  ancestors.  The  epitaph  on  his  tombstone, 
\^^hich  stands  near  that  of  his  illustrious  pro- 
genitor, tells  the  sad  story  of  his  too  brief  ca- 
reer: 

"Samuel  Huntting,  born  at  Southampton,  L. 
L,  Nov.  II  1822;  Installed  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  in  this  place  Oct.  31  1848;  died 
September  10  1849,  aged  26  years  10  mos/' 

Mr.  Huntting  was  married  in  1848  to  Miss 
Emma  Halsey,  daughter  of  Daniel  Halsey,  of 
Southam'pton,  He  left  one  son,  Samuel,  who 
died  in  early  manhood. 

Mr.  Huntting  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Enoch 


C.  Wines,  a  man  of  various  and  large  experience 
and  of  high  literary  ability.  He  was  installed  in 
February,  1850.  His  pastorate  was  terminated 
in  December,  1853,  by  his  acceptance  of  a  call 
from  the  synod  of  Wheeling  to  a  professorship 
in  Washington  College,  Pennsylvania.  His  sub- 
sequent long  and  useful  service  as  a  reformer 
of  prison  discipline  has  marked  him  a  wise,  dis- 
criminating and  efficient  philanthropist  in  a  work 
where  a  Howard  had  illustrated  in  his  own  ca- 
reer some  of  the  noblest  featureis  of  a  regenerated 
humanity. 

Rev.  Stephen  L.  Mershon  was  a  graduate  of 
Princeton,  and  was  installed  here  in  April,  1854. 
His  twelve  years  in  this  pastorate  were  dis- 
tinguished by  zeal  crowned  with  success.  Dur- 
ing this  time  the  parsonage  was  greatly  enlarged 
and  improved,  a  new  and  commodious  session 
house  erected,  and  a  new  church,  of  ample  di- 
mensions and  elegant  appointments,  built  and 
consecrated  to  the  service  of  God.  He  resigned 
in  1866  and  removed  to  New  Jersey. 

Rev.  John  D.  Stokes,  a  later  pastor,  was  a  native 
of  Ohio.  He  was  installed  in  May,  1867,  and 
enjoyed  fourteen  }'ears  of  useful  labor  among  a 
united  people. 

About  the  year  1854  a  stage  coach  stopped 
one  evening  at  one  of  the  many  boarding  houses 
in  the  village  and  a  stranger  alighted.  For 
nearly  twenty  years  that  he  remained  John  Wal- 
lace was  in  most  respects  one  of  the  best  known 
of  the  village  residents,  yet  his  life  has  always 
been  wrapped  in  the  profoundest  mystery.  He 
used  hiisi  abundant  means  unsparingly  in  all  cases 
that  called  for  judicious  benevolence.  It  was 
found  that  he  cam'e  from  Scotland,  and  friendly 
interest  and  vulgar  curiosity  alike  failed  to  learn 
more  of  his  early  history.  The  theory  of  crime 
committed  in  the  past,  and  flight  to  a  distant  land 
for  safety,  plausible  as  it  might  seem,  could  not 
be  applied  to  one  whose  life  was  a  constant  prac- 
tice of  benevolence  and  virtue;  and  if  some  act 
of  youthful  folly  had  rendered  him  a  wanderer 
it  was  more  than  atoned  for  in  the  long  course  of 
a  holy  life.  He  died  in  1870,  and  the  secret  of 
his  life  was  buried  in  his  erave. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


365 


It  was  to  this  gentleman  that  the  Episcopal 
church  in  the  village  owed  its  origin.  The  first 
service  for  the  Church  of  England  was  held  in 
Clinton  Academy,  on  Whit-Sunday,  1854.  The 
services  were  co^nducted  by  the  Rev.  Charles 
Gardiner,  and  the  congregation  numbered  four- 
teen, all  communicants.  Mr.  Wallace  paid  a 
nominal  salary  and  the  clergyman  made  his  home 
with  Dr.  Abel  Huntington.  The  same  year  Mr. 
Gardiner  left  for  a  more  remunerative  field,  and 
his  place  was  filled  by  Rev.  Gurdon  Hunting- 
ton, the  salary  still  being  defrayed  by  Mr.  Wal- 
lace. In  the  spring  Sag  Harbor  and  East  Hamp- 
ton joined  forces,  the  clergyman  residing  at  Sag 
Harbor  and  holding  service  half  a  day  in  this 
village,  Mr.  Wallace  paying  half  the  salary  and 
the  clergymlan  taking  the  offertory,  which,  ow- 
ing to  the  liberality  of  summer  visitors,  was  quite 
large.  The  subject  of  building  a  church  was  dis- 
cussed in  1858;  Dr.  Wagstaff  headed  the  sub- 
scription paper  with  $1,000,  Mr.  Wallace  con- 
tributed $600,  and  the  gentlemen  and  ladies 
making  this  village  their  summ^er  resting  place 
gave  to  the  cause  with  great  liberality.  A  site 
was  procur-ed  in  the  winter  of  the  same  year  and 
a  contract  made  with  Captain  George  Hand  for 
the  erection  of  a  building.  A  deed  of  trust  for 
the  subscribers  was  taken  by  Dr.  Wagstaff,  who 
generously  provided  a  bell  and  the  sacramental 
service ;  and  the  church  was  consecrated  in  July, 
1859,  by  Bishop  Potter. 

The  connection  with  the  church  of  Sag  Har- 
bor was  kept  up  a  number  of  years,  Mr.  Wallace 
acting  as  lay  reader  by  authority  of  the  bishop. 
Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Wallace  the  church  is 
only  open  from  June  to  October.  It  has  been 
for  many  years  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Charles 
Gardiiner,  and  is  'supported  by  the  voluntary  offer- 
ings of  summ-er  visitors.  The  title  is  now  vested 
in  a  board  of  trustees.  The  church  is  kept  in 
the  nicest  order  by  the  care  of  a  few  who  find 
their  reward  in  the  consciousness  of  doing  goodi 
A  memorial  window  preserves  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Wallace  and  the  two  young  ladies  who  were 
lost  in  the  steamer  ''Ville  de  Havre." 

The  old  North  District  school  house  at  the 


Hook,  about  seventy-five  }'ears  old,  was  sold  in 
1895  to  the  congregation  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  has  been  raised  slightly,  re- 
modeled and  is.  used  for  church  services.  It  is 
sixty  feet  long.  The  first  school  house  was 
built  on  the  site  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago. 
The  original  building  was  erected  upon  town 
land,  and  the  property  was  deeded  by  the  town 
to  the  school  trustees  in  1875.  About  the  same 
time  the  old-fashioned  desks-  arranged  around  the 
four  sides  of  the  room,  at  which  the  pupils  sat 
in  rows  facing  the  wall,  were  changed  for  those 
of  a  newer  pattern,  at  which  the  pupils  were 
seated  by  twos.  The  belfry  and  school  house 
bell  were  added  fifteen  years  ago.  Before  that 
the  children  were  summoned  by  a  hand  bell. 
More  than  half  of  the  inhabitants  of  East  Hamp- 
ton received  their  education  at  the  old  Hook 
school.  Thirty-five  years  ago,  before  the  session 
house  was  built,  the  regular  meetings  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  were  held  in  the  old  school 
house,  as  well  as  in  the  old  town  house,  where 
Dr.  De  Witt  C.  Talmage  preached  his  first  ser- 


mon. 


Famous  old  Clinton  Academy  owed  its  found- 
ing to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Buel.  At  a  meeting  at 
which  steps  were  taken  to  incorporate  the  insti- 
tution, the  presiding  officer  was  William  Floyd, 
a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  institution, 
held  December  28,  1784,  the  following  regula- 
tions and  terms  "were  considered  and  deter- 
mined as  the  law,s  of  East  Hampton  Academy:*' 

"Whereas  we  have  founded  this  academy,  at 
a  great  expense,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting 
necessary  and  useful  education,  by  the  instruc- 
tion of  children  and  youths,  from  whatever 
places  they  may  be  sent  to  the  seminary,  as  well 
for  the  benefit  of  society  at  large  as  for  that  of 
the  children  and  youths  of  East  Hampton  and 
vicinity  in  particular,  we  have  approved  and  de- 
'  termined  on  the  following  terms  and  regulations, 
to  be  adopted  and  strictly  adhered  to  as  temporary 
laws  of  this  academy:  That  this  academy  be 
immediately  and  continually  hereafter  supplied 
with  masters  or  tutors  sufficient  and  thoroughly 
qualified  for  the  number  of  pupils  which  may 
apply  for  instruction  bere,  and  for  the  branches 


3(56 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


of  education  which  arc  required  to  be  taught. 
That  the  said  masters  and  tutors  ,be  governed  by 
the  laws  of  the  academy  so  far  as  relates  to  the 
interests  of  the  proprietors  and  promoting  the 
general  design.  The  English  school  to  be  opened 
at  8  o'clock  and  i  o'clock.  The  following  terms 
were  agreed  upon :  For  each  scholar  who  at- 
tends for  reading  only,  from  8  to  1 1  and  from 
I  to  3,  3  shillings  a  month ;  for  each  scholar  who 
attends  for  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  4 
shillings  a  month ;  for  each  reader  only  who  tar- 
ries from  10  to  II  and  from  3  to  4,  'i  shilling  a 
month. 

'And  whereas  much  needless  damage  may  oc- 
cur to  the  house  from  the  mischievous  or  careless 
management  of  the  unruly,  it  is  hereby  provided 
that  every  scholar  who  shall  break  a  square  of 
glass  shall  immediately  repair  the  same  or  pay 
the  ordinary  price  of  two  squares;  any  scholar 
who  shall  mark,  scratch  or  deface  the  walls, 
ceiling  or  furniture,  a  penalty  of  i  shilling  more 


sible  the  indelicacy  of  that  corporal  punishment 
"which  often  becomes  necessary  where  better 
means  of  government  are  not  used,  it  is  hereby 
recommended  to  the  master  that  for  every  other 
trespass  than  those  aforementioned — viz.  for  con- 
tempt of  authority  or  breach  of  order — the  pen- 
alty of  a  fine  be  exacted  in  proportion  to  the 
nature  of  such  ofTense  from  every  scholar  so 
offending  not  under  the  age  of  10  years.  The 
fines  to  be  applied  to  procuring  presents  for  faith- 
ful scholars/' 

Jabez  Peck  was  master  for  the  classic  school, 
and  William  Payne  for  the  English  and  writing 
school.  Of  the  former  and  his  history  we  know 
nothing,  but  to  the  latter  a  peculiar  interest  at- 
taches from  the  fact  that  he  was  the  father  of  the 
far-famed  John  Howard  Payne.  The  academy 
filled  a  highly  useful  mission  for  very  many 
years,  but  finally  succumbed  in  face  of  more  mod- 


CLINTON  ACADEMY. 


or  less,  according  to   damage;   for  breaking   a 
desk  or  seat,  to  repair  or  pay  double. 

"And  whereas  the  utility  and  advantage  of 
a  school  depends  greatly  on  the  good  discipline 
preserved  therein,  and  to  prevent  as  much  as  pos- 


ern  institutions  of  learning.  Men  who  held  high 
positions  graduated  from  this  institution,  and 
whoever  looks  upon  the  time  worn  building  and 
its  antique  appliances  for  study  .should  remember 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


367 


that  at  a  time  when  learning  was  more  difficult 
to  obtain  and  consequently  more  highly  valued 
than  at  present,  it  had  more  influence  in  molding 
the  character  of  Suffolk  county  than  any  institu- 
tion of  its  kind.     All  honor  to  its  memory. 

The  first  school  master  in  this  town  was 
Charles  Barnes.  He  was  the  son  of  William 
Barnes,  Esq.,  of  .Eastwinch,  in  the  county  of  Nor- 
folk, England,  and  he  was  probably  the  brother 
of  Joshua  and  William  Barnes,  of  Southampton. 
The  original  Barnes  homestead  in  that  place  is 
now  the  property  of  William  S.  Pelletreau. 
William  and  Qiarles  Barnes  came  to  East 
Hampton  with  the  first  settlers.  Charles  Barnes 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  AHce  Hand. 
He  died  before  November  23,  1663. 

On  December  24,  1669,  Philip  Alcock  is  men- 
tioned as  "Scoole  master  in  East  Hampton/'  and 
was  doubtless  the  successor  of.  Charles  Barnes, 
and  he  was  here  in  1672,  In  April,  1674,  the 
town  employed  Jonas  Houldsworth  as  school- 
master. He  wasi  a  veteran  teadher  and  taught  in 
Southampton  and  other  towns  in  the  county.  He 
was  to  have  £33  for  teaching  one  year.  He 
was  to  be  paid  one-half  ''in  beefe  or  oyle  at  two 
pounds  a  barrel,"  and  the  other  half  in  oyle,  porke, 
hides  or  Tallow  or  whalebone  at  the  price  they 
commonly  goe."  He  was  to  have  twelve  days 
in  the  year  for  his  own  use.  On  August  10, 
1675,  ^"  agreement  was  made  '*that  Mr.  John 
Laughton  shall  kepe  Scoole  and  teach  the  chil- 
dren to  reade  and  write  for  this  one  yeare  and 
to  begin  the  next  second  day,  being  the  six- 
teenth of  this  instant,  and  soe  to  kepe  until  the 
last  of  December  next  and  then  to  breake  off  by 
reson  of  the  whale  design  until  the  first  of  April 
next,  and  then  to  beginn  againe  to  kepe  scoole, 
to  make  up  the  time  of  one  whole  yeare,  for 
which  service  the  Town  have  agreede  to  give 
imto  Mr.  Laughton  the  full  some  of  fortie  shill- 
ings a  month  and  his  Dyet.''  This  shows  that 
the  i6th  of  August,  1675,  was  Monday.  Mr. 
Laughton  was  schoolmaster  in  Southampton  for 
several  years  and  many  deeds  and  wills  written 
by  him  are  in  existence.  His  name  was  pro- 
nounced "Layton." 

On  March  24,  1679,  it  was  voted  "That  where- 


as there  is  different  apprehensions  conserning 
the  way  of  raising  pay  for  a  scoole  master  to 
teach  children  to  write  &  reade,  which  is  soe 
needful,"  it  was  agreed  to  leave  it  to  tHie  de- 
termmation  of  the  governor  and  the  high  court 
of  Assizes  'which  way  is  ye  most  just  &  equal- 
est  to  be  carried  on."  The  first  actual  mention 
of  a  schoolhouse  is  on  May  4,  1682,  when  there 
is  a  charge  for  "makeing  and  putting  up  ye 
scoolhouse  windo."  Also  "bords  for  ye  scool- 
house''  and  "a  small  pane  of  glass  for  ye  iscool- 
house,"  which  shows  that  schoolhouse  windows 
were  quite  as  easily  broken  then  as  in  more  re- 
cent times.  In  1682  the  schoolmaster  was  "Mr. 
Peter  Benson."  He  had  "29  scollars  at  16  shill- 
ings each"  and  "11  halfe  Scollers  as  pr  agree- 
ment at  8  shillings  per  peece."  His  whole  pay 
seems  to  have  been  £34  6.  7.  On  August  9, 
1683,  an  agreement  was  made  with  "Mr.  Peter 
Benson  to  teach  scoole  the  Next  yeare,  to  begin 
the  2  day  of  October  next."  His  wages  were 
to  be  £35  in  provision,  and  part  was  paid  by  the 
parents  of  the  children  and  the  rest  by  the  town. 
On  September  29,  1684,  it  was  voted  that  he 
should  teach  "halfe  a  yeere  more"  at  the  same 
rate.  Mr.  Benson  was  a  land  owner  here  in 
t686.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  where 
the  ancient  schoolhouse  stood,  but  we  have  no 
knowledge. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  street,  near  the  middle 
of  the  village,  there  was  standing  until  the  pres- 
ent year  a  small  dingy-looking  building  called, 
apparently  in  derision,  the  "Town  Hall."  When 
it  was  built  we  have  been  unable  to  learn,  but 
it  is  very  likely  that  it  was  the  "Town  house" 
built  in  1701.  (See  Vol.  H,  Records,  p.  495.) 
Strange  tO'  say,  in  so  enlightened  a  town  as  East 
Hampton,  this  little  shanty  was  for  long  years 
the  village  schoolhouse  in  spite  of  its  utter  un- 
fitness for  the  purpose.  All  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  characteristics  of  the  people  on  the  east 
end  of  Long  Island  know  full  well  the  difficulty 
of  inducing  a  neighborhood  to  build  a  new  school 
house,  and  this  building  would  doubtless  have 
been  used  for  long  years  to  come  had  not  the 
supervisor,  Jehiel  K.  Parsons,  had  the  manhood 
— which  few  indeed  of  his  brother  officials  pos- 


368 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


sessed — to  risk  re-election  to  office  by  uniting 
with  the  school  commissioner  in  condemning  this 
unsuitable  building.  The  result  was  a  commo- 
tion which  has  not  been  exceeded  since  the  trial 
of  "Goody  Garlick'  for  witchcraft.  But  after 
the  excitement  had  ceased  and  common  sense 
resumed  its  sway,  the  good  people  built,  in  1876, 
the  present  school  house,  which  is  an  ornament 
and  a  credit  to  the  ancient  town.  The  anti- 
quated *'Town  Hall"  was  removed'  in  1892  to  the 
north  end  of  the  village  in  ''the  Hook,"  and  is 
still  standing  near  the  north  end  cemetery. 

In  May,  1893,  the  school  districts  in  the  vil- 
lage were  united  as  a  union  school,  which  has  a 
high   reputation   for   efficiency. 

In  1887  the  town  records  of  East  Hampton 
were  printed.  The  work  of  transcribing  was 
performed  by  Joseph  S.  Osborn,  Esq.,  the  town 
clerk,  and  will  be  a  lasting  monument  to  his 
skill  and  patience.  A  flood  of  light  is  thrown 
upon  our  early  history  which  no  other  source 
could  supply. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  town  skilled  mechan- 
ics were  greatly  needed  and  liberal  induce- 
ments were  offered  to  induce  them  to  join  the 
settlement.  'Blacksmiths,  especially,  were  in 
great  demand.  Robert  Bond  was  undoubtedly 
the  first  one  and  was  among  the  original  owners. 
In  1668  Edward  Avery,  "a  smith,"  was  offered 
three  acres  of  land  for  a  home  lot  and  ten  acres 
elsewhere  and  to  be  admitted  as  an  inhabitant, 
on  condition  that  he  remain  three  years.  On 
May  i.T,  167T,  the  town  made  an  agreement  with 
Thomas  Smith,  "blacksmith,"  to  work  here  for 
six  years,  "God  giveing  him  health  and  life," 
and  he  was  to  work  at  "such  reasonable  terms 
as  other  men  of  his  calling  doe  elsewhere  upon 
thiQ  Mayne  land."  He  was  to  have  the  same  lot 
that  was  offered  to  Edward  Avery  "that  was 
formerh'  John  Osborns,"  and  other  land.  He 
remained  till  May,  1673.  Previous  to  this,  on 
February  12,  1668,  Thomas  Skidmore,  of  Hunt- 
ington, engaged  to  come  and  stay  six  years,  and 
to  have  the  same  lot,  but  he  did  not  stay  long. 
The  lot  that  was  offered  to  each  of  these  men 
was  the  north  side  of  the  lot  that  was  afterward 


purchased  for  a  parsonage  lot  and  now  Samuel 
G.  Mulford's.  The  next  was  Samuel  Terrill, 
v/ho  came  here  in  1675.  He  had  the  privilege 
of  building  a  house  and  shop  in  the  street,  and 
the  use  of  it  as  long  as  he  remained.  He  after- 
ward went  to  Brookhaven.  Thomas  Terrill,  who 
was  here  many  years  later,  may  have  been  hi& 
son.  He  went  in  1694  to  Elizabethtown.  In 
1685  John  Pinney  was 'offered  the  privilege  "to 
sett  himself  up  a  shop  and  house,  by  ye  other 
smiths  shop,  and  to  have  that  little  piece  of  land 
that  the  old  pound  did  formerly  stand  on,  as  far 
as  to  the  school  house."  He  afterward  went  to 
Southampton.  Thomas  Terrill  sold  his  lot,  and 
probably  the  shop,  to  Robert  Hudson,  black- 
smith, ]\Iay  3,  1694.  It  was  one-eighth  of  an 
acre,  and  was  part  of  the  home  lot  of  Samuel 
Brooks,  and  was  bounded  east  by  the  street,  north 
by  Joshua  Garlick,  and  south  and  west  by  Sam- 
uel Brcx^ks.  In  '1697  Henry  Buck,  Jr.,  of  Weth- 
ersfield,  had  the  privilege  of  building  a  shop  in 
the  street  and  carrying  on  his  trade. 

James  Loper  had  land  granted  in  1673  on 
condition  of  carrying  on  his  trade  as  a  cord- 
wainer,  or  shoe  maker.  He  soon  got  "beyond 
his  last,"  and  was  extensively  engaged  in  whal- 
ing and  other  business.  Jeremy  Meecham  came 
here  from  Southold  in  1653,  the  town  giving 
him  inducements  to  work  at  his  trade  as  a 
weaver. 

For  many  years  after  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  the  extensive  peninsula  of  Montauk 
remained  in  the  possession  of  its  aboriginal 
owners,  though  it  seems  that  at  a  very  early  date 
the  "Townsmen"  cast  covetous  eyes  upon  it  and 
resolved  to  purchase  it  at  the  first  opportunity. 
The  following  documents  fully  explain  the  vari- 
ous purchases  in  chronological  order : 

"This  Writing  testfieth  an  agreement  between 
Wyandance  of  Meantauket,  Chief  Sachem,  of 
Long  Island,  and  Thomas  James,  minister  of 
East  Hampton,  and  Lyon  Gardiner,  John  Mul- 
ford,  Robert  Bond,  Thomas  Baker,  John  Hand 
and  the  rest  of  their  associates  the  purchasers  and 
proprietors  of  the  Towne  of  Easthampton,  as  fol- 
loweth.  That  upon  consideration  .that  the  In- 
habitants of  Easthampton  doe  sett  up  and  main- 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


369 


tain  a  good  sufficient  fence  frona  the  soufli  side  of 
this  town,  to  the  head  of  the  harhor  called  irie 
Three  mile  harbor,  that  is  to  say  from  isea  to  sea, 
for  the  keeping  off  of  horses  from  going  east- 
ward in  the  summer,  during  the  Indian  corne  is 
upon  the  ground,  the  aforesaid  Sachem  doeth 
firmly  bind  himself  to  lett  and  dispose  of  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Easthampton,  all  the  hearbidge 
that  is  the  grass  and  feed  for  cattle,  upon  his 
land,  now  in  possession  eastward  of  Napeahe  to 
the  end  of  the  Island.  And  if  the  fence  doeth  not 
prove  sufficient  to  turne  the  horses,  and  soe  pre- 
vent d!amage,  the  Englishmen  shall  pay  40  shill- 
ings a.  year  in  good  pay  for  ever.  And  the 
Sachem  shall  not  sell  the  land  to  anyone  but  the 
Town  o>f  Easthampton.      Dated  April  10,  1655. 

''Witnesses  "Wiandance  (X), 

"Jeremiah  Vale,  "Sasakako  (X), 

"John  Wooly."  "Paquatorone   (X)." 

This  Indenture,  made  the  first  day  of  August, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Six  hun- 
dred and  Sixtie,  between  the  Old  Sachem  Squa, 
late  wife  of  Wiandance,  Deceased,  and  her  son 
Wiancombone,  Pogantone,  Chekanow,  Massa- 
quet,  Powhe  and  Gentleman,  the  true  and  lawful 
proprietors  of  the  neck  of  Land!  Commonly 
known  by  the  name  of  Meantauquet  on  the  East- 
ern end  of  Long  Island,  the  one  partie,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Baker,  Mr.  Robert  Bond,  Mr.  Thomas 
James,  Mr.  Lion  Gardiner,  Mr.  John  Mulford, 
John 'Hand  and  Benjamin  Price,  of  the  Plantation 
of  Easthampton,  on  the  Island  aforesaid,  the 
other  partie,  Witnesseth,  that,  the  abovenamed 
Sachem  Squa,  together  with  her  Son  Wiancom- 
bone, Pogatone,  Chekanow,  Massaqut,  Powhe 
and  gentleman,  together  with  their  associates,  do 
by  these  presents,  fully  Confirm,  hold  good,  and 
firmly  maintahi  and  avouch  the  former  contract 
or  bargain,  made  between  the  aforesaid  Wian-? 
dance  and  his  associates,  the  one  partie,  and  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  aforesaid  Easthampton,,  the 
other  partie,  and  do  by  these  presents  acknowl- 
edge to  have  fully  and  firmly  sold,  Aliened,  en- 
feoffed and  confirmed,  and  allso  do  by  these 
'presents,  fully,  firmly,  and  absolutely  give,  grant, 
aliene,  enfeoff,  Sell  and  Confirm,  unto  the  afore- 
said Thomas  Baker,  Robert  Bond,  Thomas 
James,  Lion  Gardiner,  John  Mulford,  John  Hand, 
and  Benjamin  Price,  together  with  their  associ- 
ates, all  the  aforesaid  neck  of  land',  called  Mean- 
quit,  with  all  and  Every  part  and  parcel  thereof, 
from  &ea  to  sea,  from  the  utmoist  end  of  the  Isl- 
and, Eastward  to  the  sea  side,  unto  the  Other 
End  of  the  said  Land,  westward  adjoining  to  the 
bounds  of  East  Hampton  aforesaid,  with  all  and 

24 


Singular  its  rights,  privileges,  members.  Juris- 
dictions, immunities  and  appurtenances  whatso- 
ever, with  Meadow,  Wood,  Stone,  Cricks,  ponds 
with  whatsoever  doth,  or  may  grow  upon  or  issue 
from  the  same,  with  all  profits  and  Commodities 
by  Sea  or  Land  unto  the  aforesaid  Inhabitants  of 
East-Hampton,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever, 
to  have  and  to  bold,  and  from  time  to  time  for- 
ever peaceably  to  enjoy  the  same,  without  Dis- 
turbance OT  Molestation  from  the  aforesaid  pro- 
prietors or  their  Associates,  or  any  of  their  heirs 
or  Assigns,  or  any  other  by  their  means.  Consent 
or  procurement,  for  the  Consideration  of  One 
Hundred  Pounds  Sterling,  to  be  well  and  truly 
paid  in  manner  as  followeth,  viz:  that  the  afore- 
said Thomas  Baker,  Robert  Bond,  Thomas 
James,  Lion  Gardiner,  John  Mulford,  John  Hand^ 
and  Benjamin  Price  and  their  Associates,  the  In- 
habitants of  Easthampton  do  well  and  truly  and 
duely  pay  unto  the  aforenamed  Indians  their 
heirs  or  assigns,  the  full  and  Just  Sum  of  ten 
pounds  Sterling  every  Year,  either  in  Indian 
Corn,  or  else  in  good  Wampumpeague,  at  five  a 
penny,  until  the  end  of  ten  Years  be  Expired, 
and  afterwards  to  be  wholy  and  fully  freed  from 
any  further  or  -future  demand  or  demands  for- 
ever; and  furthermore,  we  the  afoiresaid  owners 
and  proprietors  of  the  aforesaid  Land,  for  the 
full  Confirmation  of  all  and  Every  of  the  prem- 
ises, Do  acknowledge  to  have  given  peaceable 
and  quiet  possession  of  the  Land  aforesaid,  to 
the  aforesaid  purchasers,  and  in  token  hereof, 
have  diged  up  a  piece  of  said  land  and  delivered 
it  as  our  act  and  Deed,  into  the  hands  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Easthampton ;  and  also  do  ac- 
knowledge to  have  Received  the  full  Sum  oi  ten 
bushels  of  Indian  Coirn,  in  part  of  payment  of 
the  first  ten  pounds;  and  in  Witness  of  all  and 
every  of  the  Premises,  we  have  Each  Partie  set 
too  our  hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year  first 
above  written. 

The  Corn  to  be  paid  at  4s.  a  bushel. 

Signed  by  the  marke  under  seal,  of  wian- 
combone, sacheai:  squa,  and  others.  Parties  of 
the  first  part. 

Sealed   and    Delivered    in    Presence    of    us 

RICPIARD  SHAW. 

The  mark  of  john. 

Be  it  known  unto  all  men  by  these  presents, 
that  I,  the  Sunk  vSquaw  of  Meantuck,  wife  of  Wi- 
andanch,  of  late  years  Deceased  partie,  Sachem 
of  Long  Island,  together  with  Pokkatonn  Chief 
Co'Unsellor,  and  the  rest  of  our  trusty  Counsellors 
and  associates,  send  greeting.  Know  ye,  that 
Whereas  there  was   a  full   and   firm   Indenture 


370 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


made  bet\vcen  j\ir.  Thomas  Baker,   Mr.  Robert 
Sond,  Mr.  Thomas  James,  Mr.  Lion  Gardiner, 
Mr.  John  Mulford,  John  Hand,  Benjamin  Price 
Together  with  their  associates  the  Inhabitants  of 
Easthampton   upon  Long  Island,   with  the   full 
Consent  of  my  Counsellors  and  Servants,  as  also 
of    my    two    Guardians,    left    by    my    deceased 
Father,  viz :      Mr.  Lion  Gardiner  of  Easthamp- 
ton, and  Mr.  David  Gardiner,  of  ye  Isle  of  wight, 
ye  other  partie,   in  ye   yeere   of    or   Lord   One 
Thousand  Six  Hundred  Sixtie,  upon  ye  sixt  day 
of  August,  whereby  we  did  fully  and  firmly  sell 
unto  the   said!  parties,   our  neck  of  land  called 
Montaukut,  from  sea  to  sea,  from  ye  utmost  end 
of  that  neck   Eastward   Called   wompenanit,   to 
our  utmost  bounds  westward,   Called   Napeakc, 
with  all  priviledges  and  appurtenances  belonging 
to  the  same,  upon  Co'ndition  there  and  then  speci- 
fied in  that  foresaid  Ind-enture,  and  a  Counter- 
bond,  bearing  ye  same  Date,  signed  and  sealed 
to  us  by  ye  aforesaid  parties,  Inhabitants  of  East- 
Hampton,  by  virtue  of  which  we  had  free  libertie 
granted  if  Avee  see  cause  to  sit  down  again  upon 
ye  said  Land,  this  being  the  fall  purpose  of  us 
the   Sunk   Squa,   of   Winkombone,    Sachem,   to- 
gether with  our  associates  in  Convenient  time  to 
sit  down  to  live  at  ye  said  Montaukut;  know  yee 
allsoe,  that  whereas  of  late  years,  there  hawing 
beene  sore  Distress  and  Calamities  befallen  us  by 
reason  of  ye  Cruel  opposition  and  Violence  of  or 
most   Deadly   Enemies    Xinnicraft,     Sachem  of 
Narhigganset,  whose  Cruelty  hath  proceeded  so 
far  as  to  take  away  ye  lives  of  many  of  or  Deare 
friends  and  relations,  soe  that  we  were  forced  to 
flie  from  ye  said  Montouqu't  for  shelter  to  our 
beloved  friends  and  neighbors  of  Easthampton, 
whom  wee  found  to  be  friendly  in  o^ur  distress, 
and;  whom   wee  must  ever  owne  and  acknowl- 
edge as  instruments  under  God,  for  ye  preserva- 
tion of  or  lives  and  \e  lives  of  or   Wives  and 
Children  to  this  Day,  and  of  that  Land  of  Mon- 
takut  frome  ye  hands  of  or  Enemies,  and  since 
or     Coming'    amiongst     them     ye     relieving    of 
us    in  or  Extremities    from  time  to    time ;  and 
now  at  last  we  find  ye  said  Inhabitants  of  East- 
hampton, our    Deliverers,  Cordial    and    faithful 
in  their  former  Covenants,  leaving  us   freely  to 
or  own  libertie  to  go  or    stay,    being    ready  to 
perform    all    conditions    of    ye  aforesaid    agree- 
ment.      After    serious    debate   and    deliberation, 
in  Consideration  of  that  love  which  we  have  and 
doe  bear,  unto  these    our    trustie    and    beloved 
friends  of  Easthampton,  upon  our  owne  free  and 
Voluntarie  motion,  have  given  and  granted,  and 
by  these  presents  do  give  and  grant  and  Con- 
firme  unto  these  our  friends,  ye  Inhabitants  of 


Easthampton,  Excepting  such  as  have  Exempted 
themselves  from  ye  former  agreement;  and  shall 
from  this  our  grant,   all  that  piece  or  neck  of 
Land     belonging  to  Mcntakut  Land,  westward 
to  a  fresh  pond  in  a  beach  on  this  sid'e.  West- 
ward to  that  place  where  the  old  Indian  ffort 
stoode  on  ye  other  side,  Eastward  to  ye  new  fort 
that  is  yet  standing :  the  name  of  ye  pond  being 
Quanuntowunk  on  ye  Xorth  and  konkhonganik 
on  ye  south,  together  with  all  privileges  and  ap- 
purtenances belonging  to  the  aforesaid  land  from 
south  to  north,  To  have  and  to  hold  ye  same  at 
free  Commonage,  to  be  ordered  and  disposed  of 
for  the  benefit  of  ye    aforesaid    Inhabitants  of 
East-Hampton,  themselves,  their  heirs,  adminis- 
trators, Executors  and  assigns  forever ;  to  pos- 
sess  the  same   freely  and   quietly,   without  any 
matter  of  Challenge  clayme  or  demand  of  us,  ye 
said  Sunk  Squa  and  \\'ionkombone  Sachem,  or 
our  associates,  or  of  any  other  person  or  persons 
whatsoever,  for  us  or  in  our  name,  or  for  our 
cause,  means  or  procurement.     And  without  any 
money   or   other   things  therefor  to  be   yielded, 
paid  or  done  only  for  ye  said  Land,  to  us  or  our 
heires  forever,  and  shall  Justifie  the  possession 
of  this  aforesaid  Land,  by  these  said  Inhabitants 
of  Easthampton,  against  any  shall  Questin  their 
propertie  in  the  same.     Know  ye  allso,  yt  this 
is  not  only  the  Deed  of  mee,  }'e  Sunk-Squa,  and 
Wionkombone    Sachem,   but    allso  the   act   and 
Deed  of  all  our  associates  and  subjects,  many- 
fested  their  consent  freely  by  a  \'oate,  not  one 
contradicting  the  same,  as  allsoe  with  ye  consent 
of  Mr.  Lion  Gardiner,  and  ^Ir.  David  Gardiner, 
Wliome  the  Deceased  Father  Teft  as  Overseers 
and   Gug.rdians   of   the   aforesaid   \A'iankombone 
Sachem ;  know  3^ee  allso  vt  for  ye  securing  of  ye 
Easterne  part  of  iMontauket  Land,  which  ye  In- 
dians are  to  live  upon,  yt  the  Inhabitants  of  ye 
foresaid  Easthampton  shall  from  time  to  time, 
kep  up  a  sufficient  fence  upon  ye  North  ?ide  of 
ye  foresaid  pond,  and  the  Indians  are  to  secure 
ye  south  side  of  ye  foresaid  pond,  from  all  Cat- 
tle, Dureing  ye    time    their    corn  is    upon    the 
ground.     "^     ^*'     "^ 

This  deed  is  dated  February  ii,  1661,  and' the 
tract  is  called  the  "Hither  woods." 

''The  following  agreements  were  made  and 
concluded  upon  before  the  Right  Honorable  the 
Governor  at  New  York  the  4th  day  of  October, 
1665,  between  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  of 
East-Hampton,  and  the  Sunk  Squaw  of  Mon- 
taukett,  daughter  of  ye  Sachem  W)'andance  de- 
ceased. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


371 


"ist.  The  east  bounds  of  Easthampton  to  the 
east  shall  be  to  ye  Fort  Pond,  and  the  north  fence 
from  the  Pond  to .  ye  Sea  shall  be  kept  by  the 
Town.  And  the  south  fence  to  ye  Sea  to  be  kept 
by  the  Indians,  sufficient  against  tresspass  by 
cattle. 

"2nd.  All  the  rest,  to  the  east  end  of  the  Isl- 
and ^hall  belong  to  ye  Montaukett  Sunck  Squaw, 
daughter  of  the  Sachem  W'yandanch,  deceased, 
and  her  heirs  and  the  Indians  belonging  thereto. 

"3d.  The  said  Sunck  Squaw,  and  her  In- 
dians engage  that  they  will  not  sell,  let  or  alien- 
ate any  of  said  lands  to  any  other  person  except 
such  as  belong  to  the  Town  of  Easthampton. 

"4th.  The  Sunck  Squaw  and  her  Indians 
agree  that  the  Town  of  Easthampton,  shall  have 
liberty  to  pasture  cattle  and  cut  grass  on  said  land 
but  they  are  not  to  pasture  cattle  till  the  Indian 
corn  is  gathered^  and  the  cattle  are  to  be  driven 
off,  when  the  Indians  give  notice  that  they  are 
about  to  plant  their  corn. 

"5th.  If  the  cattle  do  any  damage  to  the  corn 
'by  default  of  the  Town  fence,'  the  Town  shall 
give  satisfaction,  and  if  the  Indians'  dogs  do  any 
damage  to  cattle,  the  Indians  are  to  pay  damage. 
'The  Town  agrees  to  pay  yearly  40  shillings 
for  the  said  privileges. 

"Richard  Xicolls." 

"This  Agreement  following  agreed  and  con- 
cluded December  i,  1670.  Be  it  knowne  to  all 
men  by  these  presents,  that  I  Po^niute,  Sachem 
of  Montauket  alias  Monsup,  Pehchowan,  Manh- 
sianan,  Ma'htempait,  Obadiah,  or  Checkanoo.  In 
the  name,  and  with  the  consent  of  Pauhquatowne, 
counseller,  Alissaquate  Askemmaige,  Weisson 
Ami  sin,  and  the  rest  of  our  Associates  the  true 
and  lav/ful  Proprietors  of  a  parcell  of  land  called 
Montauket.  beyond  a  certain  pond  called  the  Fort 
pond,  eastward.  Whereas  ]\[r.  John  ]\Iulford 
Mr.  Thomas  James,  minister,  and  Jeremiah  Conk- 
ling,  Inhabitants  of  East-Hampton,  were  bound 
in  a  bond  of  a  hundred  pounds  to  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Right  Honorable  Frances  Lovelace, 
Governor,  in  our  behalf,  wee  having  bound  out 
and  mnrtgged  all  our  lands  for  their  security  in 
case  of  our  non-payment  of  a  certain  sum  of 
money  (viz)  400  bushels  of  Indian  corne,  wee 
having  forfeited  our  lands  to  ye  fore  mentioned 
persons.  At  and  upon  the  Advice  of  ye  worship- 
full  .William  Wells  of  Southold  one  of  ye  fore- 
said Commissioners,  that  wee  should  come  to  a 
speedy  Composition  with  our  sayd  friends,  We 
above  named,  after  serious  consideration  and  de- 
bate, have  agreed  and  concluded,  and  by  these 
presents  doe  deliver  and  enfeof  a  certain  parcell 


of  land  to  ye  aforesaid  John  Mulford,  Thomas 
James  and  Jereniiah  Conkling,  as  it  is  thus  limited 
and  bounded. 

"ist.  J\Juekebeksuck,  a  place  by  the  Fort 
pond,  being  a  valley  southwest  from  the  Fort  hill 
to  the  beach. 

"2d.  Shahchippitchuge,  being  on  the  north 
side  of  said  land,  midway  betwen  the  Great  ipond 
and  Fort  pond,  so  on  a  straight  line  to  Chebiok- 
innauhsuk,  from  thence  to  a  swamp,  where  tlie 
hedge  stakes  stood  called  Machowgitchuge,  and 
so  through  the  swampe  to  the  Great  Pond,  then 
straight  from  the  hay  stacks  to  the  Great  Pond, 
so  along  by  the  great  pond  to  a  place  called 
Alamenkquiauge,  being  on  the  furtherest  side,  the 
reeds  growing  on  the  south  end  of  the  Great  Pond 
eastward  and  so  along  to  the  Sea  side,  southward 
to  a  place  called  Coppauhshapaugansuk,  so 
straight  from  thence  to  the  South  sea.  Together 
with  all  privileges  etc." 

The  above  is  interesting  from  the  Indian 
names  of  localities  which  are  given.  We  should 
state  here  that  "^^lonsup"  was  not  an  alias  for 
]\Iontawkut,  but  for  the  Sachem  called  "Poni- 
ute."  The  above  is  signed  by  all  the  sachems. 
The  witnesses  were  Benjamin  Conkling  and 
Phillip  Alkock.  The  grantees  assigned  and 
made  over  all  their  claim  to  the  above  land  to  the 
Town  ot  East  Flampton,  February  8,   1671. 

This  Agreement  made  between  Samuel  .Par- 
sons, John  Hopping  and  Enoch  Fithian,  Select- 
men of  the  Town  of  East-Hampton,  for  their  as- 
sociates the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  and  the  true 
Proprietors  of  ye  land  belonging  either  to  the 
Town  of  Easthampton,  so  far  as  Xapeak  east- 
ward, or  at  IMeantauket  eastward  of  Napeak,  of 
the  one  Party,  and  Aquoas,  Sachem  of  Mentau- 
het,  and  Sasakatahe  Sachem,  together  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  Managubongon  alias  Gen- 
tleman, chief  Counsellor  Wasowan,  Tyumpon, 
Dick,  indian,  Chekano  and  PaAvapetown,  Augua- 
niat,  and  Ned,  Obadiah,  and  Konkomany,  to- 
gether with  the  rest  of  the  Indians  belonging  to 
Montauket.  The  other  party  as  followeth.  Where- 
as there  hath  several  agreements  made  by  the 
predecessors  ancestors  of  the  aforesaid  Sachem, 
with  the  English,  the  true  and  lawful  purchasers 
of  the  lands  they  now  possess,  And  those  said 
agreements  have  been  confirmed  by  the  Governor 
a?  Xew  York,  October,  1665. 

The  agreement  then  made  confirms  the  pre- 
vious ao-reement  that  the  Indians  should  not  sell 


372 


HISTORY  OF,  LONG    ISLAND. 


any  land  east  of  the  Fort  Pond  to  any  persons 
except  the  town  of  East  Hampton.  They  also 
confirm  to  the  town  all  the  grass,  winter  and 
summer,  between  the  Fort  Pond  and  the  Great 
Pond,  and  east  of  that  after  the  Indian  corn  is 
gathered,  and  the  town  agrees  to  pay  four  pounds 
yearly  to  the  Indians.  It  is  also  agreed  that  a 
fence  shall  be  built  from  the  south  end  of  the 
Great  Pond  *'to  a  Sea  bank  at  ye  South  Sea  as 
the  English  and  the  Indians  have  already  agreed." 
The  Indians  to  secure  the  north  end. 

By  deed  December  i,  1670,  the  Sunk  Squaw 
and  several  sachems  convey  to  the  inhabitants  of 
East  Hampton  certain  lands  at  Montauk  ''called 
by  us  Wuchebehsuck,  a  place  by  the  Fort  Pond, 
being  a  valley  southward  from  the  Fort 
Hill  to  Shahchippitchage,  being  on  ye  north  side 
of  the  said  land,  midway  between  the  great  pond 
and  Fort  pond,  so  on  a  straight  line  to  Chebia- 
kinnawhsuk,  from  thence  to  a  swamp  where  the 
hay  stacks  stood,  called  Mahchongitchuge,  and 
so  through  the  swamp  to  the  great  pond,  then 
straight  from  the  hay  stacks  to  the  great  pond, 
so  along  by  the  pond  to  a  place  called  Manunk- 
quiang,  on  furthest  side  the  reeds  growing  on 
the  south  end  of  the  great  pond  eastward,  and 
so  along  to  the  sea  side  to  a  place  called  Chop- 
pawhshapangawsuck,  so  straight  from  thence  to 
the  South  sea.''  This  is  called  the  "Nine  Score 
acre  Purchase." 

On  July  25,  1687,  the  sachems  sell  "All  our 
tract  of  land  at  Meantaket,  bounded  by  part  of 
the  fort  pond  and  fort  pond  bay,  west,  the  Eng- 
lish land  south,  by  a  line  run  from  the  fort  pond 
to  the  great  pond,  and  so  from  the  south  end  of 
the  great  pond  over  to  the  south  sea,  and  so 
to  the  utmost  extent  of  the  island  from  sea  to 
sea."  This  is  called  the  "North  Xeck,"  the  "In- 
dian Field"  and  the  "Point  Field."  This  deed 
gives  the  names  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
[Montauk  for  whom  the  trustees  made  the  pur- 
chase, who  were  as  follows : 

"John  Wheeler,  Samuel  Mulford,  Thomas 
Osborn,  Stephen  Fland,  Stephen  Hedges,  Samuel 
Parsons  and  John  Mulford,  trustees  of  the  free- 
holders and  comonalty  of  East  Hampton,  and 
lieniamin  Osborn,  for  the  use  of  themselves  and 


these  proprietors,  namely  John  Hand's  .widow,. 
John  Stretton,  Thomas  Talmadge,  Thomas  Os- 
born, John  Mulford,  Samuel  Mulford,  Thomas 
Baker,  Thomas  Mulford,  widow  Elizabeth  Bak- 
er's 2  allotments,  Samuel  Fithian,  Samuel  Brooks, 
Joshua  Garlick,  Richard  Shaw,  Jacob  Schellen- 
ger,  John  Miller  sen.,  'Nathaniel  Bishop's  lot, 
William  Barnes,  Samuel  Parsons,  the  lot  which 
was  Birdsall's,  John  Edwards,  William  Edwards,, 
Lieutenant  John  Wheeler,  Captain  Josiah  Hobart,, 
Robert  Dayton,  Thomasi  Chatfield,  Jeremiah 
Conkling,  Mr.  Thotnas  James,  that  lot  which  was. 
George  Miller's,  that  lot  which  was  Jeremiah 
Meacham's,  Stephen  Fledges,  Benjamin  Osborn,, 
that  which  was  Thomas  Osborn's  lot,  John  Hop- 
pin,  Thomas  Diment's  lot,  Stephen  Hand,  John 
Os'born." 

In  March,  1703,  a  final  deed  was  taken  from, 
the  Indians,  confirming  the  deed  of  July  25,  1687.. 
The  purchasers  of  these  several  tracts  occupied, 
and  enjoyed  the  same,  not  as  public  property  be- 
longmg  to  the  town,  but  as  tenants  in  common 
according  to  their  respective  shares.  Some  owned 
more  in  one  purchase  than  in  another,  and  .some 
owned  in  one  purchase  and  owned  nothing  in 
another.  But  in  1748  all  these  interests  were 
consolidated  and  made  to  extend  equally  to  the 
whole  of  Montauk,  and  as  a  sort  of  basisi  for  the 
new  shares  the  value  of  a  'share  in  the  first  pur- 
chase was  estimated  at  £8,  in  the  second  at 
£8,  and  in  the  third  at  £24,  and  a  share  through- 
out the  whole  was  estimated  at  £40. 

It  had  always  been  a  subject  of  dispute - 
whether  under  the  Indian  deedis;  IMontauk  did 
not  belong  to  the  town  of  East  Hampton  and 
not  to  the  proprietors.  Tlids  question  was  final- 
ly settled  in  1851,  when  a  judgment  was  duly 
entered  in  an  action  between  Henry  P.  Hedges 
and  the  rest  of  the  proprietors,  plaintififs,  and  the 
town  trustee:si,  defendants.  In  this  it  was  decided 
that  the  proprietors  were  the  true  owners,  ac- 
cording to  their  shares  as  tenants  in  common. 

From  a  document  recorded  in  the  offtce  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  it  appears  that  Thomas  Long- 
worth,  of  Southold,  came  over  to  East  Hampton 
and  sent  a  man  to  Meantauket  for  the  Sachem 
and  two  or  three  more  of  the  Indians.  Long- 
worth  told  them  he  had  a  warrant  from  the  Gov- 
ernor for  them  to  go  and  meet  him  at  Jamaica. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


37o 


with  some  of  their  Indians,  upon  this  the  Sachem 
returned  to  ']\Jeantauket  "and  catiised  the  Indians 
to  meet  together  to  consult."  And  they  concluded 
that  the  two  Sachems  and  several  of  the  Indians 
■^'should  go  and  bear  what  his  Lords'hip  had  to 
say."  AXhereupon  they,  ''as  in  duty  hound,  set 
forward  in  ye  journey  with  a  small  present  to 
acknowledge  our  obedience  to  his  Excellency." 
The  result  was  that  the  Sachems  were  induced 
to  give  a  bill  of  sale  to  Thomas  Bridges  and  Rip 
Van  Dam,  of  New  York,  "for  the  east  end"  of 
Meantanket."  A  protest  was  signed  by  twenty- 
five  Indians,  stating  that  they  never  gave  any 
power  to  the  Sachems  to  make  any  such  sale, 
""and  we  will  have  no  part  of  the  money."  This 
isi  dated  Nov.  12,  1702,  and  is  thus  verified: 

Wee  \^^^andance  and  Sasakatoke,  Sach-ems, 
Do  own  what  is  above  written  as  to  Thomas 
LongworthjAnd  we  find  that  it  was  false,  and  only 
a  trap  to  ensnare  us.  And  ^v^hereas  we  have  signed 
a  Bill  of  Sale  to  Thomas  Bridges  and  Rip  Van 
Dam  for  the  east  end  of  Meantaukett,  we  declare 
yt  wee  were  drawn  into  it,  and  signed  what  we 
knew  not,  nor  are  we  able  to  make  a  good  title, 
it  being  long  since  sold  to  our  neighbors  of  East- 
Hampton,  And  we  request  the  same  to  be  can- 
■c'elled."    Nov.  2,  1702. 

And  the  following : 

"Whereas  wee  Wyandance,  and  Sasachatock, 
Indian  Sachems  and  Proprietors  of  a  certain  tract 
of  land  lying  upon  a  certain  neck  of  land  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  Meantauket,  did 
sell  unto  the  Trustees  of  East-Hampton  A  cer- 
tain tract  of  land  on  said  neck  as  by  our  deeds 
July  25,  1687,  may  appear,  And  upon  a  differ- 
ence between  us  and  the  Town  of  East-Hampton 
-concerning  the  improvement  of  some  of  the  said 
tract  of  land,  as  by  a  lease  we  had  liberty  to  do, 
some  people  have  reported  that  our  deed  was  but 
a  pretended  one.  We  by  these  presents  do  ac- 
knowledge that  our  deed  to  the  Proprietors  of 
East-Hampton  for  a  tract  which  is  bounded  by 
part  of  the  Fort  Pond,  and  the  Fort  Pond  bay 
west,  and  the  English  land,  and  by  a  line  running 
from  said  Fort  Pond  to  the  Great  Pond,  and  from 
the  south  end  of  the  Great  Pond  over  to  the  south 
sea,  and  so  to  the  utmost  extent  of  the  Island 
from  sea  to  sea,  The  main  ocean  on  the  south, 
and  the  bay  or  Sound  on  the  north.  To  be  real, 
good  and  lawful,  etc.  March  13,  1702-3.  This 
is  signed  by  Wyandance  and  many  other  Indians. 

"Witness:  John  Shaw, 

William  Rose.'' 


In  1703  and  1754  agreements  were  made 
with  the  Indians  to  the  effect  that  they  should 
have  the  power  to  fence  in  and  use  as  a  field 
cither  a  portion  of  land  west  of  the  Great  Pond, 
known  as  North  Neck,  or  land  east  of  the  Great 
Pond,  known  as  Indian  Field ;  not  to  use  both  at 
once,  but  to  'have  the  right  to  change  from  one 
to  the  other  at  their  pleasure.  The  cattle  of  the 
proprietors  are  permitted  to  pasture  on  the  In- 
dian land  from  October  till  April,  except  some 
small  fields  not  exceeding  30  acres.  Th,e  Mon- 
tauks  were  also  to  have  the  right  to  keep  250 
swine,  and  horse&  and  cattle  not  exceeding  fifty 
in  all.  They  have  no  right  to  take  in  cattle  or 
horses  to  pasture,  nor  can  they  sell  or  dispose  of 
grass  or  hay,  nor  can  they  hire  out  land  for 
planting. 

For  the  last  170  years  they  have  confined 
themselves  to  the  Indian  field  east  of  the  pond; 
so  long  as  they  lived  in  wigwams  it  was  their 
custom  to  live  in  the  open  plain  in  the  summer, 
and  in  the  winter  move  to  the  shelter  of  the 
woods.  It  was  also  a  part  of  the  agreement  that 
in  case  any  native  .squaw  should  marry  ''any 
strange  Indian  or  foreigner"  she  should  forfeit 
all  her  right;  and  any  **Mustee,  Mulatto  or 
stranger  or  foreign  Indian"  who  might  go  there 
should  be  considered  a  trespasser  and  put  off  the 
land.  The  result  is  what  might  have  been  ex- 
pected ;  the  Montauk  tribe  has  dwindled  down  to 
five  or  six  individuals,  but  the  blood  that  runs 
in  their  veins  is  pure.  The  tribe  has  always  had 
a  nominal  ''king,"  the  last  being  Stephen  Pha- 
raoh, who  died  in  1880.  He  was  a  perfect  spec- 
imen of  the  Indian — tall,  with  straight  black  hair 
and  the  true  copper  colored  complexion  and 
aboriginal  features. 

In  1875  the  owners  of  Montauk  were  241 
persons.  The  entire  tract  was  sold  under  a  parti- 
tion suit  to  Arthur  Benson,  of  Brooklyn,  Octo- 
ber 22,  1879,  for  the  sum  of  $151,000. 

The  exact  time  of  the  settlement  at  Amagan- 
sett  is  uncertain,  but  land  was  allotted  at  a  very 
early  date.  The  first  deed  for  land  is  dated  1683, 
when  the  Rev.  Thomas  James  sells  to  Abraham 
Schellenger  "52  acres  in  the  woods  eastward  of 
ve   cown,   bounded  east  by  Jeremiah   Conkling, 


374 


HISTORY    OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


west  by  Thomas  James,  south  by  the  highway  that 
goes  to  Napeage,  north  by  the  highway  called 
Amagansett  way." 

The  earliest  settlers  were  families  named 
Baker,  Conkling  and"Mulford.  The  oldest  tomb- 
stone in  the  burying  ground  is  to  the  memory  of 
David  Baker,  who  died  November  23,  1729,  aged 
28.  The  ancestor  of  the  Baker  family 'in  this 
place  was  Nathaniel  Baker^  whose  tombstone 
bears  the  following  inscription :  '*Here  lies  the 
body  of  Nathaniel  Baker,  the  son  of  Mr.  Thom- 
as Baker,  who  dyed  February  27,  and,  in  the 
84th  year  of  his  age,  1738-9."  Another  epitaph 
here  reads :  "Here  lies  the  body  of  Alice  Baker, 
formerly  wife  of  Thomas  Baker,  who  died  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1708,  in  the  88  year  of  her  age."  Thom- 
as Baker,  her  husband,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  East  Hampton,  where  he  died  in  1700, 
and  his  widow  was  living  with  her  son  at  the 
time  of  her  decease. 

The  first  of  the  Mulford  family  who  lived 
here  was  Samiiel,  who  died  July  10,  1743,  aged 
65.  He  was  a  son  of  Captain  Samuel  Mulford, 
and  grandson  of  John,  the  first  settler.  He  had 
a  brother  Elias  who  was  living  here  at  the  same 
time,  and  died  November  2,  1760,  aged  75. 

Lewis  Conkling  was  a  son  of  Annanias  Conk- 
ling, who  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  East 
Hampton.  He  settled  in  Amagansett  in  1697. 
His  tombstone  has  the  following  inscription : 
*'In  JMemor}'  of  Lewis  Conkling,  who  died  Oct. 
ye  2,  1746  in  ye  74  year  of  his  age."  His  wife 
Mary  died  Novem^ber  15,  1752,  laged  y6.  He  left 
sons,  Isaac  and  Linnaeus.  The  latter  named  had 
sons  Isaac  and  Benjamin,  the  last  of  whom  was 
father  of  Judge  Alfred  Conkling,  of  L'tica, 
and  grandfather  of  the  late  Senator.  Roscbe 
Conkling. 

Families  of  Edward  Schellenger  and  Barnes, 
with  others,  settled  here  at  an  early  date,  and  be- 
tween farming  and  whaling  the  place  was  pros- 
perous. Until  the  year  i860  the  people  of  Am- 
agansett attended  church  in  East  Hampton,  but 
the  increasing  population  and  the  remoteness  of 
the  village  rendered  a  church  almost  a  necessity. 
This  enterprise  was  carried  into  effect,  with  full 
concurrence  of  the  parent  church,  by  the  build- 


ing of  a  new  church  which  was  dedicated  No- 
vember 15,  i860.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
A.  A.  Haines,  of  'Hamburg,  New  Jersey,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  family  that  emigrated  from 
Southampton  to  East  Jersey  in  1690.  He  acted 
as  stated  supply  until  August  5,  1862,  when  he 
became  the  chaplain  of  the  Fifteenth  Regiment 
of  New  Jersey  Volunteers.  For  one  year  the 
pulpit  was  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Edward  S. 
Beard,  of  Andover,  Massachusetts.  The  Rev. 
William  H.  Dean  was  employed  October  18, 
1863,  and  was  settled  here  April  4,  1864,  and  wa& 
installed  May  3d  of  the  same  year.  His  pastor- 
ate ended  in  September,  1866,  when  he  became 
pastor  of  a  Congregational  church  at  Bridge- 
water,  Connecticut.  He.  afterward  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia as  a  missionary,  and  died  there  in  1879. 
The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Charles  AI.  Oakley, 
of  Melville,  Suffolk  county,  who  commenced  his 
labors  here  in  February,  1867,  and  continued  un- 
til September  7,  1879,  when  his  failing  health 
compelled  him  to  resign.  The  Rev.  James  B. 
Finch,  D.  D.,  the  present  pastor,  was  born  in 
Southampton,  Massachusetts,  and  was  educated 
at  Amherst  College  and  at  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  and  completed  a  course  of 
study  at  L'nion  Theological  Seminary  in  1863, 
and  was  ordained  the  same  year.  His  first 
charge  was  as  stated  supply  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Orient,  Long  Island,  1863-65.  He 
was  stated  supply  of  the  Congregational  church, 
Nebraska  City,  Nebraska,  1865-7.  He  was  pas- 
tor of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  in  Hemp- 
stead, Long  Island,  1867-75.  Later,  he  was 
stated  supply  at  Orient,  Greenpoint  and  ^Middle 
Island.  He  began  his  labors  in  Amagansett  in 
1879,  and  has  since  labored  here  with  great  ac- 
ceptability. Dr.  Finch  is  also  the  author  of  many 
learned  and  valuable  works,  and  is  especially  no- 
ted for  his  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  at  that  time 
the  only  one  in  the  town,  was  built  in  1850,  but 
owing  to  the  smallness  oi  the  society  had  no  set- 
tled pastor.  In  1901  it  became  defunct,  and  the 
building  was  sold  by  order  of  court  and  the  pro- 
ceeds paid  to  the  IMethodist  Episcopal  church  in 
East  Hampton  village. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


375 


antiquated  schoolhouse  in  this  village 
was  superseded  by  a  new  and  beautiful  school 
building  erected  in  1880. 

The  town  trustees  are  the  custodians  of  a 
fund  left  by  William  I.  Rysam,  of  Sag  Harbor, 
more  than  seventy  years  ago-,  to  be  applied 
toward  les-sening  the  school  bills  of  poor  chil- 
dren.    It  is  now  used  to  furnish  school  books. 

The  first  settler  at  Wainscott  was  John  Os- 
born,  who  in  1670  obtained  a  tract  of  land- 
bounded  south  by  the  ocean  and  east  by  Wain- 
scott pond.  He  wasi  allowed  certain  privileges 
at  the  mill,  owing  to  his  remoteness  from  the 
town.  The  first  settlers  here  were  also  families 
of  Hopping  and  Osborn.  The  proximity  of  this 
place  to  the  ocean  and  ponds  makes  it  very  de- 
sirable for  summer  residences. 

Gardiner's  Island  was  the  first  purchase  made 
under  the  commission  granted  by  the  Earle  of 
Stirling  to  James  Farrett,  and  the  grant  reads 
as  follows : 

"Know  all  whom  this  present  Writing  may 
concern,  tihat  I,  Jarnes  Farrett  of  Long  Island, 
Gent.  Deputy  to  the  Right  Hon'ble  the  Earll 
of  Starling  Secretary  for  the  Kingdom  of  Scot- 
land, doe  by  these  presents,  in  the  name  and 
behalf  of  the  said  Earle  of  Starling  and  in  my 
own  name  also,  as  his  Deputy,  as  it  doth  or  may 
concern  myself,  Give  &  Grant  free  leave  and  lib- 
etry  to  Lion  Gardiner  his  heirs,  executors  and 
assigns  to  enjoy  that  Island  wdiich  he  hath  now 
in  possession  called  by  the  Indians  Manchonack, 
by  the  English  the  Isle  of  Wight ;  I  say  to  enjoy 
both  now  &  for  ever,  which  Island  hath  been 
purchased,  before  my  coming,  from  the  ancient 
Inhabitants,  the  Indians ;  Xevertheless  though 
the  said  Lion  Gardiner  had  his  possession  first 
from  the  Indians  before  my  coming,  yet  is  he 
now  contented  to  hold  the  tenor  &  title  of  the 
possession  of  the  aforesaid  Island  from  the 
Earll  of  Starling  or  his  successors  whomsoever, 
who  hath  a  Grant  from  the  King  of  England, 
under  the  Great  Seal  of  the  aforesaid  Kingdom. 
Bee  it  kno\vn,  therefore,  that  I,  the  said'  James 
Farret  doe  give  &  hath  given  free  liberty  & 
power  to  the  said  Lion  Gardiner,  his  Heirs, 
Exe'rs  and  Assigns  and  their  Sucesors  for 
ever  to  enjoy  the  possession  of  the  aforesaid  Isl- 
and, to  build  &  plant  thereon  as  best  liketh  them, 
and  to  dispose  thereof  as  thev  think  fitt,  and  also 
to  make,  execute  &  put  in  practice  such  laws  for 


Church  and  Civil  Government  as  are  according 
to  God,  the  Kings  aiid  the  practise  of  the  Coun- 
try, without  giving  any  account  thereof  to  any 
whomsoever  and  the  aforesaid  Right  &  Title, 
both  of  land  and  Government  to  remayn^  with, 
and  to  them  and  their  successors  for  ever,  with- 
out any  trouble  or  molestation  from  the  said 
Earll  or  any  of  his  successors,  for  now  &  for* 
ever.  And  as  much  as  it  hath  pleased  Our  Royal 
King  to  give  the  Patten  of  Long  Island  to  the 
aforesaid  Earle  of  Starling  in  consideration 
M^hereof  it  is  agreed  upoii  that  the  trade  with 
the  Indians  shall  remayne  with  the  said  Earle 
and  his  successors,  to  dispose  upon  from  time 
to  time  and  at  all  times  as  best  liketh  him.  Not- 
withstanding [allowing]  tlie  said  Lion  Gardiner 
to  trade  with  the  Indyans  for  Corne  or  any 
Kinde  of  victuals  for  the  use  of  the  Plantation 
and  no  farther;  and  if  the  said  Lion  Gardiner 
shall  trade  in  Wampum  from  the  Indyans  hee 
shall  pay  for  every  fadome  twenty  shillings  and 
also'  the  said  Lion  Gardiner  and  his  'successors 
shall  pay  tO'  the  said  Earle  or  his  depuytes  a 
yearly  acknowledgnient  being  the  sum  of  Five 
Pounds,  (being  lawfully  demanded)  of  lawful! 
money  of  England,  or  such  commoditys  as  at 
that  time  shall  pass  for  money  in  the  country; 
and  the  first  payment  to  begin  on  the  last  of 
Oct.  1643,  ^h^  three  .former  years  being  ad- 
vanced for  the  use  of  the  said  James  Farrett. 
In  witness  whereof  the  party  has  put  his  hands 
and  .seal  the  tenth  day  of  March  1639.      [o.  s.] 

(Signed)  Jaaies    Farrett    (seal.) 

Sealed   and   delivered   in    the   presence    of    ffulk 

Davis  and  Benjn  Price. 

Governor  Winthrop  records  that  "on  No- 
vem.ber  28,  1635,  there  arrived  a  small  Norsey 
barque  of  25  tons  sent  by  the  Lords  Say  and 
Brooke  with  one  Gardiner,  an  expert  engineer, 
and  work  base  and  provisions  of  all  sorts  to 
begin  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticutt  River.'* 

The  Indian  name  of  the  island,  which  has  for 
more  than  two  centuries  l^orne  the  name  of  Gar- 
diner, was  Mashongonock,  and  is  said  to  mean  a 
place  where  many  persons  had  died.  This  isl- 
and Gardiner  purchased  from  the  Indians, 
as  shown  by  the  following  deed : 

■'Knowe  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we 
Yovawan,  Sachem  of  Pommanoce,  and  Aswaw 
Sachem  his  wife,  for  ten  coats  of  trading  cloath 
to  us  before  the  making  hereof  payd,  and  de- 
livered bv  Lion  Gardiner,  commander  of  the  forte 


87t) 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


called  Saybrook  fort,  alias  Pashpeshauks,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  River  of  Kennecticot,  doe  hereby 
for  us  and  our  heires  &  succesors  grant,  bargaine 
&  sell  unto  the  said  Lion  Gardiner,  all  that  our 
Island  ealied  M'anchonat,  with  the  appurtenances, 
and  all  our  right  title  and  demand  of,  in  &  to  the 
same,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  said  Island  with  the 
appurtenances  unto  the  said  Lion  Gardiner  his 
heires  &  asignes  forever.  In-  Witnesse  whereof 
we  have  hereto  sett  our  hands  &  seales  the  third 
day  of  the  month  called  by  the  English  ]\Iay,  in 
the  yeare  by  them  of  their  Lord,  written,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  thirty  and  nyne,  1639. 

To  further  secure  his  title  Lion  Gardiner  ob- 
tained a  deed  from  James  Farrett,  the  agent  of 
the  Earl  of  Stirling,  bearing  date  March  10, 
1639-40,  giving  him  full  title  to  the  island  "which 
he  hath  now  in  pos,session  called  by  the  Indians 
Manchonack,  by  the  English  the  Isle  of  Wight, 
*  "■''  which  Island  hath  been  purchased  before 
my  coming  from  the  ancient  inhabitants  the  In- 
dians/' The  consideration  was  to  be  five 
pounds  yearly,  if  demanded,  and  he  was  not  to 
trade  with  the  Indians,  except  for  provisions. 
This  deed  was  signed  by  James  Farrett  in  the 
presence  of  Fulk  Davis  and  Benjamin  Price. 

Lion  Gardiner,  the  American  ancestor  of  the 
now  numerous  family  bearing  his  name,  was  a 
native  of  England,  a  military  engineer  by  profes- 
sion. He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1635,  arriving 
at  Boston  November  28  in  that  year,  and  was 
employed  by  a  land  company  to  lay  out  a  tract 
of  land  at  the  mouth  of  the  .Connecticut  River, 
of  which  the  town  of  Saybrook,  so  named  by  him, 
is  still  a  pleasant  reminder.  He  remained  in  the 
service  of  the  company  some  four  years,  and,  it 
is  said,  at  first  intended  to  return  to  England 
when  his  employment  ended.  Still  his  family 
was  with  him,  he  saw  many  brilliant  opportuni- 
ties awaiting  him  in  the  new  land,  and  he  seemed 
to  possess  from  the  beginning  the  happy  art  of 
winning  and  retaining  the  good  graces  of  the 
Indians,  so  that  he  probably  changed  his  mind 
about  returning  to  the  old  land  as  soon  as  he 
saw  enough  of  the  country  to  become  aware  of 
its  possibilities. 

It  is  here  to  be  said  that  the  island  which  he 
acquired  has  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Gardi- 


ner family  until  the  present  da}',  and  it  gives  us 
*'the  only  illustration  of  the  practical  working 
of  the  law  of  primogeniture  in  this  country  cov- 
ering so  long  a  period." 

Lion  Gardiner  told  the  story  of  his  coming 
to  Am'erica  in  an  entry  made  in  his  family  Bible, 
a  facsimile  of  which  appears  on  the  page  op- 
posite this.  The  word  "deurcant,"  as  found  in 
the  entry,  has  been  a  cause  of  much  conjecture 
as  to  its  meaning,  but  the  researches  of  Hon. 
Frederick  D,  Thompson  go  to  show  that  it  is 
really  a  family  name. 

Lion  Gardiner  lived  at  Gardiner's  Island  with 
none  but  the  Indians  for  his  neighbors,  until  about 
1653,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  East  Hamp- 
ton, leaving  his  son  David  in  possession,  who 
remained  here  until  1657,  when  he  went  to  Eng- 
land, where  he  remained  for  some  years. 

Lion  Gardiner  presumably  took  up  his  abode 
at  East  Hampton  with  the  view  of  the  enjoy- 
ment of  more  frequent  social  intercourse  with 
his  fellows  than  he  could  command  on  his  little 
island  kingdom,  on  whith,  in  1641,  one  of  his 
daughters,  Elizabeth,  was  born.  In  his  new  home 
he  seems  to  have  lived  the  simple  life  of  a  cul- 
tured country  gentleman,  and  was  held  in  the 
hig^hest  esteem  by  the  people.  H-e  filled  the  office 
of  magistrate  and  in  all  respects  was  regarded 
as  the  representative  citizen  of  that  section  of 
the  island,  wielding  an  influence  that  was  equally 
potent  among  the  Indians  as  among  those  of  his 
own  race.  A  recumbent  statue  placed  beside  his 
grave  in  1886  is  testimony  that  his  memory  is 
still  cherished. 

He  died  in  1663,  aged  about  sixty-four  years, 
and  his  will,  written  August  13,  1658,  was.  en- 
tered in  the  town  clerk's  office  in  Southampton. 
In  it  he  leaves  all  his  real  estate  to  his  wife,  'Ho 
dispose  of  it  before  her  death  as  God  shall  put 
it  into  her  mind."  The  executors  named 
were  the  Rev.  Thomas  James,  John  Mulford 
and  Robert  Bond.  An  inventory  of  his  es- 
tate was  presented  to  the  court  at  Southamp- 
ton April  12,  1664;  and,  notwithstanding  what 
he  says  about  parting  with  a  large  part  of  his 
estate,  he  was  considered  a  very  wealthy  man. 
His    estate    in    East    Hampton    was    inventoried 


i,.^   a^^   00  G^-^^-    ^(^^-fc 


'Z'Oyrx. '  Trif^^C^ 


■^,r 


•y  i^l^'vus^ 


t/^- jiJauwri^y'i, -well  Ooiric- -T^  rd/^H^P'- i'^"  :^u    ^-^rw  j.n^*^ 


COPY  OF  THE  STATEMENT  MADE  BY  LYOH  GARDINER  IN  THE  OLD  GARDINER  BIBLE. 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


377 


at  £256,  and  his  property  on  the  island  at 
i5ii.  The  island  itself  was  put  at  £700.  There 
were  three  houses  on  the  island,  and  one  Will- 
iam Simons  was  his  steward  and  farmer. 

Mary  Gardiner,  widow  of  Lion  Gardiner, 
'^tnade  her  will  April  19,  1664,  with  a  codicil  Jan- 
uary 16,  1664-5.  It  w^s  proved  June  6,  1665. 
Ths  was  the  second  will  recorded  in  the  New 
York  surrogate's  office,  and  a  part  of  the  original 
document  is  on  file  among  the  original  wills.  By 


her  will  she  left  the  island  to  her  son  David  and 
to  his  heir  male  with  legacies  to  her  other  chil- 
dren— Mar>',  wife  of  Jeremiah  Conkling,  and 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Arthur  Howell. 

David  Gardiner  was  educated  in  England, 
where  he  married  Mary  Lerningman,  of  West- 
minster. He  died  in  Hartford  July  10,  1689,  and 
the  inscription  on  his  tombstone  in  the  old  burial 
ground  in  that  place  states  that  he  was  ''well, 
sick,  dead  in  one  hour's  space,"  He  had  four 
children — ^John,  David,   Lion  and  Elizabeth. 


John  Gardiner,  the  third  proprietor,  was  born 
April  19,  1 66 1.    It  was  in  his  time  (in  the  sum- 
mer  of    1699)    that   the    famous    Captain   Kidd 
made  a  very  unwelcome  visit  to  the  island.     As 
John  Lyon  Gardiner  describes  it,  '*he  took  what 
fresh  provisions  he  wanted;  Bradish  came  in  the 
night  and  cut  the  old  gentleman's  hands  in  the 
dark  with  their  cutlasses ;  destroyed  feather  beds  ; 
scattered  the  paper    money  about    the    house; 
stayed  several  days  and  lived  well ;  tied  the  old 
gentleman  up  to  the  mulberry  tree„ 
which  is  now  standing  at  the  north 
house;  Kidd  left  money,  etc.,  with 
him.     It    was    hid    in    a    swampy 
place     at     Cherry     Harbor.      He 
showed  Mr.  John  where  he  put  it, 
and  told  him  if  he  never  called  for 
it  he  might  have  it,  but  if  he  called 
for  it  and  it  was  gone,  would  take 
his  or  his  son's  head."    After  Kidd 
was  arrested,  commissioners   came 
to    the    island    and    the    valuables 
were  delivered  up.     Mr.  Gardiner 
died  June  25,   1738,  and  left  sons 
David,    Samuel,    John,  Joseph  and 
Jonathan. 

David,  the  fourth  proprietor, 
was  born  January  3,  1691,  and  was 
the  last  owner  who  could  speak  the 
Montauk  language.  He  had  four 
sons — John,  Abraham,  Samuel  and 
David.  The  second  son,  Abraham, 
was  a  very  prominent  citizen  in 
cA  il&.^ihcs.-m'bion,^./    East  Hampton  during  the  Revolu- 

tion,    and    was   known   as    Colonel 

Gardiner.    'He  died  in  1782. 
John,  the  fifth  proprietor,  was  born  June  7, 


1714.  His  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Mulford,  died 
October  21,  1754.  He  afterward  married  De- 
borah fLothrop)  Avery,  widow  of  the  Rev. 
Ephraim  Avery.  She  survived  her  husband  and 
became  the  second  wife  of  General  Israel  Put- 
nam. John  Gardiner  died  May  19,  1764,  and 
was  buried*  on  the  island.  He  left  sons  David, 
John  and  Septimus.  John  settled  at  Eaton's 
Neck,  in  Huntington. 

David,  the  sixth  proprietor,  was  born  in  1738, 


378 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


and  was  educated  at  Yale.  He  married  Jerusha, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Buel.  His  life  was 
cut  short  by  an  untimely  death  at  the  age  of  thir- 
ty-six years.  He  left  sons  John  Lyon  and 
David. 

John  Lyon,  the  seventh  proprietor,  left  a 
monument  to  his  name  in  the  form  of  a  very 
carefully  prepared  sketch  of  local  history, 
abounding  in  curious  information,  and  which  will 
always  be  an  authority  on  the  subject.  His 
**Notes  and  Observations  on  the  Town  of  East 
Hampton,"  printed  in  the  ''Documentary  His- 
tory of  the  'State  of  New  York,"  is  a  paper  of 
great  value.  To  him  we  are  indebted  for  much 
that  is  known  of  the  language  of  the  Montauk  In- 
dians ;  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  a 
very  brief  vocabulary  is  all  that  he  took  pains  to 
record.  He  died  November  22,  1816,  in  the  for- 
ty-seventh year  of  his  age.  His  eldest  son,  Da- 
vid Johnson,  inherited  the  island.  He  died  at 
the  early  age  of  twenty-six,  December  18,  1829, 
without  children.  The  island  then  passed  into 
the  hands  of  his  brother,  John  Griswold  Gardi- 
ner, who  died  in  June,  1861,  at  the  age  of  fifty 
years  , 

Samuel  Buel  Gardiner,  a  brother  of  John 
Griswold  Gardiner,  became  the  tenth  proprietor. 
He  is  referred  to  at  "length  elsewhere  in  this' 
work. 

In  1893  the  railroad  system  was  extended 
through  the  township  to  Fort  Pond  Bay,  and 
with  that  event  may  be  said  to  commence  its  rise 
as  a  summer  resort,  or  rather,  a  township  of  sum- 
mer resorts,  for  that  seems  to  be  its  inevitable 
destin)'.  all  hope  of  making  an  international  port 
at  Fort  Pond  having  been  seemingly  abandoned, 
at  least  until  the  new  schemes  introduced  by  the 
Long  Island  Railroad  looking  to  close  connec- 
tion with  the  entire  railroad  system  of  the  coun- 
try approach  fruition,  and  the  road  has  almost 
reached  IMontauk  Point  itself,  and  it  does  not 
need  much  of  a  prophetic  power  to  'say  that  with- 
in a  quarter  of  a  century  this  will  rank  among 
the  favorite  resorts  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  and 
that  it  will  be  one  gorgeous  parterre — for  three 
months  in  each  year  at  least. 


The  village  of  East  Hampton  presents  curi- 
ous contrasts  of  present  and  past.  In  the  near 
vicinity  the  old  windmills  with  their  wide  extend- 
ed arms  look  as  if  they  belonged  to  another  clime 
and  carry  the  spectator's  mind  at  once  back  to 
the  ''days  of  old,"  and  the  memorial  tomb  of  Lion 
Gardiner,  with  its  knightly  figure  in  full  armor^ 
fits  into  its  quaint  surroundings — a  mediaeval 
monument  in  a  village  which  until  a  few  years 
ago  scarcely  realized  what  modern  progress 
meant.  The  relics  of  the  past  seem  to  be  more 
carefully  conserved  than  in  most  American 
towns.  The  ancient -informal  name  has  been  re- 
vived in  the  Maidstone  Club,  whose  splendid 
building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1901  and  was  re- 
built at  a  cost  of  $50,000;  the  old  building  of 
Clinton  Academy  still  greets  the  visitor,  and  he 
can  render  homage  to  genius  at  one  of  its  verita- 
ble shrines — the  home  in  which  John.  Howard 
Payne,'  the  author  of  'Home  Sweet  Home," 
spent  his  earliest  years,  and  the  memories  of 
which  may  have  unconsciously  framed  the 
thoughts  and  inspired  the  words  of  what  has  be- 
come one  of  the  "world's  songs."  The  grand  old 
trees  which  line  the  main  street  were  planted, 
some  of  them,  a  half  century  ago,  and  succeeded 
others  which  marked  out  the  line  of  the  road- 
way in  the  early  settlement..  But  if  the  village  is 
thus  recldlent  of  the  past,  it  also  affords  all  the 
advantages  which  mark  the  effort  of  a  cultured 
people  of  the  present  day,  and  the  devotees  of 
literature  and  art  have  provided  for  the  com- 
munity that  which  is  at  once  beautiful  and  en- 
nobling. There,  is  splendid  bathing  on  the  beach, 
but  sea-bathing  is  not  the  main  attraction  of  East 
Hampton  at  present.  The  ancient  and  royal 
game  of  golf  claims  first  honors,  and  nowhere 
in  America  are  "to  be  found  better  grounds  for 
the  practice  of  that  magnificent  sport  than  from 
Wainscott  to  Pond  Bay.  The  region  roundabout 
is  ideal  in  situation,  and  the  most  beautiful  of 
modern  residences  adorn  the  landscape.  A  hand- 
some example  in  seen  in  the  summer  home  of 
Air.  Charles  G.  Thompson.  His  property  fronts 
on  Ocean  avenue  and  extends  to  Hook  Pond, 
Vv^hich  is  a  beautiful  lake,  only  separated  from 
old  ocean  l^v  the  sand   dunes  which  have  been 


CO 

a 

1—1 
b 

M 
o 

O 

o 

9 
o 

O 

.^ 

03 
^^ 

o 


EAST  HAMPTON. 


379 


thrown  up  by  its  own  tempestuous  beatings  to 
serve  as  a  barrier  against  itself.  The  residence 
stands  upon  a  commanding  site,  affording  an 
expansive  view  of  the  bay  and  ocean,  and  the 
grounds  surrounding  it  are  handsomely  set  in 
ornamental  trees^  and  shrubbery  and  beds  of 
flowers. 

Wainscott  is  a  small  village,  some  four  miles 
from  East  Hampton,  which  was  first  settled 
about  1670,  and  is  the  home  of  a  farming  and 
fishing  population.  It  is  little  known  except  to 
golfers  and  anglers,  and  its  pond,  famous  for  its 
pickerel,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  bits  of  in- 
land water  on  the  island.  In  1880  it  had  a  pop- 
ulation of  100;  at  present  it  claims  170,  so. that 
its  modern  progress  is  not  very  rapid.  Neither 
is  Amagansett  progressing  very  rapidly,  for  in 
1880  its  figures  were  548,  and  the  latest  compu- 
tation only  added  two  to  that  total,  while  Gardi- 
ner's Island,  which  in  1880  had  a  population  of 
40,  has  now  only  25.  Northwest,  which  had  once 
high  commercial  hopes  and  in  1880  a  population 
of  78,  now  has  only  60,  although  if  it  could  only 
be  again  discovered  it  would  show  wonderful 
advantages   for   the   development   of   a   summer 


resort.  But  the  township  in  many  places  shows 
substantial  increases.  The  Springs,  which  in 
1880  had  339,  now  i-ejoice  in  529,  while  East 
Hampton  village  in  1880  had  807,  in  1890,  1,014, 
and  now  has  1,600. 

Th-en  there  are  several  new  communities 
which  have  been  started  within  the  past  few 
years,  which  promise  to  become  places  of  import- 
ance within  a  decade,  while  JMontauk  Point, 
thanks  mainly  to  the  importance  it  acquired  in 
the  Spanish-American  war,  when  it  was  the 
camping  ground  of  30,000  volunteer  soldiers, 
now  claims  a  residential  population  of  200.  Had 
the  census  been  taken  when  Canip  Wickoff  oc- 
cupied the  Point  it  would  have  swelled  the  fig- 
ure for  the  district  and  the  township  considera- 
bly. But  the  splendid  advantages  of  the  section 
for  healthfulness  and  sport  became  the  theme  in 
the  camp  days  of  national  interest  and  discus- 
sion, and  it  would  not  be  surprising  ere  many 
years  pass  to  see  the  Montauk  region  inhabited 
by  a  population  far  surpassing  in  extent  the  num- 
bers which  made  Camp  WickoiTf  so  busy  for  sev- 
eral memorable  months. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


RIVERHEAD. 


HE  modern  annals  of  Riverhead  town- 
ship, the  county  town  of  Suffolk,  be- 
gan with  1792,  when  it  was  formed  out 
of  Southold.  It  is  fifteen  miles  in 
length,  with  an  average  width  of  5  miles, 
and  contains  som.ething  like  36,500  acres.  Its 
north  shore  runs  along  the  Sound,  while  its  south- 
shore  is  on  Peconic  Bay,  and  the  Peconic  river 
separates  it  from  Southampton  and  Brookhaven. 
Farming  is  exclusively  carried  on,  but  in  no  part 
is  the  land  noted  for  its  fertility,  and  even  to  the 
present  day  large  sections  of  the  township  can 
hardly  be  said  to  be  under  cultivation.  Yet 
within  recent  \ears  a  vast  improvement  has  been 
effected,  and,  bit  by  bit,  acres  which  have  been 
given  over  for  a  century  or  more  to  wildbrush 
and  weeds  have  been  recovered  and  are  yielding 
abundant  return  in  the  shape  of  grain  or  garden 
truck.  Many  thriving  communities  have  sprung 
up,  and  Riverhead  from  being,  as  the  Rev.  Dr. 
D wight  described  it  in  1804,  "a  miserable  ham- 
let,'' is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  beau- 
tiful and  progressive  towns  on  Long  Island,  with 
a  population  estimated  at  about  2,500. 

But  Riverhead  had  an  interesting  story  long 
before  it  took  its  place  as  a  political  division  of 
Suffolk  county.  'Some  of  the  most  interesting 
aboriginal  remains  on  all  Long  Island  were 
found  in  the  vicinity  of  Aquebogue,  as  late  as 
1879.  'As  related  by  Mr.  R.  M.  Bayles,  the  vil- 
lage annalist,  Nathan  A.  Downs,  in  the  year  men- 


tioned, found  by  the  frequent  appearance  of  In- 
dian arrows  and  some  specimens  of  rude  pot- 
tery that  he  was  on  the  site  of  an  ancient  Indian 
village.  Investigation  discovered  curiosities  that 
attracted  the  attention  of  archaeologists  and  the 
public  far  and  near.  The  ground  lay  upon  the 
bank  of  Meeting  House  creek,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Countfy  road  and  about  one-eighth  of  a 
mile  from  it.  This  creek  runs  into  Peconic  Bay, 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  distant  from  this 
point,  and  its  name  is  suggested  by  the  fact  of  its 
head  being  near  the  meeting-house  or  "steeple 
church."  It  is  supposed  that  this  creek  at  some 
time-'during  the  remote  centuries  of  the  past  was 
the  lower  section  of  a  river  whose  source  was 
away  to  the  north,  among  the  hills  which  range 
along  the  sound.  In  plowing  in  this  vicinity 
dark  spots  were  observed  in  the  ground  and 
were  at  first  supposed  to  have  been  temporary 
fire  places  or  ovens  that  bad  been  filled  with 
ashes,  shells,  refuse  and  soil;  but  on  closer 
examination  it  was  discovered  that  they  con- 
tained human  bones,  and  that  the  oyster 
shells  had  been  placed  Avhere  they  were  while 
the  oyster  was  intact.  A  refuse  heap  some 
fifty  yards  long  contained  hundreds  of  loads 
of  shells,  chips  of  llint,  bones  and  broken  im- 
plements, and  must  have  been  many  years  ac- 
cumulating. Near  the  shore  of  the  now  extinct 
river  the  graves  of  Indian  dead  were  made.  The 
geological  changes  that  have  taken  place  since 


RIVERHEAD. 


381 


these  graves  were  made  suggest  that  possibly 
thousands  of  years  may  have  passed  since  that 
time. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  territory  of 
Riverhead  township  was  purchased  from  the 
Indians  by  inhabitants  of  Southold ;  and  the 
first  purchase,  known  as  the  Aquebogue  Pur- 
chase, was  made  in  1649.  In  1665  (December  7) 
a  confirmatory  deed  was  procured  from  the  In- 
dians, and  this  contains  the  first  definite  (yet 
not  altogether  exact  or  satisfactory)  boundaries, 
and  these  were  substantially  the  same  as  con- 
tained by  Governor  Andros'  patent,  executed  in 
1676.  According  to  the  second  Indian  deed 
mentioned  the  boundaries  were  "the  River  called 
in  the  English  toung  the  Weading  (Wading) 
Kreek,  in  the  Indian  toung  Pauquaconsuk,  on 
the  West  =i^  *  *  ^:^  *  and  with  a  River  or 
arme  of  the  sea  wch  runneth  up  between  South- 
ampton Land  and  the  aforesaid  tract  of  land  unto 
a  certain  Kreek  which  fresh  water  runneth  into 
on  ye  South,  called  in  English  the  Red  Kreek, 
in  Indian  Toyonge ;  together  with  the  said  Kreek 
and  meadows  belonging  thereto,  and  running 
on  a  straight  line  from  the  head  of  the  afore- 
named fresh  water  to  the  head  of  ye  Small 
brook  that  runneth  into  the  Kreek  called  Pau- 
quaconsuk; as  also  all  neck  of  lands/'  etc.  The 
line  from  the  head  of  Toyonge  to  the  head  of 
Pauquaconsuk  was  afterward  interpreted  as  the 
line  from  the  head  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Red  Creek,  in  Southampton,  to  the  :head  of 
Wading  River  Creek,  and  this  line,  running  in 
a  northwesterly  and  southeasterly  direction 
across  what  is  now  the  southwest  part  of  the 
town  of  Riverhead,  afterward  became  the  north- 
eastern boundary  of  Colonel  Smith's  ''St. 
George's  manor,"  and  is  still  known  in  real  estate 
descriptions  as  the  "manor  line." 

The  land  grants  are  related  in  principal  part 
in  connection  with  those  of  the  town  of  South- 
old.  In  1742  that  portion  of  the  township  lying 
southwest  of  the  manor  line  was  divided  among 
William  Nicoll,  Robert  Hempstead,  Joseph 
Wickham,  Daniel  Wells  and  Elijah  Hutchinson. 
Among  purchasers  were  Caleb  Horton,  David 
Corey,  Thomas   Reeve,   Richard   Terry,  Samuel 


Cpnklin,  John  Salmon,  William  Benjamin,  Da- 
vid Horton,  James  Horton,  James  Reeve, 
Elijah  Hutchinson,  John  Goldsmith,  Solomon 
Well's,  John  Tuthill,  John  Conklin,  Jonathan 
Horton,  David  Parshall,  Israel  Parshall,  Joshua 
Tuthill,  Zebulon  Hallock,  Joseph  \\'ickham, 
Nathaniel  Youngs,  Joshua  ^^^ells,  William  Al- 
bertson  and  Noah  Hallock. 

The  controversy  between  Southold  and 
Southampton,  concerning  the  ownership  of  cer- 
tain lands  and  meadows  at  Red  Creek,  in  South- 
ampton, is  related  in  the  history  of  Riverhead,. 
and  the  following  Indian  deed  shows  how  the 
claim  of  Southold  first  originated.  Very  few  of 
the  original  documents  which  time  has  -spared 
equal  this  deed  in  interest.  The  name  Ucquebaak 
(which  is  the  learl'iest  form  of  the  word,  which 
in  the  record  appears  in  various  forms  as  Oc- 
cabauk,  Accobock,  Accobog ,  Agaboke,  Aqua- 
bauk,  and  now  stereotyped  in  the  form  of  Aque- 
bogue) was  originally  applied  to  lands  on  both 
sides  of  Peconic  river,  and  means  ''land  at  the 
head  of  the  bay,"  or  *'the  cove  place."  It  is  now 
the  name  of  a  village  very  far  removed  froaii  the 
place  which  the  Indians  called  by  that  name.  In 
Southampton,  the  "Accabog  Division"  included 
the  lands  from  Red  creek  to  Riverhead.  This 
deed  is  of  special  interest  at  the  present  time,  as 
upon  it  and  the  patent  based  thereupon  is  the 
foundation  of  the  claim  of  Southold  to  a  large 
portion  of  Peconic  Bay.  The  deed  and  docu- 
ments following  are  recorded  in  the  office  of  the- 
Secretary  of  State : 

These  present  witness  that  Oocombooma- 
quus,  and  the  wife  of  Mahakannuck  the  true  In- 
dyan  owners  of  Ocquebouck,  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  three  coats,  two  fathoms  of  Wam- 
pum, four  hatchets,  four  knives,  and  four  To- 
baco  Pipes,  into  their  hands  at  the  ensealing 
thereof.  Have  granted  bargained  and  sold  unto 
Mr.  Theophilus  Eaton  Governor  of  New  Haven 
Jurisdiction,  and  to  J\Ir.  Stephen  Goodyear, 
Deputy  Governor,  for  and  in  the  behalf  of  ye 
Turisd'iction,  the  whole  tract  commonly  called 
Ocquebauk,  bounded  on  the  east  with  the  creek 
Unscawamuck,  which  is  the  next  creek  to  the 
place  where  ye  canoes  are  drawn  over  to  jNIatti- 
tuck,  on  the  west  with  the  Great  fresh  river,  on 


382 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


the  south  with  the  Greate  Harbour,  and  on  the 
north  with  the  Sea,  Together  with  the  land  and 
riieadows  lying  on  the  other  side  the  water  south- 
ward so  farre  as  the  creek  Mashmanock,  which  is 
the  fifth  creeke  from  the  fresh  river  .towards 
Shinecock.  Provided  that  the  aforesaid  Indians 
may  enjoy  during  their  hves  a  small  piece  of 
land  to  plant  upon  lying  between  the  two  creeks 
Miamegg  and  Assasquage.  And  also  to  take  the 
benefit  of  the  Sassachems.  To  Have  and  to  Hold 
all  the  said  tract  of  land  as  is  before  expressed, 
with  the  meadows  and  all  their  appurtenances 
(except  before  excepted)  to  the  said  Theophilus 
Eaton  and  Stephen  Goodyeare  Esquires,  in  the 
behalfe  of  the  Jurisdiction.  To  them  their  heirs 
and  assigns  for  ever.  With  ^^'arranty  against 
the  said  Occomboomaquus  and  ]\[ahamack  their 
heirs  and  assigfns  and  all  and  every  other  person 
and  persons  claiming  any  title  or  Interest  of 
from,  by  or  under  them,  their  meanes  occasions 
or  Consent  in  or  to  all  or  any  the  above  specifyed, 
or  any  part  or  parcell  thereof.  In  witness  where- 
of the  aforesaid  Occomboomaquus  and  Maha- 
mack's  wife  have  set  to  their  hands  and  scales 
the  4th  day  of  March,  1648.  Sealed  and  de- 
livered in  presence  of 

John  Youngs, 

Henry  Whitings, 

John  Youngs,  Jr., 

^lUCKOMOSH^ 

Saggamough. 

Attached  to  the  above  is  the  deposition  of 
certain  Indians  that  "there  was  an  Indian  Squaw 
of  the  Sachem's  blood  that  was  wife  of  Maham- 
ack  who,  to  their  knowledge,  was  the  true  Pro- 
prietor of  a  tract  of  land  on  ye  south  side  of  the 
Great  Harbour,  or  river  called  Peacanuck,  from 
the  head  of  a  creek  called  To  Youngs  or  Mash- 
mamock,  and  so  through  the  middle  of  the  Island 
to  the  creek  called  Pauqunconsuck  on  the  north 
side,  which  creeke  by  the  English  is  called  the 
Wading  creeke,  and  so  along  the  north  sea  to 
]\Iattituck.  And  that  her  right  was  purchased 
by  i\Ir.  John  Youngs,  and  all  the  four  Sachems 
then  living  knew  of  her  sale,  and  objected  noth- 
ing aginst  it.  And  it  was  constant  custom  by  all 
other  Indians  to  ask  her  leave  to  gether  herbage 
and  flaggs  for  matts."  Dated  December  27, 
1662. 

Paucumpt,  an  Indian,  about  80  years  old,  de- 
scended from  the  house  of  the  Sachems  in  the 


end  of  the  Island,  before  divers  English  and  In- 
dyans,  gave  testimony  "that  Occobauke  was  an 
ancient  seate  of  Sachem  ship  and  of  long  stand- 
ing; that  is  to  say  time  out  of  mind;  but  the 
first  in  his  time  did  possess  the  upland  and 
meadow  on  the  swamp  side  of  the  head  of  the 
river,  lying  in  the  west  €nd  of  the  Bay,  five 
creeks.  The  first,  Massemennuck;  the  second 
Nobbs,  the  third  Suggamuck,  the  fourth  Week- 
ewook-Mamish  and  the  fifth  To  Youngs,  being 
the  out  bounds  thereof,  and  lying  in  opposition 
to  Occabauk,  Old  Ground,  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Bay.  The  name  of  the  last  Sachem  that 
possessed  the  same  was  called  Ockenmungan, 
who  had  one  son  and  one  daughter,  the  son  dying 
in  his  infancy,  the  daughter  is  the  sole  heir  and 
pi-oprietor  of  Occabauk,  which  Mr.  Youngs 
purchased  of  said  squaw  about  eleven  years  ago, 
and  Munhansett  the  Sachem  did  well  approve 
the  same.  And  the  bounds  of  Occabauk  go  on  a 
straight  line  from  the  head  of  the  river  to  the 
Wading  Creek  on  the  north  beach,  which  is 
called  Pequaockeoir  because  Peaquocks  are  found 
there."     Dated  May,   1660. 

The  necks  mentioned  above  are  all  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  in  Southampton,  and 
probably  begins  with  what  is  now  "Wells  Neck" 
on  the  west  and  extending  east  to  To  Youngs, 
or  Red  Creek. 

The  very  interesting  allusion  to  the  meaning 
of  the  Indian  name  for  A\''ading  River  is  here 
given  by  the  learned  antiquarian  and  student  of 
the  Indian  language,  JNIr.  \Mlliam  Wallace 
Tooker,  of  Sag  Harbor : 

{Pauqiiacanisnck  or  Panquaconsnck) 

"That  the  bounds  of  Occabauk  aforesaid  go 
on  a  straight  line, from  ye  head  of  ye  river  (Pe- 
sonic)  to  ye  wading  creek  (now  Wading  River 
Creek,  see  Maps  of  Long  Island),  on  ye  North 
Beach  which  is  called  Pcquaockeon^  because  Pe- 
quaoks  are  found  there."  Pcqua-oc-Po-qua-hoc 
(Unkechaug)  ;  Poqnan-hock  (Narragansett)  al)- 
breviated  to  Quohang,  'round-clam,'  literally, 
thick  or  tiglitly  closed  shell:  the  terminal— oc, 
hoc,  or  hocki,  'that  which  covers'  (as  a  gai-ment)  ; 
kcon  from  toskeon  (Eliot),  'to  wade.'  SHck,_  *a 
brook  or  outlet  of  any  small  stream,'  thus  making 


RIVERHEAD. 


383 


Pequa- oc-kcou-siick ,  'the  brook  or  the  outlet 
where  we  wade  for  thick  shells'  or  'round- 
clams/  "  Book  of  Deeds,  Vol.  2,  p.  273,  Albany 
N.  Y.  The  above  is  quoted  from  my  "The  In- 
dian Xames  of  Long  Island/'  pp.  46,  47,  48, 
Algonquin  Series,  A'ol.  4,  Harper,  1901. 

From  documents  in  the  office  of  the  Town 
Clerk  of  Southampton  we  learn  that  at  one  time 
the  lands  at  Red  Creek  and  vicniity  were  occu- 
pied by  a  village  of  Indians  who  were  a  part  of 
the  tribe  which  claimed  and  inhabited  the  town 
of.  Southhold.  After  this  there  was  a  war  be- 
tween the  Shinnecocks  and  Yeanocock  Indians,  in 
which  the  latter  were  defeated  and  driven  off. 
After  a  time  they  returned  and  were  allowed  to 
settle  in  their  former  seats,  but  the  Shinnecocks 
claimed  all  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  and  required  acknowledgment  of  their 
title  according  to  certain  Indian  customs.  The 
following  document  will  explain  the  case  more 
fully : 


Richard  Howell  and  Joseph  Raynor,  aged 
about  fourty  years,  deposed  this  isth  day  of  Sep- 
tember 1667.  Saith  as  follows.  That  upon  a 
time  about  the  latter  end  of  May  last,  Capt.  John 
Youngs  of  Southold  brought  over  to  Southamp- 
ton, Thomas  Stanton  with  some  of  the  chiefe  of 
Southold  Indians,  meting  at  the  School  house 
some  of  chiefe  of  Southampton  Indians  with  the 
Sachem,  being  there.  Capt.  Youngs  being  asked 
the  end  of  his  comeing  said,  To  finde  out  truthe, 
viz.  whoe  had  true  right  to  ye  land  or  meadow  in 
controversy  betweene  the  two  townes.  And  the 
debate  thereupon  grew  on  betweene  the  Indians 
theire  beinge  present  some  of  the  Southold  In- 
habitants with  divers  of  ye  chiefe  of  the  Inhabit- 
ants of  Southampton.  Thomas  Stanton  being 
ye  interpreter.  These  deponents  heard  the  said 
Thomas  ask  both  parties  of  ye  Indians,  whoe  had 
tile  true  right  to  the  said  land  and  meadows. 
And  the  said  Indians  (after  long  debate)  joyntiy 
answered  that  ye  young  eagles  that  were  taken 
in  the  nests,  &  the  deere  that  w^ere  drowned  or 
killed  in  'the  water,  it  ^was  ye  Indians  custom  to 
carry  ye  saide  eagles  &  the  skins  of  the  deere  to 
these  Sachems  or  Indians  that  were  the  true 
owners  of  ye  land.  Thereupon  Thomas  Stanton 
presently  replyed,  saying,  indeed  the  eagles  and 
the  deere  were  something,  but  if  there  was  a  bear 
drowned  or  killed,  that  would  put  the  matter  out 


of  controversie,  And  the  deponent  heard  South- 
ampton Indians  afifirme  that  there  was  a  bear 
drowned  or  killed  in  ye  same  tract  of  land  now 
in  controversy  between  ye  said  townes.  Then 
Thomas  Stanton  asked  to  whom  the  skin  was 
carried,  and  Southampton  Indians  answered.  To 
Shinnekuke  Indians,  And  Southold  Indians  all- 
soe  acknowledged  that  the  said  bear  skin  was 
carryed  to  Shinneoock  Indians  by  SouthoM  In- 
dians whoe  tooke  ye  bear. 
Taken  before  me. 

Ti-ioiiAs  Topping. 

For  further  evidence  in  the  matter,  appli- 
cation was  made  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  James,  of 
East  Hampton,  whose  acquaintance  wdth  the  In- 
dian language  rendered  his  services  as  an  inter- 
preter of  great  value. 

"The  Deposition  of  Mr.  Thomas  James,  taken 
at  Easthampton  this  i8th  Day  of  October,  1667, 
Testifieth 

"Being  earnestly  desired  by  them  of  South- 
ampton towne  to  be  some  nieanes  in  their  behalfe 
to  procure  ye  testimony,  or  affirmation  of  ye  mon- 
taukut  Indians  concerning  ye  'bounds  of  Shinni- 
kuke  ■  Indians,  accordingly,  Paqunttown,  'Coun- 
sellor, being  here  att  yt  present  att  Easthampton, 
I  enquired  of  him  whether  he  knew  anything  con- 
cerning ye  aforesd  bounds.  &  he  told  me  he  did, 
as  being  often  employed  by  ye  Sachems  in  their 
matters,  ^  ^vth  all  told  me  yt  ye  bounds  of  ye 
Shinnecuke  Indians  (since  }'e  conquest  oi  those 
Indians  wch  formerly  many  yeares  since  lined  att 
akkobank)  did  reach  to  a  river  where  they  go  t6 
catch  \Q  fish  we  commonly  call  alewiues,  the 
name  of  yt  Riuer  hee  said  is  Pehik ;  &  wth  all 
told  me  vt  there  were  two  old  women  liueing  at 
]^Tontaukut  who  formerly  were  o'f  ye  Akkobauk 
Indians,  who  could  giue  further  information  con- 
cerning ye  matter. 

''So  I  made  a  journey  with  Mr.  Rich.  Howell 
and  M'r.  John  Leyton  (Laughton)  to  ]\Iontaukut 
&  we  mett  with  ye  aforesd  women,  who  af- 
firmed they  formerly  were  of  }'e  Akkobauk  In- 
dians. &  they  knew  the  bounds  of  ye  severall 
plantations  in  those  parts.  One  of  them  an  antient 
woman  (called  bv  ye  Indians  Akkobauk  Homo's 
Squaw),  to  which  the  other  also  asserted  called 
.  AVompquaim's  Squaw,  a  middle  aged  woman,  in 
they  joyntiy  declared  as  followeth,  that  formerly 
many  years  since,  there  was  a  small  plantation  of 
Indians  at  Akkobauk  &  those  Indians  being  few, 
were  driven  off  their  land,  being  conquered  'by 


3S4 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


other  Indians  &  that  in  those  tyfties  the  bounds 
of  those  Akkobauk  Indians  came  eastward  of  the 
River  Pehikkonuk  to  a  creek  which  she  named, 
And  they  gathered  flags  for  mats  within  that 
nee  of  land,  but  since  those  Indians  were  con- 
querred  who  lived  att  Akkobauk,  the  Shinecock 
bounds  went  to  the  river  pehikkonuck,  where  ye 
Indians  catched  Alewives,  &  the  Shinnokuk  In- 
dians had  the  drowned  deere  as  theirs,  on  this 
side  of  the  said  river,  and  one  beare  some  years 
since,  8i  the  old  squaw  said  by  ye  token  shee  eat 
som€  of  it;  pointing  to  her  teeth,  and  that  the 
skin  &  flesh  was  brought  to  Shinnocut  as  ac- 
knowledgeing  their  right  to  it,  to  a  Saunk  Squaw 
then  living  there  who  was  the  old  Montauket 
Sachein's  sister  &  first  wife  to  Awkkonnu.  This 
to  the  best  of  my  understanding.  This  taken 
upon  oath  before  mee.  John  Mulford/'' 

The  foregoing  document  in  the  handwriting 
of  Mr.  James  is  in  the  Town  Clerk's  ofHce  of 
East  Hampton.  Other  affidavits  showed  that  the 
town  of  Southampton  had  claimed  and  made  use 
of  the  meadows  on  the  south  side  of  Peconic 
river  before  1663. 

In  accordance  with  their  claim,  the  town  of 
Southampton,  as  plaintiff,  commenced  a  suit  in 
the  Court  of  Assizes  against  Southold  as  a  de- 
fendant, Captain  John  Howell  and  Henry  Pier- 
son  being  attorneys  for  the  former.  The  case 
came  to  trial  in  October,  1667,.  and  the  jury  de- 
cided in  favor  of  Southampton.  Southhold  then 
appealed  from  the  verdict  ''to  be  heard  in 
Equity."  This  was  granted,  the  appeal  to  be 
considered  by  the  Court  in  October,  1688,  "unless 
they  should  otherwise  agree,  which  the  Court 
doth  recommend  unto  hoth  parties."  Governor 
Richard  Nicolls  sent  Plon.  Captain  Needham  and 
Captam  Matthias  Nicolls  to  act  as  mediators, 
and  the  result  was  an  agreement  made  by 
representatives  from  both  towns,  on  March  11, 
1667-8: 

*'  That  ye  town  of  Southamipton  shall  peace- 
ably &  quietly  enjoy  &  possess  ye  full  lattitude 
of  their  land  bounds  they  sometime  purchased  of 
Captain  Topping,  ye  west  line  was  &  is  to  run 
according  to  their  deed  from  a  place  called  Se- 
tuck  on  the  South  Side  to  ye  head  of  a  River  or 
Bay  called  Peaconet  on  ye  North  Side  to  be  to 
the  said  Southampton  &  their  successers  for  ever. 


With  this  restriction  or  premission,  that  Mr. 
William  Welles  of  Southold  shall  have  and  re- 
tain eighteen  acres  off  the  above  said  meadows^ 
which  are  allready  appointed  unto  him,  ye  same 
to  be  to  ye  only  use  &  behoof  of  him  and  his  heirs 
forever.  And  all  the  rest  of  ye  land  or  tract  of 
meadow  to  lye  in  Common  for  mowing  for  all 
ye  Inhabitants  of  Both  towns,  who  have  interest 
according  to  their  property,  until  ye  said'  towns- 
shall  more  fully  agree  to  divide  ye  same  in  par- 
ticular, and  when  they  shall  come  to  be  divided, 
ye  said  eighteen  acres,  belonging  to  Mr.  Wells,, 
shall  be  accounted  as  part  of  ye  quantitv  which 
Southold  are  to  have." 

This  was  a  final  settlement  of  the  difficulty,, 
and  is  mentioned  in  the  patents  of  Governor  An- 
dros  and  Governor  Dongan. 

On  September  8,  1686,  an  agreement  was 
made  between  the  two  towns  that  the  Southhold 
people  should  have  the  west  part  of  the  meadows^ 
"their  west  bounds  to  begin  at  two  pine  trees  that 
are  marked  by  the  Riverside  about  half  a  mile 
below  the  going  over  the  Riverhead,  and  from 
the  said  pine  trees,  all  the  meadow  eastward  to 
the  spring  at  the  head  of  the  Creek  that  comes 
up  on  the  east  side  of  Fifteen  Mile  Island.  And 
Southampton  townes  part  of  the  said  meadows 
for  their  west  bounds  to  begin  at  said  spring  at 
the  head  of  the  creek  on  the  east  side  of  Fifteen 
Mile  Island,  and  from  thence  eastward  all  the 
meadow  to  the  creek  called  the  Red  Creek.  The 
meadows  that  Lyes  westward  of  the  aforesaid 
two  pine  trees  (being  by  estimation  about  two 
Acres  of  meadow  more  or  less)  is  by  mutual 
consent  left  to  lye  in  common^  between  the  two 
townes  until  both  parties  agree  to  dispose  of  it." 

The.  part  that  was  given  to  Southold  men 
was  owned  by  them  in  proportion  to  their  indi- 
vidual proprietor  rights.  Mention  is  frequently 
made  in  wills  and  deeds.  The  jurisdiction  was  to 
be  to  Southampton,  whose  claim  rested  upon  the 
Indian  deed  to  Captain  Thomas  Topping  which 
was  approved  by  the  Governor.  The  western 
part  of  these  meadows  is  still  known  as  "Wells' 
Neck." 

In  1764,  Fifteen  Mile  Island  was  owned  by 
James  Fanning,  Jr.,  who  sold  it  to  Thomas  Fan- 
ning.     He  also  owned    Long    Neck  and    had  a 


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RTVERHEAD  LAND  GRANT. 


25 


386 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


dwelling  house  on  it,  and  sold  the  same  to 
Thomas  Fanning  in  1765. 

The  map  of  the  ''Manor  Land"  that  is  .given 
in  this  history  may  be  thus  explained.  The 
eastern  boundary  of  the  patent  for  Brookhaven 
was  at  the  head  of  Wading  river,  and  from 
thence  a  line  running  due  north  to  the  Sound 
and  south  to  the  middle  of  the  Island.  A  small 
stone  monument  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  lot  at  Wading  river  marks 
the  place  where  a  peperidge  tree  formerly  stood, 
which  marked  the  head  of  Wading  river,  and  the 
boundary  between  the  two  towns.  The  Second 
Patent  to  Colonel  William  Smith  included  a  large 
triangular  tract  bounded  on  -the  east  by  a  line 
running  from  this  point  to  the  crossing  of  Pecon- 
nic  river  at  Riverhead.  This  triangular  tract  was 
sold  by  Colonel  Henry  Smith  to  Benjamin 
Youngs  and  Samuel  Hutchinson  of  Southold, 
April  I,  1720.  for  £50. 

They  sold  the  same  tract  to  James  Reeve. 
Joshua  Tuthill,  Matthias  Dickinson,  Richard 
Terry,  Charles  Booth,  Thomas  Goldsmith,  Caleb 
HoTton,  Samuel  Conkling,  Thomas  Reeve,  Na- 
thaniel Warner,  Josiah  Youngs,  David  Parshall, 
Joseph  Wickham,  Joshua  Wells,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Hulse,  Jonathan  Dimon,  Samuel  Conkling,  John 
ConkHng  and  Henry  Conkling,  in  sixty  shares  as 
partners,  reserving  shares  for  themselves.  This 
is  dated  February  21,  1722. 

The  map  shows  the  division  into  lots,  with 
names  of  owners  at  that  time.  The  east  line  of 
the  tract  is  well  known  as  the  "Manor  Line/' 

The  population  increased  very  slowly,  the 
settlements  were  small  and  widely  scattered  and 
the  people  were  poor.  The  territory  added 
nothing  to  the  wealth  of  Southold.  It  had 
no  hiarbors,  no  commerce,  no  excess  of  crops  and 
was  very  little  heard  of  even  in  the  town  meet- 
ings. The  co'unty  was  not  particularl}'  adapted 
for  traveling.  The  distances  were  great  and 
from  Aquebogue  westward  the  territory  to  the 
Brookhaven  line  was  in  Southold,  but  not  of  it. 
Therefore  there  was  little  excitement  when  it 
became  known  that  on  March  13,  1792,  the 
Legislature  had  cut  off  the  territory  and  erected 
it  into  a  separate  township  described  as  follows : 


All  that  part  of  the  said  town  of  Southold, 
lying  to  the  westward  of  a  line  beginning  at 
the  sound  and  running  thence  southerly  to  the 
bav  separating  the  towns  of  Southampton  and 
Southold,  and  which  is  the  eastern  boundary 
or  side  of  a  farm  now  in  the  tenure  or  occupa- 
tion of  William  Albertson  and  is  the  reputed 
line  of  division  between  the  parishes  of  Ocque- 
bouge  and  Mattetuck. 

This  legislation  was  enacted  on  the  petition 
of  Peter  Reeves  and  others,  but  not  without  op- 
position. John  Wells  and  others  prayed  for  a 
postponement  until  the  next  'session,  and  Benja- 
min Ilorton  and  others  asked  for  an  act  provid- 
ing that  town  meetings  should  be  held  alternate- 
ly in  the  old  town  meeting  house  in  Southold 
and  in  the  Aquobo'gue  meeting  house.  These  vari- 
ous petitions  were  presented  January  1 1 ,  and 
little  more  than  two  months  later  was  passed  the 
law  for  which  Reeves  and  his  associates  had 
asked. 

As  directed  by  the  organic  act,  the  first  town 
meeting  was  held  on  April  3,  1792,  when  the 
following  officers  were  elected :  Daniel  Wells, 
supervisor;  Josiah  Reeve,  clerk;  John  C.  Terry, 
Joseph  Wills  and  Benjamin  Terry,  assessors; 
Jeremiah  Wells  and  Spencer  Dayton,  highway 
commissioners ;  Daniel  Terry,  Zachariah  Hal- 
lock  and  Daniel  Edwards,  overseers  of  the  poor; 
Nathan  Youngs,  Eleazar  Luce,  Rufus  Youngs, 
John  Corwin,  Zophar  Mills,  Peter  Reeve  and 
Merritt  Howell,  overseers  of  highways ;  Sylvanus 
Brown,  ^collector ;  and  David  Brown,  Abel  Cor- 
win and  Benjamin  Horton,  constables.  The  in- 
fant township  was  governed  under  the  laws 
which  were  in  force  in  Southold  at  the  time  of 
the  separation  until  1794,  when  they  appear  to 
have  been  superseded  by  others,  but  the  proceed- 
ings at  the  enacting  -sessions  included  little  of 
interest  to  us.  One  exception  to  this  might  be 
made  in  the  care  taken  of  the  poor.  When  the 
township  was  formed  it  had  only  six  paupers, 
and  these  were  let  out  for  one  year  to  the  bid- 
der who  offered  to  maintain  them  for  the  least 
money,  and  this  method  of  disposing  of  such 
dependents  continued  to  prevail  until  1832,  when 
a    farm    was    purchased    at    Lower    Aquebogue 


RIVERHEAD. 


887 


and  th€  poor  were  gathered  together  and  re- 
moved there,  and  that  estabhshment  was  main- 
tained until  the  county  S3'stem  came  into  law  and 
the  paupers  of  Riverhead  were  transferred,  in 
1871.  to  Yaphank.  and  the  old  poor- farm  was  sold. 
But  in  spite  of  its  dignity  as  a  township  and 
its  position  as  containing  the  county  town,  the 
township  of  Riverhead  advanced  very  slowly.  In 


riveTrhead  water  tower. 

1800  its  population  was  1,498;  in  1820,  1,857; 
in  1825,  1,816;  in  1835,  2,138;  in  1840,  2.373, 
and  twenty  years  later  it  had  only  reached 
-•734;  two  decades  still  further  it  had  advanced 


to  3,939,  'and  the  census  in  1900  showed  that  it 
practically  stood  at  these  figures,  the  census  re- 
turns showing  4,503. 

But  in  the  stories  of  the  various  villages 
and  settlements  deserving  of  a  mucfi  more  dig- 
nified title,  we  find  much  deserving  of  study. 
Even  the  story  of  the  village  of  Riverhead,  mod- 
ern as  most  of  it  is,  is  full  of  interesting  detail, 
all  of  which  tend  to  present 
it  before  us  as  a  typical  coun- 
try town,  and  -one  which  at 
the  present  day  is  full  of 
ambition  and  life  and  is 
making  full  use  of  its  nat- 
ural beauty  of  situation  and 
its  ready  adoption  of  all  that 
in  these  modern  timeB  is  re- 
garded as  necessary  to  mu- 
nicipal success  to  make  it 
become  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive and  popular  of  Long 
Island  cities.  It  is  a  beau- 
tiful place;  it  combines  city 
and  country  in  its  broad  and 
well  paved  streets,  its  stately 
trees  lining  the  sidewalks 
everywhere,  its  business  es- 
tablishments and  banks,  its 
many  really  handsome  vil- 
las, its  steadily  increasing 
popularity  among  summer 
visitors  and  its  loyal,  enei'- 
getic  and  enterprising  body 
of  regular  residents,  who 
have  an  abiding  faith  in  its 
future  at  all  times  to  bestir 
themselves  in  every  move- 
ment likely  to  aid  in  its  de- 
velopment. It  has  its  orna- 
ments too,  as  witness,  the 
beautiful  water  tower. 

Like  so  many  other  cen- 
ters of  population  on  Long 
Islan  1.  Riverhead  began  with  a  sawmill,  and  this 
was  erected  on  the  banks  of  the  Peconic  in 
1659  bv  two  pioneers — John  Tucker  and 
Joshua  Horton.     This  is  said  to  have  antedated 


388 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


servant,  fenced  and  guarded  with  pious  care  by 
the  roadside  at  Good  Ground,  is  visited  by  hun- 
dreds who  revere  his  virtues  and  honor  his. 
name." 

The  village  of  Riverhead  had  enjoyed  a  cer- 
tain distinction  from  a  time  long  antedating  its. 
erection  as  a  shire  town.  In  1727  an  ace  of  the 
legislature  authorized  the  justices  of  the  peace 
to  build  a  "county  house  and  prison/'  and  the 
first  court  in  the  building  which  was  erected  was 
held  March  2j,  1729.  This  was  a  court  of  gen- 
eral sessions,  and  the  first  court  of  oyer  and 
terminer  in  the  newly  created  county  of  Suffolk 
began  its  session  on  September  4.  1787.    To  dis- 


by  eighteen  years  that  of  Joseph  Carpenter,  at 
^laschete  Cove,  Long  Island,  for  whom  the 
claim  was  long  made  that  "he  was  the  first  rrtan 
on  Long  Island,  New  York,  Connecticut  or  New 
Jersey  to  set  up  a  sawmill  run  by  water  power/' 
The  setting!  forth  of  this  fact  was  made  by 
Orville  B.  Ackerly,  of  Yonkers,  New  York,  a 
miember  of  the  Suffolk  County  Historical  Society, 
in  an  address  delivered  upon  the  occasion  of  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  the  town  of  .Riverhead,  at  that  place  on  July  4, 
1892.  And  this  valuable  paper  the  writer  ac- 
knowledges as  the  source  of  much  of  the  in- 
formation contained  in  the  following  narrative. 

This    pioneer    miller,    John  . 

Tucker,    was    a    man    of    im- 
portance,    known     as     deacon, 
captain  and   esquire,  in  a  day 
when  these  titles    commanded 
far   greater   respect   than   they 
do  now.     In  1711  his  grandson,    lSj||F 
also  named  John,  sold  to  John  p 
Parker  one  of  the  original  four 
htmdred    tracts    of    land,    and 
this,  with  a  lot  adjoining,  con- 
stituted the  entire  business  por- 
tion  of  the   present  village  of 
Riverhead.   The  Woodhull  fam-  ANCIENT  SOUTH  VIEW  OF  CENTRAL    PART  OF  RIVERHEAD. 
ily  was  the  bone  and  sinew  of 


the  infant  community.  Josia'h  Woodhull,  dur- 
ing Revolutionary  times,  made  the  roof  ■  of 
his  house  a  watch-tower,  and  from  it  gave 
notice  of  the  approach  of  marauding  British 
bands.  In  the  village  was  also  the  home  of 
;Major  Frederick  Hudson,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen and  one  of  Tory  proclivities.  His  son, 
Oliver  Hudson,  sold  the  estate  to  Zophar 
Alills.  A  peculiar  interest  attaches  to  this 
property  in  the  fact  that  among  Major  Hud- 
son's bound  servants  was  Paul  Cuffee,  an  In- 
dian, who'se  name  subsequently  became  familiar 
and  honored  through  his  ministrations  as  a 
preacher  to  his  rapidly  dying  out  people.  As 
remarked  by  Mr.  Ackerly,  "Strange  change  of 
circumstances !  The  grave  of  the  blaster  is 
somewhere  unmarked  and  unknown,  in  a  dense 
thicket  of  weeds  and  briars.     The  grave  of  the 


pose  of  the  judicial  side  of  our  subject  it  may  be- 
here  said  that  the  old  court  house  was  renovated 
and  a  new  jail  built  about  1825.  In  1854  a  new 
and  modern  court  house  was  erected,  but  it  was 
not  until  1881,  and  after  the  old  building  had: 
been  repeatedly  condemned  as  unsafe,  that  a 
new  jail  was  provided,  with  all  the  improve- 
ments to  which  such  an  edifice  could  then 
aspire. 

Notwithstanding  it  was  now  the  shire  town, 
the  growth  of  Riverhead  was  slow  for  very  many 
years.  In  1812  it  contained  only  four  buildings 
besides  the  court  house,  and  of  these  one  was  a 
tavern  kept  by  John  Griffin,  and  one  was  a  grist 
mill  operated  by  Josiah  Albertson.  In  1828  John. 
Perkins  set  up  a  woolen  factory.  There  had  been 
other  industries  further  up  the  stream  long  be- 
fcre  this,   among  them  an  iron  forge,  built  by- 


RIVERHEAD. 


359 


Jeremiah  Petty,  about  1797,  which  was  aban- 
doned about  twenty-five  years  later.  After  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  various  modern  man- 
ufactories were  'Cstablisihed,  and  the  village  en- 
tered upon  the  beginnings  of  those  substantial 
industrious  conditions  which  characterize  it  at 
the  present  time. 

The  churches  of  the  village  had  their  origin 
more  or  less  immediately  in  the  early  "Steeple 
Church''  at  Upper  Aquebogue.  The  people  wor- 
shipping there  were  of  various  denominations. 
In  1834  some  of  these  people  formed  a  congre- 
gation at  Riverhead,  holding  services  in  the 
lower  room  of  the  semiinary  building.  In  1833 
the  Methodists,  who  had  long  maintained  a  class, 
organized  a  church,  and  built  a  house  of  wor- 
ship the  next  year,  and  this  was  replaced  by  the 
present  elegant  edifice  in  1870.  In  1839  the 
Swedenboreians  built  a  meeting:  house,  and  the 


RIVERHEAU. 

Congregationalists  builded  in  1841.  The  Roman 
Catholic  church  was  built  in  1870,  and  the  Free 
Methodist  church  in  1872.  The  Episcopalians, 
who  had  formed  a  society  in  1870,  erected  a 
church  building  in  1873. 

The  seminary  referred  to  was  established  in 


1834,  chiefly  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Judge  George  Miller,  and  proved  a  power  for 
good  in  the  advancement  of  female  education. 
The  excellent  power  furnished  by  the  Pe- 
conic  river  began  about  the  middle  of  the  last 
century  to  attract  many  manufacturing  enter- 
prises to  Riverhead — molding  and  planing  mills, 
a  soap  factory,  fertilizer  works  (both  fish  and 
wood  being  the  staple  of  manufacture),  organ- 
building  and  quite  a  number  of  other  industries 
added  to  its  wealth  and  importance.  Such  es- 
tablishments rarely  add  much  to  the  aesthetic 
beauty  of  a  place  and  Riverhead  in  its  march 
of  improvement  might  have  lost  much  of  its  at- 
tractiveness but  for  the  organization,  in  188 1, 
of  the  "Village  Improvement  Society,"  which 
not  only  accomplished  much  and  lasting  good 
by  its  own  direct  work,  but  exerted  a  healthy  in- 
fluence on  the  entire  community. 

In  1868  the  citizens 
showed  their  public  spirit 
and  their  sagacity  by  pur- 
chasing twenty  acres  of 
.Q^round  in  their  village  and 
presenting  the  property  to 
the  Suffolk  County  Agri- 
cultural Society  as  its  per- 
manent headquarters.  Its 
history  from  its  organiza- 
tion more  than  four  decades 
ago  was  written  in  extenso, 
in  1881,  by  Mr.  Nat  W. 
Foster,  who  had  long  been 
its  efficient  secretary,  and 
this  excellent  paper  has 
been  utilized  almost  ver- 
batim in  this  narrative, 
which  has  been  continued 
with  supplementary  matter 
furnished  the  writer  by  Mr. 
Sylvester  M.  Foster,  who 
succeeded  his  honored  father  in  the  secre- 
taryship of  the  society. 

'The  Constitution  of  the  Suffolk  County  Agri- 
cultural Society,  adopted  October  6,  1818,"  states 
the  object  of  the  society  to  "be  the  advancement 
of  agriculture  in  all  its  various  branches,  by  col- 


390 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


lecting  and  circulating  the  knowledge  of  im- 
provements, and  by  bestowing  premiums  for  the 
most  successful  exertions."  It  provides  for  two 
meetings  each  year  at  the  court  house  in  River- 
head,  in  May  and  October ;  article  lo  for  an 
annual  fair  and  cattle  show,  time  and  place  to  be 
a]:)pointed  by  the  managers.  The  officers  were : 
President,  Thomas  S.  Strong;  ist  vice-president, 
Sylvester  Bering;  2nd  vice-president,  Joshua 
Smith;  3d  vice-president,  Nathaniel  Potter;  4th 
vice-president,  John  P.  Osborne;  corresponding 
secretaries,  Charles  H.  Havens  and  Henry  P. 
Bering;  recording  secretary,  Ebenezer  W.  Case; 
treasurer,  Bavid  Warner.  Twelve  managers 
were  also  elected.  We  find  no  mention  of  any 
meetings  or  fairs. 

In  Volume  I  of  the  'Transactions  of  the  New 
York  State  Agricultural  Society"  for  1841  is 
found  the  statement  that  the  Suffolk  County 
Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in  that  year. 
In  the  "Transactions"  for  1842  are  several  state- 
ments by  persons  receiving  premiiums  for-  crops 
from  this  county  society,  of  which  William  W. 
Mills  was  then  president.  In  the  volume  for 
1843  is  a  report  by  William  C.  Stoutj  president, 
stating  that  the  third  annual  fair  was  held  No- 
vember 15,  and  $186.50  paid  in  premiums.  Rich- 
ard B.  Post  was  secretary,  Bavid  Brush,  treas- 
urer, and  there  was  a  manager  from  each  town. 
"The  society  is  not  in  so  flourishing  a  condition 
as  I  would  like  to  see  it,  owing  almost  entirely 
to  the  immense  length  oi  our  county,  thereby  ren- 
dering it  difficult  to  fix  upon  the  proper  place 
at  which  to  hold  an  annual  fair  and  give  general 
satisfaction.  Measures  are  in  progress,  how- 
ever, to  correct  this  evil  by  organizing  two  so- 
cieties." 

In  the  volume  of  1846,  J.  Lawrence  Smith, 
president,  writes  under  date  of  March  20,  1847," 
that  "the  county  society  was  dissolved  in  1843, 
and  a  new  society  formed  from  a  smaller  and 
more  thickly  settled  portion  of  the  county.''  This 
society  was  known  as  the  "Western  Branch  of 
the  Suffoilk  County  Agricultural  Society.''  Its 
records  show  that  fairs  were  held  each  year 
from'  1843  to  1852  (excepting  1844),  respectively 
at  Comae,  Smithtown,  Comae,  Islip,  Huntington, 


Greenport,  Babylon,  Smithtown  and  Hunting- 
ton. The  officers  during  this  period  were  as 
follows,  so  far  as  recorded : 

Presidents— W.  C.  Stout.  1843,  1^45  ;  J-  Law- 
rence Smith,  1846,  1847;  Joshua  B.  Smith,  1848; 
Harvey  W.  Vail,  1849,  1S50;  Edward  Henry 
Smith,  1851  ;  Br.  John  R.  Rhinelander,  1852; 
Edwin  ,-V.  Johnson,  18^53. 

\'ice-Presidents — W.  H.  Ludlow,  1845;  Les- 
ter H.  Bavis,  18^6;  Samuel- N.  Bradhurst.  1847; 
William  Nico'll,  1851  ;  Samuel  L.  Thompson, 
1852,  1853. 

Secretaries--.-Henry  G.  Scudder,  184.^; ;  Na- 
thaniel Smith,  1846,  1847,  1851-  I^r.  Abraham 
G.  Thompson,  1848-50;  Edward  K.  Briar,  1852; 
J.  H.  Carll.  1853. 

Treasurers — R.  B.  Post,  1843  j  Nathaniel 
Smith,  1845;  Richard  Smith,  1846,  1847;  Jarvis 
R.  Mowbray,  1848;  Elbert  Carll,  1849,  1850; 
William  Lawrence,  1851  ;  Bavid  C.  Brush,  1852; 
^^'illiam  H.  Ludlow,  1853. 

At  the  fair  at  Comae,  October  16,  1843,  P^^" 
miums  were  awarded  amounting  to  $110.  At 
Smithtown  in  1845  the  premiums  amounted  to 
$95.  An  address  was  delivered  by  Br.  John 
R.  Rhinelander.  In  1846  the  premiums  were 
$79.  An  address  was  given  by  Samiuel  A. 
Smith. 

At  a  meeting  (date  not  given)  held  between 
the  fairs  of  1846  and  1847  it  was  resolved  "that 
this  society  be  'hereafter  known  and  called  by 
the  name  oi  "The  Suffolk  County  Agricultural 
Society."  At  the  fair  of  1847  mention  is  made 
of  "corn  planted  three  feet,  apart,  four  stalks  in 
each  hill,  showing  that  good  corn  may  be. pro- 
duced on  much  less  ground  than  is  usually  re- 
quired ;"  and  "fine  fiat  turnips,  grown  since  oats 
were. taken  off."  The  address  was  by  William 
PL  Lucllow,  c(nd  the.  premiums  aggregated.  $94. 
"At  Huntington7  October  16,  1848.  -a  new  consti- 
tution (prepared  by  the  secretary,  Br.  A.  C. 
Thompson,  as  instructed  at  a  previous  meeting) 
was  presented  and  adopted.  An  address  by  Br. 
Thompson  "reviewed  the  past  and  present  opera- 
tions of  the  society,  the  benefits  resulting  frorn 
the  formation  of  agricultural  societies,  and  urged 
the  importance  of  system,  of  industry  and  econ- 
omy in  managing  agricultural  matters.*' 


RIVERHEAD. 


391 


The  first  fair  was  held  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county  was  held  at  Greenport,  October  2, 
1849.    The  address  was  by  John  G.  Floyd. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  managers,  April  6,  1850, 
it  was  resolved,  ''on  condition  that  the  residents 
of  Babylon  and  vicinity  pay  or  secure  to  be  paid 
to  the  treasurer  of  bhe  society,  on  or  before  May 
I,  1850,  the  sum  of  $100,  and  that  the  necessary 
cattle  pens  be  erected,  a  suitable  building  or  tent 
be  provided,  and  that  arrangements  be  made  for 
the  conveyance  of  passengers  to  and  fromi  the 
railroad  free  of  all  charge,  that  the  fair  will  be 
held  in  that  village  September  24,  1850."  Also 
resolved,  "in  the  case  tihe  residents  of  Babylon 
and  its  vicinity  do  not  agree  to  the  above  reso- 
lution, the  exhibition  will  be  held  in  Islip  in  case 
the  said  conditions  are  complied  with."  In  addi- 
tion to  those  offered  the  year  before,  premiums 
were  offered  for  crops  grown  on  the  "Plain 
lands."  The  fair  was  held  at  'Babylon.  "F.  M. 
A.  Wicks,  of  Thompson's  Station,  exhibited 
cheese,  pumpkins,  citron,  melons,  fine  potatoes 
and  Isabella  grapes  raised  on  the  'Plain  lands,' 
adjoining  the  Long  Island  railroad  at  Thomp- 
son's Station.  Ira  L'Hommedieu  exhibited  to- 
matoes, blood  beets  and  egg  plants  raised  on 
land  of  Dr.  E.  F  Peck  at  Lake  Road  station. 
These  productions  show  conclusively  the  error 
of  the  idea  that  the  lands  contiguous  to  the  Long 
Island  Railroad  are  worthless."  "The  Society  is 
indebted  to  ^Ir.  Francis  M.  A.  Wicks  and  Dr. 
E.  F.  Pec^k  for  proving  beyond  objection  that 
these  desolate  lands  can  be  made  productive  un- 
der a  proper  course  of  cultivation.  The  per- 
severance shown  by  these  two  gentlemen  is  de- 
serving the  highest  commendation,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  success  may  attend  their  efforts." 
The  annual  address  was  delivered  by  John  Fow- 
ler, Jr. 

At  the  winter  mieeting,  December  4,  1850,  a 
premium  was  awarded  to  Samuel  S.  Thompson, 
of  Setauket,  "for  84^2  bushels,  4  quarts  and  i 
pint  of  Australian  or  'Verplank'  wheat,  raised 
on  two  surveyed  acres,  the  weight  being  63^ 
lbs.  per  bushel;  the  standard  of  60  lbs.  per 
bushel  being  allowed,  the  yield  of  the  crop  was 
89  bushels  2  pecks  on  the  two  acres.     *     "-^^     "^' 


Deducting    the     expenses,    the     net    profit    was 

$341.75-" 

"William  Burling,  of  Babylon,  raised  65 
bushels  of  onions  on  one-eighth  of  an  acre,  be- 
ing at  the  rate  of  520  bushels  per  acre."  The  net 
profit  was  $24.65. 

At  Smithtown,  September  25.  1851,  the  ad- 
dress was  delivered  by  Dr.  Franklin  Tuthill,  of 
Xew  York  City.  Mr.  Brush,  the  treasurer,  dy- 
ing before  the  next  fair,  John  D.  Hewlett  was 
appointed  treasurer  in  his  stead.  At  the  fair  at 
Huntington,  October  21,  1852,  the  address  was 
by  Henry  J.  Scudder,  of  New  York  City.  It  is 
reported  that  another  fair  was  held  in  1852,  at 
Islip,  but  the  record  shows  no  further  meeting 
till  February  i,  1865,  when  the  Society  was  re- 
organized at  Thompson's  Station,  with  the  title 
"Suffolk  County  Agricultural  Society."  The  of- 
ficers elected  for  the  first  year  were  as  follows: 
President,  William  Nicoll,  Huntington;  vice- 
president,  Robert  W.  Pearsall.  Islip;  secretary, 
J.  H.  Doxsee,  Islip;  treasurer,  William  J.  Weeks, 
Brookhaven;  directors,  H.  G.  Scudder,  Hunt- 
ington ;  Caleb  Smith,  Smithtown ;  Robert  O. 
Colt,  Islip;  Thomas  S.  Mount,  Brookhaven;  D. 
H.  Osborne,  Riverhead;  David  G.  Floyd,  South- 
old. 

The  first  fair  after  the  reorganization  was 
held  at  Riverhead,  September  2/  and  28,  1865. 
"The  board  of  managers  are  fully  satisfied  with 
the  results  of  the  fair,  both  in  the  interest  mani- 
fested by  the  people  of  the  county  and  the  pe- 
cuniary result  arising  therefrom."  The  receipts 
were  $1,600,  and  the  disbursements  $800.  From 
this  time  the  fair  has  been  held  each  year  at 
Riverhead,  excepting  1867,  when  it  was  at  Green- 
port. 

In  1866  the  question  of  permanent  location 
came  up  and  was  discussed  and  laid  over;  also 
"the  propriety  of  uniting  with  Queens  county 
to  form  a  Long  Island  Agricultural  Society." 
October  29,  1867,  the  managers  accepted  from 
the  citizens  of  Riverhead  a  deed  donating  to  the 
Suffolk  County  Agricultural  Society  ''lands'  ly- 
ing near  and  westerly  of  the  Riverhead  Cem- 
etery, for  fair  grounds,  with  -this  condition-^i'f 


392 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


the  Society  S'hall  fail  for  two  consecutive  years 
to  hold  a  fair  thereon,  the  grounds  shall  revert 
to  the  donors."  The  grounds  are  pleasantly  lo- 
cated, conveniently  near  to  the  village  and  to 
the  depot  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  and  of 
very  ready  access  from  all  directions. 

The  matter  of  fitting  up  the  grounds  was 
referred  to  the  President,  Vice-President  and 
Treasurer,   and   it   was   "resolved   that  the  sum 


tee  that  supervised  the  erection  of  the  Exhibition 
Hall.  The  architect  was  George  H.  Skidmore, 
of  Riverhead.  The  contract  for  building  was 
awarded  to  Fielder,  Skidmore  &  Company.  The 
building  was  completed  in  time  for  the  next  an- 
nual fair,  October  6,  7  and  8,  1869.  In  the  even- 
ing of  the  6t'h  a  public  meeting  was  held  in  the 
court  house,  and  papers  were  read  by  Robert 
\Y.  Pearsall,  of  Brentwood,  and  Hon.  Henry  P. 


GOVERNOR'S  DAY  AT  RIVERHEAD. 

(By  Permission  of  Long:  Island  Railroad  Company.) 


of  $200  be  appropriated  to  pay  the  Treasurer 
for  his  extra  services  in  behalf  of  the  Society." 
The  first  fair  on  the  new  grounds  was  held  Sep- 
tember 30,  and  October  i  and  2,  1868.  Again 
$200  was  paid  to  the  Treasurer  for  services. 

B.  D.  Carpenter,  Step'hen  C.  Rogers,  Joshua 
L.  Wells,  John  S.  Marcy,  William  Nicoll  and 
Robert  W.  Pearsall  were  the  building  commit- 


Hedges,  of  Bridgehampton,  the  latter  upon 
"Fertilizers  and  Their  Application."  "Mr.  Will- 
iam Nicoll  in  a  few  appropriate  remarks  called 
attention  to  the  Exhibition  Hall,  and,  with  a 
view  of  liquidating  the  debt  incurred  by  its  erec- 
tion, he  moved  that  a  committee  be  appointed 
for  soliciting  life  members  of  the  Society  upon 
the  payment  of  ten  dollars  each.     The  motion 


RIVERHEAD. 


393 


having  been  passed  and  the  committee  appointed, 
Mr.  Nicall  manifested  his  earnestness  in  the 
movement  by  the  payment  of  seventy  dollars, 
making  his  wife  and  children  life  members. 
Others  immediately  followed  the  example  till 
.$400  had  been  contributed."  The  annual  meet- 
ing in  the  evening  of  the  7th  was  addressed  by 
Mr.  NicoU. 

On  June  22  and  2^,  1870,  occurred  the  first 
horticultural  exhibition,  a  festival  and  reunion, 
which  was  very  successful,  bringing  together  a 
very  large  and  pleasant  company.  Others  were 
held  June  14,  1871.  and  June  19,  1872.  There 
being  few  if  any  professional  florists  in  the 
county  and  the  strawberry  growers  being  par- 
ticularly busy  marketing  their  fruit,  it  was  found 
to  be  impracticable  to  attempt  at  present  more 
than  one  fair  each  year. 

In  1876,  besides  the  usual  annual  meeting 
on  Wednesday  evening  during  the  fair,  meetings 
were  held  at  the  court  house  on  Tuesday  and 
Thursday  evenings  for  discussion  of  matters  of 
interest  to  the  county  and  its  people ;  but  the  at- 
tendance was  so  small  that  no  encouragement 
was  felt  to  repeat  the  experiment. 

During  this  year  the  grounds  were  improved 
by  planting  trees,  which  were  donated  to  the  So- 
ciety by  Isaac  Hicks  &  Sons,  of  Old  Westbury, 
Queens  county ;  P.  H.  Foster,  of  Babylon ;  E.  F. 
Richardson,  of  Brentwood,  and  Israel  Peck,  of 
Southold.  Adjoining  Exhibition  Hall  was  built 
a  cloak  or  package  room,  which  proved  a  great 
convenience  to  visitors  and  a  source  of  profit 
to  the  society.  New  features  were  introduced 
into  the  exhibition,  viz. :  Centennial  relics  and 
a  display  of  antiquities.  This  being  the  Cen- 
tennial year  this  feature  seemied  to  touch  every 
heart,  bringing  out  a  warm  response  throughout 
the  covmty,  and,  not  stopping  with  the  county 
limits,  was  similarly  responded  to  in  several 
other  counties  as  a  striking  feature  in  their  fairs. 
The  suggestion,  coming  as  it  did  from  this  coun- 
ty, at  once  introduced  this  society  to  many  sister 
societies  that  before  hardly  knew  of  it.  A  dis- 
play of  plans  for  farm  buildings,  etc.,  by  Suffolk 
county  architects  (which  has  been  of  much  serv- 


ice by  favorably  introducing  to  visiting  strang- 
ers such  architects  as  exhibited,  and  also  b\' 
elevating  the  standard  of  architecture  in  the 
county)  and  a  collection  of  foreign  curiosities 
were  very  successful  in  themselves  and  added 
much  to  the  exhibit.  A  new  and  notable  feature 
of  the  fair  was  the  gathering  of  the  children  of 
the  public  schools  of  the  county ,^teachers  and 
pupils  being  admitted  free  on  one  specified  day, — 
the  effect  of  which  was  so  gratifying  that  it  has 
become  one  of  the  fixtures  of  each  succeeding 
fair,  thereby  cultivating  in  the  rising  generation 
an  interest  in  the  Society.  This  year,  too,  more 
largely  than  ever  before,  was  the  power  of  the 
county  press  shown  in  arousing  throCighout  the 
county  a  new  and  general  interest  in  the  Society, 
and  a  strong  desire  to  attend  the  fair.  Alto- 
gether, notwithstanding  the  greater  attraction 
offered  by  the  Centennial  Exhibition  at  Phila- 
delphia, this  year  seems  to  have  been  a  turning 
point  in  the  history  of  the  Society.  Partly  from 
the  geographical  situation  of  the  county,  partly 
from  the  difficulty  experienced  in  reaching  the 
fair  with  articles  for  exhibition,  and  from  vari- 
ous other  reasons,  a  feeling  of  more  than  indif- 
ference seemed  very  largely  to  have  possessed 
the  people  of  both  east  and  west.  This  now  gave 
place  to  a  desire  to  promote  the  success  of  the 
local  fair. 

In  1877  the  new  features  of  the  preceding 
year  were  retained  and  a  new  departure,  an  "ex- 
hibit of  school  work,"  was  introduced,  whereby 
the  public  schools  became  interested  in  the  So- 
ciety ;  also  exhibits  of  minerals  and  Indian  relics. 
This  fair  was  made  more  attractive  by  a  fine 
display  from  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society 
of  Brooklyn,  through  the  kindness  of  Elias 
Lewis,  Jr.  The  attendance  was  larger,  by  rea- 
son of  the  improved  railroad  connections  and 
facilities,  whereby  people  were  brought  from  all 
parts  of  the  island  and  returned  at  reduced  rates. 
Not  only  the  Society,  but  many  people  through- 
out the  coimty.  were  much  benefited  by  a  dona- 
tion from  J.  N.  Hallock,  formerly  of  Suffolk 
county,  then  publisher  of  "The  Christian  at 
Work,"  New  York  City,  of  subscriptions  amount- 


394 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


ing  to  $ioo,  which  were  lai'gely  used  asi  pre- 
miums. This  year  $600  was  paid  on  the  debt, 
and  in  1878  $400. 

In  1879  more  new  features  were  introduced 
- — displays  of  decorated  pottery,  rare  china,  na- 
tive woods,  and  leaves  and  nuts  of  trees  grow- 
ing in  the  county.  Among  the  cattle  exhibited 
were  a  pair  of  immense  oxen,  weighing  over 
4,600  pounds,  exhibited  by  Elbert  Rose,  of 
Bridgehampton,  and  some  superior  Jerseys  from' 
the  well-known  stock-yards  of  William  Crozier 
of  Xorthport.  Point  judging  on  cattle  and 
horses  was  now  introduced.  The  exhibit  of 
school  \\-ork,  first  introduced  in  1877,  showed 
gratifying 'progress.  The  hall  was  made  more 
cheerful  by  the  exhibit  of  a  large  number  of 
the  bills  and  posters  of  the  different  county  so- 
cieties of  the  State.  The  debt  was  reduced  $250 
this  year. 

A  very  important  feature  of  the  fair  of  1880 
were  the  addresses  of  P  T.  Barnum,  the  re- 
nowned showm'an,  at  the  hall  in  the  afternoon 
and  at  the  court  house  in  the  evening,  replete 
with  humor  and  wisdom.  Some  very  fine  Early 
Rose  potatoes,  that  took  the  first  prize,  were 
grown  in  beach  sand.  One  man  reported  a  crop 
of  500  bushels  of  potatoes  raised  on  an  ■acre  of 
ground.  This  year  the  debt  was  again  reduced 
$250. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  managers  held 
at  Riverhead,  January  2.^,  1881,  Austin  Corbin, 
the  newly  elected  president  and_  receiver  of  the 
Long  Island  Railroad  Company,  and  several  of 
the  directors  were  present;  also  reporters  from 
the  city  papers.  Mr.  Corbin  and  others  ex- 
plained the  condition  of  the  road  and  the  com- 
pany and  their  plans  and  intentions  for  the  fu- 
ture. !Mr.  Corbin,  as  a  Suffolk  county  farmer, 
made  a  donation  to  the  Society  oi  $250. 

Before  the  fair,  the  railroad  company  of- 
fered $500  in  special  premiums  for  stock,  grains, 
fruit,  etc.,  which  greatly  stimulated  the  exhib- 
itors and  added  much  to  the  interest  of  the  ex- 
hibition. H.  W.  Maxwell,  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  railroad  company,  offered  five  gold  medals, 
of  the  total  value  of  $100,  to  be  competed  for 
•during  the  fair  by  the  pupils  of  the  public  schools 


of  the  county,  in  reading,  arithmetic,  United 
States  history,  geography  and  English  language. 
Three  of  these  were  taken  by  pupils  of  the  Green- 
port  school,  one  by  a  pupil  at  Yaphank,  and  one 
by  a  member  of  the  school  at  Patchogue.  Dur- 
ing this  year  the  grounds  were  improved  by 
planting  more  trees.  The  addresses  at  the  fair 
were  on  fish- culture,  out  of  the  regular  course^ 
but  of  great  interest  to  the  whole  county.  The 
debt  was  still  further  reduced  $500. 

Again  a  new  departure :  The  officers  of  the 
Society,  not  content  with  showing  their  coun- 
ty's products  to  those  that  might  come  to  the 
county  fair,  proposed  to  the  farmers  and  others 
of  the  county  an  exhibit  of  their  good  things 
at  the  State  fair  at  Elmira,  which  exhibit,  al- 
though an  experiment,  was  very  encouraging 
in  its  results,  the  first  premium  ($25)  being 
awarded  to  R.  O.  Colt,  of  Bay  Shore,  for  the 
best  collection  of  vegetables,  besides  other  pre- 
miums to  different  exhibitors ;  while  a  new 
wagon  gear  invented  and  exhibited  by  C.  j\I. 
Blydenburgh,  of  Riverhead,  attracted  great  at- 
tention, as  did  also  the  wood  of  which  the  wagon 
was  built — Suffolk  county  oak.  The  exhibit 
brought  the  county  into  very  prominent  and  fa- 
vorable notice. 

For  want  of  space,  the  narrative  of  progress 
from  year  to  year  must  here  be  curtailed.  Suffi- 
cient to  say  that  with  the  year  1881  the  Society 
had  practically  reached  its  present  scope.  Since 
that  time  the  improvement  has  been  in  the  way 
of  erecting  additional  buildings  and  beautify- 
ing the  grounds  and  increasing  the  division  of 
classes  of  exhibited  goods,  with  an  accompany- 
ing increase  of  premiums  paid.  The  Society 
held  its  fiftieth  annual  exhibition  (dating  from 
the  reorganization)  on  September  16,.  17,  18  and 
19,  1902.  The  total  disbursements  were  $10,- 
^2T.j6.  Of  this  amount,  $2,597.27  was  for  per- 
manent premiums,  and  $2,021.00  was  for  pre- 
miums. The  exhibits  were  classified  as  fol- 
lows: Class  I,  Cattle;  Class  II,  Horses;  Class 
III,  Sheep;  Class  IV,  Swine;  Class  V,  Poultry-; 
"Class  VI,  Domestic:  Class  \TI,  Grains;  Class 
VIII,  Roots  and  \'egetables ;  Class  IX,  Fruit; 
Class  X,  Preserves,  Honey,  etc.;  Class  XI,  Im- 


RIVERHEAD. 


895 


plements  and  Utensils ;  Class  XII,  Carriages  and 
Harness:  Class  XIII,  Flowers;  Class  XIV,  Do- 
mestic ]\Ianiifacture  and  Enterprise;  Class  XV, 
Domestic  ^lanufacture,  etc.;  Class  XVI,  Needle 
and  Artistic  Work;  Class  XMI,  Paintings,  etc.; 
Class  X\'III,  Curiosities  (including  foreign 
curios,  collections  of  natural  objects,  of  the  nat- 
ural history  of  the  county,  of  Indian  relics,  of 
minerals,  of  war  relics,  etc.)  ;  Class  XIX,  Dis- 
cretionary; Class  XX.  School  Work  or  Educa- 
tional, and  Class  XXI,  Children's  Department. 
In  1902  the  Society  numbered  about  425. life 
mentbers,  of  whom  a  number  dated  back  in  mem- 
bership to  1859.  The  officers  were  Henry  A. 
Reeves,  of  Greenport,  president;  William  B. 
Dayton,  of  Port  Jefferson,  vice-president; 
George  W.  Cooper,  of  Riverhead,  treasurer; 
Sylvester  M.  Foster,  of  Riverhead,  secretary; 
and  the  following  named  directors :  Nathan  H. 
Dayton,  Easthampton ;  Walter  L.  Jagger,  South- 
ampton; David  Carll,  Huntington;  Henry  A. 
Brown,  Wyandance ;  William  O.  Davids,  Pe- 
conic;  and  Edward  Thompson,  Northport. 

At  some  future  day,  the  historian  who  is  m'an 
of  intelligence  sufficient,  and  who  is  possessed  of 
such  store  of  this  world's  goods  that  he  may 
give  his  life  time  tO'  so  pleasant  a  task,  un- 
annoyed  by  the  "demnition  grind"  of  food  earn- 
ing alone,  will  .supplement  such  a  narrative  as 
this  out  of  the  excellent  material  now  being  ac- 
cumulated by  the  Suffolk  County  Historical  So- 
ciety, composed  of  resident  gentlemen  who  have 
entered  upon  their  work  with  hearty  enthusiasm 
growing  out  of  their  pride  in  the  accomplish- 
ments of  honored  ancestors.  It  may  be  said 
here  that,  rich  as  is  the  collection  already  made, 
those  engaged  in  the  work  would  seem  to  have 
merely  m'ade  a  beginning,  so  fruitful  is  the  field, 
and  so  many  are  the  unsuspected  finds  of  ancient 
documents  and  inanimate  relics  which  have  a 
voice  of  their  own  after  all. 

The  splendid  organization  to  which  our 
reference  has  been  made,  and  which  has  al- 
ready made  for  itself  a  prominent  place  among 
the  historical  organizations  of  the  entire  land, 
owes  its  founding  to  a  meeting  of  the  board  of 


trustees  of  the  Riverhead  Savings  Bank,  in  1886. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  E.  Herrick;  of  Boston, 
a  native  of  Suffolk  county,  was  a  guest  at  the 
usual  luncheon,  which  was  a  feature  of  the  trus- 
tees' meetings,  and  in  the  course  of  a  most  in- 
teresting address  suggested  the  formation  of  an 
organization  which  should  gather  up  the  records 
of  the  past  and  preserve  them.  'Too  nmny  of 
these  have  already  been  lost,"  he  said,  "because 
such  an  institution  has  not  existed.  Suffolk 
county  may  for  all  time  rejoice  in  her  illus- 
trious citizens.  \\'ho  would  forget  Captain 
Mercator  Cooper,  of  Southampton,  who,  in  the 
whaleship  'ALanhattan,'  of  Sag  Harbor,  nrst 
carried  the  United  States  flag  into  Japanese  wa- 
ters, at  the  same  time  returning  to  their  homes 
more  than  a  score  of  shipwrecked  sailors  he 
had  rescued  ?  ^  Who  would  be  willing  to  lose 
record  of  the  illustrious  patriotism  and  devotion 
of  General  Xathaniel  WoodhuU  or  of  the  valu- 
able services  of  Ezra  L'Hommedieu  and  many 
others  ?  Shall  the  story  of  their  brave  and  heroic 
lives  be  lost,  or  shall  they  be  saved  to  inspire 
others  to  good  works?  Why,  then,  may  not 
something  at  once  be  done?" 

Before  the  close  of  the  year  the  Suffolk 
County  Historical  Society  was  fully  organized, 
and  the  material  for  our  account  of  its  progress 
has  been  contributed  for  this  work  by  Air.  Nat 
W.  Foster,  now  its  president. 

The  early  members  were:  Hon.  James  H. 
Tuthill,  George  F.  Stackpole,  Nat  W.  Foster, 
Daniel  W,  Reeve,  William  C,  Ostrander,  Ahaz 
Bradley,  Professor  Charles  S.  Stone,  the  Rev, 
Samuel  Whaley,  Benjamin  K.  Payne,  Dr,  How- 
ard H.  Young,  \\'illiam  R.  Duvall,  Holmes  W. 
Swezey,  Henry  W.  Halsey,  James  L.  Millard, 
John  Walsh,  Jr.,  Gilbert  H.  Conklin  and  Samuel 
Tuthill,  of  Riverhead;  Wilmbt  M.  Smith,  Hon. 
John  S.  Havens,  \Mlliam  H.  Newins  and  George 
AI.  Ackerly,  of  Patchogue ;  Joseph  H.  Petty,  of 
Amityville;  Stuart  T.  Terry,  the  Rev.  Epher 
Whitaker,  D.  D.,  and  N.  Hubbard  Cleveland,  of 
Southold;  Richard  AI.  Bayles,  of  Middle  Island; 
Salem  H.  Wales,  of  New  York,  with  a  coun- 
try residence  at  Southampton;  James  Slater,  of 
Central  Islip ;  Henry  A.  Brown,  of  West  Deer 


396 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Park;  A.  M.  Salmon,  of  Peconic;  Theodore  W. 
Smith,  of  Smithtown;  Benjamin  T.  Robbins,  of 
Northport;  Charles  E.  Shepard,  of  Huntington; 
Sidney  H.  Ritch,  of  Port  Jefferson;  and  W.  W. 
Thompson,  of  Orient. 

The  officers  for  the  first  year 
were:  President,  James  H.  Tut- 
hill,  Riverhead ;  vice-presidents, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Epher  \A'hitaker, 
Southold,  and  Joseph  H.  Petty, 
Amityville ;  recording  secretary, 
Stuart  T.  Terry,  Southold :  cor- 
responding secretary,  Richard 
M.  Bayles,  Middle  Island;  treas- 
urer, James  H.  Pierson.  South- 
ampton ;  custodian,  George  F. 
Stackpole,  Riverhead. 

Mr.  Tuthill  was  re-elected 
president  until  his  death,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1894.  At  the  next  annual 
meeting  after  Mr.  Tuthill's  death, 
January  20,  1894,  Nat  W.  Foster 
was  elected  as  his  successor,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Whitaker  declining  the 
position  and  continuing  as  vice- 
president  ,  along  with  Augustus 
Floyd,  of  New  York,  and  all 
those  named  are  ;^et  serving  in  the  positions  with 
which  their  names  respectively  appear.  At  the 
evening  meeting  special  services,  memorial  of  the 
life  of  the  late  president  were  held,  addressed  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Whitaker,  the  Rev.  William  L  Chal- 
mers, B.  K.  Payne  and  Professor  J.  M.  Belford. 

In  1895  Orville  B.  Aokerly,  now  of  New 
York  City,  was  made  corresponding  secretary, 
and  he  is  yet  serving  in  that  capacity. 

In  1896  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Stonelake,  of 
Aquebogue,  was  elected  recording  secretary,  and 
continued  so  to  act  until  suddenly  called  out  of 
the  State,  when,  at  the  next  annual  meeting, 
February  15,  1898,  Miss  Ruth  H.  Tuthill,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  president,  was  chosen  for  that  po- 
sition. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Society  held  on 
July  I,  1893,  the  Riverhead  Savings  Bank  build- 
ing at  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Griffing 
avenue,    was    purchased  for  $4,000.     One-half 


was  paid  and  $2,000  remained  on  bond  and  mort- 
gage. This  mortgage  has  since  been  reduced 
to  $1,300.  The  building  thus  acquired  had  his- 
torical associations.  It  had  been  erected  by  Suf- 
folk county  for  the  safe  keeping  of  its  priceless 


HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  BUILDING. 

records,  the  earliest  being  far  older  than  the 
county  itself.  It  was  designed  also  for  the  use 
of  the  county  clerk,  and  was  occupied  by  one 
officer  after  another  for  a  series  of  years.  The 
building  was  eminently  suitable  for  the  uses  and 
purposes  of  the  Historical  Society. 

Addresses  have  been  delivered  at  the  public 
meetings  of  the  Society  as  follows: 

June,  1887.— The  Rev.  Dr.  Whitaker,  "Union 
of  Church  and  State,  Past  and  Present." 

June,  1888.— John  R.  Reid,  "Historic  Stud- 
ies." 

October,  1889.— Henry  P.  Hedges,  "Priority 
of  Settlement,  Southold  and  Southampton." 

October,  1890. — James  H.  Tuthill,  "Proper 
Work  of  an  Historical  Society,  and  How  It 
Should  be  Done.'' 

February,  1893.— The  Rev.  W.  I.  Chalmers. 
"Urging  Deeper  Interest  in  Historical  Work  and 
the  Suffolk  Countv  Historical   Society." 

February,    1895.— The    Rev.    Dr.    Whitaker, 


RIVERHEAD. 


397 


*Thc  Rise  of  Woman;"  District  Attorney  W. 
H.  Jaycox,  "The  V'alue  of  Historical  Knowl- 
edge;" George  F.  Stackpole,  "What  May  be 
Done  in  the  Future  in  the  Way  of  Developing 
Long  Island;"  The  Rev.  R.  M.  Edwards,  "Im- 
pressions of  Long  Island." 

Februar}^  i8q6, — William  Wallace  Tooker, 
"Cockinoo  de  Long  Island;"  Edward  P.  Buffett, 
Jr,  "Fort  Salonga." 

February,  1897. — Augustus  Floyd,  "Suffolk 
in  Revolutionary  Times,"  The  Rev.  A.  C.  Stone- 
lake,  "The  Collections  of  the  Society." 

February,  1898. — R.  C.  AlcCormick,  "Value 
of  Local  Historical  Societies."  William  S.  Pelle- 
treau,  "Richard  Smith,  of  Smithtown." 

February,  1900, — The  Rev.  Epher  Whitaker, 
"Suffolk  County's  Last  Half-Century." 

February,  1901. — St.  Clair  McKelway,  LL. 
D.,  "Makers  of  Modern  America." 

The  objects  ai  the  Society  as  stated  in  Ar- 
ticle II  of  its  constitution  read,  "To  foster  the 
historical  spirit  in  thought,  study  and  purpose; 
to  encourage  historical  and  antiquarian  research ; 
to  disseminate  historical  knowledge ;  to  collect 
and  preserve  such  autOigraphs  and  other  manu- 
scripts, maps,  plans,  charts,  paintings,  engrav- 
ings and  other  pictorial  representations,  books, 
pamphlets,  newspapers,  curiosities  and  antiqui- 
ties of  every  kind  as  may  have  been  or  shall  be 
the  products  of  Suffolk  county,  or  of  its  several 
towns,  some  of  which  are  the  oldest  English 
settlements  and  religious  and  civil  organizations 
within  the  bounds  of  the  State  of  New  York; 
and  also  to  discover,  procure  and  preserve  what- 
soever material  of  any  kind  may  illustrate  the 
history  of  its  several  towns." 

Four  years  ago  the  Society  determined  to 
make  special  provision  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
and  the  benign  influence  of  prominent  and  wor- 
thy persons  who  had  passed  from  sight.  For 
this  purpose  it  instituted  the  order  of  "In  Memo- 
riam  Members."  A  person  is  made  a  member 
of  this  order  by  the  gift  of  $100  to  the  society. 
The  money  has  been  used  so  far  to  reduce  the 
mortgage  on  the  Society's  real  estate. 

The  name  and  date  of  birth  of  each  Memo- 
riam  Member  will  be  annually  and  perpetually 
printed  in  the  Year  Book  of  the  Society.  The 
Year  Book  contains  also  the  list  of  the  officers, 


the  honorary  and  life  members  of  the  Society, 
the  acknowledgments  of  gifts  to  the  Society, 
and  generally  the  address  of  the  president,  or  of 
some  other  person  invited  by  him,  delivered  at 
the  Society's  annual  meeting. 

The  Year  Book  is  renewed  annually.  It 
meets  the  eyes  of  intelligent  people  in  all  parts 
of  the  county  and  far  beyond  its  bounds.  It 
goes  into  the  homes  of  men,  and  into  the  great 
libraries  of  universities,  historical  institutions 
and  genealogical  societies ;  and  it  remains  there, 
and  is  thus  seen  and  consulted  in  many  places. 

This  memorial  is  thus  perpetually  renewed, 
and,  unlike  a  memorial  window  or  tablet,  it  is 
seen  in  many  places.  It  is  both  unpretentious  and 
effective  for  its  high  and  laudable  purpose. 

The  society  proposed  that  its  first  president 
and  its  first  recording  secretary  should  have  the 
honor  of  standing  at  the  head  of  the  roll  of  the 
In  Memoriam  ^Members.  They  were  forthwith 
made  members  by  those  who  best  knew  their 
worth  and  excellencies.  Thus  the  roll  begins 
with  the  names  of  James  H.  Tuthill  and  Stuart 
T.  Terry.  The  first  was  a  legislator  of  the  Senate 
and  a  Surrogate  of  the  county,  as  well  a&  promi- 
nent for  a  score  of  years  in  the  religious  and 
benevolent  organizations  of  the  county.  The 
sQcond  was  known  on  account  of  his  interest  in 
genealogical  affairs,  concerns  of  business  hav- 
ing fiduciary  qualities,  and  efficiency  and  promi- 
nence in  religious  bodies  as,  for  instance,  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  LTnited  States 
of  America. 

The  next  name  on  the  roll  of  this  memorial 
order  is  that  of  WilHam  Sidney  Smith  of  Long- 
wood.  He  was  distinguished  by  his  attractive 
person  and  manners ;  by  his  prominence  among 
the  descendants  of  Chief  Justice  WilHam  Smith, 
the  "Tangier"  Smith ;  by  the  wide  extent  of  his 
real  estate ;  by  his  ownership  of  half  of  the  Great 
South  Bay;  by  his  public  services  as  a  legis- 
lator of  the  State  and  the  treasurer  of  the  coun- 
ty ;  by  the  manifestation  of  his  public  spirit  on  all 
fit  occasions,  and  by  his  winsome  courtesy  and 
high  moral  character. 

Another  worthy  name  on  the  memoriam  roll 


398 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


is  that  of  Lewis  A.  Edwards,  whose  wise  and 
patriotic  service  in  the  Senate  of  the  State  oi 
New  York  was  in  accord  with  the  excellence  of 
his  whole  hfe  as  a  generous  citizen  and  Chris- 
tian gentleman.  He  was  held  in  high  esteem  not 
only  as  a  ship  owner  and  manufacturer,  but  as 
a  capable  civilian  and  a  generous  man  in  all  the 
relations  of  life. 

The  Society,  since  its  organization  in  1886, 
lias  gathered  a  large  quantity  of  valuable  his- 
torical matter,  and  every  year  adds  greatly  to 
these  treasures,  which  include  books,  maps,  plots 
of  villages,  deeds  and  surveys  of  land,  portraits, 
genealogical,  ethnological,  archaeological,  anti- 
quarian, biographical,  genealogical,  and  other  col- 
lections of  kindred  character.  These  treasures 
already  include  extremely  valuable  unique  maps 
and  rare  and  anciently  printed  books,  as  well  as 
modern  volumes  and  paintings.  Among  the 
valuable  historical  works  are  the  following: 
Records  of  Boston  and  New  Haven,  the  former 
comprising  twenty-seven  volumes,  showing  the 
origin  of  many  I^ng  Island  families,  presented 
by  Orville  B.  Ackerly;  Mailman's  ^'History  of 
Shelter  Island,"  "Early  Long  Island  Wills,"  by 
W.  S.  Pelletreau;  ali  the  town  records  of  the 
several  Long  Island  towns  as  published  by  the 
town  authorities;  Thompson's  "History  of  Long 
Island;"  genealogical  and  biographical  record 
of  New  York;  and  a  copy  of  the  laws  of  the 
Col(.>ny  of  New  York  from  1691  to  1799,  pre- 
sented by  Elbert  Carll  Livingston,  containing  in 
its  fly-leaves  a  family  register.  (The  first  death 
recorded  on  the  fly-leaf  in  manuscript  is  that 
o-f  "Captain  Jacob  Conklin  in  December  ye  8 
1754  on  the  1st  day  of  the  week  at  9  o'clock. at 

night.'O 

Among  the  rare  documents  and  publications 
are :  Early  Long  Island  wills  of  Suffolk  coun- 
ty, known  as  the  Lester  Will  Book ;  manuscript 
copy  of  the  roster  of  soldiers  stationed  at  Sag 
Harbor  under  command  of  Major  Benjamin 
Case  in  war  of  1812;  proceedings  O'f  the  New 
England  Historic  Genealogical  Society  and  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  all  pre- 
sented by  Orville  B.  Ackerly;  papers  in  the  case 
of   trustees   of   Soutliampton    against   Frederick 


H.  Betts,  giving  a  full  history  of  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  town  and  the  partitioning  of  the 
lands  and  meadow  rights;  unbound  journal  of 
New  York  Assembly  Journal,  1796,  and  Senate, 
1806;  the  origin  and  meaning  of  English  and 
Dutch  surnames  of  New  York  State  families; 
list  of  ancestors  and  descendants  of  John  Howell 
Wells;  seventy  old  almanacs  between  the  years 
181 1  and  1896;  and  "Long  Island  Journal  of 
Philosophy  and  Cabinet  of  Varieties,"  published 
at  Huntington  in  1825. 

Among  the  curiosities  is  a  framed  commis- 
sion by  the  Postmaster  General  to  Elihu  S. 
Miller  as  postmaster  at  Wading  River,  February 
I,  1869,  to  his  father,  Sylvester  Miller,  July  30, 
1844,  and  to  his  grandfather,  Zophar  ]\Iiller, 
February  26,  1825. 

A  letter  from  the  Postmaster  General  to 
Congress  transmitting  a  statement  of  the  net 
amount  of  postage  accruing  at  each  postoffice 
in  the  country  for  the  year  ending  March  31, 
1826,  shows  the  following  to  have  been  the  re- 
ceipts of  various  Long  Island  offices :  Jamaica, 
$164.27 ;  Hempstead,  $36.57 ;  Huntington, 
$64.50;  Suffolk  Court  House  (now  Riverhead), 
$29.40;  Wading  River,  $2.74;  Bridgehampton, 
$50.22;  Cold  Spring,  $18.63;  Cutchogue,  $10.20; 
Deer  Park,  $7.37;  Easthampton,  $59.33;  Islip, 
$20.40;  Jericho,  $18.07;  Jerusalem,  $1.27;  ^iatti- 
tuck,  $18.86;  Oyster  Bay,  $23;  Oyster  Bay 
South,  $7.39;  Oyster  Pond  (Orient),  $25.32; 
Patchogue,  $24.31;  Sag  Harbor,  $117.06;  Se- 
tauket,  $28.46;  Smithtown,  $56.16;  Southamp- 
ton, $47.62;  Southold,  $35.35;  and  Westhamp- 
ton,  $9.61. 

Among  the  other  interesting  documents  are 
the  records  of  the  First  Strict  Congregational 
convention,  held  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Young,  Riverhead,  August  26,  1791 :  The  Rev. 
Daniel  Young,  pastor  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  of  Riverhead,  organized  March  26, 
1758;  the  Rev.  Jacob  Corwin,  the  Rev.  Noa'h 
Hallock,  Bridgehampton,  and  Deacons  Daniel 
Terry  and  Richard  Robinson,  delegates  from 
the  churches  at  Riverhead  and  Wading  River; 
the  Rev.  Jacob  Corwin,  pastor  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Church,  founded  at  Aquebogue, 


RIVERHEAD. 


399 


or  Eas't  Riverhead,  in  1787,  and  the  Rev.  Paul 
Cuffee,  a  native  Indian  of  the  Shinnecock  tribe, 
located  at  Canoe  Place,  '"a  man  of  great  influence 
and  reputation."  His  grave  is  prominent  to-day 
in  the  cemetery  east  of  Good  Ground  Station. 
The  appointment  of  Calvin  Cook  as  ensign  of 
"the  regiment  of  militia  in  Suffolk  County," 
signed  by  Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  is  prominently 
displayed.  There  is  an  interesting  exhibit  of 
flax  seed,  a  sheaf  of  the  flax  raised  in  Suffolk 
county,  .unbetchelled  and  betchelled  flax,  thread 
and  linen  cloth.  There  are  also  shown"  the  vari- 
ous old-fashioned  flax  machines,  including  flax 
hackler,  flax  wheel  and  swift  reel.  A  relic  of 
historical  interest  .is  a  piece  of  cedar  from  the 
British  sloop  of  war  "Sylph,"  built  in  Bermuda 
in  181 1  and  wrecked  on  Southampton  Bar  on 
January  17,  181 1,  when,  out  of  a  crew  of  121, 
115  were  lost,  including  Captain  George  Dickens, 
commanding  officer ;  Lieutenants  George  Butt 
and  H.  S.  Alarsham,  Surgeon  James  Still  and 
Thomas  Atwell,  master.  This  piece  of  cedar 
was  part  of  a  fence  post  underground  on  a  farm 
at  Quogue  for  seventy-five  years,  and  is  still 
as  fragrant  as  ever.  Among  the  Indian  relics  are 
arrow  heads,  stone  axes,  hoes,  tomahawks,  mor- 
tars, found  mainly  in  Southold  and  Southamp- 
ton. Some  of  these  were  taken  from  a  well 
twenty  feet  underground,  and  the  stone  was  of 
a  character  such  as  is  found  only  in  the  out- 
cropping ledges  of  ^Massachusetts.  It  puzzles 
scientists  to  know  how  four  of  the  preglacial 
stone  arrow  and  spear  heads  came  to  be  found 
on  Long  Island  and  at  such  a  depth  below  the 
surface,  where  they  have  evidently  been  buried 
for  ages  past.  Wampum  and  other  jMontauk  In- 
dian relics  are  also  displa}ed  here.  An  old 
plow  with  a  wooden  mould  board,  used  in  the 
town  of  Southold  a  hundred  years  ago,  and  sev- 
eral British  cannon  balls  fired  over  to  Long  Isl- 
and from  British  men-of-war  of  1812-15  and 
picked  up  by  the  farmers  in  their  fields  are 
shown. 

Among  other  curiosities  are :  Curious  fish 
found  in  the  waters  of  Suffolk  county;  ''shin- 
plasters"  issued  by  local  merchants  in  the  war 


of  the  Rebellion ;  old  merchandise  bills  and  re- 
ceipts; old  State  bank  and  Continental  bills; 
piece  of  first  flat  rail  used  on  the  Long  Island 
Railroad  in  1836,  size  of  rail  two  and  one-half 
by  three-fourths,  ordinary  tire  iron,  also  the 
chain  used  for  holding  the  ends  of  the  rails ; 
ivory  paper-cutter  used  by  Daniel  Webster  and 
presented  to  him  by  Charles  Taylor,  of  Peconic ; 
photographs  of  the  exhibits  at  the  Suffolk  Coun- 
ty Agricultural  Society's  fair,  by  H.  B.  Fuller- 
ton;  a  bear's  skull,  found  at  Great  Pond  many 
years  ago ;  a  ten-pound  piece  of  meteor  that  came 
down  on  the  farm  of  R.  M.  Bowne  at  Glen  Cove 
in  1794  (the  original  piece  weighing  fifty 
pounds)  ;  a  Latin  Vulgate  and  Greek  text  Bible, 
printed  in  1544  in  Venice;  assessment  roll  of 
Riverhead  in  1839,  i^  ^^"^  ordinary  writing  book; 
a  picture  of  tombstone  of  John  Gardiner,  pro- 
prietor of  Gardiner's  Island,  who  was  born  in 
1752  and  died  in  1823,  and  of  David  Gardiner, 
second  proprietor  of  Gardiner's  Island,  in  the 
Hartford  Cemetery,  Connecticut. 

Among  the  engraved  portraits  are  those  of 
Thomas  George  Hodgkins,  wha  was  born  in 
England  in  1703,  and  died  in  Setauket  in  1792; 
the  Rev.  Charles  J.  Knowles,  former  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church  at  Riverhead,  who 
died  in  1880;  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  member  of 
Continental  Congress  in  1779-83,  miember  of  the 
Senate  of  New  York,  clerk  of  Suffolk  county, 
1784-1810,  and  regent  of  the  university,  1787- 
1811. 

Another  institution  which  has  proved  a 
great  service  to  the  upward  progress  of  River- 
head is  the  Savings  Bank,  which  was  estab- 
lished in  1872,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  IMr. 
Nat  W.  Foster  and  Orville  B.  Ackerly.  The 
latter,  who  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of 
Riverhead,  has  been  engaged  in  business  in  New 
York  for  a  considerable  time  past.  He  was 
county  clerk  of  Suffolk  for  six  years  and  had 
previously  been  deputy  clerk  for  twelve  years, 
and  not  only  proved  a  most  capable  oflicial  but 
was  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  the  county, 
and  that  popularity  he  still  retains,  although  the 


400 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


prosecution  of  his  business  necessarily  removes 
him  from  his  associations — at  least  to  the  same 
extent  as  formerly. 

The  bank  opened  with  the  following  trus- 
tees :  James  F  Tuthill,  John  Downs,  N.  W. 
Foster,  Jeremiah  M.  Edwards,  Gilbert  H. 
Ketcham,  Daniel  A.  Griffing,  J.  Henry  Perkins, 
M'oses  F.  Benjamin,  Edwin  F.  Squiers,  John  R. 
Corwin,  Orville  B.  Ackerly,  Richard  T.  Osborn, 
Isaac  C.  Halsey,  Simeon  S.  Hawkins,  Richard 
H.  Benjamin,  John  F.  Foster,  Thomas  Coles,  J. 
Halsey  Young,  John  S.  Marcy,  Abraham'  B. 
Luce,  Jonas  Fishel  and  John  P.  Mills.  It  was  a 
success  from  the  first,  and  during  all  the  years 
that  have  passed,  in  spite  of  periods  of  panic, 
depression  and  financial  restlessness,  it  has  main- 
tained a  clean  and  honorable  record,  and  by  its 
wise  management  has  done  much  to  develop  the 
prosperity  of  the  town.  According  to  a  late 
report  its  resources  amounted  to  $3,189,770,  and 
its  deposits  to  $2,859,829.  giving  it  a  clear  sur- 
plus of  $329,941.  But  that  report  showed  an- 
other detail  Avhich  ought  to  be  a  matter  of  local 
pride,  showing  as  it  does  the  thrifty  character 
of  the  people,  and  that"  was  the  average  of  each 
account  in  1900  was  $457.93,  ^^^  amount  ex- 
ceeded by  only  two  others  of  the  savings  banks 
on  Long  Island. 

But  the  Savings  Bank  rendered  a  most  valu- 
able service  to  Riverhead  and  to  the  county  in  a 
widely  different  direction  from  its  finances,  for 
it  was  at  a  meeting  of  its  board  of  trustees  in 
1886  that  the  organization  of  the  Suffolk  Coun- 
ty Historical  Society  was  first  broached. 

^Ir.  Xathaniel  W.  Foster,  conspicuously  iden- 
tified with  various  important  institutions — the 
Historical  Society,  the  Agricultural  Society,  the 
Bible  Society  and  the  Savings  Bank,  is  one  of 
the  best  known  men  as  he  is  one  of  the  most 
useful  in  Suffolk  county,  and  he  is  a  native  of 
the  village  which  has  been  the  scene  of  his  life 
work. 

Aquebogue  has  more  to  boast  of  in  the  way 
of  antiquity  than  Riverhead.  It  seems  to  have 
been  the  site  of  an  Indian  village  of  consider- 
able  size,    so   it   is    possible   that   the   early   set- 


tlers in  the  district  from  Southold  simply  took 
up  the  red  man's  improvements  in  the  way  of 
clearances  and  trails,  and  the  strange  temple 
and  graves  discovered  in  1879  demonstrate  the 
affection  and  reverence  which  a  primitive  race 
must  have  had  for  the  territory — possibly  an 
older  race  than  that  which  sold  the  ground  to 
the  white  pioneers  from  Southold.  A  Presby- 
terian Church  seems  to  have  been  .organized  at 
Upper  Aquebogue,  beside  the  now  ancient  cem- 
etery, but  little  concerning  it  has  been  learned 
beyond  the  names  of  two  of  -its  early  pastors,  a 
Mr.  Lee  and  the  Rev.  Timothy  Symmes,  and  as 
the  latter  became  a  minister  in  New  Jersey  in 
1746  the  period  of  the  beginning  of  the  Aque- 
bogue congregation  nuist  have  preceded  that 
date  by  several  years.  At  Lower  Aquebogue  a 
Presbyterian  church  was  erected  in  1731,  and  at 
Baiting  Hollow  in  1803.  None  of  these  early 
churches  survive.  A  Congregational  Church  was 
organized  at  Upper  Aquebogue  in  1758.  In  1785 
a  congregation  of  the  body  known  as  the  Strict 
Congregational  Convention  of  Connecticut 
was  organized  at  Wading  River,  and  in  1791  a 
similar  congregation  was  formed  at  Baiting 
Hollow,  and  these  three  bodies  continue  to  the 
present  time.  In  181 5  a  Swedenborgian  Church 
was  established  at  Baiting  Hollow  and  existed 
up  to  a  few  years  ago. 

From  Lower  Aquebogue,  which  some  sup- 
pose to  have  been  settled  before  any  other  pan 
of  the  district,  the  comparatively  modern  village 
of  Jamesport  was  formed  about  1830,  seemingly 
one  of  those  paper  cities  which  for  a  time'  was 
so  common  in  the  story  of  American  life,  and 
was  ridiculed  so  mercilessly  in  Dickens'  novel, 
"Martin  Chuzzlewit."  Dr.  Prime  tells  us  that 
in  1833  there  was  not  a  single  house  in  the  place, 
and  that  it  owed  ''its  origin  to  the  speculation 
fever  of  a  single  individual  who  ruined  himself 
by  the  operation."  The  site  was  nicely  mapped 
out,  streets  were  surve}ed,  a  wharf  was  built 
and  a  rather  imposing  hotel  was  erected.  For  a 
year  or  two  it  seemed  as  if  the  hopes  which  cen- 
tered in  it  would  be  realized ;  one  or  two  whaling 
ships  made  use  of  the  wharf.  But  there  was  no 
earthly   reason   why   ocean  boats   should   seek  a 


RIVERHEAD. 


401 


harbor  at  such  a  place,  at  the  very  extremity  of 
Peconic  Bay,  that  was  open  to  vessels  larger 
than  coasters,  and  that  was  at  all  times  difficult 
of  access.  So  the  mariners,  after  a  trial  or  two, 
sought  other  and  more  convenient  headquarters, 
and  Jamesport's  commerce  fell  away  and  its 
hopes  were  blighted.  A  few  years  ago  its  beau- 
tiful situation  began  to  attract  "the  summer  peo- 
ple/' and  it  has  become  quite  popular  with  that 
class,  so  much  so  that  at  the  height  of  the  sea- 
son it  is  rather  difficult  for  all  who  desire  ac- 
commodations to  secure  them.  But  that  is  a 
matter  that  can  be  remedied  and  there  is  little 
doubt  it  will  be.  Under  these  circumstances 
Jamesport  can  look  forward  to  a  brighter  future 
than  was  ever  anticipated  for  it  at  its  incep- 
tion or  that  seemed  possible  in  1843,  when  the 
early  glamour  had  passed  and  it  boasted  some 
forty  houses. 

At  the  other  extremity  of  the  township,  on 
the  Boundary  line  dividing  it  from  Brookhaven, 
is  the  village  of  Wading  River,  the  terminus, 
for  the  present  at  least,  of  what  is  known  as 
the  Port  Jefferson  branch  of  the  Long  Island 
Railroad.  It  is  supposed  that  a  settlement  was 
effected  about  1670,  and  in  1708  a  mill  was  es- 
tabhshed  by  John  Roe.  Some  four  miles  east- 
ward is  the  settlement  of  Baiting  Hollow,  which 
is  said  to  date  from  1719.  Like  Wading  River, 
it  did  a  considerable  business  in  the  first  half 


of  the  nineteenth  century  in  cutting  and  market- 
ing firewood,  but  the  source  of  supply  did  not 
prove  inexhaustible,  and,  when  it  passed,  farming 
remained  the  only  industry,  for  even  to  the  pres- 
ent day  the  summer  boarder  has  not  discovered 
this  region  to  any  great  extent.  During  the 
war  of  1812  an  exciting  skirmish  is  said  to  have 
been  fought  on  the  shore  between  Fresh  Pond 
Landing  and  Jericho  Landing.  Several  sloops 
belonging  to  Baiting  Hollow  and  engaged  in 
carrying  firewood,  were  espied  on  the  beach  by 
a  British  squadron  cruising  in  the  Sound,  and 
two  boats'  crews  were  dispatched  to  seize  them. 
The  local  militia,  was,  'however,  on  the  lookout, 
and  under  Captain  John  WtWs  open'^d  fire  on  the 
invaders  with  such  effect  that  although  they  had 
landed  and  had  boarded  one  of  the  sloops,  they 
were  glad  to  effect  a  retreat.  It  is  said  that  the 
British  had  a  cannon  in  each  of  their  boats  and 
used  them,  but  this  part  of  the  story  may  well 
be  doubted. 

Manorville  (380)  population,  Calverton 
(350),  Northville  (412),  Roanoke  (200),  Bu- 
chananville  (200),  Laurel  (197),  are  all  farming- 
centers,  and  there  are  a  number  of  other  still 
more  slenderly  populated,  of  which  nothing  more 
interesting  can  be  said.  In  fact,  outside  of 
Riverhead  village,  the  township  is  almost  wholly 
given  over  to  farming. 


26 


ON  THE  SOUND    SHORE  NEAR  SOUTHOLD. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


alike  any  other  town  in  Suffolk  county, 
Southold  w^as  founclecl  in  a  strict  union  of 
church  and  state,  and  it  seems  to  have 
been  the  intention  of  its  founders  to  have 
all  authority,  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual,  vested 
in  church  officers  and  church  members,  and  they 
seemed  to  hope  in  this  manner  to  anticipate  the 
millenium  when  Christ  and  his  saints  should  rule 
the  earth. 

This  town  occupies  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
north  branch  of  Long-  Island,  and  includes  Fish- 
cr's  and  Plum  Islands.  Its  length  from  the  west- 
ern boimdary,  separating  it  from 'the  town  of 
Rivcrhead,  to  the  extremity  of  Orient  Point,  is 
23  miles.  Its  greatest  width  is  four  miles,  but 
eas4:  of  Siuthold  village  it  is  much  narrower. 


From  a  glance  at  the  map  it  would  seem  as  if 
nature  had  intended  to  divide  the  town  into  many 
islands,  and  had  failed  in  the  attempt.  A  short 
distance  from  its  western  boundary  a  sheet  of 
water  called  Mattituck  Bay  puts  in  from  the 
sound  and  extends  nearly  three-quarters  of  the 
distance  across ;  while  nearly  opposite  a  creek 
known  as  Reeves  Creek  comes  up  from  Peconic 
Bay,  and  the  distance  between  these  two  bodies 
of  water  is  quite  limited.  Flere  the  Indians  in 
ancient  times  were  accustomed  to  drag  their  ca- 
noes across,  and  this  gave  it  the  name,  which 
occurs  in  our  oldest  records,  of  Canoe  Place.  To 
the  -east  of  Southold,  ]\Iill  Creek  comes  up  from 
the  south,  and  extends  almost  entirely  across, 
being  separated   from   the  sound  bv   a  beach  a 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


403 


few  rods  in  width,  and  the  creek  separates  South- 
old  proper  from  the  region  called  "Hashanio- 
mack."  Still  farther  east  is  another  isthmus, 
connecting  Orient  Point  and  East  j\[arion,  or, 
as  they  were  called  in  ancient  times,  "Oyster 
Ponds  Lower  and  Upper  Necks."  This  isth- 
mus is  formed  by  a  pond  connected  with  Pe- 
conic  Bay  by  a  creek,  and  is  a  beach  about  three 
rods  wide  and  eighty  rods  along. 

The  soil  is  generally  fertile,  except  a  portion 
of  the  region  next  Peconic  Bay,  including  Little 
Hog  Neck.  The  central  portion  of  the  town  is 
especially  fertile,  and  the  farms  of  Cutchogue  and 
Mattituck  are  noted  for  their  excellence  and  their 
high  state  of  cultivation.  The  peninsula  of  Or- 
ient is  for  the  most  part  fertile,  but  rocky  on  the 
north,  and  bears  every  indication  of  its  glacial 
origin.  The  north  branch  of  the  island  termin- 
ates here  in  a  long  point  or  beach,  around  which 
the  tide  through  Plum  Gut  sweeps  with  resist- 
less power,  and  it  is  believed  that  this  channel 
was  once  much  narrower,  and  some  have  thought 
that  Plum  Island  was  originally  connected  with 
the  neighboring  shore. 

In  early  days  the  town  was  in  almost  all 
parts  covered  with  woods,  but  the  untiring  hands 
of  the  industrious  settlers  have  made  the  srriiling 
field  where  once  the  forest  frowned.  Few  tracts 
of  woodland  of  much  extent  are  now  found,  the 
largest  being  on  the  south  side,  at  Fleet's  Neck, 
and  in  one  or  two  localities  on  the  north  shore. 
To  write  the  early  history  of  this  town  is  no 
easy  task,  since  all  records  prior  to  165 1  are  lost 
forever,  with  the  exception  of  two  brief  notices 
which  will  be  given  hereafter.  Yet,  the  state- 
ment that  it  was  settled  in  1640  is  generally  ac- 
cepted, and  as  Southampton  was  settled  in  the 
same  year,  the  question  has  been  agitated  in 
late  years  which  town  is  entitled  to  the  honor  of 
being  called  the  oldest  English  town  on  Long 
Island.  This  question  has  been  discussed  with 
great  ability  and  high  intelligence,  the  princi- 
pal contestants  in  the  case  being  the  Rev.  fepher 
Whitaker,  D.  D.,  of  Southold,  and  the  late 
George  R.  Howell,  of  Southampton,  each  of 
whom  has  found  in  this  contest  a  foeman  worthy 
of  his  steel.     We  do  not  propose  to  enter  into 


this  discussion  with  a  view  of  deciding  the  ques- 
tion, but  as  public  attention  has  been  drawn  to  the 
subject  we  will  here  give  all  the  authorities  that 
have  been  discovered  after  most  diligent  search, 
and  present  all  the  facts  that  can  throw  light 
on  this  vexed  point,  and  leave  to  the  reader  the 
task  of  rendering  judgment  upon  evidence  pre- 
sented. 

The  case  as  regards  Southampton  may  be 
briefly  stated.  On  M'arch  10,  1639,  the  company 
of  first  settlers  entered  into  a  combination  at 
Lynn,  Massachusetts,  to  found  a  new  plantation 
on  Long  Island.  One  month  later,  April  17, 
1640  (the  year  at  that  time  beginning  March  25), 
they  obtained  a  grant  from  James  Farrett,  agent 
of  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  who  was  then  owner  of 
Long  Island,  authorizing  them  to  take  up  eight 
miles  square  of  land  "where  best  suiteth  them.". 
In  pursuance  of  the  enterprise  they  sailed  for 
Long  Island,  and  commenced  a  settlement  at  Cow 
Bay  in  wliat  is  now  the  town  of  North  Hemp- 
stead, but  they  were  driven  away  by  the  Dutch. 
"Upon  this,"  says  Governor  Whithrop,  June  4, 
1640,  "the  Linne  men,  finding  themselves  too 
weak,  and.  having  no  encouragement  to  expect 
aid  from  the  English,  deserted  that  place  and  took 
another  at  the  east  end  of  the  same  island;  and, 
being  now  about  40  families,  they  proceeded  in 
the'r  plantation,  and  called  one  Mr.  Pierson,  a 
godly,  learned  man  and  a  member  of  the  church 
of  Boston  to  go  with  them."  From  this  account, 
written  ]jy  one  who  had  every  opportunity  to  be 
acquainted  with  the  facts,  there  can  no  longer 
be  anv  doubt  that  Southampton  was  settled  in 
June,  1640. 

The  earliest  record  we  have  of  any  purchase 
of  land  within  the -present  limits  of  Southold  is 
a  deed  from  James  Farrett  to  Richard  Jackson, 
dated  August  15,  1640,  a  copy  of  which,  with  the 
subsequent  transfers,  is  here  appended,  as  taken 
from  the  Southold  records,  and  is  all  that  re- 
mains of  the  records  prior  to  165 1. 

"This  indenture  witnesseth  that  I  James 
Faret,  gent.,  depntie  to  the  right  honorable  the 
Earle  of  Starling,  Secretarie  for  the  Kingdom 
of   Scotland,   doe"  by  these  presents   for   him  & 


404 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


in  his  name  as  it  may  in  any  way  concerne  my- 
self, for  &  in  consideration  of  a  certain  some  of 
money  to  me  in  hand  paied,  grant  &  make  sale 
unto  'Richard  Jackson  of  ffiftie  acres  of  mea- 
dow &  upland  lying  and  being  uppon  the  North 
of  the  River  called  Manhansuck,  in  Long  Island, 
to  the  eastward  of  the  place  called  the  ffive  wig- 
wams, to  gether  with  an  hundred  acres  of  up- 
land adjoyninge  to  the  afore  said  fiftie  acres  to 
the  northwest  of  it;  the  same  quietly  to  possess 
and  enjoy  to  ihim  &  his  heirs  forever,  with  all 
the  easements  &  accommodations  thereunto  be- 
longinge.  And  m.orover  it  is  agreed  between 
the  said  parties  that  hee  the  said  Richard  Jack- 
son, his  heirs,  executors  or  assigns,  shall  pay 
unto  the  said  Earle,  his  heirs  or  assigns  an  ac- 
knowledgement of  a  pep.'corne  every  yeare  for 
the  fiftie  acres  aforesaid;  and  also  shall  pay  unto 
the  said  James  ffarret  gent.,  or  his  assigns  yeare- 
ly  a  penny  an  acre  for  all  the  hundred  acres 
before  mentioned.  In  witness  Whereof  wee 
have  sett  to  our  hands  &  scales  the  15th  day  of 
August   1640. 

James  Farrett." 
"Sealed,    signed    and    delivered   in   the  presence 
of  us  Joshua.  Griffiths, 

Robert  Cannon/'' 

Joshua  Griffiths,  whose  name  appears  above, 
was  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the  Indian  deed  for 
Southampton,  December  13,  1640T  Richard 
Jackson,  the  grantee,  proceeded  to  build  a  house 
and  improve  the  purchase,  and  in  October  sold 
the  same  to  Thomas  Weatherby,  who'  conveyed  it 
to  Stephen  Goodyear  of  New  Haven,  and  the  lo- 
cation and  facts  of  transfer  are  very  explicitly 
noted  in  the  following  deed : 

"This  Indenture  witnesseth  that,  whereas 
James  Farret,  gent.,  Deputy  to  the  honble  Farle 
of  Starleing  &  Secretarie  for  the  kingdome  of 
Scotland,  hath  by  his  Indenture  in  his  owne 
name  &  in  the  name  of  the  Earle  of  Starling 
aliened  &  sold  unto  Richard  Jackson,  carpenter, 
a  parcel!  of  Land  as  by  deed  under  his  hande  & 
scale  more  particularly  recited,  lying  &  being 
uppon  a  neck  of  Land  called  Hashamommuck 
neck ;  also  whereas  the  said  Jackson  past  over 
by  deede  under  his  'hand  and  seale  the  said  land 
&  his  house  to  Thomas  \A  itherby,  marriner,  for 
the  sum  of  ffiftecne  pounds,  as  may  by  the  said 
deed  more  fully  appeare.  Now  this  prsnt  In- 
denture or  writeing  doth  publish  and  declare  to 
all  people  whom  it  may  concerne  that  Stephen 


Goodyeare  of  New  Haven,  merchant,  doth  for 
himself,  his  heires  and  assignes,  Alien,  bargaine 
&  sell  unto  John  Ketcham,  of  Southold  on  Long 
Island,  All  that  tract  or  piece  of  land  &  meadow 
wch  was  at  first  granted  to  the  said  Richard 
Jackson  as  aforesaid,  as  being  his  of  right  & 
belonging  to  him  both  from  Jackson  and 
Weatherby  and  by  the  Indian  title,  and  doth, 
for  and  in  consideration  of  i20  to  him  well  and 
truly  payed  &  received,  fatly  discharge  &  acquit 
the  said  John  Ketcham,  his  heires  and  assignes 
for  ever,  of  all  &  singular  the  aforesaid  prem- 
ises, with  all  debts,  dewes  &  demands  what 
soever  to  this  present.  In  witness  where  of  I 
have  hereunto  sett  my  haiid  &  seale  this  second 
day  of  the  4th  month  1653. 

Stephen   Goodyeare. 
"Sealed,  subscribed  and  delivered  to  the  use 
of  John  Ketchum  in  the  presence  of  us 

"Benjamin  Lynge, 
''William  Wells." 

The  next  we  hear  of  this  piece  of  land  is  in 
a  deed  dated  "New  England  Long  Island  Setal- 
cot  3  October  1661,''  by  which  "Thomas  Ketch- 
um of  the  place  aforesaid"  sells  to  Thomas- 
Moore,  sen.,  of  Southold,  all  the  premises  in 
Hashamomack  Neck,  described  in  the  deed  given 
by  Goodyear,  as  copied  above. 

It  is  interesting  to  be  able  to  locate  this  tract 
of  land,  as  it  is  the  first  land  sold  in  the  town 
which  can  be  located  with  certainty.  It  Hes  upon 
a  neck  west  of  Greenport,  and  on  the  shore  of 
"Pipes  Cove."  A  portion  of  it  belongs  to  the 
estate  of  Jeremiah  jMoore,  deceased,  a  descend- 
ant of  Thomas  ]\Ioore,  mentioned  above,  and 
a  part  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  William  Y.  Brown. 
The  place  called  the  fiYo.  wigwams  was  probably 
upon  the  small  island  of  woods  belonging  to  the 
estate  of  Jeremiah  ]\[oore,  at  the  head  of  Pipes 
Creek. 

In  the  town  records  of  Southold  are  recorded 
two  deeds  given  by  James  Farrett,  the  agent  of 
the  Earl  of  Sterling,  to  one  ]\ratthew  Sinderland 
(or  Sunderland)  "seaman  at  Boston  in  New 
England."  In  the  first  deed  James  Farrett  re- 
cites his  commission  from  the  Earl  of  Stirling, 
and  his  power  to  sell  lands,  and  conveys  to 
Matthew  Sinderland  ''One  Island  betwixt  Oys- 
ter Bay  and  Sloops  Bay,  some  half  mile  from  the 


TOWN  OF   SOUTHOLD. 


405 


main  Island."  The  price  was  "£20  lawful  mone}^ 
of  England/'  and  the  date  June  18,  1639.  The 
witnesses  are  Sampson  Salter  and  Robert  Tur- 
ner. In  another  deed  of  same  date,  James  Far- 
rett  conveys  to  ^latthew  Sinderland  "Free  leave 
and  liberty  to  possess  and  improve  two  little 
necks  of  land,  one  upon  the  east  side  of  Oyster 


In  Liber  I  of  Wills  in  the  New  York  surro- 
gate's office,   is  recorded  the  following: 

"John  Conkling,  Jr.,  of  Hashamamock,  heare 
Southold,  having  married  Sarab,  late  widow  of 
William  3^1n^on,  who  had  then  divers  young 
children  of  which  he  hath  had  greate  care  and 
been  at  considerable  expense  in  bringing  them 


SOUTHOLD  CREEK-LANDING  PLACE  OF  FIRST  SETTLERS. 


Bay  Harbor,  and  the  other  upon  the  west  side  of 
said  Harbor."  The  annual  rent  w^as  to  be  10 
shillings. 

James  Farrett,  on  September  4,  1639,  ac- 
knoAvledges  the  receipt  of  20  shillings  for  the 
land  at  Oyster  Bay,  and  on  September  8,  '1640, 
he  also  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  20  shillings 
''for  payment  of  two  years  rent  due  for  the  pro- 
portion of  land  belonging  to  him  at  Boston  Bay 
and  that  for  the  years  1640-1641." 

It  is  quite  evident  that  the  above  deeds  con- 
vey no  part  of  Southold. 


up."    Letters  of  administration  were  granted  to 
him  on  the  estate  of  William  Salmon,  November, 

1665. 

"Whereas  John  Conkling,  Jr.,  of  Hasha- 
mamock did  ifitermarry  with  Sarah,  widow  of 
William  Salmon,  late  of  Southold',  with  whom 
he  left  six  children,  four  of  which  he  had  by 
Katharine  his  former  wife,  and  the  other  two  by 
his  wife  Sarah.  The  said  Katharine  having  been 
the  widow  of  one  Matthew  Sunderland,  a  sea- 
man, who  formerly  improved  some  part  of 
Hashamamock  as  an  agent  of  Mr.  James  Farrett, 
deputy  to  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  of  whom  he  pur- 
chased several  tracts  of  land,  one  on  the  east 
side,   and  another   on   th^  west   side  of   Oyster 


406 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Bay,  and  also  an  Island  not  far  from  the  same, 
all  of  which  fell  to  his  wife  Katharine  for  her 
maintainance,  having  very  little  to  leave  to  her 
for  her  livelihood,  and  this  neck  of  Hashamam- 
ock,  being  the  place  of  their  residence,  and  not 
under  an)-  Jurisdiction  until  his  Majesty's  late 
Letters  Patent  given  to  his  Royal  Highness 
James  Duke  of  York,  were  published  in  this 
Island.  Therefore  the  said  John  Conkling,  Jr., 
in  the  right  of  Sarah  his  wife  and  the  six  chil-, 
dren,  petitions  the  Hon.  Court  for  Letters  of  ad- 
ministration." These  were  granted  by  the  Court 
of  Souhampton,  November  i6,   1665. 

"At  Court  of  Sessions  held  in  Southold  June 
5,  1666,  Concerning  the  petition  of  John  Conk- 
ling,  Jr.,  for  settling  the  estate  of  William  Sal- 
mon, to  Sarah  his  wife  and  six  orphans,  one  son 
and  five  daughters,  The  Overseers  of  Southold 
fixed  the  eldest  son's  portion  to  be  £31,  lis,  4(1 
and  the  other  children's  portions  to  be  £15,  15s, 
8d  each.  They  did  not  allow  anything  to  John 
Conkling  for  bringing  them  up." 

The  six  children  were  ^lary,  John,  Sarah, 
Rebecca,  Elizabeth  and  Hannah.  It  was  or- 
dered that  John  Conkling  should  give  .security 
to  pay  to  John  £28  when  of  age,  and  to  each  of 
the  daughters  £14  when  of  age.  The  oldest 
daughter,  Mary,  had  already  received  her  por- 
tion. 

The  only  thing  that  we  can  learn  with  cer- 
tainty from  the  above  is  that  [Matthew  Sunder- 
land was  in  possession  and  "improved"  some  part 
of  Hashamamock  during  the  period  when  James 
Farrett  was  agent  for  the  Earl  of  Stirling.  But 
as  no  grant  to  him  is  on  record  the  exact  date  is 
quite  unknown. 

Tradition  and  history  alike  unite  in  awarding 
to  Rev.  John  Youngs  the  honor  of  being  the 
founder  of  this  town.  The  first  notice  we  have 
of  this  remarkable  man  is  found  in  the  follow- 
ing entry,  copied  by  Samuel  G.  Drake  from  the 
original  records  in  London  and  printed  in  his 
''Founders  of  New  England,"  p.  49:  ''The  ex- 
amination of  John  Yonge  of  St.  Margaretts, 
suff.  minister,  aged  thirty-five  years,  and  Joan 
his  wife,  aged  thirty-four  years,  with  six  chil- 
dren— John,  Thomas,  Anne,  Rachel,  ]\Iary  and 
Joseph.    Ar  desirous  to  passe  for  Salam  in  New 


England  to  inhabitt."  Against  the  above  entry 
in  the  place  of  the  date  is  written :  "This  man 
was  forbyden  passage  by  the  commissioners  and 
went  not  from  Yarmouth."  This  entry  follows 
six  other  entries,  dated  May  11,  1637,  and  is 
followed  by  two  entries  of  examination  on  May 
12,  1637.  Neal,  in  his  "History  of  New  Eng- 
land," published  in  London  in  1720,  mentions 
Rev.  Mr.  Youngs  of  Southold  among  the  list 
of  Puritan  ministers  "who  were  in  orders  in  the 
Church  of  England,  but  being  disturbed  by  the 
ecclesiastical  courts  for  the  cause  of  noncon- 
formity transported  themseWes  to  New  England 
before  the  year  1641. 

In  Lambert's  "History  of  New  Haven,"  which 
IS  a  work  of  original  research  and  considered 
g'ood  authority,  it  is  stated :  "Mr.  Youngs  re- 
organized his  church  at  New  Haven  on  the  21st 
of  October,  1640,  and,  with  them  and  such  others 
as  chose  to  accompany  him,  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  month  passed  over  to  the  island  and  com- 
menced the  fettlement  of  the  plantation."  ]\Ioore's 
"Index  of  Southold,"  an  invaluable  work,  which 
embraces  in  small  compass  the  fruit  of  a  vast 
amount  of  patient  research,  speaks  of  him  as  or- 
ganizing a  church  in  New  Haven,  to  be  located 
at  Southold,  October,  1640.  We  have  no  posi- 
tive knowledge  as  to  who  the  men  were  who  con- 
stituted this  church,  and  any  attempt  to  make  a 
list  of  the  early  settlers  must  be  based  upon  in- 
ference more  than  actual  knowledge ;  but  the 
following  list  contains  the  names  of  those  per- 
sons whom  we  believe  to  have  been  residents  of 
the  town  prior  to  1654  : 

Robert  x\kerly,  Richard  Benjamin,  Thomas 
Benedict,  John  Bayley,  John  Booth,  Thomas 
Brush,  John  Budd,  Henr}-  Case,  Roger  Chester, 
Richard  Clark,  John  Conklin,  Thomas  Cooper, 
Matthias    Corwin,   Philemon   Dickerson,   Jeffrey 

Easty,  John  Elton, Frost,  Charles  Glover, 

James  Haines,  Peter  Hallock,  ( ?)  John  Her- 
bert, Josiah  Hobart,  Barnabas  Horton.  Thomas 
Hutchinson,  John  Ketcham,  Thomas  Mapes, 
Thomas  Moore,  Humphrey  Norton,  Thomas  Os- 
man,  Isaac  Overton.  Peter  Paine,  Edward  Petty, 
John    Peakin,  AVilHam    Furrier,    James    Reeves, 


TOWN  OF    SOUTHOLD. 


407 


Thomas  Rider,  \Mlliani  Salmon,  Thomas  Steven- 
son. John  Swezy,  Richard  Terry,  Thomas  Terry, 
Thomas  Terrill,  John  Tucker,  Henry  Tuthill, 
|ohn  Tuthill,*  John  L'nderhill,  Jeremiah  \'ail, 
William  Wells,  Abraham  Wliittier,  llarnabas 
Amines,  Rev.  John  Youngs,  Colonel  John  Youngs, 
Joseph  Youngs. 

To  give  an  accoiuit:  of  each  of  these  would  take 
us  far  beyond  our  limits,  and  a  brief  notice  of  a 
few  of  the  more  important  names  must  suffice. 
The  leader.  Rev.  John  Youngs,  had  five  sons — 
Colonel  John,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Benjamin  and 
Christopher — and  daughters  Anne,  Alary  and 
Rachel.  His  son.  Colonel  John,  had  arrived  at 
man's  estate  at  the  time  of  the  settlement,  and 
until  the  end  of  his  life  was  the  foremost  man 
of  the  colony. 

Barnabas  Horton  was  without  doubt  one  of 
the  origina  1  company  w  h<^  came  ^\'ith  A I  r. 
Youngs.  He  was  born  at  Alousely,  in  Leicester- 
bhire,  England,  in  1600.  After  coming  to  this^ 
country  he  is  said  to  have  lived  at  Hampton. 
^Massachusetts,  until  1640,  when  he  joined  the 
church  organized  by  Air.  Youngs.  He  had  sons 
Joseph,  Benjamin,  Caleb,  Joshua  and  Jonathan, 
and  daughters,  Hannah,  Sarah  and  Alary.  In 
1654,  1656  and  1659  he  was  a  deputy  from 
Southold  to  the  court  of  Xew  Haven.  He  was 
admitted  freeman  of  the  Connecticut  colony  in 
1662,  and  was   deputy  in    i(^^C^^  and   1^)64.      His 


*Froni  this  pioneer  a  recent  local  genealogical  writer 
traces  the  descent  of  the  late  President  Benjamin  Har- 
rison, as  follows : 

I.  John  Tuthill,  Jr.,  of  Sout-hold,  son  of  Henry 
Tuthill,  of  Tharston,  England,  and  Hingham,  Mass., 
was  born  July  16,  1635,  and  married  Deliverance,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Dorothy  King. 

IT.  Henry  Tuthill,  of  Southold.  born  Alay  i,  1665, 
married  Bethia,  daughter  of  Captain,  Jonathan  Horton. 

III.  Henry  Tuthill,  of  Southold,  born  i6go,  mar- 
ried Hanna  Bebee  (or  Crouch). 

IV.  Henry  Tuthill,  of  Aquebogue,  born  before 
1715,  married  Phoebe  Horton. 

V.  Anna  Tuthill,  ;l>orn  1741,  married  John  Cleves 
Symmes. 

VI.  Anna  Symmes  married  President  William 
Henry  Harrison,  son  of  Benjamin  Harrison,  signer  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  for  three  terms 
Governor  of  the  Statu  of  Virginia. 

VII.  John  Scott  Harrison  married  Lucretia  K. 
J<"ihn=on- 

VIII.  Benjamin  Harrison,  late  President  of  the 
United  States,  born  August  20,  1833,  died  March  13, 
1901. 


name  occurs  as  one  of  the  patentees  of  the  town 
in  1676,  and  he  was  intimately  connected  with  all 
public  affairs  until  his  death.  His  tomb  in  the 
churchyard  in  Southold  is  covered  with  a  slab 
of  blue  slate,  said  to  have  been  imported  from 
his  native  place,  and  bearing  the  following  in- 
scription : 

Here  lieth  buried  the  body  of  Mr.  Barnabas  Horton, 
who  was  born  at  Mousely,  Leicestershire,  Old  England, 
and  died  at  Southold  on  the  13th  day  of  July,  1680, 
aged  eighty  years. 

Here  lies  my  body  tombed  in  dust. 

Till  Christ  shall  come  and  raise  it  with  the  just. 

My  soul  ascended  to  the  throne  of  God, 

Where  with  sweet  Jesus  now  I  make  abode. 

Then  hasten  after  me,  my  dearest  wife, 

To  be  partaker  of  this  blessed  life. 

And  you,  dear  children  all,  follow  the  Lord; 

Hear  and  obey  His  public  sacred  word, 

And  in  your  houses  call  upon  His  name, 

For  oft  I  have  advised  you  to  the  same. 

Then  God  will  bless  you  with  your  children  all, 

And  to  this  blessed  place  He  will  you  call. 

Heb.  xi.  4 — He,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh. 

William  Wells,  who  was  second  to  none  in 
influence,  is  said  to  have  come  from  England 
June  19,  1^135.  in  the  same  ship  with  John  Bay- 
ley,  another  of  the  early  settlers.  The  first  no- 
tice of  him  on  Long  Island  is-  the  following  en- 
try in  the  records  of  Southampton :  "March 
15th.  3643.  A\'illiam  AA'ells,  Gent.,  was  censured 
for  some  un reverent  speeches  to  Daniel  Howe, 
who  confessed  his  offense  and  promised  refor- 
mation." In  i04(>  his  name  appears  in  the  same 
records  among  a  list  of  men  who  had  evidently 
'abandoned  the  settlement.  The  exact  time  at 
which  he  became  a  settler  at  Southold  is  lUi- 
known,  but  he  was  a  resident  here  before  1649. 
He  was  a  native  of  Norwich,  England,  and  was 
born  in  1608.  Throughout  his  life  he  was  the 
legal  authority  of  the  town,  and  pre-eminently 
the  business  man  of  the  place,  and  it  was  through 
him  that  the  purchases  were  made  from  the  In- 
dians of  the  region  of  Cutchogue,  Mattituck  and 
Ockahock,  including  the  town  of  Rivcrhead.  As 
the  inscrip'tion  on  his  tomb  narrates,  he  was  a 
".justice  of  the  peace  and  first  sheriff  of  York- 
shire," being  appointed  to  that  position  by  Gov- 
ernor \icolN  in  1664.  He  died  November  13, 
1 671,  ag'ed  sixtv-three  years,  and  left  a  wife 
Marv,  who  afterward  married  Thomas  Alapes. 


408 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


His  first  wife,  Bridget,  was  the  widow  of  Henry 
Tuthill,  and  had  the  following  children:  Will- 
iam, Joshua,  Mary,  Bethia  and  Mehitabel.  His 
tomb  may  still  be  seen  in  the  old  burial  ground, 
and  after  a  lapse  of  two  centuries  is  in  a  perfect 
state  of  preservation.  So  far  as  we  know  it  is 
the  oldest  tombstone  in  Suffolk  county. 

John  Budd,  according  to  Moore's  *''Index," 
Avas  in  New  Haven  in  June,  1639,  and  signed  an 
agreement  as  a  freeman.  He  is  reputed  to  have 
been  one  of  the  original  company  of  settlers.  The 
first  actual  knowledge  we  have  of  his  presence  on 
Long  Island  is  in  October,  1644,  when  we  find 
this  entry  in  the  Southampton  records:  "Mr. 
Jones  hath  the  lott  granted  unto  him  which  was 
formerly  granted  unto  John  Budd  of  Yeano- 
cock"  (Southold).  This  clearly  indicates  that 
he  was  a  dweller  there  at  a  very  early  date.  In 
1645  "it  is  ordered  that  John  Budd  shall  have 
graunted  unto  him  4  acres  of  new  ground  ad- 
joining to  his  other  4  acres,  to  make  up  an  8- 
acre  lott."  In  1650  he  is  mentioned  in  South- 
ampton as  the  owner  of  a  water-mill  and  as  run- 
ning the  same,  and  he  is  called  "Lieutenant." 
In  1 65 1  he  appears  as  plaintiff  in  a  suit  against 
John  Hubbard,  but  after  that  his  name  occurs 
no  more.  It  is  certain  that  he  was  a  land  owner 
in  Southold  in  1649,  and  left  a  large  estate  to  his 
son  John,  who  was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in 
the  town.  In  1^157  he  was  deputy  from  Southold 
to  New  Haven.  He  removed  to  AA'estchester* 
county  about  i6f)0,  probably  on  account  of  some 
difiiculty  with  his  neighbors,  and  died  there  pre- 
vious to  7670.  He  had  children,  John,  Joseph 
and  Judith.  None  of  his  descendants  are  now 
found  in  this  town. 

Thomas  Cooper  was  not,  as  some  of  the  his- 
torians of  Southold  suppose,  the  same  person 
who  was  among  the  first  settlers  in  Southamp- 
ton. He  was  probably  a  brother  of  John  Cooper, 
of  Southampton.  Thomas  Cooper  left  a  large 
estate  to  his  widow  and  daughter.  The  daughter 
married  Stephen  Bailey  and  had  three  daughters, 
Abigail,  wife  of  Joshua  Hempstead;  ^lary,  wife 
of  Thomas  Talmage ;  and  Hannah,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Salmon,  who  divided  the  estate. 

Matthias  C'orwin  was    doubtless    an    original 


settler.  Previous  to  his  settlement  here  he  was 
a  resident  at  Ips.wich,  Massachusetts.  He  was  a 
man  of  the  same  rank  as  Colonel  Youngs  and  Mr. 
Wells,  and  in- 1656  was  one  of  the  men  appointed 
to  order  town  affairs,  a  position  of  great  resf>on- 
sibility.  He  died  in  1658,  leaving  two  sons, 
John  and  Theophilus,  and  a  daughter  IMary,  who 
married  Henry  Case,  the  ancestor  of  the  numer- 
ous family  of  that  name.  The  descendants  of 
Matthias  Corwin  are  widely  spread,  and  among 
them  are  to  be  found  some  who  have  held  the 
highest  positions  in  church  and  state. 

John  Conkling  was  not  among  the  original 
company,  but  came  here  previous  to  165 1.  Be- 
fore this  he  was  a  resident  of  Salem.  There  are 
few  families  on  Long  Island  that  have  exerted  a 
wider  influence.  His  brother,  Ananias,  was  the 
founder  of  the  East  Hampton  family.  From  his 
son  Timothy  are  descended  the  families  in  the 
town  of  Huntington  and  the  western  part  of  the 
county ;  while  from  his  sons  John  and  Jacob  are 
sprung  the  families  in  this  town,  and  the  name  is 
found  in  all  sections  of  our  country.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  a  native  of  Nottinghamshire,  Eng- 
land. Tradition  states  that  he  and  William  Sal- 
mon, the  proprietor  of  Hashamomack,  were 
neighbors  and  playmates  in  their  boyhood  days, 
and  this  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  reason  why, 
after  a  short  stay  in  Southold  village,  he  re- 
moved to  the  neighborhood  of  his  former  com- 
panion. About  1661  he  removed  to  Huntington, 
and  died  there  about  1683,  ^t  the  supposed  age 
of  eighty-three  years. 

Few  of  the  early  settlers  have  left  more  dis- 
tinguished descendants  than  Philemon  Dicker- 
son.  In  1637  he  came  to  America  in  the  same 
vessel  in  which  Minister  Youngs  had  vainly  at- 
tempted to  obtain  passage.  In  1639  he  appears 
at  Salem,  M'assachusetts,  where  in  1641  he  was 
admitted  as  a  freeman.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
come  to  this  town  in  1646,  but  the  date  is  un- 
known. He  died  in  1674,  aged  seventy-four 
years,  and  left  sons,  Thomas  and  Peter.  From 
these  are  sprung  a  numerous  posterity,  embrac- 
ing some  of  the  most  noted  public  men  of  the 
land.  In  185 1  Hon.  Mahlon  Dickerson,  Sec- 
retary of  the  Navy,  erected  in  the  ancient  bury- 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


409 


ing  ground  of  this  village  a  massive  monument 
to  the  memory  of  his  ancestors. 

John  Goldsmith,  though  not  one  of  the  first 
settlers,  was  a  prominent  citizen,  and  has  left 
a  numerous  and  respected  posterity.  He  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  son  of  Thomas  Gold- 
smith, who  was  a  resident  of  Southampton  in 
165T,  and  was  living  there  as  late  as  1677.  In 
1661  he  bought  of  Richard  Barrett  his  house  and 
land.  It  was  a  part  of  this  land  that  John  Gold- 
smith sold  to  widow  Margaret  Cooper  in  1678, 
in  exchange  for  a  lot  in  Cutchogue.  The  deeds 
may  be  seen  in  Vol.  I,  printed  records  of  South- 
old,  p.  209,  210.  He  moved  to  this  town  at  that 
time  and  died  in  1703,  leaving  children,  John, 
Richard,  Nathaniel,  Mary,  Thomas,  Daniel  and 
Elizabeth. 

Thomas  Moore  left  England  in  1635.  In 
1636  he  and  his  wife  Martha  were  admitted  as 
members  of  Salem  church,  and  they  came  to 
Southold  about  1650.  In  1658  he  was  deputy 
from  this  town  to  the  General  Court  at  New  Ha- 
ven. He  was  appointed  magistrate  by  the  Dutch 
officers  in  1673 ;  he  declined,  but  accepted  the 
position  under  English  rule  in  1685.  He  was  a 
large  land  owner  and  a  prominent  man  during  his 
whole  hfe.  He  died  in  1691,  leaving  children, 
Thomas,  Martha,  Benjamin,  Nathaniel,  Hannah, 
Jonathan,  Mary  and  Sarah.  His  son  Benjamin 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  James  Hampton,  of 
Southampton,  who  came  from  that  place  to  Sa- 
lem. The  descendants  of  this  family  are  very 
numerous.  Among  them  none  is  more  worthy  of 
respectful  mention  than  Charles  B.  Moore,  of 
New  York,  whose  genealogical  indices  must 
ever  be  an  authority  of  the  greatest  weight  upon 
the  subject. 

Colonel  John  Youngs,  next  to  his  venerable 
parent,  the  minister,  was  justly  considered  the 
foremost  man  in  the  town,  and  there  are  few 
names  in  the  early  history  of  the  county  more 
prominent  than  his.  He  was  born  in  1623,  early 
became  master  of  a  vessel,  and  was  in  active 
service  against  the  Dutch.  In  1654  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  commissioners,  to  cruise  in  the 
Sound  as  a  part  of  a  naval  force,  and  was  ac- 
tively  engaged   in   this   service    two   years.      In 


1660  and  1661  he  was  a  delegate  to  New  Haven, 
and  after  the  union  with  Connecticut  he  was  a 
delegate  to  Hartford.  He  assisted  in  collecting 
a  military  force  to  assist  in  the  conquest  of  New 
Amsterdam,  and  was  one  of  the  representatives 
in  the  first  assembly  at  Hempstead  under  the 
Duke  of  York.  Through  him  was  obtained  a 
new  deed  from  the  Indians,  confirming  their  pre- 
vious sales.  He  was  one  of  the  patentees  in 
1676,  was  made  sheriff  of  Yorkshire,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Colonial  Council  from  1683  to 
1697.  At  the  age  of  seventy  years  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  militia  regiment  of  533  men.  We 
have  only  time  and  space  to  briefly  mention  the 
offices  he  filled  and  the  acts  he  performed,  but 
the  life  and  public  services  of  this  famous  man 
must  ever  be  a  bright  page  In  Long  Island  his- 
tory. His  eventful  life  closed  in  1698.  His 
tomb  may  still  be  seen  in  the  ancient  burial  place, 
and  the  stone  that  covers  his  remains  bears  the 
following: 

:  'Here  lieth  interred  the  body  of  Colonel 
John  Youngs  Esquire,  late  one  of  His 
Maiestie's  Covncel  of  the  Province  of  New  York, 
Who  Departed  this  life  the  12th  day  of  April 
Anno  Domini  1698,  Aged  75  years." 


GOD'S  ACRE. 

In  1654  an  order  was  made  that  each  man 
who  had  not  already  done*  so  should  bring  in  to 
the  recorder  a  description  of  his  lands — -"how 
they  ly  East,  west,  north  and  South,  between 
whom,  and  in  what  places."     Thanks  to  this  or- 


410 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


der,  we  have  a  pretty  accurate  knowledge  as  to 
where  each  of  our  ancestors  had  his  abode.  Par- 
eon  Youngs  and  his  little  band  landed  at  the  head 
of  Town  Creek,  and  here  they  established  their 
future  home.  That  the  minister's  lot  should 
have  been  the  best  and  most  advantageously  situ- 
ated was  a  thing  to  be  expected.  We  will  in 
imagination  turn  back  the  wheels  of  time,  and 
endeavor  to  present  a  picture  of  the  village  in 
the  early  days,  and  locate  the  homes  of  our  hon- 
orable ancestors. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  road  that  leads  from 
the  main  street  to  Town  Creek  was  the  home 
lot  of  Minister  Youngs.  This  lot  extended  west- 
ward as  far  as  the  western  side  of  the  deep 
hollow  west  of  the  Methodist  church.  The  pas- 
tor's dwelling  was  on  the  eastern  part  of  the 
lot  and  near  where  the  house  of  Henry  G. 
Howell  now  stands.  Here  he  lived  and  labored 
and  died. 

Next  west  came  the  home  lot  of  his  neighbor, 
Robert  Akerly  (now  the  "Cochran  place"),  but 
in  1653  he  had  moved  to  another  place,  and  his 
home  lot  is  described  as  "Twelve  acres  more  or 
les-se,  the  highway  goeing  into  the  old  field  ly- 
ing north,  the  land  of  Thomas  Cooper  lying  at 
the  rear  of  his  home  lot  south.''  This  was  near 
the  present  residence  of  William  Horton. .  Rob- 
ert Akerly  moved  to  Brookhaven,  and  lived  on 
Crane's  Neck.     He  has  many  descendants. 

Next  came  the  home  lot  of  ]ohn  Booth.  His 
lands  were  recorded  in  1685,.  and  at  that  time 
his  homestead  was  six  acres,  bounded  west  hy 
John  Herbert  and  east  by  Benjamin  Youngs. 
Tliese  premises  are  now  the  residence  of  the  fam- 
ily oi  the  late  Israel  Peck. 

Next  came  John  Herbert's  homestead.  This 
descended  to  his  son  John,  who  in  1699  sold  it 
to  "the  inhabitants  of  the  township  of  Southold" 
for  seventy-five  pounds  in  silver.  From  that 
time  it  has  been  used  as  a  parsonaoc  lot,  and  the 
Presbyterian  church  stands  upon  it. 

Next  was  the  home  lot  of  Richard  Benja- 
min, and  its  western. boundary  was  the  present 
easterly  line  of  Richard  Carpenter's  lot. 

The  lot  of  Ananias  Conkling,  who  after- 
ward removed  to  East  Hampton,  was  next  west, 


and  this  was  purchased  by  Richard  Benjamin ; 
his  boundary  then  was  "Benjamin's  lane//  a  road 
that  ran  from  the  town  street  by  the  east  end 
of  Deacon  Closes  Cleveland's  barn  to  Jockey 
Creek  Point,  but  was  long  since  closed. 

Upon  the  corner  lot  now  the  homestead  of 
Moses  C.  Cleveland,  and  upon  w^hich  the  Uni- 
versalist  church  now  stands,  was  the  home  of 
George  Miller  in  1656.  It  was  sold  by  him  to 
John  Tuthill  in  1658,  and  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Joseph  Sutton  in  1660,  which  was  probably 
the  time  when  John  Tuthill  went  to  (  )vster 
Ponds.  In  1668  it  belonged  to  John  Swazey, 
who  sold  the  west  part  of  it  to  Samuel  King. 

On  the  corner  where  the  main  street  turns 
to  the  south,  the  first  lot  was  Samuel  King's, 
wdio  owned  it  from  1658  to  1666.  In  the  words 
of  Hon.  J.  Wickham  Case:  "John  Tuthill,  Rich- 
ard Brown  and  Samuel  King  formed  a  remark- 
able trio.  They  lived  side  by  side  for  a  score 
of  years  in  perfect  harmlony.  They  made  pur- 
chases' jointly ;  they  divided,  they  exchanged 
with  and  they  sold  to.  one  another ;  entrusted 
their  property  to  each  other.  King,  only  four 
years  before  Tuthill's  death,  gave  him  a  writ- 
ing of  assurance  for  exchanges  of  land  made 
forty  years  before,  and  for  which  no  legal  pa- 
pers had  ever  been  executed."  The  lot  of  Sam- 
uel King-  is  now  in  possession  of  the  daughters 
of  Mrs.  Sophronia  Jennings. 

Next  south  came  the  lot  of  John  Elton,  1658. 
This  lot  he  obtained  of  William  Purrier,  who 
boug^ht  it  of  ]\Iatthew  Edwards.  It  now  be- 
longs to  the  heirs  of  Sophronia  Jennings. 

The  lot  where  Gilder  S.  Conkling  now  lives 
was  the  original  home  lot  of  Thomas  Mapes. 
He  added  to  these  the  home  lot  of  Jeffrey  Esty, 
who  lived  next  north,  and  also  that  of  John 
Elton.  This  gave  him  a  front  of  about  fifty 
rods  from  the  south  line  of  the  present  home 
lot  of  Gilder  S.  Conkling.  Thomas  ^lapes  was 
born  about  1628,  and  could  not  have  been  one 
of  the  original  settlers.  He  was  a  land  sur- 
veyor and  divided  "Calves  Neck,"  receiving  for 
his  services  the  privilege  of  having  his  share  next 
his  own  home  lot. 

Next  came  the  homestead  of  William  Pur- 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


411 


rier,  who  was  repeatedly  a  delegate  to  New 
Haven  and  filled  many  places  of  honor  and  trust, 
but  left  no  sons  to  perpetuate  his  naniie.  Hiis 
lot  is  a  part  of  the  farm  of  Hiram  Terry,  and 
is  opposite  the  house  of  Edward  Huntting. 

Lastly,  at  the  south  end  of  Main  street,  at 
the  head  of  Jockey  Creek,  was  the  ho*me  lot  of 
Philemon  Dickerson.  now  owned  by  Hiram  Ter- 
rv,  and  Dickerson's  house  stood  a  few  rods  east 
of  Hiram  Terry's  barn.  He  is  mentioned  in  old 
deeds  as  a  "tanner,"  and  the  remains  of  his  tan- 
vats  have  until  recently  been  visible  in  the  hollow 
west  of  the  barn. 

The  road  running  north  from  j\Iain  street 
to  the  railroad  station,  and  called  in  modern 
phraseology  Railroad  avenue,  was  in  ancient 
times  known  as  "Coopers  lane,"  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  Thomas  Cooper,  from  whom,  it  derived 
its  name,  had  his  home  lot  on  its  east  side.  To 
the  west  of  this  highway  was  the  home  lot  of 
William  Wells,  so  prominent  in  all  town  af- 
fairs. This  lot  extended  as  far  as  the  westerly 
side  of  G.  F.  Hommel's  lot,  and  the  original  site 
of  William  Wells'  house  is  now  occupied  by  H. 
W.  Prince.  From  the  description  of  Thomas 
Cooper's  lot  as  given  in  the  town  records  it 
would  seem  as  if  ^Ir.  Wells  must  at  one  time 
have  resided  on  the  lot  east  of  the  road,  now 
owned  by  D.  B.  Wells,  but  probahiy  this  was  only 
for  a  short  time. 

The  next  neighbor  of  William,  Wells  on  the 
west  was  John  Conkling,  who  ownea  the  lot  now 
bounded  on  the  west  l)y  the  east  line  of  D.  F 
Conkling.  This  lot  was  in  his  possession  but 
a  short  time,  when  he  gave  it  to  his  son  and  re- 
moved to  Hashamomack. 

Next  was  the  lot  of  a  man  whose  name  was 
famous  in  Nev/  England  as  well  as  upon  Long 
Island — Captain  John  Underbill.  During  his 
short  stay  in  this  town,  which  was  probably  in 
the  years  1658  and  1659,  he  resided  on  this  lot.~ 
It  is  situated  in  the  heart  of  the  village,  and 
at  the  present  time  is  owned  by  D.  F.  Conkling 
and  William  H.  Buckingham.  Captain  Under- 
hill's  career  is  fully  narrated  in  Thompson's 
"History  of  Long  Island."  His  was  an  eventful 
life — fighting:  with  Indians  at  one  time,  and  at 


another  with  church  authorities,  he  was  in  all 
respects  a  "moving  man."  Southold  was  prob- 
ably too  dull  for  him,  and  in  1659  he  sold  his  lot 
to  Thomas  Moore  and  'sought  and  found  new 
fields  of  actioii. 

Thomas  Brush  owned  the  next  lot,  but  sold 
it  in  1658'  and  removed  to  Huntington,  where 
his  descendants  are  still  to  be  found.  His  lot 
is  now  owned  by  Hezekiah  Jennings. 

:Matthias  Corwin,  whose  claim  to  be  one  of 
the  original  company  has  never  been  disputed, 
lived  on  the  next  lot.  This  was  left  by  him  to 
his  son  John,  who  was  the  owner  for  many  years 
after  his  father's  death,  and  then  removed  to 
what  was  called  the  "Indian  Field"  farm,  in  what 
is  now  the  village  of  Peconic.  This  homestead 
of  Matthias  Corwin  is  directly  opposite  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  is  now  owned  by  DaVid 
A.  Jennings  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Rose. 

Barnabas  Horton's  home  lot,  the  only  one 
which  has  come  down  to  modern  times  through 
an  unbroken  line  of  descendants,  was  next  to 
Matthias  Corwin's.  His  homestead  consisted  of 
two  home  lots,  separated  by  what  is  called  in 
the  old  record  ''the  highway  leading  toward  the 
North  Sea,"  how  called  ''Horton's  Lane."  The 
Catholic  church  stands  on  the  east  lot,  and  also 
the  Presbyterian  Chapel  and  the  residence  of 
the  late  Ira  Tuthill.  Upon  the  west  lot  stood 
until  the  last  few  years  the  original  house  of 
Barnabas  Horton,  which  was,  at  the  time  of  its 
destruction  in  1873,  the  oldest  house  in  Suffolk 
county.  It  iwas  here  that  the  coutts  were  held 
in  ancient  times,  and  it 'was  for  this  purpose 
that  the  original  house  was  enlarged  in  1684. 
After  the  death  oi  the  first  settler  it  passed  in 
succession  to  five  generations  of  his  descendants, 
all  bearing  the  name  of  Jonathan  Horton,  and 
after  a  brief  ownership  by  Henr\'  Fluntting  and 
Dr.  Sweet  it  has  returned  to  its  ancient  line  of 
proprietorship,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
D.  Philander  Horton,  of  the  seventh  generation 
from  Barnabas  the  first.  Careful  drawings  of 
this  ancient  mansion  were  made  before  its  de- 
istruction,  and  will  perpetuate  in  time  to  come 
the  memory  of  one  of  the  most  noted  land- 
marks on  Long  Island.     The  rear  view  of  the 


41i 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


ancient  mansion,  on  another  page,  is  given  by 
permission  of  Harpers,  publishers.  It  was  drawn 
by  the  famous  artist,  E.  A.  Abbey. 

At  the  angle  of  the  town  street,  and  bound- 
ed on  the  west  by  the  road  anciently  known  as 
"Tucker's  Lane,"  was  the  homestead  of  Lieu- 
tenant John  Budd,  and  afterward  of  his  son 
John.  The  Budds  were  in  that  day  the  wealthy 
family  of  the  town,  and  upon  this  lo-t  they  erect- 
ed a  mansion,  yet  standing,  \yhich  must  h'ave 
exceeded  in  magnificence  any  of  the  other  houses 
of  the  early  settlement.  In  -1679  John,  Jr.,  sold 
the  west  part,  with  the  house  upon  it,  to  John 
Hallock,  and  it  is  now  owned  by  Jonathan  W. 
Huntting.  The  eastern  part  was  sold  to  Jere- 
miah Vail,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Sam- 
uel S.  Vail. 

The  next  lot  was  the  home&tead  of  John 
Tucker,  and  was  bounded  north  by  the  road 
that  bore  his  name.  The  lot  seems  at  first  to 
have  belonged  to  Roger  Cheston,  of  whom  we 
know  but  little,  and  afterward  to  Nehemiah 
Smith,  of  whom,  we  know  still  less.  John  Tucker 
in  1659  removed  to  ''Ockabock,"  and  was  the 
first  man  who  set  up  a  sawmill  on  the  ^stream 
at  Riverhead.  He  was  an  ofRcer  in  the  early 
church,  and  is  mentioned  as  "Deacon  Tucker.'' 
His  home  lot  is  now  owned  by  Barnabas  H. 
Booth. 

Joseph  Horton,  oldest  son  of  the  first  Barna- 
bas, records  his  home  lot  as  "lying  between  the 
land  of  John  Tucker  east  and  Barnabas  Wines 
west."  In  1665  he  sold  it  to  his  father  and  re- 
moved to  Rye,  in  Westchester  county,  where 
his  descendants  are  still  remaining.  The  lot 
continued  in  the  Horton  family  for  some  gen- 
erations, and  is  now  owned  hy  Captain  Benja- 
min  Coles. 

Next  was  the  homestead  of  Barnabas  Wines, 
who  recorded  it  in  1665.  From  him  it  descend- 
ed to  his  second  son,  Samuel.  His  first  son, 
Barnabas,  went  to  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey, 
in  1665;  but  after  some  years  returned  and  set- 
tled at  Mattituck,  on  a  farm  still  owned  by  his 
posterity.  The  original  home  lot  is  now  owned 
by  heirs  of  i\Ioses  Cleveland  and  Joseph  Horton. 


Thomas  Scudder  lived  next,  and  recorded  his 
home  lot  with  his  other  land  in  1654.  In  1656 
he  sold  it  to  John  Bayles'and  removed  to  Hunt- 
ington, with  his  brothers  Henry  and  John.  It  is 
now  owned  by  Charles  A.  Case, 

Henry  Terry  lived  next.  It  is  probable  that 
he  was  one  of  Minister  Youngs'  company.  His 
brother  Thomas  was  either  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  Southampton,  or  was  at  least  a  witness 
to  their  agreement.  Richard  Terry,  Jr.,  was 
styled  "recorder."  About  1673  'he  removed  to 
Cutchogue,  where  he  owned  a  large  tract  of 
land,  including  a  part  of  Pequash  or  "Quasha" 
Neck.  Richard,  Sr.,  died  in  1675,  and  his  widow 
Abigail  and  son  John  then  continued  on  the  old 
homestead.  It  now  belongs  to  Moses  Cleveland, 
Charles  S.  Williams  and  George  B.  Simons. 
Between  Richard  Terry  and  his  brother  Thomas 
lived  Thomas  Reeves,  the  ancestor  of  the  fam- 
ilies of  that  name  throughout  the  town.  The 
lot  is  now  owned  by  Edward  Huntting,  who  in- 
herited it  frorn  his  father,  the  Rev.  Jonathan 
Huntting  in  1850. 

Last  came  the  home  lot  of  Thomas  Terry, 
which  is  mentioned  a?  ''next  the  bridge,"  and 
doubtless  there  was  a  swamp  or  morass  there  in 
early  days ;  even  now  a  small  bridge  is  deemed 
necessary  for  the  highway  tO'  cross  the  "run."  He 
died  in  1672,  and  the  lot  went  to  his  son  Daniel. 
It  was  in  after  time  the  dwelling  place  of  "Good 
Jonathan  Horton,"  a  great-grandson  of  Barnabas. 
It  is  now  owned  by  Patrick  May. 

Colonel  John  Youngs,  the  right  arm  of  the 
s.ettlement,  had  his  homestead  on  the  east  side 
of  the  road  running  fromi  Main  street  to  Town 
Creek,  and  opposite  the  dwelling  place  of  his 
father,  the  minister.  Here  he  lived  until  his 
death  in  1697.  The  history  of  the  lot  subse- 
quent to  this  can  not  be  traced,  but  about  one 
hundred  years  ago  it  came  into  the  possession 
of  Richard  Peters,  a  merchant,  and  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Richard  L.  Peters,  or  a  part  of 
it,  is  believed  to  be  the  identical  mansion  occupied 
by  Colonel  Youngs  during  his  long  life.  Upon 
this  lot  also  stands  the  dwelling  house  of  Hon. 
J.  Wickham  Case,  whose  efforts  to  preserve  the 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


413 


relics  of  our  early  history  have  placed  the  town 
under  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be  re- 
paid. 

To  the  east  of  Colonel  Youngs  lived  John 
Haynes  in  1656^  and  on  the  south  of  these  two 
lots  and  next  the  creek  was  the  home  lot  of  Isaac 
Arnold,  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  second 
generation,  and  judge  of  the  county  from  1693 
to  1706. 

To  the  east  of  John  Haynes  lived  John  Corey 
and  Peter  Paine,  while  next  the  creek  was  the 
home  lot  of  Thomas  Moore.  This  is  described 
in  the  record  of  1658  as  "six  acres  more  or  lesse, 
the  widdowe  Payne's  habitacon  Southwest,  the 
Creeke  on  the  north  east  side."  This  is  the 
present  residence  of  William  T.  Fithian.  The 
house  which  stood  on  this  lot  was  famous  .as  be- 
ing the  place  where  the  Dutch  Commissioners 
sent  from  New  York  in  1673  had  their  fornial 
meeting,  and  made  their  endeavors  to  bring  the 
town  under  the  Dutch  government. 

At  the  east  end  of  jNIain  street,  near  the 
residence  of  Airs.  Beulah  Goldsmith,  was  the 
home  lot  of  Henry  Case.  The  first  mention 
of  him  occurs  December  15,  1658,  when  the 
town  granted  him  a  lot  of  four  acres  ''next  to 
the  east  side  of  the  lot  late  granted  to  Richard 
Skydmore."  It  was  provided  that  he  should 
remain  and  improve  the  same  for  three  years. 
In  1658  he  married  Alartha,  only  daughter  of 
Matthias  Corwin.  He  died  in  1664,  leaving  two 
sons,  Henry  and  Theophilus.  To  give  a  record 
of  all  his  descendants  would  far  exceed  our 
limits,  but  one  branch  deserves  especial  men- 
tion. Henry  2d  had  a  son  Samuel,  who  had 
a  son  Lieutenant  Moses,  who  died  September 
25,  1814,  aged  ninety-one  years,  leaving  sons 
Gilbert,  Matthias  and  Luther.  This  last  was  the 
father  of  Hon.  J.  Wickham  Case,  whose  knowl- 
edge of  the  local  history  of  the  town  was  not 
exceeded  by  that  of  any  living  man,  and  for 
whose  assistance  the  writer  is"  under  the  deepest 
obligations. 

The  original  Indian  deed  of  sale  given  to 
Minister  Yonno-s  and  his  associates  has  been  lost, 
but  in  1665  a  coi.^rmatory  deed  was  drawn  up 
and   signed   by   the    ^ndian   chiefs,   covering   all 


the  purchases  up  to  that  time.     It  runs  as  fol- 
lows: 

To  all  people  to  whom  this  present  writing 
shall  come,  greeting.  Know  yee  that,  whereas 
the  inhabitants  of  Southold,  their  predecessors, 
or  some  O'f  them,  have,  in  the  right  and  behalf 
of  the  'said  Inhabitants  and  Township,  pur- 
chased, procured  and  paid  for,  of  the  Sachems 
and  Indians  our  Ancestors,  all  that  tract  of  land 
situate,  lying  and  being  at  the  East  ward  end 
of  Long  Island,  and  bounded  with  the  river  called 
in  the  English  toung  the  Weading  Kreek,  in  the 
Indian  toung  Pauquaconsuck,  on  the  West  to 
and  with  Plum  island  on  the  east,  together  with 
the  island  called  Plum  island,  with  the  'Sound 
called  the  North  sea  on  the  north,  and  with  a 
River  or  arme  of  the  sea  wch  runneth  up  be- 
tweene  Southampton  Land  and  the  afore  said 
tract  of  land  unto  a  certain  Kreek,  which  fresh 
water  runneth  into  on  ye  South,  called  in  English 
the  Red  Kreek,  in  Indian  Toy^onge,  together 
with  the  said  Kreek  and  meadows  belonging 
there  to;  and  running  on  a  st;;aigbt  lyne  from 
the  head  of  the  afore  named  fresh  water  to  the 
head  of  ye  Small  brook  that  runneth  into  the 
Kreek  called  Pauquaconsuck;  as  also  all  necks 
of  land's  meadows,  Islands  or  broken  pieces  of 
meadows,  rivers,  Kreeks,  with  timber,  wood 
lands,  fishing,  fowling,  hunting,  and  all  other 
commodities  what  so  ever  unto  the  said  Tract 
of  land  and  island  belonging  or  in  any  wise 
appertaining,  as  Curchaug  and  Mattatuck,  and 
all  other  tracts  of  land  by  what  name  what  so- 
ever named  or  by  what  name  so  ever  called ; 
and  whereas  the  now  Inhabitants  of  the  afore 
named  town  of  Southold  have  given  untO'  us 
whose  names  are  under  written,  being  true  suc- 
cessors of  the  lawful  and  true  Indian  owners 
and  proprietors  of  all  the  aforesaid  tract  of  land 
and  islands,  fourty  yards  of  Trucking  cloth,  or 
the  worth  of  the  same,  the  receipt  Where  of  and 
every  part  of  the  same  we  doe  hereby  acknowl- 
edge and  thereof  acquit  and  discharge  the  In- 
habitants, their  heirs,  successors  or  assigns,  and 
eve"ry  of  them  by  these  presents. 

Now  these  ipresents  witnesseth  that  wee 
whose  names  are  under  written,  for  the  con- 
sideration aforementioned,  hath  given,  granted, 
remised  and  confirmed,  and  doth  by  these  pres- 
ents grant,  remise  and  confirm  unto  Captain 
John  Youngs,  Barnabas  Horton  and  Thomas 
Mapes,  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  Inhabitants  and 
township  of  Southold  and  for  the  use  of  the 
aforesaid  Inhabitants,  according  to  their  and 
every  of  their  several  dividends,  to  have  and  to 


414 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


hold  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever,  by  virtue 
of  the  afore  recited  bargain,  bargains,  gifts  and 
_grants  of  what  nature  or  kind  soever  made  with 
our  predecessors,  we  under  written  doe  confirm 
all  the  afore  named  tract  of  land,  contained  with 
the  afore  mentioned  bounds,  as  also  Plum  island, 
witli  warranty  against  us,  our  heirs  or  any  of 
us  or  them,  or  any  other  person  or  persons' 
clainie,  or  from,  b)-  or  under  us,  them,  or  any  of 
us  or  them,  or  any  other  person  or  persons,  as 
our,  theirs  or  any  of  our  or  their  right,  title  or 
interests ;  as  witness  our  hands  and  seals  this  sev- 
enth of  December,  1665,  in  the  Seventeenth 
yeare  of  ve  reigne  of  our  Soveraigne  Lord 
Charles  by  the  -grace  of  God  of  England,  Scot- 
land, France  and  Ireland  King, -defender  of '  the 
faith  &c. 

[Signed  by  Ambuscow,  Hammatux  and  41 
others.] 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  ye  presence  of  us 

Ben  J  A  MIX    Youngs. 

Berwin   Flint. 

Some  years  since,  the  writer  of  this  sketch 
saw  in  the  book  store  of  Dodd  &  Meade,  Broad- 
way, New  York,  the  following  document: 

Know  all  whome  it  may  concern,  That 
whereas  I  ^lammawetough.  Sachem  of  Corch- 
auge  scituate  on  Long  Island  adjoyning  to  the 
English  plantation  called  Southold,  as  well  for 
and  in  respect  of  my  lowe  and  affection  vnto 
Theophilus  Eaton,  Esq.,  Gouvernor  of  the  Juris- 
diction of  Newhaven,  Stephen  Goodyeare  Depu- 
ty gouvenor,  &  Captayne  ]\Ialbon  of  Newhaven 
■afforesa3'"d,  as  also  in  consideracon  of  six  coats  to 
m^e  by  them  given  &  paid,  the  receipt  whereof 
by  these  presents  I  acknowledge,  and  thereby 
doe  fully  hereby  discharge  them,  their  heires 
and  assigns  for  ever,  have  given  granted  bar-' 
g"ained  and  sold  vnto  them  the  said  Theophilus 
Eaton,  Stephen  Goodyeare  &  Captayne  jNIalbon, 
their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  all  that  tract 
or  neck  of  land  by  som  called  hashamomucke 
neck,  lying  and  being  on  Long  Island  aforesaid, 
beginning  at  a  creek  called  and  knowne  by  name 
of  Paucackatum,  bounded  011  the  west  by  the 
land  in  the  occupation  of  William  Salmon  ex- 
tending itselfe  to  the  Eastward  towardis  plum 
Island,  the  breadth  thereof  also  to  the  North  & 
sea,  and  also  Plum  Island  aforesaid,  together 
with  tlieire  &  either  of  their  Rights  libertyes 
Im'munityes  &  appurtenances,  To  have  and  to 
hold  the  said  tract  of  land  and  Plum  Island  and 
■every  part  and  parccll  both  of  the  said  tract  of 


land  and  Island,  with  theire  and  all  of  their 
appurtenances,  to  the  said  Theophilus  Eaton, 
Stephen  Goodyeare  &  Captayne  Malbon  &  their 
heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  with  waranty  as  in 
a  deed  of  bargaine  and  saile  vnder  my  hand  & 
seale  dated  the  sixth  of  this  Instant  May  Anno 
1648,  doth  and  may  appeare.  Now  know  ^-ee 
that  wharas  another  Sac'hem  called  A'xccopesson 
doth  challenge  an  antient  right  to  and  in  the  said 
lands  or  some  part  of  them  from  his  predecess- 
ors, I  the  said  ^lammawetough,  Sachem  of 
Corchauge  aforesaid  do  by  these  presents  af- 
firme  declare  and  testifye  that  the  said  tract  of 
land  &  I'slan.d  called  plume  Island  are  part  of 
my  proper  lands  and  inheritance,  and  that  I  have 
the  sole  right  in  them  to  give,  grant,  sell  and  dis- 
pose as  I  see  cause,  and  I  hereby  ratifye  and  con- 
fiiTue  the  bargaine  and  sale  above  recited,  to 
them  the  said  llieophilus  Eaton,  Stephen  Good- 
yeare and  Captayne  Richard  AI;albon,  their  heirs 
and  assigns  for  ever,  together  with  theire  and 
every  of  theire  Rights  libertyes  &  appurtenances, 
of  what  kind  or  nature  so  ever,  and  by  these 
presents  I  promise  and  ingage  my  selfe,  mv 
heires,  &c,  that  I  will  satisfye  and  content  the  said 
Vxcoopesson  in  such  sort  that  hee  shall  also  by 
his  deed  and  full  grant  pass  over  Avhat  ever  right 
and  title  he  had  or  hath  in  the  said  lands  or  any 
pt  of  them  and  ratifye  and  confirme  the  bar- 
gaine &  sale  I  have  made  to  them  the  said  The- 
ophilus, Stephen  &  Richard,  theire  heires  &  as- 
signs for  ever,  equitting  and  discharging  them 
for  ever,  unto  them  all  the  right  and  tytle 
he  had  or  hath  or  that  any  may  or  shall  claime 
for  or  vnder  him,  and  this  at  my  proper  cost  and 
charge,  and  lastly  I  the  said  Mammawetough 
doe  by  these  presents  assure  and  warrant  the 
saide  tract  of  land  and  Island  called  Plum  island 
unto  the  said  Theophilus.  Stephen  and  Richard, 
and  to  theire  heires  and  assigns  forever,  from 
and  against  all  and  every  person  or  persons  In- 
dian or  others  who  may  plead  or  pretend  by 
any  Indian  or  other,  any  right  title  propriety  or 
interest  in  the  said  trac  of  land  or  Island  or  any 
portion  or  pt  of  them  or  either  of  them,  or  any 
of  their  rights  libertyes,  immunities  or  appurte- 
nances what  soever. 

In  Witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  sett  my 
hand  and  seale  the  sixteenth  dav  of  Mav,  An. 
1648. 

his 
^[a:n[mawetough.       X 
^_^  mark. 

Signed  sealed  'and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 

Francis  Newman 

Samuel  Eton 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


415 


his 

his 

r  ITCH  A  MOCK            X 

AUSO^IUSGU 

X 

mark 

mark 

his 

his 

Warren         X 

Taucodich 

X 

mark 

mark 

his 

his 

Wampeerocox       X  Ouancucush         X 

mark  m;.rk 

f    A  true  Copie  of  the  Originall  deed  by  mee 
Rtchard   Terry,    Recorder. 
Endorsed,  "A  copie  of  Mamawetough  his  deed 
of  Oysterponds  and  Plum  Island  1648." 

Richard  Terry  was  recorder  from  1662  to 
1684,  and  the  above  copy  was  in  his  handwrit- 
ing. The  original  deed  is  probably  lost  for- 
ever. 

Alammawetough,  Sachem  of  Corchaug,  ad- 
joining to  the  English  called  Southold,  sells  to 
Theophilus  Eaton,  Governor,  Stephen  Good- 
yeare  and  Captain  Alalbon,  of  Xew  Haven,  "for 
six  coats.  All  that  tract  of  land  lying  at  a 
creeke  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Paw- 
cuckatux,  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  land  in  oc- 
cupation of  l\Ir.  Salmon,  extending  itself  east  to- 
wards Plum  Island,  the  breadth  thereof  also  to 
ye  north  and  south  sea.  Also  Plum  Island 
aforesaid.    Together  with  all,"  etc.    May  6,  1648. 

The  above  is  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State. 

As  we  have  shown  before,  ^Matthew  Sinder- 
land  was  the  first  owner  or  possessor  of  lands 
within  the  hmits  of  the  town,  and  that  they  fell 
to  his  widow  who  married  AA'illiam  Salmon,  and 
after  her  death  he  married  Sarah  Plorton.  After 
the  death  of  William  Salmon,  his  widow  married 
John  Conkling,  Jr.,  who  bought  the  shares  of 
the  children  of  William  Salmon,  and  became  the 
sole  owner  of  Hashamamock,  with  the  exception 
of  a  portion  which  he  had  given  to  John  Corey 
to  induce  him  to  come  and  live  there.  To  make 
things  sure,  John  Conkling  dbtained  a  new  deed 
from  Wyacombone  (or  Wycombee  as  spelled 
in  the  deed),  who  was  the  son  and  heir  of  Wyan- 
danch,  the  famous  Sachem  of  [Nlontauk.  This 
deed  recites  that'  ''iam  Salmon  blacksmith, 
had  married  Katherine;  widow  of  ^Matthew  Sin- 
derland,  who  was  the  po'&sessor  of  Hashamam- 


ock ''for  and  on  the  behalf  of  James  Farrett,  as 
agent  of  the  Earl  of  Sterling."  It  also  recites 
the  two  deeds  for  lands  at  Oyster  Bay,  and  that 
Aiatthew  Sinderland  "died  not  long  after,"  and 
that  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  William 
Salmon  married  Sarah  Plorton,  and  had  Issue  by 
both  wives.  That  John  Conkling,  Jr.,  married 
hb  widow,  "and  hath  obtained  a  confirmation  of 
Hashamamock  lands  of  Sarttaine  Indians  con- 
sidered to  be  the  undoubted  Proprietors  thereof.'' 
It  also  states  that  th-e  Sachem  of  ]\Iontauk  was 
made  the  Chief  Sachem  of  Long  Island  Indians. 
The  young  chief  Wycombee  and  his  mother 
therefore  confirm  the  same.  The  bounds  of  this- 
tract  as  described  In  a  deed  from  Paucump, 
sachem  of  Corchaug,  to  William  Salmon  in  1660 
were  as  follows:  Tom's  Creek  (now  Mill 
Creek)  was  the  line  on  the  west  and  the  sound 
on  the  north.  The  northeast  corner  was  to  be 
at  a  place  called  ^^Ilnnapaugs,  being  as  the  deed 
says  "a  little  pond  and  a  parcel  of  trees  stand- 
ing by  it;"  and  thence  the  east  line  ran  "south 
to  a  creek  called  Pawcuckatux."  All  the  land  east 
of  this  belonged  to  the  town,  by  purchase  made 
probaibly  about  1649.  In  ancient  times  a  fence 
wasi  made  from  the  head  of  Stirling  Creek  to  the 
sound,  and  in  February,  1662,  the  town  gave 
all  the  land  'between  this  fence  and  the  bounds 
of  the  tract  above  described  to  Captain  John 
Youngs,  Thomas  Moore,  and  the  "Hashamamack 
inhabitants" — that  is,  persons  who  by  purchase 
or  otherwise  had  become  owners  of  the  Salmon 
tract  mentioned  above.  The  fence  above  spoken 
of  ran  along  the  west  line  of  the  lands  late  of  J. 
Newell  Youngs  and  Jeremiah  King  (deceased). 
In  dividing  this  tract  the  Plashamamack  p-eople 
took  the  east  part  of  their  own  land.  Thomas 
Moore  took  his  part  east  of  that  bounded  north 
by  the  sound  and  south  by  land  he  already  owned 
there.  The  east  part  next  to  the  fence  fell  to 
Captain  Youngs.  This  grant  embraced  several 
hundred  acres  and  was  given  on  condition  that 
they  should  maintain  the  fence. 

Hashamlamock  being  a  separate  purchase  or 
ownership,  it  was  not  at  first  a  part  of  the  town 
of  Southold,  but  in  Februar)-  24,  1662,  it  was 
voted    "that    the    Inhabitants    of    Hashamamock 


416 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


should  be  received  as  Inhabitants."  The  import- 
ance of  the  question  as  to  the  time  of  the  first  set- 
tlement justifies  us  as  giving  the  following  con- 
clusions : 

First.  Matthew  Sinderland  was  in  actual 
possession  of  Hashamamock  at  some  time  after 
the  deeds  for  lands  at  Oyster  Bay,  as  he  is  then 
mentioned  as  "of  Boston." 

Second.  No  deed  from  Farrett  was  shown 
or  was  known  to  exist.  Otherwise  it  would  sure- 
ly have  been  mentioned  in  the  subsequent  deeds. 

Third.  The  date  of  Sinderland's  occupancy 
was  prior  to  the  purchase  by  Rev.  John  Youngs 
and  Company. 

For  the  Indian  deeds  for  the  western  part  of 
the  town,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  History  of 
Riverhead. 

In  1662  the  commonwealth  of  New  Haven 
became  merged  in  that  of  Connecticut,  and  South- 
old  appears  to  have  accepted  that  change  with 
reluctance,  but  the  connection  was  a  brief  one, 
for  in  1664  Governor  Nicolls  asserted  the  author- 
ity for  his  patron,  the  Duke  of  York,  and  it  was 
not  long  thereafter  that  Governor  Winthrop,  of 
Connecticut,  acquiesced  in  that  claim  and  virtu- 
ally told  the  English  town  on  Lo^ng  Island  to 
make  peace  with  the  agent  of  their  new  master. 
After  some  unavailing  remonstrance,  the  town 
obtained  the  following  patent,  which  from  its  ■ 
importance  we  give  entire  : 

"Edmund  Andross,  Esq.,  Seigneur  of  Saus- 
maures,  Lieut,  and  Governor  Genl  under  his 
Royal  highness  James,  Duke  of  York  and  Al- 
bany, and  of  all  his  territory  in  America. 
Whereas  there  is  a  certain  Towne  in  the 
East-  Riding  of  Yorkshire  upon  Long  Island, 
commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of 
South  Hold,  Iving  and  being  on  the  North  side 
of  the  said  Island,  towards  the  Sound,  haveing 
a  certain  Tract  of  land  thereunto  belonging,  the 
Western  bounds  whereof  extend  to  a  certain 
river  or  creeke  called  the  Wading  Creeke,  in  the 
Indian  tongue  Pawquacunsuck,  and  bounded  to 
the  Eastward  by  Plum  Island',  together  with  ye 
said  island :  on  yc  North  with  ye  sound  or 
North  sea,  and  on  ye  South  with  an  arm  of  ye 
sea  or  River  which  runneth  up  between  South- 
ampton land  &  ye  aforesaid  tract  of  land  unto  a 
certain    creek   which   fresh   water   runneth   into, 


called  in  English  ye  red  creek,  by  ye  Indians 
Toyouriigs,  together  with  ye  said  creek  and 
meadows  belonging  thereunto  (not  contradict- 
ing ye  Agreement  made  between  their  town  and 
ye  town  of  Southampton  after  their  tryal  at  the 
Court  of  Assizes)  :  soe  running  on  a  strait  line 
from  }'e  head  of  ye  aforenamed  fresh  water  to 
ye  head  of  ye  small  brook  that  runneth  into  ye 
creek  called  Pauquacunsuck;  including  all  ye 
necks  of  land  and  islands  within  ye  afore  de- 
scribed bounds  and  limits. 

''Now  for  a  confirmation  unto  the  present 
freeholders  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Towne  and 
precincts,  know  yee  that  by  virtue  of  his  ]\Iajes-- 
tys  Letters  Patent,  and  the  Commission  and 
authority  unto  me  given  by  his  Royal  Hig'hness, 
I  have  Ratifyed  confirmed  and  granted  and  by 
these  presents  do  hereby  Ratify  confirm  and  grant 
unto  Isaac  Arnold  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Capt. 
John  Young,  Joshua  Horton,  Constable,  Barna- 
bas Horton,  Benjamin  Young,  Samuel  Glover 
and  Jacob  Corey,  overseers,  as  Patentees  for  and 
on  the  behalf  of  themselves,  and  their  associates, 
the  freeholders  aiid  Inhabitants  of  the  said  town, 
their  heirs  Successors  and  assigns,  all  that  afore- 
mencioned  Tract  of  land  with  the  neck  and  Isl- 
ands within  the  said  bounds  set  forth  and  de- 
scribed as  aforesaid.  Together  with  all  Rivers 
Lakes,  waters,  Ouarryes,  Timber,  woods,  wood- 
lands, Plaines,  meadows,  broken  pieces  of  mead- 
ows. Pastures,  marshes,  fishing,  hawking,  hunt- 
ing and  fowling,  and  all  other  profits,  commodi- 
ties emoluments  and  hereditaments  to  the  said 
Town,  tract  of  land  and  premises  within  the  Lim- 
mitts  and  bounds,  aforemenconed,  described,  be- 
longing or  in  any  wise  appertaining.  To  Have 
and  to  Hold,  3II  and  singular  the  said  lands  he- 
reditaments and  premises  with  their  and  every 
of  their  appurtenances  and  of  every  part  and  par- 
cell  thereof  to  the  said  Patentees  and  their  as- 
sociates, their  heirs  Successors  and  Assigns  for- 
ever. The  tenure  of  said  lands  and  premises  to 
bee  according-  to  the  custom  of  the  manor  of  East 
Greenwich  in  the  County  of  Kent  in  England  in 
free  and  Common  Soccage  and  by  fealty  onely 
Provided  allwayes  notwithstanding  that  the  ex- 
tent of  the  Bounds  before  recited  do  no  way  prej- 
udice or  infringe  the  particular  propriety  of  any 
person  or  persons  who  have  right  by  patent  or 
other  lawfull  claime  to  any  part  or  any  parts  or 
parcell  of  land  or  tenements  within  the  Limits 
afore  said,  onely  that  all  the  said  Lands  and  Plan- 
tacons  within  the  said  Limits  or  bounds  shall 
have  relacon  to  Town  in  generall  for  the  well 
government  thei  cof,  and  if  it  shall  so  happen  that 
any  part  or  parcell  of  the  said  lands  within  the 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD, 


417 


bounds  and  Limits  afore  described  be  not  already 
purchased  by  the  Indyans,  it  may  bee  purclmsed 
(as  occasion)  according  to  Law.  I  do  hereby 
likewise  confirm  and  grant  unto  the  said  Patent- 
ees and  their  associates  their  heires,  Successors 
and  assigns  all  the  priviledges  and  Immunities  be- 
longing to  a  Towne  within  this  Government,  and 
that  the  place  of  their  present  habitacon  and  abode 
shall  continue  and  retaine  the  name  of  South 
Hold,  by  which  name  and  stile  it  shall  be  dis- 
tinguished and  known  in  all  bargains  and  sales. 
Deeds,  Records  and  writings,  they  making  im- 
provement on  the  said  land  and  conforming  them- 
selves according  to  Law,  and  yielding  and  pay- 
ing therefor  yearly  and  every  year  unto  his  Royal 
highness  use  as  Quit  rent,  one  fatt  Lamb  unto 
such  officer  or  officers  there  in  authority,  as  shall 
be  empowered  to  receive  the  same.  Given  under 
my  hand  and  Sealed  with  the  Scale  of  the  Prov- 
ince in  New  York,  the  31st  day  of  October  in.  the 
28  ycare  of  his  majestys  Raigne,  Annoque  Dom- 
ini, 1676. 

"E.  Andross." 

On  December  27,  1676,  the  patentees  named 
in  the  patent  executed  a  deed  of  confirmation  to 
their  associates,  the  freeholders  of  the  town, 
and  confirmed  to  them  their  rights  in  all  lands, 
already  divided,  as  well  as  their  rights  in  com- 
mon, and  this  deed  proved  that  the  common  lands 
in  the  township  did  not  of  right  belong  to  any 
one  simply  because  they  held  a  residence  in  the 
town.  The  first  comers  had  bought  the  land  and 
had  used  as  much  as  they  wanted,  but  they  never 
had  any  idea  that  those  who  afterward  settled 
among  them  should  enter  into  possession  of  any 
of  the  land  thus  bought  except  by  purchase  or  by 
grant  of  the  town  meeting  for  some  specified 
purpose  or  public  benefit.  At  the  same  time  a 
complete  list  of  the  Proprietors  with  their  re- 
spective rights  was  made. 

In  1796  an  act  of  legislature  was  passed, 
which  empowered  the  proprietors  to  elect  three 
trustees  to  have  the  management  of  the  undi- 
vided land.  This  Act  was  amended,  and  their 
powers  extended  in  1847.  The  settlers  were  thus 
confirmed  in  the  possession  of  their  lands,  but 
they  had  been  under  their  improvement  long 
years  before.  It  is  supposed  that  the  first  at- 
tempt at  cultivation,  and  the  first  division  of 
land  exceptmg  the  home  lots,  were  made  in  a 

27 


tract  that  is  very  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
old  records  as  the  Old  Field.  This  was  probably 
cleared  and  cultivated  by  the  Indians  before  the 
advent  of  the  white  man,  and  from  the  aborigi- 
nal relics  which  have  been  from  time  to  time 
found  there  it  seemsi  probable  that  it  was  the 
site  of  one  of  their  villages.  It  was  situated  at 
the  extreme  eastern  part  of  the  village  of  South- 
old  ;  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  harbor  and 
Peconic  Bay,  and  on  the  east  by  Budd^s  Pond  or 
Creek;  is  separated  from  what  wasi  called  Sau- 
gust  Neck  by  a  small  pond  and  stream,  and  in 
early  times  had  a  belt  of  woods  on  its  northern 
border.  It  was  about  100  acres  in  extent  and  was 
divided  into  small  lots,  and  each  person  had  his 
part,  large  or  small  in  proportion  to  his  share 
in  the  commonage  or  public  land.  Thus  we  find 
recorded  to  minister  Youngs  ''two  acres  more  or 
lesse  of  arable  land  in  the  old  field,  the  land  of 
Barnabas  Horton  on  the  north  and  the  land  of 
Benjamin  Horton  on  the  south,  .which  land  hee 
had  of  John  Budd  by  vertu  of  an  exchange." 
Thomasi  Mapes  has  "one  acre  in  the  old  field  of 
earable  land,  the  land  of  John  Peaken  on  the 
west  and  Arthur  Smyth  east."  In  the  records 
of  lands  as  given  in  by  the  various  freeholders 
constant  mention  is  made  of  the  "Old  Feld." 

The  lands  north  of  the  village  were  laid  out 
in  lots  of  various  sizes.  Thus  Philemon  Dicker- 
son  records  in  1654  "Twentie  four  acres  of  wood 
land  more  or  lesse  lyinge  betweene  two  high 
ways  leading  from  the  Towne  towards  the  North 
sea ;  That  is  to  saye  one  of  the  said  high  ways 
adjoyning  to  Barnabas  Horton's  home  lott,  and 
the  other  to  Thomas  Cooper^s,  The  land  of  Mr. 
Youngs,  Pastor,  lying  on  the  South  west  and 
John  Conkling  sen.  north  east."  This  tract  is 
north  of  the  railroad,  and  extends  from  Railroad 
avenue  to  the  next  highway  west. 

On  the  borders  of  the  sound  (called  in  old 
times  the  "North  Sea,"  in  distinction  from  Pe- 
conic Bay)  was  laid  out  a  tract  called  the  North 
Sea  lots.  A  tract  at  the  head  of  the  Mill  Creek 
was  called  "Peaken's  Neck,''  after  John  Peaken, 
an  early  settler  who  owned  most  of  it.  The 
creek  itself  was  called  "Thomas  Benedict's 
Creek,"   from  one  of  the  owners   of  Has-hamo- 


418 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


mack,  and  this  was  shortened  first  into  "Thomas 
Creek"  and  then  into  "Tom's  Creek,"  by  which 
name  it  was  for  a  long  period  exclusively  known. 
Salt  meadow  with  its  never  failing  crop  of  grass 
was  highly  prized,  and  small  lots  of  this  were  of 
greater  value  than  large  tracts  of  upland.  Four 
years'^ peaceable  possession  of  land  made  a  good 
title,  and  thus  all  disputes  were  settled  "in  the 
time  of  them."  Any  man  who  absented  himself 
fi-om  town  meeting,  or  should  depart  before  its 
conclusion,  wp.s  fined  five  shillings. 

The  fact  that  the  early  records  of  laying  out 
the  lands  are  lost  renders  it  difficult  to  deter- 
mine with  exactness  the  bounds  of  the  original 
divisions,  but  the  frequent  notices  and  descrip- 
tions of  lots  give  us  data  from  which  we  can 
draw  conclusions  with  a  reasonable  degree  of 
certainty.  The  first  actual  information  we  have 
is  in  1658,  when  "itt  was  agreede  uppon  att  a 
towne  meetinge  of  the  ffreemen  that  Thomas 
jNfapes  shall  lay  out  the  Calves'  neck,  every  man 
his  portion  as  it  shall  fall  out  by  lott  tO'  him. 
And  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  same  the  said 
Thomas  shall  have  his  own  share  and  portion 
next  at  the  recre  of  his  owne  lot."  This  is  the 
tract  of  land  that  constitutes  the  southeast  part 
of  the  heart  of  the  village  of  Southold,  extend- 
ing from  Town  Creek  on  the  east  to  Jockey 
Creek  on  the  west.  A  large  portion  of  the  west- 
ern part  was  early  bought  from  its  various  own- 
ers by  ^Master  John  Booth.  The  Southold  fair 
grounds  are  on  this  part.  The  eastern  section 
was  once  owned  by  Hon.  Ezra  L'Hommedieu 
and  was  late  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  S. 
Lester. 

In  1661  we  have  the  following  record: 

*Tt  was  then  agreed  and  confirmed  by  a  major 
vote  that  all  common  lands  att  Oyster  ponds, 
Curchaug,  Occabauk  and  Mattatuck  should  be 
surveyed,  and  layed  out  to  every  man  his  due  pro- 
porcon  in  each  place,  as  it  was  then  agreed. 

"Oyster  ponds  lands  into  fortie  small  lots,  to 
such  persons  only  as  have  given  in  their  names 
for  these  dividends.  Curchaug  bounds',  from  the 
Towne's  antient  bounds-  to  the  Canoe  place  at 
Mattituck,  also  into  fortie  small  lots  to  those  per- 
sons only  as  likewise  have  given  in  their  names 
in  writing  for  the  same;  and  Occabauk  and  the 


rest  of  [Mattituck  lands,  from  the  said  Canoe 
place  as  far  as  the  Towne  had  any  rights,  to  bee 
divided  into  fortie  small  lotts  also,  and  to  re- 
mayne  to  such  persons  as  in  like  manner  had  giv- 
en in  their  names  in  writinge  to  bee  the  soule  pro- 
prietors thereof. 

"The  meadow  front  of  Accabouk  to  bee  di- 
vided to  every  inhabitant  accordinge  to  his  pur- 
chase thereof  and  not  according  to  the  former 
dividends." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  this  order  for  the  di- 
visions was  made  before  the  final  deed  of  con- 
firmation was  obtained,  and  hence  it  was  agreed 
that  if  any  persons  were  deprived  of  their  rights 
in  any  part  it  should  be  made  up  to  them  out 
of  the  rest,  and  that  all  charges  should  be  borne 
by  the  inhabitants  "proportionally  to  their  divi- 
dents." 

The  following  shows  the  original  owners  of 
each  of  these  great  divisions : 

"Oyster  ponds  Dividcnt  into  Small  lots. — Mr. 
John  Youngs,  Pastor,  4;  Captain  Youngs,  6; 
Tho.  Moore  Sen.,  2;  Lieut.  Glover,  2;  Richard 
Browne,  2;  Thomas  ^loore  jr.,  3;  Jolm  Herbert, 
2  ;  John  Payne,  i  ;  Airs.  Youngs,  widow,  8;  John 
Conkling  Sen.,  2;  John  Corey,  2;  Tho.  Osmond, 
2  ;  Tho.  Conkling  jr.,  i  ;  Geolfry  Jones,  i ;  Abram 
Whittier,  t  ;  Tho.  Rider,  i  ; — 40. 

''Curchaug  Dividcnt. — William  \\^ells,  3 ; 
Barnabas  Horton,  3 ;  \\m.  Furrier,  3 ;  Barnabas 
Wines  sr.,  2  ;  Barnabas  \\  ines  jr.,  2;  John  Elton, 
3 ;  Jeremiah  \'ale,  3 ;  Richard  Terry,  2 ;  Thomas 
Reeves,  2;  Robert  Smyth,  i  ;  Air.  Booth,  2;  John 
Corwin,  2;  Samuel  King,  i  ;  Joseph  Youngs  jr., 
I ;  Rich.  Benjamin,  2 ;  Thomas  Alapes,  3 ;  Thomas 
Brush,  I ;  Philemon  Dickerson,  2 ;  Benjamin 
Florton,  2 ;  Wid.  Cooper,  3  ;  Tho.  Terry,  i ; — 44. 

''Occabauk  Dividcnt. — Wm.  Wells,  3;  John 
Budd.  4 ;  John  Swazy,  4 ;  Joseph  Horton,  3  ;  John 
Tuthill,  3;  "\\'m.  Halliociv,  2;  Barnabas  Wines 
sen.,  T ;  Richard  Terry,  i ;  Tho.  Terry,  i ;  Ed- 
ward Petty,  2 ;  John  Tucker,  2 :  Thomas  Mapes, 
2;  Barnabas  Horton,  2;  John  Conkling  jr.,  2; 
Widow  Cooper.  2 ;  Richard  Clark,  i ;  Samuel 
King,  I ;  Joseph  Sutton,  i ;  Henry  Case,  i ; — 38.  ■ 

A  single  lot  in  the  Oyster  Ponds  was  50 
acres,  and  the  lots  were  bounded  by  the  bay  on 
the  south  and  the  sound  north.  A  person  who 
owned  two  lots  was  said  to  own  a  "second  lot," 
a  person  with  three  a  "third  lot,"  etc.    Thus  we 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


419 


find  in  1682  "Tho.  ^loore  sen.  sells  to  Francis 
Brinly  a  tract  of  land  about  100  acres^  being  a 
second  lot  lying  across  the  neck  (Oyster  Ponds) 
from  sea  to  sea." 

The  CutchogLie  dividend  extended  from  the 
fresh  meadows,  or  the  west  bounds  of  the  old 
town,  and  went  west  to  Mattituck  Creek ;  it  was 
bounded  south  by  the  main  road  and  north  by 
the  sound.  The  land  south  of  the  road  was  laid 
out  at  different  times.  A  single  lot  in  this  tract 
was  112  acres. 

The  Occabauk  dividend  embraced  all  the  land 
from  the  canoe  place  at  Mattituck  Creek  to  Wad- 


PRESENT  VILLAGE  OF  SOUTHOLD. 

(From  a  Photograph  Furnished  by  Mrs.  George  Wilson  Smith,  of  New  York  City.) 

ing  River.  The  lots  ran  from  Peconic  River  to 
the  sound,  and  a  single  lot  w^as  about  250  acres. 
The  common  lands,  or  lands  which  had  not 
been  divided,  were  held  on  precisely  the  same 
principle  in  all  the  eastern  townsi  on  Long  Island. 
The  £50,  £100  and  £150  "lotments"  in  South- 
ampton, the  *'acres  of  commonage'*  in  East 
Hampton,  and  the  ist,  2nd  and  3d  lots  in  South- 
old  are  thfe  same  thing.  There  is  nothing  more 
clearly  established  than  the  fact  that  when  all 
these  towns  were  settled  each  man  of  the  original 


purchasers'  paid  a  certain  amount  in  proportion 
to  his  ability  or  inclination,  and  that  his  share 
in  the  land  so  bought  was  exactly  in  proportion 
to  the  amount  he  paid.  It  was  only  a  blind  mis- 
understanding of  the  meaning  of  certain  terms 
and  expressions  that  gave  rise  to  the  idea  that 
all  inhabitants  in  the  town  had  a  right  in  the 
public  lands. 

No  episode  in  the  early  history  of  the  town 
has  attracted  more  attention  than  the  "persecu- 
tion" of  Humphrey  Norton  th-e  Quaker.  The 
following  is  the  official  account : 

'*At  a  court  held  at  New  Haven  March  loth 
1658  Humphrey  Norton,  a  Qua- 
ker, was  sent  here  from  Southold, 
and  being  asked   why  he   went 
into  the  meeting-house  at  South- 
old  on  the  Lord's  day  and  there 
speaking   in  public   against   Mr. 
Youngs,   he   refused   to   answer, 
and  desired  the  charges  against 
him  might  be  read,  and  were  in 
substance  :      i — He    had    griev- 
ously and  in  many  fold  wise  tra- 
duced,  slandered   and   misrepre- 
sented Mr.  Youngs,  pastor  of  the 
church    there.     2 — He    had    en- 
deavored   to    seduce   the   people 
from  their  attendance  upon  the 
minister  and  the  sound  doctrines 
of  religion  settled  in  the  colony. 
3 — That  he  had   endeavored  to 
spread  sundry  heretical  opinions, 
with   expressions   that   savor   of 
blasphemy.    4 — That  he  endeav- 
ored to  vilify  or  nullify  the  full 
authority  of  magistrates  and  gov- 
ernment   here    established ;    and 
5 — Had    endeavored    to    disturb 
the  peace  of  the  jurisdiction.    He 
was  often  by  the  court  commanded  silence,  and  to 
speak  in  an  orderly  way,  which  he  would  not  at- 
tend to,  but  go  on  in  a  boisterous  bold  manner  ut- 
tering reproaches.    He,  being  found  incorrigible, 
was  fined  £20,  to  be  severely  whipped,  be  branded 
with  the  letter  H  on  his  hand,  and  banished  the 
jurisdiction,  and  the  court  declaring  that  it  was 
the  least  they  could  do  and  discharge  a  good  con- 
science toward  Ciod." 

This  case  has  often  been  brought  into  need- 
less prominence  as  a  reproach  against  the  fair 
fame  of  this  ancient  town,  but  in  no  sense  can 


420 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


this  be  construed  as  persecution  for  opinion's 
sake.  Instead  of  blaming  our  ancestors  for  not 
seeing  more  clearly  in  the  darkness  of  their  night 
we  should  be  thankful  that  it  is  our  fortune  to 
live  in  a  day  when  th-e  true  light  shineth. 

Whatever  doubt  may  exist  as  to  the  time 
when  the  settlement  was  made,  there  can  be  none 
whatever  that  the  church  organized  at  New  Ha- 
ven on  the  2 1  St  of  October,  1640,  which,  with 
Minister  Youngs  at  its  head,  as  its  acknowledged 
leader,  left  at  once  for  its  new  homie,  is  the  oldest 
religious  organization  on  Long  Island. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  built  upon  the 
north  end  of  the  present  cemetery  in  the  village 
of  Southold.  How  the  town  betame  possessed  of 
this  land  we  do  not  know.  It  seems  to  have 
been  originally  about  an  acre  in  extent,  but  has 
been  enlarged  at  A'-arious  times  to  its  present  size. 
The  building  itself  stood  near  the  northeast  part 
of  the  lot,  and  the  exact  place  is  marked  by  a  de- 
pression in  the  s-oil,  which  is  the  place  of  a  sub- 
terranean cell,  or  dungeon,  made  when  the  build- 
ing was  transformed  into  a  prison.  Concerning 
this  transformation  we  have  the  following  re- 
cord : 

"December  ye  15  1684. — Ther  was  then  by 
vote  Samuel  Youngs  and  Thomas  Clarke,  both 
carpenters,  to  vewe  and  apprize  ye  old  meeting- 
house, in  order  to  make  a  County  prison  of  said 
house ;  and  upon  their  returns  they  gave  in  they 
valued  the  body  of  the  house  at  Thirty  five 
pounds.  Ye  four  cedar  windows  left  out  of  ye 
new  meeting-house  was  sold  to  Jonathan  Horton 
for  three  pounds  in  tovt^n  payment." 

Cedar  windows  must  have  been  expensive 
things  when  we  compare  the  price  charged  with 
other  articles  at  that  date.  Concerning  the  size, 
shape,  or  date  of  building  of  the  first  church  we 
know  nothing.  The  record  as  given  above  shows 
the  approximate  time  of  the  building  of  the  sec- 
ond church.  This  was  built  on  the  north  side  of 
the  street  and  nearly  opposite  the  first  one.  In 
1699  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  its  ac- 
commodations by  building  a  gallery,  and  the  fol- 
lowing account  is  on  record : 


To  Samuel  Clark  for  building  ye  galere.  .£15  los. 
Received  of  Samuel  Clark  for  boards  and  nails 

left  of  ye  galere   4s. 

Paid  Jacob  Conkling  for  banesters.  . .  . .  .ii   5s. 

Paid  Samuel  Conkling  ior  bringing  ye  banes- 

ters 6s  gd. 

Paid  Joshua  Wells  for  carting  timber  for  ye 

galere    9s. 

We  also  find  in  1701  Hannah  Corwin  allowed 
£2  IS.  8d.  "for  sweeping  Meeting-house,  and  tend- 
ing with  ye  baptism  basin." 

The  third  church  was  built  in  1761,  and  stood 
on  the  site  oi  the  second.  Very  soon  after  its 
erection  it  was  voted  "to  build  a  flatter  roof  upon 
the  Meeting-house ;"  and  about  the  same  time  an 
order  was  made  to  seat  the  people  according  to 
rank,  dignity,  official  duties  and  other  consider- 
ations. How  that  was  effected  we  do  not  know, 
but  if  we  follow  the  analogy  of  churches  in  other 
towns  we  may  conclude  that  the  following  was 
about  the  system  adopted :  The  communion 
table  was  directly  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  be- 
tween them'  were  seats  for  the  magistrates,  where- 
they  in  their  dignity  could  overlook  the  congre- 
gation, and  near  them  were  the  deacons  of  the 
church. 

The  seats  in  front  and  nearest  the  cbmr 
munion  table  would  be  occupied  by  prominent, 
officials  of  the  town  and  the  wealthiest  men.  The 
men  and  women  did  not  sit  together,  but  on  op- 
po'site  sides  of  the  building,  but  the  wife  of  each, 
man  had  a  seat  of  equal  honor  and  advantage.. 
The  rear  seats  and  the  gallery  were  for  the  slaves - 
and  young  men  who  did  not  prefer  to  sit  with  the 
older  people.  We  may  add  here  that  probably 
the  last  relic  of  these  ancient  usages  is  kept  up> 
in  the  church  among  the  Shinnecock  Indians, 
where  the  deacons  still  have  their  seats  by  the- 
communion  table,  according  to  ancient  style. 

The.  fourth  and  present  church  edifice  was. 
built  in  1803. 

An  interesting  and  important  part  of  the  his- 
tory of  this  old  church  will  be  found  in  the  fol- 
lowing sketches  of  its  pastors  : 

Concerning     the    first     pastor,     Rev.     John, 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


421 


^^oungs,  bnt  littl-e  remains  to  be  said.  He  contin- 
ued in  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  the  head  of  the 
church  until  his  death.  The  record  shows  him 
to  have  been  possessed  of  large  amounts  of 
real  estate,  which  he  divided  among  his  sons  be- 
fore his  decease.  The  inventory  of  his  personal 
property,  which  throws  light  upon  the  style  of 
living  in  those  primitive  days,  is  here  given : 

In  wooden  ware,  and  two  old  bedsteads,  an 
•old  chest  and  3  chayres,  2  tables  &  a  forme  & 
boule  and  tray,  £2  ;  2  kettles,  2  pots  and  pot  hooks, 
£3.  In  pewter,  £2. ;  2  old  beds  &  boulsters,  blank- 
ets, one  rugg  and  curtains  and  valancings,  £4; 
linen  and  sheets  and  pillow  bars,  £2  los ;  5  oxen 
and  one  lame  steer,  and  one  cow  and  2  of  2  years 
old,  and  one  half  steer,  one  yearling,  £27  los ; 
one  horse,  £3;  24  sheep,  £12  \  3  small  swine, 
£2 ;  3  chains,  plow  yrons  and  cart  yrons,  £4 ;  house 
and  land,  £30;  old  books  by  Mr.  Hobart  prized 

Our  knowledge  of  the  personal  characteristics 
of  Minister  Youngs  is  exceedingly  limited.  He 
was  without  doubt  a  scholar  and  well  read  in  the 
theological  lore  of  his  day.  A  copy  of  the  works 
of  William  Perkins,  a  writer  upon  Calvinistic 
theology,  which  once  belonged  to  ]\Ir.  Youngs, 
is  now  in  the  library  of  the  New  Haven  Colony 
Historical  Society. 

In  the  ancient  graveyard,  and  near  the  site  of 
the  church  in  which  for  more  than  thirty  years  he 
proclaimed  the  word  of  God,  may  be  seen  his 
monument,  bearing  this  inscription: 

MR.  lOIIN  YOXGS  MINISTER  OF  THE  WORD  AND 
FIRST  SETTLER  OF  THE  CHVRCH  OF  CHRIST  IN 
SOVTH  HOVLD  ON  LONG  ISLAND  DECEASED  THE  24 
DAY  OF  FEBRUARY  IN  THE  YEARE  OF  OVR  LORD 
l67^AND  OF  HIS  AGE  74. 

HERE   LIES   THE    MAX    WHOSE    DOCTRINE     LIFE 
WELL  KNOWEN 
DID  SHEW    HE   SOVGHT   CHRISTS   HONOVR   NOT    HIS 

OWEN 
IN  WEAKNES  SOWN   IN  POWER  RAISD   SHALL  BE 
BY  CHRIST  FROM  DEATH  TO  LIFE  ETERNALLY. 

A  town  founded  on  the  principles  which  actu  ■ 
ated  the  settlers  of  this  village  could  not  re- 
main long  without  a  pastor,  and  soon  after  Mr. 
Youngs's  death  we  find  the  following  action 
taken : 


"  April  ye  i  1672. — At  a  plenary  meeting  then 
held  in  Southold  it  was  voted  then  and  agreed 
that  the  inhabitants  would  provide  themselves 
of  an  honest  godly  man  ito  perform  the  offis  of 
minister  amongst  them,  and  that  they  would  al- 
low and  pay  to  the  said  minister  sixty  pounds 
sterling  by  the  year.  And  that  this  piay  should  be 
raised  rate  wise  by  estate,  as  other  Rates  are  raised 
iipon  all  the  inhabitants.  To  which  end  it  was 
agreed'  uppon  bv  vote  that  Capt.  John  Youngs 
should  go  into  the  Bay,  and  use  his  best  endeavor 
for  the  obtaing  of  such  a  man  above  mentioned 
to  live  amongst  us.  And  also  agreed  that  he  the 
said  John  Youngs  should  have  five  pounds  for 
his  labors,  and  to  dispatch  this  his  trust  some  time 
bet^vixL  the  date  hereof  and  the  29th  of  the  next 
September;  the  which  he  promised  to  doe." 

In  pursuance  of  these  directions  Captain 
Youngs  went  to  Massachusetts  and  procured  the 
services  of  Rev.  Joshua  Hobart.  Thanks  to  the 
investigations  of  Hon.  Solom'on  Lincoln,  the  his- 
torian of  Hingham,  'Massachusetts^  we  have  con- 
siderable information  as  to  the  personal  history 
of  Mr.  Hobart.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Peter  Ho- 
bart, the  first  minister  of  Hingham';  was  boi;n  in 
England  in  1629,  and  came  to  this  country  with 
his  parents  and  three  other  children  in  1635.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1650,  and  in  1655  went 
to  Barbadoes,  and  while  there  married  Margaret 
Vassal,  daughter  of  William  Vassal.  Thence  he 
went  to  London,  but  returned  to  New  England 
in  1669.  His  wife  Margaret  having  died  in 
1657,  he  married  Mary  Rainford  at  Boston,  Jan- 
uary 16,  1 67 1.  In  October,  1674,  he  was  ordained 
and  settled  at  Southold,  though  he  was  there  as 
early  as  May  of  that  year  and  preached  as  a  sort 
of  supply.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  town 
made  liberal  provision  for  his  support.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  salary  agreed  upon  there  were  voted 
to  him  30  acres  of  woodland  ''toward  the  North 
Sea,''  a  tract  of  land  on  Hallock's  Neck,  all  the 
meadow  in  Little  Hog  Neck,  and  a  second  lot  (or 
a  double  share)  of  commonage.  His  yearly  pay- 
ments were  to  end  on  New  Year's  day  (March 
25,  as  it  was  then).  His  salary  for  the  first  four 
years  was  i8o,  so  that  he  possessed  quite  an  ad- 
vantage over  Goldsmith's  village  pastor,  who  was 
"passing  rich  with  forty  pounds  a  year."     The 


422 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


following  may  serve  as  a  sample  of  the  receipts 
given  by  'him  to  the  town  officials : 

"Southold,  November  19th  1679. — Know  all 
whom  it  may  concern  yt  I  ye  under  written,  hav- 
ing received  of  Joshua  Horton,  Constable  of  said 
town,  ye  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  currant 
payment  of  this  place,  doe  hereby  acquit  and  dis- 
charge 3^e  said  town  and  Constable  of  said  sum." 

"Witness  my  hand,  Joshua  Hobart/' 

The  town  also  agreed  to  lay  out  iioo  on  a 
dwelling  house.  This  house  stood  on  his  land  on 
Haliock's  Neck,  just  noTth  of  the  cove  in  which 
Jockey  Creek  and  Young's  Creek  unite  and  flow 
into  the  bay.  It  was  a  few  rods  southeast  of  the 
present  residence  of  Robert  Linsley.  The  old 
mansion  has  long  since  vanished,  and  only  a  few 
broken  fragments  of  the  materials  of  the  chimney 
remain  to  mark  the  spot;  but  the  well  from  which 
the  venerable  pastor  quenched  his  thirst  still  sup- 
plies the  cooling  draught,  as-  it  did  two  hundred 
years  ago.  In  1685  the  people  at  his  request 
made  an  exchange  of  land,  giving  him  in  lieu  of 
his  lots  at  the  North  Sea  a  tract  of  land  on  Pine 
Neck,  opposite  and  near  his  parsonage.  This  put 
hiin  in  possession  of  a  fine  location,  extending 
from  Jockey  Creek  to  Goose  Creek,  and  forming 
the  finest  portion  of  the  neck.  He  remained  the 
owner  of  the  parsonage  until  1701,  when  it  was 
sold  to  the  town,  and  it  was  occupied  by  his  suc- 
cessors in  the  sacred  office  until  1787. 

The  clergyman  at  that  period  had  other  duties 
to  perform  than  such  as  usually  belong  _to  the 
sacred  calling.  He  was  most  active  in  the  po- 
litical and  financial  affairs  of  the  town.  As  no- 
ticed before  he  was  one  of  the  committee  to 
adjust  the  relations  between  the  town  and  the 
colony  of  New  York.  He  was  executor  of  wills 
and  referee  in  disputes  between  citizens  of  the 
town,  and  also  acted  as  a  sort  of  overseer  of  the 
poor.  In  short  he  was  called  upon  to  perform 
those  duties  which  require  not  only  a  degree  of 
business  knowledge  to  perform  them  correctly, 
but  also  a  reputation  for  justice  and  integrity 
which  will  cause  the  decisions  to  be  respected. 

His  life  and  ministry  closed  on  the  28th  of 
February,    1716    (O.  S.).     Ten  years  after  his 


death  the  town  voted  that  a  tombstone  be  pur- 
chased to  mark  the  last  resting  place  of  the  man 
of  God,  and  on  the  record  appears  the  bill,  dated 
October  31,  1732,  "for  building  ]\Ir.  Hobart's 
tomb  with  stone  lime,  &  tendance,  i6s.  i  id." 
It  still  stands,  a  brown  stone  slab  resting  upon 
four  walls.  Upon  the  face  of  it  was  originally  a 
tablet  of  some  finer  material,  which  bore  the  in- 
scription. The  tablet,  tradition  says,  was  de- 
stroyed in  the  Revolution.  Rev.  Epher  Whit- 
aker,  D,  D.,  the  learned  and  venerable  historian 
of  iSouthold,  has  after  long  search  discovered  a 
copy  of  the  original  epitaph,  which  is  well  at- 
tested. It  may  be  found  entire  in  his  carefully 
prepared  work  and  is  part  in  prose  and  part  in 
verse.    The  former  reads  as  follows  : 

"The  Rev.  Joshua  Hobart,  born  at  Hing- 
ham,  July  1629,  expired  in  Southold,  February 
28,  1716.  Fie  was  a  faithful  minister,  a  skillful 
physician,  a  general  scholar,  a  courageous  patriot 
and,  to  cro'wn  all,  an  eminent  Christian." 

Near  by  is  the  tomb  of  his  wife,  whom  he 
survived  19  years.  The  inscription  cut  in  the 
stone  has  withstood  the  wear  of  time  and  the  at- 
tack of  vandal  hands.  She  died  April  19,  1698, 
aged  56. 

The  third  pastor.  Rev.  Benjamin  Woolsey, 
was  born  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  November  19,  1687. 
He  was  a  son  of  Captain  George  \\^oolisey,  jr., 
and  a  descendant  in  the  fourth  degree  of  George 
Woolsey  of  Yarmouth,  who  came  to  this  country 
in  1635.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  the 
class  of  1700.  Previous  to  this  seven  classes  had 
graduated,  numbering  all  together  22  persons. 
Of  these  18  became  ministers.  After  his  gradu- 
ation he  preached  in  several  places.  One  in- 
stance which  may  be  especially  noticed  is  that 
at  one  time  he  preached  in  the  Episcopal  church 
in  Hopewell  (now  Pennington) ,  New  Jersey. 
His  being  allowed  to  do  so  was  one  of  the 
charges  of  wrong  brought  against  Governor 
Hunter  in   1712. 

In  July,  1720,  he  v/as  installed  pastor  of  the 
church,  and  he  continued  here  sixteen  years. 
This  period  was  an  eventful  one  in  the  history 
of    the    town.       Durinsr    its    continuation    new 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


423 


parishes-  were  formed,  and  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  divide  the  parish  lands  proportion- 
ately, ''that  each  minister  may  im'prove  the  same 
in  proportion  according  to  the  first  purchase." 

If  the  present  generation  were  called  upon  to 
suffer  as  much  discomfort  as  their  ancestors  in 
their  attendance  upon  worship,  we  fear  "the 
sound  of  the  church-going  bell"  would  not  call 
forth  so  generous  a  response  as  was  required  by 
the  laws  and  customs  of  early  times.  To  say 
nothing  of  uncushioned  seats,  a  much  great  c;r 
source  of  discomfort  was  found  in  the  fact  that 
no  means  were  provided  for  warming  the  church 
building  and  thus  mitigating  to  some  extent  the 
inclemencies  of  the  winter  weather.  As  two  ser- 
vices were  held  each  Sabbath  the  people  "betwe^en 
times"  repaired  to  the  dwellings  of  the  neigh- 
bors, where  the  fireplaces,  well  supplied  with 
blazing  logs,  diffused  a  cheerful  warmth.  This 
however  could  hardly  fail  to  be  a  burden  to  those 
whose  proximity  to  the  church  rendered  them 
liable  to  frequent  calls  upon  their  hospitality.  To 
remedy  this  the  town  voted  "to  allow  Isaac 
Conkling  to  build  a  house  for  convenience  on  the 
Lord*s  day  on  the  town  lot."  This  was  doubtless 
provided  with  a  fireplace,  and  others  were  erected 
in  after  years. 

In  1714  Mr.  Woolsey  married  Abigail, 
daughter  of  John  Taylor.  Mr.  Taylor  died  in 
1735  and  left  to  Mrs.  Woolsey  a  valuable  estate 
of  several  hundred  acres,  situated  about  two 
miles  north  of  Glen  Cove,  in  Queens  county.  Mr. 
\\'oolsey  resigned  his  charge  at  Southold  and  re- 
moved to  this  estate  in  1736.  From  the  manner 
in  which  it  camie  into  his  possession  he  named 
the  estate  Dos  nxoris  (wife's  dower),  and  this 
name,  contracted  into  Dosoris,  has  continued 
ever  since.  During  the  remainder  of  his  life  ~Slr. 
Woolsey  lived  .at  this  place,  enjoying  his  estate 
and  dispensing  an  elegant  hospitality,  and  fre- 
quently preached  gratuitously  in  neighboring 
churches.  He  died  August  15,  1756,  and  left  an 
unsullied  memory,  and  his  native  island  mourned 
the  loss  of  no  common  man.  The  inscription  on 
his  monument,  and  an  extended  account  of  his 
ancestry  and  posterity,  may  be  found  in  Dr. 
Epher  Whitaker's  "Historv  of  Southold." 


-Mr.  Woolsey  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
James  Davenport,  a  man  whose  influence  was  in 
after  years  felt  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  Long  Island,  but  that  influence  was 
not  for  good,  and  was  the  cause  of  the  most  bit- 
ter dissensions  that  ever  agitated  the  churches  of 
Suffolk  county. 

He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Davenport  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  and  great-grandson  of 
the  first  minister  of  New  Haven.  He  was  born 
in  1710.  and  ordained  at  Southold,  October  26, 

1738. 

The  wild  and  visionary  enthusiasm  which  led 
Mr.  Davenport  a  few  years  later  to  commit  acts 
which  can  only  be  attributed  to  a  diseased  brain 
and  an  insanity  which  took  its  hue  from  the  topic 
of  the  hour  does  not  seem  to  have  been  de- 
veloped during  the  first  two  years  of  his  settle- 
ment. After  that  he  was  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  "God  had  revealed  to  him  that  His  kingdom 
was  coming  with  great  power,  and  that  he  had  an 
extraordinary  call  to  labor  for  its  advancement," 
As  a  result  he  soon  became  one  oi  the  wildest  of 
enthusiasts,  and  performed  many  acts  which  can 
only  be  excused  on  the  ground  of  insanity.  In 
other  years  it  pleased  Providence  tO'  restore  him 
to  his  senses,  and  with  it  came  a  lasting  period 
of  sorrow  and  regret.  His  connection  with 
Southold  ended  in  1746,  and  he  was  afterwards 
pastor  at  Hopewell,  ( now  Pennington )  New 
Jersey,  and  died  there  November  10,  1757.  An 
eloquently  written  account  of  his  last  resting 
place,  with  the  inscription  on  his  tomb  stone  may, 
be  found  in  Dr.  Whitaker's  valuable  ''History." 

The  fifth  pastor  was  the  Rev.  William 
Throop,  who  belonged  to  the  Throops  of  Rhode 
[sland,  and  especially  to  the  Throops  and  Hun- 
tingrons  of  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  and  was  con- 
nected by  marriage  with  the  Rutherfords  of  New 
Haven.  He  was  gradated  at  Yale  College  in 
1743,  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Suffolk 
September  21,  1748.  He  was  a  man  of  re- 
markable ability  and  excellence.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 29,  1756,  aged  36  years  and  three 
months.  His  grave  is  near  that  of  the  Rev. 
Joshua  Hobart,  some  rods  northwest  of  the  first 
pastor's.    His  children,  Benjamin  Brinley.  Daniel 


424 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


Rutherford  and  John  Rutherford^  were  born  and 
baptized  in  .Southold,  and  one  of  them'  died  and 
was  buried  there. 

Mr.  Smith  Stratton  was  graduated  at" Prince- 
ton College  in  i/SS-  He  preached  as  a  licentiate, 
and  died  there  March  lo,  1768,  aged  30  years. 
His  grave  is  near  Rev.  William  Throop's. 

Rev.  John  Storrs,  the  sixth  pastor  here,  was  a 
great-grandson  of  Samuel  Storrs,  of  Sutton, 
Nottinghamshire,  England,  and  the  eldest  son  of 
John  Storrs  of  Mansfield,  Connecticut,  where  he 
was  born  December  i,  1735.  He  was  gradu- 
ated .at  Yale  College  in  1756,  standing  higher 
than  his  classmates,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smalley  and 
Judge  Simon  Strong  LL.D.  He  was  a  tutor 
in  Yale  two  years,  1761  and  1762.  His  ordina- 
tion occurred  in  Southold,  August  15th,  1763. 
He  had  recently  been  married  to  Eunice,  daugh- 
ter of  the  Hon.  Shubael  Conant  and  widow  of 
Dr.  Howe  of  Mansfield.  She  died  March  27, 
1767,  aged  31  years,  and  is  buried  in  Southold, 
near  the  spot  where  the  wife  oif  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Hobart  is  buried  by  the  side  of  her  husband.  Mr. 
Storrs  was  married  to  Hannah  Moore,  of  South- 
old,  December  17,  1767,  The  British  forces 
compelled  him  to  leave  the  parish  in  August, 
1776,  but  he  was  active  during  the  war  as  a 
chaplain  in  the  army.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
of  independence  he  returned  to  Southold  and 
continued  his  pastoral  care  until  he  was  dismissed 
at  his  own  request  by  the  Presbytery,  April  13, 
1787.  He  removed  to  Mansfield,  where  he  died 
Octo'ber  9,  1799.  He  was  a  man  of  superior 
mental  ability  and  literary  accomplishments,  as 
manifested,  for  example,  by  his  sermon  preached 
at  the  ordination  of  his  son,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richard 
Salter  Storrs  of  Longmeadow,  Massachusetts. 
The  sermon  was  printed.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Storrs 
of  Long  Meadow  was  the  father  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Richard  Salter  Storrs  of  Braintree,  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  the  latter  was  the  father  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Richard  Salter  Storrs,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  Southold  church  was  supplied  from  1787 
to  1797  by  not  a  few  ministers  and  licentiates, 
among  them  Nehemiah  Baldwin  Cook,  Herman- 
Daggett  and  Elam  Porter.  The  latter  labored 
in  Southold   from    November,    1792,    until    his. 


death,  January  5,  1794.  His  grave  is  near  Mr. 
Throop's.  Several  of  his  sermons  were  printed. 
He  received  a  unanimous  call  to  settle  as  pastor 
here  in  1792,  but  being  unwilling  to  subscribe  to 
the  "half-way  covenant"  he  declined  and  accept- 
ed a  call  to  Southampton. 

Another  of  those  mentioned  is  worthy  of 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  Rev.  Nehemiah 
Baldwin  Cook  was  born  at  the  village  of  Quogue, 
in  the  town  of  Southampton,  in  1767.  He  was  a 
son  of  Jonathan  Cook,  who  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  that  place,  and  who  died  there  ]\Iarch 
7,  1754..  aged  54. 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Nehemiah  B.  Cook, 
upwards  of  two  years  a  licentiate  of  Long  Island 
Presbytery,  and  a  zealous  and  affectionate 
preacher  of  the  Gospel.  He  died  of  smallpox, 
greatly  lamented  by  his  friends.  May  4th,  1792, 
in  the  25th  year  of  his  age.  The  following  lines 
are  inscribed  at  his  request : 

''Tho'  poor,  he  desired 
To  make  many  rich." 

Rev.  Joseph  Hazzard  was  the  seventh  pastor 
and  was  ordained  June  7,  1797,  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Long  Island,  on  the  call  of  this  church. 
He  had  previously  been  licensed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Dutchess,  as  well  as  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Long  Island.  He  was  released  from  his  pastoral 
care  of  the  church  by  the  presbytery  at  his  own 
request  on  the  i6th  of  April,  1806. 

The  eighth  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Jonathan 
Huntting.  He  was  born  in  East  Hampton,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1778,  a  descendant  of  the  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel Huntting,  the  second  pastor  of  that  place. 
He  was  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1804, 
studied  for  the  ministry  with  the  Rev.  David  S. 
Bogart,  of  South  Hampton,  commenced  preach- 
ing in  Southold  in  June,  1806,  and  was  ordained 
pastor  August  20,  1807.  He  faithfully  ful- 
filled his  duties  for  21  years,  and  then  requested 
the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island  to  release  him 
from  his  pastoral  care.  This  was  done  August 
'Zj,  1828.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Southold 
until  his  death,  December  30,  1850,  and  was 
generally  preaching  in  some  of  the  neighboring 
churches.  The  membership  of  the  church  under 
his  ministry  increased  from  56  to  loi. 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


425 


The  church  had  no  pastor  for  eight  years 
after  Mr.  Htintting's  resignation.  It  was  sup- 
phed  by  the  Rev.  \\'ilham  Fuller  from  June, 
1830,  to  June,  1833,  The  next  two  years  the  Rev. 
Neheniiah  B.  Cook,  a  kinsman  of  the  previously 
mentioned  minister  of  the  same  name,  occupied 
the  pulpit. 

Rev.  Ralph  Smith  was  the  ninth  pastor.  His 
parents  were  Epenetus  and  Rhoda  Smith,  and 
he  was  born  at  Smithtown,  Long  Island,  Novem- 
ber 27,  181 1 ;  was'  prepared  for  college  at  Clin- 
ton Academy,  East  Hampton,  by  the  Rev.  Jo- 
seph B.  Condit,  its  principal,  and  was  graduated 
at  Williams  College  in  1830.  He  subsequently 
studied  medicine  at  New  Haven,  under  Dr. 
Knight,  and  was  .graduated  as  ^l.  D,  at  Yale 
College  in  1833.  He  commenced  practice  in  Pat- 
chogue,  but  his  attention  was  soon  turned  to 
the  ministry,  and  he  entered  the  Presbyterian 
Seminary  in  Princeton.,  New  Jersey,  where  he 
pursued  his  studies  two  years.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Long 
Island,  and  subsequently  ordained  by  the  Pres^- 
byterv  of  Long  Island,  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  Southold  church  June  15,  1836.  He  was 
released  from  his  charge,  at  his  own  request, 
April  18,  1838.  After  a  short  absence  he  re- 
sumed his  ministry  here,  and  continued  it  until 
December,  1840.  He  was  thereafter  active  in  the 
ministry  at  various  places  in  New  England.  He 
died  at  Saugerties,  New  York,  November  i, 
1867,  and  was  buried  at  Smithtown,  his  native 
village.  His  wife  was  Cornelia,  daughter  of 
Francis  Pelletreau,  of  Southampton. 

Among  the  supplies,  who  preached  here  after 

Mr.   Smith's  resignation,   was  the   Rev.  Alonzo 

*  Welton,  who  preached  for  more  than  three  years. 

The  tenth  pastor  was  the  Rev.  George  F. 
Wiswell,  D.  D.,  who  was  born  at  Whitehall,  New 
York,  May  29,  1817,  and  graduated  from  Mid- 
dlebury  College  and  Union  Theological  Sem- 
inary. In  1844  he  was  licensed  by  the  Third 
Presbytery  of  New  York,  and  was  installed  pas- 
tor in  Southold,  June  18,  1845.  He  served  here 
until  November  12,  1850,  when  he  was  released 
at  his  own  request.  He  was  afterwards  pastor 
of  the  churches  at  Peekskill,   New   York,  Wil- 


mington, Delaware,  and  of  the  Green  Hill  Pres- 
byterian church,  Philadelphia. 

The  Rev.  Epher  Whitaker,  D.  D.,  the  elev- 
enth pastor,  is  referred  to  at  length  in  the  pre- 
vious volume.  He  is  present  Pastor  Emeritus 
of  the  Southold  First  church,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  clerk  of  the  Long  Island  Pres- 
bytery. 

In  comparison  with  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  the  other  churches,  in  Southold  village, 
are  but  as  of  yesterday.  A  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  was  organized  in  1794,  but  the  first 
church  edifice  was  not  built  until  18 19.  This 
church  stood  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  cen- 
ter of  the  village,  on-  the  north  side  of  the  road, 
and  at  the  corner  of  the  road  to  Greenport. 
It  was  in  later  years  used  as  a  grocery  store. 
The  second  church  was  built  in  1850,  and  the 
society  having  greatly  increased,  it  was  enlarged 
and  greatly  improved  in  1867. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church  was  formerly 
the  Southold  Academy.  It  was  purchased  by  an 
lagent  of  Bishop  Loughlin,  in  April,  1863,  and 
was  then  moved  and  enlarged.  It  has  a  large 
and  increasing  congregation. 

The  Universalist  church  was   built  in    1836. 

Southold  Academy  was  founded  in  1834,  the 
lot  being  purchased  and  building  erected  by  sub- 
scription. Four-fifths  of  the  amount  was  paid 
by  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  it 
was  intended  to  be  to  some  extent  under  the 
control  of  that  denomination.  The  first  teacher 
was  Selah  Hammond.  The  property  was  then 
sold  to  William  H.  Wells  and  then  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Daniel  Dickinson,  who  the  next 
year  sold  it  to  Cordello  D.  Elmer,  who  was 
afterwards  school  commissioner  and  prominent 
in  the  educational  affairs  of  the  county.  The 
school  was  taught  by  him  from  1859  to  1862, 
Afterwards  it  was  owned  by  William  D.  Coch- 
ran and  Jacob  A.  Appleby,  hy  whom  it  was  sold 
to  William  Wickham,  agent  for  Bishop  Lough- 
lin, and  it  was  then  used  for  a  Catholic  church. 
The  present  academy  was  built  in  1867,  and  is 
held  in  the  name  of  the  trustees  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  It  'was  opened  December  i6th. 
The  first  principal  was   E.   Wilmot   Cummings, 


426 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


who  after  two  years  was  succeeded  by  Martin  D. 
Kneeland,  who  was  followed  in  1870  by  Thom- 
as A.  Abott.  James  D.  Robinson  was  princi- 
pal from,  1 87 1  to  1 881,  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  Lemuel  Whitaker,  son  of  the  honored  pastor 
of  the  church  and  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  Col- 
lege. 

Li  the  year  1682  Captain  John  Youngs 
among  the  list  of  his  lands  records  the  follow- 
ing: "One  parcell  of  Woodland  lyinge  on  the 
west  side  of  StarHng  harbour  att  the  poynt  there 
of,  being  about  thirtie  or  fortie  acres  given  him 
by  the  Generall  Courte  att  New  Haven  in  May 
one  thousand  six  hundred  iforty  nine,  and 
sythence  converted  to  a  ffarme."  Such  was  the 
piece  of  land  now  occupied  by  the  village  of 
Greenport,  two  hundred  years  ago.  The  land 
which  fell  to  him  us  his  part  of  the  grant  for 
maintaining  the  general  fence,  as  described  un- 
der the  head  of  Hashamamack,  lay  north  of 
this,  so  that  Captain  Youngs  owned  a  large  tract, 
extending  from  the  bay  to  the  sound,  and  includ- 
ing all  that  is  now  covered  by  this  flourishing 
village.  In  addition  to  this  he  obtained  a  tract 
of  land  on  the  east  side  of  Stirling  Creek,  about 
250  rods  in  width  and  also  extending  from  the 
sound  to  the  bay,  embracing  an  area  of  about 
500  acres,  and  now  owned  by  David  G.  Floyd 
and  others.  In  1687  Captain  Youngs  sold  to 
William  Booth  a  tract  of  200  acres  more  or  less, 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Stirling  Creek  and  a 
line  from  the  head  of  it  to  the  sound.  The  sound 
lay  on  the  north ;  the  western  boundaries  were 
somewhat  indefinite,  but  it  may  be  said  to  in- 
clude all  of  Greenport  lying  east  of  Gerniania 
avenue  and  north  of  the  railroad  and  bay.  There 
were  alsoeiglit  acres  of  meadow  sold,  lying  at 
Orient,  the  price  for  the  whole  being  £300. 

The  region  took  the  ancient  name  o-f  Stirling 
in  later  years,  but  it  was  called  in  the  early  rec- 
ords "The  Winter  Harbor,"  owing  to  the  fact 
that  it  was  never  frozen  and  was  thus  accessible 
when  'Town  Harbor"  was  closed  with  ice.  In 
,the  early  part  of  the  last  century  the  eastern 
part  of  the  village  was  a  farm  owned  by  Cap- 
tain David  Webb.     His    father,  Orange  Webb, 


was  an  innkeeper,  and  lived  in  the  house  now 
(or  lately)  owned  by  George  H.  Corwin,  on 
Stirling  street.  The  writer  wa^  well  acquainted 
with  an  old  man  who  told  him  he  could  remember 
when  there  was  "only  one  house  in  Stirling." 
In  early  times  there  was  a  wharf  or  landing 
near  the  mouth  of  Stirling  creek,  and  the  nar- 
row road  (now  Stirling  street)  led  to  it.  At 
the  head  of  the  street,  a  few  rods  east  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  was  the  ''Booth  House," 
in  olden  times  the  inn  of  Lieutenant  Constant 
Booth.  It  was  the  place  where  Washington  is 
said  to  have  stopped  while  on  his  way  to  New 
London  and  Boston  in  1 757.  The  house  of 
(Grange  Webb  is  noted  as  the  place  where  White- 
field  stopped  in  1763,  and  while  there  he  wrote 
on  one  of  the  panes  of  glass  with  a  diamond 
"One  thing  is  needful."  This  pane  of  glass  is 
now  in  the  rooms  of  the  Long  Island  Historical 
Society.  There  were  two  or  three  other  houses 
on  the  south  side  of  the  road,  but  excepting  these 
there  were  none  in  what  is  now  Greenport.  After 
the  death  of  Captain  David  Webb,  his  farm  was 
divided  into  lots  and  sold  at  auction.  The  pur- 
chasers were  Daniel  T.  Terry,  Silas  Webb  and 
Joshua  Tuthill.  The  price  bid  was  $2,300. 
There  were  no  roads  througn  it  at  the  time. 
Main  street  was  laid  out  in  1827,  and  the  first 
set  of  marine  railways  was  built  the  same  year, 
also  the  wharf,  which  has  been  several  times 
enlarged  to  accomimodate  a  growing  commerce. 
The  wharf  at  the  foot  of  Central  avenue  was 
commenced  in  1838.  Previous  to  and  after  the 
I^  evolution  there  was  some  trade  carried  on  with 
the  West  Indies,  and  cargoes  of  molasses  and 
rum  were  landed  at  the  old  wharf  on  Stirling 
creek.  The  following  cut  shows  Greenport  as  it 
appeared  in  1843, 

The  first  house  was  built  by  Lesiter  Brooks, 
and  stood  not  far  from  the  lumlber  yard  west 
of  Main  street.  This  house  was  afterwards 
bought  by  John  Ashby  and  was  niove'd,  and  it 
now  (or  lately)  stood  two  doors  north  of  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Amity  streets.  The  first 
store,  built  in  1828  by  Walter  Havens,  stood 
at  the  foot  of  Main  street  on  the  east  side. 

The  name  Greenport  was  adopted  at  a  meet- 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


427 


ing  held  in  1834.     A  postoffice  was  established 
ill  1832.    John  Clark  was  the  first  schoolmaster. 
There  were  registered  in  the  books  of  the  sur- 
veyor of  this  port  228  sail  vessels  and  23  steam- 


OLU  SOUTHERN  VIEW  OF  GREENPORT,  IN  SOUTHOLD 

ers.  These  were  engaged  entirely  in  coasting 
and  fishing  voyages.  The  surveyor  of  the  port 
was  William  Z.  King,  with  B.  F  Adams  as 
deptuy  and  inspector. 

The  First  National  Bank  occupies  a  building 
in  a  prominent  locality.  It  was  established  in 
April,  1864,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  which 
was  soon  increased  to  $75,000.  Grosvenor  S. 
Adams  was  first  president  and  G.  C.  Adams, 
cashier. 

The  hotel  of  Captain  John  Clark  was  estab- 
lished in  1831,  and  the  Peconic  and  Wyandank 
Hotels  in  1845. 

The  "Peconic  House/'  at  the  corner  of  Front 
street  and  Railroad  avenue,  was  for  a  long  time 
the  largest  and  leading  hotel  in  this  section  of 
Long  Island.  In  after  years  it  was  practically 
abandoned  and  fell  into  decay.  In  October, 
1902,  it  was  sold  to  be  torn  down. 

The  Peconic  Lodge  of  Freemasons  was  or- 
ganized in  1854,  arid  received  its  charter  in 
1855.  The  Sithra  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  ^la- 
sons  was  organized  in  1876. 

There  is  also  a  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  or- 
ganized  in    1855    and   numbering   75    members. 

According  to  the  census,  in  1880,  this  village 
had  a  population  of  2,370.  There  were  651 
families  and  581  houses.  In  1900  the  population 
was  2,366. 

In  1844  a  new  era  was  introduced,  and  for 


the  first  time  the  place  was  brought  into  con- 
nection with  the  outside  world  by  railroad.  The 
first  train  of  cars  on  the  Long  Island  Railroad 
ran  to  Jamaica  on  the  i8th  of  April,  1839,  in 
^  23"    minutes.       The    locomotive 

was  the  "Ariel."    In  1837  trains 
ran  to  Hicksville,   and   in    1841 
the  track  was  extended  to  Suf- 
folk   Station.      On   the   25th   of 
July,  1844,  the  first  train  passed 
over  the  road  from  Brooklyn  to 
Greenport,    95    miles,    and    the 
event  was  duly  celebrated.     The 
day  after  the  road  was  finished 
a    special    train    came    through, 
bearing  officers  of  the  road  and 
their  friends.     A  large  tent  was 
erected  north  of  the  track  about  30  rods  west  of 
the  present  depot.     Four  tables  a  hundred  feet 
long  were  placed  under  the  tent,  and  a  dinner  was 
served  to  the  parties  who  came  on  the  train  and  a 
few  of  the  villagers.  The  provisions  were  brought 
from    New    York,    and   included   40   baskets    of 
champagne  and  half  a  cask   of  brandy.     As   a 
natural   consequence   many   of  the   excursionists 
were  so  stupidly  drunk  that  it  was  necessary  to 
put  them  on  board  the  cars,  and  the  man  who 
was    superlatively    intoxicated    was    afterward 
governor  of  the  State.    The  affair  was  discredit- 
able in  the  extreme. 

The  Congregational  church  owes  its  origin 
to  a  few  who  when  the  ancient  church  at  South- 
old  become  Presbyterian  resolved  not  to  change, 
but  to  still  keep  up  the  church  as  founded  by 
the  first  pastor.  Accordingly  they  resolved  to 
reorganize  the  "old  church  of  Southold,"  and 
invited  Rev.  William  Lyel,  of  the  church  of 
Aquebogue,  attended  with  Deacon  Youngs,  and 
they  formed  the  new  church,  and  administered 
the  Lord's  Supper.  The  first  members  were 
Calvin  Moore,  Thomas  Youngs  and  wife  Lydia, 
Joshua  P.  Youngs  and  wife  Hannah,  William 
Y.  Brown  and  wife  Lydia,  and  William  H. 
Wiggins.  The  church  edifice  was  built  in  1848. 
The  following  ministers  have  been  in  charge : 
Emerson  Swallow,  1848-50;  P.  H.  Burghardt, 
1851;   H.   T.    Cheever,    1852-55;   Albert    Fitch, 


428 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


1856;  Mr.  Hewling,  1858;  Henry  J.  Acker,  i860; 
H.  C.  Easton  1862;  S.  Orcutt,  1864;  O.  C. 
i\Jorse,  1875;  Otis  Holmes,  1879;  Stephen  Hafif, 
1880,   and  Rev.  Lorenzo  Dow  Place,   1880. 

The  Baptist  church  first  had  an  existence 
about  1810.  The  few  members  worshiped  in 
private  dwellings-  at  East  IMarion,  then  called 
Rocky  Point,  and  sometimes  in  a  schoolhouse. 
After  this  they  built  a  meeting  house  oil  the 
road  from  Greenport  to  Orient,  east  of  the  resi- 
dence of  the  late  Jeremiah  King.  Thisi  was 
afterward  moved  into  the  village  and  was  used 
as  a  schoolhouse,  and  in  1882  was  a  part  of 
the  house  used  by  the  Colored  ]^.Iethodist  Society 
in  the  western  part  of  Greenport.  This  was 
probably  the  first  Baptist  church  on  the  east  end 
of  Long  Island.  In  September,  183 1,  a  num- 
ber met  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Harris  on  Stir- 
ling street,  and  apparently  organized  a  new 
church;  these  were,  David  James,  Benjamin 
C'lark,  Silas  Webb,  Jonathan  Truman,  Francis 
Clark,  Elias  T.  King,  Noah  G.  Beebee  and  James 
Tuthill.  It  was  there  voted  that  "we  do  hold 
our  first  regular  church  meeting  in  the  place 
of  public  worship  in  Stirling  on  the  24th  in- 
stant at  2  p.  M.^  and  opportunity  given  to  any 
person  who  may  feel  disposed  to  unite  in  church 
fellowship  with  us."  This  was  done,  and  the 
following  new  members  were  added :  George 
Tuthill,  Terry  F.  Rackett,  Melinda  Webb,  Han- 
nah Clark,  Sophia  Truman,  Anna  Tuthill,  Lydia 
Hart.  Jemima  Young,  Jenetta  Weldon,  Nancy 
Rackett,  Polly  Beebee,  Deziah  Rackett,  Polly 
Tuthill,  Charlotte  Beebee,  ]\IehitabeI  Ryan  and 
?\Iary  James. 

Early  in  183 1  a  meeting  house  was  built  at 
the  head  of  Main  street.  In  1844  it  was  moved 
to  its  present  site,  and  the  church  at  East  j\Ia- 
rion  was  constituted.  The  church  was  enlarged 
in   1855. 

The  Presbyterian  church  was  dedicated  De- 
cember 3,  1835,  and  -the  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Beers,  who  was  also  for  some  time  min- 
ister in  Southampton. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built  in 
1834,  and  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire  in  1847. 
It  was  enlarged  in  1858  and  had  a  commodious 


lecture  room  added.  The  Roman  Catholic  church 
was  built  in  1856. 

The  Episcopal  church  services  were  first  held 
in  a  cottage  in  the  rear  of  the  Wyandank  Hotel. 
The  church  was  organized  October  19,  1863,  as 
St.  Agnes  church,  and  an  edifice  was  built  in 
1865  on  a  lot  donated  by  A.  M.  C.  Smith. 

The  first  school  building  was  erected  in  1832, 
and  stood  on  the  east  side  of  First  street,  near 
the  center  of  the  village.  The  same  building  is 
now  attached  to  a  house  standing  near,  and  used 
as  a  kitchen.  A  second  schoolhouse  was  built 
on  the  same  site  in  1845.  The  increasing  at- 
tendance rendered  its  enlargement  necessary, 
and  this  was  done  in  1868. 

In  1880  the  citizens  of  this  village  did  honor 
to  themselves  by  erecting  the  finest  and  most 
convenient  union  school  building  in.  Suffolk  coun- 
ty. The  erection  of  such  a  building,  with  the 
increased  facilities  for  obtaining  a  thorough  edu- 
cation in  all  branches  required  for  the  ordinary 
business  of  life,  cannot  fail  to  be  productive  of 
the  most  beneficial  results.  This  school  was  for 
some  years  under  the  care  of  Edward  R.  Shaw, 
a  native  of  Bellport,  Long  Island,  who  as  an 
instructor  stands  foremost  among  the  teachers  of 
this  county. 

In  1766  Jonathan  Conkling  owned  50  acres 
of  land  which  are  described  as  "situated  at  a 
place  called  Stirling,  bounded  east  by  Constant 
Booth,  west  by  Captain  Thomas  Moore,  north 
by  sound,  and  south  by  highway."  This  is  the 
first  mention  we  have  found  of  Stirling. 

The  whole  extent  of  land  lying  east  of  a 
line  running  from  the  head  of  Stirling  Creek  to 
the  sound  was  called  in  ancient  time  Oyster 
Pond,  Upper  Neck  and  Lower  Neck.  The 
former  is  now  known  as  East  Marion  and  the 
latter  as  Orient.  The  lands  were  surveyed  and 
divided  among  the  freeholders  or  owners  of 
rights  of  commonage  in  1661.  The  lots  ran 
north  and  south  from  bay  to  sound,  and  a  single 
lot  was  50  acres.  The  Youngs  family  chose  to 
have  their  shares  of  the  common  lands  in  these 
necks  rather  than  in  the  great  western  division, 
and  part  of  their  lands  are  still  owned  by  their 
descendants.     We   learn    from   a   deed   that  the 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


429 


extreme  point  next  to  Plum  Gut  was  drawn  by 
Jerry  Jones,  who  sold  it  to  Giles  Sylvesiter,  who 
sold  it  to  Jeremiah  Vail,  Jr.,  in  1687.  It  re- 
mained in  his  family  for  about  100  years,  the  last 
owner  of  the  name  being  Stephen  Vail,  who  left 
it  about  1773.  From'  1800  to  1852  it  was  owned 
by  Captain  Jonathan  Latham. 


AN  OLD  GRISTMILL  AND  WATER-WHEEL,  ON 
THE  DYKE  BETWEEN  EAST  MARION  AND 
ORIENT;  REMOVED  AT  THE  TIME  OF  THE 
CONSTRUCTION  OF  THE  SEA  WALL. 

(From  a  Photograph  furnished  by  Mrs,  George  Wilson  Smith  of  New 
York  City.) 

In  1670  Gideon  Youngs  owned  "eight  small 
lots  in  the  Oyster  Pond  and  Lower  Bay."  This 
tract,  which  was  400  acresi,  embraced  almost  all 
the  village  of  Orient,  lying  between  the  wharf 
and  Narrow  River.  The  following  are  abstracts 
of  deeds  for  lands  in  the  two  necks  as  found  re- 
corded : 

Samuel  King  gives  to  his  son  Samuel  King, 
Jr.,  "One  'lialf  of  all  ye  land  and  meadows  in 
Oyster  Pond  lower  neck,  viz.,  Yz  of  my  home  lot 
and  orchard,  being  5  acres.  Also  Y^  of  10  acres, 
at  the  rear  of  the  same.  Also  %  of  12  acres 
where  the  barn  stands.  Also  Yz  of  50  acres, 
bounded  north  by  the  North  Sea  or  Sound,  south 


by  Great  Swamp,  west  by  Thomas  Terry,  east  by 
Henry  Tuthill.  Also  %  of  30  acres,  bounded 
east  by  Fresh  jMeadow  creek,  north  by  highway." 
The  other  one-half  of  that  tract  he  is  to  have  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  decease,  1691. 

John  Youngs  gives  to  his  son,  Thomas 
Youngs  "A  -parcel  of  woodland  lying  next  within 
the  old  fence,  running  north  northwest  and  south 
southeast,  and  separates  Oyster  Pond  neck  from 
all  on  the  east  side  of  the  general  fence.  The 
said  parcel  going  from  sea  to  sea,  being  in 
breadth  at  the  North  Sea  264  poles,  and  the 
breadth  at  the  common  path  or  highway  is  234 
poles,  and  the  south  side  extending  itself  to  a 
certain  hole  on  the  west  side  or  end  of  the  Plum 
Beach,  being  like  to  an  old  cellar,  and  adjoining 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Winter  Harbor,  as  by  Rec- 
ord may  appear."    January  22,  1691-2. 

Among  the  persons  who  owned  land  here  at 
an  early  date  was  "Ralph  Goldsmith,  citizen  of ' 
Londtin."  He  was  a  transient  resident,  and 
probably  not  connected  with  the  well  known  fam- 
ily of  that  name  in  Southold.  He  sold  to  Edward 
Folwell  the  following: 

Edward  Folwell,  "citizen  of  London,  mer- 
chant" sells  to  John  Tuthill,  ''A  tract  of  land  be- 
ing a  First  Lot,  50  acres,  at  Oyster  Pond  upper- 
neck.  Bounded  north  by  the  sound,  south  by  the 
bay,  west  by  Jonathan  Brown,"    Price  £13,  i/'oi. 

John  Herbert,  of  Reading,  Massachusetts^, 
sells  to  John  Tuthill  a  Second  Lot  in  Oyster  Pond 
upper  neck,  100  acres,  bounded  north  by  Sound, 
south  by  bay,  east  by  John  Tustin,  west  by  John 
Tuthill,"  1700.  John  Tuthill,  Jr.,  was  living  here- 
in 1699. 

In  the  division  of  the  estate  of  Joseph  Youngs,, 
who  died  intestate,  Gideon  Youngs,  one  of  the 
sons,  has  for  his  share  "eight  lots  of  meadow- 
at  Oyster  Pond  low  neck,  bounded  west  by  Sam- 
uel King  and  Thomas  Terry,  north  by  Richard 
Brown,  Sr.,  and  south  by  Abraham  Whittier  and 
the  east  river,"  1695. 

John  Goldsmith  sells  to  Daniel  Tuthill  "Twen- 
ty acres  of  woodland,  being  part  of  a  first  lot  that 
I  purchased  from  Joseph  Youngs,  at  a  place 
called  Oyster  Pond  upper  neck.  Bounded  west 
bv  Capt.  John  Herbert,  east  by  Joseph  Youngs, 
south  by  bay,  north  by  road  that  leadeth  to  the- 
Oyster  Pond."    June  26,  1700. 

John  Herbert,  "of  Suffolk  County  in  Massa- 
chusetts," sells  to  Joseph  Petty  "One  third  of  a 
Second  Lot  of  upland,  at  a  place  called  Oyster- 
Pond  lower  neck,  30  acres;  and  formerly  laid  out 
by  order  of  said  town  to  the  said  John  Herbert. 
Bounded  southwest  by  Samuel  King  and  John 
Paine,  Northeast  by  the   North  Sea  Or  Sound,. 


430 


HISTORY    OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


southeast  by  the  meadow  of  Thomas  Terry." 
Nov.  2,  1697. 

John  Corey  to  Jonathan  Brown,  Nov.  4, 
1697,  ^  of  a  Second  Lot  of  upland  at  a  place 
called  Oyster  Pond,  Lower  neck,  bounded  west 
by  Caleb  Curtin,  south  by  harbor  or  bay.  Price, 
i52,  Nov.  4,  1697.  The  other  J4  he  sold  to  Will- 
iam King. 

Edward  Petty  and  his  wife,  Mary,  give  to 
their  son,  Joseph  Petty,  *'A11  ye  lands  lying  in 
Oyster  Pond  lower  neck,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
highway.  Containing  30  acres,  bounded  west  by 
John  Herbert,  east  by  Nathaniel  Moore,  north  by 
the  Sound,  south  by  highway.  AlsO'  one-third 
and  one-half  of  all  my  meadow  at  a  place  called 
ye  Fresh  Meadow  on  0}'ster  Pond  lower  neck. 
Bounded  west  by  meadow  of  John  Tuthill,  Jr., 
and  south  by  the  Damme  of  said  Tuthill."  March 
6,  1691.  'T'ossessioh  is  given  by  turfe  and 
Iwigge." 

Jonathan  Brown  and  his  brother  Richard 
Brown  and  Walter  Brown  were  all  living  on  Oys- 
ter Pond  lower  neck  in  1697. 

One  of  the  first  settlers  here  was  Richard 
Brown,  who  had  a  house  and  80  acres  of  land 
west  of  the  Youngs  tract.  In  1668  he  gave  to 
John  Tuthill  "six  acres  of  land  where  his  house 
standeth,"  and  this  is  the  first  mention  of  John 
Tuthill  at  Oyster  Pond.  In  1670  Abraham 
Whittier  owned  what  is  still  called  Hog  Pond 
Farm. 

In  1679  Thomas  Rider  gave  to  his  son-in- 
law,  John  Wiggins,  all  his'land  at  Oyster  Pond, 
Upper  Neck.  This  tract  lies  at  East  Marion 
and  is  on  the  point  opposite  the  extreme  north 
point  of  Shelter  Island.  It  has  been  in  the 
Wiggins  family  ever  since. 

In  1650  there  were  six  families  here,  and 
in  1700  there  were  24.  In  the  census  of  1880 
the  population  of  Orient  was  786  and  that  of 
East   Marion  340. 

A  church  was  founded  and  a  house  for  wor- 
ship built  previous  to  1717.  The  earliest  record 
we  have  found  says:  "David  Youngs,  in  con- 
sideration of  531.  paid  by  the  persons  that  have 
builded  a  meeting-house  in  ye  Oyster  Ponds 
Lower  Neck,  sells  to  them  so  long  as  they  shall 
keep  up  a  meeting-house  all  that  piece  of  land 
that  ye  sd  meeting-house  stands  upon;  that  is 
s>e  much  of  land  as  the  sd  meeting-house  stands 


upon,  bounded  west  by  Thomas  Terry's  land, 
south  by  ye  highway,  north  and  east  by  land  of 
mee  the  sd  David  Youngs. — Jan.  i,  1717/'  Ac- 
cording to  "Griffin's  Journal"  "It  was  about  30 
feet  square,  two  stories  high,  and  on  the  top 
another  building  about  ten  feet  square  and  nine 
feet  high,  and  then  a  finish  something  alike  the 
lower  part  of  a  steeple,  with  an  iron  spire  which 
supported  a.  sheet  iron  figure  of  a  gamecock, 
showing  the  course  of  the  wind."  This  build- 
ing stood  for  a  century,  and  was  torn  down  and 
a  new  one  built  on  the  same  site  in  1818. 
This  being  inconvenient,  a  more  elegant  one 
was  built  on  the  same  place  in  1843, 
which  still  remains,  a  very  neat  and  commodious 
edifice.  It  was  dedicated  as"  a  Congregational 
church  December  28,  1844,  We  have  seen  that 
David  Youngs  in  17 17  sold  the  site  for  five* 
shillings.  When  the  present  church  was  built, 
a  few  rods  of  land  were  added  at  a  cost  of  fifty 
dollars.  Griffin  quaintly  o'bserves :  "Thus  we 
see  that  five  shillings  in  1700  were  worth  four 
hundred  shillings  in  1843.    How  things  change!" 

The  first  clergyman  who  labored  here  of 
whom  we  have  any  knowledge  was  the  Rev.  Jona- 
than Barber,  who,  according  to  Griffin,  was  here 
i^-  I735>  ^^d  the  records  of  the  presbytery  speak 
of  him  in  1757  as  having  been  here  "some  years." 
At  that  time  the^  church  appears  to  have  been  in 
a  very  weak  condition,  and  could  hardly  be  said 
to  be  established. 

Methodism  was  introduced  in  this  village  in 
the  autumn  of  1802,  and  the  first  preacher  of 
that  denom'ination  was  Rev.  John  Finnagan,  an 
Englishman.  As  in  many  other  places  at  that 
time,  there  was  much  prejudice  excited  against 
the  new  sect,  whose  religioiis  exercises  were  in 
those  days  not  unfrequently  conducted  in  a  man- 
ner more  likely  to  excite  the  ridicule  of  the  pro- 
fane than  the  veneration  of  the  righteous.  The 
first  meetings  were  held  in  the  school  house, 
contrary  to  the  wishes  of  many,  but  before  spring 
some  of  the  prominent  families  of  the  place 
became  more  favorably  inclined,  and  no  further 
opposition  was  made.  From  Mr.  Finnagan's  de- 
parture in  1803  until  1820  there  was  very  little 
preaching  by  any  clergyman  of  this  denomina- 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


431 


tion,  and  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Foss  was  the  first  who 
made  any  stay.  That  the  prejudice  was  fast 
wearing  away  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the 
church  was  used  by  him  when  not  occupied  by 
the  regular  pastor.  The  corner  stone  of  the 
Methodist  church  was  laid  June  3,  1836,  the 
services  being  conducted  hy  the  Rev.  Samuel 
W.  King.  From  that  time  the  pulpit  has  been 
regularly  supplied  and  the  congregation  is  pros- 
perous  and  increasing. 

The  author  of  "Griffin's  Journal"  gives  from 
his  own  experience  a  description  of  a  remark- 
able storm,  which  we  quote  as  an  vindoubtedly 
truthful   account: 

"On  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  of  December, 
181 1,  the  wind  was  light,  from  the  west;  at  11 
p.  m.  very  moderate,  and  cloudy,  gentle  breeze, 
S.  E, ;  at  12  o'clock  nearly  calm,  with  a  little 
sprinkle  of  rain.  In  one  hour  after  it  commenced 
almost  instantaneously  blowing  a  gale  with  snow 
and  the  most  intense  cold,  A  more  violent  and 
destructive  storm  has  not  been  known  for  the 
last  hundred  years.  ^lany  young  cattle  froze  to 
death  in  the  fields.  Two  vessels  bound  to  New 
York  were  lost  and  most  of  the  crews  perished." 

Griffin   also   narrates    the   accounts    he    had 


depth.  This  storm  occurred  in  February.  The 
winter  was  remarkably  cold,  and  the  ice  was  so 
thick  that  Noah  Terry  rode  on  horseback  from 
Orient  Harbor  to  Shelter  Island. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  1815,  occurred  one 
of  the  severest  easterly  storms  of  rain  and  wind 
ever  known,  and  it  is  still  spoken  of  as  the  ''Sep- 
tember gale,"  About  11  a.  m.  the  wind  blew 
so  violently  as  to  unroof  houses,  blow  down 
barns  and  uproot  trees.  The  tide  rose  to  a  won- 
derful height,  and  Griffin  narrates  that  one  of 
the  families  living  near  the  wharf  came  in  a  boat 
and  landed  near  his  house.  The  Atlantic  coast 
was  strewn  with  wrecks,  and  many  a  sailor  sank 
into  a  watery  grave. 

The  year  1816  was  remarkable  as  having  a 
frost  every  month.  In  the  summer  of  1849  ^^is 
place  was  visited  by  a  very  fatal  epidemic,  to 
which  physicians  gave  the  name  of  "cholera 
dysentery."  Within  a  space  of  half  a  mile  there 
were  more  than  sixty  cases  in  two  weeks.  In 
the  street  leading  to  the  wharf  scarcely  a  house 
escaped.  Mr.  Griffin  records  that  within  a  hun- 
dred rods  of  his  house  there  were  twelve  deaths, 
and  in  one  district  one-fourth  of  a  mile  square 


heard  of  the  great  snow  storm  of  1717,  which 
was  doubtless  the  most  remarkable  fall  of  snow 
that  has  ever  occurred  in  this  country  since  the 
settlement.  Houses  in  Orient  Avere  buried  to 
the  second  story  windows,  and  one  on  Plum  Isl- 
and was  entirely  covered;  Cotton  Mather  states 
that   the   snow   in    Boston   was    twenty    feet    in 


thirty  persons  died  in  two  months.  All  business 
was  at  a  stand,  and  the  place  seemed  almost  de- 
serted. 

About  1740  a  wharf  was  built  by  Richard 
Shaw,  who  came  from  East  Hampton.  It  was 
70  feet  long  and  16  feet  wide,  built  of  logs  and 
was  a  heap  of  ruins  in  1774.     A  new  one  was 


432 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


built  on  the  same  site  in  1829,  by  Captain  Caleb 
Dver,  but  fell  into  decay  in  about  nineteen  years. 
In  1848  a  new  one  was  built  by  a  company  which 
obtained  a  grant  froiii  the  legislature.  The  ne- 
cessities of  the  place  caused  a  windmill  to  be 
erected  at  an  early  day.  This  stood  until  1760, 
when,  another  was  built  which  remained  till 
1810,  when  a  third  was  built  on  the  same  site 
and  still  remains. 

The  ancient  burying  ground  at  Orient  has  an 
interest  not  only  as  the  last  resting  place  of  our 
early  settlersi,  but  from  the  remarkable  quaint- 
ness  of  some  of  the  tombstone  inscriptions.  The 
oldest  tombstone  marks  the  grave  of  Gideon 
Youngs,  the  original  owner  of  the  land  now  oc- 
cupied with  the  most  flourishing  and  thickly  set- 
tled part  of  the  village.  Below  are  some  of  the 
epitaphs  to  be  seen  here: 

"Here  lyeth  ye  body  of  Gideon  Youngs,  who 
departed  this  life  in  ye  61  st  year  of  his  age,  ye 
31  day  of  December  in  ye  year  1699." 

"Beneath  this  little  Stone  here  lyes 

The  Wife  of  William  King, 
And  tho'    She's  dead  to  Mortal  Eyes 

She  will  revive  again. 
Lived  four  and  Fifty  Years  a  Wife, 

Dy'd  in  her  Seventy  seven, 
Has  now  laid  down  her  Mortal  life 

In  hopes  to  live  in  heaven. 

"}*Tay  ye  7th  A.  D.  1764." 

*''In  memory  of  Michel  ye  wife  of  nathan  Tut- 
hill  who  died  in  ye  22  year  of  her  age." 

"Beneath  this  little  stone 

Does  my  'beloved  lie. 
O  Pity,  pity  me. 

Whoever  passes  by ; 
Or  Spend  a  sigh  at  least. 

Or  Else  a  tear  let  fall 
On  my  Sweet  Blooming  Rose 

Whom  GO'D  so  soon  Did  call." 


"Here  Lyes  Elizabeth, 

Once  Samuel  Beebe's  Wife, 
Who  once  was  made  a  living  Soul, 

But  's  now  Deprived  of  life; 
Yet  firmly  Did  believe 

That  at  her  Lord's  return 
She  should  be  made  a  living  Soul 

In  his  own  shap  and  form. 
Lived  four  and  thirty  years  a  wife, 

Was  Aged  Fifty  seven; 
Has  now  laid  down  her  mortal  soul 

In  hopes  to  live  in  Heaven. 


"June  10  1716.' 


"Here  lyeth  Interred  the  Body  of  Richard 
King,  who  died  May  ye  20,  1735,  In  ye  24th 
Year  of  his  age." 

"As  you  pass  by  behold  and  see; 
As  I  am  now  so  must  you  be. 
Make  sure  of  Christ  to  be  your  Friend, 
And  peace  shall  be  your  latter  end." 

The  name  of  the  locality  was  changed  to 
Orient  by  a  vote  of  the  people  in  1836. 

The  western  boundary  of  '*the  old  town,"  or 
the  first  purchase  made  in  1640,  was  at  a  place 
called  *Tresh  ^Meadows,"  where  Thomas  Golden 
lately  lived.  In  1649  Captain  John  Youngs  in- 
formed the  General  Court  at  New  Haven  that 
"they  at  Southold"  had'  purchased  the  tract  of 
land  extending  from  this  place  to  the  western 
boundary  of  Riverhead.  These  lands  lay  vacant 
(except  some  parcels  of  land  on  the  necks  south 
of  the  main  road)  until  1661,  when  it  was  laid 
out,  and  every  man  had  his  property  according 
to  his  right  in  commonage.  What  was  called 
the  Corchauge  Division  extended  west  from 
the  Fresh  Meadows  to  the  Canoe  Place,  or  south 
end  of  Mattituck  Creek.  In  tliis  division  the 
lots  were  laid  out  running  from  the  main  road 
to  the  sound.  A  "First  Lot"  contained  112  acres 
of  land.  They  were  drawn  by  lot,  and  we  find 
frequent  descriptions  in  old  deeds,  thus,  "John 
Goldsmith  sells  to  Jonathan  Reeves  a  certain 
First  Lot  of  up'land  in  Corchaug  Division^ 
bounded  south  by  the  highway  and  so  runneth 
to  the  North  Sea  Cliff." 

In  1684  Sarah  Youngs  sells  to  Barnabas 
Wines  "A  certaine  tract  of  land  at  Mattituck  be- 
ing the  first  lot  in  Curchaug  Divident,  contain- 
ing 112  acres,  bounded  west  by  Mattituck  Creek, 
east  by  lot  of  Peter  Dickinson,  south  by  the  high- 
way and  north  by  the  North  Beach."  This 
tract  after  a  lapse  of  two  hundred  years  is  still 
owned  by  his   descendants. 

Barnabas  Wines,  in  his  will,  November  2^, 
1675,  gave  to  his  son  Barnabas  Wines,  Jr.,  "his 
dwelling  house  and  lot,  with  accommodations  of 
Goose  Creek  meadow  in  Corchaug,  and  100 
acres  of  land  in  Quash  Neck." 

Probably  one  of  the  first  settlers  was  Benja- 
min  Horton,   who  had  a  house  here   in   1664. 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


433 


By  various  sales  and  exchanges  he  secured  a 
large  estate.  His  will  is  of  such  an  extraor- 
dinary nature  that  we  give  it  entire : 

In  ye  name  of  God  Amen,  febr  ye  19  1685-6, 
according  to  the  computation  of  ye  Church  of 
England,  I,  Benjamin  'Horton,  in  ye  County  of 
Suffolk  in  ye  Province  of  N.  Yorke  on  Long  Isl- 
and, being  in  perfect  memory,  doe  make  &  or- 
dain this  my  last  will  &  testament. 

Item. — I  give  to  Caleb  Horton  &  Joshua  Hor- 
ton &  to  Jonathan  Horton  &  I\Iersy  Youngs  80 
bushels  of  wheate  &  Indian,  20  swine,  20  sheep, 
to  be  devided  to  them  four  alike. 

Item. — I  give  my  house  &  land  &  meadows 
except  my  Meadow  of  Common  over  the  River 
to  the  Sacrament  table  yearly  for  evermore. 

Item. — 1  give  to  my  friend  Thomas  Tusten 
one  lot  of  the  common  meadows  over  the  River, 
and  a  coate  cloth  that  is  at  Stephen  Bayles,  and 
the  corne  that  is  more  than  the  80  bushels  I  give 
to  Thomas  Tusten. 

Item. — I  give  ten  oxen  for  a  bell  for  the  meet- 
ing-house to  call  ye  people  together  to  worship 
the  Lord  God. 

Item. — I  give  the  rest  to  the  poore. 

Item. — I  give  to  my  man  Joseph  one  sow,  one 
gun,  one  sheep  &  his  time,  to  be  out  next  may 
day. 

Item. — I  give  to  my  sisters  my  wives  cloathes 
to  be  divided  to  them  two. 

Item. — I  give  all  ye  rest  of  my  goods  to  my 
brother  Joseph  Horton. 

I  make  my  brother  Joshua  Horton  sole  execu- 
tor of  this,  mv  last  will  and  testament,  revoking 
all  other  wills  and  testam.ents,  to  see  all  my  debts 
paid. 

Benjamin  Horton. 

Joseph  Horton,  a  brother  of  Benjamin,  was 
living  at  Rye,  in  Westchester  county,  in  1691, 
and  is  probably  the  ancestor  of  the  many  fam- 
ilies of  that  name.  Another  of  the  early  settlers 
was  Caleb  Horton,  son  of  Barnabas.  In  ^1669 
his  father  gave  him  a  "third  lot"  at  Cutchogue, 
bounded  by  Samuel  King  east  and  Benjamin 
Horton  west ;  this  tract  contained  300  acres.  This 
farm  was  then  covered  with  woods ;  he  cleared 
a  large  part  of  it  and  became  a  wealthy  farmer. 
His  homestead  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
William;  Wickham. 

We  mav  add  here  that,  after  making  his 
singular  will,   Benjamin  Horton  married  Mary 

28 


Mapham,  daughter  of  John  I\Iapham,  of  South- 
hampton. He  died  in  1690.  His  older  brother 
Joseph  made  a  division  of  the  estate  with  the 
widow.  A  part  of  the  estate  was  afterwards 
owned  by  Parker  Wickham,  and  was  confiscated 
after  the  Revolution. 

In  1678  John  Goldsmith,  son  of  Thomas 
Goldsmith,  of  Southampton,  and  ancestor  of  the 
Southold  families  of  that  name,  made  an  ex- 
change with  widow  Margaret  Cooper,  of  South- 
old.  He  sold  her  three  acres  of  land  oh  the  north 
side  of  Toilsome  Lane  in  Southampton,  and  re- 
ceived in  exchange  "half  a  third  lot"  at  Cut- 
chogue, 168  acres.  In  1684  he  bought  of  Rob- 
ert Norris  another  tract  of  168  acres,  adjoining 
the  former  on  the  west.  This  tract  is  in  the 
heart  of  the  village  of  Cutchogue,  and  includes 
the  farm  lots  of  Morgan  Morgans,  Dr.  Henry 
P.  and  Nathan  Goldsmith,  the  Catholic  church 
lot  and  lots  adjoining.  The  original  tract  ran 
north  of  the  sound.  The  three  acresi  in  South- 
ampton are  now  (1902)  worth  $1,500.  The 
168  acres  in  Cutchogue,  it  is  needless  to  say, 
are  of  vastly  greater  value. 

The  neck  upon  which  New  Suffolk  is  situ- 
ated was  originally  called  "Robins'  Island  Neck,'' 
and  was  very  early  owned  by  "Master"  John 
Booth,  as  he  was  called  by  way  of  pre-eminence, 
together  with  all  the  land  on  the  main  road  be- 
tween the  estates  of  Henry  L.  Fleet  and  Will- 
iam H..  H.  Case.  It  remained  in  his  family  for 
some  generations. 

Fort  Neck  was  so  called  in  ancient  times  on 
account  of  an  Indian  fortification  which  existed 
here  at  the  time  of  the  settlement,  the  remains  of 
which  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
creek.  This  neck  is  often  mentioned  as  the 
"Old  Field,"  and  was  doubtless  cultivated  by  its 
aboriginal  owners.  It  was  originally  divided  in- 
to small  lots,  but  these  were  bought  by  Caleb 
Horton,  until,  as  early  as  1680,  he  owned  al- 
most the  entire  neck.  It  remained  in  his  family 
as  late  as  1800,  and  was-  afterward  owned  by 
John  Downs. 

The  first  meeting  house  was  built  here  in 
1732,  the  building  being  raised  on  the  26th  of 
]\Iay.     The  first  pastor  was  Rev.   Mr.   Wooley, 


434 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


and  the  second   Rev.  Abram  Reeves.     The  fol- 
lowing Is  a  list  of  the  later  pastors : 

Ebenzer  Gould,  1740-47;  vacancy  ten  years; 
Thomas  Payne,  1750-66;  no  regular  ministration 
till  the  pastorate  of  Zachariah  Green,  1787-96; 
temporary  supplies,  1796-1810;  Lathrop  Thomp- 
son, iSio-26;  Ezra  Youngs,  1827-41 ;  stated  sup- 
plies, 1841-48;  Amos  Lawrence,  1848-58;  James 
Sinclair,  1851-61 ;  Clark  Lockwood,  1862-66; 
Eusebius  Hale,  1866-76;  Samuel  Whaley,  1876, 
During  the  interval  between  1797  and  1810 
a  violent  contention  arose  in  this  church  con- 
cerning the  management  of  funds  belonging  to 
the  society,  which  had  been  increased  by  private 
contributions.  In  this  contest  the  church  was 
divided ;  both  parties  became  involved  in  a  law- 
suit, and  it  seemed  extremely  probable  that  the 
money  which  had  been  devoted  to  the  service  of 
the  Lord  would  be  diverted  to  the  service  of  the 
devil  in  payment  of  lawyers'  fees  and  court  ex- 
penses. Happil)'  the  difference  was  adjusted 
and  the  church  once  more  united.  In  1848  the 
congregation  voted  to  adopt  the  Presbyterian 
form  of  government. 

The  last  sermon  was  preached  in  the  old 
church  February  22,  1852,  and  it  was  demolished 
after  having  stood  120  years.  The  present 
building  was  dedicated  Decem^ber  Sth  of  the  same 
year. 

It  was  in  this  church  that  Rev.  Nathaniel  S. 
Prime,  well  known  as  one  of  the  historians  of 
Long  Island,  began  his  labors  as  a  preacher  in 
1805,  as  a  supply ;  and  forty  years  later  he  stood 
in  the  same  pulpit  in  the  same  capacity. 

A  Congregational  church  was  built  in  1862, 
and  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  1830.  This 
proving  too  small,  a  new  one  was  built  in  1857. 
There  is  also  a  Roman  Catholic  church  organi- 
zation, under  the  care  of  the  pastor  of  the  South- 
old  church. 

The  Suffolk  County  ^futual  Insurance  Com- 
pany was  incorporated  April  30,  1836,  for  a 
term  of  20  years.  The  charter  provided  that  no 
policy  should  'be  issued  until  application  should 
be  made  for  insurance  to  the  amount  of  $50,000 
at  least.  The  incorporators  were  Seth  H.  Tut- 
hill,  Joseph  H.  (joldsmith,  John  Brown,  P'rancis 


R.  Youngs,  George  Champlin,  Augustus  Griffin, 
Marvin  Holmes,  Joseph  Terry,  Samuel  Hobart, 
David  Terry,  William  H.  Tuthill,  Caleb  Dyer 
and  Jonathan  Latham.  On  the  30th  of  April, 
1876,  the  charter  was  renewed  for  thirty  years. 

The  creek  or  small  bay  which  extends  from 
the  sound  across  the  town  was  called  by  the 
Indians  ''Mattituck,''  and  this  has  given  its 
name  to  th-e  region  lying  on  both  sides  of  it  and 
embracing  some  of  the  most  fertile  and  highly 
cultivated  lands  in  the  town.  The  elevation 
called  "Manor  Hill/'  on  the  main  road,  is  usual- 
ly considered  as  the  boundary  between  this  vil- 
lage and  Cutchogue.  The  comparatively  narrow 
strip  between  tjie  head  O'f  the  creek  and  Peconic 
Bay  was  called  in  the  early  records  the  ''Canoe 
Place."  The  part  of  this  division  east  of  the 
Canoe  Place  was  a  part  of  the  great  Cutchogue 
division,  the  lots  running  from  the  main  road 
north  to  the  sound.  The  land  to  the  west  of 
Mattituck  Creek  belonged  to  the  Occabaug  di- 
vision, the  lots  running  from .  the  bav  to  the 
sound,  and  a  single  lot  contained  about  250 
acres. 

About  1664  Thomas  Mapes  records  among 
his  lands  "one  divident"  (he  owned  two  shares) 
"at  Occabauk,  lying  next  and  adjoyning  to  the 
canoe  place  by  Mattituck  pond,  being  in  breadth 
eight  score  poles,  in  length  from  sea  to  sea, 
the  land  of  John  Youngs  jr.  west."  This  tract 
of  over  500  acres  runs  from  the  creek  as  far  west 
as  the  land  of  Thomas  Hallock.  It  is  now  sub- 
divided among  many  owners.  The  north  part, 
next  the  sound,  was  called  Mapes  Neck  and  re- 
mained in  the  Mapes  family  for  three  genera- 
tions. 

The  neck  called  in  the  old  records  "Pesa- 
punk,*'  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  main  road 
running  west  from  "Manor  Hill,"  and  consid- 
ered among  the  choicest  tracts  of  land  in  the 
town,  was  originally  owned  by  John  Booth,  who 
sold  it  to  Thomas  Giles  in  1677.  Giles  sold  it 
to  David  Gardiner  of  Gardiner's  Island  in  1682, 
and  it  continued  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants 
for  some  generations.  About  1816  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Isaac  Conklin,  of  East  Hampton, 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


435 


who  lived  upon  it,  with  his  son  George  L.  Conk- 
liii,  who  was  supervisor  several  years,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Assembly.  It  is  now  principally  owned 
by  John  Wells. 

The  tract  west  of  this  neck,  lately  in  pos- 
session of  Hon.  Francis  Brill,  was  originally 
owned  by  \\'illiam  Furrier,  and  transferred  by 
his  executors  to  Thomas  ]\Iapes  as  equivalent  to 
a  legacy  of  £20.  The  land  around  Mattituck 
Pond  originally  belonged  to  William  Furrier, 
Thomas   Reeves   and   William   Wells. 

The  population  of  ]\Iattituck  in  1900  was 
1 ,200. 

At  what  time  a  settlement  was  made  we  do 
not  know,  but  in  1684  John  Osman  had  a  house 
west  of  the  creek,  and  in  171 5  the  population 
had  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  James 
Reeves,  who  was  probably  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers,  gave  a  half  acre  of  land  as  a  site  for  a 
church,  and  an  acre  and  a  half  adjoining  for  a 
burying  ground.  This  conveyance  was  dated 
November  7,  171 5,  and  in  the  following  year  a 
church  was  erected.  This  building  was  super- 
seded by  a  new  church  in  1830.  In  1853,  when 
the  Fresbyterian  society  erected  the  present 
church,  the  old  one  was  bought  by  the  Meth- 
odist society  and  moved  a  short  distance  west, 
and  the  services  of  that  church  have  been  regu- 
larly sustained. 

The  first  Fresbyterian  pastor  in  this  village 
was  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lamb,  who  was  ordained 
December  4,  1717.  He  removed,  at  what  time 
is  not  exactly  known,  but  previous  to  1749- 
This  parish  was  united  with  that  of  Lower 
Aquebogue,  and  June  10,  1752,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Farks  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church,  the 
total  membership  in  both  places  being  7  men  and 
75  women.  j\Ir.  Farks  remained  till  1756-  ^^  e 
may  form  some  idea  of  the  real  state  of  religious 
interest  in  this  place  at  that  day  when  we  learn 
that,  altogether  he  administered  92  baptisms  and 
solemnized  23  marriages,  only  six  pe;-sons  were 
admitted   to   the   communion. 

In  June,  1756,  the  Rev.  Nehemiah  Barker 
was  settled  here,  and  he  remained  as  pastor  of 
both  this  village  and  Aquebogue  till  1766;  after 
that  time  he  confined  his   labors   to   Mattituck. 


He  died  March  10,  1772,  at  the  age  of  52.  Mr. 
Harkcr  baptized  133,  admitted  to  communion  30, 
and  celebrated  57  marriages.  For  one  year  the 
pastor  was  Rev.  Jesse  Ives. 

The  Rev.  John  Davenport  was  ordained  June 
4,  1775,  and  remained  ten  years. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Goldsmith  took  charge 
of  this  church,  in  connection  with  that  of  Aque- 
bogue, of  which  he  was  pasitor,  in  1777,  and  re- 
tained it  until  his  death,  in  1810. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Bailey  was  ordained  No- 
vember 6,  181 1,  and  was  dismissed  May  18,  1816. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Reeve,  who  was  a  stated  supply  from  18 17  to 
1823,  when,  through  ill  health,  he  was  compelled 
to  desist  from  his  ministerial  labor.  To  the  last- 
ing credit  of  the  co>ngregation  for  whose  ben- 
efit he  had  so  lOng  labored  he  still  retained  the 
parsonage,  and  his  support  was  continued  till 
his  death.  He  died  April  9,  1833,  at  the  age 
of  72. 

The  Rev.  Abraham  Luce  acted  as  a  supply 
for  five  years  from  1825,  preaching  not  only  at 
this  place  but  also  at  West  Hampton;  but  after 
1830  his  labors  were  confined  to  this  parish. 
He  remained  here  till  1846,  excepting  two  years 
when  his  place  was  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Jona- 
than Huntting.     ' 

The  Rev..  James  T.  Hamlin  came  in  the 
spring  of  1847,  and  was  ordained  and  installed 
November  4th.  He  continued  in  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  as  pastor  till  June  14, 
1879,  when  he  resigned,  and  it  was  voted  that 
he  remain  as  pastor  emeritus,  with  the  use  of  the 
parsonage  during  life. 

The  present  church  was  enlarged  in  1871. 
The  parish  was  organized  as   separate  from 
Aquebogue  August  29,  1853. 

The  Rev.  William  Hedges-,  son  of  Hon.  Hen- 
r^'  F.  Hedges,  of  Bridgehampton,  began  his  la- 
bors in  this  place  as  a  stated  .supply.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Hedges  remained  until  1883,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  George  R.  Garretson,  who 
resigned  in  1887.  The  Rev.  James  W.  Hillman 
was  pastor  until  1894,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  R.  Howard  Wallace  as  supply  until  1895. 
Since    that    time    the   Rev.    Charles   E.    Craven 


43G 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


has  been  stated  supply  and  his  abiHty  and  useful- 
ness are  fully  recognized. 

An  Episcopal  church  was  built  in  1878, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Cook  of  Riverhead. 

Peconic  lies  within  the  limits  of  the  original 
town  purchase,  and  the  original  laying  out  is 
not  known.  The  tract  lying  between  the  two 
branches  of  Hutchinson's  Creek  was  known  in 
early  times  as  the  Indian  Field,  and  was  owned 
by  John  Corwin,  who  was  also  the  owner  of  the 
tract  of  land  on  which  the  Peconic  railroad  depot 
is  situated,  extending  from  the  road  which  leads 
to  the  depot,  on  the  east,  to  the  land  of  William 
Horace  Case  on  the  west.  The  Indian  Field  is 
now  the  property  of  the  heirs  of  Alvin  Squires. 

This  village  was  formerly  known  by  the 
name  of  ''Hermitage,"  which  was  changed  to 
Peconic  when  the  postoffice  was  established. 
The  population  in  igoo  was  550. 

Franklinville  is  a  village  partly  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  this  town  and  partly  in  Riverhead. 
A  Presbyterian  church  was  erected  here  in  1831. 
The  academy,  which  was  then  a  noted  institu- 
tion, was  founded  in  1832.  The  population  in 
1900  was  200. 

The  following  deeds  throw  light  upon  the 
earlier  purchases  of  land  in  this  town : 

Lieut.  John  Ketcham,  of  Hunttington,  and 
wife  Susan  sell  to  Thomas  Moore,  of  Southold. 
"Whereas  James  Farrett  agent  for  the  Earl  of 
Sterling  by  deed  dated  August  15th,  conveyed  to 
Richard  Jackson,  fifty  acres  of  upland  and  mead- 
ow lying  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  called 
Alahansock  in  Long  Island,  to  the  eastward  of 
the  place  called  the  Five  Wigwams,  and  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  upland  adjoining.  And  James  Jack- 
son by  deed  October  20th  the  same  year  1640  sold 
to  Thomas  Weatherby,  mariner,  and  Stephen 
Goodyear  became  possessed  of  the  same  and  he 
sold  to  John  Ketcham.  June  2,  1652.  The  said 
John  Ketcham  and  wife  Susan  sell  the  same  to 
Thomas  Moore.'  September  20,  1666.  Recorded 
in  the  Secretary  of  State's  ofifice  in  Albany. 

'These  presents  witness  that  Uxsquepossem, 
otherwise  called  the  Puamis  Sachem,  with  his 
three  brothers,  Weekwacup,  Nowconnelling  and 
Neesantquaggus,   for  two  fathoms  of  wampum. 


one  iron  pot,  six  coats,  ten  knives,,  four  hatchets 
and  forty  needles,  have  sold  to  Mr.  Theophilus 
Eaton,  Governor  of  Xew  Haven  and  to  Mr 
Stephen  Goodyear,  Deputy  Governor,  in  behalf 
of  the  Jurisdiction.  All  that  land  lying  between 
Corchake  and  Ucquebaak,  commonly  called  Mat- 
tituck,  OT  what  name  soever  it  is  called,  Bounded 
east  with  the  creek  Conegums,  and  the  way  lead- 
ing thence  to  Mattituck  pond,  for  the  drawing 
over  of  their  canoes.  On  the  south  with  the 
great  [river]  and  on  the  north  with  the  sea,  and 
westward  to  Ucquebauk  and  beyond.  The  said 
Sachem  is  to  have  the  privilege  of  his  ancestors,, 
namely  the  skins  of  such  deer  as  are  taken  by  the 
Indians  in  the  water  and  the  Indian  canoes  drawn 
upon  the  shore."    March  21,  1648. 

In  this  we  have  the  earliest  form  of  the  In- 
dian names  which,  after  many  changes,  are  now 
Aquebogue  and  Cutchogue. 

In  1727  William  ^Mapes  and  wife  Tabitha 
sell  to  Jonathan  Bradley  "All  that  my  farm, 
where  I  now  dwell  at  Cutchogue,  being  two  and 
a  half  lots  or  300  acres,  bounded  north  by  the 
Sound,  east  by  Caleb  Horton,  south  by  the  street 
or  highway,  and  west  by  Barnabas  Wines,  ex- 
cept 2  acres  adjoining  the  street  with  the  houses 
of  Samuel  Vail  and  Joseph  King  standing  on 
the  same.  Also  14  acres  which  I  sold  to  Gideon 
Wickham,  on  the  east  side  of  the  farm."  Also 
6  lots  of  creek  thatch,  on  the  neck  of  land  of 
Colonel  Joseph  Wickam.     Price  £730  or  $1,825., 

James  Farrett,  the  agent  for  the  Earl  of 
Stirling,  was  granted  the  privilege  of  selecting 
as  his  own  property  12,000  acres  of  land,  and 
as  a  part  he  chose  what  is  now  called  Robin's 
Island.  In'1641  he  sold  it  to  Stephen  Goodyear, 
who  conveyed  it  to  Nathaniel  Sylvester  and  Com- 
pany. In  1665  the  following  Indian  deed  was- 
given : 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  presents  Shall 
come.  We  whose  names  are  hereunder  written 
Send  Greeting.  Whereas  Nathanniell  Sylvester 
of  Shelter  Island  and  company  now  are  and  for 
divers  years  have  been  lawfully  possessed  of  a 
certaine  Is'land  called  in  the  Indian  tonge  Anch- 
annock  in  English  Roberts  Island  Scittuat  lying 
and  being  in  a  brancli  of  the  Sea  tnat  runs  up  Be- 
tween  Southampton   and    Southold    right    over 


TOWN  OF   SOUTHOLD. 


437 


against  that  part  of  Long  Island  that  is  called 
Corchauk  the  which  Island  was  by  the  said  Na- 
thanniell  Silvester  and  Company  lawfully  pur- 
chased from  the  reall  alienation  of  Tyononcome 
Sachem  of  Pammanock  &  Predecesso-rs.  Nou* 
Know  yee  that  we  the  said  subscribers  for  divers 
good  and  sufficient  causses  hereunto  especially 
moving  and  also  for  and  in  consideration  of  three 
yards  of  trading  cloth  to  us  in  hand  by  the  said 
Nathanniell  Silvester  well  and  truly  paid  have 
remised  released  and  forever  quit  claimed  unto 
the  said  Nathaniell  Silvester  and  Company  and 
to  theire  heires  and  assigns  forever  all  the  right, 
title  interest,  use  clame  &  demand  whatsoever 
which  we  the  said  subscribers  now  have  or  had, 
or  ought  or  may  in  any  wise  clame  of  in  or  to 
the  said  Island,  any  of  them  at  any  time.  To  have 
and  to  hold  all  the  said  Island  called  Roberts  Isl- 
and with  all  &  singular  etc. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set 
■our  hands  and  scales  the  —  of  the  tenth  month 
called  December  1665. 

NowANNEG  his  X  mark 
'  Xediohit  his  X  mark 
HuBAXTAWA  his  m'ark 
Pammatuk  hisi  mark  ' 

OuAQUGANE  his  mark 
and  19  others. 
In  presence  of 
Thomas  Mapes. 
John  Youngs. 
Barnabas  Wines. 


A  memorandum  states  that  the  deed  was  de- 
livered to  Captain  John  Youngs,  Barnabas  Hor- 
ton  and  others  "for  the  use  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Southold.'' 

The  next  we  know  of  it  is  from  the  will  of 
Jo'seph  Wickham,  who  was  a  resident  of  Cut- 
chogue,  to  which  place  he  removed  from-  South- 
ampton. He  died  in  1734  and  left  it  to  his  son 
Joseph  (and  his  heirs  male),  who  died  in  1749. 
In  1779  the  island  was  'in  possession  of  his  son 
'Parker  Wickham,  whose  adherence  to  the  cause 
of  Great  Britain  caused  its  confiscation,  and  it 
was  sold  by  the  commissioners  of  forfeiture  Au- 
gust S,  1784,  to  Benjamin  Talmage  and  Caleb 
Brewster  for  £1,250.  They  sold  the  island  to 
Kzra  LTIommedieu  in  1794.  His  executors  sold 
it  to  Colonel  Benjamin  Horton  and  James 
Reeves  for  $4,000.  They  sold  shares  of  the  isl- 
and to  various  parties,  and  in  1850  it  seems  to 


have  been  owned  by  J.  H.  Wooster  and  James 
F.  Goodale,  and  in  1857  the  whole  was  purchased 
by  Ira  B.  Tuthill.  He  sold  it  to  James  H.  Wil- 
son, of  New  York,  for  $20,000.  After  much 
litigation  it  came  once  m'ore  into  the  hands  of 
J\Ir.  Tuthill  who,  in  1881,  sold  it  to  a  company 
of  sportsmen  represented  by  Abraham  Ingra- 
ham,  of  New  York,  for  $22,000,  and  it  is  now 
used  as  a  gam^e  preserve.  The  island  contains 
469  acres.  Clay  of  the  finest  kind  is  found  in 
the  northern  part,  and  brick  making  was  former- 
ly carried  on  to  a  great  extent. 

As  the  grant  of  King  Charles  II  to  his 
brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  conveyed  Long 
Island  and  the  islands  adjacent,  Fisher's  Island 
was  a  part  of  it.  It  was  originally  claimed  by 
Connecticut,  and  was  for  some  time  in  the  pos- 
session of  John  Winthrop,  the  Governor,  and 
was  known  as  "the  governor's  farm  of  Fyshers 
Island."  After  .it  was  recognized  as  a  part  of 
the  Province  of  New  York,  a  patent  was  grant- 
ed, March  28,  1668,  to  John  Winthrop,  Governor 
of  Connecticut,  for  "A  certain  Island  near  unto 
New  London,  commonly  called  and  known  by 
the  name  of  Fisher's  Island,  containing  1,000 
acres,  as  purchased  by  him  of  the  Indian  Pro- 
prietors." This  was  granted  "on  account  of 
.■services  rendered  in  the  taking  of  New  Amster- 
dam." 

Governor  Winthrop  died  in  1676,  and  the 
island  descended  to  his  eldest  son,  Fitz  John 
A\'inthrop.  He  was  governor  of  Connecticut  in 
1698,  and  died  in  1707,  and  as  he  left  no  issue, 
the  island  descended  to  his  brother,  Wait  Still 
A\'inthrop,  who  was  chief  justice  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay  Colony.  He  died  in  1717,  and  it  be- 
came the  property  of  his  only  son,*John  Win- 
throp, who  died  in  England  in  1747,  and  left  it 
by  n-ill  to  his  eldest  son,  John  Still  Winthrop, 
and  he,  in  turn,  left  it  to  his  eldest  son,  John  Win- 
throp, in  1776.  He  died  intestate  in  1780,  and 
his  brother,  Francis  Bayard  Winthrop,  succeed- 
ed to  the  property.  He  died  in  1818,  leaving  the 
island  to  his  four  sons,  John  Still,  Francis  Bay- 
ard, William  Henry  and  Thomas  Charles  Win- 
throp. Between  April  23,  1818,  and  February 
28,  1825,  three  of  the  brothers  sold  their  shares 


4:38 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


tc  William  Henry  Winthrop,  who  thus  became 
the  owner  of  the  whole. 

William  H.  Winthrop  died  in  i860,  and  upon 
the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1863,  his  two  sons, 
William  H.  and  Thom'as  R.  Winthrop,  inherited 
the  estate. 

Fisher's  Island  thus  remained  in  the  Win- 
throp family  for  nearly  200  years,  and  it  only 
passed  out  of  their  hands  in  the  year  1863, 
when  the  two  last-mentioned  owners  sold  it  to 
George  Chester,  who  immediately  conveyed  it  to 
its  later  owner,  Rohert  R.  Fox,  who  dwelt  there- 
on from  the  time  of  his  purchase,  devoting  large 
sum's  of  money  and  untiring  energy  to  its  de- 
velopment and  improvement,  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  September  24,  1871.  His  ex- 
ecutor sold  it  to  James  L.  Lyles,  and  in  1889 
three  hundred  acres  were  sold  to  various  owners 
for  cottage  sites,  and  the  rest  to  James  M.  Fer- 
guson for  $250,000,  Fisher's  Island  was  the 
scene  of  the  wreck  of  the  steamship  ''Atlantic," 
which  occurred  with  great  loss  of  life  on  No- 
vemlDer  30,  1846. 

Plum-  Island  was  not  included  in  the  first 
purchase  of  the  town  from  the  Indians.  In  1659 
the  title  was  first  acquired  by  Samuel  Wyllys, 
of  Hartford,  as  appears  by  the  following  deed 
from  Wyand-anch,  the  Montauk  Sachem : 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Wy- 
andanch,  the  Montauket  Sachem,  for  me  and  my 
heirs  forever,  for  and  in  consideration  of  a  coat, 
a  barrel  of  Eiskitt,  a  100  muxes  or  fish  hooks, 
at  the  subscribing  by  me,  received  of  Samuel 
Wyllys  of  Hartford,  doe  sell,  alienate  and  make 
over,  all  my  right,  title  and  interest  unto  Plumbe 
Island,  to  the  said  Samuel  Wyllys  and  his  heirs 
forever :  I,  the  said  sachem,  hereby  declaring  to 
bee  the  rightful  owner  of  the  sayd  Island,  And  I 
covenant  with  the  said  Samuel  Wyllys,  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  that  i  will  never  molest  him  or  his 
assigns  in  the  possession  of  the  same,  and  will 
prohibit  my  men  from  doing  so,  by  killing  any  of 
the  cattle  that  shall  be  put  upon  it,  and  for  the 
true  performance  hereof,  I  have  set  my  hand  at 
Gardiner's  Island,  April  27,  1659." 

It  was  considered  as  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
New   York,    and    was   undoubtedly   included    in 


the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York.  In  1663  it  was 
assessed  at  £13  2s  od.  That  it  was  claimed  by 
the  town  of  Southold  is  apparent  from'  the  fol- 
lowing: 

''28th  of  August  1663.  Whereas  in  our  pres- 
ent laws  provision  is  made  that  four  years  peaca- 
ble  possession  of  any  lands  or  in  case  there  bee 
noe  clavme  entered  by  any  person  to  the  same  be- 
fore the  first  of  September  next  ensuing  after  the 
dav  of  the  date  hereof  shall  bee  a  good  title.  It 
is  hereby  declared  to  all  persons  it  may  con- 
seorne  that  the  Inhabitants  of  Southold  doe  make, 
and  clavme  an  Island  called  Plum  Island,  as  of 
proper  right  belonging  to  them  and  their  hv^ires, 
and  assigns  forever.  And  that  they  intend  to 
make  a  legal  right  appeare  thereunto  at  the  next 
session  held  in  the  East  Riding,  where  all  present 
any  way  conserned  having  convenient  notice  here- 
of may  make  their  defence  against  the  same. 

"For  the  preservation  of  all  my  right  and 
title  in  and  to  the  moiety  or  half  part  of  Cur- 
chaug  meadows  &c.  I  doe  hereby  lay  clayme  to 
the  same  this  present  eight  and  twentieth  day  of 
August  1665  above  written.  Witness  the  sub- 
scription of  my  name  hereunto. 

"William  Wells.'' 

September  22-,  1665,  *'the  constable  and  eight 
men'*  crossed  ^  out  the  above  from  record  **as 
not  just  and  legal"  and  as  having  been  entered 
by  himself  "without  the  knowledge  of  the  Re- 
corder." 

In  the  new  Indian  deed  of  December  7,  1665, 
Plum  Island  was  included,  but  this  did  not  pass 
a  good  title,  as  the  deed  to  Wyllys  was  prior  in 
date.  The  town,  however,  persisted  in  its  claim, 
for  at  a  town  meeting  held  INIarch  19,  1665-6, 
it  was  agreed  that  every  man  should  have  a 
share  on  Plum  Island.  The  dividends  were  ap- 
parently made,  but  the  freeholders  s^em)  to  have 
been  easily  induced  to  part  with  their  new  pos- 
sessions, for  on  May  22,  1666,  twenty-one  of 
them  sold  their  rights  to  John  YoungS'.  By  an- 
other A^^6.  of  same  date,  thirty-five  shareholders 
sold  to  ?\[r.  Youngs,  and  this  was  the  end  of  it. 

In  1674  Governor  Andros  issued  the  follow- 
ing patent  to  j\Ir.  Wyllys : 

"Whereas  Samuel  Willis  of  Hartford  in  the 
Colony  of  Connecticutt  Gent  hath  made  Appli- 
cacon  unto  mee  that  hee  may  have  a  Patent  for 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


439 


Confirmation  of  a  Certaine  Island  within  these 
his  Royall  Highnesse  Territoryeas  called  Pluninie 
Island  together  with  a  small  Island  adjacent 
called  Gull  Island  the  which  hee  hath  for  many 
yeares  been  in  quiet  Possession  of  without  Inter- 
ruption the  Island  called  Plunime  Island  lying 
and  'being  in  the  Sound  to  the  Eastward  of  Con- 
ccticott  River  having  Gardners  Island  'to  the 
East  and  Conecticott  Colony  to  the  \\^est  thereof 
lying  in  Length  East  and  West  between  two  and 
three  Miles  and  halfe  a  Mile  in  Breadth  The  Isl- 
and adjacent  called  Gull  Island  containing  about 
the  quantity  of  twenty  Acres  onely  Now  for  a 
Confirmation  unto  the  said  Samuel  Wi'His  in  his 
Possession  and  enjoyment  oif  the  prmisses  Knov/ 
Yea  that  by  virtue  of  the  Commission  and  Author- 
ity unto  mee  given  by  his  Royall  Highnesse  I 
have  Given  and  Graunted  And  by  these  prsents 
do  give  Ratifye  Confirme  and  Graunt  unto  the 
said  Samuel  Willis  his  heirs  and  Assignes  the 
said  Islands  called  Plumme  Island  and  Gull  Isl- 
and Together  with  all  the  Lands  etc.  And  I  do 
likewise  Graunt  unto  the  said  Samuel  Willis  his 
Heirs  and  Assigns  That  the  said  Islands;  shall 
bee  forever  hereafter  held  deemed  reputed  and 
bee  an  entire  and  enfranchised  Mannor  and  Place 
of  itselfe.  At  an  annual  Quit  rent  of  One  Fatt 
Lamb."    Dated  April  2,  1675. 

The  patent  granted  to  the  town  of  South- 
old  October  31,  1676,  only  goes  to  the  length  of 
establishing  the  civil  jurisdiction  of  the  town- 
ship over  the  island,  but  did  not  disturb  the  al- 
reading  existing  title. 

June  7,  1686,  Samuel  Wyllys,  of  Hartford, 
sold  Plum  Island  and  Gull  Island,  as  described 
in  the  patent,  to  Joseph  Dudley,  of  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  for  the  sum  of  X250.  The  orig- 
inal deed  is  now  in  possession  of  MrsL  Charles 
Lippitt,  of  Xew  London. 

Joseph  Dudley  appears  to  have  sold  the  west 
half  of  the  Island  to  Joseph  Beebee,  and  it  was 
in  possession  of  his  son,  Samuel  Beebee,  in  1722. 
The  east  half  was  sold  to  Isaac  Schellinx,  who 
sold  it  to  Daniel  Tuthill,  November  22^  1722. 
This  deed  conveys  the  whole  of  Gull  Island  and 
the  east  half  of  Plum'  Island,  "bounded  west  by 
a  line  extending  from  the  brick  kiln,  near  north- 
west, across  the  island,  which  is  the  divident  line 
between  Sanil  Beebee's  land  and  this."  The 
price  was  £255.  and  Daniel  Tuthill  was  to  pay 
"one-half  of  a  fat  lamb,  on  midsummer's  day," 


as  quit  rent.  Daniel  sold  the  same  to  his  son 
Daniel  Tuthill,  Jr.,  June  4,  1746,  for  £400. 
Daniel  Tuthill,  Jr.,  died  in  November,  1768,  and 
left  his  lands  on  Plum  Island  to  his  sons  Peter 
and  Rufus.  John  Tuthill,  the  oldest  son  and  heir 
at  law,  quitclaimed  all  his  right  to  his  brother 
Rufus,  December  5,  1768.  The  two  brothers 
divided  the  same,  Rufus  taking  the  west  part 
and  Peter  the  eastern  half.  Peter  Tuthill  died 
in  1817,  and  his  heirs  sold  his  part*to  Benja- 
min Gardiner,  January  10,  1819.  r)y  a  regu- 
lar succession  of  deeds  it  came  to  Abram  S., 
Hewitt  in  .1892.  Rufus  Tuthill  sold  his  part  to 
John  Gardiner,  and  he  sold  to  Benjamin  Jerom 
]\Iarch  15,  1805.  The  western  half  of  the  isl- 
and was  owned  by  Samuel  Beebee  in  1722.  He 
gave  50  acres  to  each  of  his  sons,  Theophilus  and 
Silas  in  1761,  and  40  acres  tO'  Amos  Beebee  in 
1763.  Samuel  Beebee  died  in  1763,  and  directed- 
his  lands  on  Plum  Island  to  be  sold.  They  were 
divided  into  five  parts  and  were  purchased  by  his 
sons,  Samuel,  Elnathan,  Theophilus,  Silas  and 
Amon. 

By  various  purchases,  Benjamin  Jerom  be- 
came the  owner  of  all  the  western  half  (except 
125  acres).  In  1833  Richard  Jerom  owned  the 
whole  Island,  except  the  east  part,  which  was 
owned  by  Benjamin  Gardiner,  and  125  acres, 
which  were  owned  by  Noah  G.  Beebee,  and  he 
sold  them  to  James  H.  Brown,  and  he  sold  to 
Richard  Jerom  in  1835. 

August  29,  1826,  Richard  Jerom  sold  to  the 
United  States  three  acres  on  the  south  side  of  the 
west  end  of  the  island,  and  on  it  a  light  house 
was  built.  Richard  Jerom  died  in  May,  1869, 
leaving  a  wife,  Mary,  and  children  Richard  M., 
Fanny  S.,  Nancy  L.  (wife  of  Edward  E.  Town- 
send)  and  Mary  B.  Jerome.  By  various  deeds 
the  whole  came  in  possession  of  Edwin  F.  Be- 
dell in  1883.  On  foreclosure  of  mortgage,  the 
whole  was  sold  to  Abram  S.  Hewitt,  January  13, 
1890,  and  he  sold  the  whole  to  the  United  States, 
February  24,  1897,  for  $25,000.  Extensive 
fortifications  to  command  the  mouth  of  Long 
Island  Sound  are  now  in  process  of  erection. 
The  first  persons  who  lived  on  the  island  were 
Isaac    Schellinx    (or    Schellinger)    and    Samuel 


440 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Beebee,  both  of  whom  had  houses  there  in  1722. 

The  following  abstracts  of  the  wills  of  some 
of  the  early  settlers  are  characteristic  of  the  men 
and  the  times : 

John  Elton,  in  his  will,  April  19,  1675,  leaves 
all  his  estate  to  his  nephew  "my  sister's  son" 
Isaac  Overton,  his  wife  to  have  the  use  of  half 
of  it  during  her  life.  He  leaves  to  his  "daugh- 
ter-in-law" (step-daughter)  Anna  Nicolls,  iio. 
The  invenf&ry  of  his  lands  mention:  The  dwel- 
ling house,  barn  and  4  acres  of  land,  £45 ;  4  acres 
more  lying  south  of  the  house,  £22 ;  one  acre  and 
a  half  at  the  rear  of  the  house,  lot  £3 ;  21  acres 
of  land  at  North  Sea,  £12;  3  acres  in  the  Old 
field,  £5;  3  lots  of  Commonage,  £5;  21  acres  in 
Hog  Neck,  £5  ;  2  acres  of  meadow,  Pine  Neck, 
£5 ;  'I  acre  of  meadow  at  Goose  Creek,  £1 ;  i  acre 
of  meadow  at  Hog  Neck,  £2 ;  3  acres  of  meadow 
at,  Corchaug;  30  acres  of  upland  at  Curchauk, 
£4;  180  acres  of  woodland  at  Curchauk,  £20. 
This  last  tract  of  land  was  eqtial  to  five  oxen, 
which  were  appraised  at  the  same  value. 

The  will  of  Philemon  Dickerson,  dated  June 
20,  1665,  leaves  to  his  wife,  "my  house  and 
Home  lott  with  all  the  accommodations  belong- 
ing thereunto  within  the  old  Town  bounds,  both 
upland  and  -meadow  during  her  life,  or  widow- 
hood." She  was  also  to  have  four  cows  "and 
all  the  moveable  goods  that  is  within  my  house." 
Also  "my  crop  of  corne,  and  my  swine."  The 
rest  of  his  cattle  to  be  given  to  his  two  daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth  and  Mary,  when  21  years  of  age. 
^T.  give  to  my  son  Thomas,  fourteen  acres  of 
lan;d  at  North  Sea,  which  I  bought  of  John  Bay- 
ley.  I  dee  give  all  the  rest  of  my  land  at  North 
Sea  and  at  Curchauk  to  my  three  sons,  and  my 
house  and  home  lot  after  my  wife's  decease,"  He 
made  his  wife,  Mary,  his  executor.  This  will 
was  proved  June  5,  1672.  His  house  and 
land  were  appraised  at  £30,  and  the  "outlands 
at  Curchauk,  Accobauk  and  elsewhere  at  £20. 
This  included  many  acres  of  land  and  meadows, 
and  it  is  curious  to  compare  the  value  with  that 
of  four  cows,  which  were  valued  at  £15,  while 
"one  poore  ox  &  2  steeres"  were  put  at  £8.  But 
"land  was  plenty"  in  those  days  and  cattle  were 
not.    The  term  "North  Sea"  in  Southold  meant 


Long  Island  Sound.  In  Southampton  it  meant 
Peconic  Bay. 

The  will  of  Barnabas  Windes,  dated  Novem- 
ber 27,  1675,  gives  to  his  daughter  Prudence  the 
most  Oif  his  "moveable  goods  wiithin  doors,"re- 
serving  to  his  son  Samuel  "a  Flock  bed  and 
boulster  and  a  coverlet  or  blanket."  He  gives 
to  his  son  Barnabas  "my  dwelhng  house  and  lot, 
with  all  the  accommodations  belonging  thereto, 
and  the  meadow  at  Goose  creek  and  Curchauk, 
with  100  acres  that  ly-eth  on  Squash  Neck,"  join- 
ing to  land  of  his  son  Samuel.  This  was  proved 
June  3,  1680,  at  which  time  the  daughter  Pru- 
dence was  the  wife  of  John  Goldsmith. 

The  will  of  Barnabas  Horton,  May  10,  1680: 
"calling  to  mind  the  uncertainty  of  this  tem- 
porall  life,  first  of  all  I  give  unto  my  eldest  son 
Joseph  Horton  ten  sbeepe  kinde  to  what  he 
formerly  had,  for  his  full  Porcon.  To  my  second 
son  Benjamin  Plorton  ten  sheepe  kinde  of  what 
he  formerly  had  for  his  full  Porcon."  He  also 
leaves  to  his  eldest  daughter,  Hannah  Trevally, 
ten  sheep,  and  to  Joseph  Conclyne,  the  son  of 
his  daughter  Sarah  Conclyne,  Rve  sheep,  and  to 
his  third  daughter,  ]Mary  Budd,  five  sheep.  He 
leaves  to  his  third  son,  Caleb  Horton,  one  horse 
kind  and  one  half  of  all  his  right  in  Accobog, 
to  that  he  had  in  possession  at  Curchoge. 
To  his  fourth  son,  Joshua  Horton,  "all 
the  House  lands,  meadows,  orchards  and 
Common  of  Pasture  which  was  mine  and  are 
now  in  his  possession  at  Curchoge,  also  one- 
half  of  all  my  meadow  and  upland  in  Accobog, 
and  all  my  meadow  at  Oyster  Pond."  To  his 
youngest  son,  Jonathan  Horton,  he  leaves  all 
his  fhvelling  liouses,  barn,  outhousing  and  home 
lots  and  all  other  lands,  not  disposed  of.  But 
the  new  house  to  remain  solely  to  the  use  of  his 
wife  during  her  life,  with  use  of  barn  and  out 
housing  "as  need  'shall  require,"  and  she  is  to 
have  "the  third  bushell  of  all  grain"  grown  upon 
the  lands,  and  she  is  to  have  "four  cows,  winter 
and  summer."  Pie  leaves  to  his  youngest  daugh- 
ter, Mercy  Youngs,  3  cows  and  a  heifer.  All  the 
■  rest  of  his  estate  to  his  wife  Mary  Horton.  This 
was  proved  March  2,  1681, 

The  old  house  which  was  the  home  of  Bar- 


TOWN  OF  SOUTHOLD. 


441 


nabas  Horton,  remained  as  a  very  interesting" 
relic  of  antiquity  until  very  recent  years.  The 
march  of  improvement  finally  caused  its  >  de- 
struction, after  having  been  the  home  of  several 
generations  of  this  ancient  and  honored  family. 
In  this  house  the  County  Courts  were  held  for 
many  vears. 


OLD  BARNABAS  HORTON  HOUSE,  SOUTHOLD. 


to  my  wife  as  her  owne  proper  goods  forever. 
Alsoe  I  doe  give  unto  my  wife  foure  bushells 
of  apples  during  her  life,  yearly.  And  if  my  son 
Daniel  doe  marry  and  thev  like  not  to  live  togeth- 
er, then  my  son  Daniel  shall  build  my  wife  a  con- 
venient house  for  her  comfortable  being.  Alsoe 
I  give  unto  my  wife  the  milk  of  one  cow  as  long 
as  she  lives.  I  give  to  my  daughter  Elizabeth  one 
cow  at  the  day  of  her  mar- 
riage, or  when  she  comes  to 
age.  I  give  to  my  daughter 
Mary  Reeve  one  cow  or 
steer.  I  give  to  my  son 
Daniel  my  house  with  all 
the  accommodations  be- 
longing thereto  within  the 
old  bounds  (of  the  town). 
Also  half  of  my  lands  at 
Accobauk.  I  give  to  my 
son  Thomas  Terry  all  my 
lands  at  Curchauk  and  half 
mv  land  at  Accobauk." 


For  some  reason  the 
will  was  not  signed,  but  it 
was  proved  upon  the  oath 
of  Barnabas  Wynder,  Bar- 
nabas Horton,  Thomas 
Hutchinson,  M  a  r- 
tha  Hutchinson  and  John 
Elton,  June  5,  1672.  The 
house  and  land  were  ap- 
praised at  £50,  the  land  and 
meadow  at  Curchauk  at 
£20,  and  the  land  and 
meadow    at    Accobauk    at 


The  will  of  Thomas  Terry,  sr.,  is  very  char- 
acteristic of  the  ^arly  time,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
following   abstract : 

*'Southold  this  26th  of  November,  1671.  I 
Thomas  Terry  senr.  of  Southold,  being  very 
sick  and  weak,  yet  in  perfect  memory,  doe  make 
this  my  last  Will  and  Testament  as  followeth. 
T  doe  ^ive  unto  my  beloved  wife,  fifteene  bushells 
of  corne  yearly,  to  be  paid  unto  her,  tenn  bushells 
to  bee  paid  by  my  son  Daniel  Terry  and  five  bush- 
ells to  bee  paid  by  my  son  Thomas  Terry,  and 
this  to  be  done  yearly  during  my  wife's  life  or 
widowhood.  And  alsoe  I  give  unto  my  wife  my 
bed  and  all  that  belongs  to  the  same  with  all  the 
house  hold  goods  within  dores.    These  doe  I  give 


£15. 

The  will  of  William  Halliock,  dated  Feb- 
ruary ID,  1682,  "Being  through  God's  blessing 
of  sound  memory  and  in  good  health,"  he 
leaves  to  his  wife  Margaret,  "All  that  my  third 
lot  in  ye  Town  Plot,  next  to  Tooker's  land  with 
the  meadow  and  accommodations  thereto  be- 
longing, during  her  natural  life  and  not  longer." 
And  she  is  to  give  my  son  William  liberty  to 
set  up  an  house  in  some  convenient  place.  He 
also  leaves  to  her  "the  profit  of  the  land  now 
improved  in  my  lot  at  Accabog,  where  I  now 
dwell,  with  full  power  to  dwell  in  my  'dwelling 
house  there  at  any  time."    Also  the  use  of  four 


442 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


cows,  and  all  working  cattle  and  household 
goods,  and  she  can  divide  them  when  she  pleases 
with  my  three  sons,  Thomas,  Peter  and  William. 
He  leaves  to  his  son  Thomas  all  the  land  except 
the  Swamp  lot,  ''on  ye  western  side  of  the  lane  or 
way,  ^by  my  dwelling  house,  but  all  the  rest  of 
this  lot  is  to  be  to  my  sons  Thomas  and  Peter.'' 
He  also  leaves  to  Thomas  one-half  of  three 
pieces  of  meadow,  and  on  the  east  side  of 
Booth's  meadow,  another  between  Case's  mead- 
ow and  Mr.  Wells,  and  the  third  on  the  west 
side  of  Deep  Creek.  The  other  half  of  these 
to  his  son  Peter.    He  provides  : 


"If  any  of  my  sons  shall  Apostate  from  ye 
Protestant  doctrine  and  faith  of  ye  Church  of 
England,  or  shall  take  upon  them  such  doctrine 
or  faith  whereby  they  shall  be  drawn  away  from 
attendance  upon  ye  public  Worship  of  God, 
practiced  in  this  place,  and  warranted  by  Holy 
Scripture,  Or  if  any  of  my  sons  or  their  suc- 
cessors, here  after,  shall  espouse  and  contract 
marriage  with  any  Quaker,  or  to  ye  son  or  daugh- 
ter of  any  Quaker  as  they  are  now- called,  I  doe 
wholly  and  absolutely  disown  and  disinherit 
them,  from  any  part  of  my  estate." 

He  leaves  to  his  son  Peter  the  east  part  of  the 
land  where  he  lives  at  Accobog  and  the  Swamp 
lot.  He  leaves  to  his  son  William  'Halliock  his 
house  and  lot  in  the  town  plot,  mentioned  above, 
and  a  parcel  of  meadow  on  Squash  Neck,  with 


the  Commonge  belonging  thereto.  His  sons  are 
to  pay  certain  legacies  to  his  daughters,  Mary, 
Elizabeth  and  Abigail.  He  makes  his  wife  ex- 
ecutrix, and  desires  his  neighbors,  James  Reeve 
and  Caleb  Horton,  to  be  assistants.  "Also  my 
will  is  that  my  son  John  Halliock,  whom  as  an 
obstinate  apostate  I  doe  reject  and  deprive  of 
all  other  of  my  estate.  Yet  I  give  him  my  sec- 
ond Lot  at  ye  Wading  Creek,  which  is  all  that  he 
is  ever  to  have  of  my  estate."  Proved  October 
21,    1684. 

No  one  can  read  the  history  of  Southold 
without  seeing  abundant  evidence  that  the  first 
settlers  were  men  of  very  superior  character 
and  ability.  If  the  earliest  records  should  be 
found,  they  would  only  corroborate  what  the 
records  in  existence  so  plainly  show.  In  our 
opinion  there  is  no  better  proof  than  the  mem- 
orials they  raised  to  their  dead.  When  we  com- 
pare the  plainest  of  plain  tombstones  which 
mark  the  last  resting  places  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Southampton  and  East  Hampton,  with  the 
elaborate  tombs  and  lengthy  inscriptions  which 
we  find  in  our  ancient  churchyards,  we  cannot 
help  thinking  that  the  men  themselves  as  well 
as  their  tombs  must  have  been  superior,  and  the 
lofty  sentiments  which  they  possesed  were 
transmitted  to  their  offspring.  There  is  nothing 
to  indicate  that  their  financial  means  were 
greater,  but  there  is  a  great  deal  to  indicate  that 
they  were  superior  in  mind  and  nature. 


CHAPTER  XVIL. 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


HE  history  of  this  town  goes  back  to 
the  earHest  days  of  Long  Island  set- 
tlement. In  area  and  population  it  is 
the  smallest  town  in  Suffolk  County, 
its  area  being  about  8000  acres,  and  its  popula- 
tion 1066.  The  aboriginal  names  for  the  Island 
will  appear  in  the  various  documents  in  this 
sketch.  Their  meanings  have  been  given  as  "An 
Island  sheltered  by  Islands,"  or  "A  fishing  place 
sheltered  by  islands."  The  theory  stated  by 
some,  that  its  present  name  is  derived  from  the 
fact  that  in  early  days  it  was  a  refuge  for  per- 
secuted Quakers,  is  more  fanciful  than  accurate. 
In  every  history  of  Long  Island  allusion  is 
made  to  the  Commission  ,given  by  William 
Earl  of  Stirling,  the  proprietor  of  Long  Island, 
to  his  agent,  James  Farrett.  By  this  he  gave 
him  full  power  to  sell  all  or  any  part  of  his 
lands,  although  in  fact  he  disposed  of  only  a 
smal:  part  of  them.  The  Earl  of  Stirling  died  in 
1640,  and  his  title  to  Long  Island  descended  to 
his  grandson,  who  transferred  it  to  the  King 
of  England  for  £300.  As  the  Commission  has 
never  been  printed  we  make  no  apology  for  giv- 
ing it  in  full: 


"Too  all  Xristian  people  &  tO'  all  other-s  to 
whom  these  presents  shall  come  or  in  any  wise 
apertaine  Greeting.  Know  yee  that  I  Wm  Earle 
of  Sterling  having  for  &  upon  divers  good  and 
valuable  causes  &  considerations  therein  more  at 
large  &  particularly  contained  &  expressed  by  & 
with  ye  Consent,  direction  appointment  &  com- 
mand of  his  most  Sacred  j\Iajesty  the  king,  ob- 
tained A  patent  or  grant  from  ye  Corporation  for 
New  England  under  their  common  Scale  Bearing 
date  the  two  ^  twentieth  day  of  Aprill  in  the 
Eleventh  year  of  his  sd  Majestys  Charles  of  Eng- 
land Scotland  fifrance  &  Ireland  King,  or  Anno 
Dom.  1636,  of  a  certaine  Island  called  Long  Isl- 
and with  all  &  every  ye  islands  thereunto  Ad- 
jacent, lying  or  being  sittuate  or  bounded  be- 
tween ye  degrees  of  forty  and  forty  one  of  ye 
northerly  latitude  or  there  abouts  To  have  and  to 
hold  to  mee  the  said  Wm.  Earl  of  Sterling  my 
heirs  &  assigns  ffor  ever  as  relation  being  there 
unto  had  doth  and  may  more  at  large  appear,  And 
whereas  I  ye  said  Wm.  Earle  of  Sterling  am  will- 
ing and  desirous  to  improve  ye  same  for  ye  En- 
largement of  his  sd  Majesties  vast  dominion  and 
Empire  in  ye  continent  of  America  by  planteing 
&  settling  in  these  large  and  vacant  tracts  of  wil- 
derness within  the  said  grant  specified  and  con- 
tained an  Industrious  &  sober  people  vt  may  In- 
habit ye  same  to  ye  glory  of  God  &  the  honour 
of  his  Majesty  as  well  as  their  own  mutuall  com- 


444 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


fort  &  advantage.  I  ha^-e  in  order  to  ye  said  good 
end,  &  for  divers  other  good  causes  &  consider- 
ations me  there  unto  specially  moveing.  made 
ordained  Constituted  &  appointed  &  by  these  pres- 
ents doe  make  ordain  constitute  &  appoint  my 
trusty  and  well  beloved  friend  James  ferret  Gent, 
to  bee  my  true  &  lawfuU  attorney  or  agent  for  me 
and  in  my  name  to  my  only  use  &  behoof e  to 
soe  enter  into  &  upon,  &  take  possession  of  ye 
afforesaid  Long  Island  &  other  ye  Islands  there 
unto  Adjacent  with  all  and  every  of  their  Rights 
members  &  appurtenances  &  them  cr  any  of  them 
soe  entered  into  &  upon  or  taken  possession  of  to 
plant  &  improve  as  providence  shall  offer  and 
afford  opportunities  allso  for  ye  incuragement 
and  assurance  of  Settlement  to  all  such  persons 
as  shall  hee  willing  to  plant  &  settle  in  any  or  all 
of  the  Afforesaid  Islands.  Hee  the  said  James 
ffarret  is  empowered  &  authorized  And  I  the  said 
Wm  Earle  of  Sterling  doe  hereby,  impower  & 
authorize  him  for  mee  my  heirs  Executors  &  ad- 
ministrators and  for  every  of  us  to  lett  Mbrtgage 
sell  or  by  any  other  way  or  means  for  a  present 
sum  or  sums  of  money  or  for  yearly  rent  to  dis- 
pose of  ye  said  Islands  every  part  or  pts  of  them, 
for  such  time  and  times  teamie  and  tearmes  of 
yearss  for  life  or  lives  or  for  ever  &  in  fee  as  my 
said  Attorney  or  Agent  shall  judge  most  probably 
conduceing  toi  my  profitt  &  behoofe  &  to  yc  other 
end  before  specified,  And  after  one  or  more  sta- 
tions or  Colloneys  of  people  .shall  be  theire  in  an}' 
or  all  of  ye  afforesaid  Islands  settled  to  contrive 
erect  and  establish  such  honest  and  wholesome  or- 
ders and  ordinances  amongst  and  for  ye  benefit 
of  said  planters  and  collonies  as  shall  be  judged 
together  &  upon  the  advice  of  ye  Right  Wor- 
shippfull  John  Winthrop  Esq  Gov.  of  Boston  Col- 
lony  in  ye  said  New  England,  most  tending  to 
ye  preservation  of  ye  publique  peace,  ye  improve- 
ment of  trade  &  commerce  and  the  execution  of 
Justice  in  obedience  to  ye  lawes  of  God  &  as  much 
as  may  be  Agreeable  to  ye  laws  of  England,  and 
I  doe  like  wise  here'by  desire  and  authorize  my 
said  Attorney  or  agent  to  take  advice  of  ye  said 
Wm  W^inthrop  how  hee  shall,  and  there  upon  ac- 
cordingly to  demeane  himself  towards  ye  na- 
tives if  they  should  att  any  tyme  claime  any  right 
title  Interest  or  propriety  to  ye  said  Islands  or 
any  of  them  or  to  anv  pts  of  parcell  of  them  or 
any  of  them.  And  I  the  said  \Ym.  Earle  of  Sterl- 
ing doe  for  ye  better  prosecution  &  management 
of  ye  said  affair  as  well  as  for  due  encouragement 
to  my  said  Attorney  or  agent  for  me  my  heires 
executors  &  adininistrators.  consent  promise  and 
agree  to  &  with  ye  sd  James  ff'erret  his  executors 
Administrators  8c  assigns  }'t  I   will   from  t^-me 


to  tyme  &  at  all  tym-es  as  there  shall  be  need  and 
occasion  shall  secure  send  &  transmit, A  full  and 
sufficient  maintainance  to  him  my  said  Attorney 
or  agent  for  him  selfe  and  servants  as  shall  be- 
come A  person  soe  imploycd,  &  if  opportunity  of 
shipping  from  hence  be  wanting  or  any  other  un- 
expected casualty  should  fall  out  by  which  my 
said  Attorney  or  agent  shall  be  reduced  to 
straights,  it  shall  and  may  be  lawfull  for  my 
said  Attorney  or  agent,  and  I  doe  hereby  allow 
him  to  change  one  or  more  bills  of  Exchange  for 
such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as  his  need  shall  re- 
quire, a  supply  of  which  said  bill  or  bills  I  ye 
said  Wm  Earle  of  Sterling  doe  hereby  for  my 
s:elf  my  heires  executors  and  administrators 
promise  to  accept  satisfy  &  content  provided  nev- 
erthe  less  and  it  is  hereby  intended  yt  hee  my  said 
A.ttorney  or  agent  shall  not  charge  any  such  bill 
or  bills  of  exchange  unless  he  can  by  noe  lawfull 
wa3^es  and  meanes  raise  such  monies  in  about  out 
of  touching  or  concerning  ye  premises  or  any  of 
them.  Which  that  hee  may  the  better  doe  &  ac- 
complish I  y-e  aforesaid  Wm  Eearle  of  Sterling 
doe  for  my  selfe  my  heires  executors  adminis- 
trators and  assigns  &  every  of  us  further  coven- 
ant promise  &  agree  to  &  with  ye  said  James 
ffarrett  his  executors  administrators  &  as- 
signs &  every  of  them  that  hee  my  attorney 
or  agent  shall  have  full  power  &  authority. 
And  I  doe  hereby  for  myself  my  heirs  ex- 
ecutors administrators  &  assigns  and  every  of 
us  (ffor  the  reasons  afore  said)  &  for  divers  other 
good  considerations  me  thereunto  especially  mov- 
ing ;haveing  ffully  &  absolutely  impourd  &  auth- 
orised him  ye  said  James  ffarret  my  Attorney  or 
agent  to  treat  bargaine  Contract  thereupon  con- 
clude &  for  such  sum  or  sums  or  money  as  he 
shall  judge  fitt  or  a  valuable  consideration  for 
which  or  any  parte  or  parcell  there  of  his  receipt 
or  receipts  shall  bee  a  sufficient  discharge  against 
me  my  heires  Executors  &  administrators  for 
ever,  to -sell  lett  assign,  mortgage  alien  bargaine 
or  sell  or  by  any  other  way  or  meanes  to  dispose 
for  tyme  and  tymes  tearme  and  tearmes  of 
years,  for  life  or  lives,  or  for  ever,  and  in  fee, 
of  all  the  said  Island  or  any  pt  or  parcell  of  them 
or  any  of  these  to  any  persons  or  persons  what  so- 
ever that  owe  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Eng- 
land, by  deed  or  deeds  assurance  &  assurances 
according  to  the  customs  and  manner  of  ye  place, 
under  his  hand  and  seal  or  otherwise  as  fully  and 
absolutely  as  myself  my  heires  executors  Ad- 
ministrators or  assigns  or  any  of  us  might  or 
could  have  done  in  case  all  or  any  of  us  had  bin 
there  personally  present,  Excepting  and  always 
reserved  out  of  the  said  grants  of  any  estate,  of 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


445 


what  kind  soever  and  out  of  every  of  these  his 
Majesties  Eoyalty,  and  ye  Company s  rig'ht  of 
Gold  &  Silver  oare  and  all  other  rights  and  roy- 
alt3^es  whatsoever  to  his  Majesty  his  heires  & 
assigns  and  to  ye  said  Company  &  there  succes- 
sors and  due  &  rights  belonging.  And  Because  of 
the  unusual  method  of  proceeding  in  this  case 
ye  great  distance  between-e  the  premises  &  this 
kingdom,  &  for  the  giving  more  full  and  ample 
satisfactions  to  all  and  every  such  person  and 
persons  as  shall  or  may  be  inclined  or  conscerned 
to  deale  Avith  my  said  Attorney  or  agent  for  or 
concerning  ye  premises  or  any  pts  or  parcell  of 
them.  I  the  said  Wm  Earle  of  Sterling  doe  fur- 
ther for  myself  my  heires  executors  &  administra- 
tors covenant  promise  &  agreti  to  &  with  my  said 
Attorney  or  agent,  James  Farrett  his  executors 
Administrators  &  assigns  and  every  of  them  that 
what  ever  bargaine  contract  conclusion  or  estate 
he  the  said  James  Farrett  sliall  make  of  ye  prem- 
ises or  any  part  or  parcell  of  them  for  tearm  or 
tearms  of  years,  for  life  or  lives  or  for  ever  and 
in  fee,  with  any  person  or  persons  what  soever 
as  aforesaid  shall  'be  owned  acknowledged  and 
made  good  to  ye  said  person  or  persons  by  me  my 
heires  executors  administrators  &  assigns  &  every 
of  us  as  wee  or  any  of  us  had  bin  personally  pres- 
ent there  and  had  done  ye  same  And  yt  I  ye  said 
Wm  Earle  of  Sterling  my  heirs  executors  &  ad- 
ministrators will  at  any  time  or  times  hereafter 
upon  ye  reasonable  request  of  him  ye  said  James 
ffarrett  or  his  Assigns  or  any  other  person  or 
persons  as  aforesaid  yt  have  dealt  with  'him  for 
any  part  or  parcell  of  ye  premises  doe  and  suffer 
or  cause  to  bee  done  &  suffered,  any  other  or 
ffurther  act  or  acts  thing  or  things  what  soever 
ffor  ye  further,  better,  and  more  sure  making 
of  ye  premises  according  to  ye  true  honest  mean- 
ing and  Intention  of  these  presents  and  ye  said 
bargaine  or  bargains  made  pursuant  thereunto  by 
my  said  Attorney  or  agent  with  any  such  person 
or  persons  as  aforesaid  as  shall  be  reasonably 
devised  advised  or  Required  by  them  or  any  of 
them,  them  or  any  of  theire  Councellors  that  to 
ye  doing  thereof  wee  or  any  of  us  bee  not  com- 
pelled to  goe  further  than  the  Cityes  of  London  & 
Westminster  be  it  by  new  deed  or  deeds  assur- 
ance or  assurances  more  exactly  and  according 
to  forme  and  law,  under  our  hand  (or  any  of  our) 
&  seales  or  any  thing  else  whatsoever  that  shall 
be  judged  requisite  to  supply  the  defect  in  law 
(if  any  such  bee)  of  the  former  bargaines  or  any 
of  them  which  my  said  attorney  or  agent  made 
and  concluded  the  substance  of  them  being  cleare 
accordng  to  ye  intention  &  meaning  of  these  pres- 
ents, And  lastly  I  ye  said  Wm  Earle  of  Sterling 


doe  hereby  for  me  my  heirs  executors  Adminis- 
trators &  assigns  Covenant  promise  agree  & 
grant  unto  my  said  Attorney  and  agent,  James 
ffarrett  full  pouer  &  authority  in  touching  & 
concerning  ye  said  Long  Inland  and  other  ye 
Islands  aiforesaid  together  with  ye  patent  right 
there  unto  belonging  to  doe  execute  proceed  and 
finish  in  all  things  in  as  large  &  ample  manner 
and  for  me  as  I  the  said  Wm  Earle  of  Sterling 
might  or  could  doe  if  I  were  there  and  these  pres- 
ent Ratifying  and  confirming  whatsoever  my  said 
Attorney  or  agent  shall  doe  in  ye  premises  accord- 
ing to  tile  true  intent  &  meaning  of  these  present 
In  witness  where  of  I  ye  said  Wm  Earle  of  Sterl- 
ing have  hereunto  sett  my  hand  &  Scale  this  20th 
day  of  April!  in  ye  twelfth  yeare  of  the  Reigne 
of  our  Soveraine  Lord  Charles,  by  the  Grace  of 
God  of  England  Scotland  ffrance  &  Ireland  King 
Defender  of  ye  faith 
Annoque  Dom.  1637 

Sterling  (Seal)" 
"Sealed  and  delivered 
in  presence  of 
":\latthew  Huntley 
''John  Carr 
"Robert  Saint  Cleare" 

Among  other  powers  granted  to  James  Far- 
rett in  his  Commission  from  the  Earl  of  Stirling^ 
was  the  power  to  mortgage  the  said  territory, 
or  any  part  of  it,  and,  in  accordance  with  this 
power,  a  mortgage  was  given  to  Goodyear  and. 
others,  July  20,  1641,  and  it  is  supposed,  that 
by  the  purchase  of  these  islands,  his  claim  was 
satisfied. 

Stephen  Goodyear,  the  purchaser  of  the  isl- 
and, was  afterwards  Deputy  Governor  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut.  A  few  months  after  his 
purchase,  he  proposed  to  sell  it  to  the  New 
Haven  Company,  as  their  records  show  that  on 
August  30,  1641,  "Mr.  Goodyear  propounded 
his  purchase  of  Mr.  Farrett's  Island  to  the 
town  but  it  was  not  accepted." 

The  following  deed  shows  very  plainly  the 
subsequent  transfers  of  the  island : 

"This  Indenture  made  the  eighth  day  of  May 
in  the  year  one  thousand  six  hundred  fiftie  and 
six,  between  John  Booth  late  o-f  Shelter  Island, 
formerly  called  Menhansack,  Gent,  of  the  one 
part  and  Captain  Nathaniel  Silvester  of  the  same, 
of  the  other  part.    Witnesseth  that  whereas  James 


446 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


Farrett  Esqr  Deputie  for  the  Right  honorable 
Williani  Earle  of  StarHn^  was  by  purchas:e  from 
Ukenchie  Sachem  of  Paumanack  &  the  said  Men- 
hansack  possessed  of  .!Menhan'sack  afore  said,  be- 
ing a  member  of  Long  Island  called  Pammanack 
as  afore  said  or  lying  nere  unto  the  same  as  by 
a  deed  of  bargain  and  sale  from  the  said  Sach- 
em. Reference  being  thereunto  had  more  largely 
doth  and  may  appeare.  And  whereas  the  said 
James  Farrett  by  deede  under  hand  and  seale 
bearing  date  the  eighteenth  of  May  one  thousand 
six  hundred  fortie  and  one,  for  the  consideration 
therein  expressed,  conveyed  unto  Stephen  Good- 
yeare  of  New  Haven,  M,erchant,  his  heires  and 
assigns  for  ever,  the  afore  said  Island  of  Men- 
hansack,  with  all  the  Rivers,  woods  uplands, 
meadows,  harboursi  &  creekes  '&  all  other  the  ap- 
pertaining right  liberties  and  conveniences  what 
soever,  there  unto  in  any  wise  belonging  and 
appertaining,  with  all  that  right  title  and  interest 
which  the  said  William,  Earle  of  Starlinge  his 
heires  or  assigns,  or  the  said  James  Farrett  and 
his  heires  or  assigns  then  did  or  at  any  time  from 
thenceforth  should  clayme  or  demand,  together 
with  the  aforesaid  originall  grant,  as  by  the  last 
mentioned  &  recited  grant  relacon  thereunto  be- 
ing had  more  fully  may  appeare.  And  whereas 
alsoe  the  said  Stephen  Goodyeare  by  his  bill  of 
sale  from  Robert  Carmand  did  stand  seised  of 
one  Island  commonly  called  by  the  name  of 
Roberts  Island  situate  lying  neare  Menhansack 
Hand  aforesaid,  hee  the  said  Robert  Carman  hav- 
ing formerly  purchased  the  same  of  lyenancam, 
Sachem  of  Pammanack  aforesaid. 

"The  said  Stephen  Goodyeare  by  his  deed 
poll,  bearing  date  the  Ninth  day  of  June  one 
thousand  six  hundred  fiftie  and  one  for  the  con- 
sideracons  therein  expressed,  did  sell  convey  & 
make  over  all  his  estate  right  title  and  interest 
of  in  and  to  both  the  said  Ilands,  together  with 
all  rights  liberties  ymunities  &  privileges  belong- 
ing or  in  any  wise  appurtaining  to  them  or  either 
of  them  &  their  and  either  of  their  appurtenances, 
unto  Captaine  Thomas  Miiddletown,  Thomas 
Rous,  Constant  Silvester  Gents,  and  the  said  Na- 
thaniel Silvester  and  their  heires  and  assigns  for 
ever,  as-  by  the  last  menconed  grant,  more  fully 
may  appeare.  And  whereas  Yoko,  Sachem  of  the 
said  Menhansack,  formerly  called  Unkenchie,  Ac- 
toncocween,  Captaine  Jowoconogus  Sonquoe- 
quahesick,  some  of  his  chiefe  men  by  their  deede 
hearing  date  the  seaven  &  twentieth  day  of  De- 
cember one  thousand  six  hundred  fiftie  &  two,  for 
such  considerations  as  therein  is  expressed.  Did 
alien  as^signe  bargaine  &  sell  unto  the  said  Thom- 
as IMiddleton,  Thomas  Rous,  Constant  Silvester 


&  Nathaniel  Silvester  &  their  heirs  and  assigns 
for  ever.  All  that  their  Ilands  of  Ahaquazu- 
wansuck,  otherwise  called  Menhansack,  with  all 
the  rivers  woodis,  uplands,  meadows,  harbours 
and  creeks,  with  all  other  appertaining  rights, 
liberties  and  conveniences  whatsoever,  thereunto 
in  any  Avise  belonging  &  appurtaining  as  by  the 
same  deed  last  mentioned  may  appeare.  And 
whereas  the  said  Thomas  Middleton  for  valuable 
consideration  purchased  of  the  said  Thomas 
Rous  ail  his  fourth  part  in  and  throughout  bothe 
the  said  Islands,  and  joint  stock  there  upon  for 
and  to  the  use  of  the  above  said  John  Booth  & 
his  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  by  virtue  whereof 
hee  the  said  John  Booth  became  legally  pos- 
sessed of  the  same,  he  the  said  John  Booth  for 
and  in  consideracon  of  the  some  of  seven  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling  before  the  sealing  and  de- 
livery hereof  in  hand  payd  by  the  said  Nathaniel 
Sylvester  to  the  said  John  Booth  to  full  satis- 
faction according  to  agreement  in  that  behalf, 
hath  granted  bargained  &  sold  &  by  these  pres- 
ents doth  fully  and  absolutely  grant  bargaine  and 
sell  unto  the  said  Nathaniel  Silvester  and  his 
heirs  and  assigns.  All  his  estate  right  tytle  inter- 
est clayme  and  demand  whatsioever,  of  in  and  to 
one  entire  fourth  part  of  the  said  Island  soe  bar- 
gained and  sold,  as  above  said,  &  all  the  dwelling 
houses.,  barn  and  houses,  fences,  Orchard,  yard, 
gardens,  earable  land,  meadows,  marshes,  har- 
bours, creeks,  woods,  underwoods,  commons  & 
common  of  pasture,  profits  privileges,  ymunities, 
advantages  and  easements  with  their  and  every 
of  their  appurtenances,  and  stock  O'f  cattle  in  and 
upon  the  said  Menhansack,  thence  called  Shelter 
Island,  as  above  said  in  as  large  and  ample  man- 
ner to  all  intents  and  purpos-es  as  hee  the  said 
John  Booth  might  or  ought  to  have  enjoyed  the 
same,  as  if  these  pesents  had  not  been  thereof  had 
or  made.  To  Have  and  to  hold  the  said  intire 
fourth  part  of  both  the  said  Hand,  stock  of  cattle 
and  all  other  the  above  granted  premises  with 
their  and  every  of  their  appurtenances  unto  the 
said  Nathaniel  Silvester  his  heires  and  assigns. 
"*"  ""^  In  witnes  whereof  the  parties  first  above 
named  have  hereunto  sett  their  hands  and  scales 
the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
"Witnesses,  "John  Booth. 

"Giles  Sylvester, 
"David  Gardiner, 
"Thomas  Mapes, 

his 

"George  (X) Miller." 

mark 

February  20,   1656,  the  following  articles  of 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


447 


agreement  were  made  between  Captain  Nathan- 
iel Silvester,  of  Shelter  Island,  and  Mr.  John 
Booth,  of  Southold : 

1st.  Nathaniel  Silvester  doth  discharge  the 
said  John  Booth  from  all  disbersements  and 
charges  made  by  Nathaniel  Silvester  and  Con- 
stant Silvester  of  Barbadoes,  toward  the  said 
John  Booth,  quarter  part  of  Shelter  Island. 

2nd.  Nathaniel  Silvester  discharges  the  said 
John  Booth  from  all  debt  left  unsettled  at  his 
coming  from  Barbadoes,  for  prise  goods  bought 
of  the  Commissioners,  provided  the  debt  does 
not  exceed  1 8,000  pounds  of  sugar. 

3d.  Nathaniel  Silvester  is  to  give  to  John 
Booth  a  bill  of  sale  for  one-half  oi  Robert's  Isl- 
and for  him,  his  wife  and  his  child's  life  time. 


Barbadoes,  *^from  his  first  coming  to  Barbadoes, 
till  his  departure  from  thence  in  the  shipp 
Swallow." 

It  was  also  agreed  that  John  Booth  ''shall  not 
trouble  or  molest  any  Indians  belonging  to  Shel- 
ter Island  or  shall  come  to  Roberts  Island  to  fish 
for  shells  or  catch  any  other  fish  whatsoever, 
about  Roberts  Island." 

Also  that  John  Booth  shall  not  put  his  share 
in  Roberts  Island  under  any  Government  or 
Jurisdiction,  without  the  consent  of  Nathaniel 
Silvester.  Nathaniel  Silvester. 

John  Booth. 
Witness :       Francis     Brinley,     Lion     Gardener, 

Thomas  Talmage. 

The  first  name  of  Shelter  Island  that  appears 


SHELTER    ISLAND. 
(By  Permission  of  Long  Island  Railroad  Company.) 


But  if  John  Booth  removes  from  Long  Island, 
then  the  said  half  is  to  return  to  Nathaniel  Sil- 
vester, and  he  is  to  pay  25  pounds  to  John  Booth 
and  also  pay  for  all  improvements. 

It  was  also  agreed  that  John  Booth  should 
make  over  to  Nathaniel  Silvester  all  debts  due  to 
him  from  Mr.  Silvester,  and  all  other  persons  in 


on  record  is  Cotjewaminick,  as  in  the  deed  from 
the  Sachem  Yocco  to  Lion  Gardiner.  Afterwards 
it  is  called  Farrett's  Island,  then  Goodyear's  Isl- 
and, and  it  was  called  Shelter  Island  as  early  as 
in  1652. 

Captain  Thomas   Middleton  was  one  of  the 


448 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


prominent  merchants  of  his  day.  Thomas 
Rouse  is  said  to  have  come  from  Southwold, 
England,  to  the  island  of  Barbadoes,  where  he 
was  extensively  engaged  as  a  sugar  planter.  In 
religious  belief  and  practice  he  was  a  Quaker. 

The  two  brothers.,  Nathaniel  and  Constant 
Sylvester,  whose  names  ^iliust  always  be  an  in- 
separable portion  of  the  history  of  Shelter  Isl- 
and, were  the  sons  of  Giles  Sylvester,  and  emi- 
grated with  their  father  from  England  to  Hol- 
land, where  Giles  Silvester,  Sr.,  died.  The 
family  then  consisted  of  a  widowed  mother  and 
five  sons,  Nathaniel,  Constant,  Giles,  Joshua 
and  Peter.  The  last  remained  in  London.  All 
the  others  went  to  .Barbadoes,  m  the  West  In- 
dies, where  Constant  was  a  mentber  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Council.     He  dded  in  1671. 

Nathaniel  Sylvester  was  the  first  who  lived 
on  Shelter  Island.  His  brothers,  Giles  and 
Joshua,  followed  him.  Giles  remained  for  a 
few  years,  and  then  returned  to  England,  where 
he  died.  Joshua  moved  to  Southold,  where  hi(s 
last  days  were  passed. 

Nathaniel  Sylvester  came  to  Shelter  Island 
in  the  ship  "Golden  Parrott,"  in  1652,  and  that 
may  be  considered  the  date  of  the  first  settle- 
ment. 

The  deed  which  is  referred  to  as  having  been 
given  December  27,  1652,  was  confirmed  by  the 
following : 

W^'ee  whose  names  are  here  underneath  sub- 
scribed doe  hereby  testify  and  declare,  that  Yohee, 
formerly  Sachem  of  !Manhansick  Ahaquatawa- 
mock,  now  called  Shelter  Island,  did  on  the  three 
and  twentieth  of  March,  1652,  give  full  posses- 
sions untoi  Capt,  Nathaniel  Silvester  and  Ensigne 
John  Booth  of  the  aforesaid  island  of  Ahaquata- 
wamock,  with  all  that  was  belonging  to  the  'same. 
And  hee  the  said  Yohee  delivered  unto  the  afore- 
said Captaine  Nathaniel  Silvester  and  Ensigne 
John  Booth  one  turfe  and  twige  in  their  hands  ac- 
cording to  the  usual  custome  of  England,  after 
which  delivery  and  full  possession  given,  the  said 
Yokee  with  all  his  Indians  that  were  formerly  be- 
longing to  said  island  of  Ahaquatawamock  did 
freely  and  willingly  depart  the  aforesaid  island 
leaving  the  aforesaid  Captaine  Nathaniel  Silves- 
ter and  Ensigne  Booth  in  full  possession  of  the 


same.     L'nto  which  we  \\'itnesse  our  hands  the 
date  as  above  being  the  23  of  March  165  2-7,. 
John  Herbert,  of  Southold, 
Capt.  Robert  Seeley  of  New  Haven, 
Daxiel  Laxe,  of  New  London, 
Giles  Silvester, 

The  following  recorded  in  the  Town  Clerk's 
office  in  Southampton  shows  the  friendly  spirit 
of  the  first  Proprietor: 

This  6  of  April  1687,  Capt.  Nathaniel  Syl- 
vester for  peace  and  good  neighborhood's  sake 
with  the  town  of  Southampton,  desireth'  to  bee 
here  entered  upon  record  as  forthwith.  That 
whereas  hee  hath  given  serious  intimation  or  no- 
tice of  divers  strange  horses  come  over  to  his 
Island,  that  are  exceedingly  troublesome  and  to 
his  great  spoyle  and  damage,  especially  to  his 
meadows  and  mowing  land,  And  yet  people  take 
noe  care  to  look  after  them  and  rid  him  of  the 
daily  vexation  &  damage  hee  sustains  by  them. 
And  hee  being  very  desirous  to  still  continue  the 
good  correspondence  with  this  said  town  of 
Southampton,  and  ver}-  loth  to  offer  violence  to 
any  neighbors'  horses  or  horsekind  that  may  at 
any  timiC  (unknown  to  them)  make  escapeto  his 
island,  thought  good  to  record,  this  and  procure 
the  same  to  bee  published,  that  in  regard  of  the 
present  busie  time-  of  sowing  and  planting,  hee 
yet  gives  liberty  to  the  neighbors  of  Southamp- 
ton, or  any  others  concerned,  until  the  last  day 
of  thie  third  month  (called  ^I^y)  next  ensuing,, 
to  fetch  off  their  horses  from  his  said  Island. 
But  if  they  shall  still  neglect,  hee  the  said  Syl- 
vester must  and  shall  bee  enforced  to  deliver  and 
rid  himself  of  the  said  cumber  and  damage,  by 
reason  of  said  horses,  and  horsekind  by  destroy- 
ing them,  that  which  he  doth  declare  he  is  ex- 
ceedingly loth  to  doe,  if  possible  by  any  other 
means  hee  could  prevent  it." 

It  seems  incredible  that  horses  could  have 
crossed  from  Hog  Neck  voluntarily  if  the  chan- 
nel had  not  then  been  much  narrower.  The  first 
of  April  being  spoken  of  as  the  "busie  time  of 
sowing  and  planting,''  it  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  there  has  been  no  great  change  in  the  sea- 
sons, or,  if  anything,  that  they  were  a  little  earlier 
than   at  present. 

That  the  Shelter  Island  Indians  claimed  Hog 
Neck  (now  North  Haven)  may  be  seen  by  the 
follo'wino^ : 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


449 


''Oct.  3,  1665,  the  Shelter  Island  Indians 
have  this  day  confirmed  the  purchase  of  Hog 
Neck  to  Southampton  forever,  reserving  liberty 
of  hunting  and  fishing  &  fowling  upon  the 
same,  and  have  received  six  Indian  coats  upon  the 
confirmation  hereof.  In  full  satisfaotion  of  all 
their  claims  to  Southampton  men. 

Before  me  in  FoTt  James, 

"Richard  Nicolls." 

The  Pequot  tribe  of  Indians,  very  warlike  and 
cruel  in  their  nature,  were  very  frequently  at  war 
with  the  Long  Island  Indians.  In  the  Indian 
deed  for  Southampton  it  was  part  of  the  consider- 
ation that  the  English  should  defend  the  Shin- 
necock  Indians  against  other  tribes  who  should 
assail  them.  In  1637  tlie  Shelter  Island  Indians 
sent  their  Sachems  to  Governor  Winthrop,  and 
they  carried  twenty  fathoms,  of  wampum  as  trib- 
ute. The  power  of  the  Pequots  was  forever  de- 
stroyed in  the  great  *''Swamp  fight/'  of  which 
Lyon  Gardiner  says : 

'Three  days  after  the  fight  with  the  Pequots, 
came  Wiandance  to  me  to  see  if  we  were  angry 
with  all  Indians.  I  answered,  'no !  but  only  with 
such  as  killed  Englishmen.'  Then  he  inquired  if 
he,  (that  is,  Lion  Gardiner)  would  trade  with 
ihem.  that  is  the  Indians,  adding  *I  will  go  to  my 
brother,  for  he  is  the  great  Sachem  of  Long  Isl- 
and, and  if  we  may  have  peace,  and  trade  with 
you,  we  will  give  you  tribute  as  we  did  to  the 
Pequots.'  " 

The  "Great  Sachem  of  Long  Island,"  as 
Wiandance  called  him,  was  'his  brother,  and  was 
Sachem  of  the  Manhasset  tribe  of  Indians.  His 
name  was  spelled  in  various  ways, — Yovowan, 
Yenicoe,  Yennicock  or  Yennicolt,  and  Youco  or 
Yocow.  The  name  of  Yovowan  appears  in  the 
deed  for  Gardiner's  Island,  1639.  The  'Indian 
chief  or  Sachem,  Youglico  or  Yohee,  died  on 
Shelter  Island.  From  thence  bis  remains  were 
carried  to  'Montauk,  ;borne  upon  the  shoulders 
of  his  warriors.  On  the  journey,  while  passing 
through  the  East  Hampton  woods,  for  once  only 
were  the  feet  of  the  de'ad  Sachem  allowed  to 
touch  the  earth.  Where  his  feet  rested,  his 
bearers  scooped  out  a  small  round  hole.  For  long 
years  after,  whenever  an  Indian  passed  the  spot, 

29 


the  hole  was  carefully  cleared  of  leaves  and 
dirt.  This  was  evidently  to  them  a  religious  duty. 
The  place  was  visible  as  late  as  1845.  When  the 
Sag  Harbor  turnpike  was  made  the  spot  was  ob- 
literated. It  was  at  or  near  the  place  called 
"Whooping  Boys  Hollow." 

By  the  foregoing  purchases  and  confirmation 
the  possesision  of  the  Island  was  vested  in  Con- 
stant and  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  Thomas  ]\Iiddle- 
ton  having  a  share  which  will  be  referred  to  la- 
ter. For  a  full  and  final  confirmation  of  their 
title  to  the  island  the  following  patent  was  ob- 
tain ed  : 

A  Confirmation  of  Shelter  Island  Granted 
unto  Constant  Silvester  and  Nathaniel  Silvester, 

Richard  Nicolls  Esqr.  Governor,  under  his 
Royall  Highness  the  Duke  of  Yorke  of  all  his 
Territoryes  in  America 

To  all  to  Avhom  these  presents  shall  come 
Sendeth  Greeting:  Whereas  there  is  a  certaine 
Isiland  Situate  lying  and  being  in  a  certaine  Bite 
Bay  or  Arme  of  the  sea  which  runneth  betweene 
the  lands  belonging  to  ye  Towns  of  East-Hamp- 
ton South-Hampton  and  South-Hold  in  the  East 
Riding  of  Yorkshire  upon  Long  Island  by  the 
Indyans  fonnerly  called  by  the  Name  of  Manban- 
sucke  Ahiaquatzuwamock  and  now  commonly 
known  by  the  name  of  Shelter  Island  wch.  said 
Island  was  heretofore  Purchased  from  the  In- 
dyans by  James  Ffarett  Aigent  to  William  Earle 
of  Sterling  (in  whom  ye  Government  then  was 
hy  vertue  of  his  Alaties.  Letters  Patents. )  And 
since  by  Several  Dedes  M'Can  Conveyances  and 
Graunts  derived  from  the  said  Earle  of  Sterling 
James  Ffarett  and  others  as  also  from  the  Indvan 
Proprietors  for  a  valuable  Consideration  is  come 
unto  the  hands  of  Constant  Silvester  of  the  Isl- 
and of  Barbadoes  Esqr.,  And  Nathaniel  Silves- 
ter now  Inhabiting  and  Residing  in  Shelter  Is- 
land aforesaid  Merchant  Now  know  Yee  that  by 
vertue  of  the  commission  and  Authority  unto  mee 
given  by  his  Royall  Highness  James  Duke  of 
Yorke  &c  upon  whom  (as  well  by  ye  Earle  of 
Sterling  and  also  by  lawful  Graunts  and  Patent 
from  his  Royall  Maty.  Charles  the  Second  King 
of  England  Scotland  France  &  Ireland  &c  The 
Propriety  and  Government  of  Long  Island  and 
all  the  islands  adjacent  amongst  other  things  is 
settled ;  I  do  Ratify  Confirmeand  allow  of  all  the 
aforesaid  deedes  and  Purchasers  and  also  do 
hereby  give  Graunt  and  Confirme  untO'  the  said 
Constant  Silvester  and  Nathaniel  Silvester  Their 
Heirs  and  Assigns   the    said    Island    heretofore 


450 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


called  Manhansucke  Abaquatwamock  and  now 
knowne  by  tbe  name  of  Sbelter  Island  Togetber 
witb  all  tbe  lands  Soyks  Woods  Meadows  Pas- 
tures Marsbes  Lakes  Waters  Fishing  Hawking 
Hunting  and  FowHng  and  all  otber  proffitts  Com- 
modityes  Emoluments  and  Hereditaments  to  tbe 
said  island  belonging  witb  tbeir  &  every 
of  their  Appurtentnces  and  of  every  part 
and  parcel  thereof  and  that  the  said  Island 
and  premises  now  is  &  forever  hereafter  shall 
be  held  deemed  reputed  taken  and  bee  an 
Intire  Infranchized  Township  Manor  &  Place 
of  itselfe  and  shall  allwayes  from  time  to  time 
and  at  all  times  hereafter  have  and  hold  and  en- 
joy like  and  equall  Privileges  and  Immunityes 
with  any  Town  Infranchized  place  or  Manor 
Within  this  Government  and  shall  lin  no  manner 
of  way  bee  Sub-ordinate  or  belonging  unto  have 
any  dependency  upon  or  in  any  wise  bee  under 
the  Pule  Jurisdiction  upon  Long  Island  but  shall 
in  all  cases  things  and  Matters  bee  deemed  re- 
puted and  taken  and  held  as  an  absolute  Intire 
Infranchized  Township  Manor  and  place  of  it- 
selfe in  this  Government  and  shall  bee  Ruled  Or- 
dered and  Directed  in  all  matters  as  to  Govem- 
nient  accordingly  by  the  Governor  and  his  Coun- 
sell  and  the  General  Assizes  onely  Provided  that 
no  Privileges  or  Immunities  herein  Graunted  or 
mentioned  to  be  (jraunted  shall  bee  meant  or  in- 
terpreted to  extei^d  to  the  Protecting  of  any  Tray- 
tors  Malefactors  Fugitives  or  Debtors  flying  un- 
to the  said  Island  to  the  damage  of  an)^  particu- 
lar person  or  the  obstruction  of  the  Lawes  and 
the  Common  or  Publick  Peace  of  this  Government 
and  ye  Justice  thereof  To  Have  and  To  Hold  the 
said  Island  with  all  and  singular  the  Appurten- 
ances and  premises  together  with  the  Privileges 
Immunityes  Franchizes  and  Advantages  herein 
given  and  Graunted  unto  the  said  Constant  Sil- 
vester and  Nathaniel  Silvester  to  the  proper  use 
and  behoofe  of  the  said  Constant  Silvester  and 
Nathaniel  "Silvester  their  Heirs  and  Assigns  for- 
ever fully  freely  and  Clearly  in  as  large  and 
ample  Manor  and  Form  and  with  such  full  and 
absolute  Immunityes  and  Privileges  as  before  is 
expressed  as  if  they  held  the  same  Immediately 
from  his  Maty  the  King  of  Engld  &c  and  his  Suc- 
cessors as  of  the  Manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  the 
County  of  Kent  in  free  and  Common  Soccage  and 
by  fealty  onely  Yielding  Rendering  and  Paying 
Yearly  and  every  Yeare  unto  his  Royall  High- 
ness the  Duke  of  Yorke  and  his  Heires  or  to -such 
Governor  and  Governors  as  from  time  to  time 
shall  bee  by  him  Constituted  and  Appointed  as  an 
acknowledgement  one  Lamb  upon  the  first  day 
of  I\Iav  if  the  same  shall  be  demanded ; 


Given  under  my  hand  and  scale  at  Fort  James 
in  New  Yorke  on  the  Island  of  Manhatans  the 
31st  day  of  May  in  the  Eighteenth  yeire  of  the 
reigne  of  our  Soveraigne  Lord  Charles  the  Sec- 
ond by  the  Grace  of  'God  King  of  England  Scot- 
land France  and  Ireland  Defender  of  the  Faith  &c 
And  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  God  1666. 

Rich.  Nicolls. 

In  consideration  of  their  assistance  in  estab- 
lishing the  English  power,  and  in  recognition 
of  their  services,  the  following  release  was  also 
given : 

Richard  Nicolls',  Esq.,  Governor  under  his 
RoyoU  FIig;hness  James  Duke  of  Yorke  and  Al- 
bany &c.  of  all  his  teritoryes  in  America,  to  all 
to  whom  these  presents  shall  come.  Whereas 
Nathaniel  Sylvester  of  Shelter  Island,  Merchant, 
fifor  and  on  the  behalfe  of  himselfe  and  of  his 
brother  Constant  Sylvester  of  Barbadoes,  Esq., 
hath,  of  his  own  voluntary  free  will  and  good 
affection  to  this  government,  advanced  and  paid 
toward  ye  support  and  maintainance  thereof  the 
sum  of  £150,  the  receipt  whereof  I  doe  hereby 
acknowledge,  Xow  know  yee  that,  by  virtue  of 
commission  and  authority  given  unto  me  by  his 
Royoll  Flighness  James  Duke  of  York,  I,  for  and 
m  consideration  of  the  afore  said  sum  of  £150 
and  for  other  good  causes  and  considerations  me 
thereunto  moving,  doe  hereby  grant  unto  ye  said 
Nathaniel  and  Constant  Sylvester,  and  to  their 
heirs  and  assigns  forever,  That  ye  said  Island 
called  Shelter  Island  is  and  forever  hereafter 
shall  bee  by  these  presents  discharged,  exonerated 
and  acquitted  from  all  taxes  and  rates  either  civil 
or  military,  and  from  all  traynings,  setting  forth 
and  keeping  any  souldiers,  horses,  arms,  troops 
or  other  warlike  provisions,  other  than  what  they 
shall  voluntarily  do  for  the  defence  of  their  said 
island  and  this  government  in  case  of  a  foreigne 
invasion,  or  disturbance  by  the  natives.  Given 
under  my  hand  and  seal  in  ffort  James^  ye  25  day 
of  May  in  ye  yeare  Anno  Dom.  1666. 

Richard  Nicolls. 

In  1673  the  Dutch  reconquered  the  territory 
and  Governor  Colve  declared  Constant  Silvester 
and  Thomas  Middleton  enemies  of  the  govern- 
ment and  confiscated  the  island.  Nathaniel  Sil- 
vester was  at  that  time  sole  possessor  of  the  isl- 
and, and  lost  no  time  in  making  some  effort  to 
secure  liis  title.  He  delivered  before  tbe  Dutcli 
authorities  "an  extract  from  his  Privileges,"  and 


SHELTER   ISLAND. 


451 


on  examination  they  found  that  the  heirs  of  his 
brother,  the  late  Constant  Silvester^  and  one 
Thomas  Middleton,  residing  in  England,  were 
copartners  in  the  island,  and  their  shares  must 
be  confiscated  in  behalf  of  the  state.  To  this 
Nathaniel  Silvester  replied  that  a  considerable 
sum  of  money  was  due  .to  him  from  the  heirs  of 
Constant  Silvester,  and,  after  much  discussion, 
it  was  finally  agreed  that  in  compensation  for  the 
action  of  said  heirs  and  Thomas  Middleton,  and 
for  the  confiiTnation  of  his  privileges,  Nathaniel 
Silvester  should  pay  to  the  Dutch  government 
*''five  hundred  pounds  in  provision  of  this  coun- 
try." 

August  28^  ^^7?^,  a  formal  act  of  confiscation 
was'  issued  by  *'Cornelis  Evertse,  Jr.,  and  Jacob 
Benches,  Commissioners,  with  our  I\'Iilitary  Coun- 
sil  of  the  Navy,  in  the  service  of  their  Higli  and 
Mighty  Lords,  the  States  General  of  the  United 
Netherlands,  and  His  Serene  Highness  the  Lord 
Prince  of  Orange."  This  rehearsed  the  capture 
of  Fort  James  (which  was  then  called  Fort  Will- 
iam Hendrick)  and  all  the  lands  and'  places  de- 
pendent fro'm  it,  among  which  was  "a  certaiii 
island  known  by  the  name  of  Shelter  Island,  now 
in  possession  of  Nathaniel  Silvester,  to  whom  it 
belongs  with  the  heirs  of  Constant  Silvester  and 
Thomas  Middleton,  residing  in  England,  the  Bar- 
badoes."  This,  implied  that  Thomas  Middleton 
was  then  residing  in  the  island  of  Barbadoes,  as 
being  a  portion  of  England.  This  confiscation 
was  not  to  be  enforced  while  he  remained  in 
submission  and  allegiance  to  the  Dutch  Govern- 
ment, so  far  as  his  own  rights  extended.  The 
next  day,  August  29,  1673,  Nathaniel  Silvester 
gave  a  bond  for  500  pounds  sterling  and  the  Dutch 
authorities  made  over  to  him  all  the  right,  title 
and  interest  of  the  heirs  of  Constant  Silvester 
and  Thomas  Middleton.  It  was  also  agreed  that 
he  and  his  heirs  'and  posterity  should  not  be 
amenable  before  any  inferior  Courts  of  Justice, 
"but  shall  be  prosecuted  before  the  Chief  Mag- 
istrate, and  they  should  not  be  obliged  to  attend 
any  training,  nor  maintain  any  soldiers  nor  supply 
any  necessaries  of  war,  except  what  they  should 
voluntarily  contribute  for  the  defence  of  the  said 
island  in  time  of  danger,  against  foreign  inva- 


sion or  troubles  with  the  Indians."  And  they 
were  to  have  liberty  of  conscience  and  all  other 
privileges. 

The  second  surrender  of  the  Province  to  the 
English  changed  all  this,  but  prior  to  that  time 
the  Dutch  Governor  sent  to  Shelter  Island  a  ship 
with  fifty  soldiers,  who  surrounded  his  house  and 
compelled  the  payment  of  the  five  hundred 
pounds. 

The  act  of  the  Dutch  government,  while  in 
power,  seems  to  have  been  accepted  as  giving  to 
Nathaniel  Silvester  a  full  title,  and  we  hear  noth- 
ing more  of  the  claims  of  the  heirs  of  Constant 
Silvester  or  Thomas  Middleton. 

Nathaniel  Silvester  married  Grissell,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Brinley,  Esq.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  eleven  children — Giles,  Nathaniel,  Con- 
stant, Peter,  Benjamin,  Joshua,  Grissell,  Patience, 
Eliza,  Ann  and  Mercy.  Of  these  daughters,  Pa- 
tience became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  L'Homme- 
dieu,  a  Huguenot  and  ancestor  of  an  honored 
race.  Eliza  married  Jonathan  Brown.  Grissell 
was  affianced  to  Latimer  Sampson^  of  New  York, 
but  ihis  death  prevented  their  marriage.  In  his 
will,  dated  '*the  sixteenth  day  of  the  month  called 
February  1668-9,"  ^^^  speaks  of  himself  as  *'of 
Oyster  Bay,  upon  Long  Island,"  and  as  being 
"about  to  travel  to  the  Barbadoes,  and  knowing 
the  Casualty  of  man's  life,"  he  leave's  all  his  es- 
tate upon  Long  Island,  Shelter  Island,  and  else- 
where, to  Grizell  Silvester,  eldest  daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Silvester,  of  Shelter  Island."  She  af- 
terwards married  James  Loyd,  of  Boston,  who  be- 
came the  owner  of  Loyd's  Neck. 

When  Nathaniel  Silvester  came  to  his  island, 
with  him  came  Francis  Brinley,  who  received  a 
grant  of  land  in  Rhode  Island.  His  sister,  Anne 
Brinley,  married  Governor  William  Coddington. 
He  also  brought  with  him  several  servants  and 
slaves  who,  with  their  master,  constituted  the 
first  settlers. 

At  a  very  early  period,  Nathaniel  Silvester 
became  very  favorably  impressed  with  the  preach- 
ing and  practice  of  the  people  calling  themselves 
"Friends,"  who  were  by  the  "world's  people" 
called  in  scorn  "Quakers."  It  is  somewhat  doubt- 
ful if  he  actually  joined  that  sect,  but  it  is  certain 


452 


HISTORY    OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


that  they  had  his  strongest  sympathies  in  their 
persecution.  Tames  Bowden,  in  his  "History  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,"  states  that,  except  this  island 
and  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Island,  there  was  not 
a  nook  in  the  colonies  of  North  America  on  which 
a  Friend  could  land  without  exposing  himself 
to  heavy  penalties.  The  island  became  a  refuge 
for  the  persecuted  Quakers'.  Among  them  was. 
John  Rouse  (son  of  Thomas  Rouse)  whose  ears 
had  been  cut  off ;  also  Lawrence  and  Cassandra 
Southwick^  an  aged  couple  who  had  been  pros- 
ecuted and  banished,  and  who  also  died  shortly 
after  coming  to  the  island;  also  the  unfortunate 
Ivlary  Dyer,  who  was  afterward  hanged  in  Bos- 
ton ;  and  William  Leddra,  and  Joseph  Nicholson 
and  his  Avife.  These  were  all  kindly  received  and 
befriendied.  Other  prominent  Quakers — John 
Taylor,  William  Robertson  and  George  Fox,  the 
famous  preacher — were  among  those  who  vis- 
ited this  island  of  refuge.  For  his  kindnes'S  to 
them,  if  for  no  other  reason,  the  name  of  Nathan- 
iel Sylvester  is  worthy  to  be  held  in  continual 
veneration.  That  'his  brother,  Giles  Sylvester, 
had  expressed  his  views  very  strongly,  is  plain 
from  the  following : 

"Whereas  I  am  accused  to  say  that  all  the  min- 
isters in  New  England  were  wor&e  than  witches., 
I  owne  I  said  soe,  for  which  I  am  heartily  sorrow- 
full  and  owne  to  bee  very  inconsiderately  spoken 
and  to  ye  folly  and  wickedness  in  it,  and  hope 
the  Lord  shall  guide  my  waves  and  word's  tO'  bee 
more  circumspect  and  life  to  himself.  Then  the 
parties  that  heard  them  finding  themselves 
grieved,  I  told  them  that  I  nieane  noe  other  than 
those  that  were  formall  and  not  spirituall,  such 
was  my  meaning  though  not  expressed  till  ex- 
ception was  made ;  therefore  I  say  as  I  sayed,  it 
is  very  evill  in  me  or. in  any  man  to  say  any  such 
thing,  for  wee  ought  not  to  speak  evil  of  any 
man."    28  of  the  11  in  January  1657. 

Giles  Silvester.'" 

Nathaniel  Silvester  remained  the  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  island  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1680.  The  following  is  an  abstract  of 
his  will,  recorded  in  the  New  York  Surrogate's 
office: 

I   Nathaniel   Svlvester  oi  Shelter  Island,   in 


America,  being    sickly  but  of  sound  and  perfect 
memory. 

Whereas  T  am  the  true  owner  of  one  half  of 
all  that  Island  whereon  I  now  dwell,  formerly 
called  ^  Tanhanseck  Ahequasheomack  and  now 
Shelter  Island,  and  also  one  half  of  the  stock  ne- 
groes etc.,  and  also  one  half  of  the  Is-land  called 
Robins  Island,  I  hereby  bequeath  to  my  wife 
Grissell  Silvester,  Francis  Brinly,  James  Loyd, 
Isaac  Arnold,  Lewis  Morris  and  Daniel  Gould  the 
said  one  half  of  the  Island,  Also  the  other  half 
or  such  parts  as  may  be  due  me  from  my  brother 
Constant  Silvester  and  Thomas  Middleton  by 
reason  of  the  great  disbursements  made  by  me, 
and  by  reason  of  the  confiscation  of  one  half  the 
Island,  and  the  bill  of  sale  given  me.  The  Dutch 
Commander  sending  one  of  his  men  o>f  war,  with 
about  fifty  soldiers  taking  possession  of  the  one 
half  claimed  by  Constant  Silvester  and  Thomas 
Middleton,  And  to  strike  the  greater  dread  in  my 
family  they  beset  my  house,  the  better  to  obtain  the 
mon)^  on  my  bond,  which  they  forced  from  me  and 
my  wife,  The  same  is,  given  to  them  in  trust  for 
the  benefit  of  my  wife  during  her  life,  and  she  is 
to  enjoy  the  dwelling  house  and  garden,  and 
about  40  acres  of  land  bounded  with  the  creek  on 
the  west,  north  by  a  gully,  and  spring  of  meadow. 
Also  £too  a  year,  She  is  to  take  care  of  the  chil- 
dren and  the}'  are  to  be  dutiful  to  her,  I  leave  the 
Planting  field  behind  the  orchard,  40  acres,  and 
the  Planting  field  called  IMananduck  to  all  my 
sons.  '        ! 

All  his  lands  except  as  reserved  are  left 
equally  to  all  his  sons.  He  makes  arrangements 
that  bis  brother  Joshua  Silvester  shall  be  properly 
maintained.  He  leaves  legacies  to  his  son  Na- 
thaniel, and  to  his  daughters  Patience,  Elizabeth, 
Ann,  Mercy  and  to  his  son  Benjamin.  He  leaves 
to  his  son  Peter  land  at  Town  Creek,  and  the 
mill.  To  his  son  Giles,  all  his  land  at  Plum  Gut, 
and  to  his  sons  Nathaniel  and  Constant  "my  three 
shares  of  land  in  the  new  county  near  New  Jer- 
sey to  the  westward.^'  To  his  sons  Constant  and 
Benjamin  "the  land  and  orchard  which  I  have  at 
Southold  and  my  land  on  Block  Island."  He 
makes  'his  wife  Grissell  and  his  brother-in-law 
Francis  Brinley,  and  his  son-in-law  James  Loyd, 
and  his  cousins  Isaac  Arnold,  and  Lewis  Morris 
and  Daniel  Gould  executors.  "Dated  this  19  of 
the  moiith  called  ]\Iarch  1679-80."  This  will  was 
proved  Oct.  i,  1680. 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


453 


A  modern  tombstone  erected  to  his  memory 
by  his  descendants  of  the  Horsford  family  bears 
the  inscription : 

"To  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  First  Resident  pro- 
prietor of  the  Manor  of  Shelter  Island  under 
Grant  of  Charles  II,  A.  D.  1666.  An  English- 
man intrepid,  Loyal  to  'Duty,  Faithful  to  friend- 
ship, The  soul  of  integrity  and  Honor,  Hospit- 
able to  Worth  and  Culture,  Sheltering  ever  the 
persecuted  for  conscience  sake." 
« 

Peter  Silvester,  by  his  will  dated  February  22, 
1695-6,  left  half  his  lands  on  Shelter  Island,  in- 
cluding the  buildings,  to  his  'brother  Constant, 
and  the  other  half  to  his  brother  Nathaniel.  This 
was  proved  April  16,  1696. 

Constant  Silvester,  by  his  will,  October  26, 
1695,  left  all  his  lands  on  Shelter  Island  to  his 
brother  Peter  and  his  nephew  Brinly  Silvester, 
the  son  of  his  brother  Nathaniel.  "Peter  Silves- 
ter is  to  have  the  farm  which  I  now  dwell  upon 
with  all  the  buildings,  and  so  with  that  to  make 
up  one  half  of  the  land."  Brinley  Silvester  is  to 
have  "that  farm  upon  which  Jacques  the  French- 
man is  now  settling  with  all  the  buildings."  His 
lands  on  Beach  Island,  and  his  share  of  Robin's 
Island  and  Commonage  in  Southold,  he  leaves  to 
his  sister.    Proved  November  9,  1696. 

Nathaniel  Silvester,  by  will,  April  3,  1700, 
left  to  his  wife  .Margaret,  daughter  of  Captain 
Josiah  Hobart,  the  use  of  all  estate  until  his  eld- 
est son  Nathaniel  came  of  age.  He  left  to  his  s.on 
Nathaniel  all  his  share  of  Shelter  Island,  but  if 
he  died  without  issue  it  was  to  go  to  his  son 
Brinly,  and  if  he  died  without  issue,  then  to  his 
daughters,  Grissell  and  Margaret.  He  was  then 
living  in  East  Hampton,  but  in  1705  he  was  liv- 
ing in  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  where  he  died 
before  July  4th. 

Giles  Silvester,  by  will  March  12,  1706-7, 
left  to  his  wife  Hannah  "one-third  of  my  estate 
as  the  law  allows."  All  the  rest  of  his  estate, 
real  and  personal,  he  left  to  William  Nicoll,  Esq., 
for  the  payment  of  debts,  "and  all  the  surplus 
is  to  be  to  him  as  he  thinks  best,"  and  makes  him 
executor.    Proved  June  19,  1708. 

In  1695  Giles  Sylvester  sold  tO'  William  Nicoll, 


of  [slip,  one-quarter  of  his  estate,  the  rest  he 
obtained  by  the  above  will.  In  this  manner  the 
Nicoll  family  became  the  owners  of  a  larg-e  es- 
tate which,  under  the  name  of  Sachem's  Neck, 
is  still  owned  by  his  descendants. 

"Giles  Sylvester  quitclaims  to  Nathaniel  Syl- 
vester the  tract  of  rooo  acres  left  by  Capt.  Na- 
thaniel Sylvester  to  his  second  son  (the  said  Na- 
thaniel) in  his  will  "which  said  land  is  situate 
and  being  on  ye  sSouth  side  of  ye  said'  Isiatid, 
bounded  by  ye  salt  water  of  ye  Bay  on  ye  South, 
by  a  certain  pond  called  Filers  pond  on  ye  west, 
by  a  ditch  running  from  a  fresh  pond  down  to  a 
creek  on  the  South  and  soe  with  a  'Northwesterly 
line  from  ye  said  ditch  up  into  ye  body  of  ye  said 
Island  until  there  shall  be  1000  acres."  In  witness 
etc.,  this  21  day  of  Alch  1699. 

G.  Sylvester. 
Witnesses:  Benjamin   L'Homedieu,  John   Paine, 

Francis  Brinley. 

Nathaniel  Sylvester  and  his  wife  ^M'argaret 
sold  the  above  tract  to  George  Havens  "of  Con- 
nanicutt  Island,  alias  Jamestown  in  Rhode  Isl- 
and and  Providence  Plantations  in  New  Eng- 
land yeoman/'  on  March  25,  1 699-1 700.  It  is 
described  as  "100  acres  of  land  on  Shelter  Isl- 
and and  was  bequeathed  to  me  by  my  honored 
father  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  by  his  last  -will  and 
testament,  which  said  thousand  acres  begineth 
on  ye  west  at  a  ditch  which  was  dugg  out  of  ye 
fresh  pond  and  on  ye  east  by  .a  creeke,  called 
Filers  creek  and  soe  to  continue  riinning  a  full 
mile  in  breadth  between  3^e  said  boundaries  until 
ye  said  thoitsand  acres  be  made  good  and  meas- 
ured." 

Geofge  Havens,  by  deed  Oct.  10,  1701,  gave 
to  his  son  George  Havens,  "of  Kingstown  in 
the  Naragansett  Country,"  250  acres  of  his  farm 
on  Shelter  Island,  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
said  farm.  To  be  200  rods  in  depth,  "If  he  come 
and  live  on  said  land."  Witness,  John  Clarke, 
W.  Clarke. 

That  tract  of  1,000  acres  sold  to  George  Ha- 
vens covered  the  center  of  the  island  and  in- 
cluded the  place  where  the  Presbyterian  church 
stands.  George  Havens,  his  son,  probably  did 
not  come  to  Shelter  Island.    His  will  is  dated  at 


454 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


Fisher's  Island,'  October  3,  1726.  The  tomb- 
stone of  George  Havens,  Sr.,  is  in  the  ancient 
burying  ground  at  New  London  and  bears  the 
inscription  "George  Havens,  Who  deceased  Feb- 
ruar)^  25,  1706,  aged  53  years."  He  died  intes- 
tate^ and  letters  of  administration  were  granted 
to  his  wife  EHnor,  February  11,  1706-7.  His 
widbw  married  Thomas  Terry,  of  Southold,  and 
she  died  there  in  1747,  aged  93  years. 

George  Havens,  his  oldest  son  and  heir  at 
law,  gave  to  his  brother,  John  Havens,  250  acres 
of  the  above  tract,  "bounded  North  by  land  of 
my  brother  William  Havens,  West  by  land  of 
my  brother  Jonathan  Havens,  south  by  the  salt 
water,  and  East  by  the  farthest  extent  of  ye  said 
purchase."  June  21,  1707.  He  also  conveyed  to 
his  mother,  Elinor  Havens,  "for  30  pounds  paid 
to  his  natural  sister,  Patience  Loper,"  50  acres 
of  the  same  tract. 

The  lands  of  William  and  Jonathan  Havens, 
as  mentioned  above,  were  given  to  them  by  their 
father,  George  Havens,  Sr.,  during  his  life  time. 
The  family  have  ever  since  remained  on  the  isl- 
and, and  have  been  an  inseparable  portion  of  its 
history. 

December  i,  1693,  Giles  Silvester  leased  to 
Edward  Downing,  of  Boston,  "a  house  and  farm 
on  vShelter  Island,  and  the  house  called  the  Hall.'' 
The  rent  was  "one  half  of  the  cider  and  grain 
and  other  products."  The  witnesses  were  Jacques 
Gillebt,  John  Collins  and  John  Peterson. 

Edward  Downing  was  probably  the  first  ten- 
ant on  the  island.  Jacques  Gillett  is  doubtless  the 
same  person  mentioned  on  a  preceding  page  as 
"Jacques  the  Frenchman."  John  Collins  and  John 
Peterson  may  have  been  servants,  but  they  were 
doubtless  living  on  the  island. 

The  following  deed  is  the  first  mention  of  a 
family  who  have  ever  since  been  prominently 
connected  with  our  history : 

This  Indenture  made  the  3d  day  of  j\Iay, 
1698,  between  Giles  Sylvester  of  Shelter  Island, 
Gent,  of  ye  one  part  and  Cornelius  Pain  of  ye  He 
of  Wight  (alias  Gardiner's  Island,)  his  bond- 
man. Witnesseth  that  he  ye  said  Giles  Sylvester 
in  consideration  of  a  sum  of  money  ^  *  * 
doth  by  the  presents  give,  grant  and  sell,  unto 


the  said  Cornelius  Pain,  two  hundred  acres  of 
upland  and  meadow  lying  on  Shelter  Island,  at 
a  certaine  place  called  the  haye  beach  rocky  point 
bounded  by  William  Hopkins  on  ye  South,  the 
water  of  ye  bay  twixt  Shelter  Island  and  Gardi- 
nersi  Island  on  ye  east,  and  the  channel  coming  in 
from  thence  on  ye  north,  and  ye  upland  on  the 
west,  to  be  laid  out  as  followeth,  to  begin  at  the 
north  bounds  of  William  Hobkins,  and  soe  run 
Northward  16  degrees  easterly  eight  score  poles, 
through  ye  Neck  of  ye  hay  beach  rocky  point  to 
a  certain  rock  by  ye  water  side  neare  the  channel 
above  said,  and  soe  westward  to  make  right  angles 
from  the  bounds  above  said,  and  [from]  ye  said 
rock  into  ye  upland  soe  many  poles  till  it  shall 
comprehend  soe  many  acres  of  upland  as  with 
the  'meadow  shall  containe  200  acres." 

G.  Sylvester. 
AVitnesses :  Nathaniel    Parke,  Edward  Downing, 
Mary  Downing. 

Cornelius  Payne  afterward  lived  on  Hog 
Neck,  in  Southampton,  and  was  the  ancestor  of 
the  family  of  that  name  in  that  town. 

February  8,  1687-8,  Joshua  Silvester,  "late  of 
Shelter  Island,  now  of  Southold,"  made  an  agree- 
ment to  deliver  to^  Isaac  Arnold  "a  deed  for  all 
his  visible  estate"  on  Shelter  Island,  and  all 
nionies  and  debts  due  to  him,  and  Isaac  Arnold 
is  to  provide  him  a  comfortable  maintenance  for 
life.  Joshua  Silvester  revokes  all  former  acts 
and  deeds,  '^especially  one  writing  made  and  now 
in  the  custody  of  Grisell,  the  wife  of  James 
Lo}'d,  of  Boston,  sometime  in  June,  1687,  which 
in  sickness  I  passed  without  consideration  or  ad- 
vice." He  allows  to  Isaac  Arnold,  for  his  yearly 
maintenance,  30  pounds.  If  Isaac  Arnold  dies, 
then  all  that  is  left  is  toi  return  to  Joshua  Silves- 
ter, and  shall  go  to  the  female  children  of  his 
brother  Nathaniel  Silvester  and  Isaac  Arnold.  If 
Joshua  Silvester  died  first,  then  what  is  left  is 
to  go  to  the  daughters  of  Nathaniel  Silvester  and 
his  cousin  Isaac  Arnold,  except  Grisell  Loyd, 
who  is  to  have  "one  piece  of  gold  of  20  shillings." 

In  accordance  with  this,  Joshua  Silvester  gave 
to  Isaac  Arnold  a  deed  for  all  his  lands  and 
meadows  on  Shelter  Island,  and  all  his  goods, 
etc.,  "In  consideration  of  an  Honourable  and 
Comfortable  maintaince  during  his  life.  And 
he  has  put  him  in  possession  by  delivering  unto 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


455 


him  one  piece  of  silver  commonly  called  a  shill- 
ing, English  coyne,  fixed  into  the  Seal  of  these 
Presents."  He  abo  gives  Isaac  Arnold  full  pow- 
er of  attorney  to  collect  all  debts,  "and  espe- 
cially to  call  to  account  James  Loyd'  of  Boston, 
merchant,  and  the  executqrs  of  Nathaniel  El- 
dred,  late  of  Brookhaven,  for  iSoo,  paid  to 
him  by  my  sister  in  law  Madame  Grisell  Silves- 
ter Feb,  26,  1680." 

April  30,  1694,  Gil'cs  Silvester,  ''in  considera- 
tion of  a  certain  deed  of  release  for  one  half  of 
Shelter  Island,  dated  Oct.  3,  1693,"  agrees  to  give 
to  Joshua  Silvester  an  annual  rent  of  iiS  ''on  all 
the  property  left  to  Giles  Silvester  by  hiis  brother 
Nathaniel  Silvester,  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
Shelter  Island,  and  now  in  the  possession  of  Ed- 
ward Downing,  late  of  Boston,  as  tenant."  This 
rent  was  to  be  paid  to  Joshua  Silvester  during 
his  life,  annually  on  May  5th,  with  the  curious 
provision  that  "if  the  said  Joshua  Silvester  does 
not  spend  the  whole  amount  for  his  comfortable 
maintenance  but  less  will  suffice,  he  is  to  pay 
back  the  remainder. 

On  the  same  day  Joshua  Silvester  conveys 
to  his  "beloved  friend  Mr.  Joshua  Hobart,  min- 
ister, and  to  his  loving  cousin,  Isaac  Arnold"  all 
his  goods  and  chattels.  And,  in  return,  ''he  is  to 
have  a  comfortable  maintenance  according  to  his 
Age  and  Quality." 

We  conclude  from  the  foregoing  that  Joshua 
Silvester  was  probably  infirm  in  mind  or  body 
and  perhaps  in  both.  He  died  in  Southold  a  few 
years  later. 

Thomas  Shaw  and  wife  I\Iary  sold  to  Jona- 
than Havens,  February  10,  1713-14,  "one  mes- 
suage or  tract  of  land  on  Shelter  Island,  256  acres, 
bounded  northwest  by  ye  land  formerly  Mr. 
Giles  Sylvesters.  Southerly  by  the  land  of  ye 
said  Jonathan  Havens.  Easterly  by  ye  land  of 
William  Havens,  and  northeast  by  ye  land  late 
Nathaniel  Sylvesters,  deceased.  Being  six  rods 
wide  from  the  northeast  corner  down  to  ye  Salt 
water  or  harbor."  This  must  have  been  a  very 
long  and  narrow  strip  of  land,  if  the  above  de-. 
scription  is  correct.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  part 
of  the  Havens  tract,  but  how  Thomas  Shaw  ob- 
tained it  we  do  not  know.    Jonathan  Havens  left 


this  to  his  son  Jonathan,  in  1748.  He  describes 
it  as  "six  rods  wide  on  the  west  side  of  my  old 
farm,  beginning  at  the  north  west  corner  and 
running  east  to  a  place  called  the  Wolf  Trap." 

After  the  sale  of  1,000  acres  of  land  to  Will- 
iam Havens,  Nathaniel  Sylvester  had  compara- 
tively a  small  estate  on  Shelter  Island.  By  his 
will  he  left  what  he  had  to  his  -son  Nathaniel, 
and,  if  he  died  without  issue,  then  to  his  brother 
Brinley  Sylvester,  to  whom  it  afterward  came. 
By  the  wills  of  Constant  Sylvester  and  Peter 
Sylvester  this  was  still  more  increased,  and  Brin- 
ley Sylvester  became  the  largest  land  owner  on 
the  island. 

February  25,  T718-9,  William  Nicoll,  "Gent," 
sold  to  Brinley  Silvester,  of  Newport,  Rhode  Isl- 
and, "For  money  paid  by  Giles  Silvester  and  Na- 
thaniel Silvester,  uncle  and  father  of  said  Brin- 
ley Silvester,  All  that  messuge  the  late  mansion 
house  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Silvester,  and  1,000 
acres,  of  land  adjoining,  on  Shelter  Island. 
Bounded  west  by  upland  and  creek,  north  by  bay 
or  sound.  East  by  Ram  island  beach  and  Ram  isl- 
and bay,  and  southeast  by  the  farm  that  John 
Knowling  now  dwells  on."  It  is  quite  probable 
that  a  mortgage  had  been  given  on  the  estate, 
and  that  the  conveyance  was  a  release  from  the 
same. 

'  Brinley  Sylvester,  the  owner  of  this  ancestral 
heritage,  was  born  in  East  Hampton,  November 
28,  ]6o4.  December  2,  1718,  he  married  Alary, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Burroughs,  a  merchant  of 
New  York.  He  probably  came  here  soon  after 
the  death  of  his  father  and  uncle.  His  estate  is 
said  to  have  been  all  that  part  of  the  island  north 
of  a  line  drawn  from  the  head  of  Bering  creek 
to  Cockle's  Harbor.  In  1737  he  built  a  stately 
mansion,  which  yet  remains,  a  most  elegant  relic 
of  Colonial  architecture.  At  the  time  of  its 
erection  it  is  said  to  have  been  the  largest  man- 
sion on  Long  Island.  It  stands  near  the  spot 
where  the  ancestor,  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  had  his 
dwelling  place.  The  doors  and  many  other  por- 
tions of  the  building  were  brought  from  England, 
and  were  of  a  make  and  material  impossible  to 
procure  in  the  early  days.  In  this  mansion  Brin- 
ley S\'lvester  "lived  like  a  lord."    For  long  years 


456 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


he  was  surrogate  for  Suffolk  county  and  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas,.  There  being  no 
church  on  the  island,  he  attended  meeting  in 
Southold,.  sailing  in  a  barge  manned  by  weh 
trained  negro  slave  rowers,  Upon  one  occasion 
the^ minister  suggesting  to  his  wife  that  she  might 
be  proud  of  her  silken  gown  and  elegant  barge, 
she  replied  that  .she  was  not  proud  of  these  things, 
but  she  was  proud  of  the  linen  she  could  make 
with  her  own  hands.  A  private  chaplain,  the 
Rev.  William  Adams,  made  his  home  in  the 
manor  house.  ]Mr.  Sylvester  was  one  of  the 
most  important  men  of  the  county  and  the  prov- 
ince. He  served  as  supervision  and  town  clerk 
for  several  years,  and  did  much  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  island.  He  died  December  24, 
1752,  and  with  him  the  ancient  name  of  Sylvester 
perished  from  Shelter  Island.  He  left  two  daugh- 
ters, Margaret,  wife  of  Daniel  Cheesebroug'h, 
who  died  without  issue,  and  IMary,  born  in  1724, 
who  married  Thomas  Dering,  ^larch  9,  1759. 
During  the  Revolution,  Thomas  Dering  and  his. 
wife  were,  like  many  other  patriots,  compelled  to 
take  refuge  in  Connecticut,  and  while  living 
there  they  executed  the   following  deed : 

Thomas  Dering,  Esq.,  and  wife  j\Iary  of 
Shelter  Island,  no'w  resident  in  Middletown,  Con- 
necticut, conveys  to  their  son  Silvester  Dering 
"one  half  of  a  messuge  and  lot  of  land  where 
they  formerly  resided  on  Shelter  Island,  and 
which  lately  belonged  to  Brinley  Silvester,  Esq., 
and  called  Silvester's  farm.  Containing  iioo 
acres.  Bounded  east  by  Ram  Island  ,and  by  the 
bay  commonly  called  Cookolds  ba\'  or  harbor. 
West  by  Thomas  Conkling,  and  land  formerly  of 
Elisha  Paine.  North  by  Southold  Bay.  South 
by  land  of  Nicoll  Havens,  formerly  belonging  to 
his  father  Jonathan  Havens.  Which  said  one 
half  lately  belonged  to  Margaret  Cheesbrough, 
deceased,  who  was  the  only  sister  of  said  'Mary 
Dering."     June  17,  1782. 

Witness  :     John  Alsop,  Nicoll  Floyd. 

Thomas  Dering  and  wiic  Mary  Dering 
"of  Shelter  Island,  now  residing  in  Aliddletown, 
Connecticut,"  by  deeds  of  lease  and  release,  No- 
vember 9,  1779,  convey  to  Ezra  L'Hommedieu 
one-half  of  the  above  premises,  and  Ezra  L'Hom''- 
medieu  conveys  the  same  to  Thomas  Dering,  Esq., 


November  19,  1779.  This  was  for  the  purpose 
of  vesting  the  title  in  Thomas  Dering  in  fee. 
Thomas  Dering  and  his  wife  Mary  sold  the  same 
to  their  son,  Silvester  Dering,  for  £1,000,  June  10, 
T7S2. 

Thomas  Dering,  whose  name  is  inseparably 
connected  with  the  history  of  this  island,  was  the 
son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Dering,  and  was 
born  in  Boston,  May  16,  1720.  He  was  educated 
for  a  merchant,  and,  his  father  dying  in  1750, 
he  and  his  brother  Henry  succeeded  to  the  busi- 
ness, and  March  9,  1756,  he  married  Mary  Syl- 
vester, at  Newport,  where  Mrs.  Sylvester  had 
moved  for  the  education  of  her  daughters.  In 
1760  he  came  to  Shelter  Island,  occupied  the 
manor  house,  and  engaged  very  extensively  in 
farming.  He  had  a  very  large  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances, especially  among  the  ministers  in  the  coun- 
ty. In  May,  1776,  he  was  delegate  to  the  Provin- 
cial Convention  which  met  at  White  Plains  and 
unanimously  adopted  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. In  September,  1776,  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Middletown,  Connecticut.  In  1777 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  a  convention  to  frame 
a  constitution  for  the  state  of  New  York.  In 
1783  he  returned  to  the  island  and  resumed  the 
business  of  farming.  Among  his  most  intimate 
friends  was  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  who  vis- 
ited the  island.  After  a  useful  and  honored  life 
he  died  September  26,  1785.  His  remains  rest 
in  the  cemetery  at  the  rear  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Dering  left  three  children — General  Sylvester 
Dering,  Hem-y  P.  Dering  and  a  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, who  married  Dr.  Nathaniel  Gardiner. 

General  Sylvester  Dering,  who  thus,  became 
the  owner  of  the  ancestral  estate,  married  Esther 
Sara^,  daughter  of  Nicoll  Haveiis.  He  was  gen- 
eral of  militia,  supervisor  for  many  years  and 
member  of  assembly  in  1804.  He  was  killed 
by  a  fall  from  his  horse  and  died,  lamented  and 
'beloved,  October  8,  1820,  at  the  age  of  61.  He 
left  live  children — Charles  T.,  a  merchant  in  Sag 
Harbor,  Nicoll  TI.,  a  physician  in  New  York, 
Henry  S.,  a  physician  at  Setauket,  Margaret  and 
Sarah.  After  his  death  his  estate  was  purchased 
by  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  at  whose  death  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  his  daughter,  Mary,  who  mar- 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


457 


ried  Samuel  S.  Gardiner,  and  for  a  long  time  it 
was  widely  known  as  the  '^Gardiner  esitate/'  The 
offspring  of  this  marriage  were  three  daughters, 
one  of  whom  hecame  the  wife  of  Professor  Lane, 
of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  and  two  who  were 
successively  the  wives  of  Professor  Eben  E. 
Horsford,  of  the  same  place.  Upon  the  settle- 
ment of  the  estate  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Professor  Horsford,  whose  daughtersi  are  the 
lineal  descendants  and  present  representatives  of 
the  Sylvesters. 

William  Nicoll,  who  by  deed  and  will  of  Giles 
Sylvester  obtained  a  very  large  estate  on  Shelter 
Island,  died  in.  1723,  and  by  will  left  all  his  lands 
here  to  'his  son,  William  Nicoll,  who  was  elected 
member  of  assembly  in  1739,  and  served  until 
the  time  of  his  death  in  1768.  For  the  last  nine 
years  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House.  He  died 
suddenly  at  a  house  on  Hempstead  plains,,  De- 
cember 3,  1768.  He  left  no  children,  and  his  es- 
tate went  to  his  nephew,  William  Nicoll,  son  of 


his  brother  Benjamin.  He  was  known  as  "Clerk 
Nicoll,"  being  county  clerk  for  twenty-six  years, 
and  was  the  last  county  clerk  under  the  Colonial 
Government.  He  s:ucceeded  his  uncle  in  the  As- 
sembly and  served  until  the  Revolution.    His  son, 


Samuel  Benjamin  Nicoll,  succeeded  to  the  estate 
on  Shelter  Island,  and  came  here  in  1787.  He 
was  born  September  4,  1764.  He  married  Anne 
daughter  of  Colonel  Richard  Floyd.  They  were 
the  .  parents  of  ten  children — Richard  Floyd, 
William_,  Elizabeth  Floyd,  Anna  Willetit,  Sam- 
uel Benjamin,  Thomas  Elbert  Ellison,  Maria 
Cortland,  John  Cortland,  Gloriana  Margaretta 
and  Arabella  Jones  Floyd.  The  father  of  this 
family  passed  his  life  on  his  large  estate,  as  an 
enterprising  farmer,  and  died  here  September  19, 
1828. 

Samuel  Benjamin  Nicoll,  the  third  son,  was 
born  on  Shelter  Island,  March  25,  1794,  and  was 
educated  at  Yale  and  Union  Colleges.  Adopting 
the  profession  of  law,  he-  settled  in  Riverhead 
and  practiced  with  success  for  several  years.  On 
July  T,  TS24,  he  married  Sarah  Brown,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Benjamin  Payne,  of  Flushing,  Long  Isl- 
and, and  subsequently  resided  at  that  place  for 
some  years.  In  April,  1832,  he  returned  to  Shel- 
ter Island  and  settled  upon 
the  family  estate,  and 
passed  here  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  was  super- 
visor for  many  years  and 
during  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  was  chairman  of 
the  board.  In  1843  ^^^ 
was  a  member  of  assem- 
bly, and  was  one  of  the 
members  of  a  commission 
to  revise  the  code  of  pro- 
cedure. Mr.  Nicoll  died 
January  22,  1865,  in  the 
same  house  in  which  he  was 
born,  and  was  buried  in  the 
family  cemetery  at  Sachem- 
Neck.  His  widow  died  on 
the  8th  day  of  October, 
1876.  He  left  seven  chil- 
dren— Samuel  B.,  William  C,  Matthias,  Char- 
lotte A.,  Sarah  P.,  Gloriana  M.  and  Anne. 

In  accordance  with  the  custom  of  the  times, 
the  Sylvesters  and  their  immediate  descendants 
were  owners  of  negro  slaves,  which  Nathaniel 


458 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Sylvester  doubtless  brought  with  hmi  from  the 
West  Indies.  The  well  equipped  barge  which 
was  kept  for  very  frequent  visits  to  Southold, 
was  manned  by  slave  rowers.  In  1776  there  were 
33  slaves  on  the  island.  After  the  passage  of  the 
"Manumission  Act,"  in  1788,  many  slaves  were 
set  free,  and  slavery  came  to  an  end  in  the  early 
part  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

The  Indians  who  inhabited  the  island  re- 
mained in  rapidly  diminishing  numbers  for  many 
years.  Tradition  states  that  the  point  known  as 
Sachem's  Neck  was  the  dwelling  place  of  the 
great  Sachem,  whose  influence  wasi  felt  and  ac- 
knowledged by  all  the  neighboring  tribes.  Rehcs 
of  their  villages  in  the  shape  of  shell  heaps  are 
still  found,  and  the  indestructible  stone  arrow 
heads  are  frequently  found.  The  last  of  the  race 
was  an  aged  woman  who  died  a  sincere  Christian, 
in  1835. 

By  the  terms  of  the  original  patent,  Shelter 
Island  was  to  remain  entirely  independent  of  any 
other  town  or  political  organization.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  precaution,  important  deeds  were  recorded 
in  the  clerk's  offices  of  East  Hampton  or  South- 
old,  but  the  island  remained  for  long  years  as  a 
proprietary  government.  By  act  of  the  Pro- 
vincial LegislatiTre,  July  12,  1729,  it  was  estab- 
lished as  a  town,  and  was  to  elect  two  assessors, 
a  collector,  a  constable  and  supervisor. 

In  1730  the  inhabitants  were  William  Nicoll, 
John  Havens,  Samuel  Hudson,  George  Havens, 
Elisha  Paine,  Joel  Bowdich,  Abraham  Parker, 
Samuel  Havens,  Samuel  Vail,  Thomas  Conkling, 
Samuel  Gilman,  Brinley  Sylvester,  Jonathan  Ha- 
vens, Joseph  Havens,  Noah  Tuthill,  Sylvester 
L'Hommedieu,  Henrv  Havens,  Samuel  Hopkins, 
John  Bowdich  and  Daniel  Brt)wn. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  April  7,  1730, 
and  the  following  officers  were  elected :  Super- 
visor, William  Nicoll;  Assessors,  John  Havens, 
Samuel  Hudson ;  Collector,  Samuel  Havens' ; 
Constable,  Samuel  Gilman. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  Inhabitants  of 
Shelter  Island  in  1771  : 

Heads  of  Families.  JNTales.    Females 

Jonathan    Havens i  3 

Thomas    Bering    4  2 


Daniel  Brown 3  i 

William  Nicoll i 

William   Havens    4  2 

James   Sawyer    3  2 

Thomas  Conkling   3  i 

Joel  Bowdich   3  2 

Nicoll  Havens    .  ,- 2  3 

Samuel    Case 4  4 

Abraham  Parker   5  .5 

Joseph  L'Hommedieu 2  2 

Benjamin  -Sawyer 4  2 

Moses  Sawyer 4  5 

Thomas  Conkling,  Jr.  . .' 5  2 

James  Havens    7  2 

Abraham    King 3  2 

Deliverance  Paine   2  3 

Walter    Havens 2  3 

John  Duval i  i 

George    Duval 3  3 

Obadiah   Havens 2  4 

Jonathan  Havens,  Jr 2  2 

George  Haveps i  2 

Samuel   Case,   Jr i  2 

Joseph    Havens 2  i 

Moses   Horton 2  3 

Total  whites,  140 ;  blacks,  27. 

In  the  early  period  of  our  history,  a  church 
on  this  island  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  an  ex- 
istence, the  whole  district  being  nominally  a  part 
of  the  parish  of  Southold.  The  first  attempt  to 
build  a  meeting  house  is  told  by  the  following 
document : 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  hav- 
ing the  Interests  of  our  Common  Lord  at  heart, 
and  being  willing  to  contribute  for  the  promoting 
and  Incouraging  the  cause  and  Interest  of  Re- 
ligion upon  Shelter  Island,  and  considering  the 
small  nimiiber  of  the  Inhabitants  do  covenant  and 
promise  to  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  the  Several 
sums  Affixed  to  our  names  to  Brinley  Sylvester 
or  order  at  or  before  the  first  day  of  January 
next  ensuing  the  Date  hereof  for  the  erecting 
building  and  completing  a  ^Meeting  house  for  the 
publick  \A''^OTship  of  Almighty  God  and  not  other- 
wise. In  witness  whereof  we  have  set  to  our 
names  together  with  ye  Severall  sums.  Annexed 
the  19  day  of  August  Anno  Dom.  1732. 


Benjamin  Wools}-,  £2. 
David  Pierson,   los. 
Samuel  Huntting,  5s. 
Al^raliam  Halsey,  6s. 
PI  ugh  Gelston,  15  s. 


Matthew  Howell,  5s. 
Josiah  Pierson,  6s. 
Job  Pierson,  6s. 
Jonathan  Whitehead,  ii 
James  Smith,   155. 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


459 


Mrs.  Stillwell,  14s.  Miss  Steer,  5s. 

Edm — ,  los.  James  Sell,  3s,  lod. 

Edward  Huntting,  los.   Josiah  Topping,  6s. 
Nathaniel  Huntting,  £2.  John  Meray,  ids. 
David  Howell,  2s.  Joihn  Led'yard,  12s. 

Elnathan  White,  4s.         Morel  Lester,  los. 
John  Davis,  is,  6d.         Alexander  Munn,  5s. 
Theophilus  Howell,  5s.    Mat.  Burnes,  los. 
Theophilus  Pierson,  7s.  S.  Whitehead,  los. 
Edward  Howell,  6s.       Thomas  Chatfield,  los. 
Eleazor  Miller,  fi,  8s.     Suton  Grant,  £1,  4s. 
Thomas- Robinson,   14s.  Piatt  Smith,   14s. 
Benjamin  L'Hommedieti,  Jr.,  los. 
Benjamin  Youngs,  Esq.,  los. 
Francis  Pelletreau,  £1,  8s. 
Theophilus  Plowell,  £2,  6s. 
Samuel  Hutchison,  Esq.,  12s. 
Ephraim  Hopkins,  Jr.,  work  13's. 
Received  of  Dr.  Howell,  5s. 

Of  the  above  subscribers  fifteen  were  from 
the  town  of  Southampton.  The  effort  thus  be- 
gun does  not  seem  to  have  been  carried  into 
effect  until  1742,  for  in  that  year  Jonathan  Ha- 
vens, Jr.,  gave  half  an  acre  of  ground  near  the 
middle  of  the  Island  for  a  site  for  a  meeting 
house  and  for  a  burying  ground,  and  the  church 
seems  to  have  been  built  in  the  following  year. 
It  was  a  small  square  building  with  four  roofs 
meeting  in  a  point.  It  is  stated  that  some  of  the 
furnishings,  such  as  the  pulpit,  sounding  board, 
stairs  and  a  few  of  the  pews,  were  brought  from^ 
the  Rutgers  street  church  in  New  York.  Rev. 
Mr.  Mailman  states  in  his  excellent  history,  'It 
stood  on  this  very  spot  where  we  now  worship, 
until  the  beginning  of  the  present  structure, 
when  it  was  moved  to  the  eastward,  where  the 
parsonage  now  stands,  being  there  used  while 
the  new  house  of  worship  was  being  erected,  after 
which  it  was  again  moved  to  the  westward,  near 
the  middle  of  the  lot  opposite  the  grist  mill, 
where  it  served  the  purpose  of  a  slieep  fold  until 
time  and  decay  had  completed  its  destruction. 

The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  William 
Adams,  who,  as  we  have  mentioned,  was  chap- 
lain to  Mr.  Brinley  Silvester  and  his  family.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Eliphalet  Adams,  of  Con- 
necticut, and  a  graduate  of  Yaie  in  1730.  He 
was  then  a  tutor  for  two  years,  and  after  that  a 
preacher    for    more   than    sixty    years.     He  was 


never  married  or  ordained,  as  he  declared  he 
would  not  be  encumbered  either  with  a  wife  or 
a  parish.  He  first  preached  in  the  North  Parish 
of  New  London,  and  afterwards  in  North  Gro- 
ton.  In  January,  1737,  he  began  to  preach  in 
Guilford.  He  came  to  Shelter  Island  in  the 
latter  part  of  iy^y,  being  then  twenty-seven  years 
of  age.  He  remained  here  until  the  death  of 
Brinley  Sylvester  in  1752.  He  then  preached  in 
New  London  until  February,  1756.  He  was  at 
Orient  from  1758  to  1760.  In  that  year,  Mr. 
Thomas  Dering  moved  to  this  Island,  and  Mr. 
Adams  resumed  his  residence  in  the  Manor 
House,  as  private  chaplain,  and  remained  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution  caused  Mr. 
Dering  and  his  family  to  flee  to  Connecticut, 
In  all,  he  labored  here  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
and  was  there  when  Whitefield  visited  the  island 
in  1764.  In  person  he  was  short  and  stout,  wore 
a  white  wig  and  a  cocked  hat,  and  usually  walked 
about  the  streets  dressed  in  a  black  study  gown. 
He  died  after  a  long  and  useful  life,  September 
^5>  1798,  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age. 

April  6,  1784,  the  first  town  meeting  was  held 
after  the  Revolution,  and,  after  choosing  town 
officers,  a  committee  consisting  of  Sylvester  Der- 
ing and  Jonathan  N.  Havens  was  appointed  to 
inquire  into  and  take  charge  of  the  money  left 
by  Brinley  Sylvester,  Esq.,  toward  the  support  of 
the  Gospel  on  Shelter  Island.  April  26,  1785, 
the  churc'h  was  duly  incorporated  as  a  religious, 
corporation,  and  Jonathan  N.  Havens,  Sylvester 
Dering  and  William  Bowdich  were  elected  trus- 
tees. 

On  April  21,  1789,  the  Presbytery  of  Long 
Island  appointed  Mir.  John  Taylor  to  preach  at 
Sag  Plarbor. 

In  1794  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  pro- 
cure a  person  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  this  place, 
and  to  pay  the  same  as  they  may  agree,  not  ex- 
ceeding the  rate  of  four  dollars  for  each  Sab- 
bath, a  curious  reminder  of  the  limited  finances 
of  the  time. 

We  find  a  curious  entry :  At  a  "Special  Town 
meeting  held  April  29,  1794,  called  for  the  pur- 
pose of  regulating  the  claim  fishery,  it  was  re- 


460 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


solved  that  a  tax  of  three  pence  should  be  paid 
for  every  hnshel  of  clams  dug  -by  non-inhabi- 
tants of  the  Island,  and  the  proceeds  (except 
twenty  per  cent.)  was  to  be  paid  into  the  hands 
of  the  Rehgious  Society  for  the  purpose  of  sup- 
porting the  Gospel  or  maintaining  a  school  on 
said  Island,  as  the  inhabitants  at  Town  meeting 
shall  direct."  This,  however,  was  repealed  the 
next  year. 

In  1796  the  Rev.  Whitfield  Cowles  preached 
on  four  Sabbaths  and  was  paid  £4  for  his  serv- 
ices. In  1797  the  Rev.  Joel  Cram  preached  one 
Sabbath  for  £1  4s.  In  1797  the  Rev.  Whitfield 
Cowles  preached  for  twenty-four  Sabbaths  and 
received  £g  12.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Buel,  of  East 
Hampton,  also  preached  here  occasionally  be- 
tween 1796  and  1798. 

In  1 80 1  an  offer  was  made  to  employ  the 
Rev.  Herman  Daggett,  who  had  been  minister  in 
Southampton  for  a  number  of  years,  "to  come 
and  reside  with  us  as  Preacher  of  the  Gospel  and 
for  teaching  our  school  for  the  term  of  ten  years." 
The  salary  offered  was  $350  per  annum.  In  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  this  was  the 
largest  minister's  salary  paid  in  Suffolk  countv 
at  that  time.  Mr.  Daggett  did  not  accept,  as  he 
had  a  call  to  Middle  Island.  After  this  several 
different  clergymen  acted  for  short  times  as  spe- 
cial supplies.  Among  these  was  the  Rev.  Ly- 
man Beecher  and  Zachariah  Green.  In  1805  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Bell  preached  for  one  year,  re- 
ceiving three  dollars  per  Sabbath.  During  his 
term  the  meeting  house  was  repaired. 

The  first  settled  pastor  was  Rev.  Daniel  Hall, 
who  had  been  for  eight  years  minister  in  Sag 
Harbor.  He  was  called  May  5,  1806,  at  a  salary 
of  three  dollars  a  Sabbath.  The  subscription  list 
is  as  follows : 

Bowdich,  William,  £3,  18s. 
Bowdich,  John  fi,  6s. 
Bowdich,  Wm.,  Jr.,  13s. 
Bowdich,  Samuel,  8s.  8d. 
Boisseau,  John,  8s. 
Conkling  Benjamin,  £3,  i8s. 
Case,  Joseph,  17s.  4d. 
Case,  Jacob,  13s. 
Douglass,  Jonathan,  £\,  19s. 
Dering,  Sylvester,  £7  i6s. 


Havens,  Oba-diah,  £2  12s. 
Havens,  Ezekiel,  i8s. 
Havens,  Ledowick,  17s.  4d. 
Havens,  Augustus,  £2  12s. 
Havens,  Joseph,  Jr.,  17s.  4d. 
Havens,  Joseph,  Sr.,  £1  14s. 
Havens,  David,  13s. 
Havens,  Remington,  13s. 
Havens,  Silvanus,  13s. 
Hains,  Henry,  £1  i6s. 
Harlow,  Daniel,  13s. 
Harlow,  Phebe,  4s.  4d. 
Thomas,  Mayo,  £1,  19s. 
Nicoll,  Benjamin,  £7  i6s. 
Pierson,  Job,  £1   6s. 
Reeve,  Jonathan,  8s. 
Sawyer,  Richard,  13s. 
Tuthill,  Thomas,  17s.  4d. 
Havens,  James,  Sr.,  £1. 
Total,  £49  9s.  4d. 

The  call  was  accepted  and  Mr.  Hall  remained 
until  his  death  in  1812.  In  1808  a  confession  of 
faith  and  churoh  covenant  was  adopted,  accord- 
ing to  the  discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  persons  subscribing  were  the  pastor  and  his 
wife  Lucretia,  Ephraim  King  and  his  wife  Me- 
hitabel,  Sylvester  Dering  and  wife  E.  Sarah, 
Jonathan  Douglass  and  wife  Abigail,  Mary  INIayo, 
Eunice  Case,  .\nna  Boisseau,  Elizabeth  Havens, 
Abigail  Sawyer,  Lodowi'ck  Havens  and  Esther 
Case.  Mr.  Hall  died  January  20,  1812,  from  te- 
tanus, caused  by  amputation  of  a  cancerous  foot, 
at  the  age  of  64. 

"As  a  minister  of  Jesus,  he  was  faithful  unto 
death." 

The  original  church  building  belonged  to  cer- 
tain freeholders,  and  all  the  pews  belonged  to 
certain  families  who  had  the  exclusive  right  to 
the  same.  In  1806  the  following  resolution  was 
passed: 

"\^oted  that  the  Pews  occupied  by  Benjamin 
Nicoll,  William  Bowdich,  Sylvester  Dering  and 
James  Havens  be  made  narrower  so  as  to  make 
room  for  a  Pew  in  front  of  James  Havens'  pew, 
and  the  next  seat,  and  another  in  front  of  William 
Bowdiches'  pew  and  the  next  seat,  and  that  the 
pews  of  Benjamin  Nicoll,  William  Bowdich  and 
Sylvester  Dering  and  James  Havens  be  moved 
back,  at  the  expense  of  the  Parish." 

It  was  also  voted,  that  the  persons  who  wished 
to  build  pews  in  the  vacant  space  might  do  so 


SHELTER  ISLAND. 


461 


at  their  own  expense,  and  they  and  tlieir  heirs 
might  have  the  exclusdve  use  of  the  same  nntil 
they  were  called  for  by  the  parish,  and  the  cost 
was  then  to  be  repaid.  In  1808.  the  parish  en- 
deavored to  get  possession  of  all  th-e  pews,  for 
it  was  "voted  that  the  trustees  consult  the  own- 
ers of  pew5  in  the  meeting  House,  and  know  of 
them  if  they  will  sell  them,  and  at  what  price, 
and  if  all  the  owners  of  pews  will  sell,  to  call  a 
parish  meeting  that  the  parish  may  determine  to 
purchase  them  or  not/'  This  plan,  however,  did 
not  succeed  and  the  system  of  ownership  contin- 
ued until  the  old  building^  ceased  to  be  used.  In 
1793  the  funds  of  the  church  amounted  to  about 
£940. 

The  church  became  formally  connected  with 
the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island  on  April  9,  1812. 
Up  to  this  time  ''Church  and  State"  had  been 
practically  united.  In  1S15  a  determined  effort 
was  made  to  build  a  new  church.  A  subscription 
list  shows  28  persons  on  the  island,  who  con- 
tributed $1,277.50.  A  still  longer  list  of  87  per- 
sons in  New  York  and  other  places  contributed 
$1,320.50,  making  the  whole  amount  $2,598. 
The  new  church  stands  on  the  site  of  the  old  one. 
The  famous  "September  gale"  prostrated  a  num- 
ber of  large  trees,  and  fro^m  them  were  hewn  the 
timbers  of  the  present  edifice.  It  was  dedicated 
July  17,  1 81 7.  Rev.  Stephen  Tracy  preached  for 
six  months  from  April  28,  181 6.  The  sale  of  the 
pews  for  one  year  brought  $143.  For  many  years 
the  church  remained  without  a  settled  pastor, 
various  ministers  acting  as  temporary  supplies. 
The  Rev.  Richard  F.  Nicoll  served  in  1821,  at  a 
salary  of  $5  per  Sabbath.  The  Rev.  Ezra 
Youngs  preached  from  July,  1821,  to  the  middle 
of  1828.  In  1826  a  legacy  of  $8,000  was  left  to 
the  church  by  Air.  Benjamin  Conkling,  a  retired 
sea  captain.  He  died  February  21,  1826,  and  a 
monument  in  the  rear  of  the  church  marks  his 
resting  place.  The  Rev.  Jonathan  Huntting 
served  as  pastor  from  1828  to  the  fall  of  1832. 
His  successor  was  the  Rev.  David  Lord,  who  be- 
gan his  ministry  in  1832  and  continued  until  May, 
1834.  He,  in  turn,  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Randolph  Campbell,  who  began  to  preach  the 
last  Sabbath  in  September,   1834,  and  remained 


until  September,  1837.  The  Rev.  William  Ing- 
mire  was  called  in  1838  and  remained  three  years. 
For  a  while  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Huntting  supplied 
the  pulpit  on  occasions,  receiving  $5  per  day  "and 
his  ferriage."  The  Rev.  Anson  Sheldon  received 
a  call  August  i,  1842,  and  remained  until  June, 
1847.  After  an  interval  of  thirteen  years  from 
his  first  pastorate,  tlie  Rev.  Daniel  Lord  re- 
turned to  the  island  and  became  pastor  the  sec- 
ond time,  in  September,  1847.  He  was  installed 
August  3c,  1848.  His  pastorate  was  ended  by 
his  sudden  death,  occasioned  by  being  thrown 
from  his  wagon,  April  26,  1861.  The  Rev.  Charles 
H.  Halloway  began  his  services'  here  in  Septem- 
ber, 1 86 1,  and  remained  until  August  2,  1864. 
His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Harries, 
who  first  preached  here  November  19,  1864.  He 
was  installect  June  8,  1865.  His  pastorate  \vas' 
the  longest  oi  all,  and  continued  until  1884.  He 
died  in  Brooklyn,  August  4,  1888,  aged  75  years. 
The  Rev.  A.  P.  Bissell,  D.  D.,  became  pastor  De- 
cember 15,  1884,  and  remained  until  May  i,  1889. 
His  successor  wasi  the  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Parli- 
man,  who  began  as  stated  supply  in  December, 
1889,  and  continued  until  September,  1895.  He 
was  afterward  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  Haverstraw,  New  York,  the  place 
of  his  birth. 

The  Rev.  Jacob  E.  IMallmann  received  a  unan- 
imous call  to  the  pastorate  November  17,  1895, 
and  was  duly  installed  in  January,  1896.  Hie  is 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  M.  D.  C.  (Lehnert)  Mall- 
mann,  and  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
September  29,  1858.  He  graduated  from^  Prince- 
ton in  i88q,  and  for  a  year  was  the  minister  in 
charge  of  Olivet  Chapel,  under  the  care  of  La- 
fayette Avenue  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  or- 
dained there  October  23,  1889.  On  May  8,  1890, 
he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  in  Newtown,  Long  Island,  and  con- 
tinued to  labor  until  the  fall  of  1895,  when  he 
came  to  this  church.  During  the  moments  of 
leisure  from  his  arduous  duties,  Mr.  Mallmann 
has  written  a  most  interesting  and  accurate  his- 
tory of  Shelter  Island  and  its  church,  which  is  a 
most  valuable  addition  to  the  many  volumes  of 
Long  Island  history  and  can  not  fail  to  perpet- 


462 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


uate  his  memory  for  centuries'  to  come.  To'  its 
excellence  and  value  the  writer  most  gladly  gives, 
his  testimony. 

The  first  Episcopal  service  was  held  in  the 
town  hall  on  May  14,  1871.  In  1872  Dr.  S.  B. 
Nicoll  purchased  from  Charles  D.  M'anwaring 
a  lot  of  one  acre,  and  built  a  church  upon  it  the 
following  year.  His  'brother,  Mathias  Nicoll, 
was  the  principal  contributor,  giving  $1,000,  and 
afterward  presented  the  church  with  stained  glass 
windows.  The  one  behind  the  altar  is  a  me- 
morial to  his  wife,  Mary  Alice,  who  died  Jama- 
ar\^  5,  1873,  and  a&  a  tribute  toi  'her  memory  the 
chapel  is  named  St.  Mary's  Chapel.  In  1881  a 
bell  was  presented  by  Miss  Julia  King,  of  Sag- 
Harbor.  The  congregation,  though  small  at  first, 
has  been  regularly  increasing. 

A  school,  doubtless  kept  in  some  private 
house,  seems  to  have  been  in  existence  as  early  as 
the  church,  and  we  find  in  several  instances  that 
the  minister  also  acted  as  teacher.  A  school 
house  was  in  existence  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  This  was  burned  in  1827, 
and  a  new  one  was  shortly  afterward  erected. 
Among  the  schoolmasters  of  the  olden  time  was 
the  notorious  Stephen  Burroughs,  whose  history, 
written  by  himself,  is  a  noted  instance  of  a  ras- 
cal telling  his  own  side  of  his  story.  He  was 
afterward  a  teacher  in  Bridge  Hampton.  The 
schoolhouse  built  in  1827  remained  until  1868, 
when  the  present  commodious  building  was  erect- 
ed and  the  old  one  was  used  as  a  town  hall.  The 
school,  under  very  efficient  teachers,  has  a  high 
reputation  and  is  a  credit  to  the  town. 

For  long  years  before  the  Revolution  the  reg- 
ular mail  route  on  Long  Island  was  by  stage  that 


left  New  York  and  proceeded  along  the  north 
side  of  the  island  to  Riverhead,  and  thence  to 
Southold.  It  crossed  to  Shelter  Island  by  ferry, 
and  then  acroas  the  island  to  another  ferry  to 
Hog  Neck,  and  from  thence  to  Sag  Harbor  and 
East  Hampton.  It  then  returned  along  the  south 
side  of  Long  Island  to  New  York,  the  trip  tak- 
ing a  whole  week.  The  first  highway  officially 
located  on  Shelter  Island  was  in  October,  1828. 
It  commenced  at  the  Hog  Neck  ferry  and  extend- 
ed to  Fresh  Pond,  and  from  thence  to  what  was 
formerly  called  Boisseau's  ferry.  A  daily  mail 
by  way  of  Greenport  was  established  in  1854, 
and  a  telegraph  cable  was  laid  in  i860.  The  ferry 
between  the  north  shore  and  Greenport  was  in- 
corporated in  1868. 

In  1879  a  camp  meeting  association,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  200  acres  on  the  west  side  of 
Dering's  Harbor,  and  the  camp  meetings  held 
there  have  been  largely  attended. 

On  the  northeast  part  oi  the  island',  and  as  a 
part  of  the  estate  handed  down  to  the  descend- 
ants of  Brinley  Sylvester,  are  the  grounds  of  the 
Shelter  Island  Park  Association,  embracing  some 
two  hundred  acres  of  land,  purchased  from  Prof. 
Eben  G.  Horsford,  and  intended  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  a  magnificent  watering  place  and 
summer  resort.  The  tract  is  finely  located  and 
from  its  highest  elevation  the  view  extends  from 
Greenport  to  the  hills  of  Southampton  and  Mon- 
tauk  and  a  vast  expanse  of  ocean.  The  hotel 
was  built  here  in  1872,  and  the  Prospect  House, 
an  equally  favorite  resort,  was  built  in  the  pre- 
vious year. 


CHAPTER  XVIIl. 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 

The  Revolution. — The  War  of  1812. — The  War  for  the  Maintenance  of  the  Union. — 

The  Spanish-American  War. 


"l"lien  honor  to  the  brave  who  nobly  died, 
And  honor  to  the  men  who  by   their  side 

Survived  the  cannon's  hail 

With  hearts  that  did  not  quail 
When  all  our  country's  fate  was  cast 
For  life  or  death  in  War's  fierce  blast." 


iM 


O  wrote  Dr.  Epher  Whitaker — clergyman, 
antiquarian  and  authoi* — in  a  tribute  to 
the  patriot  soldier  during  the  Civil  war, 
and  his  fervent  verse  is  appropriate  meed 
of  praise  to  the  soldier  who  gave  to  his 
country  his  loyal  endeavor,  in  whatever  day  or 
generation. 

From,  the  beginning  of  her  history  Long  Isl- 
and contributed  her  full  share  to  the  fighting 
forces  of  the  countr}'',  and  provided  generously  of 
her  means  in  every  warlike  epoch.  During*  the 
old  Colonial  French  war,  when  the  mother  coun- 
try and  France  were  contending  for  the  posses- 
sion of  the  continent,  Major  Nathaniel  Wood- 
hull,  of  Mastic,  in  Suffolk  county ;  Colonel  Isaac 
Corsa,  of  Flushing,  and  Captain  Richard  Hew- 
lett and  others  led  Long  Island  troops  in  the  cam- 
paign under  Abercrombie  and  took  part  in  the 
capture  of  Frontenac. 

From  a  very  early  period  a  strong  militia 
force  was  maintained  upon  the  island  for  home 
defence.  In  1693  the  enrolled  militia  of  Kings 
county  number  319  rank  and  file,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt :  the 


militiamen  of  Queens  county  numbered  580,  un- 
der command  of  Colonel  Thomas  Willett;  and 
those  of  Suffolk  county  numbered  533,  command- 
ed by  Colonel  John  Young — a  veritable  little 
army  (as  provincial  armies  went  in  those  days) 
of  1,432  men,  very  nearly  one-half  of  the  able- 
bodied  men  in  the  province.  In  1700  the  militia- 
men in  the  various  counties  were  as  follows : 
Kings  county,  280 ;  Queens  county,  601 ;  and 
Suffolk  county,  614.  In  that  year  the  official  re- 
turns gave  the  list  of  officers  of  the  three  regi- 
ments, and  among  those  named  are  many  whose 
descendants  bore  a  prominent  part  in  other  and 
later  wars,  besides  bearing  a  full  and  noble  part  in 
peaceful  pursuits  and  in  the  establishment  of  the 
institutions  of  civilization.  This  honorable  roster 
appears  in  the  appendix  to  this  volume. 

This  martial  spirit  was  well  understood  and 
appreciated  by  the  leaders  on  both  sides — the 
patriots  and  royalists — when  the  Revolutionary 
war  broke  out,  and  its  existence  accounts  in  a 
great  measure  for  the  importance  which  Long 
Island  assumed  during  that  struggle.  No  mere 
yokels  were  the  island  lads.  They  were 
well  able  to  handle  their  piece,  and  if  their  tac- 
tical movements  were  awkward  from  a  military 
view-point,  they  understood  the  utility  of  cohe- 
siveness,  and  rendered  a  willing  obedience  to  their 
officers.      Besides,   they   formed   a    force   which 


464 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


either  army  would  gladly  combine  with  its  own. 
Again,  the  ground  to  which  they  belonged  was  a 
vantage  point  for  either  American  or  Briton.  It 
was  an  important  approach  to  New  York.  The 
Continental  generals  recognized  its  armsbearing 
populace  as  a  fighting  force  well  worth  the  win- 
ning, and  the  British  chieftains  fully  realized  that 
if  not  already  won  to  the  rebel  cause  it  should 
be  prevented  from  being  serviceable  as  far  as 
possible.  And  this  idea  on  the  part  of  the  British 
accounts  for  much  of  the  completeness  and  se- 
verity of  "the  occupation"  from  the  date  of  the 
battle  O'f  Brooklyn  until  the  sun  went  down  upon 
the  last  vessel  flying  the  royal  standard  on  the 
day  when  New  York  was  evacuated,  and  the 
American  authority  was  established. 

in  large  measure  the  British  effort  was  suc- 
cessful. By  the  isolation  of  the  Long  Islanders 
when  the  war  was  really  begun,  their  fighting 
strength  w^as  rendered  of  little  avail,  and  their 
divided  councils  practically  made  the  entire  isl- 
and a  prey  to  official  or  military  or  thieving  Tory 
or  to  Whig  freebooter  alike.  And  so  the  isl- 
and suffered  terribly  and  the  suffering,  like  the 
rains  from  heaven,  fell  alike  upon  the  just  and 
upon  the  unjust — upon  the  patriot  and  upon  the 
royalist.  It  was  many  years  before  the  damage 
was  reducible  to  money  values.  Silas  Wood  es- 
timated that  the  loss  sustained  by  the  Long  Isl- 
anders during  the  British  occupation  was  a  half 
million  dollars — certainly  a  very  low  estimate. 
But  the  hardest  blow  administered  to  the  people 
came  after  -peace  had  been  declared,  when  the 
New  York  legislature  taxed  them  $195,000  (of 
which  the  share  of  Suffolk  county  was  nearly 
$50,000)  for  not  having  been  in  a  condition  to 
take  "an  active  part  in  the  war  against  the  en- 
emy." Thus,  so  comments  Dr.  Prime,  *'their  mis- 
fortune was  interpreted  a  crime;  and  because 
they  did  not  emancipate  themselves  from  a  mighty 
army  to  whose  power  the  whole  Continental 
force  had  abandoned  them  in  the  very  commence- 
ment of  the  contest,  they  must  be  subjected  to  a 
very  heavy  fine ;  and  after  being  pillaged  by  a  re- 
morseless enemy  and  tortured  by  their  presence 
for  six  gloomy  years,  they  must  be  taxed  to  re- 
pair the  losses  of  those  who  had  been  subjected 


to  occasional  depredations."    But  this  is  in  media 
res,  and  we  must  return  to  the  beginning. 

The  people  of  Long  Island  seem  to  have  been 
fairly  divided  when  the  great  question  which  the 
W^ar  of  the  Revolution  decided  first  began  to  as- 
sume a  critical  phase.  They  were  loud  in  their 
protestation  against  the  misgovernment  and  the 
stupidity  which  brought  the  matter  of  separa- 
tion to  an  issue,  but,  when  the  time  came  tO'  take 
the  step  one  way  or  the  other  which  was  to  de- 
termine her  position,  many  seem  to  have  hesi- 
tated. 

March  6,  1766,  a  town  meeting  was  held  in 
Oyster  Bay,  at  which  the  following  stirring  pro- 
test against  the  stamp  act  was  drawn  up  and 
addressed  to  "The  Committee  of  the  Sons  of  Lib- 
erty in  New  York :'' 

"Gentlemex  :  By  order  of  a  committee  of 
the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  Oyster  Bay  we  are  to 
acquaint  }'ou  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
on  Saturday,  February  22nd,  1766,  it  was  unani- 
mously agreed  and  resolved : 

'T.  That  the  person,  crown,  and  dignity  of 
our  rightful  sovereign  King  George  'III.  with 
all  his  just  and  legal  rights  of  government,  we 
will  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  support,  main- 
ain,  and  defend. 

"II.  That  the  liberties  and  privileges  which 
we  as  Englishmen  have  still  enjoyed,  particu- 
larly those  of  being  taxed  by  representatives  of 
our  own  choosing'  and  being  tried  by  our  own 
juries,  we  will  also  support,  maintain,  and  de- 
fend. 

'TIL  That  the  late  Stamp  Act  is  destructive 
of  these  our  liberties,  and  is  by  us  deemed  to 
be  arbitrary  and  unconstitutional;  that  as  such 
we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  endeavor  to 
oippose  and  suppress  the  same. 

"IV.  That  the  measures  which  you  have 
taken  and  the  several  noble  efforts  you  have  made 
in  vindication  of  the  general  cause  of  liberty  we 
do  heartily  approve  of,  and  that  with  our  lives 
and  fortunes  we  stand  ready  to  assist  you  in  the 
same. 

"V  That  the  committee  now  chosen  do  sig- 
nify these  our  resolutions  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty 
at  New  York,  and  elsewhere  as  they  may  think 
proper;  that  the  said  committee  do  for  the  future 
keep  up  appointed  meetings.,  as  may  be  thought 
necessary,  at  the  house  of  George  Weeks,  in  Oys- 
ter  Bay,   and  maintain   a   correspondence    with 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


465 


your  committee,  in  Avhich  we  expect  your  con- 
currence." 

This  shows  that  the  good  people  of  Oyster 
Bay  were  not  afraid  to  expre&s  their  views  in 
plain  language;  but  when  the  question  of  separa- 
tion came  before  them  in  1775  they  were  em- 
phatically opposed  to  it.  At  the  annual  town 
meeting  that  year  the  clerk,  Samuel  Townsend, 
stated  that  he  had  received  a  letter  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  in  New  York  recommending 
that  the  people  of  Oyster  Bay  should  get  to- 
gether and  elect  deputies  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
^vention.  The  letter  and  its  purport  were  dis- 
cussed at  considerable  length,  some  urging  the 
immedia-te  election  of  deputies,  some  advocating 
delay,  and  still  others  contending  that  the  matter 
should  be  left  severely  alone.  The  whole  dis- 
cussion finally  resolved  itself  into  the  simple 
question  whether  or  not  deputies  should  be  se- 
lected, and,  \\hen  the  vote  was  taken,  it  was 
found  that  205  had  voted  against  deputies  and 
only  42  were  in  favor  of  sending  them.  But  when 
the  result  was  declared,  th-e  minority,  who  were 
enthusiastic  and  active  in  the  furtherance  of  their 
views,  at  once  met  -together  and  elected  a  deputy 
in  the  person  of  Zebulon  Williams.  Field,  the 
historian  of  the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  characterizes 
the  entire  proceedings  as  a  bit  of  adroit  politics. 
However  that  Inay  be,  \Mllianis  went  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  and  was  accepted  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  Oyster  Bay.  He  bore  with  him  the 
following  document : 

"Wlieruas  the  unhappy  dispute  between  the 
mother  country  and  the  American  colonies,  we 
humbly  conceive,  has  arisen  from  assumed  power 
claimed;  by  the  British  Parliament  to  pass  laws 
binding  on  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  and  hath 
given  us  great  uneasiness ;  and,  as  we  conceive, 
unanimity  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonies 
is  the  only  means  under  Providence  to  secure 
the  essential  rights  and  liberties  of  Englishmen; 
and,  in  order  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  different 
colonies  should  know  each  other's  sentiments  and 
form  general  plans  for  the  union  and  regulation 
of  the  whole,  it  is  necessary  there  should  be  dele- 
gates appointed  to  meet  in  general  Congress. 
And  whereas  the  committee  of  correspondence  of 
New   York    did   request   the   people   of   Queens 

30 


countv  to  choose  deputies,  in  consequence  thereof 
there  was  a  town  meeting  at  Oyster  Bay  on  April 
4th,  for  the  appointing  of  one  deputy;  but  there 
appearing  at  said  meeting  a  majority  against  it, 
yet  nevertheless  ;ve  the  subscribers,  freeholders 
of  Oyster  Bay,  being  determined  to  do  all  in  our 
power  to  keep  in  unity  with  you  and  the  colonies 
on  the  continent,  and  desirous  of  being  in  some 
measure  represented  at  the  general  Congress,  do 
hereby  appoint  Zebulon  Williams  as  our  deputy, 
giving  unto  him  full  power  to  act  in  our  behalf 
in  the  premises  aforesaid.  In  confirmation 
whereof  we  have  set  our  hands,  respectively: 

''George  Townsend,  Micajah  Townsend,  Will- 
iam Seainan,  David  Layton,  George  Bennet, 
Joseph  Carpenter,  John  Schenck,  Peter  Hegeman, 
James  Townsend,  Jr.,  John  Wright,  Gilbert 
Wright,  Richard  Weeks,  James  Townsend,  Wm. 
Townsend,  Prior  Townsend,  Wm.  Latting,  B. 
Latting,  Joseph  Thorney  Craft,  William  Hop- 
kins, Joseph  Coles,  Albert  Albertson,  John  Luis- 
ter.  Rem  Hegeman,  Samson  Crooker,  Jacobus 
Luister,  Albert  Van  Nostrand,  Jotham  Town- 
send,  William  Laton,  Jr.,  William  Laton,  Peter 
Mutty  (x  mark),  Benjamin  Rushmore,  William 
Wright,  John  Carpenter,  James  Farley  (captain)^ 
Samuel  Hare,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Birdsall,  Joseph 
Doty,  Isaac  Bogart,  Samuel  Townsend,  Gideon 
Wright,  Gilbert' Hare,  Benjamin  Townsend,  Jo- 
siah  Lattin." 

Fmboldened  by  their  success,  the  combined 
results  of  patriotism  and  politics,  the  Whig  ele- 
ment at  once,  on  learning  of  their  recognition  by 
the  Provincial  Congress,  proceeded  to  carry  out 
their  plans  with  a  high  hand.  The  Tory  Jus- 
tices, Thomas  Smith,  John  Hewlett  and  Johrt 
Townsend,  protested  against  the  rather  high- 
handed doings  at  a  town  meeting ;  but  in  Decem- 
ber, T775,  they  and  twenty-six  others  were  sum- 
moned before  the  Provincial  Congress  to  explain 
their  attitude,  and  a  significant  fact  is  that  when 
the  Oyster  Bay  company  of  militia  was  ordered 
to  repair  to  headquarters  there  were  more  delin- 
quents— they  should  hardly  be  called  deserters 
— marked  on  the  roll  than  the  number  of  those 
who  personally  responded. 

The  people  of  Hempstead  seem  to  have  been 
averse  to  stringent  measures,  as  is  shown  by  the 
following  resolutions  adopted  by  the  inhabitants 
April  4,  1775: 

''First,  That,  as  we  have  already  borne  true 


466 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


and  faithful  allegiance  to  his  MajestyKing  George 
the  Thir3,  our  gracious  and  lawful  sovereign,  so 
wc  are  firmly 'resolved  to  continue  in  the  same 
line  of  duty  to  him  and  his  lawful  successors,"  etc. 

Notwithstanding  these  resolutions,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  freeholders  of  the  county,  held  at  Jamaica, , 
May  22,  1775,  Thomas  Hicks  and  Captain  Rich- 
ard Thorne  were  elected  to  represent  Hempstead 
in  the  Provincial*  Congress,  and  on  June  26, 
Thomas  Hicks,  of  Little  N-eck,  elected  for  Hemp- 
stead, declined  taking  his  seat  "because  he  wa-S' 
informed  by  several  leading  men  that  the  people 
of  Hempst-ead  seemed  much  inclined  to  remain 
peaceable  and  quiet." 

Notwithstanding  its  far  distance  from  the 
early  scenes  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  Suf- 
folk county  gave  evidence  of  its  patriotism  and 
devotion  to  the  principles  of  liberty  from  the 
very  beginning.  In  nearly  all  towns,  and  neigh- 
borhoods meetings  were  held  and  resolutions  were 
adopted  expressive  of 'the  sympathy  of  the  peo- 
ple with  those  who  had  already  suffered,  and  of 
their  readiness  to  aid  them  in  their  resistance 
to  oppression.  A  committee  of  correspondence 
was  formed  from  the  various  towns,  and  this 
body  met  at  Riverhead  on  November  15,  1774, 
and  adopted  the  following: 

'^Fotcd,  That  we  recommend  it  to  the  several 
towns  in  this  county  that  they  set  forward  a 
subscription  for  the  emploMiient  and  relief  of  the 
distressed  poor  in  the  town  of  Boston,  toi  be  col- 
lected in  such  manner  as  the  committees  in  each 
town  shall  judge  proper,  to  be  in  readiness  to  be 
forwarded  early  next  spring. 

"Voted,  Hiat  John  Foster  have  the  care  of 
procuring  a  vessel  to  call  at  the  several  harbors 
m  this  county,  to  receive  and  carry  the  above  do- 
nations to  iloston. 

''Voted,  That  we  fully  approve  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  and 
recommend  it  to  the  committees  of  the  different 
towns  to  see  that  the  association  l^y  them  entered 
into  on  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  constitu- 
ents be  strictly  observed. 

"Ezra   L'Hommedieu,   Clerk.'' 

The  committees  representing  Huntington, 
Smithtown,  Islip  and  Southampton,  with  some 
prominent  individuals  from  Brookhaven,  met  in 
convention  at  Smithtown,  on  February  23,  1775, 


and  adopted  resolutions  approving  the  action  of 
the  late  Continental  Congress,  and  urging  it  upon 
the  representatives  of  the  county  in  the  Assembly 
to  aid  in  the  appointment  of  delegates  from  that 
body  to  the  Continental  Congress  which  was  to 
convene  in  Philadelphia  in  the  following  May. 
The  Assembly  failing  to  appoint  delegates,  the 
committees  of  the  various  towns  assembled  in 
Riverhead  on  April  6th  and  appointed  Colonel 
William  Floyd,  Colonel  Nathaniel  Woodhull, 
Colonel  Phineas  Fanning,  Thomas  Treadwell 
and  John  S.  Hobart  to  represent  Suffolk  coun- 
ty in  a  provincial  convention  called  to  select  dele- 
gates. 

In  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York, 
which  convened  Alay  22d,  Suffolk  county  was 
represented  by  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  John  S.  Ho- 
bart,  Thomas  Treadwell,  John  Foster,  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,  Thomas  Wickham,  James  Ha- 
vens, and  Selah  Strong.  In  compliance  with  the 
recommendations  of  this  body,  county  and  town 
committees  were  appointed  to  conduct  public  af- 
fairs, and  government  was  thus  administered  un- 
til the  State  organized  for  that  task  in  1777. 

In  the  second  Provincial  Congress  of  New 
York,  which  met  December  6,  1775,  and  the  third, 
which  met  in  May,  1776,  Suffolk  county  was  rep- 
resented by  John  S.  Hobart,  Thomas  Treadwell, 
Selah  Strong.  Nathaniel  Woodhull.  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu^  David  Gelston,  Thomas  Wickham  and 
Daniel  Brown.  William  Floyd,  of  Suffolk  coun- 
ty, was  one  of  the  four  delegates  from  New 
York  in  the  Continental  Congress  which  adopted 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  he  ap- 
pended 'his  signature  to  that  immortal  document. 
In  the  fourth  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York, 
W'hich  assembled  on  July  9,  1776,  Suffolk  coun- 
ty was  represented  by  Nathaniel  Woodhull.  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu.  John  S.  Hobart,  Burnet  Miller, 
Thomas  Dering,  David  Gelston,  William  Smith 
and  Thomas  Treadwell.  They  were  instructed 
by  their  constituents  to  "establish  a  new  form 
of  government,''  which  was  accomplished  in  the 
organization  of  the  State  in  the  following  year, 
the  Provincial  Congress  having  at  it's  head  dur- 
ing these  stirring  scenes,  that  sterling  patriot 
General  Nathaniel  Wood'hull. 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


467 


Among  the  representatives  from  Suffolk  coun- 
ty in  the  Continental  Congress  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary period  were  William  Floyd,  1774-1782; 
Ezra  L'Hommediett,  1779-1783;  and  Zephaniah 
Piatt,  1785.  In  the  convention  which  assembled 
at  Poughkeepsie  on  June  17,  1778,  Suffolk  coun- 
ty was  represented  by  Henry  Scudder,  John 
Smith,  David  Hedges,  Jonathan  N.  Havens  and 
Thomas  Treadwell. 

The  story  of  Huntington  presents-  a  peculiar- 
ly stirring  picture  of  the  development  of  repub- 
lican principles  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty. ,        I 

The  annals  of  Huntington,  outside  of  a  law- 
suit or  two,  each  now  an  obsolete  story,  and  a  lit- 
tle grumbling  at  mucli  oi  the  Duke's  Laws,  might 
be  described  as  quiet  and  peaceful  until  the  ad- 
vent of  the  Revolution,  calling  for  the  recital  of 
nothing  more  than  purely  local  and  domestic  in 
point  of  interest.  But  then  the  history  of  the 
Revolutionary  movement  began  early  in  Hunting- 
ton. At  a  town  meeting  held  on  February  21, 
1670,  consideration  of  a  demand  b}-  Governor 
Lovelace  for  a  "contribution"  toward  the  cost  of 
repairing  the  fort  at  New  York  was  discussed 
with  the  following  emphatic  result :  "We  of 
the  town  of  Huntington  can  not  see  cause  to 
contribute  anything  toward  the  Repaireacon  of 
the  forte  for  these  following  reasons :  First, 
because  we  conceive  we  are  deprived  of  the  lib- 
erties of  Englishmen  ;  secondly,  we  conceive  we 
have  little  or  no  benefits  of  the  law ;  thirdly,  we 
can  not  conceive  of  any  benefit  or  safety  we  can 
expect  from  the  fort ;  fourthly,  we  find  ourselves 
so  much  disenabled  by  manifold  troubles  when 
we  thought  ourselves  in  peace  that  we  can  not 
imparte  with  any  such  disbursement."  A  copy 
of  all  this  was  sent  to  Lovelace,  and  he  pro- 
nounced it  "scandalous,  illegal  and  seditious," 
and  had  the  document  publicly  burned.  But 
Huntington  did  not  pay,  and  so  this  spirited 
protest  was  one  of  the  earliest  defiances  against 
^'taxation  without  representation,"  and  accom- 
plished its  purpose. 

This  meeting,  however,  was  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolutionary  movement  in  the  town. 
When  Governor  Andros  came  in  after   Colve's 


short  reign,  he  made  the  usual  array  of  glit- 
tering promises,  and  then  the  old  restrictions 
and  the  Duke's  laws  were  enforced  more  rigid* 
ly  than  ever.  The  town  meeting  protested,  An- 
dros sent  several  of  the  citizens  to  jail,  but  even 
that  did  not  cause  the  grumbling  to  cease.  Cov- 
entor Dongan  tried  to  pacify  every  one  by  call- 
ing a  meeting  of  deputies  at  New  York,  but  the 
meeting  accomplished  nothing  practical.  Don- 
gan pretended  he  saw  a  weakness  in  the  old 
patents  of  Huntington,  and  directed  a  new  one 
to  be  made.  It  was  drawn  up  in  such  a  way  as 
to  meet  the  views  of  the  local  authorities,  and 
in  their  fullness  of  heart  they  offered  to  pay 
£20  for  the  document,  but  Dongan  fixed  the 
price  at  £29  4s  6d,  and  this  was  eventually  paid 
with  much  grumbling.  When  the  "Glorious 
Revolution"  of  1688  sent  Governor  Slaughter  to 
these  shores,  a  greater  need  of  liberty  followed, 
and  popular  representation  in  the  affairs  of  gov- 
ernm'cnt  was  no  longer  a  dead  letter,  but  after- 
ward the  blindness  of  Parliament  and  the  un- 
fitness of  many  of  the  royal  governors  gradually 
aroused  the  spirit  of  opposition  and  led  to  re- 
volt. In  this  Huntington  was  outspoken  from 
the  first,  and  was  most  pronounced  and  de- 
termined in  its  adoption  of  the  patriotic  cause. 
At  a  town  meeting  held  June  21,  1774,  it  was 
declared  among  other  things: 

"That  every  freeman's  property  is  absolutely 
his  own,  and  no  man  has  a  right  to  take  it  from 
him  without  :his  consent,  expressed  either  by 
himself  or  his  representatives. 

"That,  therefore,  all  taxes  and  duties  imposed 
on  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  the  American  col- 
onies by  the  authority  of  Parliament  are  wholly 
unconstitutional  and  a  plain  violation  of  the  most 
essential  rights  of  British  subjects. 

"That  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  our  breth- 
ren of  Boston  are  now  suffering  in  the  common 
cause  of  British  America. 

"That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  that 
the  most  effectual  means  of  obtaining  a  speedy 
repeal  of  said  acts  will  be  to  break  off  all  com- 
mercial intercourse  with  Great  Britain,  Ireland 
and  the  West  India  colonies. 

"And  we  hereby  declare  ourselves  ready  to 
enter  into  these  or  such  other  measures  as  shall 
be  agreed  upon  by  a  general  congress  of  all  the 
colonies." 


468 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


There  was  thus,  so  far  as  the  surface  mdi- 
cations  go,  no  thought  of  separation;  but  as 
events  unfolded  themselves  and  militia  com- 
panies were  formed  'and  drilled,  independence 
became  the  issue  and  one  hundred  pounds  of 
gunpowder  was  sent  by  the  Provincial  Congress 
to  Huntington  in  September,  1775.  On  June 
29,  1776,  a  local  war  committee  was  chosen, 
consisting  of  Joshua  Ketcham,  John  Buffet, 
Piatt  Conklin,  Piatt  Carll,  Josiah  Wood,  Wil- 
mot  Oakley,  Jesse  Brush,  Timothy  Ketcham, 
Gilbert  Fleet,  Richard  Conklin,  Jonas  Rogers, 
Thomas  Wicks,  Benjamin  Y.  Prime,  Timothy 
Conklin,  Solomon  Ketcham,  David  Ru'sco-,  Hen- 
ry Smith,  Gilbert  Potter.  The  enrolling  and 
drilling  of  the  troops  continued,  and  prepara- 
tions were  zealously  prosecuted  for  meeting  the 
armed  crisis  which,  it  was  felt,  was  near  at  hand. 
In  a  general  appendix  to  the  story  of  Suffolk 
county,  the  names  of  all  her  military  heroes 
are  given,  so  there  is  no  need  of  mentioning 
any  of  them  here,  but,  on  January  24th,  Chair- 
man William'  Smith,  of  the  Suffolk  committee, 
estimated  the  county's  militia  as  2,000  men.  On 
July  5,  1776,  Congress  sent  one  thousand  pounds 
of  powder  tO'  the  Huntington  committee.  By 
that  time  the  immortal  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence had  been  launched,  and  the  fiat  had  gone 
forth  that  ''these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of 
right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States." 
On  July  22d  the  edict  of  independence  was  cele- 
brated in  Huntington  amid  much  rejoicing.  A 
letter  from  there,  written  the  day  after  and  pub- 
lished in  Holt's  "New  York  Journal,"  tells  the 
story : 

"Yesterd-ay  the  freedom  and  independence  of 
the  thirteen  United  Colonies  was,  with  beat  of 
drum,  proclaimed  at  the  several  places  of  parade, 
by  reading  the  Declaration  of  the  General  Con- 
gress, together  with  the  resolutions  of  our  pro- 
vincial convention  thereupon ;  Avhich  were  ap- 
proved and  applauded  by  the  animated  shouts  of 
the  people,  who  were  present  from  all  the  dis- 
tant quarters  of  this  district.  After  which  the 
flag  used  to  wave  on  the  liberty  pole,  having 
Liberty  on  one  side  and  George  III  on  the  other, 
und(2rwent  a  reform,  i.  e.,  the  union  was  cut  off, 
and  the  letters  "George  III"  were  discarded,  be- 


ing publicU^  ripped  off;  and  then  an  effigy  of  the 
personage  represented  by  those  letters,  being 
hastily  fabricated  out  of  base  materials, 'with  its 
face  black  like  Dunmore's  Virginia  (negro)  regi- 
ment^ its  head  adorned  with  a  wooden  crown, 
and  its  head  stuck  full  of  feathers,  like  Carleton's 
and  Johnson's  savages,  and  its  body  wrapped  in 
the  union  instead  of  a  blanket  or  robe  of  state, 
and  lined  with  gunpowder,  which  the  original 
seems  to  be'  fond  of — the  whole,  together  with 
the  letters  above  mentioned,  was  hung  on  a  gal- 
lows, exploded  and  burnt  to  ashes.  In  the  eve- 
ning the  committee  of  this  town,  with  a  large 
num'ber  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  sat  around 
the  genial  board,  and  drank  thirt-een  patriotic 
tbasts,  among  whic'h  were:  The  free  and  inde- 
pendent States  of  America,  the  General  Congress, 
The  Convention  of  the  Thirteen  States,  Our 
Principal  Military  Commanders,  and  Success  and 
Enlargement  of  the  American  Navy.  Nor  was 
the  mc^mory  of  our  late  brave  heroes  who  have 
gloriously  lost  their  lives  in  the  caus-e  of  liberty 
and  their  country  forgotten." 

Smithtown,  when  the  war  for  independence 
began,  had  a  population  of  555  whites  and  161 
negroes.  Town  meetings  had  been  held  at  least 
from  1715,  when  the  existing  records  commence, 
but  they  had  very  little  to  discuss  except  sur- 
veys., ear-marks,  highways,  the  "disposition  of 
the  claims  in  Stony  Brook  Harbour,"  and  the 
lil^-e.  until  the  time  of  the  great  crisis  was  at 
hand.  Living  to  a  great  extent  by  themselves, 
making  their  own  little  laws,  and  apparently  re- 
gardless O'f  whether  the  continent  was  in  the- 
hands  of  the  English,  the  Dutch  or  the  Con- 
tinentals, one  would  have  thought  that  the  in- 
terest of  Smithtown  in  the  Revolutionary  move- 
ment would  have  been  passive.  But  the  oppo- 
site was  the  case,  and  nowhere  on  Long  Island 
was  there  to  be  found  a  greater  proportion  of 
patriots.  In  fact,  when  the  time  came  for  men 
to  declare  themselves,  only  fi.'fteen  Loyalists  were 
to  be  found  in  the  town.  At  a  town  meeting 
in  1774  the  position  of  the  people  was  clearly 
stated,  and  its.  representative  in  the  Provincial 
Congress,  Thomas  Treadwell,  was  one  of  the 
most  outspoken  and  determined  patriots  in  that 
body. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  struggle  for  lib- 
erty, the  people  of  East  Hampton,  although  iso- 


IN   TIMES  OF  WAR. 


469 


lated  from'  the  center  of  events,  eagerly  watched 
every  movement  in  the  impending  struggle,  and, 
when  the  crisis  came,  the  people  were  unanimous 
in  favor  of  a  change.  As  early  as  June,  1774, 
a  meeting  was  held  and  the  people  declared  by 
resolution : 

"ist.  A^oted,  That  we  will  to  the  utmost  of 
our  abilities  assert,  and  in  a  lawful  manner  de- 
fend the  liberties  and  immunities  of  British 
America ;  that  we  will  co-operate  with  our  breth- 
ren in  this  colony  in  such  measures  as  shall  ap- 
pear best  adapted  to  save  us  from  the  burdens  we 
bear  and  in  a  measure  already  feel,  from  the 
principles  adopted  by  the  British  Parliament  re- 
specting the  town  of  Boston  in  particular  and  the 
British  coilonies  in  North  America  in  general. 

"2d.  Voted,  That  a  non-importation  agree- 
ment through  the  colonies  is  the  most  likely 
means  to  save  us  from  the  present  and  future 
troubles. 

"3d.  \^oted.  That  John  Chatfield,  Esq.,  Col. 
Abm.  Gardiner,  Burnet  Miller,  Stephen  Hedges, 
Thos.  Wickham,  Esq.,  John  Gardiner,  Esq.,  and 
Daniel  Mulford  be  a  standing  committee  for 
keeping  up  a  correspondence  with  the  city>  of 
New  York  and  the  towns  of  this  colony,  and,  if 
there  is  occasion,  with  other  colonies,  and  that 
they  transmit  a  copy,  of  these  votes  to  the  com- 
mittee of  correspondence  of  New  York. 

"\'oted  unanimously,  not  one  dissenting  voice. 
Burnet  Miller^  Clerk." 

The  feeling  is  clearly  shown  by  the  fact  that 
when  the  Provincial  Congress  sent  out  what  were 
called  articles  of  association  to  the  various  com- 
munities, every  adult  signed  the  copy  received. 
The  document  is  well  worthy  of  a  place  in 
the  annals  of  the  township.  It  is,  in  efifect,  as 
follows : 

Persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  America  depends,  under  God,  on  the 
firm  union  of  its  inhabitants  in  a  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  the  measures  necessary  for  its  safety, 
and  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  preventing  an- 
archy and  confusion,  which  attend  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  powers  of  Government,  we  the  free- 
men, freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  East  Hamp- 
ton *  *  *  do  associate,  under  all  the  ties  of 
religion,  honor  and  love  to  our  country,  to  adopt 
and  endeavour  to  carry  into  execution  whatever 
measures   may  be   recommended   by   the   Conti- 


nental Congress  or  resolved  upon  by  our  Pro- 
vincial Convention,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
our  constitution  and  opposing  the  execution  of 
the  several  arbitrary  and  oppressive  acts  of  the 
British  Parliament,  until  a  reconciliation  between 
Great  Britain  and  America  on  constitutional 
principles  (which  we  most  ardently  desire)  can 
be  obtained ;  and  that  we  will  in  all  things  follow 
the  advice  of  our  general  committee  respecting 
the  purposes  aforesaid,  the  preservation  of  peace 
and  good  order  and  the  safety  of  individuals  and 
private  property. 

The  people  of  Southold  were  no  laggards 
when  the  distant  horizon  bore  its  tokens  of  im- 
pending war.  As  early  as  1774  Ezra  L'Hom- 
medieu  was  clerk  of  a  meeting  held  in  River- 
head,  called  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  funds 
''for  the  relief  of  the  distressed  poor  in  the  town 
of  Boston."  L'Hommedieu  was  one  of  the  'most 
ardent  patriots  and  capable  leaders  of  the  times. 
In  1775  be  was  a  delegate  in  the  Provincial 
Congress,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Assembly 
until  the  end  of  the  war,  and  he  was  an  in- 
spiring agent  in  all  patriotic  movements  in 
Southold  as  well  as  throughout  the  county.  In 
November,  1775,  JMoses  Case  was  commissioned 
captain,  and  tradition  has  it  that  he  and  his 
companions  wore  upon  their  hats  the  words 
"Liberty  or  Death."  A  company  was  organ- 
ized for  Colonel  Josiah  Smith's  regimient,  early 
in  August,  1776,  and  in  the  same  month  the 
Southold  Committee  of  Safety  expended  nearly 
.■£2S  for  the  mounting  of  four  cannon  "for  the 
protection  of  the  east  end  of  Long  Island." 

At  Southampton,  the  people  were  ripe  for 
the  great  revolt,  and  its  principal  men  took  a 
leading  part  in  arraying  theni  for  the  coming 
fray.  Thomas  Cooper  and  Dr.  Silas  Halsey 
were  the  committeemen,  and  they  led  in  various 
movements  for  the  relief  of  the  people  of  Bos- 
ton, "suffering  from  the  effects  of  the  Port 
Bill,"  and  for  the  organization  of  companies 
of  militia  men.  In  1775,  so  tradition  has  it, 
Captain  Hurlburt,  a  resident  of  Eridgehamp- 
ton,  after  the  close  of  a  Sunday  morning  service, 
stood  at  the  church  door  and  made  an  appeal  to 
the  people,  caUing  upon  them  to  rally  for  the  de- 
fense of   their  liberties,   with   the  result   that  a 


470 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


company  was  formed  'before  the  day  had  closed, 
and  others  were  subsequently  organized. 

As  a  voice  from  the  glorious  past  is  the  fol- 
lowing taken  from  a  newspaper  printed  at  a 
somewhat  later  time : 

''Southampton,  Suffolk  County,  New  York, 
July  23,  1776. — Last  Monday  afternoon,  (July 
22'd)  was  exhibited  to  view  in  this  town  a  very 
agreeable  prospect.  The  old  gentlemen,  grand- 
fathers, to  the  age  of  seventy  years  and  upwards, 
met,  agreeably  to  appointment,  and  formed  them- 
selves into  an  Independent  Company.  Each  man 
was  well  equipped  with  a  good  musket,  powder, 
ball,  cartridges,  etc.,  and  unanimously  made 
choice  of  Elias  Pellctreau,  Esq.,  for  their  leader 
(with  other  suitable  officers),  who  made  a  very 
animating  speech  to  them  on  the  necessity  of 
holding  themselves  in  readiness  to  go  into  the 
field  in  time  of  invasion.  They  cheerfully  agreed 
to  it,  and  determined  at  the  risk  of  their  lives  to 
defend  the  Free  and  Independent  States  of  Amer- 
ica. May  such  a  shining  exiample  stimulate 
every  father  on  Long  Island  in  particular,  and 
America  in  general,  to  follow  their  aged  brethren 
here!" 

But  this  is  anticipating,  and  we  must  hark 
back  to  a  somewhat  earlier  time.  Events  had 
moved  rapidly,  and  early  in  1776  the  war  cloud 
was  about  to  break.  The  Committee  of  Safety 
at  New  York,  having  at  its  head  that  sterling 
patriot,  General  Nathaniel  WoodhuU,  was 
keeping  closely  in  touch  with  the  Whig  ele- 
ment, seeking  to  organize  it  for  effectual  re- 
sistance to  the  power  of  the  British  authority, 
whose  mailed  hand  was  now  upraised.  Among 
those  to  whom  the  committee  looked  with  par- 
ticular confidence  was  Josiah  Smith,  of  Smith- 
town,  who  was  one  oi  the  most  pronounced  and 
active  of  the  Whigs.  His  antecedents  have  al- 
ready been  noted  in  these  pages.  It  has  been 
the  habit  of  some  historians  to  pay  him  scant 
attention,  while  others  have  viewed  his  service 
with  absolute  contempt.  It  would  appear,  how- 
ever, that  he  was  of  greater  value  to  the  patriot 
cause  than  such  writers  would  have  us  believe. 

Early  in  1776  (February  8th),  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  proceeded  to,  organize,  in  the 
Colony  of  New  York,  four  battalions  for  de- 
fensive purposes,   an.d   Josiah   Smith,   chairman, 


and  the  members  of  the  Suffolk  County  Com- 
mittee, were  authorized  by  letter  to  raise  three 
companies  "to  prevent  depredations  on  Long 
Island."  July  20th  General  Woodhull  wrote  to 
Colonel  Josiah  Smith,  notifying  'him  that  the 
congress  had  called  out  one  quarter  of  the  mili- 
tia in  Suffolk,  Queens  and  Kings  counties  for 
the  defense  of  the  stock  and  inhabitants  of  Long 
Island,  and  have  "made  one  Regiment  of  the 
Whole  detachment,  and  have  appointed  You  to 
take  the  Command  of  it.  You  must  not  de- 
cline serveing,  as  You  Was  unanimously  ap- 
pointed to  the  Command." 

Under  this  authority  Colonel  Smith  organ- 
ized the  Suffolk  County  Regiment,  the  full 
roster  of  which  appears  in  the  appendix  to  this 
volume. 

A  side  light  upon  the  events  of  this  period  is 
afforded  by  old  family  correspondence  yet  ex- 
tant. The  call  to  arms  was  a  real  hardship  to 
the  .people.  A  letter  written  on  February  3, 
1776,  from  Bridgehampton,  by  Jonathan  Hedges^ 
to  Colonel  David  Mulford,  wherein  he  expresses 
the  dissatisfaction  of  the  minute-men,  in  their 
scattered  situations,  to  go  to  such  great  dis- 
tances in  order  to  attend  the  musters  and  drills 
of  their  companies.  Complaint  was  also  made 
as  to  the  meager  monthly  pay — to  a  colonel,  $50 ; 
a  captain,  $26.66;  a  lieutenant,  $18;  an  ensign, 
$13-33;  3-  sergeant  $8;  a  corporal,  drummer  and 
fifer,  $7.33  each;  and  a  private  $5. 

It  would  appear  that  about  the  same  time 
Colonel  Smith  assembled  his  militia,  John  Sands, 
one  oi  the  most  active  of  the  Whigs,  organized 
a  skeleton  regiment.  At  any  rate  he  was  known 
as  colonel,  and  was  so  addressed  by  Colonel 
Smith.  The  records,  however,  fail  to  associate 
his  name  with  any  regimental  organization,  but 
do  show  that  he  was  captain  of  the  Great  Neck 
and  Cow  Neck  company,  under  appointment 
made  October  12,  1775.  But  he  was  certainly 
in  evidence  as  a  commander  of  some  sort,  for. on 
July  29,  1776,  he  issued  the  following  order  to 
Jotham  Townsend,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  as 
directing  one  of  the  earliest  military  movements 
(if  not  the  earliest)  made  by  the  patriots  in  the 
interior  of  Long  Island : 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


471 


1.  You  are  to  take  command  of  the  recruits, 
and  march  them  down  to  Matinecock  Point, 
where  you  are  to  place  sentinels  in  the  most  ad- 
vantageous places  to  discover  the  enemy ;  like- 
wise to  be  very  careful  there  is  no  communica- 
tion to  the  ships  of  war.  Should  you  discover 
any  persons  attempting  it,  you  are  to  put  them 
under  guard.- 

2.  You  are  to  build  a  shelter  if  there  be  none 
convenient.  Should  you  want  any  materials, 
take  such  as  will  answer  your  purpose  best. 

3.  Charge  your  men  that  they  insult  nor 
abuse  any  of  the  inhabitants,  or  destroy  their 
effects. 

"4.  Should  you  discover  the  enemy  attempt- 
ing to  land,  you  are  to  send  off  express  to  me, 
and  order  the  owners  of  stock  to  drive  them  off 
with  all  expedition  on  the  Great  Plains. 

"5.  Should  any  of  your  men  disobey  orders, 
steal,  or  abuse  the  inhabitants,  you  are  tO'  put 
them  under  guard. 

"6.  Minute  down  daily  what  happens,  and 
make  a  return  Saturday  next  by  10  o'clock,  at 
my  house.  Jno.  Sands,  Col." 

And  Colonel  Sands  issued  the  following  sup- 
plementary order  to  Lieutenant  Townsend  on 
August  3dT 

"Should  you  discover  the  enemy  in  sight  you 
are  to  immediately  hoist  your  signal,  then  send 
off  your  express. 

"You  are  not  to  suffer  your  men  to  play  at 
cards,  dice,  or  any  unlawful  game,  nor  intoxicate 
themselves  with  strong  drink.  You  are  to  ob- 
serve that  no  small  craft  passes  and  repasses 
having  any  transient  persons  ot  negroes  on 
board.  Should  you  discover  any  you  are  to  take 
them  up.  If,  upon  examination,  you  find  them 
clear,  discharge  them ;  if  guilty,  put  them  under 
guard  till  discharged  by  the  town  committee. 
You  are  not  to  let  your  men  waste  their  cart- 
ridges by  firing  wantonly  at  game.  You  are  to 
exercise  your  men  four  hours  every  day." 

This  is  all  we  have  been  able  to  discover 
with  reference  to  Ciolonel  Sands'  regiment.  The 
assertion  has  been  made  that  it  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Brooklyn,  but  there  is  much  about  this 
story  that  is  not  very  clear,  and  its  presence  as 
an  organization  is  certainly  doubtful,  although 
it  is  presumable  that  sonie  of  the  members  were 
in  the  ranks  of  the  defending  forces. 

Resuming  the  principal  thread  of  our  story, 


and  quoting  the  historian  of  the  Battle  of 
Brooklyn,  "Suffolk  county  had  early  given  evi- 
dence of  its  hearty  zeal  for  republican  doctrines. 
Out  of  its  whole  population  of  freeholders  and 
adult  male  inhabitants,  numbering  2,834  between 
the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty,  only  236  were 
reckoned  as  being  of  loyalist  proclivities.  The 
enrolled  mihtia  of  the  county  exceeded  2,000, 
of  whom  393  ofificers  and  privates  were  in  the 
ranks  of  Colonel  Smith's  regiment,  the  best 
disciplined  and  armed  on  the  island.  It  was 
the  only  one  that  could  be  considered  in  any 
form  to  have  survived  the  shock  of  the  27th 
of  August,  and  only  a  small  part  even  of  this 
body  ever  did  service  after  that  fatal  day." 

On  August  8,  1776,  in  the  Convention;  of 
Representatives  of  New  York,  it  was  ordered 
that  Colonel  Josiah  Smith  immediateily  march 
all  his  new  levies  to  the  western  end  of  Nassau 
Island,  and  within  two  miles  of  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Greene's  encampment,  and  that  he  obey  such 
orders  as  he  may  receive  from  time  tO'  time  from 
that  officer.  The  next  day  (August  9th)  he  re- 
ceived by  carrier  from  General  Greene  the  fol- 
lowing order: 

"Camp  at  Brookland,  Aug.  9,  1776. 

"Sir:  Enclosed  are  the  resolutions  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  ordering  you  to  join  my 
brigade  immediately.  On  the  receipt  of  this  you 
will  march  the  troops  under  your  command'  im- 
mediately to  this  camp.  You  will  make  all  possi- 
ble expedition,  as  the  enemy  has  embarked  part, 
if  not  all,  the  troops  on  Staten  Island,  and  are 
making  dispositions  as  if  they  meant  to  land 
here.  You  will  send  out  scouts  and  parties  to 
get  intelligence.  If  the  enemy  should  make  their 
landing  good  on  any  part  of  the  island  and  hear 
of  vGur  coming  they  may.  send  out  a  party  to 
intercept  your  march.  Keep  good  front,  flank 
and  rear  guard  to  prevent  being  surprised. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 
"Nathan TEL  Greene. 
"Colonel  Josiah  Smith." 

The  part  taken  in  the  battle  by  this  regiment 
was  for  many  years  a  subject  of  controversy, 
and  some  investigators  questioned  if  it  was  really 
engaged.  But  about  1880  a  manuscript  diary 
of   Colonel    Smith    was    discovered   and   printed 


472 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


by  Mr.  William  S.  Pelletreau  in  his  "History 
of  the  Town  of  Southampton,"  and  the  nar- 
rative would  seem  to  indicate  the  regiment  as 
having  been  folly  as  serviceable  as  could  be  ex- 
pected under  the  chaotic  conditions. 

The  entries  made  by  Colonel  Smith  between 
July  23d  and  July  29th  contain  the  names  of 
officers  appointed  in  the  various  companies,  and 
note  that  he  sent  "expresses"  ordering  them  to 
assemble  their  men,  and  then  as  follows : 

30  I  was  at  Huntingtowne  &  Major  Jeffry 
Sffiiith  mustered  Capt.  John  Wickes  men,  and 
then  I  set  oute  with  Col.  Sands  and  JNIajor  Ram- 
son  to  Queens  County. 

31  I  went  downe  to  Watch  hill  to  see  the 
gard  that  (was)  at  the  bottom  of  Cow  neck. 

August  ye  i  1776  I  spent  in  viewing  a  proper 
place  to  Erect  another  gard  on  Great  Neck. 

2  J  set  oute  from  Col.  Sands  to  Suffolk 
county  oz  got  as  far  as  Capt.  Plats. 

3  I  wente  from  Capt.  Plats,  to  Capt.  Strongs 
and  staid  with  him  all  night. 

4  I  went  downe  to  South  to  meeting  and  went 
home. 

5  1  staid  at  home. 

6  I  staid  at  home. 

7  I  set  oute  Eastward  to  Southold  and  gave 
Capt.  Reeves  orders  and  Ingaged'  Major  Wick- 
hams  to  secure  the  stock  on  Robins  Island  from 
the  Enemy. 

8  I  spente  my  time  along  the  Oyster  ponds 
&  ordered  Lieutenant  Youngs  to  take  the  stock 
off  Plum  island,  and  I  staid  with  Col.  Terry  all 
night. 

9  I  wente  from  Oysterponds  to  Shelter  Isl- 
and and  from  thence  tO'  Sag  ITarbour  and  lodged 
with  Mr.  Foster. 

10  I  spent  at  Sag  Harbor  with  Col.  Liv- 
ingston and  a  number  of  the  principle  Inhabitants 
of  Shelter  Island  &  Southampton  &  then  went  up 
to  Southampton  &  there  met  an  Express  from  the 
Convention  directing  me  to  march  all  the  new 
levies  up  to  the  west  end  of  the  Island. 

11  I  and  Elias  Mathews  went  to  my  house, 
and  the  two  men  that  came  Express  Richard 
Buegan  and  John  Sacket. 

1.2!  We  set  oute  on  our  march  to  the  west 
end  of  the  Island  and  got  as  far  as  liunting- 
ton-nc. 

13  We  set  oute  from  'Huntingtowne  &  got 
to  Lieut  Encrease  Carpenters. 

14  We  went  Down  to  the  Ferry  to  General 
Greenes  and  I  took  up  Quarters  for  the  Regi- 
ment and  my  self  at  Keen  Cowenhovcn. 


15  I  spent  with  a  great  dele  of  trouble. 

16  I  spent  in  Camp  with  trouble. 

17  I  spent  in  Camp  with  trouble. 

18  Ditto. 

19  Ditto. 

20  Ditto. 

21  Ditto. 

22  The  Regulars  landed  below  Nue  L^trecht 
5000  and  1  with  my  Regiment  went  downe  to 
Flat  bush  and  \ve  went  within  a  small  distance  of 
the  Regulars  and  we  were  oute  all  night  and  our 
advance  killed  severall  of  them. 

2T,  We  continued  all  day  in  the  woods,  and 
there  was  an  incessant  fire  the  hull  day.  We 
killed  a  number  of  them  and  they  wounded  four 
of  us,  we  were  relieved  at  night  one  of  us  killed, 
(Note. — The  words  in  italics  are  crossed  out  in 
the  original  J. 

24  I  was  in  Camp  and  the  gards  wounded 
several  of  the  enemy  &  and  they  wounded  seven 
of  us  &  shot  Colonel  Martin  through  the  breast. 

25  I  was  oute  on  Sentry  in  the  woods  and 
staid  all  night,  &  it  was  a  Dreadful  thunder 
storm. 

26  We  was  relieved  of  guard  in  the  after- 
noon. 

27  We  was  alarmed  about  2  in  the  morn- 
ing and  we  had  many  skirmishes,  and  they  at- 
tempted to  force  our  lines,  and  they  killed  one 
of  my  men  &  we  suppose  that  wee  killed  a  num- 
ber of  them  &  wee  drove  them  back  and  lay  in 
the  trenches  all  niglu. 

28  We  lay  in  the  lines  all  day  &  it  was  an 
Exceeding  heavy  rain,  &  there  was  a  continual 
fire  kept  up  between  us  and  the  Regulars  all  day 
and  we  lay  in  the  lines  all  nite. 

29  W'e  lay  in  the  lines  until  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon  and  then  we  had  orders  to  march 
over  to  York,  and  we  staid  in  York  all  nite  and 
we  was  alarmed  aboute  2  in  the  morning  that  our 
army  was  leaving  our  lines  on  Long  Island. 

30  We  marched  to  Kingsbridge  or  West- 
chester. 

31  We  marched  to  Nue  Rochell  and  tried 
to  get  passage  by  water  to  the  Island  but  could 
not. 

September  i  We  marched  to  Mamaroneck  & 
there  we  embarked  on  bord  vessels  to  go  home 
&  about  II  o'clock  at  nite  I  got  ashore  at  Cap- 
tain Plats  at  Smithtowne. 

2  I  got  home  to-my  house. 

3  I  went  over  to  Southold  to  see  Col.  Liv- 
ingstone and  he  was  gone  over  to  new  England 
before  I  got  there. 

4  I  came  here  from  Southold. 

5  T  staid  at  home  sick. 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


473 


6  I*  went  to  Airs.  AA''oodhulls. 

7  I  heard  Col.  Livingstone  was  come  back 
to  Sag  Harbor  &  I  set  oute  to  go  there  &  when 
I  came  to  Davids  I  heard  he  was  at  Southold  & 
I  went  there  and  then  I  heard  he  and  all  his  men 
were  gone  to  New  England  &  I  came  home. 

Putting  the  principal  events  into  narrative 
form,  it  is  to  be  said  that  on  August  12,  1776, 
Colonel  Smith  marched  from  Smithtown  for 
Brooklyn,  picking  up  the  companies  of  his  regi- 
ment on  the  way.  Of  these,  Onderdonk  records 
that  only  the  companies  from  Southampton  and 
East  Hampton  were  "complete  in  arm's."  There 
seems  some  doubt  as  to  the  number  of  men  Smith 
took,  with  him  into  the  brief  campaign  which 
ended  in  the  retreat  of  the  Continental  forces 
from  Long  Island.  Mr.  Henry  P.  Johnston,  in 
his  "Campaign  of  1776,"  estimates  the  whole  at 
two  hundred  and  fifty,  but  other  authorities  seem 
to  think  this  an  underestimate.  The  only  rec- 
ord of  the  casualties  of  the  regiment  is  found 
in  the  dtary  quoted  above,  for  nothing  under 
this  head — killed,  w^ounded  or  prisoners — ap- 
pears in  the  reports  of  the  engagement  made, 
by  other  officers  on  either  side.  Colonel  Smith's 
regiment,  according  to  his  own  statement,  was 
engaged  with  the  enemy  near  Flatbush  on  three 
occasions  preceding  the  battle  of  Brooklyn.  On 
August  226.  "our  advance  killed  several  of  them-" 
(the  British).  On  August  23d  he  was  again 
engaged,  and  four  of  his  men  were  wounded; 
he  also  reports  one  man  killed,  but  this  entry 
is  erased.  On  Augu'st  24th  he  records  "they 
wounded  seven  of  us,"  but  it  is  not  clear  that 
this  refers  only  to  his  own  regiment.  On  the 
day  of  the  battle  (August  27th)  he  repoTts  one 
man  killed. 

That  the  regiment  was  in  poor  plight,  even 
before  the  battle,  is  attested  by  the  records.  On 
August  2 1st  the  Convention  of  the  Representa- 
tives of  the  State  of  New  York  recognized  that 
it  was  destitute  of  camp  equipage,  and  took 
measures  to  supply  the  deficiency.  At  the  same 
time  "there  being  no  adjutant  or  staff  officer," 
Colonel  Smith  was  authorized  to  appoint  an  ad- 
jutaxit  and  quartermaster,  and  to  recommend  to 


the  Convention  a  surgeon  for  the  same.  On 
the  24th  Colonel  Smith  issued  an  order  calling 
attention  to  the  flagrant  neglect  of  duty  on  the 
part  of  some  of  the  company  commanders,  and 
to  absence  of  officers  and  men  without  leave, 
and  cautions  them  that  these  offenses  will  be 
visited  by  report  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  of 
commissioned  officers,  and  by  imprisonment  and 
trial  by  court  martial  of  non-commissioned  of- 
ficers or  privates. 

On  August  29th  Colonel  Smith  and  his  regi- 
ment, in  compliance  with  orders,  marched  to 
New  York,  there  to  await  further  directions 
from  the  convention.  But,  according  to  Onder- 
donk, the  regiment  was  soon  disbanded  (proba- 
'bly  September  ist),  "the  Colonel  giving  leave 
for  every  man  to  shift  for  hini'self  in  getting 
their  families  and  effects  off  Long  Island."  This 
would  appear,  without  other  information  than 
that  conveyed  in  the  foregoing  simple  statement, 
an  inexcusable  proceeding  upon  the  part  of  a 
military  officer  of  so  high  rank  as  Colonel 
Smith.  But  there  is  room  for  much  allowance. 
The  probabilities  are  that  he  simply  counten- 
anced or  gave  sanction  to  what  was  already  a 
wholesale  desertion.  And,  again,  he  had  re- 
corded ( August  29th )  'his  alarm  in  learning 
that  "our  arm.}^  was  leaving  our  lines  on  Long 
Island,"  and  doubtless  he  considered  the  Revolu- 
tionary cause  hopelessly  lost — perhaps  from  the 
monient  when  his  ranks  were  broken  at  Brooklyn. 

Nor  were  the  men  greatly  blameable  under 
the  circumstances,  though  such  conduct  in  face 
of  an  enemy  would  usually  merit  death.  There 
was  little  cohesiveness  in  their  ranks,  and  discip- 
line was  necessarily  lax.  Besides,  they  were 
farmers  and  sons  of  farmers,  without  the  en- 
thusiasm begotten  of  marching  under  a  flag 
which  had  been  borne  victorio'Usly  upon  many  a 
glorious  battle  field,  and,  it  may  be  said,  without 
a  country  to  applaud  their  deeds  and  compensate 
them  for  their  sacrifices  and  sufferings.  And, 
it  is  presumable,  they  were  moved  by  a  con- 
sideration of  all-commanding  importance — fears 
for  the  safety  of  the  families  they  had  left,  now 
exposed  to  the  dreaded  presence  of  a  foe  flushed 


474 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


with  victory: — whom  they  would  protect,  as  far 
as  possible,  or  whose  sufferings  they  would 
share. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  Smith  and  his  men  be- 
took themselves  off,  and  incurred  a  new  danger 
in  theiir  journey.  The  Committee  of  Safety, 
in  session  at  Fishkill,  was  justly  indignant  at 
being  deprived  of  the  services  of  so  many  men 
(Remsen's  Queens  County  Regiment  had  been 
similarly  disbanded)  "without  permission  of  the 
State,"  and  ordered  *'that  General  Clinton  de- 
tain as  many  of  said  levies  as  possible,  even,  if 
they  produce  passes,  it  being  of  the  utmost  con- 
sequence that  so  large  a  number  of  armed  men 
should  not  be  added  to  the  enemy's  power  on 
Long  Island,  and  that  the  committees  of  West 
Chester,  Horse  Neck,  Stamford  and  Norwalk 
diligently  watch  all  boats  passing  from  the  main 
to  Long  Island." 

These  measures,  however,  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  particularly  efficacious,  and  the  sol- 
diers reached  their  homes,  where  the  greater 
number  of  them  acknowledged  alllegiance  to  the 
British  authorities  in  hope  of  saving  their  fam- 
ilies from  persecution  and  their  property  from 
confiscation.  Others,  not  a  few,  went  to  Fish- 
kill,  or  elsewhere',  and  joined  the  patriot  forces, 
with  which  they  marched  and  fought  until  the 
nation  was  established. 

As  to  Colonel  Smith:  It  does  not  appear 
that  he  ever  asked  for  a  court  of  inquiry  or  was 
ordered  before  a  court  martial,  and  he  certainly 
had  not  the  latter-day  opportunity  of  vindicat- 
ing himself  through  the  press  in  a  newspaper 
or  magazine  article.  But  he  cam^e  to  grief  at 
the  hands  of  the  British,  who  took  him  from  his 
home  at  Moriche:;  and  threw  him  into  the  pro- 
vost prison.  His  daughter  Hannah  was  a  greater 
s.ufferer  even  than  he,  for,  in  her  excursions  and 
exertions  to  procure  his  release,  sh-e  contracted 
a  cold  which  brought  on  a  deafness  from  which 
she  never  recovered.  Colonel  Smith  was  soon 
liberated,  but  did  not  afterward  perfonn  mili- 
tary service,  and  was  permitted  to  remain  at 
his  home  undisturbed.  He  was  treasurer  of 
Suffolk  county  from  1746  to  .1786,  when  he  died. 

After  the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  Colonel  Henry 


B.  Livingston,  who  had  been  stationed  at  South- 
old,  conceived  the  plan  of  rallying  all  the  militia 
of  the  county  for  an  attempt  to  rid  Long  Isl- 
and of  the  enemy.  His  audacity  and  courage 
however,  proved  ineffectual.  Many  of  the  mili- 
tia officers  had  taken  refuge  in  Connecticut,  and 
their  men,  left  without  leaders,  had  scattered 
to  seek  the  safety  of  their  famihes  and  them- 
selves. 

But  we  are  now  obliged  to  recur  to  a  prior 
period.  As  soon  as  it  was  evident  that  the  crisis 
was  at  hand,  and  that  Long  Island  was  to  be 
the  scene  of  actual  hostilities,  the  patriots  pro- 
ceeded to  stamp  out  the  opposition  to  their  cause, 
and  in  this  effort  none  was  more  persistent  and 
successful  than  was  Colonel  Sands.  He  raided 
the  country,  annoying  the  Tories  and  seeing  to  it 
that  they  were  ousted  from  all  public  offices, 
and,  in  brief,  he  introduced  what  was,  on  a  small 
scale.,  a  bloodless  (or  ahnost  so)  reign  of  ter- 
ror. In  this  he,  and  others  o>f  his  ilk,  had  the 
countenance  of  the  local  Committee  of  Safety, 
which  was  a  law  unto  itself.  Civil  law  prac- 
tically ceased  to  be  enforced,  and  the  committee 
exercised  all  powers  which  might  claims,  even 
to  the  oversight  of  persons  and  regulation  of 
their  coming  and  going.  Thus,  the  Southamp- 
ton Committee,  on  August  31,  1776,  issued  a 
written  license  permitting  Major  Uriah  Rogers, 
Captain  Zophar  Cooper,  Captain  Elias  Pelle- 
treau.  Captain  Jeremiah  Rogers,  Abraham 
Cooper  and  Henry  Herrick  to  remove  their 
families  for  safety  into  part  of  Connecticut,  but 
"not  absenting  themselves."  Many  of  the  Tories, 
in  order  to  escape  persecution,  went  into  hid- 
ing, but  on  August  12,  1776,  some  twenty  of 
them,  residents  of  Oyster  Bay,  were  arrested  and 
deported  to  Connecticut.  What  with  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  and  the  armed  bands  of  patri- 
ots, the  adherents  of  King  George  were  dread- 
fully harried. 

But,  following  the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  a 
change  came  o'er  the  spirit  of  their  dreams — 
both  patriot  and  loyalist.  Scarcely  had  the 
cannon  smoke  on  Gowanus  Heights  cleared 
away,  before  General  Erskine*s  proclamation  was 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


475 


circulated,  calling  upon  all  the  people  to  resume 
their  allegiance  to  the  crown,  this  to  the  great 
encouragement  of  the  royalists,  and  toi  the  cor- 
responding disheartenment  of  the  patriots.  Bet- 
ter for  the  one  and  worse  for  the  other,  the 
General's  pronunciamento  was  not  a  brutiini  ful- 
vicn,  for  he  had  British  sabers  and  bayonets  to 
eive  emphasis  to  the  meaning.  Colonel  Sands, 
the  master  of  Tory  hunters,  was  among  the 
first  to  come  to  grief,  seized  with  gleeful  haste, 
and,  with  other  Whigs,  hurried  off  to  prison. 
The  Committee  of  Safety,  then  at  Mattinicock, 
disbanded  in  haste,  and  some  of  them  departed 
in  haste  to  find  personal  security.  Joost  Mon- 
fort  ran  away,  but  to  the  British  camp,  to  give 
himself  up  to  General  Robertson,  who  handed 
him  a  certificate  of  loyalty  and  so  saved  him 
further  trouble.  Many  of  the  most  prominent 
patriots  and  the  wealthiest  sacrificed  their  prop- 
erty and  crossed  over  to  Connecticut,  and  among 
these  were  Colo'uel  David  Mulford,  Nathaniel 
Gardiner,  Abraham  Hand,  Jesse  Dayton,  John 
Mulford,  Aaron  Isaacs,  Jr.,  Elisha  Osborn,  Jere- 
miah Miller  and  Burnet  Miller.  Yet  others 
went  within  the  Continental  lines,  and  enrolled 
themselves  in  regiments  which  marched  with 
Washington.  Others,  too,  there  were,  who  took 
to  the  swamps  where  the  Tories  had  so  recently 
been  sheltered,  and  it  was  not  long  before  British 
cavalrymen  were  engaged  in  the  ugly  task  of 
hunting  for  them  just  as  they  themselves  a  short 
time  before  had  been^  engaged  in  ''rooting  out" 
the  Tories  from  the  same  hiding  places.  The 
saddest  lot  befell  George  Townsend'and  John 
Kirk,  bofth  of  whom  had  made  themselves  par- 
ticularly obnoxious  during  the  reign  of  the  com- 
mittee. Townsend,  in  fact,  was  its  chairman, 
and  seem.s  to  have  been  almost  rabid  at  the 
very  name  of  Tory.  Townsend  and  Kirk  were 
arrested  and  taken  to  New  York,  where  they 
wer^  thrown  into  the  provost  prison,  and  en- 
dured its  horrors  for  nine  weeks — a  sufficient 
punishment,  it  would  seem,  for  any  conceivable 
crime  to  be  visited  on  men  accustomed  to  the 
refinements  and  decencies  of  life.  While  there, 
Kirk  contracted  smallpox  and  died  from  its  ef- 
fects.    His  wife  and  infant  child  died  from  the 


same  disease,  so  that  virtually  three  lives  were 
thus  made  to  pay  the  penalty  of  one  man  being 
just  a  little  too  positive  and  premature  in  his 
patriotism. 

Toward  the  close  of  1776,  General  Oliver 
DeLancey  came  with  the  Seventeenth  Dragoons 
and  took  up  his  headquarters  at  Oyster  Bay 
and  assumed  miilitary  control  of  the  district. 
The  full  force  of  martial  law  now  began  to  be 
felt,  while,  at  the  same  time,  all  sorts  of  per- 
suasive methods  were  adopted  to  win  the  weak 
and  wavering  back  to  the  British  fold.  The 
oath  of  allegiance  was  administered  to  all  who 
would  accept  it,  and  these  were  to  be  paid  for 
all  supplies  taken  from  them,  whereas  confisca- 
tion was  threatened  against  persistent  recal- 
citrants. The  stringent  measures  adopted  by  the 
British  authorities  were  measurably  efficacious. 
The  people  seem  tO'  have  remained,  outwardly 
at  least,  quite  passive,  and  Governor  Tryon, 
after  a  tour  through  Long  Island,  wrote  to  his 
home  government  as  follows,  in  a  letter  dated 
December  16,  1776: 

"On  the  TOth  inst.  I  viewed  the  militia  of 
Queens  county  at  Hempstead,  when  820  men 
were  mustered,  and  on  Thursday  following  I 
saw  the  Suffolk  militia  at  Brookhaven,  where 
nearly  800  appeared,  to  all  of  whom,  as  well  as 
to  the  militia  of  Queens  county,  I  had  in  my 
presence  an  oath  of  allegiance  and  fidelity  ad- 
ministered,   ^    '-^    ^ 

In  1777-^  Governor  Tryon  carried  On,  with 
great  industry,  what  would  in  'these  days  be 
termed  a  literary  bureau.  Many  of  his  let- 
ters are  yet  extant,  and  their  purport  may  be 
discerned  in  the  many  addressed  to  the  Rev, 
Dr.  Buel.  One  was  a  petition  expressive  of 
loyal  sentiments,  and  this  was  ruled  to  admit 
of  a  large  number  of  signatures,  which  were 
never  appended;  and  another  asked  the  names 
of  two  reputable  persons  in  each  township  "to 
correspond  with  me  occasionally,  and  to  receive 
my  orders  and  directions  for  the  services  I  may 
require  from  time  to  time  from  the  inhabitants 
thereof." 

It  was  out  of  such  effort  that  grew  the  en- 


470 


HISTORY  OF  LOXG  ISLAND. 


listment  of  a  small  corps  of  ro3-alists  at  Oyster 
Bay,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Henry 
Seton,  whoi  also  established  recruiting  stations 
at  Huntington  and  Jericho.  In  March,  1778,  a 
proclamation  was  issued  calling  for  recruits  and 
promising  increased  bounty  money  and  all  sorts 
of  inducements  to  make  up  the  strength  of  the 
Queen's  Rangers,  ^Vhile  one  dollar  was  promised 
to  each  person  instrumental  in  bringing  in  a 
recruit.  It  would  seem  that  350  recruits  were 
obtained,  and  the  Rangers "  were  stationed  at 
Oyster  Bay  and  on  Lloyd's  Neck  until  May  16, 
1779,  when  they  left  for  King's  Bridge,  New 
York. 

Under  the  rule  of  General  De  Lancey  the 
inhabitants  who  had  belonged  to  the  local  mili- 
tia were  compelled  to  do  military  duty,  such 
as  guarding  supplies,  driving  army  wagons  and 
cattle,  and  cutting  down  timber  for  fuel  to  warm 
the  huts  and  tents  of  the  hostile  soldiery.  Every 
horse  fit  for  troop  or  team  work  was  seized,  with 
wagons,  boats,  grain,  live  stock,  forage — all  that 
could  be  useful  to  an  army — paid  for  at  valua- 
tions fixed  by  the  military  authorities  when  the 
victim  was  a  royalist,  or  confiscated  when  he 
was  a  pronounced  or  suspected  patriot.  Many 
farmers  were  left  with  hardly  eno^ugh  fodder  to 
sustain  their  stock,  and  teams  were  impressed 
without  regard  to  their  local  necessity.  Business 
was  paralyzed  under  such  circumstances,  and 
farming  was  practically  abandoned,  for,  al- 
though payment  was  sometimes  made  for  what 
was  appropriated,  it  was  not  sufficient  to  com- 
pensate fer  the  outlay  and  labor,  and  the  pres- 
ence of  the  military  guaranteed  neither  order  or 
safety.  The  gold  paid  for  the  produce  was 
really  a  burden  to  those  who  received  it.  They 
could  not  spend  it,  they  had  no  place  in  which 
to  deposit  it,  and  so  had  to  conceal  it  about  their 
premises,  and  a  knowledge  of  this  was  an.  in- 
centive to  the  thieves  in  the  army  and  to  the 
large  body  of  desperadoes  which  followed  the 
troops — as  such  men  have  followed  all  armies 
from  the  beginning  of  history. 

The  methods  by  which  the  people  were  ter- 
rorized into  an  apparent  loyalty,  and  to.  serving 
the  royal  cause,  may   be  discerned  in  the  nar- 


rative showing  how  General  De  Lancey  exer- 
cised his  authority.  July  10,  1779,  he  issued 
an  order  in  which  he  set  forth  that  "peaceable 
and  inoffensive  inhabitants  (Tories)  had  been 
carried  off  in  the  night  to  Connecticut,  and  rob- 
beries committed  by  sons  of  persons  who  had 
pretended  to  be  loyal,  with  the  aid  of  the  latter," 
and  he  gave  notice  that^he  would  "send  over 
such  fathers,  mothers  and  their  whole  families 
to  Connecticctt,  and  give  possession  of  their 
farms  and  property  to  be  enjoyed  by  His  Ma- 
jesty's true  and  faithful  subjects,  until  they  can 
prevail  upon  the  rebels  to  desist." 

August  19th  following,  General  De  Lancey 
ordered  210  of  the  Suffolk  county  militia  to  cut 
75,000  pieces  of  timber — pickets,  fascines,  etc. — 
and  transport  the  same  to  Brooklyn,  and  labor 
upon  the  construction  of  a  fort  at  that  place. 
Captain  Dingee,  at  South  Huntington,  to  whom 
the  execution  of  this  order  was  commiitted,  re- 
plied that  compliance  was  impossible,  where- 
upon General  De  Lancey  issued  a  more  sweeping 
order  yet,  in  which  he  threatened 

''If  the  requisition  of  men  and  materials  for 
the  purpose  above  mentioned  is  not  immediately 
complied  with,  a  detachment  of  troops  will  be 
sent  into  that  district,  and  every  person  who  shall 
have  refused  to  contribute  his  assistance  toward 
a  work  in  which  the  king's  ser^^ice  and  the  inter- 
est of  ihe  loyal  inhabitants  are  so  intimately 
blended,  shall  be  turned  without  distinction  out  of 
Long  Island,  and  their  farms  will  be  a;llotted  for 
the  support  of  those  who  h^ave  suffered  for  real 
attachniL-nt  to  g-overnment." 

This  forceful  argument — ad  hoininem  et  a 
bacnlo — was  not  to  be  answered  except  with  ab- 
solute compliance. 

The  people  suffered  much  from  the  troops 
under  General  De  Lancey,  but  when  Fanning's 
Loyalists  came  along  they  found,  Whig  and 
Tory  alike,  that  they  had  been  hitherto  compar- 
atively well  treated,  and  were  now  in  the  hands 
of  a  gang  of  thugs  and  cut-throats,  the  scum 
of  the  population  in  the  large  cities.  Robbery 
and  wanton  destruction  of  property  became  the 
rule,  and  all  pretense  of  any  law  except  that  of 
might  and  the  drum-head  was  abandoned.     The 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


477 


people  v/ere  openly  accused  of  being  rebels,  even 
those  who  had  taken  the  oath  being  regarded 
with  suspicion,  and  those  who  escaped  that 
declaration  of  lip  loyalty  were  few,  for  Governor 
Tryon  had  swept  Suffolk  county  as  with  a  drag- 
net and  forced  the  acceptance  of  the  declara- 
tion with  the  alternative  of  an  enforced  trip  to 
Connecticut.  Corporal  punishment  was  inflicted 
on  the  slightest  provocation ;  and  soldiers,  most 
of  them  billeted  in  the  villages,  destroyed  prop- 
erty, furniture  and  buildings  without  scruple. 

The  people,  however  they  might  be  com- 
pelled to  render  unwilling  service  to  the  royal 
cause,  were,  in  large  numbers,  averse  to  sub- 
scribing tO'  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  this  back- 
wardness so  incensed  Governor  Tryon  that  he 
issued ,  an  order  requiring  all  male  inhabitants 
between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and  seventy  years, 
who  had  not  already  rendered  allegiance,  to  at- 
tend upon  him  in  New  York  for  that  purpose ; 
all  failing  to  attend  within  a  given  number  of 
days    were   to   be   fined   five   pounds    each,    and 


which  lay  on  his  route — and  he  marched  through 
the  most  fertile  regions.  He  also  administered 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  numerous  citizens  (in- 
cluding 418  at  Huntington),  giving  them  the 
alternative  of  subscribing  or  removing  with  their 
families  from  off  the  island.  Of  an  original 
copy  of  the  oath  referred  to,  yet  in  existence, 
the  following  is  a  fac  simile: 

In  October  following,  Tryon  made  another 
"raid" — the  word  was  not  known  then,  but  "raid" 
it  was,  as  in  the  later  days,  even  in  the  United 
States — and  administered  the  oath,  of  allegiance 
to  large  numbers  who  had  evaded  him  during 
his  first  missionary  journey. 

Four  years  passed  by,  and  the  inhabitants 
who'  had  professed  their  loyalty  addressed  a  pe- 
tition- to  Governor  Tryon  asking  payment  oi  the 
vouchers  which  had  been  given  them  when  their 
food  supplies,  grain,  cattle,  etc.,  were  taken  for 
the  use  oi  the  army.  Admiral  Digby  made  hon- 
orable payment  for  what  had  been  taken  for  the 
use  of  the  seamen  of  his  fleet,  but  a  great  mass 
of    the    claims   against   the  military   authorities 


I 


.j^ 


j^  Do  Iiereby  certify,  that  .  ^'■'^''*^  ^ '     ly'   ^  '^    -p  •  u 

of  Southampton  1  ownfliip^has  voluntarily  Twore  before  me,  to  bear  Faith 
and  true  Allegiance  to  his  Majefty  King  George  the  Third  {  and  that  he 
will  not,  dire<ftly  or  indiredly,  openly  or  fecretly,  aid,  abet,  counfel, 
fhelter  or  conceal,  any  of  his  Majefty 's  Enemies,  and  thofe  of  his  Go- 
vernment, or  moleft  or  betray. the  Frie'nds  of  Government ;  but  that  he 
will  behave  himfelf  peaceably  -  and  quietly,  as  a  faithfal  Subjed  of  his 
Majefty  aad  his  Govexjiment,     Given  under  my  Hand  on  Long-Illand, 

this  ^^;      c^^^i^,   '— '      '^^n'^^ 


after  such  fine  was  levied  were  to  be  obliged  to 
quit  the  island  with  their  famiilies.  Even  this 
stringent  order  did  not  have  its  desired  effect, 
and  in  September,  1778,  Governor  Tryon  came 
in  person  with  twelve  hundred  soldiers  and 
swept  the  island  from  end  to  end,  "as  with  a 
dragnet,''  gathering  up  and  sending  to  the  army 
at  Xew  York  all  the  cattle,  grain  and  provisions 


went  unsettled.  In  many  cases,  too,  no  vouch- 
ers had  been  given,  for  reasons  thus  set  forth  by 
Colonel  Simcoe: 

*'T  do  not  give  receipts  to  a  great  number  of 
j-ieople  on  account  of  their  rebellious  principles, 
or  absolute  disobedience  of  the  general  order. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Huntington  come 
under  both  descriptions.       The  last  order  I  re- 


478 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


ceived  relative  to  the  collection  of  forage  was 
to  direct  it  all  to  be  brought  in,  giving  only  an 
allowance  for  working  oxen,  under  penalty  not 
only  of  ha\'ing  it  confiscated  but  their  houses 
given  up  to  plunder  in  case  of  disobedience." 

During  this  period  the  Friends,  who  were 
in  conscience  averse  to  war  and  violence,  or  even 
resistance  in  defense  of  their  own  lives  and 
property,  were  great  sufferers.  Mr.  Ondcrdonk 
wrote : 

Miarch  3,  1777,  Elias  Hicks,  their  great 
preacher,  was  deprived  of  a  great  coat  worth 
twenty-six  shillings  O'U  a  demand  -for  twelve  shill- 
ings to  pay  the  hire  of  men  to  repair  the  British 
forts  at  .Brooklyn  ;  April  4th  a  pair  of  shoes  worth 
ten  shillings  was  taken  from  him  on  his  refusal 
to  ,stand"  guard;  on  August  28th  he  was  dis- 
trained of  a  pair  of  silver  buckles  worth  eighteen 
shillings,  two  pairs  of  stockings,  worth  fifteen 
shillings,  and  a  handkerchief  worth  five  shillings, 
all  because  he  would  not  go  on  an  alarm  in  armed 
pursuit  of  the  enemy;  and  in  June,  1778,  a  pair 
of  stockings  worth  five  shillings  and  a  razor  case 
with  two  razors,  worth  four  shillings,  were  taken 
from  him  for  some  like  cause. 

Incidents  of  the  occupation,  gathered  from 
various  sources,  are  of  thrilling  interest  and 
throw  side  lights — sometimes  lurid,  sometimes 
soft  and  mellow — upon  the  stage  settings  of  the 
great  drama  which  was  being  enacted.  For 
there  were  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men  in 
the  British  army,  as  there  ever  were  and  ever 
will  be  in  all  armies.  There  were  those  who, 
actually  depraved  and  brutalized,  took  delight 
in  exercising  their  power  and  in  visiting  upon 
their  unfortunate  victims  an  unnecessary  cruel- 
ty. Others  there  were  who,  in  honest  devotion 
to  their  royal  master,  took  all  justifiable  meas- 
ures to  vindicate  his  authority,  but  tempered  their 
action  with  mercy,  and  drew  a  sharp  line  between 
what  was  demanded  by  military  duty  and  what 
became  persecution   of   the   individual. 

While  in  many  instances  British  soldiers  be- 
haved in  a  most  reprehensible  manner,  it  was 
their  Hessian  allies  who  were  accused  of  the 
most  atrocious  of  the  acts  which  were  com- 
mitted.    A  local  annalist  described  them!  as  ''an 


ill-favored  set  of  little  men — the  gleanings  of 
German  recruits."  Peaceable  citizens  were  re- 
peatedly fired  upon,  and,  in  some  instances, 
killed;  promiscuous  robbery  was  practiced  con- 
tinually, and  the  wanton  killing  of  domestic  ani- 
mals was  common. 

When  war  broke,  Hempstead  was  a  mere 
hamlet,  and  three  of  its  nine  houses  were  tav- 
erns. Here  was  made  the  camp  of  a  well 
equipped  cavalry  regiment,  "the  Queen's  Own," 
which  made  forays  into  all  the  surrounding 
region.  The  Presbyterian  church  was  used  as  a 
barracks,  and  gravestones  were  taken  from  the 
churchyard  and  used  for  oven  and  hearth  backs. 
Barracks  were  also  erected  here  out  of  the  ma- 
terial in  the  Presbyterian  churches  at  Islip  and 
Foster's  Meadows,  which  were  torn  down  for 
that  purpose.  Along  the  brook  were  built  sod 
huts  for  some  of  the  soldiers. 

At  Oyster  Bay  the  Baptist  church  was  used 
as  a  barracks,  and  the  Friends'  meeting  house 
for  commissary  purposes.  The  citizens  were  im- 
pressed for  all  manner  of  dut}^  which  would 
serve  to  aid  the  British  soldiers  or  relieve  them 
of  menial  labor.  A  chronicle  of  the  times  says : 
"Tunis  Bogart  and  Andrew  Hegemen  were  im- 
pressed to  cart  ammunition  for  the  British 
army,  and  were  present  at  White  Plains  and 
Fort  Washington.  They  also'  saw  the  execu- 
tion of  Captain  Hale  (September  26th)  on  an 
apple  tree  near  Colonel  Rutgers."  Nor  w^as 
personal  violence  unknown.  Troops  under  the 
con^mand  of  Major  Grant,  which  lay  here  one 
summer,  were  rude  and  ill-behaved.  One  even- 
ing a  quiet  and  respectable  young  man,  John 
Weeks  by  name,  when  challenged  upon  the 
street  by  a  patrol,  ran  away.  He  was  pursued 
and  overtaken,  and  was  ordered  to  be  flogged. 
He  was  accordingly  tied  to  a  tree  and  the  lash 
applied,  but,  before  he  had  received  the  pre- 
scribed number  of  strokes,  the  cries  of  the  young 
man  and  the  distressed  appeals  of  his  mother 
and  sisters  so  wrought  upon  the  people  that  a 
high  officer  interposed  and  he  was  set  at  liberty. 
On  one  occasion  a  citizen,  Stephen  Lobden, 
came  to  his  door  to  ascertain  the  occasion  for 
a  noisy  crowd  in  the  street,  when  he  was  fired 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


479 


upon  and  killed  by  a  Hessian.  The  impress- 
ment of  domestic  animals  was  exceedingly  an- 
noying. No  excuses  were  listened  to,  but  the 
horses  were  taken  out  of  the  plow,  and  from 
the  carriages  conveying  a  family  to  church  or  to 
the  graveyard  with  their  dead.  Some  British 
troops  out  upon  such  an  errand  were  discovered 
by  Charles  Colyer,  a  lad  only  tvvelve  years  old, 
Avho  had  in  charge  two  horses  belonging  to  his 
mother.  He  turned  his  animals  and  fled,  happily 
escaping  the  bullets  which  were  fired  at  him, 
and  hid  his  horses  out  in  the  woods,  for  a  week, 
carrying  forage  to  theni  every  night. 

In  1778  Huntington  was  strongly  guarded, 
for  its  position  on  the  sound  made  it  a  likely 
place  for  landing  parties  of  patriots.  Fort 
Franklin,  -at  the  west  end  of  Lloyd's  Neck,  with 
seven  or  eight  guns  and  a  British  garrison  gen- 
erally of  300  or  more  men,  was  supposed  to 
safeguard  this  bit  of  coast  from  attack,  but  it 
became  a  pl^ce  from  whence  marauding  parties 
fitted  out  expeditions  for  shore  robberies, "  and 
the  pirates  cared  little  when  a  chance  for  plunder 
appeared  about  distinguishing  w^hether  their 
victims  were  Loyalists  or  Whigs,  whether  the 
booty  was  money,  blankets  or  teaspoons.  Even 
the  regular  soldiers  got  up  pillaging  parties,  and 
"the  Honorable  Board  of  Associated  Loyalists" 
was  simply  a  refined  name  for  a  gang  of  thugs 
and  cut-throats  who,  under  the  name  of  loyalty, 
enjoyed  a  season  of  liberty  and  rascality,  and 
robbed  whenever,  wherever  and  whoever  they 
pleased. 

At  Huntington  there  was  no  room  for  doubt- 
ing the  sentiments  of  the  great  b^dy  of  the  peo- 
ple, as  there  might  have  been  justly  in  Queens, 
and  so  it  seems  that  the  troops  carried  on  their 
mission  in  a  much  more  highhanded  manner  in 
this  township  than  even  in  Oyster  pjay.  Even 
men  M^ere  impressed  to  drive  the  teams  or  con- 
vey the  live  stock  to  Jamaica,  or  to  cut  down 
wood  for  the  use  of  the  military.  The  require- 
ments of  the  troopers  pressed  heavily  on  all 
classes,  and  many  of  the  most  pronounced  patriots 
abandoned  their  property  and  sought  refuge  in 
Connecticut  or  service  in  the  Continental  army. 
The  oath  of  allegiance  was  ordered  to  be  taken 


by  all  of  the  adult  population,  and  the  records 
show  that  549  of  the  dwellers  of  Huntington 
gave  this  evidence  of  their  lip  loyalty  at  least 
to  the  dominant  cause.  Those  who  had  belonged 
to  the  local  militia  were  compelled  to  do  military 
duty,  such  as  guard  mounting,  etc. 

In  the  spring  of  1777  the  second  and  third 
battalions  of  De  Lancey's  brigade  were  stationed 
at  Huntington.  The  officer  in  command  made 
his  headquarters  in  the  meeting  house, .  and  the 
bell  in  the  little  building  forms  the  theme  of 
an  interesting  little  story.  To  save  it  from  the 
enemy,  it  was  taken  from  the  belfry  and  com- 
mitted to  the  custody  of  John  Wickes,  who  some 
days  later  surrendered  it,  at  the  point  of  a  pistol, 
J;o  the  captain  of  the  British  armed  brig  "Swan," 
who  came  ashore  with  a  party  in  quest  of  it. 
Gilbert  Piatt  subsequently  testified  that  he  was 
compelled  by  the  British  officer  to  carry  the  bell 
to  the  water  side,  whence  it  was  taken  by  barge 
to  the  vessel.  In  December  (1777)  following 
Zebulon  Piatt  was  taken  by  the  enemy  and  held 
a  prisoner  on  board  the  "Swan,"  where  he  saw 
the  bell  in  question.  It  was  subsequently  traced 
to  the  British  man-oi-war  "Rhinoceros,"  then 
lying  in  the  dock  near  the  shipyards  in  East 
river,  and  the  church  authorities  of  Huntington 
addressed  to  Admiral  Digby  a  petition  asking 
for  its  return.  Their  request  was  subsequently 
complied  with,  but  the  bell  was  so  badly  cracked 
as  to  be  useless.  It  was  shipped  to  London, 
where  it  was  recast  into  one  now  in  use,  at  a 
cost  of  £75. 

During  the  occupation,  Smithtown  was  the 
scene  of  several  encounters,  chief  of  which  was 
the  fight  at  P^ort  Slongo,  in  which  Colonel  Tal- 
madge  figured  so  heroically.  Many  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens,- such  as  Richard  Smith — the  repre- 
rescntatiA  e  of  the  founder  of  the  town,  the  third 
in  direct  descent — the  Rev.  Joshua  Hart,  the 
Presbyterian  preacher — Zephaniah  Piatt  and 
others,  were  sent  to  prison  in  New  York.  Others 
fled  over  into  Connecticut,  and  all  who  remained 
were  compelled  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
The  coast  line  was  a  constant  scene  of  turmoil 
and  pillage,  and  Whig  and  Tory  alike  proved 
equally   welcome    prey    to   the   marauders    who, 


480 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


under  the  guise  of  patriotism  or  loyalt}',  really 
performe^d  the  crimes  of  shore  pirates. 

The  year  1781  was  one  of  much  hardship 
throughout  the  island.  Owing  to  the  number 
of  citizens  performing  enforced  service  in  the 
British  camps  and  wagon  trains,  and  the  tak- 
ing of  their  horses  for  military  uses,  farm  work 
was  abandoned  almost  entirely,  no  adequate 
crops  were  raised,  and  provisions  were  so  scarce 
as  to  bring  real  suffering  to  many  a  home. 

Yet,  while  Long  Island  was  truly  under  the 
heel  of  the  oppressor,  he  was  not  left  unmo- 
lested. At  various  times  daring  bands  of  patri- 
ots made  their  forays  and  disturbed  his  peace. 
None  of  these  various  affairs  may  be  properly 
classed  among  the  battles  of  the  war,  but  a  num- 
ber were  of  such  a  character  as  to  be  deserving 
of  mention.  The  most  important — the  affairs 
at  Fort  St.  George,  at  Lloyd's  Neck  and  another 
at  Sag  Harbor — have  been  mentioned  in  a  pre- 
ceding chapter.  That  last  mentioned  has  been 
commemorated  by  a  granite  tablet  erecfed  by 
the  Historical  Association  in  the  original  Pres.- 
byterian  cemetery  at  Sag  Harbor,  which  bears 
the  following  inscription : 

A  British  Fort  near  this  spot 

Was  captured  by 

THE  AMERICANS 

Lender    Lieut.    Col.    Meigs, 

At  the  Battle  of  Sag  Harbor,  May  23,  1777. 

Near  by  is  another  memorial  which  reads  as 
follows : 

In  memory  of  William  Havens,  captain  of  the 
Privateers  Beaver,  Jay  and  Retaliation,  during 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,    Died  1797. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  features  of  the 
story  of  the  Revolution  at  Oyster  Bay  was  what 
is  known  as  the  Whaleboat  campaign,  which 
resulted  in  much  annoyance  and  loss  to  the  loy- 
alists. The  whaleboats  were  taken  into  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  the  pur- 
pose was  to  cut  off  supplies  being  sent  to  Long 
Island  from  the  mainland,  to  capture  prisoners 
and  the  smaller  boats  in  the  service  of  the  Brit- 
ish, to  harass  the  coast  of  the  island,  and  now 
and  again  to  make  a  descent  and  capture  some 


prominent  Tory  \\dio  might  thus  be  made  ta 
serve  his  country  by  serving  as  a  ready  exchange 
for  some  equally  prominent  Continental  held  as 
prisoner  in  the  camps  or  jails  of  the  Royalists. 
Sometimes,  it  must  be  confessed,  that,  especially 
toward  the  close  of  the  struggle,  there  was  little 
difference  between  the  doings  of  many  of  the 
crews  of  these  whaleboats  and  the  acts  of  or- 
dinary harbor  thieves  and  coast  pirates,  but,  on 
the  whole,  they  fulfilled  their  purpose  credit- 
ably. 

In  November,  1776,  three  or  four  hundred 
patriot  troops  from  New  Haven  crossed  over  to 
Setauket,  and  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with  a  de- 
tachment of  General  Howe's  command,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  killing  of  eight  or  ten  of  his  men, 
and  the  capture  of  2.^  prisoners  and  seventy-five 
stand  of  arms. 

In  August,  1777,  General  Parsons  led  an  ex- 
pedition of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
against  a  British  force  which  had  fortified  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Setauket  by  constructing 
earthworks  about  it,  whereupon  they  had  mount- 
ed a  number  of  pieces  of  light  artillery.  General 
Parsons  continued  his  attack  for  two  or  three 
hours,  and  finally  withdrew,  fearing  that  a  longer 
stay  would  result  in  the  loss  of  his  vessels,  and, 
ultimately,  in  the  capture  of  himself  and  his  men. 
His  loss  was  four  men.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
one  of  the  members  of  his  little  battalion  was 
Zachariah  Green,  who,  twenty  years  later,  became 
the  minister  of  the  sanie  church  which  he  had  at- 
tacked with  carnal  weapons. 

In  1781  Count  de  Barras  dispatched  three 
frigates  and  250  troops  against  Fort  Franklin,  at 
Lloyd's  Neck.  The  fort  originally  mounted  two 
guns,  but  two  more  (twelve  pounders)  were  put 
in  position  the  night  before  the  attack  was  made. 
The  approaches  to  the  work  were  guarded  by  a 
stout  abattis.  The  garrison  numbered  about  800 
men  (of  whom  500  were  properly  armed),  chiefly 
deserters  from  the  American  army  and  refugees. 
In  the  harbor  was  a  little  fleet  comprising  a 
vessel  of  sixteen  guns,  two  small  privateers  and 
a  galley. 

Count  de  Barras'  force  was  joined  in  the' 
Sound  bv  several  boatloads  of  Americans  from 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


481 


Connecticut.  A  landing  was  effected  on  the 
morning-  of  July  12th.  Heathcott  Muirson,  of 
Setauket,  who  had  made  a  secret  reconnoisance 
sonie  days  before^  guided  the  French  infantry- 
men to  th^  point  from  which  the  attack  was  to  be 
made,  and  was  viewing  the  works  through  a 
glass  wh'Cn  the  two  guns  which  had  been  mount- 
ed since  his  first  visit  opened  with  grapeshot. 
One  of  the  shots  took  his  arm  off,  and  several  of 
the  soldiers  were  wounded,  whereupon  the  at- 
tack was  a:bandoned.  When  Muirson  was 
wounded  he  threw  away  his  glass,  w'hdch  was 
afterward  recovered  by  his  sister,  whom  he  had 
accurately  directed  to  the  spot  where  it  lay. 

One  of  the  most  enterprising  and  daring  par- 
tisan leaders  of  his  day — he  would  have  been  a 
"guerrilla''  in  civil  war  times,  or  a  "rough  rider" 
in  Cuba  or  the  Philippines — was  Major  Jesse 
Brush,  of  Huntington.  A  contemporary  an- 
nalist describes  him  as  "  a  small,  well  built  man." 
He  had  "red  hair,  sandy  complexion  and  a 
bright  eye,"  and  this  sum  of  personal  traits 
would  certainly  lead  us  to  expect  him  to  be  what 
he  was  pronounced — "as  bold  as  a  lion."  He 
abandoned  his  farm  rather  than  submit  to  the 
military  rule  of  the  British,  and  proved  himself 
a  veritable  thorn  in  the  ,side  oi  the  Tories  of  the 
place  and  vicinity.  The  following  from'  the  pen 
of  a  Tory  writer  tells  something  of  his  exploits : 

"A  party  of  rebels  have  a  place  of  resort  at 
Bread  and  Cheese  Hollow,  on  a  by-road  that  leads 
from  the  house  of  two  men  now  in  rebellion,  viz., 
Nath'l  Piatt  and  Thos.  Treadwell,  to  that  of  the 
noted  Sam'l  Phillips,  near  the  Branch.  They  ex- 
tend along  the  road  from  said  Phillip's  to  the 
well  known  Piatt  Carll's,  and  have  stopped  sev- 
eral persons  on  horseback  and  in  wagons  and 
robbed  a  number  of  houses  in  Smithtown  and 
Islip  within  the  last  ten  days.  They  are  said  to 
be  commanded  by  a  rebel  Major  Brush,  formally 
of  Huntington." 

Of  course  Major  Brush  was  hunted  like  a 
wild  animal  (and  such  he  was  regarded  to  be)  and 
in  September,  1780,  while  in  concealment  at 
Smithtown,  he  was  captured,  in  company  with 
Captain  Joshua  Rogers,  Lieutenant  Ketcham, 
Timothy  Williams  and  others,  and  was  confined 


in  jail  in  New  York.  The  prisoners  were  sub- 
sequently hberated,  probably  in  October  follow- 
ing, about  which  time  Henry  Scudder  went  to 
New  York  to  negotiate  for  their  exchange. 

At  one  time  twenty-five  loyalists  from  Con- 
necticut were  quartered  in  a  public  house  kept  by 
a  widow  Chichester,  on.  East  Neck,  near  the 
shore  of  Huntington  Bay.  Mayor  Ebenezer 
Gray,  with  a  detachment  from  Colonel  Meigs' 
regiment,  came  from  Norwalk  and  attacked  the 
house.  A  sharp  conflict  ensued  and  the  Tories 
were  routed  with  the  loss  of  two  men  (Captain 
Coffin  and  one  Lyon)  killed,  one  severely 
wounded,  and  sixteen  taken  prisoners.  About 
the  same  time  a  party  of  patriots  crossed  over 
fit>m  Connecticut,  and  ambuscaded  a  squad  of 
dragoons  in  the  woods  below  Huntington  Har- 
bor, killing  one  of  the  number,  and  then  escaping 
by  their  boats. 

One  of  the  mo^st  uncompromising  patriots 
of  the  time  and  one  whose  spirit  was  uncontroll- 
able, though  he  was  sorely  beset,  was  Captain 
John  Dayton,  of  East  Hampton.  His  home  was 
two  miles  distant  from  the  village,  and  he  had 
no  near  neighbors  who  could  render  him  aid 
v/hen  he  was  attacked,  as  he  frequently  was.  On 
one  occasion,  a  band  of  the  enemy  stole  upon  his 
dwelling  by  night,  and,  while  he  was  in  the  act 
of  lighting  a  candle  a  musket  was  fired  at  him, 
the  ball  narrowly  missing  him,  and  lodging  in  a 
beam  of  the  weaving  loom.  Dayton  opened  a 
back  door,  and  bade  his  little  son,  Josiah,  escape 
to  a  safe  place  of  concealment.  Seizing  his  gun, 
he  then  plunged  out  into  the  deep  snow,  a  short 
distance  from  the  house ,  and  fired  upon  the 
enemy,  meantime  giving  loud  commJands  to  an 
imaginary  company  of  armed  men.  The  ruse 
was  successful,  for  the  British  withdrew.  The 
morning  light  revealed  traces  of  blood  upon  the 
snow,  leading  Captain  Dayton  to  conclude  that 
his  shot  had  not  been  ineffective.  Somewhat 
later  a  British  officer  rode  into  the  dooryard  and 
brandished  his  sabre  over  his  head,  threatening 
him  with  instant  death  for  having  killed  one  of 
his  men.  As  the  Captain  afterwards  told  it,  "his 
blood  boiled  within  him  and  his  hair  stood  on 


31 


482 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


end."  In  his  boundless  rage,  he  seized  a  pitch- 
fork, and  made  for  his  assailant,  who  leaped  his 
horse  over  the  fence  and  beat  a  retreat. 

At  another  time,  Captain  Dayton  gathered 
together  a  company  of  about  forty  men  for  the 
protection  of  their  cattle,  against  the  men  of  a 
British  fleet  which  had  anchored  off  Montauk 
Point.  Having  reached  that  neighborhood,  he 
marched  his  little  command  over  a  slight  hill  and 
into  a  ravine,  where  they  were  concealed  from 
the  enemy,  and  over  the  hill  again,  and  they  re- 
peated this  march  time  after  time,  thus  leading 
the  British  to  conclude  that  a  considerable  force 
was  awaiting  their  landing,  and  they  remained 
aboard  their  vessels,  leaving  the  islanders  un- 
molested. Captain  Dayton  died  in  1825,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-eight  years. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  annals  of  the 
times  affords  so  little  information  as  to  the  per- 
sonality of  the  rank  and  file — those  who  endured 
the  dreary  mp.rch,  the  long  night  march  and 
stood  the  shock  of  battle  during  seven  years  of 
war.  \A'hat. thrilling  narrative  could  be  written 
did  we  know  what  was  in  the  life  of  Christopher 
Youngs,  of  Sonthold,  whose  military  history  is 
contained  only  in  the  following  suggestive  docu- 
ments : 

By  His  Excellency,   George  Washington,  Esq., 
General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Forces 
of  the  United  States  of  America : 
These  are  tO'  certify  that  the  bearer  hereof 
Christopher  Youngs,  Corporal  in  the  First  New 
York  Eegiment,  having    faithfully    served    the 
United  States  Seven  Years  &  five  months  and 
being  inlisted  for  the  war  only,   is  hereby  dis- 
charged from  the  American  Army. 

Given  at  Headquarters,  the  8  day  of  June, 
1783.       '  Go.  Washington. 

By  His  Excellency's  Command, 
P.  Trumbxtll. 
Registered  in  the  Books  of  the  regiment, 
(name  undecipherable)  Adjutant. 
The  above  named  Christopher  Youngs  Corpl 
has  been  honored  with  the  badge  of  merit  for 
Seven  Years  faithful  service. 

(name  undecipherable)  Adjutant. 

Headquarters,  June  8,  1783. 
The  within  certificate  shall  not  avail  the  bearer 


as  a  discharge  until  the  ratification  of  the  defini- 
tive treaty  of  peace  previous  to  which  time  and 
until  proclamation  thereof  shall  be  made  he  is  to 
be  considered  as  being  on  furlough. 

Go.  Washington. 

While,  as  has  been  shown,  excesses  were 
committed  by  soldiers,  there  were  those  of  the 
army  of  the  invaders  who  behaved  so  well  as 
to  gain  the  respect  of  those  whom  they  came 
amongst,  and,  in  some  instances,  genuine  affec- 
tion grew  out  of  the  enforced  association.  There 
are  good  words  to  be  said  of  even  some  of  the 
Hessians.  And  here  it  is  fair  to  remark  that 
many  of  them  were  bitterly  indignant  in  being 
sold  away  from  home  by  their  petty  prince  to 
hazard  th-eir  lives  in  a  war  with  which  they 
had  no  concern.  Many  of  these,  when  peace 
was  restored,  remained  in  the  country  and  be- 
came exemplary  citizens  and  the  founders  of 
families  which  became  useful  and  honored.  Such 
as  these  were  usually  devout  Christians,  and 
some  of  them  attended  worship  and  partook  of 
the  sacrament  in  the  Dutch  church  near  Andris 
Bogart's,  at  Oyster  Bay.  Colon-el  Von  Janecke, 
who  commanded  the  battalion  of  Hessians  in 
that  neighborhood,  and  a  number  of  his  officers, 
exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  repress  the 
excesses  of  the  vicious  portion  of  their  soldiery. 
On  one  occasion  a  citizen,  Jacobus  Alontford, 
"vvounded  a  Hessian  who  was  robbing  his  yard, 
and  was  arrested,  wliereupon  'the  officer  dis- 
missed him,  saying  if  Montford  had  shot  the 
Hessian  he  would  have  given'  him  a  guinea.  But, 
as  a  general  rule,  the  citizens  did  not  escape  so 
easily  when  they  attempted  tO'  defend  their 
property  from^  the  blackguards  who  were  ar- 
rayed on  the  side  of  King  George,  and  who 
disgraced  their  cause. 

In  the  early  winter  of  1778  Sir  William 
Erskine,  commander  of  the  British  forces  on 
Long  Island,  made  his  headquarters  at  South- 
ampton, in  the  old  Pelletreau  mansion,  which 
then  belonged  to  Captain  Elias  Pelletreau.  Elias 
Pelletreau  was  born  in  1730,  a  son  of  Francis 
Pelletreau.  He  was  appointed  captain  of  militia 
by  Governor  Cadwallader  Golden,  and  he  held 
that  rank  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.    He  was  a 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


4S3 


goldsmith  by  trade,  and  he  made  the  greater 
part  of  the  jewelry  and  silver  ware  then  used 
in  Suffolk  county.  When  the  British  came,  the 
owner  (as  did  nearly  all  prominent  Whigs)  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Connecticut.  After 
a  long  life,  during  which  he  merited  and  en- 
joyed the  deep  respect  of  the  community,  Cap- 
tain Pelletreau  died  in  1810,  and  his  tombstone, 
surrounded    by    those    of    his    kindred,  may    be 


SIR  WILLIAM  ERSKINE. 

seen  in  the  North  End  burying  ground  at  South- 
ampton. 

The  Pelletreau.  residence  was  an  ancient 
house  which  was  familiar  to  some  of  the  pres- 
ent generation,  and  was  the  last  house  on  Long 
Island  with  windows  formed  of  rhomboidal 
panes  of  glass  set  in  lead,  and  was  long  known 
as  ''the  house  with  diamond  windows."  While 
General  Erskine  occupied  the  house,  a  portion 
of  the  premises  were  used  for  commissary  pur- 
pos'es,  and  until  the  building  was  torn  down,  in 
1880,  a  floor  bore  the  marks  made  with  axes 
in  cutting  up  meat  for  the  use  of  the  troops. 
Mr.  William  S.  Pelletreau  (now  the  owner  oi 
the  old  Pelletreau  estate)  yet  preserves  a  ceil- 
ing panel  from  the  old  mansion,  upon  which  a 


British  soldier  had  cut  a  rude  representation  of 
a  ship.  It  would  not  be  outside  the  bounds  of 
reason  to  presume  that  the  unskilled  artist  had 
in  mind  his  home  in  England,  whence  he  had 
been  perhaps  unwillingly  brought  and  to  which 
he  would  gladly  return — and,  perhaps,  never 
did. 

Under  the  direction  of  General  Erskine, 
three  forts  (one  of  which  is  yet  to  be  discerned 
on  the  large  lot  of  the  late  Captain  George 
\Vhite)  were  constructed  upon  the  high  ground 
on  West  street,  and  in  the  ditches  outside  the 
earthworks  were  thrown  masses  of  cut  hedge 
thorn,  which  made  a  most  eflicient  barricade. 
j\Ir.  WilHam  S.  Pelletreau  was  informed,  many 
years  ago,  by  an  aged  man  who  had  been  im- 
pressed to  assist  in  the  work,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants were  oonipelled  to  cut  down  the  thorn 
hedges  (which  were  very. numerous  and  of  con- 
siderable growth),  for  this  purpose,  and  use 
their  oxen  and  carts  in  conveying  them  to  the 
places  where  needed,  and  there  fill  them  into 
the  ditches  in  front  of  the  works.  The  British 
were  quartered  in  the  houses  of  the  inhabitants. 

Lord  Erskine  was  not  only  a  gallant  soldier 
and  an  honorable  enemy,  but  he  was  a  genteel 
and  humane  man,  and,  if,  he  lost  his  temper  at 
times,  he  may  be  pardoned — as  was  "My  Uncle 
Toby"  for  spasmodic  profanity — for  when  his 
gorge  rose  it  was  because  of  his  soldiers  mis- 
treating inoffensive  inhabitants,  and  the  offender 
was  the  one  upon  whom^  his  ire  was  expended. 

Anent  this  is  told  a  well  authenticated  story. 
One  day  two  soldiers  called  at  the  house  of 
Stephen  Reeves  and  demanded  food,  which  was 
given  them,  and  they  expressed  their  gratitude 
by  the  theft  of  a  pair  of  towels  while  the  good 
wife's  back  was  turned.  Complaint  was  made 
to  the  commanding  officer  at  the  fort,  and,  at 
that  moment,  the  thieves  came  in  view.  They 
were  identified  on  the  moment,  the  stolen  articles 
were  found  on  their  persons,  and  they  were  tied 
up  and  flogged  so  unmercifully  that  their  suf- 
ferings excited  the  commiseration  of  Mr.  Reeves 
to  such  a  degree  that  he  bitterly  repented  hav- 
ing made  a  complaint  against  them. 

The  people  of   Southampton  ever  cherished 


484 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


warm  feelings  personally  for  General  Erskine, 
and  the  history  of  the  village  preserves  pleasant 
recollections  of  his  habit  of  riding  his  horse  to 
the  hills  at  the  edge  of  the  woods  to  admiringly 
view  the  sea  and  landscape  of  what  he  pro- 
noiniced  '*the  garden  spot  of  America,"  and  to 
which  he  longed  to  return  after  '*the  rebellion" 
should  have  been  brought  to  an  end.  During 
the  stay  of  General  Erskine,  it  would  appear  that 
his  requisitions  for  supplies  and  forage  were 
carefully  measured  by  the  resources  at  com- 
mand of  the  people  and  were  generally  paid  for 
at  reasonable  rates. 

Some  English  officers  who  boarded  at  the 
Townsend  residence  in  Matinecock,  when  they 
came  to  leave,  presented  to  Mrs.  Letitia  Town- 
send  a  castor,  candlesticks  and  snuffers,  as 
souvenirs  of  their  stay,  and  these  have  been 
treasured  in  the  family  to  the  present  day.  And 
there  were  some  really  tender  episodes,  as  when, 
on  Valentine  Day,  in  1779,  Miss  Sarah  Town- 
send,  of  the  same  'family,  received  a  poetical 
lucubration  suitable  to  the  day,  written  by  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  J.  S.  Simcoe,  who  delivered  it  in 
person. 

.But  there  were  some  even  more  susceptible 
young  officers  who,  while  sons  of  Mars,  were 
also  devotees  at  the  shrine  of  Venus,  and  paid 
their  devoirs  to  fair  maidens  of  Long  Island. 
It  is  to  be  presumed  *'the  girl  I  left  behind  me" 
in  '*Merry  England,"  or  on  the  banks  of  "Bon- 
nie Doon,''  or  by  the  Lakes  of  Killarney — for 
what  soldier  leaving  home  but  also  leaves  a 
sweetheart? — kept  repeating  the  pretty  old  line 
"Absence  makes  the  heart  grow  fonder,"  and 
cherished  implicit  confidence  in  the  sly  3^oung 
dog  who  was  conquering  by  love  the  daughters 
of  those  whom  he  came  to  conquer  by  force  of 
arms.  So  it  ever  was  and  ever  will  be,  in  some 
cases,  in  all  wars.  In  our  own  day  we  have 
seen  Hymen  unite  the  "Blue  and  the  Gray,''* 
and  the  Rough  Rider  and  the  Cuban  senorita, 
and — ^but  we  will  not  anticipate  as  to  anything 
that  may  occur  in  our  "new  possessions."  Re- 
turning to  our  (or  your)  revolutionary  for- 
bears, it'  is  to  be  said  that,  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood   which    witnessed  the  candlestick  pre- 


sentation and  the  St.  Valentine  Day  effusion,  a 
bevy  of  fair  young  girls-,  Hannah  Townsend, 
Sarah  Luyster  and  Patty  Remsen,  and  a  widow^ 
Mrs.  Vashti  Carr  (or  Kerr),  were  willingly 
made  life  prisoners  by  some  of  those  who  came 
to  desolate  the  land. 

Of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Buel,  of  East  Hamp- 
ton, it  was  said  that  upon  one  occasion  he 
threw  aside  his  priestly  robe  and  shouldered  a 
musket.  But  he  was  a  genial  gentleman,  and 
habitually  maintained  pleasant  personal  relations 
with  those  British  officers  with  whom  he  fre- 
quently came  in  contact.  It  is  related  that,  invited 
to  join  a  hunting  party  led  by  Sir  William  Erskine^ 
he  came  somewhat  late,  when  Sir  William  ordered 
his  companions  to  dismount  in  order  to  receive 
the  reverend  gentleman  with  suitable  ceremony. 
After  mutual  greetings  had  passed,  the  Doctor 
addressed  Lord  Percy,  one  of  the  youngest  of 
the  officers,  and  enquired  what  portion  of  His 
Majesty's  forces  he  had  the  honor  to  command. 
The  reply  was,  "A  legion  of  devils  just  from 
hell,"  which  moved  the  Doctor  to  a  grotesquely 
respectful  how,  and  the  retort,  "Then  I  suppose 
I  have  the  honor  to  address  Beelzebub,  the 
prince  of  devils." 

It  is  related  that,  upon  another  occasion, 
Sir  William  Erskine  had  ordered  the  people  of 
East  Hampton  to  report  at  Southampton  with. 
their  teams,  on  the  following  Sunday,  to  do  work 
upon  the  fortifications.  Sir  William  and  Dr. 
Buel  happened  to  meet  on  the  morning  prior  to 
the  Sunday  upon  which  the  labor  was  to  be  per- 
formed, and  the  former  named  made  mention 
of  the  order  he  had  given.  Dr.  Buel  instantly 
replied,  "I  am  aware  of  it,  but  as  I  am  myself 
commander-in-chief  on  Sunday,  I  have  annulled 
your  order,"  whereupon  Sir  William  pleasantly- 
remarked  that  he  would  himself  annul  his  own 
order,  which  he.  did. 

Alajor  Andre,  whose  unfortunate  fate  has  ex- 
cited commiseration,  and  that  of  Washington 
himself,  while  the  justice  of  and  necessity  for 
his  execution  remains  unquestioned,  was  at  one 
time  quartered  in  the  house  of  Colonel  Abra- 
ham Gardiner,  at  East  Hampton.  During  his. 
stay,  a  son  of  Colonel  Gardiner,  Dr.  Nathaniel 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


485 


Gardiner,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Continental 
army,  came  home  upon  a  leave  of  absence.  Be- 
ing within  the  enemy's  lines,  he  was  liable  to 
capture  and  death  as  a  spy,  and  his  terrified 
parents  and  other  relatives  made  anxious  effort 
to  keep  him  in  concealment,  hoping  that  his 
presence  would  not  be  discovered  by  their  un- 
welcome guest,  the  British  officer.  It  soon  trans- 
pired that  Major  Andre  was  in  possession  of  the 
knowledge  they  would  have  kept  from  him.  But, 
with  a  degree  of  chivalry  and  magnanimity 
which  could  not  have  been  expected  of  any  one 
under  such  circumstances,  he  affected  ignor- 
ance of  the  presence  of  the  Continental  officer, 
and,  when  he  adverted  to  the  circumstance,  at  a 
much  later  time,  he  expressed  his  regret  that 
conditions  had  existed  which  forbade  what  he 
would  have  regarded  as  a  pleasant  mutual  ac- 
quaintance. It  is  only  to  be  added  that  if  any 
sincerely  deplored  the  fate  of  Major  Andre,  it 
was  this  family  which  had  been  so  greatly  fa- 
vored through  his  humanity  and  gentle  consid- 
eration. 

it  is  narrated  that  while  the  British  held 
possession  of  Lloyd's  Neck,  the  fort  there  was 
visited  by  Prince  William  Henry,  then  eighteen 
years  of  age,  ^yho  afterward  came  to  the  Eng- 
lish throne  as  King  William  IV. 

In  the  center  of  the  village  of  Huntington  is 
a  hill  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  sound.  The 
people  of  the  village  had  selected  it  as  a  place 
for  the  burial  of  their  dead,  and  for  over  a  cen- 
tury it  had  been  so  used,  and  the  stones  which 
marked  its  graves  bore  the  nariies  of  every 
family  in  the  place.  If  was,  in  fact,  to  them, 
holy  ground,  and  we  can  imagine  the  indigna- 
tion that  was  felt  when,  in  1782,  Colonel  Ben- 
jamin Thompson  (afterward  known  as  Count 
Rumford)  decided  to  build  a  fort  on  the  hill, 
and  especially  when  his  'edict  w^ent  forth  that 
the  people  of  the  village  were  to  assemble  with 
spades,  axes  and  teams  and  help  in  the  work 
of  desecrating  the  graves  of  their  ancestors. 
The  local  militia  were  impressed  into  the  un- 
hallowed work,  and  over  a  hundred  tombstones 
were  removed  and  the  ground  leveled.  For  the 
erection  of    the  fort  a  church    was    torn    down. 


and  even  buildings  in  use  were  stripped  of  their 
outer  walls,  while  orchards,  trees  and  fences 
were  cut  down  or  carried  away  without  the 
slightest  regard  to  personal  property  rights.  The 
tombstones  were  used  as  flooring,  some  went 
into  the  construction  of  ovens,  and  bread  was 
often  seen  bearing  part  of  the  inscription  on  a 
tomb  froon  contact  with  one  of  these  stones  in 
the  oven.  The  fort  was  completed  and  bore 
the  appropriate  name  of  Golgotha.  Its  remains 
are  yet  discernible.  Some  of  the  old  grave- 
stones left  untouched  by  Thompson's  troopers 
and  more  or  less  unwilling  helpers,  are  still  to 
be  seen,  or  fragments  of  them,  rather,  for  the 
hill  was  often  swept  by  cannon  shot.  The  hill 
itself  is  a  veritable  m^emorial  of  the  Revolution, 
more  precious  than  mere  human  hands  could 
contrive. 

These  cruelties  and  oppressions  and  rob- 
beries, however,  belong  to  the  past,  and  time 
has  helped  to  soften  the  sense  of  their  miseries 
and  degradation.  But  the  events  of  the  Revolu- 
tion have  left  in  Huntington  one  memory  which 
is  as  bright  as  ever,  one  hero  who  is  and  ever  will 
be  held  in  the  very  foremost  rank  of  American 
patriots  and  whose  dying  declaration,  "I  regret 
I  have  only  one  life  to  tee  for  my  country,"  will 
always  be  regarded  as  among  the  watchwords  of 
liberty. 

Nathan  Hale  was  born  in  Coventry,  Con- 
necticut, in  1755,  and  was  educated  at  Yale  with 
a  view  to  entering  the  ministry.  After  he  was 
graduated,  in  1773,  he  taught  ^school  at  East 
Haddam,  and  afterward  at  New  London.  He 
was  so  engaged  when  the  new^s  reached  New  , 
London  of  the  engagement  at  Lexington,  and 
he  v/as  one  of  the  speakers  at  the  town  meet- 
ing that  was  called  at  onoe  to  consider  the  sit- 
uation. He  advised  immediate  action,  saying, 
"Let  us  march  immediately,  and  never  lay  down 
our  arms  until  we  have  obtained  our  independ- 
ence." He  at  once  enrolled  and  was  given  rank 
as  a  lieutenant.  After  the  siege  of  Boston,  in 
which  his  regiment  participated,  and  where  he 
was  promoted  to  a  captaincy,  he  was  ordered 
with  his  command  tO'  New  York.  There  he  dis- 
tinguished himiself  by  capturing  one  of  the  sup- 


486 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


ply  boats  carrying  provisions  to  the  gubernato- 
rial ship  of  refuge,  the  "Asia/"  and  the  pro- 
visions provided  quite  a  feast  for  his  soldiers. 
In  response  to  a  call  from  General  Washington, 
Hale  volunteered  to  pass  the  British  lines  in 
search  of  data,  and  in  the  guise  of  a  Loyalist 
schoolmaster  he  entered  most  of  the  British 
camps  on  Manhattan  and  Long  Islands,  esti- 
mating their  forces,  sketching  their  fortificationsj 
and  acquiring  other  information  which  he 
deemed  might  be  useful.  His  work  was  almost 
completed  on  Long  Island.  He  had  crossed 
the  sound  from  Norwalk,  landed  at  Huntington 


NATHAN   HALE. 

Harbor  at  a  point  called  the  Cedars,  and  tra- 
versed all  through  the  British  posts,  returning 
to  Huntington  according  to  a  date  previously 
arranged  about  two  weeks  later,  to  meet  a  boat 
that  was  to  take  him  back  to  Norwalk.  He  saw 
a  boat  on  the  morning  arranged  approach  the 
shore  of  Huntington  Bay,  and,  supposing  it  to 
be  the  one  he  waited  for,  stood  on  the  beach 
until   its    crew   was    landed.      Then   he    saw   he 


had  made  a  terrible  mistake,  and  the  lowered 
guns  pointing  at  him  made  escape  impossible. 
He  was  taken  on  board  a  prisoner,  and  rowed 
to  the  frigate  "Halifax,"  then  in  the  bay,  and 
the  evidence  found  concealed  in  his  boots  left 
no  doubt  of  his  guilt.  Hale  was  taken  to  New 
York  and  condemned  to  death  as  a  spy.  His 
exexcution  took  place  September  22.,  1776,  in 
New  York  City.  The  exact  place  is  not  known, 
although  it  is  generally  conceded  to  have  been 
elsewhere  than  in  City  Hall  Park,  where  Mac- 
Monnies'  statue  representing  Hale  just  before 
his  execution  now  stands. 

Huntington  is  proud 
of  its  association  with 
this  hero.  In  1894  a  neat 
fountain  lamp  was  erect- 
ed in  the  village  "to 
commemorate  the  patri- 
otism of  Nathan  Hale," 
and  on  the  shores  of  the 
bay,  near  the  scene  of  the 
capture,  a  boulder  weigh- 
ing, forty-five  tons  was 
laid  from  a  field  near  by. 
It  bears  three  massive 
bronze  memorial  tablets, 
one  of  which  repeats  a  part 
of  Hale's  words  when  he 
accepted  the  mission  which 
demanded  his  life,  'T  will 
undertake  it.  I  think  I  owe 
to  my  country  the  accom- 
plishment of  an  object  so 
important  and  so  much  de- 
sired by  the  commander  of 
her  armies,  --s^  =i^  *  Yet 
I  am  not  influenced  by  the 
expectation  of  promotion- or  pecuniary  reward.  I 
wish  to  be  useful,  and  every  kind  of  service  for  the 
public  good  becomes  honorable  by  being  necessary. 
If  the  exigencies  of  my  country  demand  a  peculiar 
service,  its  claim  to  the  performance  of  that  serv- 
ice is  imperious." 

The  story  of  "Hale's  Sacrifice"  was  told  by 
J.  S.  Babcock,  in  1844,  and  his  verses  are  an 
appropriate  tribute  to  the  memor}^  of  the  hero : 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


487 


"Full  stern  was  his  doom,  but  tuU  firmly  he  died, 

No  funeral  or  bier  they  made  him, 
Not  a  kind  eye  wept,  nor  a  warm  heart  sighed, 
.  O'er  the  spot  all  unknown  where  they  laid  him. 

"He  fell  in  the  spring  of  his  early  prime, 

With  his  fair  hopes  all  around  him; 
He  died  for  his  birth-land — 'a  glorious  Crime' 

E'er  the  palm  of  his  fame  had  crowned  him. 

"He  fell  in  her  darkness — he  lived  not  to  see 

The  morn  of  her  risen  glory; 
But  the  name  of  the  brave,  in  the  hearts  of  the  free, 

Shall  be  twined  in  her  deathless  story." 

The  general  history  of  the  war  with  Great 
Britain  in  1812  has  been  referred  to  in  a  pre- 
vious chapter,  and  does  not  pos'sess  particular 
interest  here.  Some  incidents  of  the  time,  how- 
ever, not  included  in  the  former  narrative,  may 
be  mentioned. 

A  romantic  incident  relating  to  two  wars 
is  preserved  by  the  descendants  of  Dr.  Potter, 
of  Huntington.  According  to  the  story,  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  while  sick  British  sol- 
diers and  sailors  were  quartered  upon  the  in- 
habitants, one  of  their  number,  a  midshipman, 
was  taken  to  the  home  of  Dr.  Potter,  whose  wife 
nursed  him  with  tender  care.  During  the  war 
of  1812  a  vessel  belonging  to  Dr.  Potter  was  cap- 
turned  by  the  enemy.  It  turned  out  that  the  cap- 
tor captain  was  ht  who  had  been  taken  care  of 
by  'Mrs.  Potter,  years  before,  and  in  grateful 
recognition  of  her  kindness  he  released  his  prize 
on  payment  of  a  nominal  ransom. 

Desertions  from  the  British  war  vessels 
which  infested  the  coast  and  sound'  waters  were 
numerous,  and  several  of  the  deserters  became 
permanent  residents  upon  Long  Island. 

The  histo.ry  of  one,  Thomas  H.  Deverell, 
was  a  veritable  romance.  A  very  reticent  man, 
he  confided  nothing  concerning  his  family  save 
to  one  very  intimate  friend,  who  never  mentioned 
the  circumstance  until  after  the  death  of  Dever- 
ell. According  to  his  statemen-t,  he  was  the  nat- 
ural son  of  an  English  duke,  whose  name  was 
withheld.  He  was  well  educated,  and  had  the 
manners  of  a  gentleman.  He  was  a  lieutenant 
in  the  British  navy,  on  board  the  "Endymion." 
He  became  involved  in  a  quarrel  at  the  card 
table  in  the  cabin  of  the  commander,  whom  he 
struck  in  the  face.    This  striking  a  superior  of- 


ficer, no  matter  under  what  circumstances,  was 
an  offense  of  the  utmost  gravity,  and  in  order 
to  escape  serious  punishment,  perhaps  death,  he 
determined  to  desert,  and  came  ashore  in  a  small 
boat,  secretly  aided  by  some  of  his  shipmates. 
From  1816  to  1818  he  was  a  school  teacher  at 
Babylon.  He  subsequently  married,  and  passed 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  at  Patchogue,  and 
died  at  Port  Jefferson,  about  i860. 

Another  deserter  was  William  Ingraham, 
who  also  made  his  home  in  Babylon.  Accord- 
ing to  his  own  story  he  was  a  sailor  on  board 
the  "Saturn."  He,  with  others  of  the  crew  who 
had  been  repeatedly  and  cruelly  flogged,  de- 
termined to  desert  at  the  first  opportunity,  which 
came  in  their  being  called  to  man  a  boat  to  at- 
tempt the  capture  of  an  American  merchantman. 
At  a  convenient  distance  from  the  ship,  the  sail- 
ors rose  at  a  given  signal,  overpowered  the  lieu- 
tenant in  charge  and  undertook  to  row  to  land. 
The  boat  was  capsized  in  the  surf,  and  the  lieu- 
tenant, who  was  bound,  was  drowned.  The  de- 
serters asserted  that  they  did  not  seek  to  ac- 
complish his  death,  but  that  it  was  impossible  to 
effect  his  rescue. 

The  part  taken  by  the  patriotic  people  of 
Brooklyn  and  Kings  during  the  Civil  War  has 
been  voluminously  written.  The  density  of 
population  in  that  city  and  county  made  it  con- 
venient and  easy  to  organize  entire  regiments 
and  companies  out  of  their  own  people,  and  these 
commands  have  always  been  closely  identified 
with  their  localities. 

Such  was  not  the  case  in  Queensi  and  Suf- 
folk counties,  where  the  population  was  compar- 
atively sparse,  and  scattered  over  a  wide  ex- 
panse of  territory.  For  this  reason  there  was 
no  large  distinct  organization  of  troops,  but  the 
volunteers,  for  the  greater  number,  formed  in 
squads  and  sunk  their  identity  in  a  company  or 
regiment  formed  in  larger  part  at  more  distant 
points. 

The  camps  of  rendezvous  and  instruction  in 
Queens  county  were  Camp  Winfield  Scott,  on 
Hempstead  Plains,  and  Camp  WoodhuU,  in 
Doughty's  Grove,  near  the  village  of  Queens. 
During  the  first  two  years  of  the  war  the  pa- 


488 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


triotic  and  military  spirit  ran  high,  and  every 
call  for  volunteers  was  promptly  met.  But  by 
the  summer  of  1863  the  enthusiasm'  waned,  and 
a  draft  of  1,603  "^^n  was  ordered  for  July  15, 
which  was  postponed  to  September,  owing  to 
the  breaking  out  of  an  anti-draft  riot  in  Jamaica, 
wlhen  tlie  equipment  of  the  enrolling  officers  and 
a  quantity  of  government  clothing  were  de- 
stroyed. The  draft  was  practically  -abandoned, 
but  another  was  ordered  and  made  September 
24,  1864,  the  quota  being  852  men.  Many  of 
the  men  required  for  military  service  during  the 
latter  years  of  the  war  were  procured  by  the 
payment  of  bounties  by  villages  and  the  county, 
the  amount  per  recruit  amounting  in  some  in- 
stances to  $600.  In  all,  Queens  county  expended 
for  war  purposes  the  tremendous  sum"  of  more 
than  one  and  one-quarter  million  dollars. 

The  only  distinctive  military  organization 
formed  in  Queens  county  was  what  was  gen- 
erally known  as  the  Flushing  (or  Roemer's) 
Battery,  and  its  history  is  sufficiently  notable  to 
command  extended  mention. 

The  Flushing  Battery  grew  out  of  the  Flush- 
ing Guards,  the  first  uniformed  military  organ- 
ization formed  in  the  town  from  which  it  took 
its  name.  The  Guards  were  a  light  infantry 
company,  attached  to  the  old  Ninety-third  regi- 
ment of  militia  in  1839,  and  on  the  occasion  of 
the  first  public  muster,  on  January  16,  1840,  it 
paraded  twenty-six  men.  It  attained  a  high  de- 
gree of  -excellence  in  drill,  and  was  the  pride  of 
the  village.  In  1843  i^  ^^^  reorganized  as  a 
company  of  artillery,  and  in  1845  ^'^  was  desig- 
nated as  light  artillery,  and  was  attached  to 
Storm's  famous  First  Brigade,  of  which  it  was 
an  important  part.  The  rapidity  and  precision 
of  its  evolutions  attracted  the  admiring  attention 
of  the  most  capable  and  critical  tacticians  in  the 
State,  w'ho  termed  it  "the  incomparable."  At 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  the  Bat- 
tery offered  its  services  to  the  government,  but 
it  was  not  needed,  and  the  men  were  obliged  to 
smother  their  military  ardor.  The  first  captain 
was  Charles  A.  Hamilton,  and  the  Battery  was 
known  by  his  name,  as  Hamilton  Battery,  even 
after  he  had  left  it  to  accept  promotion,  and  had 


been  succeeded  by  otiher  commanders,  William 
O.  Mitchell  and  Thomas  L.  Robinson,  in  turn. 

The  Hamilton  Light  Artillery,  as  it  was 
known,  volunteered  in  response  to  President 
Lincoln's  first  call  for  three  years'  service,  in 
1 861,  and  early  in  June  was  recruited  to  the 
full  complement  of  156  men.  The  officers  were: 
Captain  T.  L.  Robinson;  first  lieutenant  Jacob 
Roemer ;  second  lieutenant  Standish ;  third  lieu- 
tenant Hamilton,  and  fourth  lieutenant  Rowelle. 
The  battery  soon  departed  for  Washington. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1862,  it  was  reor- 
ganized tmder  Roemer  as  captain,  with  Rowelle, 
Standish,  Cooper  and  Heaseley  as  lieuten- 
ants, and  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Regi- 
ment, New  York  Light  Artillery,  as  Battery 
L.  The  battery  first  went  under  fire  at  Cedar 
Mountain,  August  9,  1862,  where  it  lost  a 
number  of  horses  killed.  At  the  battle  of 
Manas-sas  it  was  severely  engaged,  suffering, 
however,  no  casualties  on  the  first  day,  but  re- 
ceiving deadly  hurt  on  the  day  following,  when 
Captain  Roemer  and  thirteen  men  were  wound- 
ed and  twenty  horses  were  killed.  In  this  severe 
ordeal — being  charged  by  an  overwhelming 
force  of  the  enemy — the  battery  performed  su- 
perb work,  firing  as  many  as  fifty-six  rounds  in 
five  minutes.  At  Antietam,  September  16-17 
following,  it  covered  the  infantry  force  sent  to 
charge  the  bridge,  and  lost  two  men  wounded 
and  three  horses  killed.  During  the  months  fol- 
lowing, the  battery  was  engaged  in  the  campaign 
against  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  and  later  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  Falmouth. 

In  Febniary,  1863,  Roemer's  Battery  was 
transferred  to  the  ]\Iilitary  Division  of  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  joined  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  J\Iajor- 
General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside  commanding,  under 
who^m  it  campaigned  through  Kentucky  in  pur- 
suit of  Mosby.  On  June  3,  1863,  it  marched 
for  Vicksburg,  arriving  in  front  of  that  famous 
stronghold  on  the  i8tJi,  and  talcing  position  at 
Haines'  Bluff.  The  gallant  Long  Islanders  wit- 
nessed on  that  doubly  historic  Fourth  of  July, 
the  raising  of  the  national  flag  over  the  city, 
and  saw  the  tremendous  fleets  of  war  vessels  of 
all    descriptions    and   merchant    craft    enter   the 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


489 


harbor  which  had  been  closed  to  commerce  and 

had  defied  gun  and  mortar  boats  for  upwards  of 
two  years.  The  very  same  day  Roemer's  Battery 
marched  with  Sherman  to  Jackson,  Mississippi, 
then  held  by  an  army  commanded  by  General  Jo- 
seph E.  Johnson,  and  bombarded  the  enemy's 
Ihies  for  six  days  and  until  the  city  was  taken. 

Immediately  afterward  the  battery  marched 
to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  then  by  way  of 
Cumberland  Gap  to  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and 
served  in  all  the  operations  about  that  place,  in 
resisting  the  advance  of  Longstreet,  and  during 
this  time  the  battery  was  almost  constantly  en- 
gaged, and  Captain  Roem-er  for  five  days  and 
nights  went  without  sleep  save  as  he  dozed 
in  the  saddle.  During  the  dreadful  siege  of 
Knoxville  the  battery  was  reduced  to  the  point 
of  starvation,  subsisting  upon  a  daily  ration  of 
one-fourth  of  a  pound  of  hard  bread,  and  con- 
stantly engaged  with  the  enemy,  at  times  at  such 
close  raii'ge  that  short-time  shells  were  used  as 
hand-grenades.  In  the  final  assault  by  the  rebel 
columns,  a  major  reached  one  of  Roemer's  guns, 
and,  laying  his  hand  upon  the  piece,  shouted: 
''Cease  firing !  the  gun  is  ours  !"  But  the  gunner 
drew  his  lanyard,  and  the  major  and  fourteen 
of  his  men  went  down.  Seven  hundred  of  the 
charging  column  threw  down,  their  arms  and 
surrendered,  and  the  remainder  of  the  attack- 
ing force  withdrew.  By  this  time  Sherman's 
troops   were   in   sight   and   the  siege   was   over. 

Until  January  19,  1864,  Roemer's  Battery 
was  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  Longsitreet,  and 
in  other  operations  in  Tennessee.  In  February  it 
was  ordered  to  the  east,  and  arrived  on  Feb- 
ruary 9th  in  Albany,  New  York,  where  it  was 
reviewed  by  Governor  Morgan,  and  given  a 
new  designation,  that  of  the  Thirty-fourth  New 
York  Independent  Light  Battery. 

It  was  during  the  wonderful  dangers  and 
hardships  of  the  Knoxville  campaign  that  the 
mei  of  Roemer's  Battery  gave  a  splendid  ex- 
hibition of  their  unflinching  courage  and  siuperb 
patriotism.  The  period  of  service  of  the  great 
bulk  of  the  Union  army  was  nearing  its  end,  and 
the  government  had  made  its  appeal  to  the  troops 
in  the  field  to  re-enlist  for  another  term  of  three 


years  or  during  the  war.  Half-starved,  ragged 
and  barefoot,  and  constantly  under  the  enemy's 
fire,  Roemer's  gallant  gunners  re-enlisted  almost 
to  a  man.  By  the  terms  of  their  re-enlistment, 
the  men  were  to  be  permitted  a  thirty-days'  fur- 
lough, and  of  this  they  now  took  advantage. 

It  was  a  gala  day  for  soldiers  and  populace 
when,  after  being  reviewed  by  the  Governor  at 
the  State  capital,  Roemer's  Battery,  on  February 
10,  1864,  proudly  marched  into  Flushing,  their 
home  town.  But  their  ranks  were  sadly  depleted 
by  the  casualties  of  war.  But  two  of  the  five 
officers  remained,  and  the  156  men  were  reduced 
to  69,  But  theirs  was  a  splendid  record.  They 
had  fought  in  some  of  the  most  hotly  contested 
battles  of  the  war,  in  the  west  as  well  as  in  the 
east,  and  they  had  journeyed  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand miles  during  their  two  years'  service. 

The  manner  of  their  greeting  by  the  people 
of  their  home  town  was  spontaneous  and  hearty. 
The  town  was  theirs  and  the  fullness  thereof, 
and  the  most  dignified  of  the  men  and  the  dainti- 
est of  the  women  were  eloquent  in  their  praise 
and  their  willing  servants.  Clergymen,  judges, 
lawyers  and  physicians,  stately  dames  and  splen- 
didly attired  society  damsels,  dined  them  in  pub- 
lic and  in  private,  and  hung  upon  their  words 
during  their  entire  stay. 

But  Captain  Roemer  and  his  batterymen  did 
not  give  all  their  time  to  banquets  and  balls. 
Each  man  was  an  earnest  volunteer  recruiting 
officer,  and,  when  the  furlough  had  expired, 
eighty-five  new  men  went  to  the  front  with  the 
war-seasoned  veterans.  The  Thirty-fourth  New 
York  Battery,  as  it  was  now  known,  with  the 
Ninth  Army  Corps,  to  which  it  was  attached, 
crossed  the  Rapidan  on  May  4,  1864,  and  at  once 
engaged  the  enemry.  On  the  12th  occurred  the 
battle  at  Spottsylvania  Court- House,  which  was 
one  of  the  most  desperate  in  which  it  was  ever 
engaged.  At  times,  in  repelling  repeated  charges, 
its  guns  fired  seven  rounds  per  minute — ex- 
tremely rapid  work  in  those  days  oi  muzzle  load- 
ing and  primer  firing — and  durmg  the  action  it 
expended  a  total  of  1,800  rounds  of  ammunition, 
short-range  shell,  grape  and  canister.  Five  of 
the  batterymen  were  wounded,  among  them  Cap- 


490 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


tain  Roemer,  who  was  nO't  yet  recovered  from 
his  wound  received  at  the  west.  But  to  him 
came  such  reward  as  the  soldier  covets,  and  his 
men  gladly  rejoiced  with  him  when  he  was  noti- 
fied that  President  Lincoln  had  ordered  his  pro- 
motion to  the  rank  of  major  by  brevet,  "for  mer- 
itorious service  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  par- 
ticularly on  the  1 2th  of  May,  1864."  March 
25,  1865,  the  rebels,  after  a  desperate  night 
attack,  succeeded  in  capturing  Fort  Stead- 
mian.  Turning  its  thirteen  guns  upon  an  adja- 
cent work.  Fort  McGilvery,  the  victorious  en- 
emy, under  cover  of  a  heavy  fire,  undertook  its 
capture  by  a  vigorous  charge.  Fort  McGilvery, 
was  manned  by  Roemer's  Battery,  whose  guns 
were  so  well  served  that  the  onslaught  failed. 
At  the  very  mo^ment  of  the  repulse  occurred  the 
explosion  of  a  32-pounder  gun  worked  by  the 
rebels.  One  of  Major  Roemer's  men  was  killed 
by  his  side,  and  he  himself  was  savagely  wound- 
ed, his  collar  bone  being  crushed  in  and  his 
shoulder  severely  bruised  by  a  fragment  of  the 
piece. 

A  few  days  later  and  Lee  surrendered. 
Shortly  afterwards  Roemer  turned  his  guns,  over 
to  the  ordnance  department,  and  he  and  his  men 
embarked  for  Hart's  Island,  where  they  were 
mustered  out  of  service  on  June  21,  1865.  Dur- 
its  term  of  service,  a  few  days  more  than  four 
years,  the  battery  had  traveled  over  18,000  miles, 
and  had  taken  part  in  fifty-seven  engagements, 
and  fired  10,073  rounds.  It  had  gone  into  service 
with  156  men,  and  its  total  enrollment  by  re- 
enlistment  and  recruiting  was  585  men ;  of  these 
twenty  had  been  killed,  many  more  were  wound- 
ed, and  118  were  l}orne  upon  its  rolls  at  the  end. 

The  splendid  soldier  who  commanded  this 
battery  throughout  the  war,  Major  Jacob 
Roemer,  was  a  German  by  nativity,  born  in 
Hesse  Darmstadt,  April  3,  1818.  He  had  a 
military  training,  having  served  in  the  German 
cavalry.  He  came  to  America  when  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  locating  in  New  York  City. 
In  1842  he  removed  to  Flushing.  He  enlisted 
in  the  old  Hamilton  Battery  of  Light  Artillery 
in  1845,  ^^^  passed  through  the  various  grades 
to  that  of  captain,  after  a  competitive  examina- 


tion, when  the  battery  was  reorganized  for  war 
service.  He  was  for  some  time  chief  of  artillery 
on  the  staff  of  Major-General  Wilcox,  and  as 
during  this  period,  his  own  battery  was  included 
among  those  of  which  he  had  charge,  he  was 
practically  its  commander  during  the  entire 
Civil  war.  After  peace  was  restored  he  en- 
gaged in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in  the  city 
which  had  previously  been  his  homie. 

No  complete  regiment  was  formed  in  Suffolk 
county,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-seventh  Regiment  came  from 
it,  the  larger  number  from  the  towns  of  Southold, 
Huntington,  East  Hampton  and  Southampton. 
The  two  towns  last  named  ako  contributed  a 
considerable  number  to  the  Eighty-first  New 
York  Regiment.  A  company  in  the  Twelfth 
New  York  Regiment  was  from  Patchogue.  In 
the  One  Hundred  and  Second  New  York  Regi- 
m^ent  were  a  number  of  men  from  Huntington 
and  elsewhere  in  the  county.  The  county  was 
also  represented  in  the  Second,  Sixth  and  Elev- 
enth Regiments  of  New  York  Cavalry,  and  in 
other  commands. 

In  Huntington  Captain  Walter  R.  Hewlett 
organized  a  company  at  Cold  Spring  early  in 
1862,  chiefly  made  up  of  young  men  from  the 
town  and  from  Oyster  Bay.  Company  E,  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  New  York 
Regiment,  was  also  from  this  town,  and  was 
commanded  by  Captain  Hewlett  J.  Long,  with 
George  S.  Sammis  as  first  lieutenant.  The  war 
also  brought  into  active  service,  after  he  had 
been  officially  retired,  a  veteran  whose  home 
'had  been  in  Huntington  for  many  years.  This 
was  Admiral  Hiram  K.  Paulding,  a  son  of  John 
Paulding,  one  oif  the  trio  which  captured  Major 
Andre.  On  July  16,  1862,  he  obtained  the  rank 
of  rear  admiral  and  was  in  command  of  the 
Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  until  ]\Iay,  1865,  when  he 
returned  to  Huntington  and  again  resumed  the 
pleasures  of  private  citizenship.  He  died  there 
October  20,  1878. 

Fluntington  manifested  "splendid  patriotism 
from  the  very  outset.  The  entire  expenditures  of 
the  town,  for  war  purposes,  amounted  to  about  a 
quarter  million  dollars,  and  all  the  bonds  issued 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


491 


were  redeemed  within  four  years  after  peace  was 
restored.  In  1865  Hon.  Henry  G.  Scudder,  who 
had  been  among  the  foremost  at  every  stage  of  the 
great  war  drama  in  rendering  aid  to  the  govern- 
ment, in  providing  for  its  defenders,  and  in  hon- 
oring the  memory  of  those  of  their  number  who 
had  yielded  up  their  lives  for  l.he  Union,  deliv- 
ered an  intensely  patriotic  address  before  a  pub- 
lic meeting  in  Huntington,  and  moved  the  begin- 
ning of  a  popular  subscription  for  the  erection 
of  a  soldiers'  monument.  Eventually  the  project 
took  the  form  of  a  library  establishment,  and 
this  was  ultimately  brought  to  success  and  the 
Soldiers'  Memorial  Library  now  stands  an  en- 
during tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  patriot 
dead,  whose  remains,  in  some  instances,  lie  far 
away  in  unmarked  and  now  obliterated  graves. 

Smi'thtown  responded  patriotically  to  every 
.  call  made  for  troops,  and  made  provision  for 
filling  all  its  draft  quotas  and  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  the  famihes  of  volunteers.  The  town  of 
Southampton  and  particularly  the  village  of  that 
name  and  that  of  Bridgehampton.,  contributed  a 
number  of  men  to  the  Eighty-first  New  York 
Regiment.  This  fine  body  of  men  went  out  un- 
der the  command  of  Colonel  Edwin  Rose,  of 
Bridgehampton,  who  had  beeni  elected  supervisor 
in  1 861,  and  who  had  resigned  that  office  to 
enter  the  army,  and  who  died  January  12,  1864, 
at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  where  he  was  serving 
as  provost  marshal,  having  been  incapacitated 
for  field  duty.  The  military  record  of  the  town- 
ship and  of  the  localities  named,  is,  however, 
more  intimately  connected  with  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-seventh  Regiment,  New  York 
Volunteers,  commanded  by  Colonel  Stewart  L. 
Woodford. 

His  mother  (Susan  Terry)  was  born  in  South- 
old,  whither  her  ancestors  had  come  in  1690. 
With  a  sentimental  regard  for  the  region,  and 
with  an  acquaintance  there  which  assured  him  a 
favorable  reception,  he  went  to  Southampton,  and 
attended  a  special  town  meeting  on  October  23, 
1862,  called  to  take  action  with  reference  to 
securing  212  volunteers  in  order  to  avoid  an 
expected  draft.  At  this  meeting  Colonel  Wood^ 
ford  made  a  patriotic  appeal  to  the  young  men 


df  the  place  and  neighborhood,  and  he  was 
strongly  instrumental  in  enlisting  almost  one- 
half  the  number  of  recruits  required.  The  first 
to  respond  was  Peter  Whittle,  a  young  man  who 
had  been  in  the  employ  of  Joseph  Horton,  at 
Southampton ;  he  served  creditably  until  the  end 
of  the  war,  and  was  lately  living  in  Sag  Harbor. 
The  remaining  nurhber  of  recruits  necessary 
were  obtained  in  New  York '  City.  The  regi- 
ment made  a  splendid  record  during  its  term 
of  service,  but  it  was  not  long  to  be  commanded 
by  the  gallant  Woodford,  who  was  rapidly  ad- 
vanced to  more  important  positions,  eventually 
winning  for  himself  a  fame  which  v^'as  and  is 
national,  and  of  which  the  few  survivors  of  his 
old  command  yet  living  .upon  Long  Island  are 
justly  proud. 

The  great  majority  of  the  soldiers  were 
honorable  and  patriotic  rhen,  who  gave  their 
services  to  their  country  without  pecuniary  con- 
siderations. Indeed,  at  the  outset,  the  volun- 
teers went  entirely  without  bounty,  and  in  ignor- 
ance of  whether  they  were  to  receive  pay  at  all. 
The  writer  knows,  from'  his  own  experience,  that 
when  a  paymaster  came  into  camp,  early  in  1861, 
and  the  men  were  assembled,  each  to  receive 
$26  for  two  months'  service,  they  were  really 
surprised.  They  had  enlisted  as  a  high  duty, 
which  they  esteemed  it  a  privilege  to  discharge. 
Of  such  stuff  were  the  gallant  fellows  who, 
Long  Islanders  among  them,  took  the  dreadful 
four-years  hammering  borne  by  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  to  conquer  at  the  end,  and  others 
who  went  west  to  succor  Grant  and  Sherman, 
and  fought  at  Vicksburg  and  Atlanta,  and  scaled 
nature's  giant  work.  Lookout  Mountain,  with 
its  belching  artillery  and  tornado  of  rifle  balls. 
He  who  so  fought,  and,  as  did  thousands,  gave 
up  his  life  in  the  splendid  endeavor,  is  he  who 
has  been  idealized  in  song  and  story  and  in 
marble  and  bronze,  and  his  example  is  held  up  for 
perpetual  inspiration   to  succeeding  generations. 

After  more  than  four  years  'of  horrible  war 
came  the  sunshine  of  peace.  The  armies  of  the 
Union  were  disbanded.  The  real  soldier  re- 
turned a  broadened  man,  filled  with  a  new  en- 
thusiasm."   He  resumed  his  place  in  the  business 


492 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


world  or  in  such  occupation  as  he  was  fitted  for, 
or  pushed  out  into  new  fields  of  enterprise.  To 
him  was  due  the  mlarvelous  building  up  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  region.  He  led  the  vanguard  of 
civilization  in  the  unexplored  places  of  the  land, 
building  up  communities  and  creating  States, 
planting  everywhere  the  schoolhouse,  the 
church  and  the  printing  pres'S,  and  leading  into- 
channels  of  thrift  and  enterprise  all  who  gath- 
ered about  him  or  he  passed  beyond  the  confines 
of  his  own  land,  traveling  beyond  the  seas, 
spreading  commerce  and  invention,  to^  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  own  fortune  and  to  the  honor 
of  his  country. 

But  there  was  prouder  distinction  for  him — 
pride  of  ancestry  and  pride  in  his  posterity. 
Albeit  remotely,  his  grandsire  had  been  his 
schoolmaster  and  drill  sergeant.  The  story  of 
the  achievements  of  that  grandsire  had  been  re- 
cited in  every  schoolhouse  in  the  land  for  more 
than  three-quarters  of  a  century.  The  gun  which 
he  handed  down  was  obsolete,  and  so  were  his 
awkward  manual  of  arms  and  tactical  move- 
ments. But  he  had  transmitted  to  his  descend- 
ants the  flag  of  a  nation  oif  his  own  making,  and 
his  own  brilliant  courage,  remarkable  endurance 
and  indomitable  resolution.  Splendid  was  the 
inheritance,  and  splendidly  did  he  who  hecame 
the  Patriot  Veteran  of  1861-5  make  use  of  the 
spirit  and  talents  with  which  he  had  been  en- 
dowed by  him  w*ho'  had  fought  at  Brooklyn,  at 
Monmou'th,  at  Saratoga  and  at  Yorktown.  But, 
proud  as  he  was  of  his  ancestor  and  of  himself, 
he  was'  far  more  proud  of  his  own  boy,  who, 
moved  by  intensest  patriotism,  entered  the  ranks 
with  cheerful  alacrity.  That  there  wasi  little  op- 
portunity for  the  American  Volunteeer  of  1898 
to  display  his  prowess  in  the  war  with  Spain, 
detracts  nothing  from  the  honor  belonging  to 
him.  Indeed,  in  his  own  person,  he  well  nigh 
completed  the  work  which  had  engaged  his  sire 
in  the  years  before — the  complete  welding  of  the 
States  into  a  truly  indissoluble  Union.  For  he, 
son  of  one  who  had  fought  under  Grant  and 
Sherman,  marched  side  by  side  with  the  son  of 
another  who  had  fought  under  Lee  and  Johns- 
ton, ,and  the  two  lads  were  as  close  friends  and 


as  enthusiastic  followers  of  a  common  flag  as 
their  fathers  had  been  of  hostile  banners. 

Following  after  the  blowing  up  of  the  battle- 
ship "Maine,"  in  the  harbor  of  Havana,  Cuba, 
President  McKinley,  on  April  23,  1898,  issued 
hisi  proclamation  calling  out  75,000  volunteers. 
The  response  of  the  State  of  New  York  was 
gratifyingly  prompt.  On  the  27th,  but  two  days 
later,  Camp  Black  (nam'ed  in  honor  of  Gover- 
nor Frank  S.  Black),  was  established  on  Hemp- 
stead Plains,  near  Hempstead,  Long  Island, 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Major-Gen- 
eral Charles  F.  Roe,  commanding  the  National 
Guard  of  the  State  of  New  York.  By  May  2, 
there  were  in  camp  8,000  men,  the  total  call  upon 
the  State  being  for  twelve  regiments  of  infantry 
and  two  troops  of  cavalry,  approximately  some-' 
thing  more  than  twelve  thousand  men.  The 
commands  thus  prompt  to  respond  were  the  ist, 
2d,  3d,  13th  (fourth  battalon),  14th,  65th,  69th 
and  71st  Regiments,  which  were  formed  into 
three  brigades.  May  2,  President  McKinley 
called  upon  the  State  for  an  additional  force  of 
4,308  men.  May  3  a  postoffice  and  telegraph 
office  were  established.  On  the  same  evening  the 
47th  Regiment  arrived,  and  on  the  9th  the  in- 
complete 22d  Regiment  came  into  camp  and 
was  filled  up  by  having  assigned  to  it  the  four 
battalions  of  the  13th  Regiment. 

On  May  10,  the  71st  Regiment  was  mus- 
tered into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and 
went  to  Key  West,  Florida,  whence  it  sailed  for 
Cuba,  and  was  soon  heard  of  for  its  gallant 
achievements  at  San  Juan  Hill  and  the  siege  of 
Santiago  de  Cuba.  On  May  12,  Governor 
Black  reviewed  the  troopsi  in  camp,  nine  regi- 
ments of  infantry  and  two  troops  of  cavalry. 
The  71st  was  the  only  New  York  regiment  en- 
gaged in  active  .service.  The  others  were  sent  to 
various  points — Camp  Alger,  Virginia,  and  else- 
where, holding  themselves  ready  for  orders  to 
take  the  field — orders  which  were  not  given, 
there  being  no  necessity,  in  view  of  the  startling 
rapidity  with  which  the  war  was  brought  to  an 
end. 

After  May  25,  Camp  Black  was  commanded 
by  Brigadier-General  Pennington,  U.  S.  V.    The 


IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 


498 


health  of  the  troops  was  excellent  during  their 
stay  in  camp,  and,  as  a  general  thing,  the  best  of 
order  was  maintained,  the  breaches  of  the  peace 
being  of  a  minor  character,   but  only   such  as 


thousands  of  high  spirited  young  men  released 
from  all  social  restraints,  and  tmaware  of  the 
stern  discipline  necessary  to  perfect  them  in  the 
school  of  the  soldier.    Their  only  regret  was  want 


might  be  expected  at  the  sudden  assembling  of     of  opportunity  to  take  the  field. 


WHALE  KILLED  AT  SOUTHAMPTON,  FEB.  17,  18B2. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


WHALE  FISHING— MENHADEN  FISHING— OYSTERING. 


EXT  to  farming,  the  oldest  business  in 
this  country  is  catching  whales,  and  the 
towns  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island 
from  the  earliest  times  enj  oyed  f rora 
the  pursuit  a  source  of  revenue  which  the  inland 
towns  did  not  possess.  At  the  time  of  the  settle- 
ment, whales  were  very  plentiful,  and  dead  ones 
were  frequently  found  drifted  upon  the  shores, 
and  were  considered  the  especial  gift  of  Provi- 
dence. 

On  March  7,  1644,  it  was  ordered  by  the 
court  in  Southampton  "That  yt  by  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  there  shall  be  henceforth  within 
the  bounds  of  this  plantacon  any  whale  or 
whales  cast  up  For  the  prevention  of  disorder 
yt  is  consented  unto  that  there  shall  be  foure 
wards  in  this  towne.  Eleven  persons  in  each 
ward,  and  by  lott  two  of  each  ward  (if  any  such 
whales  shall  be  cajst  up)  shall  be  employed  for 
the  cutting  out  of  the  sayde  whales,  who  for 
their  paynes  shall  have  a  double  share.  And 
every  inhabitant  with  his  child  or  servant  that  is  • 
above  sixteene  years  of  age  shall  have  in  the  di- 
vision of  the  other  part  an   equal  proportion." 


It  was  also  added  that,  after  every  storm,  two 
persons  should  go  along  the  beach  from  the 
"south  harbor"  (which  was  doubtless  an  inlet 
from  the  ocean  to  Shinn«cock  Bay)  to  the  third 
pond  beyond  Mecox,  to  see  if  any  whales  were 
drifted  up.  To  ensure  their  fidehty,  it  was  also 
added  that  if  they  did  not  "faythfully  perform 
their  duty"  they  should  "either  pay  ten  shillings 
or  else  be  whipped." 

In  1645  it  was  "ordered  by  the  General  Court 
that  yt  by  the  providence  of  God  any  whale  or 
whales  or  any  part  of  a  whale  should  be  cast  up 
within  the  limits  of  this  towne,  noe  man  shall 
presume  to  take  or  carry  away  any  part  thereof, 
upon  the  forfeiture  of  Twentie  shillimgsi."  "And 
whosoever  shall  find  or  espie  eyther  whale  or 
whales,  upon  notice  given  to  the  magistrates  shall 
have  for  his  paynes  five  shillings."  It  was  very 
characteristic  of  the  Puritan  times  that  it  was  or- 
dered that  if  any  one  found  a  whale  on  the 
Lord*s  day  the  five  shillings  should  not  be  paid. 
They  did  not  think  it  proper  for  people  to  be 
looking  out  for  whales  on  Sunday. 

In  1650  the  first  whaling  company  was  form- 


WHALE  FISHING— MENHADEN  FISHING— OYSTERING. 


495 


ed,  the  town  voting  that  Mr.  John  Ogden,  Sr., 
and  his  company  have  the  privilege  of  killing 
whales  upon  the  south  sea  (the  ocean)  for  the 
space  of  seven  years.  This  was  on  the  condition 
that  he  "should  proceed  in  the  same  designs  and 
do  not  delay,  hut  do  something  effectual  in  the 
business  within  a  year,"  and  he  was  not  to  have 
any  claim  to  the  dead  Avhales  that  floated  upon 
the  shores.  At  that  time,  whales  sometimes 
came  into  Shinnecock  Bay,  for  it  was  expressly 
agreed  that  the  company  ''should  not  meddle 
with  them."  What  success  this  company  had  we 
do  not  know. 

In  1653  the  male  iniliabitants  of  the  town  were 
divided  into  four  ^'Squadrons"  for  cutting  out 
the  whales  that  drifted  on  shore.  Each  ''Squad- 
ron" was  to  take  its  turn  and  draw  the  blubber 
above  highwater  mark.  It  was  then  carted  to  the 
town  pond  and  tried  into  oil. 

Shortly  after  this  it  seems  that  boats  were 
built  and  whaling  companies  were  regularly  or- 
ganized for  killing  whales  along  the  coast.  The 
lack  O'f  white  men  to  man  the  boats  was  made  up 
by  hiring  Indians^  In  November,  1670,  two  In- 
dians, Towsacon  and  Philip,  made  a  regular  con- 
tract to  go  to  sea  for  Josias  Laughton.  "for  the 
term  of  three  compleat  seasons"  "for  ye  killing 
and  striking  of  whales  and  other  great  fish." 
They  also  agreed  "to  .attend  all  opportunities  to 
goe  to  sea  for  ye  promoting  ye  said  design.  In 
consideration  of  their  services,  Josias  Laughton 
agrees  to  pay  them  for  every  season  "three  In- 
dian coats,  and  one  pair  of  shoes  (or  a  buck  neck 
to  make  them),  one  payre  of  stockings,  three 
pounds  of  shot,  ihalf  a  pound  of  powder  and  a 
bushel  of  Indian  corne." 

In  June,  the  same  year,  Atungquion,  an  In- 
dian, agrees  "to  go  whaling  for  Anthony  Lud- 
1am  and  his  company  for  the  next  season,  and  is 
to  receive  one  coat  before  going  to  sea,  one  when 
the  season'  is  half  over,  and  one  at  the  expiration 
of  the  term  (or  a  pot  instead  of  one  coat)  and  a 
pair  of  shoes  and  stockings,  one-half  pound  of 
powder  and  three  pounds  of  shot."  Akuctatus, 
another  Indian,  agrees  to  whale  for  Arthur 
Howell  "during  the  next  whaling  season"  and  he 


is  to  have  4  coats,  one  pair  of  shoes  and  stock- 
ings, one  bushel  of  Indian  corne,  one-half  pound 
of  powder  and  3  pounds  of  shot." 

These  whaling  companies  had  each  their  own 
station,  along  the  shore,  the  whole  length  of  the 
town,  and  a  great  many  contracts  like  the  above 
are  on  record.  The  result  was  that  large  num- 
bers of  whales  were  taken,  from  which  a  great 
many  barrels  of  oil  were  obtained.  This  was 
shipped  on  sloops  to  New  England  and  New 
York,  and  from  thence  to  England.  The  second 
church  bell  in  Southampton  was  paid  for  in 
whale  oil,  and  the  business  soon  assumed  dimen- 
sions out  oi  all  proportion  to  the  number  of  in- 
habitants. Indeed,  the  fame  of  these  shores  ex- 
tended to  the  older  countries,  and  many 
fishermen  came  from  the  British  and  adjacent 
waters. 

It  seems  that  before  the  coming  of  the  whites 
the  Indians  had  made  some  use  of  the  drifted 
whales,  for,  in  1658,  Wyandance,  the  Indian 
Sachem,  granted  to  Lion  Gardiner,  the  South 
beach,  west  of  Southampton,  but  makes  the  res- 
ervation, "But  the  whales  that  shall  he  cast  upon 
the  beach  shall  belong  toi  me,  and  the  rest  of  the 
Indians,  in  their  bounds,  as  they  have  been  an- 
ciently granted  to  them  by  my  forefathers." 

In  1675  Richard  Howell  and  Joseph  Raynor 
hire  Jonaquam  and  six  other  Indians  to  whale 
for  the  season  "for  a  half  share  of  blubber  and 
whalebone,  and  Richard  Howell  is  to  provide 
craft  and  boats."  All  these  contracts  were 
signed  before  many  witnesses,  for  the  Indians 
were  very  fickle  and  ready  to  "back  out"  from 
their  agreements  on  the  slightest  pretext. 

In  1677  James  Herrick  and  another  hire 
twelve  Indians  to  whale  for  them  "for  the  season, 
for  one-half  a  share "  In  1680  Sequanah,  an 
Indian,  agrees  with  Jonathan  Hildreth  and  John 
Carwithy  "to  try  all  the  blubber  they  can  procure. 
They  are  to  cart  the  pots  and  wood,  and  he  is  to 
cut  the  wood,  and  is  to  have  2  shillings  six  pence 
a  barrel  for  trying  the  oil." 

In  1687  there  were  fourteen  whaling  com- 
panies of  twelve  men  each  in  the  town  of  South- 
ampton, as  follows : 


496 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


Barrels. 

At  Ketchapanack,  John  Jessup  and  Co 96 

At  Quaquanantuck,  Thomas  Stephens  &  Co.  264 

At  Quaquanantuck,  James  Cooper  &  Co. .  .  144 

At  ye  Pines,  Joseph  Pierson  &  Co 240 

At  ye  Pines,  John  Post  &  Co 228 

Tt  Towne,  Francis  Sayre  &  Co 132 

At  Wickapogue,  Isaac  Raynor  &  Co 48 

At  Wickapogue,  Abraham  Howell  &  Co.  . .  36 

At  Meacocks,  John  Cooke  &  Co 72 

At  Meacocks,  Joseph  Moore  &  Co 120 

At  Saggaponack,  Lieut.  Henry  Pierson  &  Co.  276 

At  Saggaponack,  Robert  Norris  &  Co' 108 

At  Saggaponack,  James  Topping  &  Co.  . .  .  84 

At  Sagg'aponack,  Shamgar  Hand  &  Co.  . .  .  300 

2,148 

The  same  year  Easit  Hampton  reports  1,456 
barrels  of  oil  on  hand.  In  171 1  the  total  amount 
on  hand  in  Southampton  and  East  Hampton  on 
April  18,  was  252  barrels,  but  probably  the  great- 
est part  of  the  catch  for  that  season  had  been  .ship- 
ped to  New  York  or  London. 

From  a  letter  written  by  Francis  Pelletreau,  of 
SO'Uthampton,  to  Stephen  De  Lancey,  merchant, 
in  New  York,  dated  February  17,  1732,  we  learn 
that  eleven  whales  had  been'  killed  that  season. 
Six  of  them'  made  220  barrels  O'f  oil  and  1500 
pounds  of  whalebone.  We  also  learn  incidentally 
that  it  was  not  customary  to  tow  the  dead  whales 
ashore,  but,  as  the  prevailing  winds  were  favor- 
able, they  generally  drifted  on  shore. 

The  Royal  Governors  claimed  the  right  to 
license  the  whaling  compandes.  It  appears  b}^ 
record  at  Albany  that,  in  1711,  Governor  Robert 
Hunter  claimed  and  took  one-half  of  the  oil  and 
bone  captured  by  the  companies  in  Southampton 
licensed  by  himself.  The  same  year  he  granted 
to  Richard  Wood  the  sole  privilege  of  claiming 
the  chance  whales  stranded  on  the  beach,  the 
Governor  reserving  as  before  one-half  of  the  oil 
and  bone.  To  obtain  relief  from  the  burdens, 
Samuel  Mulford,  of  East  Hampton',  as  agent  for 
the  two  towns,  went  to  England  and  made  appli- 
cation to-  Parliament  for  relief  and  was  fortun- 
ately successful. 

In  the  town  of  Brookhaven:  the  business  was 
not  carried  on  as  extensively  as  in  the  eas-tern 


towns.  On  June  17,  1667,  the  town  of  Brook- 
haven  instructed  Daniel  Lane  ''to  speke  to  hi^ 
Honor  the  Governor,  concerning  the  whales  at 
the  south,  that  comes  within  our  bounds,  to  'be  at 
our  disposing."  On  the  23d  of  March  following, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  bought  of  Tobacus,. 
the  Sachem  of  Unkachaug,  the  right  to  all  the 
whales  that  should  come  upon  the  beach  within. 
the  bounds  of  their  patent.  For  this  right  they 
agreed  to  pay  five  pounds  in  wampum,  or  some 
other  commodity  for  each  whale  they  received. 
A  comvenient  place  was  designated  as  a  place  for 
trying  out  the  oil,  and  they  agreed  to  give  three 
fathoms  of  wampum  to  anyone  that  should  in- 
form them  of  the  coming  of  a  whale  upon  the 
beach,  and  ten  fathoms  for  bringing  a  whale 
round  to  the  place  agreed  upon.  In  1687  the 
town  trustees  directed  the  assessors  to  raise  a  tax 
a  part  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  whale  oil  (39 
barrels)  at  20  shillings  a  barrel.  Some  idea  of  the 
magnitude  of  the  source  of  profit  may  be  gained 
from  the  Report  of  Earl  Bellmont,  July  22,  1699,. 
in  which  he  declares  that  Colonel  William  Smith, 
of  the  Manor  of  St.  George,  admitted  to  him 
that  he  had  in  a  single  year  cleared  £500  from  the 
whales  taken  along  the  beach  claimed  by  him. 
A  company  of  men  under  the  direction  of  Ste- 
phen Bayley,  previous  to  1693,  were  engaged  in 
whaling  from  the  shore  and  had  a  station  which 
appears  to  have  been  very  near  the  bounds  be- 
tween Brookhaven  and  Southampton,  and  was 
called  ''Bayley's  Stage,"  which  was  a  look-out 
from  whence  they  could  discover  a  whale  some 
distance  at  sea.  This  continued  in  use  for  many 
years.  When  vessels  were  first  fitted  out  for  the 
enterprise,  we  do  not  know,  but,  as  early  as  1761 
Nathan  Fordham,  Jr.,  and  James  Foster  obtained 
the  privilege  of  building  a  wharf  and  setting  up  a 
try  house  at  Sag  Harbor.  Sloops  which  cruised 
along  the  shore  after  killing  whales,  carried  the- 
blubber  to  these  try  works,  and  this  practice  con- 
tinued until  vessels  of  greater  size  and  fully 
equipped  ventured  upon  longer  voyages,  which 
in  after  years  extended  to  the  most  distant  por- 
tions of  the  globe.  After  the  Revolution,  the 
business  very  rapidly  increased,  and  Sag  Harbor 


WHALE  FISHING— MENHADEN  FISHING— OYSTERING. 


497 


became  one  of  the  greatest  whaling  ports  in  the 
United  States.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first 
vessels  employed  in  whaHng  and  sailing  from 
Sag  Harbor: 


YEAR 

NAME 

TONS 

OWNERS 

1790 

Lucy 

150 

Benjamin  Huntting 

179] 

Betsy 

212 

Stephen  Howell  &  Co. 

1792 

Commerce.. . . 

170 

Benjamin  Huntting 

1796 

Hetty 

256 

Benjamin  Huntting 

1796    Minerva 

215 

Stephen  Howell  &  Co. 

1798  iCriterion 

229 

Benjamin  Huntting 

1798    Mary 

215 

Benjamin  Huntting 

1800  1  Minerva 

215 

Stephen  Howell  &  Co. 

1801    Abigail 

202 

Benjamin  Huntting 

Arrival  of  the  whaling  vessels  at  Sag  Harbor, 
1804-1816: 


Year 


1804 
1804 
1804 
1805 
1805 
1805 
1805 
1806 
1806 
1806 
1806 
1806 
1807 
1807 
1807 
1807 
1807 
1807 
1808 
1808 
1809 
1809 
1809 
1809 
1810 
181Q 
1810 
1810 
1810 
1810 
1811 
1812 
1814 
1816 
1816 
1816 
1816 
1816 


NAME 


Nancy 

Minerva 

Abigail , 

Alknomack  . . . 

Abigail 

Minerva 

Nancy 

Minerva 

Alknomack  . . . 

Abigail 

Warren 

Brazil 

Jefferson 

Abigail 

St.  Lawrence. 

Warren 

Brazil 

Minerva 

Abigail 

Minerva  .  .. . . 
Alknomack  . . . 
Washington.  .. 

Warren 

Brazil 

Warren 

Washington. ,. 

Jefferson 

Abigail ., 

Alknomack  . . . 

Lovinia 

Abigail 

Abigail 

Warren 

Abigail 

Argonaut  

Warren 

Abigail 

Argonaut 


CAPTAIN 


John  Godbee.. 
Wm.  Fowler. — 

Barnard 

John  Hildreth... 

Barnard 

Wm.    Fowler  . . 

Sanford  

Wm.  Fowler  . . . 

James  Post 

Topping 

Folger    

A.  Folger 

J,.  Godbee 

Topping 

James  Post  . . . . 
Wm.  Fowler. . . 

A.  Folger 

Francis  Sayre. . 

Bunker  

F.  Sayre 

Elias  Jones  .. . . 
Wm.  Fowler. . . 

F.  Sayre 1. 

Oliver  Fowler  . 

F,  Sayre  

Wm.  Fowler. . . 

James  Post 

Bunker 

Elias  Jones 

O.  Fowler 

Bunker 

George  Post  . . . 
Edward  Halsey 
James  Post  . . . . 

E.  Halsey 

Wm.  Fowler  . . . 

James  Post 

Ed.  Halsey 


OWNERS 


S.  Howell  &  Co..  I 
S.  Howell  &  Co... 

B.  Huntting 

B.  Huntting 

B.  Huntting 

S.  Howell  &Co.., 

Howell  &  Co 

Howell  &  Co 

B.  Huntting 

B.  Huntting 

Howell  &  Co 

G.  &T.  Havens.., 

B.  Huntting 

B.  Huntting 

B.  Huntting 

HcwelJ  &  Co.... 
G.  &  T.  Havens. . 

Howell  &Co 

S.  Huntting  &  Co 
Howell  &  Co.... 
S.  Huntting  &  Co 
Howell  &  Co.... 
Howell  &  Co. . .. 

Havens  &  Co 

Howell  &  Co.... 

Howell  &  Co 

Hunttings 

Hunttings  

Hunttings  

Havens  &  Co. .  .- 

Hunttings  

Hunttings  

Howell  &  Co.... 

Hunttings 

Howell  &  Co 

Howell  &  Co 

Hunttings 

Howell  &  Co.... 


Bbls. 
Oil 


1309 
1300 
1350 
1200 
700 
800 
1200 
1300 
1300 
1700 
1300 
1600 
500 
1300 
I6O0 
1200 
1200 
450 
1200 
1000 
1700 
1700 
1100 
700 
1150 
1350 
1120 
500 
850 
800 
1000 
1800 
1200 
1300 
750 
1200 
1700 


The  oil  brought  home  in  the  "Abigail"  in  1812 
was  sent  to  New  York  and  sold  for  a  dollar  a 
gallon. 

In  1846  Sag  Harbor  as  a  whaling  port  was 
in  the  height  of  its  glory,  and  that  year  the  fol- 
lowing ships  sailed : 

32 


NAME 


American  

Ann 

Ann  Mary  Ann. .. 

Alexander 

Acasta 

Alciope. 

Arabella   

Barbara 

Cadmus 

Columbia 

Concordia    

Crescent  

Citizen 

Daniel  Webster  . 
Elizabeth  Frith.. 

Fanny  

France  

Franklin 

Gem 

Hamilton 

Hannibal   

Jlenry  

Henry   Lee 

Hudson  

Huron   

Helen 

Illinois 

Italy   

Jefferson 

John  Jay 

Josephine  

John  Wells 

Konnohaset 

Lawrens   


CAPTAIN 


Pierson 

Leek 

J.  Winters  . . .. 

Jones 

Harlow 

Halsey 

Babcock    

French  

Smith  

S.  B.  Pierson  . 

Loper  

Miller 

Lansing 

Curry   

John  Bishop  . . 

Edwards 

Edwards 

Halsey  

Worth 

Babcock   

Canning 

Brown   

B.  C.  Payne  . . 
Nickerson  . . . . 

Woodruff 

Costwright. .. . 

D.  Jagger  

Wild   

Smith  

Harwood 

Royce 

Hedges 

T.  B.  Worth  . . 
Eldridge   


NAME 


Levant  

Marcus 

Manhattan  

Martha 

Niantic 

Neptune   

Nimrod  

Noble 

Ontario    

Ontario  2d 

Ohio   

Oscar    .' 

Panama 

Phenix 

Plymouth   

Portland    

Romulus  

Salem 

S.  Richards 

Superior   

St.  Lawrence.. .. 

Sabina  

Thames 

Thos.  Dickason. , 

Timor 

Tuscany   

Washington 

Wiscassett  

Wm.  Tell 


CAPTAIN 


Havens   

Ryder 

M,  Cooper   .. .. 
D.  R.  Drake  . .. 

Sleight  

Nichols 

Wm.  Fowler. . . 

Howes   

J.  M.  Green 

R.  Green  . .. 

T.  Lowen 

Green 

Crowell 

Brisgs 

L.  B.  Edwards- 

Wade 

P.  Winters 

Hand 

Dering 

Mulford : 

Baker  

Vail 

James  Bishop.. 
Wm.  Lowers. .. 

Edwards 

C.  Goodale 

Sanford 

Wm.  L.  Paine.. 
Glover 


Several  ships  sailed  from   Greenport: 


NAME 

CAPTAIN 

NAME 

CAPTAIN 

Bayard 

J.  W.  Fordham 

Halsey 

D.  Weeks 

Brown   

Philip 

Case 

Caroline 

Delta 

Roanoke 

Sarah  &  Esther.. 
Triad   

Baldwin 

Bennett 

Lucy  Ann 

Washington 

Nile 

Case   

Two  ships  sailed  from  New  Suffolk — the 
''Gentleman"  Captain  A.  G.  Post,  and  the 
"Noble,"  Captain  Sweeny.  One  whale  ship,  the 
'^Xenophon,"  was  built  at  Sag  Harbor. 

The  decline  of  the  whale  fishing  v/as  sudden 
and  rapid,  and,  from  being  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous villages  on  Long  Island,  Sag  Harbor  be- 
came the  poorest.  The  fall  in  value  in  real  estate 
was  immediate  and  disastrous.  But  other  enter- 
pri'Sies  are  taking  the  place  of  whaling,  and  give 
promise  of  renewed  prosperity. 

The  business  of  "longshore  whaling/'  once  so 
extensive,  is  now  entirely  confined  to  Southamp- 
ton and  Amagansett.  At  these  pkces,  whale 
boats  are  still  kept,  and  occasionally  a  whale  is- 
captured.  As  in  a  very  few  years  it  will  be  en- 
tirely a  matter  of  the  past,  a  few  words  of  de- 
scription may  be  of  interest  in  the  future. 


498 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


At  the  foot  of  the  main  street  of  Southamp- 
ton there  were  for  many  years  two  high  poles 
standing  on  the  beach  banks.  These  were  ^'look- 
oubs"  for  whales.  It  was  the  custom,  for  per- 
sons who  felt  so  inclined  to  mount  these  look- 
outs during  the  whaling  season,  and  scan  the 
horizon.  Any  person  who  ^'raised  a  whale'' 
would  give  notice  by  vigorously  swinging  his 
coat.  This  would  quickly  attract  attention^,  and  a 
"rally  to  the  beach"  would  follow.  Horns  were 
blown,  whalemen  mounted  horses  and  rode  in  hot 
haste,  and  men  ran  who  never  ran  on  any  other  oc- 
casion. The  boats  were  quickly  dragged  down  to 
the  ocean.  These  boats  all  had  regular  crews, 
but,  if  any  were  absent,  there  were  plenty  of 
young  men  only  too  eager  to  take  their  places. 
An  experienced  whaleman  took  the  steering  oar, 
and  in  an  incredibly  short  time  the  boats  were 
afloat.  It  was  the  rule  that  any  boat  that  was 
afloat  when)  the  whale  was  struck  should  have  a 
share  in  the  whale  if  captured,  while  the  person 
who  first  discovered,  or  "raised"  the  whale,  had 
ten  gallons  of  oil.  Under  favorable  circum- 
stances the  whale  was  soon  "struck,"  or  har- 
pooned, and  speedily  killed.  Tow-lines  were 
then  passed  from'  boat  to  boat,  and  the  dead 
whale  was  towed  to  the  'shore.  If  the  distance 
was  great,  it  w^s  a  long  and  hard  task.  JFor 
long  years  the  try  works  were  on  the  west  side 
•of  the  town  pond,  opposite  the  "Point"  that 
projects  into  the  pond.  There  were  three  or 
four  large  try-pots  set  in  brick.  The  blubber  in 
large  pieces  was  carted  here,  and  cut  into 
strips  about  three  or  :four  feet  long,  called 
"horse-pieces."  These  placed  on  a  rude  table 
were  quickly  "minced"  or  cut  into  thin  slices, 
-and  tossed  into  the  pots.  The  fires  were  started 
with  dry  wood,  but  as  soon  as  the  first  batch 
-of  "scraps"  were  thrown  out  the  fire  was  fed 
with  them  and  burned  fiercely.  The  "trying- 
out"  was  kept  up  night  and  day.  A  good  whale 
made  about  thirty  barrels  of  oil,  and  the  whale- 
bone was  very  valuable.  When  bone  and  oil  were 
sold,  the  money  was  divided  in  these  propor- 
tions :  The  owners  of  the  boats  and  the  "ends- 
men"  took  one-half,  and  the  oarsmen  the  other 
half.     In   the   year    1847   ^^^^^  whales   were  on 


the  beach  at  one  time.  This  was  the  largest 
number  killed^  in  any  one  year  in  recent  times. 
In  the  year  1884  a  dead  whale  was  washed 
ashore  at  Cooper's  Neck,  which  measiured  eighty- 
four  feet  in  length,  the  largest  whale  ever  seen 
here.  It  was  not  a  "right  whale,"  and  from  its 
condition  very  little  oil  was  obtained.  The 
whale  of  which  a  view  is  given  at  the  head  of 
this  chapter  was  killed  near  Bridgehampton, 
February  17,  1882,  and  made  about  thirty  bar- 
rels of  oil. 

The  last  whaling  vessel  that  'sailed  from  Sag 
Harbor  was  the  brig  "Myra."  The  ship  "Sa- 
bina"  sailed  in  1849  ^^^  California  with  a  load 
of  passengers  eager  to  try  their  fortune  in  the 
land  of  gold.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  a  large  number  of  old  whale  ships 
were  bought  by  the  government,  and,  loaded 
with  stone,  were  sunk  in  the  harbor  of  Charles- 
ton,   South    Carolina,    making   a   very    effectual 


-J^Ea-^       j=i- 


WENUA1>EN-FISUING   OFF  WONTAUK   POINT. 

blockade,  and  it  is  believed  that  not  one  of  the 
old  whaling  fleet  of  Sag  Harbor  is  now  in  ex- 
istence. 

The  fish  popularly  known  as  "Bunkers,"  but 
in  late  years  dignified  by  the  scientific  name  of 


WHALE  FISHING— MENHADEN  FISHING— OYSTERING. 


499 


Menhaden,  are  mentioned  by  very  early  writers 
as  having  been  used  by  the  Indians  as  fertihzers 
for  their  fields  of  corn.    It  may  well  be  that  the 
English   settlers   first   learned    from   them   their 
great  value  for  agricultural  purposes.     In  early 
days,  immense  schools  of  them  entered  the  bays 
for  the  purpose  of  spawning.    At  first  the  means 
for  capturing  them  were  very  limited,  as  the  only 
twine  for  nets  had  to  be  made  from  linen  thread, 
and  to  make  nets  of  any  size  was  out  of  the  ques- 
tion.   The  introduction  and  manufacture  of  cot- 
ton twine  furnished  facilities  for  making  nets  of 
any  size,   and  the  business   very   soon  assumed 
larg-e  proportions.     Among  the  first  to  use  his 
great  influence  to  develop  this  means  of  restor- 
ing the  fertility  of  wornout  lands  was  Hon.  Ezra 
L'Hommedieu,   of   Southold,   and,   once  started, 
the  practice  was  adopted  by  all  the  towns  in  Suf- 
folk  county.      Seines    were  made  which   would 
extend  nearly  half  a  mile  in  length    and,  as  the 
fish  were  abundant,  the  quantities  captured  were 
immense.     Upon  one  occasion,   the  fish  having 
swarmed  into  a  creek,  a  seine  was  cast  across  its 
mouth  and  nearly  a  million  of  fish  were  taken 
at  one  time.      On    the   ocean   shore   at    South- 
ampton,  Bridgehampton   and  East  Hampton    a 
great   number   of  fishing  -companies    were    or- 
ganized,  and   during   the   summer   the   business 
was  carried  on  with  great  success.     The  finan- 
cial prosperity  of  those  places   for  the  farmers 
began   with   this.      With  the   aid   of  fish   for   a 
fertilizer,  large  crops  of  wheat  were  raised,  the 
money  received  therefor  was  invested  in  stock 
in  whale  ships,  and  many  a  farmer  who  would 
otherwise  have  passed  his  entire  Hfe  "with  his 
nose  on  la  grindstone,"  became  comfortably  sit- 
uated in  his  later  days. 

As  the  business  of  ''longshore  fishing"  has 
now  become  obsolete,  a  description  of  it  may  not 
be  amiss.  The  company  usually  comprised 
twelve  or  fifteen  men,  each  of  whom  owned  a 
share.  A  large  boat,  strongly  built,  was  pro- 
cured. The  agent  of  the  company  purchased  a 
large  quantity  of  cotton  twine,  and,  during  the 
winter,  each  owner  was  required  to  knit  a  cer- 
tain number  of  pounds,  and  thus  each  would 
make  an  equal  length  of  seine.     The  meshes  of 


the  seine   were  an   inch   and   a   quarter   square. 
Seine   knitting  was    a   regular  business   during 
the  winter,  and  the  women  of  the  families,  with 
their  deft  fingers,  soon  became  very  skillful  knit- 
ters.    The  net  was  about  five  feet  deep,  with  a 
cork  line  on  top  supported  with  wooden  corks, 
and  a  lead  line  below,  weighted  with  small  leaden 
rings.     There  was  also  an  abundance  of  strong 
line  which  led  to  a  long  distance  from  shore. 
In  the  early  days  of  the  business,  the  seine  was 
simply  a  long  straight  line  of  net.     It  was  piled 
in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  which  was  rowed  swiftly 
around  a  school  of  fish  that  was  within  "reach- 
ing distance"  of  the  shore.     One  line  was  left 
on  shore,  while  the  other  came  ashore  in  the  boat. 
This  done,  the  first  thing  was  to  pull  the  boat  up 
on  shore   out  of  reach   of  the  tide  and  waves. 
Then  all  hands  manned  the  the  lines,  and  the 
seine  was   drawn  to  shore,  gradually  enclosing 
the  fish  as  the  ends  of  seine  were  brought  to- 
gether.    When  brought  close  to  shore,  part  of 
the  men  held  large  corn  baskets,   while  others 
bailed  the  fish  into  them  with  scoop  nets,  and 
they  were  carried  to  the  height  of  the  beach  and 
dumped  into  large  piles.     The  whole  operation 
was    long,    tedious    and    severe,     and     required 
strong  and  hardy  men.     The  first  improvement 
made  was  adding  a  "cod"  to  the  seine.     This 
was  a  long  bag  made  of  the  coarsest  and  strong- 
est twine,  and  large  enough  to  hold  100,000  fish. 
This  was  placed  in  the  center  of  the  seine,  the 
opening  or  mouth  being  strung  on  a  strong  rope. 
This   extended  the  entire  length   of  the  "cod," 
and  the  net  on  either  side  was  strung  upon  it. 
When  the  seine  was  cast  around  a  school  of  fish 
and   drawn   to   the   shore,   the   fish   looking   for 
any  chance  to  escape  would  rush  through   the 
opening  into  the  "cod,"  and  were  thus  captured 
without  any  chance  of  escape,  and  to  land  them 
safely  became  a  much  easier  matter.     The  next 
improvement   was    the   fish    cart.      This    was    a 
large   two-wheeled   vehicle,     the    wheels    being 
made  very  wide  to  prevent  sinking  in  the  soft 
sand  on  the  beach.    The  cart  held,  when  level  full, 
about  2,000  fish,  and  this  became  a  very  easy  way 
of  landing  them  on  the  beach,  and  obviated  the 
necessity  of   counting   them,    as   had   previously 


500 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND 


been  done,  in  order  to  insure  each  man  an  equal 
share.  With  these  two  improvements,  fishing 
became  much  easier,  but  any  one  who  has  stood 
behind  a  bunker  seine  in  the  surf  for  two  or 
three  hours,  with  the  seas  dashing  over  him, 
would  not  under  such  circumstances  consider 
fishing  as  an  amusement. 

The  number  of  fi'S'h  caught  at  a  haul,  varied, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  but  30,000  or  40,000  was 
no  uncommon  catch.  The  largest  number  caught 
at  a  single  haul  of  which  the  writer  has  positive 
knowledge,  was  212,000.  These  were  caught  at 
Southampton  by  what  was  known  as  the  "Tucka- 
hoe  seine,"  in  the  fall  of  i860.  Long  seines 
which  were  drawn  in  Peconic  Bay  captured  vast- 
ly greater  numbers. 

The  first  establishment  for  manufacturing 
fish  oil  on  an  extensive  scale,  so  far  as  we  know, 
was  started  by  Jesse  Terry,  at  Red  Creek,  on 
Peconic  Bay,  in  Southampton.  'Immense  quan- 
tities of  fish  were  tfiken  and  large  amounts  of  oil 
were  produced. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  the  scarcity 
of  cotton  rendered  cotton  twine  so  costly  that  all 
the  fishing  companies  on  the  ocean  shore  gave  up 
the  business  almost  simultaneously,  and  the 
business  has  never  been  revived.  The  boats  and 
what  was  left  of  the  seines  were  sold,  and  soon 
the  only  relic  of  what  had  once  been  a  source 
of  profit  and  prosperity,  were  the  small  seine 
houses  which  were  seen  in  every  village,  stand- 
ing generally  in  the  street. 

One  reason  for  the  discontinuance  of  seashore 
fishing  was  the  fact  that  fish  had  begun  to  be 
much  scarcer.  The  constant  catching  of  them 
by  the  millions  had  produced  the  very  natural 
result.  They  were  no  longer  seen  in  immense 
schools  Oiff  shore,  and  the  bays  did  not  swarm 
with  them,  as  they  once  did.  It  was  about  this 
time  that  fishing  steamers  began  their  work. 
These  steamers  carried  large  purse  nets  so  ar- 
anged  that,  when  a  school  of  fish  was  surrounded, 
there  was  no  chance  for  escape.  At  a  secluded 
place  on  the  shore  of  some  bay  their  fishing  es- 
tablishment was  prepared.  A  long  row  of  rough- 
ly and  plainly  made  sheds  furnished  protection 
to  t'he  try  works,  and  shelter  for  the  men  who 


operated  them.  The  try  works  consisted  of  a 
row  of  very  large  kettles  or  try  pots  set  in  ma- 
sonry. Large  baskets  made  of  hoop-iron  filled 
the  inside  of  the  kettles  and  were  large  enough 
to  contain  1,000  fish.  The  baskets  were  fitted 
with  strong  iron  bails,  by  which  they  could  be 
hoisted  out  and  in.  These  baskets,  filled  with 
fish,  were  placed  in  the  try  pots  and  flooded 
with  water.  Fires  were  then  lighted,  and  when 
the  whole  mass  was  boiling  the  baskets  of  fish 
were  hoisted  out  and  swung  over  a  press  into 
which  they  were  dumped.  Pressure  was  then, 
applied  by  mekns  of  a  powerful  screw,  and  the 
water  and  oil,  thoroughly  pressed  out,  ran  into  a 
large  shallow  tank  made  of  pine  boards.  Near 
one  end,  a  tight  partition  was  made  reaching  to- 
within  one  inch  of  the  top  of  the  tank.  When 
run  into  the  tank,  the  oil  and  water  separated 
immediately,  the  former  rising  to  the  top,  and. 
ran  over  the  partitio-n,  so  that  in  one  end  the  pure 
oil  was  by  itself.  By  various  processes  it  could 
be  bleached  and  refined.  But  it  is  to  be  feared 
that  nO'  small  quantity  of  it  was  used  to  adulter- 
ate linseed  oil.  It  was  frequently  used  for  paint- 
ing by  itself,  and  for  rough  work  and  colored 
paints  answered  every  purpose.  When  used  for 
white  paint,  it  was  far  from  being  satisfactory.. 
As  a  fair  day's  wprk  would  load  one  of  the  fish- 
ing steamers,  other  vessels  sometimes  accom- 
panied them,  on  board  of  which  the  fish  were- 
loaded  and  carried  to  the  try  works,  leaving  the- 
steamers  to  pursue  their  part  of  the  business. 
These  cruised  a  long  distance  from  the  shore,, 
and,  as  they  were  not  dependent  upon  the  wind,, 
everything   was   in    their    favor. 

In  1878  a  tract  of  worthless  sand  beach  ad- 
joining Peconic  Bay,  at  the  region  between  Mon- 
tauk  and  East  Hampton,  :s'prang  into  notoriety,, 
and  what  was  once  a  desolate  and  uninhabited 
place  became  a  village  of  fish  factories,  under 
the    somewhat    whimsical    name    of    Promised'. 
Land.    A  business  at  once  sprang  up  employing 
more  than  $500,000  capital   and   affording   en> 
ployment  to  hundreds   of   men.     To  this   place 
millions  of  fish  were  yearly  brought  and  rendered 
into  oil,  and  the  solid  part,  under  the  name  of' 
fish  guano,  was  in  great  demand  as  a  fertilizer,. 


WHALE  FISHING— MENHADEN  FISHING— OYSTERING. 


501 


not  only  in  this  country,  but  large  quantities  were 
exported  to  Europe  and  extensively  used  for 
the  vineyards  of  Italy,  and  a  still  greater 
amount  was  used  in  the  cotton  fields  of  the 
Southern  States.  The  first  factory  here  was 
started  in  1878  by  Hiram  R.  Dixon  &  Brother. 
This  was  quickly  followed  by  others,  and  in  a 
few  years  ten  companies  were  in  full  blast,  with 
factories  fitted  with  all  modern  implements,  and 
with  an  assessed  value  of  $104,000.  At  one 
time  a  fleet  oi  thirty  fi'shing  steamers  brought  to 
this  place  their  daily  catch,  which  in  a  season 
were  numbered  by  hundreds  of  millions.  The 
number  of  fish  caught  in  1881  was  211,000,000; 
fish  oil  made,  1,013,350  gallons,  tons  of  scrap, 
22,100.  The  estimated  catc^h  of  fish  within  the 
collector's  district  by  bay  and  other  fisheries  is 
400,000,000,  with  a  value  of  $975,000. 

The  following  are  the  complete  figures  of 
the  catches  of  steamers  for  the  season  ending 
November  10,   1900: 


Stand- 
ing 


9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 


STEAMER 


Walter  Adams 

Samuel  S.  Brown. .  . 

Nat.  W.  Strong 

Quickstep 

George  Hudson 

George  F.  Morse  . . . 
Geo.  W,  Humphrey 

Arizona 

A.  M.  Hathaway... 

Ranger 

Peconic 

J.  W.  French  .  .     .  . 

George   Curtis 

Montauk 

Estell 

Seaconnet    

Sterling 

Cora  P.  White 

Falcon 

Joseph  Church 

Amagansett 

Annie  E.  Gallup 

Mabel  Bird 

Alaska , 

John  L.   Lawrence.. 

Fearless 

Eugene  F.  Price. . . . 

Portland 

G.  S.  Allyn 

Vester 

William  A.' WeYls!!! 


Catch  in 
Bbls. 


43,000 
42,433 

39.910 
39,667 
39.335 

38,528 
38,173 
37,320 
3^,207 
32.682 
81,675 
yi,504 
29,912 
29,573 
29,001 
28,071 
27.694 
27,189 
27,015 
26,733 
96.558 
26.119 
25,509 
23,966 
23,931 
22.503 
20,377 
18.230 
16.259 
4.938 
532 


In  1889,  36  steamers,  working  27  weeks, 
caught  and  purchased  893,938  barrels,  while  an- 
other season  31  steamers,  fishing  24  weeks,  caught 
and  purchased  894,359  barrels.  All  fish  are 
weighed  and  weigh  200  pounds  to  the  barrel. 

Following  is  the  result  of  the  fishing  and  the 
output  at  the  various  factories : 


X! 
'3  m 

to   1 

1 

5^ 

p.  m 

Q0 

(A 

a  a 
a  0 

0  « 
<  s 

3  m 

si 

<  a 

Promised  Land 

Tiverton 

338,780 
91,618 

384,716 
79,245 

14,498 
3,522 

12,720 
1,856 

2,850 

0 

1,907 

1,353 

7.365 

2,974 

11,145 

329 

2.13 
1.94  ^ 
1.64 
1  17 

Lewes 

Port  Arthur 

Total, 

894,359 

32,596 

6,110 

21.813 

1  81 

Total. 


883,448 


On  September  17,  1899,  a  destructive  fire 
destroyed  three  of  the  largest  factories  at 
Promised  Land,  with  a  great  loss  of  property. 
The  increasing  scarcity  of  fish  and  the  establish- 
ment of  factories  at  other  placesi  rendered  the 
business  here  less  productive,  but  it  is  still  car- 
ried on  to  a  large  extent.  This  is  one  of  the 
few  lines  of  business  where  nothing  oi  the  raw 
material  isi  lost,  the  oil  being  extracted  and  the 
entire  remaining  part  of  the  fish  making  a  fer- 
tilizer of  the  finest  and  most  valuable  kind. 

The  use  of  the  oyster  came  to  us  from  the 
savages,  and  this  edible  was  one  which  they 
were  loath  to  abandon  when  they  came  to  be 
dispossessed  of  their  lands  contiguous  to  the 
coast,  and  they  reserved  the  right,  in  many  lo- 
calities, to  return  to  the  shore  to  hunt  and  fish 
on  unoccupied  lands.  There  they  roasted  oysters 
and  clams,  which  they  dried  in  the  sun,  and 
carried  back  to  their  reservation  on  strings  of 
bark. 

The  earlier  chronicler  displayed  the  spirit  of 
the  true  "promoter"  in  exploiting  the  resources 
of  the  new  country,  and  the  contributions  of 
the  water  were  glowingly  described.  In  1631 
mention  is  made  of  "oysters,  some  a  foot  long, 
containing  pearls."  One  writer — William  Wood, 
in  a  little  volume  entitled  "New  England's 
Prospects,"  printed  in  London — dropped  into 
vers'e :     , 


502 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


"The  luscious  lobster,  with  the  crab-fish  raw, 
The  brinish  oyster,  mussel,  perwigge. 
And  tortoise  sought  by  the  Indian  Squaw, 
Which  to  the  flatts  dance  many  a  winter's  jigge, 
To  dive  for  cockles  and  to  dig  for  clams, 
Whereby  her  lazy  husband's  guts  she  cramms." 

In  iv58'i  Sir  George  Carteret,  in  enumerating 
the  advantages  which  he  considers  attractive  to 
immigrants,  mentions  oysters  "in  great  plenty 
and  easy  to  take." 

In  the  early  days,  wonderfully  prolific  natural 
seeding  oyster  beds  were  found  at  the  mouth  of 
of  the  rivers  and  creeks  emptying  into  salt  water 
bays.  But,  after  a  time,  there  was  occasion  for 
fear  that  the  oyster  was  in  course  of  extermina- 
tion, and  in  1719  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Province  passed  the  first  oyster  protective  meas- 
ure of  record.  It  was  recited  in  the  preamble 
that  the  oyster  beds  are  "wasted  and  destroyed 
by  strangers  and  others  at  unseasonable  times 
of  the  year,  the  preservation  of  which  will  tend 
to  great  benefit  of  the  poor  people  and  others  in- 
habiting this  province."  It  was  therefore  en- 
acted that  nO'  person  should  rake  or  gather  up 
oysters  or  shells  from  May  loth  to  September 
1st;  and  that  non-residents  should  not  gather 
them  up  at  any  time  to  take  away  with  them,  un- 
der a  penalty  of  forfeiting  their  vessels  and  equip- 
ments. Commissioners  were  appointed  to'  exe- 
cute the  provisions  of  the  law,  and  were  author- 
ized to  inspect  oyster  boats  and  to  seize  any 
which  might  be  under  suspicion.  The  fees  of 
the  officers  were  one-half  of  the  forfeitures  while 
the  remainder  went  to  the  provincial  treasury. 

During  very  many  years  continued  effort 
was  made  to  foster  the  oyster  industry  through 
legislation  designed  to  protect  the  oyster  fields 
against  a  too^  close  expoliation  which  would  lead 
to  extermination.  The  fields  were  threatened  by 
two  classes  of  enemy — those  who  lived  in  their 
immediate  neighborhood  and  derived  their  live- 
lihood from  marketing  oysters,  many  of  whom, 
intent  only  upon  immediate  gain,  were  regard- 
less of  the  future;  and  those  who  came  from  a 
distance  to  poach  upon  property  in  which  they 
had  no  rightful  interest. 

Oystering  did  not  develop  into  much  of  a 
business  until  about  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 


tury. The  oysters  of  the  Long  Island  Sound 
front  had  been  famous  among  the  Indians,  and 
the  white  settlers  prized  them  as  food.  So  did 
others,  for  we  find,  in  1784,  at  Oyster  Bay  (and 
this  town  is  taken  as  an  example,  for  similar 
restrictions  were  made  in  other  towns),  a  special 
town  meeting  declared  that  outsiders  should  not 
be  permitted  tO'  "take  or  carry  away  any  oi  the 
oysters  from  oE  the  oyster  beds  lying  in  the  town 
on  penalty  of  five  pounds,  to  be  recovered  by  the 
persons  hereafter  named  (Samuel  Youngs,  James 
Farley,  Amaziah  Wheeler),  and  to  be  paid  to  the 
Overseers  of  the  poor.''  In  1801  a  town  meet- 
ing came  to  the  protection  of  the  oyster  by  de- 
claring ''that  no  oysters  be  caught  in  the  harbor 
of  Oyster  Bay  with  rakes  or  tongs  from  the 
first  day  of  May  next  to  the  1st  day  of  Septem- 
ber following,  under  the  penalty  of  five  pounds' 
for  each  and  every  offence."  There  was  prob- 
ably grave  reason  for  this,  for  the  quality  of 
the  oysters  and  the  demand  for  them  evidently 
threatened  a  shortage  in  the  supply.  Up  till 
then  the  oyster  fishing  had  been  one  of  the 
privileges  of  the  township  and  seemed  to  be  part 
of  the  commo-n  property  of  the  people,  but  in 
1807  the  beginning  of  a  system  of  private  prop- 
erty in  the  bivalve  was  inaugurated,  when  a 
town  meeting  granted  Robert  Feeks  ten  square 
rods  under  water  "for  the  purpose  of  making  an 
oyster  bed  where  no  valuable  bed  has  been 
known." 

This  was  a  beginning,  and  private  ownership 
in  oyster  beds  soon  became  so  widespread  as 
to  threaten  the  occupancy  of  the  entire  harbor 
and  remove  from;  the  people  a  right  which  they 
had  enjoyed  since  the  settlement.  The  courts 
were  appealed  to,  but  decided  that  any  inhabi- 
tant could  plant  an  oyster  bed  in  a  spot  not  pre- 
viously occupied,  and  the  bed  should  be  regarded 
as  private  property.  Thereafter  there  ensued  a 
long  struggle  between  the  people  and  those  who 
had  thus  acquired  property  rights,  and  the  bat- 
tle was  waged  for  years.  The  people  could  pass 
and  did  pass  resolutions  regulating  the  trade, 
protecting  the  growth  of  the  oysters,  and  laying 
down  laws  for  close  or  open  seasons,  but  when 
the  question  came  to  be  an  invasion  of  private 


WHALE  FISHING— MENHADEN  FISHING— OYSTERING. 


508 


property  rights  the  courts  sternly  interfered.  In 
1843  a  meeting  declared  "we  will  defend  the 
rights  oi  the  town  to  the  exclusive  ownership 
of  the  oysters  in  Oyster  Bay,"  but  that  gallant 
defense  went  practically  no  further  than  the 
paper  on  which  it  was  written.  In  1847,  how- 
ever, they  got  down  to  a  tangible  issue  when 
they  declared  that  "the  oysters  in  the  bay  or 
waters  of  the  town  be  free  to  all  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  said  town  the  ensuing  year."  The 
owners  of  the  oyster  beds  at  once  took  issue 
with  this,  the  law  was  appealed  to,  and  the  rights 
of  the  planters  to  the  exclusive  use  of  their 
property  was  sustained. 

Oyster  planting  and  culture  may  now  be  re- 
garded as  a  science,  so  much  have  observation 
and  experimentation  been  practiced.  The  neces- 
sity for  planting  was  discovered  so  long  ago  as 


in  1810,  when  it  was  begun  at  Bergen  Point,  in 
New  York  Bay.  A  quarter  of  a  century  later 
the  planting  of  native  oysters  came  into  vogue  in 
Raritan'  Bay,  first  at  Keyport,  and  afterwards  in 
the  vicinity  of  Perth  Amboy,  and  thence  extend- 
ed to  the  other  oyster  fields.  In  later  years 
the  natural  supply  of  seed  oysters  proved  too 
small  to  meet  the  demand,  and  supplies  were 
drawn  from  the  Chesapeake  and  the  small  bays 
and  rivers  on  the  coasts  of  Delaware  and  Mary- 
land, and  the  consumption  is  annually  increas- 
ing. 

Dependent  upon  the  oyster  industry  are  hun- 
dreds of  men  engaged  in  boat-building,  sail- 
making  and  turning  fish  offal  into  fertilizers,  to 
isay  nothing  of  the  many  others  engaged  in  cler- 
ical and  other  capacities  in  connection  with  the 
distribution  of  products. 


^    >N    ^    >S 


CHAPTER  XX. 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


HE  first  newspaper  in  the  United  States 
was  the  "Boston  News  Letter/'  estab- 
lished in  1704.  The  following*  is  the 
first  advertisement  of  Long  Island  real 

estate  that  ever  appeared  in  print,  and  is  found  in 

the  issue  of  May  8,  1704 : 

"At  Oyster  Bay  on  Long  Island,  in  the 
Province  of  New  York.  There  is  a  very  good 
Fulling  Mill  to  be  let  or  Sold,  as  also  a  Plan- 
tation having  on  it  a  large  new  Brick  house, 
and  another  good  house  by  it  for  a  kitchen,  & 
work  house,  with  a  Barn,  Stable  &c.  a  young 
Orchard  and  20  Acres  clear  land.  The  Mill 
is  to  be  Let  with  or  without  the  Plantation. 
Enquire  of  Mr.  William  Bradford,  Printer,  in 
New  York  and  know  further." 

The  pioneer  in  this  field  on  Long  Island  was 
David  Frothingham,  a  son  of  David  Frothing- 
ham,  of  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  whose  fam- 
ily history  is  fully  .set  forth  in  "Wyman's  Gene- 
alogies and  Estates  of  Charlestown."  David 
Frothingham^  learned  the  printer's  trade  in  Bos- 
ton, and  came  to  Sag  Harbor  in  1790,  or  early  in 
1 79 1.  He  was  then  twenty-five  years  of  age,  of 
limited  means,  but  full  of  ambition.  With  him 
came  his  wife,  Nancy  Pell,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Pell,  of  the  Manor  of  Pelham,  whom  he  had  run 
away  with  and  married,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of 
her  aristocratic  family.  It  was  the  old  story  of 
parental  opposition,  followed  by  forgiveness,  and 
some  of  her  children  were  afterwards  adopted 


by  her  father's  family.  On  his'  arrival  in  Sag 
Harbor  he  established  a  printing  office,  a  book 
store  and  a  book  bindery  near  the  "Landing,"  at 
the  foot  of  Main  street.  In  exchange  for  the 
products  of  his  press  and  store,  besides  the 
limited  amount  of  cash,  he  took  in  pay  hog's 
bristles,  goose  quills,  old  sailcloths,  sheepskins, 
rags  and  other  old  junk,  a  barter  that  reveals  the 
necessities  of  that  period.  It  was  under  these 
circumstances  that  he  started  "Frothingham's 
Long  Island  Herald,"  the  first  paper  on  Long 
Island.  The  first  issue  was  dated  May  10,  1791, 
and  the  editor  introduces  himself  thus : 

''To  the  Public.  With  the  greatest  deference 
the  first  number  of  the  Herald  is  laid  before 
the  public,  on  wh-p'se  smiles  the  Editor  founds 
bis  hope  lof  patronage,  and  expects  so  laudable 
an  undertaking  will  meet  with  encouragement 
tantamount  to  its  merits.  Too  much  puffing  is 
frequently  on  this  occasion  made  use  of  by 
publishers;  but  when  the  Editor  shall  cease  to 
merit  applause,  he  will  no  longer  wish  the  favor 
of  the  public  extended  to  him.  Neither  dil- 
igence nor  labor  shall  be  wanting  to  render  this 
paper  a  useful  repository  of  knowledge  and  en- 
tertainment, while  vice,  the  bane  of  society,  with 
its  concomitant  attendants,  though  clothed  with 
the  garb  of  authority,  will  be  branded  with  every 
mark  of  infamy.  Whatever  has  a  tendency  to 
expand  the  mind  and  embelish  the  understand- 
ing will  be  prosecuted  with  indefatigable  zeal; 
and  every  branch  of  literature  ransacked  to  en- 
lighten the  human  mind ;  in  a  word,  we  shall 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY, 


505 


*'  Eye  nature's  walks,  shoot  folly  as  its  flies, 
And  catch  the  manners  living  as  they  rise.'' 

In  the  course  of  this  publication  a  corner 
will  be  devoted  to  the  treasure  of  those  in  the 
poetic  line,  whose  correspondence,  together  with 
those  in  the  prosaic  walk,  are  earnestly  request- 
ed."— David  Frothingham. 

Thus  in  this  rather  quaint  and  hea.vy  style 
did  the  editor  make  his;  promises  to  his  readers, 
all  of  which  were  faithfully  carried  out  to  the 
full  extent  of  his  power  and  means,  with  varying 
success  for  eleven  years,  the  papers  being  de- 
livered throughout  the  Island  regularly  every 
week  by  a  post  rider  employed  by  Frothingham. 

The  first  number  had  nine  local  advertisers, 
among  whom  were:  Silas  Raymond,  who 
calls  attention  to  his  tailoring  establishment; 
Asa  Partridge  is  about  to  open  a  young  ladies' 
school ;  Ephraim  L'Hommedieu  runs  a  packet  to 
New  London  every  week ;  and  Phineas  Duvall 
has  lost  a  dog  with  a  white  ring  round  his  neck, 
white  breast  and  feet,  for  which  hq  offers  a  hand- 
some reward.  These  are  all  the  individuals  whose 
memory  survives  among  the  traditions  of  our 
village — ^anecdotal  or  otherwise.  Among  the 
literary  treasures  are  essays  on  philosophy,  phil- 
anthrophy,  happiness,  how  to  prevent  unhappy 
marriages,  European  intelligence,  news  from 
Newburyport,  Exeter,  Boston,  Worcester,  New- 
port and  other  places,  and  a  column  of  poetry. 

The  quotation,  "Eye  Nature's  walk,  shoot 
folly  as  it  flies,  and  catch  the  manners  living  as 
they  rise/'  is  taken  from  Pope's  ''Essay  on  Man," 
and  was  employed  as  his  motto  in  every  issue 
I  have  seen ;  and  taking  it  altogether,  and  allow- 
ing for  the  difficulties  of  the  period,  the  paper 
m*ust  be  considered  a  model  of  typographical  ex- 
cellence and  neatness.  In  the  fiftieth  number, 
dated  May  3,  1792,  he  makes  the  following  re- 
marks: "This  week  completes  twelve  months 
since  the  commencement  of  this  paper,  but  as  the 
printer  was  deficient  (owing  to  being  out  of 
paper),  it  will  be  two  weeks  before  the  first  vol- 
ume of  the  'Herald'  will  be  completed.  With 
a  grateful  heart  he*returns  thanks  to  his  custom- 
ers for  the  encouragement  of  the  year  past,  and 
assures  them  that  nothing  shall  be  wanting  on  his 


part  to  render  his  paper  a  useful  and  entertaining 
repository."    This  number  has  larger  type. 

No  complete  file  of  this  paper  is  in  existence. 
Mr.  Ivan  Byram,  of  Sag  Harbor,  has  nineteen 
numbers  of  Volume  I,  including  No.  i.  The 
Long  Island  Historical  Society  has  a  nearly  com- 
plete file  for  1797  and  1798  and  odd  numbers  of 
some  of  the  preceding  volumes. 

As  a  curious  illustration  of  the  change  in  pub- 
lic sentiment  as  regards  decency,  we  may  men- 
tion that  in  one  of  the  earliest  numbers  appears  a 
little  poem,  an  "Epigram,"  bordering  very  closely 
on  the  obscene.  In  Frothingham's  time  it  would 
be  considered  merely  a  broad  joke,  but  to-day 
there  is  not  a  newspaper  in  Suffolk  County 
that  would  venture  to  reprint  it. 

The  paper  continued  under  the  management 
of  Frothingham  until  June  2,  1802,  when  he 
transferred  it  to  Selleck  Osborn,  who  changed 
the  name  to  the  "Suffolk  County  Herald."  Mr. 
Frothingham's  residence  in  Sag  Harbor  was  on 
the  east  side  of  Main  street,  near  the  junction  of 
the  Sagg  road.  One  of  his  daughters  married 
Hubbard  L.  Fordham,  the  grandfather  of  Will- 
iam Wallace  Tooker,  the  well  known  antiquarian 
and  student  of  Indian  language  and  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  much  of  our  information. 

Selleck  Osborn  did  not  make  a  financial  suc- 
cess of  the  paper  and  he  sold  out  to  a  company 
who,  in  turn,  sold  it  to  Alden  Spooner,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1804,  and  he  changed  the  name  to  "Suf- 
folk Gazette.''  Osborn  was  a  man  of  consider- 
able literary  acquirements,  but  of  limited  business 
qualificatio.is.  He  moved  to  Litchfield,  Con- 
necticut, and  established  a  paper  called  the  "Wit- 
ness." At  a  later  date  he  established  a  paper  at 
Wilmington,  Delaware,  and  died  in  poor  circum- 
stances) in  Philadelphia,  October  i,  1826. 

Alden  Spooner  came  from  a  family  for  many 
years  honorably  associated  with  the  history  of  the 
press  in  New  England.  Having  learned  the 
printing  trade  with  his  cousin,  Samuel  Green, 
the  well  known  printer  of  New  London,  he  came 
to  Sag  Harbor,  then  only  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  assumed  the  publication  of  the  "Suffolk 
Gazette."  In  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life,  written 
for  the  instruction  and  information  of  his  chil- 


£06 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


dren  and  their  descendants,  but  not  printed,  he 
wrote :  '  i 

"Aly  whole  fortune  consisted  of  about  five  or 
six  dollars  in  my  pocket  and  scarcely  a  decent 
suit  of  clothes  to  my  back.  -My  mother  and'  sis- 
ter were  wanting  immediate  relief,  which  was 
the  main  reason  of  my  g'oing  to  Sag-Harbor. 
Thus  I  commenced  the  world.  My  uncle,  Charles 
Douglas,  and  his  excellent  wife  received  me  at 
Sag-Harbor.  I  established  my  office  over  the 
store  of  Jesse  Hedges,  and  became  a  boarder  in 
his  family.  The  printing  materials  were 
wretched  indeed  and  of  very  little  value.  The 
press  in  particular  required  the  aid  of  the  black- 
smith very  often,  and  the  types  were  very  un- 
suitable. The  files  of  the  Suffolk  Gazettej  now 
in  my  possession,  will  show  the  types  with  which 
all  my  work  was  executed.  My  first  Suffolk 
Gazette  was  diated  February  20,  1804.  My  prin- 
cipal patron  was  the  Collector  of  the  Port,  Henry 
P.  Dering — a  proud  man-^libera'l,  feeling  sen- 
sitive, nervous.  He  informed  me  that  the  press 
and  types  were  owned  by  about  twenty  persons 
whose  names  he  gave.  Some  gave  five,  some 
ten,  and  one  twenty  dollars.  If  I  would  furnish 
each  O'f  these  my  paper  for  four  years,  then  the 
materials  would  be  mine.  These  terms  were 
easy  in  the  mode  of  payment,  and  I  agreed.  It 
will  appear  curious  to  any  printer  to  be  told 
that  I  printed  the  Suffolk  Gazette  about  two 
years  without  the  assistance  of  any  person  what- 
soever, not  even  a  boy;  every  small  duty  was 
done  by  myself  alone,  I  was  editor,  printer, 
pubHsher,  clerk  and  errand  boy.  My  family  also 
claimed  some  oi  my  time.  During  this  time  I 
printed  many  custom  house  jobs  for  Mr.  Dering 
and  sermons  for  the  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher,  and  the 
Rev.  D.  S.  Bogart,  of  Southampton.  The  busi- 
ness was  very  small  and  I  had  but  a  few  sub- 
scribers at  $1.50.  I  had  but  a  scanty  supply  of 
pica  type,  just  enough  for  eight  or  ten  pages, 
and  the  same  type  was  used  for  my  newspaper, 
I  was  thits  cramped  in  my  operations  and  often 
had  to  work  all  the  night  to  get  clear  of  my  jobs 
in  order  to  print  my  newspaper." 

Notwithstanding  his  poverty,  as  soon  as  he 
was  established  in  his  humble  business  he  brought 
his  mother  and  sister  here  from  New  London. 
His  mother  died  here  and  a  stone  to  her  memory 
can  l>e  seen  in  the  old  burying  ground. 

Mr.  Spooner  continued  the  paper  under  every 
discouragement  until  i\Iay  25,  1810,  when  he 
sold  out  to  a  company.     He  continued  to  conduct 


it,  however,  until  February  23,  181 1,  when  it  was 
abandoned.  In"  the  last  issue,  the  editor  gives 
the  following  pathetic  farewell : 

"This  event  long  foreseen  and  too  long  pro- 
crastinated for  the  interest  of  the  subscriber, 
who,  at  length,  reluctantly  announces  the  Suffolk 
Gazette's  discontinuance  with  the  present  num- 
ber. Many  circumstances  have  contributed  to  ■ 
deny  the  Gazette  that  portion  of  patronage  nec- 
essary to  insure  its  permancy, 

"Our  insular  situation,  our  scanty  popula- 
tion [Sag-Harbor,  which  then  included  North 
Haven  and  North  Side,  only  numbered  1,168 
souls]  and  the  very  economical  habits  of  the 
country,  and  the  difficulty  of  receiving  and  dis- 
seminating intelligence  before  the  county  would 
be  supplied  through  other  channels,  are  unsur- 
mountable  obstacles.  I  had  the  hardihood  to 
make  the  attem.pt,  notwithstanding  two  previous 
failures  in  his  place.  I  have  persevered  during 
seven  years  and  now  reluctantly  relinquish  it, 
to  seek  a  more  lucrative  establishment.  This 
county  has  many  enlightened  and  patriotic  citi- 
zens whose  friendship  I  S'hall  long  ranember; 
but  they  are  indeed  too  few  for  the  support  of 
a  newspaper." 

Mr.  Spooner  then  went  to  Brooklyn,  and 
purchased  the  "Long  Island  Star,"  and  his  later 
life  is  an  important  part  of  the  history  of  that 
city.  Such  is  the  history  and  the  fate  of  the  first 
Long  Island  newspaper.  There  was,  no  news- 
paper printed  in  the  county  during  the  interesting 
penod  that  included  the  war  of  1812,  nor  any 
until  the  19th  of  October,  1816,  when  Samuel  A. 
Seabury,  who  was  born  in  Sag  Harbor,  January 
13,  1795,  and  learned  his  trade  from  Alden 
Spoo.ier,  came  into  the  field  with  the  "Suffolk 
County  Recorder."  He  seems  to  have  started 
under  rather  discouraging  circumstances,  al- 
though he  remarks  in  the  first  number  "that  the 
subscriptions  already  received  equals  his  most 
sanguine  expectations" ;  but  he  had  only  two 
local  advertisements  to  begin  with,  and  one  of 
these  was  inserted  by  Silas  Raymond,  who  helped 
start  Frothingham  twenty-five  years  previous. 
The  "Recorder"  was  the  same  size  of  the  two 
previous  papers,  and  was  a  well  edited  and  printed 
sheet.  Seabury  discontinued  the  "Recorder" 
after  publishing  one  volume,  on  October  11,  1817, 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


507 


and  launched  the  "American  Eagle  and  Suffolk 
County  General  Advertiser,"  a  week  later,  Octo- 
ber i8,  1817.  This  was  a  larger  and  better 
printed  paper  than  any  of  its  predecessors,  and 
for  the  time  and  place  deserves  commendation. 
He  published  nearly  four  volumes,  the  last  num- 
ber being  dated  August  4,  182 1,  when  it  was 
moved  to  Huntington^  Long  Island,  and  contin- 
ued under  the  same  name.  Seabury  afterwards 
sold  out  and  moved  to  Stonington,  where  he  died 
in  1825,  A  full  file  of  "The  Recorder"  is  in  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Ivan  Byram,  and  a  few  numbers  of  the 
'American  Eagle."  ,They  contain  some  local 
news,  like  the  great  fire  of  1817,  May  24th,  and 
raising  of  the  new  church,  now  the  Masonic  hall, 
in  June  of  the.  same  year.  At  this  time  Sag  Har- 
bor had  but  one  hundred  and  fifty  houses  with 
only  seven  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants. 

The  next  paper  in  Sag  Harbor  was  the  "Cor- 
rector," established  August  3,  1822,  by  Henry 
W.  Hunt,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and 
in  June,  1859,  it  was  sold  to  Alexander  A.  Hunt 
and  Brinley  D.  Sleight.  The  former  afterwards 
removed  to  Scoharie,  and  died  there.  Hon. 
Brinley  D.  Sleight  has  continued  it  ever  since, 
and  it  is  now  the  oldest  paper  in  Suffolk  County. 

The  next  newspaper  was  the  "Republican 
Watchman,"  edited  by  Samuel  PhiUips.  The  first 
number  was  issued  September  16,  1826.  In  1844 
it  wasnnoved  to  Greenport.  In  11852  the  manage- 
ment v/as  transferred  to  S.  Wells  Phillips,  a  son  of 
the  former  editor.  The  paper  was  sold  to  Hon. 
Henry  A.  Reeves,  December  4,  1858.  Since  then 
it  has  been  the  recognized  organ  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Mr.  'Reeves  was  elected  to  Congress 
in  1869.  In  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  he  is  the 
hardest  working  man  in  Suffolk  county.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  supervisor  of  South- 
old  and  held  other  positions  of  honor  and  trust 
too  numerous  to  mention.  He  is  the  second  oldest 
editor  in  the  county,  Hon.  B.  D.  Sleight  being 
the  first. 

The  next  paper  in  Sag  Harbor  was  the  "Sag 
Harbor  Express,"  which  was  established  by  John 
H.  Hunt,  July  14,  1859,  and  he  still  continues 
the  editor  and  proprietor.  It  is  the  leading  Re- 
publican paper,  and  is  a  well  recognized  power 


in  the  politics  of  .that  party.  The  only  reason 
that 'Mr.  Hunt  has  never  held  high  political  office, 
is  that  he  never  had  any  desire  to  do  so.  It  is 
one  of  the  very  few  local  papers  every  word  of 
which  is  printed  in  the  office,  very  much  to  the 
advantage  of  its  readers.  The  books  and  pamph- 
lets printed  here  are  models  of  neatness.  'Mr. 
Hunt  is  the  third  oldest  editor  in  the  connty. 

Among  the  papers  of  Benjamin  Thompson, 
the  author  of  the  "History  of  Long  Island,"  is 
Volume  I,  'No.  i,  of  the  "Nautilus,"  August, 
1845,  3-  nionthly  of  sixteen  small  pages,  printed 
at  Sag  Harbor,  by  Charles  Volney  Hunt,  who 
was  a  son  of  Co-lonel  Harry  Hunt  and  worked  in 
the  office  with  him.  Only  a  few  numbers  of  this 
little  magazine  were  printed. 

The  ifirst  newspaper  in  the  county,  printed 
outside  of  Sag  'Harbor,  was  the  'American 
Eagle,"  which  was  moved  from  Sag  Harbor  to 
Huntington  by  Samuel  Seabury  in  182 1.  In 
May,  1825,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  "Long 
Island  Journal  of  Philosophy  and  Cabinet  of 
Variety,"  .and  was  published  by  Samuel  Fleet. 
The  high  sounding  name  was  changed  to  the 
"Portico"  in  1827,  and  this  was  discontinued  in 
1829.  The  "Long  Islander"  was  started  in  1838 
by  Walt  Whitman,  a  native  of  West  Hills,  in 
Huntington,  and  whO'  in  later  years  became  fa- 
mous as  a  poet.  It  was  afterwards  owned  in.  suc- 
cession by  Edward  O.  Crowell,  B.  R.  Piatt,  Fran- 
cis A.  Teal  and  George  H.  Shepard.  At  a  later 
date  it  was  transferred  tO'  a  company,  and  was 
then  managed  and  edited  by  Charles  E.  Shepard. 
In  1897  the  majority  of  the  stock  was  purchased 
by  Hiram  A.  Baylis,  who  was  born  in  Hunting- 
ton, February  3,  1870. 

The  "Suffo'lk  Democrat"  was  established  in 
Huntington  in  1847  by  Edward  Strayhan,  a 
young  man  of  great  ability,  who'  died  soon  after. 
After  this  it  was  conducted  by  David  C.  Brush 
and  Stephen  C.  Rogers.  In  1859  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Hon.  John  R.  Reid  and  moved  to 
Babylon,  the  first  number  being  printed  April  8th. 
During  the  editorship  of  Judge  Reid  the  paper 
obtained  a  large  circulation,  and;  next  to  the  "Re- 
publican Watchman,"  was  the  leading  Demo- 
cratic paper.     Afterwards  it  was  published  for 


508 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


about  a  year  by  Charles  Jayne,  and  in  1865  it 
was  again  moved  to  Huntington  and  published  by 
Charles  R.  Street  until  1871.  Since  that  time  it 
has  been  published  in  succession  by  J.  H.  Wool- 
hiser,  Jesse  L.  Smith  and  Frank  T.  Downs.  When 
moved  to  Huntington  the  name  was  changed  to 
"Suffolk  Bulletin."  The  present  editor  is  Mr. 
W.  B.  Trainer. 

The  "Suffolk  Times"  was  established  in 
Greenport  by  John  J.  Riddell  in  1856.  In  1862  it 
was  purchased  by  Cordello  D.  Elmer,  who  was 
afterward  school  commissioner,  and  ihe  resold 
it  in  1865  to  Mr.  Riddell,  who,  in  the  following 
^ear,  sold  it  to  Buel  Davis,  and  in  1870  it  was 
sold  to  William  R.  Duvall,  who  transferred  it  to 
Lucius  C.  Youngs.  In  1875  it  became  the  prop- 
erty of  Llewellyn  F.  Terry,  who  still  conducts  it 
with  great  ability.  In  politics  it  is  strongly  Re- 
publican, and  a  good  offset  to  its  neighbor,  the 
"Republican  Watchman."  The  editor  has  for 
many  years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  other  town  offices. 

The  "Suffolk  Gazette"  was  established  at  Riv- 
erhead,  by  John  Hancock,  in  August,  1849.  ^^ 
the  early  part  of  185 1  it  was  moved  to  Sag  Har- 
bor, but  returned  tO'  Riverhead  in  December, 
1854,  and  soon  after  isuspended. 

The  "Suffolk  Union"  was  started  by  Wash- 
ington Van  Zandt,  who  was  also  an  eloquent  lec- 
turer. It  began  in  1859,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1862-3  the  office  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  the 
publication  ceased.  In  1865  Buel  G.  Davis  started 
the  "Suffolk  County  Monitor,"  but  it  only  lasted 
for  one  year. 

The  "Riverhead  Weekly  News'  was'  started 
by  James  B.  Slade,  March  3,  1868.  He  continued 
the  editor  until  May  26,  1875,  when  it  was  sold  to 
William  R.  Duvall,  who  died  in  1882.  His  son, 
William  R.  Duvall,  then  continued  the  manage- 
ment until  January,  1895,  when  he  was  elected 
county  clerk,  and  sold  a  half-interest  in  the 
paper  to  Mr.  H.  H.  Williamson,  who  assumed 
complete  charge.  On  January  i,  1898,  iMr.  Will- 
iamson purchased  Mr.  Duvall's  remaining  inter- 
est, and  is  now  sole  proprietor.  The  paper  is 
strongly  Republican,  and  is  very  successful. 

The  "Riverhead  Courier"    was    founded    in 


1895  by  Mr.  Walter  R.  Burling  as  an  independent 
paper.  After  running  it  successfully  for  a  year 
he  sold  it  to  a  Mr,  Clark,  who  in  turn  disposed  of 
it  to  some  Democratic  politicians,  by  whom  it 
was  made  a  party  organ  for  about  a  year.  The 
editor  became  involved  in  a  libel  suit  and  was 
compelled  to  leave.  The  paper  was  discontinued, 
and  the  plant  was  sold,  or  given,  to  Hon.  Henrv 
A.  Reeves  and  moved  to  Greenport.- 

The  first  paper  in  Patchogue  was  the  "Suf- 
folk Herald,"  started  about  1862  by  Washington 
Van  Zandt.  It  was  afterwards  edited  by  A.  D. 
Hawkins.  In  1864  it  was  sold  to  Harrison  Doug- 
lass, who  after  a  few  months  abandoned  it,  and 
for  a  while  it  was.  edited  by  A.  V.  Davis,  M.  C. 
Sweezy  and  others.  Not  long  after  it  was  sus- 
pended. In  the  summer  of  1870  the  "Long  Isl- 
and Star"  was  moved  here  from  Port  Jefferson, 
but  after  a  few  issues  came  to  an  end.  "The 
Patchogue  Advance"  was  founded  on  the  ruins 
of  the  "Long  Island  Star."  When  the  office  ma- 
terials were  sold  they  were  purchased  by  Tim- 
othy J-.  Dyson,  who  started  the  "Advance,"  Sep- 
tember I,  1871.  In  September,  1876,  it  was  pur- 
chased by  Thomas  S.  Heatley,  who  was  the  edi- 
tor for  many  years.  The  present  editor  and  pro- 
prietor is  Mr.  James  A.  Canfield,  who  purchased 
the  paper  about  1896.  He  is  a  native  of  Fre- 
mont, Ohio,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  en- 
gaged in'  extensive  business  in  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri. The  "Advance"  is  a  well  equipped  paper, 
with  a  large  circulation  and  of  great  political  in- 
fluence. 

A  newspaper  called  the  "Independent  Press" 
was  started  at  Setauket  by  Harvey  Markham  in 
1865.  It  was  a  small  four-page  paper,  and  was 
first  printed  August  17th.  In  the  course  of  a  year 
it  was  greatly  enlarged,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1868  it  wasi  moved  to  Port  Jefferson.  It  was  still 
further  enlarged,  and  was  continued  by  its 
founder  until  August,  1874,  when  it  was  sus- 
pended. "The  Long  Island  Star"  was  started  in 
Setauket  by  a  company  in  1866.  The  editor  and 
manager  was  James  S.  Evans,  Jr.  In  1869  it  was 
moved  to  Port  Jefferson,  and  the  following  year 
to  Patchogue^  where  it  came  to  an  end. 

A  monthly  sheet  called  "Our  Own,"  devoted 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


509 


to  the  temperance  cause,  was  printed  in  Port  Jef- 
ferson for  a  few  months  in  1S70.  "The  Long 
Island  Leader;''  a  nine-column  paper,  was  started 
in  Port  Jefferson  by  WiUiam  A.  and  Winfield  S. 
Overton,  April  12,  1873.  In  September,  1874, 
the  office  equipments,  which  were  elaborate  and 
costly,  were  ^sold  and  removed  to  Panama,  South 
America,  and  the  paper  was  suspended.  During 
the  following  year  it  was  printed  at  Babylon,  and 
in  1876  it  was  partly  printed  in  Port  Jefferson, 
"but  was  discontinued. 

"The  Bay  Shore  Journal"  was  established 
July  4,  1873.  On  May  i,  1897,  it  was  purchased 
by  ]\Ir.  Benjamin  F.  Ashley,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  who  conducts  it  with  ability  and  success. 
"The  Suffolk  County  News"  was  founded  in 
July,  1884,  by  Walter  R.  Burling,  and  was 
sold  by  him  to  Air.  A.  D.  Hawkins  in  September, 
1886.  ]\Ir.  A.  L.  Cheney  purchased  it  in  Janu- 
ary, 1888,  and  continued  to  manage  it  until  June, 
1893,  when  he  sold  it  to  Mr.  Charles  L.  Grubb, 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  he  in  turn  disposed  of  it  to 
Mr.  Francis  Hoag,  a  native  of  Albany,  where  he 
was  born  in  1867.  He  has  had  a  long  experience 
as  editor  of  various  papers,  and  under  his  cliarge 
the  "News"  has  an  extended  circulation.  It  is 
independent  in  politics. 

The  "Long  Island  Traveler"  was  first  estab- 
lished at  Cutchogue,  September  i,  1871,  by 
Llewellyn  F.  Terry.  Soon  afterward  it  was 
moved  to  Southold  and  sold  to  the  late  M.  B. 
Van  Dusen,  and  he  sold  it  io  E.  F.  Taber.  In 
April,  1889,  it  was  purchased  by  Joseph  N.  Hal- 
lock,  who  has  conducted  it  to  the  present  time. 
As  -an  inducement  to  obtain  new  subscribers,  Mr. 
Hallock  bought  up  all  the  unsold  copies  of  Rich- 
ard M.  Bayles'  "Sketches  of  Suffolk  County" 
and  offered  them  as  premiumfi.  This  had  the 
desired  effect,  and  also  circulated  a  very  valuable 
book.  The  paper  is  an  able  champion  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  the  editor  has  been  three 
times  elected  to  the  Legislature,  where  his  abil- 
ity was  fully  recognized.  A  prominent  feature  of 
the  "Traveler"  is  a  column  devoted  to  genealogi- 
cal inquiry. 

"The  Port  Jefferson  Times"  was  established 
by  W^alter  R.  Burling,  December  14,   1878.     In 


October,  1879,  it  was  purchased  by  T.  B,  Hawk- 
ins and  Lyman  Beecher  Homan,  the  latter  hav- 
ing been  the  editor  from  the  outset.  In  June, 
1881,  Mr.  Homiaii  became  sole  owner,  and  re- 
mained the  editor  until  1898,  when  he  sold  it  to 
Wilson  Rich,  the  present  editor. 

"The  Port  Jefferson  Echo"  was  established  by 
Charles  A.  Squires,  a  native  of  Good  Ground, 
Long  Island,  August  6,  1892,  and  was  successful 
from  the  beginning.  In  1894  it  was  indorsed  as 
an  official  Republican  paper  by  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  has  ever  been  loyal  to  that 
party.  The  paper  was  enlarged  August  6,  1895. 
In  May,  1899,  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  A.  Jay 
Tefft,  by  whom  it  was  still  further  enlarged  in 
November.  Mr.  Tefft  was  born  in  New  York, 
May  15,  1858,  and  has  had  extensive  experience 
as  an  editor  on  various  papers.  Under  his  man- 
agement the  "Echo"  has  become  one  of  the  best 
paying  newspapers  in  the  county. . 

"The  Moriches  Messenger"  was  started  in 
April,  1890,  as  an  amateur  paper,  by  Mr.  Joseph 
R.  Robbins.  A  few  years  later  it  was  purchased 
by  a  Mr.  Thomas,  who  made  it  a  fair  local  paper. 
After  about  a  year's  experience  he  abandoned  it, 
and  Mr.  Robbins  again  came"  in  possession  and 
fitill  conducts  it.  In  its  politics  it  is  Democratic. 
"The  Northport  Journal"  was  established  in 
1885  by  Mr.  Daniel  A.  Arthur,  who  is  the  pres- 
ent editor.  It  is  the  only  paper  now  published  in 
Northport.    It  is  Democratic  in  politics. 

"The  Islip  Herald"  is  one  of  the  many  papers 
.started  by  Mr.  Walter  R.  Burling,  and  was  estab- 
lished in  1900.  It  was  shortly  after  sold  to  W. 
S.  Cartwright,  who  suddenly  disappeared  about 
October,  1901,  and  the  paper  was  sold  to  H.  H. 
Hall  and  Frank  Parker,  the  present  proprietors. 
The  "Babylon  Budget"  was  founded  by  Hon. 
John  R.  Reid,  March  25,  1876,  and  while  under 
his  management  was  noted  for  the  brilliancy  of 
its  editorials.  It  passed  in  succession  to  W.  S. 
Overton,  Jesse  S.  Pettit,  John  Lowden,  Charles 
T.  Duryea  and  again  to  John  R.  Reid.  It  was 
afterwards  very  successfully  conducted  by  Ste- 
phen A.  Titus  and  A.  L.  Cheney.  The  paper  and 
material  were  sold  to  Henry  Livingston  in  1889, 
and  it  was  merged  in  the  ''South  Side  Signal." 


510 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND, 


"The  South  Side  Signal"  was  founded  by 
Henr}'  Livingston,  and  the  first  nuniiber  ap- 
peared July  7.  1869,  and  has  been  owned  continu- 
ously 'by  its  founder.  It  was  entirely  a  new  fea- 
ture in  local  journalism.  It  was  independent  in 
politics,  and  had  no  editorials.  In  every  village 
of  importance  a  local  editor  was  appointed,  who 
sent  a  weekly  list  of  passing  events,  and  his  own 
name  was  prefixed  to  it.  This  very  greatly  ex- 
tended its  popularity  and  interest.  In  all  that 
makesi  a  local  newspaper  the  "Signal"  stands  at 
the  head.  Mr.  Simon  W.  Cooper,  who  was  for 
many  years  connected  with  it,  is  one  for  whom 
the  writer  has  reason  to  feel  the  deepest  respect. 


WALTER  R.  BURLING. 

The  "Sea  Side  Times"  was  founded  by  Walter 
R.  Burling,  December  15,  1881,  when  Southamp- 
ton was  beginning  its  rapid  growth.  November 
27,  1895,  a  half  interest  was  sold  to  Charles  A. 
Jagger,  who  purchased  the  remaining  part  Janu- 
ary I,  1897,  and  still  remains  in  control.  Mr. 
Jagger  is  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College,  and 
continued  his  studies  in  Europe,  and  is  probably 
the  best  educated  editor  in  Suffolk  County,  Tie 
is  a  native  of  Southampton,  and  is  descended 
from  one  of  the  ancient  families.  This  was  the 
first  paper  on  the  south  side,  east  of  Patchogue. 

The  "Southampton  Press"  was  established  by 
George  H.  Burling  (a  son  of  Walter  R.  Bur- 
ling), and  the  first  number  was  issued  May  29, 


1897.  The  long  experience  of  the  son  under  the 
direction  of  his  father  well  fitted  him  for  the  po- 
sition, and  the  paper  has  a  wide  circulation. 

The  "Bridgehampton  News''  was  founded  by 
Frank  W.  .Burling  (another  son  of  Walter  R. 
Burling),  February  2,  1895,  and  is  well  con- 
ducted. 

The  "East  Hampton  Star"  was  founded  De- 
cember 25,  1885,  by  George  H.  Burling,  who  at 
first  met  with  difficulties  and  opposition.  In 
June,  1890,  he  sold  the  paper  to  Mr.  E.  S.  Bough- 
ton,  who  was  born  in  Danbury,  Connecticut,  July 
18,  1863,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  printer  in  that 
city.  Since  then  he  has  had  an  extensive  experi- 
ence as  an  editor  and  manager.  Under  his  con- 
trol the  "Star"  has  attained  a  wide  and  increasing 
circulation.  It  is  one  of  the  few  papers  which 
make  a  feature  of  local  illustration. 

"The  Argus''  was  established  in  Patchogue, 
September  6,  1884,  by  Mr.  L.  B.  Green,  who  was 
born  at  Ocean  Beach,  New  Jersey,  January  26, 
1856.  The  paper  was  at  first  a  seven-column 
folio,  and  was  printed  on  an  Adams  hand  press, 
the  office  force  consisting  of  the  editor  and  a 
boy.  It  is  now  one  of  the  best  equipped  offices 
in  ithe  county,  and  the  paper  is  a  six-column 
quarto.  It  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  contains  all  the  news  of  a  local  and 
general  interest.  The  editor  is  probably  more 
cloisely  connected  with  local  societies  than  any 
other  man.  As  an  example  of  the  enterprise  of 
the  paper  and  its  editor,  it  may  be  mentioned  that 
it  was  the  only  county  paper  to  issue  an  "extra" 
on  the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the  death  of  Presi- 
dent JNIcKinley,   Saturday,   September   14,   1901. 

The  "Center-Moriches  Record"  was  founded 
by  Walter  R.  Burling,  October  30,  1899,  and  is 
"independent  but  not  neutral." 

The  "Smithtown  Star,"  the  first  newspaper 
in  SmithtOiwn,  was  established  December  28, 
1901,  by  L.  Beecher  Homan,  of  Port  Jefferson. 
The  office  is  at  Smithtown  Branch. 

"The  Long  Island  Herald"  was  started  at 
Islip,  about  1874,  by  William  L.  Cook,  a  son  of 
Luther  D.  Cook,  of  Sag  Harbor.  It  was  the  first 
paper  that  contained  illustrations,  and  among 
them  were  pictures  of  the  old  Sayre  house  and 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


511 


Pelletreau  house  in  Southampton.  It  was  after- 
ward purchased  by  a  company,  moved  to  Babylon 
and  became  the  "Budget." 

BIBLIOGRAPflY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

In  such  a  sketch  as  this,  it  is  manifestly  im- 
possible to  give  an  account  of  every  publication 
relating  to  the  county,  or  that  has  been  printed 
within  its  limdts,  but  it  is  believed  that  all  of  the 
important  wcrks  will  be  mentioned.  For  much 
of  the  information  we  are  indebted  to  William 
Wallace  Tooker,  of  Sag  Harbor,  and  papers 
written  by  him  and  printed  in  the  "Sag  Harbor 
Express." 

Outside  of  the  new^spaper  printed  by  Daniel 
Frothinghami,  the  first  output  of  a  separate  im- 
print from  the  Frothingham  press  was  entitled 
"Verses  occasioned  by  the  loss  of  'the  brig  Sally, 
on  Eaton's  Neck,  January  i6,  1791,  together  with 
some  reflections  said  to  have  been  made  by  Capt. 
Keeler  during  fhe  storm."  This  was  probably  a 
broadside  and  was  advertised  in  No.  14  of  the 
"Herald,"  and  in  several  issues  following,  "to 
be  had  at  the  printing  office,  or  to  be  had  of  the 
Post-rider,  price  3  d.  In  No.  7,  June  12,  1791,  it 
is  stated  that  a  post-rider  had  been  employed  to 
travel  through  the  Island,  with  headquarters  in 
New  York  City  at  Benjamin  Strong  &  Co.,  37 
Water  street."  I  have  never  seen  a  copy  of  this 
imprint. 

The  next  issue  from  this  press  was  struck  off 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  and  is  entitled  "A  plain 
and  serious  address  to  the  Master  of  a  Family  on 
the  important  subject  of  Family  Religion,"  by 
Phillip  Doddridge,  D.  D.,  Sagg-Harbour,  printed 
by  David  Frothingham,  mdccxci,  pp.  36.  This 
was  written  by  Dr.  Doddridge  at  Northampton, 
Massachusetts,  December,  1740,  and  is  a  recom- 
mendation for  family  worship,  containing  also  a 
morning  and  evening  prayer.  It  is  advertised  in 
several  issues  of  the  "Herald"  beginning  with 
that  of  December  20,  1791,  and  it  no  doubt  bad  a 
fair  sale  at  the  price  of  sixpence,  as  it  had  been 
through  several  editions  elsewhere  before  being 
published   by   Frothingham.     The    only   copy   I 


have  seen  or  heard  of  is  in  my  own  possession 
and  is  one  of  the  rarest  examples  from  this  press. 
It  will  be  noticed  by  this  and  other  imprints 
of  the  period,  that  religious  books  and  ser- 
mons were  in  more  active  demand  in  those  days, 
especially  in  the  country,  than  any  other  class  of 
reading.  Indeed,  it  was  very  many  years  later 
that  any  other  description  of  literature  was  at- 
tempted. 

Fac-similes  of  the  title  page  and  of  the  text 
page  immediately  following  it  are  given  on  this 
and  the  next  pages.  This  little  volume,  with  its 
badly  worn  type  of  ancient  cut,  is  famous  as  the 
first  book  printed  on  Long  Island. 


Plain    and  Serious 


ADDRESS 


T  O    T  H  fi 


Mafter  of  a  Fam'tfy^ 


ON  THE  IMPOKT  ANT  SUBJECT  0^ 


FAMILY  RELIGION, 


BY     PHILIP     DODDRIDGE,     D.    D. 


SAGG-HARBOUR  ; 

Printetf  by  DAVIDFROTHJNGHAM. 
M.DCCXCI, 


512 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


%mimm3kmm3mmm^sn^ 


A  plain  and  ferious 
Addrefsj  &c. 


'VJTotJtflayeaiiTy  apprelienJ,  that  thfr  mrfiy  UieYTTT^ 

'*'     .tio.ils  to  whicli  perfonaJ  Viiits    ar€.iuhU>  maksittlTP 

fi<^«rt  Jfo?  Minifiera  to  find  a  convenient  Time,  in  j«liich 

they    nu^  apply  themfclvcs  fuitably  aad  largely  to  tboie 

cnmmitted  to  their  Care  ;  oratleaft,  if  they  refolve  to  do 

it,   ^yiJI  nereffan'ly.OTake  their    Pfogrefs   through  large 

Congregations v«ry  flow^    [therefore  take  fhi&  Met'hod 

ofvifitfng  you  while  alone,  and  of  addrc'fiing  you  On  the 

I'cry   important  Sabjea  of  family- Religion.    For  yoflf 

own  Sake,  and  theSakeof  ihofe  dearefl  to  yoU>  lentreSt 

yoa  to  give  acalta  atuativeHearing.    And  I  would  par* 

ticularly  dcfire,  that  if  it  be  by  any  Means  prafticijbtc, 

as  with  a  little  Contrivance    and    Refolotion   I  hope  it 

nuy,)  you    would  fccure-  o^ie  Hour  on  the  Morning  of 

the  Lord's-Day  after  you   receive  it,  not  merely  to    run 

over  this  Letter ina   curfory   Manner,  but    deliberately 

to  weigh  and  con^det  it;.andtoxameto  fomep^tetmrna-n 

tion, 

The  next  book  printed  by  Frothingham  bears 
the  following  title : 

The 

Rights  of  Animals 

An 

Oration 

Delivered  at  the 

Commencement 

of  Providence  College 

September  7th  1791. 

By  Herman  Daggett. 

Candidate    for   the    blaster's    Degree 

"A   merciful   man,   regardeth 

the  life  of  his  beast." 

Solomon. 
Sagg  Harbor.     Printed  by 
David  Frothingham 
^I  D  C  C  X  C  I  I. 


Probably  no  text  of  Scripture  has  been  so 
universally  misquoted  as  the  one  on  this  title 
page.  This  work  is  advertised  in  the  "Herald" 
for  February,  1792,  price  6d,  14  pp.,  and  was 
issued  January  19,  1792.  Herman  Daggett  was 
ordained  as  minister  at  Southampton,  April  12, 
1792,  where  he  was  previously  located  as  a  licen- 
tiate, and  it  was  probably  from  this  fact  that 
Frothingham  published  this  thesis.  Providence 
College  is  now  Brown  University.  It  has  been 
stated  by  several  bibliophiles  that*  this  was  the 
first  book  published  on  Long  Island,  but  this  is  a 
mistake,  as  it  was  antedated,  as  has  been  noticed, 
by  the  two  previous  titles,.  A  bound  copy  of  this 
pamphlet  lately  sold  in  New  York  City  at  auction 
for  a  good  price,  which  shows  its  rarity. 

An  advertisement  in  the  "Herald"  of  April 
12  and  19,  1792,  and  perhaps  in  other  issues: 
"Proposals  for  printing  (at  the  printing  office 
Sagg-Harbour)  on  elegant  large  type  and  good 
paper.  'The  Poor  Man's  Help  and  Young  Man's 
Guide,'  by  William  Bartl-ett,  M.  A.  As  soon  as 
400  subscribers  are  obtained  the  work  would  be 
put  to  press."  Then  follows  a  collation  of  the 
contents  of  the  book.  I  cannot  recall  ever  seeing 
a  copy  of  this  work,  or  hearing  any  mention  of 
it.  It  may  not  have  been  printed,  owing  to  lack 
of  subscribers,  as  four  hundred  advance  subscrip- 
tions were  a  good  many  for  that  day,  besides  the 
work  was  quite  an  undertaking  for  Frothingham. 
This  is  however  simply  negative  evidence,  as  it 
may  have  been  published  and  the  copies  destroyed 
or  overlooked. 

The  next  issue  of  an  imprint  from  his  press 
was  probably  "The  Life  of  Joseph,  the  son  of 
Israel.  In  eight  books,  chiefly  designed  to  allure 
young  minds  to  a  love  of  the  sacred  Scriptures."" 
By  John  M^acgowan,  a  new  edition;  (D.  F.)  in  a 
fancy  script  monogram ;  a  frontispiece  engrav- 
ing of  Joseph  and  his  brethren.  Sagg  Harbor, 
printed  and  sold  by  David  Frothingham.  No 
date,  but  undoubtedly  1792,  pp.  131.  Generally 
well  preserved  on  account  of  being  1x)und  in 
sheep.  I  have  seen  five  or  six  copies  of  this,  work, 
and  it  is  the  most  common  of  the  Frothingham 
imprints.  In  the  copy  of  the  "Herald"  for  May 
3d,  1792,  he  advertises  "Food  for  the  Mind.    The 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


513 


printer  has  received  a  considerable  assortment 
of  bcoks  which  he  is  determined  to  sell  at  the 
New  York  price.''  Heading  the  list  of  books  is 
"The  Life  of  Jos^eph,  Son  of  Israel."  From  this 
I  believe  that  he  did  not  print  this  book,  but 
bought  th-em  in  sheets,  bound  them  up,  and  in- 
serted the  title  page.  This  seems  to  be  proven 
also  by  the  title  page,  which  is  of  different  paper 
and  slightly  smaller  than  the  oth-er  pages,  and  is 
pasted  in.  ' 

The  next  issue  appeared  a  year  later,  on  "The 
Evil  of  Lying;  a  Sermon  delivered  at  Bridge- 
hampton,  January  13th,  1793,  by  Aaron  Wool- 
worth,  M.  A.,  pastor  of  the  church  at  that  place." 
Sagg-Harbor,  printed  by  David  Frothingham, 
MDCCxciT^  pp.  15.  Rev.  Aaron  Woolworth  mar- 
ried Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Buel, 
which  accounts  for  the  next  issue  from  this  press. 

This  Avas  "The  Life  of  Christ  as  Lord  and 
Redeemer ;  Lasting  as  Eternity,  the  Believers' 
Consolation,"  and  worthy  of  the  greatest  atten- 
tion, illustrated  in  a  sermon  preached  at  Bridge- 
hampton  on  the  Lord's  Day.  September  14,  1794, 
immediately  after  the  funeral  of  Samuel  Buell 
Woolworth,  who  died  September  13,  1794,  in  the 
third  year  of  his  age,  by  Samuel  Buel,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  East-Hampton ; 
Sagg-Harbour,  printed  by  David  Frothingham, 
pp.  42.  There  is  a  contemporaneous  portrait  of 
Dr.  Buel  in  possession  of  Jonathan  Gardiner, 
Esq.,  at  East-Hampton.  Several  engravings  have 
been  made  from  this  portrait. 

The  next  imprint  was  the  "Rules  and  regula- 
tions for  the  government  of  the  academy  in  East- 
Hampton,  Sagg-Harbour,  printed  by  David 
Frothingham,  AIDCCXCIV,  pp.  12." 

This  was  followed  in  the  next  year  by  "a 
Sermon  on  Covetousness,"  delivered  at  Southold, 
Long  Island,  February  i,  1795,  by  Jonathan  Bird, 
A.  AI.  Sagg-Harbour,  printed  by  David  Froth- 
ingham, MDCCXCV,  pp.  15. 

The  next  year  appeared  "An  Attempt  to  De- 
lineate the  Character  and  Services  of  the  Faith- 
ful Servant  of  Christ/'  in  a  sermon  preached  at 
the  funeral  of  the  Rev.  Noah  Wetmore,  A.  M., 
late  minister  at  Brookhavai,  March  10,  1796,  by 
William.  Schenck,  A.  B.  and  M'.  V.  D.,  at  Hunt- 
ington, Ix)ng  Island  (quotation  from  St.  Paul), 
33 


published  at  the  request  and  by  the  widow  and 
children  of  the  deceased.  Sag  Harbor,  printed 
by  David  Frothingham,  (no  date). 

Frothingham's  most  ambitious  effort  appeared 
this  year,  which  was  "The  Long  Island  Maga- 
zine," or  "Universal  Repository,"  for  June,  1796, 
(table  of  contents).  Sag  Harbor,  printed  by 
David  Frothingham,  MDCCXCVI,  pp.  56.  It 
contains  an  "Address  to  the  Public ;  twenty-eight 
articles  on  various  subjects;  ten  poetical  essays, 
news,  foreign  and  domestic,  remarkable  occur- 
rences, etc.,  etc.  This  magazine  was  undoubtedly 
made  up  in  the  office,  and  perhaps  from  selections 
taken  from  the  "Herald."  The  type,  being  identi- 
cal with  that  used  on  the  paper,  is  of  a  poor  qual- 
ity and  somewhat  worn.  I  doubt  if  any  other 
numbers  were  issued,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  aware, 
but  one  copy  of  this  magazine  is  in  existence. 
The  copy  from  which  this  description  and  title 
was  taken  is  in  the  library  of  Frederic  H.  Betts, 
Esq.,  of  New  York  City  and  Southampton,  Long- 
Island,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the  opportunity 
of  describing  it.  Mr.  Betts,  found  it  about  twenty 
years  since  in  the  attic  of  a  farmhouse  near  South 
ampton.  It  was  then  stitched  to  a  copy  of  the 
"Massachusetts  Magazine"  for  July,  1796,  but 
there  is  no  similarity  between  the  two  magazines, 
typographically  or  otherwise. 

After  the  newspaper  founded  by  Frothing- 
ham^  was  sold  to  Alden  Spooner,  in  1809,  he  also 
published  a  few  works ;  whether  any  were  printed 
by  Selleck  Osborn,  who  owned  the  paper  from 
1802  to  '1804,  is  not  known.  The  first  book  of 
which  we  have  any  knowledge,  printed  by  Alden 
Spooner,  was  "The  Voice  of  Gratitude — a  dis- 
course delivered  on  the  22d  of  November,  1804, 
being  the  anniversary  thanksgiving  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Southampton,  Long  Island," 
by  David  S.  Bogart,  A.  M.,  Sag  Harbor,  printed 
by  Alden  Spooner,  1805,  pp.  24.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  "The  Duty  of  Parents  and  Children," 
a  sermon  addressed  to  the  school  in  Smithtown, 
December  26,  1803,  by  Luther  Gleason,  pastor  of 
the  church  in  that  place.  "Train  up  a  child  in 
the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will 
not  depart  from  it." — Solomon;  pp.  15,  Sag  Har- 
bor, New  York,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1805. 

Rev.  Lyman  Beecher,  father  of  the  celebrated 


514 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Henry  Ward  Beecher,  is  responsible  for  the  next 
issue,  which  was  "A  Sermon  Containing  a  Gen- 
eral History  of  the  Town  of  East-Hampton,  (L. 
I.),  from  its  First  Settlement  to  the  Present 
Time,  Delivered  at  East-Hampton,  Jan.  i,  1806, 
by  Lyman  Beecher,  pastor  of  the  Church  in  that 
place,"  pp.  40.  Sag  HailDor,  printed  by  Alden 
Spooner,  1806. 

In  the  same  year  appeared  "A  Dialogue  Ex- 
hibiting some  of  the  Principal  and  Practical 
Consequences  of  Modem  Infidelity,"  pp.  24.  Sag 
Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1806.  Ac- 
cording to  a  note  this  dialogue  was  prepared  for 
an  exhibition  at  the  Clinton  Academy,  East 
Hampton,  by  R.  S.  Storrs,  the  teacher.  It 
caused  quite  a  furor  at  East  Hampton,  as  there 
was  an  Atheistic  Club  there  and  they  would  not 
permit  this  dialogue  to  be  performed,  "so  it  was 
printed  and  had  a  wider  circulation. 

Another  sermon  by  Beecher  was  printed  this 
year,  *'A  Sermon  Occasioned  by  the  Lamented 
Death  of  Mrs.  Frances  M.  Sands,  of  New  Shore- 
ham,  formerly  an  inhabitant  of  East  Hampton 
(L.  I.),  composed  and  now  made  public  at  the 
request  of  her  afflicted  parents  and  delivered  at 
East-Hampton,  October  12,  1806,"  pp.  20.  Sag 
Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1806. 

Another  little  work  this  year  was  "An  Affect- 
ing History  of  the  Captivity  and  Sufferings  of 
]\Irs.  Velnet,  an  Italian  lady,  who  was  seven 
years  a  slave  in  Tripoli ;  three  of  which  she  was 
confined'  in  a  dungeon  loaded  with  irons ;  at  times 
put  to  the  most  cruel  tortures  ever  invented  by 
men."  Written  by  herself,  second  American 
edition.  Sag  Harbor,  New  York,  printed  by 
Alden  Spooner,  1806.  This  is  advertised  in  the 
"Gazette"  of  1810  among  a  list  of  books  for  sale. 

The  next  was  probably  a  job  print  and  copies 
must  be  sought  for  at  Setauket,  Long  Island. 
Thisi  v^as  ''Books  contained  in  the  Franklinean 
library  of  Setauket,  instituted  June  7,  1806," 
Sag  Harbor  (N.  Y.),  printed  by  Alden  Spooner, 
1807,  pp.  12. 

A  similar  theme  to  this  was  "Constitution  of 
the  Literary  Society  of  Sag-Harbor,  adopted 
February  9,  1807."  Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Al- 
den Spooner,  1807. 


The  next  seems  to  have  been  evolved  from 
the  celebrated  duel  between  Col.  Alex.  Hamilton 
and  Aaron  Burr,  occurring  two  years  previous. 
"The  remedy  for  dueling,  a  sermon  delivered  be- 
fore the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island,  at  the  open- 
ing of  their  session  at  Aquebogue,  April  16,  1806, 
by  Lyman  Beecher,  pastor  of  the  church  in  East- 
Hampton,  published  by  request  of  the  Presby- 
tery." Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner, 
1808,  pp.  44. 

This  was  followed  in  the  next  year  by  'A 
Faithful  Narrative  of  the  Remarkable  Revival  of 
Religion  in  the  congregation  of  East-Hampton, 
on  Long  Island,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1764; 
with  some  reflections  by  Samuel  Buell,  D.  D.,  late 
minister  of  the  Go^spel  at  that  place :  to  which  are 
added  sketches  of  the  author's  life  memoirs  of 
his  daughter,  j\Irs.  Conkling,  and  his"  son,  Sam- 
uel Buell,  which  were  annexed  to  the  sermon, 
published  on  their  death,  and  also  an  account  of 
the  revival  of  religion  in  Bridge-Hampton  and 
East-Hampton,  in  the  year  1800."  Sag  Harbor, 
printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1804,  pp.  141,  en- 
graved portrait  of  Rev.  'Samuel  Buell,  D.  D. 
This  work  was  edited  by  his  son-in-law.  Rev. 
Aaron  Woolworth,  D.  D.  This  is  the  most  com- 
mon of  the  Spooner  imprints  and  it  had  a  large 
circulation  and  a  large  edition. 

This  was  followed  by  a  story  of  a  church 
row.  "An  Impartial  Narrative  of  the  trial  of 
]\Ir.  Luther  Gleason  before  the  Congregational 
Convention  of  Long  Island,  holden  at  Old 
Man's,  Brookhaven,  April  13,  1803;  to  which  is 
prefixed  a  brief  account  of  said  Luther  Gleason, 
from  the  time  of  his  coming  into  the  pulpit  of 
the  church,  by  the  prosecutor."  Sag  Harbor, 
printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1808,  pp.  100. 

Same  year  appeared  "Sketches  of  the  Life  of 
Joseph  Mountain,  a  negro,  who  was  executed  on 
the  20th  of  October,  1790,"  printed  for  the  pur- 
chasers. Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner, 
1808. 

Also  "Parker's  American  Citizens'  Sure  Guide 
or  Ready  Reckoner,"  etc.,  by  Solomon  Parker. 
Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner  for  the 
author,  1808,  287  pp. 

The  next  is  of  interest  in  a  political  way,  and 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


515 


had,  no  doubt,  a  wide  circulation.  This  was  "A 
letter  from  the  Hon.  John  Quincy  Adams,  a 
member  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  from 
the  state  of  ^vlassachusetts,  on  the  present  state  of 
our  National  affairs,  with  remarks  on  Mr.  Pick- 
ering's letter  to  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts." 
Sag  Harbor,   printed   by  Alden   Spooner,   1808, 

PP-  35- 

A  rare  and  interesting  example  appeared  the 
following  year,  which  was  "A  collection  of 
hymns,  original  and  select.  For  the  use  of  small 
assemblies  and  private  Christians  by  Nathaniel 
S.  Prime,  "I  will  sing  with  the  spirit,  and  I  will 
sing  with  the  understanding,  also."  Sag  Harbor, 
printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1809.  This  little 
book  contains  112  hymns,  including  Rev.  Sam- 
son  Cecum's  ''Awaked  by  Sinai's  awful  sound," 
and  are  chiefly  of  a  revival  character.  The  first 
line  O'f  first  hymn  is  ''To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his 
voice,"  and  the  last  hymn  began  "The  Lord  my 
pasture  shall  prepare."  It  contains,  including 
the  doxologies,  note  to  the  reader  and  index, 
144  pages  and  is  bound  in  sheep.  The  note 
states,  No  selection  was  made  from  Dr.  Watt's 
psalms  and  hymns,  as  they  were  so  universally 
disposed.  This  little  volume  was  probably  the 
base  of  the  village,  hymn  by  Nettleton,  which 
was  of  similar  character. 

The  Rev.  Nathaniel  S.  Prime,  then  a  licenti- 
atCj  commenced  to  preach  in  Sag  Harbor,  Oc- 
tober 26,  1806,  and  continued  here  until  the  au- 
tumn of  1809.  The  peculiar  circumstances  of 
the  congregation  at  that  time  were  assigned  as 
the  reason  for  not  making  a  permanent  settle- 
ment for  the  ministry,  and  Mr.  Prime,  though 
afterward  ordained  by  the  Presbytery,  was  not 
settled  here,  ]Mr.  Prime  and  Mr.  Spooner  mar- 
ried sisters,  daughters  of  Major  John  Jermain, 
hence  were  connected  by  marriage  ties. 

Another  was :  "An  inquiry  into  the  cause 
of  'the  prosperity  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States;"  to  which  is  an- 
nexed an  appendix  containing  a  statement  of  the 
peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Calvanists  and  Method- 
ists, contrasted  by  James  Snowden.  Sag  Har- 
bor, printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1809,  120 
PP-  36. 


Early  in  the  next  year  followed  'The  con- 
trast, or  the  death  bed  of  a  Free  Thinker  and 
the  death  bed  of  a  Christian,  exemplified  in  the 
last  hours  of  the  Hon.  Francis  Newport  and  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Finley,  D.  D.,"  Sag  Harbor, 
printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  1810,  pp.  32.  This 
imprint  is  also  well  advertised  in  Volume  7  of 
'*The  Gazette,"  beginning  with  the  number  for 
April  28,    1 8 10. 

Politics,  interspersed  with  religion,  seems  to 
be  the  order,  as  the  foregoing  was  followed  by 
''An  address  of  the  Republican  Committee  of 
Nomination,  To  the  Electors  of  the  County  of 
vSufi'olk,  on  the  affairs  of  the  general  govern- 
ment and  objects  of  importance  connected  with 
the  ensuing  election."  Cut  of  a  spread  eagle. 
Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  pp.  16. 

Another  religious  work  for  that  year  was 
"An  entertaining  controversy  between  Rev. 
Samuel  Haynes,  minister  of  a  Congregational 
church  in  Rutland  (Vt.)  and  the  Rev.  Hosea 
Bellows,  preacher  of  the  Dogma  of  Universal 
Salvation."  Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Alden 
Spooner,  1810.  This  imprint  is  advertised  in 
several  numbers  of  the  "Gazette"  for  that  year, 
price  i6d. 

The  same  year  he  issued  "An  Abridgement 
of  L.  Murray's  Grammar,  with  an  appendix 
containing  an  exemplification  of  the  parts  of 
speech  and  exercises  in  syntax,  designed  for  the 
younger  classes  of  learners,  by  Lindley  Murray." 
Sag  Harbor,  printed  by  Alden  Spooner,  i3io, 
pp.  107.  This  little  work  is  quite  rare,  owing  to 
the  fact  they  were  mostly  used  up  by  wear  in  the 
schools.  Title  from  copy  in  my  possession.  It  is 
advertised  in  many  copies  of  the  "Gazette"  for 
that  year. 

This  is  the  last  title  of  which  I  have  any 
knowledge  from  the  Spooner  press. 

The  paper  was  discontinued  in  181 1,  and  no 
printing  was  done  in  Sag  Harbor  until  1816, 
when  Samuel  A.  Seabury  started  the  "Suffolk 
County  Recorder." 

I  have  been  told  that  Seabury  moved  to 
Sagg,  where  he  ran  the  press  for  a  time  in  job 
printing.  Whether  it  was  while  the  "Eagle" 
was  on  the  press  or  not,  I  have  been  unable  to 


516 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


learn,  as  they  all  bear  the  Sag  Harbor  h-nprint. 
The  separate  imprints  from  the  Seabury  press 
do  not  seem  to  be  numerous,  and  probably  were 
not.     I  have  O'nly  three  to  note. 

The  first  is  a  "Prayer  for  ministers,  a  Chris- 
ian  duty,  a  sermon  delivered  October  23,  1816, 
at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Fuller,  as 
the  pastor  of  the  united  congregations  of  Smith- 
town  and  Fresh  Ponds,  by  Aaron  Woolworth, 
D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Bridge-Hampton, 
Published  by  request."  Sag  Harbor,  printed  by 
Samuel  A.  Seabury,  1817,  pp.  18.  It  is  adver- 
tised also  in  the  "Recorder,"  price  i6d. 

The  next  title  was  "A  sermon  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  Miss  Mary  Hill,  who  died  of  a 
consumption  January  19,  1817,  aged  26  years, 
written  and  published  by  the  request  of  her  af- 
flicted friends  and  delivered  January  26,  18 17, 
by  John  D.  Gardiner,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  this  place,"  price  15  cents.  Sag  Har- 
bor, printed  by  Samuel  A.  Seabury,  1817.  This 
is  also  advertised  in  many  numbers  of  the  ''Re- 
corder." 

The  third  was  two  years  later  from  the 
"American  Eagle"  press.  ''Rules  and  orders  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Suffolk  County, 
New  York.  Printed  by  Samuel  A.  Seabury, 
1819."  This  was  probably  a  job  contract,  and 
consequently  did  not  have  general  circulation. 

This  closes  the  history  of  the  Sag  Harbor 
press  for  the  first  thirty  years  of  its  existence. 
There  were  many  sermons  printed  by  Long  Isl- 
and minsters,  upon  Long  Island  subjects,  long 
before  the  time  when  Frothingham  began  print- 
ing in  Sag  Harbor,  but  all  these  were  printed  in 
Xew  England  or  in  New  York  City.  We  give 
the  titles  of  such  as  we  have  been  able  to  dis- 
cover. 

Rev.  Samuel  Buel,  D.  D.,  of  East  Hampton, 
printed  the  following  sermons : 

"Sermon  preached  at  the  ordination  of  Rev. 
Benjamin  Talmadge  oi  Brookhaven,"  October 
23.   1754.     A  pamphlet  of  62  pages; 

"A  sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Esther 
Darbie,"  September  24,  1757;  P.  34; 

''  \  sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs.-  Catherine 
Davis,"  April  ir,  1759.    P.  38; 


'A  sermon  preached  at  the  ordination  of 
Sampson  Occum,  at  East  Hampton,  April  29^ 
1759,"  P-  38.  Occum  was  the  famous  Indian 
preacher  whose  hymn  "Awaked  by  Sinai^s 
Awful  Sound,"  is  well  known ; 

'Account  of  the  late  success  of  the  Gospel 
in  the  Province  of  Xew  York,  contained  in 
letters  from  Messrs.  Buel,  Hazzard  and 
Prime,"  1765,  P.  16.  These  three  men  were 
famous  country  ministers  at  that  time. 

"A  letter  to  Rev.  Mr.  Barber  of  Groton,"' 
March  19,  1764,  P.  8; 

"Sermon  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Charles  Jeff- 
rey Smith,"  August  10,  1770,  P.  42.  He  was 
one  of  the  "Tangier  Smith"  family  and  was 
killed  while  himting,  supposedly  by  the  acci- 
dental discharge  of  his  gnn,  but,  many  years- 
after,  a  negro  in  the  South,  who  was  about  to 
be  executed  for  a  crime,  confessed  that  he  was 
not  only  guilty,  but  that  he  had  also  killed  a 
minister  named  Smith,  at  Brookhaven,  Long^ 
Island  ; 

"A  New  Year's  Sermon,  preached  at  East 
Hampton,  with  'a  poem  on  Youths'  Triumph," 
1775.     P.  54; 

"Sermon  on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Jerusha 
Conkling,"  East  Hampton,  February  29,  1782.. 
Mrs.  Conkling  was  a  daughter  of  ]\Ir.  Buel. 

"Sermon  on  the  death  O'f  his  only  son,  Sam- 
uel Buel,"  1787.     P.  52; 

"Sermon  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Aaron 
Woolworth,  Bridge  Hampton,"  August  30,. 
1787.    P.  46> 

"Half  Century  Sermon,"  preached  at  East 
Hampton,  1792.     P.  40; 

"Sermon  'at  ordination  of  Rev.  Joseph  Haz- 
zard, Southold,"  1797.     P.  30; 

There  is  also  in  existence  a  manuscript  cor- 
respondence between  Dr.  Buel  and  Governor 
William  Tryon,  1776-8,  concerning  the  condi- 
tion of  things  in  East  Hampton  during  the  Brit- 
ish occupation.  It  contains,  however,  very  few 
facts  of  interest.  It  is  in  the  New  York  State 
library. 

The  following  titles  are  from  various, 
sources : 

"Letter  on  Mr.  Fletcher's  Doctrine,"  by  Rev. 
Piatt  Buffett,  of  Smithtown,  1794.  P.  35.  Mr.. 
Bufi'ett  was  an  imcle  of  late  Judge  Buffett,  and 
preached  at  Stanwick,  Connecticut. 

"Thomas  Chalkley's  Journal,"  1741.  He  was 
a  Quaker  preacher  on  Long  Island,  and  his. 
journal  has  much  that  is  of  interest. 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY, 


517 


*'Sermon  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Buel, 
D.  D.,"  by  Rev.  Herman  Daggett,  July  22,  1798. 
P.  23.  Rev.  Mr.  Daggett  was  minister  at  South- 
ampton and  other  places  on  Long  Island.  He 
died  at  Cornwall,  Connecticut. 

'American  Reader,  for  the  use  of  Schools,'' 
by  Rev.  Heiman  Daggett.  This  is  one  of  the 
earliest  of  American  "School  Readers." 

"Travels  in  New  England  and  Long  Island, 
by  Rev.  Timothy  Dwight,  D.  D."  These  travels 
were  made  in  1804-5,  ^"^^  being  ma'de  with 
horses  and  carriage,  he  had  abundant  time  to 
notice  the  various  villages  through  which  he 
passed,  and  his  remarks,  as  being  made  by  a 
learned  man,  and  careful  observer,  are  of  great 
value  and  contain  much  valuable  information 
concerning  Long  Island  at  that  time.  They 
were  printed  in  four  volumes,  181 1. 

"Sermon  at  the  Installation  of  Rev,  Samuel 
Buel  at  East  Hampton,"  September  16,  1746,  by 
Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  D.  D.,  16  pages. 

"Religious  Xotions  of  the  Montauk  Indian,  by 
Rev.  Sampson  Occum."  This  is  printed  in  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society's  collection.  It 
is  doubtless  the  first  work  written  about  In- 
dians by  an  Indian. 

"Sermon  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Daniel 
Hall,  Sag  Harbor,"  September  21,  1797,  by  Rev. 
Walter  King.    P.  17, 

"Sermon  of  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Zacharich 
Greene,  at  Setauket,"  June  28,  1787,  by  Rev. 
Amzi  Lewis.  Rev.  Air.  Greene  was  the  father- 
in-law  of  Benjamin  F.  Thompsion,  author  oi 
"History  of  Long  Island. "A  fine  portrait  of  Mr. 
Greene  is  in  po'ssession  of  the  family  of  Mr. 
Thompson. 

In  A^olume  I,  Transactions  of  New  York 
Agricultural  Society,  1795,  is  a  paper  "On  Man- 
ures," by  Hon.  Ezra  L'Hommedieu,  of  South- 
old.  This  paper  did  much  to  advance  the  cause 
of  agriculture  on  Long  Island. 

"Sermon  on  the  death  of  Rev.  No^h  Wefc- 
more,  of  Setauket,"  September  13,  1797. 

"Sermon  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Walter 
Wilmot  at  Jamaica,"  1738,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Pemperton.  Mr.  Wilmot  was  a  native  of 
Bridge  Hampton,  Long  Island.  He  died  at 
Jamaica,  at  an  early  age. 

"Sermon  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Aaron  Wool- 
worth,  D.  D.,"  of  Bridge  Hampton,"  by  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Phillips.  This  bears  no  date,  but  Dr. 
Wood  worth  died  in   1821. 

"Sermon  on  death  of  Mrs.  Martha  Horton, 
of  Southold,"  December  18,  1792,  by  Rev.  Elam 
Potter. 

"Sermon  at  ordination  of  Rev.  Abner  Brush, 


Brookhaven,"  July  15,  1758,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Youngs  Prime.    P.  60. 

"Sermon  at  ordination  of  Jonas  Barber  and 
John  Darbie  at  Oyster  Ponds,"  'November  10, 
1757,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime. 

"Sennon  to  Provincial  Soldiers  at  Huntting- 
ton,"  May  7.  1759,  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime. 

Sermon  "On  Government  of  God  Desirable," 
Mat.  vi,  10,  1809,  by  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher. 

Rev.  David  S.  Bogart,  of  Soutliampton, 
preached  "a  Thanksgiving  Sermon"  November 
22,  1804,  which  was  printed  Also,  at  a  later 
date,  "Sermon  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Thomas 
DeWitt,  D.  D.,  New  York,  August  4,  1839.  His 
daughter,  Elizabeth  Bogart,  published  a  volume 
of  "Fugitive  Poems,"  1866.  P.  307,  12  mo. 
Among  them  was  a  "Poem  on  Southampton." 

Rev.  Joshua  Hart,  who  was  pastor  at  'Hunt- 
ington and  Southampton  and  other  places, 
preached  "A  Fast  Sermon  at  Hunttington,"  on 
January  12,  1813.  Also  "a  Sermon  at  Huntting- 
ton," July  4,  1813.  Much  more  valuable  is  his 
manuscript  list  of  marriages  performed  by  him 
during  his  pastorates,  which  is  in  the  possession 
of  one  of  his  descendants.  A  complete  copy  is 
in  pos'session  of  Orvillc  B.  Ackerley,  late  clerk 
of  Suffolk  county. 

In  1815  was  published  the  "Life  and  Ad- 
ventures of  Joshua  Penney,"  of  Southold.  This 
is  a  very  interesting  mem^oir  of  experience  on 
the  east  end  of  Long  Island  during  the  war  of 
1812. 

"Sermon  on  Intemperance,"  by  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel S.  Prime,  at  Aquebogue,  November  5, 
1811. 

Among  the  books  printed  in  the  early  part  of 
the  late  century  was  "Memoirs  of  Stephen  Bur- 
roughs, containing  incidents  never  Before  Pub- 
lished.' Printed  in  New  York  (no  date).  This 
curious  book  is  the  work  of  a  rascal,  telling  his 
own  side  of  the  story.  He  was  of  New  England 
parentage  and  the  son  of  a  minister,  but  wandered 
very  far  from  parental  teachings.  About  1794 
he  was  schoolmaster  in  Bridgehampton,  having 
been  obliged  to  leave  New  England  on  account 
of  numerous  escapades.  While  in  Bridgehamp- 
ton he  soon  incurred  the  suspicion  and  dislike  of 
Rev.  Aaron  Woolworth  and  Deacon  David  Hed- 
ges, the  two  leading  men  of  the  community.  Of 
the  latter  he  gives  an  amusing  and  unfavorable 
account.  The  truth  is,  that  they  saw  through  the 
man,    and    dreaded    his    influence    among    the 


518 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


younger  p-eople  of  the  place.  Among  other 
thhigs,  he  was  instrumental  in  introducing  and 
circulating  books  of  an  irreligious  tendency. 
Among  them  was  Volney's  ''Meditations  on  the 
Ruins  of  Empires/'  better  known  as  ''Volney's 
Ruins."  This  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  books 
ever  written  by  a  Frenchman.  It  was:  translated 
into  English  by  Joel  Barlow,  and  the  translation 
was  more  brilliant  even  than  the  original.  It  was 
one  of  the  many  books  written  at  the  time  to 
supplant  the  Bible,  and  was  expected  to  b-e  an 
authority  when  the  Scriptures  had  been  relegated 
to  the  realm  of  *'old  wives'  fables."  But  time 
tries  ail  things.  To-day,  "Volney's  Ruins"  is 
simply  a  literary  curiosity  of  a  past  age,  and 
abounds  in  theories  that  have  long  since  been  ex- 
ploded, and  filled  with  reasoning  that  has  long 
been  proved  fallacious.  So  far  from  being  au- 
thority, a  scholar  would  as  soon  think  of  quoting 
"Jack  the  Giant  Killer/'  and  it  would  be  a  much 
easier  task  to  find  two  hundred  bibles  in  Bridge- 
hampton,  than  it  would  be  to  find  two  copies  of 
'^Volney's  Ruins."  Burroughs  afterward  went  to 
Canada,  but  what  became  of  him  is  not  known. 

Up  to  1824,  almost  all  the  books  printed  on 
Long  Island  were  sermons  and  small  pamphlets, 
but  in  that  year  appeared  a  work  that  has  immor- 
talized the  name  of  its  author. 

Silas  Wood  was  a  descendant  of  Jonas  Wood, 
who  came  from  Halifax,  England,  and  was 
among  the  first  residents  of  Hempstead,  in  1644, 
He  removed  to  Southampton  about  1649,  ^^^ 
from  thence  to  Huntington,  about  1655.  Hfe  was 
born  at  West  Hills,  Huntington,  September  14, 
1769.  At  the  early  age  of  sixteen  he  entered 
Princeton  College  and  graduated  with  high  ho'n- 
ors.  In  1795  he  was  elected  member  of  the  As- 
sembly and  served  four  years.  He  afterward  be- 
came the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  at  Johns- 
town, New  York,  and  spent  several  years  in  es- 
tablishing a  settlement.  In  1802  he  married 
Catharine  Huyck,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
Dutch  families  on  the  Mohawk  river.  She  died 
suddenly  while  they  were  on  a  journey  through 
the  wilderness,  now  Montgomery  county,  New 
York.  After  this  he  studied  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  practice,   February   15,   1810,  and 


was  later  master  in  chancery.  In  November, 
1 81 7,  he  was  elected  member  of  Congress  and 
held  that  position  for  ten  years.  From  1818  to 
1821  he  was  District  Attorney  for  Suffolk  county, 
and  as  a  lawyer  he  was  the  recognized  leader  of 
the  Sufifolk  County  Bar.  His  "Sketch  of  the 
Early  Settlements  of  Long  Island,"  which  has 
made  his  name  famous,  was  the  work  of  his 
leisure  time  for  many  years.  His  journeys  to  the 
various  towns  in  pursuit  of  information  were 
made  in  a  plain  box  wagon  as  plain  as  himself. 
In  this  humble  vehicle  he  traveled  through  the 
Island,  and  he  visited  the  clerk's  offices-  of  every 
town  and  county.  The  first  edition  of  this 
"sketch''  was  printed  in  1824,  and  was  a  small 
volume  of  66  pages.  A  second  edition  contain- 
ing 112  pages  was  published  in  1826.  A  third 
edition  of  183  pages  appeared  in  1828.  This  was 
printed  for  the  sole  purpose  of  doing  honor  to  the 
memory  of  General  Nathaniel  Woodhull.  The 
first  edition  of  this* work  was  limited  to  250  cop- 
ies, while  of  the  second  and  third  only  100  copies 
were  printed.  Even  of  these  small  editions  quite 
a  number  remained  unsold,  and  were  found  in 


SILAS   WOOD. 

later  years.  A  .fine  reprint  of  this  work,  with  a 
brilliantly  written  life  of  the  author,  by  his  friend 
and  admirer,  Alden  J.  Spooner,  was  issued  in 
1865.    This  contained  photographic  views  of  the 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


519 


birthplace  of  Silas  Wood  and  his  residence  in 
Huntington  village,  and  a  portrait.  While  a 
member  of  Congress  he  wrote  "A  Sketch  of  the 
Geography  of  the  Town  of  Huntington."  Of 
this  work  only  a  limited  edition  was  printed,  and 
a  large  portion  of  that  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
Copies  of  the  original  pamphlet  are  exceedingly 
rare,  and  a  copy  was  sold  in  late  years  for  fifty 
dollars.  This  work  was  reprinted,  with  a  bio- 
graphical sketch  and  historical  notes  by  William 
S.  Pelletreau,  in  1898.  It  was  published  by 
Francis:  P.  Harper,  New  York,  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  the  use  of  the  portrait  here  given. 

In  the  spring  of  1830  Silas  Wood  withdrew 
entirely  from  the  world  of  politics  and  business, 
and  his  last  days  were  spent  in  religious  contem- 
plation. In  1829  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Tosiah  Smith,  of  Huntington,  but  left  no  de- 
scendants to  inherit  his  fortune  and  his  fame.  He 
died  in  peace  with  God  and  man,  Alarch  2,  1847, 
and  his  remains  were  buried  in  the  Old  Hill  bury- 
ing ground  in  Huntington,  and  one  of  the  plain- 
est of  plain  tombstones  marks  his  resting  place. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Thompson,  whose  name 
is  inseparably  connected  with  the  history  of  Long 
Island,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  Thomp- 
son, of  Setauket,  where  he  was  born  May  15, 
1784.  He  entered  Yale  College,  but  did  not  gradu- 
ate. He  afterward  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Ebenezer  Sage,  of  Sag  Harbor,  and  practiced  his 
profession  for  ten  years.  He  then  studied  law, 
and  in  1824  established  an  office  at  Hempstead 
and  obtained  a  wide  practice.  From'  1826  to  1833 
he  was  district  attorney  for  Queens  county. 
Previous  to  this,  from  1812  to  1817,  he  was  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature.  He  pursued  with  great 
enthusiasm  the  work  of  collecting  information 
concerning  the  history  of  the  island,  the  results 
of  which  appeared  in  his  "History  of  Long  Isl- 
and," which  made  his  name  famous.  This  ap- 
peared in  a  single  volume  of  536  pages,  in  1839. 
Continuing  his  researches,  a  second  edition  in 
two  volumes  appeared  in  1843.  These  volumes 
are  so  well  known  that  it  is  needless  to  give  a 
detailed  description.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
had  a  third  edition  ready  for  the  press.  This  edi- 
tion was  made  by  taking  two  copies  of  the  second 


edition,  cutting  each  leaf  separate,  and  pasting 
each  page  in  the  center  of  a  large  sheet  of  paper, 
and  writing  his  additiotial  history  on  the  top, 
bottom  and  sides.  His  life  of  usefulness  was 
cut  short  by  sudden  death.  The  foillowing  notice 
appeared  in  the  ''Monthly  Register,"  for  June, 
1849: 

Died — j\Iarch  21,  1849,  at  Brooklyn,  L.  I., 
Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  Esqr.,  author  of  the 
"History  of  Long  Island,"  and  distinguished  for 
his  acquaintance  with  local  and  family  history. 
He  had  just  risen  from  the  tea  table  and  taken 
his  seat  on  a  sofa,  feehng  fatigued  with  a  long 
walk,  when  he  complained  of  not  feeling  well, 
and  in  fifteen  minutes  was  a  corpse.  He  was 
in  his  sixty-fifth  year. 

]Mr.  Thompson  married  Mary  H.,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Zachariah  Greene.  Their  children  were 
Henry  R.,  Mary  L,  Harriet  S.  and  Edward  Z. 
His  mortal  remains  rest  in  one  of  the  cemeteries 
in  Hempstead. 

The  next  important  work  was  "A  History  of 
Long  Island  from  its  First  Settlement  by  Euro- 
peans, to  the  Year  1845,"  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  S. 
Prime.  This  work  Avas  written  with  especial 
reference  to  its  ecclesiastical  history,  and  con-* 
tains  much  information  not  to  be  found  else- 
where. Like  Thompson's  "History,"  it  is  too 
well  known  to  require  description. 

In  1837  was  published  a  "Church  Manual  of 
the  Congregational  Church  at  Wading  River," 
containing  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  church,  with  list  of  members. 

In  1839  was  printed  "A  Brief  History  of  the 
Strict  Congregational  Convention  of  Long  Isl- 
and from  its  organization  in  1791  to  the  present 
time."  This  is  exceedingly  valuable,  and  con- 
tains among  other  things  an  extended  biograph- 
ical sketch  of  Rev.  Paul  Cuffee,  who  was  the  last 
native  preacher  to  the  Long  Island  Indians.  He 
A\as  an  Indian  of  the  Shinnecock  tribe,  but  was 
born  in  Brookhaven,  March  4,  1757.  His  mater- 
nal grandfather  was  Peter  John,  an  Indian 
preacher,  who  founded  a  church  at  Poosepatuck, 
in  18 1 2. 

Other   titles   are   to   be   named.      "Historical 


520 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


Collections  of  New  York/'  by  J.  W.  Barber, 
is  a  well  known  illustrated  work,  and  was 
printed  in  1841.  "Legends  of  Montauk,"  a 
poem,  by  J.  A.  Ayres,  was  a  small  octavo  volume 
of  127  pages,  published  in  1849.  Micah  Haw- 
kins, of  Brookhaven,  composed  "Music  Songs 
and  Plays"  about  1825,  but  we  have  seen  no 
copies.  The  "Journal  of  Elias  Hicks,"  the  fam- 
ous Quaker  preacher,  is  a  part  of  the  bibliography 
of  Sufifolk  county,  as  he  visited  almost  every  part 
of  it.  PubHshed  in  1832,  The  "Journal  of  Aza- 
riah  Horton,"  who  was  a  missionary  to  the  Long 
Island  Indians,  was  printed  in  1742-4.  William 
Jagger,  of  Riverhead,  pubHshed  in  1836  "An 
Address;  to  the  People  of  Suffolk  County  on 
National  Policy,"  and  in  1838,  "An  Address  to 
People  of  all  Parties."  In  1848  a  project  was 
started  for  constructing  a  canal  from  Coney  Isl- 
and to  Bridge  Hampton,  and  a  "Report"  of  22 
pages  was  printed.  In  1844  Luther  R.  Marsh,  a 
noted  lawyer  of  New  York,  published  a  pamphlet 
of  33  pages,  on  "General  Nathaniel  Woodhull 
and  his  Monuments."  This  Was  illustrated  by 
plates  of  monuments  proposed  but  never  erected. 

In  1849  'Henry  Onderdonk,  Jr.,  of  Jamaica,  a 
name  which  should  be  held  in  everlasting  remem- 
brance, published  his  "Revolutionary  Incidents 
of  Suffolk  and  Queens  Counties."  He  placed  a 
copy  in  every  school  district  library  in  the  county, 
but  it  is  needless  to^  say  that  most  of  them  have 
been  "lost,  strayed  or  stolen."  Its  value  is  well 
known  to  every  student  of  Long  Island  History. 
In  1840  he  published  his  "Letters  to  J.  Fenimore 
Cooper  on  the  capture  and  death  of  General  Na- 
thaniel Woodhull."  In  1866  appeared  his  work 
"Suffolk  and  Kings  County  in  Olden  Times." 

In  1838  an  article  on  East  Hampton,  written 
by  the  famous  John  Howard  Payne,  appeared  in 
the  "Democratic  Review."  Rev,  F.  W.  Shelton 
delivered  two  lectures  before  the  Huntington 
Literary  Association,  which  were  printed  in  1850. 
He  was  the  author  of  a  romance,  "Solander  and 
the  Dragon,"  a  legend  of  the  Hartz  prison,  in 
Germany.  Mr.  John  Ingram,  the  first  teacher  of 
Southampton  Academy,  delivered  a  lecture  on 
"Geography,"  which  was  printed  in  1834,  Hon. 
Egbert  T.  Smith  delivered  a  speech  in  Assembly 


on  "Union  Resolutions,"  printed  in  185 1.  "A 
Common  School  Arithmetic"  was  printed  in 
Riverhead  in  1850.  So  far  as  we  know  that  was 
the  first  school  book  printed  in  the  county.  The 
"Memoir  of  Col.  Benjamin  Talmadge,"  written 
by  himself,  was  pubHshed  in  1858.  It  contains  a 
very  spirited  likeness  drawn  by  Trumbull.  "Ser- 
mon on  the  Death  of  Rev.  John  Gile,  of  Setau- 
ket,"  was  printed  in  1850  by  Rev.  James  C.  Ed- 
wards, of  Smithtown.  He  started  to  sail  a  boat 
from  Smithtown  harbor  to  Stony  Brook  and  was 
drowned.  It  is  said  that  his  body  was  never 
found.  "Sermon  at  ordination  of  Rev.  Henry 
Fuller,"  preached  at  Smithtown,  by  Rev.  Aaron 
Woolworth,  October  21,  1816.  Among  the  writ- 
ings of  Hon.  Silas  Wood  which  should  have  been 
mentioned  above,  was  a  pamphlet  on  "The 
Claims  of  Huntington  to  the  Islands  in  the  South 
Bay,"  1816. 

No  sketch  of  this  nature  would  be  complete 
without  ia  notice  of  the  book  well  known  as 
"Griffin's  Journal."  This  book  was  written  by 
Augustus  Griffin,  of  Orient,  when  he  had  reached 
a  very  advanced  age.  So  far  as  he  relates  his 
own  experience  and  knowledge,  it  is  of  the  great- 
est value,  but  he  wanders  very  far  from  facts 
when  he  relates  tradition  and  what  he  heard  from 
"old  folks.    It  was  published  in  1856. 

Rev.  Epher  Whitaker,  of  Southold,  published 
in  1865  a  volume  of  essays  and  sermons  under 
the  name  of  "New  PVuits  from  an  Old  Field." 
His  "History  of  Southold  and  its  Church,  during 
its  First  Century,"  is  a  work  of  the  deepest  re- 
search and  of  lasting  value,  and  worthy  of  its 
venerable  and  venerated  author. 

The  "Sagg  Mill  Case"  was  printed  at  the 
"Corrector"  office,  Sagg  Harbor,  in  1843.  It  was 
the  report  of  a  law  suit  tried  at  Riverhead  in 
September,  1842.  Lip  to  that  time  all  highways 
in  the  town  of  Southampton  were  considered 
"Proprietor  lands."  The  Proprietor  of  the  "un- 
divided lands"  gave  permission  to  d  certain  party 
to  set  a  windmill  in  the  highway  in  Sagg,  oppo- 
site to  the  house  of  Paul  Topping,  now  Wallace 
Hildreth.  He  sued  for  trespass  and  won.  This 
case  established  the  principle  that  highways  are 
simply  an  easement^  and  persons  whose  lands  are 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


521 


bounded  by  the  highways  own  to  the  middle  of 
the  road.  It  was  printed  by  Hon.  Abraham  T. 
Rose. 

The  Dongan  Patent  to  Southampton  and  the 
Act  incorporating  the  Proprietors  of  the  undi- 
vided lands,  were  printed  at  the  ^'Corrector" 
office  in  1818.  This  was  the  first  printed  pamph- 
let relating  to  this  town. 

In  1863  William  S.  Pelletreau,  town  clerk, 
printed  in  the  "Sag  Harbor  Express"  a  series  of 
articles,  "Reminiscences  of  Southampton,"  giving 
copies  of  some  of  the  oldest  documents  in  the 
clerk's  office.  A  year  or  two  later  he  printed  as 
a  venture  the  "Survey  of  the  Little  South  Di- 
vision," a  pamphlet  of  about  ten  pages.  This 
was  the  first  printed  document  after  the  Dongan 
Patent. 

The  first  volume  of  "Southampton  Town  Rec- 
ords'' was  printed  in  1874  by  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Hon.  Henry  P.  Hedges,  Edward  PI. 
Foster,  town  clerk,  and  William  S.  Pelletreau. 
All  the  labor  of  copying  the  manuscript  and  pre- 
paring notes  and  introduction  was  done  by  Mr. 
Pelletreau.  This  was  the  first  work  of  the  kind 
ever  done  on  Long  Island,  and  the  example  has 
been  followed  by  almost  every  town.  The  second 
volume  was  printed  in  1877,  and  the  third  in 
1878.  A  fourth  volume,  prepared  by  William  J. 
Post,  town  clerk,  has  been  lately  printed. 

On  July  4,  T876,  the  Centennial  of  American 
Independence  was  celebrated  at  Southampton, 
and  an  Historical  Address  was  delivered  by 
William  S.  Pelletreau.  Two  editions  of  this  were 
printed  at  the  office  of  the  "Sag  Harbor  Ex- 
press." A  small  pamphlet,  "History  of  the 
Canoe  Place  Inn,"  was  written  by  Mr.  Pelletreau 
for  Miles  B.  Carpenter  about  1879. 

George  Rogers  Howell  was  born  in  South- 
ampton, June  15,  1833,  and  graduated  from  Yale 
College  in  1854.  His  ancestor,  Edward  Howell, 
being  the  founder  of  Southampton,  he  naturally 
took  an  interest  in  its  history.  All  of  his  leisure 
time  for  two  years  was  spent  in  collecting  gen- 
ealogical and  historical  information  concerning 
his  native  town.  In  1865  he  delivered  an  address 
on  the  225th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of 
Southampton.    In  1866  he  published  'The  Early 


History  of  Southampton  with  Genealogies."  This 
w^ork  was  published  under  the  most  disadvant- 
ageous circumstances,  and  was  much  criticized 
by  a  class  who  know  nothing  of  the  difficulties 
surrounding  -such  an  enterprise.  A  second  edi- 
tion, improved  and  greatly  enlarged,  was  printed 
at  Albany,  in  1887.  Mr.  Howell  was  for  many 
years  Archivist  in  the  State  Library,  and  he  died 
in  Albany,  April  5,  1899,  His  remains  were  bur- 
ied at  Mount  Morris,  Livingston  county,  New 
York.     The  writer  gladly  adds  a  tribute  of  re- 


GEORGE    R.   HOWELL. 

spect  and  honor  to  his  memory,  and  a  fond  re- 
membrance of  him  will  continue  while  life  re- 
mains. 

"Chronicles  of  the  Town  of  East  Hampton" 
were  a  series;  of  articles  printed  in  the  "Correct- 
or," Sagg  Harbor,  in  1840,  by  David  Gardiner. 
They  were  reprinted  in  book  form  in  1871.    Very 


522 


HISTORY    OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


few  books  on  Long  Island  history  are  of  greater 
value,  and  they  are  a  lasting  monument  to  the 
memory  of  the  author. 

"Historical  and  Descriptive  Sketches  of  Suf- 
folk County,"  an  excellent  work,  was  written  by 
Richard  M.  Bayles,  a  native  of  Brookhaven,  and 
was  published  at  Port  Jefferson,  for  the  author, 
in  1874.  It  contains  a  very  interesting  account 
and  description  of  all  the  villages  and  localities 
in  the  county.  j\Ir.  Bayles,  who  now  resides  at 
x\Jiddle  Island,  is  the  author  of  many  historical 
works,  including  an  elaborate  "History  of  Staten 
Island." 

The  "Town  Records  of  Brookhaven"  first  ap- 
peared in  printed  form  in  a  small  volume  of  cop- 
ies of  various  documents,  about  1879.  In  1885 
the  Records  were  printed  in  extensive  volumes, 
most  of  the  work  being  done  by  Miss  Cyn- 
thia Hutchinson,  the  daughter  of  a  former  town 
clerk. 

The  "Records  of  Southold"  were  printed  in 
1884-7,  with  very  extensive  notes  by  J.  Wickham 
Case,  Esq.,  adding  greatly  to  their  value.  These 
records  include,  of  course,  the  early  history  of 
Riverhead. 

The  "Records  of  Hunttington,''  including 
Babylon,  were  printed  in  1887,  and  are  a  lasting 
monument  to  the  memory  of  Charles  R.  Street, 
Esq.,  by  whom-  they  were  prepared. 

The  "Records  oi  East  Hampton''  were 
printed  in  1887,  and  prepared  by  Joseph  S.  Os- 
borne, Jonathan  Baker  and  Jonathan  T.  Gar- 
diner, men  whose  fitness  for  the  work  could  not 
be  excelled.  V^ery  elaborate  introductions  were 
written  by  Hon.  H.  P.  Hedges,  from  his  abund- 
ant store  of  knowledge  on  the  subject. 

No  person  in  Suffolk  county  has  done  more  to 
preserve  its  early  history  than  Hon.  Henry  P. 
Hedges,  as  the  following  list  of  his  works  will 
show : 


Address  delivered  December  26,  1849,  on  the 
celebration  of  the  200th  anniversary  of  the  settle- 
ment.   Printed  at  "Corrector"  office,  1850. 

Address,  delivered  September  15,  1850,  in 
the  Presbvterian  church,  Sag  Harbor,  on  the 
"Claims  of  the  Sabbath  School."  "Corrector" 
office,  1850. 


Address  delivered  January  25,  1853,  at  Islip, 
before  the  Suffolk  County  Temperance  Society 
as  "The  History  of  the  Excise  Law."  Printed 
in  New  York. 

Two  addresses  delivered  before  the  Suffolk 
County  Agricultural  Society,  September  30, 
1868,  and  October  3,  1883.'  Printed  in  New 
York. 

Two  historical  addresses,  delivered  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  Bridge  Hampton,  July  4, 
1876,  and  November  16.  1886,  the  latter  being  the 
200th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  church. 
Both  printed  by  John  H.  Hunt. 

Address  delivered  at  Riverhead  at  meeting 
of  Suffolk  County  Historical  Society,  October 
I,  1889,  on  "the  Priority  of  Claim  of  Southamp- 
ton to  be  the  first  settled  town  in  the  County." 
Printed  bv  John  H.  Hunt. 

Address  delivered  June   12,   1890,  at  South-' 
ampton,  on  the  "Celebration  of  the  250th  anni- 
versary of  the  settlement  of  the  Town."    Printed 
by  John  H.  Hunt 

Address  delivered  at  Riverhead,  November 
IS»  1883,  on  the  Bi-centennial  of  Suffolk  County. 
Printed  at  Babylon,  1885. 

Address  delivered  February  4,  1896,  before 
Historical  Society,  Sag  Harbor.  Printed  in 
1902  as  a  "History  oi  Sag  Harbor." 

Address  at  East  Hampton,  August  23,  1899, 
on  the  'Celebration  of  the  250tlT  anniversary  of 
the  settlement.  Printed  by  E.  S.  Boughton, 
East  Hampton. 

Address  on  "The  Sea,"  delivered  before  the 
Board  of  Agriculture  of  Connecticut,  December 
14,  1899.  This  address  for  descriptive  elo- 
quence is  not  excelled  by  any  of  the  distinguished 
author's  works.- 

"A  History  of  the  Town  of  East  Hampton." 
Printed  by  John  H.  Hunt,  1897.  This  work,  of 
great  research  and  labor,  is  a  masterpiece  of  his- 
torical investigation. 

At  the  celebration  of  the  250th  anniversary 
of  the  settlement  of  Southampton,  historical  ad- 
dresses were  delivered  by  Hon.  H.  P.  ifedges, 
George  R.  Howell,  :\I.  A.,  Rev.  Samuel  E.  Her- 
rick,  D.  D.,  and  William  S.  Pelletreau,  A.  M., 
June  12,  1900.     Printed  by  John  H.  Hunt. 

Of  the  "His.tory  of  Shelter  Island,"  a  full  ac- 
count will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  that  town. 

Of  the  "Romance  of  Suffolk  County,"  the  first 
place  must  be  given  to  "Sea  Spray,"  by  "Mar- 
tha Wickham,"  a  noni  de  plume  for  Miss  Cor- 
nelia   Huntington.     This  is  a  most    vivid    des- 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


523 


scription  of  East  Hampton  life  in  recent  times, 
but  before  the  advent  of  New  York  fashion  and 
style.  It  was  published  in  1857.  The  talented 
authoress  was  a  daughter  of  Abel  Huntington. 
She  was  born  in  East  Hampton,  June  24,  1809, 
and  died  there  Aoril  15,  1890. 

Miss  Mary  B.  Sleight,  the  well  known  au- 
thoress of  'The  Flag  on  the  Mill,"  and  "An  Isl- 
and Heroine,"  was  born  in  New  York.  Her 
father  was  Henry  C.  Sleight,  a  nephew  of  Cor- 
nelius Sleight,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Sag  Har- 
bor. "The  Flag  on  the  Mill"  derives  its  title 
from  the  custom  of  hoisting  a  Hag  on  the  wind- 
mill that  stood  on  Sherry's  hill,  and  was  a  very 
conspicuous  landmark  whenever  a  ship  was  re- 
ported asi  in  the  bay.  In  the  old  whaling  days 
this  was  a  very  frequent  occurrence.  The  old 
mill  was  afterward  removed  to  Bridgehampton, 
and  is  now  standing  near  the  railroad  station. 
This  book  is  a  vivid  description  of  Sag  Harbor 
life.  "The  Island  Heroine"  is  a  description  of 
life  in  East  Hampton  in  the  daysi  of  the  Revo- 
lution. It  is  forcibly  written,  and  seems  more 
like  a  history  than  a  romance,  for  probability  is 
never  violated.  Miss  Sleight's  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  the  late  John  D.  Vreese,  of  New 
York,  whose  father  was  on  the  staff  of  General 
Washington. 

Among  works  relating  to  the  Indians  of  Suf- 
folk county,  a  very  prominent  place  must  be 
given  to  the  works  of  William  Wallace  Tooker, 
of  Sag  Harbor,  who  has  written  a  series  of 
volumes  on  the  Indian  language  and  local  names 
on  Long  Island,  This  is  called  the  "Algonquin 
Series."  The  first  of  these  valuable  works  is  a 
biographical  and  historical  sketch  of  Checanoe, 
an  Indian,  who  was  very  prominent  as  an  agent 
of  Wyandanch,  the  great  sachem,  and  also  an 
assistant  of  EHot  in  preparing  his  translation 
of  the  Bible.  There  is  no  man  m  the  state  of 
New  York  who  excels  Mr.  Tooker  in  his  learn- 
ing and  investigation  on  this  subject. 

On  July  4,  1892,  was  the  looth  anniversary 
of  the  establishing  of  the  town  of  Riverhead. 
An  historical  address  was  delivered  by  Orville 


3.  Ackerley,  Esq.,  for  many  years  clerk  of  Suf- 
folk county.  This  address  contains  a  large 
amount  of  historical  research  and  is  very  care- 
fully prepared. 

Several  sermons  preached  by  Rev.  Hugh  N. 
Wilson,  of  Southampton,  were  printed.  Among 
them  was  "The  Coronation  of  the  Year,"  a 
Thanksgiving  sermon.  Another  sermon,  "The 
Duty  of  the  Christian  Church  to  Its  Poor  Mem- 
bers," had  a  lasting  effect.  A  colored  woman,  a 
member  of  the  church,  had  become  very  poor  and 
was  taken  to  the  poorhouse  by  one  of  the  Elders 
of  the  church.  Dr.  Wilson's  indignation  was 
aroused,  and  the  preaching  of  this  sermon  has 
prevented  such  a  scandal  being  repeated. 

While  Rev.  William  N.  Cleveland  (a  brother 
of  President  Grover  Cleveland)  was  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Southampton,  he  preached, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war,  two  sermons 
"On  African  Servitude,"  in  which  he  strongly 
supported  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  which 
were  printed  at  the  expense  of  those  who  sym- 
pathized with  his  views.  They  were  the  cause 
of  his  leaving  Southampton. 

A  just  tribute  is  due  to  Walter  R.  Burling  as 
the  most  prominent  of  all  the  newspaper  publishers 
in  Suffolk  county.  Mr.  Burling  has  been  in  the 
printing  business  since  1848,  and  he  has  been  the 
founder  of  not  less  than  eleven  newspapers  on 
Long  Island.  The  first  was  the  "Long  Islan4 
Times,"  established  in  Flushing,  March  i,  1855. 
During  the  first  year  he  had  no  help  except  a 
young  ofhce  boy.  He  afterward  founded  the 
"Flushing  Daily  Times."  In  marked  contrast  to 
the  condition  of  the  business  when  he  began,  at 
the  time  when  he  disposed  of  the  paper  thirteen 
workmen  were  regularly  employed,  A  notice  of 
the  papers  founded  by  him  in  Suffolk  county  will 
be  found  on  a  foregoing  page.  Mr.  Burling's 
home  is  in  Southampton,  and  he  has  seen  the  place 
grow  from  a  plain  country  village  to  its  present 
proportions. 


CHAPTER  XXL 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 
Part  i. — The  Pre-Diocesan  Period, 


T  MAY  be  a  matter  of  no  little  surprise  to 
Long  Islanders  to  know  that  their  isl- 
and was  colonized  by  Catholics  as  far 
back  as  1634,  and  that  it  is  almost  co- 
eval with  Maryland  in  giving  Catholics  shelter 
from  non-Catholic  persecution  and  at  the  same 
time  offering  an  asylum  to  non-Catholics  fleeing 
from  the  persecutions  of  their  co-reHgionists,  yet 
such  is  a  fact. 

The  first  constitution  of  the  colony  of  New. 
Jersey,  or,  as  it  is  known  in  its  first  charter,  the 
province  of  New  Albion  (which  comprised 
New  Jersey  and  Long  Island,  in  the  present 
state  of  New  York),  proclaimed  religious  tolera- 
tion to  all,  in  these  words : 

"No  persecution  to  any  dissenting,  and  to  all 
such,  as  the  Walloons,  free  chapels ;  and  to  punish 
all  as  seditious,  and  for  contempt,  as  bitterly  rail 
and  condemn  others  of  the  contrary  ;  for  the  argu- 
ment or  persuasion  of  Religion,  Ceremonies,  or 
Church  Discipline,  should  be  acted  in  mildness, 
love,  and  charity,  and  gentle  language,  not  to  dis- 
turb the  peace  or  quiet  of  the  inhabitants." 

The  Catholic  leader  of  this  Colony,  and  per- 
haps the  first  Englishman  that  settled  New 
Jersey,  was  Sir  Edmund  PLowden,  a  member 
of  an  old  Saxon  family  of  Shropshire,  Eng- 
land, whose  antiquity  is  amply  established  by 
the  meaning  of  the  surname  "Kill-Dane."  This 
gentleman,  with  other  noble  "adventurers,"  pe- 


titioned King  Charles  I  for  a  patent  under  His 
Majesty's  seal  of  Ireland  for  "Manatie,  or  Long 
Isle,"  and  "thirty  miles  square  of  the  coast  next 
adjoining,  to  be  erected  into  a  County  Palatine 
called  Lyon,  to  be  held  of  'His  Majesty's  Crown 
of  Ireland,'  "  etc. 

The  island  of  "Manitie  or  Long  Isle"  was 
also  known  as  the  Isle  of  Plowden,  for  in  the 
charter  of  Charles  I  the  King  gives  to  Ed- 
mund Plowden  "all  that  entire  island  near  the 
continent  of  terra  firma,  *  *  '*  called  the 
Isle  of  Plowden  or  Long  Island,  and  lying  near 
or  between  the  39th  and  40th  degree  of  north 
latitude."  There  were  "four  Kings  on  Long 
Isle,  with  about  eight  hundred  bowmen;"  and 
a  chivalric  order,  the  "Albion  Knights,"  was 
established  "for  the  conversion  of  the  twenty- 
three  Kings"  or  twenty-three  Indian  tribes  re- 
siding within  the  entire  limits  of  Sir  Edmund 
Plowden' Si  grant. 

The  number  of  persons  who  resided  in  New 
Albion,  and  especially  on  Long  Island,  under 
the  rule  of  the  Plowdens,  is  difficult  to  ascer- 
tain. That  there  were  settlers  on  the  Isle  of 
Plowden  is  sufficiently  established,  but  how 
many  and  what  became  of  them  is  shrouded 
in  mystery.  Religious  persecutions  and  civil 
commotions  in  England  contributed  largely  to 
preventing  Sir  Edmund  Plowden  and  his  Cath- 
olic   associates    from    realizing    their    plans    for 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  LSLAND. 


525 


colon'izing  New  Albion,  as  they  had  fondly 
hoped  to  do,  but  the  fact  remains  that  Long 
Island  formed  part  of  a  province  founded  by 
a  Catholic,  with  the  purpose  of  securing  entire 
freedom  of  rehgion  to  all  within  its  limits. 
"Calvert  and  Roger  Williams,"  isays  Mulford 
in  his  "History  of  New  Jersey,"  "have  been  rep- 
resented as  standing  entirely  alone"  aS  the  ex- 
ponents of  religious  liberty  to  all,  "until  the 
appearance  of  Penn.  This  is  not  just  or  true. 
^  ^  =*=  Though  Plowden's  designs  were  not 
successful,  though  the  work  he  projected  fell 
short  of  completion,  yet  he  deserves  to  be 
ranked  with  the  benefactors  of  our  race,  and 
New  Albion  is  entitled-  to  a  higher  place  in 
the  history  of  human  progress  than  is  often  al- 
lotted to  older  and  greater  and  more  fortunate 
States." 

We  have  seen  above  that  there  were  Cath- 
olic settlers  on  Long  Isle  as  far  back  as  1648. 
Father  Jogues,  in  his  "Novum  Belgium"  (1643- 
44),  mentions  the  existence  of  some  Catholics 
in  the  vicinity  in  his  time ;  in  1654  the  Jesuit 
LeAIoyne  visited  New  York  from  time  to  time 
and  administered  tO'  the  wants  of  the  Catholics 
in  the  vicinity;  in  1657  we  find  a  Frenchman, 
Nicholas  by  name,  living  in  Walebrocht,  who 
refused  to  pay  an  assessment  of  six  guilders 
for  the  support  of  Dominie  Polhemus  on  the 
"frivolous  excuse"  that  he  was  a  Catholic.  The 
poor  fellow  was  obliged  to  pay  twelve  guilders 
instead  of  six!  In  1756  Long  Island  received 
quite  an  accession  of  Catholics  in  the  Acadian 
exiles  who  found  homes  in  Kings,  Queens  and 
Suffolk  counties. 

The  earliest  Catholic  of  distinction  connect- 
ed with  Long  Island,  and  whose  name  has  come 
down  to  us,  was  Thomas  Dongan,  Governor  of 
New  York,  who  in  1683  convoked  the  first  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  New  York,  which  granted  the 
celebrated  Charter  of  Liberties  recognizing  free- 
dom of  conscience.  Governor  Dongan  "and  his 
fellow  worshippers  met  in  a  "little  chapel"  for 
religious  purposes.  Here  no  doubt  mass  was 
offered  up  by  the  English  Jesuit  Fathers  that 
the  Governor  had  brought  with  him  to  counter- 
act the  influence  of  the  French  Jesuits  among 


the  Indians  in  the  upper  part  of  the  State.  The 
early  Brooklyn  Catholics  were  obliged  to  cross 
the  East  river  in  order  to  hear  mass  on  Sundays. 
There  were  no  ferry  boats  then,  nor  great 
bridges,  and  crossing  the  river  in  rowboats  or 
flat-boats  was  often  attended  with  danger,  es- 
pecially in  winter,  when  the  river  was  filled  with 
floating  ice. 

Old  St.  James'. — Prior  to  1822  there  was 
not  a  Catholic  church  on  Long  Island,  but  in 
that  year  (on  January  ist)  the  Catholics  of  the 
village  of  Brooklyn  resolved  that  "whatever 
they  did  in  word  or  work"  should  be  done  "all 
in  the  name  of  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  giving  thanks- 
to  God  the  Father,  through  Him  "  They  want- 
ed "their  children  instructed  in  the  principles 
of  our  Holy  Religion,"  and  "more  convenience 
in  hearing  the  word  of  God  themselves." 

A  society  was  formed  with  the  approbation 
of  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Connolly,  O.  P.,  D.  D., 
then  Bishop  of  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  the  ends  in  view,  and  on  January  7th 
the  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence  of 
Peter  Tumer.  Associated  with  Peter  Turner 
were  James  'M.  Laughlin  and  William  PurceU. 
After  a  careful  examination  it  appeared  that 
only  seventy  men  were  able  to  give  any  assist- 
ance to  the  good  work  undertaken,  and  some 
of  these,  not  being  able  to  contribute  money, 
generously  offered  the  labor  of  their  hands.  On 
March  2d  eight  lots  of  ground  were  bought  at 
the  corner  of  Jay  and  Chapel  streets,  for  $800; 
of  this  amount  $500  was  paid  in  cash  and  a 
mortgage  was  given  for  the  balance.  It  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  these  good  men,  while 
acting  with  the  approval  of  the  Bishop  of  New 
York,  under  whose  jurisdiction  Brooklyn  was 
at  that  time,  were  also  working  under  great 
disadvantages.  They  were  without  the  aid  or 
guidance  of  a  pastor,  and  although  they  made 
many  earnest  and  repeated  requests  for  one,  the 
Bishop  had  none  to  give  them.  They  were  en- 
tirely dependent  on  the  kindness  of  the  Very 
Rev.  John  Power,  of  St.  Peter's  church,  Barclay 
street,  New  York,  who,  whenever  opportunity 
offered,  crossed  the  East  river  in  a  row-boat 
and   said   mass    for    them    in  a  private    house. 


526 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


Sometimes  bis  place  would  be  taken  by  Fathers 
Richard  Bulger,  Auley  McCauley,  Michael 
CGormati',  Patrick  McKenna  and  others,  and 
these  good  Fathers  would  offer  up  mass  in  Mr. 
Depsey's  "Long  Room"  in  Fulton  street.  The 
first  mass  celebrated  in  Brooklyn  was  by  the 
Rev.  Philip  Lariscy,  O.  S.  A.,  at  the  residence 
of  Mr.  William  Purcell,  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  York  andi  Gold  streets. 

Perseverance,  such  as.  these  good  people  dis- 
played in  the  face  of  so  many  difficulties,  could 
not  go  unrewarded.  They  had  purchased  ground 
for  the  erection  of  a  church  and  also  for  a  burial 
■ground;  they  had  this  ground  blessed  on  the 
feast  of  St.  Mark  (April  25)  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Dr.  Connolly,  and  they  had  taken  courage  from 
the  kind  words  of  Rev,  Richard  Bulger,  who 
preached  on  that  occasion.  Slowly  but  surely 
the  first  Catholic  church  in  Brooklyn  advanced 
toward  completion.  On  December  31,  1822,  the 
following  trustees  were  incorporated  under  the 
general  act:  George  S.  Wise,  Peter  Turner, 
William  Purcell,  D.  Dawson,  P.  Scanlan,  W. 
McLaughlin  and  J.  Rose.  The  work  went  on, 
but  it  was  still  impossible  to  give  them  a  resident 
pastor,  as  there  were  only  eight  priests  in  the 
entire  diocese  of  New  York  at  that  time.  On 
the  28th  of  August,  1823,  Bishop  Connolly  dedi- 
cated the  new  church  to  the  honor  and  glory 
of  God  under  the  invocation  of  St.  James.  The 
interior  of  the  church  was  yet  unfinished,  and 
upon  an  altar  constructed  of  a  few  boards 
roughly  put  together  the  Rev.  John  Shanahan 
said  the  first  mass.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Power.  The  children  of  the 
new  and  still  pastorless  parish  required  atten- 
tion, and  on  the  12th  of  the  following  month, 
J,  Mehaney,  the  first  Catholic  schoolmaster  in 
Brooklyn,  was  appointed  schoolmaster,  sexton, 
and  caretaker  of  the  graveyard  which  had  just 
been  leveled  and  fenced  in.  The  amount  of 
money  expended  up  to  this  time  was  $7,118.16, 
quite  an  amount  for  those  days.  The  most  stren- 
uous efforts  were  still  made  to  secure  a  resident 
pastor. 

The  Rev.  Patrick  M.  Kenna,  who  had  min- 
istered to  these  persevering  and  energetic  Cath- 


oldcs  with  some  degree  of  regularity,  died  on 
October  4,  1824,  and  was  buried  in  St. .James' 
churchyard.  It  was  not  until  the  following 
April  that  Dr.  Power,  acting  as  Administrator 
of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  the  Bishop  being 
in  Europe  at  the  time,  was  able  to  send  a  pastor 
to  St.  James'.  This  was  the  Rev.  John  Farnan, 
who  became  "the  first  resident  clergyman  and 
who  received  $600  a  year  and  house  rent  free," 
During  his  pastorate  he  introduced  the  Sisters 
of  Charity,  who  took  cha;-ge  of  a  school  opened 
in  the  basement  of  the  church,  and  in  other  ways 
advanced  the  condition  of  a  parish  which  was 
only  too  ready  to  second  him  in  every  good  work 
undertaken.  But  his  pastorate  did  not  last  very 
long. 

In  1832  Father  Farnan  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  Walsh,  a  student  of  St.  Mary's,  Mon- 
treal, and  who  had  been  ordained  five  years  be- 
fore (1827)  by  Bishop  Dubois.  Father  Walsh 
is  regarded  by  many  of  the  old  St.  James'  peo- 
ple as  the  real  founder  oi  the  mission.  His 
pastorate  lasted  over  ten  years,  and  was  marked 
by  great  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  his  people. 
While  at  St.  James'  Father  Walsh  visited  the 
Catholic  families  at  Sag  Harbpr,  Flushing  and 
Staten  Island. 

In  1834  an  act  was  passed  ''incorporating 
the  Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Asylum  Society  in 
the  City  of  Brooklyn  in  the  County  of  Kings." 
From  this  we  see  that  hte  building  of  old  St. 
James'  was  soon  followed  by  a  move  toward 
the  education  of  Catholic  children  and  a  tender 
care  for  the  orphans. 

During  his  pastorate  Father  Walsh  was  as- 
sisted successively  by  Rev.  James  Dougherty, 
who  died  March  29,  1841 ;  Rev.  Philip  Gillick, 
Rev.  Patrick  Danahar,  and  Rev.  James  Mc- 
Donough.  Father  Walsh  died  at  Harlem,  Au- 
gust 8,  1852,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  As  an  evi- 
dence of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
by  his  superiors  it  may  be  stated  that  "Bishop 
Dubois,  who  ordained  him,  had  affirmed  of  him 
-years  before  that  of  all  clergy  of  the  diocese 
Father  Walsh  was  primus  inter  optimosJ'  For 
ten  years  or  so,  until  1841,  he  labored  through- 
out the  whole  extent  of  Long  Island,  building 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


527 


churches,  and  then  resigned  m  order  tO'  become 
a  Trappist,  in  Mount  ^lelleray,  Ireland.  But 
his  love  for  souls  led  him  back  again  to  mis- 
sionary life,  and  on  his  return  to  the  United 
States  he  became  pastor  of  St,  Paul's  church, 
Harlem.  His  successor  at  St.  James'  was  the 
Rev.  Charles  Smith,  who  remained  there  until 
1847,  3.nd  enlarged  the  old  church, 

St.  Paul's. — In  the  meantime  the  number  of 
Catholics  in  Brooklyn  had  been  increasing  in 
number.  Cornelius  Heeney,  a  man  of  means 
and  of  heart,  too,  was  ready  to  do  his  part  to- 
wards the  erection  of  another  church.  In  1835 
he  gave  the  piece  of  land  valued  at  $8,000  at 
the  corner  of  Court  and  Congress  streets,  and 
in  the  following  year  St.  Paul's  was  erected 
upon  it.  It  was  built  of  brick,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$20,000.  The  debts  incurred  in  its  erection  were 
generously  shared  in  by  the  good  people  of 'St. 
James'.  St.  Paul's  church  was  dedicated  by 
Bishop  Dubois  and  his  coadjutor,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
John  Hughes,  D,  D.  The  first  regular  pastor 
was  Rev.  Richard  Waters-,  who  remained  orily 
two  years,  1838-1840;  but  during  that  time  he 
established  a  parochial  school,  which  he  placed 
under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  and 
began  several  other  good  works.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Nicholas  O'Donnell,  O.  S.  A. 
Father  Nicholas  O'Donnell  was  a  man  of  learn- 
ing and  literary  tastes.  It  was  under  his  edi- 
torial management  that  the  first  issue  of  the 
Catholic  Herald,  the  first  Catholic  paper  pub- 
lished in  Pbiladelphia,  appeared  on  January  3, 
1833.  In  1846  he  was  recalled  to  Rome,  much 
to  the  regret  of  his  parishioners  of  St.  Paul's. 

Father  O'Donnell  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Jo- 
seph A.  Schneller.  He  was  a  man  of  literary 
tastes  and  was  for  a  time  on  the  staff  of  the 
New  York  Weekly  Register  and  Catholic  Diary. 
Father  Schneller  died  September  18,  1862,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Robert  Maguire. 

St.  Mary's. — In  the  meantime  Father  James 
O'Donnell  had  been  extending  the  field  of  his 
labors  to  Williamsburg.  In  1841  he  built  St. 
Mary's  church.  Three  years  before  Father 
Dougherty  went  over  from  St.  Mary's  church. 
New  York,  and  said  mass  in  a  stable  on  Grand 


stree.  This  was  not,  as  some  suppose,  the  first 
mass  said  in  A\'ilhamsburg.  Father  John  Walsh, 
of  St.  James',  and  his  assistant.  Father  Bradley, 
visited  Flushing,  Staten  Island  and  A\'iIIiams- 
burg  in  1837,  and  it  is  probable  that  they  went 
there  as  early  as  1836.  In  1839  Flushing  was 
visited  once  a  month  by  Rev.  ^Michael  Curran, 
w^o  also  attended  Harlem  and  Throgg's  Neck. 
Father  O'Donnell  remained  at  St.  Alary's  church 
until  1844,  and  while  here  visited  the  Catholics 
at  various  points  on  Long  Island. 

Father  James  O'Donnell  was  a  remarkable 
man.  It  was  just  after  the  disastrous  decline 
in  all  real  estate,  that  in  February,  1840,  he  se- 
cured an  eligible  site  and  set  to  work  to  obtain 
contributions  towards  the  erection  of  a  church. 
A  small  building  was  erected  during  the  year 
and  it  was  dedicated  as  St.  ]\lary's. 

Father  O'Donnell  was  succeeded  in  Will- 
iamsburg by  the  Rev.  Sylvester  jNIalone.  He 
found  an  eligible  site  on  Second  street,  between 
South  Second  and  Third  streets,  and  plans  for 
a  fine  church  were  prepared  by  Mr.  P.  J.  Keily. 
A  beautiful  church,  the  finest  in  Williamsburg, 
and  in  those  days  surpassed  by  few  in  the  coun- 
try, facing  the  East  river,  soon  rose  with  its 
spire  towering  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  On 
May  7,  1848,  the  church  was  dedicated. 

In  1841  Rev.  John  Raffeiner,  the  "apostle 
O'f  the  Germans"  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
gathered  his  scattered  countrymen  around  him, 
and  out  of  his  own  purse  bought  ground  and 
erected  a  church  which  his  pious  soul  led  him  to 
dedkate  to  the  ^Lost  Holy  Trinity. 

The  Assumption. — Old  St.  James'  church 
had'  been  growing  all  these  years,  and  another 
division  of  the  parish  was  made,  in  1842.  This 
time  the  new  church  was  dedicated  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  under  the  title  of  the  Assumption.  This 
church  bad  been  commenced  some  years  before 
by  Father  Farnan,  while  under  ecclesiastical  cen- 
sure. It  was  Wis  intention  to  establish  an  inde- 
pendent Catholic  church,  but,  as  his  congrega- 
tion did  not  respond  tO'  his  needs,  the  church  re- 
mained in  an  unfinished  condition  for  some  years. 
In  1841  it  was  bought  by  Bishop  Hughes,  who 
placed    it    under   the   pastoral   charge   of   Rev. 


528 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND 


David  W.  Bacon.  He  completed  the  building 
and  bad  it  dedicated  on  June  lo,  1842.  Fatber 
Bacon  was  a  bard  worker  and  besitated  at  notb- 
ing.  He  would  dress  the  altar  himself,  and  be 
was  kno'wn  to  have  cut  the  cassocks  made  for 
and  worn  by  the  altar  boys.  His.  congregation 
grew  rapidly  and  demonstrated  the  necessity 
for  further  church  extension.  He  was  largely 
instrumental  in  the  erection  of  the  church  of 
St.  Mary's  Star  of  the  Sea,  but  before  its  com- 
pletion be  was  called  to  a  higher  dignity  and  a 
broader  field.  He  was  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Portland,  Elaine,  in  1855. 

Hiis.  successor  was  the  Rev.  William  Keegan, 
who  bad  been  bis  assistant  for  some  time.  It 
was  not  long  before  he  enlarged  and  beautified, 
the  dhurch.  Some  time  later  he  erected  what 
was  then  one  of  the  finest  parochial  school- 
houses  in  the  country.  In  1880  he  was  made 
vicar  general  of  the  diocese,  and  held  that  po- 
sition to  the  time  of  bis  death,  Alay  10,  1890. 

While  rector  of  tlie  Assumption,  the  Rev. 
David  W.  Bacon  interested  himself  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  church  on  Court  street,  between 
Luqueer  and  Nelson  streets.  But  before  he  bad 
time  to  get  the  building  fully  under  way  be  was 
called  (1855)  t^  preside  over  the  newly  erected 
See  of  Portland,  Alaine.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Edward  Maginnis,  whose  pastorate  was 
very  short.  In  1856  Rev.  Eugene  Cassidy  be- 
came pastor,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  for 
twenty  years.  In  1867  he  built  a  school  house. 
It  now  contains  some  five  hundred  and  sixty 
boys,  taught  by  the  Franc'iscan  Brothers,  and  six 
hundred  and  seventy  girls,  taught  by  the  Sisters 
of  St.  Joseph.  In  1876  Fatber  Cassidy  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Henry  O'Lougblan,  who  re- 
mained for  tem  years.  On  ^March  9,  1888,  the 
Rev.  Joseph  J.  O'Connell,  D.  D.,  became  pastor 
In  1893  he  built  a  large  hall  for  literary  and 
social  purposes.  Pope  Leo  XIII  raised  him  to 
the  dignity  of  a  JMonseignor,  and  he  is  one  of 
Bishop  McDonnell's  Diocesan  Consultors,  holds 
the  position  of  Defensor  Matrimonii,  is  one  of 
the  Urban  Deans  and  is  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic school  board  for  Kings  county. 

Old   St.   Mary's   church,   Williamsburg,   was 


commenced  in  1841  by  Father  James  O.  DonnelL 
It  was  an  unpretentious  wooden  structure,  and 
the  Catholics  were  wont  to  bury  their  dead  in 
its  immediate  vicinity.  The  little  church  has 
long  since  disappeared,  but  the  old  tombstones 
stood  for  fifty  years.  In  1890  the  dead  were 
removed  to  Holy  Cross  cemetery  and  the  ground 
has  been  devoted  to  business  purposes.  The 
old  church  was  dedicated  in  1843  by  Bishop  Du- 
bois and  the  sermon  was  preached  by  Father 
O'Donnell.  On  the  same  day  a  temperance  so- 
ciety was  established,  the  first  in  Brooklyn,  by 
the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Felix  Varela,  V.  G.,  of  New 
York.  In  1844,  just  after  his  ordination,  Rev. 
Sylvester  Malone  became  the  pastor.  He  found 
a  debt  of  $2,300 — no  small  amount  in  those 
days — staring  him'  in  the  face.  Before  the  end 
of  three  years  he  secured  not  only  the  payment 
of  'this  debt  but  the  purchase  of  a  site  for  a  new 
dhurch. 

.  In  1849  Eather  Malone  fell  a  victim  to  the 
smallpox,  contracted  while  attending  to  the  sick 
of  his  parish.  Scarcely  had  he  recovered  when 
the  cholera  broke  out  among  his  people.  The 
good  priest  was  at  his  post,  and  he  again  shared 
the  maladies  of  his  people  as  well  as  their 
troubles.  Hardly  had  he  recovered  from  his 
second  attack  when  ship-fever  fastened  its  grip 
upon  him.  But  he  was  permitted  to  live  on  to 
bless  a  flock  by  whom  he  was  revered.  He  held 
as  warm  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  non-Catholics 
as  in  the  hearts  of  his  own  people.  In  1854  he 
went  to  Rome  to  be  present  at  the  definition  of 
the  dogma  of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  Dur-- 
ing  his  absence  the  anti-Catholic  prejudice 
reached  Williamsburg  and  threatened  Eather 
Malone's  church.  As  the  Know-Nothing  riot- 
ers advanced  they  were  met  at  the  church  door 
by  Mayor  Wall  (a  non-Catholic)  %vho  declared 
that  he  would  protect  the  church  of  his  absent 
friend  if  it  cost  him  his  life.  The  church  was 
saved  and  stands  to-day  as  a  noble  monument  of 
charity  and  good  will  among  men. 

Father  Malone  was  noted  for  his  devotion  to 
the  American  flag,  and  he  was  honored  before 
his  death  by  being  made  a  member  of  the  board 
of  Regents   of  the  University   of   tlie   State  of 


THE  CATHOLIC    CHURCH  ON    LONG  ISLAND. 


529 


New  York.  He  died,  universally  regretted,  De- 
cember 29,  1900. 

As  far  back  as  1846  the  Catholics  of  Go- 
wanus  and  vicinity  were  attended  by  the  clergy 
of  other  parishes.  Father  Peter  McLaughlin 
gathered  them  in  a  small  wooden  structure  and 
organized  a  parish.  The  old  church  was  re- 
placed by  a  more  suitable  edifice  in  1850.  St. 
Patrick's  church  at  Fort  Hamilton  was  built  in 
1849. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  present  beautiful 
edifice  was  laid  on  November  5,  1854,  and  the 
new  St.  Patrick's  church  was  dedicated  in  1856. 
The  old  church  was  turned  into  a  school  house 
and  was  used  as  such  for  many  years  and  gave 
way  to  the  splendid  academy  for  boys,  which 
was  placed  under  care  of  the  Franciscan  Broth- 
ers. The  girls  were  provided  for  in  the  large 
asylum  back  of  the  school  and  conducted  by  the 
Sisiters  of  Mercy.  After  a  pastorate  of  nineteen 
years  Father  Maguire  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
P.  C.  Fagan  (1862-65),  R^v.  E.  G.  Fitzpatrick 
(1865-1872),  and  the  present  pastor  (1901),  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Taaffe. 

The  German  Catholics  in  Williamsburg  had 
been  growing  to  such  an  extent  that  their  old 
church  had  become  too  small  to  accommodate 
them,  and  on  June  29,  1853,  Archbishop  Hughes 
laid  the  comer-stone  of  a  larger  church,  the 
Most  Holy  Trinity.  Father  Raffeiner  labored 
here  until  1861,  when  he  went  to  his  reward. 
At  the  tim'e  of  his  death  he  could  point  to  thirty 
churches  in  the  State  of  New  York  that  owed 
their  origin  and  prosperity  in  one  way  or  an- 
other to  his  zeal  and  devotion.  Bishops  Dubois 
and  Hughes  appointed  him'  Vicar  General  for 
the  Germans,  and  Bishop  Loughlin  continued 
him  in  the  same  capacity  for  the  new  diocese 
of  Brooklyn.  He  died  on  July  16,  1861,  in  the 
arms  of  his  devoted  assistant,  Rev.  Michael  May, 
who  succeeded  him  as  pastor  of  the  church  of 
the  Holy  Trinity. 

Rev.  Michael  May  was  born  in  Bavaria,  June 
2,  1826,  and  was  ordained  July  19,  185 1.  After 
eight  years  of  service  in  his  native  land,  he  ar- 
rived in  New  York  March  2,  1859.  Bishop 
Loughlin  assigned  him  to  do  duty  at  the  church 
34 


of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity  as  assistant  to  Father 
Raffeiner.  His  wisdom  and  prudence  may  be 
seen  in  the  magnificent  church  he  has  reared, 
a  church  costing  some  $300,000;  in  the  flourish- 
ing schools  with  their  800  children;  in  the  Or- 
phan' Asylum,  with  its  four  or  five  hundred  in- 
mates; and  in  the  hospital  which  has  opened  its 
doors  to  thousands  of  unfortunate  men  and 
women.  Bishop  Loughlin  fully  appreciated  Fa- 
ther May's  work  by  making  him  Vicar  General, 
and  shortly  before  his  death  Father  May  was 
honored  by  Pope  Leo  XIII  with  the  dignity  of 
a  Monseignor.  Father  May  died,  universally  re- 
gretted, on  the  nth  of  February,  1895. 

St.  Charles  Borromeo. — Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Hughes  organized  this  parish,  which  he  placed 
under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Charles  Constan- 
tine  Pise,  D.  D.  Near  the  corner  of  Sydney 
Place  and  Livingston  street  stood  the  old  Church 
of  the  Emmtauel,  which  the  Episcopalians  had 
built  ten  years  before.  Dr.  Pise  bought  it  and 
on  December  30,  1849,  a-^ter  having  been  re- 
modeled and  renovated,  it  was  dedicated.  It 
wasi  here  that  the  Rt.  Rev.  Levi  Sillimau'  Ives, 
Episcopal  Bishop  of  North  Carolina,  ordained 
the  Rev.  Donald  McLeod.  Some  years  later 
bishop  and  minister  met  again  in  this  same 
church,  but  the  church  had  become  a  Catholic 
church,  the  bishop  had  become  a  Catholic  lay- 
man, and  the  minister  had  become  a  Catholic 
priest. 

Dr.  Pise  was  born  at  Annapolis,  Maryland, 
November  22,  1801.  After  graduating  at  George- 
town College,  he  began  his  novitiate  as  a  Jesuit, 
and  was  sent  to  the  Roman  College  of  the  Propa- 
ganda. Soon  afterward  he  became  professor 
of  rhetoric  at  Mount  St.  Mary's  College,  Em- 
mittsburg.  In  1825  he  was  ordained  by  the  Most 
Rev.  Ambrose  Marechal,  Archbishop  of  Balti- 
more. After  serving  as  assistant  at  the  Cathed- 
ral in  Baltimore,  he  was  assigned  to  St.  Mat- 
thew's church,  Washington.  While  there  his 
brilliant  talents  and  courteous  manners  attract- 
ed the  attention  of  Henry  Cla}',  at  whose  in- 
stance he  was  unanimously  elected  chaplain  to 
the  United  States  senate.  In  1832  Dr.  Pige 
visited  Rome  and  earned  the  degree  of  Doctor 


530 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


of  Divinity,  and  received  the  insignia  of  his  of- 
fice at  the  hands  of  Pope  Gregory  XVI.  His 
writings  merited  for  him  the  Cross  and  Spur 
and  the  title  of  Knight  of  the  Holy  Roman  Em- 
pire. Bishop  Dubois  invited  him  to  New  York 
and  made  ihim  rector  of  St.  Joseph's  church. 
He  was  transferred  to  old  St.  Peter's,  and  from 
there  to  the  Church  of  St,  Charles  Borromeo, 
Brooklyn,  where  he  labored  until  his  death,  in 
May,  1866.  Few  men,  if  any,  have  done  as 
much  work  for  Catholic  literature  as  Dr.  Pise. 
In  1830,  while  in  Baltimore,  he  was  editor  of 
the  Metropolitan,  the  first  Catholic  magazine 
published  in  this  country.  In  1842  he  was  as- 
sociated with  \^ery  Rev.  Felix  Varcla,  D.  D., 
in  the  publication  of  the  Catholic  Expositor,  of 
New  York,  and  he  wrote  several  excellent  the- 
ological treatises  and  made  numerous  masterly 
translations. 

In  1858  Dr.  Pise  established  a  parochial 
school,  with  over  two  hundred  pupils.  There 
is  now  a  flourishing  school  of  over  600  pupils. 
The  girls  are  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  and  the  boys  under  the  Franciscan 
Brothers. 

Dr.  Pise  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Francis 
J.  Freel,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  assistants  at  St. 
James'  Cathedral.  In_  December,  1866,  he  pur- 
chased seven  lots,  on  Livingston  street,  for 
which  he  paid  $22,000.  It  was  his  intention 
to  erect  a  larger  and  more  imposing  edifice  than 
the  one  his  congregation  then  occupied.  This 
determination  was  hastened  by  an  unexpected 
event.  On  the  night  of  March  7,  1868,  the 
church  took  fire  from  a  defective  flue,  and  the 
entire  building  with  its  valuable  furnishings  was 
reduced  to  ashes.  Dr.  Freel,  at  the  risk  of  his 
life,  rescued  the  Ciborium  and  its  sacred  con- 
tents, some  other  sacred  vessels  and  some  oi 
the  most  valuable  of  the  vestments.  In  less  than 
three  weeks  after  the  disaster,  ground  was  brok- 
en for  a  splendid  new  church,  of  brick,  with  a 
frontage  of  seventy  feet  on  Sydney  Place,  and 
a  depth  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  on  Liv- 
ingston street.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  in 
August,  1868.  For  eighteen  years  Dr.  Freel 
carried  on  the  work  entrusted  to  him.    He  looked 


after  the  education  of  the  children  of  his  parish, 
and  was  also  particularly  devoted  to  the  sailors 
at  the  Navy  Yard,  and  became  the  first  Cath- 
olic chaplain  at  the  Navy  Yard,  and  a  small 
chapel  was  built  at  his  request.  Dr.  Freel  died 
on  April  5,-  1884. 

The  successor  of  Dr.  Freel  was  the  Rev. 
Thomas  F.  Ward.  He  reduced  the  church  debt, 
enlarged  the  school  building  and  made  needed 
improvements  in  other  directions.  With  all  his 
parochial  work  Father  Ward  found  time  to  de- 
vote to  literature,  and  in  1892  he  published  his 
"Thirty-two  Instructions  for  the  Month  of  May" 
— a  translation  from  the  French.  He  died  on 
October  21,  1898,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
James  E.  Bobier. 

St.  John's  church  (Gowanus),  now  Twenty- 
fifth  street,  near  Fifth  avenue,  was  opened  in 
1850  by  the  Rev.  Peter  McLoughlin.  He  se- 
cured three  lots  on  Twenty-first  street,  upon 
which  he  erected  an  unpretentious  frame  church. 
In  1852  Father  McLoughlin  was  transferred  to 
Westchester  county  and  he  was  succeeded  at  St. 
John's  by  the  Rev.  John  McKeon.  This  pastor 
built  the  first  parochial  school  in  that  part  of 
the  city.  Father  McKeon  had  been  but  three 
years  at  St.  John's,  when  he  was  transferred 
to  another  mission.  He  died  in  1857.  ^is  suc- 
cessor (1855)  was  the  Rev.  Patrick  McGovern, 
a  patriotic  priest,  who,  when  the  Civil  war  broke 
out,  was  not  slow  in  telling  the  men  of  his 
flock  their  duty  to  their  country.  A  cavalry  regi- 
ment was  organized  in  his  parish,  and  before 
setting  out  for  the  front  the  men  attended  mass 
and  received  Holy  Communion.  In  1862  Fa- 
ther McGovern  was  transferred  to  St.  Paul's. 
Rev.  Hugh  McGuire  became  the  next  pastor  of 
St.  John's.  In  May,  1867,  the  Bishop  sent  him 
an  assistant  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Peter 
Daly,  who  died  the  following  year.  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  McGuire.  These 
two  namesakes  enlarged  and  improved  the  church 
in  1872,  so  as  to  accommodate  1,300  persons. 

Father  Hugh  died  in  1872  and  Father  John 
acted  as  pastor  until  March,  1873,  when  the 
Rev.  Jam^es  O'Beirne  became  pastor.  Born  in 
Ireland,  he  made  his  ecclesiastical  studies  at  May- 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


531 


nooth  College,  where  he  was  ordained  in  1852. 
He  came  to  New  York,  and  when  Bishop  Lough- 
lin  came  to>  Brooklyn,  Father  O'Beirne  was  ap- 
pointed to  Flushing,  where  he  labored  for  twen- 
ty-one years.  During  that  time  he  built  St. 
Michael's  church.  In  1864  he  purchased  the 
ground  upon  which  the  Convent  and  Academy 
of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  now  stands.  While 
at  St.  John's,  Father  O'Beirne  erected  a  hand- 
some parochial  school,  in  1885.  He  died,  uni- 
versally regretted,  in  1888,  and  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  Bernard  J.  McHugh,  formerly  of 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  Flatbush. 

St.  Benedict's. — In  1852  eight  German  Cath- 
olic families  settled  in  what  was  then  known 
as  New  Brooklyn,  betw^een  Bedford  and  East 
New  York.  They  were  poor  but  industri- 
ous people,  and  anxious  to  secure  homes  for 
their  growing  families  while  property  was  cheap. 
They  had  little  money,  but  they  had  willing 
hands;  and,  having  secured  a  lot  on  Herkimer 
street;  near  Ralph  avenue,  a  small  frame  build- 
ing was  erected.  The  church  was  ready  in 
March,  1852,  and  was  attended  for  a  time  by  the 
priests  from  St.  Francis'  or  from  Holy  Trinity. 
In  January,  1853,  Bishop  Dubois  sent  the  Rev. 
Maurus  Ramsauer  to  take  charge  of  this  parish. 
He  did  not  remain  long,  however,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Father  Peter  Hartlaub,  who  remained 
only  a  few  months'.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 
Bonaventure  Keller,  who  remained  for  over 
three  years.  On  October  25,  1857,  Bishop 
Loughlin  sent  the  Rev.  Aloys  Enders  to  St.  Bene- 
dict's, but  after  a  stay  of  thirteen  months  he 
sought  missionary  work  in  the  west.  The  next 
pastor,  the  Rev.  James  Tuboby,  came  in  Decem- 
ber, 1858,  and  remained  nearly  two  years.  He 
was  succeeded  in  i860  by  Rev.  Father  Peine,  who 
also  attended  St.  Francis'.  Ill  health  forced 
him,  after  a  few  months,  to  giv.t  up  his  charge, 
and  in  May,  1861,  the  Rev.  Franz  Sales  Klos- 
terba>uer  became  pastor,  who  determined  to  build 
a  new  church,  but  did  not  remain  long  enough 
to  realize  his  hopes.  Hi&  successor,  however,  the 
Rev.  M.  Kochren,  arriving  May  25,  1873,  car- 
ried out  his  plans,  and  the  present  beautiful  St. 
Benedict's  ow€s  its  commencement  and  comple- 


tion to  Father  Kochren.  The  new  church  is  built 
of  brick,  with  slate  roof,  and  surmounted  by  a 
tower  130  feet  high.  It  faces  Fulton  street. 
The  old  church  on  Herkimer  street  was  altered, 
made  two  stories  high,  and  was  given  over  to 
the  school.  Father  Kochren  also  erected  a  com- 
modious brick  pastoral  residence.  He  remained 
at  St.  Benedict's  until  September,  1875,  and  died 
not  long  aftewards.  His  successor,  Rev.  Fran- 
cis Duermayer,  remained  until  January,  1876, 
when  Rev.  Henry  J.  Zimm-er  became  Pastor. 
Before  the  year  was  out  he  was  ordered  to  St. 
Patrick's  church,  and  was  subsequently  trans- 
ferred to  Far  Rockaway,  where  he  built  a  very 
beautiful  church.  On  October  i,  1876,  Rev. 
Ignatius  Zeller  came  to  St.  Benedict's.  He  had 
been  a  Lutheran  minister  and  became  a  Cath- 
olic under  the  instruction  of  the  good  Father 
Goetz.  When  he  came  to  St.  Benedict's  he  found 
a  debt  of  over  $44,000,  and  during  the  ten  years 
of  his  pastorate  he  reduced  this  to  $26,000,  be- 
sides having  built  a  new  fectory.  The  old  pa- 
rochial residence  he  turned  into  a  convent  for 
the  Sisters  of  Christian  Charity.  Father  Zeller 
resigned  in  January,  1886,  as  he  desired  to  see 
the  parish  in  the  hands  of  a  younger  man.  He 
went  to  Jamaica  and  built  a  new  church  for  his 
countrymen  there. 

The  Rev.  John  M.  Hanselmann  assum-ed 
charge  of  St.  Benedict's  on  July  3,  1886.  He 
is  one  of  four  brothers  who  devoted  their  lives 
to  the  service  of  God  at  the  altar.  He  was  born 
on  August  5,  1854,  in  Holy  Trinity  parish,  made 
his  studies  in  Montreal,  and  was  ordained  De- 
cember 21,  1878.  His  first  work  was  under  Fa- 
ther May,  whose  assistant  he  was  until  January 
13,  1880,  when  he  became  chaplain  of  St.  Cath- 
erine's Hospital.  In  1893  he  began  the  erection 
of  a  new  school.  It  is  attended  by  some  300 
children,  under  the  care  of  six  Sisters  of  Christian 
Charity.  St.  Benedict's  church  property  is  esti- 
mated to  be  worth  $130,000,  with  a  debt  of  a  little 
over  $20,000.  Father  Hanselmann  is  assisted  by 
Rev.  George  M.  Schaaf  and  Rev.  Jacob  A.  Kunz. 
The  present  number  of  parishioners  Is  estimated 
at  1,800. 

St.   Joseph's   church,   on   Pacific   street,  near 


532 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


Vanderbilt  avenue,  was  founded  in  1853,  by  the 
Rev.  Patrick  O'Neill.  Fifty  families-  contributed 
$500,  and  an.  equal  amount  was  contributed  by 
Messrs.  Charles  and  Edward  Harvey.  A  small 
brick  church  was  erected  on  Pacific  street,  in 
which  mass  was  first  said  by  Father  Cassidy  in 
April,  1853.  In  October  Father  O'Neill  took 
charge  of  the  parish,  and  soon  built  a  larger 
church,  and  in  its  tower  was  placed  the  first 
clock  in  a  Catholic  church  in  Brooklyn.  In  1857 
Father  O'Neill  established  a  school  of  200  pu- 
pils, under  the  care  of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Garvey, 
who  continued  to  teach  until  the  advent  of  the 
Franciscan  Brothers,  in  1859.  This  was  the  first 
school  in  Brooklyn  to  have  the  Franciscan  Broth- 
ers. In  February,  1864,  the  Rev.  Edward  Cor- 
coran became  Father  O'Neill's  assistant.  In 
1867  Father  O'Neill  was  called  to  his  heavenly 
reward,  and  it  devolved  upon  Father  Corcoran 
to  continue  the  work. 

Father  Corcoran  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
was  ordained  at  All  Hallows  College,  Dublin, 
in  June,  1863.  He  volunteered  for  the  Amer- 
ican missions,  and  on  being  adopted  by  Bishop 
Loughlin  was  assigned  as  assistant  at  the  church 
of  the  Immacnlate  Conception.  After  a  service 
of  seven  months  he  was  transferred  to  St.  Jo- 
seph's. The  parish  was  growing;  it  had  a  debt 
of  some  $30,000.  It  was  not  long  before  he  be- 
gan making  improvements  upon  the  church ;  next 
he  erected  an  academy  and  a  hall  for  literary 
purposes,  and  enlarged  the  parish  schools.  In 
a  few  years  the  church  property  was  the  admira- 
tion of  passers-by.  It  was  300  feet  wide  and 
extended  from^  street  to  street.  The  church, 
school,  academy  and  hall  were  surrounded  by 
beautiful  lawns  and  ornamented  with  statues. 
Father  Corcoran  died  in  1893,  and  was  succeed- 
ed by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Mgr.  P.  J.  McNamara,  V.  G. 

Part  ii. — The   Diocesan  Period. 

bishop  loughlin. 

The  second  period  in  the  history  of  Cath- 
olicity on  Long  Island  begins  with  the  year  1853, 
when  it  became  organized  into  a  diocese.  At 
that  time  Long  Island  had   in  all   only   twelve 


churches,  eight  of  which  were  in  Brooklyn 
proper,  two  in  Williamsburg  and  two  in  remote 
parts  of  the  island.  There  was  but  one  institu- 
tion of  charity,  and  that  was  situated  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Congress  and  Clinton  streets.  It  was 
an  orphan  asylum,  the  Congress  street  wing  be- 
ing occupied  by  the  boys  and  *he  Clinton  street 
wing  by  the  girls.  This  structure  was  erected 
by  the  Roman  Catholic  Orphan  Society,  which 
was  incorporated  in  1836,  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  the  legal  transfer  of  a  house  on  Jay 
street  from  the  Rev.  Father  Walsh,  second  pastor 
of  St.  James'.  That  house,  which  then  had  but 
two  stories  and  a  basement,  was  the  first  orphan 
asylum  in  Brooklyn.  Later,  another  story  was 
added,  and  an  equally  large  building  adjoined 
to  it.  This  house,  which  was  the  Episcopal 
residence  for  thirty-five  years,  is  now  used  as  the 
rectory  of  St.  James'  Cathedral. 

The  diocese  of  Brooklyn  was  established  by 
Pope  Pius  IX  in  1853.  It  comprises  the  whole 
of  Long  Island,  which  a  legend  says  was  known 
to  the  early  Catholic  explorers  (Gomez,  1525) 
as  the  Island  of  the  Holy  Apostles,  because  it 
is  said  that  they  discovered  it  on  the  feast  of 
St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul. 

October  18,  1840,  three  young  men,  class- 
mates at  old  ]\Iount  St.  IVEary's,  Emmittsburg^ 
Maryland  knelt  in  old  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral, 
New  York,  before  Bishop  Hughes,  and  received 
at  his  hands  the  grand  commission  that  sent 
them  forth  to  preach  Christ  and  Him  crucified. 
They  were  Edward  O'Neil,  Francis  Coyle  and 
John  Loughlin.  Father  Coyle  was  assigned  to 
the  missions  of  Sandy  Hill,  Lansingburg  and 
WaterfoTd.  Father  O'Xeil  became  treasurer 
and  professor  of  natural  philosophy  at  St.  John's 
College,  Fordham ;  while  Father  Loughlin  was. 
assigned  to  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  Mulberry 
street,  New  York,  of  which  he  became  rector  in 
1848.  While  attached  to  the  cathedral,  he  went 
for  a  time  to  Utica  to  assist  the  Rev.  Father 
Quarter. 

John  Loughlin  was  born  near  Rostrevor,  in 
the  County  Down,  Ireland,  December  20,  1817. 
When  six  years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica by  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Albany.     He 


RT.  REY.  JOHH  LOUGHLIH,  D.  D. 

FIRST  BISHOP  OF  BROOKLYH. 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


538 


entered  the  Albany  Academy,  where  he  had  for 
professor  the  distinguished  Latinist,  Dr.  Bullion. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  sent  to  a  col- 
lege near  Montreal,  where  he  acquired  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  French  language.  Three  years  later 
he  returned  to  the  United  States  and  entered 
Mount  St.  iMary's  Seminary,  at  Emmittsburg, 
Maryland.  Here  his  remarkable  talents  were 
soon  discovered,  and  he  was,  while  yet  a  the- 
ologian,, made  tutor  in  the  classics.  Having 
completed  his  studies,  he  repaired  to  New  York 
to  receive  the  Holy  Order  of  Priesthood. 

While  laboring  at  St.  Patrick's'  Cathedral, 
Father  Loughlin  had  as  his  fellow  assistants : 
Rev.  John  McCloskey,  a  distinguished  son  of 
Brooklyn,  and  the  first  American  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  the  Cardinalate;  and  Rev.  James  R. 
Bayley,  the  future  bishop  of  Newark  and  later 
archbishop  of  Baltimore.  When  Bishop  Hughes 
went  to  Rome  in  1850  he  appointed  Father 
Loughlin  Vicar  General  of  New  York,  this  ap- 
pointment making  him  administrator  of  the  dio- 
cese in  the  Bishop's  absence.  It  was  during  this 
time  that  Father  Loughlin  gave  evidence  of  that 
peculiar  wisdom,  prudence  and  administrative 
ability  that  characterized  him  through  life.  In 
1849  w^  fi^d  h™  ^^  ^^^  Seventh  Provincial 
Council  of  Baltimore,  acting  as  theologian  to 
Bishop  Hughes.  He  served  in  the  same  ca- 
pacity at  the  First  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore, 
in  1852,  and  when  the  Fathers  at  this  Council 
proposed  the  creation  of  several  new  dioceses, 
among  them  the  diocese  of  Brooklyn.  Pius  IX 
approved  their  designs.  By  an  Apostolic  letter, 
dated  July  29,  1853,  the  new  Sees  of  Brooklyn, 
Newark  and  Biurlington,  Vermont,  in  the  ecclesi- 
astical province  of  New  York,  were  erected. 
When  it  became  necessary  to  make  a  choice  of  a 
ruler  for  the  new  See  of  Brooklyn,  the  eyes  of 
the  assembled  Fathers  fell  upon  the  Vicar  Gen- 
eral of  New  York. 

On  October  30,  1853,  at  old  St.  Patrick's 
Cathedral,  three  worthy  laborers  in  the  vineyard 
of  the  Lord  were  elevated  to  the  episcopate. 
They  were  Very  Rev.  John  Loughlin,  Vicar  Gen- 
eral of  New  York,  for  the  new  diocese  of  Brook- 
lyn ;  Very  Rev.  Loui&  de  Goesbriand,  Vicar  Gen- 


eral of  the  diocese  of  Cleveland,  for  the  new 
diocese  of  Burlington,  Vermont,  and  the  Rev. 
James  Roosevelt  Bayley,  secretary  to  Archbishop 
Hughes,  for  the  new  See  of  Newark,  New  Jer- 
sey. The  consecrator  of  these  bishops  was  the 
Most  Rev.  (afterwards  Cardinal)  Cajetan  Be- 
dini,  Papal  Nuncio  to  the  Brazils,  and,  at  that 
time,  on  a  special  mission  to  the  United  States. 
The  consecration  sermon  was  preached  by  Arch- 
bishop Hughes. 

Bishop  Loughlin  lost  no  time  in  entering 
upon  his  new  field  of  labor,  and  on  November 
9  his  installation  took  place  in  old  St.  James', 
which  he  selected  for  his  future  cathedral.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  among  the  first 
churches  the  new  bishop  blessed  in  his  diocese 
was  St.  Patrick's  church,  which  he  worked  so 
hard  to  complete.  He  at  once  began  the  work 
which  before  long  gained  for  him  the  name  of 
*'the  great  church  builder  of  America."  He  had 
a  quickness  in  comprehending  the  necessary 
growth  of  his  episcopal  city,  and  his  promptness 
for  recognizing  and  securing  eligible  sites  for 
new  churches  is  something  remarkable.  We 
have  seen  hov^  poor  the  church  in  Brooklyn  was 
when  he  became  it&  bishop,  yet,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  celebration  of  his  golden  jubilee,  in  1890, 
he  'had  acquired  church  property  to  the  amount 
of  $6,000,000.  In  the  course  of  thirty-seven  years 
he  had  built  120  churches  and  chapels,  93  parish 
schools,  two  colleges,  nineteen  select  schools  and 
academies,  five  hospitals,  two  homes  for  the 
aged,  one  home  for  newsboys,  and  lastly,  as  the 
crowning  of  them  all,  a  magnificent  seminary  for 
the  education  of  the  priests  of  the  diocese. 

His  first  official  act  as  bishop-elect  may  be 
said  to  have  been  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone 
of  the  church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  Au- 
gust I,  1853.  This  church  was  commenced  by  the 
Rev.  Peter  McLoughlin,  but  his  pastorate,  like 
that  of  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Anthony  Farrelly, 
lasted  only  one  year.  The  church  was  a  substan- 
tial brick  building  with  stone  foundation,  to  seat 
some  1,200  persons.  Father  Farrelly  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Andrew  Bohan,  who  ministered 
for  more  than  ten  years.  Father  Bohan  opened 
a  parochial  school  in  the  basement  of  the  church. 


f34 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


During  part  of  his  pastorate  he  was  assisted  by 
the  Rev.  Jo^hn  McKenna.  Father  Bohan  died  in 
1867.  Rev.  John  Crimmins,  who  was  pastor 
from  1879  to  1883^  made  some  improvements  in 
the  old  church;  and  his  S'Uccessor,  Rev.  M.  F. 
Murray,  erected  the  present  pastoral  residence. 
The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  James  Taaffe, 
brother  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Taaffe,  of  St. 
Patrick's  church.  He  took  charge  of  the  par- 
ish in  1888.  Father  James  was  born  in  Ireland. 
He  was  ordained  in  1878,  and  on  his  arrival  in 
this  country  in  1879  ^'^^  appointed  as  assistant 
at  St.  Patrick's.  Here  he  labored  until  his  ap-. 
pointment  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception,  in  1887.  His  first  care  was 
the  erection  of  an  academy,  which  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph.  Father 
Taaffee  also  made  a  very  material  reduction  in 
the  church  debt.  His  pastorate  was  not  very 
long,  as  he  was  in  a  short  time  to  succeed  the 
Rt.  Rev.  P.  J.  McNamara  as  pastor  of  Our 
Lady  of  Mercy.  In  less  than  a  year  afterwards, 
Father  James  Taaffe  died  of  a  cold  contracted 
while  .in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  He  was 
succeeded  at  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Con- 
ception by  the  Rev.  James  F.  Crowley,  who  on 
Sunday,  December  29,  1901,  burned  the  last 
mortgage  (of  $40,000)  against  the  church,  and 
now  rejoices  in  a  church  free  from  debt. 

In  1853  St.  Thomas'  Episcopal  church. 
Bridge  street,  near  Willoughby  street,  was  pur- 
chased by  a  new  German  congregation  and  dedi- 
cated under  the  invocation  of  St.  Bonifacius,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1854.  The  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Moritz 
Ramsauer.  The  congregation  numbered  about 
200,  and  the  children  were  cared  for  in  a  school 
opened  ,in  the  basement  and  taught  by  a  lay 
teacher.  A  new  church  was  dedicated  in  1872. 
Father  De  Berge  soon  after  purchased  additional 
property  for  a  convent  and  school  for  the  Sisters 
of  St.  Dominic.  In  1877  Father  J.  B.  Will- 
man  became  pastor.  He  soon  tore  down  the  old 
frame  buildings  and  replaced  them  with  substan- 
tial brick  houses.  One  of  these  became  the  pas- 
toral residence  and  the  other  is  a  school  house, 
on  the  upper  floor  of  which  is  a  large  hall  suit- 


able for  lectures,  meetmgs  and  entertainments. 
The  present  pastor  (1903)  is  the  Rev.  George 
Feser. 

Church  of  the  Visitation. — The  Church  of 
the  Visitation,  on  Verona  street,  was  founded 
in  1854,  by  the  Rev.  Timothy  O'Farrell.  It 
was  a  brick  building  of  modest  proportions  and 
was  replaced  in  1880  by  a  very  fine  structure  of 
blue-stone.  This  splendid  church  was  finished 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  John  M.  Kieley, 
and  was  dedicated  in  March,  1880,  by  Bishop 
Loughlin. 

St.  Anthony's  Parish,  Greenpoint,  now  Sev- 
enteenth Ward,  Brooklyn,  has  an  interesting 
history.  The  first  mass  was  celebrated  in  1853 
at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Rider.  Prior  to  this  the 
Catholics  of  Greenpoint  were  attended  by  Rev. 
Sylvester  Malone,  of  Williamsburg.  In  1855  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Brunnemann  said  mass  in  a  hall  at 
the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Eagle  streets.  In 
1856  Father  Brunnemann  purchased  two  lots  on 
India  street,  and  on  December  21,  of  that  year, 
Bishop  Loughlin  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  new 
church  to  be  known  as  the  Church  of  St.  An- 
thony of  Padua.  In  1858,  the  year  of  the  dedi- 
cation, Bishop  Loughlin  sent  Rev.  John  Brady 
to  take  charge  of  the  parish.  Before  the  year 
was  out  he  had  established  a  parochial  school  of 
some  five  hundred  children.  In  the  fall  of  1859 
a  pastoral  residence  was  purchased  on  Manhat- 
tan avenue. 

Bishop  Loughlin  purchased  from  Samuel  J. 
Tilden  a  piece  of  ground  on  the  east  side  of 
Manhattan  avenue,  at  the  head  of  Milton  street, 
and  an  additional  piece  of  ground  from  Mr. 
Edward  Crawford.  This  gave  the  church  prop- 
erty the  full  depth  of  the  block,  extending  from 
Manhattan  avenue  to  Leonard  street.  In  the 
meantime  Father  Brady  had  gone  to  his  reward, 
and  Father  Lane  took  up  the  work.  The  corner- 
stone of  a  beautiful  new  church,  a  model  of 
Gothic  architecture  164  feet  by  72  feet,  wa&  laid 
on  August  24,  1873,  and  March  8,  1874,  Bishop 
Loughlin  had  the  happiness  of  celebrating  the 
first  mass  said  within  its  walls,  in  the  basement. 
On  June  13,  following,  the  feast  of  St.  Anthony, 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCtI  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


535 


the  new  church  was  dedicated.  In  October  fol- 
lowing Father  Lane  moved  into  the  new  pa- 
rochial residence  adjoining  the  church. 

July  22,  1884,  Father  O'Hara  was  sent  to 
St.  Anthony's  church.  One  of  his  first  cares 
after  redeeming  the  church  from  its  financial 
difficulties  was  the  education  of  the  children  of 
the  parish.  The  parish  school  had  been  held  for 
some  time  in  the  old  church  on  India  street.  Fa- 
ther O'Hara  at  once  replaced  it  by  a  suitable 
two-story  building  capable  of  accommodating 
700  pupils.  In  1885  he  purchased  five  lots  ad- 
joining the  church  property,  and  erected  a  spa- 
cious parish  hall,  which  later  on  gave  place  to 
a  magnificent  school  building,  costing  over  $60,- 
000,  exclusive  of  the  ground. 

Father  O'Hara  is  a  man  of  strong  convic- 
tions, as  evinced  in  his  war  upon  the  illicit 
liquor  traffic,  upon  intemperance  and  upon  the 
violation  of  the  Sabbath  day.  His  temperance 
society  is  one  of  the  largest  in  the  diocese,  and 
his  Holy  Name  Society  one  of  the  most  exem- 
plary. He  has  also  found  time  to  do  good  work 
in  the  field  of  controversy  and  of  literature. 

We  cannot  follow  Father  O'Hara's  work 
at  St.  Anthony's  in  all  its  details.  Suffice  it  to 
say  that  when  he  took  charge  of  the  parish  in 
1884  he  had  to  face  a  debt  oi  $140,000.  He  not 
only  reduced  this  debt  to  less  than  $50,000,  but 
he  has  increased  the  valuation  of  his  property 
to  $350,000.  He  has  built  a  new  parochial  resi- 
dence, giving  the  old  one  to  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph  for  an  academy.  He  has  more  than 
once  renovated  the  church,  introduced  magnifi- 
cent stained-glass  windows,  erected  costly  mar- 
ble altars,  provided  a  chime  of  bells  of  great 
power  and  sweetne&s  of  tone,  organized  societies 
to  meet  every  necessity  of  his  people  and  tending 
to  their  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare. 

St.  Peter's. — The  corner-stone  of  St.  Peter^s 
church.  Hicks  and  Warren  streets,  was  laid  by 
Bishop  Loughlin  on  September  4,  1859.  The 
task  of  building  this  church  was  entrusted  to 
Rev.  Joseph  Fransioli.  The  wisdom  of  the  con- 
fidence placed  in  him  by  the  Bishop  is  mani- 
fested to-day  in  the  beautiful  church,  the  flour- 
ishing   schools   with    some    2,000   children,     the 


kindergarten,  the  parish  library,  the  splendid  hos- 
pital, the  public  hall  and  the  endless  societies 
for  old  and  young,  for  males  and  females,  with 
which  Father  Fransioli's  energy  and  foresight 
have  adorned  the  parish.  After  a  pastorate  of 
nearly  a  third  of  a  century.  Father  Fransioli 
passed  to  his  eternal  reward,  in  October,   1890. 

St.  Ann's. — On  August  20,  i860,  the  Rev. 
Bartholomew  Gleeson  broke  ground  for  the  erec- 
tion of  St.  Ann's  church,  at  the  corner  of  Front 
and  Gold  streets.  The  first  mass  was  celebrated 
on  Christmas  day,  i860,  but  the  dedication  of 
the  church  did  not  take  place  until  September  8, 
1861.  St.  Ann's  is  a  brick  building  130  feet 
by  60  feet,  surmounted  by  a  tower  135  feet 
high,  ind  has  a  seating  capacity  of  1,100.  In  No- 
vember, 1869,  a  parochial  school  was  opened  in 
the  basement.  In  1871  it  became  necessary  to 
erect  a  separate  school  building,  which  was 
opened  in  September,  1872.  This  building  will 
accommodate  1,000  pupils.  , 

St.  Vincent  de  Paul's. — The  year  1863  saw 
the  erection  of  two  new  churches,  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul's,  at  North  Sixth  street,  near  Fifth,  and  the 
German  Church  of  the  Annunciation.  Father 
McGorisk  secured  a  frame  structure  and  dedi- 
cated it  to  St.  Vincent  de  Paul.  He  labored  for 
six  years  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  David 
O'Mullane,  who  built  a  very  handsome  church. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1872  by  the  Rev.  Martin 
Carroll,  the  present  Pastor.  Father  Carroll  has 
had  the  church  beautifully  frescoed  and  decor- 
ated, and  marble  altars  have  taken  the  place  of  the 
original  wooden  ones.  In  1873  he  transformed 
the  old  frame  church  into  a  parochial  school — the 
first  in  the  parish — and  fitted  up  to  accommodate 
500  pupils.  In  1885  he  erected  a  magnificent 
schoolhouse,  one  of  the  finest  in  the  city,  accom- 
modating from  1,500  to  1,800  pupils. 

The  German  Church  of  the  Annunciation  was 
founded  by  the  late  Rt.  Rev.  Monseignor  Michael 
May,  in  1863.  I'tie  building  of  ihe  church  was 
entrusted  to  the  Rev.  John  Hauptmann,  who  ad- 
ministered to  the  people  of  this  parish  until  1891. 
In  1870  he  replaced  the  old  church  by  a  hand- 
some brick  structure,  and  made  other  improve- 
ments.    In   1891    Rev.   George  Kaupert  became 


•536 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Pastor,  who  in  1892  erected  a  fine  three-story 
schoolhouse,  and  when  completed  he  placed  it 
under  the  care  of  six  Dominican  Sisters. 

Rt.  Rev.  Monseignor  May  in  1865  founded  the 
new  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  at  the  corner  of 
Olive  and  Powers  streets.  The  first  mass  was 
celebrated  in  the  old  church  on  May  14,  1866,  by 
-the  Rev.  Charles  Peine.  Rev.  John  P.  Hoffmann 
built  a  new  church  at  the  corner  of  Olive  and 
Devoe  streets  and  turned  the  old  building  into  a 
school.  The  school  has  between  five  and  six 
hundred  pupils.  There  is  also  a  Convent  of  the 
Sisters  of  St.  Dominic  dedicated  to  St.  Catherine 
of  Sienna,  erected  in  1867. 

During  Bishop  Loughlin's  episcopate  the 
Diocese  of  Brooklyn  had  but  two  Congregations 
of  priests  within  its  limits.  The  first  to  come 
were  the  Lazarists-,  or  Priests  of  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Mission.  In  1868  the  Rev.  Edward 
M,  Smith  was  sent  to  Brooklyn  to  open  a  new 
field  for  the  special  work  of  his  community.  He 
secured  an  entire  block  of  ground,  bounded  by 
Lewis,  Stuyvesant  and  ,Willoughby  avenues  and 
Hart  street.  There  was  a  little  cottage  upon  this 
ground  and  it  was  soon  transformed  into  a  com- 
munity house.  A  room  was  fitted  up  asi  a  chapel, 
and  here,  on  July  12,  1868,  the  first  mass  was 
celebrated.  On  the  same  day  the  corner-stone 
of  the  temporary  wooden  church  was  laid,  by 
Bishop  Loughlin.  In  the  following  year,  1869, 
the  Bishop  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Col- 
lege of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  and  in  September, 
1870,  it  was  opened,  under  the  presidency  of  the 
Rev.  John.  T.  Landry. 

In  1882  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  A.  Hartnett  be- 
came President  of  St.  John's  College  and  Pastor 
of  the  church.  On  June  24,  1888,  Bishop 
Loughlin  laid  the  corner-stone  of  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  church  edifices  in  the  State. 
It  is  208  feet  long;  nave,  including  side  chapels', 
85  feet;  width  of  transept,  135  feet;  depth  of 
chancel,  50  feet;  and  height  of  ceiling  from 
floor,  95  feet.  The  material  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  church  is  blue  granite;  the  style  of 
architecture  is  Roman,  and  the  building  was 
under  roof  before  there  was  a  cent  of  debt  upon 


it.  The  new  St.  John's  was  dedicated  in  May, 
1894. 

Besides  the  Lazarists  the  only  congregation 
or  community  of  j)riests  allowed  in  Brooklyn 
up  to  thi&  time  were  the  Fathers  of  Mercy,  or 
"Peres  de  la  Miserecorde."  In  1873  ^^^y  estab- 
lished themselves  at  No.  1575  Broadway,  Brook- 
lyn, where  they  secured  a  private  house,  which 
became  their  novitiate,  parish  church  and  pa- 
rochial school.  Mass  wasi  said  in  the  parlors  of 
this  house  until  1875,  when  a  neat  brick  church 
was  erected  and  placed  under  the  patronage  of 
St.  Francis  de  Sales.  Considerable  improve- 
ments were  made  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Porcile,  the 
present  Superior,  and  a  year  or  two  ago  the 
original  church  was  replaced  by  a  very  hand- 
some structure  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of 
Lourdes.  The  Fathers  of  Mercy  have  a  flourish- 
ing parochial  school  attended  by  over  four  hun- 
dred children,  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of 
St.  Joseph. 

St.  Francis'-in-the-Fields. — Father  Rafifeiner, 
justly  styled  the  Apostle  of  the  Germans,  was  a 
great  church-builder,  but  it  is  a  question  whether 
he  ever  erected  a  more  quaint  or  a  more  interest- 
ing church  than  that  of  St.  Francis,  built  in 
1850  on  Putnam  avenue,  near  Bedford.  This 
little  two-story  church  stood  about  the  middle  of 
a  fine  lot,  surrounded  by  a  high  board  fence, 
with  an  entrance  on  Putnam  avenue.  The 
church  was  built  of  brick,  with  shingled  roof, 
and  was  surmounted  by  a  little,  slender  steeple, 
in  which  was  a  bell,  the  tones  of  which,  if  not  as 
melodious  as  some  of  larger  proportions,  were 
dear  to  those  who  frequented  St.  Francis'.  Rev. 
Maurus  Ramsauer  was  its  first  Pastor;  he  was 
succeeded  in  1855  by  Rev.  Bonaventure  Keller. 
In  1857  he  became  superior  of  a  house  of  his  or- 
der in  Philadelphia  and  St.  Francis'  was  at- 
tended from  Holy  Trinity  until  1861,,  when 
Father  Raffeiner  died,  and  the  church  was 
closed  for  a  time.  In  1866  Rev.  Nicholas  Bal- 
leis  took  charge  and  made  it  his  home  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  December  13,  1891. 

Father  Balleis  was  a  most  lovable  character, 
generous  with  the  little  he  possessed,  and  con- 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


537 


siderate  with  everybody.  He  would  baptize, 
hear  confessions,  and  attend  "sick  calls,"  but  he 
would  not  perform'  marriage  ceremonies.  The 
old-time  custom  of  the  men  sitting  on  one  side 
of  the  church  and  the  women  on  the  other  was 
followed  in  this  church.  The  grounds  around 
the  church  were  ample.  From  the  grapes 
Father  Balleis  used  to  make  his  altar  wine.  For 
a  quarter  of  a  century  this  good  man  was  seen 
at  the  altar  every  morning  with  scrupulous  regu- 
larity. A  short  time  before  his  death  his  Bene- 
dictine confreres  came  from  Newark  and  per- 
suaded him  to  return  to  his  convent  and  die  with 
his  brethren.  He  consented  and  went  to  New- 
ark, where,  on  December  13,  1891,  in  the  eighty- 
third  year  of  his  age  and  the  sixtieth  of  his 
priesthood,  he  "gave  his  better  part  to  God  and 
slept  in  peace."  **St.  Francis-in-the-Fields"  did 
not  survive  its  Pastor.  The  property  on  which 
it  stood  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Sisters 
Adorers  of  the  Precious  Blood  and  their  beauti- 
ful monastery  now  occupies  the  site  of  the  quaint 
yet  historic  old  St.  Francis. 

Our  Lady  of  Victories. — On  July  26,  1868, 
the  new  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Victories,  on 
McDonough  stre'et,  corner  of  Throop  avenue, 
was  opened  for  divine  service,  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  Patrick  Creighton.  This  edifice 
was  built  of  wood,  and  four  years  later  was 
turned  into  a  school-house,  as  a  new  structure, 
in  course  of  erection,  was  then  so  far  completed 
as  to  be  used  for  church  purposes.  The  build- 
ing is  of  granite  and  is  one  of  the  most  imposing 
in  the  city.  It  fronts  on  Ralph  avenue.  The 
pastoral  resiidence,  a  handsome  brick  building, 
adjoins  the  church. 

New  Cathedral. — ^In  i860  Bishop  Loughlin 
began  to  look  about  for  a  location  upon  which 
to  build  his  new  Cathedral.  He  found  it  near 
the  summit  on  the  "Hill,"  and  in  one  of  the  most 
aristocratic  quarters  of  the  city.  The  property 
purchased  extended  470  feet  on  Clermont  ave- 
nue, 200  feet  on  Greene  avenue,  470  feet  on  Van- 
derbilt  avenue,  and  200  feet  on  Lafayette  avenue. 
On  June  21,  1868,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new 
edifice  was  laid  with  impressive  ceremonies  by 


the  Bishop.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Arch- 
bishop McCloskey,  of  New  York.  In  his  ser- 
mon, referring  to  the  grandeur  of  the  new 
Cathedral,  he  said  the  edifice  "will  stand  as  a 
monument  to  Catholic  genius,  Catholic  architec- 
tural taste  and  skill  and  to  be,  besides,  looked 
upon,  as  it  will  be,  as  adding  a  newer  beauty 
and  another  glory  and  another  honor  and  another 
source  of  pride  to  what  is  already  the  renowned 
City  of  Churches." 

The  new  Cathedral  is  to  be  dedicated  to 
Almighty  God  under  the  invocation  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception :  the  style  of  architecture  is 
to  be  Renaissance-Gothic  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, revised  by  Pugin.  The  entire  length  will 
be  354  feet;  extreme  breadth  at  the  transept,  180 
feet;  the  largest  chapel,  St.  John's,  is  90  feet 
long  and  40  feet  wide;  the  whole  frontage  is  160 
feet,  the  large  towers  at  the  front  will  be  50  feet 
square  at  the  base  and  350  feet  high.  The  en- 
tire structure  will  be  of  blue  granite.  The  build- 
ing is  far  from  completion,  as  work  has  been  sus- 
pended for  years,  owing  to  the  greater  need  of 
■churches,    schools   and   institutions. 

But  the  building  was  not  left  entirely  un- 
finished. The  end  towards  Greene  avenue  will 
give  an  idea  of  what  the  Cathedral  is  to  be.  St. 
John's  Chapel  was  opened  in  1879.  It  is  hand- 
somely decorated  with  frescoes  representing 
Scriptural  scenes ;  the  altar  is  of  pure  white 
marble  and  the  body  of  the  chapel  is  furnished 
with  newly  carved  walnut  pews.  The  opening 
of  this  Chapel  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  con-- 
gregation  that  will  &ome  day  worship  in  the 
magnificent  structure  when  completed. 

Our  Lady  of  Mercy. — Up  to  1869  there  was 
no  Catholic  church  between  St.  Paul's  and  St. 
Patrick's.  The  Catholics  of  that  section  of  the 
city  were  divided  between  St.  Paul's  and  St. 
James',  but  in  1869  a  new  parish  was  formed 
in  Debevoise  Place,  near  DeKalb  avenue.  Rev. 
John  McKenna  ministered  to  his  growing  flock 
until  1868,  when  he  went  to  Flushing.  Before 
going,  however,  he  began  the  erection  of  the 
present  church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy,  the  cor- 
nerstone of  which  was  laid  in  September,  1867. 


538 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


It  was  finished  by  'his  successor,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Taaffe,  and  dedicated  by  Bishop  Lough- 
Hn,  February  7,  1869.  A  school  was  started  in 
Father  McKenna's  time,  and  in  1864  numbered 
290  boys,  under  the  Franciscan  Brothers,  and 
some  200  girls..  The  school,  which  is  opposite 
the  church,  is  built  of  brick  and  isi  three  stories 
high,  and  the  class-rooms  are  well  lighted  and 
well  ventilated.  Adjoining  the  school  is  a  se- 
lect academy  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph,  who  also  have  charge  of  some  300  girls 
in  the  parochial  school.  The  present  convent 
was-  built  in  1890  by  Father  McNamara.  Father 
Taaffe  built  the  present  pastoral  residence  and 
placed  the  church  upon  a  solid  basis,  and  was 
then  called  to  rescue  St.  Patrick's  church  from  its 
financial  embarrassments. 

In  1866  a  small  frame  church  on  Carroll 
street,  now  Hicks,  was  purchased  from  the 
Epicopalians  by  the  Rev.  O.  J.  Dorris  and  dedi- 
cated under  the  invocation  of  St.  Stephen,  In 
1873  the  Rev.  E.  J.  O'Reilly  began  the  erection 
of  a  new  church,  and  in  October,  1875,  the  new 
St.  Stephen's  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Lough- 
lin.  This  is  a  beautiful  structure,  surmounted 
by  a  mag"nificent  spire,  on  the  summit  of  which 
is  a  cross  that  may  be  seen  far  out  upon  the 
waters  of  New  York  Bay.  In  years  gone  by  this 
cross  was  illuminated  at  night,  and  was  a  beacon 
to  mariners  entering  the  "bellissimo  lago  of  St. 
Ge-njiaiio,"  as  the  Catholic  explorer,  Verrazano, 
was  wont  to  call,  our  bay.  The  old  church  was 
turned  into  a  school  and  placed  under  the  care 
of  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  The  pastor  is  the  Rev. 
Nicholas  J.  Doran. 

In  1869,  on  July  18,  Bishop  Loughlin 
laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  new  church  for  the 
French-speaking  Catholics  of  the  Eastern  Dis- 
trict. This  church  was  later  on  dedicated  to 
God,  under  the  patronage  of  St.  Louis.  The 
Pastor  was  the  Rev.  Jules  Jollon.  In  1889 
Father  Jollon  removed  his  congregation  to 
Ellery  street  near  Nostrand  avenue.  Here  a 
handsome  frame  church  with  parochial  school 
and  pastoral  residence  has  been  erected.  The 
church  has  a  seating  capacity  of  1,700.  The 
French  element,  which  at  one  time  was  largely 


from  Alsace  and  Lorraine,  is  gradually  dimin- 
ishing, and  the  bulk  of  the  congregation  is  now 
composed  of  English-speaking  people. 

In  1870  two  new  churches  were  begun,  one 
in  the  Eastern  District  under  the  invocation  of 
St.  Cecilia,  and  the  other  in  the  Western  Dis- 
trict dedicated  to  St,  Augustine.  The  old  St. 
Cecilia's,  a  small  frame  building,  and  the  frame 
pastoral  residence,  were  about  as  primitive  as  it 
was  possible  to  make  them.  The  congregation 
started  as  a  mission  of  old  St.  Mary's.  In  1870 
a  small  frame  church  was  built  by  the  Rev. 
Father  John  R.  McDonald.  Rev.  Florence  Mc- 
Carthy was  the  first  resident  Pastor,  in  1874,  and 
he  built  a  second  church,  also  a  frame  structure. 

In  1888  Father  McGoldrick  became  pastor. 
In  a  .short  time  the  old  debt  was  paid  off,  and  on 
September  2^,  1891,  Bishop  Loughlin  laid  the 
corner-stone  of  the  new  St.  Cecilia's,  a  white 
marble  structure,  in  the  Romanesque  style  of 
architecture,  and  with  a  seating  capacity  of  i,- 
400,  The  church  property  is  now  valued  at 
some  $250,000.  In  time  Father  McGoldrick  ex- 
pects to  build  a  school  that  will  accommodate 
the  children  of  his  6,000  parishioners. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  original  St.  Au- 
gustine's church  was  laid  in  November,  1870,  by 
the  Very  Rev.  J.  F.  Turner,  then  Vicar  General 
of  the  Diocese  of  Brooklyn.  The  church  was 
situated  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Ber- 
gen street.  Rev.  Louis  J.  Rhatigan  was  its  pas- 
tor, and  his  church  was  completed  and  dedicated 
in  March,   1871. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Edward  W. 
McCarty,  the  present  (1902)  pastor.  The 
church  property — 200  feet  on  Fifth  avenue  and 
169  feet  on  Bergen  street,  and  100  feet  on  St. 
Mark's  avenue,  together  with  the  old  church  and 
parochial  house — were  sold,  for  $70,000,  to  the 
Brooklyn  Elevated  Railroad  Company.  A  new 
site  wasi  purchased,  200  feet  on  Sixth  avenue  by 
245  feet  on  Sterling  Place,  by  145  feet  on  Park 
Place,  and  on  it  the  present  magnificent  building 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $350,000.  The 
church  is  now  practically  free  from  debt,  and 
plans  are  now  in  hand  for  the  erection  of  a 
chapel,  school  house  and  rectory. 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


539 


St.  Leonard's  is  situated  at  Hamburgh  avenue 
and  Jefferson  street,  and  was  erected  during  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  John  J.  Raber.  He  secured 
nearly  the  whole  square  block  bounded  by  Jef- 
ferson and  Melrose  streets  and  Hamburgh  ave- 
nue and  DeKalb  street.  He  built  a  church  suit- 
able to  the  needs  of  his  day  and  made  it  es- 
pecially attractive  on  account  of  the  beautiful 
paintings  which  decorated  its  walls.  He  erected 
a  school,  a^ttended  by  some  730  boys  and  girls, 
and  placed  it  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of 
St.  Dominic.  Under  Father  George  D.  San- 
der, in  July,  1896,  ground  was  broken  for  the 
new  building,  costing  some  $200,000.  Father 
Sander  has  had  the  satisfaction  of  reaping  the 
reward  of  his  labors.  His  school  has  also  in- 
creased, so  that  in  1901  he  had  some  1,400  chil- 
dren under  the  care  of  twenty-four  Si&ters  of 
St.  Dominic. 

The  church  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  Clermont 
avenue,  near  Park,  was  started  in  the  old  pri- 
mary school  building  on  Vanderbilt  avenue  in 
1871.  Father  McCullum  set  to  work  to  organ- 
ize the  new  parish.  His  first  effort  was  the  hold- 
ing of  a  fair,  which  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most 
successful  ever  held  in  the  city.  A  magnificent 
new  church  was  soon  erected.  By  the  side  of  the 
church  was  erected  a  parochial  school. 

October  i,  1871,  Bishop  Loughlin  sent  the  Rev. 
Michael  J.  Moran  to  form  a  new  parish  between 
St.  Joseph's  and  St.  Patrick's.  He  secured  a 
most  advantageous  site,  and  on  the  feast  of  St. 
Patrick,  1872,  he  said  his  first  Mass  in  the  new 
parish,  in  the  present  parochial  residence.  Qn 
the  19th  of  May  Father  Moran  had  the  happi- 
ness of  seeing  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
church  laid,  and  on  the  21st  of  October  of  the 
same  year  the  church  was  solemnly  dedicated  to 
the  Nativity  of  Our  Blessed  Lord.  In  the  mean- 
time Father  Moran  has  provided  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  children  of  the  parish  by  the  erection 
in  1885  of  a  commodious  school  house,  and 
about  the  sanxe  time  he  purchased  a  property  ad- 
joining his  own  and  opened  a  convent  ^nd 
academy,  which  he  placed  under  the  care  of  the 
Sisters  of  St.  Joseph.  In  1888  Father  Moran 
secured   a  valuable   property   at  the   southwest 


corner  of  Gates  and  Franklin  avenues,  which 
eventually  will  be  used  for  educational  purposes, 
but  which  in  the  meantime  i&  used  by  the  literary 
and  benevolent  societies  of  the  parish. 

In  1872  the  Rev.  John  J.  Ammann  gathered 
together  the  Catholic  Germans  living  in  South 
Brooklyn,  and  two  years  later  he  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  church  which  had  been  used  by  the 
Baptists  and  which  he  dedicated  to  God  under 
the  invocation  of  St.  Bernard.  In  1891  a  four- 
story  brick  dwelling  near  the  rear  of  the  church 
wa&  purchased  for  a  parish  school.  The  school 
is  under  the  care  of  six  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic. 

While  the  Germans  of  South  Brooklyn  were 
organizing  St.  Bernard's,  their  fellow  country- 
m'cn  in  Greenpoint,  under  the  guidance  of  the 
Rev.  Wendelin  Guhl,  were  laying  the  founda- 
tions of  St.  Alphonsus'  church  on  Kent  street, 
near  Manhattan  avenue.  The  church  was  a  frame 
building,  the  corner-stone  of  which  v/as  laid  by 
Bishop  Loughlin  in  March,  1873.  It  was  dedi- 
cated on  August  8,  of  the  same  year.  In  the  rear 
of  the  church  Father  Guhl  has  a  parochial 
school,  opened  in  January,  1892,  and  taught  by 
Sisters  of  Notre  Dame. 

The  year  1874  saw  the  foundation  of  four 
churches :  St.  Michael's,  at  Fourth  avenue  and 
Forty-second  street;  St.  Casimir's  (for  the  Poles) 
on  Green  avenue,  near  Adelphi  sti"eet ;  St.  Tere- 
sa's, on  Classon  avenue  and  Butler  street;  and  the 
church  of  the  Transfiguration,  Marcy  avenue  and 
Plooper  street. 

St.  Michael's  congregation  was  first  organ- 
ized in  a  private  house,  by  the  Rev.  Michael  J. 
Hickey.  Later  on  a  church  was  built  on  Fourth 
avenue.  Father  Hickey  was  succeeded  in  1875 
by  the  Rev.  Joseph  P.  O'Connell,  D.  D.  (now 
Monseignor  O'Connell),  who  on  January- 3,  1886, 
opened  a  fine  school.  In  September  of  the  same 
year  he  opened  a  convent  for  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph,  who. have  charge  of  the  school,  which 
now  numbers  500  pupils.  On  March  9,  1896, 
Rev.  Henry  A.  Gallagher  became  pastor  of  St. 
Michael's.  He  made  some  very  important  im- 
provements and  enlarged  the  church. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  McNamee  was  sent  in  April, 
1874,   to  organize   a  new  parish   in   the  neigh- 


540 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND. 


borhood  of  Classon  avenue  and  Butler  street. 
On  the  4th  day  of  May,  1874,  the  nucleus  of  the 
new  St.  Teresa's  parish  assembled  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  D.  Gallagher.  On  the  same  day 
ground  was  broken.  The  corner-stone  was  laid 
on  August  2,  1874.  By  the  following  January 
(187s)  the  building  had  progressed  so  far  that 
Bishop  Loughlin  was  able  to  open  the  basement 
for  divine  service,  but  the  beautiful  church  was 
not  entirely  finished  and  dedicated  until  October 
16,  1887.  On  September  i,  1883,  Father  Mc- 
Namee  opened  a  fine  school  house,  which  was 
taught  by  thirteen  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  and  two 
la}-  teachers.  In  November,  1883,  he  opened  a 
convent  for  the  Sisters;  so  that  St.  Teresa's  is 
no\y  a  thoroughly  equipped  parish. 

At  the  corner  of  Marcy  avenue  and  Hooper 
street  stands  a  beautiful  structure  of  the  Roman 
style  of  architecture,  erected  in  honor  of  the 
Transfiguration  of  our  Blessed  Redeemer.  In 
1874  one  hundred  and  ten  Catholics  of  the 
neighborhood  assembled  to  hear  Mass  by  the 
Rev.  John  Fagan,  in  a  carpenter  shop  at  No. 
208  Hooper  street.  In  1875  Father  Fagan  moved 
his  congregation  into  a  -  neat  brick  structure, 
which  was  intended  ultimately  for  a  parochial 
school.  In  1881  Rev.  John  M.  Kiely  assumed 
charge  and  began  to  build  the  present  church, 
a  magnificent  structure,  140  feet  by  73  feet,  and 
made  it  one  of  the  largest  and  handsomest 
churchesi  in  the  city.  He  also  built  the  large  and 
commodious  pastoral  residence  adjoining  the 
church. 

In  1876  the  Rev.  James  J.  Hanselman  erected 
a  church  for  the  Germans  on  Thirteenth  street 
between  Fourth  and  Fifth  avenues,  and  dedi- 
cated it  to  the  Holy  Family.  Some  time  after- 
ward he  erected  a  fine  school,  which  he  placed 
under  the  care  of  the  'Sisters  of  St.  Dominic. 

Three  new  churches  were  added  to  the  city 
of  Brooklyn  in  1878.  The  mos't  prominent  of 
these  was  St.  Agnes',  under  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  Rev.  (now  Mgr.)  James  Duffy.  It  began 
in  a  modest  frame  structure  on  Hoyt  street,  near 
Sackett  street.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new 
church  was  laid  in  the  spring  of  1881.  It  was 
a  massive  Gothic  structure  of  brick,  brown  stone 


and  polished  marble,  180  feet  by  90  feet.  The 
windows,  which  were  very  fine,  were  made  in 
Munich,  and  the  grand  organ  was  said  to  have 
cost  $20,000.  In  the  summer  of  1901  this  beau- 
tiful church  was  struck  by  lightning  and  totally 
destroyed.  This  was  a  terrible  blow  to  Mgr. 
Duffy  and  his  people,  but  they  have  set  to  work 
to  rebuild  their  church,  and  in  time  a  new  St. 
Agnes'  will  rise  from  the  ashes  of  the  old  one. 
Mgr.  Duffy  also  erected  a  ^magnificent  school 
building,  which  is  attended  by  over  1,300  pupils, 
under  the  care  of  six  Sisters  of  St.  Jo&eph  and 
sixteen  lay  teachers. 

The  next  house  of  worship,  built  in  1878,  was 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Name.  The  Rev. 
Thomas  J.  O'Reilly  gathered  together  the  first 
congregation  in  "McCann's  stable,"  at  the  corner 
of  Eighteenth  street  and  Eleventh  avenue.  On 
August  II  of  the  samle  year  Bishop  Loughlin 
laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  new  church  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Ninth  and  Prospect  avenues,  and  Father 
O'Reilly  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  it  dedicated 
on  Christmas  day  of  the  same  year.  It  is  a  neat 
brick  edifice  capable  of  seating  a  thousand  peo- 
ple. In  addition  to  this  Father  O'Reilly  has 
ereced  a  school  that  now  accommodates  some  500 
children,  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Joseph. 

The  Church  of  the  Fourteen  Holy  Martyrs, 
erected  for  the  Lithuanians,  is  situated  at  Central 
avenue  and  Covert  street.  The  first  Mass  was 
said  in  a  house  on  Central  avenue  and  Cooper 
street.  Soon  after  a  church  was-  built  and  dedi- 
cated in  1878.  The  Rev.  Bernard  F.  Kurz  was 
its  first  pastor  and  is  still  in  charge.  He  has  also 
a  parochial  school. 

Rev.  B.  J.  McHugh  was  commissioned  to 
build  St.  'Matthew's  church  on  Utica  avenue  near 
the  boulevard.  A  fine  brick  building  was 
erected,  which  for  a  time  answered  the  needs  of 
both  church  and  school.  Father  McGlinchey, 
who  succeeded  Father  McHugh,  erected  a  new 
church  and  also  a  school,  which  is  conducted 
by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  parish  of  St.  Bridgid,  Linden  street  and 
St.  Nicholas  avenue,  was  formed  in  October, 
1882,  by  the  Rev.  John  McCloskey.    The  corner- 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


541 


stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  in  June,  1883, 
and  the  church  was  dedicated  on  Christmas  day 
of  the  same  year. 

In  the  year  1883  the  Rev.  Daniel  J.  Sheehy 
was  directed  to  build  a  new  church  at  the  corner 
of  DeKalb  and  Tompkins-  avenues.  An  old 
frame  house  stood  upon  this  corner  and  here 
Father  Sheehy  said  his  first  Mass  for  the  little 
congregation  that  was  soon  to  be  placed  under 
the  patronage  of  St.  Ambrose.  Before  a  year 
had  passed  he  had  erected  a  neat  frame  church  to 
be  replaced  in  time  by  a  larger  and  more  pre- 
tentious edifice.  He  also  erected  a  large  and 
commodious  pastoral  residence  in  the  rear  of  the 
church.  Father  Sheehy  secured  the  large  double 
house  on  DeKalb  avenue,  just  below  the  church, 
and  converted  it  into  a  flourishing  academy 
under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph.  The 
church  property  is  valued  at  $120,000. 

The  Church  of  St.  Thomlas  Aquinas  is  the 
forty-seventh  Catholic  church  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn.  In  the  winter  of  1884  the  Rev.  James 
Donohue  was  sent  by  Bishop  Loughlin  to  or- 
ganize a  parish  in  Gowanus.  The  wigwam  on 
Ninth  .street,  near  Fifth  avenue,  which  had  been 
used  by  the  Democrats  during  the  presidential 
campaign,  was  used  for  church  purposes  until 
Passion  Sunday,  1886,  when  the  first  Mass  was 
said  in  the  basement  of  the  new  church.  The 
corner-stone  of  the  church  had  been  laid  June 
2S,  118S5.  The  style  of  the  church  is  foliated 
Gothic;  the  nave  is  75  feet  by  100  feet,  the  tran- 
sept 37  by  7S,  and  the  apse  16  feet  by  32  feet. 
The  upper  part  of  the  structure  is  of  Philadelphia 
brick,  the  interior  is  finished  in  hard  wood.  It 
was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  May  16,  1887,  by 
Bishop  Loughhn,  who  also  preached. 

The  church  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  on  Sixth 
avenue,  corner  of  Carroll  street,  and  of  which 
the  Rev.  'David  J.  Hickey  is  happily  still  the 
Pastor,  was  organized  in  1886.  September  17, 
1886,  he  rented  the  house  No.  243  Sixth  avenue, 
and  by  the  following  Sunday  he  had  fitted  up 
the  parlors  into  a  temporary  chapel,  and  here  two 
Masses  were  said.  Ten  vacant  lots"  on  the  opposite 
corner  of  the  house  just  mentioned  were  se- 
cured for  the  needs'  of  the  new  parish,  and  these 


lots  were  ^subsequently  supplemented  by  five 
more  on  Carroll  street.  On  October  3  Father 
Hickey  turned  up  the  first  spadeful  of  earth,  and 
by  Christmas  he  had  the  happinesss  of  seeing  the 
work  in  his/  new  church  so  well  advanced  as  to 
enable  him  to  celebrate  the  birth  of  Christ  within 
its  walls.  Twelve  hundred  persons  gathered 
in  the  basement  to  hear  Mass  "in  their  own 
church."  Father  Hickey  did  not  feel  that  he 
could,  at  that  time,  build  such  a  church  as  he 
desired,  but  he  did  build  a  very  neat  and  sub- 
stantial church  of  wood  and  iron  that  was  ade- 
quate for  the  immediate  wants  of  his  people,  and 
he  is  now  erecting  a  more  lasting  buifding.  Al- 
though he  began  in  1886  without  a  cent  in  hand, 
he  had  the  happiness,  on  Sunday,  June  28,  1896, 
of  announcing  that  his  parish,  church  house, 
academy  and  all,  valued  at  $150,000^  were  free 
from  debts  of  any  kind. 

The  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Good  Counsel, 
on  Madison  street  was  built  in  1886  by  the  Rev. 
Eugene  P.  Mahony.  This  building  has  since 
been  replaced  by  a  handsome  new  edifice  on  Put- 
nam avenue,  which  wa&  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Loughlin  on  Sunday,  October  4,  1S91,  The 
building  is  of  Norwegian  granite,  English 
Gothic  in  style,  and  cost  some  $80,000. 

In  1887  Bishop  Loughlin  sent  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Hand  to  organize  a  new  parish  at  the  corner  of 
Rockaway  avenue  and  St.  Mark  avenue.  It  was 
called  in  honor  of  the  Presentation  of  the  B.  V. 
M.  In  a  short  time  Father  Hand  erected  a 
church  building,  which  he  enlarged  and  improved 
in  1896. 

St.  Nicholas'. — The  Rev.  John  Hoffman  in 
1886  built  a  new  church  for  the  German  congre- 
gation in  Bushwick.  On  July  4th  of  that  year 
Bishop  Loughlin  laid  the  corner-stone.  The  edi- 
fice is  Gothic  in  style,  without  transept,  and  ac- 
commodates 1,000  persons  on  the  floor  and  200  in 
the  gallery.  The  complete  cost  of  the  church  is 
estimated  at  $100,000. 

The  church  of  our  Lady  of  Sorrows,  at  the 
corner  of  Morgan  avenue  and  Harrison  Place, 
was  founded  for  the  Germans  in  1890  by  the  Rev. 
John  Willmann  and  Rev.  John  B.  Zentgraf. 
Father   Willmann   remained   only   two   or   three 


542 


HISTORY  OF   LONG    ISLAND. 


weeks,  and  its  organi'zation  devolved  upon  Father 
Zentgraf.  A  two-stor}^  frame  building  constituted 
the  first  house  of  worship.  In  October,  1892, 
Father  Zentgraf  added  forty  feet  to  the  length  of 
the  building  and  improved  it,  both  interiorly  and 
exteriorly.  He  also  built  a  school  which  is  under 
the  care  of  eight  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic,  who  teach 
180  boys  and  190  girls.  In  1893  Father  Zentgraf 
erected  a  fine  brick  Orphans'-  Home,  four  stories 
high,  and  supplied  with  all  modern  improvements, 
and  placed  it  under  the  patronage  of  Our  Lady  of 
Sorrows.  Here  are  lodged  some  three  or  four 
hundred  boys  and  girls  who  are  cared  for  by 
twenty-four  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic. 

The  New  Theological  Seminary. — The  year 
1890  was  also  marked  by  the  opening  of  the  New 
Theological  Seminary  of  St.  John.  This  building 
adjoins  the  College  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  at  the 
corner  of  Lewis  avenue  and  Hart  street.  This 
building  was  designed  by  the  clergy  of  the  Dio- 
cese as  a  testimonial  of  their  regard  for  their 
Bishop  on  the  occasion  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  his 
priesthood.  The  Bishop  selected  the  ground  ad- 
joining the  college  as  the  site  for  his  future  semin- 
ary. The  Lazarist  Fathers  were  to  be  the  trainers 
of  his  future  clergy  and  upon  Father  Hartnett  fell 
the  task  of  erecting  the  building.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  on  Sunday,  September  29,  1889. 
The  style  of  the  building  is  Romanesque ;  it  is 
built  of  brick,  with  terra-cotta  and  stone  trim- 
mings and  is  three  stories  high,  with  a  Mansard 
roof.  The  Lewis  avenue  front  is  sixty  feet  in 
length  and  the  depth  on  Hart  street  is  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  feet  At  the  extremity  of  this  wing 
is  a  beautiful  chapel  adorned  with  stained  glass 
windows  and  handsome  frescoes,  representing  St. 
Thomas  Aquinas  and  St.  Catherine.  The  altar  is 
of  white  marble  and  of  beautiful  design.  Over 
the  chapel  is  the  Diocesan  Library.  The  class- 
rooms, dormitories,  halls  and  refectory  are  large, 
well  ventilated  and  finished  in  hard  wood,  and  are 
all  heated  by  steam.  The  seminary  was  opened  in 
the  fall  of  1 89 1. 

In  June,  1889,  Bishop  LoughHn  decided  upon 
the  formation  of  a  new  parish,  to  be  placed  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Holy  Rosary,  on  Chauncey 
street,  between  Stuyvesant  street  and  Reid  ave- 


nue. His  choice  for  its  Pastor  fell  upon  Rev. 
Dominic  Monteverde.  In  1889  he  set  to  work  at 
once  to  survey  the  ground  and  lay  his  plans. 
Having  no  residence  of  his  own,  he  accepted  the 
hospitality  of  Father  Corcoran,  at  St.  Joseph's 
rectory,  and  before  many  days  secured  a  building 
at  No.  1747  Fulton  street,  near  Reid  avenue, 
Here  he  said  his  first  Mass.  A  week  later  he  pur- 
chased a  piece  of  ground  for  $9,000,  and  upon 
it  he  built  the  church  that  to-day  owes  its  existence 
to  his  unceasing  labors,  and  on  May  4,  1890,  it 
was  dedicated. 

The  Church  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. — In 
February,  1891,  Rev.  Joseph  E.  McCoy  was  sent 
by  Bishop  Loughlin  to  found  a  new  parish  in  the 
Twenty-sixth  Ward.  He  gathered  his  flock  in 
Pflalman's  Hall,  Atlantic  avenue  and  Crescent 
street,  said  Mass  for  them,  and  announced  his  in- 
tention of  building  a  church  for  their  use.  In  a 
little  while  Father  McCoy  purchased  ground  for 
a  new  church,  at  a  cost  of  $5,000,  This  lot  has  a 
frontage  of  125  feet  on  Market  street  and  runs 
back  150  feet.  On  this  lot,  on  July  19th,  Bishop 
Loughlin  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  frame  church. 
The  design  is  Gothic,  the  foundation  is  of  stone 
and  brick  and  it  has  a  seating  capacity  of  over  600. 
On  November  22  Father  McCoy  had  the  happi- 
ness of  seeing  his  church  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Loughlin.  This  was  the  last  of  the  many  churches 
founded  and  dedicated  by  that  venerable  prelate. 

In  May,  1891,  Bishop  Loughlin  sent  the  Rev. 
J.  F.  Mealia  to  establish  a  new  parish  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Canton  and  Division  streets  (now  known 
as  St.  Edward's  street  and  Leo  place.  A  suitable 
site  was  secured,  ground  broken,  and  on  Septem- 
ber 13  Bishop  Loughlin  laid  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  St.  Edward's  Church.  On  December  8, 
1 89 1,  work  on  the  new  church  had  so  far  pro- 
gressed that  the  basement  was  opened  and  Mass 
has  been  said  there  ever  since.  The  new  chuixh 
was  completed  during  1901.  This  parish  claims 
to  be  the  last  one  founded  by  Bishop  Loughlin. 
It  is  estimated  that  the  church  and  pastoral  resi- 
dence cost  some  $100,000.  The  style  of  architec- 
ture is  Romanesque,  with  rounded  front  flanked 
by  two  towers. 

The  village  of  Bay  Ridge,  now  a  part  of  the 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


543 


borough  of  Brooklyn,  was  a  long  tiriie  without  a 
church.  In  1890  Bishop  Loughlin  conceived  the 
idea  of  establishing  a  new  parish  for  their  relief. 
In  September,  1891,  he  sent  the  Rev.  Martin  J. 
Loftus  to  set  the  work  in  motion.  A  lot  of  ground 
was  secured  on  Seventy-third  street,  near  Third 
avenue,  and  $1,700  was  subscribed  toward  a  build- 
ing fund.  Father  Loftus  found  some  three  or  four 
hundred  Catholics,  and  he  got  them  together  in 
an  engine  house  in  Sixty-seventh  street,  where  on 
Sunday  morning,  September  20,  he  said  two 
massses.  Father  Loftus  secured  additional 
ground,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  corner- 
stone of  a  beautiful  church,  to  be  placed  under  the 
patronage  of  Our  Lady  of  Angels,  was  laid  by 
Bishop  Loughlin.  The  structure  is  in  the  Italian 
Romanesque  style  of  architecture,  of  washed 
brick  with  terra  cotta  trimmings,  and  a  basement 
of  blue  stone.  The  tower  is  eighty  feet  high  and 
the  interior  affords  a  seating  capacity  ior  600  or 
700  persons.  The  church  was  dedicated  by 
Bishop  McDonnell,  on  Simday,  September  21, 
1893.  Adjoining  the  church  *is  a  neat  and  com- 
modious rectory.  Today  the  church  property  is 
valued  at  $60,000,  three-fourths  of  which  has  been 
paid. 

On  October  17,  1890,  Rt.  Rev.  John  Loughlin, 
D.  D.,  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
priesthood.  It  is  estimated  that  no  less  than  10,000 
persons  were  present  at  the  Clermont  Avenue 
Rink  and  its  immediate  surroundings  that  night. 

]\Ir.  James  H.  McMahon,  chairman  of  the 
Central  Committee,  read  the  opening  address.  It 
was  very  brief,  and  expressed  the  love  of  the  peo- 
ple of  Brooklyn  for  their  bishop.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  congratulatory  addresses  by  Mr.  Ed- 
ward J.  Dooley,  of  the  St.  James'  Catholic' Club, 
of  Brooklyn;  Mr.  Thomas  W.  Hynes,  of  the  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul  Society;  Mr.  Edward  Feeney,  of 
the  State  Council  of  the  Catholic  Knights  of 
America;  Mr.  John  Greene,  on  behalf  of  the 
alumni  of  St.  Francis'  College;  Mr.  John  C.  Mc- 
Guire,  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion;  and 
Major  John  D.  Keiley,  Jr.,  on  behalf  of  the  laity. 
Following  these  addresses  Mr.  Jacob  Zimmer, 
Treasurer  of  the   Jubilee    Fund,   presented  the 


Bishop  with  a  check  for  $25,000,  the  offering  of 
the  different  parishes  of  the  diocese. 

The  Rev.  M.  A.  Corrigan,  D.  D.,  Archbishop 
of  New  York,  was  the  next  speaker.  He  made  a 
hasty  review  of  the  church  in  the  past  fifty  years. 
At  the  time  of  Bishop  Loughlin's  consecration 
Brooklyn  contained  but  two  Catholic  churches. 
"The  diocese  then  embraced  the  State  of  New 
York  and  the  greater  part  of  the  State  of  New  Jer- 
sey. There  were  but  sixty  priests  and  fifty-four 
churches,  in  whose  territory  there  are  now  over 
1,000  priests,  1,500  churches  and  1,500,000  Cath- 
olics." The  Archbishop  concluded  with  a  justly 
eulogistic  tribute  to  Bishop  .Loughlin,  which  was 
most  heartily  endorsed  by  His  Eminence,  Cardinal 
Gibbons. 

Bishop  Loughlin's  reply  to  all  this  was  charac- 
teristically brief  and  characteristically  modest : 

"I  can  not  take  to  myself  any  of  the  glory 
that  has  been  ascribed  to  my  labors,  for  in- 
asmuch as  we  are  in  the  hands  of  Almighty 
God,  we  must  accord  to  Him  all  the  glory; 
next,  to  the  clergy  of  the  diocese,  who  have 
m-anifesited  such  untiring  energy  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duties.  Wonderful,  indeed, 
has  ,been  their  ;work.  Nor  can  the  glorious 
religious  communities  be  overlooked.  What 
could  we  do  without  them?  Nothing.  To 
these  and  to  the  faithful  laity,  who  have  al- 
ways joined  with  the  clergy  in  their  beneficent 
suggestions,  and  to  whom  God  has  given  the 
dispositions  as  well  as  the  means  to  carry  out 
these  suggestions, — to  these,  but  above  all  to 
God  the  Father,  be  honor  and  praise  and  glory 
and  benediction  forever  and  ever." 

On  the  following  day,  October  i8th,  took 
place  the  Ecclesiastical  celebration.  It  was  held 
in  old  St.  James',  which  had  been  the  Bishop's  ca- 
thedral for  so  many  years,  around  which  clustered 
all  the  memories  of  his  early  episcopate  and  among 
the  people  who  had  been  his  direct  parishioners 
for  so  many  years.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  *'old  St. 
James'  was  decked  out  in  holiday  attire?"  At  ten 
o'clock  the  procession  moved  out  of  the  quaint  old 
building  that  adjoins  what  had  been  Bishop 
Loughlin's  home  for  so  many  years,  and  which  he 
left  so  reluctantly. 

The  sermon  was  preached  by  His  Eminence, 


544 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


Cardinal  Gibbons,  who  took  his  text  from  St. 
LnkCj  X,  1-9.  In  speaking  of  the  work  of  Bishop 
Loughhn  His  Eminence  said : 

''Do  you  ever  reflect,  my  brethren,  on  the 
immense  weight  of  monetary  obligations  that 
has  been  resting  all  these  years  on  ithe  shoul- 
ders of  your  Bishop?  During  the  last  forty 
years,  horn  many  powerful  corporations,  how 
many  princely  merchants,  who  have  been  re- 
garded as  the  Napoleons  of  finance,  'have  been 
crushed  beneath  the  ruins  occasioned  by  some 
financial  crisis!  During  all  that  time  your 
Bishop  has  been  in  business  transactions  for 
religious  and  charitable  purposes.  The  prop- 
erty he  has  accum-ulated  has  amounted  to  thou- 
sands and  tens  of  thO'Usands,  and  hundreds  of 
thousands,  and  even  millions  of  dollars.  'He 
has  come  out  of  the  ordeal  with  clean  hands 
and  a  clean  heart,  without  a  single  note  of  his 
protested.  Now,  I  ask  you  to  consider  what 
foresight  and  tact  an'd  sound  judgment  must 
have  been  displayed  by  your  chief  pastor  in 
passing  through  these  financial  operations  with 
so  mtuch  credit  to  himself  and  sO'  much  honor 
to  the  diocese  over  which  he  presides." 

After  the  reading  of  the  addresses  of  the 
Clergy,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Taaffe,  pastor  of  St. 
Patrick's  Church,  advanced  toward  the  Bishop 
and  presented  4iim,  in  the  name  of  the  Clergy,  with 
a  beautifully  illuminated  check  for  $12,000. 

Later  in  the  day  the  Clergy  gave  their  Bishop 
a  banquet  in  the  Academy  of  Music.  About  200 
participated  in  the  ovation.  Through  deference 
to  the  Bishop's  wishes,  there  were  no  speeches 
made  at  the  banquet.  In  the  evening  a  grand 
torchlight  procession  took  place,  in  which  50,000 
men  participated,  under*  the  command  of  General 
James  McLeer  and  his  efficient  marshals. 

The  third  day  was  devoted  to  the  children's 
procession.  Every  Sunday-school  and  parochial 
school  in  the  city  turned  out  its  hundreds  and 
thousands,  except  St.  Peter's,  whose  devoted  Pas- 
tor, Father  Fransioli,  had  gone  to  his  reward  on 
the  previous  day. 

The  fourth  and  last  day  of  the  celebration  was 
marked  by  a  grand  banquet  in  the  Academy  of 
Music,  in  which  250  guests  participated.  Among 
the  guests  were  His  Eminence,  Cardinal  Gibbons ; 
the  Archbishops  of  New  York,  Cincinnati  and  St. 


Paul ;  the  Bishops  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska ;  Trenton, 
Albany,  Buffalo,  Burlington,  Springfield,  Og- 
densburg,  Syracuse,  Duluth;  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  John  J. 
Keane,  the  President  of  the  Catholic  University  of 
America;  the  Vicar  General  of  Brooklyn;  and 
many  of  the  Clergy.  Besides  these  were  Mayor 
Chapin,  Murat  Halstead,  Andrew  McLean,  and  a 
large  number  of  distinguished  laymen,  both 
Catholic  and  non-Catholic. 

Whatever  Bishop  Loughlin's  feelings  may 
have  been  regarding  all  this,  he  continued  doing 
the  work  of  the  Master  in  the  same  quiet,  unos- 
tentatious manner  that  had  characterized  his 
whole  life.  The  money  offerings  he  received  on 
this  occasion  soon  found  their  way  to  needy  chari- 
ties, so  that,  when  Bishop  Lough  lin  laid  down  the 
crozier  he  had  so  wisely  and  prudently  wielded  for 
so  many  years,  his  personal  property  was  little 
more  than  that  of  the  poorest  of  his  flock.  He 
left  to  his  heirs — his  clergy  and  people — a  legacy 
of  nearly  one  hundred  churches  and  chapels,  a 
seminary  for  the  education  of  the  future  priests  of 
the  diocese  homes  for  the  aged  and  the  orphans, 
hospitals  for  the  sick,  and  refuges  for  the  fallen 
and  forsaken. 

Bishop  Loughlin  died  at  the  episcopal  resi- 
dence on  Tuesday,  December  29,  1891,  deeply  la- 
mented by  clergy  and  laity.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  the  oldest  priest  ordained  in  the  Dio- 
cese of  New  York,  and  with  one  exception,  Arch- 
bishop P.  R.  Kenrick,  of  St.  Louis,  the  oldest 
Bishop  in  the  LTnited  States. 

His  funeral  took  place  on  New  Year's  Day, 
T892.  The  remains  were  taken  from  the  episcopal 
residence  adjoining  the  new  but  unfinished  Ca- 
thedral in  Clermont  avenue  to  old  St.  James'  Ca- 
thedral. The  streets  along  the  route  of  the  pro- 
cession were  lined  with  crowds  of  respectful  citi- 
zens of  every  shade  of  religious  belief,  anxious  to 
testify  to  the  veneration  in  which  the  lamented 
dead  was  held  by  them.  The  Solemn  Pontifical 
Mass  of  Requiem  was  celebrated  by  Archbishop 
Corrigan,  of  New  York,  and  the  funeral  oration 
was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Frederick  Wayrick, 
rector  of  St.  Alphonsus'  Church,  Nc  w  York.  The 
Bishops  of  the  province  and  many  distinguished 


RT.   RBY.   CHARLES  E.   McDOHNELL. 

SECOND  BISHOP  OF  BROOKLYN. 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  LSLAND. 


545 


clergymen  and  laymen  were  present.  After  the 
ceremonies  the  remains  of  the  deceased  Bishop 
were  deposited  in  a  vault  prepared  for  them,  under 
the  Sanctuary  of  old  St.  James',  which  he  loved  so 
well. 

Part   hi. — Bishop  McDonnell. 

The  third  period  in  the  history  of  Catholicity 
on  Long  Island  begins  with  the  year  1892,  when 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Charles  Edward  McDonnell,  D.  D., 
became  the  second  Bishop  of  Brooklyn. 

Bishop  McDonnell  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  on  February  i,  1854,  and  his  early  life  was 
spent  in  the  Seventh  Ward.  In  his  youth  his  pa- 
rents moved  to  Brooklyn.  After  studying  for  a 
time  under  the  tuition  of  the  Christian  Brothers  in 
old  De  La  Salle  Institute,  on  Second  street,  New 
York,  he  entered  the  College  of  St.  Francis 
Xavier.  In  1872  Cardinal  McCloskey  sent  him  to 
Rome  to  pursue  his  studies  in  the  American  Col- 
lege. He  was  then  scarcely  eighteen  years  of  age. 
On  the  completion  of  his  theological  course  he 
took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  was  or- 
dained priest  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  F.  S.  Chatard,  D.  D., 
on  May  19,  1878,  in  the  Chapel  of  the  American 
College,  where  the  Bishop  himself  had  been  con- 
secrated only  a  week  before.  In  the  fall  of  1878 
Dr.  McDonnell  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
was  assigned,  by  the  late  Cardinal  IMcCloskey,  as 
an  assistant'  at  St.  Mary's  Church,  Grand  street. 
In  January,  1879,  ^^  "^^^  transferred  to  St. 
Stephen's  to  assist  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  McGlynn, 
then  pastor  of  that  church.  In  May  of  the  same 
year  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  on  Fifth  avenue,  was 
opened  and  Dr.  McDonnell  became  one  of  the  Car- 
dinal's household,  the  Cardinal  recognizing  the 
necessity  of  having  some  one  near  him -who  was 
especially  acquainted  with  the  liturgy  of  the 
church,  and  Dr.  ^IcDonnell  had  been  trained  in 
this  direction  while  in  Rome  by  "Mgr.  Cataldi.  In 
1884  Mgr.  John  M.  Farley,  who  had  been  secre- 
tary to  Cardinal  McCloskey,  was  made  pastor  of 
St.  Gabriel's  Church,  in  East  Thirty-seventh 
street.  Dr.  McDonnell  became  his  successor,  and 
on  the  death  of  Cardinal  McCloskey,  when  Arch- 
bishop Corrigan  succeeded  to  the  See  of  New 
35 


York,  he  retained  Dr.  McDonnell  in  the  Secre- 
tarial, and  later  on  made  him  Chancellor  also.  He 
retained  these  offices  until  called  to  the  dignity  of 
the  episcopate.  In  1890  he  accompanied  Arch- 
bishop Corrigan  to  Rome,  and  while  there  Pope 
Leo  XIII  conferred  upon  him  the  dignity  of  Pri- 
vate Chamberlain,  with  the  title  of  Monseignor. 
In  the  fall  of  1890  Mgr.  McDonnell  was  appointed 
Spiritual  Director  of  the  Catholic  Club,  in  place  o£ 
the  late  Vicar  General  Donnelly. 

On  April  25,  1892,  Mgr.  McDonnell  was  con- 
secrated Bishop  of  Brooklyn  in  St.  Patrick's  Ca- 
thedral, New  York,  by  Archbishop  Corrigan. 
After  the  Mass  of  Consecration  the  clergy 
were  entertained  at  a  dinner,  during  which  Mgr. 
Farley  read  the  address  of  the  clergy  of  New 
York,  congratulating  the  new  Bishop  on  his  ele- 
vation to  the  sublime  dignity  of  the  episcopate  and 
in  their  name  presenting  him  with  a  check  for  $7,- 
490.  On  Monday,  May  2,  Bishop  McDonnell 
took  formal  possession  of  the  See  of  Brooklyn.. 
Never  did  a  Bishop  enter  a  diocese  under  more- 
auspicious  conditions.  No  diocese  in  a  purely 
Catholic  country  ever  received  its  Bishop  in  a 
more  Christian  or  more  respectful  manner. 

At  the  Cathedral  of  old  St.  James'  the  cere- 
mony of  the  installation  took  place.  At  and  im- 
mediately after  the  installation  the  clergy,  headed 
by  Vicar  General  May,  until  now  administrator 
of  the  diocese,  and  Chancellor  James  H.  Mitchell,, 
gathered  around  the  new  Bishop  and  kissed  his; 
ring  in  token  of  their  loyalty  to  his  person  and  to- 
his  holy  office,  and  to  receive  a  blessing  from  his 
newly  annointed  hands.  The  faithful  laity  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  the  clergy,  and  soon  after- 
ward Bishop  M  cDonnell  was  escorted  to  the 
episcopal  residence  in  Clermont  avenue,  which  was 
to  be  his  future  home. 

The  first  official  act  of  Bishop  McDonnell  was 
the  dedication  of  the  new  St.  Augustine's  Churchy 
on  ]\Iay  i.S,  1892.  The  ceremony  was  witnessed 
by  a  vast  concourse  of  people.  After  the  dedi- 
cation, Solemn  Pontifical  Mass  was  celebrated  by 
Bishop  Ludden,  of  Syracuse.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  Bishop  Chapelle,  of  Santa  Fe  (now 
Archbishop  of  New  Orleans  and  Apostolic  Dele- 
gate Extraordinary  for  Cuba,  Puerto  Rico,  and 


546 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


the  Philippine  Islands).  Bishop  O'Farrell,  of 
Trenton,  was  also  in  the  Sanctuar}^  On  the 
Wednesday  following  Bishop  McDonnell  admin- 
istered the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  to  600  per- 
sons, at  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  in  Cler- 
mont avenue.  On  Sunday,  June  5,  he  celebrated 
his  first  Pontifical  Mass  in  Brooklyn,  in  old  St. 
James'  Cathedral,  and  on  the  Sunday  following, 
June  II,  he  conferred  Holy  Orders  for  the  first 
time  in  his  diocese,  by  raising  the  Rev.  William  J. 
Dunne,  of  Niagara  University,  to  the  dignity  of 
the  priesthood. 

The  Fathers  of  Mercy  who  have  charge  of  the 
old  Church  of  St.  Francis  of  Sales,  now  known 
as  the  new  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  in 
1892  founded  another  church  at  the  corner  of 
Fifty-seventh  street  and  Thirteenth  avenue.  This 
church  was  placed  under  the  patronage  of  St. 
Frances  de  Chantal.  The  church  is  a  modest 
structure  with  a  seating  capacity  of  400.  It  was 
first  atteneded  by  Father  Michael  Maloy. 

The  Brooklyn  foimdation  of  the  Congregation 
of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  (as  the  Redemptorist 
Fathers  are  called  officially)  was  formally  estab- 
lished on  Easter  Svmday,  April  2,  1893.  Rev.  F. 
W.  Wayrick,  rector  of  St.  Alphonsus'  Church, 
New  York  City,  acting  in  the  name  of  the  Pro- 
vincial, bought  the  entire  block  bounded  by  Fifth 
and  Sixth  avenues  and  by  Fifty-ninth  street  and 
Sixtieth  street.  The  formal  opening  of  the 
■church  was  deferred  until  the  following  spring. 
On  April  2,  1893,  Rev.  J.  B.  Daily,  of  St.  Al- 
phonsus' Church,  New  York,  said  mass  for.  the 
first  time  in  this  parish  at  what  was  called  Pro- 
fessor Moss'  house,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  ave- 
nue and  Fifty-fourth  street.  On  April  22d  the 
Fathers  rented  a  house  at  the  corner  of  Fifty- 
seventh  street  and  Fourth  avenue,  near  the  site  of 
the  projected  church.  On  October  29th  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  a  new  church  was  laid  by  Bishop  Mc- 
Donnell, and  Father  Wayrick  preached  the  ser- 
mon. The  new  residence  for  the  Fathers  was 
ready  for  occupation  and  they  moved  into  it  on 
December  7th. 

On  January  14,  1894,  the  new  Church  of  Our 
Lady  of  Perpetual  Help  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 


McDonnell.  The  community  now  consists  of 
seven  Fathers  and  two  lay  Brothers.  It  has  be- 
come a  missionary  center,  and  some  of  the  Fathers 
are  constantly  engaged  during  the  season,  in  giv- 
ing missions. 

St.  Barbara. — A  new  parish  for  the  Germans, 
under  the  invocation  of  St.  Barbara,  was  founded 
in  1893;  the  church  is  situated  on  Bleeker  street. 
between  Central  and  Hamburg  avenues.  It  was 
placed  in  charge  of  Rev.  Isidore  Wunch.  The 
first  mass  was  celebrated  in  a  small  building 
which  was  subsequently  used  as  a  school  room. 
The  corner-stone  of  a  temporary  church  was  laid 
on  August  2'],  1893,  and  it  was  dedicated  on 
Thanksgiving  Day  of  the  same  year  by  Bishop 
McDonnell.  The  new  church  is  a  neat  Gothic 
frame  building  with  a  seating  capacity  of.  600. 

Church  of  the  Immaculate  Heart. — In.  Oc- 
tober, 1893,  Bishop  McDonnell  called  the  Rev. 
James  J.  McAteer  to  the  pastorate  of  a  new 
church  to  be  erected  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Windsor  Terrace.  A  plot  of  ground  was  secured 
near  Ocean  Parkway,  and  the  corner-stone  was 
laid  September  26th.  The  building  will  accom-' 
modate  about  600.  The  congregation  now  num- 
bers about  1,200,  and  the  church  property  is 
valued  at  $35,000. 

In  the  year  1893  a  new  church  dedicated  to 
St.  Mark,  the  Evangelist,  was  opened  at  Sheeps- 
head  Bay,  now  East  Fourteenth  street  and 
Sheepshead  Bay  road.  It  was  intended  to  accom- 
modate the  summer  guests  who  lingered  around 
the  popular  resort  until  late  in  September.  The 
old  church  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  new  St. 
]\Iark's  Church  was  built  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Hefferman, 
who  attended  the  mission  and  became  resident 
pastor  in  1889.  It  is  a  very  pretty  frame  struc- 
ture with  a  neat  rectory  adjoining.  The  new- 
church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  McDonnell  on 
Sunday,  August  20,  1893. 

On  Sunday,  October  23,  1893,  Bishop'  Mc- 
Donnell laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Church 
of  St.  Simon  and  St.  Jude,  Van  Sicklen  street  and 
Avenue  T,  of  which  the  Rev.  William  A.  Gar- 
diner is  Pastor.  He  now  has  a  neat  little  church, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  about  600. 

On  Tuesday,  ]\Iay  30,  1893,  Bishop  McDon- 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


547 


nell  dedicated  the  new  Church  of  St.  Aloysius,  for 
the  German  Catholics  residing  in  the  vicinity  of 
Onderdonk  avenue  and  Stanhope  street.  The 
Pastor  is  the  Rev.  John  W.  Hauptman. 

The  Cathohcs  of  Bath  Beach  go  back  to  the 
early  eighties  for  the  foundation  of  their  parish. 
As  the  name  of  their  church  implies,  the  first 
Catholics  in  this  vicinity  were  Irish,  for  St.  Fin- 
bar  was  an  Irish  Saint.  The  old  church  was  a 
very  modest  edifice,  which  gave  way  in  1893  to  a 
renovated  St,  Finbar's  and  a  church  property 
valued  at  $25,000.  Under  the  pastorship  of  the 
Rev.  Hugh  B.  Ward  (1893)  the  old  church  was 
enlarged  to  nearly  twice  its  former  dimensions. 
Mass  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  the  new 
church  on  Sunday,  June  25,  1893. 

St.  Francis  of  Assisi. — In  the  portion  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  Ward  bounded  by  the  parishes  of 
St.  Teresa's,  St.  Matthew's  and  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Cross,  it  became  necessary  to  build  another 
church.  The  site  chosen  was  at  Nostrand  avenue 
and  Lincoln  road,  and  the  erection  of  that  church 
was  entrusted  to  the  Rev.  Francis  Ludeke.  Au- 
gust 28,  1898,  Bishop  McDonnell  laid  the  corner- 
stone of  the  new  Church,  and  on  Sunday,  October 
22,  cam.e  to  dedicate  it.  The  church  is  valued  at 
$35,000,  and  the  congregation  numbers  900. 

The  Lithuanian  parish  of  St.  Mary  of  Angels 
was  started  on  December  25,  1895,  on  Grand 
street,  in  a  building  that  had  been  a  Methodist 
Church,  then  a  court  room  and  next  a  skating 
rink.  Later  on  the  Rev.  George  W.  Mundelein 
secured  old  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  it  was  soon  remodeled  and  dedicated  by 
Bishop  McDonnell  in  October,  1899. 

The  Church  of  the  Holy  Name  of  Jesus,  cor- 
ner of  Ninth  and  Prospect  avenues,  was  founded 
in  1878,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  S.  O'Reilly.  The 
church  is  84  by  96  feet,  with  a  congregation  of 
over  2,000.  It  was  founded  March  17,  1898.  In 
1885  Father  O'Reilly  built  a  school-house,  which 
is  now  attended  by  nearly  500  children,  under  the 
care  of  six  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph. 

On  Leonard  street,  Greenpoint,  just  in  the 
rear  of  St.  Anthony's  Church,  is  a  neat  frame 
church,  surmounted  by  a  steeple,  at  the  top  of 
which  is  a  cross  with  three  cross-pieces.    This  in- 


dicates that  the  church  belongs  to  the  Greek  rite, 
though  in  communion  with  the  Catholic  Church 
and  subject  to  the  Catholic  Bishop  of  Brooklyn. 
It  is  known  as  the  Greek  Catholic  Church  of  St. 
Elias.  The  congregation  was  founded  January 
I,  1891,  and  the  first  mass  was  celebrated  in  St. 
Bridgid's  Church,  New  York.  In  the  course  of 
time  the  congregation  moved  to  Greenpoint. 

The  Italian  population  of  Brooklyn  has  grown 
very  rapidly  within  the  last  ten  years.  Bishop 
Loughlin  and  Bishop  McDonnell  have  both  taken 
a  deep  interest  in  a  people  who  are  destined  before 
very  long  to  be  a  very  important  factor  in  our 
population.  Care  has  been  taken  to  place  all 
priests  educated  in  Rome  in  districts  in  which  is 
an  Italian  population.  Then,  too,  Italian  priests 
have  been  received  into  the  diocese  of  Brooklyn 
that  they  might  labor  among  their  countrymen. 
Besides  these,  a  band  of  Italian  Lazarist  Mission- 
aries have  taken  up  their  residence  in  Brooklyn 
and  are  engaged  in  giving  missions  and  retreats  to 
the  Italians,  not  only  in  churches  strictly  of  their 
own -nationality,  but  in  all  parishes  having  a  con- 
siderable Italian  attendance.  At  St.  Patrick's 
Church,  Kent  avenue,  for  instance,  there  are  3,000 
Italians  receiving  the  ministrations  of  the  reverend 
clergy  attached  to  this  church.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Will- 
iam J.  White  devotes  himself  almost  entirely  to 
Italians.,  and  his  services  are  gratefully  appre- 
ciated by  them.  He  has  within  the  last  year  opened 
a  kindergarten  school  for  the  little  children,  and  it 
is  growing  rapidly.  There  is  another  kindergarten 
connected  with  St.  James'  pro-Cathedral,  estab- 
lished some  years  ago  under  the  direction  of  the 
Rev.  William  B.  Farrell.  In  November,  1894, 
Father  Pasquale  De  Nisco  opened  an  industrial 
school  in  this  parish  and  furnished  the  means  for 
starting  the  work.  He  was  anxious  that  Italian 
children  should  be  brought  up  with  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  American  institutions. 

The  Church  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  at 
the  corner  of  Laurence  and  Tillory  streets,  was 
founded  in  1891.  The  edifice  was  originally  a 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  1880  the  Polish  Cath- 
olics purchased  it  from  the  Presbyterians  and 
dedicated  it  to  God  under  the  invocation  of  St. 
Casimir.    In  i8qi  thev  sold  it  to  the  Italians,  and 


548 


HISTORY  OF  LONG    ISLAND 


Father  Serafino  Santi  became  its  first  Italian  pas- 
tor, and  he  placed  it  under  the  invocation  of  St. 
Michael  the  Archangel. 

Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel. — In 
1887  the  Rev.  Peter  Saponara  arrived  from  Italy 
and  was  appointed  by  Bishop  Loughlin  to  organ- 
ize an  Italian  congregation,  which  was  to  worship 
for  the  time  in  the  Church  of  the  Most  Holy 
Trinit}'".  The  church  was  then  started  where  the 
school  now  stands.  During  the  same  year  Father 
Saponara  moved  with  his  people  to  the  school  hall 
of  the  German  Church  of  the  Annunciation,  in  the 
vicinity  of  which  the  Italian  colony  in  the  Eastern 
District  had  settled.  Finally  a  suitable  location 
was  found  and  a  lot  was  purchased  on  North 
Eighth  street,  near  Havermeyer  street,  but,  as  a 
more  eligible  site  was  found  to  be  available  on 
North  Eighth  street  and  Union  avenue,  the  lot 
was  sold  for  $5,000.  The  new  site  was  secured, 
but  it  was  only  after  numerous  difficulties  had 
been  overcome  that  Father  Saponara  was  able  to 
invite  Bishop  Loughlin  to  lay  the  corner-stone 
for  his  new  chuixh.  This  occurred  on  July  31, 
1887.     It  was  dedicated  on  November  20,  1887. 

The  Church  of  the  Sacred  Hearts  of  Jesus 
and  Mary  owes  its  origin,  in  a  great  measure,  to 
the  Rev.  Father  Joseph  Fransioli.  In  1882  he 
rented  a  hall  on  Warren  street,  and,  with  Bishop 
Loughlin^s  consent,  placed  it  in  charge  of  Rev. 
Father  Defini,  who  after  a  brief  period  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  Baptist  Volpe.  After  a 
year's  trial  the  mission  was  moved  to  No,  30 
President  street,  and  placed  under  the  care  of 
Father  Paccason. 

In  1884  Rev.  Pasquale  De  Nisco  arrived  in 
Brooklyn,  and  under  the  direction  of  Father 
Fransioli  two  lots  were  purchased,  and  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  the  present  church  was  laid  by 
Bishop  Loughlin  in  1885.  This  church,  though 
inadequate  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  growing  con- 
gregation, has  nevertheless  realized  the  hopes  of 
good  old  Father  Fransioli.  Father  De  Nisco  has 
been  followed  by  other  priests  of  the  Society  of 
Pious  Missions,  until  now  it  requires  three 
Fathers  to  minister  to  the  Italian  population  of 
that  parish. 

The  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Loretto,  Powell 


street,  between  Liberty  and  East  New  York  ave- 
nues, is  the  fourth  church  in  Brooklyn  for  the  use 
of  Italians.  The  structure  was  originally  a  hall 
used  by  the  Salvation  Army.  In  June,  1896^ 
Father  Stephen  Gesualdi  was  assigned  by  Bishop 
McDonnell  to  form  a  new  parish.  He  secured 
this  hall,  enlarged  it  and  otherwise  changed  it 
until  now  it  presents  the  appearance  of  a  Greek 
cross,  30  by  100  feet  in  dimensions,  and  its  esti- 
mated value  is  set  down  at  $10,000. 

The  parish  of  St.  Rose  of  Lima  (Parkville) 
was  founded  in  1870,  by  the  Rev.  Michael  J.  Mo- 
ran.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  Very  Rev. 
John  F.  Turner,  V.  G.,  on  Sunday,  August  21.  It 
was  a  simple  but  very  neat  structure,  and  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin  on  Sunday,  No- 
vember 2"],  1870. 

The  parish  of  St.  Mary,  Mother  of  Jesus,  at 
Bensonhurst,  was  founded  in  1888.  Mass  was 
said  by  Rev.  J.  McAleese,  of  Parkville,  in  a  va- 
cant house  until  1892.  On  June  26th  of  that  year 
the  Rev.  Charles  Wightman,  who  is  now  rector  of 
the  church,  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a  new  edifice,, 
privately.     There  is  no  record  of  any  ceremony. 

The  number  of  German  Catholics  in  the  town 
of  New  Lots,  East  New  York,  has  been  steadily 
growing  for  several  years,  and  the  need  of  a. 
church  for  their  accommodation  was  keenly  felt,, 
but  it  was  not  until  January  25,  i860,  that  Father 
Philip  Albrecht,  Pastor  of  St.  Benedict's  Church,. 
felt  that  he  could  take  steps  to  provide  one  for 
this  portion  of  his  flock.  Four  lots  were  pur- 
chased on  John  street  between  Liberty  and  At- 
lanta avenues.  So  rapidly  did  work  progress  that 
the  cornei'-stone  of  the  new  St.  Michael's  Church 
was  laid  by  Bishop  Loughlin  on  April  18,  i860. 
The  building  was  small,  a  plain  frame  -structure, 
surmounted  by  a  modest  steeple.  By  the  3d  of. 
June,  i860,  it  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin 
and  placed  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Michael 
the  Archangel,  and  on  the  following  Palm  Sun- 
day a  bell  was  blessed  and  placed  in  the  steeple. 
The  Rev.  Charles  Peine  became  the  first  Pastor 
of  this  congregation. 

In  August,  1863,  the  Rev.  M.  I.  Decker  took 
charge  of  the  parish  and  began  the  erection  of  a 
pastoral  residence,  a  part  of  which  was  to  be  used 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


549 


for  school  purposes.  The  building  was  finished 
by  Father  Peine,  who  returned  to  St.  Michael's 
in  May,  1864,  This  time  Father  Peine  remained 
with  his  old  parishioners  for  two  years.  In  July, 
1866,  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Casper  Muller, 
who,  in  February,  1868,  purchased  two  lots  ad- 
joining tlie  pastoral  residence,  on  which  it  was 
proposed  to  erect  a  new  school  building.  A  con- 
siderable addition  was  built  in  September,  1875. 

Before  the  advent  of  Bishop  Loughlin  to  the 
Diocese  there  were  very  few  Catholic  families  in 
the  vicinity  of  Cypress  Hills.  In  1853  Father  An- 
drew Bohan,  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross  in 
Flatbush,  found  at  the  corner  of  Atlantic  and 
Vermont  avenues,  a  two-story  frame  building, 
then  known  as  Altenbrand*s  Hotel.  Father 
Bohan  rented  the  dining-room  of  this  inn,  which 
was  connected  with  a  bar-room — but  having  also 
a  door  leading  to  the  street;  and  here  Father 
Bohan  offered  up  the  adorable  sacrifice  of  the 
Mass.  Father  Bohan  soon  found  six  lots  on  the 
east  side  of  Van  Sicklen  Avenue,  near  the  north 
side  of  Atlantic  Avenue,  and  he  secured  them, 
and  so  rapidly  was  the  church  completed  that  on 
April  9,  1854,  Bishop  Loughlin  had  the  happiness 
of  dedicating  it  to  the  service  of  God  under  the 
patronage  of  St.  Malachy. 

Father.  Andrew  O'Connell  (1872)  enlarged 
Ihe  church,  erected  a  splendid  new  schoolhouse, 
and  established  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion 
and  the  Young  Men's  Catholic  Lyceum. 

Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  Flatbush. — The 
Catholics  in  the  early  '40s  were  obliged  to  go  to 
St.  Joseph's,  the  pro-Cathedral,  and  St.  Paul's. 
Finally,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  James 
McDonough,  of  St.  James',  a  small  frame  church 
was  built  in  1848  in  that  part  of  the  town  known 
as  the  English  settlement,  located  on  Erasmus 
street,  near  Prospect  street.  The  first  resident 
priest  was  the  Rev.  Andrew  Bohan. 

Father  James  J.  Dougherty  procured  the 
building  of  the  present  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  in  1872  and  the  church 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin  in  1873.  The 
old  frame  church  was  transformed  into  a  school 
and  it  wag  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of 
St.  Joseph.    After  a  pastorate  of  ten  years.  Father 


Dougherty  was  replaced  (in  1881)  by  the  Rev. 
Bernard  ]\IcHugh.  During  his  pastorate  of  five 
years  he  built  the  church  at  Flatlands,  and  an- 
other church,  since  destroyed  by  fire,  in  that  sec- 
tion, now  comprising  St.  Matthew's  parish.  De- 
cember 19,  1892,  the  Rev.  John  T.  Woods  took 
charge  of  the  parish,  which  was  then  encumbered 
with  a  mortgage  of  $18,000,  and  he  succeeded  in 
five  years  in  wiping  out  this  debt.  His  next  step 
was  the  decoration  of  the  church,  and  this  was  ac- 
complished at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  Father  Woods, 
in  1898,  erected  a  new  convent,  costing  $16,000. 
The  following  year  the  estates  of  Clayton  and 
McCrory,  to  the  west  of  the  church,  were  pur- 
chased, for  $8,000,  and  a  new  rectory,  costing 
$16,000,  and  a  parochial  school  costing  $55,000, 
were  built  on  the  acquired  estates.  The  old 
school-house  is  now  (1901)  being  fitted  up  for  a 
Young  Men's  Lyceum.  The  church  property  is 
estimated  to  be  worth  something  like  $175,000, 
on  which  there  is  a  comparatively  small  debt. 

In  February,  1891,  the  Rev.  Claudius  Dumahut 
was  authorized  by  Bishop  Loughlin  to  found  a 
church  for  CathoHc  Scandinavians.  He  leased 
a  house  on  Fifteenth  street,  between  Fifth  and 
Sixth  avenues,  and  this  house  became  a  chapel  as 
well  as  pastoral  residence.  On  Sunday,  Febru- 
ary 15,  Catholic  Scandinavians  from  Brooklyn, 
New  York  and  Jersey  City  filled  the  parlors  in 
which  the  services  were  held.  Since  that  time 
Father  Dumahut  has  succeeded  in  building  a 
church  and  rectory  and  his  parish  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition.  The  number  of  Catholic  Scandi- 
navians is  not  very  large,  but  with  the  help  of  the 
English-speaking  Catholics  who  frequent  the 
church  they  have  succeeded  in  building  a  very 
handsome  church  edifice. 

Prior  to.  1834  there  appear  to  have  been  fev/ 
Catholics  beyond  the  confines  of  Brooklyn  proper. 
But  in  that  year  the  faithful  in  the  vicinity  of  Sag 
Harbor,  near  the  eastern  end  of  the  island,  began 
to  be  visited  by  priests  from  New  York  and 
Brooklyn.  Later  on,  Flushing  and  Jamaica  be- 
came mission  stations.  In  1843  Astoria  had  its 
church,  dedicated  to  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel ; 
Flushing  rejoiced  in  St.  Michael's;  and  Jamaica 


550 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


and  Sag  Harbor  had  been  placed  under  the  pro- 
tection of  St.  Monica  and  St.  Andrew.  From  this 
time  forth  CathoHcs  began  to  settle  in  different 
parts  of  the  island,  and  churches  sprang  up  al- 
most 'Wherever  two  or  three  gathered  together  in 
His  name." 

In  October,  1838,  the  Rt,  Rev.  John  Dubois, 
D.  D.,  Bishop  of  New  York,  sent  the  Rev. 
Michael  Curran,  Jr.,  of  Astoria,  to  found  a  parish 
at  Jamaica.  He  built  a  small  frame  church  on 
Washington  street,  on  what  is  now  known  as  St. 
Monica's  Cemetery  propert)^  The  little  church 
was  80  feet  long  and  25  feet  wide.  In  this  quaint 
structure  some  200  Catholics  gathered  together 
from  miles  around  and  assisted  at  Mass  as  they 
could,  some  having  to  kneel  outside  the  door. 

In  1854  the  Rev.  Anthony  Farley,  Sr.,  became 
Pastox  of  St.  Monica's,  and  in  1856  he  erected  a 
new  and  more  suitable  building.  In  1879  Father 
Farley  opened  a  parochial  school  and  placed  it 
under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity  from 
Mount  St.  Vincent's  on  the  Hudson.  It  is  at- 
tended by  300  pupils.  Father  Farley  ministered 
to  the  Catholics  of  Jamaica  for  thirty-five  years, 
and  died  late  in  1890. 

In  the  following  January  the  Rev.  Michael  J. 
Dennison,  of  Sag  Harbor,  came  to  Jamaica,  and 
his  pastorate,  which  extended  over  a  period  of  ten 
years,  was  a  very  successful  gne.  He  purchased 
a  lot  in  Prospect  street,  and  before  his  death  he 
erected  a  new  convent.  Father  Dennison  was 
very  highly  esteemed  by  his  parishioners,  and 
even  by  people  who  were  not  of  his  religion.  He 
died  on  March  i,  1900,  and  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  Pastor,  the  Rev.  Maurice  P.  Fitzgerald, 
who  is  carrying  on  the  good  work  with  much  zeal. 

In  the  meantime  the  German  population  of 
Jamaica  had  been  growing,  and  a  piece  of  ground 
was  secured  at  the  corner  of  Shelton  and  Flush- 
ing avenues,  and  on  March  19,  1886,  Rev.  Ig- 
natius Zeller  laid  the  corner-stone  of  his  new 
church,  which  he  placed  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Presentation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  Prior  to  this 
time  Mass  was  said  in  an  old  farm  house  built  in 
1767,  and  which  is  still  standing  on  the  church 
property.  The  church  was  enlarged  in  1894  by 
Father  Zeller,  and,  with  the  rectory,  is  now  125 


feet  by  50.  feet  in  dimensions.  In  1893  Father 
Zeller  erected  a  two-story  school-house.  It  is 
taught  by  nine  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic.  Besides  all 
this  there  is  a  convent  and  orphan  asylum,  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Elizabeth  (widow),  under  the  care  of 
ten  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic. 

Sag  Harbor  was  visited  back  in  the  earty  '30s 
by  priests  from  Brooklyn  and  elsewhere.  In 
1836  it  was  attended  by  Rev.  John  Wastl  and 
Rev.  Patrick  Dougherty.  In  1839  the  church  of 
St.  Andrew  was  not  yet  dedicated,  but  the  mis- 
sion was  visited  by  Rev.  J.  Cummisky  and  the 
Rev.  James  O'Donnell,  the  latter  of  whom  con- 
tinued his  ministrations  until  1845,  when  Father 
Curran,  from  Astoria,  took  his  place.  During 
the  next  two  years  the  Rev.  James  McGinness, 
from  St.  Peter's,  New  York,  used  to  attend  to  the 
Catholics  of  Sag  Harbor.  In  1848  Father  ]\Ic- 
Ginness,  who  was  now  resident  Pastor  of  Flush- 
ing, continued  his  ministrations^  until  1855,  when 
he  was  relieved  by  the  Rev.  AI.  O'Neill,  of  Green- 
port.  From  i860  to  1866  Sag  Harbor  was  at- 
tended by  Father  Brunneman,  from  Southold. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  McCarthy.  It 
was  not  until  1870  that  St.  Andrew's  had  a  resi- 
dent Pastor.  This  was  the  Rev.  Felix  O'Cal- 
lagtian,  but  ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign  be- 
fore a  year  had  elapsed,  and  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  J.  Heffernan.  In  February,  1892,  the 
Rev.  Laurence  Guerin  made  important  repairs  on 
the  church,  enlarged  it  and  impi'ovcd  the  pa- 
rochial residence. 

Back  in  the  '30s,  Samuel  Leggett,  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  erected  a  union  church 
for  the  use  of  all  denominations  in  Whitestone 
and  vicinity.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Leggett,  it 
was  used  jointly  by  the  Episcopalians  and  the 
i\Iethodists.  On  October  11,  1866,  the  property 
was  sold  to  Bishop  Loughlin,  and  in  a  short  time 
after  it  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  under 
the  invocation  of  St.  Luke.  It  was  Father  James 
O'Beirne  who  first  ministered  to' the  Catholics  of 
Whitestone.  He  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Will- 
iam ]\IcCloskey ;  Rev.  F.  J.  Blake,  who  came  from 
the  Diocese  of  Wilmington,  Delaware ;  Rev.  Will- 
iam Connolly,  who  died  in  September,  i886 ;  Rev. 
Peter    Kearney,    now    rector    of    St.    Raphael's 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


551 


Church,  Blissville,  who  made  quite  a  number  of 
needed  improvements  in  both  church  and  rectory; 
and,  finally,  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  John  F. 
O'Hara.  Father  O'Hara  soon  saw  the  need  of 
a  new  church,  and  in  due  time  he  set  to  work. 
The  new  church  is  of  brick,  50  feet  by  123  feet  in 
dimensions,  the  style  is  English  Gothic  and  is  sur- 
mounted by  towers. 

Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmei,  Astoria. — As- 
toria is  one  of  the  oldest  parishes  on  Long  Island. 
It  was  founded  as  far  back  as  1841.  One  of  the 
earliest  pastors,  if  not  the  earliest,  was  the  Rev. 
Michael  Curran,  who  attended  Sag  Harbor  and 
some  other  out-missions.  The  first  church  was 
dedicated  to  St.  John,  and  the  congregation  con- 
sisted of  fourteen  members.  The  corner-stone  of 
the  present  church  was  laid  on  September  9,  1871, 
and  the  edifice  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin, 
August  7,  1873.  In  1883  the  present  Pastor,  Rev. 
P.  A.  Walsh,  assumed  charge  of  the  parish.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  he  has  erected  a  splendid 
parochial  school,  rebuilt  the  old  church  and  made 
many  valuable  and  needed  improvements. 

St.  Bridget's,  Westbury. — Westbury  mission 
was  founded  in  1850.  The  original  St.  Bridget's 
was  an  old  farm  house,  one  of  the  first  houses 
erected  in  Westbury.  It  was  attended  from 
Hempstead  and  elsewhere,  by  Rev.  Father  Mc- 
Enroe and  other  priests.  On  February  11,  1893, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  ]\IcGronen,  of  Greenpoint,  was 
assigned  by  Bishop  McDonnell  to  take  charge  of 
Westbury.  He  was  able  in  February,  1894,  to  lay 
the  foundations  of  a  new  church,  40  feet  by  79 
feet,  on  the  south  side  of  the  old  church.  People 
began  to  gather  around  the  new  church,  until  in  a 
short  time  Westbury  came  to  be  a  flourishing 
parish.  Hyde  Park  was  one  of  its  out-missions. 
In  1895  the  Rev.  Herbert  F.  P'arrell  became  Pas- 
tor, and  he  has  continued  the  good  work  com- 
menced by  Father  McGronen.  Westbury  has 
now  acquired  the  dignity  of  a  deanery,  and  Father 
Farrell  is  the  Dean  for  the  county  of  Nassau. 

It  was  at  Winfield  that  appeared  the  first 
dawn  of  the  faith  in  northwestern  Long  Island. 
In  1854  a  Mr.  Anderson  presented  to  Bishop 
Loughlin  two  lots  with  the  understanding  that 
they  should  be  used  for  church  purposes.     They 


were  accepted  and  the  Church  of  St.  Mary,  Help 
of  Christians,  was  erected  during  the  following 
year.  The  priests  in  charge  of  this  church  estab- 
lished missions  at  Maspeth,  Greenpoint,  Laurel 
Hill,  Middle  Village,  Dutch  Kills,  Corona  and 
Hicksville,  all  of  which  were  attended  as  oppor- 
tunity offered,  and  nearly  all  of  which  are  inde- 
pendent parishes  to-day.  Rev,  Joseph  Brunne- 
mann  took  charge  of  the  new  parish  and  founded 
St.  Anthony's  parish,  Greenpoint.  In  186S  the 
church,  school  and  rectory  were  destroyed  by  fire. 
Fortunately  they  were  fully  insured. 

The  first  Mass  was  said  in  Ravenswood  as  far 
back  as  1833,  by  Rev.  Father  Phelan.  For  some 
months  Mass  was  said  in  a  store  owned  by  Pat- 
rick Fitzgerald,  and  later  on  in  a  hall  on  Hancock 
street.  Ground  for  a  church  building  was  broken 
in  iMarch,  1900,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  F.  Mc- 
Gronen ;  and  the  corner-stone  was  laid  on  April 
22,  1900,  by  Bishop  McDonnell.  The  new  church, 
45  by  105  feet,  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Mc- 
Donnell on  September  6,  1900.  St.  Rita's  is  an 
out-mission  attended  from  St.  Patrick's  church. 

In  1868  Father  Goetz,  pastor  of  St.  Raphael's 
church.  Laurel  Hill,  near  Blissville,  founded  thfe 
present  St.  Patrick's  parish,  at  Dutch  Kills  (as 
an  out-mission  from  Laurel  Hill),  at  the  corner 
of  Henry  and  William  streets.  The  original 
church  was  a  modest  frame  building  and  no  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid.  In  1870  the  church  was 
moved  to  Crescent  street,  between  Wilbur  and 
Payntar  avenues,  and  an  addition  built.  It  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin.  In  the  fall  of  1889 
the  church  was  partly  destroyed  by  fire.  In  the 
spring  of  1898  the  present  handsome  brick 
church,  80  by  135  feet,  was  begun,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  F.  M.  McGronen  turning  the  first  sod. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  September  tj,  1898,  by 
Bishop  McDonnell,  assisted  by  Rt.  Rev.  iMgr. 
McNamara.  The  dedication  of  this  church  took 
place  September  9,  1899,  Bishop  McDonnell  of- 
ficiating. A  new  rectory  was  completed  and  oc- 
cupied on  March  17,  1901. 

St.  Patrick's  church.  Glen  Cove,  dates  back 
to  1856,  when  the  Rev.  Patrick  Kelly  said  the 
first  mass  in  this  place,  in  a  hall.  The  original 
church  was  60  feet  by  30  feet.     In  1876  the  Rev. 


652 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


James  McEnroe  enlarged  and  otherwise  im- 
proved it.  Father  McEnroe  became  pastor  on 
November  i,  1858,  and  continued  to  minister  to 
the  faithful  of  Glen  Cove  for  nearly  forty  years. 
He  is  now  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Ros- 
ary, Brooklyn.  The  present  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's 
is  Rev.  Bernard  O'Reilly. 

St.  Fidelis',  College  Point. — The  history  of 
this  parish  goes  back  to  1856,  when  College  Point 
was  known  as  Strattonport.  In  that  year  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Huber  was  sent  to  open  a  new  church. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Ambrose  Schu- 
mack,  the  present  incumbent.  The  present  church 
will  seat  between  700  and  800  persons,  and  the 
parish  numbers  some  1,300  souls.  A  fine  school, 
attended  by  125  boys  and  no  girls,  is  conducted 
by  six  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic.  The  entire  church 
property^  is  estimated  to  be  worth  some  $100,- 
000,  on  which  there  is  merely  a  nominal  debt. 

The  first  mass  said  in  Hempstead  was  in  1849, 
in  the  house  of  Mr.  Powers.  Before  that  time  the 
people  had  to  walk  across  the  great  Hempstead 
.Plains  to  Westbury,  and  then  Lhey  were  sure  of 
mass  only  once  a  month.  The  congregation  was 
very  small,  and  the  priest.  Father  McKenna,  came 
from  Jamaica. 

In  1851  the  Catholics  living  in  the  territory 
now  comprised  within  the  limits  of  Nassau  coun- 
ty held  a  meeting  and  resolved  to  build  a  church 
in  a  central  location.  Westbury  was  chosen  and 
a  very  humble  frame  structure,  valued  at  $200, 
was  erected.  In  1853  a  church  was  built.  It  is 
now  used  as  a  rectory  by  the  pastor  at  Westbury. 
in  1861  Rev.  James  McEnroe  attended  the  church 
from  Glen  Cove.  In  1872  the  Rev.  Eugene  Mc- 
Sherry  was  appointed  to  Westbury,  but  made 
Hempstead  his  residence.  The  present  Church 
of  Our  Lady  of  Loretto  was  built  by  him  and  it 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin.  The  money 
subscribed  for  the  building  of  the  church  came 
largely  from  the  Irish  laborers  then  employed 
-on  the  water  works  and  in  laying  out  Garden 
City.  On  June  22,  1872,  the  corner-stone  of  the 
■present  church  was  laid.  It  is  a  beautiful  edifice 
^and  is  said  to  have  cost  $15,000. 

Father  McSherry  died  in  1879,  when  he  was 
^succeeded  by  Rev.  Peter  Kearney.     He  was  suc- 


ceeded alternately  by  Rev.  Peter  Plunkett,  Rev. 
J.  J.  McCusker,  Rev.  Robert  Boyce,  and  finally 
the  Rev.  William  B.  Farrell,  the  present  pastor. 
In  spite  of  many  difficulties,  Father  Farrell  has 
greatly  improved  the  appearance  of  the  church. 
He  has  devoted  himself  to  the  moral  and  intel- 
lectual improvement  of  his  people,  and  during 
the  recent  Spanish  war  he  was  unremitting  in 
his  ministrations  to  the  soldiers  encamped  upon 
the  plains  and  within  the  limits  of  his  parish. 

The  following  parishes  are  the  outgrowth  of 
mustard  seed  planted  in  Hempstead :  Westbury, 
Mineola,  Hyde  Park,  Queens,  Rockville  Centre 
and  Freeport.  Freeport  is  an  out-mission  of 
Hempstead  and  is  attended  by  Father  Farrell. 
The  Church  of  the  Holy  Redeemer  was  founded 
in  1899. 

Quite  a  German  population  began  to  settle 
around  Middle  Village  in  1858.  Many  of  the 
early  German  settlers  were  buried  in  the  Luther- 
an Cemetery  near  by,  the  Catholics  having  no 
burial  places  of  their  own  at  that  time.  In  1862 
St.  Margaret's  church  was  founded.  It  was  at 
first  attended  from  Winfield  by  the  Rev.  Ignatius 
Theodore  Goetz.  In  1863  this  church  was  at- 
tended by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Decker,  of  St.  Michael's 
church,  East  New  York.  The  present  pastor  is 
the  Rev.  Francis  O.  Siegelack,  The  parochial 
school  is  under  the  care  of  six  Dominican  Sisters. 
The  church  will  seat  about  300  persons,  and  the 
property  is  valued  at  about  $25,000,  with  little 
or  no  debt  upon  it.  Besides  the  church  property 
there  is  a  very  large  and  well  situated  cemetery 
known  as  St.  John's,  and  which  is  destined  at  no 
distant  day  to  rival  Calvary  and  Holy  Cross  cem- 
eteries. Between  sixty  and  seventy  acres  are  now 
under  improvement  and  Bishop  McDonnell  is 
having  this  laid  out  and  the  roads  macadamized, 
so  that  St.  John's  will  soon  become  the  Catholic 
cemetery  of  Brooklyn. 

St.  Mary's  church.  Long  Island  City,  was 
founded  in  1868,  by  the  Rev.  John  Crimmins. 
The  first  mass  was  said  in  an  old  public-school 
house  on  Sixth  street.  Tlie  original  church  was 
45  feet  by  90  feet  in  dimensions.  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Guire,  who  became  pastor  on  January  i,  1879, 
enlarged  and  improved  the  church,  but  in  1893 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


553 


a  fire  destroyed  both  church  and  school.  Father 
McGuire  immediately  went  to  work  to  rebuild 
his  church,  and  in  1899  he  improved  the  new 
church  and  it  may  be  said  with  truth  that  he 
built  this  church  twice.  The  sciiool  destroyed 
by  fire  was  a  four-story  and  basement  building, 
and  a  new  building  is  now  in  course  of  erection. 
In  1897  Father  McGuire  opened  a  new  lyceum 
building  for  young  men  on  Fifth  street,  and  had 
it  dedicated  by  Bishop  McDonnell.  In  1891  St. 
John's  Hospital  was  founded.  In  1896  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  a  new  and  much  larger  hospital  was 
laid.  It  is  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, and  will  accommodate  150  patients.  Pa- 
tients are  admitted  regardless  of  race  or  religion. 

St.  Stanislaus',  Maspeth. — In  January,  1872, 
the  Rev.  Ignatius  Zeller  was  deputed  to  establish 
a  new  parish  at  Maspeth,  which  was  to  be  de- 
tached from  Winfield.  The  first  mass  was  said 
in  the  new  church.  In  June,  1872,  the  Rev.  John 
McElhinney  was  appointed  pastor.  He  improved 
the  church  and  built  a  rectory.  Rev.  John  Baxter 
was  pastor  from '1877  to  1880,  when  Father  Ma- 
lone  came,  and  ministered  to  the  parish  until  De- 
cember 17,  i88r,  when  he  wa,s  succeeded  by  Rev. 
F.  X.  Pauletigi.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Jo- 
seph A.  Bennett.  The  congregation  now  num- 
bers some  1,300,  and  the  church  property  is  es- 
timated to  be  worth  about  $10,000. 

Great  Neck  was  for  a  time  a  dependency  of 
Roslyn,  and  in  February,  1876,  the  Rev.  P.  F. 
Sheridan,  pastor  of  the  latter  place,  founded  the 
Church  of  St.  Aloysius  at  Great  Neck.  The  first 
mass  was  said  in  the  new  church  on  May  20,  1876. 
In  1896  the  church  was  enlarged  from  45  feet  by 
30  feet  to  60  feet  by  30  feet.  The  succession  of 
pastors  is  as  follows :  Rev.  P.  F.  Sheridan,  from 
1876  to  1880;  Rev.  Edward  J.  Smith,  from  April 
25,  1880,  to  1898;  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  F.  Cherry, 
the  present  incumbent. 

In  1859  the  Rev.  Joseph  Huber,  of  Stratton- 
port,  was  sent  to  organize  a  new  mission  at  Hicks- 
ville.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  on  August  31, 
of  that  year,  on  the  site  of  the  present  church. 
The  ground  was  donated  by  Adolph  Pasker.  Fa- 
ther Theodore  I.  Goetz  was  the  first  resident  pas- 
tor.    He    was    succeeded  by  the  Revs.   Casper 


Miller,  Joseph  Huber  and  L.  Schneider.  Very 
Rev.  Lawrence  Fuchs,  V.  F.,  the  present  pastor, 
took  charge  on  September  i,  1872.  Under  his 
care  the  congregation  has  grown  and  the  church 
property  has  been  improved.  On  May  12,  1891, 
the  corner-stone  of  a  new  edifice,  40  feet  by  96 
feet  and  surmounted  by  a  spire  1 10  feet  high,  was 
laid  by  Bishop  Loughlin,  and  on  December  15, 
1891,  it  was  dedicated.  The  older  building  has 
been  remodeled  and  otherwise  improved  and 
turned  into  a  parochial  school. 

The  first  parish  founded  by  Bishop  Mc- 
Donnell on  Long  Island  was  at  Morris  Park 
(Clarenceville).  It  was  placed  under  the  patron- 
age of  St.  Benedict  Joseph  Labre,  and  the  Rev. 
WilHam  J.  McGuire  was  its  first  Pastor.  Some 
time  in  August,  1892,  Bishop  McDonnell  pur- 
chased a  number  of  city  lots,  and  the  new  church 
was  dedicated  on  October  8,  1892.  Father  Mc- 
Guire labored  hard  to  raise  the  necessary  means 
to  start  his  church  and  God  rewarded  his  efforts. 
When  removed  to  a  more  responsible  cure  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Patrick  J.  Fahey,  the  pres- 
ent Pastor.  The  parish  was  formerly  a  part  of 
St.  Monica's. 

In  1893  the  Catholics  of  Hyde  Park,  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Thomas  F.  McGronen,  be- 
gan to  think  of  having  a  house  of  worship  of  their 
own.  In  August  of  that  year,  they  raised  $1,500. 
This  amount  steadily  increased  until  May,  1854, 
when  Bishop  McDonnell  laid  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  church  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  On  August 
15  of  the  same  year  a  very  pretty  church  edifice 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  McDonnell.  The  ser- 
mon was  preached  in  PoHsh  by  Rev.  Father  Leo. 
The  church  commands  an  imposing  site  on  the 
Jericho  turnpike.  The  interior  is  in  Gothic  style, 
and  will  seat  420  persons.  It  is  heated  with  hot 
air,  and  is  lighted  by  seven  stained-glass  win- 
dows on  each  side.  The  altars,  pews  and  win- 
dows were  presented  by  the  Church  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  Brooklyn,  and  the  organ  by  Father 
Zeller,  of  Jamaica.  The  present  pastor  is  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Videnz.  Over  100  children  attend 
a  school  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic. 

In  September,  1893,  ground  was  broken  for 
a  new  church  at  Cedarhurst.     It  was  placed  in 


554 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


charge  of  the  Rev.  Patrick  McKenna,  of  Hew- 
lett's Station,  and  on  October  24  following,  the 
corner-stone  was  laid  by  Bishop  McDonnell.  The 
church  was  dedicated  in  June,  1894,  by  Bishop 
McDonnell.  The  church  was  destroyed  by  light- 
ning on  July  12,  1899  and  rebuilt  in  1900. 
Father  McKenna  still  attends  St.  Joseph's 
Church,  Hewlett's,  but  has  for  some  years  past 
resided  at  Cedarhurst,  where  he  has  the  gratifi- 
cation of  seeing  his  congregation  rapidly  increas- 
ing under  his  fostering  care. 

In  1871  seventeen  Catholics  gathered  to- 
gether in  and  near  Hewlett^s  and  formed  them-" 
selves  into  a  congregation  and  for  nine  months 
heard  Mass  said  by  Father  Doris  in  the  house  of 
jMr.  Daniel  Longworth,  who  later  on  donated  a 
plot  of  ground  on  Broadway,  upon  which,  in 
May,  1872,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  St.  Jo- 
seph's Church  was  laid  by  Bishop  Loughlin.  The 
new  church  was  dedicated  in  May  of  the  same 
year. 

St,  Mary's  Church,  Bryant  avenue,  Roslyn, 
was  founded  by  the  Rev.  Father  O'Donnell  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  '60s.  In  November,  1872, 
the  Rev.  P.  F.  Sheridan  became  Pastor,  and  dur- 
ing the  four  years  of  his  pastorate  he  improved 
the  church  and  built  the  rectory  adjoining  the 
church.  Father  Sheridan  died  in  May,  1876,  and 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mortimer  C.  Brennan. 
The  parish  grew,  in  the  meantime,  so  that  some  of 
its  out-missions  were  detached  and  formed  with 
separate  parishes.  In  July,  1886,  the  Rev.  N.  J. 
Doran  became  pastor.  On  the  death  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Mitchell,  in  1898,  he  was  transferred  to  St, 
Stephen's,  Brooklyn,  and  was  succeeded  here  by 
Rev.  Myles  J.  O'Reilly,  in  July,  1898..  The  pres- 
ent Pastor  is  Rev.  M.  J.  Hogan. 

By  the  year  1894  the  Catholic  population  of 
Woodside  had  so  far  increased  as  to  warrant  the 
erection  of  a  church  of  their  own.  The  organiza- 
tion of  the  new  parish  was  entrusted  by  Bishop 
McDonnell  to  Rev.  Edward  W.  Gannon.  A  tract 
of  land  was  bought  in  one  of  the  most  desirable 
parts  of  the  town,  and  on  June  14,  1896,  he  had 
the  happiness  of  having  his  church  dedicated  by 
Bishop  McDonnell.  The  church  will  accommo- 
date some  800  people. 


The  corner-stone  of  the  Church  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  at  Bayside  was  laid  on  Sunday,  September 
I.  1895,  by  Very  Rev.  P.  J.  McNamara,  V.  G.  It 
is  a  neat  frame  structure  of  Gothic  architecture, 
and  together  with  the  parochial  residence  the 
church  property  is  valued  at  some  $18,000.  The 
pastor  is  the  Rev.  Matthew  J.  Tierney,  who  also 
attends  to  the  needs  of  the  Catholic  soldiers  at  the 
military  post  at  Willet's  Point. 

In  December,  1891,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Fyda  was 
sent  by  Bishop  Loughlin  to  found  a  church  at 
Elmhurst  for  the  Poles.  In  the  following  year  he 
gathered  together  about  150  of  his  countrymen, 
in  St.  Mary's  Church,  Winfield,  and  said  Mass 
for  them.  Later  on  he  erected  a  church  at  Elm- 
hurst, the  basement  of  which  he  utilized  as  a 
school,  which  he  placed  under  the  care  of  the 
Sisters  of  Nazareth.  The  present  Pastor  is  the 
Rev.  Felix  Baran,  O.  M.  C,  who  is  assisted  by 
Rev.  Benedict  Langa,  O.  ^I.  C,  and  two  lay 
Brothers. 

Corpus  Christi,  Mineola,  is  a  comparatively 
new  mission,  although  Mass  was  said  in  Mineola 
some  years  before  by  the  clergy  of  Hempstead. 
In  1897  the  Rev.  Herbert  Farrell,  of  Westbury, 
of  which  Mineola  is  still  an  out-misSion,  invited 
two  Paulist  Fathers  from  New  York  to  give  a 
retreat.  The  result  of  the  mission  was  the  for- 
mation of  a  little  congregation  of  some  eighty 
Catholics,  who  resolved  upon  building  a  church 
of  their  own.  On  Sunday,  August  14,  1898, 
Bishop  McDonnell  dedicated  the  new  chapel  or 
church,  which  will  seat  200  persons. 

The  first  Mass  said  at  Rockville  Centre  was 
by  Rev.  Thomas  V.  Robinson,  in  a  private  house. 
Later  on,  through  the  exertion^  of  a  Mr.  Vincent, 
the  Rockville  Institute  was  secured  and  converted 
into  the  present  St.  Agnes'  Church.  It  was  first 
attended  by  the  Rev.  Patrick  McKenna.  In 
1894  the  Rev.  Thomas  Carroll  was  appointed 
Pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Patrick 
M.  Fitzgerald,  the  present  Pastor. 

Farmingdale  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
parish  on  Long  Island  under  the  care  of  the  Sons 
of  St.  Benedict.  In  1896  Bishop  McDonnell  in- 
vited the  Benedictine  Fathers  of  the  Bahama  Isl- 
ands to  estabHsh  themselves  in  the  Diocese  of 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


555 


Brooklyn.  Accordingly  a  band  of  Benedictine 
Fathers,  under  the  Rev.  Gerard  Spielmann,  went 
to   Farmingdale,    and   on    Sunday,    October    ii, 

1896,  they  said  Mass  for  the  first  time  in  a  build- 
ing which  had  formerly  been  a  Protestant  house 
of  worship.  In  February,  1897,  the  Fathers  se- 
cured a  beautiful  mansion  with  four  acres  of 
land,  in  the  heart  of  the  village^  for  their  mon- 
astery, church  and  school.  The  new  church  was 
dedicated  on  July  4,  1898,  by  Bishop  McDonnell, 
and  the  ceremony  was  participated  in  by  a  large 
concourse  of  people.  Besides  the  Benedictine 
monastery,  Farmingdale  has  the  Nazareth  Trade 
School,  which  is  attended  by  300  orphan  boys, 
who  are  cared  for  by  28  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic. 

On  a  plot  of  ground  at  the  junction  of  Hollis 
and  Franklin  avenues,  village' of  Queens,  is  the 
Church  of  St.  Joachim  and  St.  Ann's.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  on  Sunda)^  September  12, 

1897,  by  Very  Rev.  P.  J.  jMcNamara,  V.  G.  The 
church  is  a  frame  structure,  Gothic  in  style,  and 
has  a  seating  capacity  of  about  600.  The  parish 
was  organized  in  1896  by  the  Rev.  Ignatius  Zeller, 
of  Jamaica.  A  small  building  on  Bennett  street, 
formerly  used  by  the  Episcopalians  of  Queens, 
was  secured,  and  is  still  used.  About  one  month 
after  the  organization  of  the  parish  the  present 
Pastor,  the  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Dotzauer,  was  ap- 
pointed Pastor.  He  has  about  one  hundred  famil- 
ies under  his  charge,  and  his  Sunday-school  num- 
bers about  one  hundred  children.  The  congre- 
gation is  drawn  from  Queens,  Elmont  and  adja- 
cent places.  In  its  early  days  Queens  was  a  de- 
pendency of  Plempstead. 

St.  Martin's,  Amityville,  is  a  comparatively 
new  parish,  and  dates  from  June,  1897.  A  plot 
of  ground  of  two  acres  on  Union  avenue  was  se- 
cured, and  Father  Gerard  Spielmann,  from  St. 
John's  Benedictine  Abbey,  Collegeville,  ]\[inne- 
sota,  was  entrusted  with  the  erection  of  a  new 
church,  rectory  and  school.  Mass  was  first  said 
in  Liberty  Hall.  The  present  Pastor  is  Rev.  Ben- 
no  Ferstl,  O.  S.  B.,  who  also  attends  Massepequa 
and  Wantagh. 

St.  Michael's  Church,  Flushing,  is  among  the 
oldest  foundations  on  the  island.       The  original 


church  building,  a  small  frame  structure,  was 
erected  when  Father  Michael  Curran,  of  Astoria, 
visited  this  and  a  number  of  other  missions  on  the 
island.  In  1853  Rev.  James  O'Beirne  was  ap- 
pointed Pastor  and  continued  to  minister  for 
twenty-one  years.  He  built  the  present  St. 
JNlichael's  church,  and,  in  1864,  he  purchased  the 
ground  upon  which  the  convent  and  academy  of 
the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  now  stands.  In  1874 
Rev.  Henry  O'Laughlin  became  Pastor.  After 
a  pastorate  of  a  few  years  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  John  R.  McKenna,  who  died  in  1893.  His 
successor  was  the  Rev.  Eugene  Donnelly,  the 
present  Pastor,  who  built  the  present  parochial 
residence  and  otherwise  improved  the  church 
property.  The  church  will  seat  about  800  persons, 
and  the  church  property  is  valued  at  $150,000. 

St.  Boniface,  Foster  Meadow,  was  founded  in 
1854  and  was  attended  by  the  Rev.  B.  Keller,  and 
later  on  by  Rev,  Joseph  Huber,  of  Strattonport. 
The  church,  which  was  placed  under  the  patron- 
age of  St.  Boniface,  was  not  dedicated  until  1858. 
The  congregation  numbers  800,  and  the  church 
property  is  estimated  to  be  worth  about  $25,000, 
with  little  or  no  debt  upon  it. 

In  1 87 1  Oyster  Bay  was  attended  from  Glen 
Cove  by  the  Rev.  James  McEnroe,  who  built  and 
paid  for  the  little  church  that  was. used  for  many 
years.  In  1883  Oyster  Bay  became  an  out- 
mission  of  Huntington  and  was  attended  by  Rev. 
Jeremiah  J.  Crowley.  He  collecLed  some  $9,000 
for  a  new  church,  and  the  mission  was  in  a  pros- 
perous condition,  when,  in  1895,  Bishop  Mc- 
Donnell sent  J^ev.  John  L.  Belford  to  become  its 
first  resident  Pastor.  Father  Belford  built  and 
paid  for  a  handsome  rectory,  and  then  set  to  work 
on  a  new  church,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  450. 
Father  Belford  gave  a  new  impetus  to  religion  at 
Oyster  Bay,  and  its  proximity  to  the  sea  has  made 
it  (juite  a  summer  resort.  On  the  death  of  Father 
Malone,  Father  Belford  was  promoted  to  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  church  of  St.  Peter  and  St. 
Paul,  Brooklyn,  and  he  was  succeeded  at  Oyster 
Bay  by  Rev.  Walter  J.  Power. 

In  1895  the  Catholics  of  Sayville  came  to- 
gether to  discuss  the  prospects  of  having  a  church 
in  their  village.     The  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Duhigg 


556 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


was  assigned  by  Bishop  McDonnell  to  form  a  new 
parish  in  Sayville.  An  old  Methodist  church  was 
rented,  and  on  June  2,  1895,  Mass  was  said  for 
the  first  time  in  Sayville.  Ground  was  purchased 
.  at  the  corner  of  Handsome  avenue  and  Main 
street,  and  on  Sunday,  October  i,  1896,  Father 
Duhigg  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  his  new 
church  dedicated  to  St.  Laurence,  by  Bishop  Mc- 
Donnell. The  church  is  pure  Gothic  in  style, 
with  gallery  and  organ  loft.  It  will  seat  500  per- 
sons. Father  Duhigg  has  been  honored  by  the 
Bishop  with  the  title  of  Rural  Dean  for  Suffolk 
county. 

Ronkonkoma,  which  has  long  been  an  out- 
mission  of  Sayville,  was  organized  into  a  separate 
parish  in  1901,  and  placed  under  the  charge  of 
the  ReV".  M.  P.  Hefferman.  The  mission  was 
opened  in  1884. 

Until  1870  the  Catholics  of  Islip  were  attend- 
ed from  Greenport.  Up  to  1876  they  were  at- 
tended from  Huntington,  by  the  Rev.  Jeremiah 
J.  Crowley.  In  1882  St.  Mary's  church  was 
built,  and  the  mission  continued  to  be  attended 
from  elsewhere.  Rev.  J.  E,  Bobier,  of  Bayshore, 
attended  it  during  the  '80s.  It  is  now  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  E.  A.  Duffy,  who  re- 
sides in  Islip. 

Southold  and  Cutchogue, — In  1854  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Brunneniann  organized  old  St.  Patrick's 
parish  when  there  were  very  few  Catholic  fam- 
ilies in  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Jacob  Apley  pur- 
chased the  old  Southold  Academy,  which  had  be- 
come financially  involved,  and  presented  it  to  the 
Catholics.  It  was  remodeled  and  converted  into 
a  church,  and  Father  Brunnemann  erected  a  rec- 
tory adjoining  it.  In  1870  Rev.  John  R.  Mc- 
Kenna  succeeded  Father  Brunnemann,  and  re- 
mained until  1876,  when  he  went  to  Flushing. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Richard  S.  Foley.  In 
the  meantime  Southampton,  Cutchogue,  Matti- 
tuck  and  other  places  looked  to  Southold  for 
spiritual  attendance.  Southold  was  growing  in 
importance  as  a  summer  resort.  Rev.  James  H. 
Lynch  became  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's  after  Fa- 
ther Foley,  and  in  September,  1901,  having  built 
the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  at  Cutchogue, 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  that  village  and  was 


succeeded  at  Southold  by  Rev.  Peter  F.  Mathews, 
formerly  of  Fort  Hamilton. 

St.  Patrick's,  Huntington,  was  founded  as  an 
out-mission  in  1849,  and  was  attended  by  Rev. 
J.  McGinnes,  and  later  on  by  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Carthy. The  first  mass  was  said  in  a  private 
house  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  vil- 
lage. Nearby  was  the  little  country  burying- 
ground.  The  first  baptism  of  which  there  is  any 
record  was  performed  by  Father  McCarthy  in 
December,  1854.  This  clergyman  attended  Hunt- 
ington until  1857,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Father  O'Neil.  On  November  11,  i860.  Rev. 
Jeremiah  J.  Crowley  succeeded  him.  Father 
Crowley  lived  at  Bay  Shore,  from  which  place 
he  attended  a  number  of  mission  stations.  On 
April  4,  1864,  he  moved  to  Huntington  and  be- 
came its  first  resident  pastor.  Prior  to  this  time 
Father  Crowley  said  mass  in  Huntington  once 
in  three  or  four  weeks.  Like  the  country  pastors 
of  those  days  he  would  say  mass  in  one  place 
early  in  the  morning  and  then  drive  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles,  fasting,  to  say  mass  at  another 
mission.  In  the  meantime  the  church  was  used 
during  the  week  as  a  school,  which  was  attended 
by  about  60  children. 

In  February,  1867,  the  church  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  Father  Crowley  rented  a  hall  in  the  vil- 
lage and  at  once  set  to  work  to  build  a  new  church. 
He  secured  a  lot  in  a  most  central  position  in  tlie 
village,  and  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  St.  Pat- 
rick's church  was  laid  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1867. 
The  new  church  was  to  be  of  brick,  with  stone 
foundation,  114  feet  by  45  feet,  and  on  June  21, 
1871,  Bishop  Loughlin  dedicated  the  beautiful 
new  edifice.  It  was  Father  Crowley's  ambition 
to  secure  good  ground  for  school  purposes  or 
for  an  academy,  but  he  was  unable  to  do  so.  After 
a  successful  pastorate  of  forty-one  years,  Father 
Crowley  was  promoted  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Am- 
brose's church,  Brooklyn,  in  November,  1895. 
While  at  Huntington  he  attended  Oyster  Bay, 
Islip,  Cold  Spring,  Penataquit,  Patchogue  and 
Smithtown.  His  successor  at  Huntington  was 
the  Rev.  John  C.  York,  the  present  pastor,  who 
also  attends  West  Neck.  Father  York  has  pur- 
chased a  large  plot  of  ground  for  a  new  cem- 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


557 


etery  and  had  it  blessed  on  Memorial  Day  of 
1896. 

Up  to  eight  or  nine  years  ago  a  Catholic  was 
almost  unknown  around  Brentwood.  In  1895 
the  Rev.  Edward  F.  Hannigan  said  the  first  mass 
in  that  village.  Since  that  time  Catholics  have 
settled  in  the  village,  and  now  they  are  quite  nu-- 
merous.  In  the  summer  of  1895,  Mr.  Charles 
B.  Van  Nostrand,  whose  father  was  a  convert  to 
the  faith,  called  a  meeting  of  Catholic  residents 
to  consider  the  best  means  of  securing  a  priest  to 
minister  to  them.  The  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  had 
purchased  Hotel  Austral  and  its  annex,  Hotel 
Brentwood,  and  several  cottages  which  had  been 
built  on  speculation  when  Brentwood  was  consid- 
ered a  promising  summer  resort.  The  advent  of 
the  Sisters  gave  an  impetus  to  religion.  Mr. 
Van  Nostrand  and  his  friends  gathered  the  chil- 
dren of  the  neighborhood  together  on  Sundays 
that  they  might  be  instructed  in  their  catechism. 
Mr.  Van  Nostrand  and  his  friends  applied  to 
Mgr.  McNamara,  the  Administrator  of  the  dio- 
cese, in  the  bishop's  absence.  He  sympathized 
with  these  good  people  and  sent  them  a  priest 
from  his  own  household,  until  the  Bishop's  re- 
turn. A  small  store  adjoining  the  postoffice  was 
rented  and  mass  was  said  in  it  on  Sundays. 
Bishop  McDonnell,  on  his  return  from  Europe, 
approved  of  the  formation  of  a  parish,  and  in 
October,  1895,  appointed  Rev.  Henry  F.  Mur- 
ray to  take  charge  of  it.  Father  Murray  col- 
lected a  sufficient  amount  among  his  friends  in 
the  city  to  build  a  church,  and  the  present  St. 
Anne's  was  erected.  Father  Murray  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  John  M.  Kiely,  who  also  at- 
tends Central  Islip.  Brentwood  has  of  late  be- 
come the  seat  of  the  Annual  Retreat  of  the  Rev- 
erend Clergy  of  the  Diocese  of  Brooklyn. 

In  1848  Far  Rockaway  was  visited  by  clergy- 
men from  the  city  and  from  older  and  stronger 
missions  on  the  island.  In  time,  St,  Mary's  be- 
came an  independent  parish  and  was  very  nu- 
merously attended,  especially  during  the  summer 
months.  Rev.  Henry  J.  Zinimer  was  pastor  here 
for  a  time  .and  he  erected  a  fine  Gothic  church, 
the  interior  of  which  is  handsomely  decorated. 
The  marble  altar  is  the  gift  of  the  parishioners. 


the  onyx  altar  railing  and  brass  pulpit  are  the 
gifts  of  Messrs.  William  and  James  Caffrey  in 
memory  of  their  parents.  Father  Flannery  has  a 
flourishing  school  under  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of 
St.  Joseph. 

St.  Philip  Neri,  Northport,  was  founded 
about  1868,  by  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Crowley,  of 
Huntington.  Mass  was  first  said  here  in  an  old 
hall  at  the  foot  of  Main  street.  In  1875  P'ather 
Crowley  purchased  a  site  on  which  stood  a  Pres- 
byterian church, -for  some  $4,000.  The  building 
was  transformed  into  a  Catholic  church  and  was 
used  until  about  1878.  At  this  time  Father  Crowley 
was  attending  Bay  Shore  and  Islip,  besides  Hunt- 
ington and  Northport,  and  circumstances  were 
such  that  he  was  unable  to  continue  his  minis- 
trations at  Northport.  The  church  here  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Robert  Murray,  who  moved  it  to 
his  own  property  and  turned  it  into  a  carriage 
house.  In  1893  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Tuhigg  reor- 
ganized the  parish,  secured  the  old  church,  still 
a  carriage  house,  and  mass  was  said  in  it  for  some 
time.  The  mission  was  attended  by  the  Lazarist 
Fathers,  of  Brooklyn,  from  Christmas,  1893,  un- 
til May,  1894,  when  the  Rev.  Maurice  Fitzgerald 
was  appointed  to  Northport,  and  from  this  time 
the  parish  took  on  new  life.  The  land  on  which 
the  first  church  had  stood  was  in  the  market  for 
fifteen  years,  when  it  was  repurchased  by  the 
Catholics  and  the  present  church  was  built  upon 
it.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  September  9,  1894, 
by  Bishop  McDonnell,  and  the  dedication  took 
place  November  3,  1895.  It  is  a  wooden  build- 
ing, Gothic  in  style,  and  is  50  feet  by  100  feet 
in  dimensions.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev. 
Francis  A.  McCarthy,  S.  T.  D. 

The  progress  of  Catholicity  on  Long  Island 
has  been  truly  marvelous.  Besides  the  churches 
already  mentioned  there  is  the  Church  of  Our 
Lady  of  Sorrows  at  Corona,  of  which  the  Rev. 
James  J.  Corrigan,  D.  D.,  is  pastor.  It  was  found- 
ed in  1870,  and  now  has  a  congregation  of  nearly 
1,000  souls. 

St.  Elizabeth's,  at  Woodhaven,  was  founded 
in  1873.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Ernst.     Attached  to  this  church  is  a  school  of 


558 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


nearly  250  children  taught  by  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Dominic. 

St.  Joseph's  church,  Schutzen  Park  (As- 
toria), under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  C.  Eisele,  is  a 
flourishing  German  parish,  with  about  7,000 
souls. 

St.  Agnes',  Greenport,  dates  back  to  1855, 
when  it  began  as  a  little  out-mission.  It  is  now 
under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Patrick  J.  Farrelly, 
Rural  Dean,  who  attends  Orient  and  Shelter 
Island. 

St.  John's  church,  at  Riverhead,  is  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  the  venerable  Father  Patrick 
Creighton,  so  long  known  in  Brooklyn  as  the 
pastor  of  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Victories. 
This  parish  was  founded  in  1870.  Attached  to 
it  as  an  out-mission  is  the  Church  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  at  Quogue. 

Centre  Moriches  and  Babylon  were  both 
founded  in  1875;  the  latter  is  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Kilpatrick.  .  Attached 
to  St.  John's  church,  Father  Kilpatrick  has  a 
school  taught  by  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph. 

Kings  Park  (1884)  is  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  Rev.  William  Donaldson,  S.  T.  D.,  assisted 
by  Rev.  Nicholas  Keating.  They  also  attend  Port 
Jefferson. 

The  Church  of  the  Sacred  Hearts  of  Jesus 
and  Mary,  at  Southampton,  was  dedicated  on 
July  3,  1893.  The  Rev.  Lawrence  J.  Guerin  was 
its  first  pastor,  and  he  has  been  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  WilHam  S.  Kirby,  the  present  pastor. 

Space  will  not  permit  a  detailed  account  of 
the  religious  orders  or  communities  in  the  dio- 
cese, nor  of  the  colleges,  academies,  hospitals,  or- 
phanages or  asylums  and  homes  directed  by  them. 
They  can  be  referred  to  only  in  the  following  sum- 
mary: 

St.  Vincent's  Home  for  Boys  is  under  the 
supervision  of  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society, 
with  Rev.  William  L.  Blake  as  chaplain.  The 
Benedictine  Fathers  have  foundations  at  Farm- 
ingdale  and  Amityville ;  the  Fathers  of  Mercy, 
the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  the  Fathers  of  the 
Pious  Missions,  the  Lazarist  Fathers  and  the 
Capuchin  Fathers  all  have  foundations  in  Brook- 


lyn; the  Franciscan  Minor  Conventuals  are  at 
Elmhurst,  while  the  Christian  Brothers  and  the 
Franciscan  Brothers  have  colleges  and  academies, 
and  conduct  the  boys'  departments  of  the  parochial 
schools  of  the  city. 

The  Sisters  of  Charity  have  charge  of  St. 
Joseph's  Orphan  Asyluni,  St.  Mary's  Female 
Hospital,  St.  Mary's  Maternity,  St.  Mary's  Gen- 
eral Hospital,  St.  Paul's  Industrial  School  and  a 
number  of  parochial  schools  in  Brooklyn. 

The  Sisters  of  Christian  Charity  from  Wilkes- 
barre,  Pennsylvania,  have  charge  of  the  school  of 
St.  Benedict's  church. 

The  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic  have  their  mother 
house  at  Montrose  and  Graham  avenues,  Brook- 
lyn, and  their  novitiate  at  Amityville.  They  con- 
duct St.  Catharine's  Hospital  and  two  asylums 
in  Brooklyn ;  St.  Catharine's  Infirmary  at  Amity- 
ville ;  St.  Joseph's  German  Orphan  Asylum,  Long 
Island  City ;  St.  Elizabeth's  Orphan  Asylum,  Ja- 
maica, and  St.  Dominic's  Home,  Hyde  Park.  Be- 
sides these  they  have  charge  of  the  German  pa- 
rochial schools  of  the  diocese. 

The  Sisters  of  the  Poor  of  St.  Francis  con- 
duct St.  Peter's  Hospital,  Brooklyn. 

The  Sisters  of  the  Good  Shepherd  have  charge 
of  the  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  for  fallen 
women  and  wayward  girls. 

The  Sisters  of  the  Holy  Family  of  Nazareth 
provide  for  the  wants  of  sick,  destitute  and  or- 
phaned Poles  in  Brooklyn  and  at  Elmhurst. 

The  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph  have  their  mother 
house  and  an  academy  at  Flushing,  St.  John's 
Home  for  Boys,  Home  for  Females  Seeking  Em- 
ployment and  some  ten  or  twelve  academies  in 
Brooklyn ;  a  seminary  for  boys  at  Bayside ;  acad- 
emies at  Brentwood,  Far  Rockaway;  St.  John's 
Hospital,  Long  Island  City,  and  various  other 
charitable  works. 

The  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor  have  two  homes 
for  aged  men  and  women  in  Brooklyn. 

The  Sisters  of  Mercy  have  their  mother  home 
in  Brooklyn,  where  they  also  conduct  St.  Francis 
Orphanage,  and  take  charge  of  three  parochial 
schools  and  of  similar  schools  at  Blythebourne 
and  Syosset. 

The   School   Sisters  of    Notre    Dame    have 


THE  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


559 


charge  of  the  German  school  of  St.  Alphonsus' 
church,  Greenport. 

The  Salesian  Missionary  Sisters  look  after  the 
wants  of  Italian  children. 

The  Soeurs  dti  Sacre  Coeur  de  Marie  Vierge, 
from  France,  have  a  convent  and  boarding  acad- 
emy for  girls  at  Sag  Harbor. 

The  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heai't  of  Mary 
have  charge  of  St.  Joseph's  Institute  for  Deaf 
Mutes  on  Buffalo  avenue,  Brooklyn. 

The  Visitation  Nuns  have  a  convent  and 
flourishing  academy  on  Clinton  avenue,  Brooklyn. 
Sisters  Adorers  of  the  Precious  Blood,  a  con- 
templative community,  have  a  monastery  on  Put- 
nam avenue,  Brooklyn. 

In  fine,  the  diocese  of  Brooklyn  comprises : 

RECAPITULATION. 
Bishop 1 

Secular  Priests 273 

Priests  of  Religious  Orders     47 

Total 820 

Churches  with  resident  priests 133 


Missions  with  Churches 12 

Total 145 

Stations 11 

Chapels 14 

Seminary  for  Secular  Clergy 1 

Students 34 

Colleges  for  boys '3 

Students 570 

Academies  and  Select  Schools  for  young  ladies. .  15 

Pupils 1,017 

Boys  in  Academies 317 

Parishes  with  Parochial  Schools 65 

Pupils =. 32,221 

Orphan  Asylums 12 

Orphans 3,695 

Infant  Asylum 1 

Infants  cared  for 454 

Industrial  School  for  girls 1 

Pupils 143 

House  of  Good  Shepherd 1 

Inmates 427 

Total  of  young  people  under  Catholic  care 38,417 

Hospitals 6 

Patients  treated  during  the  year,  over 18,020 

Homes  for  Aged  Poor 2 

Inmates  during  the  year 480 

Catholic  population  about 500,000 


APPENDIX. 


THE  COLONIAL  MILITIA. 


In  1693  the  enrolled  militia  of  Kings  county 
numbered  319  commanded  by  Colonel  Stephanus  Van 
Cortlandt,  of  Queens  county;  580  commanded  by 
Colonel  Thomas  Willett,  and  of  Suffolk  county,  533 
commanded  by  Colonel  John  Young,  a  total  of  1,432 
men.  In  1700  Kings  county  militia  had  280  men, 
Queens,  601,  and  Suffolk,  614.  In  that  year  the  official 
returns  gave  the  names  of  the  officers  of  the  three  regi- 
ments and  the  various  companies,  as  follows : 

Of  ye  Regiment  of  Militia  of  ye  County  of  Suffolk  on 
ye  Island  Nassaw. 

FIELD    OFFICERS. 

Isaac  Arnold  Colonel 

Henry  Pierson   Lieut.  Col. 

Matthew  Howel    Maj  r 

THE  SEVERAL  COMPAS  IN  YE  SAID  REGT. 
The  Foot  Compa  in  the  town  of  Brookhaven. 

COMMON   OFFICERS. 

Sam.   Smith   Captain 

Richd  Floyd   Lieut. 

Joseph   Tucker   Ensigne 

Of  ye  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  Huntington. 

COMMON  Officers. 

Thos.   Wicks    Capt. 

Jon  Woods   Lieut. 

Epenetus    Plat    Lieut. 

Of  ye  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  Southampton. 

com:\ion  officers. 

Abra.  Howell  Capt 

Joseph   Fordham    Lieut. 

Isaac   Halsey Ensigne 

Of  another  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

common  officers. 

Capt. 

Jon  Lupton   Lieut. 

Joseph  Moore  Ensigne 


Of  another  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

common  officers. 

Tho.    Stephans   - Capt. 

Joseph    Pierson    Lieut. 

Jerem.    Scot    '.Ensigne 

Of  ye  Foot  Compa  in  ye  Town  of  Southold. 

common  officers. 

Tho.    Young    Capt. 

Sam.  Glover  Lieut. 

Rich.   Brown   Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

Jonathan   Harlow  Capt. 

griffin    Lieut. 

^^mens  : ,.  Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

Thos.   Mlapas   Capt. 

Joshua   Harlow    Lieut. 

Jon   Booth  Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  East  Hampton. 

Capt. 

Lieut. 

' Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

John  Wheeler   Capt. 

Enoch   Fithian    Lieut. 

Corn.   Conchling    Ensigne 

OF    THE    REGIMT    OF    MILITIA    IN'    QUEENS 
COUNTY  ON  YE  SAID  ISLAND. 

field  officer. 

Colonel 

John  Jackf.on   * Lieut.  Col. 

Majr 


APPENDIX. 


561 


Of  the  Foot  compa  in  the  town  of  Jamaica. 

COMMON   OFFICERS. 

Hope  Carpenter    Capt. 

Benjamin  Thurston    Lieut. 

Richd   Oldfield   Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

COMMON   OFFICERS. 

Sam.   Carpenter Capt. 

Joseph   Smith   Leiut. 

Dan.  Smith  Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  New  Town. 

COMMON   OFFICERS. 

Content  Titus   Capt. 

Sam.    Kecham    Lieut, 

Sam.  Morrell Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

COMMON   OFFICERS. 

Robt   Coe    Capt. 

Jon  Berian Leiut. 

Jonathan  Coe  Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  Town  of  Hampstead. 

Jerem.   Smith    Capt. 

Richd   Hubbs Leimt. 

Isaac   Smith    Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

Joseph   Smith  Capt. 

Lieut. 

Thos.   Gildersleive Ensigne 

Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  Town. 

The.  Trcdwell  Capt. 

Jon.  Pine  Leiut. 

Jon  Foster Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  Town  of  Flushing. 

Robert  Hinchman    Capt. 

Harrington    Leiut. 

Daniel  Wright   Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  Oysterbay. 

Robt  Coles  Capt. 

Josia  Latten    Leiut. 

Nath  :   Coles  Junr Ensigne 

Of  the  Troope  of  Horse  in  ye  said  Regimt. 

John  Lawrence   Capt. 

Jonath  :   Smith    Leiut. 

Daniel  Lawrence   Cornet 

Jon   Finne   Quartermaster 

36 


OF   THE    REGIMENT    OF   MILITIA   IN    KING'S 
COUNTY  ON   YE   SAID  ISLAND. 

FIELD    OFFICERS. 

Stephen  Cortland   .Colonel 

Gerrardus  Beekman Leiut.  Col. 

Corn:  Van  Brunt Majr 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  the  town  of  Amersfort. 

Jon  Terhermon  Capt. 

Peter   Mansford    Leiut. 

Corn.  Van  Voorhuyen Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Comipa  in  ye  Town  of  Gravesend. 

John  Lake Capt. 

Chr  :  Bemoyn Leiut. 

Albert  Coerten   Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot -Compa  in  the  town  of  Brookland. 

Joris  Hansen   Capt. 

Daniel  Repalie  Leiut. 

Teunis  Repalie  Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  New  Uytregt. 

John  Van  Dyke Capt. 

Joost  Van  Brunt Leiut. 

Matys  Smake  Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  Midwout. 

Arie  Van  de  Bilt Capt. 

Symon   Hansen    Leiut. 

Is.aac  Hegeman Ensigne 

Of  the  Foot  Compa  in  ye  town  of  Boswick, 

Peter  Pra  Capt. 

Michill  Parmyter Leiut. 

Jochem  Vouchnewen   Ensigne 

Of  the  Troop  of  Horse  in  ye  said  Regiment. 

Dan.   Polhemius    Capt. 

Roeloft   Verkirk   Lieut. 

Jerominus  Remse Cornet 

Gysbert  Bayard Quarter  Master 


LONG  ISLAND  TROOPS  IN  THE  REVOLUTION. 

(From  Fernow's  "New  York  in  the  Revolution," 
Albany,  1887.) 

The  people  of  Long  Island  responded  to  the  call 
of  the  Provincial  Congress,  asking  them  to  organize  in 
military  bodies  as  early  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  other 
counties,  and  below  are  given  the  earlier  organizations. 
The  fortunes  of  war  severing  the  connection  between 
the  island  and  the  main  land,  these  organizations- could 
not  be  kept  up,  hence  the  list  of  Long  Island  officers  is 
necessarily  small.  The  Council  of  Appointment  made 
no  appointment!   for  Long  Island  until  1784. 


562 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


KINGS  COUNTY. 

Col.  Richard  Van  Brunt. 
Lieut.  Col.  Nich's  Covenhoven. 


Light  Horse  Company. 

Capt.   Rich'd  Lawrence,  resigned  on  account  of,  ill 
health. 


Light  Horse, 
Troop  of  Horse. 
Flatlands. 
Gravesend, 
Half  of  Brooklyn, 

do  do 

Flatbush, 
Bushwick, 
New  Utrecht, 


Captains 

Adolph  Waldron, 
Lambert  Suydaixi, 
Jere'h  V.  D.  Bilt, 
Rem.  Williamson, 
Barent  Johnson, 
Ferd's  Suydam, 
Corn's  V.  D.  Veer, 
John  Titus, 
Abr.  Van  Brunt, 


lat  Lieuts. 

Wm.  Boerum, 
Dan'l  Rapyle, 
Ab't  Stothoff, 
Sam'l  Hubbard. 
Barent  Lefferts, 
Simon  Bergen, 
Peter  Lefferts, 
Abr.  Van  Ranst, 
Ad'n  Hegeman, 


Shd.  Lieuts. 

Thos.  Everett, 
Jacob  Bloom, 
Thos.  Elsworth, 
Garrett  Williamson, 
Joost  D.  B.  Vooise, 
Wm.  Brower, 
John  Van  Duyn, 
Peter  Colyer, 
Harm's  Barkulo, 


Ensigns 

Jacob  Sebring,  Jun. 
Peter  V.  D.  Voort, 
Peter  V.  D.  Bilt, 
John  Lane, 
Martin  Schenck, 
Ja'b  Stillenwert, 
John  Bennem, 
John  Skillman, 
Wm.  Barre. 


Quarter  Masters 

Isaac  Sebring, 
Peter  Wyckoff. 


Rem.  A.  Remsen,  ist  Lieut,  of  Waldron's  Light 
Horse,  had  been  elected,  but  declined,  whereupon  the 
company  was  officered  as  above. 

QUEENS    COUNTY. 

No  record  of  any  regimental  organization  has  been 
found.  The  following  names  are  O'f  company  officers  of 
an  eatly  period  of  the  war : 

Great  Neck  and  Cow  Neck  Company. 

Capt.  John  Sands,  appointed  October  12,  1775. 

1st  Major  Job's  Titus. 

.2d  Major  John  Van  Debilt. 

-Adj.  George  Carpenter. 

■Q.  M.  Nich's  Covenhoven. 

All  commissioned  March  11,  1776. 


Captains. 


Job's  Vanderbilt. 
Lambert  Suydam. 
B.  Johnson. 
John  Titus. 


Corn's  V.  D.  Veer. 
Rem.  Williamson. 
Barnard  Suydam. 
Adrian  Van  Brunt. 


A  return  of  the  officers  chosen  by  the  different 
companies  in  Kings  county  who  have  signed  the  Decla- 
ration and  taken  their  commissions,  1776: 

1st  Lieut.  Henry  Allen,  declined. 

2d  Lieut.  Thos.  Mitchell,  promoted  ist  Lieut.  March 
8,  1776,  vice  Allen. 

Ensign  Aspinwall  Cornwell  (Cornell)  promoted  2d 
Lieut,  vice  M-itchell. 

Ensign  Andrew  Onderdonk,  appointed  April  15, 
1776. 

Nezv  Tozvn  District,  Southernmost  Beat. 

Capt.  Abr'm  Remsen. 

1st  Lieut.  Benj'n  Coe,  promoted  Captain  June  17, 
1776. 

2d  Lieut.  Robt.  Furman,  promoted  1st  Lieut. 
Ensign  Benj.  North,  promoted  2d  Lieut. 
Ensign  Jonah  Hallett,  appointed  June  18,  1776. 

New  Town  District,  North  Beat. 

Capt.  John  Lawrence,  promoted  Brig.  Major. 
1st   Lieut.   Wm.    Lawrence,   promoted  Captain   Au- 
gust 14,  1776. 

Ensign  Jesse  Warner. 


1st  Lieut.   Dan'l  Lawrence,  promoted   Captain,  etc. 
2d  Lieut.  Samuel  Riker,  promoted  1st  Lieut. 
Cornet,  John  Coe,   superseded  by  J9n'n  Lawrence. 
Q.  M.  Peter  Rapalje. 
Original  commissions  issued  May  10,  1776. 

Flushing  Company. 

Capt.  Nath'l  Tom. 
1st  Lieut.  Mathias  Van  Dyck. 
2d  Lieut.  Jeffry  Hicks. 
Ensign  Nich's  Van  Dyck. 
Commissioned  June  8,  1776. 

Jamaica  Company. 

Capt.  Ephraim  Baylies. 
1st  Lieut.  Increase  Carpenter. 
2d  Lieut.  Abr'm  Vanausdale. 
Ensign  Othniel  Smith. 
Commissioned  March  27,  1776. 

SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

First  Regiment. 

Col.  Wm.  Floyd,  of  St.  George's  Mianor,  vice  Piatt 
Conkling,  who  declined. 

Lieut.  Col.  Dr.  Gilbert  Potter,  of  Huntington. 
1st  Major  Nathan  Woodhull,  of  Brookhaven. 

Huntington  and  SmitJitown  Companies. 

Capt.  John  Wickes. 

1st  Lieut.  Epenetus  Conkling. 

2d  Lieut.  Jonah  Wood. 

Ensign  Ebenezer  Prime  Wood. 

Capt.  Jesse  Brush. 

1st  Lieut.  Jon'n  Titus. 

2d  Lieut.  Phillipp  Conckling. 

Ensign  Joseph  Titus. 

Capt.  Timothy  Carll. 
1st  Lieut.  Gilbert  Fleet. 
2d  Lieut.  Joel  Scudder. 
Ensign  Nath'l  Buffet,  Jun'r. 

Firs't  Brookhaven  Company. 

Capt.   Samuel  Thompson. 
1st  Lieut.  Ab'm  WoodhuU. 
2d  Lieut.  Isaac  Davis. 
Ensign  Daniel  Satterly. 
Commissioned  September  13,  1775. 


APPENDIX. 


563 


Second  Brookhaven  Company. 

Capt.  Ebenezer  Miller. 

1st  Lieut.  Caleb  Woodhull. 

2d  Lieut.  James  Davis. 

Enisgn  Davis  Davis. 

2d  Major  Edmund  Smith,  Jun'r.,  of  Smithtov^^n. 

Adjutant  Philipp  Roe,  of  Brookhaven. 

Q.  M.  James  Roe,  of  Brookhaven. 

Third  Brookhaven  Company. 

Capt.  Wm.  Brewster. 
is^Lieut.  Tsaac  Davis. 
2d  Lieut.  Uriah  Smith. 
Ensign  Benj'n  Woodhull. 
Commissioned  September  13,  1776. 

Smithtown  Company, 

Capt.  Philetus  Smith. 
1st  Lieut.  Edmund -Smith,  Jun'r. 
2d  Lieut.  Daniel  Tillotson. 
Ensign  Richard  Smith. 
Commissioned  September  13,  1775. 

Islip  Company,  formed  from  east  part  of  Smith- 
town  and  west  part  of  Brookhaven. 

Capt.  Beniiah  Strong. 

1st  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Terjy. 

2d  Lieut.  Samuel  Oakley. 

Ensign  Annen  Mowbrey. 

Commissioned  February  13,  1776. 

Southold  Company. 

Capt.  Nathan  Rose. 
1st  Lieut.  Hugh  Smith. 
2d  Lieut.  David  Fanning. 
Ensign  John  Smith. 
Commissioned  September  13,  1775. 

CHANGES    IN    THE    REGIMENT. 

December  12,  1775 — Joh'n  Titus,  Capt.  2d  Conip., 
vice  Jesse  Brush,  promoted  Major;  Joshua  Rogers,  ist 
Lieut. ;  Thos.  Brush,  2d  Lieut. 

February  7  and  8,  1776— Piatt  Neal  (Vail),  Capt, 
Cow  Harbour,  or  Fifth  Huntington  Company;  Michael 
Hart,  1st  Lieut. ;  Isaac  Dennis,  2d  Lieut. ;  Jacob  Conck- 
ling.  Ensign ;  John  Buffet.  Capt.  South  or  Fourth  Hunt- 
ington Company;  Isaac  Thompson,  ist  Lieut.;  Zebulon 
Ketcham,  2d  Lieut. ;  Joseph  Ketchum,  Ensign. 

A  return  of  this  Regiment,  dated  April  5,  1776,  gives 
the  following  changes:  Majors  Jesse  Brush  and  Jeffry 
Smith ;  Q.  M.  John  Roe ;  Captains  Samuel  Tomson, 
Eben'r  Mflller,  Nathan  Rose,  Wm.  Brewster,  Philetus 
Smith,  Joshua  Rogers,  Epenetus  Conckling,  Joel  Scud- 
der,  John  Buffet,  Plat  Vail,  Gilbert  Carle  and  Benijah 
Strong. 

Second  Regiment. 

Col.  David  Mulford. 

Lieut.  Col.  Jon'n  Hedges. 

1st  Major  Uriah  Rogers. 

2d  Major  George  Herrick. 

Adjutant  John  Gelston. 

Q.  M.  Phineas  HowelL 

Sergt.  Major  Lemuel  Peirson. 

Drum  Major  Elias  Miatthews. 

These  officers  were  so  returned  February  10,  1776. 


A  return  of  the  names  of  the  persons  for  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Second  Battalion  in  Suffolk  county,  taken 
according  to  the  Directions  of  the  Provincial  Congress 
by  the  Committees  of  Easthampton  and  Southampton : 

First  Company. 

Capt.  David  Howell. 
ist  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Post. 
2d  Lieut.  Paul  Jones. 
Ensign  Zephaniah  Rogers. 

Second  Company. 

Capt.  John  Dayton. 
1st  Lieut.  Isaac  Mulford  Hunting. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Miller,  Jun'r. 
Ensign  Wm.  Heges. 

Third  Company. 

Capt.  David  Peirson. 
1st  Lieut.  Daniel  Heges. 
2d  Lieut.  David  Sayre. 
Ensign  Theophilus  Peirson. 

Fourth  Company. 

Capt.  David  Fithian. 
1st  Lieut.  Sam'l  Conckling. 
2d  Lieut.  Thomas  Baker. 
Ensign  Daniel  Conckling. 

Fifth  Company. 

Capt.  Stephen  Howell. 
1st  Lieut.  John  White,  Jun'r. 
2d  Lieut.  Lemuel  Wick. 
Ensign  Isaah  Hallsey. 

Si.rth  Company. 

Capt.  Wm.  Rogers. 
1st  Lieut.  Jesse  Halsey. 
2d  Lieut.  Henry  Halsey. 
Ensign  Nath'l  Rogers. 

Seventh  Company. 

Capt.  Josiah  Howell. 

1st  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Howell. 

2d  Lieut.  Matthew  Howell.  ' 

Ensign  Wm.  Stephens. 

Eighth  Company. 

Capt.  Sam'l  L'Hommedieu. 
1st  Lieut.  Silas  Jessup. 
2d  Lieut.  Edw.  Conckling. 
Ensign  Daniel  Fordham. 

Ninth  Company. 

Capt.  John  Sandford. 

1st  Lieut.  Edw.  Topping. 

2d  Lieut.  Phillip  Howell. 

Ensign  John  Hildreth. 

Commissions  issued  September  13,  1775. 

[According  to  a  return  presenting  "A  true  state 
of  the  2d  Regiment  of  Militia  in  Suffolk  county,  loth 
February,  1776,"  the  total  number  of  men  and  officers 
was  768. — Editor.] 


564 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


THIRD  REGIMENT. 

A  "Third  Regiment"  of  Suffolk  county  is  men- 
tioned and  commissions  were  issued  to  officers  of  the 
same,  but  no  record  of  its  roster  has  been  found. 

Capt.  Israel  Scudder. 
1st  Lieut.  Nath'l  Buffet. 
2d  Lieut.  Epenetus  Smiith, 
Ensign  John  Hart. 
Commissioned  December  12, 
pany,  Third  Regiment. 


1775,  for  Third  Com- 


ist  Lieut.  Edmund  Howell. 
2d  Lieut.  Selah  Reeve. 
Ensign  James  Wells. 

Commissioned  June  29,  1776,  for  Second  Company, 
Third  Regiment. 


,  REGIMENT  OF   MINUTE   MEN. 

Col.  Josiah  Smith. 
Lieut.  Col.  John  Hulbert. 
1st  Major  Isaac  Reeve. 
2d  Major  Jon'n  Baker. 

Easthampton  Company. 

Capt.  Ezekiel  Mulford. 
1st  Lieut.  John  Miller. 
2d  Lieut.  JSTath'l  Hand. 
Commissioned  February  23,  1776. 

First  Southampton  Company. 

Capt.  Zephaniah  Rogers. 
1st  Lieut.  Nath'l  Howell,  Jun  r. 
2d  Lieut.  Matthew  Sayer. 
Commissioned  February  23,  1776. 

Second  Southampton  Company. 

Capt.  David  Pierson. 

1st  Lieut.  John  Foster,  Jun'r. 

2d  Lieut.  Abr.  Rose. 

Ensign  Edward  Topping. 

Commissioned  February  23,  1776. 

The  return  of  this  regiment,  of  May  30,  1776,  gives: 
Isaac  Overton,  2d  Major,  vice  Baker;  aud  Captains 

Nath'l  Piatt  and  Thos.  Wicks,  in  addition  to  the  above; 

Adjutant,    Ephraim   Marvin,   April   4,    1776,   vice   Isaac 

Overton,  declined;  Q.  M.  Eben'r  Dayton. 

First  Southold  Company. 

Capt.  John  Bayley. 
1st  Lieut.  Joshua  Youngs. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Tuthill. 
Ensign  James  Reeves. 
Commissioned  May  3,  1776. 

Second  Southold  Company. 


Brookhaven,    Smithtown,    Manor    of    St.    George    and- 
Moriches  Companies. 

Capt.  Selah  Strong. 
1st  Lieut.  Wm.  Clark. 
2d  Lieut.  Caleb  Brewster. 
Ensign  Nath'l  Brewster. 
Commissioned  April  4,  1776. 

Benjamin    Coe,    Capt.,   mentioned   October  9,    1776. 
Capt.  Wm.  Ludlum  and  2d  Lieut.  Ephraim  Mars- 
ton,  mentioned  December  2,  1776. 

Artillery  Company. 

(Belonging  to  Col.  Smith's  Minute  Regiment.) 

Capt.  Wm.  Rogers. 

Capt.  Lieut.  John  Franks. 

1st  Lieut.  Jeremiah  Rogers. 

2d  Lieut.  Thos.  Baker. 

Lieut.  Fireworker  John  Tuthill. 

Commissioned  February  20,  1776. 


(From   "New  York  in  the  Revolution,"  by  James 
A.  Roberts,  Comptroller,  Albany,   1898.) 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY    MILITIA. 


Colonel. 

Josiah  Smith. 

Captains. 

Clarkson. 

David  Pierson. 

Benj.  Coe. 

Nathaniel  Piatt. 

Jno.  Dayton. 

Paul  Reeve. 

David  Fithian. 

Wm.  Rogers. 

Danl.  Hedges. 

Zephanniah  Rogers. 

Dayid  Howell. 

Jno.  Sanford. 

Josiah  Howell. 

Selah  Strong. 

Sam'l  L'Hommedieu. 

Thos.  Weeks. 

Wm.  Ludlam. 

Jno.  White. 

R.  Manne. 

Jno.  Wickes. 

Ezekiel  Mulford. 

Thos.  Wickes. 

Peter  Nostrand.- 

Lieutenants. 

Joshua  Benjamin. 

Paul  Jones. 

Calber  Brewster. 

Carl  Isaac  Ketcham. 

Thos..  Brush. 

Ephraim  Marston. 

Wm.  Clark. 

Jno.  Miller. 

Timothy   Conkling. 

Abn  Rose. 

Jno.  Corwin. 

Matthew  Sayre. 

John  Foster.     , 

Hy.  Scudder. 

Nathaniel  Hand. 

Saml.   Smith,' 

David  Horton. 

Edw.  Topping. 

Nathaniel  Howell. 

Joshua  Youngs. 

Ensigns. 

Benj.  Blatsley. 

Nathaniel  Hudson. 

Nathaniel  Brewster. 

Nathaniel  Williams,  Jr. 

Capt.  Paul  Reeves. 
1st  Lieut.  J-ohn  Corwin. 
2d  Lieut.  David  Horton. 
"Ensign  Nath'l  Hodson. 
Commissioned  May  3,  1776. 


Enlisted  Men. 


Abbet,  James. 
Akerly,  John 
Albertsob,  John  Parker. 


Aldeich,  Jacob,  Jr. 
Aldridge,  Joshua. 
Allen,  Nathaniel. 


APPENDIX. 


565 


Armstrong,  Bishop. 
Askly,  John. 
Bailey,  Jos-eph. 
Baker,  Samuel. 
Barker,  Henry. 
Baley,  John. 
Barnes,  Jeremiah. 
Barnes,  Jonathan. 
Barrett,  William. 
Barts,  Francis. 
Bassett,  Cirnelius. 
Baykey,  John. 
Bayley,  Philip. 
Baylis,  John. 
Baylis,  Nehemiah. 
Baybecks,  Israel. 
Beale,  George. 
Beale,  Miatthew. 
Beckwith,   Ohineas. 
Benjamin,  Azariah. 
Benjamin,  David. 
Benjamin,  James. 
Benjamin,  Nathan. 
Benjamin,  Richard. 
Benjamin,  William. 
Bennet,  Edward. 
Bennett,  Ganakiel. 
Bennett,   John. 
Betts,  Richard. 
Biggs,  Silas'.- 
Bishop,  David. 
Bishop,  Enoa. 
Bishop,  John. 
Bishop,  Samuel. 
Blatsley,  Daniel. 
Blindenbur^h,  Daniel. 
Booth,  Wheeiock. 
Bower,  David. 
Bower,  Hezekiah. 
Bower,  Zephaniah. 
Bower,  Jeremiah. 
Brewster,  John. 
Brian,  James. 
Brian,  Lemuel. 
Brown,  Caleb. 
Brown,  Daniel. 
Tirown,  David. 
Brown,  Henry. 
Brown,  Henry,  Jr. 
Brown,  Reuben. 
Brown,  Richard. 
Brush,  Eliphalet. 
Brush,  Gilbert. 
Brush,  Jam.es. 
Brush,  Nehemiah. 
Brush,  Nehemiah,  Jr. 
Brush,  Robert; 
Bryan,  Jesse. 
Bryant,  Alexander. 
Buchanan,  William. 
Bunce,  Jesse. 
Burnett.  Joseph. 
Carle,  Jesse,  Jr. 
Carl,  John. 
Carl,  Scudd. 
Carpeter.  Nehemiah. 
Case.  Ichabod. 
Chatifield,  Henry. 
Chichester,  Eliphalet. 
Clark,  Elisha. 


Clark,  Stephen. 
Cleaveland,  Joseph. 
Coan,  Abraham. 
Conklin,  Jacob. 
Conkliner,  Benjamin. 
Conkling,  Ezra. 
Conkling,  Jacob. 
Conkling,  Jeremiah. 
Conkling,  John. 
Ccnkling,  Joseph. 
Cot'.kling,  Nathaniel. 
Conkling,  Samuel. 
Conkling,   Silvanus. 
Conklin,  William. 
Conkling,  William,  Jr. 
Conkling,  Thomas. 
Conn,  William. 
Cook,  Calvin. 
Cook,  John. 
Cook,  Jonathan. 
Cook,  Nathan. 
Cook,  Silas. 
Cooper,  Benjamin. 
Cooper,  Charles. 
Cooper,  David. 
Cooper,   Matthew. 
Corey,  Isaac. 
Corwin,  G^rshom. 
Corwin,  Jacob. 
Corwin,  Jeremiah. 
Corwin,  Jonathan. 
Corwin.  Joshua. 
Corwin,  Nathan. 
Corwin,  Nathan,  Jr. 
Corwin,  Simeon. 
Corwin,  Thomas. 
Corwithe,  Caleb. 
Corwithe,  Henry. 
Corwithe;  John. 
Cook,  Benjamin. 
Dains,  Paul. 
Davall    Samuel. 
Davis,  Daniel. 
.Davis,  Matthias. 
Davis,  Timothy. 
Davis,  William. 
Davison.  Isaac. 
Dayton.  Jacob. 
Dayton,  Jeremiah. 
Dayton.  Samuel. 
Denton,  Benjamin. 
Dibble,  Isiah. 
Dickerson.  Abraham. 
Ditmas,  Garret. 
Doming,  Henry. 
Downs.  Peter. 
Drake.  Richard. 
Duree,  Charles. 
Edwards,  Daniel. 
Edwards,  David. 
Edwards,  Henry. 
Edwards.  Isaac. 
Edwards,  John. 
Edwards,  Silas. 
Edwards,  William. 
Ennis.  George. 
Everett,  Georsre. 
Fanning.  Nathaniel. 
Fleet.  Alexander. 
Fordham,   Stephen. 


Foster,  Asa. 
Foster,  David  Hains. 
Foster,  James. 
Foster,  Jedediah. 
Foster,  John. 
Foster,  Wakeman. 
Foster,  William. 
Fowler,  Richard. 
Gardiner,  Jeremiah. 
Garrard,  Zopher. 
Gates,  William. 
Gau,  John. 
Gear,  John  M. 
Gelston,  Hugh. 
Gelston,  William. 
Gerrard,  Benjamin. 
Gerrard,  John. 
Gerrard,  Joseph. 
Gerrard,  William. 
Gildersleeve. 
Gildersleeve.  John. 
Gildersleeve,  Philip. 
Gladin,  George. 
Goldsmith,  John. 
Goldsmith,  John,  Jr. 
Goldsmith,  William. 
Goodale.  Joseph. 
Gould,  John. 
Gray,  Daniel. 
Griffing,  John. 
Griffis,  James. 
Cuyer,  Lazarus. 
Haff,  Isaac. 
Haff,  James. 
Hallock,  Daniel. 
Hallock,  John. 
Hallock,  Peter. 
Hallock,  Richard. 
Hallock,   William. 
Hallock,  Zachariah. 
Halsey,  Abraham. 
Haisey,  Daniel. 
Halsey.  Dc^vid  Fithian. 
Halsey,  Ethan. 
Halsey,  James. 
Halsey,  Job. 
Halsey.   Philip. 
Halsey,   Silas. 
Halsey.  Silvanus. 
Halsey,  Stephen. 
Halsey,  Thomas. 
Halsey,  Timothy. 
Halsey,   William. 
Hand,  David.  Jr. 
Hand,  Jno..  Jr. 
Hand.  Jonathan. 
Hand,  Joseph. 
Hand,  Josiah. 
Hand.  iSTathan. 
Harcus,  Selah. 
Harris,  George. 
Harris,  Henry. 
Harris.  Stephen. 
Hart.  John. 
Hart,  Nehemiah. 
Hart,  Samuel. 
Haven.  Constant. 
Hawkings,   Alexander. 
Hawkimers,  Eleazer. 
Hawkings,  Gershorn. 


Hawkings,  John. 
Hawkings,  Jonas. 
Hawkings,  Zophar. 
Hawks,  John. 
Hedges,  Christopher. 
Hedges,  Eleazer. 
Hedges,  Elihu. 
Hedges,  Job. 
Hedges,  Jonathan. 
Hedges,  Nathan. 
Hedges,  Timothy,  Jr. 
Herrick.  Micaiah. 
Hicks,  Zachariah. 
Hie:bee,  Jonas. 
Higbie,  Stephen. 
-Hildreth,  Joshua. 
Hildreth,  Luther. 
Hill,  William. 
Homan,  Joseph. 
Homan,  Phineas. 
Hopkins,  Samuel. 
-Hoopin,  Daniel. 
Horton,  Calvin. 
Howell,  David. 
Howell,  Edmund. 
Howell,  Edward. 
Howell,  James. 
Howell,  Jehiel. 
Howell,  John. 
Howell,  Jonathan. 
Howell,  Matthew. 
Howell,  Mathew,  Jr. 
Howell,  Mose. 
Howell,  William. 
Hubbard,  Richard  Steers. 
Hubbard,   Samuel. 
Hubbell.  James. 
Hubbs,  James. 
Hudson.  Ebenezer. 
Hudson,  Henry. 
Hudson,  John. 
Hudson,  John,  Jr. 
Hudson.  John  Fred. 
Hudson,  Samuel. 
Huffff.  John. 
Hulse,  David. 
Hulse,  Richard. 
Hunt,  Benjamin. 
Ireland,  Joseph. 
Isaac.  Aaron,  Jr. 
Jackson,  David. 
Jackson,  Richard. 
Jackson,  Samuel. 
Jagger,  Abraham. 
Jagger,  Jeremiah. 
Jagger,  Matthew. 
Jarvis,  Joseph. 
Jarvis,  Nathaniel. 
Jarvis,  Seth. 
Jayne,  Robcrr. 
Jayne,  Shadiack. 
Jennings,  Silvanus. 
Jennings,   Stephen. 
Jennings,   Thomas. 
Jennings.  Zebulon. 
Jevis,  Isiah. 
Jessup.  Icaac. 
Jessup.  Zebulon. 
Tohnes.  Thomas. 
Jones.  Benjamin. 


566 


HISTORY    OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Jones,  Elisha. 
Jones,  Jeremiah. 
Jones,  Obadiah. 
Jones,  Thomas. 
Kellum,  Jesse. 
Kellum,  Obadiah. 
Kelly,  Stephen. 
Ketcham,  Daniel. 
Ketcham,  Je?se. 
Ketcham,  John. 
Ketcham,  Joshua,  Jr. 
Ketcham,  Stephen. 
Kiner,  Abraham. 
King,  Alexander. 
King,  Gilbert. 
ECingr,  Samuel. 
Lewis,  Samuel. 
L'Hommedieu,     Benj  amin, 

Jr. 
L'Hommedieu,  Ephraim. 
L'Hommedieu,  Grover. 
L'Hommedieu,  Henry 
L'Hommedieu,  Hudson. 
L'Hommedieu,  John. 
L'Hommedieu,  Mvulford. 
Liscom,  Isaac. 
Lockwood,  John.  * 
Longbottom,  Jacob. 
Longbottom,  Samuel. 
Loper,  Abraham. 
Loper,  James. 
Loper,  John. 
Ludlam,  George. 
Ludlam.,  Jeremiah. 
Ludlam,  Parsons. 
Lupton,  David. 
Lyon,  Henry. 
Maccolum,  Malcom. 
Makes,  Joseph. 
Marvin,  Ephraim. 
Maynor,  Josiah. 
Messeng^er,  Oventon. 
Miller,  David. 
Miller,  Ezekiel. 
Miller,  Hunting. 
Miller,  Joel. 
Miller,  Nathan. 
Miller,  P^leg. 
Miller,  William. 
Mills,  Israel. 
Miills,  Jedidiah. 
Mills',  Jonas,  Jr. 
Mills,  William. 
Mionroe.  David. 
Moore,  Henry. 
Moore,  Thomas. 
Morgan,  John. 
Mulford,  David. 
Mulford,  Elisha. 
Mulford,  John. 
Mulford.  Jonathan. 
Mulford.  M/atthew. 
Mulford,  Samuel. 
Newman,  William. 
Nicoll,  Benjamin,  Jr. 
Nicoll,  Robert. 
Nicolls.  Stephen. 
Norris,  James. 
Norton,  George. 
Nostram,  Jacobus. 


Nostram,  Samuel. 
Oakes,  Simon. 
Osborn,  Abraham. 
Osborn,  Cornelius. 
Osborn,  Joseph. 
Osborn,  Smith  Stratton. 
Osburn,  Jam-es. 
Osman.  Jacob. 
Osman.,  Jonathan. 
Oventon,  James. 
Oventon,  John. 
Overton,  Joel. 
Overton,  Nathaniel-. 
Packin,  Andrew. 
Pain,  John. 
Pain,  Silas. 
Paine,  James. 
Parshall,  James. 
Parshall.  John. 
Parsons.  Samuel. 
Patty,  Ezekiel. 
Patty,  James. 
Payne,  Paul. 
Payne,  Peter. 
Peas,  Matthew. 
Pelletreau,  John. 
Perry,  Edmund. 
Petty,  James,  Jr. 
Pierson,  Abraham. 
Pierson,  Elias. 
Pierson,  Isaac. 
Pierson,  Job. 
Pierson,  John. 
Pierson,  Lemmuel. 
Pierson,  Zachariah. 
Pike,  Amasa. 
Piatt,  Amos.  ' 

Piatt,  Arthur. 
Piatt,  Bbenezer. 
Piatt,  Jeremiah. 
Post,  Jeremiah, 
Ramsons,  Auris. 
Raynor,  Ichabod. 
Raynor,  Joseph. 
Raynor,  Josiah. 
Raynor,  Stephen. 
Raynor,  William. 
Reeve,  Ishmael. 
Reeve,  James. 
Reeve,  Jonathan. 
Reeve,  Luther. 
Reeve,  Obadiah. 
Reeve,  Stephen,  Jr. 
Reeve,  William. 
Reeve,  Barnabas. 
Reeves,  Purr,  Jr. 
Reeves.  Purryor. 
Rei^ner,  Ichabod. 
Revnolds,  Israel. 
Rider,  Jesse. 
Robinson,  Edmund. 
Robinson.  David. 
Rogers,  Abraham. ' 
Ro'gers,  Abraham,  Jr. 
Rogers,  Caleb. 
Rogers,  Jarvis. 
Rogers,  Job. 
Rogers.  John. 
Rogers,  Stephen. 
Rogers,  Topping. 


Rogers,  William. 
Rolph,  Benjamin. 
Rose,  David. 
Rose,  Lemuel. 
Rugg,  Silas. 
Ruland,  David. 
Ruland,  John. 
Ruland,  Luke. 
Ruland,  Zophar. 
Rusco,  David. 
Rusco,  Nathaniel. 
Russell,  David. 
Russell,  Jonathan. 
Ryder,  Stephen. 
Sammis,  Nathaniel. 
Sammis,  Philip. 
Sammis,  David. 
Sammis,  Ebenezer. 
Sammis,  Joseph. 
Sammis,  Piatt. 
Sammis,  Timothy. 
Sammis,  William. 
Sanford,  Abraham. 
Sanford,  Benjamin. 
Sanford,  Daniel. 
Sanford,  David  Howell. 
Sanford,  Lewis. 
Satterly,  Josiah. 
Satturly,  Samuel. 
Sayre,  Abraham. 
Sayre,  Stephen. 
Schellenger,  Isaac. 
Schellenger,  Isaac. 
Schellinger,  Jacob. 
Scribner,  Seth. 
Scudder,  Timothy,  Jr. 
Shaddain,  Henry. 
Shearman,  Anthony. 
Sherrill,  Daniel. 
Sherrill,  Henry. 
Sill.  Wessell. 
Simmons,  Samuel. 
Simons,  Moses. 
Snalling.  William. 
Smith,  Abner. 
Smith,  Arthur. 
Smith,  Charles. 
Smith,  Daniel. 
Smith,  David. 
Smith,  Enenetus. 
Smith,  Floyd. 
Smith,  Gilbert.  Jr. 
Smith,  Hezekiah. 
Smith,  James. 
Smith,  Jeremiah. 
Smith,  Jesse. 
Smith,  Job. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  Joseph. 
Smith,  Josiah. 
Smith,  Lemuel,  Jr. 
Smith,  Matthew. 
Smith,  Nathan. 
Smith,  Nathaniel. 
Smith,  Noah. 
Smith,  Obad. 
Smith,  Obadiah. 
Smith,  Peleg. 
Smith,  Philip. 
Smith,  Silas. 


Smith,  William. 
Smyth,  Sylvester. 
Soaper,  Gilbert. 
Soaper,  Jesse. 
Soaper,  Jonah. 
Soaper,  Moses. 
Solomon,  Jonathan. 
Stanbrough,  Josiah. 
Stanbrough,  Thomas. 
Stephens,  Thomas. 
Still,  William. 
Stratton,  Daniel. 
Stratton,  John. 
Stratton,  Samuel. 
Stratton,  Stephen. 
Strong,  Selah. 
Sweasey,  Daniel. 
Sweasey.  Isaac. 
Sylls,  Phineas. 
Talmage,  Enos. 
Talmage,  Joseph. 
Tanner,  Benjamin. 
Tarbel,  David. 
Taylor,  George. 
Taylor,  Nathaniel. 
Taylor,  William. 
Terril,  James. 
Terry,  Daniel. 
Terry,  Daniel,  Jr. 
Terry,  Elijah. 
Terry,  James. 
Terry,  John. 
Terry,  Joseph. 
Thompson,  Jonathan, 
Thompson,  Zebulon. 
Titus,  Timothy. 
Topping,  Henry. 
Topping,  Jeremiah, 
Topping,  Miatthew. 
Topping:,  Silas. 
Topping,  Zaphaniah. 
Totten,  John. 
Totten,  Losse. 
Tredwell.  Thomas. 
Turner,  Henry. 
Tuthill,  John. 
Tuthill,  Nathan. 
Tuttle,  Jonathan. 
Tuttle,  Joshua. 
Udali.  Nathaniel. 
Udell,  Nathaniel. 
Udke,  Nathaniel 
Viail,  Christopher. 
Vail,  John. 
Vail,  Piatt,  Jr. 
Vail,  Samuel. 
Weed,  Jehiel. 
Weeks,  Jesse. 
Wells,  David. 
Wells,  Isaac 
Wells,  Isiah. 
Wells,  John  Calvin. 
Wells,  Joseph. 
Wells.  Joshua.  Jr. 
Wells,  Mianley. 
Wells,  Nathaniel. 
Wells.  Youngs. 
Wheller,  John. 
Wheller,  Thomas. 
Wheller.  William. 


APPENDIX. 


5C7 


Weldon,  Jonathan. 
White,  Ephraim. 
White,  Memucan. 
White,  Samuel. 
White,  Stephen. 
Whotman,  Nathaniel. 
Wick,  Silvanus. 
Wickes,  Samuel. 
Wicks,  Josiah. 
Williams,  John. 
Williamson,  James. 
Williamson,  Jeddiah. 
Wilmot,  Jesse. 
Wilmot,  Nathaniel. 
Wood.  Epenetus. 


Wood,  Epenetus,  Jr. 
Wood,  Jeremiah. 
Wood,  Jonas. 
Wood,  Joseph. 
Wood,  Richard. 
Woodhull,  Abelenus. 
Woodhull,  James. 
Woodhull,  John. 
Woodhull,  Nathan'. 
Woodruff,  David. 
Woodruff,  Joshua. 
Woodruff,  Silas. 
Wooley,  Charles. 
Youngs,  Nathan. 


SUFFOLK    COUNTY    MILITIA^    THIRD    REGIMENT    OF    MINUTE 
MEN. 


Col.  Thomas  Terry. 
Capt.  Jonathan  Bayley. 
Lieut.  John  Tuthill. 


Lieut.  Joshua  Youngs. 
Ensign  James  Reeve. 


Enlisted  Men. 


Beebe,  Lester. 
Booth,  Prosper. 
Browfn,  Daniel. 
Brown,  James, 
Conkling,  Thomas. 
Demmon,  Jonathan. 
Dickerson,  Nathaniel. 
Drake,  Richard. 
Gardener,  James. 
Glover,  Ezekiel. 
Glover,  Joseph. 
Goldsmith,  John. 
Griffing,  Peter. 
Havens,  John. 
Hemsted.  Thomas. 
Horton,  Benjamin. 
Horton,  Calvin. 
Horton,  David. 
Horton,  James. 
King,  Benjamin. 
King,  Jeremiah. 
King,  John. 
King,  Jonathan. 
Niewbury,  Samuel. 
Overton,  Aaron. 
Pain,  Benjamin. 
Prince,  Thomas. 


Racket,  Absalom  K. 
Racket,  Noah. 
Rogers,  William. 
Rogers,  William. 
Roghers,  William. 
Samon,  Jonathan. 
Salmon,  Joshua. 
Tabor,  Ammon. 
Tabor,  Frederick. 
Terry,  David. 
Terry,  Elijah,  Jr. 
Terry,  Thomas. 
Truman,  David. 
Truman,  Jonathan. 
Tuthill,  Christopher. 
Tuthill,  David. 
Tuthill,  James,  Jr. 
Vail,  Benjamin,  Jr. 
Vail,  Daniel. 
Vail,  Elisha. 
Vail,  Jonathan. 
Vail,  Thomas. 
Wells,  Jonathan. 
Wiggins,  David. 
Wiergins,  William. 
Youngs,  John. 
Youngs,  Joseph. 


As  has  been  shown  in  the  chapter  pertaining  to  the 
Revolutionary  War,  interest  cernters  principally  in 
Colonel  Josiah  Smith's  Regiment.  The  following  ros- 
ters afford  the  most  authentic  information  as  to  the 
constitution  of  that  command.  They  are  taken  from 
original  returns  found  some  years  ago,  by  Mr.  William 
S.  Pelktreau,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  ^  Conkling 
Havens,  of  East  Moriches,  who  (yet  living)  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Colonel  Josiah  Smith. 

CAPT.    PEIRSON's    company. 

A  Return  of  the  extraordinary  musterings  of  the 
Company  of  Minute  men  of  Bridgehampton  according 


to  the  Regulations  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  New 
York  and  they  are  Dr.  as  follows: 

N.  B. — The  training  of  the  29  of  May  was  by  order 
of  Col.  Josiah  Smith  whereby  we  are  exempted  traing 
on  the  3rd  Monday  in  June. 


David  Peirson,  Capt. 

John  Foster,  ist  Lieut. 

Abraham  Rose,  2nd  Lieut. 

Edward  Topping,  Ensign. 

Samuel  White,  Serj. 

David  Woodruff,  Serj. 

Silvanus  Wick,  Serj.,  En- 
ter, into  Continentl.  Serv- 
ice. 

David  Lupton,  Serj. 

Isaac  Pierson,  Corprl. 

Philip  Gildersleeve,  Corpr. 

Joshua  Hildreth,  Corpl. 

Anthony  Shearman,  Corp., 
Entered  into  Conl.  Serv- 
ice. 

William  Gelston,  Fifer. 

James  Foster,  Drummr., 
entered  into  Continetl. 
Service. 

Hugh  Gelston  Qark. 

Zachariah  Pierson. 

Matthew  Topping. 

Abraham  Pierson. 

Armstron  Bishop. 

Job  Pierson. 

Grover  Lhommedieu,  Serj. 

Jeremiah  Bower. 

Silvanus  Conkling. 

Alexander  King. 

Benjamin  Crook. 

Samuel  King. 

John  Corwithe. 

Topping  Rogers. 

Daniel  Sandford. 

Miatthew  Cooper. 

David  Edwards. 

Caleb  Brown. 

David  Tarbel. 

David  Bower. 

Zephan.iah  Topping. 

David  Howell  Sandford. 

Abraham  Halsey. 

Thomas  Halsey. 

Heniry  Corwithe. 

Eohraim  White. 


Stephen  White. 
William  Conn. 
Henry  Edwards. 
Jeremiah  Gardiner, 
Joseph  Hand. 
John  Hand,  Jur. 
Silas  Pain. 
Christopher  Vail. 
Jonathan  Cook. 
David  Inthen  Halsey. 
Hezekiah  Bower. 
Benjamin  Hunt. 
Henry  Moore. 
Henry  Gildersleeve. 
John  Hudson. 
David  Hand,  Jur. 
Abraham  Dickerson. 
Timothy  Hedges,  Jur. 
Silvanus  Halsey. 
Benjamin  Sandford. 
Luther  Hildreth. 
Daniel  Halsey. 
James  Terry. 
Abraham  Sanford. 
David  Smith. 
Lewis  Sandford. 
Moses  Howell. 
David  Howell. 
Henry  Brown. 
Josiah  Rayner. 
Josiah'  Stanbrough. 
Jonathan  Hand. 
Daniel  Skellinger,  Jur. 
David  Russell. 
John  Edwards. 
Nathan  Hedges. 
Phineas  Homan. 
Jeremiah  Bower,  Fifer. 
Jeremiah  Topping. 
Edward  Howell. 
Josiah  Hand. 
Jonathan  Russell. 
Henry  Topping. 
Job  Hedges. 
Caleb  'Corwithe. 


Appeared  before  Me  and  gave  in  upon  Oath  that 
the  above  Persons  as  Named  above  Did  apear  and 
were  under  arms  four  hours  accordirug  to  the  Rules  and 
orders  by  Congress  Delivered  out  for  that  End  and 
Purpose. 

David  Peirson,  Captn. 

Daniel  Howell,  Chairman. 

June  17th,  1776. 

CAPT.   ROGERS'  COMPANY. 

A  Muster  Pool  of  Capt.  Zephaniah  Rogers*  Com- 
pany Whereof  Josiah  Smith  being  first  Colonel  Raised 
for  the  protection  of  the  Inhabitants  and  Stock  of  Long 
Island  Zephaniah  Rogers  being  Capt.  Edward  Topping 
and  Paul  Jones  being  Lieutenants. 


568 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


Hug-h  Gelston,  Sergeant;  age  21;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  S  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  cordwainer. 

Timothy  Halsey,  Sergeant;  age  22;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  10  inches;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  youman. 

David  Lupton,,  Sergeant ;  age,  26 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  blacksmith. 

Jehial  Howell,  Corporal ;  age,  25 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton;  height,  5  feet  10  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  cooper. 

Elias  Peirson,  Corporal ;  age,  28 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  6  feet  6  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Jonathan  Cook,  Corporal ;  age,  22 ;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  5  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  cordwainer. 

Jeremiah  Post,  Drummer ;  age,  17 ;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  yeouman. 

Nathan  Cook,  Fifer ;  age,  14 ;  born,  Southampton  • 
height,  5  feet ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occupation, 
cordwainer. 

Stephen  Sayre,  private;  age,  27;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Jonthan  Whelden.  private ;  age,  44 ;  born,  Nan- 
tucket ;  height,  5  feet  4  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  cooper. 

George  Harris,  private ;  age,  45 ;  'born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Memucan  White,  private;  age,  17;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  i  inch;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  yeoman. 

Silas  Topping,  private;  age,  30;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  .5  feet  6  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  yeoman. 

Charles  Cooper,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  blacksmith. 

Thomas  Johns,  private:  age,  30;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  joiner. 

Stephen  Harris,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

William  Halsey,  private;  age,  21;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  _  5_  feet  8  inches  ;  residence,  Southampton  ; 
occupation,   joiner. 

Jeremiah    Jagger,    private;    age,    16;    born,    South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence.  South- 
ton ;  occupation,  blacksmith. 

Abraham  Rogers,  private;  age,  19;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton;  occupation,  joiner. 

Ephraim  Lhommedieu,  private ;  age,  21 ;  born. 
Shelter  Island :  height.  5  feet  11  inches ;  residence, 
Southampton ;  occupation,  cordwainer. 

Elisha  Clark,  private;  age,  32;  .born.  Southampton-; 
height,  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, yeouman. 

Silas  Woodruff,  orivate ;  age,  31;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  weaver. 

John  Foster,  private;  age,  16;  born.  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  6  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, youman. 


John  Looper,  private ;  age,  36 ;  born,  Southampton ; 
height,  5  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, yeoman. 

James  Norris,  private;  age,  26;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
pation,  youman-. 

John  Tuthill,  private ;  age,  21 ;  born,  Southold ; 
height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, youman. 

Israel  Raynels,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Norwark; 
height,  5  feet  3  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, yeoman. 

Stephen  Jinnings,  private ;  age,  17 ;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  cordwainer. 

John  Bishop,  private ;  age,  25 ;  born,  Southampton ; 
height,  5  feet  10  inches :  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, joiner. 

Calvin  Cook,  private;  age,  34;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, taylor. 

Stephen  Fordham,  private ;  age,  30 ;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton ;   occupation,  yeoman. 

Barnabas  Reeves,  private ;  age,  ,30 ;  born,  Southold ; 
height,  s  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
occupation,  youman. 

James  Howell,  private ;  age,  27 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  batter. 

Joseph  Burnett,  private;  age,  38;  born  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation  yeoman. 

Isaac  Liscomb,  private;  age,  17:  born.  Southamp- 
ton; height,,  5  feet  i  inch;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,   weaver. 

Matthew  Jagger,  private;  age,  26;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  weaver. 

James  Halsey,  private;  age,  23;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  11  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,   yeoman. 

Joshua  Woodruff,  private;  age,  16;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  yeoman. 

Daniel  Stratton,  private ;  age,  23 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,   cordwainer. 

David  Woodruff,  private ;  age.  28 ;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  6  feet ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, joiner. 

Jeremiah  Ludlam,  private;  age,  29;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence  Southamp- 
ton;  occupation,  weaver. 

Silas  Halsey,  private;  age.  24;  born,  Southamtpton ; 
height,  5  feet  10  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, weaver. 

Matthew  Cooper,  private ;  age,  19 ;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence, 'Southamp- 
ton;  occupation,  weaver. 

Abraham  Roger,  Junr.,  private;  age,  17;  born, 
Southampton;  height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  South- 
ampton ;   occupation,  weaver. 

Stephen  Halsey,  private;  age,  19;  born.  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feef  8  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

M-ulford  Lhommedieu,  private;  age.  19;  born, 
Southampton;  height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  South- 
ampton ;  occupation  taylor. 


APPENDIX. 


569 


David  Copper,  private;  age,  39;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

James  Terry,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  6  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, weaver. 

John  Cook,  private ;  age,  21 ;  born,  Southampton ; 
height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, weaver. 

Topping  Rogers,  private;  age,  16;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,   weaver. 

Moses  Howell,  private ;  age,  24 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

James  Halsey,  private ;  age,  20 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton;  height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  shoemaker. 

Ethan  Halsey,  private ;  age,  22 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  heigh't,  6  feet  i  inch ;  residence,  Southampton ;  oc- 
cupation, yeoman. 

Job  Halsey,  private;  age,  16;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  6  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occu- 
pation, yeoman. 

Miallom  Maccolum,  private ;  age,  21 ;  born,  Scot- 
land ;  height,  5  feet  3  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Stephen  Clark,  private ;  age,  16 ;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet;  residence,  Southampton;  occupa- 
tion, yeoman. 

Elias  Matthews,  private;  age,  27;  born,  Southamp- 
ton :  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,  yeoman. 

Matthew  Howell,  private;  age,  16;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  3  inches ;  residence,  South- 
ampton; occupation,  weaver. 

I  do  hereby  Certify  the  within  named  Officers  and 

Soldiers   belonging  to.  Capt.   Zephaniah    Rogers*   Com- 

.  pany  have   been   Mustered  by  me   and  examined   and 

according  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  the;   are  sound 

Healthy  &  able  bodied. 

Southampton,  July  26th.  1776. 
David  Mulford,  Muster  Master  for  Sd  Company. 

CAPT.    MULFORd's    company. 

A  Muster  Roll  of  Caot.  Ezekiel  Mulford's  Company 
in  Col.  Josiah  Smith's  Regiment,  raised  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Inhabitants  and  Stock  on  Long  Island. 
David  Sayre,  first  Lieutenant;  Nathaniel  Hand,  2nd 
Lieut. 

Matthew  Mulford,  Sergeant;  age,  19;  born,  East- 
hampton ;  height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton  ;  occupation,  cordwainer.  '^ 

Lemuel  Pier&on,  Sergeant;  age,  32;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  'height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton;  cccupation,  v/eaver.. 

Henry  Dominy,  Sergeant;  age,  29;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  height,  6  feet  i  inch ;  residence,  Easthampton ;  oc- 
cupation, yeoman. 

Henry  Sherrill,  Corporal;  age,  22;  born,  East- 
hampton;  height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
tor  ;  occupation,  carpenter. 

Benjamin  Crook,  Corporal;  a^e.  32;  born,  Oyster- 
ponds;  height,  5  feet  10  inches;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton;  occupation,  yeoman. 

Ludlam  Parsons,  Corporal;  age,  29;  born,  East- 
hampton;  height,  5  feet  11  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  weaver. 


Thomas  Jones,  Drummer ;  age,  21 ;  born,  East- 
hampton ;  height,  5  feet  5  inches ;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton :  occupation,  weaver. 

Zechariah  Bower,  Fifer;  age,  17;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occupa- 
tion, taylor. 

David  Miller,  private;  age,  19;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ; 
occupation,   fa  rmer. 

Abraham  Osborn,  private ;  age,  19 ;  born,  East- 
hampton;  height.  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  weaver. 

Daniel  Hoppin,  private;  age,  17  years;  born,  East- 
hampton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;   occupation,  farmer. 

Jeremiah  Dayton,  private ;  age,  31 :  born,  East- 
hampton ;  height,  6  feet  2  inches ;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  farmer. 

Joel  Miller,  private;  age,  ly;  born.  Easthampton; 
height,  5  feet  3  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ;  occu- 
pation, weaver. 

Samuel  Stratton,  private;  age_,  17;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  taylor. 

Nathan  Hand,  private;  age,  29;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  11.  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  cordwainer. 

Daniel  Baker,  private ;  age,  21 ;  :born,  Easthampton ; 
height.  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ;  occu- 
pation, taylor. 

Sarnuel  Conkling.  private ;  age,  22 ;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  6  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Zachariah  Hicks,  private;  age,  26;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  height,  s  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ; 
occupation,  taylor. 

Peleg  Miller,^  private  ;  age,  19 ;  born,  Easthampton  ; 
height,  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ;  occu- 
pation, blacksmith. 

Elihu  Hedges,  private;  age,  27;  born.  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  10  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  mariner. 

Joseph  Osborn,  private;  age,  21;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence  Easthampton; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Jeremiah  Barns,  private;  age,  20;  born.  FasthRmn- 
ton;  height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
cccupation.  cordwanier. 

Jonathan  Mulford,  private;  age,  20;  bnrn.  East- 
hampton; height,  5  feet  6  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  weaver. 

Samuel  Parsons,  private;  age,  22;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  cordwainer. 

William  Conkling,  private;  age.  18;  born,  East- 
hampton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  occupation,   weaver. 

Samuel  Mulford,  private;  age.  19;  born.  Easthamp- 
ton; 'height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Benjamin  Conkling,  private;  age.  18;  born,  East- 
hampton; height  5  feet  to  inches;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton; occupation,  cordwainer. 

Joseph  Talmage,  private ;  age,  20 ;  born.  Easthamp- 
ton;  height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occuoation,  weaver. 

William  Miller,  private;  age.  .36;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton;  height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Ea^ 
occupation,  weaver. 


570 


HISTORY  OF   LONG  ISLAND. 


Aaron  Isaac,  Junr.,  private;  age,  23;  born,  East- 
hampton ;  height,  5  feet  8  inches ;  residence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  cordwainer. 

Smith  Stratton  Osborn,  private ;  age,  17 ;  born, 
Easthampton;  height,  5  feet  4  inches;  residence,  East- 
hampton ;  occupation,  cordwainer. 

Isaac  Edwards,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  yeoman. 

Nathan  Miller,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  7  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ; 
occupation,  cordwainer. 

CorneUus  Bassett,  private ;  age,  21 ;  born,  East- 
hampton; height,  5  feet  11  inches;  resid-ence,  Easthamp- 
ton ;   occupation,  cordwainer. 

Daniel  Edwards,  private;  age,  21;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  1 1  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
ton ;  occupation,  weaver. 

Jacob  SkelHnger,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton ;  height,  5  feet  3  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ; 
occupation,  weaver. 

John  Hawks,  private;  age,  19;  born,  Easthampton; 
height,  5  feet  4  inches ;  residence,  Easthampton ;  occu- 
pation, weaver. 

Edward  Bennet,  private;  age,  37;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  yeoman, 

Gamaliel  Bennet,  private;  age,  25;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  5  inches;  residence,  Easthampton; 
occupation,  blacksmith. 

Henry  Moore,  private;  age,  26;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,   cordwainer. 

Jonathan  Hedges,  private;  age,  27;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton ;   occupation,   weaver. 

Job  Pierson,  private;  age,  17;  bom,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, blacksmith. 

William  Halliock,  private;  age,  26;  born,  Southold; 
height,  5  feet  5  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, cordwainer. 

Thomas  Stanbrough,  private;  age,  26;  born,  South- 
ampton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton ;  occupation,  weaver. 

Nathan  Hedges,  private;  age,  17;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  9  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  weaver. 

Paul  Dains,  private;  age,  34;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, mariner. 

John  Pain^  private;  age,  39;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  11  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, yeoman. 

Paul  Payne,  private;  age.  25;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  6  feet ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occupation, 
yeoman. 

Samuel  Davall,  private;  age,  21;  born,  Southamp- 
ton ;  height.  5  feet  10  inches ;  residence,  Southampton ; 
occupation,   weaver. 

Henry  Edwards,  private;  age,  19;  born,  Easthamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  blacksmith. 

Edmund  Perry,  private;  age,  30;  born,  Massachu- 
setts; height,  5  feet  10  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  yeoman. 

Silas  Edwards,  private;  age,  24;  born,  Southamp- 
ton; height,  5  feet  7  inches;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  yeoman. 


Zebulon  Thompson,  private ;  age,  42 ;  born,  Se- 
tauket;  height,  5  feet  i  inch;  residence,  Southampton; 
occupation,  taylor. 

Joseph  Hand,  private ;  age,  20 ;  born,  Easthampton ; 
height,  5  feet  8  inches;  residence,  Easthampton;  occu- 
pation, weaver. 

Peter  Payne,  private ;  age,  28 ;  born,  Southampton ; 
height,  6  feet ;  residence,  Southampton ;  occupation,  yeo- 
man. 

James  Loper,  private;  age,  39;  born,  Southampton; 
height,  5  feet  11  inches;  residence,  Southampton;  occu- 
pation, yeoman. 

Matthew  Howell,  private;  age,  20;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  9  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  cordwainer. 

Wakeman  Foster,  private ;  age,  22 ;  born,  South- 
ampton ;  height,  5  feet  6  inches ;  residence,  Southamp- 
ton; occupation,  yeoman. 

I  do  hereby  Certify  that  the  within  named  Officers 
and  Soldiers  belonging  to  Capt.  Ezekiel  Mulfords 
Company  have  been  Mustered  by  me  and  Examined 
and  According  to  the  -best  of  my  knowledge  they  are 
sound  Healthy  and  Able  Bodied. 

Easthampton,  July  26th,   1776. 
David  Mulford,  Muster  Master  for  Sd.  Comp. 

CAPT.     PLATT's    company. 

_A  Return  of  a  Company  of  Minute-men  raised  in 
Smithtown  and  the  eastern  Parts  of  Huntington.  Their 
Enlistment  to  commence  the  7th  Day  of  April,  1776, 
at  which  time  they  chose  the  following  Officers   (viz.)  : 

« 
Nathaniel  PlaU,  Capt.  Lemuel  Smith,  junr. 

Samuel  Smith,  ist  Lieut.      William  Gerrard. 
Henry  Scudder,  2nd  Lieut.  William  Wheeler. 
Benjn.  Blatsley,  Ensign.        Gilbert  Smith,  junr. 
John  Lockwood,  ist  Sergt.  Jonah  Soaper. 
Jonas     Mills,     junr.,     2nd  Jacob  Conklin. 

Sergt.  David  Sammis. 

John  Vail,  3d  Sergt.  Epenetus  Wood,  junr. 

Abner  Smith,  4th  Ser^.        James  Hubbel. 
Jesse  Soaper,  ist  Corporl.     Jesse  Carle,  junr. 
Nathaniel  Smith,  2nd  Cor-  John  Huff. 

porl.  William  Davis. 

Benjamin  Nicoll,  junr.,  3d  Stephen  Ketcham. 

Corporl.  Totten. 

'Joseph  Smith,  4th  Corporl.  Daniel  Blatsley. 
William    Newman,    Drum-  Silas  Smith. 

mer.  Nehemiah  Brush,  junr. 

,  Fifer.  James  Brian. 

Thomas  Tredwell,  Clerk.       Phinehas  Sylls. 
Jeremiah  Piatt.  Lemuel  Brian. 

Epenetus  Smith.  Moses  Soaper. 

Jacobus  Hubbs.  Jeremiah  Smith. 

Stephen  Nicolls.  John  Ruland. 

John  Gerrard.  Timothy  Scudder,  junr. 

John  Lhomedieu.  Gilbert  Soaper. 

Daniel  Blidenburg.  Jeremiah  Wood. 

Piatt  Arthur.  John  Totten. 

Stephen  Rogers.  Zoohar  Ruland. 

Robert  Nicoll.  William  Buchannan. 

Jacob  Longbottom, 

A  later  return  is  as  follows: 

Pay  Roll  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Piatt's  Company  in 
Col.  Josiah  Smith's  Regiment  of  New  York  Militia, 
1776.      Pay  drawn  from  July  26  to  Dec.  2. 

Nathaniel  Piatt,  Captain.     Pay  per  month  ;£io,  13,  4. 

Samuel   Smith,   ist  Lieut.,  £7,  4,  o. 


APPENDIX. 


571 


Henry  Scudder,  2nd  Lieut,  i'j,  4  o. 
John  Hadden,  Sergeant,  £3,  4,  o. 
John   Carl,    Sergeant,   ^3,  4,   o. 
Jesse  Bunts  (?),  Sergenat,  £3,  4  o. 
Jacobus  Hubbs,  Corporal,  i2,  18,  8. 
John   Hart,   Corporal,   £2,    18,  8. 
Jedediah  Mills,  Corp<')ral,  £2,  18,  8. 
Wm.    Nemwan,   Drummer,  £2,    18,   8. 
Matthew  Smith,  Fifer,  £2,  18,  8. 
Daniel  Smith,  Private,  £2,  13,  4. 


Ntathaniel  Tayler. 
Ebenezer  Wood. 
Israel  Mills. 
Nathaniel  Smith. 
Nathaniel  Sammis. 
Nehemiah  Brush. 
Wm.  Mills. 
Job  Smith. 
David  Smith. 
Henry  Chadayne. 
Thomas  Wheeler. 
Silas  Briggs. 
Floyd  Smiith. 
James  Hubbell. 
Moses  Soper. 
Straton  Brien. 
Hezekiah  Smith. 
Nahan  Smith. 
Philip  Bayley. 
Wm.  Gates. 
Jonas  Wood. 
James  Smith. 
Seth  Jarvis. 


John  Bayley. 
John  Gildersleve. 
Isaac  Hoff. 
Jesse  Weeks. 
James-  Abbott. 
Simon  Oakes. 
James  Hoff. 
Scudder  Carl. 
Lemuel  Rose. 
Luke  Ruland. 
Matthew  Beal. 
Wm.  Tayler. 
Wm.  Smalling. 
Nehemiah  Hart. 
James  Griffiths. 
George  Beal. 
John  West. 
Joseph  Skidmore. 
Eliphalet  Hill. 
Reuben  Arthur. 
Alex.  Fleet, 
Thomas  Peters. 
David  M'unro. 


CAPT,    JOHN    WICKES    COMPANY. 

Return  of  Capt.  John  Wickes*  Company  from 
Huntington  for  serveing  in.  Coll.  Josiah  Smith's  Regi- 
ment from  July  the  29th  to  August  31st,  1776. 

Capt     I 

First   Lieutenant    i 

Second   Lieutenant    T . . .   r 

Sergeants     3 

Corporals      3 

Drummer    i 

Fifer    i 

Privates    36 

Total    


John  Wickes,  Capt. 
Thomas  Brush,  ist  Lieut. 
Nathaniel      Whitman,      2d 

Lieut. 
Jesse  Ketcham,  Segt. 
Timothy  Sammis,  Segt. 
Samuel  Vail,  Segt. 
Nathll.  Rusco,  Corperal. 
Ezra  Conkling,  Corpl. 
Stephen  Keley,  Corpl. 
John  Williams.  Drum. 
John  Bennett,  Fifer. 
William  Sammis. 
Samuel  Nostran. 
Robert  Brush. 
Jonas  Sammis. 
Thomas  Conkling. 
Joseph  Wood. 


Jesse  Smith. 
Alexander  Bryant. 
Josiah  Smith. 
Joseph  Ireland. 
George  Everit. 
Nathaniel  Allen. 
Isaiah  Jervis. 
Peleg  Smith. 
Ntathaniel  Udale. 
Jonas  Higbee. 
Nathaniel  Jarvis. 
Joseph  Jarvis. 
Caleb  Roerers. 
Samuel  Wickes. 
Stephen  Stratten. 
Obediah  Kellum. 
John  M.  Gear. 
Piatt  Sammis. 


Benjamin  Denton. 
Philip  Sammis. 
James  Brush. 
Ebenezer  Sammis. 
Gilbert  Brush. 
Joseph  Conkling. 


David  Ruland. 
Nathel.  Sammis. 
Eliphalet  Chichester. 
Samuel  Hart. 
Enos  Bishop. 
Jesse  Wilmot. 


CAPT.    THOMAS   WICKES     COMPANY. 

Capt.  Thomas  Wickes,  Esq. 
Lieut.    Timothy   Cokling. 
Second  Lieut.   Isaac   Carl  Ket,cham. 
Ensign  Nathaniel  Williams,  Junr. 


Jeams  Brush. 
John  Ketcham. 
John  Gould. 
Obediah  Smith. 
George  Norton. 
Amos  Piatt 
Daniel  Ketcham. 
Philip  Sammis. 
Robert  Brush. 
Samuel  Nostran. 
John  'Morgan. 
John  Wheeler. 
Jarvis  Rogers. 
Gilbert  Brush. 
Ezra  Conkling. 
Silasi  Smith. 
Josiah  Smith. 
David  Rusco. 
Nathaniel  Rusco. 
Benjamin  Rolph. 
Jesse  Kellum. 


Isaac  Davison. 
Charles  Durree. 
Ebenezer  Piatt. 
Piatt  Vail,  Junr. 
Caleb  Rogers, 
Joseph  Jarvis. 
William  Rogers. 
Nathaniel  Hole. 
Josua  Ketcham,  Junr. 
Joseph  Smith. 
Timothy  Titus. 
Jeams  Smith. 
Nathaniel  Whitman, 
Jacobus  Nostran. 
Nathaniel  Wilmot. 
John  Conkling. 
Samuel  Jackson. 
David  Jackson. 
Samuel  Lewis. 
Eliphalet  Brush. 


Sir,  this  is  a  List  of  the  men  that  Belong  to  my 
Company  and  all  Except  one  are  Equipt  and  have  got 
some  Amunition  as  to  make  a  Compleat  Return,  at 
Present  I  Cannot  for  their  is  ai  Considerable  Number 
that  have  not  yet  turn'd  out  General  Woodhull  & 
Coll  Floyd  you  mav  Remember  told  the  officers  that 
they  Need  not  be  Exact  about  the  Number  &  from 
that  the  Oficers  have  Done  nothing  about  Compleating 
their  Compliment  &  the  Draft  that  Way  made  jto 
Smith  town  makes  this  Company  So  Small. 

CAPT.    SELAH    STRONG'S  LIST. 


Selah  Strong,  Captain. 
Willm.  Clark,  ist  Lieut. 
Calebs  Brewister,  2d  Lieut. 
Nathaniel  Brewster,  Ensign 
Selah  Strong,  1st  Sergt. 
Jahiel  Weed,  2d. 
Joseph  Gerrard,  3d. 
James  Woodhull,  4th. 
Nathan  Woodhull  Clark. 
Benjm.  Gerrard,  Corporal, 
Henry  Lyon,  Corporal. 
Richard  Huls,  Corporal. 
Daniel  Davis,  drummer. 
Lazarus  Guyer,  fifer. 
Zopher  Hawkings. 
David  Gray. 
Abelenus  Woodhull. 
Arthur  Smith. 
Abner  Smith. 
Robert  Jayne. 


John  Oventon. 
William  Davis. 
Henry  Turner. 
James  Orsburn, 
Wessel  Sill. 
John  Woodhull. 
Samuel  Hopkins. 
Edmund  Robinson. 
Timothy  Davis. 
Joshua  Tuttle. 
Benjm.  Jones. 
Jesse  Rider. 
Shadrack  Jayne. 
Seth  Scribner. 
Andrew  Pachin. 
Obediah  Reeve. 
Gersham  Hawkings. 
David  Robinson. 
Joseph  Raner. 
Jonathan  Thompson. 


572 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


Joseph  Terry. 
Joseph  Homan. 
Francis  Barto. 
Daniel  Brown. 
Selah  Havens. 
Isaiah  Mosier. 
John  Smith. 
Philip  Smith. 
Joseph  Wells. 
Daniel  Smith. 
Jonas  Hawkings. 
John  Hawkings. 
Samuel  Longbottom. 
Eleazer  Hawkings. 
John  Akerly. 


Jeddediah  Williamson. 
David  Hulse. 
Alexand.  Hawkings. 
John  Baley. 
John  Brewster. 
Samuel  Satturly. 
Willm.  Edwards. 
Miathias  Davis. 
Isaac  Sweasey. 
Willm.  Still. 
Zophar  Garrard. 
Josiah  Satturly. 
James  Oventon. 
Jonahan  Howel. 
Daniel  Sweasey. 
M'essenger  Oventon. 

the   number  of  privets  59. 

CAPT.   LUDLAM's  return. 

Captain    i 

Lieutenants    2 

Sergeants    2 

Corporals     2 

Drummer    i 

Fifer    i 

Effective  Men   26 

Sick :....  4 

Deserters    8 

I  absent  Being  a  Committee  man. 

Total 

A  List  of  Capt.  Ludlam's  Men  Belonging  to  Coin. 
Smiths  Ridgment  August  22th.  1776. 

(Signed)    Capt.  Ludlam. 

Stephen  Higbie.  John  'Goldsmith,  Jr. 

Charles  Smith.  Joel  Overton,  Dead. 

Willm.  Smith.  Richard  Drake. 

George  Ennis.  Nahan  Corwin. 

Benjm.  Tanner.  John  Halliock. 

Samuel  Simmons.  Ruben  Brown. 

Auris  Ramson.  Nathan  Benjamin. 

Garrit  Ditmas.  Richard  Halliock. 

Drum.  James  Parshall.  David  Brown.  Dead. 

Gilbert  King.  John  Parshall. 

The  above  have  Received  their  pay  for  the  whole 
of   their   Service.  Capt.    Reeves. 

CAPT.    PAUL    reeve's    COMPANY. 

A  Muster  Role  of  Capt.  Paul  Reeve'  Company 
Draughtd  out  of  Coll.  Thos.  terry'  Rigment  Mustrd 
by  the   Sd  Coll.      Whareof  Josiah   Smith  is   Coll. 

Southold,  Augst  5th,  1776. 

Paul  Reeve,  Captain ;  ^tatture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  com- 
plection,  dark;  age,  42;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Corwin,  Lieutenant ;  statture  5  feet  9  inches ; 
complection,  light ;  age,  41 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Joshua  Benjamin,  Lieutenant;  statture,  5  feet  8 
inches;  complection,  dark;  age,  28;  acutriments  com- 
pleat. 

Whelock  Booth,  Sergeant;  statture,  5  feet  6  inches; 
complection,  dark ;  age,  34 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Nathl.  Conkling,  Sergeant;  statture  5  feet  10 
inches;  complection,  dark;  age,  36;  acutriments  com- 
pleat. 


Steers  Hubbard,  Sergeant;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches; 
complection,  dark ;  age,  23 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Jonathen  Sollomon,  Corporal;  statture,  5  feet  10 
inches ;  complection,  dark ;  age,  33 ;  acutriments  com- 
pleat. 

Constant  Haven,  Corporal;  statture,  5  feet  10 
inches ;  complection,  dark ;  age,  45 ;  acutriments  com- 
pleat. 

Joshua  Well,  Corporal;  statture,  S  feet  10  inches; 
complection,  dark;  age,  34;  acutriments  compleat. 

James  Pershall,  l3rummer ;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches ; 
complection,  dark ;  age,  22 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Fradrik  Huds'on,  Fifer;  statture,  5  f-eet  9 
inches;  complection,  dark;  age,  20;  acutriments  com- 
pleat. 

Nathl.  Overton;  statture,  6  feet;  complection,  dark; 
age,  24 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Goldsmith;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark ;  age,  29 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Gilbert  King:  statture,  5  feet  6  inches;  complection, 
light;  age,  r8;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Goldsmith  Jr. ;  statture,  5  feet  i  inch ;  com- 
plection, dark;  age,  19;  acutriments  compleat. 

Joil  Overtorn ;  statture,  6  feet ;  complection,  dark ; 
age,  21 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Richard  Drake;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  19;  acutriments  compleat. 

Stephen  Halsey;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  19;  acutriments  compleat. 

Joseph  Cleavland;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches;  com- 
paction, dark;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

Ishmel  Reeve;  statture,  5  feet  11  inches;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  23;  acutriments  compleat. 

Ichobod  Case ;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  24;  acutriments  compleat. 

Elijah  Terry;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches;  complection, 
dark;  age,  19;  acutriments  compleat. 

Calven  Horton ;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches ;  com- 
plection, leight;  age,  20;  acutriments  compleat. 

David  Benjamin ;  statture,  5  feet ;  complection,- 
leight;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

Luther  Reeve ;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Calven  Wells;  statture,  5  feet  4  inches;  com- 
plection, dark ;  age,  16 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

George  Taylor ;  statture,  5  feet  4  inches ;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  48;  acutriments  compleat. 

James  Reeve ;  statture,  S  feet  6  inches ;  complection^ 
dark;  age,  24;  acutriments  compleat. 

Joshua  Corwin;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark ;  age,  42 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Griffing;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age.  38;  acutriments  compleat. 

Joshua  Wells  jr.;  statture,  5  feet;  complection, 
dark;  age,  16;  acutriments  compleat. 

Peter  Downs ;  statture,  5  feet  5  inches ;  complection, 
dark  ;  age,_  47  ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Jeremiah  Corwin ;  statture,  5  feet  4  inches ;  com- 
plection, dark ;  age,  41 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Isaac  Wells;  statture,  6  feet;  complection,  dark; 
age,  30:  acutriments  compleat. 

Joshua  Aldridge;  statture,  5  feet  9  inches;  com- 
plection, dark ;  age,  25 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Peter  Hallock;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark ;  age,  22 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Nathen  Corwin ;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  27;  acutriments  complete. 

Thomas  Corwin ;  statture.  5  feet  10  inches ;  com- 
plection, leight;  age,  22;  acutriments  compleat. 


APPENDIX. 


573 


Nathen  Youngs;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches;  com- 
plection,  dark;  age,  22;  acutriments  compleat. 

Nathen  Corwin,  jr.;  statture,  5  feet;  complection, 
dark;  age,  16;  acutriments  compleat. 

Samuel  Hudson ;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches ;  com- 
plection,  dark;  age,  ;^'/;  acutriments  compleat. 

Richard  Benjamin;  statture,  5  feet  4  inches;  com- 
plection,  leight;  a:g€,  18;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Hallock ;  statture,  5  feet  6  inches ;  compac- 
tion, leight;  age,  23;  acutriments  compleat. 

Jonathen  Reeve ;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  complec- 
tion,  dark ;  age,  32 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Ruben  Brown ;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches ;  complec- 
tion,  leight;  age,  39;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Terry;  statture,  5  feet  9  inches;  complection, 
leight ;  age,  22 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Nathen  Benjamin ;  statture,  6  feet ;  complection, 
dark;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

Ebenezer  Hudson ;  statture,  5  feet  3  inches ;  com- 
plection, leight;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Tuthill ;  statture,  5  feet  6  inches ;  complection, 
dark ;  age,  46 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Richard  Wood;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches;  complec- 
tion; dark;  age,  36;  acutriments  compleat. 

Richard  Hallock;  statture,  5  feet  5  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

Amaziah  Benjamin;  statture,  5  feet  3  inches;  com- 
plection, dark ;  age,  35 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Richard  Brown;  statture,  5  feet  11  inches;  com- 
plecton,   dark ;  age,  23 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

David  Brown;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  29;  acutriments  compleat. 

William  Reeve;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches;  complec- 
tion, leight ;  age,  21 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Nathl.  Fanning;  statture,  5  feet  11  inches;  com- 
plection, leight;  age,  21 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

Amasa  Pike ;  statture,  5  feet  5  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  17;  acutriments  compleat. 

Daniel  Terry ;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark ;  age,  19 ;  acutriments  compleat. 

John  Pershall ;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  19;  acutriments  compleat. 

James  Detty  jr.;  statture,  5  feet  11  inches;  com- 
plection. leight;  age,  24;  acutriments  compleat. 

57  Men. 

LIEUT.    JOSHUA    YOUNGS'    COMPANY. 

Draughtd  and  Mustrd  as  above,  into  Col.  Smith's 
Regiment : 

Joshua  Youngs,  Lieutenant;  statture,  5  feet  7  in- 
ches ;  complection,  dark ;  age,  25 ;  compleat. 

Jeremiah  King,  Sergeant;  statture,  5  feet  10 
inches  ;  complection,  dark  ;  age,  38  ;  compleat. 

Absolom  K.  Racket,  Corporal ;  statture,  5  feet  8 
inches ;  complection,  leight ;  age,  3$ ;  compleat. 

Jonathen  Dimmon ;  statture,  5  feet  9  inches ;  com- 
plection, leight:  age,  20;  compleat. 

Jonathan  Vail ;  statture,  5  feet  6  inches ;  complec- 
tion, leight ;  age,  16 ;  compleat. 

Lester  Beebee;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark  ;  age,  22 ;  compleat. 

John  King ;  statture,  5  feet  9  inches ;  complection, 
dark  ;  age,  20  ;  compleat. 

Christopher  Tuthill;  statture,  5  feet;  complection. 
dark;  age,  16;  compleat. 

David  Tuman ;  statture,  5  feet  i  inch ;  complection, 
dark;  age,  16;  compleat. 


Amon  Tabor ;  statture,  5  feet  6  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  30;  compleat. 

Fradrik  Tabor;  statture,  5  feet  4  inches;  complec- 
tion, dark ;  age,  26 ;  compleat. 

Jonathen  Truman ;  statture,  5  feet  9  inches ;  com- 
plection, dark;  age,  30;  compleat. 

David  Tuthill ;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  19;  compleat. 

Noah  Racket ;  statture,  5  feet  5  inches ;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  18;  compleat. 

Samuel  Newbury;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches;  com- 
plection, leight ;  age,  25  ;  compleat. 

William  Wiggins ;  statture,  5  feet  5  inches ;  com- 
plection, dark;  age,  16;  compleat. 

John  Youngs ;  statture,  5  feet  2  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  16;  compleat. 

Daniel  Vail;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches;  complection, 
dark ;  age,  25 ;  compleat. 

Jonathen  Conkling;  statture,  5  feet  10  inches;  com- 
plection, dark  ;  age,  22 ;  compleat. 

William  Webb ;  statture,  5  feet  7  inches ;  complec- 
tion, dark;  age,  $3;  compleat. 

Thomas  Vail;  .statture  5  feet  10  inches;  complec- 
tion, leight;  age,  30;  compleat. 

Daniel  Brown;  statture.  5  feet  9  inches;  complec- 
tion, leight ;  age,  18 ;  compleat. 

John  Havens ;  statture,  5  feet  8  inches ;  complec- 
tion, light;  age,  20;  compleat. 

22  Men.  ■ 

■Lieut.  Joshua  Youngs  Company  Mustrd  as  above. 

Thos.  Terry,  Coll. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Captain  Selah  Strong  was  born  December  25th, 
1737.  He  was  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  in 
1775-  After  the  war  he  served  as  State  Senator,  1792- 
96,  and  as  first  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
1783-93.  He  was  married.  Novem^ber  9,  1760,  to  Anna, 
daughter  of  William  Henry  Smith,  of  Mastic.  Their 
children  were :  Keturah,  wife  of  James  Woodhull ; 
"Thomas  S.,  Judge  of.  Suffolk  County;  Margaret,  wife 
of  Joseph  Strong;  Benjamin;  William  S. ;  Joseph;  and 
John  W.  Strong.  After  a  long  and  useful  life,  Mr. 
Strong,  died  at  his  homestead  on  St.  George's  Manor, 
near  Setauket.  His  monument  in  the  village  cemetery 
bears  the  following  inscription: 

"Selah  Strong,  born  25th  December,  1757.  Died 
4th  July,  181S. 

"Possessing  by  nature  strong  intellectual  endow- 
ments, a  vigorous  and  active  constitution,  he  was  useful 
in  the  various  offices  of  life.  To  the  public  he  rendered 
important  services,  and  by  the  poor,  his  neighbors  and 
his  children,  his  virtues  will  be  held  in  long  and  affec- 
tionate remembrance." 

Captain  Thomas  Wickes  was  born  at  Huntington, 
August  10,  1744.  His  great-great-grandfather,  Thomas 
Weekes,  came  to  America  in  1635,  and  was  one  of  the 
settlers  of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  and  moved  to 
Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island,  before  16.S4.  He  was  one  of 
the  patentees  of  Huntington  in  1666.  He  married  Isa- 
bel, daughter  of  Richard  Harcut,  of  Oyster  Bay,  and 
died  in'  1691,  leaving  seven  children — Thomas  (2"), 
John,  Rebecca,  Martha.  Elizabeth,  M(ary  and  Sarah. 
Thomas  (2)  was  born  about  1651,  and  left  sons,  Philip, 
Samuel  Joseph  and  Thomas  (3).  Thomas  (3)  had 
son  Eliohalet  (born  1708,  died  1761),  who  married 
(ist)    Hannah   Piatt  and    (2nd)    Jemima,   daughter   of 


574 


HISTORY  OF   LONG   ISLAND. 


Jonathan  Scudder,  and  left  children,  Margaret,  wife  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Allen;  Hannah,  wife  of  John  Brush; 
Mary,  wife  of  the  Rev.  John  Close;  and  Captain 
Thomas  Wickes,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Captain  Wickes  was  a  man  of  influence  in  Suf- 
folk Co'Unty,  and  took  a  decided  stand  in  favor  of  the 
Revolution.  He  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  and  captain  of  a  company  in  Colonel  Smith's 
regiment.  After  the  battle  of  Long  Island  he  moved 
with  his  family  to  Norwalk,  Connecticut.  An  epidemic 
of  dysentery  was  then  raging,  and  three  of  his  children 
died  and  were  buried  in  one  grave.  He  was  also  at- 
tacked, and  barely  escaped  with  his  life.  After  his  re- 
covery he  went  with  the  troops  to  Fishkill,  and  served 
in  the  quartermaster's  department  with  the  rank  of 
major,  and  remained  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  legislature  of  New  York  from  1776 
until  the  end  of  the  war.  As  no  elections  could  be 
held  on  Long  Island,  the  members  were  appointed  by 
ordinance,  and  were  called  "ordinance  members."  He 
was  a  valuable  agent  to  Washington  and  Governor 
Clinton,  and  was  frequently  sent  to  Long  Island  to 
obtain  information,  and  he  was  also  commissioned  by 
Governor  Clinton  to  borrow  money  for  the  use  of  the 
Government,  which  he  obtained  to  a  considerable 
amount.  During  the  war  his  property  at  Huntington 
was  appropricCted  by  his  brother-in-law,  a  Tory,  and 
Captain  Wickes,  on  his  return,  found  it  greatly  dilapi- 
dated and  run  down.  He  sold  it  and  removed  to  a 
farm  at  Babylon.  He  was  appointed  High  Sheriff  of 
Suffolk  County,  and  held  the  office  for  eight  years.  In 
1795  he  sold  his  farm  at  Babylon  and  purchased  Lit- 
tle Neck,  a  tract  of  300  acres  at  Flushing.  Here  he 
remained  u^^til  1813,  when  he  sold  it  and  removed  to 
Jamaica,  where  he  died  November  30,  1819,  and  resits 
in  the  old  burial  ground  of  that  village.  He  died  in 
the  peace  of  the  gospel.  ^ 

Captain  Wickes  married  (ist)  Sarah  Brush,  (2nd) 
Abigail,  daughter  of  Barent  Van  Wyck.  He  left  four 
children — Van  Wyck,  Hannah,  'Eliphalet  and  Harriet. 
Eliphalet  Wickes  was  born  in  1769,  and  his  boyhood 
was  spent  in  the  army  with  his  father.  At  the  time 
of  the  storming  of  Stony  Point  he  carried  dispatches" 
announcing  the  event  to  General  Gates,  at  Providence, 
and  was  highly  praised  for  his  energy.  He  chose  the 
profession  of  law,  and  studied  in  the  office  of  Abraham 
Skinner,  of  Jamaica,  where  he  passed  his  entire  pro- 
fessional life.  He  was  the  first  positmaster  of  that 
place,  and  held  the  office  many  years.  In  1835  he  re- 
moved to  Troy,  where  he  died  June  7,  1850.  The  chil- 
dren of  Eliphalet  Wickes  were  the  Rev.  Thomas  Scud- 
der,  born  1795,  died  at  Poughkeepsie,  November  30, 
1876;   Eliza,   wife  of  Dr.    Alden   Allen;    Frances,   wife 


of  the  Rev.  John  'Blatchford,  D.  D. ;  Harriet,  wife  of 
Henry  Punnett ;  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Wickes. 

Van  Wyck  Wickes  was  born  April  29,  1779,  and 
returned  to  Long  Island  with  his  father.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Academy  in  Jamaica.  Preferring  a  country- 
life,  he  lived  at  his  father's  estate  at  Little  Neck  until 
1813,  when  he  removed  to  Jamaica  and  resided  there 
until  1836,  removing  to  Troy,  New  York.  In  1851  he 
went  to  reside  with  his  eldest  son,  in  Orange,  New 
Jersey,  and  died  there  June  13,  1865.  His  remains 
were  buried  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  with  his  kindred. 
He  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  major 
general  of  militia.  He  married  Eliza,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Herriman,  of  Jamaica.  His  children  are  Dr. 
Stephen  B.,  of  Orange,  New  Jersey;  Thomas  (Rev., 
D.  D.)  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Lucius  T.  Rossiter;  William 
W. ;  Henry  (Rev.)  ;  John  (Rev.)  ;  and  Van  Wyck. 

Captain  Zephaniah  Rogers,  who  commanded  one 
of  the  companies  of  Colonel  Smith's  Suffolk  County 
Regiment,  was  son  of  Captain  Obadiah  Rogers,  of 
Southampton,  and  was  born  June  25,  1742.  After  the 
battle  of  Long  Island  he  fled  to  Connecticut,  "but  re- 
turned after  the  war  to  his  native  village,  where  he 
lived  an  uneventful  life.  He  died  October  29,  1796, 
and  rests  in  the  North  end  burying  ground  of  South- 
ampton. His  great-grandson,  Captain  Jetur  R.  Rog- 
ers, lately  lived  upon  the  old  homestead. 

Captain  Thomas  Terry,  who  commanded  a  com- 
pany in  the  Third  Suffolk  County  Regiment,  was  a 
son  of  Thomas  (4),  son  of  Thomas  (3),  son  of  Thomas 
(2),  son  of  Thomas  Terry,  who  came  from  England 
in  1635.  He  was  born  at  Oysterponds  (now  Orient), 
Long  Island,  in  1726,  and  served  as  captain  of  a  com- 
pany in  the  French  "war  in  1758.  After  the  battle  of 
Long  Island  he  went  to  Sayibrook,  Connecticut,  where 
his  family  had  removed,  and  died  there  in  1777.  No 
tombstone  marks  his  resting  place.  Capt.  Terry  mar- 
ried (ist)  Sybil  King.  May,  1748,  (2nd)  Abigail  Hav- 
ens, 1752,  and  (3d)  Miary,  widow  of  Luther  Moore. 
His  children  were  Sybil,  wife  of  Amos  Taber;  Thomas, 
who  married  Julia  Wiggins ;  Ruth,  -wife,  of  Daniel  Tut- 
hill ;  Abigail,  who  married  (ist)  Benjamin  King,  of 
Orient,  and  (2nd)  John  C.  Terry,  of  Aquebogue;  Me- 
hitabel,  wife  of  Richard  Chadwich,  of  Connecticut; 
Constant,  who  married  Sybil  Case,  of  Goshen,  New 
York;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Christopher  Tuthill ;  Samuel, 
who  was  murdered  at  the  massacre  of  St.  Domingo; 
David,  who  was  lost  at  sea ;  Bethiah ;  and  Mary.  His 
grandson,  George  W.  Chadwich.  resides  at  Lyme,  Con- 
necticut. Another  grandson.  Noah  T.  Terry,  lives 'at 
Holtsville,  Suffolk  County,  New  York. 


APPENDIX. 


II. 

SUFFOLK    COUNTY   SOLDIERS    IN    THE    WAR   OF   THE    REBELLION. 


[Unless  Otherwise  stated  the  regiment  given  was  an  organization 
belonging  to  New  York  State.] 


REGIMENT 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR  SERVICE. 

Acker,  JohnD., 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

Ackerly,  Ira  W., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Ackerly,  Nathan  S., 

Northport, 

48th. 

Ackerly,  Samuel, 

Northport, 

40th. 

Ackerly,  Edwin, 

Northport, 

Navy. 

Ackerly,  Wm.N., 

Brookhaven. 

Ackerly,  Hy  E., 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Adriance,  Francis, 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

Alberson,  Wm.'G., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Albin,  Ebenezer, 

Brookhaven, 

2nd  Cav. 

Albin,  John  W., 

E.  Moriches, 

102nd. 

Albin,  James  M, 

Patchogue, 

145th. 

Albin,  Jeremiah, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Albin,  John  E., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Albin,  Daniel  E., 

Riverhead, 

52nd. 

Albin,  Geo.  Thos.  B., 

Brookhaven, 

Albin,  Wm.  J., 

Brookhaven. 

Albin,  Samuel, 

Brookhaven. 

Albin,  John  E.,  Jr., 

Brookhaven, 

12th. 

Aldrich,  Daniel  W., 

Sayville, 

2nd  Metropol. 

Aldrich,  James  B., 

127th. 

Alexander,  Wm., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Allen,  Jonathan, 

Fort  Wagner, 

48th. 

Allen,  Jeremiah, 

Amangansett, 

48th. 

Allen,  John, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Allyn,  George  H., 

1(55  th. 

Anderson,  Benjamin, 

Brookhaven, 

99th. 

Anderson,  John  J., 

Brookhaven, 

2nd  Cav. 

Arch,  Ephraim  (colored), 

Quogue, 

Navy. 

Armstrong,  Robert, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Arnold,  John  E., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Austin,  Wm.  E., 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Austin,  Sineus  R., 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Avery,  Thos.  D., 

Greenport, 

165th. 

Babcock,  Lodowick, 

Sag  Harbor. 

Babcock,  Gilbert  A., 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Bachelor,  Jos.  S  , 

Bacon,  James, 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

REGIMENT 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR  SERVICE. 

Bailey,  Wm.  B., 

Springs, 

127th. 

Bailey,  John, 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

Bainer,  Jacob, 

Huntington, 

54th. 

Baker,  James, 

Sayville, 

2nd  Cav. 

Baker,  Hy.  L., 

Easthampton, 

127th  and  54  th. 

Baker,  David  J., 

Easthampton, 

,   1st  Me.  Art. 

Baker,  Wm.  H., 

Baldwin,  Jacob, 

Baldwin,  David, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Bancker,  Abram, 

Patchogue, 

5th. 

Barber,  George  L., 

Centerville, 

127th. 

Barclay,  James, 

Southampton, 

,  6th  Cav. 

Barrett,  George  W., 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Barto,  Edw.   A., 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

Batcher,  John, 

E.  Setauket, 

57th.  ■ 

Batcher,  Theodore, 

E.  Setauket, 

57th. 

Batcher,  Wm.  J., 

Mattituck, 

5th  Conn. 

Baxter,  Thos., 

Southold, 

6th  Cav. 

Bayles,  Albert  E., 

Middle  Island 

.  139th. 

Bayles,  Edw.  F., 

Middle  Island 

,  139th. 

Baylis,  John  S,, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Beale,  David  B., 

Patchogue, 

139th. 

Beale,  John  H., 

Patchogue, 

Navy. 

Beale,  David  F. , 

139th. 

Beale,  Theodore  F., 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Becker,  Lewis, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Becktill, 

Watermill, 

127th. 

Beckwith,   Thomas, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Bedell,  Smith, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Bedell,  WiUiam, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Bedell,  Terry, 

Sayville, 

9oth  and  Navy. 

Beebe,  Daniel  F., 

Southampton, 

,   127th. 

Beekman,  James, 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Beers,  William  H., 

El  wood, 

127  th. 

Bell,  George  A., 

Bridgehamp., 

11th  Cav. 

Benedict,  Robert  F., 

Watermill, 

127th. 

Benjamin,  John  P., 

E.  Moriches, 

17th. 

Benjamin,  Selah, 

Bay  Shore, 

9th  N.  J. 

Benjamin,  John  F., 

Riverhead, 

9th  N.  J. 

Benjamin,  Jas.  S,, 

Riverhead, 

Navy. 

Benjamin,  Hiram  E., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

576 


APPENDIX. 


Benjamin,  John  H., 
Bennett,  Andrew  J., 
Bennett,  Lyman  M., 
Bennett,  Gilbert, 
Bennett,  Milton, 
Bennett,  George, 
Bennett,  Myron  T., 
Bennett,  Nathan  M., 
Bennett,  W.  J., 
Bennett,  George  E., 
Bennett,  Sylvester  H., 
Bennett,  Chas.  G., 
Bennett,  Albert  L., 
Bennett,  Theodore, 
Bennett,  Jonathan  A., 
Bennett,  Selden  S., 
Bennett,  William  E., 
Bennett,  Robert, 
Berls,  Hammond, 
Berry,  John, 
Betts,  George, 
Betts,  John, 
Biggs,  Charles  F., 
Biggs,  Alden, 
Bill,  Edw., 
Bill,  Robert, 
Billard,  Barnabas  T. , 
Birch,  William  E., 
Bishop,  William  H., 
Bishop,  Harry  S., 
Bishop,  Charles  H., 
Blacker,  Frank  E., 
Black,  Hannibal, 
Black,  Jonathan, 
Blake,  Hy, 
Blake,  James, 
Bloxsom,  George  W., 
Bloxsom, 

Blydenburg,  Ichabod, 
Bogue,  Andrew  B., 
Bond,  E.  S.  L. 
Bone,  Daniel  E., 
Bone,  Joseph  S., 
Bone,  John  J., 
Booth,  Horation  N., 
Booth,  George  L., 
Bostwick,  James,  Jr., 
Bouton,  David, 
Bowers,  William  H., 
Bowles,  James  L., 
Box,  George, 
Boyenton,  John  W., 
Boyle,  George, 
Bradley,  Giles, 
Brady,  Philip, 
Brewin,  George, 
Brewster,  Charles  D., 
Brewster,  Zachariah, 
Brewster,  Governeur(col. 
Brigs,  James, 
Brittain,  Thomas, 
Brooker,  John  R., 
Brown,  George  B., 
Brown,  George  D., 
Brown,  Charles  H., 
Brown,  William  H., 
Brown,  John  J., 
Brown,  George  W., 
Brown,  John  A., 
Brown,  Silas  E., 


RESIDENCE. 

Mattituck, 

Cutchogue, 

Springs, 

Springs, 

Springs 

Springs, 

Amagansett, 

Amagansett, 

Amagansett, 

Amagansett, 

Amagansett 

Amagansett, 

Oregon, 

Easthampton, 

Easthampton, 

Paconic, 

Huntington, 

Huntington, 

Greenport, 

Huntington, 

Huntington, 

Flanders, 

Riverhead, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Cutchogue, 

Huntington. 

Bayport, 

Bayport, 

Brentwood, 

Amityville, 

Amityville. 

Lakeland, 

Lakeland, 

Huntington, 

Huntington, 

Selden, 


REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

137th. 

127  th. 

127th. 

127th. 

6th  Cav. 

11th  Cav. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

9th  Cav. 

6th  Cav. 

48th. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

5  th. 

165th. 

127th. 

10th. 

10th. 

10th. 

137th. 

11th. 

127th. 

44th. 

2nd  Cav. 

2nd  Cav. 

5th  N.  J. 
Navy. 

2nd. 
2nd. 
127th. 
127th. 
133rd. 
81st. 


Easthampton,  2nd. 
Easthampton,  81st. 
Easthampton,  81st. 
Southold,  127th. 

Cutchogue,        127th. 
Babylon,  127th. 


Pt.  Jefferson, 

Navy. 

Brookhaven, 

101st. 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Islip, 

11th. 

Moriches, 

Speonk, 

12th. 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Amityville, 

20th. 

Amityville. 

26th. 

Mattituck, 

2nd. 

Riverhead, 

57th. 

Southampton, 

159th. 

IsHp, 

2nd. 

Islip, 

159th. 

Bridgehamp., 

11th. 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Red  Creek, 

11th. 

Elwoos, 

31st. 

Riverhead, 

14th. 

Springs 

127th. 

Brown,  George  W., 
Brown,  John  J., 
Brown,  Buel  A., 
Brown,  James  Ira, 
Brown,  Zebulon  H., 
Brown,  John, 
Brown,  George  G. 
Brown,  David  E., 
Brown,  Charles  L., 
Brown,  Gilbert  A., 
Brudgeworth,  Fredk., 
Brudgeworth,  Hy., 
Brush,  Theo.  S., 
Brush,  Van  Renselaer, 
Brush,  George, 
Brush,  George  R., 
Bryant,  George  H., 
Buckingham,  George  A., 
Buckly,  WiUiam  J., 
Bumpstead,  Edw.  H., 
Bumstead,  Jacob, 
Bunce,  Israel, 
Bunce,  Edgar  P., 
Bunce,  Albert  J., 
Burke,  John  W., 
Burnett,  Whitford, 
Burns,  George  T., 
Burns,  Robert, 
Burr,  Andrew  J., 
Burr,  William  E., 
Bush,  David, 
Bushnell,  Charles, 
Busannah,  John, 
Butler,  Leonard  T., 
Butler,  Samuel  C, 
Bryon,  John, 
Campbell,  James, 
Campbell,  George, 
Carll,  James, 
Carll,  Wm.  (colored), 
Carmick,  Edw.  J., 
Carmick,  Stephen  J., 
Carpenter,  George  W., 
Carpenter,  William, 
Carpenter,  Waltej, 
Carpenter,  Charles  T., 
Carr,  John  S., 
Carr,  Hosea  V., 
Carr,  Severn, 
Carrington,  Bernard, 
Carroll,  John, 
Carroll,  Thomas  J., 
Carroll,  James, 
Carroll,  Martin, 
Carroll,  Michael, 
Carroll, 
Carter,  David, 
Carter,  Ichabod  G., 
Carter,  Gilbert  H., 
Cartright,  Nicholas  O., 
Cartwright,  Edmund  A., 
Case,  Albert  W., 
Case,  Jesse  G., 
Case,  George  C, 
Case,  George, 
Cash,  Michael, 
Cass,  Albert, 
Cayton,  James, 
Cessman,  Edw., 
Champlin,  George  H., 


RESIDENCE. 

Huntington, 

Huntington, 

Riverhead, 

Centerville, 

Southold, 

Babylon, 

Babylon, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Southampton, 

Southold, 

Bridgehanap., 

Bridgehamp., 

Elwood, 

Cold  Spring, 

Huntington, 

Sayville, 

Northport, 

Riverhead, 

Greenport, 

Patchogue, 

Patchogue, 

Northport, 

Huntington, 

Brookhaven, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Smithtown, 

Riverhead, 

Riverhead, 

Bayshore, 

Cold  Spring, 

Patchogue. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Riverhead, 

Southold, 

Easthampton, 

Bridgehamp., 

Babylon, 

Babylon, 

Babylon, 

Brookhaven, 

Sayville, 

Sayville, 

Babylon, 

Babylon, 

Southold, 

Moriches, 

Huntington, 

Huntington, 

Amityville, 

Easthampton. 

Cold  Spring, 

Easthampton, 

Huntington, 

Huntington, 

Easthampton, 

Moriches, 

Manor, 

Patchogue, 

Amityville, 

Shelter  Island 

Peconic, 

Peconic, 

Shelter  Island, 

Greenport, 

Cold  Spring. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Shelter  Island. 

Mastic. 

Orient, 


REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE, 

127th. 
127th. 
176th. 
5  th. 
127th. 
127th. 
127th. 
Navy. 
127th. 
127th. 
Navy. 
11th. 
127th. 
102nd. 
48th. 
Navy. 
127th. 
12th. 
I27fh. 
2nd. 
12th. 
Navy. 
127th. 
124th. 
81st. 
102nd. 
176th. 
12th. 

U.  S.  Sharpshooters* 
102nd. 


127th. 

127th. 

29th. 

6th. 

Sharpshooters. 

Sharpshooters. 

127th. 

Navy. 

124th. 

2nd. 

4th  Artillery. 

31st  Colored. 

127th. 

89th. 

127th. 

127th. 

8th. 

102nd. 

Navy. 
127th. 
127th. 

Marine. 
2nd. 
133rd. 
12th. 

90th. 

14th  N.  J. 

127th. 
127th. 
57th. 
57th. 

4th. 


165  th. 


APPENDIX. 


577 


NAME. 

Cheron.  Emile, 
Chester,  William  H., 
Chichester,  Charles  H., 
Chichester,  Andrew, 
Chichester,  Israel, 
Chichester,  George, 
thichester,  Charles  W,, 
Chissell,  Hy, 
Clark,  Avlyn  S., 
Clark,  Robert, 
Clark,  Ezra, 
Clemence,  EzraB., 
Cleveland,  John  D., 
Clock,  Lawson, 
Coats,  Chas. , 
Coats,  Charles  R., 
Codman,  Charles, 
Coffee,  Michael, 
Colbert,  William, 
Coles,  Jeremiah, 
Collet,  William  H., 
Collins,  John, 
CoUum,  William  W., 
Colvin,  Samuel  P., 
Conant,  William  L., 
Congdon,  Robert  C, 
Conklin,  Gilbert, 
Conklin,  James  D., 
Conklin,  David  T. , 
Conklin,  George  W., 
Conklin,  John  A., 
Conklin,  John  H., 
Conklin,  Francis, 
Conklin,  Hy.  C, 
Conklin,  William  H., 
Conklin,  Benjamin  K., 
Conklin,  James  B., 
Conklin,  Lewis  O., 
Conklin,  Edw.  S., 
Conklin,  Samuel  S., 
Conklin,  George, 
Conkhn,  William  C, 
Conklin,  David  S., 
Conklin,  Hy.  T., 
Conklin,  Howard, 
Conklin,  Melville  R., 
Conner,  Hickford, 
Connell,  William, 
Cook,  Charles  P., 
Cook,  Edw.  D., 
Cook,  William, 
Cooney,  Michael. 
Cooper,  Edw.  T., 
Cooper,  Edw.  M., 
Cooper,  James  H., 
Cooper,  Michael, 
Cooper  (colored), 
Corey,  William, 
Corey,  Hy.  J., 
Corey,  Daniel  B., 
Cornelius,  Jacob, 
Corwin,  George  E., 
Corwin,  George  W. , 
Corwin,  Egbert  C, 
,  Corwin,  Theodore, 
Corwin,  Hannibal, 
Corwin,  Addison, 
Corwin,  Chatham, 
Corwin,  John  L. , 
Cowan,  William,. 
37 


RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 

OR  SERVICE. 

Bayshore, 

139th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Amityville, 

Navy. 

Huntington, 

173rd. 

Brookhaven, 

o7th. 

Patchogue, 

90th. 

Springs, 

127th. 

Smithtown. 

Greenport, 

16oth. 

Patchogue. 

South  old, 

127th. 

Islip, 

9th. 

Central  Islip, 

12th. 

Central  Islip, 

73rd. 

Islip, 

102nd. 

Islip, 

14th. 

El  wood. 

87  th. 

Easthampton, 

Navy. 

Southampton, 

,   81st. 

Mattituck, 

127th 

Easthampton, 

,  127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Shelter  Island 

, 139th 

Calverton. 

Shelter  Island 

I,  Navy. 

Southold, 

127th. 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Greenport, 

32nd. 

Northport, 

48th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

48th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Easthampton, 

, 102nd. 

Port  Jefferson 

, 102nd. 

Brookhaven, 

12th. 

Brookhaven, 

12th. 

Riverhead, 

Good  Ground 

,  99th. 

Greenport, 

4th. 

Easthampton 

,   81st. 

Greenport. 

Northport, 

48th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Greenport, 

57th. 

Bellport, 

92nd. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Springs. 

Bridgehamp., 

11th. 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Patchogue, 

Navy. 

Huntington, 

127  th. 

Bellport, 

131st. 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Riverhead, 

12th. 

Riverhead, 

Navy. 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Easthampton, 

11th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

Cox,  Daniel  R., 

Mattituck, 

57th. 

Crawford,  Elbert, 

Centreport, 

127th. 

Crees,  Jacob, 

Blue  Point, 

4th. 

Cromwell,  Gilbert, 

Half  Hollow  : 

Hills. 

Crowell,  Stephen  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Crowell,  George  P., 

Islip. 

Crowell,  Benjamin  E., 

Sag  Harbor, 

11th. 

Crura,  John  A., 

Sayville, 

1st. 

Cuffee,  Joshua  A.  (col.). 

Bayshore, 

26th. 

Cuffee,  Warren N.  (col.). 

Easthampton, 

20th. 

Cuffee,  Stephen  N.  (col.) 

,  Easthampton 

,  14th. 

Culver,  George  C, 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Culver,  George, 

Southampton, 

127th. 

Culver,  Josiah  H., 

Easthampton. 

Curtiss,  John, 

165th. 

Cutting,  Leonard  M., 

Babylon, 

o4th. 

Cyphers,  Manuel, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Dahlems,  Henry, 

Brentwood, 

39th. 

Danes,  Augustus  E., 

Blue  Point. 

Daily,  Jeremiah, 

Northport, 

127th. 

Dare,  Samuel, 

Selden, 

165 th. 

Darrough,  John, 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Davis,  Albert  L., 

Yaphank, 

133rd. 

Davis,  Thomas  J., 

Springs, 

Navy. 

Davis,  Charles  H., 

Riverhead, 

11th. 

Davis,  Charles  W., 

Rocky  Point. 

Davis,  Edw., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Davis,  John  B., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Davis,  Jeremiah, 

Ronkonkoma. 

Davis,  Edwin, 

Greenport, 

Colored  Reg. 

Davis,  Smith  R., 

Brookhaven. 

Davis,  Samuel, 

Coram, 

Navy. 

Day,  Sylvester, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Day,  Silas  C, 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Dayton,  Daniel  E., 

Centreville, 

5th. 

Dayton,  Williani  H., 

Centreville, 

5th. 

Dayton,  John  H. 

Dayton,  Charles  B., 

Easthampton, 

127th. 

Dayton,  Andrew, 

Atlanticville, 

11th. 

Dayton,  George  W., 

Patchogue. 

Dayton,  Charles, 

Patchogue, 

12th, 

Dayton,  Smith  A., 

Brookhaven, 

Navy. 

Dayton,  George, 

Brookhaven, 

7th. 

DeBevoise,  Abraham, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Delone,  Pattern  (col.). 

Islip, 

26th  U.  S. 

Denning,  Daniel, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Dennis,  Charles  J., 

Bay  Shore, 

9th. 

Dennis,  Daniel, 

Bay  Shore, 

9th. 

Dennis,  George  W,, 

Bay  Shore, 

158th. 

Dennis,  Nathaniel, 

Bay  Shore, 

158th. 

Dickerson,  William, 

Wading  Rivei 

Dickerson,  Benjamin, 

Wading  River. 

Dickerson,  Samuel  G. 

Dickerson,  Charles  L., 

Greenport, 

170  th. 

Dickinson,  Daniel, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Dilon,  Tobias, 

Centreport, 

48th. 

Dimon,  N.  H.,  Sen.  &  Jr. 

,  Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Divine,  John, 

Springville, 

6th. 

Dix,  John, 

Bridgehamp., 

6th  Cav. 

Dolan,  Michael, 

Blue  Point, 

2nd  Cav. 

Dolan,  Patrick, 

Brookhaven. 

Doolittle,  Harvey, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Dombey,  Frank, 

Brookhaven. 

Dorman,  William, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Dow,  Edw., 

Brentwood, 

9th. 

Dowd,  Michael, 

Greenport, 

165th. 

Downing,  John, 

Huntington, 

14th. 

Downs,  John  A., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Downs,  Isaac  S., 

Brookhaven. 

Downs,  George  W., 

Good  Ground 

,  9th. 

57; 


HISTORY  OF    LONG   ISLAND. 


NAME. 

Downs,  John, 
Downs,  William  L., 
Downs,  James  B., 
Doxsee,  Francis  W., 
Doyle,  John, 
Drake,  Richard, 
Drinning,  Daniel, 
Drislane,  Michael, 
Duff,  James  B.,  Jr., 
Dunn,  John, 
Durham,  Dwight  F. , 
Dutcher,  Samuel  B., 
Earl,  Elias  E., 
Earl,  Joseph. 
Eath,  Jacob, 
Eaton,  Garrett  F. , 
Eaton.  William  B., 
Ebbitts,  Robert, 
Edgar,  Jonathan, 
Edgar,  Hy.  A., 
Edon,  A., 
Edon,  G.  F., 
Edwards,  Joseph  S., 
Edwards,  Orlando  B., 
Edwards,  Lewis  J., 
Edwards,  Charles  M., 
Edwards,  Edmund  B., 
Edwards,  Elbert  P., 
Edwards,  Charles  N., 
Edwards,  Silas  C, 
Edwards,  Charles  B., 
Edwards,  Edwin  H., 
Edwards,  Roger, 
Edwards,  Hy.  L., 
Edwards,  Benjamin  W., 
Edwards,  Hy.  G., 
Edwards,  Eli, 
Edwards,  William  W., 
Edwards,  Edw.  C.  (col.), 
Edwards,  Jefferson, 
Eichel,  AugusteC, 
Eldridge,  George  A. 
Eldridge,  J.  W., 
Ellison,  Joshua, 
Ellison,  Joseph, 
Ellison,  John, 
Elsebough, 

Ellsworth,  Robert  M., 
Ellsworth,  Jesse, 
Ellsworth,  Samuel, 
Engler,  Antoine, 
Enos.  Abraham  (colored), 
Eshoe,  Peter, 
Evarts,  Smith, 
Evarts,  Charles  W., 
Ewald,  Frederick, 
Fagan,  William, 
Fallman,  Isaac, 
Fanning,  Wesley, 
Farley,  James, 
Farley,  Thomas. 
Field,  Samuel, 
Fields,  James, 
Fielder,  Benjamin  H., 
Filer,  George  E., 
Filer,  Charles  W., 
Finlayson,  Henry. 
Fish,  Henry, 
Fisher,  Andrew, 
Flandun,  Smith, 


RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 

OR  SERVICE. 

Southampton. 

Huntington, 

2nd. 

Middle  Island 

,  5th. 

Islip, 

Navy. 

Brookhaven. 

Calverton. 

Huntington. 

127th. 

Holbrook, 

5th. 

Patchogue, 

131st. 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

81st. 

Lakeland. 

Rocky  Point. 

Islip, 

127th. 

Islip, 

127th. 

Orient, 

127th. 

Babylon, 

20th  U.  S.  Cc 

Brentwood, 

102nd. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Bridgehamp., 

48th. 

Bridgehamp., 

6th  Cav. 

Bridgehamp. , 

127th. 

Bridgehamp., 

6th. 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Amagansett, 

Navy. 

Araagansett, 

81st. 

Sag  Harbor, 

48th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

2nd  Cav. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127  th. 

Navy. 

Easthampton, 

loth. 

Moriches. 

Brookhaven, 

Navy. 

Southampton 

,  44th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Southampton, 

,  81st. 

Southampton, 

,  81st. 

Bridgehamp., 

11th. 

Smithtown, 

139th. 

Southampton 

.  81st. 

81st. 

Stony  Brook, 

Navy. 

Orient, 

7th. 

Quogue, 

Navy. 

Orient, 

45  th. 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Bayport, 

10th. 

Southold, 

127th. 

Northport, 

90th. 

Selden, 

13th. 

Atlanticville, 

8th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Springs. 

Sag  Harbor,     Navy. 
Islip,  14th. 

Easthampton,  81st. 
Easthampton,  4th. 

Brentwood,        84th. 
Huntington,      127th. 
Cold  Springs,   8th. 


NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

Fleet,  Augustus, 

Northport. 

Fleet,  George  W. , 

Huntington. 

Fleet,  WiUiam, 

Huntington, 

102  nd. 

Fletcher,  James  A., 

Riverhead, 

Navy. 

Flynn,  Edw., 

Southold, 

2nd. 

Floyd,  John  G.,  Jr., 

Mastic. 

Floyd,  Philip  (colored). 

Mastic. 

Fodell,  Charles  T., 

Sweet  Hollow 

,  127th. 

Fogerty,  William, 

Islip, 

70th. 

Foley,  Francis, 

Quogue, 

47th. 

Ford,  William, 

Ronkonkoma, 

5th. 

Ford,  Edw.  L., 

Ronkonkoma, 

99th. 

Fordham,  Isaac, 

Selden, 

139th. 

Fordham,  Charles  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Fordham,  Elbert, 

Sag  Harbor, 

3rd. 

Fordham,  William, 

Northport, 

40th. 

Fordred,  William, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Fordred,  Drayson, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Eosbert,  Albert, 

Sag  Harbor. 

Foster,  Aclyn, 

Springs, 

Navy. 

Foster,  James  R., 

Watermill, 

2nd. 

Foster,  Austin  A,. 

Ponquogue, 

Gth. 

Foster,  William  B., 

Ponquogue, 

81st. 

Fountain,  Edw.  L., 

Holtsville, 

12th. 

Fox,  Charles  C, 

Northport, 

127th. 

Fox,  Charles, 

Huntington, 

48th. 

Francis,  Roger  A., 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Frazier,  John, 

Islip. 

Frederick,  Charles  A., 

Speonk, 

127th. 

French,  Peter, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Frisbee,  Decatur  H., 

Lakeland, 

133d. 

Frost,  Lewis, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Frost,  Emery, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Ferguson,  John, 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Furman,  Lewis, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Gaffga,  Hy.. 

Southold, 

127th. 

Gaffga,  Peter, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Kioth. 

Galveston,  Hy.  M., 

Southold, 

127th. 

Galvin,  Michael, 

Centerport, 

127th. 

Gammage,  John  H. 

Gammage,  Theo.  K., 

Holtsville, 

79th. 

Gammage,  Smith  P., 

Patchogue, 

75  th. 

Gragham,  Henry  T., 

Sag  Harbor, 

48th. 

Gardiner,  Hy.  W., 

Orient, 

20th. 

Gardiner,  Hy., 

Islip; 

8th  N.  J. 

Gardiner,  Harvey, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Gardiner,  Smith  F., 

Cold  Spring, 

127th. 

Gardiner,  Barbard  C, 

Babylon, 

1st. 

Gardiner,  James, 

Jamesport, 

165th. 

Gates,  William, 

Stoney  Brook, 

,  4th. 

Gatz,  George  A., 

East  Marion, 

165th. 

Geehring,  John, 

Greenport, 

I(i5th. 

George,  Thomas  C, 

Brentwood, 

84th. 

Gerard,  Martin, 

Baiting  Hollow, 

5  th. 

Gerard,  Edw., 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

Gerard,  Edmund  S., 

Sayville, 

2nd  Cav. 

Gerard,  John  W., 

E.  Setauket, 

57th. 

Germain,  John," 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Gettze,  George, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Gilchrist,  WiUiam  H., 

Islip, 

8th  U.  S.,  Cc 

Gildersleeve,  Piatt, 

Port  Jefferson 

,  127th. 

Gillette,  L.  WeUington, 

Orient, 

127th. 

Gillian,  Reuben, 

Sayville, 

5th. 

Gilmartin,  Michael, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Gilmore,  Robert, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Ging,  Edw., 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Glines,  William, 

Huntington, 

5th. 

Glover,  James  R., 

Orient, 

165th. 

Glover,  Zebulon  B., 

Shelterlsland 

,  159th. 

Goldsmith,  Franklin  B., 

Southold, 

l--.7th. 

APPENDIX. 


579 


Goldsmith,  Austin  B., 
Good,  James  E., 
Good,  \V.  H., 
Goodall,  Charles  E., 
Goodall,  James  M., 
Goodman,  James  D., 
Gordon,  George, 
Gordon,  Isaac  L., 
Gordon,  William  H., 
Gordon,  Milton, 
Gordon,  Samuel, 
Goiigh,  John  D., 
Gould,  Theo.  P., 
Gould,  Alexander, 
Gould,  Richard  N., 
Gould,  William  E., 
Graham,  Jerome  B., 
Graham,  David, 
Gray,  William  C, 
Green,  James  M., 
Green,  James  R., 
Green,  Obadiah, 
Green,  William  D., 
Green,  Henry, 
Green,  Nathan  P., 
Green,  Charles  H., 
Gregory,  John  H., 
Gregory,  Dennis, 
Gregory,  George, 
Griffing,  Randolph  C, 
Griffing,  Charles  Marcus, 
Griffing,  Charles  C, 
Griffing,  James  E., 
Griffing,  Thomas  H., 
Gritman,  William  H., 
Grossman,  Herman, 
Grundy,  Robert  J., 
Gullen,  G.  S., 
Haff,  Stephen  J., 
Haff,  Silas  C, 
Raff,  George  W., 
Haff,  Philip, 
Haff,  Paul, 
Haggerty,  John, 
Haight,  William, 
Haines,  Isaac  S., 
Haines,  Theo.  F., 
Haines,  Henry, 
Hall,  George  Buel, 
Hall,  WiUiam  H., 
Hallock,  Hy.  M., 
Hallock,  Franklin  B., 
Hallock,  Daoiel  Y., 
Hallock,  Joshua  T., 
Hallock,  John  M., 
Hallock,  Alfred  B., 
Hallock,  E.  M., 
Halsey,  William  F., 

Jesse  C, 

Dennis, 

C.  E., 

S.  E., 

Albert  Asbury, 

Erastus  E., 

William  M.. 


Halsey, 
Halsey, 
Halsey, 
Halsey, 
Halsey, 
Halsey, 
Halsey, 
Halsey,  Oliver, 
Halsey,  Hy., 
Halsey,  Charles  A. 
Halsey,  Silas  E., 
Halsey,  Abraham, 


RESIDENCE. 

Peconic, 
Huntington, 
Huntington, 
Southampton, 
Southampton, 
Westhampton, 
Eastport, 
Satville, 
Riverhead, 
Manor. 
Riverhead, 
Bridgehamp., 
Easthampton, 
Easthampton, 
Smithtowu, 
Mattituck, 
Easthampton, 
Huntington, 
Patchogue. 
Southampton, 
Southampton, 
Sayville, 
Wading  Riv. 
Sag  Harbor. 
Brookhaven. 
Easthampton, 
Sag  Harbor, 
Bridgehamp., 
Brookhaven. 
Shelter  Island, 
Shelter  Island, 
Shelter  Island. 
Westhampton. 
Brookhaven, 
Patchogue, 
Melville, 
Lakeland, 
Brookhaven. 
Amityville, 
Amityville, 
Sayville, 
West  Islip, 
Brookhaven. 
El  wood, 
Huntington, 
Brentwood, 
Bridgehamp., 
Peconic, 
Melville, 
Sag  Harbor, 
Mattituck, 
Quogue, 
Centreville, 
Blue  Point, 
Middle  Island, 
Huntington, 
Huntington, 
Sag  Harbor, 
Sag  Harbor, 
Sag  Harbor, 
Bridgehamp. , 
Bridgehamp., 
Bridgehamp., 
Bridgehamp., 
Bridgehamp. , 
Bridgehamp., 
Bridgehamp., 
Watermill, 
Watermill, 
Cold  Spring, 


REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

165th. 

137th. 

Navy. 

12th. 

5th. 

127th. 

11th. 

9th. 

8th. 

6th. 

81st. 

127th. 

81st. 

9th  N.J. 

Navy. 

1st. 

1st. 

2nd. 
81st. 
12th. 


20th. 
11th. 
17th. 

48th. 
5th. 


13th. 
158th. 
4th  Cav. 
73rd. 

90th. 
145th. 
137th. 
^nd. 

6th. 

127th. 

5th. 

127th. 

165th. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

11th. 

4th. 

2nd. 

1st. 

127th. 

Navy. 

California  Cav. 

81st. 

11th. 

40th. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

127th. 

6th. 

5th. 

36th. 

127th. 

102nd. 


NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

Halsey,  Hy.  W., 

Greenport, 

165th. 

Halsey,  Oliver,  Jr., 

Riverhead, 

Navy. 

Hamilton,  Claudius  H., 

Amagansett, 

127th. 

Hammond,  Edwin  C, 

New  Village, 

6th. 

Hammond,  Albert  O., 

New  Village, 

0th. 

Hammond,  Wilbur  F., 

New  Village, 

6th. 

Hammond,  Bernard  J., 

Sag  Harbor, 

12th. 

Hammond,  Daniel  E., 

Greenport, 

165th. 

Hammond,  William  P., 

Greenport, 

l-65th. 

Hammond,  Lewis  E., 

Greenport, 

lC'5th. 

Hand,  Orlando, 

Bridgehamp. , 

11th. 

Hand,  E.  C, 

Bridgehamp., 

11th. 

Hand,  Samuel, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Hand,  George  M., 

Good  Ground 

,  2nd. 

Hand,  John  A., 

Cutchogue, 

170th. 

Handy,  Aaron, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Haney, 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Hannahan.  William  D., 

Huntington, 

102nd. 

Hardy,  Edw., 

Brookhaven, 

107th. 

Harned,  William  M., 

Patchogue, 

2nd. 

Harper,  George, 

Huntington, 

13th. 

Harper,  Francis, 

Huntington, 

87th. 

Harries,  Thomas  H., 

Shelterlsland 

,93rd 

Harris,  Cornelius, 

West  Islip, 

26th  U.  S.,Co 

Harris,  William  P., 

Bridgehamp. , 

127th. 

Harris,  Samuel  E., 

Cutchogue, 

127th. 

Harris,  Joseph  C, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Harris,  Charles  C. 

Harris,  Edwin  A., 

Brookhaven, 

44th. 

Hart,  Clark, 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Hartered,  Peter, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Hartt,  La.  Maltby, 

Northport. 

Hassenger,   Christian, 

Middle  Island 

, 

Havens,  Charles, 

Shelterlsland 

,  127th. 

Havens,  Jeremiah, 

Moriches. 

Havens,  Harrison, 

Greenport, 

176th. 

Havens,  Joseph  A., 

Easthampton, 

,  Navy. 

Havens,  Austin, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Havens,  Charles  E., 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Havens,  Ripley  F., 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Havens,  Hy.  H., 

Sag  Harbor. 

Haverstrite,  Charles  B., 

Southampton, 

127th. 

Hawkins,  Charles  A., 

Brookhaven, 

158th. 

Hawkins,  Richard  A., 

Stony  Brook, 

39th. 

Hawkins,  Alfred  C, 

Sayville, 

107lh. 

Hawkins,  M.  Smith, 

Sayville, 

133rd. 

Hawkins,  A.  F., 

New  Village, 

159th 

Hawkins,  George, 

Mastic. 

Hawkins,  John  H., 

Bellport, 

92nd. 

Hawkins,  Nelson, 

Bellport, 

96th. 

Hawkins,  George, 

Cutchogue, 

Navy. 

Hawkins,  George  M., 

Brookhaven, 

Navy. 

Hawkins,  John  W., 

Brookhaven, 

Navy. 

Hawkins,  Stewart  G., 

Brookhaven, 

12th. 

Hawkins,  W.  W., 

West  Islip, 

48th. 

Hawley,  Edw., 

Islip, 

Navy. 

Hayens,  Reeves  H., 

Atlanticville, 

11th. 

Hayes,  William, 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Hayes,  Peter, 

Ishp, 

Navy. 

Hayner,  Luther, 

Rooky  Point. 

Headley,  Hy., 

Ishp,  ' 

9th. 

Heanne,  Anthony, 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Hedge,  John  S., 

Brookhaven, 

127th. 

Hedge,  Frederick  B., 

Brookhaven, 

35th. 

Hedge,  David  H., 

Brookhaven, 

13th. 

Hedges,  Lyman  G., 

Bridgehamp. 

Hedges,  Jeremiah  I., 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Helfrich,  Sebastian  L., 

Greenport, 

165th. 

Hellens,  Charles  A., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Hempstead,  Nathaniel, 

Riverhead, 

10th. 

580 


HISTORY  OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


REGIMENT 

REGIMENT 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR  SERVICE. 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR  SERVICE. 

Hempstead,  Jas.  Madison 

,  Shelterlsland, 

39th. 

Hunt,  E.  Z., 

Sag  Harbor, 

3nd. 

Hempstead,  John, 

Riverhead, 

137th. 

Hunt,  Robert, 

Mattituck, 

loOth. 

Hempstead,  Clement  M., 

Riverhead, 

37th. 

Huntington,  Charles, 

Huntington, 

137th. 

Henderson,  Peter, 

Coram. 

Hunting,  Benjamin, 

Southampton, 

3rd. 

Henderson,  Isaac  W., 

Northport, 

137th. 

Huntington,  Hy,  H., 

Sag  Harbor. 

Hendrickson,  David, 

Cold  Spring, 

137th. 

Huntington,  Edw.  Foster, 

Southold, 

127th. 

Hendrickson,  Daniel, 

Bay  Shore, 

Navy. 

Hutchinson,  Elbert, 

East  Marion, 

137th. 

Hennegar,  Charles, 

Sag  Harbor, 

139th. 

Ingraham,  Henry, 

Bridgehamp. 

Hennesey,  James, 

Bridgehamp. , 

137th. 

Irwin,  John, 

Centreport, 

91st. 

Henry,  Robert, 

Southampton, 

47th. 

Jackson,  Leonard  T., 

Cutchogue, 

137th. 

Herron,  Alfred  W., 

Northport. 

Jackson,  Charles  A., 

Good  Ground, 

0th. 

Hewlett,  Walter  R.,  . 

Cold  Spring, 

103nd. 

Jackson,  Barzilla, 

Flanders, 

127th. 

Hicks,  Charles, 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

Jackson,  Patrick, 

Brookhaven. 

Higbee,  James  S., 

Northport, 

Navy. 

Jackson  J.  (colored). 

Huntington, 

2(>th. 

Hildreth,  Oscar  A., 

Southampton, 

137th. 

Jackson,  M.  (colored), 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Hildreth,  I.  N., 

"Watermill, 

137th. 

Jackson,  Lyman, 

Riverhead, 

4oth. 

Hildreth,  Curtis, 

Stoney  Brook, 

,  170th. 

Jacobs,  John  H., 

Southampton, 

137th. 

Hill,  EHphalet, 

Bay  Shore, 

Sharpshooters. 

Jacobs,  Joseph  W., 

Good  Ground, 

,  137th. 

Hill,  Lester  S., 

Riverhead, 

137th. 

Jacobs,  William  S., 

Southampton, 

137th. 

Hill,  Harvey. 

Jagger,  Oscar  L. , 

Southampton, 

127th. 

Hill,  Seth  R., 

Islip, 

Navy. 

Jagger,  William  S., 

Sag  Harbor, 

137th. 

Hine,  George, 

Ishp, 

Spinola'sBrig. 

James,  Benj.  (colored), 

Central  Islip, 

30th. 

Hoffansack,  John, 

Greenport, 

137th. 

James,  Stephen  D., 

Cold  Spring, 

103nd. 

Honan,  Gilbert, 

Sag  Harbor. 

James,  Richard, 

Ronkonkoma, 

5th. 

Honan,  Charles  O., 

Bellport, 

93nd. 

James,  Riker  R., 

Ronkonkoma, 

40th. 

Honan,  John  G., 

Sayville, 

13th. 

January,  John, 

Bay  Shore, 

39th. 

Honan,  Richard  S., 

Yaphank, 

3nd. 

Jarvis,  EbenezerN,, 

Melville, 

74th. 

Honan,  WiUiam  H., 

Yaphank, 

57th. 

Jarvis,  Ira  F. , 

Centreport, 

04  th. 

Honan,  Selah  H., 

Mount  Sinai, 

S4th. 

Jarvis,  John  E., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Honan,  Daniel  L., 

Brookhaven. 

Jarvis,  William  H., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Hohan,  Charles, 

Easthampton, 

48th  and  Navy. 

Jayne,  John  S., 

Bay  Shore, 

9th. 

Honan,  Luther, 

Mount  Sinai. 

Jayne,  George, 

Bay  Shore, 

8th  U.  S.,  C. 

Hona,  William  W., 

Blue  Point, 

6th. 

Jayne,  Charles  E., 

Stony  Brook, 

102nd. 

Homan,  Benjamin  S., 

Brookhaven, 

9th. 

Jayne,  Richard, 

Cold  Spring, 

127th. 

Hommel,  G.  Frank, 

Sonthold, 

137  th. 

Jayne,  George  E., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Hopkins,  Thomas, 

Coram. 

Jayne,  William  C, 

Eastport, 

57th. 

Horton,  Hy.  O., 

Cutchogue, 

137th. 

Jayne,  Isaac, 

Brookhaven. 

Horton,  Edw., 

Cold  Spring, 

8th. 

Jayne,  Joseph  H., 

Smithtown, 

5th. 

Horton,  Benjamin  A., 

Cutchogue, 

137th. 

Jayne,  Robert, 

Patchogue, 

13th. 

Horton,  John, 

Cutchogue, 

170th. 

Jefferson,  Robert, 

Southold, 

127th. 

Horton,  James  H., 

Patchogue, 

2nd. 

Jenkins,  William  M., 

Brentwood, 

5th. 

Horton,  Francis, 

Brookhaven. 

Jenkins,  David, 

Brookhaven, 

47th. 

Horton,  Floyd  B., 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Jenkins,  Horace, 

Brookhaven, 

173rd. 

Horton,  Sylvester  E., 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Jennings,  Samuel  B., 

Shelterlsland 

,  165th. 

Howell,  George, 

Sweet  Hollow 

,  137th. 

Jennings,  Gilbert  W., 

Southampton, 

75th. 

Howell,  George  B., 

IsHp, 

158th. 

Jennings,  John  Terry, 

U.Aquebogue^ 

,  159th. 

Howell,  Hiram  C, 

Islip, 

2nd. 

Jennings,  James  F., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Howell,  Orlando  J., 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Jennings,  William  M., 

Riverhead, 

137th. 

Howell,  Samuel  H., 

Bridgehamp., 

Navy. 

Jennings,  Stephen  J., 

Patchogue, 

5th. 

Howell,  Charles  R., 

Yaphank, 

2nd. 

Jennings,  William  T., 

Patchogue, 

13th. 

Howell,  John  H., 

Southampton, 

3nd. 

Jeroddette,  Jacob  A., 

127th. 

Howell,  James  L., 

Atlanticville, 

11th. 

Jessup,  John  H., 

WestharaptoE 

1. 127th. 

Howell,  John  A., 

Cutchogue, 

170th. 

Jessup,  William  P., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Howell,  James, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Jessup,  Charles  L., 

Sag  Harbor, 

48th. 

Howell,  William  G., 

Sag  Harbor, 

.")th.  " 

Jessup,  Edmund, 

Sag  Harbor, 

48th. 

Howell,  Hy.  B., 

Sag  Harbor.  ^ 

Jessup,  Samuel  D., 

Sag  Harbor, 

137th. 

Howell,  Israel, 

Huntington, 

139th. 

Jewesbury,  John, 

Brookhaven, 

31st. 

Howland,  Addison, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Jewett,  William. 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Howland,  Erastus  R., 

Good  Ground 

,  Navy. 

Johnson,  Richard  M., 

Springs, 

11th. 

Hubbard,  Seth  R., 

Bay  Shore, 

9th. 

Johnson,  James, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Hubbs,  Daniel  O., 

Smithtown, 

Navy. 

Johnson,  William  C, 

Babylon. 

Hubbs,  Jt)hn  A., 

Cold  Springs, 

137th. 

Johnson,  Thomas, 

Sag  Harbor, 

90th. 

Hubert,  Charles, 

Brookhaven. 

Jones,  George, 

Setauket, 

36thU.  S.,C 

Hulse,  William  B., 

Moriches, 

Navy. 

Jones,  WiUiam  (colored), 

E.  Moriches, 

6th. 

Hulse,  Albert, 

Moriches, 

145th  &  107th 

Jones,  William  H., 

Huntington, 

103nd. 

Hulse,  Wilham  F., 

Huntington, 

137th. 

Jones,  William  H.  H., 

Huntington, 

102nd. 

Hulse,  George  W. , 

Port  Jefferson,  145th. 

Jones,  Thomas, 

Cold  Spring, 

137th. 

Hull,  Albert, 

Easthampton, 

24th. 

Jolry,  George  F., 

Smithtown, 

31st. 

Humphries,  Arthur, 

Bridgehamp, 

127th. 

Jupiter,  George  (colored) 

39th. 

Hunker,  Flora, 

Bridgehamp, 

Navy. 

Kaler,  William  O., 

Moriches, 

103nd. 

APPENDIX. 

58 

REGIMENT 

-REGIMENT 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR  SERVICE, 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR  SERVICE. 

Kampie,  Joseph  I,, 

Huntington, 

]27th. 

Lawton,  John, 

Central  IsUp, 

9th. 

Kane,  James, 

Southampton, 

Navy. 

Learie,  John  J., 

Speonk, 

50th. 

Kappel,  Francis, 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Leary,  Peter, 

Brookhaven. 

Kasson,  John  H., 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Ledyard,  George  B., 

Southold, 

127th. 

Kearns,  Michael, 

Bay  Shore, 

2nd. 

Lee,  George  D., 

Port  Jefferson 

,  102nd. 

Kelley,  Sylvester  S., 

Islip, 

66  th. 

Lee,  Edw., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Kelley,  Edw. , 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Lee,  David  R., 

Brookhaven. 

Kelley,  Peter, 

Brookhaven. 

Leek,  John  D., 

Babylon, 

10th. 

Kennard,  Harvey  C, 

IsUp, 

25th. 

Leek,  David  H., 

Easthampton, 

8th. 

Kennedy,  Patrick, 

Bridgehamp., 

11th. 

Leek,  James  H., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Kennedy,  James., 

Huntington, 

20th. 

Lent,  Rufus, 

Moriches. 

Kentz,  "Andrew, 

Islip, 

7th. 

Leodham,  David, 

Manor, 

5th. 

Kentz,  Frank, 

Islip, 

159th. 

Leodham,  Charles, 

Riverhead, 

10th. 

Kernon,  Patrick, 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Leslie,  Robert, 

Cutchogue, 

6  th. 

Ketchani,  Warren, 

Elwood, 

40th. 

Lester,  William, 

Springs, 

5th. 

Ketcham,  Bunco  R., 

Elwood, 

127th. 

Lester,  George  F., 

Springs, 

11th. 

Ketcham,  Fleet, 

Elwood, 

127th. 

Lester,  James  W., 

Springs, 

127th. 

Ketcham,  Ira  P., 

Elwood, 

48th. 

Lester,  Charles, 

Springs, 

11th. 

Ketcham,  Smith, 

Amityville, 

127  th. 

Lester,  Gilbert, 

Springs, 

Uth. 

Ketcham,  Jesse, 

Amityville, 

90th. 

Lester,  George  O., 

Setauket. 

Ketcham,  Henry, 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Lewis,  Isaac  B., 

Selden, 

11th. 

Ketcham,  Charles  A., 

Babylon, 

2nd. 

Lewis,  George  W., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Ketcham,  Thomas  B., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Lewis,  Thomas, 

Northport. 

Ketcham,  Luther  S., 

Huntington, 

48th. 

L'Hommedieu,  L.  Long'1 

:,  Centreville, 

127th. 

Kiesling,  Charles  M., 

Brookhaven, 

133rd. 

L'Hommedjeu,  Lyman  B, 

.,  Riverhead, 

127th. 

King,  Venus  E., 

Springs, 

127th. 

L'Hommedieu,  Lewis, 

Bay  Shore, 

Navy. 

King,  Wilson  B., 

Springs, 

127th. 

L'Hommedieu,  Charles, 

Islip, 

Navy. 

King,  Horace  P., 

Springs, 

11th. 

L'Hommedieu,  R.  W., 

Stony  Brook, 

139th. 

King,  Oliver  G., 

Springs, 

Navy. 

L'Hommedieu,  James, 

Middle  Island,  127th. 

King,  George  C, 

Springs, 

11th. 

Liscomb,  Joseph, 

Bridgehamp., 

1st. 

King,  Harvey  B., 

Springs, 

127th. 

Lobert,  William, 

Islip. 

King,  William  P., 

Amagansett, 

127  th. 

Lockwood,  John  E., 

Bay  Shore, 

139th. 

King,  Samuel  R., 

Araagansett, 

10th. 

Loncker,  George, 

Northport, 

15th. 

King,  Charles  E., 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Long,  Hewlett  J., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

King,  Lodowick, 

Amagansett, 

15th. 

Longworth,  John, 

Sayville, 

12th. 

King,  Parker  D., 

127th. 

Loper,  Benjamin, 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

King,  Thomas, 

Patchogue, 

Navy. 

Loper,  Hy.  J., 

Bridgehamp., 

81st. 

Kingsland,  Oscar  R., 

WesthamptoD 

1,112th. 

Loper,  Daniel  B., 

Easthampton, 

127th. 

Kingsland,  WiUiam  W., 

Moriches, 

1st. 

Loper, 

Southampton, 

127th. 

Kiner,  George  W., 

Port  Jeffersor 

L,  139th. 

Loper,  Oliver  L., 

Amagansett, 

9th. 

Klopp,  John  W., 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Loper,  Charles  G. 

Knapp,  Sylvester, 

Saj^ville, 

2nd. 

Loper,  Charles. 

Knapp,  George  M., 

81st. 

Loper,  Thomas, 

81st. 

KockendoefEer,  Frank, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Lovejoy,  John  F., 

81st. 

Lake,  John  C, 

Lake  Islip, 

8th  N.  J. 

Lowen,  William,  Jr., 

Easthampton, 

15th. 

Lake,  Thrastus  C, 

IsUp, 

Navy. 

Lucy,  Cornelius, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Lamb,  Elisha  R., 

Moriches, 

145th. 

Ludlow,  William  H., 

Sayville, 

(Colored). 

Lamphier,  David, 

Brookhaven, 

133rd. 

Ludlow.,  William, 

Sayville. 

Lane,  George  W., 

Bayport, 

2nd. 

Ludlow,  NicoU, 

Sayville, 

Navy. 

Lane,  Abraham, 

Wading  Riv. 

Lynch,  Matthias, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Lane,  George  F., 

Riverhead, 

137th. 

Lynch,  Michael, 

Easthampton, 

11th. 

Lane,  Charles  H., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Lynch,  Dennis, 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Lane,  Hy.  J., 

Brookhaven. 

Lyons,  Samuel, 

Amityville, 

Navy. 

Lane,  John, 

Northport, 

90th. 

Lyons,  Daniel  E.  (col). 

Amityville, 

Navy. 

Lane,  Warren  T., 

Riverhead, 

13th. 

Lyons,  James. 

Lane,  Gilbert, 

Riverhead, 

12th. 

Lyons,  David  H.  (col.). 

Amityville, 

Navy. 

Lane,  Charles  E., 

Riverhead, 

47th: 

McCabe,  James  E., 

Navy. 

Larrison,  James, 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

McCloskey,  Frank, 

Islip, 

3rd. 

Larry,  Edvirin, 

Southampton. 

McDonnell,  Michael, 

Bridgehamp., 

,  6th. 

Latham,  Eldridge  P., 

Orient, 

'  6th. 

McGinley,  Daniel, 

Smithtown, 

Navy. 

Latham,  George  E., 

Orient, 

127th. 

McGinn,  Michael, 

Mattituck, 

47th. 

Latham,  James  N., 

Northport, 

■  51st. 

McGregor,  John, 

Northport, 

127th. 

Latin,  George, 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

McGregor,  Andrew  J., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Latin,  William, 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters. 

McGregor,  James  N., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Laughlin,  James  E., 

Hauppauge, 

9th. 

McGurk,  Frank, 

Bridgehamp., 

,  lesth. 

Lawrence,  John  B., 

Amagansett, 

Navy. 

McGurk,  John, 

Bridgehamp., 

,   Navy. 

Lawrence,  Wm.  H.,  Jr., 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

McKerman,  Gustasus, 

Easthampton, 

,  Navy. 

Laws,  Amos  B,, 

Rocky  Point, 

159th  &  Navy. 

McKinley,  William, 

Riverhead, 

8th. 

Laws,  John  G., 

Rocky  Point, 

159th. 

McMahon,  John, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Lawton,  Gro.  J.. 

Central  Islip, 

9th. 

McManes,  William  P., 

Shelter  Island,  127th. 

582 


HISTORY    OF    LONG    ISLAND. 


NAME. 

McMinn,  William, 
McNamee,  Joseph, 
McNeil,  David, 
McNeil,  John, 
McWilliams,  Joseph, 
Mahan,  Furman  S., 
Maloney,  Dennis, 
Maloney,  James, 
Mapes,  Walter  F., 
March,  Allen, 
Marion,  Thomas, 
Martin,  Matthew, 
Matthias,  Jeremiah, 
Mayo,  Oliver  A., 
Mead,  John, 
Meigs,  Edgar  C, 
Mencee,  Joseph, 
Merchant,  Charles, 
Merrill,  Jonathan  C, 
Meyer,  John  W., 
Middleton,  Thomas, 
Miller,  James, 
Miller,  Henry, 
Miller,  Frederick  E., 
Miller,  John  (colored). 
Miller,  Robert  (colored), 
Miller,  Nathaniel  J., 
Miller.  Elias  H., 
Miller,  Nathaniel, 
Miller,  William  B., 
Miller,  Jonathan  A., 
Miller,  Josiah  P., 
Miller,  David  K., 
Miller,  Charles  G., 
Miller,  Gilbert, 
Miller,  Abram  H., 
Miller,  Thomas  W., 
Miller,  Lewis  B., 
Miller,  Samuel  A., 
Miller,  Philander  B., 
Miller,  James  J., 
Miller,  Frederick  F., 
Mills,  Hy.  R., 
Mills,  Bryon, 
Mingo,  Horace  J.  (col.), 
Mist,  James  B., 
Moddle,  Frederick  W., 
Moger,  Wilson, 
Moger,  Lorenzo  D., 
Moger,  Benjamin, 
Montcalm,  John  A., 
Moon,  Augustus, 
Mooney,  Dingenus, 
Mooney,  Francis  J., 
Mooney,  John  F., 
Moore,  Charles  B., 
Moore,  Thomas, 
Moore,  Silas  H., 
Moore,  Isaac  T., 
Moolre,  Benjamin  F., 
Moore,  Orrin  G., 
Mocrre,  Christopher  B., 
Moore,  Cornelius  L., 
Moore,  John, 
Moore,  Andrew  B. 
Moore,  Hy., 
Moore,  Thomas, 
Morgan,  Henry, 
Morris,  George  C, 
Morris,  Thomas, 


■ 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

Southampton 

,  46th. 

Mosier,  Francis  D., 

Centreville, 

5th. 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Mott,  James  O., 

Selden, 

133rd. 

Bay  Shore, 

127th. 

Mott,  George, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Brookhaven. 

Mott,  Edgar  S., 

Patchogue, 

2nd. 

Easthampton, 

,  8th. 

Mott,  Horatio, 

PaLchogue, 

2nd. 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Mott,  David. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Mott,  Charles  W., 

Patchogue; 

159th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Mott,  John  A., 

Northport, 

127th. 

Smithtown, 

3rd. 

Mott,  Alonzo  A., 

Selden, 

16th. 

Elwood, 

87  th. 

Mulford,  E.  Hampton, 

Orient, 

165  th. 

Bridgehamp., 

,  127th. 

Mulford,  W.  E., 

Northport, 

57  th. 

Stony  Brook, 

38th. 

Mulford,  Charles  J., 

Easthampton, 

81st. 

Northport, 

49th. 

Mullen,  John, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Mulrooney,  John, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Islip. 

Muncey,  Jesse, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Munsell,  Jesse, 

Bellport, 

92nd. 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Munsell,  Nathaniel  N., 

Middle  Island 

,  10th. 

Sag  Harbor. 

Munsell,  Alexander, 

Middle  Island 

,  1st. 

Southold, 

127th. 

Murdock,  Daniel  H., 

Moriches, 

90th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

11th. 

Murphy,  Peter, 

Melville, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Murphy,  Morgan, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Regular  Army. 

Murphy,  Edward, 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Babylon, 

48th. 

Murray,  William  H., 

Islip, 

26th. 

Miller's  Place,  1st. 

Murray,  John  J., 

Islip, 

26th. 

Amityville, 

Navy. 

Murthur,  John, 

Middle  Island 

,  32nd. 

Amityville, 

20th. 

Nash,  Thomas  S., 

Islip. 

Amagansett, 

127th. 

Nash,  Hy.  T., 

Islip. 

Amagansett, 

127th. 

Nash,  Abram  H., 

Islip, 

2nd. 

Amagansett, 

11th. 

Nelson,  Horatio, 

Cutchogue, 

132nd. 

Amagansett, 

127th. 

Neville,  Michael, 

Deer  Park, 

99th. 

Springs, 

Navy. 

Newart,  John, 

East  Marion, 

165th. 

Springs, 

127th. 

Newton,  Joseph, 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Greenport, 

Kirnh. 

Nichols,  William  H., 

Northport, 

127th. 

Brentwood, 

8th. 

Nichols,  Charles  Hy., 

Greenport, 

31st. 

Southaven. 

Nichols,  Stephen, 

Islip, 

9th. 

Easthampton, 

,  127th. 

Nichols,  James, 

Smithtown, 

102nd. 

Easthampton, 

,  127th. 

Nichols,  James  R., 

Middle  Island 

,  165th. 

Easthampton, 

,  11th. 

Nichols,  Floyd  C, 

:\Iiddle  Island 

,  159th. 

Babylon, 

1 27th. 

Nichols,  Joel, 

Centreport, 

91st. 

Brookhaven, 

12th. 

Nichol,  George  W., 

Mattituck, 

165th. 

Brookhaven, 

57th. 

NicoU,  Sylvester, 

Shelter  Island 

Brookhaven. 

Nicoll,  Edw.  T., 

Sag  Harbor, 

"  127th. 

Smithtown, 

29th. 

Noe,  Smith  J., 

Sayville, 

159th. 

Brookhaven. 

Noe,  Lewis  H., 

Sayville, 

Navy. 

Bay  Shore. 

Norton,  B.  B., 

Selden, 

57th. 

Moriches, 

4th. 

Norton,  Elbert  N., 

Selden, 

3rd. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Norton,  Harrison, 

Riverhead, 

127  th. 

Sayville, 

1  7:;rd. 

Norton,  John  R., 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Patchogue, 

8th. 

Nye,  Charles  N., 

Navy. 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Oakley,  John, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127  th. 

Oakley,  Oscar  J., 

Coram, 

139th. 

Islip, 

Navy. 

Oakley,  James  M., 

Coram, 

12th. 

Amityville, 

127th. 

O'Brien,  John, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

O'Keefe,  John,  Jr., 

Islip, 

5th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Oldershaw,  Absalom  E., 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Orient, 

127th. 

Oldershaw,  Thomas  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

16th. 

Quogne, 

127  th. 

Oldrim,  Edw., 

Cutchogue, 

127th. 

Southaven, 

170th. 

Oliver,  Adolph, 

Hauppauge. 

Cutchogue, 

127th. 

Oliver,  William  H., 

Riverhead, 

12th. 

Cutchogue, 

127th. 

Osborn,  William, 

Bellport, 

11th. 

Cutchogue, 

44th. 

Osborn,  Hy.  N.. 

Bellport, 

92nd. 

Greenport, 

]6.->th. 

Osborn,  Lewis  W., 

Moriches, 

139th. 

Greenport, 

57  th. 

Osborne,  William, 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Overton,  Richard  H., 

Bridgehamp. , 

176th. 

Overton,  Josiah  W., 

Moriches, 

145th. 

Bridgehamp., 

14th. 

Overton,  Charles  E., 

Southold, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Overton,  EHsha  W., 

Coram, 

1st. 

Springs, 

127th. 

Overton,  J.  Theodore, 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

16th. 

Overton,  Warren  R., 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Overton,  Joel, 

Middle  Island, 

. 32nd. 

APPENDIX. 


583 


NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

NAME, 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 

Overton,  Moses  W., 

Riverhead, 

12th. 

Pollard,  George  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Overton,  Joseph  A., 

Riverhead, 

Navy. 

Polly,  William  L., 

Bridgehamp., 

0th. 

Painter,  George  H., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Polly,  Samuel  M., 

Easthampton, 

4th. 

Palow,  Frederick, 

Brookhaven, 

178th. 

Pounder,  Edw., 

Bridgehamp., 

Uth. 

Parish,  Joseph, 

Shelter  Island 

Post,  James  H., 

Southampton, 

44th. 

Parker,  Henry, 

Easthampton. 

Potter,  John, 

Sag  Harbor. 

Parker.  Silas  M., 

Sag  Harbor, 

11th. 

Potter,  Delone, 

IsHp, 

20th. 

Parks,  Richard  H., 

Patchogue, 

127th. 

Preston,  Hy.  H., 

Shelter  Island 

,  6th. 

Parsons,  T.  Augustus, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Price,  Solomon, 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

Parsons,  Theodore, 

Springs. 

Price,  George, 

Babylon, 

I27th. 

Payne,  EhasH., 

Shelter  Island,  81st. 

Price,  William  E., 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Payne,  Edwin  E., 

Amityville, 

20th. 

Price,  James  H.,  Jr., 

Easthampton, 

53rd  and  Slst. 

Payne,  Valentine, 

Amityville, 

8th. 

Prince,  Hy., 

Southold, 

127th. 

Payne,  Albert  M., 

Springs, 

48th. 

Prince,  George  S., 

Southold, 

6th. 

Payne,  Charles, 
Payne,  Elias  R., 

Springs, 
Amagansett, 

Navy. 
127th. 

Quinn,  Isaac, 
Quinn,  John, 

Springs, 
Atlanticville, 

Conn.  Reg't. 
11th. 

Payne,  Wesley, 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

Payne,  James  S., 

139th. 

Racket,  Gtorge  C, 

Cutchogue, 

126th. 

Payne,  Jeremiah, 

Bridgehamp. , 

127th. 

Rafferty,  Joseph, 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Payne,  Thomas  B., 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Ranger,  Samuel  M., 

Eastham.  t'n, 

,  127th. 

Payne,  Baldwin  T., 

Southold, 

127th. 

Raynor,  Warren, 

Wading  Riv., 

,  165th. 

Payne,  Benjamin  S., 

Sag  Harbor, 

Slst. 

Raynor,  Leander, 

E.  Moriches, 

102nd. 

Payne,  Charles, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Raynor,  J.  Ivison, 

Eastport, 

133rd. 

Payne,  Robert  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Raynor,  Preston, 

Manor, 

133rd. 

Payne,  Huntington, 

11th. 

Raynor,  Laban.  Jr., 

Moriches, 

102nd. 

Pearsall,  Ezra, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Raynor,  John  W., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Pearsall,  Silas  C, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Raynor,  Hy.  S., 

Atlanticville, 

11th. 

Pearsall,  John, 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Raynor,  Jesse, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Pease,  Grove, 

Mattituck, 

127  th. 

Raynor,  William  C, 

Westhampt'n 

,47th. 

Peck,  Charles  H., 

Port  Jefferson 

,  139th 

Raynor,  Jonah,  Jr., 

Manor, 

2nd. 

Pedrick,  Piatt, 

Cold  Spring, 

127th 

Raynor,  William  S., 

Riverhead, 

5th. 

Pedro,  Joseph  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

48th. 

Reade,  John  R., 

Easthampt'n 

,  11th. 

Penney,  B.  Riley, 

Peconic, 

127  th 

Ready,  James, 

Quogue, 

128th. 

Penney,  Oliver  F., 

Flanders. 

Reardon,  Michael  J  , 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Penney,  Jonathan  R., 

Bay  Shore, 

9th. 

Reason,  Thomas, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Slst. 

Penney,  Alexander  H., 

Good  Ground, 

,  6th. 

Redfield,  Charles  A., 

Bridgehamp. 

,  Slst. 

Penney,  Benjamin  L., 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Redfield,  Hy.  J., 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Perdue,  Charles, 

Moriches, 

1st  Colored. 

Reeve,  Jehial  B., 

Moriches. 

133rd. 

Perkins,  George, 

127th. 

Reeve,  Edmund  P., 

Moriches, 

133rd. 

Petty,  Sidney  B., 

Orient, 

127th. 

Reeve,  Oliver  F., 

Centreville, 

5th. 

Petty,  William  E., 

Springs, 

Navy. 

Reeve,  John  W., 

Centreville, 

5th. 

Pharaoh,  Stephen, 

M  on  tank, 

(Indian), 

Reeve,  Thomas  H,, 

Moriches, 

145th. 

Phillips,  W.  H.  H., 

Southampton. 

Reeve,  Thomas  E., 

Mattituck, 

127th. 

Phillips,  Stephen, 

Northport, 

48th. 

Reeve,  Miner  B., 

Riverhead, 

57th. 

Phillips.  Clinton  R., 

Westhampton 

,  12th. 

Reeve,  George  B., 

Mattituck, 

r27th. 

Philhps,  William  E., 

Southampton, 

,  Navy. 

Reeves,  Egbert, 

Cold  Spring, 

10-2nd. 

Pickett,  Andrew, 

Orient, 

6th. 

Reeves,  William  H. 

Pidgeon,  Stephen, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Reise,  Jacob, 

Orient, 

127th. 

Pidgeon,  George, 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Reney,  John,  Jr., 

Sag  Harbo', 

Slst. 

Pidgeon,  John, 

Northport, 

Navy. 

Rhodes,  William, 

Sayville. 

Pierce,  Edw.  C, 

Brentwood, 

14th. 

Rhodes,  Alfred, 

Bay  Shore, 

158th. 

Pierson,  David, 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Rhodv,  Hugh 

Sag  Harbor, 

Slst. 

Pierson,  Alanson, 

Sag  Harbor, 

14th. 

Rice, 'Henry  W., 

Orient, 

1st. 

Pierson,  Nathan  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

■Slst. 

Richmiller,  Albert, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Pierson,  Enoch, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Rick,  John, 

Manor, 

117th. 

Pike,  Osias, 

Central  Islip, 

2nd. 

Riddell,  John  J., 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Pike,  Horace  J., 

Central  Islip, 

2nd. 

Riggs,  John, 

Huntington, 

176th. 

Pike,  Calvin, 

Ronkonkoma, 

7th. 

Riker,  William, 

Holtsville, 

5th. 

Pike,  Christopher, 

Ronkonkoma, 

5th. 

Ricker,  Frederick, 

Sag  Harbor, 

176th. 

Pillington,  John, 

Huntington, 

35  th. 

Ritch,  Sidney  H., 

Mid.  Island, 

127th. 

Pinckney,  George  E., 

Brookhaven, 

131st. 

Ritchie,  Hy.  T., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Pitts,  Charles  E., 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Robbins,  Smith  W., 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Pitts,  Hy.  R., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Robbins,  Charles, 

Cold  Spring', 

102nd. 

Place,  Richard  L., 

Amityville, 

127  th. 

Roberts,  Edw., 

Sag  Harbor, 

Slst. 

Piatt,  Jesse, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Robinson,  George, 

Islip, 

15Sth. 

Piatt,  Eben  G., 

Huntington, 

1st. 

Robinson,  Carman, 

Bellport, 

Uth. 

Piatt,  Ezra  W., 

Bellport. 

Robinson,  Robert  C, 

Springs, 

158th. 

Piatt,  D.. 

Huntington, 

1st. 

Robinson,  Eckford  J., 

Eastport, 

102nd. 

Pokoming,  Gustavus  H., 

,     Ishp, 

4th. 

Robinson,  John  G., 

Westhamp., 

127th. 

Poley,  Treadwell, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Robinson,  Edw.  V., 

Westhamp., 

12th. 

584 


HISTORY  OF  LONG   ISLAND. 


RESIDENCE. 


REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 


Robinson,  Edw,  V., 
Robinson,  George  G,, 
Robinson,  Timothy  W., 
Robinson,  Floyd, 
Robinson,  Jeremiah  J., 
Robinson,  WiUet  H., 
Robinson,  Richard  E., 
Rockwell,  Henry, 
Rockwell,  Frank, 
Roe,  William  P., 
Roe,  Thomas, 
Roe,  Smith, 
Rogers,  Benjamin, 
Rogers,  George, 
Rogers,  James  H., 
Rogers,  William  W., 
Rogers,  Charles  A., 
Rogers,  Israel, 
Rork,  Patrick, 
Rose,  Edwin, 
Rose,  Edward, 
Rose,  Frederick  H., 
Rose,  George  T.; 
Rose,  Elbert  B., 
Rose,  David  J., 
Rowland,  Edward, 
Rowland,  Sylvester, 
Rowland,  Gilson, 
Rowley,  William, 
Rudd,  John, 
Rugg,  George  B., 
Ruland,  J.  Edwin, 
Ruland,  Nelson  S., 
Ruland,  William, 
Ruland,  Manly  F., 
Rumbles,  George  W., 
Russell,  Miner  B., 
Russell,  James  B.,  ' 
Russell,  Bartlett, 
Russell,  James  S., 
Ryan,  Thomas, 
Ryder,  William, 
Ryder,  Smith, 
Ryder,  William  H., 
Ryerson,  George, 
Rylands,  William, 
Saddington,  George, 
Sammis,  Cornelius, 
Sammis,  Theodore, 
Sammis,  John  A., 
Sammis,  Gilbert, 
Sammis,  Franklin, 
Sammis,  Cornelius  M., 
Sammis,  Charles, 
Sammis,  Charles  A  , 
Sammis,  George  S,, 
Sands,  Theodore, 
Sanford,  Hy.  H.. 
Satterley,  Selah  K., 
Satterley,  William  R., 
Satterley,  Charles, 
Satterley,  William  H., 
Satterley,  William, 
Saunders,  Hy,  C, 
Saxton,  Benu  F,, 
Saxton,  George  S., 
Saxton,  Wm.  Wallace, 
Sayre,  James  S. 
Sayre,  Matthew  H. 


Moriches. 

Southampton,  145th. 
Westhamp'tn. 
Southampton,  13th. 
Patchogue,       Navy. 
Patchogue,      Navy. 
Riverhead,       8th, 
Patchogue,       95th. 
Patchogue,       12th. 

189th. 
Sag  Harbor,    127th. 
Brookhaven. 
Brookhaven,    81st. 
Brookhaven. 
Easthampton,  16th. 
Islip,  12th. 

Pt.  Jefferson,    Navy. 
Moriches,         65th. 
Cold  Spring,   102nd. 
Bridgehamp.,  81st. 
Southampton,  81st. 
Watermill,      127ih. 
Brookhaven,   92nd. 
Brookhaven,    145th. 
Moriches,        54th. 
So'Jthaven. 
Brookhaven,    Navy. 
Patchogue,      13th. 
Selden. 

Good  Ground,  25th  Battery. 
Bridgehamp.,  Navy. 
Moriches.         67th. 
Selden. 

Ishp,  8th. 

Brookhaven. 

165th. 
Lakeland,         2nd. 
Sayville,  2nd. 

Bayport,  2nd. 

Setauket,  159th. 

Islip.  139th. 

Bridgeh'm'tn.  ]68ih. 
Moriches,  145th. 
Sag  Harbor,  183rd. 
Huntington,  127th. 
Bridgehamp.,  81st. 
Central  Islip,  20th. 
Huntington,  127th. 
Babylon,  100th. 

Babylon,  127th. 

Northport,        48th. 
Northport,        48th. 
Centreport,      48th. 
Northport,       127th. 
Huntington,     I27th. 
Huntington,     127th. 
Babylon,  Sharpshooters 

Bridgehamp.,  81st. 
Cutchogue.      6th. 
Bay  Shore,       158th. 
Bay  Shore,       6th. 
Bay  Shore,       66th. 
East  Marion. 

Islip,  Spinola's  Brig. 

Bav  Shore,       2nd. 
Pt.' Jefferson,  10th. 
Pt.  Jefferson,  5th. 
Watermill,       127th. 
Watermill,       127th. 


Schafer,  Christy, 
Schellenger,  George  R., 
Schoomaker,  Hy., 
Schoor,  Nicholas, 
Schoor,  Matthias, 
Schumacker,  John, 
Scofield,  Titus, 
Scott,  James  G., 
Scudder,  Stephen  B.. 
Scudder,  William  S., 
Seaman,  Silas  C,  Jr., 
Seaman,  Jacob, 
Seaman,  William, 
Seaman,  Uriah, 
Searles.  William, 
Sears,  George  H., 
Secor,  John  W., 
'  Seymour.  Charles, 
Seymour,  C.  15., 
Sharp,  John  B., 
Shattuck,  Francis  J., 
Shaw,  John, 
Sheffield,  William. 
Sheppard,  Samuel, 
Sheppard.  Thomas. 
Sheriden,  John. 
Sherman,  George  R., 
Sherry.  David  S., 
Sherwood,  William  H.. 
Sherwood,  Joseph, 
Shipman,  James  F., 
Shipman,  William  E.. 
Shore,  Nicholas, 
Shore,  Ferdinand, 
Shotwell,  David, 
Simons,  John, 
Simons,  John  P. 
Silsby,  Smith, 
Silveira.  W.  W., 
Simpson,  James, 
Skidmore,  Theodore, 
Skidmore.  Hy.  A., 
Skidmore.  Albert  F  , 
Skinner,  Barton  D., 
Smalling,  Joshua, 


Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

S 

Sm 

Sm. 

Sm: 

Sm 

Sm: 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 

Sm 


th,  Jonathan, 
th,  Jarvis  W  , 
th,  Daniel, 
th,  Herman, 
th,  Egbert  T., 
th,  Wallace, 
th,  Lorenzo  H., 
th,  John  H. 
th,  David, 
th,  John  H., 
th,  Lorenzo  D.. 
th,  Samuel  D., 
th,  Joel  B., 
th,  Hy., 
th,  William  H., 

Medad, 

Ellis, 

Charlec, 

A.  Judson. 
th,  John  C. 
th,  Charles  L., 
th.  Nelson  P., 
th,  John  H.. 
th.  Mordant, 


RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 

OR  SERVICE 

Sag  Harbor, 

27th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Brookhaven, 

2nd. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

15th. 

Huntington. 

157th. 

Cold  Spring, 

127th. 

Miller's  Place. 

Northport, 

48th. 

Northport, 

48th. 

Sayville, 

12th. 

Babylon. 

127th. 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Eastport. 

1st  M.   Rifles. 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th, 

Northport, 

127th. 

Cutchogue, 

47th. 

Huntington. 

Navy. 

Setauket, 

1st. 

Brookhaven, 

12th. 

U.Aquebogue,12th. 

Islip. 

14th. 

Central. 

81st. 

Islip, 

Navy. 

Brookhaven. 

Sag  Harbor, 

7th. 

Sag  Harbor. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Sag  Harbor. 

Sweet  Holl'w 

,  155th. 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127tK 

Sag  Harbor, 

8lh. 

Patchogue. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Navy. 

Elwood, 

87th. 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Good  Grounc 

,127th. 

E.  Setauket, 

139th. 

Greenport, 

127th. 

Babylon, 

12.1th. 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

Islip, 

2nd. 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Sayville, 

159th. 

Mastic, 

Delaware  Rgt. 

Patchogue. 

Amityville. 

90th. 

Baiting  H'lw 

,2nd. 

Sweet  HoH'w 

,  127th. 

Stony  Brook, 

5th. 

Sayville, 

12th. 

Sayville, 

Navy. 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Babylon, 

Sharpshooters 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Blue  Point. 

Greenport, 

r27th. 

Sag  Harbor, 

Slst. 

Huntington, 

38th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Huntington, 

127th. 

APPENDIX. 


585 


RESIDENCE. 


REGIMENT 
OR  SERVICE. 


RESIDENCE. 


REGIMENT 
OR  SER\TCE. 


Smith,  Walter, 
Smith,  Jesse, 
Smith,  James  R., 
Smith,  Charles  A., 
Smith,  Robert  A., 
Smith,  George  K., 
Smith,  William  H., 
Smith,  Thomas  M., 
Smith,  Montville, 
Smith,  Jacob, 
Smith,  Theodore, 
Smith,  Amos, 
Smith,  William  H., 
Smith,  Phillip  (colored). 
Smith,  Nehemiah  O., 
Smith,  Orin, 
Smith,  William  M., 
Smith,  George  H., 
Smith,  Robert, 
Smith,  George, 
Snedicor,  John  H., 
Snedicor,  Charles, 
Snooks,  John  O., 
Snow,  Charles  E., 
Snow,  Klisha, 
Soper,  Theodore, 
Soper,  Charles  D., 
Soper,  Strong, 
Soper,  Ebenezer,  ^ 
Soper,  Ezra, 
Soper,  Ira  T., 
Southard,  Matthew, 
Southard,  Walter, 
Southard,  Nelson, 
Southard,  William, 
Spencer,  Daniel, 
Sprague,  Hamilton  R., 
Sprague,  Edw., 
Sprague,  Frederick  W., 
Sprague,  Charles, 
Squires,  George  P., 
Squires,  Edw., 
Squires,  Lender, 
Squires,  J.  Hampton, 
Squires,  Hy., 
Squires,  Edw.  L., 
Squires,  Stephen  L., 
Squires,  Charles, 
Stanbrough,  Isaac, 
Stanbrough,  James, 
Stanton,  Joseph  B., 
Stanton,  Oscar  F., 
Stanton,  William  C, 
Stanley,  William  H.. 
Stearns,  Thomas, 
Steele,  John, 
Steele,  David  H., 
Stephens,  David, 
Sterling  William  W., 
Stevens,  Edw., 
Still,  Hy., 
Stillwell,  Andrew, 
Stilwell,  William  H., 
Stillwell,  Isaac  D., 
Stillwell,  James, 
Strickland,  John  R., 
Strong,  Arthur  J., 
Strong,  Silas  P., 
Strong,  James  M., 


Huntington,  48th. 

Huntington,  48th. 
Brookhaven. 

Moriches,  139th. 

Pt.  Jefferson,  159th  &  Navy. 

Brookhaven,  2nd. 
Easthampt'n,  Navy. 
Westh'm'tn. 

Northport,  Navy. 

Huntington,  5th. 

Huntington,  145th. 

Islip,  Navy. 

Pt.  Jefferson,  12th. 
Moriches. 

Patchogue,  59th, 

Brookhaven,  Sharpshooters 

Patchogue,  4th. 

Brookhaven,  12th. 

Greenport,  6th 

Southold,  127th. 

Bay  Shore,  l^lst, 

Babylon,  127th. 

Sag  Harbor,  81st. 

Southaven,  Navy. 

Sag  Harbor,  81st. 

Eiwood,  127th. 

Elwood,  9th. 

Smithtown,  102nd. 

Smithtown,  102nd. 

Babylon,  Sharpshooters 

Huntington.  127th. 

Islip,  5th. 

Islip,  139th. 

Babylon,  6th. 

Babylon,  127th. 

Sag  Harbor,  8lst. 

127th. 

127th, 

Bay  Shore,  139th. 

Huntington,  54th. 

Red  Creek,  127th. 

Amityville,  20th. 

Amityville,  11th. 

Watermill,  95th. 
Southampton,  81st. 
Good  Ground,  127th. 

Sag  Harbor,  127th. 
Sag  Harbor. 
Sag  Harbor. 

Sag  Harbor,  11th. 

Sag  Harbor,  81st. 

Sag  Harbor,  Navy. 
Sag  Harbor; 
Southampton,  4th. 

Centreport,  1st. 

Amityville,  20th. 

Huntington,  20th. 

Pt.  Jefferson,  Navy. 

Cutchogue,  127th. 

Quogue,  127th. 

Brookhaven,  102nd. 

Huntington,  127th. 

Huntington,  102nd. 
Brookhaven. 

Babylon,  2nd. 

Bayport,  2nd. 

Islip,  8th  U.  S.,  Col. 

Bay  Shore,  9th. 
Bridgehamp.,  127th. 


Strong,  Charles  H., 
Strong,  Thomas  H., 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah, 
Sullivan,  Patrick, 
Sutton,  L.  W., 
Sutton,  Jacob, 
Suydam,  Hy.  H., 
Suydam,  Nathaniel, 
Swezey,  ^^^arren  W., 
Svvezey,  Richard  M., 
Swezey,  Moses, 
Swezey,  Stephen  J., 
Swezey,  Evi, 
Sylve,  Joseph, 
Sythes,  William, 
Tabor,  Elbert  W., 
Tabor,  William  T., 
Taney,  Richard, 
Talmage,  Nathaniel  M. 
Talmage,  William  H., 
Taylor,  Edw.  C, 
Teal,  George  F., 
Terrell,  Thomas  S., 
Terrell,  Charles  S., 
Terrell,  Lafayette, 
Terrell,  Walter, 
Terry,  George  H., 
Terry,  Brewster, 
Terry,  George  W., 
Terry,  Leander, 
Terry,  Scudder  H., 
Terry,  Columbus  F., 
Terry,  James  B., 
Terry,  Charles  E., 
Terry,  Benjamin  H., 
Te^ry,  Albert  H., 
Terry,  Parmenas, 
Terry,  James  M., 
Terry,  George  A., 
Terry,  Jesse  A., 
Terry,  Gideon  H., 
Terry,  Bryant  B., 
Terrv,  Sidney, 
Thatford,  Hy.  C, 
Thompson,  Robert  H., 
Thompson,  Alonzo  F., 
Thompson,  George  F., 
Thorne,  Walter, 
Thurber,  Jacob  B., 
Thurber,  John  R., 
Thurber,  Daniel  J., 
Thurber,  Stephen  W., 
Thurber,  John  W., 
Thurber,  Smith  R., 
Tichenor,  Elias  H.. 
Tichenor,  Benjamin  E., 
Tichenor,  John  B., 
Tillinghast,  Charles  S., 
Tillinghast,  Charles  E., 
Tilotson,  Alfred  C, 
Tillotson,  Jacob  P., 
Tobias,  Abraham  (col.), 
Tooker,  Erastus, 
Tooker,  Floyd, 
Topping,  M.  Howell, 
Topping,  William  O., 
Topping,  Edw., 
Topping,  Albert  E., 
Topping,  James  R., 


Sag  Harbor,  Navy. 
Sag  Harbor,  Navy. 
Shelter  Isl'nd,  127th. 
Babylon,  117th. 

Greenport,       127th. 
Brookhaven. 
Babylon,  127th. 

Huntington,  Navy. 
Islip,  9th. 

Sag  Harbor,    81st. 
Brookhaven,   2nd. 
Huntington. 
Patchogue. 
Sag  Harbor,     Navy. 
Sag  Harbor,     13th. 
Orient,  6th. 

Orient,  6th. 

Northport,  127th. 
Springs,  5th. 

Sag  Harbor,  127th. 
81st. 
Brookhaven,   2nd. 
Islip,  99th. 

PatchoRue,       145th  &  107th. 
Atlanticville,  127th. 
Patchogue,       12th. 
E.  Moriches,    102nd. 
Holtsville,        159th. 
Moriches,         102nd. 
Jamesport,       165th. 
Holtsville,        13th. 
Centreville,     5th. 
Bridgehamp.,  127th. 
Southold,         127th. 
Southold,  r27th. 

Riverhead,       127th. 
Riverhead.       r27th. 
Brookhaven. 
Easthampt'n,  112th. 
Southampt'n,  Navy. 
Moriches,        102nd. 
Patchogue,      48th. 
Holtsville,        133rd. 
Sag  Harbor,    6ih. 
Orient.  165th. 

Brentwood,      84th. 
Islip,  158th. 

Central  Islip,  n6thU.S.Col. 
Patchogue,      2nd. 
Bay  Shore,       8th. 
Patchogue,      2nd. 
Islip,  Navy. 

Islip,  Navy. 

Islip,  Navy. 

Amityville,       127th. 
Amityville,       127th. 
Huntington,     61st. 
Southold,         127th. 
Easthampt'n,  71st, 
Babylon,  127th. 

Huntington,  127th. 
Setauket,  26th. 

Babylon,  Sharpshooters 

Babylon,  127tb. 

Bridgehamp.,  100th. 
Bridgehamp.,  7th. 
Easthampt'n,  81st. 
Bridgehamp.,  Navy. 
Bridgehamp.,  Navy. 


586 


HISTORY  OF    LONG  ISLAND. 


NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

REGIMENT 
OR    SERVICE. 

Townsend,  Joshua, 

Cold  Spring, 

20th  U.S.,  Col, 

Tredwell,  Wm.  H.  (col.) 

1,  Islip, 

14th. 

Tredwell,  Theodore, 

Rocky  Point. 

Tremblv,  Ohver  R., 

Amityville, 

127th. 

Tully,  Walter, 

Bridgeh'm'tn 

,  nth. 

Turbush,  Arthur  W., 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Tuthill,  Halsey  C, 

Jamesport, 

8th. 

Tuthill,  George  H., 

Jamesport, 

127th. 

Tuthill,  Lutner  M., 

Orient, 

165th. 

Tuthill,  Thomas  P., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Tuthill,  Erastus  W., 

Cutchogue, 

127th. 

Tuthill,  Orin  0., 

New  Suffolk, 

170th. 

Tuthill,  Cyrus  D., 

Westhamp. 

Tuttle,  Preston, 

Westhamp., 

11th. 

Tuttle,  William  J., 

Speonk, 

127th. 

Tyler,  George  H., 

New  Suffolk, 

158th. 

Vail,  Oliver  E., 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Vail,  Hy.  F., 

Riverhead, 

127th. 

Vail,  Thomas  H., 

Sag  Harbor, 

8Ist. 

Vail,  William  H., 

Brookhaven. 

Valentine,  Edw., 

Cold  Spring, 

127th. 

Valentme,  W.  H., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Valentine,  Oliver, 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Van  Cott,  Samuel  A., 

Bay  Shore, 

2nd. 

Van  Cott,  Hy. 

Babylon, 

r^7th. 

Van  Cowin,  Peter, 

Mid.  Island. 

Van  Houton^  James  A., 

Sag  Harbor, 

8th. 

Van  Nostrand,  S., 

Blue  Point, 

27th. 

Van  Stephtnburgh,  Geo 

,,  Brookhaven, 

12th. 

Velsor,  Andrew  J. 1 

Centreport, 

127th. 

\'e]sor,  Daniel  S., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Velsor,  Jonas  A., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Verity,  James  E., 

Islip, 

2nd. 

\'erway,  Anthony, 

Lakeland, 

2nd. 

Vincent,  John, 

Riverhead, 

131st. 

Wade.  Jared. 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Wade,  Charles  B., 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Wadlev,  Frederick  J., 

Southampt'n, 

,  6th. 

Wapstaff,  Alfred,  Jr., 

West  Islip, 

91st. 

Walker,  John  H., 

Southampton, 

20th  U.S.,  Col 

Walker,  John  A., 

Baoylon, 

Navy. 

WaKh,  John, 

Cold  Spring, 

1st. 

Walsh,  William, 

Riverhead, 

158th. 

Walters,  Max, 

Shelter  Islnd, 

, 182nd. 

Walters,  Andrew  C, 

Amityville, 

90th. 

Walters,  George  S., 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Walters.  J.  Conklin, 

Cold  Spring, 

102nd. 

Walters,  C.C, 

Huntington, 

6th. 

Walters,  Charles  M., 

Smithtown, 

139th. 

Ward,  Thomas, 

Riverhead, 

39th. 

Ware,  George  W,, 

Southampton 

,6th. 

Warren,  Timothy, 

Watermill, 

127th. 

Warren,  W^ashington. 

Warren,  Washington, 

Northport, 

120th. 

Warner,  Alfred, 

Sag  Harbor, 

81st. 

Warner,  John  T., 

Southold, 

165th. 

Wasson,  John, 

Moriches, 

90th. 

Waterbury,  Edwin  A., 

Huntington, 

127th. 

Watts,  Alexander, 

Bay  Shore, 

158th. 

Webb,  Job, 

Sag  Harbor, 

127th. 

Webster,  William, 

P^lwood. 

6th. 

Weed,  George  A., 

Bridgehamp., 

127th. 

Weed,W.  H., 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Weeks,  George, 

Islip, 

Navy. 

Weeks,  George  S., 

Sayville, 

r27th. 

Weeks,  Jesse, 

Huntington. 

Weeks,  Jami-s, 

Huntington, 

102nd. 

Weidner,  John, 

Bellport, 

107th. 

Weidner,  Edw., 

Brookhaven. 

RESIDENCE. 


REGIMENT 
OR   SERVICE. 


Welch,  Thomas, 
Weller,  John, 
Wells,  George  B., 
Wells,  William  H., 
Wells,  Elisha, 
Wells,  George  C, 
Wells,  Calvin  H., 
Wells,  William  T., 
Wells,  Ellsworth  E., 
Wells,  Hy., 
Wendling,  Edw.  T., 
Wench,  Michael. 
Wescott,  Charles, 
Wetzel,  Jacob, 
Wheeler,  James, 
Wheeler,  E.  F., 
Whitebeck,  Franklin  A. 
White,  Robert, 
White,  George  H., 
White,  Hubert, 
White,  Charles  H., 
White,  William, 
White,  John, 
White,  Andrew, 
White,  Lewis  L., 
White,  Edw.  L.,  Jr., 
Whittemore,  George, 
Whittle,  Peter, 
Whitney,  George, 
Whitney,  George, 
Whitney.  Charles, 
Wick,  William  H., 
Wicks,  Sidney  S., 
Wicks,  L.  B., 
Wicks,  John  E., 
Wicks,  Samuel  C, 
Wicks,  George, 
Wier,  Joseph  Keenan, 
Wiggins,  George  W., 
Wiggins,  John, 
Wiggins,  Thomas  A., 
Wiggins,  William  S., 
Wiggins.  Joseph  C, 
Wilbur,  A.  H., 
Wilcox,  Nathan  T., 
W^ilkins,  Theodore, 
Wilkinson,  Albert, 
Willitt,  Marion, 
Willetts,  Samuel  V., 
Wiley,  Hy.  J. 
Williams,  VVm.  E.  (col. 
Williams,  William  E., 
Williams,  John, 
Williams,  Hy., 
Williams,  Evi., 
A^illiams,  Julius  W., 
Williams,  Richard, 
Williams,  Charles  E., 
W'i  liams,  Horace, 
Williams,  Jeremiah, 
Williamson,  William  N 
Williamson,  Edw.  J., 
Williamson,  Fredk.  B., 
Williamson,  Halsey, 
Williamson,  George  O., 
Willis,  Charles  M., 
Wilmartin,  Daniel  S.^ 
Wilson,  Alfred  D., 
Wilson,  Albert, 


Riverhead.  „  ,  ,.  c 
Northport,  3rd  U.  b. 
Peconic,  127th. 

Stony  Brook. 
U.Aquebog'e,  2nd. 
Southold,  127th. 

Greenport,  127th. 
Pt.  Jefferson,  159th. 
Riverhead,  127th. 
Greenport,  127th. 
Yaphank,         2nd. 

Brookhaven. 
Orient.  165th. 

Cold  Spring,   102nd. 
Sag  Harbor,    8lst. 
Yaphank,         158th. 
Brentwood,      9th. 
Sagg,  Navy. 

Southampton,  2nd. 
Rocky  Point. 
Manor,  165th. 

Wading  Riv. 
Cold  Spring,   8th. 
Stony  Brook,  26th  U.  S.  Col. 
Riverhead,       127th. 
Huntington,     Navy. 
Southampton,  127th. 
Babylon,  Sharpshooters 

Southampton,  11th. 
Southampton,  11th. 
Southampton,  89th. 
Patchogue,       Spinola's  Brig 
Brookhaven. 
Brookhaven. 
Brookhaven. 
Huntington,     127th. 
Middle  Island. 


Babylon, 

Centreport, 

Peconic, 

Greenport, 

Mattituck, 

Huntington, 

Shelter  Islnd 

Brookhaven. 

Southaven, 

Huntington. 

Brookhaven, 

,  Southampton 
Greenport, 
Brookhaven. 
Brookhaven. 
Northport, 
Northport, 
Huntington. 
Brookhaven, 
Patchogue, 
Greenport, 

,  Sag  Harbor, 
Sag  Harbor. 
Sag  Harbor, 

Riverhead, 
Sag  Harbor, 
Amityville, 
Pt.  Jefferson, 
Coram, 


Sharpshooters 

4Sth. 

127th. 

12th. 

127th. 

1st. 

1st. 

145th. 

I2th. 

,  20th. 
165th. 


26th. 
26th. 

1st. 

Navy. 
Navy. 
12th. 

16th. 

165th. 

12th. 

Harrison's  L 

127th. 

3rd. 

145th. 


NAME. 

Wines,  Hiram  H., 
Winters,  George  W., 
Wood,  George, 
Wood,  Ira, 
Wood,  Hy.  H., 
Wood,  Hy., 
Wood,  George  S., 
Wood,  Arnold, 
Wood/ John  F., 
Wood,  Daniel, 
Wood,  William  H., 
Wood,  Havens  W., 
Wood,  John  M., 
Wood,  John  M., 
Woodbury,  Levi  N., 
Woodbury,  Francis, 
Woodhull,  Joseph  H., 
Woodward,  Alfred, 
Woodworth,  Ephraim, 
Worth,  William  H., 
Worth,  Sylvester, 
Worth,  Sylvester  H., 
Worthington,  Edwin  F., 
Worthington,  Hy.  M., 


APPENDIX. 

581 

REGIMENT 

REGIMENT 

RESIDENCE. 

NAME. 

RESIDENCE. 

OR    SERVICE. 

OR  SERVICE. 

Westham't'n, 

,  127th. 

Worthington,  John  F., 

Riverhead, 

164th. 

Brookhaven, 

Navy. 

Worthington,  Geo.  W., 

Riverhead, 

Navy. 

Babylon, 

20th  U.  S. 

,Col. 

Wright,  Nathan  H., 

Bridgehamp. 

,  10th. 

Cold  Spring, 

127th. 

Wright,  Fred.,  Sen.  &  Jr 

.,  Islip, 

2nd. 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Wright,  Lee, 

Islip, 

2nd. 

Peconic, 

127th. 

Wright,  Joseph  C, 

Babylon, 

127th. 

Cutchogue, 

163rd. 

Wright,  Isaac, 

Easthampton 

I,  Navy. 

Huntington. 

Wright,  Jeremiah  S., 

Easthampton 

,  Navv. 

Huntington, 

Navy. 

Young,  Julius  B., 

Orient, 

6th.  ' 

Northport, 

127th. 

You-^g,  George  W., 

Orient, 

6th. 

Huntington, 

26th  U.  S. 

Col. 

Young,  James  H., 

Orient, 

127th. 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Young,  John  H., 

Orient, 

127th. 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Young,  John  S., 

Orient, 

127th. 

Patchogue, 

12th. 

Young,  Joseph  C., 

Cutchogue, 

165th. 

Holtsville, 

85th. 

Young,  Johnson  H. 

Holtsville, 

47th. 

Young,  Thomas, 

Cutchogue, 

8th  U.  S.,  Col, 

Jamesport, 

8th. 

Youngs,  James  F., 

Baiting  Hoi., 

2nd. 

Sag  Harbor, 

66th. 

Youngs,  Charles, 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

E.  Moriches, 

130th. 

Youngs,  Harrison, 

Hauppauge, 

139th. 

Sayville, 

Nivy. 

Youngs,  George, 

Speonk, 

15th. 

Sayville, 

Navy. 

Youngs,  John  Elliott, 

Middle  Road^ 

,  8th. 

Pt.  Jefferson, 

56th. 

Youngs,  John  F., 

Bridgehamp. 

,  81st. 

Bridgehamp. 

,  Navy. 

Yack,  John, 

Orient, 

165th. 

Riverhead, 

169th. 

/>.  .-»\ 


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