USA > New York > Suffolk County > Easthampton > A history of the town of East-Hampton, N.Y. > Part 1
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Gc 974.702 Ea774h 1136479
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01147 9190
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofe00hedg_0
L
AUG. 1925.
Roue Marie Barnes
Mainscott, L. J.
A HISTORY
-OF THE-
Town of East=Hampton, N. Y., New York
Including an Address
Delivered at the Celebration of the Bi-Centen- nial Anniversary of its Settlement in 1849,
INTRODUCTIONS
"l'o the four printed volumes of its Records, with other Historie Meterial, an
Appendix and Genealogical Notes -BY- /
HENRY P. HEDGES.
0
"They haunt your breezy hillsides, green vales and thundering floods, They linger by your gliding streams and mid your moss-draped woods, They sit beside your green old graves in shadow and in sheen, And move among your household gods though voiceless and unseen. Ther ye who make your happy homes where once their homes have been, Deem also this your heritage, to keep their memories green, To shield within your heart of hearts, the glorious trust ye hold, And bear unstained the names they bore, those brave, proud men of old." -Cornelia Huntington.
.......
SAG-HARBOR : J. H. HUNT, PRINTER.
1897.
1136479
PREFACE.
An address was delivered in 1849, at the celebration of the two hun- dredth anniversary of the settlement of the Town of East-Hampton. Introductions were printed with the four volumes of the Town Records. That address forms the first two and the introductions the next four chapters of this book. The writer was advised to revise and re-cast all these. But the address is by age almost historic. That and the Intro- ductions are existing unities hard to transform. The writer is in his eightieth year, with limited activities, and unable to do this work. It must be in this shape and now or never. The last six chapters comprise results of years of thought and study, as the pressure of business and the practice of an arduous profession permitted. The appendix con- tains material historically invaluable. The genealogy is compiled with care and an aim for exactness more than quantity. The years of toil and historic labor embodied in this book, the experienced alone can know. That it is not more symmetric none more than the writer re- grets. It is far below his ideal. For the reasons stated perhaps its criticism should be gentle. To the many friends aiding in this work, whose number prevents special mention, thanks! The history of this town is worthy of the most unremitting toil and the loftiest genius. The memory of our forefathers demands the best their sons can give. Back, far back in the early English settlements of this fair land are found the springs from whence its rich blessings flowed. But for the virtue, the piety, the self denial, the wisdom, the genius of the fathers, this Nation in the largeness of its freedom, the breadth of its educa- tion, the universality of its equal rights, the solidity of its unbroken union, the grandeur of its territorial greatness, the march of its benefi_ cent mission, could not have been. As a guiding constellation in the heavens, such thoughts have cheered the labors, softened the cares, dispersed the gloom, inspired the gratitude of the writer in compiling this work. May it inspire like thoughts in the hearts of the living and of coming generations. With that hope it was written. To that high purpose it is dedicated.
H. P. HEDGES.
BRIDGE-HAMPTON, July, 1897.
CONTENTS.
-: 0 ;-
CHAPTER I-ADDRESS OF 1849.
The Introduction, p, 1. The Settlement, p. 3. The Settlers, p. 4. Culture of the Soil, p. 9. Whaling, p. 10. The Courts, p. 11. Con- necticut Laws Adopted, p. 15. The Indians, p. 16. The Growth of the Settlement, p. 18. Amagansett and Wainscott Settled, p. 18.
CHAPTER II-ADDRESS OF 1849 CONTINUED.
Combination and Laws of Connecticut Adopted, p. 20. Witchcraft, p. 23. The Churches, p. 23. The Ministers, p. 23. The Spirit of Free- dom, p. 25. The Petition for Representation in Government, p. 26. The Patent of 1686, p. 28. Samuel Mulford, p. 29. The Revolution, p. 31. Capt. John Dayton, p. 35. Clinton Academy, p. 37. Thoughts suggested, p. 37. Conclusion, pp. 39-43.
CHAPTER III.
INTRODUCTION TO VOL. I OF THE TOWN RECORDS, 1649-1680. Invitation to the Writer, p. 44. Government a Necessity, p. 45. Value of the Records, p. 45. The Town Meeting, p. 46. Representative Government Denied, p. 49. The Settlement Extended, p. 50. Witchcraft, p. 51. Whaling, p. 52. The Title to Lands, p. 53. The Church, p. 54. Lion Gardiner, p. 55. Character Fixed, p. 56.
CHAPTER IV.
INTRODUCTION TO VOL. II OF THE TOWN RECORDS, 1680-1720. The Growth of the Colony, p. 57. State of the Church, p. 58. The Rob- ber Government of the Province, p. 59. The Town Resists their Oppression, p. 60. The Address of 1685, p. 63. Leisler-Sloughter, p. 64. Improvement of Lands in Common a Failure, p. 64. £ Whal- ing, Farming, Shoemaking, p. 66. The Fort, p. 66. The Burying Ground, p. 67. Death of Minister James, Rev. Nathaniel Huntting, the Ocean, p. 69.
CHAPTER V.
INTRODUCTION TO VOL. III OF THE TOWN RECORDS, 1702-1734. The Mother Country, p. 70. The Plague in London, p. 71. The Great Fire of 1666, p. 71. The Wars, p. 71. Emigration, Causes of p. 71. The Power of Great Britain Predominates, p. 73. Samuel Mulford, p. 74. Simplicity of Manners, p. 74. Genealogy, p. 75. Trade, Com- merce, Manufactures, p. 78. The Church, p. 79. Structure raised in 1717, p. 81. Account of, p. 81.
CHAPTER VI. INTRODUCTION TO VOL. IV OF THE TOWN RECORDS, 1734-1849. Progress of the Age, p. 86. Allottment of Lands, p. 88. Cattle Marks, p. 90. Montauk, p. 90. Town Legislation, p. 91. A Dog Law, p. 92. The Revolution, p. 92. Old Style Changed, p. 94. Gardiner's Island Annexed to East-Hampton, p. 94. Notices of Ministers Huntting, Buell, Beecher, Phillips, Condit, Eleazer Miller, Nathan- iel Gardiner, Thomas Wickham, Jonathan S. Conkling, Abraham Parsons, Abel Huntington, M. D., David Hedges, Jr., Josiah C. Dayton, Samuel Miller, pp. 95-97. Concluding Remarks, p. 98.
CHAPTER VII.
THE INDIANS-Death of the Manhansett Sachem, p. 99. Sachem's Hole, p. 99. Wyandance Attains Supremacy, p. 100. The Montauk Tribe, p. 100. Their Number, p. 100. Wars with Pequots and Narraghan- setts, p. 100. Navigation, p. 102. Wampum, p. 102. Religion, p. 103. Missions, p. 104. Cockenoe de Long Island, p. 105. Indian Influence on the Anglo-Saxon, p. 107. Beman Father and Son, p. 108. Lovė of War, p. 109. An Epitaph, p. 110. The Trustees of the Town of East-Hampton, p. 110.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Original Dwellings and their Location, p. 114. The Later Dwell- ings and their Surroundings, p. 115. Progress, p. 117. Home Man- ufacture, p. 117. Economic and Social Life, p. 118. Literature, p. 119. . The Galaxy of Mind, p. 120. Health, p. 121. County of Kent, p. 123. Maidstone, p. 123. Substitutes for Money, p. 126. Relig- ion, p. 127. The Sabbath, p. 129. Care of Indians, p. 129. Pity for the Poor, p. 130.
CHAPTER IX.
Government Impartial, p. 132. Prudent, p. 133. Forest Protected, p. 133. Combination with Connecticut and New England, p. 135. Assembly of 1665, p. 138. Duplicity of the Duke of York, p. 138. Southampton Disputes the Line, p. 139. Some Old Lots Located, p. 139. Emigration, p. 140. Wealth and Population, p. 141. The Tea Kettle, p. 142. Standpoint for a View, p. 142.
CHAPTER X.
The Revolution, p. 145. Major Cockeaue, p. 147. The Refugees, p. 149. The Culloden, p. 149. Major Andre, p. 149. Dr. Gardiner, p. 150. Dr. Buell, p. 150. Population, p. 151. The Quit Rent, p. 151. Ship- wrecks, p. 152. The Storm, p. 153. The Amistad Case, p. 155.
CHAPTER XI.
Three Beechers in One Day, p. 162. John Howard Payne, p. 167. Miss Cornelia Huntington, p. 170. General Training, p. 172, The Whale Chase, p. 174.
CHAPTER XII. Sag-Harbor, p. 180.
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APPENDIX.
PAGE
Indian Deed for East-Hampton, 1648.
199
Assignment thereof, 1651. 199
Trial of Wyandanch. 200
Oath of Town Officers 200
Address at a General Training in June, 1682 201
Tax List of East-Hampton, Aug. 24, 1675 202
66 66 Sept. 8, 1683 203
Montauk Deed, Aug. 1, 1660. .
205
66 Hither End, Feb. 11, 1661
206
66
Abstract, Dec. 1, 1670. 208 208
Assignment, May 23, 1671.
The Eastern part, July 26, 1687
208
Abstract, 1702-3 209 210
Dongan's Patent of the Town, 1686.
Letter of Freeholders of Suffolk County asserting rights, etc., 1701.
215
Equalization of three Montauk Purchases, 1748 216
General Association of 1775 Muster Roll, Capt. Ezekiel Mulford's Company, 1776 220 222 224
List of Town Officers, 1650 to 1750
List of Supervisors, 1699 to 1848
228
List of Church Members removed, 1696 to 1800 229
Trustees' Journal, extracts, 1726 to 1826 232
J. Madison Huntting's Journal, 1841 to I864. 234
Exhibition in Clinton Academy, 1821.
237
Toasts given at the Celebration, 1849 238
239
Odes sung
Facetia . 241
Soldiers and Seamen who served in the War for the Union 1861-65 .. 242
Genealogy 244
Errata 345
CHAPTER I.
The Introduction, p. 1. The Settlement, p. 3. The Settlers,
p. 4. Culture of the Soil, p. 7. Whaling, p. 10. The Courts, p. 11. Connecticut Laws adopted, p. 15. The In- dians, p. 16. Growth of the Settlement, p. 18. Amagan- sett and Wainscott settled, p. 18.
ADDRESS OF 1849.
. FELLOW TOWNSMEN OF EAST-HAMPTON :
We meet to-day as natives of the same neighborhood, having enjoyed the same blessings, entertained the same early associations, indulged the same recollections, being bound together by the same social ties, and descended from the same common ancestry, to celebrate the Second Centennial Anniversary of the settlement of this Town.
We are not unwilling to acknowledge our origin-we de- light to honor the memory of our heroic fathers, "Our pious ancestry," who "first planted religion, civilization and re- finement upon these shores." Degenerate and base indeed were we, enjoying as we do the fruits of their toils and sacrifices, never to turn in grateful remembrance and pay the tribute of filial affection to those who so dearly pur- chased them for their descendants. It is a high and holy sentiment of our nature which prompts us, amid all our wanderings, to re-visit the home of our childhood, and look upon the graves of our fathers. Travel far as we may from the smiling abode of our infancy ; remain, as we may, for many long years absent, and still this sentiment clings to us in our wanderings. It travels with us to the remotest lands. It swells our bosom on the ocean wave. It tri- umphs over time and space. One after another the asso- ciations and early remembrances of our youth come gush-
2
ing upon the memory. We are overwhelmed by the tender recollections of our native land, and-subdued by the emo- tions which our memory brings-we are irresistibly prompt- ed to turn our footsteps to the home of our infancy and the land of our fathers. There, where we drew our first faint breath, we would breathe our last : and where our fathers are buried we desire our lifeless bodies to repose.
It is a kindred, social sentiment which prompts us to inquire into our origin, to trace our ancestry, to commune in imagination with the spirits of our fathers, to recount their deeds, to celebrate their valor, honor their memory, and profit by their example and experience. Such consid- erations, we trust, brought us together to this, our home, the land of our venerated fathers.
History we know is ever instructive in its lessons. The future to us is unknown and uncertain ; but the past is for- ever fixed and unchangeable. We may speculate upon the future ; each for himself may plan and arrange and build his superstructure according to his visionary anticipations. But whether that future shall rise in the shape and fair proportions of his visions or not, who can tell ? But the past admits no change. Its realities remain unaffected by the present, unaltered by images of the future. There we rest upon the solid basis of experience, not upon the illu- sions of the imagination. But history becomes doubly in- teresting to us when it relates the experience of our indi- vidual ancestors ; of those whose blood flows in our veins ; who reared the successive generations that lived and died until they at length gave to us that life which had been transmitted to them.
Under such revelations of history we feel our souls thrilling with interest in the relation of every incident of the past. We sympathise with our fathers. We feel the
3
cold blast that sent its shivering power upon their venera- ble, unsheltered heads. We feel the burning sun that poured its fierce, relentless rays upon them. We tremble for them amid their dangers. We triumph with them in
success. We hope with them in their anticipations. We lose our consciousness of the present. We seem to feel the spirits of the departed animating our own bosoms ; and as we live in their experience almost say, "The souls of our fathers live in us."
Our ancestors were the Puritans of England. We can- not doubt as to their character, their purposes, or their motives. England had just awoke from her religious slumbers. The principles of civil and religious liberty were forcing their way upon the mind of the nation. The royal houses of Plantagenet and Tudor, of York and Lan- caster, had passed away. Kings were seen to be mortal. Their right to prescribe a religion for the people began to be denied. Their Divine right to govern began to be doubted. Resistance to arbitrary imposition and authority was openly proclaimed. The right of the people to a con- stant representation in the government was asserted; and civil war rolled over the fair field of their native England.
Amid the strife of battle and the din of murderous con- flict our fathers left their country-sought this unexplored, unsettled Western World,-trusting here to hold unmo- lested their religion and their liberties, and transmit them to a peaceful, happy posterity in the wilds of their new abode. They left in the age of John Hampden and Mil- ton, and soon after their arrival came the news of the Roy- al overthrow. The same year that saw the triumph of lib- erty in Great Britain, and consigned Charles Stuart, its monarch, to the block, saw the settlement of this, our native town.
4
This town was purchased as far eastward as Montauk in 1648 by Theophilus Eaton, Governor of the Colony of New Haven, and Edward Hopkins, Governor of the Colony of Connecticut, for the benefit of the original settlers, and was assigned to them by Eaton and Hopkins in the spring of 1651, in consideration of the sum of £30, 4s, 8d sterl- ing .*
Gardiner's Island had been purchased and was settled by Lion Gardiner in 1639. Southampton and Southold were settled in 1640.
At what precise date the first inhabitants of this town planted themselves upon the soil is not known. It was probably in the spring or summer of 1649. The earliest instrument I find on record indicating their residence here is a letter of attorney from John Hand in relation to some lands in Stanstede, in Kent, England ; it bears date Oct. 31st, 1649.
As many of the inhabitants came from Maidstone, in the county of Kent, in England, they first called their plantation by that name. As early as 1650, and within a year from the first settlement it is mentioned on the Rec- ords by its present name.
At the time of the first occupation of this new territory the Indians were numerous, and situated on every side. On the East, at Montaukett, the Royal Wyandanch swayed the sceptre. On the North, at Shelter Island, his brother, Poggatacut, ruled the tribe of Manhassetts ; and a third brother, by the name of Nowedinah presided over the des- tinies of the Shinecock tribe. Little or no intercourse was held between East-Hampton and Southampton through the unbroken wilderness which intervened.
What a bold and daring step was that: to leave behind
*For a copy of this deed see appendix.
1
5
the comforts, the conveniences and the joys of their native land ; leave far, and perhaps forever, their friends so dear to them. Forsake their homes and their firesides, and, ar- rived at Salem, at Boston, or Lynn, to leave still behind those flourishing towns and bend their steps hitherward. And here, in the dark and gloomy wilderness, in silence unbroken save by the Indian war-whoop, by the hideous cry of the wild beast, or the solemn and majestic roar of Father Ocean, take up their final earthly resting-place and home.
Interesting to us would it be did we know more of the character and circumstances of those first few families. We should like to paint them as they were, in life and be- ing-what undaunted resolution-what firm religious trust spoke upon their countenances and told of the soul within. What high purposes, what sublime hopes lighted up their eyes and swelled their bosoms-what intellectual cultiva- tion sat upon their brows ? We should like to set before you their stalwart forms and iron frames, but their bones have long since reposed in the cemetery of their own se- lection, and no painters canvass secures their earthly form.
The first settlers of East-Hampton were
JOHN HAND. JOHN STRETTON, SEN'R
THOMAS TALMAGE, JR.
ROBERT BOND,
DANIEL HOWE,
ROBERT ROSE,
THOMAS THOMSON,
JOSHUA BARNES,
JOHN MULFORD.
The following became very early their associates :
THOMAS OSBORN, NATHANIEL BISHOP,
WILLIAM HEDGES, WILLIAM BARNES,
RALPH DAYTON, LION GARDINER,
THOMAS CHATFIELD, JOHN OSBORNE,
THOMAS OSBORN, JR. JEREMIAH VEALE,
6
WILLIAM FITHIAN,
JOHN MILLER,
RICHARD BROOKES,
CHARLES BARNES,
WILLIAM SIMONDS,
STEPHEN HAND,
SAMUEL BELKNAP,
THOMAS BAKER,
SAMUEL PARSONS,
ANANIAS CONKLIN,
JOSHUA GARLICKE,
RICHARD SHAW,
FULKE DAVIS,
JEREMIAH MEACHAM.
The first six of the original nine settlers came from Lynn, Massachusetts, to this place. The father of Tal- mage was a large proprietor of Lynn and was made a free- man of that town previous to 1638. Howe had been a sea captain and had lived in Salem, Massachusetts ; in 1650 he sold his possessions in East-Hampton to Thomas Ba- ker, and removed to England. Hand was from the hamlet of Stanstede, in the County of Kent, England. Thomson came here from New London. Barnes and Mulford ar- rived at Salem, from England, but a short time previous, it is said. It has, however, been a tradition in the Mul- ford family that he came to East-Hampton from South- ampton. Perhaps he made but a short stay in Southamp-
ton. Ralph Dayton came from England to Boston and thence here. Thomas Baker came from Milford, Connect- icut, in 1650 ; he was an inhabitant of that town as early as 1639. Thomas James and his father came to Charles- town, in Massachusetts, in 1632 ; they afterwards went to New-Haven, Connecticut, and Thomas James removed from thence to East-Hampton as early as 1651; and became their first Minister of the Gospel. The father of Charles Barnes resided in Eastwinch, in the County of Norfolk, in Eng- land; he died in 1663, leaving property to his son. Charles Barnes was the first schoolmaster. Joshua Garlicke was the miller. The family of Fithian have a tradition that their first ancestor in this town came from Southampton.
7
The family of Schellenger are mentioned in the Town Rec- ords as early as 1657. Thomas Edwards is mentioned as early as 1651. Lion Gardiner removod from Gardiner's Island to this town in 1653.
Few facts in relation to the family history of our early ancestors remain. The hand of time has moved on with sure, resistless progress, and left on record but few memor- ials of the dead.
It is said that of the first settlers :
Ralph Dayton died in 1657.
John Hand and Lion Gardiner in 1663.
Robert Rose, who was the father of Thomas Rose
of Southampton, must have died previous to 1665.
as appears by the record of conveyance of
his lands, by his son Thomas, to George Miller, dated 19th Dec., 1665.
William Hedges died about 1674.
Many of our ancestors, however, lived to a very great age. Their simple habits, correct life, and perhaps an originally strong constitution lengthened out their days far beyond the ordinary life of man.
Richard Stretton died June 7th, 1698
William Barnes, Sen'r Dec'r 1st, 1698.
Joshua Garlicke, aged about 100 years
March 7th, 1700.
Richard Shaw
Oct'r 18th, 1708.
Thomas Osborne, aged 90 years
Sept. 12th, 1712.
Robert Dayton, a son of Ralph Dayton, aged 84 years April 16th, 1712.
Samuel Parsons, aged 84 years July 6th, 1714.
Steven Hedges, a son of William Hedges, lacking 6 months of 100 years old July 7th, 1734.
He must have been familiar with the origin of this town, and with its history for at least 85 years.
8
Joseph Osborn, (a son of Thomas Osborn, one of the first settlers,) died here, in this Temple of our fathers, while wor. shiping, a little more than one hundred years since. The following is a literal copy of the record of his death as con- tained in the Records of the Rev. Nathaniel Huntting, the then minister of the town :
" Oct. 2nd, 1743 :- Joseph Osborn, son of Tho's Osborn deceased, sunk down and died in ye Meeting House just after morning prayer was begun, a quarter after ten, aged almost 83 years. He never spake a word but expired at once."
The first inhabitants of this town settled in the Southern part of the main street and on each side of what is now Town Pond. At that time however there was no collection of wa- ter, and a swamp or marsh covered the centre of the street. A small rivulet or drain communicated with and ran into the swamp from the North.
The following are the names of those who lived up- on the East side of the street, commencing with the South- ern extremity and succeeding in the following order :
William Hedges,
Andrew Miller,
John Hand,
John Stretton,
Robert Bond,
Thomas Baker,
Thomas Chatfield,
William Fithian,
Robert Dayton, John Osborn,
Joshua Garlicke,
Benjamin Price, William Edwards, John Edwards, Nathan Birdsall,
Richard Brooke, Thomas Talmage, Stephen Hand, John Mulford,
Richard Stretton, Stephen Osborn.
Samuel Parsons, William Barnes, Nathaniel Bishop.
The following are a few of those who lived upon the West side, without any ref- erence to order, it being dif- ficult to locate them.
Jeremiah Daily,
Jeremiah Meacham, George Miller, Thomas James, Lion Gardiner,
9
The church stood near the old burying-ground or on its site, on the east side of the street. A highway ran from near where the church now stands, over the swamp east, and afterwards was the travelled road to the village of Amagansett.
Their houses were small, with thatched roofs. The Church was of similar dimensions-thatched roof and boarded sides. " The original allotments of land were thirty-four in number. The lots were from eight to twelve acres each, laid out between the street and Hook Pond, and the Swamp East and what was then common land West, (probably now the highway.) The Mill stood at the South end of the town and gave the name to the lane which leads to the beach. It was then called " Mill-Lane."*
Thomas Baker kept the Tavern or Ordinary. Before the Church was erected the meetings were held at his house, for which he was to have " the sum of £0 1s. 6d. each Sabbath."
The licensing of Baker to keep Tavern in 1654 is thus concisely expressed upon the Records :
" June 29th, 1654 .- It is ordered that Thomas Baker shall keep the Ordinary."-Town Records, book 2, p. 33.
Perhaps nothing is more conspicuous in the character of our forefathers than their untiring energy, activity and en- terprize. Having arrived at the chosen place of their res- idence they set themselves at work with ceaseless industry and perseverance until their objecthad been accomplished. While they were busied in laying the foundations of gov- ernment, education and morals they were equally active in their daily toil and occupation.
As early as 1653 they allotted and improved the North- west and Acabonac meadows. They soon subdued a great extent of wilderness and brought it under cultivation. As early as 1653 nearly all the arable land in the Eastern and
*This Mill was driven by cattle.
10
Western Plains, a circuit of two miles, was under some de- gree of cultivation.
The first settlers, (although undoubtedly well educated men, as their records and laws most equivocally prove,) were chiefly farmers. They suffered many inconveniences for the want of mechanics. They sent to Southold for a weaver ; to Huntington for a blacksmith, and to Wethers- field for a carpenter. The invitation to the weaver is on record in the following words :
" February 2nd, 1653 .- It is Ordered yt there shall bee an invitation sent to Goodman Morgan of Southold, if hee will come and live here and weave all the Townswork, hee shall come in free from all former charges and the Town will give him 5 and break him up 2 ackres of Land."-See Town Records, book 2, p. 31.
The country afforded a wide range and abundant pasture for cattle, and hence large flocks were kept. The first stock consisted of goats ; afterwards large herds of cows and horses were maintained. They were driven out in the morning by the shepherd and back at night. The whole town's-herr were pastured together, and each one took his turn in suc. cession in tending them.
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