USA > New York > Suffolk County > East Hampton > Records of the town of East Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., N.Y., with other ancient documents of historic value, volume II > Part 1
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C ? 974.702 Ea774r v.2 1679/80-1701/02 1248228
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01147 9141
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/recordsoftownofe02east
RECORDS
-OF THE- -
TOWN OF EAST-HAMPTON. 1
LONG ISLAND, SUFFOLK CO., N. Y.,
-WITH OTHER-
Ancient Documents of Historic Value.
VOLUME II.
This volume includes the records from 1679-80 to 1701-2, transcribed under direction of committee appointed to repro- duce the Records, by Town Meeting, April 3, 1883, with an Introduction by Hon. H. P. Hedges, published at the expense of the Town and by its authority.
JONATHAN T. GARDINER, JONATHAN BAKER, JOSEPH S. OSBORNE, Committee.
SAG-HARBOR :
JOHN H. HUNT, Printer. 1887.
1248228
PREFACE.
-: 0 :-
These Records have been copied mostly by Joseph S. Os- borne, verbatim et literatim, and are brought down, in this volume, to about 1701-2. The material is arranged chrono- logically, when dated, otherwise it has been disposed as cir- cumstances indicated to be proper.
Great pains have been taken at all stages of the work, which, in no small degree, has been a labor of love.
Where any abstract has been made it is so noted.
JONATHAN T. GARDINER,
JONATHAN BAKER, JOSEPH S. OSBORNE,
Committee.
INTRODUCTION.
:0 :-
The attentive reader closing the first volume of printed records of the town of East-Hampton, is assured that the elements of perpetuity have been so developed that by the natural law of growth, a larger life and progress was coming to the Colony. The settlers had overcome the first and the worst foes that imperilled their being. The close of King Phillip's war had removed all danger from the Indians. The most formidable wild beasts had been destroyed; the most venomous reptiles exterminated ; unwelcome intruders had been warned and left for other homes. The Patent of March 13th, 1666, from Gov. Nicolls, was thought to have assured their title to the purchased territory, beyond cavil. More than all, they had proved able to govern themselves. Rules, laws, customs, habits-had crystallized into a fixed system. In 1687, the population was :
Males .223
No. capable of bearing arms .. 98.
Females
219
No. of merchants
2.
Male servants.
26
No. of marriages in 7 years
28.
Female servants ..
9
No. of births.
116.
Male slaves 11
No. of christened.
108.
Female slaves 14 No. of burials 57
Total 502
Documentary Hist. of New York, p. 360, vol. 3.
The state of the Church, Oct. 5, 1704, as laid before the clergy at New York, then convened by appointment of Lord Cornbury and Col. Francis Nicholson, Governor and Lieu- tenant-Governor of the Colony, is thus given :
2
INTRODUCTION.
"ACCOUNT OF SUFFOLK COUNTY.
In Suffolk 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 generally being independ- ents, and upheld in their separation by New England emis- saries."-See Documentary Hist. of New York, pp. 111 and 115, vol. 3.
The increase in population and adherence to their worship, "independent" of the established Church of England, now made them fit subjects for the rapacity of Governors com- missioned for the very purpose of subverting representative government, and repairing their ruined fortunes by extor- tion from the Colonists. More insidious than the wily sav- age ; more dangerous than wild beast ; more relentless than the venomous serpent, these robber governors were the mightiest foes of the Colony. In the communications of the Duke of York (afterwards James the 2d) to Gov. Andros, the danger of public assemblies was declared, and the Duke's opinion stated in the words : "Neither do I see any use for them." (See Bancroft's Hist. U. S., vol. 2, p. 406.) In swift succession governor succeeded governor, each in the main baffled by the sturdy resistance of the people, no where more persistent than in East-Hampton.
The Governors were
1664-Richard Nicolls
1667-Francis Lovelace.
1674-Edmund Andros.
1677-Anthony Brockholst.
1678-Edmund Anáros.
1681-Anthony Brockholst.
1682-Col. Thos. Dongan.
1688-Edmund Andros.
66 Francis Nicholson, Lieut .- Governor. 1689-Jacob Leisler.
3
INTRODUCTION.
1691-Henry Sloughter.
Richard Ingoldsby.
1692-Benjamin Fletcher.
169S-Richard Foote, Earl Bellemont.
1699-John Nanfan, Lieut .- Governor.
1700-Earl of Bellemont.
1701-William Smith.
66 John Nanfan, Lieut .- Governor. 1702-Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury.
170S-John Ford, Gov. Lovelace.
1709-Peter Schuyler, President of the Council.
Richard Ingoldsby, Lieut .- Governor.
1710-Robert Hunter.
The three eastern towns of this County-Southampton, Southold and East-Hampton-were the back bone of the county, if not of the whole Colony of New York, in advocat- ing representative government and resisting encroachments upon their liberties. As between the Colonists and the King, the Governors were uniformly servile to him, and hostile to them. In this, Andros and Dongan, "the Catholic," were alike. Fletcher was "covetous and passionate." Cornbury "had every vice of character necessary to discipline a colony into self-reliance and resistance." (See Bancroft Hist. of U. S., pp. 56 and 60, vol. 3.) The conflict between our Puri- tan forefathers and these governors was long, unequal, and often resulted adversely to the people.
" But freedom's Battle once begun, Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft is ever won."
The conflict waged in 1681 for chartered rights, and rep- resentative government never ceased until freedom won at Yorktown.
There was an attempt in 1682 to levy customs without a colonial assembly, which had been defeated by the Grand Jury, and trade became free just as Andros was returning to
4
INTRODUCTION.
England. In 1683, the newly appointed Gov. Dongan was instructed to call a general assembly of all the freeholders, by the persons whom they should choose to represent them. In October, 1684, the assembly met and claimed in a bill of rights as Englishmen, that "Every freeholder and Freeman should vote. Trial to be by Jury." "No tax to be levied but by consent of the assembly," etc. In 1685, in less than a month after James the Second ascended the throne, he pre- pared to overturn the institutions he had conceded. By or- dinance a direct tax was decreed. The titles to real estate were questioned that larger fees and quit rents might be extorted, and of the farmers of East-Hampton who protested against the tyranny, six were arraigned before the Council. (See Bancroft's Hist. U. S., vol. 2, pp. 413-14-15.)
In May, 1686, Gov. Dongan was endeavoring to compel the people of East-Hampton to purchase a new patent at an exhorbitant price, and they were resisting the attempt at ex- tortion. The proprietor vote of that date regarding the four men on whom a warrant had been served, p. 186; the vote of "the purchasers and proprietors of this town," June 11, 1686, choosing a committee for the defence of their rights ; the committee vote of June 14, 1686, appointing " Leiftenant John Wheeler and Ensine Samuel Mulford" to defend the town's interest-p. 187-all relate to this controversy with the Governor.
July 29, 1686, ten persons complained to the Governor that the town will lay out no land to them, and he by order in council then directed Josiah Hobart, High Sheriff of the County, to lay out to each thirty acres. The written protest against this laying out, dated October 6, 1686, was deemed a libel, and an information to that effect filed by the Attorney General. Warrants issued for the arrest of Stephen Hedges, William Perkins, Jeremy Conkling, Daniel and Nathaniel Bishop, Samuel Mulford, Robert Dayton, Samuel Parsons,
5
INTRODUCTION.
Benjamin Conklin, Thomas Osborne and John Osborne. Oc- tober 17th, 1686, Thomas James preached from the text, Job xxiv. 2 : "Some remove the land mark." Nov. 18, 1686, Sheriff Hobart attested under oath to the text and teaching of the sermon. The same day an order in council was en- tered that a warrant issue against Minister James on the ground that the sermon was seditious. A like information against him was filed. A warrant for his arrest issued Nov. 19th, 1686. He was arrested, and some three weeks there- after petitioned the Governor for his release, reciting this as "the first tyme (for almost forty years of my being a minister of the Gospel) that I have been called to account by any authority I have lived under." (See Documentary Hist. of New York, pp. 351 to 360, vol. 3.)
The arbitrary power of Dongan prevailed ; a patent was procured, dated December 9th, 1686, which secured individ- ually to the holder all lands "then taken up and appropri- ated" to the purchasers all lands "unappropriated," "in pro- porcion to their severall & respective purchases thereof," and gave to the trustees of the corporation the pre-emption or first purchase right as to the then unpurchased part of Mon- tauk. (See pages 194 to 204.) The patent is a mass of re- dundant verbage perplexing to the ordinary reader. The pith of the whole regarding title, is on page 198, which determines the sense and meaning of the instrument. Thus the proprie- tors obtained from the Governor a patent which confirmed their title to all the unalloted lands in the town as purchasers thereof, in proportion to their several contributions of pur- chase money. This was just what they had claimed from the beginning, and neither less or more. The consistency of the Governor in arbitrarily ordering a division of thirty acres each to those not entitled, and thereafter ignoring their claim, and by patent confirming title to the purchasers, is not ap- parent. It seems plain that the whole proceedings were de-
INTRODUCTION.
signed to force the people to pay as they did pay the extor- tionate charge of two hundred pounds for the patent. Eighty pounds thereof was charged to Montauk. An extra amount was assessed to pay the costs arising "about mens protests." (p. 204.)
The people of the Town of East-Hampton claimed the right to be represented in a colonial assembly, and that taxes could rightfully be levied only by assent of their representa- tives. This was the burden of their grievance ; this the reason why again and again they petitioned to be placed under the authority and jurisdiction of Connecticut when representative government was established. Only in the light of such claims of right can the records be properly read. The address voted at a general training, June 19th, 1682, and adopted at Town Meeting, June 21st, 1682, (page 112.) The appointment of a committee to obtain redress from the Duke of York, (pp. 112 and 113) in this view, are signifi- cant.
Samuel Mulford, Samuel Parson and Thomas Chatfield signed the Letter dated March 10th, 1689-90, written to Leis- ler, reciting that "we have agreed to send over to his Majesty both a true narration of ye grievances we have suffered this many years under an arbitrary power, and a petition to their majesties yt we might be rejoined with Connecticut govern- ment as formerly, agreeably to the act of Parliament, yt all places (NE being particularly mentioned), shall have the same privileges they enjoyed in ye year 1660, restored unto them." (See Documentary History of New York, vol. 2, page 187.) This recital is unequivocal, and makes the more clear many entries in the Town Records. The address to the Governor, dated Oct. 1st, 1685, (pages 169 and on) is not only a recital of the fact that formerly by "deputies" at Hempstead, "the whole Island being assembled in our repre- sentatives," but a claim to such representation "as a funda-
7
INTRODUCTION.
mental privilege of our English Nation," and the expression of a fear that by the denial of such privilege, "our freedom should be turned into bondage and our ancient privileges so infringed yt they will never arrive at our posterity." The address is said to have been written by minister James. It bears marks of his strong devotion to freedom. It is worthy of enduring remembrance as one of the luminous monuments of the ardent love of this people for liberty. The wise archi- tect knows where and how to imbed in the deep foundations of the rising structure strong bars of iron to hold fast the springing arches, the massive walls, the spacious dome, the lofty spires. Like such a bar this "address" seems imbedded in the foundations of the fair temple of American Freedom. The expression of 1685 would develop by the laws of growth into the "Declaration" of 1776.
It does not appear that the Town recognized Leisler as Governor. The trustees vote, September 2d, 1689, (page 240) authorized the committee to order and impower Capt. Leisler "to secure for this town's use, what monies is to be found in New York unjustly by tax or taxes levied on this town." In singular contrast the entry on page 260, Feb. 13, 1690, expressly names Sloughter as Governor. Although the town had been constrained to pay an extortionate price for a Patent from Dongan, the stern spirits that panted for free- dom still hoped and still fought on with unabated ardor for an assembly of representatives of the people. Neither Thomas James or Samuel Mulford (mighty names !) would tamely surrender the rights of a free born people to arbitrary power. The angel of American Liberty was unfolding his wings preparatory to a flight above the power of servile Gov- ernors, base-minded Lords or irresponsible Kings.
The student of history will scrutinize with intense interest the experience of this community in the improvement of lands in common. The compact village settlement, with
8
INTRODUCTION.
small, narrow home lots, was convenient for the purposes of mutual protection, social enjoyment, education of the youth, religious worship, pursuit of the whale fishery and common improvement of outlying lands. On the one Main street the Colony was planted. It grew chiefly northward, and in two score years extended a mile in length. Outside of these home lots, the lands were tilled and pastured before and after allot- ment, in fields enclosed by fence made by the owners in pro- portion to their ownership. Each owner tilled his just num- ber of acres to which he was entitled in the field devoted to cultivation, as he would have done had he fenced it separately. Each one turned in the number of cattle to which he was en- titled according to the stint fixed for each, on the basis of his ownership in the lands pastured. The popular idea that a common of pasturage is an unlimited, unregulated right, is a popular mistake. "A right of common without stint cannot exist in law," vid. note Blackstone's Comm. vol. 2, p. 34, etc. Just as to a recent date the lands of Montauk were stinted for pasturage ; so in early days the lands referred to were stinted for pasturage. Jonathan T. Gardiner kindly loaned me the April number of the "Magazine of American History" for the year 1883. The article therein entitled "Montauk and the Common Lands of East-Hampton," was contributed by Prof. John Franklin Jameson, of John Hopkins University. With much learning the improvement of lands in common here is sought to be traced back to New and Old England and the Germanic races who "Migrated to Britain."
The circumstances were favorable for such improvement ; the location of the village settlement, the common interest and convenience of the people, and their general honesty all tended to make this experiment successful and lasting. But the infirmities of human nature come to the front in every age-in every race. The boys in meeting were sometimes unruly and required "looking after," by James Bird. (See
9
INTRODUCTION.
page 113.) The owners of these lands seem to have re- quired "looking after" in matters of fencing and common im- provement. Very stringent rules were enacted-(pp. 102, 148, 165, 185, 217, 225, 265, 346, 401.)
Severe penalties were ordained-(pp. 125, 130, 148, 166, 209, 226, 266, 400.)
Fences were subject to the stern censorship of inspectors- (p. 191.)
Delinquents in fencing were exposed by the initial letters cut on the fence -- (p. 234.)
Yet all these failed to enforce the performance of the com- mon duty, trespass occurred, fences were sometimes poorly made and sometimes not made at all. As time rolled on- except Montauk and certain meadows-the lands came to be improved in severalty and not in common. The village sys- tem of settlement, the saving of fence, the saving of many drivers of cattle, the scattered lots of land, the habits of the people seemed to call for the perpetuation of common im- provement. The failure of the experiment here under most favorable circumstances, is in itself a strong testimony against commonism or any like system that seeks to substitute the common in place of the several improvement of lands by their owners.
The Records abound in evidence that whaling continued to be an increasing and prosperous enterprise. Several com- panies were engaged in this perilous pursuit ; young men came from Connecticut, New Jersey and other localities to share in the hazard and excitement of the whale chase, and often married wives at East Hampton. Farming and shoe- making soon attracted much attention, yet whaling was second only to agriculture. (See pages 77, 79, 86, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 119, 120, 152, 153.
Incidentally through the accounts, we learn of events trans- piring of which there is no other record. In 1682 we find a
10
INTRODUCTION.
charge of £26 13s. 00d "to ye Carptr yt makes the gallery for the church," showing with other items that the people had been rebuilding and enlarging their church and constructing a gallery therein. (See pages 108-9-10-11.) Boards were carted from Northwest, and barrels carted down there; (See , page 111) showing that their harbor or landing place at that time was Northwest. That there was a Fort, we know by the charge on page 107 : "Stephen Hand for ye Gate of ye fort £0-5-00."
That they had a cannon termed "Great gonn," loaded at Montauk by Joseph Osborn; carted thence to Northwest by "John Cerles team" and "John Millers Sen," we find from charges therefor, entered on page 247.
I find no positive recorded evidence locating the fort. I think it probable it was near the church, if it did not enclose it. There the men carried their arms on the Sabbath at their meeting. That was the central rallying point when the New England settlements were assailed by the Indians, and a cen- tral point in East-Hampton. (See pages 32 and 54, Vol. II.) Just south were the graves of the dead, now extended over the site of church and fort (if fort there was), as age after age enlarged the city "where the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." It is stated in the chronicles of East Hampton that the burying ground had never been fenced. (See page 2S.)
June 16th, 1685, there was a vote to fence it "with a good peeke pale." (See page 167.) It seems probable it was then fenced. Forts were constructed by setting firmly in the ground half-tree sticks, some S to 12 feet long, being split they were flat on the one side like a "pale," being sharpened on the top they were "peeke" or peaked. Dwelling houses here were so fortified and enclosed. (See pages 71, 301, Vol. I.) The burying ground was ordered to be so enclosed. It is not improbable that the enclosure of fort and burying place was then made by continuous lines of like "pales." The
11
INTRODUCTION.
early burial grounds were near the residence of the settlers. They were chosen for the purpose of being accessible; often on a hill as a conspicuous reminder of mortality, and an in- eentive to the living to defend to the death the graves of their dead from the savage foe. Nor is it certain, as has been charged, that the Puritans deliberately selected desolate, un- sightly or unsuitable locations for this purpose, and with in- tent to exhibit disregard to the memory or sacredness of the dead. The vote referred to is as truly significant of the reign of the finer feelings as the vote of the town in April, 1685, when Thos. Squire was sick, that his taxes "were re- mitted," (see page 164) is evidence of practical benevolence. Beneath the austere self-controlled demeanor of the Puritan, there breathed a gentle tenderness for the child of misfortune, a sacred reverence to the memory and the ashes of the dead.
June 16th, 1696, Minister James died. He had been par- tially disabled so as to require an assistant in the ministry for some years. For nearly half a century he had been an able and devout minister to his people, intelligent in the un- derstanding of their rights as free-born Englishmen, fearless in their defence. Only with his last breath went out his watchful regard as their minister. In attestation of his con- scious discharge of duty, his intrepid soul prompted the de- sire to be so buried as to rise facing his people on the resur- rection morn. 3
In September, 1696, Rev. Nathaniel Huntting came to East Hampton and commenced his ministry of fifty years there. He was wise in counsel, diligent in study, faithful in doing his work, devout in spirit and an untiring chronicler of the church and settlement. All accessions to the church, marriages, baptisms and deaths for half a century he minutely recorded. In this, he was faithful unto death. To the histo- rian and genealogist his record is invaluable, and his work solid and enduring.
12
INTRODUCTION.
To these Puritans the voice of the minister was grave, his teaching serious ; but the voice of the ocean, on whose shore they lived, was not less solemn. Within its depths countless human lives had perished. Their sad fate seemed to invite the desponding to join them there. The fascination was strangely attractive to the disordered mind, and often im- pelled to self-destruction. Its stormy roar hushed and awed the thoughtless. To the great souls who panted for freedom, it spoke encouragement. Its illimitable expanse symbolized the vastness of their thoughts. Its resistless wave was an
emblem of the people's might. To the devout it spoke of the Almighty Maker. Its seeming quiet was beguiling as that of the serpent. The storm of its wrath who could with- stand ? Its soft evening murmur lulled the weary to rest. The unceasing beat of its billows echoed in the ears of the living. In its ebbing tides the souls of their dying had gone out. Over the graves of their dead rose the moan of its an- them. The fearful mysteries of ocean, mutable, majestic, measureless, are unutterable.
From the days of ministers James and Huntting to the present, the thoughts of the prayerful might read :
" And musing here I dream Of voyagers on a stream From whence is no returning,
Under sealed orders going,
Looking forward little knowing, Looking back with idle yearning.
And I pray that every venture,
The port of peace may enter. That safe from snag and fall,
And syren haunted Islet,
And rock, the unseen Pilot May guide us one and all."
BRIDGE-HAMPTON, Sept. 30th, 1887.
H. P. HEDGES.
9 A
John Hand- Before 163. Rich- Smith 1663
Edward Ostorms 1887
John QManus 0 A 11,55 Widow of Goo. Milles 1668 C. P. B. Juffenys 188)
Was Hedges 7 /2 A _ Before 1663 John D Hedges 1887
Words Lane
E. Tillinglash 1887 Roger Smith 1668
John Miller
S. Tillinghast 1887
Jhon. Osborne fr 1668 Stephen Hand 1660
Harrich F. Herrick 1887.
Thor Qstone Sc. 6 A. B foru 163.
Ocean avenue.
02
Calf Pasture Lane
Calf Pasture. Before/663 Parsonage Land. John HedgeR. Frederic Gallatin 1887
J.L. Satterthwaite 188%. Old Indian Buying Ground .
Peler Murdock ? John Merry ? hart Domany 1887
John M. Ostore 1850 9 Heltats 1857
6ETA for. Loper 1613 Charles & Hedge 1887
5A Ramach Garrison 1673 James Lopes 1678 Mary & Dayton 1887
8A Phillip Luck 1671-2 Bry Conkling Ligne . 680. Abraham: Persona - 1800
Patrick Lynch 1887
-Magasin hurrican . Aux H. Passon 1987
Actarde 2 + Bonusi 81
Franken & Hale 1881
Second Home Late, 161.
B.S. Dibonne 1997 JArs. Ditmich.61 1671.
C. P. Nulfor 187 E. 12 Alalfon 1987
S. H- Malfait. LA
Jan! Passare 1657
Nuvolowie
C. SCACHER
1887
18870
Second Home Lote H. A. Down $ 1987
J. K. Parsons 1887
1672-3.
A.M. Payne 1887
Church Property 187 A Strauch 1987 A.M. Payne 1887 WASH Babcock 1887.
andrew miller 163 David J. Gardnier hier 1887
David E. Ostor 1887 Daniel Osborne Reise "
Jeremiah Voile 165
9A RAL. Parsons 31659 John Kirtland Edward De Rose 1887
9.A
Joshua Garlick Bigone . 063 Abraham Gardiner 750 Jonathan J. Gardens 1887
To amagansett.
That Chatfuld 6A 1 2nd Homme Lot. Sohae Dans 1710 hm Q. Racket. 1887
Genoch Filtran 1668 Second Home L.L Aaron Fettine Leur 188%.
George Miller , ? 6A Second home lot Aaron Filtrau Leire 1887
John Osborne? 6 A. Second home lot geros Conkling 1800
Phen P. S. Hunting 1887.
Mathe Forti 12A. 1665 Wa Edwards 1665 John Edwards 1665 Junio 8. Hunting 1887
Thets B. Mulford 1887 A. B. Dayton 1887. George Hand- here 1887.
Thomas Squire 10 A. 1676. Rev. Nath- Hunting 1698 Mary Hunting Parsons 1887
Nath + Bishop 215 Ans Daniel Bishop) 15 Before 1665 David H Hunthing 1887
Anne I. Hunting 1887
nu Bonnes 8 A Presbyterian Church 1887 Ruch M. Parsons 198%.
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