USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southampton > The early history of Southampton, L. I., New York : with genealogies > Part 1
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Gc 974.702 So 89h 1149132
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01150 3965
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofso00howe_0
THE
EARLY HISTORY
OF
SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.
NEW YORK,
WITH GENEALOGIES.
BY GEO. ROGERS HOWELL.
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF OUR PIOUS
ANCESTORS.
NEW YORK : , PUBLISHED BY J. N. HALLOCK, (AT JAMES MILLER'S BOOKSTORE,) 522 BROADWAY. 1866.
1
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1866, BY J. N. HALLOCK, In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.
WILLIAM B. SMYTH, PRINTER, 4 New Chambers St., New York.
00. C
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.
- 1149132
As this work is of a local character, it was not deemed expedient to stereotype it, as it was thought a single edition only would be required, and this almost exclusively to supply those who had already subscribed to the work. Arrangements were ac- cordingly made to this effect, and the book printed directly from the type ; in consequence of which, (and the distance of the author from the city,) he has been unable to see the proof sheets, until the entire edition was printed. A complete list of Typo- graphical corrections may, however, be found at the close. While the work is yet upon the press, the first part having been struck off, and the type distributed,-as the fact of its publication becomes known,-other subscriptions have flowed in until nearly the whole edition is taken in advance, and it is evident that the demand will far exceed
events of interest to the community may be rescued from oblivion.
The object of the writer is not to give a complete history of the town to the present day, but simply of the settlement, and to picture forth as well as possible our forefathers as they lived, thought and acted. And yet such matters of later occurrence as have a general interest have not been omitted.
Great care has been taken to present perfect copies of the ancient instruments of writing relating to the history of the town ; but it is found by com- parison that the orthography of the same document varies considerably, whenever it is more than once recorded.
Such a work will be but imperfect at best ; but it is hoped that some new facts of interest have been brought to light in this volume, and such as it is, it is given to the public.
Acknowledgments are made of assistance in pre- paration of this work, from Thompson's and Prime's Histories of Long Island, History of New York, by J. Romeyn Brodhead, Esq., Doc. History of N. Y. and Colonial Hist. of N. Y. ; also, to Wm. S. Pel- letreau Esq., whose praiseworthy efforts to preserve the fast-failing documents in the Town Clerk's office, deserve the thanks of all sons of Southamp- ton. Acknowledgment also is made to Deacon Stephen Rose of Bridge Hampton, now in his eighty-sixth year, for invaluable assistance in the genealogical portion of this work.
INDEX OF CONTENTS.
-
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
Outline of the History of Long Island .- Meager Accounts of the Early Settlers .- First Attempt at a Settlement at Man- hasset, in North Hempstead 12
CHAPTER II.
The Settlement of Southampton and the Settlers .- List of In- habitants in 1649, 1657, 1683 and 1698 20
CHAPTER III.
Character of the Settlers.
49
CHAPTER IV.
Civil Relations .- Pure Democracy .- Union with Connecticut. -With New York .- Dutch interregnum .- Again with New York 54
CHAPTER V.
During the Revolutionary War .- Occupation by the British .- Personal Incidents .- Colonies .- Soldiers of the Slave- holders' Rebellion 69
CHAPTER VI.
Civil Laws .- Courts .- Decrees of Courts 84
CHAPTER VII.
The Church .- Ministers .- Church Edifices .- Schools
99
PAGE.
CHAPTER VIII. Various Localities .- Residences of Settlers .- Changes of Resi- dence -Residences in 1864. 144
CHAPTER IX.
Indians .- Friendly Relations with them .- Purchase of their Lands .- Lease of Shinnecock and the Hills .- Sale of Shinnecock Hills 163
CHAPTER X.
Early Customs .- Whaling .- Burying Grounds .- Miscellaneous. 176
CHAPTER XI.
Births, Marriages and Deaths 200
CHAPTER XII.
Family Records.
205
APPENDIX.
DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN. Disposall of the Vessell 310
Indian Deed of Dec. 13, 1640. 312
Special Index.
314
THE
EARLY HISTORY OF
SOUTHAMPTON, L. I.
CHAPTER I.
OUTLINE OF HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND-MEAGRE ACCOUNTS OF EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST ATTEMPT AT . SETTLEMENT AT NORTH HEMPSTEAD.
THE Dutch who had settled on Manhattan Island in the early part of the seventeenth century, soon began to build and occupy on the opposite shore of Long Island ; and as their population increased, naturally pushed out their settlements to the east- ward on the north and south shores of the Island. Thus it happened that the western part of the Island came under the jurisdiction of the Dutch Govern- ment at New Amsterdam until the surrender of New York to the English in 1664.
But the proximity of the Island to Connecticut afforded some ground for the English Crown to set up a claim to it. Accordingly Charles I, April 22, 1636, requested the Corporation for New England,
2
14
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
called the Plymouth Colony, to issue their patent to William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, for Long Island, and the islands adjacent. They did so, and on April 20th, 1637, the Earl gave power of Attorney to James Farret to dispose of said lands. This however took effect only on the east end of Long Island where the English subsequently resided.
Again March 12th, 1664, Charles II, granted with other territory, Long Island and the Islands adjacent, to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany. In the following August, Col. Richard Nicolls, at the head of a fleet, came and obtained a surrender of New York to the crown of England. Now for the first time the eastern towns of the Island came under the jurisdiction of New York, Southampton having sent deputies to the General Court of Con- necticut regularly, from 1644 to 1664, In July, 1673, New York was recovered by the Dutch and the Island followed the fate of the larger colony. Both, however, were again surrendered by the Dutch to the English Government, Nov. 10th, 1674, and so remained English Colonies till the war of our Independence.
Few traces can be found of the original proprie- tors of the town prior to the settlement. There is some reason for supposing that they came from the south of England-indeed there is a tradition that the town itself was named in remembrance of the native place of the majority, Southampton England, though experience has taught us that little reliance is to be placed on traditions unsupported by other evidence. The common statement derived from Cot-
15
EARLY SETTLERS.
ton Mather (Magnalia) is, that between thirty and forty families in Lynn, Mass., finding themselves straitened came over to Long Island and effected a settlement. In Ogilby's Hist. of America, he says, that by fresh supply of people from England the town of Southampton was settled. Probably both of these statements are partially true. It is certain that most of the settlers came from Lynn. How long they remained there is not known. Among the inhabitants of that place in 1630, were Edmund Farrington, Allen Breed, Daniel Howe, and John White. In 1637, were also Christopher Foster, John Pierson, Thomas Halsey, Josiah Stanborough, George Welbye, Richard Wells, William Partridge and Philip Kneeland, (or more probably Kertland.) John Cooper was made Freeman, i. e., admitted to privilege of voting, at Boston, Dec. 6, 1636 ; Chris- · topher Foster, the same, April 17, 1637 ; Edward Howell, the same, March 14, 1639 ; Rev. Abraham Pierson, arrived in America in 1639. With a few more which are mentioned elsewhere, these are all the traces that can be given of the founders of Southampton.
The original " undertakers," eight in number, purchased a sloop for the transportation of their families and their goods for £80, of which Edward Howell and Daniel Howe, each contributed £15; Edmund Farrington, George Welbe, and Henry Walton each £10; and Josiah Stanborough, Job Sayre, Edmund Needham and Thomas Sayre, each £5. Before sailing, however, the other proprietors disposed of their interest in the vessel to Daniel
16
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
Howe, in consideration of his making three trips annually for two years for transportation of goods from Lynn to their plantation. Articles of agreement were drawn up and signed, in which were stated the plans and purposes of the Company, and their sev- eral shares proportioned to the amount of money by each contributed. These articles, as well as those for the "Disposall of the Vessell" were dated March 10th, 1639. April 17th, 1640, (a month after the confirmation of Lyon Gardiner's purchase of Gar- diners Island,) Farret, in behalf of Lord Sterling, made an agreement with Lieut. Howe, Edward Howell and others (as above) by which they were authorized to occupy eight miles square of land in any part of Long Island. The amount that was to be paid to the Earl of Sterling, as a recognition of his title to the land was to be estimated by the Hon. John Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts Colony, who fixed the amount at four bushels of Indian Corn, in consideration that the country was a wilderness, and that the natives pretended some claims to the land. This deed of Farrett was given also about a month after the disposal of the vessel and signing the articles of agreement since, as the reader will remember, at that time the year was reckoned to commence on the twenty-fifth of March.
The next we hear of them, the Lynn Emigrants arrived in the following month of May at Manhas- set at the head of Cow Bay (or Schout's Bay, as the Dutch called it.) Here they found the arms of the Prince of Orange erected upon a tree, and Lieut. Howe the leader of the expedition pulled them down.
17
EARLY SETTLERS.
This was on the 10th of May, 1640. But the Sachem Penhawitz who had just before ceded all his rights to the Dutch, promptly informed Governor Kieft that some "foreign strollers" had arrived at Schout's Bay where they were felling trees and building houses, and "had even hewn down the arms of High Mightinesses." Commissary Van Curler was sent to ascertain the facts, and the Sachem's story was found to be true. The arms of the state had been torn down, and in their place had been drawn an "unhandsome face," "all which aforesaid . appeared strange to us, being a criminal offence against his Majesty, and tending to the disparage- ment of their High Mightinesses."
May 13th, the Council of New Amsterdam order Cornelius Van Tienhoren to arrest and bring before them the "strollers and vagabonds" of Schout's Bay . who had so insulted their Dutch dignities. On the next day, with two officers and twenty men, he started on his mission of ejectment, and arrived at the clearing May 15th, finding one small house built and another unfinished. " They were first asked, what they were doing there ; by what power or by whose authority they presumed to settle on our purchased soil, and told that they must show their commission. Eight men, one woman and a little child, made answer that they intended to plant there, and were authorized thereunto by a Scotchman who had gone with their commission to Red Hill.
Secondly they were asked, for what reason did they throw down their High Mightinesses' Arms and set up a fool's face in the stead. To which some
18
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
answered ; the escutcheon was cut down by a person who is not present ; another answered, such was done in their presence by order of a Scotchman, (James Farrett ; and he and Lieut. Howe were then at Red Hill-wherever that was.") Hereupon six men were brought to Fort Amsterdam, leaving two men, and one woman and a child on the ground, to take care of their goods ; they arrived on the 15th of May."
At the subsequent examination the following facts appeared. They went to Long Island to settle, from Lynn, Mass., and others were to follow. They came under authority of James Farret with consent of Gov. Winthrop of Mass. Bay Colony. It was intended to bring twenty families, and "many more would come if the land was good." They should have lived free under their own laws, and would have been obedient to whomsoever was lord of the land. Job Sayre on examination, said ; he was born in Bretfordshire, (probably Bedfordshire -he was examined through a Dutch interpreter,) was twenty-eight years old, and had resided in Lynn, Mass. George Welbye said ; he was born in Northamptonshire, was twenty-five years old, and resided in Lynn. John Farrington said ; he was born in Bockinghamshire (Buckinghamshire) was twenty-four years old, and lived in Lynn. Philip Cartelyn (Kertland) twenty-six years old, and Na-
* In the autobiography of Dr. Lyman Beecher, it is said that among the Dutch, New Haven, Ct., was known by the name of Red Mount, from the appearance of East and West Rocks from the coast or harbor. This probably is the place indicated by Red Hill in the narrative.
19
EARLY SETTLERS.
thaniel Cartelyn (Kertland) twenty-two years old, birth place and residence the same as Farrington's. William Harker said ; he was born in Cincenshire (Lincolnshire ?) and was twenty-four years of age. On May 19th they were discharged as not guilty of tearing down the arms of the Lords States, and set at liberty on "condition that they do promise to depart forthwith from our territory, and never to return to it without the Directors' express consent." Thus ended the first attempt at a settlement ; the "strollers and vagabonds" departed, and low Dutch alone was spoken in that land.
CHAPTER II.
THE SETTLEMENT AND THE SETTLERS.
The emigrants must have proceeded directly to the east end of Long Island, where they met with a more favorable reception ; for in a memorandum dated July 7th, 1640,# Farret confirms the settlers in actual possession of their territory, the bounda- ries of which are given, proving that some terms of agreement had already been made with the natives and that they were on the spot in actual possession.
This appears to establish the fact of the priority of the settlement of Southampton as compared with that of Southold. In Griffin's Journal the settlement of the latter town is clearly stated to have occured in September, 1640. The local names given in the memorandum of July 7th, 1640, de-
*Thus Prime in Hist. of L. I .- (See the memorandum in appendix to this book.)-But according to Col. Hist. of N. Y., vol. 3; pp. 21, 22, June 12th, 1639, James Farrett makes a conveyance of land from sea to sea, between Peaconeck and Montauk, Pt., to Edward Howell & Co., for £100 already received, they having been driven off by the Dutch previous to this transaction. We can understand all of this but the date of the year. Most of the evidence show the settlement to have been in 1640. But the date of month is probab- ly correct as it agrees with everything else. The instrument of June 12th, vaguely defines the limits, and was probably given before the arrival of the settlers at Southampton : that of July 7th, in giving local names, accurately establishes the fact of actual occupation .- August 20th, 1639 Lord Sterling confirms this sale. Col. Hist as above.
21
THE SETTLEMENT.
monstrate not only a knowledge gathered from actual occupation, but an amicable (though probably a verbal) arrangement with the natives for admitting the colonists within their territory. Besides this, can any one tell what the Cow Bay settlers could have been about after their expulsion from Manhasset in the latter part of May, if they did not come immediately, or at least after a confer- ence with their friends at Lynn, to the shores of Southampton ? Everything goes to show a settle- ment having been effected here in June, 1640, thus making it the first town settled by the English in the State of New York. The language of the ac- count of the formation of the Southampton Church . at Lynn, confirms this, "composed of individuals who had emigrated from this place and settled at Southampton." Sailing up the Peconic Bay, they landed at what is now called North Sea, a little hamlet about three miles from the village of South- ampton, whence they " took up their march through the woods" to find a place for their new homes. It was a perilous undertaking to venture with their wives and little ones into a wilderness, hemmed in on two sides by water, and on the other two by savage tribes. Like their brethren of Plymouth, however, they were brave men and christians, resolved on doing their part towards forming an empire for freedom and christianity.
The Indians whom they found here proved to be friendly, and released to the settlers sufficient land for their necessities in " consideration of sixteen coates already received, and also three score bushels 3
22
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
of Indian corne to be paid upon lawful demand the last of September, which shall be in the year 1641, and further in consideration that they above named English shall defend us the said Indians from the unjust violence of whatever Indians shall illegally assail us." The date of this deed, is December 13, 1640. Two additional purchases from the natives were afterwards effected extending considerably the limits of the town, and finally when a new genera- tion of Indians were causing trouble, as they saw their old hunting grounds melt away, the colony in order to preserve peace, again bought the whole township of them for twenty pounds, for which a deed was given of date Aug. 16th, 1703. The first of these two additional purchases, called the Quogue purchase is not found on record in the Town Clerk's office. But the second known by the name of Topping's pur- chase, is recorded as having been sold to Thomas Topping and his heirs forever, April 10th, 1662, for twenty fathoms of wampum by Weany, (Sunk Squa) Anabackus, Jackanapes, Cobish, Toquobin, and Wetaugom, all Schinnecocks except Weany, the widow of the Montauk Chief. The purchase ran from Niamuck or Canoe Place westward to Seatuck and thence northward to the head of Peconic Bay. Again Sept. 17th, 1666, a number of Indians claim- ing the right to Topping's purchase, gave a deed of sale of the same to the "Townsmen of Southampton" for such consideration as Gov. Nicoll shall determine.
·
It is quite certain that the first attempt at a settlement here was in a place now called the Old Town, about three-quarters of a mile from the main
23
THE SETTLEMENT.
street of the present village. Here they remained for about eight years as appears from the following orders.
June 11th, 1647, ordered by the General Court that "the towne is to be divided into fortie house lots, some biger, some less."
"This instant, (the 23d of March) 1648, it is ordered by the five men appoynted for towne affaires that the whole towne shall be called together on the second day next, at the setting of the sunne, to con- sider of a town plot that shall be then and there presented to them, and to determine concerning ye said plot or some other that may be presented by any other man's advice, and also to consider of such home accomadations as may be most suitable to ye comfort, peace and welfare of this plantation as touching ye proportion to every man in his taking up according to his valuation, and that there be men appointed forwith to divide the same, and this to put in execution the order above written."
March 27th, 1648, three acres for a home lot was settled upon as to the proportion to a fifty right.
The main street to this day retains the divisions then made of house lots of three acres, though in the changes of two centuries some of the old landmarks have been removed. Here then at last they find permanent homes after all their wanderings. The articles of agreement entered into before their depar- ture from Lynn show that that they formed a joint stock company, owning the land as tenants in com- mon until it was set apart according to the regulations of the company to individual occupation. Each man
24
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
was entitled to a house lot of four acres, (afterwards changed to three acres,) twelve acres for cultivation, and about thirty-four acres of meadow and upland, together with a certain number of shares or rights in the undivided common land, according to the amount of money he had disbursed towards the expenses of the settlement, and the purchase of the town. These were called Proprietor's Rights, and were handed down with inherited estate from father to son. There is no question but the land of the town was from the first, and always down to the present time, owned in two distinct modes or tenures-first, as divided into certain lots, whether homesteads, meadows, uplands, arable lands or wood-lands ; and secondly, the re- mainder of the undivided lands within the limits of the town was owned by the proprietors, their heirs, assigns or successors in joint tenantry. Latterly it became a question whether under the patent of Gov. Dougan, all of the inhabitants of the town had not each an equal right in the undivided lands of the town. The records preserve this distinction of ten- ure, and upon the coming of a stranger into the place, it appears that he simply owned what he bought-a purchased freehold estate by no means entitled him to any share or right in the undivided land of the town. He might purchase a proprietor right, but the purchase itself proves the distinction of tenure. Such is the historical view of this question-the legal merits of which must be decided by the courts.
From the following extract from the Town Re- cords, it will appear there was some difficulty with the Indians concerning the title of the colony to the lands of the town.
25
THE SETTLEMENT.
At a town meeting held in Southampton, the 23d day of November, 1686,-it is agreed upon by major vote of the town that Major John Howell shall go to New York about the present affair of making good our title to our lands called into question at Shinne- cock, and Henry Ludlam is likewise chosen to wait upon him.
At the same meeting it is ordered that the paten- tees concerned in our patent, shall make a conveyance of the land held within our township to the persons respectively; according to the interest of allotment of hundred and fifties, or fifties when they hold in this town.
Also, there are chosen six men to be a committee in behalf of the men, to give Major Howell his instructions, and also to attend Col. Young's when he comes to hear the Indians acknowledge our deed ; and the men so chosen are Mr. Edward Howell, Henry Pierson, Matthew Howell, Thomas Cooper, Obadiah Rogers, and Joseph Pierson.
The immediate result of this order was the obtain- ing of Gov. Dougan's Patent, dated Dec. 6th, 1686, which is given in the appendix. So far as the records show, this step appeared to quiet the Indians until 1703, when, as before narrated, they united in con- veying the whole township again to the Colonists.
But besides this trouble with the Indians which is alluded to in the records above rather indefinitely, Gov. Dougan issued an order that the towns on the east end of Long Island should take out a patent from himself. Against this order the people of Southampton protested on the ground that they were
26
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
living in peace and quiet possession of their lands under a patent already given by the Governor of the Colony of New York, and that another patent was superfluous. However, to keep the peace, and pre- vent trouble and litigation, they sent their committee as before stated to obtain their patent. It is not easy to discover any good reason why Gov. Dougan should issue such an order to these towns at that late day, unless to make a show of his official authority.
As to the locality of the settlement, the mass of evidence goes to show it was for the first few years in the village alone. I concur with the opinion of Mr. Wm. S. Pelletreau, who says on this point ; notwith- standing the common impression upon the subject, that settlements was begun simultaneously at North Sea, Sagabonack and Southampton, it is certain such was not the case ; nor is it at all probable that in the beginning of the settlement and at a time when there were but few families, and these in constant fear of the Indians, they would venture to scatter their numbers so widely. The first permanent one, after the one at Southampton, was at North Sea in 1647, when John Ogden received permission from the town to settle there with six families, who were to have 321 acres of land, and were to form a community by them- selves upon certain conditions agreed upon. No set- tlement appears to have been made at Sagabonack till some time after this, when various persons owning land there began to build. In 1670, there was quite a settlement upon the east side of Saga- bonack pond, (whence the present village of Sagg derives its name,) and along the shores of Mecox Bay.
27
THE SETTLEMENT.
However, it would appear from the following order that North Sea was not settled till 1649.
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