A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 136

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188

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the invading army. Another large mill was built near this one in 1785, and to these two mills the village of Port Washington 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 Will- iam 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 of 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 legends of olden days, when the sturdy farm- ers of Suffolk county claimed citizenship with New 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 millers, 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, dating 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 he would attend to his estate of 180 acres.

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

CHAPTER LX.

HEMPSTEAD.

N' an earlier chapter the entire story of . of the two townships must be considered as. the settlement of Hempstead has been one, and after the division the story follows the fortunes of the southern section, the sec- tion which now monopolizes the plain title of Hempstead. treated somewhat at length, so it is only necessary to say here that the first patent was issued by Governor Kieft November 14, 1644, and this patent was con- While much is doubtful as to the early history of Hempstead, two things seem cer- tain. It was a theocratic colony, like South- old, and it was peopled by a congregation, or part of a congregation, from Stamford, Con- necticut, most of them being natives of Eng- land. One of the first things they set up was a building for public worship, as already told in this work. But the town had a civil his- tory as well. Among the early settlers who came after arrangements for their reception had been completed by the Rev. Robert Ford- ham, their clerical leader, and John Carman, were Richard Gildersleeve, Edward Raynor, Thurston Raynor, William Raynor, the Rev. Richard Denton, Matthew Mitchell, Jolın Un- derhill, Robert Coe, Andrew Ward, Jonas. Wood, John Ogden and Robert Jackson. Most of these people, if not all of them, were pos- sessed of more or less means, and several had been prominent in public life in Connecticut, such as Richard Gildersleeve, Thurston Ray- nor, Robert Coe and others. The patent was obtained from Governor Kieft in 1644, which may be accepted as the date of the founda- tion of the township, although many antiqua- ries would place it a year earlier, when Ford- hanı and Carman had bought the territory from the Indians. With these helpless aborig- ines the settlers of Hempstead seemed to get firmed by those issued March 6, 1666, and April 17, 1685, by Governors Nicolls and Don- gan, respectively In 1784 the territory was divided into North Hempstead and South Hempstead townships. South Hempstead was recognized as a town by the Legislature on March 7, 1788, and in 1796 it .dropped its prefix and became simply Hempstead. Under its organization statute each township was to enjoy the right of oystering, clamming and fishing in the other, and both continued to cut grass on the south meadows until 1815. In 1797 a litigation commenced between the two townships with relation to the grass cutting right, which was only settled in December, 1828, with such victory as there was to Hemp- stead. It was at best a miserable dispute, and, like most of the boundary disputes, so frequent in the early history of the various Long Island townships, seems to us silly in these days. Empty land was about them all, yet they wrangled for years over a field or two. In 1830 Hempstead disposed of all its public lands by auction, a consummation that added greatly to its future internal peace. Hempstead township lies on the south side of the island, has a frontage on the ocean of some twenty miles, and a total area of nearly 100 square miles. Down. to 1784 the history

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along fairly well; there were several unpleas- ant details in the early relations, but it would seem to a less extent than was the case in most of the other settlements. In 1656 a sort of treaty of peace governing the relations of the two races was made and settled the boundaries of the white man's land, confirming a prior agreement made in 1647. As a result of this the following deed was drawn up:

July the 4th, 1657. Stilo novo.

Know all men by these Presents, that We, the Indians of Marsapege, Mericock, and Rockaway, whose Names be underwritten, for ourselves, and all the rest of the Indians that doe Claime any Right or Interest in the Pur- chase that hempsteed bought in the year 1643. And within the bounds and limitts of the Whole tract of Land, Concluded upon with the governor of Manhatans as it is in this paper Specified, Doe, by these p'rsents, Ratifie and Confirme to them and their heires forever, freely, firmly, quiettly and Peaceably, for them and their heires and success'rs for Ever to enjoye without any Molestacon or trouble from us, or any that shall pretend Any Clayme or title unto itt.

The Montooke Sachem being present att this conformacon.

In Witness whereof Wee, whose names bee here under written, have hereunto sub- scribed.

THE MARKE OF TAKAPOSHA. THE SACHEM OF MARSAPEAGUE.

THE MARKE OF WANTAGH.

THE MONTAKE SACHEM.

THE MARKE 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 originalis scripsit, per me, JOHN JAMES, cler.

When the payments had all been completed the following document was drawn up and signed :

by acknowledge to have received from the Magistrates and Inhabitants of Hempsteed, all our pay in full satisfaction for the tract of land sould unto them, according to the above and within written agreement, and according to the pattent and purchase. The General bounds is as followeth : Beginning att a place called Mat- tagarretts Bay and soe running upon a direct line, north and south and from north to south, from Sea to Sea, the boundes running from Hempsteed Harbour due east to a pointe of Treese adjoining the lands of Robert Will- iams, where wce left marked trees, the same line running from Sea to Sea. The other line beginning att a marked tree Standing att east end of the greate plaine, from that tree and running a due south line and att the South Sea, by a Marked tree, made in a Neck called Maskutchoung and from thence upon the same line, to the South Sea. And we whose names are hereunto subscribed, do further Ingage ourselves and our successors, to uphold and maintain this our present act, and all our for- mer agreements to bee just and lawfull; that the aforesaid Inhabitants of Hempsteed Shall Enjoye the Said Lands according to the Equi- ty-marked bounds with all privileges thereun- to Any way belonging or Appertaining, for them, their heires and successrs for Ever. And we doe binde ourselves to save and defend them harmlesse from any manner of Claime or pretence that shall bee made to disturbe them in their right or any prte thereof, here- by binding us and our successrs to cause them to Enjoye the same Peaceably without Any Molestacon or Interrupcon for them, their heires and successrs for Ever. Whereunto we have subscribed, this eleventh day of May, anno 1658. Stilo novo.

Witnesse : WAAUTAUCH. CHE KNOW. SAYASSTOCK. TACKAPOUSH.I. MARTOM. PEES KOMACH.

Subscribed by Wacombound, Montauk Sa- chem, after the death of his father, this 14th February, 1660, being a generall town meet- ing of Hempsteed.

A true coppy, Compared with the Originall and both of them being written by me.

JOHN JAMES, Clerk.

In 1647 there were fifty-seven freeholders Wee, the Indians above written, doe here- in the township, and a formal division of the 56

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

land was made among them. They were as follows :

John Carman, Jeremy Wood, Richard Gil- dersleeve, William Raynor, Benjamin Coe, John Ogden, Samuel Strickland, Jolın Toppin, Jonas Wood, John Fordham, William Law- rence, Henry Hudson, Thomas Ireland, Rich- ard Valentine, William Thiekstone, Nicholas Tanner, William Smith, Edmond Wood, John Smith jun, Thomas Armitage, Simon Sering, Terry Wood, Thomas Willet, Henry Pierson, Joseph Scott, Henry Whitson, Richard Lewis, Thomas Stephenson, John Coe, William Scott, John Storge, William Williams, James Smith, William Rogers, Richard Ogden, Robert Jack- son, John Foucks, John Lawrence, Thomas Sherman, Francis Yates, John Ellison, Abra- ham Smith, William Shadding, Thomas Ffos- ter, Roger Lines, John Lewis, Christopher Ffoster, Samuel Clark, John Hudd, Thomas Pope, Daniel Whitehead, Robert Williams, Edward Raynor, John Sewall, John Smith sen, Samuel Baccus, John Strickland.

In 1673 the list had passed the hundred mark, as may be seen from the following enu- meration preserved in Vanderkemp's Transla- tion of Dutch Records, XXII :

John -, John Smith Blew, Richard Geldersly, Sen, Vrolphert Jacobs, Jan Carman, John Symans jun, Robert Jackson, Symon Tory, John Smith, Peter janse Schol, Richard Gildersly, Robbert Beedill, George Hallet, Samuel Allen, Richard Valentyn. Kaleb Car- man, John Williams, Thomas Richmore, John Ellesson, Edward Spry, William Osborne, Edward Remsen, John Fossaker, John Sorram, James Payne, William Fixton, Samuel Den- ton, Robberd Hobbs, Thomas Sodderd, John Smith jun, Joseph Williams, Ralph Haal. Dan- iel Beedell, John Jackson, Jonathan Smith, John Champion, John Hobbs, John Langd, Jonathan Semmes, John Bordes, Robberd Mar- isseu, Mos Hemmery, John Beets carpenter, Samuel Embry, Matthew Beedel, Comes, Thomas Ellison, Philip Davis, -Hop- kins, Adam View, Edward Titus, Richard Elli- son, John Seavin, Thomas Teasay, Thomas Ireland, Thomas Ellison, Joseph Gem. Thom- as Champion, Joseph Pettet, Richard Fotter. John Beddell, Thomas Southward, John Beates, Calvet Goullet, Christoffel Yeomans, John Woully, Edward Banbury, Thomas Gowes, John Mavein, Wm. Thorne, Joshua

Watske, Benjamin Symenson, Jan Roelossen, Elbert Hubssen, Lewis Niot, John Ellison jun, Thomas Seabrook, Samuel Jackson, John Pine, Peter Jansen, William Ware, Solomon Sem- mar, Teunis Smith, Richard Valentin jun, Joseph Wood, Herman Flouwer, William Dose, Symon Foster, Henry Mott, Wm. Four- mer, Joseph Smali, Walter pine, Josia Carman, John Peacock, John Quakerson, Thomas Dan- iels, John Napper, Richard Osborn, George Robbert, Charles Abram, Thomas Appelbe, Samuel Smith, - Persell, Adam Mott Junr, Samuel Jackson, Joseph Truax, Joseph Hoyt & Nine others whose names are lost.

The original condition on which the first patent was granted was that the people should pay a tax to the Council at New Amsterdam of a tenth part of their farm produce ten years after the first general peace with the In- dians. It would seem that it was not until 1658 that the people declared their readiness to contribute to Stuyvesant's treasury. In that year they informed the Governor that they had "voted and put upon denomination our former Magistrate, Mr. Gildersleeve, and with him William Shodden, Robert Forman and Henry Pearsall," all of them known "men of honest life and of good integrity," as their Magistrates, and Stuyvesant, invariably gra- cious to the English settlements, at once con- firmed the selection. The same year Magis- trate Gildersleeve was authorized to go to New Amsterdam and arrange about the pay- ment of the taxes, provided the Governor was reasonable in his views of the matter, as he seems to have been.

The early government of Hempstead was by town meeting, over which the influence of the Presbyterian Church was predominant until the beginning of the eighteenth century, and long after that its influence in the affairs of the township continued to be important. The town meeting did everything even to the extent of naming the value of the various products of the farm and fixing the price of labor. A day's work was adjudged to be worth 25 6d, but then a night's lodging was only valued at 2d and two days' wages paid for a

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HEMPSTEAD.

week's board. At that rate the laborer of 1658 was at least as well paid as his brother of the present day. Attendance at church was early voted a prime necessity, and it was ordered that any man or woman who did not occupy a place in the church at the Sabbath services should be fined five shillings,-the value of a week's board,-for the first offense, and ten shillings for the second, and twenty shillings for the third. Those who still absented then- selves after being so mulcted were deemed in- corrigible under lenient measures and were to be dealt with by means of corporal punish- ment, and after that, if the remedy failed, were to be banished from the town. Drunk- enness seems to have been one of the common faults of the brethren, if we may judge by the severe measures taken. These fines and pun- ishments were not, however, determined as to their application by the town meeting, but after trial in the regular local court. Some of the records of that tribunal are interesting for the light they throw on the domestic his- tory of that early time, and we quote the fol- lowing from Onderdonk's "Annals of Hemp- stead :"

1658, July 25 .- Richard Valentine hav- ing reported that Thomas Southard went up and down with a club, the latter, meeting him one morning as he was going about his avo- cations, 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 of his life, and required 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 did contemptuously resist authority in refusing to obey the marshal with his war- rant, and did fly the same and betook himself to his own house for his refuge, in considera- tion of these outrages and misdemeanors he is required to put in security for his appear- ance at court. And said Southard doth bind himself and all his lands, goods and chattels, to appear at court, and meantime to keep the peace and good behavior.

At a court held December 28, on the sub- mission of Southard, and paying all costs, the penalty and fault are remitted in hopes of his

reformation. Valentine is also reconciled, and doth remit the abuse done unto him.

1659, January 2 .- Thomas Ireland com- plains of Richard Brudenell, keeper of an or- dinary, for using deceitful dealings, and pro- duces in court the following witnesses :

Mary, wife of Richard Willis, sent her child for a pint of sack and he afterwards de- manded pay for a quart.

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

Thomas Langdon was charged for four bushels 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 Brudenell for diet of himself and son for twelve shillings the week, and had it a week and four days, which did come to twen- ty shillings. Lattin said it was ten days, but Brudenell made it eleven, and said if he would not pay for eleven he would show him such a trick as he never had seen ; that is, he would set upon his book a guilder 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 Brudenell's 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 unseemly words to the dishonor of God and the evil example of others, is fined ten guilders. But having, February II, made an acknowledgment of his fault, the court hath remitted the fine, on his reformation.

1659, January 16 .- Daniel Whitehead, when he lived at Hempstead, lost linen and other goods, and upon search he found at Richard Brudenell's a brass candlestick and one small striped linen carpet and one table napkin which he doth judge to be his own. Whereas 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 ap- peals to the governor, and the answer in Dutch may be seen in the Hempstead court minutes.

1659, May 1 .- Robert Jackson contra Rich- ard Lattin-action of the case, defamation to the value of fioo sterling damages. Jackson in his declaration says that, having occasions of account with Lattin, upon some debate he

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

gave him very bad language tending to his defamation and scandal, and amongst other evil words called him a rascal. The court, June 5, sentences him to forty guilders fine, or corporal punishment, tinless he submissively acknowledges, in presence of the court, that he hath wronged Mr. Jackson, and is sorry for it.

1659, May 1 .- 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 Will- ianis demanded satisfaction Cornelissen re- fused, 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 Cornelissen to make good the damage done unto the sack and meal by giving him good meal, and in case they cannot agree, then to stand at the judg- ment of two indifferent men ; and Cornelissen is to pay court charges and give satisfaction within fourteen days, or before he depart the town, else execution to follow.

1659, June 11 .- 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 last will of Nicholas Tanner is that "a beast shall be sold to buy some linen to bury me in, and also a sheet and other things that shall be needful, and the white-faced cow killed at my burial and given to the neighbors."

1659, November .- Richard Lamson put out a cow to Joseph Schott to winter. He re- moved 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 le main- tained till it came to be a cow, and she had one calf, and another which was destroyed by wolves. The cow, being well so far forth as he knew, was found dead one morning, leav- ing a calf. The court order Schott to pay for the cow £6.10, and 20s, for one summer's milk, with one guilder on the pound interest upon

interest for eight years, and costs, and IOS. 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 publicly sold at outcry by the marshal, and engages to save him harmless. Primo February Schott's barn and appurtenance, with his home-lot (three acres), is sold to. George Hewlet for £5.4 in present passable pay. I, Thomas Skidmore (May 6, 1659), have received £15.9.6 in full satisfaction of the above sentence, in behalf of Edward Higbie of Huntington.

1660, January 21 .- John Smith, Jr., sues Thomas Ellison in an action for trespass, for that he did ride his mare double, contrary to his knowledge, and his mare was lamed to his damage 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 de- livered her to John Carman. The court doth condemn the plaintiff in all the court charges, to be paid within fourteen days, else execution to follow.

The change brought about by the down- fall of the Dutch Government and the institu- tion of English authority seems to have been accepted with equanimity by the Hempstead settlers. Governor Nicolls introduced among them a new "industry," that of horse-racing, for which purpose the great Hempstead plain was so well adapted, and his lead in that re- gard was still further developed by his suc- cessor, Governor Lovelace, and Salisbury Plain, near the present pleasant village of Hyde Park, became celebrated for its sport- ing events on both sides of the Atlantic. The sport still continues a favorite one in Hemp- stead, although it has there lost much of its- vulgar and debasing features, and, as at Min- eola, 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 can not be said that when the Dutch regime in 1673 was once more established in New Amsterdam, the Hempstead people mourned over the change. As soon as Governor Colve

HEMPSTEAD.

885

took hold of the reins of power he sent a letter of instructions to Hempstead and other Long Island towns, in which he really granted as full a measure of local self-government as was conceivable in those days. Some of his instructions were :

3. All cases relating to the Police, Secur- ity and Peace of the Inhabitants ; also to Jus- tice between man and man, shall be finally

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 the 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 inter- ested, such Magistrate shall, in that instance,

OLD LONG ISLAND SCHOOLHOUSE. (Photographed at Woodbury.

determined by the magistrates of each of the aforesaid 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 sum

rise and absent himself, as is hereinbefore stated.

6. All Inhabitants of the abovenamed Vil- lages 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 be obliged to appre- hend the offenders, to seize and detain them & to convey them as prisoners under proper safeguard to Chief Magistrate with good and

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

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 and 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.

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A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 136

Author: Ross, Peter. cn Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1188

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188