USA > New York > Suffolk County > Easthampton > A history of the town of East-Hampton, N.Y. > Part 11
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which were born of the colonies. The confederation and union of the New England colonies, including the colony of Connecticut, which with other towns included East- Hampton, predicted the coming union of the colonies and independent States. The Colonial Congress must grow out of the root of the New England confederacy and union.
On the conquest of New Netherlands by Gov. Richard Nicolls, acting for the Duke of York, in 1664, the Governor by proclamation, called for the election of two representa- tives from each town, who were elected and attended the convention at Hempstead, March 16th, 1665. Thomas Baker and John Stratton, were the deputies from East- Hampton. The delegates continued in session but two or three days only. The proclamation of the Royal Commis- sioners, antecedent to the conquest, promised the people protection "and all other privileges with his majesties sub- jects." The colonies of New England, Maryland and Vir- ginia enjoyed the privileges of a representative Assembly. The language of the proclamation gave the people of Long Island ground for expecting the same privilege. By letters to Captain John Young and Major John Howell, the Gov- ernor had assured them that the people should enjoy the . privileges of equal "freedomes and immunities," if not greater, "than any of his majesties colonies in New Eng- land." All this prior to the Assembly meeting at Hemp- stead, followed by that, satisfied the people that their hopes of representation would be gratified. When the Duke of York had pacified the people, and established his power, he conveniently forgot the promises of his Governor. The next Assembly convened in 1683, because of the difficulty of levying by tax and customs sufficient means to supply the wants of government in other ways. The Duke of York conceded representation unwillingly, and only as a means
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to replenish his treasury. His perfidy in England was no- torious in America. The name of the Royal Stuarts the world over, stood as a synonym for falsehood.
Every State and almost every farm has had its boundary disputes and questions, and it would be singular if such a difficulty had never ruffled the tranquility of the citizens of our Town. In accordance with all historic analogy we find that during the first half century from the settlement of the Town, a violent dispute was at different times carried on in reference to the Division Line between the two towns. East-Hampton claimed much more than Southampton would concede, and at one time extended her claim to "Hog Neck," (now North Haven.) This contest continued thrice the period of the Trojan War, was finally settled on the 25th of June, 1695, by men chosen from the two Towns and a highway one rod each side of the line, was laid out. Their decision remains of record.
The men chosen were as follows :
EAST-HAMPTON MEN.
Josiah Hobart,
SOUTHAMPTON MEN. Edward Howell,
Robert Dayton,
Joseph Pierson,
John Wheeler,
Elnathan Topping,
Samuel Cooper,
John Cook,
Cornelius Conkling, John Mulford, James Hand,
Henry Pierson, Abraham Howell.
Previous to 1673, John Osborn's lot, lying on the east side of Main street, south of a highway and just south of where the present church stands, together with the high . way, were purchased by the town for a parsonrge, "it being in the hart of the Towne."
In 1676, December 18th, the same premises described as consisting of "fourteen acres," bounded by Robert Dayton south, and John Wheeler north, were conveyed by the
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town to "Captaine Josiah Hobbert," whom they have "late- lie accepted as an inhabitant amongst them."-Book A, p. 73, Town Records.
At a very early period emigration commenced from al- most all parts of Long Island to other colonies .*
In the letter of Gov. Hunter to the Board of Trade, April 1716, he remarks :
"I cannot say that the inhabitants increase in that pro- portion, (at least) as they do in the neighboring provinces,
NOTE .- Among the manuscript papers of J. Lyon Gardiner, deceased, exists a rough draft of part of East-Hampton Main street, representing localities and residences in 1655. On the south-east side of the street, adjoining the lot of William Hedges, one of the first settlers, is marked off the "Calf Pasture," which afterwards became "the Parsonage," and since 1849 has been sold by the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church to John Hedges, and by him incorporated with the seven acres and a half which formed the "home lot" of his ancestor, William Hedges.
This draft represents the home lot of those who resided on the west side of the street, extending northward as far as Mrs. Buell's (formerly Catherine's) Lane, and locates them in the following order, commenc- ing south wardly : John Stratton, Thomas Talmage, Robert Bond, John Mulford, Arthur Howell, Thos. Thomson, Thos. Baker, Wm. Mulford.
The house formerly owned by William L. Osborn, of East-Hampton, next south of the residence of his father, Deacon Abraham Osborn, is supposed to stand upon or near the ancient residence of Thomas Tal- mage. And the house formerly owned by Col. Samuel Miller is sup- posed to stand upon the lot and perhaps upon the very foundation of the house of Thomas Baker, the first Inn Keeper of East-Hampton.
It is a most singular coincidence, and striking proof of the former comparative populousness of the town, that after the lapse of 195 years the precise number of houses now stand upon the same space where the same number stood in 1655.
*By an examination of the Records I find from conveyances and other recorded papers that Thomas Simons, formerly of East-Hampton, re- moved to Little River, in Albemarle county, before 1684. Jonathan Osborn, formerly of East-Hampton, removed to Cape May as early as 1690. John Shaw, grandson of Joshua Garlicke, and son of Richard Shaw, one of the first planters of East-Hampton, resided in Cape May, in "West Jersie," in 1693. Thomas Hand resided in Cape May in 1697. John Parsons resided there in 1699. Jacob Dayton resided there in 1699, and became a Justice of the Peace for the county of Cape May. Benjamin Mulford, a brother of Thomas Mulford, who was eldest son of Wm. Mulford, of East-Hampton, then resided there. John Chatfield removed to Cape May before 1700. Edward Osborn resided in "Eliza- beth-Town, in East Jersey," in 1701. Ephraim Edwards resided in Cape May in 1702. Joseph Hand, Sr., resided in Guilford, Connecticut, in 1693. John Davis resided in New Haven, Ct., about the same time. It is supposed that all the above named persons removed with their fami- lies from East-Hampton.
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where the purchases of land are easier had than with us. Great numbers of the younger sort leave Long Island year- ly, to plant in the Jerseys and Pennsylvania."-Doc. His. N. Y., Vol. I, p. 692.
Suffolk County, for a very long period of time, remained the fourth and fifth county of the State in the aggregate amount of population. In 1698 the whole population of Suffolk County amounted to 2,679. The population of East-Hampton at this time was probably at last from one fourth to one-fifth of the population of Suffolk County.
The following memoranda upon the Town Records, throw still more light upon the subject :
"Feb. 17th, 1703 .- £56, 15s, Od, was p'd, being East- Hampton's quota of £270, which the county of Suffolk was rated att, as their proportion of £1800 tax laid by the last Gen'l Assembly upon the whole Province, for securing the Frontier.
Fauconniere Com'r."
It will be seen that Suffolk County paid over one-seventh of the whole tax of the State at that time, and East-Hamp- ton more than one-fifth part of the tax of the whole County of Suffolk.
According to the Rate List of the town, made out in 1683, it appears that there were then 71 taxable inhabi- tants in the Town, exclusive of the minister ; and it may be inferred that the population of the Town was then at least 350, and rapidly increasing after that period .*
Sequestered from the rest of the world, shut out from its intercour e, uninfluenced by its fashions, and to a great degree unruffled by its passions, a race of freemen arose- hardy, contemplative, intelligent-and yet retaining the manners, language, dress and appearance of their ancestors, untarnished, unalterable and uncorrupted, for more than a century. The grace and polish of more modern times,
*For rate lists of 1675 and 1683 see Appendix.
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might not have adorned their carriage, but the frankness, intelligence and noble bearing of freemen, dignified their gigantic forms. Their ignorance of the passing customs of the world might sometimes render it difficult for the more deeply initiated to repress a smile, while their sterling qualities of head and heart would ever redeem them from contempt.
John Lyon Gardiner, deceased, the father of the late Samuel B. Jardiner, Esq., of East-Hampton, as has already been intimated, reduced to writing, much of the early tra- ditionary history of East-Hampton. In his memoranda, under the date of June 15th, 1794, the following amusing incidents are related :
"Mrs. Miller, my overseer's mother, now living here with him, about 78 years old, was a Hedges, and lived at Mon- tauk when a girl. She could speak Indian.
"Mrs. Miller remembers well when they first began to drink tea on the east end of Long Island. She tells a num- ber of curious stories about their awkward manner of using it. One family boiled it in a pot and eat it like samp-por- ridge. Another spread the leaves on his bread and butter, and bragged of his having eat half a pound at a meal, to his neighbor, who was informing him how long a time a pound of tea lasted him. She remembers the first tea- kettle that was in East-Hampton. It came ashore at Mon-
tauk in a ship, (the Captain Bell.) The farmers came down there on business with their cattle, and could not find out the use of the tea-kettle, which was then brought up to old 'Governor Hedges'.' Some said it was for one thing, and some said it was for another. At length one, more know- ing than his neighbors, affirmed it to be the ship's lamp, to which they all assented."
The narrow life, the unyielding spirit, the overshadowing parental restraint, the stern adherence to the letter of Sab- bath observance, the intolerance of a differing religious sentiment, the severity of punishment inflicted on the trans-
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gressor, the strictness of dicipline in the family and church and state, the small measure of mercy and the large and unalloyed measure of justice administered in the conduct of affairs public and private, fostered occasional opposition then. They have incurred the condemnation of the present generation, and sometimes the censure of the descendants of Puritan forefathers, as if these unlovely traits were at- tributable solely to those forefathers rather than to the age and the people then living. The stream of history, ever flowing like a river, is ever changing. The standpoint of to-day has back of it centuries of thought fraught with the conquests of truth, with the contributions of art, of science, of literature, of culture, and is not the standpoint for a cor- rect judgment of a far past age. Go back on the march of time two and a half centuries ; leave behind the landmarks of progress; blot out the triumphs of freedom, the discov- eries of enterprise, the achievements of science, the inven- tions of the mechanic arts, the light of universal education. Stand where they stood and measure our forefathers by the thought, the culture, the sentiment, the piety, the liberality of their compeers, and our ancestors will suffer nothing in the comparison. Besides all this enemies imperilled the safety of the early settlements, which made the enforce- ment of martial or preservative law an imperative duty. On the line where advancing civilization confronts barbar- ism, tramps, outlaws, vagabonds, villains, march with the pioniers of light and letters. The records of courts in East-Hampton show some of these there. If banished, its citizens are regarded as intolerant. If suffered to remain, they are censured as if conniving at their acts. The loud complaints of these classes that their liberty was restrained have reverberated through the ages. Appealing to that element of the soul which intuitively condemns oppression,
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their outcries enlisted as advocates the sons of Puritans, who should have justified their fathers in driving drones from the hive. With the foremost saints whose feet trod the soil of this fair old town, came "Border Ruffians," whose misdeeds have been charged to those who strove with all their power to prevent them. The culprits have been absolved, and the innocent charged with their crimes. The Great West resents the stigma that her people are de- fined as "Border Ruffians." With like indignant protest can the sons of Puritan sires justly demand that they be exempted from the like injustice. The novice who is sure that his surface view is the true one has sometimes con- vinced many that the Puritans committed the deeds they abhorred, while the earnest searcher after truth has dis - covered that the evidence acquitted them.
CHAPTER X.
The Revolution, p. 145. Major Cochrane, p. 147. The Ref- uges, 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. Shipwrecks, 152. The Storm, p. 153. The Amistad Case, p. 155.
Allusion has been made in the preceding address to the circumstances of East-Hampton at the commencement and during the continuance of the Revolutionary war-to the entire and united devotion of her inhabitants to their coun- try's cause. Their union in expressing their sympathy with their brethren of Boston, in the adoption of a series of resolutions in their meeting held June 17th, 1774, has been noted. About a year thereafter, when the "Associa- tion" suggested by the Continental Congress was remitted to them for signatures, they came forward in a body, and without a solitary exception, signed the Association .* This association was said to have been delivered into Congress on the 22d of June, 1775, and to have been signed by John Chatfield, chairman of the committee, Col. Abraham Gar- diner, Burnet Miller, Rev. Samuel Buell, Thomas Wickham, member of the first Congress, and fifty-eight others, being all the male inhabitants of the Town then capable of bear- ing arms. A rare, and perhaps unparalleled instance, of unanimity and devotion to the cause of Liberty, under such inducements to forsake it.
*For this Association, and names of the signers, in East-Hampton, see a subsequent page.
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After the battle of Long Island, such of the inhabitants as had endangered their safety by their devotion and prom- inence in the cause of Liberty, and could command the means, as well as many others, left for Connecticut, or some other Jess exposed part of the Colonies. Burnet Miller, it is said, retired within the American lines, and became a Member of Assembly for the County, which station he held during the war. Thomas Wickham, who had been a mem- ber of the Provincial Congress, went to Stonington, Con- necticut ; from thence he waged war upon the enemy as a privateer in command of a sloop of eight guns, and suc- ceeded in taking several prizes. Wickham at one time, with several armed boats, attempted a surprise of the ene- my's forces at Sag-Harbor. Major Davis and Capt. Grin- nell, who had removed to Connecticut in consequence of their previous activity and zeal in the Colonial war, were also engaged in the enterprise, and commanded two of the boats. Unfortunately the boats were driven on shore. Major Davis and the crews were taken prisoners by a Hes sian Major and about twenty light horse. An attempt was made to fire the boats, but Wickham succeeded in bringing them off.
Major Davis was taken to New- York and imprisoned, where he died. Tradition has it that he died in conse- quence of poison administered in his chocolate.
A division of the British army was established at South- ampton, and there for a time the Tory Governor, Tryon, had his quarters.
An attempt was made to establish the Royal Govern- ment, and officers who had held commissions under the King were called upon to enter upon the civil or military duties of their office. In East-Hampton none were found willing to act under the Royal authority, and Col. Gardiner
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was put under arrest, and threatened with Martial Law, for refusing to call out the militia.
The people were called out, by orders from headquarters, to assemble on a certain day, and take the oath of alleg- iance. A few only obeyed, and among these one Bennet was told by the officer who officiated, to repeat after him what he should say. "Instead of proceeding with the oath the officer then gave some farther directions respecting it which Bennet immediately repeated. The officer explained, and Bennet repeated the explanation. The officer de- nounced his stupidity, and Bennet repeating the abuse with undisturbed gravity was turned away as a fool. The ridicule this conduct cast upon the whole proceeding, put an end to it. The oath was avoided, and the meeting dis- persed. Perceiving the rigor with which they were op- posed, and the folly of resorting to forcible measures, the British made little further effort to secure the alliance, or subdue the spirit of the people."
A detachment of the British forces, under Major Cock- rane, were stationed at Sag-Harbor. The country still abounds with traditions of his surpassing brutality, passion and cruelty. Many are the instances of his flagrant in- justice and merci'ess, ui called for punishments. And often the inhabitants of the town of East-Hamptsn felt the lash by the order, or perhaps inflicted by the very hand of this ruthless foe. He as well as others higher in command, often imposed most onerous burdens upon the people. They were called at unseasonable times, to come out with their teams, and do service for the British army. Provis- ions and cattle were taken, and supplies levied, as the wants of the army required, and often the beasts of the plow were slain for their sustenance, and their owners suffered from the loss. Compensation was generally made, but almost always at the victor's price.
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One memorable instance 's related in which the fury and impetuosity of Cockrane's temper met with a will as strong and with a courage as unquailing as his own.
A vessel had been cast upon the shore at Napeague, east of the village of Amagansett, laden with supplies for the British army. As usual, the inhabitants were ordered out with their teams, to cart the provision to Southampton, for the army's use.
Major Cockran appears to have had some oversight of the affair. There was a certain number of barrels, and each team took its assigned load; but on the last load it was found that there remained one more barrel than the other teams had taken. The load fell to the lot of Jedediah Conkling, of Amagansett, an uncle of the late Jedediah Conkling, of Sag-Harbor, a man of small stature but un- flinching courage. Conkling took the usual load, left the solitary barrel, and was proceeding on his way when he was stopped by Cockrane, and ordered to take the remain- ing barrel upon his cart. Conkling refused. Cockr .. ne reiterated his order, and told Conkling he should take it. Conkling declared he would not. Each affirmed his decis- ion with an oath. Cockrane threatened. Conkling defied. The one approached with his sword waving ; } the other, erect upon the cart, brandished his long ox goad. Cock- rane threatened to strike him dead. Conkling declared that he would kill him with his goad if he dared approach. The British Major finally yielded, and the teamster passed on his way. It is said that, as they passed through East- Hampton street, the company stopped at the house of Na- thaniel Huntting, who then kept tavern; and Cockrane said that Conkling was a man of the most courage he had met with on the Island, and requested of him the favor of drinking with him, to which the incensed Yankee replied that he would not drink with him to save his life.
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Onderdonk's Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk County gives names of some persons who fled from Long Island to Connecticut. At the dates given the persons named were these :
1776, 31st Dec., Elisha Mulford and Jonathan Tuthill.
1777, 10th Jan , Abraham Hand, Jeremiah Miller, Joseph Osborn, John Mulford, John Tuthill, John Miller, Aaron Isaacs, Jr., Elisha Osborn.
1779, 10th June, Aaron Isaacs, Hartford, Conn.
1780, 24th Jan., Zebedee Osborn, East Haddam, Conn. 1780, Nov., Henry Hoppin, 66
From the same authority it appears that "the Culloden, in pursuit of French ships from Rhode Island, in a dread- ful storm on Monday night, Jan. 22d, 1781, was driven on Long Island (at Culloden Point.) The men, guns and masts will be saved."
"July, 1815, 12 tons of pig iron and a long 32 lbs. can- non were taken up by a diving machine in Fort Pond Bay, being the wreck of the Culloden."-L. I. Star, July 26.
"The unfortunate Major Andre was, for several weeks, quartered at the house of Col. Gardiner, and his gentle- manly deportment and generous feelings won the esteem of the family. Dr. Nathaniel Gardiner, a son of Col. Gardin- er, was a surgeon in the Northern division of the American army during the war, and was on a visit to his father at this period. Having come within the British lines he was liable to be seized as a spy, and though the family took every precaution to conceal his presence, it was soon per- ceived that Andre was not without knowledge of it. He forebore, however, any allusion to it, and subsequently ex- pressed his regret that their relative situation had prevent- ed him from soliciting an interview. Andre afterward re- paired to New-York, and his unfortunate fate is well known.
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During the night preceding his untimely death, the young surgeon, whom he had thus encountered, enjoyed by a strange coincidence, and in the capacity of an enemy, the melancholy pleasure of his society. He left with the fam- ily several memorials of friendship.
Dr. Gardiner continued in the army until the end of the war, and subsequently, in 1786, '89 and '90, was a member of the State Legislature.
"Col. Gardiner finding his residence in East-Hampton unpleasant, and even hazardous, removed with his family to Connecticut."
Although the people suffered from most rigorous, and for them ill timed, exactions, it appears that more or less friendly intercourse was kept between the officers of the British Army and the citizens of the town. Sir William Erskine, commander of the British forces on the east end of the Island, seems to have been particularly pleased with the society of Dr. Buell, and to some extent to have yielded to the Doctor's wishes.
It is related that on one occasion Erskine had ordered the people of East-Hampton to appear with their teams at Southampton on the Sabbath. On the preceding Saturday Erskine and the Doctor met, when Erskine stated to him that he had ordered his people to be at Southampton with their teams on the Sabbath. The Doctor replied, "I am aware of it, but am myself Commander-in-Chief on that day, and have annulled the order." It is said that Erskine yielded, and revoked the order.
With Gov. Tryon, Dr. Buell was intimate, and many let- ters are still extant which passed between them.
In the sports of the chase Dr. Buell often joined the of- ficers of the army, and on one occasion, being late, the party despairing of his arrival, had mounted, when he ap-
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peared in sight. Sir William Erskine, perceiving his ap- proach, ordered them to dismount and receive his friend. Lord Percv, afterwards Duke of Northumberland, and then Aid-de-Camp, while impatiently pacing the floor, was in- troduced to the Doctor, who asked him what portion of his Majesty's forces he had the honor to command. Percy, (who was in an ill humor on account of the order to dis- mount,) replied, "A Legion of Devils just from Hell." "Then," said Dr. Buell, with a low obeisance, "I suppose I have the honor to address Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils." The severity of the repartee caused Percy to put his hand upon his sword, which was instantly rebuked by Sir Wil- liam ; and the attention and politeness of the Parson won for him the admiration of Percy, long before the chase was over.
After the Revolution, amid the rapid increase of popula- tion, and swelling tide of emigration, this ancient settle- ment became comparatively of much less importance, and bore but a small proportion to the great aggregate of the population of the State.
Spafford's fazetteer of New-York, 1813, describes East- Hampton as "first settled in 1649 by about thirty families from Lynn," &c. Population in 1790, 1,492. Town street as having 80 houses ; Wainscott 15 dwellings ; Amagansett 20 houses ; Acabonac 15 houses ; Northwest 15 houses ; with two school houses in "town street," and one in each of the other places. It describes Sag-Harbor as having 80 houses, and shipping to the amount of about 5,000 tons. The population of the town in 1790 was 1,492; in 1800, 1,549 ; in 1820, 1,646 ; in 1830, 1,668 ; in 1840, 2,076 ; in 1850, 2,122 ; in 1860, 2,267 ; in 1870, 2,372 ; in 1880, 2,516 ; in 1890, 2,431.
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