USA > New York > Suffolk County > Easthampton > A history of the town of East-Hampton, N.Y. > Part 2
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Among their other pursuits was that of whaling. They very early made this a source of profit as well as amusement Doubtless it was congenial to their bold and adventurou spirits. I find the following early reference to that business ,
"November the 6th, 1651 .- It was Ordered that Goodmal Mulford shall call out ye Town by succession to loke out for whale."-Book No. 2, page 20.
Their difficulties were oftentimes occasioned by conflict. . ing claims to shares of the whales taken by them. In 165.' upon a difficulty of that kind they " Ordered that the sharc of whale now in controversie between the Widow Talmage
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and Thomas Talmage shall be divided between them as the lot is."-Book No. 2, p. 30.
Even in our day we have heard the old and venerable fa- thers speak, with the enthusiasm and fire of other days, of the sports and perils of the whale chase and of their success. And tradition still informs us that Abigail Baker, who was married in 1702 to Daniel Hedges, the first settler of the name in Sagg, in her day in riding from East-Hampton to Bridge- Hampton, saw thirteen whales on the shore at that time between the two places. Whaling suffered sad misfortunes in that day :
" Feb. 24, 1719 .- This day a whale-boat being alone the men struck a whale and she coming under ye boat in part staved it, and tho ye men were not hurt with the whale yet, before any help came to them four men were tired and chill- ed and fell off ye boat and oars to which they hung and were drowned, viz .: Henry Parsons, William Schellinger, Junior, Lewis Mulford, Jeremiah Conkling, Junr."-Records of Rev. Nathaniel Huntting.
We may discover the wisdom and foresight of our ances- tors in establishing a free and popular Government for them- selves-in laying deep and broad the foundations of their little commonwealth upon the basis of education and good morals.
The Government of the town was vested in the People. They, assembled at their Town Meetings, had all power and all authority. They elected officers ; constituted courts ; al- lotted lands ; made laws ; tried difficult and important causes, and from their decision there was no appeal. This Town Meeting, or " General Court," as it was sometimes called, probably met once a month. Every freeholder was required to be present at its meetings and take upon himself a part in the burdens of government ; all delinquents were fined 12d. for non attendance at each meeting. It is almost impossible
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to specify the numerous and diverse acts of authority and orders made and done by this assembly. It provided school teachers and made regulations for the education of the youth. It hired the minister ; assessed his salary by tax upon the pro- perty of individuals .* It built churches, and provided for the payment of building in the same manner. It admitted or excluded inhabitants or proposed settlers from its society and privileges. No person was allowed to buy or sell lands with- out the license and consent of the town. Hiredlaborers were liable to be excluded from the bounds and hospitality of the town. Their laws were made not only for the purpose of establishing order and securing justice, but they every where breathe a deep solicitude to prevent disputes and difficulty. The following is an illustration.
" 19th April, 1659 .- It is Ordered that every man shall sett the two letters for his name at each end of his fence, in large letters, on the inside of the Post, above the upper Raile, upon penalty," &c .- Book No. 2, p. 33.
The only other Court constituted by the original inhabi- tants was a Court of Three Justices, sometimes called the " Court of the Three Men." The first three Justices who composed this Court were John Mulford, Thomas Baker, and Robert Bond. Thomas Talmage Jr. was the first Re- corder or Secretary.
This Court met " at eight o'clock in the morning on the 2nd day of the 1st week in every month." It had cognizance of affairs of minor importance, and in cases of danger had power to call a special Meeting of the Town. It tried causes where the matter in controversy did not exceed five pounds. It remitted fines under that amount. An appeal might be
*The salary of Mr. James, the first minister, was £50 per annum, and afterwards £60; besides many very valuable privileges, and an exemp- tion from taxation.
The salary of the Schoolmaster was £33 per annum.
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had from the decision of this Court to the General Court or Town Meeting, as appears from the following order :
" Oct'r 1652. Ordered if any man be aggrieved by any thing that is done by the men in authority that he shall have libertie to make his appeal to the next General Court, or when the men are assembled together on the public occasions."
An illustration at once of their tender regard for their rights and their distrust of any authority irresponsible to the people. No set of men ever knew better than they that authority should never be delegated by the people " upon the pre- sumption that it will not be abused."
Besides these three Judges their only officers were a Sec- retary or Recorder and a Constable. The Constable was the executive officer. He held an important station-was gen- erally a man of some consequence. He presided as moder- ator in their Town Meetings.
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The Records of this Court still remain. They are written in a very singular hand, by a skilful penman ; but those an- tique hieroglyphics defy the curiosity of any but the most patient and persevering investigator.
The reports or records of adjudged cases are perhaps the best illustrations of the habits, character and severe morals of our fathers that any where exist. They gave all a hear- ing. The Indian or foreigner, citizen or stranger, rich or poor were admitted to their courts and received at their hands the same equal justice.
In the year 1658 Wyandanch, Sachem of Montaukett, Plaintiff, prosecuted Jeremy Daily, Defendant, for an injury done to his " great cannow." The case was tried by the " three men," and the Jury in the cause rendered a verdict of ten shillings as damages for the plaintiff .*
At the same time that the people provided for an appeal
*For an account of this trial see Appendix.
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to themselves from the decision of the Special Court of the three men, they nobly sustained their magistrates in the dis- charge of their duty. They gave them repeated tokens of their confidence ; often conferred upon them important trusts, and protected them from insult and injury. As early as 1651 they passed the following order :
" Nov. 17th, 1651. The 3 men chosen for Town Officers are ordered to sett out the place for a Meeting-House, and they shall have power to marrie during the year."
The General Court upon another occasion when an indi- vidual had derided and insulted their magistrates, passed the following order :
Oct'r 3d 1655. It is ordered that William Simons for his provoking speeches to the 3 men in authoritie, being a dis- turbance to them in their proceedings, that he shall forth- with pay 5 shillings, which is to be disposed of to make a paire of stocks."-Book 2, p. 39.
While our ancestors admitted the equal rights of all with- in their commonity, they deemed themselves as having also a perfect right to exclude any from their number who were loose in their morals and dangerous to the well being of the young. Nothing can exceed the tender solicitude with which they watched over the moral and spiritual interests of their rising village. In 1651 they ordered :
" That Goodman Meggs' lot shall not be laid out for James Still to go to work on, and that he shall not stay here."- Book 2, p. 21.
And again-
" East-Hampton. April 7th, 1657 .- It is agreed by the voate of the town that the bargain yt Goodman Davis, made with Goodman Birdsall in selling of his lands is annulified and not to stand."-Book 2, p. 44.
At the same time they designed to take no undue advan-
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tage over others in the exercise of their authority. On the decease of Nathaniel Foster, a son of Christopher Foster of Southampton, they passed the following :
" The beginning of October 1660 .- At our Meeting, upon Goodman Foster's request, he was accepted to possess as an inhabitant, his sonne Nathaniel's lott, to live upon it him- selfe or put in such an inhabitant as the town should accept of, and hee to defray all charges."-Book 2, p. 85.
This town at first took its laws from the Colony of Connec- ticut, selecting such as it deemed applicable to its peculiar circumstances, and moulding them to suit its wants. The laws were chosen by them, not forced or imposed upon them by any superior. They therefore exhibit the living, breathing spirit of the people ; the uninfluenced and spontaneous choice of their own minds-clothed in the quaint language, and in some measure partaking of the spirit of the times.
They provided in 1656 that slander should be punished " by a fine not above £5 as the men in authoritie see meet." -Book 2, p. 45.
At the same period they enacted a law against personal violence in the following words :
" It is ordered yt whosoever shal rise up in anger against his neighbor and strike him, he shall forthwith pay ten shil- lings to ye town and stand to the censure of the Court and if in smiting he shall hurt or wound another he shall pay for the cure, and also for his time that he is thereby hindered." -Book 2, p. 45.
It would seem that they felt deeply and most solemnly the obligation of an oath, and detested and despised perjury as an abominable crime, richly meriting the most severe punish- ment. They enacted the following law against that crime :
" Februarie 12th, 1656 .- It is ordered yt whosoever shall rise up as a false witness against any man to testifie yt which
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is wrong, there shall be done to him as he had thought to have done unto his neighbour, whether it be to the taking away of Life, Limbe, or Goods."-Book 2, p. 45.
Another striking fact to be borne in mind-speaking volumes for the good principles of our forefathers, and their dealings with others-is that they never had any serious difficulty with the Indians. Doubtless this was partly ow- ing to the friendly regard of Wyandanch, the mighty Sa- chem of the Island. That he used his great name as a shield for the prevention of difficulty and bloodshed is well known. He had acted an important part in assisting, as an ally, the early settlers of New England in their war against the Pequots, and acquired a hard and well earned fame by his martial achievements in that deadly contest.
Worthy was the barbarian Chieftain of an immortal fame ! Worthy rival of his white compeers in the generous and kindly impulses that ennoble and adorn the human soul .*
The powerful intercession of Lion Gardiner, (that sterling Puritan,) no doubt often had its influence in averting threat- ened and impending difficulties with the Indians.
But, be it ever remembered, that every foot of soil which their labors redeemed from nature's wildness, and made to smile with the luxuriant harvest, was fairly purchased by our ancestors of the Aborigines of the forest. The stipu- lated price was honestly paid. The Indians themselves bore the highest testimonials of their kindness and hospi- tality, and gratefully acknowledged it in some of their con- veyances to the whites.
After the tribe had been almost exterminated in the fatal battle on Block Island ; they came about the year 1660, from Montauk and resided upon the parsonage at
*Wyandanch died about 1659.
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the south end of the Town Street, under the immediate protection of the whites. Their burying ground, made in the parsonage at that time, within a few years might have been seen.
Truth, however, demands the acknowledgement that there was once a time when much danger was apprehended from the Indians. In the year 1653 the Narraghansetts and oth- er tribes had endeavored to form an alliance of all their forces against the whites. They attempted to seduce Wy- andanch from his friendship to them. With his tribe they partly succeeded. A murder was committed by the Indians at Southampton, and they assumed a hostile attitude.
The records of this period show that our ancestors shrank not from the crisis. They never dreamed of deserting their post. Providence, as they thought, had led them to this spot as their home. Wild and savage as it was, they had planted their feet upon its soil-erected their rude hab- itations-begun their struggle in subduing the wilderness ; and, where providence had led them, there, under God, they would remain and abide like men the destiny that awaited them. They were not regardless of the danger. They set a watch of two by night and one by day. They gave power to the "three men" to call a Town Meeting at a half hour's notice. They sent to Connecticut River for "a firkin of powder and shot equivalent," as their order expressed it. They never thought however of abandoning the Sanctuary. Their worship must not cease. The Sabbath morning breaks. The sun casts his rays upon the scene. The pri- meval forest rises in majesty, unruffled by the breeze. The virgin fields smile with the harvest. From many a habita- tion the curling smoke ascends. How quiet, how peaceful that Sabbath morn appears, as it illuminates the little vil- lage. The morning prayer has been offered under every
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roof,-but still no sound of busy life or labor breaks upon the ear. The hours pass on-higher the sun ascends. At length the sound of the warlike drum rises from the front of their little church ; it sends farther and farther its peal- ing notes,-it is the summons to prepare for the services of the Sanctuary. An hour elapses and again at the drum's beat the villagers pour from their dwellings,-infancy, man- hood, and tottering age-matron and maiden, all throng to the Church. The sun flashes upon the armor they bear. Thomas James, their Pastor, follows-small in stature, sprightly and undaunted in step and bearing- and takes his seat to minister the word of Life. There sit our ancestors, solemn, anxious, hopeful, and praise and worship the Most High, with their arms and warlike equipments by their side. We see them in their devotions. We hear them say-"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed-we are per- plexed, but not in despair-persecuted, but not forsaken- cast down, but not destroyed."
When, ye spirits of our sires ; when shall we see the like again ?- such wisdom in the council ?- such valor in the field ?
This, however, was only an alarm, although its aspect was for a time so serious. And it is believed, and to the honor of all be it said, that Indians and whites never drew from each other a drop of blood in murderous contest, from the date of the earliest settlement to our present peaceful times.
It was under the influence of such energy of character, purity of morals, wise precaution and forethought for the future, that this little settlement, under providence, pros- pered and grew on every side. It spread with great rapid- ity. Adjoining villages soon rose up, almost in rivalry of their more venerable and early home.
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It was but a short period after the first settlement of the town before some families colonized the villages of Wains- cott and Amagansett. As early as 1670 John Osborn ex- changed his lands here, with the town and with individuals, and procured a tract of land bounded " South by the Ocean and East by Wainscott Pond." It is probable that about this time Wainscott and Amagansett were settled. And it is said that as early as 1700 those villages had attained nearly if not quite their present size.
Wainscott was originally settled by the families of Hand, Hopping and Osborn. Amagansett is said to have been settled originally by the families of Hand, Conkling, Schel- lenger and Barnes.
CHAPTER II.
Address of 1849, continued.
The Settlement adopts the Combination and Laws of Connect- icut, p. 20. Witchcraft, p. 23. The Churches, p. 23. The Ministers. The Spirit of Freedom, p. 25. The Petition for representation in Government, p. 26. The Patent of 1686, p. 28. Samuel Mulford, p. 29. The Revolution, p. 31. Capt. John Dayton, p. 35. Clinton Academy, p. 37. Thoughts Suggested, p. 37. Conclusion, p. 39-43.
This Town existed as an Independent Settlement or Plan- tation until 1657, a period of eight years. In that year it united with the Colony of Connecticut in an alliance for the purpose of counsel and defence. Southampton had joined the same confederacy. Southold was attached to the colo- ny of New-Haven.
Our fathers often sought counsel and advice of these neigh- bouring towns in difficult casos. Their attachment to New- England was exceedingly strong. 6 With the Dutch inhabi- tants of New-York they had less affinity and intercourse. When the Dutch, in 1664, surrendered their Colony of New- York to the English, the whole Island was claimed by the Duke of York as included in his grant and under his Juris- diction. And after unavailing remonstrances against it, in despite of their entreaties they came under the Duke's Gov- ernment and formed a part of his Colony. From that time they remained under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Colony of New-York.
After the revolution of these American States, Gardiner's Island, which until then had remained an independent manor
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or Lordship, was annexed to and has since remained a part of the Town of East-Hampton.
The limits of an address forbid my dwelling as minutely upon the minor traits of character and the habits of our an- cestors as might otherwise be desirable.
It will now be my chief object as I trace the history of the Town to bring more vividly before the mind the ardent love of liberty and devotion to their religion, which our fore- fathers have ever manifested.
For the first few years it does not appear that our ances- tors had any written Constitution or compact as a founda- tion for their Government. They probably lived together under the tacit and implied contract of a people bound only by the great principles of natural equity, justice and reason, aided by their knowledge of divine revelation.
In 1654, however, and on the 18th of September, they passed the following resolve :
" It is ordered that there shall be a copie of the Connect- icut Combination drawn forth as is convenient for us, and yt all men shall set to their hands."-Book 2, p. 32.
Their constitution was copied accordingly from the pre- amble of their model. They added to the original, however, the last quarter, referring to the obligations of conscience, and the covenant to stand by their officers. The following was their covenant or constitution .
East-Hampton, October 24, 1654.
Forasmuch as it has Pleased the Almighty God by the wise dispensation of his providence, so to Order and Dis- pose of things that we, the Inhabitants of East-Hampton are now dwelling together ; the word of God requires that to maintain the Peace and Union of such a people there should be an Orderly and Decent Government established according to God-to Order and Dispose as Occasion shall require :- We Do therefore associate and conjoin ourselves to be one Town or Corporation ; and Do for ourselves and
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successors, and such as shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into combination and confederation togeth- er to maintain and preserve the Purity of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we now possess, as also the Dis- cipline of the Church, which, according to the Truth of said Gospel, is now practised among us. As also in our civil affairs to be guided and Governed by such Laws and Orders as shall be made according to God, and which by vote of the Major Part shall be in force among us. [Furthermore we do engage ourselves that in all votes for choosing Offi- cers or making Orders that it be according to Conscience and our best Light. And Also we do engage ourselves by this combination to stand to and maintain the authority of the several Officers of the Town in their Determination and actions according to their Orders and Laws that either are or shall be made, not swerving therefrom .* ] In Witness whereof, each accepted Inhabitant set to our hand."
Their recognition of the "Providence " of " Almighty God," and acknowledgment of their obligation to obey the requisitions of his word, are too conspicuous to demand our notice Their determination to be governed by such Laws and Orders as were passed by vote of " the Major Part " "among us," bespeak as clearly their understanding of the superior right of the majority of the people; and their en- gagement that " in all votes for choosing officers or making orders " " it be according to conscience and our best light," reflects as from a mirror, the high sense of moral obligation which pervaded them.
The pursuits of public and of private life-the affairs of utmost or ordinary importance were to be conducted accord- ing to " CONSCIENCE." What a lesson to the people of our day did they leave on record two centuries ago. When will their descer dants enter into the affairs of government and of public life, discharging their duties according to " Con-
*The lines inclosed in brackets are the part added.
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science "-when disown the principle that a Christian can. not discharge his high duties as a citizen and elector in a free country, without contamination from the pervading cor- ruption ? Why slumbers the spirit of our fathers amid our fathers' home?
Their religion was free, comparatively, from the errors and superstition of the day. In the year 1657 complaint was made to the magistrates of the Town that " Goodwife Garlicke " had practised witchcraft. An investigation of the charge was had, but the people finally concluded to send her to Hartford for trial. Perhaps they were distrustful of their skill and knowledge of Witchcraft. Enough appears upon the records to show that the " Goodwife " had many and powerful friends. Lion Gardiner strenuously main- tained her innocence-Whether any further order was made
in her case does not appear. It is highly creditable to them that amid the prevalent belief and superstitions of the day, entertained alike by the ignorant and the learned-the King and the People-this was the only case of accusation for Witchcraft. It is probable nothing further was ever done in the complaint than as above stated .*
It has already been seen that as early as 1651 they took measures for erectinga church. That church was enlarged in 167. ; and again, after some difference of opinion, it was enlarged in 1698. The present church was erected in 1717 ; was remodelled and repaired in 1822.
The illustrious succession of Ministers who flourished for the first 150 years in this town, are too widely known, and too familiar to us all to require enlargement here.
*The conduct of Goodwife Garlicke was not such as to disarm and quiet suspicion. Upon her examination it was, among other things, proved that she had used various herbs to bewitch with; that she had said she had no objection to be thought a witch, and had said she " had as good please the Devil as anger him."
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The historian has already recorded the genius, originali- ty, and resolution that lived in the character of Thomas James, the first semi-centenarian Pastor of this town. The learning, ability, and devotion of Nathaniel Huntting, the . second semi-centenarian Pastor.
The third Pastor, for a like period, the Rev'd Samuel Buell, D. D., was probably the cause and author of the erection of Clinton Academy. He lives upon the historians' pages,- lives in the remembrances of his venerable survivors. His sound judgment, clear perception, vivid fancy, impressive power and manner, have left their influence behind him.
The fourth Pastor, the Rev'd Lyman Beecher, D. D., is known by fame in every land. We send up our prayers that this venerable spiritual warrior may yet be able, for many a long year, to wear and wield the armor of his manhood's prime, so well and often proved.
We shrink from our honoured position, as speaker of the day, when we remember that forty-four years since he stood up here in the maturity of his genius, and the fire of his eloqence, and drew, in living lines, the character and history of our forefathers. Happy alike in the achievements they had won and in him who spoke their praise.
The fifth Pastor, the Rev'd Ebenezer Philips has passed from this earthly stage. His solemn, deliberate, clear ad- dress, replete with truth and doctrine, are among the re- membrances of our boyhood days.
The sixth Pastor, the Rev'd Joseph D. Condit, mild, ten- der, and pathetic, is also deceased. His child-like spirit fled to the children's home on high.
The seventh Pastor, the Rev'd Samuel R. Ely, supplied this Pulpit for about nine years. He removed some years since on account of declining health.
The ninth Pastor, the Rev'd Samuel Huntting, stood up
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here for a little while to minister to this People, at that altar where a hundred and fifty years before, his honored ances- tor had kindled and fed the holy altar's flame. He rose, and, quickly struck by the fatal arrow, fell, and his spirit joined in high communion with his ascended fathers .*
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