USA > New York > Suffolk County > Easthampton > A history of the town of East-Hampton, N.Y. > Part 3
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We now call your attention to the patriotism of our an- cestors ; to their adherence to free institutions, and the res- olute, unflinching tenacity with which they maintained their rights.
As their religion was free, in a great degree, from super- stition and bigotry, so their principles of politics and gov- ernment were, comparatively, free from persecution and untolerance.
When their country demanded their assistance, feeble and exposed as they were, they generously proffered it. They say-
" June 29th, 1654.
" Having considered the Letters that came from Keneti- cut, wherein we are required to assist the power of England, against the Dutch : we Doe think ourselves called to assist the sd Power."
Subsequently, throughout their whole history, it does not
*The following list of Ministers, with the time of settlement in East- Hampton, time of removal, decease, and age, is as complete as I have been able to compile. C
SETTLED.
REMOVED.
DIED.
AGED.
1. THOMAS JAMES,
1650
1696
2. NATHANIEL HUNTTING,
1699
1753
78 years.
3. SAMUEL BUELL, D. D.,
1746
82 years.
4. LYMAM BEECHER, D. D.
1799
1810
now living
5. EBENEZER PHILLIPS,
1811
1830
1840
6. JOSEPH D. CONDIT,
1830
1835
1847
7. SAMUEL R. ELY,
1836
1846
8. ALEXANDER BULLIONS,
1846
1848
1849
27 years.
9. SAMUEL HUNTTING,
1848
The three years intervening between the decease of Mr. James and the settlement of Mr. Huntting, were supplied by a Mr. Jones.
The Rev'd Samuel R. Ely was never settled here, but officiated as a stated supply.
1798
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appear that their country ever raised the cry for her sons to arm for battle, unheard by them.
The Colony of New-Haven adopted a Covenant or Con- stitution excluding all who were not members of the Church from the privileges of Electors. Our fathers, disliking this narrow and exclusive spirit, joined the confederacy of Con- necticut, consisting of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield, which admitted all their citizens to equal rights and privi- leges.
The Royal Duke of York, by his deputized Governors, swayed the sceptre of government over the Colony of New- York, with arbitrary power.
They oftentimes excluded the people altogether from choosing Representatives of their own to pass laws in a General Assembly. Sometimes, after yielding to the popu- lar demand, they disobeyed the Assembly which they had chosen of their own arbitrary will. Hence the sympathy of our fathers with their early friends of Connecticut, and their attachment to the free and chartered Government of that Colony. Hence their earnest appeal in 1664 to that colony to continue them under their goverment and jurisdiction. Hence, in the same year, their determination not to pay their taxes to the Government of New-York.
It was in June, 1682, at a General Training of the Militia, that they drew up and signed their petition to Anthony Brockholst, the then Governor of New-York. In this mem- orable petition they recite their grant and charter from Gov- ernor Nicolls, in 1666. They refer to the promises of Freedom and Liberty, then made to them when they received that Patent. And they go on to say-" But, may it Please your Honour to understand that since this time wee are de- prived and prohibited of our Birthright, Freedoms, and Privileges to which both wee and our ancestors were borne ;
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although we have neither forfeited them by any misconduct of ours, nor have we at any time been forbidden the due use and exercise of them, by command of our Gratious King, that we know of. And as yet neither we nor the rest of his Majesty's subjects uppon this Island have been at any time admitted since then, to enjoy a general and free Assembly of our Representatives, as others of his Majestie's subjects have had the priviledge of. But Lawes and Orders have been imposed uppon us from time to time without our con- sent, (and therein we are totally deprived of a fundamental priviledge of our English Nation,) together with the obstruc- tion of Trafficke and Negotiation with others of his Majes- tie's subjects ; so that we are become very unlike other of his Majestie's subjects in all other colonies here in America, and cannot but much resent our grievances in this Respect, and Remain discouraged with Respect to the Settlement of ourselves and posteritie after us."
They then go on to recite the payment of their taxes as a further reason why they were entitled to the privileges of a free assembly, which they declared to be one of the "Fun- damentall Lawes of England," and they conclude with the bold determination that if the Governor refused them their rights they would present to the throne itself their petition for redress.
Thus, more than ninety years before the Declaration of American Independence, they proclaimed the free principles upon which it was based .*
It is believed that no people in this country saw farther, or earlier than they, the correct principles of a Free Repre- sentative Government. None placed them upon the records before them. We wonder ! We admire the wisdom of our fathers.
ยท * See a copy of this petition in the Appendix,
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In 1683 Governor Dongan, who succeeded Anthony Brock- holst as Governor, landed on the east end of Long-Island. Upon his first arrival we are told he here heard the language of discontent and dissatisfaction. Perhaps he saw then, good reason to conclude as he declared in his report to the com- mittee of Trade, of 22nd February, 1687, that " most part of the people of that Island, especially towards the east end, are of the same stamp with those of New-England. Refrac- tory and very loath to have any commerce with this Place to the great Detr'm't of his Ma'tys Revenue and ruin of our merchants."-Vide Doc. His. N. Y., p. 166.
In page 151 of the same report he urges that Connecticut should be annexed to New-York, and says, " Wee found by experience, if that Place bee not annexed to that Government, it will bee impossible to make any thing considerable of his Ma'tys Customs and Revenues in Long-Island ; they carry away with't entering all our Oyles, which is the greatest part of what wee have to make returns of from this Place."
These loud petitions of the people procured temporary relief. The General Assembly of the Representatives met in 1683, 1684, and 1685, when the Assembly was discontin- ued by the despotic mandate of Gov'r Dongan.
In the year 1686 the present Town Patent was granted by Gov'r Dongan, confirming that of Gov'r Nicolls, and giving authority to the Trustees of the Town to purchase the yet unpurchased part of Montauk, which was effected of the In- dians, and a conveyance given by them, dated July 25th, 1687. This conveyance covers all the land east of Fort-Pond, ex- tending to the Point. Thus, by various purchases, the Indian title to the lands was extinguished, and a final conveyance was taken from them in 1702-3, when a lease, not transferable, was executed to them, vesting in them the limited enjoyments of a certain part of their ancient inheritance, on which the few remaining families of the tribe now reside.
29
The subsequent history of the town cannot be more clear- ly exhibited than by reference to the life of the celebrated Samuel Mulford.
Samuel Mulford was the eldest son of John Mulford-was born in 1645 ; and for a period of twenty years, from 1700 to 1720, represented this County in the Provincial Assembly. From his father he inherited the strong, reflecting mind; the stern principles and unyielding determination of the early Puritans. He was attached to the Government of Connec- ticut, and remonstrated against the annexation of the town to New York. That Colony was then in the hands of the High-Church Episcopalians, and upon them alone the pat- ronage of Government bestowed its offices and honors. He watched the abuses of Government with a jealous eye, and no combatant ever maintained his post more unflinchingly than he.
In the year 1716, the Assembly, subservient to the wishes of Gov'r Hunter, ordered a speech of Mulford's to be put into the hands of the Speaker. Mulford boldly published his speech and circulated it. It denounced the corruption and governmental misrule of the finances-the usurpations in collecting the revenue, and its disbursement. The Governor commenced an oppressive and harrassing lawsuit against him in the Supreme court, whose judges he himself had appointed. Mulford was a farmer and not possessed of a large property. He had gained his estate and support by his daily toil ; and the House, in sympathy for him, on the 21st August, with their Speaker, attended the Governor, and presented to him a resolve which they had passed, soliciting the discharge of Mulford from the suit. The suit was suspended, and Mul- ford was permitted to return home. On his return here he resolved to petition the King in person, for redress.
Among other grievances the towns of East Hampton and
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. Southampton complained bitterly of a duty of one-tenth on whale oil, exacted from them by the Governors of the Colo- ny. Whaling was to them an important interest, and Mul- ford desired to procure a bounty for its encouragement.
He concealed his departure lest he should be arrested by the Governor-landed at Newport-walked to Boston, and embarked for the Court of St. James. He presented his memorial, which, it is said, attracted much attention, and was read by him to the House of Commons. The tax on oil was " ordered to be discontinued," and Mulford returned home, trtumphant, at the age of 71 years .*
Picture to yourself the homely apparel ; the simple man- ners ; the stern bearing ; the lofty, unquailing appearance of that self taught, high minded man, and you have a noble exhibition of what our ancestors were.
Capt'n Mulford returned, took his seat in the House of Representatives, and again the old question of his speech was called up. Perhaps the Governor was stung by the suc- cess of Mulford, and his bold exposition in England, of his cupidity and injustice. The war was renewed with fiercer feeling than before. The compliant House called upon him to give the reasons for printing his speech. He gave them, and withdrew,-a motion having been made and carried to that effect. Mulford had the honour of being expelled from the House. A new election was held to supply the vacancy, and the people, true to themselves, notwithstanding all the influence of power, patronage, and wealth, again elected Mulford as their representative,-an act worthy of them- selves and the champion of their cause. They were not to be bought, deceived, or terrified.
*Songs and rejoicings took place among the whalemen of Suffolk County upon his arrival, on account of his having succeeded in getting the King's share given up .- MSS. of J. Lyon Gardiner, dec'd.
31
In the autumn of 1717 he again took his seat in the House; and again, alone waged the unequal contest in defence of the people. What was there in pride, pomp, power, pretension or station, that should deter him from exposing fraud or corruption wherever he found it?
In 1720 Governor Burnet succeeded Gov'r Hunter. And the bold denunciations of Capt'n Mulford, again drew down upon him the censure of the officers of Government. On the 26th October, 1720 having refused to act with the old As- sembly, then in session, upon the ground that a new one should have been chosen, and that the acting Assembly was unconstitutional, he was again expelled from the House.
Thus, 50 years before the time of Wilkes, Capt'n Mulford ran the same career in America, with purer motives, and had been as nobly sustained by his constituents.
Thus ended Capt'n Mulford's public life. His great age deterred him from farther services. He died August 21st, 1725, aged almost 81 years.
The very grievances which Mulford complained of were afterwards redressed by the King, and the people finally tri- umphed. Why sleeps his memory, unrecorded on the his- torians' page ?
In the war ending in the conquest of Canada, in 1760 Cap- tains Elias Hand and Jonathan Baker of this town were en- gaged, commanding companies raised by them in their vicini- ty. They were both at the attack of Ticonderoga, by Gen- eral Abercrombie ; and were present, under General Amherst, at the capture of Crown Point. At the close of the war they returned to their homes.
At the very commencement of difficulty between Great Britain and these. United States, this town sent her pledge to abide by the cause and interests of their countrymen. The Boston Port Bill was passed in March 1774, interdict-
32
ing all commerce with that part. With reference to that we find the following proceeding :
" At a meeting of the Inhabitants of East-Hampton, legally warned by the Trustees, June 17, '74 ; Eleazar Miller, Esq., Moderator.
1st. Voted, That we will, to the utmost of our abilities, assert, and in a lawful manner,, defend the liberties and im- munities of British America. That we will co-operate with our Brethren in this Colony in such measures as shall appear best adapted to save us from the burdens we fear, and in a measure already feel, from the principles adopted by the British Parliament, respecting the Town of Boston in Par- ticular, and the British Colonies in North America in Gen- eral.
2nd. Voted, That a non-importation agreement through the Colonies is the most likely means to save us from the present and future troubles.
3d. Voted, That John Chatfield, Esq., Col. Abm. Gardi- ner, Burnett Miller, Stephen Hedges, Tho's Wickham, Esq., John Gardiner, Esq., and David Mulford be a Standing Com- mittee for keeping up a correspondence with the City of N. Y., and the Towns of this Colony, and if there is occasion, with other Colonies ; and that they transmit a copy of these votes to the committee of Correspondence for the City of N. Y.
Voted, Unanimously, not one dissenting voice.
BURNET MILLER, Town Clerk."
Some of the first and haviest blows struck in the war of our Independence, fell upon this town.
"Whilst the British were at Boston their vessels occas- ionally carried off stock from Suffolk County."
The Journals of the Provincial Congress contain the fol- lowing :
" July 5th, '75 .- The people of E. and S. Hampton pray Congress that Capt'n Hulbert's company, now raising for Schuyler's army, may remain to guard the Stock on the com- mon Lands of Montauk, (2,000 cattle and 3 or 4,000 sheep,) from the ravages of the enemy."-" Jour. 75."
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" July 31st, '75 .- Congress allow Griffin and Hulbert's companies to remain to guard Stock."-" Jour: 95." .
It appears from the Journal and correspondence of Capt'n Hulbert, that his Company was stationed at Shagwonnuck ; that they were supplied with arms, ammunition, and pro- visions, by the people of the town, through Burnet Miller and Stephen Hedges, their committee. And that on the 7th, September, '75, the company marched off of Montauk, and Hulbert and his men were supplied with guns and am- munition ; and were afterwards stationed at Fort Constitu- tion.
"In consideration of the defenceless state of E. part of Suffolk Oo., the 3 companies raised for Continental service were continued there."-Ap. 3, " '76."
The return of Col. Smith's Regiment, May 30, '76, shows Ezekiel Mulford, Captain of a Company of 40 privates, "complete in arms." Another account is as follows :
"12th Comp., Capt. Ezekiel Mulford ; Ist Lt., Sayre ; 2d Lt., Nath'l Hand ; Serg'ts, M. Mulford, Pierson, Domini ; Corp's, Henry Sherrel, Benj. Crook, Ludlam Parsons."
As early as the Spring of 1776, an invasion of the Brit- ish forces upon New-York City had been anticipated. The fate of Long Island was readily seen to be linked with that of the City. Remote, exposed, defenceless, save by their own strong arms, but few volunteers could have been ex- pected from this neighborhood. Yet East-Hampton had her full proportion of minute men in the field.
The battle of Long Island was fought August 27, 1776, and its whole extent came under the control of the British forces. Those forces, in part, made the east end of the Island their winter quarters, and levied supplies upon the country. There are now, even a few venerable, living vet- erans, who remember the sufferings, the scenes of robbery, and violence which were perpetrated by the enemy, and en-
34
dured by the inhabitants,-remember how the pulse beat high and joyful at the news of Burgoyne's defeat,-remem- ber the lively, heartfelt sympathy with their brethren in the field.
It was not until the 25th of November, 1783, that the British troops evacuated New-York City. During all this seven years the Island groaned under the oppressive occu- pation of their soil by the hostile Invader.
Their circumstances exposed them, however, to sufferings and outrages from both parties. Their forced submission to the Royal Army, (their misfortune, not their fault,) caused them to be viewed with suspicion by their brethren upon the continent ; and often invited parties of plunder from that quarter. Multitudes fled for shelter and protection, to the shores of Connecticut.
I find this memorandum, in 1776 :
" Sep. 15 .- Wharves at Sag-Harbor crowded with emi- grants."
" Dr. Buell writes from E Hampton, Sept'r 22, '76, that the People are as a torch on fire at both ends, which will speedily be consumed, for the Cont. Whigs carry off their stock and produce, and the British punish them for allow- ing it to go,-hopes the Whigs will not oppress the oppressed, but let the stock alone."
The history of that seven years' suffering will never be told. Philosophy has no adequate remedy for silent, un- known, unpitied suffering. Man may brave every danger and endure every evil, perhaps, if human sympathy be min- istered to him in life, and human immortality and applause crown his tomb. But the display of passive virtues is a sublimer field-a spiritual elevation above our sphere. It rises into being only when upheld by the Divinity ; and His aid withdrawn, we fall.
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Throughout this period, it is not known that a single Tory lived in the bounds of the town. 1136479
Left to the tender mercies of the foe ; plundered by coun- try-man and stranger, of their property and ripened harvest ; robbed of the stores which they had reaped and garnered ; slandered by suspicious brethren ; taunted and scoffed at by the mercenary victors, they never wavered. Their hearts were in their country's cause ; and in the memorable lan- guage of their great compatriot, " Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish," they were true to their country, unter- rified, unalterable, devoted Americans.
The events of that memorable struggle are fast becoming matters of tradition only But tradition has still her unre- corded events. We might instance many a feat of personal prowess. We might tell how, often and again our fathers, pressed, insulted, attacked by the presumptuous foe, felt their blood boil within them, and enduring until human na - ture could endure no more, turned with club or pitchfork upon the sword of the invader, and drove him from their sight.
In their difficulties Dr. Buell, their minister, did not aban- don them. His talents, ingenuity, wit and mingled prudence and firmness, often averted threatened perils, and rendered important service to his people.
Tradition has however handed down no name more illus- trious than that of Capt. John Dayton, a lineal descendant of Ralph, the first settler of that name.
Capt. Dayton was one of nature's uneducated heroes ; reckless, daring, shrewd, sanguine, he often succeeded when others dared not hope. His lonely dwelling, two miles west from the centre of the town, was an inviting location for the miscreant and coward to attack or plunder. His house was several times beset. It was once attacked in the night by
36
the enemy, and while he was in the act of lighting a candle, a musket was discharged at him. This was no time for hes- itation ; the ball missed him and passed in the beam of his weaver's loom. Putting his little son, (Josiah,) out of the back door, in the midst of a deep snow, and directing him to flee for shelter and safety, he snatched that long, famous, deadly carabine of his from its resting place, sallied out of the house, returned the enemy's fire, and withdrew in the house. He immediately began to call all imaginary names, as if he had a regiment of assistance sleeping in his cham- ber-loudly daring the British, meanwhile, to come on. The shot or the deception, or perhaps both, were success- ful. The enemy retired and left the marks of blood behind them.
The next day the Captain, while in the yard was visited by the officer of the regiment. The officer leaped his horse astride him-brandished his cutlass-loaded the Captain with abuse, and threatened to slay him for killing one of his men. To use the Captain's own language, as in after years he related it, " His blood boiled within him, and his hair stood on end." Discovering a pitchfork near, he sprang for it, faced his adversary, brandished his rustic weapon, and ordered him to " be off." It needed no second command. The horse bounded with his rider over the pickets, and left the hero master of the field.
We cannot forbear relating one other incident equally characteristic. During the revolution a British fleet anch- ored off Montauk. It was supposed by the inhabitants that they were about to land there and seize the hordes of cattle and sheep which then as now were there depastured and fatted.
The Captain thought he could prevent their landing, and save the cattle. He offered to lead forty of his neighbors,
37
if so many would go, and save their flocks. Forty volun- teered to accompany the Captain, and they marched on to Montauk. He selected a hill, marched over it at the head of his company-descended into a hollow, where he was out of sight from the fleet. Shifting the position of his men, and each exchanging his coat, he again led them back, through a hollow, unobserved by the fleet, to the starting place and over the hill ; and thus the company continued their march over and around the hill. The manouvre was calculated to produce the impression upon the fleet that a large army were marching and encamping in the vale below. Whether this stratagem was the cause or not, the result was that the British did not land and the flocks were saved.
The bold artifice reflects equal credit upon the warrior's courage and fertile brain.
This venerable chieftain and mighty hunter died in 1825, aged 98 years.
The war of the Revolution left our town like the rest of the country, worse in morals ; wasted in property ; burdened with national debts, and groaning under taxes. Agriculture had declined ; commerce had been ruined ; estates swept away ; and when the first thrilling, triumphant transports of a free, victorious people were over, they wept at the sur- rounding desolation.
But the spirit that had stood the test of war and conquest was not the spirit to fail in the arts of peace. By degrees prosperity returned ; commerce and agriculture flourished; education revived, and within a year after the British troops evacuated New-York, Clinton Academy was erected. It was incorporated by the authorities, and received under the pat- ronage of the Government, being the first chartered Acade- my in the State.
We feel that we are tresspassing upon your time and pa-
38
tience ; that however pleasing it might have been to contin- uc them, we must now break off these reminiscences of the past. Even in the relation of our early history, we have been compelled to omit much that is interesting, much that is essential to a thorough knowledge of the character of our ancestors.
We could not describe, even briefly, the Maidstone they left, and the river Medway, upon the grassy banks of which they had sported. We had intended to relate more minute- ly the origin and nature of the early controversies of the Puritans in their own native country. We had designed to vindicate their laws from the slanders of many a prejudiced historian and writer-to have shown more fully with what wisdom they laid the foundations of a free and equitable jurisprudence. How many of us think you, unskilled in the practice and unstudied in the law, would in our day frame a better or wiser code than they ? We had intended to have shown how, (imperfect as they were,) they stood upon an intellectual eminence head and shoulders above the rest of the world in the knowledge of the principles of a free gov- ernment.
The question is not whether their laws and simple ma- chinery of government is applicable to us. Was it a wisc system for them ? We doubt whether up to their day in this world's history any community had ever enacted laws more appropriate or established a government better suited to their wants, wishes and welfare, than were theirs to them. We doubt whether any courts ever worked better or dis- pensed more impartial justice, or rendered more suitable redress than theirs.
We have heard of " illiberality," of " canting hypocrisy," of " narrow-minded bigotry," of " blue laws," and "Salem witchcraft," and a thousand other flings and sneers at the
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