USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southold > Griffin's journal : first settlers of Southold, the names of the heads of those families, being only thirteen at the time of their landing; first proprietors of Orient, biographical sketches > Part 12
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Women doctors are coming to be institutions among us. This is perfectly natural ; the proprieties dictate the need of their practice among their own sex, and even the "regulars " are beginning to extend them the right hand of fellowship, and to welcome them to the ranks of the profession. They are, in fact, but reviving an old custom, dating as far back as the days of Moses.
It is but nine years since the first female medical student graduated-of course, the fact was then a nine days' wonder-but students and colleges have since been multiplying with inconceivable rapidity. Boston and Philadelphia have Female Medical Colleges, aided by government, and the colleges of Syracuse, Cleve- land and Cincinnati have opened their doors to women.
We have a mortal horror of quacks and quackery, and are glad to see that the leaders of this movement have availed themselves of every educational advan- tage within their reach. If women are to become phy- sicians, it is good policy to give them every facility for becoming capable and skilled ones. Open the hospitals to them-the cliniques will be none the less decently managed for their presence. The need of educated women is keenly felt among their own sex. Men will suffer nothing by the new order of things, except it be
* This excellent woman died on Sabbath eve, January 23, 1853, aged 89 years and 6 days ; was born January 17, 1764, and had been a widow 26 years.
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the doctors, and their miseries the public can bear with fortitude.
George Champlin came to my house in July, 1824, at that date in his twenty-first year. He stopped with us about three years. In all that time he conducted himself with great propriety and civility. His society was to us always pleasant. This excellent man died on the 16th May, 1849, after a very protracted illness.
In April, 1830, Mr. Champlin married Cynthia, the daughter of the late Captain Jeremiah and Mrs. Lydia Youngs, of Orient.
On the 25th August, 1853, a company of men, wo- men and children, from Sag Harbor, were landed at the wharf in Orient, at 8 A. M., and repaired to Taber's Grove, where they partook of a collation, which was got up in good style. The company numbered, I should suppose, not far from three hundred-from those of a year old to near seventy. They came in the steamboat Agawam. It is thought there were altogether in the grove five hundred or more, a part of them our Orient folks. Those from Sag Harbor left us about 6 o'clock, P. M., in good spirits.
John Nicolas Genin was born in the Province of Lo- rain, in France, in the year 1756. He came to Ame- rica while we were struggling for independence. Ac- quebogue was the place of his permanent location. Sometime after his arrival and settlement at that place, he married a daughter of Mr. John Fournier, Sr., who himself was a Frenchman, and from that country some years before. By Miss Fournier, Mr. G. had one child,
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a son, who was John Genin, Jr., born in 1787. He lived to see his thirty-fourth year; was sometime a grocery merchant in New York; a man of integrity, and generous to a fault. His death took place in New York, in 1820. By his wife, who was the daughter of Israel Conklin, and grand-daughter of Nathaniel Domi- ni, Sr., he had two sons, viz :- John N., born 1813, and Erastus, born 1815. These two grandsons of the first John N. are now doing a business in the hat line, and have a Bazaar in Broadway, New York, in a style and consequence equal, if not superior, to any estab- ment in that city.
John Nicolas Genin, Sr., after losing his wife, mar- ried a Miss Hedges, by whom he had a son, Thomas Hedges. This son is now a lawyer at the town of St. Clairsville, in the State of Ohio; a man highly tal- ented and greatly respected.
Mr. Genin, the elder, very soon after his settlement at Acquebogue, became known through the town as an industrious and worthy man, possessing and acting with the strictest integrity. For many years he was a ven- der of indigo through the county. Was a good scholar, but was much more easy in the French than the Eng- lish language. He died at Acquebogue, in May, 1810, in his fifty-fifth year.
John Calvin Wells, now a merchant in Greenport, is the eldest son of Captain Benjamin Wells, of Southold, who was the son of John C. Wells, who died in 1810, who was the son of Abner Wells, who was the son of Henry Wells, who was the son of Joshua Wells, who was the son of William Wells, who landed at Southold,
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making one of the thirteen families which first came to this town. This last named William Wells was a man of education, a counsellor, and a judicious and valuable member of that early society, principally composed of uncivilized natives. Some of the books, papers, and other interesting relics of those early days in our his- tory are now in the keeping of his namesake and des- cendant of the sixth generation, William H. Wells, a merchant in Southold village.
Woman has, in every age of the world, evinced pa- triotic zeal in national conflicts for the liberties and hap- piness of her country and family.
Many and glowing instances are recorded of their fearless and daring intrepidity. At certain times, it would seem their courage bordered on rashness. In our own favored and happy country, when struggling for its independence, the personal bravery and heroism of many of the wives and daughters of our Revolutionary fathers astonished, and often dismayed, their heartless invaders.
From 1776 to 1683, Long Island was solely under British rule. In the year 1778, foreign mercenaries were quartered in and around Southold. Generally, their movements and address were unpleasant and for- bidding, especially when entering a house for favors.
It was on a summer's day in the year last mentioned, that a small party of light horse hastily rode up to the house of Major John Corwin, of Mattituck, and the officer, in a rough voice, demanded of Mrs. Corwin, (her husband being absent) some grain for their horses, 16*
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and, to enforce this order and show the consequence of his authority, he, with a commanding air, observed :- " Madam, your situation warns you to an immediate attention to my request. To abuse my authority, is to rush to destruction." Mrs. Corwin was unmoved, no- wise daunted, and coolly replied that she had no food for him nor his horses. "Well," said he, with a harsh oath, " here is a fine piece of wheat across the road ; it will answer for our horses, and we'll have it." With that, he made for the bars which opened into this field of grain. At this move, she, with a spirit almost superhuman, commanded him instantly to desist, at his peril ; " for," said she, "although I am alone and un- protected, and in your power, I am a stranger to fear, and defy your threats. The first horse that enters that wheat field I will shoot instantly dead." With this daring resolution, and, suiting the action to the word, she seized her husband's old King's arm, which stood loaded behind the door, and took her station to consum- mate her purpose.
The wheat field was not touched. They left, mutter- ing curses and praises on the women. Mrs. Corwin, previous to her marriage, was a Miss Mapes. She died on Christmas day, in 1850, in her ninety-first year.
Amon Taber Griffin was the fourth son of Peter Grif- fin, noticed before. He (A. T. G.) married a widow lady in New York, about the year 1806, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. The sons-George and Amon-after living to the state of manhood, died, one of them leaving a wife and only son. The two
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daughters are yet living; the oldest, Maria, is now the wife of William Conselyea, Esq., near Williamsburgh. In June, 1850, I visited this amiable and fine cousin, with her noble-hearted husband. Was treated with great kindness. Their children are Joseph, George, Ellen, John Henry, Anna Maria, and William Griffin.
July 10, 1845, in company with a Mr. Parshel, a gen- tleman from New York, I visited, what is now called, the Old Burying Ground, in this place. It is situated in a deep hollow, within a short distance of the shore of Long Island Sound. The hills are known as Brown's Hills. It is now fifty years since the inhabitants of this place have used it for a burying place. A visit to this solemn spot shows the heartless neglect and inattention of the present generation, respecting even common de- cency towards the ashes of their honored Christian fa- thers and mothers.
The gravestones are many of them broken and mu- tilated by time, or beasts, or man. The mounds cover- ing the dust of the precious wife, husband, brother, sister, or friend, are torn and pawed about, and, in some instances, nearly effaced. Is it possible that a people, professing civilization and Christianity, can calmly sit and see the affecting desecration of the selected resting place of the first proprietors of their now wealthy and peaceful abodes. The means are assuredly abun- dant, but the heart is wanting. The Father of the Faithful, whom Scripture informs us was called the Friend of God, held the tombs of his deceased as holy ground. A generation or two more walking in the sel-
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fish steps of the present one, will render this interest- ing depository of the dust of those progenitors as diffi- cult to be pointed out to the traveler as is now the sites of Babylon or Ninevah.
While viewing the gravestones in this secluded spot, I copied the following from some of the stones which Time has marked with his destroying hand, and moss has overgrown. Yet, as the pious Dr. Watts observed of the monument of a famous Roman general-
" Yet, e'er I pass'd, with much ado, I guess'd and spelt out Scipio."
"Walter Youngs, son of Gideon Youngs, died in 1714, aged four years." I think this must have been a son of the second Gideon Youngs.
"Rhoda, daughter of Gideon Youngs. She died in 1765, aged fifty-seven."
"Dorothy, daughter of Jonathan and Dorothy Youngs ; died 1719, aged twenty-two years."
Jonathan Youngs' wife, Dorothy, died 1753, aged sixty-eight. This Jonathan Youngs was the son of Gid- eon Youngs, who was grandson of John Youngs, the first preacher at Southold, before noticed.
Christopher Tuthill, the father of Christopher, Jere- miah, David, Matthew, Nathaniel and Abraham-and daughters, viz : Phœbe, Esther, Dorothy, Rhoda, Me- hitable and Matsey, died in November, 1798, in his seventy-third year.
Henry Booth died 1710, aged five years ; George Booth died 1713, aged seventeen years ; Samuel King died 1721, aged eighty-nine years ; Thomas Terry, son of Jonathan and Lydia Terry, died 1753, aged fourteen years; Patience, his sister, died 1754, aged three years.
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On the stone of Bathsheba, the wife of William King, is the following lines, by her husband :-
" Beneath this little stone, here lies The wife of William King ; And though she's dead to mortal eyes, She will revive again !
" Lived four and fifty years a wife- Died in her seventy-seven -- Has now laid down this mortal life, In hopes to live in Heaven !"
She died 7th May, 1764.
On the stone of Samuel Beebe's wife, who died June 10, 1716 :-
" Here lieth Elizabeth, once Samuel Beebe's wife, Who once was made a living soul, But now deprived of life. Yet firmly did believe that at her Lord's return, She should be made a living soul,
In his own shape and form !
" Lived four and thirty years a wife- Died, aged seventy-seven- Has now laid down this mortal life, In hopes to live in Heaven !"
Here lieth interred the body of Colonel JOHN YOVNGS, Esqvire, late one of His Maiesties Covncel of the Province of New York, who Departed this life the 12 day of April, Anno Domini 1698, Aged 75 years.
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""Here lies ye body of William Wells, of Southold, gent. Justice of ye peace, and first Sheriffe of New York shire, upon Long Island, Who de- parted this life Nov. 13, 1671, aged 63.
"yea, Here he lies Who Speaketh yet, though dead- On wings of faith, his sovl to Heaven is fled ; His Piovs Deeds And charity Was Svch That of his Praise, no pen can Write too much ; As Was his life, So Was his blest death-
Hee died in love, and Swetly dyd in peace."
" Mr. John Yongs, Minister of the Word and first setled of the Church of Christ in Sovth hold, on Long Island, Deceased the 24 of Febrvary, in the Yeare of ovr Lord 1672, and of his age 74.
" Here lies the man whose doctrine life, well knowen, Did shew he sovght Christ's honovr, not his owen ; In weaknes sown, in power raisd shall be By Christ, from Death to Life Eternally."
Jonathan Tuthill died in 1741, aged fifty years. Henry Tuthill died in 1715, aged twenty-four years.
Jeremiah Youngs died April 2, 1821, aged fifty-four years. Jeremiah, when a boy, was the favorite nephew of William and Samuel Youngs, two respectable men of Oysterponds, who were never married. The first died in 1774, leaving his estate to his brother Samuel, who died in 1776. He devised the property entire to this nephew Jeremiah-about one hundred acres of land, with the buildings and appurtenances. At this time, Jeremiah was about nine years of age.
At the age of twenty-three, he married Lydia, the third daughter of Stephen and Ruth Vail, of Rocky Point. By this marriage, he had three daughters and seven sons. At this time, they are all living; the
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youngest, Benjamin, is near fifty years of age. Having held a commission as captain of militia, he, for many years was called, and by the present generation is only known as Captain Youngs.
In the summer of 1814, Commodore Decatur, with three ships, lay at anchor in Long Island Sound, oppo- site Truman's Beach, near Brown's Hills. The ships were United States, Macedonian and Hornet.
Cup ain Yo ings had pro:nisel hinself, should an op- portunity ever offer, to present Decatur with a fat sheep for his valiant and successful capture of the noble fri- gate Macedonian. In the morning, soon after the ships were discovered, he selected a likely ewe from his flock, manned a boat, and proceeded on board the flag ship of the squadron. He was received by Decatur with great kindness and freedom. Captains Jones and Biddle were present. Was cordially thanked for his grateful expression of respect. Capt. Youngs, in relating the facts of this visit, stated that Decatur seemed sensibly affected, and he felt the most perfect satisfaction that his present was duly appreciated. At parting, he took Capt. Youngs by the hand, and with a warm pressure, observed: "I am sensible of your disinterestedness. This favor impresses me with a desire to meet you an- other day; I believe you are a true lover of your coun- try." This was the first and last meeting of these in- dividuals ; one justly celebrated for his daring and suc- cessful achievements in his country's cause, the other a humble citizen in our obscure village, but possessing the untainted heart of a true American.
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Anna Brewster was born at Blooming Grove, Orange County, New York, in 1769, and died in 1844, aged seventy-five years. She was noted for her good sense, refined manners, and prepossessing address, though hardly three feet in height. Washington was pleased to seek her acquaintance.
On the 5th of November, 1828, Captain Franklin was married to his second wife, Lady Jane Franklin. She was the second daughter of John Griffin, Esq., of Bedford-place, London. In April, 1829, Mr. Franklin received the honors of knighthood, in consequence of which he is called Sir John Franklin.
The portrait of my dear wife was taken when she was forty-one years of age, by Abraham G. D. Tuthill, who was a pupil some time of the celebrated Benjamin West, in Europe. The likeness was pronounced a good one. In form and person, she was of near the middle size, rather slender and delicate, penetrating black eyes, regular features, and an affable, mild deportment, and without guile.
I see thee still !
This was our room-our dear retreat- This was our favorite fireside seat ; Here, in this chair, you sat each day, While I sat watching thy decay : Here, on this bed, thou last did'st lie- And on this pillow thou did'st die. Dark hour ! once more its woes unfold, As when I saw thee pale and cold ! I see thee still !
Jonathan Goldsmith Horton, now of Southold, is the
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son of the late Captain Jonathan Horton, who was the son of Lazarus Horton, who was the son of Jonathan Horton, who was the son of Jonathan Horton, who was the son of Barnabas Horton, who was one of the memo- rable thirteen families before mentioned.
Barnabas Horton was forty years of age at the time of his landing, and lived to see his eighty-first year. He died in 1680. His descendants are numerous in this town and county. Indeed, there are many of them to be found in several other counties of the State.
The day succeeding that on which the British burnt New London, in September, 1781, and massacred the garrison at Fort Griswold, at Groton, they passed over the sound to Long Island, and landed, many of them, at Oysterpond point, traveled up the road, about two miles, to this village. Their actions and disorderly conduct carried terror to the inhabitants. Mr. Jere- miah Vail, who had just heard of their merciless cruel- ties at New London and Groton, with emotions of no common excitement viewed them coming up the road. His wife-called Betsey, but named Elizabeth-dis- played great self-possession and fortitude. She saw them approaching the house, without order or discipline, and very furious. Mr. Vail kept a house of entertain- ment, but at this time had no liquors except two hogs- heads of good cider. The thought of this cider flashed across her mind, and the consequences that would fol- low should they find it. She went forthwith, alone, to the cellar, knocked out the bungs of the hogsheads con-
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taining the liquor, and, by an almost superhuman effort, turned them in a position so that their contents were soon all flooding the ground floor. She then ascended the stairs in time to meet the unwelcome countenances and forbidding expressions of this ruthless gang, who entered the house more like demons than civilized beings. Their looks she described as awful-having not slept probably within the last forty-eight hours, and besmeared visibly with the blood of her murdered coun- trymen at Groton. They flourished their swords, and uttered oaths of vengeance on American rebels ; seized and bound Mr. Vail, and confined him in the garret. They searched every room, pantry, and closet, in search of, as they said, "something to drink." Finding noth- ing, the cellar was next resorted to. They there soon discovered they had been successfully foiled in their wicked purpose. The ground had drank the liquor, and was still sober. Like mad men, they ascended to the room of Mrs. Vail, and demanded her reasons for de- priving them of refreshments. She very deliberately replied : " You are the enemies of my country ; I have nothing for you ; you have no business here ; threats nor oaths don't alarm me. If I have done wrong, I am re- sponsible to my husband, not to you. You will not eat or drink in this house, if I can prevent it." She ex- pected violence; but they left the house very soon after, muttering curses for her devotion and fortitude. Mrs. Vail was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Glover, of Oysterponds. Mr. Glover, we suppose, was the grand- son of Samuel Glover, Sen., who was living with his wife, Sarah, in 1698.
Jeremiah Vail, the husband, was the fourth in suc-
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cession of his family. He died January 8th, 1798. Jeremiah Vail, Sen., and Anna, his wife, were living, advanced in life, in 1698. They had sons, one of which, Jeremiah, second, with his wife, Mary, were living at that time. He, the second Jeremiah, must have been grandfather to Mrs. Betsey Vail's husband.
Mrs. Betsey Vail died, the widow Vail, in 1818, or near that time, more than eighty years of age. Her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Glover, died in 1803, in her ninety-fourth year.
The first of the family of the name of Reeve came to America from Wales, (Europe,) not far from 1660, and settled at Mattituck. Tradition says there were two brothers; their names Thomas and James. We believe James to be the progenitor and ancestor of the family of that name in Mattituck, Acquebogue, and Jamaica, in Queens County, and the connections of these families in New York City and Orange County. The Hon. James Reeve, whose monument in the cemetery at Mattituck says he died in 1739, aged sixty years. He was son, or grandson to the James who was one of the brothers above mentioned. The first son of the Hon. James Reeve was known as Deacon James Reeve. He died April 27th, 1781, aged seventy-two years. Deacon James Reeve had five sons, whose names were-1st, James ; 2d, Selah; 3d, Isaac; 4th, Nathaniel ; 5th, Ebenezer.
James, the first son of Deacon Reeve, graduated at Yale College and became a preacher, which profession he followed but a few years, when he took possession of his father's farm, and took the office of a Magistrate.
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He was a useful man. He died June 8th, 1787, aged fifty six years. His wife was Anna Wines. She died February 3d, 1800, aged sixty-four.
The Deacon's second son, Selah, who subsequently became. a deacon, settled about three miles north of Newburgh, Orange county, where he died February 21st, 1796, in his fifty-fifth year, leaving a widow and a large family of children. Selah, one of these children, died at Newburgh, April 11th, 1837, leaving children- Christopher, Charles F. V., George, Nathan, Selah, Julia Ann, Eliza, Jane, and Harriet M. Charles F. V. graduated at West Point, and resides at Newburgh. She, the widow, died January 21st, 1829, aged eighty- four years.
The third son, Isaac, was a major of militia, and much respected in his day.
His only son, Isaac Tuthill Reeve, Esq., was a sheriff of this county in 1801, and afterwards an assistant judge of the court in Queens County. He died June 15th, 1811, aged forty-nine years. His wife was Joanna, the daughter of Judge Daniel Wells, of Riverhead, L. I.
Major Isaac Reeve died October 5th, 1814, in his seventy-ninth year.
Deacon Reeve's fourth son was Nathaniel, who died in youth.
The Deacon's fifth son, Ebenezer, settled first in Con- necticut. After some years residence in that State, he removed to the State of Ohio.
James-the minister, farmer, and magistrate-had six sons and one daughter. The first son, James, became a valuable member in the church at Mattituck; was some years a magistrate, and once or twice a Repre-
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sentative in the Assembly of this State. He died March 4th, 1830, aged seventy-three years. His son James, now sixty-nine years of age, is the 5th James, in succession, who have owned and possessed the homestead farm.
Major Isaac Reeve, Deacon James Reeve's third son, was twice married. His first wife was Phebe, the daughter of Henry and Phebe Tuthill. They, Henry and Phebe, had but two children-daughters-Phebe and Anna. Phebe, as noticed, was married to Major Isaac Reeve, and Anna became the wife of Honorable John Cleeves Symes, of the State of Ohio. She, Anna, was the mother of Mrs. President Harrison, as noticed. The Major, by his wife Phebe, had but one child-Isaac Tuthill Reeve, as before no- ticed. This Isaac Tuthill Reeve had seven children, four only of whom are now living, viz. : Samuel, Lau- rens, John Flavel, and James Henry. Laurens and James reside in Jamaica, Queens County.
Rev. Daniel Youngs, of Upper Acquebogue, was born at that place about the year 1747, and died October, 1814.
In the year 1775, or 1776, at the age of twenty-eight, he became strongly impressed that it was his duty to preach the Gospel. With some severe struggles as to being competent to such an important trust, with his limited knowledge as to education, he heeded the in- ward spiritual monitor, and preached his first sermon in the year 1776. In the year 1781, or 1782, he was called to take charge of the church in Upper Acque- 17*
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bogue, over which the Rev. Timothy Wells had presided from 1759 to 1780, when he died, aged 80 years.
Mr. Youngs was, for the first twenty years of his preaching, a powerful, pleasing, and convincing speaker -was a noble-looking man-wore a handsome wig- dignified, solemn, yet pleasing in his manners. At the time of his death, it appears he had presided over his charge about thirty-three years, in all of which time there were constant additions to the church. A more deserving and a more beloved pastor never was known in any parts of this region.
At his death he left a widow and several children. His eldest son, Daniel, was a man much and justly re- spected, as a valuable member of the community-a worthy deacon of the church. I believe he, for one term, was a Representative in the Assembly of our State, and at one time a colonel of the militia.
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