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 2
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It appears that the Youngs purchase here contained more land than all the other five who came with them. Their farm was bounded on the west by the lands of John King, commencing about where there is new a substantial wharf at the landing, (Orient Harbor,) then running in a northerly line with the road to the main highway, then in the same course to the Sound, then easterly to the east line of what is called the manor
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and parsonage land, then turning a southerly course to the bay, called Long Beach Bay, which empties into said harbor, at what is now known as Peters Neck, from which it keeps the shore of said harbor, which is a northwesterly course to the wharf first mentioned. Said tract of land contained at least four hundred acres. Peters Neck, so called, took its name from the Chris- tian name of its owner, many years ago, one Peter Bradley. It is pleasantly wooded with cedar, and by some now known as cedar grove.
The place on this farm which Mr. Youngs selected for his future abiding place, and placed his house, out- houses, barns and yards, was cast from the wharf about one-fourth of a mile-within twenty-five or thirty rods from the shore, adjoining those beautiful low banks, which, for the last hundred years, in this village, are known as "Gideon's Banks." Here he made his resi- dence and settled himself down for the remaining days of his life. His first house was built near the time of those of Tuthill, King and Brown ; it was very similar in its appearance. After standing more than one hun- dred and twenty-five years, its old fashioned huge beams were tumbled to the ground. Its last occupant was Walter Youngs, who was a grandson of said Gideon Youngs. Walter was a bachelor of the old school. In his younger days he was said to be a man of good ad- dress, fashionable, and of sound sense. At the age of sixty-five to seventy-five, he secluded himself from all society-would go into no house-have no communica- tion with any one farther than to barely purchase the ne- cessaries of life on which he scantily subsisted, as appear- ed from his haggard appearance and worn out, tattered
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garments. He had a sister Abigail who lived with him until her death, which was several years before his. After her demise, his life, from his manner, was more dark, forlorn and forbidding ; the change never was ac- counted for. In the morning and noon of life, hale, florid and prepossessing in manners and address-in his evening of days, alas! what was seen but a wrinkled object of humanity, clothed in rags, and wretched amidst his sufficiency. His father left him a handsome property, the most of which he possessed at the time of his death. He died while alone in his house. There is an old house yet on said farm, near the site of the one spoken of, in which Gideon Youngs, Jr., died, which has stood over one hundred and twenty years.
On the west, as I have observed, the Youngs' tract of land was bounded by lands of John King, whose line fence divided the two farms. On the cast side of this fence, commencing at the main highway, or country road, for about one-fourth of a mile it was all woods, and much of it heavy oak and hickory timber. Through this forest of trees was a path or lane leading from the said main highway to the waterside, where the wharf now is. As there was not any fence east of the path, a gate was erected at the main highway, through which people could pass with their teams and on foot to and from the landing. I heard a venerable and worthy lady who died in her ninety-third year say, that when she was a young girl she often walked down and up this path when the leaves were near ankle deep, having fallen
3
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by the winds and frosts of autumn. As she was born in 1749 her traversing this path must have been about the year 1757 .*
This pathway leading from the main road to the land- ing at the harbor, was owned by Gideon Youngs and his heirs until about the year 1691, at which time it was made a two-pole way, and that width was sold to the town for an open road to the shore, terminating at low water mark, where the wharf now is. The price paid for it was ten shillings. Whether they were Eng- lish shillings or our federal money, I know not. If the first, it would be $2 31, if the latter, $1 25. Soon after this conveyance the fence was made on the east side, two rods from John King's line. The gate at the main street was taken away and it became an open road of thirty-three feet wide to the harbor. This took place more than one hundred and sixty-three years ago, About the year 1848, it was with much difficulty, added to its width four feet on each side. This difficulty was occasioned by two or three men who owned land ad- joining, and who would sacrifice the convenience of a whole district to gratify an avarice as sordid as it was selfish.
The next house east of John King and joining the east line of the Youngs' farm on the main road, was on lands owned by John Tuthill, Jr. His father, John Tuthill, Sr., may have assisted in the purchase, which must have been as early as 1660. This house was built not far from 1670. Its shape, draft, and size was like that of Brown's, King's, and Tuthill's, particularly no- ticed before. Jeremiah Tuthill, great grandson to John
* Mrs. Esther Tabor died in her ninety-third year, in 1841.
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Tuthill, Sr., owned and lived in this house from 1750 to 1796, about which time it was taken down, having stood one hundred and twenty-six years; it then went out of the Tuthill's name. William S. Hobart now owns the place on which is a new house. The next house east of Tuthill's, in construction, size, &c., was similar, and from its resemblance and its antique cast, I should say was not its junior in years. Who was its first owner we never could learn. The land or farm belonging to it was about forty acres. A Mr. John Petty was its proprietor until his death, which took place in about 1775, and when near eighty years of age. This house was taken down in 1798 when about one hundred and thirty years old. About one hundred and fifty rods east of Petty's, in a low spot, or as it was called, a hollow, near the same time was erected another house, in shape and size like Petty's. Its owner and pro- prietor was, we believe, John Tuthill, 3rd., known in those days as Squire John. He gave it to his son John, who was the fourth in succession. This house is yet standing, and must be one hundred and seventy-five years old. Its present owner, is John B. Youngs, a de- scendant in a straight line from Rev. John Youngs, first minister in Southold, in 1640. This John B. Youngs, the present owner, is the respectable son of late John Youngs, who was the son of Judge Thomas Youngs, who was the son of Joshua Youngs, who was the son of Benjamin Youngs, who was the son of Colonel John Youngs, who was the son of Rev. John Youngs, afore- said.
The farm east of and next to John Tuthill's was sup- posed, as early as 1660, to be owned by a Mr. John
ยท
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Herbert. About, or near 1713, or 1715, the north part of it, where the house stands, came into the hands of Thomas Terry, Jr., son to the first Thomas Terry, who came to Southold about 1660, or near that date. This house-in size and form like John Tuthill's, and built about the same period (1666) is yet standing. Its pre- sent proprietor is Mr. Elisha Mulford, whose wife is Fanny Terry, great-great-granddaughter to its first owner, one hundred and ninety years ago.
The next farm adjoining Thomas Terry's, east, was owned, as early as 1666, by Thomas Moore. It was said its first owner from the natives was the John Her- bert before mentioned. It contained one hundred and fifty acres, which now makes the farms of Orange, David and Steward Petty. The first house on this tract has been taken down more than twenty years. Thomas Moore, Sr., died June 25, 1691. His sons, Nathaniel and John, inherited his property and disposed of it to the Pettys and to John Terry, Jr., who married Nathan- iel Moore's daughter. John Terry's house, in every par- ticular like Tuthill's and Thomas Terry's, stood about one hundred and fifty years, when it was taken down and a new one built on its site, by Orange Petty, its present owner. East of the lands which Na- thaniel Moore conveyed to his son-in-law, John Terry, Jr., was a farm owned by John Conkline, Sr., as early as 1660. As he signs his name "Senior," it must have been him who made one of the original thirteen families.
It appears that Mr. Conkline sold this tract of land some time after purchasing it to Jeremiah Vail, Jr., and Samuel Glover. Vail took the west part, where Peter
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W. Tuthill now owns, and has a house built near the site of where the old one stood, which was taken down about thirty years since, having stood since 1747-to wit, seventy years. It stood on the south lot, oppo- site the present house. Glover took the east part, where James Monroe Conkline now owns. His house is on the site of the first one, which has been gone some thirty years, having stood not less than one hundred and fifty years. The last Glover who occupied it was Grover Glover ; he died in 1803. His venerable widowed mother died a short time before him, in her ninety-fourth year. Jeremiah Vail, 3rd, died 1749; Jeremiah Vail, 4th, died 1798. It is said, and we believe it was so, that Col. John Youngs, with his father, Rev. John Youngs, were the first to purchase the lands which are now the farms of the Pettys and John Terry's heirs; John Herbert, perhaps, was with him. Herbert was a mariner, and never settled in this place.
The farm joining Glover's, on the east, was all-or a part of it-owned, not far from 1700, by a Mr. Curtis ; the south part we are assured was. It contained about one hundred acres. Who was its first purchaser from the natives, there is none now that can inform us. The descendants of the Mr. Curtis who once owned all, or part of it, are now living in the neighborhood of Goshen, Orange County, New York. Not far from 1735, Jonathan Terry, grandson to Thomas Terry, Sr., came in possession of said farm; his grandson, David Terry, is now its proprietor. East, and joining Terry's,
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was a Mr. William King, whose house-just like, in draft and size those already described-stood about one hundred and fifty years. It is now gone ; and on its site the late Daniel T. Terry built the present resi- dence thereon.
The next farm east was owned by a Mr. King- whether a brother to William King, or not, we are not informed. His house was exactly like those others mentioned, and stood about the same number of years ; Daniel Beebe, at this time. owns the premises. What relation these Kings were to John King, father to Samuel King, we cannot learn. It is generally sup- posed they were of another family, which came as early as 1660 or 1670. The adjoining farm east was very early owned by a Mr. Sheffield, but it came into the possession of the Beebe family somewhere near 1700; its last owner was Samuel Beebe. It is now owned by Joseph Latham and David Youngs. The first of these gentlemen has a house on the site of the old one, which was the counterpart of the others mentioned. It stood about one hundred and fifty years.
The next farm-which is bounded on the east by Plumgut, on the north by the Sound, and south by Gardiner's Bay-containing about one hundred and twenty acres, was bought, as early as 1655 or 1656, by Jeremiah Vail, who came to Easthampton about 1650. He stopped there but a short time, came to this place, and purchased what was afterwards, for many years, called the " Point Farm." For fifty years-from 1800 to 1852-it was the property of Captain Jonathan F. Latham. Stephen Vail, great grandson to Jeremiah Vail, he first owner, was the last proprietor of that
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name; he left it in 1772 or 1773. It was in the family about one hundred and twenty years.
Oysterponds-so named by the first white men who possessed it-previously called by the natives, as we have shown, Pequatuck, and in 1836, by a resolve of its inhabitants, re-christened " Orient," (signifying as we understand, "East," or "Eastern,") is a peninsula, and is the extreme point of the north branch of Long Island. At the east bounds of East Marion, formerly known as Rocky Point, is a north and south narrow beach ; through this last one runs a creek some two rods wide, which is crossed by a substantial bridge to what was formerly called Crook's Island, which con- tains perhaps sixty acres of good tilable land. For the last hundred years it has been nearly equally divi- ded into two farms, on which are convenient dwellings, with very thriving families. The Tuthills and Tru- mans have been its proprietors for the above men- tioned term. The creek lets the water of the harbor into a pond called Dam Pond, which, on the north, is bounded by a narrow beach, dividing it from the Sound. This beach, of about three rods wide and about eighty rods long, is the only land link which unites Orient to the main land of Long Island. In this pond, which contains about sixty acres, is a rock some feet above tide water, and on which is engraved the initials of Samuel Crook, thus :- "S. C .- 1745." At the time, we suppose, he owned these lands, bounded on the east and south and west by said harbor, and on the north by the Sound. Over a sand beach, you pass about one
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hundred rods to the foot of Brown's Hills, which ter- minates this peninsula on the west.
About six miles west of what is called Oysterpond Beach, is another beach called Ashamomaque Beach, about fifteen rods wide and eighty rods long, bounded on the north by the Sound, on the south by a large pond, which empties into the Peconic Bay by what is called Mill Creek, at the west extreme point of Alber- son's farm.
Situated in the middle of a plain lot of land of Silas Beebe's farm, on Plumb Island, was a rock of rather a regular form-in diameter about twelve feet, and in height, perhaps nine feet. On the top of this rock, on one edge, was lodged another not quite as large, but more round. The place on which this one rested with its immense weight, was not more than twenty-two inches ! Being upon the extreme edge, to the eye, it looked as if a small effort might dislodge it from its resting place, where, for aught we know, it had been since the day of the Creation. It was so when Plumb Island was bought of the natives, in 1666, and remained thus until the war of 1812. While Commodore Hardy was stationed in Gardiner's Bay, in 1815, a number of officers and men went on shore with crowbars and wedges, and, with much effort, succeeded in removing it. We regret their success. It should have been left in its ancient resting place as a marvellous work of Na- ture. Its destruction benefited no one, while, in its sin- gular position, it might have been the admiration of thousands. Silas Beebe, at this time, had been dead
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six years. While he lived, his attention to this wonder- ful phenomenon was such that not any consideration would have tempted him to allow its removal. The im- portant question is, how came it there in such an aston- ishing situation ?- when was it put there ?- who did it? These questions can never be answered. As it was in a plain field, perhaps its parallel is not now, nor ever was, known.
About a mile from the east point of Plumb Island are two small islands, known as the "Gulls." The large one contains about twelve acres-the small one not quite an acre. This last is enclosed by a substantial stone wall, well secured with copper bolts, as in storms the waves are high and powerful. On this speck in the sea, there is a solid and well built lighthouse. Six miles northeast from these Gulls is Fisher's Island, which is nine miles long, and not far from a mile wide. It is, and has been owned for two hundred years, in the Win- throp family. There is a small island called Ram Is- land within a short distance from the main land of Con- necticut, on which is one or two families and houses. All these islands are in Southold town, which, from the east end of Fisher's Island to the west line of the town, must be thirty-six or more miles.
The two Gull Islands, with a farm on the east part of Plumb Island, were owed by Deacon Daniel Tuthill, as early as 1720, or near that date. The Gulls he sold in about 1760. His farm on Plumb Island was in his family until about 1820.
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As early as the year 1700, a neck of land adjoining the bay, south of Thomas Terry, was owned and occu- pied by a Mr. Payne. The lot is called to this day Old Barn Lot. There was formerly a house there, we believe, for previous to Thomas Terry's coming in pos- session there was an old barn on the premises. It was standing as late as 1775. Near this old barn was a con- spicuous and valuable pear tree. Its fruit was prover- bial through all the district as of the first quality and assuredly delicious. The inhabitants for miles around in the season of fruit, would be anxiously inquiring for " Payne's pears." The fruit of this tree was admired and sought after by the curious antiquarian for nearly one hundred years after the tree had been first set out by Mr. Payne. It is now but a few years since the place which knew it so long knows it no more, forever.
How unconscious Mr. Payne must have been while planting that tree that he was rearing a monument to hand his humble name down to after generations. But so it was. The descendants of Mr. Payne are now living at Wading River in this county. Mr. Elisha Mulford now owns the old barn lot.
As previously stated, Jonathan F. Latham came in possession of his late handsome and privileged farm about the year 1800. In 1834 and 1835 he built a large and convenient boarding house, which for comfort and situation and its inviting prospects, was not surpassed by any such establishment on this part of the island. His table was at all times well furnished with whole- some, substantial food, and every reasonable attention was extended to his numerous guests. Captain Latham died in 1852 intestate, by reason of which his handsome
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property descended to his ten children equally. Four of his sons, namely, Joseph, Elias, Daniel and Moses, are now living on and near the home farm. The large boarding house, with five acres of land adjoining, they have conveyed out of the family. It is, however, still open to company who desire a rural residence during the heat of summer.
The facilities for bathing, fishing, &c., &c., render this situation assuredly inviting.
In the year 1700, which was fifty years after the first settlement of our village there were not more than twenty-four families, and which occupied about the same number of tenements. The heads of those fami- lies were, commencing at the west end, viz. : Israel Brown and his son Joseph, if at the time a married man; 2d. Samuel Brown; 3d. Richard Brown, Jr. The father, Richard Brown, Sr., died 1686. 4th. John Tut- hill, Jr .; 5th. Samuel King; 6th. his father John King, Sr., who must at this time have been a very aged man; 7th. Edward Petty ; Sth. John Tuthill, 3d ; 9th. John Pain and his son John; 10th. John and Nathaniel Moore ; 11th. William King, father of Joseph, Jere- miah, &c., &c .; 12th. John Terry, Jr. ; 13th. Jeremiah Vail, Jr .; 14th. Samuel Glover ; 15th. Caleb or John Curtis; 16th. William King, Sr .; 17th. King; 18th. Samuel Beebe, Jr .; 19th. Jeremiah Vail ; 20th. David Youngs ; 21st. Gideon Youngs, Jr., (the father having died in 1699); 22d. Daniel Tuthill or his father John Tuthill, Jr.
Now, allowing five persons to each family and say
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twenty four families, which is two more than there were houses, the number of inhabitants in Orient, at the date of 1700, would be one hundred and twenty. At six they would only number one hundred and forty-four. If eight in a household one hundred and ninety-two. At the close of 1700 there might have been somewhere near the last named number. At this time no place of worship, or I might say not any house for that purpose, had been built, yet in that year a piece of ground was purchased, on which it was designed to erect a temple in which the God of our fathers should be worshiped, as becomes Christians.
About 1752 Oysterpond neck, as it was then called, contained not far from forty-five dwelling houses. Al- lowing six persons to each would give the number of the inhabitants to be two hundred and seventy. At any rate, at that day there was not more than three hundred, giving an increase for the fifty years of about one hun- dred and fifty persons. In 1800 there were about sixty dwellings. Allowing six to each, the number would be three hundred and sixty, showing a gain in the last men- tioned fifty years of only sixty. From 1800 to the present time there is about one hundred and thirty dwelling houses. Supposing six to each family the number of inhabitants would now be seven hundred and twenty. I think we may set them down at seven hundred, an increase in the last fifteen years of three hundred and forty. It is two hundred and six years since the place was first settled by the Browns, Tuthills, Kings and the Youngs.
There is at this date but three dwelling houses re- maining of those previous to the year 1700, viz. : the
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one now occupied by John B. Youngs, the second by Elisha Mulford, and the one, late the property of Capt. Lyndes King. Mrs. Cynthia Champlin's, Aviah Young's and Baldwin Petty's are about each one hundred and twenty years old. The first was built in 1731 or 1732, the second in 1730, and the third about 1716. There are three or four others built near 1763 and 1770. The late Major Nathaniel King's barn is yet standing. It was built more than one hundred and sixty years ago.
Those pilgrim fathers of ours to this isolated penin- sula, were professors and possessors of the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. They strictly adhered to the tenets of the congregational plan of church government, agree- able to what is called the old Saybrook platform. Their lives, many of them, we have been told by our parents and grandparents, were conspicuous for great faith and good wroks.
In 1700 a piece of ground was purchased on which it was designed to build a meeting house, as they had now lived without such a desirable place of worship for the long period of sixty-seven years.
Those who had horses and could with convenience, weather permitting, attended meeting at Southold. To that church, they of this place, professors, became members, and continued so until one was organized here, which was under Rev. Jonathan Barber, about the year 1735. Near that time he took charge of the congregation and was a much beloved preacher for some years-until about 1750. His letters, written in 1740, are of the most pious cast.
4 Of faith, hope and charity,
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they speak in strains truly animating to the humble and faithful believer.
In 1717, which was seventeen years after, a lot of land had been purchased on which to erect a meeting house, and they commenced erecting one suitable to their minds. It was a singularly constructed temple, about thirty feet square, two stories high, and on the top of the second story was raised another square building ten feet square and nine feet high, and then a finish something like the lower part of a steeple, with an iron spire which sup- ported a sheet iron figure of a noble game cock, show- ing the course of the wind. It continued to do so with unerring precision for a term of ninety years !
This curious building, to be set apart for sacred pur- poses, was raised in 1717, as said, but it appears did not reach a partial finish until 1725, which was twenty-five years after the ground was bought for one dollar and twenty-five cents to set the edifice on. A Mr. Daniel Brown finished off the house in April 1725 and he lived near seventy years afterward. He died in 1785, in his eighty-ninth year.
As seventy-five years had passed away since the Browns, Tuthills, Kings, Youngs, and others had first come to this place, it must be supposed that these early settlers all were gone to that bourne whence no traveler returns. The actors in the erection of this first church must have been the children and grand- children of those pious men. John Racket, Daniel Tut- hill, Joseph Brown, Jeremiah Vail, Jr., John King, Henry Tuthill, Sr., Gideon Young, Jr., and John Tut- hill, 3d, with others, made up the number of the heads of the families in this then young community. In 1725,
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when the church was finished, Daniel Tuthill was forty- five years old, Henry Tuthill, Sr. was fifty-seven, John Racket fifty, Joseph Brown fifty years, John Tuthill, 3d sixty-six years, Jeremiah Vail more than thirty years, and John King over twenty-five. These were very ex- cellent, noble hearted men. John Racket, son to the first of the family to this country, was the first deacon of the church which was organized in what was then called Oysterponds, about the year 1736 or 1737. There was no stated preaching in the new meeting house until Rev. Mr. Barber took the charge near 1738.
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