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 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
118
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
He had a second wife-Dorothy-who was daughter of Jeremiah Tuthill. Her father, who was grandson to John Tuthill, or, as he was called, " Chalker John," died in 1808, aged eighty-four years.
Noah Terry, a son of Jonathan, was born September 1747, and died October, 1815, aged sixty-eight years. In his boyhood, he was noticed as differing from his mates in every situation where fear is common, and, sometimes, prudent. Hogs, bulls, or wild horses, it ap- pears, had no terrors for Noah when a boy. Just so in manhood. His bold daring, in whatever course he deemed proper and right, were not to be thwarted by obstacles which would often daunt men of acknow- ledged resolution. His courage and determined man- ner was always without noise or bluster; his modesty and good sense showed itself in never giving the least semblance of boast at any feat, action, or charitable ex- pression performed by him, as heroic.
In the memorable winter of 1780, this adventurous man crossed Oysterpond Harbor to Shelter Island, a distance of near four miles, over the ice, on horseback. He performed this several times. Not another man in the town would do it.
At one time, he took with him on the same horse a resolute young lady, nurse to Mrs. Terry. When about two-thirds of the way over, where there is a rapid tide, which is the channel, here the ice had separated about three feet. Nothing daunted, he dismounted, and as- sisted the lady so to do. He leaped the spirited horse over the chasm, lifted the woman over, set her on the pillion again, and galloped off to the island.
On another time, while crossing a large bay on the
119
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
ice, the same winter, the ice gave way, and his horse sunk to rise no more. He barely escaped with his life.
In 1790, he removed from Long Island to Orange County. Here he purchased a farm, on which he lived until 1802, when he sold it. After this period, his visits to his friends on Long Island were extended to months. He had become much broken in body-a type of fallen manhood, as was said of the late Vice-Presi- dent Burr, when near eighty years of age.
In 1814, a large torpedo boat, which had been fitted out at New York to annoy the British ships then lying off Fisher's Island, on her way to the ren- dezvous designated, while off against Southold, in the Sound, a severe gale of northerly wind drove the boat on shore a little east of Ashamomac Beach. After lying there a day or two, a British ship and brig came and anchored near where she lay. As they were ar- ranging a number of barges for landing men to des- troy the torpedo, they kept up an almost constant firing of cannon. The balls flew around said boat, over the - farm of Mr. Mulford, and through his house and out- houses, commencing with din and noise, which alarmed the people for miles in every direction. Noah Terry was on his way to Southold, by the road which passed within a few rods of where this target of a boat lay, at which they were firing. When opposite the torpedo, Noah dismounted, left his horse, got on the torpedo boat, took off his hat, swung it, and gave cheers, re- mounted his horse, and, amidst the roar of cannon and whistling of balls, some of which ploughed deep fur- rows near the highway, he galloped on his way to town.
120
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
He was three times married. His first wife was Sally, the daughter of Abraham Parker, of Shelter Is- land ; his second wife was Peggy, the widow of Joseph Halstead ; his third wife was a widow Fall.
He was of the middle size, about five feet eight or nine inches, stout built, of quick and manly step, a piercing dark eye, enlivened by a countenance express- ive and determined.
He died at the house of his brother Thomas, at Southold. His death was like the man through his life. When dying, he, in his perfect senses, observed his brother Thomas weeping. He says, "Brother, what makes you weep?" Thomas said, "I think you are dying." His last words followed thus, in answering- " Thomas, I am not afraid to die."
A tranquil submission to the methods of Providence bespeak the goodness of the heart. Those who wish to conquer their fate must submit to it cheerfully.
Thomas, brother to Noah Terry, was born in 1757, and died in 1824, in his sixty-seventh year. ITis life was marked with true benevolence, and St. Paul's chief. grace, charity. He was respected and greatly beloved by all who knew him. I believe I am warranted in saying that our town has not produced, for the last hun- dred years, a man more deserving the character, and imbibing more of the spirit of the Samaritan of the Scriptures than Thomas Terry.
His good sense, his every day acts of kindness, with the most affectionate smile of complacence, constrains us to an involuntary praise applied to Daniel, the Pro- phet-" O, man, greatly beloved."
He married, in the year 1780, Esther, the daughter
121
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL. '
of Christopher Tuthill, of Oysterponds. She, a de- voted wife, died January, 1844, in her eighty-seventh year.
Daniel Tuthill Terry, youngest son of Jonathan and Lydia Terry, was born December, 1759, and died Sep- tember, 1830, in his seventy-first year. His mother be- came a widow soon after he entered the age of fifteen. To this parent he was all she could desire. His mode of settling differences betwixt neighbors and producing peace, was proverbially successful.
We believe, with great good reason, that Daniel T. Terry, in almost every instance of his life, was a pro- totype of his uncle John, who was called Chalker John. In manners, judgment, and consummate skill in solving questions in arithmetic, they were equal. The first was honored with a seat as a Representative in the Assembly of the colony of New York, in 1693-'4 ; the last was honored with the like station, in the State, in 1809, one hundred and .sixteen years afterwards. John, at the time of his seat, was forty years of age ; Daniel was fifty years old. They were men of mode- rate property, which they chiefly acquired by their own industry and economy-yet, charitable, benevolent and manly in all their dealings.
Daniel, in his person, was, as in his dress, plain but neat. In height, about five feet ten inches ; never fleshy, but enjoying good health, with an equanimity of mind and spirit rare to be met with.
He was twice married. His first wife was Rhoda, the daughter of Christopher and Phoebe Tuthill, a wo- man of superior kindness ; she died in 1809. His se-
11
122
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
cond wife was Mary, daughter of Major Calvin and Peggy Moore. By his first wife, he had eight children -by his second, one.
There were five daughters of Jonathan and Lydia Terry. The first was Lydia, who married Silas Beebe, in the year 1763, at Plumb Island, in this township, by whom she had eleven children. Her husband, Mr. Silas Beebe, was a generous-hearted man, accommoda- ting almost to a fault. His death took place in the year 1808, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
Ruth, the second daughter, was married to Mr. Ste- phen Vail, of Oysterponds, in the year 1763, by whom she had twelve children. Her movements, expressions, countenance, and actions, were always, and in her every domestic department, assuredly the harbingers of peace, love and good-will. She lived to hold in her lap and embrace the children of her great grand-daughter ! These, with herself were the fifth generation.
Stephen, the husband of this estimable woman, was a tender, kind-hearted man, but unfortunate, often, in many of his purchases. He could not behold distress unmoved ; yet, his buying and selling often led him to go beyond his means, which brought him often in un- pleasant circumstances. However, he left considerable property. He died 1806; was born 1741.
Mehitable, the fourth daughter, at the age of twenty- four, was married to Jonathan Tuthill. Soon after, Captain Tuthill took command of a vessel called the Mehitable, and went on a voyage to the West Indies. The war with England soon broke out, and Tuthill quit the sea. He died suddenly in 1807, aged about sixty- six years.
123
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
Patience was the youngest daughter and child, born in 1761, and, at the age of twenty-two, was married to Jeremiah Y. Tuthill.
This Mr. Tuthill was one of the twelve children of Mr. Christopher and Phoebe Tuthill-six sons and six daughters. They all lived to be married. The first one of them dying at the age of thirty years, at the time the wife of Mr. Ezra Corwin, of Acquebogue. At this time, there is only one living, viz :- Matsey, widow of the late John Youngs, in her eighty-fourth year.
In noticing the nine children which arrived to adult age, of Jonathan and Lydia Terry, I think it may be somewhat interesting to observe their ages united-
Jonathan, 79 years old at the time of his death.
Noah,
69
66
66
Thomas, 67
Daniel T. 71
66
Lydia, 77
66
66
Deziah,
69
66
Mehitable, 85
66
66
66
Ruth,
92
66
66
66
Patience, 74
66
66
683
Gives to each seventy-five years and eight-ninths, something uncommon in a family of nine children.
This was a rare family. Their morals, virtues and habits were worthy of imitation, and I feel myself in- adequate to delineate in its true light the halo of worth which surrounded the sons and daughters of this house- hold throughout their long lives. They all lived and
124
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
died as men and women should-useful while living, and when called to depart, each was ready.
In August, 1830, Mrs. Harriet Petty, wife of Mr. Orange Petty, of Orient, gave birth to three children, two girls and a boy. They were living when born, but died in the course of two or three days.
In April, 1831, Mrs. Poily Vail, wife of Henry Vail, of Orient, was confined with three children at one birth-two boys and one girl. They lived about three days. Mrs. Vail and Mrs. Petty were first cousins, and descendants of John Tuthill, who first landed at Southold. They are of the sixth generation.
David, the fifth son of Orange Webb, Sr., before mentioned, became a ship master of much celebrity in New York and Liverpool, and other foreign ports. He was a man much esteemed for his social qualities, just in his dealings, generous to the needy. We have good reason to say he died the death of the righteous, June 1, 1818, in his fifty-third year. His wife, Elizabeth, died in October, 1820. She was an exemplary wife, whose price is above rubies.
Silas, the sixth son, as did his brothers, Thomas and David, also became a ship master. He was what the world calls a brave, fine-looking man, of great viva- city, wit, and uncommon powers to personate, in speech and laugh, the full-blooded African. In these, I never knew his equal. As he advanced in life, he discarded such amusements, became a professer of the religion
125
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
of Christ, and, it is said, died in the faith, on the 6th March, 1849, in the eighty-first year of his age.
Fanny, first daughter of Orange Webb, who, at the age of nineteen, married a Captain Duniky, by whom she had a daughter-Sally. She (Mrs. Duniky) died soon after. Sally, in time, became the wife of James Harris, a merchant in New York. He left her a widow some years since. Polly, second daughter of O. Webb, died the widow of Captain Elisha King. Nancy, third daughter, died the widow of Captain David King.
In the autumn of 1776, as the British were taking possession of Long Island, the inhabitants of Southold and Oysterponds, with other neighboring towns, were panic-struck at their approach. We had been told that the Hessians were savages, and would show no mercy. The excitement occasioned by such sad expectations, in almost every family in Southold and Oysterponds, was melancholy. Without reflecting or considering the consequences and sacrifices of leaving their pleasant homes to an invading, cruel enemy, they immediately set about removing their families into the State of Con- necticut. This they did in great haste, as has been stated previously.
To remove the stock and poultry, with many other valuables, in such a short notice, was impossible. Of course, it was left to the mercy of the invading, heart- less foe, whose care for such live and necessary provi- sion, was in exact keeping with the wolf and the fox, whose proffered services were accepted to watch over the flocks of geese and sheep.
11*
126
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
What hearts, what fortitude, what sublimity and he- roism of soul must have actuated our mothers, grand- mothers, and their invaluable husbands, to submit and cheerfully make all these unparalleled sacrifices, that their children and descendants might become the par- takers of that sweetest of all earthly fruits-Liberty !
In these days of bustle, excitements, sorrow and trouble, Peter Griffin, of Southold, who, with his in- teresting family of six promising children and wife, left this island.
In those seasons of trial and peril, Peter was owner and master of a fine sailing sloop. By good manage- ment and great attention to the 'longshore business, in such a vesssel, he had realized a handsome support ; but now, in consequence of the British cruisers, his situation, as to doing business coast-wise, was critical. In crossing from the main to the island, he was often in
imminent danger. Once, in the autumn of 1776, he ar- rived safe in Oysterpond Harbor in the morning. Af-
ter landing, he proceeded to the inn of Aunt Hannah Brown, as she was called in those days, who kept an inn. After inquiring whether there were any of the enemy in the place, and learning that there was not just at that time, he called for a breakfast. Soon after he and his men had seated themselves at the table, a child came running into the room, and screaming at the top of its lungs, "The troops are coming; the troops are coming !" And, sure, they were within half a mile,
on horseback. Captain Griffin and his men immedi- ately ran across the fields to his small boat, then at the landing. They launched her, and boarded the vessel about the time the troops reached the shore, within
127
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
twenty-five rods of the vessel. They drew up abreast, dismounted, and gave Griffin's sloop the contents of their guns. Before they could reload, Griffin, who was a marksman, took from the cabin his old King's arms, and, without ceremony, returned the fire. At this, they, in much confusion, took refuge behind the near- est house. With much tact and skill in charging his piece, he made several shots at them, which kept them skulking and dodging until he could weigh anchor and be off. Several of the bullets discharged from his gun lodged in the house, which now is owned by the heirs of the late George Champlin. A year or so after this, Captain Griffin lost his vessel, being captured by the English sloop-of-war Swan. The Swan was several times in Southold Harbor. At one time, while on shore, Captain Asknew, her commander, was sur- prised by a party of Yankees, who attacked him as he was pushing off from shore in his barge for his ship. These Yankees fired into his barge, wounding him in his foot, which lamed him for life. I saw him there in 1780.
It is said, and no doubt it is a fact, that these parties of horse which often came to Oysterponds, were Tories of Long Island.
Dr. John Gardiner, of Southold, died October 25, 1823, aged seventy-four years. As a physician in this town, he was greatly esteemed. His address and very ingenious remarks on visiting his patients, were often powerful incentives towards comforting the invalids whose disorders were more in the mind than in the
128
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
body. To such, his well-timed anecdotes were balsams. As a doctor of physic, he was truly valuable. His practice was from Mattituck to Plumb Island, more than thirty miles. He commenced in 1781, and con- tinued until his death-1823. In the Revolutionary War, he was sometime surgeon's mate on board of one of the American frigates. His first wife was Abigail Worth, a very pious woman. His second wife was Peggy, the eldest daughter of Major Calvin Moore. A large stone marks the Doctor's grave, whose inscription describes the man in a true and honorable likeness. It is well worth a perusal. It can be seen at Southold Cemetery.
Noah Racket, who died in 1849, aged ninety-two years, said that his first ancestor to this town was about 1690, and his name was either Daniel or John. From old writings I have seen, I believe it was John, and his wife, Elizabeth. From an old record, I find there was such a man and his wife in this town, in the year 1698. There is no doubt but this couple were the progenitors of all the families of this name in the State of New York.
This John Racket, who, it appears, settled in what was then called Rocky Point-now East Marion-had a son John, born about 1690. He (the last mentioned John) was conspicuous in the first church in Oyster- ponds, and the first established Deacon. At the time the first meeting house was built in Oysterponds, Mr. Racket must have been about thirty-two years old, and was ordained a deacon as early as 1735. Daniel Tut-
:129
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
hill was deacon about the same time, or a few years after, and as he was about the age of Deacon Racket, it is probable they took the office nearly together, and were united in the church, as officers for thirty or forty years. Racket was altogether called Deacon Racket ; so, from 1740 to 1762, Tuthill was only known by all his juniors as Deacon Daniel Tuthill.
The said Deacon John Racket had two sons, whose names were John and Jonathan, and a daughter, whose name was Rachel, who became the wife of Gideon Youngs. John, the Deacon's first son, had two child- ren, viz :- Benjamin and Mehitable. Benjamin was the father of Noah Racket. Mehitable married a Mr. Cleve, of Acquebogue.
Jonathan, second son of Deacon John Racket, mar- ried Hannah, the daughter of Samuel King and the widow of Nathaniel, who was the eldest son of Deacon Daniel Tuthill.
The children of this marriage were five sons and one daughter, viz :- Jonathan, Daniel, Samuel, John, Absa- lom, and Hannah. Jonathan married Hannah, the daughter of David and Ruth Wiggins. Daniel mar- ried Bethia, daughter of John and Patience Havens. Samuel married Rhoda, the daughter of Reuben Youngs. John married Mehitable, the daughter of John and Martha Terry. Absalom married the daugh- ter of Thomas and Rhoda Youngs ; and Hannah mar- ried Sylvanus Brown, of Acquebogue.
John Racket, by his wife, had three sons, viz :- John, David and Elisha. The first, John, died at the age of about six years.
David, the second son of John and Mehitable
130
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
Racket, married Nancy, daughter of Abraham and Hannah Racket.
Elisha, third son, married Abigail, the daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Sherril, of Easthampton, by whom he had three children, sons, viz :- John Albert, born in 1808 ; Elisha Sherry, born in 1811; and Sydney Philander, born 1814. These are all valuable members of society, and stand fair as masters of fine vessels.
There were three brothers of the Wiggins' family at Southold, contemporary with our fathers of the date of 1730, or near that period, viz :- James, David and Tho- mas. This last became a physician of much respecta- bility, and settled down in New Jersey, where he died without issue. He left property, only a part of which he left to his blood relations. His wife died many years before him-she, in 1790-and lies buried in the cemetery, which was a part of the farm of the late Judge Thomas Youngs. His remains repose in the bu- rial place where many of the Presidents of Princeton College lie. He died in or about the year 1810.
David, another brother, was a farmer and miller. The latter he attended a part of the time, as he was owner of a part of a mill which stood on his farm, on the shore of Shelter Island Ferry, opposite Hay Beach. He was a peaceable man; lived to the age of about ninety-one. He died not far from 1810. His children were David, Thomas, William, Mehitable, Ruth and Hannah. His wife was Ruth, the daughter of Thomas Terry, 3rd, and sister to the late Colonel Thomas Terry, of Oysterponds.
131
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
James, another brother, was born in 1733, and died in 1802, aged sixty-nine years. His wife was Mehitable, and sister to his brother David's wife. She (Mehitable) died in 1801, aged sixty-two years. From 1770 to 1776, James Wiggins followed the sea, and was known as Captain Wiggins. By his wife, he had two children- a son, James, born 1768 ; died 1829 : Mehitable, born 1765; died 1806.
In the year 1698, there was a Mr. James Wiggins and Annis Wiggins, I suppose his wife. We believe, as this James was not at the time over twenty-six years old, which would have made him more than fifty-six years older than these three brothers, from that, I am satisfied this James was the son to the first of the family that came to Southold, which was probably be- tween the years of 1660 and 1670, or 1680. It would come pretty near the mark to say the first Wiggins who settled in Southold, was born about 1640, or near that date. His son was the James who signed his name to a document we have seen, in 1698, when he must have been about twenty-six years old. If so, he was born about 1672. His son, probably named James, born about 1698, which would bring him of suitable age to be the father of David, born about 1725 ; Thomas, born about 1730; and James in 1733-the three brothers first noticed.
The father of the three brothers first mentioned, was, as we are informed, named John, who was son or grandson to the first of the family to this New World. From some old papers I have seen, I am led to suppose that said John was a son to the first of the Wiggins family to this country, and his (John's) father was
132
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
James. He probably came out not far from 1660, or, at farthest, 1670. If David, the eldest of the three brothers, was born in 1725, his father (John) forty years older, was born in 1685. Ilis (John's) father, thirty- five years older, born in 1650, would make him (James) in 1670, only twenty years of age.
Benjamin King, Jr., who died in Lyme, Connecticut, April 19, 1780, was born September 23, 1750. Was the oldest of two sons, viz :- Benjamin and Henry. Benjamin, their father, was well known through the town of Southold, from 1760 to 1790, as Uncle Ben King. As an old fashioned joiner and carpenter, he was conspicuous for his short, emphatic stories, divert- ingly told. IIe was faithful, economical, and yet al- ways in moderate circumstances, although always doing something. Henry, his second son, was his chief sup- port the last few years of his life. He and his wife Betsey both died about the year 1791, aged seventy-one years. They were neither of them members of any church. She was faithful as a wife, and cared well for her household; he was an honest man. Benjamin, the oldest son of Benjamin, was much respected as a liberal minded man; a pleasant companion. Soon after the commencement of the War of the Revolution, he was ap- pointed to the command of a privateer. We well re- member him as a fine-looking man about six feet high.
In 1777 he maried Abigail, daughter of Col. Thomas, and AbigailTerry ; by this lady he had two sons, Edward Conkling, born, August 2d, 1778. At the age of about twenty-three or four, Edward settled in Newburn, North
133
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
Carolina, where he married and had three children- daughters. Was a merchant of consequence and a judge, he was a pleasant scholar, with a taste for poetry. See his elegy on Mrs. Deziah Griffin, in appendix to this volume. He died while on a visit to New York, in September 2d, 1827. To know him, was to be pleased with him.
Benjamin the second son of Captain Benjamin and Abigail King, was born June 13th, 1780, and died 12th April, 1850, aged sixty-nine years, and ten months. With his brother Edward, his opportunities to procure a good common school education, were wisely improved, as their future lives fully testified. When about twenty- five years of age, he married an only daughter of Mr. Payne, of Wading River, near what is called Miller's Place,; soon after this, he commenced keeping a store, which he continued to do for some years. When near forty years of age, he was appointed to the office of a justice of the peace ; this station he held for a number of years. He was an executor to the estate of the late E. W. King, Esq. His advice, counsel, and straight for- ward and energetic way of settling the concerns of that estate, which was large, and to cultivate union and peace with the sons and daughters, and satisfy the bereaved widow, were successful.
Died at Utica, New York, on Wednesday, 22d No- vember, 1848, Rev. John C. Rudd, aged 70 years. In the years 1799 and 1800, this gentleman, then a young man of about twenty-one years, was teaching a district
12
134
GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL.
school on Shelter Island, and boarded with General Sylvester Dering, of whose friendship he partook large- ly. In 1801 he opened a school in New York City. While a teacher of a common school, he was considered a studious young man. By some fortunate circumstance, he gained the good will and friendship of Bishop Moore, who became his teacher of Divinity-he succeeded, and became an approved clergyman of the Episcopal order. ยท He settled at Utica, and it was at his house where Bishop Hobart died. Mr. Rudd edited a paper, some years before he died, called the "Christian Messenger." He was a D. D. before his death. By great diligence he gained the summit of his desires.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.