History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 101

Author: W.W. Munsell & Co., pub; Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather); Cooper, James B. (James Brown), 1825-; Pelletreau, William S. (William Smith), 1840-1918; Street, Charles R. (Charles Rufus), 1825-1894; Smith, John Lawrence, 1816-1889
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 677

USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 101

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).

From a glance at the map it would seem as if Nature had intended to divide the town into many islands, and had failed in the attempt. A short- distance from its western boundary a sheet of water called Mattituck Bay puts in from the sound and extends nearly three-quarters of the distance across; while nearly oposite a creek known as Reeves Creek comes up from Peconic Bay, and the distance between these two bodies of water is quite limited. Here the Indians in ancient times were accustomed to drag their canoes across, and this gave it the name, which occurs in our oldest records, of Canoe Place. | shore.

To the east of Southold Mill Creek comes up from the south, and extends almost entirely across, being sep- arated from the sound by a beach a few rods in width, and the creek separates Southold proper from the region called " Hashamomack." Still farther east is another isthmus, connecting Orient Point and East Marion, or, as they were called in ancient times, "Oyster Ponds Lower and Upper Necks." This isthmus is formed by a pond connected with Peconic Bay by a creek, and is a beach about three rods wide and eighty rods along.

In one respect this town differs very materially from Southampton. There are no very extensive tracts of woodland such as cover the larger part of the latter town, and there are no elevations of land which can compare in height with the range of hills which there ex- tends from Canoe Place to East Hampton. From the

hills north of Southampton village a person can overlook almost the whole extent of Southold, and see beyond it the blue waters of the sound and the dim outlines of the New England shore. Upon the south side the shore is generally low, and extensive meadows are found along the banks of the creeks, while next the sound the coast is high and in many places precipitous.

The soil is generally fertile, except a portion of the region next Peconic Bay, including Little Hog Neck. The central portion of the town is especially fertile, and the farms of Cutchogue and Mattituck are noted for their excellence and their high state of cultivation. The peninsula of Orient is for the most part fertile, but rocky on the north, and bears every indication of its glacial origin. The north branch of the island terminates here Plum Gut sweeps with resistless power, and it is believed that this channel was once much narrower, and some have thought that Plum Island was originally connected with the neighboring shore.

In early days the town was in almost all parts covered with woods, but the untiring hands of the industrious settlers have made the smiling field where once the forest frowned. Few tracts of woodland of much extent are now found, the largest being on the south side, at Fleet's Neck, and in one or two localities on the north

FIRST SETTLEMENT AND LAND TRANSACTIONS.

To write the early history of this town is no easy task, since all records prior to 1651 are lost forever, with the exception of two brief notices which will be given here- after. Yet the statement that it was settled in 1640 is generally accepted, and as Southampton was settled in the same year the question has been agitated in late years which town is entitled to the honor of being called the oldest English town on Long Island. This question has been discussed with an ardor which borders on acrimony, the principal contestants in the case being Rev. Epher Whitaker, D. D., of Southold, and Rev. George R. Howell, of Southampton, each of whom has found in this contest a foeman worthy of his steel. We do not propose to enter into this discussion with a view

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

of deciding the question, but as public attention has been drawn to the subject we will here give all the authorities that have been discovered after most diligent search, and present all the facts that can throw light on this vexed point, and leave to the reader the task of ren- dering judgment upon evidence presented.

The case as regards Southampton may be briefly stated. On March roth 1639 the company of first set- tlers entered into a combination at Lynn, Mass., to found a new plantation on Long Island. One month later, April 17th 1640 (the year at that time beginning March 25th), they obtained a grant from James Farrett, agent of the Earl of Stirling, who was then owner of Long Island, authorizing them to take up eight miles square of land "where best suiteth them." In pursuance of the enterprise they sailed for Long Island, and commenced a settlement at Cow Bay in what is now the town of North Hempstead, but they were driven away by the Dutch. "Upon this," says Governor Winthrop, June 4th 1640, "the Linne men, finding themselves too weak, and having no encouragement to expect aid from the English, deserted that place and took another at the east end of the same island; and, being now about 40 fami- lies, they proceeded in their plantation, and called one Mr. Pierson, a godly, learned man, and a member of the church of Boston, to go with them." From this account, written by one who had every opportunity to be ac- quainted with the facts, there can no longer be any doubt that Southampton was settled in June 1640.

The earliest record we have of any purchase of land within the present limits of Southold is a deed from James Farrett to Richard Jackson, dated August 15th 1640, a copy of which, with the subsequent transfers, is here appended, as taken from the Southold records, and is all that remains of the records prior to 1651.

"This indenture witnesseth that I James Farret, gent., deputie to the right honorable the Earle of Starling, Secretarie for the Kingdom of Scotland, doe by these presents for him & in his name as it mnay any way con- cerne myself, for & in consideracon of a certain some of money to me in hand paied, grant & make sale unto Richard Jackson of ffiftie acres of meadow & upland lying and being uppon the North of the River called Manhansuck, in Long Island, to the eastward of the place called the ffive wigwams, together with an hundred acres of upland adioyninge to the afore said fiftie acres to the northwest of it; the same quietly to possess and enjoy to him & his heirs forever, with all the easements & accommodations thereunto belonginge. And more- over it is agreed between the said parties that hee the said Richard Jackson, his heirs, executors or assigns, shall pay unto the said Earle, his heirs or assigns an ac- knowledgement of a pep. corne every yeare for the fiftie acres aforesaid; and also shall pay unto the said James ffarret, gent., or his assigns yearely a penny an acre for all the hundred acres before menconed. In witness Whereof wee have sett to our hands & seales the 15th day of August 1640.

"JAMES FARRETT."

" Sealed, signed and delivered in the presence of us

"JOSHUA GRIFFITHS,

"ROBERT CANNON."

the witnesses to the Indian deed for Southampton, De- cember 13th 1640. Richard Jackson, the grantee, pro- ceeded to build a house and improve the purchase, and in October sold the same, as appears by the following deed:

" Bee it knowne unto all men by these presents that I Richard Jackson of Yennacock, carpenter, my heires, executors or assignes, doth sett or assigne & make over to Thomas Weatherby, marriner, his heires, executors or assignes, his dwelling house and all apptnances there unto belonging, In consideracon that I the said Richard Jack- son have received of the said Thomas Weatherby the some of ffifteene pounds starling in full satisfaccon of the said house & all apptences belonging to it, unto the said Thomas Weatherby, his heires, executors of adminis- trators, for to enjoy it peaceably for ever. And I the said Richard Jackson doe binde my self, my heires, ex- ecutors or assigns in the some of thirty pounds Starling that the said Thomas Weatherby, his heires, executors or assigns, shall enjoy the said house & all the apptences belonging to it quietly, without the molestacon of any man.

"Witness my hand and seal the ffive and twentieth day of October 1640.

RICHARD X JACKSON (his mark)

"Sealed and delivered in the presence of us

" ARTHUR SMYTH X (his mark)

" THOMAS WHITEHORNE X (his mark) "

The house and land thus conveyed were sold by Thomas Weatherby to Stephen Goodyear of New Haven, and the location and facts of transfer are very explicitly noted in the following deed:

" This Indenture witnesseth that, whereas James Far- ret, gent., Deputy to the honble Earle of Starleing & Secretarie for the kingtome of Scotland, hath by his In- denture in his owne name & in the name of the Earle of Starling aliened & sold unto Richard Jackson, carpenter, a parcell of Land as hy deed under his hande & seale more particularly recited, lying & being uppon a neck of Land called Hashamommuck neck; also whereas the said Jackson past over by deede under his hand and seale the said land & his house to Thomas Witherby, marriner, for the sum of ffifteene pounds, as may by the said deed more . fully appeare: Now this prsnt Inden- ture or writeinge doth publish and declare to all people whom it may concerne that Stephen Goodyeare of New Haven, merchant, doth for himself, his heires and as- signes, Alien, bargaine & sell unto John Ketcham, of Southold on Long Island, All that tract or peice of land & meadow wch was at first granted to the said Rich- ard Jackson as aforesaid, as being his of right & be- longing to him both from Jackson and Weatherby and by the Indian title, and doth, for and in consideracon of £20 to him well and truly payed & received, fully discharge & acquit the said John Ketcham, his heires and assignes for ever, of all & singular the aforesaid premises, with all debts, dewes & demands what soever to this present. In witness where of I have hereunto sett my hand & seale this second day of the 4th month 1653. STEPHEN GOODYEARE. "Sealed, subscribed and delivered to the use of John Ketchum in the presence of us

"BENJAMIN LYNGE,

"WILLIAM WELLS."

The next we hear of this piece of land is in a deed dated "New England Long Island Setalcot 3 October 1661," by which "Thomas Ketchum of the place afore-

Joshua Griffiths whose name appears above was one of | said " sells to Thomas Moore sen., of Southold, all the

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

premises in Hashamomack Neck described in the deed given by Goodyear, as copied above.

It is interesting to be able exactly to locate this tract of land, as it is the first land sold in this county which can be located with absolute certainty. It lies upon a neck west of Greenport, and on the shore of " Pipes Cove." A portion of it belongs to the estate of Jere- miah Moore, deceased, a lineal descendant of Thomas Moore mentioned above, and a part belongs to the heirs of William Y. Brown. The "place called the five wig- wams," mentioned in the deed from Farrett, in the opin- ion of Hon. J. Wickham Case (an authority worthy of the highest respect upon this and all other points con- nected with the history of Southold), "was upon the small island of woods belonging to the estate of Jeremiah Moore, deceased, at the head of Pipes Creek."

This is the first knowledge we have of any attempt at a settlement in this town. As to the exact time when Minister Youngs and his company landed at Town Creek, and founded the village where his dust lies buried but where "his name liveth evermore," we know nothing, and it is only by conjecture that we can form a list which may be called the roll of the first settlers.

MINISTER YOUNGS AND HIS COMPANY.

Tradition and history alike unite in awarding to Rev. John Youngs the honor of being the founder of this town. The first notice we have of this remarkable man is found in the following entry, copied by Samuel G. Drake from the original records in London and printed in his " Founders of New England," p. 49: " The exami- nation of John Yonge of St. Margretts, suff. minister, aged thirty-five years, and Joan his wife, aged thirty- four years, with six children-John, Thomas, Anne, Rachel, Mary and Josueph. Ar desirous to passe for Salam in New England to inhabitt." Against the above entry in the place of the date is written: "This man was forbyden passage by the commissioners and went not from Yarmouth." This entry follows six other entries, dated May 11th 1637, and is followed by two entries of examination on May 12th 1637. Neal in his history of New England, published in London in 1720, mentions Rev. Mr. Youngs of Southold among the list of Puritan ministers " who were in orders in the Church of England, but being disturbed by the ecclesiastical courts for the cause of nonconformity transported them- selves to New England before the year 1641."

In Lambert's History of New Haven, which is a work of original research and considered good authority, it is stated: "Mr. Youngs reorganized his church at New Haven on the 21st of October 1640, and, with them and such others as chose to accompany him, in the latter part of the month passed over to the island and commenced the settlement of the plantation." Moore's "Index of Southold," an invaluable work, which embraces in small compass the fruit of a vast amount of patient research, speaks of him as organizing a church in New Haven, to be located at Southold, October 1640. We have no posi- tive knowledge as to who the men were who constituted

this church, and any attempt to make a list of the early settlers must be based upon inference more than actual knowledge; but the following list contains the names of those persons whom we believe to have been residents of the town prior to 1654:

Robert Akerly, Richard Benjamin, Thomas Benedict, John Bayley, John Booth, Thomas Brush, John Budd, Henry Case, Roger Cheston, Richard Clark, John Conk- ling, Thomas Cooper, Matthias Corwin, Philemon Dick- erson, Jeffry Easty, John Elton, Frost, Charles Glover, James Haines, Peter Hallock (?), John Herbert, Josiah Hobart, Barnabas Horton, Thomas Hutchinson, John Ketcham, Thomas Mapes, Thomas Moore, Humphrey Norton, Thomas Osman, Isaac Overton, Peter Paine, Edward Petty, John Peakin, William Purrier, James Reeves, Thomas Rider, William Salmon, Thomas Stevenson, John Swezy, Richard Terry, Thomas Terry, Thomas Terrill, John Tucker, Henry Tuthill, John Tut- hill, John Underhill, Jeremiah Vail, William Wells, Abraham Whittier, Barnabas Wines, Rev. John Youngs, Col. John Youngs, Joseph Youngs.

To give an account of each of these would take us far beyond our limits, and a brief notice of a few of the more important names must suffice. The leader, Rev. John Youngs, had five sons-Colonel John, Thomas, Joseph, Benjamin and Christopher-and daughters Anne, Mary and Rachel. His son Colonel John had ar- rived at man's estate at the time of the settlement, and until the end of his life was the foremost man of the colony.

Barnabas Horton was without doubt one of the original company who came with Mr. Youngs. He was born at Mousely, in Leicestershire, England, in 1600. After coming to this country he is said to have lived at Hamp- ton, Mass., till 1640, when he joined the church organ- ized by Mr. Youngs. He had sons Joseph, Benjamin, Caleb, Joshua and Jonathan, and daughters Hannah, Sarah and Mary. In 1654, 1656 and 1659 he was a deputy from Southold to the court of New Haven. He was admitted freeman of the Connecticut colony in 1662, and was deputy in 1663 and 1664. His name occurs as one of the patentees of the town in 1676, and he was in- timately connected with all public affairs till his death. His tomb in the churchyard in Southold is covered with a slab of blue slate, said to have been imported from his native place and bearing the following inscription:

" Here lieth buried the body of Mr. Barnabas Horton, who was born at Mousely, Leicestershire, Old England, and died at Southold on the 13th day of July 1680, aged 80 years.

" Here lies my body tombed in dust, Till Christ shall come and ralse it with the just. My soul ascended to the throne of God, Where with sweet Jesus now I make abode. Then hasten after me, my dearest wife, To be partaker of this blessed life. And you, dear children all, follow the Lord ; Hear and obey His public sacred word, And in your houses call upon His name, For oft I have advised you to the same. Then God will bless you with your children all, And to this blessed place be will you call."

" Heb. xi. 4-He, being dead, yet speaketh."

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

William Wells, who was second to none in influence, is said to have come from England June 19th 1635, in the same ship with John Bayley, another of the early settlers. The first notice of him on Long Island is the following entry in the records of Southampton: " March 15th 1643 William Wells, Gent., was censured for some unreverent speeches to Daniel Howe. who confessed his offence and promised reformation." In 1646 his name appears in the same records among a list of men who had evidently abandoned the settlement. The exact time at which he became a settler at Southold is un- known, but he was a resident here before 1649. He was a native of Norwich, England, and was born in 1608. Throughout his life he was the legal authority of the town, and pre-eminently the business man of the place, and it was through him that the purchases were made from the Indians of the region of Cutchogue, Mattituck and Ockabock, including the town of Riverhead. :As

the inscription on his tomb narrates, he was a "justice of the peace and first sheriff of Yorkshire," being ap- pointed to that position by Governor Nicolls in 1664. He died November 13th 1671, aged 63, and left a wife Mary, who afterward married Thomas Mapes. His first wife, Bridget, was the widow of Henry Tuthill, and had the following children: William, Joshua, Mary, Bethia and Mehetabel. His tomb may still be seen in the old burial ground, and after a lapse of two centuries is in a perfect state of preservation, thanks to the reverent care of his descendant the late William H. Wells. The mag- nificent genealogical work " William Wells of Southold and his Descendants," by Rev. Charles Wells Hayes, contains a full account of this illustrious man and his family.

John Budd, according to Moore's "Index," was in New Haven in June 1639, and signed an agreement as a freeman. He is reputed to have been one of the original company of settlers. The first actual knowledge we have of his presence on Long Island is in October 1644, when we find this entry in the Southampton records: "Mr. Jones hath the lott granted unto him which was formerly granted unto John Budd of Yeanocock" (Southold). This clearly indicates that he was a dweller there at a very early date. In 1645 "it is ordered that John Budd shall have graunted unto him 4 Acres of new ground adjoining to his other 4 acres, to make up an- 8-acre lott." In 1650 he is mentioned in Southampton as the owner of the water-mill and as running the same, and he is called "Lieutenant." In 1651 he appears as plaintiff in a suit against John Hubbard, but after that his name occurs no more. It is certain that he was a land owner in Southold in 1649, and left a large estate to his son John, who was one of the wealthiest men in the town. In 1657 he was deputy from Southold to New Haven. He removed to Westchester county about 1660, probably on account of some difficulty with his neigh- bors, and died there previous to 1670. He had children John, Joseph and Judith. None of his descendants are now found in this town.

Thomas Cooper was not, as some of the historians of a lot in Cutchogue.

Southold suppose, the same person who was among the first settlers in Southampton. The former died in 1658, leaving a wife Margaret and daughters Abigail and Mary, who married respectively Stephen Bayley and Elnathan Topping. The tombstone of Mary Topping is in the burying ground at Sagg (Bridgehampton), where she died April 26th 1704, aged 60. Thomas Cooper left a large estate to his widow and daughters.

Matthias Corwin was doubtless an original settler. Previous to his settlement here he was a resident at Ips- , wich, Mass. He was a man of the same rank as Colonel Youngs and Mr. Wells, and in 1656 was one of the men appointed to order town affairs, a position of great re- sponsibility. He died in 1658, leaving two sons, John and Theophilus, and a daughter Mary, who married Henry Case, the ancestor of the numerous family of that name. The descendants of Matthias Corwin are widely spread, and among them are to be found some who have held the highest positions in church and state.

John Conkling was not among the original company, but came here previous to 1651. Before this he was a resident at Salem. There are few families on Long Island that have exerted a wider influence. His brother Ananias was the founder of the East Hampton family. From his son Timothy are descended the families in the town of Huntington and the western part of the county; while from his sons John and Jacob are sprung the families in this town, and the name is found in all sec- tions of our country. He is said to have been a native of Nottinghamshire, England. Tradition states that he and William Salmon, the proprietor of Hashamomack, were neighbors and playmates in their boyhood days, and this is supposed to have been the reason why after a short stay in Southold village he removed to the neigh- borhood of his former companion. About 1661 .he re- moved to Huntington, and died there about 1683, at the supposed age of 83.

Few of the early settlers have left more distinguished descendants than Philemon Dickerson. In 1637 he came to America in the same vessel in which minister Youngs had vainly attempted to obtain a passage. In 1639 he appears at Salem, Mass., where in 1641 he was admitted as a freeman. He is supposed to have come to this town in 1646, but the date is unknown. He died in 1674, aged 74, and left sons Thomas and Peter. From these are sprung a numerous posterity, embracing some of the most noted public men of the land. In 1851 Hon. Mah- lon Dickerson, secretary of the navy, erected in the an- cient burying ground of this village a massive monument to the memory of his ancestors.

John Goldsmith, though not one of the first settlers, was a prominent citizen, and has left a numerous and respected posterity. He is supposed to have been the son of Thomas Goldsmith who was a resident in South- hampton in 1651, and was living there as late as 1677. In 1661 he bought of Richard Barrett his house and land. It was a part of this land that John Goldsmith sold to widow Margaret Cooper in 1678, in exchange for The deeds may be seen in Vol. I

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

printed records of Southold, p. 209, 210. He moved to this town at that time, and died in 1703, leaving chil- dren John, Richard, Nathaniel, Mary, Thomas, Daniel and Elizabeth.

Thomas Moore left England in 1635. In 1636 he and his wife Martha were admitted as members of Salem church, and they came to Southold about 1650. In 1658 he was deputy from this town to the general court at New Haven. He was appointed a magistrate by the Dutch officers in 1673; he declined, but accepted the position under English rule in 1685. He was a large land owner and a prominent man during his whole life. He died in 1691, leaving children Thomas, Martha, Ben- jamin, Nathaniel, Hannah, Jonathan, Mary and Sarah. His son Benjamin married Anne, daughter of James Hampton of Southampton, who came to that place from Salem. The descendants of this family are very numer- ous. Among them none is more worthy of respectful mention than Charles B. Moore, of New York, whose genealogical indexes must ever be an authority of the greatest weight upon the subject.

Colonel John Youngs, next to his venerable parent the minister, was justly considered the foremost man in the town, and there are few names in the early history of the county more prominent than his. He was born in 1623, early became master of a vessel, and was in active service against the Dutch. In 1654 he was appointed by the commissioners to cruise in the sound as a part of a naval force, and was actively engaged in this service two years. In 1660 and 1661 he was a delegate to New Haven, and after the union with Connecticut he was a delegate to Hartford. He assisted in collecting a mil- itary force to assist in the conquest of New Amsterdam, and was one of the representatives in the first Assembly at Hempstead under the Duke of York. Through him was obtained a new deed from the Indians, confirming their previous sales. He was one of the patentees in 1676, was made sheriff of Yorkshire, and was a member of the colonial council from 1683 to 1697. At the age of 70 he was in command of the militia regiment of 533 men. We have only time and space to briefly mention the offices he filled and the acts he performed, but the life and public services of this famous man must ever be a bright page in Long Island history. His eventful life closed in 1698. His tomb may still be seen in the ancient burial place, and the stone that covers his re- mains bears the following:

" Here lieth interred the body of Colonel IOHN YOVNGS Esquire, late one of His Maiestie's Covncel of On the corner where the main street turns to the south the Province of New York, who Departed this life the the first lot was Samuel King's, who owned it from

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