History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 105

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 105

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"A true list of the Company under my command. " JONATHAN BAYLEY." " HARTFORD, 31 August 1776.

"DEAR SIR: I find there is an express going from here to New York, by which I think it my duty to inform you that by Col. Robinson I am informed that the regulars have been down on the plains, & that he thinks it unsafe for you to pass into any part of Queens County. No doubt you have heard the melancholy tidings that our worthy friend General Woodhull is a prisoner, wounded in the head & a bayonet run thro' his arm. His wound on his head was bad. He was taken at Increase Car- penter's, alone, in the afternoon, expecting himself at a place of safety. I have this information from Col. Robinson of Jamaica, who says it may be depended on. I am going eastward, in order to send over a boat.

" I am, Sir, Your very humble Serv't,

"EZRA L'HOMMEDIEU."

Endorsed: " To Col. Josiah Smith on the road with his Regiment from New York Eastward."

After the battle of Brooklyn Colonel Henry B. Living- ston, who had been stationed at Southold, formed the daring plan to rally all the militia of the county, and make a desperate attempt to drive the enemy off the island. The fact of the companies being mostly dis- banded and many of the officers removed to Connecticut prevented the attempted plan.

Of the captains mentioned above Paul Reeves died in 1822, at the age of 90, and his grave is at Upper Aque- bogue. Jonathan Bailey removed to Orange county and was in the battle of Minisink. He died in 1814.

September 5th 1778 Governor Tryon reported that he had just arrived from the east end of Long Island with a detachment of 1,000 troops, which he had marched there to secure the peaceable behavior of the inhabitants, and to assist the commissary in getting 1,000 fat cattle for the army. While there he administered to the people oaths of fidelity to the British government. As a curiosity we give here a copy of one of the oaths which were administered by him. It is doubtful if an- other can be found. It was lately discovered among some old documents in the Tuthill family at Speonk.

" I do hereby certify that James Tuthill, of Southold Township, has voluntarily sworn before me to bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, and that he will not, directly or indirectly, openly or secretly, aid, abet, counsel, shelter, or conceal any of his Majestie's enemies and those of his Government, or molest or betray the Friends of Government; but that he will behave himself peaceably and quietly, as a faithful Subject of his Majesty and his Government.

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

"Given under my Hand on Long Island this 2nd it should appear that more were required ; provided such Sept. 1778.

"WM. TRYON, Govnr."

Such was the last legacy of the last British governor of the province of New York. From the time when the first governor, Richard Nicolls, thundered forth his sum- mons to the city of New Amsterdam to surrender to the power of England there had elapsed a period of 114 years. Within these limits was comprised our history as a colonial province, and the time had come when Eng- land and America were to be severed as parts of a mighty empire. It would seem as if the shades of Nicolls and Andros must have looked with contempt upon their latest successor, whose weakness was in utter contrast to their wills of iron.

ACTION RELATIVE TO THE REBELLION.

A special mass town meeting was held September 2nd 1862 and it was resolved that this town would make good the U. S. bounty to all who should enlist from the town, or who had enlisted since the U. S. bounty ceased, and after July 2nd 1862. The supervisor was authorized to borrow money for this purpose, and also to pay the fan- ilies of all volunteers who had enlisted since July 2nd 1862 at the rate of $8 per month to the wife and $2 each to the children between the ages of two and ten years, while the volunteer was in the service. Those citizens who had pledged themselves to the support of families of volun- teers were absolved from further expense on this account.

At a special town meeting held February 2nd 1863 the inhabitants and tax-payers agreed to assume the pay- ment of such an amount as should be necessary to obtain enough volunteers to fill the town's quota under the draft of March Ioth ; provided that not more than $400 per volunteer should be paid by the supervisor.

At the annual town meeting held April 7th 1863 $10,000 was voted for that year, so much of the same as was necessary to be used to meet the liabilities incurred by the supervisor for the payment of expenses connected with the war.

At the annual town meeting held April 5th 1864 the supervisor was directed to procure a sufficient number of substitutes to fill the quota of this town under a pending draft, providing that they could be obtained for a sum not exceeding $400 per substitute ; and to furnish the amount required the supervisor was directed to issue bonds payable within twenty years, with interest not exceeding 7 per cent. per annum. If the draft took place in this town the supervisor was to pay each person drafted who should personally go into service the sum of $400. It was resolved that $20,000 be raised by tax in 1864, and that so much of it as was necessary be used by the supervisor for the payment of war expenses.

At a special town meeting held June 8th 1864 the su- pervisor was directed to proceed immediately to procure volunteers to the number of 85 as the assumed quota of this town for an anticipated call, and it was ordered that as soon as the actual order for enlistments was made the supervisor should continue to procure such volunteers if

volunteers could be obtained for a sum not exceeding $400 each. The supervisor was directed to borrow the necessary funds on the credit of the town. In case of a draft the supervisor was to procure substitutes for draft- ed persons, provided they could be obtained for a sum not exceeding $400 apiece ; or, failing to do so, was to pay the drafted men $400 each.

A special town meeting was held July 30th 1864, when the supervisor was empowered to fill the quota of this town under the draft ordered for the 5th of September next with substitutes or volunteers-for three years, or two years, or one year, at his discretion-and to borrow money sufficient for this purpose. It was resolved that those persons who had paid $300 to procure substitutes under the recent arrangements of the supervisor for that purpose have $100 refunded.

A special town meeting was held December 29th 1864, and the supervisor was requested immediately to procure on the most favorable terms that he could a sufficient number of volunteers or substitutes for either one, two or three years, at his discretion-to fill the quota of the town under the call made the 10th day of that month for 300,000 men, to be obtained by a draft on the 15th of February following ; and to employ-at the expense of the town-such assistance as he deemed necessary in procuring such volunteers or substitutes. If any inhabit- ant of the town wished to furnish a substitute for himself to be credited to the said quota of this town, and for this purpose paid the supervisor $200, the supervisor might procure a proper substitute for such person at the expense of the town for whatever amount was required. In case of a draft becoming necessary the supervisor was to procure substitutes for persons drafted, on the best terms that he could, at the expense of the town ; pro- vided, however, that each drafted man held for service for whom a substitute was obtained should pay $200 of the expense incurred in obtaining the substitute. The supervisor was authorized to borrow on the credit of the town whatever amount of money might be required, and to issue town bonds.

The annual town meeting held April 4th 1865 voted that $27,900 be raised by tax that year, and that so much thereof as was necessary be applied by the super- visor to the payment of expenses which had arisen from the war.

Resolutions were annually passed from this time to pay the interest on the "war bonds" and the bonds themselves, until the debt was extinguished in 1871.

ROBINS ISLAND.

James Farrett, agent of the Earl of Stirling, was granted the privilege of selecting as his own property 12,000 acres of land, and as a part of this grant he chose Robins Island. In 1641 he sold it to Stephen Goodyear, who conveyed it to Nathaniel Sylvester and company, and in 1665 a deed for it was given by the Indians. The next we know of it is from the will of Joseph Wickham, who

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

was a resident of Cutchogue, to which place he removed from Southampton. He died in 1734 and left it to his son Joseph, who died in 1749. In 1779 the island was in the possession of his son Parker Wickham, but how it came to be his we do not know. His adherence to the cause of Great Britain caused the confiscation of his estate after the Revolution, and in 1784 it was sold by the commissioners of forfeitures to Benjamin Talmage and Caleb Brewster, for £1,250. They sold the island to Ezra L'Hommedieu in 1793, and after his death his executors conveyed it to Colonel Benjamin Horton and James Reeves for $4,000. These owners sold shares of the island to various parties. In 1851 it seems to have been owned by J. H. Wooster and James F. Goodale, and in 1857 the whole was purchased by Ira B. Tut- hill. He sold it in 1873 to James Wilson of New York, for $20,000. After much litigation it came once more into the hands of Mr. Tuthill, who in 1881 sold it to a company of sportsmen, represented by Abraham Ingra- ham of New York, for $22,000, and it is now used as a game preserve.

The island contains 469 acres. Clay of the finest is most fertile, being covered with grass, affording un- kind is found in the northern part, and brick-making to a large extent has been carried on for twenty years.

FISHER'S ISLAND.

This island is a part of the town of Southold, and is situated at the head of Long Island Sound. The history of this county affords very few instances of an estate descending in the same family from generation to genera- tion. In 1668 John Winthrop, "governor of His Majes- ty's colony of Connecticut," received from Richard Nicolls a patent granting unto him Fisher's Island. This property had been in his possession for some time previ- ous, and was known as " the governor's farme of Fysher's Island." Governor Winthrop died in 1676, aged 71 years, leaving two sons, to the elder of whom, Fitz John Winthrop, the island descended according to then exist- ing laws of primogeniture. Fitz John Winthrop was governor of Stirling Castle and a general in Monk's army, and in 1698 became governor of Connecticut. He died in 1707, leaving no male issue, and the island descended to his brother, Wait-Still Winthrop.

Wait-Still Winthrop was chief justice of the Massa- chusetts Bay colony, and major general of its militia. He died in 1717, and the island became the property of his only son, John.

John Winthrop died in England in the year 1747, and by his will devised Fisher's Island to his eldest son, John Still.

By the will of John Still Winthrop the estate came into the hands of his eldest son, John, in 1776.

In 1780 John Winthrop died intestate, and his brother, Francis Bayard, succeeded to the property.

Francis Bayard Winthrop died in 1818, leaving the island to his four sons, John Still, Francis Bayard, Wil- liam Henry and Thomas Charles Winthrop.

Between April 23d 1818 and February 28th 1825 three of the brothers conveyed their interests to William

Henry Winthrop, who thereupon became the owner in fee of the whole of the island.

William H. Winthrop died in 1860, and upon the death of his wife, in 1863, his two sons, William H. and Thomas R. Winthrop, inherited the estate.

Fisher's Island thus remained in the Winthrop family for nearly 200 years, and it only passed out of their hands in the year 1863, when the two last-mentioned owners sold it to George Chester, who immediately conveyed it to its late owner, Robert R. Fox, who dwelt thereon from the time of his purchase ; devoting large sums of money and untiring energy to its development and im- provement, until his death, which occurred September 24th 1871.

Being only four miles from Stonington and seven miles from New London, Fisher's Island is easy of access from New York by the New London and Stonington lines of steamboats and the Shore line Railroad, and from Boston by the Boston and Providence Railroad. The island is seven miles long, and from half a mile to a mile and a quar- ter in width, and contains about 3,000 acres of land. It equaled facilities for grazing cattle and sheep.

This island was sold at auction by the executor of the will of Mr. Fox, on June 15th 1875, and was conveyed to a trustee for the benefit of the children of the late owner.

FIGURES FROM THE RECORDS.

In a letter dated February 22 1650, found in the Colonial Documents, Southold is mentioned as having 30 houses ; this would indicate a population of about 180.

In 1698 there were 132 families, making a white popu- lation of 800 ; there were also 40 Indians and 41 slaves. The population in 1880 was 7,267.

'The assessment of 1881 was : Real estate, $1,611,650; personal, $414,300 ; total, $2,025,950. The following record of 200 years ago foots up very differently :

" The estimation of Southold for ye year 1683; Stephen Bailey Constable, Thomas Moore senr., Benjamen Youngs, Johnathan Horton, Thomas Mapps jr., Overseers: "

John Budd £350 ; Jarimiah Vaell sen., £74 ; John Paine jr, £40 ; Jasper Griffing, {III ; Henry Case, £35; Lott Johnson, £19; Simon Grouer, £73; Nathaniel Moore, £46; Thomas Moore £49; Joseph Youngs, £98; Samuel Youngs, 684 ; Peter Paine, £56 ; Christopher Youngs, £80 ; Stephen Bailey, £103 ; John Bailey, £18 ; John Youngs, mariner, £58 ; Benjamin Youngs, £123 ; John Salmon, £41 ; John Booth, £131 ; John Carwine, £131 6s. 8d. ; Thomas Prickman, £42 ; Jonathan Hor- ton, £440 135. 4d. ; Richard Benjamin, £133 ; Ben- jamin Moore, {80 Ios. ; Jarimiah Vaell jr, £103 ; John Hallock, £80 ; Abraham Corey, £76; Ann Elton, £77 ; Joshua Horton, £173 ; Isaac Overton, 5100 105. Barnbas Winds, {122 ; Jacob Corey, £92; Theophilus Case, £109 ; Widow Terry, £97 ; John Reeves, £76 ; Daniel Terry, £141 ; Peter Dickerson, £121 ; Thomas Dickerson, £83 ; Joseph Reeves, £65 ; Nathaniel Ferry, £73 ; William Wells, £85 ; Josiah Wells, £81 ; Samuel Winds, £82 ; Simon Benjamin, £117 ; Gersh- om Terry, £84; John Goldsmith, £121 ; Thomas Mapes jr, £128 ; Caleb Horton, £350 ; Benjamin Hor- ton, £267 ; William Colman, 678; William Reeves, £100; Thomas Tuston, 666; Theophilus Curwin, £84;

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

Thomas Mapes sen, £ 244; James Reeves, £228; Thomas Terrill, £105 ; Peter Haldriag, £40 ; Thomas Osman, £228 ; John Osman, £50; William Hallock, £236; Thomas Hallock, £81 ; John Swazey, £ 202; Joseph Swazey, £99; John Franklin, £33; Thomas Rider, £166; Jacob Conkling, £101; John Hopson, £83; John Conk- ling, £321; William Hopkins, £46; John Rackett, £57; Jonathan Moore, £202 ; John Young jr, £225 ; Chris- topher Youngs, £44; Timothy Martin, £57 ; John Wig- gins, £68; Thomas Moore jr., £137; Richard Brown sen., Richard Brown jr., and Jonathan Brown, £386 ; John Tutoll sen., £239 ; John Tutoll jr., £99; Samuel King, £150; Abraham Whitter, £180 ; Thomas Terry, £139; Gideon Youngs, £173 ; John Paine sen., £94; Edward Petty, £62 ; John Loring, 76; Samuel Glover, £104; Caleb Curtis, £108 ; Cornelius Paine, £81; Richard Howell, £98 ; Thomas Booth, £45 ; John Lyman, £18; Ebenezer Davie, £30 ; Richard Edgcomb, £18 ; John Booth jr., £18; Jonathan Reeves, £30.

" Ve totall sum is, £10,819, pr Stephen Bayley, town clerk."

Endorsed, "So hold the Esteemation for ye year 1683."

The supervisors and town clerks of Southold have been as follows:

Supervisors .- Joshua Wells, 1753.59; Captain James Fanning, 1760-66; Parker Wickham, 1767-74, 1777; Thomas Youngs, 1775, 1776, 1783, 1784; Daniel Osman, 1778; Daniel Osman jr., 1779-82; Daniel Osborn, 1785, 1786; Jared Landon, 1787-89, 1791-95; Daniel Wells, 1790 ; Joshua Benjamin, 1796; Thomas Moore, 1797- 1801, 1803 (died in office); Benjamin Horton, 1802; Daniel T. Terry, 1803-7, 1813, 1821; William Albertson, 1808-II; Hazard L. Moore, 1812; Ebenezer W. Case, 1814-16; Samuel Dickinson, 1817-20; Joshua Fleet, 1822; George L. Conklin, 1823-31; Joseph C. Albertson, 1832-35; Seth H. Tuthill, 1836, 1837, 1838-40, 1843; J. Wickham Case, 1841, 1842, 1851; Hutchinson H. Case, 1844; Joseph Moore, 1845; Henry Pike, 1846; Albert Albertson, 1847-50; Walter Havens, 1852; Ira Corwin (died the day after election), 1853; David G. Floyd, 1853, 1854; Samuel H. Townsend, 1855; Oliver Corey, 1856; John O. Ireland, 1857-63; Franklin H. Overton, 1864-71, 1881; Henry A. Reeves, 1872-80, 1882.

Town Clerks .- William Wells, 1641(?)-62; Richard Terry, 1662-84; Stephen Bayley, 1684-96; Benjamin Youngs, 1696-1742; Jonathan Horton, 1743, 1744; Robert Hempsted, 1745-78; James Reeves, 1779-88, 1790, 1791; Jared Landon, 1789; John Franks, 1792-96, 1699, 1802; Hazard L. Moore, 1797, 1798; Jonathan Horton, 1803; Thomas S. Lester, 1804-10, 1814-17; Ebenezer W. Case, 1811-13, 1818-23; Samuel H. Moore, 1824-27; Rensselaer Horton, 1828; Seth H. Tuthill, 1829, 1830; Giles Wells, 1831, 1832; J. Wickham Case, 1833-40; Salter S. Horton, 1841-46; Thomas S. Lester (2), 1847; J. Halsey Tuthill, 1848, 1849; Alvah S. Mul- ford, 1850; Edward Huntting, 1851; Jeremiah Gold- smith, 1852; Henry Huntting, 1853; Franklin H. Over- ton, 1854; Jonathan W. Huntting, 1855-73; J. Albertson Case, 1873-78; Henry W. Prince, since 1879.

SOUTHOLD VILLAGE.

THE OLDEST CHURCH ON LONG ISLAND.

Whatever . doubt may exist as to the time when the settlement was made, there can be none whatever that the church organized at New Haven on the 21st of Oc -. |

tober 1640, which with minister Youngs at its head as its acknowledged leader left at once for its new home, is the oldest religious organization on Long Island.

The first church edifice was built upon the north end of the present cemetery in the village of Southold. How the town became possessed of this land we do not know. It seems to have been originally about an acre in extent, but has been enlarged at various times to its present size. The building itself stood near the northeast part of the lot, and the exact place is marked by a depression in the soil, which is the place of a subterranean cell, or dungeon, made when the building was transformed into a prison. Concerning this transformation we have the following record :

"December ye 15 1684 .- Ther was then by vote Samuel Youngs and Thomas Clarke, both carpenters, to vewe and apprize ye old meeting-house, in order to make a County prison of said house ; and upon their returns they gave in they valued the Body of the house at Thirty five pounds. Ye four cedar windows left out of ye new meeting-house was sold to Jonathan Horton for three pounds in town payment."

Cedar windows must have been expensive things when we compare the price charged with other articles at that date. Concerning the size, shape, or d'ate of building of the first church we know nothing. The record as given above shows the approximate time of the building of the second church. This was built on the north side of the street and nearly opposite the first one. In 1699 it was found necessary to enlarge its accomodations by building a gallery, and the following account is on record :

To Samuel Clark for building ye galere £15 IOS. Received of Samuel Clark for boards and nails

left of ye galere 4s.

Paid Jacob Conkling for banesters 5S.

Samuel Conkling for bringing ye banesters 6s 9d.

Joshua Wells for carting timber for ye galere 9s. We also find in 1701 Hannah Corwin allowed £2 IS. 8d. "for sweeping Meeting-house, and tending with ye baptism basin."

The third church was built in 1761, and stood on the site of the second. Very soon after its erection it was voted " to build a flatter roof upon the Meeting-house ;" and about the same time an order was made to seat the people according to rank, dignity, official duties and other considerations. How that was effected we do not know, but if we follow the analogy of churches in other towns we may conclude that the following was about the system adopted : The communion table was directly in front of the pulpit, and between them were seats for the. magistrates, where they in their dignity could overlook the congregation, and near them were the deacons of the church. The seats in front and nearest the communion table would be occupied by prominent officials of the town and the wealthiest men. The men and women did not sit together, but on opposite sides of the building, but the wife of each man had a seat of equal honor and advantage. The rear seats and the gallery were for the slaves and young men who did not prefer to sit with the older people. We may add here that probably the last

2 1

THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.

relic of these ancient usages is kept up in the church among the Shinecock Indians, where the deacons still have their seats by the communion table, according to ancient style.

The fourth and present church edifice was built in 1803.

An interesting and important part of the history of this old church will be found in the following sketches of its pastors :

Rev. John Youngs .- Concerning the first pastor, Rev. John Youngs, but little remains to be said. He contin- ues in the work of the ministry at the head of the church until his death. The record shows him to have been possessed of large amounts of real estate, which he di- vided among his sons before his decease. The inventory of his personal property, which throws light upon the style of living in those primitive days, is here given :

In wooden ware, and two old bedsteads, an old chest and 3 chayers, 2 tables & a forme & boule and tray, £2 ; 2 kettles, 2 pots and pot hooks, E3 ; In pewter, £2 ; 2 old beds & boulsters, blankets, one rugg and curtains and valancings, £4; linen and sheets and pillow bars, £2 10s. ; 5 oxen and one lame steer, and one cow and 2 of 2 years old, and one half steer, one yearling, £27 Ios. ; one horse, £3 ; 24 sheep, £12 ; 3 small swine, £2 ; 3 chains, plow yrons and cart yrons, £4; house and land, £30 ; old books by Mr. Hobart prized at $5 ; -£97.

Our knowledge of the personal characteristics of min- ister Youngs is exceedingly limited. He was without doubt a scholar and well read in the theological lore of his day. A copy of the works of William Perkins, a writer upon Calvinistic theology, which once belonged to Mr. Youngs is now in the library of the New Haven Colony Historical Society.

In the ancient graveyard, and near the site of the church in which for more than thirty years he proclaimed the word of God, may be seen his monument, bearing this inscription:

MR. JOHN YONGS MINISTER OF THE WORD AND FIRST SETLER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN SOVTH HOVLD ON LONG ISLAND DECEASED THE 24 OF FEBRVARY IN THE VEARE OF OVR LORD 16712 AND OF HIS AGE 74.

HERE LIES THE MAN WHOSE DOCTRINE LIFE WELL KNOWEN

DID SHEW HE SOVGHT CHRISTS HONOVR NOT HIS OWEN

IN WEAKNES SOWN IN POWER RAISD SHALL BE

BY CHRIST FROM DEATH TO LIFE ETERNALLY.

Rev. Joshua Hobart .- A town founded on the prin- ciples which actuated the settlers of this village could not remain long without a pastor, and soon after Mr. Youngs's death we find the following action taken:

"April ye 1 1672 .- At a plenary meeting then held in Southold it was voted then and agreed that the inhabi- tants would provide themselves of an honest godly man to performe the offis of minister amongst them, and that they would alow and pay to the said minister sixty pounds sterling by the year. And that this pay should be raised rate wise by estate, as other Rates are raised, upon

all the inhabitants. To which end it was agreed uppon by vote that Capt. John Youngs should go into the Bay, and use his best endeavor for the obtaing of such a man above mentioned to live amongst us. And also agreed that he the said John Youngs should have five pounds for his labors, and to dispatch this his trust some time betwixt the date hereof and the 29th of the next Septem- ber; the which he promised to doe."

In pursuance of these directions Captain Youngs went to Massachusetts and procured the services of Rev. Joshua Hobart. Thanks to the investigations of Hon. Solomon Lincoln, the historian of Hingham, Mass., we have considerable information as to the personal history of Mr. Hobart. He was a son of Rev. Peter Hobart, the first minister of Hingham; was born in England in 1629, and came to this country with his parents and three other children in 1635. He graduated at Harvard in 1650, and in 1655 went to Barbadoes, and while there married Margaret Vassal, daughter of William Vassal. Thence he went to London, but returned to New Eng- land in 1669. His wife Margaret having died in 1657 he married Mary Rainsford at Boston January 16th 1671. In October 1674 he was ordained and settled at Southold, though he was here as early as May of that year and preached as a sort of supply. It is needless to say that the town made liberal provision for his support. In addition to the salary agreed upon there were voted to him 30 acres of woodland " toward the North Sea," a tract of land on Hallock's Neck, all the meadow in Little Hog Neck, and a second lot (or a double share) of commonage. His yearly payments were to end on, New Year's day (March 25th as it was then). His salary for the first four years was £80, so that he possessed quite an advantage over Goldsmith's village pastor, who was " passing rich with forty pounds a year." The follow- ing may serve as a sample of the receipts given by him to the town officials :

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