USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 108
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The first Presbyterian pastor in this village was Rev. Jo- seph Lamb, who was ordained December 4th 1717. He removed, at what time is not exactly known, but pre- vious to 1749. This parish was united with that of Lower Aquebogue, and June 10th 1752 Rev. Joseph Parks was installed pastor of the church, the total mem- bership in both places being 7 men and 15 women. Mr. Parks remained till 1756. We may form some idea of the real state of religious interest in this place at that day when we learn that, although he administered 92 baptisms and solemnized 23 marriages, only six persons were admitted to the communion.
In June 1756 Rev. Nehemiah Barker was settled here, and he remained as pastor of both this village and Aque- bogue till 1766; after that time he confined his labors to Mattituck. He died March 10th 1772, at the age of 52. Mr. Barker baptized 133, admitted to communion 30, and celebrated 57 marriages. For one year the pastor was Rev. Jesse Ives.
Rev. John Davenport, son of the pastor whose name
Rev. Benjamin Goldsmith took charge of this church, in connection with that of Aquebogue, of which he was pastor, in 1777, and retained it until his death, in 1810.
Rev. Benjamin Bailey was ordained November 6th 1811, and dismissed May 18th 1816.
He was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Reeve, who was a stated supply from 1817 to 1823, when, through ill health, he was compelled to desist from his ministerial it continued in the hands of his descendants for some labor. To the lasting credit of the congregation for generations. About 1816 it passed into the hands of Isaac Conklin, of East Hampton, who lived upon it, with his son George L. Conklin, who was supervisor several years, and member of Assembly. It is now principally owned by John Wells.
whose benefit he had so long labored he still retained the parsonage, and his support was continued till his death. He died April 9th 1833, at the age of 72.
Rev. Abraham Luce acted a supply for five years from 1825, preaching not only at this place but also at West Hampton; but after 1830 his labors were confined to this parish. He remained here till 1846, excepting two years when his place was supplied by Rev. Jonathan Huntting.
Rev. James T. Hamlin came in the spring of 1847, and was ordained and installed November 4th. He con- tinned in the faithful discharge of his duties as pastor till June 14th 1879, when he resigned, and it was voted that he remain as pastor emeritus, with the use of the parsonage during life, which position he still enjoys.
The present church was enlarged in 1871.
This parish was organized as separate from Aquebogue August 29th 1853.
Rev. William Hedges, son of Hon. Henry P. Hedges, of Bridgehampton, began his labors in this place as a stated supply, and still continues to act as pastor in charge, to the satisfaction and profit of his people; and his talent and industrious application to the duties of his sacred office point to a brilliant and useful future.
An Episcopal church was built in 1878, through the instrumentality of Rev. Thomas Cook of Riverhead.
PECONIC AND FRANKLINVILLE.
Peconic lies within the limits of the original town purchase, and the original laying out is not known. The tract lying between the two branches of Hutchinson's Creek was known in early times as the Indian Field, and was owned by John Corwin, who was also owner of the tract of land on which the Peconic railroad depot is situated, extending from the road which leads to the depot, on the east, to the land of William Horace Case on the west. The Indian Field is now the property of the heirs of Alvin Squires.
This village was formerly known by the name of " Hermitage," which was changed to Peconic when the post-office was established. The population in 1880 was 455.
Franklinville is a village partly in the southwest cor- ner of this town and partly in Riverhead. A Presby- terian church was erected here in 1831. The academy, which has been a noted institution, was founded in 1832. The population in 1880 was 128.
31
THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
Upon the north road which runs nearly parallel with the sound is a village known as "Oregon," which con- tains some forty houses in a fertile farming district.
HASHAMOMACK.
As has been stated in a former place, the first land purchased in Southold of which we have any written record was at Hashamomack. From another deed which is entered at considerable length in the town book it appears that James Farrett sold at some time, probably 1640, to Matthew Sinderland the greater part of this lo- cality; that the purchaser died without issue and left all his lands to his wife Katherine, who afterward married William Salmon, who thus came into possession of the land. After his wife's death he married Sarah Horton. After William Salmon's death John Conkling married his widow, and having bought the shares belonging to Sal- mon's children he became the sole owner, with the ex- ception of a portion which it seems Salmon had given to John Corey to induce him to come and live with him. Conkling, to make all sure, obtained a deed from the son of Wyandanch the Indian sachem. The boundaries of this tract as described in a deed from Paucump, sachem of Corchaug, to William Salmon in 1660 were.as follows: Tom's Creek (now Mill Creek) was the line on corner was to be at a place called Minnapangs, being as the deed says "a little pond and a parcel of trees stand- ing by it;" and thence the east line ran "south to a creek called Pawcuckatux." All the land east of this belonged to the town, by purchase made probably about 1649. In ancient times a fence was made from the head of Stirling Creek to the sound, and in February 1662 the town gave all the land between this fence and the bounds of the tract above described to Captain John Youngs, Thomas Moore, and the " Hashamomack inhab- itants"-that is, persons who by purchase or otherwise had become owners of the Salmon tract mentioned above. The fence above spoken of ran along the west line of the lands late of J. Newell Youngs and Jeremiah King (deceased). In dividing this tract the Hashamom- ack people took the part east of their own land. Thomas Moore took his part east of that bounded north by the sound and south by land he already owned there. The east part next to the fence fell to Captain Youngs. This grant embraced several hundred acres, and was given on condition that they should maintain the fence, which was to prevent cattle &c. straying off the Oyster Ponds Necks (now East Marion and Orient). William Salmon sold in 1649 three-fourths of his land to Henry Whitney, Edward Tredwell and Thomas Bene- dict. The house in which Salmon lived, and which may have been built by Matthew Sinderland himself, stood on the farm of William Wickham (deceased), some thirty rods south of the railroad. John Conkling, who was one of the very earliest here, had his house on the east side of Mill Creek, about twenty rods southeast of
the residence of Albert Albertson (deceased). John Corey's house stood very near to Conkling's.
The Hashamomack people were admitted as freemen of the town at a very early date. In accordance with an agreement made in 1684 John Conkling had a tract of 80 acres laid out to him. This tract is now owned by Richard B. Conklin and William H. H. Moore.
The population of Hashamomack in 1880 was 143.
ORIENT.
The whole extent of land lying east of a line running from the head of Stirling Creek to the sound was called in ancient times Oyster Ponds Upper and Lower Necks. The former is now known as East Marion, the latter as Orient. These lands were surveyed and divided among the freeholders, or owners of rights of commonage, in 1661. The lots ran north and south from bay to sound, and a single lot was 50 acres. The Youngs family chose to have their shares of the common lands in these necks rather than in the great western divisions, and part of their shares is even now in the possession of their de- scendants. We learn from a deed that the extreme point next to Plum Gut was drawn by Jerry Jones, who sold it to Giles Sylvester, who sold to Jeremiah Vale jr. in 1687. It descended from him to his heirs and re- mained in the family about 100 years, the last owner of the west and the sound on the north. The northeast] the name being Stephen Vail, great-grandson of the first, who left it about 1773. From 1800 to 1852 it was owned by Captain Jonathan Latham.
In 1670 Gideon Youngs recorded among his lands "eight small lots in the Oyster Ponds Lower Neck." This tract of 400 acres embraces almost all the village of Orient, which lies between the wharf and what is known as Narrow River. Gideon . Youngs was not a son of pastor Youngs, but of Captain Joseph Youngs, of whose history we know little. Gideon died in 1699. His descendants still own most of this valuable estate.
One of the first settlers here was Richard Brown, who had a house and 80 acres of land to the west of the Youngs tract above described. In 1668 he gave John Tuthill " six acres of land where his house now standeth," and this is probably the first appearance of John Tuthill at Oyster Ponds. In 1670 Abraham Whither had a farm and settled here. His land, which fronted Oyster Ponds harbor on the west and was called the "Hog Pond farm," still retains the name, and is now owned by J. Lewis Tuthill.
In 1679 Thomas Rider gave to his son-in-law John Higgins all his land at Oyster Ponds Upper Neck. This tract lies at East Marion, and is on the point opposite the extreme north point of Shelter Island. It has been in the Wiggins family ever since, and is now owned by William Wiggins.
Samuel King lived at Oyster Ponds Lower Neck in 1671. In 1685 Abraham Corey sold to John Tuthill 80 acres at Oyster Ponds Upper Neck, bounded east by Theodore Moore and west by John Wiggins, and extending from the sound to the bay. This tract lies at East Marion. It
32
THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
formerly belonged to Dr. Seth H. Tuthill, and is now occupied on the road by a large number of village lots.
The name Orient was given to what was previously called Oyster Ponds by a vote of the people in 1836.
In 1650 there were about six families in this vicinity. and in 1700 24. In 1750 there were 45, in 1800 60, and in 1855 136. According to the census of 1880 the population of Orient was 786 and that of East Marion 340.
ORIENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
A church was founded and a house for worship built previous to 1717. The earliest record we have found is this:
"David Youngs, in consideration of 5s. paid by the persons that have builded a meeting-house in ye Oyster Ponds Lower Neck, sells to them so long as they shall keep up a meeting-house all that piece of land that ye sd meeting-house stands upon; that is soe much land as the sd meeting-house stands upon, bounded west by Thomas Terry's land, south by ye highway, north and east by land of mee the sd David Youngs .- Jan. 1 1717."
According to "Griffin's Journal" (a work of the highest value wherever the venerable author speaks from his own knowledge, but wandering very far indeed from historic truth when he trusts to tradition) this building was a very singular edifice. "It was about 30 feet square, two stories high, and on the top another building about ten feet square and nine feet high, and then a finish something like the lower part of a steeple, with an iron spire which supported a sheet iron figure of a game cock, showing the course of the wind." This building stood for a century, and was torn down and a new one built on the same site in 1818. This being inconvenient a more elegant one was built on the same place in 1843, which still remains, a very neat and commodious edifice. We have seen that David Youngs in 1717 sold the site for 5s. When the present church was built a few rods of land were added at a cost of fifty dollars. Griffin quaintly observes: "Thus we see that five shillings in 1700 were worth four hundred shillings in 1843. How things change!"
The first clergyman who labored here of whom we have any knowledge was Rev. Jonathan Barber, who ac- cording to Griffin was here in 1735, and the records of the presbytery speak of him in 1757 as having been here " some years." At that time the church appears to have been in a very weak condition, and could hardly be said to be established.
The following is a list of pastors of this church since the removal of Mr. Barber:
William Adams, 1758, 1759; Joseph Lee, 1775; John Davenport, 1780-83; Alexander Caddle, 1785-88; Nehe- miah B. Cook, 1790; Isaac Overton, 1794-96; John Cram, 1799; Emerson Foster, 1801-6; Anderson, 1807; Ezra Haines, 1808-13; - Smith, 1814; Nathan Dickerson, 1815; Thomas James Deverel, 1819, 1820; Jonathan Robinson, 1824-28; Phineas Robinson, 1828- 33; Reuben Porter, 1835-37; Smith Gamage, 1837-39; Daniel Beers, 1839-44; Phineas Blakeman, 1846-48; Henry Clark, 1849-55.
ORIENT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodism was introduced in this village in the autumn of 1802, and the first preacher of that denomination was Rev John Finnagan, an Englishman. As in many other places at that time, there was much prejudice excited against the new sect, whose religious exercises were in those days not unfrequently conducted in a manner more likely to excite the ridicule of the profane than the ven- eration of the righteous. The first meetings were held in the school-house, contrary to the wishes of many, but before spring some of the prominent families of the place became more favorably inclined, and no further opposition was made. From Mr. Finnagan's departure in 1803 until 1820 there was very little preaching by any clergyman of this denomination, and the Rev. Cyrus Foss was the first who made any stay. That the preju- dice was fast wearing away is shown by the fact that the church was used by him when not occupied by the regu- lar pastor. The corner stone of the Methodist church was laid June 3d 1836, the services being conducted by Rev. Samuel W. King. From that time the pulpit bas been regularly supplied and the congregation is prosper- ous and increasing.
WHARF AND MILL.
About 1740 a wharf was built at this place by Richard Shaw, the east side of it being on the west line of the large tract of land which was originally owned by Gideon Youngs, as mentioned before. It is described as being about 16 feet wide, and not more than 70 in length. It was built of logs, and was a heap of ruins in 1774. On the site of the old wharf a new one was built in 1829 by Captain Caleb Dyer, but fell into decay in about nine- teen years. In 1848 a company was formed, which ob- tained a grant from the Legislature, and having pur- chased the rights of Captain Dyer proceeded to build the present substantial structure, which bids fair to last long years to come.
It is probable that in the earliest days of this village the inhabitants were under the necessity of going to Southold for the grinding of their grain. The great in- convenience of this led some of the people to unite in building a wind-mill on the south beach. This stood until 1760, when it was taken down and another erected. This remained till 1810, when the third was built on the same site, which still remains.
STORM AND DISEASE.
The venerable author of "Griffin's Journal " gives from his own experience a description of a remarkable storm, which we quote as an undoubtedly truthful ac- count:
" On the afternoon of the 24th of December 1811 the wind was light, from the west; at 11 P. M. very moderate, and cloudy, gentle breeze, S. E .; at 12 o'clock nearly calm, with a little sprinkle of rain. In one hour after it commenced almost instantaneously blowing a gale, with snow and the most intense cold. A more violent and
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE S P. RACKETT, GREENPORT, SUFFOLK CO., N. Y.
ORIENT POINT HOUSE.
ORIENT POINT HOUSE, ORIENT POINT. SUFFOLK COUNTY, LONG ISLAND, N.Y. M.B. PARSONS PROPRIETOR.
35
THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
destructive storm has not been known for the last hun- dred years. Many young cattle froze to death in the fields. Two vessels bound to New York were lost and most of the crews perished."
We may add here that it was long the opinion of the ignorant and superstitious that this storm was caused by the great comet which was visible that year.
Griffin also narrates the accounts he had heard of the: great snow storm of 1717, which was doubtless the most remarkable fall of snow that has ever occurred in this country since the settlement. Houses in Orient were buried to the second story windows, and one on Plum Island was entirely covered. Cotton Mather states that the snow in Boston was twenty feet in depth. This storm occurred in February. The winter of 1780 was remarka- bly cold, and the ice was so thick that Noah Terry rode on horseback from Orient Harbor to Shelter Island.
On the 23d of September 1815 occurred one of the severest easterly storms of rain and wind ever known, and it is still spoken of as the "September gale." About 11 A. M. the wind blew so violently as to unroof houses, blow down barns and uproot trees. The tide rose to a wonderful height, and Griffin narrates that one of the families living near the wharf came in a boat and landed near his house. The Atlantic coast was strewn with wrecks, and many a sailor sunk into a watery grave.
The year 1816 was remarkable as having a frost every month.
In the summer of 1849 this place was visited by a very fatal epidemic, to which physicians gave the name of "cholera dysentery." Within a space of half a mile there were more than sixty cases in two weeks. In the street leading to the wharf scarcely a house escaped. Mr. Griffin records that within a hundred rods of his house there were twelve deaths, and in one district one- fourth of a mile square thirty persons died in two months. All business was at a stand and the place seemed almost deserted.
THE ORIENT CEMETERY.
The ancient burying ground at Orient has an inter- est not only as the last resting place of our early set- tlers, but from the remarkable quaintness of some of the tombstone inscriptions. The oldest tombstone marks the grave of Gideon Youngs, the original owner of the land now occupied with the most flourishing and thickly settled part of the village. Below are some of the epitaphs to be seen here:
"Here lyeth ye body of Gideon Youngs, who de- parted this life in ye 61st year of his age, ye 31 day of December in ye year 1699."
"Beneath thia little Stone here lyes The Wife of William King, And tho' She's dead to Mortal Eyes She will revive again.
Lived four and Fifty Years a Wife, D'y'd in her Seventy seven,
Has now laid down her Mortal life In hopes to live in heaven.
"May ye 7th A. D. 1764."
In memory of Michel ye wife of nathan Tuthill who died in ye 22 year of her age.
" Benoath this little stone. Does my beloved lie. O Pity, pity me, Whoever passes by ; Or. Spend a sigh at least, Or Else a tear let fall-
On my Sweet Blooming Rose Whom GOD so soon Did call."
..
" Here Lyes Elizabeth, Once Samuel Beebe's Wife,
.
Who once was made a living Soul, But 's now Deprived of life ;
Yet firmly Did believe That at her Lord's return
She should be made a living Soul . In his own shap and form.
Lived four and thirty years a wife, Was Aged Fifty seven;
Has now lald down her mortal soul In hopes to live in Heaven.
:
-
" June 10 1716."
" Here lyeth Interred the Body of Richard King, who died May ye 20 1735, In ye 24th Year of his age.
" As you pass by behold and see; Aa I am now so must you be. Make sure of Christ to be your Friend, And peace shall be your latter end."
THE ORIENT POINT HOUSE.
The accompanying view of the Orient Point House is an excellent representation of one of the finest watering places in the United States. It is the oldest summer resort on Long Island, having a continuous record back to the year 1810. Orient Point received its present name about 30 years ago, from its beautiful view of the eastern sea. The first building was erected by the fa- ther of Joseph Latham. Daniel Latham kept the place forty years ago. The house as it now stands was pur- chased in 1860 by M. B. Parsons, its present popular proprietor, who enlarged it and made the reputation of Orient Point first-class in all respects.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES .*
CAPTAIN S. P. RACKETT.
The late Captain Sidney P. Rackett was born September 7th 1814, and died December 29th 1881 at. his home in) Greenport, at the age of 67 years. When he was 9 years old. ;his father died, and his mother, who was of the Sherrill family of East Hampton, married William Potter for her second husband. . Captain Rackett was twice married, first to Jane, daughter of Dr. Seth H. Tuthill, and second to Elizabeth Ludlam, of Cape May, N. J. Their. daughter Jennie, born in 1849, died in 1852. Their daughter Libbie, born May 2nd 1874, is still living. . ..
The facts of Captain Rackett's history and the estimater of his character furnished us by Hon. J. W. Case of- Southold, a lifelong and appreciative friend of the family, are as follows:
* Most of these were written by others than Mr. Pelletreau, the author of the foregoing history. .
.-
36
THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD.
"When a very small boy he started out into the fields of a neighboring farmer and worked several seasons for a small pittance. But his mind and his heart were upon the sea-his father was a water-man, and so were all his brothers, and it was not long before the blue chest of the young sailor was seen on board a fishing snack.
"Then he rested a short time only, and we find him in charge of a vessel. His capability and strict attention brought him tenders of the best vessels that were then afloat. In a few years he began to invest his savings in the capital stocks of the vessels he commanded, and made many profitable voyages to distant ports. He braved and overcame all obstacles, so that before he reached the age of three score years he was in possession of ample means to leave the sea and rest upon the shore. In 1855 he bought a choice parcel of land in Greenport village, called Stirling Dale, bordering upon Stirling Harbor, on which were ample buildings and beautiful surroundings. Here he resided till his death, engaged in the improvement of his harbor front and wharf, in the erection of buildings and in the discharge of his public trusts as an officer of the village corporation.
"The habits of industry and perseverance and the application of good judgment in whatever he undertook characterized not only the early years of his life, but manifested themselves in all the acts of his later years. They formed, joined with his probity, his energy and his courtesy, the corner stone of his ultimate eminent suc- cess. He could never brook needless delays-he was a man of action, and had no patience with a lazy man. He was a plain, good man, making no pretensions, and indulging in no ostentatious displays. He was a warm, earnest, ever-abiding Democrat in politics. He was a liberal, fearless thinker and talker, belonging to no church, but always ready to advance the moralities upon which the welfare of society depends. He took very de- cided ground in temperance matters, refusing to grant licenses when he was in office, and in every reason- able way doing what he could to save young men from the terrible power of alcoholic drink. With all his peculiarities he aimed to be right and to do right, and was always ready to render a reason for his faith and for his deeds."
REV. DANIEL BEERS.
The subject of this sketch, who was so many years connected with the churches of Long Island, and whose influence was so widely extended, was born in Fairfield, Conn., June 24th 1787. When about 16 years of age he removed with his parents to Franklin, Delaware county, N. Y. It was here that he commenced his studies for the Presbyterian ministry. Subsequently he pursued his studies with several ministers, especially un- der the directions of Rev. Dr. Williston of Durham. His first call was to the church in Lexington (now Jewett), Greene county. Here he was ordained and installed in November 1812. In this place he lived, fulfilling the duties of the office with acceptance, for seven years. He then resigned his charge and removed to Cairo, in which place he was an efficient and successful minister for the next ten years, during which time he was exceedingly active as an advocate of the temperance cause. After resigning this charge he preached six months in Madi- son, N. J.
In 1829 he received a call to Southampton, L. I.,
and accepted, joining the Long Island Presbytery April 20th 1830. That his ability was appreciated is attested by the fact that the next day he was appointed to draft a confession of faith and form of covenant, which are still in use in the churches. He was installed at South- ampton June 8th 1830, at which time the church was in a low condition, with only 112 members, and under his labors it was more than doubled in the space of four years. What has rendered his name worthy of lasting remembrance in that village is the fact that by his ener- gy and zeal the Southampton Academy was founded, and the educational facilities of the place vastly increased.
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