USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 19
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 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Under the internal revenue act, which was called into existence by the necessities of the war, the assistant assessors appointed for the different localities of Suffolk county were: Edmund A. Bunce, Huntington; Edwin A. Smith, Smithtown; Philander T. Hawkins, Islip; George C. Campbell and John Roe sen., Brookhaven; David F. Vail, Riverhead; Jonathan W. Huntting, Southold; Hiram L. Sherry, Easthampton; Daniel Y. Bellows, Southampton. The income tax in Suffolk amounted to more than all the other taxes combined. The largest ever paid by a single individual was that of Thomas Garner sen., of Islip, on an annual income of $150,000. The greater part of the taxes imposed by the act have for many years been abolished, and with them the offices of assessor and assistant assessor. The whole work of the internal revenue business in Suffolk has been given to one office, that of a deputy collector, which 'from its creation to the present time has been filled by Philander J. Hawkins, of Islip. The principal revenue is now derived from the tax on licenses for selling liquors and tobacco, and the manufacture and sale of segars. There were in 1880 thirty-seven segar manufactories in opera- tion in the county, and the revenue collected on segars sold during the year amounted to $19,542.60.
CHAPTER VIII.
PHYSICAL FEATURES-CLIMATE-INDUSTRIES-MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
UFFOLK COUNTY is bounded on the west by Queens county, and is surrounded on all other sides by Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Its area, including all meadows, marshes, bays and harbors, is 1,200 square miles, though only about three- fourths of that amount is solid land. The coun-
80
HISTORY OF SUFFOLK COUNTY.
ty is 90 miles in length, and at the west end the greatest |only 2.3 per cent. of the native white population of New width is 20 miles.
The surface is elevated and broken along the north side, and low and flat along the south side. Through the middle from west to east runs a chain of hills, in which is found the highest land of the county. One of these hills, near the west end of the county, is called " Jayne's," or "Oakley's " hill, and has the reputation of being the highest point; it rises 354 feet above tide water.
Numerous springs of fresh water burst from the hill- sides about the shores of the north side, and from the low marshes of the south side, where they supply fre- quent streams. The largest of these streams furnish power for grist-mills, and the smaller ones afford excel- lent facilities for the cultivation of trout, to which pur-
Fully two thirds of the land area of the county is still unimproved. Only a part of this large extent is occu- pied by thrifty forest growth, and that portion, owing to the frequency of devastating fires, is rapidly becoming less. But little of the forest land is profitable to its owners, while a large part of what was once occupied by healthy timber growth is now practically a waste, covered by a sea of worthless scrub-growth from which here and there a single tree rears its ragged crown. The business of cutting and marketing cordwood, which once employ- ed many men, has been almost abandoned on account of the degeneration of the forests and the universal intro- duction of coal. The bays which break in upon the shore on all sides afford rich stores of fish, eels, oysters, clams, crabs, scallops and other species of animal life, besides the vegetable matter of different kinds which is gathered from the waters for use as fertilizing material upon the adjoining farms. Besides the employment which these bay fisheries give to thousands, and the mines of wealth which the farmers draw from the water, these bays and creeks offer a great attraction to sportsmen in the num- bers of water-fowl which frequent them. We estimate that Suffolk county has a shore line, bordering on salt water, counting that on the bays, sound and ocean, of not less than six hundred miles.
In salubrity of climate the reputation of Suffolk is good. The longevity of the people is a subject of fre- quent remark. The fact is developed by statistics that
York State reach the age of 70 years, but 3.8 per cent. of the same class in Suffolk county reach that age. The variations of temperature range during the year from 90ยบ down to zero. These extremes are rarely passed, and they are reached on but a few days in any year.
Within the last decade malarial diseases have become more common than they ever were before, though even now they can hardly be called prevalent. Ten years ago the memory of the often quoted "oldest inhabitant " could scarcely recall a case of chills and fever. We may almost say that the disease was absolutely unknown here, except in isolated cases that had been brought from some other part. During latter years it has become common in some localities.
As has been already intimated, the fisheries in the bays pose a great many of them have been devoted. Some and adjacent waters furnish employment to a large class parts of the interior abound in fresh water ponds, many of which have neither outlet nor inlet. of people. Modern enterprise has carried these fisheries beyond the bays into the sound and ocean. Bass, cod The soil of the northern part is a heavy, rich loam. That in the southern part is lighter, but affords many fertile spots. The Hampton peninsula-by which we mean all that part of the island east of Canoe Place- though on the south side contains some of the richest farming land in the county. The central belt, which is traversed by the range of hills spoken of, presents a great variety. In it hills of sand and gravel alternate with marshes, from which a number of streams course away to fall into the neighboring harbors or bays, while patches of fertile bottom and beds of clay and peat are frequently to be found. and blue-fish are caught in their season. The most com- mon fish is the menhaden. Fish of this kind were for- merly used mainly as a fertilizer, but within thirty years the business of extracting oil from them has sprung up. Factories have been established upon the shores for this purpose, and fleets of vessels during the season are con- stantly cruising the waters, especially about the east end, in search of " schools " of these fish. In recent years steam vessels have been introduced into this business, and the manufacture of oil by improved apparatus on an enlarged scale engrosses an immense amount of capital. The refuse after the oil has been extracted from the fish is a valuable fertilizer, and finds a ready market among the farmers ..
Of the bivalve fisheries the oyster furnishes the most important. In addition to the natural beds, which abound in many of the bays, the producing area has been largely increased by cultivation. Within a few years the de- mand for exportation to Europe has enhanced the prices and given an increased impetus to the business. Clams and scallops are taken in most of the bays, and from some points they are shipped in considerable quanti- ties to New York, New England and other parts of the country.
The whale fishery as an important interest began almost with the settlement of the first towns. Boats were kept in readiness, and whenever a whale was discovered off the shore a company of the inhabitants would man thein and pull off to capture it. This practice was pursued with profitable results for a long time. Even to the present day the apparatus is kept in readiness upon the Hampton shore, but occasions for its use do not occur so often as they once did. A few vessels had been fitted out to cruise for whales before the Revolutionary war, and soon after that time the enterprise developed with greater rapidity. The height of its prosperity was reached about forty years ago, and was soon followed by a rapid decline. During its palmy days nearly every maritime village of the county was more or less inter- ested in it, but there are now but few persons here en-
8 r
AGRICULTURE IN SUFFOLK COUNTY-ROADS.
gaged in the business and but very little capital in- vested.
Ship-building has engaged the attention of most of the seaport villages. It has been carried on most exten- sively in the villages lying near the sound, some of which have been built up and sustained by it more than by any other agency. Like the whale fishery it has seen its palmy days and seems now on the decline. Foreign and coastwise commerce has from an early period en- gaged a large part of the inhabitants of this county, as sea captains and sailors, and occupied a large share of their surplus capital.
Suffolk is not a manufacturing county, Agriculture and commerce give the people their chief employments. A few distilleries were in operation something like a cen- tury ago, and woolen factories were more common till a later date; but these, with the exception of a single woolen mill, together with all the accessories of the home manufacture of cloth, the village hatters and the itinerant shoemakers, are numbered with the things of the past. Grist-mills,-some run by water, some by wind, and some by steam,-turning, planing and mould- ing-mills, and straw-board paper-mills, are the most fre- quent manufacturing establishments at present to be met with. Manufactories of cotton, rubber, segars, carriages, leather, pottery, fertilizers, buttons and vulcanized goods have been established. Brick-making has also been quite extensively carried on in some parts. Extensive beds of clay are found in the interior and on the north side, where every facility for working, such as sand, water and fuel, is at hand.
$20,000. The cultivation of potatoes, cauliflower and strawberries is a specialty on the northern peninsula of the east end, wheat on the southern peninsula and in the northwest part, cucumbers in the interior at the west end, turnips in the northern part, and cranberries, melons and garden vegetables through the central portions.
The following table shows some of the principal facts in relation to the agriculture of the county and its products, as given by the State census of- 1875:
Acres
Improved.
Acres
Woodland.
Acres
Other Land.
Value of Farms,
exclusive of Buildings.
Babylon
5,264
5,770
3,572
$1,145.900
Brookhaven ..
26,383
41,051
50,316
3,744,085
Easthampton
13,156
7.922
9,306
871,577
Huntington.
28,309
7,599
5,854
3,366,483
1slip ..
7,119
8,379
5,896
1,573,600
Riverhead ..
15,158
8,491
9,994
1,691,800
Shelter Island
3,039
2,521
1,553
597,700
Smithtown ...
11,606
4,748.
12,659
1,639,200
Southampton
27,790
12,970
22,027
2,829,268
Southold
18,836
3,099
8,458
3,051,050
Suffolk County
156,760
102,550
129,135
$20,510,663
The number of apple trees in the orchards of the county was found to be 130,406; horses on farms, 8.365; horned cattle, 16,114; swine, 20,577; sheep, 10,071. The value of poultry sold in 1874 was $65,575; of eggs, $118,049. There were 604,482 pounds of butter made, and 41,980 tons of hay produced; and of other farming staples the following numbers of bushels were harvested: Apples, 308,315; corn, 582,690; oats, 280,566; rye, 53,871; winter wheat, 182,867; potatoes, 405,237.
Three public roads traverse the county from east to west, one on the north side, another on the south side, and a third near the middle. These were laid out about the year 1733, and in their course they touch nearly every village in the county. Before the introduction of railroads mail stages were driven through the island upon these routes. They are called the " country roads."
The extent of farm land under cultivation in the county is 156,760 acres, and this is divided into about four thousand farms. The amount of capital invested in agriculture, including farms, implements, stock and buildings, exclusive of dwellings, is more than $25,000,- 000, and the gross annual sales of produce not consumed upon the farm are about four per cent. on that amount. Soon after the completion of the Brooklyn Central and Jamaica Railroad, in 1836, the Long Island Railroad was continued from the latter point eastward, and after mak- ing a terminus at Hicksville for about four years entered this county at Farmingdale and reached Suffolk Station, near Central Islip, in 184t. Three years later it was com- pleted to Greenport, its present terminus, and the first train ran over it July 25th 1844. This road runs 64 miles in this county. A branch from Hicksville, having been built to Syosset in 1854, was continued into this county as far as Northport in 1868. From a point on this line a little short of the end it was extended to Port Jefferson in 1872, giving this branch a length of 25 miles in the county. The branch from Manorville to Sag Harbor, a distance of 35 miles, was constructed in 1869. The South Side Railroad, which had been projected in 1860 but delayed by the war, was commenced in May 1866, Suffolk invests more in fertilizers than any other county in the State except Queens. In proportion to the extent of improved land this county produces nearly three times as much Indian corn as the average product of the State, and is only exceeded in this comparison by two counties, Wayne and Kings; the rural section of the latter being so small it can hardly be considered as a fair rival in this respect. While the average yield per acre through the State is 32.33 bushels the yield in Suffolk county is 35.74 bushels. In the amount of winter wheat in proportion to the extent of improved land this county produces more than double the average of the State, and more than three times that of any other county east of Onondaga. It ranks as twelfth among the great wheat producing counties of New York, and is the third county in the State in the average yield per acre. While the average yield in the State is only 16.16 bushels, Suffolk and completed to Babylon in October 1867. It was ex- produces 19.48 bushels to the acre. In the amount of tended to Patchogue in 1868, and that point was for many years the terminus. In 1881 it was continued to Eastport, where it makes a junction with the Sag Harbor branch, covering a distance of 40 miles in this county, poultry sold it is the fourth county in the State, and in the value of eggs sold it stands at the head, its annual sales exceeding those of any other county by more than
11
82
HISTORY OF SUFFOLK COUNTY.
and making a continuous line along the south side of North Dumpling (near Fisher's Island), Long Beach Long Island through almost its entire length. The con- tinuation of Stewart's "Central " railroad from Garden City eastward runs into this county about five miles, to Babylon, where it makes a junction with the South Side road.
By the figures we have given it will be seen that Suffolk county has 169 miles of railroad line. The distances from the western terminus (either Brooklyn or Long Island City) to the different junctions and termini in this county are: To Babylon 37 miles, to Sag Harbor 100 miles, to Greenport 95 miles, to Manor 65 miles, and to Port Jef. ferson 58 miles. All these roads have been for several years consolidated under one management. The cost of constructing the old Long Island road per mile was $31, 191; the South Side $51,560; the Central (Stewart's line), $66,356; the Smithtown and Port Jefferson, $ITI,- 739.
At an early period communication by water was es- tablished between the settlements located upon conven- ient bays and New York, as well as with different points of New England. The practice of making regular. trips at stated intervals with small vessels commenced simul- taneously with the earliest settlement, and was kept up until the introduction of steamboats and the pushing competition of railroads crowded out the sailing packets, Communication by steamboats with New York has been established at Sag Harbor, Greenport, Shelter Island. Southold, New Suffolk and Cold Spring; also between Port Jefferson and Bridgeport, and between the east end ports and different points on the Connecticut shore.
To facilitate the navigation of the adjacent waters the government has established twelve light-houses upon the shores of this county. These are at Eaton's Neck, Old Field, Horton's Point, Plum Island, Little Gull Island,
(near Orient), Gardiner's Island, Cedar Island (near Sag Harbor), Montauk, Ponquogue and Fire Island. Life- saving stations have been established along the ocean shore at intervals of four or five miles. These stations are provided with all the practicable appliances for reaching and assisting vessels that may be driven upon the shore, and rescuing and caring for distressed mari- ners. During the half of the year most disastrous to shipping a crew of men is kept on duty at each station, patrolling the beach at frequent intervals to look out for anything that may need their assistance. Many thousands of dollars have been appropriated by the State and the United States for the improvement of navigable waters within the county. Attention in this way has been given to Huntington, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, and points in the south bays. A project to unite the bays of the south side with Peconic Bay at Canoe Place has been agitated at different times, and twice received sufficient attention to secure an organization and a survey of the field, but practically nothing further. These organizations were the "Long Island Canal Company," of 1828, and the "Long Island Canal and Navigation Company " of 1848.
Fire insurance companies have been established in the county, at Southold in 1836 and at Huntington in 1857. A savings bank was established at Southold in 1858, and another at Riverhead in 1872. All these have been well managed and have met with eminent success. The post- offices of the county at present number 84.
The population of the several townships was returned by the census of 1880 as follows: Babylon, 4,739; Brook- haven, 11,544; Easthampton, 2,515; Huntington, 8,098; Islip, 6,490 ; Riverhead, 3,939; Shelter Island, 732 ; Smithtown, 2,250; Southampton, 6,352; Southold, 7,267; total, 53,926.
.
BABYLON.
BY JAMES B. COOPER.
HIS town previous to March 13th 1872 con- stituted the southern portion of Huntington. The second section of the act creating the town of Babylon reads:
" The town of Babylon shall be bounded as follows: On the north by a line commencing at the boundary line between the towns of Hunt- ington and Oyster Bay, one mile north of the line of the Long Island Railroad, and running thence easterly and parallel with said Long Island Railroad until it reaches a point on the boundary line between the towns of Huntington and Islip one mile north of the Long Island Railroad; on the east by the town of Islip; on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by the town of Oyster Bay; the eastern and western boundaries being the lines now established and recognized as the town divisions of the said several towns respectively."
TERRITORY AND TITLE.
The territory included within these boundaries was for- merly occupied by the Massapequa or Marsapeague tribe of Indians. This tribe claimed jurisdiction from the present west line of the town of Oyster Bay eastward to Sumpawams River, now the eastern boundary of Baby- lon and the western boundary of Islip. About the year 1653 Captain Jolin Underhill, with a considerable body of troops, had a severe battle with this tribe at its prin- cipal settlement, in the south part of the town of Oyster Bay, not far from the present residence of William Floyd- Jones. The Indians were completely worsted, and their fort demolished. The place has since been called Fort Neck.
cutting, curing and carting the hay from these marshes to their north-side homes. Although these lands are still used for the same purposes. they are regarded as of less value, since farmers have during the present century given more attention to the growing of domestic grasses. The marsh land portion of the town adjoins the north- erly and southerly sides of the Great South Bay-that on the north side of the bay being about one mile in width from north to south and extending east and west from the Islip line to the boundary of Oyster Bay. The tract on the south side of the bay adjoins the beach. It ex- tends the whole length of the town, but is only about half a mile in width. These lands are overflowed by every high tide.
It is rather a singular fact that, although more than two centuries have elapsed since the town has been set- tled. by the white race, and its western limits are only about thirty miles from New York city, more than three quarters of the land in the town remains in an unculti- vated state; that portion which is cultivated being on the eastern and northwestern parts and along the southern or post road.
With the exception of the sand dunes which border the Atlantic Ocean, and a narrow ridge of hills known as the Half Way Hollow Hills, the surface of the town is re- markably level.
The center portion, consisting of level plains, up to forty years ago was covered with pine forests. Since railroads have been operated through these pine lands numerous fires have occurred, mostly kindled by sparks from locomotives, causing great destruction to the pine timber, and there are now only found thick tangled scrub oaks and stunted pines. Only a small portion of this kind of land is under a good state of cultivation. The soil is mostly a sandy loam. The land is easily cleared, and is adapted to the growing of grain and root crops, and probably in a few years large tracts will be cleared and cultivated.
Doubtless few if any dwellings or other buildings were erected in this portion of Huntington previous to the year 1700. The land first purchased on the south side was bought by the settlers on the north shore. They bought the marshy necks of land on the South Bay, which were then and now are covered with an abundant growth of salt sedge and black grass. These lands at that period appear to have been more highly prized by the inhabitants of the town than the uplands. The farm- A number of the original deeds given by Indian chiefs ers were in great need of hay with which to feed their for land in this town are among the town records of domestic animals, and English grasses were but little cul- Huntington. One dated June 5th 1657, between Jonas Wood of Huntington and "Meantaquit [Montauk] sachem," witnesses that Wood, for himself and his tivated on Long Island until about 1800. The early yeomen spent the greater portion of the fall months in
2
THE TOWN OF BABYLON.
neighbors of Huntington, "bought five necks of land lying next adjoining to Massapaugs sachem's land," giving for it "twenty coats, twenty howes, twenty hatchets, twenty knives, ten pounds of powder, ten pounds of lead, and one great settell, and one hat, pres- ent in hand; and doth further promis to give the above said sachem every year a coat for six years next ensuing."
A deed dated July 23d 1657, made between Jonas Wood and Wyandanch, "the sachem of Secotaughe," conveyed to Wood for himself one half neck of meadow lying " betwixt a river that bounds the necks bought by the inhabitance of Huntington eastward and so to trees that are marked, being next going to Massapeqs sachem's land,". "for and in consideration of one new gun and one pistol and two pounds of powder." This deed was "signed in the presence of John Strickline, John Lion."
May 12th 1659 Wyandanch (who was the sachem of Montauk but exercised jurisdiction over all the Indian lands on the island) confirmed the sale last mentioned, speaking of the land as "that half neck from the water along the creek into the highway that headeth it." The deed of confirmation was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of David Gardiner, Jeremiah Conklin and Lion Gardiner.
By deed dated August 17th 1658 the same sachem " sold to Henry Whitney, of Huntington, for the use of the whole town of Huntington, *
* three whole * necks of meadow land lying on the southward side of this town, and westerly by the six necks which were bought before;" and sent his " agent Checanoe to deliver upon conditions as followeth: first they shall pay or cause to be paid to me or my assigns these following goods punctually, that is-first, twelve coats, each coat being two yards of tucking cloth, twenty pounds of powder, twenty dutch hatchetts, twenty dutch howes, twenty dutch knives, ten shirts, two hundred of muxes [awl blades], five pairs of handsome stockens, one good dutch hat, and a great fine looking glass; and for Checanoe for his wages and going to mark out the land shall have for himself one coat, seven pounds of powder, six pounds of lead, one dutch hatchet, as also seventeen shillings in wampum."
The seller acknowledged payment in the following words: " Received this 23d May 1659 from the inhabi- tants of Huntington that satisfaction and payment for the meadow I sold last to them, which my man Checke- now marked out for them, which joins to that neck that belongs to Mr. Stikland and Jonas Wood and so goes westward so far as Chakenow hath marked, being pur- chased in August last, which was 1658."
By a deed dated July 12th 1689 " Jeffery, Will Chepie, and Whawacem, Secatogue Indians and proprietors of a neck of land lying on the south side of this island, com- monly called Sautepauge, with the consent of Pamequa and Wampas, and the rest of the owners of that neck of upland," "for the kindness and great love" they had "unto Captain [Epenetus] Platt, Lieutenant Thomas Wicks, Jonathan Rogers sen., Nathaniel Foster and the rest of the owners of the meadow land of that neck
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.