History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 21

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 21

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During this war the south coast of the island was in a very exposed condition. British men-of-war daily cruised from Sandy Hook to Montauk in sight of the shore, cap- turing small coasting vessels and occasionally landing and carrying away supplies. The inhabitants upon this as well as other parts of the coast were frequently alarm- ed by the reports which prevailed of the landing of troops from the British ships. On one occasion of this kind the militia of this town were called out, but the alarm, like many others, proved groundless. A new schooner, owned by Benjamin Rushmore and Simon W. course of their little craft they were soon out of danger

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from their pursuers. After rowing and sailing about 60 miles, Captain Porter with much difficulty succeeded in entering Fire Island Inlet. Here he was found by James Montfort, who piloted him up Sumpawams Creek. When he stepped from the boat Stephen B. Nich- ols told him that he doubted his being an American naval officer, and intimated that he might be from the other side. "Then, my good friend," said the captain jo- cosely, " I will surrender to you; " at the same time hand- ing Nichols an iron cutlass. When they reached the center of the village, in front of Rushmore's store, which then stood where Guilick's drug store is now situated, a large and excited crowd gathered. The story of Captain Por- ter appeared so extraordinary that few were inclined to believe it. Of course nothing had been published re- specting a naval battle at Valparaiso, no vessel having reached the United States with an account of the same. Mr. Rushmore informed Captain Porter that his neigh- bors still believed him to be a British officer in disguise. Upon this he pulled out his commission, which he fortunately had with him. Then all doubts were dis- pelled and he was treated by the villagers with the great- est hospitality. The best carriage and horses that could be had were soon ready and at his disposal. The whale- boat was lashed upon a farm wagon and into the boat sprang the brave tars. In this manner the party was conveyed to the Brooklyn navy yard. Singular as it may seem in these days, when news is flashed in a few seconds all over the globe, Captain Porter brought the first infor- mation of his fight at Valparaiso.

Captain Nash, finding that the commander of the " Essex jr." had escaped, permitted the latter vessel to continue her voyage to New York.

Desertions from British war vessels then cruising along this coast were not infrequent. Several of the deserters became residents of this locality. One of them, Thomas H. Deverell, taught the public school in this village in 1816, 1817 or 1818. He had been a lieutenant in the British navy and had done duty on board the "Endy- mion:" From this ship he deserted and landed on Mon- tauk Point. The story he told was this: One evening, in the commander's cabin, the officers were playing cards and drinking wine. A dispute, such as frequently arises on such occasions, occurred, and Deverell, losing control of his temper, struck his commander. The latter was notorious for his vindictiveness and severity. To avoid serious punishment, perhaps death, by the advice of his fellow officers Deverell determined to escape. By the boat, and landed on Long Island. He married, and spent the greater part of his life at Patchogue, and died at Port Jefferson about 1860. He was a man of educa. tion, and his manners and conversation were those of a gentleman. Respecting his personal history he was usually remarkably reticent. It is said, however, that to a very intimate friend not long before his death he stated that he was a natural son of a certain duke. His story was generally believed, for he was a man not given to romancing.

Another of these runaways, calling himself William Ingraham, lived many years in this town. His account of his escape was that he was a common sailor on board the "Saturn." A number of the sailors, including him- self, had often been most cruelly flogged, and had sworn to desert at the first favorable opportunity. A safe time soon came. A boat was made ready and the men were selected for the crew, for the purpose of capturing an American vessel loaded with provisions. When the vessel appeared a barge was sent in charge of a lieuten- ant to take her. It happened that nearly every sailor in the barge had been flogged, and naturally meditated re- venge. At a convenient distance from the ship, on a He given signal, the lieutenant was seized and bound. threatened, protested, and begged, but to no purpose. The mutineers rowed the boat to Staten Island or the New Jersey shore, where there was an encampment of United States troops. The sea at the time was quite rough, and in coming through the breakers the boat was upset and the officer, being bound, was drowned.

Ingraham always said that none of the party intended to cause the officer's death, but that it was impossible to save him. The deserters were kindly received by the Americans, and Ingraham soon after came to Babylon. He was often heard to say that he could never set foot on English soil, and for that deprivation he cared little pro- vided he could see his old mother before he died; but in that particular he was never to be gratified.

Walter Cochran, an Irishman, also took leg bail from the English naval service. He came on shore as waiter to an officer, and stood not on the order of his going but went at once.

A native of the town, Oakley Smith, had the mis- fortune to be taken prisoner by the British and to be confined in the famous prison at . Dartmoor, England. He shipped as a sailor on board an American schooner, which proved to be engaged in furnishing the enemy with provisions. While lying alongside of an English ship he was arrested and sent to Dartmoor prison, where he was confined about a year. It is supposed that he was seized at the request of the master of the American craft, who, being engaged in a contraband trade, was afraid Smith would give information against him.

SHIPWRECKS.

Although shipwrecks on the south coast of Long Island have for centuries been of frequent occurrence, they are fewer now than formerly, particularly in this aid of friends he managed to leave the ship in a small |locality. The erection of light-houses, and the careful surveys made and excellent charts published by the national government, have proved of great service to mariners in enabling them to avoid the dangers of this shore.

One of the most destructive wrecks occurred within the limits of this town in the night of Sunday October 27th 1822. We copy some newspaper reports. An item from the Long Island Star of November 7th 1822 reads as follows:

"In the gale of Sunday night, the 27th ult., a large

THE TOWN OF BABYLON.

ship came on shore near Babylon, L. I., and went entire- ly to pieces, and every soul on board is supposed to have perished. Eleven bodies have come on shore. The ship is ascertained to have been the "Savannah," Captain Coles, from Liverpool to New York. The cargo of coals and crates of goods is mostly lost. Captain Coles we are informed left a family residing on Long Island."

From the Long Island Star (Brooklyn) November 14th 1822: "The body of Captain Joseph Coles of the ship "Savannah," of this port, which was cast away on the south side of Long Island on or about the 27th of Octo- ber, has been recognized by his family from among the eleven bodies that were driven ashore. The remains have been carried to Mosquetah Cove [Glen Cove], L. I., the captain's late residence."

New York Daily Advertiser: " The ship had on board STEAM NAVIGATION. a large sum of gold and silver money, which was in the captain's trunk. This came ashore on a part of the wreck, but the action of the waves broke open the trunk and the coin was scattered on the beach. In this con- dition it was found by a man named Smith Muncy, who was first and alone at the wreck at daylight on Monday morning. It was a sad sight. The ship had gone to pieces, and the dead bodies, together with the debris, lay strewn along the strand. Had Mr. Muncy been so disposed he could have secreted the treasure and appro- owing to the weakness of the machinery the boat proved priated the whole of it to his own use, for no human eye was upon him. But he was an honest man and delivered every dollar of the money to the wreck master."

The "Savannah " was the first ship propelled across the Atlantic Ocean by means of steam power. The ex- pected event was announced in the London Times of May 11th 1819 as follows: "GREAT EXPERIMENT .- A new steam vessel of 300 tons has been built at New York for the express purpose of carrying passengers across the Atlantic. She is to come to Liverpool direct." This steamer was built at New York city, by Francis Fickett, for Daniel Dodd. Her engines were made by Stephen Vail at Morristown, N. J. She was launched on the 22nd of August 1818. She could carry only 75 tons of coal and 25 cords of wood; was commanded by Captain Moses Rogers and navigated by Stephen Rogers, both of New London, Conn. She sailed from Savannah, Georgia, May 25th 1819, bound for St. Petersburg via Liverpool, and reached the latter port on the 20th of June. The voyage to Liverpool was made in 26 days, steam being used 18 days. For further particulars of this remarkable voyage the reader is referred to Harper's Monthly Maga- zine of February 1877. The "Savannah " was afterward commanded by Captain N. Holdredge, when her steam machinery was taken out, and she was converted into an ordinary sailing vessel: In this condition, while in charge of Captain Coles, she was wrecked.

The brig "Voltaire " and the ship "Sullivan " were also wrecked upon this shore.

The - brig " Brilliant," Captain Webber, met the same fate. This vessel struck on Cedar Island Beach, in this town, and the officers and crew, being in imminent dan- ger, were landed in a small boat from the wreck by a |in Virginia.

fisherman named Ezra Sammis. A rather romantic in -. cident in connection with this wreck deserves mention: Some years after the occurrence above mentioned John Webber, a son of the captain, married a daughter of Mr. Sammis at his home in Babylon. At the wedding Cap- tain Webber, on being introduced to the bride's father, remarked that they had met before; but Mr. Sammis had no recollection of ever having seen the veteran mariner. Captain Webber reminded him of the circum- stance of the wreck, and remarked that on that occasion he was in such peril and so glad to see his rescuer that it was not easy to forget his countenance. The next day the captain was shown a small building used as a school- house, which he recognized as the former cabin of the brig " Brilliant."

The Great South Bay is admirably adapted for vessels of light draught. This sheet of water is land-locked and, although quite shoal in the greater part of it, has a num- ber of channels of sufficient depth to permit the use of small sailing craft and steamboats. About the year 1830 a gentleman from New York brought into the bay a tiny steamer, shaped something like a Brooklyn ferry- boat, and attempted to use it for pleasure purposes; but a failure. About 20 years later John D. Jolinson, of Islip, used a steam yacht named the " Bonita." Although not of large dimensions she was well built and properly equipped. About 1856 D. S. S. Sammis, proprietor of the Surf Hotel, Fire Island, chartered this boat and began making regular trips between that place and Babylon. This was the first successful attempt to es- tablish a ferry across the bay.

Some years later Charles A. Chesebrough, of New York city, furnished a handsome steamer belonging to him, which for some time carried passengers between Islip and Fire Island.

About 1859 D. S. S. Sammis and Henry Southard purchased a steamer called the " Wave," which for one season plied between Babylon and the Surf Hotel dock. Mr. Southard having disposed of his interest in the "Wave," Mr. Sammis obtained from the Legislature an act authorizing him to establish and maintain a steam ferry between his hotel and Babylon, and in accordance with the provisions of that act regular communication has since been maintained during the summer months.

IN THE CIVIL WAR.

When the war of the late Rebellion began a number of the young men of this town were early in the field. The first who entered the service enlisted in the corps known as " Berdan's sharpshooters," a regiment of rifle- men. Erastus Tooker of this regiment lost a finger and received a ball in the leg. Henry Smith, John Bailey, John Courtney, George Whitney, John Suydam, Ezra Soper and Edward Barto, were members of this regi- ment, which took part in several of the principal battles

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In the Harris light cavalry were Nelson H. Southard and Augustus Ketcham. The former was taken prisoner and died at Andersonville, Georgia.

Micah Cooper, Henry and Miles Oakley, John Sam- mis, William Brewer, Oliver Carpenter (colored), and Jacob Jarvis (colored) entered the naval service from Babylon.

In the 56th regiment N. Y. volunteers were Henry Mil- ler and George Smalling, the latter of whom was shot and taken prisoner, and died.

In the 127th regiment New York volunteers Com. pany I contained the following sergeants from Babylon: Harvey Doolittle, Ist; Samuel A. Miller, 2nd; Medad | ises are a large barn, a wind-mill for raising water, and Smith, 3d; William Southard, 4th; George E. Jayne, 5th. Also the following corporals: Ist, James Bostwick; 2nd, Alfred C. Tillottson; 3d, Charles E. Pitts; 6th,

The Sisters of St. Dominick are a community number- William H. Smith; 7th, John E. Albin; 8th, Thomas B. ing about two hundred. Many of them become disabled or need rest from their labors in the city, and are sent to this convent to receive the benefit of the invigorating air of the vicinity. A bath house on the shore of the South Bay adds to the comfort and health of the occupants of the building. The entire number of inmates, including priests, sisters, orphans and old people, is about two hundred.

Ketcham. Wagoner Henry H. Suydam was from Baby- lon, as were privates Jeremiah Albin, John E. Arnold, George Box, George G. Brown, John Brown, George W. Conklin, John Davis, Edward Davis, Emery Frost, Lewis Furman, John E. Jarvis, James H. Leek, George F. Mott, Jesse Muncy, John Oakley, George Price, William Seaman, Jacob Seaman, Joshua Smalling, Joel B. Smith, John A. Sammis, Floyd Tooker, Henry Van Cott, George S. Weeks and Joseph C. Wright.

The 127th regiment was commanded by Colonel Wil. liam Guerney. Only those who were residents of this town are given in the above list. Emery Frost, named above, had but one arm when he enlisted. He was a brave fellow and died in the service.

LIFE-SAVING SERVICE.

Upon that part of the south coast of Long Island em- braced within the boundaries of this town are located two life-saving stations. No 27 is situated nearly south of Amityville, and is under the charge of Francis E. Weeks; and No. 26, south of Babylon, is in charge of keeper Henry Oakley. The men go on duty at the station house on the first of September and remain until May Ist. They are thoroughly drilled in the duties of their calling.

TOWN OFFICERS.

The officers of the town have been as follows:

Supervisors .- Elbert Carll, John E. Ireland, Charles T. Duryea, Stephen A. Titus.

Town Clerks .- J. James Robbins, Woodhull Skidmore, Daniel J. Runyon, Frederick N. Conklin.

Justices of the Peace .- John D. Capen, William Gauk- ler, David Larned, William Walker, Ferdinand Beschott, James B. Cooper, Warren D. Lewis, George W. Conklin.

THE DOMINICAN CONVENT.

This building, situated about two miles north of Amity- ville, is an imposing structure, costing $256,000. It is built of brick and stone, and forms a parallelogram 176 feet in front and 183 feet deep. The north portion is the church and pastor's apartments.

The tract of land upon which this edifice stands contains about sixty acres, and was in 1876 deeded by Adam Schlegel to the orphanage and hospital of Trinity Church (R. C.), Montrose avenue, Brooklyn, E. D., both of those institutions being in charge of the Sisters of St. Dominick. The corner stone was laid May 8th 1878, and the dedication took place March 3d 1879, with appropri- ate ceremonies by Rev. M. May, V. G., of Brooklyn. In the Court surrounded by the four sections of this struc- ture is a beautiful garden with a fountain.

The land adjacent to the convent is devoted to the growing of produce used by the inmates. On the pren- other buildings. Four horses and a number of cows are kept on the farm.

The house is divided as follows: Ist, Church of the Rosary; 2nd, parsonage and hall; 3d, convent; 4th, novitiate; 5th, orphanage; 6th, apartments for the aged.

The institution is under the charge of Rev. Father P. Schwarz.

BABYLON VILLAGE.

There are now three villages of considerable popula- tion in the township-Babylon, Breslau and Amityville, neither of which is incorporated. The first named is the oldest and largest, and is situated in the southeast portion of the town on Sumpawams Neck.

The name Babylon is said to have first been given to this locality by Mrs. Conklin, the mother of Nathaniel Conklin, on the occasion of the erection of a dwelling house formerly situated on the site of Guilick's drug store, at the corner of Main street and Deer Park avenue. A tablet was placed in the chimney front of this house inscribed as follows:

"NEW BABYLON .- This house built by NAT. CONKLIN, 1803."

As early as 1770 a few houses had been erected and several farms were under cultivation in this locality; but the number was not sufficient to entitle the place to be regarded as a hamlet or village, or even to be designated by a name.

Probably the first house erected on the site of the village was the Heartte house, built about 1760. It stood upon the premises now owned and occupied by Mr. Post, on Main street. The Heartte family owned large possessions of Sumpawams Neck. At the period of the Revolution Nehemiah Heartte was the owner of

THE TOWN OF BABYLON.

the premises. One of his sons, Philip Heartte, removed to Troy, N. Y., and a son of the latter, Jonas C. Heartte, was mayor of that city.

About the beginning of the present century Abraham G. Thompson, afterward a distinguished merchant of New York city, kept a store upon the site where the brick store of Dowden Brothers is now situated. There were then a flouring-mill and a saw-mill upon Sumpawams Brook, and similar establishments upon the stream where the paper-mill now stands.

Jesse Smith, the grandfather of S. C. Smith, the pres- ent proprietor of the Watson House, was the owner and keeper of a tavern now known as the American House, situated at the corner of Main street and Deer Park avenue. Mr. Smith also owned a considerable tract of land in this vicinity. He afterward conveyed the prop- erty to Nathaniel Conklin, who some years later sold the same with other lands to Benjamin Rushmore and Simon W. Cooper, and they made a division of the same by quit-claim deeds to each other. As the deed from Conklin to Rushmore and Cooper affects the title to many lots in Babylon village an abstract of it is here inserted.

Nathaniel Conklin, jamin Rushmore. ) to Warranty Deed. Dated May 9 1815. Recorded in the county clerk's office of ¿ Suffolk county in Liber D Simon W. Cooper and Ben- | of deeds, page 423, on the 28th day of February 1816, Charles H. Havens clerk.

.All those several parcels or tracts of cleared and tim- ber land in Huntington aforesaid, on a neck at the south side called Sumpawams.

The first piece situated on the north side of the high- way or country road, and the west side of the highway leading up said neck, and bounded southerly and east- erly by said highways, northerly by land of Edward Dodd in part and partly by land of Timothy Carll, and westerly by land of said Timothy Carll.

The second piece, being a triangular one, situated on the south side of said highway or country road and the west side of the highway leading down said neck, and bounded northerly and easterly by said highways and westerly by land of Timothy Carll aforesaid.

The third piece situated on the south side of said high- way or country road and the east side of the highway which leads down said neck, and bounded northerly and westerly by said highways and southerly and easterly by land sold by Nathaniel Conklin aforesaid to Thomas Gould.

The fourth piece situated on the north side of said country road or highway and the east side of the high- way leading up said neck, bounded westerly by the high- way last mentioned in part, partly by land of Jordan Taylor and partly by land of the heirs of David Smith; easterly by land of Nathaniel Conklin in part and partly by land sold by said Conklin to Thomas Gould; and southerly by land of said Nathaniel Conklin in part, partly by land sold by said Conklin to Thomas Gould, partly by land reserved for the school-house, the church and the burying-ground, and partly by said country road or highway.

Containing in the first piece by estimation 2 acres, three quarters and 22 rods; in the second, I acre, three- quarters and 24 rods; in the third, 2 acres; in the fourth, 69 acres, three-quarters and 37 rods. And in the whole,

76 acres, one-quarter and 3 square rods, be the same more or less.

Acknowledged before Abraham Skinner, master in chancery, February 7th 1816.

There are no educational institutions in the town other than the public schools, seven in number, and two private day and boarding schools, conducted respectively by Miss Gannon and Mrs. James B. Cooper, both of which are located in the village of Babylon.

-CHURCHES OF BABYLON VILLAGE.

First Presbyterian .- The history of this church ex- tends over a period of 150 years. It was first organized as "The First Presbyterian Church of Islip and Hunt- ington South." In 1859 the title was changed to " The Presbyterian Church of Huntington South," in conse- quence of the withdrawal of a large number of members who resided at Islip and the erection at that place of a new edifice. In 1870 the name was changed to the "First Presbyterian Church of Babylon, Long Island."

The first building erected for this church was com- pleted about 1730. Its site, as near as can be ascer- tained, was in the western part of the town of Islip, on the premises of C. Du Bois Wagstaff, about three rods east of the walnut tree which marks the southeast corner of the land of E. B. Sutton. It was a small and plain frame structure, and was only occasionally occu- pied, as the neighborhood at that period was not popu- lous. In 1778 it was demolished by the British military authorities and the greater part of its material taken to Hempstead for the purpose of constructing barracks for the soldiers then stationed at that place.

At the close of the war, November 4th 1783, the site near which the present church structure stands was obtained, and soon afterward a new edifice was com- pleted. This building was of wood, two stories high, the frame being of the very best large oak timber, most of which was hewed. The interior, excepting the pulpit, was devoid of paint or ornament. The pulpit was nar- row, very high, and painted blue or lead color. A wide gallery extended around on every side except the north, where was placed the pulpit. When the minister was seated he could not be seen by any portion of the con- gregation, not even by persons seated in the gallery. Only when standing at the sacred desk was he visible. Those who attended service in those days kept their feet warm by footstoves. About 1831 a large stove for burn- ing wood was first introduced. This solid building stood adjoining the highway until it was removed, in 1839, to make way for a new church. It is still in good condition, and is owned and occupied by D. S. S. Sam- mis for his residence. It appears that 84 persons sub- scribed for its erection the sum of £32 4s. Those who contributed £1 or more to the building fund were Isaac Thompson, Aaron Higbie, Nathaniel Conklin, Phebe Conklin, Garrett Montfort, John Moubray, Arthur Dingee, Jesse Conklin, Timothy Scudder, Silas Muncy and Jesse Weeks.

The congregation was received into the Presbytery of

I ]

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Long Island April 11th 1797, and on January Ist 1798 those who wished to be united as a church under the care of the presbytery signed a covenant which had been drawn up for that purpose. The following names appear signed thereto: Isaac Thompson, Jesse Ketcham, Tred- well Scudder, Sarah Thompson, Gunning Moubray, Thomas Ketcham, Temperance Ketcham, Keziah Scud- der, Mary Moubray, Rebecca Sammis, Phebe Ketcham, and Jeremiah Sprague. January 20th 1798 Isaac Ketcham and Tredwell Scudder were elected elders and Jesse Ketcham was elected deacon. The trustees were Jesse Ketcham, Tredwell Scudder and Nathaniel Conk- lin. On the first Sunday in April of the same year the Lord's Supper was for the first time administered in the new church.

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