History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 40

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 40

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For many years Mr. Floyd was one of the trustees of the Mechanics' and Traders' Savings Institution of New York city, and with Ira W. Gregory was appointed a" special committee to examine the condition of the insti- tution in July 1874. Their report, which showed a de -. ficiency of $181,505.81, was taken by their attorney to De Witt C. Ellis, superintendent of the banking depart- ment, at Albany. Mr. Ellis came to New York and by personal examination attested the correctness of the re- port and the insolvency of the bank, but failed for nearly two years to take measures to protect the creditors. In April 1877 Governor Robinson preferred charges against Mr. Ellis, based upon the affidavits of Mr. Floyd and Mr. Gregory, which resulted finally in the removal of the, superintendent. In all this tedious effort Mr. Floyd held the laboring oar, and received the thanks of many just minded men for his unselfish labors.

In December 1863 Mr. Floyd married Julia A., daugh- ter of Captain Charles D. Hallock, of Stony Brook. To them were born three children, two of whom died in in- fancy. The oldest, Julia R., 16 years of age, is all the family Mr. Floyd has left, his wife having died in Decem- ber 1872. She was a lady of most estimable character, with cultivated tastes, unaffected piety, and the domestic virtues that bless home and family. Although in religious matters Mr. Floyd's views have never been strictly ortho- dox he has always felt an abiding trust in a divine provi- dence as extending over all the affairs of life, which has been a constant source of courage and cheer in every trial and vicissitude. To his natural taste for books and reading he feels indebted for many happy hours and great relief from the burdens of absorbing business. His library is large, and he takes great pleasure in con- stantly adding to its rich stores. With these experiences and surroundings, and the convictions formed during an active and at the same time a thoughtful life, he looks forward to the future with a cheerful and serene trust.

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

JOHN M. WILLIAMSON.

Among the men whose usefulness and solid worth have gained for them honored names and respected memories scarcely a higher place can be claimed for any than that accorded to the late Hon. John Mowbray Williamson, whose life was identified with the village of Stony Brook. He was born there, on the 27th of September 1787. His father was Jedediah Williamson, who married a Miss Mowbray of Islip. During the years of his childhood and youth he attended the district school three months in the year, and afterward learned the trade of a carpen- ter with his father. This occupation he appears to have followed to a greater or less extent for several years, certainly as late as 1826. During the war of 1812 he took part in the movements of the militia at Sag Harbor as captain of a company, and was then elevated to the rank of a major. Being of a studious inclination he ac- quired a liberal measure of practical and legal knowledge, and at an early age was placed in positions of pronii- nence. During a long life his sterling qualities were rec: ognized by a continuance of similar honors. He repre- sented the people of the western district of Suffolk in the Assembly in the sessions of 1821, 1822, 1826, 1829, 1832, . 1837, and 1840. A nomination was again tendered him, but accompanied by the hint that he would be expected to use money to help his election, to which he resolutely replied, " I am not a candidate." He was supervisor of Brookhaven from 1834 to 1840 inclusive, and again in . 1852 and 1853. In the various capacities of a district school teacher, a militia officer, a legislator, a judge of the court of sessions, an inspector of elections (in the days when that office was one of much more importance than it is under the present system), a counsellor and referee in the settlement of numerous estates and civil cases the greater part of his life was spent. He was a man of abstemious habits. He was a charter member of Suffolk Lodge F. & A. M., and at the time of his death was the last one of that number remaining. He is sup- posed to have been the oldest member of the order in the county, having been a mason since 1816, and having been elevated to the honor of a master mason April roth of that year. He was never married. He died February 18th 1878, at the advanced age of 90 years, 4 months and 22 days, and was buried with masonic honors in his chosen plot at Setauket, where the monument prepared at his own direction guards his resting place.

A. D. WILSON, M. D.

surgeon, with the rank of major, and was appointed medical director of the hospital at that place, where he rendered important service during the fatal yellow fever epidemic. At the close of the war he was appointed assistant surgeon in the regular army, with the rank of lieutenant, and stationed at Fort Dodge. He was after- ward stationed successively at Fort McPherson, Camp Douglass (Utah), Fort Steel, and Fort Warren (Boston Harbor). In 1874 he was raised to the grade of surgeon, with the rank of captain, and sent to Fort McDonald, Arizona, where a few years since he died.

THE WOODHULL FAMILY.

Richard Woodhull 2nd, whose father was one of the most prominent of the original settlers of the town, was born October 9th 1649, and succeeded his father in many of the positions of honor and usefulness which had been occupied by him. He held the office of a magistrate for many years. His wife was Temperance, daughter of Rev. Jonah Fordham, of Southampton. He died Octo- ber 18th 1699, leaving six children.

Richard Woodhull 3d, eldest son of the one last men- tioned, was born November 2nd 1691, and by his father's will inherited the paternal estate at Setauket. He was for many years a magistrate, and seemed to inherit the peculiar qualifications for usefulness which had distin- guished his fathers. He was president of trustees most of the time from 1723 to 1741, and supervisor from 1730 to 1741. His wife was Mary, daughter of John Homan, of this town, and to them were given eleven children. He died November 24th 1767.

Richard Woodhull 4th, eldest son of the latter, was born October 11th 1712, and to him fell the homestead of his fathers. Margaret, daughter of Edmund Smith, of Smithtown, became his wife. He maintained the character for integrity and active usefulness which seemed to belong to his lineage. He was for many years a magistrate, and gained the distinguishing title of Justice Woodhull. He had five children. His death occurred October 13th 1778.

Abraham Woodhull, son of the above, was born Oc- tober 7th 1750. He was the fifth child of his father, the most of whose estate at Setauket he inherited. His wife was Mary, daughter of Obadiah Smith, of Smithtown. After her death, which occurred July 9th 1806, he mar- ried Lydia Terry, who survived him. He was a man of conspicuous talents and occupied many positions of pub- lic confidence. He was first judge of the county from 1799 to 1810, besides holding many offices in the town. He died January 23d 1826, leaving three children.

Dr. Alfred D. Wilson was a native of Port Jeffer- son. He was a son of R. H. Wilson, whose name was for many years identified with the place. Manifesting at General Nathaniel Woodhull, one of the most prom- inent men of the colony of New York at the outbreak of the Revolution, and one of the first and grandest martyrs to republican principles, was a native and resident of Mastic. He was the eldest son of Nathaniel who set- tled upon a portion of land at the place devised him by an early age a strong inclination for the field of medicine and surgery he was allowed to follow that course, and, after graduating from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York city, in 1862 he entered the army as assistant surgeon in the 3d N. Y. artillery, stationed then at Newbern, N. C. He was speedily promoted to be |his father, the second Richard Woodhull of Brookhaven.

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

He was born December 30th 1722. He spent his early

of 17 he went to New York city and engaged as a clerk life on the farm, and in 1761 married Ruth, daughter of in a store with Charles Swezey. Three or four years Nicoll Floyd and sister of General William Floyd. later he entered into a partnership with a Mr. Gifford and engaged in the ship-chandlery and grocery business. This arrangement continued about a year. About the He served in the army during the war between France and England, as related on page 41 of the general history of Long Island, where other particulars year 1830 he returned to Brookhaven, and for several years taught school at Coram, Middle Island and Moriches. April 21st 1834 he bought the place which became his homestead and set up a store. In 1835 he was appointed postmaster, as the successor of his father, who had held the office since the beginning of the century. This office be held until his death. In 1840 he opened a public house, and his place was for a time the breakfasting station for the mail and passenger stages which at that time accommodated the travel up and down the island which later found its way over the rail- road. He kept the tavern about six years, and contin- ued the store until he was called to Riverhead to attend to the duties of the county clerk's office. He held the office of inspector of schools for the years 1835-38, was town commissioner of schools in 1843, town clerk in 1848 and 1849, county clerk 1850-53 and town clerk again from 1860 till his death, September 25th 1877. He was married

not here given will be found. During his temporary absence from the Provincial Congress on the 24th of August 1776 it was determined to protect, remove or de- stroy the herds of cattle at the west end of-Long Island to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. Accordingly orders were sent to General Woodhull, who was then at his home, to march one-half the western reg- iment of Suffolk to the western part of Queens, where all the militia of that county were to be on duty. In obedience to this direction he reached Jamaica on the 25th, but found it impossible to carry out the plan of the conven- tion, owing to the tory inclinations of the people of Queens and the weakness of the militia. An appeal was made to Washington for Smith's and Remsen's regiments to join the militia in this object, but, though consented to by Washington, its execution was in the midst of the excitement of those critical days overlooked. On the 26th General Woodhull . with about two hundred men to Louisa D. Young, of New York, December 9th 1835, and advanced toward the western part of Queens, expecting after her death, April. 21st 1837, he was married to Minerva, daughter of Isaac Overton, of Coram Hills, May 16th 1840. He had one son by the first wife, and five sons and two daughters by the second. He will long be remembered as one of the most faithful and self- sacrificing servants of Brookhaven known to his genera- tion. to meet the regiments spoken of, but in this he was doomed to disappointment. Notwithstanding this be set vigorously to work with his feeble force to do what he could to prevent the tories gaining communication with the British army, which was then approaching Brooklyn from the south. He stationed sentries on the passes, and at the same time scoured the country and drove all the cattle eastward. His position seeming too perilous to longer hold, on the 27th he retired to Jamaica and THE STRONG FAMILY. tried to communicate his position to the convention, then in session at Harlem. Waiting at Jamaica until the very last moment in the vain hope of receiving reinforcements or orders from the convention, on the morning of the 28th he allowed his men to fall back about four miles eastward, and in the afternoon, with only a few com- panions, he followed them. The subsequent incidents of his life are related on page 41. These occurrences, in connection with his early life, identify his history with all of the three counties, and render appropriate the notice of him given in the general history of the island. He was buried in the family cemetery at Mastic. Thompson justly remarks:

" The cruel treatment of this gallant officer and eminent citizen aroused in every patriotic bosom feel- ings of indignation. Nor can the circumstances ever be recollected without admiring the lofty spirit which no extremity could bend to dishonor, nor without disdain and abhorrence of a coward brutality, which vainly seeks for extenuation in the bitter animosities of the times."

BENJAMIN TUTTLE HUTCHINSON,

a descendant of an old and respected family of this town, was born at Middle Island, March 2nd 1808. At the age

The first member of the Strong family on Long Island was Selah, who was a son of Thomas and grandson of Elder John Strong, who came to this country in 1630. Selah Strong was born at Northampton, Mass., Decem- ber 23d 1680, and was married to Abigail Terry, of Southold, June 23d 1702. He is supposed to have lo- cated about that time at East Setauket, on the home- stead of the late Dr. Henry Dering. He bought the large tract of land lying between Port Jefferson Bay and Mount Sinai Harbor, now called Oakwood, of the town proprietors. This has ever since been retained in the family. He was a farmer and held the offices of town trustee and justice of the peace. He had ten chil- dren, of whom the third was Thomas, the ancestor of the Strong family at present living in this town. He died April 8th 1732, and was buried on his farm.

Thomas Strong last mentioned was born June 5th 1708, and about the year 1730 was married to Susannah, daughter of Samuel Thompson, by whom he had nine children. Like his father he was a farmer and held offices of honor in the town, particularly those of trustee and justice of the peace. He died January 14th 1760.

Selah Strong, son of the latter, was born December 25th 1737, and was married November 9th 1760 to Anna Smith, great-granddaughter of the patentee of St.

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

George's manor. He was the purchaser of Little Neck at its sale under the foreclosure of the mortgage before spoken of. He was a man of considerable prominence in his day. For many years he was a town trustee, and during the Revolutionary war was a captain in the army. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congresses of May and December 1775 and May 1776. He was treasurer of Suffolk county from 1786 to 1802, president of the Brookhaven trustees from 1780 to 1797, and again from 1803 to 1807, supervisor of the town in 1782 and from 1784 to 1794, first judge of the common pleas from 1783 to 1793, and a State senator from. 1792 to 1796. He died July 4th 1815.

Thomas Sheppard Strong, second child of the one last noticed, was born May 26th 1765. His wife was Hannah Brewster, to whom he was married August 7th 1791. They had ten children. He was a justice of the peace, and first judge of the common pleas from 1810 to 1823. He was president of the trustees of this town for seven years, and supervisor from 1825 to 1828. He died April 8th 1840. His homestead at Oakwood is now in pos- session of his daughter Mary Brewster Strong.

JUDGE SELAH BREWSTER STRONG

was born at St. George's manor, May Ist 1792. His father, Thomas S. Strong, above mentioned, an extensive farmer, and highly esteemed for his good sense and ster- ling integrity, was for many years first judge of the county of Suffolk. His grandfather was Selah Strong, a farmer also, who held the office of first judge of the county several years, and was a State senator. His great-grand- father was Justice Thomas Strong, and his great-great- grandfather was Justice Selah Strong, a grandson of Elder John Strong of Northampton, Mass.

Justice Selah Strong was the first of his family to settle on Long Island, coming early in the eighteenth century to Setauket, where he lived in the house subsequently the property of Doctor Henry S. Dering. He died there and was buried near his residence. He was a man of great strength of character, doing honor to the excellent fame of his ancestors, and setting a worthy example, which has been so well followed by those who have suc- ceeded him. In the change in ownership of the land in later years the spot that had been selected as a burial plot was used in other ways, the tombstones being re- moved to the surrounding fence. In September 188r Thomas S. Strong, son of the subject of this sketch, had these tombstones transferred to the family burying ground at St. George's manor. They read as follows:

" Here lyes the body of Selah Strong, Esq., who de- parted this life April the 8th 1732,.in the 52nd year of his age." "Here lyes buried ye body of Thomas Strong, Esq., who departed this life Jan. ye 14th 1766, in ye 52nd year of his age."

The generations are as follows:

Ist, Elder John Strong, Northampton, Mass.

2nd, Trooper Thomas Strong, Northampton, Mass. 3d, Justice Selah Strong, Setauket, L. I.

4th, Justice Thomas Strong, Setauket.

5th, Judge Selah Strong, Setauket. 6th, Judge Thomas S. Strong, Setauket. 7th, Judge Selah B. Strong, Setauket.

8th, Thomas S. Strong, lawyer, of New York city.

The mother of Mr. Strong was a daughter of Joseph Brewster of Setauket, and a descendant of the venerable Elder William Brewster, who came over in the " May- flower." Mr. Strong commenced his studies preparatory to entering college with Rev. Dr. Herman Daggett, one of the ministers of Brookhaven, and was admitted a member of Yale College in 1807, where he graduated in 1811, being the best mathematician in his class. Among his classmates were Francis Granger, Samuel S. Phelps, L. Monson and Dr. Joseph E. Worcester. He studied law with his uncle, George W. Strong, an eminent coun- sellor in New York, and was admitted to the bar of the supreme court in October 1814. He immediately opened an office in New York, and obtained a good prac- tice, but the state of his health would not admit of the necessary labor, and he removed to Setauket and there practiced his profession.

He early espoused the Democratic side in politics, and was by a Democratic council appointed district attorney of Suffolk county on the 6th of March 1821, holding the office with a single intermission of nine months till 1842. His ability and faithfulness in the duties of this position may be inferred from the fact that during the whole period there was not a single acquittal by reason of a variance between the charge in the in- dictment and the proof on the trial.

He was an active member of the Democratic party, but for many years declined taking office, as it would interfere with the duties of his profession. In 1842 he received 31 out of 33 votes in a county convention for the nomination to Congress and, desire throughout the district being so strong, he consented to be a candidate, and was easily elected and by large majorities, although the opposite party predicted his utter defeat. He took his seat in Congress in December 1843, and was put on the committee on claims. While so acting he reported in favor of paying the heirs of Robert Fulton (who had died poor) $76,300. He maintained that if there had been a hundred Fultons we could afford to pay them all if their services had been equally beneficial to the country. After much examination and hesitation he warmly supported the proposition to admit Texas as a State. Mr. Hammett, a distinguished representative from Mississippi, said publicly in the hall of the House, "When I am requested to designate a true and con- sistant Democrat from the north I unhesitatingly name Mr. Strong." During his stay in Washington he boarded in the same house with Silas Wright, then senator, and so far enjoyed his confidence that when Mr. Wright be- came governor he nominated Mr. Strong for the office of circuit judge for the second judicial district. The nomination was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, but was declined in consequence of professional and private business.

In June 1847 Mr. Strong was elected a judge of the

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THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

supreme court of New York, was re-elected, and served till 1860. He was a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1867-one of the oldest members of that body. He gradually withdrew from public affairs, and after a peaceful and serene experience of old age died November 27th 1872, in the 81st year of his age. The event was feelingly and ably noticed by the press of New York city, as well as of Long Island.

The Republican Watchman, of Greenport, contained the following remarks:

" For many years Hon. Selah B. Strong occupied the foremost place in the minds of Long Islanders in respect to judicial or legal questions. He was recognized as bringing to the determination of all such matters the clearest intellect, the soundest judgment, the widest in- formation, the most profound study and the most thorough professional training of perhaps any 'son of the soil ' who ever sat on the bench in this or the other two counties of the island, and in all these particulars his fame suffered no abatement when he was transferred to the larger sphere of the court of appeals. As a jurist on the bench, and a counsellor discussing points of law, he was held in deserved esteem by the people of the whole State, and the record of his decisions and opinions forms an imperishable monument to his memory. He had of late years withdrawn from active participation in public affairs, and had consequently passed in a measure from the knowledge of the younger man of our day. His large estate at Setauket and business concerns in general, with occasional examinations of legal questions, at the request of old friends and clients, occupied his time, and smoothed the decline of life with that degree of mental and physical activity which keeps the dual organism of man's wonderful nature in healthful harmony."

Judge Strong was an active member of the Setauket Presbyterian church, which body at the close of the ser- vices December Ist 1872 passed a suitable and feeling series of resolutions to his memory.

He married (August 14th 1823) Cornelia Udall, born at Islip March 20th 1806, daughter of Dr. Richard Udall and Prudence Carll, who was a daughter of Silas Carll of Huntington. He was of light complexion, with very light hair and blue eyes (like his Brewster parent- age), 5 feet 11 inches high, and weighed 174 pounds.

His children were: Cornelia Shepard, born February 14th 1826, married Marcena Munson; Mary Augusta, born October 31st 1827, died September 6th 1851; Anne Udall, born January 3d 1830, died September rst 1833; Caroline A., born June 6th 1832; Thomas Shepard, born August roth 1834; Richard Udall, born February 17th 1837, died August 19th 1840; Benjamin, born July 4th 1839, died July 21st 1840; Selah Brewster jr., born July Ist 1841; and Henry Tunstall Strong, M.D., born April 24th 1845.

Thomas Shepard Strong graduated at Yale in 1855. He is a lawyer in New York city, formerly in partnership with his brother Selah B. Strong jr. and now in partner- ship with Asa A. Spear at 22 Pine street. He married, September 29th 1870, at Scarboro, N. Y., Emily Boor- man, who was born December 3d 1841. She is a daughter of Robert Boorman, born in Hollingsborn, Eng., June 15th 1790, and Sarah Ann Hodges, born in Leursham, Eng., April Ist 1809.

Selah B. Strong jr. graduated at Yale in 1864, and at the Albany Law School in 1865, and is a lawyer in New York. He married at New Haven, Ct., April 15th 1868, Julia Davenport Wheeler, born November 10th 1844, daughter of Russell C. Wheeler, late of New York, and Theodosia Davenport, daughter of John A. Davenport of New Haven. They have one child, Cornelia Theodosia, born January 27th 1869 at New Haven.

Henry T. Strong, M.D., graduated at Williams College in 1865, and at the New York Medical College, Twenty- second street, in 1868; completed his studies in Paris and Vienna, and settled as a physician in New York. He married Mary Crosby Renwick October 31st 1872. He died December 12th 1876. They had one child, Williams Renwick Strong.

HENRY W. TITUS.

Henry Weeks Titus was born in the town of Hunting- ton, at Cold Spring, on the 7th of September 1797. His mother belonged to a distinguished Brooklyn family, owning a landed property there, all rural features of which have long since been obliterated by the brick and mortar usurpations of the great city. Harman and Mary Lefferts reared such a large, sturdy, old-fashioned family that it is a pleasure to give their names and birth record here. The father was born November 8th 1730; the mother August 10th 1735, and their children as fol- lows: Adam B., January 6th 1756; James, September 14th 1757; Titus, June 16th 1759; Margaret, February 28th 1761; John, July 20th 1765; Samuel, July 24th 1767; Mary, June 10th 1769; Henry, April 25th 1771; Leffert, May 15th 1773; Abigail, January 7th 1775; William, February 5th 1779. Abigail, the tenth child in this family, was the mother of the subject of this sketch.

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