History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 42

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 42

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Since 1870 Mr. Hand has been engaged with gentle- men in New York and on Long Island in fighting com- pulsory pilotage at Sandy Hook and Hell Gate. In January 1880 he, in company with several others, went before the committee on commerce at Albany to demand a repeal of the law. He made a telling statenient of the bare facts which had more weight than any other speech made on the subject. Mr. Hand's short, cutting sentences made their way like an ironclad among wooden hulks. His speech closed with the following diamond- pointed words:

" Now, gentlemen, this is our case exactly. We are compelled by law to pay for something we don't have and don't want. It is a robbery and a fraud. It is con- trary to our republican form of government. It is con- trary to our free institutions. It is a disgrace to our law-makers. It is a blot and a stain on our statute books. It is the last relic of barbarism. Repeal this compulsory pilotage. Give us equal justice-this is all we want."

This was a volley. of sledge-hammers. Every word weighed a pound. He also went before the committee on commerce and navigation at Washington in March 1880 and presented more fully the injustice of the pres- ent laws. During the war pilots' fees were doubled, and when prices of everything else came down they remained as they were. There are 140 of these pilots at Sandy Hook and Hell Gate. One of the oldest, Mr. Cisco, testified that the pilots were a " trade union " and each man paid $5 per month for legislative purposes. Mr. Hand took from his pocket receipts of pilot fees in every port be- tween Maine and Texas, showing that the New York pilots were the most exacting of all. Partial success has attended these efforts. Coasting vessels are no longer compelled to employ pilots at Hell Gate or Sandy Hook. Mr. Hand declares that he will help fight this thing as long as he lives if need be, till compulsory pilotage at New York is abolished. At present vessels going and coming from that port pay annually over $600,000, all of which is nothing more nor less than extortion. These are some of the many facts presented in his speech at Washington.

"In 1861 and 1862 C. S. Burr, Joel L. Smith, Mr. Mr. Hand has lost two wives and is now living with Shipman and myself surveyed the first route for the the third. He has had eight children. The oldest two railroad from Centerport to Port Jefferson. James M. are Robert N. and George Hand. Two of his daughters are married-Mary Ella Smith and Cornelia J. Bayles. Two unmarried daughters are living, Kate H. and Mary Ida, and two are dead. Bayles was president of our company, and I was one of the directors. We had to raise $85,000 cash and get the right of way before the Long Island Company would guarantee our bonds. Judge John Lawrence Smith, Mr. Hand's career has been very active and productive, few men accomplishing so much for themselves and for J. M. Bayles and myself were a committee to conclude the bargain with Mr. Charlick, the president of the Long others. He has made the world richer, wiser and better.

RESIDENCE OF CAPT. SCUDDER JAYNE;EAST SETAUKET SUFFOLK CO., L.I.

RESIDENCE OF C. E.DAVIS, PORT JEFFERSON, SUFFOLK CO., L.I. HOME OF EVA D.

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

CAPTAIN SCUDDER JAYNE.

The Jayne family, so long identified with the interests of Setauket, traces its descent from William Jayne who was born in Bristol, England, January 25th 1618. In 1678 he emigrated to America, and established himself at Setauket, where he acquired land. He is said to have been twice married; his last wife was Annie Biggs. He died at Setauket, March 24th 1714, aged 96. His sons (all born at Setauket) were: William, who was born March 23d 1684, and died in 1753, on Long Island; Samuel, who removed to Orange county, and died in 1765; Matthias; John; Daniel, died in 1785; James, born in 1698, died in 1781; and Stephen, born in 1700, married Mary Hawkins, died November Ist 1774. John, Daniel, and James, like Samuel, moved away from Setauket.

Stephen Jayne, son of Stephen above mentioned, was born August 25th 1727. His wife was Amy Davis. He was a farmer and blacksmith. He died at Setakuet, January 5th 1807, in the 80th year of his age.

Joseph Jayne, son of Stephen last named, was born March 3d 1757. His wife was Elizabeth Robbins. He owned much land about Setauket, which at his death was divided among his four sons-Daniel, Stephen, Micah, and Alfred. He lived to be the oldest man in the village, dying August 19th 1847, aged 90 years.

Captain Micah Jayne, the son of Joseph, now occupies the old Jayne homestead. He was born April 5th 1796; he is therefore 86 years old, and, like his father before him, he is the oldest man in the place. He had built and commanded several vessels, one of which, the "Adeline," was the first craft built on the modern system of ten hours labor per day in ship-yards, the day's work having previously extended from sunrise to sunset. Micah Jayne married Adeline Jones February 19th 1823. Their children were Scudder, Mary, Elizabeth and Benjamin Franklin.

his father. Within three years thereafter he had acquired | located, which he continued with great interest and

Captain Scudder Jayne, the subject of this sketch, is the son of Micah above mentioned, and was born at Setauket, May 17th 1824. He began his seafaring career at the early age of 15, when he went upon the water with his title of captain, taking command of the sloop " Ar- rival " when only 18 years of age. In 1846 the schooner " Adeline " was built, and Captain Jayne commanded this vessel three years. During the next five years he was captain of the " Marietta Hand." In 1856 he had built for him the schooner "Susan E. Jayne," which he commanded until 1862. In 1863 he had the "Ida A. Jayne " built. Of this vessel he was captain until 1876, when he retired from business, and took up his residence in the house which he built in 1867 on the land bought by him in 1850 of Joseph Jayne. This place origin- ally belonged to the Jayne property, and adjoins the old |his mother.

Jayne homestead.

January 24th 1851 Captain Jayne married Susan E. Jones, who was born April 30th 1829. Their children living are: Ida A., born October 29th 1856, and Scudder M., born April 5th 1867.

JOHN L. IRELAND.

John L. Ireland, born in New York city, October IIth 1796, was a descendant from the family of " Ire- land of the Hutt and Hale " in Lancashire, founded by Sir John de Ireland, one of the barons who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. The American branch of the family was founded by John the father of the subject of this sketch, born April 12th 1749. He was the second son of John Ireland high sheriff of Cork. He entered the British navy, and came to America in 1774 on board of the "Glasgow " man-of-war. Leaving the navy on account of ill health he was appointed com- missary to the navy of Great Britain. He married February 25th 1789 his second wife, Judith, eldest daughter of Hon. Jonathan Lawrence of New York city, member of the Provincial Congress of 1776 and the first senator under the first constitution of the State of New York.

Their fifth child, John L., the subject of this sketch, graduated at Columbia College in 1816, in a class of which the only living member is Frederick De Peyster. After leaving college he entered the counting-house of his brother-in-law in New York, where he staid for a time.

November 22nd 1822 he married Mary, eldest daugh- ter of Colonel Nicoll Floyd of Mastic, and granddaugh- ter of General William Floyd, a signer of the Declara- tion of Independence and member of Congress from 1774 to 1791. She was born at Mastic, December 22nd 1799. For the first three years after their marriage they lived in Steuben county, N. Y., where his father owned a large tract of land.

In 1826 he returned to New York to assist his father in the care of a large property in the upper part of the city, which he had bought in 1798. On this property the father and son resided till the death of the former, November 28th 1836, at the advanced age of 87 years, 7 months and 16 days.

The next year John L. Ireland purchased of the heirs of Major Rose a large farm in Fireplace, most pleasantly skill to improve and cultivate till his death, which took place April 25th 1879, in the 83d year of his age. He was a man of stalwart mould of body and mind, of great activity and executive ability, always intent on the busi- ness of the moment, and pushing it with the utmost vigor. During his residence in New York city he was at one time an alderman and took a leading position in the board.

His children were: John B., born in 1823, now a lawyer living in New York, with office at 170 Broadway; and Nicoll, born in 1826, who remains on the farm with

Mrs. Ireland resides on the old homestead at Fire- place, enjoying in peace and tranquillity the twilight of a long and useful life, possessed of unusual vigor of mind and body for a person whose next birthday will be her 84th.

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

In Bellport lives Joseph Marvin, in the 93d year of his age, hale and hearty, of abstemious habits, addicted to the use of neither strong drink or tobacco. He was one of the first to join the Washingtonians, and the total ab- stinence principle is so dear to him that he refuses even a teaspoonful of brandy as a tonic, saying, " Let me die as I have lived, a sober man."

He was born at Patchogue, where he by frugality and perseverance came in possession of the East Pond and mills, known as the "Swan River Mills." Running these and building small sloops he was able to bring up com- fortably a family of nine children, of whom all but one are now living.

He has always been a close observer of men and events, with a decided will and way of his own. Many eccentricities and individual peculiarities he probably in- herited from his grandfather Smith, generally known as "Old Rooster Skin Narse Smith," a mighty hunter, who took great delight in wearing at different times the skins of all the game he caught or was possessed of. He was often seen with a coat of deer skin tanned with the hair

on and lined with soft fur; breeches the same, and stock- ings lined with fur, over which were very large and sub- stantial shoes. On his head he wore the skin of a favor- ite rooster, the head left on for the front, and the tail feathers hanging down behind. Tradition says he was sometimes taken by strangers for Satan himself. In his own way he was a religious man, attending meetings and supporting gospel organizations. He had a habit of sitting bolt upright in church, with a long cane in his hand, which when the minister made some good point he would poke at one and say, aloud, "That means you;" and soon at another with, " That means you;" and after a while, " That I will take to myself." As he was known to be sincere, and paid well, his ways were endured for a long time; but finally a new minister stopped short in his preaching when "Rooster Skin" was applying the truth in his matter-of-fact way (" to give more force to the truth" he said) and requested a brother to lead him out. It proved a hard job for one man to put so muscu- lar a Christian out, and he called for'help. The offend- ing brother told them to make a chair of their hands if they wanted to do it easy, which they did, and as they were struggling along with the burden he exclaimed, " Well, well! I am more honored than my Saviour-He rode on one jackass, and I have two of 'em." This pleased the young people so much they had to go out of doors and laugh, and the meeting broke up in an uproar.

Joseph Marvin, the last grandson of so odd a sire, partakes of many of his sterling qualities, as well as some of his oddities. Years ago, with keen perception of the future, he bought land in Bellport four miles east of his birthplace, saying, "I may not live to see it, but that spot will some day be a watering place, so high and so close to the bay." After a while he sold his mills, bought more land at Bellport, and took his family there, and has lived in one house for over 40 years, not sleep- ing else a month, all told. His life has been upright and useful, a witness to the sincerity of his religious belief. A host of children and grandchildren are ready to rise up and call him blessed, for whose sake a loving daughter has caused his portrait and this short history to be placed in this book. He has lived to see his predictions a reality, and now in his serene old age he watches the sails of the boatmen on the beautiful bay, patiently awaiting that other boatman with whom he is so soon to sail away on the eternal voyage.

"And so beside the silent sea I wait the muffled oar; No harm from Him oan como to me, On ocean or on shore.

"I know not where His islands lift Their fronded paims in air ;

I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care."

Charles Softeners

CHARLES S. HAVENS.

Charles Smith Havens, a brother of John Scudder Havens, whose portrait and biography follow this sketch, was born in East Patchogue, August 26th 1834. In Bayles's history of Suffolk county we read: "In 1695 Nathaniel Sylvester sold 1,000 acres near the middle of Shelter Island to Jonathan Havens, among whose numer- ous descendants down to the present day have been some of the most respected and honored men of this town." In 1730 among the 20 male inhabitants of adult age on Shelter Island were George, Edward, Jonathan and Henry Havens. By this we learn that the family came early, multiplied, and took rank among the best.

Colonel John Havens, father of Charles S., was married and moved from Moriches to East Patchogue about 1822, whence he moved to Patchogue village in 1835. Our subject lived with his parents till he was 16 years old, attending school at Bellport Academy, and reciting during one year of special study to Rev. James H. Thomas. In 1848 he went as a clerk into Howell & Havens's store at Patchogue, where he remained till 1856, when Mr. Howell sold his interest to J. S. & C. S. Havens. This partnership continued till the store was burned in 1862, when the firm was dissolved and Charles went home and carried on the farm for a couple of years.

In the spring of 1864 he removed from Patchogue to Center Moriches, where he bought a stock of merchan-

dise and the good will of the business of Captain Wil- liam Penny, renting the store for the first five years and then buying it. In this business, and in this place, he has remained from that time to the present.

But he has not been allowed to stay behind the counter all these years. The people of Brookhaven thought a good merchant would make a good supervisor, and in 1866 they gave him that office, and re-elected him two successive years thereafter. Again in 1874 they put him in that position, and so well did he suit them that he was kept there three years more, the last two of which he served as chairman of the board. In the fall of 1877 his friends put him in nomination for member of Assembly, and elected him easily. About this time he had the mis- fortune to suffer from weakness of the eyes, which seri- ously interfered with his comfort and his capacity for close application while in Albany. He served on the committee on Roads and Bridges and the committee on Game Laws.

In 1865 J. S. & C. S. Havens built a paper-mill at Canaan, above Patchogue, which was completed and put in working order in 1875 and has been in active opera- ton ever since, turning out from 75 to 100 tons per an- num of the very best quality of strawboard.

Mr. Havens was married in 1858 to Nancy M., daughter of Samuel Williamson, of Franklinville, South- old. Their children have been John, Lillian and Hettie. In politics Mr. Havens has always been a Democrat,

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

of that candid, consistent mould that is an honor to any party.

He belongs to the Presbyterian church, and has been an official member, and clerk of the board for the past eighteen years. Within a few months he has been elected a ruling elder. In the Sunday-school he has always taken a warm interest as a working member and teacher, serv- ing as superintendent for the last fourteen years.

Doctor Charles H. Havens of Smithtown was a brother of the father of our subject. He was county clerk from 1812 to 1820, and again from 1821 to 1828, and at one time he served as assistant health officer in the quaran- tine department on Staten Island. The doctor is re- membered as a superior man by those still living who knew him. Colonel John Havens had three brothers and five sisters. He died at Patchogue, April 24th 1850.

Charles S. Havens belongs to that quiet, solid class of men whose influence and services, without noise or dis- play, are always exerted at the right time and in the right place. He is decidedly a modest man, very genial at home and abroad, and is most highly esteemed by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

EGBERT TANGIER SMITH.

The accompanying portrait of Hon. Egbert T. Smith presents to the reader a distinguished representative of a noted and noble family. On page 69 of the history of this town, in connection with an account of the other Tangier Smiths, will be found a condensed historical sketch of Mr. Smith's life and public services, from from the inhabitants of his native county, he was known in Washington and was selected by the great war presi- dent to go to England on important secret service. But, aside from official positions to which men attach honor, he has taken other and nobler positions for the oppressed and all those struggling for God-given rights and liber- ties, whether they belonged to his own or to a foreign land. He did all a private loyal citizen could do for Cuba, when, for nine long years she maintained the un- equal struggle for her freedom, giving money, and his voice in the public journals in her behalf, advocating her recognition by the American Congress. His character and acts as a citizen and a neighbor are in perfect keep- ing with his out-going and far-reaching sympathies. His heart and house are always open to the needy and infirm, and the misdirected or belated traveler is ever welcome to the hospitalities of his home.

At the risk of his own life and that of his son, who went with him, he took his boat during a terrible storm on the bay a few years ago and put out to where a man was clinging to a capsized skiff, and succeeded in bring-

ing him from certain death to safety and shelter. For this gallant act he received a gold medal. He has re- peatedly been appointed by successive governors as superintendent of the coast of Suffolk county to take charge of wrecked vessels.

Not popularity but right and justice are the tests by which he measures all matters and determines his duties. He lias always been a consistent and outspoken temper- ance man, never stopping to inquire whether his personal popularity would be advanced or retarded thereby. When he was a candidate for nomination as U. S. sena- tor an editor opposed to him in politics said he sup- ported him simply because he believed him to be a great and good man.

Patriotism has always been a leading trait in his char- acter. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he tendered his services in a subordinate capacity, although a generalship was offered him by President Lincoln. Between his house and the shore of the Great South Bay are the very distinct outlines of an old fort, in the center of which Mr. Smith has planted a flag-staff where the stars and stripes are kept floating every fair day, just as he kept the old flag spread to the breeze all through the great Rebellion. Near by he has a cannon ready for the 4th of July or any other notable occasion. He lives on historic ground, and is constantly reminded of the blood and treasure that have been the price of American liberty. In the course of one of his journeys he was in Havana during Cuba's revolutionary effort for freedom, and saw one of the patriot chiefs shot for service in be- half of his native land.

Mr. Smith was reared a staunch Democrat, and has always acted with that party, believing that its principles which it will be seen that, in addition to honors received if carried out would result in the greatest good of the greatest number. He was in the Legislature at the time of the death of Senator Brown of Queens county, and introduced resolutions of respect and condolence in the house.

A few years ago one of the colleges conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in honor of his name and ser- vices. He is a man of literary tastes and large reading and culture, and is a frequent contributor to the public press, where his articles are always welcome and prized. His temperament is nervous and very active, which, combined with his high mental talents, renders him an easy and effective public speaker.

He is one of the largest land-holders in the State, owning the " manor of St. George," which contains over 7,000 acres of choice farming and wood land. His grand old family mansion, where his ancestors have lived for two hundred years, stands upon a bluff over- looking the Great South Bay and the blue Atlantic. His household is presided over by his daughters in a most genial and hospitable manner since the loss of their mother some years since.

Egbert Janvier Smith

JOHN S. HAVENS.

John Scudder Havens, a large landholder and a prom- inent merchant and business man of Brookhaven, was born in East Patchogue, October 20th 1826. His father, Colonel John Havens, was born in Moriches, November 14th 1787. His mother was Eliza, daughter of Scudder Ketcham, of Huntington, formerly owner of Eaton's Neck. His father's mother was Abigail, a granddaughter

In 1847 he engaged as a clerk in Walter Howell's store at Patchogue, in which capacity he remained two years. In 1849 he entered into partnership with his employer, and the firm of Howell & Havens continued six years. He then purchased Mr. Howell's interest, and took his brother Charles, who had been a clerk in the store for several years, into partnership. J. S. & C. S. Havens continued in business till their store was burned of Selah Strong, of Setauket. The Havens family came | in 1862, when John S. bought out his brother, and built originally from Wales, and settled on Shelter Island. In 1745 the great-great-grandfather of John S. bought the mills now known as Carman's mill, at South Haven. Later he bought a farm at East Moriches of about 600 acres, known as Warratto Neck, which Colonel John Havens sold about 1820. John S. Havens bought it in 1855, and on this estate he now resides.

His earlier years were passed at home on the farm, and he received his education at the common schools and Bellport Academy. In 1845 he taught school at

Farmingville, and the next winter at Middle Island.

the brick store in which, with the exception of five or six years, he has continued the mercantile business ever since.

In 1852 Mr. Havens was appointed postmaster at Patchogue under President Pierce, and he held the office eight years, through the administrations of Pierce and Buchanan. He was elected assessor in 1854 and served three years. As a general rule the man who manages his own business well is a good man to manage public business. This was the view taken by his fellow citizens,

THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN.

and in 1859 they elected him to the chief office in the town, in which they kept him till the spring of 1862, when he declined re-nomination. In the fall of 1861 he was elected to the Assembly from the second Assembly district of Suffolk county. His record as a member of this body was a credit to himself and the people whom he served. He was placed on the committee on In- ternal Affairs of Towns and Counties; also on the com- mittee to re-arrange the State Congressional districts. The next year he was re-elected and was made chairman of the first of these committees, a proof of the value of his services the first year. Of his course during these two years in the Assembly the New York Tribune, a political opponent, took occasion to say that Mr. Havens was one of the very few who were not controlled by lobby or job rings or other dishonorable influences. Few men receive from opposite party organs as high praise as this. While he was member of Assembly and supervisor the valuation of Suffolk county was reduced over two million dollars by the board of State assessors, mainly through Mr. Havens's efforts in demonstrating to them the former inequality; for this service the next . meeting of the board of supervisors accorded him a unan- imous vote of thanks. His townsmen, knowing by so many proofs the value of his services, could not allow him to remain absorbed in his own business, but in the spring of 1878 again elected him supervisor of Brook- haven, and re-elected him for the next four years, when he declined further re-nomination. For the last three years he was chairman of the board, in which were but two Democrats. A strong and nearly successful effort was made to place him in the State Senate, he receiving the unanimous support of the delegates from his county in two successive Senatorial conventions.

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