History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 75

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 75

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EARLY ORDINANCES.

It was voted by the town in 1792 and the following year that the old acts of Southold should remain in force in the new town for those years. For several years after- ward three men were elected annually to revise and es- tablish laws for the town. At a special town meeting held May 29th 1794 laws and regulations were passed by the people. Among these it was ordered that a pound 40 feet square with fence 7 feet high should be built at Baiting Hollow, on land of John Corwin, and another of the same dimensions at Aquebogue, on land of Isaac Wells. Jeremiah Wells was engaged to build the pounds, at £5 sterling each.

At a town meeting April 7th 1795 tavern licenses were granted to Timothy Lane and Daniel Hallock at Ios. each.

Frequent regulations restricting the free range of sheep and cattle on the commons and in the highways were made. In the year 1800 the town appropriated £150 to the support of the poor.

A special town meeting held at the county hall Mon- day July 13th 1812, to consider the pending war with Great Britain, passed resolutions approving the belliger- ent measures of the government, and appointed a com. mittee to call similar meetings thereafter if deemed ad- visable. This committee consisted of Josiah Reeve, Usher H. Moore, Daniel Edwards jr., Daniel Youngs jr., Abraham Luce, James Fanning and John Penney.

The plan of providing for those who were dependent upon town charity by letting them out to the bidder who would keep them for the least money was followed for many years. It evidently was not altogether satisfactory, for we find that as early as April Ist 1817 the town ap- pointed a committee to purchase or rent a suitable place for the accommodation of the town poor. The object, however, was not accomplished at that time. When the project of a county poor-house was before the people in 1831 the town meeting (April 5th) instructed the super- visor to oppose it. In the following year the town meet- ing made the overseers of the poor and the supervisor a committee to purchase a poor-house and farm, and ap-

propriated $800, to be raised the current year, toward paying for it. The house and tarm were purchased during the year (at Lower Aquebogue), and at the fol- lowing town meeting a committee was appointed to visit the house every month. The old house was repaired in 1862, and in November 1871, the poor having been removed to the new county-house, the property was sold.

For many years the custom prevailed in this town of letting the collection of taxes for the support of the poor to the man who would collect them for the least com- low as three per cent., and at one time competition was so sharp that the taxes were collected for nothing.

The town meetings from nearly the first were held in the county hall or court-house in the village of River- head. After the new court-house was built the old one, being still used as a public hall, was continued as the place of holding town meetings. This old " stamping- ground " was finally abandoned in 1872, the town meet- ing in 1873 being held in the new brick building of John Downs in the same village. During the years 1853-69 the custom of opening town meetings with prayer, and sometimes with Scripture reading, was observed.

ACTION IN THE CIVIL WAR.

The following paragraphs will show the action of this town during the war of 1861-65:

A special town meeting was held August 27th 1862, at which the action of the supervisor in offering a bounty of $125 to all who would enlist to the credit of this town was approved by a vote of 152 against 4.

Another special meeting was held on the 8th of the following September, at which it was voted that the town should pay to the wife or dependent parent of every vol- unteer $5 a month, and $1.50 a month for each child of such volunteer between the ages of two and twelve years, these payments to commence at the date of the meeting and to continue during the service of such volunteer, or during the war in case of his death before its close.

At the regular annual town meeting April 7th 1863 it was voted that bonds to the amount of $13,100, bearing interest at five per cent., should be issued to meet the expense of bounties and family aid.

At a special meeting held February 17th 1864 the board of supervisors was requested to raise on the credit of this town such a sum of money as should be necessary to pay a bounty not exceeding $400 each for a sufficient number of men to fill the quota under the pending draft. David F. Vail, George Howell and J. Henry. Per- kins were appointed a committee to act with the super- visor and clerk in raising the money and securing the men. Similar resolutions were passed at another special meeting held on the 26th of the following March to pro- vide for the call which had then been made.

June 13th 1864 a special meeting was held in anticipa- tion of another call for men. It was voted that forty men be secured in advance, by the payment of a bounty not exceeding $400 each, and that when the expected call was made the balance of the quota should be made up.

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

The board of supervisors was requested to authorize the raising of funds on the credit of the town, and J. Henry Perkins was appointed a committee to assist the super- visor and clerk in procuring the volunteers.

At another special meeting, August 23d 1864, the action of the supervisor and clerk in procuring substitutes for drafted men instead of volunteers was approved. It was also voted that each drafted man should pay for a substitute $125 for three years, or $60 for one year, and that the town should make up the necessary balance. A similar plan was adopted by a special meeting January 6th 1865 to provide for the quota under the call which had then been made for the final 300,000 men.

To meet the expenses incurred by this town in pro- viding bounties and family aid, bonds were issued, and the amounts used in the reduction of this debt each year, closing with the 29th of March, were as follows: 1864, $3,000; 1865, $8,500; 1866, $6,500; 1867, 7,250; 1868, $6,500, 1869, $10,600; 1870, $6,000; 1871, $8,000; r872, $10,000; 1873, $8,000; 1874, $6,816.49. The total amount paid for the direct expense of the war was $81,166.49.

TOWN OFFICERS.

The supervisors of this town, from its organization to the present time, have been:

Daniel Wells, 1792, 1793; Dr. David Conkling, elected at a special town meeting September 24th 1793; Josiah Reeve, 1794-1803; David Warner, 1804-10; Usher H. Moore, 1811-13, 1815; Daniel Youngs jr., 1814, 1829; Richard Skidmore, 1816; John Wells, 1817, 1818; John Woodhull, 1819, 1826-28, 1830, 1831; Luther Youngs, 1820; John Terry, 1821-25, 1834, 1835; Jonathan D. Conklin, 1832; Benjamin F. Wells, 1833; Noah Youngs, 1836-38, 1840; Herman D. Foster, 1839; Sylvester Miller, 1841-60; Daniel H. Osborn, 1861; Luther Skid- more, 1862, 1863; John C. Davis, 1864-66; Joshua L. Wells, 1867-69, 1871; Simeon S. Hawkins, 1870; Gilbert H. Ketchum, 1872-75; Hubbard Corwin, 1876, 1877; John R. Perkins, 1878 to the present time.

During the same time the town clerks have been:

Josiah Reeve, 1792-95, 1807-10; John Woodhull, 1796- 1806; John Wells, 1811-13; Elijah Terry, 1814-17, 1826, 1827; Nathaniel Griffing, 1817-22; William Griffing jr., 1823-25, 1828; George Miller, 1829-33; Henry T. Pen- ney, 1834-40; Nathan Corwin, 1841-70; Jeremiah M. Edwards, 1871-74; Benjamin K. Payne, 1875-78; Horace H. Benjamin, 1879 to the present time.

The following persons held the office of justice of the peace during periods. of longer or shorter duration be- tween the years 1811 and 1836, inclusive: John Wood- hull, Samuel Skidmore, David Warner, Daniel Edwards jr., Benjamin Edwards, James Fanning, Isaac W. Davis, Luther Youngs, David Edwards, Jonathan D. Conklin, Benjamin King, Ezra Woodhull, David Williamson and Noah Youngs. Since the latter date the following per- sons have held the office:

Noah Youngs, 1838-41; David Williamson, 1839-42, 1851-58; Sylvester Miller, 1840-68; Asaph Youngs, 1842. 57; Jonathan D. Conklin, 1843-50; Nathan Corwin, 1845- 72; Daniel Warner, 1859-62; George Buckingham, 1858- 6r; John R. Perkins, 1862-69, 1875-80; J. Halsey Youngs, 1863 to the present time; Benjamin K. Payne,

1870-73; Thomas Cole, 1869-75, 1880 to the present; Orville B. Ackerly, 1873, 1874; Horace H. Benjamin, 1874-77; Charles E. Wells, 1876-79; James L. Millard, 1878 to the present time; George F. Stackpole, 1881 to the present time.

The town records show that the following men were elected to the office of inspector of common schools, of which there were at first five and afterward three in the town:

David Warner, 1813-19, 1824, 1827; James Gardiner, 1813; Benjamin King, 1813-15, 1817-20, 1822, 1827, 1836, 1837; Matthias Hutchinson, 1813; Abraham Luce jr., 1813-15, 1817-19, 1821, 1833, 1834; Nathaniel Grif- fing jr., 1813, 1817; Moses Swezey, 1815-21; Benjamin Bailey, 1815; Zophar M. Miller, 1815-18, 1824-26; Rich- ard Skidmore, 1816; Jonathan Horton, 1816, 1819, 1823, 1828-32; Jonathan D. Conklin, 1816; Nathaniel Warner, 1820-22, 1829, 1835; Samuel B. Nicoll, 1822; Ezekiel Aldrich, 1823, 1826; Joshua Fanning, 1824-26, 1833, 1834; Usher H. Moore jr., 1825; George Miller, 1827- 32, 1841; Samuel Youngs, 1828; Eurystheus H. Wells, 1830-32; Asaph Youngs, 1833; Sidney L. Griffing, 1834- 39; Elijah Wells, 1835; Elijah Terry, 1836; Jesse W. Conklin, 1837, 1838; Franklin Skidmore, 1838, 1839: Clark Wright, 1841, 1842; Joshua L. Wells, 1841-43; Herman D. Foster, 1843.

The town for many years elected annually three com- missioners of common schools. They were as follows:

John Terry, 1813, 1814; Abner Reeve, 1813; Richard Skidmore, 1813-15; Thomas Youngs, 1814; David Brown, 1815; Josiah Reeve, 1815-17; Jonathan Horton, 1816- 18, 1821-24, 1827, 1833-38, 1841-43; Jonathan D. Conk- lin, 1816-23; Zophar M. Miller, 1818, 1829, 1830, 1841; David Warner, 1819, 1826; William Penney, 1819; Isaac Swezey, 1820; Israel W. Davis, 1820; Usher H. Moore jr., 182 1, 1823; Asaph Youngs, 1822, 1825, 1839, 1843; Eurystheus H. Wells, 1824, 1829, 1835; Ezekiel H. Ald- rich, 1824, 1827, 1830-32, 1841; Noah Youngs, 1825; Benjamin King, 1825, 1826, 1828, 1831, 1832; George Miller, 1826, 1827; Joshua Fanning, 1827, 1830-32; Ben- jamin F. Wells, 1828, 1829, 1840; Samuel Youngs, 1829, 1833-40; Benjamin E. Warner, 1833; Israel Fanning, 1834, 1836; Sylvester Miller, 1837, 1838; Alden Wells, 1839, 1840; Thomas Osborn, 1842; John Griffing, 1842; James S. Skidmore, 1843.

The office of town superintendent of schools during its existence was filled by Joshua L. Wells jr., 1844-48, and James H. Tuthill, 1850-56.

VILLAGES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

WADING RIVER.

In the extreme northwest corner of this town lies the ancient settlement of Wading River. A settlement was probably begun here by the people of Southold about the time of or soon after that made by the order of the Brookhaven town meeting in 1671. The original boun- dary line between the two towns was a north line from a pepperidge tree which stood at the head of the brook which was called by the Indians Panquacunsuk, and by the English Red Creek. This tree was for a long time a recognized bound, and its site is still marked as such. It stood on the opposite side of the highway, near the resi- dence formerly owned by Gabriel Mills and later by

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

Robert H. Corbett. The brook below this furnishes water power for a grist-mill. The right to establish a mill here was originally granted to John Roe jr., by the town of Brookhaven, May 4th 1708. Some adjoining land accompanied the water privilege. The grant stipu- lated that the mill should be set up within two years, and that it should be maintained continually. The change of the town boundary from a north line from the pep- peridge tree to the brook and creek to the sound, which was made in 1709, has already been explained. The vil- lage contains a population of about 300. Its growth during the last quarter century has been but little. This may be partially attributed to the decadence of the fire- wood business, which was once an important interest, and the greater attractions of other villages which have been stimulated by direct railroad service.

THE FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE

erected in this neighborhood was built, as is supposed, about the middle of the last century. It was in size 26 by 28 feet, and stood until it was replaced by a new one in 1837. It is claimed that this early church belonged to a society of the Presbyterian name, and that the Pres- bytery of Suffolk appointed supplies for it. The early records were lost, and the church declined until but a feeble remnant was left. In 1785 a church of eight or nine members was organized here under the title of the "Second Strict Congregational Church of Riverhead." This church has since occupied the field. The present church edifice was erected in 1837, and at once supplied with a steeple and a bell. Its dedication took place in January 1838. It is a noteworthy fact that the people of this village have always been singularly united in their ecclesiastical relations, the unanimous support of the peo- ple having always been given- to this one society. Sev- eral tracts of land were given to this church by some of the early inhabitants. Since the organization of the present church the following ministers have been en- gaged by it: Jacob Corwin, from about the time of its organization till 1800; David Wells, 1802-21; Parshall Terry, November 1831 to May 1832; Elizur W. Gris- wold, 1832-34; Christopher Youngs, 1835-41; John H. Thomas, February 1842 to August 1843; Luther Hallock, 1849-51; Eusebius Hale, 1852, 1853; J. H. Johnson, January to November 1854; J. H. Francis, 1855-61; Harvey Newcombe, August 1861 to March 1862; L. B. Marsh, 1863-65; Charles P. Mallory, 1865-69: G. D. Blodgett, 1871-75; William H. Seely, October 1875 to the present time. A Sunday-school in connection with this church has been in operation many years, the first superintendent of which is said to have been Deacon Luther Brown. The school at present numbers about 122, and its library contains some 400 volumes.

BAITING .HOLLOW.

Striking eastward from Wading River we find Baiting Hollow, a settlement of sixty or more farm houses

scattered along the north Country road through a distance of three or four miles. Farming and furnishing firewood have been the chief employment of the people. The locality was once called Fresh Pond. It is supposed that settlement commenced here as early as 1719.

BAITING HOLLOW CHURCHES.

A church of seven or eight members was organized here in 1792, called the "Third Strict Congregational Church of Riverhead." In 1803 a house of worship, 26 by 30 feet in size, was erected, which stood without material alteration until 1862, when it was superseded by the present building, which had been erected mainly during the previous year and was dedicated March 13th 1862. The following ministers have been its pastors: Manly Wells, from its organization till his death, May 8th 1802; Nathan Dickinson, for an unknown period; David Benjamin, 1820-40; Azel Downs, 1840-51; Chris- topher Youngs, 1851-66; William A. Allen, 1866-70; G. L. Edwards, two years; Eusebius Hale, 1876 till his death, October. 1880; John A. Woodhull, 1881 to the present time. The Sunday-school of this church was organized in 1826, with Christopher Youngs superin- tendent. Its present membership is about 75.

The Swedenborgian or New Jerusalem church here had its origin about the year 1815, its initial movements being under the leadership of Jonathan Horton, a mem- ber of the Congregational church who had become a disciple of Swedenborg. A separate place of worship was established in the year mentioned. A church was organized in 1831, with 13 members. This society in 1839 erected a house of worship 24 by 36 feet in size, which is still occupied. Services have been conducted by the following persons: Jonathan Horton, till 1844; Rev. M. M. Carll, a few years; Jonathan Horton again after the death of Mr. Carll; Savilian Lee; N. D. Hutchin- son, to the present time. The society is said to be diminishing in numbers.

JERICHO LANDING,

on the sound shore near Baiting Hollow, is a point from which quantities of cordwood were formerly sent to market by the sloops which then frequented the sound. During the war of 1812 the sloops engaged in this business, which was then a profitable one, were harassed by the English frigates that were cruising up and down the sound. Several vessels belonging to this town were cap- tured. An exciting skirmish took place on the shore near here on May 31st 1814. A party of men was sent from a British squadron, which lay six or seven miles from shore, to capture several sloops lying on the beach to load with wood. The attacking party was met by about thirty militia under the leadership of Captain John Wells, and a brisk engagement followed. The British, who were in two large barges, opened fire with cannon and musketry and were promptly met by the fire of the resolute yeomanry. An attempt to board the sloop

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD. .

"Nancy " was. unsuccessful, and was directly followed by a retreat. It was supposed that some of the enemy were killed or wounded in the encounter, though no in- jury was sustained by the militia.

The continuation of the settlement along the north Country road two miles or more east of Baiting Hollow is called Roanoke. A post-office was established here about the year 1871, and discontinued a year or two later.

NORTHVILLE.

Northville is a settlement is a settlement of thriving farmers on the same road. It occupies an extent of about four miles, reaching to the east line of the town. This village is one of the most pleasant rural settlements along the north side of the county. The location is ele- vated and remarkably healthful; and, while it is as re- tired as could be wished, the stirring scenes of life and business are within convenient reach by a half hour's drive over a pleasant road to the county seat at River- head. A post-office by the name of Success was estab- lished here about a quarter of a century ago, and was discontinued in 1880. An organization known as the Riverhead Town Agricultural Society was in operation in this village. It was a combination of farmers, one of its principal objects being the reduction of prices of fer- tilizers, seeds, implements and other articles in which reduction could be effected by the purchase of large quantities. .

During the war of 1812 an American cutter in an effort to escape a pursuing British man-of-war ran ashore near this place. The militia quickly gathered to the as- sistance of the Americans on board the cutter, and by their united and determined efforts the British marines sent to board the cutter were driven off. Failing in this attempt the ship joined the fleet which lay in the east end of the sound, and on the following day returned to the assault, now capturing the disabled prize.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NORTHVILLE

there continued until the completion of the present edi- fice early in 1881. This building, 46 by 65 feet in size, was erected during the years 1879 and 1880, at a cost of about $9,000. It occupies the site of the burned church, and in appearance and finish is one of the finest in the county. It was dedicated January 13th 1881, and at that time the entire funds to pay its cost had been subscribed. This society from its organization was independent until May 1880, when it united with the Long Island Associa- tion. It was incorporated in March 1864, under the name of the "Northville Congregational Society." The following names are those of its successive ministers: Jonathan Huntting, during the winter of 1834-5; Abra- ham Luce, 1835-39; William Hodge, 1839-41; James Smith, 1841-45; John O. Wells, 1845-57; Clarke Lock- wood, 1857-61; Thomas Harries, 1861-65; J. A. Wood- hull, 1865, 1866; Mason Moore, six months; can- didates for several years; S. Farmer, July 1871 to 1873; William Thomas, 1873-77; H. N. Wright, three months in 1877; A. O. Downs, 1877 to the present time. The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized in 1835. Asaph Youngs was its first superintendent. It now has about 140 pupils. A large library belonging to the school was destroyed by fire with the church.

In the preparation of this church history, as well as in that of nearly all the others of this town, we have been assisted by Samuel Tuthill, a resident of this village and a member of this church, whose active efforts and interest in behalf of the preservation of fast fading his- torical facts are worthy of recognition and appreciation.

NORTHVILLE ACADEMY,

established in the old church as mentioned above, and opened in 1859, had an existence of about twelve years, during a part of which time it enjoyed a flattering degree of success.

MANORVILLE AND CALVERTON.

A part of the settlement of Manorville extends into the southwest corner of the town. This locality abounds in swamps and ponds which form the sources of Peconic River. These characteristics hold all along the south side of the town, following the course of that river as far east as the village of Riverhead. These marshes have been made exceedingly valuable in the cultivation of cranberries.

was an offshoot from the old church at Upper Aque- bogue, a more particular notice of which will be found in connection with that church. The Northville church entered upon its existence as a distinct society in 1834. During the same year the church which had been built upon the road between Upper Aquebogue and River- head, within two miles of the latter, was moved hither. The church at that time consisted of about 130 members. About midway between Manorville and Riverhead lies the settlement of Calverton. A grist-mill has for many years been established here on Peconic River. The In 1859 a larger building was erected on the south side of the street, nearly opposite the old church, which was now fitted for an academic school-room in the upper locality preserves the ancient name of Conungam. Im- story and a lecture room below. The new church was in size 40 by 70 feet, with a spire 90 feet high, and cost, when furnished, upward of $5,000. It was dedicated in March 1860. This building stood until May 14th 1877, when it was fired by the hand of an incendiary and its destruction made complete. The society then returned in its worship to the lecture room in the old church, and

mense quantities of cordwood were formerly cut from the surrounding forests and sent to market. To facili- tate this commerce a side track was laid on the railroad, and this point became a center of much activity in the cordwood business. This was at first called Hulse's Turnout, and after it had risen to the importance of a " flag station " it received the name of Baiting Hollow

THE TOWN OF RIVERHEAD.

Station, in honor of the village which lies nearly opposite, about four miles distant. Still later the name Calverton was applied to it and a post-office by that name establish- ed. A part of the locality which lies on the middle Country road has been named Buchananville.

AQUEBOGUE.

Aquebogue, the most ancient settlement of the town, extends along the middle Country road from Riverhead eastward nearly to the farther limit of the town, though the eastern part, formerly known as Lower Aquebogue, is now called Jamesport. Upper Aquebogue is about three miles east of the county seat. Settlement is sup- posed to have been made here at a very early date, though the exact time is not known. The settlement however was of sufficient importance to demand the establishment of a church in the early part of the last century.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT UPPER AQUEBOGUE.

The early ecclesiastical history of this village is wrapped in obscurity. There are some evidences to support the the falling of a heavy piece of timber.

tradition that a Presbyterian church existed here early in the last century. The fact that this settlement was an offshoot of Southold, and was settled by people who were intimately associated with the Southold people, makes it easy to believe that the church organized here at that early period was, like its mother church, Presby- terian in form. But of this early church we have been able to gather only a few fragmentary items. It is sup- posed that a Mr. Lee and Rev. Timothy Symmes were at different times its pastors previous to 1746, but which of them occupied the pulpit of that old church first, or for how long a period either filled it, or by whom they were preceded or succeeded, we have no means of knowing. A house of worship 24 by 33 feet in size had been erect- ed, as is supposed in the early part of that century. It stood on the south side of the road, and in accordance with the custom a burying ground was established about it. The first interment is said to have been made in 1755. This repository of the dead has spread itself out over the adjoining fields until its grass-grown mounds cover an area of two acres or more, which is still in- creasing.

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