History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683, Part 80

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 80


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This would seem to indicate a population of not more than 100. The following shows the population at dif- ferent dates: 1790, 201; 1800, 260; 1810, 329; 1820, 389; 1830, 330; 1840, 379; 1850, 483; 1860, 506; 1870, 645; 1880, 722.


From 1730 to the present regular records exist. The following is a list of supervisors and town clerks:


Supervisors. - William Nicoll, 1730-42; Jonathan Havens, 1742; Jonathan Havens jr., 1743; Brinley Syl- vester, 1744-47, 1749; Daniel Brown, 1747, 1748, 1750- 66; Thomas Dering, 1766-70;" Nicoll Havens, 1770-77, 1783; Samuel Case, 1777-81; Noah Terry, 1781, 1782; James Havens, 1784; Jonathan Havens, 1784-93; Syl- vester Dering, 1793, 1794, 1796; William Bowdich, 1795, 1799, 1801.17, 1819; Benjamin Nicoll, 1797; Shadrach Conkling, 1798; Obadiah Havens, 1800; Benjamin Nicoll, 1818; Frederick Chase, 1820-24; Moses D. Griffing, 1824, 1826-29; P. Parker King, 1825; Samuel S. Gardi- ner, 1832-35; Caleb S. Loper, 1835, 1837, 1846; Samuel William (a son of his brother Benjamin), who, having B. Nicoll, 1836, 1838-45, 1850-65; James D. Tuthill, 1847; Benjamin C. Cartwright, 1848, 1849, 1872, 1880-2 Marcellus L. Loper, 1865; Samuel B. Nicoll, 1866-72, 1873-80.


Town Clerks .- Brinley Sylvester, 1730-53; William Nicoll, 1753-59; Nicoll Havens, 1759-77, 1780-83; Daniel Brown, 1777-80; Jonathan N. Havens, 1783-88; Sylvester Dering, 1788-1821; Frederick Chase, 1821-24; Jonathan Douglass, 1824; Sineus Conkling, 1825-28; Lodowick Havens, 1828-49; Calvin N. Griffing, 1849-53; James D. Tuthill, 1853, 1865; Horace B. Manwaring, 1854-57; Marcellus D. Loper. 1857-65, 1866, 1871; Elias H. Payne, 1866-71; Henry H. Preston, 1872-76; L. H. Manwaring, 1876 to the present time.


THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


For the period of more than 80 years there was no religious organization nor house for public worship on the island, and the whole district was nominally a part of the parish of Southold. The first intimation we have of an attempt to found a church is in 1742, when Jonathan Havens jr. gave half an acre of land situated near the middle of the island "for the setting of a meeting-house and for a burying ground." Mr. Havens and others of the principal inhabitants associated for the purpose of building the meeting-house the site of which was thus described as a small square building, "with four roofs


For many years the island was nominally a part of provided for, and it was completed the same year. It is Southold, and its affairs were managed in the Southold


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THE TOWN OF SHELTER ISLAND.


meeting in a point." It was of very small dimensions, field, of whom it was said that "if any judgment could be formed from its effect upon his hearers his eloquence must have exceeded any man's since the days of the apostles." The first person of whom we have any information who resided on the island as a regular preacher was William Adams, a son of Rev. Eliphalet Adams of New London. He was a licentiate for fifty years, but was not ordained. His home was in the family of Brinley Sylvester, where he acted as chaplain, until that gentleman's death, and he then, in the same capacity, lived with Thomas Dering. He is said to have resided thirty years on the island, but how long he preached to this congregation is not known. It has been a source of surprise that he was not ordained, but a reason has been given by Rev. Thomas Harris in his valuable historical sermon, which is probably correct. He was a Congregationalist, and that denomination at that time never ordained a minister unless he was at the same time installed over a church, and there was none here over which he could be installed. We have no knowledge of any religious teacher here until April 1805, when Rev. Benjamin Bell was invited to the island in the double capacity of teacher in the school and preacher in the church, for which latter service he was to receive three dollars a sabbath. He continued here one year. but was probably adapted to the size of the congregation at the time of its building. It stood till 1816, when the increasing population and the decay of the edifice ren- dered a new church a matter of necessity. In 1816 the present building was erected on the same site, the old meeting-house being moved a short distance to make room for it, and it was dedicated July 17th 1817. An attempt had been made as early as 1809 to raise funds for the purpose, but without sufficient success to warrant the undertaking. The want of means among the inhab- itants rendered it necessary to apply for help to outside sources, and the call was not made in vain. The sum of $1,300 was raised on the island, the following being the largest subscriptions: Samuel Lord, $250; William Bow- dich, $100; Sylvester Dering, $300; Benjamin Conkling, $200; Jonathan Douglas, $70; Phineas King, $50. Through the influence of General Dering liberal con- tributions were made from abroad. Colonel Henry Rutgers, of New York, and Rensselaer Havens each contributed $100; Desire Havens and Mary C. L'Hom- medieu each $150; Henry P. Dering $80, and David Gelston $50. Among the contributions might be men- tioned the pulpit, which was formerly in the Rutgers street church in New York, and is thus described: "It was constructed somewhat after the form of a wine glass, At this time the moral tone of society in the town was exceedingly low. The skepticism and infidelity so prev- tended even to this remote island. The saying that "when men are brought to believe that they die like brutes they will soon be induced to live like brutes also" was sadly verified, but on even this unpromising field a brighter day was to dawn. Rev. Daniel Hall, who had been pastor at Sag Harbor and had resigned his charge, was, at a parish meeting held May 5th 1806, invited to remove to this town as a stated supply. His coming was indeed a bright era in the history of the island. Under his ministry the whole community seemed to feel a reno- vating influence. Public worship, which before had been neglected, was now well attended. elevated upon a pillar about eight feet high, with a sounding board two or three feet above the speaker's alent in the early part of the present century had ex- head. It was a costly, highly ornamented structure." The change in fashion and taste extends even to the sanctuary, and this pulpit, which in 1816 was considered a marvel of art and ornament, was in 1844 regarded as an "insufferable annoyance," and a committee appointed to raise funds to substitute "a more modern, neat and con- venient pulpit." In 1856 the antiquated pews, with doors, were removed, and their place supplied by the present neat and convenient seats. The original sub- scription amounted to $2,598. In 1858 the church was enlarged by the addition of fifteen feet on the north end, and a belfry was built; and the building was rededicated by Rev. D. M. Lord. In April 1871 a bell was placed in the belfry at an expense of $425, and on Sabbath morning the 16th its sound was first heard as an invita- tion to the house of God.


When the plot of ground was presented by Jonathan Havens in 1743 it was intended that the south part should be exclusively used as a cemetery for his own family, but this restriction was afterward removed. In 1861 a piece of land was purchased of Joseph Congdon, and the parsonage built upon it, which was enlarged in 1865.


Prime, in his history of Long Island, remarks that it is a singular fact that " this town has never enjoyed the labors of a settled pastor." Although a church edifice was erected yet there was for long years no church or- ganization, and apparently no regular preaching of the gospel. Ministers from the neighboring towns occasion- ally gave their services, and in 1764 the walls of the ancient building resounded with the eloquence of White-


Mr. Hall had labored here about two years when for the first time a church was regularly constituted, under the Congregational form. At first it numbered 16 mem- bers, including the pastor. On January 20th 1812 Mr. Hall died, but the good he had done was not buried with his honored remains.


March 27th the society voted to be constituted a Presbyterian church, and placed itself under the care of the Long Island Presbytery. The first ruling elders were Sylvester Dering, John Douglas and Lodowick Havens, and they were duly ordained by Rev. Aaron Woolworth of Bridgehampton.


Although from 1812 to 1827 the services of a minister were only occasional yet public worship had always been maintained. In 1826 the pecuniary means of this society had been materially increased by a bequest of consider- able property left by Benjamin Conkling. During the period mentioned above six clergymen at intervals occu- pied the pulpit for short periods. Rev. Abraham Luce


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THE TOWN OF SHELTER ISLAND.


was the first of these, and he preached about six months. During the summers of 1815 and 1816 the church en- joyed the services of Rev. Stephen Tracy, a Congrega- tional minister from Massachusetts. In the winter of 1816 there was a remarkable revival of religion, and it was owing to the numbers then added to the church that it was seen to be necessary to build a larger edifice. After Mr. Tracy came for short periods Rev. Charles Moody, Ezra Young, and Rev. William Evans. In the winter of 1827 Daniel M. Lord, then a young man in college, was employed to teach the school, and also to lead public worship. Two events marked his short term of service: one was the burning of the school-house with its contents, the other was a revival in which fifteen or eighteen converts were gained. Next came Rev. Ezra Young, a descendant of the first minister of Southold. He removed to Cutchogue in 1828 and was pastor nine- teen years. Rev. Jonathan Huntting began his labors in 1828, and while residing in Southold made weekly visits to the island for three years. Rev. Daniel M. Lord, having finished his collegiate course, returned for a brief time in 1833. He was succeeded by Rev. Randolph Campbell, who afterward received a call to the church at Newburyport, Mass., where he was laboring as late as 1872. Rev. William Ingmire served as supply for three years, and next came Rev. Anson Sheldon, whose terni of four years was a period of advancement and compara- tive prosperity.


Rev. Daniel Lord returned for the third time in 1847, and in August 1848 he was installed, being the first settled pastor on the island; and thus began fourteen years of active and successful labor, which was closed forever by his much lamented death August 29th 1861. His remains rest in the cemetery near the church he served so well, and his memory is still green. Rev. Charles Holloway was installed in February 1863, and was released in the fall of 1864.


Rev. Thomas Harris, the present pastor, came to Shelter Island November 19th 1864. After he had preached twice an invitation was extended to preach for a year, there being but one negative vote. March ist following he received a unanimous call to become the settled pastor, and he was duly installed on the 8th of June, and still labors to the satisfaction of an apprecia- tive people. In October 1871 he preached several ser- mons giving a detailed account of the history of the town and church, to which the writer of this sketch wishes to express his great indebtedness for valuable in- formation. February 2nd 1884 the wife of the pastor died, at the age of 71. She was a daughter of Charles Duryea, and connected with her family were nine Pres- byterian clergymen. By her decease the church and community lost a shining light. Mrs. Harris was the first minister's wife that died on the island.


This church was incorporated October 4th 1816. As has been stated above it enjoys the benefit of a liberal bequest by Benjamin Conkling. The present amount of the fund is $7,250, which includes the value of parsonage and land. The present number of church members is 145.


THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


The first Episcopal service was held in the Town Hall on the 14th of May 1871. In 1872 Dr. S. B. Nicoll pur- chased from Charles D. Manwaring a lot of one acre near the center of the island, and built a church upon it the following year. His brother, Matthias Nicoll, was the principal contributor, giving $1,000 and afterward presenting the church with stained glass windows. The one behind the altar is a memorial to his wife, Mary Alice, who died January 5th 1873, and as a tribute to her memory the chapel was named St. Mary's Chapel. In 1881 the church received' the donation of a bell from Miss Julia King, of Sag Harbor. Services according to the form of the Protestant Episcopal church have been continued with tolerable regularity from the commence- ment, and the handful of church people who gathered at the first service has slowly but steadily increased. The church was erected at a cost of about $4,000.


REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.


The Revolutionary history of the town is embraced in a very few incidents. Being in the track of boats en- gaged in the "whaleboat warfare," as they passed and repassed from Connecticut to the south side of Long Island, the few inhabitants were peculiarly liable to be robbed, as the following items will show:


March 9th 1778 .- " Moses Sawyer, who formerly lived at Shelter Island, came over from the main a few days since and robbed the farm of William Nicoll, Esq., of said island, of 110 bushels of wheat, and carried off grain belonging to Thomas Dering, of Suffolk county." "September 14th 1781 two whaleboats with 40 armed men from Connecticut landed in Southampton, and killed and dressed four sheep belonging to Joseph Havens. On the evening of the 15th they ransacked the house of Nicoll Havens on Shelter Island, took two fowling pieces, a silver hilted sword, a silver mounted hanger, some tea, etc. At Captain J. Havens's they took a watch, coat, fowling piece, etc. Thence they went to the widow Payne's, insulted the inmates of the house and threatened to burn it, made them produce a silver tankard, linen, a watch, a coat, a fowling piece, etc."


September 21st 1781 a representation of the inhabi- tants of Shelter Island and Southold to Governor Trum- bull complaining of whaleboat depredations was signed by Samuel Landon, Obadiah Vail, J. Prince, J. Peck, David Conklin, Benjamin Vail, Jared Landon, Benjamin Prince and John Hubbard.


The island was during the Revolution almost wholly stripped of its timber, which was cut and carried away in great quantities for the use of the British army, the sit- uation of the place furnishing the greatest facilities for its removal. The wood, however, grew again with great rapidity, and has furnished an extensive means of income to the owners of the land.


SCHOOLS.


A school was established as early as the church and probably before, and the teacher was frequently employed


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THE TOWN OF SHELTER ISLAND.


to lead the religious services on the Lord's day. In the winter of 1827 the school-house then in existence was burned, and a new one was soon after erected. This re- mained until 1868, when the present school lot was bought and the new and commodious school building erected upon it. The old school-house was then converted into a town hall, and at this date Shelter Island is the only town in the county that has a building of its own where town meetings can be held and town business transacted. The school in the new building has long been noted for its efficiency, and under the care of skillful teachers has gained a well earned celebrity., The number of pupils is about 150, and there are two teachers employed.


TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS.


In the early part of the present century intemperance or moderate drinking was the rule, and total abstinence the rare exception. All classes of people were in the habit of using intoxicating liquors to a greater or less extent. Even when clergymen met on friendly visits, to treat the visitor with a glass of wine or brandy was de- manded by custom and was thought in accordance with the duties of hospitality; while the day laborer, es- pecially in the heat of harvest, would no more think of going without his jug of rum than his successor of to- day would neglect to take his jug of water. Strange as it may seem it was once customary to offer liquor as a refreshment to persons attending funerals.


In the fall of 1828 a funeral occurred at which most of the men present were in a state of intoxication which led them to conduct themselves with great impropriety. Albert G. Havens, one of the prominent citizens, was 50 shocked at the spectacle that he resolved to do what was in his power to arrest the evil. He consulted with Captain Henry Conkling and C. S. Loper and a notice was given that a temperance meeting would be held at the school-house. The persons who responded to the call were Albert G. Havens, C. S. Loper, Edward Crook, Daniel Harlow and Henry Conkling. A society was then formed and its moral influence was soon felt. Pub- lic opinion was finally raised to such a point that in 1833 a vote was passed in the sessions of the Presby- terian church requiring church members to abstain from the use of ardent spirits as a beverage. At the present time Shelter Island is more free from the fatal effects of liquor than any other town in Suffolk county.


SUMMER RESORTS-COMMUNICATIONS.


Within the last few years several enterprises of great prospective importance have been undertaken, which seem to promise a rapid increase in the population and wealth of the island in the near future. In 1870 a camp- meeting association, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church, procured a large tract of land in one of the most picturesque portions of the island. The grounds cover about 200 acres, on the west side of Der- ing's Harbor. These grounds have been laid out with the greatest care and skill into walks, avenues, meeting- grounds, and cottage lots. The camp meetings held


every summer attract alike the saint and sinner-the former to renew his religious life and inspire his zeal, the latter to see and be seen-and both apparently have the desire of their hearts satisfied.


In the northeast part of the island, and situated on the estate handed down to the descendants of Brinley Sylvester, are the grouds of the Shelter Island Park Association, embracing some two hundred acres pur- chased of Professor E. N. Horsford and intended for the purpose of establishing on the spot a magnificent watering place and summer resort for the thousands who flee from the heat and dust of the great city to seek the quiet and coolness of woods and waters. This tract is magnificently situated, and from its highest point may be had a view of the village of Greenport on the oppo- site shore, the wooded hills of Southampton, the high- lands of Montauk, and the vast expanse of ocean. Cottages of elegant design are here, and_a hotel two hundred feet in length and four stories high, with an ad- dition almost as extensive, furnishes accommodations for transient and permanent guests who come in crowds to this favored spot. This hotel was opened in 1872, and the Prospect House, an equally favorite resort, was built the year before. Steamboats land easily at a dock built near the hotel, and afford a cheap and easy method of communication with the outside world.


Before the building of the Sag Harbor branch railroad the regular mail route was from Southampton and East Hampton to Sag Harbor, thence across the ferries and this island to Greenport. The first highway officially located was laid out in October 1828. It commenced at the south ferry, and extended to Fresh Pond, and from thence in a northerly direction to Morancey Jennings's, or what was at that time called Boisseau's ferry .. A daily mail by way of Greenport was established in 1854, and a telegraph line by means of a submarine cable was introduced about 1860. The ferry between the north shore and Greenport was incorporated by act of Legisla- ture May 2nd 1868, and in 1869 the charter was extended for ten years. During the greater part of the year the passage is made in sailboats, but during the summer months a small steam propeller is used to accommodate the increased travel.


SHELTER ISLAND DURING THE CIVIL WAR.


The part taken by this town in the late war may be learned from the following records and statements:


At a special town town meeting held August 22nd 1862 it was voted to offer a town bounty of $125 to each volunteer from this town until the quota was filled under the call of August 4th 1862 for 300,000 men. Samuel B. Nicoll, James D. Tuthill and Marcellus D. Loper were chosen a committee to raise the money and pay the bounty; eight volunteers were procured at $125 and seven at $80.


A special town meeting was held February 22nd 1864, when it was resolved that there be raised on the taxable property in the town the sum of $4,000 to fill the quota of volunteers assigned to Shelter Island, and Benjamin


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HEARTSEASE AND SUMMER RESIDENCE OF ASHER C. HAVENS, SHELTER ISLAND, SUFFOLK CO., L. I.


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THE TOWN OF SHELTER ISLAND.


C. Cartwright and Charles H. Smith were chosen as a thy P. Congdon. Nicoll was the father of Jonathan N. committee to borrow the money and procure volunteers; Havens, who was noted as a statesman and philosopher. $3,047.50 was paid to volunteers under the above reso- lution.


A special town meeting was held June 18th 1864, and it was voted to raise $4,500 for bounties.


At a special town meeting held January 4th 1865 $6,000 or such part thereof as might be required to fill the quota of the town was voted.


At the annual town meeting held April 3d 1866 it was voted that $300 be raised to pay those persons who had contributed $25 each to furnish substitutes.


Amounts voted to be raised by tax: August 22nd 1862, $1,433; January 2nd and February 22nd 1864, $3,047.50; June 18th 1864, $4,500; January 4th 1865, $6,000; April 3d 1866, $300; total, $15,282.50.


BIOGRAPHY AND GENEALOGY .*


THE HAVENS FAMILY.


The family of this name which has been so prominent in the history of this town is descended from William Havens, who emigrated from Wales about 1635 or 1636, and settled on Conanticut Island, near Newport, R. I. His son George married in 1674 Eleanor, daughter of Edward Thurston, of Newport. He came from Rhode Island to this town in 1699 and received a deed from Nathaniel and Mary Sylvester for 1,000 acres of land lying near the middle of the island. Eighty-five acres of the 1,000-a part of the original estate that has never been out of the family-are now in the possession of Asher C. Havens. Here is the summer residence of Mr. Havens, a house built in 1743, which is represented in the accompanying plate.


George Havens died about 1706. His widow married Thomas Terry, of Southold, and died in 1747, aged 93. The sons of George Havens were Jonathan (1), George, John and William, and his daughters Patience (who mar- ried - Loper) and Abigail. In 1701 he gave to his son Jonathan (1), on the latter's 21st birthday, 200 acres of land on Shelter Island. Of the other sons of George the immigrant, William died in 1716, probably childless, while George was a resident here in 1730 and died about 1734, leaving a son George and a widow Mary.


John son of George (1) moved to Brookhaven. He mar- ried Patience Tuthill October 24th 1733. The Havens families in Moriches are probably descended from him.


Jonathan (2), son of Jonathan (1), married Catherine, daughter of William Nicoll the patentee of Islip. He had sons Nicoll, William, and Rensselaer. His resi- dence was a very imposing mansion for that time, and stood about 30 rods northwest of the residence of Timo-


This gentleman, whose life reflected so much credit on himself and his native town, was born in 1758. He enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate education, and graduated at Yale in 1777. He was elected to represent this county in the Assembly in 1786, and was re-elected for ten successive years. He was a member of the convention which adopted the constitution of the United States in 1788. He was elected a member of the 4th Congress in 1795 and continued in that body till the time of his death, in 1799. His life was too short to fulfill all the promise of his youth, and by his premature death Suffolk county lost one of its brightest ornaments. His tomb may be seen in the village cemetery, bearing the following inscription:


" Erected to the memory of Jonathan Nicoll Havens, Esq., representative in the Congress of the United States. He was esteemed by a numerous acquaintance as a man of superior talents and erudition, a philoso- pher, statesman and patriot, and died greatly lamented October 25th 1799, it the forty-second year of his age."


He was unmarried, and the whole of his short period of business life was devoted to public affairs.


Constant Havens, son of Jonathan (2), purchased a large tract of land at Hog Neck or North Haven, and was the ancestor of the families of that name residing there, and also of the Gleasons of Sag Harbor.


Jonathan (1) married Hannan Brown, and had sons Jonathan (2), William, George and Joseph.




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