USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 94
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Such is a brief sketch of the oldest church in the town, and, unless we except that of Southold, the oldest on Long Island. It is a curious fact, from which those who worship the "good old times" may draw food for reflection, that at the time of the Revolution, a period which many believe to have been distinguished for re- ligious zeal and faith, the church could only show 60 members in good and regular standing; at the present, which some are pleased to call "an age of doubt," it numbers about 300.
After the building of the new Presbyterian church in 1845 the old one was sold to a farmer, and he conveyed it to the Methodist society, which was organized in in the town clerk's office is filled with records of these
1845. The edifice was removed to a lot purchased of Captain Charles Howell, and it is likely to last another century, so solid are its timbers.
The first pastor of the Methodist society was Rev. Gilbert Osborne, of Riverhead, though the first to preach here was one Soudan. The credit of having broken down the "wall of partition" which separated the Method- ist and Presbyterian societies here is justly due to Rev. William M. Cleveland, who was the first to invite the pastor of the Methodist church to join with the other denomi- nation in public service. Since that time a more friend- ly feeling has existed, and both unite in promoting the cause of Christianity.
GOVERNMENT OF THE TOWN.
For the first few years after the settlement the town was a pure democracy, the highest authority being the town
meeting, beyond which there was no appeal. Magistrates were annually elected, and it was prescribed as their duty to "govern according to the laws now established and to bee established by Generall Courts hereafter." .All laws and regulations were made at the annual or special town meetings, and the orders of the courts knew no obstacle from . the law's delay or the lawyer's craftiness, but were quickly given and
days if violation of law could be as quickly followed by punishment as in those ancient times. On the 7th of March 1644 "it was voted and consented unto by the General Court that the towne of Southampton shall enter into combination with the Jurisdiction of Connecticut." This being ratified by the Connecticut colony May 30th
1644, this town became an integral part of that govern- ment. Heretofore the magistrates had been elected by the townspeople at large, but by the agreement with Con- necticut it was arranged that the town should yearly pre- sent to the general court the names of three persons whom they nominated for magistrates, of whom the court should choose two, who were upon taking the official oath duly empowered to act. In view of the distance and occasional difficulty of passage by sea it was agreed that the freemen of Southampton should have the privilege of voting in "courts of elections " by proxy; and the town had full liberty to make its own laws in all things that concerned itself, unless they were opposed to the laws of Connecticut in important general principles.
Very unlike modern times, the office of constable in those early days conferred some honor on its occupant. He was invariably one of the most prominent citizens, and was second only to the magistrates. He was called upon to perform duties which at present would be confi- ded to a very different class of people, and if a minister was wanted the constable was considered a very suitable person to send after him. Under the "duke's laws," es- tablished in 1665, this officer together with the overseers constituted a court called the. "court of the constable and overseers," which had cognizance of all cases of debt and trespass under £5. The book of " court proceedings " tribunals.
The town annually elected from three to five men who were called "townsmen." These men exercised the powers now conferred upon the supervisor, assessors and overseers of poor. It was part of their duty to collect all debts owing to the town, and provide for the general welfare. When they made any orders notice was given by beating a drum, and at the same time a notice was affixed to the post at the meeting-house door, which the old record says " shall bee accompted a sufficient and . lawful publishment thereof." It was a part of the duty of the constable and overseers when a person died to call at the house and ascertain the cause of his death, and in case he died intestate to make an inventory of his prop- erty.
Those who believe that the early community was wholly composed of God-fearing and virtuous men will
17
THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
find little in our early records to support their views. When we find that a prison was built at a very early date, and stringent laws enacted against drunkenness, lying and other kindred vices, the question might very naturally arise, when was this age of virtue that people boast of ? The truth is that, while the leaders and probably the majority of the settlers were men who were actuated by the higher motives, and who would willingly submit to any privations for conscience' sake, there were others who had come simply to better their condition, and others still of the class who "leave their country for their country's good." The following extracts from the records will illustrate the point:
" March 6 1645 .- Yt is ordered that the fiue pounds that are due from Thomas ffarrington and Edward ffarrington unto the Towne shall be layd out for the pro- viding of a prison."
"Nov. 14 1648. *
* % There shall bee a sufficient payre of stockes provided, John White haueing under- taken to make them."
" March 1653 .- It is ordered that if any person aboue the age of fourteene shall bee convicted of lying, by two sufficient witnesses, such pson soe offending shall pay 5s. for euery such default; & if hee haue not to pay he shall sitt in the stox 5 houres."
The stocks and whipping post formed a very import-" ant feature in the village street. They stood at the junction of the main street and the Academy lane, not far from the corner of the homestead of Albert Reeves jr. This place was in former times owned by Hugh Gels- ton, a magistrate for many years, and it passed into a popular saying when a person was punished for any mis- demeanor that he was "brought up to Gelston's fence." The last use of the whipping post was in 1820, and the last person punished in this manner was a colored woman, whipped for stealing. At the time of the settlement a code of laws was enacted, founded on the Mosaic code; full extent. If they had been, Southampton, instead of being a desirable place to come to, would have been a most excellent place to stay away from.
The earliest records are in the handwriting of Richard Mills, who was schoolmaster in the town till 1651, at which time he sold his house and home lot to John Cooper. This is probably the lot now occupied by the Presbyterian parsonage. He was schoolmaster in Mid- dleburg 1657-60, and town clerk in Westchester in 1661; of his after history we know nothing.
but it is evident that they were never enforced to their office 15 years, David Howell 16, David Hedges 22,
The first supervisor was elected in 1692, as appears by the following record:
"Oct. the 21 1692. At a towne meeting holden in Southampton, by vertue of an order from the Justices of the peace, to chuse a man of this towne to Supervise the county charge with the rest of the men soe chosen by the severall townes, to meet at Southampton upon the first Wednesday of November next, by major voat of the said Inhabitants at this meeting Thomas Cooper is chosen Supervisor for this year afore said."
The town clerks and supervisors have been as follows:
Town Clerks .- Richard Mills, 1640-50; Henry Peir- son, 1650-69; John Howell, 1669-92; Job Sayre, 1693; Matthew Howell, 1693-1706; Joseph Fordham, 1706-09;
Thomas Stephens, 1710; Christopher Foster, 1711-42; John Howell 2nd, 1743-48; Obadiah Rogers, 1748-52; Stephen Rogers, 1753-83; Isaac Post, 1783-85; Silas Halsey, 1786 90; William Herrick, 1791-1811; James Post, 1812-20; William Herrick, 1821, 1822; William P. Herrick, 1823, 1824; Jonathan Fithian, 1825-43, 1848, 1849; Robert R. Rhodes, 1844-47, 1850-56; Noah D. Ellsworth, 1857; Albert J. Post, 1858-61; William S. Pelletreau, 1862-69; Edward H. Foster, 1870 to the present time.
Supervisors .- Thomas Cooper, 1692; William Herrick, 1693; Samuel Cooper, 1694, 1696; Joseph Pierson, 1695; Joseph Fordham, 1697-1708; Theophilus Howell, 1709- 18; David Pierson, 1719-33; Josiah Howell, 1734-37, 1747; Job Pierson, 1738-46, 1760-62; Abram Halsey, 1748-59; Thomas Cooper, 1763; David Howell, 1764-80: David Hedges, 1781-86, 1795-1810; Silas Halsey, 1787-91; Jonathan Rogers, 1792-94; David Rose, 1811-13, 1818-21; Henry Corwithe, 1814-16; Samuel Huntting, 1817; James Post, 1822-27; Selden Foster, 1828-32, 1835, 1836; Abram Halsey, 1833; Benjamin Huntting, 1834; David R. Rose, 1837, 1839, 1843-48; Gilbert C. Huntting, 1838; Maltby G. Rose, 1840; Edwin Rose, 1841; Sam- uel L'Hommedieu, 1842; David Pierson, 1849; George O. Post, 1850; Josiah Douglass, 1851; William R. Post, 1852-55, 1865-76; Jonathan Fithian, 1856-58, 1860, 1862-64; Edwin Rose, 1859, 1861; James R. Huntting. 1877; James M. Halsey, 1878-80; James H. Pierson, 1881.
The length of time during which some of these offi- cers held their position shows a high appreciation of their services by the people. We find that John Howell was town clerk 22 years, Christopher Foster 32, Stephen Rogers 31. Many of the clerks died in office and their successors were chosen the same year. Job Sayre, who was clerk in 1693, was the last survivor of the original settlers. At the town meeting held April 3d 1694 Matthew Howell acted as clerk, a memorandum stating, "the Clerke being sike, of which he dyed."
Among the supervisors we find David Pierson holding David Rose 11, and William R. Post 16.
MILITIA.
The fear and distrust of the Indians, which filled the minds of the first settlers, made every house a castle and every man a soldier. The first law passed at the first town meeting, April 6th 1641, forbade any person giving or lending to any Indian either guns, powder and shot, or any war material whatever, under penalty of forfeit- ing all his personal property. After a few years the peaceable behavior of the tribe tended to reassure them, and in 1655 the magistrates were authorized to give liberty for the mending "of any Indian's gun they see meete." The constant vigilance exercised at first may be seen from the order of the town meeting in 1642 "that the Company of the Towne of Southampton shall bee trayned sixe times in the yeare, and that the Inhabitants of this towne from sixteene yeares old and upwards shall beare Arms."
Early hours were the order of the day in those primi- tive times, and all trainings were to begin at 7 o'clock in the morning from the first of March to the last of Sep-
18
THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
tember, and at 8 o'clock for the rest of the year. After- John Cooper, Elnathan White, Benjamin Bennit, Isaac ward the militia included all men between the ages of 16 Sayre. Job Wike, Job Pierson, Matthias Sweary. and 60, and occasionally some man was excused; as, for example, "October 23d 1650 Mr. Richard Odell, in con- WHALING. sideration of his former paynes of training the soldiers, One of the most important sources of revenue to the town in early days was the drift whales that floated upon the shore. In 1644 it was ordered that "if by God's Providence there shall be hence forth within the bounds of this plantacon any whales cast up " the town should be divided into four wards cleven persons in each ward -this number probably embraced all the grown men at that time), and when a whale was cast up two men of is left to his liberty whether he will trayne or not, or whether he will beare armes to the meeting or not." Wood, in his "Sketch of the First Settlements on Long Island," states that in 1657 there were 75 men in the militia of Southampton between 16 and 60. While the town was a government by itself, and while it was under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, the soldiers elected their own officers. Under the colonial government the officers ! each ward were to be employed to cut it up, and they were appointed by the governor of the province. The were to have a double share: the remainder was to be following is the muster roll of the town in the year 1715, equally divided among the townsmen, Soon after this from the office of the secretary of state:
Southampton Company No. 1 .- Jecamiah Scott, cap- tain; John Foster, lieutenant; John Post, ensign; Samuell attack the monster of the wave in his native element. Jones, Obadiah Rogers, Jeremiah Jagger, Joshua Halsey, In 1658 John Ogden fitted out a small vessel and began Ephraim White, Jeremiah Culver, Ichabod Sayre, Sam- catching whales along the coast. In the agreement be- uell Jagger, William Jennings, Samuell Jennings, Benja- tween him and the town it was stipulated that the whaling min Hayne, John Haines, David Haines, John Harris, Joseph Lupton, David Roase, David Shaw, David Roase, [ company should have the privilege of landing and try- Thomas Lupton, Zachariah Davice, Joseph Wolle, Josiah 'ing their oil at any part of the coast, and the right to cut Bishop, Joseph Smith, Joseph Goodale, Jonathan Good- ; firewood for that purpose, and all dead whales bearing the marks of their harpoons were to belong to them. This was the beginning of the enterprise that in after years Long Island whalemen carried to the farthest ex -. tent of the known world; and there is not a shore on the venturous feet, and not an island in the mighty ocean but has welcomed the coming of their spreading sails.
Southampton Company No. 2 .- Isaac Halsey, captain; Nathaniel Howell, lieutenant; John Howell, ensign; in these a new element of power was introduced. The Christopher Foster, Daniel Halsey, Thomas Topping, crews of the whaleboats were in many instances composed Richard Howell, Isaac Howell, Obadiah Howell, Eph- raim Halsey, Joseph Pain, Henry Jessup, Daniel Foster, Zebulon Howell, Stephen Boyer, Benjamin Whiting, Benjamin Marshall, John Reeves, Isaac Jessup, Samuell | pleasing business of killing their enemies and the equally Howell, Jacob Ware, John Sayre, Joseph Burnitt, Daniell| Mackintush, Isaac Howell, Josiah Halsey, Benjamin Foster, Richard Fowler, Peletiah Fordham, Samuel Pier- son, James Cooper, Ephraim Hildreth, Jonathan Hil. dreth, Nehemiah Howell, John Reeves, Arthur Davis. Thomas Payer, David Howell, Daniel Halsey, Joseph Howell, Stephen Herrick, John Payer, John Gibbons, Joseph Fordham.
Bridgehampton Company .- Josiah Topping, captain; Stephen Topping, Elisha Howell, Theodore Pierson, Daniel Hedges, Martin Rose, David Halsey, Obadiah Cooke, Eliphalet Clarke, Ammy Rescue, William Tarbell, John Flint, Thomas Howell, John Carwithy, Benjamin Howell, James White, John Morris, Samuel Haines, Thomas Sanford, James Hildreth, Elias Cooke, William Smith, Josiah Hand, John Stanburough, Nathaniel Wood- ruff, Thomas Halsey, Daniel Hildreth, Josiah Tapping, Zechariah Rogers, Henry Ludlam, Matthew Lumm, Jacob Wood, Ezekiel Sanford, Henry Ludlam, Zechariah Sanford, Joseph More, Alexander Willmut, Joshua Hil- dreth, Ethan Sayre, Israel Rose, Josiah Stanburogh, Isaac Miller, Charles Stevens, Abiell Cooke, Jeremiah Halsey, James Haines, Samuel Lume, Thomas Cooper, David Lupton, Jonathan Cook, Samuel Harris, Jonathan Jagger, Edward Howell, Elias Petty, Abraham Halsey, Jeremiah Ludlam, Jeremiah Halsey, Theophilus Howell,
began the business of killing whales, and whaleboats
manned by hardy and fearless crews did not hesitate to
ale, William Foster, Benjamin Jagger, Josiah Loughton, Samuell Bishop, John Woole, Nathan Hildreth, Isaac Hildreth, Jeremiah Foster, John Foster, Samuell Wood- ruff, Isaac Woodruff, Isaac Halsey, Isaac Halsey. John Jagger, Jeremiah Jagger, Jonah Howell, John Clarke, Samuell Halsey, Ezekiell Howell, Jonathan Culver. habitable earth that has not felt the tread of their ad- Gershom Culver, Daniell Frazier, Samuell Jones, Daniell Bower, Nathan Jagger, John Scott, Amos Wolle, John Duran.
Whaling stations were established at various points, and
of Indians, and in this business their native courage found full play. The state of war no longer existed. The pleasing prospect of being killed in return made a state of things that had passed away, and their courage was now devoted to the far better purpose of killing "whales and other great fish," under the direction of the race that owned their lands and controlled their destinies- The records abound in agreements made with the Indians in relation to whaling. Among them the following may serve as an example:
"Know all men that we Towsacon and Phillip, Indians, by these presents have bound and engaged ourselves (God permitting life and limb) unto Josiah Laughton and to his assigns, to goe to sea for them for the full term of three compleate seasons, at Mecox, for ye killing and striking of whales and other great fish. And that in the said time we will attend all opportunities to goe to sea for ye promoting of ye said designe. And in consideration he the said Josiah Laughton or his assigns doe engage unto us, the said Towsacom and Phillip, that for every season they will give unto us three Indian coats, one pair of shoes or a buck neck to make them, one payre of stock- ings, three pound of shot, halfe a pound of powder, and a bushel of Indian corne. Witness our hands this 15 Nov. 1670."
Large numbers of whales were taken and whale oil and
19
THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
bone became articles of export to England. From a letter that John Foster, of Sag Harbor, should have the care of procuring a vessel to call at the several harbors in this county to receive and carry donations to Boston. This was in accordance with a circular sent to the sev- eral towns, soliciting their benevolence toward the poor of that city, suffering from the effects of the "Boston Port bill." Companies of minute men were raised in the villages, and the rapidity with which the ranks were written by Francis Pelletreau to Stephen De Lancy of New York, dated February 17th 1732, we learn that eleven whales had been killed that season. Six of them made 220 barrels of oil and 1,500 pounds of bone. The whaling stations have now entirely passed away except at South- ampton and at the village of Amagansett, in East Hamp- ton, at which places whales are still killed occasionally, and give retired sea captains an opportunity to "fight filled showed how fully the minds of the people were their battles o'er again."
Copies of the autographs of Francis Pelletreau, above mentioned, and another representative. of the family in past centuries are here given :
Francis Delletreaus 1732
Elie pillegiang 1701
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
The history of this town from the first few years suc- ceeding the settlement to the Revolution was one of un- interrupted peace. The horrors of Indian warfare that almost devastated New England was here entirely un- known, and while terror and alarm filled the villages on the mainland our ancestors rested in peace and quietness in their island home. The sentiments of freedom which were so deeply rooted in the minds of their brethren found a most hearty response in the souls of the people of Southampton, who were as much in all forms of thought and feeling a part of New England as any por- tion of the "land of steady habits." The details of the war for freedom are too well known to require mention, and it only remains for ns to narrate in a brief manner the events within our own limits. In accordance with the directions of the convention committees of safety were appointed in the various towns. In 1776 a census of this town was taken by Hugh Gelston and John Gel- ston. This census shows a population at that time of 2,792, of whom 1,434 lived east of the Water-mill, and 1,358 west of that place.
The committeemen for this town were Thomas Cooper and Dr. Silas Halsey, and a sub-committee was appointed at Sag Harbor consisting of Nathan Fordham, Burnet Miller and Thomas Youngs, who requested of the Pro- vincial Congress April 2nd 1775 ammunition and warlike stores, suitable for some cannon which were in their pos- session; also "that the cannon might be mounted on carriages, as they were much exposed to the ravages of the Ministerial Army." At a meeting of the committees of correspondence for Suffolk county, held at Riverhead November 15th 1774, among other things it was voted
impressed with the importance of the cause. At a meet- ing of the various committees April 6th 1775 John Fos- ter was appointed as one of the deputies to the Provincial Congress. A company of soldiers under command of Captain John Hurlburt was being raised to join General Schuyler's army. A petition from the people of the two towns of South and East Hampton was presented to Con- gress, praying that this company might be allowed to re- main to guard the stock on Montauk (2,000 cattle and 3,000 Or 4,000 sheep) from the enemy. This petition was granted, and the company remained. Tradition states that notice to raise this company was received by Captain Hurlburt (who lived at Bridgehampton) on Sun- day afternoon. Taking his stand at the church door after service he stated his anthority, and called in stir- ring words for volunteers, and before night the ranks were full.
By letter dated July 20th 1776 Nathaniel Woodhull, president of the Provincial Congress, informed Colonel Josiah Smith that Congress had resolved to embody one- quarter of the militia on Long Island for the defense of the stock and inhabitants, and had appointed him to the command. Orders were afterward sent to Colonel Smith to muster his troops from the east end of the island and march at once to join General Greene, who was in com- mand of that part of the American army which lay at Brooklyn. Anticipating the landing of the British army on Long Island, General Greene dispatched a letter by special messenger to Colonel Smith, ordering him to march his regiment at once to his lines. From a manu- script diary of Colonel Smith, recently discovered, we learn the facts concerning the part taken by the troops of Suffolk county in the battle of Long Island, and as this diary is a new addition to our knowledge on the subject we give it entire, verbatim et liberatim:
Memorandum .- July 23 1776.
I received orders from the Convention the 23d.
The 24 I sent Express to the East end to Cols. Mul- ford and Terry.
27 We met at the County Hall to appinte officers
when For the Second Regiment in this County Captain Ezekiel Mulford
I Lieut. David Seare [Sayre]
2 Lieut Nathll Hand
Capt. Zephaniah Rogers
I Lieut Edward Topping
2 Lieut Paul Johnes
In the 3 Regiment
Capt. Paul Reeves
I Lieut John Corwin
2 Joshua Benjamen
I Lieut Joshua Youngs men 20
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THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
I gave the offiers above orders.
28 I Set oute for Hunttingtowne ,
29 I spent at Hunttingtowne
30 I was at Hunttingtowne & Major Jeffry Smith mustered Capt. John Wickes men, and then I set oute with Col. Sands and Major Ramson to Queens County.
31 I wente downe to Watch hill to see the gard that [was] at the bottom of Cow neck.
August ye 1 1776 I spent in viewing a proper place to Erect another gard on Great Neck.
2 I set oute from Col. Sands to Suffolk County & got as far as Capt. Plats.
3 I wente from Capt. Platts, to Capt Strongs and staid with him all night.
4 I went downe to South to Meeting and went home.
5 I staid at home
6 I staid at home.
I set oute Eastward to Southhold and gave Capt 7 Reeves orders and Ingaged Major Wickhams to secure the stock on Robins Island from the Enemy.
8 I spente my time along to the Oyster ponds & or- dered Lieutenant Youngs to take the stock off Plum island, and I staid with Col. Terry all night.
9 I wente from the Oysterponds to Shelter Island and from thence to Sag Harbour and lodged with Mr. Foster
Io I spent at Sag Harbor with Col Livingston and a number of the principal Inhabitants of Shelter Island & Southampton & then went up to Southampton & there met an Express from the Convention dirrecting me to march all the new levies up to the west end of the Island.
I and Elias Mathews went to my house, and the two men that came Express Richard Buegan and John Sacket.
I2 We set oute on our march to the west end of the Island and got as far as Hunttingtowne.
13 We set oute from Hunttingtowne & got to Lieut Encrease Carpenters
14 We went Down to the Ferry to General Greenes and I took up Quarters for the Regiment and my self at Keen Cowenhoven
15 I spente with a great dele of trouble
16 I spent in Camp with trouble.
17 I spent in Camp with trouble.
18 Ditto
I9 Ditto
20 Ditto
21 Ditto
22 The Regulars landed below Nue. Utrecht 5000 and I with my Regiment went downe to Flat bush and went within a small distance of the Regulars and we were oute all night and our advance killed severall of them.
23 We continued all the day in the woods, and there was an incessant fire the hull day. We killed a number of them and they wounded four of us, we were releived at night I of us killed. [Note .- The words in italics are crossed out in the original.]
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