USA > New York > Suffolk County > History of Suffolk county, New York, 1683 > Part 95
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24 I was in Camp and the gards wounded several of the enemy & and they wounded seven of us & shot Col- onel Martin through the breast.
25 I was oute on Sentry in the woods and staid all night, & it was a Dreadful thunder storm.
26 We was relieved of guard in the afternoon.
27 We was alarmed about 2 in the morning and we had many skirmishes, and they attempted to force our lines, and they killed one of my men & we suppose that wee killed a number of them & wee drove them back and lay in the trenches all night.
28 We lay in the lines all day & and it was an Ex-
ceeding heavy rain, & there was a continual 'fire kep up betweene us and the Regulars all day and we lay in the lines all nite.
29 We lay in the lines until the middle of the after- noone and then we had orders to march over to York, and we staid in York all nite and we was alarmed aboute 2 in the morning that our army was leaving our lines on Long Island.
30 We marched to Kingsbridge or Westchester.
31 We marched to Nue Rochell and tried to get passage by water to the Island but could not.
September I We marched to Mamaroneck & there we embarked on bord vessels to go home & aboute 11 o'clock at nite I got ashore at Captain Plats at Smith- towne
2 I got home to my house
3 I went over to Southold to see Col. Livingstone and he was gone over to new England before I got there
4 I came here from Southold
5 I staid at home sick
6 I went to Mrs. Woodhulls
7 I heard Col. Livingstone was come back to Sag Harbor & I set out to go there & when I came to Davids I heard he was at Southold & I went there and then I beard he and all his men were gone to New England & I came home.
The diary here closes. Colonel Smith wrote to the convention August 29th that he had received orders to march over to New York, and there to receive orders from the convention. Orders were sent to march to . Hoorn's Hook, but according to Onderdonk the regi- ment was soon disbanded, " the colonel giving leave for every man to shift for himself in getting their families and effects off Long Island." From that time till the end of the war the island was in full possession of the enemy.
Until very recently we have had no knowledge as to the names of the soldiers who formed the companies in Colonel Smith's regiment and took part under him in the disastrous battle of Long Island. But as the muster rolls have lately been discovered we have the satisfaction of presenting them for the first time in print.
The following is " a muster roll of Captain Zephaniah Rogers company, whereof Isaac Smith, being first col- onel, raised for the protection of ye inhabitants and stock of Long Island; Zephaniah Rogers being captain, Edward Topping and Paul Johnes being lieutenants." Time of enlistment, July 26th 1776. The place of na- tivity is mentioned in some cases; in all other cases it was Southampton. The occupation of the men is also given:
Hugh Gelston, sergeant, cordwainer; Timothy Halsey, sergeant, yeoman; David Lupton, sergeant, blacksmith, Jehial Howell, corporal, cooper; Elias Peirson, corporal, weaver; Jonathan Cook, corporal, cordwainer; Jeremiah Post, drummer, yeoman; Nathan Cook, fifer, cordwainer; Stephen Sayre, weaver; Jonathan Wheldon, Nantucket, cooper; George Harris, weaver; Memucan White, yeo- man; Silas Topping, yeoman; Charles .Cooper, black- smith; Thomas Johnes, joiner; Stephen Harris, weaver; William Halsey, joiner; Jeremiah Jagger, blacksmith; Abraham Rogers, joiner; Ephraim L'Hommedieu, Shelter Island, cordwainer; Elisha Clark, yeoman; Silas Wood- ruff, weaver; John Foster, yeoman; John Looper, yeo-
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THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
man; James Norris, yeoman; John Tuthill, Southold, yeoman; Israel Baynels, Norwalk, yeoman; Stephen Jen- nings, cordwainer; John Bishop, joiner; Calvin Cook, tailor; Stephen Fordham, yeoman; Barnabas Reeves, Southold, yeoman; James Howell, hatter; Joseph Bur- nett, yeoman; Isaac Liscomb, weaver; Matthew Jagger, weaver; James Halsey, yeoman; Joshua Woodruff, yeo- man; Daniel Stratton, cordwainer; David Woodruff, joiner; Jeremiah Ludlam, weaver; Silas Halsey, weaver; Matthew Cooper, weaver; Abraham Rogers jr., weaver; Stephen Halsey, weaver; Mulford L'Hommedieu, tailor; David Cooper, weaver; James Terry, weaver; John Cook, weaver; Topping Rogers, weaver; Moses Howell, weaver; James Halsey, shoemaker; Ethan Halsey, yeo- man; Job Halsey, yeoman; Mallom Macolum, Scotland, weaver; Stephen Clark, yeoman; Matthew Howell, weaver.
The following is " a return of the extraordinary mus- tering of minute men of Southampton, according to the regulations of Provincial Congress of New York":
Zephaniah Rogers, captain; Nathaniel Howell, first lieutenant; Mathew Sayre, second lieutenant; David Haines Foster, sergeant; Zebulon Jessup, sergeant; John Peirson, sergeant; Timothy Halsey, sergeant; Obadiah Johnes jr., drummer; Philip Halsey, fifer; Joseph Good- ale, corporal; Mathew Howell, corporal; Samuel Bishop, corporal; George Ludlam, corporal; Zebulon Jennings, Asa Foster, Henry Hains, William Hill, David Rose, Thomas Johnes, Abraham Sayre, Abraham Rogers, Sil- vanus Jennings, Silas Rugg, Benjamen Cooper, John Pelletreau, Charles Woolly, Abraham Jagger, Jehial Howell, Stephen Raynor, Stephen Reeves jr., James Halsey, Micaiah Herrick, Jedediah Foster, Thomas Ste- phens, William Foster, Richard Fowler, Jonathan How- ell, John P. Albertson, James Norris, Stephen Rogers, Edmund Howell, William Howell, William Raynor, Isaac Jessup, Job Rogers, William Goldsmith.
"Appeared before me and given in upon oath that the above persons as named above did appeare and were un- der arms four hours, according to the rules and orders by Congress delivered out for that end and perpose. Zephaniah Rogers, captain.
"DANIEL HOWELL, Chairman.
"Aug. 10, 1776."
"A return of Captain David Peirson's minute company in Suffolk county, in the regiment whereof Josiah Smith is colonel " reads as follows:
David Peirson, captain ; John Foster, Ist lieutenant; Abraham Rose, 2nd lieutenant; Edward Topping, en- sign ; Samuel White, sergeant ; David Woodruff, ser- geant; Grover L'Hommedieu, sergeant; David Lupton, sergeant; Isaac Peirson, corporal; Mathew Jagger, cor- poral; Phillip Gildersleve, corporal ; Joshua Hildreth, corporal; Hugh Gelston, clerk; James Foster, drummer; Zechariah Peirson, Mathew Topping, Abraham Peirson, Nathan Hedges, Henry Moore, Armstrong Bishop, Job Peirson, Jeremiah Bower, Henry Topping, Silas Cook, Hezekiah Bower, David Bower, Henry Corwithe, Caleb Brown, David Howell Sandford, Caleb Corwithe, Jona- than Cook, Fithian Halsey, Topping Rogers, Mathew Cooper, Zephaniah Topping, John Corwithe, John Hud- son, John Hudson jr., Henry Edwards, Joseph Hand, David Russell, Benjamin Crook, William Conn, Abraham Sandford, Henry Brown, Moses Howell, Daniel Halsey, Luther Hildreth, Silvanus Halsey, Jonathan Hand, Ben- jamin Sandford, James Terril, David Howell, Lewis Sandford, Josiah Maynor, Josiah Stanbrough.
marched with Colonel Smith to the battle of Long Island. "A return of the extraordinary mustering of the com- pany of minute men, according to the regulations of the Provincial Congress of New York; and they are as fol- lows:"
David Peirson, captain; John Foster, first lieutenant; Abraham Rose, second lieutenant; Edward Topping, en- sign; Samuel White, sergeant; David Woodruff, sergeant; Sylvanus Wick,* sergeant; David Lupton, sergeant; Isaac Peirson, corporal; Matthew Jagger, corporal; Philip Gildersleeve, corporal; Joshua Hildreth, corporal; Anthony Sherman,* corporal; William Gelston, fifer; James Foster,* drummer; Hugh Gelston, clerk; Zacha- riah Peirson, Mathew Topping, Abraham Peirson, Arm- strong Bishop, Job Peirson, Grover L'Hommedieu, Jere- iniah Bower, Silvanus Conkling, Alexander King, Benja- min Crook, Samuel King, Henry Gildersleeve, John Hudson, David Hand jr., Abraham Dickinson, Timothy Hedges jr., Silvanus Halsey, Benjamin Sandford, Luther Hildreth, Daniel Halsey, James Terry, Abraham Sand- ford, David Smith, Lewis Sandford, Moses Howell, David Howell, Henry Brown, Josiah Raynor, Josiah Stanbrough, Jonathan Hand, Daniel Schelenger jr., David Russell, John Edwads, Nathan Hedges, Phineas Homan, Jeremiah Bower, Jeremiah Topping, Edward Howell, Josiah Hand, Jonathan Russell, Henry Top- ping, Job Hedges, John Corwithe, Topping Rogers, Daniel Sandford, Mathew Cooper, David Edwards, Caleb Brown, David Tarbel, David Bower, Zephaniah Topping, David Howell Sandford, Abraham Halsey, Thomas Halsey, Henry Corwithe, Ephraim White, Stephen White, William Conn, Henry Edwards, David Fithian Halsey, Henry Moore, Jeremiah Gardiner, Joseph Hand, Joseph Hand jr., Hezekiah Bower, Caleb Corwithe, Silas Pain, Christopher Vail, Jonathan Cook, Benjamin Hunt.
Those whose names are followed by an asterisk are marked as having entered the continental service.
There was also another company in Bridgehampton, of which John Sandford was captain, Edward Topping first lieutenant, Philip Howell second lieutenant, and John Hildreth ensign. But we have no list of names of the rank and file, and the company was not in Col. Smith's regiment in 1776. The commission of John Hildreth as ensign, signed by John Haring, chairman of the committee of safety, September 13th 1775, is still in possession of his grandson Matthew Hildreth, and is printed in the historical address delivered July 4th 1876 by Hon. H. P. Hedges. In Onderdonk's " Revolution- ary Incidents of Suffolk County," page 26, is a return of Colonel Smith's regiment, and it is to the credit of the towns of Southampton and East Hampton that the compa- nies of those towns were the only ones reported as "com- plete in arms.
The disastrous result of the battle of Long Island cre- ated a panic in this town as in all other parts of the county. Exaggerated reports of the rapacity and vio- lence of the British troops spread far and wide. Promi- nent men, and especially those who had made themselves conspicuous in the Revolutionary cause, deemed it pru- dent to remove their families and personal effects to Connecticut. It was rumored that a detachment of 300 horse and a company of foot were about to invade Suf-
The foregoing list probably embraces those who folk county. At that time a fort was thrown up at Canoe
22
THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
-. Place, on what is still known as "Fort Hill," but it was soon abandoned. On August 29th a proclamation was issued by General William Erskine, announcing that he had been appointed commanding officer of the east end of the island and that all inhabitants were commanded to yield submission to the royal authority. The wharf at Sag Harbor was crowded with emigrants eager to remove
"At a meeting of a quorum of the committee of Southampton it was voted that Major Uriah Rogers, Captain Zophar Cooper, Captain Elias Pelletreau, Cap- tain Jeremiah Rogers, Mr. Abraham Cooper, and Mr. Henry Herrick, by this certificate, have our license to remove their respective families for their safety into any part of Connecticut at their discretion, not absenting themselves, and to hire a boat for that purpose. Signed by order of the Committee of Southampton, " OBADIAH JONES, Clerk. "31 Aug. 1776."
The town committee dissolved in October, and sent declarations to Governor Tryon announcing their sub- mission to the royal government and their intention to obey the legal authority. As has been stated, the proni- inent inhabitants, or a large part of them, fled to Con- necticut, and the following is a partial list of those who emigrated from this town:
Dr. Jona Havens, Maltby Gelston, Ezekiel Howell, Daniel Howell, David Pierson, John Gelston, Ephraim Fordham, Obadialı Johnes, Paul Howell, James Sayre, Richard Howell, Hugh Gelston, Thomas Topping. Dr. Henry White, George Fordham, Theophilus Halsey, Josiah Topping, Joseph Moore, Elias Pelletreau, Peletiah Fordham, David Sayer, Nathan Fordham, Abraham Rose, John Howell, Recompense Howell, Lewis Stanbrough, Francis Fournier, Sylvanus Howell, Eze- hiel Sandford, William Gelston, John Pelletreau, Silas Jessup, Captain John Hurlburt, Ebenezer Edwards, Edward Howell, David Howell. Daniel Haines, Silas Nor- ris, Zebulon Cooper, John Cooper, Daniel Fordham, Elias Howell, Stephen Howell, Jeremiah Rogers, John Hudson, Obadiah Gildersleve, Gershom Culver, William Lawrence, David Woodruff, David Sayre, Dr. Silas Hal- sey, Benjamin Sayre.
The exact time when the British troops came to this town and took possession is unknown, but it is probable that immediately after the battle of Long Island detach- ments were marched to important points to enforce obedience and to collect material for the army. In the | summer of 1778 Governor Tryon marched down the island with about a thousand men. He first went on the north branch, through Southold, and in September went on the south branch, compelling the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance. In the early part of the winter of 1778 General Erskine marched to this town, and made his headquarters in the village of Southampton, in the house now owned by William S. Pelletreau. Upon the high land on the West street of the village three forts were thrown up, and the writer was informed by an aged man, whose father was compelled to assist in their erec- tion, that after the earth work was thrown up the inhabi- tants were ordered out with their ox-carts to cut down thorn hedges (which were very numerous at the time)
and fill the ditch with the branches, which would thus make a very formidable barricade. The large field now belonging to Captain George G. White, and adjoining one of the forts which is still standing, was used as a parade ground, and a whipping post near by was the place of punishment.
The old Pelletreau house was seized (the owner from the island, and passes were issued to them by the having fled to Connecticut) and used as a commis- town committee, of which the following is a specimen:
sary house, and the floors showed distinctly the marks made by the axe while cutting up meat for the use of troops. A rude picture of a ship, cut in a panel of the ceiling by a soldier in idle mood, is still kept by the writer as a relic. This house, torn down in 1880, stood just south of the present residence of Josiah Foster.
Under the control of General Erskine the troops were kept in good subjection, and any unauthorized trespass- ing upon the inhabitants was punished with great severity, of which the following well authenticated cir- cumstance is an instance. Two soldiers called one day at the house of Stephen Reeves, who lived on Hill street in the present residence of Franklin Jagger, and asked for something to eat. It was furnished them, but while his back was turned they stole two towels. Soon after they were gone the owner missed the articles, and, suspecting his visitors, ran across lots to the fort, and made complaint to the commanding officer. Just at that moment the two soldiers came in, and he at once pointed them out as the culprits. They were searched and the articles found in their possession, whereupon they were tied up and flogged so unmercifully that the tender hearted Mr. Reeves bitterly regretted that he had made any complaint.
In February 1779 14 companies, comprising 700 men, were reported at Southampton, and March 25th General Clinton was here with about 2,500 troops. Twenty-five sail of vessels were in and near Sag Harbor, and twelve or fourteen were driven on to Gardiner's Island in a gale. March 31st it was reported that General Clinton had lately marched from New York to the east end of the island, with 300 or 400 troops to join those who had been there several weeks, amounting in all to 3,000 or 4,000 men. April 7th it was said that General Clinton had returned in haste to New York with a small guard, fearing that the French would attack the city. Breast- works were thrown up at Sag Harbor in consequence of a report that General Parsons, from Connecticut, was about to attack that place with 4,000 troops. .
In the spring of 1779 the troops under Erskine took their departure. It is said that the general was in the habit of riding on his horse to the hills at the edge of the woods, which command so extensive a view of the village and ocean, and pronounced the place the "garden spot of America," and announced his intention of having here his country seat when "the rebellion" was over.
The sudden entry of several hundred troops into the place made a great demand for provisions and all articles of farmer's produce. Incessant demands were made for firewood; the ox-teams of the people were kept busily occupied in supplying it, and the fences in the neighbor-
23
THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
hood were unhesitatingly taken for the same purpose. Hay and grain for the use of the cavalry were in con- stant demand. The recently examined records in the book of "town trustees " throw much light upon the method applied in satisfying the demands of the British army. When a requisition was made for the town to supply a certain number of horses, or a given quantity of hay, grain or provisions, the town trustees appointed a committee to obtain the articles required, and persons having them were commanded forthwith to bring them to a certain place, where the committee duly examined them, as to weight and quality. Persons having teams were required to cart the articles thus supplied to the points on the island designated by the quartermaster. - Prompt payment for the supplies appears to have been made, and claims which were otherwise unprovided for were made a town charge. The following extracts will fully illustrate the foregoing statement:
" At a meeting of the trustees beld May 30th 1780 it persons holding lands by quit rent might commute the
was voted and ordered that Thomas Sanford, Esq., and Isaac Post shall have £20 each for services done while the troops were here and so till this time." June 27th 1780 it was " voted and ordered that the conductors of wagons and the committee that classed ye teams together for the use of government shall be paid by the town out of the town's stock." " James Post his bill allowed for going with horses to Brookland, and for going at another time to New York for to get the money for said horses, £17 11. 6." " Voted that those persons who were appointed to see the beef weighed that was provided for the ship- ping, and all other charges that accrued thereon, shall be paid by the town." "Allowed to Daniel Foster jr. for shoeing 5 horses that were for government, 15s. 6d." " Voted that Captain John Post, Nathaniel Herrick, & Micaiah Herrick be allowed pay for their cattle taken by Col. Simcoe's order for his troops." "Ordered that Ananias Cooper shall be allowed for 6 days riding and buying of horses for government £2. Capt. Wm. Rogers shall be allowed for collecting teams and forrage, 14 days, 7s. 6d. a day."
When the troops departed they left, as it seems, some " bad debts" behind them, as the following will show:
"Voted that a committee be chosen to ascertain a price for flour and beef that was taken for Col. Simcoe's troops, for failure of government pay."
"The commissary general of the British troops to Wil- liam Jagger Dr .:
" To 4 tons of fresh hay taken by Clayton and € s. d.
Butler, deputy commissioners.
" To provisions for 9 men 7 days, by Gen. Ers-
32 o 0 kine ... IIOO
" To 212 bushels of oats at 7s. 17 6
"To one bushel of Indian corn taken by Honi- well, conductor of wagons. 0 8 0
"£45 5 6"
It will be remembered in comparing these with present prices that the pound in the above accounts is equal to $2.50.
Tradition states that the winter of 1779-80 was one of unexampled severity. The -troops left on the 20th of May, and the discouraged inhabitants had made no at- tempt to cultivate their farms. After their departure, notwithstanding the lateness of the season, they began to .plow and sow, and they were rewarded, contrary to all expectations, with an abundant harvest.
At the close of the war the inhabitants most willingly threw off the allegiance which had been forced upon them, and no part of the country welcomed the new form of government more heartily than Southampton. It will be remembered that by the terms of Governor Dongan's patent this town was required to pay 40 shillings annu- ally as a "quit rent" or acknowledgment of the right of the British crown. After the Revolution this was claim- ed as due to the State of New York, and by an act of the Legislature April Ist 1786 it was ordered that the quit rents should be paid into the treasury, but that all
same by paying 14 shillings for each shilling of quit rent; and at a meeting of the trustees February 26th 1787 Dr. Silas Halsey was instructed to take enough of the pro- prietors' money and discharge the arrears and commute the quit rent. This was done, and thus disappeared the last vestige of our colonial form of government.
SOUTHAMPTON DURING THE REBELLION.
The war for the preservation of the Union and the destruction of slavery roused a spirit that was universal if we except a few whose blind devotion to party exceed- ed their patriotism. The call to arms met a ready re- sponse; a list of those who enlisted in the army may be found in another portion of this work. Colonel Edwin Rose, who had been elected supervisor in 1861, resigned his office to take command of the 8Ist regiment, and Jonathan Fithian was appointed in his place by the board of justices. A call for troops having been made, a spe- cial town meeting was held October 23d 1862, at which the supervisor was authorized to pay $150 as a bounty to any person who should enlist before the draft which was threatened. The supervisor (Mr. Fithian) and Stephen B. French were appointed a committee to go to New York and endeavor to procure the necessary number of recruits to fill the town's quota, and the supervisor was authorized to issue bonds to cover the indebtedness of the town. Previous to this a special town meeting had been held, August 23d, to encourage volunteering, a proclamation having been made by the president calling for 300,000 troops. The supervisor was authorized to borrow the sum of $30,000, and pay to each volunteer $100, and also to furnish aid to the families of those who enlisted. Recruits from this town were requested to en- list in the 127th regiment, commanded by Colonel Gur- ney, and a series of meetings was appointed to be held in various parts of the town to encourage volunteering. The result was that half of the quota was filled by volun- teers, and the other part by recruits obtained in New York, the whole number required being 212.
It soon became apparent that the Union was not to be
1.
THE TOWN OF SOUTHAMPTON.
24
maintained without a struggle which seemed likely to be of long duration, and a draft having been ordered to meet the call of the president for 500,000 men, the sum of $750 was voted to each man who might be drafted, and the supervisor was authorized to fill the quota of the town before the supplementary draft for a sum not ex- ceeding the amount above specified. Another special meeting was held on the 27th of December 1864, at which it was voted that the supervisor should be author- ized to fill the quota of the town under the last call of the president at a cost not to exceed $500 for each re- cruit obtained.
As we have before stated Colonel Edwin Rose had re- signed the supervisorship to command the 81st regiment. Failing health caused his withdrawal from this position, and he was appointed provost marshal, with headquarters at Jamaica, L. I. On the 12th of January 1864 a special messenger brought to this town the sad message that Colonel Rose was no more. He had died suddenly at his post of service, and the community was called upon to mourn the loss of one of its most prominent citizens. His remains were brought to his native village, and laid in their last resting place in the Hay Ground Cemetery.
On the 4th of June the town was called upon to meet a still greater loss by the death of the supervisor, Jona- than Fithian. The need of choosing a man of business capacity, experience and integrity was fully seen, and the want was well supplied by the election of William R. Post. Mr. Fithian's peculiar method of doing business, although perfectly correct, and inteligible to himself, was with difficulty understood by others, and there are few who can appreciate the amount of tireless labor that was performed by Mr. Post in the task of arranging the ac- counts of the town. It is safe to say that the whole community is under a debt of gratitude which will never be fully paid for his faithful and conscientious labor of ten years.
A special meeting was held January 19th 1865, at which it was voted that a committee should be appointed and authorized to procure volunteers for a period of three years at a cost of $750 each.
At the annual town meeting of 1865 it was voted to raise the sum of $30,000 to be applied to the payment of the war debt. Bonds had been issued to the amount of the indebtedness of the town, and on the first Tuesday of April 1874 the supervisor was able to announce to the annual meeting that the war debt was extinguished.
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