USA > New York > Suffolk County > Babylon > Huntington Town records, including Babylon, Long Island, N.Y. 1688-1775, Volume II > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
524
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven Hundred and seventy four by and Between Israel Wood Presedent John Wood Jonas Williams Esq. Capt Timothy Carll Henry Scudder Stephen Kellcy and Solomon Ketcham Present Trustees for time Being of the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County on Nassaw Island Duly elected and chosen for this Present year by the freeholders and Com. monality of the said Town of the one part & Silvanus Townsend of oyster bay in Queens County on the Island afore said of the other Part Witnesseth that whereas Ben- jamin fletcher esq. General & Governer in chief of the Province of New York & territories thereon Depending in america &c by his certain Pattent under his hand Bearing Date the fifth Day of october in the year of our Lord one thousand six Hundred and Ninety four did Give & Grant unto the freeholders and Commonality of the town of Hun- tington and their heirs & succssors the Priviledge of a Body Corperate & Politque and of Chusing electing and Appointing seven trustees yearly and every year forever to mannage the Publick affairs of the freeholders and com- monality of the town afore said and withall giving unto the said Trustees full power & authority to give grant re- lease alien assign and Dispose of Lands tenements & hered- itiments and all & every other thing act and acts to Do and execute by the Name of the Trustees of the free holders & commonality of the said Town of Huntington as may more fully & Plainly appear by the afore recited Pattent Now know ye that this Indenture further that we the said Israel wood John wood Jonas Williams Timothy carll Henry Scudder Stephen Kellcy and Solomon Ketcham Trustees for the time Being for & in consideration of the Priviledges and Immunities Hereafter expresst and Mentioned in Be- half of the freeholders & commonality of the town afore said to be granted unto them and us by the said Silvanus Townsend his heirs and successors us also mentioned in A
525
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
certain Bond Bearing even Date with these Presents from under the hand and seal of the said Silvanus Townsend we the said Trustees have given granted conveyed and con- firmed and by these Presents for our selves our Heirs suc- cessors and the free holders Inhabitants & commonality of the said town do Give Grant release convey assure enfeeff and confirm unto him the said Silvanus Townsend his Heirs & assigns forever the rights Liberties and Previ- ledges Hereafter mentioned to Wit of Building Making and runing of A Dam to Dam the water to Begin at or Near about the North or Northeast Point of the Land that the said Silvanus Townsend Bought of Philip Udale Near the House of Hezekiah wickes and from thence to run North about seventy two Degrees east our to the point called Jacob Platts Point of upland where the said Townsend hath concluded to Build the said Dam and to Raise the said Dam as high as he the said Townsend shall judge most convenient and full & free Liberty to erect or Build A Mill or Mills on the said Dam or Below the same at the Most Propper Place at the election of the said Silvanus Town- send or his heirs or successors With free Liberty to Dam and Confine the water above the mill Dam and to Improve the same the said Dam to run A cross the Harbour called Stoney Brook Harbour at the Place above mentioned To Have & To Hold all the above granted and Bargained Premises with the Appurtenances unto him the said silvanus Townsend his Heirs successors and assigns forever to his and their own Propper use Benefit and Behoof from hence forth and forever and we the said Trustees of the freehold- ers and commonality of the said Town do Covenant grant and agree to and with the said Silvanus Townsend his heirs ex's successors and assigns that it shall and may be Lawfull for him the said Silvanus Townsend his Heirs suc- cessors and assigns to have hold use and Improve all the above granted Previledges and all the Mills erections
526
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
Buildings and Improvements that he or his Heirs or assigns or successors may Hereafter Make Improve or erect on the Priveledges above granted with out the Lett Hinderance or Molestation of us the Trustees or our suc- cessors and the freeholders and Commonality of the Town afore said and this Indenture further Witnesseth that I the said Silvanus Townsend for & in consideration of the above granted Previledges for my self my heirs successors & assigns Do Article covenant stipulate and agree to and with the said Trustees for the time Being and their suc- cessors that I the said Silvanus Townsend my heirs suc- cessors and assigns will erect and Build A good Grist Mill or Mills on the said Dam above Mentioned or Below the same and also make A good sufficient Dam or cross way Eastward of the old Mill that was Philip Udales over Across the Harbour to the upland to be eighteen foot wide at the top all the way for ox carts and team to pass and re- pass at all times of tide and to maintain it good forever and to Leave and make A good Publick highway three rods wide from the Bank all the way Down to the Landing Below the Grist mill that he is to Build and that it shall be A Publick high way forever and at or near the said Land- ing to leave A piece of Land sufficient to Lay all the cord wood that shall ever be Brought there and also to make A good cross way over the Little cove Near the said Land- ing sufficient for an ox cart & team to Pass and repass at all times Whatsoever and also Build A good mill as above said and allways keep A good Miller and Grind all the Grain that the Country People shall Bring and Grind it well and if one Mill cannot Do it that I will Grind wheat in my other mill and that I will Not Hinder any Person whatso- ever from fishing oystering claming or Guning any where in the mill pond nor Hinder any Person whatsoever from passing and repassing a Long on the Dam in case they Do me No Dammage Dessignedly and I the said Silvanus
527
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
Townsend do further covenant Grant and agree to and with the said Trustees their Heirs successors and assigns that I and my heirs successors Will Allways Grind all the Grain that shall be Brought taking only the one tenth Part for the tole for Grinding corn and rie and all the wheat for one twelveth part to me the said silvanus Townsend my heirs successors and assigns forever that is all the Grain that the Country People shall Bring and further it is Here- by Covenanted and Agreed unto by the said Trustees in Behalf of them selves their successors the free holders and Inhabitants of the said Town on the one part and the said Silvanus Townsend on the other part that in case it should so Happen that the said Silvanus Townsend should not Go on to Build A mill or mills at the Place afore Mentioned and should at any time Hereafter fail he or his heirs succecsors or assigns of Keeping a good Mill or Mills as above said in good order and A good miller and should fail Neglect or refuse to Grind all the Grain of the Country People as afore said that then in that case this Present Grant* shall be Absolutely Null Void and of None effect and all the Prive- ledges afore mentioned shall revert to the said Trustees
[*This was an important grant by the Trustees and it was under it that the large grist mill, at the landing in Centreport Harbor, was built and operated. The grant contains many im- portant conditions or covenants, some of which would seem to run with the land and if so, a violation thereof would nullify the grant and cause it to revert to the town again. It is not clear that the grant carried title in fee simple to the soil under the extensive mill pond, and in any event the rights of the peo- ple of the town to fishing, shell fishing gunning, etc., on the premises were reserved. This was the principal mill in the town for a long number of years. At this period the yield of grain in the vicinity was undoubtedly large, and in addition to this home work, large quantities of grain were brought to this mill in vessels from New York city and other seaports, and ground into flour and shipped again to a market-both home and foreign. Long Island farmers then had little of that com- petition with Western produce which has since revolutionized farm industry here .- C. R. S.]
528
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
and their successors and to the free holders and Inhabi- tants of the said Town of Huntington again as Heretofore In Witness whereof the said Trustees afore Named of the one part and the said Silvanus Townsend of the other part have set to our Hand and fixed our seales the Day and yeare above written.
Signed sealed &
ISRAEL WOOD P. D. [Seal.]
Delivered In the
JOHN WOOD [Seal.]
Presence of
JONAS WILLIAMS [Seal.]
NATH! WILLIAMS
TIMOTHY CARLL Jun" [Seal.]
BENJAMIN TITUS
HENRY SCUDDER [Seal.]
STEPHEN KELCY [Seal.]
SOLOMON KETCHAM
[Seal.]
SILVANUS TOWNSEND [Seal.]
Recorded by me
Solomon Ketcham Clerk.
(Deeds, Vol. III, pp. 494-5-6.)
[BOND OF SYLVANUS TOWNSEND.]
[1774, Jan. 14.]
Know all men by these Presents that I Silvanus Town- send of oysterbay in Queens County on Nassau Island in the Province of New York miller am hold & firmly Bound unto Israel Wood President John wood Jonas Williams esq. Capt Timothy Carll Henry Scudder Stephen Kellcy and Solomon Ketcham Present Trustees of the freeholders & Commonality of the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County on the Island & in the province afore said and to their successors in the just and full sum of one Thousand pounds of currant Lawfull money of New York to be paid to the said Trustees or their successors to the which Pay- ment well and truly to be made and Done I Bind my self.
529
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
my heirs executors & administrators firmly by these Pres- ents sealed with my seal and Dated this fourteenth Day of January Anno domini 1774.
The Condition of this Obligation is such that whereas the said Silvanus Townsend having obtained A Grant from the Trustees above Named Bearing even Date with these Presents for to Build A New Grist Mill Near the House of Hezekiah Wickes at Cowharbour there fore I the said Silvanus Townsend do Hereby bind my self my heirs and assignes in the forfiture of the sum above mentioned that I will make A good sufficient Dam or Crossway east ward of the old mill that was Philip Udals over A Cross to the upland to be eighteen foot wide at the top all the way for ox carts and teams to pass and repass at all times of tide and to maintain it good forever and to Leave and make a good Publick highway three rods wide from the Bank all the way Down to the Landing below the grist mill that he is to Build and that it shall be a Publick highway forever and at or near the said Landing to Leave A Piece of Land Sufficient to Lay all the Cord wood that shall ever be Brought there and also to make A Good Cross way over the Little Cove near the said Landing sufficent for an ox cart & team to pass & repass at all times whatsoever and also to Build A Good Grist mill and keep A Good miller and Grind all the Grain that the country People shall Bring and grind it well and if one mill cannot Do it to grind the wheat in the other mill also he shall not Hinder any Person whatsoever from fishing oystering clamming and gunning any Where in the mill Pond nor hinder any Person whatsoever from passing & repassing A Long on the Dam in Case they do him no Dammage Designedly and shall grind all the grain (he & his heirs successors & assigns) that shall ever be Brought to the said Mill or Mills by the said Country People taking the one tenth Part for the tole for grinding corn & rie & all the Wheat
530
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
for one twelfth Part therefore if the said Silvanus Town- send or his heirs successors or assigns shall well and truly Comply with this above written obligation in every respect and shall also fullfill every article above men- tioned according to the true Intent & Meaning there of then this above written obligation to be Absolutly void & of None effect otherwise to stand and remain in full force Virtue & power in the Law.
Memorandum that the words (corn & rie and all the wheat for one twelveth part) Interlined' Between the eighth and Ninth Lines from the Bottom was written Be- fore the Ensealing.
Sealed & Delivered SELVENUS TOWNSEND [L. S.]
In the presence of
NATH" WILLIAMS
BENJAMINE TITUS (File No. 122 and Deeds, Vol. III, p. 497.)
[1774, May 2.]
Overseers of the Poor Dr to
Gilbert Potter £ s. d.
For Takeing the Care of Moll Williams with
Three children through the Small Pox 7 10 0
To Medicines for Miss Foster Deceased 3 6
Contra. by Sundrys bought at the }
Deceased Vandue I 0 4
Huntington May 2, 1774
to Gilbert Potter
To Sundry administred to Timothy Bennitt 12 6
8 6 0
I 0 4
7 5 8
531
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
Received the full of the contents of the within Account. Huntington May 2, 1774.
GILBERT POTTER* (File No. 167.)
[TOWN MEETING. THE PARSONAGE MONEY.]
[1774, May 3.]
May the 3: 1774 it was Voted that Col. Conkling John Wood Jesse Brush Thomas Wickes and Stephen Kelley should take care of the Parsonage Money untill it be prop- perly Laid out or Disposed of.
(Town Meetings, Vol. 1, p. 318.
[TOWN MEETING.]
[1774, May 4.]
May the 4th 1774 at a General Town Meeting held this Day the following Persons Chosen Israel Wood Presedent John Wood Jonas Williams esq. Henry Scudder Stephen Kelly Capt Timothy Carll Solomon Ketcham Trustees.
Town Clerk and Treasurer Solomon Ketcham.
Constable and Collecter chosen Nathanael Harressen and Nath. Williams to be his security.
Chosen to take care of Intested Estates Israel Wood Justice Williams.
Chosen Commissioners Thomas Wickes Stephen Kelley Solomon Ketcham.
Surveyors Capt. Timothy Carll Israel wood stephen Kelley Solomon Ketcham.
[*This is only printed as a specimen out of many similiar papers .- C. R. S.]
532
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
Chosen assessors Stephen Kelley Solomon Ketcham.
Chosen supervisor Col. Conkling.
Chosen overseers of the Poor Nathanael Williams Zophar Platt Jun".
To take fires Col Conkling Jesse Conkling Capt Elkanah Conkling Abijah Ketcham Thos Wickes John Buffet Joshua Ketcham Zebulon Ketcham Able wood Joshua Brush.
It was Voted that the hog act should be revived.
Fence Vewers Jonathan Scudder Philip Conkling Thos Brush Josiah Rogers Israel Conkling Silas money Isaac Smith Sen' Timothy Carll Jun" Augustine Bryan Samuel Skidmore James oakley Jun' Jacobus Nostran Weaver.
The same Day it was Voted that if any Person cut any Hay on the Islands or grass Before the first Day of Sep- tember Next he or they shall pay eight shillings for every ox Load that is within Huntington pattens to be recovered Before any Justice of ye peace with in Suffolk County.
It was allso Voted that the Trustees should Lease out the Bay to Nath Ketchams 58.
& every Person that turns out any ram this summer shall pay eight shillings for each offence to be recovered in the same Manner.
The sheep act revived in every Respect as Last Year and the same men to sell the said sheep &c.
The same day it was voted that the Gates at Crab- meadow & fresh pond should be shutt up as Before for the ensuing year.
The same Day it was Voted that all the Lost goods that are found on the South road (except near town) shall be Brought to the house of Abijah Ketcham & those near Town to be Brought to Nath11 Williams and Joseph Lewis store and those near the hill should be brought to platt Carlls.
(Town Meetings, Vol. 1, p. 316.)
533
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
[THE PARSONAGE.]
[1774. May 9.]
Know all Men by these Presents that we Col Platt Conk- ling John wood Jesse Brush Thomas Wickes and Stephen Kelley all of Huntington in Suffolk County have received of Israel Wood Presedent Jonas Williams Esq Capt Timo- thy Carll Henry Scudder and Solomon Ketcham the remaining five Trustees of the freeholders & Commonality of the sd Town the sum of three Hundred and five pounds, Sixteen Shillings and seven Pence half peny in Cash & Bond Being all the money that was raised for all the Town or Parsonage Land & meadow that was sold on the 24th day of may 1773 and whereas it was Voted on the 4th day of may 1773 that all that sd money should be Applycd to Buy a New Parsonage in or near the town Spot for the use of the first Prisbiteral Church & Congregation in Hun- tington as may Appear by the record thereof or Kept at Interest untill a good oppertunity did Present for that Pur- pose & whereas it was Voted again on the 3d day of may 1774 that the five Persons first above Named Should take the Care & Charge of the said money and Apply it to the Purpose mentioned in the said former Vote therefore we the said Persons first above Named do Bind our Selves & our heirs & assignes that we will apply the said money ac- cording to the true Intent & meaning of the Sd former vote Either by Applying the same towards Purchasing a New Parsonage or Keeping the Same at Interest untill a propper oppertunity Present for that Purpose as Witness our Hands and seals this 9th Day of May 1774
Sealed & Delivered
In the Presence of
ANANIAS CARLL
JOSEPH LEWIS
THOS WICKES [Seal.]
STEPHEN KELCY
[Seal.]
(File No. 141.)
PLATT CONKLIN [Seal.]
JOHN WOOD [Seal.]
JESSE BRUSH [Seal.]
534
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
[BOUND OUT AS A SERVANT.]
[1774, June 13.]
This Indenture made this thirteenth Day of June Anno- domini 1774.
Witnesseth that we Nathanael Williams and Zophar platt Jun' Both of Huntington in Suffolk County Being the overseer of the poor of the said Town for this Present Year Do By & with the consent of William Smith and John sloss Hobert esquires two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for sd. County Do Put and Bind Mary Reuland the Daughter of Jacob Reuland Being A poor child of the said Town A Servant or Apprintice to Abreham Snedde- ker and his wife to serve them untill she shall arrive to the age of eighteen years old During all which time the said mary reuland her said Master & Mistress faithfully shall serve and their Lawfull Commands at all times obey she shall Do no Dammage to her said master & mistress nor absent herself Day nor night from their service without their Leave and the said master and mistress shall Procure & Provide sufficient meat Drink Lodging washing and mending and Cloathing the said Mary Reuland During the said term.
sealed & Delivered NATHL WILLIAMS [Seal.]
In the presence of
ZOPHAR PLATT [Seal.]
STEPHEN KELCY
SOLOMON KETCHAM
And we the sd. William Smith and John sloss Hobert esquires do consent and agree to the Binding out of the said Mary Reuland an Apprintice unto the said Abraham Snedeker and his wife & their heirs & assignes as Witness our hands and seals the Day & Date above written
WM SMITH [Seal.]
JNO SLOSS HOBART [Seal.]
(File No. 159.)
535
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
[HUNTINGTON'S DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.]
[1774, June 21.]
Ist That every freemans property is absolutely his own, and no man has a right to take it from him withont his consent, expressed either by himself or his representatives.
2nd That therefore all taxes and duties imposed on His Majesties subjects in the American colonies by the author- ity of Parliment are wholly unconstitutional and a plain violation of the most essential rights of British subjects.
3ª That the act of Parliament lately passed for shutting up the port of Boston, or any other means or device under color of law, to compel them or any other of His Majestys American subjects to submit to Parliamentary taxation are subversive of their just and constitutional liberty.
4th That we are of opinion that our brethren of Boston are now suffering in the common cause of British America.
5th That therefore it is the indispensable duty of all colonies to unite in some effectual measures for the repeal of said act and every other act of Parliament whereby they are taxed for raising a revenue.
61h That it is the opinion of this meeting that the most effectual means for obtaining a speedy repeal of said acts will be to break off all commercial intercourse with Great Britain, Ireland and the English West India colonies.
7th And we hereby declare ourselves ready to enter into these or such other measures as shall be agreed upon by a general congress of all the colonies: and we recommend to the general congress to take such measures as shall be most effectatl to prevent such goods as are at present in America from being raised to an extravagant price.
And lastly we appoint Colonel Platt Conkling, John Sloss Hobart Esq. and Thomas Wickes a committee for this town, to act in conjunction with the committees of the other towns in the county, as a general committee for
536
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
the county, to correspond with the committee of New York.
(File No. 170.)
ISRAEL WOOD, President.
[WILL OF ELIZABETH SMITH.]
[1774, July 29.]
Know all Men by these Presents that I Elisabeth Smith of Huntington in Suffolk County this twenty Ninth Day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven Hun- dred & seventy four Being sick and weak in Body But of Perfect mind & memory and calling to mind the mortality of my Body & well Knowing that I must shortly yield unto Death, Do there fore make & ordain this Present Writing to contain my Last will & testament in the following Man- ner and form Imprimis. I will and order my executors Hereafter Named to Pay and Discharge all my just Debts and funeral Charges Item I give and Bequeath unto my two sisters Jerusha Hawxhursts and Mary oaks all the re- mainder of my estate such as Bed Beding & furniture and all my cloathing and Money and all other things Whatso- ever to be equally Divided Between them all which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever excepting three shillings which I give to my Brother James Smith and I Do Hereby constitute ordain & Apoint my good friend Israel Ketcham & Solomon Ketcham to be my executors of this my Last will & testament Giving and granting unto them or either of them full power & authority to execute this my Last will and testament & to be reasonably re- warded for all their Trouble and I Do Hereby utterly revoke all former wills ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my Last will & testament the Day & year above
537
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
written Signed sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said elisabeth Smith as her Last will and testament in the Presence of the subscribers who signed as witnesses. JAMES VOORHEST her
SAMUEL SNEDECOR ELISABETH X SMITH [Seal.] mark
JOHN SNEDECOR (File No. 119.)
[TOWN MEETING.]
[1775, May 2.]
May the 2. 1775 at a General Town Meeting it was Voted that there should be eighty men chosen to Exercise and be ready to March .*
(Town Meetings, Vol. 1, p. 318.)
May the 2 : 1775 at A General Town Meeting held this Day the Following Persons Chosen Israel Wood Prese- dent Samuel onkley Capt Timothy Carll stephen Kellcy Solomon Ketcham Gilbert fleet Timothy Conkling Trust- ees.
Solomon Ketcham Chosen Town Clerk & Treasurer. Ezekiel Conkling Chosen Constable & Collecter. John Brush to be seucrity.
[* We are now on the threshold of the War of the Revolution and these are the first words that appear in the records as sig- naling its approach. The people had become strong in num- bers, wealth, and resources, and from the beginning of the con- troversy with the mother country the most of them had sided strongly with the rising party, which advocated home rule and resistance to British tyranny. To get "ready to march" in the holy cause of defending human rights was the watchword of the hour. How little they comprehended the results of the ap- proaching conflict ! the speedy capture of Long Island ; the subjugation and enslavement of its people for seven years ; the final victory, Independence and the birth of a new nation .- C. R. S.]
538
HUNTINGTON TOWN RECORDS.
To take care of Intested estates Israel wood James Wil- liams.
Commissioners Chosen Tho. wickes esq. Stephen Kellcv Solomon Ketcham.
Surveyors Capt Timothy Carll Israel wood Stephen Kellcy Solomon Ketcham.
Assessors Solomon Ketcham Stephen Kelley.
Supervisor Col. Platt Conkling.
Chosen to take care of the poor John Brush Timothy Conkling.
To take careof fires Col. Conkling Jesse Conkling Nath11 oakley Capt. Elkenah Conkling abijah Ketcham Thos Wickes John Buffett Joshua Ketcham Zebulon Ketcham able wood George Norton Willmoth oakley Jacob Noaks.
The same Day it was Voted that the hog act shall be revived.
The same Day it was Voted that the Marsh Below Pleas Land Joyning to Brush mill pond & all in the East Neck and what the Trustees think Propper at horse Neck shall be sold Voted by those that have rights in the old pur- chase to be Applyed towards paying for the Parsonage & those that are of other Profession to have their Part of the money according to their rights in sd. Purchase.
Chosen fence Viewers Jeremiah wood Jonathan scudder Thomas Brush Josiah Rogers Israel Conkling Silas Money Isaac Smith sen' Capt. Timothy Carll Augustine Bryan Samuel Skidmore James oakley Jun' Jacobus Nostran, weaver.
It was Voted that the Trustees should hire out the ferry from Huntington to Norwalk as they see fit.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.