USA > New York > Suffolk County > Bridgehampton > Sketches from local history > Part 21
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
ily. There was a marked characteristic in this family, each one looking out for their own individual interests, and this was carried to such an extent that one of the sisters seemed to get in every case a deal that she considered grossly unfair, and I think that this was really true. She was made the 'scape goat for the whole family, and while mentally superior to all of her brothers and sisters, yet everything of an unpleasant nature in every day life was laid to her, so that instead of having to stand for her share only, she had to take it all. It appeared as if there was a conspiracy on their part to make her life miserable. It may have been jealously or envy on their part, for we do read that :
"Base envy withers at another's joy,
And hates that excellence it cannot reach."
This made her young life very unhappy, and this treatment from those she knew to be inferior to her in mental ability, caused her to lose that spirit of love and affection that should prevail in family life. My informer told me; "She was the best of the whole family," yet her name I have never heard mentioned by other members of that family, and for that reason, if no other, I feel it would be unjust for me at this time not to defend the character of this woman, who, so far as I know, never had a mortal to take her part. and to vindicate her character before a cruel and criticizing world. She may have been high tempered, and no doubt not altogether blame- less in her life, but on the other hand, who is per- fect ? She had so much to make her life bitter, that at last she rebelled and left home, and as far as I can ascertain, never returned, nor do I believe she ever had a deisire to. Her hatred, not to her relatives alone, but to the very place and locality of her child- hood home as well, was so bitter and deep seated, that after leaving the place that should have been "The dearest spot on earth" to her, she wrote the following verses, which she called;
"The Curse of Scuttle Hole"
"Beware all strangers where you roam,
Or leave the tranquil bliss of home ;
Ne'er at the peril of your soul,
Plant foot in cursed Scuttle Hole.
May Scuttle Hole not a blessing know; While water runs or grass shall grow; But evils fall fast as they can, On land accursed by God and man.
The Judgment Day is rolling round, And Scuttle Hole shall hear the sound Of demons, who shall ring the knell, And Scuttle Hole go down to H-1."
Caroline Rogers was the real author of this poem.
Captain Edward Topping, whose house was lo- cated on the north side of Bridgehampton Main Street (see 1750 map) was the man who bid "a penny more" when riding past the auction block at the sale of the John Wick's property. This property included all of the land from and including the Tavern on the corner, to and including what was later the Corwith homestead. He put his son Abra- ham in the Tavern, and he sold his Sagg farm, after which he made his home on what was later the Cor- with homestead. It was on this place that he shot the British soldier. as related in local history.
Mr. James Truslow Adams states that this same story was told him in relation to a farm in Sagg. This came from a party whose knowledge of local history was not of a high order. I do believe. how- ever. that this story as given in this article is the cor- rect version, for it came from an old man who heard it from his ancestors and was very correct in his statements.
An Old Assessment Roll for the Year 1805
The following .Assessment Roll was handed down from Captain Caleb Howell, of Bridgehampton, whose place of residence may be seen on the Map for the year 1800. I have copied those names with the amount of their Real and Personal assessment as of the year 1805. that appear on the Map for 1800. I am persuaded that this is not a complete list of the taxpayers, but it is sufficient to give us a correct idea as to the valuation placed on both the Real as well as the Personal property of the leading men in this locality at that date.
Names of Owner Real
Personal
Samuel Brown
$20.00
Abraham Baker
1.550.00
$150.00
John Cooper
2,220.00
950.00
John Cook & Mother
4,000.00
1,300.00
SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
Names of Owner
Real
Personal
Names of Orvner
Real
Personal
Stephen Cook 2,000.00
Price Howell
150.00
30.00
David Cook & son Samuel 2,400.00
Caleb Howell
2,000.00
300.00
Elisha Halsey 200.00
Isaac Hildreth
1,340.00
100.00
Daniel Howell & Son
1,030.00
200.00
Caleb Corwithe
2,370.00
250.00
David Lupton
1,500.00
1 80.00
Caleb Corwithe, Jr.
2,950.00
1,100.00
Henry Corwithe
3,000.00
1,100.00
Isaac Loper & Sons
2,360.00
250.00
Matthew Cooper
2,500.00
I50.00
Jason Loper
I 50.00
John Dayton 600.00
James Mitchell
2,000.00
100.00
John Edwards & Son
1,250.00
50.00
Abraham Mott
300.00
100.00
Frederick Edwards 120.00
John Norris
500.00
Miller Edwards
200.00
John Osborn 4,000.00
200.00
Nathan Fordham & Son
2,700.00
700.00
Lemuel Pierson, Jr. 2,000.00
David Pierson
2,100.00
340.00
Thomas Gelston 1,150.00
Stephen Hedges
900.00
Joshua Howell
100.00
Abraham Pierson 2,200.00
Job Pierson
350.00
Elihu Howell
840.00
40.00
Theophilus Pierson
1,900.00
Moses Howell
2,280.00
600.00
Matthew Pierson
300.00
Lemuel Haines 350.00
Nathan Pierson
1,500.00
2,000.00
Timothy Halsey & Son Wm. 2,100.00
200.00
2,000.00
100.00
Timothy Halsey, Jr. 1,100.00
150.00
1.900.00
Ethan Halsey 650.00
Elnathan Payne
450.00
Paul Halsey, Jr. 1,230.00
250.00
Lemuel Payne
450.00
Israel Halsey 600.00
Jeremiah Parker
500.00
Samuel Halsey
1,140.00
60.00
John Pierson, Jr.
I20.00
30.00
.
Simeon Halsey
2,900.00
360.00
Jesse Pierson
100.00
Abraham Rose
2,500.00
100.00
David Haines
1,000.00
Jacob Halsey
970.00
100.00
Jonathan Halsey 1,200.00
50.00
William Rogers 3.600.00
300.00
Stephen Halsey 1,400.00
Jonathan Rogers 3.600.00
250.00
David Rogers 1,600.00
350.00
Gideon Hand
1,000.00
250.00
Daniel Halsey
1,400.00
Jason Halsey, brother Daniel
of
Moses Rose
250.00
Samuel H. Rose
1,680.00
Rufus Rose
300.00
2,300.00
Barzillai Halsey
1,630.00
250.00
Talmadge Strong
500.00
Elias Halsey 2,430.00
John Strong 500.00
Jesse Halsey, (Justice) 1,000.00
Elias Sandford, Jr.
750.00
Charles White Halsey
350.00
James Sayre
1,050.00
150.00
Abigail Halsey & son Jesse 1,100.00
Stephen Sayre
1,800.00
I00.00
David Hedges 4,100.00
400.00
Benjamin Sayre 320.00
David Hedges. Jr. 2,300.00
100.00
Lewis Sandford 800.00
Wilkes Hedges 2,200.00
350.00
Elias Sandford
1,640.00
180.00
Theophilus Cook 3,000.00
950.00
Nathan Topping Cook 1,000.00
100.00
Obadiah Cook 280.00
100.00
Anthony Ludlam 3,600.00
John Fordham 350.00
Lemuel Pierson & Son Wil-
lian 3,000.00
Stephen Howell & Son
2,500.00
2,900.00
Job Haines
900.00
40.00
John Topping Rogers
1,000.00
100.00
Josiah Rogers 900.00
Gideon Halsey 2,350.00
Benjamin Rogers
100.00
Stephen Ross 1,900.00
I 50.00
David Halsey 1,100.00
John Pierson
Lodowick Post
SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
Names of Owner
Real
Personal
Jason Sandford
300.00
Ezekiel Sandford, farm,
Sylvanus on 1800 Map 2,400.00
Esther Wid. James Sandford 400.00
Hezekiah Sandford
1,540.00
Nathan Sandford 2,800.00
Stephen Stanborough
750.00
100.00
John Squires
200.00
Ellis Squires
600.00
Jonathan Squires.
400.00
Sylvanus Squires
150.00
200.00
David Topping
1,700.00
Matthew Topping 2,500.00
Stephen Topping, Jr.
500.00
Stephen Topping, Sr.
650.00
Stephen Topping
650.00
Sylvanus Topping
600.00
Ethan Topping & Son 530.00
Seth Topping
260.00
Jonah Tarbell
1,300.00
Stephen Talmadge
280.00
John White, Jr.
3,600.00
Jesse Woodruff
500.00
200.00
Silas Woodruff
2,150.00
200.00
Daniel Woodruff
1,200.00
800.00
James White & Sons
3.700.00
Silas White
2,500.00
Water Mill (Hedges &
White )
500.00
Peter Hildreth & Son
380.00
40.00
Jonathan Hildreth
40.00
30.00
The names that do not appear on this map for 1800 I have not copied. The largest assessment is that of Stephen Howell & Son. which is $5.400. The next amount is that of John Cook & Mother $5.300. Then David Hedges $4.500. James White & Sons $4.500. Then John Osborn $4,200. Largest on Real Estate was David Hedges $4.100, next John Osborn $4,000. Largest on Personal was Stephen Howell & Mother $2.900, next Rufus Rose $2,300.
SKETCHES FROM NOYACK HISTORY
Novack is a small hamlet abont four miles west from Sag Harbor on the south shore of the bay of the same name. The word is of Indian origin, and signifies : "\\ point or corner of land," no doubt
from that long neck or point of land called in the earlier records "Farrington's Point" and later "Jes- sup's Neck."
(See Map of North Side Division ).
There was doubtless a reason for it being called "Farrington's Point" but like many other facts in local history, those that knew are gone, and the facts were not passed on to later generations, and so have gone in oblivion. I advance the idea that it may have been named from that Farrington who was one of the original undertakers or founders of the Southampton Colony, his name being Edmund. or it may have been from John Farrington who joined the Colony later.
In 1668 (S. H. R. Vol. II. p. 241) "John Jen- nings was given liberty to fence in a piece of the North . Side of Noyack River." And in 1686 "Obadiah Rogers was granted the stream at Novack to set a fulling mill upon:" He gave it up and it was granted in 1690 to John Parker.
Note : ( In T. R. Vol. II. p. 328 : John Parker sells to Theophilus Willman, sarge weaver, a stream of water and 6 acres at Noyack with housing and mill. price 70 Pounds. May 5th, 1696. )
Then in 1718 it was again granted to Jonah Rog- ers. In 1738 it was owned by Charles Rugg, and as "Rugg's Mill". It then was owned for awhile by Wm. Albertson.
Still later it was owned by Gilbert Budd, and the creek opposite the mill was called Budd's Creek. and is still known by that name, and the landing on the bay to the north, from which cordwood was shipped in large quantities in those days, was called Budd's Landing. He must have owned quite an acreage in this section for the land west of this creek was and is known as "Budd's Lots."
According to the S. H. T. Records John Budd came here from Southold. and I think he owned the lots referred to above. and I also think he was the father of Gilbert Budd who afterward owned the mill. I will refer to his burial plot later.
When this grist mill was first built it was a small building; this must have stood for a good many years, and was finally replaced by a much larger building, in fact quite a pretentious structure. I think this was built by Denison Rogers and extended from near the dam out to the road to the north. It was driven by an Overshot water wheel. One of the sets of stones in this mill was made out of native
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
Astone, and since my memory was used as a door stone or step at the last mill that stood on this site. I think the other set of stones was Buhr, probably imported.
The Mill house, as it was called, stood on the north side of the road, up the hill and west of the mill, where there is now a grove of ailanthus trees. There was another house built just west and quite near the Mill house. When this mill was being run, the owner built a windmill below the dam to pump the water, after being used, back over the dam into the pond to be used again. I forgot to mention that the house west of the Mill house spoken of above. was built and owned by Joseph Rogers, Jonah's son.
This particular mill and these two houses were all destroyed by fire, though not at the same time. The mill property then changed hands, and was bought by George E. Barker, who built the last mill. He brought the frame from Connecticut all cut and framed from chestnut lumber, and installed a tur- bine water wheel. After running this mill for a number of years, he either sold or leased it to Isaac Osborn, and he to Henry Smith, who was miller for some years, then it went back again to George Barker, its former owner, and at last it was bought by Thomas S. Eldredge.
Where the Mill pond is now located, was for- merly, and until the dam was built, a valley through flowed the brook from the springs above, in the woods to the south, and this was called in the early records "Noyack River."
These springs were in later years cleaned out and artificial ponds constructed for trout breeding. and the grounds improved and laid out for a pleasure resort by Mr. George W. Thompson, who for many . years conducted a successful business there. Then the larger pigeon ranch established by Mr. Mellinger was located just to the south of the Trout Ponds: but all these are now past history, as they related to Novack.
It was on the west side of this brook, or Novack River, as the old records call it, that the small tribe of Noyack Indians had their settlement, the relics and marks of which could have been seen until within a few years past, and for aught that I know, may be seen to-day.
There was another small tribe ( the Weecatucks) located near the head of the creek, which is named from this Indian tribe, and on the west side of this
creek is a good spring of water, doubtless one reason for their locating there. This is the creek lying south of the "Foot of the Beach" and extending to the turn in the Noyack road by Silas Bennett's.
The location of this village is plainly visible at the present time, being marked by extensive shell beds and mounds, I am of the opinion that both of these tribes were tributary to the Shinnecocks, and used these camps for summer, and moved back to Shinnecock for the winter ; one elderly man told me years ago that he had traced the Indian trail across the woods where these tribes had beaten the road for many years, and he was firmly convinced that this was the case.
I know that very many of the finest type of stone implements have been found in this locality. The late William Wallace Tooker found some of his . finest specimens about here, and I have many in my own collection that were found here.
I wish to mention in particular a few of the fam- ilies who were prominent in the early history of this little hamlet, lest the knowledge I now possess rela- tive to them and the part they took in the develop- ment of this section, be lost and forgotten forever, as has been the case in so many instances, to our regret and sorrow. Let us take the Jessup family first.
In the S. H. T. Records Vol. II, page 289. we read that in 1679 "The point called Noyack was granted to Jolin Jessup as his share of the Forty acre Division." This was given by him to his son, Isaac Jessup, who settled here as early as 1712, or the same date that the land lying directly north of the village of Bridgehampton was laid out and sur- veved. When the controversy was going on in this Colony as to which government, the Dutch or the English, should be looked to for protection, the five eastern towns made ten demands of the Dutch, one of which was, the right to purchase whaling irons in the New England Colony, and John Jessup was the delegate from Southampton.
The old Jessup homestead was located where the Wiggins house stood later, the same being the Os- born homestead, for several generations, and a few years ago was moved some distance to the north- west and made over into a club house, and has since been destroyed by fire. I will refer later in this article to the Jessup family burial plot. This prop- erty remained in the Jessup family or name until
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
about the year 1800, when Silas Jessup sold it to Jeremiah Osborn.
It was about this time that Silas Jessup decided to sell his property at Noyack, and placed it on the market. Deacon David Hedges of Sagaponack had been considering the purchase of it. but I think had not let it be known, but on a certain day he made up his mind to go over to Noyack and buy it if he could make a satisfactory bargain. That morning he had probably gotten within a mile of the Jessup home, when he met Jeremiah Osborn of East Hamp- ton returning from there on his way home. They stopped to talk, and in the course of the conversa- tion mentioned the Jessup property. Hedges told Osborn that he was going over to buy it, when Osborn replied : "I have just bought it myself." Those that knew Hedges said; "That was one case where Hedges failed to have his own way, and the other man came out ahead."
The creek next west of Budd's creek, and north of the Pierson homestead, is known as Mill Creek, from the fact that here was located at an early date a.fulling mill, operated by tide water.
At the northeasterly part of the large creek, the channel becomes very narrow between the main land and Clam Island, and then widens out into quite a large body of water.
In the narrowest part of this channel or strait was built this mill. The channel was probably bulk- headed to make the water-way very narrow and thereby give a strong current to propel the water wheel. Timbers were bedded solidly in the carth beneath to carry the frame for the water wheel and to hold the smooth floor of the flume.
The tide water confined in its flow in this narrow flume, operated an under-shot water wheel at both in-coming and out-going tides. I am told that these foundation timbers are still there and apparently sound.
We will now take up the history of the Osborn family in Noyack. Jeremiah Osborn left this prop- erty to his son. John P. Osborn, who in turn left it to his son, Isaac W. Osborn.
No one judging from the present condition of this property can form an adequate conception or correct idea of what it was in the days of Isaac W. Osborn. In the first place, fish were abundant in the adjoining waters, and could be had in any quantity for the catching. These applied to the
land in unlimited quantities, supplemented with wood ashes, made a complete fertilizer, and the crops grown under those conditions were simply immense.
These crops were for the most part, hay, corn, and the other grain crops indigenous to this local- ity. Potatoes were raised in only limited quantities. there being no general market for them.
These abundant crops fed and fattened large numbers of cattle, sheep and hogs. Horses were also bred in sufficient numbers to supply the home demand. I have heard my Father say that in walk- ing across those fields after harvest, the after-growth was so rank that it was like walking on a mat or cushion, and the stock, though in large numbers, were unable to keep the grass eaten down.
Then again, this man was progressive in many ways, in fact, it appears now as if he had unusual visions of the future, and really lived a full genera- tion ahead of his day.
It was he that first introduced thoroughbred live stock into these parts, such as Durham and Short- horn cattle for beef. He also was the first man to import Merino sheep into this Township to cross on the native stock to improve the quality of the wool. His importations also included those other breeds of cattle adapted for much needed dairy pur- poses. The result of his efforts along these lines was manifest on eastern Long Island for a good many generations.
The beef cattle that made the Hamptons famous years ago when Montauk was the summer pasture. and heavy, prime beef was shipped to New London and elsewhere, was the direct result of imported thoroughbred blood crossed on the native stock. The older men of to-day may remember the fine cattle on the farms in Sagaponack and Hedges Lane in those days. It was largely owing to the progres- sive ideas of Isaac W. Osborn. And he carried out the same idea in regard to other stock such as sheep and hogs. He bought the very best blood to be had. and the farmers in general got a goodly share of the benefit.
Then he established a nursery for fruit trees, and had the first improved fruit in this section, such as Bartlett pears, and apples of the very best varieties. The first improved strawberries were brought here by this man, and his neighbors and friends reaped the benefit. and he was willing that they should.
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY'
This man also went to a certain extent into ex- perimental work. This particular case may appear to us of this day foolish and a display of poor judg- ment, but who can judge of what might have been a success one hundred years ago until it was tried out.
He conceived the idea that while mulberry trees could be grown successfully in this locality, why could not silk worms be kept and fed on the leaves of these trees, and so start a new industry.
With this idea in view he set out long rows of mulberry trees on his farm, and I should judge most of them are living at this time. I think, however. the climate was too severe for the life and welfare of these little spinners, but the trees are at least a monument to the effort.
In those days coal was almost unknown, and wood for fuel had a ready sale at paying prices. This farm could, without depleting the supply, stand the cutting of hundreds of cords each year, to say nothing of the Cedar, Locust and Chestnut used for fencing.
Isaac W. Osborn, to carry on all parts of farm work as well the cordwood business, had to employ a large number of men; among these was William Peters and a Mr. King, father of John L. King, who spent most of his life in Bridgehampton. and lived to a good old age. When John was a boy per- haps 10 years of age he went with Peters, who was carting cordwood to the shore with two yokes of oxen. The load consisted of six feet of green cord- wood. John, who was riding on the load of wood. fell off and one wheel of this loaded wagon went over his body between his ribs and hips. They had to send to Bridgehampton for Dr. John L. Gardi- ner, who attended him.
I ought not to forget to mention that this farm was fenced as perhaps no other farm in this town- ship ever was, a fence that would turn all stock in- cluding sheep, and built of Chestnut rails, Cedar and Locust posts, and all kept in the best of order. The rendering of the surplus fish into oil was another industry that was a source of revenue on this farm.
Perhaps there was no beach on this part of our Island that afforded as fine duck shooting as Jes- sup's. I suppose this was owing to the fact, that it divided the two bays and the ducks in flying front one to the other passed over this beach. The fishing and boating in the adjoining waters cannot be sur-
passed. Oysters are in abundance as well as escal- lops, also hard and soft-shelled clams. Crabs abound in the creeks, and eels are to be had at all seasons. I am sure I ought to mention safe and delightful bathing. All of these privileges are part and parcel of the property that was the Jessup and Osborn Manor.
Then there was the Rogers family. I have men- tioned Obadiah Rogers as having a grant to the Noyack stream in 1686. I do not positively know that he was the ancestor of Jonah, who figured so prominently in Noyack history later, but I think he was, for he had a son Jonah, and that name was kept in the family for a number of generations, in fact, my Grandmother was of one branch of that family. Many of the men of this family were sea- men. Captain Jonah, who I think was the most prominent, was born in 1781, and lived just east of the Mill property, on the south side of the Main road. He was a ship owner and was interested largely in the West Indies trade. He had a number of sons, all of whom I think followed the sea. They were buried in a plot on their farm in Novack, of which plot I will write later.
The last family of whom I will write in this article is that named Budd. From the S. H. T. Records it appears that the first man of that name in the Colony was John Budd, who came from Southold. He had a son Gilbert, who probably in- herited property from his father. Gilbert had sons Oscar and John. Oscar was lost at sea, and John became a sea captain and lived in Sag Harbor. He became quite a prominent man in his day, owned a ship yard on North Haven, and was owner in and of several whale ships. After whaling failed. he sailed a ship in the merchant service for many years. mostly in the foreign trade.
He was managing owner or agent of the ship Manhattan that under the command of Capt. Mer- cator Cooper, was the first American ship to enter a port of Japan ; after having rescued a number of Japanese sailors, sailed into the harbor of Yeddo. (See history). One fact in connection with his career I think should be mentioned, for I am sure it is not generally known. I question if there is a man living beside myself that knows of these facts :
On one of his voyages to Holland, the port was Rotterdam, he bought three young Holstein cattle, one bull and two heifers; they were all thorough-
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
breds of that breed. These he took aboard his ship for the voyage home. One heifer died on the voyage, but the others reached here in good condi- tion. The offspring of these were all raised, and as they increased were sold to the farmers all about eastern Long Island, and this blood could be traced distinctly for more than half a century in the quality of the dairy cows in this section, and with such marked effect that when the drovers and milkmen from the western end of this Island sought the best milk cows for their stables, they all agreed that the Hamptons was where they found them. Richard Lester, John and Edward Dayton, the Posts from Westbury, were they living. could all testify to this fact.
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