USA > New York > Suffolk County > Bridgehampton > Sketches from local history > Part 22
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He, like Isaac W. Osborn, little knew or realized what the result of their fore-thought and labor would amount to, both from a business and financial stand- point, to the farmers of this community, in improv- ing their live stock, the effects of which were mani- fest for several generations.
Cemeteries in Noyack
It was the custom in olden times to bury the dead in a plot set apart somewhere on the home estate. This appears to have been the case in Noyack. I will describe a few of these plots, and name some of those buried there.
Isaac Jessup was living in Noyack in 1712. I have already given the location of the place that was the Manor House of the Jessup and Osborn families for many generations. Just north of the site of this house, perhaps 15 rods, is the old Jessup burial plot. There may be a number of graves there but only one is marked. It is a slate tomb- stone, with this inscription :
"Here lies the body of Abigail Jessup, Daughter of Isaac and Mrs. Sarah Jessup, who deceased in November 1724. aged 11 years."
-Another burial plot is that of the Budd family. located in Budd Lots, about 15 rods north from the main road, perhaps one fourth of an acre in area. Here are a number of unmarked graves, and five with stone markers. One is that of the Rev- erend Nathan Dickinson. This is the longest mound that marks a grave that I ever saw, measuring be- tween the head and foot stones to feet 5 inches: these stones are of white marble with this inscrip-
tion : "Reverend Nathan Dickinson, died March 29, 1826, age 56."
"Friends nor physician, could not save. This mortal body from the grave; And now the grave cant hold it long, For Christ in judgment soon will come."
Nathan Dickerson I found out later was the ancestor of the present family of Dickersons on Shelter Island. I have this from one of his de- scendants now living ( 1923) on Shelter Island.
Then there are two graves marked with native stone slabs, with letters and dates cut with rude tools, yet quite legible. One is, J. B. 1790, this I am sure stands for the original John Budd. The other is probably L. B. 1788 and I think the wife of John. Two other graves are marked by rough stones. I regret that we do not know to whose memory they were erected. Several bodies have been moved in recent years to other cemeteries.
The Rogers burial plot is south of the Main road. at the edge of the woods, at the south end of the Rogers home lot. Some of the bodies have been moved, but there are at this time four graves marked with marble tombstones. The oldest, Capt. Jonah 1781-1846. Augustus, Joshua, and Sally. Capt. Jonah and these two sons died within one year. They were all sea-faring men.
In closing this article I wish to emphatically ex- ' press myself in regard to a mania that appears to be infecting many of the new residents of this Island. who, for no logical reason as I can see, are seeking to change the names of the old hamlets. Names that have a real significance and were given because of some real and genuine fact in local history. that holds just as true today as when the land was first settled by white men, and some that antedate that period, as is the case with Noyack.
That name is clearly Indian, and means ".A corner or point of land," which is still the most prominent feature of this locality and ever will be. So why change it ?
In my opinion it is about time we awoke to the fact that we owe the .Aborigines some honor, even more than they have ever received. They were the rightful owners. We the usurpers. This was their home by inheritance, ours by conquest. They called it Noyack for a reason. Let us retain the name for the same reason.
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It is about the only way we can honor the name of a noble race now gone forever. Let us hold sacred the Place-Names of these men, who did us no harm, lest a similar fate befall our descendants, and the homes and hamlets we cherish and love, are usurped and laid waste by a race as yet unknown to us.
SKETCHES OF "NORTH WEST" HISTORY
In the early settlement of almost every commu- nity. some sections will improve, prosper and ad- vance in value and importance, and some others with apparently the same advantages, will improve and grow for a time, and then go back to almost primitive conditions, and it is often difficult to explain just why this is so. yet it is.
"North West" in East Hampton township is a marked illustration of the latter class or type of colonization referred to above. Years before Sag Harbor is mentioned in history. North West was the seaport for East Hampton, where all the mer- chandise for that colony was landed, and produce from that colony shipped. This would logically lead to its becoming the nucleus of a seaport town. Here a wharf was built at an early date, and the patriotic Samuel Mulford who established an enviable rec- ord for himself as well as for the town of which he was a member, here built and owned a warehouse about 1700. In Col. Docts. Vol. XIV, p. 566. we read : "In 1668 Thomas Chatfield was appointed Collector of Customs at the "Towne or Port of East Hampton." This would be North West, and this is the date when the first Custom House was es- tablished in the Town of East Hampton.
Merchandise brought by water for Southampton was landed at North Sea, while that for Bridge- hampton and Sagaponack was landed at North West. John Wick's tavern in Bridgehampton and Edward Howell's in Poxabogue were the only two houses in this locality north of East Hampton Path (now Montauk Highway) in the year 1700. The owners of these two taverns or ordinaries cleared and opened a road across the woods from Pox- abogue to North West, that was known then and even to this day as "Merchant's Path," and most of the goods and merchandise was carted with oxen and ox carts. Right here is where an historical
sketch of North West ties in with the early history of Bridgehampton and Sagaponack. This is the reason I insert it here.
It was only natural that some leading business men would establish their homes near this embryo seaport. There appears to have been about eight men with their families settled here. Among the first was Isaac VanScoy, born April 1732, in Feb- ruary 1757 married Mary, daughter of David Ed- wards of East Hampton, soon after this he acquired about 300 acres of land, built a dwelling house, barn and other farm buildings, and here spent a busy life, he died in 1817. When his oldest child was born he set out in his dooryard an oak tree (yellow bark ) which was 5 feet high at that time. At this time
Old Van Scoy House and Oak Tree at North West
(Oct. 1934) I have measured this tree and the fol- lowing are the dimensions : Height 98 feet. circum- ference one foot from ground 17 feet, diameter 5 feet 5 inches, spread of branches 90 feet.
I think this is the largest oak tree on Long Island, and is in a reasonably healthy condition, it is so beautifully proportioned and symmetrical that no one would realize its immense size.
In March of 1792 the trustees of East Hampton Town ordered a school house built at North West. This was built very near the VanScoy homestead, and only a little way from the tree mentioned above.
The land adjoining the VanSeoy property to the west was acquired by Jonathan B. Mulford, and was known as the Mulford Farm, and extended to the bay shore. This later became the Kirk Farm. The large quantities of seaweed which drifted ashore here led to a serious controversy and lawsuit be- tween Mr. Kirk and the town of East Hampton.
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which resulted in the financial ruin of Mr. Kirk, and no benefit to the town. Southwest of the Mul- ford farm was the Arnold VanScoy property, later the Monks' farm. The Ebenezer Hedges property was to the north of the Mulford farm, and it was from this man that "Hedges Banks" took its name. Many of the outgoing whaleships anchored off here to wait for favorable winds. Another early settier was Miller Bennett, whose property was held in that family for many generations. The Ranger family were not East Hampton men, but came from Shelter Island, and were related to the Derings and Syl- vesters, and later Hosfords, and all acquired farms at North West, but at a later date than the Mulford or VanScoy families. There was Sylvester, Alfred and Stephen Ranger.
As a boy I remember Stephen as he wore a high plug hat, driving two yokes of oxen carting wood to Sag Harbor. On one occasion Stephen Ranger went to Sag Harbor with a load of cordwood or farm produce drawn by one or more yokes of oxen. After having disposed of his load. started home. When well out of the village he spread a blanket and laid down on the bottom of the cart for a good nap. knowing the oxen would go straight home. A com- pany of boys met the outfit and thought they would have some innocent fun, so unhooked the ox-chain from the cart, led the oxen into the woods a short way, and began pelting stones at the cart. Stephen soon awoke, gazed about and said "Who am I? and where am I? If I'm Stephen Ranger, I've lost a yoke of oxen, and if I'm not. I've found a cart." He used the longest and straightest ox goad I ever saw. I have seen Alfred with two yokes of cattle, at least two of which were milch cows, with a load of cordwood and when he got to Snookville (later Eastville ) he would milk the cows and sell the milk. I do not remember Sylvester, but Stephen's son Al- fred Dering became a noted expert in the training of oxen. The older men mentioned here lived to be very old and are all buried in the family plot at North West.
Cordwood was a leading article of commerce be- fore the discovery of coal, and with livestock such as sheep, cattle and hogs, these farms were pro- ductive and' were fenced for the most part with lopped trees which still mark the boundary lines. At this time, however, almost this entire territory has reverted back to its original condition, and
right here is a fine example of Nature's reforestra- tion scheme, for if man will not grow crops on the land, Nature will.
In this section is the finest White Pine forest ou Long Island and surpassed by few in this entire State.
INCIDENTS IN THE LIVES OF SOME OLD RESIDENTS
In writing these stories, I at first thought I would refrain from using the real names of parties con- cerned, lest some of their family or descendants might feel hurt to have the names of their ancestors exploited in what might be construed as ridicule : but when I gave it more careful thought I changed my mind, for had I done this, it would have render- ed it simply fiction, and taken it out of the precincts of history, where it belongs. Yet I wish it distinctly understood, and I wish to emphasize this statement, that in relating these stories, if it were simply to amuse and hold these old people up to ridicule, I would burn this manuscript before any man had an opportunity to read it, for I honor and respect these men (with a few exceptions) too highly to be guilty of such an offense to their memory.
I trust that we of this generation may leave such a record that those coming after us may have as pleasant thoughts and kind rememberances of us as I have of these of whom I have written on these pages.
The house that has always been my home was built by my grandfather in the year 18440. Benjamin Glover was the buildler, and John Thatford was his foreman and had charge of the work. It was built on
The Author's Home
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the site of the Zachariah Sandford house, which was probably built about 1700. This Sandford property was later bought by James Mitchel, who in turn sold it in the year 1818 to Daniel Halsey, my great-grand- father. Gabriel Halsey bought it from Daniel, and later left it to his son, Noah H. Halsey. Some of the timber was hewn from native trees, but more was bought from a cargo brought from Maine to Sag Harbor, all in the rough, and sold at $8 per thousand feet. This included all sizes of lumber. Some plank were 2 inches thick. 30 inches wide, and clear stuff. All doors, sash, window frames and moldings were hand wrought. The brick used in construction were all made of native clay from this farm, molded by hand, and burned on this place. The original shin- gles are still on the uprights, and apparently have not begun to wear out at this time; these were matched and after having been nailed on, were each course planed before the next course was put 01. There are boards used for shingle lath in the attic that are 18 and one 21 inches wide.
The Story of Silas Cook (Drum Major)
I wish to relate an incident in local history that I am certain is known to but few, and for that rea- son, if no other, should be put on record. This, to my mind is one of the most sad and pitiful ex- periences, and it befell one of Bridgehampton's carly residents. In this community in the Colonial days, the men of suitable age, as I have already noted, were obliged to assemble at stated times, and this by law, for military drill. This man of whom I write officiated for years at these military drills, and at general trainings was a very important character.
His office was that of Drum Major, and the baton he used is in my possession. This officer's name was Major Silas Cook, not the Silas Cook, however, that was later one of the Long Island Refugees in Connecticut, for he died long before that date. He was probably the son of Obadiah and Saralı Cook, of Scuttle Hole, both of whom are buried in the Hay Ground Graveyard. He owned and lived on the farm in Scuttle Hole that was drawn at the original allotment, by Martha Cook. widow of Ellis Cook, the first. she having drawn it in the right of her husband. Later, he. Silas Cook. sold his farm to Simeon Halsey. The latter or his heirs sold it to Col. David Haynes, it then went to
the Hon. Stephen Haynes, one of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Brooklyn, who owned this farm in 1850 (see map). The old house probably stood about where the present house now stands, but I do not know by whom or when it was built : we do know, however, that it was standing in 1786, for when David Rogers built his house in the Hol- low (see 1800 map) on the northwesterly side of the pond. he rented and lived in this old house, while his house was building, and his daughter, Azubah, who married Jesse Halsey, was born there May 3. 1786. This was before the discovery of vaccination for smallpox and this as well as cholera and dysen- tery often became a scourge in this community as well as in others. It may have been during one of these epidemics, that all of the children of Silas Cook, five in number, died. I am of the opinion that his wife did not die until a little later; but the chil- dren and wife all died within a period of three years, and were all buried in the old Scuttie Hole Grave- yard.
After the death of his children he decided to sell his farm and home, which he did for the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000) a goodly sum for those days, and received payment in cash. This money he placed in a secret drawer in his desk. I imagine the sale of this property was generally known throughout the entire community. That night the house was entered, the desk broken open, and the money stolen. Mr. and Mrs. Cook awoke and saw the burglar escaping through the window. Mr. Cook was about to shoot at him, but was restrained by Mrs. Cook, for she said, "it would be dreadful to kill a man." so the burglar escaped with all the money. Then he had neither children, farm, nor money. Soon after this his wife died, and he was left alone and destitute. In deep grief and sorrow he considered what course to take, and finally dis- posed of his household goods, bid farewell to his old home and friends, and shipped for a voyage on a whaleship. He never returned, dying either at sea or at a foreign port. The theft remained a mystery. but strong suspicion rested upon one neighbor, who after this appeared to be in much better financial circumstances. The desk was sold to Gideon Hal- sey (see 1800 map), and at the settling of his es- . tate was bought by Jesse Halsey (see same map) ; it then went to Lemuel or David Halsey, his sons. then to C. Everett Halsey, who has given it to his
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daughter. Mrs. Lawrence C. Halsey, for her son, Everett, in whose possession it now is. The marks made by the bar or chisel, used in forcing open the desk, are plainly visible at the present time.
David P. Platt, An Old Time Peddler
This man was a native of Connecticut, and might have been called a real "Yankee Peddler." He had a good mind and memory, was always a great reader, had been a member of the Connecticut State Legislature, and was reliable and honest. He dealt in a higher grade of goods than most peddlers. for in- stance, solid silverware, solid gold watches, and goods of that order. He never hurried nor urged a customer to buy, but always was glad to simply show his goods, and while doing this was so en- tertaining and interesting in his conversation that his stay resolved itself into a visit; which would mean a good sale in most cases.
I often recall with what intense interest I have as a boy listened to the stories and anecdotes as told by this man. I will try to relate some of them as they come back to me from my boyhood days: many of them I presume I have forgotten. In those days the use of strong drink was not frowned upon as it is to-day, and was quite general.
In the old town of Naugatuck, Conn., there lived an Indian who frequented the village store, and the usual company of idle men had gathered and were expressing their wishes for their individual needs or desires, which were varied and distinct and in many cases unique.
The old Indian had remained silent through all of this, but had listened. At last the whole company turned to him and said: "If you could make three wishes and only three, and have them come true. what would you wish for ? Now," said they, "be very careful and think well." After deep thought he re- plied :
"My first wish would be, that the hills back of Old Naugatuck were Mince Pies. My next is : That the Naugatuck River was rum. And my third and last wish is : That my neck was a mile long and that I could taste it all of the way down."
Mr. Platt was peddling in East Hampton at a time when the town was filled with city people, or summer boarders, and among them was a young man who had a very important and exalted opinion
of himself, and thought it would be sport for him- self and associates to have a little innocent fun with the old peddler ; so he approached him and said :
"I should say from appearances you have almost every thing in your outfit." "I have a variety." said Platt. "Is there anything you wish? I will gladly show you my goods." "Well." said the young man. (his friends and associates had gathered about to see and hear the fun) "have you any goose yokes?" (laughter).
"I am sorry to say I have not, but I will take your order."
The young man gave the order for a given num- ber to be delivered, and Platt named the price and had him sign the order or contract. The young man passed it as a great joke; but Platt had the yokes made and delivered them, whereupon the young man laughed and tried to get out of it by saying it was only a joke. "Well," said Platt, "you gave the order, and I have filled it, and you will pay for them and pay now, or I will sue you and collect it." The joke was turned and the bill paid.
As a young man Doctor Dayton was somewhat of a sport and inclined perhaps to be a little gay. It so happened that he had been away from home when Mr. Platt had previously been in East Hampton on his peddling trips, ( I think he was at school) and they had never met, though Mr. Platt was well acquainted with the young man's father.
Young Dayton came home for his summer va- cation, and this day when Mr. Platt came he was stretched out on the lawn. His father called him and introduced him to Mr. Platt, who expressed his great pleasure, for he had long known his father. and asked him where he had been that he had not had the pleasure of meeting him before. "Oh," said young Dayton. "I have been out to grass." The answer did not please Platt. so he replied: "I am exceedingly glad to have the privilege of meeting you, for I never before have had the opportunity of meeting one with such an experience, and, in fact. have never read of but one such case, and this man because of his sin and disobedience was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dews of Heaven till his hairs were grown like eagle's feathers, and his nails like bird's claws. I trust you did not go out under similar circumstances." By this time the pride and haugh- tiness of the young man had disappeared.
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Samuel Brown, of Butter Lane
"This man lived on Butter Lane in Bridgehampton. a short distance south of the Gelston house. He was a loyal citizen and patriot. Joined the Continen- tal army and served all through the seven years war of the Revolution, and became one of General Washington's body guards; he was noted for his bravery in battle and fearlessness when exposed to the dangers of warfare: it was said of him "he knew no fear." I think he wintered with the army at Valley Forge in 1777-1778 and was one of the brave company that crossed the Delaware through the ice that Christmas night of 1776 and captured the Hessians at Trenton. He also wintered with the army at Newburgh, New York. 1782-1783, when the army was disbanded.
In his everyday life he may have believed in the old adage : "The Lord helps those who help them- selves," for he would make a practice of helping himself to anything he wished or thought he wanted or thought he needed, regardless of ownership.
One winter's night, very late in the evening, he left home for a stroll about the neighborhood; while he was away Mrs. Brown was taken ill and sent one of the children over to the Gelstons for help.
Mrs. Gelston went, and after doing all she could for the relief of the sick. and with the patient com- fortably in bed, sat down before the fire on the hearth : this was before the days of stoves or lamps, and the only light in the room was from the smolder- ing embers in the open fireplace.
Late in the night the subject of this sketch re- turned home, and seeing by the dim light from the hearth, a woman sitting before the fire, thought of course it was his faithful helpmate patiently waiting his return, and saluted her as follows : .
"Well wife, pork is mighty scarce in Bridge- hampton, I have been in nine cellars to-night and I never found a pound until I got over here to neigh- bor Gelston's."
Stories of Ethan Halsey
Ethan Halsey lived in Hay Ground on the north- erly side of what is now Montauk Highway, and on the farm later owned by the late Capt. Andrew Jennings, but his house stood somewhat east of where the present house now stands. Two of his brothers. Abraham and Thomas, served through the War of the Revolution, and I own the musket that
one of these men carried through that war.
'l'here came an extreme drought one summer, and the crops were suffering severely for want of rain. Some of the good men of this community agreed that it had gone far enough, and that something should be done about it, so they decided to hold a meeting and pray for rain. On the appointed day Deacon Stephen Rose on his way to this meeting met Ethan, who asked him where he was going. The Deacon replied that he was going to attend the meeting appointed for the purpose of praying for rain. "Well," said Ethan, "I suppose it is all right, but if you are going to pray for rain, don't pray for one of those little genial showers that we read about, but pray for a real old soaker; that is what we need."
Ethan usually kept a large flock of geese, and these were very apt to trespass on the neighbors' crops. He also greatly enjoyed singing in the church services. I do not know what his qualifications were as a musician, either vocal or otherwise, but his near neighbor, Esquire Maltby G. Rose was not favorably impressed, and said, "I hope if Ethan Halsey ever gets to heaven, that he will be barred from two things, first, that he will not be allowed to keep a flock of geese, and second, that he will not be allowed to sing in the meeting."
The fact that the earth was round. and that it revolved on its axis, was taught in the schools at this time. Ethan said that he did not believe in any such stuff. "Now," said he. "just reason this out and use your common sense. If the earth does re- volve on its axis as you say, some morning Kellis Pond would be up here in the air, and the water running down my chimney."
Faith in Prayer
General James B. Gordon in his "Last Days of the Confederacy" says : "There was a deep religious feeling in Lee's army, and in a prayer meeting one night a tall Southerner knelt down by my side and prayed : 'O Lord. we are having a mighty big fight down here .. and a sight of trouble, and we do hope. Lord, that you will take the proper view of this subject, and give us the victory." I imagine there were just as fervent prayers in the Union army.
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