USA > New York > Suffolk County > Bridgehampton > Sketches from local history > Part 26
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Captain Jetur Rose of North Sea was a success- ful whaling captain. On one voyage out of New Bedford his wife. Caroline, went with him. They were away from home between three and four years.
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Their wearing apparel when they left home was in fashion and up-to-date, but many changes had taken place while away on that long voyage. When they arrived in port, the ship owners sent them to the best hotel in town. Mrs. Rose applied for accommo- clations, but was told it would be impossible as the hotel was full. She then told them that they were just home from a long sea voyage, and as yet had no opportunity to get new clothes : also that the firm of ship owners had sent them there, and that the only thing she could do was to report the case to that company, naming them. This fact changed the situ- ation at once. The best rooms in the hotel were given them, also the best service that the hotel af- forded.
Elbert Rose and Son Maltby
It was customary years ago to teach children the Catechism, Apostles Creed, Lord's Prayer, Ten Commandents, etc. George Rugg, a son of King- ston Rugg, was a small colored boy who worked for Esquire Maltby G. Rose, in Hay Ground. His son, Elbert Rose, was at that time a big boy in his father's home. Mr. Edgar was minister in the Pres- byterian Church, and told George that he should learn the Catechism. Elbert kindly told George that he would teach him, and that he could begin to study at once. The questions, only a few of which I will give. were taken from the regular Catechism, but for the Bible characters given in the answers, Mr. Elbert substituted the names of local men, as fol- lows :
"Who was the first man?" Adam Rugg "Who was the first woman?" Mrs. Rose
( Elbert's mother )
"Who was the wisest man?". Solomon Gray
"Who was the most patient man ?". Job Haines "Who was the first martyr?". Stephen Talmage "Who was cast into the den of lions?"
Daniel Talmage
"Who was the meekest man?" .. Moses Phillips
After a time Mr. Edgar made a call on the Rose family, and met the colored boy George, when he asked him "if he had studied his Catechism?" and "if so, could he question him?" George consented. and answered just as taught. After hearing the prompt answers. Mr. Edgar said; "George, who tanglit you the Catechism?" "Mr. Elbert," said George.
Maltby G. Rose, of the previous story, inherited much of his father's drollery and humor. When a boy he made a wager with another youngster as to who should get and wear the largest pair of boots. He finally won by changing several times for a larger pair, the last being 12's or 13's of men's size.
At school. Maltby was up to the average, but al- ways disliked to write compositions, so on Friday afternoons, when the literary exercises were held. Maltby would quite often be absent. One Monday morning after such an absence, the teacher tokl Maltby to write a LONG composition for the fol- lowing Friday. Maltby replied by saying; "he had no subject ou which to write." The teacher said ; "Write about anything, the weather, or farming, or cattle raising, and if you can find nothing else. write about your father's woodland, but be sure and have a LONG composition for Friday." "Very well, Sir," said Maltby. No one gave it more thought. The letter paper in fashion at that time was long and narrow, and unfolded lengthwise. Maltby pasted a lot of those sheets together until he had a roll of 25 to 30 feet long. On this he wrote the de- scription of each wood lot in detail. Friday after- noon, when called upon, Maltby arose with great deliberation, walked to the platform, made a very low bow. In his hands he held the roll, with the ends held firmly between thumb and finger. with the roll toward the audience. Standing di- rectly in front of the center aisle, so that when he let the roll drop, in unrolling, it struck the floor and rolled down the aisle almost one half the length of the school room.
This in itself created considerable mirth, then he began to read. The roll being so narrow, he was obliged to pull in and pay out quite fast to keep reading. As he pulled the long roll up the aisle. the other end began to pile up in front of him. Maltby read, and read until the teacher realized it would take up most of the afternoon, when he was obliged to tell Maltby that he had read sufficient for that day. "But." said Maltby, "there is a whole lot more." Then of course, he had to gather up that pile of paper, which took some time, and afforded more fun.
In the physiology class he was asked to describe the skin. His answer: "It is an elastic peeling that covers the body." He wrote a composition about Aaron Burr, and in summing up the story of his
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life, he concluded with these words: "He came up like peppergrass, lived like a hoppergrass, and laid down and died like a donkey."
For years Maltby Rose ran the Hay Ground Windmill, and finally owned it. David Haines took a grist there to be ground, went after it several times, but owing to the lack of wind it was not ready, so Maltby told him he would send him a card notifying him when it was ground and ready. The following is a copy of the message sent :
"Mr. David Haines, of noble fame,
I write you that I've ground your grain ; The wind blew up as I wished it to.
And I went down and put it through."
When Mary Pickford was making and preparing the reel for the movie "Huldah of Holland." they came to Hay Ground, from the fact that the wind- mill was in working order, and could be used. They built what represented a Dutch village nearby, sup- plied Maltby with a new white duck suit, so he would look like a typical miller. They offered him $25. to run the mill while taking the reel. Maltby said he would not do it. "Well." said they, "what will you do it for?" (supposing he wanted more money). "Why," said Maltby, "that is too much money. To run that mill for you I should want about $4.50," which they paid him, to the satisfac- tion of both parties.
STORY OF JOHN EDWARDS
John Edwards, who lived on the south side of Huntington Path in Bridgehampton, served in the war of 1812. He reared a large family in this house. His children were Joseph .\., Lodowick H .. John P., Deborah C., Mary J., Frances. Hannah, Charlotte, Henrietta, Herman. Albert. On one oc- casion he bought some land and was greatly puzzled as to how to clear it and make it tillable. Ile owned a large stock of cattle, and these ran in the woods. as was the custom. One day he found a nice fat calf hung in the crotch of a tree. He dressed it at once, and conceived the idea of a neighborhood feast.
He canvassed the entire neighborhood, inviting every one to attend the banquet, the form of in- vitation being about as follows: "Come, let us all get together. Go out on the new ground. Carry some brush together, pile it up. set fire to it, sit down and see it burn. When we get through, we
will all partake of the fatted calf." The plan worked. and the brush lot was cleared. This man was quite a large land owner. He said : "I do not want to own the whole earth, but I would like to own every piece of land that joins any of mine."
This man raised many young horses. One day he had several colts tied up in the barn yard to halter break. A hen hawk caught a hen and car- ried it to a lone cedar tree in Richard Halsey's lot. His son, Herman, got a gun and jumped on an un- broken colt, three years old with bridle but no sad- dle, and started after the hawk. The wind was blowing hard. The boy rode to the leeward of the tree, and ran the colt straight for that tree. The hawk flew to the windward with the hen. Herman rode up under the hawk, dropped the reins, shot and killed the hawk. He said afterward: "I never came so near being thrown from a horse in my life."
When John Edwards was quite an elderly man. a neighbor had a fine steer that had become very wild, and ugly as well, so much so that no one would buy it. This steer had been running with the common herd all the season. Because of these facts Edwards bought it very cheap. His neighbors said: "He will never be able to catch the brute," and they watched, but one day they were rewarded. This steer at that time had joined a herd of cattle. . and was in a barnyard with them. Edwards owned a fine yoke of old oxen, well broken and trusty. These he took with an extra ox yoke into that barnyard, also a good long rope with a pole to carry the noose. He got between the oxen and behind the yoke. He drove the oxen about among the herd until near enough to drop the noose over the steer's head. They then drew the steer up to a strong fence post and tied him, then unyoked one ox and yoked the steer in his place, then with the extra yoke. did the same thing with the steer and the other ox. The oxen took the steer home. . 1 bargain.
SOME RESIDENTS OF WAINSCOTT
John Strong of Wainscott, born in 1756, died in 1828, was the father of three boys, Sylvanus, .Vb- ner and Saul. His homestead was the one marked to AAbner ( 1850 map). In those days all of the threshing was done with fails, the grain being
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spread on the barn floor, when from one to four men would beat it with flails until the grain was all threshed. In doing this the men all had to keep stroke, so as not to interfere with one another. John Strong trained his three boys to thresh in a team of four, including himself. To help them keep stroke he would call the time. He might have counted 1-2-3-4, until they acquired the stroke, but he called the time another way, by saying, "I. Sylv. Ab. Saul. I. Sylv. Ab. Saul." Abner stayed on the homestead. Sylvanus located on the corner of Hedges Lane and the Town Line. Saul went to Pennsylvania, where he became a Second Adventist. He would occasionally come to Wainscott to visit his brothers. On one of these visits, he preached to his brothers the doctrine he had adopted, and was very enthusiastic in his belief that the world would come to an end that year. After making quite a visit, he set the day when he would return to his home. His brothers urged him to prolong his visit. but he said he must get back and sow his wheat ; whereupon his brother Sylvanus replied : "You d-md fool, if the world is coming to an end this year as you claim it is what is the use of your sow- ing wheat: and if you really believe what you preach, you might just as well stay right here and go up with the rest of us."
Samuel Edwards of Hedges Lane, (1850 map) was a great lover of cats. One man who worked for him in 1869 told me that at that time he had 46 cats on the farm, and these were fed regularly both night and morning with fresh milk.
Henry L. Osborn of Wainscott. ( 1900 map) was a man upright in character and a firm believer in prayer. It came to pass that one of his neighbors was taken very sick, and his family had almost given up hope of his recovery. On hearing of this Mr. Osborn said: "I got right down on my knees. and prayed earnestly to the Lord for this man's re- covery, and that he be restored to his family and neighbors." He did get well, and Mr. Osborn al- ways believed it was a direct answer to his prayer. and that he was responsible for his restoration to the community.
Years came and went. and this neighbor became somewhat of a "thorn in the flesh" to Osborn and his neighbors. Osborn wondered if he. through
his intercession with the Almighty, was not indi- rectly responsible for this trouble, and it caused him considerable anxiety. After a time this neighbor was again taken sick, and this renewed in Osborn's mind his former experience, so he said : "I got right down on my knees again, and prayed to the Lord; and explained to him how his former prayer had been answered, and because of it. the trouble the community had experienced, and that now, if he wanted this man to get well again, he would have to take the responsibility for it, for he was not willing to do as he had done before, so that it was entirely up to the Lord as to whether he got well or not."
Elisha Osborne of Wainscott. ( 1800 map) was born 1769, died 1856. He was a very devout man. and used to lead the prayer meetings held in the schoolhouse in that village. He had a son. Thomas, who did not follow in the footsteps of his father in all ways. though not in the least a bad fellow, but just full of fun. The old schoolhouse was heated by a large box stove that would take in one half of a cordwood stick. In cold weather the fire was usually started some time before the meeting began. It was invariably the habit of "Uncle Lish," as he was called, when entering the schoolhouse. to go to the stove, take the long iron poker which laid under it, and stir up the fire. One evening Thomas went to meeting early, put the handle of the poker in the fire, let it get hot, and then put it in its place under the stove. In due time his father came to lead the meeting, went to the stove as usual, grabbed the poker, dropped it just as suddenly, and exclaimed : "Some of that devilish Tom's work."
It was customary to read at these meetings a religious tract. In his declining years his eyesight partially failed, so he would ask some brother to read the tract for him. One evening, when Uncle Elisha was preparing for meeting. Tom took the tract from the old man's pocket, and substituted an almanac. When the time arrived for the tract to be read, Uncle Elisha passed it to a brother, and said: "This is a very good tract." "Why. Mr. Osborne," said the brother. "this is no tract. it is an almanac." "Ah, ha," said Uncle Lish. "this is some more of our Tom's cussed work."
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An Old Time Mechanic
For a number of years, at the beginning of win- ter, Robert Hedges of Sagaponack, would go to Jersey City and work in the ship yards, hewing tim- ber. At that time all of the ships were built of wood, and for the most part hewn from logs. On one occasion he applied for a job, and was asked if he could hew timber ; he said that he could, and was given a job. The next morning he reported for work.
In hewing timber two men usually worked on the same log, one man on each side. The morning in question the Boss took Hedges with him to test his ability. After the log was lined up, each took his place on opposite sides of the same log. The Boss began work. Hedges struck his broadaxe in the log, and walked about the yard watching the other workmen hew. When he returned, the Boss was quite angry, and rebuked Hedges severely, and told him if he was going to work, he had better get at it. "Well." said Hedges, "if I can't hew more timber than any man I have seen working here this morn- ing, then I don't want the job." He then began to hew, and never stopped until he had finished his side of the log. He then walked over to see how the Boss was progressing, (he had not finished yet ). The Boss thought Hedges could not have done the work properly, but when he looked at it, he said : "Hedges, you are all right."
Robert Hedges was considered the cleverest man with a broadaxe in this locality. While building the second Methodist Church in Bridgehampton, the builder wished some timber hewn, and was told that Robert Hedges could do it. After the task was com- pleted, the Boss said to Robert : "I did not intend that you should plane it." "I did not." said Hedges. "I used nothing but my broadaxe."
David Hedges and His Pigs
David Hedges of Sagaponack was the 7th gener- ation of that family in this country, and lived on the south side of Hedges Lane. He was born in the year 1804 and died in 1870. He was a prosperous farmer, and one source of income each year was a fine lot of pigs.
David Hallock was a local merchant. and often traded in dressed pork. The day in question Ilal- lock had made an appointment with Hedges to come to the farm and look over the pigs with the idea of
buying them. It so happened that he got there just as Hedges was going to dinner, and on invitation ate with him. "Then," said Hedges, "we will go and look at the hogs."
While they were at dinner the hogs broke out of the pen, and ran all about the farm. Hedges got all the help he could, but in trying to corral them, he became utterly exhausted and exclaimed : "The 'Good Book' says, "The devils entered into the herd of swine, and they ran down a steep place into the sea and perished,' and I wish to goodness these hogs were with them."
Daniel Talmage of Hay Ground
Daniel Talmage of Hay Ground was a man very moderate in disposition, and believed in taking life easy. One stormy day in the winter, Daniel saw 'Squire Maltby Rose going down to Mecox to fod- der his cattle. Daniel watched him for awhile and then said : "Blessed be nothing, for I can sit by my fireside in comfort, while 'Squire Maltby, with all of his property, is obliged to go out in this storm and feed his cattle."
One day he went to Deacon White's, (now Thomas Marran farm) in Hay Ground, and com- plained that his neighbors were giving him no work, and that he was destitute. He said he would work cheap if any one would give him a job. The Deacon agreed to give him work the next day if he would . promise to ask no questions, and work all day. Daniel agreed to this bargain. When he came the next morning, they carried the grindstone out in the street and set it by the side of the road. The Deacon told him his job was to turn that grindstone all day. but at noon to come in and get his dinner. It so hap- pened that this was the day that the annual Town Meeting was held in Southampton. Every one from the eastern part of the Town had to go with horses. and most of them by the main road, and in so doing passed Daniel turning the grindstone. This proces- sion began about eight o'clock in the morning, and in returning did not cease until almost night. It was only natural that they should ask Daniel what he was turning that stone for? Some even stopped their teams to question him. This at last got on Daniel's nerves, so that his answer to these oft repeated questions was. "To make d-n fools ask questions." Daniel in order to collect his pay, had to work all day, which he did.
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One day in harvest time Deacon White hired Daniel to cradle oats. After some time in the field, the Deacon went to see how he was progressing with the work. Daniel had accomplished but little, so the Deacon rather rebuked him for having done so little. This grieved Daniel, and he replied by saying that "he had sought to keep the scriptural injunction as best he could." The Deacon asked "what scriptural injunction there was that related to the cutting of his oats?" "Why," said Daniel, "we are distinctly told in the Good Book, 'Let your moderation be known unto all men'."
When it came dinner time, and Daniel got to the table, the Deacon observed that he was unusually active in the disposition of food, and this to such an extent that it was with difficulty the Deacon could keep from commenting on it. Finally he asked Daniel : "What was that scripture you quoted to me in the oat lot ?" Daniel could not recall the passage, but said there was another that he thought very ap- propriate and fitting for the occasion. "Well," said the Deacon, "let us have it." Daniel said. "The Bible tells us, 'whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might'."
Daniel Talmage decided to learn a cooper's trade. so went to Sag Harbor and indentured himself for a term of years to a boss cooper to learn that trade. This man boarded his apprentices and fed them largely on fish and potatoes, because of the small cost of those articles of food. These young men got very tired of this fare, but hesitated in finding fault. One day the boss was away from home, and his wife asked if one of the young men would say grace at the dinner. . All objected until it came to Daniel. who consented as follows :
"Good Lord of love, Look from above: Upon us sinful cre'tures ; And give us meat That's fit to eat, And less of fish and 'tatoes."
SOME STORIES OF BRIDGEHAMPTON
Albert Topping sent his watch to his son, (who lived in a New England town) to be repaired, and in due time it came back in order. He was telling about it one evening in the village store, and said : "What do you think, it came a going." One of the
listeners replied : "Then it must have went a com- ing."
Aaron Fithian lived in Bridgehampton, ( 1850 map) on the south side of the Main street. He was a man of independent ideas, and rather original in his methods. On one occasion he was drawn as a witness in a lawsuit. and had to serve much against his wishes. He declared he would be of no help and asked to be excused, but his request was not granted. The trial opened, and in due time .Aaron was called to the stand, and took the usual oath. Upon being questioned, he related facts very damaging to the party by whom he was subpoenaed. The attorney told him to answer those questions he was asked and no others. Aaron claimed he could not consent to that, for he in so doing would be breaking the oath he had just taken ; said he: "I have sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, So help me God, and I swear that is just what I am going to do." And he did.
There lived in the neighborhood of Aaron's home. a man harmless, but mentally unbalanced. One day Aaron was hewing timber with a big broadaxe, when this man appeared. Aaron asked him if he could do anything for him? "Yes," said the man. "I am tired of life, I want you to cut my head off." "All right." said Aaron, "I can fix you up in short order, and I have got just the tool to do it with. . Lie right down and put your neck on this block." The man got down as ordered. Aaron adjusted his neck on the block, and told him to keep quiet, and his troubles would be over very soon. After a few high flourishes with the axe, Aaron struck a heavy blow near enough to the fellow's neck to frighten him. The man did not wait for a second blow, but jumped up and said : "I guess we will not go any further this time." He went home and never re- turned.
James Brown was the son of Samuel, and grand- son of the Rev. James Brown. He did not follow in the footsteps of his ancestors in all ways. On the line between the land of James H. Rogers and John O'Rourke, there stood in the early days a house where lived an Indian named John Solomon. Brown appeared to enjoy playing jokes on Solomon. On returning to his home one bitter cold night. long after bed time, he stopped at the cabin of Solomon's.
SKETCHES FROM LOCAL, HISTORY
and going to the north door of the house, called the old man from his warm bed, and asked this ques- tion : "John, I am sorry to call you up at this time of night, but I wanted to ask you if you were willing that I should go and sleep tonight on the north side of Holmes's Hill?" ( This is a high bluff at North Sea) "Yes," said Solomon, "You may go and be D)-md."
Near the Pine Hills, and west of the Mill Stone Road, stood the house of Charles Fce. One evening in the late autumn this house was seen to be on fire. It was a motley company that gathered there that night. One was an elderly man whose wardrobe showed neglect. Instead of buttons he used rope yarns. When one pair of pants wore through, he would reverse then, and when necessity demanded. he would put on the second pair. There was no supply of water, so the only thing the company could do was to wait until the fire burned out, and keep it from getting into the woods. Many were the stories told and jokes cracked that night by these men as they sat about the burning embers. At last silence reigned and all were still, when Theodore White, otherwise known as "Teddy." broke the silence. It was as if some sheik of the desert had arisen to address his little band of Bedouin follow- ers, gathered about the camp fire, in the still hours of the night, sitting under the canopy of heaven. charging them to keep the faith of their fathers. All was attention. and thus he spoke :
"Fires are attributed to various causes. Some- times they are the result of the careless use of matches. Sometimes by what is termed spontane- ous combustion and, sometimes by the friction pro- duced by a thousand dollar fire insurance policy rub- bing up against a five hundred dollar house." None of the company knew it at the time, but it became known later, that the fire insurance policy on that house would have expired the next day at noon.
The Spilled Beans
Captain William Pierson of Sagaponack was captain of the militia. His commissions as Ensign. Lieutenant. and Captain are still preserved and in possession of his descendants. His home was that now owned by Alfred P. Rogers. This William had a brother, Abraham, who lived on Hedges Lane
where Paul Roesel now lives. When occasion re- quired. Abraham usually used his brother William's loom for weaving his carpets. Whenever he went to his brother's for this purpose he would carry the balls of rags in a tow bag hung over his shoulder. William noticed on several occasions the bag that Abraham carried when he went home appeared to have something in it. He also noticed that the shelled beans which were kept in the weaving room. were disappearing. He thought it might be the work of rats, but his suspicion being aroused he de- cided to watch. One day when Abraham was there weaving carpets, William secreted himself near the head of the stairs and waited. In due time Abraham finished his work, and started down the stairs for home : when William crept up stealthily behind him. and with a sharp knife cut open the bag. The beans went rolling down the stairs all about . Abraham. Not a word was spoken by either party. Abraham did not look around to see what had happened, but kept right on. The rats, however, ceased to carry away the beans.
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