USA > New York > Suffolk County > Bridgehampton > Sketches from local history > Part 28
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Hamlin Garland says-in his book, "A Daughter of the Middle Border". "The wives of the farm are the unnamed, unrewarded heroines of the border". and what is true of the pioneer women of the bor- der, is equally true of the pioneer women of eastern Long Island.
As a rule those women were truly patriotic and loyal to their home, their family, and their govern- ment. They were not all saints any more than their
descendants of today are. They were real home makers, and that is more than we can claim for miany of the women of today.
There were many less divorces then than now. though perhaps no less just cause for such action than at this time. Instead of bridge parties, they had their spinning, weaving, carding, knitting, sew- ing, dress making, all hand labor and a whole lot of it, including soap and candle making. They had a few standard books, which they read, the Bible standing at the head of the list, and but very little trash. The book (other than sacred) that exerted the greatest influence throughout the Colonies, and probably did more to unite them in a concerted ac- tion for freedom, a book that was read and owned by all whose means permitted, not in any one colony alone, but throughout all of the Colonies, was Thomas Paine's "COMMON SENSE." His "Age of Reason" may have separated men in their belief. but his "Common Sense" certainly united them in their efforts for freedom.
Yes, "The Women of Eastern Long Island in Colonial Days" truly kept their houses, which were real homes, and not mere lodging places. There were among those women really lovable characters, as well as some who were otherwise.
I am sure you will all agree that the name of Plebe Halsey .* wife of the first Thomas, should stand at the head of the list of the "Colonial Women
*Story told on Page 10.
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of Eastern Long Island," from the fact of her being the first and only Colonial martyr in this area.
Hannah (Pierson) Halsey
During the war of the Revolution, Lemuel Pier- son lived on the southerly side of Hedges Lane in Sagg on what was at a later date the Richard Les- ter farm. Locally he was known as "Lemmie On The Hill" to distinguish him from another Lemuel Pierson who lived in that same neighborhood, and an ancestor of Captain William Pierson.
He had quite a large family. One of his sisters, of whom we write, was Hannah, at that time a girl in her 'teens. Among the choice heirlooms in this family was a favorite luster bowl. At this time Major Corcoran had command of the British forces in this locality with his headquarters in Sagg, and many of his troops were Hessians.
The Pierson homestead, like many others. was obliged to afford shelter for these men. One day after imbibing freely, and having become boisterous and insulting in their behavior, they began to ran- sack the house for any treasure they might find. Hannah, realizing that that bowl was in danger. rushed into their midst. snatched the bowl, crying Out with all of her patriotic defiance, "I declare you sha'n't have that" and ran out of the house with it.
This luster bowl has been kept in the family, and handed down from one generation to the next to this very day, and is now owned and in the posses- sion of Mrs. Caroline C. Stoots
Lemuel's daughter Hannah Pierson afterward married Elisha Halsey, of Hay Ground, brother of Sylvanus Halsey, the Revolutionary hero. Elisha was too young to take part in the Revolution, and Sylvanus was too old to take part in the war of 1812. Elisha was drummer, and his duty was to call together the militia when needed. When the British fleet threatened Sag Harbor, Elisha was working on his farm at Hay Ground, (later the home of Edwin M. Rogers) when he received this word, in all haste he left his work, and made ready to report for duty at the head of the wharf at Sag Harbor. His children, realizing the danger to which he would be exposed, went about the house crying. But Hannah, calm and composed, although pale with fear, helped her husband adjust his uniform with hands that never trembled.
In the south end graveyard in East Hampton. 1 ..
I., are the graves of Elizabeth Huntting and her husband. She was familiarly known as Betsey Huntting. During the war of the Revolution they were living in what was known as the 3rd. house at Montauk. One day she saw a number of British soldiers coming. She was entirely alone in the house, the men being too far away to call for help. Knowing if they ever gained entrance to her kitchen, which she saw they intended to do, they would ap- propriate everything she had in the way of food. A large kettle filled with very hot water was over the fire. Seizing a dipper as they opened the door, she said "Come in if you dare" when she let them have the first dipper of water. Before they got away they all knew what the effect of hot water was, and beat a hasty retreat.
This same woman rode horseback off of Mon- tauk, and carried her baby one month old in her arms.
Clinton Academy was founded in the year 1784. the oldest institution of its kind in New York State. After its completion a controversy arose among the townspeople as to whether exhibitions should be held here or not. The opposition was strong, but those who favored holding them finally won out.
Tradition claims that the next day after one of these entertainments, there was a terrible hurricane, that blew off the roofs of houses, overthrew great trees, broke off limbs, drove the waves of old ocean into Hook Pond, and joined it with Town Pond. The next morning an elderly maiden lady, looking on the wide desolation, said; "This is some of that plaguey 'Cademy work' ".
It is a source of deep regret that an incident that stands out in our Colonial history so prominently, is shaded in mystery to such an extent that the heroine's name is unknown, so that the best and per- Haps the only way to relate the story, is to quote
"The Ballad of Pudding Hill"
Here lived in days of '76
A certain stirring dame, Whose name and lineage have been lost From off the roll of fame,
It happened that, one summer day,
Like England's "Goodly King"
She made a pudding, but for plums She put fresh berries in.
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That day along the quiet road
From old Bridgehampton Town, Some British soldiers, foraging. To this same house came down, The door was closed that faced the South. Because the day was hot, And o'er her blazing fire intent. The good dame heard them not. "Hurrah, boys" said the leader bold,
"We're just in time : come on :"
The tableau was a charming one, For any looker on.
"Oh no, you're not :" she made reply Then seized the boiling pot, Ran with it through the open door, And threw it, blazing hot.
Pudding and all. adown the hill, And left it in the sand, Amid the curses, loud and deep, Of all the hungry band. The place and tale are widely known. Fresh is the legend still, And all East Hampton Villagers Are proud of Pudding Hill.
During the war of the Revolution there lived in Quogue a family by the name of Herrick. They were of Danish descent. I think the Southampton Herricks were related to this family. In this family were two girls perhaps from 6 to 8 years of age. whose names were Hannah and Azubah.
Some British officers, with their orderlies, occu- pied part of the Herrick house at this time, and these little girls appear to have had a roving com- mission of the entire place.
The sweetening used by the common people in those days was either molasses or brown sugar. white sugar was only used by the well-to-do people. and these officers were in that class, this sugar came only in loaves or limps, and was very hard. The officers frequently treated these girls to lumps of that hard white sugar, but one day as a joke, they gave them salt instead of sugar, when in retaliation. they ran to the kitchen where a large bowl of punch had been prepared ready to serve, and spit their mouthsful of salt into the punch.
Both of these girls later attended school at Clinton Academy in East Hampton, and afterward lived
for a number of years on the homestead farm in Quogue. There was a pear tree on this farm the fruit of which was very fine. One evening they heard a commotion in the orchard. so took a lantern and went to see what the matter was, when a whole company of boys ran away, save the smallest one, whom they had boosted into the pear tree to shake down the fruit, and he in getting down lost one of his shoes. The girls kept this shoe as well as the secret of its ownership. This story was never toldl until this boy had long passed middle life, when at a neighborhood party one evening he told the com- pany that he was the boy who lost his shoe that night.
Hannah died quite young and never married. Azubah married Nathaniel Griffin, and has many descendants living in this township and on eastern Long Island at this time.
How Phebe Saved Her Bread
Of course you all know that for seven long years Long Island after the battle that bears that same name, was over run by the British, who committed all kinds of depredations, and forced nearly all of the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to King George III or flee the country.
Among those who tried hiding their herds of livestock and other property was Phebe Squires and. her husband Ellis, of Squiretown, L. I. For a long time they had been unmolested. One lovely morn- ing Phebe decided to do her baking in the old Dutch oven that stood out in the yard. She had made pies. cake and bread, and had just started clearing up. when she caught sight of scarlet and steel, and knew the enemy was coming. Just as soon as Phebe saw them she knew they would take all of the pies, cake and bread.
What should she do? Quick as a wink she put some flour in a large bowl, and just as the officers came in full sight, dipped a cup in the dye pot, and began mixing her dough. "Heavens," said an of- ficer, "is that the way you mix your bread?" Phebe. with a curtesy, answered "Please your honor, what's the difference?" "Difference, why damn it, it makes a pile of difference to me," and away they went, one of them muttering. "The dirty damnable rebels".
Phebe waited until they had surely gone, then threw the discolored dough out, and gathering up
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hier lovely loaves of bread, her cakes and her pies, said under her breath, "There's more than one way to mix your dough".
Story of Hannah H. Brown (Of Oysterponds, Orient )
Her maiden name was Hannah Hawk, her hus- band. Richard had been an Ensign in the Colonial Militia, and had died at the commencement of the Revolutionary War. Hannah at this time was about sixty years of age. Soon after the death of her husband she opened and managed a Tavern or Inn. Eastern Long Island at this time was swarming with British. Hessians and Tories.
It was in the Autumn of 1777, on a pleasant eve- ning, that a file of armed soldiers, without ceremony entered the house of Mrs. Brown, and ordered her to open the door of the room containing the liquor. or they would stave it down. At this threat, she rushed between them and the door, against which she placed her back. The enraged officer swore her instant destruction, and with great violence thrust the muzzle of his gun against the door on one side and then on the other of her person, just as near as he.could without hitting her. The marks of those thrusts remained visible for more than sixty years after. She stood facing and thus addressed him. "you unfeeling wretch, you hired tool of a tyrant. your conduct is worse than a savage, I am without a human protector, but know you. Mir. Officer, sur- rounded as you are with men and arms, that I de- spise your threats, and if you pass the threshold of this door, you will first pass over my lifeless body". Such emphatic language from a lone woman, at such a time and place was too much for his coward- ly soul to withstand. He grumbled but made a hasty retreat. This woman died in the Autumn of 1789. aged more than eighty years.
Mrs. Constant Lhommedieu
In the Summer of 1781, two whale-boats. manned with twenty men. landed at Southold harbor, and marched up about a mile to Joseph Peck's Inn, made free with his liquors and provisions, abused his fan- ily and wounded him seriously with their weapons, they left their boats near the home of Mr. Constant Lhommedieu, where they stopped on their return from the Inn. Mr. Lhommedien spoke miklly to their leader, at which he raised his cutlass to strike
Mr. L. on his head. Mrs. L. saw it and rushed be- tween the officer and her husband, and received the blow on her arm. Her arm was broken, but her hus- band saved. The wretch, apparently ashamed, left in haste with his company, wondering who could subdue a nation of such women.
Constant Lhommedieu was a descendant of Ben- jamin, who founded the Huguenot family on Long Island, and came to Southold in 1690.
Abigail (Hempstead) Moore, and Her Daughter Fanny
Abigail, daughter of Robert Hempstead. of Southold, was married at the age of eighteen to John Ledyard. They had four children. This John Led- vard was a Captain (in the Colonial Militia) and was a brother of Colonel Ledyard of Fort Griswold fame. He was a seafaring man, and died at sea while yet a young man. Their oldest child, John. became quite a noted writer, or author, as well as a celebrated traveler. and died in Cairo, Egypt in 1778. Their youngest child, Fanny, was one of the subjects of this story.
Abigail Ledyard. about the year 1765, having been a widow for nine years, married Dr. Micah Moore, of Southold, by this marriage there was born three daughters. Doctor Moore died in the year 1775, leaving Abigail with another young family. This was on the eve of the War of the Revolution. She was then about fifty years of age with seven children.
In that neighborhood were quartered numbers of English and Hessian soldiers. These carried terror in their movements. It was one evening during the War, that she was placed in a situation to test her fortitude. An officer, with drawn sword, entered her house with several soldiers, and in a rough voice. said, "Madam. I am informed you harbor (leserters here. If this be true. by the Eternal God. I will lay your house in ashes before morning". Mrs. Moore heard this threat with perfect calmness, looked him full in the face, and said. "Sir, I am a widow, but. feel myself perfectly secure under the protection of that Providence which has thus far sustained me. My trust is in God. I have no fears from man. Who was your informer ?" He replied. "That man" pointing to a Tory, who was present. She said, "Well, he is a liar, and I will prove it". They then left.
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Fanny Ledyard was visiting at her uncle's, Col- onel Ledyard's, when he was massacred at Fort Griswold, in September, 1781. She was the first to enter the Fort to administer to the wounded and dying. after the enemy had left the scene of cruelty and slaughter. She washed their wounds, and did all in her power to alleviate their distress. On en- tering the Fort, the first object that met her eyes was the body of her dead uncle, lying in a pool of blood.
She afterward married Richard Peters, and made her home in Southold, where she died in the year 1815, in her sixty second year.
From 1776 to 1783, Long Island was solely under British rule. In 1778 many of their soldiers were quartered in and around Southold. It was on a summer's day of that year, that a small party of light horse hastily rode up to the house of Major John Corwin, of Mattituck, (he at that time being absent ) and the officer, in a rough voice, demanded of Mrs. Corwin, some grain for their horses, and with a commanding air. said :- "Madam, your situ- ation warns you to an immediate attention to my request. To abuse my authority, is to rush to de- struction." Mrs. Corwin was unmoved, no-wise daunted, and coolly replied that she had no food for him nor his horses. "Well," said he, with a harsh oath, "here is a fine piece of wheat across the road, it will answer for horses, and we'll have it." With that, he made for the bars which opened into this field of grain. At this move, she instantly demanded him to desist, at his peril, "for," said she, "althoughi I am alone and unprotected. and in your power, I am a stranger to fear, and defy your threats. The first horse that enters that wheat field I will shoot instantly dead." With that resolution, she seized her husband's old King's arm, that stood behind the door, all loaded, and took her position to con- summate her purpose. The wheat field was not touched.
Mrs. Corwin died on Christmas day, 1850, in her ninety-first year. Previous to her marriage, she was a Miss Mapes.
The day following that on which the British burnt New London, in September, 1781, and mas- sacred the garrison at Fort Griswold. at Groton, they passed over the sound to Long Island. and landed at Oysterpond (Orient) Point, traveled up the road about two miles to the village. They were
disorderly, and carried terror to the inhabitants.
Elizabeth (called Betsey) Glover, the subject of this story, had married Jeremiah Vail, who kept a Tavern in this village. He had just heard of the cruelties at New London and Groton, when he saw them coming up the road. Elizabeth, under these trying circumstances displayed great self-possession and fortitude. At this time there happened to be no liquors in the Tavern, save two hogs-heads of good cider. The thought of this cider flashed through her mind, and the consequences that would follow should they find it.
She went forthwith, alone, to the cellar. knocked out the bungs of these hogs-heads containing the liquor, turned them so the cider would all run out. and then ascended the stairs just in time to meet this ruthless gang. Their looks she described as awful, having not slept probably within the last forty-eight hours, both they and their clothes besmeared with the blood of her murdered countrymen at Groton. They flourished their swords, and swore vengeance on American rebels.
Mr. Vail they seized and bound, and confined him in the attic. They searched every room, closet and pantry, in search of, as they said, "something to drink." Finding nothing. the cellar was next re- sorted to. They there discovered they had been successfully foiled in their purpose. It is recorded in the story, that "the ground had drank the liquor: and was still sober." Like mad men they ascended to the room of Mrs. Vail, and demanded why she had deprived them of refreshments. She deliberately replied, "You are the enemies of my country, I have nothing for you, you have no business here, threats nor oaths don't alarm me. If I have done wrong. I am responsible to my husband, not to you. You will not eat or drink in this house, if I can prevent it."
She expected violence ; but they left the house very soon after, muttering curses for her devotion and fortitude. She died about the year ISIS, more than eighty years of age.
From the day that the Pioneers rowed their boats up North Sea and the woman at the first landing. exclaimed, "For Conscience Sake, I'm on dry land once more," and that particular place has been known ever since as "Conscience Point," all through the Colonial period it appears as if "Con- science" and "Conscience Sake" had been the watch-
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words of their daily lives and deeds. A worthy emblem or motto for their descendants to follow.
The Women of Eastern Long Island in Colonial Days had real problems to contend with that we of this day can hardly realize. The Spanish Dollar which became our unit of value, was 8 shillings of 12 & 1/2 cents each. One Pound was 20 shillings or $2.50.
During a long period of Colonial days, women's wages were one shilling a day, and young girls who could not do a full day's work got less. One shilling a yard was the price paid for weaving flannel. As late as 1817 the wages paid a hired girl was 5 shil- lings or 62 & 1/2 cents a week. The wages of a tailoress was 25 cents per day, but that of a dress- maker gradually rose to 50 cents per day.
Every one worked, men, women, and children that were old enough. I own a photostat copy of Elias Pelletreau's account book, from which I quote. In 1768, a daughter of one of Southampton's wealthiest men purchased a pair of silver shoe buckles for 19 shillings and paid for them by spin- ning 33 days at 7 pence per day. In 1767, silk for a cloak cost 144 shillings, a silk handkerchief cost 7 shillings. The calico for a dress cost 5 shillings per yard, and a woman would have to work 50 days to pay for it. Shoes for the most part had to be made by a cobbler, from leather tanned at the local tan- nery, from skins of calves raised on the farms.
Such was the lot of "The Women of Eastern Long Island in Colonial Days." We say it was hard, without doubt it was, but all fared alike, and no one knew any other way, it is only when we make com- parisons that we are led to find fault and make our- selves believe that our lot is the harder one.
Perhaps they enjoyed life as much as we, and were without doubt just as happy.
Story of Two Shinnecock Indian Women
Capt. Philetus Pierson, father of the Hon. James Henry Pierson, was returning from Sag Harbor where he had delivered a load of farm produce for shipment. When about to start home a Shinnecock Squaw asked if she might ride in the back of the farm wagon. Her request was granted. When about one mile from Bridgehampton, on that road which years afterward was known as the "Turn- pike," she got out of the wagon and went east through the woods toward Poxabogue.
The following morning this same woman went
through the village of Southampton on her way to Shinnecock; she had given birth to her baby alone that night in the woods, and carrying her baby in a market basket, walked to Shinnecock that morning.
About the same period, but during the winter, an Indian woman took her twin babies in a basket and walked from Shinnecock to Red Creek to visit. The weather was fine as she thought and good enough for her to make the trip in safety, but the afternoon of the day she started home, there came on an excep- tionally hard snow storm. She walked across the Hills toward home carrying her babies, facing the storm and struggling against the tempest until very tired and exhausted, when she decided she could never reach home in such a blinding snow storm. and it was getting dark. She wrapped her babies in blankets in the basket, placed them in the lee and under the thick boughs of a cedar tree, broke off branches and covered them as best she could, and started for the nearest help, this proved to be a farm house west of the village of Southampton (owned I think by a Capt. White) it was then late in the night. She told this man her trouble, and where she had placed her babies. Without hesitation he yoked his oxen on the cart, and with her started to the rescue. It seems as if her Indian instinct must have guided her, for she directed him straight to the right cedar tree. no guess work about it. there they found the babies sleeping soundly, and all right.
This good man took them all to his own home that night and cared for them until the storm had passed.
I am placing a map of Sag Harbor in the early days that I compiled from an address by the late
North Haven Bridge Toll House and Jared Wade's Boat House
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Old Arsenal at Sag Harbor
Henry P. Hedges February, 1896. The photo of North Haven Bridge, with the toll house at the left,
and the boat shop of Jared Wade at the right. The old arsenal built in ISto by Henry B. Havens, mason, and Eliab Byram, carpenter, also the British outpost at the Brick Kilns which was captured by the Meigs expedition in May of 1777. I well re- member both of these buildings.
The fact that the first newspaper ever printed on Long Island was the "Long Island. Herald" printed in Sag Harbor May 10th 1791 by David Frothing- ham, is enough to keep this town on the map for all time. It is to be regretted, however, that no one knows at this time just where that printing office was located, but we do know that it was in a build- ing located "near the old landing," which would probably be quite near the site of the old wharf. This is quite definite as to location.
SOME OF THE NOTED MEN OF THIS COMMUNITY
Some of the noted men who took an important part in the history of this community should be mentioned, but I find it very difficult to name some and omit others, many of whom are worthy of mention. I never intended that this work should be a biography of these men, and am not going to make it such, but I will name a few of an earlier generation who took such an active part in the his- tory of this township that such history would not be complete if they are left out.
Our most noted historian, William S. Pelletreau. names Chancellor Nathan Sandford as being the most distinguished man the Town of Southampton ever produced, and I am inclined to agree with him in this.
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