USA > New York > Suffolk County > Bridgehampton > Sketches from local history > Part 4
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"Mr. Chairman, The Honorable Judge, in the stand he is taking on the matter of this bridge, re- minds mne of an old gray horse that my Father own- ed on the farm when I was a boy.
"This horse had a habit of jumping the fences, so that you never knew where to find him. One morn- ing, my Father sent me down to the pasture lot to get this horse, but charged me. in case the horse was
not in the lot. not to come home without him, but to look over in the other fields, for said he, you will find him where there is the best pasture.
"And that is just what the Judge has done in this case. He has jumped the fence, because he thinks it will be better pasture."
In the year 1900, the Town built a substantial bridge across this pond near the site of the Sand- ford bridge. This stood until the year 1923. when the present bridge was built.
The ford at "Stephen's Waters" in Water Mill was in use for many years prior to the date of the building of the first bridge across that stream.
Before the L. I. Railroad from Manor to Sag Harbor was built the main road through Water Mill went across the mill dam, and around the pond below the mill, and so up to the main road to South- ampton, (this latter portion is now discontinued ) but when the bay was low, much of the travel cross- ed the ford.
After the railroad was built, most of the horses driven at that time were afraid of a railroad train. This above all other reasons, led to a demand for a bridge across Stephen's Waters.
This bridge was built in the year 1873, and con- sisted of a stone arch with earth embankments at either side. The mason work was done. I think, by. Roger Maran. The highway leading across this bridge was not recorded until April 20th, 1880. See S. H. Town Records, Vol. VII, page 97.
While the following are not in a strict sense roads. it appears to be the only place to mention them. When the live stock were turned out to pasture on the common land, in the early days of the settle- ment, the problem was not how to fence them in the fields, but how to fence them out.
They had to have a supply of water, and to meet this demand, every pond and stream had a lane fenced from such water to the highway or common land. These are shown on the maps of the earlier dates. Especially marked as to its size is the one at the southerly end of Kellis Pond.
AAnother watering place was on the westerly side of the Mill Pond at Head-of-the-Pond, and in the 1800 map is called Baxter's Water, from Thomas Baxter ( see 1750 map).
Mr. Pelletreau did not know where Thomas Bax- ter lived, but he thought in Sag Harbor. I base my
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decision on the fact that in an old deed in the posses- sion of Mr. William Foster, it mentions the road going by Baxter's and on to Goodale's.
We know that Goodale's was about one half mile north of Gideon Halsey's on the Towd road.
Baker's Lane is the road running from Hay Ground road to Scuttle Hole road, on which Abra- ham Baker lived. ( 1800 map).
The Gelston house on Butter Lane was built by Ebenezer Edwards not later than 1747. perhaps somewhat earlier, and there was a lane running across just south of this house to Mitchel's Lane. I think this was the "Edwards Lane" spoken of in the Town Records and was sold by the Town Trus- tees to Daniel Woodruff of Bridgehampton, April. 1810, and discontinued as a highway. See Town Trustees Records, Vol. II, page 181.
Mill Stone Road was so called because one of the original mill stones was found at Mill Stone Swamp. on this road.
The roads were first opened rather than laid out. That came later. The land was all common land until allotted. The live stock all ran on this common land, so why bother about the width of the streets or roads ?
After the land was all allotted, it became a differ- ent matter. Then came a desire, that grew into a demand, that the fences might be moved, so as to take in some of the extra width of road.
This led to a re-survey of the roads, at which time they were made narrower, until finally, the roads running east and west were made, as a rule, 5 rods wide, this to allow for snow drifts made by the pre- vailing north winds in winter time. Those running north and south were usually made 4 rods wide.
There was some common land as late as the early 70's. The westerly end of George Topping's barn. in Hay Ground, was the easterly boundary of the common land or highway at that date. There was a road on both the north and south sides of Hay Ground graveyard. That to the north is now closed.
The Thomas Edwards house was built facing and near the okl road running from Huntington Path to Mill Stone Road, and the land out to the south was common land.
Lumber and Butter Lanes were both laid out 10 rods wide, and Huntington Path at the north end of
Lumber Lane, was at least 20 rods wide since my memory.
The old mill dam at "Sagg Head" might be classed as either a road or a bridge, in fact, it was both, for the dam was also used as a road. At this time it is a bridge.
The roads were so wide at first, that when one path or track became badly worn, they simply drove in a new place, so if the ruts were deep, the carts go- ing either way would take different roads, unless it were two men of the disposition of Deacon David Hedges and Hiram Sandford, when there would probably be a collision, either mechanical or verbal.
There were no light wagons until the latter part of the 18th, or first part of the 19th centuries, cx- cept it were two wheeled gigs or chaises, on which there was a tax of $2.00 for a chaise without a top. and $3.00 for one with one.
The roads since my memory had a wide ridge in. the middle and two small ones, one on either side by the ruts. Horses driven singly could not travel in the middle of the road, so the shaft irons had an off-set, that allowed the horse to travel in the right hand path.
The heavy wagons and carts tracked 5 feet wide until about 1868. when a Bill passed the New York State Legislature ordering all horse-drawn vehicles to track the same width, that is. 4 feet and 8 inches.
I can just remember this, and the excitement it caused among the farmers. It was really a good move, for it meant better roads. This center ridge afforded great amusement for the school children in going and coming from school. the one who failed to walk this ridge had to go to the rear of the pro- cession as they walked single file. Mr. James M. Halsey was Member of the Assembly at this time. and I here quote a petition to him in opposition to the Bill authorizing the change of the width of track of vehicles. It is as follows :
"Bridgehampton, April 6th, 1868.
"James M. Halsey, Esq.
"Dear Sir :- It casually came to my notice a short time since, to my great surprise and astonishment an effort was being made by some person or persons. somewhere in our Town, their names, location or occupation being unknown to me, or to my inform- ant, to obtain the passage of an Act by the Legisla- ture, make it a penal offence for any person to use any wheel carriage or vehicle on any of our public
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roads or highways, whose tracks shall embrace more than 4 feet S inches in width, and that you have act- ually presented a petition to the Legislature in favor of such action, which you probably thought it your duty to do, but that you will aid or countenance in any other way, the passage of such an arbitrary measure, I will not for one moment allow myself to believe. Aside from the outrageously arbitrary fea- tures of such a measure, you probably know I think, and I hesitate not to say, (should such an Act be passed, and remain unrepealed) it would work great injury and inconvenience to an overwhelming ma- jority of our agricultural community in various ways. Leaving out of account the inconvenience and expense of cutting up our axles to conform to what we consider so unjust and exceedingly arbi- trary enactment. This whole matter judging from the careful and quiescent manner in which it seems to have been gotten up, must, I thought, have orig- inated in some corner where the general and public convenience were to be sacrificed or made subservient to local and partial or private views and interests, and I think from what I have learned quite recently that I was not much mistaken. This Bill I consider in its origin and character unjust and gotten up and manipulated in about the same way, take for instance the desire and apparent determination of the non- taxpayers of this Town with some others manifested at a recent Special Town Meeting, when they voted a vast sum from the taxpayers without their consent to donate to a corporated Company for railroad pur- poses. If we cannot look to our State Legislature for protection against such Frauds, Spoilation, Rob- bery and Oppression, then truly are we cursed in- deed.
Very truly yours, in haste, David Pierson."
Then it was that the live stock were forbidden to pasture or roam on the roads or highways. This caused considerable dissatisfaction for a while, some claiming that it deprived a poor man of his privi- leges, but all of these changes were in the line of progress and had to come. After the enactment of this Bill, the old order was reversed, and people had to keep their live stock fenced in, rather than out of. their farm land.
The roads were formerly under the control of highway commissioners, and the farmers were al- lowed to work out their highway tax on roads ad-
joining their own property, but as a rule these roads were rough and poorly kept, very unlike what we en- joy at this time, but there was but little money or time spent on them, and I might add, there was but little to spend.
On May 10th, 1774. the Trustees of the Town passed a resolution forbidding all sheep being pas- tured on the common land without a shepherd. and in the woodland at all, because of the injury they would do to the young growth. At that time the general term used in referring to live stock such as were pastured on the common land was "Creatures," and was usually pronounced "Critters."
MILLS AND MILLERS
The great need of the colonists in the early days of the settlement was a means of reducing their grain to flour. They could pound or crack the corn in mortars into samp or hominy, but they needed a real mill. The streams of water were all considered and in some cases privileges were granted.
On January 7th. 1644. "Articles of Agreement" between the "Town of Southampton and Edward Howell" were signed whereby, The above sayd Ed- ward Houell doth promise to build for himself to supply the necessities of the Town a sufficient mill at Mecoxe. The Town of Southampton was to grant him 40 acres of land near the intended mill. and that the Town of Southampton doe laye ye mill stones at the place where the millwright shall ap- poynt.
This mill was built on the north side of the road (see 1670 map) and on the east side of the stream, quite near the pond, the dam was not far from where the railroad is now. It was operated by an overshot water-wheel. Its successful operation depended up- on two conditions: One, to keep the Bay at a low level, if it got too full, upon notice from the Magis- trate every man from 16 to 60 years of age was obliged to assist in digging out the Seapoose, except the Magistrate, Minister. Miller and Herdsman. The other condition was to keep the water in the Mill Pond at a high level. To insure the latter on March 3rd, 1651. "It is ordered that when the Mil- ler calleth on 3 dayes warneing, the towne shail gratishly afford him 20 men to go to lett in the water of the seaven ponds into the mill pond." .At an early date the people of East Hampton were
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granted the privilege of bringing their grain to the Watermill for grinding if they in turn would as- sist in digging out the sea-poose. There was no streams of water in East Hampton Town which could be dammed for power purposes.
The stones used in this first mill were native stone. One was found near Sebonac close by a brook that has ever since been known as "Mill Stone Brook," the other at a swamp on the westerly side of the farm of David Sandford (see 1750 map) (or Mill Stone Swamp 1700) and the road passing this has ever been "Mill Stone Road."
From Edward Howell, who must have died prior to 1655, this property went to William Ludlam, who died in 1665. It then went to his two sons, Henry and Joseph. The latter left town and Henry became sole owner. The mill remained in the Ludlam fam- ily for almost a century. In 1727 it was owned by Jeremiah Ludlam. I do not agree with Mr. Pelle- treau that Jeremiah Ludlam sold it to John Conk- lin, of East Hampton. I think he did sell the land lying to the west (later the Hedges Sandford farm. see 1700. map) .. "January 4th, 1748, William Lud- lam sell one half of my water mill and stream. with one half of my bolting mill to Elias Petty, price 65 pounds."
A deed in the possession of the late William Fos- ter, of Water Mill, dated August 18th, 1760, "Wil- liam Ludlam sells to William Foster one half of this mill." Of this firm, Petty & Foster, Petty was a weaver. Mr. Pelletreau says that in 1790 this mill was owned by Hugh Smith of Moriches, but I can- not find proof of this. I do know, however, that John Benedict did not buy it in 1815. for he did not come to Water Mill from Danbury until 1817.
In the 1800 map I have named White and Hedges as owners, I do not know of whom they bought nor the price paid, but in the County Clerk's office are recorded two deeds, each for one-half of this mill. April 21st, 1825, Jesse Hedges and wife, Naomi, deed to John Benedict one half of this mill: then on June 13th, 1833, John White deeds the other half to Benedict. In my opinion. John Budd who moved liere from Southold at an early date, was miller in this mill soon after it was built.
This Watermill was originally built for grinding grain into flour for family use, and feed for live- stock, later it was used for spinning yarn, weaving cloth and fulling the same. I think it was after it
came into the possession of "White & Hedges" that they manufactured paper in this mill (as far as I know the only paper mill in this whole township ) in the manufacture of paper in the early days, the rags after being reduced to a pulp were run over a screen or sieve which removed a good share of the water, it then was spread on a smooth, even table or block, brought to the proper thickness, and left
Watermill, Water Mill, L. I., original one built by Edward Howell in 1644-5
until dry enough to handle. The drying block used by White & Hedges was of cast iron in size 27 in. , by 40 in. and 2 & 3/8 inches thick, and is now in the possession of White's great grandson, Mr. John C. White of Sagaponack. L. I. I quote from the "Suffolk Gazette" of June Ist, 1807, as follows :
Wrapping Paper
Of a superior quality may be had of Mr. John Sowden, superintendent of the paper mill belonging to White & Hedges, near Southampton. **** Cash will be paid for clean Linen and Cotton rags."
On April 6th, 1697, the Town granted the right to build a mill on the stream at Sagaponack Pond head, to a company consisting of Henry Pierson. James Hildreth and Theophilus Howell. This mill was built and used for many years. Near the site of this mill you may see on the map for 1800 the location of a brewery. This was on the southerly side of the road leading to Sagg, and was the prop- erty of Alexander Brown.
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"On the 24th of June of 1823 he applied to the Southampton Town Trustees for the right to extend his Brewery or Shop 26 feet larger for the use of a Malt-house at an annual rental of 371/2 cents."
On the same 1800 map, at the head of Calf Creek, is marked the site of Jeremiah Parker's fulling mill. His son, Rodney, worked in this mill when a boy. There may have been a mill here prior to Parker. but I have not been able to prove it. (The Water Mill at Noyack I will mention later ).
There was one and I think only one "Horse Mill" built in this area, it was in Mecox, and Horse Mill Lane was named from it, an old resident pointed out to me its site years ago. (See 1700 map). It was operated by means of a sweep or shaft similar to a capstan bar. East Hampton also had a mill driven by cattle, that is, oxen.
The Pilgrims had spent about eleven years in Holland before emigrating to America. There they had seen and probably operated the Dutch wind- mills on the dykes. This I think is the reason they built wind-driven mills in their new home, for about the only section where they are found is in New England and eastern Long Island.
The first type of windmill built in this section was known as "Spider Legged Mill." I found a draft of this mill among the effects of an old resi- dent who remembered seeing them when a young lad. I had it photographed and it may be seen among my collection. This was the mill that stood on the corner of Charles S. Rogers' lot on the west side of Sagg Street. No one living at this time ever saw one. There were at least eight of these mills in this locality. The one just mentioned, one in Poxa- bogue, one in Hay Ground owned by Josiah Top- ping, one on John Wick's lot, from which "Wind- mill Hill" takes its name, and one and perhaps two in Wainscott. (See 1700 map).
.April 2nd, 1706, it was "Granted to Capt. Theo- philus Howell, Elisha Howell. Lemuel Howell and Jeremiah Halsey. Liberty to Build a windmill at meacox upon ye triangle commons Not Prejudicing highways." Bridgehampton was called Mecox in this case. This mill stood on what was afterward called Mill Hill, and some years after this another similar mill was built near this one. Charles H. Hil- dreth said that when he was a boy Stephen Norris attended both of them, at that time one was used for grinding feed and the other for making flour.
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Spider Legged Mill, Bridgehampton, late 18th and early 19th Century
About the year 1837 Judge Abraham T. Rose bought one of these mills and moved it to his lot on the east side of the Sag Harbor Turnpike and used . it for a hay barn. (See map for 1850). The other was bought by a company consisting of Messrs. Hi- ram Sandford, David Pierson, Nathaniel Topping and Smith S. Topping. They moved it to Poxa- bogue, and later it became the subject of the noted lawsuit known as "The Sagg Mill Case or Cause." ( See chapter on Noted Law Suits).
In the year 1820 a Mr. Beebe built a fine wind- mill on what was later known as Sherry's Hill in the southerly part of Sag Harbor. This was the mill from which a flag was flown when a whaleship was sighted down Bay, hence : "Flag on the mill, ship on the Bay." In the same year the other mills were sold ( 1837) Judge AAbraham T. Rose and Richard Gelston bought the Beebe mill and moved it to Bridgehampton and placed it on the same site from which the two mills had been moved. They oper- . ated it for some years, but finally sold it to a Mr. Norris. I think Charles K. Norris, and he in turn sold it to Roger Francis. After Mr. Francis failed
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Beebe Mill built in Sag Harbor 1820
in business, this mill was bought by a company con- sisting of E. Jones Ludlow, Charles Henry Topping and Hedges Miller. They sold it to William Hand of Amagansett. In 1868 Hand sold it to Albert Topping. who ran it for about four years ; and then sold it to Lafayette W. Seabury who ran it until the year ISSo, then he sold it to the firm of Topping & Hildreth. In 1882 they sold it to James A. Sand- ford. He moved it from Mill Hill to a site near the Railroad Station south of the tracks and east of the East Hampton Lumber Co.'s property. While stand- ing there Sandford put steam power in so as to be independent of the winds for grinding. Soon after this Sandford sold it to Commissioner Kennedy for Prospect Park, Brooklyn. This contract was can- celled because of the difficulty of moving it the kugth of Long Island. In the year 1894 it was sokl to Oliver Osborn, who moved it across the railroad tracks to a site north of the freight house, and put a brick foundation under it. In 1895 it was soll to the "Bridgehampton Milling Co." It was during their ownership that William Schellinger became the noted miller. About 1915 it was bought by the Rev.
Robert Davis, who sold it to Mr. John E. Berwind. and he moved it to his property on Ocean Road. where it still stands. The foregoing record I think is correct. I have known this mill from the time I was a small boy and always admired it.
The Wainscott windmill was originally built in Southampton, on the west side of Windmill Lane in the year 1813. The owners were Jeremiah Jagger and Obadiah Foster. It was bought and moved to Wainscott in the year 1852, where it stood until the year 1922, when it was bought by the Hon. Lathrop Brown, who moved it to Montauk where it now stands. I presume its grinding days are over.
The windmill at Water Mill, otherwise known as the "Corwith Mill," was originally built in Sag Harbor about 1800. In 1814 it was bought by James Corwith, who moved it to Water Mill on its present site. He also bought the land on which it stands from the Proprietors of Common Land that same year. It was operated by James Corwith for the most of his active life, then it came into the posses- sion of his son, Samuel Corwith, who ran it until the year 1887, when he sold it and it also became a monument of a past industry, and still is such. This mill was turned about by means of a long spar or
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Corwith Windmill-Water Mill, built in Sag Harbor 1800
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shaft attached to the upper frame and on the lower end was a large cart wheel, by which it was turned to keep it in the wind when grinding.
The last of the grist mills operated and in actual use that was driven by wind, was the Hay Ground Mill. This windmill is the only one in this section that still stands on its original foundation, and that has never been moved from its original size. It was built in the year 1801, by a company consisting of Gen. Abraham Rose, Capt. Benjamin Rogers, Na- than Topping Cook and Ethan Topping.
The timber from which it was built was cut from the local forest. Without doubt it has the distinc- tion of being the oldest and the longest in actual ser- vice of any windmill in this community. The mill- ers who operated this mill throughout the entire per- iod of actual service were Ethan Topping, his son Jesse, his grandson George, whom I remember, and his great-grandson. George, Jr. and Maltby Gelston Rose.
Probably the most important mill, the most prom- intent business ( while it lasted) and the largest steam flour mill in this entire section, was the "At- lantic Flouring Mills" built by Major Roger A. Francis, in 1851, and located on what was formerly the Triangular Commons. (See 1850 map ).
This mill consisted of a two-story main building standing parallel with Hull Lane, with a two-story wing on both east and west ends. It stood on what is now the easterly part of the "Old Cemetery." The engine house and smoke stack were on the south- eastern corner of the mill. Some distance to the east
Hay Ground Windmill, built 1301
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Wainscott Windmill, built in Southampton 1813
and in a line with the main building, was a store house. A track or tramway was laid extending from the store house to the mill, on which a car was oper- ated, not by steam as the cut of the mill would ind ?- cate, but by hand power. Back of the steam mill and a little to the southeast stood the Beebe Wind- mill.
This business venture proved a failure financially. and after a time the whole property was sold. The main building went to Sag Harbor, and became part of the "Maidstone Flouring Mills," and was oper- ated as such until destroyed by fire February 18th. 1877. The two wings were bought by John Chat- field, moved to Mecox, joined together and made into a dwelling house, where it still stands. I think the store house was moved down the Sag Harbor turnpike and became part of the Edward Gregory house.
While writing on mills I must not forget to men- tion that of Charles Henry Topping, on Church Street. While he did some grist work, it really was a machine shop, where he repaired all kinds of ma- chinery, and built for a good many years 10 or more horse-tread-powers each year. There was a saw
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Atlantic Flour Mills (Roger Francis) 1851-1859
mill connected with this business and a turning lathe. They also had a factory for the manufacture of Squaw-Scrub-Brushes. William H. and his brother, Charles P. Topping, built a 5-horsepower steam engine to run the machinery in this scrub- brush-making mill. I think it is the only steam en- gine in existence ever built in Bridgehampton. It is still preserved and I own it. The Topping Mill was bought by the East Hampton Lumber Co., but prior to this the Toppings had moved their plant from Church Street to Railroad Avenue, and in doing this they accomplished a remarkable feat in mechan- ics, when they loaded their tall brick smoke stack on skids, and moved it without damage.
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