USA > New York > Suffolk County > Bridgehampton > Sketches from local history > Part 5
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When I was a boy, Charles H. Topping erected a "Hubbard Patent Horizontal Wind Mill" at his shop on Church Street. I remember his coming to our house and trying to sell one to my father. It was a beautiful model, and would run with the slightest breeze. I certainly coveted that model.
There was another type of windmill used exchi- sively for sawing logs into timber or planks. I re- · member two of these. They were built quite low. The shaft was fitted with a crank on the inner end, to which was attached a connecting rod that worked the saw, which was held in a frame that travelled between two upright guides which held the saw true.
After the Civil War molasses was very high in price, so that many of the farmers raised a small acreage of Sorghum for making their own molasses. Henry Edwards ( see map for 1850) built a mill for that purpose and operated it for a number of years, pressing the cane, and boiling the juice into syrup or molasses. I do think it was not a very high grade product.
About the year 1883 the firm of Sandford & T'if- fany was organized for the purpose of carrying on a milling and feed business. They built a new mill
near the railroad in Bridgehampton. Equipped it with modern machinery for making a high grade of flour ; with rolls, bolts, conveyors and everything up- to-date. It was operated by steam power. They did a flourishing business for a number of years. On Nov. 13. 1888, the big steam boiler blew up, seri- ously injuring Mr. Sandford, and blew the build- ing into pieces. This ended the operation of this mill.
In the foregoing chapter I have covered a period in the history of this community from the founding of the first colony to well near the end of the 19th century as it relates to "Mills & Millers", or in other words, it takes us from the period of the samp mor- tar to watermill. horsemill, spider legged windmill, the improved windmill of which several are still preserved, to the steam roll flour mill. This is prob- ably an industry which may never be revived in this location unless there is a radical change in crop production. When more grain is raised there still may be a necessity for mills to grind it.
Daniel Hildreth Saw Mill, 1822
SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
SCHOOL HOUSES AND SCHOOL TEACHERS
The Southampton Town Records up to the year 1651 are in the handwriting of Richard Mills, who appears to have acted as schoolmaster from the date of settlement. Without doubt this man was the first school teacher in the Colony. In T. R. Vol. II, page 224, we quote : "Sept. 22nd, 1663, by ye major voat it is ordered and concluded that Jonas Holdsworth shall have 35 Pounds for his schooleing per annum. for the term of two years at least, and his pay to bee answerable to ye pay ingaged to him by Hempsted, with ye allowance of 12 days in ye yeare liberty for his own particular oceations."
At a Town Meeting, held Sept. 5th. 1664, "It is ordered that there shall bee a school howse of 20 foot long and 15 foot wide built at ye townes charge, and finished fit for use before winter." This is the first school house in this township of which there is any record.
There is another school teacher of record some- what later, yet early enough to be mentioned. "J. John Mowbrey, doe hereby binde myselfe faithfully & diligently to teach and instruet a School in South- ampton att twelve shillings in cash per Scholler for the terme of Six Months Commensing from ye first day of May next and Ending ye first day of Novem- ber next Ensueing, and to teach them in the hours following viz. from Eight to Eleven a clocke In the forenoone and from one to five of the clocke In ye afternoone, as witness my hand in Southampton this 28th day of April, 1694.
Signed in presence of us Matthew Howell Thomas Stevens
John Mowbrey
Mr. Mowbrey's Scollers :
Matthew Howell 2 Rich Howell I
Lift Stevens I Joseph Goodale I
Ensigne ffordham 2 Abraham Howell 1
Hannah Sayre I James White I Walter Melvin I Sam Johnes I
Isaac Wilman
I Mrs. Johanah Cooper I
Will Herrick I Jonas Bower I
Joseph Foster
I John Woodruff 2
Joseph Hildreth I
I have named this first list of scholars because
many of these names may be found on the maps for 1700 & 1750 as residents and had established homes at that time.
I find it impossible to ascertain the time at which the first school houses in this map area were built. There were schools kept in rented rooms in private houses long years before they built any separate school houses. In writing of the school houses in the different sections or districts of this area, I will begin with Wainscott, which is in the township of East Hampton. The first one built in that district of which I can get any accurate information was built about the year 1730, and stood very near the site of the present school building. Judge H. P. Hedges in "Memories of a long life," says :
"The old School House was shingled all over, and time worn. The frame was of hewn oak timber. grown probably nearby. It was hoary with age when I first knew it. In the winter its loft had been storage room for the seine. In its northeast corner was a cupboard, for what purpose nobody knew: in its dark recess naughty boys were shut up until the terrors of confinement were supposed to have . wrought reformation. John Cooper and Robert Hedges each taught in this school house two or three winters. This was not far from the years 1825 and 1826. Cut in the boards were the initials of many students. Cut on its south side was the outline of a full-rigged whale ship. "Andes" or "Union" I think the former. Cut in the rude seats were notch- es and outlines of figures, faces, animals and birds : rude, unsymmetric work of jacknives, by inexpert . boys; raw specimens of struggling art.
"In the night. about 1826 or '7, the old school house was in a blaze. The flame shone on the win- dows of the room, where, in a trundle bed, I was sleeping. My brothers ran to the fire. This was the first building I ever saw burned. Chauncey Osborn. then courting his wife. Miranda Hand, at her father. James Hand's house, first saw the fire and gave the alarm.
"The first witnesses coming, saw in the bushes of the old grave yard, in a chair used by the school master. the only chair kept in the school house, a
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
man sitting, whom they did not clearly recognize. The house burned to the ground. Tom Hopping. poor, crazy "Tom" was charged with the crime, arrested, imprisoned and tried, but not convicted. On his examination he professed ignorance of the cause of the fire, suggested that on account of the wickedness of the people, fire might have come down from Heaven, as it did on Sodom and Gomorrah. and that for the same cause it might come down on more houses.
"In long years after it was reported that he con- fessed to carrying the firebrand from home, a mile through the street, and setting the torch to the building. Poor Tom, Gone; Long since gone. Thus perished the old school house. It must have been nearly one hundred years old, perhaps more. Full three generations of youth learned their letters. Three generations, at 5 o'clock meetings, had wor- shipped therein. It was hallowed by the prayers of sincere and humble worshippers. Its walls had echoed and re-echoed with sacred hymn and psalm sung by devout and honest tongues, Center of prim- ary instruction, center of seine meetings, center of religious worship. it had been an institution of en- during benefit and blessing."
A new house was built soon after the old one was burned, and on the same site. In this second house Thomas Rose. brother of Col. Edwin, and Josiah White, both of Bridgehampton, were school mas- ters previous to 1853. This was used until 1884. when it was sold to David P. Osborn, who moved
Wainscott School House, 1827-1884
Sagaponack School House, District No. 10, 1830-1885
it to his home at Wainscott. Then a new school house was built on the old site or near to it.
In September of 1813, the Town of Southamp- ton was laid out into 15 school districts. Some were absorbed later, and more of the larger ones divided.
Sagaponack School District, or No. 10
The oldest school house in Sagaponack ( district No. 10) of which we have any knowledge, stood just north of the north line of the late Henry Top- ping's farm, on the east side of Sagg street, on the property of Caleb Pierson. This lot was 4 by 5 rods . in area. This house was probably built about the Year 1725. This house was 20 by 25 feet, facing west, with a door to the west, and two windows on either side, and a fire-place and chimney at the east end. In later years a Franklin stove was installed. The room was walled and ceiled, had a beard floor, but no underpinning.
I have heard Mr. Charles H. Hildreth relate his experience while attending this school, but will quete his article in the "News" of August roth, 1910.
"I attended school at the old Sagg school house over 76 years ago, (this was written in 1910). The house was comparatively new then, the paint bright and shining, and did not show the work of jacknives as it did in later years. The desks were built against the four sides of the room except at the door way into the entry. The seats were a continuous board in front of the desks.
"There were two small benches for the small chil- dren, one of pine for the girls, the other a rough oak
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
slab for the boys who had to sit with fokled hands and allowed to breathe if we did it quietly. This house was covered with long cedar shingles, which were good for at least a century, ( for location of this house see 1Soo map). Jesse Pierson, who figuredi in the famous 'Fox Law Suit.' the location of whose house may be seen on the west side of Sagg street ( 1800 map) was the school teacher for a long term of years in this school house.
"This old house was in use until about the year 1830, when it was decided it was no longer service- able. A new house was framed, and the men of the district assembled to raise it on the site of the old one. Lemuel Haines, who owned the adjoining land. protested so strongly, claiming that in case of fire it would jeopardize his home, that the assembled company picked up the frame, carried it across the street and set it up on the common land. Here it really stood in the street between the two roads un- til about the year 1885. when it was sold to Charles Fooks, who moved it to his farm on Parsonage Lane. He has since sold it and it was moved to Wainscott. This was the second school house in that district, and was built by James L. Haines. The. present and third school house was built on a lot bought of Henry Topping."
The following is a partial list of the scholars in this District No. 10 (Sagg) Number of scholars. and days attendance. Time of school four months.
John White 2 Jesse Pierson 2
Lucretie Pierson
I Hiram Sandford I
Silas Pierson 3 Robert Petty I
David Topping
Ebenezer White I
Joanna Peirson
34 Daniel Sayre
20
Sally Smith
27 Danl. Hedges 75
Dency Peirson
49 Gordon Peirson
136
Clarisa Hand
44 Sam'l D. Peirson 136
Jerusha Peirson
87 Nathan Topping III
James Peirson
96 Silas White
30
Hannah Peirson
47 Henry Topping 12
Phebe Sayre
45 Paul Topping
13
Phebe Hedges
23 Peirson Strong 23
Rebecca Hajnes
So Sylvester Strong 30
Sally Peirson
27 Jeremiah Rogers 20
Polly Hedges
32 Andrew Peirson 40
Sarah Peirson
17 John Sayre 30
Hervey Topping
92 Solon Hand 27
Job. Peirson
115 Oliver Sayre
54
Sally Sayre 38 Sophia Peirson 68
Nancy Peirson
105 Abrm. Topping 104
Betsy Peirson
71 Daniel II. Haines 141
Polly Smith
36 Josiah Peirson IOI
Hannah Peirson, Jr.
20 Sylvanus Hand 29
Rachel White
61 Smith Topping 28
49 Jeremiah Peirson I3
41
Julian Topping
96 James Topping
59
Harriot Peirson
69 James Edwards 35
Betsy Peirson, Jr.
137 Saml. Peirson 67
Polly White
31 Matthew Topping
86
Charity Hedges
14 Joshua Topping
13
Nathl. B. Topping
19 William T. Hedges 63
Nathan Peirson
120 Silas Topping
22
Malby Sayre
89 Charles Sayre
60
Halsey Peirson 135 Rebecca Topping 48
Theoph. Peirson 137 Phebe Sandford 48
Silas Peirson
109 Jane Sayre 48
Charles Topping
108 Elizabeth Topping 29
Theoph. Howell
134 Sally Moore
86
Reynolds Howel
28 Ruth Norris
35
John Peirson
25 . Abigail Hand
46
Champlain Sherman
14 Betsy Peirson
56
Jesse Strong
27 Nathan Sayre +01
John Strong
2 Meriah Peirson 130
Jesse Peirson
103 Susannah White 65
Ebenezer White
So Esther Peirson, Sr. 103
Francis Sayre
36 Harriet Peirson, Jr. 121
Conkling Hand
56 Lorana Topping 28
Isaac Morehouse
II Abigail Hedges, Jr. . 31
Esther Topping
28 Polly Moore IO
Phebe Topping Sr.
46 Howel White 74
Ruth Pierson
56 Theodore Peirson
141
Richard Lester 2 John Pierson I
Lodowick Post I Silas Wood I
Matthew Topping 2
Daniel Haines I
Alfred Pierson 2 Caleb Pierson I
Henry White
I Isaac M. Pierson I
Bridgehampton, March 15th, 1796. .\ Return of the School in the District of Sagg. Taught Two Quarters By Benjamin K. Hobart Be- ginning September 28th, 1795. ending March 12th. 1796. For Forty Pounds Ten Shillings.
Wilkes Hedges, Assistant. I Qr.
Scholars names. No. Days.
Martha Topping
34 Phebe Topping, Jr. 47
Uriah Sayre
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Abigail Hedges
Harriet Sayre
42 Hervey Peirson
SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
A true act. Errors Excpt'd. p. B. K. Hobart Jedeiah Peirson Silas White David Topping William Peirson
1753253
Trustees
School District No. 9
Many people have had the idea that the building used for a shop on the farm of the late James L. Haines, and later his son Theo. F. Haines was the first school house in this district, but this is not so. Any one who studies the construction of this build- ing. will be convinced of this fact. There was a school house that antedated this one by at least one hundred years. One that was far more pretentious in size, appearance and accommodations, for this one had a seating capacity several times more than the other. It also served the purpose in the community that a Session room or Church parlors would at this day and time.
The Tavern and Triangular Commons were bound to change the community center from Bridge Lane to East Hampton Path. After 1700 the lat- ter road gained a decided preference over the form- er in the traffic from Southampton to East Hamp- ton. The growth of the settlement was tending to- ward the northwest, and has ever since.
This school house was probably built about the year 1720, and stood on the Triangular Commons. not far from where James S. Havens' blacksmith shop stood in later years. This was known in those days as "The Two Chimney School House." It was very much longer than the other school houses in this locality. It stood length-wise east and west. with one door near the center on the south side, and One at the west end. This building had neither wall nor ceiling, and there was a large fireplace in each end. I think it had a stone foundation and dirt or perhaps a tan bark floor : ( for there was a tannery at Sagg Pond head owned by Joseph Wickham. 1686. Silas White 1732).
The above description was given me by Miss Clara Haines when she was about 90 years of age. She also said that she, when a child had attended prayer meeting with her father, Deacon Jeremiah Haines, in this school house, and remembered just how it looked to her.
Across the Commons to the northeast was the "Bull's Head Tavern," owned and conducted by John Wick for many years. A favorite resort. On the opposite corner to the east of the Tavern was the home and store of Capt. John Hulburt, where a goodly portion of the trade was in New England or Jamaica rum, meted out to a line of customers ex- tending from Water Mill to Hog Neck, as the en- tries in his ledger will show.
Let us pass over a period of say, fifty years. this would bring us to the days just prior to the Revolu- tion, and who can picture or portray the scenes that transpired in and about that old school house. This was at that time the only room, save the church. where meetings could be held to enthuse the spirit of freedom and self-government into the minds and hearts of the young men, who, ere-long would be called upon to defend their rights, and demand, if they must submit to taxation, then coupled with it must be representation.
I verily believe if we had a record of the stirring appeals. the patriotic speeches, the pledges and prof- fered sacrifices that they knew would be an impor- tant factor in their lives before the struggle was end- ed, we would have something that has never been surpassed in all the annals of history.
It was in this house that the noted or notor- ious Stephen Burroughs taught school in the lat- ter part of the 18th cen- tury. This man, a fugi- tive from justice, came to Shelter Island and taught school for a time. and then accepted an of- fer to come to Bridge- hampton to teach. for a STEPHEN BURROUGHS much better money con- sideration than he had received at the former place. This, coupled with the idea that it would be wiser and better not to go back to those localities where he was known, induced him to accept the offer and locate here.
There is little doubt but that Burroughs was a man of marked ability, and far better versed in lit- crature and general knowledge than the great ma- jority of his contemporaries. He apparently won the
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
good will and confidence of Judge Havens, of Shel- ter Island, for the Judge sent four of his children to Bridgehampton, and placed them under the care of Burroughs, and kept them here for two years.
Burroughs, "during this time, had formed a most agreeable and intimate acquaintance with Dr. Wool- worth." He writes: "I found him a man of very agreeable parts, and an entertaining companion." I believe that Burroughs was a good teacher. He brought his family here to live and rented a house of Elias Halsey. (see map for 1800). His widow. Jerusha Halsey was there in 1850. This was later the farm bought by Judge H. P. Hedges. Burroughs appears to have gotten along well, for he writes that he had a large school, until theology was introduced into the equation. That made trouble.
Deacon David Hedges was the leading man in the church at that time, and he and Burroughs clashed on their religious views. This led to heated argu- ments : Burroughs being by far the better read and educated. proved too much for Hedges. The lat- ter's disposition was such that he could not submit nor yield, and to have Burroughs best him in their arguments was more than he could stand. Where- upon Hedges and others, including Woolworth, be- gan an investigation into Burroughs former record. This uncovered a whole lot of information very de- trimental to Burroughs' character which finally led to his eviction. One episode in his varied career was as follows. At one time he located in Pelham. Mass., and taught school in that town. At that time the church was without a minister and was candidat- ing for one. Burroughs applied for the position. but the officials of the church were rather skeptical of his ability, and also of his religious character, but finally agreed to submit him to a test. On a given day they were all to meet at the church. The church officials were to select a text for Burroughs, and give him twenty minutes to prepare a sermon, and if under these terms he could preach a sermon that they all considered orthodox, they would hire him.
They chese the text from Joshua 9. 5. " And old shoes and clouted upon their feet." He took the chosen text and within the allotted time was ready. and preached a sermon that passed the test, and they hired him ; however, he did not stay very long in this charge. He afterward became a counterfeiter and had a home on the Canadian border.
Burroughs in turn related Hedges underhanded
scheme in disposing of his supply of cheese, as well as the comments of the Jew when visiting Hedge, after a serious illness. ( See Burroughs' Memoirs ). These may have been true, and they may not have been, but told just out of spite.
Deacon David Hedges was the grandfather of Henry P. Hedges. The latter appeared to have an in-born antipathy toward Burroughs, and let 110 chance pass to express his contempt and disgust. presumably because of the incidents wherein Deacon David and Burroughs were the principal actors. L do not blame the Judge particularly, but he did carry this matter of contempt until he attained ad- vanced years, and freely expressed it on many oc- casions, using such expressions as "that noted old scoundrel Stephen Burroughs"; and further, the Judge would confiscate and destroy every copy of "Burroughs' Memoirs" that he could obtain in any way, regardless of ownership. These acts increased rather than diminished the interest the public took in Burroughs. It worked a problem in inverse ratio throughout this community, whereby. instead of blotting out the memory of this man, it served to perpetuate that memory above any other method he might have chosen.
Late in life Burroughs reformed, and be it said of Hedges, and I wish to emphasize this statement. that after he became „convinced of the fact that Bur- roughs had forsaken his old ways, and was follow- ing a new life, he gave him credit for having re- formed, and withdrew the charges he had formerly made against "This was a fine illustration of the true Christa spirit of a really great man. In proof of the above statement relative to the reforma- tion of Burroughs in late life. I wish to quote from an article published in a prominent Canadian paper about the time of his death.
"Stephen Burroughs died at Three Rivers, Lower Canada, in the winter of 1839-40. He was a singu- lar man. He was both good and bad, wise and fool- ish, ever a blessing and a curse to himself and socie- ty: kind hearted and at the same time weak, a man in whom the principles of good and evil were so strangely mixed up that it was difficult to decide whether the doing of a criminal or a charitable deed gave him the most satisfaction. But after a long course of crime and goodness, a change, somehow or other came over the spirit of Stephen's dream, when he took up the business of becoming a respect-
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SKETCHES FROM LOCAL HISTORY
able man, and well and honorably did he follow that business, as his many friends-enemies he had none -- who were long his neighbors, will all cheerfully testify. Although the morning and noon of his life was cloudy and forbidding, the evening was blame- less and peaceful."
"Bridgehampton School List Taught by Wm. D. Gibbs, for £ 16 pr. Quarter began the 19th of Octo- ber. 1795 and ended the 16th of January, 1796."
Names No. Days Names No. Days
Talmadge Hildreth 60 Hannah Norris 70
Jno. Gelston
9 Hervey Cook
12
Selden Dayton
31 Huldah Parker 52
Phebe Corwithee
28 Elisha Topping
29
Frank Corwithee 70 Betsey Halsey 26
Partridge Hildreth
37 John Mitchel
35
Levi Howel 70 Hannah Woodruff 70
Hedges Cook
40 Polly Woodruff
1.4
David Cook
70 Jerusha Jennings 70
David Howel
29 Moses Halsey
38
Hervey Cook
70 Moses Halsey 70
Haines Halsey
18 David Gelston
32
Halsey Ludlam
70 Stephen Halsey 68
Topping Sandford
33 Clarissa Rose
IO
James Sandford
68 Shadrach Hildreth 70
Abrm. Loper
25 Pierson Rogers
13
Polly Cook
14 John Hildreth
26
Jonas Topping
70 Burnett Corwithee 70
Caleb Halsey
70 Wm. Coorwithee 20
Thomas Halsey, Jr. 70 Silas Cook. Jr. 70
Jeremiah Halsey
46 Susanna Jennings
IO
Cynthis Halsey
53 Nathan Hildreth 70
Clarissa Rose
70 David Sandford 70
John Mitchell
58 Abrın. Norr !. 70
Betsy Woodruff
20 Elisha Topping 70
Jno. Gelston
17 John Halscy 70
Obadiah Cook
15 Hiram Sandford 65
Gordon Corwithee
70 Lewis Halsey 70
Henry Howel
To Howel Woodruff 30
Hledges Cook
61 Mary Woodruff 48
Polly Cook
20 Sylvanus Halsey
65
Oliver Halsey
72
Bridgehampton School continued by Win. Bige- low. From the 18th of January to the 19th of March following for £ 18 tos per Quarter.
Names No. Days Names No. Days
David Corwithee 32 Timothy Woodruff 26)
Caleb Halsey 28 Howel Topping 21
Wm. Corwithes 35 Phineas Parker
David Cook 36 Selden Dayton 2.4
Henry Howel 28 Elias Halsey 31
Mary Sandford
12 Chapman Jennings 38
19 David Sandford 25
34 Polly Rose IO
15 Halsey Ludlam II
24 John Halsey 34
21 Gordon Corwithee 3I
29 Siłas Cook
32
14 Levi Howel 32
Gabriel Halsey
28 Hiram Sandford
21
Sylvanus Halsey
Io Cynthia Halsey 13
Thomas Gelston
27 Jeremiah Halsey . 34
Natl'i. Halsey
20 Oliver Halsey
26
John Woodruff 20 Teppe IO
Frank Corwithee
33 Howell Woodruff
23
Sylvanus Brown 39 Phebe Sandford 70
Ruth Corwithee
70 Nath S. Halsey 39
The next school house in this district was the one that stood on the old Sagaponack road about where the west gate is located on the Kahle property. I cannot ascertain just when this house was built, but I know it stood there in the year 1832. and was in use until 1842, when it was sold to James L. Haines, who moved it to his farm for a shop.
Then followed the school house as shown on the map for 1850, on the westerly side of Ocean Road.
Second School House in District No. 9
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Shadrach Hildreth
Jno. Parker
Lewis Cook
Caleb Woodruff
Thomas Halsey Jones Topping Luther Topping
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