USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southampton > The early history of Southampton, L. I., New York, with genealogies, 2nd ed. > Part 15
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2 Richard Post
2 Thomas Vale (?)
1 Thomas Wood
2 Samuel Dayton
2 Robert Merbin
3 Mr. Johnes
3 Thomas Cooper
3 Mr. Stansborough
2 Joshua Barnes
1 John Bishop
2 Thomas Hildreth
1 John Oldfields
1 Mr. Hampton [James] 1
Fifties.
3 Capt. Topping [Thos.]
3 Mr. Fordham
2 Ellis Cook
3 John White
3 Henry Pierson
1 .John Cooper Jr.
3 Mr. Howell [Edward Sen.]
4 Thomas Sayre
3 Mr. Gosmer [John]
3 William Rogers
3 Thomas Burnett
1 Thomas Post
FOURTH SQUADRON.
2 Thomas Goldsmith
3 Thomas Halsey
2 Edward Howell Jr.
2 John Jessup
3 Richard Barrett
3 Mr. Topping
3 Mr. Fordham
4 Mr. Field
2 Isaak Willman
3 John Cooper Sen.
1 Widdow Briggs
" A LIST OF YE INHABITANTS YT ARE TO CUTT WHALES."
(This list shows the residences very clearly. It occurs imme- diately after an entry dated 1657, but the list is not dated.)
Mr. Rainer; Tho. Halsey, Jun'r; Tho. Halsey, Sen'r; Mr.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
ffordham; Joseph ffordham ; John Coop[er]; Edw. Howell; Tho. Sayre; Isack Halsey - 10.
Tho. Coop [er] ; Ben. Davis ; Sam. Johnes ; Jon. Jagger; Wm. Russell ; ffran. Sayre; Jon. Laughton ; Dan. Sayre; John Bpp (Bishop) Josh. Barnes - 10.
Mr. Hampton ; Rob. Woolley, Jonas Bowre, Jon. ffoster ; Jon. Woodruff; Tho. Burnett ; Left. Post; Ob. Rogers, Hen. Pier- son, En. Phillips - 10.
John White; Ellis Cook; Isack Wilman ; Ja. Herick ; Tho. Toping; Capt. Toping; Jon. Toping; Per. Stanboro, Tho. Gold- smith ; Jon. Jessup-10.
Edw. Howell, Xto. Foster; Ri. Howell; Joseph ffoster ; Ben. ffoster; Jos. Rainer; Hen. Ludlam ; Joseph Ludlam ; An. Lud- lam, Ar. Howell -10.
Sam. Clark ; Xto Lupton ; Mr. Scott; Jon. Rose; R. Smith ; Ben. Haines; Tho. Shaw; G. Harris; John Davis ; Mr. Jen- nings -10.
March 23d, 1667, the town was divided into six squadrons to cut up dead whales, as follows :
First Squadron.
Mr. Rainer, Thomas Halsey, Jr., Thomas Halsey, Sen., Joseph Rainer, Richard Howell, Capt. Howell, [John], Christopher Fos- ter, Joseph Foster, Benjamin Foster, Edward Howell.
Second Squadron.
Mr. Fordham, Joseph Fordham, John Jessup, Thomas Gold- smith, John Cooper, Thomas Topping, Capt. Topping, John Topping, Peregrine Stanbrough, James Herrick.
Third Squadron.
Isaac Wilman, Edmund Howell, Ellis Cook, Ensign Phillips, John White, Henry Peirson, Obadiah Rogers, Lieut. Post, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Sayre.
Fourth Squadron.
Isaac Halsey, Thomas Burnett, John Woodruff, John Foster, Jonas Bowre, Samuel Johnes, Ben. Davis, Henry Ludlum, Anthony Ludlam, Joseph Ludlam.
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
Fifth Squadron.
John Jagger, Mr. Laughton, William Russell, Robert Wool- ley, Mr. Hampton, Joshua Barnes, John Bishop, Daniel Sayre, Francis Sayre, Arthur Howell.
Sixth Squadron.
John Rose, Christopher Lupton, Richard Smith, George Harris, Mr. Scott, Samuel Clarke, Thomas Shaw, Ben. Haines, Mr. Jen- nings, John Davis.
It will be noticed that these squadrons of 1667 are formed of men in order of their residences. Beginning at the south end of the town, the first squadron embraces all the men as far as the old house lot next south of the residence of Barney Green. The second squadron includes the men who lived thence northward to the present residence of Mr. Henry Post. The third includes the men who lived northward to Job's lane. The fourth thenee northward to Huntting's lane. The fifth embraced all who dwelt north of this lane. The sixth embraced all the North Sea men.
It was customary, later, to fit out expeditions of several whale boats and cruise along the coast in the whaling season and camp out during the night. These expeditions did not usually consume more than a week or two on any one voyage. Indians were often employed by the whites on these expeditions, the latter furnish- ing boats and whaling gear, and the former receiving a certain proportion of the oil for their services.
The following order is suggestive of the bountiful provisions of nature, ere man had thinned her exuberant resources :
" Feb. 9th, 1645. Yt is ordered by the General Court that yf by the province of God, there shall bee henceforth cast up within the limits of this towne of Southampton any whale or whales, or any part or piece of a whale, that noe man shall presume to take or carry any part thereof, upon the forfeiture of twentie shillings and to stand to the further censure of the Cort, without order from the Magistrate or Magistrates. And whosoever shall finde or espie eyther whale or whales or any part or peece of a whale, east up, upon notice given unto the Magistrate or Magistrates, shall have for his paynes allowed unto him tive shillings, but yf
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
yt shall be by the Magistrate or whom he shall appoint, adjudged not to be worth five shillings, then the sayd parties which shall give information, shall have yt for his paynes. And that from yeare to yeare the Marshall give notice after any form or accord- ing to his discretion, unto two persons in whose ward by turne yt shall belong or appertaine. And yt is further ordered that yf any shall finde a whale or any peece thereof upon the Lord's day then the aforesaid shillings shall not be due or payable."*
The officers of three militia companies in the town in 1732-3 as ascertained from the records at Albany were as follows :
Southampton village, 1st comp., John Post, captain ; Ephraim White, lieut .; Obadiah Rogers, Jr., ensign. South comp., John Howell, capt .; Hezekiah Howell, lieut .; Stephen Herrick, ensign.
Bridge Hampton, Stephen Topping, capt .; Ezekiel Sandford, lient .; Josiah Topping, ensign.
BURYING GROUNDS.
These are numerous and indicate a rapid colonizing of the inhabitants over the territory embraced in the town. There are two in the village ; two at North Sea, one at Wickapogue, one at Watermill, two at Mecox, two in Sagg, two in Bridge Hampton, one at Scuttle Hole, and others west of the village of Southamp- ton. Of these the oldest is that known as the South end burying ground, in the village of Southampton, the earliest record concern- ing which is as follows :
" January 5th, 1665. The overseers have agreed with James Herrick that hee shall have one acre of land at the reare of his home lott in consideration of a foot way for people upon his lott to the burying place where the towne have one acre for that nse, & James Herrick is to have the herbidge of it."
The earliest graves here have no stones to mark them, unless they have fallen and been covered by the soil and overgrowing vegetation, - there is not a monument, indeed, to mark the spot where a single one of the first settlers was buried. The graves of their children, the men of the second generation, however, are marked with tombstones still standing.
* This last clause appears to be a very shrewd thrust at "mooning " on the beach on Sundays.
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
Three different varieties of stone were used - the blue slate, so common in the old cemeteries of New England, a red sandstone that quite well withstands the ravages of time, and a gray sand- stone, which, on the contrary, very poorly preserves its original inscriptions. Most of the graves have now become level with the ground, and many of the monuments covered with mosses. The inscriptions even of some are fast becoming illegible, so that it seems a work of charity to preserve here the remembrance of our ancesters for future generations. The following are copies of the inscriptions of all the stones that are visible in the older por- tion of the yard. Those marked with a * have, in addition to the epitaph, the family arms engraved upon them. Some are surmounted with the conventional cherub of the old graveyards, and others by skull and cross-bones :
" Here lyes ye reverent Joseph Whiting who died April 7 1723 in ye 82nd year of his age.
" Here lyes the body of Mrs Rebecca Whiting, wife to Mr Joseph Whiting aged 63 years 2 months deceased April 21st, 1726.
"* Here Lyeth the body of Coll Matthew Howell, and one of the House of Representatives for their Majesties province of New York. Deceased May the 4th Anno 1706 .Etas-sua-55.
" Here lies the body of Mr Samuel Whiting who died July ye 12thi 1729 in ye 40th year of his age.
" Here lies the body of Abigail Halsey aged 26 years who died the 10th of October 1696.
" Here lyes Buried ye body of Mrs Hannah Halsey, wife to Capt Isaac Halsey who died Augst 29th Anno Domini 1723 aged 62 years.
" In memory of Capt Isaac Halsey who died May ye 18th A. D. 1757 in ye 97th year of his age.
" Here lyeth the body of Timothy Halsey who dyed July the 12th 1723 about 20 year of his age.
" IIere lyeth the body of Robert Patton which deceased on the 12th day of May 1700. *
" Here lyeth buried the body of Capt Thomas Stephens aged about 51 years. Departed this life November ye 26th 1701.
" Here lyes ye body of Sarah Malbey daughter Mr John and
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
Mrs Susanna Malbey who decd September ye 8th 1723 in ye 19th year of her age.
" Here lies Interred the body of Mr John Malby who died June 27th 1706 aged 33 years.
" Here lyeth the body of Bethia Coper wife of Mr
Coper who died January the 14th Anno 1716-17 Etas-sua- 27.
" Here lies buried the body of Mrs Mehetable Herrick who decd July 17th 1734 aged 60 years.
"* Here lies ye body of Mr William Herrick Esqr who departed this life August the 19th Anno 1708 Etas-sua-54.
" Here lyes ye body of Susannah Howell aged 83 years. Died March ye 24th 1711.
" # 1696 Here lies the body of Major John Howell deceased November aged 71.
" Here lies interred ye body of ye reverend Mr John Tailor who died August ye 10 1701 aged 23 years.
" # 1692 Mr John Howell aged 44 years and dyed in March the 8th.
"In memory of Lieut. Hezekiah Howell died Dec. ye 4th 1744 in the 68th year of his age.
" Daniel Foster decd Nov ye 5th 1744 aged 68 years. Phil. 1st : 21st.
"Interred here lyes the blessed Remains Of one who did with Freedom die,
To be relieved from all his pains. And dwell with God Eternally.
" Here Lyes buried ye body of Mrs Phebe Howell wife of Lieut. Hezekiah Howell who died July 16th Anno Domini 1732 aged 62 years.
" Here was layed the body of Mr Thomas Sayre who dyed December the 10th Anno 1715, in the 49th year of hus age.
" Here lyes ye body of Reverend Joseph Taylor aged 31 who deceased April 4th 1682.
"Here lyeth buried ye body of Abigill Howell ye wife of Abraham Howell aged 27 years. deceased ye 19th of June 1688.
"Here lyeth ye body of William Ludlam son of Anthony Ludlam who died Aprill 27 1716 in ye 13th year of his age.
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
" Here lies buried the body of Mr Obadiah Rogers who decd May ye Sth 1729 aged 74 years.
" In memory of Capt Obadiah Rogers who died Oct 31st 1783 in the S4th year of his age.
"In memory of Mrs Abigail wife of Capt Obadiah Rogers who died May 6th 1782 in the 80th year of her age.
" Beneath this stone Death's prisoner lies, The stone shall move, the prisoner rise When Jesus with Almighty word Calls his dead saint to meet #his Lord.
"Here lyeth the body of Capt John Cooper who dyed December the 14th Anno 1715 in the 30th year of his age.
" In memory of John Howell Esq died December 23 1747 in ye 71st year of his age.
" Here * * of Ann Howell wife to % Howell
*
44 year of her age. deceased May ye 17 1714."
To these we may add the inscriptions on a few stones found in the lot of Mr. Hedges Sanford, of Watermill.
" Here lyes buried the Body of Mr David Halsey. Died ffeb. ye 18 1731 in ye 69th yeare of his age.
" Here lyes the Body of Mrs Temperrence Cook wife to Mr Ellis Cook who deced Dec. 9 1723 in ye 19th year of her age.
"Here lyes ye Body of Mrs Temperence Ludlam wife to Mr Jeremiah Ludlam who deced April ye 21st 1726 in ye 29th year of her age."
The two following are given with no other apology than their beauty - the one expressing a noble tribute to the virtues of a wife and mother, the other a pious wish which has come down to us from a still greater antiquity. The first is taken from the North-end burying ground of Southampton, the second was found in the catacombs of Rome.
"In memory of Amy wife of Zebulun Howell Esq who died Dec 15 1752 in the 59th year of her age.
" She was a faithful wife and good mother."
The pious wish engraved on the Roman Christian's monument is, " Qui legerit, vivat in Christo."
* Sic.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
THE COBB OR WICKAPOGUE BURYING GROUND.
The only record of this is as follows :
" 1686 April 1st At a town meeting, it was granted to the in- habitants of Cobb to have 6 poles square of land for a burying ground."
This cemetery lies abont equally distant from Cobb and Wicka- pogue. It is, like all the others in the village, inclosed, and con- tains some old monuments.
MECOX BURYING GROUND.
This contains a few monuments to the men of the second gene- ration and in antiquity ranks next to the old one in Southampton village. Many of the stones are doubtless overthrown and covered with soil and vegetation. Among the oldest monuments yet standing, are the following :
" Here Lyeth the Body of Anthony Ludlam who dyed March the 17th Anno 1681 in the 31st year of his age.
" Here lies the body of Lemuel Howell who died September the 22 (?) 1712 aged 35 years.
" Here Lyeth the Body of Ellis Cook who departed this life November the 10th Anno 1706 aetatis 44."
SAGG BURYING GROUND.
The cemetery in Sagg Street, south, is quite ancient, and is kept with commendable care. Among the oldest stones are the following :
" Here lyes buried the body of Theophilus Howell Esq aged 77 years. Deced March ye 12th 1732.
" In memory of Mrs Martha the wife of Mr Lemnel Peirson who died Angst the 26th 1753 in the 72th year of her age.
" My sun is set, My Glass is run, My Candle's out, My work is done "
NORTH END BURYING GROUND.
This lot now used for a cemetery was originally laid out as a homestead. Its first owner was William Russell who sold the same to Obadiah Sale, and he moving to Boston, sold it to George
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
Heathcote. Dec. 13, 1712, Caleb Heathcote, consin of George, sells his home lot and house (+ acres), between Jeremiah Jagger on the south, and John Laughton on the north, for £20 to the trustees of the town. The deed of sale states that part of this land northward and eastward, shall be common to the town for a highway to North Sea. This is where the road now runs.
The first interment in this ground, however, was not till 1721, as appears from an old stone on the south side with the following inscription :
"HEARE LYES | ye BODY OF JOSEPH | POST DE- SEASED | 10 NOVEMBER | AGED ABOVT | 72 1721."
Upon the foot stone of this grave is the following :
" POST JOSEPH | THE FIRST | ENTARED IN THIS | PLAS."
MISCELLANEOUS.
Wolves .- 1652. It appears from various records, that wolves must have been sufficiently numerous in the early times to cause considerable annoyance.
The following records show what means were employed to abate the nuisance :
" March 3rd, 1651. (1651-2.) It is ordered by the Generall Court that in consideration of Robert Merwin his care and paynes about killing of Wolves by setting of guns and watching or other- wise hee shall hane 30 shilling per Wolfe for every one it appeares hee killeth, provided that if any beast bee killed in probability by the Wolves and hee the said Robert hane notice thereof, that he repaire vnto the place where the beast is slaine whether at Mecocks Sagabonack or elsewhere within such a compass, and vse his best endeavour to kill the said destroyer, allsoe if it happen at any time he the said Robert bee warned to any court or meeting during the time hee is vppon the foresaid designe that hee shall bee discharged and acquitted from such said meeting, hee is not to sett his gun within half a mile of the towne, and if his gun kill any beast he shall do his best to finde it, and the whole towne to beare the losse.
" 1632. Oct. 6th, 1652. It is ordered that whosoever makes
-
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
it appeare hee killeth a woolf within the bounds of this towne shall have paid vnto him by the towne the some of twenty shill- ings, and hee that lykewise shall kill a woolf at Quaquanantuek shall have 10s. in like manner."
These extracts, and others as below, however ludicrous they may appear in subject-matter or minute detail, show at least an admirable equipoise of justice. See this :
" May 5th, 1658. Att the same towne meeting there was a stray hogg supposed to be Mr. Smiths and by the towne sould at an outcry for 178 7d and that to goe as farr as it will goe, for the payment of the damage done by that hogg to the Indians.
" Again, May 23, 1659. It is ordered that if any mans lott in this towne bee in the Judgment of men sufficiently fenced, and little piggs bee permitted by the owner (notwithstanding warn- ing) to come within such lottment, then vpon the oath of the trespassed before one of the Magistrates the owner of such piggs shall pay 6d per pigg for every time any such piggs doe trespass as afforesaid.
" 1647. May the third, it is ordered by the five men apoynted for the affaires of this towne for this present yeare that cowes and goates shall not be kept together neither by cowkeepers nor goate keeps nor all nor any of them, at no time all this present summer vpon the payne of twelve pence a person for euery such default, also that if the goate keepers doe willfully mingle theire goates they shall be lyable to the same penalty.
" May 10, 1652. It is concluded by the maior pt of the towne that the calf heard shall be left for this ensueing year att Saga- bonack where they were kept the yeare last past."
RECEPTION OF GOVERNOR LOVELACE.
" Southampton, Sept. 23, 1668. Whereas wee the subscribers the Inhabitants of the sd Southampton do understand that our honrbl Governr Genrll Lovelace is to come down into this Country amongst vs this Spring wee doe at this Towne meeting apoynt ffirstly that his honr be recd and entertained with the greatest respect whereof we are possibly capable and soe con- ducted to the place appoynted for his residence comfort and most
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
conveniency. Nextly whereas our sd Towne of Southampton have by right of equity and of law also many privilidges which many plantations on this Island hath not, as not only Indian Interest of or plantation but alsoe pattent right therein, and , whereas It seemes to vs as if wee were like to be deprived of those our privilidges which at great rate we have procured and with much difficulty and danger wee have so many years pos- sessed, and alsoe wee heareing by or Neighbours of the great goodnes Clemency and righteous proceeding of him our sd Governr wee do constitute & appoynt our aproved and well beloved friends Mr Robert Fordham Capt John Howell, Joshua Barnes & Mr Henry Pierson to represent unto his honr the true & reall state of vs our plantation and of all our Concernes hopeing his honr will accept ye psons of our sd deputies and theire argu- ment reasons on our behalf, and grant our reasonable petitions by them to bee presented and demonstrated ; soe shall we all be ingaged ever to remaine his honrs faithfull friends & servants.
" Edward Howell, John Topping, Thomas Halsey, Richard Barrett, Richard Howell. Samuel Johnes, Edmund Howell, Robert Wolley, ffrancis Sayer, John Jennings, Christp (his X mark) Lupton, Isack Willman, William Russell, Thomas Burnett, Obadiah Rogers, John Foster, Joseph Fordham, Thomas Sayer, Jonas Bower, John Jessupp, Thomas Gouldsmith, John Wood- ruffe, John Bishop, James Herreck, John Cooper, Benjamin Hayens, Thomas Shaw, John Davis, G. Harris, Zorobabell Phillips."
A CASE OF SHARP PRACTICE.
John Kelly, a carpenter, was examined in court for an at- tempt at bigamy, and for having spoken falsely in declaring his wife was dead. He excused himself by saying she was dead in trespasses and sins. He had come here from the Barbadoes leav- ing a wife behind him.
THE CHRISTMAS STORM OF 1811, AND OTHER EVENTS.
This winter was memorable for the severest storm within the memory of the present generation. It came on during the night of Christmas. The evening before had been warm and hazy, so
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
mild, indeed, that sheep and cattle were left out in the lots. About ten o'clock in the evening it began to rain, and about two o'clock the next morning it became intensely cold, and snow fell abundantly and continually with a high wind, until banks were formed six and ten feet deep. All the next day the weather was too severe even in the blinding snow and cold to rescue the sheep, many of which were smothered and perished.
Another severe storm is spoken of in tradition, called Bower's snow storm, from the circumstance that at the time of its occur- rence there was a wedding at the home of Jonas Bower on the hill, in the house now owned by Mr. Rufus Sayre. It began to snow during the festivities, and so severe was the storm that many of the guests remained over night, but only in the morning to be obliged to clamber out of second story windows, so deep drifted was the snow about the house.
In 1815, occurred the greatest September gale within the mem- ory of man in Southampton. Many trees were overthrown by its violence, and one house unroofed, while the roofs of two others were kept from meeting the same fate by lashing timbers across them to the beams within. The two houses thus saved were those now the residences of Mrs. Wm. T. Jones and Mr. Isaac P. Foster.
A Pot of Gold. 1790, June 28, a young man at South- ampton last week dug up a stone and under it he saith, was a pot full of dollars : he divulged the secret to two more young men, who last Monday night (as we conclude) took up one if not two pots of gold. The stone and inscription on it I have seen. It appears to be a ballast-stone. The engraving on it is much blurred We think it was buried by Kidd. It was dug up within a quar- ter of a mile from our south shore on a flat piece of ground. The engraver must have been illiterate, and the inscription can- not be imitated with printing types. The stone has a rude dag- ger scratched on it and words of the following import. "Under this pot there lies another twice as good." The pot was three feet under ground. - [Correspondence of New London paper.]
Money Vessel. On October 31, 1816, a Spanish brig came ashore with a a part of her sails standing a little to the westward
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
of the village. She had been abandoned by her crew, a part or all of whom came ashore in her boats to some place west of South- ampton. From papers found aboard, it was supposed that she was captured by a Carthaginian privateer. Her lockers had been torn np and searched, several barrels of coffee and provisions were found on board of her, and a number of masks. She was much damaged, and was wrecked, ¿. e., taken to pieces slowly by the inhabitants. In the month of December following, her sid- ing began to be broken off by the waves, and a stream of Spanish dollars poured out into the sand. For a time mining in this novel region was as lively and as profitable as the later operations in California. The vessel was supposed by some to have been a pirate, and that the specie taken from plundered vessels had been hidden (unknown to the crew) in the ceiling by the captain, who had been made way with in a mutiny. Now and then a " sand dollar" is still picked up in the vicinity.
PARMENAS HOWELL, PAINTER.
He was one of nine children of Capt. Ezekiel Howell, and was born March 24, 1784. Having shown considerable talent in drawing while yet a youth, he was sent to New York to receive the advantages of instruction in the studio. Here he remained some time profitably employed in the study of his arts, his proficiency exciting hopes of a brilliant career. Returning to Sonthampton, however, at an early age, he fell a victim to consumption - a dis- ease which swept off the whole family of children as they suc- cessively reached maturity.
DANIEL HALSEY.
Mr. Daniel Halsey was born on the old homestead of his fathers in Wickapogue, April 1, 1796. He received a good school edu- cation, and pursued the study of Latin and Greek languages under his pastor, Rev. David Bogart, in which he made very respectable attainments. He was much employed as a teacher, and with success and acceptance to scholar and parent. That some of the old poetic fire dwelt in him, the following spirited lyric will testify, written for the occasion of celebrating our coun- try's birthday, July 4, 1831 :
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
When the Goddess of liberty found not a place Where the sole of her foot in the old world could rest, She directed the daring Columbus to trace A path to the New World unknown in the West ; In the wilds which she chose An Empire arose, As by magic, of freemen redeemed from their foes, Redeemed from the hand of oppression and wrong,
To the rights which by nature to all men belong.
Here freedom and science and virtue expand, And plenty and peace are their constant attendants, Whilst the Genius of Liberty smiles on the land Of her choice, with a glorious and godlike resplendence, It was here she designed The oppressed of mankind,
And the exile a home and a refuge should find ; With laws mild and equal her subjects are blest,
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