USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southampton > The early history of Southampton, L. I., New York : with genealogies > Part 10
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"They believed in a future state of existence, that their souls would go westward a great distance, and many moons journey, to a place where the spirits of all would reside, and where, in the presence of their great Sawwonnuntow, beyond the setting sun,
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RELIGIOUS BELIEF.
the brave and the good would exercise themselves in pleasurable singing, in feasting, hunting, and dancing forever. The coward, the traitor, the liar and the thief, were also there, but the enjoyments of the favored Sawwonnuntow only added to the pain of the punishments visited upon the misdeeds of the wicked. Servile labor, so painful to and so much despised by the Indian, was the allotment of the sinful. The making a canoe with a round stone, and the carrying water in a wicker basket were among the perplexing exercises of those who had sacrificed the happiness of their future exist- ence to the will of Mutchesumetooh or the Evil power."
No more hopeless fate than this, the classical student will observe, was awarded by the grim Rhad- amanthus to Sisyphus Tautalus, or the daughters of Danaus.
In 1641 the General Court passed a law making it penal to sell any instrument of war, namely, guns, powder, bullets, lead, swords or matches to the Indians, and also against selling any liquor to the same. A second law was afterwards passed, allowing certain specified parties to trade with then discreetly in these things.
For many years after the settlement the Indians derived their subsistence, like their brethren in other parts of the country, chiefly from hunting and fish- ing. But gradually adopting the civilized life, for generations past, they have cultivated sufficient land to supply their wants, together with the wealth they have drawn from the adjacent waters. They are
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
now generally provided with comfortable homes, and maintain a school in their midst, and two small churches.
As before stated, the first purchase from the In- dians was made on Dec. 13th, 1640. Then the Quaquanantuck or Quogue purchase of which no record appears in the town records. Thirdly, Top- ping's purchase of land west of Quogue, effected April 10, 1662, and finally a re-purchase of the whole town, Aug. 16, 1703, the deeds of all which will be found in the appendix.
LEASE OF SHINNECOCK TO THE INDIANS.
In order to settle all disputes which had arisen concerning the title to the land of the town, and quiet the Indians in their apprehensions at the dis- appearance of their hunting grounds, as before stated, a convention of the whites and Indians was held at Southampton, Aug. 16, 1703. In addition to the re-purchase of the town, the whites gave to the Indians the following lease of Shinnecock and the hills :
" This indenture made between the Trustees of the commonalty of the Town of Southampton in the County of Suffolk and province of New York on Island of Nassau on the one part, and Pomquama, Chice, and Manaman and their people belonging to Shinnecock of the other part, witnesseth : That the said Trustees of the Town aforesaid, by and with one full consent and agreement for divers good, causes them thereunto moving, and one ear of In- dian corn annually to be paid to the Trustees of said
LEASE OF SHINNECOCK TO THE INDIANS. 173
'Town for the time being, yearly, and every year, upon the first day of November, and for and upon the condition and proviso hereafter expressed, have demised, granted, and to farm letten, and by these presents do demise, grant, let, and let to farm unto the said Pomquama, Chice, Manaman, and their people abovesaid, all that their certain tract of land lying within the bounds of Southampton aforesaid, called by · the name of Shinnecock and Sebonac, bounded west by Canoe place, alias Niamug, and bounded southward by Shinnecock Bay, and east- ward by a line running from the head of Shinnecock Creek to the north-west corner of James Cooper's Close, and from thence northwardly to the westward part of Jonathan Raynor's land, at Sebonac old ground, and from thence on a direct line to a place called the warehouse by the North Bay, and on the north by the said Bay ; meadows, marshes, grass, herbage, feeding and pasturage, timber, stone, and convenient highways only excepted, with all and singular the privileges and advantages of plowing and planting, and timber for firing and fencing, and all other conveniences and benefits whatsoever, ex- cepting what before is excepted to the only use and behoof of the said Indians, their heirs and succes- sors, for one thousand years thence next ensuing the date hereof : Provided always the said Indians do not keep nor cause to be kept, any part or parcel of the said land within fence or enclosed from the last of October to the first of April, from year to year, during the whole term aforesaid ; and for the full confirmation hereof, the parties have inter-
23
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
changeably set their hands and seals in Southampton aforesaid, this sixteenth of August, Anno Dom. 1703.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of Stephen Bouer, Arthur Davis, Benjamin Marshall, Thomas Stephens, Gersham Culver, John Maltby, Daniel Halsey, Hezekiah Howell, Abraham Howell, Jekemiah Scott, Joseph Fordham, Josiah Howell, Joseph Howell, Trustees."
Immediately after the above lease is recorded in, the town records the following :
"We, the trustees within named, according to the town's former agreement with the said Indians of Shinnecock, do hereby grant liberty to them and theirs, to cut flags, bulrushes, and such grass as they usually make their mats and houses of, and to dig ground nuts, mowing lands excepted, anywhere in the bounds of the township of Southampton aforesaid, as witnesseth our hands and seals this 16th day of August, 1703.
Witness :
Josiah Howell, Abraham Howell, Stephen Bouyer, Arthur Davis, Benjamin Marshall, Joseph Howell, Daniel Halsey, Hezekiah Howell, John Maltby, Jekemiah Scott, Joseph Fordham, Thomas Stephens, Gersham Calver, Trustees."
Acknowledged same day before John Wheeler, Justice.
SALE OF SHINNECOCK HILLS IN 1861.
By a special act of legislature, the Indians, in 1859, were empowered to sell and did sell to the pro- prietors, all their rights to the Shinnecock hills which they possessed (or their children were to pos-
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SALE OF SHINNECOCK HILLS IN 1861.
sess) by the above lease of 1703, in consideration of having in themselves the fee of Shinnecock neck. On Feb. 19, 1861, the hills were sold by the pro- prietors at public auction, for $6,250, and pur- chased by a company of Southampton people, chiefly for purposes of pasturage. In the adver- tisement for the sale occurs the following : "Sit- uated in the central part of said Town, and extend- ing from Peconic Bay on the north, to Shinnecock Bay on the south, and containing about 3200 acres. The Indian claim and interest in these lands have been recently extinguished by agreement with the Indians, and by the consent and ratification of the Legislature of the State of New York, so that the title to the property is now undisputed and indis- putable. A considerable portion of the land is of good quality, ready for the plough, and susceptible of being converted into fine farms. The remainder is well adapted to sheep and cattle grazing, to which the whole tract has been exclusively devoted for many years."
M
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CHAPTER X.
EARLY CUSTOMS - WHALING - BURYING GROUNDS-MISCELLANEOUS.
MANY of the customs and peculiarities of our forefathers have already been noticed in various portions of this work, so that but little remains to say on this point. Like their friends in New Eng- land, it appears from the records, that they for a time abandoned the use of the names of months and days as given in the calendar ; dating an event, e.g. on the 7th day of the week of the 4th month, in- stead of Saturday, June 4th. This custom origi- nated from conscientious scruples against the use of names of heathen origin.
In an old collection of almanacs published in Cambridge, Mass., from 1671 to 1686, inclusive, the year commenced with March Ist, and ended Feb. 28th. With 1687, and since that time, the year was reckoned to begin with Jan. Ist. There is strong evidence that the people of Southampton in 1644, and generally, reckoned the commencement of the year with March Ist. See the two orders in Chapter IV. in reference to the combination with Connecticut. This is confirmed by two orders re- corded in Chapter II., in reference to the laying out
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EARLY CUSTOMS.
of the present site of the village into house lots. The first, dated 23rd of the 1st, (which was March) 1648, appointed a meeting of the town, etc., the second order dated March 27, 1648, declares the re- sult of the deliberation. The dates of these two . orders, since we must reasonably hold they were both in the same year, prove the year, according to their reckoning, to have commenced on the first of March.
On the other hand the date of the instrument of the "Disposall of the Vessell" March 10, 1639 ; their attempt at a settlement westward at Cow Bay, although there is a discrepancy of a year in the Dutch and London records, is fixed at May, 1640, by irrrefragible evidence, and it would seem that at least this document is dated according to the custom which is said to have prevailed in England until 1752, of reckoning the year to begin with March 25. We cannot account otherwise for a year that would be lost by the settlers, whereas every- thing goes to show that on leaving the western part of the Island, they came almost immediately to this place.
The sabbath was reckoned to begin at sunset of Saturday, and ended with sunseting of Sunday.
Whether the autumnal thanksgiving now custom- ary through the country, was kept in early times here; as it was in New England, is not known. But that occasional fast days were observed, we may refer from an anecdote of some old worthy long de- parted, who wished a certain fast on account of a long drought, might be deferred one day until he
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
had gathered in some hay that was ready for the barn ! There was some faith at least in the efficacy of prayer.
The old English custom of having the Yale or Christmas log, was retained in some families, at least, until the old fashioned wide fire-places went out of vogue. This was an unusually large hickory back log which was cut and selected for this purpose in the woods, and took its place on Christmas morning, though it was not customary, as in Eng- land, to preserve the charred remains for lighting the next year's christmas fire.
· Another singular custom prevailed which arose in England from the fact that the bakers there, when they came to supply their customers on Christmas morning, presented to the children little dough-boys fried as " dough-nuts." These dough children were to commemmorate the anniversary of our Savior's birth. In course of time the customers took the hint and prepared these delicate sweets for their children themselves, and deposited them in the little stockings suspended in the chimney corner for the friendly visits of St. Nicholas.
WHALING SQUADRON.
From various scattered records, it appears that the number of whales that in a year drifted on the coast, have been considerable. How soon the set- tlers procured boats and tackle for capturing them on the ocean, is not known.
The following lists are given, copied from the town records :
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WHALING SQUADRON.
" March 7, 1644. Yt is ordered by this present Court that yff by the providence of God there shall bee hencefoorth within the bounds of this plantacon any whale or whales Cast vp for the prevention of Disorder yt is Consented vnto that there shall be foure Wards in this Towne eleaven persons in each ward. And by lott two of each ward (when any such whale shall be cast vp] shall be employd for the Cutting out of the sayd whale who for their paynes shall haue a Double share, And every Inhab- itant with his child or servant that is above sixteen years of age shall haue in the Division of the other part an equall proportion provided that such person when yt falls into his ward a sufficient man to be imployed aboute yt.
" And yt is further agreed upon that there shall be in each ward eleven persons."
"FFOR YE FIRST WARD."
William Barnes, Geo. Wood, Thomas Cooper, Richard Stratton, Job Sayre, Thomas Burrnett, John White, William Mulford, Thomas Halsey, Junr., Thomas Talmage, Senr. & Mr. Johnes.
" FFOR YE SECOND WARD."
Richard Jacques, Thomas Talmage, Junr., Mr. Peirson, Robert Rose, Mr. Gosmer, Thomas Halsye- deur, Mr. Stanborough, Richard Barrett, Richard Post, Thomas Tomson & Robart Talmage.
" FFOR YE THIRD WARD."
Richard Gosmer, Arthur Bostock, Henry Peirson, John Hande, Thomas Hildreth, John Mulford, John
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
Moore, Ellis Cooke, Robert Bonde, ffulk Davis &- Mr. Howe.
"FFOR YE FOURTH WARD."
John Cooper, Senr., Wm. Hedges, John Cooper, Junr., John Cory, Mr. Howell, Mr. Odell, John Howell, Richard Smith, & Thomas Sayre.
SQUADRONS FOR CUTTING UP WHALES THAT MIGHT DRIFT UP UPON THE SHORES. 1653.
FIFTIES. FIRST SQUADRON.
FIFTIES SECOND SQUADRON.
3 Mr. Richard Smith
4 Mr. Rainor
3 Mr. Odell
2 John Lum
1 John Jagger
1 Jonas Bowre
1 Thomas Wood
2 Joseph Rainer
3 Thomas Halsey
4 John Howell
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]
THIRD SQUADRON.
3 Capt. Topping [Thos.]
3 Mr. Fordham
2 Ellis Cook
FOURTH SQUADRON.
2
Thomas Goldsmith
3 Thomas Halsey
2 Edward Howell Jr.
2 John Jessup
4 Mr. Howell [Ed- ward, Sen]
2 Mr. Gosmer [John]
2 Richard Post
2 Thomas Vale (?)
2 Samuel Dayton
2 Robert Merbin
3 Jonas Wood
1 Barth'l'mew Smith
3 Christopher Foster
1 The Miller [Wm Ludlam]
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WHALING SQUADRONS.
FIFTIES. THIRD SQUADRON. FIFTIES. FOURTH SQUADRON.
Continued.
Continued.
3 John White
3 Henry Pierson
1 John Cooper Jr.
3 Mr. Howell [Ed- ward Sen.]
4 Thomas Sayre
3 Mr. Gosmer [John]
3 William Rogers
3 Thomas Burnett
1 Thomas Post.
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 YEINHABITANTS YT ARE TO CUTT WHALES."
(This list shows the residences very clearly. It occurs immediately after an entry dated 1657, but the list is not dated.)
Mr. Rainer ; Tho. Halsey, Jun'r ; Tho. X Sen'r ; Mr. 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. Laugh- ton ; 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. Pierson, En. Phillips-10.
John White ; Ellis Cook ; Jack Willman ; Ja, Herick ; Tho. Toping ; Capt. Toping ; Jon. Toping ; Per. Stanboro, Tho. Goldsmith ; Jon. Jessup-10.
Edw. Howell, Xto. Foster ; Ri. Howell ; Joseph ffoster ; Ben. ffoster ; Jos. Rainer ; Hen. Ludlam ; Joseph Ludlam ; An. Ludlam, Ar. Howell-10.
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182
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
Sam. Clark ; Xto Lupton ; Mr. Scott ; Jon. Rose ; R. Smith ; Ben. Haines ; Tho. Shaw ; G. Harris ; John Davis ; Mr. Jennings-10.
March 23d, 1667, the town was divided into six squrdrons to cut up dead whales, as follows :
FIRST SQUADRON.
Mr. Rainer, Thomas Halsey, Jr., Thomas Halsey, Sen., Joseph Rainer, Richard Howell, Capt. How- ell, [John] Christopher Foster, Joseph Foster, Ben- jamin Foster, Edward Howell.
SECOND SQUADRON.
Mr. Fordham, Joseph Fordham, John Jessup, Thomas Goldsmith, John Cooper, Thomas Top- ping, Capt. Topping, John Topping, Peregrine Stanbrough, James Herrick.
THIRD SQUADRON.
Isaac Willman, Edmund Howell, Ellis Cook, En- sign 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 Ludlam, Anthony Ludlam, Joseph Ludlam.
FIFTH SQUADRON.
John Jagger, Mr. Laughton, William Russell, Robert Woolley, Mr. Hampton, Joshua Barnes, John Bishop, Daniel Sayre, Francis Sayre, Arthur Howell.
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WHALING SQUADRONS.
SIXTH SQUADRON.
John Rose, Christopher Lupton, Richard Smith, George Harris, Mr. Scott, Samuel Clarke, Thomas Shaw, Ben. Haines, Mr. Jennings, John Davis.
It will be noticed that these squadrons of 1667, are formed of men in order of their residences. Be- ginning at the south-end of the town, the first squad- ron 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 Mrs. Hannah Post. The third includes the men who lived north- ward to Job's lane. The fourth thence 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 expe- ditions, the latter furnishing 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 ex- uberant resources :
"Feb. 9th, 1645. Yt is ordered by the General Court that yf by the providence of God, there shall bee henceforth cast up within the limits of this towne of Southampton any whale or whales, or any
184
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
part or piece of a whale, that noe man shall pre- sume 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, cast up, upon notice given unto the Magistrate or Magistrates, shall have for his paynes allowed unto him five shillings, but yf 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 ac- cording 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 pay- able."
(This last clause appears to be a very shrewd thrust at " moon- ing " on the beach on Sundays.)
BURYING GROUNDS.
These are numerous, and indicate a rapid colo- nizing of the inhabitants over the territory embraced in the town. There are two in the village, one 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 Southampton. Of these the oldest is that known as the South end burying ground, in the village of
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BURYING GROUNDS.
Southampton, the earliest record concerning 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 uay for people upon his lott to the burying place where the towne have one acre for that use, & 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.
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 grey sandstone, 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 ancestors for future generations. The following are copies of the inscriptions of all the stones that are visible in the older portion of the yard. Those marked with a # have, in addition to the epi- taph, the family arms engraved upon them. Some are surmounted with the conventional cherub of the old graveyards, and others by skull and cross-bones.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
" 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 Atas-sua-55.
" Here lies the body of Mr Samuel Whiting who died July ye 12th 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.
" Here lyeth the body of Robert Patton which de- ceased 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 of Mr John and Mrs Susanna Malby who decd Sep- tember 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
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BURYING GROUNDS.
Coper who died January the 14th Anno 1706-17 Atas-sua-27.
" Here lies buried the body of Mrs Mehetable Her- rick 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 Atas-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 his age.
" Here lyes ye body of Reverend Joseph Taylor aged 31 who deceased April 4th 1682.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
"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.
" Here lies buried the body of Mr Obadiah Rogers who decd May ye 8th 1729 aged 74 years.
" In memory of Capt Obadiah Rogers who died Oct 31st 1783 in the 84th 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 73rd 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 Sandford, 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.
* Sic.
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BURYING GROUNDS.
" Here lyes ye Body of Mrs Temperence Ludlam wife to Mr Jeremiah Ludlan 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 tri- bute 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.
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