USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southampton > The early history of Southampton, L. I., New York : with genealogies > Part 3
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It may be remarked that of the list of males above given, the first thirty-six or seven lived in North Sea. From No. 38 to about No. 55, are given the resi- dents on the west or hill street. From No. 56 to 168, residents in the town street, on the east side, including, it may be, a few, in the street leading to Bridge Hampton and Toilsome Lane : the list begins at the north and progresses southward. From 169 to 213, commencing at the south end of the west side of the town street and proceeding northwards, the lists cmbraces all therein residing. From 214 or perhaps 218 to 268 or perhaps 270, the residents of Wickapogue, Cobb, Watermill and the neighboring region are given. From 270 to the close are recor- ded the inhabitants of Mecox, Sagg and Bridge Hampton.
In the list of females above given we notice, the name of Mary occurs 61 times ; Hannah, 57 ; Sarah, 43 ; Elizabeth, 27; Abigail, 14 ; Phebe, 14 ; De- borah, 11 ; Susanah, 10 ; Mehetabel 9 ; and Joana, 5 times.
Among the names of the male inhabitants we find
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46
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
the name of John occurring 50 times ; Joseph, 24 ; Thomas, 22 ; Samuel, 21 ; Isaac, 15 ; Benjamin, 14 ; Jonathan, 14 ; William, 14 ; David, 13 ; James, 13 ; Daniel, 10 ; Jeremiah, Josiah and Richard, each 9 times ; Ephraim, 8 ; Jonah, Henry and Nathan, each 6, and Abraham and Edward, each 5 times.
"The Estemate of the Towne of Southampton for the yeare 1683."
From Doc. Hist. of N. Y., Vol. 2, page 636.
No. of Polls. £ a. d.
0. Widow Hannah How- ell 267 00 00
3. Jobn Anning 088 10 00
3. Capt. John Howell 442 10 00
2. Lieft. Joseph Ford- ham 459 10 00
3. Thomas Halsey 411 16 08
5. Edward Howell 400 00 00
2. Peregrine Stan- brough 320 16 08
2. Job Sayre 164 10 00
1. James Topping 249 06 08
1. Benjamin Palmer 089 00 00
1. Josiah Stanbrow 130 00 00
3. John Daress 140 00 00
2. John Rose 133 00 00
1. Joseph Post 062 03 04
No. of Polls. £ 8. d.
1. Simon Hillyard 023 00 00
1. Benjamin Hand 086 00 00
1. Thomas Rose 047 10 00
1. John Burnett 056 06 08
1. Joseph More 083 00 00
2. Willm. Hakelton 041 00 00
1. Thomas Burnett 119 06 08
1. Mr. Phillips 161 06 08
0. Mrs. Mary Taylor, widow 064 13 04
2. Francis Sayre 178 00 00
2. Isaac Halsey 345 00 00
3. John Jessup 360 06 08
2. Henry Ludlam 203 13 04
1. Lott Barnett 100 00 00
1. James Hildreth 030 00 00
1. Ezekiell Sanford 060 00 00
47
THE SETTLERS.
£ s. d.
1. Peter Noris 051.00 00
1. Robert Norriss 052 00 00
2. Joseph Marshall 058 00 00
1. John Rainor 094 00 00
1. John Jennings 129 10 00
1. Isaac Rainer 064 00 00
1. James White 092 16 08
1. John Lupton 067 00 00
1. Widow Mary Rai- ner 166 00 00
1. Benony Newton 067 00 00
1. Samuel Mills 032 00 00
1. Samuel Lum 076 00 00
1. Edmond Clarke 056 00 10
1. Widow Sarah Coo- per 337 06 08
1. Obadiah Rogers. Jr 052 00 00
3. Tho : Travally 229 10 00
I. Mr.Jonah Fordham 081 13 04
1. Josiah Halsey 125 13 04
1. Christopher Leam- ing 053 13 04
1. Jonathan Rainor 197 03 04
3. Daniell Sayre 207 03 04
0. Joseph Sayre 023 00 00
1. Benjamin Pierson 051 06 08
1. John Laughton 098 06 08
3. Charles Sturmey 198 10 00
2. Joseph Foster 138 03 04
1. Obadiah Roggers 200 16 08
1. Joseph Peirson 127 06 08
1. Isaac Mills 089 03 04
2. Samuel Whitehead 053 00 00
1. Robert Woolly 118 00 00
1. Thomas Cooper, Jr 163 00 00
:£ a. d.
2. Joshua Barnes and
Sam 232.13 04
2. John Jagger 289 10 00
2. Thomas Cooper 209 06 08
1. Widow Martha - Cooke 194 13 04
2. John Foster 178 06 08
1. John Laurison 254 00 00
1. John Howell, Jr. 121 10 00
1. John Earle 046 00 00
1. Christo : Foster 074 00 00
2. Richard Post 100 06 08
1. Abraham Howell 043 00 00
1. John Post 169 13 04
1. David Brigs 940 00 00
1. Samuel Clark : old towne 059 10 00
1. David Howell 077 00 00
1. Josiah Laughton 024 00 00
1. Ben ; Davess 107 06 08
1. Nathanll Short 030 00 00
1. Thomas Steephens 080 00 00
1. Gersham Culver 098 06 08
1. Thomas Goodwin 030 00 00
1. Isaac Cory 148 03 04
2 John Bishop, Jr. 055 13 00
2. Samuel Johnes 249 16 08
1. Abraham Willman 054 10 00
1. Henry Peirson 136 10 00
1. Samuel Clarke, No. Sea. 113 00 00
1. John Woodroufe 160 00 00
2. Elnathan Topping 275 00 00
3. John Bishop 214 00 00
1. Isaac Willman 187 10 00
1
1
48
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
1. Hannah Topping. £ s. d.
widow, 180 00 00
1. Humphrey Hughes 052 06 08
1. Thomas Reeves 101 00 00
1. John Cooke 169 00 00
1. John Mappein 112 13 04
1. Shamger Hand 089 13 04
1. John Else, 030 06 08
1. Benony Flinte, 060 00 00
1. Joseph Hidreth 100 00 00
1. John Carnithy 040 00 00
2. Richard Howell 250 00 00
2. Thomas Shaw 060 00 00
1, Edmond Howell 240 00 00
3. Xtopher Lupton 200 00 00
1. George Harriss 137 00 00
1. Richard Howell, Jr 030:00 00
1. John Morehouse 064 00 00
1. William Mason 050 00 00
2. James Herrick 180 00 00
1. William Herrike 059 00 00
3. Benjamin Foster 220 00 00
1. Aron Burnett 037 00 00
0. Widow Fowler 027 00 00
1. Benjamin Haines 140 00 00
1. Mathew Howell 070 00 00
1. Manassah Kempton 018 00 00
1. George Owen 023 00 00
1. Thurston Rainor 040 00 00
£ s. d. 1. Mr. William Barker 060 00 00 1. Will'm Simpkins 040 00 00
1. Mr. Henry Goreing 018 00 00 1. John Gould 040 00 00
1. Joseph Whitehead 030 00 00 1. Samuell Cooper 035 00 00
1. J. Barthallomew 018 00 00
1 Onesiphorus Stand- ley 018 00 00
2. Abram Hanke, 060 00 00
1. Zachary Lauranse 018 00 00
1. Callob Caruithy 018 00 00
1. John Petty 030 00 00
1. Thomas Shaw, Jr. 018 00 00
1. Isaac Willman, Jr. 030 00 00
0 Robert Kallem 010 00 00
0. George Hethcote, 022 00 00 John Sanders 012 00 00
1. John Woolley 018 00 00
1. Edward White 030 00 00
1. Jonat Hildreth 030 00 00
1. John Mouberry 030 00 00
1. Mr. Frencham 018 00 00
Sum totall is 16328 06 08
Zerobabell Pyllips, Constable.
John Jagarr, John Foster, Jono. Howell, Jr., Joseph Pierson.
Overseers.
Southampton Sept ye Ist 1683 A true copy of ye originall by mee JOHN HOWELL Junr Clark.
Endorsed, The Estemation of the town of South- ampton, 1683.
CHAPTER III.
CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS.
OF the character of our ancestors there can be no question. They were men of sterling worth, the Puritans of England. They were more than mere colonists-they were the exponents of a new civili- zation founded on the idea, that under God, men could govern themselves. Their flight from Eng- land and self-exile on these shores was the strongest protest they could give against the divine right of kings in civil and religious government. That they acknowledged Christ as the only head over his church is not only manifest in their actions, but also in the touching language at the close of the "articles of agreement," given in the appendix, "and that whensoever it shall please the Lord, and he shall see it good to adde to us such men as shall be fitt matter for a Church, that then wee will in that thinge lay ourselves down before ye Consti- tutes thereof, either to bee or not to bee received as members thereof, accordinge as they shall discern the work of God to be in our heart."
That they were men of intelligence, is seen in their free charter, their just laws, and liberal institutions. They secured in their patent, land tenure by gavel- kind # which had from time immemorial prevailed
* Blackstone 1, 74
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50
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
in the county of Kent, in England. While the tenures in all other counties of England had been more or less burdened from the time of the Norman conquest with restrictions, liabilities, or knight ser- vice, the Kentish men had always held their land in free and common soccage; contributing only proportionally their share in the expenses of gov- ernment. In addition, upon the death of a land- holder intestate, instead of the real estate devolving upon the eldest son, the more equitable and demo- cratic custom prevailed of dividing it equally among all the surviving children.
At the foundation of their colony they adopted for their government the "Laws of Judgment as given by Moses to the Commonwealth of Israel, so farre foarth as they bee of worrath, that is, of per- petuall and universall equity among all nations." Like the Jewish Commonwealth too, the form of government was a kind of theocracy. Church and state were united, and its head was the Lord Jesus Christ. Offenses which would now be tried (if at all) by courts ecclesiastical, were then tried by the General Court of Freemen. A taxation, pro rata, was levied on all property to raise the salary of the minister. Even the right of suffrage appears for some little time to have been confined to the members of the church.
It was the difference of opinion on this question, whether any but church members should exercise the right of freemen, that induced the Rev. Abra- ham Pierson to leave them for a connection with the New Haven Colony, in 1647, Southampton
51
CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS.
having United with Hartford on the Connecticut Colony, in 1644. The New Haven people, led by John Davenport, were for giving the rights of free- men only to the members of the church-the Hart- ford Colony would open the door to all However this question may appear to us in this day, still there is something striking-something that re- minds us of the stern uncompromising spirit of the old prophets in the doctrine that no man was fit to govern or legislate for others, until he was himself obedient to the laws of God.
They were formed into a church organization at Lynn, a few months after a settlement had been effected in Southampton, and brought over their minister with them, the Rev. Abraham Pierson, and erected their first church edifice in the second year of their settlement. Like their brothers in New England, wherever they went, the school-house, too, followed in their wake. It is worthy of remark, that of the twenty who signed the articles of agree- ment, four only were obliged to sign by proxy, at a period when many a baron in England was com- pelled to make his mark. Some peculiarities they had-faults too, doubtless, and yet they were men to be honored for their bravery and reserved for their virtues.
They were also men of means and of good social standing in the mother country. One of their num- ber, an eminent man, in correspondence writes; " he was a gentleman of coat-armor, and his place in the settlement always magistrate-the proprietor of the mill (like the old French Sieurs, and Eng-
52
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
lish Lords of the manor,) and the acknowledged head in everything, coupled with the style and manner of such writings of his as I have seen, suf- ficiently show that he was of the best class of those which came over-the class which included Win- throp and Humphrey."
In Gov. Dougan's report of the Province of New York, in 1687, occurs something more equivocal. He says : "The first year there was £52 offered for the Excise of Long Island, but I thought it un- reasonable, it being the best peopled place in this Government, and wherein theres great consump- tion of Rumm, and therefore I gave commission to Mr. Nicholls and Mr. Vaughton, &c. . . Most part of the people of that Island, especially to- wards the east end, are of the same stamp with those of New England, refractory and very loath to have any commerce with this place to the great detrimt of revenue and ruin of our Merchants."
In 1703, Wm. Vesey, in a report of the state of the churches in the Province of New York, says : " In Suffolk County, in the East end of Long Is- land, there is neither a church of England minister, nor any provision made for one by law, the people generally being Independents and upheld in their separation * by New England Emissaries."
There is one other feature in their laws which merits our attention.
With all their puritanic strictness, they allowed more freedom of conscience than was usual in that period of intolerance, whether in England under
* Sic.
53
CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS.
the Stuarts, or in New England among the Inde- pendents. Toleration was practised so far as to al- low the existence of heretical doctrine, provided the dissenter confined his dissent or unbelief to his own bosom. The legal prohibition was directed only against the promulgation of false doctrine. This liberality in matters of conscience and religious belief, was far in advance of that persecuting spirit, which stains the history of these times through the civilized world.
Their puritanic principles made their mark on the civilization and morals of the community, that lingers even to this day, and for purity of morals and sobriety of life, the village will only find a parallel in those other villages, where dwell the descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers of New Eng- land.
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CHAPTER IV.
CIVIL RELATIONS-PURE DEMOCRACY-UNION WITH CONNECTICUT-WITH NEW YORK- DUTCH INTERREGNUM-AGAIN WITH NEW YORK.
THE civil relations of the colony afford an inte- resting field for investigation. In the very begin- ning the principle of self-government is developed in admirable perfection. For the first four years, these thirty or forty families formed a little repub- lic by themselves. It was a pure democracy with- out a parallel, save in the short-lived republics of ancient Greece. For the time being, Southampton was their country, and we cannot bestow too high praise on their efforts to secure justice and equal rights and protection to every individual. They reversed the maxim of Louis XIV. "I am the state"-with them the state was the people, and for the people, and not the people for the state. A . town meeting, or General Court, as it was called, was held half-yearly, composed of the people them- selves, who were obliged to attend regularly under penalty of a fine. This court exercised the extra- ordinary powers of a legislature and a judiciary ; defined the limits and powers of the magistrate's court ; received and decided appeals from the same ; was the proper tribunal for trying crimes punishable
55
CIVIL RELATIONS.
with death ; (though happily they were spared from any such duty :) settled civil cases ; allotted lands and elected officers ; enacted a code of laws founded on those given by Moses to the Jewish nation ; made bye-laws and regulations necessary to the safe- ty and well-being of the community, and had gen- eral supervision over the interests of the body pol- itic. These powers are defined in an act of the general court, passed January 2, 1641.
For reasons that do not appear on the record, they deemed it expedient to unite themselves to the colony of Connecticut, in 1644, as will appear from the following order :
March 7, 1864. It was voted and consented unto by the General Court, that the Town of Southampton, shall enter into combination with the jurisdiction of Connecticut.
And the exact time of the union is discovered also in this second decision of the General Court.
June 20, 1657. " At a Towne Meeting it was voated and concluded by the major part to accept of, and receave all the lawes of the Jurisdiction of Connecticut, not crossing nor contradicting the limitations of our combination bearing date, May 30, 1644."
These articles copied from Trumbull's Colonia Records of Connecticut, vol. i: p. 566, are as fol- lows :
"A. coppie of ye combynation of Southampton, wth Harford.
" Whereas formerly sume Overturs have by letters paste betwixt sume deputed by the Jurissdiction of
N - V
56
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
Conectecote and others of ye plantation of South- ampton upon Long Island, concerning union into one boddy and government, whereby ye said Towne might be interested in ye general combination of ye united Collonies for prossecution and issuing wherof, Edward Hopkins and John Haines being authorised with power from ye Generall Corte for ye Jurisdic- tion of Conecticute, and Edward Howell, John Gosmer and John Moore, deputed by ye Towne of Southampton, It was by the said parties concluded & agreed, and ye said Towne of Southampton doe by their said deputies, for themselves and their suc- cessors assotiate and joyne themselves to ye Juris- diction of Connecticote to be subject to al the lawes there established, according to ye word of God and right reson with such exceptions and limmitations as are hereafter expressed.
" The Towne of Southampton by reson of ther passage by sea being under more difficulties and un- certainties of repayring to ye several Cortes held for ye Jurisdiction of Conecticote, upon ye mayne land, wherby they may be constrained to be absent both at ye times of election of Magistrates, and other oca- tions wch may prove prjudicial to them : for prvent- ing wherof, it is agreed yt for ye prsent, until more plantations be settled neere to ye Towne of South- ampton, wch may be helpful each to other in pub- like occations, (and yt by mutual agreement betwixt ye said Towne and ye Generall Corte for ye jurisdic- tion of Connectecote it be otherwise ordered,) there shall be yearly chosen two Magistrats inhabiting wthin ye said Towne or liberties of Southampton,
57
CIVIL RELATIONS.
who shal have ye same power uth ye Prticular Courts upon ye Riuer of Conectecote, though no other Magistrats of ye jurisdiction be present for ye Administration of Justice and other ocations uch may concerne the welfare of ye said Towne, offences only uch concerne life excepted, or limbe, uch always shall be tryed by a Courte of Magistrats to be held at ya Riuers mouth, uch said Magistrats for ye Towne aforesaid, shall be chosen in manner following :
" The Towne of Southampton by ye freemen thereof shall yerely prsent to sume Generall Courte for ye Jurisdiction of Conectecote, or to ye Gov- ernor thereof, before ye Courte of Election uch is ye second Thursday in April, the names of three of their members of their said Towne, and such as are freemen therof whome they nominate for Magistrats the year ensuing, out of uch ye Generall Courte for ye Jurisdiction shall chowse two, who upon oath taken before one or both of ye Magistrats for ye prcedent yeare at Southampton, for ye due execu- tion of their place, shal have as ful power to pro- ceede therein as if they had been sworne before ye Governor at Conectecote. It is also provided yt ye freemen of ye said Towne of Southampton shal have libertie to voat in ye Courts of Election for ye jurisdiction of Conectecote, in regard of ye distance of ye place, by proxie. But in case the Towne of Southampton shall by any extreordinarie hand of Providence, be hindered from sending ye names of ye three prsons to be in Election for Magistrats, vnto ye Generall Court in Aprill, or having sent, ye same doe Miscarrie, it is in such case then provided and 9
58
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
agreed, yt ye two Magistrats for ye precedent yeare shall supply ye place until ye next Generall Courte for election.
" It [is] agreed and concluded, yt if upon vewe of such orders as are alreddy established by ye General Courte for ye Jurisdiction of Connecticote, there be found any difference therein from such as are also for ye present settled in ye Towne of Southampton, the said Towne shal have libertie to regulate them- selves acording as may be most sutable to their owne comforts and conveniences in their owne judgment, provided those orders made by them concerne them- selves only and intrence not upon ye interests of others or ye Generall Combination of ye united Collonies, and are not cross to ye rule of riteous- ness. The like power is also reserved unto them- selves for the future, for making of such orders as may concerne their Towne ocations.
"It is agreed and concluded, yt if any party find himself agresed by any sentence or judgment passed by ye Magistrats residing at Southampton, he may appeale to sum' prticular or General Court upon [the] Riuer, provided he put in securitie to ye satis- faction of one or both of ye Magistrates at South- ampton, spedily to prosecute his said appeale, and to answer such costs and damages as shal be thought meete by ye Court to which he appeals, in case there be found no just cause for his appeale.
" It is agreed & concluded yt ye said Towne of Southampton shal only beare their own charges in such Fortifications as are necessarie for their owne defence, maintaining their own officers and al other
59
CIVIL RELATIONS.
things that concerne themselves, not being lyable to be taxed for fortifications or other expences yt only apertaine to the plantations upon the Riuer, or else- where. But in such expences as are of mutuall & common concernement, both ye one and the other shall beare an equall share in such proportion as is agreed by the united Collonies, vizt according to the number of males in each plantation from 16 to 60 years of age.
"The oath to be taken at Southampton .- I, A. B., bing an Inhabitant of Southampton by ye Provi- dence of God, combined with ye Jurisdiction of Conectecote, doe acknowledge myself to be subject to ye Government therof, and do sweare by the greate and dreadfull name of the everliving God, to be true and faithfull to the same, and to submit both my person and estate thereunto, acording to all the wholesum lawes and orders yt are or hereafter shal be made and established by lawful Authority uth such limmitations & exceptions as are expressed in ye Combynation of this Towne' with ye aforesaid Jurisdiction, & that I wil nether plot nor practice any evil against ye same, nor consent to any that shal so doe, but wil timely discouer it to lawful au- thority there established ; and yt I will, as I am in duty bound, maintaine the honner of the same, and of ye lawfull Magistrats thereof, promoteing ye pub- like good of it, whilst I shall continue an Inhab- bitant there ; and whensoever I shal give my voate or suffrage touching any matter uch concerns this Common Wealth, being cald thereunto, I wil giue it as in my consience I shall judg may conduce to ye
60
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
best good of ye same, uthout respect [of] persons or favor of any man ; soe help me God in ye Lord Jesus Christ.'
" The forementioned agreements wear concluded ye day & yeare above written, betwene ye parties above mentioned in behalf of ye Jurisdiction of Conectecott, and ye Towne of Southampton, uth refference :o ye aprobation of ye Commissioners, for ye united Collonies, uch being obtayned the said agrements are to be atended and observed, according to ye true intent and purpose thereof, or otherwise to be voyde and of noe effect ; and in testimonie therof have interchangeably [ ] put to their hands."
The union of East Hampton with the same col- ony followed in 1657, and that of Southold with New Haven in 1648.
The Deputies sent to the General Court of Con- necticut at Hartford, from 1644 to 1664, according to Thompson, were as follows : John Howell, from 1644 to 1651. John Gosmer, from 1651 to 1655. Thomas Topping; from 1655 to 1658. Alexander Knowles, 1658 to 1659. Thomas Topping, from 1659 to 1663. Edward Howell, from 1663 to 1664.
As before stated, March 12, 1664, Charles II. granted with other territory Long Island and Islands adjacent, to his brother James, Duke of York, and in the following August, New York was surrendered by the Dutch to Col. Richard Nicholls. Under the patent granted to Connecticut, Nov. 30, 1644, that province claimed jurisdiction over Long Island. This question of boundaries was referred to Commission- ers of Charles, who decided tha " the Southern
61
CIVIL RELATIONS.
bounds of Connecticut is the sea," and that Long Island belonged to New York. Gov. Winthrop on seeing the letters patent to the Duke of York, in- formed the English on Long Island, that Connecticut had no longer any claims upon that Island.
This union with New York, however, was very unacceptable to the inhabitants of the east end of the Island. Their intercourse with the towns along the Connecticut river was frequent, and in customs, education and religion they were identical with their New England brethren. A considerable trade had grown up between the three towns on the east end and Connecticut, and the efforts of his Royal High- ness' officials to divert this to New York, met with hearty remonstrance.
An extract from a report of Gov. Nicholls about 1669, in Doc. History of New York, Vol. i: p. 87, will show the change effected in the government of the town by its union with New York.
"Ist. The Governor and Councell with the High Sheriffe and the Justices of the Peace in the Court of the Generall Assizes, have the Supreame Power of making, altering and abolishing any Laws in this Government [of the province of N. Y.] The County Sessions are held by Justices upon the Bench, Particular Town Courts by a Constable and eight Overseers. The City Court of New Yorke by a Mayor and Alderman. All causes tried by Juries."
A copy of the code of laws by which the govern- ment of the Province of New York was administered was sent to the town and is still in good state of preservation.
6.2
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
The Episode of the Dutch interregnum is inte- resting as it reveals the sturdy tenacity of the Long Island people in maintaining their civil and religious liberty. The following documents taken from the Colonial History of New York, Docs. Vol. ii : p. 583 ff, present of themselves a clear history of the events.
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