USA > New York > Suffolk County > Southampton > The early history of Southampton, L. I., New York : with genealogies > Part 9
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RESIDENCES EARLY AND PRESENT.
No one of our ancestors has done for Southamp- ton what Col. Lyon Gardiner did for the town which
149
RESIDENCES OF SETTLERS.
he assisted to bring into existence, viz., leave for future generations a record of the residences of the original settlers. Many changes in the course of two hundred and twenty-five years have, of course, obliterated some of the old landmarks, and the dif- ficulty in no small one, to reconstruct at this time the town of 1650. Yet some waymarks are found scattered all along, by which, with other assistance, much can be done in solving this problem. The list of inhabitants in 1649, 1657, and 1698, which have been given, will go far to confirm and com- plete the results of investigation of the town records. We take the following as sure and reliable starting point ; the facts are ascertained beyond all dispute.
ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TOWN.
Obadiah Rogers lived on the residence of Capt. Albert Rogers, deceased, and this homestead has al- ways been in the Rogers family.
Henry Pierson lived on the opposite corner where the church now stands, or it may be a little to the south on the homestead now owned by Mr. Lewis Hildreth.
Isaac Willman lived next north of the second church and on the home lot now belonging to Mr. Edwin Post.
James Herrick lived on what is now the home- stead of Mrs. Hannah, widow of Capt. James Post. This house was probably a little south of the dwell- ing of Mrs. Post.
Thomas Topping, Sen., lived on what is now the residence of Mr. Albert Foster.
150
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STREET.
Edward Howell lived (probably) near where once stood the house of Mr. William P. Herrick-pro- bably in the same house :- his homestead was bound- ed on the north by that of Thomas Sayre, and south by the parsonage which now is.
Thomas Sayre resided where his descendants still live, north of the Academy, and probably in the same dwelling, though one half of the house was added many years after his death.
The Jones family resided on what is now the resi- dence of the heirs of Mr. Wm. T. Jones, and their homestead embraced also that of Mr. Edward Hunt- ting, deceased.
Besides these a large number of residences of a later period have been ascertained from the town records, the result of which investigations will ap- pear at length in the following plot of the main street of the village.
REMARKS IN EXPLANATION OF THE FOLLOWING PLOT.
The relative width of the lots fronting the main street, is very nearly preserved in the plot, from Gin Lane to the Meeting House Lane, on both sides of the street : but from this point northwards no such accuracy has been attempted, from want of sufficient data, and the design is merely to give the relative location of the residences in early and later times.
The placing of a [] in a lot is also not designed to mark the position of the house in that lot, but to indicate simply the fact of a residence somewhere in the same.
151
RESIDENCES OF SETTLERS.
To the north, say of Robert Woolley, in 1648, the homesteads appear to have been larger than those south of this point, and therefore it has been impossible to indicate the exact locality of some who there resided. It is known that north of Man- assah Kempton, on the same side of the street, lived James Hampton, who gave his homestead to his son-in-law, James Mappam. North of him lived Joshua Barnes. North of Barnes lived John Bishop in 1683.
After every attempt to make an accurate analysis of all the data furnished by the records, perfect cer- tainty cannot in all cases be obtained-yet in the main the plot is believed to be correct in the loca- tion of the homes of our ancestors.
The west fork in the main street beginning at the residence of the late Capt. Austin Herrick, seems to have been laid out in 1712.
Previous to this the line on the west side of the street must have run directly from the South east corner of the burying ground to the South east corner of the homestead of Capt. A. Herrick.
152
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
LITTLE PLAINS.
GIN LANE.
SOU
Edward
Sayre, 1865.
Edward
Jonathan Raynor, [] 1676.
Sayre, 1865.
Richard Howell.
Isaac
Foster, 1865.
Arthur Howell, 1675. Ben Davis, 1675, []
Richard Howell, Sr. 1676.
Richard Howell. Sen. 1676, Jedediah Howell, Christopher Foster, 1768, Joseph Foster, 1708.
[]
Isaac
Foster, [] 1865.
Nathan Jagger, Joseph Foster, 1698, Daniel Foster, 1708.
John Howell, 1708.
Wm. S.
[]
Pelletreau, 1865.
Edward Howell, 2d, 1657. [] Edward Howell, 3d, 1699.
Barney Green, [] 1865.
John Jessup, [] 1657.
TOLLSOME LANE.
NOR
MAIN STREET.
Joseph Raynor, [] 1676.
EAST.
THE SETTLERS.
153
TH.
ROAD TO THE BEACH. 120
[] Richard Smith, 1649, Joseph Goodale, * 1698.
Edward Sayre, 1865.
C Nicholas
[] Ben Marshall, * 1720.
White, 1865.
[] Thurston Raynor, 1660.
Thomas Halsey, Jr., *
1657.
Nicholas
White, 1865.
Jonathan Raynor,
1657.
Nehemiah Howell,
1657.
Francis
HORSEMILL LANE.
Thomas Halsey Ist, and son, Isaac Halsey 0 1657.
Cook, 1865.
Widow Norris.
MAIN STREET.
TOWN POND.
* The probable but not absolutely certain residence.
TH.
20
154
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
SOU
TOILSOME LANE.
William
Mackie, 1865.
1657, Thomas Goldsmith, [] Edward Howell, 2nd, Joseph Howell, 1699.
Charles Howell, 1865.
Windmill, [] 1650.
Albert Foster, 1865.
Thomas Topping, O 1657-1698, Wick family, 1700. Matthew Rogers. 1830.
Mrs. Hannah Post [] 1865.
James Herrick, [] 1650.
William Herrick, 1650.
Edwin Post,
[] 1865.
[] 2nd Church, Isaac Willinan [ 1650.
George Herrick,
Ellis Cook, Thomas Stephens. []
[] 1865.
Zerubbabel Phillips,
George Herrick,
1865.
Thomas Parvine, 1698, John White (very early,) Edward Huntting, 1840.
Mrs. E. P. Herrick, 1865.
Lewis Hildreth, [] 1865.
Henry Pierson. [] 1650.
Church 1843.
MEETING HOUSE LANE.
NOR
0
.T.
EAST.
MAIN STREET.
THE SETTLERS.
155
TH.
Adonijah Raynor, [] 1737. Major John
F. Cook,
[] 1865.
Howell, 1657, *
Joseph Howell, 1737, Silas Howell, 1780
E. Sayre, [] 1865.
Joseph Fordham,
[] 1698.
Wm. Mackie, 1865.
Jonah Fordham, [] 1698.
John Allen,
[] 1865.
John Cooper,
Henry White, [] 1865.
1678.
Parsonage.
[] Parsonage, 1865.
Nathan Herrick. [][1748.
[] Edward Howell, 1st,
Philetus
1648. Edmund Howell, 1656.
Pierson, [] 1865.
Edward Howell, 1st, 1640,
Edmund Howell, 1660-96
Henry
Nathaniel Howell, Stephen Reeves,
1865.
Edward Howell, 1st, 1640,
Edward
Hugh Gelston,
Reeves
Reeves.
[] 1865.
JOB'S LANE, OR ACADEMY LANE.
-
* Not certain whether Major John Howell resided in 1657, on the lot of F. Cook or E. Sayre.
TH.
TOWN POND.
MAIN STREET.
WEST.
Reeves,
156
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
SOU
Albert Rogers, heirs [] 1865.
William Rogers, Obadiah Rogers, 1648. 0
Charles Howell, 1865.
Joseph Post. 1657. Edward Howell, 2d, 1688. Jonah Howell, 1699. Zebulun Howell, 1775.
Josiah Foster, 1865. []
Samuel Butler 1690.
Ben H. Foster,
[] 1865.
Thos. Burnett, [] 1657.
'Abraham Cooper.
C. Pelletreau, 1860.
John Topping, John Gosmer, 1680. John Woodruff,
W. S. Pelletreau, 1865. []
F. S. Sayre, 1865. 0
John Foster, 1657, Abraham Cooper, 1738. Samuel Huntting. 1739.
ROAD TO BRIDGE HAMPTON.
Rhodes, 1864.
Jonas Bower, 1657.
Wm. Huntting, 1865.
George Post,
Robert Woolley, 1657.
1865.
George Post, 1865 (Pope's Lot.)
Manassah Kempton.
G. Post. 1865. J. Rogers, 1860.
Wm. S. Pelletreau,
1865.
James Hampton, James Mappam.
Jesse Halsey,
1865.
Wm. R. Post,
1865.
Jonathan Fithian, 1865.
J. Fithian, 1865.
NOR
MAIN STREET.
EAST.
157
THE SETTLERS.
-
TH.
Thomas Sayre 1648. []
Wm. N. Sayre. [] 1865.
[] H. Rhodes, 1840.
C. Parsons, 1865.
1755, Wm. White, 1764, Zeb. Cooper,
1698, Maltby.
E. Halsey, 1865.
[]
Ephraim White, 1698, John Halsey, 1756,
D. Fordham, 1865, []
John Gosmer, 1659, John Topping, 1660,
Fred. Howell, [] 1865.
[]
Isaac Halsey. 1698. Chapman family, 1840,
Wm. T. Jones, 1860. []
Jones family, []¿1648.
Wm. T. Jones, 1860. []
Jones as above, Matthew Howell.
[]
Ed. Huntting, 1840.
HUNTTING'S LANE.
[] John Jagger,
G. White, [] 1865.
Wm. Russell, Obadiah Sale, Caleb Heathcote.
Burying Ground.
John Laughton,
Wm. Fowler, 1865.
John Laughton,
Harriet R. Halsey, []
1865.
21
WEST.
branches.]
North-west and divides into two [Main Street here turns to the
1860. []
A. Herrick,
TH.
MAIN STREET.
158
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
Cornelius Voncke, a Dutch shoemaker lived where Mr. Thomas Warren lives. He died, and his wife sold the homestead to Edward White, June 7, 1682, and on June 14, 1682, Edward White sold the same to William Mason.
North of him on the west street running by the swamp in 1679, lived Richard Painter ; and north of his house a road was laid out in 1682, running at an angle of about 60º from this street to the hill street or main highway to the hills of Shinnecock.
West of Voncke, from 1646 to 1684, Thomas Cooper resided.
John Tennison for a time, about 1668, resided on what is now the corner lot of Capt. Thomas Royce on the hill.
South of this, about where is the residence of James Pierson, deceased, in 1698, lived James Cooper.
Thomas Goldsmith removed to Killingworth, Ct., where his uncle John Goldsmith resided.
John Ogden removed to Elizabeth, N. J., before 1667.
Obadiah Sale removed to Boston.
Edmund Howell, in a deed of date about 1696, is spoken of as then residing in Cape May Co., N. J.
Thomas Hildreth died, leaving widow Hannah and a number of young children, names not given. At the time of his death his eldest son Joseph ap- pears to have arrived at the age of manhood, and inherited the homestead at Flying Point. But afterwards either Joseph or his son Joseph lived on what is now the residence of William Woolley, the grandfather of Mr. William Woolley, now living.
About 1650, Thomas Topping gives to his son-
159
CHANGES OF RESIDENCES.
in-law, James Herrick, a lot of land on his front, about two rods wide, for a house lot. He lived on what is now the homestead of Mr. Albert Foster. At this time, probably, and certainly in 1681, John Jessup lived on what is now the residence of the widow of Capt. James Post : for in 1681 John Jes- sup sells this homestead to James Herrick. North of this, where some shops or wood houses of Mr. Edwin Post now stand, must have been the site of the second church. North of the church was the Court House, and in the rear the Jail. Still north of these, on the present homestead of Mr. Edwin Post, was the residence, of Isaac Willman. Next to this was the house of Ellis Cook, now Mr. George Herrick's. Then next north lived John White very early, and north of him, embracing the present homestead of Mr. Lewis Hildreth, and Mrs. Phebe, widow of Dr. John P. Herrick, was the residence of Henry Pierson.
The house lot of William Russell was sold to Obadiah Sale in 1678, bounded N. by home lot of John Laughton, E. by the street, S. by the home lot of John Jagger, and W. by the highway leading to North Sea. Obadiah Sale sells this homestead to George Heathcote, and it was afterwards purchased of Heathcote by the town for a burying ground and is still so used.
1676. Richard Howell exchanges a lot laid out for a home lot of four acres, bounded N. by home lot of Joseph Raynor, S. by home lot of Mrs. Ray- nor or Jonathan Raynor, (R. Howell bought this of John Lum) for six acres of Ben Davis' which he had
160
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
of Arthur Howell and which were.next to and south of Richard Howell's home lot.
Arthur Howell and Hannah his wife, sell his home lot and house to Ben. Davis, May 2, 1675, which lies between Joseph Raynor and Richard Howell's, containing six acres. Arthur Howell re- moved to Sagabonach.
We will add some statements communicated to the author, concerning the residences during the better half of the last century, by Mr. Charles Pelletreau, now deceased.
South of Mr. Isaac Foster's house was the resi- dence of Obadiah Howell.
North of Mr. Isaac Foster lived Nathan Jagger.
South of Mr. Nicholas White lived Hugh Ray- nor, and James his son, lived in the present residence of Mr. White.
North of Mr. White lived Benjamin Marshall.
North of Horsemill lane lived Adonijah Raynor.
South of the house of Mr. Barney Green lived John Howell. Deacon Thomas Jessup erected and occupied this house of Mr. Green. A windmill once stood on the South-west corner of the lot of Capt. Charles Howell, which lies south of the home- stead of Mr. Albert Foster. Stephen Howell lived on the present residence of Mr. Edwin Halsey.
Jeremiah Jagger lived on the present residence of Capt. George White. East of the homestead of Capt. Barney Green, deceased, lived John Fowler, Esq. Caleb Cooper lived on the present residence of Mr. Sherder. Charles Cooper lived on the place of the late Sylvanus Marshall. Dr. Smith lived on
161
RESIDENCES IN 1865.
the place of Mr. William Pelletreau, deceased. Joshua Sayre lived north of the present home of Mr. Caleb Halsey. Stephen Sayre lived on the present homestead of Mr. Jackson, but afterward removed from the town.
Elias Foster lived on the present homestead of Mr. Peter Fournier. John Foster, one of the con- vention to adopt the constitution of the United States, lived on the present homestead of Mr. Lewis Hildreth. Dea. Samuel Howell lived on the home- stead now of Mr. Jeremiah Squires.
To complete the list of present residences in the main street from the fork in the road opposite the burying ground, northwards on the trapezoidal tract of land which forms the fork, lives on the end front- ing the south, the widow of the late Capt. Austin Herrick. On the east side north of Mrs. Herrick lives Capt. Daniel Jagger and north of him Capt. Henry Halsey, and still north of him Miss Sayre. On the west side of the same lines Mrs. Age Hal- sey. On the east side of the east branch of the main street line, successively advancing northwards, the widow of Jonathan Fithian, Esq., (as in the plot before given) Charles Bishop, Caleb Halsey, Jackson, Peter Fournier, James Bishop, Wil- liam Jagger, and Lewis Jagger. On the west side of the same branch live Mrs. Lewis Sanford, Albert Jagger, Albert Reeves and Francis Bishop. On the south end of a tract of land between the two branches aforesaid, and fronting south live Mr. Lewis Bonden, on the west, and Mr. John Burnett to the east of him. On the west side of the west
162
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
branch, north of Capt. William Fowler (as in the above plot) lives Mrs. Harriet R. Halsey, Mr. E. Wines Payne, and Captain Samuel Mc- Corkle. On the east side of the same lines, Mr. David Jagger.
.
CHAPTER IX.
INDIANS-FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THEM -PURCHASE OF THEIR LANDS-LEASE OF
SHINNECOCK AND THE HILLS-SALE OF SHINNECOCK HILLS.
AT the time of the settlement of Southampton, five tribes of Indians were living in its vicinity. The tract of land originally settled was purchased of the Shinnecocks, leaving part of their lands still in their possession. The remainder of their terri- tory was afterwards purchased, and the western boundary of the town then was on the borders of the Poosepatuck, or Poosapatuck and Patchogue tribes, and the northern on the borders of the Peaconies. To the east roamed the Montauk, the royal tribe of the Island whose chief, Wyandanch, a man of noble character, exercised supreme authority over the whole thirteen tribes who occupied the Is- land. The aggregate proportion of these tribes is now unknown, though collateral facts confirmed by tradition afford good evidence of its being very great.
The Montauks are said to have been the most nu- merous and powerful. Tradition has it, that in early times when drawn out in " Indian file " the warriors of the Shinnecock tribe extended from Shinnecock gate to the town-this being about two miles would
164
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
give them at least 2000 adult men-but 200 seems far more probable. Nowedanah, a brother of Wy- andanch, was the chief of the Shinnecocks, as appears in the deed of sale of East Hampton.
There is no reason to suppose the Indians on the east end differed in character from those on the main-they were bold, hardy and warlike. Yet never once was there any armed collision or serious disturbance of the peaceful relations initiated at the settlement of the town. There were indeed, at times, ominous threats and rumors, but they all originated in the machinations of the natives on the main, or, there is some reason to believe, of the Dutch in New York. This friendly feeling was owing partly to the fact of the fair and equitable treatment they universally received from the Eng- lish ; and partly from the peculiar circumstances of the natives themselves. The Montauks on the east, and the Shinnecocks on the west, had been harassed by incursions of the Narragansetts of Rhode Island, and were glad to enter into a treaty with the Eng- lish for mutual protection. It will be seen from the Indian deed of 1640, given in the appendix, that this stipulation was made with the whites as a part of the consideration in the sale of the land. This understanding between the Indians and the English went far to secure peace within their borders.
The amicable relations between the two races was seriously threatened in 1653, when the Narragansetts, perhaps allied emissaries of the Dutch, endeavored to seduce the Indians on the east end of Long Island into a combination with them to exterminate all the
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE INDIANS. 165
white settlers. In this they were unsuccessful, al- though the apprehensions of the English were greatly excited, and for some time unusual care was taken to guard against a sudden attack.
Mr. Prime, Hist. of L. I., says : " The conduct of the Long Island Indians towards the whites, is without a parallel in the history of this country. It was to be expected that individual acts of aggres- sion would occur on the part of a barbarous people, for real or supposed injuries. But even these were rare ; and the Indians always showed themselves willing to submit to an impartial investigation, and just decision of alleged wrongs."
From Records of Particular Courts at Hartford, Ct , Liber 2, p. 99, as published in Hist. Magazine, by Mr. Charles J. Hoadley, we take the following: " A perticular Court [at Hartford] May 11th, 1657.
" Vpon examination of Wig- MAGISTRATES. wagub, hee confessed that hee was hyred to burne Mrs. How- ell's house, by two Indians one Awabag, whoe pmised him one gun : and Agagoneagu who promised him 7s 6d and hee said Auwegenum did know hee uth was to burne the house two dayes before it was done-and that himselfe and the three Indians were together when he was hyred, but Auwegenum did not heere their discourse, but Auwabag told Auweganum of it afterward.
Jno Webster Esq Gournor Mr Wells Deputy Mr Cullick
Mr Clarke
Mr Failcoat Mr. Ogden
Mr Allin & Wm Wadsworth
22
166
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
" Vppon consideration of the motion made from or friends at Southampton for the prsence, counten- ance and assistance of 20 men from vs, and con- sidering their sad distressed prsent state by reason of the insolent and insuffrable outrage of some heathen vpon that Iland and neare that plantation by fyering seuerall dwelling houses to the vndoing of seuerall members of this Collony.
"This Court order that there shall be 20 men prssed forthuth to goe ouer to their assistance as the case may require together uth necessary pruision & Amunition uch are to bee taken out of the seurall Townes in the pportion following :
Hartford-
Windzor-
Wethersf
Farmington --
These men to have 25 lb of powder & 50 Ib of Bullets."
Midltown -
Sea Brooke-
Pequett
The only other occurrence of this kind which happened in Southampton was the murder of Mrs. Thomas Halsey, in 1649, which caused some appre- hension of a general insurrection against the Eng- lish. A messenger was immediately sent to the magistrates to summon Wyandanch to appear be- fore them. " His counselors fearing that he would be summarily condemned to death by way of re- taliation, advised him not to obey the summons. Before he expressed his own opinion, he submitted the case to Mr. Gardiner, who happened to be lodg- ing in his wigwam that same night. By his advice
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE INDIANS. 167
he set out immediately for Southampton, Mr. G. agreeing to remain as a hostage to the tribe, for the safety of their beloved chief. With amazing celerity, he not only accomplished the journey of twenty-five miles, but actually apprehended on his way, and de- livered to the magistrates, the murderers of the woman ; who, instead of being his own subjects, proved to be Pequot Indians from the main ; some of whom were generally lurking on the Island for the purpose of promoting disturbances between the natives and the new settlers. These men being sent to Hartford, were there tried, convicted, and ex- ecuted."
The only allusion to this murder found in the records is as follows :
"I the subscriber, namely, Thomas Halsey do witness that at the time of the trouble in this town of Southampton by reason of murther committed by the Indians ; at a great assembly of the Indians for the settling of matters in fine, I saw Mandush (who was a man reputed and acknowledged generally by all Indians for those parts to be the great Sa- chem's son of Shinnecock) cut up a turf of ground in Southampton and delivering it to Wyandanch, gave up all his right and interest unto him. And he the said Mandush uith many other of the chief of Shinnecock Indians, as ancient men did manifest their consent and that they were contented by their ordinary sign of stroking Wyandanch on the back and since that time the said Wyandanch hath acted upon the aforesaid interest given to him as by letting and disposing of lands at Quaquanantuck and
168
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
elsewhere. And I never heard any deny Wyandanch his right and propriety in the premises until of late. And this I am ready to depose when there- unto called. Witness my hand the 19 day of Sep- tember 1666."
"THOMAS HALSEY."
" I the subscriber namely Thomas Sayre do also witness all that his above testified by Thos Halsey except only the delivery of the turf and further that when Mandush gave up his right to Wyandanch, and stroked him on the back, Mandush also told Wyandanch that nou he would be all one dog. And this I am ready to depose when I am there- unto called. Witness my hand this 19 day of Sep- tember 1666."
" THOMAS SAYRE."
Confirmation of this relinquishment of the fee of the land, similar perhaps to that under William the Norman, in England, that, according to the feudal system, the barons should hold their tenures of the King, is found in some documents which Weany, Sunk Squa (or the royal Squaw, or Squaw Regent, in court parlance) the widow of Wyandanch unites in signing with the Shinnecocks.
As to their religious belief, it has been found impossible to ascertain any information from the living representatives of the Shinnecock tribe. But Lyon Gardiner, the chronicle of East Hamp- ton, has left on record a statement in reference to the Montauks, who, doubtless, differed in nothing in this respect from other Long Island tribes. As
169
RELIGIOUS BELIEF.
no man was better qualified than he, the worthy friend of the noble Wyandanch, we give his notes entire.
" They were, as I have before remarked, Polythe- ists. They had gods in great numbers ; many of lesser influence, having particular charges, and two of exalted degree, the good and evil Deity, having a general superintendence and control, as well over all other gods as over men. There was a god of the four corners of the earth, and the four seasons of the year ; another of the productions of the earth ; another of the elements ; one of the day and night ; and a god of the hearth, the family and domestic relations. The great, good, and supreme Deity they called Caulkluntoowut, which signifies one pos- sessed of supreme power. The great evil spirit was named Mutchesumetook which signifies evil power. They worshipped and offered sacrifices to these gods at all times. They had small idols or images which · they believed knew the will of the gods and a regu- lar Priesthood by whom these idols were consulted. The priests were called Powawows, or Powwas, and declared to the people what the gods required of them. When dances and feasts should be made ; when presents should be given to the old people ; when sacrifices should be offered to the gods, and of what kind. These Powwas pretended to hold inter- course uith the gods in dreams, and with the evil spirits in particular, who appeared to them under different forms, and by voices in the air. These were the Medicine-men. They administered to the sick ; relieved those afflicted uith evil spirits and
170
HISTORY OF SOUTHAMPTON.
poison, and by incantations and charms, protected the people from all harm. Subject to the Powwas' influence, neither fire could burn them nor water drown them ; nor could they receive any injury what-
ever. The most savory sacrifice made to the great Deity was the tail or fin of the whale, which they roasted. The leviathan, from which it was taken, was at times found east upon the sea-shore, and then a great and prolonged Powow or Religious Festival was held. At these festivals great efforts were sup- posed to be necessary to keep the Evil One uthout the circle of their incantations. His presence, it was believed, would defeat the object of the Powwas in the procurement of the favor and particular re- gard of the good deity. Violent gesticulations, loud yells, and laborious movements of the limbs and body, with distortion of the features, were continued until the excitement produced approached to mad- ness. When the Evil Spirit was supposed to be subjugated, the dance and the feast commenced. It is among the Indian traditions, that the existence of the Evil Spirit was evidenced by his having, when driven from the feast, left the imprint of his foot upon a granite rock on Montauk, and made three holes in the ground, at regular distances, where he alighted, in three several leaps from the stone on which he had stood, and then disappeared.
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