HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY

with illustrations, Portraits & Sketches of Prominent Families and Individuals.

New York: W.W. Munsell & Co.; 1882.
pp. 144-192.

HEMPSTEAD
THE town of Hempstead is the largest in the county of Queens,
containing one hundred square miles, or sixty-four thousand acres. It
originally extended north to Long Island Sound, but the present town of North
Hempstead was taken from it by an act of the Legislature passed April 6th 1784.
The line established was "the County road that leads from Jamaica nearly
through the middle of Hempstead Plains to the east part thereof," and the
part south of this line was to be thereafter called South Hempstead. The same
act also provided that the inhabitants of either town should enjoy the right of
oystering, fishing and clamming in the waters of both. On the 7th of April 1801
the name of South Hempstead was changed to Hempstead.

Hempstead is bounded north by North Hempstead, east by Oyster Bay, south by the 
Atlantic Ocean, and west by Jamaica.

Successive censuses have shown constant growth in the population of the town, except 
during the civil war.  The figures for recent years are as follows: 
1845, 8,269; 
1850, 8,811; 
1855, 10,477; 
1860, 12,375 
1865, 11,764; 
1870, 13,999; 
1875, 14,792; 
1880, 18,160.

RELICS OF THE INDIANS
Many interesting relics of the aborigines have been found at Hempstead and vicinity. 
These relics are of local interest and of increasing value, illustrating as they do 
much of the life history of a people almost extinct on the island,

In 1862 two copper axes, with four of jasper, were found at
Rockville Center, in a field near the village, three feet below the surface.
They were surrounded by spear heads of flint, set upright in a circle. The
copper axes were evidently of native copper, and wrought into their present form
by hammering. One of these, in possession of the Long Island Historical Society,
is seven inches long by four and one- half broad. These relics are rude in
pattern and the deep corrosion of their surface indicates that they are of
considerable antiquity. These axes are doubtless from the copper- bearing
regions of the upper lakes, and indicate that the Long Island Indians were in
intercourse with those of the copper region. There is no probability that the
Indians of Long Island knew anything of the working of copper. They were workers
of stone, but not of metals. Stone axes, clubs and spear and arrow heads were
found at an early date throughout the island. All these are of the same material
as composes the rocks of Long Island. Flint, quartz, jasper, compact sandstone
and slaty rock pestles, mortars, whetstones and pottery have been frequently
found, but not as frequently as one would expect from the density of the Indian
population. A large whetstone or milling stone of silicious slaty rock was found
at Rockaway a few years ago; and a well- formed skull was taken from an Indian
grave in Rockaway. It was found enclosed in a round urn- shaped vessel, the
skeleton being upright and the vessel turned over the head; on the outside it is
rudely worked or carved. The entire skull and about half of the urn were preserved.

Among other curious relics of olden times is a receipt book found in 1876 in a 
package of rags by James R. Brightman, of Rockville Center.

It had been the property of Hendrick Onderdonk. It was leather bound, and the
writing, although over a hundred years old, would compare favorably with
manuscript of to-day. Many receipts dated back to 1752.

THE EARLY INHABITANTS.
The first white settlement in the town was made in 1643, by settlers from Stamford, 
Connecticut, who had emigrated from Hemal, Hempstead, England, a few years previous. 
The natives had sold the territory of Hempstead to Rev. Robert Fordham and John Carman 
in 1643, and, as it was under Dutch jurisdiction, these gentlemen obtained a patent 
for the land from Governor Kieft on the 16th of November 1644. One of the conditions 
of the patent was that they should pay the government a tax of one- tenth part of 
their farm produce in ten years after the first general peace with the Indians. 
It seems that Fordham and Carman were acting as a committee for the settlers at 
Stamford, and as soon as the arrangements were made with the natives they removed 
to Long Island and settled within the present limits of the village of Hempstead. 
The first arrival of settlers consisted of between thirty and forty families. 
Among the most prominent were :
Richard Guildersleeve, 
Edward, Thurston and William Raynor, 
Rev. Richard Denton, 
Matthew Mitchell, 
Captain John Underhill, 
Robert Coe, 
Rev. Robert Fordham, 
John Carman, 
Andrew Ward, 
Jonas Wood, 
John Ogden and Robert Jackson, 
nearly all having descendants on the island at the present day.
Several of the first settlers had been persons of distinction in New England. 

Thurston Raynor and Mr. Guildersleeve had been magistrates for
Stamford. Ward, Coe and Mitchell were commissioners for Stamford, Ward having
been a judge for the first court ever held in New Haven, in the year 1636. Many
of them had served as legislators, and all were of excellent character. The
first division of land, as appears by the records, took place in 1647, and it
shows that there were at that time sixty- two freeholders in the town. As a
general thing the most pacific relations existed between the whites or planters
and their Indian neighbors; yet collisions sometimes took place. It was found
necessary to concert measures to prevent their recurrence, and the governor on
one occasion convened the sachems and head men of the Marsapeagues and other
tribes at the village of Hempstead, on the 12th of March 1656, when a general
treaty was agreed upon by the governor and Tackapousha, the chief sachem. Among
the articles of agreement were the following interesting provisions:

Section I.- "That all injuries formerly passed in the time of the governor’s 
predecessors shall be forgiven and forgotten, since ye year 1645."

Section V.- "The governor doth promise, betwixt this date and six months, to build 
a house or fort upon such place as they shall show upon the north side, and the 
house or fort to be furnished with Indian trade and commodities."

Section VI.- "That the inhabitants of Hempsteede, according to their patent, 
shall enjoy their purchase without molestation from ye sachem or his people, either 
of person or estate; and the sachem will live in peace with all ye English and Dutch 
within this jurisdiction. And the governor doth promise for himself and all his 
people to live in peace with ye sachem and all his people."

Section V11.- "That in case an Indian do wrong to a Christian in person or estate, 
and complaint be made to the sachem, he shall make full satisfaction; likewise if 
a Dutchman or Englishman shall wrong an Indian the governor shall make satisfaction 
according to equity.

On the 4th of July 1647 the Indians of Hempstead, represented
by the sachems Tackapousha and Wautogh, with seven other Indians, probably
sachems or head men representing the Indian tribes of Hempstead, ratified and
confirmed the purchase which had been made from the Indians in 1643. This
agreement or release was subscribed before John James, clerk, and in presence of
John Hicks, John Seaman and Richard Gildersleeve. Upon payment of the balance
due to the Indians on the purchase price of the lands, the last installment
being paid February 14th, 1660, the following curious release was executed by
the Indians:

"We the Indians under written do hereby acknowledge to
have received of the magistrates and inhabitants of Hemsteede our pay in full
satisfaction for the tract of land sould unto them according to agreement and
according to patent and purchase. The general boundes is as followeth: beginning
at a place called Mattagarrett’s Bay, and soe running upon a direct line north
and south, from sea to sea; the boundes running from Hempsteede Harbour due east
to a pointe of treese adjoining to the lande of Robert Williams, where we left
markt treese; the same line running from sea to sea; the other line beginning at
a markt tree standing at the east end of the greate plaine and running a due
south line, at the south sea by a markt tree in a neck called Maskachoung. And
wee doe further engage ourselves to uphold this our present act and all our
former agreements to bee just and lawful; and wee doe binde ourselves to save
and defend them harmless from any manner of claime or pretense that shall be
made to disturb theire right. Whereunto we have subscribed, this eleventh day of
May Anno 1658, stilo novo.
"Waautauch,               
Tackapousha,

Cheknow,                   
Martom,

Sayasstock,                 
Pers- Roma.
"Subscribed by Wacombound, Montauk sachem after the death
of his father, this 14th day of February 1660, being a general town meeting at
Hemsteede.
"JOHN JAMES, clerk."

This instrument probably describes the same general boundaries
as are set forth. in the patent of Governor Kieft, and described in the original
contract and purchase in 1643.

February 27th 1658 the citizens of Hempstead, by the hand of
their clerk John James, petitioned Governor Stuyvesant as follows:
"After the remembrance of our submissive and humble respects, it hath pleased God, 
after a sickly and sad sommer, to give us a seasonable and comfortable autumne, 
wherewith wee have beene (throw mercy) refreshed ourselves and have gained strength 
of God soe that wee necessarily have been employed in getting winter foode for our 
cattell, and thereby have something prolonged our wonted tyme of chosing magestrates, 
for ye wch wee hope yor honour will hold us excused; and now, accordinge to our 
accustomed manner, wee have voted and put upon denomination our former magestrate, 
Mr. Gildersleeve, and with him William Shodden, Robert Porman and Henry Pearsall;
all of them are knowing men of honest life and good integrity; therefore wee
desire your honour to appoint two of them, and always according to our duty
shall pray the most high God to bless and preserve yor honour with much health
and prosperity, in all your noble designs, wee humbly take our leave.
"Ever honoured Sr., your Loyall, true and obedient
servants, the inhabitants of Hemsteede.
"JOHN JAMES, clerk."

To the records of the town, Thompson’s "History of Long
Island" and the "Annals of Hempstead" we are indebted for the
following extracts:
March 28th 1658, stilo novo.- "This day ordered that 
Mr. Gildersleeve, 
John Hicks, 
John Seaman, 
Robert Jackson and William Foster 
are to go with Cheknow, sent and authorized by ye Montake Sachem to marck
and lay out ye generall bounds of ye lands belonging to ye towne of Hemsteede,
according to ye extent of ye limits and jurisdiction of ye said town; to be
known by her markt trees and other places of note, to continue for ever; and in
case Tackapousha, Sagamore of Marsapeague, with his Indians, doth come according
to their agreement, then to lay out the said bounds."

April 12th 1658.- Ordered by the townsmen of Hemsteede, that
all ye fences of ye frontiere lotts that shall runn into ye field shall be
substantially made by ye 25th of this monthe of April, and any person found
negligent shall forfeit 5 shillings to the towne; and whoever shall open the
towne gates, and neglect to shut them or to put up the barrs, shall pay the like
sum, one half to the towne and the other half to the informer; also, William
Jacoks and Edward Raynor to be cow- keeps for the year; the people to be ready
at the sounding of the horn to send out their cows, and the keeper to be ready
to take charge of them sun half an hour high, and to bring them home half an
hour before sunset, to water them at reasonable hours, and to be driven beyond
East Meadows, to prevent damage in the cornfields; to be allowed 12 shillings
sterling a week from 11th of May to 10th of August, and then 15 shillings a week
till the 23d of Oct. The first payment to be made in butter; that is, for each
cow one pound butter, at. 6d. a pound, and the remainder in wampum."
The town deputed Richard Gildersleeve, July 10th 1658, to go to Manhattan and agree 
with the governor concerning the tithes, "which are not to exceed 100 sheeples of wheat " 
and to be delivered, if required, at the town harbor; the charge of his journey to be 
defrayed by the town. The town agreed to pay the herdsmen 12 shillings sterling a week 
in butter, corn and oats, at fixed prices. Six bushels of corn were allowed by the town 
for killing a wolf. The price of corn was 2s. 6d. a bushel, wheat 4s., pork 3d. a pound,
butter 6d a pound, lodging 2d. a night, beer 2d. a mug, board 5s. a week,
victuals 6d. a meal, and labor 2s. 6d. a day.

Drunkenness being prevalent in the place, January 14th 1659 a former order was renewed as follows: 
"That any that have formerly or shall hereafter transgress shall pay for ye first fault 10 guilders, 
for the second 20 guilders and for the third to stand to the determination of ye Court, 
according to ye first order."

During the same year, at a town meeting, it was decided that
any person absenting himself or herself from public worship on the Lord’s day,
or other public days, should for the first offense pay five shillings, for the
second ten, for the third twenty, and after that be subjected to "corporal
punishment, or banishment."

"About this period Cow Neck was enclosed by a post and rail fence, which extended 
from Hempstead harbor to the head of the creek dividing Cow Neck from Great Neck; 
and every person was entitled to put in a number of cows or cattle to pasture, in 
proportion to the number of standing gates or pannels offence made by him. 
Afterward, in the distribution of lands, the shares of individuals were adjusted 
by the same rule, in consequence of which this neck was divided among a small number 
of people. The lands about Rockaway were enclosed in like manner."

In the years 1683- 85 considerable, anxiety was felt on count
of a requirement by Governor Dongan that the town take out a new patent. After
holding town meetings for three years, during which time several parties ‘were
sent to New York to confer with the governor, an instrument’ was drawn which
was satisfactory to, both parties. It required the inhabitants to make a yearly
payment in New York of "twenty bushels of good winter wheat, or four pounds
in good current money of New York, on or before the twenty- fifth day of
March." In addition to this the people had presented to the governor and
his secretary 650 acres of land. In. the same year Paman, sagamore of Rockaway,
and others sold Rockaway Neck to a merchant of New York, claiming that said
territory was not within the limits of the purchase of 1643. Accordingly a tax
of 2 ½ pence per acre was levied on the taxable inhabitants, 160 in number, to
liquidate the price; $442.50 was raised by this means.

In speaking of the first church Rev. Mr. Jenney says:
"It is an ordinary wooden building, 40 feet long and 26
wide, the roof covered with cedar shingles and the sides clapboarded with oak;
within it is not ceiled overhead, but the sides are boarded with pine. There is
no pulpit, but a raised desk only, having a cloth and cushion of silk; a large
table stands before the desk, where the justices and leading men sit when they
come to church. There are no pews except one for the secretary; the rest of the
church is filled with open benches."

August 1st 1683 the town voted that Jeremy Wood should have
ten shillings a year "for looking after the opening and shutting of the
window shutters belonging to the meeting-house, and to look carefully after the
hour glass."

October 30th 1702 the Assembly of the colony ordered Major Jackson to acquaint the town 
of Hempstead that a public school was designed to be erected among them, and to inquire 
what encouragement they would give the same.

From the "Early. History of Hempstead," by Charles B. Moore, we take the following 
list of proprietors of Hempstead in 1647: 
Robert Ashman, 
Thomas Armitage, 
Samuel Baccus, 
John Carman, 
Samuel Clark, 
Benjamin and John Coe and their father Robert, 
Rev. Richard Denton and his sons Samuel, Richard, Nathaniel and Daniel (the historian), 
John Ellison, 
John Foucks, 
Rev. Robert Fordham and son John, 
Christopher Foster, 
Thomas Foster, 
Richard Guildersleeve, 
John Hicks, 
John Hudd, 
Henry Hudson, 
Thomas Ireland, 
Robert Jackson, 
John Lawrence, 
William Lawrence, 
John Lewis, 
Richard Lewis, 
Roger Lines, 
John Ogden, 
Richard Ogden, 
Henry Pierson, 
Thomas Pope, 
Edward Raynor,
William Raynor, 
William Rogers, 
Joseph Scott, 
William Scott, 
Simon Sering, 
John Sewell, 
William Shadden, 
Thomas Sherman, 
Abraham Smith, 
James Smith, 
John Smith sen. and John Smith jr., 
William Smith, 
Thomas Stephenson, 
John Storye, 
John Strickland, 
Samuel Strickland, 
Nicholas Tanner, 
John Topping, 
William Thickstone,
Richard Valentine, 
William Washburne, 
Daniel Whitehead, 
Henry Whitson, 
Thomas Willett, 
Robert Williams, 
William Williams, 
Edmund Wood, 
Jeremiah Wood, 
Jonas Wood, 
Francis Yates. 
At least ten of these men were from Yorkshire, Eng.; probably more.

EARLY COURT PROCEEDINGS.
At a court held at Hempstead commencing May 7th 1658 Robert
Jackson and William Smith were plaintiffs in .an action for abuse and
misdemeanor commited by Henry Linington, defendant. At the same court Peter
Cornelissen sued Linington in an action of accounts, and the following year
Linington was also defendant in an action for defamation, in which James Pine
was plaintiff. The early court records are full of interest, and the law was
possibly dealt out with more care and justice than is found in the courts of the
present day. From Onderdonk’s "Annals of Hempstead" we quote the following records:

1658, July 25.- Richard Valentine having reported that
Thomas Southard went up and down with a club, the latter, meeting him one
morning as he was going about his avocations, struck him on the face. As
Southard still menaced and threatened to further beat him, he took oath that he
stood in danger and fear of his life, and required the peace and that Southard
might put in security for his good behavior. It is therefore ordered by: Mr.
Richard Gildersleeve, for that Thomas Southard did contemptuously resist
authority in refusing to obey the marshal with his warrant, and did fly the same
and betook himself to his own house for his refuge, in consideration of these
outrages and misdemeanors he is required to put in security for his appearance
at court. And said Southard doth bind himself and all his lands, goods and
chattels, to appear at court, and meantime to keep the peace and good behavior.
At a court held December 28, on the submission of Southard,
and paying all costs, the penalty and fault are remitted in hopes of his
reformation. Valentine is also reconciled, and doth remit the abuse done unto him.

1659, January 2.- Thomas Ireland complains of Richard Brudenell, keeps of an ordinary, 
for using deceitful dealings, and produces in court the following witnesses:
-Mary, wife of Richard Willis, sent her child for a pint of sack and he afterwards 
	demanded pay for a quart.
-William Jacocks bought four cans of beer, one day last spring,
	and was booked seven. He paid it.
-Thomas Langdon was charged for four bushels of oats and had
	but two, and a few oats in a piggin, and a tray - being half a bushel.
-Richard Lattin, four or five years ago, agreed with Brudenell
	for diet of himself and son for twelve shillings the week, and had it a week and
	four days, which did come to twenty shillings. Lattin said it was ten days, but
	Brudenell made it eleven, and said if he would not pay for eleven he would show
	him such a trick as he never had seen; that is, he would set upon his book a
	guilder a meal and eight pence a night for his bed, and then he should pay
	whether he would or not.
	The court find, January 14, that Brudenell’s books are false
	and not fit to pass in law, and he is to pay twelve guilders for calling a
	court, else execution to follow.

1659, January 14.- Robert Lloyd, having spoken unseemly words to the dishonor of God 
and the evil example of others, is fined ten guilders. But having, February 11, made 
an acknowledgment of his fault, the court hath remitted the fine, on his reformation.

1659, January 16.- Daniel Whitehead, when he lived at Hempstead, lost linen and other 
goods, and upon search he found at Richard Brudenell’s a brass candlestick and one 
small striped linen carpet and one table napkin which he doth judge to be his own. 
Whereas Brudenell would not enter into recognizance and utterly refused the favor of 
the court, he is condemned to restore fourfold- that is, twenty-eight shillings sterling,
else execution to follow in fourteen days. He appeals to the governor, and the answer in 
Dutch may be seen in the Hempstead court minutes.

1659; May 1.-Robert Jackson contra Richard Lattin--
action of the case, defamation to the value of £100 sterling damages. Jackson
in his declaration says that, having occasions of account with Lattin, upon some
debate he gave him very bad language tending to his defamation and scandal, and
amongst other evil words called him a. rascal. The court, June 5, sentences him
to forty guilders fine, or corporal punishment, unless he submissively
acknowledges, in presence of the court, that he hath wronged Mr. Jackson, and is
sorry for it.

1659, May 1.- Robert Williams sent to the mill of Hempstead
six bushels of good Indian corn and delivered it into the keeping of William,
son of Peter Cornelissen, to be ground. He received two bushels, but the rest of
the meal lay on the mill- bed and had been spoiled by the rain beating upon it,
and was grown sour and not fit for man’s food. When Williams demanded
satisfaction Cornelissen refused, and said he had carried corn himself to
Manhattans mill and it took damage and he could get no recompense. He then
desired Cornelissen to put out the meal and give him the sack, but he told him
he would not, meddle with it. The court adjudge Cornelissen to make good the
damage done unto the sack and meal by giving him good meal, and in case they
cannot agree, then to stand at the judgment of two indifferent men; and
Cornelissen is to pay court charges and give satisfaction within fourteen days,
or before he depart the town, else execution to follow.

1659, June 11.- It is ordered that all wills proved in this court at Hempstead shall 
pay six guilders unto the use of the court, and the clerk and marshal’s fee.

1658, September 2.- Among other items in the last will of Nicholas Tanner is that 
"a beast shall, be sold to buy some linen to bury me in, and also a sheet and other 
things that shall be needful, and the white-faced cow killed at my burial and given 
to the neighbors."

1649, Nov., Richard Lamson put out a cow to Joseph Schott to
winter. He removed that winter from Hempstead, and the cow was to be returned
next spring to, Samuel Clark, his agent, but Schott refused, though Clark
tendered security. Schott says the cow proved unsound in her bag, and the spring
following, being farrow, he put her down to the common pasture to feed, and in
the fall sold her to D. Whitehead. Her calf he maintained till it came to be a
cow, and she had one calf, and another which was destroyed by wolves. The cow,
being well so far forth as he knew, was found dead one morning, leaving a calf.
The court order Schottto pay for the cow £6.10, and 20s. for one summer’s
milk, with one guilder on the pound interest upon interest for eight years, and
costs, and 10s. for the plaintiff’s charges for this journey. Schott (ultimo
January 1659) makes a tender of goods to the valuation of the aforesaid sum,
to be publicly sold at outcry by the marshal, and engages to save him harmless. Primo
February Schott’s barn and appurtenance, with his home- lot (three acres),
is sold to George Hewlet for £5.4 in present passable pay. I, Thomas Skid more
(May 6 1659), have received £15.9.6 in full satisfaction of the above sentence,
in behalf of Edward Higbie of Huntington.

1660, January 21.- John Smith jr. sues Thomas Ellison in an
action for trespass, for that he did ride his mare double, contrary to his
knowledge, and his mare was lamed to his damage 40s. Ellison answers that he was
at John Carman’s door, and at his wife Hannah’s request did ride before her
to Oyster Bay, on Saturday; and on the Lord’s day kept the mare there and on
Monday rode her back and delivered her to John Carman. The court doth condemn
the plaintiff in all the court charges, to be paid within fourteen days, else
execution to follow.

1660, February 19.- Thomas’ Hicks, in behalf of his wife, Mary, late wife of John Washburn, 
deceased, demands certain legacies bequeathed by William Washburn to his son 
John: Imprimis, one- third of Mr. Washburn’s meadow; item, two sows, 
one yearling, one pestle and mortar, two ox-pastures and five gates in the Neck. The court 
order the above to be delivered to plaintiff, for the use of John Washburn jr.

HEMPSTEAD IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
In various places in the History of Hempstead allusions are
made to incidents connected with the Revolutionary war. In this sketch we
purpose to give quotations, together with facts gathered, many of which have
never before been published. Many quotations are taken from Onderdonk’s
"Documents and Letters," published in 1849.

At Hempstead April 4th 1775 the inhabitants, assembled, passed
the following resolutions:

"First, That, as we have already borne true and faithful allegiance to his 
Majesty King George the Third, our gracious and lawful sovereign, so we are firmly 
resolved to continue in the same line of duty to him and his lawful successors.

"Second, That we esteem our civil and religious
liberties above any other blessings, and those only can be secured to us by our
present constitution; we shall inviolably adhere to it, since deviating from it
and introducing innovations would have a direct tendency to subvert it, from
which the most ruinous consequences might justly be apprehended.

"Third, That it is our ardent desire to have the
present unnatural contest between the parent State and her colonies amicably and
speedily accommodated on principles of constitutional liberty; and that the
union of the colonies with the parent State may subsist till time shall be no more.

"Fourth, That as the worthy members of our General
Assembly, who are our only legal and constitutional representatives, have
petitioned his most gracious Majesty, sent a memorial to the House of Lords and
a remonstrance to the House of Commons, we are determined to wait patiently the
issue of those measures, and avoid everything that might frustrate those
laudable endeavors.

"Fifth, That, as choosing deputies to form a
Provincial Congress or convention must have this tendency, be highly
disrespectful to our legal representatives, and also be attended, in all
probability, with the most pernicious effects in other instances, as is now
actually the case in some provinces- such as shutting up courts of justice,
levying money on the subjects to enlist men for the purpose of fighting against
our sovereign, diffusing a spirit of sedition among the people, destroying the
authority of constitutional assemblies, and otherwise introducing many heavy and
oppressive grievances- we therefore are determined not to choose any deputies,
nor consent to it, but do solemnly bear our testimony against it.

"Sixth, That we are utterly averse to all mobs, riots and illegal proceedings, 
by which the lives, peace and property of our fellow subjects are endangered; and 
that we will to the utmost of our power support our legal magistrates in suppressing 
all riots, and preserving the peace of our liege sovereign."

Notwithstanding these resolutions, at a meeting of freeholders
of the county, held at Jamaica May 22nd 1775, Thomas Hicks and
Captain Richard Thorne were elected to represent Hempstead, and on June 26th.
Thomas Hicks, of Little Neck, elected for Hempstead, declined
taking his seat "because he was informed by several leading men that the
people of Hempstead seemed much inclined to remain peaceable and quiet."
Hempstead was a small village in the war, with only nine houses between the brooks, 
three of which were taverns.

The village was selected by the British as one of their outposts, "as convenient 
quarters for their light horse, who would be near the city in case of attack, and 
could also make excursions to gather forage, etc., for the city, and scour the 
country when the rebels landed from the main." 

Houses were patrolled and soldiers were to be found for miles around
Hempstead, and sentry boxes were scattered all about what is now Hempstead
village. The Presbyterian church was used as a barrack for soldiers, and later
the floors were taken out, and the building was used as a riding school for
drilling horses. The grave- stones were used for fire-backs, hearths and oven
bottoms. On the outside of the church were rings, to which soldiers were
suspended by one hand with a foot resting on a sharp stake set in the ground,
the remaining hand and foot being tied together. These points under foot were
occasionally of iron, and by the writhing of the sufferer would sometimes pierce
through the foot. The culprit was then sent to the hospital, and would often be
lame for weeks. This was the punishment of the light horse. The Hessians ran the
gauntlet. An apple tree east of the burying ground was used as a whipping- post.

Along the brook east of the village there were huts for the soldiers, built of sods. 
Boards were very scarce, and the Presbyterian church at Foster’s Meadow and the 
Presbyterian church at Islip were taken down and conveyed to Hempstead, where the 
lumber was used in making barracks and stables.

From 1778 until peace was declared the light horse made Hempstead their
headquarters during the winter, and occasionally they recruited in the summer,
allowing their horses to wander into the fields of grain and clover fields,
which in many cases were entirely destroyed. A fixed price was generally allowed
for such damage, which was paid in New York. These horsemen, called the
"Queen’s Own," it is said were well disciplined and finely equipped.
The wood yard and hay magazine were north of Sammis’s inn, enclosed and guarded. There were 
to be seen numerous large stacks of hay, containing one or two hundred loads each.

From 1778 the militia was called out several times to capture "Americans" or "rebels," 
so- called, who made excursions to the island in search of cattle and plunder. We 
copy an account of one of these raids:

"Last Sunday (about July 1st 1779) two rebel whale-boats, on which were seventeen men, 
made their appearance at Hog Island, near Rockaway. The militia were soon alarmed, 
and a party was dispatched in two boats, while the others marched along shore and 
secreted themselves among the brush at the entrance of and along the creek, at 
which they entered. The rebels had scarcely landed when they observed the two 
boats coming into the inlet, on which they endeavored to escape; but finding they 
were surrounded and fired on from all quarters they surrendered. Sometime after 
three others of the same gentry came rowing along shore, and, observing their 
two boats, made into the inlet and fell also into the hands of the militia. These 
boats were fitted out at Saybrook Conn., with a brass two- pounder in the bow of 
each, and have a commission from Governor Trumbull to plunder the inhabitants of 
Long Island. The prisoners, forty- one in number, were brought to town yesterday."

"In July 1780 the British ship ‘Galatea’ ran ashore, near Hog Island, the sloop 
‘Revenue,’ privateer, of New London, W. Jagger commander, fitted out by Joseph Woolridge, 
carrying 12 guns and 52 men. The vessel bilged, the men jumped overboard and swam 
ashore with their arms, where the militia of Hempstead captured them. Several other 
captures were made of rebels, who evidently believed Long Island and all its people 
to be loyal to the crown.

"People would sometimes take a spy- glass and climb on the roof of their houses, and 
if they saw any whale- boats in the bay they would remove their valuables to a hiding
place, leaving only a few articles in the house. The robbers would then ransack the 
house, curse them for their poverty, and depart. Stores were often nearly emptied in 
this way of an afternoon, and the goods replaced next morning; but if the owners 
were once caught they were likely to be tortured till the goods were forthcoming. 
The alarm was spread by guns or horn blowing."

In November 1781, in a letter dated at Poughkeepsie, Governor
George Clinton, being informed that friends on Long Island expressed a desire of
advancing money for the use of the State, sent a person with the following:
"State of New York, ss.- I hereby pledge the
faith of said State for the repayment of the sum of one thousand pounds, current
money of said State, in specie, with interest at the rate of six per cent, per
annum, to John Sands, Esq., or order, within one year after the conclusion of
the present war with Great Britain.
"Given at Poughkeepsie, this 1st day of June, 1782.
"Witness, GEO. TRIMBLE. GEO. CLINTON."
The amount was raised as follows: Major R. Thorne, £200; John
Thorne, £200; John Sands, £400; Daniel Whitehead Kissam, £200. The notes were paid.

In September 1775, Congress being destitute of arms, it was
resolved that all "found in the hands of any person who has not signed the
general association shall be impressed for the use of said troops." Said
arms were to be appraised, and in case they were not returned the owner was to
receive the, appraised value. Companies were detailed to visit Hempstead.
Considerable difficulty was encountered, but later, in January 1776, we find the
following: "The battalion left Col. Heard at Hempstead last Wednesday with
600 or 700 militia, where great numbers of tories were every hour coming in and
delivering up their arms." Again: "Col. Heard crossed Hurl Gate ferry
and proceeded through Newtown to Jamaica, at Betts’s, tavern, and left on a
Sunday for Hempstead. There was great talk of opposition in
Hempstead, but it was at last concluded to submit.
His quarters were at Nathaniel Sammis’s.

It being ordered, May 10th 1776, that the county committee form and regulate the militia 
without delay we find the following regarding Hempstead.

South Hempstead.- 
Foster Meadow company, 98 men; officers, none. 
Far Rockaway company, 90 men; 
	Peter Smith captain, 
	Benjamin Cornell lieutenant. 
South Hempstead company, 110 men; officers, none. 
Jerusalem company, 85 men; 
	Richard Jackson captain, 
	Zeb. Seaman lieutenant.

North Hempstead.- 
North Side company, 120 men 
	Philip Valentine captain, 
	Coe Searing second lieutenant.

Cow Neck and Great Neck company, 130 men; 
	Andrew Onderdonk ensign.

Total number in North and South Hempstead and Oyster Bay, 1,028 men. 
The following were the higher officers: 
Colonel, John Sands;
lieutenant colonel, Benjamin Birdsall; 
majors, Richard Thorne and John Henderson.

At one time Stephen Rider, with some Jamaica minutemen, went
to Hempstead to hunt defaulters. A party of nine, in two sedgeboats, were
concealed in the swamp at the head of Demott’s (now Dordon’s) mill pond. On
this occasion one Rider climbed an oak tree to reconnoitre, when a ball whistled
by his head. He saw by the smoke whence it came, and a loaded gun being handed
him he fired, and the ball passed through the body of George Smith. The wound
was dressed by Drs, Searing and Seabury, and Smith, being a young and vigorous
man, recovered.

During the month of July 1776 precautions were taken for
saving the cattle and crops from the British should they attempt to land on the
island. Colonel Birdsall with a command of recruits was sent, to Far Rockaway,
where sentinels were placed in the most advantageous positions for observing the
approach of the enemy. In August Captain P. Nostrand was stationed at the same
place with forty- six men, to guard the coast. There was a guard at David Mott’s,
and at Hog Island inlet was a guard boat.

According to one account, "Nelly Cornell, looking out of
an upper window of a house, called to the American officer and told him she saw
trees rising from the ocean." He looked, called another officer, and said,
"That’s the British fleet. Down with the tents, and let’s be off to the
ferry." Wagons were then impressed to convey the baggage, and all the
cattle were driven off.

August 25th Congress resolved that all horses, horned cattle
and sheep south of the ridge of hills in Queens county be removed to Hempstead
Plains; that the inhabitants remove all grain then in barns or barracks to a
distance from buildings, that it might be burnt, if necessary to prevent its
falling into the hands of the enemy. A little later the regiments were ordered
by General Washington to withdraw from Long Island. Afterward a large portion of
the militia returned to Long Island and took British protection, to save their
property and protect their families.

According to Onderdonk, it is not known when the British first
came to North Hempstead ; but probably immediately after Washington left the
island their light horse hunted out the leading Whigs and impressed wagons.
Since the Revolutionary war and during the last century the
growth of the town of Hempstead has been general, many hamlets springing up. The
village histories below will be of interest to the reader, showing how rapid has
been the growth of Hempstead, not only in population but in wealth, during the
last one hundred years.

THE CIVIL LIST, ETC.
Postmasters since 1850.- 
John W. Smith, four years; 
Ebenezer Kellum, eight; 
C.C. Rhodes, about six;
Robert T. Powell, two; 
Sands Powell jr., three; 
Dr. Morris Snedeker, eight; 
J.S. Snedeker, the present incumbent, since June 14th 1880.

Justices of the Peace since 1860.-
Henry Pearsall, 1860, 1864; 
John Pettit, 1861; 
James M. Seaman, 1862, 1866, 1870, 1874; 
Oliver Lossee jr., 1863, 1875, 1876, 1879; 
Thomas H. Clowes, 1865;
John A. Smith, 1867; 
Samuel De. Mott, 1868; 
Ebenezer Kellum, 1869; 
Valentine Kitchen, 1871; 
Sylvenus Johnson, 1872; 
J. Seymour Snedeker, 1873; 
C. Matthews, 1876; B. 
Valentine Clowes, 1877, 1881; 
T.D. Smith, 1878; 
Edwin J. Healey, 1880.

Supervisors since 1785.- 
Major John Hendrickson, 1785; 
Nathaniel Seaman, 1786- 92; 
Joseph Pettit, 1793- 96, 1798- 1802; 
Hezekiah Bedell, 1797; 
Richard Bedell, 1803- 10, 1812- 18; 
Oliver Denton, 1811; 
John D. Hicks, 1819, 1820; 
Elias Hicks, 1821, 1822; 
John Simonson, 1823, 1824; 
Robert Davison, 1825- 35; 
John W. De Mott, 1836, 1844- 46; 
Charles De Mott, 1837- 41; 
Stephen Bedell, 1842; 
Robert- Cornwell, 1843; 
Benjamin H. Willis, 1847, 1848; 
Benjamin T. Smith, 1849- 54; 
Tredwell Davidson, 1855; 
John S. Hendrickson, 1856, 1857; 
Robert Cornwell, 1858- 62, 1865- 67; 
S.N. Snedeker, 1863, 1864, 1874; 
Carman Cornelius, 1868- 71; 
James J. Matthews, 1872; 
John B. Post, 1873; 
Ebenezer Kellum, 1775- 77; 
Charles N. Clement, 1878- 81.

Town clerks since 1785.- 
Nathaniel Seaman, 1785, 1786; 
Samuel Clowes, 1787- 94; 
Richard Bedell, 1795; 
Abraham Bedell, 1796- 1817; 
Edward A. Clowes, 1818- 23; 
Albert Hentz, 1824- 33; 
Benjamin Rushmore, 1834- 40; 
Thomas Welch, 1841; 
Harry H. Marvin, 1842- 54; 
Abram S. Snedeker, 1855; 
Harry H. Marvin, 1856, 1857, 1859- 61; 
John E. Davidson, 1858, 1863, 1864; 
Benjamin F. Rushmore, 1862; 
Sands Powell Jr., 1865- 68; 
J.M. Oldrin, 1869; 
J. Seymour Snedeker, 1870- 72; 
Samuel Hendrickson, 1873, 1874; 
Robert Seabury, 1875- 77; 
John R. Pettit, 1878; 
James B. Curly, 1879- 81.

The town poor farm is two miles northeast of Hempstead village, and consists of about 
70 acres of tillable land, being the farm formerly owned by James P. Nichols. A large 
two- story frame house, with basement, was built in 1872, at a cost of $9,750. There 
are about thirty paupers kept there each year. The business is transacted by three overseers, 
who meet at the house regularly every two weeks.

In the town of Hempstead are ‘situated many summer seaside
resorts, several of which are visited by large numbers of people during the
summer months. At the larger hotels, at Long Beach and Rockaway, a regular
police force is on duty during the season. There are four justices of the peace,
and places for holding court are prepared at Hempstead, Rockaway, Pearsalls,
Freeport, and other places. A police force was organized in Hempstead village in
consisting of a police justice and two regular officers until 1878, when only
one regular officer was engaged. In the spring of 1880 the office of police
justice and police constable was abolished by the Legislature. At present the
trustees appoint one policeman. John Crampton has held that position about seven
years, being chief during the time of the regular organization. There are two
night watchmen employed, constable George S. Eldred and T.B. Eldred. There is a
substantial lock- up in the town hall at Hempstead village, and one under the
court- room at Far Rockaway.

There are six election districts in Hempstead, as follows:
First district, west of Hempstead village; 
second, Hempstead village; 
third, Baldwinsville, Christian Hook, and Rockville Centre; 
fourth, East Rockaway, Pearsalls, Woodsburgh, Far Rockaway; 
fifth, Valley Stream and a part of Foster’s Meadow; 
sixth, Rockaway Beach.

STAGES AND RAILROADS.
Comparatively speaking, it is only a few years since railroad
communications were opened between New York and Hempstead. Daily stages were run
from Brooklyn to all parts of the island, and stages twice and thrice a week
carried the mail to out of- the- way places. From the Long Island Telegraph,
published at Hempstead in 1830, we copy the following advertisement:

"The Hempstead stage leaves the village of Hempstead, starting from the house of 
David Bedell, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, at eight o’clock, and 
returns on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; leaving the house of Coe S. Downing, 
Fulton street, Brooklyn, at precisely 2 o’clock P.M. Arrangement is made to carry 
passengers to and from Rockaway by the above line.
"CURTIS & MERVIN, Proprietors."

Similar notices appear in the same paper for a stage line from
Flushing to Newtown, the South Oyster Bay stage, Jerusalem stage, Riverhead and
Smithtown, Huntington, Norwich, Jericho and Oyster Bay and others. But the day
of stage coaches on Long Island has passed away, and at present the business man
of New York or Brooklyn after business hours takes a train which lands him at
his home in Hempstead in an hour’s ride. Railroads accommodate nearly every
village or settlement in the town. The Central Railroad of Long Island, which
now serves Hempstead village and vicinity, was opened in February 187 1, the
depot being being erected on Fulton street. John F. Townsend was the engineer
who brought in the first passenger train, and George Sharp was conductor. The
old South Side Railroad, the Montauk division of the Long Island Railroad,
extends to Sag Harbor, a distance of about 200 miles, and accommodates all of
the villages on the south side of Hempstead.

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
Mills.- 
In 1844 William Oliver came to this country from England, and in 1854 he came to 
Hempstead, purchasing the ponds situated between Hempstead village and Rockville 
Centre. At that place, until the purchase of the ponds for the Brooklyn Water Works, 
was established the Oliver Eagle Flour Mill, with office, salesroom and storehouse
on Main street, Hempstead W.P. Oliver purchased in 1877 what had been a paper-
mill, a short distance from these ponds, and he does a general milling business.

There are several flouring mills in the town. The grist- mill
in the village of Hempstead is on Jackson Street near the corner of Main. The
building, which is three- story, was erected in 1857 by Samuel G. Smith and
Thomas H. Clowes, and was ready for use in the fall of the same year. A wind-
mill was first used for furnishing power, but, it not proving sufficient, a
forty- horse- power steam engine was bought, which has since been in use. Mr.
Smith has had charge of the mill since its erection.

The Oyster Business.- 
An important industry of Hempstead, and one which is constantly growing, is the 
raising of oysters, which gives employment to a large number of people. The waters 
south of Hempstead are well adapted to the work, and during the last twenty years the
business has grown to large proportions. At Freeport, Baldwins, Christian Hook,
East Rockaway, Pearsalls and other places large quantities are shipped annually
to all parts of the country and to Europe. John B. Raynor, of Freeport, was one
of the first to start in the business, about the year 1858. D. Pearsall, of
Freeport, has been in the business since about 1860. He ships to Europe annually
about three hundred barrels of oysters, and about two thousand bushels to New
York; and several other producers are disposing of a like amount. Among the
large dealers at Baldwin are Lorenzo D. Smith and Green M. Sauthard, the last
named gentleman supplying several of the large hotels and restaurants of New
York. The work of raising the oyster and preparing it for market is very
laborious. The young oyster or plant is purchased by the bushel and planted in
beds in the bays, the permission to use the land under the public waters being
purchased or hired by the acre from the town. The lands are staked out and as
well known as are the farms scattered through the town. When large enough the
oysters are caught and prepared for market at the various oyster houses
scattered along the south side.

Hempstead Florists.- 
Among other attractive places in Hempstead are the conservatories and nursery of 
George Rogers, 85 Franklin street. Established only about three years, this has already
become one of the institutions of the village. Mr. Rogers, who has been in the
business nearly thirty years, has built several hot- houses, which are properly
provided with light and heat, and the tasty and careful manner in which they are
managed and the increasing business attended, to speak well for his ability.
Besides the general variety of pot plants, trees, vines and shrubs, he
appropriately designs cut flowers for parties, weddings and funerals. Besides
supplying his customers in Hempstead and vicinity, he ships a large quantity of
early plants to the New York market.

The West End greenhouses, on Franklin. Avenue, Far Rockaway,
are owned by Joseph Marsden, who started the business in 1876, since which time
his business has been steadily increasing, being mostly a home trade. He has the
agency for evergreen and deciduous trees, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, etc.,
also a fine assortment of pot and bedding plants. His greenhouses are 30 by 65
feet, and are one of the attractions of Far Rockaway.

Situated about five miles from Hempstead village, at
Smithville South, are the greenhouses of R.P. Jeffrey & Son, nurserymen and
florists. R.P. Jeffrey is a native of England. About 1870 his son, William F.
Jeffrey, established the business on a small scale, since which time it has been
steadily increasing. At the present time they have four houses, about 45 by 20.
They make specialties of young evergreens, ornamental and fruit trees, and in
the greenhouses of growing carnations for the New York cut flower trade; also
hybridizing carnation flowers for seedlings. This firm supplies the Long Beach
Improvement Company with many fine plants. It has taken premiums at the county
fair for landscape gardening.

An attractive and lucrative business has been established in
the village of Pearsalls by R.E. & J.C. Sealy, who built hot- houses and
commenced business as florists about 1875. By hard work their enterprise has
been made successful, and six houses, 15 by 60 feet in dimensions, are now
filled with every variety of flowers and plants. The houses are well kept, and
the proprietors employ four men to assist them in preparing and shipping the
plants and flowers to the New York market.

BROOKLYN WATER WORKS.
Situated in Hempstead, and covering a large tract of land, are the ponds supplying 
the Brooklyn city water works. 
Clear Stream pond, two acres, was purchased October 6th, 1858; price, $1,310. 
Valley Stream pond, twenty-three acres, was purchased May 14th 1858; price, $13,000. 
Pine’s pond, fifteen and a half acres, was purchased March 3d 1858; price $6,000. 
Hempstead pond, twenty- six and a half acres, was purchased November 12th 1850; price, $12,000.
Smith’s pond was purchased May 14th 1853; price, $11,500. 
The water from the last pond is below the level of the conduit line, and near Rockville
Centre a pumping station was erected, where the water is pumped into the
conduit. The water from all other sources in the town flaws into the conduit.

The storage reservoir is situated south of the village of Hempstead, and was 
originally three mill ponds on the same stream, viz.: 
those of Nicoll’s gristmill, 
Oliver’s paper- mill and 
De Mott’s grist- mill. 
The grounds of the storage reservoir are 557 acres, purchased at a cost of $110,982.

The water, surface when full is 253 acres. The total cost of the reservoir was
$1,400,000. It is not completed according to the original plan. Owing to
litigation between the city and the contractors, Keeny & Kingsley, the work
was stopped.

Watts’s pond was purchased in September 1880, at a cost of
$8,000. It is now (1881) being excavated and a pumping station erected. It is
located at Valley Stream, below the line of the conduit.

CEMETERIES.
Formerly the town cemetery was situated on Hempstead Plains,
where Garden City now stands. When that tract of land was sold grounds were
bought and the burial ground was removed to what is now known as Greenfield cemetery.

Greenfield cemetery is about one and a quarter miles south from Hempstead village, 
and consists of about 30 acres of land, only 20 acres of which, however, are owned 
by the town. It was laid out in 1869 by John Harold, now deceased, and has many 
beautiful walks and roads. A fence surrounds it, and a house and arched gateway, 
with bell for funeral purposes, constitute the main entrance. Scattered through the 
grounds are many tasty monuments. A vault has also been built.
 
The cemetery is regulated by three trustees, elected for three years, one every year. 
The present board consists of: 
Stephen Williamson, J.S. Snedeker
Jacob W. Titus. 
Daniel Vandewater is sexton.

Between Rockville Centre and Pearsalls is an old cemetery,
covering six acres, surrounding the First Methodist church, which attracts
attention not only as being the last earthly resting place of many early
settlers of Hempstead, but from the fact that in the mariners lot, a plot 35 by
161 feet, purchased by the inhabitants and set apart for that purpose, are the
remains of many people wrecked on Rockaway Beach. A large monument has been
erected on the plot, and the inscriptions on the four sides tell the story briefly.

On the front side is the following: 
"To the memory of 77 persons, chiefly emigrants from England and Ireland, being 
the only remains of 100 souls, composing the passengers and crew of the American 
ship ‘Bristol,’ Captain McKown, wrecked on Far Rockaway Beach November 21st 1836."

On the second side: "To commemorate the melancholy fate of- the unfortunate sufferers 
belonging to the ‘Bristol’ and ‘Mexico,’ this monument was erected;
partly by the money found upon their persons and partly by the contributions of
the benevolent and humane in the county of Queens."

On the third side: "To the memory of sixty-two persons, chiefly emigrants from England 
and Ireland; being the only remains of 115 souls forming the passengers and crew of the 
American barque ‘Mexico,’ Captain Winston, wrecked on Hempstead beach January 2nd 1837.
"In this grave, from the wide ocean, doth sleep 
The bodies of those that had crossed the 
deep; And instead of being landed, safe on the shore, 
In a cold frosty night they all were no more."

On the fourth side: "All the bodies of the ‘Bristol’
and ‘Mexico’ recovered from the ocean and decently interred near this spot;
were followed to the grave by a large concourse of citizens and strangers, and
an address delivered suited to the occasion from these words: ‘Lord save us,
we perish.’"- Matth. viii. 25, etc.

In this cemetery in one row of graves are buried 15 children of Mr. Abrahams.

BARNUM’S ISLAND.
In Hempstead Bay is what was known as Hog Island. In 1874 it
was bought by Mrs. P.C. Barnum, of private parties, and then sold to the town
for $13,000. On this island, which has been named after Mrs. Barnum, are the
county poor buildings. It contains about 450 acres of upland and marsh, seventy-
five acres being improved. Timothy and clover hay, rye, corn and all kinds of
vegetables are raised, the work being nearly all performed by the paupers. The
island is reached by the road through Christian Hook, or Oceanville, and a
drawbridge a mile from the buildings. There are three main buildings. The
largest is a dwelling- house for the keeper, and the dining- room for all is
situated in this building. It is a three- story brick structure, the third floor
being used for sleeping- rooms. In The second story are private apartments for
the keeper’s family. A two story brick building south of the main building is
used for a workshop and general sitting- room, the second story and attic being
used as sleeping apartments. The storehouse and general offices are in a house
west of the main building, and a dock which accommodates vessels drawing four or
five feet of water is used for landing supplies. The hospital is a two- story
building with attic. The first floor is occupied by the office of the physician,
Dr. Hutchinson, and his assistant. On the other floors are light and comfortable
rooms for the sick. Besides the buildings described there are the barns and
outbuildings, wash- house, dead house and small- pox hospital. A dyke about two
and a half miles long, five feet high, ten feet thick at the base and one foot
at the top, has been constructed; by this means the water is kept off from about
seventy- five acres of land which is now in a state of cultivation. The water is
supplied by a force- pump located about 300 yards from the main building. A
large iron tank is used for a reservoir. Charles Driscoll was the first farmer
and keeper, at a salary of $80o. Charles Wright succeeded him the same year, at
a salary of $1,000, his wife being matron, at $200. James Wright was keeper in
1876, at the same compensation. The present keeper and matron, appointed in
1880, are Joseph E. Firth and wife, the salary being $1,000 a year.

OLD FAMILIES AND PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS.
The Griffin Family.- "Griffin’s Journal," a work published by its author, 
Augustus Griffin, in 1857, giving a biographical and chronological history of the 
first settlers of Southold, Long Island, contains a record of this family, and 
from it we make brief extracts.

Jasper Griffin came to Southold about 1675, from Wales. He was
born in 1648, and died at the age of 88 years. He purchased a small farm at the
landing at Southold, within thirty rods of those beautiful banks which border
that pleasant harbor. He was commissioned as major of the militia, and charged
with the care of two pieces of cannon. They were mounted on those banks, near
his residence. These he fired on public days. The descendants of Jasper Griffin
are inhabitants of every section of the country. At the commencement of the war
of the Revolution this family, then quite numerous on Long Island, espoused the
cause of their injured country and liberty. The author of this journal mentions
his father, James Griffin, as having served in the war up to the time his
enlistment expired, which was while at Ticonderoga. On the return of James to
his home at Orient, Long Island, he found a number of British and tory soldiers
quartered in that neighborhood These attempted to arrest and detain him as a man
unfit to remain at liberty near their camp. Says the journal "Through the
day he kept a good lookout, and his nights were spent much from home, lodging
with his friends. One night during a severe rain storm my father ventured in
consequence of the storm to lodge al home with his family, satisfying himself
that the storm of wind and rain would secure him rest unmolested over night.
About midnight the house was surrounded. An enraged armed file of soldiers
demanded instant admittance or they would break in. They appeared to be excited
by drink, as their mariners would much more become savages than civilized men.
They demanded, with shameful oaths, the body of my father, dead or alive. While
in great commotion in searching below stairs, and threatening what they would do
with the rebel after he was secured, my father, under great excitement, was
trying to effect his escape by getting a chance to jump from a chamber window.
This was a perilous undertaking, as there was a guard of mounted men stationed
around the house; but there was no time to be lost. He flew to the north window,
which was open; there he saw a man with his sword drawn sitting on his horse
under the window. Who can depict his feelings at this moment, when these
infuriated desperadoes were now at the foot of the stairs about to mount to the
chamber where he stood, at the head of the stairs at the window? At this awful
moment the guard rode round the corner of the house, we suppose to keep a little
more out of the wind and rain; my father jumped to the ground, a distance of
near twenty feet; as they arrived at the chamber he was at liberty, on terra
firma, and no bones broken. Amidst this storm he escaped with nothing on him but
his shirt."

Augustus Griffin, the author of the above journal, was born
July 2nd 1767, at Orient, and died March 10th 1866, aged over 99 years. He was
well known for his literary, tastes, and was indefatigable in tracing the
lineage of his own and neighbors’ families. His journal contains over 300
pages and about 1,000 copies were issued. During the latter part of his life he
was a frequent visitor at his son’s residence at Hempstead, and he is
remembered by the inhabitants of that village as having abounded in anecdote.
Sidney L. Griffin, son of Augustus Griffin, was born at Orient, August 5th 1806. 
He was admitted to the bar as an attorney and solicitor in 1829; afterward by appointment 
was an examiner in the court of chancery. He entered into the practice of his profession at 
Riverhead, Long Island. 

From Suffolk county he served one term in the Assembly. About the year 1844 he
removed to Hempstead, and for a short time was the law partner of Benjamin F.
Thompson, the historian of Long Island. He removed from Hempstead about the year
1862, and is still living.

Augustus R. Griffin, son of Sidney L. Griffin, was born at Riverhead, April 6th 1831; 
graduated from the New York State and National Law School August 11th 1852, and 
afterward was admitted by the supreme court at New York city to practice as attorney 
and counsellor- at- law. He first entered into practice with his father, and still 
retains his office and residence at Hempstead.


George W. Bergen, of the historical Bergen family of Long Island, an account of 
which has been so ably given by Teunis G. Bergen, one of its representatives, was born 
July 20th 1814, and has become one of the most prominent business men and citizens of 
Long Island, having made his way unaided from early youth, when he was a farmer’s boy of
all work, with the assistance of such an education only as he was able to obtain in the 
public schools of that day, and as the result of reading and observation later.


In 1831, at the age of 16, Mr. Bergen began a long and successful mercantile career by 
entering the store of Thomas Carman, of Brooklyn, as a clerk. Mr. Carman was in the 
wholesale and retail grocery trade and was a thoroughgoing business man. Under his tuition 
Mr. Bergen received such early training as has been useful to him in his subsequent career. 
In 1833 he became a clerk in the retail grocery store of Daniel T. Schenck, of Brooklyn,
and a few months later entered the employ of Henry E. Cornwell, another retail grocer of 
Brooklyn. In 1834 and 1835 he was employed in the store of Joshua Rogers, and .in 1836 
formed a copartnership with his brother John Bergen in the retail grocery trade, at the 
corner of Tillary and Pearl streets, Brooklyn.

Not long afterward the two brothers dissolved their partnership, and George W. 
went to Vicksburg, Miss., and was engaged in trade there for about a year and a 
half, returning to the scenes of his former life in the spring of 1838. 
In the following autumn he entered the firm of Carman, Valentine & Co., wholesale 
grocers of Brooklyn, which for twenty years past has been known as the firm of 
Valentine, Bergen & Co., the present proprietors being 
George W. Bergen, 
E.H. Willetts, 
George P. Willetts and George P. Bergen. 

This firm is recognized as one of the oldest and staunchest
mercantile firms in the city and enjoys a large patronage, its stores being
located on Fulton street only a short distance from the ferry, and convenient to
New York and to the Long Island trade.

Politically Mr. Bergen is a Republican, but does not take an
active part in politics and is not in the general acceptation of the term a
politician. Though solicited at various times to accept important trusts at the
hands of his fellow citizens he has usually declined; but he was elected
treasurer of Queens county in 1872 by a majority of about zoo, and served to the
satisfaction of the citizens of the county generally, regardless of party
affiliations. In his religious belief Mr. Bergen is orthodox, and favors the
usages of the Congregational church. During his residence in Brooklyn he was for
twenty years, officially connected with Plymouth Church. In 1869, when he
removed to Freeport, Queens county, he identified himself with the Presbyterian
church of that place. In 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Bergen erected, at an expense of
$5,000, a memorial chapel at Freeport, in memory of the latter’s mother, in
whose honor it is known as the Elizabeth Carman Memorial Chapel, which they
presented to the church for the purposes of the Sunday- school and the weekly
church meetings. It is a beautiful structure, gothic in style, about 40 by 50
feet in size, with stained glass windows, and it is to be hoped it may long
stand as a memorial not only to its subject, but also to its builders.
July 19th 1838 Mr. Bergen married Susan, daughter of Thomas Carman, of Hempstead, 
who was born June 29th 1818. They have had four children-
Elizabeth C., born November 23d 1839, now Mrs. Horace D. Badger; 
Charles M.,mnborn December 9th 1842, who married Susie Fletcher and died, January 11th 1870; 
George P., born September 18th 1849, married to Clarissa E. Sammons; and
Anna Valentine, born August 9th 1856.

Charles H. Clement.- Among the noted supervisors of the town of Hempstead 
stands the name, of. Charles. H. Clement. He was born in the village of Hempstead, 
on the 20th of June 1831; was educated in the city of New York, at the Chichester 
grammar school, and studied medicine and surgery at the Bellevue Medical College. 
He is at present a farmer.

He is a descendant from the Clement family of England, one of whom emigrated to
this country in 1625, and settled, in Flushing, where C.H. Clement’s great-
great- grandfather lived and served as chief justice of the colony, receiving
his commission from King George III. In 1721 the latter was ordered to Jamaica
to put down a riot at that place, and he is said, to have achieved a great
triumph. The Clement family is nearly extinct in this country. Mr. Clement was
elected supervisor of the town in 1878 over a popular Democratic veteran This
was his first official position, and so well did he conduct the affairs of the
town that he was again elected to his responsible and important office Since
that time Mr. Clement has been the successful leader of the Republican party in
the town, haying been successively elected supervisor for the past four years.
Through, his industry and attention to the financial affairs of the town its
revenues have been largely in creased and its expenditure decreased. The leasing
of Long Beach will be remembered as one of the projects in which he was
earnestly engaged, and by the efforts put forth in that connection the town now
receives for a hitherto worthless tract of land the annual rental of’ $1,000.
Mr. Clement has undoubtedly received the support of his fellow townsmen
irrespective of party.

Mrs. E.H. Onderdonk.- Among the, notable residents of the village of Hempstead 
is Mrs. Eliza Handy Onderdonk, widow of the late Rt. Rev. Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk, D.D., 
formerly bishop of the diocese of New York. She is residing with her son, the Hon. Henry M.
Onderdonk, editor of the Inquirer, and is in the 87th year of her age, and still
in the enjoyment of good health. She has in her possession the folio prayer book
rescued from the desk of Trinity Church, New York, at the, time of the burning
of that edifice on the 21st of September 1776, during the occupancy of the city
by the British troops, when about one thousand houses were destroyed. - It is an
interesting relic of the Revolutionary times, and bears upon the cover-the-marks
of the fire from which it was snatched while the building was in flames.

THE OLDEST INHABITANTS.
Robert A. Davidson, M.D., was born November 28th 1793, and
settled in Hempstead in 1813. He has been engaged in, the practice of medicine
over sixty years. He is an active member and elder in the Presbyterian church,
and respected throughout the community.

Bernardus Hendrickson, attorney and counsellor at law, is one
of the old residents of Hempstead and of the county. He was born in Jamaica,
February 14th 1807, and has resided in, Hempstead village since 1828. His memory
goes back to the time when there were only two houses on Fulton street. His
father, Samuel Hendrickson, was a native of Jamaica.

Zachariah Story, of Christian Hook, 94 years old, is a native
of Hempstead, and for many years has lived on the old homestead. He remembers
the era of log buildings and a sparsely populated town. In the spring of 1881
Mr. Story was in the enjoyment of good health.
Harry Sammis was born December 23d 1797 and is 83 years of
age. He has from youth been a farmer and hotel- keeper.

Mrs. Snedeker, 95 years old, is the mother of the late Isaac Snedeker.

Henry Mott, Valley Stream, was born February 8th 1807. His father died in 1849, 
aged 92 years. Mr. Mott remembers when there was only one house at Pearsalls.

Nathaniel Smith, Hempstead village, was born January 7th 1790,
and is therefore 91 years old, A large number of friends called on Mr. Smith and
were welcomed on the occasion of his ninety- first birthday.
Elizabeth Johnson was 91 years of age December 4th 1880.

Mrs. D. Rhodes, of Freeport, 77 years old, should be mentioned among the oldest residents.

Latton Smith is a native of the county, and has been a
business man in Hempstead for many years; he is 73 years old,

Peter T. Hewlett, of East Rockaway, was born in 1792. His
father, Oliver Hewlett, moved into the house where P.T. now lives in April 1800.
He has been a farmer and carriage- maker. He is a member of St. George’s
Church at Hempstead, and assisted at the raising of the frame.

William Caffray was horn in county Kildare, Ireland, February
28th 1805, and came to America in 1834, settling at Far Rockaway, where he has
since resided. At that time what is now Far Rockaway village was the commons,
there being only two or three houses on the beach besides the Pavilion
(destroyed by fire), the erection of which was commenced in 1832 and finished in
1834. It was built by a company of sixty gentlemen from New York. Mr. Caffray
was for several years a laboring man, but in 1845 purchased what is now the
Transatlantic Hotel, of which he has since been proprietor.

Thomas Jeffrey was born in England, in 1805, and settled in Jerusalem about 1835, 
clearing his farm from a wilderness of bushes and briars, He has made the raising of 
trout a business during a number of years, and is the owner of several fine ponds, 
Near his residence he points out what he claims to be the largest apple tree in the 
State, which he planted and has watched in its growth.

Daniel Langdon was born at Grassy Pond, in 1796. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and in 1881 was yet an active man, walking two miles to do his trading at the 
"old Smith store," near Rockville Center.

Alden J. Spooner, of Hempstead, was stricken down by apoplexy Tuesday evening 
August 2nd 1881. He was the founder of the Long Island Historical Society, 
a member of the Hamigon Society, and a member of the Society of Old Brooklyn. 
His contributions on historical subjects to various publications were highly praised. 
He practiced law for many years. He was 71 years of age.

Samuel N. Searing has been a resident of Hempstead since 1814.
He has been a merchant, and has held the office of village trustee. Dr. James
Searing is remembered as an old resident, at one time residing in the Harper
residence. He died at the age of 74 years.

JERUSALEM.
One of the earliest permanent English settlements in the
eastern part of Queens county was made at Jerusalem, on a tract of land which
comprised about all the territory of the present town of Hempstead; east of the
brushy plains and north of the islands in the South Bay.

Its limits may be defined as follows: Starting at a point on
the South Bay a little west of Jackson’s Creek and running about north, near
the present residence of A.D. Frye, following the west edge of the swamp up to
the head of the west branch of the stream, and thence northwardly along the edge
of the brush and pines to the Bethpage turnpike; thence eastwardly to the
present Oyster Bay line; thence southwardly by the same to the bay at a creek
known as the Island (or Seaman’s Island) Creek; and westwardly by said creek
to the place of beginning.

This tract was about two miles from east to west, and about
five miles from north to south. It contained at least six thousand acres, and at
the first settlement about one thousand acres on the north end were open rolling
prairie, without trees; four thousand acres were covered by a heavy growth of
red, white, black and other oaks, chestnut, hickory, black and white beech,
maple, tulip, pepperidge and other varieties of trees. On the south end,
bordering the bay, were from 1,200 to 1,500 acres of the never failing black,
grass, salt and sedge meadows. A large stream known as the Jerusalem River,
having five tributaries, ran nearly the whole length of the tract on the western
edge. Two other creeks (salt water) intersected the meadows, and ran well up
into the upland, dividing the meadows into three necks; the westernmost one was
called Great Neck; the middle one, by the Indians, Muskachong, or Half Neck; the
east one Ruskatux or Seaman’s Neck. The stream dividing Hempstead from Oyster
Bay flanked the eastern limits of the purchase. The present flourishing village
of Seaford is near the head of Ruskatux Neck, and Ridgewood near the head of
Great Neck. The farming tract along the sides of the brooks and their sources is
still called Jerusalem, although the post- office and station is Ridgewood. A
settlement on the northeastern limits is known as East Broadway, while the
northern portion is still called Plain Edge. On the banks of the creeks, both on
Ruskatux and Great Necks, are still left many thousand loads of clam shells,
showing that multitudes of the red men must have made them feasting places,
perhaps for ages. The resident Indians of the tract were of the Marsapeague
tribe, of whom Tackapousha was the sachem.

This tract appears to have claimed the attention of Captain John Seaman and 
Robert Jackson while acting as a pioneer committee, prior to the permanent settlement at 
Hempstead made by the colony from Stamford, Conn., in 1644, and a large part of it to 
have been secured by Captain John Seaman from the Indians at that time; as more than 1,500 
acres of the same, lying, east of the township purchase of the Indians and the Governor 
Kieft patent, including all the meadows and uplands of Ruskatux Neck, were held by him 
individually. The selection of such a body of land shows the remarkable sagacity of 
these two men; for it is almost certain that the same compact quantity of land of equal
fertility cannot elsewhere be found within the limits of the county. At that
time on the prairie portion the tall waving grass rose in height to their saddle
bows. The timbered portion was mostly a rich sandy loam, on which wheat was
grown for many years without any manure, and now with the aid of suitable
fertilizers the yield in quantity and quality is fully equal to that of any
portion of the State. The beautiful rippling brooks with their white pebbly
bottoms and waters of unexcelled sweetness, and swarming with the gamy speckled
trout, were continually flowing seaward, with a descent of twenty feet to the
mile, giving ample water powers. The wild grapes everywhere hung in luxuriant
clusters, while the never failing grass of the salt meadows rendered a dearth of
food for vast herds of cattle an impossibility. In the first settlement there is
no evidence of any other proprietors than these two men and their families.
Captain John Seaman had eight sons and eight daughters. Six of his sons made
their first homes on the purchase, and as patentees or proprietors of the town.
Robert Jackson had two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, John, also made
his home on the purchase, and these two and John’s children took up nearly
one- fourth of the tract, about a mile in width and three in length north and
south, it being the southwest corner of the tract. It is pretty certain that
Captain John Seaman, his sons and one or two families with whom the children
intermarried, Linningtons and Allens, took up and held up to the date of Captain
John’s death nearly all of the other three- fourths of the purchase. The will
of John Seaman the elder, dated August 25th 1694, gives to his sons some 2,700
acres, 2,200 of which were in the Jerusalem purchase; to his son- in- law,
Nathaniel Pearsall, 150, which, added to former gifts and the holdings of the
other children, would about take up the timber and meadow lands. The plains not
fenced at a certain date, were wrested from the proprietors in a suit with the
town in after years.

About the year 1680 Nathan Birdsall appears to have acquired the land along the sides 
of the north half of the west stream and the upland, some five hundred feet in, width, 
between the stream and brushy plains. A ditch some two miles long is still left at 
the brush edge, known as "Birdsall’s ditch.

THE SEAMAN FAMILY
Captain John Seaman (who with six of his sons may be classed
as the first settlers of Jerusalem) came to this country from England not far
from the year 1635, and nothing certain of his early life has as yet been
discovered. The traditions of the family are that it is of the Danish stock
which settled in England after the repulse of the Danes by King Alfred. The
heraldic arms of Captain John and copies since taken by some other members of
the family from the herald’s offices in England seem to bear out this idea, as
the crest, a sea- horse, and the motto, "We make our name known by our
deeds," seem to indicate that they were men of the sea; and the records of
Norfolk and, it is said, of Northumberland also, show that the bearers of the
name (in Norfolk county spelled Symonde) and the device antedate the Norman
conquest, while those of Cornwall claim for the Symondses, its most influential
family, a continental origin from the Counts of Severgne. Be the origin as it
may, this man nobly bore out the motto in its best sense. He emphatically made
his name known by his deeds. In the sketch of Captain John Seaman by Charles B.
Moore (see Genealogical and Biographical Record; Vol. XI. No. 4, and
other papers contributed by the same, and Onderdonk’s "Queens County in
the Olden Times" and "Annals of Hempstead," to which gentlemanthe writer of this 
is indebted for very many valuable facts) it is evident that a very large part of 
Captain John’s time from 1656 to 1695 must have been taken up in transacting the 
difficult work of the Hempstead colony. In addition to the above work at one time he 
was employed by Suffolk county to act for it in a very important matter. That in 
addition to his great abilities he loved and practiced justice and fair dealing is 
proven by the fact that no complaints were ever made by the Indians against him for 
wrong done them, as was so common with most of the proprietors and settlers. Once, 
when the Indians had planned a general massacre of the whites, a friendly Indian gave 
him timely notice and the calamity was averted. While he was a serious man he was 
also a staunch friend to religious liberty and not much inclined to a belief in 
witchcraft. (See town records, 1665.)

Being also one of the largest proprietors of the town in the
township purchases of the Indians, and by the patents of Governors Kieft, Nicoll
and Dongan, after settling six of his sons at Jerusalem- probably because his
almost constant employment in some public trust or embassy bad made it
impossible to carry on his very extensive stock and farming operations- he
appears to have removed with his youngest two sons, Nathaniel and Richard, to
Hempstead village. At the date of his will, in 1694, he appears to have been
residing at ‘what he calls "the home lot, adjoining the land of James Pine."

Space does not permit the tracing of the sons further than
that one of the grandsons of John and his descendants settled in Hempstead and
one, Joseph, became the founder of a very large family at Little Egg Harbor, New
Jersey. Of Jonathan’s descendants very many went to Kakiat, on the Hudson, and
some from there to Virginia. Others were ancestors of the Seamans of Jericho,
Jamaica and New York.

The oldest branch of the children of Benjamin went to Staten
Island; the others remained at Jerusalem. Two sons of Solomon went to Maryland,
the rest settled near Hempstead village. Most of the descendants of Samuel
settled over in Suffolk county.

Most of the descendants of Thomas lived around Jerusalem in 1800.

One branch of Nathaniel’s descendants is still at Hempstead, and one settled at Westbury. 
Richard’s children settled near Success, Hempstead Harbor and Jericho, in Oyster Bay.

There are now living of the Seamans from one to two thousand, located in the States 
and a few in Canada.

Of the daughters of Captain John Seaman Elizabeth married Robert Jackson’s son John. 

Most of the Jacksons of Long Island and New York, and many in the other States, have 
descended from this pair; as also the numerous descendants of William and Phebe Jones, 
of West Neck, Oyster Bay. 

Of these their son Justice Samuel Jones, one of the most eminent jurists of his
time, and his sons Chancellor Samuel, Judge David S.; Major William and their
descendants would form a long list of men holding the highest .social and
official positions in the State for more than one hundred years. Sarah Seaman
married a Mott. Their descendants are numerous; of high character and some of
them noteworthy. 
-Martha Seaman married Nathaniel Pearsall. A noted family has followed their union, 
of whom General James B. Pearsall, of Glen Cove, is a present representative. 
-Deborah Seaman married a Kirk; there have been several noted men of this family. 
-Benjamin C. Kirk, of Glen. Cove, is directly descended from them. 
-Hannah Seaman and one other daughter married Caleb and Joshua Carman, and they have 
numerous and highly respectable descendants. 
-Mary married Thomas, son of Henry and brother of Nathaniel Pearsall; theirs was another 
much respected and quit numerous family, from whom Gilbert Pearsall, late of
Flushing, directly descended.

Of the sons of Captain John Seaman, from Jonathan descended
Isaac Seaman, an officer in the colonial force which assisted General Wolfe in
the capture of Québec. He was the grandfather of Alfred Seaman, now of Seaford.
Also Zebulon Seaman, a very prominent member of the Colonial Legislature for
many years, and his son Zebulon, lieutenant of the Jerusalem militia, 100 strong
who joined the patriot army at the outbreak of the Revolution, and his second
son, John W., of the Oyster Bay militia, 125 in number, who served through the
war and was surrogate of Queens county for many years; and John W. Seaman’s
grandson, the late Hon. John A. Searing, member of Congress from the first
district of New York. From Benjamin, third son of Captain John, we trace the
Benjamin Seaman who was chairman of the New York committee of correspondence in
the early Revolutionary days, and whose report "that all attempts of single
States must prove futile- that the efforts and organization should be made
continental," is supposed to have given origin to the words "Continental Congress." 

In later years his descendant Henry I. Seaman, of Staten Island, was also a 
representative in Congress from the first district of New York. Alderman Benjamin 
B. Seaman, of the twenty-third ward of Brooklyn, is also a descendant of Benjamin 
of Jerusalem. From Jonathan and Richard descended Jordan Seaman, a sturdy patriot 
of the Revolution, a judge of Queens county, and brother- in- law to John W. and 
Zebulon; and his son Henry Onderdonk Seaman, for many years years a justice of 
Hempstead, county judge, member of Assembly etc. 

From Thomas, the sixth son of Captain John, w trace James M. Seaman, of Ridgewood, 
who for many years held the office of justice of the peace for the town of Hempstead, 
was associate justice of the supreme court etc.

THE JACKSONS.
Of Robert Jackson but little is known prior to the purchase,
except that he was also one of the original settler of Stamford, Conn., in 1640-41. 
His family record states "A portion of the settlers of Stamford, becoming dissatisfied, 
sent a committee over to Long Island in 1643 who succeeded in making a purchase of the 
Indians; an in April 1644 the company crossed the sound to Hemp stead Harbor, and began 
the settlement on the present site of Hempstead village. Robert Jackson and wife were 
of this company."

He was active in the affairs of the town for many years. His will, dated May
25th 1683, mentions sons John and Samuel, daughters Sarah (wife of Nathaniel
Moore), and Martha (wife of Nathaniel Coles). His son John, who was also a
patentee of the town from Governor Kieft and from Governor Dongan in 1685,
married Elizabeth, oldest daughter of Captain John Seaman. He was a very
influential man; was high sheriff of Queens county from 1691 to 1695; in the
Legislature from 1693 to 1709 and from 1710 to 1716; justice of the peace in
1707; one of the county judges from 1710 to 1723, and after the death of his
father- in- law seems to have been selected for the most important town affairs
until his death, in 1725.

From Robert Jackson descended his distinguished son Colonel John and grandson Colonel John 2nd; 
also the Hon. Thomas B. Jackson, who died recently at Newtown, for many years a justice of 
the peace for Hempstead, county judge and member of Congress for the first district; and 
his brother James, a justice for Hempstead and county judge.

PRODUCTS OF THE TRACT.
No record is known of the first crops raised here, but corn
and wheat were always staple products of the tract, and the Seamans and the
Jacksons were at a very early day large stock owners. No date can be fixed for
the planting of the first orchards, but many acres of apple trees of great age
were, to be seen fifty years ago on the farms of the Seamans, and a great number
of pear trees on those of the Jacksons. The farm called Cherrywood, on which the
first house was built, came by descent from Captain John to his sixth son,
Thomas; from Thomas to his first son, John; from John to his third son, Thomas;
from Thomas to his son- in- law Zebulon Seaman (a descendant both of Richard and
Jonathan) and daughter Mary; from Zebulon and Mary his wife to their son Ardon,
and from Ardon to his son Edward, H. Seaman, the present owner. On this farm an
apple tree known to successive generations of the family as the old apple tree
was standing and bore fruit until 1870, when from decay it became necessary to
cut it down. This was done by Albert W. Seaman, counsellor at law, 116 and 117
South street, New York (a son of the present owner). The age of the tree had,
been passed down from father to son, and it was then two hundred and eight
years. Some of the wood from this tree now makes as beautiful frame, which
encloses a copy of John Durand’s fine engraving of William Cullen Bryan, a
verse of Bryant’s poem on "Planting the Apple, Tree," ‘and his autograph, dated April 1872.

The tract is now noted for its crops of wheat, rye, oats and hay and its large export 
of milk, known as Ridgewood milk; while potatoes, root crops, pickles, onions, poultry, 
eggs, brook trout and cider are annually produced in large quantities.

OLD ROADS AND HOUSES.
When the place was settled is not positively known, but it is
supposed to have been in 1644. From the first settlement, a few hundred feet
east of the stream called the Jerusalem River and its most eastwardly branch.
There seems to have been a road or highway leading from the salt meadows; its
course was about north 14° east to, the great plains; thence north about 20°
west to Jericho.

The south end of this road was called Jerusalem lane, and ran
through nearly the middle of the Jackson purchase; and just where the east and
west line between Jackson and Seaman crossed this road another road ran off
nearly due east, until it passed the Jackson east bounds and divided. One branch
or path ran on the line between Jackson and Seaman to the meadows, and was
called the Half- Neck path. The other branch extended east about half a mile,
and then ran off south to the meadows, and was called the Seaman’s Neck path,
subdividing Seaman’s south part of the purchase. About 450 feet north of the
intersection of the Seaman’s and Half- Neck road with the Jerusalem lane and
Jericho road (making what are now S. Bartholomew and E.H. Seaman’s corners),
and about 120 feet east of the present line of the north and south road, was
built by Captain John Seaman the first chimney and house of the white man ,on
the purchase.

Robert Jackson is said to have built soon after, also on the
east side of the lane, about 300 feet south of the corners. For some time these
two pioneers, although within 800 feet (including the road) of each other, had
the almost impassable wilderness of about sixty miles on the east of them to
the nearest white settlement in that direction, and on the west the
settlement at Hempstead, which could not then be reached short of eight miles.
The road north of the corners subdivided the north part of Seaman’s lands. On
this north part five of Seaman’s sons- John, Jonathan, Benjamin, Solomon and
Samuel- as they grew to manhood made their homes; Thomas, the sixth son,
remaining under the old roof tree.

South of the corners, on what was called the lane, the Jacksons, sons and grandsons, 
in due time built southward until they reached the shore. John first built a brick 
house on the farm, a portion of which is now owned by a descendant, Robert B. Jackson, 
of Seaford, and another portion by Elbert Jackson, another descendant. 

Samuel built on the west side of the road a house long held by descendants of the family; 
now owned by E. and G. Smith.

The first roads were undoubtedly those described above, and
opened by the first owners. After the Birdsalls had become the owners of the
upper end of the west stream, and the mill thereon at the lower end of their
section of the tract, a road was opened from the mill which ran nearly north for
a mile on the west side’ of the stream and then crossed it, and was continued
on to the open plains. This road has been closed for many years. A very crooked
path was also opened to Hempstead and Westbury, called the "Cross
lane," near where the present north road to Hempstead now leaves Jerusalem.
The present Seaman’s Neck road was opened some years later, and both Half-
Neck and Seaman’s Neck paths were closed or disused.

With the construction, of time Hempstead- Babylon turnpike, which crossed the south 
end of the whole purchase, it is probable that the first substantial bridges were made 
on the dam of the old Jackson pond and near Seaford; and all the other bridges, of which 
there are now many small ones, are of recent construction.

The old post road east crossed the south edge of the purchase.
A post- office called Jerusalem South was obtained about 1836. Samuel S. Jones
was postmaster. Previous to that time mail matter had been brought by stage from
Brooklyn after about 1776. John Jackson and John C. Birdsall drove from the
place once a week. There are now two post- offices, Ridgewood and Seaford, with
a daily mail twice each way.

EARLY MARRIAGES AND, BURIALS.
The best record of the marriages is to be found in the monthly
meeting records of the Society of Friends at Westbury and Jericho, as very many
of these early settlers belonged to those meetings; and a little later in the
parish records of St. George’s Church, Hempstead. A marriage list containing
the names of 164 of the Seamans, descendants of Captain John Seaman, with the
dates from 1726 to 1825, is to be seen in Ardon Seaman’s genealogical record
of his family, and most of them were residents of Jerusalem at the date of marriage.

The Seamans generally buried on the farms of the descendants
of Benjamin and Thomas, but those portions of the farms which contained them
have all passed into the hands of strangers, and nearly every vestige of these
burial places has become obliterated. In consequence of the removal of most of
the old stock and the establishment of a large burial ground by the Friends in
1827, these plots ceased to be used, and now probably not one headstone is left
standing above the resting places of the pioneers. The Jacksons have preserved a
family ground since 1744, and the graves are generally well marked. The first
burial therein was that of Phebe, daughter of the second Colonel John Jackson
and wife of William Jones of West Neck, Oyster Bay.

SCHOOLS.
Of early school- houses there is nothing authentic. Thomas
Seaman, a great- grandson of Captain John by Benjamin and his fourth son,
Solomon, was known as the schoolmaster. There were probably a few other teachers
before him. In the next generation and between 1780 and 1800 Joseph Birdsall, a
grandson of Nathan, taught a school at Jerusalem. Following this, John Garner,
who married a daughter of Joseph Birdsall, had the school for many years. Many
of the descendants of both Joseph Birdsall and John Garner are now living at
Jerusalem and are very influential citizens. 

The first school- house (District No. 5) is said to have been built soon after 
the Revolution; another was built on the same site about 1800. A new building was 
erected near the old site about 1842, and about 1876 a new site was chosen and a 
house built thereon not far from the old site.

District No. 6, Seaford, organized a school about 1830, which is now large.

BUSINESS BEGINNINGS.
By town records Henry Linnington, from whom Stephen Linnington,
late merchant in Front street, New York, and Abraham Linnington, New Lots, are
descended, appears to have had a mill at Jerusalem from 1660 to 1683. He was the
father-in-law of Captain Seaman’s fourth son, Solomon; there seems nothing
certain to fix the location of the mill. It was sold to Cyrus Whitmore and the
buildings were removed many years since. January 23d 1705 John Jackson obtained
from the town the whole privilege of Jerusalem River for a grist and fulling-
mill, and a grist- mill was built near the meadow edge. This has since been
owned by his descendants.

Thomas Jackson early in 1800 built a dam about three- quarters
of a mile up the stream, on which were built a fulling- mill and a saw-mill,
operated for many years and eventually owned by Cyrus Whitmore; these mills were
burned about 1860. The property soon after passed to James M. Seaman; the saw-
mill was rebuilt and run a short time, then removed and a paper-mill erected,
which has ‘been operated by him since about 1875.

The Birdsalls had a grist- mill in 1776; the date of building
is not known. It was located about half a mile further up the stream than the
Birdsalls’. It appears to have passed to Michael Combs, then to Cyrus Whitmore
and his sons; and it is now owned by Edgar Seaman, a descendant of Thomas.
Benjamin Seaman built a dam on the head of Seaman’s Creek
about 1820. A grist- mill and paper- mill were built and the grist- mill was
operated many years. It is now leased by Edgar Haff and is run as a moulding,
scroll and upright saw- mill.

The wheelwright shops of Micajah Southard & Sons and of Samuel Verity & Sons 
(still run by descendants) had a reputation for the excellence of their work at an 
early day. A tannery established by a company of the, settlers about 1835 or 1840 stood 
within 300 feet of where the first house was built. It soon passed to Henry H. Hewlett, 
and was discontinued after a few years. The building is now used by Lee & Brother as a 
fly-net factory.

The main trading point down to 1830 was at or near the Seaman and Jackson corners, 
where the present road from Hempstead to Seaford crosses the old Jerusalem road.
 
A tavern appears to have, been kept up nearly two hundred years on one or another of the 
corners, and sometimes on both. Of the keepers there is no record, but the buildings were 
large enough for ample accommodations and the amount of custom was considerable until 
the construction of the Hempstead and Babylon turnpike and post road near the shore. 
The old John Jackson tavern (now A.D. Frye’s residence) and Uncle Jim Smith’s Sportsmen’s
Hotel, Jerusalem South (now Seaford), then took the places of the old stands.

The tract, always noted for its healthfulness, never had a resident physician until 1866. 
The early settlers were members of, or had a leaning to, the Society of Friends, but there 
was no settled meeting or preacher prior to 1820, and there were no lawyers prior to 1870. 
It was a remark of an old inhabitant, in 1843, that "Jerusalem never had a lawyer, doctor or
priest, and now has no liquor sold in its limits." This applied to the present farming district.

RELIGIOUS EFFORTS.
Onderdonk’s "Friends of Long Island and New York"
says: "At Jerusalem meetings were early held at private houses. In 1697 it
was agreed that meetings should be kept every five weeks, on First days; 1699,
Roger Gill and Thomas Story had meetings, peaceable and pretty large, at
Benjamin Seaman’s; 1791, a First day meeting was appointed at Thomas Seaman’s
once a mouth, but discontinued in 1793." About 1820 a meeting appears to
have been held weekly at private houses. In 1827 Jericho monthly meeting built a
meeting- house 34 by 28, 14- feet posts, at a cost of $965, on the east side of
the main road, about 1,000 feet north of the old corners. Meetings of the
society have been held continuously since the building was erected. Ardon
Seaman, who was a recommended minister of the society, belonged to this meeting
from its creation until his death, in 1875; and for a period of fifty years was
earnest in his efforts to awaken and keep alive the religious and high moral
feeling in the community which surrounded him in the home of his fathers.
The meeting continued to be well attended so long as the descendants of the early 
settlers held the land, but as strangers, belonging to other, denominations, have 
taken the place of most of them, the Friends’ meeting and resident membership are 
now very small. In the meantime there has been for many years an active organization 
of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Bridge, just outside the bounds of the 
purchase, with a branch and meeting- house at Seaford. A German Methodist mission 
church at the Plain Edge and a church edifice at Bellmore, owned by the Presbyterians, 
have in part met the religious wants of the community.

DEGENERACY AND REFORM.
The early settlers, being also proprietors in the town
purchase, were more than usually large land holders, and as they had the plains
on the one hand for summer pasturage, and the meadows at the south for winter
food for live stock, the increase thereof became very rapid. Added to this was
the fertility of the virgin soil, on which wheat grew well on every clearing,
and corn only needed a fair amount of care to yield abundantly, and the sons and
grandsons were soon in affluent circumstances. The orchards by this time began
to yield bountifully, and cider became a year- round beverage. A number of negro
slaves were held in each family, and the great grandchildren soon began to
suffer from the dissipation which must almost of necessity follow where a whole
community felt no necessity for work.

At that time Jerusalem lane (some two and one-half miles long, four to five rods wide, 
and kept almost as smooth as a modern race-track) was well known to the sporting world. 
Some of the finest racing stock of the time was kept in the stables of Jacob Seaman 
and others.

Scarcely a week passed but a crowd gathered at the corners at least twice, if not 
oftener, for sport of some sort.

On one occasion, when tired of seeing the horses run a number of the slaves were entered, 
and one fellow, good runner but supposed to be lazy, was followed with a long whip by 
the one who entered him; the parties were well known to the writer. The result of this
dissipation soon began to show itself. The masters did no work and very many of them became 
poor. The slaves did not work very hard, but they did eat up the hogs the hogs had eaten 
up the corn, and the successive heavy yields of corn had so completely exhausted the soil 
as to have literally almost eaten it up.

In 1800 the Jerusalem purchase was about as poor in many senses of the word as it was 
possible to make it. Vegetation would wither at the slightest drought; not more than 25 
to 30 tons of timothy or clover hay was cut from the entire tract.

But there was a latent manhood left, and soon after this date
the spirit of the children of the men who subdued the original forest, was
aroused, and found equal to the task of redeeming and renovating the lands of
their forefathers. One or two earnest men were instrumental in breaking up the
racing in the highways. The farms were divided up, and necessity obliged the
owners to go to work; and harder working owners of the soil from that day to
this cannot be found elsewhere. The use of wood ashes as a fertilizer by one or
two men, with remarkable results, was followed by a general use thereof; this by
stable manure, fish, ground bone, guano, &c.; until to- day the cultivated
portion of the purchase yields at least 1,200 tons of hay, timothy and clover,
and in wheat and corn and nearly every variety of crop is equal in its product
to any similar number of contiguous acres devoted to plain farming to be found
in the State.

The murder of Samuel F. Jones, June 27th, 1873, for which Lewis Jarvis and Elbert Jackson 
(negroes) were executed January 15th 1875, was committed at Jerusalem. The author of the 
reference to this affair on page 51, after that page had been printed, corrected the name 
of the victim as there erroneously given.

JERUSALEM’S SOLDIERS.
From the Birdsalls, who intermarried with the Seamans and Jacksons, descended Colonel 
Benjamin Birdsall, of Revolutionary fame, and Senator John Birdsall, representing the 
district in the State Legislature. Jerusalem furnished a large quota for the war of 1812, 
but without a full list no names will be given.

Jerusalem purchase was well represented during the Rebellion.

Company H 119th New York (Captain B.A. Willas, himself a descendant of one of
the early settlers) was nearly filled from this territory. Very few of the name
of Seaman or Jackson were then living within its limits. From this cradle of the
families, ‘however, went:
-Surgeon Edgar Jackson, a young man of great promise, who lost his life in the service; 
-Henry P. Jackson, 
-Samuel Jackson Jones
-Albert Jones, 
-Captain Obadiah Jackson Downing, of the Harris cavalry, who did much hard fighting 
	and suffered much from imprisonment. 
-Oscar C. Jackson also represented in part the Jackson stock; 
-while John W. Seaman, 95th New York, who was severely wounded and disabled at the battle 
	of the Wilderness in 1864;
-Gilbert Seaman, Charles Seaman and Platt Seaman, noted sharpshooters, 
-Valentine Seaman and others of the old stock "made their names known by their deeds." 
-Captain John Birdsall, a representative of the blood of the Seamans and Jacksons, as 
	well as that, of the name he bore, was among the early volunteers.


ROCKAWAY BEACH.
This great summer resort is nearly five miles long, and from
an eighth to half a mile wide. The ocean front is almost a straight line, while
the northern front, on Jamaica Bay, is very crooked. About 1795 seven or eight
hundred acres, including Garry Eldred’s, and from there to the point of the
beach, were owned by Samuel Rider. He sold half of his property, with the
exception of Eldred’s. He sold an undivided half of the rest of the property
to Henry Hewlett. The other undivided half he gave to his son Rothey Rider.
David Jennings obtaining judgment against R. Rider, about 1840, Sheriff F.
Treadwell sold the latter’s undivided half to Henry Hewlett, which gave that
gentleman possession of the whole tract. About five years later the property was
purchased by a Mr. Cowhart, and he failing to pay his interest the property
reverted to the children, and it was foreclosed by Abram Hewlett. It was
purchased in 1853 by James Remsen and John Johnson for $525. At that time there
were no buildings on the beach, with the exception of two or three little hotels
at the upper end. Then the beach was reached by a wagon road and yachts. Now
excursion steamers ply between New York, and the beach, while two railroads run
trains hourly during the busy season. Large hotels, stores, restaurants and
boarding houses have sprung up, until the place is a city in population during
the summer season.

Forty years ago, with the, exception of Saratoga Springs, Rockaway was the most famous 
watering place in America. About the year 1833 the renowned Marine Pavilion was built. 
It was two stories high, and contained about 150 rooms. Its piazza was 200 feet long 
and 25 feet broad. It was consumed by fire in 1864. Since that time have sprung up many 
large hotels at Far Rockaway, the beautiful hotel at Long Beach and those at Rockaway Beach, 
including that colossal structure the Rockaway Beach Hotel.

THE LARGEST HOTEL IN THE WORLD.
In 1881, while not yet completed, a part of it was opened to
the public about the 1st of August. The building is 1,188 feet long by 250 feet
wide. It has several hundred rooms and over 100,000 square feet of piazzas. It
fronts the ocean, and the beach is unsurpassed. Near the hotel are a large
number of bathing houses. The water and gas supply is furnished from the company’s
own words, a Holly pumping machine forcing the water from a large well to all
parts of the hotel. The drainage system is complete; all the refuse matter is
discharged through massive iron pipes at a point distant from the hotel, and is
carried by direct currents into Jamaica Bay. The rooms are heated by steam. The
observatory on the top of the hotel is 200 feet square and there are two
elevators to it. An unobstructed view of the ocean, the bay and the Long Island
country for many miles is obtained from this elevation. The new iron pier,
constructed by the Rockaway Beach Pier Company, is the largest of its kind in
the United States. It extends about 1,300 feet into the ocean, beyond the
breakers, affording water sufficiently deep for landing from large steamers. Its
general width is 31 ½ feet, the pier head being 81 ½; feet wide. Every span is braced.

OTHER HOTELS, ETC.
To James S. Remsen belongs the credit of being the pioneer in
promoting the interests and welfare of Rockaway Beach. He was born at Jamaica,
L.I., October 14th 1813. Mr. Remsen has been proprietor of the Jamaica Hotel for
forty years, and in 1881 was the owner of twenty hotels at the beach, the museum
building, the drug store, and other property. His father, R. Remsen, was a
native of Hempstead. Among the favorite hotels of the beach is the Seaside
House, established many years. The proprietor are James Remsen and William
Wainwright. When Mr. Remsen became a part purchaser of the beach many of his
friends believed him to be deranged, but after long years of earnest work and
the success of his enterprise they have changed their minds. The building is
directly in front of the three piers known as the Seaside Landing, on Jamaica
Bay, where all the steamboats discharge their passengers. It is also neat both
railroad stations, and fronts westwardly on Remsen avenue, the principal
thoroughfare. The building is three stories high, and there are piazzas thirteen
feet wide on three sides of the building. It has accommodations for about 300
guests. The wine room is in-a separate building across the avenue, and on the
main pier is a large restaurant.

On the beach at the other end of the avenue is the Surf Pavilion, commanding a fine 
view of the sea and the new iron pier. This house is on the corner of Eldert’s and 
Ocean avenues, and is very easily reached by a fine plank walk from Eldert’s landing, 
and from the railroad station. 

It has 443 feet frontage on the beach, and affords a magnificent view of the broad
Atlantic. The dancing floor is 80 by 40 feet in the main building, and 40 by 50
feet in the extension. The restaurant seats 125 persons, and refreshments can be
ordered at all hours. The building is one of the best to be found at any seaside
resort, and the dancing platform has the advantage of being inclosed quickly by
large shutters in case of a sudden shower, or a high wind. There are 300 bathing
houses, in charge of polite attendants. Expert swimmers and a lifeboat are
always on duty for the benefits of bathers. The proprietors are Messrs. Harper
& Stumpf.

The extensive and well arranged Metropolitan Hotel is centrally located on Remsen 
avenue, between the Seaside Landing and the beach, and its piazza joins the platform 
of the Long Island Railroad station. The proprietor is Alderman E.E. Datz, of Jersey 
City. The house has a capacious restaurant and lodging- rooms, and a picnic grove 
attached. Besides the above described buildings there are the Atlas Hotel, the Mammoth 
Pavilion, Rutland’s Seaside Pavilion (Holland’s Station), Hillyer’s Surf House, the 
Grand Republic Hotel, East End Hotel, Hammell’s Hotel, Atlantic Park Hotel, the
Holland House, and at Eldert’s Grove, near the railroad depot, the two houses
and six cottages owned by Captain John R. Carney, known as the Captain Jack Hope
House. Hundreds of small buildings used for every variety of business go to make
up the Rockaway Beach of 1881.

Dr. H.C. Van Norman located at Rockaway Beach in 1879, and in 1881 was the only 
physician there. He has an office at 382 West Thirty- second street, New York, near 
Ninth avenue.

A fine livery stable has been opened at Seaside station by John D.S. O’Brien, of Oceanus. 
He keeps every description of carriage and other vehicles, which can be had at any time.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE.
This village is a mile east of Pearsalls on the Southern
Railroad, and there may be found on file in the Queens County clerk’s office a
map made in the year 1854, with the following advertisement:
"The subscribers, having purchased the farm of the late
Rev. Mordecai Smith, on the Merrick and Jamaica Plank Road, nine miles from
Jamaica and three miles from Hempstead village, with a view ‘of extending the
village offer for sale a large number of building lots, fifty feet front and two
hundred feet deep. The site is one unsurpassed within the State for salubrity of
climate and beauty of location. It lies on a natural terrace, commanding an
extensive view of the surrounding country and the lake lately purchased by the
city of Brooklyn as a reservoir for their water works. The Rockaway Bay,
renowned for its abundance of game and shell- fish of all kinds, lies within
less than a mile from the village. The property is partly improved, a post-
office being already established, and stages passing three or four times to and
from the city of New York. Gentlemen wishing a country seat will find it to
their interest to secure lots in said village.
"JOHN P. RHODES, President.

"ROBERT PETIT, Treasurer.

"JULIUS AUERBACH, Secretary."

Previous to the date of the above the nucleus around which the
village had grown consisted of the farm of the late Samuel De Mutt (the father
of John W. De Mott and Elijah P. De Mott) lying on the south side of the plank
road, opposite the Smith farm. This was purchased of the De Motts by the late
Stephen R. Wiggins, who owned it a number of years and sold it to Robert Pettit,
who built a large store and dwelling on the site of he De Mott dwelling, which
had always been kept as a tavern. This in fact was the commencement of the
village of Rockville Centre; it was bounded by the plank road on the north, a
road running through this farm southeasterly to Christian Hook (now called
Oceanville) and to the bay, and another running south to East Rockaway. At this
time there were about half a dozen ancient farm houses in the place. After the
advent of Mr. Pettit and the purchase and mapping out of the Smith farm, which
was on the north side of the plank road (the main country road through the
island) the village began to grow. In 1868 John P. Rhodes bought the farm of
Israel Wright, lying to the north of and adjoining the Smith property, and,
mapping it out at right angles with the former map, added it to the village. The
two farms comprised one hundred acres.

Rockville Centre is on high ground, perfectly drained by the
stream through the valley from Hempstead village to East Rockaway Bay, and
beautified by the succession of lakes which feed the Brooklyn city water works.
The most southern of these formerly belonged to Rev. Mordecai Smith, who
utilized it all his life for grist- mill and carding and fulling machines. In
the western part of the village is what is now denominated the First Methodist
Church, a very handsome edifice, occupying the site of one of the oldest
churches of that denomination on Long Island.

The village has a population of about one thousand, largely
made up of men doing business in the city, and of sea captains and their
families. A large portion of the latter class come from Maine and other eastern
States. The business men find easy access to New York, by way of the Southern
Railroad, which passes through the village. There are three churches. 

Previous to the building of the railroad there were but very
few buildings; one store, a post- office, a weekly paper, the Picket, and
one church. At present there are several stores and three hotels, viz.: 
the La Rosa House, 
the Crossman House (built in 1867 and conducted by W.H. Crossman),
and the Henry House, Edward Denton proprietor. 
Mr. Crossman built the house now used as a store and post- office in 1856. 

-There are three churches, 
-the office of the South Side Observer, 
-the wheelwright shops of Charles H. Losea,
-Freeman E. Eagers paint shop, 
-the blacksmith shop of J.R. Sprague, 
-Thurston’s first- class drug store, 
-the tin shop of James R. Brightman and 
-the large manufactory of A.V.S. Hicks, started in 1871. Mr. Hicks employs about 15
persons, and, besides hand and machine knitting, manufactures sixteen kinds of
hammocks; also tropical beds, school bags, fly nets for horses, etc. 
-Henry Lotz has a livery stable in connection with the Lotz House, and also keeps a lumber,
coal and wood yard. Aside from these there are the usual number of enterprising
professional and business men to be found in a thriving village.

The fire department was organized September 25th by forming a
hook and ladder company. 
November 1st 1875 the following officers were elected:
Foreman John R. Sprague; 
assistant foreman, B.L. Coffin; 
secretary, C. Noye;
treasurer, Jacob F. Cock. 
During the next year a house for a truck was secured, and a truck was built by 
C.H. Losea. Rubber buckets were presented, and in 1877 a neat uniform was obtained. 
The company has a nice house for its apparatus, with everything in proper shape to 
fight the fire fiend.

The following gentlemen have been post- masters in Rockville Centre: 
Root Pettit, 
Frank Wyant, 
Hubbard Smith, 
John H. Reed and Clinton F. Combs.

ST. MARK’S M.E. CHURCH.
For some time previous to 1843 the Jamaica and Rockaway
circuit embraced the village of Jamaica, Far Rockaway, Foster’s Meadow and
that region of country now known under the various names of Pearsalls, East
Rockaway, Rockville Centre and Christian Hook, but which was known at that time
by the general name of Near Rockaway. In the spring of 1843 Jamaica was detached
from this circuit, and the remaining places constituted what was afterward known
as the Rockaway circuit. Rev. John J. Matthias was preacher in charge at the
time of the separation, and the following ministers were successively stationed
over the circuit: 
Revs. H. Hatfield, 
David Holmes, 
S.C. Youngs, 
E.O. Bates,
J.W.B. Wood.

The name Rockville Centre first appears on the record in 1854.
In the minutes of the fourth quarterly conference of that year this church,
which had previously been known as Near Rockaway church, and which was situated
half way between Rockville Centre and Pearsalls, is called Rockville Centre
church. In the same document it is stated that the trustees of a new village
which had just been laid out in the immediate vicinity had offered to the
society "a lot of land with a deed of gift as a site for a new
parsonage." The offer was accepted with thanks. Subsequently Revs. Samuel
H. King and J.D. Bouton were placed in charge of the circuit. In 1857 after
considerable discussion it was decided that two preachers should be employed,
one to be supported by Rockville Centre, the other by Far Rockaway and Foster’s
Meadow. Accordingly in 1858 Rev. W. Gothard was appointed pastor of the church
at Rockville Centre, which thus virtually became a station, although still
united with the other places in quarterly conference. 
The successors of Mr. Gothard were: 
Revs. Charles Stearns, 1860, 1861; 
Henry C. Glover, 1862, 1863;
Rev. Albert Booth, 1864, 1865; 
Rev. John Wesley Horn, 1866; 
Rev. Henry D. Lathan, 1867.

In the year 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. S. Rushmore, a
committee was appointed to ascertain whether sites could be procured at
Pearsalls and Rockville Centre on which to build new churches. Nothing of
importance was done in the matter however until 1870, when Rev. Charles Kelsey
was appointed to this charge. He immediately entered upon the execution of a
plan to build two new churches, and secured the incorporation of St. Mark’s at
Rockville Centre, and St. James’s at Pearsalls.

In August 1870 the society at Rockville Centre erected a temporary building known as 
the "Tabernacle," and services were held in it until the completion of the present
church. A complete and impartial account of the difficulties which followed will
perhaps never be written. Some of the more prominent facts may however be given,
which will not be controverted by any. It was the plan of those who inaugurated
the movement, and afterward announced by the presiding elder, that the two new
churches were "to substitute the old church," which latter was to be
used for burial services and extra meetings.

A very strong feeling of opposition to this plan was excited
in certain quarters and great bitterness was shown toward Mr. Kelsey, who was
finally excluded from the old church. In 1871 Rev. Charles P. Corner was sent to
the three churches, but as the adherents of the old church refused to be
connected with, the new churches, and had so notified the conference, they
refused to recognize Mr. Corner as their pastor and endeavored to prevent him
from occupying the parsonage.

Although unsuccessful in this attempt they afterward gained
possession of the parsonage by process of law. The old church then ceased to be
a Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. William McGinn was appointed to assist Mr.
Corner and the two preached alternately at Rockville Centre and Pearsalls.

On the 11th of August 1871 the corner stone of St. Mark’s church was laid, and 
dedication services were held December 17th of the same year. In the following year 
a new church building was erected and dedicated at Pearsalls, and in 1872 each of 
these places became a station. Rev. W.J. Robinson was the first pastor of St. Mark’s 
church. During the first year of his pastorate a new parsonage was built on a lot 
adjoining the church. Mr. Robinson remained two years and was succeeded by 
Rev. T.C. Hill, who during a successful pastorate of three years was the means of 
greatly strengthening the society. He was followed in 1878 by Rev. F. Brown, who 
served the church for two years and was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. C.H. Beale.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
The following facts were collected by the present pastor, Rev.
R.C. Hulsart, during the year 1881, but it will be impossible to give all the
facts of interest connected with the history of this church, as it dates back
nearly one hundred years.

About 1790 the first church was erected, on the site where the
present beautiful temple stands. The land was donated by Isaac Denton, Esq. Land
has since been purchased and added to the first, from time to time until now the
church is surrounded by a beautiful cemetery, where sleep many of the, fathers
of early Methodism. The first church was 20 by 30 feet, and cost about $1,000.
It had only one door in front, opening directly into the church; it had rough
movable seats and gallery across the front end; it was built without reference
to denomination and all denominations occupied it in turn, but the Methodists
being in the majority it became a Methodist Episcopal church. At this time there
were but two other churches on the island, one a Newtown and one at Searingtown.
Rev. William Phebus, one of the first ministers who preached in it, called it Rehoboth.

In 1817 the church proved too small to accommodate the growing
congregation, and a more commodious one was built in its stead; but the
galleries were not completed until several years afterward, when Christian
Snedeker, one of the trustees, raised about $200 and finished them. In this
condition the people worshiped in it until 1836, when it was lathed and plastered.

During the year 1831 a church was built at Far Rockaway, and
several others were built at the same time at different points on the island,
but all were in one circuit in charge of one preacher.

The society continued to grow and Methodism spread over the
island. The circuit was divided and subdivided, and the time arrived when the
people felt the need of a parsonage here. As this church seemed to be the most
central, a site was selected at Pearsalls, where in 1841 a parsonage was built
at a cost of $800. Rev. Theron Osborn was the first to occupy it, and for about
20 years it was occupied in turn by Rev: Messrs. Hatfield, Mathews, Holmes,
Bowton Stearns and H.C. Glover.

In 1849 the church was lengthened by an addition of 15 feet on
the front; in 1858 it was reseated and otherwise improved at a cost of $600,
which was raised by the ladies of the church.

During the years 1862 and 1863 the parsonage was sold, and a
new one was built near the church at a cost of $1,600. Methodism seemed to grow
rapidly, as well it might with such men as Revs. Nathan Bangs, S. Clark, P.P.
Sanford, Rice, Holmes, Divine, Hunt, Oldrin and Law as leaders.

The list of preachers would not be complete without the name
of Mordecai Smith, whose house was always a home for the preachers. He was a
local preacher many years, but traveled far and near; if at any time a preacher
failed to meet his appointment it was well filled by Mr. Smith. His remains lie
near the church, the spot marked by a plain white marble slab. To his son
Hewlett Smith we are indebted for much of the information here given.
In 1862 and 1863 the old pulpit was cut down and remodeled to
a more modern style. It has been occupied by Francis Asbury, the first Methodist
bishop of America; it was also honored by the presence of Lorenzo Dow and other
heroes of old time Methodism.

From 1858 to 1870 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Messrs. 
Glover, 
Booth, 
Rushmore and Kelsey. During Mr. Kelsey’s administration the
church was divided and built a chapel at Pearsalls and one at Rockville Centre.
In 1871 the society secured the services of Rev. R.S. Hulsart, the present pastor. 
He is a member of the Methodist Protestant conference, and the church has connected 
itself with the same conference. 
In 1874 a new and commodious house of worship was erected, at a cost of $15,000.

During the winter of 1879 and’1880 about two hundred professed to be converted. 
There were in 1881 39 members and 25 probationers.

THE "SOUTH SIDE OBSERVER"."
The South Side Observer, published at Rockville Centre
was founded there in June 1865, by John H. Reed, as six
- column qualto. In 1870 Mr. Reed sold out to George Wallace,
who enlarged the paper and changed its name to South Side Observer, the
first number being issued November 4th of that year. In 1873 Charles L. Wallace,
younger brother, was admitted to partnership in the bus mess, which has since
been in the firm name of Wallace Brothers, publishers. In 1874 George Wallace
relinquished possession of the editorial chair, since which time Charles L. has
been the editor.

The paper has been recently enlarged to a 9- column quarto, and does a very 
flourishing business.

It is the only paper in Hempstead to discard the old fashioned
hand press, and has for years been printed or a cylinder press. It is Republican
in politics, but its chief characteristic is that of a local newspaper. In its
early years it had a severe struggle for existence, but made steady progress
after 1870, and has made rapid progress of late years. It occupies a two- story
building specially built for the purpose, and has one of the largest and best
fitted printing establishments outside of the cities.

PEARSALLS.
For more than a hundred years the site of Pearsalls has been
in possession of persons by the name of Pearsall, two distinct families of the
same name having owned a large portion. Henry Pearsall sen. and family resided
here many years, keeping a small store in an old- fashioned house on the most
prominent corner, where five roads meet, known as "Pearsall’s
Corners." The houses were few and scattering and but little improvement was made.

In 1853 Wright Pearsall, the present owner of the site (who is
not related to the former owners, though of the same name), and his father,
Samuel Pearsall, purchased fifty acres and removed here from Near Rockaway. The
old house was moved, and the present building erected and store opened the
following year. Two lines of stages passed the door- one daily from Freeport
waiting here to be met by one from Near Rockaway, and another every day from
Amityville. 

In 1857 the water works for supplying the city of Brooklyn
with water were commenced, and the aqueduct was built through this place, making
a great deal of stir and activity.

In 1867 the Southside Railroad was commenced, and with frequent communication with 
New York, but is miles distant, Pearsalls began rapidly to improve. Wright Pearsall 
had his land surveyed and laid out in building lots, many of which found ready sale. 
He had a number of houses built, and gave the land for the railroad depot. He donated 
the lot (100 by 200 feet) for the Methodist Episcopal church, and has done much 
toward building up and developing the place. Hamilton W. Pearsall, his son, the 
present proprietor of the store (the former store having been torn down and a new 
store and house built on the opposite corner), is the present postmaster (1881), 
and has assisted in the development of the place. A post- office was established 
here in 1873, mainly through the instrumentality of D.K. Elmendorf, who was the first
 postmaster. The citizens decided to drop "Corners" from the name and call the place 
simply Pearsalls.

Henry Pearsall, a much respected citizen, resided here all his life and was justice 
of the peace twenty- one consecutive years. 
Doctor Julius Auerbach lived here a number of years; 
also D.K. Elmendorf, who promoted the interests of the place.

ST. JAMES’S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was built in 1873, at a cost of about $8,000. The chapel was built in 1870, at a 
cost of $2,500. 

Rev. C. Kelsey was the first pastor of the society, which was organized in 1870. 
He was followed in 1871 by Rev. C.P. Corner, who was assisted the first year by 
Rev. W.W. McGuire and the second year by Rev. E.H. Dutcher. 
In 1873 Rev. Mansfield French became pastor. He died, greatly lamented, at the 
close of his three years pastorate. He was followed in 1876 by Rev. William Platts, 
and he after two years by Rev. C.W. Fordham. A parsonage was built in 1874. T
he Sunday school was organized October 9th 1870, with 74 members; it
has now a membership of 200. Its first superintendent was D.K. Elmendorf; he was
followed by R.H. Young and he by Hamilton W. Pearsall.

SCHOOLS.
The first school- house was built in 1855. Shortly after the
district was organized a plot of ground was bought for $100, and a house was
built thereon for $600. This, at the commencement of the last decade, was found
too small to accommodate the increasing necessities of the district, and about
1874, at a cost of $2,250 for building and furniture, a school- house with two
rooms for as many departments was built. Before that a schoolhouse was kept by
Jeremiah Foster in an old building (since torn down) belonging to Charles Abrams
(since deceased), on Union avenue. After the building of the school- house the
following persons successively taught for periods of three months or more: 
David Tyson, 
Alvah Cummings, 
Thomas H. Wheeler, 
Clinton F. Combs, 
George W. Dickinson,
William F. Dickinson,
Thomas D. Smith, 
Hattie Ketcham, 
Orson H. Pettit, 
Miss Sayres, 
Jeremiah Foster, and John H. Reed, the present incumbent. 

About 1874 the school was divided into two departments, the primary being taught 
by Marietta Foster and subsequently by Julia E. Fowler, who still continues. The most
extended service was performed by Jeremiah Foster, who officiated about seven
years. This school, with the other schools of the town, is in part supported by
what is known as the "Plain" or "Stewart" fund. Since the last school- house was built, 
in 1871, the district has not raised any money by tax on its property except to pay for 
that building, the income from the State and town being sufficient to support the school 
and pay current expenses.

On the 30th of September 1879 there were 215 person between the ages of five and 
twenty- one years residing it the district; and on the 30th of September 1880 then were 226.

MISCELLANEOUS.
In 1875 Charles L. Sherman, machinist, started a manufactory
of sheet and cast metal goods, toys, etc., removing from Brooklyn. He employs on
an average eighteen men, and ships goods to all parts of the country.

In 1879 a fire company was organized, having seven teen
charter members. Their house is on Main street and meetings are held the first
Tuesday of each month. The following are the officers of Rescue Hook and Ladder
Company No. 1: 
Foreman, C.C. Van Dusen; 
assistant foreman, J.W. Dredges;
secretaries, Henry A. Grael and Samuel Thompson; 
treasurer, H.W. Pearsall;
trustees- 
G.A. Mott, 
G.W. Strickland, 
H.A. Graef. No fires of importance have occurred.

James A. Hutcheson, M.D., has been the practicing physician of Pearsalls for the last 
seven years. He is a graduate of the Long Island College, Brooklyn, and is a son of 
Robert Hutcheson, of East Rockaway. Dr, Hutcheson holds the position of county physician, 
visiting the county- house at Barnum’s Island twice each week, and as much oftener as 
circumstances demand.

M.L. Mount, wheelwright and blacksmith, has built up a business in the manufacture 
of ships’ goods which is a credit to the village and the proprietor.

At present this village contains some five or six hundred inhabitants. There are two 
hotels, both near the depot, one recently rebuilt and conducted by Elbert Abrams, and 
the Furman House, conducted by S. Furman, in the upper part of which is a court- room. 
There are six stores, the hot- houses of Sealey Brothers, sash and blind makers, wheelwright, 
blacksmith and carriage shops, meat markets, barber shops, etc., and railroad and telegraph
communications.

A large quantity of oysters is shipped from this point to New York, and many 
gentlemen doing business in the city find here a pleasant suburban home.

MINOR VILLAGES.
FREEPORT.
This beautiful village (former known as Hempstead South, or Raynorville) is one 
of the, oldest of the town. It is on the Southern Railroad, about twenty-three miles 
from Long Island City, and, like Baldwins, borders on the bay. 

It is a great oyster depot, some of the residents being the first to
inaugurate the business on the south side of the island. 
Aside from the depot and school building there are two churches, Presbyterian and Methodist; 
two large hotels, 
-the bakery of Mead & Wright, 
-Golder’s drug store, 
-the grist, flouring and saw mill of Isaac Horsfall, 
-the dry goods and grocery store of Nelson H. Smith and, Franklin P. Smith, 
-the boot and shoe store of William Raynor, 
-the harness shop of J.H. Smith, 
-the barber shop and store of Frederick Blankerhorn, etc. 

-The hotels are managed by B.T. Smith and George D. Smith. Both hotels are first- class. 
The streets of Freeport are well laid out and cared for, and a general air of thrift is 
apparent.

On Saturday February 25th 1837 a committee of gentlemen from New York met Captain 
Raynor Rock Smith, of Freeport, at, the hotel of Oliver Conklin, in Hempstead, and in 
behalf of citizens of the fifth ward of New York presented him with a cup, in recognition 
of his attempt at rescuing the passengers of the bark "Mexico," stranded on the beach.
The cup, now in possession of the family, is described as follows: 
"On one side a device of the ship ‘Mexico’ imbedded in the sand, with the waves
breaking over her. Her helpless crew are seen stretching out their imploring
hands. A boat is making its way to them. A few figures stand upon the beach,
surrounded by masses of ice, which show the severity of the season and the peril
of the undertaking." The reverse side bears the following inscription:
"Reward of Merit, Presented to Raynor R. Smith, of Hempstead South, L.I.,
by a number of his fellow citizens of the fifth ward, as a token of regard for
his noble daring, performed at the peril of his life, in saving the eight
persons from the wreck of the fated ship ‘Mexico,’ on the morning of Jan.
2nd 1837." Raynor R. Smith was born February 27th 1785.

The First Presbyterian Church was
organized about 1849. From a communication from J. Davidson, M.D., of Hempstead,
read at the memorial services held at Freeport, at the close of the twenty-
fifth year of its organization, December 29th 1874, is taken the following
extract in regard to the, early history: "I have lived in this town for
half a century, and of course have been acquainted with every part of it, and I
do not know that in any other part of the town there was so much indifference to
the Sabbath, and to the subject of religion generally, as in Raynor South, as we
then called it. At this time we had in this village Hempstead for our pastor
Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge jr. I saw he was the very man for this work, and at
the proper time I broached the subject to him. He gladly fell in with my wishes,
and told me that if I could get a place to preach in he would gladly preach. I
succeeded in getting the old school- house that stood in the point of the
crossing of the road. Every Sabbath afternoon I went down with him. He preached
and I led the singing. The house could not hold one- half that came. Not long
after the people moved in the matter, and a church was built."

The first house of worship in the village (since turned into a
private dwelling) stood nearly east of the present church. The corner stone of
the present edifice was laid July 20th 1859. The building committee were Samuel
S. Carman, Valentine Smith and G.B. Banks. The building and lot cost $5,500. The
first Sabbath bell in Freeport was heard on the 13th of May 1860. In 1875 Mrs.
Susan Bergen donated to the trustees a lot immediately south of the church and
erected a chapel 28 by 45 feet, which is used for social meetings and Sabbath-
school room. By action of the trustees it was named the "Elizabeth Carman
Memorial Chapel." The following have been pastors: 
Rev. Franklin Merrill, 1847; 
Rev. H.B. Burr; 
Rev. James M. McDougall, 1856- 63; 
Rev. R.G. Hinsdale, 1863, 1864; 
Rev. Charles F. Boynton, pastor in 1881.

Methodist Episcopal Church.- 
While there is no record of the first class formed in Freeport, it is known that Rev.
Jonathan Lyon preached in 1813 at Willett Raynor’s farm house (now owned by
Mr. Graffing). Rev. Thomas Birdsall, in 1881 a local preacher at East Meadows,
was converted at that meeting. At that time a class was led by Parker Baldwin,
at Raynortown. In 1827 Thomas Seaman was leader of a class of eighteen. Services
were held at Wiliett Raynor’s, William B. Raynor’s and Isaac Post’s until
1833, when a small store near the residence of William B. Raynor was purchased
and fitted for religious purposes. It was dedicated by Rev. N. Bigelow, of
Hempstead circuit. From this time for a number of years circuit and local
preachers from Hempstead conducted services, with the exception of a short time
while under the jurisdiction of the Amityville circuit. A Sunday- school was
organized, with William B. Raynor as superintendent, a position which he filled
until the time of his death, in 1867. He was also a class leader. The little
society struggled for existence until the conversion of John C. Raynor, when it
was decided to build a church in the center of the village. The corner stone was
placed in ‘position in 1858. The church was dedicated in February 1859 by Rev.
B. Pillsbury, of Hempstead. Rev. S.N. Snedeker, a local preacher of Hempstead,
supplied the pulpit until July of that year, when the Rev. S.M. Hammond took
charge of the Freeport and Baldwins circuit. In 1872 the two villages were
supplied with different preachers. In 1873 more land was bought and a parsonage
was built. The church was enlarged, and was rededicated by Bishop Simpson
January 16th 1878. The following are the names of the ministers since 1859: 
Rev. S.M. Hammond, 1859, 1860; 
Rev. E. Miner, 1861; 
Rev. A. Booth, 1862, 1863; 
Rev. R. Wake, 1864, 1865 (Freeport only); 
Rev. C.P. Corner, 1866, 1867; 
Rev. F.W. Ware, 1868, 1869; 
Rev. W.W. Clark, 1870, 1871; 
Rev. S.M. Hammond, 1872- 74 (Freeport only); 
Rev. E.S. Hebberd, 1875, 1876; 
Rev. W.R. Webster, 1877, 1878;
Rev. D.S. Stevens, 1879- 81. 
Of W.B. Raynor Rev. S.M. Hammond says, 
"He may be called the father of the modern church in Freeport." 
He was born in 1801, converted in 1823 and was married to Mary Ann Valentine in 1826,.
and until the time of his death, in 1867, served the church in various capacities.
Revivals occurred in 1865, 1872, 1873, 1874 and 1877. The church property is
valued at $4,000, the parsonage at $3,000. The Sunday- school numbers 240 scholars.

FAR ROCKAWAY.
Historians in speaking of Far Rockaway say that the Rockaway
tribe of Indians were scattered over the southern part of the town of Hempstead,
which, with a part of Jamaica and the whole of Newtown, formed the extent of
their claim. It is believed, however, that a greater part of the population was
at Near Rockaway and as far west as the old Marine Pavilion. There was a like
settlement on Barnum’s Island.

The beach at Far Rockaway and for many miles east and west is
undergoing frequent local changes. Many times the surf washes away several rods
in width during a single storm, and perhaps the next storm adds more than has
been removed by the preceding one. The sea often makes inlets to the bays and
marshes and as often fills up others, and for this reason if for no other it is
impossible to correctly give a geographical history of this section.
Of the original settlers the conclusion has been reached that
in 1676 this tract was purchased of the Rockaway tribe by one Cornwell, said to
be a younger son of Lord Cornwall. The right of such sale was subsequently
disputed by the town of Hempstead. Later researches go to prove that the
Cornwell family resided in this section for a number of years. According to an
article recently prepared for publication by Mrs. William J. Kavanagh, Benjamin
Cornwell was the first to conceive the idea of making sea bathing here
remunerative, and to that end he opened a place of entertainment on the site now
known as the old Pavilion grounds. Mention is made of one John Carnagay. His
property was subsequently sold to one of the Mott brothers, of whom there were
six, who in turn sold it to the Healy family The house is on Jamaica Bay, and is
now in the possession of Judge Healy. Another interesting old residence is the
Mott homestead at the junction of the old turnpike road and Mott avenue. The
house, although over one hundred years old, is still in an excellent state of
preservation. Its original owner was Squire John Mott. Among other old buildings
is Rock Hall, built by the, Hon. Joseph Martin, now in possession of the Hewlett
family. The building is a large and imposing structure. The Morton mansion, now
the country seat of Edward N. Dickerson, is situated within the limits of Wave
Crest Park.

During the last half century Far Rockaway has been a fashionable summer resort and 
to- day it is a large village, mainly composed of fine hotels and boarding houses. 
Mention has already been made of the Marine Pavilion, one of the early resorts; 
here it probably was that the following lines were indited by George P. Morris:
On old Long Island’s seagirt shore
   Many an hour I’ve whiled away,
List’ning to the breakers’ roar
   That wash the beach of Rockaway.
Transfixed I’ve stood while Nature’s lyre
   In one harmonious concert broke,
And, catching its Promethean fire,
   My inmost soul to rapture woke.
Oh, how delightful ‘tis to stroll
   Where murm’ring winds and waters meet,
Marking the billows as they roll
   And break resistless at your feet;
To watch young Iris, as she dips
   Her mantle in the sparkling dew,
And, chas’d by Sol, away she trips
   O’er the horizon’s quiv’ring blue.
To hear the startling night- winds sigh,
   As dreamy twilight lulls to sleep;
While the pale moon reflects from high
   Her image in the mighty deep;
Majestic scene where Nature dwells,
   Profound in everlasting love,
While her unmeasured music swells,
   The vaulted firmament above.

Within the last few years Far Rockaway has more than doubled
its resident population. Building lots that were worth $150 in 1875 in 1885 were
valued at three times that amount, and during the fall and winter of 1880- 81 a
large number of buildings were erected. The Wave Crest purchase, comprising the
tract known as the Clark estate, and the land once belonging to the old Marine
Pavilion, enclosed .as a private park, with lodges at the entrance gates,
contain the summer residences of a number of prominent people. The village has a
good school building, a depot, a post- office, built by Mr. Cole, and arranged
for the office and a drug store; an Episcopal chapel, the Catholic church, Rev.
Father Zimmer pastor; St. Mary’s Academy, several stores and a large number of
hotels, among them the United States, St James (L. Corser proprietor), Coleman,
Mansion, Arlington, Atlantic, Wave Crest, Mott’s, etc. Through the energy of
Justice Healy a court- house and public hall was built near the railroad depot
in 1881. At the beach is found every facility for bathing, while at the old and
established landing of J.L.C. Norton boats are always it waiting to carry
passengers to the ocean side.

Trinity Episcopal parish at Far Rockaway has beer divided. It
included Hewletts, Woodburgh and Lawrence. These latter villages will hereafter
constitute Trinity parish, and Far Rockaway will be known as St. John’s
parish. The wardens are William H. Neilson and J.A. Hewlett, and the vestrymen
are Alfred Neilson Hewlett Lawrence, William E. Foote, Joseph Marsden Edward N.
Dickerson, Edward Brinkerhoff, Dr. Whit and Mr. Merrick. A new edifice is to be
erected and the chapel used for Sunday- school purposes.

NEW BRIDGE.
In the year 1818 a new bridge was built over the brook which
separates what was anciently known a Whale Neck from Little Neck; and the name
New Bridge was applied to that section of country bordering on either side of
the bridge. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to change the local
name. Nearly twenty years ago the citizens assembled and resolved thenceforth
to call the place Bridge Haven; but the circumstantial name New Bridge seemed
determine not to pass into oblivion without a struggle.

Tradition describes this place as being the "happy hunting ground" of a band of 
Indians related to the Merrick or the Merikoke tribe, the relics of whom are often 
found by the farmers on this neck of land, which was known and described in ancient 
writings as Little Neck. 

The principal village of this tribe of Indians was on the east side of the New 
Bridge creek or river and on the southerly part of the farms now owned by David Bedell, 
Thomas S. Smith and John D. Cornelius; large heaps of shells extending several feet
into the ground still exist in this locality. These Indians reluctantly removed
from this section in 1658, when the early settlers of the town of Hempstead,
after several unsuccessful efforts, secured from the tribe an amicable settlement.

The original settler of this place was Colonel John Jackson,
who at an early day owned nearly all the land on Little Neck. He resided at one
time in Jerusalem, but later on the site of the residence of Jacob S.J. Jones.

On the 23d of January 1804 he obtained from the town of Hempstead a grant of the
whole liberty and privilege of Jerusalem River for a grist and fulling- mill,
with fifty or sixty acres of land adjoining, which property has descended from
father to the eldest son to the fourth generation. During the Revolutionary
period a British fleet was lying off Jones’s Beach, where General Jacob S.
Jackson (grandfather of Jacob S.J. Jones) was stationed with his brigade for the
protection of the south coast of Long Island. While the general was walking
along the beach at a little distance from his command, a ball weighing about
eight pounds, fired from a British ship, lodged a few feet from him in the sand.
On turning suddenly around he fell. His men, seeing him fall, supposed he was
killed. They ran to his assistance, but found him up and digging for the ball.
They found it and carried it away as a memento. It has since been kept in the
family. When Jacob S.J. Jones came in possession of it with the premises in 1829
he dug a hole by his house, put the ball in the bottom and planted a weeping
willow tree on it, thinking it had made noise enough. The tree grew splendidly
for forty years. Then a violent storm blew down the tree, which was five feet in
diameter; with it a large quantity of earth was taken up and the ball was disclosed.

During the Revolutionary period this region was much molested
by gunboat men who infested the harbors, came up the Jerusalem River, now called
Jackson’s Creek, and raided the mill and farms in its vicinity. At one time
General Jackson was awakened by hearing his negro servant pass through his room
into an adjoining room, where the silverware was kept. In a moment she returned,
bringing it with her, and the next moment was heard a splash. Soon the servant
was at the bedside, saying, "Mas’er, the gunboat men! Mas’er, the
gunboat men!" The general found it was too late to run, which he had
frequently had to do in order to save his life. The windows were barricaded, but
by means of a battering ram the enemy succeeded in breaking in the back hall door. 
They took General Jackson out of bed, shook him around and demanded his
money and silverware. He replied that he had none. At this they became enraged,
again caught hold of him and commenced roughly to push him about the room. In so
doing they backed him against two posts which stood as a support in a part of
the room, between which a sort of till had been temporarily made by the general;
and by their violence he momentarily expected this would give way and expose his
falsehood. Still he obstinately refused to give up anything, and still the old
till kept in its place.

After ransacking the house and finding nothing- for the old
servant had thrown the silverware into the swill barrel for safety- the party
concluded to take General Jackson prisoner, and dragged him down to the bank of
the river. An alarm was given, and in a short time a number of citizens were on
the banks of the stream; but the general was taken on board a British vessel
lying off the coast, and after a few weeks was sent to a place of confinement in
New Jersey. Here he was kept several months. Through negligence on the part of
the keeper he finally escaped in open day, and walked quietly through the fields
to a wood. Once in the woods he no longer, walked quietly, but ran rapidly, and
late in the evening arrived at the quarters of an old negro, who lodged him in a
garret, about large enough for him to turn around in, to which he gained access
through a trap door by a ladder. After directing the old negro to take the
ladder far away from the hut, and if any one came to tell them he had seen
nobody, he quietly closed the trap door and lay down upon it. In the night he
was awakened by the British, who were in search of him; but the old darkey was
faithful to the directions given him, and they proceeded. In the early morning
he resumed his journey, and after several days’ starvation and anxiety he
reached home.

The silverware which was thrown into the swill- barrel for safety .was seen by 
the writer of this account; it bears the initials "O.A.J." (Obadiah and Almy Jackson).

The residence of Jacob S.J. Jones will long be remembered as
the scene of many interesting events. In one of the upper windows may be seen
cut upon a pane of glass the names Phebe Jackson, Mary Jackson and Henry. C.
Bogert, with the date April 17th 1766. Mary Jackson was the wife of Major Thomas
Jones, who was the first white settler on Fort Neck.

HAMLETS AND STATIONS.
East Rockaway, formerly known as Near Rockaway, is located five miles south of the 
village of Hempstead, and four miles north of the Long Beach Hotel. It is a pleasant little 
village, open to the Atlantic Ocean, and contains two stores, one owned by 
Mr. S.S. Rhame, and one in which is located the post- office; 
two hotels, conducted by L.C. Smith and Daniel Pettit; 
a flouring- mill, 
a school building, 
a chapel, and several fine residences.

"Rockaway" was the name of a tribe of Indians who inhabited Hog Island 
(now Barnum’s Island), where many traces of them are to be seen. A few years ago there 
yet remained on the island a mount called "Indian Hill." It was about fifty feet long, 
thirty feet wide and from four to six feet high, composed of oyster and clamshells and 
a little soil.

During the Revolutionary war Colonel Richard Hewlett resided
here. He was an English officer, and had a small regiment of English soldiers at
his residence and under his command. The only monument now existing of their
doings is the remains of a large ditch and an embankment thrown up by these
soldiers around a piece of woodland then owned by him.

At East Rockaway are the pumping engine and well which furnish
water to the Long Beach Hotel and cottages. A neat depot accommodates
passengers. Among the artisans are George Rider & Son, boat builders and
carpenters. Mr. Rider has resided in East Rockaway a number of years, and has
seen a large part of its growth. The village and locality are the home of many
of the old residents of Hempstead, among whom we may mention the names of Peter
Hewlett, Oliver S. Denton and Richard Carman.

The union Sunday- school at East Rockaway was organized in the
district schoolhouse by L.D. Simons as superintendent on Sunday June 9th 1867.
The first teachers were L.D. and W.A. Simons, S.S. Rhame, Mrs. L.D. Simons, Mrs.
R.T. Hewlett and Misses Mary A. Simons and Libbie B. Baiseley. The total number
present at the organization was fourteen, but before the expiration of the year
the membership had increased to fifty or more. At the present time (1882) more
than a hundred names are upon the school’s roll.

In 1877 the subject of the erection of a suitable building for
the use of the school was agitated, resulting in the election of a board of
trustees, who purchased a lot 50 by 150 feet, located on the main street. Ground
was broken for the erection of a building 30 by 50 feet, May 25th 1878, and on
Sunday August 25th the opening services were held in the chapel. Within three
years from that time the chapel was entirely completed and tastefully furnished,
and a fence built around the lot, at a total cost of about $2,000. Services are
held in the chapel by pastors of neighboring churches.

Long Beach.- This beach, which contains about 1,800 acres, with a frontage on 
the Atlantic ocean, extends nearly seven miles in a straight line of gently 
sloping hard packed sand, as smooth and even in its contour as a floor of asphalt. 
It is one of the chain of beaches of the southern part of Hempstead. During the 
latter part of the summer of 1879 it was visited with a view of determining its 
availability for improvement, and under the auspices of the Long Beach Improvement 
Company, in the spring of 1880, work was commenced. A railroad was built from Pearsalls, 
a distance of between five and six miles, a part of the distance on trestle, and
the first mudsill for the foundation of a large hotel was put in place May 13th
1880; workmen commenced to raise the building May 18th; July 17th 1880 it was
completely enclosed and opened to the public. The building is 875 feet long,
including its piazzas, 140 feet wide, three and a half stories high, and 170
feet away from the nearest building, except the music stand-110 feet off. The
basement is used for storing supplies, and the first floor for offices. In the
center of the building is the great refreshment room, 175 by 80 feet, and on the
sides are corridors, each 50 feet wide, running across the building from north
to south. On the second floor, which is reached by flights of stairs 20- feet
broad, are parlors dining- rooms and public rooms for guests, while a broad
porch runs entirely around the building. The third floor is the size of the
second, and contains sleeping rooms, bath rooms and lavatories. The fourth floor
is entirely a chamber floor. Architecturally, the building is a simple and quiet
rendering of the so- called Queen Anne, with low roofs and projecting gables,
running up with half timberings and shingled spandrils. In brief the hotel has
serving rooms sufficient to wait upon 5,000 people at the same time. Water is
supplied from an immense well at East Rockaway, four miles distant. Two large
engines and pumps are located at that point, and the water is forced to the
beach at the rate of 275,000 gallons a day. The building is lighted by gas, the
tank being about 1,000 feet away from the hotel. The boiler that runs the engine
in the hotel is also about 1,000 feet distant.

East of the hotel a large number of cottages have been erected, which are rented 
to families during the season. In 1881 the railroad was extended five miles to Point 
Lookout, the east end of the beach, where cottages, a pavilion and 50 bathing houses 
were built. Near the hotel are 1,006 bathing houses, properly arranged for convenience; 
and connected with these houses, which are under the care of a superintendent, is 
the laundry. An ice-house, a livery stable, etc., make up the rest of the hotel 
attachments. The master builder of this hotel was C. McLean. N.B. Mulliner was 
the master painter, both gentlemen having a small army of workmen under their command.

Seaford, formerly known as Atlanticville and previous to that as Verity Town, 
was originally owned by the Seamans, descendants of the renowned Captain John Seaman, 
a historical account of whom was written by Jordan Seaman, of Jericho, and 
published by Ardon Seaman, of Jerusalem, in 1866. The Veritys settled in the 
southerly part of the locality, and for a time it was known as Verity Town. 
It is on the westerly boundary of Fort Neck. The island southerly from here 
in the Great South Bay, known as Squaw Island, is said to have obtained its 
name in the determined conflicts between the Long Island and Connecticut Indians. 
The former transported their squaws and children to this island for safety.

The general grocery store of Bayliss & Van Nostrand is a favorite resort for the 
citizens of this and the surrounding villages. The post-office connected with it 
is well conducted by John Bayliss. The new general grocery store of R.B., Jackson 
is a credit to the place and to its proprietor.

Mr. Jackson has been in the business fifteen years. The well stocked lumber
yards of Curtis S. Smith & Co., established in 1865; the planing, moulding
and saw- mill run by the efficient millwright Edgar Haff; the old- established
blacksmith shop operated by John W. Hendrickson; and the carriage factories and
other places of business render this a considerable center of trade and
industry. Its quiet and genial citizens have already awakened to the interest of
oyster planting, having, formed a large company with a considerable capital.
Here may be found the best oyster planting grounds on the south shore of Long Island.

Smithville South.- Still further north, on the Little Neck road, lies the thriving 
village of Smithville South. It has a store, a carpenter shop, a post- office, 
a blacksmith shop, a church, a school- house and a hotel. It is the home of Squire 
Thomas D. Smith, civil engineer and surveyor. Vegetables, berries, etc., are 
extensively cultivated, and find a ready market at Long Beach.

Greenville Point was formerly a great resort for persons passing from 
Hempstead to Freeport and vicinity, and was for many years known as "Rum P’int." 
In 1881 there were only the traces of the hotels, and a church and school- 
house form the nucleus of what
will probably grow into a village in the near future.

Merrick, Bellmore and Ridgewood are stations on the Southern Railroad, in 
the center of a rich agricultural district. The houses in these neighborhoods are 
so scattered that they can scarcely be called villages. Each station has a neat depot 
building. At Merrick, about a mile from the depot, are the Long Island camp 
meeting grounds, upon which numerous cottages have been erected. This large tract of 
land, thickly wooded, affords abundant and delightful shade, and the locality is admirably
suited to its present use. Not far from the camping ground is the extensive farm
of P.C. Barnum. The station is about twenty- five miles from Long Island City.

The Episcopal residents of Merrick, having purchased the Methodist chapel,
paying therefor $1,000, have deeded it to the trustees of the estate of the
diocese. A Brooklyn church has presented the new parish with a baptismal font:
Money, however, is needed to supply seats, an organ and a bell.

Bellmore is about a mile further. It has access to the South
Bay by a creek navigable for vessels of considerable size. It has a carriage
manufactory and flour- mills, two churches and a post- office. Among the well
known residents at Bellmore are Charles N. Clement, supervisor of Hempstead, and
John D. Cornelius.

Ridgewood is a hamlet about half a mile south of the station.
It has two churches, one newspaper and two flour- mills, and is a milk depot for
this section. There are two stores and a post- office. In 1880 Willet Whitmore
was station agent and merchant, also assistant postmaster. At all of these
places there are excellent schools.

Valley Stream, on the Long Island Railroad, is seventeen miles from Long 
Island City, and at the junction of the Rockaway branch railroad. It has a fine 
depot, post- office and telegraph office combined, under the charge of F.E. Janowitz 
(who is also a notary public). A store and two hotels are situated near the depot. 
K.P. Chopin is the proprietor of the Valley Stream Hotel, built in 1869. 
A short distance from the depot is a pumping station of the Brooklyn water works, 
similar to that at Rockville Centre, and built in 1881. The large dry goods and 
grocery store of James Fletcher is about a mile from the village. 
Valley Stream is at the junction of the branch road to Hempstead, now abandoned.

Hewlett, about nineteen miles from Brooklyn, is a thriving little village, 
containing many fine houses and surrounded by fine farms. A Roman Catholic church 
is situated at this point; also the large general store of Frank H. Weyant, in 
which is the post- office. Near the village is the undertaking establishment and 
wheelwright shop of James Kimball & Son.

Woodsburgh is a village similar in size to Hewlett, containing a post- office, 
the blacksmith shop of Edward W. Shaw, several stores and two hotels. 
At the Neptune House William O. Mott is in charge. The Pavilion Hotel, with accommodations 
for five hundred guests, is complete in every respect. A short distance from the 
hotel is fine bathing and an anchorage for yachts. Connected with the Neptune House 
is a half-mile course, called the Woodsburgh Driving Park. In this vicinity the 
drives are excellent, and the cottages are readily rented every year. 
A beautiful Episcopal church is situated a short distance from the Pavilion Hotel; 
Rev. S.W. Sayres is the rector.

Ocean Point and Lawrence
are thriving villages only a short distance apart, containing fine residences.
Lawrence, founded by Alfred Lawrence, from whom it derives its name, has over
five hundred inhabitants, several stores, a post- office and many elegant
mansions, owned-by wealthy New York and Brooklyn gentlemen. On the avenues
leading to Far Rockaway from these villages, within the last few years have been
erected many fine and costly residences and large club- houses, which are owned
by men of wealth, who lavish money in beautifying the buildings and grounds.

The Lawrence depot is about midway between the village and
Westville, or North West Point, another beautiful little settlement. James
Harris has been the station agent since the building of the railroad.

Christian Hook (Oceanville).- 
This settlement, although not a village, has been frequently referred to in the
history of Queens county. It occupies a considerable portion of Hempstead,
bordering on the bay, and contains many fine farms. A Presbyterian chapel has
been built, by members of the Hempstead -church. Rev. Marcus Burr is the pastor.
A large school building is situated near it. There are three stores proper,
viz., Lorenzo Davison’s, George H, Soper’s and Stephen Rider’s. A large
proportion of the inhabitants "follow the bay." Among the principal
farmers and residents are the Pettits, Sopers, Joseph Brower, Z. Story (one of
the oldest men on the island) and Conways. Since 1826 Ira Pettit has lived on
his present farm, a fine one, commanding a beautiful view seaward. His father,
James Pettit, was born at Hicks Neck. Ira, the youngest son, was born in 1812.
The farm was bought of the Rev. Seth Hart, in 1826. At that
time it was called the Parsonage, which name it still retains. The old house is
yet standing, but a new one was built in 1875.

Baldwins.- This village is between
Rockville Center and Freeport, on the Southern Railroad, twenty- one miles from
Long Island City. In 1850 it was a hamlet of a few houses, and its growth was
not rapid until the completion of the Southern Railroad, about fifteen years
later, since which the population has increased to nearly 1,500, scattered from
the depot to the meadows bordering Hempstead Bay. The name of the village, which
was formerly Baldwinsville, has been changed to Baldwins. It was derived from
Francis B. Baldwin, in 1881 the treasurer of Queens county. Mr. Baldwin owns a
large tract of land west of the village, which has been beautifully arranged for
a home, and he has erected many buildings in the village. On his farm is a half-
mile driving park, in 1881 under the management of Dr. A.F. Carpenter for the
South Side Gentlemen’s Driving Club.

In the village are two Methodist churches, six stores,
including that of Isaiah Thomas, general grocer; a well arranged hotel,
conducted by Treadwell Jones; a public school building, a depot and a post-
office, the general sewing machine agency of E.S. Raynor & Brother, dealers
in all kinds of sewing machines, and the carriage shop of Hingle Brothers, near
the hotel, established several years ago, besides other smaller shops, etc. A
large number of fishermen and oystermen are located at this point, and their
wares greatly add to the prosperity of the village.

Bridgeport and Norwood, 
on the branch of the Southern Railroad from Valley Stream to Hempstead, were formerly
stopping places for the accommodation of farmers in the vicinity. The road is
not used at present, although the rails are yet in place and it is thought that
it will again come into use. At Norwood station is the general store of Smith Du
Bois, formerly kept by Valentine Wood, and there are several fine residences.
The store has been established over forty years. Among the prominent residents
are Martin Wood, son of Valentine Wood; Ezekiel Frost, a farmer, born in 1816,
and Smith Du Bois, the merchant. Mr. Frost attended school fifty years ago in
one of the old log school- houses of Hempstead, situated on the road to Triming
Square. There are many fine farms in the vicinity of these stations.

Life- Saving Stations.- Along the Hempstead beaches are several United States 
life- saving stations, at which are stationed quite a number of men during the 
inclement seasons of the year. The stations are provided with boats and everything 
pertaining to the service, and the men employed are carefully chosen from those 
used to the sea and its dangers. During the winter and spring months-they are 
constantly on duty, and many lives and much property have been saved by them. 
The buildings, while not large, are substantial, and are fitted up conveniently 
for those employed.

HEMPSTEAD VILLAGE.
This village, the largest in the town and the oldest in the
county, as well as one of the most populous, is situated about twenty miles east
of New York city, which is easily reached by rail or turnpike. The village
contains the residences of many New York families, who spend the summer mouths
here, preferring the ocean breeze and the country comforts to the heat and dust
of the city. The streets are beautifully laid out and cared for, many of them
comparing favorably with avenues in larger places, and the roads leading to
neighboring villages in the town are, when in good condition, the scene of many
pleasure trips, winding as they do amid beautiful farms and attractive villas. A
number of the streets were named in 1834, among them Fulton street. Others are
Main, Front, Greenwich, Jackson, Franklin, Orchard, Prospect, Washington,
Clinton and High, and numerous avenues, the principal business streets being
those first mentioned.

Among the public buildings are five churches, two halls, two
school buildings, two large buildings used for the fire department, the railroad
station and six hotels, besides numerous boarding houses. Some of these, with
the more important business firms, are noticed hereafter. There are two
newspapers, the Inquirer and Sentinel. The village is lighted with gas. Several
small sheets of water and parks add to its beauty.
The growth of Hempstead during the last quarter of a century
has been rapid, and it is safe to surmise that the next twenty years will see it
double its present size, and virtually make Hempstead village and Garden City one.

The following were the officers of the village elected on
Tuesday March 1st 1881: 
Trustees- 
-E. Kellum, 
-B.F. Rushmore, 
-Samuel H. Minshull,
-William M. Akley, 
-Richard Brower; 
clerk, Scott Van De Water jr.; 
treasurer, B. Valentine Clowes; 
collector, John B. Mersereau; 
street commissioner, Charles Noon; 
fire wardens- 
-Moses R. Smith, 
-William E. Carman, 
-Horace F. Denton; 
-E. Kellum was chosen chairman of the board of trustees.

THE HEMPSTEAD CHURCHES.
"CHRIST’S FIRST CHURCH (PRESBYTERIAN)."
The history of the above named church dates back to the first
settlement on Long Island and, as the name implies, probably to the
establishment of the first Presbyterian church in America.
The writer of this, sketch, after careful research, not
accepting the written reports for the sixteenth century without carefully
studying the records and comparing the same, believes the following to be as
nearly correct as possible, although there are periods of which no trace can be
discovered. Many facts have been gleaned from a carefully prepared discourse by
the Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, pastor of the church from 1838 to 1848, who in
writing his evidently carefully prepared manuscript had recourse to everything
pertaining to the earls of the church, as well as many historical reminiscences
chronicled only in the memory of those advanced in life, who have since passed away.

"Among those who emigrated to America was the Rev. Richard Denton, 
a Presbyterian minister of Coly Chapel, parish of Halifax, in the northern part of 
England. ‘He was,’ says the Rev. O. Hayward, ‘a good minister of Jesus Christ, and 
affluent in his worldly circumstances. In his time came out the book for sports on 
the Sabbath days. He saw he could not do what was required, feared further 
persecution and therefore took the opportunity of going into New England.’ 
Mr. Denton came to Watertown, Mass., A.D. 1634; removed to Wethersfield, Conn., 
in 1635, to Stamford in 1641, and in 1644 came to Hempstead."

From Mr. Denton’s known views the friends of Presbyterianism
reach the conclusion that the church was Presbyterian, and from the fact that
the first church was called "Christ’s First Church" it is supposed
by many that this was the earliest Presbyterian church in America.
"The first meeting- house was erected in 1648. It stood
near the pond, in the northwest part of the village, and was surrounded by or at
least connected with a fort or stockade."

"It may be proper to observe that at this time the most
intimate connection existed between church and State in all Christian countries.
In towns which, like Hempstead, were Presbyterian (that is, which chose their
own officers) this was particularly the case. The same persons constituted the
church and the town, and elected the two boards of magistrates and elders, who
were often the same individuals."

In the year 1658-59 the Rev. Mr. Denton returned to England,
and immediately thereafter the congregation sent Joseph Meade to procure a
pastor. In this he was unsuccessful, but during the year 1662 the services of
Rev. Mr. Fordham were obtained." From 1658 to 1682 the congregation ,was
destitute of a settled minister, although it is probable the people assembled
for worship. The old, meeting- house being out of repair, at a general town
meeting held January 7th 1677 it was agreed to erect a new building, and in 1678
a house was built a few yards west of the present Episcopal church. It was to be
"30 feet long and 24 wide and 12 feet stud, with a lentwo on each
side." In 1734 it was taken down and another erected on the same site. The
first parsonage was erected in 1682, when the Rev. Jeremy Hubard was called to
be minister, a position which he filled until 1696. It is thought that the
controversy which took place between the Presbyterians and Episcopalians about
this time, and the course taken by the governor, were the cause of the removal
of Mr. Hubard from Hempstead.

From this time for about twenty years, Rev. John Thomas, a
clergyman who had received Episcopal ordination, but who dispensed with some of
the usages of the Church of England, preached acceptably to the people. He died
in 1724, after which came the formation of the Episcopal society, and a general
receding by many of the older Presbyterians.

Of this Mr. Woodbridge says: "Many members of the congregation entirely deserted 
all religious meetings, and the church, reduced to a mere handful, for a time was 
threatened with extinction. When at length it became certain that they could not 
obtain their property without resorting to a suit at law, they rallied around the 
elders and for a time held religious meetings at each other’s houses."

In 1762, thirty- eight years after the seizure of the church
property, a small edifice was erected near the sit of the present church. Soon
afterward the Rev. Abraham Keteltas supplied the congregation, which rapidly
increased until the Revolutionary war, when it received a check. The church was
used by the British as a stable but was repaired after the war. It was destroyed
by fire in 1803. For a time it again appeared as if, the society would become
extinct. "The number of members of the church did not exceed fifteen or
twenty, and even to the elders it seemed impossible that the congregation could
continue to exist." They received aid from many unexpected quarters, and
the same year were enabled to erect a house of worship, and March 16th 1818 Rev.
Charles Webster was installed as pastor, after the church had been without a
pastor one hundred and twenty- two years.

Since that time the church has steadily advanced, and its
history can easily be traced. The following is a list of ministers since the
organization in 1644, with the date of beginning and the length of their service:

1644, Richard Denton,15 years;. 
1659, Jonas Fordham, 22; 
1682, Jeremiah Hubard, 14; 
1717, Joseph Lamb, 7; 
1736, Benjamin Woolsey, 20; 
1760, Abraham Keteltas, 5 or 6; 
1770, Mr. Hotchkiss, 1; 
1772, Joshua Hart, 4; 
1787, Joshua Hart, 3; 
1791, Mr. Sturgiss, 2; 
1794, Mr. Davenport, 2; 
1797, Joshua Hart, 6; 
1805, William P. Kuypers, 5; 
1812, Josiah Andrews, 1; 
1816, Samuel Robertson, 1; 
1818, Charles Webster, 19; 
1838, Sylvester Woodbridge, 10; 
1849, Charles W. Shields, 1; 
1850, N.C. Locke, 10; 
1860, J.J.A. Morgan, 7; 
1867, James B. Finch, 7; 
1875, Franklin Noble, 554.

The Sunday- school has about 175 scholars, 25 officers and
teachers, and 400 books in the library.
The following probably constituted the earliest board of elders: 
Rev. Richard Denton,. 
Robert Ashman, 
William Washburne, 
Richard Gildersleeve, 
John Hicks, 
Mr. Kirkeline.

The following is a partial list of elders who have served at
different times during the last half century: 
David Hendrickson, 
William R. Finney, 
Eldred Platt, 
John Sealey, 
James Pine, 
Robert White, 
Lefferts Bergen,
Charles M. Pine, 
David Sealey, 
Reuben Pine, 
A.S. Gardner, 
Adrian V. Cortileyou,
Dr. John Davidson, 
Cornelius Hendrickson, 
Albert W. Hendrickson, 
Henry Higbe,
Edwin A. Weeks, 
Ebenezer Kellum, 
Richard E. Losea, 
George W. Rapelye, 
Elias C. Everitt and Luke Fleet.

At a meeting held October 3d. 1844 it was resolved to erect a
new church, and during the same year a branch church was organized at Oyster
Bay. The cost of the new church at Hempstead, which was completed in 1846, was
$6,017.25. The old parsonage on the east side of Main street
was sold for $1,150, and the site of the parsonage on Fulton street was
purchased for $317.10; the old church was removed to the lot and rebuilt for a
parsonage at an expense of $2,441.86. The present lecture and Sunday- school
room was built in 1855 and was dedicated February 7th 1856.

Christian, Hook was so named because the glebe or parsonage lands of this church 
were situated there.

Branches of this church have been established at Freeport and
Glen Cove, and the Presbyterian church at Jamaica is said to be an offshoot from
the Hempstead church.

A.M.E. ZION CHURCH.
This church is situated on Cross street, near Front. The
society was organized in 1848; the site of the edifice was bought of E. Willets,
December6th 1848, and about the same time an old school- house was purchased and
removed to the land, where it was made into the present church. At present there
are about thirty members, and there is preaching every Sunday and Sunday- school
in the afternoon. The society is free of debt. Benjamin Evans, a son of John
Evans, who is one of the oldest residents, is president of the board of
trustees, treasurer and class leader. The following have been some of the
preachers: 
Revs. George Treadwell, 
Peter Corster, 
Mr. Davis, 
James Lowery, 
Mr. Williams, 
John Seaman, 
Mr. Cliff, 
James Landon, 
John J. Stewart, 
Thomas C. Johnson, 
Adam Jackson, 
Charles W. Robinson and S.C. Burchmore. 

The first trustees were :
Elijah Horton, 
William B. Corse and Benjamin Evans.

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LORETTA.
This society was formed about ten years ago, when the land on
Greenwich street, the site of the church property, was purchased, together with
a building which has since been moved back to make room for the new church,
which was built a short time afterward. The parsonage was already built, having
been occupied as a private residence. The lot is about 100 feet by 600. The
church is of the gothic style of architecture, about 45 by 85 feet, with
sacristy of 16 feet in the rear. The church is nicely seated, lighted and
heated, and has a small organ in the gallery. The entire cost has been about $13,000. 
Rev. Eugene McSherrey was the first pastor, and died at his post in the summer of 1879. 
He was succeeded by Rev. P. Kearney, under whose pastorate the church is growing in 
numbers and prosperity. Some of the prominent members are
Michael Mulgannon, 
Nicholas Gibney, 
John Brein, John Hogan, 
John Mulgannon,
Senator Fox, 
Michael Fox, Owen Riley, 
James and Barney Powers, 
Patrick Burns and Michael Nolan.

ST. GEORGE’S P.E. CHURCH.

In 1702 representations were made by the Rev. George Keith,
Colonel Heathcote and others, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in Foreign Parts- founded in London in 1701- that a Church of England
minister was much desired by many of the inhabitants of Hempstead. On these
representations the Rev. John Thomas was sent as a missionary here, who had
approved himself while assisting the Rev. Evan Evans of Christ Church,
Philadelphia. Mr. Thomas was inducted into the parish by a mandate from Lord
Cornbury, governor of the province. There were a few influential persons ready
to greet Mr. Thomas and unite themselves into a parish. The number of English-
speaking people, however, was not large. The Dutch predominated. Mr. Thomas
found here a church building of moderate dimensions and a house for the minister-
both of them built by the town and owned by it. The church was but poorly
adapted for religious purposes, and was arranged to be used by the town for
civil purposes on week days. Neither of the buildings was used by any religious
society at Mr. Thomas’s coming, the, person who had officiated here- the
Rev. Jeremy Hobart- having removed from Hempstead some time previous. The Rev.
Mr. Thomas by his judicious and kindly manner did much to assuage the strong
prejudice which was felt by the inhabitants (who had been reared as Quakers and
Presbyterians) and which sometimes manifested itself in acts of violence. Mr.
Thomas continued his ministry here until his death, in 1724- a period of 20
years. Major General Thomas Thomas, of the Continental army, was a grandson of
the Rev. John Thomas.


After an interval of two years the vacancy caused by the death
of the Rev. Mr. Thomas was filled by the appointment to the parish of the Rev.
Robert Jenney, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, who had for some
years been officiating as the missionary at Rye, Westchester county. Under his
exertions the parish continued to prosper. He saw the time had come to have the
parish placed upon an independent and stable foundation, and being a man of much
personal influence and enterprise he achieved his purpose. By a vote of the
freeholders of the town he obtained a transfer of the church and parsonage and
glebe to the parish, and the release was followed and confirmed to the parish by
a charter from George II., granted in 1735. This charter is still in full force
as the organic law of the parish, and in this respect is, it is believed, a
single exception to the many charters granted by the royal government. Its
authority was confirmed by the constitution of the State of New York adopted in
1777. It has never been submitted to the Legislature for alteration or
amendment; even the title- "The Inhabitants of Hempstead in Communion
with the Church of England"- remains unaltered. While other chartered,
parishes have petitioned to have changes made St. George’s has found the
provisions of its charter adapted to all the exigencies which have arisen. The
old church which had been given by the town was found inconvenient and too
small, and it was removed and another built- not by tax, as the former one,
but by the gifts of members of the parish. It was opened, with a display of the
military of the county and much ceremony, by Governor Cosby, attended by many of
the distinguished citizens of the province, on St. George’s day, April 22nd
1735. A cut of it is given on the preceding page.

Mr. Jenney remained in Hempstead 17 years, removed to Philadelphia in 1742 and became 
rector of Christ Church. From the University of Pennsylvania- then the 
"College of Philadelphia"- he received the degree of LL.D.


To him succeeded the Rev. Samuel Seabury- a descendant of
John Alden, one of the original settlers at. Plymouth, Mass. Mr. Seabury was
educated at Yale College, but left it for Harvard in consequence of the
excitement attendant on its president and others becoming Episcopalians. Mr.
Seabury himself changed his views, and after ordination, in 1730 by the Bishop
of London and his return to this country he became minister of St. James’s
Church, New London, Conn., and from thence removed to Hempstead. At the time of
his removal his son Samuel was a lad 13 years old.

He subsequently became renowned as the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
in North America, and one who exerted a great influence in determining its career.

The parish of Hempstead by an act of Legislature in 1693
embraced all the, territory of Queens county east of Jamaica township. This
territory of nearly 20 miles square the Rev. Mr. Seabury did his best to care
for. He held services regularly in Oyster Bay and other villages besides
Hempstead and could not refuse applications from Huntington and even many
destitute places in Dutchess county. A remarkably vigorous frame aided him in
fulfilling his duties; which involved almost continuous riding on horses, as
roads were few and carriages were hardly used. The people of this parish-
though many of them were thriving farmers and well- to- do in the world- were
not liberal; and Mr. Seabury, in order to obtain a support, was obliged to add
to his care of all the churches the keeping of a classical school. In it were
educated some of the most distinguished citizens of New York State. A classical
school was acquiesced in by the people of the parish as a means for their rector’s
support for the succeeding sixty years. Mr. Seabury died in 1764.

To him succeeded, after a space of two years, the Rev. Leonard
Cutting, the progenitor of the family of that name, in this State. He was
educated at Cambridge, England. Seeking to benefit his fortune he emigrated to
America and accepted the position of overseer of a plantation in Virginia. While
so engaged he was recognized by a clergyman of the Church of England, formerly a
fellow student at Cambridge. By the kindly exertions of this clergyman he
obtained a position more suitable for his attainments and abilities; that of
tutor in the classics in Kings (now Columbia) College, New York city, which had
been established in 1754. In this position he remained until 1763, when he
returned to England an applicant for, holy orders; and, his papers being found
eminently satisfactory, he was ordained by the, bishop of London in December
1763 a deacon, and some time afterward a priest. He returned to this country in
1764 and was for nearly two years missionary at New Brunswick, N.J. From thence
he was transferred to Hempstead. His career was, peaceful until the breaking out
of the Revolutionary war, when he was subjected to some of the trials of that
stormy period. Yet he escaped better than many others, because the people of his
parish were almost all tories and a British force was on the ground nearly all
the time. But he found, like many other loyalists, that the British soldier did
not carefully discriminate between friend and foe. More than once the rector and
his vestry had to complain of outrages committed. When, at length, the arms of
the Continental army prevailed, and the independence of the States was
acknowledged, Mr. Cutting found himself in so embarrassing a position that he
left the parish without formally resigning the rectorship. He retired to
Maryland, and subsequently officiated at Newbern, N.C. In 1792 he returned to
New York city, where he died in 1794. The sundering of the civil and
ecclesiastical relations of St. George’s parish with the English government
and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel presented some new questions
for solution. The provisions of the charter were, however, found sufficient in
this crisis, and the vestry of that period wisely followed their direction, with
some slight deviations attributable to the novelty of their position and their
lack of experience.


They called the Rev. Thomas Lambert Moore to fill the vacancy
which Mr. Cutting’s retirement had created. Mr. Moore was a native of New York
city. He had been ordained in England in 1781 by Bishop Lowth, and had remained
in England until, by the kindly influence of the Hon. Edmund Burke, he obtained
appointment as chaplain to a British frigate, in which he sailed first for
Halifax, and arrived in New York in J782. He was officiating as missionary at
Islip, Suffolk county, when he was called to Hempstead. During his rectorship
the first steps were taken to organize the Episcopal church in the several
United States into one body, and Mr. Moore was one of the thirteen persons who
took part in the initiative measures. Under his ministrations the parish greatly
prospered. The prayer book which had been used in the church since 1711 and was
a gift from Queen Anne, as was the communion set still in use, required some
changes after the close of the Revolutionary, war; such as the substitution of
prayers for the President and Congress for those for the King and royal family
and for Parliament. These changes Mr. Moore made by writing out the new prayers
and pasting them over the discontinued ones. The book has thus been made a
significant relic. The first ordination in the State of New York took place in
this parish, in November 1785, in the person of Mr. John Lowe, from Virginia. In
1793 the house which the town had built in 1683 for a minister’s residence,
being dilapidated, was taken, down and the present parsonage built. Mr. Moore
died in 1799.

He was succeeded by the Rev. John Henry Hobart, who remained but a few months, having accepted 
a call to be an assistant minister in Trinity Church, New York, from which position he 
was elevated to the office of bishop of New York.

On the resignation of Mr. Hobart a call to the rector-ship was
accepted by the Rev. Seth Hart, a native of Connecticut. His rectorship
continued till 1829, a period of more than twenty- eight years, when he became
disabled by paralysis from performing his duties and resigned his office. He
lingered in infirmity until March 1832. During his rectorship the church built
in 1734, which had become decayed, was taken down and the present church was
built, which was consecrated in September 1823.

The Rev. Richard Drason Hall, a native of Philadelphia;
succeeded Mr. Hart. He was called in February 1829, and resigned in April 1834,
and removed to the neighborhood of his native city, where he officiated in
several places and died in 1873.

The successor to Mr. Hall was the Rev. William M. Carmichael,
D.D., who entered upon his duties in July 1834 and resigned the parish in
September 1843. He subsequently ministered in Meadville, Pa., Richmond, Va.,
Newtown, Conn., and other places. At his residence in Jamaica, Long Island-
where he lived in the closing years of his life- he was stricken with
paralysis and died in June 1881.

The Rev. Orlando Harriman jr. became rector of the parish in
January 1844, continued until June 1849, and then resigned. He removed to New
Jersey, officiating as his strength and opportunities allowed until May 1881,
when he died in Florida, whither he had gone for his health.

In August 1849 a call to the rectorship was given to, and
accepted by, the present rector, the Rev. William H. Moore, D.D.

In the course of years the following named parishes have been
organized and churches built within the limits which, by the act of 1693, were
designated as the bounds of the original parish: 
Christ Church, Manhasset;
Christ Church, Oyster Bay; 
St. Paul’s Church, Glen Cove; 
Trinity church, Rockaway; 
Grace Church, South Oyster Bay, and 
Trinity Church, Roslyn. 

Besides these, at Garden City the Cathedral of the Incarnation and educational
institutions are in process of erection as memorials of Mr. Alexander Turney
Stewart.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
From a historical sermon preached by the pastor, Rev. C.E.
Glover, in 1877, we gather the following facts relating to the Methodist
Episcopal church of Hempstead village:

The first wave of Methodism reached Hempstead about the year
1800, when Rev. John Wilson, a preacher on the Jamaica circuit and traveling
eastward, arrived in Hempstead on a Sabbath morning, near the close of the
Episcopal public service. He mounted a wagon under a willow tree in front of the
site of Hewlett’s Hotel, where he commenced singing. A crowd soon collected,
to whom he preached. From that time for a, period of twelve years no record
appears, although the Jamaica circuit was worked by such men as Thomas Ware,
"Billy" Hibbard and David. Buck, and it is probable that services were
held during that time.

In 1812 William Thatcher was appointed to the circuit, and
arranged to preach in Hempstead every four weeks. The first sermon was preached
in an upper room in the house of Stephen C. Bedell, on Main and Jackson streets,
by Mr. Thatcher, who was an excellent scholar. He died at the age of 89 years,
after having been in the ministry about 60 years. The work was somewhat
interrupted during the war with England. The first prayer meeting recorded was
held at the house of Mr. Bedell in 1815, and the first class was formed in the
same year by Benjamin Griffin, who was then twenty- three years old. Mr. Griffin
spent fifty years in the ministry. He was succeeded as leader by Richard Carman,
whose name first appears officially in the conference proceedings as reporting
$8.78 from Hempstead for the support of the gospel. The original members of the
first class were Richard Carman, Ann Carman, Stephen C. Bedell, Hannah Bedell,
James Cooper and Mary Cooper.

During the year 1816 the congregation rented a house standing
on Front street at the corner of; Franklin; the partitions were removed, and
seats, made of slabs furnished from a neighboring saw- mill, arranged. The
preachers were Thomas Ware and Marvin Richardson. In 1817, more room being
needed, a school- house was purchased and moved to the common near the brook,
south of the Episcopal property, and fitted up with pulpit and seats. Dr. Phebus,
John M. Smith, Phineas Rice, Nicholas Morris, Noble W. Thomas and samuel
Cochrane were the preachers there.

In 1820 the society erected an edifice on the site of the
present church, which cost them, including lot, $1,500. It was dedicated
December 31st 1822. Samuel Cochrane, who rendered 38 years of effective service
as a minister, greatly assisted in the work of building the new church. The
first trustees were elected May 4th 1822, and were as follows: 
James Cooper,
Isaac Wright, 
Stephen H. Skidmore, 
Richard Carman and Stephen C. Bedell. 
Stephen C. Snedeker was appointed treasurer.

In 1827 Hempstead circuit was formed. In 1828 Isaac Snedeker
was elected trustee and secretary of the board, a position which he held over 50
years, until the time of his death.

In 1834 a lot adjoining the church was purchased, on which a
parsonage was erected. The cost of lot and parsonage was $1,400. In 1835 the
church was moved back to the proper building line and enlarged, at a cost of
$1,700. In 1838 the basement was furnished with four class rooms and a lecture
room. The first stewards were chosen July 31st 1837, as follows: Benjamin
Rushmore, Christian, Stephen C. and Isaac Snedeker and Smith Skidmore.

Instrumental music was introduced March 29th 1852, and in 1872 the church was
presented with a beautiful organ, the gift of P.J. A. Harper.

The centennial of American and semi- centennial of Hempstead Methodism were a
ppropriately celebrated, November 25th 1866. At this time $10,000 was raised for 
centenary and church extension purposes. As a result of this offering the present 
Sunday- school home was erected at a cost of $6,958;
it was dedicated July 19th 1868. 
The Sunday- school was organized August 30th 1830, when Stephen C. Snedeker was 
appointed superintendent, a position which he filled to the time of his death, 
30 years later. Isaac Snedeker was appointed secretary, treasurer and
librarian at the same time, and has filled the position for over 50 years. From
12 teachers and an average attendance of 37 scholars the school has grown to be
the largest on the island outside of Brooklyn, having, an average attendance of
over 400 members, and over 1,000 books in the library.

In 1854 the old church and parsonage were sold at public auction, and the present 
commodious edifice was erected. In 1856 a lot 74½ by 200 feet was bought on Washington 
street and the present parsonage erected, at a cost of $3,896. The church edifice 
is 53 by 72 feet in size, and has a spire 160 feet high. There are class rooms 
and a lecture room adjoining. 

The total cost,including furnishing and bell, was $14,651. 
The new church was, dedicated June 30th 1855, at which time the sum of $3,800 was raised, 
which left the church free from debt.

In 1875 the parsonage was enlarged, and a large reflector
placed in the audience room of the church, at a total expense of’$2,367.

The following is a list of preachers from 1822 to 1880, inclusive: 
1822, 1823, Elijah Hebbard, Horace Barttell; 
1826, 1827, Daniel De Vinne, David Holmes, Bartholomew Creagh; 
1828, 1829, N.W. Thomas, Daniel Wright, Samuel Green; 
1830, 1831, Jere Hunt, Gershom Pierce, Richard Wymond; 
1832, 1833, Noah Bigelow, Alexander Hulin, Edward Oldrin; 
1834, 1835, Bradley Sellick, Robert Travis, Ezra Jagger; 
1836, 1837, Joseph Law, James Floy; 
1838, 1839, Ira Ferris; 
1840, 1841, Laban C. Cheney; 
1842- 44, W.K. Stopford, Seymour Landen;
1845, 1846, E.E. Griswold; 
1847, 1848, W.F. Collins; 
1849, William Dixon, who died, and William Lawrence was supply; 
1850- 53, Buel Goodsell, S.W. Smith;
1854, J.S. Gilder; 
1856, Henry J. Fox; 
1857, B. Pillsbury; 
1859, 1860, Francis Bottome; 
1861, 1862, M.L. Scudder; 
1863- 65, J.B. Merwin; 
1866, 1867, D.O. Ferris; 
1868- 70, George Stillman; 
1871- 73, George Lansing Taylor; 
1874, B.M. Adams; 
1875- 77, C.E. Glover; 
1878- 80, C.E. Miller.

The church property is valued at between $40,000 and and $50,000.

THE PRESS OF HEMPSTEAD.
The town of Hempstead has three newspapers, two in Hempstead
village and one at Rockville Centre. The first paper started here was the Schoolmaster,
edited by Timothy Clowes previous to 1850. Only a few numbers were published.
Zephaniah Thurston, foreman in the Observer office, is probably one of
the oldest printers, if not the oldest, in Queens county.

The Sentinel was established June 1st 1858, by John H.
Hentz, who was the publisher until September 1st 1863, when it was purchased by
Lott Van De Water, the present editor and proprietor. Mr. Van De Water had been
connected with the office two years previous to purchasing it, and in fact has
had control of the paper since 1861. The Sentinel is a thirty- two column
sheet, nicely printed and carefully edited, the editor aiming to make it a
journal for the family, in all that term implies. No advertisements of an
objectionable nature are received, no matter what price is offered. The office
is on Main street, near Fulton. In politics the Sentinel is independent,
treating both parties fairly.

The Hempstead Inquirer, published in the village of
Hempstead, is one of the oldest papers on Long Island
Corrector, of Sag Harbor, 
Republican Watchman, of Greenport, both of Suffolk county,
Long Island Farmer, of Jamaica, Queens county, being the only ones 
that antedate it. 

The Inquirer was established under the name of the Long Island Telegraph 
and General Advertiser, on May 8th 1830, by Messrs. William Hutchinson and 
Clement F. Le Fevre. On November 11th 1831 its name was changed to that it now bears. 
It continued to be conducted by its founder until April 1833, when it was transferred 
to James G. Watts. On the 23d. of June 1834 Mr. Watts died, and the paper went into 
the hands of his son, who bore his father’s name. He conducted it until May 1838, 
when he sold out to John W. Smith. Under Mr. Smith’s ‘supervision the paper was 
successfully edited for three years. In 1841 Charles Willets became the editor, having
purchased the property and good will from his predecessor. He edited it eight
years, and in 1849 disposed of it to Seaman N. Snedeker, who sold it in 1851 to
Dr. Morris Snedeker. For eleven years it continued under the doctor’s
management. In 1862 it was purchased by Jesse S. Pettit, who after a year’s
trial transferred it to Smith T. Willets in 1863. In 1866 Mr. Willets was
succeeded by James B. Cooper, who in 1868 disposed of the concern to Thomas H.
Rhodes and Daniel Clark. On the 16th of April 1869 Mr. Clark became the sole
editor and proprietor, and he so continued until July 9th 1870, when impaired
health compelled him to relinquish editorial duties.

At that date the establishment was purchased by the Hon. Henry
M. Onderdonk. Many improvements were made in the typographical appearance of the
paper, which was enlarged and brought more prominently before the public. At
this time (1881) it continues to be edited by Mr. Onderdonk, is in a flourishing
condition, and is conceded to be a leading paper in Queens county.

PUBLIC HOUSES AND HALLS.
Nehemiah Sammis built one of the early taverns of Hempstead, a
part of which is now standing on Fulton street, near the railroad depot. After
his death in 1802 his son Benjamin Sammis continued as "mine host,"
and he was succeeded by Harry Sammis, who was born December 23d 1797, and died
in August 1881. His son, ex- Sheriff Charles Sammis, is the present proprietor
of the old hostelry. Harry Sammis remembered distinctly when a barn burned on
the hill south, about 80 rods distant, one Sunday in the year 1802, the same
year in which his grandfather died. The sparks and burning shingles were carried
by the wind to the hotel and Presbyterian church east, which was also destroyed.
At that time there were only six houses in Hempstead village, and only three
buildings within a circle of a mile, viz., the hotel, the church on the east and
a farm house west. During the Revolutionary war the British were encamped in
Hempstead, at that time making a horse stable of the old Presbyterian church,
using the hotel as headquarters for the officers. After the war General George
Washington passed several nights in the old tavern.

Hewlett’s Hotel, on Front street at the corner of Main, was
built by Samuel Carman in 1840. It is a large, three- story building, well
arranged and furnished for the accommodation of guests, and during the summer
season is well filled with visitors. Up to 1847 it was conducted by the builder;
but during that year came into the possession of Stephen Hewlett, whose family
have conducted it until this time. C.A. Hewlett is the present proprietor.
The Germania Hotel, on Main street, was established about
twenty years ago by William Stoffel. The present proprietor, Anton Miltenberger,
has been the owner for the last eight years, and has made it a pleasant place,
having recently furnished and refitted it. It is the only German hotel in the
village, and is a large three- story building, the lower floor being occupied
with store and office. It will accommodate 20 guests and eight horses can be
provided for. Billiard tables are provided, and charges are as at other first-
class houses.

The present Central Hotel was built in 1847, on the site of
one of the early hotels of Hempstead, which was destroyed by fire in 1835.
William Coons commenced building the present house, but died before it was
completed by his son Michael Coons. Among the landlords were Benjamin Smith,
Robert Anderson, Benjamin Curtis and A. Smith. John B. Pettit, the present
proprietor, purchased the property in 1854, and for the last twenty- seven years
has conducted the business. It is centrally located, on Main street, and is one
of the leading hotels of the village. The hotel which was destroyed by fire was,
before railroads were known on the island, the "stage house," and
consequently a well known place.

There are two halls in Hempstead village used for, town
purposes and meetings, lectures and amusements. Liberty Hall is a large three-
story building, with mansard roof, situated on Front street. The first floor is
divided into three stores. The second story is well arranged for an amusement hall, 
having a fair sized stage with its attachments, and being well seated,
accommodating 450 people. The third story is also a hall, used for different
purposes. Washington Hall, or the Town Hall, situated near Liberty Hall, was
built by the Ladies’ Washington Association, and purchased by the town
authorities for village purposes. Aside from the larger rooms it contains the
lock- up.

SECRET SOCIETIES.
Morton Lodge, No. 63, F. and A.M. dates back to June 23d 1797,
when a charter was granted, appointing David Richard Floyd Jones to be the
master, Jacob Seaman Jackson senior warden, and Thomas Carman junior warden of a
lodge of Free and Accepted Masons to be formed at Hempstead. From that date
communications were held in the lodge rooms in Hempstead for about half a
century, when, the building in which the rooms were situated was destroyed by
fire, the charter, jewels, Bible, etc., being saved. The lodge was resuscitated
in 1859, since which time stated communications have been held on the second and
fourth Monday evenings of each month. The present number of active members is
about ninety; and the lodge rooms are on the third floor of the Cornelius
building on Main Street; three in number, they are appropriately fitted up and
furnished. A large fireproof safe contains the records, the original charter,
the old silver jewels, and the Bible, on the fly leaf of which is the following:
"Presented to the worshipful master, wardens and brethren of Morton Lodge,
No. 63, by their affectionate brother Jacob Morton, deputy grand master of
masons of the State of New York.- New York, Jan. 8th 1798."

The following is a list of officers for 1881: 
Master, Benjamin A. Haff; 
S. warden, Robert A. Davison; 
J. Warden, Daniel Shields; 
treasurer, P.J.A. Harper; 
secretary, Ebenezer Kellum; 
S. deacon, John W. De Mott, of Alfred; 
J. deacon, Lewis H. Clowes; 
chaplain, Rev. C.C. Lasby; 
S.M.C., Henry Heutz; 
J.M.C., H.L., Weeks; 
tyler, John Crampton; 

trustees- 
Benjamin A. Haff,
Samuel C. Seaman, 
B. Valentine Clowes.

The masters since: 1859 have been as follows: 
1859 Daniel Raynor; 
1860, John Charlick; 
1861, Carmar Smith; 
1862, 1865, 1866, D.A.M. Smith;
1863, A.R. Griffin; 
1864, John. W. De Mott; 
1867- 71, 1876, 1877 Samuel C. Seaman; 
1872- 74, 1880, 1881, Benjamin A. Haff; 
1875,1878, 1879, B. Valentine Clowes.

Odd Fellows.- 
A charter was granted to Hempstead Lodge, No. 41, I.O.O.F. February ,8th 1845, and 
it was instituted March 5th 1845. The charter members were Willet Charlic, William
Cornwell, Thomas S. Dorlon, Hiram A.Whittaker and William Curtis. Up to 1880 288
persons had signed the constitution of the lodge, and the present membership is
about eighty- five. The lodge room, which is neatly carpeted and furnished, is
on Front street and regular meetings are held every Thursday evening. 
The following are the officers: 
F.D. Bedell, N.G.; 
I. Horsfall, V. G., 
V. Clowes,P.S.; 
A.R. Roads, R.S.; 
J.B. Curley, R.S. to N.G.; 
W.H. Hawkins, L.S. to N.G.;
Thomas Bact, R.S. to V.G.; 
S.F. Sprague, L.S. to V.G.; 
S.H. Minshull, War.; 
J. Hamlet, Con.; 
R.O. Gildersleeve, Chap.; 
J.A. Bedell, I.G.; 
W.B. Pettit, R.S.S.;
J. Raynor, L.S.S.; 
J.R. Bedell, Treas.

Sons of Temperance.- 
This society was organized in August 1869, and has nicely furnished rooms over the 
post-office, at the corner of Main and Front streets, where regular meetings are held
each Monday evening. 
Christopher Snedeker is W.P. and 
J.S. Snedeker is R.S. 
The following were the first officers of the organization: 
John Hammond, W.P.; 
R.C. Campell, W.A.; 
J.E. Snedeker, R.S.; 
Edward Searing, A.R.S.; 
Thomas Rhodes, F.S.;
Thomas F. Gilbert, Treas.; 
E.L. Prey, chaplain; 
T.B. Hogan, conductor; 
J.F. Rhodes, assistant conductor; 
Samuel Snedeker, inside sentinel; 
James H. Campbell, outside sentinel.

The Livingston Social Club.- 
This body of young men was organized March 27th 1877. 
The following were the officers in 1880: 
President, H.L. Parsons; 
vice-president, John Griffin; 
secretary, Henry Miltenberger; 
treasurer, Henry Agnew.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first organization of which there are any data goes back
to December 15th 1831, when we find that the supervisor and justices appointed
the following firemen: 
Charles Baldwin, 
Jarvis Bedell, 
Thomas D. Carman, 
Jacob Coles, 
Richard De Mott, 
Samuel E. Marvin, 
Samuel J. Raymond, 
Elbert Rushmore,
Robert Seabury, 
Alexander W. Seaman, 
Joseph. D. Gildersleeve, 
Joseph B. Gildersleeve, 
Stephen Hewlett, 
Nelson Jennings, 
John Kellum, 
Lattin Smith,
Isaac Snedeker, 
Floyd Southard, 
James Stephenson 
William Van Nostrand. 
Isaac Snedeker was chosen foreman of the company, and an old- fashioned fire engine,
"No. 1," formerly "No. 4" in Brooklyn, was bought in that city.

The engine house was on Main street, near the site of Nostrand’s
carriage manufactory; it has since been removed to the rear of the firemen’s
building on Fulton street, where the original fire apparatus of Hempstead may
yet be seen. Several years after the formation of the engine company a hook and
ladder company was formed, the truck being made in the village. The rooms of the
company were on Fulton street, nearly opposite the Episcopal church. It was a
volunteer company. The water supply was obtained from private wells and
cisterns.

During the time of these companies a large fire took place,
destroying the block at the corner of Greenwich and Front streets, and causing a
loss of several thousand dollars. By the exertions of the firemen the buildings
west of Main Street were saved. The burning of the Stage House was the next fire
of any importance. At that time other buildings were saved through the efforts
of the companies.

June 23d 1862 Protection Fire Engine Company, No. 3,
was organized; it was composed of many of the leading citizens, some of whom are
still members of the organization.

Harper’s Hook and Ladder Company,
No. 1, is a fine organization, with rooms on Fulton street.

Enterprise Hose Company 
was organized August 14th 1872, and the following officers were elected: 
Foreman, Ebenezer Kellum, jr.; 
assistant foreman, A.F. Rushmore; 
treasurer, S.B. Mersereau; 
secretary, J. Davison; 
steward, T.W. Snedeker. 

Mr. Kellum was foreman five succeeding years. 
S.W. Willets was erected in 1878, 
B. Carpenter in 1879, and M.R. Smith in 1880, with other officers as follows: 
Assistant foreman, G. Lowden; 
secretary, G.W. Willets; 
treasurer, J. Simpson; 
stewards, E. Abrams and B. Carpenter. 
The company has two rooms in the building on Fulton street, the
lower used for the carriage and the upper beautifully furnished for a parlor.

Protection Hose Company, No. 3.-
This company was organized August 14th 1874. The following were the
first officers: 
Foreman, Augustus Cruikshank; 
assistant foreman, John Mimno; 
secretary, Benjamin Campbell; 
treasurer, Robert Cruikshank.

During the years 1875- 79 John Mimno was foreman, when he resigned, and 
Charles Akley and John Box have since held that office until the following officers 
were elected: 
Foreman, Charles De Mott; 
assistant foreman, John Box; 
secretary, Charles Agnew; 
treasurer, William Plyer. 
The rooms of the company are on Prospect street, and, like others of the department, 
are nicely furnished. When first organized the company had no rooms, but held their 
meetings in Protection engine room. The present house was built in 1875, by P.J.A. Harper.
There are other organizations, but data concerning them were not furnished.

GEORGE N. PAFF.


George N. Paff, one of the prominent citizens of Hempstead is
a native of New York city, where he was born November 15th 1831. His father,
George Paff, and his grandfather, Andrew Paff, were descendants of John Paff, of
Wurtemburg, Germany. His mother was a daughter of General Robert Henderson, a
Scotchman, who was killed at Yorktown, Va., in the Revolutionary war. The family
have been residents of Long Island since April 1836.

During his early days the subject of this sketch was employed
as a clerk, as an apprentice to a baker, as a daguerreotype operator and as a
painter. After the usual course of the district school he was a student in the
Hempstead Seminary, under Professor Dockarty, and in a private school under
Timothy Clowes, D.D., LL.D.

He is now working a fine farm of 50 acres near Hempstead village, which was settled 
in 1777 by Eliphalet Seaman.

Before he became so exclusively engaged in farming he was interested in the mineral 
water business, and acted as real estate agent for some time. He has also traveled 
quite extensively in the west, and has been in business in Cleveland, Cincinnati 
and Dubuque, and was trading at one time with the Indians of Minnesota.

Mr. Paff is a gentleman whose advice is not unfrequently sought by his townsmen 
in business affairs, and even in litigations in the minor courts be has frequently 
appeared as an advocate. He has also been called to the duties of several offices 
of importance in his town. In 1860 he was elected constable, and subsequently served 
as special deputy under several sheriffs. In 1877 he was elected commissioner of 
excise, and in 1880, at the expiration of the term, he was re- elected by 500 majority 
over George A. Mott, the Republican candidate. In the discharge of the responsible 
duties of this office Mr. Paff has exercised excellent judgment, and his administration 
has made him very popular with his constituents.

Mr. Paff’s first wife, to whom he was married in August 1861, was Charlotte Leonard, 
a granddaughter of Thomas Leonard, a captain in the Revolution. His father was John Leonard, 
of Freehold, N.J.- a brother of Judge Thomas Leonard, who gave all the lands for the site 
of Princeton College. Her mother was a daughter of Thomas Hewlett, of the old and honorable 
pioneer family. Mr. Paff’s present wife, to whom he was married December 17th 1877, is
Sarah A., a sister of Mrs. Paff, deceased.

Mr. Paff is a member of the Episcopal church, and in the
community is esteemed as a worthy citizen, willing to aid his fellow men less
fortunate than he. In the business relations of life he enjoys the reputation of
a man of unquestioned integrity.


LEWIS W. ANGEVINE.
Mr. Angevine, of Hempstead, the gentleman whose portrait and autograph appear at the 
head of this page, was born in New York city, May 31st 1807.

His early days were spent in the store of his father, Lewis Angevine, who was for 
years engaged in mercantile pursuits in the city. When he was about 19 years of age 
the younger Lewis came to Newtown, where, until 1831, he was engaged in farming. In 
that year he was married and removed to Hempstead, locating on a farm about two miles 
west of Hempstead village. For five years he resided there and in the meantime he 
purchased property in the village of Hempstead.

In 1836 he began the business of butchering, and to that business he devoted a large 
portion of his active years until he finally retired, about 1862.

Mr. Angevine came into politics in 1851 as the Democratic
candidate for county treasurer. To this office he was triumphantly elected, and
how well he discharged his duties was sufficiently commented upon at the polls
in 1857 when he was again elected to the same office. This election was the
beginning of nine consecutive years of service in that position, he being re-
elected in 1860 and 1863. This period, extending to and including 1866, covered
that important time when such large sums of money were raised by Queens county
in the prosecution of the civil war. Mr. Angevine’s period of service in this
office was therefore not only longer than that of any other incumbent, but the
duties were more important than ever before or since.

In the business ventures of his lifetime Mr. Angevine has been
successful beyond the lot of most men, and here, in the town where he has lived
for over half a century, he is enjoying in his pleasant home the afternoon of
his years, respected by all who know him. A community is usually correct in its
judgment of the moral qualities of any man who has long lived and held public
trusts in it. If there be any defect in his character, any obliquity in his
life, he cannot fail to disclose it to the eyes of his intimates. To be strictly
upright, especially to those beset by the temptations of power and office, is a
thing so difficult that the poet felt justified in affirming

"An honest man’s the noblest work of God."
Mr. Angevine would not shrink from the application of even
this severe rule of judgment. He has had a just pride in seeking to have all
feel that his word was as good as a bond.

When, during the war of the Rebellion, it fell to him to disburse immense sums 
of money, he came forth from the trials and temptations incident to the unusual 
trust with the verdict of the supervising officials that he had lawfully and 
appropriately expended every dollar. Of a kindly and benevolent spirit, widows 
and orphans have gladly resorted to him as one in whose integrity, caution and 
wise counsel they could securely trust.

Public spirited and generous, all sound enterprises have met from him a prompt 
and hearty support. 

As a member of the Protestant Episcopal church he has befriended its clergy and 
contributed freely to all judicious efforts to benefit the parish to which he belongs.

EDWIN WEBB, M.D.

Doctor Edwin Webb, of Hempstead, is an eminent physician,
whose portrait appears on the opposite page, and whose honorable record is as
follows: He was born in Devenport, Devonshire, England, September 2nd 1804. His
father and mother, John and Catherine Webb, came to New York before he was three
years old, and soon after his arrival his father was, appointed chief clerk of
the Brooklyn navy yard, which position he filled for several years. He resided a
few years in the upper part of the city of New York, convenient to his place of
business. During this time young Edwin was taught the rudiments of his education
privately, and about the age of 9 or 10 years was sent to the academy of the
Rev. Mr. Johnson, in the upper part of Broome street, New York Here he continued
his studies until his father moved to Brooklyn, where he was again taught privately.

He commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Ball and Wendell,
who were in partnership and were then the principal physicians of Brooklyn.
After being with these distinguished men for three years, and attending each
year a course of lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York
city, he left their preceptorship, and entered the office of John W. Francis,
professor of obstetrics in the college he first attended. After completing his
full course of lectures and term of study, he graduated from the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of New York in the year 1825, and received his diploma,
conferring the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

While studying with Drs. Ball and Wendell he became acquainted
and was a fellow student with Dr. E.C. Cooper, youngest brother of Peter Cooper,
the distinguished and venerable philanthropist of New York. Dr. Cooper entered
the office of Dr. Francis and graduated a year previous to Dr. Webb. It happened
just after Dr. Webb was about to settle himself in business that Dr. Cooper had
made arrangements to commence practice in the village of Hempstead; but an
unforeseen and unexpected obstacle, prevented him, and it was at his instance
and by his advice that Dr. Webb first entertained a thought of locating in
Hempstead. After visiting Hempstead and delivering letters of introduction from
his preceptors and some of the professors of the college to several of the
leading gentlemen of the village he was prevailed upon by the Rev. Seth Hart,
Rev. Charles Webster and others to make this village his place of residence, at
least for a year or two. Here for over half a century had he constantly and
almost incessantly attended to the duties of his profession, in which from the
first he has enjoyed the confidence of a large circle of friends as a wise and
skillful physician and surgeon.

At an early period of his residence in the town he became prominent, and at a large 
meeting of the inhabitants in the year 1831, to make preparations for celebrating the 
4th of July, he was selected as the orator for the occasion. In those times this 
national birthday was celebrated with a hearty good will, and it is said that Dr. Webb 
performed his part with great credit. He was soon after this appointed physician to 
the county and town poor- houses and the county jail, and was chosen to other offices. 
From the history of the Queens County Medical Society we find that he was one of 
its original founders, of whom but few survive. He has held all the principal offices 
in that society, and was president four terms. As many as six of the largest life 
insurance companies in New York, Boston and Connecticut appointed him medical 
examiner without any solicitation on his part. He has been the medical preceptor of 
six students of medicine, all of whom received the degree of M.D., except one, 
who was compelled to abandon his studies. Dr. Webb received the appointment of 
delegate to the convention of the American Medical Association several times, and 
attended their meetings at New Haven, Conn., and Philadelphia, and became a permanent 
member of the association in 1860. He was also appointed delegate to the New York State
Medical Society’s convention a number of times, and health officer once for the village 
of Hempstead. He is now a warden of St. George’s church, Hempstead, and has held that 
office as well as that, of’ vestryman for many years. 

Dr. Webb was married to Miss Anna E., daughter of Dr. Josiah Hornblower, of Bergen, New Jersey, 
in the year 1829. They had ten children, of whom the eldest, Caroline H., 
and the youngest, Anna E., now the wife of Herbert M., Moore, are the only survivors.

The oldest son, Edwin Webb, adopted the medical profession in
1856, and graduated from the Medical University of New York in the year 1860.
Immediately after passing his medical examination he was appointed assistant
physician to the Raymond street hospital in Brooklyn, and shortly after (July 3d
1860) died suddenly of peritonitis, having but a short time previous suffered
from a. malignant attack of diphtheria. He was much beloved by all who knew him,
and gave rare promise of being an ornament to his profession.

The youngest son, John S. Webb, chose the same profession as
his brother, and studied under his father’s care, residing in the city of New
York in the winter, near his preceptor, Dr. H. Sands, professor of anatomy in
the. College of Physicians and Surgeons, with whom he continued two years. He
graduated from his father’s alma mater February 28th 1872. It was but a week
or two after this that he again resumed his studies, to acquire a more perfect
knowledge of relative anatomy, by dissections in the college, alone, to enable
him to become proficient as a surgeon. Unfortunately during this time he was
poisoned, through a slight wound in a finger, while examining a partially
decomposed body. This injury proved to be extremely severe, and dangerous.
Before he fully recovered from it he was tendered, and accepted, the appointment
of assistant physician to the Kings County Hospital. His life, like that of his
brother, came to an early end. On the 5th of March 1872, in the twenty- third
year of his age, he died of a malignant fever, excited and aggravated by his
arduous duties in the hospital. Thus these young and promising disciples of the
healing art were cut down in the bloom of life, with every prospect of honor and
success, by their ambition to be useful. It was some consolation, however, to
know that they were not unprepared, for they were both active members of St.
George’s church, in which they received their religious instruction.
The commissioners and medical staff of the Kings County,

Hospital rendered every, attention and respect to the young physician during,
his short illness, and soon after his death the Commissioners of charities of
Kings county passed the following resolutions, a copy of which was engrossed,
elegantly framed, and sent to the family:

"Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God, in His mysterious providence, to take 
from our midst John S. Webb, M.D., by a sudden and unexpected death, from disease 
contracted while in the discharge of his duties at the Kings County. Hospital, 
therefore 

"Resolved, That we heartily deplore the great misfortune that has thus 
cut short the career of one who had already given promise of great future usefulness, 
and by his talents, energy, and strict attention to duty had proven that his professional 
career could not be otherwise than eminently successful.

"Resolved, That in our mourning
for the departed we recognize and appreciate the deeper grief of those united to
our deceased friend by the tenderest ties; and, while we would not intrude upon
the privacy of their overwhelming sorrow, yet we would respectfully tender to
them our most heartfelt sympathy in their bereavement, with the assurance that
time shall not impair the memory of his man virtues.

"Resolved, That a copy of these
resolutions be engrossed and forwarded to the family of the deceased."
Dr. Webb, has written and read several articles on medical
subjects, one of which was published in the United States Medical and Surgical
Journal, reporting an extraordinary case of hemorrhage, produced by the
administration of ergot and arrested by injections of a solution of muriate of
soda, thrown into the placental vein. He took a very active part in the
proceedings of the Queens County Medical Society, and attended the meetings of
other medical societies as frequently as he could. After a long and extensive
practice, over a large field, with more than he could attend to, he now seeks
more rest, and devotes his attention to the less arduous task of medical
consultations, with which he is frequently favored as a result of his wide-
spread reputation.

GARDEN CITY.
One of the numerous villages of Hempstead, or rather the laid
out city of the town, and what will undoubtedly in time become the center of
attraction on Long Island, is Garden City, situated in the northern portion of
Hempstead, on Hempstead Plains. On the 13th of September 1869 the town deeded to
the millionaire A.T. Stewart 7,170 acres of land, for which he paid $55 per acre
($394,350). By an act of the Legislature this money was invested for the support
of the public schools and the poor of the town. Under the, direction of John
Kellum, the celebrated architect (now deceased), a resident of Hempstead and the
agent of Mr. Stewart, surveys were made, roads were laid out and made, lots were
laid out and fences were built around each block. Contracts were soon awarded
for eleven fine houses, which were erected at a cost of nearly $17,000 each. The
streets and roads were graded to the width of 80 feet, lines of trees were set
out, and many improvements inaugurated. Mr. Kellum died July 24th 1871, and the
work was delayed for some time. April 1st 1874 W.R. Hinsdale was installed as
manager, and he immediately commenced the work of improvement. In a short time
nearly 5,000 acres of land were under cultivation. Garden City proper comprises
500 acres of land, divided into blocks. At the present time there are over two
hundred houses erected, besides the large hotel, the cathedral, several stores,
a barn and stable 118 feet long, with accommodations for 40 horses, a depot and
a freight house 100 by 55, a large building in the rear of the depot for the
offices of superintendent and surveyor D.S. Denton, and a water works building;
and there are in progress of construction the Stewart memorial cathedral
schools, St. Paul’s school building, and a house for the bishop.

The hotel is a five- story brick building, ornamented with marble, with imposing 
entrances, and spacious piazzas running its entire length.

The interior of the building, which is capable of accommodating 80 guests, is
magnificently finished, everything, being substantial. Each room contains hot
and cold water, and the whole hotel is heated by steam furnished by pipes from
the water works. The house is managed by F.E. Nicholson.

Garden City is supplied with water from a large well or reservoir nearly a mile 
north of the hotel. The well is 50 feet in diameter and 30 feet deep, and the water 
is forced through pipes to all parts of the city by the Holly system, which was 
established in 1876. In the large brick building erected for that purpose are the 
pumping machines and three, 37 horse power boilers, which also furnish the steam for 
heating purposes. The machine, which is capable of pumping 2,500,000 gallons of water 
daily, at the time of writing pumped about 500,000 gallons every 24 hours. There are 
about seven miles of mains. It is in charge of three engineers, 
Messrs. H. Myers, 

J. Myers and John C. Miller. The gas used is made by the "maxim process," and is
confined in fire- proof vaults under ground. The steam for heating the hotel,
church and many other buildings is carried in wrought iron pipes wrapped with
asbestos paper and other nonconducting material, to prevent condensation. The
pipes are inserted in logs of wood and contrived so that there is no
accumulation of water in any part of the main line. The steam passes into
service pipes from the streets to buildings, and by means of valves the heat is
properly regulated.

To show on what magnitude the superintendent is farming, we give a few figures prepared 
for a New York paper during the winter of 1880- 81:
"Of oats were raised, 14,000 bushels, of shelled corn 45,000 bushels, of
hay 300 tons. He keeps 80 head of horses, and in the summer employs 450 men and
eight steam engines. All of the grain is trundled in tanks on wheels, and
elevated by steam and distributed by gravity. He has more than 8,000 acres of
soil, all of which will be speedily placed under cultivation."

THE CATHEDRAL OF THE INCARNATION.
On the 28th of June 1877 Bishop Littlejohn laid the corner
stone of this cathedral, one of the finest ecclesiastical edifices in America,
although not as large as some, and for architectural perfection comparing
favorably with the best cathedrals in Europe.

It is a gift to the diocese of Long Island by Mrs. A.T. Stewart, as a memorial of her 
deceased husband; together with the see house, St. Paul’s school for boys and 
St. Mary’s for girls, and other institutions which are to be established the cathedral 
foundation. With a suitable permanent fund provided for the maintenance of the Cathedral, 
the services will always be free and the building and grounds kept in perfect order.

The plan of the edifice is cruciform, with tower and spire,
baptistery, organ apse, crypt and mausoleum. The style employed is decorated
gothic of the thirteenth century, but the architect has given freshness and
independence to the treatment by adopting the foliage and flowers of this
country, and following nature rather than the old and stiff conventional forms.

Unusual beauty and grace are attained in this manner in all the carved work of
the triforium, capitals, bosses and corbels, which furnish everywhere varied and
pleasing subjects for study. The exterior is constructed of Bellville (New
Jersey) stone and the interior of Berlin (Ohio) stone, with the use of native
and foreign marbles, in the pavement, chancel steps, baptistery and mausoleum.

The proportions of the building are admirable, the extreme length measuring 190
feet, the width of the transept including the porches 109 feet, and of the nave
and aisles 52 feet. The choir and chancel are sixty feet deep, separated by
marble steps, with the bishop’s throne on the north side and the dean’s on
the south. The tower, which is monumental in character, with bold buttresses,
ornate gables and pinnacles, is 124 feet high; and the delicately tapering
spire, crocketed and surmounted by a large illuminated cross of colored gems, is
97 feet, making the whole height 221 feet. In the upper stage of the tower is
hung the chime of bells, 13 in number, exhibited at the Centennial exhibition in
Philadelphia, from the noted McShane foundry in Baltimore. The spire of the
baptistery is beautiful in design and workmanship, with its flying
buttresses and pierced belfry; and from the aisle walls also spring flying
buttresses to the nave, giving lightness and elegance to the general effect of
the exterior, while the cornices are enriched with gargoyles and pinnacles. The
roof is slated, and finished at the apex with a bronze crest, bearing a, crown
at the junction of the nave and transepts, and a cross over the chancel.
In the interior the work is equally elaborate and carefully finished. 

The baptistery is connected with the choir and transept by large
arches, filled with elegant stone tracery, and is finished with columns of
variegated foreign marbles, with capitals of statuary marble exquisitely carved,
supporting the gothic groining of the dome above. Around the walls runs a
wainscoting of statuary marble with panels of vert antique. In the center of the
inlaid marble pavement stands the white marble font, adorned with appropriate
symbols and figures, and covered by a rich canopy. The seats of the bishop and
dean as well as the stalls of the clergy in the ante- chancel are of mahogany,
with elaborately carved canopies; and in the sanctuary the stalls and canopies
are of carved stone, as well as the piscina and credence. On a platform of
raised steps stands the altar, constructed of the purest statuary marble, with
panels presenting in bold relief the chief events of our Lord’s incarnate
life, with their prophetical types in the old dispensation. The pavement of this
portion of the edifice is a rich mosaic of colored marbles. In the choir and
transepts are large niches for appropriate figures, executed in marble.
The crypt is connected with the choir and nave by staircases, and contains a large chapel, 
with a spacious hall and vestibules of carved oak filled with panels of stained glass. 
At the west end under the choir is another smaller chapel, and adjoining it the mausoleum, 
which is polygonal in form, having its bays, wrought in the most elegant manner in statuary 
marble, with clustered columns of the costliest European marbles at each angle of the walls,
supporting the vaulting and its pendent crown. The symmetry and variety, of the
columnar treatment, the exquisite finish of the floriated capitals, corbels and
mullions, all of which are separate studies, the stained, glass presenting the
story of our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection, the graceful statuary and
the massive sarcophagus all combine to render this mortuary temple a triumph of
architectural genius.

The architect is Henry G. Harrison, of No. 67 William street, New York, and the 
contractor James H. L’Hommedieu, of Great Neck, Long Island.

The stained glass of the crypt is from the manufactory of Colgate, New York; and
that of the mausoleum and the cathedral itself from the celebrated London firms
of Heaton, Butler & Bayne, and Clayton & Bell. When completed the
edifice will have cost $1,000,000.

The organ, built by H.L. Roosevelt of New York, ranks among
the largest, and in several respects is one of the most remarkable in the world.
It has four manual keyboards and one pedal keyboard, and comprises one hundred
and twenty speaking stops and about eight thousand pipes. Though placed in
different parts of the cathedral, it is all played from one key box, situated in
the choir, the remote portions being connected by cables of electric wire, over
twenty miles of which are used for this purpose. The main body of the instrument
is in an octagonal chamber built on the north side of the choir for this
purpose. The next largest portion is at the other end of the building, in the
stage of the tower immediately below the chimes and separated from the church by
a stained glass window, which is opened and shut from one of the swell pedals in
the choir by means of electricity. A third part is in the chapel under the nave,
and can be played there from its own keyboard for chapel services. A fourth, above 
the ceiling, is called the Echo organ, and is played also from the choir. Two 
other portions are on either side of the choir. The chimes are also played from the 
solo manual by electricity or from a separate keyboard in the tower. The combination 
pedals are so arranged that the organist can change any combination to suit himself, 
small knobs being placed above the drawstops for this purpose. Three steam engines, 
located in different parts of the building, are employed to work the bellows. The 
cost of the instrument, which was not completed at the time of writing, was over 
$60,000, and the ornately carved mahogany cases cost about $30,000 additional.

Relative to the site of the cathedral a writer in the Sanitarian remarks:
"The setting of this gem of the pure gothic order of
architecture, instead of being in arid metropolitan streets, is in a locality
which will yet have a world- wide reputation for all that is most attractive to
the eye and grateful to refined taste in landscape and architectural beauty, and
all the luxury that wealth can accumulate in its surroundings. Approached by any
of the various lines of railway, or by the substantial and well kept carriage
roads, worthy of the appellation sometimes given them of "Roman
roads," the cathedral seems firmly planted upon an elevated plateau, with
gently rolling surface, here and there broken by valleys sweeping in graceful
curves, robed in green, and enlivened by flowers and crystal fountains, shaded
with trees luxuriant in growth and of every variety known to the climate, fanned
by delicious breezes, invigorating, and exhilarating to both body and brain, and
elevating to the soul."

We may appropriately close our sketch of this noble edifice
with the following, eloquent passage from the address of the Rev. Dr. Snively at
the laying of the corner stone:
"From this home of reverent worship and this center of
earnest work there shall go constantly the messengers of peace on earth and
good- will to men, and in the Master’s name and work shall kindle upon unseen
altars the flame that shall illumine the world. And this cathedral, which at
once enshrines the memory of the departed and gives untold efficiency to the
missionary capabilities of the church, shall be both the instrumentality and the
prototype of that sublime spiritual temple erected of human souls and cemented
by a living faith- a temple which gathers its stones from many quarries, and
hews its timber from the forests of many lands, and which, without the noise of
axe or hammer or saw, is rising through the centuries to its glorious
consummation in Jesus Christ, its chief Head and Corner- stone.

"The cathedral idea is an element in the organic life of
the visible church. It has been well said that its embryo was in the upper room
in Jerusalem, where solemn conferences were held while waiting the coming of the
Comforter. From then until now the necessity of a central rendezvous and
rallying-point for the church, a common altar and common conference ground in
devotion and debate, has been profoundly felt, and this necessity has been
relieved by the cathedral. We rejoice, then, not so much over the architectural
cathedral, whose walls rise and beautify this broad- bosomed plain; nor again
over the memorial cathedral; which shall in silent eloquence move the present
and coming ages with the story of human love sublimed in Christ, honoring and
soul-helping; but chiefly we rejoice over the great spiritual edifice, whose
corner stone we have laid in the Master’s name, whose walls shall be
salvation, and whose gates praise through a far- reaching gospel future.
"The cathedral, in its whole idea, its theory and method, is designed to fuse into 
a holy harmony the whole evangelical work and devotional life of the diocese. 
To build a cathedral, equip it, and endow it, and then give it to God for the 
worship of his people, is something without precedent in the annals of Christian 
charity. And then how beautiful the blending of the wifely affection and the 
Christly devotion, making a mausoleum for the loved and lost of earth, and vaulting 
it over with a temple for the worship of the King of heaven."

THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL OF ST. PAUL.
This magnificent building, which has been erected by Mrs. A.T.
Stewart, occupies a sightly position about a quarter of a mile northwest of the
cathedral. It is in style an adaptation of English gothic, and is massively
constructed of brick, made at the brick works of the estate, with brown stone
and Dorchester yellow stone for windows, doorways, porches and other ornamental
features.

The edifice consists of an imposing facade, which with the
portecochere is 290 feet long, and three wings 170 feet deep, forming a ground
plan something like the letter E; and is four stories in height, with additional
stories in the center and at the angles, which have high mansard roofs. Besides
these projections the exterior is diversified with ornate porches of carved
stone, a clock and bell tower and a broach spire in copper for the ventilation
of the laboratory. Over the main entrance is inscribed: "IN MEMORTAM ALEX.
TURNEY STEWART," with the name of the school beneath, and over the east and
west doorways, "Historia et Scientia," and "Ars et Philosophia."

The interior, arrangements have been carefully planned, and
appear to successfully combine the best features of modern collegiate edifices,
whether in this country or abroad. The whole building is fire-proof, admirably
ventilated, and supplied with gas and hot and cold water in every room, with
abundant bathing facilities, and steam heating apparatus after the Holly system.
The different stories are connected by two elevators, and several commodious
stairways, constructed of iron and stone. The first floor comprises the main
hall, 270 feet long and 10 wide, and lateral corridors 170 feet long, wainscoted
with tiles and marble, and paved with Minton tiles of beautiful designs;
reception rooms on either side of the central entrance, connecting with a
library and parlor, each 21 by 50 feet; the head master’s and matron’s
apartments, dormitories in the east wing; the dining hall in the central wing,
43 by 62 feet, with serving rooms; and the two assembly rooms in the west wing
for the higher and lower school, about 50 feet square, with several recitation
and lecture rooms, each 20 by 24 feet. The second story is devoted to teachers’
and pupils’ rooms, varying in size from 9 by 20 feet to 18 by 25 feet; and in
the center, occupying two stories, is the chapel, 42 by 6, feet, which is
arranged with longitudinal sittings for some four or five hundred pupils, and
has at the north end chancel, organ and sacristy. On the third floor are
situated in front the music rooms, the art gallery, 25 by 62 feet; the
infirmary, 25 by 40 feet, with apartments for nurses, and in the corridors a
large number of dormitories. The fourth story contains, besides dormitories, the
laboratory, 20 by 44 feet, studios for art pupils, and the gymnasium, 37 by 62
feet, with dressing rooms, in the central mansard. In the basement are play
rooms in this school wing, the armory, the laundry and drying room the steward’s
room and the servants’ hall, the stone rooms, butcher’s shop, refrigerators,
dairy, engine room ovens, kitchen, scullery, etc.; and in the east wing the
servants’ dormitories. Throughout the building the wood work is of ash, black
walnut, oak and mahogany, finished in the most elegant and substantial manner,
with solid and appropriate furniture specially manufactured for the school after
the most approved designs.

The corner stone was laid on the 18th of June 1879, by the Rt.
Rev. A.N. Littlejohn, D.D., LL.D., assisted by the clergy of the diocese, and in
the presence of a large concourse of people. Since that time the work has
rapidly progressed, under the direction of the architect, Edward D. Harris, of
New York, and with the efficient co- operation of the Hon. Henry Hilton, whose
well directed energy and discriminating taste have been of untold value in the
development of the cathedral plan, with its affiliated educational institutions.
It is expected that the new edifice will be ready for occupancy in the autumn of
the present year (1882). St. Paul’s school, organized on the 19th of September
1877 and hitherto temporarily lodged in several houses in the place, will then
be transferred to its new and permanent quarters. With its increased faculty,
its enlarged accommodations, and thorough equipment in library, philosophical
and chemical apparatus, and gymnasium for physical culture, its spacious park
and playing fields, its beautiful lake and healthful surroundings, this school
can scarcely fail to become at an early day a large and important one,
furnishing all the advantages of an Eton or a Rugby; and with its outward and
material prosperity it is not too much to expect that during the coming
centuries it will yield a wide and beneficent influence, and realize the noble
promise of its adopted motto, inscribed upon its corner stone, 
"Pro Christo, et Ecciesia, et Literis Humanis"



TOWN, VILLAGE AND CITY HISTORIES...JAMAICA
HISTORY of QUEENS COUNTY  MAIN
RETURN to QUEENS MAIN
RETURN to BROOKLYN MAIN