HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY with illustrations, Portraits & Sketches of Prominent Families and Individuals. New York: W.W. Munsell & Co.; 1882. pp. 469-576. History of Queens County enter name and hit return
OYSTER BAY.
THE Indians who were the first known inhabitants of this town were of two tribes- the Matinecocks, who occupied the north part of the town, and the Marsapeagues, who occupied the south part. Their division line was the "middle of the island." The principal occupation of the males was hunting, fowling and fishing; the females practiced agriculture to some extent. Corn was the staple product, and the "old planting fields" mentioned in the early records are supposed to be fields previously’ cultivated by the Indians. The large piles of broken shells near the shores indicate another important occupation- the business of making Indian money. The generic name of this shell money, for which Long Island was so noted, is seawant. There were two kinds, viz. wampum, or white, which was made from the stem of the periwinkle shell; and suckanhock, or black, made from the heart of the hard clam shell. The black was rated much higher than the white. The arms used by the Indians previous to the coming of the Europeans were the bow, with its string of wild hemp or the sinew of a deer; the arrow, pointed with a sharp stone fastened by resin or with rawhide strings; the war club, the wooden spear and a square shield, which was worn upon the left arm. Their wigwams consisted of hickory saplings bent in the form of an arch and covered with bark. In the middle was the fire; a hole at the top permitted the egress of the smoke. They pounded their corn with stone pestles; their mortars were generally of wood, sometimes a hole in a large stone. The Indians ate their food from wooden bowls. Their knife was a sharpened shell, their axe a sharpened stone. There are a number of specimens of these axes preserved, and some of them show that their manufacturer had considerable taste in carving. The head of the axe has a deep crease on each side, to receive a handle, which is formed by the two parts of a stick, split at one end, being forced into these creases so that the ends project a little beyond the axe, and then firmly bound to their place by thongs of rawhide. The site of the village of Brookville is often mentioned as Susco’s Wigwam, and it is certain that most of the Matinecocks inhabiting the town resided at this place and Cedar Swamp. They also had a small village at Mosquito Cove. It is stated that Susconaman lived where Mrs. McKensie now resides. The principal settlement of the Marsapeague tribe was in this town at Fort Neck, which derived its name from the Indian fort at that place. The only battle of any consequence between the whites and Indians on Long Island was fought here with this tribe early in the year 1644, when their fort was taken and demolished by a force under Captain John Underhill, who afterward aided them and other Indians in negotiating a treaty with the whites, and was rewarded with land at Matinecock. After this the Indians when sober and well treated were peaceable, quiet and kind. The only trouble of which we have any intimation, except from "fire- water," was on account of the whites neglecting to pay them for their lands as agreed, and differences in boundary. The first was adjusted by paying them. In the second case the Indians also maintained their claim, which was adjusted by the settlers buying the land and paying for it. The first experiment mentioned in the town books for the prohibition of intemperance was tried on the Indians, and it is recorded as follows: "Dec. 13th 1660.- It is ordered that no person or persons whatsoever shall, doubly or individually, sell wine or strong liquor to the Indians, upon the forfeiture of five shillings for the first default and ten shillings for the second; and the third time to forfeit his right of meadow to the town." The Indians when selling their lands reserved their right of fowling and fishing. These rights were soon cast aside, and instead of being partial owners the natives became in many instances slaves to the purchasers. Their recognized rights dwindled to an old Indian woman coming to the farmers once a year and collecting what was called quit rent. Her coming long since ceased. They soon ceased to exist as communities here, but they have left their marks on the old deeds, and their remembrancers in the arrow- heads and axes which are occasionally brought to the surface by the plowshare. Of the few who have been inhabitants of the town during the last century one after another has passed away, until their only representative is an Indian girl living with a family in the south part of the town.JURISDICTION AND TITLE.
The first attempt at settlement of this town or its vicinity was the result of an agreement dated 17th April 1640, in which James Farret, as agent of the Earl of Stirling gave permission to Daniel Howe, Job Paine and others to purchase, lands and settle on Long Island "with as full and free liberty both in church order an civil government as the plantation of Massachusetts enjoyed." Clothed with this authority their leader, Daniel Howe, soon after made a purchase from the Indians of the island "which extended from the eastern part of Oyster Bay to the western part of a bay called, after him Howe’s bay, and to the middle of the plains, being half the breadth of the island." About the 60 of May following a settlement was commenced, the location of which is thought to have been on the west side of Cow Neck near the head of Manhasset or Cow Bay, which was formerly known as Howe’s or Scout’s Bay. News of the settlement having been carried to Governor Kieft, he sent a force which broke it up. Five years later the English attempted another settlement, advancing as far as Oyster Bay, within the track purchased by Daniel Howe, and were again frustrated in their design by Governor Kieft, who seized and imprisoned some of the settlers, and drove the others away. These settlers, however, could have remained had they acknowledged their subjection to the authorities of New Amsterdam, which they refused to do. The Dutch continued many years to claim jurisdiction over this portion- of the island; but on account of its local advantages and adaptation to commercial purposes it was as persistently claimed by the English. A treaty was made by representatives of the Dutch and English colonies in a convention which met at Hartford, Conn., September 19th 1650. The agreement was "that a line run from the westermost part of Oyster Bay and so a straight and direct line to the sea shall be the bounds betwixt the English and Dutch there; the easterly part to belong to the English, and the westermost to the Dutch." By this arrangement, giving to the English the whole of Long Island to the eastward of this boundary line, which merely included the site of the Townsend mill property on the side of the English, it was hoped the controversy was at an end; but this hope was doomed to disappointment. The Dutch in order to better secure their possession of the lands allotted to them on the west of said boundary line, and to prevent intrusions thereon, immediately planted a small colony on their eastern border, to which project the village of Brookville, formerly called Wolver Hollow, is indebted for its origin. When Oyster Bay came to be settled by the English a dispute arose between them and the Dutch governor respecting the "westermost" limits of Oyster Bay; and this, with the delay of the States General to ratify the treaty, furnished the Dutch governor with a pretext for not fulfulling it. Difficulties continued, for in 1656 we find that the commissioners of the united colonies of New England (Oyster Bay being at this time under the jurisdiction of New Haven), in answer to a communication from the Dutch governor, reproached him for still continuing to claim Oyster Bay, in violation of the treaty of Hartford; for, although the treaty was ratified by the States General February 22nd 1656, yet it seems that the governor never wholly relinquished his claim of jurisdiction over the town, or a part of it. We find also that in 1659 the directors of the West India company ordered the Dutch governor to erect a fort or build a blockhouse on their east bay (Hempstead Harbor), in order the more effectually to resist the encroachments of the English; but in 166r the governor informed them that he had not erected the fort on Long Island, near Oyster Bay, "because our neighbors lay the boundaries a mile and a half more westerly than we do, and the more as your honors are not inclined to stand by the treaty of Hartford." These disputes involved the people of Oyster Bay in much difficulty and perplexity. To avoid giving offense to one power or the other and to secure peace and quietness they were compelled to observe a kind of neutrality between the contending parties. December 13th 1660 they resolved, by a vote of the people in the town meeting, that no person should intermeddle to put the town either under the Dutch or English, until the difference between them should be ended, under penalty of £50. It is presumed that the town about this period united with the other English towns on the island east of Hempstead in voluntary submission to the jurisdiction of Connecticut. These disputes were, however, brought to a close by a surrender of New Netherlands to the Duke of York in 1664. This brought the whole island under the English authority. By decision of his Majesty’s commissioners, given November 30th 1664, it was decided that Oyster Bay, together with all towns to the east, should also belong to the Duke of York. This town then remained under his control except during the reoccupation of New York by the Dutch, when in October 1673 the people, upon their demand, took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch government. The close of the war between the two governments again brought the town under the duke’s control. As we have seen, individuals located in different parts of the town, but had no permanent organization as a town until 1653, when the first plantation was commenced on the site of the village of Oyster Bay. The first instrument of conveyance of land appears to be a deed from the Matinecock sachem, and is as follows: "Anno Domini 1653.- This writing witnesseth that I, Assiapum, alias Moheness, have sold unto Peter Wright, Samuel Mayo, and William Leveridge, their heirs, administrators and assigns, all the land lying and situate upon Oyster Bay and bounded by Oyster Bay River to the east side and Papequtunck on the west side, with all ye woods, rivers, marshes, uplands, ponds, and all other the appurtenances lying between ye bounds afore named, with all ye islands to the seaward, excepting one island, commonly called Hog Island, and bounded near southerly by a point of trees called Cantiaque; in consideration of which bargain and sale he is to receive, as full satisfaction, six Indian coats, six kettles, six fathom of wampum, six hoes, six hatchets, three pair of stockings, thirty awl- blades or muxes, twenty knives, three shirts, and as much peague as will amount to four pounds sterling. In witness whereof he hath set his mark in the presence of William Washborne, Anthony Wright, Robert Williams.PURCHASERS AND SETTLERS.
Thus we see that the first purchase was made by three men who associated with themselves seven others, each and all having equal property and rights. William Leveridge (or Leverich), a minister of the gospel, was born in England, graduated at Cambridge in 1625, and arrived in the ship "James" at Salem, with Captain Wiggin and company, October 10th 1633. He was the first pastor of a Congregational society organized in 1633 at Dover, New Hampshire, and was probably the first ordained minister who preached the gospel in that province. His support being quite insufficient he left his charge at Dover, came to Boston in 1635, was admitted a member of the church there, and afterward assisted Mr. Partridge at Duxbury for a short time. In 1638 he became the first pastor of the church at Sandwich, on Cape Cod, and he devoted much of his time to instructing the Indians in that quarter. In 1647 he was employed by the commissioners of the united colonies as a missionary and resided most of his time at Plymouth. In April 1653 he visited Long Island, in company with some of his former parishioners at Sandwich, and made the purchase recorded above. Samuel Titus, as will be seen certifies that Mr. Leverich received from the planters here 15 pounds per year for his services as clergyman. It has also been supposed that he devoted a part of his time after his removal to Oyster Bay to instructing the natives on Long Island and elsewhere. It appears that Mr. Leverich was allowed small sums for his services among the Indians from 1653 to 1658. In 1657 they desired him to instruct the Corchaug and Montauk tribes, at the east end of the island. He continued in the ministry till his death, in 1692; having been the first settled minister for four distinct parishes- Dover, Sandwich, Huntington and Newtown. Samuel Mayo, who owned the ship "Desire," of Barnstable, was employed by the Rev. Mr. Leverich to transport his goods to Oyster Bay. This vessel, which was under command of John Dickerson, was captured in Hempstead Harbor by Thomas Baxter, under pretense of authority from Rhode Island, while cruising against the Dutch; that province having taken part with England in the war against Holland, and the vessel being, as was alleged, within Dutch territory. It is stated that Mr. Leverich landed at Hempstead harbor, because there was no house at Oyster Bay to shelter his goods. Thompson says: "This Baxter was, beyond all question, a turbulent and unprincipled fellow, and the general court at Hartford, in April 1645, were compelled to notice his vile conduct, and to censure him for his reproachful speeches against that jurisdiction. They likewise imposed a fine upon him of £50, requiring him to execute a bond in £200 for his good behaviour for one year, and to be further responsible to New Haven and Rhode Island for his bad actions within their limits." Upon the complaint of Mayo for seizing his vessel under false pretenses, the court adjudged Baxter to pay the owner also, but that the sails, ropes, two guns, etc., if returned with the vessel, should be accounted as £18 toward that amount. It is gleaned from various records that Samuel Mayo was at Oyster Bay, and took part in transacting the business of the colony and apportioning out the different lots to those whom the town voted freedom to settle; and, although larger interests were claimed by his heirs, he appears never to have taken more than his equal share of land with other freeholders of the town. He died at Oyster Bay in 1670. The Wrights, Peter, Anthony, and Nicholas, emigrated from England to Massachusetts as early as 1636. They are supposed to have descended from Nicholas Wright of Norfolk, England, by his wife Anne Beaupre. They are found first residing at Lynn, then called Saugas, in Massachusetts, but shortly afterward removed to Sandwich, Cape Cod, in the settlement of which place they all became active leaders, acquiring lands and holding offices of military as well as civic trust. Here several of the children of Peter and Nicholas were born. In 1653 they joined the company led by the Rev. William Leverich, came to Long Island, and united in the first purchase of land from the Indians of the territory including the site of the present village of Oyster Bay. They all became large landed proprietors at that place. Anthony appears to have lived and died a bachelor; but Peter and Nicholas left large families. Anthony Wright died in Oyster Bay, on the 8th of September 1680. Peter Wright may be called the founder of Oyster Bay. He was the only one of the original three purchasers who settled here; and of those whom they admitted as partners, not one except Anthony continued longer than ten years. Thomas Armitage soon emigrated to another town on the island. Daniel Whitehead, having removed to Jamaica, became a very large landholder there, and afterward purchased Dosoris, which he gave to his daughter, the wife of John Taylor. Robert Williams was of Welsh descent, and a near relative of Roger Williams. He afterward bought from the Indians a large tract on the south boundary of the original Oyster Bay purchase. He was also the first purchaser of Dosoris. John Washborne was the son of William, who, with his brother Daniel, came here with Rev. Mr. Leverich. They or their family are frequently mentioned in the annals of Hempstead. Richard Holbrook built the first house in Oyster Bay. He afterward removed to Milford, Conn., as we learn from his will, dated at that place March 29th 1670. Indeed very many of the first inhabitants were of the Sandwich colony, who were collected there from different places in 1628.BOUNDARY DISPUTES.
That the settlers were not free from complications and difficulties appears from the following documents, which are copied from the Townsend Memorial: "Oyster Bay, 20th Dec’r. 1683. I, Nicholas Simikins, now an inhabitant of Musketo Cove, aged fifty- six or thereabouts, do declare that, I being at the first settlement of Oyster Bay, which was in the year 1653; Peter Wright, William Leverich and Samuel Mayo, they being the three first purchasers as by the grand deed from the Indian sachem, and they being mentioned in the deed as purchasers, condescended to the others to make a settlement of the said purchase; and for- - did accept of William Washbourne and his son John Washbourne, Thos. Armitage, Daniel Whitehead, Robert Williams and Richard Holbrook, as equal purchasers with them, and forthwith endorsed the same upon the back side of the bill of sale. That being done, and agreed upon, they immediately proceeded to the laying out of allotments but first they laid out all the highways in the town by joint consent. Secondly, beginning at the Mill river, from and so eastward to the harbor side, they laid out upwards of twenty lots, granting equal privileges to every lot; and next year Will. Smith and old John Titus, with several others, were accepted of as inhabitants, and had their allotments laid out to them by Peter Wright, by the consent of the purchasers. But so it happened that, the purchase money being not paid, the Indians began to be very unruly and dissatisfied; whereupon the purchasers, with the rest of the inhabitants then settled, desired William Smith and John Titus to prepay for the goods to pay the Indians, which they did to Mr. Briant, of Milford, and paid it in beef. And I killed the cattle and paid the debt, and when we came to levy the rate for the purchase it came to eighteen shillings and ten pence; and to my knowledge Samuel Mayo was at two town meetings at the first settlement of the place, and was always forward in joining and granting of allotments to each one that was free to settle amongst them as far forth as any of the rest of the purchasers or people settled, and this I can give upon oath, and much more if thereunto called or required as witness my hand. Richard Holbrook was the first man as a purchaser that got up his house in Oyster Bay. To which I subscribe my hand. "NICHOLAS SIMKINS." "I, Samuel Titus, of Huntington, aged forty- nine or thereabouts, doth witness and declare that about thirty years since, at the first settlement of Oyster Bay, being then with my father under his command, Mr. Leverich and the rest of the first purchasers, living in said town, who admitted freely of my father and two of my brothers as inhabitants and townsmen amongst them, who paid before his death his purchase money with the rest of the purchasers; and I well remember my father had an ox, and one cow, which was killed and sent over to Milford to Mr. Briant, excepting one quarter, to procure the goods to pay the Indians for the town purchase, which I suppose should have been paid before, but was not, whereupon the Indians began to be very surly until they bad their pay paid them as aforesaid. And further I well remember that Mr. Samuel Mayo was here at Oyster Bay several times after this payment and settlement of the town, and never made any objection against any of their proceedings in the settlement thereof; and further I remember that the said purchasers of the town did condescend to each other to have no more in the propriety thereof, but to be equal alike, which was, every purchaser a home lot containing six acres, and others that were to be taken in as townsmen to have but five- acre lots; and that I never all the time we lived in the town did hear or understand that said Mayo desired any more for his part among the rest of the town at the time than the lot which was laid out unto him, lying on the north side of Anthony Wright’s home lot, which I was informed by several of the town at the time he did intend to come speedily and settle upon it. And further I well remember that after the Indians had their pay now quiet and well contented, and then the inhabitants with the purchasers now agreed and was to give Mr. Leverich fifteen pounds per year as minister among them. This above written is the truth; and would have been present before the arbitrators at Oyster Bay to have declared the same, but was prevented by reason of my hay at the south, lieth upon _______. As witness my hand in Oyster Bay, 24th day of October 1684. SAMUEL TITUS. "This sworn before me this 24th day of October 1684. "THOS. TOWNSEND." "The boundaries of the Indian deed are indefinite, and controversies very soon arose about the western line; the Indians claiming the right to the lands on Matinecock and at Susco’s Wigwam (so called from Susconamon, by whom the greater part of the subsequent Indian deeds are given), now Wolver Hollow and Cedar Swamp, the whites maintaining Hempstead harbor to be the western boundary. Papaquatunk River is never mentioned except in this deed, and the terms of the grant make it evident that the Indians were right in claiming Beaver Swamp and Shoo Brook as the western line. For once they maintained their rights, and sold lands at all these places. Matinecock included Buckram, which was not so called on the records until after 1730. Buckram lot had been mentioned before, but that was a small parcel of land, not a district. In 1685 the Indian title was extinguished by the new purchase extending to what is now the western boundary of the town. There was also some difference of opinion as to the intentions of the Indians in selling, and the Rev. Mr. Leverich, who had then left here, gives his understanding of the matter as follows. The views of the Indians, on the subject, are not recorded. "‘Protest of William Leverich, Old Purchase, March 22nd 1663. Whereas I understand that there is some controversy about a sale of lands made by Assiapum, or Mohanes, made to Samuel Mayo, Peter Wright and William Leverich, for want of sound formalities usual in English deeds; and being desired what I understood about the points, I do therefore testify that the intention of the said Assiapum was to convey not only his right but the right of his heirs and extrs., which, though not expressed, is easily understood. 1st. For the Indians, so far as I can understand, have never made any sales for lives, but of custom- which is their law- passed the right of their heirs present, with their own, unless they made any express exceptions; 2nd, and there is enough in the writing to prove this to have been his intention, in the words interlined, Heirs and Executors, and which if it may help such (as) are on difference to a better intelligence I shall be glad. If otherwise, I shall be sorry that such as profess themselves Christians shall teach heathens less honesty under pretence of teaching them more law. "‘WILLIAM LEVERICH.’ "These misunderstandings seemed to have occasioned no hostile feelings between the whites and the Indians." Besides the difficulties with the Indians about the western boundary, there were controversies with the town of Huntington on the east and Robert Williams on the south. We copy the following remonstrance to the people of Huntington from the record: "Oyster Bay, this 3d day of the 7th month, 1663.- Neighbors: We are informed by one of your townsmen that some of your townsmen have mowed some of our meadows at the south, If it be a mistake we shall not regard it; but if appointed by you we desire to know your grounds, for we desire to be at peace with you, and to have our rights also, which we judge is your right desire also; and therefore, if you see cause to appoint a man, or more, and let him, or them, have your deeds, that fully show your title to the said land, then shall we do the like; but we request you to send us a line or two, that we may know your minds, and appoint the time and place, and we will meet you and end the difference if we can; but if you refuse our proposition herein to you, then we do by this request you to forbear mowing our meadow, which begins at the River Passasqueung, or east bounds. For peace and quietness we have done this, knowing that the best title must carry it, and that cannot be known but they must be compared, and we hope that is the readiest way for any that desire peace. "In behalf of the town, a true copy of what was sent by me. HENRY TOWNSEND." This letter does not appear to have brought about the desired results, for on the 5th of July 1669 we find another "letter to the people of Huntington," as follows: "Friends and neighbors of the town of Huntington: We once more desire you in a loving, friendly way to forbear mowing our neck of meadow, which you have presumptuously mowed these several years; and if, after so many friendly warnings, you will not forbear, you will force us, friends and neighbors, to seek our remedy in law, not else; but resting your friends and neighbors. By me in behalf of the town of Oyster Bay. "MATHIAS HARVEY, Town Clerk." We quote from the Townsend Memorial: "To settle this line, Thomas Townsend, Nathaniel Coles, and John Weeks were appointed by Oyster Bay, and Thomas Powell and Abiel Titus by Huntington; and on the 7th of August 1684 they ran the line of division. Several attempts were made to settle the difficulty with Williams, and, as appears from the following order, there was a settlement made; but long afterwards the affair seems to have given a great deal of trouble, and there are allusions to a suit between the town and Williams’s widow and heirs. This order is interesting, as it gives evidence of the industrious habits of the people: "‘Oyster Bay, June 13th 1684. At a Town Meeting then ordered that every freeholder of this Town, or that possesses any lands within this Town purchase, are to attend at the Town House on Monday next, being the 5th day of July ensuing, at sunrise at furthest in the morning, in order to run the line or bound between this Town’s lands and Robert Williams’s Lands; and that person interested in the Town that shall prove defective herein shall forfeit five shillings to them that run the same, according to this order, and to be taken forthwith, by distress, by the Constable. Provided that those that cannot go do cut brush in the town, where they shall be appointed by those persons appointed for that purpose this year. "The line between Oyster Bay and Hempstead was also the subject of negotiation, and was finally adjusted by Henry and Thomas Townsend, on the part of Oyster Bay; although late in the ensuing century there was still some disagreement between the towns respecting their boundaries."PRIVATE LAND OWNERSHIP AND EXCHANGES.
The key to the regulations which governed the management and distribution of the common property is gained from the deposition of Samuel Titus, already cited. We believe, from this and many other indications, that the first intention was that there should be no private property but the home lots, the first of which, as he says, contained six acres; but the practice by which subsequent purchasers were uniformly allotted five acres, as Titus states, does not appear to have been followed out, as the apportionment to some was no more than half an acre. The meadows were the property of the town. Each holder of a home lot was entitled to an equal right or share in their production. This plan was early departed from. We find from the records that for years certain days were appointed whereon to cut, the grass, and for some few years past the practice of selling the hay by auction has been resorted to; but this was not found to pay, and they have fallen back upon the old regulation. The town records, as well as the townspeople’s practice, show that no definite scheme was followed as to the division of property. This indefiniteness in their plans led to many difficulties and misunderstandings. Early in the history of the town it is found in trouble. The heirs of Peter Wright, Mayo and Leverich claimed rights which the town disputed. In an arbitration between the town and Mayo’s representatives the depositions already cited were taken to prove that Mayo never claimed more than a townsman’s rights. The town finally compromised with the heirs of Wright and Mayo, by giving them large tracts of land on the south side of the town. Many years afterward, in 1720, Nicholas Lang and others, encouraged by these results, brought a suit against the town for the rights in the old purchase under the title of William Leverich and Robert Williams; the suit was decided in favor of the town. From the labyrinth of theories and practices, although vague and variable, there are some matters of fact gleaned which may be interesting: Each home lot was entitled to certain privileges, such as shares in the common meadows, pastures and woodlands. These privileges were not inseparable from a home lot; for example, at a sale they were sometimes reserved by the seller, and sometimes divided into halt rights. Being in possession of land did not necessarily constitute a freeholder. For particular reasons home lots were frequently given by the town to persons having no rights, upon condition of their building upon the lot within a year and a day. These gifts were frequently forfeited. The lots varied in sizes and carried with them privileges designated and approved of by the donors, the townsmen. Many who obtained lots in this way or by purchase were at different times accepted as equal townsmen, whether by purchase or favor does not appear. The freeholders in Oyster Bay, in common with other English towns on the island, claimed the right to prevent the transfer of property to strangers without their consent. The following is copied from the town records: "Dec. 13th 1660.- It is this day ordered and agreed by the inhabitants of the town that no person whatsoever shall sell any land, lying or being within the bound of Oyster Bay, unto any until the town or a major part of the town do admit first of the said purchaser for an inhabitant." That the town did not enforce this resolution, although it attempted to do so, is shown by the fact that John Richbell, the only large landholder in the early days of the settlement, sold his interest to Latamore Sampson, and, notwithstanding the town’s entering a protest Sampson retained the property, and transferred it to others. Evidently it was the first intention to hold al but home lots as common property, but the intention was not very long carried out. At first shares of meadow were laid out to each, and then from time to time divisions of other common lands were made; generally to freeholders, but sometimes landholders not freeholders shared in the distribution. Frequently, if not generally when the land was divided and distributed the purchaser was authorized to take his "where he shall see cause." Sometimes the shares designated were distributed by lot. "A town meeting held the 1st of May 1677 there confirmed, by name, every freeholder which hath a free vote for giving and granting of common rights, and for otherwise; and that from henceforward no grant of township or common rights shall be confirmed, or held legal grants, without every freeholder bath legal warning that such a meeting is to be appointed, or that there are lands to be given out; and, after legal warning given them by the officer appointed, it shall be held legal, to all intents and purposes, all gifts or grants of common rights to either man or men, given by the majority of freeholders that doth appear at the time and place appointed. And it is further agreed that for every town right that any freeholder doth possess he shall have so many votes in the giving and granting land and common rights, and not otherwise to be understood, but to grant and divide, as they shall see cause." The freeholders named were as follows, each being entitled to one vote where not otherwise indicated: Henry Townsend, Joseph Dickinson, Edmund Wright, Anthony Wright, Joseph Ludlum (2), Samuel Weeks, Nicholas Simpkins, John Jones, Francis Weeks (1 ½), William Frost, John Rogers, John Dickinson, William Buckler, Nicholas Wright, Job Wright, Elizabeth Townsend (2), John Townsend, Josiah Latting (2), Nathaniel Coles (1 ½;), Richard Harcott, Adam Wright, Latamore Sampson, alias Simon Cooper (4), Daniel Coles, John Wright, John Townsend, Caleb Wright, Isaac Doutty, James Townsend, John Weeks, Samuel Andrews (2), Matthias Harvey Fyde (1/2), Samuel Furman (1/2), Alice Crabb, Henry Townsend jr., Gideon Wright, Richard Crabb, George Dennis, Thomas Townsend (2), Joseph Weeks, John Weeks, of Warwick, Thomas Weeks, Moses Furman (1/2), James Weeks. Only freeholders were eligible to office. Wood, in his history of Long Island, says that there were 41 free- holders who shared in the second division of land in this town, in 1680. The practice of apportioning to every man numerous small detached plots of land led to a system of exchanges and frequent sales, which make the records a very complete history of family relations for every owner; for the deed seldom fails to tell how the owner came by the land, and what degree of relationship existed between him and the purchaser, as well as the former owner. These plots of land sometimes contained no more than five acres, and very seldom, if ever, more than thirty acres. Excepting the farm of Simon Cooper, containing 400 acres at Cove Neck Point (now called Cooper’s Bluff), which he, with his right, purchased from Sampson, every farm formed from the Old Purchase and many of the New were formed by this system of exchange and purchase. Land was generally exchanged for other commodities; hence the number of acres and the price are seldom given. In a few instances, which we copy from the Townsend Memorial, the prices of different pieces of land and articles are given. "Thomas Townsend and Richard Harcut, appraisers of the property of Samuel Mayo, consisting of a home lot and a share of meadow containing two acres and a quarter, valued the whole at twenty- five pounds. The home lot was the place lately owned by Hamilton, containing six acres, one of the best in the village. This was in 1671; and about the same time, at the division of John Townsend’s estate, a bed and furniture were valued at ten pounds, and two cows at the same. Not long afterward Thomas Townsend bought the Fort Neck estate from the Indians (Dr. Peter S. Townsend says, nearly four miles square) for fifteen pounds, and Joseph Ludlam paid one hundred pounds for a homestead containing seventeen acres (Mrs. Miner’s place), with the buildings and privileges belonging to it. Indeed this homestead, with the privileges attached, bore about the same relative value to the Fort Neck property that a fine house on Fifth avenue bears to a township in Oregon; and the home meadows, as they called those near the village, were held at a higher value than even the home lots."DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
Each of the early settlers had made several homes; some of them as many as four. Their movables, comprising their household furniture, farming utensils, and livestock, had become scattered and lost; all their new goods were transported from England at large expense. Hence it is obvious that an article once lost was replaced only at an enormous cost compared with its intrinsic value. Everywhere in this country these things were scarce, and, when it is considered that Oyster Bay and vicinity figured prominently as an asylum for those escaping from the sufferings of religious persecution, and leaving in their hurried emigration their stock and other movables, we can but look with great allowance upon their sometimes seeming parsimonious conduct. Cattle, we learn from many sources, soon became very plenty, as the country was then peculiarly well adapted to their increase. The high value of goods continued for many years. We copy from the Townsend Memorial an amusing illustration of this, which happened as late as the year 1720. It is part of the decision of arbitrators in a dispute between Robert Coles and his step- son, Robert Shadbolt, after deciding the ownership of the house and lands: "Robert Shadbolt shall have the meanest of them two feather beds which was in the house where he now lives, which was his mother’s, as also a bolster, and two pillows, and a checkered coverlet, and one of the straw beds, and a set of blue curtains, and all his mother’s wearing clothes that are in the house now, and the high candlesticks, and one of the looking glasses, and all the window curtains in the house, and one iron pot that was his mother’s, being at Joseph Woolsey’s." The prominent mention of curtains seems to indicate that they were considered necessaries. We can infer this necessity came from lack of partition walls in their primitive dwellings. Wearing apparel does not seem to be scarce, as we have reason to think from the numerous weavers and fulling- mills mentioned. It is easy to decide, from the older wills, that sons generally receive the lands; the youngest the homestead, and the older ones other parts of the father’s farm previously given them. The extra gifts granted to the youngest were in consideration of some provision which he makes for the maintenance of the parents during their lifetime, but the wife generally had the homestead, or a part of it during her life or widowhood. In a society where the manner of living was so simple it was easy to start in life and maintain a family; hence they generally married young. History shows that new countries having special attractions generally have a preponderance of men; and here they seem quite ready to marry widows having families of children, especially when they could bring their full proportion of common stock notwithstanding the proportion would to- day be considered a rather small dower. During those early days land was of little value unless there was some one in the family to till it. Hired help could not be obtained. We are not surprised to find, during the first fifty years of the settlement, the names of only two widows, both Elizabeths, widows respectively of John Townsend and John Dickinson. These had each nine children, several of them married when their mothers became widows. Every other widow deemed it prudent and desirable to accept a second husband, to cultivate, her land, and render it available for the support of herself and children. Unless a wife originally owned the title to land she very rarely, if ever, joined in a deed with her husband. It is clear what title or right the wife was considered to have to her husband’s property; this was not the troublesome side of the question: what right the husband had in the wife’s property seemed to be very much in doubt, as the following copy of the assignment of a deed shows: "I, Alice Crabb, of Oyster Bay, do by these presents assign and make over all my right, title and interest in this above written deed unto my son Adam Wright and his heirs forever; only I do reserve to myself the use of the share of meadow mentioned in this deed, during my life, and after my decease it is to redown to my son Adam and his heirs forever, as witness my hand in Oyster Bay this 26th day of June 1675. "It is to be understood that, although Richard Crabb be not mentioned in the above written deed, yet, notwithstanding, he being considered head or chief, do by these presents confirm that his said wife, Alice Crabb, hath done by this assignment; only the said Richard Crabb reserves the above said shear of meadow to his own disposal." The above is a copy from the Townsend Memorial. Mary Willets, widow of Richard Willets of Jericho, and sister of the wife of Robert Williams, was assessed £220 in the year 1683. This assessment was the highest on the list. She became possessed of a large tract of land through her father and her brother William, and Hope Washbourne, it being a part of that held by Williams. All the Willetses in the town are descendants of this family. Her son Richard left a memorandum, preserved by the clerk of the meeting, which gives his birth (October 25th 1660), marriage (January 25th 1686 to Abigail Bowne), the birth of his daughter Hannah (November 11th 1686), and the death of his wife (April 16th 1689).GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
It has been before stated, in a general way, that the early settlers were not free from embarrassments and trouble by their Dutch neighbors. "April 2nd 1655 William Leverich and other English settlers at Oyster Bay are warned off the Dutch territories," thus showing that the Dutch were not satisfied with the so- called treaty. It is doubtful whether the English were, either. The planters, in order to strengthen their hands against these intruders, on the 28th of May following, through Mr. Leverich, desired to be annexed to New Haven colony. This petition was granted, and in time they, with New Haven, became a part of the colony of Connecticut. Their affairs were managed, to some extent, by Connecticut, for that colony ordered on July 22nd 1662 that John Rigebell be chosen constable of Oyster Bay. It is evident that the people did not like this foreordaining whom they should elect to office, as we learn that on January 4th 1664 Oyster Bay, Hempstead, Newtown, Jamaica and Flushing combined to govern their own affairs, irrespective of Connecticut. The court of that colony on the 12th of May following appointed two commissioners for each of these five towns, thus showing unwillingness to lose its newly acquired jurisdiction over this territory. John Rigebell (also written Rickbell and Richbill) and Robert Ferman (or Furman) were the appointees. Rigebell seems to have been a favorite with the Connecticut government. The matter was ended by the town becoming a part of New York, by a decision given November 30th of the same year, The early records and papers were kept in exceptionally good and handsome writing. The style was quite different from that of the penman of to- day, yet with a little practice one is able to read quite rapidly. Sometimes men made their "marks" on documents when it is quite certain, from other written papers that they could write, Some of these men occupied positions such as that of surveyor, which would require them to be ready writers.FIRST PROFESSIONAL MEN.
Little is known about provision for education. The only mention of a schoolmaster is in 1677, when "Thomas Webb, schoolmaster," was appointed town clerk, with a salary of forty shillings. No clergyman, except Mr. Leverich, is mentioned. "Feb. 19th 1693.- This day the town met together, in order to a late act of assembly for settling two ministers in the county, but nothing done about it; but made return that it was against their judgment, therefore could act nothing about it." This seems to indicate the feelings of the people at that time. Too strong inclination toward the Friends’ belief is the probable reason. The frequent sales and exchanges in land, and the laying out for new townsmen home lots together with meadow and pasture, caused the surveyor to take his position in the, front rank of the officers of the town, John Townsend, "at the mill," was elected to this office in 1686, and served until his death, when his nephew, Henry Townsend, succeeded him. Thomas Weeks, who was elected in 1686 to serve with Townsend, was succeeded in nine or ten years by Rhode Island John Townsend. These surveyors, dying in 1709, were after a short interval succeeded by George Townsend of Oyster Bay, and James Townsend of Jericho, each of whom continued to be elected for twenty years. The main inducement to hold this office was to know all the land in the town so thoroughly as to enable one to purchase and exchange to advantage. The fee was at first six pence per acre, and in 1686 was reduced to three pence.SUBSTITUTES FOR MONEY.
It is not to be supposed that money was received as payment for such work, or for anything else. Money was rarely used to extinguish a debt; The Townsend Memorial says: "If movables were scarce, money was more so, and there are constant allusions to payment in produce, at stipulated prices. We will copy a specimen of these transactions. In 1692 Henry Townsend sold several parcels of land at the Planting Fields to John Dowsbury, for sixty pounds of silver money, current in the colony, to be paid by annual installments of five pounds; but it is to be understood that these several payments before expressed are to be paid, the one half in money, the other half in goods, at money price.’ The following is the receipt for the first payment: ‘Received, this last day of October 1693. Then received of John Dowsbury, in this within- mentioned bill, one cow, one calf, and two- years old heifer, at the sum of five pounds, being in full of the first year’s payment, according to the within- written obligation. I say received by me.’ "HENRY TOWNSEND." The mode of paying debts of all kinds seemed to be very much like that of paying the minister of the gospel at a donation gathering- part money, and part produce. The people, having little money and little to sell, were obliged to make exchanges among themselves as best they could.THE BLACKSMITH AND THE MILLER.
It is certain that the pioneers raised wool and flax. Linen and woolen clothes were quite plenty. Shoemakers and weavers were in abundance. No blacksmith was found fit to mend their utensils and wares. They no doubt required an accomplished artisan, one who could make their old articles as good as new, and thus greatly extend their term of usefulness. John Thomson, whom the town receives as blacksmith and grants a home lot, is the first one mentioned. The lot if Thomson died in the town was to belong to his heirs, but if he left was to return to the town, it paying for his improvements. Thomson appeared to fill their requirements as blacksmith very well for a time, and was in high favor. Frequent allotments of land were made to him here and there. A dark cloud suddenly appeared in his horizon: The town meeting in 1677 ordered the constable, Thomas Townsend, to give Thomson notice to give up the land allotted to him by the town, the town authorities claiming a breach of covenant and threatening to bring him before the next session of court at Jamaica if be refused. Thomson did not give up the land, but employed two attorneys to contest the matter. The town ordered the constable to take possession, but soon saw fit to make a compromise with the attorneys, agreeing that Thomson should have liberty to sell his house and lands to any one that the town approved, "but not to come and live in it himself." The house was sold to Joseph Ludlam, and Thomson, not enjoying the popular attitude toward him, left the town. Abraham Alling, or Allen, was soon after accepted as smith. His lot was granted to him on the same conditions that lots had been granted to others without special trade or profession- that is, to be built upon in a year and a day, or forfeited. Allen seems to have given entire satisfaction as long as he exercised his trade, which was not however many years. He took up land on Mill Neck, and continued to add to it until he owned the tract on the east side of the neck, now divided into four farms, one of which is still owned in the family and situated at the point formerly called Cedar Point. The records show that for many years the settlement of a blacksmith in the village was considered a public concern. The first grist- mill in the town was built by Henry Townsend. We copy from the Townsend Memorial the following: "In 1661 the grant of the mill stream was made to Henry Town send. Dr. Peter Townsend says that before he built the mill the people were obliged "to carry their grain across to Norwalk to be ground, and that he was invited here to build the mill by the Wrights and John Dickinson. This is tradition, but is no doubt true. The original grant and the property conveyed by it are now in the possession of George Townsend, great- great- great- great- grandson of Henry: ‘Oyster Bay, September 16th 1661. ‘Be it known unto all men by these presents that we, the inhabitants of the town of Oyster Bay, on Long Island, in America, whose names are underwritten- we do by these presents firmly covenant and engage unto Henry Townsend, now in the said town, upon condition the said Henry Townsend build such a mill as at Norwalk, on the main, or an English mill on our stream called by us the Mill River, at the west end of our town, then we do give and confirm such lands to him, his heirs and assigns forever, without molestation or condition, as, namely, all the mill lot, bounded with Henry Disbrow’s lot on the east side, the salt meadow on the north end, Anthony Wright’s meadow lot on the west, and the highway on the south; and the said Anthony Wright’s lot is given also to the said Henry Townsend, that adjoin to the aforesaid mill lot on the east, and Latting’s salt meadow on the north end, and a highway on the, west side, two poles broad, between the said stream and mill lot, and the highway on the south; and we give him also the salt meadow and upland on the west side the mill stream, to a little stream of water on the west side of it, and the sea is the north bounds: on the south a highway of six poles broad adjoining unto the swamp. And we do hereby give unto Henry Townsend the said mill stream to build a mill or mills on it, as he shall see cause, and so to remain firm to him, his heirs and assigns, so long as he or they do keep a mill on it, as aforesaid. But if the mill cease to be for half a year after it is built, and no preparation is made to repair the mill again, that then the town may lawfully enter on the river again as their own, and improve it as the town shall see necessary. But if the said Henry Townsend’s heirs or assigns do make preparation to repair the mill, so that it be finished for service after a year’s decay, that the said stream shall continue his or theirs on condition a mill be kept up, or else the stream to return to the town, as aforesaid; and therefore we give him by this full power to trench and dam, and to take what timber he bath need of for his use, and to have commoning for his cattle, and on our charges we engage to trench and make a dam for the mill, as he shall give direction, when he calls to have it done. And we allow him the tenth part for grinding; but if, in process of time, the toll do so increase that less may be sufficient to uphold the mill, so that the miller be not discouraged, he shall have less, as understanding men in the case, chosen by him and us, shall judge. His toll dish to be made true, and to be struck in taking the toll, and we engage no other- than what is before mentioned shall be made join to the fore-mentioned lands we have given to said Henry Townsend, and we are content that the mill do- app- in a week- to grind our corn, and that when the said Henry Townsend do fence in the above said land, that such as have upland or meadow joining to the above said shall join in fencing with him their half, according to English custom; and is to have it all rates and taxes free forever, and to enter in present possession on the stream and lands. And so to the true and due and faithful performance of all and every of the above mentioned engagements and promises we bind us, our heirs and assigns, to perform unto the said Henry Townsend, his heirs and assigns; as witness our hand, the day and year above written; upon condition he build a mill as aforesaid, serviceable to the town of Oyster Bay, in the condition the town now is in, as the mill at Norwalk is serviceable to their town. "‘Nicholas Simkins, Robert Furman, Benjamin Hubbard, Richard Latting, Anthony Wright, Francis Weeks, Henry Disbrow, Richard Harcut, John Richbill, Nicholas Wright, Matthew Bridgman (town clerk), John Finch, John Dickinson, Jonas Halstead, John Bates, John Townsend sen., John Townsend jr., Thomas Armitage.’" There was some dissatisfaction at one time with the miller. It is said that Richard Harcut served for a time as miller, and he was probably there at the time mentioned. The action of the town meeting in reference to it throws light on the simplicity of habits and ideas among the early settlers. We furnish a copy: "30th of 7th month 1672. At a town meeting, ordered by reason of aspersions cast upon the miller, the town have taken it into serious consideration, and have ordered, with the consent and agreement of Henry Townsend, owner of the mill, that if any person or persons do not like their usage at the mill they are to give notice of it to the miller, and attend himself, or his wife if he have one, and see their corn ground if they will; but if they will not attend the grinding, and do cast blemishes notwithstanding on the miller, they are at liberty to grind in another place, and the miller at his liberty whether he will grind again for any such person or persons until him or them do tender such reasonable satisfaction as may be adjudged just by the town." This last action of the town would seem to savor strongly of the miller’s influence. Henry Townsend built a saw- mill in 1673, and the town granted him and his heirs forever, in consideration of his building, the right to cut and use timber from any part of the town he should choose. He also had the right granted to sell such timber, either in the town or out of it. In 1678 a grant was made to Isaac Homer of the mill privileges at Shoo Brook, for a fulling-mill. Homer did not build the mill, and in 1684 the grant was given to John Dowsbury, who built and improved the place, but afterward was sold out by the sheriff. The property finally, by sale and inheritance, came into the Hewlett family, of which Samuel J. Hewlett is the present representative. A saw- mill was built in 1694 at Mill Neck, by the two Birdsalls and two of the Townsends.COMMERCE.
A grant of land was made in 1668 to build a wharf into the sea at the place now called Ship Point. The grant was forfeited, and the foot of South street was called the dock. The first merchant mentioned is John Richbill. He sold his property to Lattamore Sampson, and disappeared. It may be he was unpopular here, as he was an official of Connecticut, appointed after the town had sought independence from that colony. The next merchant was George Dennis, who after a few years of trade was obliged to make an assignment in favor of his creditors. William Bradford, the first printer and publisher in New York, was a merchant here for a time. He is styled in his deeds for several years before 1703 "merchant of Oyster Bay;" then, and after that, "printer of New York." He, like modern merchants, appeared to live here some time after he commenced business in New York. Inscriptions in some of the old books of records show that the books were bought of him. Very few wills or records make mention of boats, shipbuilding or navigation, though their papers are so minute in particulars that it would seem as if they would. Ship Point had received its name in the early part of the eighteenth century, perhaps before. In 1699 a third part of the goods imported into the colony of New York were run into the Long Island ports of Setauket, Oyster Bay, Musquito Cove and South-old, John Townsend, of Oyster Bay, was appointed by the governor surveyor of the customs, with a salary of £30 per year and one-third of the seizures; but, being abused by the inhabitants, he soon resigned his office "through fear of being knocked on the head" by some of the smugglers. By the middle of the century following, shipping business had become better regulated, and was carried on extensively. Samuel Townsend built several ships of different kinds, and carried on an extensive trade with England and the West Indies, until the close of the Revolution, when he moved to New York. William and Benjamin Hawxhurst owned a store at Cold Spring, and probably one at Oyster Bay, doing a large business, and importing their goods from England. They also owned fulling and grist- mills at Cold Spring.OYSTER BAY DURING THE REVOLUTION.
As the war for independence approached, the question whether the town should espouse the cause of the colonies or remain loyal to the crown became a subject of controversy among the people, even to the rending asunder of families, whose members in many cases ranged themselves on opposing sides. To chronicle all the acts of the people of this town during the Revolution would furnish to their descendants some pleasant history, and much not as pleasant. Most that follows in this article is gleaned from the notes of Henry Onderdonk jr. Oyster Bay was among the first towns in the county to protest against the Stamp Act. The following is taken from Holt’s Journal under date of March 6th 1766: "To the Committee of the Sons of Liberty in New York. "GENTLEMEN: By order of a committee of the Sons of Liberty in Oyster Bay we are to acquaint you that at a meeting of the inhabitants, on Saturday February 22nd 1766, it was unanimously agreed and resolved: "I. That the person, crown, and dignity of our rightful sovereign King George III., with all his just and legal rights of government, we will to the utmost of our power support, maintain, and defend. "II. That the liberties and privileges which we as Englishmen have still enjoyed, particularly those of being taxed by representatives of our own choosing and being tried by our own juries, we will also support, maintain, and defend. "III. That the late Stamp Act is destructive of these our liberties, and is by us deemed to be arbitrary and unconstitutional; that as such we will to the utmost of our power endeavor to oppose and suppress the same. "IV. That the measures which you have taken and the several noble efforts you have made in vindication of the general cause of liberty we do heartily approve of, and that with our lives and fortunes we stand ready to assist you in the same. "V. That the committee now chosen do signify these our resolutions to the Sons of Liberty at New York, and elsewhere as they may think proper; that the said committee do for the future keep up appointed meetings, as may be thought necessary, at the house of George Weeks in Oyster Bay, and maintain a correspondence with your committee, in which we expect your concurrence." The Stamp Act being repealed, no more meetings were held at the time. The town records as set forth by Mr. Onderdonk furnish the next mention of them, as follows: "In December 1774 there was a notification signed by several of the principal freeholders, and set up in different parts of Oyster Bay, requesting the freeholders to meet at George Weeks’s on the 30th, to take into consideration the resolves of the Continental Congress. On that day, a number of freeholders appearing, they made choice of Samuel Townsend, town clerk, for moderator. A motion was then made for taking into consideration the resolves of the Continental Congress; and, there being present but a small part of the freeholders, the meeting was adjourned to the annual town meeting." A person signing himself SPECTATOR gives a report of the same meeting, from his standpoint: "At a meeting for choosing a committee for Oyster Bay, December 30th 1774, about ninety freeholders assembled to take into consideration the present unhappy dispute between the mother country and her colonies; when there appeared such~ a number of friends to our happy, regular- established government, under the crown and Parliament of Great Britain, as to deem that meeting illegal and void, and that no business could with propriety be done; and the meeting was adjourned till a future time, when it is hoped it will be so conducted as to convince the world that his Majesty is not without friends here who will support his government. The resolutions of the Congress were publicly read; after which Justice exerted himself with that prudence and firmness becoming a magistrate, by arguing the impropriety and illegality of such meetings in so masterly a manner as to have the desired effect of preventing any business being done till the legal day of calling town meeting, on the first Tuesday in April." March 27th 1775 Samuel Townsend, town clerk, published the following advertisement: "I have received a letter from the chairman of the committee pf New York, recommending it to the free- holders of Oyster Bay to choose their deputies so soon as that they may beat New York by April 20th, the day proposed for the meeting of the convention; and as our annual town meeting is so near at hand I thought it best, previous to said meeting, to acquaint the freeholders that I should lay said letter before the meeting, that in the interim they might have an opportunity of thinking whether it will be proper or not to choose a deputy on that day." At the annual town meeting Thomas Smith was chosen moderator; and, after going through the business of the town, Samuel Townsend read the above- cited letter, and offered it to the consideration of the freeholders and inhabitants. Many objected to having anything to do with deputies or congresses, and some insisted on choosing a deputy. The moderator proposed to go out and separate, but it was objected to, and a poll demanded. The town clerk wrote down the votes, and at the close of the poll there appeared on the list- for deputy, 42; against, 205. The minority of this meeting did not give up their intention, but voted the following address: "To the Provincial Convention. "Whereas the unhappy disputes between the mother country and the American colonies, we humbly conceive, has arisen from assumed power claimed by the British Parliament to pass laws binding on us in all cases whatsoever, hath given us great uneasiness; and, as we conceive, unanimity among the inhabitants of the colonies is the only means under Providence to secure the essential rights and liberties of Englishmen; and, in order that the inhabitants of the different colonies should know each others sentiments, and form general plans for the union and regulation of the whole, it is necessary there should be delegates appointed to meet in general Congress. And whereas the committee of correspondence of New York did request the people of Queens county to choose deputies, in consequence thereof there was a town meeting at Oyster Bay on April 4th, for the appointing of one deputy; but there appearing at said meeting a majority against it, yet nevertheless we the subscribers, freeholders of Oyster Bay, being determined to do all in our power to keep in unity with you and the colonies on the continent, and desirous of being in some measure represented at the general Congress, do hereby appoint Zebulon Williams as our deputy, giving unto him full power to act in our behalf in the premises aforesaid. In confirmation whereof we have hereunto set our hands respectively: "George Townsend, Micajah Townsend, William Seaman, David Layton, George Bennet, Joseph Carpenter, John Schenck, Peter Hegeman, James Townsend jr., John Wright, Gilbert Wright, Richard Weeks, James Townsend, Wm. Townsend, Prior Townsend, Wm. Latting, B. Latting, Joseph Thorney Craft, William Hopkins, Joseph Coles, Albert Albertson, John Luister, Rem Hegeman, Samson Crooker, Jacobus Luister, Albert Van Nostrand, Jotham Townsend, William Laton jr., William Laton, Peter Mutty (x mark), Benjamin Rushmore, William Wright, John Carpenter, James Farley (captain), Samuel Hare jr., Benjamin Birdsall, Joseph Doty, Isaac Bogart, Samuel Townsend, Gideon Wright, Gilbert Hare, Benjamin Townsend, Josiah Lattin." The justices of Oyster Bay- Thomas Smith, John Hewlett and John Townsend- who were appointed by the crown, were leaders against carrying out the resolves of the Continental Congress, and entered their protest on the town records, under date May 19th 1775, and they, with Captain George Weeks and Dr. David Brooks, were among the 26 principal disaffected persons from Queens county who were summoned to appear before the Provincial Congress at New York, December 19th 1775, and give satisfaction in the premises. June 5th 1776 these same men, substituting Thomas Jones for George Weeks, all of them office-holders, were among the 38 men ordered to be brought before a committee of the Provincial Congress to show cause why they should be considered friends to the American cause. A letter dated Oyster Bay South, July. 27th 1776, directed by Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Birdsall to Colonel John Sands, states that there are 30 or 40 tories in Massapequa (Marsapeague) swamp, and proposes to ferret them out with 400 men. He did not succeed in arresting all, for it is said that after the defeat at Brooklyn these loyalists came out and huzzaed for King George. August 12th it is stated that Dr. David Brooks and Thomas Jones, with 20 others, were arrested in the county by order of General Washington, and taken to Connecticut, where they were paroled December 9th following. July 29th 1776 Jotham Townsend, first lieutenant of Richard Manee’s company, received rules and orders as follows: "1. You are to take command of the recruits, and march them down to Matinecock Point, where you are to place sentinels in the most advantageous places to discover the enemy; likewise to be very careful there is no communication to the ships of war. Should you discover any persons attempting it, you are to put them under guard. "2. You are to build a shelter if there be none convenient. Should you want any materials, take such as will answer your purpose best. "3. Charge your men that they insult nor abuse any of the inhabitants, or destroy their effects. "4. Should you discover the enemy attempting to land, you are to send off express to me, and order the owners of stock to drive them off with all expedition. on the Great Plains. "5. Should any of your men disobey orders, steal, or abuse the inhabitants, you are to put them under guard. "6. Minute down daily what happens, and make a return Saturday next by 10 o’clock, at my house. "JNO. SANDS, Col. "Westbury, July 29th 1776." Additional orders, August 3d. "Should you discover the enemy in sight you are to immediately hoist your signal, then send off your express. "You are not to suffer your men to play at cards, dice, or any unlawful game, nor intoxicate themselves with strong drink. You are to observe that no small craft passes and repasses having any transient persons or negroes on board. Should you discover any you are to take them up. If, upon examination, you find them clear, discharge them; if guilty, put them under guard till discharged by the town committee. You are not to let your men waste their cartridges by firing wantonly at game. You are to exercise your men four hours every day." The Oyster Bay committeemen were in session at Daniel Cock’s, Matinecock, when news was brought of the defeat at Brooklyn. They at once broke up and hastened home, there to await their fate; except Joost Monfort and Isaac Bogart, who took leave of their families, mounted horses, and rode off to Huntington ferry, where they crossed, the same night, in company with Major Thorne and others, and proceeded to Fishkill. Joost Monfort, after a few months’ absence, returned home in the night, and before day hurried off to General Robertson, New York, to give up, before his loyal neighbors should molest him. Esquire A.V.W- , hearing of his return, hastened to New York to prevent his getting a pardon. He was so abusive when he found he could not succeed that Robertson ordered him out of his office, and gave Mon fort a certificate. When the Kings county light horse were driving the cattle from Hog Island they, hearing of the defeat at Brooklyn, left the cattle at Matinecock and crossed the sound at Huntington, August 29th, leaving their horses. A British sergeant and three light horse came to Cedar Swamp in September, and continued there some time, hunting Whigs, and impressing wagons. On the 7th of the month one Harrison, from Long Island, reported to Congress "that the ministerial troops have been to Oyster Bay and Hempstead; that the disaffected have joined the enemy, and proceeded as far as Setauket; that William Smith of - - administers oaths of allegiance, and Thomas Smith, of Hog Island, receives submissions. A week after the Kings county light horse had driven the cattle off Hog Island to Matinecock a detachment of the 17th light dragoons appeared at Norwich, and apprehended George Townsend, chairman of the Queens county committee, and John Kirk, also a committeeman. They conducted them to the house of Samuel Townsend, member of the Provincial Congress, who was also apprehended, but was allowed to remain at home on one Buchanan’s promising that he should be forthcoming at New York whenever summoned. Far different was the fate of the other two. George Townsend, having been chairman of the committee, and a bold, blunt, talented man, had exasperated his loyal neighbors past endurance, and could find no intercessor in his hour of peril. He and Kirk were taken to the provost and thrown among the offscouring of the earth. After nine weeks of imprisonment they were allowed to return home. Kirk had contracted the smallpox; his wife and infant daughter took it and died. Samuel Townsend was a prisoner in the provost in the summer of 1782. Brigadier General Oliver de Lancey took up his headquarters at Oyster Bay in the latter part of 1776, and in a notice dated November 14th announced that many drivers of wagons, from different counties of Long Island, who had been impressed from time to time into his Majesty’s service, had deserted their teams and wagons, which occasioned the loss and neglect of many of the horses. He also informed the masters and drivers of such teams that if they did not immediately return and take care of them, and attend to their duties as drivers, the quartermaster general would not be answerable for their loss. "Tunis Bogart and Andrew Hegeman were impressed to cart ammunition for the British army, and were present at White Plains and Fort Washington. They also saw the execution of Captain Hale (September 26th) on an apple tree near Colonel Rutgers’s." The impressing of teams was very annoying. No matter how urgent their business, whether plowing, going to mill, on a visit, at church, or at a funeral, the team must go. A body of British troops were moving from the south side with cavalry in advance impressing teams. On their approach Charles Collyer, a boy of 12 years, took his mother’s two horses and fled. He was fired at, but succeeded in evading his pursuers and hid the horses in a hollow east of Manetto Hill, just over the Huntington line, where he kept them a week, carrying hay to them at night. When forage was carried off a certificate was generally given, on presenting which at the forage office, New York, the holder received his pay at proclamation prices. Doubtless a great deal was taken (especially from Whigs) which was never paid for. More perfect arrangements seem to have been made after a time, and residents were appointed to collect the forage, leaving only so much with the farmers as was needed for their stock. The persons appointed in this town were: Justice Hewlett and Captain Thomas Van Wyck, at East Woods, now Syosset; Captain Abraham Van Wyck, at Wolver Hollow: Thomas Cock, at Buckram; John Underhill, at Musketo Cove; Thomas Jackson, at Jericho; Judge Jones, at Fort Neck; and Captain Israel Youngs, at Cold Spring. Lieutenant-Colonel Emerick, wishing to raise six companies of foot and two troops of light dragoons, states that his soldiers live like gentlemen, and all who behave themselves are treated like brothers. As an inducement to enlist he offers $5 above the regular bounty, together with clothing and provisions regularly, agreeable to the king’s allowance, without clipping or deduction. Refugees are promised pay f or their horses. All who wish to enlist are to apply to Captain Henry Seton, at Huntington, Oyster Bay, and Jericho. This proposal was issued in March 1778. In June "all gentlemen volunteers" were invited to enlist in the regiment called the Prince of Wales’s Royal American Volunteers, commanded by Brigadier General Brown. By applying to Lieutenant- Colonel Pattinson, at his camp on Lloyd’s Neck, they were to receive complete suits of new clothes, arms, and accoutrements, and one guinea more than the king’s greatest bounty. In December "all gentlemen volunteers" and others emulous of serving the king and willing to share the laurels of the Queen’s Rangers were desired to repair to the headquarters of the regiment at Oyster Bay, where many advantages were offered. Any person bringing an approved recruit was to receive one dollar. The following, taken from Simcoe’s Journal, pages 93- 99, is furnished by Onderdonk: "Lieut. Col. Simcoe arrived at Oyster Bay Nov. 19th 1778. As it was understood the village was to be the winter cantonment of the corps no time was lost in the fortifying of it. The very next day the whole corps was employed in cutting fascines. There was a centrical hill which totally commanded the village and seemed well adapted for a place of arms. The outer circuit of this bill, in the most accessible places, was to be fortified by sunken fleches, joined by abattis, and would have contained the whole corps; the summit was covered by a square redoubt, and was capable of holding 70 men; platforms were erected in each angle for the field pieces, and the guard- house in the center, cased and filled with sand, was rendered musket-proof, and looped so as to command the platforms and surface of the parapets; the ordinary guard of 20 was sufficient for its defense. Some of the militia assisted in working one day when Sir Wm. Erskine came to Oyster Bay intentionally to remove the corps to Jericho, a quarter the legion was to quit in order to accompany him to the east end of the island. Lieut. Col. Simcoe represented to him that in case of the enemy’s passing the sound both Oyster Bay and Jericho were at too great a distance for any post to expect succour, but that Jericho was equally liable to surprise as Oyster Bay; that its being farther from the coast was no advantage, as the enemy, acquainted with the country and in league with the disaffected inhabitants of it, could have full time to penetrate undiscovered through the woods, and that the vicinity of Oyster Bay to the seacoast would enable him to have a more watchful eye over the landing places, and to acquire a knowledge of the principles of the inhabitants in these important situations; and that provisions from New York might be received by water. Sir. W. Erskine was pleased to agree with Lieutenant colonel Simcoe; and expressed himself highly satisfied with the means that had been taken to ensure the post; and on his representation the corps was permitted to remain, in its present cantonments. There was a small garrison at Lloyd’s Neck, within twelve miles of Oyster Bay; a feint in case of attack would serve to have kept this post within its redoubts. The nearest cantonment was at Jamaica, where the British grenadiers lay; this was almost thirty miles from Oyster Bay. The New England shore was not more than twelve, and in many places but seven or eight miles over and there were many favorable landing places within a mile or two of Oyster Bay. The enemy could raise any number of men for such an expedition. General Parsons lay with some regular troops in the vicinity, and there were whaleboats sufficient to carry 2,000 men, who in three hours might attack the cantonment. The situation was an anxious one, and required all the vigilance and system of discipline to prevent an active enemy from taking advantage of it. Every separate quarter was loop-holed and surrounded with abattis in such a manner that it could not be forced. A house (the ‘New Light’ meeting- house) was moved bodily to the rear, near to the beach, where the highland and grenadier companies were quartered. A general plan of defense was calculated for the whole; and proper orders were given in. case of attack. The situation of Oyster Bay was extremely well calculated to secure the health of the soldiery: the water was excellent; there was plenty of vegetables and oysters to join with their salt provisions; and bathing did not a little contribute with the attentions of the officers to cleanliness, to render them in high order for the field. Nor were they without sufficient exercise; the garrison in New York being in great want of forage, Oyster Bay became a central an safe deposit for it, and frequent expeditions towards the eastern and interior parts of the island were made to enforce the orders of the commander- in- chief in this respect." A report from American sources, dated February 16th 1779, states that Simcoe’s Rangers numbered 250, and Ludlow’s battalion at Lloyd’s Neck 150. A report from British sources says, "The Queen’s Rangers, numbering 360, left their cantonments May 18th 1779, for King’s Bridge." Simcoe’s Journal, page 110, tells us that Captain Sanford’s company of Bucks county dragoons, Captain Diemar’s hussars, and the Queen’s Rangers, all under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe, marched from King’s Bridge for Oyster Bay August 13th 1779- the cavalry and cannon by the route of Hell Gate, and the infantry by Throg’s Neck- and arrived in Oyster Bay the 17th. Simcoe left Oyster Bay October 19th. The cavalry marched to Jericho, where they remained under Lieutenant- Colonel Tarleton; and the infantry to Jamaica thence to Yellow Hook, and embarked on the 24th Shortly afterward the hussars of the Queen’s Rangers and Captain Sandford’s troops went from Jericho to Staten Island. Page 150 of the same journal states that Simcoe returned from the east end of the island to Oyster Bay, where he saw Major Andre; and remained there and in its vicinity till September 22nd, when he marched to Jamaica, and crossed to Staten Island October 8th. This entry is dated August 23d ’80. Simcoe had his headquarters at the residence of the late Solomon Townsend. The colonel was of a large frame, heavy built, and fine looking, but of feeble health. The forage master here was Captain Wickham, of the Queen’s Rangers. He had a long stack of hay north of Townsend’s. During the holidays the British forage fleet was frozen in. As there were many loyalists and refugees unwilling to enlist as soldiers, to organize and employ these the "Honorable Board of Associated Loyalists" was established December 28th 1780, with William Franklin, son of Dr. Franklin, and a former governor of New Jersey, as president, and commissioned by Sir Henry Clinton with a view to annoy the seacoast of the revolted provinces and distress their trade. The post of Lloyd’s Neck was put under their direction, and they were furnished with suitable armed vessels, provisions, arms and ammunition to defend the post and carry on enterprises against the rebels. The conditions on which the association was formed were as follows: 1. Each associator was to receive 200 acres of land in North America. 2. All captures made by them to be their own property. 3. Prisoners taken by them to be exchanged for such loyalists as the board might name. 4. The sick and wounded to have the benefit of the king’s hospital; A skillful surgeon, with a complete medical chest, to reside at Lloyd’s Neck, and accompany the associators in their excursions. 5. "It will be their care to stop those distinguished cruelties with which colonial loyalists are treated, when in the hands of rebels, under the distinction of prisoners of war and prisoners of state. The directors will omit nothing to make the rebels feel the just vengeance due such enormities." In April 1781 there were 800 men, chiefly refugees and deserters from the American army, at Lloyd’s Neck; about 500 of whom were properly armed. Their naval guard consisted of one vessel of sixteen guns, two small privateers and one galley. Just before the war the Lloyds had cut off the timber on 100 acres of land around where Fort Franklin was built in 1778, so that half a mile east of the fort was clear. Here was the parade. South were the huts and gardens, on a declivity. The vegetables were left in good condition when the place was evacuated. The wood had mostly been cut off. The fort had a well, 130 feet deep, which Huntington was assessed £176 to pay for digging. Henry and James Lloyd’s farms were protected by Howe? but the rest, owned by John, who lived at Stamford, and Joseph, of Hartford, were confiscated, and the wood was cut off for fuel for the king’s troops. The wood was exceedingly large, some trees growing to a height of forty or fifty feet before putting out a-branch. All this was cut down in a most wasteful manner. The amount was estimated at 2,000 cords. Count de Barras detached three frigates and 250 land troops to drive the loyalists from Fort Franklin, on Lloyd’s Neck. The expedition was joined in the sound by several boats with American volunteers and pilots from Fairfield. They landed on the morning of July 12th, when it was discovered that the place was stronger than was supposed and not to be carried without cannon, which had not been provided. Two or three men were wounded by a cannon shot, when the party re- embarked. The British vessels fell back west, into an arm of Huntington Harbor, under protection of a battery of guns recently mounted from-a British armed schooner. The guide of the assailants, Heathcoat Muirson, of Setauket, had made himself acquainted with the position of the enemy. Their fort was picketed with trunks of trees set in the sides, with their branches sharpened; there were only two guns mounted when Muirson viewed the fort, and those on the west side, but on the very night before the attack the British finished mounting two more, twelve- pound guns, on the east side. It was this that frustrated the attack. Muirson was examining the works with a glass, when a shot from the fort took off his arm, from which wound he died. He described the place so closely that his sister afterward found his glass in a bunch of briers, where he had thrown it. The British account of the affair reads thus: "Three large ships, five armed brigs and other vessels appeared in Huntington Harbor and landed 450 men, mostly French, on the back of Lloyd’s Neck, two miles from the fort. At 11 o’clock they formed in front of the fort, at a distance of 400 yards, in open view. The fort fired grape shot from two 12- pounders, when the French suddenly retreated, leaving on the ground a number of surgeons’ implements, lint, bandages, etc. The grass was besmeared with blood." William Ludlam, residing on Hog Island, in the house now occupied by Henry Ludlam, saw the skirmish and gave the foregoing recital of it to Henry Onderdonk jr., who accompanied it in his "Annals of the Revolution" (page 222) with a plan, which he permits us to reproduce herewith.LONG ISLAND SOUND.
EXPLANATION 0F THE MAP AND PLAN.
a. Position of William Ludlam when he saw the attack. b. Fort Franklin, designed to protect the wood- cutters. c. Place where the French landed. d. A long narrow beach over which Ludlam saw the action between the vessels at h. e. A brig of 8 or 10 guns under protection of the fort. f. A large sloop attacking the fort on the west side, the fort bringing one gun to bear on her. g. Place where the British armed schooner landed her guns, and mounted them In battery on shore, and so beat off a 40-gun ship that came to the attack. h. A 40-gun ship attacking the British vessels, which are trying to keep out of her war. In July 1782 another call for recruits to the king’s American dragoons was made, offering ten guineas to volunteers, five to any one who brought a recruit, and five to the recruit. For convenience of those who might come from the continent via Lloyd’s Neck, an officer was to be kept constantly stationed at that post. Prince William Henry, afterward King William IV., then aged 18, visited Lloyd’s Neck. One Sunday night early in October 1782 Lloyd’s Neck was left without a garrison. The British demolished their works, and removed the stores and garrison to New York. Onderdonk says a great variety of troops lay at Oyster Bay village during the war. De Lancy’s corps was the first. Fanning’s corps, in charge of Major Grant, lay here one summer. They were rude and ill- behaved. An old bake- house, now Storrs’s store, was used as a guard- house. The streets were garnished with sentry- boxes, to shelter the patrol, who paraded the streets after 9 o’clock at night, when no one was allowed to pass without the countersign. One evening a respectable young man, John Weeks, when challenged by the sentinel, instead of giving the countersign left the road and ran off across the fields. He was seized, tried, and sentenced to be whipped. He was accordingly tied to a locust tree in front of Townsend’s, but before he received the full measure of his punishment the cries of the youth and the frantic appeals of his mother and sister so wrought on the people that by their interference he was set at liberty. Tarleton’s British legion, under Major Cochran, also lay here and at Jericho, and were not distinguished for good conduct. The 3d battalion, under Lieutenant Colonel Hewlett, lay at Oyster Bay village from June to August after the peace. They left one Sunday morning, before day, to escape observation. It seemed quite a fixed custom for the British to move on Sunday. The soldiers were not billeted on the inhabitants, but took an entire building instead to themselves. They occupied the old Baptist meeting- house, and also the "New Light" meeting- house, which was removed by Simcoe from the back road. The Friends’ meeting- house was used as a commissary’s store, and had a guard constantly at the door. British troops were stationed in the woods, where the Reformed church now stands, at Locust Valley. The officers boarded at Townsend’s, at Matinecock, and when leaving presented Mrs. Letitia Townsend with a castor, candlesticks, and snuffers, which are still in use in Isaac Townsend’s residence The Hessian troops lay around Norwich, Jericho, and Cedar Swamp, coming there about the first of December 1778. Walter Franklin, of East Norwich, says he has been told that Letitia Wright, who married his grandfather Walter Franklin, in 1796, used to furnish amusement to the Hessians who were quartered in her father’s house by their rolling her down the Bennett hill, on the land now owned by Charles Downing. Onderdonk says: "They lay in Wolver Hollow two or three summers and one winter, and had tents under the hill by Andris Bogart’s, and took the sacrament in the Dutch church." The free battalion of Hesse Hannau, raised in January 1781, Colonel N. Von Janecke, lay at Oyster Bay one winter. Major Scheele died while here. They left May 28th 1883. They were an ill- favored set of little men; the gleanings of German recruits. They ripped the boards off the Episcopal church, to make berths and barracks. On one occasion a noisy crowd had gathered in the street, when the Hessians wantonly shot and killed Stephen Lobden, who came to the door to know what was the matter. A petition for redress was sent to New York, and an officer was sent to hear the complaint; but, fearing to incur the hatred of the Hessians, no one came forward. So nothing was done. During the day officers in groups were seen talking in an excited manner, and that night the glass in the windows of S. Wooden, one of the petitioners, was broken. On one occasion the Hessians were reported shooting among the sheep of John Kirk. Jonathan Haire loaded his gun and hastened to the field. Six sheep lay dead. He fired on the Hessians, when they left their booty. Haire was taken before Colonel Wurmb to answer for the offense; but he would make no excuse or apology, and not even agree not to repeat his conduct. He was dismissed with a slight reprimand. Wurmb’s headquarters were for a time at Wheatley. Onderdonk says: "Jacobus Monfort, hearing a noise in his cow-yard, fired in the dark, and wounded a Hessian baker in the neck. He was seized and carried before an officer, who at once dismissed him, saying, ‘If you had killed him I’d have given you a guinea.’" Silas Downing’s store, at B. Rushmore’s, Cedar Swamp, was forcibly entered by five soldiers from Jericho, with their faces painted. Fortunately he had recently carried all his money to New York, so they went off with very little of value. Governor Tryon was not willing to use British troops to protect inhabitants from depredations from the main shore, and directed, through Major Kissam, on Marchh 9th 1779, that the inhabitants bear their share of the expense, and muster all their militia for the purpose of protection. An order to muster all the militia the first week in April following, for a general review, was directed- to Captain Israel Youngs, Cold Spring; Jarvis Coles, Mosquito Cove; Daniel Youngs, Oyster Bay; Thomas Van Wyck, East Woods, and Abraham Van Wyck, Wolver Hollow. These companies of militia did quite efficient service, protecting the communities from whaleboatmen; yet the people suffered many robberies from the Hessians and British soldiers in disguise. To some hearts there were bright sides to the British occupation: Miss Sarah Townsend received a soul- stirring poetical valentine on Valentine day 1779, written and delivered by Lieutenant- Colonel J.G. Simcoe. Hannah Townsend, Sarah Luyster, Patty Remsen and widow Vashti Carr, or Kerr, all acquired husbands among the invaders.THE WHALEBOAT WARFARE
forms an interesting portion of the Revolutionary history of this town. The design of the United States in commissioning these boats was honorable. They were to cruise on the sound and along the shores of the island to capture small craft plying to and from New York, thus cutting off a considerable source of supply to the British there; to harass and capture those persons actually engaged in the service of the enemy, and to carry off important men from the island, who were to be exchanged for Americans who had been taken prisoners. Washington’s strict orders were that no kind of property should be taken from any person under pretense of its belonging to tories; but, through the greed of gain of the crews, this warfare degenerated in many cases to plundering expeditions against both friend and foe. Yet it must be conceded that these brave men rendered their country most valuable aid in the service for which they were commissioned. The accounts of their captures are numerous and fragmentary, but are necessary in order to furnish a full history of this town’s connection with that branch of warfare. One of the first reports of the capture of a boat plying between the ports of this town and New York was published in New Haven, December 14th 1778:- "‘Peggy’ and cargo, Darby Doyle master, navigated with forty men, under a commission of Val. Jones, to supply New York with fuel, forage, and provisions, was taken by Peter Griffing, captain of a company of rangers." December 22nd 1777 Game says: "Sunday night, 14th, the rebels landed at Cold Spring, and carried off two market boats loaded with flaxseed, wood, cider, &c., &c." About the same time the sloop "Dove," with cargo, was taken in Cold Spring Harbor by Thomas Sellew, in the armed sloop "Lucy." The "Flying Fish," of Rye, captured the "Industry," Captain Abraham Selleck, from Oyster Bay to New York, loaded with fifteen cords of wood, seventeen half-barrels of cider and vinegar, seven or eight bags of meal, and rigging and sails for another vessel. About 12 o’clock March 3d 1778 seven men, with arms, were discovered crossing Lloyd’s Neck, bending their course for the narrow beach that leads off the Neck. They were pursued and taken by a party of loyal refugees. They were the noted William S. Scudder and his gang, as appears from his confession. He says he quit Long Island in September of 1776. After going with several expeditions he went to Hog Island with a party to take Squire Smith, but missed of him and took a Quaker, and plundered the house of considerable value. He had been with all the expeditions which had come to the island, and was the man who, took Mr. Ireland. He had been on the east end of the island in the interest of General Parsons, and some time afterward was of the party who took two sloops out of Cold Spring Harbor. He was of the party that had lately come over to Long Island and burnt the three vessels cast away while coming from Rhode Island, and it was his design in coming over at present to collect what he could from the wrecks then burnt. They robbed Samuel Skidmore’s cider mill- house, and then attempted to go over to the other shore; but, the wind being contrary, and the day becoming extremely cold, freezing their fingers and feet, they had to make for the first land, which proved to be Lloyd’s Neck. The confession is dated March 3d 1778, and signed by William Smith Scudder, with Tyler Dibble, a refugee, and William Quarme, captain of the guard ship "Halifax," in Oyster Bay, as witnesses. The prisoners on Saturday afternoon March 7th were brought to New York in the boat of the "Halifax," and secured. General Putnam on the 22nd of December following wrote a letter to Governor Clinton concerning Scudder, in which he mentions that Scudder had a commission from Governor Clinton to cruise the sound in an armed boat against the enemies of the United States; but complained that he had violated the orders of the commander- in- chief, by seizing private property on Long Island. General Putnam adds that he knows nothing, personally, against Scudder, but has heard that he is a brave man, has suffered much, and done considerable service in the cause of his country. On a Monday evening in the latter part of April a party of loyal refugees were cutting wood on Lloyd’s Neck when they were attacked by two row galleys and an armed vessel, and carried prisoners, 18 in number, to Connecticut. A little later in the same month Tyler Dibble and 15 wood- cutters were carried from Lloyd’s Neck by a galley carrying a 12- pounder, and four whale- boats. The alarm reaching the man-of-war on that station, the boats were pursued, but without success. On the 5th of May a small boat, commanded by Captain Adamson, with six men and ten swivels, went into Oyster Bay and fell in with the tender of the British ship "Raven," which mounted eight swivels and had nine men armed. The boat, after discharging her swivels and small arms, boarded the tender, and carried her the next morning into Stamford. She had on board three hogsheads of rum, several casks of bread, beef and other articles for the ship, and some dry goods. Early in June the schooner "Wild Cat," of 14 swivels and 40 men, came from Connecticut to Oyster Bay and landed 14 of the crew, who shot some sheep at Oak Neck. This vessel is described as having a large number of oars, which enabled it at every calm to cross over and pillage the inhabitants of the island. A few days after this the "Wild Cat" and the "Raven’s" tender, with four whaleboats well manned, came to Lloyd’s Neck to harass the wood-cutters, when a number of boats from the British ship pursued them, capturing the "Wild Cat," and recapturing the "Raven’s " tender and a wood boat which had been taken when coming out of the harbor, together with some of the whaleboats, and thirty prisoners, killing two men, with no loss to the pursuers. About the first of September the scale of success was changed again, and Major Grey, of Colonel Meigs’s regiment, killed three tories on Lloyd’s Neck, and carried off fifteen. A privateer also carried off a sloop loaded with wood and provisions. A party consisting of James Ferris, a refugee from the island, Benjamin Howell, Nathaniel Sacket, of Bedford, Obadiah Valentine, and Patrick Stout, came over from Connecticut on Thursday evening, a week after this, and plundered the house of William Cock of goods to the amount of £140, obliging him and his family to carry the goods nearly two miles to the whaleboats. On Saturday following another party came over, in two boats, to Red Springs, near Mosquito Cove, and robbed the houses of Jacob Carpenter and John Weeks of a quantity of valuable effects, and then made off, but returned that evening and robbed two unfortunate weavers at Oak Neck. On the 9th of June following, Clark Cock, at Oyster Bay, was robbed of considerable cash, and goods to the value of over by another band from over the sound. The "True Blue," Captain Elderkin, captured the "Five Brothers," a schooner of 24 tons, with Abraham Cock master, nine miles west of Huntington Harbor, on the 3d of February 1779. A sloop of 45 tons, going to New York, the property of one Youngs, was captured on the 15th, four miles west of Oyster Bay, on the high seas. Simcoe’s Journal dated April 18th 1779 relates that a party of refugees, led by Captain Bonnel, with Captain Glover and Lieutenant Hubbell, furnished with arms, agreeable to Orders from headquarters went from Oyster Bay to take the generals Parsotis and Silliman from the opposite shore. They did not risk an attack on General Parsons, but brought Brigadier- General Silliman to Oyster Bay. He was sent next day to New York. About the first of September following, Captain Glover, who headed this party, was himself, with twelve others, with some plunder, carried off from Lloyd’s Neck by a whaleboat from Connecticut. On the 11th of the next month a continental armed schooner, commanded by T. White, captured the "Charming. Sally" and cargo in Oyster Bay. Justice Hewlett and Captain Israel Youngs were carried off in June by a party from Connecticut. A number of refugees soon after went over to Connecticut and returned with thirteen prisoners, four horses, and forty- eight cattle. Rivington’s Gazette tells us that on Monday night July 3d a party of rebels, supposed to be from Horse Neck, headed by one Benjamin Kirby, attacked the house of Abraham Walton, at Pembroke, Mosquito Cove, and took him, together with his silver plate, and Mrs. Walton’s money. They then proceeded to the neighbors, and took Dr. Brooks, Albert Coles and eight more loyalists, and carried all to Connecticut. In the latter part of July, at 2 o’clock on a Tuesday morning, John Townsend of Oyster Bay was carried off by a company of rebels, led by one Jonas Youngs. They also carried away most of the valuable articles in his house, besides partly demolishing the house itself. Arnold Fleet, a millwright, was carried off at the same time. The men, fearing the militia, several companies of whom were stationed near, hastened away, carrying their boats over the beach, and left their sentinel, a young man, on Mill Neck. He wandered about the neck until compelled by starvation to give himself up. On a Monday in October five vessels came into Oyster Bay and captured a guard brig pierced for 14 guns, with 10 mounted; also a sloop of six guns, commanded by Samuel Rogers, who had been taken and carried to Connecticut three times since the first of March preceding. Three other sloops, also a schooner from under the battery at Lloyd’s Neck, were taken and all safely conveyed into port on the Connecticut shore. Hon. Thomas Jones, justice of the supreme court of New York, a noted and, active loyalist previously noticed in this article, was much coveted by the Americans as an offset for General Silliman, whose capture has already been mentioned. An attempt was made for his capture and conveyance to Connecticut; the mode and results are recorded as follows: "Fishkill, December 9th ’79.- On the evening of November 4th about 25 volunteers, under Captains Hawley, Lockwood and Jones, and Lieutenants Jackson and Bishop, crossed the sound from Newfield [since Bridgeport] to Stony Brook, near Smithtown, and marched to the house of the Hon. Thomas Jones, justice of the supreme court of New York, at Fort Neck, where they arrived about 9 o’clock on the evening of the 6th, hiding in the woods by day. The whole distance was 52 miles. There was a ball in the house, and the noise of music and dancing prevented the approach of the adventurers being heard. Captain Hawley knocked at the door, and, receiving no answer, forced it, and found Judge Jones standing in the entry. He told him he was his prisoner, and immediately conducted him off, and a young man named Hewlett. A guard of soldiers was posted at a small distance from the road. When they came near the spot the judge hemmed very loud, but was forbidden to repeat it. He did, however, but on being further threatened desisted. An alarm arose, which obliged the men to retreat rapidly, traveling 30 miles the same evening, and to secrete themselves the next day, by which time the British light horse were near. The next evening they reached their boats, having taken two prisoners more, and arrived safe at Black Rock, Fairfield county, on the 8th, except six men in the rear, who were overtaken and captured by the light horse. Judge Jones was taken to Middletown, and in May 1780 was exchanged for General Sullivan, a prisoner at Flatbush. Mr. Hewlett was exchanged for the general’s son, one Washburn being thrown in as a make- weight. After the exchange the judge and general dined together." Judge Jones had been paroled in Connecticut as a prisoner of the United States just three years, to a day, before the date of the above article. "New Haven, Nov. 24 ’79.- Monday sen’nit two small privateers, of 4 guns each, commanded by Captains Lockwood and Johnson, ran into Oyster Bay under British colors, where were four wood vessels under protection of a large 8- gun brig, who asked the privateers, ‘Where from?’ and on being answered, ‘From New York,’ they were permitted to run alongside the brig unsuspected, and, boarding her, the crew were surprised into immediate surrender, without firing a gun, though manned with 20 stout fellows; on which the other vessels also submitted, and were brought out of port, destined for Norwalk or Stamford; but, on being pursued by some armed vessels from Huntington Harbor, the brig unluckily ran on a reef of rocks near Norwalk Harbor, and fell again into the enemy’s hands, who got her off and took her away. The other prizes got safe into port." This brig was a guardship in the mouth of Oyster Bay. The first ship, the "Halifax," under Captain Quarme, was after two years condemned; when he was succeeded by Captain Ryley, who became superannuated. Then came Captain Townsend, who had been for some time ashore sick at William Ludlam’s, in the house now occupied by Henry Ludlam on Hog Island. One day after he had begun to be able to walk about he invited Mr. Ludlam to walk to the other side of the island to look at his vessel, when, to their surprise and chagrin, they saw the privateers run alongside and capture the craft, which was the above mentioned brig. The British had been expecting their own fleet of privateers, so did not suspect the trick. Mr. Ludlam was always sorry for his friend. The "Lively," of 70 tons, was taken in Oyster Bay December 7th, with a cargo of salt. Rivington’s Gazelle, July 25th, says that two whaleboats, the "Association" and "Henry Clinton," crossed from Fort Franklin, on Lloyd’s Neck, to Norwalk, landed 38 men, and returned to the island to escape observation, but were to be back at a given hour. The party marched five miles from the shore, and remained hidden in the woods till 2 o’clock. Captain Frost surrounded the sanctuary where the people of Middlesex (now Darien) had assembled for prayer, and took fifty "notorious rebels, their reverend teacher at their head. Forty horses ready saddled were taken care of at the same time, and all safely brought to Long Island." Onderdonk adds: "They were all ironed, two and two, on the green in front of Wooden’s, Oyster Bay, and so marched to the provost." On the evening of November 24th 1781 Lieutenant J. Hull, of Colonel Fitch’s corps, came over the sound in a whaleboat, navigated by eight men, and landed near Hempstead Harbor, the entrance to which was guarded by an armed vessel. He left his boat with two men, and with the others marched to Mosquito Cove. Finding a canoe, and embarking, they boarded nine vessels which lay in the cove and made prisoners of sixteen men; not deeming it safe to try to take the vessels away, they were ransomed and the prisoners paroled. The whole party returned without the loss of a man. About the first of December a number of whaleboats came into Oyster Bay and unrigged Captain Sheddan’s boat at Ship Point, and carried off another, which was ransomed for £200. Rivington’s Gazette, under date of September 18th 1782, says: "As Captain Thomas, of the ‘Association;’ carrying ten 4- pounders and 30 men, was convoying a fleet of wood boats down the sound, they were attacked off Tinnicock by two gunboats and 11 whaleboats manned with 200 men, the largest boat having a brass six- pounder in her bow. Captain T. hid his men, housed his guns, and thus decoyed the boats within musket shot, when his men suddenly discharged their muskets, and canister shot from the four- pounders. A number fell, but they did not desist from their attack, but towed off detached vessels, as it was a calm. They were, however, all retaken after a combat of six hours. These pickaroon gentry greatly infest our coast." In the latter part of December the schooner "Peggy," John Envidito master, and her cargo of broadcloths, coating, linen and other goods were taken. On one occasion the whaleboat men found a vessel aground at Cold Spring, They attempted to get her off, but failed. Threats of burning caused the vessel to be ransomed. The whaleboat men robbed the store of one Youngs at East Woods, and hid the plunder in the bushes near the shore, in order to remove it at a more suitable time; but, the goods being discovered, they were prevented. Nicholas Wright’s store was robbed. Justice Smith, of Hog Island, was robbed of silks, etc., and William Ludlam, a tailor who lived with him, was robbed of a great many suits of clothes which he was making up for his customers. Sarah Wright, at Cove Neck, was robbed, among other things, of a silver milk pot, which was carried to Stamford. Seth Wood’s store at East Woods was also robbed. The house of John Willets, at Cedar Swamps, was broken open, his hands were tied, every threat was used, and his house was even set on fire, to make him give up his money, but in vain.OYSTERS AND CLAMS.
Oyster Bay, as its name implies, has long been famed for the quantity and excellence of its oysters. Long before the advent of the first white settlers the Indians, as would be inferred from the mounds of clam and oyster shells still to be found, depended upon these two bivalves for a great part of their subsistence, and also to furnish material for making Indian money for themselves and the tribes round about. The oyster beds were natural to the harbor; and it was not until the commencement of the nineteenth century that the townspeople began to plant artificial beds; it is to these, with hard and soft clams, that the inhabitants of Oyster Bay village and its vicinity owe much of their financial prosperity. At first there were attempts made by the town to prevent the planters from claiming their beds as individual property. This the planters resisted; and, after several suits, established their rights to such beds as private property. No planter, however, can plant oysters either on natural beds or within wading distance of the shore. The following, copied from the town records, shows that the beds were held as common town property: "Whereas many people, not inhabitants of the town, have frequently come into the town and taken and carried away the oysters from off the oyster beds lying within the township, to the damage of the inhabitants thereof, at a special town meeting held at the house of Benjamin Cheshire, the 12th day of October 1784, called at the request of the respectable inhabitants of said town in order to prevent the taking and carrying away the oysters by strangers and to preserve them for the use of the inhabitants, it was ordered: 1st. That no person not an inhabitant of this town shall be allowed to take or carry away any of the oysters from off the oyster beds lying in the town, on penalty of five pounds, to be recovered by the persons hereafter named and to be paid to the overseers of the poor, for the use of the poor of the said town, on conviction of the aforesaid offense. 2nd. That no person an inhabitant of this town shall be allowed to take and sell any of the oysters from off the oyster beds lying in this town, to any person not an inhabitant of this town, on the penalty of twenty shillings on being convicted thereof, and to be applied as aforesaid. 3d. That Samuel Youngs, Esq., James Farley and Amaziah Wheeler, or the majority of them, be authorized to prosecute any of the offenders of the aforesaid order, and, it requisite, to take counsel therein at the expense of the town." These resolutions did not give satisfaction, for after the next town meeting, in 1785, appears the following: "It was voted that the town order of a special town meeting held in Oyster Bay Octr. 12th 1784, respecting the oysters, be no longer in force." In 1801 we find the following: "Voted that no oysters be caught in the harbor of Oyster Bay with rakes or tongs from the 1st day of May next to the 1st day of September following, under the penalty of five pounds for each and every offense, to be recovered by the supervisor, according to law; and that William Townsend, miller, Joshua Hammond and Thos. Smith be appointed to inspect in the aforesaid regulations, and report the transgressors to the supervisors, whose duty it shall be to proceed against the same." The oyster beds appear to have been considered town property till 1807, when the first permission was granted to private individuals to plant oysters and own the beds as private property, as follows: "Robert Feeks to have liberty, and the town to grant him the space of ten square rods under water, in some convenient place in the Gutt, for the purpose of making an oyster bed where no valuable bed has been known." After this date the inhabitants commenced to plant oyster beds and claim them as private property. The town attempted to dispute the ownership; but in a test suit the town was defeated, and since then any inhabitant exercises the right to plant oysters in any part of the harbor not previously planted. Among those first to plant were James Callwell, Ezra Miner, Isaac Smith and Alexander Sammis. The regulations for some years as to the disposal or sale of oysters, clams, eels, etc., were very stringent, as is seen from the following: "Voted that no person whatever, during the present year, sell or convey out this town, to be carried out by boats employed for that purpose, any oysters, clams or eels, under the penalty of twelve dollars and fifty cents for every offense; to be recovered as the other forfeitures are recovered, the one equal half to the complainer and the other half to the overseer of the poor." There seems not to have been any set time of the year appointed for taking oysters out of their beds till 1813, as the following shows: "Ordered that no person rake any oysters in the harbor of Oyster Bay from the 6th day of April to the first day of November, under the penalty of twelve dollars and fifty cents." The following extracts from the town records, from 1816 to 1880, show the resolutions passed for the regulation of the oyster production during those years: 1816: "Voted that no person not an inhabitant of the town of Oyster Bay shall be allowed to take, or employ another to take, oysters in the creeks or harbor of Oyster Bay, under the penalty of twelve dollars and fifty cents. 2nd. That no persons be allowed to rake oysters in the creeks or harbor of Oyster Bay but in the months of December, January and February, under the penalty above mentioned." These two resolutions were confirmed at a meeting held later in the year, and were again passed in 1819 and 1820; but, in addition, included the same penalty for carrying away clams or selling them. In 1825, at a special town meeting, regulation oyster papers were issued, to allow only the freeholders and inhabitants of Oyster Bay to oyster on the east side of a straight line from Plum Point to Cooper’s Bluff. This took in all Cold Spring Harbor. 1833: "Resolved, that no person from any other town shall be permitted to dig clams or take oysters out of the town." 1836: "Voted that no person be permitted to plant oysters in the waters of Oyster Bay Harbor. Voted that license for planting oysters be put at thirty dollars. 1839: "Voted that the people of the town shall enjoy the privilege of clamming, fishing and oystering below high water mark on all the shores and waters of the town, and defend the same." This is signed by John D. Feeks William H. Jones and Thomas D. Montfort, justices, and A. Bogart, town clerk. 1843: "Resolved that we will defend the rights of the town to the exclusive ownership of the oysters in Oyster Bay." 1847: "That the oysters in the bay or waters of the town be free to all of the inhabitants of the said town the ensuing year." This order was bitterly opposed by those who had planted oyster beds. This opposition led to a lawsuit, in which the town was again defeated. From 1847 to 1870 the rules do not appear to have been changed. In the latter year it was "resolved that no person be allowed to plant or bed oysters in any of the waters of the town of Oyster Bay or any of the shores of said town where oysters and clams grow naturally, and where persons can wade in the water and clam and oyster at low tide, under a penalty of twelve dollars and fifty cents for each and every offense of twenty - four hours so trespassing." This resolution was again passed in 1880, excluding the waters of South Oyster Bay. The town at different times voted to permit dredging with sailboats in the waters of the bay, but these permits have been withdrawn on several occasions. In 1875 the following resolution was passed, and it was repeated each year thereafter: "Resolved that, for the purpose of killing the sea stars which infest and injure the oysters, all persons are allowed to dredge oysters with sailboats or otherwise; and that any resolution heretofore passed prohibiting the dredging of oysters under sail be and the same is hereby repealed." Within late years the oyster trade has grown to large proportions, employing many sloops. A market is found principally in New York. Some of the oystermen, among them Daniel Smith, of Cove Neck, have as many as four or six sloops in the trade. Mr. Smith has shipped from $15,000 to $30,000 worth of oysters per year, and in 1880 planted 6,700 bushels of them. It is estimated that there could not have been far short of 200,000 bushels planted in the bay the same year. Most of the seed is obtained from the Connecticut shore. There is a growing shipping business to England; the buyers coming direct from there to the Bay to purchase, choosing the second class or smaller oysters for that purpose.AGRICULTURE.
Prominent mention is made of apple trees and nurseries as early as 1669 and 1670. Several leases of land are found. The following, seventeen years after settlement, is perhaps the most suggestive: "Oyster Bay, the first month, the 20th day, 1670. "This is an agreement made between me and Thomas Youngs jr. and Richard Youngs, his brother. First they are to have the free use of my team, cart and plow, with the iron chains, with all things thereto belonging; and they are to stub and break up and manure all the land now within fence that is fit for it; and they are to look well and carefully after all my creatures; and they are to have for their team and plow two thirds of the increase of all the land manured that I own there. And they are to have two thirds of the fruit, and I reserve one or two barrels for John Youngs; and so every year following as they enjoy it. Then for the sheep: there are thirty, and they are to deliver thirty pounds of wool per year, that is one pound for one sheep; and there are nine lambs, and at the end of three years and a half they are to deliver me thirty sheep and nine lambs. Now for the cattle: we are to have half the milk and one third of the increase, and they two thirds, and they are to find or provide me a beast to ride on when I please; and they are to provide me wood to burn, what is needful. Four cows, one two- year- old heifer, one two-year-old bull, four yearlings. And the principals engage to me to make good at the term and time of three years and a half of all these creatures; they do also engage to sow so many acres of wheat and rye on the ground as there is now, at the end of three years and a half, and to leave all my goods and carts and plows, and them with all things else that they receive of me, as good as they are now (two broad chisels, two narrow chisels, one saw, two adze, compasses, one inch- and - a- half auger, three lesser augers and bungborer, one pruner bit, one mattock, two forks, three pair of new traces and one old pair, two new collars, two old collars, one pair of cart traces with iron hooks, with a new collar, one cross-cut saw, one new file, a beetle, three wedges, one saw-set, two great devises with the bolts, two lesser devises with the bolts). And they are to tan my hides for one third. And they are to leave all my farm and tools in as good order and repair as they are now, with all things else, with six bushels of oats, two bushels and half peas, two bushels of barley, one bushel and half of flaxseed. "As witness our hand and seal the manner as within. "THOMAS YOUNGS senior." The following from Game’s Mercury throws light on the state of agriculture: "December 18th 1768 the New York Society for Promoting Arts adjudged a premium of £10 to Thomas Youngs, of Oyster Bay, for the largest nursery of apple trees. It contains twenty- seven thousand one hundred and twenty- three trees." In tracing the agricultural history of Oyster Bay the important fact must be admitted that the virgin soil on which the pioneers by’ their crude endeavors first experimented was by no means rich, in comparison with central New York, or even the river counties, not to mention the rich western prairies which the present century has brought so prominently to the notice of the world. The newly cleared lands gave only a medium return. The natural accumulation of vegetable deposit, unsupplemented by other necessary ingredients requisite to a rich soil, soon became exhausted by repeated cropping of potatoes, rye, wheat, flax, buckwheat and corn, the first staples grown for present food necessities and articles of barter for imported products. The soil, a sandy loam with sand predominating, inducing quick and rapid growth, plant roots readily penetrating surface and sub- soil soon absorbed the store of plant- food. Thus manure was quickly brought into prominent notice. The natural growth of coarse, unnutritious grass on the woodless plain composing the center of the town and on the salt meadows of the South Bay furnished forage for the stock of the first settlers. After clearings were made, fields in proximity to the homestead were mulched and manured by cattle feeding in winter, and made to produce a luxuriant growth of the short natural grasses- blue grass (not Kentucky), secretary red-top and many others, which were mown for the winter supply of hay. As a consequence of increased feed the stock of cattle and swine was increased, as through these, in the form of beef and pork, the only available market could be reached. For all purposes incident to clearing new land horses were in demand, and an increase in the stock was early manifested, and has continued, a legitimate and lucrative business, intelligently pursued, as the present race of roadsters and track horses, descended from the famous sires "Messenger" and "Duroc," owned and stabled in this town, will abundantly prove. Horses for heavy draught were not required here. The easily worked soil required agility rather than muscular force, and in this stock it was well supplied. Cattle for beef and the yoke, horses, hogs, sheep, flax rye, corn and wood were the main articles of trade and sale to near the end of the eighteenth century. Orcharding received early attention. The apple product of cider and whiskey found a ready sale. A whiskey still owned by a pioneer settler of Oyster Bay remains intact, having been transmitted through six generations, though unused through five of them. In the article of refined cider the town now holds a deservedly high reputation. As the nineteenth century dawned and progressed, hay, straw, wheat, corn and fruits of choice quality found near and ready markets and their production rapidly increased. These, sold off the land, at once rendered it imperative to replenish the exhausted soil, and the importation of manures was made obligatory. Long Island appropriates to its use a large portion of the manures collected in New York and Brooklyn, and Oyster Bay its proportionate quantity, insomuch that few sections vie with it in the yield per acre of corn, wheat, hay and vegetables. The cost of fertilizers would buy the land at a hundred dollars an acre every seven years. The question is often asked, will this pay? Farmers as a rule keep no accounts. The result can answer. Farms have been divided and subdivided. The son is no poorer than his sire, and the net product of his portion fully equals- in many instances far exceeds- that of the former undivided heritage. With a six- fold salable value he is rich if he wishes to realize in cash, where with widespread acres the sire was poor indeed. The regular farm routine has varied but little since the first settlement, viz.: corn on the inverted sod, oats and potatoes next, followed by what and seeding to grass, mowing three or four years, with as many following in pasturage, when the rotation begins anew. In some localities, notably between Oyster Bay and Glen Cove, asparagus, onions and rhubarb have been successfully cultivated, the former having a reputation not equaled elsewhere. An experiment about 1835 with half an acre of this esculent by the late Captain John Underhill, a descendant of the historic Captain John, and on his old homestead, followed by Isaac Townsend in 1841, has induced the cultivation of five hundred acres in the immediate vicinity, and brought thousands of dollars to farmers who wisely followed the experiment. The value of the present annual product is $150,000. The forests form a peculiar feature of the town, as they do of all Long Island. On the north the rough gravelly hillsides, not inviting to tillage, and the wet and sandy land on the south, were wisely left uncleared and have proved a continual source of income for fuel before the era of coal, and always for building material and fencing, for which latter, perhaps, no locality is so favored in cheapness and durability of timber as this region in the possession of the yellow locust and chestnut. As the demand for fuel has decreased the increasing necessity for railroad ties and the like more than compensates. Milk production for the city markets is a growing new business and is fairly remunerative. But few stock cattle are kept, and their produce, except choice or fancy varieties, is invariably sold to the butchers. The stock is mainly kept up by calves brought from the large dairy districts elsewhere; these are profitably grown to supply the demand for milk cows. Working oxen, once generally used for farm work, have become almost obsolete. Hay, vegetables, fruit and timber are the principal articles sold, and although this is a purely agricultural town it falls largely short of furnishing a home supply of grain. Much of this deficiency for stock is supplied by "corn feed" from the Messrs. Duryea’s starch factory at Glen Cove- about the only manufacturing establishment in the town. Bony fish, once a prolific source of manure, are now monopolized by oil factories, in which fishery Oyster Bay is little interested. Commercial manures are receiving much careful attention, but the old and well- tried stable product still has the preference as furnishing the requisites for plant growth in greater proportion than anything yet tried.CHARITIES.
By an act of the Legislature passed April 18th 1838. Andrew C. Hegeman, Ebenezer Seely and James C. Townsend, freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Oyster Bay, and Benjamin Albertson and Singleton Mitchell, freeholders and inhabitants of the town of North Hempstead, were appointed trustees of the Jones fund for the support of the poor in said towns, to hold their office two years from the first Tuesday in April 1838, and until their successors were appointed. The trustees of this fund were always to be three freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Oyster Bay and two freeholders and inhabitants of North Hempstead, who were to be elected every second year thereafter, at their respective towns’ annual meetings. The trustees and their successors were granted all the rights and powers of a corporate body, to take, hold, and manage the fund, or any part of it, as directed by the will of Samuel Jones, of the town of Oyster Bay, for the support of the poor in Oyster Bay and North Hempstead. The amount bequeathed by Mr. Jones was $30,000. Some years subsequently Walter R. Jones, of Cold Spring, bequeathed $30,000 to the fund, for the sole benefit of the town of Oyster Bay. The expenses of purchasing the farm, erecting buildings, etc., have been paid by the two towns, thus keeping the original bequest intact, using the income only. "An institution for the use and benefit of the poor among the black people" was established to help the needy colored people of the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay and vicinities- especially in the education of their children. The membership of the society was limited to thirty persons, all of whom must be members of the Society of Friends. Nine members constituted a quorum. Should the field for benevolence be increased the institution had the right to receive additional members from the new field. The money was raised by subscriptions from such persons as were inclined to give, and constituted a permanent fund, only the interest being used. By giving proper securities the subscriber might hold the principal, payable on demand, by paying 5 per cent. annual interest. The first meeting of this association was held June 7th 1794, when the following officers were elected: Thomas Willis, clerk; Samuel Seaman, treasurer; Samuel Willis, Edmund Willis Adam Mott, trustees. The original members were Elias Hicks, Fry Willis, Joseph Cooper, Thomas Willis, James Carhartt, Isaac Sherman, Royal Aldrich, Jacob Smith, John Carle, Jacob Willetts, John Whitehouse, William Willis Wheatley, Jacob Willetts jr., Israel Pearsall, Gideon Seaman, Joshua Powell, Edmund Willis, Refined Weeks, William Jones, Jacob Seaman, Samuel Willis, Adam Mott, Richard Townsend, Solomon Underhill, Stephen Mott, Samuel W. Mott, Richard Powell, Adonijah Underhill, David Seaman and Silas Titus. The institution continued to fulfill its purpose of ameliorating the condition of that oppressed race for many years; but as the fund is not now required for the education of the colored children here, in consequence of the excellent system of free education, it is now employed for the education of the children of the freedmen in the south.SUPERVISORS AND CLERKS- STATISTICS.
The following are lists of the supervisors and clerks of the town, so far as the record shows them: Supervisors.- John Townsend, 1707, 1708; Thomas Jones. 1712, 1713; Samuel Dickinson, 1714- 25; Benjamin Carpenter, 1726- 29; David Jones, 1730- 35; Thomas Jones, 1736- 41; David Seaman, 1742- 46; Benjamin Woolsey, 1747; Micajah Townsend, 1750-59; Thomas Smith, 1760- 66, 1777- 82; Benjamin Townsend, 1767; William Townsend, 1868.75; James Townsend, 1776; George Townsend, 1783; George Townsend and James Townsend, 1784 (James must have been appointed to succeed George); Dr. James Townsend, 1785- 89; Isaac Smith, 1790.97; Coles Wortman, 1798, 1804; Hewlett Townsend, 1799; Isaac Smith, 1800- 3, 1810- 13; William Townsend, 1805- 9; Samuel Youngs, 1814- 17; Ebenezer Seely, 1818- 22; William H. Jones, 1823- 28; Andrew C. Hegeman, 1829- 36; Samuel Youngs jr., 1837- 42, 1847, 1848; William Harrold sen., 1843, 1844; Peter H. Layton, 1845; James Luyster, 1846, 1855, 1856; David R. Floyd- Jones, 1857, 1858; George S. Downing, 1859- 66; Townsend D. Cock, 1867- 71; Walter Franklin, 1872- 74; George S. Downing, 1875- 80; Scudder V. Whitney, 1881. Town Clerks.- John Townsend, 1707, 1708; George Townsend, 1712- 22; Samuel Underhill, 1723- 47; Penn Townsend, 1750- 55; Jacob Townsend, 1756, 1757; Samuel Townsend, 1758- 76, 1783- 89; John Cock, 1777- 82; Samuel Youngs, 1790, 1793; Jacobus Monfoort, 1794- 1823; John Monfoort, 1824- 29; Charles H. Peters, 1830- 32; Andrew Bogart, 1833- 41; Albert G. Carll, 1842- 45; James M. Monfoort, 1846; Andris Bogart, 1847; George S. Downing, 1848- 52; John Vernon, 1853; Jonah S. Hegeman, 1854, 1855; John N. Remsen, 1856- 81. The valuation of Oyster Bay in 1823 was $1,575,550, the largest town valuation in the county. The steady and rapid increase of the population of the town during the present generation may be traced in the following census returns: 1845, 6,361; 1850, 6,900; 1855, 8,047; 1860, 9,168; 1865, 9,417; 1870, 10,595; 1875, 11,461; 1880, 11,923.BURIAL PLACES.
The Woolsey family has two burial places in Dosoris, each containing a quarter of an acre of land, where many of the family and near relatives are buried. These plots were reserved forever for burial places in the deeds conveying the two Woolsey estates to John Butler and Nathaniel Coles respectively. The Frost family burial ground is situated on the farm now owned by Valentine Frost, and originally purchased by William Frost, who was buried here in 1718, this being the first interment. The Weeks burial ground, on the farm of John Weeks at Matinecock, has many slabs which cannot be read. The earliest date legible is 1761. The Latting burial ground is on the farm of Mrs. Sarah Latting, Lattingtown. Josiah Latting was born at Concord, Mass., February 20th 1641; came with his father to Hempstead in 1653, then to Oyster Bay and Huntington; married Sarah Wright, daughter of Nicholas Wright, about 1667; resided in Oyster Bay until 1680, when he removed to the place afterward called Lattingtown, where he or some of his descendants have ever since resided. The cemetery adjoining the Reformed church at Locust Valley was purchased and laid out in 1868-69. The first person laid there was Mrs. Fanny Craft Morrell.SOLDIERS OF THE UNION.
The following residents of the town of Oyster Bay enlisted in the United States service during the late civil war: Second N.Y. Cavalry (called Harris Light Cavalry; enlisted in the latter part of August or early in September 1862).- T.H. Appleford; died in the service. Edward Bailey, Henry C. Baker, James W. Baker, Albert S. Barto, Samuel Bedell, Edward H. Bennett, John T. Boyd, Charles Bromley, Josiah C. Brownell, James Butler, John W. Campbell jr., William H. Carpenter, Tredwell Cheshire, Alfred Cock, Butler Coles, Wellington S. Conklin, John A. Conklin, William Craft, John Dempsey, Isaac Devoe, Amos Dickinson, George W. Dickinson. William H. Dodge; killed. Daniel L. Downing; killed. Michael Durkin, Henry T. Duryea, Thomas Fogarty, Francis Frost, Joseph Gibbens, Ephraim P. Golding, George Hadley. John P. Hall; killed. James Harold, William Hawthorn, Elbert Hegeman, Harry M. Hoogland, Joseph Johnson, George Johnson, Elbert H. Jones, William Kramer. Charles A. Layton; died in service. Jordon Layton, Thomas Lockard, David Lovel, George W. Lutherman, James V. Luyster, John P. McKey, John Merritt, Jacob S. Maybee, C. McMana, John Muller, Thomas Neat, John H. Parlement, William H. Prentiss, James B. Remsen. Cornelius H. Remsen; died in service. Henry W. Sammis, Sylvester W. Sammis, Stephen Seaman, James Sheridan, Jacob B. Sprague, William H. Springer, James S. Stilwell, Jeremiah Stilwell, John B. Tappen, John G. Taylor, Vernon J. Tiebout, Dolphus Torry, Oliver A. Turrell, Daniel J. Underhill. Charles W. Valentine; died in service. Peter L. Van Wicklen. James Vernon; killed. Samuel Vernon, died in service. Albert Vernon, David Wansor, John Wansor, Samuel M. Weeks, James M. Westervelt, William A. Westervelt, Edwin R. Whitney, Andrew Wilson. Fifth N.Y. Heavy Artillery (enlisted in August, September and October 1862).- W.H.H. Beatty, James Clark, Stephen Cox, D.B. Demilt, William H. Frost, Alfred, Augustus and Uriah Hall, J.J. Mack, Edward Malone, George Miller, James Mott, John O’Brien, Robert Potter, Charles V. Powell, Cornelius Powell, Leonard Rhodes, Andrew J. Riddell, Charles Van Wicklen. Stanton Legion (enlisted August 21st 1862).- Philip Darby, Silas C. Haff; John W. and Zachariah J. Hendrickson, William McVeigh, Harlan G. Newcomb, Andrew and John Powell, Theodore G. Smith, Alfred S. and Cornelius B. Walters, William W. Wood. Regiment organizing in the first seven Senatorial Districts of New York (enlisted August 21st 1862).- Charles A. Helmes, Andrew J., James N. and John McGreger, George Ryerson, David S. Shotwell, Andrew Stilwell. Fifth Regiment Excelsior Brigade (with dates of enlistment).- William H. Bennett, Aug. 16 ’62; Anthony Parks, Aug. 16 ’62; Isaac T. Southard, Aug. 26 ’62; Oliver Valentine, Aug. 26 ’62. Navy- Henry Fleet, Junius Hewlett, Frederick Meyers, Henry A. Townsend, Benjamin Van Wicklen, Charles Caleb Wright. Miscellaneous.- James W. Eldridge John C. Hewlett, 1st regiment national volunteers; enlisted August 12th 1862. Benjamin Hall, 3d regiment Excelsior brigade; enlisted August 20th 1862; killed. Zachary Bernhard, 1st regiment Excelsior brigade; enlisted August 20th 1862. Thomas A. Ford, 15th New York volunteers; enlisted August 29th 1862. James P. Cox, 6th New York cavalry; enlisted August 19th 1862. David Baldwin, Van Rensselaer Brush and Morgan Murphy, 102nd New York; enlisted August 29th 1862. John E. Francis, 3d metropolitan guards; enlisted September 16th 1862. Christopher Branch, George W. Hatfield, Sherman, Hart and Frederick Zeigler, 159th New York; enlisted in September 1862. Charles Powell, 4th metropolitan volunteers; enlisted September 30th 1862. John Cost Edward W. Sprague, 1st regiment metropolitan guards. Charles P. Simonson, second senatorial district regiment; enlisted September 1st 1862. Thomas Gillen. 119th New York. Emil Gauderdt, musician. Timothy McMann, Corcoran brigade. Henry Cost, 105th New York. Henry Lempke, Sickles brigade. Abraham Van Wicklen, Spinola’s brigade. Andrew C. and R.V.B. Hegeman, 14th regiment (Brooklyn). Jackson Valentine jr., John J. Tappen, Silas Bender.BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THE TOWNSEND FAMILY.
The three brothers John, Henry and Richard Townsend came from Norwich, county of Norfolk, England. The time of their emigration cannot be precisely fixed. It was, however, several years before 1645, as in that year Governor Kieft granted a patent of the town of Flushing to John Townsend and others; and from a petition of his widow to Governor Andros we learn that he bad previously taken up land near New York, and "peaceably enjoyed the same divers years." Alarms from the Indians, and difficulties which she does not specify, caused him to leave his improvements and commence the settlement of Flushing, where he was joined by Henry. The Townsends were Friends, and were soon at variance with the Dutch authorities, both as to religion and politics. On account of these difficulties with the government the Townsends left Flushing and went to Warwick, R.I., where they were all three members of the Provincial Assembly, besides holding municipal offices. In 1656 they determined once more to attempt a settlement on Lang Island, and in that year, with others, obtained a patent of Jamaica, then called Rusdorp. Their religious and political zeal soon brought them into trouble again. In 1657 Henry was sentenced to pay £8 Flanders or leave the province in six weeks, for having "called together conventicles." The people of Flushing addressed a remonstrance to the governor, written by the town clerk, and signed, among others, by Tobias Feake, sheriff, and Noble Farington, both magistrates, and presented by the sheriff. The clerk and magistrates were arrested, and John Townsend with them, upon charge of having induced the magistrates, to sign, and he was ordered to find bail in £12 to appear when summoned. Henry was brought before the council January 15th 1658, and condemned to pay £100 Flanders, and to remain arrested until it was paid. How these matters were settled is not stated, but Henry’s signature, as witness, on an Indian deed proves that he was in Oyster Bay the same year. He was again imprisoned, seeming to be much more involved in troubles coming from "countenancing Quakers" than his brother John; yet in January 1661 two of the magistrates furnished the names of 12 persons, including John and Henry Townsend and their wives, "who countenanced Quakers." John Townsend settled in Oyster Bay between the middle of January and the 16th of September 1661, as he was living at Jamaica at the first date, and his name being on the mill grant is proof that he was admitted as a townsman before the last date. Henry Townsend must have settled in Oyster Bay previous to September 16th 1661, the date of the mill grant made to him; but he was not admitted as a townsman until the 4th of November. Nothing is known of Richard Townsend, the youngest of the three brothers, until he appears in Jamaica in 1656. He first appears on Oyster Bay records in 1668, when he bought land of Robert Williams at Lusum. His first wife was a sister of Henry’s wife and a daughter of Robert Coles. The descendants of these three brothers have since been very numerous in the town, and have occupied many posts of honor and trust. James C. Townsend and his wife, who compiled the Townsend Memorial, are especially deserving of our gratitude for the aid we have derived, with their permission, from their work, both in gleanings and copies from it.SOLOMON TOWNSEND.
SCUDDER V. WHITNEY.
RICHARD SMITH.
DANIEL K. YOUNGS.
CHARLES COLYER.
THE WHITE FAMILY.
Edward White, the first of the White family that settled in the village of Oyster Bay, was a Quaker, and came from England about the year 1660. He afterward married Mary, daughter of Simon Cooper, and settled on the property now owned and occupied by his great-great-grandson Joseph White. Their children were Simon, Mary, Robert, Joseph Abigail, Martha, Judith, Edward and Ann. Simon married Phebe Wright; they lived on the old family homestead and had two children, Judith and Joseph. Judith married Wright Craft, of Duck Pond, and had two children, Simon and Oliver. Joseph, who when the Revolutionary war broke out was a young man, left his native village and entered the service of his country. While he was on an American privateer the vessel was captured off Long Island by an English frigate, and all hands were carried prisoners to Antigua in the West Indies, where Mr. White was confined in prison two years, when he was released and returned home. He then went into the service of the United States as a ship carpenter, for which in his old age he received a pension from the government. After the war was over Mr. White returned to his old homestead in the village to see his mother (his father, Simon White, having died when Joseph was a young child), which he had not dared to do before, as the village of Oyster Bay was in possession of a regiment of British troops, commanded by Colonel Simcoe, who built a fort on the high ground overlooking the village. He then married Ann Alsop, by whom he had five children, named Daniel, Thomas, Alsop, Phebe and Philena. -Phebe died young; the rest of the children all grew up, married and had families. -Daniel married Mary Kemp and had two children, Daniel and Isabella. -Thomas married Amelia Velsor and had three children, Thomas, Phebe and George. -Alsop married Rhoda Wortman and had six children, Coles, Joseph, Jacob, Annie, Fannie and Rhoda. -Philena married Richard Smith and had children Daniel, Thomas, and others that died very young. The remains of Edward White and Mary his wife and of most of their descendants lie in the White family burial plot, containing about half an acre, situated in the eastern part of the village, on the north side of the main road leading to Oyster Bay Cove. The daughters of Edward White married into the Colwell, Chadyne and Larrabee families, and their remains and those of their descendants lie in the White family burial plot, as the many tombstones there will show.OYSTER BAY VILLAGE.
This village is beautifully situated on the south side of the excellent harbor from which it and the town take their name. The place is abundantly supplied with perennial springs and has long been noted as a healthy locality. This place and Roslyn are considered to be better supplied with spring water than any other places on Long Island. The railroad is reached by two lines of stages, running respectively to Locust Valley and Syosset, each of which stations is about four miles distant. Efforts are being made toward the construction of a "north side" railroad from New York through this place to Huntington. Many important business men of the metropolis reside here, some of them having retired. Vice-Chancellor William T. McCoun spent his last days here. Much of the early history of the place is embodied in the general history of the town. The original village site extended from the foot of Mill Hill to Cove Hill, and as far south as the head of South street, and included the village and the two small, settlements on the east and west known as the Cove and Oyster Bay Harbor. South street is mentioned in deeds under the name of Main street as late as 1848. Oyster Bay Academy for many years flourished as a useful school under the principalship of Rev. Marmaduke Earle. The present advantages for obtaining an education are furnished by a union free school. There is an extensive library and reading room in the village, under the auspices of the Brotherhood of Christ Church. A number of the residents of the village and vicinity have contributed liberally by donating books. The growth of the place has been slow. The chief industry is the taking of oysters and clams from the harbor. There are several stores dealing in general merchandise, also hardware, grocery, shoe, millinery, clothing and other stores, a coal and lumber yard and two fair sized hotels.JAMES M. LUDLAM.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, OYSTER BAY.
The origin and early growth of this society are not recorded. John Taylor, a traveling minister, says a meeting was settled here in 1659. In 1661 Richard Harker, Samuel Andrews, Richard Chasmore, Nathaniel Coles and Henry and John Townsend, in order to escape persecution, removed from Jamaica to Oyster Bay. The earliest written document is the certificate of the marriage of Samuel Andrews and Mary Wright (August 8th 1663), which took place at the usual place of meeting, at Anthony Wright’s. George Fox was, here in 1672, and preached from a massive rock in the woods to a multitude too large for any house to hold. The "Ranters" had made themselves quite prominent, but .Fox and others did much to put down their doctrine. In 1672 Anthony Wright gave the Friends a lot six poles square on the northeast corner of his home lot, for a burial place, and also forty feet square at the southeast corner to build a meeting- house on. Samuel Andrews and John Feake built the house, thirty- six by twenty- four feet, and twelve feet in the studs, for £20, to be paid for in wheat at 4s. 4d. per bushel, peas at 3s. 6d., corn at 3s. 6d., and pork at 4d. per pound. The building had eight windows fitted for glass, two on each side and end, with shutters. It also had two windows in the gable end, fitted with shutters. There were two double doors, one on each of the tw6sidès. The carpenters were to have the building up for further finishing by the 60 of January 1673. In 1680 John Vokins came here and preached. He speaks of the Friends as the Lord’s "tender people;" but grieves that the "Ranters" oppress them. In 1691 the Oyster Bay meeting, which included all the Friends on Long Island and in New York, was represented in the general meeting at Newport, R.I. The first meeting- house was taken down and sold in 1693. From this time until 1721 dissensions seem to have reigned and weakened the sect. It seems that up to this time meetings had been held in connection with the Friends at Matinecock. The coming of John Fothergill in 1722 and Thomas Chalkley in 1725, each of whom held large meetings, seemed to revive the society; but no movement to build again was made until 1749. William Reckitt in 1758 visited Oyster Bay, where there had been a large meeting "but now much declined." During the Revolution the British soldiers destroyed the seats and galleries and otherwise damaged the meeting- house and encroached on the burying ground. Repairs to the building, fencing and the setting of monuments on the bounds cost £58 4s. Richard Jordan held a meeting here in 1797, but did not find many Friends. The meeting- house is still standing and is occasionally visited by traveling preachers.CHRIST CHURCH (EPISCOPAL), OYSTER BAY.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF OYSTER BAY.
As early as 1700 William Rhodes, originally from Chichester, England, who had emigrated to Rhode Island to escape persecution, and who at the above date was a licentiate of the Second Baptist Church at Newport, came to Oyster Bay and preached with a view to the formation of a Baptist church. He collected a small number of hearers, and probably a church was constituted before 1724, for at that time the first Baptist meeting- house in the place was completed. In the same year Mr. Rhodes died, arid Robert Feakes, one of his converts, who had acted as his assistant for several years, was ordained to the ministry by elders from Rhode Island, and entered upon the pastorate. Under his preaching many joined the church; but Mr. Feakes, like his predecessor, was a Free-will Baptist, so that when Rev. Thomas Davis, a Calvinistic Baptist from New Jersey, was summoned as his colleague in 1743 a schism was soon developed in the church, which did not disappear until the close of the century. Mr. Davis remained on the field only about three years, and then retired to Pennsylvania. Contentions followed. These might have been allayed by the appointment to the pastorate of Caleb Wright, a grandson of Elder Rhodes, a member of this church and a young man of great promise. But the day appointed for his ordination (in November 1752) proved to be the day of his burial. After this sad occurrence the church was visited again by Elder Davis and other ministers, but all endeavors to restore peace were vain. At one time party spirit ran so high that the two factions, one headed by Elder Feeks, the other by Elder Davis, contended for possession of the house. In 1759 David Sutton, a young licentiate from New Jersey, was called to the pastorate, and for a time the breach seemed to be healed. For a time only, however, for some who had been excluded from the church, joined by other disaffected members, soon formed a new and distinct society, which assumed the name of the New Light Church. The ruling spirit of this new organization was a woman of unusual ability, Mrs. John Townsend, who, having been a schoolteacher, went by the name of Madam Townsend. Her son- in- law, Peter Underhill (grandson of Captain John Underhill, of New England fame), acted as pastor. At first the new church seemed to be prosperous and great numbers joined it. But eventually the members became tired of their own irregularities, and in 1789 they united with the old organization in the formation of a regular Baptist church. Meanwhile the old church had become well nigh extinct. For thirty years it maintained worship, favored only occasionally with preaching. William Roe, Elijah Wheeler and Benjamin Coles occasionally ministered. In 1788 the membership had been reduced to nine. When the reunion was formed in the following year Peter Underhill and Benjamin Coles (of Glen Cove) acted as co- pastors. Harmony was restored, and from 1790 to 1795 thirty- six joined the church by baptism. In 1801 the trustees of the Oyster Bay Academy, which, was then being built, invited Rev. Marmaduke Earle, of Stamford, Conn., to assume charge of that institution. The invitation was accepted, as was also an invitation to supply the pulpit of the Baptist church. He commenced his ministrations April 5th 1802, and the new union was so highly blessed that from December 1804 to September 1809 there were 96 acquisitions to the church by conversion- the largest ingathering of which the church has any record. Mr. Earle’s pastorate thus auspiciously begun continued through a period of 54 years, during which there were occasional additions, especially in the years 1822, 1833 and 1853. He acted as principal of the academy during most of this period. He died July 13th 1856, in his 88th year, beloved and universally esteemed. During the last thirteen years of his life he was assisted from time to time in his pulpit ministrations by Rev. Samuel H. Earle (his son), Rev. William G. Baker, Rev. William B. Harris, Rev. John Cook and Rev. Aaron Jackson, the last of whom supplied the pulpit for a time after Mr. Earle’s death. The present pastor of the church, Rev. Charles S. Wightman, was ordained in the church, November 23d 1868.M.E. CHURCH, OYSTER BAY.
This society was started in 1833. Revs. A. Hulin and R. Wymond, of the Huntington circuit, preached here in the academy during the summer. For a list of the preachers who afterward ministered here the reader is referred to the history of the Roslyn M.E. church, page 422. In the autumn of 1833 the presiding elder held a quarterly conference here, and continued evening meetings in the old parish house, the result of which was the formation of a class of nineteen, with Joseph Latting as leader. Services were held in the academy for several years, but, the members were notified to desist. After this they held their meetings in various places. In August 1856 a meeting was called at the house of Joseph Latting, at which it was decided to buy a lot and build a house of worship, and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions. A sufficient amount having been. subscribed, G.E. Dickinson, Richard B. Smith, George Gildersleeve, William Ludlam and Joseph Latting were in September 1858 chosen trustees for the proposed building. The corner stone was laid the same year by Rev. J.P. Kennedy, D.D. The building was completed and dedicated in the following summer, by the Rev. Mr. Millburn. A collection was taken up at the time sufficient to leave the church free of debt. The pulpit was supplied by preaching in connection with East Norwich, having only afternoon services until 1870, when the charge was divided and Rev. Abraham S. Emmons became the pastor. The congregation was small, with but slight increase in membership. Mr. Emmons’s pastorate was successful and satisfactory; but failing health caused him to resign in January 1871. Arthur M. Burns, M.D., was here a few months as pastor, but removed to Port Jefferson. Rev. John E. Perine, who had preached here in 1854, became the pastor in January 1872. He was succeeded in 1873 by Rev. John T. Langlois, under whose charge the society became better organized and the Sunday- school received especial attention. Rev. Calvin S. Brower became pastor in 1875. A revival attended his labors and extended to the other churches of the village. Owing to financial depression and withdrawals the church became pastorless; but, learning that the Rev. S.F. Johnson was about to settle at East Norwich for a period of rest, the stewards applied to him, and he was appointed pastor and served during 1877 and 1878. In May 1879 Rev. William W. Gillis was sent here, and he has labored to the date of this writing with evident success and to the satisfaction of the congregation. The Sunday- school was organized the next Sunday after the dedication of the church. William Ludlam was elected superintendent, and he has acted in that capacity or as assistant every year since. The school at present numbers 60.FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OYSTER BAY.
The First Presbyterian Church of Oyster Bay was organized December 18th 1845, by the Presbytery of Long Island, with the following persons as members: Amanda Gerard, George W. Gerard, Alfred Sammis, Mary Sammis, Pamelia Snedecor, Lydia Stratton, Mary Ann Thurston, William Thurston, Louise Townsend and Samuel H. Townsend. Of these George W. Gerard and Samuel H. Townsend were chosen elders, and held their first meeting as a church session January 31st 1846, when a covenant and rules for the government of the church were adopted. In the absence of a regular pastor the church was for some time supplied by such clergymen as could conveniently be obtained; prominent among whom was Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge jr., of Hempstead. The following list gives the names of those who have been pastors of the church, with the dates of their respective installations, so far as can be ascertained: John T. Clark, 1846; Winthrop Bailey, 1847; Horace G. Hinsdale, 1855; Edward J. Hamilton, 1858; E.S. Fairchild, 1863; Benjamin L. Swan, 1866; Alexander G. Russell, 1876. The first member received after the organization of the church was Mrs. Lucy Hildreth, August 9th 1846; the first dismissals were those of George Hudson and wife, December 22nd 1846. The growth of the church has been gradual and slow, but there have been a few instances of considerable accession to its membership. The earliest of these occurred in February 1848, when 13 persons were received, and the latest in April 1876, when 34 names were added to the roll. Deaths and removals- the latter chiefly due to the comparatively stagnant condition of the village industries- have contributed to reduce the present membership to about 100. A Sunday- school was established in connection with the church at a very early date, and it has continued in successful operation to the present time. It has over 100 teachers and scholars and a library of 450 volumes. Meetings of the congregation were first held in the old academy building (now the rectory of Christ Church), arid subsequently in the Baptist church. The first church edifice was completed in 1848, at a cost of $3,000. It still stands on its original site in the center of the village. The lower part is used as a tinsmith’s shop, and the upper part as a tenement. The present church building was erected in 1873. It is beautifully situated on a hill near the center of the village, and presents a fine appearance, its gables, porches, transept, apse, tower and spire grouping effectively from every point of view. The interior is finished in the "natural woods," chestnut and oak prevailing; the walls are delicately tinted, and the ceiling is of the open- timbered style, showing the construction. The windows are filled with stained glass of elaborate designs specially prepared for them. At various points suitable texts of Scripture appear in the stained glass and on the walls. In the rear of the pulpit, beneath a large arch appropriately inscribed, is a fine Roosevelt organ, with the choir- screen and seats. The building is completely and tastefully furnished in harmony with the general architectural effect. The cost of building and fittings was about $16,000 and the entire property, including the land, is free from debt. The well- known architect, J.C. Cady, of New York, furnished the plans.LLOYD’S NECK.
Lloyd’s Neck (formerly called Horse Neck) contains about 3,000 acres of land projecting into the sound between Cold Spring and Huntington harbors. It is connected with the town of Huntington by a low sandy beach or causeway, which is entirely covered with water at high tides, making the neck on such occasions an island. The soil is of excellent quality and part of it is cultivated. The fame of the timber grown on this neck extends back through the Revolutionary war. Although nearly a hundred thousand cords of wood were taken off during the British occupation the neck was soon after producing more than a thousand cords annually for the New York market. The business of shipping wood is still continued. Not only can the neck boast of its highly productive soil, but there is an inexhaustible mine of white clay suitable for the manufacture of pottery of a fine quality. Some years past a valuable deposit of yellow clay was found, which answers all the purposes for which yellow ochre is used. The neck was made an independent plantation or manor, called Queens Village, in 1685, during the administration of Governor Dongan, this then being the only manorial estate in America. In 1790 an application was made by the owners to the Legislature for a renewal of the privileges of the estate, but they were refused. The neck (called by the Indians Caumsett) was bought September 20th 1654 from Ratiocan, sagamore of Cow Harbor, by Samuel Mayo, Daniel Whitehead and Peter Wright, some of the first settlers of Oyster Bay, f6r three coats, three shirts, two cuttoes, three hatchets, three hoes, two fathoms of wampum, six knives, two pairs of stockings and two pairs of shoes. The buyers sold out to Samuel Andrews on the 6th of May 1658 for £100, and the sale was confirmed by Wyandanch, the Long Island grand sachem, on the 14th of the same month. On the death of Andrews the neck was conveyed to John Richbill, September 5th 1660, who obtained a confirmation patent from Governor Nicolls December 18th 1665. Richbill sold to Nathaniel Sylvester, Thomas Hart and Latimore Sampson October 18th 1666, for £450. Sylvester released to his cotenants October 17th 1668, having first procured an additional patent from Governor Nicolls November 20th 1667. James Lloyd, of Boston, who through his wife Grizzle Sylvester (by a will of said Sampson) became entitled to part of the neck, obtained a confirmation of the patent from Governor Andros September 29th 1677, and in October 1679 bought from the executors of Hart his part of the neck for £200. Through this purchase he became sole owner, and the neck has since that time been called after his name. Mr. Lloyd died at an early age, August 16th 1698, leaving three children- Henry, Joseph and Grizzle. He devised the neck to his children in equal parts. Henry purchased the interest of his brother and sister, became sole proprietor, and settled here in 1711. The town of Huntington laid claim to Mr. Lloyd’s purchase on the ground that it was included within the general bounds of that town, but on appeal to the court of assize Mr. Lloyd got a verdict in his favor; and to prevent a like occurrence he got most if not all the free-holders of the town to sign a release of all their interest in the neck, whatever it might be. The dividing line was some time afterward ascertained and established by David Jones, Richard Woodhull and William Willis, who were mutually selected by the parties in 1734. Henry. Lloyd was born November 28th 1685, and died March 18th 1763. His remains, with those of many of his ancestors, rest in the old family burial ground on the neck. There is a tablet erected over the remains, in a remarkable state of preservation. Part of the neck has since continued in the possession of the Lloyd family, although there are none now bearing the name who hold possessions there. This family has become related by intermarriage to many of the first families of New England, New York city and Long Island. A number of the Lloyds have occupied with honor responsible positions of public trust. They have always been and still are noted for their gentlemanly and courteous manners. The annual produce of this valuable peninsula has been very large, consisting of wheat, corn, oats, hay, and salt grass. There may still be seen the fort erected during the Revolution on the west side of the neck. Within recent years several stock farms have been started upon the neck on a large scale; some have been failures, some of them successful. The neck is now divided into numerous farms, some of which have come into the possession of their present owners by marriage, etc., some by purchase.MATINECOCK.
Matinecock in early days embraced far more territory than the Matinecock of to- day. In 1697 it appears to have been bounded west by Hempstead Harbor, south by Hempstead Plains, east by Papequatunck River, and north by the sound or north sea; including "Musceato Coufe" and "Cillingworth" or the Matinecock of to-day. These two places are the only ones named, though the bounds include Glenwood, Greenvale, Locust Valley, Dosoris, Lattingtown and Mill Neck. The question to whom did Matinecock belong was a vexing one for some time. Hempstead under its grant of 1644 claimed a portion of it. Oyster Bay claimed to have bought part of it from the Indians in 1653. Portions of it were also claimed by some parties from grants through Farrett, the agent of the Earl of Stirling. The town of Hempstead granted Thomas Terry and Samuel Deering, under date of July 4th 1661, the right to settle on Matinecock land and hold the same as their own, with the same privileges enjoyed by other townsmen of Hempstead. One of the conditions of this grant was as follows: "Not to trespass against the town of Hempstead by letting of any of their calff trespass on any great playne and spoil thire corn or dooe like harm; and if they shall, to make satisfaction to ani person or persons soe ronged; also the above sayd planters dooe ingage themselves or ani that they shall bring or thire successors not to bring in any Quakers or such like opinions. Sayd planters shall or ought to be such as the inhabitants of the towne of Hempstead shall approve of; that is to be soe understood that these shall be admitted as inhabitants of the aforesaid place shall have letters of recommendation and approbation from the magistrate or townsmen of the place from which they came, that they have been and are like to be good members." A memorandum states that they are to settle on the land within two years. Another memorandum requires that Terry shall settle seven families on the land, and the town reserves the right to make the number ten. It would seem from the last memorandum and later writers that Deering had withdrawn. Terry did not occupy and improve the land as contracted, but sent a petition "To the Noble, Great and Respectful Director General and High Council in New Netherlands" asking that the limit of his time for improvement be extended one year. The petition was granted, and the seven families were settled on the land. In the petition Terry mentions one Mr. Nichol, a resident of Oyster Bay, who claimed that the Matinecock land was covered by his patent; but this is not recorded in the Oyster Bay records, as deeds were not given by the town until some years afterward. The earliest mention of Matinecock lands found on the Oyster Bay records is the appointment on March 2nd 1664 of Francis Weeks, Jacob Youngs and John Coles "to use their endeavor to bie Matinecock land of the indians." What success attended this "endeavor" does not appear. Among the first permanent settlers of Matinecock was Captain John Underhill, who settled on a piece of land (150 acres) granted him by the Indians for services rendered them. The Hempstead people continued up to 1666 to claim Matinecock lands by virtue of their purchase from the Marsapeague Indians; but they were defeated in their claims by the Indians acknowledging that they never claimed to own any part of the Matinecock lards. The Matinecock Indians also complained to Governor Nicolls of the people of Hempstead for intruding upon their lands without paying for them. The Indians however agreed, by request of the governor, to allow the seven families to remain in peaceable possession of the lands occupied by them. This lengthy dispute was settled soon after, we know not how. The territory came into peaceable possession of the people of Oyster Bay, who had been and were from time to time purchasing it from the Indians. On the 26th of May 1663 the Indians sold a part of Matinecock to Captain John Underhill, John Frost and William Frost; another part on the 20th of April 1669 to Richard Latting; another on the 1st of December 1683 to Thomas Townsend; and on the 9th of January 1685 the chiefs- namely, Susconaman alias Runasuck, Chechagen alias Quaropin, and Sampse, son of Tackapousha- being empowered thereto by the rest of the Indians, conveyed the residue of Matinecock, with some other lands, for the price of sixty pounds current merchantable pay, to James Cock, Joseph Dickerson, Robert Townsend, Samuel Dickerson, Stephen Birdsall, James Townsend, Daniel Weeks, Isaac Doughty, John Wood, Edmund Wright, Caleb Wright, John Wright, William Frost and John Newman, and thereupon the grantees agreed to accept as joint purchasers with them the following inhabitants and freeholders of the town-comprising the most complete list of names which the records present at that period: George Downing, John Townsend sen., Richard Harcutt, Daniel Townsend, Nathaniel Coles jr., John Dewsbury, John Cock, William Crooker, John Weeks, John Applegate, Henry Franklin, Thomas Youngs, John Townsend jr., John Rogers of Lusum, Hannah Forman for her son Moses, Henry Bell, Richard Willett, John Robbins, Meriam Harker, Thomas Townsend, Hope Williams of Lusum, Samuel Birdsall, Josias Carpenter, Lawrence Mott, Sampson Hawxhurst, William Buckler, Adam Wright, Josias Latting, Thomas Weeks, Thomas Cock, John Pratt, William Hawxhurst, Thomas Willets, Elizabeth Dickson, Samuel Weeks, James Bleven, Joseph Weeks, Daniel Whitehead, Peter Wright, Samuel Tiller. We give here a portion of an original deed from the Indians, now in the possession of Valentine Frost; conveying Matinecock lands: "This instrument of writing or deed, of sale witnesseth to all Christian people to whom it may come or any ways concern. Know ye that for us we underwritten, Susconaman alias Runasuck, Samouse And Querripin, all three Indians, being empowered by ye rest of ye Indians and proprietors of Cheaf ye lands called by ye English Matinecock, situate, lying and being within ye patent of Oyster Bay wth’n Queens county upon Long Island, And by Virtue whereof And for ye ffull of twenty pounds silver or equivalent to silver money in goods, to us paid before ye signing and sealing thereof, have bargained and sold and by present possession deliver unto John Underhill, John Ffeexes, and William Ffrost, all three inhabitants of Matinecock, all that our Comons, or individual lands unsold, lying and being to ye northward of ye now highway between ye Beaver Swamp so called and Mosquito Cove, lands being to be understood ye the highway from Oyster Bay to Mosquito Cove to ye sound or North Sea, be it more or less; excepting twenty acres to be laid out to John Pryor at ye rere of his lands bought of Joseph Eastland fforman, by grantal. It is to be understood that every inhabitant below the path settled are to have equal privileges, provided they pay ye above three persons nominated their equal proportions in money according to agreement."CAPTAIN JOHN UNDERHILL.
It is now time to give a sketch of some of the early settlers of Matinecock. Captain John Underhill came from England to Massachusetts soon after the first settlement of that colony. He had served as an officer in the British forces in the Netherlands, in Ireland and at Cadiz, and had a command in the war with the Pequots during, the year 1637. After the termination of the Pequot war he removed to Connecticut and settled at Stamford. He was a delegate from that town to the general court at New Haven in 1643, and was appointed an assistant justice there. During that year he was sent for by the Dutch governor at New York to take a command in the war in which the Dutch were then engaged or were about to engage with the Indians north of the sound and west of the Connecticut settlements. This war lasted till the summer of 1646, and was terminated by a great battle at Strickland’s Plain, Horse Neck, in which the Dutch with difficulty obtained the victory. It is supposed that Captain Underhill had the chief command under the Dutch governor in this war, and it is stated by Trumbull in his history of Connecticut that he destroyed 300 Indians north of the sound, and 120 upon Long Island who had crossed the sound in order to ravage and destroy the Dutch plantations there. After the conclusion of the war he settled at Flushing. He discovered and disclosed the intrigues of the "Dutch fiscal with the Indians to detach them from the English and to excite them to hostilities against them in 1653. On the refusal of the commissioners of the united colonies to embark in the war then in progress between England and Holland he applied to Rhode Island, which colony had taken part with the mother country, for assistance. He received a commission from that colony, with the aid of a small number of volunteers, authorizing him to act in defense of the English towns against any attack of the Dutch or Indians, and with regard to further hostilities to act in conformity with such orders as the colony should prescribe. Under this commission he made the attack on the Indians at or near Fort Neck and took their fort, and thus contributed to arrest the defection of the Indians, to defeat the hostile designs of the Dutch against the English settlements, and to preserve the peace of the island. In 1665 he was a delegate from the town of Oyster Bay to the assembly held at Hempstead by Governor Nicolls, and was appointed by him under sheriff of the "north riding of Yorkshire," or Queens county. In 1667 the Matinecock Indians gave him a deed for 150 acres of land, which has remained in the family ever since and is now in the possession of Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Underhill, wife of George R. Underhill and a direct descendant through eight generations from the old pioneer, her father being Robert F. Underhill. This land consigned by the Indians to Captain Underderhill he named Cillingworth or Kenilworth. On the old farm mentioned above is the grave of this remarkable man, of whose singular career so much is said in the histories of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. He was the trusted companion of distinguished men and held many important and responsible trusts. Few individuals were more conspicuous or rendered more important services to the colonists than Captain John Underhill.JOHN FEAKES
mentioned in the above deed was the son of Henry, who came from England about the year 1630 and settled in Lynn, Mass. John removed with Captain Underhill to Matinecock, where they purchased land of the Indians and built their houses in fields contiguous to each other, now known in each family as the "old orchard," although the trees have entirely disappeared in the one and almost in the other. They established a burying place common to the two families on a beautiful elevation overlooking the sound, the creek and much of the surrounding country. A tradition in the family makes John Feakes and Captain Underhill brothers- in- law. John Feakes was a preacher in the Society of Friends, and was buried by them in their burying ground at Westbury. He died in March 1724. His wife, who was Deborah Pryor, is supposed to have been the daughter of Matthew Pryor. John Feakes left one son, afterward the Rev. Robert Feakes, a Baptist minister at Oyster Bay, and several daughters. Rev. Robert Feakes inherited the estate of his father, to which he greatly added by his marriage with Clemence Ludlam, of Hog Island. He owned in addition to the homestead a large tract of land on Mill Neck, all the farm now owned by Stephen C. Underhill, a part of John Van Cott’s farm on the east side of the neck, and a farm on the south side of the road leading to Oyster Bay. He built the mill now owned by Abraham Underhill and previously by Henry Demilt, Thomas Covert and Thomas Cock. He built his house on the site of the residence called "Meadow Side." Shortly before his death the house burned, together with all its contents, consisting of the furniture, title deeds and a valuable collection of paintings by his son Robert. The house was rebuilt immediately, and remained until it was torn down to make way for the present one, built on the old foundation by his great- great- great- grandsons in 1849. Rev. Robert Feakes died April 1st 1773, aged 89, leaving a large family. Henry, the eldest child, inherited the homestead, but sold it to his brother Charles, from whom the present family is descended. John Feakes, another son, inherited a farm on Mill Neck and left one child, who was the grandmother of the present Henry Ludlam, of Center Island. Robert Feakes, another son, was one of the most eminent painters of his time in this country.THE FROSTS AND VALENTINES.
Next comes the Frost family, but from want of data which have failed to reach us we are unable to give a history of it. We know it was one of the first and principal ones, and has done much toward making Matinecock what it is to- day. The Valentines were another family which came into the town about 1716. Daniel Valentine is the first mentioned. He was born about 1689 and married Charity, daughter of Nathan and Rachel Coles, of Mosquito Cove, now Glen Cove. On the 11th of March 1719-20 he bought of his father-in-law property costing him £500. This place has never passed out of the family, being now in possession of the daughter of the late Elwood Valentine. We pass down through a long list of descendants till we reach Mary Valentine, daughter of David, who married Lot Cornelius, their issue being Valentine M. and Amanda, who married Jarvis Underhill. Catherine, daughter of David, married Isaac B. Lewis. She was the mother of Mary Anna, who married Daniel Vail and has issue Louis Herbert and Clara Irving. Others of the Valentine family were Thomas and Robert Valentine, who were brothers and resided on their father’s old farm near West Hills. This farm was divided between them, and was supposed to contain 1,000 acres. Thomas married Elizabeth Hewlett and resided upon his part of the farm. Of Robert’s farm there is a tradition that a brook ran through, it which emptied into Cold Spring mill pond, and which was never dry or frozen over. This Valentine farm is now owned by Benjamin Brush. There is an old burial ground upon it which is thought to contain the remains of some of the ancestors of the two brothers. It was once owned and occupied by Hewlett, father of James W. Valentine, now of Green Point.SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, MATINECOCK.
Probably some of the residents of Matinecock, particularly of Cillingworth, became members of the Society of Friends as early as 1659, and attended the Oyster Bay meeting or held meetings in private houses. It was agreed in 1671 that First- day meetings should be held alternately at this place and Oyster Bay. The Friends here soon began to suffer from the law; many of them having their property sold to pay fines imposed for refusing to train and to work on a fort. In 1725 it was decided to build a meeting- house. Thomas Pearsall and Samuel Underhill were the builders. In 1757 some gravestones were set up in the burying ground, with superfluous inscriptions engraved thereon contrary to the practice of Friends. The relatives of the deceased were requested to remove them. Repairs on the house were made from time to time. The building is now in good condition and the society prosperous.HON. TOWNSEND D. COCK.
WILLIAM TOWNSEND COCK.
The subject of the present memoir was born the 26th day of November 1803, in the village then called Buckram, in the town of Oyster Bay. (The village is now called Locust Valley, but was originally called- and more properly-Matinecock, that being the name of much of the surrounding country.) His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth Cock, reared a family of eight children, six of whom married and settled in the same neighborhood; one died in early life, and William T., being the youngest, remained with his parents, expecting that to be his permanent home. His grandparents on the paternal side were Clark Cock and Elizabeth Pierce, she of Westchester county, N.Y.; they died in the same house, he at the ripe age of 83 and she at 91. His parents succeeded to that house, and resided therein nearly seventy years, dying at the advanced age of about 90 years. His grandparents on the maternal side were Daniel Cock and Rosanna Townsend, who lived and died at the old family mansion near the Friends’ meeting- house at Matinecock. The same place is now occupied by the subject of this memoir, and from the best information that can be obtained it is believed that the family has maintained a continuous ownership of it since the title was granted by the native Indians. The ancestors of our subject have for the most part been connected with the Society of Friends since their establishment in this country. We find Mr. Cock early introduced into active life. During the war with England lasting from 1812 to 18i5 he was placed in a large country store, the owners of which were much of the time absent- one in the army, the other attending to outside business; consequently he was frequently at that early age left alone in the responsible position of having sole charge of the concern. He continued in this place a number of years, spending a few days at a time, when he could be spared from the store, attending a select school near by. After leaving this occupation he had the opportunity of attending the district school for a brief period. He was then placed in his father’s mill to learn the trade of a miller. He often speaks of this apprenticeship a little boastingly, as he accomplished the task in one day so far as to take charge of the mill on his own responsibility. After a short service at the old mill he returned to his father’s farm, delighted with the prospect of spending his days there, pursuing the honorable occupation of an agriculturist. He remained in this position until about the 28th year of his age, when he was married to Elizabeth H. Seaman, the widow of Dr. William Seaman and the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Hicks, of Westbury, Long Island, at which place she resided with her widowed mother. It was the understanding before their marriage that he should reside with his wife at the home of her mother, which he accordingly did, remaining there more than thirty years. They had two children, Mary H. and Isaac H. The former died in her 20th year and the latter, a highly esteemed citizen, now occupies the old Hicks mansion. Near the beginning of the year 1865 Mrs. Cock died. In the latter part of the year 1865 Mr. Cock was united in marriage with Hannah F. Burling, of New Rochelle, Westchester county. Two years later they removed to the old family residence of his maternal ancestors, before mentioned as his present home, where he is quietly pursuing his favorite occupation of cultivating the soil. By his present wife he has one child, William Burling Cock. While a very industrious and successful man in business affairs, Mr. Cock has never been negligent in the really more weighty matters of life. He has long been a regular attendant of the meetings of the Society of Friends, and has frequently been appointed to responsible services in its administration. Not only has he traveled many miles with its ministers in their labor of love, but at his home he has been a laborer in imparting religious instruction. For a few years past his interest has been largely centered in the affairs of the Friends’ College of Long Island, founded by his late friend Gideon Frost. They conferred much together as to its location and administration. The site was decided upon and purchased for a moderate compensation from Mr. Cock, who was named as executor, trustee and president of the board by the founder during his life. The two latter appointments he holds at the present time. Mr. Cock still remains among the scenes and friends of his childhood. His long life of usefulness and devotion to the elevation of his fellow men has won for him the respect, esteem and affection of all who know him.FRIENDS’ COLLEGE, MATINECOCK.
This school was established by the late Gideon Frost, in 1876, for the purpose of giving to the children of Friends and others an opportunity to gain a thorough education, with a guarded moral training, to be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Society of Friends. The buildings are new and the school is surrounded by no bad influences. The course of study is designed to prepare for the freshman class of any college. The officers are: William T. Cock, president; Stephen Rushmore, vice-president; James Willets, treasurer; Frederick E. Willets, secretary; Leonard F. Coles, J. Augustus Prior and Frederick E. Willets, executive committee.LOCUST VALLEY
formerly called Buckram, is the terminus in this section of the Long Island Railroad, and has a post- office and several stores. Here live the descendants of some of the oldest families of the town, including the Cocks, Underhills, Townsends, Weekses and Tillys. The first store was opened about 1815 by Ambrose Cock, where Mrs. Lot Cornelius now lives. Benjamin Hawhurst also started a store about that time. Michael Weeks opened a store about 1820 where E. Weeks now keeps one. Edwin Weeks succeeded Michael Weeks in 1836; the firm name was S.C. & E. Weeks. Isaac Cock kept a store about seventy-five years ago on the site of the house now occupied by Edwin Weeks. This was carried on till 1832, when Mr. Cock was succeeded by Samuel C. Weeks, who in turn was followed by the present proprietor, Albert Weeks. Among other early merchants were Richard Cock and Underhill & Downing. The first hotel was kept by Michael Weeks, where the store of Albert Weeks now stands. Abraham Hall succeeded Michael Weeks. After him there was no regular hotel until Mr. Fleming opened his well kept house. The principal merchants now are S.W. Thurston, dealer in pure drugs, medicines, perfumery, etc.; A. Weeks, dealer in family groceries, foreign and domestic wines, ales, etc.; Mr. Davis, dealer in all kinds of groceries, dry goods and hardware, and C. Weeks, dealer in family groceries, flour, dry goods, provisions, etc. On the advent of William E. Kirk, the veteran blacksmith of the place, who came here when 19 years of age, there were only two buildings where the depot now is, those of Lot Cornelius and Uncle John Whalley. There are now in the neighborhood of the depot two stores, a meat market and numerous private dwellings. In early days the mails were brought here on horseback from New York.LOCUST VALLEY SCHOOLS.
Locust Valley’s inhabitants appear to have been energetic in the cause of education. To their district school, established at an early date, they paid particular attention. It was taught by Lot Cornelius for thirteen years before he established his boarding school, which continued twenty years. This boarding school consisted of some forty pupils, and during its whole existence there was no sickness of any account among them, which speaks well for the salubriousness of Locust Valley. Previous to the establishment of his boarding school this veteran educator had been teaching in the vicinity many years, and he was superintendent of the schools of the town of Oyster Bay a number of years. Some of the leading men of the town received their education at his hands. In the school district the facilities for education during some years were meagre. The school was held in a building which partook of the nature of a dwelling and a school- house. The inhabitants, becoming alive to the necessity of better accommodations, built the present school- house, which is thought to be the first one with all modern improvements in the township. A member of the Cock family gave $5,000 toward its erection. The land was bought of Isaac Townsend, who offered it at a nominal price. The building is two stories high and large enough to afford room for all the children in the district; its builders having in view the probability that the district might be enlarged. Mr. Chamberlain succeeded Mr. Cornelius as principal of the school; then came Messrs. Bell, Skidmore, Keller, Mathews, Downing, Green, Bellows, Valentine, Robinson and McDonalds. The present principal is Mr. Surdam, under whose care and teaching the pupils are very proficient.THE REFORMED CHURCH OF LOCUST VALLEY.
The first evangelical organization in the vicinity of Locust Valley was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was established about 1838. For many years it continued to afford, the only regular preaching that was enjoyed by the people living in the neighborhood, and was supported, regardless of denominational preferences, by all interested in the maintenance of the Christian church. During a vacancy in the pastorate of this church, which occurred in 1864 and which resulted in a partial suspension of its services, a proposal was made and agreed to by the officers of the Methodist church, that the Rev. E.S. Fairchild, of the Presbyterian church of Oyster Bay, should be invited to supply this pulpit every alternate Sabbath; and somewhat later the Rev. Jeremiah Searle, of the Reformed church of Oyster Bay (situated at Brookville), was requested to preach regularly upon the unoccupied Sunday. These arrangements, proving satisfactory to all concerned, were continued until the resignation of their respective charges by these ministers interrupted the services held at Locust Valley. In 1866 the Rev. John H. Smock became the pastor of the Reformed church at Brookville, and, in accordance with the desire of the people of Locust Valley, preached for them every other Sabbath, alternating with the supplies by the Methodist conference with which the Locust Valley church was connected, and continued his services until 1867, when, a settled pastor being obtained by the Methodist church, it was deemed undesirable to continue the union services, which had hitherto been carried on with great unanimity and profit. Many of the people, however, had become attached to the forms of worship and government of the Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and, desiring a continuance of them, they retained the services of Rev. Mr. Smock; and, securing the use of the district school building, held their first service therein August 25th 1867. The interest in the movement continuing, it was, soon thought advisable to proceed to the erection of a church building. A plot of ground containing about half an acre, adjoining the district school- house, was donated to the enterprise by D.V. Smith, of Lattingtown, and a neat frame buildings with a seating capacity of nearly 250, was erected thereon, at an expense of about $5,000. This edifice was dedicated July 4th 1869, and the congregation worshiping therein was considered to be under the care of the consistory of the Reformed church at Brookville. Upon the resignation of the pastorate of the Brookville church by Rev. Mr. Smock it was decided by the congregation at Locust Valley to request a separate organization, which was accordingly effected May 30th 1871, at which time the following named persons, sixteen in number, were received from the Reformed ,church at Brookville, and were constituted the original membership of the Reformed Church of Locust Valley: Mrs. Angeline Bayles, Thomas A. Cock, Mrs. Anna Hall, Mrs. Ann A. Lawson, Mrs. Sarah Mallison, Benjamin C. Nevins, Mrs. Amanda Thurston, Mrs. Frances S. Townsend, Mrs. Anna Valentine, Miss Matilda Valentine, Joseph W. Valentine, Mrs. Ann E. Weeks, Miss Mary E. Weeks, Daniel V. Weeks, Mrs. Cornelia Wright, Daniel Wright. From these sixteen the membership of the church has grown to sixty, while many more are regular attendants upon its services. The first consistory of the church was composed of Daniel V. Weeks and Daniel Wright, elders, and Benjamin C. Nevins and Thomas A. Cock, deacons. Of these gentlemen Mr. Weeks alone still serves among the officers of the church as an elder; his present associates being, in the eldership Charles H. Williams and in the diaconate John Bayles and Henry Bond. The first pastor of this church was the Rev. John Hart, who was ordained and installed July 2nd 1872 and served the church nearly three years, resigning his charge in March 1875. His successors in the pastorate have been the Rev. Horace P. Craig, installed June 16th 1875, resigned April 18th 1880; and the Rev. A. De .W. Mason, who was installed October 7th 1880 and is the present incumbent. The Sabbath school of the church was organized August 25th 1867, under the superintendency of the Rev. Mr. Smock. Since that time its sessions have been regularly held throughout the entire year. Its present officers are: Joseph W. Valentine, superintendent; C.F. Williams, secretary and treasurer. The school numbers upon its roll eleven officers and teachers and nearly one hundred scholars.DOSORIS.
Dosoris is situated on the sound, two miles north of Glen Cove. The original tract, nearly 1,000 acres, was purchased November 24th 1668 by Robert Williams from several chiefs of the Matinecock Indians. A patent of confirmation was issued the same year by Governor Nicolls. This patent included "West Island" and "East Island." Williams sold the premises September 24th 1670 to Lewis Morris, of Barbadoes, brother of Richard Morris, first proprietor of Morrisania. May 16th 1686 Governor Dongan gave Morris a patent, reserving a quit- rent of one bushel of wheat yearly. Morris conveyed the premises, August 10th 1693, for £390 to Daniel Whitehead, who for the same consideration conveyed them to his son- in- law John Taylor. Taylor dying intestate, the property descended to his daughter Abigail, afterward the wife of Rev. Benjamin Woolsey. This gentleman resided on the premises from 1736 to the time of his death, August 16th 1756. The name Dosoris is supposed to be a contraction of dos and uxoris- a wife’s dower- the property having come to Mr. Woolsey by his wife. By forms of lease and release the title was vested in the husband, who devised three- fifths to his son Melancthon Taylor Woolsey and the remaining two- fifths to his son Benjamin Woolsey. In 1760 the executors of the former conveyed his part of the estate, about 416 acres, including East Island (sometimes known since as Mutlear Island, Presque Isle and Butler’s Island), for £4,000, to John Butler. Butler built the first flouring- mill here, on the dam between the mainland and West Island. Nathaniel Coles (son-in-law of Butler) came here to reside and bought the remainder of the Woolsey estate, containing about 300 acres; and also West Island, sometimes called Cavalier Island, for $3,600. The two sons of Nathaniel Coles, John Butler Coles and General Nathaniel Coles, built the two flouring- mills on the dam between the two islands. All three of the mills did a large business. The first was taken down; the last two were burned. The scenery here is beautiful, the soil excellent and the air salubrious, rendering it a delightful place of residence. Dosoris contains some of the oldest locust trees on Long Island. The place was thickly populated with Indians, as the numerous skeletons and domestic utensils show. It is now occupied by the Coles family, who came here over a century since, and several other families. East Island contains about 75 acres, and is occupied by Townsend Cox, commissioner of charity in New York city. West Island contains 50 acres, and is occupied by Charles A. Dana, editor of the New York Sun.GLEN COVE.
This village at its first settlement was called "the Place," then "Musceata Coufe," and for some time went by the name of "Pembroke." In 1834 by a vote of the people the name was changed to Glen Cove. In 1667 one Joseph Carpenter applied to the governor for permission to buy "a certain piece of land on each syde of the ryver at Musceata Coufe, where he proposes to settle two or three plantations and to erect a saw and fulling- mill." This petition was granted. On the 24th of May 1668 Carpenter bought the land of the Indians, November 24th 1668 he joined with him as equal shareholders in the property Nathaniel Coles, Abia Carpenter, Thomas Townsend and Robert Coles. In 1677 Governor Andros granted letters patent to Joseph Carpenter, N. and R. Coles and Nicholas Simpkins for the land around Mosquito Cove. The following is a partial copy of this ancient document: "Edward Andross Esq., by the grace of God lieutenant- and governor-general under his Royal Highness James Duke of York and Albany, &c., of all his territory in America. Whereas there is a certain tract of land at Musketo Cove, in the north, riding of Yorkshire upon Long Island, which by my order hath been laid out for Joseph Carpenter, Nathaniel Coles, Robert Coles, Daniel Coles and Nicholas Simpkins- the said land lying by the side of Hempstead Harbor, beginning at a certain marked tree, formerly marked for Colonel Lewis Morris; running then due east by the land of the said Colonel Morris 80 chains, ranging the same course from Colonel Morris’s eastern bounds to a certain marked tree upon the common 40 chains; thence south 160 and 4 chains to certain markt trees; 90 chains due west, to the rear of the lots of Richard Kirby, Jacob Brocken, George Downing and Robert Godfrey; thence due north by the said lots 60 chains; and thence due west to the water side; ranging then by the water side to the run of Colonel Lewis Morris, and thence nearest south to the first markt tree; including in the same the swamp and mill run- I have given and granted and by these presents do hereby give and grant unto the said Joseph Carpenter, Nathaniel Coles, Daniel Coles, Robert Coles and Nicholas Simpkins, their heirs and assignees, the aforementioned track of swamp, mill run and premises, with their and every of their appurtenances; they making improvements thereon according to law and yielding and paying therefor yearly and every year unto His Royal Highness’s use as a quit- rent one bushel of good winter wheat, unto such officer or officers as shall be empowered to receive the same." We will give the bounds of this patent in a form more comprehensible to the present generation. The starting point was at a marked tree, now replaced by a stone marked B, upon the land of John T. Valentine; from there the line ran in an easterly direction, a little to the south of the present residence of Stephen M. Cock, to a point at or near the northeast corner of his farm; thence in a southerly course, crossing the highway just east of the dwelling of the late Simon Craft, to the northwest corner of Pound Hollow Woods; along the west side of the woods to the northeast corner of Andreas McQueen farm; thence westerly along the north side of his farm an across the Cedar Swamp road to a point a short distance southeast of the residence of Darius Benham; then northerly, passing a little west of Samuel Craft’s residence, until about opposite Littleworth lane; then westerly to and along that lane as far as the first turn of the lane southwardly; then in a direct line to Hempstead Harbor and Long Island Sound, to Dosoris Creek, up the creek to the pond; then to and through the west or old pond (thus including West Island) to the mouth of Flag Brook; up that brook (which is a southerly course) to its head, and then in a direct line, which is still southerly, to the marked stone. The tract contained according to the patent "seventeen hundred acres;" but from a list of the landholders dated November 11th 1786 (which we give below), made out upon the occasion of a final payment of quit-rent and which gives the number of acres owned by each person within the patent, the total number of acres appears to amount to 3,678; which being more than double the quantity given under the hand of the surveyor points to a mistake somewhere, in which the Indians must have been the losers. In the following paragraph the number of acres of each owner is followed by the amount of his tax: Caleb Coles, 125, 2s. 6d.; Benjamin Coles, 100, 2s.; Jacob Valentine, 277, 5s. 6d.; Coles Mudge, 80, 1s. 8d.; Jordan Coles, 19, 4d.; James Bennett, 3, 1d.; Henry Mott, 26, 6d.; Charles Thorne, 19, 4d.; Thomas Kipp’s estate, 6, 2d.; Joseph Wood, 120, 2s. 5d.; Benjamin Craft, 73, 1s. 6d.; Joseph Craft, 147, 2s. 11d.; Solomon Craft, 60, 1s. 3d.; Morris Carpenter, 15, 4d.; William Hyde, 11, 3d.; Coles Carpenter, 200, 4s.; Albert Coles, 75, 1s. 6d.; Derich Coles, 62, 1s. 3d.; William Coles, 48, 1s.; Benjamin Coles jr., 100, 2s.; Isaac Coles, 19, 4d.; Daniel Coles, 120, 2s. 5d.; Ananias Downing, 156, 3s. 2d.; William Hopkins, 80, 1s. 8d.; Thomas Hopkins, 140, 2s. 10d.; Silas Downing, 20, 5d.; Jeromas Bennett, 80, 1s. 8d.; George Bennett, 80, 1s. 8d.; Thomas Pearsall, 185, 3s. 9d.; Charles Frost, 3, 1d.; John Frost, 3, 1d.; Williham Bennett, 6, 2d. Joseph Carpenter, the first purchaser, appears to have resided for some time with his father, William, at Providence, R.I.; from there he moved to Oyster Bay early in the year 1667, and thence to Mosquito Cove. Nathaniel Coles was the son of Robert Coles, one of the associates of Governor Winthrop in the settlement of Ipswich, Mass. He came to Long Island in 1654, in company with Robert Williams, and settled at Oyster Bay. Many of the descendants of these two men are still living in the village and vicinity. A saw- mill was built immediately after the settlement, and soon afterward it was thought necessary to build a grist- mill for the convenience of the settlers. The following is a copy of the builder’s agreement with the settlers after it was built: "Agreed yt whareas I, Joseph Carpenter, haveing Built A grist-mill joyneing to oure new saw-mill, and upon ye stream which belongeth to us five purchasers- Nathanell. Colles, Daniel Colles, Robert Colles, Nickolas Simkins and my selfe- and in consideration of three parts in ye streme and timbar I Joseph Carpenter doe pledge my selfe, my heyres, Exsexetors, Administrators, and Asignes, soe long as my selfe, my heyres, Exsexetors, Administrators, or Asignes shall keep or mantaine ye said mill, tto grind ye aforesaide proprietors’ corne or grayne for each of their famylies well and Tolle- free for ever; and iff my selfe, my heyres, Exsexetors, Administrators, or Asignes for ye futar shall see case to Lett ye sayde grist- mill fall, and not, to keep it in repayre for ye fulfilling of ye conditions as above inserted, that then and after, forever, ye aforesayde streme to remaine to us five proprietors and our heyres and Asignes for ever, to order and dispose of as we shall see Case- to which I have sett my hand and seale ye 14th of Janewry 1677. "JOSEPH CARPENTER. "Signed, sealed and delivered in ye presence of us- Tho. Townsend, Samuel Pell." The saw- mill and grist- mill were erected upon a dam thrown across the stream, and we are told vessels would run up to the dam and load at the lowest tide. The saw- mill soon grew very advantageous to the colony, for in 1678 we find Carpenter receiving extensive orders for plank to be used in the construction or repair of old Fort James, which stood on the Battery, New York. The growth of the settlement was rapid. Following Carpenter, Simpkins, Coles and Mudge came Robert and Daniel Coles, John Thompson, Matthias Harvey, Thomas Townsend, Job Wright and Isaac Doughty. A year after the settlement of the Cove the list of freeholders in Oyster Bay included but forty-one; yet the increase in population was so rapid that in twenty years (1687) Governor Dongan stated that the people complained of a want of room. The records would show some confusion of boundaries among the proprietors; but, such was the liberal and friendly policy pursued by the people, we can hear of no disputes, but confirmations, concessions and grants. Under one of these Richard Kirby, Jacob Broking, George Downing and Robert Godefree were established in the ownership of land which was part of the original purchase by Simkins, Coles and Carpenter. The Weeks family appears as interested in lands, but resided at Oyster Bay until somewhat later. There is no trace of Simpkins or any of his descendants, so it is supposed he must have left Mosquito Cove soon after becoming associated in the purchase. Besides the families above mentioned the names of Mudge, Albertson and Thornycraft appear very often upon old papers. It is a curious fact that the name of Thornycraft now furnishes two distinct surnames- Thorne and Craft- both of which can be directly traced back to their common ancestor William Thornycraft. In selecting places for their homes the early settlers chose sites in proximity to springs or streams, or where water would be found near the surface of the ground, which fact is very noticeable along Cedar Swamp Valley. In the war of the Revolution the inhabitants espoused the cause of the colonies, and none endured more or suffered more to defend that liberty which hitherto they had held as sacredly their own. In this region a company of eighty men was organized, which marched to join the brigade of gallant Woodhull, who afterward fell in defense of his country, as related on page 41. It would be hard to surmise which felt the ravages of war the most- those who marched to the field or those who were left at home to put up with the insults of the British and Hessian soldiers, who swarmed through all parts of the country. On the arrival of the news of peace the people made every manifestation of joy and gratitude. When treason threatened to subvert our national government few villages gave a readier or more generous response. Through the long struggle of north and south her sons defended many a post of honor and trod many a field of death, and her daughters were foremost in works of mercy to soften in camp and hospital the misery occasioned by the war. The growth of the village itself was slow for many generations. It had but twelve houses during the Revolutionary war, and had but little increase up to 1812. In 1835 a boarding house called the Pavilion was erected by William M. Weeks, which in after years was extended to an establishment accommodating 300 people and worth $35,000. This valuable building has since been destroyed by fire. For some forty years past Glen Cove has been a favorite resort for the elite of New York and other cities. Some of these gentlemen have splendid residences in the village and its vicinity. The brothers Duryea have added much to the prosperity of the village by establishing here their starch manufactory, of which an account is given elsewhere. In addition to this the industries of the locality consist of the New York Block Building Company, which compresses sand and lime into a building material; Atwater, Benham & Co.’s tin and sheet iron ware factory; the very extensive Glen Cove Flour Mills, and the large sand and clay works at South Glen Cove. Land around the village is valued at from $400 to $1,000 an acre. There are four churches (Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and Catholic). The first school of importance was a private academy, which was succeeded by the present union school. The village is situated on the north shore of Long Island, on Hempstead Harbor, and about twenty- five miles from New York. Among the noted men who have been residents of Glen Cove we must mention the great Quaker George Fox, whose gift of opening the Scriptures was unrivaled. He visited this region about four years after its settlement. His preaching was powerful and impressive. The sect which he founded has adorned humanity and passed into a proverb for the personal virtues of its members. The place has given birth to two distinguished physicians- Dr. Thomas Cock and Valentine Mott. Dr. Cock enjoyed a high reputation and stood among the leading physicians of New York city. Dr. Mott’s renown was as broad as the expanse of civilization.GLEN COVE’S BICENTENNIAL.
STEAMBOATS.
The first steamboat, which was called the "Linneus," had previously run to New Rochelle on the main shore. She was owned and commanded by Captain Elijah Peck. A stock company was formed in 1829, which issued eighty- two shares at $20 each. The building of the dock cost $2,000, and its site $50. The dock was at Cape Breton; Henry Hyde was the builder. The following is a list of boats which have been on this route: "Linneus," "Flushing," "Fairfield," "Nimrod," "Westchester," "Sun," "American Eagle," "Croton," "Norwalk," "Glen Cove," "Mayflower," "George Law," "Island City," "Stamford," "Long Island," "Arrowsmith," "General Sedgwick," "Jessie Hoyt," "Seawanhaka." The "Glen Cove" and "Long Island" were burned in the south during the war. The memory of the burning of the "Seawanhaka" is but too deeply engraved in the hearts of many a household to need further mention here. The "Idlewild" succeeded the "Seawanhaka," making regular trips between Roslyn and intervening ports and New York up to the year 1881.TEMPERANCE EFFORTS.
The first meeting known of at Glen Cove was held about July 8th 1815 in Jacob Titus’s store, which stood on the site of Fancher’s jewelry store. Benjamin Coles was chosen chairman and George D. Coles secretary. The meeting was called to consider the expediency of adopting measures to enforce laws for the suppression of vice and immorality. After a review of the ravages caused by the use of intoxicating drinks the following resolutions were adopted: "Resolved, unanimously, that as good citizens the friends of civil liberty and religious order, regarding the present and- everlasting welfare of our fellow men, we are in duty bound to unite with promptitude and zeal to stop the progress of these threatening evils, and to prevent the sale of spirituous liquors on the first day of the week. "Resolved, unanimously, that James Coles, Richard Udall and Lewis Valentine be a committee of vigilance, vested with power and authority to nominate and appoint supernumerary agents to give information to the proper authority of all persons who shall vend spirituous liquors or any kind of merchandise, contrary to the law of the land, on the first day of the week. "Resolved, unanimously, that the proceedings of the meeting be published in the Long Island Star." There is now in existence in the village a very strong temperance organization, as well as a Young Men’s Christian Association; the influence of both these organizations is widely spread and felt.GLEN COVE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY.
The great fire in the city of New York which happened in the winter of 1835-36, causing the failure of nearly all the insurance companies in that city and the consequent difficulty of effecting insurance after this event, was the prime cause which led to the organization of the "Glen Cove Mutual Insurance Company." William M. Weeks, a prominent merchant of Glen Cove, having received notice of the failure of the company in which he was then insured, conceived the idea of engaging the attention of property holders of Queens county on the subject of mutual insurance. A meeting of the prominent citizens of Glen Cove and vicinity was called at his suggestion, and during the year 1836 the subject was frequently considered in public meetings convened for that purpose. It was resolved to petition the Legislature to incorporate the Glen Cove Mutual Insurance Company, and an act to that effect was passed March 27th 1837, to continue in operation 20 years. On the 18th of August 1837 a meeting of the petitioners was held, the act as passed was accepted, and the following gentlemen were appointed officers: President, James C. Townsend, M.D.; secretary, Elwood Valentine; together with 21 directors. The plan devised for the prosecution of the business, and which has always been adhered to, is based on a strictly mutual and cooperative system. Each member is credited with all payments of premiums and with interest on yearly balances, and is charged with his or her proportion of losses and contingent expenses. Any surplus remaining is the sole property of such member. The company now insures over $7,000,000 worth of property- being an annual gain of about $170,000- which testifies to the soundness of its principles and the care in its management. The charter has been twice renewed and the company still enjoys the highest confidence of its numerous patrons and friends. Of the original incorporators only two remain- James C. Townsend and William M. Weeks. The former is yet and always has been president of the company, and the latter, who was the originator of the enterprise, is now acting as assistant secretary. The present officers are: James C. Townsend, M.D., president; Daniel V. Weeks, secretary; William M. Weeks, assistant secretary; George S. Downing, treasurer.THE GLEN COVE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
JAMES THORNE’S LUMBER AND COAL YARDS.
PEMBROKE LODGE, No. 73, I.O.O.F.
This lodge was instituted July 23d 1846, the charter having been granted, July 14th 1846, to William M. Weeks, James W. Merritt, Edwin A. Wilson, John F. Golden and Stephen B. Smith. At the institution of the lodge the following officers were duly elected and installed: N.G., William M. Weeks; V.G, James W. Merritt; secretary, John F. Golden; treasurer, Stephen B. Smith. The following are the past grands of the lodge at present in good and regular standing: James W. Merritt, Isaac V. Baldwin, Thomas J. Davis, James C. Miller, David S. Clows, A.V. Hicks, George W. Hatfield, Robert Jeffries, Samuel Thorne, James Taylor, E.T.L. Youde, George Washington, G.W. Cox, Charles G. Miller, N.R. Stetson, C.B. Gruman, John B. Kirby, Thomas Lockard, George W. Robbins, Isaac Downing, E.P. Titus, C.K. Boardman, Alex. McDougal, William M. Peck, Edward Eastment and A.M. Davis. The present officers are: Willis M. Corwin, N.G; John P. Tappan, V.G.; William M. Peck, secretary; Robert Jeffries, treasurer; James M. Wansor, permanent secretary; N.R. Stetson, C.B. Gruman William M. Peck, trustees. The lodge meets every Saturday evening in Baldwin’s block. Pembroke has admitted 392 members. Among the first initiated were : Thomas J. Davis, Edgar Wright, William Valentine, M.D., Robert F. Ludlam, Elbert S. Hendrickson, Elisha Germain, George Germain and George Wilcoxson. At present the lodge has a membership of 119. Each full member, when disabled by sickness or other cause from pursuing his "usual occupation," receives a weekly benefit of $3 besides attendance. The lodge is in an excellent financial condition, being managed by sagacious business men.METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, GLEN COVE.
The precise date of the introduction of Methodism into Mosquito (now Glen) Cove is unknown. Several circumstances point to 1785 as the year of the formation of the first Methodist society. The first class leader was Jesse Coles. At that period religious meetings were held alternately at the houses of Jesse Coles and the senior Latting Carpenter. The former place afterward became the residence of Dr. Garvey, near Sheep End Point; the latter is still standing, included within the limits of what is now known as Sea Cliff. The public services were continued in private residence until 1827, when they were removed to the new school- house, now a part of the union school building. The Rev. David Buck preached the first or dedicatory sermon. About this time a union Sunday- school was organized, and the sessions were held in the school building. James S. Carpenter, John E. Platt, and other Methodists took part in conducting the school. From this sprang the present Methodist Episcopal Sunday- school of Glen Cove. The year 1844 marks a new epoch in the history of this church. On the 60 of February a meeting was held at the house of J.B. Kirby (now living and an officer in the church), when definite action was taken in reference to the erection of a suitable house of worship. James S. Carpenter, Latting Carpenter, J.B. Kirby, Amerman Wright and Carman Wilson were elected trustees. In March following land was secured on School street, virtually the generous gift of Jacob Titus. During that year a building 30 by 40 feet was erected and dedicated. At the time of the dedication a sufficient amount of money was secured to free the building from all indebtedness. The union Sunday- school, which had been continued from 1827, was in March 1846 removed from the school- house to the basement of the church, and it continued a union school until 1851. The increase in the society and congregation demanding more ample accommodation, in 1861, during the pastorate of Rev. F.C. Hill, the church was rebuilt and enlarged, with the addition of a steeple. The reopening sermon was preached by Rev. Cyrus D. (now Bishop) Foss. At this time a reed organ took the place of the tuning fork. J.B. Kirby acted as leader of the choir for over thirty years without pecuniary compensation. In 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. C.T. Mallory, a beautiful and convenient parsonage was erected in an eligible location, in the north part of the village, at an expense of $4,000. The present membership of the church is about 140. The Sunday-school numbers 150, teachers and scholars. The present pastor is the Rev. J.L. Gilder.FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GLEN COVE.
This church was organized by the presbytery of Nassau, synod of Long Island, June 8th 1869, being then composed of 15 members. From April 11th to Tune 8th of the same year the services were conducted by the Rev. J.H. Hopkins, of Ravenswood, and by clergymen appointed by the presbytery until December 1st 1869. At that date the church engaged Rev. John H. Roberts, a returned missionary from China, to supply the pulpit. From September 1st 1870 the Rev. T.S. Bradner, of Hudson Presbytery, supplied the pulpit until October 27th 1871, when he was elected pastor; and he has remained to the present date, the only pastor the church has had. Moving his family to Glen Cove in April he was duly in-stalled pastor June 18th 1872. From the organization of the church it worshiped in Continental Hall, owned and for two years granted free of rent by Wright Duryea; Having secured a beautiful and commanding lot of one and a half acres in a grove near the hall, in the fall of 1875 the constituted authorities began a church, building. January 20th 1876 the present neat and beautiful building, capable of seating 250 people, with furnace, gas, sofa pews of black walnut and green rep, and stained glass windows, was dedicated. Since the organization with 15 members 70 members have been received into its communion. The Sabbath-school numbers about 100 regular attendants; William Robinson is the superintendent.PROMINENT CITIZENS OF GLEN COVE.
JAMES S. CARPENTER.
DR. ALT- MULLER.
WILLIAM MUDGE.
WILLIAM M. WEEKS.
William M. Weeks was born November 6th 1803, at Red Spring, near Glen Cove, L.I. He was reared on the farm of his ancestors, where he remained, aiding in the duties of the farm, until he arrived at the age of 21 years. He then left the farm and purchased a small place, called Cape Breton, lying about a mile south of his former home. The access to the place was through a thicket of trees and bushes. Here he commenced his business career by establishing a small grocery in a part of the old house standing on the place, keeping "bachelor’s hall" and devoting his spare time to grading and improving his place. After five or six years he removed to Mosquito Cove, now Glen Cove, leased a small store and commenced trade, living and sleeping in his store in single life for a few years. Here he gradually increased his business, and, taking a lively interest in local enterprise, he built shops and otherwise aided mechanics, such as carriage makers, blacksmiths, tailors, and shoemakers, in starting their respective kinds of business. He also acted in the capacity of auctioneer in different parts of the country, and became well-known as well as popular in that branch of business. Soon after his coming to the village and commencing business the movement for starting a steam-boat line between, that place and New York city was organized, and Mr. Weeks caused the wharf to be built at Cape Breton, as the point was then called. A small hotel was erected here to meet the wants of the visitors who now began to come from the city in quest of summer board. The name of the place was changed to the new and more attractive appellation Glen Cove, the old name, Mosquito Cove, having a certain suspicious sound to would- be visitors, who feared lest the name and nature of the locality might be one. After the great fire in New York in December 1836 Mr. Weeks conceived the plan of a mutual insurance company. This resulted, after many meetings and much exertion, in the establishment of the present Glen Cove Mutual Insurance Company, which began business in 1837. After Mr. Weeks’s mercantile business had sufficiently increased he took his brother Willet Weeks as partner. They continued in business together until 1852, when William M. was succeeded by his son, Jacob M. Weeks. In January 1848 Mr. Weeks became a partner of A.J. Bleecker in the auction and commission business in New York city. In 1855, at the solicitation of Wright Duryea, he became the financial support of the then new starch manufacturing company at Glen Cove. Mr. Weeks still resides at Glen Cove, and enjoys the esteem and respect of his townsmen. Although seventy- eight years of age he remains at his desk in the insurance company’s office. He has been a director of this company since its organization, and was elected a number of years since, by unanimous vote, to the position of assistant secretary, a position which he now holds. History enrolls William M. Weeks as one of Glen Cove’s most useful citizens.SEA CLIFF.
The "Sea Cliff Grove and Metropolitan Camp-ground Association of New York and Brooklyn" was first organized and became a body corporate, under the laws of the State of New York, October 12th 1871. During the ensuing session of the state Legislature a special charter was obtained (bearing date April 24th 1872) confirming and extending its rights, privileges and franchises as a corporation. The object for which the corporation was formed was declared to be "the erection of buildings for meetings for religious purposes, and for the accommodation of those who shall attend them; the acquiring of the necessary ground and land therefor, and the erection thereon of suitable buildings, cottages, and improvements for meetings, dwellings, boarding- houses, shelter and other purposes connected with the general objects of such society." The plan was to provide a select, healthful and delightful seaside summer resort for Christian families, where such families could, with ample privileges of camp-meeting and other religious services, spend a few weeks during each season free from the large expense and objectionable associations incident to most of’ the fashionable summer resorts throughout the country. Costly or permanent residences were not anticipated, and provision was made only for accommodating families in the use of tents or inexpensive cottages. To this end the grounds were laid out into small lots of 40 by 60 feet, and, except a few business streets, the avenues were narrow, in most cases being scarcely more than lawn avenues. No provision was made for barns on the portion of the grounds set apart for tents and cottages. A great open tabernacle and large open dining- halls were erected, all arranged for use only during the heated season of summer. Provision for water was made, also, for a brief season, and the supply pipes were laid without protection from the frosts of winter. The expense of furnishing water was to extend only for about three months of each year. In order to protect the grounds for the occupants, and to arrange permanently for meeting the current expenses of keeping up the grounds, the lots were disposed of by restricted leases instead of deeds, and the annual rental was permanently limited to a maximum charge of only $10 per year. As a protection against business or speculative monopoly the stockholders were limited to a maximum of twenty shares each (in a total of 1,500 shares), and the early lot purchasers to the selection of only two lots each. With these objects, plans and restrictions the Sea Cliff enterprise was inaugurated and conducted during its early stages. Large sums of money, received from stock and lots, were spent in building docks and roads, providing a suitable water supply, erecting commodious buildings and furnishing convenient transportation for residents and visitors. The lands of the association embrace a total purchase of 240 acres. The original cost of the land, together with the association buildings and furniture, the tents, docks and piers, the water-works, the cost of laying out and mapping the grounds, building of streets and avenues, aggregated the sum of $270,000. Add to this the sum since expended in repairs, interest, taxes and improvements, and the total is several hundred thousand dollars greater. The association purchase embraces about a mile of water front. The proximity of Sea Cliff to New York (twenty miles in a straight line from the City Hall, and only about twenty- five by the boat or cars) and its beauty and healthfulness of location have led to a marked change in the plan of temporary residences. Instead of the tent and cheap summer cottage, to be occupied only for a few weeks, permanent homes were arranged for, and cottages and grounds have been fitted up at a cost varying from $1,000 to $20,000 each. Avenues have been widened, the water- pipes have been enlarged and laid deep, so as to be protected from the frosts’ of winter, and barns have been erected, under proper restrictions, for the convenience of those desiring to keep horses and carriages. The trustees have also arranged for selling larger plots of ground, and to give deeds instead of leases to those who prefer them. The trustees determined to turn over the municipal management to the lot owners and residents as soon as they (the trustees) were relieved from the financial obligations which they assumed in conducting the affairs of the association. At a meeting of the lot owners, held a few years ago, and largely attended, a resolution was adopted approving of this changed plan as to the management, and agreeing to accept the transfer of the corporate authority. In accordance with this plan, and as a necessary preliminary step to its earliest possible consummation, the trustees funded the debts of the association by the issue of bonds amply secured by mortgage upon all its unsold property: About fifty thousand dollars worth of these bonds was immediately taken at par.EAST NORWICH.
This small village was formerly called Norwich, by James and George Townsend, sons of John Townsend 1st. The word East was prefixed to designate the post- office. The brothers owned a tract of land here about 1680, and named the place in honor of their father’s birth place, Norwich, England. Andrew C. Hegeman (an officer in the war of 1812) is credited with having done much for the prosperity of the village. It contains a hotel; a general store, where the post- office is kept; a small grocery; a tailor’s establishment, John N. Remsen proprietor (who has been town clerk over 25 years); a wagon shop; a printing office and a church; also the residences of several active business men. It is situated about two miles south of Oyster Bay, on the turnpike leading through Flushing to New York. A few gentlemen residing at East Norwich contributed about $1,000 to purchase a hand press and necessary appurtenances, and issued on the 11th day of September 1880 the first copy of the East Norwich Enterprise, a weekly newspaper, with Halsted H. Frost as manager. The Enterpise has met with marked success.THE EAST NORWICH M.E. CHURCH.
Nearly one hundred years ago (1784) the Rev. Philip Cox, a Methodist minister belonging to the Jamaica circuit, preached in this place. Services were held at private houses. From 1784 to 1822 traveling ministers of the Jamaica circuit officiated here. In 1822 the Rev. Joshua Burch was located here, and held services at the residence of Thomas Cheshire. During the summer of 1833 a grove meeting was held at Muttontown, then called Christian Hill. This grove meeting was a memorable one; out of it grew a well organized and efficient working Methodist society in this place, and the erection of a suitable building. About forty persons were converted upon this occasion, and among them we find the name of James Vernon. The first thought of this good .man after his conversion was to devise plans for a suitable place of worship. He aroused enthusiasm among a few neighbors. They held a meeting in a barn now standing, drew up a paper stating their object, and Mr. Vernon started the list of subscribers with $40, a very large sum in those days. Attached to this paper are seventy-four names, with the amount promised. George Peters, Thomas Cheshire, Henry Cheshire, John Nostrand, Abraham Remsen, Catherine, Mary and Sally Peters Andrew C. Hegeman gave $25 each; Thomas Cheshire and William Duryea, $20 each; John Van Cott $15; Jackson Vernon, George Remsen, John Jackson, John Layton, John Cheshire, Charles Cheshire, Joseph White, C. & J. Stores, Samuel Mott, Gideon Wright and Townsend W. Burtis, $10 each; and others from five dollars down to one as they were able. The members of the Society of Friends also contributed liberally. The church was built in 1834, and it has been of great use and benefit to the entire neighborhood. It is 31 by 37 feet, located just south of the village, and is worth with the ground attached, about $2,500. The site was a gift from James Vernon. The parsonage, situated a short distance north of the village, is a two- story structure, built in 1866 or 1867, and, with the plot of ground, worth perhaps $1,500. The Sabbath-school was started during the year 1834, and George Remsen, father of John N. Remsen, had much to do with its organization. Joseph Latting was its first superintendent. Rev. George Hollis (now living) is credited with starting this school. At present there are 75 scholars and 10 teachers and officers. Joseph C. Thomas was stationed here as preacher in 1875 and 1876, and under his ministry forty new members were added to the church. A younger class of men now controls its management, and its future usefulness is well assured.GEORGE S. DOWNING.
(BY H.H. FROST, OF THE "EAST NORWICH ENTERPRISE.")
George S. Downing was born in the village of East Norwich, Queens county, N.Y., on the 30th of March 1815. His father, Richard Downing, resided in his early life in Littleworth, now Sea Cliff, L.I., with his father, George Downing, who was the grandfather of George S., and also of William H. Downing, now of Greenvale, and of Benjamin W. Downing, of Flushing, who has been district attorney of Queens county during the last sixteen years. The facilities afforded by the district schools half a century ago for obtaining an education were limited, and Mr. Downing’s opportunities in this respect were not extensive. The lack of early advantages, however, in this particular has not impaired his usefulness as a public servant, nor detracted from his standing as a citizen. Early in life evincing an interest in politics, he was in 1844 chosen constable and collector of taxes of his native town, and held the position four years. At the expiration of his term he was elected town clerk, and he held that office five years. When Robert S. Seabury took the office of sheriff of the county, January 1st 1850, Mr. Downing was made under sheriff, which position he held until January ist 1853, when he succeeded Mr. Seabury as sheriff. At the expiration of his official term, in January 1856, he accepted the position of under sheriff, under his successor, Bernardus Hendrickson, and this office he retained until the close of the term of Sheriff. Hendrickson, in 1859, when he returned to his native village, locating upon the homestead purchased of the estate of Townsend U. Franklin. The next year, 1860, he was chosen supervisor of the town, and for seven consecutive years thereafter he was re-elected, and in several instances without opposition. This period covered the four years of the great Rebellion. The varied and responsible duties that devolved upon him as the financial officer of the town during this troublous period Mr. Downing discharged in such a manner as to win the approval and elicit the indorsement of an appreciative constituency. War has been said to be the father of all things; for it is only in the strife of strong passions, and amid the sudden and pressing demands which arise in a state of war, that fine qualities, noble impulses, and superior abilities find opportunity for their action, and come to the light of day and the admiration of men. No war was ever so sustained by the persistent devotion and. zeal of the home population as was this great civil conflict. Aside from the regular and enormous expenditures of the government nearly $80,000,000 were raised and expended by the loyal citizens in providing for the soldiers, and the widows and orphans of those who died in defending the Union. While the town of Oyster Bay raised its full share of money with which to pay liberal bounties to its volunteers it did not forget to afford relief to the needy wives and children, and in some instances to the aged and infirm parents, of those who had left their homes at their country’s call. By referring to the town records it will be found that at a special town meeting held in East Norwich August 26th 1862 it was decided to raise by taxation the sum of $20,000, a part of which was to be expended in payment of bounties to volunteers, and the remainder to be appropriated to the relief of the needy wives and children of those who had gone forth, with their lives in their hands, to defend and preserve their government. At the regular town meeting held April 7th 1863 the sum of $3,500 was authorized to be raised by taxation, to be used exclusively for the relief and benefit of the families of volunteers. The testimony of one of the oldest commanding officers of the war was that the two most effective ways in which our armies in the field were sustained in the long struggle were- first, by the general assurance that was felt that neither the wives, children, parents, nor others dependent on those in the field would suffer for the necessaries of life while their supporters were in the service of their country; second, that the sick and wounded would not lack for any of those things which, though not provided by army regulations, might conduce to comfort, expedite recovery, save the lives and sustain the morale of the soldiers. On the 16th of July 1864 a special town meeting was held, when it was voted to raise $60,000 for the purpose of supplying the town’s quota of men upon an anticipated call by the government. At another special town meeting, held January 17th 1865, the sum of.$150,000 was voted, to be expended in furnishing men to fill the quota of the town under a then recent call of the president. During the war the town incurred an indebtedness of $220,000, a debt that in amount surpassed anything ever dreamed of by that generation until the Rebellion, with its fearful prophecy of the dissolution of the Union, was evidencing unthought of vitality and strength. It is simply Mr. Downing’s due to have herein recorded the fact that, previous to any action of the town authorizing the raising of money by taxation, to be paid to volunteers as bounty or for the relief of their families, he had, aided by a few patriotic citizens, advanced thousands of dollars for that purpose, having no security for its return by the town. It is perhaps needless to add that the town honored this patriotic act of its citizens at its first meeting. The town was particularly fortunate at that time in having for its chief officer a gentleman of acknowledged executive ability, of unquestioned integrity and of indomitable energy and courage; one who possessed to a marked degree the fullest confidence of the citizens of the town, wholly irrespective of party affiliations. He was enabled, with the co- operation of prominent men of both political parties, to carry forward to a successful issue the raising of enormous sums of money, with which they promptly forwarded to the seat of war the town’s full quota of men, and very liberally provided for the families of volunteers. The disbursement of all the monies raised by the town to defray the expenses of the war was placed in Mr. Downing’s hands as supervisor, with discretionary power to use and apply it as he deemed most judicious. There were 769 men furnished the government by the town, of whom 54 were substitutes procured by and for citizens who had been or were liable to be drafted. In August 1862 a large number of young men from the town volunteered and joined the government forces at Washington. Among these patriotic young men from the village of East Norwich were James Vernon and Daniel L. Downing, the last named being the son of the subject of this biography. At the battle of Brandy Station the valiant and courageous young soldier Vernon was killed, and about ten days later (June 17th 1863) the fearless hero young Downing lost his life at the battle of Aldie, Va. The loss of his son was a severe trial to the father, and the sad fate of these two estimable boys was deplored by all who knew them. The loss of a battle, the disastrous repulse of the army, in no one case cast so dark a gloom over the village or created so profound and lasting a sorrow as did the sudden death of these two promising young men. In Virginia soil lies buried the one, Vernon, his resting place unknown; and the other is entombed at Brookville, in this town. Thus sleep these two sons- the best their fathers had to give, the costliest sacrifice they could offer on the altar of their country. Their last battle is fought, their last march ended, their last bivouac is made. They sleep well, in that slumber from which no bugle call or sound of any kind can awaken them. They fell bravely. Their names shall be forever linked with the great battle fields. The cause for which they shouldered arms and for which they lost their lives has been carried, by the united struggles and sacrifices of all, to a triumphant issue and a glorious peace. In January 1865 Mr. Downing was presented with an elegant and costly gold watch and chain by his townsmen, as a testimonial of their high regard and esteem for his personal character, and as an imperfect recognition of his valuable and efficient aid during the alarming and trying period of a protracted and terrible war. The watch bears the following inscription: "GEORGE S. DOWNING. From his Fellow Townsmen, in appreciation of his services as Supervisor of the town of Oyster Bay, Queens County. January 1st 1865." Doctor James C. Townsend, of Glen Cove, made the presentation address, in forcible language eloquently portraying the many excellencies and the substantial worth of Mr. Downing’s character, closing his masterly effort with the quotation "an honest man’s the noblest work of God." After leaving the office of supervisor Mr. Downing occupied his time in cultivating his farm and managing the numerous estates of which he is custodian. In 1875, however, he was again elected supervisor, and held the office until 1881, when he peremptorily declined to accept the nomination, much to the regret of the taxpayers of the town, signally irrespective of party. In connection with the other positions Mr. Downing has filled may be mentioned that of director of the Glen Cove Mutual Insurance Company, of which institution he was chosen treasurer, a position he now occupies. He is also a director of the Roslyn Savings Bank, and for several years has been a director of the Queens County Agricultural Society: Throughout his entire life Mr. Downing has been the recipient of the popular confidence, and during a long public service, nearly forty years, that confidence has been faithfully maintained. The personal character of the subject of this sketch is as stainless as his private life is unassuming. Universally esteemed by friend and foe for his unswerving integrity, he has won a reputation for straightforwardness, exactitude in all his business relations, and inflexibility of purpose, which has everywhere made him honored and universally respected. In personal opinion Mr. Downing is outspoken, never timid, but resolute and at times, perhaps, somewhat unyielding. A man of strong convictions, he is never reluctant in giving expression to his views and opinions. He is not inclined to sacrifice what he regards as right and just to the doctrine of expediency. He is a man open to reason, patient in investigation, cautious and jealous of false conclusions, ready to admit mistakes, and always open to new truths. His moral nature is constitutionally pure and noble. He utterly abhors duplicity, and makes truth the first article of his moral code. Nothing can bend him a hair’s breadth from the line of rectitude. While his charity for the unintentional errors of others is broad and liberal his detestation of premeditated wrong and injustice is signally pronounced. He is wholly unostentatious, disliking show, form, and all vain and idle pageantry. Even now, having attained an affluent position, he retains the simplicity of habits and manners that has been peculiar to his life. While he is and always has been strictly temperate in all his habits, he adopts no ultra theories, but lets his moderation be known of all men. Before his children had reached manhood’s estate his government was absolute as regarding his family, as a father’s government ought to be, and was prompted by the highest possible disinterested regard for their future well- being. An intelligent affection for those who are connected with us is best displayed by bringing our own knowledge and experience to bear upon disputed points, as against conclusions reached by those who, from their limited years and experience, are but superficial observers. He enforced perfect respect and obedience from his children, and even the deference of the younger to those who were more matured, and he is now honored and looked up to by them as a father who made no mistake in their earlier training. He governed by the power right actions give, and by the evident, although perhaps unexpressed, affection he had for them. Every man of natural executive talent and possessed of a decided character has a ruling passion. From early life Mr. Downing has been ruled and moved by a passion for usefulness. It has engrossed his life, and will never cease. When once he had erected and consecrated the idol of his devotion there was not a thought, not a feeling, that went forth upon the broad track of the future, which failed to come back again to tell the issue of its errand. In the orthodox sense of the term he is not a professor of religion, but he has the profoundest veneration for the divine will and character. He spends his life in doing good. He misses no chance to serve the wronged, the suffering, the weak or unfortunate. He is especially the widow’s and the orphan’s friend. He loves wholly and truly the things of God, if by these are meant peace, truth, justice, purity, and his fellow man. In wise words, in ingenious suggestions, in serious remonstrances, in incentives to encouragement, he makes his life a precious possession and power in his own community. The crown which his patient, discreet, and faithful service to his neighbors and the public has placed upon his head can never be dethroned.BROOKVILLE.
Brookville, called by the Indians Susco’s Wigwam and by the Dutch Wolver Hollow, is a hamlet on Shoo Brook, above Beaver Swamp. It was founded soon after 1650, by the Dutch, for the purpose of affording protection to their eastern border. A Dutch settlement has sprung up here, and from itTHE REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH OF OYSTER BAY.
The house of worship is in Brookville. The church took its name, as was not unusual many years ago, from the township rather than from the immediate locality in which it was situated. On the 9th of September 1732 the people of Wolver Hollow, Cedar Swamp (now Greenvale), Eastwood (now Syosset) and Matinecock (now Locust Valley) and vicinities met and decided to have a church of their own. Some were members of the Reformed Dutch church of Jamaica, more attended there, and most of them were of Dutch parentage and spoke the Dutch language; so the new church was Dutch Reformed. For many years the services were conducted in that language. At the meeting of the 9th of September 1732 a subscription was started and it was determined to build a house of worship at once. On the 25th of the same month an acre of ground for a building site was bought of Edmund Wright for £6, New York money. The church building was probably completed as early as April 1734,for on the 25th day of that month the people met in it and elected Peter Luyster and Cornelius Hoagland church masters (kerche meesters), to have charge of the sittings, and to take a general oversight of the house of worship; The first structure was an eight- sided building, with pointed roof, surmounted by a weather vane. The good old Dutch people were accustomed to look toward the church to see which way the wind blew, in more than one sense. When it did not blow from the right quarter, especially inside, they were inclined to inquire the reason. The men and women occupied different parts of the church, the former sitting on benches (bancken) or pews near the pulpit (though there was a row of benches along the walls), while the latter were seated farther away, each by herself on a straight backed chair. The first house of worship stood for nearly one hundred years. It was taken down in 1832, and the present one was raised August 29th of the same year, and dedicated January 20th 1833. This was remodeled in 1875. There is in the records no list of members at the organization, but there is a record of those who subscribed for building the first church. In this list there are names spelled : Amerman, Brinkerhoff, Bennet, Durland, Haff, Hegeman, Hoogland, Hardenberg, Janse (Jansen), Koole (Cole), Luister, Loyse, Monfoort, Noorstrant, Onderdonck, Polhemus, Remsen, Reyde (Ryder), Schenck, Symense (Simonson), Snedecer, Van Nortstrant, Voorhis, Vanvoris, Van Wyck and Woertman. In 1836 a house near the church, with several acres of ground and necessary buildings, was bought for a parsonage. This has at different times been repaired, and in 1880 was rebuilt, remodeled and enlarged, making it a tasty and comfortable parsonage. The Sabbath-school connected with the church was begun about 1834, with James Madison Montfort as superintendent. No records of the school except of late years remain. During the past few years J.B. Luyster, W. McKay, William Chapman and H.A. Stoutenberg (the present incumbent) have superintended the Sabbath- school. Its present membership is 150; its library contains over 300 volumes. For two- thirds of the first century of its existence the church was associated with the Reformed churches of Newtown, Jamaica and Success, now North Hempstead (at Manhasset), and under the same pastoral care; and from 1802 until 1834 was associated with the church at Manhasset alone. For nine years after its organization the church of Oyster Bay, with its associates, waited in vain for a pastor from Holland; and in 1741 settled Johannes H. Goetschius, who left in 1748. From 1754 to 1760 Thomas Romeyn was pastor. He was followed after an interval of years, in 1766, by Hermanes Van Boelen, who remained six years. In 1775 Solomon Froeugh, noted in later years for his secession from the Reformed Dutch church, became pastor. His stay was short. He was a noted Whig and was forced to leave Long Island to escape from the British, after a pastorate of fifteen months. After him came Rymer Van Nest, who remained as pastor from 1785 to 1797. In 1794 Z.H. Kuypers (Cooper) became a collegiate minister, and remained in charge as pastor until 1824. With Mr. Kuypers in 1813 D.S. Bogert became colleague, and he left in 1826. Henry Hermanes followed, but staid less than a year. He was succeeded in 1827 by James Otterson, who gave up his charge in 1834. After Mr. Otterson left, this church separated from that of North Hempstead, and called R.A. Quinn in 1835. In 1841 he left and Thomas B. Gregory became pastor, remaining until 1844. He was followed the same year by P.D. Oakey, who removed at the beginning of 1847. From the middle of that year Rev. N.E. Smith was pastor until February 1853; then J.L. McNair twenty months; I.A. De Baun three years from 1855; J.C. Lowe from 1859 until 1863; J. Searle, 1863-66; J.H. Smock, 1866-71; M. Swick, exactly six years. In 1877 J.A. Davis, the present pastor, assumed charge. The church reports a membership of 131, and about 130 families under the care of its pastor. While its increase has not been great, considering its years of life, it is well to remember that as many as twelve churches have been formed within what were once its bounds.JOHN B. LUYSTER.
GENEALOGY OF JOHN B. LUYSTER.
Great- great- grandfather,
Peter Luyster, was born November 9th
1696, and died April 18th 1772.
76 years of age.
Sarah Monfort was born February 28th 1696,
and died February 7th 1757,
61 years of age.
Peter Luyster and Sarah Monfort were married May
11th 1718. DESCENT OF FATHER:
Great- grandfather,John Luyster, son of Peter and Sarah Luyster, was born January 24th 1721 and died June 2nd 1803, 82 years of age. Elizabeth Van Voorhis was born ____ and died March 17th 1792. John Luyster and Elizabeth Van Voorhis were married June 12th 1747.
Grandfather,Peter Luyster, son of John and Elizabeth Luyster, was born May 26th 1748, and died August 11th 1834, 86 years of age. Gertrude Onderdonk was born August 23d 1756, and died May 27th 1848, 91 years of age. Peter Luyster and Gertrude Onderdonk were married October 19th 1781.
Father,Adrian Luyster, son of Peter and Gertrude Luyster, was born April 29th 1790, and died December 16th 1861, 71 years of age. Adrian Luyster and Phebe Luyster were married April 15th 1812. DESCENT OF MOTHER:
Great- grandfather,Peter Luyster, son of Peter and Sarah Luyster, was born September 30th 1722, and died November 27th 1801, 79 years of age. Phebe Bennet was born October 27th 1736, and died November 23d 1822, 86 years of age. Peter Luyster and. Phebe Bennet were married August 3d 1753.
Grandfather, James Luyster, son of Peter and Phebe Luyster, was born October 29th 1760, and died March 24th 1847, 86 years of age. Sarah Bennet was born June 14th 1758, and died April 16th 1837, 79 years of age. James Luyster and Sarah Bennet were married June 24th 1792. Mother,Phebe Luyster, daughter of James and Sarah Luyster, was born February 12th 1794, and died November 6th 1880, 86 years of age. John B. Luyster, son of Adrian and Phebe Luyster, was born October 22nd 1813. Ann Simonson, daughter of Mouris and Catharine Simonson, was born February 25th 1811. John B. Luyster and Ann Simonson were married April 20th 1836.
THE HEGEMAN FAMILY.
BAYVILLE.
Bayville, formerly called Oak Neck, contains 90 dwellings and 325 inhabitants. The peninsula Oak Neck derived its name from its many large oaks. Only one remains, which stands on an eminence styled Mt. Pleasant. At Francis Cove, on the east side of the neck, the Indians had a camping place, which is marked by a pile of clam and oyster shells. There was a rock with a deep hole in it, in which they pounded their corn. Arrow heads and stone mortars and pestles are found. William R. Bell presented the writer with a stone axe which was plowed up near his house. In 1745 a road was surveyed commencing at Beaver Swamp and running through Bayville to Mingo Springs, on Center Island, where Charles Ludlam furnished the surveyors with a sumptuous dinner, which ended the survey of the road. In 1836 there were fifteen houses in the place. Oysters and clams were the chief source of income. The names of the oyster planters in 1832 were : George Campbell, Daniel Dickerson, John Ellison, Reuben Hall and Jacob Baldwin. From planting a few hundred bushels the business has increased to planting 50,000 bushels a year. A meeting called at William R. Bell’s in 1850 decided to build a school-house. Money was raised by subscription and a building erected. An application to be set off into a separate district was granted. Aaron Payne was the first teacher. One of the two main branches of business was started here in 1825, when John Bell planted half an acre of asparagus, which produced two years afterward 25 bunches a day. The number of bunches has increased to 11,000 a day and the acreage to 125. The place was provided with a Methodist Episcopal church in 1860, and a post-office in 1876. The first store was built by Lewis Dickerson and William R. Bell, the present owner. James Beatty opened a grocery store in 1866.BETHPAGE.
Bethpage is a farming settlement in the south part of the town. The original Bethpage tract .was purchase from the Indians August 18th 1695, and settled upon by Thomas Powell, an active Friend from Huntington. He made another purchase in 1699, and sold a third of his interest the following year to Thomas Whitson, the second settler. This tract was large, embracing most of the central portion of the southern part of the town. The tract was surveyed by Thomas Willis. A Friends’ meeting every five weeks, on First- day, was commenced here as early as 1698. In 1742 a meeting house was commenced. In the year 1816 $1,250 was raised for a new meeting- house; a surplus of $175 was contributed toward building horse sheds at Westbury The meeting is described as irregularly attended in 1826 and the society as well as the building seems to be going into decay. The Stewart estate has an extensive brick yard here, with H.F. Barton as superintendent.JERICHO.
The Indian name of this village was Lusum. It has also gone by the name of Springfield or "the Farms." It is pleasantly situated near the center of the town, upon the Jericho turnpike, 27 miles from New York. It was a part of the purchase made by Robert Williams in 1650, and was settled by a number of substantial Quaker families, the descendants of whom remain here, including a branch of the Underhills, several families of Willetses, the Seamans and others. The village is supplied with abundance of pure water from springs which never fail, issuing from the foot of a neighboring hill. There are now in the village two stores, the principal one kept by S.J. Seamans, a descendant of one of the oldest families and first settlers here. It is a wholesale and retail store of drygoods, groceries, hardware, etc. There are here also blacksmith and wagon shops and a large cider- mill in which is manufactured only the pure, refined article, which is shipped to various points. The proprietors are Ketchum & Jagger. The school facilities are good, there being a large, substantial school building.THE FRIENDS’ SOCIETY.
Here is the Hicksite Friends’ meeting- house. The origin of this society runs into the hidden past, before minutes were kept. In 1676 the quarterly meeting desired Friends of " the Farms" to observe their week- day meetings with diligence as formerly ordered. For over a century there was no public meeting-house, but Friends met at private houses. . Mary, widow of Thomas and mother of Richard Willets ("a mother in Israel"), as early as 1678 had opened her house for meetings and the entertainment of traveling Friends. She died at Jericho in 1713, aged 85 years, a worthy minister of the Church of Christ. In 1683 it was agreed that Friends’ papers be read at "the Farms" in the twelfth month every year "that our children may come to understand the order of Friends in their marriage and other relations." In 1690 a First- day meeting was held at Jericho every five weeks but the week- day meetings were kept, alternately at Westbury and Jericho, Friends of both meetings joining in one. In 1713 the monthly meeting kept at Jericho was directed in future to be at Westbury. In 1758 William Reckitt had a meeting of several hundred on a First- day. In 1786 it was proposed to divide Westbury preparative meeting and settle one at Jericho, in the house of the two widows Seaman. In 1787 it was proposed to build a meeting- house, which was done. This is the building now standing and used as a Hicksite Friends’ meeting- house. The value of the buildings, etc., is thought to be about $3,000. There are two branches of this society, one at Jerusalem and one at Bethpage. The celebrated Elias Hicks occasionally officiated here for many years. The graveyard attached to the church has been in use since 1790. It is under the sole care of the Friends, but others than members of that society are permitted to use it. The first interments are supposed to have been those of John Willets and a son of Elias Hicks.JERICHO REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH.
In 1870 Rev. J.H. Smock, pastor of the Reformed church at Brookville, began preaching on Sabbath afternoons in the public school- house at Jericho. The large audiences indicated that there would soon be a call here for a church. Shortly, however, the school- room was closed to religious services. A chapel was at once proposed, and, Lewis Ficken giving the ground, a subscription was started and the chapel begun. Aid was given by the Church Building Fund of the Reformed Church, and in April 1871 the chapel was dedicated. Rev. M. Swick, who succeeded Mr. Smock at Brookville, also preached in. the Jericho chapel until 1875, when the pulpit was supplied by theological students from the seminary at New Brunswick, N.J. In 1876 a request was made to the North Classis of Long Island for an organization. A committee was appointed, which, strange to say, organized a church here with only six members, and only one man among them. Rev. H. De Vries, a recent graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, was called in September 1876, and installed near the close of the same year. He left the year following; but sometime before his leaving both of the elders had removed- the one dismissed, the other not, as he really had never been a member at all. The North Classis of Long Island met, decided that this organization had not been legally made, and attached the members to the Oyster Bay church. At the close of 1877 Rev. J.A Davis became pastor of the Brookville church, and he supplied the pulpit at Jericho each Sabbath. After two years increasing duties and lack of strength compelled him to relinquish the service at Jericho. In 1880 Rev. E. Schultze assumed charge on trial, but left at the end of three months, and for the three months ending that year Mr. Davis again supplied .the pulpit. Early in 1881 Rev. James B. Wilson became pastor in charge, under the care of the Domestic Mission Board of the Reformed Church, in the hope that the enterprise would soon be strong enough to be separated from the church at Brookville. The Sabbath-school connected with this enterprise was begun in 1870, with Mr. B. Imlay as superintendent.DANIEL UNDERHILL.
MANNETTO HILL,
a small settlement north of Bethpage, received its name from an Indian tradition concerning a spring of water here. The spring, found during a severe drought, was considered a "godsend," and the hill was named after their god Mannet. There is a small Methodist Episcopal church here, built in 1857.FARMINGDALE.
Farmingdale (formerly called Hardscrabble) is situated both on the main line of the Long Island Railroad and on the Stewart Central extension, about thirty-two miles from New York. The place is a part of the Bethpage tract. It contains a hotel, several stores, a bakery, a union free school, three churches and Bernard Levino’s picture frame and moulding manufactory. This business has been established a year, and is the first factory started in the place. His business is large, as he has little competition. Mr. Levino has here 100 building lots, which he offers gratis to those who will build there on. The street is 60 feet wide and set with shade trees. The Free Methodist church here is of recent origin. The Methodist Episcopal church built a small edifice here in 1843, and it is at present an active, energetic society. A more complete account of this church would have been given had not a gentleman failed to furnish a promised history of it.ST. THOMAS’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The corner stone of this neat and churchly edifice was laid July 19th 1877 by the Rev. J.A. Paddock, D.D., then rector of St. Peter’s Church, Brooklyn, now bishop of Washington Territory. Services had been previously held in a small hall for more than a year, and a congregation of about thirty families collected. The church edifice was completed in May 1878, and opened May 11th by Bishop Littlejohn. The structure is 60 feet long by 26 feet wide, with basement 8 feet high under the whole building, fitted up for social meetings, Sunday- school, etc. The church is ceiled with narrow white pine on the rafters, and has a recess chancel. The windows on the sides are of plain stained glass; the chancel window is filled with appropriate emblems. The church has a beautiful spire, with belfry, in which has been placed a bell of suitable size. The cost of the building was $2,500. This church is pronounced by experts a perfect "gem," considering its cost and size. The building was erected under the supervision of the Rev. Thomas Cook, head of the Associate Mission for Suffolk county, acting for and under the missionary committee of the diocese. He is not only the founder of the mission, but by his indefatigable zeal in raising the necessary funds has brought the work to a successful termination. The ground upon which the church stands was donated to the trustees of the diocese of Long Island by A. Noon, and the cost of the building was defrayed by subscriptions obtained by the missionary in charge. Rev. J.J.A. Morgan officiates at present.CENTER ISLAND.
Center Island, sometimes called Hog Island, was in the original deed reserved by the Indians; but was soon purchased by Cornelius Van Raynen, Govert Lockermans (Kissam) and Jacobus Bucker, who transferred it to the town of Oyster Bay in 1665. This, and Pine Island, both properly peninsulas, were among the town’s most valuable property. Part of it was planted occasionally, to prevent the use of it as common pasture, and there are several engagements with different persons to live there and take care of the crops. But its principal value was in its grazing and meadow lands. For grazing purposes the island was divided into twenty- two equal shares. Each of these shares entitled the owner to pasturage for six cows; or he might put in the place of each cow either two swine or four sheep, or two yearling cattle and one horse in the place of two cows. Goats were free for each owner to keep as many as he pleased.THE LUDLAM FAMILY.
Joseph Ludlam, the first of the name who settled on Center Island, purchased the house of John Pratt, which is now standing and constitutes a part of the residence of Henry Ludlam. Joseph at his death, in 1698, left two sons, Joseph 2nd and Charles. The eldest, according to British law, inherited the landed property; but, not thinking it just to his brother, Charles, he divided with him; Joseph retained the south part of the island, which is at present owned by the Smith family, and gave to his brother the north part, which is mostly owned by his descendants. The family is of English origin. The first Joseph was buried beside a large rock near the old homestead. Most of the other deceased members of the family are buried in the Ludlam burying ground on Center Island. Joseph Ludlam 2nd died in 1730. His descendants are represented by James Ludlam, S.Y. Ludlam, and Elbert Ludlam of Oyster Bay. Charles Ludlam 1st was born on Center Island, in 1691, and died in 1769. His wife was Elizabeth Feakes. Their issue were born as follows: In 1717, Charles 2nd, progenitor of the families of Robert Ludlam and William Ludlam; in 1720, Sylvanus, who died in Nova Scotia; in 1722, Henry Ludlam, in 1725, Daniel, in 1728, Cleamants, in 1730, Elizabeth, in 1733, Susannah.
SMITH’S BRICK YARD.
SYOSSET.
Syosset is a village of 250 inhabitants. It has a station on the Long Island Railroad, sixty or seventy residences, a post- office, a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, a tavern, two groceries, a school- house and a free church edifice, standing on a one- acre lot, donated by S.W. Cheshire. This church was built in 1860, under the direction of five inhabitants of the place, who became trustees. It cost about $1,300. The free church building is open to all denominations of Christians, and various clergymen have officiated from time to time. A Sunday- school of 50 or 60 scholars is maintained, with a corps of efficient teachers of both sexes. John Cook is the superintendent. Rev. R.G. Hutton, rector of Christ Church, Oyster Bay, obtained a parish organization, according to statute, under the title of St. George’s Church of Syosset. This Episcopal congregation has not yet attained sufficient strength to support a minister, and depends upon lay reading, with services by clergymen on special occasions.OLIVER D. BURTIS.
HICKSVILLE.
This village takes its name from Elias Hicks, who was well known as the founder of the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. In 1836 he and others bought a large tract of land and laid it out in streets and building lots. In 1842 the Long Island Railroad was extended to the village. In that year Elias Hicks and others put up some fifteen buildings, and the railroad company built an engine house and extensive sheds for the storage of wood. These sheds some time afterward were burned, with other buildings, leaving nothing standing but the hotel. In 1849 Frederick Heyne, a native of Germany, bought over a thousand acres of land here and began a settlement. He was quickly followed by others, and their thrift and energy once more commenced to build up the village. Some of these first settlers were Jacob Sevin, Christopher Yeagle, E.H. de Languillette, and John F. Heitz. Land was broken up, houses were erected, trees planted, etc. John F. Heitz took particular interest in the laying- out of wide and regular streets and the planting of trees and laying of walks along both sides. In 1852 a public school- house was built on land donated by Mr. Heitz; the school still flourishes. From the healthfulness of the village and the picturesque scenery about it soon began to attract a large number of settlers, of different nationalities but principally Germans. The village is laid out on what may be called a rolling prairie, surrounded by hills on the north and east. Extensive woods lie to the south. Hicksville is now a thriving village. There are eight firms engaged in gold and silver beating, giving employment to 60 or 70 persons. There are numerous stores, some of them large. Julius Augustin does a very extensive business in dry-goods, groceries, coal, wood and fertilizers. Other business men are E.H. de Languillette, William Fraytag, wholesale dealer in liquors, etc., Henry Kahn, William Becker, brewer, and Edgar Davis, soda water manufacturer. There is also a sash and door manufactory. There is here a farmers’ and mechanics’ club, with its own hall and grounds. The agricultural association of the town of Oyster Bay holds its meetings in this village in its own hall. A Lutheran church and a Methodist union church stand on land donated by John F. Heitz, a Baptist church on land donated by Joseph Wallace, and a Roman Catholic church on land donated by Mr. Parker. The Hicksville people had to go to Jericho for mail until 1855, when a post- office was established, and David Sammis appointed postmaster. He held the office till 1857, and E.H. de Languillette from 1857 to 1861. David Sammis was then appointed postmaster, but soon afterward his house with the post- office papers was destroyed by fire. In 1862 the office was under the charge of John H. Bonnihr; and it was kept at F. Herzog’s store for two years. It was then transferred to the store of E.H. de Languillette, who was postmaster till 1869, since which year Ernest Liebke has held the office. The hotel is a very extensive one, owned by F. Herzog and kept by Charles Gottert, under the name of the American House. Every convenience may here be found for man and beast. Hicksville is 24 miles from the city of New York, 734 miles from Long Island Sound and 10 miles from the Atlantic Ocean; it is 126 feet above sea level.FREDERICK HERZOG.
JOHN F. HEITZ.
John F. Heitz, whose portrait appears in connection with this sketch, was born February 21st 1818, at Neuenkirchen bey Melle, near Osnabrueck, Germany, and is the son of John Frederick Nicholas Heitz. His mother’s name was Anna Maria Elsa Hanhardt. The father, who died when the son was but six years of age, desired him to become a minister. Accordingly he studied diligently for this object, acquiring more than a common education. Changing his purpose, he left his studies at the age of 16 or 17 and commenced an apprenticeship as a watchmaker. At this he served four years, and he afterward traveled several years in different parts of Europe to perfect his knowledge of the trade. Returning home he commenced business for himself in the manufacture of watches and clocks. He continued at this business until 1847, when he with his widowed mother and her children decided to come to America. Arriving in New York he spent a few months as a workman in order to better learn to speak the English language. Then, having some means of his own, he started the business of watchmaking again in a small way for himself. He had become proficient in his chosen work, and by his thrift and energy was soon enabled to pave the way to fortune and an honorable position among his fellow men, owning valuable real estate both in New York and Brooklyn. In the year 1850 he invested a portion of his surplus funds in the village of Hicksville, and in the year following erected a small dwelling and made Hicksville his home. Gradually, as his funds increased, he purchased more lands in and around the village, until at the time of his death he was the largest landholder in the place. In 1863 he retired from business in the city, intending to live a private life. He followed farming for a time, but being restless in his new life he again entered business in 1869 at Hicksville, as a dealer in dry goods and clothing, in which business he continued until his death. Mr. Heitz, being one of the first business men who came to Hicksville, was one to take a strong interest in the future development of the village. He was a great admirer of trees, and to him the village must render thanks for her wide, shaded streets. He donated the sites of the public school building, the Lutheran church and the union church. He was also the originator of the "Heitz Resting Place," a cemetery on Mannetto Hill avenue, which was incorporated in 1870. It contains two or three acres of land, with more adjoining which may be added as necessity requires; is nicely ornamented with shade trees, and is neatly laid out with walks and drives. Mr. Heitz was at one time an officer in the Lutheran church, and at the time of his death was secretary and trustee in the union church, and also vice-president of the Oyster Bay Town Agricultural Society. On the occasion of his death this society met and passed these appropriate resolutions: "WHEREAS, this society has learned with sorrow of the death of John F. Heitz, one of its originators and founders, and his death has caused a shadow to pass over our village; therefore be it "Resolved, That by his death the community has lost a valuable citizen and friend, his family an honored member and a good husband and father. "Resolved, That the deceased, though quiet and modest in his bearing; fully exemplified the highest type of manhood in his truthfulness, his integrity, his practical charity to all. He fully demonstrated the poet’s motto: ‘An honest man’s the noblest work of God.’ "Resolved, That we tender to his beloved relatives our earnest sympathy, to the society this evidence of the great loss it has sustained, and to the community this memento of one who made the world brighter by his life and precepts. "Resolved, That this preamble and these resolutions be engrafted upon the minutes of this society, and a copy thereof, signed by the president and secretary, be forwarded to the widow of our beloved member; and that these proceedings be published in the Signal." Mr. Heitz was married August 10th 1861 to Jane Sutton Norris, and at his death, August 14th 1881, left a family of three children, viz.: Olma Maria, now a pleasing young lady of 19 years; Frederick N., born November 10th 1864, and Arnold, born September 15th 1870. Two others, William Alexander Norris and Nicholas Heitz, are deceased.COLD SPRING.
Cold Spring, called also Cold Spring Harbor, to distinguish it from Cold Spring on the Hudson, is a pretty village lying at the head of Cold Spring harbor and mostly within the limits of the town of Huntington. It has a number of fine residences on the Oyster Bay side of the line. The Indian name on the west side of the creek was Wawepex, that on the east Nachaquatuck. The place has been a port of entry for many years. William and Benjamin Hawxhurst about the middle of the last century were actively engaged here in importing goods from England and elsewhere. They also owned a store and grist and fulling- mills. The present mill was built near the close of the last century. The Hewlett and Jones families have been largely engaged in fitting out whaling ships, and to some extent in the manufacture of woolens. An Episcopal church, standing a few rods west or the town line, was erected in 1836 by the aid of Trinity Church, New York. The society is now active and self-supporting. Woodbury, formerly East Woods, is an old settlement, and is now the railway station for Cold Spring, which lies about a mile north.THE JONES FAMILY.
CHARLES H. JONES.
Charles Hewlett Jones, the youngest child of John and Hannah (Hewlett) Jones, was born, on the farm where he last resided, and where he died on Monday, January 23d 1882, aged 77 years. He was of the third generation from Major Jones, the founder of the family on the island. The house in which he was born was built by his father. It is still standing, about thirty rods southeast of his late residence, in a fair state of preservation, and is now occupied by laborers on the farm. Mr. Jones took pleasure in showing his friends the old house, which awakened in him many fond and tender remembrances of the days of his childhood. He married Eliza Gracy Gardiner, daughter of Jonathan Gardiner, and granddaughter of John Gardiner of Gardiner’s Island, who removed therefrom about 1793, having purchased the whole of Eaton’s Neck from Robert Watts of New York city. The marriage took place July 12th 1838. They established their home on the farm, and reared a family of four children, viz.: John G., born June 22nd 1839; Fanny Hannah, born April 18th 1842; Phoebe Jackson, born August 20th 1845; and Mary Elizabeth, born July 5th 1854. Mr. Jones attended the district school at Cold Spring, but was early called from the school- room to hard labor on the farm. Here he spent his life. Although largely engrossed with the cares of his farm, yet by his industrious habits he found time to engage in other pursuits. During the prosperous days of whale fishing he was interested with his brothers in that business. In 1836 he commenced operating in brick, starting yards on the east side of Cold Spring Harbor. In this business as in whaling he was connected with one or more of his brothers. His next elder brother, Joshua T., was the principal manager and owner of several brick yards up the Hudson River, but Charles H., after the death of his brother, had the entire management of them. The four yards at Green Cove and Caldwell on the Hudson he rented, but of the two at Cold Spring Harbor he retained a personal supervision. He had also large amounts of property in New York and Brooklyn. He was always busy, and yet had time to give a kindly greeting to those he met, causing one to feel that he was in the presence of a man possessing a noble and generous heart. The Jones family has generally been allied to the Episcopal church, as was C.H. Jones, with all his family. The wife united with that communion after her marriage, having been brought up in the Presbyterian faith. Mr. Jones was very unfortunate in the loss by death of nearly all his family, and had left to him in his latest years’ only his youngest child, Mary Elizabeth, who lived in and ‘presided over his house, though married November 5th 1873 to Oliver Livingston Jones, M.D. Dr. Jones was born May 4th 1850, and is a son of Oliver H. Jones, a son of William H., the eldest brother of the subject of our narrative. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, receiving his degree at 21 years of age. Pressure of business in managing his estate prevents his practicing in his chosen profession. He is a grandson of the late James Duane Livingston, of Livingston Manor. Dr. and Mrs. Jones have a family of three children- Louise E., born September 18th 1875; Charles Herbert, born December 18th 1877; and Oliver Livingston jr., born April 1st 1880. Their residence, which stands on a farm of 700 acres, was erected in 1855 by Walter R. Jones, president of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, six acres having been set apart to him by the brothers and sisters for that purpose. The building was made with natural braces, the posts being trees brought from the forest with a part of their branches remaining. It is one of the largest residences on Long Island. Its builder made his home here with his brother Charles H. until his death. The walls of the rooms are hung with portraits of the Jones family. There are also preserved here many relics of their ancestors, among which is an ancient punch bowl, with these words inscribed in the bottom: "Heroick Britons, Boldly strive, Renown of Old Maintain; Your ancient Fathers When alive Oft humbled France and Spain."DAVID W. JONES.
WALTER R. JONES.
Queens county is closely connected and largely identified with the commercial interests of the State. The names of Woolsey, Sands, Lawrence, Townsend, King and other prominent merchants and bankers will occur readily to the memory of our readers. At present many of the leading citizens are actively engaged in conducting various branches of commerce, and hence are deeply interested in marine insurance. Some of the most important fire insurance companies and several of the marine underwriting organizations of New York city are managed by them, and notably the foremost institution of the kind in the country, as is generally conceded, the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company of New York. As the present chief officer of this company, John D. Jones, and his able predecessor Walter R. Jones, were Long Islanders by birth, by long descent and by early associations, and were loyal in the maturity of their powers to their home and the home of their forefathers, it seems appropriate in this connection to include a brief notice of them. In Hunt’s "Lives of Eminent American Merchants" there is a memoir of Walter Restored Jones, which will explain and excuse the brevity of this slight outline of his career and character. He was born at Cold Spring, Queens county, April 15th 1793; was a most prominent member (in an entirely new direction) of the old and well known Jones family of Queens’ county, particularly distinguished for the celebrity of four generations of its members at the bar and on the bench of the colony, city and State of New York, for the period of a century and a half. For over a quarter of a century the late president of the Atlantic was a most intelligent, active, energetic and successful man of business, chiefly in the line of marine insurance, to whose financial interests and their beneficial development he devoted his remarkable powers. At an early age he was engaged as a clerk in the United Insurance Company, one of the first institutions of the kind for undertaking marine risks. In 1829 he was elected vice-president of the Atlantic Insurance Company. This company pursued a successful career and continued business to 1842, when the old stock company was discontinued and a new one organized on the mutual plan. This had become the popular method of conducting insurance, as being the most secure and at the same time the most advantageous to the assured. The present Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company was then organized, with Mr. Jones as president. His untiring industry, acute penetration, high character for probity and honor, exact methodical habits, promptness and punctuality all combined to raise this association to the highest rank and insure its success and reputation. After thirteen years of unexampled prosperity the company sustained an immense loss in the death of its chief by apoplexy, induced and aggravated by intense labor and unflagging attention to the business interests of the company and unselfish neglect of the laws of health. He was succeeded by his nephew John D. Jones, the present incumbent, who has wisely and energetically carried out the rules of his predecessor, which had established the character of the company, and in following them advanced the institution to a higher degree of reputation and greatly increased its’ strength, influence and resources.JOHN D. JONES.
JACOB C. HEWLETT.
LAURELTON.
(BY H.H. FROST)
Laurelton is located on the west side of Cold Spring Harbor, near the sound, and is thirty miles east of New York city. The property upon which Laurelton Hall is built formerly belonged to the late Oliver H. Jones, of New York city, who was president of the New York Fire Insurance Company for thirty years. Twenty- five years ago Mr. Jones erected a spacious mansion upon the site occupied by the present mammoth structure. It was his custom to bring his family to this secluded and picturesque spot for summer recreation, remaining until late in the season, the scenery being particularly attractive and the foliage charmingly beautiful when tinged with the various hues which follow October frosts. In the distribution of the large estate of his father Dr. Oliver L. Jones became owner of this choice bit of real property. This occurred in 1871, at the time the doctor graduated. This young man possessed to a commendable degree a spirit of enterprise, which he inherited from his public spirited father, and which directed his attention to the project of establishing a summer resort upon this delightful and attractive peninsula, which subsequently was named Laurelton. In November 1872 ground was broken for the erection of the building that now adorns the locality. In June of the following year the hail was opened for the reception of guests. The edifice is 150 feet long, 50 feet wide and four stories high, with mansard roof. A fine basement and cellar are under the entire building; in the former of which are the laundry and kitchen, thoroughly equipped with the best approved of modern appliances. The purest of spring water is led through the house, and every portion of the large structure is supplied with gas, which is manufactured in an adjacent building erected for that purpose. One hundred sleeping rooms are conveniently and pleasantly arranged upon the upper floors, with broad corridors running between them, affording perfect ventilation to each apartment; while abundant light is secured, and also a magnificent view of the broad bay, a long stretch of the sound just beyond, and near by the sloping hills and quiet valleys which very nearly surround this delightful home. As the hall stands upon an elevation, which almost constitutes a peninsula, the facilities for perfect drainage are not surpassed by those of any similar summer resort anywhere, for the bold shore and deep water of the bay enable the sewers to discharge their contents beyond recall. The healthfulness of this location is one of its particular characteristics, and is combined with rare and exquisite beauty of natural scenery, with which the eye never wearies. A generation ago the perfect healthfulness of this immediate neighborhood had been widely published and commented upon in the metropolis, and thus it was that the late lamented Dr. James R. Wood, the eminent surgeon of New York city- with whom Dr. O.L. Jones pursued his medical studies- selected here the site of his beautiful summer residence, which he purchased of the former owner of Laurelton, and which is but a few hundred feet from the hall. Dr. Thomas F. Cock, also of New York city, owns, and occupies from May until November each year, a handsome residence near by, and during the season of 1881 Louis Bell, who married the daughter of Dr. Wood, built a charming "box," which is fittingly alluded to as the central gem in the diadem that crowns this scene of rural beauty. Laurelton enjoyed marvelous prosperity so long as direct traveling facilities were, afforded it, but when the steamboat, from lack of support from other sources, ceased to run, and the patrons of the house were compelled to depend solely upon the railroad, the nearest station of which was three miles distant, the number of visitors decreased to some extent; yet it is claimed that a wealthier and more select class abundantly compensates for any deficiency in this respect. From the upper stories of the house the Connecticut shore is plainly visible, the eye taking in at a glance the entire country from Rye Beach on the west to and including Bridgeport on the east. The pretty New England villages reflect the morning sun, and the blue hills rise grandly in the background. Lloyd’s Neck, a bold promontory bordering the sound, is but a short distance from Laurelton, and, although wholly separated from it by water, is a portion of Queens county. Upon Lloyd’s Neck is Fort Hill, a relic of Revolutionary days, which was the center of dark, traitorous, and murderous deeds, that ought to bring regretful feeling to every patriotic heart. English vessels were cruising in the sound, and those who should have stood firmly by their country in her imminent peril in many instances gave aid and comfort to the enemy, supplying them with provisions by raiding the farm yards of the patriots at night in search of stock and poultry, which they exchanged for British gold. Not far from Laurelton, on the west side of the harbor, is Cooper’s Bluff, which has been visited by the curious for, the, purpose of viewing a remarkable depression in the earth at this point. The height of the bluff above tide-water is probably ninety feet, and this deep cavity is only a short distance inland. It is formed like an inverted cone, with surprising regularity of outline. At the surface, of the ground this vast identation, which is sixty feet deep, occupies an area of six acres, but at the bottom it comes to a point. Nothing appears to prove the wonder the result of human agency. Tradition connects it with the aborigines of the locality. This section of the island was occupied before the whites came by the Matinecock tribe of Indians. They were engaged in many conflicts with the Pequots of Connecticut, who every autumn invaded the harbors and bays of the north shore for the purpose of obtaining game and corn, and wives too from among the many comely maidens that belonged to this lordly tribe. But the race is gone, the name of the once powerful tribe dwelling here would have been forgotten long ago had not the Society of Friends adopted it in locating their meeting-house near Glen Cove. Hundreds of this brave tribe died, roan by man, on the ground they loved, before the wig-wams they guarded, and are now part and parcel of the earth under our very feet. The ferocious wolves of the tribe across the sound were ever preying upon their substance. The last battle of these two tribes is said to have occurred on the extreme northern point of Lloyd’s Neck. The Matinecock tribe was driven inland by the hordes of Pequots. That night the gallant defenders of their homes and hunting grounds retreated to Cooper’s Bluff, there to await succor, and the invaders, with the dawn, rushed into an empty fortification half a mile south of Cold Spring Harbor. During the night the valiant Long Island braves, who were intrenched near Laurelton, were reinforced from the section of country now comprising Oyster Bay, Locust Valley and Glen Cove, and the approach of the enemy was awaited with confidence. At early dawn they came, but when hosts of young warriors emerged from the cover the huge excavation afforded them they precipitately fled. Many were slain, and the few who reached their canoes and subsequently their homes conveyed the intelligence that the Matinecocks "outnumbered the stars," which resulted in the cessation of hostilities and depredations by the Pequots. It is recorded somewhere that these island Indians were never conquered, and it is said they left a purer name for good faith and friendship than any other tribe of America. We were at Laurelton soon after the place was formally opened to the public. A sweet faced little girl, whom we afterward knew to be the eldest child of the present owner of Laurelton, was playing upon the beach, tossing the smooth pebbles and pretty shells in the water; and later in the day a company of young men and maidens, who were the guests of the hall, were crushing the yielding sand under their feet as they promenaded hither and yon. We contrasted these scenes with those enacted there centuries ago, and in our reverie the following words, from another writer, came to mind: "Little thought the gay maiden’s and gallant beaux gave to the bones of the mighty dead that lay mouldering everywhere about them. How lightly rang the song, the laugh, the clear glad carol of youth in the serene sunshine; and yet how solemnly, in what fearful calmness, slept a thousand men under the grass. The same air once rang to the wail of Indian maidens, who sat by the bodies of the valiant dead. The same sunshine fell on horrible wounds, and teeth clenched in the last long gasp, and cold foreheads moist with the death dew. The same holy twilight that mantled us after a while, as with an atmosphere of love, shrouded the sleep of the Matinecock, as his grasp relaxed on the throat of his foe, his brown cheek was laid quietly on the green sward, and he sank to rest under the stars. They have slept well thus far, through centuries. Thrones have crumbled. The thunder of the invaders’ cannon shook these hills to their foundation. The meteor like lives of men have dazzled the world with their radiance while they reddened it with blood. More than ten generations have been born and returned to the earth from which they sprang, and the sleep of the stalwart brave is as deep as when the dark- eyed girls sang sadly over him, and his dust was mingled with the dust of his foe. Four hundred years ago! What right had we to be sitting within sound of those glad voices down by the shore, where the waves rippled so musically, and think of the forgotten centuries? What right had we to summon ghosts of the grim warriors to frighten the maidens of quiet later years? But they were there. Their giant forms stalked through the wooded uplands, and we gazed on their plumes and saw their dark eyes flash, in the gloom of the coming evening. Four hundred years ago, fair child of the white man, on the site of Laurelton Hall, sat an Indian girl, holding in her arms the head of her dying lover. He is buried under the green turf of your croquet ground." The facilities of travel afforded the patrons of Laurelton are scarcely satisfactory, although with a shorter route, by a road recently opened to the station, the lime from the city, in the summer at least, is only one hour and a half- not so tedious a trip, all things considered, as at first appears. All visitors are well rewarded for any loss of time incurred, if only for one day to breathe the delicious air of Laurelton, and in connection with this enjoyment they are permitted to look upon a landscape of surpassing beauty. Crest upon crest of the surrounding hills rise in every direction save to the north, and the soft and ever varying shadows which pass over their verdant slopes and wooded ravines, and that peculiar atmosphere which gives so great a range of vision, in so picture- like a scope, impart that serenity, that softness and beauty, which are as enchanting as indescribable.SOUTH OYSTER BAY.
South Oyster Bay is a continuous line of residences on the south road for about three miles, which is the breadth of the town on this side of the island. There are a number of very fine places here, occupied principally by members of the Jones family. This place is noted for its beautiful and productive trout pondsBENJAMIN S. POWELL..
FORT NECK.
Fort Neck was bought from the Marsapeague Indians in 1693, for 15 pounds current silver money, by Thomas Townsend, who gave the same to his son-in-law Major Thomas Jones and his daughter Freelove, the wife of Jones, on the 29th of June 1695. This neck was the principal dwelling place of the Marsapeague Indians. There were two Indian forts here, for which reason the English gave it the name Fort Neck. The forts were nearly quadrangular. The breastwork or parapet of the first is of earth; a ditch or moat extended around the outside, appearing to have been about six feet wide. The other fort, situated at the most southern, point of the salt meadow, adjoining the bay, consisted of palisades set in the meadow. The tide has worn away the meadow where it stood, and it is now covered with water. Between the beach and the meadows are the Squaw Islands. Tradition says that the Indians erected these forts a long time ago to protect themselves from their enemies, and in times of battle the squaws and papooses were sent over to these islands. Thomas Jones came to Rhode Island from Strabane, Ireland, in 1692. He very soon came to Oyster Bay, married and settled on his new estate. Here he built "the old brick house" from bricks burned on his own land. This old relic, the subject of many legends, was taken down in 1837 to make way for more modern improvements, after standing more than 140 years. This part of the estate is called Massapequa, and is now occupied by William Floyd-Jones.WILLIAM FLOYD-JONES.
MAJOR JOHN BIRDSALL.
THE FIRST LAND PURCHASE.
The following deed for land in Oyster Bay, older than any mentioned in the foregoing history of this town, was discovered by William S. Pelletreau, of Southampton, Suffolk county, and furnished by him for publication after our account of early real estate transactions in the town was printed.: "Know all men whom this p’snt writeing may concearne that I, James ffarrett, gent., Deputy to the right Honorable the Earle of Starelinge, doe by these p’sents, in the name and behalfe of the said Earle, and in my own name as his deputy as it doth or may any way concerne myselfe, give and graunt free leave and liberty unto. Mathew Sinderland, Seaman at Boston in New England, to possesse and ymprove and enjoy two little necks of Land, the one uppon the East side of Oyster Bay Harbour, and the other uppon the west side of the said Harbour, w’ch two necks, and every part of them, and all belonging therunto or that the aforesaid two necks may afford, to remain unto the said Mathew Sinderland, his heires and assignes for now and ever, with full power to the said Mathew to dispose thereof at his own pleasure. But, forasmuch as it bath pleased our Royall King to grant a patent of Long Island to the said Earle, in consideration thereof it is agreed upon that the said Mathew Sinderland shall pay or cause to be paid yearely to the said Earle or his deputy tenn shillings law full, money of England, and the first payment to bee and beginn at our Lady day next ensuinge, in the year of God one thousand six hundred and fforty yeares, and so to continue. And it shall bee lawfull for the said Mathew to compound and agree with the Indians that now have the possession of the said necks for theire consent and good will. "In witness I have sett my hand and scale this day, beinge 18th of June 1639. "ROBERT TURNER. JAMES FARRETT." "Whereas Mathew Sinderland, seaman, hath apporcon of Land at Oyster Bay on Long Island from one James Farrett, in the name and behalfe of the Earle of Starelinge, and the said Mathew is to pay for the said proportion tenn shillings a yeare to the said Earle or his deputy, Know you that I James ffarrett to have received from the said Mathew twenty shillings, and that for the rent of the said land for the first yeare of his possession, beinge from thirty- nyne unto the fortieth, w’ch I reseaved and graunt the receipt thereof. "Witness my hand the 4th of September 1639. "JAMES FARRETT, "Recorded the 1st of March 1660, by me. "WILL: WELLS, Recorder."OLIVER CHARLICK.
PERRY BELMONT.
HISTORY of QUEENS COUNTY MAIN RETURN to QUEENS MAIN RETURN to BROOKLYN MAIN