"I give theft Books
for the foUiniUng of a- CoUtgt inJtKtriC'olodjth

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Bought with the income of the f
William C. Egleston Fund
19l9

Of this work there have been printed 600 copies
on Berkshire linen, in three volumes, and 135
copies on French handmade paper, in four volumes.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
VOL. I

HISTORY OF
LONG ISLAND
FROM ITS
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT
TO THE
PRESENT TIME
BY
BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON
THE THIRD EDITION
REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED
WITH ADDITIONS AND
A BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
BY
CHARLES J. WERNER
MEMBER OF THE LONG ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME I

NEW YORK
ROBERT H. DODD
1918

Copyright 1918,
By ROBERT H. DODD

THE QUINN A BOOEN CO. PRE38
RAHWAY, N. J.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME I PAGE
Prefaces to the First, Second and Third Editions . xi
Introduction to the Third Edition .... xxiii
Biography of Benjamin F. Thompson .... xxv
General Description of Long Island .... 3
Soil and Climate  11
Geology of Long Island  18
Discovery of Long Island  88
The Long Island Indians  96
Dutch Government  133
Claims of the English and Conquest of New York . 165
English Colonial Government  184
New York Recaptured by the Dutch .... 214
Restoration of the Duke's Government . . . 226
Historical Reminiscences of the British Occupa
tion of Long Island During the Revolutionary
War  277
Some Further Matters Extracted From the Journal
OF THE New York Provincial Congress . . 320
Additional Revolutionary Incidents .... 337
Battle of Brooklyn or Long Island .... 347
History of the Prison Ships  376
War of 1812  397
Civil War  402
Wrecks of the " Bristol " and " Mexico " . . . 403
Burning of the " Lexington "  411
Colonial and Continental Money . . . .421
Persecution of the Quakers  434
Long Island Canal  45a
Long Island Railroad  457
Lists of Officials  459

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME I
Photogravure Portrait of Benjamin F. Thompson. En
graved From the Original Painting by William S.
Mount, N. A  Frontispiece FACING PAGE
Original Prospectus for the Third Edition (Facsimile) . xxii
Birthplace of Benjamin F. Thu-npson, Setauket, L. I. . xxv
Fulton Ferry in 1740  226
MAP
Long Island of Today. Large Folding Map . . ¦ 3

EXTRACT FROM THE PREFACE TO THE
FIRST EDITION
In collecting materials for the History of Long
Island, the compiler has availed himself of every source
of authentic information to render the work both use
ful and interesting; with what success must be left to
the consideration of the reader. He has avoided no
reasonable labor or expense to make his publication
worthy of approbation, although he has failed to satisfy
himself in accomplishing all that he anticipated on first
setting out. Beauty of style and elegance of description
were not among the primary objects of the compiler, his
principal aim being to present a correct and full account
of Long Island, constituting a valuable repository of
historical and statistical information. Had he anticipated
the labor and responsibility he was about to assume, with
the obstacles to be encountered in his progress, he would
most likely have abandoned the undertaking, even after
a large mass of material had been accumulated.
Two centuries have scarcely elapsed since this fair
isle, now so far advanced in population, business, and
wealth, was possessed by a race of men, little more intel
ligent than the beasts of the forest. Consequently it must
be a matter of very considerable importance to trace the
progress of its strange eventful history, mark the revolu
tions which time has produced, and transmit the details
thereof to posterity.
A Long Islander by birth and descended from an
ancestry coeval with its first settlement by Europeans,
the compiler has been desirous of presenting to his fellow
citizens a series of interesting facts and incidents of olden
time, of much intrinsic value and highly worthy of pres-

xii PREFACE
ervation. For much valuable information derived from
the kindness of several respectable individuals, he begs to
express his sincere acknowledgments for the many favors
thus gratuitously afforded him.
To the Sketch of the First Settlement of the Several
Towns Upon Long Island, by the Hon. Silas Wood, the
compiler is largely indebted, as well to Notes, Geo
graphical and Historical, Relating to the Town of
Brooklyn, by the Hon. Gabriel Furman. In relation to
the geology of the island, he has availed himself of the
labors and researches of WiUiam W. Mather, Esq., and
others his associates, in the late geological survey of the
state of New York.
In this compilation, it is presumed something will be
found interesting to every class of readers; and that it
may hereafter be referred to as an authentic record of
facts connected with the settlement of the country, and
with Its colonial and revolutionary history. The author
is aware that by delaying his publication many additional
matters may have been obtained, but this desideratum is
Incident to the very nature of history, and if one should
resolve not to publish till everything should be collected,
his labor would never end, and what he had already pro
cured would in the meantime be useless to others. Works
of this character will always appear premature, for the
reason that there is no limit to the accumulating of
materials. History is progressive and new facts are con
stantly occurring, which can only be included in subse
quent editions of a work like this. When it is considered
that a single town will often afford sufllcient matter for
a good-sized volume, the difficulty of comprising any
thing like a complete history of twenty-one towns in the
present publication will not only be apparent to all, but
It is hoped will constitute some apology for any imper
fections, discoverable herein.
Hempstead, L. I., January i, 1839.

DEDICATION OF THE SECOND EDITION

TO
THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE
NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
whose efforts and industry
HAVE BEEN LONG AND ZEALOUSLY DEVOTED TO
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING THE MATERIALS
or
AMERICAN HISTORY
THIS NEW AND IMPROVED EDITION OF THE
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
IS VERY SINCERELY AND RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT
THE COMPILER
Hempstead, L. I., July 4, 1843.

EXTRACT FROM THE PREFACE TO THE
SECOND EDITION
As History has been allowed to hold an elevated rank
among the more important branches of human learning,
so the knowledge which it affords must be highly useful
and interesting. As a distinct species of literature, his
tory not only teaches Important lessons, but by a method
also the most striking and durable, that of example. It
collects the evidences and perpetuates the recollection of
events long past, which would otherwise be buried in
oblivion. Local history must necessarily be more minute In its
details than that which is more general, requiring equal
patience and labor of inquiry, with a circumstantial
delineation of facts, which would necessarily be passed
over In works of larger grasp.
Many generations have come and passed away since
the towns of Long Island began to be settled by our
Dutch and English ancestors, and doubtless a thousand
events have perished which, if known, would dissipate
much of the doubt and uncertainty that now impede the
progress of inquiry.
The first edition of this work having been most favor
ably received by the public, has imposed upon the com
piler an obligation of increased exertion to render the
present, in all respects, more worthy of its patronage.
In addition to a thorough re-examination of town and
country records, he has inspected with care and attention
numerous volumes of manuscript records in the office of
the Secretary of State, and the historical collections of

xvi PREFACE
most of the New England States. The map accom
panying this work has been compiled with care, and is
more accurate than any other heretofore published. By it
the topography of the island will be better understood,
and what has been hitherto a sort of terra incognita will
be better known, and as it is hoped more favorably appre
ciated. It will be perceived that the arrangement in the former
volume has been altered in this edition, the better to har
monize with the chronological order of events, and to
allow of the Insertion of much new matter. The names
of the first planters, and prominent individuals of olden
time, have been Inserted, from which it may be learned
that most of those names are still found amongst us. A
more complete series of ancient patents, and other docu
ments affecting the titles to real estate, have been intro
duced, which are of importance to the towns and to their
inhabitants. Among other matters of curiosity and interest now pub
lished, may be mentioned the Mortgage of Long Island
to Fenwick and Others In 1641, and the subsequent
release of it. The grant of the island, with other terri
tory, by Charles II., in 1664, to James, Duke of York;
the Flushing remonstrance of 1657; the account of Cap
tains Underbill and Scott, and the piratical career of the
notorious Kidd. To these are added a full account of
the terrible disasters connected with the wrecks of the
" Bristol " and " Mexico," on the south shore of the
island and the burning of the steamer " Lexington " in
Long Island Sound.
More extended lists have been prepared of the per
sons who composed the different colonial and state con
ventions, congresses and legislative assemblies: — the
signers of the charter of independence; the framers of
the national and state constitutions; judges, representa
tives in congress; members of assembly, surrogates.

PREFACE xvii
clerks, sheriffs, and district attorneys, since the organi
zation of the government.
The compiler dismisses his work, believing that he has
thereby rendered a valuable service to his country, one
which the inhabitants of Long Island will appreciate
when he shall be numbered with the dead, and the hand
that pens these lines be crumbled into dust.
Hempstead, L. I., July 4, 184.3.

THOMPSON'S DEDICATION OF THE
PRESENT EDITION

TO THE PEOPLE
OF
LONG ISLAND
This improved edition of a work
originally undertaken for
their particular
service,
is very respectfully and affectionately
inscribed by their fellow
citizen and friend
Benj. F. Thompson

Hempstead, October 10, 1849.'

The third edition, together with a biography of
the author and additions, is affectionately
dedicated by the editor to
LEONORA HABERLE WERNER

1 Dated ahead in anticipation of the publication date. Mr. Thompson
died March 2\, 1849.

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
It is not a little gratifying to the compiler to be
assured in a very substantial manner of the due apprecia
tion of his historical labors, and that two editions of
four thousand volumes 8vo (of more than five hundred
pages each) have been disposed of in a period of ten
years. A result, as regards a publication so entirely local
in its character, probably without example In this coun
try. A third being now called for, previous success
demands that no reasonable endeavors should be want
ing to render It in all respects more correct and valuable
than it was possible for the preceding editions to be,
because the means to improve them were not then known
to be in existence. In pursuance of "Jn act to appoint
an agent to procure and transcribe documents in Europe
relative to the colonial History of this State," passed
May 2, 1839, John Romeyn Brodhead, Esq., a tal
ented, learned, and enterprising gentleman, was appointed
to that service, who, by indefatigable labor and dili
gence, has enriched our stores of colonial literature with
at kast eighty manuscript volumes of the most valuable
historical materials. These Immense treasures have been
carefully examined, and the compiler has thereby been
enabled to enhance the value of the present edition and
make it, what he is anxious it should be, a full and com
plete account of his native island. No inconsiderable
amount of new matter of intrinsic value has been gath
ered by diligent research from various other sources,
which, being incorporated with the former text, much
contributes to its Improvement. Numerous errors, which
escaped timely detection in the former edition, have been

xxii PREFACE
carefully corrected in this, and most of its pages having
been almost entirely re-wrltten, it is hoped that greater
satisfaction will be experienced by readers of the work.
The history of the different churches and of the
ministers who have been settled therein will be found
more full; and the biographical and genealogical depart
ment more complete and satisfactory, although in very
many instances where information has been respectfully
solicited from Individuals It has been unceremoniously
denied, or very scantily afforded.'
* It is the opinion of the editor that the death of the author interfered
Trith the completion of this preface, inasmuch as it is not dated as are
the prefaces to the first and second editions, nor does the last sentence
give an impression of finality to the careful reader. — Editor.

FOR PUBLISHING BY SUBSCRIPTION,
A THIRD AND IMPROVED EDITION
Of the
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND,
FROM ITS DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT BY EUROPEANS
TO THE PRESENT TIME,

BY BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON,
COUNSELLOR AT LAW.
This new edition will contain (in addition to a great variety of curious and interesting materials,
not before published) the Geology and Natural History of the Island ; account of its aboriginal inhab
itants ; annals of the Dutch and English Governments, and of the Revolutionary War ; copies of an
cient documents, charters, &.c ; a complete list of state and county officers ; notices of the different
churches and ministers of every denomination from the earliest times ; and genealogical and biogra
phical accounts of families nnd distinguished individuals ; with about two hundred pages of valuable
matter, not included in "either of the previous volumea. In short, the compiler has spared nei
ther labor nor expense, to make this edition, as full and accurate as possible, having re-written
nearly evory page of the original work, amended the style, and corrected such errors, as have been
discovered,
PROSPECTUS.
This work will be printed on good paper, be handsomely bound in two volumes, 8vo,, of a-
bout 600 pages each, and offered to subscribers onl]/, foryfi^'^^^ C^i^tS^^^^S-Jo^^^^fiT
copy, payable on delivery.
PROSPECTUS PREPARED BY THOMPSON IN 1849 FOR THIS EDITION.

INTRODUCTION TO THE THIRD EDITION
By the Editor
It must be remembered in reading the present edition
that all descriptions of territory, towns, villages, per
sonages, and all statistics are as of 1849, when the manu
script was completed. The untimely death of the author
in that year prevented publication.
Political changes on Long Island have been explained
by editorial notes, such as the erection of one new county
and two new towns — also changes effected by the consoli
dation of a part of the Island's territory with New York
City. Various other interesting matters have been en
larged upon by means of similar notes.
The old style spelling of certain proper names, also
of a few common words, has been retained, as it is be
lieved that it lends charm to the narrative.
The history of the manuscript can soon be told. At
the death of Thompson on March 21, 1849, it became
the property of his widow, who left it to her children,
who in turn bequeathed it to their offspring, from one
of whom. Miss Julia H. Thompson of Hempstead, Long
Island, a granddaughter of the author, it was obtained
by the editor.
Thompson considered the third and enlarged edition
as his life work and the publication of it is a fitting
memorial to the man and his work.
The additional historical information and descriptive
matter — ^not to mention the genealogies — ^will no doubt
prove of great interest to the public and the editor feels

xxiv INTRODUCTION
that the interesting history of his native Island will be
enriched by the publication of this book.
The editor wishes to take this opportunity of thanking
all those who have so kindly aided him in his work.
Especial thanks are due to Miss Julia H. Thompson, who
has been untiring in her valuable aid. Also to Mr. James
Truslow Adams, who has supplied valuable particulars
concerning Bridgehampton. The clergymen of the sev
eral churches, who have kindly furnished names of pas
tors and other information concerning their parishes,
have been of great service. Mrs. M. L. Jergenson of
Setauket has placed her documents relating to the
Thompson family at the editor's disposal. To the Long
Island Historical Society and Miss Emma Toedteberg,
librarian, particular thanks must be extended for permis
sion to reproduce old prints in their collection; also to
Mr. Henry S. Brush, President Suffolk County Agricul
tural Society, to Mr. Willard N. Baylis of Huntington,
and to Mr. W. B. Trainer, Town Clerk of Huntington,
who has at all times been willing to exhibit the records
under his charge. Thanks are also due to Mr. Charles
A. Ditmas, President of the Kings County Historical
Society, for Information regarding the Kings County
Towns. AH notes or additions by the editor are indicated, as
are several notes by Henry Onderdonk, Jr., and James
Riker, Jr., — ^both historians of Long Island and friends
of the author. After the death of her husband, Mrs.
Thompson endeavored to have the manuscript published.
With this end in view, Onderdonk and Riker were called
in to aid in preparing the copy for the printer's hands
and the above mentioned notes by them were added at
that time.
Huntington, L. I., October 22, 1916.

PSw p
o G

BIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON
By Charles J. Werner
Benjamin Franklin Thompson, the renowned Long
Island historian, was born at Setauket, Suffolk County,
Long Island, on May 15, 1784. His father was Dr.
Samuel Thompson, a practicing physician at Setauket and
Captain of the first Company of Colonel Floyd's Long
Island Regiment in the Revolutionary war. His mother
was Phebe Satterly, daughter of Jacob Satterly of
Setauket, whom Dr. Thompson married on January 7,
1 78 1. Benjamin F. was their eldest child and he had a
younger sister Hannah who died in infancy. His
mother, who was the possessor of a rather frail constitu
tion, but a most amiable disposition, died on July 7,
1793. Dr. Thompson took for his second wife Ruth,
daughter of Timothy and Seviah Smith, by whom he had
several children, only two of whom reached maturity —
namely, Mary WoodhuU, born January 11, 1796, died
unmarried, December 28, 1834, and Samuel Ludlow,
bom March 5, 1799, who married his cousin Sophia
Satterly February 12, 1842. He died February 6, 1865.
Both from the Thompson and Satterly sides he was
descended from old and respected Long Island families.
His father was a direct descendant of the Rev. William
Thompson, who emigrated to this country from England
in 1634, and his mother's ancestor was one of the original
settlers of Brookhaven town, of which Setauket is a
village. With this lineage, it is not to be wondered at that

xxvi BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
Thompson developed a love for history and genealogical
research. Thompson's father was of a studious nature and saw
to it that his young son began his education at an early
age. The boy's first schooling was had with an old lady
in the neighborhood, the wife of Timothy Tooker,
familiarly known as Aunt Dinah. Under her auspices he
mastered the alphabet and surmounted the difficulties of
the New England Primer.
His next instructress was Miss Charity Rogers, who,
belying her name, was " of a disposition irregular and
tempestuous," and whose temper could only be assuaged
by venting it upon her unfortunate scholars.
Thompson's mother died in 1793, and in October of
the following year at the age of ten he entered the
Academy at Easthampton and boarded in the household
of Judge Abraham Miller of the village. In March
1795, Thompson's father contracted a second marriage,
as we have already stated, and during the following
month young Benjamin returned to Setauket and at
tended the village school until October 1796, when he
entered the Academy then lately erected at Huntington
and pursued his studies there for a period of six months.
In July 1 801, having decided upon a college education,
he began preparations under the instruction of the Rev.
Dr. David Ely of Ripton Parish, Fairfield County, Con
necticut, and in September 1802, was admitted a member
of the freshman class at Yale College, at that time pre
sided over by the learned Dr. Timothy Dwight. Much
to Thompson's sorrow, his father felt that the increas
ing cares of a large farm should be shared by his son,
and at the end of the freshman year Benjamin took leave
of college never to return.
His time was now divided between rural pursuits and
the perusal of a few medical works procured from time
to time, in addition to such books as his father's library

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxvii
contained. Thus we see that at an early age Thompson
evinced a desire for the pursuit of a professional life.
From October 1804 to the month of March follow
ing, he pursued medical studies under Dr. Ebenezer Sage
of Sag Harbor, a leading practitioner and Member of
Congress from Suffolk County. In addition to these
studies he spent the winter of 1806-07 in attending a
course of lectures in the medical department of Colum
bia College and attended the clinics of the New York
Hospital, On his return home he obtained the requisite
authority to practice and immediately met with success.
Thompson practiced medicine for ten years and was well
known for his skill throughout the neighborhood, although
much of his time was taken up by farm cares and public
offices. He finally relinquished his medical practice for
the law, which seemed to offer better advantages for the
display of his talents, in which supposition he was cor
rect as later events proved.
Through his exertions principally, a public library was
established in the village of Setauket, consisting of about
300 volumes, which was kept up for a good many years
but was finally divided into two parts, in consequence of
which the establishment was soon broken up and the
books scattered.
In the spring of 1808, by request of a public meeting
convened for the purpose, Thompson delivered an ora
tion on the occasion of the repeal of the Embargo
which had existed for some time on account of danger
to our commerce from European powers, particularly
England. Of Thompson's private life at Setauket we do not
know a great deal, except that he was constantly enlarg
ing his circle of friends and becoming well known
throughout the Island for literary attainments and his
torical research. He was a frequent contributor to the
newspapers, and his articles exhibit good judgment and

xxviii BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
a correct understanding of the public questions of the
day. An extract from a letter written to Thompson in 1840
by his friend Shepherd A. Mount, a well-known artist
of the time, is reminiscent of the patriotic customs of old
Setauket during the early years of the nineteenth century :
" The mention of my Father's name conveys me back
to my boyhood when our national jubilee used to be cele
brated with such joyous festivity in old Setauket; when
Doctor Franklin (as we boys then called you) was the
Orator of the day and when Captain Mount used to
march in front of the Artillery and order out the big-gun
to send forth its notes o'er hill and dale reminding us
with a voice of thunder of the price of our liberty. Then
stood the pretty girls upon their tiptoes with hands
pressed upon their ears to avoid the shock, gazing with
wonder at the more daring boys who, in defiance of Mili
tary authority cut up their capers even at the cannon's
mouth. Since then many years have passed and you have
become the reputed historian of our own native Isle."
On June 12, 18 10, at the age of twenty-six, he mar
ried Mary Howard, daughter of the Rev. Zachariah
Greene of Setauket and Abigail Howard his wife, daugh
ter of William Howard of Newtown. Mrs. Thompson
was of a kind and estimable nature and was a help and
inspiration to her husband throughout his life. She was
born at Setauket, October 5, 1794. She survived her hus
band nineteen years and died at her residence at Hemp
stead October 24, 1868, in the seventy-third year of her
age. It is perhaps fitting to cite here some particulars con
cerning Thompson's father-in-law, the Rev. Zachariah
Greene, who was pastor of the church at Setauket for
sixty-one years and died at the home of his daughter
Mrs. Thompson, in Hempstead, at the ripe age of
ninety-eight. He was in many particulars a most remark-

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxix
able personage. In a letter written at the age of ninety-
five, he stated that he walked a mile every day and that
he had five sons and seven daughters. He was known
in history as " The Fighting Parson," and took part in
General Parson's attack on the British garrison at Se
tauket and helped storm the church which had been forti
fied by the British. It was in this same church that he
afterwards served as pastor for sixty-one years. He
also served at Dorchester Heights, Throgg's Point and
White Plains in 1776 and in Pennsylvania in 1777, where
at the Battle of White Marsh he was wounded.
Thompson's love for his father-in-law was very great
and was further strengthened by a mutual fondness for
religion and literature. They frequendy visited one
another and Thompson's letters to Mr. Greene, now in
possession of the author of this biography, are interest
ing in the extreme, giving as they do an insight into the
historian's character and relating many interesting events
of his life. Mr. Greene was graduated from Dartmouth
College in 178 1, and was Chaplain of Colonel James
Davis' Regiment of Brookhaven Militia in the War of
18 12, of which regiment Thompson was Surgeon.
Mr. Greene was a man of excellent education and
attainments and died universally lamented on June 21,
1858. A few of his books are now in the possession of
the editor. During the year after his death, a eulogy of
his life was written and published by Dr. John Ordron-
naux and an appreciative tribute published during his
lifetime is incorporated in Griffin's Journal.
Immediately after their marriage Thompson and his
wife made an excursion to the east end of the Island,
visiting a number of their mutual friends and acquaint
ances in different places.
Thompson's married life was blessed with four chil
dren: Henry Rutgers, born March 17, 1813; Mary
Greene, born March 20, 18 15; Harriet Satterly, bom

XXX BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
November 9, 18 18, and Edward Zachariah, born Septem
ber 2, 1821. Of these, Henry R. died at the early age
of thirty. 'He was a man of high attainments, and his
untimely death was mourned by a wide circle of friends.
Previous to his death he had held a trusted position in
a New York bank for several years. He died October
15, 1842. Mary Greene died June 15, 1884.
Harriet S. married Jacob Tuthill Vanderhoof of New
York and was the mother of several children. After her
marriage she resided in Greene Street, New York City.
She died November i, 1864, in the forty-sixth year of
her age.
Edward Z. on July 10, 1843, married Elizabeth Lush
of Hempstead and resided there after his marriage.
From his daughter. Miss Julia H. Thompson of Hemp
stead, the editor obtained the manuscript of this edition
of the History and the correspondence of her grand
father. Miss Thompson has contributed many interest
ing facts concerning his life. Edward Z. died February
12, 1882, in the sixtieth year of his age.
In 1 8 II, Thompson was appointed Assistant Clerk of
Suffolk County under Ezra L'Hommedleu, a well-known
Revolutionary personage, of whom further particulars
are found in the chapter on Southold.
During the same year, on July 4, he delivered a political
oration in the Presbyterian Church of Setauket, a copy
of which was forwarded to Ex-President Thomas Jeffer
son, from whom he received a note of acknowledgment.
Up to the period of the War of 18 12, our country was
absorbed In watching the struggles between the two
parties. Federalists, or Tories as they were sometimes
called, and the Republicans. The Federalists were the
conservatives and were opposed to the Impending war
with Great Britain, which ominous specter was fast
losing Its phantom dress and day by day taking on the
apparel of a stem reality.

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxxl
^ The Federalists just before the opening of war, car
ried their conservatism to the point of subservience to
England, entirely misjudging the temper of the bulk of
the American people, and by this attitude then and there
writing their obituary as an American party. At the
outbreak of the war and during its duration they
became practically non-existent, for no party can exist
which is opposed to a war in which the whole coun
try is engaged. The high-handedness of England upon
the high seas, the daily impressment of American sea
men and the confiscation and destruction of Ameri
can shippers, had brought our country to a realization
that she must fight or else lose her position as a nation
which had been won at such a costly price In the days
of '76.
Thompson was an ardent Republican and believed
that peace at the expense of national honor was to be
avoided as the plague, and eagerly brought his voice,
pen, and medical talent to the support of his country at
this crisis. During the struggle he was Surgeon In
Colonel James Davis' Regiment of Brookhaven Militia,
which guarded the shores of Long Island against landing
parties from the British Squadron anchored In Long
Island Sound. The successful termination of the war
brought a twofold blessing to the United States, for. In
addition to instilling a feeling of profound respect for
this country among the English and the other European
nations. It brought our government and people to a
realization of what was in store for them, offering a
glimpse of the great expansion and wealth which could
and did become theirs and creating a feeling of security
and self-confidence which was to be wrought Into the
fabric of a powerful people.
It Is perhaps fitting to Insert here a letter written a
year or so before the war, Indicating the gradual growth
of patriotism and opposition to the encroachments of

xxxli BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
England which finally blazed forth Into a successful
struggle as we have just related.
The letter to Thompson Is from David Gardiner,
Congressman from Long Island, a staunch Republican
and father of Julia Gardiner, who was destined to be
come the wife of President Tyler :
" I am not surprised nor Indeed do I regret that the
torles have in your County, come out openly in their
opposition. Its effects, I have no doubt will be salutary.
It will rouse the hitherto Inactive republicans to a greater
exertion of their strength and Introduce a spirit of
Inquiry which must prove advantageous to the present
administration. The more the embargo system Is can
vassed the more clearly must the wisdom and foresight
of our President be acknowledged. Had It not been for
the timely interposition, almost the whole of our ship
ping would long ere this have been dismantled in British
and French ports. England has long viewed the rapid
Increase of our commerce with a jealous eye and has only
waited the color of a pretense to sweep It from the seas.
The time is soon coming when the present state of our
party will be materially changed.
" The line must and will be drawn. The distinction
will no longer be Federal and Republican. Those who
are not for the government will be classed with those
against It and distinguished by friends or enemies. The
old appellation of Whig and Tory will be adopted and
with It the Revolutionary marks of distinction. War Is
justly esteemed a great and distressing evil; indeed It
appears to be deprecated by all, but I cannot but think
there have been seasons when it has prevented still
greater calamities. Such a season I believe we are now
witnessing and however much an amicable settlement of
our differences with England may be wished for by
Republicans, I cannot say that I look for it with that
desire which I have for some time past done." This

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxxiil
letter shows that even at this early period Thompson
was in correspondence with, and a friend of, the states
men of his day.
In April 1812, Thompson and his wife left his father's
house, which had been the family homestead for so many
years, and took possession of a dwelling in Setauket
which he had purchased from J. S. Mount for £900. He
disposed of it In 18 16 and purchased a larger place
adjoining the old homestead, where he lived until 1824
when he removed to Hempstead. In addition to his
medical practice, Thompson at this time held the office
of Justice of the Peace and Master in Chancery, which
Included the power of taking the acknowledgment and
proof of deeds.
Perhaps the chief characteristic of Thompson's life
was a capacity and desire for work. Throughout a busy
life he was constantly engaged in pursuits on behalf of
his country and its people. Many of his activities have
but recently come to light, overshadowed by his enduring
fame as a historian. In December 18 12, at the age of
twenty-nine, having been elected to the State Assembly,
he set out for Albany, where he remained until the end
of the session, in the middle of the following April.
Beginning in boyhood and throughout his life he took a
deep interest in politics, and during his two terms at
Albany and for the balance of his life he enjoyed the
friendship and esteem of many of the public men
of his time, including William H. Seward, Daniel
Webster, Martin Van Buren, Chancellors Kent and
Sanford, Rufus King, De Witt Clinton, Governor Sam
uel I. Southard of New Jersey, Secretary of the Navy
Mahlon Dickerson, Senator John Smith of Long Is
land and many others. From these men he imbibed
those principles of patriotism and love of country which
are so manifest In his later political activities and his
torical writings.

xxxlv BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
In December 1813, he was appointed to collect the
Internal revenue and direct tax in the two counties of
Queens and Kings and was obliged to spend a consider
able part of the next two years In this work. The duties
and taxes were levied by Congress to aid in carrying on
the war then existing between Great Britain and the
United States. During the fall of 18 15, he resigned the
office of Collector, being obliged to spend another winter
at Albany as Assemblyman. During this session the
Statute laws were revised, making the duties of the ses
sion " very laborious Indeed." Two years after his last
term in the State Assembly, at the age of thirty-two, he
was appointed Postmaster of Setauket, his native village,
by Postmaster-General Return Jonathan Meigs, son of
the patriot of the same name who led the successful
attack upon the British fort and garrison at Sag Harbor
in the Revolution. Thompson's certificate of appoint
ment bears the date of April 19, 18 16. He held the
office until 1824.
In 18 1 8, he determined to relinquish altogether the
practice of medicine and to qualify himself for the legal
profession, in which he achieved an enviable reputation,
eclipsed only by his historical attainments. To this end
he entered upon a course of legal studies, and read with
such intense application that in 1821, at the October
term of the Court of Common Pleas in Suffolk County,
he was admitted as an attorney of that Court and later
as counselor. Subsequently, he was admitted an attorney
and counselor of the Supreme Court of the State. His
rise in the profession was rapid, for In 1826 he was
appointed District Attorney for Queens County by the
Courts of the county, which method of procedure, instead
of election, was adhered to at that time. He held office
until 1836, when he voluntarily resigned. During his
term of office he was held In the highest regard by his
profession and the public at large. Upon his retirement,

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxxv
the following notice appeared In the Long Island Star
under date of February i8, 1836:
" Benjamin F. Thompson, Esq., has for several years
fulfilled the duties of the office of District Attorney, with
energy and fidelity. To a ready acquaintance with the
substance and forms of criminal law, he added a deci
sion of character, and a tact and facility In the dispatch
of business, we should be glad to see much oftener
exhibited among our law practitioners. Mr. Thompson,
although he entered upon the legal profession late In
life, has won a high reputation among his contemporaries,
for legal acquirements, and will in his retirement from
the fatigues of office, still be regarded as an able
adviser." Another paper speaks of him as follows :
" Mr. Thompson deserves the highest praise In our
power to bestow^ — he has arisen by dint of persevering
Industry, encountering Herculean difficulties — until he is
eminently qualified for almost any station occupied in our
country." From this time on his reputation as an attorney grew
until he was as well known outside his native state as
within its boundaries. Many of the most important cases
arising on Long Island were put In his charge, and he
uniformly carried them through to a successful termina
tion. During his entire life Thompson was a warm sup
porter of De Witt Clinton, and was always among the
first to rally to his standard when that great and good
man was unjustly attacked, as was frequently the case.
It may be mentioned here that during the year 1825
he compiled and published an octavo volume of about
300 pages, entitled: The Justices Guide, designed as
a help for Justices of the Peace in the discharge of their
various official duties, civil and criminal. On July 4,
1827, he delivered an oration In the Reformed Dutch

xxxvl BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
Church of North Hempstead, at Cow Neck (now Man-
hasset). From the Long Island Farmer of July 14,
1827, we take the following quaint account of the pro
ceedings :
"The fifty-first Anniversary of our National Inde
pendence was celebrated by a respectable portion of the
inhabitants of North Hempstead at Allen's Inn, head of
Cow Neck. Captain Morrell's troop of horse attended.
The Company formed at 2 o'clock P.M., and marched to
the Dutch Church, where after reading the Declaration
of Independence, a suitable and appropriate address was
delivered by B. F, Thompson, Esq. The Company then
marched back In order to the Inn, and partook of a
sumptuous dinner, provided for the occasion. After
removing the cloth, the following toasts were drank,
accompanied with firing of cannon: " and here follow no
less than twenty-four separate and distinct toasts begin
ning with " The day we celebrate " and ending with
" Our Country-women — whoso findeth a wife, findeth a
good thing," the last phrase being sometimes literally
true In these days of mercenary marriages I
In the fall of 1824, Thompson and his family moved
to Hempstead, even then an Important village, which
held out better advantages for the pursuit of the legal
profession than Setauket. His first residence stands on
the north side of Fulton Street between Main and
Franklin streets, which is near the center of the village.
Two out of his three homes In Hempstead are still
standing, and the one above-mentioned is now occupied
by Mrs. J. H. Ackley.
In the spring of 1826, our subject took possession of
a dwelling he had previously erected on the north side
of Fulton Street, further east, where he continued to
reside for the next ten years. During 1836-37, he
erected a larger house near by, on the same side of the
street, and moved in during the spring of 1837. This

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxxvil
dwelling was his home for the rest of his life and In It
he wrote his famous history. A representation of the
house in Thompson's time will be found among the il
lustrations. Today the house, although still standing, is
much altered and its old appearance entirely changed.
It is now occupied by Mr. Seaman L. Pettit. Here, sur
rounded by his family, he enjoyed a lucrative law prac
tice and very quickly became known as an able lawyer.
Thompson, in his intercourse with others of his pro
fession, never stooped to personal abuse, no matter how
hotly contested the case might be, but always showed a
dignified courtesy toward his opponents. His principal
competitor in the courts of the county was the Hon.
W. J. McCoun, afterwards District Attorney and Su
preme Court Judge. That they were friends, although
competitors, is attested by the following letter:
" It Is with much pleasure that I acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 29th ult, informing me of
your having become a resident of Queens, with an Inten
tion of practicing law In that county. I feel myself
honored by the manner in which you have been pleased
to address me, and shall always be happy to reciprocate
that good feeling which appears to have dictated it.
In my professional business, I always endeavor to act
with that liberality and courtesy towards my brethren,
to which you allude: (and which I consider a necessary
characteristic of the Lawyer as well as the Gentleman)
and I promise you it shall not be wanting on my part. In
any intercourse between us.
Mr. Ely requests me to present his best respects, and
when you come to New York, we shall be happy to see
you. With the assurance of my best regard, I am sir.
Yours most respectfully,
W. J. McCouN."

xxxviii BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
In 1829, his eldest son Henry was sixteen years old,
and his father determined to start him In business. He
purchased a half-interest in a dry goods and grocery
store on the corner of Front and Greenwich streets, and
placed his son in business there with Mr. Stephen
Johnson. Evidently the firm was not very successful, for
at the end of two years the business was discontinued and
Henry secured employment In New York.
In the light of present-day events, a most Interesting
fact is Thompson's views on woman suffrage. He
believed that the payment of taxes should confer the
right to vote regardless of sex, and he went to the trouble
of getting an opinion on the subject from the Secretary
of State at Albany, who was not very enthusiastic
about it.
As we have mentioned before, Thompson early es
poused the then patriotic doctrines of the Democratic-
Republican party, or " democrats " as they were gen
erally known, and which finally became the Democratic
party of today. Founded by the great Jefferson, they
enjoyed a long season of success in National elections
until displaced by the Whig or National-Republican
party, under the leadership of Henry Clay In 1841.
Indeed from the end of the War of 18 12, when the Fed
eralists as a National party ceased to exist, until the acces
sion of John Quincy Adams to the presidency In 1825,
no opposition party of any consequence existed and the
period was known as the " era of good feeling." The
advocacy of an extreme doctrine of state's rights, a nar
row Interpretation of the constitution and opposition to
the United States Bank, alienated some of their number
and gave Henry Clay his opportunity to organize the
Whig party in opposition. Thompson, always a firm
believer in a firm Union, went heart and soul with
the Whigs and from correspondence with Clay
and others it is evident that he was no Inconse-

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xxxix
quential member of the party. His admiration for
John Quincy Adams was another factor in his embrace-
ment of Whig doctrines and policies. Adams, a great
man, had been a Federalist, but when that one-time
powerful party became fearful of foreign nations and
subservient to their unjust rulings and demands, he cast
In his lot with the Democrats, and was a candidate In
the Presidential election of 1824. No one of the candi
dates received a majority of electoral votes and the con
test was carried to the House of Representatives, which
decided upon Adams. Although a Democrat for some
years he was not now In accord with most of the Demo
cratic policies, which was greatly to his credit, and around
himself and his policies grew a new party with Clay as
leader, whom Adams had chosen to be Secretary of
State. To this party Thompson gave his efforts. There
were lean years for the new party, however, and a cer
tain amount of " hard luck." William Henry Harrison,
"Old Tippecanoe," elected by them In 1840, amidst
great rejoicing, died one short month after his inaugura
tion in 1841, and left the office to Vice-President John
Tyler, who at heart was anything but a Whig. He soon
made this very plain and was as promptly renounced by
his party. Thompson was extremely bitter In his denun
ciation of Tyler, whom even Democrats would have lit
tle to do with. He retired from the Presidency disowned
by Whig and Democrat alike and discredited in the eyes
of the people.
In the next election success seemed assured for the
Whigs and Henry Clay their candidate, but for the fact
that a new party, localized In New York State, put up
a candidate for President as a test of strength and polled
15,000 votes In the state which would otherwise have
gone to Clay. The filibuster cost Clay the state and Its
thirty-six electoral votes gave victory to Polk, the Demo
cratic nominee. In a close contest. Some time before the

xl BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
election, Thompson sensed the danger to the Whigs
which would result from too much activity on the part
of the new party and by means of speeches and cor
respondence sought to curtail their Influence. He knew
state politics as few men did, but his warnings were not
given the credence they deserved and the state was lost.
At the end of Polk's single term in 1848, the Whigs
put forth General Zachary Taylor, hero of the Mexican
War, as their candidate. His personal popularity com
bined with vigorous party efforts gave victory to the
Whigs. The result was influenced greatly by disaffection
among the Democrats in New York State, who could
not stomach the pro-slavery doctrines of their party and
went so far as to nominate their own candidates. Thus
again the Empire State decided the contest, this time for
the Whigs. Thompson did not live to enjoy the fruits
of his party's victory, for death claimed him seventeen
days after General Taylor's Inauguration.
One fact stands out from a resume of Thompson's
political connections. He was a patriot. He believed
that sectional policies should be sacrificed for the Union,
and that truckling to a foreign power was to be
abhorred. In his early life we find him a Republican —
against the sinister influence and oppressions of France
and England upon the trade and policies of the country.
When these burdens drove our people to war in 18x2, it
was characteristic of the man to be a tax collector, for
It must be remembered that the stoppage of trade had
made the war unpopular with unpatriotic people and the
extra tax and its collectors were subject to great abuse.
When the Republicans, now called Democrats, em
braced extreme state's rights, and abandonment of inter
nal improvements, during J. Q. Adams' and Jackson's
administrations, we find him with the Whigs, the new
party of unionism and progress, with whom he remained
until his death.

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F, THOMPSON xli
The early thirties saw the invention and development
of the steam railroad, and the Inhabitants of Long
Island were impatient to enjoy its benefits. A company
was formed and every effort was made towards the
pledging of sufficient subscriptions to carry on the work
to a successful termination. With this end In view a
county convention was called at the Court House at
North Hempstead, November 25, 1833, to determine
ways and means of making a success of the undertaking.
Thompson was appointed secretary of the convention and
was one of several delegates sent to a similar convention
of the entire Island held at Smithtown in the following
month. Besides public activity, he spent considerable
time in personally soliciting stock subscriptions and In
many ways did much to advance the work. The road
was a success and In 1837 was extended as far as
Hicksville; 1838 saw the entrance of a branch line
into Hempstead, and by 1844 the road was completed,
amidst great rejoicing, to the end of the Island at
Greenport, Thompson had always realized the importance of
travel facilities to the development of the Island. Before
the advent of railroads he had done considerable towards
the building and upkeep of highways and was a delegate
to and secretary of a convention which drafted a road
bill, afterwards passed by the Legislature.
During 1834, Thompson's portrait was painted by
William S. Mount of Setauket, Long Island's best artist,
and whose work is highly appreciated today. Mount was
a boyhood friend and did the work at the historian's
residence at Hempstead. From this portrait a steel
engraving was made and used as a frontispiece in the
second eduion. It Is reproduced as a frontispiece in this
book. During the winter of 1833-34 our subject undertook a
journey to Washington, and we shall hear of It In his own

xlii BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
Interesting style from a letter written to his beloved
father-in-law. The President mentioned is General An
drew Jackson and " Mr. Van Buren " is Martin Van
Buren, Vice-President at that time.
"Hempstead, Feb. 6, 1834.
"Revd. Sir:
You have probably seen Samuel since his return and
he has no doubt Informed you of my journey to Wash
ington, where I went partly to see the world and partly
to witness the management of things in that great
Sanhedrin of politics and Intrigue. Washington was very
full of people, and great matters were no doubt going
forward in the different departments of the administra
tion. I was introduced to the President and had the
pleasure of a few minutes conversation — his house pos
sesses all the quiet of a private family and he appears
an amiable and mild old man, pretty much broken down
with the cares and perplexities of office. He Is no doubt
one of the best men In the world, but his age and infirmi
ties, I fear, have subjected him to the influence of those
around him, who are not quite as honest and patriotic as
himself. He believes the United States bank to be a
dangerous institution, and to be under Improper and cor
rupt management and therefore is determined that It
shall go down, and down I suppose It will go, and ruin
must follow upon the heads of many worthy citizens. I
was well acquainted with Mr. Van Buren before, and
therefore had no difficulty in finding him and having a
familiar discourse about matters and things In general
and of our Le^slative acquaintances at Albany In par
ticular. I also called and spent an hour with Mrs. Wool,
who Is a principal Belle at Washington and one of the
most splendid women there. She has promised to make
us a visit next summer, provided she comes to the North.
She expressed much gratitude to you and the family for

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xliii
the singular and affectionate attention which you mani
fested towards her dear mother.
The Houses of Congress were not in session while we
staid, but we had the better chance to examine every part
of the Capitol and the public Library. The Supreme
Court was sitting, and I had an opportunity to see all the
Judges in their purple robes of office, a costume coeval
with the institution of the court. Judge Marshall is a
dignified but plain man and wears his hair clubbed in the
old style. Judge Thompson's face Is puckered up like a
baked apple. Mr. Wirt, late Attorney General of the
United States, was speaking — he is one of the most elo
quent men and most beautiful writers in America — as his
life of Patrick Henry exemplifies.
In our journey we visited Philadelphia, Baltimore,
York, Harrisburgh, and Lancaster. The Legislature
of Pennsylvania was in session at Harrisburgh and
the deposit question was all the talk, as it was every
where else.
I had the pleasure of a conversation with Mr.
Buchanan, our late Minister to Russia, at Lancaster,
where he lives — he looks more like an old farmer than
a minister plenipotentiary.
The weather for several days has been like spring, but
being out of season we shall probably pay for it with
Interest at lo per cent, which is high premium. We had
a wedding party last evening at our next neighbors.
Joshua Coles is married to a Miss Jennings, originally
from Southold and we were up to a late hour. Please
remember us to all friends and visit us when you can.
Yours respectfully, B. F. Thompson."
A journey to Washington In those days was no mean
undertaking. It took four days by stage, boat, and rail
road, and of the latter only a few miles were In existence

xliv BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
between South Amboy and Philadelphia. The " smoking
locomotive with her train of cars" was an object of
great interest, and " we were whirled along the smooth
rails at the rate of nearly twenty miles an hour! "
The year 1839 was marked by the marriage of his
youngest daughter Harriet to Jacob T. Vanderhoof of
New York on June 12.
We now come to Thompson's historical achievements
which have carried his renown through succeeding gen
erations and which have made his name a household
word among all those interested in Long Island's history.
For many years previous to the appearance of the first
edition of his History of Long Island he visited every
county and town office on the Island, where he consulted
the records of the respective counties and towns and
interviewed hundreds of individuals possessed of his
torical records or who themselves were participants In
the stirring events of the past. Thompson lived In a
fortunate age for historical compilation. During the
early part of his life many of the heroes of the Revolu
tion were still alive and could tell him with their own
lips of the interesting scenes they had witnessed. An
added advantage was his close acquaintance with the his
torians and authors of his time, such men as Washington
Irving, George Bancroft, E. B. O'Callaghan, and Justice
Kent. From these he obtained hints and helps in his
laborious undertaking.
Not content with Investigations on Long Island, he
examined the archives at the Secretary of State's office at
Albany and the historical collections of New York City
to further aid his task. Many of Long Island's first
settlers came from New England, and in order to famil
iarize himself with their antecedents he made a tour of
the several states Included in this territory and visited the
larger libraries of Boston, Cambridge, Salem, Hartford,
Worcester, and New Haven.

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xlv
Thompson's history Is today recognized by all as the
premier authority on Long Island, and this enviable posi
tion was won by the Indefatigable researches and keen
judgment of Its author. In searching for historical accu
racy, he carefully weighed every fact that came to his
notice and never accepted a statement until It was thor
oughly confirmed. He believed that a strict Impartiality
should be the aim of the true historian and that he should
at no time descend to the level of an advocate or special
pleader for any one class of persons or section of
territory. Thompson was a methodical man and arranged his
material In such a way that his book became a model for
local histories. The reader will find that the Island as
a whole Is first dealt with — the counties are then touched
upon and finally a detailed treatment of the several towns
Is offered. As Washington Irving said, "It is quite a
mine of local history."
The first edition was published at his own expense in
1839 by Eli French, 146 Nassau Street, New York, and
was quickly disposed of. In 1843 a second edition
extended to two volumes was brought out by Gould,
Banks and Company of 144 Nassau Street, New York,
at the joint expense of author and publisher. The entire
edition was exhausted In twelve months and many orders
had to be refused. As Thompson says, " an edition
three times as large could have been disposed of."
As these facts indicate, the merits of the book were
Immediately appreciated by the public and it received the
universal approbation of the press. Very flattering let
ters were received by the author from Washington
Irving, George Bancroft, Henry Clay, William H.
Seward, and others of lesser importance. A more con
crete evidence of the esteem In which his historical labors
were held is the fact that he was the recipient of not a
few honorary and corresponding memberships In the

xlvi BIOGRAPHY OF B. F, THOMPSON
best known historical and genealogical societies. Among
these may be mentioned The New York, New Jersey,
and Connecticut Historical Societies, the New England
Historic-Genealogical Society, and the Brooklyn City
Library. Thompson continued his historical investigations up to
the time of his death. He felt that ancestry and environ
ment called on him to preserve the traditions of his native
Isle for future generations, and to the work he gave his
best talents.
The last years of his full life were spent in rewriting
considerable portions of the book and Incorporating
therein a great quantity of valuable historical informa
tion hitherto unpublished, the result of final Investigations
In his chosen field. A short time before his death the
complete manuscript was finished and ready for the
printer's hand. From that manuscript this book Is
printed and Its publication is a fitting memorial to the
man and his accomplishments.
One year after the appearance of the second edition,
our subject read an essay on the Indian names of places
on Long Island before the New York Historical Society,
and was at the time chosen a member of a committee
charged with the compilation of an Indian map of the
state. Thompson was In considerable demand as a lecturer
upon historical topics and during his life appeared before
many different societies and lyceums.
His death in 1849 was untimely In many ways. During
the last few years of his life he devoted himself to the
collection of material for a contemplated history of
Staten Island, and If he had been spared, the undertaking
would have been accomplished. Much of his corre
spondence with prominent men and antiquarians of this
territory Is In existence and exhibits their hearty co-opera
tion In the work. His talents as a historian were then

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xlvli
widely known and his embarkation upon the task created
considerable Interest.
A genealogy of the Lawrence family and a work on
curious American epitaphs also engaged his attention, but
these too were stopped by the stern hand of death.
While on this subject, it Is proper to remark that he was
constantly appealed to for the compilation of genealogies
for Long Island families, and his endeavors in this line
formed a start for future genealogists of the Island.
Many present-day workers consider Thompson the best
authority on the subject. At his death he left accounts
of practically all of the native families and some of
these are to be found as an appendix to this edition.
Travel occupied part of his time during later years,
and quaint accounts are found of several tours. In July
1847, accompanied by his wife, daughter, and grand
children, he visited the Hon. Mahlon Dickerson at
Suckasunny, New Jersey, a man of considerable impor
tance, whose forebears were Long Islanders and who on
different occasions filled the offices of Secretary of the
Navy, Governor of New Jersey, and United States
Senator. In appearance Thompson was short and erect. His
face was deeply lined and remained clean-shaven through
out his life. His visage though dignified was kindly and
that he had a vein of humor in his makeup is attested
by some of his letters.
He detested sham and hypocrisy, and was especially
Intolerable of dishonesty In public office. When con
vinced of this In others he was quick and thorough in his
denunciation and wielded a most pointed pen. When
imposed upon or attacked, he exhibited a righteous anger
although never stooping to personal abuse.
A deep love for his wife and children was a
prominent characteristic. He was interested in the
children's pranks and occupations, and watched with

xlviii BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON
fond interest their growth and development. In letters
to relatives mention Is often made of their ^ accom
plishments and foibles; and that he instilled In them
correct principles of living Is very evident. The death
of his son Henry was a hard blow. The young man gave
promise of being a most valuable citizen and just
previous to his demise had been chosen to occupy a
responsible position in a New York bank. The grief of
the father is most pathetically shown in letters of this
period. To one Interested in history and genealogy, love of
family was a natural corollary. Thompson kept up an
extended correspondence with relatives and endeavored
to encourage them in their several pursuits and to lend
a helping hand when necessary. A letter written to a
long-absent brother-in-law Is interesting: " From the
eternal silence you preserve toward all your friends In
this quarter, we might suspect that death had closed upon
you if we did not occasionally hear otherwise from peo
ple that have actually seen and conversed with you,
" Why you choose to be so taciturn towards your
friends and especially to your dear parents, is best known
to yourself — ^you may well expect that we should all be
glad to hear from you, and more than all to see you —
your father grieves that his William should forget his
love and your mother Is actually afflicted that you do not
visit her. After the death of her dear Susan and the
removal from this neighborhood of her eldest daughter,
and her advancement in age and infirmity. It is easy to
perceive that she should be distressed by your neglect of
writing or visiting her.
" If your business will admit of it, you had better come
on; If you have no wish to return to Savannah, you can
get sonie employment In New York. You could no doubt
get a situation with Colonel Joshua Fleet, who Is I be
lieve engaged In the commission line. If you neglect a

BIOGRAPHY OF B. F. THOMPSON xlix
few years more to visit your aged parents, the probability
is that you may never see them more.
" Brewster Jayne and Samuel L. Anselm have kept
away until their father and mother have been consigned
to the grave — a very awful, and which to me would be a
most distressing occurrence. Herman has a family and
is deeply Immersed In the cares of the world, and yet he
has made It convenient to visit us and surely you may do
It also. " If you come to New York, you can take stage at
Brooklyn and be with us In about two and a half hours.
I shall be glad to hear from you. If you are willing to
write. Your parents are In health at present."
The latter part of the summer of 1848 was spent in a
tour of the state — also a side trip to the Canadian side
of Niagara Falls — and on the 13th of August he was
once more at Hempstead. During the ensuing fall and
winter the manuscript of the third edition of his Long
Island was prepared for the printer's hands and spare
time was spent in arranging his collection of epitaphs for
publication. On February 8, 1849, he wrote to Mr. Thaddeus W.
Harris, librarian of Harvard University, concerning his
forthcoming book, and we can almost perceive in the let
ter a prophecy of the end so near at hand: " The manu
script of my third edition of the history of Long Island
Is ready for the press, and I am only waiting the procur
ing of a sufficient number of subscribers to warrant the
publication. The second edition Is exhausted and the
amount and value of the new material make me desirous
of printing a more complete work, before I die."
On the morning of the 21st day of the following
March he set out for Brooklyn for the purpose of attend
ing to a legal matter In that city. Having accomplished
his errand, he crossed to New York and repaired to the
home of his son-in-law, Jacob T. Vanderhoof, at 97

I BIOGRAPHY OF B. F, THOMPSON
Greene Street, arriving at six o'clock in the evening.
Throughout the day he had complained of fatigue and a
sick stomach. During dinner he arose from the table
complaining of severe cramps and sat down for a while
In the adjoining parlor. In a few moments he rose
abruptly and threw himself upon a sofa, making signs for
aid. The family, now thoroughly alarmed, sent for a
physician, but in a few moments he passed quietly away
without a perceptible struggle.
His body was transferred to Hempstead and the
funeral was held from his home in that village on Satur
day, March 24, 1849. The services were performed by
the Rev. Dr. Jacob Schoonmaker, pastor of the Re
formed Dutch Church at Jamaica, and the Rev. Dr.
James N. MacDonald, a fellow historian, pastor of the
Presbyterian Church in the same village. The latter pro
nounced over the coffin a most sublime discourse on the
Immortality of the soul. He was buried in the Presby
terian church-yard at Hempstead beside his son Henry,
whom he loved so well. As Dr. MacDonald said, " In
their lives they were united, and In death they are not far
divided." Mrs. Thompson survived her husband almost twenty
years and continued to reside at Hempstead until her
death. Thompson's sudden death produced a feeling of pro
found grief throughout the Island and, in fact, the entire
state, and many an appreciative tribute to his life and
work were received from men high In the walks of litera
ture and statecraft.
A touching eulogy of the man Is found In Augustus
Griffin's Journal, published In 1857.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
VOL. I

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Long Island may be described as the south-easterly
portion of the state of New York, situated between
71° 47' and 73° 57' west longitude from Greenwich, and
extending from about 40° 34' to 41" 10' north latitude,
and from 2" 58' to 5" 3' east longitude from Washington
City; being In length, from Fort Hamilton at the Narrows
to Montauk Point, nearly one hundred and forty miles,
with a mean range north 69° 44' east. Its breadth from
the Narrows, as far east as the Peconic Bay, varies from
twelve to twenty miles In a distance of ninety, widening in
a space of forty miles from Brooklyn, and then gradually
lessening in width to the head of Peconic Bay. This bay
is an Irregular sheet of water. Into which the Peconic
River discharges Itself, expanding In width as It proceeds
eastwardly from Riverhead, and separating this part of
Long Island Into two distinct branches, — the northerly
branch terminating at Oyster Pond Point,* and the
southerly branch at the extremity of Montauk; the latter
branch being the longer of the two by about twenty
miles. The area of the Island, including the great South Bay,
may be estimated at more than two thousand square miles,
or twelve hundred and eighty thousand acres. Although
the Island Is narrow and its southern shore tolerably
' Now Orient Point. — ^Editor.

4 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
straight, yet Inclining considerably from an east and
west line, it occupies in its whole extent about 36' of
latitude. A line due south from the City Hall, New York,
would pass about one and a half miles east of Fort Hamil
ton, and cut off the west end of Coney Island. A line
drawn due east from the City Hall, enters the Island
near the foot of South Fifth Street, In WUlIamsburgh,
passes three-quarters of a mile north of Jamaica Village,
leaving a greater part of Queens County on the north;
It approaches the south bay, going about a mile and a half
north of Babylon, and enters said bay at a distance of
fifty miles from New York. Thus the whole of Suffolk
County, with the exception of about thirty square miles,
lies north of the City Hall.
Long Island Is bounded on the west partly by the
Narrows, partly by New York Bay and the East River,
and partly by Long Island Sound; on the north by the
Sound; on the east by the Sound and Gardiner's Bay; and
on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, including the Islands
called the North and South Brother, and RIker's Island
In the East River; Plumb Island, Great and Little Gull
Island, Fisher's Island, and Gardiner's Island in the
Sound; and Shelter Island, and Robin's Island In Peconic
Bay. A ridge, or chain of hills, more or less elevated, com
mences at New Utrecht In Kings County, and extends,
with occasional Interruptions and depressions, to near
Oyster Pond Point * In the County of Suffolk. In some
parts this ridge or spine (as it Is sometimes called) Is
covered by forest, and In others entirely naked, having
stones, and frequently rocks of considerable size, upon
their very summits, presenting to the geologist and phi-
' Now Orient Point. — ^Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 5
losopher a curious subject of inquiry and speculation. The
surface of the Island north of the ridge is in general rough
and broken, excepting some of the necks and points that
stretch Into the Sound, which are, for the most part, level ;
while the surface south of the ridge Is almost a perfect
plain, destitute not only of rocks, but even of stones
exceeding in weight a few ounces. On both sides of the
island are numerous streams, discharging their contents
Into bays and harbors, affording convenient sites for
various manufacturing establishments; while the bays
themselves are navigable for vessels of considerable size,
where they are well protected from storms and heavy
winds. On the south side of the Island Is that remarkable
feature in the geography of the country, the great South
Bay, extending from Hempstead * In Queens County, to
the eastern boundary of Brookhaven — a distance of more
than seventy miles of uninterrupted Inland navigation.
It Is In width from two to five miles, and communicating
with the sea by a few openings In the beach, the principal
of which is opposite the town of Isllp, called Fire Island
Inlet, and through which most of the vessels enter the
bay. In this bay are very extensive tracts of salt marsh,
and Islands of meadow, furnishing an Immense quantity
of grass annually to the Inhabitants; and its waters are
equally prolific of almost every variety of shell and scale
fish, which can never be exhausted. Wild fowl of many
kinds, and In countless numbers, are found here, affording
a pleasant recreation to the sportsman, and a source of
profitable employment to many hundreds of Individuals,
who pursue It as matter of emolument. Indeed, the
country generally, as well as the markets of New York
and Brooklyn, are mostly supplied by the produce of this
' Now included in Nassau County. — ^Editor.

6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
bay, and It Is a mine of Inexhaustible wealth. The bony
fish that abound here are used extensively for fertilizing
the soil, and are unsurpassed by any other manure. The
beach which separates this bay from the ocean. Is com
posed entirely of sand, which in many places Is drifted
by the winds into hills of the most fantastic forms, and
In other parts Is low and flat, scarcely rising a few feet
above the level of the ocean. This beach is in some
places nearly half a mile in width, and has upon many
parts, a considerable growth of forest, and some tillable
land, although less of the latter than formerly. Very
great and extraordinary changes are constantly taking
place on this beach, composed of drift sand and exposed,
as it Is to the continual action of the winds and the heavy
waves of the wide and boisterous Atlantic. While in
some parts much of the beach has been washed away, in
others large accretions of alluvial matter have been
made; and at the same time the sand is carried onward,
so that the guts or Ihlets are constantly progressing to
the westward. In some instances these changes have been
so rapid, that persons now living can remember when
some of these Inlets were miles farther to the eastward
than they now are. Some persons have accounted for
this progressive alteration from what they suppose to
be the indirect effects of the Gulf Stream, which, moving
In immense volume with a velocity of five miles the hour
without diminution or interruption, in an eastwardly direc
tion, sweeping past the American coast from the Gulf
of Mexico to Newfoundland, causes a current or eddy
upon the shore In an opposite direction ; and Its materials
being composed of loose sand, are carried onward by
the force of the current, and deposited in places to the
westward. The existence of such a current upon the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 7
southern shore of Long Island is demonstrated by a fact
of ordinary occurrence, that goods cast Into the sea near
the coast will soon be found floating to the west, without
the agency of the wind, or other cause than the motion
of the water in that direction.*
The existence of this current, not being known generally
to mariners, may account for some shipwrecks upon this
coast. This may be presumed, as some of them would
seem to be otherwise unaccountable, except from a wilful
exposure of property and life, by intentional casting of
vessels upon the coast. The southern shore of the Island
is everywhere inaccessible to vessels of a large class.
In consequence of the flats and sand bars which stretch
parallel with, and at a short distance from, the beach.
This is usually denominated the bar, and In some places
there are two, called the outer and the inner bar.
The north, or Sound shore of Long Island is very
irregular, being influenced In shape and form by the
numerous bays and headlands, and is fortified against
the wasting effects of the waves by masses of stones and
rocks, projecting in some places beyond the edge of the
cliffs; and where these are not found, the coast has
evidently been worn away to a considerable extent by the
sea in the course of centuries. The ridge or spine of
the island has some considerably high hills, and are seen
at a great distance at sea, serving as landmarks to the
sailor nearing the coast. One of these, called Harbor
Hill In the town of North Hempstead, has been ascer
tained to be 319 feet above tide water; and another in
*In the winter of 1814 and 1815, the bodies of those who were drowned
by the wreck of the British sloop of war " Sylph," as well as parts of the
vessel and cabin furniture, were found, in a surprisingly short period
after, along the beach to the westward, even as far as Fire Island, more
than so miles from the place where the accident occurred.

8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the West Hills, town of Huntington, is 339 feet above
the sea. There Is, however, reason to believe that both
are much higher than has heretofore been supposed.
Long Island Sound, a Mediterranean Sea, separating the
island from the main land of Connecticut, is connected
with the ocean at each end of the island, and affords
a sheltered line of navigation of about 120 miles In
extent. The Sound proper may be said to commence
near Throg's Point, where the tides by Sandy Hook and
Montauk meet each other. This point upon which the
general government has erected Fort Schuyler at great
expense, received its name from John Throckmorton an
early settler of Westchester, to whom and his associates, a
patent was granted. Including the land now called Throg's
Neck, by Governor Kieft in 1642. Instead of Throck
morton Neck or Point, it has been cormpted to Throg's
and sometimes even Frog's Point. The course of the
Sound is about north-east for eighteen miles, between
Stamford and Lloyd's Neck, in which distance, the shores
are mgged, the channel rocky, and interrupted by small
islands and projecting points. Beyond Lloyd's Neck, the
Sound opens Into a noble elliptical expanse, from ten to
twenty miles wide ; presenting a fine view of gently rising
hills and sloping valleys, forests, and cultivated fields,
beautifully Intermixed. The water of the Sound Is
generally of sufficient depth for vessels of the largest
draught, and Is free from obstructions to navigation. Its
length is about 150 miles, reckoning from Sandy Hook
to Montauk; and its breadth in some places more than
twenty; average breadth about twelve miles. The force
of the current between Oyster Pond Point * and Plumb
Island Is very great, yet it Is exceeded by that called the
' Now Orient Point. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 9
Race in the vicinity of the Gull Islands, which, when
Increased by a north-east storm, is tremendous.
The Bay of New York being about nine miles in length
and five in breadth, has a communication with the Atlantic
through a strait of about a mile broad between Long
and Staten Islands. This is called the Narrows, and
on each side, as well as in the channel, are forts for
protecting the harbor. This magnificent bay is com
pletely sheltered from the stormy Atlantic by Long
Island, forming a noble basin, and offering a spacious
and safe anchorage for shipping to almost any ex
tent; while the quays which encompass the town, afford
facilities for loading and discharging cargoes. The
shipping in the harbor of New York, therefore, without
the erection of breakwaters or covering-piers. Is, in all
states of the wind, protected from the roll of the Atlantic.
Without the aid of docks, or even dredging, vessels of
the largest class lie afloat during low water of spring
tides, moored to the quays which bound the seaward sides
of the city; and, by the erection of wooden jetties, the
Inhabitants are enabled, at a small expenditure, to en
large the accommodations of their port, and adapt it
to their Increasing trade.
The perpendicular rise of tide is only five feet. The
tidal wave, however, increases in Its progress northward
along the coast, till at length In the Bay of Fundy, it
attains the maximum of ninety feet. Toward the south,
on the contrary. Its rise Is very much decreased, and In
the Gulf of Mexico, is reduced to eighteen Inches, while
on the shores of some of the West India Islands, It is
quite Imperceptible. A bar extends from Sandy Hook
to the shore of Long Island, across the entrance to the
harbor, over which is a depth of twenty-one feet at low

10 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
water, which Is sufficient to float the largest class of
merchant vessels. Proceeding easterly from the city of
New York, the river has a tortuous course for a distance
of sixteen miles. From the battery to the mouth of
Harlaem River, eight miles, the course Is north-north
east, and from thence to Throg's Point, east, nearly
eight more. At the bend, situated opposite Harlaem
River, Is the noted pass or strait called Hell Gate,
which is crooked; and from the numerous rocks,
islands, eddies, and currents. Is somewhat difficult
and dangerous, particularly for vessels of large size;
and many serious accidents have occurred at this place.
The danger, however. Is not so great as used to be
supposed, or as much so as appears from the agita
tion of its waters at half tide, to a stranger on his
visit to the spot. At such times the water forms, by Its
course among the rocks, noisy whirlpools of terrific
aspect, and capable of swallowing up or dashing In pieces
the largest ships exposed to their Influence. Besides the
streams which empty Into the Sound from the shore of
Long Island, there are several considerable rivers of
Connecticut that pour their contents Into it from the
north; among these may be mentioned the Saugatuc, the
Housatonic, the Thames, and the Connecticut. The
opinion has sometimes been advanced that the bed of
the Sound was at some remote period covered by the
waters of a lake; and there are many geological facts
in corroboration of the opinion also entertained, that
the shores of Long Island and the Island of Manhattan
were once contiguous. A tradition Is said to have pre
vailed among the Indians in that quarter, that their
ancestors could once cross from one side to the other
upon the rocks. These strongly resemble each other in

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND ii
their character and structure; and the probability of
their former union, may be considered as well established
as the nature of the case admits. By what extraordinary
convulsion of the elements the disruption was occasioned,
or how effected by natural causes, is a matter for specula
tion and inquiry.
SOIL AND CLIMATE
The soil of the Island Is so various, that It Is hardly
possible to give a general description applicable to any
considerable portion of It. Like the surface It has a
great diversity, for while no part can be called mountain
ous, yet much Is hilly and rough, particularly near the
Sound. The largest portion is either quite level or only
moderately undulating. The necks and headlands have
generally a rolling surface and a deep loamy soil, slightly
mixed with sand; on the south side is a flat surface,
and sandy soil, occasionally modified by loam or clay,
covered by a thin stratum of vegetable mould. The
more elevated grounds are of a superior quality to the
plains, and better adapted to most kinds of grain usually
raised In this climate. Hempstead Plain Is composed, in
good degree of a coarse black sand or fine gravel, yet
possessing, with the aid of a scanty soil, sufficient fertility
to yield a rich pasture for thousands of cattle and sheep,
for seven months in the year. With lime or ashes, it is
rendered quite productive. Along the north side of this
immense heath, In the region of Queens * County Court
House, and the settlement of Westbury, are some of the
' " The old Queens County Court House was situated on the north
side of the Jericho turnpike west of Mineola. The old building was
long an interesting landmark, but has been demolished during recent
years. The site is marked by a stone monument erected by the Long
Island Bible Society in 1915." — ^Editor.

12 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
best farms In the county, and If the whole of this open
waste was disposed of and Inclosed In separate fields, the
agricultural products of this portion of the island would
be nearly doubled. A stupid policy, consequent upon old
prejudices, has hitherto prevented any other disposition
of It, than as a common pasturage. It Is hoped the time
is not far distant, when this extensive tract shall abound
in waving fields of grain, yielding not only support, but
profit, to thousands of hardy and Industrious citizens. It
appears that a course far more rational was contemplated
by the Inhabitants about a century ago and which it Is
greatly to be regretted, had not then been fully accom
plished. Page 198 of the town records shows, that it was voted
and agreed at a town meeting In Hempstead, March 30,
1752, that the plains should be divided to every person
that had any right therein, and that Jacob Smith, Richard
Ellison, John Williams, John Dorian, John Birdsall, and
John Foster were appointed and empowered to make such
division, each person having land so laid out to him,
paying the costs of laying out the same. A protest was
however entered against the measure, and It Is probable
that It became in the end so unpopular, as to have been
finally abandoned.
It was afterwards, April i, 1755, resolved to fence
said plains, for which purpose an appropriation was
made, but such was the opposition, that in April 1763 the
town voted to dispose of the materials which had been
provided for the purpose.
Eastward of this plain and extending nearly to the
head of Peconic Bay, Is a vast tract of land sparsely
covered with small pines and shrub oaks, portions of
which only are enclosed. Although the soil of a great

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 13
part of this waste Is sandy and probably unsusceptible
of profitable cultivation by any process heretofore known,
yet many portions of It, particularly on and adjacent to
the line of the Long Island Railroad, Is quite loamy, and
with the facilities now afforded for the transportation of
manure, will become highly valuable for agricultural
purposes. Accordingly attempts are now making by enterprising
Individuals to redeem occasional parts of this hitherto
useless territory, and It Is hoped their very laudable exer
tions will be followed by merited success, thereby stimu
lating others to imitate so worthy an example.
When it Is considered that this region, being allowed
to remain covered with wood and other wild growth,
combustible in its nature, is liable to be overrun by fires,
by which great damage has heretofore been sustained, it
Is matter of Importance that it should be used in a manner
more profitable to the owners, and far more creditable to
the character of the people, for Intelligence and industry.
The soil of Kings County is in the aggregate possessed
of a greater natural fertility than most other parts of
Long Island : yet the lands about Newtown and Flushing,
as well as those upon Little Neck, Great Neck, Cow
Neck,* and portions of Oyster Bay, are wonderfully
prolific. The numerous and extensive tracts of salt meadows
and marshes, in various places, and upon the south side
of the Island particularly, produce an almost Inexhaustible
quantity of food for cattle and horses, of a nutritious
quality. The Immense shell banks which heretofore existed on
the sites of ancient Indian villages, have in many Instances
' Now Manhasset Neck. — ^Editor.

14 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
been removed, and their contents applied for fertilizing
the soil with eminent advantage. Upon the southerly side
of the Island, as well as In the towns of Riverhead and
Southold, the bony fish have been principally used for
manure, and with great success. The profusion of this
species of fish and the consequent cheapness of the article,
will probably always Insure Its use in those parts of the
Island where they abound. It is probable that at least
100,000,000 are annually taken for this purpose.
There is reason to believe that the farmers of Long
Island furnish yearly for market a surplus of beef, pork,
hay, and grain, amounting to more than $150,000 In
value ; and in all probability the produce of the south bay
Is little short of the like sum. The fire-wood sent annually
from the bays and harbors of this island, has amounted
to at least $60,000 for the last fifty years. The value
of a good part of which has been returned In ashes and
other kinds of manure.
Long Island Is, as has been Intimated, abundantly sup
plied with springs, and of the purest water, many of them
being made to form ponds for driving mills, which are
almost indispensable to the Inhabitants. The localities of
these groups of copious springs, says Mr. Mather, are
either at the heads of the bays, and re-enterlngs of the
coast, or in the valleys prolonged beyond the heads of
the bays, or at the heads of the small bays and marshes,
branching from the main bays.
The main features, says he, of the topography of Long
Island, are a range of hills from one end to the other,
and occupying most of the northern half; and a nearly
level plain, slightly undulating, with a very small declivity,
extending from the southern base of the hills to the
south shore. There are valleys through the hills, from the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 15
heads of nearly all the bays, which extend across the plain
to the south shore. They have the appearance of chan
nels, through which the water has flowed In tidal currents,
before the emergence of the land from the ocean, and
have either been excavated since the deposition of the
strata, or else the currents setting through these channels,
prevented the deposition of as much earthy matter, as In
other adjacent parts. The evidence preponderates In
favor of the latter supposition, and that the same general
cause has acted during the deposition of the various
strata, from the lowest of the depositions that have come
under observation through the drift and quaternary
periods, until the Island emerged from the waters of the
ocean, so that currents no longer flow across it. This
suggests an obvious reason why such quantities of spring
waters flow from particular localities.
On the south shore of the Island, the same cause does
not act. There the quaternary strata are all pervious
sands and gravels, and the springs flow from about tide
water level, or a few feet above, and are very uniformly
distributed along the coast. The sides of these valleys
are almost all gravelly and pebbly, and the bottoms the
same, except that In the hilly ranges, they are frequently
loam and clay, covered by superficial beds of sand and
gravel. The climate of Long Island depends as much upon Its
Insular situation as upon the latitude in which it is
situated. The influence of the sea renders it more tem
perate than many other places In the same latitude In the
interior. The humidity of our atmosphere and its vari
ableness of temperature, render it perhaps less conducive
to health and longevity than If It were either colder or
warmer, and less liable, at the same time, to great and

1 6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sudden alteration. In the summer, and generally In the
afternoon, the Island Is almost regularly fanned by a
breeze from the ocean, which renders It a desirable place
of residence at that enervating season of the year. The
same cause melts the snow in winter, and often before It
reaches the ground. The west and south-west winds pre
dominate In more than half the months of the year; the
thermometer seldom falling below zero In winter, or
rising above ninety degrees In summer; the mean tempera
ture being about fifty-one degrees, which Is the ordinary
temperature of springs and deep wells.
It Is well known that the temperature of places In the
same latitude Is modified by the elevation of the land,
the state of cultivation, proximity to the sea, or large
bodies of water that do not freeze, and by the course of
the prevailing winds. The temperature of the air Is
supposed to decrease In the same latitude one degree for
every 590 feet of elevation above the level of the sea.
The elevation of Mexico being 7,217 feet above the sea,
in latitude 19° 18', reduces the temperature to that of
places on a level of the sea In latitude 33° 30'.
The United States are less elevated above the sea than
Europe, and the difference is in favor of a milder climate
with us. The climate of this country has been estimated
to be from ten to fifteen degrees colder than the corre
sponding latitudes In Europe. From the description of
the climate of France and Italy by the Roman writers
a few years before the Christian era, the temperature of
those countries could not have been materially different
from that of the United States at present. Their rivers
were frozen solid, and the earth covered with snow more
or less of the winter. Experience shows that rivers do
not congeal with any degree of solidity until the ther-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 17
mometer Is as low as twenty, and In the United States in
the latitude of Italy. The thermometer at present is
seldom below twenty more than a few days during the
winter. To produce the effects described, must have re
quired quite as severe frost as now prevails in the same
latitude in the United States, If not more so; and the
same causes which have produced the change In the
climate there, will have the same effect here, so far as
they are common to both countries. The clearing up
and cultivating the country is the most powerful cause
that has contributed to this effect, and will have a great
influence in meliorating the climate of the country. The
trees which cover an uncultivated country, shield it from
the rays of the sun, and deprive the earth of the heat
derived usually from that source. It Is proved by experi
ment that the temperature of Improved land is ten degrees
greater than wood land.
Evaporation and rain are sources of cold, and are
more abundant in a country covered with timber; more
moisture Is supposed to evaporate from the leaves of a
given quantity of green timber than from the same extent
of water. The influence of these causes Is lessened by
cultivation ; the earth becomes warmer and drier, and the
temperature of the air Is increased. The air from the
sea has also a powerful effect on the climate; the sea
being eight or ten degrees warmer in winter and colder
In summer than the earth, and In proportion as the
country Is cleared, the air from the sea penetrates further
into the country, moderates the heat In summer and the
cold In winter; and operates to render the temperature
of the seasons more mild and uniform. The climate Is
also affected by the course of the winds. Formerly upon
Long Island the north-west was the predominant wind

1 8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
in the winter months, and the north-east wind generally
prevailed in the spring and sometimes In the fall; but at
present, as before observed, the west and south-west are
predominant In more than half the months In the year.
These winds either come from the sea, or blow over a
country less cold than that traversed by the north-west
and north-east winds, and of course more mild and
temperate. The climate here Is evidently undergoing a change,
and becoming more uniform than heretofore ; the winters
are less severely cold, and the summers not so scorching
hot. The extreme cold, and its long continuance In some
seasons at Intervals of eight or ten years, is probably
attributable to the effect of large bodies of floating ice
which is formed at the Pole, and being detached from the
great mass. Is brought by the prevailing currents towards
our coast, thereby disturbing the ordinary course of the
seasons, and making the air, while passing our latitude,
much colder and of longer continuance than it would
otherwise be.
Thus In the year 1816 there was frost upon Long
Island in every month of the year, and the com was killed
almost universally by the fifth of September. The same
cause occasioned the cold summers of 1836 and 1837, but
not to the same extent, the floating Ice being less extensive,
or was carried by the winds further from the shores.

GEOLOGY OF LONG ISLAND
Long Island does not present as much variety to the
observation of the philosopher and geologist as some
other parts of the state ; yet there Is probably enough to

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 19
warrant the belief of Its gradual formation by natural
causes, and that a greater part of the Island, If not the
whole, has been reclaimed from the ocean. The dis
coveries made by deep excavations of the earth In various
places, seem to have left this point no longer a matter of
uncertainty or doubt with those who carefully consider
the subject. The reasonings and conclusions which these
surprising developments have given rise to, are, to the
scientific Inquirer, most curious and Interesting. Dr.
Ebenezer Emmons says that Long Island, the Atlantic
district of the state. Is a gift from ocean's waves, or from
Neptune's hand, sands washed from the deep by waves
from the broad sea breaking upon the skirts of land,
and casting up the debris of a wasted continent. It
stretches far away In a south-east direction. In the form
of an Immense ridge of sand and drift, or in more com
mon language. Is an alluvial formation of a very porous
character. It rises 300 feet above the sea. It Is the
grand rendezvous for birds of passage. Here they resort
from the arctic regions, and find a retreat from the
pinching frost of a northem winter; and from the tropics,
to escape a burning sun, and find protection from the
heats of summer. Fruit trees bloom at Easthampton a
week later than In the Interior of the state and a fort
night later than at the west end of the island. The
harvest Is also later, but the frosts are later by a month
than the average of the state, and three weeks later in the
western parts of the Island.
If we except the drift upon its northem slope, or that
which faces the Sound, Long Island has been reclaimed
from the ocean; It is based undoubtedly upon a reef of
rocks, which first formed a bed whereon the waves washed
up the sand, and this has continued to accumulate to the

20 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
present time. The Hempstead plains, whose soil when
washed is merely a white beach sand, is destitute of
the elements essential to fertility. It bears light crops,
and produces moderately well for a season, yet soon fails
even with special nursing.
It is abundantly demonstrated that very extensive alter
ations have taken place, and are still in progress upon
the shores, and within bays and harbors, by the inroads
which the sea Is incessantly making in some places, and
the large accretions to the land in other locations.
Land slides, or the slipping or the tumbling down of
banks and high cliffs, are common on the Island, of which
there are many examples on the north coast. In conse
quence of the sea washing away the base of the cliffs,
large masses slip off and sometimes slide Into the sea.
The washing away the base of the cliffs, conjointly with
land springs, which in some localities convert the beach
of sand into quicksand, cause the mass of superimposed
materials to flow off from the slippery clay beds, often
times carrying with them the trees and shrubs, and some
times without changing their relative position. Many
years since, a pond, skirted with marsh containing trees,
was situated near the edge of the cliff, near Sweezey's
landing. Mr. Skidmore stated, that one of his brothers,
when young was playing with another lad in this pond,
when the water In It was higher than usual. The water
burst Its barrier, and flowed with the sand of the cliff
so suddenly into the Sound, as to uproot and bear away
the trees, even In the marsh around It. The two boys
were hurled also down the cliff with the descending
torrent, trees, mud, and sand. Into the sea, and the brother
of Mr. Skidmore was so much bruised thereby that he
died In consequence thereof.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 21
The more extensive and extraordinary marine en
croachments of the kind have been and are now In
continual operation upon the south shore of the Island,
the materials of which It Is generally constmcted, being
incapable of opposing any considerable barrier to the
violence of winds and waves, especially during the ex
istence of heavy storms, driving with Inconceivable force
and augmented energy, against the soft and yielding sub
stance of the headlands and beaches.
Its effects and ravages are perceptible to the most com
mon observation from one end of the Island to the other;
yet probably In no one place so palpable as about Graves-
end, and particularly in the neighborhood of Coney
Island. John Van Dyck, Esq., recollects when the beach
at Coney Island was composed of high and extensive
sand-hills, where it Is now a flat and level beach, some
times covered by the tides; and he has cut grass upon a
part of the beach which Is now at a considerable distance
In the sea. At other places where the water was of
sufficient depth to float vessels of fifty tons, it is now solid
ground. Mr. Court Lake, of the same place, aged
seventy-nine, states that his grandfather, about 1 10 years
ago, cut a quantity of cedar posts upon a part of Coney
Island which Is now two miles In the ocean; and that he
has himself cut fire-wood at a place now a mile and a
half from the shore. There was also a house upon Pine
Island, owned by one Brown, the site of which Is now a
great way at sea ; and that Plumb Island was once covered
by fine timber, where there Is none now, the greatest
part of the land having washed away.*
•The state of New York, in 1836, made ample and honorable pro
vision for a scientific and thorough geological survey thereof; in pur
suance of which competent and experienced persons were assigned to

22 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The coast of Long Island on the south side, from Mon
tauk Point to Napeague Beach, a distance of about ten
miles. Is constantly washing away by the action of the
heavy surf against the base of the cliffs, protected only by
narrow shingle beaches of a few yards or rods in width.
The pebbles and boulders of these beaches serve as a
partial protection to the cliffs during ordinary tides in
calm weather, but even then, by the bouldering action of
the surf as It tumbles upon the shore, they are continually
grinding Into sand and finer materials, and swept far
away by the tidal currents. During storms and high
tides the surf breaks directly against the base of the
cliffs, and as they are formed only of loose materials,
as sand and clay with a substratum of boulders, pebbles,
gravel, and loam, we can easily appreciate the destmctive
agency of the heavy waves, rolling in, unbroken from the
broad Atlantic. The destruction of land from this cause
Is less than one would be led to suppose, but still it Is
considerable. The road from Napeague Beach to Mon
tauk Point, which was originally at some distance from
the shore, has disappeared in several places by the falling
of the cliffs. There are no data by which to estimate
the Inroads of the sea on this coast, as this part of the
Island is held in common by many associated individuals,
who use it for pasturage, and It Is inhabited by three
herdsmen only, who are frequently changed, and who
live several miles distant from each other.
From Napeague Beach to two miles west of South-
explore every section of the state. The appointment of geologist for the
district including Long Island was very properly confided to William W.
Mather, Esq., and his able and learned reports made at different times,
contain much interesting and valuable matter in relation to Long Island,
and to which we are principally indebted for our information on thi»
subject.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 23
ampton, the south coast of Long Island is protected by
a broad and slightly inclined sand beach, which breaks
the force of the surf as it rolls In from the ocean. From
Southampton, westward, the coast of the Island Is pro
tected by long narrow Islands, from one mile to five or
six distant from the main island.
Some parts of the north shore of the south branch of
the Island, from Montauk Point towards Sag Harbor,
are washing away, but not so rapidly as on the south
side of this branch of the Island.
The eastern parts of Gardiner's and Plum Islands,
which are composed of loose materials, are washing away
In consequence of the very strong tidal currents, and the
heavy sea rolling in upon their shores from the open
ocean. The action upon these coasts Is so rapid as to
attract the attention of the inhabitants, and calculations
even have been made, as to the time that will probably
elapse before they will have disappeared. Rocks
(boulders) that have formed a part of Plum Island, may
now be observed at low water a mile or more from the
present shore.
Little Gull Island, on which a light-house Is located,
was disappearing so rapidly a few years since, that It
became necessary to protect it from the farther In
roads of the ocean by encircling it with a strong sea
wall. Napeague Beach Is mostly drifting sand, piled up into
little hills or ridges, with marshy places and wet sand
between them. Much of the surface between Sag Harbor
and Easthampton, and toward Southampton, is In its
natural state, a loose and drifting sand. One place was
observed near Walnscott, where there were deep and
broad wheel tracks on the loam, where the sand had

24 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
recently drifted off. An old man present remembered
that, when he was a boy, a whale had been dragged
across that place, partly supported by wheels.
Between Canoe-place and Riverhead, the country Is
a deep drifting sand, except where the wind cannot act
upon It. The same Is tme of the region from Canoe-place,
west, through the central parts of Southampton, Brook
haven, the northern part of Isllp, and across Huntington,
where It communicates with the great southern plain of
Long Island. The country is almost entirely in Its wild
native state and no house or hut Is to be seen for many
miles. On the north branch of the island, the same character
of drifting sands may be seen In patches, more or less
extensive, between the villages of Riverhead and Mattl-
tuck, and westward toward Middle Island.
Oyster Pond Point ^ is wearing rapidly away, by the
combined action of the waves during heavy north-east
storms, and the strong tidal current, which flows with
great velocity through Plum Gut. A small redoubt, about
one quarter of a mile west of the Point, is nearly washed
away; and Mr. Latham, the owner of the farm, says,
that several rods in width have disappeared since his
remembrance. During the heavy storm of the 12th
October 1836, the sea made a clear breach over about
one quarter of a mile of the eastern part of the point,
washed away all the light materials, and cut a shallow
channel, through which the tide now flows. The effects
of this storm were very marked at many localities on the
north shore. The cliffs were undermined, and cmmbled
or slid down, exposing the geological structure, and
presenting beautiful coast sections of the strata. The
' Now Orient Point. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 25
time subsequent to the storm until the winter set In, was
devoted exclusively to meandering the coast on the north
part of Suffolk County, In order to Inspect In detail the
geological structure and phenomena of the alluvial and
tertiary deposits.
The destroying action of the sea upon the headlands
and cliffs, where currents and a heavy surf beat against
the coast, has been considered. Another effect of the
sea is, the formation of marine alluvion. It results from
the deposition of the materials transported coastwise by
tidal and marine currents, and by the action of the waves
in the direction of the prevailing winds and storms. The
winds which produce the greatest transport of alluvial
matter on the coast of Long Island (with the exception
of particular parts where there are local exceptions In
consequence of the form of the shore, or direction of
current), are from the north-east, during the heavy
north-east storms. These storms bring in a heavy sea
from the ocean, which, rolling obliquely along the shore,
aided by the powerful tidal currents, sweeps the alluvia
in a westerly direction. The north-west winds, are
nearly as powerful as the north-east, and blow for a
much longer period In the year; but do not bring an
ocean swell, and the waves which they raise fall upon the
shore In a line nearly perpendicular to the trend of the
coast; so that their effect Is to grind the pebbles and
gravel to sand by the action of the surf, rather than to
transport them coastwise. In this way, outlets of small
bays are frequently more or less obstructed by bars,
shoals, and spits, formed by the tidal currents sweeping
past their mouths, and depositing the materials In the
eddy formed by the meeting of the currents. If the
strongest currents and prevailing winds be coincident In

26 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
direction, the outlet of the harbor will of course be found
upon the leeward side.
Almost every bay. Inlet, and marsh upon the north
coast of Long Island, as well as the south, where they
are not protected from the sea by the long sandy Islands
mentioned In the preceding article, have their outlets
blocked up entirely by the materials deposited, or so
nearly as to leave only narrow entrances. Strong cur
rents set along the shore, and these, aided by the oblique
action of the surf, roll the pebbles and sand up on the
beach, which, on the retiring of the waves, are swept
again Into the surf, having described a semi-circular line,
and perhaps progressed several feet by the action of a
single wave. This mode of transport Is seen almost
everywhere on these coasts. The cliffs are undermined,
and the coarser parts of their wrecks are thus tumbled
along from time to time, by each succeeding storm. The
particular local effect of such causes can only be fully
understood by visiting the localities, or having accurate
detailed topographical maps, like those now In progress
under the supervision of the superintendent of the Na
tional Coast Survey. It Is hoped that those maps of
Long Island will be published before the geological survey
of the state of New York shall have been completed. In
order that an accurate, detailed map of this part of the
state may be formed, so as to Illustrate the numerous
Important geological details. The transporting action
above alluded to, has been the most effective agent In the
formation of the marine alluvions of Long Island. This
island has been composed of one principal, and several
small detached islands, which are now connected with
each other and with the main Island. The east end of
the island from Montauk Point to Napeague Beach, seems

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 27
to have been at some former time, two separate Islands,
which have since been connected with each other and
with the main Island by the westward currents sweeping
along detrltal matter, derived from the continual destruc
tion of cliffs of loose materials. Napeague Beach is five
miles long, a great part of which is loose, drifting sand,
enclosing marshes and salt ponds. This beach Is so
low in some places that the tides frequently overflow it.
The skeleton of a whale Is said to be now Imbedded In
these sands.
The land on both sides of Montauk Is gradually wear
ing away by the action of the water. The road, which
was formerly at a distance from the edge of the cliffs,
has already disappeared in many places from the under
mining action of the sea, and stumps of trees are found
on the north side below low water mark. Indications
of iron are occasionally seen along the banks and gullies,
and an ochrey brown oxide of iron occurs In a consider
able bed, a mile and a half from Napeague, A small but
lively spring, slightly chalybeate, on the north shore near
Oyster Pond,^ discharges Into the bay. It was freely
used by the Indians as a medicine. The water Is very
cold, and Its temperature appears to be uniform.
At Fort Pond Bay, a few miles east of Napeague
Beach, a narrow strip of shingle, frequently overflowed
by the tides, separates the Atlantic from this bay, which
Is separated from Long Island Sound by a beach some
times open, but often blocked up with sand. Great Hog
Neck and Little Hog Neck, near Sag Harbor, were once
Islands, which have been united by a sand and shingle
beach, and the latter with the main island. Farrington
Neck, a few miles west of these, was an Island which Is
' Now Orient.— -Editor.

28 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
now united by the main Island by a low beach. That
part of the township of Southold, which Is situated on
the main island, was originally three Islands, now con
nected with each other and with the main island by
beaches and marshes of alluvial formation. The effects
of alluvial action can be distinctly seen on the map of
Oyster Pond Polnt.^ It shows where two of the islands,
which were once separated from the east end of the north
branch of Long Island, have been connected by a beach
and sand-spit, enclosing a large pond, with an outlet only
wide enough for a mill sluice. A tide mill Is constructed
at this outlet.
Those long points of alluvion, called sand-spits, pro
jecting from the land in the line of the eddy currents,
and formed by them, are very common, and are. In fact,
the unfinished beaches which will eventually obstruct the
outlet of harbors and bays, and connect islands with
each other. An interesting alluvial formation Is now
In progress on the north and north-west sides of Lloyd's
Neck, in Huntington, and formed entirely by the deposit
of the coarse detrltal matter swept along by the current
from the destruction of the high cliffs In the vicinity.
This deposit Is about one quarter of a mile broad, partly
marsh and salt pond, protected by a high bank of shingle
piled up and continued westward, so that the present
outlet of the pond is half a mile further west than It was
within a recent period; the shingle having been con
tinually swept westward, while the flux and reflux of the
tide through the narrow channel keeps Its outlet open.
The hilly region of Long Island shows the character
of the drift deposits better perhaps than any other por
tion of our country, except the south-eastern part of
' Now Orient Point. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 29
Massachusetts. Some of these hills present elevations and
depressions of a hundred feet or more, and the highest
point of them Is 404 feet above the ocean. The ridges
which extend through the Island, are Interrupted In many
places, where channels seem subsequendy to have been
made across them. The country around Montauk Point,
or what is called Shawango Neck, once an Island, shows
this hilly character of the drift to as great advantage as
perhaps any other on Long Island.
The hills have a nearly uniform character, round-
backed, with deep valleys, without any approximation to
regularity, unless their tendency to a bowl-shape be so
construed. The valleys have no outlets, and the water
that falls or drains Into them, either sinks into the soil,
or collects so as to form pond holes.
The hills are in form like potato hills, but disposed hel
ter-skelter, and are from twenty to eighty or one hundred
feet high. At the Shinnecock hills, west of Southampton
village, near Canoe Place and at Dix Hills, the same
characters of the drift hills are observed, but on a smaller
scale. The ponds and small bays on the south side of Long
Island, In the townships of Southampton and Easthamp
ton, frequently have their outlets closed by beaches
formed by the detrltal matter swept coastwise by the tidal
currents and the waves. The long sandy Islands on the
south coast of Long Island, which protect it from the
heavy waves of the Atlantic, are doubtless formed by the
same cause. Long Beach Is a sand-spit, extending from
Ben's Point, near Oyster Pond Point,^ westward four
and one-fourth miles ; and has been formed by the detritus
swept coastwise, and deposited in the eddy currents.
' Now Orient Point— Editor.

30 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
This beach gives safety to Oyster Pond* Harbor, by
serving as a natural breakwater. Two sand-spits were
observed In Cold Spring Harbor, resulting from causes
similar to those above detailed.
The headlands and cliffs on this part of the Island are
continually wearing away by the action of the sea; and
the materials of which they are composed, consisting
principally of clay, sand, gravel, and pebbles, are trans
ported by tidal currents, and deposited in other places.
The tidal currents. In sweeping along the headlands and
cliffs, undermine them, and, transporting the materials
from which they are composed, form shoals, block up the
mouths of small Inlets and creeks, so as to form fresh
water ponds, by preventing the Ingress of salt water,
throw up sand beaches In front of marshes, form sand-
spits across the mouths of harbors, and connect Islands
with each other and the main land.
Huntington Bay, certainly one of the best on the island.
Is of alluvial origin. By reference to the map of Long
Island It will be seen that this bay Is formed by two
necks of land, Lloyd's Neck on the west and north-west,
and Eaton's Neck on the east and north-east. Lloyd's
Neck, which was originally an Island, has been connected
with the main Island by a low sand beach, now overflowed
at high water. Eaton's Neck was formerly a cluster of
four Islands, which have In some way been connected
with each other and with the main island. A sand-spit,
one and one-fourth mile In length, and from ten to twenty
rods in width, makes out Into the harbor from the south
west part of Eaton's Neck, and adds much to Its safety;
as also a similar one from the south-east part of Lloyd's
Neck. * Now Orient Harbor. — ^Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 31
There Is abundant evidence that this harbor, and the
safety of the smaller ones In the vicinity, are the result
of alluvial action. The materials composing the sand-
beaches and spits which I have mentioned, are precisely
like those now thrown up by the action of the surf; they
consist of pebbles, gravel, and fine siliceous sand. Inter
spersed with water-worn shells belonging to genera and
species now living on the coast; and they are destitute of
boulders, which characterize all those low places formed
by the degradation of the superincumbent materials.
The beach connecting Eaton's Neck with the main
island. Is three and a half miles in length, and ten to
thirty rods In width. Mr. Gardner, who keeps the light
on Eaton's Neck, informed me, that some years since,
a vessel, during a violent storm, having been driven upon
this beach, and an excavation made to get her off, marsh
mud was found beneath the sand near tide water level,
precisely like that In a small marsh on the opposite side
of the beach, clearly indicating the manner of formation
at that place.
On the north-west part of Eaton's Neck, a sand-beach,
one-half or three-fourths of a mile in length, has been
thrown up In front of a marsh containing several acres.
It has formed rapidly since the remembrance of Mr.
Gardner, who says he has seen sloops, loaded with
wood, float In places now some feet above tide-water
level, The long stretch of beach connecting Eaton's Neck
with the main Island, Is continued three-fourths of a mile
eastward, and is, a part of the way, formed in front of
cliffs which It protects from the farther encroachment of
the sea, and for the remaining distance, lies in front of a
small pond skirted with marsh, which formerly communi-

32 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
cated with the sea by means of a creek now filled with
alluvial sand.
An extensive salt marsh is In process of formation In
Glen Cove. The salt marshes near the head of Little
Neck Bay, occupy several hundred acres, and that at
the head of Flushing Bay some thousands.
A sand-beach, one-fourth of a mile in length, has been
formed between Long Island Sound and Crab Meadows,
through which a creek, entering obliquely from the north
west, passes in a serpentine direction through the marsh.
By the action of violent winds, the finer particles of sand
are formed Into hillocks, which are very slowly moving
Inland. At Fresh Pond Creek is a similar sand-beach. The
small pond at that place communicates with the sea by
means of a small creek, which is often filled by alluvial
sands, so as to prevent the Ingress of the salt water.
The obstruction has sometimes been removed by digging,
and at others, the water, rising In the pond, bursts Its
barrier, and finds its way to the ocean, removing every
obstacle, and making the channel deeper even than
before. At Sunken Meadows Is a sand-beach one-half mile In
length, through which a creek enters obliquely from the
north-east. Mr. Abraham Smith says this beach has
extended thirty rods In an easterly direction since his
remembrance. On the north part of Crane's Neck Is a shingle beach,
about a mile in length, between Flax Pond and the Sound.
The pond is skirted with marsh, and communicates with
the sea by an opening called Flax Pond Gut. The tidal
current Is so strong on this part of the coast, that the
finer materials have been carried onwards; while the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 33
coarser, consisting of pebbles, varying in size from a
marble to two or three Inches in diameter, have been left
to form this beach. A large proportion of the finer
materials appear to have been swept to the south-west
part of the neck, where, having been deposited, they form
shoals, and a long sand-beach between the sea and a
marsh of several acres In extent. This sand Is used In
sawing marble.
By the action of water on the headlands, sand-spits
have been formed across the mouths of Old Man's,^
Drown Meadow,^ Setauket, Stony Brook, and Smithtown
harbors. They are rendered safer by these alluvial de
posits, but they afford shelter only to vessels of small
burthen, on account of sand-bars, which extend from the
extreme points of the sand-spits across their entrances,
which, I am informed, in some instances, are moving
westward. Land-slides, on a small scale, are a very common
occurrence on the north coast of Long Island. They are
In some places caused by the sea undermining the cliffs,
so that the superincumbent masses crack off at a short
distance from their edges, and slide down to a lower
level, carrying with them trees and shmbs, and sometimes
without even changing their relative position. These
phenomena are common along the north shore, but they
are more striking and numerous where there are clay
beds, and particularly so where the clay slightly inclines
towards the sea. Where the cliffs are high, they present
an appearance of steps. In consequence of the successive
slides. Another cause of slides is the undermining action
of land-springs, which often convert sand Into quicksand,
so that it flows from the cliffs, and bears along with It
' Now Mt. Sinai. — Editor. ' Npw Port Jefferson. — Editor.

34 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the superincumbent masses : but In most Instances, they are
caused by springs, rendering the upper surface of clay-
beds slippery, so that large masses from the cliffs slide
down upon the shore, and even into the sea. Several
acres have thus slldden off at once, and sunk in level
from twenty to one hundred and fifty feet. By this means,
ravines of considerable extent are frequently formed by
successive slides along the line of these springs, and In
some Instances these valleys form the only places for
roads to the beach. A great number of examples of
these slides may be seen at Petty's Bight, between Hud
son's and Roanoke Points, and between Eastbrook and
Sweesey's Landing. One of the most remarkable slides
Is at Fresh Pond Creek. The land, having there slldden
down within the reach of the surf, is carried away at high
tides, and during storms, thus allowing new slides to take
place In succession. The degradation of the land on this
part of the coast, on individual farms. Is comparatively
trifling, but in the aggregate, during a series of years, It
Is matter of some moment. It Is a loss that cannot be
remedied except at too great an expense ; but the loss Is
local, not general, for the materials washed away from
one place, are deposited in another, and as much land Is
probably recovered from the sea, as Is destroyed by it.
Sand-dunes are low hills of loose sand, which have been
piled up by the wind like drifting snow heaps, and, like
them, are frequently changing their magnitude and posi
tion; so that, in some places, productive lands are burled
by the moving materials, while in others they are un
covered by their removal. An Instance was mentioned
to me of land in Southampton having been Inundated by
sand, and after a lapse of about fifty years. It was
uncovered by Its drifting off. On sea-coasts, and In some

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 35
other places in the Interior of a country, the atmos
phere Is often clouded during high winds with the lighter
particles of drifting sand, while the heavier are rolled
along on the surface. Every obstacle which creates an
eddy current In the wind, as a rock, fence, bush, or tree,
causes a deposit of sand, which often serves as a nucleus
of a hillock. The sand-banks, when first formed, present
almost as much variety of outline and form as snow
drifts after a snow-storm. Examples were observed on
the north shore of Long Island during the heavy winds
of October, where heaps of drift sand, two or three feet
deep, were formed in a few hours behind boulders and
blocks of rock, which created eddy currents In the wind.
Sand-banks, several feet deep, were observed in some of
the ravines next the beach, that had been formed between
the time of the storm of the 12th, and the time observed
on the 17th of October. A small pond near Horton's
Point has been converted into a meadow by the drifting
sand filling it up, within the remembrance of Mr. Horton
of Southold.
The sand-dunes along the shore are so prominent as to
mark the line of coast in many places, when seen at the
distance of several miles, presenting a very broken, un
dulating or serrated outline of white hillocks, from ten
to forty feet high. On almost all the beaches are hil
locks of drift sand, and In many places the high bluffs on
the north coast are capped with them. Jacob's Hill,
north-west of Mattituck, was once much higher than
Cooper's Hill east of It; but the sand has blown off, so
that It Is now much lower at the former place. Some
arable land has been covered over, and red cedar trees
have been burled by the drift sand. The grounds occu
pied by the dunes are exceedingly Irregular in form; In

36 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
some places covered with small round-backed hills, with
deep. Irregular or bowl-shaped valleys, formed by the
wind scooping the sand out where it Is not confined by
the roots of the scanty vegetation that gains a foothold
In some places.
The south shore of Long Island, from Napeague Beach
to Southampton, Is skirted with a line of sand-hills, pre
senting a very Irregular, broken appearance in the dis
tance. Napeague Beach is covered for a considerable
breadth, with loose, drifting sands, forming small hillocks,
of almost every variety of shape. The South Beach
of Long Island Is almost entirely a line of hillocks, and
Is composed of a chain of long narrow islands of sand,
from one to six miles from the main land.
Three kinds of sand are found on Long Island, viz:
siliceous sand, garnet sand, and iron sand. These sands
are mixed with each other in variable proportions. They
result, as has before been remarked, from the degrada
tion of land, the disintegration of boulders, and the grind
ing up of pebbles by the action of the surf.
The siliceous sand Is found everywhere along the coast,
and constitutes most of the soil of the Island. In some
localities It contains grains of red and yellow feldspar;
In others, grains of black homblende. Much of it Is of
good quality for the manufacture of common glass, for
sawing marble, and for making mortar.
Red garnet sand Is not uncommon on the shore. In
some operations this sand may perhaps be used as a
substitute for emery. The most Interesting localities
are at Oyster Pond Point,* and the shore between Old
Man's ^ and Miller's Place.
Magnetic iron sand Is found in small quantities along
• Now Orient Point.— Editor. • Now Mt. Sinai.— Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 37
the whole coast of Long Island where the surf beats on
the shore. It Is so abundant in some localities after
storms, that perhaps it may be collected for blotting sand
and for Iron ore. Layers of It, two or three Inches thick,
are seen in many places.
Garnet and iron sands both occur more abundantly
after storms; and the reason is, that the surf, as It rolls
upon the beach, carries the various kinds of sand along
with It, and during the reflex of the wave the water
washes back the lighter grains, leaving the heavy sands
behind. Each wave repeats this process, and the garnet
and iron sands thus accumulate In layers. The same
principle Is applied in the artificial separation of metals
and ores from sand and pulverized rocks In metallurgic
operations. Salt marshes are very extensive on the coast of Long
Island, and they are of much value for meadow lands.
These alluvions result from a combination of several
causes. The first step in their formation Is, the deposit
of a sand or a shingle beach, by marine currents sweep
ing along detrltal matter, and depositing it in the eddy
currents in front of shallow bays and re-enterings of the
coast, so as to shelter these spaces from the action of
the surf. If they were before exposed to it; they are also
made shallower by the sand and silt carried in by the
tide, the deposits from the surface waters of the adja
cent country, and by sand drifted from the beach. Not
only marine animals and plants, by their growth and
decay, add new matter to the gradually shoaling pond or
bay; but the accumulation of drifted sea-weed, trees, &c.,
serve to Increase the alluvion at every successive storm.
These various causes combined, gradually shoal the water
with alluvial depositions, until marsh grass finally takes

38 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
root upon the surface. In the formation of these marine
alluvions, vegetable remains far exceed the other
materials In volume, so that an Imperfect marine peat
results. The marine peat observed In most localities is
of Inferior quality; It Is light and spongy, containing
undecomposed vegetable matter.
Sand-stones, conglomerates, and brown Iron ore, are
continually forming. In small quantities, in several locali
ties, by the action of mineral springs, and by the decom
position of pyrites. At Broad Meadow Point, called also
Iron Point, two or three miles east of Riverhead In
Suffolk County, this recent sand-stone may be seen, at
low water, in thick, solid masses. It may also be seen
in the sand cliffs between Roanoke Point and Mattituck
Inlet. Alluvial sand-stone was observed in many places along
the north coast of the island, formed by the chalybeate
springs depositing iron as a cement between and around
the grains of sand and gravel. Many large blocks that
had tumbled from the cliffs, are lying on the shore. At
Hudson's Point a chalybeate spring flows from the ravine,
and has caused the yellow and reddish color of the sands,
and the aggregation of sand Into rock. A chalybeate
spring is supposed to exist on Farrington's Neck,^ upon
the farm owned by Judge Osborn. The water sinks into
the sand a short distance from the spring. A number of
similar springs exist In other parts of the island.
The sands and clays on some parts of West Neck are
of beautifully bright and delicate colors. The principal
number of the sands are red, light and salmon color, buff,
light and deep yellow, white, gray, and black; and of the
clays, blue, brown, white, gray, bright and mottled red,
' Now Jessup Neck. — ^Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 39
and bright and mottled yellow. At the brick yards, of
which there are several, making five or six millions of
common and stock bricks annually, the clay is at least
sixty feet thick. The beds dip about 20° east. Some of
the sand beds are as red as if formed of the sand from
the disintegrated red sand-stone of New Jersey. Some
of the white sands of West and Lloyd's Necks, are pure
enough for the manufacture of flint glass.
Lignite occurs abundantly In the sand and some In
the clay beds. Some of it is pyritized and some changed
to hematite ; some is wood partially decayed. Fort Hill
cliffs are from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet
high at this place. In one of the pebble beds, great num
bers of geodes of limonite were observed, and in many
places, the limonite had cemented the pebbles, gravel,
and geodes Into a conglomerate. Iron abounds here, and
many tons could easily be collected on the shore.
Nodular masses of iron pyrites are not uncommon in
the pebble beds of Suffolk County, and by their decom
position, form brown oxide of iron or hematite, envelop
ing the adjacent substances which serve as nuclei, and
cementing them together Into solid rocky masses of sand
stone and conglomerate. When nodules of clay, or
decomposable stones are thus enveloped, geodes of brown
hematite are the result. These are abundant at the high
cliff on the north-east side of Lloyd's Neck, in Hunting
ton. Where these geodes are numerous, a kind of fer
ruginous conglomerate is formed of gravel, pebbles, and
geodes. At the above locality, the geodes and conglom
erate were confined to a stratum only a few inches In
thickness. Two geodes were found filled with water.
The filtering of clay In suspension In water. Is another
cause now forming sand-stones and conglomerates; but

40 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
they are too easily crumbled to be useful. Salt was
formerly manufactured to a considerable extent on the
eastern part of Long Island, by exposing sea-water to
the action of the sun and wind, in shallow wooden vats
constmcted for that purpose ; but the business was found
not worth pursuing, and Is now nearly if not wholly
discontinued. The erratic blocks of Suffolk County are of some Im
portance, as they furnish the only rocks for buildings
and walls. Some of these blocks are of great size,
weighing from one to five hundred tons. At Horton's
Point In Southold, the boulders and blocks of granite and
gneiss cover the beach under the cliff. They fall from
the upper stratum, like the boulder stratum of Brown's
Point and other places. A few blocks only of con
glomerate, of the red sand-stone formation, were seen.
On the north shore opposite Greenport, the cliff had
been washed away at Its base, so as to expose Its strati
fication, the base consisting of sand, gravel, and pebbles,
horizontally stratified. In the town of Riverhead, from
Roanoke Point for two or three miles east, the shore is
skirted by a high cliff, principally of clay and sand.
Boulders are seen In the greatest profusion along the
shore. They, as well as the pebbles, lie at the depth of
twenty or thirty feet below the surface of the earth at
this place.
At Roanoke Point and for three or four miles east
a large proportion of the blocks, boulders, and pebbles
are of red sand-stone and trap rock. In some places these
rocks form one-third of the mass. The sand-stone Is of
the coarse, fine and fissile varieties, and often quite mica
ceous. The trap Is greenish, compact, vesicular, and
amygdaloldal.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 41
In Brookhaven a block of gneiss was seen a few rods
from the road, on the north side, about a mile from
Coram, but it is scarcely probable that it Is in place,
as rock has not been found distinctly In place, on the
island, except near Hell Gate. Boulders are abundant
on the hills, south of the road between Coram and West
Middle Island,
At or about Wading River, they are In great profusion.
One block that had been blasted, gave one hundred cart
loads, and many others were seen still larger. On the
beach a mile or more from Wading River, a block of fine
grained limestone was found, containing serpentine. It
was precisely similar to the New Haven verd-antlque
marble. Green-stone boulders and blocks were not rare
in the same vicinity.
Between Miller's Place, and Old Man's * the surface
is pebbly, with blocks and boulders of gneiss and granite.
Near the latter place the hills are steep, and elevated
about 100 to 120 feet above tide-water, with a loamy soil.
Many blocks of one hundred tons or more were seen,
and at a place half a mile east of Old Man's * Is a nest
of five or six of these enormous blocks; but only a few
boulders of green-stone, and a single one of red sand
stone, were observed from Miller's Place to Smithtown.
Fragments of a block of porphyritic granite were seen
near Setauket, similar to that In the vicinity of Reading,
and of Sterling and Killingly, Conn. It had been blasted
and made Into a wall. About halfway from the village
in Smithtown to Stony Brook a boulder of about two
tons was observed, composed of a coarse conglomerate,
with a siliceous cement; the pebbles In It were from the
size of a hazlenut to a six pound shot.
' Now Mt. Sinai. — Editor.

42 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
In Huntington, at Dix Hills, the same character of hills
was observed as at Shinnecock and Montauk. A boulder
of serpentine, containing diallage, was seen on the road
side a little west of Comae.
Fermglnous conglomerate. In pebbles and small
boulders, and a ferruginous sand-stone, with limonite as
a cement, are common in the hills that begin on the west
side of Smithtown valley, and extend to Huntington.
Fossil wood was found in some of the masses of brown
iron ore and ferruginous sand-stone. A single large
pebble, or small boulder of brown Iron stone, was found
with the Iron stone containing the petrified wood, three
miles north-west of Comae.
Red granite, white granite, gneiss, slaty homblende
rock, and a kind of sienite composed mostly of hom
blende, are common, as boulders and pebbles between
Comack and Huntington.
On Lloyd's Neck, granular white limestone and dolo
mite, hornblende slate, hornblende rock, granite, porphy
ritic gneiss, and common gneiss were seen among the
boulders both in the drift deposits and on the shore
where they had been washed out of their former positions.
Granite, gneiss, and trappean rocks are the most
abundant among the boulders. On West Neck, the
boulders are rather common; and among them, granite,
gneiss, porphysltic gneiss, trap, and hornblende slate are
the most common.
Near Jericho, the road leads Into the swells of the
hills, and these are like those of the chain of hills stretch
ing through the island, composed of loamy gravel, with
an abundance of pebbles and boulders. The red iron
stone, brown Iron ore, and fermglnous conglomerate,
were seen more abundantly between Jericho and Oyster

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 43
Bay, than In any other part of the Island. The boulders
and pebbles consist in most part of granite, gneiss, quartz
rock, mica slate, talcose slate,, chlorite slate, with some
homblende rock, and the latter is massive, laminated,
and fibrous in texture. A few boulders of serpentine con
taining anthophylllte were seen a mile south of Norwich,
among loose stones collected from the fields.
Granite, gneiss, and hornblende gneiss were the princi
pal rocks seen among the boulders and blocks of the
north coast of Oyster Bay; but on the north shore of
Oak Neck, blocks of granite with yellow feldspar were
seen. Blocks and boulders extend out also at KIdd's
Point, Barker's Point, Hewlett's Point, the Stepping
Stones, and generally along the projecting parts of the
north-west coast of North Hempstead, on all of which
the shore Is washing away, more or less rapidly.
About half a mile south of Manhasset, near the dwell
ing of the late Judge Schenck, is an enormous block of
granite, undoubtedly an erratic block, estimated to con
tain 800 cubic yards above the surface of the ground,
and to weigh nearly 2,000 tons. It may be the rock
described by the late Dr. Mitchill, in Bruce's Mineralogi-
cal Journal as containing 20,400 cubic feet.
Granite and gneiss form the largest portion nf the
boulders and erratic blocks of Great Neck. In some of
these masses, granular epidote is very abundant, forming
nearly one-half the mass. A large nest of these blocks
may be seen at high-water mark on the north-east
shore of Great Neck. Boulders of tremolite, like that
on Cow Neck,* were seen in several places on Great
Neck. In the town of Flushing, boulders of green-stone trap
' Now Manhasset Neck. — ^Editor.

44 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
predominate from the village to Little Neck Bay. Three
miles from Flushing many boulders of gray sand-stone
were noticed. They are composed of grains of quartz
and feldspar, most of which are rounded, and the latter
are in a state of decomposition, forming white pulveru
lent, or crumbling grains, which give a whitish color to
the masses of rock. Boulders of trap were numerous,
mixed with granite, gneiss, &c., on the hills around, and
in the ravines that enter the valley at the head of Little
Neck Bay. One kind of boulder about Whitestone, to
which this place probably owes Its name, is what appears
like a decomposing granite rock. It is light-colored,
almost white, from the feldspar decomposing to form
kaolin. In Newtown, trap boulders predominate in the loam
and gravelly loam of the hills on the Jamaica road from
Halletts Cove * and also on the Flushing turnpike.
The Jamaica hills, which skirt the great southern plain,
have the same general characters as Montauk, Shinne
cock, and Dix Hills. Their soil is richer, however, in
consequence of the partial decomposition of a different
class of rocks that predominate in the detritus. These
materials also constitute the mass of the hills from
Jamaica to WUlIamsburgh and Brooklyn. The excava
tions and stone fences for six miles toward Jamaica, show
the boulders to great advantage. The hills are of sand
and gravel, on which are seen boulders and blocks of
granite, gneiss, and green-stone from lOO pounds to lOO
tons weight each, but the very large ones are rare. They
are dug and blasted to make cellar walls and underpinning
for buildings at Southampton. Most of the pebbles of
the gravel beds are of white quartz, intermixed more or
' Now Astoria. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 45
less with those of granite, gneiss, mica slate, red sand
stone, and red oxide of Iron.
This latter mineral Is found In all the gravel beds of
the quartenary formation, from Montauk Point to
Brooklyn. It is composed of iron in brilliant grains, like
sand firmly aggregated, but of a red color.
In Southold, the surface Is generally a loamy gravel, or
light loam. Boulders abound about Horton's Point, and
thence to Rocky Point; also north-east of Oyster Pond
Harbor,* on the hills. They are numerous on the points
at the extremities of the beach, and along the shores.
Those on the hills and shore consist mostly of red granite
and gneiss.
Many curious blocks of granite, gneiss, and hornblende
rock occur on the north shore of Southold, showing
quartz, granite, and trap veins cutting through them.
Plum Island, Gardiner's, Gull, Fisher's, City, Harts,
Ram Island, the Brothers, and RIker's Island all contain
an abundance of boulders and blocks similar to those of
Long Island.
There is one circumstance connected with these boulders
which we will mention, on account of the bearing It has
upon some questions In the scientific part of geology. We
will state only general facts, without entering at this time
Into the minute details, or the conclusions to be drawn
from them. The boulders and blocks vary In size from
a pebble to masses weighing several hundred tons, and
are mostly found on the range of hills running through
the Island, and between them and the north shore. The
boulders and blocks are contained in a stratum which is
inter-stratified with deposits of sand, clay, and gravel,
and is often exposed along the coast. Some of the blocks,
" Now Orient Harbor. — Editor.

46 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
when first disinterred, exhibit scratches upon one or more
of their sides. Rocks, like those occurring on Long
Island, are found in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and
along the Hudson River ; and they are so similar in their
mineralogical characters and associations, as to lead to
the conclusion that they were originally derived from
those places. Again, as we progress westward from
Montauk Point to Brooklyn, along the north shore, there
Is a regular succession of the groups of boulders, pebbles,
and gravel, corresponding to the successive changes in
the rocks on the north side of the Sound. For example,
the boulders on the east end of Long Island are like the
granite, gneiss, mica slate, green-stone, and sienite of
Rhode Island and the east part of Connecticut; further
westward, opposite New London and the mouth of the
Connecticut River, are boulders like the New London
and Connecticut River granites, gneiss, and hornblende
rock; opposite New Haven are found the red sand-stone
and conglomerate, fissile and micaceous red sand-stone,
trap conglomerate, compact trap, amygdaloid, and verd
antique; opposite Black Rock are the granites, gneiss,
hornblende, quartz, and white limestone, like those In
Fairfield County; and from Huntington to Brooklyn, the
trap (compact, crystalline, &c.), red sand-stone, gneiss,
granite, hornblende rock, serpentine and crystalline
limestone, are found Identical in appearance with those
of the country between New Jersey and Connecticut*
The fact of the perfect correspondence of the mineral
characters, and the associated minerals of these pebbles,
•Limestone rock, some of it highly crystalline, is found scattered about
in boulders, having traces of tremolite, a mineral frequently associated
with it in this detached manner. There is a fine locality of this species
of limestone at Kingsbridge, where the dolomite is seen, forming a large
hill; also on the north of Harlem River in Westchester County.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 47
boulders, and blocks, with those narrow beds on the main
land, has already been alluded to; but another fact of
as great importance Is, that these blocks, &c., are In a
southerly direction from those beds, and this direction Is
generally different from the line of bearing of the strata.
These facts Indicate that the boulders and blocks have
been transported by some natural means from their
original location to the one they now occupy. The size
of some of these masses, many of which weigh 600 tons
or more, and the fact of their being Imbedded in sand,
gravel, and loam, and that they repose upon the same
materials, forbids the Idea of their transport having been
the result of powerful currents of water. Mountain
streams often transport blocks of many tons' weight to
considerable distances, but never across beds of loose
materials like clay, sand, and gravel without removing
them also. The theory of the transport by ice, corre
sponds more closely with facts, than any other which
has been proposed. The occurrence of these boulders
and blocks, as It were, in nests, on the north side of the
hills, and generally on elevated grounds, strongly favors
this view of the subject. The facts collected in relation
to the erratic blocks and boulders are more numerous,
and are an extremely Interesting subject of Investigation,
In consequence of the important conclusions which may
be drawn from them. A single one of these blocks at
Oyster Pond Point * was blasted a few years ago by Mr.
Latham, and with It was built a stone wall eighty rods
long, three feet high, and of proportionate thickness ; and
enough of the same, he thinks, remains In the earth, to
construct twenty additional rods of wall.
The upper soil at Brooklyn is generally a yellowish
' Now Orient Point.— Editor.

48 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sand and sandy loam; below Is a loam and gravel, con
taining a great number of boulders, blocks, and pebbles.
Below the boulders' bed. Is a series of strata of sand,
gravel, and clay, in which shells are said to be frequently
found. Green-stone, serpentine, red sand-stone, granite,
gneiss, &c., form the mass of the gravel and boulders'
beds. Between Flatbush and Brooklyn, the country is sandy
gravel and sandy loam, like all the great southern plain
of the island, to the base of the hills. A little west of
East New York, the railroad enters the range of hills,
and is excavated for a considerable distance from ten to
thirty feet. The materials thrown out consist of loam
and hard pan, containing multitudes of boulders, blocks,
and pebbles of green-stone, granite, hornblende rock,
gneiss, red sand-stone, and serpentine.
The same characters of soil and boulders continue to
Brooklyn. The hilly region from thence to Bedford,
Flatbush, and Bath is similar to that described, as also
are the plains of Flatbush, and the rest of the great
plains of the Island. About a mile west of Bath, In New
Utrecht, boulders of green-stone are very abundant, with
some black serpentine and red sand-stone; and these,
with a heavy loam and some gravel, form the soil of
the country around.
The clays of Suffolk County are so abundant and varied
In their character, as to be adapted to various useful
purposes. The beds are extensively wrought in some
places, and the clays are mostly used for the manufacture
of bricks, from four to five millions of which are annually
made at West Neck In the town of Huntington alone.
Lumps of white clay were frequently seen imbedded in
the sands of the south part of Long Island, along the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND ' 49
route of the railroad, where the excavations had exposed
them, in Jamaica, Hempstead, and Oyster Bay towns.
On the east side of East Neck, a bed of white clay
occurs of a superior quality for stone ware. It is over
laid with variegated sands of brown, yellow, white, and
red. These sands are used for castings at New York,
Boston, and other places. The white clay of Eaton's Neck
is of the finest quality for making stone ware, and superior
to that of South Amboy. It Is sold for one shilling a
bushel. At Fresh Pond Creek, flesh or salmon-colored clay
occurs, also on the land of Wm. W. Mills, a mile south of
Stony Brook. He dug a well i8o feet deep, passing
through a stratum of clay five feet thick near the surface,
then sand and gravel till the solid rock was reached at the
bottom. Near Setauket is a yellow ocherous sand, ten
bushels of which yielded two and a half of ochre.
White clays, which have the external characters of
potter's clay, occur on West Neck, Lloyd's Neck, Eaton's
Neck, East Neck, and Little Neck, between Centre Port
and North Port.
Brown clays, suitable for stone ware, and others for
coarse pottery, abound in many places In the west part
of the country. Both the white and brown clays are
carried to distant parts of these manufactures. Some of
the clays have the external appearance of good fire
clays, but actual experiment only can determine their fit
ness for this use. These clays contain no lime, and
therefore are far less likely to melt in the fire than
ordinary clays.
Some of the clay beds on West Neck and Lloyd's Neck
are ocherous, and perhaps they may be profitably used
in the manufacture of yellow ochre.

so HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Clay beds must not be expected everywhere In the
county — still they exist In most parts at greater or lesser
depth. In some places the strata are very much waved,
bent, and contorted; indeed they were not observed In
any place to be continually horizontal for any great
distance, so that where a clay bed emerges upon the sur
face, it may within a few rods plunge so deep below, that
a well ICO feet in depth will not reach It. The clay beds
are associated with strata of gravel, sand, and pebbles,
with which they alternate. The clays toward the east
part of the country lie at a greater depth than they do
near Huntington.
Fossil wood, or lignite, has been found In several places
in the clays, and In their associated beds of sand and
gravel, but In no Instance in sufficient quantity for fuel.
Sometimes It appears like charcoal. In others It Is changed
to Iron ore, either hematite or pyrites. It was seen on
Lloyd's Neck, Eaton's Neck, East Neck, LItde Neck,
and Mount Misery; and has been found In many places
from twenty to one hundred feet below the soil. Fossil
wood was found In digging a well at Sweesey's Landing.
Mr. Skidmore dug a well here i8o feet deep and found
a stick of wood of considerable size at sixty feet. On
the east side of Lloyd's Neck, fossil wood was found,
showing the ligneous texture as distinctly as the wood
Itself. It has also been found near Cold Spring, on
East Neck, and at Eaton's Neck; at Newtown the body
of a tree was found at forty-five feet, and others at
East Woods, at forty feet, with the bark adhering.
Fossil shells are said to have been found In several
places by persons worthy of credit; and It Is only re
markable that In deposits of this kind more have not
been observed. Recent shells are so common on the soil

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 51
where they have been used as manure, by the Inhabitants,
or left In heaps, or scattered round the sites of ancient
Indian villages, that even where they have been thrown
up In digging wells, they may not have been observed.
Although the most particular attention was directed to all
the phenomena connected with the banks of shells so
common near the shores of Suffolk County, yet not an
Individual shell was observed which was not perhaps
identical with the species now existing In the adjacent
waters; and none of these banks were buried under other
materials, than light drift sand or recent alluvial wash
from the adjacent hills.
Shells are said to have been dug up In almost every
well in the hilly range of the Island. Shell banks are
very numerous, from some of which thousands of cart
loads have been removed and spread over the lands to
Increase their productiveness. They decay very slowly,
and act to afford lime for a long time to the soil and
vegetation. Several shell banks were observed between
Canoe Place and Saboneck Neck, Cow Neck,* and
Farrington's Neck," near the shore and generally near
the heads of the small bays and on their sides ; sometimes
bare and sometimes covered by one or two feet of drift
sand. There Is another near Old Man's Harbor,' from
which large quantities have been taken for manure.
The subject of fossil shells should excite the attention
of our farmers; for where such shells are found, it is
very often the case that extensive beds of marl occur,
which would be of inestimable value in a district where
manures are so necessary and expensive as on Long
' In Southampton town. — Editor.
' Now Jessup's Neck. — Editor.
» Now Mt. Sinai Harbor.— Editor.

52 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Island. The heaps of shells on the old village sites of the
aborigines are used as a manure, and as they decay slowly,
their fertilizing effects continue for a long time. At the
brick yards, on West Neck, bones and shells are said to
have been found in the clay. At Brown's Point, South-
old, a bone is said to have been dug from the sand-bank
twenty feet below the surface, between two layers of clay.
It is white in color, eighteen Inches long, two inches in
diameter, with large roundish heads.
Shells were dug from a well, at ninety feet, at the head
of Cow Neck,* ^s well as marsh mud. Also at Prospect
Hill and Brooklyn. Oyster shells were found at great
depths on the ridge of hills north-west of Jamaica, and
In many other places, but very rarely on the plains, south
of the hills. Shells of both oysters and clams were dug
up at eighty feet below the surface, by Isaac Overton, on
the Bald Hills, south of Coram; and at Sweesey's Mills,
Brookhaven, at twenty-four feet. Shells and a log eight
or ten inches in diameter, and ten feet long were dug up
at West Rocky Point at seventy feet. Oyster shells were
found at Coram at forty feet. At Middletown, on the
farm of John Howell, a shell was found thirty feet
below the soil. On the farm of Zophar Mills, near
Wading River, round clams and oyster shells were found
at sixty-five feet.
The celebrated Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill in 1826 pre
sented among other things, to the New York Lyceum of
Natural History, the left side of the lower jaw, with
the symphysis of the chin, and two grinders, belonging
to a fossil animal, like a mammoth, found at Southold,
between high- and low-water mark; and fragments of
clam and oyster shells, found at Brooklyn Heights, fifty
' Now Manhasset Neck. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 53
feet below the surface, and others found on digging
for the site of the present Navy Yard, at the Wall-
about.
Pyrites (sulphuret of iron), a yellow and brilliant ore,
which has so often, when found, excited expectations of
rich gold mines, occurs In many places in the clay beds
of Suffolk County. It is usually found in the dark blue
clays containing lignite, and in many Instances the sub
stance of the original vegetable is replaced by this beauti
ful but deceptive mineral. This mineral Is so easily
distinguished from gold, that It need not be mistaken
for that precious metal. Gold is so soft that it can be
cut by a knife like lead; but pyrites Is brittle, and so
hard as to strike fire with steel, and when put on the
fire burns and gives a sulphurous odor. Should this
mineral be found in large quantities, It might be used with
advantage In the manufacture of copperas and alum.
It was seen more abundantly at the clay pits on West
Neck and Little Neck, near Huntington, than in any
other locality. We have in our possession a beautiful
specimen of sulphuret of iron, found in the clay beds of
North Port, and the material Is said to be very common
In that locality, to the great annoyance of the workmen
employed In digging clay for the purpose of transporta
tion. Peat, although not very abundant in Queens, Kings,
and Richmond counties, Is very common. Many locali
ties were observed. Those of the most importance are
near Newtown. From a bog one mile westerly from
Newtown, peat of a very superior quality has been dug
for more than fifty years, and it Is much used by some
of the Inhabitants. An extensive marsh of peat, which Is
probably deep and of fine quality, lies near the road from

54 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
WUlIamsburgh to Jamaica, and is called the Cedar
Swamp, There may be about 30,000 cords of peat In this
swamp. Small bodies of this combustible were seen In the
ranges of hills in Kings and Richmond counties, A
meadow of two or three acres of ligneous peat was ob
served about a mile north of Jamaica, The owners of
quagmires or quaking meadows will do well to examine
them. Before many years have elapsed, these bogs will
become valuable, where they are now regarded as nearly
worthless. The Inferior qualities of peat will, under
judicious treatment. In compost heaps, make a valuable
manure. Peat occurs In the heads of the ponds on Shinnecock
plains; at Cold Spring Bay, several places In quantity;
Canoe Place, and In the Mill Pond above the head of
Mecoxe Bay,
Many of the swamps and marshes, where this com
bustible abounds, are overgrown with bushes and trees;
but those which are free from timber are generally
covered with moss and cranberry vines. The latter
variety trembles when walked upon. The peat Is so soft
below the surface, that a pole may be thrust down many
feet. Coal and wood are now so expensive, that peat
must come Into general use among a large class of
people; and It ought to be worth at least $1 per cord
in the swamp, where wood Is worth $3. Marine peat,
which is abundant In the salt marshes of Long Island,
and the adjacent islands, Is of an inferior quality, and Is
not worth notice as a combustible, though It may be of
great value as a manure, when rotted with lime. The
relative proportion of salt marsh on the coasts of Kings,
Queens, and Richmond counties is much greater than that

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 55
of Suffolk, These marshes are now forming, and have
been for an unknown period of time. In some places
they are washing away; In others they steadily increase
In extent. I have been credibly informed that grass now
grows on a marsh near Rockaway, where vessels have
floated within the memory of my informant. On Coney
Island, also, Mr. John Wyckoff says, that many places
which were ponds and pools, within his recollection, now
produce good crops of grass. A very aged man recollects
having seen the surf roll In at the foot of the upland,
north of the marsh, toward the east end of Coney Island.
A broad marsh now Intervenes between the upland and
the beach. Numerous local facts of this kind, of less
remarkable character, might be brought before the public;
but In an economical point of view, the mere expression
of the general fact, that the marshes, as an aggregate,
are steadily increasing. Is sufficient. These are valuable
on account of the salt grass, of which they yield an
abundant crop. The soil Is very rich; in fact, It is com
posed mostly of organic matter mixed with some lime and
saline substances, and can be made to produce valuable
crops. It Is scarcely possible that another generation
will pass away, before the suggested Improvement will
be made on some of these rich alluvions. The value of
land on Long Island will not always allow these marshes
to be as unproductive as they are at present. Many of
them might also be employed to advantage In the manu
facture of salt from sea-water, both by allowing it to
freeze In winter, and by solar evaporation In summer.
It Is well known that It Is the fresh water only that freezes
— thus rendering the brine much stronger; and that it
can be so concentrated, until the salt separates. In a crys
tallized state. The disadvantage In winter would be, that

56 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
only one crop of crystals could be obtained; but an area
of sixty acres, divided Into compartments of ten acres
each, communicating with each other, so that six feet
of water could be let into the first, would give for a
single crop from 25,000 to 30,000 bushels of salt.
The principal marshes of Long Island are Napeague
Marsh; one between Sagg Pond and Mecoxe Bay, east
part of Shinnecock Bay; between Moriches and Great
West Bay; between Ocombamack Neck and Fire Place;
between Ocombamack Neck and .Patchogue; between
Patchogue and NicoUs' Neck; the very extensive one
from NicoUs' Neck to Rockaway; and those about
Jamaica Bay and Coney Island.
There are also many on the north shore of Long Island
the principal of which are at Acabonick, Oyster Pond,*
Riverhead, Wading River, Smithtown Harbor, Crab
Meadow, Lloyd's Neck, Oyster Bay Harbor; between
Peacock and Oak Neck, Musquito Cove,^ north part of
Cow Neck,' Little Neck Bay, Flushing, WUlIamsburgh,
Brooklyn, and Gowanus.
The salt marshes of Suffolk County are estimated to
cover an area of 55 square miles; of Queens County, 40
square miles; Kings, 12 square mUes; and Richmond, 9
square miles; making an aggregate of 116 square miles,
or 74,246 acres, of marsh alluvion of the south coast of
New York, exclusive of the extensive marshes on the
south coast of Westchester County, which would prob
ably swell the aggregate to 125 square mUes, or 80,000
acres. The headlands, generally, on the north shore of Queens
' Now Orient. — ^Editor.
* Now Glen Cove. — ^Editor.
' Now Manhasset Neck. — ^Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 57
County are washing away. The blocks of rock which
were once Imbedded In the loose soil of the Island, are
seen on the beach extending out far beyond low-water
mark. At Oak Neck, Fox Island, and Matinecock, as well as
at Middle Island,* (commonly called Hog Island), the
boulders extend far out at low water, and demonstrate
the encroachment of the sea on the land. Middle Island
and Oak Neck are parts of a peninsula which lies between
Oyster Bay and Long Island Sound. They were once
islands, but have been connected with each other, and
with Long Island, by beaches formed of detrltal matter
swept from the headlands of Middle Island and Oak
Neck. Extensive salt marshes are forming under the
protection of these beaches, and are materially Increased
by the sand drifted from them. These beaches are ob
served to vary In form and magnitude, being sometimes
increased or diminished In particular by the effects of a
single storm. Fox Island (so called) was once an Island,
but Is now connected with Oak Neck and Long Island
on the east by a long beach. A long sand-spit, of a
mile and a half in length, extends to near Peacock's,
where It is cut off by an inlet, which communicates with
the extensive marsh between Fox Island and Long Island.
This beach and spit are derived from the materials
washed from Fox Island and Oak Neck. Peacock's
Point Is also washing away. Stumps and logs of wood
are seen below low-water mark. Matinecock Point, a
mile or more west of Peacock's, must have washed away
rapidly. A long point of boulders and blocks stretches
far out Into the Sound at ebb tide. This was once an
island, which is also connected with Peacock's by a long
' Now Center Island.— Editor.

58 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sand beach. Another ancient island, now connected with
Long Island on the south-west by a beach, is very near
Matinecock on the west. These two Islands and beaches
enclose a large pond, the inlet of which Is through a mill
sluice between them. Mr. Jacob Latting, who Is an old
and respectable inhabitant and has been a resident In the
vicinity more than half a century. Informed us, that these
have been worn away many rods within his recollection.
Mr. Latting pointed out to us the position of the beach
between Peacock's and Fox Island during the revolution.
The beach then dammed up the outlet of a marsh, through
which a small stream ran, and a tmnk was put in the
beach In 1778, to allow the water to drain through, in
order to prevent flooding the meadows. We saw the
trunk In its original position. The beach has since made
out about 200 yards In front of where It was at that time.
He observed that these beaches are subject to considerable
variations by storms, the materials being tumbled along
either eastward or westward, according to the direction
of the wind.
Sands' Point, on which a light-house has been long
built, was washing away so rapidly some years since, that
it became necessary to protect It by building a strong sea
wall along the shore. A reef of rocks, the remains of
ancient lands, extends out some distance, from the shore.
The wall has afforded a protection against the encroach
ment of the sea, and about an acre of land has been
added to that belonging to the United States, in conse
quence of the alluvial action of the surf depositing the
sand and shingle In the eddy on the south side of the
Point. Mr. Mason, the keeper of the light-house, com
municated these facts, and many others of much Interest.
The broad and extensive sand-beach south of Sands'

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 59
Point, a mile or more In length, was, since his remem
brance, a salt marsh covered with grass. The materials
swept from Sands' Point, and deposited on the edge of the
marsh, have been drifted and washed over Its surface.
At and near KIdd's Rock, three-quarters of a mile east
ward of Sands' Point, the wasting of the cliffs from the
effects of the waves is very evident. The cliffs present
mural escarpments towards the Sound, but the hills
slope down gradually on the other side towards the
salt marsh. This elevated land was formerly an
Island, but alluvial causes have formed a salt marsh
where the water was sheltered from the sea. The
wasting of the cliffs has caused the formation of
long beaches — one connecting KIdd's Point with Sands'
Point, and the other connecting with the high grounds
south-east of the marsh on the west side of Hemp
stead Harbor. A small inlet through the north end
of this beach allows the tide to communicate with
the marsh. Boulders and blocks are seen imbedded in
the strata forming the mural escarpments, and the shore
below is also strewed with them. They also extend
some distance from the coast. Indicating that a consider
able breadth of land has been washed away. The
boulders protect the shore for a time, but the smaller
ones and the shingle are gradually ground up by the
action of the surf, and washed away; and during storms
and high tides fresh inroads are made. The beach be
tween KIdd's Point and Sands' Point covers a part of the
marsh, the ooze and marine peat of which may be seen
at the foot of the beach at ebb tide. This indicates that
high land, or else a beach, was once farther seaward,
to afford protection for the formation of that part of
the marsh. Only a few acres of high land remain at

6o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
KIdd's Point, and if it should continue to be washed away
as heretofore (and much expense would be necessary to
prevent it) , a century or two would be sufficient to effect
its entire removal. KIdd's Rock, as It is caUed, Is a
remarkable erratic block, which was Imbedded in the loam
of the tertiary formation. It has been undermined by the
action of the sea, and has slid down to the shore, and
cracked Into many large fragments. These fragments
probably weigh at least 2,000 tons; and several sloop
loads of them have been shipped to New York for buUd-
Ing stone. It is homblendic gneiss, and some of Its
masses abound in epidote. It Is a durable stone, and
will stand any exposure unchanged.
Several companies of diggers for KIdd's money have
expended much time and labor at this place. Mr. Noah
Mason, former keeper of the light-house on Sands' Point,
related many amusing anecdotes of their mode of operat
ing, and the ceremonies practised, some of which seem
almost sacrilegious. The superstitions connected with
these gold hunters, are a rarity of this enlightened age.
The rock caUed KIdd's Rock, at KIdd's Point, three-
quarters of a mile east of Sands' Point, is not the same
known by that name a century ago. Mr. Mason stated
that KIdd's Rock was formerly the extremity of the
point, but was long ago undermined by the waves. He
remembered having seen it, as an insulated rock, some
distance from the shore, but It has since disappeared. The
rock which lately went by that name, now a mass of
fragments, Is a group of huge blocks of hornblendic gneiss,
some of which will weigh several hundred tons. Had
the money diggers known which was the genuine KIdd's
Rock, It might have saved the trouble of searching
here.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 6i
In some parts of Long Island, almost every boulder
and block has had an excavation made by its side.
Barker's and Hewlett's Points have also been worn
away by the actions of the sea; but the Sound is here so
narrow, that the destructive agency of the waves is not
so great, as at the localities before mentioned. Many
others, where the same effects are in progress, on the
west and south-west parts of Long Island might be men
tioned, but they are less marked In their results, because
they are not so much exposed to the fury of the surf,
from broad sheets of water. Coney Island, which is
mostly alluvial, is rapidly washing away on its south side,
where it Is exposed to the full force of the ocean swell.
A new direction given to the tidal currents by some
recently formed bar, is probably the cause. Mr. Wyckoff,
who lives near the ocean, remarked that the sandy part
of the Island was a mile broad not many years ago,
though now it Is not more than half that breadth. Every
storm made a sensible difference. Some years before,
the sand-hills south of Coney Island House were covered
with small pines and bushes, and in a single night,
during a violent storm, the trees and bushes and much
of the earth were washed away. It would seem that the
remainder of this Island is fast yielding to the destmc
tive influence of the ocean, and a century more may leave
few traces of what Is now Coney Island. At low water,
remains of an ancient salt marsh can be seen about a mile
east of Mr. Wyckoff's on the edge of the beach. This is
conclusive evidence that this part of the Island is fast
washing away.
The beaches at Middle Island, Oak Neck, Fox Island,
Peacock's, Matinecock's, and Sands' Point, which are
formed by the accumulation of the sand and shingle.

62 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
swept from the adjoining headlands by marine currents,
and the oblique action of the surf, have already been
mentioned. Other beaches, but not so extensive, occur
on the north coast of Queens County. Sand-spits are
unfinished beaches, and long points or tongues of land,
formed of sand and shingle, by the transporting action
of currents and the waves.
In Cold Spring Harbor a sand-spit extends from the
west shore obliquely nearly across. It Is formed by the
north-east storms driving In a heavy swell, which washes
away the high banks at the south point of land, between
Cold Spring Harbor and the entrance to Oyster Bay.
The materials are transported, by the currents and waves,
and deposited to form this spit.
A sand-spit has formed nearly across Hempstead
Harbor, about three miles south of the mouth of the bay,
and two miles north of the village of Montrose, near the
head of the bay. It extends from the west shore. In an
easterly direction, nearly across the harbor, leaving a
deep inlet of one hundred, to one hundred and fifty yards
wide, next to the eastern shore. It Is owing to the same
cause as the spit at Cold Spring. This spit Is probably
a thousand yards in length, but is not materially affected
by storms. The detrltal matter, now swept coastwise. Is
carried through the inlet and deposited in the inner
harbor. Two large shoals have thus been formed, and
It is said they are evidently becoming shallower every
year, and at no distant time will form a considerable addi
tion to the land. A small spit extends from the eastern
shore a short distance north of the east end of the large
one. Another spit, which extends on the west side of
the bay, from the high bank on the west side of the
harbor towards KIdd's Point, Is separated from this point

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 63
only by an inlet of thirty or forty yards, through which
the tide flows into the marsh behind KIdd's Island. It is
formed from the detrltal matter both of this bank and
of KIdd's Point.
A spit of some hundred yards In length extends from
the north, partly across the mouth of Cow Bay.* It is
derived from the detritus of some high banks in the bay,
and Barker's Point on the north.
The beaches and spits we have been considering are
trifling In extent and Importance when compared with
the Great South Beach of Long Island. This Is a line
of alluvial sand and shingle, extending from Napeague,
in Easthampton, to the mouth of New York Bay, a
distance of 104 miles; and having a direction of about
west-south-west. It is not continuous, but is divided by
Inlets, communicating with the bays which are situated
between this and Long Island, and through these Inlets
the tide ebbs and flows. At Quogue, and several places
east of this. Long Island communicates with the beach,
either by marshes or by the upland; but westward, for
about seventy miles, a continuous line of bays, from half
a mile to six miles broad, extends uninterruptedly, and
separates the beach entirely from Long Island. This
Great Beach is a line of spits and islands. One of the
islands is about twenty-five miles long, with a breadth of
a few hundred yards. They are all narrow and long;
and when above the reach of the surf, they are covered
by a labyrinth of hillocks of drifted sand, imitating almost
all the variety of form which snow-drifts present after
a storm. Rockaway Neck Is the only locality west of Southamp
ton where the upland of Long Island approaches near
' Now Manhasset Bay. — Editor.

64 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the alluvial beach. The land through this distance is
Increasing in area by constant depositions. The beach
at Far Rockaway, and for many miles east and west, is
undergoing frequent local changes. The surf frequently
washes away several rods in width during a single storm,
and perhaps the next storm adds more than had been
removed by the preceding. The sea frequently makes
inlets through the beach to the bays and marshes, and as
frequently fills up others.
The inlet to Rockaway Bay, called Hog Island Inlet,
Is continually progressing westward by the oblique action
of the surf driving the sand, gravel, and shingle In that
direction. The deposit of these materials on the west
end of the Island beach tends to obstruct the inlet to the
bay ; but the strong tidal current during the flow and ebb
of the tide washes away the east end of Rockaway beach
as rapidly as the other forms. The Inlet Is thus kept
open. Mr. Edmund Hicks, of Far Rockaway, has been
long a resident here, and to him we are Indebted for the
fact just mentioned. He knows Hog Island Inlet to
have progressed more than a mile to the west within
fifty years.
New Inlet Is the main inlet from the ocean to the
Great South Bay. It was formed during a storm not
many years ago.
Crow Inlet and Jones' Inlet are undergoing changes
analogous to that of Hog Island Inlet.
Barren and Coney Islands are a part of the Great
South Beach of Long Island.
Coney Island has already been referred to as washing
away by the waves and marine currents. It Is alluvial,
with the exception of a very smaU tract of tertiary, and
is separated from Long Island by a smaU creek which

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 65
winds through the salt marsh. Mr. Wyckoff, who has
lived for many years on the Island, remembers when this
was a broad Inlet; but It has been gradually filled up with
silt, organic alluvions and drift sand, until it is reduced
to Its present size.
The south part of Coney Island Is a labyrinth of sand-
dunes, formed by the wind, which present almost every
imaginable shape that such material can assume. These
hillocks are from five to thirty feet high, with a few
straggling tufts of beach grass, and clumps of bushes half
buried in the drifted sands. They owe their origin to a
tuft of grass, a bush, or a drift log, serving as a nucleus.
As the grass grows, the drifted sand settles among its
leaves and partly buries it, and the process Is renewed
for years until a sand-hill Is formed. On the contrary,
where there is nothing to bind the sand together or
shelter it from the wind, it drifts away, leaving deep
hollows. Drifted snow-banks afford an apt Illustration
of the sand-dunes of the south beach of Long Island,
and in a high wind we can realize. In a small degree, the
sand storms of the African and Arabian deserts.
It has been remarked that some of the Islands and sand-
spits of the Great South Beach, are continually receiving
accessions on the west. Long bars form In the prolonga
tion of the beaches, so that each successively overlaps the
other, the entrance being from south-west to north-east.
They project In echelon from east-north-east to west-
south-west. Many of these shoals, formed at some
distance from the land, are gradually driven landwards
by the surf, and make new additions to it. During the
Investigation of the various alluvial causes now in action
on this coast, we easily trace the origin of this great sand-
beach of more than one hundred miles In length. In

66 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Europe there is no deposit of simUar character to com
pare with It in extent.
The encroachments of the sea upon the east end of
Long Island have before been mentioned. Vast masses
of the cliffs of loam, sand, gravel, and loose rocks, of
which Long Island Is composed, are undermined and
washed away by every storm. The water of the ocean
coast is almost always found to have more or less earthy
matter in suspension, much of which, except during
storms, is derived from the grinding up of the pebbles,
gravel, and sand by the action of the surf.
This earthy matter is carried off during the flood tide,
and in part deposited in the marshes and bays; and the
remainder Is transported seaward during the ebb, and
deposited in still water. It is estimated by Mr. Mather,
that at least i,ooo tons of matter is thus transported daily
from the coasts of Long Island, and probably that
quantity on an average is daily removed from the south
coast, between Napeague Beach and Montauk Point.
This shore of fifteen miles probably averages sixty feet
In height, and is rapidly wearing away. One thousand
tons of this earth would be equal to one square rod of
ground, of the depth of sixty feet. Allowing this estimate
to be within the proper limits, more than two acres would
be removed annually from this portion of the coast.
Nearly one-half the matter coming from the degrada
tion of the land, is supposed to be swept coastwise. There
are many evidences that the east end of Long Island was
once much larger than at present, and it is considered
probable that it was connected with Block Island, which
lies in the direction of the prolongation of Long Island.
From CuUoden Point, a reef of loose blocks of rock
projects, similar to those points on Hog Island, Oak

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 67
Neck, &c., where they are known to result from the deg
radation of the land. Jones' Reef, north-west of Mon
tauk Point, is similar, and Shagwam Reef, a little further
west, projects three miles from the shore. It is ascer
tained that black fish are rarely found except about a
rocky bottom. It is also known, that such a bottom of
loose blocks of rock, is found wherever the natural soil
of Long Island and the adjacent islands has been washed
away, by the sea. These facts, with the well known
extensive fishing grounds for black fish around Montauk
Point, and particularly on the south shore, and between
Montauk Point and Block Island, give much probability
to the idea, that a great extent of land has been washed
away by the sea.
But if these evidences were Insufficient, the present
rapid degradation of the coast In that vicinity, the con
stant tranportation of matter westward upon the Great
Beach, and the extent of this beach (more than one
hundred miles long, with a breadth of one hundred to
one thousand yards), which Is the result of this action,
would, by most minds, be deemed conclusive.
The masses forming the erratic block group, and ter
rain de transport, are composed of blocks, boulders,
pebbles, gravel, sand, loam, and clay, which are formed
of the broken-up rocks reduced to various degrees of
fineness, and transported a distance from their original
situation. The surface of Kings County Is a fine example of the
boulder formation, or the erratic block group, which Is
formed of the sand pebbles, rolled stones, and boulders
brought often from an Immense distance, and by the force
of aqueous or diluvial action brought together within
certain boundaries. It Is also called drift, an expressive

68 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
term, which conveys a distinct meaning of the geological
theories relative to this Interesting subject of scientific
Inquiry. In looking over the surface of the county we have a
great variety of rocks and minerals presented to our
view, some of which must have come from a considerable
distance, but how this was accomplished Is not easy to
explain. The erratic blocks of Suffolk County, and the facts
relative to their general distribution, were before alluded
to. These blocks are the only waU stones and budding
stones on Long Island and the contiguous Islands, with
the exception of a smaU tract of gneiss In places near
HeU Gate. The boulders and erratic blocks are found
on the surface, and Imbedded in a series of strata forming
the range of hills which extend through Staten, Long,
Plum, and Fisher's Islands. The boulders on Long
Island are rarely found south of the hills, but on
the north they are observed, both imbedded and on the
surface, extending to the north shore. The varieties of
rock forming the boulders In Suffolk County were men
tioned before as being exactly similar, in all their char
acters, to rocks of granite, gneiss, mica, slate, homblendic
rocks, sienite, green-stone, serpentine rocks, verd antique,
red and gray sand-stones, &c., which occur In place In a
northward direction from the localities where they are
now found. It has also been observed that the general
direction of these boulders forming beds of similar rock
in place, does not coincide with the line of bearing of the
strata, or the direction of the hills. In Queens and Kings
counties the same general facts are observed. Granite
and gnelssoid rocks predominate on the hills and shore
from Oyster Bay to Little Neck Bay; and thence to

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 69
Brooklyn green-stone rocks are most abundant. The
various rocks occurring on Long Island as erratic blocks,
are much used for fences, wall stones In wells, cellars, and
basements of buildings. They are nearly indestructible
by atmospheric agents, and will therefore be very dura
ble. The sea-waU at Sands' Point Is built of fragments
of the boulders found in the Immediate vicinity.
Some of the erratic blocks are of great magnitude.
Hundreds of them have been seen that would weigh
fifty tons each. KIdd's Rock has already been mentioned
as a large erratic block, the fragments of which cover
an area of ten to fifteen square rods, and weigh at
least 2,000 tons. A large block was seen about half
a mile south-south-east from the churches at Manhasset
Village, caUed Millstone Rock, and from an observa
tion of Its cubic contents, it was estimated to weigh 1,800
tons. Some blocks of limestone, weighing from one to five
tons each, were seen on the beach at KIdd's Island, half
a mile from Sands' Point, which are precisely similar
In mineralogical characters to the range of limestone
extending from Barnegat to Pine Plains in Dutchess
County. The rocks or boulders most frequently met with In
Kings County, are large detached fragments of trap rock
brought probably from the Palisades on the North River.
It Is very hard to work, but of great excellence for build
ings. Its name is derived from the Swedish trappe, a
stair, on account of Its general resemblance to a stairway.
This is finely illustrated at Bergen Hill, N. J., where the
regular succession of lifts may be plainly seen. It also
forms a large hill on Staten Island, where it is now quar
ried for building stone.

70 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Blocks of granitic rock are seen on a small hill by the
road from Sag Harbor to Easthampton; and near the
latter place, on the shore, the surf frequently uncovers
the drift that underlies the superior sands and clays. It
is of unknown thickness, and contains quartz pebbles of
a yellow color, intermixed with those of granite, sienite,
green-stone, and hornblende rock. Crossing Napeague
beach and marsh, the hills of drift commence, and extend
with some Interruptions to Montauk Point. It is in many
places overlaid by sandy and gravelly materials, and in
some places by clay. The drift formation Is well exposed
to observation along the south shore of the Island, for
nearly ten miles west from Montauk. Boulders are
frequently seen in the hills west of Three Mile Harbor,
of from forty to sixty tons' weight. In digging wells in
Easthampton, thin layers of clay are sometimes found
In the sand and gravel beds. In Southampton, boulders
occur in abundance on the hills south and south-west of
Sag Harbor and on Hog Neck. In the range of hills
between Sag Harbor and Canoe Place, the boulders are
numerous, composed of granite, gneiss, mica slate, tal
cose slate, green-stone trap, and hornblende rocks.
Adjacent to these, were blocks of tremolite, of a
yellowish gray color, and a species of gray amphibole,
nearly like the edenite of Orange County. On the north
shore of Oak Neck, masses of granite, containing yellow
feldspar, were observed. We have never seen granite
In place similar to this. Red sand-stone, and a few
boulders of green-stone, also occur here,
A boulder weighing three or four tons, of dark green
serpentine, containing radiated anthophyUite was found
half a mile south-west of the head of Little Neck Bay.
A large boulder of gray tremolite was found on the east

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 71
shore of Cow Bay,* in Plandome. Boulders of steatite
and of talcose rock, containing anthophyUite, were seen
near the head of Little Neck Bay. Boulders of green,
black, and sandy green serpentine, like those of Hoboken
and York Island, are found at Brooklyn, WUlIamsburgh,
and Jamaica. Boulders of a peculiar rock, composed of
the materials of granite, with the feldspar in a state of
decomposition, are found at Flushing, WUlIamsburgh,
Brooklyn, and on Staten Island. Boulders of granular
white limestone, sometimes containing tremolite, occur at
Hog Island, Lloyd's Neck, Oak Neck, Sands' Point,
Hewlett's Point, Flushing, and WUlIamsburgh. They are
similar to the limestones of Westchester County. Near
Fort Hamilton, serpentine, green-stone, and red sand
stone, with some granite and gneiss, like those of York
Island, form the mass of boulders.
Sands and loams interstratified with beds of gravel,
pebbles, boulders, and clay, form the strata of Long
Island, and a large part of Staten Island.
In a scientific view these beds are extremely Interesting.
Siliceous, garnet, and iron sands are the principal varie
ties. The first skirts the whole coast of Long Island and
the contiguous Islands, and beaches, as well as Staten Is
land, except along the edge of the salt marshes on Its west-
em shore. It is generally very white, containing particles
of red and white feldspar, mixed with a few grains of
black hornblende and magnetic oxide of iron. Some of
It Is sufficiently pure to make white glass. Large quanti
ties of the sand from the Great South Beach, are shipped
to New York and from thence into the interior, where It
is employed for sawing marble, making glass, and for
various other purposes which, though of little impor-
' Now Manhasset Bay. — Editor.

72 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
tance, cause a large consumption of the article. Garnet
and iron sands cover the beaches In many places, but they
are seen more abundant after storms, when the surf
separates these heavy sands from those which have a
less specific gravity. In many places they may be col
lected in quantities after storms. Garnet sand may be
used as an Imperfect substitute for emery, and for blot
ting sand. The iron sand Is extensively used for the latter
purpose, and in some places It is employed as an iron ore.
A forge in Connecticut Is entirely supplied with this ore,
which is made directly Into bar iron.
Clays are not very abundant In Queens, Kings, and
Richmond counties. White and blue clays, like those of
West Neck, Lloyd's Neck, Eaton's Neck, &c., are found
on Middle Island and the eastern shore of Hempstead
Harbor; but they are so near the water level, where they
were seen, that there Is little probability of their being
extensively useful. The white clay on the western side
of Middle Island Is very pure, lying in view at high-
water mark, and perhaps extending higher In the bank,
but covered with sand which has slldden from above.
Reddish loamy clay was seen In the deep excavation of
the streets through the hill between Brooklyn and
Gowanus. An imperfect sandy brick earth occurs on
the hills about one mile north of Jamaica. At this
place from 300,000 to 350,000 bricks are made per
annum. On Hempstead Plains the weUs are dug from 60 to
120 feet deep, through beds of gravel and sand, before
water is reached; this Is a little above the level of the
ocean. The weUs gradually decrease In depth thence to
the shore.
The springs of Long Island are numerous, and present

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 73
some phenomena worthy of consideration. Around the
heads of the bays and re-enterings of the coast along the
north shore of Long Island, copious springs break out
very little above tide-water level. In some Instances they
boU up through the sand and gravel so as to form a brook
at once ; in others, several springs break out at the foot
of the bank, and, uniting their waters, form a stream.
The numerous mills and manufactories on the shores of
many of the re-enterings of the northern coast of Long
Island, which have no apparent streams communicat
ing with their ponds to renew the supply of water, attract
the attention 6f most observers. The water of these
springs Is very pure. In consequence of Its having been
filtered through beds of nearly pure siliceous sand and
gravel. It is thrown out at the level of tide-water, or at
a higher level, where there are strata Impermeable to
It. Some of the most remarkable of these springs, which
are applied to manufacturing purposes, are about Hemp
stead Harbor, at the head of Little Neck Bay, at the head
of Cold Spring Harbor, and the south-west part of Oyster
Bay Harbor.
In most parts of Long Island, water is not found In
quantity, and Is not permanent, except at about the level
of the ocean. In consequence of the porous nature of the
strata. In some places there are local deposits of clay and
loam inter-stratified, which are basin-shaped and con
tain the water. Springs are as abundant and copious on
the south side of the Island, as on the north; but they
break out at greater distance from the shore, in conse
quence of the surface declining almost insensibly from
the hills. The great plain of Long Island extends from
the base of the hills south to the ocean, descending but a

74 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
few feet to the mile. On most of the farms in the In
terior, artificial means are resorted to, to procure a supply
of water for cattle and other farm stock. A basin-shaped
excavation is made in the soil, and puddled with clay,
and into this the surface waters are conducted during
rains. They are called watering holes, and are a striking
feature of the farming economy of the island. Fossil
shells and lignite are not unfrequently found In digging
wells in the chain of hills which extends through the
island. Such facts should be preserved, as they may lead
not only to important scientific truths, but to practical
results applicable to agriculture. It is well known that
most of the valuable marls contain fossil shells and
charred wood or lignite. The observation of such facts
may lead to the development of rich marl beds, and these
might be of inestimable value to the agricultural interests.
Clay beds similar in character to that which overlies the
green marls of New Jersey have been observed on West
Neck In Suffolk County. Marls may yet be found of a
similar kind, connected with the same series of strata, as
In New Jersey. No gneiss rock was seen in situ on Long
Island, except at HeU Gate, HaUet's* Cove, and a few
localities along the shore, within a mile or two of these
places. The rocks are gneiss, hornblendic gneiss and
hornblende slate. The strata are nearly vertical, and
range north 20" east and south 20° west. The horn
blendic gneiss and gneiss are quarried at HaUet's Cove,
and are used for basement walls. 'They are easily
dressed with the hammer, durable, and unchanged by
atmospheric causes. Gneiss Is a very common rock and Is
found sometimes in large masses of several tons' weight.
It Is the rock which forms the foundation of Manhattan
' Now Astoria. — ^Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 75
Island and Is to be seen cropping out, or denuded, not
only along the East River, but nearly all over the island
above Twenty-fourth street. It is composed of the sedi
mentary deposits formed by materials. It is formed of
mica, feldspar, and quartz, and may be known by its
shining, scaly structure.
In addition to what we have said upon the soil of
Long Island in the preceding pages, Mr. Mather makes
the following observations, which are deemed of too
much value to be omitted.
The soils of these counties are very variable, but at
least four-fifths of the surface may be characterized by
the terms sandy loam and loamy sand. There are many
tracts of land where the soil Is a heavy loam, and even
a stiff clay; and others of a pure sand, which drifts, and
is piled by the action of the wind. The variation of the
soil is due to the different strata which form the country.
Beds of sand and gravel are interstratified with those of
loam and clay; and where irregularities occur In the con
tour of the ground, arising from denudation, a field of a
few acres may exhibit almost every variety of soil, from
a pure sand to a stiff clay. The art of the farmer is here
put in requisition to modify the natural texture of the
soils, and fit them to receive nutritive and stimulant
manures with the greatest advantage. The heavy soils
are dressed with sand, and the light soils with loam and
clay, with a view to transform the whole into a loam of
such texture as to make a pulverulent soU, and yet have
it sufficiently argilaceous to retain a suitable quantity of
water. The cultivated soils within twenty miles of New
York are so much modified by art, that their natural
qualities could scarcely be determined without geological
Investigation. Many of the farmers expend from $50 to

76 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
$70 per acre for street manure once in two or three years,
and they are weU repaid for their enlightened views and
liberal expenditures. The soil is naturally very poor on
the plains, but those parts which are weU cultivated have
become very productive. Street manure, yard manure,
composts mixed with lime, rotted sea-weed, on which hogs
and cattle are yarded, ashes, barilla, bone manure, and
fish are those In common use. Street manure probably
exceeds all the others In quantity, and the bays and Inlets
on the coast, together with the Long Island railroad,
offer great facilities for Its transport into the Interior
of the island. The marsh mud, and " muck " of the
meadow, and the estuary mud, would make a valuable
manure on the light soils. Lime answers very well on the
light soils of Long Island, and the farmers will find It to
their advantage to use it on their lands, first putting it
in heaps to slake thoroughly, and then spreading it with
other manure on the soil. On a considerable portion of
Long Island the bony fish, called hard-heads or moss-
bonkers, have become the principal article for fertilizing
the soil; and the crops thereby produced are so abundant
as to be almost matter of astonishment.
These fish weigh from one to two pounds each, and
are either spread directly upon the land, or mixed with
other substances to decompose. In some instances, as at
Southold, two or three hundred thousand, and It Is even
said a mlUIon, have been caught at a time ; and there are
probably more than one hundred million used annually
upon this island. The sandy land in Suffolk County could
hardly be cultivated to advantage without the aid derived
from these fish.
Mr. Mather is of opinion that they are not used by the
farmers of Long Island in the most economical manner.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 77
From five thousand to fifteen thousand, he says, are
spread over the ground, Instead of being ploughed In.
The soil Is generally light, and the animal matter passes
through It by the filtering action of water, so that Its
fertilizing effects are nearly exhausted by a single crop.
The object In using ashes is to keep the arid soils
moist by the attraction of the potassa for water, and thus
afford moisture, and a stimulating alkali to the growing
plants. A great error In their use is to let them remain
In heaps long exposed to the weather, an Idea prevail
ing that ashes are improved by this means, and that if
used in their raw state, they would injure the crops. The
fact Is, that when used fresh, too many are used; as they
contain a large proportion of potassa, and prove a too
powerful stimulant to vegetation; but when exposed to
the weather, the potassa deliquates by Its attraction for
moisture, and is removed by rains, leaving little except
the Inert earthy matter.
Silt, or creek mud, has been used with considerable
advantage In some parts of Brookhaven; It Is generally
obtained from the bottom of bays, where there is very
little action of the tide, and where the decomposed vege
table and animal matter has been long accumulating.
The long eel grass Is pulled up with iron rakes, which
bring up the decomposed matter with It.
On the subject of the geology of Long Island, Dr.
Mitchill has some remarks which are too valuable and
Interesting to be passed over. His examinations were
principally confined to the north shore of the Island, and
to the islands in the East River.
" The Brothers," he observes, " are two small Islands,
lying upon the side of the ship channel in the East River,
and caUed the North and South Brother. Their founda-

78 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
tion Is rocky, and has hitherto resisted the Impetuosity
of the waves and currents by reason of its hard structure.
Both these, and the detached rocks and reefs around
them, differ In no respect from the general character of
the others."
RIker's Island lies in the middle of the Sound, nearly
opposite the mouth of Flushing Bay; the banks are of
considerable height, but by no means so rocky as the last
mentioned. There is, however, a conspicuous mass of
granite upon it, and several smaller rocks scattered about.
From the loose and gravelly material of which It consists.
Its sides are gradually crumbling down and washing away,
notwithstanding It is thickly spread with rocks and stones,
the remains of former washings and encroachments of
the water. Of Long Island, the Doctor observes, that
the faces of the country upon the north and south sides
are very different from each other. On the north It is
elevated, uneven, and much variegated with hill and
dale ; while on the south the traveller discovers little else
than a flat surface, sloping gradually toward the ocean.
Indeed, that part north of the ridge not only resembles
the opposite shores of the main land in its general appear
ance, but also in its fossils, and mineral productions. It
appears to have been separated from the continent, dur
ing the lapse of ages, by the encroachments of the salt
water. The occurrence of no horizontal strata, and the
frequency of vertical layers, lead to the conclusion that
they are certainly in a state of primeval arrangement.
The probability is, says Dr. MItchiU, that Long Island
and the adjacent continent were once contiguous, or
only separated by a smaU river; and that the strait which
now divides them, was formed by successive Inroads
of the sea. This appears likely, from the fossU bodies

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 79
on both shores having a near resemblance; from the
rocks and Islands lying between them being found of
simUar materials; from the fact that the distance Is
small ; and that where the shore Is not composed of solid
rocks, there the water continues to make great encroach
ments, and to cause the high banks to tumble down, as
may be seen In many places upon the north shore of the
Island, and as Is most particularly the case at Newtown,
at Montauk, and elsewhere, at this day.
To the eastward of Hell Gate all the considerable
rocks are solitary masses of granite. These are scat
tered over the upland and along the shore between high
and low water. These rocks may be found represented
in a great variety of forms and aspects, from the finest
and most compact textures to the coarsest and most easily
broken. In the town of North Hempstead, not far from
Manhasset, is one of the largest rocks of the kind. It
Is known In the records of the town by the name of Mill
stone Rock, and contains more than twenty thousand
cubic feet. The appearance of the Island on the south
side of the hills induces the belief that the whole extent
of level land between them and the sea Is a dereliction of
the waters. Its horizontal strata, its sandy and gravelly
quality, and the rounded and waterwom surfaces of Its
quartzy pebbles, all lead to such a persuasion.
The land, besides. Is very bare of vegetable mould,
as well as rocks, and the timber generally of a smaller
growth. The shells of marine animals are more fre
quently met with in digging wells ; though It is said that,
towards the west end of the island, the remains of testa
ceous creatures have been found at considerable depths
on the north side of the ridge. Between Long Island
and the continent there are several shoals, with rocks

8o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
scattered over them, which are apparently sunken or
wasted islands, showing the extraordinary leveling power
of the waves. One of these shallow places, whose
rocks are bare at low water, lies off the extremity of
Cow Neck,* and occupies several acres almost in the
middle of the Sound. From the Injuries these shoals
Inflict upon vessels, they are called The Executioners.
Another sandy spot, of many acres, with several large
rocks appearing here and there above the little water that
covers it,, stretches far toward the main channel from
the bottom of Great Neck. These rocks are called The
Stepping Stones, from a tradition of the Indians, that
at some former distant period their ancestors could cross
over here to the main. At Oldfield Point, Crane Neck,
and Mount Misery the land has been frittered away for
a considerable extent, leaving a considerable area covered
with rocks, visible at low water. Some facts remain to
be mentioned to explain the rapid currents and dangerous
navigation of Hell Gate. This Is a strait, one of whose
sides Is formed by Long Island and the other by Parsell's
and Manhattan Islands. Between the two latter,
Harlem Creek empties itself. There Is a small quantity
of solid granite here, and the shores and intervening rocks
and reefs almost entirely consist of it. Such a compact
body Impedes, on the Long Island side of It, the direct
flow of the water of the Sound in a north-east and south
west direction so completely, that the current Is forced
to take a short and sudden turn around the point of
Parsell's Island. This change of direction Is nearly at a
right angle with the ridges and strata of rocks which
formerly connected the two Islands ; and such has been Its
Impetuous and irresistible force, that the dams of solid
' Now Manhasset Neck. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 8i
rock which nature had constructed across, have been
broken down and carried away, and nothing but their
ruins are now perceptible. The foaming and agitation
of the water over and among these rocks has given rise
to the whimsical appellations of Pot, Frying-Pan, Grid-
Iron, &c. Hog's-Back, HaUet's Point Reef, Mill-
Rock, Middle Reef, and South Rocks, are plain and
Instmctlve monuments of the ancient arrangement. They
are portions of strata remaining after all the rest had
been swept away by the force of the current. On the
shallows and flats of the South Bay, where there is little
current, except the swell and recession of the tides, cer
tain vegetables delight to grow. The sand and mud,
which had before been moveable, now become fixed.
This process continues until the new island rises above
common tide, and receives no more nutriment from the
water. These are the islands and marshes of great ex
tent, scattered almost the whole length of Long Island,
and are of great value for the sedge which grows upon
them. Hog Island in Hempstead Bay, and Coney Island,
have been thus formed.
It is a universally conceded fact, that so much of Long
Island as lies southerly of the ridge of hills, is of
secondary formation; while It has been concluded that
the remainder is of primeval construction. Yet there are
many facts and circumstances which, if they do not prove
the contrary, are in such hostility with It, as to be entirely
irreconcilable to the idea that the north side of the
island has always existed as It now is. Some of these
facts have been with considerable pains collected, and are
derived from such sources, as to be entitled to our entire
belief. On the subject of mineralogy. Dr. Beck says,
" the mineralogy of Suffolk County Is similar to that of

82 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Kings and Queens. Thus It contains hematite iron ore,
but not in large and important beds. Iron pyrites and
lignite are also associated with a white astringent clay,
as on other parts of Long Island, whUe magnetic Iron
sand and garnet are found along the whole sea-shore.
It Is Indeed so abundant In some places, especially after
storms, that It may perhaps be profitably collected for the
purpose of reduction."
Sand and gravel, mixed with marine shells, are found
at considerable distances below the surface In digging
wells and excavating the earth for other purposes. These
are found almost universally fifty feet and more below
the soil in Brooklyn, New Utrecht, Flatbush, and New
town. The shell of a periwinkle was found forty-three
feet down at New Utrecht. In Newtown, carbonated
wood, sometimes alone and sometimes incrusted by pyri
tes, was raised from the bottom of a shaft fifty feet deep.
In Bushwick, at forty-five feet, the body of a tree was
found by the workmen lying across the well, and had
to be cut away to allow them to proceed. Wood has also
been found at great depths a little east of Westbury
meeting-house. A well was dug by Messrs. William and
John Mott in 1813, at Great Neck, three miles north of
ihe ridge ; and at the distance of thirty feet, on the upper
surface of a stratum of loose dark red earth, lay shells
of clams, oysters, and scollops; at fifty feet a piece of
wood was found, soft, rotten, and decayed. Its ligneous
character was, however, perfectly distinguishable. On
the land of Mr. Andrew Napier three miles west of
Jamaica village, during the same year, several pieces of
wood were found twenty-five feet below the surface. A
well was dug some years since near the Narrows at New
Utrecht, and shells of clams and oysters found at sixty-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 83
seven feet; the shell of the large murex (periwinkle) was
discovered, very little damaged, at two hundred and fifty
feet. President Dwight, who travelled through Long
Island in May, 1804, mentions that on the eastern border
of Hempstead Plain, some workmen, who were digging
a well, found a log of wood, three feet long, and one in
diameter, at the depth of one hundred and eight feet;
the exterior was decayed for nearly an Inch, the rest per
fectly sound. In digging a well in the same neighbor
hood, a short time after, the greater part of a tree was
discovered at the depth of one hundred feet. A part
of the wood, says the Doctor, was put upon the fire, and
burned very well. A well was dug in the summer of
1843 upon the farm of Robert T. Hicks, near Glen Cove,
and at the depth of ninety feet, the workmen encountered
the body of a tree, supposed to be chestnut, more than
two feet In diameter.
In the town of Huntington, about the middle of the
Island, the people, says he, were induced to believe there
was a silver mine In a particular spot; with the inquisi
tive spirit usual in such cases, they dug to a considerable
depth, and in their progress, found a tree, with its
branches, buried in solid earth thirty feet below the sur
face; the branches being chiefly decayed. At Newtown,
a deep pit was sunk In the side of a hill In 1804, for the
purpose of forming an Ice-house. The hill Is about
twenty rods from the shore of the East River at HaUet's
Cove,* and fifty feet above high-water mark. At the
depth of twenty feet, the workmen threw out a great
many frogs, lodged in the coarse gravel. Their color
was not so vivid as common; In other respects they re
sembled the common frog of this country. General
' Now Astoria. — ^Editor.

84 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Ebenezer Stevens, on whose land It was, observed them,
and, although torpid at first. In a short time they re
covered all the activity of their species. Mr. Henry
Demilt, about thirty years ago, dug a weU upon the west
side of Cow Neck,* half a mile from the shore, and at
the depth of thirty-four feet came to a stratum of creek
mud and sheUs, the stench from which was such, as in
duced him to abandon his design.
The late Mr. WUliam AUen, in digging for water at
Manhasset In 1824, found a quantity of oyster shells
seventy-eight feet below the surface, and obtained water
at one hundred and two feet. The earth at the bottom
of the well was a dean white sand, like that found upon
the beach, intermixed with rounded pebbles.
Anthony Sherman, while digging a well in the year
1808, for Mr. Lodowick Havens, upon Shelter Island,
at the depth of fifty-seven feet found an Indian stone
pestle, beautifully polished; also abundance of clam
shells, mixed with beach sand and gravel.
Mr. Abraham Van Alst, at Bushwick, some years
since, found a log of wood, well preserved, at forty feet
below the soil ; and several others in the same town, who
dug wells, were compelled to abandon them on account
of the filthy creek mud found at the bottom, which ren
dered the water unfit for drinking.
Jeremiah Johnson, Esq., states that a well was dug
about forty years ago by a Mr. Kolyer, at a place called
Clam Battery, in Newtown; and at the depth of seventy
feet, was discovered a quantity of shells, mixed with
what resembled shore sand; that Doctor Pater, in digging
a well about thirty years since at New Utrecht, came (at
one hundred and twenty feet below the soil ) to a stratum
' Now Manhasset Neck. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 85
of salt meadow resembling that in the neighborhood.^
And the same gentleman says, that, while he was com
manding officer at Fort Green, during the year 18 14, a
well was constructed there, under his direction, for the
use of the garrison, and at the depth of seventy feet clam
shells and sand were found, which had every appearance
of having been at a former period washed by the sea.
Selah B. Strong, Esq., of Setauket, L. I., says that his
grandfather, the late Judge Selah, in digging a well near
his mansion on the Neck, where he then resided, shortly
before the Revolution, found a large tree in a horizontal
position, about forty feet below the soil, and in a good
state of preservation.
Dr. Dwight, in the account of his tour upon Long
Island, observes as follows :
" When we commenced our journey on this island, I
proposed to my companions to examine, with a continual
and minute attention, the stones of every size which
should be visible to us, throughout all the parts of our
progress. This examination was made by us all with great
care, and was extended to the stones on the general sur
face; to those washed out in hollow roads; to those un
covered on the summits and sides, and at the bottom of
hills; to those found in the deepest valleys, and to those
which were dug out of a considerable number of very
deep wells.
" The result of this examination was, that all the stones
which we saw, were, without any exception, destitute of
angles, limited by an arched exterior, appearing as if
worn by the long continued attrition of water, and in all
respects exactly like those which in a multitude of places
were found on the beach of the ocean.
" In ten or twelve Instances, possibly a few more, we

86 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
observed small rocks of granite on our road. Every one
of these exhibited what I thought plain proofs of having
been washed for a considerable length of time, and
strongly resembled rocks of the same kind which have
been long beaten by waves, I will not say that no other
traveller would have considered these rocks as excep
tions ; but to my eye they exhibited manifest appearances
of having been long worn by water. If this opinion be
admitted, we did not find. In a progress of more than two
hundred miles, a single stone which did not exhibit proofs
of having been washed for a considerable time,
" On Montauk Point the stones have a different aspect,
being angular, and having the common appearance of the
granite rocks so generally found in New England,
" After we had passed Jamaica In our way to New
York, we found a similar change in the stones; most of
them being angular, and presenting no evidence that they
had ever been washed. Between these limits the stones
are universally aquatic. If I may be allowed, for the sake
of succinctness, to give them that name.
" From this extraordinary fact, It would seem a natural
conclusion that the great body of this island, or perhaps
more properly the materials of which It is composed, were
at some former period covered by the ocean; and that by
some cause, which cannot now be discovered, were thrown
up into their present form.
" That Long Island was once united with the main,
towards Its western end, has been believed by a great
multitude of persons from a bare inspection of the scen
ery. The narrowness and winding of the straits In many
places, the multitude of intervening rocks and islands, the
projection and course of the points between this island
and the counties of New York and Westchester, and the
general aspect of both shores, have produced this opinion
in minds which have been formed to very different modes
of thinking."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 87
From this train of accumulated facts, and the con
clusions to which they necessarily lead the mind of the
Inquirer, It can hardly be denied that the alluvial char
acter of the greater part of Long Island is placed be
yond the pale of controversy, or even a rational doubt,
in the opinion of those who have given to the subject any
considerable attention. We have been the more par
ticular upon this Interesting portion of Its geology, be
cause It constitutes an Important part of the natural
history of Long Island, and Is a subject of curiosity as
well as of very considerable utility.

DISCOVERY OF LONG ISLAND
There are traditions among the Spaniards and Dutch,
showing that this part of the world had been visited by
Europeans, long before the renowned Hudson sailed
up the noble and majestic river that now bears his name.
Others have supposed that they had discovered sufficient
proof. In the western part of our state, of its having been
occupied at some very remote era, by a race of men
further advanced in the arts, and particularly In that of
defensive warfare, than could be reasonably conceived
of those who Inhabited the country at the period of the
discovery by Hudson.
Of the early history of this highly celebrated navi
gator little is now known, further than that he was born
in England about the year 1580, had received a thorough
education and was a distinguished seaman. Under the
auspices of a private association, formed in England in
1607 to discover a northwest passage to India, at whose
expense an expedition was fitted out. It was determined
to give Hudson the command of It. Having however
failed after two voyages to the north in 1607 and 1608,
Hudson abandoned the project and retired to Hol
land, probably induced by exertions making there to form
a company for establishing a commercial Intercourse
with the West Indies.
In 1611 he suffered by the ferocious conduct of his
crew, who rose against him on the high seas, placed him
in an open boat with his son and seven of his men, and
88

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 89
left him to his fate. He was of course never heard of
more. No traces of a civilized people have ever been dis
cerned upon this island, nor any evidence whatever to
warrant the belief that other than savages ever possessed
it previous to the arrival of our European ancestors In
the early part of the seventeenth century.
We may therefore reasonably infer, in the absence of
any proof to the contrary, that Hudson and his adven
turous crew were the first white people that set foot upon
the pleasant shores of Long Island.
It must be acknowledged that none, among other claim
ants for the honor of the first discovery of this part of
the new world, has succeeded In establishing a title
equally plausible with that of the celebrated Florentine
navigator, John De Verazzano, who in the details of a
voyage made by him In 1524, in the good ship " Dolphin "
(with a description of the places visited) , might lead a
careless or Inattentive reader to conclude that he actually
entered the harbor of New York, eighty-five years In ad
vance of the ardent, enlightened, and adventurous Hud
son. Particulars of this voyage were communicated by
himself to his majesty Francis I., and are contained in the
collections of the New York Historical Society, published
In 1 841. If from the local descriptions of this renowned
captain. It can be reasonably Inferred, that he entered the
bay of New York, It remains to be explained, why at
tempts to colonize the country, or even to establish com
mercial intercourse with the inhabitants, were not sooner
made. The first historian of New Netherlands, Dr.
Adrlen Van der Donk — who resided here about 200
years ago — mentions no discoverer of the country prior
to Hudson, but affirms, as De Laet and other old his-

90 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
torians have done, that to Hudson, as agent of the Dutch
East India Company, is solely due the glory of this most
memorable discovery.
Amid the conflicting claims of ancient navigators on
this point it is more discreet to credit those authorities,
especially, which best harmonize, and where there Is less
ground for doubt. The amiable and learned Chancellor
Kent, in his admirable discourse, pronounced before the
Historical Society of New York in 1828, very properly
observes, that " the discovery of the Hudson [River]
and the settlement of our ancestors upon Its borders, is a
plain and famiUar story. Our origin Is within the limits
of well attested history. This at once dissipates the en
chantments of fiction; and we are not permitted, like the
nations of ancient Europe, to deduce our lineage from
super-human beings, or to clothe the sage and heroic
spirits who laid the foundations of our empire, with the
exaggerations and lustre of poetical invention. Nor do
we stand In need of such machinery. It Is sufficient honor
to be able to appeal to the simple and severe records of
truth." It may consequently, we conceive, be reasonably as
sumed as a fact, admitting of no plausible doubt, that
Hendrick Hudson and his brave crew of eighteen men.
In the " Crescent " or " Half Moon " (of eighty tons),
were the first white people who landed on the sandy shores
of Long Island. He was by birth an Englishman, and had
made other voyages previously, in the service of some
enterprising merchants of his own nation. As they were
discouraged by his failure to discover the long sought
passage to India, Hudson offered himself to the Directors
of the Dutch India Company, whose objects were prin
cipally traffic with Africa and America, On the 4th of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 91
April, 1609, accompanied by his son, this heroic adven
turer left Amsterdam, sailing first to the north toward
Nova Zembla, and retuming thence south, reached the
latitude of Carolina, from whence turning north again,
until the 3d of September, 1609, "they came to three
great rivers," the largest of which they entered. Two
of the rivers mentioned were probably what are now
called the Narrows and Staten Island Sound; and the
third being the " northermost," with a shoal bar before
It, and ten feet of water, was doubtless Rockaway Inlet,
which Is laid down on De Laet's map, as a river inter
secting Long Island. In a work, entitled History of
New York, by Joseph W. Moulton (one of our most
intelligent antiquarians) which exhibits as much Industri
ous research of studious accuracy as any historical volume
can claim, It Is stated, that when Hudson first arrived In
the waters of Sandy Hook, he found them swarming with
fish, and sent his men to obtain a supply. It may there
fore be presumed (as they went on shore) that they
landed upon a part of Coney Island, In the present town
of Gravesend, being the nearest land; and if so, the
Canarsie Indians were the first to hail the approach of
the long-to-be-remembered discoverer of Long Island.
More than 233 years ago, then, the chlvalric Hudson
anchored upon the shores of this Island, then thickly
populated with the natives of the soil. It Is related of him
that on the 4th of September, 1609, he sent a number of
his men on shore In a boat, who, according to the words
of his Journal, " caught ten great Mullet, a foot and a
half long, and a Ray as great as four men could haul
into the ship." Here, he says, they found the soil of
white sand, and a vast number of plum trees loaded with
fmit, many of them covered with grape vines of different

92 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
kinds. They saw, also, a great quantity of snipe and
other birds ; and on the morning of the 1 2th they rode up
into the mouth of the great river. Judge Benson says
the name of the river was Shat-te-muck. The natives
crowded to the shores on beholding so strange a sight as
a large ship, and men so different in appearance and dress
from themselves, and speaking a language also, which It
was impossible they could understand. The emotions
which they felt, and the opinions and conjectures they
must have formed on that most novel and interesting
occasion, may be imagined, but can never be known. Such
a curious combination of circumstances was well calcu
lated to excite fearful apprehensions In the minds of an
ignorant and unsophisticated people.
The following remarks of the Hon. Daniel Webster,
in reply to an invitation to attend the celebration of the
Pilgrim Society, at Plymouth, Mass., December 20, 1845,
are too beautiful and appropriate to require any apology
for their insertion :
" It was," says he, " on the third day of September,
1609, that a small vessel, which for five or six months
had been tossed on the ocean, sometimes on the coast of
Nova Zembla, and along the fixed Ices on the northern
sea, and sometimes as far south as the Chesapeake, at
last made her way within the protection of the land.
" She showed a small and tattered flag, bearing a
modest Crescent. She herself was called the " Half
Moon." The man who trod her little deck, with the
authority of master, was Henry Hudson. She was now
riding inside of Sandy Hook, and her little Crescent,
dimmed by time and weather, was displayed over what
Is now the outer harbor of New York. Here was the
origin of New York.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 93
" Henry Hudson was a man, whose enterprising char
acter, active life, and lamentable end, render him one
of the most interesting personages In our early American
annals; but he little thought what he had done, either
for himself, or for posterity, when he brought civilization
to the mouth of the river which now bears his name. Ac
cording to the fancies of those times, he was seeking a
passage to India; and, like others, was, no doubt, disap
pointed to find, that he had run against a continent.
" When he looked over the bay, and into the river,
and upon the high mountains, and unbroken wilderness,
which presented themselves, what a country was before
him ! But It was a country, the extent or importance of
which, he did not at all comprehend. Disappointed in his
hopes of getting to India by this route, he was thinking
of fishing, furs, and the profits of trade with the Indians
— not of large and permanent settlements — not of the
transfer, from Europe, of political power, in time to
come, and of ultimate empire. And what a future, what
a history to come, was before that country, the first step
In the settlement of which he had then taken I
"That future, however, was not discovered; that his
tory to come had not displayed itself, even faintly and
dimly, to the most sagacious minds of the age. The early
voyagers to this continent, adventurous and enterprising
as they were, yet looked principally to the finding of
mines of gold, and to making sudden acquisitions of
wealth. The real and true importance of the discovery
and settlement of North America, hardly appears to have
been perceived by any. It lay in the future, and was con
cealed from sight."
The natives are described by De Laet as manifesting all
friendship when Hudson first landed among them. They
were clothed, he says, In the skins of elk, foxes, and other
animals. Their canoes were made out of the bodies of

94 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
trees; their arms were bows and arrows, and the arrows
had sharp points of stone fastened to them with hard
pitch. They had no houses, he says, but slept under the
blue heavens ; some on mats made of brush or bulrushes,
and some upon leaves of trees. They had good tobacco,
and copper tobacco pipes; also pots of earth to cook
their meat In. After their first acquaintance, they fre
quently visited Hudson's ship. They were the deadly
enemies of the Manhattans, and a better people than
they; who, says our author, have always conducted to
ward the Dutch In a cmel and inimical manner.
Heckewelder relates, that from the best accounts he
could obtain, the Indians who Inhabited Long Island were
Delawares, and early known by the name of Matauwakes,
according to De Laet and Professor Ebellng.
Long Island at this time had various appellations, as
Metoac, Mectowacks, Meitowax, Matanwake, and Sea-
wanhacky, or " Island of Shells; " and this appears to
have been the most current appellation. It Is sometimes
called Matanwax and Paumanake. Some of this variety
are evidently but different ways of spelling the same
word, and others may have been conferred by the neigh
boring nations, the Manhattans, the Nehantic or Mo-
hegan tribes. It Is the better opinion that the land was
In most places destitute of timber; and that the popula
tion of the tribes had been much diminished In conse
quence of incessant contests and bloody wars among
them, which threatened the extermination of the whole
race. The timely arrival of the white people, and the
protection they afforded, may have been the means of
saving them from destmctlon by their enemies.
It appears to us, of this day, somewhat extraordinary
or rather surprising that the Dutch Government did not

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 95
at once avail Itself of the prominent advantages which
this wonderful discovery presented to the ambition, not
to say cupidity, of a powerful and highly commercial
people. Yet It seems they manifested no disposition
whatever to improve the opportunity thus afforded, to
render the event of lasting consequence to themselves by
colonizing the island of Manhattan, together with the
adjacent shores of Long Island and New Jersey. Indeed,
so slow were they to perceive or appreciate its vast Im
portance to themselves, that It was not until 1615 they
obtained a footing on the former, nor upon the latter
before 1620. The periods of the commencement, and
the progressive settlements of the several towns, will
exhibit the comparative enterprise of the Dutch and
English.

THE LONG ISLAND INDIANS
The origin of the American Indians Is one of those
curious problems In the history of man, that has given
occasion to much Ingenious conjecture, and has been a
standing subject of speculation and inquiry among anti
quarians and philosophers In every age, and among every
civilized people, since the discovery of the country. Thus
far the investigation has not been attended by any very
satisfactory results; and from the peculiar Intricacy of
the subject Itself, there Is little hope for entire success.
It seems to have been taken for granted that the race
were originally from another country, and both Asia and
Europe have been assigned as the quarter from which
they must have passed to America ; that they either came
by the way of Behrlng's Straits, or may have been driven
by accident or misfortune from some distant island, to
which their ancestors may have arrived In the same way.
If it be as necessary to account for the existence of other
animals found here, as for the native Indians, a difficulty
arises from the supposition that many of the tropical
animals could never have existed for any length of time
In a region so intensely cold as Bcfhrlng's Straits; and If
these are admitted always to have been here, the argu
ment is equally strong in favor of man. If the argument
for emigration be of any force, it Is just as strong In
favor of the Idea that Asia and Europe may have been
peopled from America, as the contrary. The Indians
may have been equally Indigenous as any other class of
96

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 97
animals; and if they were originally planted here by
the common parent of nature, they must necessarily have
been endued by the same kind author with capacities and
instincts graduated to the condition In which they
were destined to live, and to subserve the great purposes
of their creation.
The Rev. John Heckewelder, before mentioned, a
learned and ingenious Moravian missionary among the
American Indians, who acquired much knowledge of
their language, character, and habits, observes, that from
the best information he could obtain, the Indians inhabit
ing Long Island were Delawares, and those of York
Island, Monseys, or Minsi. Their name, say they. Is
derived from Monissi, signifying a peninsula. The Dela
wares owned, and were spread over, the whole country
from York Island to the Potomac. They claimed to have
been very numerous and possessed of a great many towns,
some on the above-named river, some at or near the
mouth of the Susquehanna and about the bay, a number
on the Delaware (or Lennape mhittuck, as they called
it), and a great many in the Jerseys, called by them
Scheyichbi. The Minsi always composed the frontiers,
dwelling In a circle-like form, from Long Island to and
beyond Minnissink. That when the Europeans first ar
rived at York Island, the great Unami, chief of the
Turtle tribe, resided southward, across a large stream or
bay, where Amboy now is. That from this town a very
long sand bar extended far out into the sea (Sandy
Hook). That at Amboy, and all the way up and down
these large rivers and bays, and on the great Islands, they
had their towns. The Mahiccanni were those who in
habited the country bordering on the North River, and
the Delawares (or Lenni-Lennape) to the south of them.

98 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Yet the former (says Heckewelder) acknowledge their
origin from the latter, and are proud In calling them
their grandfathers. They say that their great-grand
fathers (the Delawares) are at the head of a great
family, which extends to the north, east, south, and west.
The fact Is, the Delawares call all nations exclusive of
the Mengua and Wyandotts (or Hurons) , Noochwissak,
that Is to say. Grandchildren. The Delaware word for
island is Manatey, and that of the Monseys Is Manach-
tey. The Delawares were never conquered by force of
arms, by the Mingoes or Five Nations, which Included
the M aquas (or Mohawks) ; yet It has been supposed
that some, If not all, of the Long Island tribes were, previ
ous to the arrival of the white people, tributary to the
Mohawks. The settlement of the Dutch on York Island
and the western part of Long Island, necessarily inter
rupted the former freedom of communication between the
latter and those who were tributary to them. Great con
fusion occurs in Indian history. In consequence of
numerous appellations given by various tribes to the same
nation, leading many to suppose them to be different and
distinct people. As an example. It is asserted by Mr.
Heckewelder, that the Mengua, Maqua, Mingoes, Iro
quois, and Trokesen are one and the same people, and
comprehend the whole of the six confederate nations, in
cluding Cocknewagoes. The name Iroquois Is French,
and Trokesen is Dutch. Again, the Wyandotts, Dele-
mattenos, and Hurons are one people. This diversity of
names for the same nation or tribe was not peculiar to
them, but the same sort of variety was applied In like
manner to places, and particularly to Long Island gener
ally as has been mentioned. These different names may
all have Implied one and the same thing, and were applied

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND , 99
according to the language or dialect of as many distinct
nations or tribes.
With the exception of the Esquimaux, it has been con
jectured that all the American tribes possess the same
cardinal distinctions and the same physical characteris
tics. The differences which existed among various tribes
in temperament, stature, or mental powers, may in great
measure be accounted for upon grounds less Improbable
than the supposition of their having been a different race
of men. The Indians of Long Island, whatever may
have previously been their conduct toward one another
or to distant tribes, were less troublesome to their white
neighbors than the Indians north of the Sound. Nor does
it appear that any formidable conspiracy ever existed with
them to destroy the settlers, as was attempted, but too
successfully, upon the main. The white people, by form
ing distinct settlements In different parts of the Island, and
separating the tribes, probably prevented any such com
bination being formed, if It were ever Intended. The
white population were distinguished for their prudence
and vigilance; and the first dawning of hostility would
create alarm, and the means of defence be Instantly re
sorted to. That difficulties sometimes occurred with a
single tribe, and might have been provoked by the im
proper conduct of the whites themselves. It is reasonable
to beheve. The story of their griefs, or the wrongs they
may have endured, can never be known; and they and
their sufferings are equally burled In obUvIon. Their
written language, so far as they possessed any, was
entirely of a symbolic character; and both deeds, con
tracts, and treaties were signed by a mark or symbol —
as the figure of a hatchet, pipe, bow, arrow, &c., each
chief having his own appropriate mark. It was not un-

I GO HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
common, upon the death of a sachem leaving no son, or
none but an infant, for the widow to assume and exercise
most of the functions which her deceased husband had
done. She was then called the sunk squa, or squa
sachem; and the records of the different towns present
examples of deeds being executed In such cases by female
V sachems. In some Instances the sachem nominated a
person to act as guardian for his son during his minority,
Wyandanch, the Long Island sachem, appointed Lion
Gardiner, and his son David Gardiner, as guardi'ans to
his son Wyancombone ; and these persons actually affixed
their names to conveyances on bdhalf of their ward. This
singular appointment appears by the records of East
hampton to have been made In 1660, and continued till
the young sachem came to the age which would authorize
him to act for himself. Pending the Indian war In New
England in 1675 (designated as Philip's War), which
threatened the extermination of the white people on the
main. It was apprehended by the eastern towns on Long
Island, that the Indians here might be Induced to unite
with those hostile Indians to destroy them also ; and there
upon such prudent and precautionary measures were
adopted as effectually prevented the consequences of such
an union, if any such was In contemplation. The accounts
of Philip's wars would be highly entertaining, but for the
unfeeling barbarities, and cold, calculating horrors of
savage warfare which mark every stage of their progress.
For, not contented with the destruction of cattle and
grain, the plunder of goods, and conflagration of dwell
ings, they murdered all they met without discrimination
of age, sex, or condition; beheading, scalping, dismem
bering, and mangling their wretched and unfortunate vic
tims In a manner too revolting for recital.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND loi
The Algonquin or Chlppeway race of Indians Is one
of the most numerous In existence, and there Is little
doubt but that all the tribes anciently In New York and
New England, were of this race. If we may be allowed to
consider identity of language as proof of the fact. The
vocabulary of the Narragansett tongue, recorded by
Roger Williams, shows them to have been of the same
stock. The Mohegans were progenitors of the other
tribes in New England who spoke the same tongue. So
were the tribes in Maine. The Delawares, or Lenni-
Lennape, were of the same family; and their language
has been pronounced by competent judges the most perfect
Indian dialect in existence. The Iroquois, or Six Nations,
once dreaded by all the other tribes from the Atlantic to
the Mississippi, are Algonquins. This tribe extends from
the mouth of the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, and
northward to the Great Slave Lake. On the western
side of the Mississippi is another great Indian family, the
Sioux. In the south of the United States we have four
tribes — the Chlckasaws, Chocktaws, Cherokees, and
Creeks; of the latter the Semlnoles are a part, whose
towns were destroyed by General Jackson, their chiefs
slain, and those who escaped death, effectually dispersed.
The different and somewhat singular opinions which have
existed upon this subject are amusing, although few of
them are very satisfactory to the antiquary. The Rev.
Thomas Thorowgood, in 1652, pubUshed a quarto
volume to prove the American Indians to be the Jews,
who had been lost to the world for more than two
thousand years. Roger Williams seems to have enter
tained a simUar opinion, as appears by his replies to
questions propounded to him by an European correspond
ent. Cotton Mather, a curious and wonderfully pro-

I02 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
lific writer of the seventeenth century, affirms the same ;
and supposes that the devU seduced these Jews from their
own country, to get them (as he expresses it) out of the
way of the " Silver Trumpets of the Gospel." Boudlnot,
In his book entitled The Star in the West, conjectures
the Indians of America to be the " long-lost tribes of
Israel;" and last, though not least, may be mentioned
our distinguished fellow-citizen, Mordecal M. Noah,
Esq., who has composed a learned and Ingenious disserta
tion to prove them to have been originally Jews, and a
part of the lost tribes of his nation.
It Is one of the peculiar traits of Indian character, and
one which Is apparently universal, that while the business
of procuring food is the duty of the men, all other labor,
however arduous or degrading. Is devolved upon the
women. The use of the axe and other domestic Imple
ments Is considered by these self-created lords as beneath
their savage dignity; while to the weaker sex It belongs
to plant corn, make and mend garments, build wigwams,
and attend to all the drudgery of rearing children and
other family affairs. Revenge Is with them a cardinal
virtue, and to endure pain with heroic fortitude a quality
worthy of high admiration. In short, to be proof against
suffering, however exquisite, and to be destitute of all
sympathy for that of others. Is a characteristic of the
savage in every part of the world.
In Denton's History of New York, published In 1670,
we find the following Interesting matter on the subject of
the Long Island Indians:
" Long Island," says he, " the west end of which lies
southward of New York, mns eastward about one
hundred miles, and Is In some places eight. In some twelve,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 103
In some fourteen mUes broad; It Is Inhabited from one
end to the other. On the west end is four or five Dutch
towns, the rest being all English to the number of twelve,
besides villages and farm houses.
" To say something of the Indians, there is now but
few upon the island, and those few no ways hurtful, but
rather serviceable to the English, and it is to be admired,
how strangely they have decreast by the Hand of God,
since the English first settling of those parts ; for since my
time, where there were six towns, they are reduced to two
small villages, and it hath been generally observed, that
where the English come to settle, a Divine Hand makes
way for them by removing or cutting off the Indians;
either by wars, one with the other, or by some mortal
disease. They live principally by hunting, fowling, and
fishing; their wives being the husbandmen to till the land,
and plant their com. The meat they live most upon Is
fish, fowl, and venison ; they eat likewise polecats, skunks,
raccoon, 'possum, turtles, and the like. They build small
moveable tents, which they remove two or three times
a year, having their principal quarters where they plant
their corn; their hunting quarters, and their fishing quar
ters. Their recreations are chiefly foot-ball and cards,
at which they will play away all they have, excepting a
flap to cover their nakedness. They are great lovers
of strong drink, yet do not care for drinking, unless they
have enough to make themselves drunk; and If there be
so many in their company, that there is not sufficient to
make them all drunk, they usually select so many out of
their company, proportionable to the quantity of drink,
and the rest must be spectators. And If any one chance
to be drank before he hath finisht his proportion (which
is ordinarily a quart of brandy, mm, or strong-water)
the rest will pour the rest of his part down his throat.
" They often kill one another at these drunken
matches, which the friends of the murdered person do

I04 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
revenge upon the murderer, unless he purchase his life
with money, which they sometimes do. Their money Is
made of a periwinkle shell, of which there Is black and
white, made much like unto beads, and put upon strings.
For their worship, which is diaboHcal, it is performed
usually but once or twice a year, unless upon some extra
ordinary occasion, as upon making of war or the like;
their usual time is about Michaelmass, when their corn
Is first ripe, the day being appointed by their chief priest
or pawaw; most of them go a hunting for venison. When
they are all congregated their priest tells them If he want
money, their God will accept of no other offering, which
the people believing every one gives money according to
their ability. The priest takes the money, and putting it
into some dishes, sets them upon the top of their low
flat-roofed houses, and falls to invoking their God to
come and receive It, which with a many loud hallows and
outcries, knocking the ground with sticks, and beating
themselves. Is performed by the priest, and seconded by
the people.
" After they have thus awhile wearied themselves, the
priest by his conjuration brings in a devil amongst them,
in the shape sometimes of a fowl, sometimes of a beast,
and sometimes of a man, at which the people, being
amazed, not daring to stir, he improves the opportunity,
steps out and makes sure of the money, and then returns
to lay the spirit, who in the meantime Is sometimes
gone, and takes some of the company along with him;
but If any English at such times do come amongst them.
It puts a period to their proceedings, and they will desire
their absence, telling them their God will not come whilst
they are there.
" In their wars they fight-no pichtfields, but when they
have notice of an enemie's approach, they endeavor to
secure their wives and chUdren upon some Island, or in
some thick swamp, and then with their guns and hatchets

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 105
they way-lay their enemies, some lying behind one, some
another, and It Is a great fight where seven or more Is
slain. " When any Indian dies amongst them, they bury him
upright, sitting upon a seat, with his gun, money, and such
goods as he hath with him, that he may be furnished in
the other world, which they conceive is westward, where
they shall have great store of game for hunting and live
easie lives.
"At his burial, his nearest relations attend the hearse
with their faces painted black, and do visit the grave once
or twice a day, where they send forth sad lamentations
so long, till time hath worn the blackness off their faces,
and afterwards every year once they view the grave,
make a new mourning for him, trimming up the grave,
not suffering of a grass to grow by It; they fence their
graves with a hedge, and cover the tops with mats, to
shelter them from the rain.
" Any Indian, being dead, his name dies with him, no
person daring ever after to mention his name, it being not
only a breach of their law, but an abuse to his friends and
relations present, as if it were done on purpose to renew
their grief. And if any other person whatsoever that Is
named after that name doth incontinently change his
name, and take a new one, their names are not proper
set names as amongst Christians, but every one Invents
a name to himself, which he likes best, some calling them
selves Rattlesnake, Skunk, Buck-horn, or the like. And
If a person die, that his name is some word which is used
in speech, they likewise change that word, and invent
some new one, which makes a great change in their
language. When any person is sick, after some means
used by his friends, every one pretending skill in physick,
that proving ineffectual, they send for a pawaw or priest,
who sitting down by the sick person, without the least
enquiry after the distemper, waits for a gift, which he

io6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
proportions his work accordingly to. That being re
ceived, he first begins with a low voice to call upon his
God, calling sometimes upon one, sometimes on another,
raising his voice higher and higher, beating of his naked
breasts and sides, till the sweat runneth down, and his
breath is almost gone, then that lltde which Is remaining,
he evaporates upon the face of the sick person three or
four times together, and so takes his leave.
" Their marriages are performed without any cere
mony, the match being first made by money. The sum
being agreed upon and given to the women. It makes a
consummation of their marriage, if I may call it. After
that he keeps her during his pleasure, and upon the least
dislike turns her away and takes another. It is no offense
for their married women to lie with another man, pro
vided she acquaint her husband, or some of her nearest
relations with It, but If not, it is accounted such a fault
that they sometimes punish it with death. An Indian may
have two wives or more If he please ; but it Is not so much
In use as It was, since the English came amongst them,
they being ready, in some measure, to imitate the English
in things both good and bad ; any maid before she is mar
ried doth lie with whom she please for money; without
any scandal or the least aspersion to be cast upon her, it
being so customary, and their laws tolerating of It. They
are extraordinary charitable one to another, one having
nothing to spare, but he freely Imparts It to his friends,
and whatsoever they get by gaming or any other way,
they share one to another, leaving themselves commonly
the least share.
" At their cantlcas or dancing matches, where all per
sons that come are freely entertained, It being a festival
time, their custom Is, when they dance, every one but
the dancers to have a short stick in their hand, and to
knock the ground and sing altogether, whilst they that
dance sometimes act warlike postures, and then they come

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 107
In, painted for war with their faces black and red, or some
all black, some all red, with some streaks of white under
their eyes, and so jump and leap up and down without
any order, uttering many expressions of their Intended
valor. For other dances they only show what antick tricks
their ignorance will lead them to, wringing their bodies
and faces after a strange manner, sometimes jumping Into
the fire, sometimes catching up a fire-brand and biting
off a live coal, with many such tricks, that will affright.
If not please an Englishman to look upon them, resem
bling rather a company of infernal furies than men. When
their king or sachem sits In council, he hath a company of
armed men to guard his person, great respect being
shown to him by the people, which is principally mani
fested by their silence. After he hath declared the cause
of their convention, he demands their opinion, ordering
who shall begin. The person ordered to speak, after
he hath declared his mind, tells them he hath done; no
man ever Interrupting any person In his speech, nor offer
ing to speak, though he make never so many a long stop
till he says he hath no more to say. The council having
all declared their opinions, the king after some pause gives
the definite sentence, which Is commonly recorded with a
shout from the people, every one seeming to applaud, and
manifest their assent to what Is determined. If any per
son be condemned to die, which Is seldom, unless for
murder or incest, the king himself goes out In person ( for
you must understand they have no prisons and the guilty
person flies Into the woods) where they go In quest of him,
and having found him, the king shoots first, though at
never such a distance, and then happy is the man can
shoot him down, and cut off his long (tuft of hair on
the top of the head) which they commonly wear, who
for his pains Is made some captain or other military
officer. " Their clothing Is a yard and an half of broad cloth.

io8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
which is made for the Indian trade, which they hang upon
their shoulders, and half a yard of the same cloth, which
being put betwixt their legs, and brought up before and
behinde, and tied with a girdle about their middle, hangs
with a flap on each side. They wear no hats, but com
monly wear about their heads a snake's skin, or a belt
of their money, or a kind of a raff made with deers' hair,
and dyed of a scarlet colour, which they esteem very
rich. "They grease their bodies and hair very often, and
paint their faces with several colours, as black, white, red,
yeUow, blue, &c., which they take great pride in, every
one being painted in a several manner. This much for
the customs of the Indians."
This rare and curious production Is beyond all doubt
the first essay toward a history of the Colony of New
York. It was composed by Daniel Denton, youngest son
of the Rev. Richard Denton, first minister of Hempstead,
who came with his father from Stamford in 1644. He
was an active and intelligent man, assisted In the settle
ment of Jamaica, and was a magistrate there several
years. In 1664, he purchased, In conjunction with John
Bailey and Luke Watson of Jamaica, of certain Staten
Island chiefs, a tract of land In New Jersey, on a part
of which Elizabethtown now stands. He soon after re
leased his Interest in the purchase to John Baker and
John Ogden. In 1665 he and Thomas Benedict repre
sented Jamaica In the General Assembly of Deputies at
Hempstead, which formed the code called the "Duke's
Laws." Several editions of this interesting history have
within a few years been given to the public, the most valu
able of which is that published in New York In 1845, '^i*^h
an Introduction and notes by the Hon. Gabriel Furman of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 109
Brooklyn, who deserves the thanks of every lover of
American history.
The character of this work for accuracy of descrip
tion, both as regards the manners and customs of the
aborigines, as well as the colonists, is admitted by all who
have had an opportunity of verifying It by collateral and
contemporaneous evidence.
In respect to the arts of Hfe, It Is beUeved that the
Long Island Indians were In many respects in advance of
most other tribes, and especially those in the Interior of
the country, and were at the same time less inclined to
war and depredation, although some of the historians of
New England, and Hubbard in particular, have con
ferred upon them a different character. But it must be
admitted that one Instance mentioned by the latter will
bear a very different construction, and Is strong evidence
of the prejudice generally entertained against the
aboriginal Inhabitants of Islands. That they were ob
jects of persecution and oppression from some of the
more powerful tribes upon the main, and upon the North
River, Is a matter of historical certainty, and were only
effectually relieved by the protection afforded them from
the white people, after colonization had made consider
able progress In nearly every part of the Island.
The smallpox made at different times awful havoc
among several tribes, particularly In 1662, and the intro
duction of ardent spirits and other Intoxicating drinks,
with other co-operative causes, served to lessen their num
bers rapidly, and in half a century from the beginning
of the settlements by Europeans, more than one-third was
deducted from the former native population, which prob
ably one century before comprised nearly a quarter of a
million. Including Staten Island.

II o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
In reUgion, like most pagan nations, they were to a
great extent polythelsts and idolaters. Their good and
evil spirits were very numerous, to which they ascribed
whatever of happiness or misery was experienced. On
this account they early became an object of Importance to
those engaged in missionary enterprises, and In 1653 the
Rev. Mr. Leverldge was employed to labor among the
Long Island Indians. The Rev. Mr. James also devoted
much attention to those on the eastern part of the Island
after his settlement at Easthampton, and In 1741 the
Rev. Mr. Horton was engaged to devote himself ex
clusively to Instructing them, which he did for several
years, but to how much advantage Is a matter of un
certainty, as the account left by himself only extends to
three years out of eleven which he gave to this work.
The Rev. Sampson Occum succeeded Mr. Horton in
endeavoring to instruct and convert his Indian brethren
of this Island, and was followed many years after by the
Rev. Paul Cuffee, a native of considerable worth and
talent, who continued among them till his death.
Sampson Occum, the Indian clergyman, was a native
of Connecticut, born at Mohegan on the Thames, near
Norwich, in 1723, and was the first Indian pupil of the
Rev. Eleazar Wheelock of Lebanon In 1743, at the age
of nineteen years, where he remained four years. About
1755 he went to Montauk as a teacher, but being after
wards licensed to preach he was ordained by the Suffolk
Presbytery August 30, 1759. He continued at Montauk,
preaching occasionally to other tribes, ten years. He next
engaged In a mission to the Oneidas, where he continued
till 1765 when he accompanied the Rev. Mr. Whitaker
to Europe. Being the first Indian preacher that ever vis
ited England he of course attracted much attention, the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND iii
houses in which he officiated being continually thronged.
Between February i6, 1766, and July 22, 1767, he de
livered in England and Scotland between three and four
hundred sermons. He collected, it Is said, above $40,000
for the establishment of schools among the American
Indians, the King, before whom he preached, subscribing
$1,000. In 1786 he removed with many of the Connect
icut Indians and some from Long Island to the Stock-
bridge tribe, at Brothertown, Oneida County, where he
spent the remainder of his days, and died July 14, 1792,
In the sixty-ninth year of his age.

OF INDIAN MONEY, TRIBUTE, &c.
The frequent mention of wampum, or seawan. In all
the early histories of this country, occurring as It does In
nearly every contract or negotiation with the Indian
tribes, and the well known circumstance of Its being used
during the first half century of our American settlements
as the circulating medium of trade and commerce (car
ried on both among the Indians and the white people),
require that some account should be given of an article In
many respects so Important and valuable.
Wampum, as It was called by the English (from
wampi or wompi, signifying white), or seawan, as it was
termed by the Dutch, had obtained almost universally
among the savage races upon this continent.
On the banks of the Hudson, as weU as upon Long
Island, on the shores of the Mississippi, and even on the
borders of the Niger, In Western Africa, the custom of
using shells as money is found to have been equally com-

112 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
mon. The tribes of our country were unacquainted with
gold or silver, but as something was necessary In their
place, resort was naturally had to the manufacture of
wampum, as an article more convenient and portable than
skins or other things, sometimes used as the medium of
exchange. The only wonder. In these days of paper
money. Is that the facility of procuring the material out of
which it was made did not so far depreciate Its value as
to defeat the purpose of its manufacture. But this wonder
ceases when It Is known that wampum besides Its use as
money, was extensively used as an ornament of dress, as a
consideration In treaties with other tribes where shells
were not found, and as the price of peace and protection
from hostile aggression, in the form of tribute. Besides
which there was much difficulty In the making of It, the
operation being a delicate one, requiring considerable
skill, and the manufacturer was generally destitute of the
necessary Instruments for the purpose.
Wampum, then, was composed of shells, or strings of
shells, of a particular form and size, and constituted not
only the money of the Indians, but served likewise as an
ornament to their persons — the women and chief men In
particular. It distinguished equally the rich from the poor,
and the proud to the humble. It was a tribute from the
weaker to the powerful, the conquered to the conqueror.
It ratified treaties, confirmed alliances, sealed friendships,
cemented peace, and expiated all sorts of crime, even
murder, for the wampum belt washed away the memories
of all blood that had been shed, and of every Injury that
had been Inflicted. It was probably considered by these
simple people the highest evidence. In most cases, of per
sonal wealth, and the exhibition of power and Influence.
The mode of preparing It Is thus described by one who

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 113
witnessed the operation. " It Is made (says he) by clip
ping of clam shells to a proper size, drilling a hole
through the middle, and then rubbing them smooth upon
a large stone; after which they are placed upon strings,
the white and black being sometimes Intermixed." Mr.
John Josselyn, who visited this country In 1633, says of
the Indians, " their beads are their money, of which there
are two sorts, blue and white; the first Is their gold
and the latter their silver. These they work out of
certain shells, so cunningly, that neither Jew nor devil
can counterfeit it. They drill and string them to adorn
the persons of their sagamores and principal men and
young women, as belts, girdles, tablets, borders for
their women's hair, bracelets, necklaces, and links to
hang In their ears. . . . King Philip, coming to Boston,
had a coat and buskin set thick with these beads. In
pleasant wild works, and a broad belt of the same; his
accoutrements were valued (says the writer) at £20. The
English merchant giveth them los. a fathom for their
white, and as much again for their blue beads." In
Roger Williams' Key, It Is observed, that one fathom of
wampum or Indian money Is worth 5 shillings sterling.
In a short time after the settlement of the country by
the white people, wampum had become so indispensable
an article of domestic commerce that Its value was
made a frequent subject of legislation, and was often
regulated by proclamation of the governor. In 1673 It
had become so scarce that It was publicly ordered, that
six white or three black should pass for a stiver or
penny. This article was known under various names, as wam
pum, wampum-peague, wampeague or wompampege, and
sometimes as peague only.

114 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
There were two kinds of this article : white and black.
The latter was sometimes known as Suckanhock, and was
more valuable than white. The name comes from the
Indian word sucki, meaning black. The white was made
most frequently from the stem or stock of the meteauhock
or periwinkle, while the black was manufactured from
the shell of the quahaug (Venus mercenaria) or large
round clam. The Indians broke off about half an Inch
from the inside (which was of a purple color) and con
verted It into beads. Before the Introduction of awls and
thread, the shells were bored through with sharp stones,
and strung upon the sinews of small beasts, and when
Interwoven of a hand's breadth, more or less, were called
a belt of seawan or wampum.
A black bead, the size of a straw, about one-third of an
inch long, bored longitudinally and well polished, was
the gold of the Indians, and was always esteemed of twice
the value of the white. Either species, however, was
considered by them of much more value than any Euro
pean coin. An Indian chief, to whom the value of a rlx-
doUar was explained by the first clergyman of Renselaer-
wyck, laughed exceedingly to think the Dutch should set
so high a price upon a piece of Iron, as he termed it.
Three beads of black and six of white were equivalent,
among the English, to a penny, and among the Dutch, to
a stuyver. But with the latter, the equivalent number
sometimes varied from three and six, to four and eight.
One of Governor Minuit's successors fixed, by placard,
the price of the " good splendid seawan of Manhattan "
at four for a stuyver. A string of this money, a fathom
long, varied In price from five shillings among the New
Englanders (after the Dutch gave them a knowledge of
It) to four guilders ($i.66j^) among the Dutch, The

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 115
process of trade was this : the Dutch and EngHsh sold for
seawan their knives, combs, scissors, needles, awls, look
ing-glasses, hatchets, hoes, guns, black cloth, and other
articles of Indian traffic; and with the seawan bought
the furs, corn, and venison of the Indians upon the sea
board; who also, with their shell money, bought the like
articles from Indians residing In the interior of the coun
try. Thus, by this species of circulating medium, a brisk
commerce was carried on, not only between the white
people and the Indians, but between different tribes of
the latter. It was also the tribute paid by the vanquished
to those (the Five Nations for Instance) who exacted
contribution. In the form of a belt, It was sent with all
public messages, and was preserved as a record of im
portant transactions between nations. If a message was
sent without the belt. It was considered an empty word,
unworthy of remembrance. If the belt was returned, it
was a rejection of the offer, or terms accompanying it. If
accepted. It was a confirmation, and not only strengthened
friendships but effaced injuries. The belt, with appro
priate figures worked Into It, was the record of domestic
transactions. The confederation of the Five Nations was
recorded in this manner. Cockle shells had. Indeed, more
virtue amongst Indians than either pearls, gold, or silver
had among Europeans. Seawan was. Indeed, the seal
of a contract — the oath of fideUty. It satisfied murders
and all other Injuries, purchased peace, and entered Into
the religious as well as civil ceremonies of the natives. A
string of seawan was sometimes delivered by the orator
In public council at the close of every distinct proposition
made to others, as a ratification of the truth and sincerity
of what he said; and the white and black strings of sea
wan were tied by the pagan priest around the neck of a

II 6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
white dog suspended to a pole, and offered as a sacrifice
to T'halonghyawaagon, the upholder of the skies, and
the god of the Five Nations.
The seawan was manufactured most abundantly and
in considerable variety upon Long Island, the shores of
which abounded in shells, and was called, for this rea
son, Seawanhacky, or " Island of Shells." The poquan-
hock or quahaug, and the periwinkle were very plenty;
and for this reason. In all probability, it was that the
Mohawks, the Pequots, and other powerful tribes, made
frequent wars upon the Long Island Indians, and com
pelled them to pay tribute in this almost universal article
of trade and commerce. The immense quantity that was
manufactured accounts for the fact, that In the most ex
tensive shell-banks left by the Indians, It is rare to find
a whole shell; all having been broken In the process of
making wampum. And It is not unlikely that many of
the largest heaps of shells still existing are the remains of
a wampum manufactory.
The French, at one period, undertook the imitation of
wampum by substituting porcelain for shells. If it had
succeeded, this might have proved a profitable adven
ture; but the Indians at once discovered the artifice,
and the manufacture of earthen money was of course
given up. The Dutch and English made great quantities
of the article from the genuine material ; and the greater
mechanical facilities which they possessed, gave them a
wonderful advantage In the manufacture. But the conse
quence, as might be expected, was to diminish Its value
In proportion to Its abundance. At the commencement
of the European settlements, and In all purchases from
the natives, wampum always constituted a part of the
price; and this, with a few articles of clothing, of com-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 117
paratlvely trifling value, was exchanged sometimes for
large tracts of valuable land.
Hazard, in his collection of state papers, says that
the Narragansetts procured many shells from Long
Island, out of which they manufactured Indian money;
and that they likewise oftentimes compelled the natives
of the Island to pay them large tribute In wampum. Dr.
Edwards supposes that all the tribes upon Long Island,
Staten Island, and Manhattan Island were In like manner
tributary to the Six Nations, of whom the Mohawks were
the most numerous and formidable tribe. It Is well
known they were more extensively dreaded than any other
of the northern tribes; so much so, that even the name
of Mohawk excited sensations of fear and alarm in the
minds of children and young people of other tribes. The
Pequots or Pequods, In the day of their power. Inhabited
the country about Stonington, Groton, and New London.
To the north of them were Mohegans, of whom Uncas
was chief, as Saccacus was of the Pequots, at the begin
ning of the white settlements. The Pokanokets, or
Wompanoags possessed the southern part of Massachu
setts and the eastern part of Rhode Island, of whom
Massasolt was chief, who was succeeded by his son
Philip, having his royal seat at or near Bristol. Further
to the west were the Narragansetts, a powerful tribe, who
gave name to the beautiful bay situated between Point
Judith and Seaconet. Their sachem was Canonicus,
whose death occurred June 4, 1647, when he was suc
ceeded by his nephew, Mlantonlmoh, who was afterwards
slain by Uncas at the instigation of the white people. All
these tribes were guilty occasionally of hostilities upon
the Long Island Indians, particularly those nearest, at
Montauk; and they were reluctantly compeUed to pur-

ii8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
chase Indemnity and protection by an annual tribute of
wampum, corn, &c. ; while the Indians on the western part
of the Island were as continually harassed by tribes on
the north and west, generally called the River Indians.
In 1655 a large body of Indians, consisting of five
hundred from New Jersey and the North River, landed
at New Amsterdam, where, being provoked Into hostili
ties, they did considerable Injury. Thence they went to
Staten Island, where they committed great havoc, A part
of them crossed to Long Island and threatened the settle
ment of Gravesend; but the Indians there refusing to join
them, they retired without doing material damage. In
1649 a murder was perpetrated at Southampton, and
the town was at the same time greatly alarmed at the
hostile appearance of the Indians in that neighborhood.
Many outrages, and even murders, were likewise com
mitted In the Dutch towns during the year 1652. In 1645
the town of Southampton ordered one-half of the militia
company to bring their arms to the church upon the
Lord's day. And in 1651 the town of Easthampton or
dered the inhabitants to bring their arms with them to
church under the penalty of twelve pence for every
neglect. In 1681 the Indians plundered a store in Hunt
ington, and threatened the family of the owner In a vio
lent manner.
The Montauks were doubtless superior In numbers and
warlike skill, at a former period, -to any other of the
Long Island tribes, and this superiority was acknowledged
by the payment of tribute. It is abundantly evident from
several early writers of New England, that the Pequots,
the most powerful tribe In Connecticut, had at one time
subdued the Montauks, whereby the whole of the Long
Island Indians came into subjection to the Pequots ; which

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 119
was acknowledged by the payment of an annual tribute,
for some years at least. But after 1637 they considered
themselves In subjection to the English, and paid them,
for their favor and protection, the same amount of tribute
which they had previously paid to the Pequots. In 1650,
In consequence of their failure to discharge this annuity,
the New England commissioners sent Captain Mason
to Long Island to require payment of the tribute due from
the Indians, and to make arrangements for more punctual
ity in future. In 1656 the Montauk chief visited the
commissioners at Boston, acquainting them that he had
paid the tribute due from him, at Hartford for ten years
past, but that It was in arrear for the four last years, in
consequence of the war in which they had been engaged
with the Narragansetts. On this account the commis
sioners consented to release the payment of the arrears.
It Is not very easy at this day to perceive the propriety
or justice of the imposition of this tribute by the white
people. The Pequots, who had also been tributary to
the English In 1650, remonstrated against the injustice of
exacting any further tribute from them. In answer to
which, the commissioners said it was Imposed In 1635,
on account of the many murders they had previously com
mitted. It was exacted from the Long Island Indians,
It seems, under the pretence that the whites had afforded
them protection from their red brethren, to whom they
would otherwise have been forced to pay tribute.
Governor Winthrop, in his Journal, 1637, says that
" The Indians sent In many Pequots' heads and hands
from Long Island and other places, and sachems from
Long Island came voluntarily, and brought tribute to us
of twenty fathoms of wampum each of them." From
which it appears incontestably that the Long Island In-

I20 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
dians were often involved in wars, and that they dealt
freely In the blood of their enemies, also, when the oppor
tunity offered. In 1633, says the same author, the barque
" Blessing," which had been sent to the southward, re
turned. She had, he says, been at an island, over against
Connecticut, which Is fifty leagues long, the east end being
about ten leagues from the main, but the west end not
one mile. The Indians there, he continues, are very
treacherous and have many canoes so great as will carry
eighty men. And again, that In 1636 Mr. Withers, In a
vessel of fifty tons, going to Virginia, was cast away upon
Long Island, seven of his men being drowned In land
ing, some got In a boat to the Dutch plantation, and two
were killed by the Indians, who took all such goods as
were left on the shore. In 1638 Janemoh (called also
NInlgret, NInecraft, and Ayanemoh) sachem of NIantIc,
passed over to Long Island and rifled some of the In
dians who were tributary to them. The sachem (says
Winthrop) complained to our friends of Connecticut,
who wrote us about It, and we sent Captain Mason, with
seven men, to require satisfaction. In 1643, the Indians
on the western part of Long Island having, as they con
ceived, been misused by the Dutch, took part against them
with their neighbors on the main. In consequence of
this event, a convention of the leading Indians was held
at Rockaway, L. I., when Penowlts, their great chief, ad
dressed the Dutch agents from Manhattan, and In his
speech upbraided them for their ingratitude toward the
natives, touching their kindness to them In former years.
At this meeting It appears that the venerable Roger Wil
liams of Providence was present, having come to New
Amsterdam to take passage for Europe, and by his
timely and benevolent mediation and assistance peace was

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 121
happily re-established, not only with the' Long Island
Indians, but with those more distant tribes who had par
ticipated In the contest.*
In Gookin's History, It Is remarked that the Pequots
were a very warlike people about forty years since
(1624), at which time they were In their meridian; that
their chief sachem held dominion over divers petty saga
mores, over part of Long Island, over the Mohegans, and
over the sagamores of Quinipiac; yea, over all the people
that dwelt on Connecticut River, and over some of the
most southerly Inhabitants of the Nipmuck country about
Quinebaug. Another writer observes, that when the
Dutch began the settlement of New York, all the Indians
on Long Island and the northern shore of the Sound,
on the banks of the Connecticut, Hudson, Delaware, and
Susquehanna rivers, were in subjection to the Iroquois
or Five Nations, and within the memory of persons then
living, acknowledged It by the payment of tribute. As
a proof. It Is mentioned that a small tribe near the Sugar-
loaf Mountlan, In 1756, made a payment of £20 a year
to the Mohawks.
Tammany was a celebrated Indian chief of the Dela
ware or Lenni-Lennape tribe, and was living after the
arrival of Penn ; his residence being It is said on the spot
• Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan, in the first volume of his ingenious and elabo
rate History of New Netherlands, p. 276, expresses doubts as to the fact of
the presence of Roger Williams upon the occasion mentioned, from the
circumstance of the entire silence of De Vries on the subject. That no
mention of Williams is made by him who had so conspicuous a part
in the transaction, is certainly strong negative evidence against the fact,
and it may be that he exerted his influence, as suggested by the historian,
by correspondence with the Dutch, and recommending mutual concession
for the sake of producing a more friendly and lasting intercourse with
their Indian neighbors. It is well known that Roger Wijliams was
distinguished for his kind and benevolent disposition, and possessed more
than ordinary, the confidence of the natives, as well as the white people.

122 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
where Germantown now stands. Societies named from
this chief have been formed in New York and other
where, the place of whose meeting Is called a wigwam;
Indian costume and phrases were also originally adopted
by these associations; but they are now much out of
use. Some historians have doubted the fact of the Long
Island Indians having been tributary, as stated by various
writers. The Dutch (says the venerable Samuel Jones),
finding all the Indians within and adjoining their settle
ments on Long Island tributary to the Mohawks or Five
Nations, probably concluded from thence that all the
Indians upon the Island were so also. On the contrary,
says Mr. Jones, a tradition once prevailed among the
Montauk Indians that their ancestors had wars with the
Indians on the main, who conquered them, and compelled
them to pay tribute. This confirms the assertion, so often
repeated, that the Narragansetts once held dominion
over a part of Long Island at least, and probably some
times compelled the natives to assist them in war against
their enemies. When the English commissioners met at
Hartford In 1650, Uncas came to them with a complaint
that a sachem of Long Island had killed some of his
men, had bewitched divers others, and himself also; and
anxiously desired of the commissioners that he might be
righted therein. About a year after the death of Mlan
tonlmoh, NInlgret It appears undertook to organize a
plan for extirpating the English, and sent a messenger to
Wyandanch, the Long Island sachem, to procure his co
operation in it. Instead of listening to his proposition,
Wyandanch seized Ninigret's messenger, bound him, and
sent him to Captain Gardiner, the commander at Say-
brook Fort. From thence he was sent under a guard of
ten men to Hartford. But being windbound In their pas-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 123
sage, they were obliged to put Into Shelter Island, where
an old sachem, the eldest brother of Wyandanch, lived.
Here Ninigret's ambassador escaped, and thus he was
Informed that his plan had been discovered and defeated.
After the peace of 1654 between the Montauk Indians
and those upon the main, the Long Islanders, pretending
to visit NInekunet at Block Island, slaughtered of his
men near thirty persons at midnight, two of whom were
of great note. After which Ninigret surprised some of the
Long Island Indians upon Gull Island, and killed many of
them; for which massacre the general court of Connecti
cut demanded several hundred fathoms of wampum as a
satisfaction. On November 3, 1669, the Montauk chiefs
acknowledged the governor of New York as their
chiefest sachem.
In 176 1 the Indians had so diminished on Long Island,
as in some places to have entirely disappeared, while In
others they were greatly reduced; and even the once
powerful Montauks could at that time number only thirty-
eight families, and one hundred and ninety-two souls.
This number was further reduced. In 1783, by the emi
gration of a considerable number of their tribe to Oneida
County with the Rev. Sampson Occum.

OF THE DIFFERENT INDIAN TRIBES OF
LONG ISLAND
The Indians on Long Island, on the arrival of the
white people, were found divided Into distinct tribes, or
perhaps more properly, collections of families, having dif
ferent names, and exercising an independent authority
or control over separate portions of territory; and these

124 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
tribes had, moreover, each their chiefs and head men,
called sachems or sagamores, exercising authority In the
conduct of public affairs, questions of war, treaties, and
the payment of tribute. From the sachems of the different
tribes, and sometimes from a few other head men asso
ciated with them, the lands were purchased by the white
people, and from them have descended the titles to most
If not all the real estate upon Long Island. Motives of
honor, justice, and humanity, as well as true policy, dic
tated the propriety of this course by strangers, coming
to settle a country already occupied by those who were
the ancient and rightful tenants of the soil. The price
to be paid was always agreed upon by the parties, and
good faith. It Is believed, was In most cases observed on
the part of the white people.
The principal tribes or clans inhabiting the Island at
that distant period and occupying particular portions of
territory, were thirteen In number, being the undisputed
claimants of the tracts of land, over which they exercised
political jurisdiction.
The Canarsie Tribe claimed the whole of the lands
now Included within the limits of Kings County and a
part of the town of Jamaica. The principal settlement
was probably about Flatlands, where there Is a place
which yet retains the name of Canarsie, and was, per
haps, the residence of the sachem. The last of the tribe
Is known to have died about 1800. The Inhabitants, in
the Infancy of the settlement, had much difficulty with
this tribe, and were compelled to erect places of defence,
to prevent the consequences of surprise. The Immense
pUes of shells at this place and upon Bergen Island, show
their number must at one time have been very con
siderable.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 125
The Rockaway Tribe were scattered over the south
ern part of the town of Hempstead, which, with a part of
Jamaica, and the whole of Newtown, was the bounds
of their claim. The greater part of the population was
at Near Rockaway,* and as far west as the present site
of the Marine PavIHon. Those Indians who resided at
the head of Maspeth Creek In Newtown, were a portion
of this tribe, as deeds for land there were uniformly
executed by the Rockaway sachem, which could not have
been the case had the Maspeth Indians been a distinct
tribe. This tribe had likewise a settlement upon Hog
Island, consisting of several hundred acres, situate In the
waters of Rockaway Bay. The banks of shells In dif
ferent places are very large. Mangwobe was their
sachem In 1650.
The Merrick, Meroke, or Merikoke Tribe, as
they have been differently denominated, claimed all the
territory south of the middle of the island, from Near
Rockaway* to the west line of Oyster Bay; and were. In
all probability, at some former period, a part of the
Massapequa, or Marsapeague tribe. A part of the lands
in the town of Hempstead was purchased of this tribe.
They had a large settlement upon Hicks Neck, and other
necks between that and the village of Merrick.
The Massapequa, or Marsapeague Tribe had their
principal settlement at the place since called Fort Neck;
and from thence eastward to the bounds of Isllp, and
north to the middle of the island; that being the usual
boundary of all the tribes by a kind of common consent.
The only remarkable battle between the whites and In
dians was fought with this tribe, when their fort was
taken and demoUshed by a force under the command of
' Now Rockville Center. — Editor.

126 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Captain John Underbill, about the year 1653. Their
sachem In 1640 was Tachapausha.
The Matinecock Tribe claimed jurisdiction of the
lands east of Newtown as far as the west line of
Smithtown, and probably to the west side of Nesaquake
River. This was a numerous tribe, and had several large
settlements at Flushing, Glen Cove, Cold Spring, Hunt
ington, and Cow Harbor;' and they possessed, from
their local advantages, the means of subsistence very
abundantly. The Nesaquake, or Nissaquogue Tribe possessed
the country east of the river of that name to Stony Brook,
and from the Sound to the middle of the Island. The
extensive shell-banks near the village of Nesaquake show
that It was the site of a considerable settlement, and
probably the residence of the sachem.
The Seatalcot, or Setauket Tribe claimed from
Stony Brook to the Wading River, and was one of the
most powerful tribes In the county. They Inhabited the
sides of the different creeks, coves, and harbors, and also
Littie Neck (now caUed Strong's Neck), which Is sup
posed to have been a royal residence.
The Corchaug Tribe owned the remainder of the
territory from the Wading River to Oyster Ponds,^ and
were spread along the north shore of Peconic Bay, and
upon the Necks adjoining the Sound. They probably
claimed Robin's Island also. In 1640 their sachem was
Momowata. The Manhasset Tribe possessed Shelter Island,
Ram Island, and probably Hog Island. This tribe, al
though confined to about 10,000 acres, could, as tradition
affirms, bring into the field at one time more than five
' Now Northport.— Editor. ' Now Orient.— Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 127
hundred fighting men. Poggatacut, chief of this tribe
in 1640, was a brother of Wyandanch, the sachem of
Montauk, as was also Nowedina, chief of the Shinne-
cocks. The death of Poggatacut In 165 1 was an Impor
tant event with the Indians, who transported his body to
Montauk for interment. In removing it, the bearers
rested the bier by the roadside leading from Sag Harbor
to Easthampton, where it remained through the night.
A fire was built by the Indians who excavated the earth
In remembrance of the event, which excavation after a
lapse of nearly 200 years Is still visible. An Indian rarely
passes the spot who does not clear out whatever may
have fallen Into the hole, the place being considered by
them holy ground. A pious duty thus devolves upon
them to preserve the memorial of an Important event in
the history of their nation. This chief was not at all
friendly to the white people, and would doubtless have
exerted himself for their extirpation. In the early part
of their settlement had he not been restrained by his
brother, Wyandanch.
The Secatogue Tribe adjoined the Massapequa
Tribe on the east, and claimed the country as far east as
Patchogue. The farm owned by the WlUet's family at
Isllp Is called Secatogue Neck, and was, it Is supposed, the
principal settlement, and probably the residence of the
sachem. It was sometimes called Sickete-W achy .
The Patchogue Tribe extended their jurisdiction
east from that place to Westhampton, and, as some think,
to Canoe Place. The main settlements must have been
Patchogue, Fireplace, Mastic, Moriches, and West
hampton. The Shinnecock Tribe claimed the territory from
Canoe Place to Easthampton, including Sag Harbor and

128 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the whole south shore of Peconic Bay. Their sachem
was Nowedina In 1640. The Rev. Paul Cuffee, son of
Peter, was of this tribe. He was a man of some elo
quence, and of considerable powers of mind, although his
education was limited. He was on the whole a useful
and respectable man, and labored to much advantage
among his Indian brethren of Montauk and Shinnecock
for several years. He was said to be the second of
seven sons, and grandson on his mother's side of the Rev.
Peter John, who labored also among the natives of the
Island after the departure of the Rev. Sampson Occum,
and lived to the age of eighty-eight years, having been
born in 17 14. His son Paul was born at Brookhaven
March 4, 1757, and lies buried about a mile west of Canoe
Place, where the Indian church then stood. Over his
grave a neat marble slab has been placed, with the
following inscription :
" Erected by the New York Missionary Society In
memory of the Rev. Paul Cuffee, an Indian of the
Shinnecock Tribe, who was employed by that society, for
the last thirteen years of his life on the eastern part of
Long Island, where he labored with fidelity and success.
" Humble, pious, and Indefatigable In testifying the
Gospel of the Grace of God, he finished his course with
joy, on the 7th of March, 18 12, aged 55 years and i
days." Stephen Cuffee, a brother of Paul, died aged eighty-
four years at Riverhead, August 23, 1845. Obedlah and
Vincent, sons of the Rev. Paul Cuffee, are now living, both
respectable men.
The Montauk Tribe had jurisdiction over aU the
remaining lands to Montauk Point, and probably Included

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 129
Gardiner's Island. The sachem of this tribe was of
so much consequence as to have been acknowledged
the Grand Sachem of Paumanake, as Long Island was
sometimes called. Wyandanch was their sachem in
1640. These thirteen tribes or families were probably mem
bers of a general union or confederacy, for mutual safety
and protection; and to prevent the difficulties of divided
councils, some one of the chiefs or sachems was author
ized to act as head or leader of the rest, without whose
advice and concurrence no great political measure was
adopted. At the time of the first arrival of the white people
Wyandanch, the Montauk chief, was Invested with this
supremacy and was dignified with the title of Grand
Sachem of Paumanake, or Long Island. The new
comers treated him with a like deference, and thus did
much to conciliate his friendship and gain the esteem and
confidence of all the other tribes.
Montauk thus became the seat of royal authority and
the center of power among the Long Island Indians.
Evidences of this supreme power are still manifest, the
principal of which Is the remains of the Great Fort,
situated on the east side of Fort Pond, which was about
100 feet square, having a ditch at the foot of the glacis,
and was probably palisadoed with the trunks of fallen
trees. The location was well selected for protection and
cJefence, and must have been quite sufficient against any
attack which Indian ingenuity could have devised.
The lands In Kings County were, It is supposed, pur-.
chased by the governor of New Netherlands from the
natives, by whom they were disposed of to the settlers;
but In all the English towns, purchases were In all cases

130 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
made by the planters directly from the Indians, for which
patents of confirmation were subsequently procured from
the governor. It Is well known that the Indian In
habitants paid little attention to the cultivation of the
land, except the raising a small quantity of corn; but de
pended mainly for subsistence upon the flesh of deer and
other wild game, in addition to the great abundance of
fish, clams, and oysters, found on every shore, and in
every creek and harbor on the island. Besides their
canoes, some of which were very large, and their bows
and arrows, the only other materials of art among them
were some rude vessels of earth hardened In the fire,
fragments of which are yet sometimes found. The manu
facture of wampum, and its use as money, are evidence
that, however simple or limited the business of any people
may be, some sort of circulating medium seems indis
pensable. Governor Winthrop speaks of the superior
elegance of the wampum made by the Long Islanders In
the year 1634. The Dutch and English, as well from
necessity as convenience, resorted to this species of do
mestic exchange, the value of which was adjusted by com
mon consent and general usage.
The religious notions of the Long Island Indians are
described In a communication from the Rev. Sampson
Occum, an educated Indian minister, published among
the valuable collections of the Massachusetts Historical
Society. His words are, " They believe in a plurality of Gods,
and in one great and good Being, who controls all the
rest. They likewise believe in an Evil Spirit, and have
their conjurors or pawaws." This ceremony was so
odious In the opinion of the white people, that the Duke's
Laws of 1665 enacted that "no Indian should be suf-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 131
fered to pawaw, or perform worship to the devil, in any
town within this government."
The language of the Montauk Indians Is supposed to
have been the same with that of all the Long Island In
dians, differing little from that of the Narragansetts and
other New England tribes.
It has been contended that no more than two original
languages ever existed among the American Indians
north of the Roanoke, the Delaware and the Iroquois, —
the languages of the different tribes from Mississippi to
Nova Scotia being, at most, particular dialects of the
Delaware language. The structure of the Indian tongue
is admitted to be different in many respects from all other
known languages, ancient or modern.
The Rev. Doctor Buell in a letter to the Rev. David
Bostwick, May 9, 1761, speaks as follows of the Rev.
Sampson Occum: — "As a preacher of the gospel he
seems always to have in view the end of the ministry, the
glory of God and the salvation of men; his manner of
expression when he preaches to the Indians Is vastly
more natural, free, clear, and eloquent, quick, and power
ful, than when he preaches to others. He is the glory
of the Indian nation." And it is added by another, that
" while he was in England he was an object of much
attention." He however failed at all times to maintain
his character for sobriety and occasionally fell into in
temperance. In a letter which he wrote to the Presbytery
of Long Island, June 9, 1764, he confesses " to have
been shamefully overtaken with strong drink, by which,
(he says) I have greatly wounded the cause of God,
blemished the pure religion of Jesus Christ, blackened
my own character, and hurt my own soul." Much of the
epistolary correspondence of Mr. Occum is possessed by

132 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the Historical Society at Hartford, and is In many re
spects quite interesting. His wife was an Indian woman
by whom he had seven or eight children, none of whom
were of any note.

Contributed by the Editor
There are only two Indian reservations now remain
ing on Long Island. The largest Is situated on a neck
of land, west of Southampton and upon It live about two
hundred descendants of the once numerous Shinnecock
Tribe. There Is a church and school upon the property,
and the " warriors " are presided over by Chief Charles
S. Bunn, and Chief WIckham Cuffee, who was ninety-
five years old at the time of my visit In 19 13. The
principal occupations of the inhabitants are farming, fish
ing, and acting as guides to hunters.
On the eastern side of the large neck of land at
Mastic, which separates Moriches Bay from Shinnecock
Bay, there live a small number of half-breed Poosepatuck
Indians, living on land deeded to them on July 2, 1700,
by Col. WlUiam Smith, the patentee of St. George's
Manor, and which is still held by a few of their descend
ants. The inhabitants take their name from the locality
which was known In early times as " Poosepatuck," and
from Poosepatuck Creek contiguous to It. They are
actually descendants of the Unkechaug Tribe, aUied to
the Patchogues, who claimed general control over the
territory from modern Patchogue village to Westhampton
or even Canoe Place,

OF THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT
The hope of discovering (as has been observed) a
north-west passage to India, which had long been a
favorite project of the maritime powers of Europe, and
even at this time scarcely abandoned, was the propelling
motive of several voyages undertaken by Hudson in the
early part of the seventeenth century. Two of these were
made In 1607 and 1608, in the service of an English as
sociation formed for the purpose, which, being at length
discouraged by the want of success, gave up the enter
prise. On his third voyage, while employed by the Dutch
East India Company, with a picked crew of about twenty
men, English and Dutch, after crossing the ocean, he ran
down the coast from Newfoundland to 35° 4' north lati
tude, to ascertain whether a passage might not be dis
covered through the continent of North America. Retrac
ing his route, he entered Delaware Bay on the 28th of
August, 1609, but declined to explore It on account of the
intricacy of the channel. Following the eastern shore of
New Jersey, he anchored his ship, the " Half Moon," on
the 3rd of September, 1609, within the beach at Sandy
Hook; and after sailing up the river as far as Albany,
again put to sea and arrived safe in Europe on the 7th
of November, following.*
*In the first volume of the transactions of the New York Historical
Society, p. 102, is contained the journal of Hudson's voyage upon the
North River, and Moulton has minutely marked his daily progress in the
famous " Half Moon." See also the valuable and interesting account
thereof in the life of Hendrick Hudson by the Rev. Jared Sparks, Amer
ican Biography, Vol. X, p. 187. 133

134 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Although disappointed in the main object of the voy
age, the Dutch Company believed they might establish a
profitable trade In furs with the natives upon the North
River ; and repeated voyages were afterwards made, that
excited the ambition of private adventurers, which the
Company endeavored to prevent, by obtaining a decree
of the States General In their own favor, thereby securing
a monopoly to themselves. This took place March 27,
1 6 14, and produced very considerable attention among
those who were animated by the spirit of adventure. Ac
cordingly, the merchants of Amsterdam and Hoorn fitted
out five ships, of which the " Tiger " and " Fortune " were
commanded by Adrlaen Block and Hendrick Corstiaensen
(or Christiance) in the service of the company. They ac
cordingly set sail from Holland the same year, and
arriving at Manhattan, erected a fort and a few dwellings
thereon or in its immediate neighborhood, with the con
sent of the natives. The former of these navigators Is
supposed to have been the first white person that passed
the difficult and fearful strait, which he called " The
Hellegat," after a branch of the river Scheld, In East
Flanders; and going through the Sound on his way to
Cape Cod, he gave name to Block Island (called by the
Indians Manlsses) , having ascertained that Long Island
was of larger dimensions than any other he had seen, and
that it was an Island.
The honor of this discovery has, however, not re
mained uncontested, whatever the fact may be, but is
claimed by some writers for a certain other individual,
Thomas Dermer, who, it has been alleged, on his way to
Virginia, in a smaU barque in the month of May, 16 19,
saUed between Long Island and the main land. In the
account which has been published of his voyage, and

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 135
speaking of this passage, he says, " wee found a most
dangerous cataract amongst small rocky islands, oc
casioned by two unequal tides, the one ebbing and flow
ing two hours before the other." But as this was six
years after Block's arrival in America, the latter will, we
presume, continue to share the entire credit of ascertain
ing the Insular position of Long Island. He must have
been at all events a bold man, who could summon resolu
tion enough, for the first time, to adventure the frightful
whirlpool of Hell Gate. The purpose of Block's visit to
Manhattan, was trading with the Indians for skins, and
making further discoveries In behalf of those composing
the Dutch East India Company. By some accident. It
has been asserted, his vessel was burned, and he con
structed another near Manhattan in the summer of 16 14,
this being, it is supposed, the first water craft built by
white people within the limits of the United States, and
with this he navigated the Sound as above mentioned.
She was a yacht forty-four feet long, eleven wide, and
caUed the " Restiess."
The great West India Company of Holland was
chartered by the High and Mighty Lords, the States
General of the United Belgic Provinces,* on the 3rd of
June, 1 62 1, and was to continue twenty-four years with
* To assist and amuse those who may be desirous of knowing a few
of the Dutch official titles, we here give the names of some of the prin
cipal offices of the former Dutch Government in the colony of New
Netherlands, with their corresponding English titles.
De Heer Officer (Head Officer), or Hoofd-Schout, was the same as
(High-Sheriff) ; De Fiscale or Procureur-General (Attorney General) ;
Wees-Meesters (Guardians of Orphans) ; Roy Meesters (Regulators of
fences) ; Groot Burgerrecht and Klein Burgerrecht (the great and small
citizenship, which then marked the two orders of society) ; Eyck Meester
(the Weigh Master) ; the Schout (the Sheriff) ; Burgomasters and
Schepens then ruled the city " as in all cities of the Fatherland." Geheim
Schryver (Recorder of Secrets).

136 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
a pledge of renewal at the end of the term. It was
modelled after the charter to the East India Company,
with which body It was designed to co-operate in extend
ing national commerce. In promoting colonization. In
crushing piracy, but above all. In humbling the pride and
might of Spain.*
By their charter the West India Company was Invested
with the exclusive privilege of trading and colonizing on
the coast of Africa, from the Tropic of Cancer to the
Cape of Good Hope, and in America, from the Straits
of Magellan to the remotest north, while the right of
subscription to the stock of this great monopoly was
open to all the world. The States General themselves
subscribed half a million pounds and for its encourage
ment gave the Company as much more. Thus incorpo
rated, this Company became the sovereign of the central
portion of the American colonies, and exerted Its power
to a very considerable extent for more than forty years.
It Is reasonable to presume that an Informal alliance or
mutual understanding was immediately had between the
Dutch settlers and their Indian neighbors, that being an
Indispensable pre-requisite to the safety of the new
colony and likewise to the full enjoyment of internal
trade and commerce. The main object of the Company
It seems was not so much to improve the agriculture of
the country, as to secure the advantages of a commercial
depot upon the western continent, and the fur trade of
the north and west, by the Hudson and Mohawk rivers.
The establishment of a fort and trading house upon
Manhattan Island, and another at or near Albany, was
*The reader may find this charter printed at length in the appendix
to the first volume of CCallaghan's excellent history of New Nether-
land. It occupies several pages, and comprises forty-five sections, and is in
all respects a very ably drawn document.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 137
a primary consideration with the adventurers, to which
the improvement and settlement of the country were
entirely secondary.
Although the annals of this Interesting period are in a
considerable measure defective and unsatisfactory, yet
enough has been preserved to show how the settlement
of the country commenced and gradually progressed,
from the first rude beginnings to the full establishment of
regular government and a commerce of considerable
extent and importance. In 1623 and 1624, the Company
fitted out two ships laden with goods, which arrived safe at
New Amsterdam (now New York), in one of which It
Is supposed came Peter Minult (or MInnewit), a native
of Westphalia, not as governor, but more properly as
chief commercial agent and superintendent, in behalf of
his constituents, the West India Company. This person
afterwards assumed or was Invested with the powers of
director-general, or governor of New Netherlands, and
Isaac de Razler was appointed secretary. The council
consisted of Pleter Bylvelt, Jacob Elbertsen WIssInk, Jan
Janssen Brouwer, Symen Dercksen Pos, and Reynert
Harmenssen. The first Indian conveyance (yet dis
covered) made to the Dutch was executed In 1623 for
land upon Manhattan Island, the settlement of which
took the name of Nova Belgica or New Belgium, which
was afterwards changed to New Amsterdam, and the en
tire territory claimed by the Dutch took the name of
New Netherlands, both of which last appellations were
continued during the existence of the Dutch government
on this continent.
King James, about the same time, granted a patent to
a London company, under which they also laid claim to
New York. The Dutch and English both contended for

138 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the proprietorship of Long Island, upon the ground of
prior discovery of the country; the,princlple having gener
ally been adopted by the European powers, as a part of
the conventional law of nations, that all new discoveries
should enure to the nation under whose authority, or by
whose citizens they were made. And it was now alleged
by the English that Sebastian Cabot had, while in their
service, discovered the whole of North America from
thirty to fifty-eight degrees of north latitude; that many
voyages had been made to different parts of the coast by
different English navigators previous to the year 1606;
and that King James had, by letters patent. In that year
granted all that part of the continent between thirty-four
and forty-five degrees of north latitude, to Sir Thomas
Gates and others, with permission to divide themselves
into two companies; the first to be called the London
Company, and the other the Plymouth Company.
In consequence of these conflicting claims of territory,
both powers endeavored to strengthen their authority by
encouraging and extending their settlements upon this
continent. The Enghsh, however, mostly confined their
operations to New England, whUe the Dutch claimed
New York and New Jersey, with the country as far east
as the Connecticut River.
In February, 1623, the prIvUeges of the West India
Company were extended, by an enlargement of their
charter, and powers which were before immense were
considerably increased. The Company had thus become
nearly sovereign and independent, and could conquer
whole provinces at pleasure.*
* The Company was originally divided into five branches or chambers
for the more efficient exercise of its functions, located in different cities
of the Netherlands, the managers of which were styled Lords Directors.
Of these, that of Amsterdam was the principal and was intrusted with

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 139
For it will be seen that they had power to erect for
tifications, administer justice, maintain a police; declare
war and make peace, with the consent of the States Gen
eral; and with their approbation appoint a governor, or
director-general, and all other officers, civil, military,
judicial, and executive, who were bound to swear alle
giance to their High Mightinesses, as well as to the
Company. The director-general and his council were invested with
all powers, judicial, legislative, and executive, with hardly
an appeal to any superior authority.
Thus were commenced and carried on the settlement,
affairs, and trade of this part of the new world; and there,
says the historian Bancroft, were the rude beginnings
of New York. Its first age was the age of hunters and
Indian traders; of traffic in the skins of otters and
beavers ; the age when the native tribes were employed in
the pursuit of game, and the yachts of the Dutch in quest
of furs penetrated every bay, basin, and Inlet from
Narragansett to the Delaware. It was the day of straw
roofs, and wooden chimneys, and wind-mills.
Director Minult embarked for Holland In the spring
of 1632, In the ship "Union," accompanied by Jan
Lampo, sheriff of New Amsterdam, and carrying 5,000
beaver skins, on account of the Company. They were
driven by stress of weather into Plymouth, where the
vessel was seized, but after considerable expense and
difficulty was finally released.
the management of the affairs of New Netherlands. The general super
vision and government of the Company were, however, lodged in a board
or assembly, called the College of XIX, the nineteenth being appointed
by their High Mightinesses the States General.
The colonial officers were subject to the Chamber appointing them
and required the approbation, only in particular instances, of the States
General.

I40 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The return of Minult rendered It necessary that
another director-general should be appointed over New
Netherlands, and Wouter Van TwUler, of NIeukerke, one
of the clerks in the employ of the West India Company,
and a near relative of the patroon Van Rensselaer, re
ceived that high and responsible office.* He arrived at
Fort Amsterdam In April, 1633, In a ship of twenty guns,
with fifty-two men, and having on board, for the service
of the province, 104 soldiers, the first purely military
force in New Netherlands. He had been In this country
before on commercial business, and was therefore not
altogether unknown to many of the Inhabitants. He
appears early to have devoted considerable attention to
the encouragement of agriculture, of which he set a com
mendable example. He had a plantation of some extent
at Red Hook, In the south part of Brooklyn, and another
upon Nutten (now Governor's) Island. He was prob
ably not sent with the sole intention of superseding
Minult, but with the additional purpose of examining the
condition and resources of the country, purchasing lands
from the natives, promoting the trade in peltry, and ad
vancing, as far as possible, and in every way, the Interests
of his employers. Such (says Moulton) appears to
have been the motives and object of the delegation of
Wouter Van TwUler to New Netherlands. Though It
has generally been conceded, or asserted without con
tradiction, that he was commissioned director-general,
and arrived at Fort Amsterdam in June, 1629, yet there
* There seems to have been a great mistake with writers, in relation
to the period of Van Twiller's arrival in this country, and the compiler
was led in his former edition of this work, to state that he came over
in 1629, but is now satisfied that Minuit was here nearly three years
after that time. He subsequently returned to America, and superintended
the Swedish settlements upon the Delaware, where he erected a fort in
1638, and remained till his decease in 1642.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 141
Is not sufficient authority for the assertion, and none for
the common opinion, that he was the first director or
governor. He may have been Invested by the College of
XIX., through the intervention of the Commissioners of
IX., and department of Amsterdam, with powers tanta
mount to those of a director-general, or governor-in-
chief for the time being. Indeed, this appears to have
been the fact. But he took with him no supersedeas for
Minuit, because he is named on record as director, a year
after the arrival of Van TwUler. Moreover, there can
not be assigned, from the state of Minuit's affairs at this
time, any reasonable cause for the suspension of his
authority. Commerce was then prosperous and increas
ing. In return for the imports from the department of
Amsterdam, amounting within the three years, from 1628
to 1630, Inclusive, to 113,277 guilders, the exports were
191,272 guilders. If, as has been suggested. Van
TwUler came " a wolf in sheep's clothing," he stayed no
longer than was necessary to examine the fold and mark
his intended victims. Intrigue may have scattered the
seeds of faction, and Van TwUler may have remained
long enough to see them germinate. It is certain that
factions about this time convulsed the Infant colony ; and
perhaps this cause, combined with favoritism, and suc
ceeded by mismanagement, may have accomplished the
recall of Minuit, and the confirmation of Van TwUler In
undivided and established authority. Meantime let us
retrograde In our history, and follow methodically the
progress of events.
In 1634, the Dutch West India Company failed, in
consequence probably (among other reasons) of the ex
travagance of its agents, each one preferring his own, to
the interest of his employers. It was found that Fort

142 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Amsterdam alone had cost them 4,172 guilders, and the
whole province of New Netherlands, 412,800. Yet Van
TwUler remained in authority till he was succeeded
by WiUiam Kieft, who arrived at Manhattan on the 28th
of March, 1638, in the " Herring," a ship of 280 tons.
Authentic history presents a very imperfect account of
Van TwiUer's administration, or of the events of the
period in which he had the superintendence of affairs; but
a work of exquisite humor. In which fiction builds upon
the ground-work of truth, has fully ampUfied his renown;
and the name of Diedrick Knickerbocker, his panegyrist,
wiU forever remind posterity of the Imperturbable gravity
and unutterable ponderings of " Walter, the Doubter."
He died in Holland in 1657.
The commerce of the colony during these few years
was much increased, for It appears that from 1624 to
1635 the number of beaver skins exported from New
Amsterdam was 80,182, and of other skins 9,347, valued
together at 725,117 guilders. During Kleft's administra
tion, settlements began to be made In Kings County, and
near its close, or very soon after. In the eastern part of
Suffolk, particularly at Southampton and Southold. The
respective settlements under the Dutch and English In
the several towns were nearly contemporaneous, and were
all considerably advanced within the period of forty
years ; although there does not appear to have been any
union or combination among them until the formation of
the Ridings after the conquest In 1664. In the Dutch
towns the lands were chiefly, if not universally, purchased
from the natives by the governor, and by him granted out,
as they were wanted, to individuals or companies; but In
the English towns within the Dutch territory, the lands,
as we have seen, were procured by the settlers imme-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 143
diately from the sachems and head men of the several
tribes ; while In the territory Independent of the Dutch, the
lands were bought from the Indians at first, with the con
sent of the agent of the Earl of Stirling, and afterwards by
their own Immediate contract with the natives. In the case
of grants to companies by the Dutch governor, the lands
were subsequently divided among Individual Inhabitants
by lot; and In all other cases of purchase Inhabitants
were deemed entitled to a quantity of land proportionate
to the amount paid by each toward the purchase, and the
expenses of the patent by which it was confirmed. In
deed, long after the settlement of the several English
towns (In the distribution of the common lands), the
number of acres apportioned to each Individual was in
exact ratio with the sum contributed to the original pur
chase, or to the expenses Incident to obtaining patents, and
other charges of a public nature. Thus, In the town of
Hempstead the portions allotted to individuals differed
from ten to two hundred acres. In a few instances large
and valuable tracts were purchased by associations of
Individuals for their particular use, and have remained
private property ever since, as is the case with the lands
of Montauk and Shinnecock. A few towns only have
at this time any lands Improved as a common for pasture
or for grass. Jamaica possesses a considerable tract of
meadow land, which Is rented out for the benefit of the
town, or cut by the Inhabitants themselves ; so has Oyster
Bay; and the town of Hempstead has more than twenty
thousand acres of plain and meadow, used only as public
commons. The English and Dutch harmonized in their
religious creeds and opinions, which were those taught In
the confession of faith adopted by the Assembly of Di
vines at Westminster In 1642. The Congregational form

144 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
of church government generally prevailed till 1747, when
the Presbyterian was adopted as better suited to preserve
purity of doctrine and more efficient discipline. In many
towns a minister was found among the first settlers, and
the organization of churches was deemed a matter of
primary Importance. In the Dutch towns the governor
claimed the sole right of licensing preachers, by which
he virtually made himself head of the church, and the
source of all ecclesiastical authority. Symptoms of super
stition and a spirit of Intolerance were early manifested,
but not to the same extent as In some parts of New Eng
land. Heretics were objected to by all, among whom
were Included the unoffending Quakers, who seem to have
been equally discountenanced by Dutch and English and.
In some instances, treated with great severity. During the
administration of Governor Stuyvesant, John Bowne, a
very respectable member of the Society of Friends, was
actually transported to Holland to answer for his
heresies, and In 1702 Samuel Bownas, a Quaker preacher,
was confined in the jail of Queens County for more than
twelve months on the same charge. It may be said that
perhaps this sort of persecution has existed, to a greater
or less extent. In all ages; but the inconsistency seems
more apparent, and the incongruity greater, with those
who for conscience sake had fled from the same kind of
oppression In a foreign country, and sought an asylum in
this, that they might here enjoy unmolested perfect free
dom, civil and religious. Even such, however, with all
their zeal for equality and justice, could persecute in turn,
and endeavor to exclude from the pale of society and
feUowship, the simple-hearted Quaker, who asked only the
privilege of thinking for himself, and imparting his opin
ions freely to others.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 145
The States General of the United Belgic Provinces, In
their grant to the Dutch West India Company in 1621,
reserved to themselves the power of commissioning the
governor whom they should appoint. The object was
a politic one, and intended to connect the Interest of the
Company with the mother country, and, by Its Influence
and authority, secure a partial control at least over the
colony; and in 1623, when the Company fitted out two
ships for the purpose of establishing trade here, Peter
Minuit was sent out by them under the title of Director-
General of New Netherlands, which was, in fact, but an
other name for governor ; and with him came a number of
Walloons (natives of French PIcardy and southern Bel
gium) , some of whom settled on the west end of Long Is
land, and from whom the Waal-bocht (or Walloon Bay)
received its name. The practice of slavery was Introduced
in 1626, If not sooner; and the Dutch carried on a con
siderable traffic in slaves between Africa and Virginia.
Some were even carried there In Dutch vessels. It Is said,
as early as 1620.
There Is reason for the belief that tobacco was culti
vated, to considerable extent In some portions of the
province, at an early period of Its settlement, as well for
use among the Dutch, to whom the article was considered
almost a necessary of life, as for trade and exportation.
To prevent some prevailing frauds in its manufacture,
and to preserve Its high reputation for excellence, at home
and abroad, an act was passed, called the " Tobacco
Statute," In 1638, a copy of which is as follows:
"Whereas the Hon. Director and councU of New
Netherlands have deemed it advisable to make some regu
lations about the cultivation of the Tobacco, as many

146 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Planters' chief aim and employ is, to obtain a large crop,
and thereby the high name which our Tobacco has ob
tained in foreign countries Is injured — to obviate which,
every Planter is seriously warned to pay due attention
that the Tobacco appear In good condition; that the super
fluous leaves are carefully cut away; and further, that the
Tobacco which is sponged is not more wetted than Is re
quired. That what is intended to be exported from New
Netherlands be first carried to the pubUc store-house, to
be there examined, weighed and marked, and to be paid
there the duties which are due to the company; to wit, five
of every hundred pounds, in conformity to the grant of
the company. And for all which we appointed two in
spectors under oath. Those who transgress this ordinance
shall lose all his Tobacco by confiscation, and besides arbi
trarily corrected and punished. And further, that no con
tracts, engagements, bargains or sales, shall be deemed
valid, except those written by the secretary, while all are
warned to conform themselves to this statute at their
peril. Done at Fort Amsterdam, August 19, 1638."
William Kieft, who succeeded Wouter Van TwUler as
governor of New Netherlands in 1638, remained In office
for nine years. During his administration, he was beset
with difficulties of every kind. The Swedes, he conceived,
encroached upon him at the south, and the English on the
east; whUe in 1645 ^^^ 1646 he was Involved in extensive
wars with the Indians, both upon Long Island and the
main. Toward the close of his administration, was fought
the great battle between the Dutch and Indians, In that
part of Horse Neck called Strickland's Plain, now In
cluded In the town of Greenwich, Conn., In which many
were killed on both sides — the Dutch being, however, in
the end victorious.
InteUigence being received that Pennowit, an In-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 147
dian chief of Long Island, was secretly abetting these
hostile attempts upon the white people, a body of 120
men under Captain Pietersen, Major Underbill, and
Peter Cock, were ordered to Schouts Bay, where they
landed, marched to Hempstead, and dividing their force,
attacked the Indians in their settlements, of whom they
destroyed more than 100 with a loss on their own side
of only one killed and three wounded. Some brutal
outrages were alleged to have been committed, said to
have been countenanced by Director Kieft and Counsellor
La Montagne, who superintended the expedition to Long
Island which took place in the spring of 1 644.
It has been noticed that about the time of Kleft's ar
rival here, Minuit, his predecessor, came to the Delaware,
with the purpose of planting a Swedish colony at Chris
tina. He came, it seems, with a ship of war and a trans
port, on board of which were a large number of foreign
ers. The Director-General, considering this an Intmsion
upon his territories, sent a remonstrance, which. It seems,
was not much regarded by him to whom It was addressed.
The records which have been best preserved, commence
with the administration of Kieft; from which time to the
conquest, they are tolerably full, although great additions
may doubtless be obtained in Holland. He remained
here till August 16, 1647, being one of the council of his
successor. He then sailed with the riches he had ac
cumulated, for Europe, In the ship " Princess," with many
other passengers, among whom was the Rev. Evarardus
Bogardus, the first minister at New Amsterdam. The
ship was wrecked on the coast of Wales, about six weeks
after, and every soul on board perished. The conduct
of this governor has been generally condemned by pos
terity, and the manner of his death was deemed by many

148 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
a just punishment for his offences. But great allowance
ought doubtless to be made for the causes of Irritation
and perplexity that beset him. His possessions were en
vironed on all sides by emigrants from Europe, and por
tions of territory supposed to be within his jurisdiction
were claimed by persons from New England, who com
menced settlements within a few hours' ride of Fort
Amsterdam, and particularly upon Long Island. The
unjust, and sometimes cruel massacre of the natives,
countenanced, as was conjectured, by the governor,
created much discontent, and led his superiors to dis
approve his policy, and require his return to Hol
land. Of the administration of Kieft, serious complaints were
made, charging him with nothing less than tyranny, extor
tion, theft, murder, and other crimes of a most heinous
nature, and were transmitted to the Directors of the West
India Company, in 1644. They were displeased on ac
count of the wars In which he had embroiled the Com
pany, and the consequent diminution of their revenues.
They consequently desired the appointment of Peter
Stuyvesant, which was signed by the States General July
28, 1646, on which day he was sworn Into office.*
It should be here mentioned that articles of confedera
tion had been entered Into between the plantations of
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Plymouth, and New Haven,
with others In combination with them August 29, 1643,
and confirmed by commissions appointed for that purpose
September 7 following. From which time they were caUed
the United Colonies of New England.
This was intended as a perpetual league of friendship
and amity, for offence and defence, mutual advice and
' See O'Callaghan, Vol. II, p. i8.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 149
succor upon all just occasions, and the management of
their joint affairs was to be confided to commissioners,
two from each jurisdiction, to meet once a year, and
oftener If necessary, any six of whom when met, to settle
and determine the business In question. Said annual
meetings were to be held successively at Boston, Hart
ford, New Haven, and Plymouth.
Stuyvesant arrived in the colony May 27, 1647, ^"^^
assumed the responsibilities of his office. Peace was soon
restored with the hostile Indians, and such arrangements
entered Into with the United Colonies of New England,
as to enable him to maintain a tolerable good understand
ing with them during the residue of his administration.
He was well aware that the state of relations between this
province and the other colonies to the east were not of
the most friendly character, and therefore that sound
policy required their early settlement. Consequently he
addressed himself to the respective governors, expressing
his desire to live at peace and good fellowship with them.
These letters with the answers thereto will be found In
the Appendix. He remained in the office of governor
till the conquest In 1664. All the powers of government
— executive, legislative, and judicial — ^were vested in him
and his council. He directly or indirectly appointed or
commissioned all the public officers, framed the laws, and
decided all Important controversies. He moreover heard
all appeals from subordinate magistrates, and required
them to send such cases as were pending before them to
the councU, to be decided as they saw fit. In April, 1660,
the governor ordered the magistrates of Rusdorpe (Ja
maica) to refer a certain cause, then pending before them,
to the council, to be heard and determined; and the magis
trates of Middleburgh (Newtown) on another occasion

I50 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
were required to do the same. There were few or no
lawyers at this time in the province, there being. It may be
presumed, little or no need for that class of men. The
first of this profession known here In that capacity was
Dr. Adrlaen Van der Donck, who was educated at the
University of Leyden, and came to America In a barque,
belonging to the patroon of Renselaerwyck In 1642, and
resided at the said manor, holding the office of schout,
combining the duties of judge and sheriff to some extent.
On removing to New Amsterdam, he acted as chamber
counsel, there being no competitor ; he was not allowed to
practice In the courts. He became In 1646 owner of the
tract now known as Yonkers, and In 1650 signalized him
self by a remonstrance to the States General upon the
abuses of power In the colony, and In 1653, by his learned
and interesting description of the country. Stuyvesant also
directed churches to be built. Installed ministers, and
even directed them when and where to preach. He ex
cluded those whose tenets he did not approve, and finally
assumed and exercised the sole prerogative over the
public lands. The Indian title was extinguished by him,
and no purchase could be made of the natives without his
leave and approbation. He granted at his pleasure, to
Individuals or companies, parcels of land for settlement
and cultivation, subject to such conditions and payments
as he thought proper to Impose. And from the frequent
complaints made by the delegates of the different towns.
It appears that he exercised this prerogative in a capri
cious and arbitrary manner; refusing lands to some, and
making large and extravagant grants to others, his
favorites and pohtlcal partisans. The Dutch towns seem
to have been settled by degrees, without any previous con
cert of Individuals, and remained for a time without any

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 151
immediate organization of courts for administering jus
tice. Nor does It seem that they entered Into any ar
rangement for self-government, but left everything to
the will and pleasure of the governor, who appointed
officers in the several villages, with more or less power,
and without any uniformity as to their number, title, or
duration of office. As population increased, the people
were permitted to nominate magistrates, to be approved
of by the governor; but their powers were not defined by
any general law, and therefore their acts frequently be
came matter of difficulty and complaint. In 1661 the
governor established a new court, with greater and more
definite authority than before. The magistrates subse
quently chosen and approved were authorized to decide
controversies between master and servant, seller and
buyer, landlord and tenant; and to take cognizance of all
breaches of the peace and various other misdemeanors;
the Dutch courts generally proceeding according to the
maxims and principles of the " civil law," which may per
haps properly be considered as the " common law " of the
Dutch empire.
The English, who settled the towns of Gravesend,
Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, and Hempstead, became,
from unavoidable necessity, though reluctantly, Dutch
subjects ; but were allowed to hold lands, enjoy liberty of
conscience, and employ their own ministers; although in
their choice of magistrates it was required that the appro
bation of the governor should be obtained, to authorize
them to proceed in the discharge of the duties of their
office. Hempstead and Gravesend were incorporated
towns, yet the assent of the governor was equally required
to sanction their election of magistrates; but it was al
leged in these instances to be mere matter of form. They

152 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
were also authorized by their charters to elect a schout (or
constable), and a clerk (or recorder), to take and pre
serve the minutes of town meetings. The magistrates were
vested with power to try causes, both civil and criminal,
with a limited jurisdiction as to the amount in controversy,
and the nature of the crime ; and also to make ordinances
or by-laws, for the welfare and good government of the
towns, respectively. Flushing was also partially In
corporated, but restricted by the terms of Its charter from
electing any other officer than a schout or constable, with
power to preserve good order, heal differences between
neighbors, and report all important cases to the governor
for his consideration and decision. This town was after
wards endowed with the power of nominating magistrates,
like the other towns ; and such was likewise the case with
Newtown and Jamaica.
The general practice In towns subject to the Dutch was
for the people to choose double the number of persons
required, out of whom the governor selected and commis
sioned those who should serve as magistrates. In towns
Independent of the Dutch, the people elected annually
a certain number of officers, denominated townsmen;
whose duty It was to superintend the concerns of the town,
and to take cognizance of all trespasses upon town lands.
They were associated also with the magistrates in making
such pmdentlal rules and regulations, as they mutually
considered the public good required (except such as re
lated to the admission of settlers and the disposition of
lands), but which were to be submitted to the considera
tion of the town meetings to be approved or disallowed by
them. The authority of the townsmen, as well as of the
justices, extended to such matters as concerned the police
of the town and such minor duties, as related to the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 153
making and repairing of fences, prescribing the time and
manner of feeding the common lands, planting the com
mon fields, &c. The towns in Suffolk County were not
subject to the control of any colony, nor had they any
political connection with each other before the conquest,
except certain conventional agreements entered Into, for
specific purposes. Being too remote from Europe to de
rive any protection from that quarter, and having no
political alliances here, the whole power of government
was retained by, and vested In the primary assemblies of
the people; an Instance of a pure democracy which,
apparently, answered all the ends of government In those
days of honest simplicity. The people elected their magis
trates and all other civil officers, and established courts,
which decided causes with or without the intervention of a
jury, according to the discretion of the court Itself, sub
ject to the ultimate decision of the town meeting (then
called the general court) if either party was dissatisfied
with the determination of the particular court. The
patents, or ground briefs, issued by the Dutch governors,
were made by authority of the mother country, and
usually commenced as follows : " We, director and coun
cU, residing in New Netherlands, on the Island of Man
hattan, under the government of their High Mightinesses
the Lords, the States General of the United Netherlands,
and the privileged West India Company," &c. The first
patents enrolled bear date one year after the arrival of
Governor Van TwUler ; but there are no records remain
ing in the Secretary's office of the proceedings of the
Dutch Government during his administration. In 1640
a few English emigrants from Lynn, having contracted
with the agent of Lord Stirling for a parcel of land upon
Long Island, undertook a plantation on the west side of

154 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Cow Neck* and near the head of Cow Bay,^ afterwards
called Howe's Bay from Lieutenant Daniel Howe, who
was the conductor of the expedition, and sometimes
Schouts Bay, from the circumstance of such an officer be
ing sent to arrest the settlers. The jealousy of the Gov
ernor led him to direct the Secretary Van TIenhoven with
the under-sheriff and twenty-eight men to repair to the
place, and ascertain by what pretence these Englishmen
had thus intruded upon his territory. They brought six
men to New Amsterdam on the 15th of May, 1640, who,
being examined, confessed that they came from Lynn,
under the direction of Mr. Farret, agent of Lord Stirling,
the truth of which there was some reason to doubt. The
temper of the Governor Is represented as rash, and dis
posed to tyrannize over those whom he was appointed
to govern. He Is said sometimes to have sported with
the rights of the people, rejecting, without reason, the
names of magistrates presented for his approbation. In
consequence of the Illegal and offensive conduct of the
government, a remonstance was presented by Captain
Underbill on behalf of himself and others upon Long
Island, In which they declare it to be right and just to
defend themselves. It bears date May 20, 1653, and
enumerates the grounds of complaint to be the knavish
conduct of the Secretary Van Ruyven, the retention of
lands from those who had bought them from the Indians,
unlawful taxes, and the taking of the tenth part of their
crops, butter, cheese, &c., for the support of a set of
tyrants who prey upon the Industrious peasant. They
compare the oppressive measures of the government to
the inquisition, and state very many causes of grievance,
' Now Manhasset Neck. — Editor.
' Now Manhasset Bay. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 155
which exhibit the odium In which the governor and his
officers were held.
This paper seems to have been addressed to the council
rather than the Director, and was probably Intended to
produce discord between them. The government. It was
evident, was neither suited to the people, nor calculated
to afford them the desired protection. The laws were
very Imperfect, and many of them not at all adapted to
the exigencies of the people ; and to aggravate the matter,
the governor and council were either Indisposed or in
competent to remedy many important defects In the ad
ministration of civil and criminal justice. The sense of
public Insecurity In time produced a spirit of general dis
content, and the people finally, with great unanimity, re
solved to state their grievances to the governor, and
demand redress. Accordingly, the burgomasters of New
Amsterdam called upon the several Dutch towns to send
delegates to a convention In that city, on the 26th of
November, 1653. They met, and adjourned to the nth
of December following ; at which time delegates from the
city, from Brooklyn, Flatbush, Gravesend, Newtown,
Flushing, and Hempstead convened, and after mutual
consultation, and discussion of various matters, adopted
a remonstrance, which was ably drawn and expressed in
spirited but decent language :
" To the Honorable Director-General and Council of
New Netherlands together, to the CouncU of the high and
mighty Lords, the States General of the United
Provinces : —
" The humble remonstrance and petition of the colonies
and villages in the province of New Netherlands, humbly
show: " We acknowledge a paternal government, which God

156 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
and Nature has established In the world for the mainte
nance and preservation of peace, and the welfare of men,
not only principally in conformity to the laws of nature,
but according to the law and precepts of God, to which
we consider ourselves obliged by his word, and therefore
submit to It. The Lord, our God, having Invested their
high Mightinesses, the States General, as his ministers,
with the power to promote the welfare of their subjects,
as well of those residing within the United Provinces
as of those at this side of the sea, which we grate
fully acknowledge; and having commissioned In the
same view some subaltern magistrates, and clothed
them with authority to promote the same end, as are
the Lords Directors of the privileged West India Com
pany, whom we acknowledge as lords and patroons of
this place, next to your Lordships, as being their repre
sentatives. " We settled here on a mutual agreement and contract
with the lord patroons, with the consent of the natives,
who were the first proprietors of these lands; of whom
we purchased the soil at our own expense, and trans
formed a wilderness, with immense labor, Into a few small
villages, and many cultivated farms, encouraged by the
prIvUeges which we obtained, and whose preservation Is
dear to us.
" The deep homage and profound respect which we
feel for the Government of the United Netherlands con
sisting and coagulated from various nations of the world:
That we, leaving at our own expense, our country and
countrymen, voluntarily choose to submit to their protec
tion, and being now immatriculated in their body under
our sovereign, the high and mighty Lords, the States Gen
eral whom we acknowledge :
" This being considered, we humbly solicit that this our
remonstrance and petition may be received and well con
strued without being misinterpreted."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 157
The remonstrance then sets forth their apprehensions
of an arbitrary government being established, rendering
life and property unsafe. That injustice towards the
natives might lead them to commit outrages upon them.
That officers are appointed contrary to law, and with
out the choice of the people. That many obsolete laws
are liable to be put in force, by which many may be ex
posed to danger without knowing It. That much delay
hath occurred in the execution of grants to those who had
right to expect them. That large tracts of lands are con
veyed to favored individuals to the injury of others. They
then conclude as follows :
" As we exert ourselves to reduce all our griefs to six
points, in the hope they will soon be redressed agreeable
to the prIvUeges of our country, when all discontents shall
cease, a mutual harmony be restored and our anxiety
relieved. " We apply, therefore, to your wisdom to heal our
sicknesses and pains. We shall remain thankful, and
consider any further application needless, as we should
otherwise be compelled to do.
" Upon which, humbly soliciting your Honors' answer
on every point or article, in such a manner that we may
remain satisfied, or proceed further, &c., as God shall
direct our steps.
" Your Honors' suppliant Servants,

"Arent Van Hatten,
Martin Creiger, ]¦ New-York.
P. L. Vander Grist,
Frederick Lubberson,
Paulus Vander Beek, \- Brooklyn.
William Beekman,

}\

158 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Robert Coe, ) jj^^town.
Thomas Hazard, j
William Washborn, [ Hempstead.
John Somers, J
Peter Wolverton, \
Jan. Stryker, I Flatlands.
Thomas Penewit, )
Elbert Elbertson, | ^^^^^^^^
Thomas Spicer, f
George Baxter, |
James Hubbard, \ Gravesend."
"Done, Dec. ii, 1653."
To this remonstrance the governor and council de
livered no formal answer, but entered a reply upon their
minutes; denied the right of some of the towns to send
deputies, particularly Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Flatlands;
and protested against the meeting altogether.* In their
observations, the governor and council reflect much on
the English as the authors of the public discontents, and
especially upon George Baxter from Gravesend, to whom
they evidently impute the draft of the remonstrance.
Baxter had been an ensign, and Hubbard a sergeant In
the British service, and are so named in the charter of
Gravesend. They seem to have been men of talents and
capacity, and were very often entrusted with the manage
ment of the affairs of that town. In 1642, Governor Kieft
appointed the former his " English secretary, to write his
letters, with a salary of two hundred and fifty guilders
a year, in consideration of his knowledge of the English
* Aware as every one is of the desire for office which prevails so
universally in our day, the following extract from the public records
will be read with some surprise.
"April 9, 1654, John Evertsen Bout, a wealthy inhabitant of Breuklen,
refuses to act as Schepen, of that place to which he was elected, and
declared that rather than accept it he would prefer to return to Holland.
He was thereupon told by the governor, that if he persisted in his
refusal, he must prepare to leave with the first ship for Holland."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 159
language, and of the law." He was continued In this office
by Stuyvesant, and afterwards appointed one of the com
missioners to negotiate a treaty at Hartford In Septem
ber, 1650. Having been educated In the principles of
English liberty, he could not consistently countenance the
tyranny of the governor; his opposition to which made
him the victim of executive persecution, and he was
obliged to leave the country to escape his resentment. On
December 13, 1653, the deputies presented another re
monstrance, in which they declare that if they cannot
obtain redress or protection from the governor and coun
cil, they must appeal to their superiors In the Nether
lands. This so Irritated Stuyvesant, that with true Dutch
resolution, he ordered them " to disperse, and not to as
semble again upon such a business."
At this period the country was overran with robbers,
and there appeared to the Inhabitants who suffered by
their depredations no mode of obtaining either relief or
protection. As the only alternative, the magistrates of
Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Flatiands, united In forming a
military company against " robbers and pirates," and
established a patrol In each village, April 7, 1654. On
the day following, the governor issued his proclamation
against certain robbers, who he states " had been ban
ished from New England, and were wandering about on
Long Island."
In the same year the governor refused to confirm the
election of Baxter and Hubbard, who had been chosen
magistrates for Gravesend; although they were among
the original patentees of the town, had often previously
been elected to the office of magistrate, and enjoyed the
confidence of their fellow citizens In every situation.
Their rejection excited so great a ferment In Graves-

i6o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
end, that the governor found it necessary to go there per
sonally to appease it. It Is stated In the records of
November 23, 1654, that the governor went to Graves
end, and to effect! his purpose was obUged to avaU
himself of the Influence of Lady Moody.*
Of Governor Stuyvesant, It is observed by Judge Ben
son, " That he was of the profession of arms, and had
lost a leg In the service, which was supplied by one of
wood. His skill and experience must have been very
useful to him, as he was incessantly vexed with the
marauding clans of the Mohegan family upon his New
England possessions. He was in great difficulty with the
Swedes on the Delaware ; and his neighbors on the Con
necticut were also a source of annoyance and perplexity.
In 1655 he succeeded so far on the south, as to oblige
the inhabitants at the place now called New Castle,
to swear allegiance to the Dutch authorities. The pro
tracted and unhappy disputes between the English and
Dutch, in relation to boundaries, were finally terminated
amicably, by commissioners, who met at Hartford, Sep
tember 19, 1650, and by whom it was agreed, that upon
Long Island a line run from the westernmost part of
Oyster Bay, and so in a straight and direct line to the
sea, should be the bounds between them — the easterly part
of the island to belong to the English, and the western
most to the Dutch.
In pursuance of this determination, it was voted at the
session of the General Assembly, convened at Hartford
some time after, that Mr. Wyllys and Mr. AUyn should
go over to Long Island, and settle the government there
according to agreement heretofore made. It Is matter of
•Widow of Sir Henry Moody, one of the original patentees of that
town.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND i6i
record that Connecticut, on the receipt of the charter of
April 20, 1662, asserted a claim to the whole of Long
Island, and at a general assembly held May 12, 1664,
they declared as follows:
" Whereas his majestic hath bin Graciously pleased to
confirm unto this Colony By charter all that part of his
dominions In New England, Bounded as in the sayd char
ter Is exprest w* the islands adjoining. This court doth
declare that they clayme Long Island for one of those
adjoining Islands exprest In the charter, except a precedent
right doth appeare approved By his Majestic. This court
doth desire and request the Worshipful Gov'. Mr. Math.
AUyn, Mr. Wyllys and Captain Young to goe over to Long
Island, and to settle the English plantations on the Island
under this government, according to Instructions given
them. The aforesaid committee are here Authorised to
errect and constitute Quarter courtes or appoynt other
fitt persons for the Keeping of court for the Administra
tion of Justice, that all cases may be tryed according to
lawe (hfe, limbe, and banishment excepted) and to doe
there endeavors so to settie matters that the people may
be both Civilly, peaceably and religiously Governed in the
English plantations, so as they may win the heathen to
the knowledge of o' Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, By
their sober and religious conversation, as his Majestie
o' Lord the King requires, in his gracious letters patents,
granted to his subjects here In this colony, and in cases of
crimes of a capitall nature, they are to have liberty to take
the opportunity of the courts of Fairfield or Hartford;
the like liberty they have In case of reviewe; they may
also give oath to those that are accepted by this court as
freemen on the Island, and to doe what else they judge
may conduce for the good of the colony."*
•At this time the following persons were appointed in the English
towns to administer the freeman's oath, aid the commissioners in the

1 62 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The commissioners accordingly came upon the Island
In June, 1664, organized courts In some of the towns,
estabUshed rules for the collection of rates, &c. ; but these
arrangements were frustrated almost immediately there
after, by the arrival of the English and their conquest
of New York, whereby Long Island became annexed to,
and a part of the possessions of the Duke of York. This
event was. It seems, not altogether unexpected; for on
the I St of November, 1663, the governor of New Nether
lands, apprehending that the English had a design to In
vade the Dutch territories, convened a meeting of the
magistrates of many of the towns at New Amsterdam.
This meeting was composed of the magistrates of New
Amsterdam, Renselaerwyck, Beverwyck, Harlaem, Ber
gen, Staten Island, Flatlands, Flatbush, Brooklyn,
Utrecht, and Bushwick; but they adjourned without ef
fecting anything. The Dutch government, by Its continued
oppressions, had become generally unpopular; so much
so, that even the Dutch Inhabitants were greatly disgusted
with the administration, and the English were, of course,
extremely anxious for the change.
The English towns under the Dutch jurisdiction had
long determined on the first convenient opportunity to
withdraw themselves from Its authority. They had held
a meeting at Hempstead during the winter, and agreed
objects of their appointment, and exercise the powers and duties of
magistrates, so far as related to the preservation of peace, namely: —
Richard Wodhull and John Ketcham for Setauket; Robert Seely and
Jonas Wood for Huntington; John Mulford and Robert Bond for East
hampton; Thurston Raynor and John Howell for Southampton; Bar
nabas Horton and John Youngs for Southold; John Hicks and Richard
Gildersleeve for Hempstead; Robert Coe and Thomas Benedict for
Jamaica; John Coe and Richard Betts for Newtown; William Hallett
and William Noble for Flushing; John Richbill and Robert Firman for
Oyster Bay, and James Hubbard and William Wilkins for Gravesend.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 163
to put themselves under Connecticut, as some of the
eastern towns had already done; and In consequence of
these proceedings being made known to the government
of Connecticut, the General Assembly of that colony, on
the loth of March, 1663, appointed two commissioners
" to go to Long Island to settle the government on the
west end of the Island, as above stated." " The English,"
says Smith, " were every day encroaching upon the
Dutch." The following copy of a letter from Governor
Stuyvesant to the West India Company, July 21, 1661,
shows the state of things at that time :
" We have not, (says he) yet begun 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, by your advice of Dec.
24th, are not inclined to stand by the treaty of Hartford,
and propose to sue for redress on Long Island and the
fresh water river, by means of the State's ambassador.
" Lord Stirling is said to solicit a confirmation of his
right to all Long Island, and importunes the present king
to confirm the grant made by his royal father, which Is
affirmed to be already obtained. We have advice from
England that there Is an invasion intended against these
parts, and the country solicited of the king, the duke, and
the parliament. Is to be annexed to their dominion. And
for that purpose they desire three or four frigates, per
suading the king that the company possessed and held this
country, under an unlawful title, having only obtained of
King James leave for a watering-place on Staten Island
in 1623."
In November, 1663, the English Inhabitants convened
at Jamaica to concert measures of relief against the op
pression of the governor and council. The number

1 64 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
assembled on that Interesting occasion was so great, that
the government did not think It advisable to attempt either
to Interrupt their proceedings or to disperse the meeting
by force.

CLAIMS OF THE ENGLISH TO LONG ISLAND,
AND THE CONQUEST OF NEW YORK
King Charles I., on the 22d day of April, 1636; made
a request of the corporation for New England, called
the Plymouth Company, to whom a charter had been
granted by King James I. In 1620, to issue their patent to
William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, for Long Island and
the islands adjacent. This request of his majesty was as
sented to by the company, and a grant or patent issued
accordingly. The earl thereupon gave a power of attor
ney to James Farret on the 20th day of April, 1637,
thereby constituting and appointing him his agent to
manage and dispose of the lands thus conveyed to him
from the Plymouth Company.*
This power of attorney, after reciting the Issuing of
the patent as aforesaid for a certain island called Long
Island, with all and every of the islands thereunto adjoin
ing, and stating his desire for improving the same, con
cludes as follows :
* " William Alexander, a poet and statesman of Scotland, sixth Baron
of Menstrie, and first Earl of Stirling, was born 1580, and knighted by
James VI. of Scotland and I. of England, in 1614. In 1621 he received
a grant for Nova Scotia, which he proposed to colonize at his own
expense and that of those who chose to embark in the enterprise. The
original scheme was by some means defeated, and Sir William sold his
interest in Nova Scotia to the French. He served Charles I. with fidelity
as secretary for Scotland in 1626, for which he was created a peer, and
made Earl of Stirling in 1636. He died in 1640. His eldest son,
William, Viscount Canada, died before his father, leaving a son and
three daughters, by his wife, Lady Margaret Douglas, eldest daughter
of William, first Marquis of Douglas." 165

1 66 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" And I the said William, Earle of Stirling, doe hereby
empower and authorize him, (the said Farret,) for mee,
my heyres, executors, administrators, and assignees, and
for every one of us, to let, set, mortgage, sell or by any
other means, for present summe or sums of money, or
for yearly rent, to dispose of the said lands of the said
islands, or any part or parcell of them, for such time or
times, terme or termes of years, for life or for lives, as
my said attorney, upon the advice of the Right Worship
ful Jno. Winthrop, Esquire, Governor of Boston colony,
In the said New England, most tending to the preserva
tion of the public peace, the Improvement of trade and
commerce, and the due execution of justice. In obedience
to the lawes of God, and as much as may be, agreeable to
the lawes of England."
In pursuance of this authority the said agent released
to Edward Howell and others June 12, 1639, the terri
tory now embraced In the town of Southampton, which
was confirmed by the Earl August 20, 1639.
Farret was further authorized and permitted, by the
said power, to take up and dispose of, for his own use,
twelve thousand acres upon Long Island or the Islands
adjacent. In consequence of which he afterwards made
choice of Shelter Island and Robin's Island, In Peconic
Bay, which, as will be seen hereafter, he sold to Stephen
Goodyeare of New Haven, on the i8th of May, 1641.
It wiU be seen hereafter that Farret on the 20th of July
this year mortgaged that portion of Long Island not pos
sessed or claimed by the Dutch, for the sum of £110,
which he was obhged to borrow for the " reHef of his
necessities," not having received from Lord Stirling, since
he had been In his service, anything for his support or
maintenance. The colony of Connecticut, after the recep-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 167
tion of their charter in 1662, asserted a claim to Long
Island under the clause of their charter which annexed
to that colony the " islands adjacent." And the assembly
at Hartford, on the 12th of May, 1664, formally re
solved that it belonged to their jurisdiction, and appointed
the governor and two other persons to " come upon the
island in that behalf, to establish quarter courts and other
courts for the administration of justice, provided their
judgments should not extend to life, limb, or banish
ment; " and all capital cases were ordered to be tried at
Fairfield or Hartford. The commissioners thus appointed
came upon the Island, and convening a meeting at
Setauket in the summer of 1664, made a few decisions
upon disputed claims among the inhabitants, and took
some further measures In the execution of their delegated
powers. The final arrangements were however for some
cause delayed, and eventually frustrated by the arrival of
Colonel Richard NicoU in August, 1664, with a consider
able naval force to take possession of New Amsterdam,
In pursuance of an extensive grant of territory, made the
1 2th of March preceding, by King Charles II. to his
brother James, Duke of York and Albany, and the con
sequent surrender of the city by the Dutch. The coun
try Included in this grant Is thus described:
" All that part of the main land of New England, be
ginning at a certain place called or known by the name
of St. Croix, adjoining to Nova Scotia in America, and
thence extending along the sea-coast unto a certain place
caUed Pemaquire or Pemaquld, and so up the river
thereof to the furthest head of the same as it tendeth to
the northward; and extending from thence to the river
Kenebeque, and so upwards by the shortest course to the
river of Canada northward; and also all that Island or

1 68 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Islands commonly called by the several name or names of
Meitowacks, or Long Island, situate, lying, and being
towards the west of Cape Cod and the Narrow-Higan-
setts, abutting upon the main land between the two rivers,
there called or known by the several names of Con
necticut and Hudson's river. Together also with the said
river called Hudson's, and all the land from the west side
of Connecticut to the east side of Delaware Bay; and also
all those several islands called or known by the names of
Martin's Vineyard and Nantuck's, otherwise Nantucket,
together with all," &c. (See this at length In Appendix.)
On the execution of this extensive grant to the Duke
of York, who is also styled Earl of Ulster, and Lord
High Admiral of England, Ireland, &c., Constable of
Dover, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Governor
of Portsmouth, he forthwith commissioned Richard
NicoU (who had been Groom of the bed-chamber to his
Highness,) to be his Deputy Governor within the lands
and places mentioned In the charter, with all the powers
conferred upon the duke by said letters patent. This in
strument Is dated at WhItehaU, April 2, 1664; but It
should be premised that the king had previously obtained
from the grandson of the Earl of Stirling, a release of
the grant formerly executed to him by the Plymouth Com
pany, and for the consideration of £300 sterling.
April 26, 1664, a commission In the following words
was Issued by the king to Richard NicoU, Sir Robert
Carr, George Cartwrlght, and Samuel Maverick, Es
quires, as joint commissioners to demand and take pos
session of the country, &c.*
•The instructions to the commissioners bear date three days before, in
the sixteenth year of the King's reign, and the private instructions are
of the same date, in which they ar,e told that the great end and design

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 169

"CHARLES R.
" Charles the Second, by the grace of God, King
of England, &c., to all, &c. Whereas we have rec'd
severall addresses from our subjects of severall coloneys
of New England, all full of duty and affection, and ex
pressions of loyalty and allegiance to us, with their
humble desire that we would renew their several charters,
and receive them into our favourable opinion and protec
tion; and several of our coloneys there, and other our
loveing subjects have likewise complayned, differences
and disputes arisen upon the limits and bounds, whereby
unneighborly and unbrotherly contentions have and may
arise, to the damage and discredit of the English interests ;
and thatt all our good subjects residing there, and being
planters, within the severall coloneys, do not enjoy the
liberty and privileges granted to them by our severall
charters, upon confidence and assurance of which they
transported themselves and their estates into those partes,
and we having received some addresses from the great
men and natives of those countreys. In which they com-
playne of breach of fayth, and acts of violence and in
justice which they have been forced to undergoe from
our subjects, whereby not only our government Is tra
duced, but the reputation and credit of the christian
religion brought Into prejudice and reproach with the
Gentiles and inhabitants of those countreys, who know
not God, the reduction of whom to the trae knowledge
and fear of God; is the most worthy and glorious end
of all those Plantations; upon all which motives, and as
an evidence and manifestation of our fatherly affection
of their mission is the possession of Long Island, and reducing it to
entire submission and obedience to the government. They are signed by
Henry Bennet, Principal Secretary of State, afterwards created Earl of
Arlington.

I70 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
toward all our subjects in those severall coloneys of New
England, that is to say, of the Massachusetts, Connectl-
cutt. New Pllmouth, Road Island and the Providence
Plantations, and all other Plantations within that tract
of land known under the appeUation of New England;
and to the end we may be truly informed of the state and
condition of our good subjects there, that soe we may
the better know how to contribute to the farther Improve
ment of their happyness and prosperity; Know yee, there
fore, that wee, reposing speciall tmst and confidence In
the fidelity, wisdome and circumspection of our trusty
and well beloved Colonell Richard NicoU, Sir Robert
Carr, Knight, George Cartwrlght and Samuel Maverick,
our commissioners, and doe give hereby and grant unto
them, or of the survivors of them, (of whom we will the
sayd Colonell Richard NicoU, during his hfe, shall be
always one,) and upon equal division of opinions to have
the casting and decisive voyce, in our name to visitt all and
every the severall coloneys aforesaid, and also all power
and authority to heare and receive, and to examine and
determine all complaynts, appeals In all causes and mat
ters, as well miletary as criminall and civill, and proceed
In all things for the providing for and settling the appeals
and equity of the said countreys, according to their
good and sound discreslons, and to such instructions as
they or the survivors of them have, or shall from time
to time receive from us, in that behalfe, and from time
to time, as they shall finde expedient, to certify us or our
privy councIU of theire actings or proceedings touching
the premises, and for the doeing thereof, any other matter
or thing relating thereunto, these presents or the enrol
ment thereof, shaU be unto them, and every of them, a
sufficient warrant and discharge In that behalfe. In wlt-
nesse whereof we have caused these our letters to be
made patent. Given at our court at WhItehaU, the 26th
of April, 1664. BARKER."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 171
The Dutch Inhabitants, by the vigilance of their gov
ernor, were, as has been seen, not Ignorant of the Inten
tions of the English court; for the record states that on
the 8th of July, 1664, Intelligence was received from Cap
tain Thomas Willet, an Englishman, that an expedition
was preparing In England against the New Netherlands,
consisting of two frigates of forty and fifty guns, and a
fly-boat of forty guns, having on board three hundred
soldiers, and each frigate one hundred and fifty men ; and
that the forces then lay at Portsmouth waiting for wind.
News arrived also, from Boston, that the forces had al
ready sailed from Europe.
The burgomasters were thereupon called together, to
concert measures for defence ; the fort was ordered to be
put In better condition, and spies were sent to Milford
and other places for Intelligence. Boston was doubtless
In the secret; for the court of Massachusetts had. In the
May preceding, ordered a supply of necessaries for the
use of the ships on their arrival. These were four In
number, one of which was called the " Guerney." It was
intended to rendezvous at Gardiner's Island, at the en
trance of Long Island Sound, but the vessels parted In a
fog about the 20th of July. The new governor and Sir
George Cartwrlght were, it seems, on board the " Guer
ney," and fell in first with Cape Cod. The other ships,
with Sir Robert Carr and Samuel Maverick (commis
sioners) , were rightly concluded to be driven to the east
ward. After dispatching a letter to Governor Winthrop
of Connecticut, requesting his assistance. Colonel NicoU
proceeded to Boston. The other ships got safely into
PIscataway. Endicott was then governor of Boston,
but was grown old, and incapable of business. On the
27th of July the commissioners made a formal request

172 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
In writing, " that the government of Boston would pass
an act to furnish them with armed men, who should begin
their march to the Manhattans on the 20th of August en
suing; and promised that if they could get other assist
ance, they would give them an account of it." This
application was without success, attributable perhaps (as
Smith says) to their disaffection to the Stuart family, by
whose persecutions the former inhabitants of that colony
had been driven from Europe.
One of the ships, the " Guerney," entered the bay of
New York several days before the others arrived, and
as soon as they had come up. Governor Stuyvesant sent
a letter, dated August 19, 1664, directed to the com
manders of the English frigates, by the hands of John
Declyer, one of the chief council, the Rev. John Mega-
polensis, minister, Paul Lunder Vander Grist, and Mr.
Samuel Megapolensis, doctor In physic, with the utmost
civility, to desire the reason of their approach, and con
tinuing in the harbor without giving notice of their com
ing, as they ought to have done. Colonel NicoU answered
the next day, with a summons, as follows:
" To the Honorable the Governor and chief council at
the Manhattans.
" Right worthy Sirs,
" I received a letter by some worthy persons intrusted
by you, bearing date the 19th of August, desiring to know
the intent of the approach of the English frigates; in
return of which, I think it fit to let you know that his
Majesty of Great Britain, whose right and title to these
parts of America Is unquestionable, well knowing how
much it derogates from his crown and dignity to suffer
any foreigners, how near soever they be aUied, to usurp
a dominion, and without his Majesty's royal consent to

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 173
Inherit In these, or any other of his Majesty's territories,
hath commanded me, in his name, to require a surrender
of all such forts, towns, or places of strength, which are
now possessed by the Dutch under your command; and
in his Majesty's name I do demand the town, situate on
the Island, commonly known by the name of Manhattoes,
with all the forts thereunto belonging, to be rendered
unto his majesty's obedience and protection, into my
hands. I am further commanded to assure you, and every
respective inhabitant of the Dutch nation, that his
Majesty being tender of the effusion of Christian blood,
doth by these presents confirm and secure to every man
his estate, life, and liberty, who shall readily submit to
his government. And all those who shall oppose his
Majesty's gracious Intention, must expect all the miseries
of a war, which they bring upon themselves. I shall ex
pect your answer by these gentlemen, George Cartwrlght,
one of his Majesty's commissioners In America, Captain
Robert Needham, Captain Edward Groves, and Mr.
Thomas Delavall, whom you will entertain with such
civility as is due to them, and yourselves and yours shall
receive the same from, " Worthy Sirs,
" Your very humble Servant,
" Richard Nicoll."
" Dated on board his Majesty's
ship the Guerney, riding
before Nayack, the 20th of
Aug. 1664."
Governor Stuyvesant promised an answer to this sum
mons the next morning, and In the meantime he con
vened the council and burgomasters. The Dutch gov
ernor was a good soldier (says Smith) and had lost
a leg In the service of the States. He would wUlingly

174 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
have made a defence ; and refused a sight of the summons
both to the Inhabitants and burgomasters, lest the easy
terms offered might Induce them to comply with the pro
posals of the Invaders. The burgomasters, however. In
sisted upon a copy, that they might communicate It to the
late magistrates and principal burghers. They called to
gether the inhabitants at the Stadthouse, and acquainted
them with his excellency's refusal. Governor Winthrop,
at the same time, wrote to the governor and council,
strongly recommending a surrender of the city. On the
2 2d of August the burgomasters came Into the council-
chamber and desired to know the contents of the message
received from Governor Winthrop, which Stuyvesant still
refused. They nevertheless continued their importu
nity; and he, in a fit of anger, tore It to pieces; upon
which they protested as well against the act as Its conse
quences. Having determined upon a defence of the coun
try, Stuyvesant wrote a letter In answer to the summons;
In which he fully denied the right of his Majesty, the
King of England, to the territory; and setting forth
the reasons why the title was In the Lords, the States
General :
" That by virtue of a grant and commission given by
the said Lords and mighty States General to the West
India Company, in the year 1621, with as much power,
and as authentic, as his said Majesty of England hath
^ven or can give to any colony In America, as more fully
appears by the patent of the said Lords, the States Gen
eral, by them signed, registered, and sealed with their
great seal, and shown to the deputies ; by which commis
sion and patent together, and by divers letters, signed
and sealed by the said Lords, the States General, directed
to several persons, both English and Dutch, inhabiting

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 175
the towns and villages on Long Island, by which they
are declared and acknowledged to be their subjects, which
makes It appear more clear than the sun at noon day, that
the claim of England Is absolutely to be denied.
" Moreover (says the governor) it Is without dispute,
and acknowledged by the world, that our predecessors, by
virtue of the commission and patent of the said Lords,
the States General, have, and without control and peace
ably (the contrary never coming to our knowledge), en
joyed Fort Orange about forty-eight or fifty years; the
Manhattans forty-one or forty-two years; the South
River forty years; and the Fresh Water River about
thirty-six years. And that though the governors and com
missioners of his Majesty had often quarrelled about the
bounds of the Dutch possessions, yet they never ques
tioned their jurisdiction itself. On the contrary, in the
year 1650, at Hartford, and the year before at Boston,
they treated upon the subject; which Is a sufficient proof,
that had his Majesty been well Informed, he never would
have given a commission to molest and endamage the sub
jects of the Lords, the States General; and less that his
subjects would attempt any acts of hostility against
them. Consequently, if his said Majesty were well in
formed of aU that could be spoken upon this subject, he
would not approve of what expressions were mentioned
in your letter. And In case that you will act by force of
arms, we protest and declare, in the name of our said
Lords, the States General, before God and Men, that
you will act an unjust violence, and a breach of the articles
of peace, so solemnly sworn, agreed upon, and ratified
by his Majesty of England and my Lords, the States
General ; and the rather, for that to prevent the shedding
of blood In the month of Febraary last we treated with
Captain John Scott, (who reported he had a commission
from his Majesty,) touching the limits of Long Island,
and concluded for the space of a year. As touching the

176 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
threats In your conclusion, we have nothing to answer,
only that we fear nothing but what God (who Is as just
as merciful) shall lay upon us, all things being In his
gracious disposal; and we may as well be preserved by
him with small forces as by a great army." (See this
letter at length in Appendix.)
While the Dutch governor and his council were con
tending with the burgomasters and people In the city, the
English commissioners had published a proclamation to
the Inhabitants of Long Island, encouraging them to sub
mit, and promising them the king's protection and all the
privileges of loyal subjects. How far this flattering
promise was afterwards fulfilled, will appear from the
proceedings that took place at Hempstead in 1665, when
a code of laws for the colony was promulgated ; by which
it turned out that, so far from enjoying all the privileges
of British subjects, they were entirely excluded from the
benefits of a general assembly, or the right of choosing
persons to represent them In the government. This pro
clamation was as follows:
" By his Majesty's command. Forasmuch as his
Majesty hath sent us by commission, under his great
seal of England, amongst other things to expel or to re
ceive to his Majesty's obedience all such foreigners as
have, without his Majesty's leave and consent, seated
themselves amongst any of his dominions in America, to
the prejudice of his Majesty's subjects and the diminution
of his royal dignity; we, his Majesty's commissioners,
declare and promise, that whoever, of what nation soever,
wIU, upon knowledge of this proclamation, acknowledge
and testify themselves to submit to this his Majesty's
government, as his good subjects, shaU be protected In
his Majesty's laws and justice, and peaceably enjoy what-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 177
soever God's blessing and their honest industry have fur
nished them with, and all other privileges with his
Majesty's English subjects. We have caused this to be
published, that we might prevent all Inconvenience to
others, If It were possible; however, to clear ourselves
from the charge of all those miseries that may any way
befall such as live here, and will not acknowledge his
Majesty for their sovereign, whom God preserve.
Richard Nicoll,

" In his Majesty's frigate
the Guerney, August
20, 1664."

Robert Carr,
George Cartwright,
Samuel Maverick."

As soon as it was ascertained by Stuyvesant's letter that
he was averse to a surrender, officers were sent to obtain
volunteers In the western towns on Long Island as far
as Jamaica and Hempstead. And preparations were also
made by those on board the ships for an immediate at
tack upon Fort Amsterdam. These movements, and
probably the persuasions of those around him, induced
Stuyvesant to write again to Colonel Nicoll on the 25 th of
August, In which letter he declares that though he would
stand the storm, yet, to prevent the spiUIng of blood, he
had sent John De Decker, councillor of state ; Cornelius
Van Ruyven, secretary; Cornelius Steenwyck, major; and
James Cousseau, sheriff ; to consult, if possible, of an ac
commodation. Nicoll, who by this time knew the dis
positions and wishes of the people, answered immediately,
from Gravesend, that he would treat about nothing else
than a surrender. The Dutch governor next day, the
"'26th, agreed to a treaty and surrender, on condition the

178 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
English and Dutch limits were settled mutually by the
Crown and the States General.
The English deputies, agreed upon In this negotiation,
were Sir Robert Carr, George Cartwrlght, John Win
throp, the governor of Connecticut, Samuel Wyllys, one
of the assistants or council of that colony, and Thomas
Clarke and John Pynchon, commissioners from the Gen
eral Court of Massachusetts Bay, Whatever these per
sons should agree upon, Nicoll promised to ratify. At
eight o'clock In the morning of the 27th of August, 1664,
the commissioners on both sides met at the governor's
farm (or Bowery), where articles of capitulation were
agreed to and signed. These articles were twenty-three
In number, and were so framed as to protect the In
habitants In their rights, civil and religious, as citizens of
the new government; to remove or remain at their pleas
ure, and to carry on trade and commerce as British sub
jects; the ports to be open to the Dutch vessels for six
months; public writings and documents to be carefully
preserved. All persons in office to remain therein tiU the
time of a new election ; previous differences and contracts
to be determined according to the manner of the Dutch ;
the officers, military, and soldiers to march out with their
arms, drums beating, colors flying, and with lighted
matches; and those disposed to continue In the country
to have fifty acres of land set out for each of them.
Favorable, however, as these articles were to the in
habitants the Dutch govemor refused to ratify them until
two days after they were signed by the commissioners.
Governor Winthrop, on seeing the letters patent to the
Duke of York, informed the EngHsh on Long Island that
Connecticut had no longer any claim to the Island; that
what they had done for them was for the welfare of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 179
peace, and quiet settlement of his Majesty's subjects, they
being the nearest organized government, to them under
his Majesty. But now that his Majesty's pleasure was
fully signified by his letters patent, their jurisdiction had
ceased and became null.
The report and determination of the commissioners
concerning the boundaries of his Royal Highness, the
Duke of York's patent, is as follows:
" By vertue of his Majesties commission, we have heard
the differences about the bounds of the patents to his Royall
Highnesse the Duke of Yorke and his Majesties Colony
of Connectlcutt ; and having deliberately considered all
the reasons alleaged by Mr. AUyn, Sen'r, Mr. Gould, Mr.
Richards and Captaine Winthrope, appoynted by the As
sembly, held at Hartford, the 13th of October, 1664, to
accompany John Winthrop, Esqr. (the Govemor of his
Majesties Colony of Connectlcutt) to New Yorke, and
by Mr. Howell and Captaine Young of Long Island,
why the sayd Long Island lie under the Government of
Connectlcutt, which are to long here to be recited, wee
doe declare and order that the southern bounds of his
Majesties Colony of Connectlcutt is the sea, and that
Long Island Is to be under the Government of his Royal
Highnesse the Duke of Yorke, as is expresst by playn
words, in the said patents respectively. And also by
vertue of his Majesties commission and by the consent of
both the Governors, and the gentlemen above named, wee
alsoe order and declare, that the Creeke or River, called
Momoronock, which is reputed to be about twelve miles
to the east of Chester, and a lyne drawne from the east
poynt or side, where the fresh water falls into the salt,
at high water marke, north, northeast, to the line of the
Massachusetts, be the Western bounds of the sayd Colony
of Connectlcutt, and all plantations lyeing westward of

i8o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
that Creeke and lyne so drawne, to be under his RoyaU
Highnesse Govemment, and all plantations lyeing east
ward of that Creeke and lyne, to be under the Govern
ment of Connectlcutt.
" Given under our hands at Fort James In New York,
on Manhattans Island, this 30th day of November, 1664.
Richard Nicoll,
George Cartwright,
Samuel Maverick."
" Wee the under written, on behalfe of the colony of
Connectlcutt, have assented unto this determination of
his Majesties commissioners. In relation to the bounds
and limits of his RoyaU Highnesse the Duke of Yorke's
patent of Connectlcutt, Nov. 30th, 1664.
John Winthrop, Mathew Allyn,
Nathan Gould, James Richards,
J. Winthrop."
The following Is a copy of a letter addressed by Gov
ernor Nicoll to Captain John Youngs, commandant of
the militia of Suffolk:
" Sir : — You are, by jthese presents, required to take
an exact list of y^ names of those on Long Island, who
have taken up arms, under your command, for thier king
and country, with y^ place of thier usual dwelling, and
deliver them in a roll, to y'^ end and purpose that I may
hereafter, upon all occasions, and in this place, be ready
to gratify those who have so eminently expressed thier
affections : 2dly, That those arms may still remain in the
same hands, for y'= service of king and country; and that
the officers, upon any sudden occasion, may know whether
to send, to assemble the same men agalne, who are to
repaire to thier colonies in such cases, unless the deputyes
of y* severall townes shall otherwise agree, upon the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND i8i
better ordering y^ militia of this island, for y* future;
w""* deputyes shaU, In convenient time and place, be sum
moned to propose and give thier advice In all matters,
tending to y^ peace and benefit of Long Island. I desire
yo" will impart this letter to all your ffriends and neigh"",
w*^** Is all at present from your assured ffrlend,
" Richard Nicoll."
"N. Yorke, Oct, 29, 1664,"
The Invasion of New Netherlands, at a time of pro
found peace between England and the States General,
was. In the opinion of Governor Stuyvesant, too pre
posterous to be attempted by an armed force, and there
fore he determined to postpone an Immediate surrender,
in the hope that assistance might arrive from the father
land. In season to repel any hostile movement against the
province of New Netherlands. While negotiations were
pending between the commissioners and the council,
Stuyvesant despatched the following letter to his superiors
In HoUand — a letter which, if actually forwarded, was not
received In time to be of any avail:
" Honorable, wise, prudent, and very discreet Gentlemen :
" Whereas, the bearer of this, Simon Cornellls Glide,
informs us he Intends to pass. In silence, this night through
Hellgate, to escape the approaching force and attack of
the English frigates, which arrived five or six days past,
so are these lines only intended to Inform your Honors
of our perilous and very alarming situation to which we
are actually brought. Your Honors may see, by the an
nexed documents, that Long Island is gone and lost.
This capital last Saturday, and again this day, summoned
to surrender, and want of soldiers, ammunition and vict
uals; join to all this the pusillanimity of the citizens,
entirely without any expectance, or even hope of any aid

1 82 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
or relief; and in fear, if they make any resistance, and
were conquered by the threatening English (who are
daily re-inforced from New England), to loose with thier
property, thier lives, wives and children.
" It Is evident from all these circumstances, that the
place cannot hold out long. Time does not permit to
insert how the company Is scolded and cursed by the in
habitants. In regard that notwithstanding the so often
renewed and successive warnings and remonstrances from
time to time, no attention has been paid, and none of the
solicited succour obtained. Yea, it Is loudly and openly
proclaimed, to the contempt and shame of your faithful
servants, that your Honors by premeditation, aban
doned the Inhabitants, If ye did not intend to expose
them for sale, and endeavored to devote them to
slaughter, because, as they say, ' ye did come them hither,
and compelled them to settle In a country in which your
Honors never possessed any right or property.'
" Having, last Friday provided the citizens, at the re
quest of the burgomasters, with some powder and balls,
the guns of the city and fort, and our breast-works
cleaned and laden, there remained yet about 1300 lbs.,
partly new and partly old damaged powder. It cannot
be for your Honors a difficult task to calculate how far
this may reach, and what at last and ere long the event
must be — namely, the total ruin and loss of this so fruit
ful country. If thier High Mightinesses and your
Honors take the least interest in relieving such a large
number of Innocent Individuals, then. Right Honorable
Gentlemen, it ought to be undertaken without delay. It
cannot be effected, but by a sufficient force of men and
vessels, or before long the hope of recovery shall be
entirely lost. The shortness of time and the various
alarming occupations, not permitting to lengthen this
letter, we with cordial, though painful salutations,
recommend your Honors to God's protection, and re-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 183
main. Honorable, wise, prudent, and very discreet Gen
tlemen, Your faithful servant,
P. Stuyvesant."
" Fort Amsterdam, Sept. i, 1664."
Governor Stuyvesant was permitted, after the sur
render, to retain his real estate upon the Island of
Manhattan, a portion of which Is still possessed by his
descendants.* He made a visit to Holland the next year,
but returned and spent the remainder of his days at his
farm in the Bowery. Judge Benson says, he came here
from Brazil, having lost a leg in the attack upon Tobago.
He was a brave and honest man, and no doubt felt keenly
the loss of the colony to the Dutch. Had he lived to
witness the re-capture of the province by his countrymen
a few years after, he would most likely have been re-
Instated In office. But his death took place In February,
1672, at the age of eighty years. His body was deposited
In a vault In the chapel which he had erected, now the
site of St. Mark's Church, on the wall of which Is a
tablet, with this Inscription: "In this vault lies buried
Petrus Stuyvesant, late Captaine Generall and Com
mander-in-Chief e of Amsterdam, in New Netherlands
(now called New York) and the Dutch West India
Islands."
•Peter Gerard Stuyvesant, one of his wealthy descendants and a man
of great respectability in the city of New York, died suddenly at Niagara
Falls on the i6th of August, 1847, aged seventy-five, without issue.

OF THE ENGLISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT
The EngHsh having got peaceable possession of the
country, the new govemor and council proceeded with
due expedition to organize the different portipns of it
under one system of civil government. Connecticut gave
up her claims to Long Island, and part of what she had
seized upon the main. The boundaries having been
fixed, as we have seen, by the commissioners on one side
of the Sound, upon the other that colony was bounded
by a line running north from the Sound at Marmaroneck
Creek, thus confining her within ten miles of the Hudson.
About to lay the foundation of a province, destined to
become an Important auxiliary to the commercial power
of England, his excellency was desirous of changing not
only the names of places, but, also, as far as possible, the
habits and manners of the Dutch inhabitants. In com
pliment to his patron, the Duke of York and Albany, the
city of New Amsterdam became New York, and the great
northern trading depot, sometimes called Beverwyck and
Fort Orange, was changed to Albany. The latter place
underwent few alterations In its municipal regulations,
while New York lost most of her ancient distinction.
A mayor, aldermen, and sherif were substituted for
Burgomaster, Schepen, and Schout. The governor se
lected the Individuals of his council, and exercised jointly
with them the entire executive, legislative, and judicial
powers. Captain Thomas WlUet of Plymouth, who had been
184

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 185
selected by Governor Stuyvesant in 1650 to aid in com
promising the question of boundary with New Haven, and
who gave the earHest intelligence of the intended invasion
of New Netherlands by the English, was In 1665 ap
pointed mayor of the city; and Captain John Underbill,
another very distinguished individual, was made high
sheriff of the North Riding, upon Long Island.
It very early became a matter of Indispensable and
pressing necessity, that laws and ordinances should be
passed, adapted to the (then) condition of the colony,
and as effecting a uniform mode of administering justice
In the several plantations upon Long Island, now for the
first time united under one and the same administration.
The English common law very generally prevailed In
those towns previously associated with the New Eng
land colonies, but in the Dutch towns a different order of
things prevailed. The Governor saw and appreciated the
importance of the crisis now arrived, and, with the advice
and concurrence of the council, issued a circular letter, of
which the following is a copy, to the Inhabitants of the
several towns upon Long Island, and the town of West
chester :
" Whereas, the Inhabitants of Long Island have for
a long time groan'd under many grievous inconveniences
and discouragements occasioned partly from their Sub
jection, partly from their opposition, to a forreigne
Power, In which distracted condition, few or no Lawes
could be put in due Execution; Bounds and Titles to Lands
disputed, civU Libertyes interrupted, and, from this Gen
erall confusion, private dissentions and animosityes have
too much prevail'd against neighbourly Love and Chris
tian Charity. To the preventing of the future growth
of the like Evils, his Maj'^ (as a signaU grace and honour

1 86 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
to his subjects upon Long Island) hath at his owne
charge, reduc't the forralgne power to his obedience, and
by Patent, hath invested His Royall Highnesse the Duke
of Yorke, with full and absolute Power, In and over aU
and every the particular Tracts of Land mentioned, w'=''
said Powers by commission from His Royall Highnesse
the Duke of Yorke, I am deputed to put In Execution,
In discharge therefore, of my Trast and Duty, to settle
good and Known Laws within this Governmen', for the
future, and receive yo*^ best advice and informacon in a
gen*" meeting; I have thought fitt to Publish unto yo",
that upon the last day of this present ffebraary, at Hemp
stead upon Long Island, shaU be a gen*" meeting, which
Is to consist of Deputyes chosen by the Major part of the
ffreemen only; which is to be understood of all Persons
Rated according to their Estates, whether English or
Dutch, with'" your severall Townes and Precincts, whereof
you are to make Publication to the Inhabitants foure
dayes before yo"" proceed to an Election, appointing a
certain day for that purpose. You are further to Impart
to the Inhabitants from mee. That I doe heartily recom
mend to them the Choice of the most Sober, able and dis
crete Persons, without partiality or faction, the fmite and
benefitt whereof, will return to themselves. In a full and
perfect composure of all controversies, and y*= propaga
tion of true Religion amongst us. They are alsoe re
quired to bring w"* them a Draught of each Towne
Limitts, or such writings as are necessary to evidence the
Bounds and Limitts, as well as the right by which they
challenge such Bounds and Limitts, by Grant and Pur
chase, or both. As alsoe to give notice of meeting to the
Sachems of the Indians, whose presence may In some cases
be necessary. Lastly I doe require you to assemble your
Inhabitants and read this Letter to them, and then and
there to nominate a day for the Election of two Deputyes
from your Towne, who are to bring a certificate of their

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 187
Election (w"* full power to conclude any cause or matter
relating to their Several Townes) to mee at Hempstead
upon the last day of ffebraary, where (God willing) I
shall expect them. " Your assured ffrlend,
Richard Nicoll."
" Fort James, New York,
Feb. 8, 1665."
The Convention met at the time appointed, consisting
of the following deputies:
New Utrecht. Jaques Cortelleau, Younger Hope.
Gravesend. James Hubbard, John Bowne.
Flatlands. Elbert Elbertson, Roeloffe Martense.
Flatbush. John Striker, Hendrick Gucksen.
Bushwick. John Stealman, Guisbert Tunis.
Brooklyn. Hendrick Lubbertsen, John Evertsen.
Newtown. Richard Betts, John Coe.
Flushing. Elias Doughty, Richard Cornhill.
Jamaica. Daniel Denton, Thomas Benedict.
Hempstead. John Hicks, Robert Jackson.
Oyster Bay. John Underbill, Mathias Harvey.
Huntington. Jonas Wood, John Ketcham.
Brookhaven. Daniel Lane, Roger Barton.
Southold. William Wells, John Youngs.
Southampton. Thomas Topping, John Howell.
Easthampton. Thomas Baker, John Stretton.
Westchester. Edward Jessup, John Quimby.
At this meeting was promulgated a body of laws and
ordinances for the future government of the province,
which were called, by way of distinction, the "Duke's
Laws," copies of which were furnished to the deputies,
and filed In the clerk's offices of the different counties,
where, or in some of them, they remain to this day. Of
this code, an analysis has been prepared, which. It Is pre
sumed, embraces its principal provisions In a condensed
form.

1 88 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" All actions of debt, account, slander, and actions on
the case concerning debts and accounts are to be tried in
the jurisdiction where the cause of action arose. Debts
and trespasses under five pounds to be arbitrated, and If
either party refuse, the justice to choose arbitrators,
whose award to be final. AU actions or cases from five
to twenty pounds to be tried at the sessions, from whence
there should be no appeal. Any person, falsely pretending
greater damages or debts than are due, to vex his adver
sary, to pay treble damages. If the action be entered,
and the parties compromise it, yet the agreement Is to be
entered by the clerk of the court. Upon the death of any
person, the constable and two overseers to repair to the
house of deceased, to inquire after the manner of the
death, and whether he left any last wIU or testament. But
no administration to be granted, except to the widow or
chUd, until the third session after the party's death. The
surplus of the personal estate to be divided as follows:
one third to the widow, and the other two-thirds among
the children, except that the eldest son shall have a double
portion. All amercements and fines, not expressly regu
lated by law, to be Imposed at the discretion of the court.
No justice of the peace, who hath set upon or voted in
any cause, to have any voice in the court to which appeal
Is made. Parties appealing, to give security; and In
criminal cases they shall also give security for good be
havior until the matter is decided. No arrest to be made
on the Sabbath, or day of humUiatlon for the death of
Charles the First, of blessed memory, or the anniversary
of the restoration of Charles the Second, except of rioters,
felons, and persons escaped out of prison. Persons neces
sarily attending courts, to be exempt from arrest. All
arrests, writs, warrants and proclamations to be in the
name of his Majesty. All assessments to be made by the
constable and eight overseers of the parish, proportion
able to the estates of the Inhabitants, and justices of the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 189
peace to be exempt from assessments during their con
tinuance in office, payments to the church only excepted.
Persons of known ability when imprisoned, to pay for
their support, tiU the second day of the next session after
their arrest, and longer if there be a concealment of
property. To rebuke an officer with foul words, so that
he depart through fear without doing his office, shall be
taken for an assault. A servant or workman convicted
of assaulting his master or dame, to be imprisoned. No
foreigner or stranger to have attachment against an in
habitant without giving security for costs. No justice
of the peace, sheriff, constable or clerk of the court while
in office, to be attorney in any case, unless assigned by the
court on request. No Christian to be kept in bond slavery
or captivity, except persons adjudged thereto by authority,
or such as have willingly sold or shall sell themselves.
Every town to set out Its bounds within twelve months
after they are granted, and once in three years the ancient-
est town shall give notice to the neighboring towns to go
the bounds betwixt tiieir towns, and to renew their marks ;
the time for perambulation to be betwixt the 20th and
last of February, under the penalty of five pounds for
neglect thereof; and owners of adjoining lands to go
the bounds betwixt their lands once a year, if requested,
under penalty of ten shillings. No person to follow the
business of brewing beer for sale, but those skilled In the
art. The name and sirname of every Inhabitant in the
several parishes to be registered ; and the minister or town
clerk shall traly and plainly record all marriages, births,
and burials in a book to be provided by the church-war
dens. Nobody to be buried except In public places, and
in the presence of three or four of the neighbors, one of
whom shall be an overseer of the parish. Persons punish
able with death are those who shall In any wise deny
the trae God and his attributes; those who commit any
wilful and premeditated murder; he who slays another

I90 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
with a sword or dagger, that hath not any weapon to
defend himself; those who lie in wait; poisoning, or any
other such wicked conspiracy; lying with any brute beast,
(and the beast to be burned) ; man-stealing; taking away
life by false and malicious testimony; denying his
Majesty's right and title to his crown or dominions;
treacherously conspiring or publicly attempting to Invade
or surprise any town or fort within this government, or
resisting the King's authority by arms ; children above the
age of 1 6, and of sufficient understanding, smiting their
natural father or mother, unless thereto provoked or
forced In self defence. Married persons committing
adultery with a married man or woman, or any single
person having carnal connection with a married man or
woman, both to be grievously fined and punished, as the
governor and council, or court of assize shall think meet,
not extending to life or member. Any man lying with
mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both to be put to
death, except he or she be under 14, or be forced. Cattle
and hogs to be marked with the public mark of the town
and the private mark of the owner; and horned beasts
to be marked upon the horn. Every cause of £5 or under
to pay a tax of 2s. 6d. ; If £10, 5s. ; from £10 to £20, los, ;
and for every £10 more, 2s. 6d.
" Whereas the public worship of God Is much dis
credited for the want of painful and able ministers to
Instmct the people In the trae religion, and for want of
convenient places capable to receive any assembly of
people In a decent manner, for celebrating God's holy
ordinances, ordered that a church shall be built In the
most convenient part of each parish, capable to receive
and accommodate 200 persons. To prevent scandalous
and Ignorant pretenders to the ministry from Intruding
themselves as teachers, no minister shall be admitted to
officiate within the government, but such as shall produce
testimonials to the governor, that he received ordination

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 191
either from some protestant bishop or ministers within
some part of his Majesty's dominions, or the dominions
of any foreign prince of the reformed religion; upon
which testimonials the governor shall induct the said
minister Into the parish that shall make presentation of
him. Ministers of every church to preach every Sunday,
and pray for the King, Queen, Duke of York and the
royal family ; and to marry persons after legal publication
or license. No person to be molested, fined or imprisoned
for differing In judgment in matters of religion, who pro
fess Christianity, Church-wardens to report twice a year
of all profaneness, sabbath breaking, fornication, adul
tery, and all such abominable sins. No person employed
about the bed of any man, woman or child, as surgeon,
midwife, physician or other person, shall exercise or put
in practice any art contrary to the known rales of the art
In each mystery or occupation. Courts of sessions to be
held three times a year, and continue three days. The
constable to whip or punish any one, when no other officer
Is appointed to do It. All sales and alienations of prop
erty, to be by deed or last will and testament. No con
demned person to be executed within four days after con
demnation, and the person executed to be burled near the
place of execution. A woman causelessly absenting her
self from her husband, and refusing to return, shall for
feit her dower. Every parish minister is enjoined to pray
and preach on the anniversary of the deHverance from
the gunpowder treason, Nov. 5, 1605; on the 30th of
Jan., to manifest detestation of the barbarous murder
of Charles I. In 1649; and on the 29th of May, the
birthday of Charles II. of blessed memory.
" If any person commit fornication with any single
woman, they shall both be punished, either by enjoining
marriage or corporal punishment, at the discretion of
the court. Persons guilty of perjury to stand In the
piUory three several court days, and render double dam-

192 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
ages to any party injured thereby. Apprentices and
servants absenting themselves from their masters with
out leave, to serve double the time of such absence. Every
town to have a marking or flesh-brand, for horses. No
ox, cow, or such like cattle, to be killed for sale or for
private use without notice given thereof to the town
register. No person to be a common victualler, or keeper
of a cook-shop or house of entertainment, without a cer
tificate of his good behavior from the constable and two
overseers of the parish; nor suffer any one to drink ex
cessively In their houses after nine o'clock at night under
the penalty of two shillings and six-pence. No purchase
of land from the Indians shall be valid without a license
from the govemor, and the purchaser shall bring the
sachem or the right owner before him, to confess satis
faction. No one to sell, give, or barter, directly or in-
directiy, any gun, powder, bullet, shot, or any vessel of
burden, or row-boat (canoes excepted,) with any Indian,
without permission of the governor, under his hand and
seal; nor sell, truck, barter, give or deliver any strong
liquor to an Indian, under penalty of forty shillings for
one pint, and in proportion for any greater or lesser quan
tity; except in case of sudden extremity, and then, not
exceeding two drams.
" To be father, brother, uncle, nephew, or cousin-ger-
man to any party in a trial, shall exempt a juror from
serving, If objection be made before he Is sworn, but not
afterwards. No person to reveal the dissenting vote of
a juror on arbitration, under the penalty of ten shilHngs.
Every town, at its own expense, shall provide a pair of
stocks for offenders, and a pound for cattle, besides
prisons and pillories In places where courts of sessions
are held. The value of an Indian coat, to be given to any
one who shall bring the head of a wolf to any constable
upon Long Island, provided It be killed upon the island.
" The court of sessions In each county shall take the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 193
proof of wills, which, with the wills, are to be transmitted
to the " office of records " at New York, when the
executors shall receive a copy thereof, with a certificate
of its being allowed, attested under the seal of office.
" The town marks for horses upon Long Island shall be
as follows : for Easthampton, A ; Southampton, B ; South-
old, C; Seatalcot, D; Huntington, E; Oyster Bay, F
Hempstead, G; Jamaica, H; Flushing, I; Newtown, L
Bushwick, M; Brooklyn, N; Flatbush, O; Flatlands, P
New Utrecht, Q ; and Gravesend, R. At this early period
the present town of Riverhead was Included In Southold,
and the town of North Hempstead, In Hempstead."
The delegates who attended this first provincial as
sembly under British authority were so entirely satisfied
with the result of Its deliberations, with their interview
with the Governor, and the Information Imparted by him,
as to the liberal views and intentions, of his Royal High
ness the Duke of York and his Majesty the King, toward
his new subjects, that they drew up and subscribed an
address, filled with expressions of gratitude and loyalty,
and of which the following Is a copy:
"March i, 1665.
"To his Royal Highness the Duke of York.
" We the deputies elected from the several towns upon
Long Island, assembled at Hempstead In general meeting,
by authority derived from your royal Highness under the
Honorable Colonell NicoUs as deputy governor, do most
humbly and thankfully acknowledge to your royal High
ness the great honor and satisfaction we receive in our
dependence upon your royal Highness, according to the
tenor of his sacred Majesty's patent, granted the 12th
day of March, 1664; wherein we acknowledge ourselves,
our heirs and successors for ever, to be comprised to all

194 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Intents and purposes, as therein Is more at large expressed.
And we do publicly and unanimously declare our cheer
ful submission to all such laws, statutes, and ordinances,
which are or shall be made by virtue of authority from
your royal Highness, your heirs and successors for ever :
As also, that we will maintain, uphold, and defend, to the
utmost of our power, and peril of us, our heirs and suc
cessors for ever, all the rights, title, and Interest, granted
by his sacred Majesty to your royal Highness, against all
pretensions or Invasions, foreign and domestic; we being
already well assured that In so doing we perform our duty
of allegiance to his Majesty, as freeborn subjects of the
kingdom of England, Inhabiting in these his Majesty's
dominions. We do further beseech your royal Highness
to accept of this address, as the first fruits In this general
meeting, for a memorial and record against us, our heirs
and successors, when we, or any of them, shall fail In our
duties. Lastly, we beseech your royal Highness to take
our poverties and necessities. In this wilderness country.
Into speedy consideration; that, by constant suppHes of
trade, and your royal HIghness's more particular counte
nance of grace to us, and protection of us, we may daily
more and more be encouraged to bestow our labors to the
improvement of these his Majesty's western dominions,
under your royal Highness ; for whose health, long Hfe,
and eternal happiness, we shall ever pray, as In duty
bound." The Inhabitants of Long Island were far from agree
ing with the opinion of their deputies ; were greatly dis
pleased with the servile language of the address, and
probably not less dissatisfied with many of the provisions
now for the first time Introduced by the new code. It was
quite apparent that the people were to be allowed no
share in legislation, and there was no Intimation or en-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 195
couragement that another assembly would be convened In
the colony. Open and direct censures were freely In
dulged toward their representatives, and in some Instances
with such severity of language, that the Government
thought proper to Interfere.
Accordingly at a court of assize, held at Fort James,
October, 1666, it was resolved, " that whoever thereafter
should in any way detract or speak against the deputies
signing the Address to his Royal Highness, at the general
meeting at Hempstead, should be presented to the next
Court of Sessions, and if the justices see cause, they should
then be bound over to the Assizes, to answer for the slan
der, upon plaint or information."
The laws and ordinances thus made and promulgated,
with occasional additions and alterations, from time to
time, continued to govern the colony, until the first
provincial assembly, convened by Govemor Dongan, In
1683, In addition to other matters which occupied the con
vention at Hempstead in 1665, Long Island and Staten
Island (and probably Westchester) were erected into a
shire, called after that In England, Yorkshire, which was
in like manner divided Into separate districts, denominated
Ridings.* The towns now Included In Suffolk County,
•In Jacob's Law Dictionary it is mentioned that riding is corrupted
from the word trithing, the name of a division of Yorkshire in England;
of which he says there are three, called the East, West, and North
Ridings. In the statute of 22nd Henry VIIL, trithing, or trithing-reeve,
is defined as the third part of a county, or three or more hundreds or war-
pentakes ; such are the Laths in Kent, the Rapes in Sussex, and the Ridings
in Yorkshire. And those who governed these trithings were called
Trithing-Reeves, before whom were brought all causes that could not
be determined in the hundred or warpentake. The term is also used
sometimes for the court help within the circuit of a trithing, of the nature
of a Court Leet but inferior to the county court, to which causes might
be removed from those courts.

196 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
ccmstltuted the East Riding; Kings County, Staten Island,
and the town of Newtown, the West Riding; and the
remainder of Long Island, the North Riding of York
shire. Staten Island was detached from the West Rid
ing by an order of the govemor and court of assize in
1675, and permitted to have a jurisdiction of Itself. In
1683 It was erected into a separate county by the name
of Richmond.*
The names of several of the towns were. It Is supposed,
changed at the aforesaid convention. In consequence of
which, Midwout was called Flatbush; Amersfort was
altered to Flatlands; Middleborough to Newtown;
Rusdorp to Jamaica; and the ancient name of Breuke-
len became Brooklyn, and Vlissengen was changed to
Flushing.
The code adopted as aforesaid has generally obtained
the appellation of the " Duke's Laws," original manu
script copies of which are still preserved In some of the
town clerk's offices. They were designed to operate in a
newly settled country and among a population composed
of emigrants from different nations, accustomed to hold
various and perhaps entirely opposite opinions upon law
and government. That the numerous provisions of this
code should prove satisfactory to all, was not In the na
ture of the case to be expected, yet all things considered.
It was probably as just and reasonable as any which at
that time existed in the neighboring colonies. Indeed, it
is strongly to be Inferred, from their sImUarity in many
• Staten Island, the Indian name of which was Aquehonga Manack-
nong, or sometimes Egquahous, was included in the ancient colony of
Pavonia, the first deed for which was made by the natives to Michel
Paauw, August lo, 1630, including a tract in the present county of
Bergen on the opposite side of the bay, and conveyed by him to the
West India Company in 1634-35. It was afterwards granted to Cornells
Melyn in 1641, and in 1657 to the Baron Van Cappellan.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 197
respects, that the latter contributed essentially to the
former, and that the colony of New York drew largely
from the legal codes of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Be this as It may, many Imperfections were soon dis
covered to exist, and it became necessary to introduce a
number of new provisions, to render the whole not only
more acceptable to the people, but more adapted to the
condition of the province.
The Important revolution which had been effected in
the country by the conquest of the English, was, on the
whole, highly flattering to the hopes and aspirations of
the colony.
The English towns which had been subject to the
Dutch rejoiced at the change of affairs resulting from the
conquest, as they were thereby absolved from obedience
to a government which they despised; and the other Eng
lish towns equally exulted at the prospect of being re
lieved from the constant jealousy and ambition of a for
eign power in their neighborhood. The eastern towns on
Long Island, notwithstanding, would greatly have pre
ferred to continue their former alliance with Connecticut,
and therefore they submitted, with general reluctance, to
the separation. Some attempts were made to retain their
connection, and they were renewed on more than one oc
casion thereafter.*

•The opinion entertained at this period of the condition and probable
improvement of Long Island may be gathered from a letter sent by
Governor Nicoll to the Duke of York in 1665, in which he says, "the
people of Long Island are very poor and labor only to get bread and
clothing, without hopes of ever seeing a penny of monies. Such is the
mean condition of this town (New York) which I am sure is the best
of all his majesties towns in America, that not one soldier, hath to this
day, since I brought them out of England, been in a pair of sheets, or
upon any sort of bed, but canvas and straw." And in another letter of
August 25, 1668, he says, " Long Island is very poor and inconsiderable."

198 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The English towns, as well those which had been
settled under the Dutch as those associated with Con
necticut, were authorized, from the proclamation of the
commissioners at the conquest, to expect that they should
be admitted to the ordinary privileges and immunities
of British subjects, to participate in the government, and
have a voice In choosing representatives to a general as
sembly, with power to make laws for the government of
the colony. How great, then, must have been their as
tonishment, as well as disappointment, when on the pro
mulgation of the Duke's laws at the convention held at
Hempstead, they found themselves deceived in their
reasonable anticipations, and that by the very govern
ment which had Inspired them with hopes of enjoying
very many civil and political advantages, of which they
had before been deprived. It cannot, therefore, excite
much surprise that the people should feel Indignant at the
servile submission of their deputies, contained In their
address to the Duke of York.
The boundaries of the several towns having been
definitely settled by the convention of 1665, at Hemp
stead, It was strongly Insisted by the governor, that new
patents should be taken out by those who had formerly
been under the Dutch, and more especially was It required
of those who had never had any patent, or charter what
ever, as was the case of all the towns in the East Riding
of Yorkshire. The fees for granting these executive
parchments under the great seal of the province were a
perquisite of the governor, and the aggregate amount
of all that were Issued was not a matter In those times
to be lightly regarded.
Individuals, also, who had purchased large tracts of
land from the natives, were required to obtain patents

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 199
of confirmation for the better estabUshlng their titles
thereto. The capture of New Netherlands being made In a
manner and under circumstances hardly warranted by the
established law of nations, or In accordance with the
principles of justice. It might be expected that the
authorities of Holland would improve any fair oppor
tunity which presented, of re-possessing themselves of the
country, thus most unreasonably and illegally obtained.
Information which reached New York, that an attempt
would probably be made to recapture the province, oc
casioned the governor, on the 22d of June, 1665, to rec
ommend to the Inhabitants of Long Island to put them
selves In a position of defence against " a threatened in
vasion by the States of the United Provinces."
The cause of alarm proved groundless, and the af
fairs of the colony continued for some years to move on
harmoniously and prosperously. Efforts were success-
fuUy made for the more perfect administration of justice
In every part of the country. Among other Important
measures for the promotion of order, a high sheriff was
commissioned for the whole of Yorkshire, and a deputy
for each riding, with the requisite number of justices In
each town. Of these the high sheriff and deputies were
appointed annually, but the justices held for an indefinite
period, and at the pleasure of the governor. In 1666,
the office of deputy was abolished, and in 1683 that of
high sheriff was discontinued, and a sheriff afterwards
appointed for each county.
These laws authorized the several towns annually, on
the first or second day of April, to elect a constable; at
first eight, and by a subsequent amendment four, over
seers ; who were the assessors of the town, and with the

200 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
constable were empowered to make regulations respect
ing matters which concerned the police and good govern
ment of the town. The constable and overseers were re
quired annually to appoint two of the overseers to make
the rate for building and repairing the church, for the
maintenance of the minister, and for the support of the
poor. From the overseers, the constable selected the jurors
who attended the courts of sessions and assize.
The principal courts established by these laws were
the town court, the court of sessions, and the court of
assize. The town court was composed of the constable and,
by an amendment of the original law, two overseers,
and had cognizance of all causes of debt and trespass
under five pounds. The justice of the peace was author
ized, but not required, to preside at this court.
The court of sessions was established in each riding,
and was to be held twice a year. It was composed of
the justices of the peace of the several towns In the
riding, each of whom was at first aUowed £20 a year,
which. In 1666, was altered into an allowance for their
expenses. The court had jurisdiction of all criminal causes, and
of all civil causes over £5, arising In the riding. Causes
were tried In this court in civil cases, and in criminal cases
not capital, by a jury of seven men, and the verdict was
determined by the voice of a majority; but in capital
cases the jury consisted of twelve men, and they were re
quired to be unanimous.
The judgments of this court for sums under £20, were
final; from such as were for more than that sum, the
parties might appeal to the court of assize.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 201
The members of the council, the secretary of the
colony, and the high sheriff were respectively authorized
to sit with the justices of the court of sessions; and when
neither of them was present, the sheriff was required to
preside. The court of sessions also took the proof of
wills in the respective ridings.
The court of assize was composed of the governor,
council, and magistrates of the several towns, and was
held once a year in the city of New York. It heard ap
peals from the sessions and other inferior courts.
Suits for demands above £20 might be commenced in
this court on the warrant of the governor; so that it had
original as well as appellate jurisdiction, and was a court
of equity as well as common law.
The Duke's laws making no provision for a general
assembly, the people had no voice in the government;
but the governor had unlimited power, executive, legis
lative, and judicial. He was commander-in-chief; all
public officers were appointed by him, and most of them
held their offices at his pleasure. With the advice of his
council, he could make what laws he pleased, and could
repeal them, even against the opinion or consent of the
council. Some of the amendments to the original code purport
to have been made at the court of assize, of which the
justices of the several towns formed a part. This was
not a legislative, but a judicial body; and the power of
the justices with regard to legislation was probably Hke
that of the parliament of France before the revolution,
merely to register the edicts made by the governor and
council. So far as they were permitted to Interfere, the in
dulgence was calculated. If not Intended, to lessen the re-

202 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sponslbillty of the governor without diminishing his
power. It Is certain that their presence or concurrence was not
necessary, and that the act Imposing duties and establish
ing an excise, and many other important acts, were
adopted by the governor in council, and not at the court
of assize. The people never considered the justices as
their representatives, and censured the acts made at the
court of assize as much as others. The govemor pre
sided in the court of assize, which, by appeal, had the
control of all Inferior tribunals. The judgments and
decrees of this court were probably such as the govemor
dictated; his assistants not being colleagues, but merely
advisers, who held their authority under him, and were
dependent on him.
In this court the govemor united the character of both
judge and legislator. He Interpreted his own acts, and
not only pronounced what the law was, but what It
should be.
Notwithstanding the disappointment experienced by
a large portion of the Inhabitants of the English towns,
in default of a representative govemment, the executive
was enabled to allay. In great measure, the feelings of
discontent on that score, by the caution and moderation
which distinguished his administration; although. In con
sequence of the extensive powers he possessed. It might
have been easy for him to have wielded an almost despotic
authority. He appears, however, to have been uninflu
enced by the love of power, and, as is believed, volun
tarily relinquished the reins of govemment In 1668, leav
ing his secretary, Matthias Nicoll, behind.*
* Governor Richard Nicoll was the son of Francis and Magaret
(Bruce) NichoUs of Ampthill in Bedfordshire, and the descendant in the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 203
Colonel Nicoll Is supposed to have left the country
about the first of September, 1668, and was succeeded
In the administration of the government the same year
by Colonel Francis Lovelace, of whom It may be said that
he might possibly have been respected in some other situa
tion, but was by no means fitted to satisfy the expecta
tions of any party. This resulted In a great measure from
fourth generation of Robert Nicholl, a citizen of Hamme's Alley in
London. They bore arms: azure, a fess between three lions' heads or;
and crest: a tiger sejant. The various spellings of the family name were
all used by various members of the family. The governor himself as
often used the spelling Niccolls as that of Nicoll. He was not related to
his secretary, Matthias Nicoll, at least on the paternal side. Matthias
Nicoll as founder of the family of Nicoll of Islip, Long Island, was a
member of the family of Nicoll (or Nichols) of Willen and Islip in
England, and bore different arms than Nicholls of Ampthill. Governor
Nicoll was a gentleman of liberal views, of cultivated talents and pol
ished manners. The following is a free translation of the Latin inscrip
tion upon the tomb of Colonel Nicoll in Bedfordshire, England, where he
was interred. " Sacred to Memory." " Here lies, now united, in the
tomb, with the best of parents, and always most dearly united to them
in filial affection, Richard Nicoll, son of Francis Nicoll and Margaret
Bruce. He was a groom of the bedchamber to the most illustrous James,
Duke of York. In the year 1643, forsaking the seats of the muses, he
led a troop of horse against the Rebels ; being a youth, bold and resolute.
In the year 1664, having become ripe in age and military science, he
was sent out to North America, invested with authority, and having
dispossessed the Dutch, he restored Long Island and other islands to their
rightful master, and honored the province and its strongest forts by the
titles of his liege Lord. He was renowned in college, in war, at court,
in the magistracy, in literature, in virtue, in greatness of soul, in pru
dence; he was everywhere beloved by the good, and was fully competent
to all which he undertook.
"On the 28th of May, 1672, while gallantly fighting against the same
Dutch on board of the flag-ship, he fell, pierced through by a large
cannon ball.
" He had for his brothers besides (who was snatched away by a pre
mature death) Edward and Francis, both of them captains of the fort,
who, impatient of the cruel and servile tyranny, which at that time
oppressed England, preferred exile (if exile it may be called, to accom
pany one's banished sovereign) and departed this world, for their heav
enly country, the former at Paris, and the latter at the court, at the
Hague."

204 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
his remarkable indecision of character, and his exert
ing very little. If any, means to conciliate those whom he
was sent to govern. His continuance in the province was
not characterized by any extraordinary public measure,
if we except several very extravagant grants of land, and
his purchasing the soil of Staten Island from the native
Indian proprietors, which last was the most distinguished
act of his administration. And whatever of discontent
was engendered during the time of his immediate prede
cessor, continued unabated, and concentrated upon his
head the almost unanimous ill will of the people.
Smith, in his History of New York, supposes that the
court of assize had not been established till the time of
Governor Lovelace. This is a great mistake. It was
established by Nicoll In the code he had compiled for the
government of the colony, and published in the assembly
at Hempstead, March i, 1665. In the fall of the
same year, on the last three days In September and the
second, third, and fourth days In October, a general court
of assize was holden at New York, composed of Richard
Nicoll, the governor, the members of the councU, and
the justices of the three ridings of Yorkshire, on Long
Island and Staten Island.
The number of justices who attended this court
rendered it a grievance. In the act of 1684, passed for
its repeal. It is alleged that it had " become a great
charge and expense to the province; and by reason of the
great number, not so fit and capable to hear and de
termine matters and causes of a civil nature, usually
brought to the said court;" and it was for that reason
abolished. The last court of assize held under Sir Edmund
Andros, October 6, 1680, was composed of the gov-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 205
ernor, five counciUors, the mayor of New York, five alder
men, and seventeen justices of the peace.
The charges of the several towns and counties under
the Duke of York were defrayed by a direct tax on the
persons and estates, real and personal, of the inhabitants,
according to an estimate made by the constable and over
seers of the several towns, in conformity with certain
rules prescribed by law. The rate for the public or
county charge In each riding was fixed by the governor
and council, by the amount of Its estimate. A penny in the
pound was usually sufficient for the purpose. A tax was
collected by the constables, and paid over to such persons
in the several towns as were entitled to It on the warrant
of the high sheriff. The town charges were fixed by the
constable and overseers, and levied by the same estimate.
Govemor Lovelace In 1670, and Governor Dongan in
1686 or 1687, both attempted to raise money for colony
purposes, by their own authority; but the attempt met
with so much opposition, that It could not be carried into
effect. The colony charges were paid out of the moneys aris
ing from duties Imposed by the governor and council on
exports and Imports. In the fall of 1664, Governor Nicoll
estabUshed a tariff of duties on goods exported to the
Netherlands ; and shortly after on other goods, exported
and imported.
From the origin of the colony, each town was required
to support Its own poor; the money for the purpose to
be raised by those who from time to time adjusted the
contingent expenses of the different counties. By the
Duke's laws the constable and overseers were required to
take charge of the poor. In 1747 the several towns In
Suffolk were authorized to choose overseers of the poor.

2o6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
and soon after some other counties were empowered to
do the same. By the act of November ii, 1692, the
power of taking the proof of wills, and of granting letters
testamentary and of administration, was vested In the
governor, or a delegate to be appointed by him. In 1778,
and not before, the legislature ordered surrogates to be
appointed by the governor and council of appointments.
In every county; which Is still continued, except that the
power Is now vested In the governor and senate. The
courts of sessions, which by the Duke's laws were to be
held In each riding, and afterwards in each county, con
tinued to be held with great regularity afterwards.
The records of this court, as originally constituted, and
as reorganized by the act of 1683, are still to be found
In the clerks' offices of Kings, Queens, and Suffolk. In
Kings, there is a regular series of them, from 1669 to
171 1. From these records. It appears to have been a
common practice for the secretary of the colony, a
member of the council, or the high sheriff, to sit and
act in court with the justices. In the record of the
court held at Gravesend, December 13, 1671, Matthias
Nicoll, the secretary. Is styled president of the court.
This court was held at Gravesend from its origin till
1685, when It was removed to Flatbush by virtue of an
act of the colonial legislature. There Is also In the clerk's
office of King's County, copies of most of the acts of the
first assembly, passed In 1682 and 1684, with one or more
acts passed by the second assembly In 1685.
The people on Long Island considered some of the
laws established by the original code, as arbitrary and op
pressive; and they deemed some that were made by
Colonel Lovelace, who commenced his administration in
May, 1667, as still more exceptionable — ^wherefore they

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 207
came to a determination to represent their grievances to
the governor and council, and to pray for redress
thereof. On October 9, 1669, the towns of Hempstead, Ja
maica, Oyster Bay, Flushing, Newtown, Gravesend,
Westchester, and East Chester, severaUy petitioned for
redress In like manner.
They enumerated the defects in the existing laws which
they wished to be remedied, stated the provisions which
they wished to be adopted, remonstrated against the re
strictions which the governor had imposed on trade ; and
reprobated, as the greatest of their grievances, the ex
clusion of the people from any share In legislation.
In their petitions they refer to the proclamation issued
to the people of Long Island and others, by the com
missioners, on their first landing at Gravesend, before the
surrender of the colony, promising that they " should
enjoy all such privileges as his Majesty's other subjects in
America enjoyed; " the most Important of which they
allege Is a participation In the power of making the laws,
by which they are to be governed, " by such deputies as
shall be yearly chosen by the freeholders of every town
and parish:" and they claimed a fulfilment of that
promise. They also complain of It as a grievance, that any acts
should be made by the governor under pretence of his
secret Instructions ; and pray " to be informed what is re
quired of them by virtue of the commission granted by his
Royal Highness the Duke of York."
The governor and council received the petitions,
granted some of their minor requests, but In the most Im
portant cases refused any redress.
The town of Southampton was purchased and settled

2o8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
under the authority of the Earl of Stirling while he held
the island, which circumstance the people of that town
supposed exempted them from the necessity of taking
out a patent for their lands from the governor, as was
required of other towns by the laws of 1665, and
neglected to do It; In consequence of which the governor
and council, at the court of assize, October 8, 1670,
declared the titles to lands In that town Invalid, unless a
patent was obtained for them within a limited time.
By another act passed at the same time, a levy or con
tribution was ordered to be made in the several towns
on Long Island, to repair the fort at New York.
The governor had also Imposed duties on goods im
ported and exported according to his pleasure for the
support of government, and was now attempting to raise
money by direct tax for other purposes without the con
sent of the people.
Several of the towns were alarmed at the precedent
about to be established, as dangerous to their liberties,
and determined to resist it.
The want of a general assembly was felt as a great
grievance from the first establishment of the Duke's
government; the Inhabitants considered themselves in
great measure disfranchised, and therefore little better
than slaves, liable at aU times to suffer by the arbitrary
exactions of the government; In short, that the whole
system was only a tyranny In disguise, which, under the
color of prerogative, might at any time trample upon the
most sacred rights of the people, under the plausible pre
tence of upholding the authority of government and sup
porting the dignity of the crown ; against all which alarm
ing encroachments the people possessed no constitutional
security or any mode of redress, should petition and re-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 209
monstrance fall, short of open and direct opposition to
the government itself. The governor, it has been seen,
possessed the sole appointing power; and united In him
self all the attributes of despotic authority, which he
might any time, and frequently did, exercise In the most
arbitrary manner. This concentration of power In the
hands of a single individual might well alarm the timid,
and awaken the most serious jealousies and discontents
among the entire population of the colony, which was.
In fact, the case. Difficulties continued to exist after the
establishment of the assembly, by the influence which the
governors possessed, and their sometimes refusing their
sanction to laws the most salutary and indispensable for
the public security.
It was evidently the object of many governors to con
trol, as far as possible, the public revenues, and to fill
their own pockets at the expense of the people ; and there
are not wanting instances of their having accumulated
large fortunes in a surprisingly short period by acts of
oppression and peculation.
The governor could suspend the members of the coun
cil and appoint others, subject to the king's approbation;
he had a negative on the acts passed by the assembly and
council; he had power to summon, prorogue, or dissolve
the assembly; and with consent of the council, who were
In general sufficiently submissive, could dispose of the
pubHc lands, and disburse the public money raised for the
support of government.
For some years the public revenue went into the hands
of a receiver general, who was appointed by the crown,
and was not accountable to the assembly. The acts for
raising revenue for the support of government were con
tinued for a series of years without any appropriation;

210 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
and the council exercised a concurrent power over revenue
bills, as in other cases.
This mode of managing the revenue was liable to
great abuse. An Indefinite support enabled the governor
to dispense with the assembly, and rendered him in a
great measure Independent of them during that period;
and the omission of specific appropriations enabled the
governor to fix the salaries of all public officers, to dis
pose of the public moneys as he pleased, gave him the
entire power over the civil list, and led to misapplication
and embezzlement.
The English colonists on Long Island brought with
them the doctrine that taxation and representation were
inseparable — that the power of disposing of his own
money was the birthright of every British subject, and
one of the elementary principles of British liberty, — and
that taxes could only be Imposed with the consent of the
people, by their representatives In a general assembly.
They had for some years paid a direct tax of a penny
In the pound to defray the public charges of the several
towns and counties, of which they had not complained.
The towns of Southold, Southampton, and Easthamp
ton, In a joint meeting by their delegates at Southold,
agreed to contribute to the repairing of the fort, " If
they might have the prIvUeges that other of his majesty's
subjects In these parts have and do enjoy," alluding to the
governments of New England.
On June 24, 1672, the town of Easthampton, to whom
the proceedings of the delegates were communicated, ap
proved of the decision of the deputies, and agreed to
comply with the order, " If the privileges may be obtained,
but not otherwise." The towns of Huntington, Flushing,
Hempstead, and Jamaica, by the votes of their respective

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 211
town meetings, refused to comply with the order, and
communicated the reasons of their refusal In writing to
their respective constables and overseers, to whom the
order was sent.
The people of Huntington assigned this among other
reasons for their refusal, viz : " because they were de
prived of the liberties of Englishmen;" intimating that
they deemed It a violation of their constitutional rights,
that their money should be taken from them without their
consent, by their representatives in a general assembly.
The people of Jamaica, in justification of their refusal,
stated that they considered themselves already sufficiently
burdened by the enhanced price which they paid for their
goods, in consequence of the duties which the governor
had imposed on them, In addition to a penny in the pound,
which they paid towards the public charges; and that a
compliance with the order would be contrary to the
king's instructions, which forbid any law to be enforced
on the country that was contrary to the laws of the
nation; meaning, that no law for taking their money
out of their pockets without their consent by their repre
sentatives, was consistent with the British constitution.
" That on the same principle that this order was imposed,
they might be required to maintain the garrison, and what
ever else we know not, till there be no end; but If It
may appear to us that it is the king's absolute order to
impose the said burdens and dlsprivilege us, contrary to
his former good Intentions and instmctlons, and contrary
to the liberties his majesty's subjects enjoy In his terri
tories and dominions, we shall, with patience, rest under
the said burdens until address be made to the king for
relief." The votes of Flushing and Hempstead have not been

212 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
discovered, but there Is no doubt they were to the like
effect. The constables of Flushing, Hempstead, and Ja
maica laid the resolutions of their respective towns
before the ensuing court of sessions of the north riding
held at Jamaica ; but it seems that the court did not act
on them. They then laid them before the court of ses
sions of the west riding, which met the next week, Decem
ber 21, 1670, at Gravesend. That court, under the
Influence of the secretary of the colony, who presided,
and a member of the council, after examining the writ
ings containing the proceedings of the said towns, ad
judged " That the said papers were in themselves scan
dalous, illegal, and seditious ; tending only to disaffect all
the peaceable and well-meaning subjects of his Majesty
in these his royal HIghness's territories and dominions."
And the court further ordered " That the said papers
should be presented to the governor In council, for them
to proceed on as they shall conceive will best tend to the
suppression of false suggestions and jealousies In the
minds of peaceable and well-meaning subjects In alienating
them from their duty and obedience to the laws."
Agreeable to this Illegal order, the papers were pre
sented to Governor Lovelace, and were by him and his
council adjudged to the flames, and ordered to be pubHdy
burned before the townhouse of the city, at the next
mayor's court to be held there.
It was this sage and humane Governor Lovelace, who,
(as Smith, In his History of New Jersey informs us,)
in 1668 wrote to Sir Robert Carr, then in authority there,
that the best method to keep the people in order was " to
lay such taxes upon them as may not give them liberty
to entertain any other thoughts but how they shall dis
charge them."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 213
A man of such a temper, with such despotic principles,
was sure to draw down upon him the pubHc indignation,
and would have experienced the consequences of It in a
very exemplary manner, had not his administration been
cut short by an event as sudden as it was extraordinary
and unexpected. His estate here was attached soon after
for a debt of £7,000, due to his principal, the Duke of
York. The country which had now been nine years gov
erned by the Duke of York's deputies, and experienced
In very full measure the ill effects of ignorance and in
discretion In the conduct of Its rulers, came once more
under the government of their ancient masters, the
Dutch.* •At a court of assize, held in New York, April 7, 1672, ordered, (in
regard of the great inconvenience and decay of feed for horses and cattle,
in the woods, by the increase of brush and underwood,) that four days
every year the inhabitants of Long Island from sixteen to sixty years of
age, shall be obliged to go into the woods to cut the small brush and
underwood, and any person failing, to pay a fine of fifty shillings.
Ordered, also, that the perambulations of the bounds of towns be made
according to law and the patents of the several towns, and the town so
failing, to forfeit ito to the public: Also, that the laws of the government
be duly observed as to parochial churches, and that although divers
persons may be of different judgments, yet all to contribute to the min
ister established, which is no way adjudged an infringement on the
liberty of conscience to which they pretend."

NEW YORK RECAPTURED BY THE DUTCH
There Is a chasm In our history from 1672 to 1674,
which English writers have manifested little anxiety to
supply, for during this period, and In a manner more
extraordinary than the conquest by the English In 1664,
the whole of New Netherlands came under the control
of the States General. The war waged by Charles II,
and Lewis XIV., of France, against Holland, In 1672,
having been commenced and prosecuted under the most
frivolous pretences, induced an apprehension, although
slight, that an attempt might possibly be made upon this
province, it being at that time destitute of any con
siderable means of defence against a powerful naval
force. Orders were accordingly transmitted to Governor
Lovelace to place New York In as strong a position for
defence as could be. Fort James was thereupon immedi
ately entrusted to Captain John Manning, and pecuniary
contributions were earnestly solicited from the towns
on Long Island (as has been seen) for repairing and In
creasing the fortifications. Measures were also taken
for the security of Albany, and a small fort was recom
mended to be erected at some suitable place upon the
banks of the North River.
It seems that the Hollanders did not fail, on the com
mencement of hostlHtles with England, to send a fleet to
the American coast, under the command of two well-
known officers, Jacob Binkes, and Cornells Evertsen, as
sisted by three captains of the Dutch army, Anthony
214

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 215
Colve, Nicholas Boes, and Abraham Frederick Van
Zye. This force had been sent to the West Indies to
destroy as far as possible the EngHsh and French trade
In that quarter. In the course of the expedition they cap
tured one hundred and twenty saU of EngHsh and French
merchant vessels, which they despatched to Europe, and
which arrived safe at Cadiz.
The commanders of the Dutch squadrons, highly
elated with their success, concluded to extend their opera
tions to New York. They accordingly united their forces,
consisting of twelve men-of-war, and meeting with no
obstacle, arrived safe at Sandy Hook, July 28, 1672,
sailed up the bay, and with the first fair wind, stood for
the city, where on the 30th they formed a line-of-battle
off the present site of the Battery. They had received very
different accounts of the condition of the fort, and the
ablHty of the garrison to defend Itself, which probably
caused some hesitation In the minds of the commanders
of the sqviadrons before taking their position; but many
of the Dutch of Staten Island had been on board while
the ships lay off that island, and informed their country
men of the true state of things, which induced them to
make an attempt at capture without further delay, the
govemor (Lovelace) and many of the principal men
being absent from the city.
Captain Manning went on board, and demanding the
reason of this extraordinary visit, was told that they In
tended to take the place, claiming it as a Dutch province,
and surely the claim was In many respects a plausible
one, it having been quite unceremoniously taken from
them by the EngHsh in 1664. Manning asked for time
to make suitable preparations for defence, for which one-
half hour only was conceded, when a broadside was fired

2i6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
from the ships, whereupon guns were fired from the fort,
which, says an eye witness, " shot the General's ship
through and through." One man was killed in the fort,
and although the contest lasted about four hours, little
damage was done the garrison. The ammunition being
expended, no further effort at defence could be made,
and a surrender was made by Manning's order. The
gates being opened, the Dutch soldiers marched In. The
English soldiers were required to lay down their arms,
and go on board the ships. Captain Manning being po
litely allowed to wear his sword, as a token of his gal
lantry; but his house was plundered, as well as that of
the governor, and Captain Deleval's, a person high in
confidence of the government. The conquerors were
so elated with their success that they Immediately
despatched a messenger to Holland with the news.
A proclamation was issued, establishing a new order
of things; the people took the oath of allegiance, and a
small expedition being sent to Albany, that place surren
dered unconditionally.
A most singular mistake seems to have existed till
lately, in relation to the conduct of Captain Manning, it
having been asserted that the garrison voluntarily sur
rendered without opposition or a gun being fired, he be
ing guilty not only of cowardice, but treachery not much
better than treason. This Is the language of the his
torian. Smith, and is followed by Holmes In his valuable
American Annals, by Dunlap and by Bancroft. Smith
even gives the proceedings of a court martial In which
charges were exhibited against the commandant of the
fort, to which It is alleged he pleaded guilty, and being
convicted, received the punishment awarded him. If the
facts above stated be true, he was wholly without blame,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 217
and well deserves our sympathy, as an Innocent and In
jured man.
The commanders of the forces immediately appointed
Captain Anthony Colve governor of the colony, who at
once set himself about reinstating the Dutch govern
ment. The commission Issued by the Dutch commanders Is
sufficient in its novelty and Importance to occupy a place
In the history of that eventful period, a copy of which
is here given:
" The Honourable and awful council of War, for their
High Mightinesses the States General of the United
Netherlands, and his Serene Highness the Prince of
Orange, over a squadron of ships now at anchor in Hud
son's River, in New Netherlands — To all those who shall
see or hear these, Greeting. As it is necessary to ap
point a fit and able person, to carry the chief command
over this conquest of New Netherlands, with all its ap-
pendences and dependencies, from Cape Hinlopen on the
south side of the South or Delaware Bay, and fifteen
miles more southerly, with the said Bay and South River
Included; so as they were formerly possessed by the Di
rectors of the city of Amsterdam, and after by the
English Government, In the name and right of the Duke
of York; and further from the said Cape Hinlopen, along
the Great Ocean to the east end of Long Island, and
Shelter Island; and from thence westward to the middle
of the Sound, to a town called Greenwich, on the main,
and to run landward In, northerly, provided that such line
shaU not come within ten miles of the North River, con
formable to a provincial treaty made in 1650, and ratified
by the States General, Feb. 23, 1656, and Jan. 23, 1664,
with aU lands, islands, rivers, lakes, kills, creeks, fresh
and salt waters, fortresses, cities, towns and plantations.

2i8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
therein comprehended. So It is, that we being sufficiently
assured of the capacity of Anthony Colve, captain of a
company of Foot, in the service of their High Mighti
nesses the States General of the United Netherlands and
his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, &c. by virtue
of our commission, granted to us by thier before men
tioned High Mightinesses and his Highness, have ap
pointed and qualified, as we do by these presents appoint
and qualify the said Captain Anthony Colve, to govern
and rule these lands with the appendices and dependencies
thereof, as Governor General; to protect them from all
invasions of enemies as he shall judge most necessary;
hereby charging all high and low officers, justices and
majestrates, and others In authority, soldiers, burghers
and all Inhabitants of this land, to acknowledge, honor,
respect and obey, the said Anthony Colve as Governor
General; for such we judge necessary for the service of
the country, waiting the approbation of our Principals.
Thus done at Fort William Hendrick, the 12th day of
August, 1673."
(Signed)
" Jacob Benkes, Cornelius Evertse, Jun."
Ebellng, the Dutch historian, says, that the civil officers
of the city were convened immediately, who received the
conquerors with joy, and had their commissions continued
by the new government. Lovelace had permission to
return to England, where, it seems, he was received with
much disapprobation, and severely censured for the loss
of a province which. It must be confessed, he had very in
adequate means of protecting : for It must be recollected
that the towns of Long Island, containing at that time
a large portion of the population, had generally refused
their aid towards Increasing the defences of the city.
The fort was miserably constructed, had only forty-six

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 219
small cannon, and was garrisoned by only one company
of regular soldiers, commanded by Captain Manning.
The Dutch squadron anchored off Staten Island; some
communications passed between the ships and the fort,
the result of which, as has been seen, was an unconditional
surrender of the latter to the Invaders,
The city was now denominated New Orange, and the
fort William Hendrick, the name and title of the Stadt
Holder. On the 14th of August, 1673, the new govemor
issued his proclamation, directing and requiring each of
the Long Island towns to send two deputies to the city,
with full powers to make their submission to the States
General and the Prince of Orange, on behalf of their
constituents. The Dutch towns, and others settled under the Dutch
authority, submitted without opposition; while the re
maining towns, at first, paid some attention to the gov
ernor's orders, but afterwards declined, with a full de
termination to seek protection from their ancient ally,
Connecticut, as they had done previously In 1664. The
following letter from the authorities of that colony, was
addressed to the commanders of the Dutch fleet, as soon
as its arrival at New York was communicated to them:
"Hartford, Aug. lyth, 1673.
" Sir : — ^Although we have heard of your actions at
Yorke, yet because the chief trust of these parts did reside
In other hands, from whom you have too suddenly sur
prised It, we made it our business to attend, what was
devolved upon ourselves that way nextly, yet we, under
standing you content not yourselves with what you have
already taken, but demand submission of the people, his
Majesty's subjects, seated on Long Island, eastward
beyond Oysterbay; and have seized a vessel of Mr.

220 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Sillick's, one of our people, near one of our harbors;
we have therefore sent Mr. James Richards, and Mr.
WiUiam Roswell, to know your further Intentions; and
we must let you know that we and our confederates, the
United Colonies of New England, are, by our Royal
Sovereign, Charles II., made keepers of his subjects'
liberties in these parts, and do hope to acquit ourselves
in that trust, through the assistance of Almighty God,
for the preservation of his Majesty's Colonies In New
England. Which Is aU, at the present, represented to
you, from the Gov" and Gen' Assembly of the Colony of
Connecticut. Signed, per order per me,
"John Allyn, Sect'y."
To this letter was sent the following reply :
" In Fort WiUiam Hendrick, Aug*. 24, 1673.
" Sir : — To answer yo'' letter of the 17*" Aug*, which was
delivered unto us, we say, that we are sent forth by the
High and Mighty Lords, the States Gen'U of the United
Netherlands, and his Serene Highness the Lord Prince
of Orrange, to doe all manner of dammage unto the
enemyes of the said High and Mighty Lords, both by
water and by land, from which cause we being come heere
Into Hudson's River, have brought the land and forts
within the same, under o' obedience, and In regard the
villages lying to the eastward of Oysterbay did belong
to this governme"*, soe it is, that to prevent all Incon-
venienceys we have cited the same to give the oath of
fidelity, in which If they remain defective, we are resolved
to force them with the armes, likewise allso we shall not
be afraid to goe against those that shall seeke to main-
taine the said villages In thier Injustis : concerning the ves
sel that is taken by us close by yo"' havens, thier is no
other consideration but that It was taken from o' enemyes;
wherefore It appears very strange before us, that we

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 221
should be objected against conserning It: wee doe well
beheve that those that are set for keepers of his Majesty
of England's subjects will quitt themselves as ought to
doe for the preservation of the colonyes In New England;
however we shaU not for that depart from o'r firme reso
lutions. We conceive we have herewith answered yo'r
letter. Thus don in the place as above. By order of the
command'r and counsell of War." " A. Bayard, Secretary."
October i, 1673, Govemor Colve sent WiUiam Knyff
and Anthony Malypart to the English towns, requiring
them to take the oath of allegiance. Oyster Bay, it seems,
compHed, while Huntington and Brookhaven offered to
sign an agreement to be faithful to the Dutch government,
but refusing to take any oath that should bind them to
take up arms against the King of Great Britain, their
lawful sovereign.
The three eastern towns in particular declined any
compromise, and sent deputies forthwith to Connecticut,
to solicit that colony to receive them under her jurisdic
tion, and to furnish them with necessary aid against the
Dutch, should they attempt to enforce their demands;
and on the 9th of October, 1673, the general court of
Connecticut, referred their application to a committee,
consisting of the govemor, assistants, and two others;
and authorized them, with the concurrence of the colonies
of Massachusetts and Plymouth, to grant their request,
and to do what should be considered most advantageous
for the benefit of both parties.
The committee having agreed to take them under their
jurisdiction, erected the three towns of Easthampton,
Southampton, and Southold into a county, established a
county court, appointed judges and such other civil and

222 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
military officers as they deemed expedient, and sent a
military force for their assistance and protection.
October 25, the governor sent William Knyff and
Nicholas Voss to the towns of Huntington and Brook
haven ; and, to Induce the Inhabitants to comply with his
wishes, promised them liberty of conscience, security of
property, and the choice of their officers, in the same
manner as had been enjoyed in the Dutch towns, and also
consented that the oath of allegiance should be modified
so as to accommodate their scruples on that subject.
Huntington and Brookhaven consented to the wishes
of the governor on condition that none but the magistrates
should take the oath required. This was promptly
conceded, and those towns submitted to the Dutch
authority. October 30, the governor despatched Cornelius Steen
wyck, first councillor, and two others, to the eastern
towns, to persuade them to comply upon the like terms,
having just confiscated the shares of Constant Sylvester
and Thomas MIddleton, in Shelter Island (they being
British subjects, residing at Barbadoes) and sold the
same to Captain Nathaniel Sylvester, taking his bond for
the payment of £500; the Island being then known as
Sylvester's Island. The party sent upon this expedition
sailed down the Sound and stopped at that Island, where
they fell In with Samuel WylHs and Captain Winthrop,
who had been sent there by Connecticut, to carry the
aforesaid resolutions Into effect. The Dutch commis
sioners also visited Southold, and found the people there
assembled In arms. They offered to receive their sub
mission In writing, and to accept of the oath of alle
giance from the magistrates only. The people of that
town, however, refused submission, and the commissioners

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 223
were obliged to return without effecting the object of their
mission. The governor afterwards undertook to reduce the said
three eastern towns by force ; whereupon Connecticut sent
Major Treat with sufficient assistance to repel the at
tempt. The Dutch were too few In numbers to ensure suc
cess, and, after endeavoring In vain to effect the principal
object in view, landed at Shelter Island, compelled Mr.
Sylvester to pay the amount of his bond, and returned
safely with the money to New Orange. Mr. Trumbull
says that the " Dutch threatened the eastern towns with
fire and sword unless they would submit and swear al
legiance to the States General, but were repelled by the
troops sent from Connecticut." In this expedition Major
Treat obtained much credit for his skill and bravery, and
the General Court of Connecticut returned him public
thanks for his conduct In defending that colony, and the
towns upon Long Island, against the Dutch. It should
be remembered that Connecticut had, on the 26th of
November, 1673, formally declared war against this
people, and made liberal preparations to commence ex
tensive operations in the ensuing spring. This gave the
people of New Orange no Inconsiderable alarm, and on
the 27th of March, 1674, the Dutch Governor ordered
all vessels to be removed to a particular place, lest, he
says, they should hinder the defence of the city; and like
wise made provision for transporting the inhabitants of
the neighboring villages to a place of safety. In case of
an attack. But another revolution in the political con
dition of the province was destined to follow, and this
second epoch of Dutch power, was terminated by the
treaty of Westminster, Febmary 19, 1674, by the terms
of which England was to receive New Netherlands in

224 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
exchange for Surinam. The sixth article of this treaty
stipulated, "that whatever lands, towns, forts, ^c, had
been reciprocally taken since the beginning of the war,
should be restored to their former possessors." New
York was accordingly restored to the English, October
31, 1674, Captain Colve having administered the govern
ment fourteen months and eighteen days. The news of
peace had. Indeed, suspended hostilities sometime before,
but no person being on the spot authorized to accept a
surrender of the province, the English government was
not fully re-instated till the date last mentioned.
The people of Southold, Southampton, and Easthamp
ton, were in reality little more disposed to submit to the
Duke's government, than to that of the Dutch, and conse
quently used every possible effort to prevent It by sending
delegates to Connecticut to solicit their continuance under
that colony. On the 14th of May, 1674, the General
Court at Hartford took their application Into considera
tion, and finally consented that they might retain their
political relation as before, and enjoy the same privileges
as other towns within their jurisdiction, so far as it was
In their power to grant or secure the same. The court
also appointed, or, rather, re-appointed Captain John
Youngs, Captain John HoweU, and Mr. John Mulford
judges of the countyi and authorized " Samuel Wylys,
John Talcott, and the secretary, Mr. Allyn, or any two of
them, to go over to the Island, to order and settle the
affairs of the people there, and to establish such military
officers among them as they should judge to be neces
sary." June 13, 1674. — Easthampton appointed a committee,
who should. In connection with Southampton and South-
old, humbly petition the king to permit them to remain

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 225
under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and they continued
thus attached, when the colony of New York was finally
restored to the agent of the Duke of York In the month
of October, 1674.

RESTORATION OF THE DUKE'S GOVERN
MENT
On the 29th of June, 1674, his Royal Highness, the
Duke of York, to remove all doubts respecting the validity
of his title, obtained from his brother, Charles II., a new
patent for the same territory which had been conveyed
to him in 1664, and July 22, 1674, commissioned Major
(afterwards Sir Edmund) Andros, to be governor of all
his possessions in America. He was also commissioned
to raise 100 men as a garrison for the fort, now again
called Fort James, and New Orange became once more
New York. This commission of the govemor bears date
two days only subsequent to the renewal of the patent, a
proof that his qualifications were known, and his appoint
ment previously determined upon by his Royal Highness.
The patent confirmed the power formerly conferred, of
framing all such ordinances as the duke or his assigns
should think fit, with a right however, of appeal to the
king and council. No trade could be carried on without
the duke's assent, and he could impose such duties as he
thought proper. The new governor arrived here October
31, 1674, and having received a formal surrender of the
province. Issued a declaration to the effect following :
" It hath pleased his Majesty and his Royal Highness,
to send me with authority to receive this place and gov
ernment from the Dutch, and to continue In the com
mand thereof, under his Royal Highness, who hath not
226

¦'iiM^k%

-'«n
V'^ • ill
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 227
only taken care for our future safety and defence, but
also given me his commands for securing the rights and
properties of the inhabitants, and that I should endeavor,
by aU fitting means, the good and welfare of this province
and dependencies under his government, that I may not
be wanting In any thing that may conduce thereunto, and
for the saving of the trouble and charge of any coming
hither for the satisfying themselves In such doubts as
might arise concerning their rights and properties upon
this change of government, and wholly to settle the minds
of all in general, I have thought fit to publish and declare,
that all former grants and privileges or concessions here
tofore granted, and all estates legally possessed by any
under his Royal Highness before the late Dutch govern
ment, as also all legal judicial proceedings during that gov
emment anterior to my arrival In these parts, are hereby
confirmed, and the possessors, by virtue thereof, to re
main in quiet possession of their rights. — It Is hereby fur
ther declared, that the known book of laws formerly
established, and in force, under his Royal Highness' gov
emment. Is now again confirmed by his Royal Highness,
the which are to be observed and practised ; together with
the manner and time of holding courts therein mentioned
as heretofore, and all magistrates and civil officers belong
ing thereunto, to be chosen and established accordingly."
He also sent a special messenger to the three eastern
towns of Long Island, requiring them to take the oath
of allegiance and return to the govemment of New Yok|c.
The Inhabitants not only hesitated to comply, but sent a
memorial to the govemor. In which, among other things
mentioned, they set forth, that through the aid furnished
them by the kindness of Connecticut, they had thereto
fore repeUed the Dutch ; that they had joined that colony,
and put themselves under that government, which had ap-

228 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
pointed their civil and mlHtary officers; that they had be
come bound by oath to that colony, and could not dissolve
the connection without Its approbation.
November 17, 1674. — The people of the town of
Southold, in town meeting, declared themselves to be
under the govemment of his Majesty's colony of Con
necticut, and that they would use all lawful means to con
tinue so. The town of Easthampton likewise instracted
their deputies, (who were appointed to consult with the
other towns what course they should take ) to see that all
lawful endeavors should be put forth, to the utmost, for
their continuance under Connecticut.
November 18, 1674. — ^The governor and council or
dered another messenger to be sent to the three resisting
towns, demanding In the most peremptory manner that
the former overseers and constables should be restored
to their places, "under the penalty of being declared
rebels; " and they ordered John Mulford, John Howell,
and John Youngs, who had signed the aforesaid memo
rial, to appear and answer forthwith before the council
on the like penalty. Thus the solicitude and endeavors
of these towns to remain in connection with their friends
across the Sound, proved unavailing, and they were re
luctantly obliged to succumb to the demands of the gov
ernor of New York.
Sir Edmund pursued the same arbitrary course that his
predecessors had done, and showed himself both selfish
and tyrannical. Immediately on assuming the govern
ment a court martial was ordered to try Captain Manning
for what was termed his treacherous and cowardly sur
render of Fort James to the Dutch forces the preceding
year. The articles exhibited were. In substance, that the
accused, on the 28th of July, 1673, being apprised of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 229
the enemy's approach, took no measures for defence, and
even refused the assistance that was offered. That while
the fleet was anchored under Staten Island he had held
communication with it — that he suffered them to moor
under the fort, forbidding a gun to be fired on pain
of death. That he allowed the enemy to land without
opposition, and treacherously caused the gates of the fort
to be opened to the enemy, thereby cowardly and basely
surrendering the garrison, without even requiring con
ditions of capitulation. The accused had, it seems, visited
England, and returned for the purpose of a trial and
punishment on the spot where the crime, if any, was
committed. The trial, which In the end turned out
a mere mockery of form, was postponed till February,
1675, when he was found guilty of cowardice only, and
on the 5th of the month this noted individual (who had
been high sheriff of Yorkshire on Long Island In
1 67 1, and been entrusted also with the defence of the
province which was alleged to have been betrayed) was
" ordered to be brought to the pubHc place before the
City Hall, there to have his sword broken over his head,
and from that time forth rendered incapable of wearing
another, or from serving his Majesty in any public em
ploy, or place of benefit and trust within this govern
ment." The Infliction of so slight a punishment (if, indeed, it
deserves the name) where (If guilty) death was evidently
so well merited, was probably the result of a previous
arrangement between his Royal Highness and his pliant
deputy, and furnishes no satisfactory proof of the merci
ful temper of the latter, for subsequent experience fully
showed that mercy was not an element in his composition,
but that like the Infamous Jeffreys (who in 1680 was

230 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
soHcitor to this same duke) he was the constant object of
hate and detestation.
It is somewhat extraordinary that so much uncertainty
and contradiction should exist in relation to the taking of
the fort, and the behavior of Captain Manning — for If
some accounts be true he was deserving of high applause
for his bravery; but If the facts be as Insisted upon by
others, he had most undoubtedly forfeited his life. It is
hard to say that he was accountable for the dilapidated
condition of the fort, or its want of the means of defence,
and how he could have been guilty at all Is strange, or
how. If deserving of punishment, he should have escaped
with one so Inadequate to the crime charged upon him.
The same Inconsistency exists In the amount of force
which he had to oppose, the accounts differing very much ;
according to some there were twelve, to some sixteen and to
others twenty ships, besides several prizes which had been
captured on the cruise. At any rate. It seems the fort
held out four hours against this fprce, and then only struck
Its flag for want of means to continue the fight, for the
last cartridge had been used. Of the subsequent career
of Captain Manning we have no satisfactory account.
Binkes It seems fell In 1677 at the capture of Tobago,
and Evertsen reposes at Middleburgh In the island of
Walchesen, where as late as 1 8 1 8 an oration was delivered
In honor of his memory, and funds were raised to restore
the tomb which covers his ashes.
November 26, 1674, Andros suspended a term of the
court of sessions In the east riding of Yorkshire, and or
dered the towns of Huntington and Brookhaven to have
their business for that term transacted at the ensuing
court of sessions at Jamaica, in the north riding, because
the three eastern towns had not returned the accounts

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 231
of the constables and overseers of those towns, accord
ing to his orders; and in April, 1681, he in the most
arbitrary manner summoned Isaac Piatt, Epenetus Piatt,
Samuel Titus, Jonas Wood, and Thomas Wicks, in
habitants of Huntington, to New York; and caused them
to be Imprisoned without trial, and without being charge
able with any legal offence, but, as Is supposed, merely
for having attended a meeting of delegates of the several
towns, convened for the purpose of contriving the means
of procuring a redress of grievances. But this circum
stance took place near the close of his administration, as
he appears to have left the country. In May, 1682, when
the administration of public affairs devolved upon the
Hon. Anthony Brockholst, senior member and president
of the council. In 1686 he was again sent to America
and held the govemment of New England about three
years, exhibiting, however, his usual despotism, when,
on news of the revolution in England being received, he
was seized by the populace and thrown Into prison, where
he was detained some time. On his liberation Andros
returned to England in 1699, was governor of the island
of Guernsey from 1704 to 1706, and died in London, Feb
ruary, 1 7 14, at the age of eighty-two. History has con
demned him as a tyrant, and Oldmixon In 1741 said he
was as mean In character as fortune. Smith says he
knew no law but the will of his master, and like the in
famous Jeffreys, was fitted to execute the despotic projects
of James II. His wife died in Boston, Febraary 7, 1688,
and was burled with great pomp, the hearse being drawn
by six horses, and torches carried in the procession.
His father, Amice Andros, was bailiff of Ireland from
1660 tlU his death, AprU 7, 1664, and his son. Sir Ed
mund, fiUed the office from the time tiU August of the

232 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
same year. Major General Brock, who fell at Queens-
ton In October, 1812, was a descendant of this family.
At a special court of assize, June 29, 168 1, the grand
jury presented the want of a general assembly as an In
supportable grievance, and one which ought to be re
dressed; and the court appointed Captain John Youngs,
high sheriff of Long Island, a gentleman of family and
education, and of known ability, to draft a petition upon
the subject to the Duke of York. One was accordingly
drawn, approved and transmitted, and appears to have
been favorably received, for instructions were soon after
forwarded to the new governor, to summon a general
assembly on his arrival in the colony. All parties (says
the elegant Bancroft,) joined In entreating for the people
a share In legislation. The Duke of York was at the
same time solicited by those about him to sell the territory.
He demanded the advice of one who always advised hon
estly; and no sooner had the father of Pennsylvania (after
a visit to New York,) transmitted an account of the re
forms which the province required, than without delay,
Thomas Dongan, a papist, came over as governor, with
instructions to convoke a free legislature. He was com
missioned September 30, 1682, and arrived August 25,
1683, having landed on the east end of Long Island.
He soon after Issued orders to the sheriffs to convene the
freeholders of the province. In their several towns, to elect
deputies to meet him in a general assembly. At length,
then, after long and unwearied efforts, on the 17th of
October, 1683, about sixty years from the time the Island
of Manhattan was first occupied by civilized people, and
thirty years after the popular demand therefor, the repre
sentatives of the people met, and their self-estabHshed
charter of liberties gave New York a place by the side of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 233
Virginia and Massachusetts. And thus, by the persuasions
of a Quaker (once so odious) did a bigoted Roman
CathoHc prince give orders to a papistical governor, to
introduce a popular assembly, elected by the people them
selves, who had before no share in the government — an
event similar in principle, and of nearly equal Importance
to that glorious Independence which their descendants
procured for themselves In less than a century after.
Dongan' s commission was, it seems, renewed by King
James II., June 10, 1686, but his Instructions, which are
very full and minute, bear date previously by May 29,
1686, and are referred to In the commission.
The first colonial legislature, consisting of the gov
ernor, council and seventeen members chosen by the
people, assembled In the city of New York, October 17,
1683, and elected Matthias Nicoll their speaker. It con
tinued to be held till the 3d of November following; and
declared, among other things, that, as a fundamental
principle, the supreme authority under the duke should
forever thereafter reside In a governor, council, and the
people met In general assembly. At this time the three
ridings upon Long Island were abolished, the province
was divided into shires or counties, and names were given
to each. The number of these was twelve, viz: New
York, Ulster, Albany, Dutchess, Westchester, Orange,
Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suf oik. Duke's and Cornwall.
The great and all important result of this enlightened
assembly, was the adoption of a bill of rights, or charter
of liberties and privileges. Courts of justice were estab
lished, some of the more objectionable of the Duke's laws
repealed or amended, and such new ones passed as were
most imperiously required. It was also recommended,
that a general assembly should ever after be held In

234 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the province, triennlally at least, which should be sole
judge of the qualifications of Its own members, and be
free from all arrest in civil cases, eundo, morando et
redeundo. A court was established In every town, to be
held on the first Wednesday of every month — a court
of sessions In each county to be held annually; for Kings
County, at Gravesend; for Queens, at Jamaica; and for
Suffolk, at Southold and Southampton alternately; and a
court of general jurisdiction, called a court of oyer and
terminer and general jail delivery, to be held In the city
and county of New York twice a year, and once a year
In each of the other counties. The govemor and councU
constituted, ex officio, a court of chancery, which should
be esteemed and considered the supreme court of the
province, and from which appeals lay to the king.*
This assembly held another session In October, 1684,
at which they abolished the court of assize, made further
alterations In the Duke's laws, and enacted several new
ones. A new assembly was summoned In September,
1685, which met at New York the ensuing October, and
chose William PInhorne their speaker. This assembly
passed several acts ; among which was an act of November
4, 1685, for regulating the proceedings of monthly courts
throughout the province, by which the jurisdiction was
extended to £5, and an act of November 7, 1685, for
removing the court of sessions from Gravesend to Flat
bush. But there is no evidence that this assembly ever
met again, or that any other was summoned, (except one
* We have not been kble to ascertain the names of the members of this
assembly, nor does it appear that the laws passed at this time were ever
printed, or even confirmed by the king; but they were duly recorded and
are to be found in the ofBce of the secretary of this state. The first
printed journal of the colonial assembly commences in 1691. In this
year an act was passed in relation to streets in the city of New York,
which continued in force till 1787, a period of ninety-six years.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 235
by Leisler during his usurpation,) untU the arrival of a
governor under WiUiam and Mary, in 169 1. Charles II.
died February 16, 1685, and his brother, the Duke of
York, proprietary of this province, succeeded him as
James II. As he seemed determined to have as little to
do with parliaments as possible, so it Is highly probable
that he had secretly forbidden his governor here to con
vene any more assemblies, and was determined that In
future the colony should be governed by his instructions
alone. Dongan, whose commission was renewed In 1686,
was directed, among other things, to allow of no printing
press in the colony, and being at the same time deprived
of the assembly. New York was thereby reduced to the
condition of a conquered province; and there were now
here 4,000 foot, 300 horse, and a company of dragoons,
to keep the people In the most servile subjection, and
to repress effectually any commotions, which the new state
of things was so well calculated to produce. Andros,
who had been appointed In 1686 governor of all New
England, during pleasure, was now, by a new commission,
reinstated In this colony and New Jersey; and an order
in council was read in New York, July 28, 1688, di
recting Colonel Dongan to deliver the seal of the province
to Sir Edmund, who shortly after revisited the colony,
and resumed the administration of public affairs. On the
25th of August, new commissions were Issued to the civil
officers who had been appointed for Kings and Queens
counties. On his return to Massachusetts, to which his
authority likewise extended, the administration here was
conducted by Colonel Francis Nicholson, the lieutenant
governor, and the councU. This man had also been an
officer In the British army, and was, if possible, more
obnoxious than even Andros himself, especially to the

236 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
people of Long Island. Colonel Dongan, after his re
lease from office, retired to his possessions upon Staten
Island, where he remained till the spring of 1691, If not
longer, when he left the country. Ebellng affirms that he
returned to his native country of Ireland, where he finally
succeeded to the earldom of Limerick, and is believed to
have been killed In some engagement In that country.
Governor Dongan left no descendants, nor is It known
that he was ever married. Two brothers, John and
Walter, accompanied him to this country, and to the latter
he devised his large domain upon Staten Island, which
included nearly all of the present town of Castleton. He
married Ruth, daughter of Colonel Richard Floyd, of
Brookhaven, by whom he had Issue Richard, Thomas, and
Ruth; the former of whom married Cornelia Shanks, and
had Issue Thomas, Walter, Ruth, and Sarah; of whom
Walter, born January 2, 1763, Is still living on a part of
the ancient manor, having a wife and several children.
The said Thomas, son of the first Walter, lived upon
Staten Island, was raised to the rank of colonel in the
British army, and placed in command of a regiment sta
tioned there, where he fell at the head of his troops
August 22, 1777, In an engagement with the Americans
under Colonel Ogden.
As may well be supposed, the public rejoicing was
ardent and sincere, at the abdication of James II., De
cember 23, 1688, and the succession to the throne of
his daughter Mary and her husband, William, Prince of
Orange, February 16, 1689. The news was received at
Boston In April, 1689, when the person of Andros was
seized by an indignant people and thrown Into prison,
where he was detained until they heard from England.
The news of the proceedings in Boston prompted cer-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 237
tain persons in New York, whose zeal or ambition was too
impatient of delay to await the changes which would
necessarily have succeeded the revolution In England, to
wrest the government out of the hands of Nicholson, the
lieutenant governor.
On May 31, Captain Jacob Leisler put himself at the
head of the party, seized the fort, and kept possession of
It. On June 3, he was joined by the other captains of the
militia, with their companies. They Immediately Issued
a proclamation, stating that their Intention In seizing the
fort was to keep it for King William ; and that they would
surrender it to the governor who should be appointed by
him. Nicholson immediately retired aboard a vessel, and
returned to England. On June 12, Leisler and his friends
wrote to the several towns on Long Island, inviting them
to send two men from each county to meet the deputies
of the other counties at New York, on the 26th instant,
to form a committee of safety; and also to send two men
from each town to assist In guarding the fort.
It is supposed that Kings and Queens counties com
plied with the request, although there was a powerful
opposition in the latter to the measure.
The several towns in Suffolk met by their deputies at
Southampton, June 20, when a majority of them re
fused to send deputies to New York; and Immediately
opened a negotiation with Connecticut, and made another
unsuccessful effort to put themselves under the jurisdiction
of that colony, the laws and institutions of which were '
more congenial with their Ideas of good government than
those of any other royal province.
Most or aU of the other counties, it is supposed, sent
deputies to New York.
The committee of safety, which convened at New York,

238 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
had, June 8, 1689, given the superintendence of affairs to
Leisler, which he managed according to their advice till
the ensuing fall. He was of an eager, headlong temper,
of narrow capacity, whose opposition to Popery, and the
ill treatment he had received from Andros, seemed to
point him out as a suitable leader In a religious and
political controversy. Being possessed of small qualifica
tions for so Important a station, he was under the Influence
of others, and particularly of his son-in-law Milbourne,
a man of more talent, but of less discretion. The inhabit
ants of the two western counties of Long Island ac
quiesced, but Suffolk sought again to renew her union with
Connecticut, In which, being unsuccessful, they remained
neutral and inactive, during Leisler's administration. In
the meantime, a letter of July 29, 1689, was received from
the English ministry, addressed to Francis Nicholson,
or In his absence, to such as, for the time being, take care
for preserving the peace and administering the laws. In
their Majesties' province of New York In America, and
authorizing Nicholson " to take upon him the chief com
mand, and to appoint for his assistance as many of the
principal freeholders and inhabitants as he should think
fit," and to do everything appertaining to the laws and
customs of New York, until further orders. This letter
was received In December, 1689, and In the absence of
Colonel Nicholson, Leisler chose to consider the orders
as addressed to himself, and assumed the title and powers
of a lieutenant governor. He selected a council, com
missioned pubHc officers in the several counties, and re
quired an entire submission to his authority. He as
sembled the committee of safety to aid him by their
advice, and also to give greater weight and confidence
to his measures. In the spring of 1690, a general assem-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 239
bly was summoned, probably to obtain the means of
defending the frontiers, which met at New York, AprU
24, and elected John Spratt, speaker. Two deputies from
Connecticut were admitted to assist by their counsel, but
nothing of great Importance was done at this meeting,
except the adoption of a few necessary regulations for the
temporary government of the province, and it was pro
rogued to the first of September. No members attended
the assembly either from Suffolk, Albany, or Ulster, while
one from New York and one from Queens refused to
serve, thus reducing the number of delegates to ten. Dur
ing this period the towns in Suffolk held meetings to con
sult about the course which it would be proper to take,
without coming to any definite conclusion.*
The summons received by them, March 15, 1690, for
the election of assemblymen they had refused to obey,
although Huntington was half Inclined, on the score of
expediency, to recognize the authority of Leisler. The
people of Easthampton on the 3d of May, peremptorily
resolved not to submit, but to continue as they were, but
on the 9th of September following, they consented " that
•Leisler was originally a merchant of respectable standing and ex
tensively engaged in the fur trade, the principal emporium for which,
toward the latter part of the seventeenth century, was Albany. He
afterwards came to New York, and was more largely concerned in com
merce than any other merchant in that city. He was distinguished not
less for humanity than for boldness and decision, and also for the
liberality of his disposition. He was moreover a zealous friend to the
Protestant cause, and had been formerly imprisoned by Andros, for
opposing one of his illegal acts, while governor of New York. The
times demanded a leader who possessed the knowledge, address, and
firmness of a veteran statesman; but Leisler possessed none of these.
His education and knowledge of the world were not such as to fit him
for the trying emergencies in which he was placed. He rested, however,
chiefly for his support, on the less educated classes of the Dutch; for
the cabal that had grown up round the royal governors were his wary
and unrelenting foes. But his greatest weakness was in himself. Too

240 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
certain moneys, formerly raised for the public service,
might be paid to Leisler, or to his order."
The people of Hempstead, Jamaica, and Flushing con
vened on the 7th of November, 1690, and remonstrated
In very severe language, to his Majesty the King of Eng
land, against the tyrannical usurpations of Leisler and his
accomplices, wherein they represent that his son-in-law,
Milbourne, had once been convicted of a crime deserving
of death, the nature of which is not mentioned.
On the arrival of news, April, 1689, conveying InteUi
gence of the accession of WiUiam and Mary, Leisler lost
no time In proclaiming them King and Queen at the fort,
and proceeding from thence to the city hall, repeated the
proclamation by sound of trumpet, to the enthusiastic and
rejoicing multitude. He also despatched a messenger to
England, giving an account of his proceedings, which
at first seem to have been favorably received by their
Majesties. January i, 1690, he Issued a warrant to have
Andrew GIbb, clerk of Queens County, before him, for
refusing to deliver the papers of his office to Daniel
Denton, the new clerk, whoni he had appointed, and he
Issued orders to the sheriff of the same county to secure
Colonel Dongan, late governor. In his own house, and
restless to obey, and too passionate to command, as a Presbyterian, he
was averse to the Church of England; as a man of middling fortunes,
to the aristocracy; while, as a Dutchman and Calvinist, he was an
enthusiast for Vi^illiam of Orange, and after doing all in his power to
uphold his interests, he was succeeded by Slaughter. He was executed
during a drenching rain, and died asking the pardon of Heaven for his
enemies, and declaring that he had done everything for the King, and
the good of his fellow citizens.
Milbourne, who was executed at the same time, had not the patience
and submission of his father-in-law, but, seeing one of his enemies in
the crowd, exclaimed, "you have caused my death; but, before God's
tribunal, I will implead you for the same. It is for the King and Queen
I die, and for the Protestant religion."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 241
to bring Colonel Thomas Willet, Captain Thomas Hicks,
Daniel Whitehead, and Edward Antill, Esqs., before
the council, for declining to acknowledge his authority.
February 21, he ordered Colonel Dongan, Stephen Van
Cortland, Anthony Brockholst and Mathew Plowman,
Esqs., to be seized and brought before him. August 9,
he Issued a proclamation requiring the assembly to meet
at New York, the first of September ensuing, to which
day they were prorogued. August 11, after reciting
that Nathaniel Piersall, elected to the assembly from
Queens, and Wilhelmus Beekman from New York, had
refused to serve at the meeting In April, he ordered those
counties to elect others to meet at the ensuing Septem
ber session. It seems, however, that the opposition to his
measures In Queens County had not been quelled by the
means heretofore used, and accordingly, October 18,
1690, he ordered Major Milbourne " to take what force
he could raise, to suppress it; " and October 26, he sus
pended the court of oyer and terminer, about to sit in
Kings County, " until Long Island should be reduced to
obedience." On the 30th of October, after stating that a
rebellion existed In Queens County, he issued orders to
Samuel Staats, and Captain Thomas Williams, to " sup
press it." He likewise directed Williams and Samuel
Edsall to go to Flushing Bay, examine the vessels there
and see that none were employed In " a way prejudicial
to his interest."
January 30, 1691, Captain Richard Ingolsby* arrived
at New York with his company and demanded possession
•This gentleman had the chief command again on the death of Love
lace in 1709. His short administration is remarkable for a second
attempt upon Canada. He was afterwards appointed to the chief com
mand of the forces in Ireland, and died in the city of Dublin, January 29,
1711.

242 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
of the fort, which Leisler refused, thus adding a new sub
ject of contention to the already overexcited state of
public feeling, and in this unhappy condition the colony
remained until the usurpation of Leisler was terminated
by the arrival of Governor Henry Slaughter, March 19,
1 69 1. It seems Leisler acknowledged him as governor,
but persisted nevertheless in retaining the fort, thereby
violating his former professions of loyalty and zeal for
King William, forfeiting all claims of merit for his serv
ices, and Incurring not only the reproach of the people,
but the more severe penalty of usurpation. He had taken
upon himself the direction of affairs at a time and under
circumstances, requiring all the address, knowledge, and
firmness of a veteran statesman, and he brought to the
task the mere ordinary experience of a merchant, desirous
of the good of the province and the Protestant succession.
Leisler and his son-in-law, Milbourne, were afterwards
tried by a special commission, consisting of Sir Thomas
Robinson, Colonel William Smith, and others, which
found the accused guilty of high treason, and sentenced
them to death. The warrant for their execution was
made out by the concurring advice of the assembly and
council; yet Slaughter hesitated to order their execution,
and wrote to the English ministry for direction of the
subject. That he disapproved of so terrible a sentence,
for a political offence which he could not but deem. In
a great measure, venial, is most probable; but on the i6th
of May, 1 69 1, in a moment of intoxication, into which
he had been designedly betrayed for the purpose, he
signed the fatal order ; and before he recovered his senses,
the unfortunate prisoners were In eternity.
The populace were greatly affected at the melancholy
result, and would have been gratified with the escape of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 243
the sufferers. The son of Leisler afterwards preferred
a complaint against the governor, which, being referred
to the Lords of Trade, they reported, March 11, 1692,
" that they were humbly of opinion, Jacob Leisler and
Jacob Milbourne,- deceased, were condemned, and had
sufered according to law." November 12, 1694, on like
application the British parliament reversed the attainder
of Leisler and Milbourne, and, in compassion for their
families, restored their estates, and the assembly, by
recommendation of his Majesty, voted £1000, to be raised
by tax on the colony, for the relief of the widow and
children of Leisler.
Leisler, says Mr. Sparks, when arraigned, exhibited
his wonted directness of character in rejecting the author
ity of the court thus constituted. He said " he was not
holden to plead to the indictment, until the power be
determined whereby such things have been acted." But
the insolent mockery of justice proceeded, and he and
Milbourne were condemned to death as rebels and
traitors ; rebels to the laws, whose dignity Leisler had to
the last so nobly asserted In his own person; traitors to
the king, whose standard he was the first to rear among
his subjects here. The customary confiscation of property
and attainder of blood, which Is part of the English law
of high treason, followed. They were executed at the
lower end of what is now the park, where the spray
of the fountain has succeeded the blood stain of the
martyrs. " Why must you die? " said Leisler to his son-in-law;
" you have been but as a servant, doing my wiU, and as a
dying man, I declare before God, that what I have done
was for King WiUiam and Queen Mary, the defence of
the Protestant religion, and the good of the country."

244 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
For every offence he asked pardon of God, and next, of
all persons offended; prayed that malice might be buried
in the grave, and forgave the most inveterate of his
enemies. The widow of Milbourne, and daughter of Leisler,
afterwards married Abraham Goveneul, Esq., who had
been secretary to Leisler, and speaker of the assembly In
1 70 1. Leisler appears to have acted with an honest en
deavor to promote the public welfare, and although some
what imprudent, yet his loyalty to his sovereign ought
not to be questioned, and justice requires that his name
be rescued from obllquy and disgrace so long resting
upon It.
The royal commission to Governor Slaughter, of Janu
ary 9, 1689, constituted the foundation of the colonial
government, which was consequent upon the revolution
In England and continued as then settled, with some
slight changes, till the more glorious revolution of 1776.
The executive power was vested In the governor; the
legislative. In the governor, council, and general assembly,
periodically elected, subject to approval of the king, to
whom all laws were required to be submitted within three
months after their passage The council consisted, at
first, of seven members, which was afterwards Increased
to twelve, and they received their appointment from his
Majesty. The assembly was composed of deputies, chosen
by the freeholders of each county, the number being regu
lated by law. The term of service was indefinite tiU
1743, when It became limited to seven years.
Among the first acts of Slaughter's administration, was
that of May 6, 1691, "for Settling, Quieting, and Con
firming unto the Cities, Towns, Manors and Freeholders
within this Province, their several Grants, Patents and

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 245
Rights respectively;" and another for quieting and
setding the pubHc disorders, which had long prevaUed, to
the destraction of confidence and disregard for private
right. These acts gave much satisfaction, and removed
the doubts which had been entertained by many, and led
them to conclude that the governor was influenced by a
proper zeal for the interests of the province. But alas !
the hopes entertained of a long and prosperous adminis
tration were suddenly prostrated by the unexpected death
of his excellency, on the 23rd of July, 1691, only four
months and as many days from the time of his arrival
at New York. His body was deposited In the vault of
the Stuyvesant family. The govemor Is, however, de
scribed by the historian Smith, as licentious In his morals,
avaricious and poor, and as having been probably sent
over, as others had previously been, to gratify some
powerful relative or friend, by affording him a chance
for making money out of the people. It was at first
generally supposed that he had been clandestinely de
stroyed by poison, but a thorough post mortem examina
tion removed all reasonable grounds of suspicion In that
respect. The legislature had In 1683 passed a declaration of
rights. In which It was enacted, " that no person or per
sons which profess faith in God by Jesus Christ, shall at
any time be any wayes molested, punished, disquieted, or
called In question for any difference of opinion, or matter
of religious concernment who do not actually disturbe the
clvIUe peace of the province, but all and every such may
at all times fully enjoy his or their judgments or con
sciences In matters of religion."
This clause is creditable to the legislature of that
period, and to the correct and liberal Ideas of Governor

246 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Dongan. It was In a manner annulled by the legislature
In 1 69 1, who declared that nothing therein contained,
should extend to give liberty to any Roman Catholic to
exercise their manner of worship. The same lUiberality
was likewise manifested toward Quakers, they being con
sidered and treated as heretics, not worthy of being
tolerated among these self-styled Christians.
On his death, the council conferred the chief authority
upon the Hon. Richard Ingolsby, (at that time also cap
tain of an independent company,) who held the trust till
the arrival of the new governor. Colonel Benjamin
Fletcher, August 30, 1692. Of this gentleman history
affords no very flattering account, for although he was a
good soldier, he Is represented at the same time, as pas
sionate, avaricious, and arbitrary; and a bigot to his own
mode of faith (that of the Established Church of Eng
land) . Consequently he was soon on bad terms with the
assembly. He became, also, in a short time, very generally
unpopular with the people. He evidently consulted his
own pecuniary interest, more than the happiness and pros
perity of those he was sent to govern, and fell almost of
course, into the hands of the aristocratic party, whose
principles he adopted. Piracies at this period were ex
tensively practiced upon the coast, and the governor was
suspected of countenancing them, from motives best
known to himself, but which others did not faU to con
jecture abundantly. One of the first acts of his govern
ment was the establishment of a public fair or market,
every Thursday at Jamaica, for the sale and exchange of
cattle, horses, grain, and other articles; and provision
for holding two fairs annually in Queens and Suffolk, and
one in Kings.
April ID, 1693, the name of Long Island was changed

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 247
to the Island of Nassau, — an alteration which arose from
political vanity, and was neither popular, nor gener
ally adopted. The act, although it is believed never ex-
pHcitly repealed, was suffered to become obsolete by dis
use. The words of this act are as follows:
" BE it enacted by the Governor, and Council, and
Representatives, convened in General Assembly, and by
the Authority of the same. That the Island commonly
called and known by the Name of Long-Island, shall
from henceforth be called the Island of Nassau; and that
after the Publication hereof, all their Majesties loving
Subjects are hereby required, in all Grants, Patents,
Deeds, Conveyances, Bargains of Sale, Bills, Bonds,
Records, and other Instruments In Writing, that shall
hereafter be made, granted, conveyed, bargained, sold,
and executed, for or concerning the said Island, or any
Part or Place, within the same, or in any County thereof,
to call and denominate the said Island in all such Deeds
and Escrlpts, as aforesaid, the Island of Nassau; any
Thing contained In any former Act to the Contrary
hereof In any wise notwithstanding."
This administration, whatever faults it possessed, pre
sents one redeeming feature at least, which justly entitles
it to lasting honor. It was at this period that a Press
was for the first time set up in the city of New York,
an institution which had been expressly discountenanced
by its predecessors, and positively forbidden by his
Majesty King James II., the lawful proprietor and pre
tended patron of the colony. The owner of this Press
was William Bradford, who came here from Philadelphia,
and was made government printer to the province, which
office he held from 1693 to May 23, 1752, a period of

248 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
almost sixty years, when he died at the great age of
ninety-two years. The first book from Mr. Bradford's
press was a small folio volume of the colony laws, a copy
of which would now be considere'd by us as a great curi
osity, yet it Is quite doubtful If one could be found. The
first newspaper published between Philadelphia and
Boston, was begun by him October i6, 1725, entitled The
New York Gazette. In 1728 he erected a paper manu
factory at Elizabethtown, N. J., certainly the first In that
province, and probably the earliest In America.
By an act of May 6, 1691, the courts of common pleas
and general sessions were distinctly organized in the
several counties. On pretense of producing uniformity
In the language and literature, as well as the religion of
the province, composed of a heterogeneous mixture of
Dutch and English, the governor brought Into the as
sembly a bill for the settlement of ministers, throughout
the colony, such as should be approved of by himself, as
the event showed, and for levying a tax upon the Inhabit
ants for the building of churches.
The assembly, after much debate, agreed that ministers
should be settled in certain parishes, but left the choice
to the people. The act passed in September, 1693, for
settling and maintaining a ministry, made no allusion to
any sect or denomination, though secretly and purposely
Intended by the govemor and his partlzans, as afterwards
appeared, to favor Episcopalians only. This, then, was
the first step towards the introduction of a reHglous order,
which, at this day, forms so respectable a portion of our
Immense population. This statute was confined. In terms,
to the city of New York, and to the counties of Richmond,
Westchester, and Queens, by the provisions of which,
£100 was to be raised by tax upon the city, £100 in

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 249
Westchester, £120 In Queens, and £40 In Richmond. It
Is pretty evident from the limiting the operation of this
act to a few counties, apparently most friendly to the
object aimed at, that it was Intended as an experiment.
The assembly was composed almost entirely of dis
senters, and could not. It Is believed, have suspected
the covert design of those who originated a measure
the purpose of which, a few years after, and during
the administration of Lord Cornbury, was so clearly de
veloped, by acts not only arbitrary, but odious and dis
graceful. As much opposition was manifested by the
public to this act, on account of the Inexplicltness of the
language, and its liability to be constraed In favor of
the denomination to which his excellency was known to be
zealously attached, the assembly. In 1695, resolved, by
way of explanation, that Its benefits extended to the dis
senting Protestant clergy. In common with others. But
that which had remained a problem was now solved; for
the governor rejected that Interpretation, and declared
that It applied solely to the Episcopal clergy, who,
as may well be supposed, did not fail thereafter to en
gross all the advantages of It, up to the close of the
American Revolution. There being comparatively very
few Episcopal families in Queens County, the raising of
money, by tax, for the support of ministers of that church,
whose doctrines and ceremonies were held both erroneous
and ridiculous, by a vast majority of those who would be
compelled to pay It, was very properly considered as an
Imposition and a grievance of no ordinary magnitude.
But the executive fiat had gone forth, and the people
were obHged to endure, as best they might, what they had
not the power to hinder or avoid.
Sir Richard Coote, Earl of BeUomont, was the succes-

250 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sor of Governor Fletcher. He was appointed In 1695,
and commissioned June 18, 1697, but delaying his voyage
until after the peace of Ryswick, and then being blown
off the American coast to Barbadoes, he did not reach
New York till the 2d of April, 1698. He brought with
him as lieutenant governor, John Nanfan, Esq., whom
he called his cousin. His wife, whom he married under
twelve years old, accompanied him. The governor lived
scarcely three years from the time of his arrival, dying
the 15 th of March, 1701, universally regretted, and was
burled under the chapel of the fort, from whence the
body was afterwards removed to St. Paul's Church. At
the death of this nobleman, the ancient animosities
of the rival factions were revived with the utmost
zeal and fury. Colonel Nicholas Bayard had procured
addresses, to be sent to the king, to the parliament,
and to Lord Cornbury, charging Lieutenant Governor
Nanfan, the chief justice, and the assembly, with pub
lic plunder, oppression, and even bribery. The party
In power, conscious that their rule would be short,
determined to bring Bayard to trial before the ar
rival of the new governor. A court of oyer and
terminer was therefore Immediately erected for his
trial, consisting of three justices, and it assembled
February 19, 1702. Broughton, the attorney general,
was so opposed to the whole proceeding, that he not only
refused to prosecute the prisoner, but even to be present
on the occasion. The accused was defended by Messrs.
Emot and Nicoll. When the jury was called, some of
them were objected to, for having declared, " that if
Bayard's neck was made of gold, he should be hanged."
The indictment charged the prisoner, with falsely, mali
ciously, advisedly, rebeUiously and traitorously using

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 251
divers Indirect practices and endeavors to procure mutiny
and desertion among the soldiers In the fort, and drawing
numbers of them to sign false and scandalous libels
against his Majesty's government. Many objections were
urged against the proceedings, which were of course of no
avail with his prejudiced judges. On this trial, Samuel
Clowes, a respectable lawyer of the city, who afterwards
lived and died In the village of Jamaica, L. I., was ex
amined as a witness, by which it appears that he was de
cidedly In favor of the measures pursued by Colonel Bay
ard. After the most violent and one-sided charge by the
chief justice to the jury, urging the conviction of the
prisoner, he was found guilty. A motion In arrest of
judgment was also overruled, and the unhappy man sen
tenced to be drawn upon an hurdle to the place of execu
tion, there to be hanged by the neck, to be cut down
alive, his bowels taken out, his privy members cut off, and
burnt before his face; his head cut off, and his body to
be divided into four quarters, and placed at the disposal
of the king. This terrible fate was, however, avoided;
the prisoner was released, on the arrival of Lord Corn
bury, and reinstated in all " honor and estate," as If no
such trial had taken place, while Atwood, the chief justice,
and Weaver, the solicitor general, were obliged to leave
the province, to escape the popular rage. The act of
May 12, 1699, "for vacating, breaking, and annulling"
several extravagant grants made by his Immediate prede
cessor, to his party favorites and the vestry and wardens
of Trinity Church, was one of the most popular measures
of his brief administration. Piracies continued to exist
to an alarming extent, in the American seas, and the in
habitants of some of the colonies were suspected of favor
ing the marauders. To suppress these disorders was the

252 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
avowed purpose of the king In selecting a person of the
exalted rank, resolution, and Integrity of the Earl of Bel-
lomont; and It must be acknowledged that his vigilance did
much to repress the lawless career of these freebooters,
and led eventually to the apprehension of Kidd, the most
noted sea robber of the age.*
Of the profligate and unprincipled character of Gov
ernor Fletcher there can be but one opinion among those
who examine his motives and reflect upon his conduct,
from the beginning to the close of his administration.
This is made more evident from the representations of
his successor. Lord BeUomont, in May, 1698, com
plains to the Council of Trade and Plantations that his
predecessor had countenanced and protected pirates, who,
he says, were fitted out either at New York or Rhode
Island. That ships engaged In this wicked business were
commissioned by the governor, and that he received large
bribes for protecting them. That the notorious pirate.
Captain Tew, was received and caressed by him. That
he received a present of a piratical vessel, which he sold
to Colonel Heathcote for £800, besides receiving presents
• Of all the ridiculous superstitions formerly existing, that concerning
Kidd's treasures is the most extraordinary. There is scarcely a very
old person who does not recollect those who have dug for it, and
scarcely a town on the sea coast, the soil of which has not been disturbed
for the same purpose. The devil seems, however, to exercise a par
ticular guardianship over the property, and just as the laborer has got
a sight of the chest, the evil spirit rises up, in some terrific form, and
frightens all present. Sometimes he removes the treasure, or sinks it
deeper in the earth. The great art of getting it consists in attracting
the devil's attention till the chest can be seized. At times, a circle is
drawn about the diggers, while others move around the place in a kind
of dance, acting in a fantastic manner; yet, it seems the Old One is not
often diverted by it. Singular as this may appear, thousands have been,
and still are, impressed with the notion that . much treasure has, at
different times, been deposited by Kidd and others, who never returned
to take it away; and men of high intelligence and good sense have
sometimes been made dupes to this extraordinary delusion.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 253
for his lady and daughter. That he charged £40 a man
for protection Issued by him to the crews of piratical ves
sels, and gratifications to Mr. NicoU, his broker.
In his letter of May 3, 1699, he complains of Fletcher's
extravagant grants, and among others, one to Colonel
Smith, upon Long Island, which he had been assured by
the attorney general, was fifty miles long, and the whole
breadth of the Island. In his letter of May 18, 1698,
Lord BeUomont says that Mr. Nicoll was suspected of
favoring pirates and was accordingly dismissed from the
council, whose opinion was that he ought to answer for
his offence. Mr. Nicoll thereupon gave £2000 security
for his appearance in England when demanded. He ad
mits him to be a man of good sense and knowledge in
the law, but that he had been a great Instrument and
continuer of many corrupt and unjust practices. In a
letter of June 22, 1698, he charges him with being indus
trious In making cabals and encouraging discontents In the
colony, and fears he shall be obliged to send him home
a prisoner, on account of his dealings with pirates, and for
the quiet of the government. One Raynor, he says was
seized as a pirate, on the east end of Long Island, by
Sheriff Hobart, and discharged by Fletcher, without con
sulting the attorney general, although a matter of so much
consequence to his Majesty's crown and dignity. A parcel
of pirates, he says, were taken at Boston, among whom
was Joseph Bradish, a native of Cambridge in that colony.
They came to the east end of Long Island and sunk
their ship of about 400 tons between that and Block
Island. He sends affidavits of Syman Bonare (a Jew),
of Captain Mulford, Cornelius Schellinger, and Lieu
tenant Pierson, with whom Bradish had deposited £942
ii9s.3d., and a bag of jewels, found to be counterfeit.

254 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
This Pierson, he says, was at that time a man of fair
character, a man of substance, and member of the as
sembly. On the 19th of May, 1701, Lieutenant Governor
Nanfan assumed the government, but in less than twelve
months thereafter was superseded by the new govemor,
Edward Hyde, more commonly called Lord Cornbury,
who reached New York May 3, 1702. He was the only
son of Henry, second Earl of Clarendon, and grandson
of Lord Chancellor Clarendon, prime minister to Charles
II., and historical writer of distinguished reputation.
Henry succeeded his father In the earldom December 19,
1674, and married Theodosia, daughter of Arthur Lord
Capel, who was beheaded for his loyalty to Charles I.,
March 9, 1649.
The governor was brother to the Queen of James II.,
and first cousin to Queen Anne, who succeeded to the
throne of her father in March, 1702. Having been
among the first to desert the army of King James, Will
iam, his successor, chose to make him some return for
his loyalty to him, by appointing him to this colony, which
he did not however reach till after the death of his patron,
(whose decease took place March 8, 1701,) and his
cousin, Anne, was seated upon the throne of England.
Lord Cornbury, during his administration of the affairs
of New York and New Jersey, (which were now united,)
by his avaricious and despotic conduct, rendered himself
not only odious but despicable. It would seem that his
sense of justice was as weak as his bigotry was uncon
trollable, a position which is capable of complete Illustra
tion, by numerous acts of his administration. As he came
here in the most Indigent circumstances, hunted out of
England by a host of hungry creditors, some of whom

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 255
had been ruined by his profligacy, he was bent on getting
as much money as he could squeeze out of the purses of
an insulted people. His talents were little superior to
any of his predecessors, while In his zeal for the estab
lished church of England he was surpassed by none.
In him was exemplified the fact, that an ardent zeal
for a particular church Is no certain indication of honor
or integrity, a position which at first view may appear in
consistent, and a solecism In ethics. In 1708 the as
semblies of New York and New Jersey, no longer will
ing to submit to his tyranny, sent a formal complaint
to the Queen, who. In consequence, soon after removed
him from office. This nobleman, says an able writer,
whose character and principles were equally detestable,
had been appointed to this office by the Influence of his
high connections, and not on account of any fitness for the
situation ; so true is the observation that the colonies had
never been looked upon, in any other light, than that of
an hospital, where the favorites of the minority might
remain until they had recovered their broken fortunes,
and oftentimes they served as asylums from their credi
tors. He hated the Presbyterians, and in the same degree
became a staunch supporter of the established church.
He therefore embraced every opportunity, legal or other
wise, to persecute the one, and favor and promote the
other. An Interesting example of the severe Instructions given
to Lord Cornbury by Queen Anne, which he was only
too eager to carry out, is herewith appended. The extract
Is taken from the coUections of the New Jersey Historical
Society. New York and New Jersey were at this time
(1702) united into one province of which he was gov
emor:

256 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" Forasmuch as great Inconveniences may arise by the
liberty of printing in our province, you are to provide,
by all necessary orders, that no person keep any press
for printing, nor that any books, pamphlets, or other mat
ters whatsoever, be printed without your especial leave
and license first obtained."
Of the bad character generally ascribed to this repre
sentative of royalty, the following Instance of his bigotry
and persecution may be cited In corroboration.
A great mortality prevailed In the city of New York
In the summer of 1702, which has since been designated
as " the time of the great sickness," and In consequence of
which, the governor and council removed therefrom and
took refuge In Jamaica, a place both near and convenient
of access.
The parsonage house of the Presbyterian Church had
been then lately built, and was one of the best private
residences in the place, and occupied by the Rev. John
Hubbard. The possession of this dwelling was politely
tendered by the minister to his excellency, the former sub
jecting himself and family thereby to considerable Incon
venience. In return for this generous, and (as it happened) mis
placed confidence. In one whom he had reason to believe
merited the character of a gentleman, at least, his ex
cellency. Instead of surrendering the premises to the
former occupant, most perfidiously gave possession
thereof to the Episcopal clergyman, who, It Is to be re
gretted (for his own sake at least) seems to have felt
no delicacy In countenancing an act so dishonorable to
all concerned. But this was not the worst; the governor
even authorized the sheriff and his subordinates to seize
upon the church edifice also, as well as the glebe, and ap-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 257
propriate the same to the exclusive use of the Episcopal
party, who were at this time a small minority of the people
there. This wanton and most Illegal proceeding led to
a series of contentions and litigations, which agitated and
distressed the community for a quarter of a century. " In
deed (says the Rev. Dr. Spencer) many of the principal
people were harassed with severe persecutions, heavy
fines, and long imprisonment, for assuming their just
rights; and others fled out of the province to avoid the
rage of Episcopal cruelty."
In addition to this, the same governor, in 1707, caused
two Presbyterian ministers to be Imprisoned for preach
ing without his license. One of these, the Rev. Francis
McKennle, who had been refused a license by him to
preach In one of the churches of the city, held forth in a
private house In Pearl Street, and also baptized a child,
for which acts he was tried before a civil tribunal and
was compelled, although acquitted by the court, to pay a
heavy amount In costs. It is, however, but charitable
to believe that few of the Episcopal party approved of or
countenanced such acts of Intolerance and persecution.
For In these gross outrages upon religious liberty, the
governor lost his aim, and they served only to Increase
the odium under which he fell, and finally sunk. He
was a bankrupt in reputation and fortune at home, and
as no man took more pains to make himself despised, so
few men were in this respect more entirely successful.
The place made vacant by the removal of Lord Corn
bury* was supplied December 18, 1708, by the appoint-
* Among other curious discoveries made while preparing for the
foundation of the present Trinity Church, New York, in the year 1839,
was a massive silver coflSn plate, in size 16 by 11 inches, bearing the
following inscription:
"Catherine, Lady Viscountess Cornbury, Baroness of Clifton, of

258 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
ment of John, Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurly, whose
administration was rendered extremely brief by his sud
den death on the 6th of May following. The people
had formed high expectations from the change, and the
short experience they had had of his excellency. To ex
press their high respect for his memory, the assembly,
on the loth of June, 1709, ordered £500 to be presented
to his widow, and other tokens of condolence were shown
to the unfortunate lady, bereaved of her natural protector
among strangers, in a distant land. In this unexpected
emergency, the command again fell upon Ingolsby, who
being displaced within a year thereafter, the station was
occupied by Gerardus Beekman, the senior member and
president of the council, till June 10, when the new gov
ernor. Colonel Robert Hunter, arrived, bringing with
him nearly three thousand emigrants from the Palatinate
of Germany. These unhappy Individuals having been
reduced to great Indigence and distress by the perpetual
wars In their own country, solicited in person the charity
of the British Queen, who, it seems, sympathized In their
misfortunes, and contributed to their removal to America.
Many more of the same nation arrived shortly after, and
located In different parts of the country. " The Queen's
liberality (says Smith) was not more beneficial to them
than serviceable to the colony." These respectable people
Leighton Brownswoold, in the County of Warwick, sole surviving
daughter. Heir of Henry Lord Obrian, and the Lady Catherine, his wife;
who was Sole Sister and heir to the most Noble Charles duke of Rich
mond and Lenox, born the 29th day of Jany, in the year 1673. Departed
this life att the city of New-York in America the nth day of August,
1706, in the 34th year of her age."
A sermon was preached at her funeral in Trinity Church, August 13,
1706, by the Rev. John Sharpe, chaplain of the Fort at New York. Lord
Cornbury had three sons, one of whom, Edward Hyde, Baron Clifton,
died February 12, 1712.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 259
were of the Lutheran religion, and by their aid the first
German Lutheran church was erected In New York, on
the spot where Grace Church now stands. It was burned
down In 1776, at the same time with Trinity Church, and
a great many other buddings. The administration of
Colonel Hunter commenced most inauspiciously for him
self, he being almost Immediately involved in a contro
versy with the assembly, to terminate which he put In
exercise the power of prorogation, and dissolved that
body, November 25, 17 10, with the following laconic
speech :
" Gentlemen: — I have waited with great patience, hop
ing that at last some temper might have been found, by
means of which, her Majesty's govemment here might
have found Its necessary support, and some other matters,
earnestly recommended to you by her, might have met
with returns in some measure proportioned to so match
less goodness; but being disappointed in my hopes, the
season far advanced, and many of your members gone
home, I have thought fit to prorogue you to the first day
of March next: and you are prorogued accordingly. —
By which time second thoughts and better acquaintance
may, perhaps, create a better disposition. " Robert Hunter."
It was during his administration that a military expedi
tion was undertaken against the French In Canada, but
it proved abortive, after a very considerable waste of
time and money.
An act was passed November 2, 17 17, for destroying
foxes and wUdcats upon Long Island, which had become
at this time not only numerous, but greatly injurious to
the farmers.

26o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Her Majesty Queen Anne died August 12, 1714, and
was succeeded by George I., of the Royal House of
Brunswick. January 21, 17 19, Govemor Hunter an
nounced that his health and private affairs demanded his
return to Europe, and accordingly he took leave of the
colony on the 31st of July, 1719,* and the Hon. Peter
Schuyler, senior member of the council, entered on the
duties of the executive office, which he performed accept
ably to the people. The Hon. William Burnet arrived
with the commission of governor of New York and New
Jersey, September 17, 1720. He was the eldest son of
the venerable and learned Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of
Sarum, and was born at the Hague, In March, 1688;
being named WiUiam, In compliment to the (then)
Stadtholder, the Prince of Orange, who was his god
father. His means had been entirely dissipated In the
great South-Sea scheme, and the office of governor of
New York was Intended to repair, in some measure, his
ruined fortunes. In the assembly of 1721, and mainly,
as is supposed, through his Influence, a curious bill was
introduced, with the more singular title of "An act against
denying the divinity of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the
doctrine of the blessed Trinity, the truth of the Holy
Scriptures; and spreading atheistical books;" but the

* This gentleman, it has been affirmed, was born in Scotland, and while
a boy was apprenticed to an apothecary; but he left his employer and
entered the army. An education superior to that of common soldiers gave
him his first preferment, and personal beauty and a military dress gained
him the affections of Lady Hay, whom he married. In 1707, he was
conunissioned as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, but being captured
on his passage by a French privateer, was carried back to Europe, and
was afterwards appointed the successor of Governor Lovelace. His
intimacy with Swift, Addison, and other wits of the day, is a proof of
his merits. He was afterwards made governor of Jamaica, where he
died March 31, 1734.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 261
good sense of the assembly led them Immediately to reject
the biU.
On the 17th of June, 1726, an act was passed, entitled,
" An act to prevent the setting on fire or burning the old
grass on Hempstead Plains," which, says the preamble
of the act, " Is frequently set on fire by several of the In
habitants, through folly and the gratification of their
own wanton tempers and humors." Those named In the
bill to aid in extinguishing fires, were James Jackson,
William Cornwell, Nathaniel Seaman, Benjamin Seaman,
Obadlah Valentine, Thomas Williams, Peter Titus, Henry
WIUIs, John Pratt, Nathaniel Townsend, Jeremiah Rob-
bins, Thomas Powell, Samuel Jackson, Thomas Seaman,
John Mott, John Mott, Jr., John Whitson, John Bird-
saU, John Tredwell, Jr., James Burtis, and Caleb Car
man; all of whom were then residents of the town of
Hempstead. Burnet was afterwards appointed governor of Massa
chusetts and New Hampshire, and reached Boston in
July, 1728, where he died the 7th of September, 1729.
During his administration of the govemment of New
York, on the i6th of October, 1725, the first newspaper
in the city, entitled The New York Gazette, was com
menced by William Bradford * (who had been some years
printer to the colony), which was two years before the
death of King George I., which took place June 11, 1727.
Govemor Burnet was possessed of many agreeable quali
ties; his conversation was the delight of Hterary men,
and his library was considered the richest private coUec-
tion at that period In America. There Is no doubt but
•This gentleman was born at Leicestershire, England, in 1660, and
died in New York, May 23, 1752, at the extreme age of ninety-two, and
was interred in the yard of Trinity Church.

262 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
that he was a gentleman of superior talents and attain
ments. His wife. Miss Van Horn of New York, was a
lady of great personal accomplishments, and belonged to
one of the most ancient and respectable famUIes. His
son, William, married Anne, daughter of the Hon. James
De Lancey.
John Montgomery, Esq., was the next governor, and
entered upon his duties, April 14, 1728. He was by birth
a Scotchman, had been bred a soldier, and lately held the
office of groom of the bed-chamber of his Majesty
George II. while Prince of Wales. He was a gentleman
of mild temper, and fond of retirement. Two days after
his arrival the common council of the city presented him
a congratulatory address In a gold box. No very Im
portant acts of a public nature marked his short adminis
tration, and he died, much regretted, July i, 1731, On
his decease the chief command of the province devolved
upon Rip Van Dam, Esq., the oldest of the coundl and
an eminent merchant of the city. He, however, passively
permitted the encroachments of the French, and during
his administration they erected a fort at Crown Point,
commanding Lake Champlain, which was within the ac
knowledged limits of the colony of New York. He re
linquished his post, of course, on the arrival of Colonel
WiUiam Cosby, August i, 1732. This gentleman was
as much distinguished for his folly and Impmdence as
his predecessor was for prudence and good sense, and
soon found himself Involved In difficulties that placed him
In direct collision with the people he was sent to govern.
John Peter Zenger at this time published a weekly
journal in the city. He was a bold and energetic man,
and his taking sides with Van Dam led to an imprison
ment of the printer, caused, as aUeged by his persecutors.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 263
by his extreme insolence and abuse. The trial of Zenger,
for a libel, appears to have been published by himself
soon after. In 1735; entitled, "A Brief Narrative of the
Case and Trial of John Peter Zenger, Printer, of the
New York Weekly Journal for a Libel." In this affair,
the new chief justice, De Lancey, took a very strong part
against the defendant, but with all effort the grand jury
refused to find a bill. The council then Interfered, and
ordered Zenger's newspaper to be burned by the common
hangman. Zenger was arrested, thrown into jail, and
denied pen. Ink, and paper. He was brought to trial upon
an information filed by the attorney general. The ac
cused was assisted by his council, James Alexander and
William Smith, who manifested a laudable firmness and
independence In his defence; in consequence of which an
order was passed by the bench, excluding these gentlemen
from any further practice in the court. The friends of
Zenger secretly procured the services of the venerable
Andrew Hamilton, then about eighty years old, from
Philadelphia, a distinguished barrister of that day, and
occupying the highest rank In his profession. He was an
ardent friend of liberty, and possessed a powerful and
graceful eloquence, which, In connection with his advanced
age, secured him the respect and admiration of those who
differed with him In opinion. His argument upon this
occasion was of the highest order, and proved completely
successful. The trial took place In the supreme court
of New York, August 4, 1735, before Chief Justice De
Lancey, and was managed, on the part of the people, by
Bradley, attorney general of the province. The trial was
a tedious one, and when the cause was submitted to the
jury, they almost instantly returned a verdict of not guilty,
which was received by the populace with shouts of ap-

264 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
plause. Mr. Hamilton was conducted from the hall to a
splendid entertainment, and the whole city renewed the
compliment at his departure next day, he entering a barge
near the fort, under a salute of cannon. The common
council presented him the freedom of the city, in a gold
box, on which the arms of the city were engraved, en
circled by an Inscription In Latin. He had been speaker
of the Pennsylvania Assembly, which he resigned, on
account of age and Infirmities, in 1739, and died In 1741.
" In the administration of Governor Cosby," says the
historian Smith, " there was something to admire and
much to condemn." No govemor commenced his ad
ministration with better prospects and greater popularity,
yet none endeavored less to retain the confidence and re
spect of the people. With high opinions of prerogative,
and being decidedly hostile to free and equal legislation,
he became at length odious to the colony, and was finally
deserted and opposed by many who had been his best
friends. He died the 7th of March, 1736, and the direc
tion of public affairs devolved upon George Clarke, Esq.,
as lieutenant governor, although he was violently opposed
by the personal friends of Rip Van Dam, who, they
thought, as the oldest of the council, was best entitled
to supply the vacancy. But Mr. Clarke was afterwards
confirmed In the office by the commission of the king. It
was during the administration of Governor Clarke that
the act was passed, on the i6th of December, 1737, for
lowering the Interest of money upon loans, to seven per
cent., as the high and excessive usury before taken. It
was said, had been found by experience to be a very great
discouragement of trade. It was also In his time that
the memorable conspiracy was discovered, called the
" Negro Plot," which, it was supposed, had for its object

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 265
the destruction of the city of New York by fire. This was
In the year 1741.
The first fire broke out the i8th of March, In his
Majesty's house, at Fort George, which, with the chapel,
and some other buddings, was consumed. Fires continued
to happen daily, and were at first supposed to be acci
dental, but at length such disclosures and confessions were
made, that prosecutions were set on foot. A number of
people of color were committed to jail as incendiaries,
kept in dungeons for some months, and finally condemned
to be hanged. Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., who died at
Flatbush, September 28, 1778, aged eighty-eight years,
was recorder of the city at the time and pubHshed
an account of the trials In 1744 In which he says,
" many people had such terrible apprehensions on the
subject, that several negroes, some of whom had as
sisted to put out the fires, were met and imprisoned;
and when once there, were continued in confinement,
because the magistrates could not spare time to exam
ine them." During this dreadful consternation, more
than one hundred and fifty negroes were Imprisoned,
of whom eleven were burned, eighteen hanged, seventy-
one transported, and the remainder pardoned, or dis
charged for want of proof. Four white persons were
also hanged either as principals or accessories. At this
gloomy period, the population of the city was twelve
thousand, of whom one-sixth part were slaves ; a strange
comment, surely, upon the professions of those who had
left Europe for the sole purpose of enjoying perfect free
dom in America. Most of the slaves were Africans by
birth, who had been violently torn from their native land
and reduced to servitude. Their spirits were not yet en
tirely subdued; and a race which, at this day. Is remark-

266 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
able for implicit obedience and quiet submission, were at
the time alluded to, rude, boisterous, and vicious, and
had In their number many restless and daring spirits,
whose influence was justly feared by the white population.
The panic occasioned by the first disclosures of a plot
being formed, was very great, and the court Immediately
summoned all the lawyers In the city, to consult upon the
measures most proper to be adopted in such an emer
gency. There were seven of them, besides the attorney
general; namely, Murray, Alexander, Smith, Chambers,
Nicoll, Lodge, and Jamison. Two of these, Alexander
and Smith, notwithstanding their exclusion from the bar
In the case of Zenger, appear to have been restored, as
they took a very active part In the prosecution of the
negroes and others supposed to have been concerned in
the plot.
A jury was allowed in these trials, although, by a law
of the colony, negroes might be tried for any offences in
a summary way; but as the testimony of slaves could only
be used against each other, the unfortunate persons ac
cused were deprived of the benefit of any such evidence.
The prisoners severally and solemnly protested their
Innocence, and called upon God to bear witness thereto.
Governor Clarke, it must be admitted, studied his own
Interest; for he retired from office with a fortune of
£100,000 sterling; surely, no Inconsiderable sum In that
day. He was born near Bath, England, In 1680, of an
ancient family, and In 1703 married Miss Ann Hyde, of
the house of Hyde, in the county Palatine of Chester.
He was sent over here to mend his broken fortunes, dur
ing the reign of Queen Anne, and being a man of genius
and good manners, exerted himself to make friends, and
was successful. One of his daughters married Samuel

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 267
Clowes, a lawyer of some reputation at Jamaica, Long
Island, whose grave may be seen in the Episcopal church
yard of that place, where he was interred by the side of
his father, of the same name.
George Clinton, who had been an admiral of the British
navy, was commissioned governor ; and, arriving Septem
ber 22, 1743, put an end to the administration of Gov
ernor Clarke. He was the son of Francis Clinton, Earl
of Lincoln, of an ancient and honorable family in Somer
setshire, England, and was bred to the sea. His wife was
an heiress of the elder branch of the house of Hyde, in
the county of Chester, and his son, Sir Henry Clinton,
was a commander of the British forces here In 1776.
Governor Clinton was received with great joy by the
people, because they were desirous of a change ; but they
were quite as well pleased to be entirely rid of him a few
years after. He possessed few of the qualities which the
hopes of the community had ascribed to him; was con
stitutionally indolent, and fond of Indulgence in wine,
which, on many occasions, wholly unfitted him to dis
charge, in a proper manner, the responsible duties of his
office. He had. It appears, a private residence at Flush
ing, where he resided a part of the summer. His ad
ministration of ten years was turbulent and unhappy, and
he became Involved in a violent controversy with the as
sembly, to which he was Instigated, it Is believed, by Chief
Justice De Lancey, the ruling demagogue of that period,
to whom, as a man of more experience and ability, the
governor, in great measure, confided the direction of
affairs. The most terrible murders and devastations were
at this time enacted by the French and Indians, upon the
Inhabitants in the neighborhood of Saratoga.
In September, 1746, the governor held a council with

268 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the Six Nations at Albany, for the purpose of securing
their friendly alliance, and thereby counteracting the In
trigues of the French In Canada. It deserves to be noticed
as somewhat remarkable, that notwithstanding the pubHc
discontents, more laws were passed and more valuable
Improvements made In the Internal police of the province,
during the administration of Governor Clinton, than of
any one that had preceded It. He retired from the office
here In 1753, and was afterwards made Governor of
Greenwich Hospital, where he died In 1763. Like most
of his predecessors, he continued, while here, to amass
the peoples' money for himself, taking £80,000 with him
to Europe. His successor was the amiable and much to
be lamented Sir Danvers Osborne, who arrived October
6) I753> ^"d "^^s received, as he deserved to be, with
every demonstration of public respect and rejoicing. This
worthy Individual had lately lost his wife, on whom he
doted with fond affection, and whose death produced. In
a mind like his, great depression of spirits, amounting al
most to melancholy. His friends had hoped that a change
of scene, together with the novelty of the voyage, and the
occupation of a new employment, might help to divert
his attention and dispel the load of grief which weighed
upon his heart. In this expectation his friends were
doomed to be disappointed, for on the fifth day after his
arrival, he committed violence upon himself, and was
found suspended by his handkerchief, from the garden
fence of Mr. Murray, near the place of the present Bowl
ing Green. A paper was found on a table In his bedroom,
upon which was written with his hand : " Quem deus vult
per der e, prius dement at." He had the reputation of be
ing a man of good sense, of great modesty, and of cour
teous behavior. He had once been a member of the Brit-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 269
ish parliament, and the lady whose premature death he so
much lamented was a sister of the Earl of Halifax.
On his decease the administration of affairs fell upon
Chief Justice James De Lancey, the prominent leader of
the former administration, and a man of the most un
scrupulous ambition. He was now (September, 1753)
both chief justice and lieutenant governor, the former of
which offices, he had held for some time; and although
It Is said he was but little versed In jurisprudence when
created a judge, yet, that by exemplary Industry and perse
verance, he became In the end a learned and profound law
yer, and appeared for the time he administered the gov
ernment, to have the confidence of the assembly, while at
the same time he preserved harmony In the province. At
the great congress held at Albany, June 4, 1754, he was
the only person that opposed the plan devised by Dr.
Franklin for a union of the colonies, and which was sub
stantially adopted, July 4, 1754. Although not then put
In operation. It probably formed the germ of that inde
pendence, which twenty-two years after was so happily
accomplished. Mr. De Lancey continued at the head of the govem
ment until the arrival of Admiral Sir Charles Hardy,
September 2, 1755. This gentleman was a distinguished
officer of the British navy, for which he was In all
respects better fitted; and therefore his appointment as
governor here scarcely diminished the power of Mr. De
Lancey, since the governor, being greatly Ignorant of civil
affairs, and entirely unacquainted with the necessities of
the colony, put himself Into his hands, and was guided
mainly by his councils.
It was during this year that preparations were made
for a war in America, between the EngHsh and French.

270 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The governor was promoted to the rank of rear admiral
of the blue, with a command in the projected expedition
against Loulsburgh, and, therefore, left the entire admin
istration of affairs In the hands of Mr. De Lancey. In
July, 1758, the British under Colonel Bradstreet cap
tured Fort Frontenac, besides several armed vessels on
the St. Lawrence. The New York troops consisted of two
detachments; one commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Charles Clinton, containing 440 men, under Captains Og
den of Westchester, Dubois of New York, Bladgley of
Dutchess, and Daniel Wright of Queens; the second was
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Corsa of Queens,
and Major Nathaniel WoodhuU of SuffoUc, with 668
men, under Captain Ellas Hand of Suffolk and Richard
Hewlett of Queens.
The Hon. James De Lancey was found by one of his
children, July 30, 1760, expiring, as he sat in his study,
and was burled with great ceremony next day in the middle
aisle of Trinity Church. He was the son of Stephen, a
French emigrant, and born In 1693. The act of Incorpo
ration of Kings (now Columbia) College was signed by
him in 1754. He possessed the faculty of concUIatlng the
powerful and of intimidating others Into a submission to
his will. His sister Susan married Admiral Sir Peter
Warren, of the British navy. His daughter, Anne, mar
ried the Hon. Thomas Jones, a colonial judge of New
York, and accompanied him to England In 1783. His son,
Oliver De Lancey, was an adjutant general In the British
army and lost a large estate by his loyalty. He died at
Beverly, England, October 27, 1785, aged sixty-eight.
His daughter, Susanna, married Sir WiUiam Draper,
whose fame must be as lasting as the eloquence of Junius.
We append herewith a note of the marriage :

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 271
" By the Honorable
CADWALLADER COLDEN, ESQUIRE,
His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor, and Commander-in-
Chief of the Province of New- York, and the Terri
tories depending thereon in America.
" To any Protestant Minister of the Gospel.
" Whereas, There Is a mutual purpose of marriage be
tween Sir WiUiam Draper, Knight of the Bath, of the
one party, and Miss Susanna De Lancey, daughter of the
Honorable Oliver De Lancey, Esquire, of the other
party, for which they have desired my License, and have
given Bond, upon condition, that neither of them have any
lawful Let, Impediment of Pre-Contract, Affinity, or
Consanguinity, to hinder their being joined In the Holy
Bands of Matrimony : — These are therefore to authorize
and empower you, to join the said Sir William Draper and
Susanna De Lancey In the Holy Bands of Matrimony,
and them to pronounce man and wife.
" Given under my Hand, and the Prerogative Seal of
the Province of New-York, at Fort George, in the City of
New-York, the Tenth day of October, in the Tenth Year
of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third,
by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ire
land, King, Defender of the Faith, &'c., Annoq : Domini,
1770. CADWALLADER COLDEN,"
"By his Honor's Command,
Go. Banyar, D. Sec'ry."
On the back of this license, which is printed with blanks
for names and dates, and at one corner, is written, in a
fair, round hand,
" The within named couple were married by me, Octo.
the iph, 1770. Sam'l Auchmuty."

272 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
On the sudden death of Mr. De Lancey In 1760, the
burden of the administration devolved upon Cadwallader
Colden, Esq., he being the senior member and president
of the council. He soon after received the commission of
lieutenant governor, being then at the age of seventy-three
years. This gentleman, a celebrated physician, botanist,
and astronomer, was a native of Scotland, and graduated
at Edinburgh In 1705. Allured by the fame of Penn's
colony, he came to America In 1708. Governor Hunter
was so well pleased with him that he became his warm
friend, and offered him his patronage If he would come to
New York. He consequently settled here In 17 18, and
was the first person that filled the office of surveyor gen
eral In this colony. On the arrival of Govemor Burnet
he was made one of the council, and rose afterwards io
the head of the board, thus succeeding to the administra
tion of the government In the absence of the governor.
He owned a large tract of land in Orange County, and
afterwards purchased a farm at Flushing in Queen's
County, which he named " Spring Hill," to which he re
tired from the cares and perplexities of office, and where
he died on the 21st of September, 1776.
The death of King George II. occurred October 25,
1760. Mr. Colden was relieved from the duties of the office
for one year, commencing October 26, 1761, by the arrival
of Robert Monkton, Esq., who had been appointed
governor of the province ; but being the next year placed
at the head of an expedition against Martinique, he left
the government again to Mr. Colden, with an agreement,
it Is said, to divide with him the salary and perquisites of
the office.
In 1762 an act was passed for erecting a Hghthouse

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 273
at Sandy Hook, this being the first built in this portion
of the United States.
Sir Henry Moore was commissioned governor of New
York In 1765, at the very time when the attempt was first
made to impose stamp paper upon the people, which gave
rise to a spirit of opposition, and a jealousy of their rulers
that was never afterwards allayed, and ended only In the
final establishment of independence. He, however, man
aged with so much discretion, as to avoid any very con
siderable difficulties till his death, which happened at Fort
George, September 11, 1769, and his body was interred In
the chancel of Trinity Church, New York. The funeral
ceremony took place In the evening, boys carrying lighted
flambeaux and the church being Illuminated. His com
munications to the assembly were characterized by good
sense and brevity; and in enforcing the odious require
ments of the parent country, he did not suffer his zeal
for the crown to urge him Into Indiscreet controversies
with the people among whom he lived, and whose respect
and esteem he appeared anxious to preserve. At the
termination of his administration, the supreme court of
the colony consisted of the following named judges, —
Daniel Horsmanden, chief justice, and David Jones,
WiUiam Smith, and Robert R. Livingston, judges. The
salary of the first was three hundred pounds, and that
of the others two hundred each. On the death of
Sir Henry Moore the duties of lieutenant govemor
again feU upon Mr. Colden, and continued so till the
1 8th of November, 1770; when John, Lord Dunmore,
the new govemor, arrived. He was less avaricious
than some of his predecessors; for when the assem
bly, on the 17th of January, 1771, voted him two
thousand pounds as a salary for the ensuing year, he

274 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
refused it, and returned a message, saying, " that the
king had appointed him a salary out of his treasury,
and he wished this allowance omitted." The object of this
refusal was not so very disinterested as it might at first ap
pear, as it was Intended to keep the governor Independent
of the people, and to raise moneys for the support of the
government by the imposition of taxes upon the colonists.
His lordship finally removed to Virginia, where he was
made governor, and his place was supplied by William
Tryon, Esq., as governor, who arrived the 8th of July,
1771- Governor Dunmore was, in 1775, obliged to abdicate
the govemment of Virginia, and take refuge on board of a
man-of-war. He manifested his resentment, as well as the
badness of his heart, by acting the part of a corsair and
plunderer. He also caused the conflagration of Norfolk,
January i, 1776. In 1786 he was appointed governor of
Bermuda, and died in England in 1809. His wife was
Lady Charlotte Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Gallo
way. Governor Tryon commenced his administration at a
time of great excitement, and It required the greatest de
gree of prudence to steer clear of the most serious difficul
ties with the people. Yet he managed with such dis
cretion as to preserve the good wIU of the Inhabitants tiU
the period when all regular govemment was dissolved in
the elements of revolution. On the 2d of September,
1773, he laid the first stone of the New York Hospital,
which was then far beyond the settled portion of the city.
Before it was completed, an accidental fire consumed the
Interior, and retarded the work for a considerable time.
On the 29th of December, 1773, the governor's house at
the fort (now the Battery) was also destroyed by fire,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 275
himself and wife escaping with great difficulty, while one
of his female servants was burned to death. The great
seal of the province was afterwards raked from the ashes,
entirely uninjured. The governor left the colony AprU 8,
1774, after the honor of a public festival and ball. Ad
dresses of friendship were likewise presented to him from
many public and corporate bodies ; and Kings CoUege, in
which a law professorship (being the second of the kind
within the British dominions) had been established by
him, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor
of Laws.*
Governor Tryon returned once more. In 1775, doubt
less at the instance of the ministry, but did not again meet
the assembly, that body having adjourned, April 3, 1775,
to meet no more.
It is lamentable that a person evidently possessing so
many amiable qualities, and having a reputation for
kindness and humanity, should, from his zeal for mon
archy or resentment towards his opponents, have for
feited so entirely the good opinion of all his American
friends, and incurred all the odium due to the most con
summate villainy, by conduct so atrocious and disgraceful
as he afterwards exhibited. For he almost seemed to
have changed his nature, and to have enjoyed a sort of
demoniac pleasure In burning and plundering villages and
towns, as a means of distressing the inhabitants.
With Governor Tryon terminated the rule of colonial
governors, and with him expired also the name of colony,
•It is somewhat remarkable, that of the first law professorship in
the British dominions at Oxford, Sir William Blackstone should be ap
pointed first professor, and of the second, that established in Kings
College, the first professor should be James Kent, and farther, that each
of these gentlemen should have written a learned and comprehensive
commentary upon the laws of their respective countries, in the same
number of volumes, and of nearly equal importance to both countries.

276 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
and subjects of a foreign power. The territory was or
ganized Into a state, and Its citizens joined heart and
hand with their poHtical brethren of the other provinces,,
in every measure calculated to free them from oppres
sion, and to establish a free and Independent government.
On the 4th of July, 1776, was published, by the repre
sentatives of an enlightened and free people, that Decla
ration which has been, with great propriety, denominated
the Charter of American Liberty. Tryon was continued
as nominal governor under British rule till March, 1780,
when he was succeeded by General James Robertson, who
was followed by Sir Guy Carlton, commander-in-chief of
the British army in America, as the successor of Sir Henry
Clinton. Tryon had been govemor of North Carolina,
from whence he was transferred to New York, 1771,
He died in London, February 27, 1788.
The whole history of the colonial government suffi
ciently demonstrates, that It Is In vain to expect a patriotic
devotion to the public welfare, and the happiness of the
people, from rulers unconnected with the country by the
strong ties of personal feeling, and a kindred Interest In
the prosperity of Its citizens; and that a subserviency to
the crown, and a disregard of the welfare of the country,
are vices which seem to be inherent in the nature of all
colonial governments. At the adoption of the constitu
tion of New York, In 1777, the state was divided Into
fourteen counties, those on Long Island remaining as they
had been established In 1683.*
•The following persons held the office of high sheriff of Long Island,
from 1665 to 1683, when the ridings were abolished, and Yorkshire was
divided into counties as now existing: 1665 to i66g, William Wells;
1669 to 1672, Robert Coe; 1672 to 1675, John Manning; 1675 to 1676,
Sylvester Salisbury; 1676 to 1679, Thomas Willett; 1679 to 1681, Richard
Betts; 1681 to 1683, John Youngs.

Historical Reminiscences of Interesting Circum
stances and Events, Preceding and Attending
THE Occupation of Long Island by the British
During the Revolutionary War.
The permanent establishment of an annual assembly
under the administration of Governor Slaughter In 1691,
may properly be considered as the first regular approach
toward free government In the colony of New York.
The representatives of the people, when assembled,
claimed and exercised the right of being themselves the
exclusive judges of the qualifications and fitness of their
own members; a principle. In their opinion, essential to
the purity and Independence of this branch of the legisla
ture. The executive, it has been seen, possessed large powers,
and sometlriies used them In a selfish and arbitrary man
ner. He could, of his own head, suspend a member of
the council without assigning any cause whatever, and
appoint another In his stead; he had a negative on all
acts passed by the assembly and council; could summon,
prorogue or dissolve the house of representatives at
pleasure; appoint almost all public officers, and by and
with the consent of his council, could establish courts of
justice, dispose of the pubHc lands, and disburse all
moneys raised for the support of government. This pre
rogative of using the people's money at discretion, could
hardly fail of being often and greatly abused, and fre
quent misapplication and embezzlement were the neces-
277

278 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sary consequences. This extraordinary exercise of power
led to an application to Queen Anne In 1706, after which,
authority was given to the assembly for the appointment,
by them, of a treasurer, who should thereafter receive
and disburse, under their authority, all moneys raised for
public purposes. Under this very Important arrangement,
the assembly. In 1709, assumed the general control of the
finances, by making specific appropriations; and in 171 1
resolved to allow of no alteration In revenue bills by the
council, who claimed to have a right over the subject,
saying, "that the power of the council flowed from the
pleasure of the prince, personified by the commission of
the governor, but that the power of the assembly, in rela
tion to taxes, flowed from the choice of the people, who
could not be divested of their money without their con
sent." In 1737 It was resolved to continue the revenue
only for a year, and In answer to the executive who de
manded an indefinite support, they said, " we will not put
it in the power of a governor to misapply them, or con
tinue the revenue for any longer term than one year."
And In 1741, on a renewal of his demand, the assembly
said, " that the course he recommended had formerly been
pursued, and had led to the misapplication and embezzle
ment of the public money; that the practice of providing
public supplies, by annual grants, and the receipt and pay
ment of the public moneys by their own treasurer, with
appropriations to specific purposes, was the only method
to correct the evU." In 1747, the assembly, in reply to
Governor Clinton upon this same matter, said, " we cannot
answer it to our constituents to pass any bill for raising
money on them, and leave it to be disposed of at the will
and pleasure of a governor." This species of altercation
between the executive and assembly, continued to vex the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 279
colony tiU September 24, 1756, when Governor Hardy
informed them, " he had received Instructions, allowing
him to assent to their temporary bills for the support of
government." The difficulties on this subject most un
doubtedly had their origin In the disposition always man
ifested by the mother country, to exercise an unlimited
control over the colony, and a resolute determination in
the people's Immediate representatives, never to submit
to it but by compulsion. The British govemment claim
ing, most absurdly, to have planted and sustained the col
ony In Its Infancy, were not at all willing to relax their
supremacy, now that it had attained a rank In wealth and
power, which enabled its citizens to contribute a share to
her necessities. It was reasonably concluded by the
people, that an almost entire monopoly of the trade and
commerce of the province, was of Itself more than para
mount to anything which England had ever done to ad
vance its interest and prosperity. And it began to be an
opinion entertained by many very Intelligent persons, at
the conclusion of peace In 1763, that the colony was pretty
competent to manage Its own affairs, independently of for
eign dictation, yet they were nevertheless willing, on ac
count of the advantages resulting from a close political
connection with England, to allow her the exclusive right
of regulating foreign trade and navigation. The dispo
sition, on the part of any of the American colonies, to
prescribe limits to the universal supremacy of Britain, led
to the exercise, on her part, of measures so despotic and
unjust, that passive submission or instant resistance be
came the only alternative. The nature and tenure of the
governor's office, made it both his duty and interest to
maintain the policy of the parent government, and to with
hold his assent to aU laws which he thought Infringed

28o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
upon his own or the king's prerogatives, while the assem
bly were equally disposed to maintain what they consid
ered absolutely essential to their own and the people's con
stitutional rights and liberties. This difference in opinion
and practice gave rise to frequent prorogations and dis
solutions, to coerce the assembly, If possible, into com
pliance with the wishes of the executive, or punish a con
tempt of them; and the whole subsequent course of co
lonial administration was a perpetual conflict, sometimes
silent, but constant, between the encroachments of power
on one side, and the spirit of liberty to prevent or defeat
them, on the other. The struggle was, however, produc
tive of one highly Important result; It Induced the people
to Investigate their rights, and to appreciate their intrinsic
value, which led eventually to the assertion and attainment
of their national independence.
The outbreak of the Revolution suspended the admin
istration of Govemor Tryon in October, 1775 ; and until
the adoption of the state constitution in 1777, the civU
affairs of the colony were administered by a provincial
congress or convention, aided and strengthened by town
and county committees, composed of the best and mosi
Intelligent Inhabitants. Patriotism supplied the place of
authority, and gave to the resolutions and recommenda
tions of those bodies the force of law. The sentiment
that taxation and representation were, or ought to be.
Inseparable, was the basis upon which the colonies resisted
the pretensions of England ; and to maintain this cardinal
principle the colonies united, when, on the 4th of July,.
1776, they declared themselves free and Independent
states. The consequences of a long, arduous and bloody con
test were not entirely unforeseen, but could not be

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 281
avoided, and It became an Indispensable duty to prepare
for the worst. The exposed situation of Long Island,
having nearly 300 miles of shore, and vulnerable at nu
merous points, unavoidably occasioned a diversity of
opinion among its Inhabitants, as to the expediency of re
sistance or submission ; It was a straggle between the love
of liberty, and the dread of losing everything, life in
cluded, by an opposition, honestly thought by many to be
hopeless. Motives of personal safety, and the preserva
tion of their property, would necessarily induce many
either to remain Inactive, or join with the ranks of the op
position. Others, and those not Inconsiderable in number,
were desirous for the opportunity of rioting upon the
property of their neighbors, thereby benefiting themselves,
without the liability to punishment. And It so happened
that more frequent and daring outrages, upon persons and
property, were practised by our own citizens, than by
many who had come three thousand miles to force our
submission to the tyranny of a foreign master. The en
gagement of the 27th of August, 1776, was followed by an
abandonment of Long Island to the enemy, and the town
and county committees In many Instances, either through
fear or necessity, were Induced to repudiate all legislative
authority exercised by the provincial and continental con
gresses. The inhabitants who continued on the island were
compelled to subscribe the oath of fidelity to the king.
General Howe had Immediately, on landing at Gravesend,
Issued a proclamation, promising security of person and
property to those who should remain peaceably upon their
farms. This Island became, therefore, at once a con
quered territory, forts being erected, and garrisons estab
Ushed In different places. Martial law prevailed, the
army became a sanctuary for criminals of every grade.

282 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
and means the most despicable were resorted to, for in
creasing the numerical force of the enemy. Those inhab
itants who had theretofore taken an active part as officers
of militia and committee men, deemed It most Imprudent
to remain and consequently took refuge within the Amer
ican lines, leaving the greater part of their property ex
posed to the ravages of an unprincipled foe. The British
commanders were exorbitant and arbitrary In their exac
tions, requiring the more peaceable and unoffending inhab
itants to perform every species of personal service, to
labor upon the forts, to go with their teams on foraging
parties, and to transport cannon, ammunition, provision,
and baggage, from one place to another, at the option of
every petty officer. The enemy took possession of the
best rooms In their houses, and obliged the owners to pro
vide them accommodations and support for men and
horses. The property of those who had fled from their
homes, and especially those engaged in the American
service, was particularly the object of rapine, and in very
many Instances the damages were Immense. Woods and
fences were lavishly used for fuel and In any other way
which served the purposes of those stationed in the neigh
borhood, as well as for the garrisons of Brooklyn and
New York. Churches and places for reHglous worship
were desecrated for any objects which suited the conven
ience of the enemy, except those of the EpiscopaHans,
which were, it seems, scrupulously regarded, doubtless In
pursuance of governmental Instructions, their members
(upon Long Island) being in general In the Interests of
England. When the British army Invaded Long Island in 1776,
many persons who belonged to the Island and had joined
the British forces on Staten Island, landed with the in-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 283
vading army. Those royalists were ordered to wear red
rags In their hats, as badges of friendship, to distinguish
them from the rebels. The red rag men proceeded with
the army in every direction, giving information against
every person whom they disliked, and causing them to be
plundered, Imprisoned and tormented at their pleasure.
Those red rag Informers continued as Instruments of
craelty and terror to the peaceful citizens, whom the
chances of war had placed within their power, until their
wanton acts of baseness brought a few of them into the
clutches of Cunningham the provost marshal, when the
badge was disgraced.
This wretched Individual, so notorious for his unfeel
ing barbarity In the exercise of his office of provost mar
shal in the city of New York while it was in possession of
the enemy, was executed for forgery in London, August
10, 1 79 1. The day preceding the tragical event he wrote
and signed the following confession, quite a curiosity In
the annals of retributive justice :
" I, William Cunningham, was born in Dublin-Bar
racks, In the year 1738. My father was trumpeter In the
Blue Dragoons ; and at the age of eight years I was placed
with an officer as his servant. In which station I continued
until I was sixteen, and being a great proficient In horse
manship, was taken as an assistant to the riding master of
the troop, and in the year 1761 was made sergeant of
dragoons ; but the peace coming the year following, I was
disbanded. Being bred to no profession, I took up with
a woman who kept a gin shop, in a blind alley, near the
Cole Quay; but the house being searched for stolen goods,
and my doxy taken to Newgate, I thought It most pru
dent to decamp ; accordingly I set off for the north, and
arrived at Drogheda, where. In a few months after, I

284 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
married the daughter of an excise-man, by whom I had
three sons.
" About the year 1772, we removed to Newery, where I
commenced the profession of scaw-banker, which Is that
of enticing mechanics and country people to ship them
selves for America, on promise of great advantage, and
then artfully getting an Indenture upon them. In conse
quence of which, on their arrival In America they were
sold, or obliged to serve a term of years for their pas
sage. I embarked at Newery in the ship Needham, for
New York, and arrived at that port the fourth day of
August, 1774, with some indented servants I kidnapped
In Ireland; but they were liberated in New York, on ac
count of the bad usage they received from me during the
passage. In that city I used the profession of breaking
the horses, and teaching ladles and gentlemen to ride;
but, rendering myself obnoxious to the citizens, in their
Infant straggle for freedom, I was obliged to fly on board
the Asia man-of-war, and from thence to Boston, where
my own opposition to the measures pursued by the Ameri
cans, In support of their rights, was the first thing that
recommended me to the notice of General Gage; and
when the war commenced, I was appointed Provost-Mar
shal to the royal army, which placed me In a situation to
wreak my vengeance on the Americans. I shudder to
think of the murders I have been accessory to, both with
and without orders from the government, especially while
In New York, during which time there were more than two
thousand prisoners starved In the different churches, by
stopping their rations, which I sold.
" There were also two hundred and seventy-five Ameri
can prisoners and obnoxious persons executed, out of all
which number there were only about one dozen public
executions, which chiefly consisted of British and Hessian
deserters. The mode for private executions was' thus
conducted: A guard was dispatched from the Provost,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 285
about half-past twelve at night, to the barrack street, and
the neighborhood of the upper barracks, to order the
people to shut their window shutters, and put out their
lights, forbidding them, at the same time, to presume to
look out of their windows and doors on pain of death,
after which the unfortunate prisoners were conducted,
gagged, just behind the upper barracks, and hung without
ceremony, and there burled by the black pioneer of the
Provost. " At the end of the war I returned to England with the
army, and settled in Wales, as being a cheaper place of
living than in any of the populous cities; but being at
length persuaded to go to London, I entered so warmly
into the dissipations of that capital, that I soon found my
circumstances much embarrassed, to relieve which I mort
gaged my half pay to an army agent; but that being soon
expended, I forged a draft for three hundred pounds
sterling on the Board of Ordnance, but being detected In
presenting It for acceptance, I was apprehended, tried
and convicted, and for that offence am here to suffer an
Ignominious death.
" I beg the prayers of all good christians, and also
pardon and forgiveness of God for the many horrid mur
ders I have been accessory to. " Wm. Cunningham."
Shortly after the British army landed on Long Island
in 1776, General Howe ordered that every Inhabitant
who desired favor, should attend at headquarters and
receive a certificate of protection. Many obeyed as
friends, and many from fear; but the greatest number
remained at home. Every one who attended at head
quarters was ordered to mount a red rag In his hat. When
those persons who remained at home found out that there
Tvas magic In a red rag, they all mounted the badge ; ne-

286 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
groes, boys, old and young, wore red rags. These badges
of submission soon produced a scarcity of the needful
article, and then, forsooth, the red petticoats suffered.
Many were torn Into shreds for hat-bands, and those who
wore them were held In derision by the British, and caUed
the petticoat gentry.
Many of the Presbyterian and Dutch churches were
taken possession of without hesitation, some of them being
converted Into apartments for riding schools, store houses,
garrisons, and hospitals, while others, as at Huntington,
Babylon, and Foster's Meadows, were torn down, and
their materials employed In the constractlon of barracks,
stables, and for other purposes.
The tory Inhabitants, whether natives or refugees, were
the constant dread of those on the other side, who had
anything to lose, or who had, by their patriotism, ren
dered themselves obnoxious to their despicable malice.
Even the more Inoffensive, who remained at home with
their suffering families, were often harassed, and perpet
ually exposed to the predatory disposition of the worst
men, and could hardly be said to have anything which
they could call their own. In some instances the lives
of peaceable citizens were sacrificed in the most unpro
voked and wanton manner, disgraceful even to barbarians,
because they would not discover their money and other
valuables to the robbers.
An appaUing instance of this happened In the vlUage of
Jerusalem, when Parmenas Jackson, a wealthy and re
spectable farmer of that place, was robbed and murdered
in the most brutal manner. Lloyd's Neck was then a
British garrison, commanded by Colonel Gabriel G. Lud
low, of Queens County. One of the soldiers stationed
there, named John Degraw, had a sister who lived as a

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 287
servant In the family of Mr. Jackson, and who. It Is sup
posed. Informed her brother of her master's being in
possession of a considerable amount of money. On the
night of the loth of January, 178 1, the family were
aroused by the entrance of Degraw and six other ruffians,
who demanded of Mr. Jackson his money; and upon his
declining their request, began the work of death by cut
ting him In a terrible manner, over his head, arms, &c.
Not obtaining what they wished from him, they com
menced a like Inhuman attack upon Thomas Birdsall, an
aged man, the father-in-law of the former — upon which,
his wife, to save the life of her husband, agreed to point
the robbers to the place of deposit. The money, to the
amount of $3000 in gold and silver, together with divers
articles of apparel and furniture, was carried off. On
their departure, information of the facts was conveyed,
as soon as possible, to the commanding officer at Lloyd's
Neck, who thereupon posted a guard on the only passage
leading to the Neck, when the robbers soon came up
and were secured with their booty. The property was
of course restored to the family, and the villains sent on
shipboard for trial at New York. As the vessel neared
the dock, Elgar, the worst of the gang, sprang overboard
and was drowned. Degraw died In prison, and the others
are said to have been sent to the mines on the Spanish
Main or to Honduras.
Mr. Jackson survived till January 19, 178 1, when he
expired at the age of thirty-seven. His widow subse
quently married James Downing and was the mother of
Coe S. Downing, Esq., of Brooklyn.
Most parts of the Island, and particularly along the
Sound, suffered greatly from depredations of little bands
of piratical plunderers, designated " whaleboat men,"

288 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
from the fact of their craft resembling those used In whal
ing along shore. With these they would make frequent
descents, under cover of night, attack detached houses,
rifle the Inhabitants of their money, plate, and other val
uables, and availing themselves of the speed of their boats,
reach their lurking places among the islands of the Sound,
or upon the main shore, before any effectual means could
bev taken to Intercept them. Indeed, so great was the
apprehension of those sudden attacks, that many of the
Inhabitants had their doors and windows protected by Iron
bars; and It became usual for people to pass the night in
the woods and other secret places, to avoid personal vio
lence. On the 24th of October, 1782, the dwelling owned
by John Burtis, at the head of Cow Bay,^ was attacked
about midnight by a gang of these marauders, who had
first robbed the store of James Burr, a few rods off, and
killed the owner, whose position they ascertained by his
voice, having, by their devices, called him from his bed.
David Jarvis, an apprentice to Mr. Burtis, saw the rob
bers by the light of their own fire, and shot at them from
the windows of the house. Mrs. Burtis, with admirable
courage, employed herself In loading the guns, of which
they had several, while Jarvis fired upon the gang as often
as opportunity offered. They succeeded In beating off the
robbers, with the loss of their leader. Captain Martin,
and the wounding of several others. Indicated by traces of
blood found next day. In their path to the boats. The
dwelling In which this courageous defence was made, is
now the residence of Dr. George B. Purdy. They killed.
May 13, 1783, a young man named Benjamin MltchUI,
son of John MItchiU, upon Cow Neck,^ wholly without
' Now Manhasset Bay. — Editor.
' Now Manhasset Neck. — ^Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 289
provocation, and at the same time cruelly maltreated his
parents. Two years after one of the robbers named Jack
son, who was hanged at St. John, confessed the mur
der of MItchiU. He had. It seems, once lived In the
family and was, of course, well acquainted with the
premises. To recount any considerable proportion of the Insults
and Injuries sustained by the people of Long Island during
the tedious septennial contest, would require more space
than can well be afforded, even were we in possession of
the requisite information on the subject. A few, only, of
a more aggravated character, are found in the public jour
nals of that eventful period, the whIgs of that day having
no press nearer than Dutchess County, while the torles
could boast of a RIvIngton and a Game In the city of New
York, ready at all times to suppress or extenuate the base
conduct of their allies, and to misrepresent and exagger
ate the doings of the whigs.
Brooklyn had a full share of the mUitary operations
during the revolutionary war; and was for a long time
In the possession of the British army. It Is covered with
remains of fortifications, thrown up at different times
by the Americans and English for defence against each
other. In the southern portion of this town was fought
the most sanguinary part of the battle of Long Island,
August 27, 1776. On the retreat of the American army
within their lines, and the attempt of a portion of them
to ford the mill-pond at Gowanus, nearly a whole regiment
of young men from Maryland were cut off.
Many events connected with this battle, and of the rev
olutionary contest, are fast sinking into oblivion, and the
compUer has thought proper to give the following piece
of history, not with an idea that he can Immortalize any

290 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
event which he relates, but with a hope that his efforts
will call forth some nobler pen to do justice to the mem
ories of the almost forgotten heroes of those hard-fought
and arduous contests. In the battle aforesaid, part of the
British army marched down a lane, or road, leading from
the Brush tavern to Gowanus, pursuing the Americans.
Several American riflemen. In order to be more secure,
and the more effectually to succeed in their designs, posted
themselves In the high trees near the road. One of them,
name not known, shot at and killed the English Major
Grant; In this he passed unobserved. Again he loaded
his deadly rifle, and fired; another English officer feU.
Being then discovered, a platoon was ordered to advance
and fire Into the tree; this order was Immediately exe
cuted, and the unfortunate rifleman fell dead to the
ground. After the battle was over, the two British offi
cers were buried In a field near the place, their graves
fenced In with posts and rails, and here their remains
still rest. But, for " an example to the rebels," the
American rifleman was refused the rites of sepulture,
and his body lay exposed on the ground till the flesh was
decayed, and torn off the bones by the fowls of the air.
After a considerable length of time, and during a heavy
gale of wind, a large tree was uprooted; In the cavity
formed thereby, some friend to the Americans, notwith
standing the prohibition of the English, deposited the
soldier's skeleton, to mingle In peace with its kindred
earth. The following miscellaneous selections from old news
papers, journals of the provincial congress, committee of
safety, and other authentic sources, are deemed of suffi
cient Importance to occupy a few pages In this portion
of our history :

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 291
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of East-
Hampton in the county of Suffolk, legally moved by the
Trustees of the town June 19, 1774. Eleazer Miller,
Esq., Moderator.
" I. Voted: That we will to the utmost of our
ability, assist, and In a lawful manner defend the
Immunities of British America; that we will cooperate
with our brethren in this colony. In such measures as shall
from time to time appear to us most proper, and the best
adapted to save us from the burthens we fear, and in a
measure already feel, from the principles adopted by the
British parliament, respecting the town of Boston in par
ticular, and the British colonies in North America In
general. " 2. Voted : That a non-importation agreement through
the colonies is the most likely means to free us from the
present and further troubles.
" 3. Voted : That John Chatfield, Esq., Colonel Abra
ham Gardiner, Burnet Miller, Stephen Hedges, Thomas
WIckham, Esq., John Gardiner, Esq., and Capt. David
Mulford, be a standing committee for keeping up a corre
spondence with the city of New York, and the towns of
this colony, and If there is occasion, with other colonies ;
and that they transmit a copy of these votes to the com
mittee of correspondence for the city of New York.
Voted unanimously, not one contrary vote.
" Burnet Miller, Town Clerk."
"July 14, 1775. — The N. Y. Committee of Safety
stated to John Sloss Hobart, Esq., that they had informa
tion of the shipping of provisions by George Youngs and
his son, of Huntington, and by Capt. Brush and one
Conklin, In such manner as they must Inevitably serve to
supply Gen. Gage's fleet and army at Boston."
" At a town meeting, held In Smithtown, August 9th,
1774, it was resolved, and we do fully declare ourselves
ready to enter Into any public measures that shall be

292 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
agreed upon by a general congress; and that Solomon
Smith, Daniel Smith, and Thomas Tredwell be a com
mittee for said town, to act In conjunction with committees
of the other towns In this county, to correspond with the
committee of New York; and the said committee Is fully
empowered to choose a delegate to represent this county
at the general congress; and that said committee do all
that shall be necessary In defence of our just rights and
liberties against the unconstitutional acts of the British
ministry and parliament, until another committee be ap
pointed." " July 22d, 1775. — ^Thomas WIckham, member of the
provincial congress from Suffolk, produced a certificate
from John Chatfield of East Hampton, showing that
every male Inhabitant of the town, capable of bearing
arms, had joined an association for resisting the measures
of Great Britain; and on the 5th July following, the
people of that town represent to congress, that they have
not less than 2000 cattle, and 3 or 4000 sheep on Mon
tauk, exposed to the enemy, and requesting that troops
should be stationed there for protection,"
" Congress August 5, 1775, permitted John Foster, of
South Hampton, to ship a cargo of live stock to the West
Indies, to be exchanged for military stores."
"Aug. gth, IJTS- — Congress Is Informed by Mr. Robert
Hempstead, of Southold, that thirteen sail, eight of which
are supposed to be ships of war, were seen cruising be
tween Montauk and Fisher's Island, and finally anchored
off Oyster Ponds. He states that the people there are
destitute of powder, and prays that measures may be
taken to afford them a supply."
"Aug. nth, 1775. — Congress are informed by letter,
dated the 3d, from Thomas Helme of Brookhaven, chair
man of the committee of safety of that town, that Parson
James Lyon, Benjamin Floyd, Doctor Gilbert Smith, Jo
seph Denton, Richard Floyd and John Baylis, Inn-keeper,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 293
had, from the beginning, taken every method in their
power to seduce the ignorant, and counteract every
measure recommended for the redress of grievances;
damning all congresses and committees, and wishing them
In hell. They had also been suspected of furnishing the
vessels of the enemy with provisions."
"Aug. i8th, iTJS- — Congress recommends the re
moval of the cattle and sheep, from Gardiner's and Plumb
Islands, and about this time General Gage's fleet and
army took from Gardiner's and Fisher's Islands, 86
cattle, and between 2 and 3000 sheep."
"Aug. 22d, 1775. — William Smith, Esq., chairman of
the Suffolk county committee (met for the purpose of
concerted measures to remove the stock from Gardiner's
and Plumb Islands) In his letter of that date says, an
officer of the ministerial fleet Col. Abijah Willard in
formed Col. Gardiner that they should come again with
a force sufficient to take the stock from Long Island, that
there were three cutters at the east end of the Island
cruising, and the stock there in danger of falling into the
hands of the enemy."
"Aug. ijth, 1775. — General Wooster, writing from
Oyster Ponds, '^ recommends to the provincial congress, to
keep a good guard over Queens county, as he supposed
the enemy designed to get stock from that part of the
island." "Sept. 14, 1775. — Letter written to congress by Rich
ard WoodhuU and Samuel Thompson of Brookhaven,
asking Instructions In relation to the mode of appointing
the non-commissioned officers in the militia."
The Inhabitants of Queens County had carried their
opposition to the revolution so far, as to refuse to send
deputies to the provincial congress, and declared them
selves neutral in the struggle; It had therefore become
'Now Orient. — ^Editor.

294 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
necessary to disarm them, and at the same time to arrest
the most odious. Arms were indeed so scarce that con
gress was justified In taking those in the hands of torles,
that they might be used in aid of, instead of hostUIty to,
independence. An officer sent on this business writes to the Committee
of Safety September 25, 1775, as follows:
" I have endeavored. In the towns of Jamaica and
Hempstead, to carry the resolutions of congress Into ef
fect, but without the assistance of a battaUon, I shall not
be able to do It. The people conceal all their arms that
are of any value. Many declare they will sooner lose
their lives than give up their arms, and that they would
blow any man's brains out who should attempt to take
them away. Some persons are so hardy and daring as
to go into the houses of those who are friendly, and take
away their arms by force, which they have received from
the clerk of the county. That Gov. Colden sent his
servant around to some of the leading people advising
them to arm and defend themselves. That Capt. Hew
lett of Hempstead said he had his company together on
the Monday before, and that had the battalion appeared,
they should have warmed their sides. Whereupon the
committee appointed Samuel Verplank, Thomas Smith,
David Clarkson, John Vanderbllt and Benjamin KIssam,
to proceed to Queens County, and use every pradent
measure to collect arms in said county ; also to report the
names of such as oppose the measures of the Continental
or provincial congresses, or the Committee of Safety of
the county."
It should be remarked that In all cases where arms
were taken from the torles, they were appraised and paid
for out of the treasury of the colony.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 295
A letter is received by the provincial congress, Oc
tober 12, 1775, from the committee of Great Neck, and
Cow Neck, in Queens County, consisting of Daniel Kis
sam, Henry Stocker, William Thorne, Benjamin Sands,
William Cornwell, John Cornwell, John Mitchill, Sen
ator John Burtis, Simon Sands, Martin Schenck, Daniel
W. Kissam, Peter Onderdonck, Adrian Onderdonck, and
Thomas Dodge, complaining that they shall be unable
to pursue proper measures for their common safety, while
considered as part of the township of Hempstead, and
therefore they resolved no further to be considered a
part of that township, during the pending controversy,
than is consistent with peace, liberty, and safety, but
to consider themselves as an entire, separate, and inde
pendent beat or district, so long as the general con
duct of the people of Hempstead is Inimical to free
dom. At a meeting of the several committees of the first
regiment of Suffolk County, held at Smithtown, October
24, 1775, of which William Smith was chairman, the
following persons were present :
Jesse Brush, Thomas Wicks, Gilbert Potter, Stephen
Kelsey, John Squires, Stephen Ketcham, Timothy
Ketcham, Henry Scudder, Thomas Brush, Jun., Israel
Wood, and Ebenezer Piatt, of Huntington; — Daniel Til-
lotson, Thomas TredweU, Jeffrey Smith, Phlletus Smith,
Job Smith, Jacob MIUs, Edmund Smith, Jun., Epenetus
Smith, and Samuel PhiUips of Smithtown; WiUiam Smith,
and Jonah Hulse, of St. George's Manor; Josiah Smith,
of Moriches; Samuel Thompson, WUHam Brewster, John
WoodhuU, Daniel Roe, Noah Hallock, Jonathan Baker,
and Richard WoodhuU, of Brookhaven.

296 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The committee, among other matters transacted at this
meeting, elected the said Jeffrey Smith, first major, and
Jesse Brush, second major.
In a New York newspaper of January 27, 1776, Is the
following article :
" On Tuesday last, 700 Jersey militia and 300 of the
Jersey regulars, under Col. Heard, entered Queens
county to disarm those who opposed American liberty;
and although they have repeatedly declared their resolu
tion of defending their arms at the risk of their lives, yet
such Is the badness of their cause, (which no doubt
rendered them cowards,) that they were disarmed with
out opposition ; and the generality of them have sworn to
abide by the measures of the congress. Two young men
brought seventeen prisoners Into Hempstead with their
arms; and a boy of twelve years of age demanded a pair
of pistols of a man who had threatened to shoot the first
person that attempted to disarm him, but with fear and
trembling delivered his pistols to the boy, who brought
them away In triumph."
In provincial congress, February 19, 1776:
" The petition of William Cock and Thomas Cock of
Oyster Bay, In Queens county, was read and filed, in the
words following, to wit : — ' The petition of William and
Thomas Cock humbly sheweth, that we, your petitioners,
are Inhabitants of said county, and that at the last elec
tion of deputies for the provincial congress we opposed
the election of deputies for said county; since which
we are convinced of our error, and think It was abso
lutely necessary that there should be a representation of
said county. And your petitioners did not oppose the
choice of said deputies from any desire or Inclination of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 297
Injuring this country, but owing entirely to error of judg
ment. And your petitioners are ready to obey all orders
and recommendations of the continental and provincial
congresses. Your petitioners therefore desire that your
honorable body will take our case into consideration, and
grant us such relief In the premises as to you shall seem
meet. (Signed)
' William Cock,
' Thomas Cock.'
" On hearing the said petition read, and upon due con
sideration thereof, and considering that any former re
solves of this congress against the delinquents of Queens
county were only Intended to convince them of their error,
and bring them to a just sense of their duty to the public :
Ordered, that the said petitioners be restored to the state
and condition In which they were before the passing of
the said resolves, during their good behavior. A true
copy from the minutes. " Robert Benson, Secretary."
"Feb. 9, 1776. — Letter received from Isaac Thomp
son, chairman of the Islip committee, stating that Benajah
Strong had been chosen captain, Jeremiah Terry, and
Samuel Oakley, first and second lieutenants, and Annin
Mowbray, ensign ; and desiring that commissions might be
sent to those gentlemen."
A list of the officers of the minute men, approved and
chosen by the Suffolk County committee, in the winter of
1775-76. Commissions issued, dated Fehuary 20, 1776.
Josiah Smith, colonel. Officers of the Artillery.
John Hulbert, second colonel. William Rogers, captain.
Isaac Reeve, first major. John Franks, captain lieutenant.
Jonathan Baker, second major. Jeremiah Rogers, first lieutenant.
Isaac Overton, adjutant. Thomas Baker, second lieutenant.
Ebenezer Dayton, quarter master. John Tuthill, lieutenant fire worker.

298 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
"Letter, Feb. 15th, 1776, from Doctor Samuel
Thompson,^ of Brookhaven, by order of the committee of
Suffolk county, inclosing drafts of Setauket and Stony
Brook harbors, made by himself. Including also a descrip
tion of the beaches and lands between tbem, with their
length and distances. He then proceeds to recommend
the erection of a small fort, on the beach, running off
from Mount Misery Point, with six or eight guns, some
of which should be nine or twelve pounders ; and at Stony
Brook, two six or nine pounders, placed on the high bank,
overlooking the harbor. He concludes by expressing a
wish that a capable gunsmith should be sent to them."
" A map of the east end of Long Island Is also com
municated by Thomas Youngs, chairman of the committee
at Sag Harbor."
"March 4, 1776. — ^A resolution passed the provincial
congress directing the committees of East and South
Hampton to station suitable persons, at proper places for
observing the approach of a fleet — the British army be
ing then about to leave Boston, as was supposed."
"March 6, 1776. — Maj. Gen'l Lee Informs congress
that he had ordered Col. Ward to secure the whole body
of torles in Long Island, saying, that when the enemy
Is at our doors, forms must be dispensed with."
" A letter Is received from Thomas Wicks, chairman
of the Huntington committee, communicating the InteUi
gence that a fleet of thirty square-rigged vessels had been
seen In the Sound."
" Letter received, dated AprU 10, 1776, from the Rev.
Samuel Buell of Easthampton, stating that a fleet had
been discovered, supposed to be Wallls's fleet, and solicit
ing that a regiment or two should be stationed at the east
end of the Island."
"May 10, 1776. — Henry Dawklns, Isaac Ketcham,
* Father of the author of this work. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 299
Isaac Youngs, Townsend Hewlett, and Israel Youngs
were apprehended in Huntington, upon a charge of
counterfeiting the provincial currency, and of which they
were subsequently convicted and imprisoned."
"May 20, 1776. — Richard Hewlett, Stephen Hewlett,
Thomas Cornwell, James Smith, and Isaac Denton, of
Hempstead, reported as active and bitter enemies to the
country, the last of whom had been detected, with his ves
sel In the South Bay, supplying the British with pro
visions." "May 27, 1776. — A letter was received from John
Lawrence, chairman of the committee of Newtown, stat
ing that John Moore, junr. had been complained of for
Insulting the united colonies, by hoisting a large flag on
his ground. In imitation of a king's standard, and that
he had been apprehended and would be sent to them,
under the care of Captain Abraham Remsen, for further
examination, together with the flag."
The provincial convention had on the loth of August,
1776, received " information that the Inhabitants of
Kings County had determined not to oppose the enemy;
whereupon, a committee was appointed to repair there,
and If such was the fact, to secure the disaffected, to
remove or destroy the stock of grain, and, if they should
judge necessary, to lay the whole country waste." This
committee consisted of William Duer, Colonel Remsen,
Mr. Hobart and Colonel DeWitt.
"Aug. 24, 1776. — In provincial convention, ordered,
that Brig. Gen. WoodhuU, or In his absence Lieut. Col.
Potter, march without delay one half the western regi
ment of Suffolk county, with five days' provision, into the
westem parts of Queens county; that the officers of
Queens order out their whole militia, with their troop

300 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
of horse, and use all possible diligence to prevent the
stock and other provisions, falling Into the hands of the
enemy, by removing or killing them. That all the horses,
horned cattle, and sheep, south of the ridge, be forth
with removed to the east of Hempstead Plains, and the
people were In like manner requested to remove their
grain to such places, that it might be burnt if necessary,
without endangering buildings."
"Sept. II, 1776. — Brig. Gen. Oliver Delancey, then
at Jamaica, in pursuance of an order from his excellency,
Gen. Howe, directed all the fat cattle and sheep in Suf
folk county, to be drove to that place, where the owners
would receive certificates of their weight and be paid for
them, except such as belonged to those who were in actual
rebellion, which must be forced from them.
" This same officer, a few days previous, issued a proc
lamation from Jamaica, in which he stated that he was
authorized to raise a brigade of provincials, solely for
the defence of Long Island, and promising that any per
sons of good character, raising a company of seventy men,
should have commissions, and they and their men be paid,
as other officers and soldiers in British pay."
After the disastrous defeat of our army at Brook
lyn, August 27, 1776, Long Island fell Into the hands
of the British. Thereupon the following address was
presented to Governor Tryon, by the people of Queens
County, October 21, 1776:
" To his Excellency, Wm. Tryon, Esq., Capt. General,
and Governor of the Province of New York, and the
territories thereon depending, in America; Chancellor
and Vice-Admlral of the same, &c., &c., &c. :
" Mayit please your Excellency : — We, the freeholders
and Inhabitants of Queens county, are happy once again

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 301
to address your Excellency in the capital of the Province.
We heartily congratulate you on your return which we
consider as the earnest of farther success, and hope ere
long the whole province will feel the blessing of your
Excellency's upright administration.
"Anxiously do we look forward to the time, when the
disobedient shall return to their duty, and the ravages
of war cease to desolate this once flourishing country.
That we may be restored to the King's most gracious pro
tection, torn from us by the hand of violence ; and quicken
others by our example to embrace the repeated invita
tions of his Majesty's commissioners, we have resolved
on and subscribed a dutiful representation and petition,
setting forth to them our loyal disposition, and praying
that the country be declared at the King's peace.
" We entreat your Excellency to present our petition ;
and rely on your known humanity and benevolence for
the exertion of your Influence in behalf of the well af
fected county of Queens, that It may again In the bosom
of peace enjoy the royal favor under your Excellency's
patemal care and attention.
"Signed by desire of, and in behalf of 1294 free
holders and inhabitants, by David Colden."
The Governor's Answer
"New York, Nov. 12, 1776.
"Sir: " In compHance with the request In the address pre
sented to me by you. In behalf of the inhabitants of
Queens county, I immediately after my return from head
quarters waited on Lord Howe, one of the King's com
missioners for restoring peace to his Majesty's colonies,
and presented to his Lordship the very dutiful and loyal
petition and representation of the said Inhabitants, who

302 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
was pleased to say, ' He would take the earliest oppor
tunity of communicating with Gen. Howe on the oc
casion.' " This public testimony from the inhabitants of Queens
county, of their unshaken loyalty to our most gracious
sovereign, and of their zealous attachment to the British
constitution. Is particularly agreeable to me, and entitles
them to my best endeavors for a speedy accomplishment
of their wishes; the season and the expediency of the
granting whereof are safely and happily committed to the
wisdom and direction of his Majesty's commissioners.
" I am, with regard. Sir,
" Your most obedient servant,
" Wm. Tryon.
" David Colden, Esq., of Queens Co."
Contributed by the Editor
" Like addresses were also presented from Suffolk and
Kings counties. In connection with these addresses It Is
well to remember that over the most part of Long Island
they recited the opinions of a small minority. Kings
County, it is true, was more tory than patriot, owing
to the stoHd temperament of the Dutch who were loath
to change existing conditions, even though new and
patriotic Ideas gave promise of better times and freedom
from taxation in the future. But Kings In those days
was no more populous than any other part of the island
and no undue importance should be given to its opinions.
" On the other hand two-thirds of the Island was pa
triotic, which included all of the large and important
County of Suffolk and parts of Queens notably the
northern part, In which lay the settlements of Oyster Bay,
Great Neck, and Cow Neck (now Manhasset). These
places went on record as being opposed to the pro-British
sentiments of the towns of Hempstead and Jamaica."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 303
"Aug. 14, 1776. — ^The convention orders Elizabeth
Hicks, of Rockaway, to be confined in the jail of Queens
county, until she should disclose from whence she received
a certain letter, which had passed through her hands to
the sheriff of said county."
Extract of a letter from Governor Tryon to Lord
George Germaine, December 24, 1776:
" On the I Gth instant I reviewed the militia of Queens
county, at Hempstead, when eight hundred and twenty
men were mustered; and on Thursday following, I saw
the Suffolk militia at Brookhaven, where eight hundred
men appeared; to all of whom, as well as to the militia of
Queens county, I had In my presence an oath of allegiance
and fidelity administered. A very large majority of the
Inhabitants of Queens county have Indeed steadfastly
maintained their loyal principles, as have small districts
in Suffolk county. Three companies, I learned, had been
raised out of Suffolk county for the rebel army, most of
whom, I was made to understand, would quit the service
If they could get home. While on Long Island, I gave
certificates to near three thousand men, who signed the
declaration presented by the king's commissioner's proc
lamation of the 30th of November last. Large bodies
of the people have already taken the benefit of the grace
therein offered them."Contributed by the Editor
" It is perhaps unnecessary to state that the conditions
described in this letter were utterly false, nor can any
other recital of them be expected from such a character
as Tryon later proved himself to be. The extract is
Inserted more as a curiosity than from any Idea that It
represented true conditions."

304 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
In retaliation for the burning of Danbury and Ridge-
field In Connecticut, by General Tryon and the wretches
under his command, April 26, 1777, (in which affair
Generals Wooster, Silllman, and Arnold acted with great
bravery, the former being mortally wounded and the
latter having his horse shot under him,) a few soldiers
from New Haven went on a predatory excursion to Long
Island. A quantity of provisions had been collected at
Sag Harbor by the British forces stationed there, to
destroy which was the object of this expedition. The
enterprise was one of the most spirited and successful
of that eventful period.
General Parsons conceived it possible to surprise the
place, and confided the execution of the project to Lieu
tenant Colonel Meigs, who, accordingly, embarked from
New Haven, May 21, 1777, with two hundred and
thirty-four men In thirteen whaleboats. He proceeded
directly to Guilford but, on account of the roughness of
the sea, could not cross the Sound till the 23rd; on
which day, at one o'clock In the afternoon, he left Guil
ford with one hundred and seventy men, under the con
voy of two armed sloops, and arrived at Southold about
six o'clock. The enemy's troops on this part of the Island
had marched for New York two or three days before,
but It was reported that there was a party at Sag Harbor
on the south branch of the Island about fifteen miles dis
tant. Colonel Meigs ordered the whaleboats to be trans
ported over the land to the bay, between the north and
south branches of the Island, where one hundred and
thirty men embarked, and at twelve o'clock at night ar
rived safely on the other side of the bay within four miles
of Sag Harbor. Here the boats were secured In a wood,
under a guard, and the remainder of the detachment

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 305
marched quickly to the harbor, where they arrived at
two o'clock In the morning. In the greatest order, attack
ing the outpost with fixed bayonets, and proceeding di
rectly to the shipping at the wharf, which they found un
prepared for defence. The alarm was given, and an
armed schooner with twelve guns and seventy men began
to fire upon them at the distance of one hundred and fifty
yards. This fire continued three-quarters of an hour, but
did not prevent the troops from executing their design
with the greatest Intrepidity and effect. Twelve brigs and
sloops, one of which was an armed vessel of twelve guns,
and one hundred and twenty tons of hay, com,
oats, ten hogsheads of rum, and a large quantity of
merchandise, were entirely destroyed. Six of the enemy
were killed and ninety taken prisoners. Not one of Colo
nel Melg's men was either killed or wounded. He re
turned to Guilford at two o'clock in the afternoon, having
been absent only twenty-five hours; and In that time had
transported his troops by land and water full ninety miles,
and completed his undertaking with the most entire suc
cess. On the report of this matter to the commander-in-
chief, he addressed the following letter to General Par
sons: "Head-quarters, MIddlebrook, May 29th, 1777.
Dear Sir : — I am just now favored with your letter of tbe
25th by Major Humphrey. The Intelligence communi
cated by it is truly Interesting and agreeable. And now
I shall take occasion not only to give you my hearty ap
probation of your conduct In planning the expedition to
Long Island, but to retum my sincere thanks to Lieu
tenant Col. Meigs, and aU the officers and men engaged
In It. This enterprise, so fortunate In the execution, will
greatly distress the enemy in the important and essential

3o6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
article of forage, and reflects much honor upon those who
performed It. I shall ever be happy to reward merit when
in my power, and therefore wish you to inquire for a
vacant ensigncy In some of the regiments for Sergeant
Gennings, to which you will promote him, advising me
of the same and the time. I am. Sir, &c.
" G. Washington."
The successful result of this expedition was considered
at the time of such Importance, and the conductor of It
so deserving of high approbation, that congress forth
with directed a sword to be presented to Colonel Meigs,
as a manifestation of their sense of the prudence, activity,
enterprise, and valor with which the undertaking had
been executed, and the commander-in-chief published the
affair with expressions of his applause in general orders.
Contributed by the Editor.
" In 1902 a granite monument was erected at Sag
Harbor, in commemoration of this successful expedition,
with the following inscription — ' A British fort near this
spot was captured by the Americans under Lieutenant
Colonel Meigs at the Battle of Sag Harbor, May 23,
1777.' A son of Lieutenant Colonel Return Jonathan
Meigs, the hero of this engagement was afterwards
chosen Postmaster General by President Madison, and
as such, appointed the author of this history Postmaster
of his native village of Setauket in the spring of 18 16."
Brookhaven, as well as other towns, was the scene of
some Interesting events, and no Inconsiderable number of
robberies and other acts of violence were perpetrated by
the enemy, the torles being distinguished in particular
for abusing all who preferred the good of their country
In the pending contest.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 307
In the early part of 1777, a body of tory troops, under
the command of Colonel Richard Hewlett,* of Hemp
stead, took possession, as was the common practice with
the royal forces, of the Presbyterian church at Setauket,
and converted it into a garrison, by surrounding it with a
picket and other means of defence. Large guns were
fixed so as to be discharged from the upper windows ; the
burying ground was also occupied, the monuments thrown
down, and most of the graves leveled with the earth.
For the purpose of capturing the force encamped here.
Colonel Parsons, with 150 picked men, embarked on the
14th of August, 1777, from Black Rock, Conn., in a sloop
and sue whaleboats, with a competent number of muskets
and a brass six-pounder. They landed before daybreak
next morning, at Crane Neck Bend, about three miles
from Setauket, and leaving their boats with a sufficient
guard, marched as quietly as possible to a place in the
neighborhood of the garrison. A flag of trace was imme
diately despatched to the commander, demanding an in
stant surrender to them, which being promptly refused,
the firing commenced on both sides, and was continued for
some time with great spirit, but without doing much In
jury to either side. News having now arrived from the
•This person, born in 1729, was a respectable farmer in the town of
Hempstead, L. I., and was captain of a company of volunteers in the
French war, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Corsa, and aided in
producing the surrender of Fort Frontenac in August, 1758. In the
war of the Revolution he was a warm and devoted loyalist, and became
so conspicuous for his opposition that the Congress resolved to show
him no quarter; and he was guilty of so many acts of severity toward
the Whigs that he found it necessary to leave the country in 1783. He
settled with his wife and one son at St. John, New Brunswick, where he
died July 26, 1789, after which his widow came back to Hempstead
and died at the age of eighty-five years, September 17, 1819. ^ His son
Thomas was taken a prisoner (by a force from Connecticut) with Judge
Jones as hereafter mentioned, and was shortly after killed in an engage
ment with the Americans at the South.

308 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
boats, that several British ships had been discovered com
ing down the Sound, by which the company might be
intercepted on their return If delayed too long. Colonel
Parsons prudently ordered his men to repair forthwith to
the place of their debarkation, and the whole party ar
rived safely at Black Rock the same evening, with a few
of the enemy's horses, and a quantity of military stores.
The persons engaged in this affair were volunteers from
Colonel Webb's regiment, among whom were the late
Captain Caleb Brewster, a native of Setauket, and Mr.
(now Rev.) Zachariah Greene, the present minister of
the Presbyterian church at that place, where he was In
stalled pastor In about twenty years from the time he thus
aided In an attempt to rescue the church from the posses
sion of the enemy — a circumstance in Itself somewhat
extraordinary and entirely unexpected. Mr. Greene Is
now in his ninetieth year.
" Mr. Greene was the father-in-law of the author.
For further particulars of him see biography of Thomp
son." Editor.
" N. Y. Gazette, March 31, 1777. — On Thursday
last, Thomas WiUet, sheriff of Queens county, ac
companied by a number of gentlemen, waited upon his
excellency Governor Tryon, with an address expressive
of their warm attachment, and regret at his leaving the
country; hoping he may be restored to health, and again
return to govern a loyal and grateful people in dignity
and happiness. To which his excellency made a respect
ful answer ; as he did also to addresses from the ministers,
elders and deacons of the Reformed Dutch Church, and
the rector and inhabitants of the Church of England In
New York."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 309
"Same, Sept. i, 1777. — 'Whereas, I, Benjamin Car
penter, of Jamaica, butcher, did, on the 2 2d of August
last, violently assault and beat Joseph French, Esq., one
of his Majesty's justices for Queens county, at a time
when his hands were held, and did otherwise greatly
abuse him In the execution of his office ; I do therefore In
this public manner declare, that I am sorry for what has
happened, and most humbly beg forgiveness. I do fur
ther declare, that I will of my own accord, cause this my
acknowledgment to be Inserted for two weeks succes
sively, in the public newspapers of the city of New York;
that I will, at the head of each company of militia of
said county, at their next muster, read this my acknowl
edgment; and I will Immediately pay Into the hands of the
churchwardens of the town of Jamaica, the sum of five
pounds currency, for the use of the poor of said town.
' Benjamin Carpenter.' "
"New York Gazette, February 16, 1778. — ^At 2
o'clock last Thursday morning, a party of twelve rebels
seized at Coram, In Suffolk county, two wagons loaded
with dry goods, the property of Obadlah Wright of
Southampton. These marauders had been several days
on the island, visited most parts, and committed many
robberies, especially at the house of Col. Floyd, Setauket,
which they robbed of goods and cash to a considerable
amount, also the communion plate presented by Queen
Anne to Caroline Church, Setauket; and took some prop
erty of Mr. Dunbar, who rides down the island occasion
ally, and happened to lodge In the house that night."
"New York Mercury, March 10, 1778. — Moses
Sawyer, who formerly lived at Shelter Island, came over
from the main a few days since, and robbed the farm of
WiUiam Nicoll, Esq., at said island, of no bushels of
wheat; and carried off grain belonging to Thomas
Der ing."
"April 16, 1778. — Last Saturday night fifteen men of

3IO HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Col. Melg's regiment, under Lieut. Lay, crossed from
Horse Neck to Long Island, and cut two sloops out of
Hempstead Harbor, bound to New York. One was
deeply laden with wood, the other with vegetables, which
they brought safe to Horse Neck and unloaded."
" Rivington's Gazette, July 3, 1779. — On Tuesday last
a party of refugees from Long Island crossed to West
chester and brought off with the assistance of the guard
ship below City Island, 50 milch cows, 12 horses and 150
sheep, which they drove to Jamaica Plains."
In 1779 Major-General SlUIman was appointed by the
governor and council of Connecticut, superintendent of
the coast of Fairfield. In the month of May, Sir Henry
Clinton directed a small company of refugees to cross the
Sound In a whaleboat from Lloyd's Neck, and. If possible,
to take him prisoner. One of them was an Inhabitant
of Newtown, Conn., named Glover, a carpenter who had
previously been In the employ of the general, and having
been some time at the house, was perfectly acquainted
with the safest and easiest modes of access to it. The
crew consisted of nine — one was left In the boat, and eight
came to the house about midnight. The family were
awakened by a violent assault upon the door. The gen
eral sprang from bed, raised a musket and approached
the door. As he passed by the window, he saw the nien,
and at once comprehended their design. He attempted
to fire, but his musket only flashed. At that Instant the
assailants broke through the window and seized him, ex
claiming that he was their prisoner, and that he must go
with them. At his request they permitted him to dress,
and having plundered him of a fusee, a pair of pistols, a
sword, and a few other articles of small value, proceeded
with expedition to the shore, which they reached about

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 311
two o'clock, and Immediately embarked for Long Island.
As they approached the shore of Lloyd's Neck, Colonel
Simcoe, the commanding officer, who was waiting for
them, exclaimed, " Have you got him? " They answered,
"Yes." " Have you lost any men? " " No." " That Is
well, your SlUimans are not worth a man, nor your Wash-
ingtons." General SlUiman's eldest son was taken with
him. The prisoners were ordered to the guard-house.
The general asked whether this was the manner
they treated prisoners of his rank. The adjutant
replied, " We do not consider you in the same light
as we should a continental general." " How, then,"
said the general, " wIU you view me when an
exchange shall be proposed? " " I understand you," said
the officer, and withdrew. These questions, probably,
saved the general from the indignity of being confined in
a guard-house. Soon after, he and his son were conducted
In a carriage to New York under an escort of dragoons
and on his arrival a large body of people assembled to
see him. A friend advised him to withdraw to avoid In
sult, and very kindly conducted him to good lodgings.
Here he remained for some time, when he was ordered
to Flatbush. At that time there was no prisoner in the
possession of the Americans whom the British would
accept for the general, and after some consideration It
was determined to procure one. The person selected was
the Hon. Thomas Jones of Fort Neck, Long Island, a
justice of the supreme court of the province of New York;
and Captain Daniel Hawley of Newfield (now Bridge
port) undertook to accomplish the design. On the 4th
of November, 1779, about twenty-five volunteers, under
the command of Captains Hawley, Lockwood, and Jones,
and Lieutenants Jackson and Bishop, set off from New-

312 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
field Harbor. They crossed the Sound that evening, ar
rived at Stony Brook near Smithtown, and marched to
Mr. Jones' residence, where they arrived on the 6th,
about nine o'clock In the evening, the whole distance being
fifty-two 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 perceiving that nobody heard him, forced It,
and found Judge Jones standing In the entry. He In
stantly told him he was his prisoner, and Immediately
conducted him off, together with a young man named
Thomas Hewlett* A guard of soldiers was posted at a
small distance from their road. When they came near
the spot. Judge Jones hemmed very loud, and was for
bidden by Captain Hawley to repeat the sound. He,
however, did repeat it; but being told by his conductor
that another repetition would be followed by fatal con
sequences, he desisted. On their way they were obliged
to lodge In a forest through the day. The third night
they reached their boat, having taken two prisoners more,
crossed the Sound, and arrived safe at Black Rock on
the 8th, except six men, who being in the rear, were over
taken and captured by the light horse. As soon as Mrs.
Silllman heard of the judge's arrival, she sent him an invi
tation to breakfast, which he accepted. And during sev
eral days that he remained at her house, she used every
means In her power to make his situation agreeable. But
although few ladies could contribute more effectually to
such a purpose, the judge was distant, reserved, and
sullen. From this place he was ordered to Middletown.
It was a long time before the British would consent to
•He was the eldest son of Colonel Richard Hewlett. He was killed
September 20, 1780, at Hanging Rock, S. C.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 313
an exchange; but in May, 1780, they agreed that If one
Washburn, a refugee of notoriously bad character,
could be Included in the exchange as a kind of make
weight, they would release General SiUiman for Judge
Jones, and his son for Mr. Hewlett. The vessel which
conveyed him met another employed to transport General
Silllman to his own house on the Sound.* The two gen
tlemen having dined together, proceeded immediately to
their respective places of destination. The general's re
turn was welcomed with demonstrations of joy by all the
surrounding country; but Judge Jones was doomed to
further suffering; for, having taken a very decided stand
in favor of royalty, his estate at Fort Neck was forfeited
by his attainder, and on the approach of peace he de
parted for England, where he ended his days — an exile
from his friends and country.
"June 16, 1780. — James Robertson, a British officer,
styling himself Captain General and Governor-in-Chief
in and over the province of New York, Issued a proclama
tion to the Inhabitants of Long Island, requiring them to
furnish a sufficiency of wood for the barrack-yard in New
York, of which Kings county should supply 1500 cords;
Queens, 4500 — and the western part of Suffolk (In
cluding Huntington, Islip, Smithtown and Brookhaven)
3000 ; to be cut, and carted to the nearest landings, by the
15th of August ensuing. The inhabitants of Southold,
and South and East Hampton, were particularly ordered
to cut upon the woodlands of William Smith and William
Floyd, of Suffolk county (two notorious rebels) In those
•Major General Gold Selleck SilHman was born 1732, graduated at
Yale College in 1752, and died at Fairfield, Conn., July 21, 1790. He
was the father of Gold S. Silllman, Esq., of Brooklyn, and Benjamin
Silllman, Esq., the learned and eloquent professor of chemistry and
mineralogy in Yale College.

314 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
parts nearest to the landing at Mastick Neck : 3000 cords
to be ready on the landing, by the first of September, for
which they were to receive ten shillings a cord. The proc
lamation further encourages the farmers to cut and cure
as much grass as the season would permit."
"New York Gazette, June 17, 1780. — Three days
ago. Captain William Dickson, commander of one of the
New York volunteer companies, was unfortunately
drowned while bathing In a pond at Success, In the neigh
borhood of Jamaica, Long Island, whither the corpse
was brought and interred on Monday evening, attended
by Major Small and the officers of the regiment of Royal
Highland Emigrants stationed there."
"New York Gazette, June 19, 1780. — Last Saturday,
three boats going from New York to Huntington, were
attacked near Butler's Point (Dosorls) by two rebel boats
from Connecticut, which they beat off, after exchanging
several shots; but one of the boats, not sailing so well as
the others, was run on shore and burnt."
"Same. — Last Sunday evening was married at the seat
of Gen. Skinner, near Jamaica, Capt. Meredith, 70th
Reg't, to Miss Gertrude, third daughter of Brig. Gen.
Skinner, a young lady whose mental and personal ac
complishments promise the most permanent felicity."
"Same, July 17, 1780. — ^We hear from Setauket, that
last Friday night a party of rebels surrounded the dwell
ing house of Doctor Punderson, took him prisoner, and
carried him to Connecticut; and on that night the same
party took Mr. William Jayne, Jun. The rebels told
Mrs. Punderson that they had taken the doctor to ex
change for John Smith, and Mr. Jayne for WiUiam
Phillips, who were taken at Smithtown, at the widow
Blydenburgh's, on a trading party."
"New York Gazette, July 27, 1780. — Mr. Gaine: Sir
— As the account of the capture of the crew belonging to
the rebel privateer sloop Revenue, published in your

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 315
paper of the loth Instant, is wrong in several particulars,
you will please insert the following: — Thirteen of the
mlHtla of loyal Queens County, commanded by Ensign
Elijah Wood, namely, Joseph Mott, John Mott, Joseph
Raynor, Elijah Raynor, Ezekiel Raynor, Reuben Pine,
Benjamin Palmer, Abel Southard (who was wounded) ,
Richard Green, Amos Shaw, Isaac Smith, Joseph Smith,
William R. Smith, assembled, and after a skirmish of six
hours, took ten of the rebels prisoners, together with
their boat. Ensign Wood was then reinforced by twenty-
six more, namely Lieutenant McKain, an officer on half-
pay, Israel Smith, Stephen Powell, William Johnson,
Samuel Johnson, Abraham Simonson, Joshua Pettit, Wil
liam Pettit, James Pettit, Morris Green, William Pear-
sail, James Denton, James Southard, Elijah Cornell,
Reuben Jackson, Benjamin Cornell, Elijah Handy, Uriah
Seaman, Barnabas Smith, David Pine, Michael Demott
(a trooper), Joseph Dorlon, and Alexander Dunlap."
"Same, August 7, 1780. — ^About five o'clock last Fri
day morning, an account was brought to Rockaway that
two rebel boats were at Hog Island, and had taken a
schooner In Jamaica Bay; in consequence of which. Cap
tain Charles Hicks, of the mlHtia of that place, mustered
his company, and with a few volunteers in two boats, went
in quest of them. At four the next morning he sent a
flag of truce, to Inform the rebels that If they would sur
render prisoners, they should have good quarters, which
they refused, and a smart action ensued; but seeing they
could not escape, agreed to the terms offered by Cap
tain Hicks. The prisoners amounted to twenty-eight,
and among them a clergyman. Several grape-shot went
through Captain Hicks' jacket; but nobody kiUed."
"New York Gazette, June 4, 1781. — A number of
whaleboats got Into the South Bay, near Islip, from Con
necticut, and took off one vessel and plundered some
others. They also robbed several people on shore. This

3i6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
induced a royal party of militia to follow the crews of
the boats down to Canoe Place, where they surprised
them, killed one, wounded another, and made the whole
party prisoners, with four boats and thirty stand of arms;
a part of the pirates were subsequently confined In a
sugar-house In New York.
Onderdonk' s Rev. Incidents of Queens Co. " The
whaleboatmen were Americans (many of them refugees
from Long Island) living on the Connecticut shore,
who had commissions from the Governors of New-
York and Connecticut to cruise In the Sound against
British vessels; and It required no great stretch of con
science to go on land and plunder Indiscriminately Whig
and Loyalist, under pretence of carrying off British
goods. The whaleboat warfare at length degenerated
Into downright robbery. The whaleboats were sharp
at each end, the sheathing often not over half an Inch
thick, and so light as to be easily carried on men's
shoulders, either to be hid in the bushes or re-launched
In the South Bay. Some were thirty-two feet long, and
Impelled by from eight to twenty oars, and would shoot
ahead of an ordinary boat with great velocity, and leave
their pursuers far behind. They were always on the look
out, and In a calm would row out of their lurking places,
and board market boats, or even cut off the detached
vessels of a convoy. Another more honorable employ
ment of whaleboats was to carry off distinguished Loyal
ists, so as to exchange them for Whig prisoners."
"New York Gazette, Aug. 13, 178 1. — On the night
of the 4th Inst, the crew of a rebel whaleboat from New
Jersey landed near Flatlands on Long Island, and robbed
the house of Col. Jeromus Lott of about six hundred
pounds, and carried off with them two of his slaves.
They also robbed the house of Captain Lott of a con
siderable amount of specie."
" Last Thursday night, eight rebel whaleboats made

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 317
their appearance at Flushing Bay, and landed a few men;
but as they did not like the appearance of things, they
speedily embarked."
"New York Journal, Sept. 29, 1782. — On Saturday
last two men were detected in transporting some forces
ito Long Island near Flushing; they were sent to Killing-
worth and committed to gaol, and about the same time
thirty sail of shipping were seen under Long Island tak
ing in wood."
In the fall of 1782, and about the time the provisional
articles of the treaty of peace were signed. Colonel
Thompson (afterwards Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count
Rumford), who commanded the troops at Huntington,
without any assignable purpose, except that of filling his
own pockets, by affording the ground of a claim on the
British treasury for the expenses, caused a fort to be
erected In the centre of the public burying-place, overlook
ing that village, against the entreaties and remonstrances
of the Inhabitants, and even compelled them to assist in
pulling down the Presbyterian Church, to furnish mate
rials for the building of the fort.
In April, 1783, Sir Guy Carlton instituted a board of
commissioners for the purpose of adjusting such demands
against the British army as had not been settled. The
accounts of the people of the town of Huntington alone,
for property taken from them for the use of the army,
which were supported by receipts of British officers, or by
other evidence, which were prepared to be laid before the
board, amounted to £7,249, 9s, 6d, and these accounts
were not supposed to comprise one fourth part of the
property which was taken from them without compensa
tion. These accounts were sent to New York to be laid
before the board of commissioners, but they sailed for

3i8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
England without attending to them, and the people from
whom the property was filched were left without redress.
If the other towns on the island (says Mr. Wood) suf
fered half so much in proportion as Huntington, the loss
sustained by Long Island alone, during the war, exceeded
half a million of dollars.
"Independent Gazette, Dec. 13, 1783. — On Monday
last the glorious event of peace was celebrated by the
whig Inhabitants of Queens County at Jamaica. At sunrise
a volley was fired by the continental troops stationed in
town, and the thirteen stripes were displayed on a liberty
pole, which had been erected for the purpose. At four
o'clock a number of gentlemen of the county and officers
of the army who were In the neighborhood, sat down to
an elegant dinner, attended by the music of a most excel
lent band, formerly belonging to the line of this state.
After drinking thirteen toasts, the gentlemen marched
In column thirteen abreast. In procession through the vil
lage, preceded by the music, and saluting the colors as
they passed. In the evening every house In the village,
and several miles around, was most brilliantly Illuminated,
and a ball given to the ladies concluded the whole. It
was pleasing to view the different expressions of joy and
gratitude apparent in every countenance on the occasion.
In short, the whole was conducted with the greatest har
mony, and gave universal satisfaction. An address
was likewise agreed upon, to his Excellency George CHn-
ton, governor of the state, and signed by Francis Lewis,
John Sands, Richard Thorne, Joseph Robinson, Prior
Townsend, Abraham Skinner, Benjamin Coe, Robert
Furman, and James Burling.
" His excellency thereupon returned an answer In which
he thanked them for their respectful address, and con
cluded by saying, ' You have now abundant opportunities.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 319
which I have the highest confidence you will cheerfully
embrace, of manifesting your patriotism, by a firm attach
ment to our excellent constitution, and a steady support
of good government, domestic tranquillity, and the na
tional justice and honor."
October 22, 1779, an act was passed, entitled "An act
for the forfeiture and sale of the estates of persons who
had adhered to the enemy, and for declaring the sover
eignty of the state, in respect to all property within it."
And another act confirming forfeitures, and authorizing
the governor to appoint commissioners for the sale of the
estates which had been confiscated was passed. May 12,
1784. Those of Long Island subjected to the penalty of
attainder, were George Duncan Ludlow, his brother, Ga
briel G. Ludlow, Daniel Kissam, Senator Thomas Jones,
Henry Lloyd, David Colden, John Rapelje, Richard
Floyd, George Muirson, and Parker WIckham, all of
whom left the state and most of whom retired to some
part of the British dominions.
In conclusion, we may be permitted to say that as much
as the people of Long Island had suffered from the op
pression and cruelty of their invaders, they were not per
mitted to taste the sweets of liberty, until it was in some
degree embittered by the unkindness of their friends, as
circumstances of that period fully prove. It was their
unhappy lot, resulting principally from their geographical
position, to be abandoned, in a great measure, by their
country, and fall of course into the power of the enemy,
from whom they could expect no quarter, much less pro
tection, unless by entire acquiescence in their wishes. It
was their misfortune and not their fault, that they were
not within the American lines. They had been disarmed
and were now In subjection to the enemy, instead of being

320 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
employed In the field against them. Yet an act was passed
March 17, 1783, by which those of Long Island, as in
other places, who should be prosecuted for damages to
the property of others, which had even been committed
under military orders, were prohibited from pleading that
matter In justification, or giving It In evidence under the
general Issue, to prevent or diminish a recovery. By the
act of May 6, 1784, a tax to raise £100,000 was levied
upon the southern district, to be appropriated as a com
pensation to other parts of the state ; the former not hav- ,
Ing been In a condition to take an active part In the war
against the common enemy. Both these last acts were
obviously flagrant violations of the doctrine of equal
rights and the Immutable principles of justice, partial and
oppressive In their operation, and fully prove that an
abuse of power Is almost always consequent upon the
possession of It; and Is not confined to those only, who.
In every age and nation, have been stigmatised as the
enemies of free government.
SOME FURTHER MATTERS OF CURIOSITY
AND INTEREST, EXTRACTED FROM THE
JOURNAL OF THE NEW YORK PROVINCIAL
CONGRESS.
Joseph French of Jamaica, and Thomas Hicks of
Hempstead, having been ordered by a resolution of the
provincial congress to attend In their places as deputies
from Queens County, decline to do so. The answer of
the former to the secrtary, Is as follows :
" Jamaica, June 26, 1775.
" Sir: Yours of the 22d Instant, came safe to hand.
In answer to which I must acquaint you that I have made

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 321
It my rule in life, never to accept any office or place of
trust, unless I could acquit myself with honour. Some
time ago we had an election at Jamaica, to send Members
to Congress, and It was carried In the negative. These
same men have acquainted me, if I attend In Congress I
do not represent them, but the minority. As, for my
part, I have signed the Association in New- York, and
expect to abide by the consequences."
Who this Mr. French was has not been satisfactorily
ascertained, yet it is quite certain that he was a man of
some note, though his patriotism was afterwards doubted.
He knew the general unwillingness of the people to take
sides against the mother country, and therefore pretended
that he could not assume authprlty not conferred upon.
him by his constituents. He Is said to have been a re
tired sea captain and was one of the king's justices; and
lived in the home now Walter Nichols' at Jamaica, and
went to England at the Peace.
Mr. Hicks in his letter of June 27, 1775, admits having
received a notice to serve as a deputy, or to assign his rea
sons for his neglect. He states the disagreement among
the people of Hempstead on the subject of sending depu
ties, and considers that his attendance would not be a
fair expression of their wishes, which it appears were op
posed to sending any representative at all. Also that the
bad state of his health obHged him to avoid New York as
much as possible In the summer, from the long experience
of the bad effects of the city air at that season. " The
people," he says, " are much IncHned to remain peaceable
and quiet; and he had therefore declined taking his seat
in Congress, persuaded of the impropriety and Injustice
of transacting business of so much consequence, for people
who disavowed his authority."

322 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
It may be mentioned that Governor Tryon was very
popular with the people of Queens County, and he had
exerted himself both by proclamation, and going person
ally among them, to attach them to the govemment, and
lead them to oppose, as much as possible, the growing
disposition In other parts of the country for emancipation,
and the establishment of Independence.
The following letter was received from Thomas
Helme, chairman of the Brookhaven Committee, dated
August 3, 1775:
"Gentlemen: As well-wishers to our country, we
cannot any longer delay giving you an account of the con
duct of sundry persons within the limits of this commit
tee — Parson James Lyon, rector of the Episcopal Church
at Setauket, Benjamin Floyd, Doct. Gilbert Smith, Jo
seph Denton, Richard Floyd, and John Bayles, innkeeper.
These persons have from the beginning taken every
method In their power to seduce the Ignorant about them,
and to counteract every measure that has been recom
mended for the redress of grievances. They damn aU
Congresses and committees, wishing they were in heU.
They have declared that they will furnish, and it is sus
pected they have furnished, the men-of-war and cutters
with provisions. Such conduct, we think. Is insufferable,
and desire that you would be pleased to direct such mea
sures as you shall think proper to suppress It."
A letter written by Burnet MiUer, Esq., chairman of the
committee of South and East Hampton, of July 5, 1775,
says that the people there are much exposed to the ravages
of their unnatural enemy. In regard to their stock on Mon
tauk, where any number may land at pleasure. That
their stock Is large, not less than 2000 neat cattle, and
3000 or 4000 sheep, which, if taken, would greatly dis-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 323
tress them, and give support to the enemy. He requests
that troops of which their company might form a part
should be stationed at Montauk, until some matter of
more Importance shall call them away. He also suggests
that whaleboats might be employed In rendering aid to
other places In the vicinity, they having a number of them,
which were of no use at that season.
Robert Hempstead, Esq., of Southold, informs Con
gress August 7, 1775, that the situation of things there,
required their immediate assistance, as a large number of
vessels had been seen the day before, between Montauk
and Fisher's Island, which were hourly expected to land
at Oyster Ponds,^ or some other place. That being des
titute of powder, they would be unable to make defence.
He desires that their case may be taken Into consideration,
and ways and means provided for their Immediate supply.
Lieutenant Norton had Informed him that his company
from Brookhaven were many of them destitute of
powder, and some of them even of arms.
Colonel Phlneas Fanning, In a letter from the same
place, of August 8, 1775, says, that on his way there he
met an express Informing, him, that during the morning
the ministerial fleet of thirteen sail of square rigged ves
sels (seven of which were ships) arrived from the west
end of Fisher's Island, and came to anchor off Gardiner's
Island Point, where they then lay. That at 5 o'clock. In
the afternoon, a boat attacked Rufus TuthlU, while land
ing fifty sheep from Plum Island, and drove him from his
boat, which they took with twenty of his sheep ; that the
officers of the militia in that neighborhood were ordered
to Oyster Ponds,' as it was feared a descent would either
be made there, or some other place In the vicinity. Rufus
^ Now Orient. — ^Editor.

324 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Tuthill was a warm whig and was Imprisoned In 1778,
with his townsmen Thomas Youngs, Jared Landon,
John Brown, and Storrs Lester. He however lived to
the advanced age of ninety-seven years, at Oyster Ponds,^
where he died December 11, 1843.
Colonel Fanning was a man of education, having grad
uated at Yale College, In 1769, and as respectable for his
bravery and patriotism, as his cousin Edmund Fanning,
the son-in-law and secretary of Governor Tryon, and
afterwards lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, was for
his toryism and unnatural treatment of his countrymen.
There were at this time few who had more sincere friend
ship for the country, or few who suffered more In their
property from the common enemy in consequence of It.
He informs Congress in a letter of August 22, 1775, that
directions had been given for taking the stock from Gar
diner's and Plum Islands; but that much concern was felt
In consequence of the troops on the east end of the island
being ordered away, whereby they should be left defence
less. That three cutters were there cruising at the east end,
and the stock on Montauk, Shelter Island, and Oyster
Pond Point ^ was in the utmost danger of faUIng Into the
hands of the enemy, besides the constant alarms and ex
pense the people would be exposed to, unless they should
be allowed a number of men to secure those parts from
depredations; that Colonel Gardiner, of Plum Island, had
Informed him that Colonel Willard, of the ministerial
fleet, said they should come again, with a force sufficient to
take the stock from Long Island.
Brigadier General Wooster, then upon the east end of
the Islar(d, In a letter from Oyster Ponds,' of August 27,
1775, Informs the President of the convention that the
' Now Orient. — Editor. ' Now Orient Point. — Editor. ,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 325
" Kingfisher " (an enemy's vessel) had gone up the Sound
with several small cutters, reconnoitering the north side
of the Island, and the next day there followed two top-
saU vessels, supposed to be transports, as they fired two
signal guns when they went through the Race. He recom
mends a good guard to be kept over Queens County, as
he imagined the enemy designed to get stock from Hunt
ington, Lloyd's Neck, and Flushing.
It may be well to mention in this place, that General
David Wooster was born at Stratford, Conn., in 171 1,
educated at Yale College, where he graduated in 1738,
was a captain in the expedition against Loulsburgh In
1745, and In 1756 was raised to the command of a
brigade in the French War. He commanded the troops
sent to guard New York, where It was expected, that a
part of the British army, which came over in 1775, would
land. He had the command In Canada after the death
of General Montgomery, and returning home in the
summer of 1776, was appointed first Major General of
the Militia of Connecticut. He was mortally wounded
In a skirmish with the British troops, at the time of
their Incursion to Danbury, April 26, 1777, and died
the 2d of May following, at the age of sixty-six. He
was a brave and good officer, an ardent patriot, and
In his various public and private relations sustained
a character distinguished for Integrity, benevolence, and
virtue. On the 25th of September, 1775, Information was re
ceived by the Committee of Safety, from Colonel Abra
ham Skinner (afterwards first clerk of Queens County,
under the constitution) that the persons sent to Jamaica
for the purpose had collected a few arms, but appre
hended that they would meet with opposition, and re-

326 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
quested to have a battalion sent up from New York to
their assistance.
The committee, however, deferred sending a battalion
to Queens County, until they should have advice from
Major WiUIams, and the gentlemen sent up there; and
they ordered Mr. Benson, one of the secretaries, to pro
ceed to Jamaica, to ascertain the true state of affairs
there. They were subsequently Informed by Major Will
iams by a letter of the same date, that he had endeavored
in the towns of Jamaica and Hempstead, but In vain, to
carry the resolutions of Congress into effect; for, said he,
the people conceal their arms that are of any value, and
many declare they will sooner lose their lives than give
them up ; that they would blow any man's brains out who
should attempt to take them away. That Governor
Colden sent his servant round to some of the leading
people, advising them to arm and defend themselves.
That Captain Hewlett of Hempstead said he had his
company together on the Monday before and, had the
battaUon appeared, they should have warmed their sides.
The committee thereupon appointed Samuel Verplank,
Thomas Smith, David Clarkson, John Vanderbllt, and
Benjamin Kissam, to proceed to Queens County, and use
every prudent measure to collect arms; and to report
the names of those who should oppose them. December
i3> i775> an affidavit of Samuel Nostrand and Isaac
Losee was read. Informing the Congress that on the
30th of November, preceding, they were at the house of
John Nostrand of Hempstead, who told them that there
was a great quantity of powder at Captain Richard Hew
lett's, Rockaway, which came from on board the "Asia,"
man-of-war, with ball, small arms and some cannon, etc.
They were, also, so informed by Isaac Denton, Jun., who

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 327
declared that he would fight against the country, while
he could see a damned whig left.
Whereupon it was ordered that Captain Benjamin
Whitehead, Charles Arden, Joseph French, Esq., and
Johannes Polhemus of Jamaica, Nathaniel Moore, John
Moore, Sen., Captain Samuel Hallet, John Moore, Jun.,
WUHam Wyman, John Shoals, and Jeromus Rapelje of
Newtown, John Willet of Flushing, Justice Gilbert Van
Wyck, Daniel Kissam, Esq., Captain Jacob Mott,
Thomas Cornell, Gabriel G. Ludlow, Richard Hewlett,
Captain Charles Hicks, Dr. Samuel Martin, and Justice
Samuel Clowes of Hempstead, Justice Thomas Smith,
Justice John Hewlett, George Weeks, Dr. David
Brooks, and Justice John Townsend, being charged as
principal men among the disaffected In said county, do
attend this Congress on the 19th Inst, to give satisfaction
in the premises.
The said persons not appearing, Congress on the 21st
of December, 1775, among other things, " resolved that
the delinquents be and hereby are entirely put out of the
protection of Congress; that all friendly and commercial
intercourse between them and the other Inhabitants of
the colony be interdicted, until the further order of Con
gress or the committee of safety, and that the names of
such delinquents be printed and dispersed in said county.
WiUiam Smith, Esq., of Suffolk County, informs Con
gress by letter of November 2, 1775, that Nathan Wood
huU and Edmund Smith, Jun., had declined the offices of
first and second major, of the First Regiment, and that
Jeffrey Smith and Jesse Brush had been nominated for
said offices.
In committee of safety, January 4, 1776, Thomas
Place and Gabriel Van Cott, of Queens County, by their

328 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
petition say, that they are extremely sorry and sincerely
repent of, having voted against electing delegates at the
last election, saying they were misled by the artful insinu
ations of designing men. The like was received on the
1 6th from Captain Jacob Mott, Jackson Mott, and Sea
man Weeks, all of whom pledge their future attachment
to the country.
A letter was received In Provincial Convention, August
I, 1776, from George Townsend, Esq., chairman of the
committee of Queens County, dated July 31st, enclosing
a copy of the declaration Issued by Richard, Viscount
Howe, and Sir William Howe, attested by Governor
Tryon, and certified as a true copy, and subscribed by
Thomas Willet, sheriff of Queens County. Whereupon
It was resolved that said Willet be taken into custody to
answer for his conduct. Being brought to the bar of the
convention on the 6th of August, he admitted the paper
to have been signed by him, but that he had not then seen
the Declaration of Independence by Congress — that he
held the commission of sheriff under Governor Tryon,
and thought it having been published by Congress, there
could be no harm in his publishing It also. That the more
public it was the better. But the convention ordered him
to be committed. Note. — The original declaration above
mentioned was acknowledged by Miss Elizabeth Hicks,
of Rockaway, to have been received by her, and handed
by her to one Joshua Mills. She was ordered to be
arrested and kept in close custody till she should dis
cover, on oath, from whom she received the paper.
What was the result, does not appear from the journals
of the convention.
In March, 1776, Captain Isaac Sears, (commonly
called King Sears,) a person of great activity and cour-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 329
age, and truly devoted to the Interest of his country, was
sent Into Queens County, by order of General Charles
Lee, In behalf of the Provincial Congress, to require an
oath of fidelity from the disaffected portion of the people.
As the oath administered on this occasion may seem a
curiosity to some, a copy of It Is here given :
" I, A. B., do here. In the presence of Almighty God,
most religiously, solemnly and devoutly swear, that I will
not, during the present contest, convey any Intelligence,
directly or indirectly, to any of the Ministerial Troops, or
Navy of Great Britain, or to any wicked Instrument of
tyranny; and that if I should become acquainted with any
such treasonable practices, in others, I will give notice of
It to the Provincial Congress. I do likewise swear by
the same Almighty and Tremendous God, that I will
not, by any action, conversation or hint, endeavour to in
timidate or dissuade other men, from embarking in the
cause of their country and liberty; or to check the ardor
of those who are already engaged. I do further pledge
myself, as I hope for eternal salvation, to abide by, and
strictly observe all the regulations and laws of the Con
tinental Congress, so help me God."
It seems that his instructions were to offer the test to
certain persons of whom a list of names was furnished
to Captain Sears; that the refusal of any to sign it, must
be considered an avowal of their hostile Intentions; those
persons were to be secured and sent up, as Irreclaimable
enemies to their country. Richard Hewlett to have no
conditions offered to him, but be secured without cere
mony. It may be remarked that Captain Sears was distin
guished for his many daring exploits during the revolu
tion; that after peace he entered Into mercantile business

330 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
In Boston, with Paschal N. Smith, who It Is beHeved mar
ried his sister ; but meeting with disappointment, he saUed
In a vessel of his own, for the purpose of retrieving his
fortune, and died In the Island of Java, in Indigent cir
cumstances. A letter from John Lawrence, Esq., chairman of the
committee, of Newtown, dated May 27, 1776, acquaints
the Congress, that the Inhabitants had complained of
John Moore, Jun., for a fresh Insult offered to the United
Colonies by hoisting a large flag, or suffering the same
to be hoisted on his ground. In Imitation of a King's
standard — the committee ordered him to be taken Into
custody, and brought before them; and having given
no sufficient satisfaction they thought proper to have him
conducted to the board under the care of Captain Abra
ham Remsen, for further examination.
A letter from John Lloyd, Jun., to the Hon. John Sloss
Hobart, Is referred to the Congress, In which his advice
Is asked whether he may safely dispose of the stock upon
Lloyd's Neck, belonging to his uncle Henry Lloyd, who
being a royalist, was then under the censure of the public.
The stock if left there must Inevitably fall Into the hands
of the enemy, should they land In that part of the Island.
What disposition was made of the application does not
appear. Mr. John Foster of Southampton acquaints Congress
Febraary 8, 1776, that he had engaged a quantity of tow
cloth, as he had been requested, for which he gave two
and two pence, to two and three pence a yard, and asks
to be Informed whether he shall purchase any more at
that price or not.
A letter from Isaac Thompson, Esq., chairman of the
Isllp committee, of February 9, 1776, Informs Congress

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 331
that the precinct had unanimously chosen Benajah Strong,
Captain ; Jeremiah Terry and Samuel Oakley, as first and
second lieutenants, and Annin Mobray, ensign; and de
sires that commissions may be granted, which he says
will very much tend to unite the people of the precinct.
A letter received from William Smith, Esq., chairman
of the Suffolk County Committee, of January 24, 1776,
containing a return of minute and artillery officers, and
praying that some of them may be furnished with arms ;
also that such number of continental troops may be sta
tioned there as the Congress may judge necessary. The
following Is the list of the officers, chosen and approved
by the committee. Josiah Smith, colonel; John Hulburt,
second colonel; Isaac Reeve, first major; Jonathan Baker,
second major; Isaac Overton, adjutant; Ebenezer Day
ton, second master; William Rogers, captain of artillery;
John Franks, captain lieutenant; Jeremiah Rogers, first
lieutenant; Thomas Baker, second lieutenant; and John
Tuthill, lieutenant fireworker.
The following letter was received from certain torles
of Queens County, viz. :
Jamaica, L. I., AprU 13, 1776.
" Gentlemen: We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the
township of Jamaica, in Queens County on Long Island,
beg leave to acquaint you that we have heretofore been
disarmed by order of the Continental Congress, which
we quietly and peaceably submitted to, as not having It
in our intention to act contrary to their regulations, or
the resolves of your Congress : notwithstanding which we
have been lately plundered of our cattle and effects, which
have been publicly sold at vendue for half the value, in
consequence of an order Issued by Capt. Abraham Bailey
in this township, for not appearing in arms and answer-

332 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Ing to our names, when it Is well known we have been de
prived of our arms, and thereby disqualified from any
such service ; besides which it appears to us quite contrary
to a late resolve of the Continental Congress. We there
fore request It as a favour that you will be pleased to take
this matter into your serious consideration, and If the
treatment we have received does not proceed from any
order or direction of yours, that you will give us such
relief as you may think necessary, and oblige your respect
ful humble servants, Nathaniel Mills, Jabez Woodruff,
Joshua Mills, John Lamberson, Nicholas Ludlam, Joseph
Oldfield, Samuel Mills, John Remsen, Jacob Dean, DIrck
(his X mark) Bargin, Peter Mills, Abraham Colyer."
May II, 1776, Thomas WooUey of Great Neck
was ordered by the Congress to be Imprisoned In Queens
County Jail, for contumaciously refusing to appear In
arms. In the company commanded by Captain Sands.
The Rev. Samuel Buell of Easthampton, In his letter
of April 10, 1776, writes to the Congress from Hunting
ton as follows : " After cordial salutation, these inform
that I left Easthampton on Monday morning, after nine
o'clock. No farther discoveries were made of the fleets
mentioned in the committee's letter, unless that a con
siderable number of shipping made a harbor at Fisher's
Island, Lord's day evening. There I suppose, were what
we call Wallls's fleet. Those seen at sea on Sunday after
noon, perhaps were from the West Indies or Boston. By
their clustering In together and frequent firing. It seems
they were coUectIng in their scattered fleet. We, sir, at
the east end of Long Island are certainly much exposed
to ravages and plundering, by the hand of violence.
Whether we do not greatly need a regiment or two at
the east end, must be submitted to your superior wisdom."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 333
A letter from Thomas Wicks of Huntington, of April
8, 1776, Informs Congress that intelligence was received
that a fleet of thirty sail of square-rigged vessels had been
seen off between Crane and Eaton's Neck — that their
motions would be watched and their Intention when dis
covered announced to Congress. He says " we are mus
tering our Militia and shall do the best In our power."
The like Information Is received from Burnet Miller
of Easthampton, who adds that the vessels had fired
cannon by spells all the afternoon, for the purposes as
he supposes of keeping them together, the fog being
very thick.
A letter was received from Lieutenant Colonel Benja
min Birdsall, detailing the unpatriotic conduct of certain
persons In the southeast part of Queens County, and
enclosing the copy of a song, publicly and frequently sung
with joy and jollity. In which he says they drink damna
tion to the Congress.
On the 15th of February, 1776, a letter was sent to the
Congress by Samuel Thompson, one of the committee of
Brookhaven, accompanied by a map or draft of the north
coast of the town and the harbor of Setauket and Stony
Brook. He observes that from Oyster Pond Point ^ to
Setauket there is no harbor that a vessel of any con
siderable burden can get Into, In a distance of more than
50 miles ; and recommends that a small fort be built on
the beach running off from Mount Misery Point, de
fended by not less than 6 or 8 guns, some of them 9- or
i2-pounders. Also that Stony Brook would need two
6- or 9-pounders placed on the high cleft. He says,
" we are much In want of a gunsmith to fix the guns and
make bayonets. — There are numbers amongst us that
^ Now Orient Point — Editor.

334 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
have no guns, nor could they buy them If they had
money." Thomas Hicks, Esq., In a letter from Little Neck, of
May 28, 1776, says: "I received yesterday an extract
from the minutes of Congress, by which I am ordered to
attend and take my seat, or show the cause of my neglect.
The ill state of my health, and the extreme weakness of
my constitution render me utterly Incapable of perform
ing the duty of a deputy. This I hope will be considered
by the Congress as a sufficient apology for my non-attend

ance."

A proclamation from Major General DeLancey, of
September i, 1776, Is received, saying that he is ordered
by his Excellency the Honourable William Howe, Gen
eral and Commander-in-chief of all his Majesty's forces
In North America, from Nova Scotia to the Florldas, to
state that on the application of the County of Suffolk, he
Is willing to accept of the submission of the Inhabitants
and promise them protection, on their laying down their
arms, taking the oath of allegiance, disclaiming the order
of Congress, and totally refusing obedience to them, obey
ing the legal authority of government and In all places of
worship to pray for the King and royal family, as was
usual before the present unprovoked rebellion.
A letter from the commissioners for detecting con
spiracies was received In Congress, giving information
under date of June 18, 1777, that a number of the people
called Quakers had lately been to Long Island without
permission, to attend their annual meeting at Flushing —
that as soon as the commissioners had Information of it,
they Issued the necessary orders to have them appre
hended, and had several detained as prisoners in Pough-
keepsie. The Quakers averred that they attended said

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 335
meeting solely for reHglous purposes and had not the
least intermeddled In political matters, but the commis
sioners had no evidence on that point — there being up
wards of twenty In that predicament, the commissioners
thought It a matter of too much Importance to determine
without communicating with the council of safety for
advice and directions.
General Silllman, In a letter of June 16, 1777, from
Fairfield, Informs John Sloss Hobart, Esq., that a boat
was then lying at Norwalk, belonging to Shubael Smith
of Huntington, which he formerly used as a ferryboat
between Huntington and Norwalk — that she was a neat
and valuable boat, and as the owner had joined the
enemy, the boat ought to be seized for the benefit of the
state of New York, and recommends that proper measures
be taken to have her Immediately secured.
Extract from a letter of Ebenezer Dayton, dated
Bethany, Conn., October, 1776, to the President of the
convention. In which he says:
" Sir : — I removed from Brookhaven with my family
In September last, leaving valuable possessions, and am
now both ready and desirous to obey any commands the
convention may please to lay upon me, to the best of my
skill and ability. In any department they may please to
occupy me. I have had the boldness and vanity to recom
mend the sending one or more ranging companies upon
Long Island. I have thought much of the plan, and am
convinced it would be a very essential service, In many
respects, to the State ; and I am fully convinced that the
same is practicable whUe the weather is warm, and that
there Is a sufficient extent of woods, swamps, plains, and
faithful friends, &c., on Long Island, to shelter and se
crete companies of rangers from the eye and injury of
any enemy able to harm them, even upon the supposition

336 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
that half the British troops and torles In America should
be employed in search of them. That they might always
have it in their power to make a safe retreat from the
land or send off prisoners or Important news, by going
over with small Hght boats. They would be able to do
much execution by surprise, being Industriously moving
from place to place, making unexpected attacks In unex
pected places, depending upon surprise as the soul of their
enterprises, to take an unlikely course, and always take the
advantage of night, and always have a place of rendez
vous agreed upon, to be able to embody. In case of being
on any occasion obliged to separate or disperse.
" If the convention should judge proper to send ran
gers upon Long Island, I would be glad to have the com
mand of a company of them — though my abilities are but
small, yet the great advantage I have had of knowing the
geography of the Island and Its Inhabitants with their
several political principles, has rendered me more capable
to conduct the operations of such a company than a man
of the greatest abilities who has not had such advantages.
I hope an unfeigned desire to promote my country's good,
will Induce the convention to excuse my boldness In
troubling them with reading this and the enclosed outline
of a favorite plan of my own invention."
John Chatfield, chairman of the committee of East
hampton, Informs the committee of safety, March ii,
1776, that the ship " Sally," belonging to Samuel Franklin
of New York, taken by the British and sent for Boston,
drove on shore at Montauk In a gale of wind; and that
Charles Smith, mate of the " Asia," man-of-war, three
passengers, and ten seamen of the "Asia," were sent
under guard to New York, conducted by Lieutenant John
Foster, with all letters and papers that were found on
board.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 337

ADDITIONAL REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
ORIGINALLY COMMUNICATED TO THE EDITOR OF THE
NAVAL MAGAZINE, BY GENERAL JEREMIAH
JOHNSON.
The enterprising whaleboat privateersmen of our
country deserve notice, although their acts of robbery are
censurable. Captains Adam Hyler and WUHam Mar-
riner of New Branswick annoyed the British troops so
much, that an armed force was sent to that place to
destroy their boats. The object was effected, but the cost
was more than It was worth. New boats were immedi
ately built.
Hyler and Marriner cruised between Egg Harbor and
Staten Island. Hyler took several ships, and levied con
tributions on the New York fishermen, on the fishing
banks. He frequently visited Long Island. He took a
Hessian major at night, April, 1781, from the house of
Michael Bergen, at Gowanus, when his soldiers were en
camped near the house. He surprised and took a ser
geant's guard at Canarsie, June, 178 1, from the house
of their captain, Schenck. The guards were at supper,
and their muskets standing in the hall, when Hyler en
tered with his men. He seized the arms, and, after jest
ing with the guard, he borrowed the silver spoons for his
family; took a few other articles with all the muskets,
and made one prisoner. He sent the guard to report
themselves to Colonel Axtell, and returned to New
Jersey. Captain Hyler also paid a visit to Colonel Lott at Flat-
lands, August, 178 1. The colonel was known to be rich;

338 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
his money and his person were the objects desired. He
was surprised In his house at night, and taken. His cup
board was searched for money, and some silver found;
and, on further search, two bags supposed to contain
guineas were discovered. These, with the silver, the
colonel, and two of his negroes were embarked and
taken to New Brunswick. In the morning, on the passage
up the Rarltan, the captain and crew agreed to count and
divide the guineas. The bags were opened, when, to the
mortification of the crew, they were found to contain
only halfpennies belonging to the church of Flatlands;
and the colonel also discovered that his guineas were safe
at home. The crew were disappointed In their Scotch
prize. They, however, determined to make the most of
the adventure; they took the colonel and his negroes to
New Brunswick, where they compelled him to ransom
them, and then permitted him to return home, on parole.
Captain Hyler also, with two boats, took a corvette
of twenty guns, about nine o'clock at night, In Coney
Island Bay. The ship lay at anchor, bound for Halifax,
to complete her crew. The night was dark; one of the
boats, with muffled oars, was rowed up close under the
stern of the ship, when the officers were to be seen at a
game of cards In the cabin, and no watch on deck. The
spy-boat then fell astern to her consort, and reported;
when orders were passed to board. The boats were
rowed up silently — the ship boarded Instantly on both
sides — and not a man was Injured. The officers were
confined In the cabin, and the crew below. The captain
ordered the officers and crew to be taken out of the ship,
weU fettered, and placed In the whaleboats. Afterwards
a few articles were taken from the ship, and she was set
on fire ; when Captain Hyler left her, with his prisoners,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 339
for New Brunswick. My informant, one of the men
who took the ship, stated, that the captain of the corvette
wept as they were crossing the bay, and reproached him
self for permitting one of his Majesty's ships to be sur
prised and taken " by two d — d eggsheUs " ; and he
added, that there were $40,000 on board the burn
ing vessel, which Captain Hyler and his crew deserved
for their gallant enterprise. The booty, however, was
lost. After the notorious refugee LIppencott had barbar
ously murdered Captain Huddy at Sandy Hook, General
Washington was very anxious to have the murderer se
cured. He had been demanded from the British general,
and his surrender refused. Retaliation was decided upon
by General Washington. Young Argill was to be the
Innocent victim to atone for the death of Captain Huddy.
He was saved by the mediation of the Queen of France.
Captain Hyler was determined to take LIppencott. On
Inquiry, he found that he resided in a well known house
In Broad Street, New York. With a boat-load of men
dressed and equipped like a man-of-war press gang, he
left the Kills after dark, and arrived at Whitehall about
nine o'clock. Here he left his boat In charge of three
men, and then passed to the residence of LIppencott,
where he Inquired for him, and found he was absent, and
gone to a cock-pit. Captain Hyler thus failed In the ob
ject of his pursuit and visit to the city. He returned to his
boat with his press gang, and left Whitehall; but finding a
sloop laying at anchor off the Battery, from the West In
dies, laden with ram, he took the vessel, cut her cable, set
her saUs, and with a north-east wind sailed to Elizabeth-
town Point, and before daylight had landed from her, and
secured forty hogsheads of ram. He then burned the

340 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sloop to prevent her recapture. Captain Hyler died at
New Brunswick, N. J., in 1782.
Captain Marriner resided many years at Harlem, and
on Ward's Island after the war. He died by a fall from
his wagon near Harlem bridge, 18 14, aged eighty-five
years. He was a man of eccentric character, witty and
Ingenious, and abounding in anecdotes; but he had his
faults. He had been taken by the British, was on parole
in Kings County, and quartered with Rem Van Pelt, of
New Utrecht. The prisoners, among the officers, had the
liberty of the four southern towns of the county. Many
of them frequented Dr. Van Buren's tavern In Flatbush.
Here our captain's sarcastic wit, in conversation with
Major Moncrleffe, of the British army, led to abusive lan
guage from the major to the prisoner. After some time,
Marriner was exchanged, when he determined to cap
ture Major Moncrleffe, Colonel Matthews (the mayor
of New York) , Colonel AxteU, and Mr. Bache, who all
resided In Flatbush, and were noted and abusive torles,
and obnoxious to the American officers. For the purpose
of carrying his designs into execution, he repaired to New
Brunswick, and procured a whaleboat. This he manned
with a crew of well-armed volunteers, with whom he pro
ceeded to New Utrecht, and landed on the beach at Bath
about half past nine o'clock of a fine moonlight night,
June 13, 1778. Leaving two men In charge of the boat,
with the rest of the crew he marched unmolested to Flat
bush church, where he divided his men into four squads,
assigning a house to each ; each party or squad was pro
vided with a heavy post, to break In the doors. All was
silent In the village. Captain Marriner selected the house
of George Martense, where his friend, the major, quar
tered, for himself; the other parties proceeded to their

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 341
assigned houses. Time was given to each squad to arrive
at Its destination, and It was agreed, that when Marriner
struck his door, the others were to break in theirs, and
repair to the church with their prisoners. The doors
were broken at the same time. Marriner found the major
behind a large chimney in the garret, where he had hidden
himself, and where he surrendered. In presence of his
landlady, who lit the way for Marriner. The major was
permitted to take his small clothes In his hand, and thus
was marched to the church, where the parties assembled.
Major Moncrleffe and Mr. Theophylact Bache were
taken, but Axtell and Matthews escaped. The parties
marched with their prisoners unmolested to their boat,
and returned safe to New Branswick. After Captain
Marrlner's visit to Flatbush, four Inhabitants of New
Utrecht were taken separately, and separately imprisoned
in the Provost in New York, on suspicion of having been
connected with Marriner in his enterprise, viz : Colonel
Van Brant, his brother Adrian Van Brant, Rem Van
Pelt, and his brother Art Van Pelt. Captain Marriner
also paid Simon Cortelyou of New Utrecht a visit, No
vember, 1778; and took him to New Brunswick, as a re
tum for this uncivil conduct to the American prisoners.
He took his tankard, and several articles, also, which he
neglected to return.
When Colonel Van Brunt was taken by the officer of
the guard, he requested permission to get a clean shirt to
take with him, when he also put a few guineas Into his
pocket. On the morning after their confinement, the
deputy of Cunningham visited the prisoners, to give them
the usual breakfast when Colonel Van Brunt gave the
keeper a guinea, and requested him to send a cup of coffee
and toast, for his breakfast. The coffee and toast were

342 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
brought In by the keeper's wife, to whom he also gave a
guinea, and requested her to supply his neighbors with
their breakfasts and dinners. When she brought in the
colonel's dinner, he heard from his neighbors. In the
evening she brought In his tea, when he requested her to
permit him to see his fellow-prisoners, which she per
suaded her husband to allow, for another guinea, and they
had an interview that night.
Although they suspected the reason of their imprison
ment, still they did not know why they were confined
separately. At this Interview, they agreed to deny all
knowledge of Captain Marrlner's visit. The next morn
ing they were examined, separately, before the mayor.
Colonel Axtell, and a number of officers. In reference
to Marrlner's visit. They adhered to their previous
agreement, and, there being no proof against them, were
discharged, with an abundance of rebel blessings. Thus,
they narrowly escaped the tails of Cunningham's cats.
It may be added that Rem Van Pelt died at New
Utrecht, L. I., aged nearly ninety-one years, March i8,
1829. His father was Peter, a farmer In the town, who
with his sons were imprisoned in the Provost, where
they suffered, under the Iron hand of the notorious Cun
ningham, all that his heartless cruelty could Inflict.
Colonel Axtell, who commanded Kings County, after
Marrlner's visit, feared that he might be caught napping.
To leave his command, did not comport with his honor ;
and, for his safety, he immediately ordered two of his
dragoons to his house, who were relieved weekly. He
also ordered a strong militia guard to be kept in Flatbush,
which was reHeved daily; as he had no great confidence
In these militia, he compelled his regiment to raise a com
pany of men, at their expense, which were named the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 343
Nassau Blues. This company was stationed at Flatbush,
and commanded by Captain Frederick Depeyster, late of
the city of New York, deceased, a nephew of the colonel.
Colonel Robinson, who for a time commanded Queens
County, resided at Jamaica, and considered himself safe
under the protection of two dragoons, and of the troops
usuaUy stationed there. From the taking of Long Island
and New York In 1776, to the evacuation, martial law
prevailed within the British possessions In this state. AU
offences of a military character, or wherein military per
sons were Implicated, were decided by courts martial. It
rarely happened, however, that officers or soldiers were
punished for crimes or Injuries toward the Inhabitants.
The Connecticut whaleboats rendered Long Island
Sound very unsafe to the British, except to strong armed
vessels. The whaleboats visited certain positions along
the Sound, whenever they pleased, and carried on a trade
with New York, for dry goods, &c., to a great amount.
The enterprising and predatory warfare of the Amer
ican whaleboat men alarmed the royalists greatly. They
considered themselves unsafe, unless they were sur
rounded by an armed force; and many of the British
officers, who were residing on Long Island, left their
quarters, and repaired to Brooklyn or New York.
The ferries between Brooklyn and New York were
under the surveillance of a military guard. All the inhab
itants were compelled to obtain passports for themselves
and their famUIes, by name, to cross the ferries; and
every market boat, with her hands, was licensed, to come
to the city. Nor was this all. Every farmer, or person,
who wished to take any goods from New York, was
compelled to take a bill of the goods to the police office.
In the city, for a permit to take the same from the city.

344 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Every permit cost two shillings. The passports to cross
the ferries, and the licenses of the market boats, were
renewed and paid for every year. In this manner favor
ites were provided for. During the war, a continual trade
was carried on between favored individuals of the British,
and treacherous Americans. The Sound whaleboat men,
usually, were the protectors and carriers of the goods
for the owners. These London traders were permitted
to take any quantity of goods from the city, for sale, while
a farmer had to give an account of the number and re
quirements of his family.
A Major Stockton, who murdered a miller named Am-
berman, at Foster's Meadow, without justifiable cause or
provocation, was tried for the crime at Bedford, before a
court martial. The culprit was acquitted for want of
surgical evidence that Amberman died of the wound in
flicted by him. James Hedger, of Flushing, was mur
dered in his house by six soldiers of the Fifty-fourth Regi
ment, who also plundered the house. Five of them were
subsequently tried, and two of them. Tench and Porter,
were hanged upon land late of Francis SkiUman. Some
soldiers had killed one of Captain Suydam's cattle, of
Bedford, three of whom were shot by him, while they
were skinning it. Two other persons were killed In
Bushwick, three In Newtown, one at the Half-way House,
and others at Jamaica and Flushing.
In the year 1777, a police court was established In the
city of New York, under Mayor Matthews, and In 1780
another for Long Island, under Judge Ludlow, at Ja
maica. These courts decided. In a summary manner, con
troversies between the Inhabitants.
In the month of March, 1779, flour and bread stuffs
were very nearly exhausted In the British store houses at

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 345
New York. There was no good flour : and the Hessians,
who were In Brooklyn, drew damaged oat meal Instead
of bread; this meal, baked In cakes, was unfit for use;
and the writer has seen them cast to the swine, which
would not eat them. The soldiers were mutinous. All
the grain possessed by the farmers was estimated and
placed under requisition. The timely arrival of a few
victualling ships relieved the scarcity, and saved the Brit
ish from a surrender to the Americans to escape starva
tion. If the Hessians at this time received bread which
the hogs refused, what may we suppose to have been the
quality of that given to the prisoners? In 1777 the con
tinental paper money had depreciated so much that It
was of little value, and it was contrived to borrow money
for the use of the army from the whigs of Long Island.
Perfect secrecy was preserved in these transactions; and
before the year 1782, loans to a large amount were
obtained. Major Hendrick Wyckoff crossed the Sound
frequently, and was concealed at the house of Peter
Onderdonk at Cow Neck; from thence he came to the
house of his father at New Lots, and by his means a
large amount of money was procured, and safely con
veyed to headquarters at Poughkeepsie.
It was also decided that exchanges should be effected
of confidential officers, who were to be agents in these
transactions; and Colonel William Ellison, who was taken
at Fort Montgomery, was fixed upon as the first gentle
man who was to receive a loan. He was exchanged early
In November, and carried with him about $2000 In
gold to Governor Clinton, for the use of the country;
and a simple receipt given for the money.
I was In New York (says General Johnson) on the
25th of November, 1783 (the day of the evacuation of

346 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the city) and at the Provost, or city prison, about ten
o'clock In the morning, when an American guard reHeved
the British guard at that place. The latter joined a de
tachment of British troops, then on parade In Broadway,
which wheeled on the right, into platoons, and marched
down Broadway to the Battery, where they embarked
In boats, and went on board of the shipping lying at
anchor in the North River.
About eleven o'clock I saw General Washington and
suite, at the head of a detachment of American troops,
march down Pearl Street to the Battery; on their arrival
they expected to set the American stripes on the flag-staff,
but they found the halliards unrove, and the staff slushed.
The departing salute was fired ; and, before the last gun,
the American flag waved In the wind at the top of the
staff, over the heads of freemen — an American sailor
having managed to climb the staff with an halliard, which
he rove and descended; when the colors were hoisted to
the tree top amid the huzzas of thousands of spectators.
The sailor received his hat crown half full of silver pieces
for the service; while this last act of the British caused
feelings of unmlngled disgust In all who were present.

BATTLE OF BROOKLYN OR LONG ISLAND.
August, 1776.
This battle was the first of a series of disasters to the
American arms under Washington, which continued
throughout the campaign, until the batdes of Trenton
and Princeton closed the conflicts of the succeeding
winter. After the evacuation of Boston, In the spring of 1776,
by the British troops. New York was considered by the
home government as the next place of attack — a city
where the whole Invading force could be concentrated at
once — whose bay would allow the whole navy of Eng
land to ride In comparative security. A division of the
invading army, proceeding from Canada under Burgoyne
(then already In preparation), was to unite with another
division from the city of New York ascending the Hud
son, and thus divide the northern and New England
states, as well as separate In a measure the southern col
onies from the confederacy.
This plan had been arranged by Lord George Ger
maine, In council, at Whitehall. It was well arranged
and well devised; but it was far more grand In theory
than It proved to be in practice. Still It was evident that
they had made an extraordinary effort, in hopes of termi
nating the war at a single blow. New York being sit
uated near the centre of the colonial sea-board, and
readily accessible from the ocean, was selected by the
347

348 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
enemy as a principal point, and the most advantageous
position, for their future operations. In the month of
June, 1776, the first division of the Invading army
destined to attack New York arrived at Staten Island,
In July arrived also another portion of the grand arma
ment under Lord Howe, consisting of eight ships of the
line, over thirty frigates, and between one and two hun
dred troop and victualling transports. Never before nor
since was congregated so vast a fleet of ships of war In
the harbor of New York. Think of It now, reader;
after the arrival of Commodore Hotham, to add to the
fleet of Lord Howe, there were In our bay and Its imme
diate vicinity a dozen ships of the line, something like
forty frigates and sloops of war, and about three hun
dred vessels laden with troops and the necessary provi
sions, all to accommodate twenty-four thousand EngHsh,
Hessians and Waldeckers, in their attack upon the city
of New York ! Sometime in August, say near the middle,
the first detachment of the royal army landed at Graves
end and New Utrecht. Being well received by the
inhabitants, a large proportion of whom had remained
firm to the royal cause, a few days later the main body
landed from the ships, and the English standard floated
In triumph over a portion of Long Island.
Several regiments of Hessian Infantry were expected
to arrive shortly, when the army would be swelled to
the number of 35,000 combatants of the best troops of
Europe, all abundantly supplied with arms and ammu
nition, and manifesting an extreme ardor for the service
of their king. The plan was first to get possession of
New York, which was deemed of most essential Im
portance. Then if General Carleton, after having passed
the lakes of Canada, could penetrate to the banks of the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 349
Hudson, and descend the river, at the same time that
General Howe should ascend It, their junction would
have the Immediate effect of Interrupting all communi
cation between the provinces of New England on the
left bank, and those of the middle and south upon the
right. While General Howe was seconded in his in
vasion of New York by the twelve or thirteen thousand
men coming from Canada under Govemor Carleton, Gen
eral Clinton was to operate In the provinces of the south
and to attack Charleston. The American troops being
thus divided, and their generals surprised, and pressed
on so many sides at once. It was not doubted but that
the British arms would soon obtain a complete triumph.
But In executing this design they had counted too much
on an admirable concurrence of a, great number of parts,
and had not taken Into account the difficulties of the
winds and the seasons. Admiral Howe did not arrive
until after Clinton's expedition of Charleston had totally
miscarried. The army of Canada was entirely inter
rupted at the lakes. It was still, however, confidently
expected that General Howe would be able to make a
decisive campaign. To resist this impending storm.
Congress had ordained the constractlon of rafts, gun
boats, galleys and floating batteries, for the defence of
the port of New York and the mouth of the Hudson.
They had also decreed that 13,000 of the provincial
mlHtla should join the army of Washington, who, being
seasonably apprised of the danger of New York, had
made a movement Into that quarter; they also directed
the organization of a corps of 10,000 men, destined to
serve as a reserve In the provinces of the centre. All
the weakest posts had been carefully Intrenched and fur
nished with artillery. A strong detachment occupied

350 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Long Island to prevent the English from landing there,
or to repulse them If they should effect a debarkation.
But the army of Congress was very far from having
the necessary means to support the burden of so terrible
a war. It wanted arms, and it was wasted by disease.
The reiterated Instances of the commander-in-chief had
drawn Into his camp the militia of the neighboring prov
inces, and some regular regiments from Maryland,
Pennsylvania, and New England, which had swelled his
army to the number of 27,000 men; but a fourth of these
troops was composed of Invalids, and scarcely was an
other fourth furnished with arms. The American army,
such as It was, occupied the positions most suitable to
cover the menaced points. The corps which had been
stationed on Long Island was commanded by Major Gen
eral Greene, who. In consequence of sickness, was after
wards succeeded by General Putnam. The main body
of the army encamped on the island of New York, which,
it appeared, was destined to receive the first blows of
the English,
The Americans, anticipating the probable invasion of
Long Island, had fortified Brooklyn before the arrival
of the British at Staten Island, A line of Intrenchment
was formed from a ditch near the late Toll House of
the Bridge Company at the Navy Yard, to Fort Green,
then called Fort Putnam, and from thence to Freek's
mill pond, A strong work was erected on the lands of
Johannis Debevolse and of Van Brant; a redoubt was
thrown up on Boerum's Hill, opposite Brower's mill, and
another on the land of John Johnson, west of Fort
Green. Ponklesberg, since called Fort Swift (near the
raUroad tunnel), was fortified and a fort built upon the
land of Mr. Hicks on Brooklyn Heights,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 351
" We append herewith a letter from General Jeremiah
Johnson, Brooklyn's well known historian to the Long
Island Star, regarding the fortifications of the Ameri
cans before the battle, and of the British afterwards." Editor.
" Mr. Editor : — The writer deems It proper to place
before his fellow-citizens a brief sketch of the works of
defence constructed by the Americans, for the defence
of Brooklyn, in the year 1776, and also the works of de
fence constructed by the British, In the years 1781 and
1782, " In the year 1775 the hill now called Fort Green be
longed to John Cowenhoven, Senior, to his son. Rem
Cowenhoven, and to Casper Wooster. The place was
then woodland, and named Cowenhoven' s woods.
" In May, 1776, the Americans determined to fortify
Brooklyn, when the woodland on the hill was cut down,
and a fort was built on the hill, which was named Fort
Putnam. An entrenchment was dug from the ditch,
where the tannery now is, to Fort Putnam. From the
westerly side of the fort an entrenchment was dug across
the old Jamaica Road to the mill pond of Adolphus
Brower. About midway between Fort Putnam and the
Jamaica Road, and joining the entrenchment, a redoubt
was built on the land of John Johnson. A fort was con
structed on the land of Johannis Debevolse and Rutger
Van Brant, between the Jamaica Road and Brower's mill
pond. This fort was named Fort Green. A small re
doubt was built on the land of Nicholas Boerum opposite
to Brower's mill-dam. A small fort was built on Cobble
Hill, and a fort was constructed on the west side of the
ferry, along the margin of the hill, upon the land of
Jacob Hicks and others. This fort was named Fort
Sterling. Such were the American works of defence In
Brooklyn, on the 27th day of August, 1776.

352 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" The first ground broken by the British In Brookl3m
was done on the night of the 28th of August, 1776, upon
the land of George Debevoise, on the highest part of his
land, where an entrenchment was made on the night
aforesaid, and In the morning a firing from tWo field
pieces was opened upon Fort Putnam, but no man was
Injured by the guns. The ruins of this entrenchment
remained unlevelled fifteen years ago.
"After the 30th of August, 1776, the British had
peaceable possession of Brooklyn; and in the months of
October and November following, the American lines
were demolished.
" In the year 178 1 the fortune of the war had changed,
and the British commenced to fortify the hill now named
Fort Green; and In November, 1782, a very strong
fortress was finished on said hill. This British Fort was
rebuilt In the years 18 13 and 18 14, and then named Fort
Green. "In the years 1781-2, the British also built a large
strong fortress on the Heights, where Fort Sterling had
been; and in the spring and summer of the year 1782
a strong line of entrenchment was made from the hiU
of Rem A. Remsen, along the high land of John Rapelje,
crossing the present line of Sands street, near Jay street,
and thence over the highest land at Washington street to
the Jamaica road, and across the same to the large fort
upon the Heights.
" Such were the British works of defence In Brooklyn,
on the 25th day of November, 1783.
T 1 , o „ " Jeremiah Johnson."
July 5, 1847. •' -f
In addition to the defences of Brooklyn In 1776 a
chevaux de frise was sunk In the main channel of the
river below New York. The troops of both divisions
of the British army were landed on Staten Island after

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 353
their arrival In the bay, to recruit their strength and
prepare for the coming conflict. It was not tiU the 22d
of August that a landing on Long Island was made by
them at New Utrecht. Here they were joined by many
royalists from the neighborhood, who probably acted the
Infamous part of Informers and guides to the enemy.
Two feeble detachments guarded Governor's Island
and the point of Paulus Hook. The mUItia of the
province, commanded by the American general, Clinton,
were posted upon the banks of the Sound, where they
occupied the two Chesters, East and West, and New
Rochelle. For it was to be feared that the enemy, land
ing In force upon the north shore of the Sound, might
penetrate to Kingsbridge, and thus entirely lock up all
the American troops on the Island of New York. Lord
Howe made some overtures of peace upon terms of sub
mission to the royal clemency, which, resulting in nothing,
decided the British general to attack Long Island.
" Accordingly," says Botta, " on the twenty-second of
August, the fleet approached the Narrows; all the troops
found an easy and secure landing place between the vil
lages of Gravesend and New Utrecht, where they de
barked without meeting any resistance on the part of
the Americans. A great part of the American army,
under the command of General Putnam, encamped at
Brooklyn in a part of the Island Itself which forms a
sort of peninsula. He had strongly fortified the entrance
of it with moats and Intrenchments ; his left wing rested
upon the Wallabout Bay, and his right was covered by
a marsh contiguous to Gowanus Cove. Behind him he
had Governor's Island, and the arm of the sea which
separates Long Island from the Island of New York,
and which gave him a direct communication with the city.

354 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
where the other part of the army was stationed under
Washington himself. The commander-in-chief, perceiv
ing the battle was approaching, continually exhorted his
men to keep their ranks, and summon all their courage;
he reminded them that in their valor rested the only
hope that remained to American liberty; that upon their
resistance depended the preservation or the pillage of
their property by barbarians; that they were about to
combat In defence of their parents, their wives, and their
children, from the outrages of a licentious soldiery; that
the eyes of America were fixed upon her champions, and
expected, from their success on this day, either safety
or total destruction."
The English, having effected their landing, marched
rapidly forward. The two armies were separated by a
chain of hills, covered with woods, called the heights,
and which, running from west to east, divide the island
into two parts. They are only practicable upon three
points ; one of which is near the Narrows, the road lead
ing to that of the centre passes the village of Flatbush,
and the third Is approached, far to the right, by the
route of another village called Flatlands. Upon the
summit of the hills is found a road, which follows the
length of the range, and leads from Bedford to Jamaica,
which Is Intersected by the road last described; these ways
are all interrupted by precipices, and by excessively diffi
cult and narrow defiles.
The American general, wishing to arrest the enemy
upon these heights, had carefully furnished them with
troops; so that, If all had done their duty, the EngHsh
would not have been able to force the passages without
extreme difficulty and danger. The posts were so fre
quent upon the road from Bedford to Jamaica, that It

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 355
was easy to transmit, from one of these points to the
other, the most prompt InteUigence of what passed upon
the three routes.
It now becomes necessary to state the position of the
American troops on the evening preceding, and the
morning of the disastrous battle of Long Island — the
most disastrous of aU to the Americans during the whole
revolution, except that of Camden, in South Carolina,
where Gates was defeated.
Dusk had fallen on the evening of the 26th of August,
1776. The outposts of the American army extended
southerly along Brooklyn Heights, beyond Gowanus
Bay; and easterly to the WaUabout, or Walleboght,
where now lies the Navy Yard. A range of fortifications
had been thrown up across this peninsula, behind which,
their rear protected by the East River, lay some ten or
fifteen thousand troops under the command of General
Putnam. Along Gowanus Heights lay two or three regiments
of Maryland and Delaware riflemen and Pennsylvanlan
musketeers, to guard against the approach of the enemy
over the heights. Alas ! had the result of the day's battle
which succeeded their taking this position depended upon
them, no retreat would have been necessary; but It was
not to rest upon them, severely as they were handled by
the enemy.
The Jamaica road, leading Into Brooklyn, as It led
in a measure through the defiles, was the most important
of all passes. Strange as it may seem, it was not guarded,
as It should have been, on the night of the 26th August.
A great deal of blame has been attached to different
officers for the proceedings of that night; but a close
examination of the subject shows that It was the fault

356 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
chiefly of the subaltern In command that night, in not
guarding the Jamaica and Flatbush roads. Colonel
Miles, with his battalion, was to guard the road of Flat-
lands, and to scour It continually with his scouts, as well
as that of Jamaica, In order to reconnoitre the move
ments of the enemy. Meanwhile the British army
pressed forward, its left wing being to the north and Its
right to the south; the village of Flatbush was found
In Its centre. The Hessians, commanded by General
Helster, formed the main body; the English, under
Major General Grant, the left; and other corps, con
ducted by General Clinton and the two lords, Percy and
Cornwallls, composed the right. In this wing the British
generals had placed their principal hope of success; they
directed it upon Flatlands. Their plan was that while
the corps of General Grant and the Hessians of General
Helster should disquiet the enemy upon the first two
defiles, the left wing, taking a circuit, should march
through Flatlands, and endeavor to seize the point of
Intersection of this road with that of Jamaica; and then
rapidly descending into the plain which extends at the
foot of the heights upon the other side, should fall upon
the Americans in flank and rear. The English hoped
that, as this post was most distant from the centre of the
army, the advanced guard would be found more feeble
there, and perhaps more negligent; finally, they calcu
lated that. In all events, the Americans would not be able
to defend It against a force so superior. This right wing
of the English was the most numerous, and entirely com
posed of select troops.
On the evening of the 26th of August, General
Clinton commanded the vanguard, which consisted of
light infantry; Lord Percy the centre, where were found

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 357
the grenadiers, the artillery, and the cavalry; and Corn
wallls the rear-guard, followed by the baggage, some
regiments of Infantry and of heavy artiUery; aU this part
of the English army put Itself In motion with admirable
order and sUence, and leaving Flatlands traversed the
country caUed New Lots. Colonel MUes, who this night
performed his service with little exactness, did not per
ceive the approach of the enemy; so that two hours
before day the English were already within a half mile
of the road to Jamaica, upon the heights. Then General
Clinton halted, and prepared himself for the attack. He
had met one of the enemy's patrols, and made him pris
oner. General Sullivan, who commanded all the troops
In advance of the camp of Brooklyn, had no advice of
what passed In this quarter. He neglected to send out
fresh scouts; perhaps he supposed the English would
direct their principal efforts against his right wing, as
being the nearest to them.
General Clinton, learning from his prisoners that the
road to Jamaica was not guarded, hastened to avail him
self of the circumstance, and occupied It by a rapid move
ment. Without loss of time he Immediately bore to his
left towards Bedford, and seized an important defile,
which the American generals had left unguarded. From
this moment the success of the day was decided in favor
of the EngHsh. Lord Percy came up with his corps,
and the entire column descended by the village of Bed
ford from the heights Into the plain, which lay between
the hills and the camp of the Americans. During this
time General Grant, In order to amuse the enemy, and
divert his attention from the events which took place
upon the route of Flatlands, endeavored to disquiet him
upon his right; accordingly, as If he intended to force

358 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the defile which led to It, he had put himself in motion
about midnight, and had attacked the militia of New
York and of Pennsylvania, who guarded It. They at first
gave ground; but General Parsons being arrived, and
having occupied an eminence, he renewed the combat,
and maintained his position tiU Brigadier General Lord
Stirling came to his assistance with fifteen hundred men.
The action became extremely animated, and fortune
favored neither the one side nor the other. The Hes
sians, on their part, had attacked the centre at break
of day; and the Americans, commanded by General Sulli
van In person, valiantly sustained their efforts. At the
same time the English ships, after having made several
movements, opened a very brisk cannonade against a
battery established In the little island of Red Hook, upon
the right flank of the Americans who combated against
General Grant. This also was a diversion, the object of
which was to prevent them from attending to what passed
In the centre, and on the left. The Americans defended
themselves, however, with extreme gallantry. Ignorant
that so much valor was exerted In vain, since victory was
already in the hands of the enemy. General Clinton,
being descended Into the plain, fell upon the left flank
of the centre, which was engaged with the Hessians. He
had previously detached a small corps. In order to inter
cept the Americans.
As soon as the appearance of the English Hght infantry
apprized them of their danger, they sounded the retreat,
and retired In good order towards their camp, bringing
off their artiUery. But they soon fell In with the party
of the royal troops which had occupied the ground In
their rear, and who now charged them with fury; they
were compelled to throw themselves into the neighboring

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 359
woods, where they met again with the Hessians, who
repulsed them upon the English ; and thus the Americans
were driven several times by the one against the other
with great loss. They continued for some time In this
desperate situation, tlU at length several regiments, ani
mated by an heroic valor, opened their way through the
midst of the enemy, and gained the camp of General
Putnam; others escaped through the woods. The In
equality of the ground, the great number of positions
which It offered, and the disorder which prevailed
throughout the line were the cause that for several
hours divers partial combats were maintained. In which
many of the Americans fell.
Their left wing and centre being discomfited, the Eng
lish, desirous of a complete victory, made a rapid move
ment against the rear of the right wing, which, in igno
rance of the misfortune which had befallen the other
corps, was engaged with General Grant. FInaUy, having
received the InteUigence, they retired. But, encountering
the EngHsh, who cut off their retreat, a part of the sol
diers took shelter in the woods; others endeavored to
make their way through the marshes of Gowanus Cove ;
but here many were drowned in the waters or perished
in the mud ; a very small number only escaped the hot pur
suit of the victors, and reached the camp in safety. The
total loss of the Americans, In this battle, was estimated
at more than three thousand men. In killed, wounded,
and prisoners. Among the last were found General Sul
livan and Brigadier General Lord Stirling. Almost the
entire regiment of Maryland, consisting of young men
of the best families In that province, was cut to pieces.
Six pieces of cannon fell Into the power of the victors.
The loss of the English was very Inconsiderable; In

36o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
killed, wounded, and prisoners, It did not amount to four
hundred men.
The enemy encamped In front of the American lines;
and on the succeeding night broke ground within six
hundred yards of a redoubt on the left, threw up a
breastwork on the Wallabout heights, upon the Debe
voise farm, commenced firing on Fort Putnam, and
reconnoitred the American forces. The Americans were
here prepared to receive them; and orders Issued to the
men to reserve their fire till they could see the eyes of
the enemy. A few of the British officers reconnoitred
the position, and one, on coming too near, was shot by
William Van Cott of Bushwick. (Captain Rutgers,
brother of the late Colonel Rutgers, fell, August 26.)
Several other British troops were killed and the column,
which had Incautiously advanced, fell back beyond the
range of the American fire. In this critical state of the
American army on Long Island — ^In front, a numerous
and victorious enemy, with a formidable train of artil
lery; the fleet indicating an intention of forcing a passage
up the East River; the troops lying without shelter from
heavy rains, fatigued and dispirited — General Washing
ton determined to withdraw the army from the island.
This difficult movement was effected with great skill
and judgment, and with complete success. The retreat
was to have commenced at eight o'clock. In the evening
of the 29th; but a strong north-east wind and a rapid
tide caused a delay of several hours; a south-west wind
springing up at eleven, essentially facilitated the passage
from the island to the city ; and a thick fog hanging over
Long Island toward morning concealed all movements
from the enemy, who were so near that the sound of
their pick-axes and shovels was distinctly heard by the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 361
Americans. General Washington, as far as possible, in
spected every thing; from the commencement of the action
on the morning of the 27th till the troops were safely
across the river he never closed his eyes and was almost
constantly on horseback.
Within the American lines at Brooklyn, during the
Revolution, lived John Rapelje; who, being suspected of
disaffection to the American cause, had been sent by the
whigs to the Interior of Connecticut. His wife remained
In possession of the house, and probably felt more hostile
to the party who had deprived her of her husband, than
she would have done had he been permitted to remain
at home. The house was near the shore whence Gen
eral Washington embarked In his memorable retreat
from Long Island, In August, 1776. She obtained early
knowledge of this movement the night It took place, and
herself saw the first detachment push off. Thinking It a
good opportunity to be revenged upon those who, she
beHeved, had deeply Injured her family, she resolved to
Inform the British of what was taking place among their
enemies. She had no one to send, however, with the
Information, but a black servant; and accordingly des
patched him, with orders to communicate the Intelligence
to the first British officer he could find. The black suc
ceeded In passing the American sentinels, and made his
way to the neighboring camp; but, unluckily for the
success of his mission, came to a part of the encampment
where the Germans were stationed, and was stopped by
a soldier who did not understand English, and to whom,
consequently, he could not communicate the message.
He was committed, therefore, to the guard, as a sus
picious person, and kept until morning; when an officer,
visiting the post, examined him, and was Informed of

362 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
what had taken place during the night. The alarm was
Immediately given, but it was too late — ^Washington and
his troops were aU safely landed on the opposite shore.
After this, the British and their allies, the torles and
refugees, had possession of Long Island; and many dis
tressing scenes occurred, which were never made pubHc,
and can therefore never be known. The whigs who had
been at all active In behalf of independence, were
exiled from their homes, and their dweUIngs were objects
of Indiscriminate plunder. Such as could be taken were
Incarcerated in the churches of New Utrecht and Flat-
lands; while royalists, by wearing a red badge In their
hats, were protected and encouraged. It Is believed that
had Lord Howe availed himself of the advantage he
possessed by passing his ships up the river between
Brooklyn and New York, the whole American army must
have been almost Inevitably captured or annihilated.
General Washington saw but too plainly the policy which
might have been pursued, and wisely resolved rather to
abandon the island, than attempt to retain it at the risk
of sacrificing his army.
The unfortunate Issue of the battle of Long Island Is
doubtless to be ascribed, in part, to the Illness of General
Greene. He had superintended the erection of the works,
and become thoroughly acquainted with the ground. In
the hope of his recovery, Washington deferred sending
over a successor till the urgency of affairs made It abso
lutely necessary; and then General Putnam took the
command, without any previous knowledge of the posts
which had been fortified beyond the lines, or of the
places by which the enemy could make their approach;
nor had he time to acquire this knowledge before the
action. The consequence was, that, although he was the

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 363
commander on the day of the battle, he never went be
yond the lines at Brooklyn; and could give no other
orders than for sending out troops to meet the enemy at
different points. The following Is a letter to Congress,
describing the events of the day, by Colonel Harrison,
secretary to the commander-in-chief. " New York, 8 o'clock P. M.
27 Aug. i']']6.
" Sir: — ^I this minute returned from our lines on Long
Island, where I left his excellency the General. From
him I have It in command to inform Congress, that yes
terday he went there, and continued till evening, when,
from the enemy's having landed a considerable part of
their forces, and from many of their movements, there
was reason to apprehend they would make In a little
time a general attack. As they would have a wood to
pass through, before they could approach the lines, it
was thought expedient to place a number of men there,
on the different roads leading from where they were sta
tioned, in order to harass and annoy them in their march.
This being done, early this morning a smart engagement
ensued between the enemy and our detachments, which,
being unequal to the force they had to contend with, have
sustained a considerable loss; at least many of our men
are missing. Among those that have not returned are
General Sullivan and Lord Stirling. The enemy's loss
is not known certainly; but we are told by such of our
troops as were In the engagement, and have come In,
that they had many killed and wounded. Our party
brought off a lieutenant, sergeant, and corporal, with
twenty privates, prisoners.
" While these detachments were engaged, a column of
the enemy descended from the woods, and marched to
wards the centre of our lines with a design to make an

364 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
impression, but were repulsed. This evening they ap
peared very numerous about the skirts of the woods,
where they have pitched several tents ; and his excellency
Inclines to think they mean to attack, and force us from
our lines by way of regular approaches, rather than in
any other manner. To-day five ships of the line came
up towards the town, where they seemed desirous of get
ting, as they tried a long time against an unfavorable
wind; and, on my return this evening, I found a deserter
from the twenty-third regiment, who Informed me that
they design, as soon as the wind will permit them to
come up, to give us a severe cannonade, and to silence
our batteries if possible. I have the honor to be, in
great haste, Sir, your most obedient. " Robert H. Harrison."
As the two generals, who commanded In the engage
ment, were taken prisoners, no detailed official account
of the action was reported to the commander-in-chief.
The following letter from Lord Stirling, and extracts
from General Sullivan's, contain a few particulars not
hitherto published. Lord Stirling was a prisoner on
board Lord Howe's ship when he wrote.
Lord Stirling to General Washington
" Eagle, 29 August, 1776.
" My Dear General : — I have now an opportunity
of informing you of what has happened to me since I
had the pleasure of seeing you. About three o'clock in
the morning of the 27th, I was called up, and informed
by General Putnam that the enemy were advancing by
the road from Flatbush to the Red Lion, and he ordered
me to march with two regiments nearest at hand to meet
them. These happened to be Haslet's and Smallwood's,
with which I accordingly marched, and was on the road

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 365
to the Narrows just as the dayHght began to appear.
We proceeded to within about half a mile of the Red
Lion, and there met Colonel Atlee with his regiment,
who informed me that the enemy were in sight; Indeed,
I then saw their front between us and the Red Lion. I
desired Colonel Atlee to place his regiment on the left
of the road, and to wait their coming up; while I went
to form the two regiments I had brought with me, along
a ridge from the road up to a piece of wood on the
top of the hill. This was done Instantly on very advan
tageous ground.
" Our opponents advanced, and were fired upon in the
road by Atlee's regiment, who, after two or three rounds,
retreated to the wood on my left, and there formed. By
this time Kichline's riflemen arrived; part of them I
placed along a hedge under the front of the hill, and
the rest in the front of the wood. The troops opposed
to me were two brigades of four regiments each, under
the command of General Grant; who advanced their
light troops to within one hundred and fifty yards of our
right front, and took possession of an orchard there, and
some hedges, which extended towards our left. This
brought on an exchange of fire between those troops
and our riflemen, which continued for about two hours,
and then ceased by those Hght troops retiring to their
main body. In the mean time Captain Carpenter brought
up two field pieces, which were placed on the side of the
hill, so as to command the road, and the only approach
for some hundred yards. On the part of General Grant
there were two field pieces. One howitzer advanced to
within three hundred yards of the front of our right,
and a like detachment of artillery to the front of our
left. On a rising ground, at about six hundred yards'
distance, one of their brigades formed in two lines oppo
site to our right, and the other extended In one line to
the top of the hills, in the front of our left.

266 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" In this position we stood, cannonading each other
till near ii o'clock; when I found that General Howe,
with the main body of the army, was between me and
our lines; and I saw that the only chance of escaping
being all made prisoners, was, to pass the creek near the
Yellow Mills ; and. In order to render this the more prac
ticable, I found It absolutely necessary to attack the body
of troops commanded by Lord Cornwallls, posted at the
house near the Upper Mills. This I instantly did, with
about half of Smallwood's regiment; first ordering all
other troops to make the best of their way through the
creek. We continued the attack for a considerable time,
the men having been rallied, and the attack renewed, five
or six several times ; and we were on the point of driving
Lord Cornwallls from his station; but large reinforce
ments arriving, rendered It Impossible to do more than
provide for safety. I endeavored to get In between
that house and Fort Box; but, on attempting it, I found
a considerable body of troops in my front, and several
In pursuit of me on the right and left, and a constant
firing on me. I immediately turned the point of a hill,
which covered me from their fire, and was soon out of
the reach of my pursuers. I found that it would be in
vain to attempt to make my escape, and therefore went
to surrender myself to General de Helster, commander-
in-chief of the Hessians. Wm. Stirling."
General Sullivan to the President of Congress
"Whitemarsh, N. J., 25 October, iTJT-
" I know It has been generally reported that I com
manded on Long Island when action happened there.
This is by no means true. General Putnam had taken the
command from me four days before the action. Lord
Stirling commanded the main body within the lines. I
was to have commanded under General Putnam within

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 367
the Hues. I was uneasy about a road, through which I
had often foretold that the enemy would come, but could
not persuade others to be of my opinion. I went to the
hill near Flatbush to reconnoitre, and with a picket of
four hundred men was surrounded by the enemy, who had
advanced by the very road I had foretold, and which I
had paid horsemen fifty dollars for patroUIng by night,
while I had the command, as I had no foot for the pur
pose. " What resistance I made with these four hundred men
against the British army, I leave to the officers who were
with me to declare. Let it suffice for me to say, that the
opposition of the small party lasted from half past nine
to twelve o'clock.
" The reason of so few troops being on Long Island,
was because it was generally supposed that the enemy's
landing there was a feint, to draw our troops thither,
that they might the more easily possess themselves of New
York. I often urged, both by word and writing, that,
as the enemy had doubtless both these objects In view,
they would first try for Long Island, which commanded
the other; and then New York, which was completely
commanded by it, would fall of course. But In this I
was unhappy enough to differ from almost every officer
In the army till the event proved my conjectures were
just. John Sullivan."
The following extract of a letter from General Wm.
Smallwood, afterwards governor of Maryland, to the
Hon. Matthew Tilghman, president of the convention of
that state, contains some particulars not noticed In the
preceding account of the battle of Long Island.
"Headquarters, October 12, 1778.
" Sir : — Through your hands I must beg leave to ad
dress the honorable convention of Maryland, and con-

368 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
fess, not without an apprehension that I have incurred
their displeasure for having omitted writing when on our
march from Maryland for New York, and since our
arrival here; nor shall I in a pointed manner urge any
thing in my defence, but leave them at large, to condemn
or excuse me, upon a presumption, that should they con
demn, they will at least pardon, and judge me perhaps
less culpable, when they reflect In the first instance, on the
exertions necessary to procure baggage wagons, provi
sions and house room for 750 men, marched the whole
distance. In a body, generally from 15 to 20 mUes per
day, as the several stages made It necessary; and In the
latter, I trust they will give some indulgence for this neg
lect, for since our arrival at New York, it had been the
fate of this corps, to be generally stationed at advanced
posts, and to act as a covering party, which must unavoid
ably expose troops to extraordinary duty and hazard, not
to mention the extraordinary vigilance and attention, in
the commandant of such a party. In disposing In the best
manner, and having It regularly supplied; for here the
commanders of regiments, exclusive of their military duty,
are often obliged to exert themselves In the departments
of commissary, and quartermaster general, and even di
rectors of their regimental hospitals.
" Perhaps it may not be improper to give a short detail
of occurrences upon our march to Long Island and since
that period.
"The enemy from the 21st to the 27th of August,
were landing their troops on the lower part of Long
Island, where they pitched a large encampment, and our,
and their, advanced parties were daily skirmishing at long
shot, In which neither party suffered much. On the 26th
the Maryland and Delaware troops, which composed
part of Lord Stirling's brigade were ordered over. Colo
nel Haslet and his Lieutenant Colonel Hare, and myself,
were detained on the trial of Lieutenant Colonel Zed-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 369
Ivitz, and though I waited on General Washington, and
urged the necessity of attending our troops, yet he re
fused to discharge us, alleging there was a necessity for
the trials coming on, and that no other field officers
could be then had.
" After our dismission from the court martial, It was
too late to get over, but pushing over early the next
morning, found our regiments engaged. Lord Stirling
having marched them off before day, to take possession
of the woods and difficult passes, between our lines and
the enemy's encampment, but the enemy over night
had stole a march on our generals, having got through
those passes, met and surrounded our troops on the plain
grounds, within two miles of our lines. Lord Stirling
drew up his brigade on an advantageous rising ground,
where he was attacked by two brigades in front, headed
by the Generals Cornwallls and Grant, and In his rear the
enemy's main body stood ready drawn up to support their
own parties, and Intercept the retreat of ours ; this excel
lent disposition and their superior numbers ought to
have taught our generals, there was no time to be lost. In
securing their retreat; which might at first have been
effected, had the troops formed into a heavy column and
pushed their retreat; but the longer this was delayed. It
became the more dangerous, as they were then landing
more troops In front of the ships. Our brigade kept
their ground for several hours, and in general behaved
well, having received some heavy fires from the artil
lery and musketry of the enemy, whom they repulsed
several times, but their attacks were neither so lasting or
vigorous, as was expected, owing as it was imagined
to their being certain of making the whole brigade pris
oners of war; for by this time, they had so secured the
passes on the way to our lines (seeing our parties were
not supported from thence, which Indeed our numbers
would not admit of) that there was no possibiHty of

370 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
retreating that way. Between the place of action and our
lines there lay a large marsh, and deep creek, not above
80 yards across at the mouth, toward the head of which
there was a mill and bridge, across which a certain Colo
nel Ward from New England, who Is charged with having
acted a bashful part that day, passed over with his regi
ment, and then burnt them down, tho' under cover of
our cannon, which would have checked the enemy's pur
suit at any time, otherwise this bridge might have afforded
a secure retreat; there then remained no other prospect
but to surrender or attempt to retreat over this marsh
and creek at the mouth, where no person had ever been
known to cross. In the Interim I applied to General
Washington for some regiments to march out to support
and cover their retreat, which he urged would be attended
with too great risk to the party of the lines ; he immedi
ately sent for and ordered me to march down a New Eng
land regiment, and Captain Thomas' company, which had
just come over from York, to the mouth of the creek,
opposite where the brigade was drawn up, and ordered
two field pieces down, to support and cover their retreat,
should they make a push that way. Soon after our march,
they began to retreat, and for a small time the fire was
very heavy on both sides, till our troops came to the
marsh, where they were obliged to break their order
and escape as quick as they could to the edge of the
creek, under a brisk fire, notwithstanding which they
brought off 28 prisoners.
" The enemy taking advantage of a commanding
ground, kept up a continual fire from four field pieces,
which were well served and directed, and a heavy column
advancing on the marsh, must have cut our people off,
their guns being wet and muddy, not one of them could
have fired; but having drawn up the musketry and dis
posed of some riffemen conveniently, ordered £0 fire on
them when they came within shot; however the latter;

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 371
began their fire too soon, being at 200 yards distance,
which notwithstanding had the desired effect, for the
enemy Immediately retreated to the fast land, where they
continued parading within 600 yards, till our troops were
brought over ; most of those who swam over, and others
who attempted to cross before the covering party got
down, lost their arms and accoutrements in the mud and
creek, and some fellows their lives, particularly two of
the Delaware, one of Astley's Pennsylvania, and two
Hessian prisoners were drowned.
" Thomas' men contributed much In bringing over this
party — have enclosed a list of the killed and missing,
amounting to 256, officers Included. It has been said the
enemy during the action also attacked our lines, but this
was a mistake ; not knowing the ground, one of their col
umns advanced within long shot, without knowing they
were so near, and upon our artillery and part of the mus
ketry's firing on them, they retreated.
"The 28th, during a very hard rain, there was an
alarm that the enemy had advanced to attack our lines,
which alarmed the troops much, but was without founda
tion. The 29th, It was found by a council of war that
our fortifications were not tenable, and it was therefore
judged expedient that the army should retreat from the
Island that night; to effect which, notwithstanding the
Maryland troops had had but one day's respite, and many
other troops had been many days clear of any detail duty,
they were ordered on the advanced part of Fort Putnam,
within 250 yards of the enemy's approaches and, joined
with two Pennsylvania regiments on the left, were to
remain and cover the retreat of the army, which was
happily completed under cover of a thick fog and a south
west wind, both which favored our retreat, otherwise the
fear, disorder and confusion of some of the eastern
troops, must have retarded and discovered our retreat
and subjected numbers to be cut off.

372 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" After remaining two days in New York, our next
station was at Harlaem, nine miles above, at an advanced
post opposite to Montresores and Bohama's Islands,
which In a few days the enemy got possession of without
opposition, from the former of which we daily dis
coursed with them, being within 200 yards and only a
small creek between.
" I am very respectfully, your obt. and very humble
servant, W. Smallwood."
The following additional facts in relation to the re
treat of the American army to New York, will close our
account of this memorable engagement, of the 27th
August, 1776:
" On, the morning of the 29th of August, 1776, a
council of officers was held at the quarters of Washing
ton, in the city of New York. Those assembled to take
part In the deliberations. Introduced by the commander-
in-chief, were Putnam, Parsons, Mifflin, McDougal,
Spencer, Scott, Wadsworth, and Fellows. It was decided
that there was no way of preserving the army then within
the lines at Brooklyn, but by bringing them off. To
attempt this was a most dangerous and hazardous
experiment. The East River, at Its narrowest part, was
near half a mile wide, and the enemies' vessels of war
lay both above and below the places of embarkation;
while within a hundred yards of the entrenchments on
Long Island, a victorious army, supplied with every
facility and means of attack, had broke ground, pre
paratory to storming the earthen ramparts which pro
tected the Americans.
" Near ten thousand troops were, in the face of all
these difficulties, to be taken over this river, with aU their
ammunition and stores, or else In a few days they would

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 373
be forced into a surrender. Let the reader think for a
few moments calmly over this matter, as If It were to
happen even at this day. Suppose that ten thousand
American militia were pent up in Brooklyn, and behind
them an overwhelming force, separated only by a few
earthen redoubts, armed with every thing needful for
attack: beyond Corlaer's Hook lay several frigates and
vessels of war, and below Governor's Island a number
of still heavier ships belonging to the same enemy: no
steamboats, no ferryboats crossing, and on the New York
side only a few scows and sloops, instead of the endless
shipping you now see lying In the East River! Would
it not seem a desperate undertaking to bring over ten
thou^nd men in the face of such difficulties? Yet it was
done in 1776 by Washington — done when the thing
looked still drearier than we have supposed. If Wash
ington had performed nothing else during the revolution
but accomplishing this feat. It would have ranked him
among the great military commanders of the age.
" Washington, in this masterly retreat, concealed his
movements and intentions completely. It was given in
evidence before a committee of the House of Lords after
Burgoyne's defeat, that the American leaders always con
cealed their real movements, whilst in the British camp
it seemed as If the proceedings of their council of officers
were known as soon as they had dissolved. Not an officer
in the lines, except the general officers, had the least idea
that a retreat was intended; but all expected that a de
fence was to be made, which, placed In the most favorable
point of view, was doubtful as to its security.
" Throughout the 28th and 29th the weather was bad
In the extreme, and rained heavily. On the 29th, all the
boats, scows and vessels of every kind and nature that
were capable of crossing the East River, were collected
on the New York side as privately as possible. Boats
were drawn on rollers. In many Instances from the North

374 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
to the East River, to prevent observation from the men-
of-war that lay In the bay below the city.
" All day during the 29th, a constant skirmishing was
kept up between the two lines. The situation of the
Americans was unpleasant In the extreme. They had no
tents, and their rations were pickled pork and biscuit; but
they had no fire to cook the former, and a two days'
soaking to the best of troops Is uncomfortable. Yet the
brave fellows murmured not. They swallowed their
daily gill of rum with a toast to ' the good cause, and
better luck next battle I ' "
" It was 10 o'clock on the night of the 29th of August,
1776, that Washington himself took his station on the
ferry stairs, (where now is the Fulton ferry,) to superin
tend the embarkation. Calm, cool, and composed, he
Issued his orders. The artillery and baggage were first
brought down and placed on board the heavy barges,
with all the stores and ammunition. This occupied sev
eral hours. Recollect, reader. It was done within gun shot
of twenty thousand of the best troops In the world. Next
followed the embarkation of the troops, the nearest regi
ments from right to left marching down to the ferry, and
the troops In the lines gradually moving down to the sta
tions occupied by the regiments embarked. The sentries
were left In their usual stations, to deceive the enemy,
with orders not to move from their position till a certain
hour, when they would all be called In, and a special boat
or boats left for their embarkation.
" For two days after the battle many stragglers
reached the American camp, having concealed themselves
In the woods. General Parsons escaped in this way the
day after the fight.
" Day broke drearily In the east, yet still several regi
ments remained to be embarked. Fortunately a heavy
mist rose, that completely enveloped the American lines,
and by seven o'clock the last boats had left the shore.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 375
The sun broke out in full glory as the last of the troops
reached New York, showing on the opposite side the foe,
who had thus, by the skill and perseverance of Washing
ton, been deprived of the capture of ten thousand men
that Howe considered certain within his grasp. Heaven
smiled on our cause ! — Heaven was with us ! "

HISTORY OF THE PRISON-SHIPS
There are no great circumstances connected with the
annals of the American Revolution, so perfectly calcu
lated to harrow up the feelings in their recollection, after
the lapse of more than half a century, as those terrible
scenes of affliction, to which many of the best and bravest
spirits were subjected In that eventful period, and who,
with virtuous desperation, sacrificed their lives In a man
ner most terrible and appalling, that by pestilence and
starvation. Doubtless, a very small proportion of the
sufferings actually experienced have ever met the Hght;
and only a part of what is known can find a place In this
work, as it would require a volume to do the subject ade
quate justice.
In 1776, and for six years next following, there were
stationed at the Wallabout, near Brooklyn, several con
demned hulks, used for the reception and confinement
of American seamen taken prisoners by the British.
For many of the facts in connection with this exciting
subject, we are Indebted to a communication made by
General Jeremiah Johnson, to the editors of the Naval
Magazine, for September, 1836, and tq statements made
to the world at different times, by individuals who had
been incarcerated In those loathsome store-houses of
disease and death. From journals published in New
York at the close of the war. It appears that eleven thou
sand five hundred American prisoners had died on board
the prison-ships. Although the number Is very great,
376

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 377
stIU, If the number who perished had been less, the com
missary of naval prisoners, David Sproat, Esq., and his
deputy, had It In their power, by an official return, to
give the tme number exchanged, escaped, and dead.
Such a return has never appeared In the United States.
This man returned to America after the war, and resided
In Philadelphia, but died in Scotland. He could not have
been ignorant of the statements published here on this
Interesting subject. We may therefore Infer, that about
that number perished In the prison-ships. A large trans
port, named the " Whitby," was the first prison-ship an
chored In the Wallabout. She was moored near " Rem-
sen's Mill," about the 20th of October, 1776, and was
then crowded with prisoners. Many landsmen were
prisoners on board this vessel; she was said to be the
most sickly of all the prison-ships. Bad provisions, bad
water, and scanted rations were dealt to the prisoners.
No medical men attended the sick. Disease reigned un-
reHeved, and hundreds died from pestilence, or were
starved, on board this floating prison. Indeed, the sand-
beach between a ravine of the hill and Mr. Remsen's
dock became filled with graves In the course of two
months; and before the ist of May, 1777, the ravine
alluded to was Itself occupied In the same way. In the
month of May of that year two large ships were an
chored In the Wallabout, when the prisoners were trans
ferred from the " Whitby " to them. These vessels were
also very sickly, from the causes before stated. Although
many prisoners were sent on board of them, and none
exchanged, death made room for all. On a Sunday after
noon, about the middle of October, 1777, one of the
prison-ships was burned; the prisoners, except a few,
who. It was said, were burned In the vessel, were removed

378 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
to the remaining ship. It was reported, at the time, that
the prisoners had fired their prison ; which. If true, proves
that they preferred death, even by fire, to the lingering
sufferings of pestilence and starvation. In the month of
March, 1780, the remaining prison-ship was burned at
night; when the prisoners were removed from her to the
ships then wintering In the Wallabout. In the month of
April, 1780, the old " Jersey " was moored In the Wall
about, and all the prisoners (except the sick) were trans
ferred to her. The sick were carried to two hospital
ships, named the " Hope " and the " Falmouth," anchored
near each other, about two hundred yards east from the
" Jersey." These ships remained In the Wallabout until
New York was evacuated by the British. The " Jersey "
was the receiving ship — the others, truly, the ships of
Death I It has been generally thought that aU the pris
oners died on board of the " Jersey." This is not true;
many may have died on board of her, who were not re
ported as sick; but all the men who were placed on the
sick list were removed to the hospital ships, from which
they were usually taken, sewed up in a blanket, to their
long home.
The " Jersey " was originally a British ship of the line.
She was rated and registered as a sixty-four gun ship,
but had usually mounted seventy-four guns. At the com
mencement of the American Revolution, being an old
vessel, and proving to be much decayed, she was entirely
dismantled, and soon after was moored In the East
River, at New York, and converted into a store-ship. In
the year 1780, she was fitted as a prison-ship, and was
used for that purpose during the war. Fears being very
naturally felt that the destmctive contagion by which so
many of her unfortunate Inmates had been swept away,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 379
might spread to the shore, she was, In consequence, re
moved, and moored, with chain cables, at the WaUabout,
a soHtary and unfrequented place on the shore of Long
Island, She had been dismantled, and her rudder un
hung. Her only spars were the bowsprit, a derrick for
taking In supplies of water, &c., and a flag-staff at the
stern. Her port holes had aU been closed and strongly
fastened, and two tier of smaU holes cut through her
sides. These holes were about ten feet apart, each being
about twenty inches square, and guarded by two strong
bars of Iron, crossing It at right angles ; thus leaving four
contracted spaces, which admitted light by day, and
served as breathing holes at night.
After the hospital ships were brought Into the Wall
about, It was reported that the sick were attended by
physicians; few, very few, however, recovered. It was
no uncommon thing to see five or six dead bodies brought
on shore In a single morning; when a smaU excavation
would be made at the foot of the hill, the bodies be
cast in, and a man with a shovel would cover them by
shovelling sand down the hill upon them. Many were
burled In a ravine on the hlU; some on the farm. The
whole shore, from Rennle's Point to Mr. Remsen's door-
yard, was a place of graves; as were also the slope of
the hlU near the house, the shore from Mr. Remsen's
bam along the mill-pond to Rapelje's farm, and the
sandy Island, between the flood-gates and the mill dam;
while a few were buried on the shore, the east side of the
Wallabout. Thus did Death reign here, from 1776 until
the peace. The whole Wallabout was a sickly place
during the war. The atmosphere seemed to be charged
with foul air, from the prison-ships, and with the effluvia
of the dead bodies, washed out of their graves by the

.380 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
tides. We have ourselves examined many of the skulls
lying on the shore; from the teeth, they appear to be
the remains of men In the prime of life. A singularly
daring and successful escape was effected from the
" Jersey," about four o'clock one afternoon. In December,
1780. The best boat of the ship had returned from
New York, and was left fastened at the gangway, with
the oars on board. It was stormy; the wind blew from
the north-east, and the tide ran flood, A watch-word
was given, and a number of prisoners placed themselves
between the ship's waist and the sentinel; at this juncture
four eastern captains got on board the boat, which was
cast off by their friends. The boat passed close under
the bows of the ship, and was a considerable distance
from her, before the sentinel on the forecastle gave the
alarm and fired at her. The boat passed Hell Gate, and
arrived safe In Connecticut next morning.
The Rev. Thomas Andros, late pastor of the church
In Berkeley, Mass., who was himself a prisoner on board
the old " Jersey," prison-ship, remarks (In The Old
Jersey Captive), as follows:
" This was an old sixty-four gun ship, which, through
age, had become unfit for further actual service. She
was stripped of every spar and all her rigging. After a
battle with a French fleet, her lion figure-head was taken
away to repair another ship ; no appearance of ornament
was left, and nothing remained but an old, unsightly,
rotten hulk. Her dark and filthy external appearance
perfectly corresponded with the death and despair that
reigned within, and nothing could be more foreign from
truth than to paint her with colors flying, or any cir
cumstance or appendage to please the eye. She was
moored about three-quarters of a mile to the eastward of
Brooklyn ferry, near a tide-mill on the Long Island shore.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 381
The nearest distance to land was about twenty rods. And
doubtless no other ship in the British navy ever proved
the means of the destruction of so many human beings.
It Is computed that not less than eleven thousand Amer
ican seamen perished in her. But after It was known
that It was next to certain death to confine a prisoner
here, the inhumanity and wickedness of doing it was about
the same as if he had been taken Into the city and delib
erately shot in some public square. But as if mercy had
fled from the earth, here we were doomed to dwell. And
never while I was on board, did any Howard or angel
of pity appear to inquire Into, or alleviate our woes.
Once or twice, by the order of a stranger on the quarter
deck, a bag of apples was hurled promiscuously Into the
midst of hundreds of prisoners crowded together, as thick
as they could stand, and life and limbs were endangered
by the scramble. This, Instead of compassion, was a
cruel sport. When I saw It about to commence, I fled to
the most distant part of the ship.
" On the commencement of the first evening, we were
driven down to darkness between decks, secured by iron
gratings, and an armed soldiery. And a scene of horror,
which baffles all description, presented itself. On every
side, wretched, desponding shapes of men could be seen.
Around the well-room an armed guard were forcing up
the prisoners to the winches, to clear the ship of water,
and prevent her sinking, and little else could be heard
but a roar of mutual execrations, reproaches, and insults.
During this operation there was a small dim Hght ad
mitted below, but it served to make darkness more visible,
and horror more terrific. In my reflections I said, this
must be a complete Image and anticipation of HeU. Mil
ton's description of the dark world rushed upon my
mind : — " Sights of woe, regions of sorrow, doleful
Shades, where peace and res: can never dwell."

382 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" If there was any principle among the prisoners that
could not be shaken. It was the love of their country. I
knew no one to be seduced Into the British service. They
attempted to force one of our prize brig's crew Into the
navy, but he chose rather to die, than perform any duty,
and was again restored to the prison ship.
" When I first became an Inmate of this abode of suffer
ing, despair, and death, there were about four hundred
prisoners on board, but In a short time they amounted to
twelve hundred. And In proportion to our numbers, the
mortality increased.
" All the most deadly diseases were pressed Into the
service of the king of terrors, but his prime ministers
were dysentery, small pox, and yellow fever. There were
two hospital ships, ' Hunter ' and ' Scorpion,' near to
the old ' Jersey,' but these were soon so crowded with
the sick, that they could receive no more. The conse
quence was that the diseased and the healthy were mingled
together in the main ship. In a short time we had two
hundred or more sick and dying, lodged In the fore part
of the lower gun deck, where all the prisoners were con
fined at night. Utter derangement was a common symp
tom of yellow fever, and to Increase the horror of the
darkness that shrouded us (for we were allowed no light
between decks) the voice of warning would be heard,
' take heed to yourselves. There Is a mad man stalking
through the ship with a knife In his hand.' I sometimes
found the man a corpse In the morning, by whose side I
laid myself down at night. At another time he would
become deranged, and attempt in darkness to rise, and
stumble over the bodies that every where covered the
deck. In this case I had to hold him In his place by main
strength. In spite of my efforts he would sometimes rise,
and then I had to close in with him, trip up his heels, aiid
lay him again upon the deck. While so many were sick
with raging fever there was a loud cry for water, but

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 383
none could be had except on the upper deck, and but one
allowed to ascend at a time. The suffering then from
the rage of thirst during the night was very great. Nor
was It at all times safe to attempt to go up. Provoked
by the continual cry for leave to ascend, when there was
already one on deck, the sentry would push them back
with his bayonet. By one of these thrusts, which was
more spiteful and violent than common, I had a narrow
escape of my life. In the morning the hatch-ways were
thrown open, and we were allowed to ascend, all at once,
and remain on the upper deck during the day. But the
first object that met our view in the morning was an ap
palling spectacle. A boat loaded with dead bodies, con
veying them to the Long Island shore, where they were
very slightly covered with sand. I sometimes used to
stand and count the number of times the shovel was filled
with sand, to cover a dead body. And certain I am that
a few high tides or torrents of rain, must have disinterred
them. And had they not been removed, I should suppose
the shore, even now, would be covered with huge piles of
the bones of American seamen. There were, probably,
four hundred on board, who had never had the small
pox, — some, perhaps, might have been saved by Inocu
lation. " But humanity was wanting to try even this experi
ment. Let our disease be what It would, we were aban
doned to our fate. Now and then an American physician
was brought in as a captive, but if he could obtain his
parole he left the ship. Nor could we much blame him
for this; for his own death was next to certain, and his
success In saving others by medicine in our situation was
smaU. I remember only two American physicians who
tarried on board a few days. No English physician, or
any one from the city, ever, to my knowledge, came
near us. There were thirteen of the crew to which I
belonged, but in a short time all died, but three or four.

384 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The most healthy and vigorous were first seized with the
fever, and died In a few hours. For them there seemed
to be no mercy. My constitution was less muscular and
plethoric, and I escaped the fever longer than any of the
thirteen, except one, and the first onset was less violent."
Andros was allowed to go on shore for water, and so
escaped, hiding by day and travelling by night, till he
reached Sag Harbor, whence he crossed to Connecticut.
Mr. John Manley, who was confined on board one of
the ships, gives the following account, viz :
" During three months' confinement in the summer of
178 1, and one of the ' eight hundred and fifty souls ' that
It contained, half-starved for bread and famished for
water, consequently drove to desperation, frequent daring
attempts to escape were made. I witnessed several of
them, and they generally ended tragically. They were al
ways undertaken in the night, after wrenching or filing
the bars of the port-holes (she was an old sixty-four).
Having been on board several weeks, and goaded to death
In various ways, four of us concluded to run the hazard.
We set to work and got the bars off, and waited impa
tiently for a dark night; we lay In front of Mr. Remsen's
door, Inside of the pierhead, and not more than twenty
yards distant. There were two guard sloops, one on our
bow and the other off our quarter, a short distance from
us. ' The dark night ' came — the first two were lowered
quietly into the water — the third made some rumbling. I
was the fourth that descended, but had not struck off
from the vessel before the guards were alarmed, and
fired upon us. The alarm became general, and I was im
mediately hauled on board. They manned their boats,
and with their lights and Implements of death, were quick
In pursuit of the unfortunates, cursing and swearing, and
bellowing and firing. It was awful to witness this scene

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 385
of blood. It lasted about one hour — all on board trem
bling for our shipmates. These desperadoes returned to
their different vessels, rejoicing that they killed three of
the d — d rebels."
The number that perished on board these ships, is said
to be more than 10,000, as the writer. Captain Thomas
Dring, feelingly observes — " thousands there suffered
and died, whose names have never been known to their
countrymen. They died where no eye could witness their
fortitude, no tongue describe their sufferings, or praise
their devotion to their country."
" For years, the very name of the old ' Jersey,' seemed
to strike a terror to the hearts of those whose necessities
required to venture upon the ocean ; the mortality which
prevailed on board her was well known throughout the
country; and to be confined within her dungeons, was
considered equal to a sentence of death, from which but
Httle hope of escape remained."
The first day. — After getting on board, he describes
the prisoners as being a motley crew of wretches, with
tattered garments and pallid visages, shrunken and de
cayed, who but a short time before had breathed the
pure breezes of the ocean, " or danced lightly In the
flower-scented air of the meadow and the hill; and had
from thence been hurried into the pent-up air of a
crowded prison-ship, pregnant with putrid fever, foul
with deadly contagion ; here to linger out the tedious and
weary day, the disturbed and anxious night; to count
over the days and weeks and months of a wearying and
degrading captivity, unvaried but by new scenes of pain
ful suffering, and new inflictions of remorseless craelty;
their brightest hope and their daily prayer, that death

386 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
would not long delay to release them from their tor
ments." " During the night, in addition to my other sufferings,
I had been tormented with what I supposed to be vermin;
and on coming upon deck, I found that a black silk hand
kerchief, which I wore around my neck, was completely
spotted with them. Although this had often been men
tioned as one of the miseries of the place, yet as I had
never before been In a situation to witness any thing of
the kind, the sight made me shudder ; as I knew, at once,
that so long as I should remain on board, these loathsome
creatures would be my constant companions and unceasing
tormentors. " During my confinement In the summer of 1782, the
average number of prisoners on board the ' Jersey ' was
about one thousand. They were composed of the crews
of all nations, with whom the English were at war — ^but
far the greater number were Americans.
" The ' Jersey ' at length became so crowded, and the
mortality on board so Increased, that room could not be
found on board the hospital ships for their reception."

Such was the condition and treatment of the sick, that
few ever came out alive. Every thing belonging to the
dying and the dead was claimed by the nurses, and was
generally secured at the first opportunity.*
* " Each day at least six carcasses we bore,
And scratch'd them graves along the sandy shore.
By feeble hands the shallow graves were made.
No stone memorial o'er the corpses laid.
In barren sands, and far from home they lie,
No friend to shed a tear when passing by;
O'er the mean tombs insulting Britons tread.
Spurn at the sand, and curse the rebel dead." Freneau's Poem.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 387
The following Is extracted from a communication of
Alexander Coffin, Jun,, In answer to some Inquiries In
relation to the sufferings of the prison-ships, on board of
which he was confined,
" The first time I was on board the ' Jersey,' prison-
ship, was in 1782. I was taken in a letter of marque from
Baltimore, bound for Havana, by the king's frigate Ceres,
on board of which we were treated In a most shameful
and barbarous manner by her commander. From that
ship we were put on board the ' Champion,' of twenty-
four guns, brought into this port, and from her sent on
board the ' Jersey,' prison-ship, where I found about
1,100 American prisoners; amongst them several of my
own townsmen, and all the prisoners In a most deplorable
situation. " I soon found that every spark of humanity had fled
the breasts of the British officers, who had charge of that
floating receptacle of human misery; and that nothing but
abuse and Insult was to be expected ; for the mildest lan
guage made use of to the prisoners was. You damn'd Yan
kee; and the most common. You damn'd rebellious Yan
kee rascals. This language at length became so familiar
to our ears, however Insulting It was at first, that we took
no more notice of it than we did of the whistling of the
wind, passing over our heads. Many of the prisoners,
during the severity of winter, had scarcely clothes suffi
cient to cover their nakedness, and but very few enough
to keep them warm : to remedy those Inconveniences we
were obliged to keep below, and either get into our ham-
m.ocks or keep in constant motion, without which precau
tions we must have perished. But to cap the climax of
Infamy, we were fed (if fed It might be called) with
provisions not fit for any human being to make use
of; putrid beef and pork, and worm-eaten bread, con
demned on board their ships of war, were sent on

388 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
board the ' Jersey ' to feed the prisoners ; water sent
from this city In a schooner called (emphatically) the
' Relief ' ! — water, which I affirm, without the fear of
refutation, was worse than I ever had, or ever saw,
on a three years' voyage to the East Indies; water,
the scent of which would have discomposed the ol
factory nerves of a Hottentot; while within a cable's
length of the ship, on Long Island, there was ranning be
fore our eyes, as though Intended to tantalize us, as fine,
pure, and wholesome water as any man would wish to
drink. The question will be very naturally asked, why, if
good water was so near at hand, it was not procured for
us Instead of bringing It at considerable expense and trou
ble from the city ? It is Impossible for any one, but those
who had the direction of the business, to answer that
question satisfactorily; but the object In bringing the
water from New York, was to me, and the rest of the
prisoners, as self evident as the plain and simple fact that
two and two make four: because the effects that water
had on the prisoners could not be concealed, and were a
damning proof why It was filled In New York. On the
upper gun deck of the ' Jersey,' hogs were kept In pens,
by those officers who had charge of her, for their own use;
they were sometimes fed with bran; the prisoners, when
ever they could get an opportunity undiscovered by the
sentries, would, with their tin pots, scoop the bran from
the troughs and eat It (after boiling, when there was fire
In the galley, which was not always the case) with seem
ingly as good an appetite as the hogs themselves.*
• Mr. James McClean, who escaped from a prison-ship, thus describes
the circumstances of the attempt to retake him:
" They pursued me," says he ; "I frequently dived to evade them, and
when I came up, they fired on me. I caught my breath, and immediately
dove again, and held my breath, till I crawled along on the mud. They
no doubt thought they had killed me. I, however with much exertion,
though weak and wounded, made out to reach shore, and with much
langour got into a barn, not far from the ship, a little north of Mr.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 389
" The second and last time I was on board the prison-
ship, was in February and March, 1783, just before peace
took place. I was taken In a brig from Providence,
R. I., off the capes of Virginia, by the ' Fair American,'
privateer of this port, commanded and officered prin
cipally with refugees; though it is doing Capt. Burton
but bare justice to declare, that he treated us civilly, and
with much more humanity than I had before experienced
from Hawkins, commander of the British king's ship
' Ceres,' whose Inveterate hatred of Americans was never
exceeded by any man living. The only hard treatment on
board the ' Fair American ' was being kept In irons the
whole time : but that was a precautionary measure on the
part of her commander; there being so many prisoners
on board, who doubtless would have avaUed themselves
of any opportunity that might have offered, to have risen
upon the privateer. We were brought within the Hook
by her, and sent up to the city In a pilot-boat. We had
our irons knocked off at the Crane-wharf, and from thence
we were sent on board the ' Jersey,' In the schooner
' ReHef,' before mentioned. On my arrival again on
board the ' Jersey,' which I had left but a few months
before, I found more prisoners than I had left, though
but very few of my former fellow prisoners: some of
them had got away, but the greater part had paid
the debt of nature, and their bones, with others, are
Remson's house. The farmer, the next morning, came into his barn — saw
me laying on the floor, and ran out in a fright. I begged him come to
me and he did. I gave an account of myself — where I was from — how
I was pursued, with several others. He saw my wounds; took pity on
me, and acted the part of the good Samaritan; sent for his wife, and
bound up my wounds, and kept me in the barn till nightfall— took me
into his house — nursed me secretly, and then furnished me with clothing,
&c.; and when I was restored, he took me with him, into his market boat,
to this city, and went with me to the west part of the city— procured me
a passage over to Bergen, and I landed somewhere in Communipaw.
Some friends helped me across Newark Bay, and then I worked my way,
until I reached Baltimore, to the great joy of all my friends."

390 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the objects of your present solicitude and patriotic exer
tions. " There being so many prisoners on board the ' Jersey,'
and others daily arriving, two or three hundred of us
were sent on board the ' John ' transport, which they had
converted Into a prison-ship, and where the treatment we
received was much worse than on board the ' Jersey.'
We were subjected to every insult, every Injury, and
every abuse that the fertile genius of the British officers
could Invent and Inflict. For more than a month we were
obliged to eat our scanty allowance, bad as It was, without
cooking, as no fire was allowed us ; and I verily beheve
this was the means of hastening many out of existence.
One circumstance I think deserves particular notice, as It
was a most singular one : A young man of the name of
Bird, a native of Boston or its neighborhood, was one eve
ning, with others, playing at cards to pass away the time.
At about ten o'clock I retired with my cousin to our ham
mock; we had but just got asleep when we were called by
one of the card party, who requested us to turn out, for
that Bird was dying; we did turn out, and went to where
he lay, and found him in the agonies of death; and In
about fifteen or twenty minutes he was a corpse. It was
mentioned to the sentry at the gangway that one of the
prisoners was dead, and the body was soon hurried on
deck. The Impression Bird's death made on our minds
is still fresh In my recollection : that he was poisoned we
had no doubt, as his body swelled considerably, and two
hours before, he was to all appearance, as well as any
of us. Many, shortly after, went off In the same manner,
and amongst them my cousin, Oliver C. Coffin. I did but
just escape the same fate : I was taken lU before I left
the prison-ship, and my legs began to sweU; but being
exchanged or rather being bought off, I made out to reach
my father's house. In a most deplorable situation. I
was attended in my sickness by a noted tory physician.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 391
Dr. Tupper, who declared to my mother, that nothing
could have saved my Hfe but having, as he expressed It,
a constitution of iron; for that he knew of nothing that
could have affected me In the manner In which I was
affected but poison of some kind or other. Is It possible
"then, after all these facts, for any person to form any
other opinion than that there was a premeditated, organ
ized system pursued to destroy men whom they dare not
meet openly and manfully as enemies, In that base, in
human and cowardly manner. It Is an old adage, and a
very true one, that the brave are generous, and the coward
savage and cruel ; and It was never more completely ex
emplified than In the conduct of the British officers In this
country during the revolution. Their cruelties here and
in India have become proverbial. Let it not be said In
extenuation, that those cruel deeds were necessary to re
press the spirit of revolt, for every man of common sense
knows that cruelties exercised towards revolters, unless
they can be completely subdued, only tend to irritate and
urge them on to a more determined and desperate re
sistance. We acknowledge we were revolters, but our
revolt was legitimate; we revolted against oppression,
against a government that had revolted (If I may be al
lowed to use the expression) against its own subjects, and
violated the most sacred of all duties towards Its people
— the duty of defending and protecting their constitutional
rights and privileges, which had been left them as a legacy
by their brave ancestors, who had fought and bled to
obtain them, in common with Englishmen.
" There are other facts which, perhaps, are not gen
erally known to the American people, that I shall mention.
One is, that a man of the name of Gavot, a native of
Rhode Island, died, as was supposed, and was sewed up
in his hammock, and in the evening carried upon deck,
to be taken with others who were dead, and those who
might die during the night, on shore to be interred (in

392 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
their mode of interring). During the night It rained
pretty hard : In the morning, when they were loading the
boat with the dead, one hammock was observed, by one
of the English seamen, to move; he spoke to the officer,
and told him that he believed the man In that hammock,
(pointing to it) was not dead. 'In with him,' said the
officer; 'if he is not dead, he soon will be'; but the
honest tar, more humane than his officer, swore he never
would bury a man alive, and with his knife ripped open
the hammock, when behold! the man was really alive.
What was the cause of this man's reanlmatlon, is a ques
tion for doctors to decide : it was at the time supposed,
that the rain during the night had caused the reaction of
the animal functions, which were suspended, but not totally
annihilated. This same man, Gavot, went afterwards in
the same flag with me to Rhode Island. Capt. Shubael
Worth of Hudson was master of the flag, and will bear
testimony to the same fact.
" Another fact Is, that although there were seldom less
than I, GOO prisoners constantly on board the ' Jersey' —
new ones coming about as fast as others died, or were
exchanged (which, by the bye, was seldom) — I never. In
the two different times that I was on board, knew of but
one prisoner entering on board a British ship of war,
though the boats from the fleet were frequently there, and
the English officers were endeavoring to persuade them
to enter; but their persuasion and offers were Invariably
treated with contempt, and even by men who pretty weU
knew they should die where they were. These were the
men whose bones have so long been bleaching on the
shores of the Wallabout; these were the patriots who
preferred death In Its most horrible shape, to the disgrace
and Infamy of fighting the battles of a base and barbar
ous enemy, against the Hbertles of their country; these
were the patriots whose names suffer no diminution by a
comparison with the heroes and patriots of antiquity!

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 393
Shall Americans, then — shall we, the survivors of that
glorious revolution refuse the humble tributes of respect
and veneration due to the memories of those heroes, and
the common rites of sepulture to aU that remains of them
that is mortal? Forbid it, heaven ! let It not be said that
Americans are ungrateful — that they have received a
legacy, and that the heroes who lost their lives in assisting
to obtain It, because dead, are not to be remembered."*
In addition to the above we have the testimony of an
aged gentleman, who says he was an officer on board of
the United States frigate " Confederacy," captured by
two English frigates. Being at the time sick, he was put
on board one of the hulks in the Wallabout that served
as an hospital for convalescents, but was as soon as
somewhat restored, transferred to the old " Jersey," to
make room for others more helpless. Here he experi
enced all the sufferings, and witnessed the horrors de
scribed by Andros, for five months. The confinement In
so crowded a place, the pestilential air, the putrid and
damaged food given to the prisoners (procured by the
commissaries for little or nothing, and charged to the
English government at the prices of the best provisions)
soon produced a fever, under which this young man suf
fered, without medicine or attendance, until nature, too
strong for even such enemies, restored him to a species
of health, again to be prostrated by the same causes. He
says he never saw given to the prisoners one ounce of
wholesome food. The loathsome beef they prepared by
pressing, and then threw It with damaged bread. Into the
•On the 4th of February, i84t, some workmen, while engaged in digging
away an embankment in Jackson Street, near the Navy Yard, accidentally
discovered a quantity of human bones. Among which, horrible to relate,
was a skeleton having a pair of iron manacles still upon the wrists.

394 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
kettle, skimming off the previous tenants of this poisonous
food as they rose to the top of the vessel.
That these commissaries became rich, and reveUed In
luxuries, hearing the groans of their victims daily, and
seeing the bodies of those who were relieved from tor
ture by death, carried by boat-loads to be half burled In
the sands of the Wallabout, The testimony proving
these atrocities, cannot be doubted. Yet, In answer to
the remonstrances of Washington, Admiral Arbuthnot
denied the charge altogether.
The old prison-ship was sunk after the Revolution and
now remains under water, off the present Navy Yard.
But a few years since, part of her hull was seen above
water at low tide.
In the year 1803, a correspondence was set on foot
between the different military associations, masonic soci
eties, and others In New York, the object of which was
to pay funeral honors to the remains of these most un
fortunate martyrs of American liberty. Nothing effec
tual was, however, accomplished till 1808, when the
Tammany Society, composed (as it then was) of many
Revolutionary patriots, took the lead in this holy work.
It was proposed to collect the bones of the deceased
tenants of the prison-ships, enclose them in a permanent
vault, and to erect an enduring monument, emblematic
of the noble design, which should be alike respectful to
the dead, and creditable to the living.
The comer stone of this monument was laid April 13,
1808, upon land near the Navy Yard at Brooklyn, gen
erously contributed for the purpose by John Jackson,
Esquire. The entombment took place May 26, 1808, and
was considered In all Its aspects, as one of the most splen-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 395
did and Imposing spectacles ever witnessed In this
country.
Thirteen capacious coffins, filled with the bones of de
ceased American citizens and soldiers, made a principal
feature In this sublime and mournful exhibition, to each
of which was assigned, as pall bearers, eight Revolution
ary patriots, making In all one hundred and four.
The number of individuals in the august procession
was Immense. It started from the park, in New York,
traversed the principal streets of the city, and reached
the East River, where thirteen large open boats were
ready to transport the thirteen Tammanlal Tribes (each
having, also, one of the coffins, with Its pall-bearers and
appropriate standard) to the shores of Brooklyn.
The corporation of the city of New York, Governor
Tompkins, Lieutenant-Governor Broome, and other
officers of distinction, passed over In another boat. All
the other bodies, civil, military, and naval, crossed in
barges, prepared for the occasion by the committee of
arrangements, while fleets of small boats covered the
surface of the river, from the Battery to Corlear's Hook,
filled with those anxious to join in the melancholy duty
of paying the last homage of respect to the long-neglected
remains of their countrymen. The weather was fine, and
the surface of the waters was almost hidden, beneath the
Infinite variety of craft, and foamed with the lashing of
many thousand oars. It Is supposed that more than
30,000 persons male and female, thronged the heights
near the place of sepulture.
The Rev. Ralph WlUIston addressed the throne of
Heaven, In a very eloquent and solemn manner, after
which a beautiful and appropriate oration was deUvered,
by the late Dr. Benjamin De Witt.

396 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Indeed, the whole ceremony was a highly exciting,
yet heartrending, scene to the many thousand sympathiz
ing bosoms, then and there assembled.
Nearly twenty hogsheads of bones. In the whole, were
collected, and deposited In one common grave.
Notwithstanding all that took place on the momentous
occasion above mentioned, yet candor and trath compel
us to state, that the long talked of monument, to the
memory of these venerated martyrs to liberty, has never
been erected, and that, but for the patriotic solicitude and
care of Benjamin Romalne, Esq., of New York, now
deceased, the Imperfect and perishable structure, raised
at the time of Interment, would, ere this, have ceased to
point the stranger to the hallowed spot, where these con
secrated relics now repose.
Several patriotic citizens of Brooklyn, among whom
may be mentioned the Hon. Cyrus P. Smith, have long
since endeavored to awaken the public pride and sym
pathy on the subject, and it is to be hoped, for the honor
of the present generation, that something may be done,
worthy of themselves, and deserving the sincere and
lasting gratitude of posterity.

WAR OF 1812
BY THE EDITOR
From June 18, 18 12, untU February 18, 18 15,
our country was Involved In a second war with Great
Britain. The causes of this conflict are related In the
biography preceding these chapters and we will confine
ourselves to relating the part played by Long Island in
this struggle.
As soon as the news of the declaration of war reached
Suffolk County, an arsenal and fort were constructed at
Sag Harbor, In which war munitions of all sorts were
stored In anticipation of future events. In 18 13 an Eng
lish fleet under Commodore Hardy of Trafalgar fame
occupied Gardiner's Bay, and In June of that year a
landing party was repulsed by the above-mentioned fort
which was manned by a force of militia. A more ex
tended account of the engagement is found under the
heading of Southampton.
The squadron made landings on other less fortified
points along the coast and helped themselves to pro
visions and other supplies, which however they generally
paid for.
The fleet was continuaUy harassed by privateers, who
without Inflicting much damage made life miserable for
the EngHsh officers. Dire threats were made against
these Individuals and the villages from which they origi
nated, but as they were hard to locate, no reprisals seem
397

398 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
to have been effected. The following letter written by
Commodore (then Captain) Hardy, gives some Interest
ing details of this guerilla warfare :
" His Brittannick Majesty's Ship Ramillies,
Off New London, 23d August, 18 13.
"Sir: — Having received positive Information that a
whaleboat, the property of Thomas Welling and others,
prepared with a torpedo for the avowed purpose of de
stroying this ship, a mode of warfare practiced by Indi
viduals from mercenary motives more novel than honor
able, is kept in your neighborhood, and as from the very
good information I obtain from various sources there is
no doubt these persons will soon be In my power, I
beg you to warn the Inhabitants of the towns along
the coast of Long Island that wherever I hear this boat,
or any other of that description, has been allowed to re
main after this day, I will order every house near the
shore to be destroyed.
" I have the honor to be, sir,
" Your most obedient humble servant,
" T. M. Hardy, Captain.
" Joseph Terry, Esq., Justice of the Peace, Southold."
During 1 8 13 and especially 18 14, both coasts of Long
Island were pretty well patroled as far west as the old
Queens County line and many small engagements took
place between the enemy and the Americans. The fol
lowing American trading vessels were captured: "Fair
Trader" of Babylon; "Amazon" of Huntington, Cap
tain Conkling; "Sally" of Cow Harbor,' Captain
Ackerly; " Juno " of Brookhaven, Captain Jones.
Numerous companies of militia and regulars were sta
tioned at different points through Queens and Suffolk
' Now Northport. — Editor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 399
counties, and their presence probably prevented any
serious attacks on the part of the British.
It may be said that the Island as a whole acquitted
Itself satisfactorily during the progress of the war.
During the month of July, 18 14, a most Interesting
event took place at Babylon on the south shore. Captain
David Porter, a member of a famous naval family, had
been captured by an overwhelming British force at Val
paraiso, Chile, on March 28, 18 14. He was sent to
the United States under parole In a small vessel known
as the " Essex, Jr.," and finally arrived off Long Island
after a voyage of seventy-three days. Here they fell In
with H.M.S. " Saturn," Captain Nash, who, disregarding
Porter's parole, made a prize of the vessel and Its crew.
During the night Captain Porter, with ten men in a
small boat, effected their escape from the vessel and
landed at Babylon. Here their story was doubted by
the Inhabitants who Imagined they were English In dis
guise. Finally Captain Porter exhibited his commission
and their Identity was established. Thereupon they were
joyously and hospitably received. The small boat was
placed upon a horse-drawn track and the captain and
sailors clambered Into the boat and In this Ingenious
manner, the whole outfit was transported to the Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
In Kings County the declaration of war was received
with much enthusiasm. During 18 14 It was beHeved
that a large British force was fitting out at Bermuda
for the capture of New York City. A committee of
defence appointed by Mayor De Witt CHnton took
charge of affairs and caused a line of fortifications to
be erected on the hiUs encircling Brooklyn from
Gowanus to Wallabout Bays.

400 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
The building of the works became a matter of civic
pride and all classes of men volunteered their services
In the work. Soon after the completion of the fortifica
tions peace was declared, and they were never put to
the stern use for which they were designed.
The following militia organizations served In Kings
County during the war :
Kings County Fusiliers, Captain Joseph Herbert.
Company of Rifies, Captain Burdett Stryker.
Battalion of Artillery, Major Barbarin.
Troop of Horse Artillery, Captain John Wilson.
Sixty-fourth Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Francis Titus, Major Albert
C. Van Brunt, Adjutant Daniel Barre. New Utrecht Company, Captain
William Denyse; Brooklyn Company, Captain Joseph Dean; Wallabout
Company, Captain Francis Skillman; Bushwick Company, Captain Van
Cott; Gowanus Company, Captain Peter Cowenhoven; Flatbush and
Gravesend Company, Captain Jeremiah Lott.
Suffolk County Militia.
Brookhaven Regiment, Colonel James Davis. Sag Harbor Company,
Captain John Germain; Southold Company, Captain Gilbert Horton;
Brookhaven Artillery Company, Captain John S. Mount.
On December 7, 18 13, the artillery of the Long
Island counties was organized as the Second Battalion
of the Thirteenth Regiment under Major Barbarin. On
February 28, 18 14, the cavalry of Queens, Suffolk, and
Westchester counties was changed Into heavy artillery
and became the Second Regiment with Lieutenant Col
onel William Jones as commander.
As we have stated, the British vessels stationed In
Long Island Sound and Gardiner's Bay were constantly
harassed by fast sloops and schooners or even smaller
craft. A corps of Sea Fenclbles, raised during the
summer and autumn of 18 14, engaged In this sort of
warfare along the Atlantic seaboard. We have no record
of their exploits, but many from Long Island enlisted.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 401
That Long Island was well prepared is evident from
the records, and perhaps this preparedness did much to
discourage serious attacks by the British.
Other local details of the war will be found under the
caption of the several towns.

CIVIL WAR
by the editor
The story of the part played by Long Island's sons
in the great rebellion would fill a small sized volume and
we are of necessity, therefore, forced to give but a synop
sis of this Interesting topic.
When President Lincoln Issued his inspiring call for
volunteers on the 15th of April, 1861, every town sent
Its quota of men In answer to the summons. The city
of Brooklyn sent Its entire force of militia and when
these regiments returned from their terms of service at
the front, a large proportion re-enlisted. Suffolk and
Queens also were not backward and many a village In
these counties has its monument on the green to her
fallen sons In the great straggle.
The Brooklyn regiments first sent were the Thirteenth,
Twenty-eighth, and the fighting Fourteenth, known as the
" red-legged devils." They went through many hard
fights and were generally put at the point of greatest
danger. They saw service at Manassas Plains, Chan-
tlUy, South Mountain, Antletam, ChancellorsvUle, Gettys
burg, Wilderness, Laurel HIU, and Spottsylvania Court
House. Later on the Twenty-third and Forty-seventh
were organized and went to the front.
The famous ironclad " Monitor " was built at A. J.
Rowland's yards at Greenpoint, now Included In Brook
lyn, and fifteen vessels of various size and character were
built at the Brookljm Navy Yard between 1861 and '65.
402

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
ATTENDING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
SHIPS " BRISTOL " AND " MEXICO," ON THE
SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND, IN THE
YEARS 1836 and '37.
The awful catastrophe of these Ill-fated vessels, and
the consequent loss of life, are among the most melan
choly events In the annals of Long Island, Since the
wreck of the British sloop of war " Sylph," off Southamp
ton, In the winter of 18 15, no similar accident had oc
curred upon our shores. Involving the sacrifice of human
life to any very considerable extent.
The " Bristol " was an American ship, nearly new,
this being her second voyage, and commanded by Captain
McKown, a gentleman long and favorably known as an
able, pradent, and experienced shipmaster. The cargo
consisted of crockery, railroad iron, and coal, besides
an assortment of dry goods. She had on board a crew
of sixteen, including officers, and about one hundred pass
engers, chiefly emigrants from Ireland.
The voyage was commenced at Liverpool, October
16, 1836, and after a pleasant passage across the
Atiantic, she made the highlands of New Jersey on the
night of November 20th, and exhibited the usual signals
for a pUot, but without success. At one o'clock, on the
morning of the 21st, it began to blow severely, and the
captain endeavored to stand out to sea, but the violence
of the gale forced the ship more toward the shore, and
403

404 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
about four o'clock she grounded upon Far Rockaway
shoals, a few miles westward of the Marine PavIHon, it
being on Sunday, November 21. The following night
was extremely dark, and the sea rose so high, as to make
a clear breach over the ship. The greatest danger was
now apparent, and the passengers were advised to go
below, as the place of greater safety. The tempest in
creasing, a tremendous wave struck the vessel about mid
ships, carrying away her bulwarks, boats, and everything
movable upon the deck.
The hatches were forced open by the concussion, and
the hold was, of course. Instantly filled with water,
drowning most of the passengers below decks.
From the dying, however, not a sound was heard, so
instantaneous and complete was the work of death.
Parents and children, husbands and wives, relatives and
friends, met, in the same moment, a common fate; thus
perished. In an Instant of time, between 60 and 70 souls,
of different ages, almost within sight of the port of their
destination. Although the vessel lay within half a mile of the land,
yet owing to the heavy sea, no relief could be afforded
by the people now assembled on the beach. At daylight,
on the 2d, the scene which presented Itself may be more
easily Imagined than described. The wretched and suf
fering passengers and crew that yet survived, were
clinging to the shrouds, and to every other part of the
ship which promised the least hope of safety. In this
dreadful state of almost hopeless despair, they remained
through the succeeding day, although the shore was
thronged with anxious spectators, ready to afford any
possible assistance to the exhausted and perishing suf
ferers. But the gale continuing with unabated fury, no

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 405
aid could be given; the surf ran mountains high, so as
sometimes to exclude the hull of the vessel from the view
of those on the land.
In the meantime, the ship struck against the hard
beach with such terrible force as to break her in two,
when the foremast, which had not been cut away, went
by the board. The miserable passengers continued thus
a part of the following night, exposed to the spray of
the sea, to the most Intense cold, and the absolute cer
tainty of perishing by starvation also.
About midnight the wind somewhat abated, and by
almost superhuman efforts, and at the Imminent risk of
Hfe, a boat manned by resolute and experienced seamen
from the shore reached the vessel twice, landing the
surviving females, and a portion of the crew, safely on
the beach. The captain resolutely refused to go on
shore, until the survivors were safe, and was the last
person who left the wreck. The ship went to pieces soon
after, her stern post being the only part of her visible
the next day.
About half the bodies of those drowned, were driven
upon the shore, and were decently Interred by the public
authorities. Mrs. Hogan, her daughters. Miss Hogan and Mrs.
Donnelly with her two children and nurse, and a few
other women and children, were among those saved, but
Mr. Arthur Donnelly, the husband, was lost. He had
twice yielded his place to others, saying he would not
leave the wreck while a female or child remained on
board. In a third attempt made to reach the vessel, the
boat was swamped, which deterred the hands from any
further trial. Mr. Donnelly, with the two Messrs.
Carletons, the remainder of the passengers and the crew.

4o6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
sought safety in the rigging of the foremast. This soon
failed them and out of 20 persons upon It, Mr, Briscoe
only was saved, having accidentally caught hold of the
rigging of the bowsprit, and thus drifted ashore.

Scarcely had the public mind recovered from the pain
ful excitement occasioned by the preceding event, when
another disastrous shipwreck occurred, attended with still
more awful and aggravated circumstances.
The American barque " Mexico," of 300 tons, was also
from the port of Liverpool, commanded by Captain
Charles WInslow, her cargo consisting of crockery, rail
road iron, and coal, which had been taken In alongside
the " Bristol," She sailed, however, seven days later,
leaving Liverpool, October 23, 183 6, with a crew of twelve
men, including the captain, and one hundred and twelve
steerage passengers, the greater portion of whom were
Irish emigrants. After a most disagreeable and boister
ous passage of sixty-nine days, at the most Inclement season
of the year, the vessel arrived off Sandy Hook, on Satur
day night, December 31, about eleven o'clock, and lay to,
on discovering the light upon the Highlands of New
Jersey. On the morning of the following day, she bore
up for the Hook, making the usual signals of distress,
and also for a pilot. None, however, made their appear
ance, and the captain being apprehensive of rough
weather, stood out to sea, under the most discouraging
and distressing circumstances. The voyage had thus far
been unusually long and tedious; the passengers had gen
erally exhausted their stores of provisions, and had for
some time been aUowed one biscuit a day each from
the ship, a quantity barely sufficient to sustain life. To

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 407
which were added all the direful apprehensions of stiU
more protracted suffering, from the want of a pilot, and
the danger of attempting at that season of the year, to
enter the harbor without one.
The weather was cold in the extreme, attended by a
violent tempest of snow. On Monday, the captain again
approached the Hook, and also sIgnaHzed for a
pUot, In which he was equally unsuccessful. With an
anxiety not to be described, he was compelled, amid the
Intense severity of the weather, and the almost unspeak
able suffering of his crew, to keep away from the land
during the remainder of the day and ensuing night. On
Tuesday morning, five o'clock, after the most terrible
buffeting with the waves, the crew and passengers being
nearly perished with the cold, the vessel having drifted
toward shore, struck the beach at Hempstead south,^
within about ten miles of the wreck of the " Bristol."
The thermometer was now below zero, and there was
a high surf breaking on the shore. The main and mizzen
masts were Immediately cut away; the rudder was torn
off, by collision with the bottom; the water was rising
In the hold, and the spray, which dashed Incessantly over
the vessel, was Instantly converted Into Ice. The
wretched and despairing passengers, driven from below
by the accumulation of water, and without any means
whatever of shelter or protection from the cold, crowded
together upon the forward deck, exposed every moment
either to be washed overboard or frozen to death, as
every thing around them was encrusted in Ice.
Some secured their money and other valuables about
their bodies, and each clung with death-like tenacity to
those they held most dear. In this extremity of despair,
' Now Seaford.— Editor.

408 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
when scarce a ray of hope remained, men, women, and
children, from the sire to the lisping Infant, embraced
each other, and with what feeble power remained, tried
in vain to encourage and support each other.
In this horrible condition they remained, till secured
by death from further agony; and husbands, wives, and
children were afterwards found, congealed together In
one frozen mass. It was. In all respects, a scene of
terror which language Is Incapable of depicting, and
which the most fertile Imagination only can conceive.
On the morning of the 3rd of January, Raynor R.
Smith and a few others, crossing the south bay upon the
Ice, dragging their boat with them, arrived at the beach,
a distance of several miles, determined If possible to
afford some sort of relief to the suffering victims, but
they soon found that any attempt to reach the vessel
in the [then] state of the surf, would only be to sacrifice
their own lives, to no valuable purpose.
The miserable strangers, yet clinging to the mass of
ice which the vessel presented, poured forth their suppli
cations and cries for assistance, in a manner which could
hardly fail to melt the stoutest heart. The heroic Smith
and his valiant crew were wrought up to the highest pitch,
and finally resolved that a trial at least should be made.
The boat was accordingly launched from the shore, and
In the utmost peril of being filled or upset, was able to
reach the bowsprit of the vessel, when the captain, four
passengers and three of the crew, who were upon the
bowsprit, dropped Into the boat, and were conveyed with
great difficulty to the beach. But the danger which had
been Incurred — the state of the tide — the extreme cold,
and the approach of night, deterred the crew from at
tempting again to reach the vessel. Turning their backs'

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 409
upon the horrible scene, they made the best of their way
home across the bay, aiding and supporting, as best they
could, those they had rescued. But what must have been
the feelings of persons on board, when they saw those
from whom alone any relief was to be expected, de
parting from their sight, can only be conceived; their
agonizing breasts must have been filled with tenfold
horror. Thus, on that fated night, perished, in the most
awful manner, 116 human beings, 3000 miles from their
homes, and within a few miles of the port for which
they set out.
Death, in Its most appalling form, came to their relief,
and their cries of anguish and despair were soon hushed
In eternal silence.
Seventy days had elapsed since leaving their native
country, and on the shores which they sought with so
much anxiety, they found a watery grave.
" Thus perished, one by one, that pilgrim crowd,
The silver-hair'd, the beautiful, the young;
Some were found wrapp'd, as in a crystal shroud
Of waves congeal'd, that tomb'd them where they clung.
Some on the sand the sounding breakers fling,
Link'd in affection's agonized embrace;
And to the gazer's eye the warm tears spring.
As he beheld two babes — a group of grace, 1
Lock'd in each other's arms, and pillow'd face to face." \
A majority of the passengers were children and youth
of both sexes, as appeared from a Hst made by the col
lector at Liverpool — ^the oldest passenger on board being
fifty-two, and the youngest less than two years old. About
sixty bodies were finally recovered from the waves, and
Interred, with very appropriate solemnities. In a common
grave, amid an Immense concourse of citizens of Queens
County, at Near-Rockaway,' on the nth day of Jan-
' Now East Rockaway.— Editor.

410 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
uary, 1837, and a suitable discourse was delivered by the
Rev. WUHam M, Carmlchael, D, D., of Hempstead.
The bodies of those previously saved from the " Bristol "
were finaUy deposited at the same place, where a hand
some marble monument was erected October 26, 1840.
" They rest in earth, the sea's recovered prey.
No tempests now their dreamless sleep assail;
But when to friends and kindred, far away.
Some quivering lip shall tell the dismal tale.
From many a home will burst the voice of wail;
But when it ceases and the tear-drop laves
No more, shall gratitude prevail.
Yearnings of love towards those beyond the waves.
Who bore, with solemn rites, these exiles to their graves.''
Several citizens of New York, duly sensible of the
highly meritorious services of Rajmor R. Smith, on the
above occasion, caused a silver cup, with a suitable device
and inscription, to be presented him; the ceremony of
which was performed by the late William P. Hawes,
Esq., March 25, 1837, The Inscription
" Presented to Raynor R. Smith, of Hempstead South,
L. I., by a number of his fellow citizens, of the fifth ward,
of the city of New York, as a token of regard for his
noble daring, performed at the peril of his life, in saving
eight persons, from the wreck of the fated Mexico, on the
2d of January, iS^y."

OF THE AWFUL CONFLAGRATION OF THE
STEAMER " LEXINGTON," IN LONG ISLAND
SOUND, JANUARY 13, 1840,
The steamboat " Lexington," Captain George ChUd,
left New York for Stonington, Conn., late In the afternoon
of January 13, 1840, with a great number of passengers,
and a large quantity of cotton In bales, with other mer
chandise, on deck.
At seven o'clock In the evening, when she was about op
posite Eaton's Neck, L. I., and nearly in the middle of the
Sound, going at the rate of twelve miles an hour, the
cotton near the smoke pipe was discovered to be on fire,
and the wind blowing fresh, aU endeavors to extinguish
the flames were found Ineffectual, and the boat was
headed for Long Island, But the tiller ropes were soon
burnt off, which rendered the vessel unmanageable.
The alarm and consternation were now so great, and
the consequent confusion so universal, that the boats,
three In number, besides the life boat, were no sooner
lifted out, and let down into the water, than they were
swamped by the crowd and the rapid motion of the
vessel. The engine also gave way, and the boat, which had
now become unmanageable, was drifted about at the
mercy of wind and tide, while the fire was sweeping
over her. In the most terrific manner Imaginable,
The fire being amid-shlps, cut off necessarily, all com
munication from stem to stern, where the passengers were
411

412 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
collected, bewailing their awful condition, not knowing
the fate of their friends, and fully aware that to remain
longer on board, was certain destraction, the flames
spreading with terrible rapidity, and involving the whole
vessel In one sheet of fire.
The lurid light of the blazing wreck shone far over
the cold and heavy waste of waters, showing with fearful
distinctness the dreadful scene. The greater number,
therefore, threw themselves into the sea, laying hold of
any floating body within their reach, while others, not
so fortunate, were instantly drowned. Some who hesi
tated to precipitate themselves Into the water, dung
to some portion of the burning wreck. In the hope of
prolonging for a few moments their miserable exist
ence. The night was cold in the extreme, and the surround
ing darkness was rendered more terrific, by the glare of
the burning mass. The cries of distress, mingled with
the deepest supplications for relief, were such as cannot
be described — the anguish of hopeless despair. The cap
tain, it Is believed, was suffocated In the wheel house, at
an early stage of the fire, and out of the whole number
on board, four only were saved, while one hundred and
twenty men, women, and children were lost. The follow
ing Is the report of Captain Comstock, of the steamer
" Statesman," who was despatched on the occasion, from
New York,
" Steamer Statesman, Friday night, Jan. 17, 1840.
" We are now returning to New York, having searched
the shore of Long Island from Huntington to Fresh Pond
landing, a distance, taking Into consideration the depths
of the bays and Inlets, of nearly ninety miles, every rod
of which I think has been thoroughly examined by those

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 413
on board the boat with me, and others on shore who
came down by land. We have been enabled to regain,
however, only five bodies.
" One Is identified as being that of Mr. Stephen Water-
bury, of the firm of Mead and Waterbury, of New York.
On another was found a memorandum book, with the
name of Philo Upson, of South Egremont, Mass.; one
a little boy, probably three or four years old.
" From the appearance of others, they are probably
deck hands of the boat.
" We have thirty packages of baggage, and the life
boat of the Lexington. These, with the bodies, we are
now conveying to New York. From Crane Neck to Old
Man's landing, twelve or fifteen miles east, including the
deep bays adjacent, is covered with pieces of the wreck,
among which I noticed her name upon the siding, nearly
in full length, large pieces of her guards, and portions
of almost every part of the boat, all of which Is mostly
burned to a coal. We found one of her quarter boats,
from which three of the bodies now In our possession,
were taken; she Is very slightly damaged.
" The boat is at a place called Miller's Landing, and
here we learned that a man had come ashore on a bale
of cotton, alive, fifteen miles to the eastward of this
place, to which I Immediately repaired. Here I could
effect no landing, owing to the large quantities of Ice
drifted In by the stormy northerly wind. We, however,
crowded the steamboat In near enough to the shore to
converse with persons drawn to the beach by our signals,
and from them learned the fact that Mr. David Crow
ley, second mate of the Lexington, had drifted ashore
upon a bale of cotton on Wednesday night at 9 o'clock,
after being forty-eight hours exposed to the severity of
the weather — after which, he made his way through
large quantities of Ice, and swam before gaining the
beach, and then walked three-quarters of a mile to a

414 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
house — his hands are little frozen — his feet and legs con
siderably so — he Is not able, however, to be moved for
the present; this I have been told by a person who saw
him this day; It appears next to an ImpossIblHty, consid
ering the severity of the weather, but It Is undoubtedly
trae. Since leaving New York, we have had severe cold
weather, and the Ice completely blocked up the shores.
The northerly winds kept driving the ice to leeward,
and everything floating very light would naturally be
buried beneath this constant accumulation of Ice. In
consequence of this, I think we have been prevented
from procuring many bodies that. In very moderate
weather, ^ould have been seen.
" I left New York in the steamer ' Statesman,' on
Wednesday, A. M., since which time, up to the moment
of our leaving the scene of sorrow — which the shores
that we have visited presented — no time has been lost
in doing all that lay in our power to search the greatest
possible track of beach, vainly hoping to save alive some
one clinging to any thing within their power ; and also to
regain all the bodies possible, for the purpose of render
ing to surviving relations the only consolation left them
in this painful separation from their departed friends.
I feel myself obligated to Capt. Peck for his unceasing
efforts to enter with his boat every bay or creek where
ihe least hope was entertained of accomplishing the
object of our undertaking. To Mr. Christopher Town-
send, and Mr. Dexter Bingham, Jr., I feel particularly
Indebted for their valuable services In assisting me in
my difficult, and many Instances, dangerous undertaking
In effecting a landing. Messrs. Henry Ide, James
McKenna, W. Bercher, T. Donelly, and C. Homan
joined the boat at Bridgeport on Wednesday night, and
have been essentially useful to-day, in collecting the bag
gage and things together for embarkation, while I was
otherwise engaged, for which I feel greatly indebted —

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 415
also to Mr. Samuel Yeaton, who joined us at Long
Island. " I saw Capt. Manchester at Southport on Wednesday
night, who perfectly corroborates Capt. HlUiard's state
ments, which shows how collected each must have been
in their perilous situation.
" We left Crane Neck, for New York, at half past 5
P. M. Arri-t^ed at New York at 9 A. M., after a passage
of fifteen and a half hours — came fifty miles through
the Ice. Respectfully yours,
" Joseph J. Comstock."
After the return of the " Statesman," an Inquest was
convened, to Investigate the matter of the buming of the
" Lexington," and to decide upon the cause of the death of
those brought in the " Statesman." The bodies mentioned
above were identified, and given over to their friends;
two bodies, supposed to be deck hands, were recognized
as Benjamin Ladeu, twenty-seven or twenty-eight years
old, without family, and Silas Thornbum, aged about
twenty, belonging to Providence. The bodies of both
were much burned In their faces and necks; as was also
the child, mentioned above. They were frozen perfectly
stiff, and covered with ice.
On board of the steamer. In charge of young Harnden,
a man of much promise, who attended the express car,
were $18,000 In specie; and from one to three thousand
dollars In eastern funds, which had been purchased by
brokers, for remittance to Boston.
Mr. Hamden's agent, who prosecuted a search In the
Sound, wrote to Mr. Harnden, mentioned the discovery
of the body of Mr. Osgood, and says :
" Much baggage continues to drift ashore. It Is pain
ful to state, that not even the terrible circumstances

4i6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
under which It was thrown adrift, can guard It from
plunder. Mounted men have been placed upon duty,
who ride constantly up and down the beach. The Trans
portation Company, to whom the boat belonged, has
addressed a letter to Mr Wilsie, the Wreck Master, at
Old Field Point, authorizing him to employ a sufficient
number of hands to search the shore for property and
bodies, the living and the dead, and to act himself, in
conjunction with Mr. John G. Morse and WUHam Ken
nedy, who went from this city to assist. He Is requested
also to send to the office, 22 Broadway, an accurate
description of the bodies and baggage."
Mr. Samuel Hutchinson says, in a letter dated River
head, January 16:
" I first learned that a boat had been seen on fire in
the Sound, at Smithtown on last Monday evening, and
when I arrived at Setauket, I learned that the lifeboat
had come on shore there, without any body in or attached
to her. She had a coat In her, by which It appeared
from letters In the pocket, that the owner was a Mr.
or Captain Manchester. After I had been home two
or three hours, about 7^^ o'clock, a young man came
to my father's in a very exhausted condition, having just
floated ashore opposite the house, on a bale of cotton,
on which he had been for two days and nights. His
fingers and both feet were frozen as stiff as marble, and
he was without coat or hat. His name Is David Crowley,
and he lives at Providence, and was second mate of the
Lexington. " We have taken the best care we could of him, by
Immersing his feet and hands In cool and luke-warm
water. We had to cut off his boots. I have sent the
doctor to him this morning. We succeeded In softening
all the frosted parts, but his feet are very much swoUen

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 417
this morning, and what the result wIU be, Is somewhat
doubtful." Mr. John Wilsie, wreck master at Setauket, and
George K, Hubbs, Esq., of Smithtown, with great
promptness and zeal, stationed a line of guards for fifteen
miles, along the north shore of Long Island, for the
purpose of taking charge of such bodies and property,
as might drift on shore. About thirty tranks and chests
were found In the vicinity of Old Field Point, but nothing
was heard of Hamden's express car, which, as It con
tained an Iron chest, sunk to the bottom.
In this chest were $10,000 In gold and $20,000 In
bank notes. The bodies of H. C. Craig and Charles
Bracket of New York, William A. Green of Providence,
and D. Green of Philadelphia, went on shore near Stony
Brook, L. I. Fifteen thousand dollars. In bank notes,
were found on the body of Wm. A. Green.
The following is as full a list of the officers, passen
gers, and crew of the " Lexington," as could be obtained:
Passengers. — Capt. Chester HUliard of Norwich, the
only passenger saved; Isaac Davis of Boston; John
Corey of Roxboro', Mass. ; Charles W. Woolsey, John
Brown, and Abraham Howard, firm of Howard &
Merry, Boston; J. Porter Felt, Jr. of Salem; H. C.
Craig, firm of Maltland, Kennedy & Co. N. Y. (body
found) ; Alphonso Mason of Gloucester, Mass., sur
veyor of the port; Charles Bracket, clerk to N. Bracket,
N. Y. (body found) ; Robt. Blake of Wrentham, Mass.,
President of Wrentham Bank; Mr. Fowler of New York;
Wm. A. Green, firm of Allen & Green, Providence (body
found) ; Samuel Henry, firm of A. & S. Henry, Man
chester, England; R. W. Dow, firm of Dow & Co.,
N. Y. ; Charles H. Phelps of Stonington; the widow of

41 8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Henry A. WInslow, firm of WInslow & Co., New York;
John WInslow of Providence; Wm. WInslow, ditto.,
father of the above. The three last mentioned persons
were retuming to Providence, with the corpse of H. A.
WInslow, who died In New York, a few days previous.
Rev. Charles FoUen, D. D., of Boston, late Professor
of German Literature of Harvard University; Adolphus
Harnden, superintendent of Hamden's Express. He
had in charge $20,000 in specie for the Merchant's Bank,
Boston ; and from forty to fifty thousand dollars in bank
notes; Thomas White of Boston, firm of Sands & White;
Capt. J. D. Carver of Plymouth, Mass., of the barque
Brontes; Mr. Pierce of Portland, mate of the Brontes;
Miss Sophia T. Wheeler, daughter of Robt. Wheeler,
Stonington, Conn. ; Capt. E. J. Kimball ; Capt. B. T.
Foster, late of the John Gilpin. These captains had
recently returned after several years' absence, and were
on their way to visit their families at the east.
Mr. Everett of Boston, returning from the burial of
a brother, who died In N. Y. the previous week; Royal
T. Church of Baltimore; Richard Picket of Newbury-
port; Mr. Ballard of New York; Capt. Theophllus Smith,
Dartmouth, Mass.; Charles S. Noyes, clerk to C. B.
Babcock, and Albert E. Harding, firm of Harding &
Co. N. Y. ; Henry J. Finn, comedian, he was a native
of Virginia, his family resided at Newport, R. I.; Charles
L. Eberie, of the theatre; Mrs. Rusell Jarvis of New
York, and her two children, one about 12 and the other
about 8 years of age, Mrs. Jarvis was a daughter of
Thomas Cordis of Boston; Capt. John G. Low, agent
for the Boston underwriters, husband of the niece of
Mr. Cordis ; John Lemlst, treasurer of the Boston India
Rubber Co. Roxbury, uncle to Mrs. Jarvis, John W-
Kerle, and Mr. Weston, firm of Weston & Pendexter,
of Baltimore; John G. Brown, firm of Shall & Brown,
N. Orleans ; Stephen Waterbury, firm of Mead & Water-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 419
bury, N. Y. (body found), and E. B. Patten, of New
York; J. A. Leach, Nathaniel Hobart, and Mr. Stuy
vesant of Boston; N. F. Dyer of Pittsburg, formerly of
Bralntree; John Brown, a colored man; H. C. Brad
ford, from Kingston, Jam.; Chas. Lee of Barre; Jona
than Linfield, Stoughton, Me. ; Philo Upson, Egremont,
Mass. (body found) ; Mr. Van Cott, Stonington, Conn.;
Capt. Mattison; Robert Williams, or Wilson, of Cold
Spring, N. Y. ; David M'Farlane, mate of the brig
Clarion; James Walker and John Gorden, seamen, of
Cambridgeport, from brig Raymond; Wm. H. Wilson,
grocer, of Williamsburg, L. I., late of Worcester, Mass. ;
Patrick McKenna, No. 7 Monroe St., N. Y., clerk with
Donnelly & Hyatt; George Benson Smith, recently of
Brooklyn; Ellas Brown, Jr. of Stonington, nephew of
SUas E. Burrows, Esq. ; Mr. Lawrence, firm of Kelly &
Lawrence, New York; Charles Bosworth, schoolmaster
of Royalton, Vt, from 37 Franklin St.; David Green of
Philadelphia, agent of the MInot (Me.) Shoe Manu
facturing Company (body found) ; William Nichols, col
ored, steward of steamboat Massachusetts; Dr. Joshua
Johnson of Philadelphia ; Thomas James, tailor, of New
York, formerly of Boston; James Ray, 2d mate of barque
Bohemia, Kennebunk; Mary Russell of Stonington, Ct. ;
Jonathan G. Davenport, Middletown, N. J. ; Mrs. Lydia
Bates, wife of James Bates of Abington, Mass., and
their two children, Lydia C. Bates and Jacob C. Bates
(body of the boy found). The body of Mrs. Bates
was found Sept. 13, 1840, on the shore at Smithtown,
L. I.
John Walker, whose parents reside at Cambridge-
port; George W. Walker; John Martin, and his son
Gilbert Martin, recently from England; WUHam  ,
an EngHsh boy; WUHam Cowen, aged 21, New York
City; Benjamin D. Holmes, copper-smith, and WUHam
Dexter of Boston ; George O. Swan, son of Judge Swan

420 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
of Columbus, Ohio. He was on his way to join the
law school at Cambridge, Mass.; John Ricker, Monroe,
Me. Boat's Company. — Capt. Geo. ChUds, commander;
Jesse Comstock, clerk; H. P. Newman, steward; E.
Thurbur, first mate ; David Crowley, second mate, saved,
after being 48 hours on a bale of cotton; Stephen Man
chester, pilot, (saved) ; John Hoyt, baggage master;
Mr. Walker, barkeeper; Cortland Hemsted, chief engi
neer (body found) ; Wm. Quimby, 2d do. ; Martin
Johnson, wheelman; R. B. Schulz, Geo. Baum, Benj.
Cox, and Chas. B. Smith (saved), firemen; Chas. Will
iams, Ben Laddie, C. Humber, Joel Lawrence, three
others, and a boy, deck hands; Job Sands (body found),
Dan'l Aldrldge, Mr. Gilbert, OHver HoweU, King Cade,
Jos. Rostin, John H. Tab, E. Parkson, John Masson,
Solomon Askons, Isaac Putnam, colored waiters; Susan
C. Hulcumb, chambermaid, colored; Joseph Robinson,
cook, do.; Oliver Howell, second do., do.; Robert Peters,
do. ; Henry Reed and another, coal heavers.
Number of passengers ascertained  91
Number of officers and crew  39
Total  130

OF BILLS OF CREDIT, AND COLONIAL AND
CONTINENTAL MONEY,
For the good part of a century after the first settle
ments In this country by Europeans, the people were de
pendent upon foreign countries for every thing in the
shape of metallic money, and with the exception of the
seawan of the Indians, called also wampum, which was
pretty extensively used as the medium of domestic ex
change, the inhabitants were. In cases of emergency,
driven to the issuing of what were generaUy denominated
bills of credit, large sums of which were provided for
by the local governments, as the public necessities re
quired. A full and correct account of the descriptions and
amount of this species of circulating medium, would. If
well executed, prove highly interesting and curious;
suffice it to say, that paper money, of some kind or
other, has constituted the greatest portion of the currency
In this country, from the latter part of the eighteenth
century, to the present time. While connected with the
parent country, money, to a large amount, was Issued
from time to time In the shape of bills of credit, for the
final redemption of which, the faith of the colony was
pledged. These bills, says Mr. Pitkin, were caUed in by taxes,
payable at different times, and were not only made receiv
able In the payment of those taxes, and of all duties
421

422 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
payable to government, but were even a tender In pay
ment of private demands, until prohibited by act of
parliament. After the Revolution of 1688, England was engaged
In almost perpetual war with France, and as France was
until 1763 in possession of Canada, of course the col
onies were engaged with the mother country. The first
of these wars continued from 1689 to 1697, and It was
for the purpose of paying off her soldiers, on their return
from an expedition to Canada in 1690, that Massachu
setts made the first emission of paper money. In
17 14, they emitted a bank (as It was called) of £50,000,
and as they were the first in America to issue this kind
of money, so they went beyond all others In the amount
of their issues. The first emission In Rhode Island was
£5,000, In 17 10, to be received for colony dues, and
pass current In all payments for five years. The reasons
for the emission were the scarcity of specie and the debts
contracted by the expedition against Annapolis Royal.
These bills of credit were often loaned out to individuals,
or as specie could not often be had the Interest was made
payable In hemp, flax, and other articles. The principal
was called in Instalments of one-fifth, or one-fifteenth
annually, so as to render it easy for the borrowers. The
bills of one colony generally passed in the neighboring
colonies as their own bills did, depending entirely upon
the faith of the colony for their redemption.
In 1720 an order of council was made In England
forbidding any emissions by the colonies without the
royal assent.
The emissions of paper money were generally opposed
by the merchants and business men, and the more intelli
gent part of the community. They were generally ad-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 423
vocated by the multitude, who were Indebted and
distressed In pecuniary circumstances, as a measure of
reHef. It was an easy way of paying old debts. And
members of the General Assembly would often be in-
dined to favor the emissions, not only from the desire
of popularity, but from the less honorable motive of pecu
niary interest. Pretences were never wanting. The col
ony was in debt ; the fort was out of repair, or a new gaol
or court house was to be built. And when the specie had
been driven away by the Increase of paper money, the
" scarcity of silver " was a fresh excuse for further Issues.
And each new Issue only Involved the people, as a whole.
In greater difficulties.
As specie could not be had for the purpose, new bills
were issued from time to time, for the redemption of the
former, and various means resorted to, to sustain their
credit, but, without an adequate specie basis, legislative
enactments could not avail, the bills being of unequal
values In different states. They were even, when first
Issued, of less worth than specie ; In New England they
were valued at six shillings for a silver dollar, in New
York at eight shillings, and In Pennsylvania at seven
shillings and sixpence; hence arose the different curren
cies In those provinces, which exist even to the present
day. It depreciated very rapidly, till forty-five shlUIngs
came to be of the value of one dollar, at which it stood
many years, and was denominated old tenor (old ten
der). In this, accounts were kept and contracts made.
The standard value, therefore, came to be called lawful
money, by way of distinction to bills of credit, which were
constantly fluctuating.
The mode of Hquidating the public demands, and sat
isfying the claims of private creditors, was Imitated In

424 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
many instances by the other provinces, and, among the
rest. New York. In 1745, Massachusetts alone Issued
bills to the amount of between two and three millions of
pounds, lawful money; and in three years after, by de
preciation, £1100 of these bills was only worth, or equal
to, £100 sterling. Great Britain paid to that colony
£180,000 sterling, for expenses incurred by her in the
expedition against Loulsburgh, In the last mentioned
year; with which she redeemed her bills, at the rate of
fifty shillings per ounce of silver.
When the troubles of the Revolution commenced, con
gress, having no other resources for revenue, resorted to
the system of paper money, and the provinces did the
same to a large amount. In 1775, congress issued bills
of credit to the amount of $3,000,000; and, to force their
circulation and prevent their return for redemption, made
them, by resolution, a lawful tender, and declared a re
fusal to receive them, an extinguishment of the debt for
which they were offered In payment.
They appointed twenty-eight citizens of Philadelphia
to sign and number the bills: the names of two being
necessary to every bill. Each person was allowed, out
of the continental treasury, one dollar and one-third
for each and every thousand bills signed and numbered
by him.
The following gentlemen were entrusted with this duty,
namely :
Luke Morris Ellis Lewis Wm. Craig George Mifflin
Samuel Meredith John Mease Thomas Bartow Robt. Tuckniss
Judah Foulke Thomas Lawrence John Shee Andrew Bunner
Samuel Morris Daniel Clymer Isaac Hazlehurst William Jackson
Frederick Kuhl John M. Nesbit Robert Morris Jos. Sims
Robert S. Jones Thomas Barclay Anthony Morris James Milligan
Thomas Combe John Bayard Mordecai Lewis James Reed

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 425
But to administer these paper funds, joint treasurers
were appointed at a salary of five hundred dollars; the
number of Inhabitants of all ages, Induding negroes and
mulattoes, in each colony, to be taken as a ratio in order
to levy the ways and means of paying bills when pre
sented at the treasury. They were taken for taxes; and
In order to keep up their credit, the treasurers were di
rected, when they happened to receive silver or gold, to
advertise their readiness to pay the same for continental
bills to all persons requiring an exchange.
In November of the same year, three millions came
out in bills of various value, one-third, one-half, and two-
thirds of a dollar, and from one dollar to eighty. The
colonies were called upon to sink proportionally a sum
of three millions. In fixing the proportion for redeeming
that amount, Virginia was rated highest, and stood
charged with $496,000; Massachusetts, $434,000; Penn
sylvania, $372,000; Maryland, $310,000; Connecticut,
North Carolina, South CaroHna, and New York were
each rated at $248,000.
By the foregoing scale we find the relative wealth,
by congressional estimation, of these colonies, at the
beginning of the war, seventy years ago. It Is worthy of
remark, that the State of New York, the capital of which
was then unoccupied by the enemy, is placed at little more
than half of Massachusetts, while Boston was In the
actual possession of the enemy.
On a subsequent recommendation of a new tax, (when
the city of New York was held by the British) , congress
assessed the State of New York at one-fourth of Virginia
and Massachusetts, and at a less sum than New Jersey.
The city of New York, at that period, being a place of
smaU dimensions and moderate commerce.

426 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
This was a sort of forced loan, and congress declared
January ii, 1776, that "whoever should refuse to re
ceive in payment continental bills, should be declared
and treated as enemies to their country, and be precluded
from Intercourse with Its Inhabitants."
" Till the amount," says Mr. Jefferson, " exceeded
$9,000,000, the bills passed at their nominal value, after
which the depreciation was great." This continental
money formed almost the entire circulating medium of
the country during the Revolution, and accounts were kept
in It, but the specie value was also generally entered as
follows: — " 1779, June 5 — to cash paid Reuben Dean,
for a screw for a state seal — cont. £9, law. £0 i6s. 4d.";
which Is as eleven to one.
August 30, 1775, the provincial congress of New York
ordered an emission of bills to the amount of £45,000,
in sums from ten to half a dollar; and March 5, 1776,
they ordered $137,000 more. August 13, 1776, they
again resolved to Issue bills of credit, for $500,000, In
sums from one shilling to ten dollars. In the same con
gress. May 28, 1776, it was resolved that Thomas Har
riot had violated the resolutions of congress, in refusing
to receive continental bills In payment, and that he be
held up to the public as an enemy to his country. It
seems he was afterwards Imprisoned for the like offence.
January 14, 1777, the continental congress declared,
that bills of credit Issued by their authority, ought to
pass current In all payments, &c., and they recommended
the state legislatures to make them a lawful tender; that
a refusal to receive them should work a forfeiture of
the debt, and that persons so conducting, ought to be
declared enemies to the liberties of the United States.
Congress further " Resolved, that If any person shaU

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 427
hereafter be so lost to all virtue and regard for his
country, as to refuse to receive the bills In payment, or
obstruct and discourage the currency or circulation
thereof, and shall be duly convicted by the committee of
safety of the district, such person shall be deemed, pub
Hshed, and treated as an enemy of the country, and pre-
duded from all trade or intercourse with the Inhabitants
of these colonies."
On the 26th of December, 1776, General Washington
was authorized to arrest and confine those who rejected
the continental currency, and return their names to the
authorities of the states in which they resided. The
council of safety of Pennsylvania was Invited to take
most vigorous and speedy steps for punishing all such
as refused the bills, and the general was directed to give
aid to the council : meantime Virginia and the other states
were besought to furnish all the gold and silver they
could procure, and take paper in exchange.
The years 1776 and 1777 proved as unpropltlous to
the paper credit as the preceding; and very strong
measures were resorted to for the purpose of fixing a
value on the currency ; of compelling the people to receive
as substance a mere shadow; of putting the stamp of
reality on a fiction: measures certainly at variance with
justice and expediency, and which operated on the people
with the harshness of despotism. The resolutions which
followed will show the bad temper of the great men at
the head of affairs, and their forgetfulness of the rights
of their constituents.
On the 3d of December, 1777, congress recommended
the respective states to enact laws, requiring persons
possessed of bills of credit (struck under the sanction
and authority of the King of Great Britain), forthwith

428 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
to deliver them in exchange for continental money: and
those not so delivered, to be thenceforth utterly irredeem
able. Such pernicious legislation could result In nothing but
ruin to the confiding patriot, while it enabled the unprin
cipled to discharge their debts at an enormous discount.
This fact soon became evident, and to a degree so alarm
ing, that congress besought the states to repeal their
Iniquitous tender laws, which had been so presslngly rec
ommended a few months before.
The Hon. John Sloss Hobart reported to the congress
of New York, that the bills Issued by them, then cir
culating, and not on Interest, amounted, August 2, 1777,
to £1,060,110, or $2,650,275.
In 1780 they were worth only one-half, and continued
to fall, till $500 and even more of these bills were re
quired to buy a pound of tea, and $1000 to pay for a
pair of boots. The next year they entirely stopped, ex
cept at one hundred for one, under the funding system
established by the national govemment.
The consequence of the constant fluctuation and de
preciation of these bills, a greater part of those out
standing, was absorbed by speculators, who vainly
expected they would eventually be redeemed at par.
During the war, every device was resorted to by the
enemy to destroy their credit, and counterfeiting was
carried on to a wonderful extent.
Out of several hundred millions. Issued by the con
tinental and the different provlndal congresses, probably
more than one hundred millions are still held by pubHc
bodies and by individuals, which are entirely worthless,
except as matters of curiosity. This Is the more to be
regretted. Inasmuch as losses often fell upon the honest

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 429
patriot and worn-out soldier. But, with all Its faults, the
system was not only Indispensable, but unavoidable, and
answered the purpose of carrying the country triumph
antly through the long and bloody conflict, to the estab
lishment of Its Independence. Yet It Is now evident, that
it might and ought to have been redeemed, at the value
given for it by the holder, and paid either In money or
in public lands, which the creditors would gladly have
received. When the Constitution went Into operation, Alexander
Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, added to the domes
tic debt the claims held by several states against the
national exchequer, to the amount of twenty-one million
five hundred thousand dollars, and then funded the
whole by putting a part on Interest at six per cent., post
poning a part, without interest, for ten years, then to
bear six per cent.; and the remainder on Immediate In
terest at three per cent. The arrears of six years'
interest being added, with some other unsettled claims,
made the whole debt amount to ninety-four millions of
dollars. In 1778 the whole amount of gold and silver received
Into the treasury of the United States was $78,660, and
In 1779, $73,000; so that the whole machinery of gov
ernment was carried on, for two entire years (as far as
concerned the agency of specie), with only $151,666.
This handful of coin, which. In gold, would weigh only
seven hundred pounds, and might be put Into a wheel
barrow, was all that came in to the public chest for two
years; and therefore we may be less surprised at the gov
ernment being so chary of it as to refuse General Wash
ington's demand of a small share, to pay a part of the
bounty to enlisted soldiers. In denying which they de-

430 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
dared that the precious metals must be kept for the com
missaries of prisoners, to be used where paper would
not pass.
Paper money continued the chief Instrament in the
hands of government. The press was kept In perpetual
motion. Printers who labored at It obtained an exemp
tion from militia duty. Ragged and torn notes were
replaced, and bills of every denomination were Issued
by millions. But congress had no alternative. One
source of revenue only was at their command, the emis
sion of bills of credit. The very necessity of the case
forced them sometimes to abuse It; for even In Its de
preciated condition, paper money offered facilities so
attractive that those at the head of affairs, always In
tending to pay them, were glad to find the people willing,
at the current exchange, to receive that which could be
so easily supplied.
"Who," said a member (during a debate upon this
subject) , " will consent to load his constituents with taxes,
when we can send to our printer for a wagon load of
money, and pay for the whole with a quire of paper?"
And with wagon loads thus cheaply obtained, they car
ried on the campaigns of 1778 and 1779, keeping an
army of thirty or forty thousand men in the field. Issuing
paper to the amount of sixty-three millions for the former
year, and seventy-two millions for the latter.
Thus, with an active press, and commissioners hired
by the day to sign the bills, ways and means were found
to defray the expenses of government in a war with the
most powerful nation on the globe.
The whole amount of such money Issued during the
war, was not far from three hundred millions of doUars,
of which the government in various ways cancelled, from

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 431
time to time, about one-third; so that the maximum of
circulation, at no period, exceeded two hundred miUIons,
Nor did It reach that sum, until Its depreciation had com
peUed congress to take It In, and pay It out, at the rate
of forty paper dollars for one In specie.
Mr. Hamilton, as secretary of the treasury, on the
9th of January, 1790, made a long and able report to
congress on the subject of preserving the public credit,
in which he advocated the redemption of continental bills,
premising that the public credit was a matter of the
highest Importance to the honor and prosperity of the
United States, and could only be supported by good faith
and a punctual performance of contracts.
The debt of the United States, said he, was the price
of liberty; the faith of America had been repeatedly
pledged for It, and with solemnities that give peculiar
force to the obligation. To justify and preserve public
confidence; to promote the Increasing respectability of
the American name; to answer the calls of justice; to
sustain landed property to Its trae value ; to furnish new
resources both to agriculture and commerce; to cement
more closely the union of the states; to add to their secur
ity against foreign attack; to establish public order
on the basis of an upright and liberal policy, are the
great and valuable ends to be secured by a proper
and adequate provision for the support of public credit.
The nature of the contract, upon the f-'ce of the bills.
Is, that the public will pay to the holder the sum therein
expressed, and It was from this circumstance that the
blUs were ever received or drculated as money.
The biUs thus Issued may be better understood from
the following description.
On each bill was stamped a rudely printed emblem.

432

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

with a Latin motto, twenty In number. Those devices
and pithy sentences are said to have been composed by
Doctor Franklin and Charles Thomson,' aided by others
of the continental congress.
The mottoes were respectively as follows :

Denomination

Denomination

of the Bills

of the Bills

I

Dollar.

Depressa Resurgit

35

Dollars.

Hinc Opes.

2 Dollars.

Tribulatio Ditat.

40

((

The only English mot

3

((

Exitus in Dubio est.

to — " Confederation,"
: 4
n
Aut Mors, aut Vita
Decora.
except on the bills
of a fractional part
S
u
Sustine vel Abstine.
of a dollar.
6
ti
Perseverando.
45
«
Sic Floret Respublica.
7
tt
Serenabit.
50
It
Perennis.
, 8
tt
Majora Minoribus Con
55
tt
Post Nubila Phoebus.
sonant'.
60
tt
Deus Regnat, Exultet
20
tt
Vi Concitatas.
Terra.
3°
tt
Si Recte Fades.
65
(1
Fiat Justitia.
30
tt
(On the reverse) Ces-
sante Vento Con-
70
((
Quadrennium Sustinuit,
Vim Procellarum.
quiescemus.
80
tt
Florescebit et in Secula
Seculorum.
On the small bills of one-third, one-half, and two-
thirds of a dollar, " Fugio " was the Latin motto, and
In English, " Mind your business."
Decorated with these fine maxims, congress sent forth
this cheap defence of the nation, with a recommendation
to the legislatures of the states not only to make the
bills a lawful tender In payment of public and private
debts, but In case of refusal to receive them, to declare
such refusal an extinguishment of the debt.
The circulation of this currency came to an end. The
bills of the individual states had generally become so
worthless, that congress would not receive them into
its treasury, but congressional bills were kept In circula-
' Secretary of Congress. — EDITOR.
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 433
tion at a great discount untU May, 178 1, when they feU
to five hundred, and subsequendy to one thousand paper
dollars for one of silver, when they ceased as a currency.
Two hundred miUIons lost all their value, and were laid
aside. The annihilation was so complete, that barbers' shops
were papered, in jest, with the bills; and saUors, on re
turning from their cruise, being paid off In bundles of
this money, had suits of clothes made of It, with charac
teristic lightheartedness turning their loss into a frolic,
by parading through the streets in decayed finery, which
In better days, had passed for thousands of dollars I
The continental money, however, endured for nearly
six years, was a prodigy of revenue, of exceeding mys
terious and magical agency, and when It failed the loss
was divided Into such fractional parts during the five or
six years' circulation of its millions that It was laid aside,
not only unpaid and unhonored, but even unwept. The
people were tired of the variation in constant value, and
felt how ridiculous was a currency that required five
hundred dollars In paper to pay for a breakfast that
could be bought for a silver half-dollar. It carried no
regret with It, and seems doomed to sleep In silence,
unfriended and unsung; unless. Indeed, an attempt be oc
casionally made to awaken sympathy for some public
creditor, who may have taken It at the rate of five hun
dred to one, from some heartless speculator who obtained
it at a depreciation still more extravagant.

THE PERSECUTIONS OF THE QUAKERS
Whether the severity with which the Quakers were
formerly treated In this province, should be ascribed to
the temper and prejudices of the age, or to the bigotry of
particular sects or of individuals. It Is not necessary to
discuss; yet some account of any unjustifiable outrages,
upon the rights of conscience and the liberty of speech.
Is a necessary duty of the historian.
The expectation of enjoying In this country greater
freedom of opinion and speech, than they could enjoy in
their native land. Induced many worthy persons with their
families, to risk the dangers of a voyage over the At
lantic, and the privations Incident to a settlement in a
new and distant country. Little could they have antici
pated so soon being made objects of abuse and intoler
ance, by those who had transported themselves here for
the same purpose, the enjoyment of religious freedom.
That many of the disciples of Fox were Impmdent
and fanatical. Is undoubted; but the treatment they re
ceived from the puritans of New England, particularly
corporeal punishment, could not be justified upon any
principle of propriety, law, or justice.
" It has often been remarked," says the Rev, Mr.
Upham, in his Life of Sir Henry Vane, " that our
fathers were guilty of great Inconsistency in persecuting
the followers of Mrs. Hutchinson, the Quakers, and
others, Inasmuch as they settled the country In order to
screen themselves from persecution. They are often re-
434

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 435
proached, as having contended manfully for the rights
of conscience, when they were themselves sufferers, and,
as then turning against others, and violating their rights
of conscience, as soon as they had the power and the
opportunity to do It.
" But the remark and the reproach are founded In
error. It was for religious liberty. In a pecuHar sense,
that our fathers contended, and they were faithful to the
cause as they understood It. The true principle of re
ligious liberty. In its wide and full comprehension, had
never dawned upon their minds, and was never main
tained by them."
In 1640, the court at Plymouth ordered, that, if any
should bring into that jurisdiction a Quaker, rantor, or
other notorious heretic, he should, upon the order of a
magistrate, return such person to the place from whence
he came, upon the penalty of twenty-five shillings for
every week such person should remain there after warn
ing. In 1652, It was enacted, that no Quaker should be
entertained within that govemment, under the penalty
of £5 for every default, or whipping. In 1657, the
court of Massachusetts Imposed a fine of £100 on any
bringing a Quaker Into that jurisdiction; and a Quaker
returning, after being sent away, to have one of his ears
cut off; for a second offence, to lose the other ear. Every
Quaker woman so returning, to be severely whipped, and
for a third offence, to have her tongue bored through
with a hot iron.
These harsh measures served In some Instances to pro
voke even the Quaker to acts approaching insanity.
Humphrey Norton, of whom It Is hard to say whether
he was most fool or knave, addressed an Insulting epistle

436 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
to the governor, filled with the most viralent terms of
reproach of which language is capable; and another to
John Alden, a magistrate, equally abusive, both of which
bear date at Rhode Island, AprU i6, 1658,- and are
curiosities In their way.
But the laws already made, proving Ineffectual, It was
resolved to substitute. In some cases, even the punish
ment of death.
October 19, 1659, William Robinson, Marmaduke
Stevenson, and Mary Dyer, who had returned from ban
ishment, were tried and committed. The two former
were executed October 27, 1659; the last was reprieved,
but returning again the next year, was hanged June i,
1660. William Leddra, who had been whipped and banished,
was again offered his liberty, upon condition of not re
turning, which he decHned, and was executed March 14,
1660. In the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven, the
enactments were less severe, and no one suffered death
there for heresy. Holden, Copeland, and Rouse, had
their ears cut off at Boston, September 6, 1658. Witches,
Quakers, and Baptists seem to have been almost equally
obnoxious to punishment in the eastern provinces.
The Rev. George Burroughs was executed for witch
craft In August, 1692, and about twenty others suffered
on the like charge.
In this province the Quakers were treated with great
severity. On the 8th of January, 1658, a written answer
was received by the governor and council, from John
Tilton, late clerk of Gravesend, to the complaint of the
sheriff there, that he gave lodgings to a Quaker woman.
In council, January 10, 1658 — ^present, the director-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 437
general, Petrus Stuyvesant, the Hon. NIcasIus de SiUe,
and Pieter Tonneman — the conclusion of the attorney-
general versus John Tilton, for lodging a banished
Quaker woman, was read, with the written answer of
John Tilton, and after It was examined, the following
sentence was pronounced :
" Whereas John Tilton, residing at S. Gravesend, now
under arrest, has dared to provide a Quaker woman
with lodging, who was banished out of the New Nether
lands; so, too, some other persons of her adherents,
belonging to the abominable sect of the Quakers, which
Is directly contrary to the orders and placards of the
Director-General and Council of New Netherlands, and
therefore, as an example for others, ought to be severely
punished: however, having taken In consideration the
supplication of the arrested Tilton, in which he declares
that the aforesaid Quaker woman came to his house with
other neighbors during his absence, and further reflected
on his former conduct, so It Is, that the Director-Gen
eral in New Netherlands, doing justice In the name of
the high and mighty Lords the States General of the
United Netherlands, and the noble Directors of the
privileged West Indian Company, condemn the afore
said John Tilton In an amende of £12 Flanders, with
the costs and mises of justice, to be applied, one-third
in behalf of the Attorney-General, one-third In behalf
of the Sheriff of Gravesend, and the remaining third
part as it ought to be."
From the first appearance of the Quakers in the juris
diction. It seems to have been the determination of Gov
ernor Stuyvesant to prevent, by every possible means,
the dissemination of opinions which he was pleased to
denominate " seditious, heretical, and abominable " ; and

438 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the whole sect was always spoken of with the utmost
contempt and with the most opprobious epithets. Among
the first that fell under his displeasure, was Hodgson (or
Hadson). He came over in August, 1657, on board the
vessel called the " Woodhouse," Captain Robert Fowler.
He was charged with holding conventicles, and proceed
ing toward Hempstead, he was seized by order of
Richard Gildersleeve, a magistrate there, and committed
to prison. Information being sent to the city, a guard
was ordered to bring him before the governor and coun
cil. Two women, who had entertained him, were also
taken; one of whom had a young child. These were
put into a cart; and Hodgson being fastened behind it,
was dragged through woods by night to the city, and
. thrust Into the dungeon of Fort Amsterdam. On being
brought out next day, he was examined, condemned, and
sentenced to two years' hard labor at a wheelbarrow,
with a negro, or to pay a fine of 600 guilders. With the
latter alternative he was either unable or unwilling to
comply, and was again confined, without permission to
see or converse with any one. Being afterwards chained
to a wheelbarrow, and commanded to work, he refused
to do so, and was, by order of the court, beaten by a
negro with a tarred rope till he fainted: the punishment
was continued, at intervals, to one hundred lashes, with
the same result. After having been for some months
confined, and frequently scourged as before, he was lib
erated, at the solicitations of the governor's sister, and
banished from the province. Upon the Dutch records,
the case of Henry Townsend Is alluded to, who, on the
15th of September, 1657, was condemned In an amende
of £8 Flanders, or else to depart the province within
six weeks, upon the penalty of corporeal punishment, for

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 439
having called together conventicles. Being a person of
great worth and consideration with the people of Flush
ing, where he had previously resided, they assembled,
and addressed a remonstrance to the governor, dated De
cember 27, 1657, of which the following Is a copy:
" Right Honorable :
" You have been pleased to send up unto us a certain
prohibition or command that wee should not relieve or
entertelne any of those people called Quakers, because
they are supposed to bee by some, seducers of the
people. For our parte we cannot condemn them in this
case, neither can wee stretch out our handes against them,
to punish, bannlsh or persecute them, for out of Christ,
God is consuming fire, and it is a fearfuU thing to fall
Into the hands of the living God. Wee desire therefore
in this case not to judge, least we be judged, neither to
condem least wee bee condemd, but rather let every
man stand or fall to his own maister. Wee are com-
mande by the law to doe good unto 'all men, especially
to those of the household of faith. And though for the
present, wee seeme to be Insensible of the law and the
lawgiver, yet when death and the law assault us, if we
have an advocate to seeke who shall pleade for us in
this case of conscience betwixt God and our own soules,
the powers of this world can neither assist us, neither
excuse us, for If God justifye, who can condem, and
if God condem, there is none can justifye. And for
those jealousies and suspicions which some have of them,
that they are destructive unto magistracy and minlsterye
(this) cannot bee for the magistrate hath the sword In
his hand and the minister hath the sword In his hand,
as witnesse those tew great examples which all magis
trates and ministers are to foUow (Moses) and Christ
whom God raised up mainetalned and defended against

440 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
all the enemies both of flesh and spirit; and therefore
that which is of God will stand, and that which Is of
man will come to noething. And as the Lorde hath
taught Moses or the civil power to give an outward
liberty in the state by the law written In his heart, for
the good of all, and can truely judge who Is good, who
is evil, who is true and who Is false, and can pass
definitive sentence of life or death against that man which
rises up against the fundamentall law of the States Gen
eral. Soe he hath made his ministers a saver of life unto
life, and a saver of death unto death. The law of love,
peace and liberty in the state extending to J ewes, Turkes,
and Egyptians, as they are considered the sonnes of
Adam, which Is the glory of the outward State of Hol
land, soe love, peace and liberty, extending to all in
Christ Jesus, condems hatred, warre and bondage. And
because our Saviour saith It Is impossible but that of
fences will come, but woe be unto him by whom they
Cometh ; our desire Is not to offend one of his little ones,
in whatever forme or name or title he appeares In,
whether presbyterlan. Independent, baptist, or quaker,
but shall be glad to see any thing of God In any of
them, desiring to doe unto all, as wee desire that all
men should do unto us, which Is the trae law both of
church and state. For our Saviour saith, this Is the law
and the prophets. Therefore, if any of these said per
sons come In love unto us, we cannot in conscience lay
violent hands upon them, but give them free egresse and
regresse unto our towne and houses, as God shall per
suade our consciences. And In this we are true subjects
both of church and state, for wee are bounde by the law
of God and man to do good unto all men, and evU to
noe man. And this is according to the Pattent and
charter of our towne, given unto us In the name of the
States Generall, which wee are not willing to infringe
and violate, but shall houlde our pattent, and shall re-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 441
maine your humble subjects the Inhabitants of VHssingh.
Written this 27th of Dec. 1657, by me,"
" Edward Hart, Clerk."
To this dignified and spirited document are subscribed
the names of thirty of the prindpal Inhabitants of the
town. Including Henry and John Townsend of Jamaica,
(or Rusdorp). It was presented next day In person by
Tobias Feake, sheriff, one of the signers. The governor
was highly Incensed, and ordered his attorney-general,
NIcasIus de Sille, immediately to arrest him. Farring
ton and Noble, two of the magistrates, signers also, were
taken and Imprisoned. Hart admitted writing the paper,
saying he was requested to do so, as containing the senti
ments of the village meeting, at the house of Michael
Milnor. He was, therefore. Imprisoned. On the 29th
of December, 1657, the magistrates of Rusdorp Informed
the governor that the Quakers and their adherents were
lodged, and entertained, and unrelentingly corresponded
in said village, at the house of Henry Townsend; who,
they say, formerly convocated a conventicle of the
Quakers, and assisted in it, for which he had been con
demned on the 15th of September, 1657, in an amende
of £8 Flanders, that had not as yet been paid. He was
thereupon cited to appear, January 8, 1658. John Town-
send, who had also been summoned January 10, on being
asked if he had gone with Hart to persuade Farrington
to sign the remonstrance, answered that he had been at
Flushing, and visited Farrington as an old acquaintance;
and that he had also been at Gravesend, but not in com
pany with the banished female Quaker. The court having
suspicions of his favoring the Quakers, he was ordered to
find bail for £12, to appear when summoned.

442 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
On the same day, Noble and Farrington were brought
up, and made a verbal confession of being seduced and
inveigled by Feake, and promising to conduct with more
prudence In future, were discharged on paying costs. The
trials which foUowed, may well be considered as a perfect
mockery of judicial proceedings, and a burlesque on the
administration of justice — Inflated language, mixed with
barbarous Latin, unmeaning technicalities, and affected
ceremony, are manifest at every step, and can produce
In the mind of the reader only disgust. This feeling is
Increased by the fact that the accused were denied the
privilege of counsel, or even of defending themselves.
On the 15th of January, 1658, Henry Townsend was
again brought before the council, and the farce ended
by the attorney-general declaring, " that as the prisoner
had before, and now again, trespassed and treated with
contempt the placards of the director general and coundl
in New Netherlands, In lodging quakers, which he uncon
ditionally confessed, he should, therefore, be condemned
In an amende of £100 Flanders, as an example for other
transgressors and contumelious offenders, of the good
order and placards of the director general and councU in
New Netherlands, and so to remain arrested till the said
amende be paid, besides the costs and mises of justice."
On the 28 th, Sheriff Feake was brought from prison, and
"though (says the record) he confessed that he had
received an order of the director general not to admit
in the aforesaid village, any of that heretical and abom
inable sect, called quakers, or procure them lod^ngs, yet
did so in the face of the placards ; and, what was worse,
was a leader In composing a seditious and detestable
chartabel, delivered by him and signed by himself and
his accomplices, wherein they justify the abominable sect

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 443
of the quakers, who treat with contempt aU political and
ecclesiastical authority, and undermine the foundations
of aU government and religion, maintaining and abso
lutely concluding that all sects, and principally the afore
said heretical and abominable sect of quakers, shall
or ought to be tolerated, which is directly con
trary to the aforesaid orders and placards of
the director general and council; whereas he ought to
have maintained and observed the execution of the afore
said orders and placards In conformity to his oath, as
he was In duty bound, as a subaltern officer of the director
general and as sheriff of the aforesaid village of FHssIn-
gen." He was, therefore, degraded from his office, and
sentenced to be banished or pay an amende of two hun
dred guilders. On the 26th of March, 1658, the gov
ernor. In order to prevent as much as possible the con
sequences of Quaker Inffuence among the people, resolved
to change the municipal government of the town of
Flushing; and therefore, after formally pardoning the
town for Its mutinous orders and resolutions, says, " In
future I shall appoint a sheriff, acquainted not only with
the English and Dutch language, but with Dutch practical
law; and that in future there shall be chosen seven of
the most reasonable and respectable of the inhabitants,
to be called tribunes and townsmen; and whom the
sheriff and magistrates shall consult in all cases; and that
a tax of twelve stivers per-morgen Is laid on the inhabi
tants for the support of an orthodox minister; and such
as do not sign a written submission to the same In six
weeks, may dispose of their property at their pleasure,
and leave the soil of this government."
On the council records of January 8, 1 661, It Is stated
that the govemor addressed the people of Jamaica, In-

444 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
forming them that he had received their petition for a
minister to baptize some of their children; and their in
formation that Quakers and other sects held private con
venticles. He tells them that he had despatched his
deputy sheriff. Resolve Waldron, and one of his clerks,
Nicholas Bayard, to take notice thereof, and requiring
the Inhabitants to give exact Information where and In
what house such unlawful conventicles were kept; what
persons had exercised therein; what men or women had
been present; who called the meeting, and of all the cir
cumstances appertaining thereunto. In consequence of
this inquisitorial espionage of the governor's deputy, and
the fact that Everit and Denton, two of the magistrates
of Jamaica, had furnished the names of twelve persons.
Including Henry and John Townsend, and their wives,
who had countenanced the Quakers, Henry Townsend
was a third time dragged to the city, and again incarcer
ated in the dungeons of Fort Amsterdam. On the day
following, he and Samuel Spicer, who had also given
entertainment to a Quaker at his mother's house In
Gravesend, were brought from their loathsome prison.
It was proved by witnesses procured for the occasion,
that Townsend had given lodging to a Quaker, and be
sides notifying his neighbors, had even allowed them to
preach at his house and in his presence ; also, that Spicer
was present, both at the meeting at Jamaica and Graves
end, and procured lodging for the Quaker at his mother's
house. They were accordingly condemned In an amende
of six hundred guUders each. In conformity to the placard
respecting conventicles, and to be Imprisoned until the
said amende be paid; and further, that the said Henry
Townsend be banished out of the province, for an ex
ample to others. The widow Spicer, mother of Samuel,

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 445
was also arrested, accused, and condemned in an amende
of £15 Flanders. The said Henry Townsend having
Ingenuously acknowledged that he lodged In his house
some other friends who are caUed Quakers, and had a
meeting of friends at his house, at which one of them
spoke, concluding by saying that they might squander
and devour his estate and manacle his person, but that
his soul was his God's, and his opinions his own; where
upon he was again condemned, and sentenced with much
formality. These acts of violence were more particularly
frequent from 1647 to 1664, during the administration
of Stuyvesant, who was a zealous and Intolerant member
of the Dutch Calvlnlstic Church, and disposed to execute
the Instructions accompanying his commission with the
most extraordinary rigor. His official oath required
" the maintenance of the Reformed Religion in conform
ity to the word and the decrees of the synod of
Dordrecht, and not to tolerate in public any other sect."
By an ordinance made In 1656, any one preaching doc
trines other than those authorized by the synod was
fineable one hundred, and every one attending thereon
twenty-five, guilders. In the spirit of this provision, the
governor. In 1656, imprisoned some Lutherans, and in
1658 banished a clergyman of that church. He was
reproved for the former by the Dutch West India Com
pany, who directed him to permit the free exercise of
their reHgion to all persons within their own houses;
and though commended for the latter, was instracted to
use moderate measures in future. Against the Quakers,
who had, by their peaceful and pradent conduct, made
many converts In some of the westem towns of the Island,
particularly at Jamaica and Flushing, the temper of the
governor was violent and revengeful. Orders In writing.

446 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
or placards, were Issued to the town authorities for
bidding them to entertain members of this odious sect;
and the ordinance of 1662 provided, that besides the
reformed religion, no conventicles should be holden In
houses, barns, ships, woods, ^ or fields, under the penalty
of fifty guilders for each person, man, woman, or child
attending for the first offence, double for the second;
quadruple for the third; and arbitrary correction for
every other. The Importation of seditious and seducing
books, and the lodging of persons arriving In the prov
ince without reporting themselves and taking the oath
of allegiance, subjected the offenders to severe penalties.
These, with some other causes of discontent, rendered the
government very unpopular ; and it Is probable, that, had
not the province been conquered In 1664 by a foreign
power, a revolution would have. In a very short time,
been effected by the Inhabitants themselves, either with
or without the aid of the other colonies.
Materials upon the subject of the Quaker persecutions
are both abundant and authentic; yet want of space will
necessarily restrict our inquiries within narrow limits,
and confine us to a few cases of more than ordinary
severity. The most prominent individuals against whom
these atrocities were committed were Robert Hodgson,
Edward Farrington, William Bowne, WUHam Noble,
Edward Feake, Henry Townsend, John Townsend, Ed
ward Hart, John Bowne, Samuel Spicer, and John Tilton.
Of Hodgson little more Is known than that he was a
worthy man, and highly esteemed by the Friends for his
Intelligence and zeal in defence of civil and religious lib
erty. The crael treatment he received from the govern
ment drove him from the province, after the termination
of his sufferings and Imprisonment. Spicer and Tilton,

It ii

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 447
and probably Farrington, came with Baxter and Hubbard
to Gravesend In 1643, accompanied by the Lady Moody,
from Massachusetts. WUHam Bowne came about the
same time to Gravesend, and was a magistrate there In
1657. He afterwards removed, with his family and a
few other Quakers, to New Jersey, where they made a
purchase, embracing the present county of Middlesex and
part of Monmouth. John and Henry Townsend, with
their brother Richard, emigrated. It is believed, from
Lynn Regis, In Norfolkshire, England, to Saugus (now
Lynn), Massachusetts, a little previous to 1640, and soon
after arrived In the New Netherlands. John Bowne,
and his father Thomas Bowne, were among the earliest
and most venerable Inhabitants of Flushing. They em
braced, with zeal, the opinions and principles of George
Fox, and were, on this account, marked out by the min
ions of arbitrary power, as fit subjects of unceasing perse
cution. It has been mentioned In a former part of this
work, that John Bowne was. In 1663, transported to Hol
land for his supposed heretical opinions, for which act
the governor was severely reprimanded by the West
India Company, whose servant he was.
On the 5th of October, 1662, John Tilton and Mary
his wife, having been accused and committed before the
governor and council of New Amsterdam, of having
entertained Quakers and frequented their conventicles,
were condemned, and ordered to depart from the
province before the 20th November following, upon pain
of corporeal punishment. It is presumed that through
the Influence of Lady Moody, the last sentence was either
reversed or commuted for the payment of a fine, as they
continued to reside at Gravesend for the remainder of
their lives.

448 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
It appears from the trial, that Goody Tilton (as she
Is called) was not so much condemned for assisting at
conventicles, as " for having, like a sorceress, gone from
door to door, to lure and seduce the people, yea, even
young girls, to join the quakers." Her husband had been
fined the 19th of September preceding, for "permitting
quakers to quake at his house in Gravesend." (He died
In 1688, and his wife in 1683). On Henry Townsend's
last Imprisonment for the non-payment of his fine, he
was daily supplied with food, through the gratings of
the jail, by his daughter Rose, then only nine years old,
she being able to excite the compassion of the keeper so
far as to permit the performance of this pious duty.
May 17, 1663, the govemor put forth a still more
severe edict, denouncing vengeance and heavy penalties
upon skippers and barques, that should smuggle In any
of those " abominable Imposters, runaways, and strolling
people, called quakers."
Many more Instances, with almost equally aggravated
circumstances, might be mentioned, showing that the
severe reprimand which the governor received from the
authorities of Holland was well merited, and ought to
have been followed by his expulsion from an office he
so unworthily filled. But his power was soon after termi
nated by the conquest of New York; yet his excellency,
though deprived of the government, was nevertheless
permitted to retain his large possessions upon Manhattan
Island, a good portion of which is still enjoyed by his
descendants. Before closing this Interesting article, we will cite an
example of Quaker persecution, which took place during
the administration of Lord Cornbury, a man of most
detestable character, and fully equal to the Dutch Gov-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 449
emor for reHglous Intolerance. He in his turn perse
cuted other sects as well as Quakers, Instances of which
are adverted to In other parts of this work. The case
we now allude to Is that of Samuel Bownas, a Quaker
preacher, who came to America at the beginning of the
eighteenth century. The facts are stated In the journal
of his travels, afterwards pubHshed. He left England
on the 24th of March, 1702, and landed In Maryland,
where he received a challenge from George Keith, an
Episcopal missionary, who had once been a Quaker, He
was followed by Keith through Pennsylvania and New
Jersey to Long Island, and a meeting being appointed
at Hempstead, he preached November 21, 1702, at the
house of one Thomas Pearsall. As Keith could not,
by other means, silence his adversary, he procured
Richard Smith and William Bradford of Hempstead to
make an affidavit charging him with heresy, and for
this a warrant was Issued by Joseph Smith and Edward
Burroughs, justices, for his apprehension. On the 29th,
while he was attending a meeting of Friends at Flushing,
Cardell, the high sheriff, with a posse armed with guns,
pitchforks, swords, and dubs, entered the house and took
him prisoner. He appeared before the court at Jamaica,
consisting of four justices, Joseph Smith, Edward Bur
roughs, John Smith, and Jonathan Whitehead, the last
of whom, says the prisoner, was a very moderate man,
and did much to set him at liberty; but they had a priest
with them, who put the worst constractlon upon every
thing he said, and had also a man secreted In a closet
to note down what he should say; but the man was so
dmnk, that In going home he lost his papers, for which
great Inquiry was made. The justices ordered the pris
oner to give bail In £2000, with sureties to appear and

450 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
answer an Indictment, which the prisoner said he would
not give, " were it only three half-pence." Justice White
head offered himself as baU, and took the prisoner home
till next day, when he was committed to jail In Jamaica
for the term of three months. At the end of which, a
special commission of oyer and terminer was granted to
Chief Justice Bridges, and Robert Miller, Thomas
Willet, John Jackson, and Edward Burroughs, associates,
who met at the county hall In Jamaica. The names of
the grand jury were Richard Cornell, Ephralm
Goulding, John Clayer, Isaac Hicks, Robert Hubbs,
RIchabel Mott, Theodore Vanderwick, Samuel Denton,
Joseph Mott, Richard Valentine, Nathaniel Coles,
Joseph Dickerson, Isaac Doughty, Samuel Emery, John
Smith, John Sering, John Oakley, Samuel HaUet, Richard
Alsop, John Hunt, James Clement, and WUHam Blood-
good. The jury presented the bill to the court, endorsed
" Ignoramus " ; upon which the judge was very angry,
and told the jury that surely they had forgot their oaths,
and for so doing he could give them some hard names,
but for the present should forbear, " Is this your ver
dict (said the judge) touching the Quaker?" "It Is,"
said the foreman; at which the judge raged, and threat
ened to " lay the jury by the heels, and to Impose a fine
upon them " ; to which one of them replied. If he did,
" the matter should soon be exposed in Westminster
Hall." The judge now ordered the prisoner to be kept
more close than before, and threatened to 'send him to
London, chained to the deck of a man-of-war, then ready
to sail for England. " Thomas Hicks, an honest old
man, who had been a justice of the province, and was
well versed In the law, came to visit me (says he) and
consoled me with many kind words, saying that they dare

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 451
not send me out of the country." His old enemy, Keith,
published a pamphlet against him, which rather increased
the number of his friends. During his Imprisonment he
learned to make shoes, by which he earned fifteen
shUlIngs a week, refusing, at the same time, all pecuniary
aid from his friends. While here, he was visited, he
says, by an Indian sachem, who asked him If he was a
Christian; and being told yea, " and are they not Chris
tians who keep you here ? " Being told they called them
selves so, he expressed much surprise, and said, " the
Mang Manetou (meaning God) looked at the heart."
Then the Indian took a piece of coal, and drawing a
circle, said, " they believed the Great Spirit to be all eye,
that he saw every thing; all ear, that he heard every
thing; and all mind, that he knew every thing." At the
sitting of the court In October, 1703, the bill was again
returned " Ignoramus," and he was discharged. He
visited America again In 1727, and died In England on
the 2d of April, 1753.

LONG ISLAND CANAL
An opinion has long been entertained that the Interest
of the Island would be much advanced by a canal con
necting the great bays, so as to secure an Inland navi
gation from the Lower Bay of New York to the Peconic
or Southold Bay, Gardiner's Bay, and the Sound around
Oyster Pond Point.^ This project assumed a definite
shape by an application to the State Legislature In 1824,
in consequence of which a survey was ordered and made
under the direction of the canal commission the next year.
His excellency De Witt Clinton, the enlightened states
man and firm friend of Internal improvement. In his
message of 1826, earnestly recommended the plan to the
favorable notice of the Legislature.
The petitioners proposed, ist. That the canal be made
by the state ; if this were refused then, 2nd, That a com
pany be Incorporated to construct the same, with hauling
privileges; or In failure of both these propositions, 3rd,
That the state should refund to the company incorpo
rated, one-third the costs of constructing the said canal.
In lieu of all these, an act was passed April i, 1828,
and amended April i, 1829, incorporating the Long
Island Canal Company, which, not being accepted on
account of the omission of the banking clause, was suf
fered to expire by Its own limitation. In 1 846 the matter
^ Now Orient Point. — Editor, 45*

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 453
was again agitated, which resulted in an act to Incor
porate the Long Island Canal & Navigation Company,
passed April 7, 1848; capital stock, $300,000, divided
Into shares of $50 each. This act^ among other things,
authorized and empowered the corporation to survey,
construct, navigate, and maintain a line of canals and
water communication from Gravesend Bay to Jamaica
Bay, from thence over Rockaway to the Great South
Bay, and across Quogue to Southampton or Shinnecock
Bay, and thence to the great Peconic Bay. Any one
who will take the trouble to examine the map of the
south shore of Long Island will find it full of small bays,
coves, inlets, and Islands, covering a considerable surface,
and it is now proposed to unite them by cuts and form
them into a continuous line of canal navigation. The
outline of the project is quite interesting. It is proposed
to commence at Gravesend Bay, thence through the creek
separating Coney Island from the main land, the creek
to be deepened so as to obtain four feet water at low
tide. The distance from Gravesend Bay to Jamaica Bay
across Coney Island Is about 8,000 feet. Near Barren
Island the shoals wiU require deepening. Two routes
are practicable: the Ocean line, 10,000 feet from the
Pavilion, which will be about 30,000 feet in length on
the northern line, beginning near the mouth of Hook
Creek, and extending to the head of Brewer's Bay,
13,000 feet In length. Shoals and flats will have to be
dredged, and creeks deepened, to connect East Bay with
Shinnecock. Now when all these cuts are completed,
and the creeks deepened, vessels wiU be able to have an
Inland navigation from Coney Island to Southampton, a
distance of eighty miles with four feet water at low tide.
The whole capital required for this Interesting project Is

454 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
only $300,000. It Is estimated that at the present time
$150,000 Is paid annually for freight to and from the
various places on the north-east side, and at least
$160,000 for freight on the Bay side. The farmers are
deeply Interested In this project, which will afford them
a rapid conveyance for their products to market, and It
opens a new route to reach all the pleasant towns and
villages on the Island, Contributed by the Editor
We herewith append a clipping from a Brooklyn news
paper, date of January 22, 1847, which gives some fur
ther Information concerning the projected canal.
In this connection It Is Interesting to note that the
project has again been revived during the past year
(1916), but with what result, the future can only tell.
The need and value of such a canal Is very plain to see.
" Friday, January 22, 1847.
" Long Island Canal
" The attention of our readers was called, some time
ago, to the project of uniting the Bays along the South
shore of Long Island. We are now enabled to give fur
ther particulars In relation to the contemplated Improve
ment, derived from authentic sources.
" The proposed line of navigation commences at Grave
send Bay; thence through the creek separating Coney
Island from the main land. — This creek is to be widened,
and excavated so as to afford four feet of water at low
tide. The distance from Gravesend Bay to Jamaica
Bay across Coney Island Is about eight thousand feet.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 455
Near Barren Island It will probably be necessary to
deepen the shoals and excavate a small piece of meadow.
Through Rockaway two routes are practicable: the
lower or ocean Hne passes about 1000 feet in front of
the Pavilion, and will be about 4^ miles or 30,000
feet, in length; the northern line, beginning near the
mouth of Hook Creek, extends to the head of Brewer's
Bay, the length of which Is about 13,000 feet. The
shoals will need some dredging near South Oyster Bay,
and no further work will be required before reaching
Quogue, where It will be necessary to deepen a creek
and cut for a short distance In order to connect the East
Bay with Shinnecock Bay. From Canoe Place to
Peconic Bay the distance Is less than one mile, and the
deepest cut will not exceed twenty-five feet.
" When this improvement Is completed, vessels can
navigate the Bays from Coney Island to Southamp
ton, a distance of 80 miles, with 4 feet of water at low
tide. " The increase of business which must necessarily fol
low the opening of this new line of Inland communication,
will render the stock of the Company a good field for
Investment. It Is estimated that $150,000 per annum
is now paid for freights to and from the various
places on the south side, without taking Into consider
ation the amount paid for the transportation of Bay
produce, the value of which annually exceeds $160,000.
" Admitting the freights to be Increased one third, or
amounting to $200,000 per annum, and allowing one-
eighth to the Company, a sum of $25,000 would accrue
from this source alone. — The number of persons who
would avaU themselves of this new and agreeable route
for visiting the pleasant villages on the southern shore
during the summer months cannot be estimated but It Is
reasonable to suppose that the amount received from all
sources would exceed $50,000 per annum, which would

456 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
pay all expenses and give a remuneration of 7 per cent.
on the proposed capital ($300,000).
" Our farmers are deeply Interested In the success of
this project, and there Is no reason why it should not
receive the particular attention of our State Legislature.
" Nearly one thousand Inhabitants of the Island have
petitioned for the privilege of undertaking this work,
which cannot be made by the State according to the re
strictions of the New Constitution. Our friends at Ja
maica propose a canal from their village to the Bay, in
connection with the main line of navigation.
"We are pleased to see that the people are aroused
to the vital Importance of this great Improvement, and
we see no reason why Long Island cannot have her re
sources opened and be justly called the ' Garden of the
State.' Our soil is better suited for all kinds of crops
than that of any Immediate portion of the State. AU
that Is required Is cheap manure and an easy access to
market. " At our office a map can be seen showing the contem
plated Improvement, and a petition to the Legislature
will also be found, to which we hope all favorable to
the project will affix their names."

THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD
This road of about ninety-six mUes in length. Including
the Brooklyn and Jamaica raUroad, Is an essential link
In the chain of communication between the city of New
York and the commercial capital of New England. It
Is besides the most speedy and direct, being the stralght-
est and most uniform road of its extent in the United
States. It should be premised that the western portion
Is the property of the Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad
Company, incorporated April 25, 1832, with a capital
of $300,000, and opened to travellers AprU 18, 1836.
It was leased for a term of years, Immediately after Its
completion, to the Long Island Railroad Company,
which had been Incorporated April 24, 1834, with a cap
ital of $1,500,000, in shares of $50 each. It was com
menced In 1836, completed to Hicksville In March, 1837,
opened to Carman's River June 26, 1844, and on the
25th of July following, the first passenger train of cars
passed over the whole road to Greenport, where on the
27th of the same month, the event was celebrated with
great pomp and ceremony, several cars loaded with in
vited guests having arrived there from Brooklyn in three
hours and thirty-five minutes. The travel and other
patronage of the road has exceeded the general expecta
tion, while the expenses have likewise been beyond what
was calculated, so that lltde or no profit has thus far been
reaUzed by the stockholders. The tunnel under a part
of Atlantic Street, South Brooklyn, Is among the most
457

458 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
magnificent and durable works of the kind In this country.
It is 2,550 feet long with massive granite walls, sufficiently
wide for a double track, and cost about $75,000. The
construction of this road constitutes an important era in
the history of the Island, and will serve to make It better
known, although it traverses the most sterile and desert
portion of the country. The highest elevation of this
road Is at Hicksville, where It Is 142 feet above tide
water. The height at Brooklyn ferry is seven and at
Greenport ten feet. The advantages of travel by this
conveyance are very great, and it Is sincerely to be wished
that economy and prudence In Its management may yet
make It a safe and profitable Investment for the holders
of its stock.

LIST OF OFFICIALS
Names of those from Long Island who were members
of the " Continental Congress " and also under the " Ar
ticles of Confederation and Perpetual Union," between
the years 1774 and 1789, with the period of taking their
seats, respectively.
1774, Sept. s, William Floyd of Suffolk.
1775, May 10, Simon Boerum of Kings, and William Floyd of Suffolk.
1778, Oct. IS, William Floyd.
1779, Dec. 2, Same, and Ezra L'Hommedieu of Suffolk.
1781, July 31, Ezra L'Hommedieu.
" Nov. 23, William Floyd.
1782, Aug. 28, Ezra L'Hommedieu.
" Nov. 27, William Floyd.
1783, Aug. 7, Ezra L'Hommedieu.
1785, Jan. II, Zephaniah Piatt.
Names of those from Long Island who have been
elected to the House of Representatives, since the adop
tion of the Constitution of the United States.
ist congress, 1789, William Floyd, Suffolk.
2d " 1791, Thomas Tredwell, Suffolk.
3d " 1793, Same.
4th " 179s, Jonathan N. Havens, Suffolk.
5th " 1797, Same.
6th " 1799, John Smith, Suffolk.
7th " 1801, Same.
8th " 1803, Samuel Riker, Queens.
9th " 1805, Eliphalet Wickes, Queens.
loth " 1807, Samuel Riker, Queens.
nth " 1809, Ebenezer Sage, Suffolk.
I2th " 1811, Same.
13th " 1813, Same, and John Lefferts, Kings.
14th " 1815, Same, and George Townsend, Queens.
459

46o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

15th (

:ongress

, 1817,

Tredwell Scudder, Suffolk,
and George Townsend, Queens.

1 6th

tt

1819,

Silas Wood, Suffolk.

17th

tt

1821,

Same.

I gth

tt

1823,

Same.

19th

tt

1825,

Same.

20th

tt

1827,

Same.

21 St

(1

1829,

James Lent, Queens.

22d

tt

1831,

Same, and John T. Bergen, Kings.

23d

tt

1833,

Abel Huntington, Suffolk.

24th

tt

1835,

Same.

25th

tt

1837.

Thomas B. Jackson, Queens.

26th

tt

1839.

Same.

27th

tt

1841,

Charles A. Floyd, Suffolk.

28th

tt

1843.

Henry C. Murphy, Kings,
and Selah B. Strong, Suffolk.

29th

tt

184s,

John W. Lawrence, Queens.

30th

tt

1847,

Henry C. Murphy, Kings,
and Frederick W. Lord, Suffolk.

31st

tt

1849,

John A. King, Queens,
and David A. Bokee, Kings.

Contributed by the Editor
From 1 849 to the present, the following persons repre
sented Long Island In the House of Representatives.
They are not all natives of Long Island, however.
John G. Floyd Demas Barnes
John A. Searing William E. Robinson
George Taylor Dwight Townsend
Joseph Maurice Henry A. Reeves
Thomas W. Cumming John G. Schumacher
William W. Valk Henry W. Slocum
James S. T. Stranahan Thomas Kinsella
Obadiah Bowne Henry J. Scudder
Edward H. Smith Stewart L. Woodford
Moses F. Odell Philip S. Crooke
Luther C. Carter James W. Covert
Joseph Humphrey William D. Veeder
H. G. Stebbins Simeon B. Chittenden
Martin Kalbflei'sch Archibald M. Bliss
William Wall Perry Belmont
Stephen Taber William E. Robinson
Teunis G. Bergen J. Hyatt Smith
John W. Hunter Daniel O'Reilly

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 461
Darwin R. James Charles G. Bennett
Felix Campbell James R. Howe
Peter P. Mahoney John McCrum Belford
Wm. Copeland Wallace Edmund H. Driggs
John M. Clancy Townsend Scudder
Thomas F. Magner John J. Fitzgerald
Steven V. White Bertram T. Clayton
Joseph C. Hendrix Frank E. Wilson, M.D.
William J. Coombs Mitchell May
John H. Graham Frederic Storms
Alfred C. Chapin Townsend Scudder
Richard C. McCormick William W. Cocks
Denis M. Hurley Martin W. Littleton
Francis H. Wilson Lathrop Brown
Israel F. Fischer Frederick C. Hicks
In the above list, the congressmen from Kings County
have been omitted from 1898 to the present on account
of the consolidation of this county with New York City.
The only persons, natives, or residents of Long Island,
who have been members of the Senate of the United
States, are Rufus King, John Lawrance, De Witt Clinton,
John Smith, Nathan Sanford, Samuel L. Mitchill, and
John Sloss Hobart — all of whom are now deceased.^
It should be recollected that the Legislature omitted
to appoint senators to the first congress under the Con
stitution, consequently this state was not represented In
the Senate of the United States, till 1790.
The following named individuals, of Long Island,
have been members of the Senate of the State of New
York, since the adoption of the Constitution, in 1777.
Jonathan Lawrence Thomas Tredwell
William Floyd Peter Lefferts
John Vanderbllt David Gelston
Samuel Townsend Andrew Onderdonk
William Smith Samuel Jones
Ezra L'Hommedieu Joshua Sands
' William M. Calder began his term in 1917, and is the first Long
Islander to go to the Senate for over seventy-five years. — Editor.

462

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

Selah Strong
John Schenck
Jonathan N. Havens
Benjamin Huntting
Benjamin Coe
Israel Carle
Nathan Sanford
Elbert H. Jones
David Gardiner
Jonathan Dayton
John D. Ditmas
John Lefferts
John A. King
Joshua Smith
John I. Schenck
Jonathan S. Conkling
Coe S. Downing
Henry Floyd-Jones
Gabriel Furman
John A. Lott.
Joshua B. Smith
John G. Floyd
David A. Bokee
Contributed by the Editor
John Townsend
John L. Lawrence
Hugh Halsey
James Rider
Joseph H. Petty

Edward A. Lawrence
Thomas A. Gardiner
Henry C. Murphy
Jesse C. Smith
Abraham Lent
Henry R. Pierson
Townsend D. Cock
John C. Jacobs
L. Bradford Prince
Alfred Wagstaff, Jr.
James M. Oakley
John Birdsall
James W. Covert
Francis B. Spinola
John A. Cross
James Otis
Edward F. Fagan
Simeon S. Hawkins
Edward Hawkins
Patrick H. McCarren
Edward Floyd- Jones
John Lewis Childs
George A. Owens
Michael J. Coffey
William H. Reynolds
Richard Higbie
Frank Gallagher
Theodore Koehler
George W. Brush
Peter H. McNulty

On January i, 1898, a portion of the County of Queens
and all of Kings, became part of the city of New York,
and thereafter their senators must be regarded as the
representatives of the city rather than of Long Island
counties. For this reason and lack of space, the list
from this point on applies only to Suffolk County and
Nassau County, erected from that part of Queens not in
cluded within the city.

John L. Havens
William M. McKinney
William W. Cocks
Edwin Bailey, Jr.
Carll S. Burr, Jr.

Orlando Hubbs
James L. Long
Thomas H. O'Keefe
George L. Thompson

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 463
The following tables have been compiled with some
labor, and are here Inserted for their general utIHty, as
containing what is of considerable value as matter of
reference.List of the Framers of the Constitution of the United
States at Philadelphia, September 77, 7757.
George Washington, Pres. and Del. from Virginia
New Hampshire, John Langdon and Nicholas Gilman.
Massachusetts, Nathaniel Gotham and Rufus King.
Connecticut, William Samuel Johnson and Roger Sherman.
New York, Alexander Hamilton.
Nev: Jersey, William Livingston.
Deliware, George Reed, Gunning Bedford, jun., John Dickerson,
Richard Bassett, and Jacob Broom.
Maryland, James McHenry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, and Daniel
Carrol. Virginia, John Blair, James Madison, Jr., David Brearly, William
Patterson, and Jonathan Dayton.
Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris,
George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons. Tared Ingersoll, James Wilson, and
Gouverneur Morris.
North Carolina, William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Hugh
Williamson. South Carolina, John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler, and
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
Georgia, William Few and Abraham Baldwin. William Jackson, Secretary.
Members of the New York Convention for deliberating
on the adoption of the Constitution of the United
States, assembled at Poughkeepsie, June 77, iy88.
George Clinton, Del. from Ulster, President
From the City and County of New York
John Jay Isaac Roosevelt
Richard Morris James Duane
John Sloss Hobart Richard Harrison
Alexander Hamilton Nicholas Low
Robert R. Livingston

464

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

From the City and County of Albany
Robert Yates Israel Thompson
John Lansing, Jr. Anthony Ten Eyck
Henry Oothoudt Dirck Swart

Peter Vroman

From the County of Suffolk

Henry Scudder
Jonathan N. Havens John Smith

Thomas Tredwell
David Hedges

George Clinton
John Cantine
Cor. C. Schoonmaker

Samuel Jones
John Schenck

Peter Lefferts

From the County of Ulster
Ebenezer Clark
James Clinton
Dirck Wynkoop
From the County of Queens
Nathaniel Lawrence
Stephen Carman
From the County of Kings
Peter Vandervoort

From the County of Richmond
Abraham Bancker Gozen Ryerss

Lewis Morris
Philip Livingston
Richard Hatfield

From the County of Westchester
Philip Van Cortlandt
Thaddeus Crane
Lott W. Saris

John Haring
Jesse WoodhuU

Zephaniah Piatt
Melancthon Smith
Jacobus Swartwout

From the County of Orange
Henry Wisner
John Wood
From the County of Dutchess
Ezra Thompson
Gilbert Livingston
John De Witt
Jonathan Akins

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 465

From the County of Montgomery
William Harper John Winn
Christopher P. Yates Volkert Veeder
John Frey Henry Staring

From the County of Columbia
Peter Van Ness Matthew Adgate
John Bay

From the Counties of Washington and Clinton
Ichabod Parker Albert Baker
John Williams David Hopkins

List of the Members elected to the Convention, met at
Kingston, Ulster County, April 20, 1777, to frame the
Constitution of this State.
County of New York. John Jay, James Duane, John Morin Scott,
James Beekman, Daniel Dunscomb, Robert Harper, Philip Livingston,
Abraham P. Lott, Peter P. Van Zandt, Anthony Rutgers, Evert Bancker,
Isaac Stoutenbergh, Isaac Roosevelt, John Van Cortlandt, William Den
ning. County of Albany. Abr. Ten Broeck, Robert Yates, Leonard Ganse-
voort, Abr. Yates, Jr., John Ten Broeck, John Tayler, Peter R. Liv
ingston, Robert Van Rensselaer, Mathew Adgate, John J. Bleecker, Jacob
Cuyler. County of Dutchess. Robert R. Livingston, Zephaniah Piatt, John
Schenck, Jonathan Langdon, Gilbert Livingston, James Livingston, Henry
Schenck. County of Ulster. Christopher Tappen, Matthew Rea, Matthew Can-
tine, Charles De Witt, Arthur Parks.
County of Westchester. Pierre Van Cortlandt, Gouveneur Morris,
Gilbert Drake, Lewis Graham,  Lockwood, Zebediah Mills, Jonathan
Piatt, Jonathan G. Tompkins.
County of Orange. William Ellison, Henry Wisner, Jeremiah Clarke,
Isaac Sherwood, Joshua H. Smith.
County of Suffolk. William Smith, Thomas Tredwell, John Sloss
Hobart, Matthias Burnett Miller, Ezra L'Hommedieu.
County of Queens. Jonathan Lawrence.

466 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
County of Tryon. William Harper, Isaac Paris, Mr. Veeder, John
Moore, Benjamin Newkirk.
County of Charlotte. John Williams, Alexander Webster, William
Duer. County of Cumberland. Simeon Stephens.*

List of Delegates composing the Convention which
framed the present Constitution of the State of New
York, November lO, 182 1.
Suffolk. Usher H. Moore, Ebenezer Sage, Joshua Smith.
Queens. Rufus King, Nathaniel Seaman, Elbert H. Jones.*
Kings. John Lefferts.
Richmond. Daniel D. Tompkins.
New York. Jacobus Dyckman, Ogden Edwards, James Fairlie, John L.
Lawrence, William Paulding, Jr., Jacob Radcliff, Nathan Sanford,
Peter Sharpe, Peter Stagg, P. H. Wendover, Henry Wheaton.
Westchester. Peter A. Jay,* Peter Jay Monro, Jonathan Ward.
Putnam. Joel Frost.
Dutchess. Elisha Barlow, Isaac Hunting, Peter R. Livingston, Abr. H.
Schenck, James Tallmadge, Jr.
Rockland. Samuel G. Verbryck.
Orange. John Duer, John Hallock, Jr., Peter Milliken, Benjamin
Woodward. Ulster and Sullivan. Daniel Clark, Jonathan Dubois, James Hunter,
Henry Jansen.
Greene. Jehiel Tuttle, Alpheus Webster.*
Columbia. Francis Sylvester,* William W. Van Ness,* Jacob R. Van
Rensselaer,* Elisha Williams.*
Albany. James Kent,* Ambrose Spencer,* Stephen Van Rensselaer,*
Abr. Van Vechten.*
Rensselaer. Jirah Baker, David Buel, Jr., James L. Hogeboom,
John Reeve, John W. Woods.
The name of Tryon county is now Montgomery; Charlotte is Wash
ington. Cumberland is within the limits of Vermont, as well as the
county of Gloucester; and the ancient counties, Duke's and Cornwall,
now belong to Massachusetts.
* It does not appear that the members elected in Kings and Richmond
ever attended the provincial congress or the convention, after the 30th
June, 1776, and many members elected in Suffolk, Queens, and other
counties did not attend the convention at any time from the day the
constitution was reported by the select committee, till its adoption (from
6th March to 20th April, 1777,) and are therefore not named in the
preceding list.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 467
Schoharie. Olney Briggs, Asa Starkweather, Jacob Sutherland.
Schenectady. John Sanders,* Henry Yates, Jr.
Saratoga. Salmon Child, John Cramer, Jeremy Rockwell, Samuel
Young. Montgomery. William I. Dodge, Rowland Fish,* Jacob Hees,* Philip
Rhinelander, Jr.,* Alex'r Sheldon.
Washington and Warren. Alex'r Livingston, Nathaniel Pitcher, John
Richards, Wm. Townsend, Melancthon Wheeler.
Essex. Reuben Sanford.
Clinton and Franklin. Nathan Carver.
St. Lawrence. Jason Fenton.
Herkimer. Sanders Lansing, Richard Van Home,* Sherman Wooster.
Oneida. Ezekiel Bacon, Samuel S. Breese,* Henry Huntington, Jonas
Piatt,* Nathan Williams.
Madison. Barak Beckwith, John Knowles, Edward Rogers.
Lewis. Ela Collins.
Jefferson. Hiram Steele, Egbert Ten Eyck.
Delaware. Robert Clarke,* Erastus Root.
Otsego. Joseph Clyde, Ransom Hunt, William Park, David Tripp,
Martin Van Buren.
Chenango. Thomas Humphrey,* Jarvis K. Pike, Nathan Taylor.
Broome. Charles Pumpelly.
Cortland. Samuel Nelson.
Tompkins. Richard Smith, Richard Townley.
Tioga. Matthew Carpenter.
Onondaga. Victory Birdseye, Ameri Case, Asa Eastwood, Parley E.
Howe. Cayuga. David Brinkerhoff, Rowland Day,* Augustus F. Ferris.
Seneca. Robert S. Rose, Jonas Seely.
Ontario. Micah Brooks, John Price,* Phlletus Swift, David Suther
land,* Joshua Van Vleet.
Steuben and Alleghany. Timothy Hurd, James McCall.
Livingston. James Roseburgh.
Monroe. John Bowman.
Genesee. David Burroughs, John Z. Ross, Elizur Webster.
Erie, Niagara, &c. Augustus Porter, Samuel Russell.
The counties of Chemung, Erie, Fulton, Hamilton, Orleans, Oswego,
Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates, have been organized since the constitution
was adopted, by which the state now consists of 59 organized counties,
subdivided into 828 towns and 9 cities (comprising 62 wards).
* Mr. Jansen died during the sitting of the convention, and those marked
with an asterisk did not sign the constitution.

468 HISTORY OE LONG ISLAND
List of Governors, Lieutenant-Governors, and Presidents
of the Council, who have administered the Government
of the Colony and State of New York, from its Settle
ment to the present time. Dutch
Peter Minuet, Director-General  1625 to 1633
Wouter Van Twiller  1633 to 1638
William Keift  i638toi647
Peter Stuyvesant  1647 to 1664
Anthony Colve  from October 14, 1673, to February 9, 1674
English
Richard Nicolls  from September 7, 1664 to 1667
Francis Lovelace  1667 to 1673
Edmund Andros  1674 to 1681
Anthony Brockholst  i68i to 1683
Thomas Dongan  1683 to 1688
Francis Nicholson  1688 to 1689
Jacob Leisler (Lieutenant-Governor)  1689 to 1691
Henry Slaughter, a few months in  1691
Richard Ingolsby (Lieutenant-Governor)  1691 to 1692
Benjamin Fletcher  1692 to 1698
Richard, Earl of BeUomont  1698 to 1701
John Nanfan (Lieutenant-Governor)  1701 to 1702
Edward Hyde (Lord Cornbury)  1702 to 1708
Lord Lovelace (Baron of Hurley)  1708 to 1709
Richard Ingolsby (Lieutenant-Governor) few months
in  :  1709
Gerardus Beekman (President)  1709 to 1710
Robert Hunter  1710 to 1718
Peter Schuyler (President)  1718 to 1720
William Burnet  1720 to 1728
John Montgomerie  1728 to 1731
Rip Van Dam (President)  1731 to 1732
William Cosby  1732 to 1736
George Clarke  1736 to 1743
George Clinton  1743 to 1753
James De Lancey (Lieutenant-Governor), in  1753
Danvers Osborne, a few days in  1753
James De Lancey (Lieutenant-Governor)  i753 to 1755
Charles Hardy  1755 to 1757

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 469
James De Lancey (Lieutenant-Governor)  1757 to 1760
Cadwallader Colden (Lieutenant-Governor)  1760 to 1762
Robert Monkton  1762 to 1763
Cadwallader Colden (Lieutenant-Governor)  1763 to 1765
Henry Moore  1765 to 1769
Cadwallader Colden (Lieutenant-Governor), till  1770
John Murray, Earl of Dunmore  1770 to 1771
William Tryon  1771 to 1775
(The colonial government was suspended in May, 1775; from which
time till April, 1777, New York was governed by the provincial con
gress; Nathaniel WoodhuU, president of the congress in August, 1775.
¦The state government went into operation after the adoption of the
constitution, the 20th of April, 1777.)
State Governors
George Clinton, Anti-Federalist, from  1777 to 1795
John Jay, Federalist  1795 to i8or
George Clinton, Democrat-Republican  1801 to 1804
Morgan Lewis, Democrat-Republican  1804 to 1807
Daniel D. Tompkins, Democrat-Republican  i8o7toi8i7
John Taylor, Democrat-Republican (Lieutenant-Gov
ernor), in  1817
De Witt Clinton, Democrat-Republican  i8i7toi822
Joseph C. Yates, Democrat-Republican, under the new
constitution  1822 to 1824
De Witt Clinton, Democrat-Republican  1824 to 1828
Nathaniel Pitcher, Democrat-Republican (Lieutenant-
Governor)  1828 to 1829
Martin Van Buren, Democrat, three months in  1829
Enos T. Throop, Democrat (Lieutenant-Governor) . .1829 to 1830
Elected Governor  1830 to 1832
William L. Marcy, Democrat  1832 to 1839
William H. Seward, Whig  1839101843
William C. Bouck, Democrat  1843 to 1845
Contributed by the Editor
Silas Wright, Democrat  184,5 to 1847
John Young, Whig   1847 to 1849
Hamilton Fish, Whig  1849 to 1851
Washington Hunt, Whig  1851 to 1853
Horatio Seymour, Democrat  1853 to 1855
Meyron Holley Clark, Whig-Republican  1855 to 1857
John A. King, Republican  1857101859
Edwin D. Morgan, Republican  1859 to 1863
Horatio Seymour, Democrat  1863 to 1865
Reuben E. Fenton, Republican.  1865 to 1869

470 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
John T. Hoffman, Democrat  1869 to 1873
John Adams Dix, Republican  1873 to 1875
Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat  1875 to 1877
Lucius Robinson, Democrat  1877 to 1880
Alonzo B. Cornell, Republican  1880 to 1883
Grover Cleveland, Democrat  1883 to 1885
David B. Hill, Democrat  1885 to 1892
Roswell P. Flower, Democrat  1892 to 1895
Levi P. Morton, Republican  1895 to 1897
Frank S. Black, Republican  1897 to 1899
Theodore Roosevelt, Republican  1899 to 1901
Benj amin B. Odell, Republican  1901 to 1905
Frank W. Higgins, Republican  1905 to 1907
Charles E. Hughes, Republican  1907 to 1910
Horace White, Republican  1910
John Alden Dix, Republican  1911 to 1913
William Sulzer, Democrat  1913 (impeached)
Martin Glynn, Democrat  1913 toi9i5
Charles S. Whitman, Republican  1915 to 1917
Lieutenant-Governors of the State
Pierre Van Cortlandt  1777 to 1795
Stephen Van Rensselaer  1795 to 1801
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer  1801 to 1804
John Broome  1804 to 1812
De Witt Clinton  i8i2toi8i4
John Taylor  1814 to 1823
Erastus Root  1823 to 1825
James Tallmadge  1825 to 1827
Nathaniel Pitcher  1827 to 1829
Enos T. Throop  1829 to 1831
Edward P. Livingston  1831 to 1833
John Tracy  1833 to 1839
Luther Bradish  1839 to '843
Daniel S. Dickinson  1843 to 1845
Addison Gardiner  1845 to 1847
Hamilton Fish  1847 to 1849
Geo. W. Patterson  1849 to 1851
Contributed by the Editor
Sanford E. Church  1851 to 1854
Henry J. Raymond  1855 to 1856
Hbnry R. Selden  1857101858
Robert Campbell  1859 to 1862
David R. Floyd-Jones  1863 to 1864

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 471
Thomas G. Alvord  1865 to 1867
Stewart L. Woodford  1867 to 1868
Allen C. Beach  1869101872
John C. Robinson  1873 to 1874
William Dorsheimer  1875 to 1879
George G. Hoskins  1880 to 1882
David B. Hill  1883 to 1885
Edward F. Jones  1886 to 1891
William F. Sheehan  1892 to 1894
Charles T. Saxton  1895 to 1896
Timothy L. Woodruff  1897 to 1902
Frank W. Higgins  1903 to 1904
M. Linn Bruce  1905 to 1906
Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler  1907 to 1908
Horace White  1909 to 1910
Thomas F. Conway  1911 to 1912
Martin H. Glynn  1913
Robert F. Wagner  1914
Edward Schoeneck  191S to 1916
Statement of Votes at Elections for Governor of the State
of New York, from 1789 to 1842 (omitting scattering
Votes), from the Official Returns. Whole No.
Year. Candidates. Votes. Majority. of Votes.
1789 George Clinton  6,391 4^9
Robert Yates  5.962 '2.353
1792 George Clinton  8,440 108
John Jay  8,332 16,77a
1795 John Jay  i3.48i 1.589
Robert Yates  11.882 25,373
1798 John Jay  i6.ot2 2.380
Robert F. Livingston  13.632 29,644
i8oi George Clinton  24,808 3.96s
Stephen Van Rensselaer  20,843 45.651
1804 Morgan Lewis  30,829 8,690
Aaron Burr  22,139
1807 Daniel D. Tompkins  35.074 4.085
Morgan Lewis  30.989
1810 Daniel D. Tompkins  43,094 6,610
Jonas Piatt  36,484 79.578
1813 Daniel D. Tompkins  43.324 3,6o6
Stephen Van Rensselaer.... 39.718 *3.oiz
1816 Daniel D. Tompkins  45.412 6,765
Rufus King  38,647

52,968 66,063

84,059

472 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND Whole No.
Year. Candidates. Votes. Majority. of Votes.
1817 De Witt Clinton  43.31° 41.89'
Peter B. Porter  1.419 44.789
1820 De Witt Clinton  47.447 '.457
Daniel D. Tompkins  45,99° 93,437
Amended Constitution
1822 Joseph C. Yates  127.493 123.583
Solomon Southwick  2,910 i3'.403
1824 De Witt Clinton  103,454 '6,359
Samuel Young  87,093 190.545
1826 De Witt Clinton  99,78S 3.65°
William B. Rochester  96.135 195.92°
1828 Martin Van Buren  136,794
Smith Thompson  106,444
Solomon Southwick  33,345 276.58$
1830 Enos T. Throop  128,842
Francis Granger  120,361
Ezekiel Williams  2,332 25'.535
1832 William L. Marcy  166,410 9,738
Francis Granger  '56.672 323,08a
1834 William L. Marcy  181,905 '2.936
William H. Seward  168,969 350.874
1836 William L. Marcy  166,122 25,978
Jesse Buel  136,648
Isaac S. Smith  3,496 306,266
1838 William H. Seward  192,882 10,421
William L. Marcy  182,461 375.343
1840 William H. Seward  222,010 3,038
William C. Bouck  216,710
Gerrit Smith  2,26a 440.98a
184a William C. Bouck  208,070 21,98a
Luther Bradish  186,088 394.'58
Alvan Stewart  7,a6a*
1844 Silas Wright  341,090 9,933
Millard Filmore  231,057 472.'47
Alvan Stewart  15.136 *
•Abolition votes.
In 1817 the government was administered by the Hon. John Taylor,
Lieutenant-Governor, from February to July. In 1828, after the death of
His Excellency, De Witt Clinton, the government was administered by
the Hon. Nathaniel Pitcher, Lieutenant-Governor, until the expiration of
the governor's term of office. In 1829, on the resignation of His Excellency,
Martin Van Buren, March 12, the government was administered by the
Hon. Enos T. Throop, Lieutenant-Governor.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 473
The above Hst Is not continued beyond 1842 on account
of lack of Importance. Names of those who have been
successively State Attorneys-General:
Egbert Benson  1771 to 1787
Richard Varick  1788 to 1789
Aaron Burr  1789 to 1790
Morgan Lewis  1791 to 1792
Nathaniel Lawrence  1792 to 1794
Josiah Ogden Hoffman  1795 to 1801
Ambrose Spencer  1802 to 1803
John Woodworth  1804 to 1807
Matthias B. Hildreth  i8o8 to 1809
Abraham Van Vechten  1810
Matthias B. Hildreth  1811
Thomas Addis Emmet  1812
Abraham Van Vechten  1813 to 1814
Martin Van Buren  1815 to 1818
Thomas J. Oakley  1819 to 1820
Samuel A. Tallcott  1821 to 1828
Greene C. Bronson  1829 to 1835
Samuel Beardsley  1836 to 1838
Willis Hall  1839 to 1841
George P. Barker  1842 to 1845
John Van Buren  1845 to 1847
Ambrose L. Jordan  1847 to 1849
Contributed by the Editor
Levi S. Chatfield  1849 to 1853
Gardner Stow '  1853
Ogden Hoffman  1853 to 185s
Stephen B. Gushing  1855 to 1857
Lyman Tremain  1857 to i860
Daniel S. Dickinson  1861 to 1863
John Cochrane  1863 to 1865
John H. Martindale  1865 to 1867
Marshall B. Champlain  1867 to 1871
Francis C. Barlow  1871 to 1873
Daniel Pratt  1873 to 1875
Charles S. Fairchild  1875 to 1877
August Schoonmaker, Jr  1877 to 1879
Hamilton Ward  1879 to 1881
Leslie W. Russell  1881 to 1883
Denis O'Brien  1883 to 1887
' In place of Chatfield, resigned.

474 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Charles F. Tabor  1887 to 1891
Simon W. Rosendale  1891 to 1893
Theodore E. Hancock  1893 to 1898
John C. Davies  1898 to 190a
John Cunneen  190a to 1904
Julius M. Mayer  1904 to 1906
William S. Jackson  1906 to 1908
Edward R. O'Malley  1908 to 1910
Thomas Carmody  1910 to 1914
James A. Parsons '  1914
Egbert E. Woodbury  1914 to 1916

Regents of the University
The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Secretary of State, ex
officio.
Elisha Jenkins  appointed 1807
James Thompson  " 1822
Peter Wendell  " 1823
John Greig  " 1825
Gulian C. Verplanck  " 1826
Gerrit Y. Lansing  " 1829
John K. Page  " 1829
John Adams Dix  " 1831
Erastus Corning  " 1833
Prosper M. Wetmore  " 1833
James McKown  " 1834
John L. Graham  " 1834
John McLean  " 1835
Gideon Hawley  " 184a
David Buell  " 184a
James S. Wadsworth  " 1844
John V. L. Pruyn  " 1844
William C. Bouck  " 1845
Jabez D. Hammond  " 1845

Contributed by the Editor
John L. O'Sullivan  appoi
Robert Campbell, Jr 
Samuel Luckey 
Robert G. Rankin 
Philip S. Van Rensselaer 
John N. Campbell 
" In place of Carmody, resigned.

nted 1846184618471847 18491851

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

475i

Erastus C. Benedict 
George W. Clinton 
Isaac Parks 
Lorenzo Burrows 
George B. Cheever 
Robert S. Hale 
Elias W. Leavenworth....
J. Carson Brevoort 
George R. Perkins 
Alex. S. Johnson 
George W. Curtis 
William H. Goodwin 
John A. Griswold 
Francis Kernan 
Oswald Ottendorfer 
John L. Lewis  ,
Horatio G. Warner  ,
Henry R. Pierson  ,
Martin I. Townsend 
James W. Booth 
Anson J. Upson 
William L. Bostwick 
August C. George 
John A. Dix 
Chauncey M. Depew 
Charles E. Fitch 
Orris H. Warren 
Leslie W. Russell 
Whitelaw Reid 
Charles E. Smith 
William H. Watson 
Henry E. Turner 
St. Clair McKelway 
Hamilton Harris 
Daniel Beach 
Willard A. Cobb 
Carroll E. Smith 
Pliny T. Sexton 
T. Guilford Smith 
William Croswell Doane.
Lewis A. Stimson 
Sylvester Malone 
Albert Vanderveer 
Chester S. Lord 
Thomas A. Hendrick 
Robert C. Pruyn 
William Nottingham 

. appo:

inted

1855 18561857 1858 i860i8601861 18611862 18641864 18651869 18701870 18711871187a 1S7318731874 1876 187618761877 18771877 187818781879 188118811883 18851885 18861888 1890
1890 18921893 18941895 18971900 19011902

476 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Charles A. Gardiner  appointed 1903
Charles S. Francis  " 1903
Edward Lauterbach  term expires 1911
Eugene A. Philbin  " " 1909
Lucian L. Shedden  " " '9'6
Francis M. Carpenter  " " '92'
Abraham I. Elkus  " " 1923
Adelbert Moot  " " 19*4
Charles B. Alexander  " " 1925
William Berri  " " 1917
John Moore  " " 1919
James Byrne  " " 1920
Walter G. Kellogg  " " 1928
Series of Chancellors
Robert Livingston  appointed 1777
John Lansing, Jr  " 1801
James Kent  " 1814
Nathan Sanford  " 1823
Samuel Jones  " '826
Reuben H. Walworth  " '828
Contributed by the Editor
Under the Constitution of 1846, the office of chan
cellor was abolished. Chief Justices
John Jay  1777 to 1779
Richard Morris  1779 to 1790
Robert Yates  1790 to 1798
John Lansing, Jr  1798 to i8oi
Morgan Lewis  1801 to 1804
James Kent  1804 to 1814
Smith Thompson  1814 to 1819
Ambrose Spencer  1819 to 1823
John Savage  1823 to 1837
Samuel Nelson  1837 to 1845
Greene C. Bronson  1845 to 1847
Samuel Beardsley  1848
Contributed by the Editor
Under the Constitution of 1846, the highest tribunal
in the State was the Court of Appeals; and the title of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 477
Chief Justice of this or the lower Supreme Court was
non-existent until the constitutional amendment of 1869,
which created the title of Chief Justice of the Court of
Appeals, which title was continued by the Constitution
of 1894. Chief Justices, Court of Appeals
Sanford E. Church  appointed 1870
Charles J. Folger  " 1880
Charles Andrews  " 1881
William C. Ruger  " 1882
Robert Earl  " 1892
Alton B. Parker  " 1897
Edgar M. Cullen  " 1904
Willard Bartlett  " 1913
The first constitution of this state, adopted April 20,
1777, made the Senate to consist of twenty-four, chosen
by districts; and the Assembly of at least seventy mem
bers, to be chosen In the several counties. In the appor
tionment then made five members were allowed to Suf
folk, four to Queens, and two to Kings. Long Island
being then and until 1783 In possession of the enemy,
the provincial congress or convention assumed, from ne
cessity, the appointment of proper persons to represent
this part of the state. The following named individuals
were accordingly chosen for the purpose, and met in the
first State Legislature in 1778; Senators: Jonathan Law
rence, William Floyd, and WUHam Smith; Assemblymen:
Burnet Miller, David Gelston, Ezra L'Hommedieu,
Thomas Tredwell, and Thomas Wickes, for Suffolk;
Philip Edsall, Daniel Lawrence, Benjamin Coe, and Ben
jamin Birdsall, for Queens; and WUHam Boerum and
Henry WiUIams for Kings County. In 1784, and ever
since, members of Assembly have been annually elected
in all the said counties.

478

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

At a meeting of the committee of safety. In the City
Hall of the city of New York, July ii, 1775, Abraham
Brazier appeared for Suffolk; Colonel Alexander Mc-
Dougall for Queens and Henry Williams for Kings, who
was elected chairman of said committee.
POPULATION, &c., OF LONG ISLAND
according to the u. s. census, 1840

Enumeration, &c.

No. of Inhabitants 
" Agriculturists 
" Manufactures and Trades,
" Scholars 
" Horses and Mules 
" Neat Cattle 
" 'Sheep 
" Swine 
" Bushels of Wheat 
" Oats 
" Rye 
" " Buckwheat....
" " Indian Corn. . .
" Pounds of Wool 
" Bushels of Potatoes 
' ' Tons of Hay 
' ' Cords of Wood sold 

Suffolk.

Queens.

Kings.

32,469

30,324

47,613

7,959

6,138

3,324

1,127

1,612

6,160

7,872

3,670

5,280

5,473

6.517

3,019

22,236

14,181

5,978

46,751

26,477

48

20,534

21,518

8,360

105,778

97,741

24,964

258,218

348,447

72,460

79.023

105,399

8,537

42,707

64,027

3,933

355,314

336,401

81,824

84,008

43,200

150

170,236

214,121

95,805

42,891

31,437

5,437

66,023

9,787



Total
Amount.

110,406 17,421 8,899
16,82215,009
42,395 73,32650,412
228,483679,125 192,959110,667
773,549 I
127,358
480,162 j
79,765
75,810

Contributed by the Editor
POPULATION OF LONG ISLAND
1845-1910

i Year.'

Suffolk.

Queens.

Kings.

Nassau. 1

Total.

18451880189019001910

34,579 53,888
62,491 77,582
96,138

31,84990,574
128,059
152,999
284,041

78,691
599,495838,547
1,166,5821,634,351

55,44883,930

144,119 743.957
1,029,0971,452,611
2,098,460

' Between 1890 and 1900 the county of Nassau was erected from the
towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay, which previ
ously belonged to Queens County.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 479
Copy of a Petition of Henry, Grandson of William, Earl
of Stirling, to King Charles II., against the Dutch in
truding on Long Island. May 31, 1661.
" To the King's Most Excellent Ma*'^ The humble
peticon of Henry Earl of Sterlyne — Sheweth: — ^That
yo"" Ma*^ royall grandfather King James of happy
memory, by his Letters Patents under the greate scale
of England dated 3d November In the eighteenth yeare
of his raigne, over England, &c., did grant unto the
then, Duke of Lenox and Buckingham, and other persons
of bono"" and their success", all that continent in
America, lyeing betweene the degrees 40 and 48 of
northerly latitude, and called it New England, and Incor
porated them by ye name of ye councIU for the affaires
of New England, granting unto them a common scale.
" That that councIU by tb^h deede, under their com
mon scale, dated 22 April in the eleventh year of the
raigne of your Ma*^ royall father of blessed memory
did grant unto William Earle of Sterlyne, your petition
er's grandfather and his heirs, part of New England,
and an island adjacent called Long Island, with power
of judicature, saving to that councIU the Oyer and
Terminer of Appeales, to be held of that councIU per
gladium comltatur, and yielding the fifth part of all oare
of gold and silver.
" That yo'' Petitioner's grandfather and himselfe their
heire, have respectively enjoyed the same, and have at
their greate costs planted many places of that Island,
but of late the Dutch have Intruded on several parts
thereof, not acknowledgeing themselves within your
Ma*'^ allegiance, to your M?'^ disherislon and your Peti
tioner's prejudice.
" May your Majestie be pleased to confirm unto your
Peticoner, his said Inheritance, to be held Immediately

48o HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
of your crowne of England, and that in any future treaty
betweene your royall selfe and the Dutch, such provision
may be, as that the Dutch there, may submitt themselves
to your Ma*'^ government, or depart these parts.
" And your Peticoner shall ever pray, &c.
"At the court at WhItehaU the last of May, 1661,
His Ma'^ pleasure is. That this peticon be referred to
the consideracon and examlnacon of the commissioners
and CouncIU of Plantacons, who are thereupon to cer-
tlfie their opinion what Is fitt to be done for the Peticon-
er's satisfacon, in order to the good of His Ma*^ service
In that Island. " Edw, Nicholas."

Copy of Governor Nicoll' s Letter to the Justices, £=fc., of
East Hampton, South Hampton, Southold, Seatalcott,
Huntington, Oyster Bay and Hempstead, dated July
ig, 1667.
" Gentlemen: — I have not given you the trouble of
Alarums to Interrupt y*^ private occasions, but the noise
of warrs, sounds from farr In other plantations, and
therefore it becomes necessary at present In his Ma"*^
name to direct and require you, that for the common
safety In this time of danger, your militia be put In the
following wayes of defence and readiness to comply with
these my present directions 'till further order.
" I. That one third of the militia which are now in
foot companies, doe fitt themselves with horses, saddles
and such armes (either PlstoUs, Carbines, or Muskets) as
they have ; which third part of the militia are to be ready
at an hour's warning, with their horses and arms to
answer all true alarums of an enemy, and my orders
when I appoint them a Rendevous.
" 2ndly. That the other two parts of the militia re-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 481
maine in or about their plantations for the security of
their Estates and families, as much as may bee.
" Si'dly- That if any Towne be in more danger than
another, the neighboring towns shall upon notice, send
releife to them.
" 4thly. That the horsemen of each towne have lib
erty to choose a corporall of their owne, to c6nduct
them upon all occasions, or to the Rendevous when
appointed, and there the whole body shaU elect and make
choice of their Cap*., Lieutenant and Cornett.
" Lastly. — The justices of the peace, the constables,
the overseers and military officers are required upon their
aUeglance, to promote this his Ma"== speciall service
strenuously and diligently for the preservation of the
peace of these his Ma*'^^ Dominions. For acting and
doing wherein what is necessary; this shall be their
speciall warrant. Given at Fort James this 19th day of
July, 1667. Richard Nicolls."

Narrative of Facts and Proceedings in relation to Captain
John Scott, for some time a Resident of Long Island.
The subject of this article figures largely upon the state
records of Connecticut, and of the court of assize in the
colony of New York. Between the years 1660 and '65,
he was the unhappy occasion of embarrassment and diffi
culty to many individuals upon Long Island, which made
it necessary for the general court at Hartford to inter
fere. He was a man of shrewdness, but base and unprin
cipled, as is evident from the whole tenor of his dealings.
Professing to be the rightful owner of numerous tracts
of land In various parts of the Island, under purchases
from the Indian tribes, and In various other ways he
found persons sufficiently credulous to become purchasers

482 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND!
of what he styled perpetuities, or leases for very long
periods, which Involved the grantees In controversy with
other claimants, and called for investigation by the public
authorities. In 1660, we find him a resident of South
ampton, and on the 2d of May of that year, he conveyed
to Thomas Hutchinson (late of Lynn) , for the sum of
£40, land described as " lying from Southampton west
ward thirty miles, at a Wading River, called by the In
dians Quaconsuck, and so six miles westward, In breadth
the same southward, till It cometh within two miles of the
bay, on the south of which is reserved for the Indians,
together with all the privileges conferred on said Scott
by Wyandanch and Weacham his son." Soon after the
date of this Instrument, Scott Is found at Setauket, with
the appointment of magistrate, conferred upon him by
Connecticut, the Influence of which served still further to
enhance his power of doing mischief; for so far had he
imposed upon the people there, that on the 5th of De
cember, 1663, an agreement was entered into, between
said Scott and the inhabitants of Ashford (or Setauket)
to become co-partners In a tract of land purchased by
him, or pretended to be so, of Mahmasutee and others,
" bounded easterly with Nanemoset Brook, westerly with
Nessaquague east line, and running south to the middle
of the Island, even to the said Indian's utmost bounds,
and north to the Sound, as sold and delivered to said
Scott by ' turf and twig,' November 23, 1663." The said
Scott, Richard WoodhuU, Daniel Lane, Thomas Mapes,
and George Wood, to have double shares for their
trouble. In all future divisions (except Little Neck, to
which they lay no claim). December 16, 1663, Scott
sells his lands " about Ashamomuck Neck and elsewhere
In Southold (except Hog Island) to Thomas Corteous

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 483
and wife. In trust for the children of one WUHam
Salmon." These frequent conveyances, which were suspected to
be fraudulent, and other acts of Scott, produced much
discontent, and on complaint to the general assembly of
Connecticut, an order was made March 10, 1664, that
the particulars should be drawn up In form, and sent to
the magistrates of New Haven, Milford, and other
towns, for the purpose of his arrest and punishment.
A proclamation was also Issued as follows : —
" To all his ma"^^ subjects within these parts of o*"
Royall Souvrelgne Charles King of England, ffrance and
Ireland, his Dominions in New England, and especially
those plantations scituate w'^In the Limitts of the cor
poration of Connectlcutt: These presents do declare and
proclaim; that forasmuch as John Scott inhabitant wl^'In
the Libertyes of Ashford, alias Sewtawkitt, on Long
Island, stands charged In the court of Connectlcutt for
sundry Halnous crimes and practises seditious, to the
great disturbance of the peace of his ma*'^* subjects on
the island aforesaid, particularly as foUoweth — i. Speak
ing words tending to the deffamatlon of the King's
majesty; 2. Seditious practises and tumultuous carriages;
3. Abetting and encouraging the natives In hostile parties,
one against another; 4. Usurping the authority of the
King, pretending to pardon treason; 5. Threatening his
ma''^^ subjects with hanging and banishment; 6. Gross
and notorious profanation of God's holy word; 7.
Forgery and violation of his solemn oath; 8. Acting
treacherously to the colony of Connectlcutt; 9. Usurping
authority upon pretence of a commission; 10. Calumniat
ing a commissioned officer In this corporation with the
charge of vlUanous and felonious practices. Therefore
they do in his ma*"^^ name, desire and expect all and every

484 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND!
civill officer, who are conservatives of the peace of his
ma"" subjects, within the plantations of New Haven,
MUford, Branford, ffalrfield and upon Long Island,
wheresoever the s"^ Scott is resident, forthwith upon re
ceipt and knowledge of the contents of these premises, to
apprehend the body of s*^ Scott, and deliver him to the
marshall, Jonathan Gilbert, that he may be tried accord
ing to law. God save the King."
The marshall found the accused at Setauket, and on
attempting to take him, Scott drew his sword, command
ing those around, with the air of authority, to resist the
officer, using, at the same time, very Indecent and op
probious epithets toward the court and government of
Connecticut. Being secured, and conveyed to Hartford,
he was there Imprisoned, but effecting his escape without
even satlsfyng the keeper of the prison for his board, the
court decreed him £io out of Scott's estate, upon which
the court, on the i2th of May, 1664, ordered a seques
tration, and the commissioners. In the several towns
appointed for the purpose, were commanded to take an
account of all said Scott's property and effects. In their
respective towns, and preserve It from embezzlement,
until the pleasure of the court should be known. On the
1 6th of May, 1665, Captain John Youngs of Southold
was authorized by the court, to sell the lands of John
Scott, upon Long Island. Scott had the boldness, after
wards, to dispose of lands upon the western part of the
island; and being brought before the court of assize at
New York, by order of Governor Nicoll, all his agree
ments with individuals were dedared to be void. What
became of Scott, Is not known; but It appears that he,
with John Winthrop and others, was, by Charles II.,
recommended to the protection of the commissioners of

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 485
the United Colonies, they being molested In their posses
sions In the Narragansett, by the people of Providence
plantation. He continued to be a source of trouble to
the New England colonies, for some years after he had
been driven from Long Island, and until they came under
the authority of the Duke of York. It may here be
added as matter of justification of his conduct, and as
casting some light upon the subject, that In June, 1663,
Scott presented a petition to the King, In which he states
that his father had spent his life and fortune In the service
of Charles II., and that he himself, though young, had
aided what he could " by cutting the bridles and girths
of some of the then parliaments' horses, quartering at
Turnham Green, and was, after many hearings before
a committee of the said parliament, ordered to be sent
to New England under the tuition of one Downing, who
dealt most perfidiously with him, and he was forced to
court any employment to acquire a livelihood, employing
himself In and about an Island, called Long Island, of
which Island before his majesty': happy restoration, he
had purchased near one-third part." — He therefore prays
his majesty of his princely grace and power to bestow
upon him the government of the said Island and Islands
adjacent, or liberty to the Inhabitants to choose a gov
ernor and assistants yearly.
Sir Henry Bennet, Secretary of State, certifies that said
petition was on the 26th of June, 1663, referred by his
majesty to the consideration of the committee of foreign
plantations, that his majesty may know what is proper
to be done for gratifying the petitioner, and the good of
his own subjects In these parts. His majesty at the same
time expressed his satisfaction of his abUiiy and wiUing-
ness of Scott to serve him, but what was finally decided

486 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
in the matter does not appear, although from his sub
sequent behavior It may reasonably be Inferred that his
pretensions were not greatly encouraged by those to
whom the question was propounded.

Some Account of the notorious Sea-Robber, Captain Kidd,
and the Treasures buried by him upon Gardiner's
Island, which were afterwards recovered.
It seems that piracy and robbery during the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries had become so common, and
were attended by murders and other outrages so mon
strous, that the government of England found It neces
sary to make strenuous and long continued efforts to sup
press the evils resulting from the practice to their colonies
and their commercial Intercourse with foreign countries,
which was exposed to constant Interruption and no small
danger to those engaged in navigating the ocean.
This terrible calamity which had spread itself over
a great part of the globe, began to manifest
Itself to a very considerable extent on the coasts
of this country In the latter part of the seven
teenth century, and It became a part of the duty
enjoined upon the governors of the American provinces
and other officers to use all their efforts to put a stop
to a business so lawless In Itself and fraught with so much
alarm and danger to navigation and all who were engaged
In It. Lord BeUomont seems to have entered upon a
crusade against piracy, with an honest determination to
put an end to it If possible, and succeeded to a very con
siderable extent In his efforts to capture and bring to
condign punishment many of the more notorious
offenders. In his letter to the board of trade of May

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 487
3, 1699, he speaks of ten or eleven pirates being seized
by Govemor Winthrop, at New Haven, with £1800 In
money; and of fifteen or sixteen more, with £5000 or
more In money. The govemor of Rhode Island seized
another parcel of about £1000, belonging to Sir Joseph
Heame, Mr. Shepherd, and Mr. Heathcote. In another
letter of May 13, 1699, speaking of pirates and those
who encouraged them, he says, " there are In Nassau
(Long) Island four harbors, besides a great many
creeks, where the merchants run In great quantity of
goods, Southold, Setauket, Oysterbay and Musketo
Cove.^ Oysterbay Hes most convenient for a private
trade." To prevent which he made John Townsend cus
tom house officer with a salary of £30, and a third part
of all seizures. But he begged to resign his commission,
as most of the townspeople were his relations and he was
threatened with being knocked on the head, being there
fore In fear of his life. " The people In Long Island,"
says Lord BeUomont, " are generally a lawless and unruly
people, and to mend the matter have several pirates set
tled among them, who will egg them on to do mischief."
The attorney-general, Mr. Graham, was of opinion, he
says, that the excise of the Island, If duly collected, would
be £1200 a year, but that It was too hazardous for any
one to undertake.
In his lordship's letter of July 8, 1699, dated at Boston,
he says, " that Captain Kidd In a sloop richly laden, came
to Rhode Island, and sent one Emot to Boston to treat
about his admission and security. He said Kidd had
left the great Moorish ship he took in India, caUed the
" Quedah Merchant," In a creek on the coast of HIs-
panlola, with goods to the value of £30,000. He said
' Now Glen Cove.— Editor.

488 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Kidd was very innocent, and would make It appear that
his own men forced him, locking him up In the cabin of
the " Adventure Galley," whUst they robbed two or three
ships." His lordship assured him that Kidd should have
his protection If he could make his Innocency appear.
Kidd hereupon (he says) sent three or four jewels to the
Countess of BeUomont, of which she Informed her hus
band. Kidd came to Boston, and an intimation was given
by Campbell and Livingston that a present of £1000 was
designed for his lordship's wife. If the bond entered Into
for Kidd should be discharged, and that If this were
denied, Kidd would never bring In the great ship left on
the coast of HIspanlola. On the 6th of July, 1699, he
caused Kidd to be seized and Imprisoned.
William Kidd, so notorious as a freebooter and pirate,
was an Englishman, had commanded a merchant vessel
between London and New York and was celebrated for
his nautical skill and enterprise, as well as for his perse
verance and Indomitable courage. He had been in some
way connected with the British navy and had rendered
such good service to the commerce of New York, that
the Assembly, AprU 18, 1691, declared he deserved to
be rewarded for attending with his vessels, to guard
against enemies and pirates. Accordingly on the 14th of
May following they ordered £150 to be paid him, as
an acknowledgment for the benefits which the colony had
derived from his valuable services. The same month he
was married to Sarah, widow of John Oort, late of New
York, merchant, deceased. She was again married In
1703 to Christopher Rousby.
The complaints of the merchants, of the great danger
to which trade was exposed by reason of pirates, caused
measures to be adopted for their extirpation, and Colonel

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 489
Robert Livingston being In London and having knowl
edge of Kidd's services here, recommended him as a
proper person to take charge of a vessel, which Lord
Romney and others had purchased, and were then fitting
out, against the hordes of robbers which infested the
India seas and preyed upon the commerce of all nations.
The expense of the expedition was £6000 sterling, being
a joint fund, to which the King, Lord Somers, Earl of
Romney, Duke of Shrewsbury, Earl of Oxford, Lord
BeUomont, and Colonel Livingston were contributors.
Kidd agreed to be concerned to the amount of the one-
fifth of the whole, and Colonel Livingston became his
surety for £600. Hume says, the King promised to con
tribute one-half of the expense, and reserved to himself
one-tenth of the profits, but that he never advanced the
money. For the purpose, however, of giving character
to the expedition, a commission was issued under the
great seal of England, and signed by his Majesty, Will
iam III. directed to the trusty and well beloved, Cap
tain WUHam Kidd, commander of the ship " Adventure
Galley," dated Kensington, December 11, 1695, and
" ordering and requiring all officers, ministers, and sub
jects, to be aiding and assisting in the premises." He
was, moreover, provided with a commission to act against
the French, with whom England was then at war. He
set sail from Plymouth in April, 1696, and arrived on
the American coast In July, where he continued for some
time, occasionally entering the harbor of New York, and
visiting his family In the city. He obtained here an
addition to his crew, making In aU one hundred and fifty-
nine men, with whom he left the coast In September,
1696, for the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, by way of Ma
deira, Bonavlsta, St. lago, and Madagascar. He sailed

490 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
from the straits to Calcutta, and after his cruise In the
East Indies, returned to Madagascar and St. Marie's In
May, 1698, where his ship the "Adventure Galley," was
destroyed. He took among other prizes a rich Moorish
ship. Ninety of his men deserted him at Madagascar,
he having before lost upwards of fifty In one month by
sickness. He waited several months for a fair wind and
to procure men to navigate his large prize, the " Quedah
Merchant," in which he sailed for the West Indies and
reached AnguIUa In April, 1699. Here he first learned
that he and his crew had been declared pirates, which
caused great consternation among them, causing them to
endeavor the destruction of the vessel. She was, how
ever, left in HIspanlola, Kidd having purchased the sloop
" Antonio," In which he sailed for New York, but went
into Long Island Sound, having left part of his men In a
captured vessel, to remain In one of the Leeward Islands,
till they should receive Instructions from him. The East
India Company had complained to the regency, of the
havoc made by Kidd In the East Indies, apprehending,
that as the vessel taken by him belonged to the Moors,
they might be exposed to the resentments of the Mogul.
A warm debate ensued In parliament. In which the most
bitter charges were made against the Chancellor (Lord
Somers) and the Duke of Shrewsbury, as co-partners In
a piratical scheme, which charges, however, were not sup
ported. In the meantime, Kidd established himself at
Madagascar, where he lay like a shark, darting out at
pleasure and plundering with Impunity the vessels of
every country. He Is supposed to have returned from
the east with more valuable spoil than ever fell to the
lot of any other Individual. During these lawless depre
dations upon the commerce of the world, in which his

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 491
own, as well as other nations suffered. It became neces
sary, for the character of the government and the Im
munity of its merchants, to take effectual measures to
suppress the widely extended evil and to punish the indi
vidual who had so grossly violated his commission, his
plighted faith, and the laws of the whole civilized world.
An order was thereupon Issued for his apprehension, by
one of his Majesty's secretaries of state, as follows :
"Whitehall, Nov. 23, 1698.
" The Lords Justices being informed by several ad
vices from the East Indies, of the notorious PIraces com
mitted by Capt. Kidd, commander of the Adventure Gal
ley, and of his having seized and plundered divers shipps
in those seas. As their Excellencies having given order
to the commander of the squadron fitted out for the
East Indies, that he use his utmost endeavours to pursue
and seize the said Kidd, If he continue still In those parts,
so likewise they have commanded me to signlfie their
direction to the respective Governors of the colonies
under his Majesties obedience In America, that they give
strict orders, and take particular care for apprehending
the said Kidd and his accomplices, whenever he or they
shall arrive In any of the said plantations, as likewise
that they secure his ship and all the effects therein, it
being their Excellencies Intention, that right be done to
those, who have been Injured and robbed by the said
Kidd, and that he and his associates be prosecuted with
the utmost rigor of the law. You are to be careful
therefore, duly to observe the said directions, and If
the said Kidd or any of his accomplices happen to be
seized within the province under your govemment, you
are forthwith to transmit an account thereof hither, and
take care that the said persons, shipp and effects be se
cured, tlU his Majesty's pleasure be known concerning

492 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
them — I am gentlemen, your most faithful Humble
servant, Ja. Vernon."
The King finally offered a reward for his apprehen
sion, and a free pardon, by proclamation, to every other
pirate who should surrender himself before the 30th of
April, 1699. While in Long Island Sound, Kidd being
in want of many necessaries, had an Interview with the
proprietor of Gardiner's Island, where he procured what
he stood In need of, and with whom he deposited a quan
tity of precious stones and other things of great value
for safe keeping. In the Sound he took on board one
Emot, whom he carried to Rhode Island, and then sent
him on to Boston to negotiate for his safety with Lord
BeUomont. June 15, 1699, his lordship sent Mr. Camp
bell, with Mr. Emot to Invite Kidd to Boston, which he
acknowledges In a letter of the 24th, written on board
the sloop "Antonio,' at Block Island, as follows:
" May it please your Excellency :
" I am honored with your lordship's letter of the 19th
current, by Mr. Campbell, which came to my hands this
day ; for which I return my most hearty thanks.
" I cannot but blame myself for not writing to your
lordship before this time, knowing it was my duty; but
the clamorous and false stories that have been reported
of me made me fearful of writing or coming Into any
harbor till I could hear from your lordship.
" I note the contents of your lordship's letter: As to
what Mr. Emot and Mr. Campbell informed your lord
ship of my proceedings, I do affirm to be true; and a
great deal more might be said of the abuses of my men,
and the hardship I have undergone to preserve the ship
and what goods my men had left. Ninety-five men went
away from me In one day, and went on board the Mocha

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 493
frigate. Captain Robert CuUIford, commander; who
went away to the Red Seas, and committed several acts
of piracy, as I am Informed; and am afraid (the men
having belonged to my galley) that the report has gone
home against me to the East India Company, that I have
been the actor. A sheet of paper will not contain what
may be said of the care I took to preserve the owners'
interest, and to come home to clear my own innocency.
I do further declare and protest, that I never did, in
the least, act contrary to the King's commission, nor to
the reputation of my honorable owners; and doubt not
I shall be able to make my Innocence appear; or else I
had no occasion to come to these parts of the world.
If It were not for that, and my owners' interest. There
are five or six passengers, that came from Madagascar
to aid in bringing the ship home, and about ten of my
own men, that came with me, would not venture to go
into Boston till Mr. Campbell had engaged, body for body
with them, that they should not be molested while I staid
In Boston, or until I returned with the ship. I doubt
not but your lordship will write to England in my favor,
and for these few men that are left. I wish your lord
ship could persuade Mr. Campbell to go home for Eng
land, with your lordship's letters, who will be able to
give account of our affairs, and diligently follow the
same, that there may be a speedy answer from England.
" I desired Mr. Campbell to buy a thousand weight
of rigging, for fitting up the ship to bring her to Boston,
that I may not be delayed when I come there. Upon
receiving of your lordship's letter, I am making the best
of my way for Boston.
"This, with my humble duty to your Lordship and
Countess, Is what offers from, my Lord, your Excel
lency's most humble and dutiful servant,
" Wm. Kidd."

494 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
At Block Island, Kidd was joined by his wife and chil
dren. He went from thence to Gardiner's Island, and
landed there Mr. Clark, who had accompanied Mrs. Kidd
from New York. After remaining there at least one day,
he sailed for Boston, stopping on his way at Tarpaulin
Cove. On the Shoals of Nantucket, on the 30th of June,
he spoke Captain Way, in a sloop from Campeachy, and
sailed In company with him to Boston, where they arrived
on Saturday, the ist of July. Kidd was not arrested until
Thursday, the 6th of July. For leaving him at large so
long. Lord BeUomont, in his own justification, says:
" Another reason why I took him not up sooner was, that
he had brought his wife and children hither in the sloop
with him, who, I believed, he would not soon forsake."
On the Monday next after his arrival at Boston he
appeared before the govemor and council, and gave the
Information respecting the sloop " Antonio," and the ship
" Quedah Merchant," which appears in a minute of their
proceedings : " Boston, in New England,
" Monday, July 3, 1699.
" Captain William Kidd, by command of his Excel
lency, the Earl of BeUomont, having been notified and
required to attend his lordship In Council at six o'clock
this evening, at his lordship's house, to give an account
of his proceedings in his late voyage to Madagascar and
parts adjacent, and other places, since his departure from
England In the Adventure Galley, with his Majesty's
royal commission —
" The said William Kidd appeared accordingly, to
the summons served upon him as above.
" And, being demanded an account of his proceedings,
as above, he answered: That his journal was destroyed

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 495
and made away by his company; but. If his Excellency
would please to grant him time for the same, he would
prepare and present his lordship with a narrative thereof
In writing." Being further demanded an account of his lading on
board his sloop, now lying within this port, and on board
the ship which he said he left at HIspanlola, saith:
There is on board the sloop, viz:
" Forty bales, containing calicoes, silks, muslins,
striped and plain.
" Five or six tons of refined sugar, contained in bags.
" About forty pound weight in dust and bar gold.
" About eighty pound weight In bar silver.
" All which, he saith, he purchased at Madagascar,
with the powder, small arms, and other furniture belong
ing to the Adventure Galley, whereof he was late com
mander. "And further saith: That, about forty-two or three
days since, he left a ship on the south side of HIspanlola,
In the possession of one Henry Boulton, of Antigua,
merchant, and about twenty-two men — which ship he
brought last from Madagascar; and there is on board
the same the several goods following, viz:
" About one hundred and fifty bales.
" Seventy or eighty tons of sugar.
" About ten tons of Iron In short junks.
" About fourteen or fifteen anchors.
" Forty tons of saltpetre.
" About twenty guns In the hold.
" Thirty guns mounted, being the guns lately belong
ing to the Adventure Galley.
" There is no gold or silver on board that he knows of.
" The ship Is about four hundred tons burden, built
at Surat by the Moors ; aU her seams are rabbetted.
" Wm. Kidd."

49^ HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Inventory of the sloop " Antonio," stores and provi
sions, viz :
" The hull of the said sloop about 55 tons, mainmast,
bowsprit, and boom; two anchors, about six hundred
weigbt. "One piece of cable, about 50 fathoms 8 Inches; un
serviceable. " One piece of cable about 60 fathoms 6^ Inches;
worn. " Standing and running rigging; old and unservice
able. "Four great guns, 20 hundred; carriages, shot, and
materials for them; a parcel of old Iron, about eight
hundred weight.
" One small copper kettle, two Iron pots, and cook's
stove. " Four Iron-bound butts and two hogsheads, for water.
" Ten small brass bases, and eight small arms, &c.
" A parcel of gunpowder in an earthen jar and two
casks, about two hundred.
" Three old compasses, one Azimuth compass, and
three old glasses; a parcel of old colors, Dutch and
English, and a small piece of bunting; two bundles of
twine, and a parcel of broken ditto; half a barrel of tar.
" One mainsail, foresail, and jib, with a parcel of
other small sails.
" One old boat and a parcel of oars for the vessel.
" Five casks and old flour.
" A parcel of wax and candles, about one hundred
weight. " A parcel of old jerked meat, little worth."
" Boston, July 24, 1699.
" By order of his excellency Richard Earl of BeUo
mont, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of his Majes-

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 497
ty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, &c., we, the sub
scribers, have viewed the above named sloop Antonio,
and the particulars above mentioned, and, according to
the best of our judgment, value the same at two hundred
and sixty-eight pounds, current money of Boston, In
New England. Witness our hands. " Sam. Legg,
"Nath. Cary."
" This whole matter was transacted by his lordship,
from the first to the last, with the privity and advice of
the Council of Massachusetts Bay; and then commis
sioners were appointed to take care of the sloop's
cargo, and to make inventories thereof, and other di
rections given for securing any part that could be
found of the goods which had been put ashore on that
coast. " Having done this, his lordship's next care was to
fit out a ship to look after the Quedah Merchant, and
secure the goods that might be found in her; but before
that could be done he received an account, viz. the 17th
of the same month of July, from one Captain Nicolas
Evertse, that he had been at Curacoa, and saw several
sloops lading of the said goods brought thither, and
there understood that the said ship had been carried by
a Curacoa master Into a salt lagoon In the Island of
St. Helena, to the southeast of HIspanlola; and that in
coming from Curacoa, and touching at the said Island
of St. Helena, on the 29th of the foregoing month, he
himself saw the said ship, the Quedah Merchant, on
fire and almost burnt down, there being then two sloops
at that place.
" Kidd being thus secured, such of his men as could
be met with were seized also; and by the information
of some of them, who had been with him In the whole
voyage. It appears that about the month of April, 1696,

498 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
he sailed in the Adventure Galley from Plymouth to
New York, and in his way took a French prize, which
he carried In with him.
" The first advice of Kidd's return to America was
by a letter from the President and Council of Nevis to
the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Vernon, dated the
1 8th of May, 1699, wherein they write that Kidd being
returned from Madagascar In a large Genoese vessel
of about four hundred tons with thirty guns, but leaky,
and the men much In distress for want of provisions,
he had, about twenty days before their writing, touched
at AnguIUa, a small Island under that Government, where
he tarried about four hours, but, being refused succor,
sailed thence for the island of St. Thomas, belonging to
the Crown of Denmark, and anchored off that harbor
three days. In which time he treated with them for reHef;
but, the Governor absolutely denying him, he bore away
further to leeward; and, upon advice thereof, the said
President and Council of Nevis forthwith sent out his
Majesty's ship the Queenborough, then attending the
Government, In pursuit of him.
" The said President and Council sent also afterwards
to the Commissioners for Trade and Plantations the in
formation of one Peter Smith, a Dutchman, and inhabi
tant of the island of St. Thomas, dated at Nevis, the
27th June, 1699, by which, and by other advices since
received from the Earl of BeUomont, It appears that
Kidd sailed from St. Thomas for the Island of Mona,
lying between Porto Rico and HIspanlola, and there
meeting with one Bolton, of Antigua, and one Burt, of
St. Thomas's, he sold them several goods, and sent
Bolton to Curacoa to fetch him provisions, which being
accordingly done, he bought of Bolton a sloop, and
therein laded the best of his own goods, and sailed to
wards New York, leaving the said Bolton with seventeen
or eighteen men In trust with the Quedah Merchant,

HISTORY OF LONG IBLAND 499
one of the ships seized by the said Kidd In the East
Indies, and the goods left In her.
" The next advice received of him was from Colonel
Quary, Judge of the Admiralty Court in Pennsylvania,
by letters dated the 6th of June, In which he writes that
Kidd was arrived in Delaware Bay, in a sloop with about
forty men, having with him a vast treasure, and that he
had sent his boat on shore to the Horekills, where he
was supplied with what he wanted, and from whence
the people frequently went on board him."
A letter from the King and Council of February lo,
1699, having required all pirates to be sent to England
for trial, Kidd, with Joseph Bradish and several others,
was transported thence.
He was put on his trial for the murder of William
Moore, gunner of the ship, whom he killed by striking
him on the head with a bucket, of which he was con
victed as well as of piracy, and was hung in chains
at "Execution Dock," London, May 12, 1701, Old
Style. The whole case Is contained at large In the
English State Trials, published many years since in
foHo. The Gardiner family have In their possession portions
of a cradle blanket, said to have been presented to the
wife of Mr. Gardiner by Kidd, on his visit to the island.
It Is woven of blue silk and threads of gold, possessing
much richness and beauty.
The commissions authorized by Lord BeUomont to
take possession of what goods had been deposited In any
place by Kidd, required Mr. Gardiner to surrender such
as had been left with him, which he accordingly delivered
to them at Boston, and the foUowIng receipt for which,
now held by the family, shows the particulars :

50O HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" A true account of all such gold, silver, jewels, and
merchandize, late in the possession of Captain WUHam
Kidd, which have been seized and secured by us in pur
suant to an order from his Excellency, Richard, Earl of
BeUomont, bearing date July 7, 1699 :
Received, the 17th instant, of John Gardiner, viz. ounces.
No. i. One bag of dust-gold  63%
2. One bag of coined gold  11
and one in silver  124
3. One bag of dust-gold  24%
4. One bag of silver rings, and sundry precious stones... 4%
5. One bag of unpolished stones  '  12%
6. One piece of crystal, cornelian rings, two agates, two
amythists 
7. One bag of silver buttons and lamps 
8. One bag of broken silver  173V2
9. One bag of gold bars  353^
10. One do  238^^
1 1. One bag of dust-gold  59%
12. One bag silver bars  '.  309
Samuel Sewall,
Nathaniel Byfield,
Jeremiah Dummer,
Andrew Belcher,Commissioners."
We close the history of this unfortunate man, with
copies of two of several petitions to Lord BeUomont from
Mrs. Sarah Kidd.
" To His Excellency, the Earle of BeUomont, Capt.
Gen. and Gov', in Chief of his Maj"^^ provinces of the
Massachusetts Bay, New York, &c., in America, and
of the Terrltoryes thereon depending, and vice Admiral
of the same :
" The petition of Sarah Kidd, the wife of Capt. Will
iam Kidd.
" Humbly sheweth:
" That on the sixth day of July Inst, some of the
magistrates and officers of this place came into your
pe" lodgings at this house of Davean Campbell, and did

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 501
there seize and take out of her trunck a silver tankard,
a silver mugg, silver porringer, spoons, forks and other
pieces of plate, and two hundred and sixty pieces of
Eight, yo"^ pe" sole and proper plate and mony, brought
with her from New York, whereof she has had the
possession for several years last past, as she can
truly make oath; out of which s'^ trunck was also took
twenty five English Crowns w""" belonged to yo"^ pe"
maid. " The premisses and most deplorable condition of yo""
pe"" considered — she humbly Intreats y"" hon= justice, that
returne be made of the said plate and mony.
" Sarah S. K. Kidd.
" In Council, July 18, 1699.
" Advised that Mrs. Kidd making oath that she
brought the plate and money above-mentioned from
New York with her. It be restored unto her. As also
that Cap". Kidd & Company'r. wearing apparel under
seizure be returned to them.
"To His Excell^y the Earle of BeUomont, Capt.
Gen' and Governor of his Maj*'^^ CoUonles of y'' Massa
chusetts Bay In N. EngP &c., and to the honorable,
the CouncIU:
" The petition of Sarah Kidd Humbly sheweth
" That yo'^ Petition" husband, Capt. Wm. Kidd, being
committed unto the common goale In Boston for Pyracle,
and under strelght durance, as also in want of necessary
assistance, as well as from y'' petition" affection to her
husband, humbly prays that yo"" Excell^^ and Council!
will be pleased to permit the s^ Sarah Kidd to have com
munication with her husband for his relief; In such d^e
season and manner as by yo"" Excel^y and CouncIU may
be tho't fitt, and proscribed, to w*^ y*^ petition"' shall
thankfully conform herselfe, and ever pray, &c.
"At Boston 25° July, 1699. Sarah S. K. Kidd."

502 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Act of Approbation of an Agreement (or Treaty) made
and concluded at Hartford, relative to the Line of Par
tition between New Netherland and New England,
and other Matters.
" The States General of the United Netherlands,
To all those who shall see, or hear these presents, send
Greeting, and make knowne. That there hath been
delivered unto us, by order of the Directors of the In-
Chartered West India Company, at the chamber of Am
sterdam, the Extract out of the Articles of Agreement
heerafter mentioned, made and concluded at Hartford,
In Connecticut, the 19th of Sep., 1650, relating as well
to the line of Division between New Netherland and
New England, as to other matters. In the words follow
ing, that Is to say. Extract of the Articles of Agreement,
made and concluded at Hartford, situate In Connecticut,
the 19th Sep., 1650, between the Deputies of the Honor
able Commissioners of the United English Colonies, and
Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Netherland,
" Concerning the Bounds and Limitts, betwixt the Eng
lish United Collonies and the Duch Provence of New
Neatherland, We agree and determine as followeth:
" I. That vpon Long Island, a line Run from the
westermost parte of Oyster Bay, and soe In a stralte
and direct Hne to the sea, shall bee the bounds betwixt
the EngHsh and Duch there, the Easterly parte to be-
longe to the English, and the westerly parte to the Duch.
" 2. The bounds vpon the Maine, to begine att the
west side of Greenwidge Bay, being about four miles
from Stanford, and soe to Run a Northerly line twenty-
four miles vp into the countrey, and after, as It shall bee
agreed by the two governments of the Duch and New
Haven ; provided this said line come not within ten mUes

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 503
of Hudson's River; and It is agreed, that the Duch shaU
not, att any time heerafter, build any house or .habitation
within six miles of the said line. The Inhabitants of
Greenwidge to Remalne, tell further consideration
thereof bee had vnder the goverment of the Duch.
"3. That the Duch shall hold and enjoy, all the
lands at Hartford, that they are actually possessed of,
known or sett out by certain marks and bounds, and
all the Remainder of the said lands on both sides Conec-
tlcott River, to bee and Remalne to the English there.
And it Is agreed, that the aforesaid bounds and limitts,
both vpon the Island and Mayne, shall bee observed
and kept vnviolable, both by the English, the Vnlted
Collonies and all the Duch Nation, without any encroach
ment or molestation, vntll a full and finall Determination
bee agreed vpon In Europe, by mutuall consent of the
two STATES OF ENGLAND and HOLLAND. In TESTI
MONY of our joynt consent to the severall foregoing con
clusions. We have heerunto sett our hands, the 19th Day
of Sept., Anno Dom. 1650.
" Simon Bradstreet, Thomas Willett,
" Thomas Prence, George Baxter."
" Which articles in the aforesaid Extract, having been
maturely considered, were approved of, and ratlfyed
by vs, and wee doe hereby approve of and ratify the
same : And therefore desire and order, that the Mean
ing and Contents thereof may take effect, and bee strictly
obserued and complied with, by all and euery person and
persons whomsoeuer, under our sovereignty, without
doing, or suffering any thing to be done, contrary thereto,
on pain of Incurring our highest displeasure, inasmuch as
wee have deemed the same to be beneficial for that
country. " Thus done and given at the Hague, under our Seal,
and the Mark and Signature of our Secretary, on the
22dof Febvary, 1656. (Signed) H. Fagel."

504 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Remonstrance of the several Towns in the Dutch Terri
tory, to the Governor and Council, in 16^3, a Part of
which is quoted at Page 155, Vol I.; the Remainder is
as follows:
" Wherefore, although with all humility, we will de
clare freely our anxious fears by which we some time
since have been alarmed and discouraged In our labors
and callings, so that It Is not In our power to act with
that rigor and affection In promoting the welfare of our
country as well as before, although In a wilderness, for
the following reasons :
" I. Our apprehension to see an arbitrary govern
ment established among us, which Is contrary to the first
Intention and genuine principles of every well regulated
government, to wit: that one or more should arrogate
the exclusive power to dispose arbitrarily of the life and
property of any Individual, and this In virtue or under
pretext of a law or order which he might fabricate, with
out the consent, knowledge, or approbation of the whole
body, their agents or representatives.
" Thus new laws relative to the lives and property of
the inhabitants, contrary to the privileges of the Nether
lands, and odious to every free born man, and princi
pally so to those whom God had placed under a free
government on new settled lands, who are entitled to
claim laws which are as near resembling those of Nether
land as possible.
" It is our humble opinion that It Is one of our priv
ileges, that In making new laws, our explicit consent,
or that of our representatives. Is unavoidably required
for their adoption.
" 2. Casually we are every year full of apprehension
that the natives of the land may commence a new war
against us, by the murders they commit under the pretext
that they have not been paid for their land, which creates

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 505
many calamities and discourages settlers, and even con
tributes to lessening the number and Industry of the re
mainder. " It has, thus far, not been in our power to discover
the truth hereof, or ascertain to what tribe these mur
derers belong. It Is too often disregarded as committed
by savages who reside at a considerable distance. But,
be that as it may, it fills us with daily anxiety, so that
we are compelled to look out for our own defence, as
we cannot discover in what manner our lives and prop
erty shall be protected, except by our own means.
"3. That officers and magistrates, although per
sonally, from their qualifications, deserving similar
offices, are appointed contrary to the laws of the Nether
lands, to many offices, without consent or nomination of
the people, which nevertheless are the most concerned
in the choice.
" 4. That many orders and proclamations made be
fore, without approbation of the country In the days of
yore, by the authority of the Director-General and
council, either of former days or actually ruling, which
remain obligatory, although we are ignorant of their
force, and become transgressors from Ignorance without
knowing it, by which we are exposed to many dangers
and troubles, and may occasion our own ruin without
knowing It.
" 5. On the promises of grants and general letters of
privileges and exemptions, various plantations have been
made at a great expense of the Inhabitants in building
their houses, making fences, &c., the cultivation of the
land, and principally so by those of Middleburgh, and
Middlewout, with their neighborhoods and other places.
" Many single farms were taken up by persons who
solicited a deed of such a grant, but were always delayed
and disappointed, to their great loss, which creates a
suspicion that some innovations are In contemplation, or

5o6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
that there is a lurking Intention to alter former stip
ulations. " 6. That to some individuals, large quantities of
land are granted for their private profit, on which a
large village of 20 or 30 families might have been estab
lished, which. In the end, must effect an Immense loss
to the Patroons, with regard to their revenues, as well
now as In future, and which must weaken the strength
of the Province, and disable that part of the country
to provide In or contribute to Its defence, and that of Its
inhabitants, except we or our commonalty are enabled
to effect It.
"7. As we exert ourselves to reduce all our griefs
within six points, which we confidentially explained, as
we renew our allegiance. In the hope that these will soon
be redressed, agreeably to the privileges of our country,
when all discontents shall cease, a mutual harmony be
restored, and our anxiety relieved.
" We apply therefore to your wisdom to heal our
sicknesses and pains. We shall remind thankful, and
consider any further application needless, as we other
wise should be compelled to do.
" Upon which, humbly soliciting your honor's answer
on every point or article In such a manner that we may
remain satisfied, or proceed further, &c., as God shall
direct our steps. " Your Honors' suppliant Servants."
" Done December 11, 1653."
Charter from King Charles II. to his Brother James,
Duke of York, March 12, 1664.
" Charles the Second,, by the Grace of God, King
of England, Scotland, ffrance and Ireland, Defender of
the ffalth, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come
greeting: know yee. That wee for divers good causes

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 507
and considerations Us Thereunto moving. Have of our
speciall grace, certalne knowledge and meer motion.
Given, and graunted; And by these presents for Us, Our
heires and Successors, Do give and graunt unto Deerest
Brother, James Duke of Yorke, his heires and Assignes,
AU that part of the Maine Land of New England, be
ginning att a certalne place called or knowne by the name
of St. Croix, next adjoining to New Scotland in America,
and from thence extending along the Sea Coast unto a
certalne place called Petuaquino, or Penaquid, and so
up the River thereof to y= ffurthest head of the same,
as It tendeth northward, and extending from thence to
the River of Kenebeque, and so upward by the shortest
course to y^ River Canada northward; And also all that
Island or Islands, commonly called by the severall name
or names of Matawacks or Long Island, Scituate, lying
and being towards the west of Cape Codd, and the
Narrow Heghgansetts ; Abutting upon the maine Land
between the two Rivers there called or knoune by the
severall names of Conecticott and Hudson's River, To
gether also w*'' y* said River called Hudsons, and all the
Land from the west side of Connecticott, to the East
side of Delaware Bay; And also all those several
Islands, called or knowne by the name of Martins Vln-
yards and Nantukes, otherwise, Nantuckett, Together
with all the Lands, Islands, Soyles, Rivers, Harbours,
Mines, MIneralls, Quarryes, Woods, Marches, Waters,
Lakes, ffishing. Hawking, Hunting, ffowling, and all
other Royall Profitts, commodltyes, and hereditaments
to the severall Islands, Lands, and premises belonging
and Appurtaining, w*'' thier and every of thier appur
tenances. And all our Estate, Right, Title, Interest,
Benefitt, advantage, Clalme and demand, of. In or to the
said Lands and premises, or any part or parcell thereof.
And the Revercon and Revercons, Remainder and Re
mainders, Together with the yearly and other the Rents,

5o8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Revenues, and other Proffitts of all and singular the said
premises and every part and parcell thereof. To Have
and to Hold, all and Singular the said Lands, Islands,
hereditam*^ and premisses, with thier and every of thier
appurtenances, hereby given and graunted or herein be
fore given mention'^ to bee, and graunted, unto our
Dearest Brother James, Duke of Yorke, his heires and
assignes for ever. To y'^ onely proper use and behoofe
of said James Duke of Yorke his heirs, and assignes
for ever. To be holden of Us our heires, and success"
as of our Manner of East-Greenwich In our county of
Kent, In free and comon Soccage and not in Caplte, nor
by Knight Service, Yielding and rendring. And the s**
James Duke of Yorke, doth for himselfe his Heires and
Assignes covenant and promise to yield and render unto
Us our heires and successors, of and for the same, yearly
and every year, fforty Beaver Skinns, when they shall
be demanded, or w*hln ninety days after. And wee doe
further of our speciall grace, certalne knowledge, and
meer motion, for us, our heires and successors, give and
graunt unto our said Dearest Brother, James Duke of
Yorcke, his heires. Deputies, Agents, Commission", and
assigns, by these presents ffuU and absolute Power and
authority to correct. Punish, pardon, Governe and rule,
all such y^ subjects of us, our heirs and successors, as
shall from time to time adventure themselfes into any
of these parts or places aforesaid, or that shall or doe
att any time hereafter Inhabitt within the same. Accord
ing to such Lawes, orders, ordinances. Directions, Instru
ments as by our s"^ Dearest Brother, or his assignees
shall be Established, and In defect thereof. In cases of
necessity according to y^ good discretions of his Dep
uties, commissioners, officers, or assigns respectively, as
well in all cases or matters capitall and criminall as civill,
both marrine and others, so alwayes, as y'= said Statutes,
ordinances and proceedings bee not contrary to But as

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 509
near as conveniently may bee agreeable to y^ Lawes,
Statutes and Governments of this our Realme of Eng
land; And saveing and reserving to us our heires and
successors y' receiving, hearing and determining of y=
Appeale and Appeales of all or any person or persons
of, in or belonging to y^ Terrltoryes or Islands afore
said. In or touching any Judgm' or sentence to bee there
made or given; And further that It shaU and may be
lawful to and for our said Dearest Brother his heirs and
assignes by these Presents, from time to time, to make,
nominate, constitute, ordaine and confirme by such name
or names, stile or stiles as to him or them shall seem
good. And likewise to revoke, discharge, change and
alter, as well all and singular. Governors, officers and
Ministers w'''' hereafter shall bee by him or them thought
fitt and needfuU to be made and used w"' In y^ afores**
parts and Islands, And also to make, ordaine and estab
lish all manner of orders, Lawes, directions, Instructions,
for the ceremonyes of Goverm' and Magistracy fitt and
necessary for and concerning y'= goverm* of y"= Terri
tories and Islands aforesaid, so always as y* same be not
contrary to y" Lawes and statutes of this Realme of
England, but as near as may be agreeably thereunto,
And y^ same att all times hereafter to put in Execution
or abrogate, revoke or change, not only w'^'In y^ precincts
of y^ said Territories or Islands but also upon y'= seas
In goeing and comeing from the same, as bee or they
In thier good discretions shall thincke to be fittest for y*
good of y^ Adventurers and Inhabitants there ; And wee
doe further of our speciall grace, certalne knowledge
and meer motion Graunt, ordaine and declare, That
such Governors, officers, and ministers as from time to
time shall bee authorized and appointed In manner and
forme aforesaid, shall and may have full Power and
authority to use and Exercise marshall Law in cases of
^ebeUIon, Insurrectilon and Mutiny, In as large and

5IO HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
ample manner as our Lieutenant In our countyes within
our Realme of England, have or ought to have by force
of thier commission of Lieutenancy, or any law or statute
of this our Realme. And wee doe further by these
presents for Us, our heires and successors graunt unto
our said Dearest Brother James Duke of Yorke his
heires and assignes in his or thier discretion from time
to time to admit such and so many Person or Persons
to Trade and Trafficke unto and w^'^in y^ Terrltoryes
and Islands aforesaid and Into every or any part or
Parcell thereof and to have possesse and enjoy any Lands
or heredltam*^ In y^ parts and places aforesaid as they
shall thincke fitt, according to y^ Lawes, Orders, Consti
tutions and Ordinances, by our said Brother his Heires,
Deputies, commissions and assignes from time to time to
be made, and establish by verdict, and according to y^ true
Intent and meaning of These presents, and under such con-
dittlons, reservations and agreem*, as our said Brother
his heires or assigns shall see fitt to ordaine, order,
direct and appoint, and not otherwise, as aforesaid — and
wee do further of our speciall grace, certalne knowledge
and meer motion for Us our heires and successors give
and graunt unto our said Dear Brother his heires and
assignes by these presents, that It shall and may be law-
full to and for him y", or any of them, att all -and att
every time and times hereafter out of any our realmes
or Dominions whatsoever to take, loade, carry and trans
port in and into thiere voyages for and towards y* plan
tations of said Terrltoryes and Islands all such and so
many of our Loveing subjects, or any other strangers,
being not prohibited or under restraint y* will become our
loveing subjects, and live under our allegiance, as shall
willingly join In these voyages, together w*'' such cloath-
Ing, implem*% ffurnlture and other things usually trans
ported and not prohibited, as shall be necessary for y'
Inhabitants of y* said Islands and Terrltoryes, and for

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 511
thier use and defence thereof: and managing and carrying
on y'= trade w"" y* people there, and In passing and return
ing to and fro, yielding and paying to Us our heires
and successors y^ customs, and dutyes therefore due and
payable according to y^ lawes and customes of this our
Realme ; And wee doe also for Us, our heires and succes
sors graunt to our said dearest Brother James Duke
of Yorke, his heires and assigns, and to all and every
such, Govenor and govenors, or any other officers or
ministers as by our said Brother his heires and assigns
shall be appoint^* to have power and authority of gov-
emm', and command, moreover the Inhabitants of y*
said Terrltoryes or Islands, that they and every of
y™ shall and lawfully may from time to time, and att
all times hereafter forever, for thier severall defence
and safety, encounter, expulse, and arrest by force of
armes, as well by sea as by land, and all ways and
means whatsoever, as such Person and Persons as w*''out
y" license of our said Dearest Brother his heires and
assigns shall attempt to inhabitt w*''In y^ severall precincts
and limitts of our s^ Territorys and Islands, and also
all and every such Person and Persons whatsoever as
shall Interprize or attempt, att any time hereafter y*
destruction, invasion, detrim* or annoyance, to y* parts,
places or Islands afores"^ or any part thereof — ^And lastly
our will and pleasure Is, and wee doe hereby declare and
graunt, that there our Letters pattents or y' InroUm'
thereof shall be good and effective In y= law to all intent
and purposes whatsoever, Notw*^standlng y'= not reciting
or mentioning of y* premisses or any part thereof, or
the meets and bounds thereof, or of any former or other
Letters Pattents, or graunts heretofore made or graunted
of y^ premises or of any part thereof by Us, or of any
of our Progenitors, unto any other person or persons
whatsoever, Bodys Politique or corporate, or any Act,
Law or other restraint, Incertalnty or Imperfection what-

512 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
soever, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, al
though expresse mentioned of the true yearly value, or
certainty of y'= premises or of any of y™ or of any other
Gifts or graunts, by us or any of our progenitors or
predecessors, heretofore made to y* said James Duke of
Yorke, in these presents. Is not made, or any statute, acts,
ordinance, provision, proclamation or restriction hereto
fore had, made, enacted ordained or provided, or any
other matter, cause or thing whatsoever to y^ contrary
hereof In any wise notw*''standing.
" In witnesse whereof, wee have caus*^ these Letters to
be made Pattents ; wittnesse ourself e att Westminster, the
12* day of March, in the 16"^ yeare of our Raigne, 1664.
" By the King,
" Howard."

Copy of the Mortgage for Long Island, executed by
James Farret, Agent and Deputy of the Earl of
Stirling, to George Fenwick and others, recorded in the
Records of the Colony of Connecticut.
" This indenture made the nine and twentieth day of
July, 1 641, 20* year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord
Charles, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, &c., be
tween James Farret, gent., on the one part, and George
Fenwick, of Seabrook Fort, Esquire, John Haynes, Sam
uel Wyllys, Edward Hopkins, of Hartford; Theophllus
Eaton, Stephen Goodyeare, and Thomas Gregson, of
New Haven, In America, on the other part : Witnesseth —
that whereas the said James Farret, is authorized by a
certain writing under the hand and seal of the right hon.
the Earl of Stirling, Viscount Canada, &c. In his name
and for his use, to take possession of Long Island, in
America, and the same to dispose and order to his Lord
ship's behoof and benefit, by taking in plantations, or any

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 513
wise Improving the same: And whereas the said James
Farrett in attending his Lordship's said service three
years and upwards, without having received In that whole
time any support or maintenance from his Lordship, or
by any order, means or procurement of his Lordship,
hath been forced to use his own credit, to take up divers
moneys and commodities in the country to the value of
£110, of current English money, for relief of his neces
sities, which £iio he hath procured and received of the
above named George Fenwick and others, at and before
the ensealing of these presents, the receipt whereof the
said James Farret doth hereby acknowledge, and thereof
and every part thereof, doth by these presents acquit and
discharge the said George Fenwick and others, their and
every of their executors and administrators forever.
Now this deed witnesseth, that the same James Farrett,
for and in consideration of the said sum of £110, so
received as above, and to provide, as may be, for that
part of Long Island not possessed, nor, as he conceiveth,
claimed by the Dutch, before his departure for England
(intending with the first convenlency to take passage
thither) hath given up such title and possession, as was
free from the Dutch claim; and by these presents doth
give up all right, title and possession of. In and to the
same, to the aforesaid George Fenwick and others above
mentioned, their heirs and assigns forever: To have and
to hold, possess and enjoy, the said Island, with all rights,
members, profits, advantages, and appurtenances what
soever, in any wise thereto belonging or appertaining, to
the said George Fenwick and others aforesaid, their heirs
and assigns forever, without rendering or giving any
account, reckoning, or allowance for any profits or ad
vantages which they or any of them, or any from or
under them, may in any wise make or receive thereby.
Provided, notwithstanding, and It Is hereby fully agreed,
covenanted and concluded by and betwixt the said parties.

514 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
that if the right hon. the Earl of Stirling, or his assigns,
shaU within the time aad space of three whole years, to
be reckoned and accompted from the date of these pres
ents, send over an attorney or commissioner fully author
ized, and bringing back with him one part of these In
dentures, to require and receive back the possession afore
said, and shall withal, at the same time, weU and truly
pay, or cause to be paid, the full sum of £i lo, of current
English money, unto the above named George Fenwick
and others, their executors, administrators and assigns,
together with such other charges or Improvements, as
shall be expended or made for or upon the said Island,
after the date of these presents, in any part of the afore
said three years, which charges and Improvements, If any
difference shall happen about the rating or valuing of
them, shall be estimated, adjudged and settled by John
Winthrop, Esquire, of Boston, upon whom the right hon.
the Earl of Stirling deceased, did make repose for his
occasions In these parts — upon the payment of the afore
said money and Improvements, these indentures, with all
articles, covenants and agreements therein contained,
shall from thenceforward be void and of no force, to
all intents and purposes whatsoever. In witness whereof,
the parties to these presents have Interchangeably put
their hands and seals, the day and year above written.
" James Farret." [l. s.J
" Sealed and delivered in the presence of
" William Andrews, &c.
" Recorded May 5, 1664."
Hartford, Records of Assembly of October 8, 1668:
" Voted — ^Thls court orders the secretary to deliver unto
Mr. Wyllys and Mr. Jones, the mortgage of Long Island,
for the use of those concerned."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 515
Governor Stuyvesant's Answer to the Letter of the Eng
lish Commissioners, demanding Possession of New
Netherlands. Referred to at Page 175, Vol. I.
" My Lords : — Your first letter, unsigned, of the
20-3 1 St of August, together with that of this day, signed
according to form, being the first of September, have
been safely delivered into our hands by your deputies,
unto which we shall say, that the rights of his majestie
of England, unto any part of America here about,
amongst the rest, unto the colonies of Virginia, Mary
land, or others In New England, whether disputable or
not, is that which, for the present, we have no design
to debate upon. But that his majestie hath an indisput
able right to all the lands in the north parts of America,
Is that which the kings of France and Spain will disallow,
as we absolutely do, by virtue of a commission given to
me, by my lords, the high and mighty States General, to
be governor-general over New Holland, the Isles of
Curacoa, Bonaire, Aruba, with their appurtenances and
dependencies, bearing date the 26th of July, 1646. As
also by virtue of a grant and commission, given by my
said lords, the high and mighty States General, to the
West Indian Company, In the year 1621, with as much
power, and as authentick, as his said majestie of England
hath given, or can give, to any colony In America, as
more fully appears by the patent and commission of the
said lords, the States General, by them signed, registered,
and sealed with their great seal, which were showed to
your deputies. Colonel George Carteret, Captain Robert
Needham, Captain Edward Groves, and Mr. Thomas
Delavall; by which commission and patent together (to
deal frankly with you) and by divers letters, signed and
sealed by our said lords, the States General, directed to
several persons, both EngHsh and Dutch, Inhabiting the
towns and viUages on Long Island (which, without

5i6 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
doubt, have been produced before you, by those Inhabi
tants) by which they are declared and acknowledged to
be their subjects, with express command, that they con
tinue faithful unto them, under penalty of Incurring their
utmost displeasure, which makes It appear more clear
than the sun at noon-day, that your first foundation (viz.
that the right and title of his majestie of Great Britain,
to these parts of America is unquestionable) Is absolutely
to be denied. Moreover, It Is without dispute, and
acknowledged by the world, that our predecessors, by
virtue of the commission and patent of the said lords, the
States General, have without control, and peaceably (the
contrary never coming to our knowledge,) enjoyed Fort
Orange about forty-eight or fifty years, the Manhattans
about forty-one or forty-two years, the South River forty
years, and the Fresh Water River about thirty-six
years. " Touching the second subject of your letter (viz. his
majestie hath commanded me, in his name, to require a
surrender of all such forts, towns, or places of strength,
which now are possessed by the Dutch under your com
mand). We shall answer, that we are so confident of
the discretion and equity of his majestie of Great Britain,
that in case his majestie were Informed of the truth,
which Is, that the Dutch came not Into these provinces
by any violence, but by virtue of commissions from my
lords, the States General, first of all In the years 1614,
1 61 5, and 1 61 6, up the North River, near Fort Orange,
where, to hinder tbe Invasions and massacres, commonly
committed by the savages, they built a little fort; and
after. In the year 1622, and even to this present time,
by virtue of commission and grant, to the governours of
the West India Company; and moreover, in the year
1656, a grant to the honorable, the burgomasters of Am
sterdam, of the South River; Insomuch, that by virtue
of the above said commissions from the high and mighty

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 517
States General, given to the persons interested as afore
said, and others, these provinces have been governed,
and consequently enjoyed, as also in regard of their first
discovery, uninterrupted possessions, and purchase of the
lands of the princes, natives of the country, and other
private persons (though GentUes) we make no doubt
that if his said majestie of Great Britain were well in
formed of these passages, he would be too judicious to
grant such an order, principally In a time when there Is
so straight a friendship and confederacy, between our
said lords and superiors, to trouble us in the demanding
and summons of the places and fortresses, which were
put into our hands, with orders to maintain them, in the
name of the said lords, the States General, as was made
appear to your deputies, under the names and seal of
the said high and mighty States General, dated July 28,
1646. Besides what had been mentioned, there is little
probability that his said majestie of England (In regard
the articles of peace are printed, and were recommended
to us to observe seriously and exactly, by a letter written
to us by our said lords, the States General, and to cause
them to be observed religiously In this country) would
give order touching so dangerous a design, being also
apparent, that none other than my said lords, the States
General, have any right to these provinces, and conse
quently, ought to command and maintain their subjects;
and In their absence, we, the governor-general, are
obliged to maintain their rights, and to repel and take
revenge of all threatenings, unjust attempts, or any force
whatsoever, that shall be committed against their faithful
subjects and inhabitants, it being a very considerable
thing to affront so mighty a state, although It were not
against an ally and confederate. Consequently, if bis said
majestie (as it Is fit) were well Informed, of all that
could be spoken upon this subject, he would not approve
of what expressions were mentioned In your letter ; which

5i8 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
are, that you are commanded by his majestie, to demand
In his name, such places and fortresses as are in the
possession of the Dutch, under my government; which,
as It appears by my commission, before mentioned, was
given me by my lords, the high and mighty States Gen
eral. And there Is less ground In the express demand
of my govemment, since all the world knows, that about
three years ago, some English frigates being on the coast
of Africa, upon a pretended commission, they did demand
certain places under the government of our said lords,
the States General, as Cape Vert, River of Gambo, and
all other places In Guyny, to them belonging. Upon
which, our said lords, the States General, by virtue of
the articles of peace, having made appear the said at
tempt to his majestie of England, they received a favour
able answer, his said majesty disallowing all such acts of
hostility, as might have been done, and besides, gave
order, that restitution should be made to the East India
company, of whatsoever had been pillaged. In the said
river of Gambo: and likewise restored them to their
trade, which makes us think It necessary, that a more
express order should appear unto us, as a sufficient war
rant for us, towards my lords, the high and mighty States
General, since by virtue of our said commission, we do In
these provinces, represent them, as belonging to them,
and not to the king of Great Britain, except his said
majestie, upon better grounds, makes it appear to our said
lords, the States General, against which they may defend
themselves, as they shall think fit. To conclude: We
cannot but declare unto you, though the governours and
commissioners of his majestie have divers times quar
relled with us, about the bounds of the jurisdiction of the
high and mighty, the States General, In these parts, yet
they never questioned their jurisdiction Itself; on the con
trary. In the year 1650, at Hartford, and the last year at
Boston, they treated with us upon this subject, which Is

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 519
a sufficient proof, that his majestie hath never been weU
Informed of the equity of our cause, insomuch as we
cannot Imagine, In regard of the articles of peace, between
the crown of England and the States General (under
whom there are so many subjects in America, as well as
Europe) that his said majestie of Great Britain would
give a commission, to molest and endamage the subjects
of my said lords, the States General, espedally such, as
ever since fifty, forty, and the latest thirty-six years, have
quietly enjoyed their lands, countries, forts and inheri
tances; and less, that his subjects would attempt any acts
of hostility, or violence against them: and In case that
you will act by force of arms, we protest and declare, in
the name of our said lords, the States General, before
GOD and men, that you will act an unjust violence, and
a breach of the articles of peace, so solemnly sworn,
agreed upon, and ratified by bis majestie of England,
and my lords, the States General, and the rather, for that
to prevent the shedding of blood. In the month of Feb
ruary last, we treated with Captain John Scott, (who
reported he had a commission from his said majestie,)
touching the limits of Long Island, and concluded for the
space of a year ; that in the mean time, the business might
be treated on between the king of Great Britain, and my
lords, the high and mighty States General : and again, at
present, for the hindrance and prevention of all differ
ences, and the spilling of innocent blood, not only In these
parts, but also In Europe, we offer unto you, a treaty by
our deputies, Mr. Cornelius Van Ruyven, secretary and
receiver of New Holland, Cornelius Stelnwick, burgo
master, Mr. Samuel Megapolensis, doctor of physick, and
Mr. James Cousseau, heretofore sheriff. As touching
the threats In your conclusion, we have nothing to answer,
only that we fear nothing but what God (who Is just as
merciful) shall lay upon us; all things being In his gra
cious disposal, and we may as well be preserved by him

520 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
with small forces as by a great army, which makes us to
wish you all happiness and prosperity, and recommend
you to his protection. My lords, your thrice humble and
affectionate servant and friend, P. STUYVESANT.
" At the Fort Amsterdam, September 2, New Style,
1664."

Capitulation by the Dutch to the English.
" These Articles following were consented to by the
persons here under subscribed, at the Governor's Bowery,
August the 27th, Old Style, 1664.
" I. We consent That the States-General, or the West
India Company, shall freely enjoy all Farms and Houses
(except such as are In the Forts) and that within six
months they shall have free Liberty to transport all such
Arms and Ammunition as now does belong to them, or
else they shall be paid for them.
"II. AU Publlque Houses shall continue for the Uses
which they are for.
" III. All people shall continue free Denizens, and
shall enjoy their Lands, Houses, Goods, wheresoever
they are within this Country, and dispose of them as
they please.
" IV. If any Inhabitant have a Mind to remove him
self, he shall have a year and six weeks from this day,
to remove himself. Wife, Children, Servants, Goods, and
to dispose of his lands here.
" V. If any Officer of State, or Publlque Minister of
State, have a Mind to go for England, they shall be trans
ported Fraught free. In his Majesty's Frigotts, when
these Frigotts shall return thither.
" VI. It is consented to, that any People may freely
come from the Netherlands, and plant In this Colony;

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 521
and that Dutch Vessels may freely come hither, and any
of the Dutch may freely return home, or send any Sort
of Merchandize home in Vessels of their own Country.
" VII. All Ships from the Netherlands, or any other
Place, and Goods therein, shall be received here, and sent
hence, after the manner which formerly they were, before
our coming hither, for six Months next ensuing.
" VIIL The Dutch here shall enjoy the Liberty of
their Consciences In divine Worship and Church Disci
pline. " IX. No Dutchman here, or Dutch Ship here, shall
upon any occasion be pressed to serve in War against any
Nation whatsoever.
" X. That the Townsmen of the Manhattans shall not
have any Soldiers quartered upon them, without being
satisfied and paid for them by the Officers; and that at
this present, if the Fort be not capable of lodging aU the
Soldiers, then the Burgomasters, by his officers, shall ap
point some Houses capable to receive them.
" XI. The Dutch here shall enjoy their own Customs
concerning their Inheritances.
" XII. All Publlque Writings and Records, which con
cern the Inheritances of any People, or the Reglement
of the Church or Poor, or Orphans, shall be carefully
kept by those in whose Hands now they are, and such
Writings as particularly concern the States-General, may
at any time be sent to them.
" XIII. No Judgment that has passed any Judicature
here, shall be called In Question ; but If any conceive that
he hath not had Justice done him. If he apply himself to
the States-General, the other Party shall be bound to
answer for the supposed Injury.
" XIV. If any Dutch, living here, shall at any Time
desire to travalle or traffique into England, or any Place,
or Plantation, in obedience to his Majesty of England,
or with the Indians, he shall have (upon his Request to

522 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the Govemor) a Certificate that he Is a free Denizen of
this Place, and Liberty to do so,
" XV. If It do appeare that there Is a pubHque En
gagement of Debt by the Town of the Manhattoes, and
a Way agreed on for the satisfying of that Engagement,
it Is agreed that the same Way proposed shall go on,
and that the Engagement shall be satisfied.
" XVI. All Inferior CivU Officers and Magistrates
shall continue as now they are (If they please) till the
customary Time of new Elections, and then new ones to
be chosen by themselves ; provided that such new chosen
Magistrates shall take the Oath of Allegiance to his
Majesty of England before they enter upon their Office.
" XVII. All differences of Contracts and Bargains
made before this Day, by any in this Country, shall be
determined according to the Manner of the Dutch.
" XVIII. If it do appeare that the West India Com
pany of Amsterdam do really owe any Sums of Money
to any Person here, it Is agreed that Recognition and
other Duties payable by Ships going for the Netherlands,
be continued for 6 Months longer.
"XIX. The Officers, Military, and Soldiers, shaU
march out with their Arms, Drums beating, and Colors
flying, and lighted Matches; and If any of them will
plant, they shall have fifty Acres of Land set out for
them; If any of them will serve as Servants, they shall
continue with all Safety, and become free Denizens after
wards. " XX. If at any Time hereafter the King of Great
Britain, and the States of the Netherlands, do agree that
this Place and Country be re-dellvered Into the Hands of
the said states, whensoever his Majestie will send his
Commands to re-deliver It, It shall Immediately be done.
" XXI. That the Town of Manhattans shall choose
Deputyes, and those Deputyes shall have free Voyces In
all pubHque Affairs, as much as any other Deputyes.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 523
' XXII. Those who have any Property In any Houses
in the Fort of Aurania, shaU (If they please) sHght the
Fortifications there, and then enjoy all their Houses, as
all People do where there is no Fort.
" XXIII. If there be any Soldiers that will go into
Holland, and if tbe Company of West India In Amster
dam, or any private Persons here, will transport them
Into Holland, then they shall have a safe Passport from
Colonel Richard Nicoll, Deputy-Governor under his
Royal Highness, and the other Commissioners, to defend
the Ships that shall transport such Soldiers, and all the
Goods In them, from any Surprlzal or Acts of HostUIty,
to be done by any of his Majestle's Ships or Subjects.
That the Copies of the King's Grant to his Royal High
ness, and the Copy of his Royal HIghness's Commission
to Colonel Richard Nicoll, testified by two Commis
sioners more, and Mr. Winthrop, to be true Copies,
shall be delivered to the Hon. Mr. Stuyvesant, the
present Governor, on Munday next by Eight of the
Clock In the Morning, at the Old Miln ; and these Articles
consented to, and signed by Colonel Richard Nicoll, Dep
uty-Governor to his Royal Highness; and that within
two Hours after the Fort and Town called New Amster
dam, upon the Isle of Manhattoes, shall be delivered Into
the Hands of the said Colonel Richard Nicoll, by the
Service of such as shall be by him thereunto deputed, by
his Hand and Seal.
John De Decker Robert Carr
Nich. Verleet Geo. Cartwright
Sam. Megapolensis John Winthrop
Cornelius Steenwicfc Sam. Willys,
Oloffe Stevens Van Kortlant Thomas Clarke
James Cousseau John Pinchon
" I do consent to these articles,
"Richard Nicoll."

524 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
An Act to divide this Province and Dependences into
Shires and Counties.
" Having taken into consideracon the necessity of
dividing the province Into respective countys for the
better governing and settling courts In the same; Bee it
enacted by the Governour, Councell, and Representatives,
and by the authority of the same. That the said Province
be divided into twelve countys, as followeth :
" The citty and county of New Yorke, to contalne all
the Island, commonly called Manhaten's Island, Man
ning's Island, and the two barne islands, the citty to bee
called as itt Is New York, and the Islands above specified,
the county thereof.
" The county of Westchester to conteyn West and
Eastchester, Broweke's land, Fordham, Annehooke's
Neck, RlchblUs, MInford's Islands, and all the land on
the Maine to the eastward of Manhatan's island, as
farre as the government extends, and the Younkers' land,
and northward along Hudson's River as farr as the High
Land. " The county of Ulster to conteyne the towns of King
ston, Hurly, and Marbletowne, Ffoxhall, and the new
Paltz, and all the villages, neighborhoods, and Christian
habitacons on the west side of Hudson's River, from the
Murderer's Creeke, neare the Highlands, to the Sawyers
Creeke. " The county of Albany to conteyne the town of Al
bany, the colony of Renslaerswyck, Schonechteda, and all
the villages, neighbourhoods, and Christian plantacons on
the east side of Hudson's River, from Roelef Jansen's
Creeke, and on the west side from Sawyer's Creeke to
the Saraaghtoga.
" The Dutchesses county to bee from the bounds of the
county of Westchester on the south side of the High
lands, along the east side of Hudson's River, as farre

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 525
as Roelef Jansen's Creeke, and eastward Into the woods
twenty miles.
" The county of Orange to beginne from the llmmitts
or bounds of East and West Jersey, on the west side of
Hudson's River, along the said river to the Murderer's
Creeke, or bounds of the county of Ulster, and westward
into the woods as farr as Delaware river.
" The county of Richmond to conteyne all Staten
Island, Shutter's Island, and the Islands of Meadow on
the west side thereof.
" Kings county to conteyne the severall towns of Bosh-
wyck, Bedford, Brucklyn, Fflatbush, Fflatlands, New
Utrecht, and Gravesend, with the severall settlements and
plantacons adjacent.
" Queens county to conteyne the severall towns of
Newtowne, Jamaica, Flushing, Hempstead, and Oyster
bay, with the severall outfarms, settlements and plan
tacons adjacent.
" The county of Suffolk to conteyne the severall towns
of Huntington, Smlthfield,^ Brookhaven, Southampton,
Southold, Easthampton, to Montauk Point, Shelter
Island, the Isle of Wight,^ Fisher's Island and Plumb
Island, with the several outfarms, settlements and plan
tacons adjacent.
" Dukes county to conteyne the islands of Nantuckett,
Martin's Vineyard, EHzabeth Island, and No Mans
Land. " The county of Cornwall to conteyne Penaquid, and
aU his RoyaU Highnesses terrltoryes In those parts, with
the Islands adjacent.
"And forasmuch as there Is a necessity of a High
Sheriff in every county In this province,
" Bee it therefore enacted by the Governor, Councell,
and Representatives in General Assembly mett, and by
^ Now Smithtown. — ^Editor.
' Now Gardiner's Island.— Editor.

526 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the authority of the same. That there shall be yearly and
every yeare, an High Sheriff constituted and commlsslon-
ated for each county, and thatt each Sheriff may have his
Under-sheriff, Deputy or Deputys.
"New Yorke, Nov. i, 1683."

Additions, Amendments, and Explanations of some
Things in the Lawes, made and confirmed at the Gen
eral Court of Assizes, held in New York, the 27th,
28th, and 2gth Dayes of September, and the ist and
2nd Dayes of October, Anno Dom. 1666.
" In the absence of a Justice of the Peace, or where
no Justice of the Peace resides, upon extraordinary occa
sions, the Constable and Overseers shall have power
over an offender to the next Court of Sessions or As
sizes." " That in each town It be left to the major part of the
Inhabitants, whether at the admission of the overseers
into their places, they shall take the oaths In the law
enjoined." " That the public rates shall henceforth be payable at
one certalne time of the year, and the constables having
already sufficient authority In the law, to make distresse
for non-payment, they shall be liable to make good the
rates In their townes. If any part shall be In arreare or
unpayed after the time prescribed."
" That the payment for the rates for public charges
shall be in com, beef, or pork, at the prices herein men
tioned, that Is to say: wheate not exceeding 5s. the bushel;
rye and pease 4s.; Indian corn 3s.; oates 2S. 8d. ; beef at
3d. and pork at 4d. per pound, and no other payment
shall be allowed of."
" That whoever shall omit or refuse to bring In the
valuation of their estates to the constable, as Is required.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 527
the constables and overseers shall put a value thereon
at discretion and distrayne for the same."
" That whoever shall neglect or refuse to obey a spe
cial warrant under the Governor's hand and scale, shall
be lyable to such a fine as the Court of Sessions or Assizes
shall adjudge according to the merit of the default."
" That whosoever shall reproach or defame any per
son or persons who have or shall act in any public em
ployment, either In court or otherwise, or who shall vlUIfy
their proceedings who serve the public In this govern
ment, by authority under his Royall Highnesse the Duke
of Yorke, or whoever shall hereafter in any ways detract
or speak against any of the Deputys signing the address
to his Royal Highness at the generall meeting at Hemp
stead, they shall be presented to the next Court of Ses
sions, and from thence he bound over to the Assizes, to
answer for the slander upon plaint or Information."
'' That the payment of Jurymen, shall be by abatement
in their rates. In the towns where they Inbabit, which
upon certificate of their service fees the clarkes of the
Courts of Assize or Sessions, shall be allowed them
by the constables."
" Whereas divers complaints have been made that sev
erall persons do sell liquor to the Indians — It Is therefore
ordered, that although the testymoneys of Heathens
against Christians may not altogether be allowed, yet
when it meets with other apparent circumstances, as may
be sufficient to convince a jury, in such cases the Indian
testymoneys shall be admitted as good proofs against the
persons accused."
" Whereas several towns and persons within this gov
ernment, as well English as Dutch, do hold their lands
and houses upon condition of being subject to the United
Belgic Provinces, which is contrary to the allegiance due
to his Ma'tles government. It Is ordered, that all grants
or patents shall be brought In, to be confirmed or renewed,

528 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
by his RoyaU Highnesse the Duke of Yorke— and all such
as have no patents shall likewise be suppHed, by the first
of AprU next; after which time, no town or private per
son, whether EngHsh or Dutch, shaU have liberty to plead
any such old grants, patents or deeds of purchase, but
they shall be looked upon as Invalid to all Intents and
purpose." By order of the Governor and Court of
Assize. " Matthias Nicholl, Secretary.

Orders made and confirmed at the Gen'all Court of As
sizes held in New York, beginning on the 2d and end
ing on ye gth Day of April, in the 24th Year of his
Ma' ties Reigne, Anno D'ni. 1672.
" I. Whereas great abuse hath been practiced In the
govemm't by divers persons prosecuting their servants
In the Hue and Cryes at the public charge, the gaine
whereof only redounds to themselves: It is from hence
forth ordered, that the charges of all Hue and Cryes
shall be borne by the respective persons concerned, for
the better securing whereof, caution Is to be given by
those who take them out and prosecute, unless In case
of criminals, or upon capitall crimes, where all officers
and others are obliged to use their endeavours to secure
them to be brought to condlgne punishment, which Is to
be borne at the public charge. If the person offending hath
not wherwltb to make satisfaction.
" 2. Whereas It hath been taken Into consideration
how great abatem't there Is In the rates of severall townes
upon Long Island, upon the acco't of woolves discounted
with the constables within whose limits they are killed,
so that the sume to be collected doth not answer the ex-
pectacon of the public charge : it Is ordered that the sume
of 25s lately given for a woolfe's head shall bee reduced

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 529
to 20s as formerly ; and for whelps proporconably. And
that for the time to come, for all woolves that shall bee
killed within the bounds of any town upon Long Island,
or parts adjacent, the one half of the charge shall be
borne by ye towne, and t'other by the publick: It Is also
ordered, that each towne be obliged (for the preservation
of their stock and cattle) to make and malntaine woolfe
pitts, wch are to bee directed by the respective officers
of the towne to which they do belong.
" 3. Whereas frequent complaints have been made of
serv'ts who run away from their masters into other gov
ernments, and for want of due care and examlnacon of
them by the magistrates or officers of the towns through
wch they passe : It is ordered that If hereafter any stran
ger or person unknowne shall come to or travell through
any towne or place within this govemment without a pass
or certificate from whence bee came, and whither bee Is
bound, shall bee lyable to bee seized upon by any officer
of the towne or place unto which bee comes, or through
which bee shall travell, there to bee secured untill bee
cleare himselfe to be a ffreeman, and shall defray the
charges of his detencon there, by his worke or labour (If
not otherwise able to give satisfaction) In the best way
and manner hee shall bee found capable.
" 4. Upon Its being represented to this Court, that
notwithstanding the positive law and severall ord'es of
assizes and otherwise, that ye English weights and mea
sures shall bee only used In these his Royall HIghness's
territories which have been respited for want of measures
for them and due standards : It Is ordered that the prac
tice thereof bee no longer delayed but be put in execucon
by the 25th of March next, under the penalty In the law
prescribed as shall further bee adjudged by the Governor,
and his Council.
" 5. It Is likewise ordered (In regard of the great in
convenience and decay of ffeed for horses and cattle In the

530 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
woods, by the Increase of the brush and underwood which
Is suffered to grow up without any care being taken to
subdue the same) that foure dayes bee appointed once
every year, for all ye inhabitants of the townes upon Long
Island and precincts, from the age of 1 6 to 60 (except
those exempt by the law) wherein every one shall bee
obliged to go Into the woods to cutt the said brush and
underwood, the time to be at the discrecon of the officers
of each towne, and whoever shall fail therein, each par
ticular person shall pay for every dayes default, the value
of five shillings.
" 6. That the boundaryes of townes bee attended to
as the law and their respective patents doth direct; and
that the perambulations bee made accordingly, in w'ch
if any deficiency shall appeare at either of the Courts of
Sessions to be held in the moneth of June next, ye towne
so failing shall fforfeit the sume of ten pounds to the
public. " 7. That the laws of the governm't bee duly observed
as to parochiall churches, and that although divers per
sons may bee of different judgments, yet all shall con
tribute to the minister established and allowed, w'ch is
no way adjudged to bee an Infringement of the liberty
of conscience to ye which they may pretend.
" 8. That forasmuch as many and great complaints
have been made against hogg-stealers as also against
stealers of boatts and canoes and their appurtenances,
notwithstanding the great strictnesse of the lawes to the
contrary, and orders to reinforce the same : In the which
divers have been found guilty, and have past the cencure
of the law : ffor a greater terror to any person who shall
for the future attempt to do the same, it is ordered that
the person so offending and convicted for the same shall
for the first offence (besides a ffine to be imposed by the
Court) receive the corporall punishment of having one
of his eares cut off to be an example to all others, and

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 531
for the next, receive some more severe punishment, as the
Court shaU direct or thinke meet.
" 9. That the High Sheriffs upon Long Island, Con
stables and Clarks of Sessions who have not brought In
their accounts to be audited or aUowed of, do without
further delay, perform the same by the time wherein
the next Court of Sessions is to be held within the re
spective Ridings."

Copy of a Release for Lands upon the eastern Part of
Long Island from Lord Stirling's Deputy to Edward
Howell and others of Southampton, June 12, id^g.
" Know all men whom this present writing may con-
cem, that I James Farret of Long Island, Gent., Deputy
to the Right Hon"* the Earle of Stirling, Secretary for
the Kingdom of Scotland, do by these presents, in the
name and behalf of the said Earle of Stirling, and in
my own name, as doth or may concern myself, give up
all Rights, Titles, Clalmes, and Demands of and from
all those lands, lying and being between Pecononeck,
and the eastermost point of Long Island, with the whole
breadth of the said Island from sea to sea, with all lands
and premises, contained within the said limits, excepting
those lands already granted unto any person by me the
said Farret, under my hand and scale, unto Edward
Howell, Daniel How, Job Sayer, and their associates,
heirs, and successors, both now and for ever, against
the claymes of any person or persons whatsoever, claym-
Ing by, from under the said Earle of Stirling, and do
In His Lordship's name, and In my own name, as It doth
concerne myself, in consideration of Barge Hire, besides
they being drove off by the Dutch from the place where
they were by me planted, to thier great damage, by and
with a competent summe of money In hand paid, before

532 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the sealing and delivery of these presents, aU amounting
unto four hundred pounds sterl'g, the receipt thereof
and of every part thereof, I acknowledge by these pres
ents, doe acquit, discharge and exonerate the said Edward
Howell, Daniel How, Job Sayer, and their associates, heirs
and successors for ever, giving up unto the s*^ parties,
heirs, successors, as absolute a right, title and propriety
as the said Earle received of the corporation of New
England, Incorporated by King James, the eighteenth of
his Reign over England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.
And that I the said James Farret, having myself full power
to make over the patent, all or part. In his Lordship's
name, and for his Lordship's use, by virtue of my letters
of attorney bearing date 1637, by virtue of which agende
I have made a sale of the same for his Lordship's use,
received the summe aforesaid of the said Edward Howell,
Daniel How, Job Sayer, and their associates, and that
the same parties, heirs and successors, have an absolute
power to erect wholesome laws, or ordinances, among
themselves, as the Earle of Stirling had conveyed to
him by the corporation aforesaid, the said Edward
Howell, Daniel How, Job Sayer, and successors owing
allegiance to the crown of England, and paying the fifth
of gold and silver ore to his majesty, with what Royalties
belongeth to the said corporation, their heirs and succes
sors shall be likewise paid upon demand, as Is exprest
In his Lordship's patent. Lastly I promise In bis Lord
ship's name, that his Lordship, his heirs, and successors
shall malntaine the said Edward Howell, Daniel How,
and Job Sayer, their heirs and successors In the peace
able enjoyment of the premises, against all persons what
soever. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand
and scale the 12th of June, 1639. " James Farret, (l. s.)
" Witness : Matthew Sunderland."

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND . 533
Confirmation of the above Grant.
" I William Earle of Sterline doe make knowne to all,
whom It doth or may concerne, that whereas James Far
ret, Gent., my lawful agent upon Long Island, &c.. In
America hath disposed by sale of divers lands In my
name and for my use, upon the said Island and Islands
adjacent within my pattent, according to the power given
him by myselfe April, 1637, unto Edward Howell, Daniel
How, and their heirs and successors for ever, as from
Peaconnet to y" eastermost poynte of y* said Long Island;
and unto Jobn, Thomas, and Edward Farrington, and
successively to the longest liver of them, and to bis heirs
and assigns forever; and unto Mathew Sunderland, and
his heirs and assigns, forever. I say whatsoever bargalne,
contract and conclusion, the above named parties (for
themselves, heirs and assignes for ever) have made w*""
Mr. Farret, according to the custome of New England,
I tbe said Wm. Earle of Sterline, ratlfie, and hold of
value in law. And doe upon the request of my said agent
James Farret, by these presents bind myselfe, heirs, and
assignes to doe any further act or thing whereby or
wherewith y* titles of y^ above named parties (vizt.)
Howell, How, Farrington, Sunderland and their heirs
and successo" forever, may be strengthened, w"'' they
have under the hand and scale of my foresaid agent
James Farret, of w^*" I am by him fully satisfied. And
that he hath in fuU satisfaction for the said lands for my
use received a competent sum of money, in consideracon
of w'''' money I doe acquitt all right, title. Interest, and
demand of and to y-^ s"^ lands and patent right for ever.
" Witness my hand and scale this twentieth day of
August one thousand six hundred and thirty nine.
" (Signed) Sterline (l. s.).
" In presence of James Ramsay and John Johnson."

534 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
Plan and Conditions of Union between Connecticut and
the Inhabitants of Easthampton, Long Island.
" Hartford the 3'^ day of May, 1658.
" Whereas formerly some overtures have passed be
twixt the generall court of Connectlcutt and some of the
plantation of East Hampton upon Long Island concem-
Ing Union Into one body and government, whereby the
said town might be Interested In the generall combination
of the United Collonies, and whereas the said towne of
East Hampton was by the said court entertained and
accepted at a session thereof on the seventh day of No
vember, 1649, ^"d h.2iye after divers yeares of further
consideration renewed their desires, to be under the said
govemment of Connectlcutt, and for prosecution and
Issues thereof, have by the major vote of their said towne
chosen and appointed Leiftenant Lyon Gardiner, Thomas
Baker, and John Hand, and given them full power and
authority, from them and in their name to settle and con
firme tbem under the s*^ govern*. It is concluded and
agreed betweene the said jurisdiction of Connectlcutt and
the said parties; and the said towne of Easthampton doe
by their said Deputies, for themselves and their succes
so", associate and joyne themselves to the jurisdiction
of Connecticut, to be subject to all the lawes there estab
lished, according to the word of God and right reason,
w*'' such exceptions and limitations as are hereafter ex
pressed. " The towne of East Hampton by reason of their pas
sage by sea, being under more difficulties and uncertaln-
tyes of repairing to the severall courts held for the juris
diction of Connectlcutt up on the maine-land, whereby
they may be constrained to bee absent both at the times
of the election of magistrates and other occasions w^""
may prove prejudicial to them; for preventing whereof
it Is agreed for the present, untlU more plantations bee

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 535
setded near the towne of Easthampton w"'' may be help-
full to each other In publicke occasions, and that by
mutuall agreem* betwixt the said townes and the generall
court for the jurisdiction of Connectlcutt it bee ordered.
There shall be yearly chosen two magistrates inhabiting
within the said towne or liberties of East Hampton, who
shall have the same power with the particular courts upon
the River Connectlcutt, though no other Magistrates of
the jurisdiction bee present, for the administration of
justice and other occasions w'^'' may concerne the welfare
of the said towne; offences only which concerne life and
limbe excepted, w*^*" always shaU be tried by the court of
Magistrates to bee held at the River's mouth. Which
said Magistrates for the towne aforesaid shall be chosen
in manner following:
" The towne of East Hampton by the freemen thereof
shall yearly present to some generall court for the juris
diction of Connectlcutt or to the governo" thereof before
the Court of Election, which Is the third Monday In May,
the names of three of their members of the said towne,
and such as are freemen thereof, whom they nominate
for Magistrates the year ensuing; out of which the gen
erall court for the jurisdiction shall choose two, who upon
oath taken before both or one of the Magistrates for
the precedent yeare at East Hampton, for the due execu
tion of their place, shall have as full power to proceed
therein, as if they had been sworne before the Governo'
att Connectlcutt.
" It Is also provided that the Freemen of the said
towne of East Hampton shall have liberty to vote in the
Court of Election for the jurisdiction of Connectlcutt (in
regard to the distance of the place) by proxcle, but in
case the towne of East Hampton shall by any extraordi
nary hand of Providence bee hindered from sending the
names of the three persons to bee in election for Magis
trates unto the generall court in May, or having sent,

526 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
the same doe miscarry. It Is in such case provided and
agreed, that the two Magistrates for the precedent yeare
shall supply the place, until the next generall court for
election. " Itt agreed and concluded that If upon view of such
orders, as are already established by the generall court
for the jurisdiction of Connectlcutt, there be found any
difference therein, from such as are also for the present
settled In the towne of East Hampton; the said towne
shall have liberty to regulate themselves according as may
bee most suitable to their own comforts and conveniences.
In their own judgment; p:vlded those orders made by
them concerne themselves only and Intrench not upon the
Interests of others, or the generall combination of the
United Collonies, and are not crosse to the rule of rlght-
eousnesse. " The like power Is also reserved unto themselves for
the future, for making of such orders as may concerne
their towne occasions.
"It is agreed and concluded, that If any party find
himselfe agrelved by any sentence or judgment passed by
the Magistrates residing at East Hampton, hee may ap
peale to some particular or generall court upon the River,
p :vlded hee put In security to the satisfaction of one
or both of the Magistrates at East Hampton, speedily
to prosecute his said appeale, and to answer such costs
and dammages as shall bee thought meet by tbe court
to w'^'' he appeales, In case there be found noe just cause
for bis appeale.
" It is agreed and concluded that the said towne of
East Hampton, shall only bear their owne charges In
such fortifications as are necessary for their owne defence,
maintaining their owne officers, and all other things con-
ceme themselves, not being lyable to bee taxed for forti
fications, or expenses that only appertaine to the planta
tions upon the River or elsewhere.

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND 537
" But In such expenses as are of mutual and common
concern', both the one and the other shall beare an equal
share in such p :portion as Is agreed by the United Col
lonies (viz) according to the number of males In each
plantation from i6 to 60 years of age."
The people of Suffolk County were so much dissatisfied
with the condition of things during what was called the
usurpation of Leisler, that a convention was held for the
purpose of remonstrating, of which the result was a
declaration as follows:
Declaration of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the
County of Suffolk upon Long Island, in the Territory
of New England.
"First — Being alarmed by a printed declaration at
Boston, the i8th last, of the Gentleman March*% and
country adjacent, manifesting the grounds of their seizing
the Gov"^ and Goven' into their hands, wishing all other
their neighbors to follow them ; and our country of Eng
land's example, for securing our English nation's libertyes
and propertyes from Popery and Slavery, and from the
Intended Invasion of a foreign French design, and more
than Turkish crueltyes, by relation already cited upon
several of our nation, and others of our neighbors In the
West Indies, and particularly Statia. — ^And we being per
sons of all others our neighbors, who have groaned under
the heavy burdens imposed upon us, by an arbitrary
power for a considerable time together, without the least
molestation on our parts, and being under the like cir
cumstances, of being Invaded by a forraign enemy, with
which tbe other EngHsh America is alarmed, which
moved us to do something at this time for our own self
preservation, being without any to depend on at present,
till It please God to order better.

538 HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND
" Second — Therefore we esteem it our bounden duty
to use all lawful endeavours for securing our head quar
ters of New York and Albany forts, and all other forti
fications, and the same to put into the hands of those
whom we can confide In till further order from the
parliament In England.
" Thirdly — ^We also think It our duty to use our best
endeavours for the redemption and securing of aU such
moneys, as has been lately extorted from us by the afore
said power; as also to secure all those persons reputed
to be ennemyes of the peace and prosperity of our coun
try and the fundamental laws of our English nation, as
aforesaid till further orders.
" Lastly — We firmly believe that herein we have en
deavoured nothing less, than what mere duty to ,God and
our country doth call for at our hands, committing our
enterprise to his blessing, and desire all our neighbors
to join with us in praises, and all just actions for the
prosperity and safety of our country from all approach
ing dangers." Dated in Southampton, May 3, i68g.
" May loth — Capt. Howell of Southampton, Capt.
Wheeler of Easthampton, and Capt. Piatt of Hunting
ton, are gone down to demand the fort to be delivered
Into the hands of such persons as the country shall chose."

YALE

THI-C Ulixvcno

ITY LIBRARY

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