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 A 
 
 HISTORY 
 
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 LONG ISLAND 
 
 FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT BY EUROPEANS, 
 TO THE YEAR 18-15, 
 
 SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS ECCLESIASTICAL CONCERNS. 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 I. ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES AND CIVIL AFFAIRS. 
 
 O. ANNALS OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS, RELATING CHIEFLY TO ECCLESIASTICAL 
 MATTERS, 
 
 BY 
 
 NATIIANJ&L & Ptfl&E 
 
 NEW* YORK: 
 
 ROBERT CARTER, 58 CANAL STREET; 
 AND P1TTSBUBG, 56 MARKET STREET. 
 
 
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 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 
 
 ROBERT CARTER, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New- York. 
 
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 S><\ 
 
 
 H. LUDWIG, PRINTER, 
 
 
 70 & 72 Vesey street. 
 
 
 
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PREFACE. 
 
 A history of Long Island, with special reference to its in- 
 tellectual, moral, and religious condition, from its first settle- 
 ment to the present time, is confessedly a desideratum. If 
 well executed, it cannot foil to be deeply interesting and in- 
 structive to the present inhabitants of the island, and their 
 numerous kindred, scattered as they are, in almost every part 
 of this wide-spread land. The tide of emigration, from this 
 strand in the sea, has been much greater than is generally 
 imagined, You can scarcely go into any quarter of the 
 country, without finding those who were natives of this island, 
 or who proudly claim descent from those that were. With all 
 such, it has long been a maxim, that " even a Long Island 
 dog is a welcome guest." The clannish feeling probably exists 
 in greater strength in no part of our country, than among the 
 natives and descendants of Suffolk County. The writer has 
 been literally embraced by a perfect stranger in the forest, and 
 bid welcome to his cabin, merely because, as he said, " 2" am 
 from Long Island, and I understand you are." And this same 
 man, who had learned by a long residence in the wilderness, 
 to despise the God of his fathers, and neglect the gospel of 
 his Son, was willing to travel miles on foot, again and again, 
 to hear the message of salvation from the lips of a native of 
 his native isle ; and even professed to yield his heart to the 
 obedience of faith. Whether sincere or insincere — deceiving 
 or deceived, the case illustrates the position assumed. 
 
 Nor is it to the natives of the island or their descendants 
 alone, that such a history will be interesting and instructive. 
 It is a part of the country, which, till within a few years, was 
 scarcely known to non-residents. It was so far removed — so 
 difficult of access, and presented so few inducements to 
 wander through its forests, and wade through its sands, that 
 for the space of 200 years it has remained, in a great measure, 
 terra incognita, to almost the whole world. It is true, that 
 most people have learned from their geography and maps, 
 that there is such an island, stretching along the broad At- 
 lantic, defending the city of New York and the whole shore 
 
IT PREFACE. 
 
 of Connecticut from the fury of the ocean waves ; and they 
 have heard a thousand exaggerated stories of the ignorance 
 and simplicity of its inhabitants. And it must be confessed, 
 that the insular situation and other physical obstacles, have 
 necessarily operated to limit the views and retard the progress of 
 the mind, when confined to such narrow boundaries. In this 
 respect it is true, that in the views of the islanders generally, 
 the affairs of this wide world are drawn on a somewhat con- 
 tracted scale. And it is equally true, that from their non- 
 intercourse with the cunning and dishonest men of the world, 
 (for be it known, that a consummate rogue is about as rare 
 an animal as a wolf on Long Island,) they are an unsuspect- 
 ing people, and are perhaps more easily over-reached than 
 those, who are more eonversant with the ways of the world. 
 But for good common sense, sound judgment, and general 
 information, so far as it may be obtained trom books and oral 
 instruction, they are not inferior to the mass of population, in 
 any equal portion of the state. 
 
 In this connexion, and in confirmation of the preceding 
 remarks, it is worth while to correct another common mistake, in 
 regard to the ignorance even of letters, that is supposed to 
 on Long Island. For this purpose, reference is made to the 
 United States census of 1840, from which it appears, that of the 
 entire white population of the nation, amounting to 14,189,105, 
 there are 549,093 persons over 21) years of age, who cannot 
 read and write. The average of these for Suffolk County 
 would be more than 1250. And yet according to the same 
 census, there are only 14 individuals of this unhappy class, in 
 this whole county. The number is indeed greater in the other 
 two counties, where there has been a greater influx of foreign 
 population ; viz., in Queen's 458, and in King's 958, of whom 
 881 are in the city of Brooklyn. But this tells a story for Suf- 
 folk County, which is generally regarded as the chief seat of 
 ignorance, that is told of no other county in the Slate of New 
 York, and of very few counties of equal population in the 
 most favoured parts of New England. 
 
 While therefore such incorrect views of the people of Long 
 Island are entertained abroad, and very extensively too, such 
 a history as is here contemplated, is more important for non- 
 residents, if they really wish correct information on the sub- 
 ject, than for the inhabitants of the island themselves. 
 
 General histories of the early settlement and progress of 
 this territory are indeed extant. The Honourable Silas 
 "Wood, whom the writer is proud to acknowledge as his towns- 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 man, and the friend and counsellor of his childhood and youth, 
 we are indebted for the first detailed history of this interesting 
 field. The track thus ably struck out, has been laboriously- 
 pursued by Benjamin F. Thompson, Esq., who, in addition 
 to much important information, has laid before the public eye, 
 a great mass of ancient documents, which cannot fail to be 
 both interesting and useful. 
 
 When this work was rirst undertaken, it was the writer's 
 intention to confine himself exclusively, to the ecclesiastical, 
 or moral and religious history of the island. But after pur- 
 suing his researches, for some time, with reference to this 
 specific object, he became convinced, that some general out- 
 line of the physical features, civil divisions, progressive im- 
 provement, and other topics of secular history were indispens- 
 able, to enable the reader to appreciate the condition, and 
 form a correct opinion of the intellectual, moral and religious 
 state of the inhabitants. In addition to this, it is believed, 
 that some of these topics have never received that attention, 
 which their peculiarity and importance demand ; while 
 others are sufficiently indicative of the genius and character 
 of the people, to merit notice in their religious history. Un- 
 der this conviction, remarks have been extended on these 
 several topics, to such a length, as to suggest the propriety of 
 dividing the work into two distinct parts ; devoting the one 
 to matters chiefly of a secular character, and the other more 
 directly, though not exclusively, to the ecclesiastical annals of 
 the several towns. 
 
 But unfortunately for the -writer, if not for the public, the 
 work has undergone yet another modification, which he feels 
 bound to state, as an apology for the present form in which it 
 appears. After committing it to the press, he found, that by 
 a previous miscalculation as to the amount of the manuscript, 
 it could not be comprised within the bounds of a reasonable 
 volume. It therefore became necessary to remodel entirely 
 the Second Part of the work. In doing this, as the least loss 
 to the reader, the. detailed history of the rise and progress of 
 the various religious denominations on the island, which would 
 have occupied more than 100 pages, was necessarily com- 
 pressed into the brief abstract, which appears on pages 1'25 — 
 30. In addition to this, the annals of the towns, were in 
 many particulars abbreviated, to make room for the introduc- 
 tion of some historical sketches, which are essential to a correct 
 view of their religious condition. 
 
 It was originally intended, to give a brief outline of the 
 
VI rHEFACE. 
 
 life and character of the various ministers who have spent 
 their lives in the services of these churches, in years gone by. 
 But a deficiency of the materials furnished, and the necessity 
 of contracting the work, have prevented the execution of the 
 design, except in a few instances. 
 
 It will be observed, that in this compilation, no reference is 
 made, except incidentally, to the events of the American re- 
 volution. Though many of these, of a deeply interesting 
 character, occurred on the island, they are faithfully recorded 
 in almost every history of the country. For this simple 
 reason, it was deemed needless to burden the present work 
 with their detail. Here and there, a fact has been noticed, as 
 illustrative of the position of a place, or the condition of its 
 inhabitants. 
 
 In collecting his materials, the author acknowledges his in- 
 debtedness to the laborious works already referred to, and 
 also to a number of his clerical brethren, who have con- 
 tributed important aid. Of these he feels bound to name the 
 following gentlemen : — the Rev. Jonathan Huntting — the 
 Rev. Abraham Luce — the Rev. Christopher Youngs— the Rev. 
 Joseph A. Cipp — the Rev. Hugh N. Wilson — the Rev. 
 James C. Edwards — the Rev. Marmadule Earlc — the Rev. 
 Henry J\I. Heart — the Rev. James Macdonald — the Rev. 
 Jonathan Gretnleaf — and the Rev. Samuel M. Haskins. But 
 without depreciating the kindness of any, the author is con- 
 strained to acknowledge himself under special obligations to 
 Alexander Gardiner, Esq. of the city of New York, both 
 for the value of his aid, and the very kind and polite manner 
 in which it was rendered. This gentleman, upon barely seeing 
 the author's circular in a newspaper, immediately transmitted 
 to hitn a MSS. history under the title of the " Chronicles 
 of Eastiiami'ton," which had been compiled with great 
 labour and research, by his lamented father. From this 
 source, have been derived some of the most interesting annals 
 of aboriginal history, as well as many important facts in re- 
 lation to the eastern towns. 
 
 In addition to the works previously named, the author ac- 
 knowledges his indebtedness to Smith's — Dunlap's, and Von 
 Der Donk's Histories of New York — Moulton's View of New 
 Orange, in 1678 — Dr. Strong's History of Flatbush — Fur- 
 man's Notes of Brooklyn — Gen. Johnson's Lectures, transla- 
 tions and communications in manuscript — the Rev. Mr. Fai- 
 toute's MSS. History of Jamaica — the Rev. Air. Garretson's 
 
PREFACE. vU 
 
 Sermon, and several other pamphlets that cannot be particu- 
 larly mentioned. 
 
 In availing himself of the aid of these and other sources 
 of information, it has been impracticable to give distinct cre- 
 dit for every fact or sentiment derived from previous writers, 
 especially where it appeared desirable to abridge, or make a 
 slight variation of language, or different arrangement of ideas. 
 For these reasons, quotations have not been distinctly marked, 
 except where a sentence or paragraph has bee$> taken entire. 
 
 Though the author has particularly aimed at correctness in 
 regard to dates, of which he has detected not a few errors in 
 former publications, he will not venture even to hope, that he 
 has been entirely successful in this particular. There may 
 be also mistakes in point of fact, though he assures his readers, 
 that he has made no statement, but upon his own personal 
 knowledge, or on information which he had reason to believe 
 was entitled to full credit. But as different minds admit facts 
 on different degrees of evidence, it is possible, that even here, 
 some errors may be detected. The correction of these, from 
 any authentic source, will be esteemed a favour. 
 
 The writer has been at the expense of having a Miniature 
 Map of Long Island engraved, (which will be found fronting 
 the title page,) to enable the reader to form a correct idea of 
 the relative position of the several towns and counties. 
 
 Relying on the indulgence of the reader, this humble 
 attempt, to record the annals of this island of the sea, is 
 submitted with all its imperfections, to the attention of the 
 public. 
 
 N. S. PRIME. 
 WUliamshurgh, L. I., Oct. ICth, 1845, 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 In consequence of the haste with which these sheets have passed 
 through the press, a number of small typographical errors have escaped 
 notice, which the knowledge of the reader will readily correct. Two, only 
 have been observed, which need to be distinctly pointed out. 
 
 In the schedule, on page 12l, the population of King's County, in 1815, 
 should read 78,691, and the aggregate population of Long Island, 145,119. 
 On page 290, in the last line of the note at the bottom, for word, read 
 wonder. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 CONTAINING A PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND, ITS CIVIL DIVISIONS, 
 PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, STATISTICS, ETC. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Section I. — Names, Form and Situation, - 1 — 5 
 
 Section II. — Its Appendages — Islands, .... 6 
 
 The Great South Beach ; p. 8 — Question as to the enlargement 
 or diminution of the Island, p. 9. 
 
 Section III —Remarks on its geological structure, surface, soil, 
 
 forests, <$-c ....10 
 
 Dr. D wight's Observations, [p. 10. — Correspondence of materials 
 on the Island and the Main, p. 12. — Hypothesis, p. 13 — Great 
 difference of Surface, Soil, &c, between the North and South 
 Sides, p. 14 — Hills, p. 15. — Plains — the Great Hempstead Plain, 
 p. lb— Pine Plains, p. 19.— Forests, p. 19 — Deer, Wild Fowl, 
 and other game, p. 20. — Reptiles, p. 22. 
 
 Section IV. — Its waters — inland and adjacent; promontories, 
 
 $c .23 
 
 Springs and streams of water, p. 23. — Rivers ; Connecticut, 
 p. 25. — Peconick, p. 26. — Ponds; Success, p. 27. — Ronkon- 
 kama, p. 29. — Other smaller ponds, p. 30. — The Ponds on Mon- 
 tauk, Quannontowunk, Konkhonganock and Great Pond, p 34. 
 — Large Pond on Shelter Island, p. 35. — Promontories, p. 36. — 
 Harbours, p. 37. — Bays, 38. — Great South Bay, Sand-bar, Dis- 
 astrous Shipwrecks, p. 39. 
 
 Section V. — Its Climate, Diseases, $-c 41 
 
 Peculiar prevalence of Tetanus, p. 45 — Numerous Instances of 
 Longevity, p. 46. — Two anomalous cases of Disease, p. 47. 
 
 Section VI— Th* Roads, - 52 
 
 Numerous and difficult for the Stranger, p. 52. — Turnpikes, p. 
 54. — The Rail-road, p. 55. — Changes produced, p. 57. — Grade 
 of the Road at its several points, p. 59. — Conflagrations of 
 Forests, p. 59. 
 
 Section VII. — Civil and Political Divisions, with some Remarks 
 on the Genius and Character of the People, in the several 
 
 Districts, their Husbandry, #c. 60 
 
 Most of the Towns first attached to the New England Colonics, 
 p. 60. — Division of the Island between the Dutch and English by 
 the Treaty of Hartford in J 650, p. 61 .—Attempt of the Dutch to 
 subject the whole Island to their authority in 1673, p 61. — First 
 Legislative Assembly in the Province of New York in 1683, p. 
 62. —Different manner in which the Eastern and Western Towns 
 were settled, p. 62-3.— Chronological order of the Settlement of 
 these Towns, p. 64. — Patriotic Spirit of the Inhabitants and 
 Trials, p. 65. — King's County, p. 67. — Queen's County, p. 68. — 
 Suffolk County, p. 72. 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Section VIII. — Literary Character, 80 
 
 Schools, early established and well taught, p. 80. — Academies, 
 first erected in the state, p. 83. — Learned Professions, p. 84. — 
 Newspapers, p. 85. 
 
 Section IX. — Spirit of Toleration, ------ 86 
 
 Quaker persecution by the Dutch government not sustained by 
 the people, p. 86. — Trials for Witchcraft, p. 88. 
 
 Section X. — The Aborigines of the Island, .... 90 
 Originally 13 Tribes, p. 90. — Montauk, the royal tribe, and Wy- 
 andanch, Grand Sachem, p. 91. — Fortifications and Burying 
 Grounds, p. 91. — Curiosities, p. 92. — Friendship of Wyandanch 
 for the white people, p. 93. — L. I. Indians formerly very numer- 
 ous, p. 93. — Diminished by wars, p. 94. — Never conspired against 
 the white settlers, p. 95. — Battle of Fort Neck not to be regarded 
 as an exception p. 96. — Still further diminished by pestdence, 
 p. 99.— Wyandanch died in 1659, p. 99. — Succeeded by his son, 
 Weoncombone, in his minority, who died in 1662, p. 100. — In. 
 dians further diminished by strong drink, p. J 01. — Now only a 
 few remnants, mingled with African blood, p. 101. — Manufac- 
 tures of the Aborigines, p. 102. — Their ancient religion, p. 102 — 
 Early attempts to give them religious instruction, and their entire 
 failure, p. 103. — Rev. Azariuh Morton, the first successful Mis- 
 sionary, p. 104. — His indefatigable labours, p. 104 — 8. — His 
 character, p. 109. — Rev. Sampson Occum, sent to the Indians in 
 1753, p. 110.— Sent to England m 1765, p. 110-1 1.— Removes 
 to Brothertown in 1786, where he died, p. 11 1. — His character, 
 p. 112.— Rev: Peter John, p. 114.— Rev- Paul Cuffee, p. 115.— 
 Rev. William Benjamin, present pastor, p. 1 18. — Aggregate rem- 
 nants of the L. I. Indians, p. 118. — Present aspect of Montauk, 
 p. 120. 
 
 Section XI.— Statistical Tables, 121 
 
 1. Population at different periods. — 2. Classification by the 
 Census of 1840, according to occupation, &c. — 3. Aggregate 
 population of different ages, showing the proportion between the 
 sexes, at three different periods of human life, of both the white 
 and coloured. — 4. Comparative population of Long Island, and 
 the city of New York, the State, and the United States. — 5. The 
 number of domestic animals, with some productions of their 
 growth or labour, from the Census of 1840. — 6. Agricultural pro- 
 ductions. — 7. Additional items from the Census ol ld45. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 containing a sketch of the various religious denominations occupying 
 the island ; AND the annals of the several towns, with special re- 
 ference TO THEIR ECCLESIASTICAL CONCERNS. 
 
 Sketch of religious denominations, 125 
 
 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. 
 
 Suffolk County. 
 
 Section I.— Southold, 130 
 
 Other parishes; Greenport, p. 135 — Orient, p. 136. — Cutchogue, 
 p. 138.— Mattituck, p. 142.— Franklin ville, p. 144.— Sketch of 
 the Rev. James Davenport's erratic course, p. 116. 
 
CONTENTS. Xi 
 
 Section II. — Riverhead, .... ... 150 
 
 Upper Aquebnguc, p. 152. — Lower Aquebogue, p. 154. — James, 
 port, p. 156.— Northville, p. 156 — Bating Hollow, p. 157. — 
 Wading River, p. 158. — L. I Convention, p. 151). 
 
 Section III.— Shelter Island, 161 
 
 Remarks on the endowment of churches, p. 164. — Whitefield's 
 Tour on Long Island, p. 167. 
 Section IV. — Easthampton, - . - - . . .170 
 
 Section V— Southampton, - 187 
 
 Other parishes; Bridgehampton, p. 199.— Sag Harbour, p. 208. 
 — Shinnecock Neck, p. 216 — Canoe Place, Good Ground, 
 Flanders, and Westhampton, p. 217. 
 Section VI. — Brookhaven, --.-... 221 
 Setauket, p. 222. — Stony Brook, 226. — Port Jefferson, and Old 
 Mans, p. 226.— Moriches, p. 228.— Poosepatuck, p 232 Fire- 
 place, p. 233— Bellport, and Patchogue, p. 234.— New Village, 
 Coram, and Middletown, p. 236.— Brookfield, p 237. 
 
 Section Vll.—Smithtown, 240 
 
 Section VIII — Islip, 245 
 
 Section IX— Huntington, 248 
 
 Cold Spring, Centre Fort, p. 260.— Freshpond, p. 261.— Winne. 
 Comack— West Hills— Sweet Hollow, p. 262.— Babylon, p. 263. 
 
 QUEEN'S COUNTY. 
 
 Section X. — Oystcrbay, - . 264 
 
 Cold Spring Harbour— Buckram, p. 271.— Glen Cove— Cedar 
 
 Swamp— Wolver Hollow, p 272.— Jericho, p. 273 Woodbury, 
 
 p, 276.— Bcthpage— Farmingilale— Oysterbay South, p. 277.— 
 Plain Edge, or Turkey ville, p. 278. 
 
 Section XI. — Hempstead, , 279 
 
 Foster's Meadow— Far Rockaway— Near Rockaway, with its 
 monument, p. 287— Hick's Neck— Raynor South— Merick— 
 Newbridge— Jerusalem, p. 291.— Plain Edge, p. 292. 
 
 Section XII — North Hempstead, ...... 292 
 
 Hempstead Harbour, p. 293.— Westbury— Manhasset, p. 294.— 
 Lakeville, p. 295. « r 
 
 Section XII I. — Flushing, 296 
 
 Section XIV. — Newtown, 299 
 
 Astoria— Maspeth— Middle Village, p. 306. 
 
 Section XV. — Jamaica, - 307 
 
 KING'S COUNTY. 
 Section XVI. — Flatbush, ------.. 321 
 
 New Lots, p. 328.— East New York, p. 329. 
 
 Section XVl[—Flatlands, 331 
 
 Section XVlll.—Graveicnd, ....... 333 
 
 This town not originally settled by Quakers, as has been so often 
 asserted, p. 335.— That Lady Moody ever embraced the Quaker 
 system a matter of doubt— time of her decease unknown, p. 336. 
 
 Section XIX — New Utrecht, - - 340 
 
 Section XX.— Bushwick, 342 
 
 Records of its early settlement, p. 342-3.— Interference of the" 
 English Governor in religious matters, p. 345. 
 
Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Section XXI.— Williamsburgh, - - 348 
 
 Increase of population, p. 348 — its ferries, p. 349. — Public 
 schools, p. 351). — Lyceum, 351. — Churches, p. 3.V2 — Demoraliz- 
 ing influences of the city, p. 356. — Union of evangelical chris- 
 tians, p 356. 
 
 Section XXI [.— Brooklyn, - 357 
 
 Commencement of its settlement, p. 357. — Annals of the Jovsen 
 family, p. 360. — Manner of first settlement, p. 362 — population 
 at different periods, p. 363. — Incorporation under Village and 
 City Charter, 364. — " Brooklyn City Hall," p. 364. — Late in- 
 crease of population, p. 365. — Navy Yard, p. 367. — Remains of 
 Americans from Prison ships, p. 367. — Suggestion as to their re- 
 moval, p. 368.— Greenwood Cemetery, p. 368.— Ferries, p. 369. 
 —Controversy with New York, p. 270 — Location and dates of 
 the several ferries, p. 376.— successive improvements, p. 377. — . 
 
 Rates of ferriage, p. 379. — Literary institutions, p. 380 — Church- 
 es, p 3^2 — Reformed Dutch Church, p 383 — Episcopal 
 Churches, p. 385 —Presbyterian, p. 388.— Baptist, p. 3W>.— 
 Congregational, p. 391. — Methodist Epis, p. 3 ( J2. — Other Meth- 
 odists, p. 394 — Coloured churches, p. 395. — Roman Catholics, p. 
 395 — Friends and other sects, p. 396. — Defunct churches, p. 
 397. — Remarks thereon, p. 4U4. 
 
 Conclusion, -.-„ 404 
 
 Appendix, - - - - - - - - - -411 
 
 Statistics of various Denominations. 
 
 Congregational Churches, 411 
 
 Presbyterian, - - - - - - - - - - 412 
 
 Reformed Dutch, 413 
 
 Episcopal 414 
 
 Methodist Episcopal, 415 
 
 African Methodist, - - - - - - * - 416 
 
 Baptist, - 417 
 
 Swedenborgians, -.- - 417 
 
 Roman Catholics, 418 
 
 Temperance Documerft, ..-.---- 418 
 
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND. 
 
 |PART I. 
 
 CONTAINING A PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND, ITS 
 CIVIL DIVISIONS, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, STATISTICS, ETC. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Names, Form and Situation. 
 
 Long Island unquestionably derived its distinctive name, 
 from the form of the territory to which it is applied. It ob- 
 tained several different appellations from the aborigines, which 
 appear to have been used on different occasions, or by differ- 
 ent tribes. Of these, the following are of frequent occur- 
 rence : — Paumanacke, Mattanwacke, Meitowax, and Sewan- 
 hacka. The last, meaning " the island of shells," was pecu- 
 liarly appropriate ; as the shores and bays abounded, from 
 time immemorial, with various kinds of shell-fish, the relics 
 of which, accumulated in large mounds by the natives, re- 
 main to the present day. 
 
 Its present name was early applied by the European set- 
 tlers. But in 1693, some years after the province was brought 
 under the British government, the name was changed, by an 
 Act of the Colonial Legislature, to the " Island of Nassau." 
 And, to insure its adoption, it was enacted, that " all grants, 
 patents, deeds, conveyances, bargains of sales, bills, bonds, 
 records and other writter ^truments," made in any coun- 
 ty, part or place of said Island, should recognise this name. 
 Sanctioned by this high authority, but in opposition to popu- 
 lar sentiment, the name obtained only a partial and temporary 
 currency ; and though the Act was never repealed, it was 
 soon permitted to be regarded as obsolete. 
 
 Long Island is situated between 71° 47' and 73° 57' west 
 longitude from Greenwich, and is about 125 miles in length 
 
2 FORM AND SITUATION. [PART 1, 
 
 from the most western point, near Fort Hamilton, in the town 
 of New Utrecht, to Montauk Point, in the township of 
 Easthampton.* Its greatest breadth is about 20 miles ; and 
 this point lies some 35 miles from its western extremity. Its 
 average breadth is about 12 miles, and its whole area is a lit- 
 tle short of 1500 square miles. This admeasurement, how- 
 ever, does not include the South Bay and the outer beach. 
 From the point of its greatest breadth, it gradually diminishes 
 both ways ; the western part retaining a width from 18 down 
 to 9 miles. The eastern part, at the distance of 75 miles 
 from the west end, where its breadth is about 13 miles, is di- 
 vided into two great branches, by a large bay, interspersed 
 with islands, extending from the Atlantic Ocean, and gradu- 
 ally diminishing as it proceeds up into the land. The length 
 of this bay, from Montauk Point, to its head, is about 45 
 miles ; and its greatest breadth between the two branches of 
 the Island, about 12 miles. 
 
 Although the Island is so narrow, and its southern coast re- 
 markably straig-ht, yet in consequence of its inclining consid- 
 erably from a due east and west line, it occupies, in its whole 
 extent, about 36' of latitude; being situated between 40° 34' 
 and 41° 10' north. This, of course, embraces all the adja- 
 cent islands that are included under its jurisdiction. Its gene- 
 ral line of direction, from Fort Hamilton to the head of the 
 great bay, is about 1 5° north of east. 
 
 But a more definite idea of its relative position may be ob- 
 tained, by considering its topography, in relation to the city 
 of New-York, and the shore of Connecticut. A line drawn 
 due south from the City Hall, w.uild pass through the Island, 
 about a mile and a half east of Fort Hamilton, and in its 
 continuation, cuts off the west end of Coney Island, which, 
 with the exception of a small part of Pelican Beach, lying a 
 few miles east, is the most southerly portion of Long Island. 
 The distance from the City Hall to the south shore, on the 
 above line, varies very little from 10 miles. 
 
 A line drawn due east from the City Hall enters the Island, 
 near the foot of South Fifth-street, in the village of Williams- 
 burgh ; leaving almost the whole of King's County on the 
 south. Proceeding east, it passes about three-fourths of a 
 
 * From time immemorial, the length of the Island has been said to be 
 140 miles. The length of time required to travel over a large portion of 
 it has probably had an influence in forming that estimate. It is believed, 
 if an exact admeasurement were made, it would be found not to exceed 
 120 milea 
 
8ECT. 1.] FORM AND SITUATION. 3 
 
 mile north of the village of Jamaica, intersects the Jericho 
 turnpike, a short distance beyond the turnpike-gate. A 
 little east of this point, it crosses the Long Island Railroad, 
 passing through the great Hempstead Plain, and leaving the 
 greater part of Queen's County on the north. Gradually ap- 
 proaching the south side, it passes about a mile and a half north 
 of Babylon ; crosses the mouth of a stream in the town of Islip, 
 called Connecticut Brook, and enters the great South Bay at 
 a point about 48 miles from the west end. Passing through 
 the bay, it intersects the great South Beach, and enters the 
 Atlantic Ocean, nearly south of a point where the Connecti- 
 cut (Connectquot) River empties into Fire Place Bay. This 
 point is about 60 miles from the western extremity of the Isl- 
 and. Thus the whole of Suffolk County, excepting about 30 
 square miles of its southwestern corner, lies north of the City 
 Hall. 
 
 The northern shore of Long Island, with the exception of 
 several deeply-indented bays, and corresponding projections 
 of peninsulas or promontories, commonly called Necks, is 
 quite uniform in its general line of direction. But the Con- 
 necticut shore, gradually receding, forms between it and the 
 Island, that well-known expanse of water called Long Island 
 Sound. From the city of New- York, north and eastward, the 
 strait, usually, though incorrectly, called the East River, pro- 
 ceeds about 14 miles, where it gradually widens into the 
 Sound, which extends to Fisher's Island, opposite Stoning- 
 ton in Connecticut. It is about 100 miles long, and its 
 greatest breadth, which is opposite New Haven, more than 20 
 miles. From this point, it gradually diminishes both east 
 and west. 
 
 The two branches of the Island at the east, formed by the 
 great mediterranean Bay previously mentioned, differ some- 
 what, both in length and breadth. The southern branch, 
 through the greater part of 30 miles, is from 6 to 8 miles 
 in width. About 8 miles east of the head of the Bay, it sud- 
 denly becomes so narrow, that the waters of the bay on the 
 south side, are separated from the interior bay, by an isthmus 
 of sand, but little elevated above the level of the sea, and less 
 than half a mile wide. This place, called by the Indians 
 Merosuck, has, from the early settlement of the country by 
 the whites, borne the characteristic name of " Caiyoe 
 Place ;" as it was a favourite harbour for the craft of the 
 aborigines, and the place at which they readily transported 
 their canoes, from one bay to the other. Proceeding 4 
 
4 FORM AND SITUATION. [PART 1, 
 
 miles east from this spot, the land gradually widens, and 
 rises into large hills of sand, some of which attain the height 
 of more than 100 feet. These are called the Shinnecock 
 Hills, and are seen at a great distance at sea, by vessels ap- 
 proaching this part of the coast. With' the exception of a 
 few small necks of land lying on the waters, this whole tract 
 is perfectly sterile. Passing over the hills, the land again 
 widens to 6 and 8 miles, principally of a productive quality, 
 till you arrive within 15 miles of the extremity. Here com- 
 mences a low sand beach five miles in length, and from one 
 to two in breadth, leading to the peninsula of Montauk.* 
 This is an elevated, undulating tract of good land, formerly 
 abounding with wood ; 9 miles in length, and nearly 3 miles 
 wide at its broadest point, containing 9000 acres. The eastern 
 extremity, called by the Indians Wamponomon, now known 
 as Montauk Point, is elevated about 100 feet above the sur- 
 face of the ocean. This is the site of the Light-house, erected 
 by the United States in 1795 ; the lantern of which is 98 feet 
 from the ground, and nearly 200 feet above the sea. This 
 is the most easterly part of the whole island, being 15 or 20 
 miles longer than the other branch. 
 
 Returning to the head of the great inland Bay, the northern 
 branch of the Island commences with a breadth of 5 or 6 
 miles ; which, gradually diminishing for 20 miles, is suddenly 
 reduced to the width of one or two miles. Continuing with 
 some variation, about 5 miles further, a narrow beach inter- 
 venes, leading to a peninsula, similar to that just described, 
 on the southern branch, though smaller in its dimensions. 
 This peninsula, called by the Indians Poquatuck, and by the 
 English, Oysterponds, till the more classic name of Orient was 
 devised, is about 5 miles long, and one mile or a little more in 
 breadth. The land is slightly elevated, and of an excellent qual- 
 ity. The eastern extremity is about 30 miles from the head of 
 the bay, and bears the name of Oysterpond Point. The range 
 of islands lying east of this, which belong to the jurisdiction of 
 Long Island, as well as those in the several bays and straits, 
 will be noticed hereafter. 
 
 Taking this brief description of Long Island, it will be 
 perceived, especially with the help of the map, that it bears a 
 strong resemblance to the outline of a large fish ; and though 
 
 * The genuine Indian name was Montauk-ett ; the ett being a com- 
 mon adjunct in the language of the aborigines, on the island and the 
 main. For example ; — Amagans-ett, Narragans-ett, Senecos-ett, &c. 
 
8ECT. 2.] ITS APPENDAGES. 5 
 
 the profile is confessedly imperfect, the resemblance, especially 
 if we include the great South Beach as a part of the outline, 
 is much more striking, than is to be found in most of the 
 celestial constellations, which have been formed by astrono- 
 mers. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 Its Appendages. 
 
 The name of Long Island includes under it, not only the 
 territory which has been briefly described, but numerous is- 
 lands, beaches and sand-sprits, which lie in the adjacent 
 waters. 
 
 The largest of these is Shelter Island, (containing 9000 
 acres,) called by the aborigines Manhansack-ahaquashu-wor- 
 nock ; said to mean, an island sheltered by islands. It was first 
 named, by the English, Farrefs Island, which originated in 
 the following circumstances. On the 22d of April, 1636, 
 at the solicitation of Charles I., the Plymouth Company 
 gave to William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, a patent 
 covering the whole of Long Island and its appendages. In 
 the following year, the Scottish Earl gave a power of attorney 
 to James Farret, constituting him his agent, for the sale and 
 conveyance of all the lands included in his patent ; at the 
 same time authorizing him to take possession of, and oppro- 
 priate to his own use, 10,000 acres, in any part of the island 
 that he chose to select. Farret, soon after his arrival, made 
 choice of Shelter Island, together with Robbin's Island. Hence 
 the former was called after his name. Some 12 years after, 
 Farret sold his possessions to Nathaniel Sylvester ; from 
 which circumstance it was, for some time, called Sylvester's 
 Island. At length, however, it obtained its present name, 
 from the translation and abbreviation of the Indian appel- 
 lation. 
 
 This name is peculiarly appropriate, as it lies in the Great 
 Bay, between the two eastern branches of Long Island, which 
 have been described, nearly half way from its head to Mon- 
 tauk. This island is somewhat irregular in shape, being ser- 
 rated with alternate bays or coves and necks of land. Its 
 greatest length is 6 miles, its greatest breadth about 4, and its 
 area about 14 superficial miles. It is separated from the pro- 
 jecting necks of the two branches of Long Island by two 
 straits, each of which is about half a mile wide. Thus, Shel- 
 ter Island divides the Great Bay into two parts, The interior 
 
6 ITS APPENDAGES. [PART 1. 
 
 or western part is called the Peconick Bay. This again is 
 subdivided into the Great and Little Peconick. The eastern 
 part, within Gardiner's Island, is called Gardiner's Bay. 
 
 Robbin's Island lies near the middle of the Great Peco- 
 nick Bay, about 6 miles west of Shelter Island, and contains 
 about 400 acres of land. For more than a dozen miles, this 
 bay is from 3 to 5 miles wide. 
 
 Cedar Island is a small mound of sand, lying about a 
 mile southeast of Shelter Island ; covered with a few cedar 
 trees, bushes and coarse grass, elevated a little above the sur- 
 face of the water. It is worthy of notice only as being the 
 site of a Light-house, erected in 1833, to mark the entrance to 
 the port of Sag Harbour, from which it is distant in a north- 
 easterly direction about 3 miles. 
 
 Gardiner's Island, called by the Indians MonshonocTc, 
 (pronounced Monshongonock,) and by its original proprietor 
 the "Isle of Wight," is 10 miles east of Shelter Island, be- 
 tween 3 and 4 miles from the south branch of Long Island, 
 and 15 miles from Montauk Point. It is of an irregular form, 
 and, including a long beach running off to the northwest, the 
 extremity of which is within 5 miles of Oysterpond Point, it 
 is full 6 miles in length, and contains, to the water's edge, 5 
 superficial miles. In municipal jurisdiction, it constitutes a 
 part of the town of Easthampton, on the southern branch. 
 This island, which has always been retained in the Gardiner 
 family, by entailment, till that relict of feudalism was annihi- 
 lated by our statutes, was purchased and taken possession of 
 by the original proprietor, Lyon Gardiner, in 1639, previously 
 to any permanent settlement being made in any part of the 
 island comprehended within the present counties of Queen's 
 and Suffolk. And here Elizabeth Gardiner, the first child of 
 British parentage, within the entire province of New York, was 
 born, Sept. 14, 1641. 
 
 From Oysterpond Point, there is a succession of islands, 
 running in a north-easterly direction, the last of which lies 
 within 3 or 4 miles of the Connecticut shore. These are 
 Plum Island, (not Plumb,) the Great and Little Gulls, and 
 Fisher's Island. Some, if not all of these, probably once 
 formed a part of the northern branch of Long Island, to which 
 they are attached in jurisdiction. Plum Island is now sepa- 
 rated from Oysterpond Point by a strait of a mile and a half 
 in breadth, through which the tide, both at ebb and flood, rushes 
 with resistless fury. A person cannot stand on the shore and 
 witness the constant abrasion of the sweeping torrent, without 
 
8ECT. 2.] ITS APPENDAGES. 7 
 
 yielding to the conviction that this tract of land was once at- 
 tached to the main island ; and what strengthens this con- 
 viction, is the fact, that the peninsula of Oysterponds would 
 long ere this have become a distinct island, but for the con- 
 stant vigilance, and sometimes vigorous exertions of its in- 
 habitants, to arrest the encroachments of the tides and storms, 
 even though its isthmus is much better defended from the in- 
 flux of the ocean than that of Plum Island could ever have 
 been. 
 
 Plum Island contains at present about 800 acres, and is in- 
 habited by only three families, including fifteen individuals. 
 A Light-house was erected herein 1827 to mark the passage of 
 the strait between it and Oysterponds, which is called Plum 
 Gut. The surface of this island is very stony, and has no 
 wood, except a small pine swamp. 
 
 The Gull Islands lie in a north-easterly direction, about 
 two miles from Plum Island. They are little more than two 
 heaps of rocks imbedded in the sand, the larger presenting a 
 surface of a dozen acres, and the other scarcely one. On the 
 latter, which is the most easterly, a Light-house, erected in 1 825, 
 constitutes one of the most important beacons on our extended 
 coast, as the passage between this and Fisher's Island forms 
 the principal entrance from the ocean into Long Island Sound. 
 This strait is about three miles in breadth, and is called the 
 Race, from the immense velocity of the tide. 
 
 Fisher's Island, the most north-easterly of the territorial 
 appendages of Long Island, is about eight miles long, and of 
 an average breadth of nearly three-fourths of a mile ; contain- 
 ing five or six superficial miles. It lies directly opposite the 
 towns of Croton and Stonington, in Connecticut ; between 
 three and four miles distant from the nearest point of each. 
 This island is still occupied by a single proprietor, and sustains 
 a very productive dairy and large flocks of sheep. All these 
 Islands, extending from Oysterpond Point, form a part of the 
 most easterly township on that branch of the island, making 
 it about forty miles in length.* 
 
 * A few years ago, a farmer of this town was visiting a friend in Orange 
 county, who knowing the small farms usually cultivated on the east end 
 of the island, appeared to take a great deal of satisfaction in leading his 
 visiter through his dairy, exhibiting his firkins of butter and piles of cheese, 
 and ever and anon exclaiming, *• You can't do this in Southold." At 
 length he took him into his fields to see a flock of 4' or 500 sheep, exult- 
 ing as before, " You can't do this in Southold." Said (he visiter, "One 
 of our farmers of Southold told me the other day that he had sold 1100 
 lambs this season, and that he has 300 more ready to be sent off in a few 
 
8 ITS APPENDAGES. [PART 1, 
 
 There are many other islands belonging to the municipal 
 jurisdiction of Long Island ; as Hog-Island in Oyster-Bay, 
 Riker's Island, and the Two Brothers, in the Narrows, about 
 two miles east of Hurlgate, belonging to Newtown ; and 
 many others lying on the south side, in the Jamaica, Hemp- 
 stead, and Great South Bay. 
 
 But one of the most peculiar features of Long Island is the 
 Great Sand Beach, which forms its southern barrier against 
 the fury of the ocean. This beach in some places, as on other 
 parts of the Atlantic coast, constitutes the shore of the Is- 
 land. But through the greatest part of the distance, for 
 nearly one hundred miles, it is entirely detached from the 
 main land, forming a large bay, from one to five miles in 
 breadth. This beach is remarkably uniform in its structure 
 and dimensions, varying from a quarter to a half mile in 
 breadth ; although, by the force of the waves, it is constantly 
 undergoing slight changes. It is composed entirely of fine 
 white sand, driven up by the sea to high water mark ; n.nd 
 then, as the tide recedes, and the sand becomes dry, it is drift- 
 ed, like snow by the wind, into numerous hillocks and hanks, 
 some of which rear their heads twenty or thirty feet above the 
 level of the adjacent waters. These hillocks are kept from 
 blowing away, by numerous tufts of coarse grass, which, as the 
 sand accumulates, gradually grow upward, and by their in- 
 creasing roots confine the sand. Nor is this drifting of sand 
 confined to the beaches ; you occasionally meet with it in 
 fields that were once cultivated, but are now entirely desti- 
 tute of all vegetation, from being covered several feet deep by 
 drifted sand. And in the town of Easthampton, there are 
 now hills of sand, on the very site of some of the dwellings 
 reared by the first settlers of the town. 
 
 Some parts of this beach, with the islands which it encom- 
 passes, bear a few scraggy, stinted trees ; but in general, it 
 produces no vegetation, except a coarse, wild grass, sparsely 
 scattered over its barren wastes, and now and then a clump 
 of bushes, whose germ has been fortuitously conveyed to this 
 desolate strand. Coney Island, the most western portion of 
 this great barrier, presents most of the characteristic marks 
 of this beach throughout its whole extent. East of this is 
 Pelican Beach, connected with Barren Island; and then 
 Rockaway beach, which, with the preceding, forms Jamaica 
 
 days ; and he makes butter and cheese in about the same proportion." 
 H« had reference to the proprietor of Fisher's Island. 
 
SECT. 2.] ITS APPENDAGES. 9 
 
 Bay. The next in order is Hog Beach, encompassing another 
 "Hog Island." Then comes Long Branch, which forms Hemp- 
 stead Bay. East of this is Jones' Beach, next Oak Island 
 Beach, and then the Great South Beach, which extends more 
 than half the entire length of the island, forming the Great 
 South Bay. Between these successive strands there are of 
 course, several openings called inlets, through some of which 
 coasting vessels of considerable burden can pass. From the 
 most eastern of these passages, called Fire Island Inlet, (where 
 is a Light-house,) to the inlet into Shinnecock Bay, a distance 
 of more than 40 miles, the shore is almost a continuous straight 
 line. Though its edges are slightly indented and projected by 
 the constant moving of the restless waters, its general course 
 remains unchanged. This beach in its continuance eastward 
 attaches to the main land, forming Shinnecock Bay, Me- 
 cock's Bay, and some other bodies of water, called ponds, 
 which have no constant connexion with the ocean, except in 
 times of violent storm, or extremely high water. They some- 
 times become so full of water as to render it necessary to 
 make an opening through the beach, which is easily done, 
 and after the waters are discharged, it is soon filled up with 
 sand from the ocean waves. 
 
 It is a question of some interest, and upon which different 
 opinions are entertained, whether the territory of Long Island 
 is, or is not constantly diminishing. There is no reason to 
 doubt, because there is ocular demonstration of the fact, that 
 the high banks along the northern shore, and at the east end, 
 are constantly wearing away by the waters ; and frequently 
 are so far undermined, as to occasion large avalanches from 
 above. The high bluff of Montauk has, in this way, been 
 perceptibly diminished, within the recollection of the present 
 generation. And from the rocky bottom of the adjacent wa- 
 ters, the supposition is not improbable, that this branch of the 
 island once approximated, if it was not actually joined, to 
 Block Island. But while in some places, the sea is evidently 
 encroaching on the land, in others, very considerable acces- 
 sions are made to the shores, by the vast quantities of sand 
 cast up by the waves. This is obvious in some of the beaches 
 formed on the Sound ; but still more manifest on the south 
 coast. Though the great beach retains from year to year, its 
 general features, it suffers partial changes after almost every 
 violent storm. But the sand that is torn from one place 
 will generally be found deposited in another. And in some 
 parts, this increase of the land appears to be permanent. It 
 
 1* 
 
10 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PART 1, 
 
 is a remarkable fact, that at the first settlement of Easibamp- 
 ton, the skeleton of a whale was discovered on Neapeague 
 Beach, partially imbedded in the sand near the sea, which still 
 remains, but is now nearly a mile from the shore. There are 
 other, though not as decisive evidences of the extension of the 
 land, in other parts of the island. But within the harbours 
 and bays, particularly the great South Bay, there is the most 
 conclusive evidence of the gradual formation of necks and isl- 
 ands. The process is gradual, but constantly progressive. 
 The motion of the water produces, first shoals of sand, then 
 marshes, which begin to bear a coarse grass, that aids the ac- 
 cumulation of foreign materials, till, at length, you behold a 
 vast expanse of meadow covered with salt grass. It is worthy 
 of notice, that in the remarkable law-suit between the town 
 of Huntington and the Nicoll's estate, in relation to some of 
 these islands, commenced in 1305, it was proved, that not only 
 wonderful changes had taken place in the Great South Beach, 
 within a little more than a century, but that "as late as 1773, 
 the Fire Islands, now lying in the bay, were a mere sand-sprit, 
 producing only a few patches of coarse grass." Such are 
 some of the facts, on this point, from which it is difficult to 
 determine with precision, whether the land or the water is 
 making the greater strides. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 Remarks on its geological structure, surface, soil, forests, fyc* 
 
 When we consider the retired situation of Long Island, and 
 how little it has excited the notice of travellers, it is not sur- 
 prising, that its geological character, as well as other peculiari- 
 ties, should have remained so long unexplored. Until quite 
 recently, very few scientific men have even deigned to give 
 it a passing notice ; though the assertion may be safely haz- 
 arded, that scarcely any other tract of land, of equal extent 
 on the American continent, furnishes more abundant room for 
 the imagination of geologists to play upon ; or that imposes a 
 stronger necessity of conjecturing the operation of some tre- 
 mendous agency, which, in its freaks, had invaded the do- 
 mains of both the land and the ocean ; and after completing 
 its sport, had silently retired, without leaving a track to de- 
 termine its origin, or identify its form. 
 
 Dr. Dwight, late President of Yale College, was probably 
 the first, who condescended to take a tour of the island for 
 
 1 
 
SECT. 3.] SURFACE, SOIL, FORESTS, ETC. 11 
 
 the purpose of examining its physical features with a sci- 
 entific eye ; and though he made it his object " to examine, 
 with a continual and minute attention, the stones of every 
 size which should be visible, through all the parts of his pro- 
 gress," and, " this examination was extended to the stones on 
 the general surface ; to those washed out in hollow roads ; 
 to those uncovered on the summits and sides, and at the bot- 
 tom of hills ; to those found in the deepest valleys, and to 
 those which were dug out of a considerable number of very 
 deep wells ; " yet, it is obvious, that a series of observations 
 thus hastily made, on a single tour, would afford very scanty 
 materials, on which to form a correct opinion of its general 
 geological character. It might indeed afford ground for the 
 inference, which has been generally deduced, from a very 
 slight examination of its component materials, that the greater 
 part of Long Island is of alluoial formation, using the term 
 in its broadest sense. There is not an unlettered farmer, who 
 has lived three score years, on the margin of the harbours or 
 bays of the island, but can testify, that he has beheld with 
 his own eyes, the growth, both in extent and perpendicular 
 height, of the meadows and marshes, which already occupy 
 an aggregate surface of 116 square miles, or nearly 75,000 
 acres, and are annually increasing. And it is easy for the at- 
 tentive eye to observe the agency of the winds and waves, in 
 carrying forward this remarkable process. But these forma- 
 tions, large as they are now, and vast as thsy may yet become, 
 are only appendages of the island. And while it is manifest that 
 a large portion of the materials, of which the body of the 
 island is composed, "appear 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 ; " yet it is equally^ obvious, that they could never 
 have been brought to their present position, by the same or- 
 dinary and limited agency, which has produced, and is still en » 
 larging, the meadows in the bays, and the beaches on the sea. 
 Besides this, it is believed, that there is a considerable por- 
 tion of the component materials of Long Island, which bear 
 no decisive marks of having been long subjected to attrition 
 by water. Dr. Dwight indeed expresses the opinion, that 
 even every granite rock which he examined, (except on Mon- 
 tauk) gave "plain proofs of having been washed for a con- 
 siderable length of time, and strongly resembled rocks of the 
 same kind, which have been long beaten by waves." But 
 with his characteristic candour, he adds, " 1 will not say, that 
 
12 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PART 1, 
 
 no other traveller would have considered these rocks as ex- 
 ceptions." 
 
 In addition to all this, it will be noticed, that subsequent in- 
 vestigations and examinations have proved, beyond all dispute, 
 that as you proceed from one end of the island to the other, the 
 changes which take place in the rocks and other materials found 
 on its northern shore, correspond with no variation of order, 
 and very little in extent, with those situated on the main land, 
 north of the sound, and its connecting straits. Thus the 
 Jersey free-stone, is frequently met with, on the western parts 
 of the island. The gneiss and hornblende rocks, which cha- 
 racterize the islands and northern shores of the strait called 
 Hurlgate, exist in situ, in the vicinity of Astoria, or the north 
 western shore of Newtown. The granite, quartz and lime- 
 stone of Fairfield county in Connecticut are to be found in 
 Queen's County and the western parts of Suffolk, the red sand- 
 stone which abounds in the vicinity of Newhaven is to be 
 traced in Brookhaven, while the granite of the eastern parts 
 of Connecticut, in its numerous varieties, as it extends to 
 Rhode Island, is found on the eastern parts of Long Island. 
 
 From all these considerations, the inference has been re- 
 garded as legitimate, that -Long Island, was once, through its 
 whole extent, attached to the main ; and some powerful agen- 
 cy, the form of which is now left entirely to conjecture, 
 forced the separation, which is now marked by the interven- 
 ing Sound. One of the most plausible suppositions is, that 
 the separation has been effected by some resistless torrent of 
 water, which, under peculiar circumstances, that it is impos- 
 sible now to determine, has swept out the intervening land, and 
 left its channel to be occupied by the waters of the ocean. 
 But a comparison of the shores of Connecticut and Long 
 Island affords little reason to suppose that they were ever 
 joined, by so wide an interval of low flat land. The identity 
 of their characteristics, already noticed, forbid the supposition : 
 and to suppose that the mountains, hills and strata of rocks 
 on the north of the Sound, once continued across its whole 
 breadth, would entirely exclude the possibility of the change 
 having been produced by water. 
 
 Though the writer makes no pretensions to skill in the sci- 
 ence of geology, yet as guessing is not the exclusive privi- 
 lege of those living on the north side of the Sound, he will 
 venture to suggest an hypothesis of his own, in relation to the 
 origin of his native isle. One or two preliminary remarks, 
 however, will be made. 
 
SECT. 3.] SURFACE, SOIL, FORESTS, ETC. 13 
 
 The first is, that a comparison of the materials, and the 
 comparative height, as well as the surface of the north and 
 south sides of Long Island, plainly suggest that they originated 
 from different situations. The whole of the southern half, 
 from the surface down to the lowest point to which excava- 
 tion has been made, bears the most incontestible evidence, 
 that every stone, and pebble, and grain of sand, of which it is 
 composed, had been long worn by the action of the waves : — 
 while the northern half, at least on and near the surface, is in 
 many respects destitute of this evidence. — Again ; the south- 
 ern half, from the termination of the hills near the middle, pre- 
 sents to the eye the appearance of a dead level ; but which, 
 upon a minute examination, is found to be an inclined plain, 
 gradually descending from 100 or 150 feet down to the level 
 of the sea ; while the northern half exhibits an elevated sur- 
 face, broken up into hills and valleys, and in its materials as 
 well as form, claiming affinity with the southern shore of Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 And now for the conjecture ; suppose at some distant pe- 
 riod, far back in the lapse of by-gone time, (and 6000 years 
 are sufficient, without 6 long days of indefinite length for 
 the beginning,) a strip, some 6, 8, or 10 miles wide, of the 
 southern shore of the main, was, by an earthquake, or some 
 other delegated agent of Omnipotence, broken off and set in 
 motion in a southerly direction ; the different parts advancing 
 with a velocity differing according to the nature of the sub- 
 stratum, upon which they proceeded. Though the moving 
 mass would naturally be broken, and some of its most elevat- 
 ed portions be depressed, yet it might still be expected to re- 
 tain somewhat of its former altitude. But, while thus pro- 
 ceeding towards the depths of the ocean, the vast quantities 
 of stones, pebbles and sand lying at the bottom of the waters, 
 would necessarily be accumulated before it, gradually rising 
 higher and higher, till, if the momentum was continued, they 
 must rise far above the surface, with a gradual declivity to- 
 wards the south. Such a cause, operating in this manner to 
 a certain distance, would produce a tract of land, whose two 
 halves might be expected to present that diversified charac- 
 ter both of material and surface, which is presented in the 
 northern and southern parts of Long Island.* 
 
 * As an illustration of this conjecture, though it may be no argument in 
 its support, the attention of the reader may be directed to a miniature 
 operation of this character, of recent occurrence. Of the numerous land, 
 elide* which are constantly taking place in our country, the largest and 
 
14 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PART 1, 
 
 The writer acknowledges that all this is mere hypothesis ; 
 but where there is nothing but supposition to oppose, one man 
 has as good a right to throw out his conjectures as another. 
 And it is believed, that the above hypothesis is well calculated 
 to account for some of the most remarkable features of Long 
 Island, some of which are strikingly illustrated in the occur- 
 rence at Herkimer. The discovery, not only of sea-shells, but 
 also of the bodies of trees, at a great depth, which has been 
 frequently made, in digging wells on the Island, is easily ac- 
 counted for on the supposition of such an avalanche as has 
 been described. 
 
 It is not the intention of this section to take a detailed view 
 of the geological features of the island This would not be 
 compatible with the object of the present work ; and those 
 who are disposed can avail themselves of the results of the 
 late geological survey of the State of New York, which, as far 
 as Long Island is concerned, was indefatigably executed by 
 William W. Mather, Esq. There are some other topics con- 
 nected with this subject, which will receive a brief notice. 
 
 Long Island is remarkably diversified in regard to its sur- 
 face, and the character of its soil : and there is a striking con- 
 trast, as already suggested, between the northern and south- 
 ern parts. A ridge of hills, (not unaptly called " the back- 
 bone " of the island,) commencing in the town of New Utrecht, 
 
 most remarkable that the writer ever had an opportunity of examining, 
 was that which took place on the north-east side of West Canada Creek, 
 near its mouth, in 1816. A tract of several acres, covered with large tim- 
 ber, was detached from the adjoining hill, and proceeded directly across 
 the Creek ; and with such immense rapidity was the bottom of the Creek 
 raised up, before the moving mass, that the little fish were left high and 
 dry, on the very gravel, over which, the moment before, they were swim- 
 ming in the full enjoyment of their native element. The slide would, in 
 all probability, have completely dammed up the Creek, but for the inter- 
 vention of an island, lying about its middle, directly in its course. By this 
 it was arrested ; and yet the removal, through only a few rods, together 
 with its sudden arrest, rent the whole tract, especially its rear part, with im- 
 mense fissures or cracks, some of which were ascertained to be *2() feet deep ; 
 and how much deeper could not be determined for the want of means. 
 The cavity in the hill behind the slide, became a pond, probably of only 
 temporary duration ; but which, at the time the writer examined it, only 
 a few days after the occurrence, contained a considerable body of water. 
 It may be added that this remarkable slide took place in the evening ; and 
 notwithstanding the short distance it proceeded, was accompanied with 
 so great a noise and jarring of the earth, as to produce general consterna- 
 tion in the village of Herkimer, which is about one mile distant ; and was 
 supposed to have been occasioned by an earthquake, till the following 
 day disclosed the fact 
 
SECT. 3.] SURFACE, SOIL, FORESTS, ETC. 15 
 
 at the western extremity, passes through, on the north side, 
 and occasionally sends offspurs, that extend quite to the mid- 
 dle. Hence, the northern half, to the head of Peconick Bay, 
 is elevated, uneven, and in some cases, what is called broken 
 land. There are, indeed, occasional tracts of several miles in 
 extent, that are perfectly smooth and level ; but they are so 
 elevated that no water can be reached without digging 100 
 feet or even more. On these, you will find numerous habi- 
 tations, that have always depended on the clouds of heaven 
 for their entire supply of water. 
 
 This ridge of hills occasionally sends up a towering peak, 
 whose elevated top furnishes a diversified prospect of land and 
 water scenery, that will richly repay the toil of ascending. 
 The highest of these, and consequently that which is first dis- 
 covered by vessels approaching the coast, is '•'•Harbour Hill" 
 situated at the head of Hempstead Harbour, in the town of 
 North Hempstead. Its height is stated, in Blunt's Pilot, at 
 319 feet above the level of the Sound. Jane's Hill, one of the 
 peaks of the West Hills in the town of Huntington, has been 
 claimed to be still higher, but there is no evidence that it has 
 ever been accurately measured ; while it is confidently asserted 
 by mariners, that the former is always discovered first at sea. 
 
 The Dix Hills, another spur in Huntington, after running 
 parallel with the West Hills nearly to the middle of the island, 
 turns at a right angle, and proceeds easterly ; being frequently 
 broken into short ridges, and sometimes detached hills, for the 
 space of 20 miles. These are distinguished in succession by 
 various names ; as, Comack Hills, Mount Pleasant Bald 
 Hills, Ruland's Hill, Coram Hill, and Terry's Hill. Some of 
 these are next in elevation, to those previously mentioned. In 
 the eastern part of Brookhaven, the ridge is lost in the gene- 
 ral elevation of the land. 
 
 The Shinnecock Hills, though entirely disconnected with 
 the nothern ridge, are descrying of notice here, as being the 
 highest elevations on the southern coast of the island, as well 
 as from their singular position and structure. They are 
 situated on the isthmus that unites the southern branch or 
 peninsula at Canoe Place. Tbey extend about four miles to 
 the east, and frequently rise in conical peaks, which overlook 
 the adjacent bays, the Sound and the ocean. They are com- 
 posed almost entirely of fine sand, which is still drifted hither 
 and thither by the winds ; and might be supposed to have been 
 formed by this agency, if it were not for an occasional rock, 
 jutting out of their sides, even to their top. There must have 
 
16 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PART 1, 
 
 been an amazing depth of water over these isolated hills, if 
 floating icebergs contributed this part of their material ! — 
 This isthmus, including the Hills, was formerly covered with 
 timber ; but it is now perfectly naked, except extensive 
 patches of whortle-berry — bay-berry, and other small shrubs, 
 not more than two or three feet high ; with here and there 
 an aged thorn-bush, which has acquired the form and stature 
 of a tree. The road over the hills, is extremely heavy and 
 undulating, but it presents one of the most charming views of 
 the ocean that can be found on the island. 
 
 While the northern half of Long Island is elevated and 
 hilly, and in general presents a stifTer soil ; the southern half 
 is remarkably level, and though somewhat diversified, is gene- 
 rally, composed of a light sandy soil. At the water's edge, it 
 is but little elevated above the level of the sea ; and as you 
 proceed northward, it rises so gradually as scarcely to be per- 
 ceptible. This is remarkably the case with the great Hemp- 
 stead Plain which will be more particularly described. This 
 vast tract presents to the eye, from almost every point, the as- 
 pect of a horizontal surface ; and yet, if we have the correct 
 survey of the Long Island Rail Road, the north east corner of 
 that remarkable plain must be nearly one hundred and fifty 
 feet above the ocean ; and in passing from Jamaica to Hicks- 
 ville, (a distance of only sixteen miles) the assent is one hun- 
 dred and two feet. The traveller will find it difficult to per- 
 suade himself of the fact, as he passes over the ground. Hicks- 
 ville is the summit of the Rail Road. 
 
 The necks on the south side, which are formed by the nu- 
 merous bays, and frequently large tracts of the adjacent lands, 
 though often mingled with sand, have a strong soil, and abun- 
 dantly repay the labour of the husbandman. But there are also 
 vast plains of gravel and sand, which are utterly incapable of 
 cultivation, and yield no profit but what arises from their 
 scanty natural productions. 
 
 Of these, the most remarkable is the great Hempstead Plain, 
 which is a vast tract of level land, commencing about 16 miles 
 from the west end, and extending 12 miles east, with a breadth 
 of 5 or 6 miles. To the eye, this whole tract appears as 
 smooth and unbroken as the surface of the sea in a calm ; 
 though, as you pass over it, you meet with slight undulations ; 
 and the view of the traveller over the whole expanse is unob- 
 structed, by tree, or shrub, or any other vegetable production. 
 Within the memory of persons still living, there was scarcely 
 an enclosure in this whole compass. It was cut up with roads or 
 
SECT. 3.] SURFACE, SOIL, FORESTS, ETC. 17 
 
 waggon-paths, in almost every direction ; so that the stranger, 
 and even the experienced traveller in the night time, or when 
 the ground was covered with snow, was constantly liable to 
 lose his way. Numerous instances of this, sometimes attended 
 with disastrous consequences, occurred in former days. One 
 of the principalcountry roads led nearly through the middle 
 of the plain, and on it, at intervals of 3 or 4 miles, solitary 
 inns were established to accommodate the lonely way-faring 
 man. Around these, as a matter of necessity, were small en- 
 closures ; some efforts were made to cultivate the land, and a 
 few trees planted and nurtured for ornament or use. But the 
 occupants were obliged to transport all their fuel, and the 
 most of their provisions, from beyond the plain. All the wells 
 dug on this extended tract are from 60 to 100 feet, and some- 
 times more, in depth. The whole plain was formerly held as 
 the common property of the towns in which it lies ; and the 
 only use to which it was applied, was the pasturage of sheep 
 and cattle during the summer season, on the coarse grass, 
 which, from time immemorial, was its only natural produc- 
 tion. Numerous ponds, formed either by natural hollows or 
 excavated by art, and at length made capable of retaining 
 the rain of heaven, offered an abundant supply of water, which 
 is rarely exhausted in the driest season. 
 
 Of late years, however, the hand of cultivation, which com- 
 menced its operation on the north side of the Plain, has gradu- 
 ally extended its labours, till large portions are now success- 
 fully subjected to the implements of husbandry. The soil 
 of this whole tract is a black, rich, vegetable mould, varying 
 in depth from 4 to 12 inches, which needs nothing but warm- 
 ing manure to produce an abundant crop. Large fields of 
 Indian corn, and also of wheat and rye, are readily raised by 
 this mode of treatment. There is no land, in any part of the 
 country, that presents a more beautiful or promising appear- 
 ance to the eye, than one of these fields when the young blade 
 has just sprung up ; and the transient spectator is led to won- 
 der why every rod of ground is not converted into a garden. 
 The main difficulty lies beneath the soil. The substratum is 
 a coarse, smooth, clean gravel, that appears as if it had been 
 screened and washed from every particle that was capable of 
 retaining moisture, or any other vegetable nourishment, and 
 its depth is unfathomable. The necessary consequence is, 
 that, except in a few places, where there is a small admixture 
 of loam, a coat of manure is leached off in the course of a year 
 or two ; and the work must be done over again. Had nature 
 
18 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PART 1, 
 
 here deposited a stratum of clay or loam beneath the present 
 soil, it is a question whether this tract would be exceeded on 
 this side of the western prairies ; and with the present facili- 
 ties for transporting manure, as the L. I. Rail Road runs 
 nearly through its middle, this vast tract, now so sterile, might 
 be made to furnish sustenance for a population equal in num- 
 ber to the present inhabitants of the whole island. But 
 whether the invention of man, or the spirit of improvement, 
 will ever discover a method by which the expense and labour 
 of applying manure and cultivating the soil on this extended 
 plain may be adequately repaid, is quite problematical. This 
 difficulty once overcome, a few artesian wells would afford a 
 supply of water at every man's door. 
 
 There is another peculiarity in the surface of this remark- 
 able plain, to which the eye of the traveller may be directed. 
 In passing from the east to the west, (on its southern border 
 this peculiarity is most clearly discernible,) about once in a 
 mile or more frequently as you proceed west, you come to a 
 manifest depression in the surface, with a considerably ele- 
 vated embankment on the west. These valleys, if they may 
 be so called, appear to proceed from near the middle of the 
 plain, constantly growing deeper towards the south ; and the 
 conviction seems irresistible that they were formed by a tor- 
 rent of retiring water. They all run nearly parallel with each 
 other, their uniform course being a little to the west of south ; 
 and what is not the least remarkable, is, that almost every one 
 of these valleys is the source of permanent brooks, some of 
 which proceed from a considerable distance up the plain, and 
 furnish numerous mill-seats on the south side of the island. 
 But these will be more particularly noticed hereafter. 
 
 Adjoining these plains on the east, and south of the hills, 
 commences another, on nearly the same level and like the 
 other, gradually descending to the South Bay, which has less 
 soil, but the same gravelly substratum, though somewhat more 
 mingled with loam. This is covered principally with a growth 
 of scrub-oak bushes, from 4 to 10 feet high, but never attain- 
 ing the form or stature of trees ; they frequently stand so 
 close, and interlock their branches, as to defy every attempt 
 to pass through them. Hundreds of acres have presented, 
 apparently, the same unvaried aspect, from the first settlement 
 of the country. The brushy -■plains is as familiar to the ear on 
 Long Island, as the great Hempstead Plain ; and the contrast 
 is remarkable. 
 
 In some places, these wastes are diversified by a larger, 
 
SECT. 3.] SURFACE, SOIL, FORESTS, ETC. 19 
 
 though unthrifty growth of oak, or pitch-pine ; but, in many- 
 instances, the trees are scattered and completely encompassed 
 with the scrub-oak bushes, which seem to claim title as the 
 original occupants of the ground. These plains, though occa- 
 sionally interrupted, cover large portions of the body of the 
 island. The land which they occupy is sometimes cleared, 
 and a crop or two of some value raised ; but there is rarely 
 sufficient soil to render it worthy of permanent cultivation. 
 
 As we proceed eastward, the sand increases in fineness, 
 even in some places, to fluidity ; and about 40 miles from the 
 west end, the Great Pine Plains commence, which occupy, 
 with little interruption, one half of the island for 50 miles 
 eastward. This is, in a great measure, one unbroken forest, 
 principally of pitch-pine, occasionally intermingled with oak. 
 Ferns and whortle-berry bushes, woodbine and mosses, with 
 other shrubs and vines in scattered clumps, help to furnish a 
 scanty cover for the sand. The trees, both pine and oak. often 
 attain a larger growth than the nature of the ground (for there 
 is no soil) would seem to warrant, being from one to two feet 
 in diameter. In travelling these forests, you will occasion- 
 ally fall upon a small oasis, which cheers the stranger's eye, 
 as it well may the heart of the solitary occupant ; but in many 
 places, even at the present day, you may pass through 5, 6 
 and even 7 miles of unbroken forest, without discerning a hu- 
 man habitation, or the least trace of the hand of man, except 
 the stumps of felled trees. 
 
 It is a common opinion, of those who have never travelled 
 through Long Island, that there is very little wood or timber 
 in any part of its lengthened domain. But this is a great 
 mistake, especially in relation to that part of it which was de- 
 signated as the body of the fish. There you will find a greater 
 proportion of the land occupied by woods, than on either side of 
 the Hudson, as far up as it is navigable, or on any of the great 
 roads in the western part of the state. And why should it not 
 be so, since vast portions of the island are of no earthly value, 
 but for the wood they produce ? Previously to the introduc- 
 tion of anthracite coal into so general use, a large portion of 
 the supply of fuel in the city ojf New York — thousands of cords, 
 not only of pine from the sandy lands, but of oak and hickory 
 of the finest quality from the more elevated parts, were trans- 
 ported to that market ; and, singular as the fact may appear, 
 in view of the preceding description, there is probably no dis- 
 trict of country where a tract of land cut entirely smooth is 
 replaced by natural growth with more rapidity, than on the 
 
20 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PART l t 
 
 rough and elevated parts of this island. The same ground 
 has often been cut over in 20 or 25 years ; and every suc- 
 cessive growth is equally productive. Though the flat, sandy 
 lands may require a somewhat longer period, even these are 
 replenished with astonishing rapidity. This circumstance 
 alone renders those tracts, which are utterly incapable of cul- 
 tivation, a source of profit to their owners ; and fully accounts 
 for the fact, that so large a portion of the island is still occu- 
 pied by wood.* 
 
 lt may be worth while to add, in this connexion, that old, 
 worn-out lands, if only defended from the ravages of cattle, 
 in process of time, become covered with wood. This result 
 has, in a few instances, been greatly hastened by ploughing 
 and sowing nuts and acorns. An individual who first tried 
 the experiment with chestnuts, lived to cut the trees for fenc- 
 ing timber ; some of which were of sufficient size, to use the 
 words of his labourer, " to split 8 rails out of the but-log." 
 
 The forests of Long Island, though long since cleared of 
 wild-cats, wolves, and the like, with which they once abound- 
 ed, are still occupied by vast numbers of deer ; hundreds of 
 which have been killed yearly, without destroying the stock. 
 But the Long Island Railroad, which now passes through the 
 heart of their principal resort, may, by frightening these timid 
 animals from their wonted lairs, expose them to the more fre- 
 quent shot of the huntsman ; and thus, ere long, the harmless 
 race may be extirpated from their native forests, which must 
 ever remain undiminished. 
 
 The woods as well as the open fields, abound also with 
 quails and partridges ; the swamps with woodcock, and the, 
 plains with grouse and plover ; while the surrounding waters, 
 especially the extended south bays, are the common resort of 
 innumerable multitudes of wild-fowl, from the stately goose 
 down to the smallest snipe. Immense numbers of these are 
 killed annually by the inhabitants for their own use, or for ; 
 market ; and the sport or profit of fishing, hunting and fowl- ! 
 ing, probably induces more foreigners to visit the island, ^han , 
 all other motives put together : always excepting the abomi- 
 
 * As one, out of many facts in confirmation of this statement, it may 
 be remarked that, in the time of the Revolutionary War, Lloyd's Neck, 
 which contains less than 31)00 acres, was almost entirely divested of woo . 
 by the British. And the growth of wood since the peace of 1783 on this 1 
 small tract, of which several hundred acres have been under cultivation, \ 
 has been estimated at 1000 cords a year; and more than 50,000 have I 
 been actually cut since that time. 
 
SECT. 3.] SURFACE, SOIL, FORESTS, ETC. 21 
 
 nation of horse-racing, which will receive due attention in a 
 proper place. Several kinds of land-birds are protected dur- 
 iDg the breeding season, by special statutes ; and the most of 
 the sea-fowl protect themselves, during the same period, by 
 migration to more unfrequented climes. Upon the return of 
 cold weather, these, with the numerous progeny which they 
 have reared, return and bespeckle the harbours and bays, 
 which constantly resound with their untiring cackle. There 
 is reason, however, to believe that some of these species, par- 
 ticularly the wild-goose, are greatly diminished in number, 
 from what they were formerly. Many persons now living, 
 can distinctly recollect the time when, both spring and fall, 
 the passage of large flocks of geese over the island, at almost 
 any point, was a matter of daily, and sometimes hourly occur- 
 rence. But now, it is a sight that is rarely witnessed. The 
 same remark is applicable to a smaller species of fowl, though 
 larger than the duck, commonly distinguished by the name of 
 brant. All the larger kinds of wild fowl are evidently scarcer, 
 than they were formerly. The increased population of the 
 country, and the improved skill and implements of gunning, 
 probably account for the fact. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact in the natural history of this small 
 territory, that of all the land-birds belonging to the United 
 States, either as resident or migratory, two-thirds of them are 
 to be found on Long Island ; of the water-birds, a still larger 
 proportion ; and no doubt their number would be increased, if 
 it were not for the reckless amusement of shooting small birds 
 for the mere sport. 
 
 In this connection, the writer would mention a fact, attest- 
 ed by his own observation, that may be as interesting to his 
 Traders as it has been to himself. About three years ago, a 
 number of English sky-larks made their escape from a cage, 
 on board a ship, or just after they were landed in Brooklyn. 
 They took up their residence in some beautiful fields, in the 
 vicinity of the Wallabout, where, in the two succeeding sum- 
 mers, they were considerably multiplied; and, through the 
 day, they might be seen and heard, in their lofty gyrations, 
 pouring out their delightful song. The fact was no sooner 
 known, than these fields became the resort, especially on the 
 holy Sabbath, of some of these unprincipled marauders. And 
 thus, while the devotions of the Christian were interrupted by 
 I ^e frequent reports of their guns, the work of death was car- 
 ied on, till these lovely foreigners, which should have met a cor- 
 dial welcome to our soil, are heard no more. They are pro- 
 
22 GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, [PABT 1, 
 
 bably extinct. The man that can be guilty of such an act, 
 is not worthy to breathe American air, much less to enjoy 
 American citizenship. " Procul! procul ! este prof ant T 
 
 The following extracts from the earliest history of Long 
 Island ever written, are worthy of a place in this connection. 
 They are taken from " A Brief Description of New- York, 
 formerly called New Amsterdam ;" by Daniel Denton, of 
 Hempstead, published in London, 1670. 
 
 " The greatest part of the Island is very full of timber, as Oaks — white 
 and red, Walnut-trees, Chestnut-trees, which yield stores of Mast for 
 swine, &c. 
 
 '« For wild beasts, there is Deer, Bear, Wolves, Foxes, Racoons, Otters, 
 Musquashes and Skunks. Wild fowl, there is great store of, as Turkeys, 
 Heath-hens, Quails, Partridges, Pigeons, Cranes, Geese of several sorts, 
 Brants, Widgeons, Teal, and divers others. 
 
 " Upon the south side of Long Island in the winter, lie store of Whales 
 and Grampusses, which the inhabitants begin with small boats to make a 
 trade, catching to their no small benefit. Also, an innumerable multitude 
 of seals, which make an excellent oyle ; they lie all the winter upon some 
 broken Marshes and Beaches, or bars of sand before mentioned, and might 
 be easily got were there some skilful men would undertake it." 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to say that the taking of a whale, 
 on the south side of the island, is now a rare occurrence ; and 
 still more rarely, is a wandering seal seen on the shore. 
 
 There have been, and still are, some venomous reptiles on 
 the island. Of these the principal are the rattle- snake, and 
 the pilot, or copper-headed adder. The former is confined to 
 a few localities, while the latter is to be found in almost every 
 part. The famous sachem or hoop-snake, of which tradition 
 has handed down many hideous accounts, is still in exist- 
 ence, though not frequently met with. One has been killed 
 the present season, in the forest south of Riverhead, and an- 
 other last year, on the line of the railroad, in the town of Is- 
 lip. It is said to grow to a large size, (10 or 12 feet in length) 
 and is furnished with a shorp horn, on the end of its tail, with 
 which it "does battle." Its taking its tail in its mouth and 
 rolling like a hoop, upon its adversary, till within striking dis- 
 tance, is believed to be fabulous ; though it is, without doubt, 
 a dangerous animal to approach. The victor of one of those 
 recently killed, tells, of course, a " big story " of the rencoun- 
 ter, which it is needless to repeat. Its haunts are confined to 
 the most dense forests and swamps. The south beach, par- 
 ticularly the eastern part of it, opposite Brookhaven, is the re- 
 sort of immense numbers of speckled adders, hundreds of 
 which have been killed in a single season. They are, how* 
 ever, regarded with little apprehension. 
 
8ECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 23 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 Its waters — inland and adjacent ; promontories, <SfC. 
 
 From the situation of Long Island, in the midst of the briny- 
 ocean, and the general description of its territory already- 
 given, it is seen that large portions of it are elevated far 
 above the nether springs ; while other parts consist of vast 
 sandy plains, that are incapable of holding water. It might 
 hence be supposed, that there must be a remarkable deficiency 
 of this important element of animal and vegetable life. But 
 this would be a very mistaken conclusion. The island, as a 
 whole, is remarkably well-watered ; and there are facts in 
 this connection which are worthy of more attentive investi- 
 gation by the geologist and the philosopher, than they have 
 hitherto received. 
 
 Not only do we find perennial springs, boiling up from the 
 sand in almost every part of its shores, both above and below 
 high- water mark, and of such a low temperature, as to make 
 your teeth ache while you drink ; but its elevated high-lands, 
 and even its sandy forests, abound with extensive swamps and 
 ponds, which send forth copious streams, clear, cold and 
 sparkling, into the adjacent bays. These streams, under the 
 names of creeks and brooks, abound particularly on the south 
 side, which, it has been seen, is by far the most sandy. In 
 travelling on this side of the island, from Gravesend to Canoe 
 Place, you necessarily cross one of these streams almost every 
 mile, till you have counted some sixty or seventy on your 
 journey ; and wherever you may have previously journeyed, 
 you cannot fail to acknowledge, that you never beheld such 
 clear and sparkling brooks before. 
 
 Similar facts are observable on the north side, though not 
 perhaps as numerous. The northern part of the town of Hunt- 
 ington is worthy of special notice. In this region, are some 
 of the most elevated portions of the island, and the hills ex- 
 tend continuously to a greater distance into the interior, than 
 any where else. Besides the great back-bone, which here, as 
 in other towns, runs east and west, there are within the limits 
 of this town, two or three distinct spurs or ribs, running north 
 and south more than half way across the island. On this 
 whole tract of elevated land, there are numerous springs, 
 streams and swamps. Several of these emptying on the north- 
 
24 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 ern shore, furnish sufficient water for as many mill-seats. At 
 Great Cow harbour is an overshot mill, supplied by springs, 
 with an aqueduct passing over the public highway, having a 
 fall of 30 feet. At the head of Cold Spring Harbour is a 
 large mill-pond, supplied by a stream proceeding from springs 
 nearly 2 miles through a swamp ; the water of which, after 
 supplying a factory, is conveyed by a canal nearly half a 
 mile ; where it abundantly supplies an overshot flouring- 
 mill with a fall of 20 feet above tide water. This mill is sit- 
 uated directly on the shore of the Harbour, accessible by sloops 
 at high water, but the fall is so great that its operations are 
 not obstructed by the tide. 
 
 Proceeding south from the village of Huntington, you im- 
 mediately ascend to an extensive tract of table land, spread 
 out between the ridges of hills before mentioned, which is from 
 50 to 100 feet above the ocean. On this tract, at the distance 
 of 3 miles from the village is a settlement which has long 
 borne the name of Long Swamp, from a large tract of springy 
 ground in the vicinity. Here are numerous springs of pure 
 cold water.* And in this neighbourhood, whoever has not a 
 living spring at his own door, needs only to dig a few feet, to 
 furnish himself with a good well of water ; while in many 
 other places on this same range of table-land, at a few miles 
 distance they are obliged to dig 100 feet to obtain water. 
 
 At the West Hills, 2 miles south-west of Long Swamp, 
 there are many springs, some of which furnish streams that 
 run a considerable distance on the surface, and at length are 
 lost in the earth. At Dix Hills, the Half-way-hollow- Hills, 
 (just mid-way across the island,) and in various other parts of 
 this elevated tract, the same peculiarity in regard to springs 
 is found. Can these ridges of hills be the source of such a 
 vast supply of water ? 
 
 As we proceed eastward the highlands do not extend so far 
 into the interior, if we except a succession of detached hills, 
 which run for about 20 miles through the middle of the island ; 
 but the streams of water, if not more numerous, are greatly 
 increased in size. Some of them are so large as to obtain the 
 name of rivers. 
 
 * There is a story, that in replacing a trunk" to one of these springs, 
 some years ago, a bottle tightly corked, and bearing the marks of having 
 long lain beneath the water, was dug up from the sand, which was sup- 
 posed to have been deposited and forgotten by one of a former generation. 
 Upon being opened, it was found full of milk, which was perfectly sweet. 
 *or the correctness of this story, the writer does not vouch. 
 
SSCT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 25 
 
 In the south-east corner of Smithtown, a small stream takes 
 its rise, which for some miles, bears the name of the Branch 
 Brook. Proceeding westerly, it passes through a swampy re- 
 gion, called by the Indians, Hauppairgs, (which it is said 
 means sweet waters,) receives large accessions from nume- 
 rous springs and rivulets, and afterwards obtains the name 
 of Nissequag River. Here, changing its course to the north, 
 It empties into Nissequag, or Smithtown Harbour. On this 
 stream and its tributaries, four mills have an abundant sup* 
 ply of water. 
 
 In the town -of Brookhaven, near Middle Island, a stream 
 rises, which is called the Connecticut River. Nor let it be sup- 
 posed that this name has been filched from across the Sound, 
 to give apparent consequence to a little brook. It is a veri- 
 table Indian name, belonging to this locality, which, with a 
 slight variation of orthography, is to be found in the most an- 
 cient conveyances, on this part of the island. There are two 
 streams, to which this name was applied by the aborigines, 
 but as they differ considerably in size, the one is called a brook 
 and the other a river. The former is in Islip. The latter is 
 the stream in question. Its general course is southerly, and 
 intersecting the railroad at Miiiville, empties into the Fire 
 Place Bay ; which is the eastern part of the Great South Bay* 
 This also furnishes abundant water for several mill-seats, and 
 has long been famous for its excellent trout ; which, however, 
 <s not a peculiarity of this stream, as almost every brook on 
 the island yields more or less of this kind of fish. 
 
 The village of Patchogue is probably one of the most fa- 
 voured places on Long Island, in regard to water power, hav- 
 ing within the distance of a mile and a half, 3 very consider- 
 able streams. The first, just at the western part of the vil- 
 lage, formerly called " Little Patchogue," has a fail of S feet? 
 supplies a factory, driving 500 spindles, and other machinery 
 connected therewith. Near the centre of the village is the 
 *' Great Patchogue," which takes its rise about 6 miles to the 
 north. Nearly 4 miles from its source a dam is erected where 
 a saw-mill and fulling mill are abundantly supplied. At the 
 village, is another dam, with a fall of 10 feet, which is capa- 
 ble of driving a paper-mill, a cotton factory of 5 or 600 spin- 
 dles, a small woollen mill, and a grist mill of four run of stones. 
 One mile east of this, is " Swan Creek," which gives a head 
 of water of 10 feet fall, and drives a Hour mill, with 4 run of 
 stones, a saw-mill, a thrashing machine, a clover-seed mill, 
 and a cotton factory of 500 spindles. The owners add, that 
 
 2 
 
26 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. [PART I, 
 
 •' there is extra power enough to drive 1000 additional spin- 
 dles." It is also stated, in relation to all these streams, that 
 " they seldom fail of affording, the year round, about the same 
 quantity of water— the gentle inclination and flatness of the 
 country preserves them from being subject to be swelled by 
 great freshets on the one hand ; or very materially affected 
 by severe droughts on the other." 
 
 But the largest and longest stream on the island is the Pe- 
 conick River. It rises in the eastern part of Brookhaven, 
 not far from the centre of the island ; and after running 12 
 or 15 miles in an easterly direction, receiving numerous tri- 
 butary streams from swamps and ponds, it falls into the head 
 of Peconick Bay, at Riverhead. It furnishes more numerous 
 mill seats than any other single stream ; and these are scat- 
 tered along for the distance of 4 or 5 miles, with an aggregate 
 fall of between 20 and 30 feet. 
 
 The Wading River, at the north east corner of Brookhav- 
 en, forming a boundary between it and Riverhead, though 
 still bearing its ancient name, is now nothing more than a 
 small brook, extending scarcely a quarter of a mile above the 
 tide water, though it is said to have proceeded formerly, from 
 a considerable distance up the adjacent valley, which has been 
 gradually filled up with sand. This stream is fed with co- 
 pious springs, and affords an unfailing supply of water to a 
 mill pond, with a fall of 9 feet. Below the dam the stream 
 meanders more than a mile through an extended meadow, 
 which is sometimes overflowed with the tide, and thus dischar- 
 ges into the Sound. 
 
 There are a great many other brooks on the island, which, 
 although not called rivers, furnish abundant water for mills, 
 factories and other hydraulic machinery. And what is still 
 more remarkable, streams of this description are found on 
 both of the eastern branches, after they are divided into nar- 
 row strands by the Peconick Bay. On the northern branch 
 there are two such brooks within 3 miles of Riverhead, which 
 supply saw-mills. And on the southern branch, in proceed- 
 ing from Riverhead to Canoe Place, the distance of only 9 
 miles, you cross 5 brooks ; two of them especially clear, ra- 
 pid and unfailing. Crossing the isthmus, which has been al- 
 ready described, and after entering upon the south-eastern pen- 
 insula, there are unfailing brooks on both shores, though they 
 are not numerous, supplied by swamps or natural ponds. 
 Three of these have been occupied as mill seats — one of them 
 for the space of 200 years. 
 
SECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 27 
 
 The aggregate water power of the Island may be inferred 
 from the fact that there are, in Suffolk County alone, between 
 60 and 70 grist-mills, saw-mills, factories and fulling mills, 
 exclusive of those which are supplied by tide water. 
 
 But Long Island is not more remarkable for its streams of 
 running water, than for its natural ponds or lakes. Let not 
 the reader be startled, by the assumption of another name of 
 such dignified import. The facts will be found to justify the 
 appellation. And what renders these ponds a still more in- 
 teresting object of examination, is their location ; some of 
 them being situated on the most elevated and extended high- 
 grounds, where it is difficult to conjecture the sources of their 
 never failing supply ; while others, but little elevated above 
 the ocean, extend to an amazing depth, in the bosom of the 
 earth. To give a description of all these, that are really 
 worthy of notice, would fill a small volume. We shall there- 
 fore confine our attention to a few of the most remarkable. 
 
 Among these, Success Pond deserves a primary place. 
 The name is supposed to be a corruption of the Indian word 
 Sacut, which was its aboriginal appellation. It is situated 
 about 2 miles south of Manhassett, at the head of Cow Bay, 
 in the town of North Hempstead, near the north-east corner 
 of Flushing, which is about 6 miles east of Flushing Village. 
 It lies in a basin, on the ridge of hills, previously described, 
 which attains its greatest height, a few miles east of this spot. 
 The highest peak in the immediate vicinity of the pond is on 
 the south side, which is probably 200 feet above the level of 
 the sea. By ascending to its top, (which is of easy access,) 
 you behold one of the most extended and diversified pros- 
 pects, that can be found on our coast. On the north, the 
 mountains of Connecticut are seen towering in the distance : 
 at the north and west, the pallisades on the Hudson, and the 
 highlands of New-Jersey extending to the west and south, as 
 far as the eye can reach. Turning to the south, you behold 
 the entire Hempstead Plain, with the whole southern part.of 
 Queen's and King's county, spread out at your feet. The 
 villages of Hempstead and Jamaica, each distant about 6 
 miles, are in open view, while the Queen's County Court 
 House, at the distance of 3 miles, in a southeasterly direc- 
 tion, is far beneath you. And then casting your eye beyond 
 the shore, you behold the waters of the broad Atlantic, spark- 
 ling in the sun-beams, from Sandy Hook to the eastern boun- 
 dary of Queen's County. 
 
 When satisfied, if the eye can ever be satisfied with view- 
 
28 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 ing such an extensive and variegated scene, turning to the 
 little lake behind, you behold an object much more limit- 
 ed but not less interesting to the inquisitive mind. And it is 
 equally a matter of surprise and regret, that this great natural 
 curiosity, lying within 20 miles of the great emporium, with 
 its seats of science, furnished with every facility for scienti- 
 fic investigation, and in the immediate vicinage of gentle- 
 men of fortune and the patrons of science, should never have 
 excited sufficient attention to ascertain the elements of its 
 topography and dimensions. After the most careful investi- 
 gation and inquiry, the writer has been unable to learn, that 
 any exact admeasurement of the situation and extent of this 
 wonderful body of water has ever been made. Even in its 
 immediate vicinity, you will receive as many different state- 
 ments, in regard to its extent of surface and depth, as you 
 may find persons to inquire of, and no man there pretends to 
 know its elevation above the sea. The whole, therefore, seems 
 to be a matter of conjecture. In the absence of all certain 
 knowledge, the following may be taken, as an approximation 
 to the truth. 
 
 This pond is about half a mile in length with an average 
 breadth of 60 rods, (the north-eastern part being double of the 
 southwestern,) with a superficies of 50 acres. While one 
 man on the ground asserted, that it had been tried with a line 
 of 70 fathoms, without finding bottom ; another stated, that 
 its greatest depth had been ascertained to be 80 feet. The 
 surface of the water is probably from 100 to 150 feet, perhaps 
 more, above the level of the sea. Surrounded on all sides by 
 sloping banks, which are covered with verdure to the water's 
 edge, and undulate with the adjacent country; it had formerly 
 a natural outlet to the northwest, through which its surplus 
 water was discharged. It now rarely overflows. 
 
 Some 40 or 50 years ago, an artificial opening was made 
 on the south side, with the expectation of subserving some 
 hydraulic purpose; but the supply of water was found in- 
 sufficient, and the canal is now filled up. By this operation, 
 the surface of the pond was reduced several feet, and it was a 
 number of years before it attained its former level. If the 
 springs that supply this pond were sufficiently active, it would 
 be easy to convey a stream of water to any part of Hemp- 
 stead Plain.* r 
 
 * Since the above was written, the city of Brooklyn have taken mea- 
 ZrJZ aSCC ? . the P r f actlCabi ! St y of obtaining a supply of water for their 
 increasing population, from this source. But it is understood, that the 
 
SECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 29 
 
 The water of this pond is pure and clear, evidently supplied 
 by living springs, whose source is wholly unknown, and of 
 which it is difficult to form a conjecture. All the land en- 
 compassing the pond, excepting a small space at the south- 
 west end is entirely clear of wood, while several neat farm- 
 houses are delightfully situated near the banks. 
 
 A house has been erected here for the entertainment of 
 visiters ; but it is very much out of repair, and not well kept. 
 As the pond abounds with perch, the stock of which was 
 transported from Ronkonkama Pond, by Dr. Mitchell and his 
 uncle in 1790, if good accommodations were provided, there 
 could not be found within 20 miles of the great city, a more 
 delightful retreat in the summer season ; especially in the 
 season of berries and cherries, with which the neighbourhood 
 abounds. 
 
 Ronkonka3Ia Pond, or White Sand Po?id, as its name im- 
 ports, is the next most remarkable sheet of water ; and much 
 larger in extent. It is situated about ten miles west of the 
 centre of the island, just midway from the north and south 
 shore. The western line of the town of Brookhaven passes 
 directly through the pond, which is intersected near the mid- 
 dle by the dividing line between Islip and Smithtown. It is 
 situated on the gravelly and sandy plain, which extends from 
 the south side towards the highlands on the north. The sur- 
 face of the pond is sunk some 20 or 30 feet beneath the sur- 
 rounding country. The banks, except on the north, are pre- 
 cipitous ; and the shores are composed of nearly as pure, white 
 sand as the margin of the ocean. There is not the same dif- 
 ficulty, as in the former case, in ascertaining the elevation of 
 this pond above tide-water. A probable conjecture may be 
 formed from the fact, that the L. I. rail-road, which runs three- 
 fourths of a mile south, is at that point, between 80 and 90 
 feet above the sea. This pond is nearly circular, and about 
 3 miles in circumference. Its depth is said to be unfathomed, 
 and has neither inlet nor outlet. Its water is perfectly pure, 
 and abounds with fish of several kinds. There is a tradition 
 that its waters are subject to a periodical flood and ebb, once 
 
 above facts, which they have found to be correct, have satisfied them that 
 an adequate supply cannot be obtained. It has been stated in the papers 
 that the Brooklyn Committee found the greatest depth of the pond to be 
 short of 60 feet. The writer's information was derived from an intelli- 
 gent gentleman in that vicinity, who stated that it was 75 or 80 feet in the 
 deepest place. 
 
30 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC [PART 1, 
 
 in 7 vears; but there is no satisfactory evidence of its truth; 
 while the simple fact, that it has never been ascertained to a 
 certainty, by those who have spent their lives on its banks, is 
 conclusive evidence to the contrary. No doubt its waters are 
 higher at some times than at others ; and the appearance of 
 the land on the north side seems to indicate, that the pond 
 once extended to a considerable distance in that direction. 
 But there is no evidence that its extent was ever materially 
 greater than at the present time. It is, on the whole, a re- 
 markable reservoir of water, and is well worthy of the name 
 of a lake ; though it is to be hoped that the insatiable rage for 
 new names may never succeed in robbing this beautiful sheet 
 of water of its aboriginal appellation. How tame is " Forest 
 Lake," or any other English term, compared with the sonorous 
 word, Ronkonkama ! Esto perpetua. 
 
 Coram Pond is a small collection of water, 8 miles east of 
 Ronkonkama ; remarkable only for its situation, in a deep 
 basin, with banks composed, like the surrounding country for 
 several miles, of the finest sand, which appears almost as fluid 
 as water. And it seems to be a matter of wonder, that this 
 cavity has not long since been filled up with a more ponder- 
 ous material than the rain of heaven. 
 
 Passing by several others, there is a remarkable succession 
 of ponds in the eastern part of Brookhaven, near the line of 
 Riverhead. These are situated on very elevated ground. 
 They are 5 in number, lying in a direct line, and extending 
 from the middle of the island to within 2 miles of the Wading 
 river. There is no visible connexion between them except 
 when filled to overflowing. The most northerly one, which 
 is probably the largest, being 110 rods in length, is called 
 Long Pond. 
 
 A short distance to the east of Long Pond, and just within 
 the bounds of Riverhead, is another smaller collection of wa- 
 ter, bearing the name of Deep Pond. It is nearly circular, 
 about 75 rods in diameter, and 54 feet in depth. The terri- 
 tory on which this and the other ponds last mentioned are situ- 
 ated, is a part of an extended tract of table-land occupying a 
 large portion of the northern side of the island, which is so 
 elevated, that there are few wells throughout its whole extent. 
 For several miles, on the north road in the town of River- 
 head, the wells that are found, are from 95 to 118 feet 
 deep. And there is one at Fresh Pond, about three miles 
 north-east of Deep Pond, which is 129 feet in depth. These 
 
SECT* 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 31 
 
 facts will afford a correct idea of the elevated situation of these 
 ponds. 
 
 " There is," says a correspondent, " a pond of water in the 
 north-east corner of this town, {Riverhead,) owned by the 
 Hallocks, which covers about 5 acres of land, 60 feet above 
 the level of the sound, and 72 feet deep. It never freezes 
 over unless the weather becomes suddenly very cold, and even 
 then, some part of it thaws and is open in a day or two." 
 
 Connected with the Peconick river, and principally within 
 the town of Southampton, only two miles from the village of 
 Riverhead, is a very remarkable pond, which is not unaptly 
 called Great Pond. It is a mile and a half in length, and 
 from a quarter to a half-a-mile broad. A canal and basin 
 have been formed by which the waters of this pond are con- 
 veyed to the lower dam, on the south side of the Peconick 
 river, and an additional mill erected, which, with a head of 8 
 feet, discharges its water into the lower pond. If the dis- 
 charge were made below the dam, the entire fall would be 
 doubled, From these facts, it is manifest, that the surface of 
 this pond is at least 18 feet above the level of the head of Pe- 
 conick Bay, from which it is distant only 2 miles, with nothing 
 intervening but a sandy pine plain. In fact, this whole re- 
 gion, as singular as it may appear, abounds with extensive 
 swamps and numerous ponds, which are evidently supplied by 
 unfailing springs of the purest water. 
 
 It might naturally be supposed, that from the head of Pe- 
 conick Bay, by which the island is divided into two narrow 
 strands, extending more than 30 miles into the sea, this pecu- 
 liar feature would disappear. But this is not the fact. The 
 same phenomena are to be traced to within a few rods of the 
 most easterly points. 
 
 On the north branch, Mattituck Pond is the most remark- 
 able. Situated in a basin, some 20 or 30 feet below the gene- 
 ral surface of the land, its waters are but little above the Pe- 
 conick Bay, from which it is distant about a quarter of a mile. 
 Like several others which have been noticed, it is nearly cir- 
 cular, and has no outlet. Including a tract of swampy land, 
 which appears to have been formed on the north side, it is pro- 
 bably about half a mile in diameter. 
 
 (A still larger pond, or rather an arm of the sea, on the 
 north side of Mattituck, is connected with the Sound, by a 
 creek, and is the seat of a tide-mill.) 
 
 Proceeding eastward, the same peculiarity meets the eye. 
 Every few miles you discover tracts of low swamp, and occa- 
 
32 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. [PART % 
 
 sional ponds of fresh water. After crossing the isthmus and 
 entering on the peninsula of Oysterponds, even there, simi- 
 lar swamps and small ponds are found, not only within sight 
 of the briny waters, but with nothing but a narrow beach be- 
 tween. Seme of these are several feet above tide- water. 
 But there is no pond here of sufficient consequence to have 
 given name to the place ; nor is it known that it was ever re- 
 markable for the production of oysters. 
 
 The same peculiarity is equally striking on the southern 
 branch of the island ; which, from the general view previously 
 taken, it will be recollected, consists principally of two penin- 
 sulas, the larger formed by the narrow isthmus at Canoe 
 Place, and the smaller formed by Ncapeague beach, which is 
 5 miles long. Indeed, in regard to the number and extent 
 both of swamps and ponds, there is a greater proportion here 
 than in almost any other part of the island, To say nothing 
 of those large reservoirs, which lie just within the beach, and 
 are occasionally connected with the ocean, there is a large 
 number of fresh water ponds, considerably elevated, and en- 
 tirely surrounded by land. 
 
 A pond about three miles east of the village of Southamp- 
 ton, forming a mill-seat, has been occupied as such 200 years. 
 In this immediate vicinity are several others, which are called 
 in (he aggregate the Seven Ponds. 
 
 About 2 miles east of this, and within the parish of Bridge- 
 hampton is another remarkable land-locked pond, called Kil- 
 lis Pond, from an Indian of that name. It is about a mile 
 from Mecock's Bay, elevated a few feet above it, and having 
 the depth of 40 het. It is more than half a mile in circuit, 
 and without any outlet, A little north of this, is another 
 pond, similarly situated,, but smaller in its dimensions. 
 
 A Uttle to the eastward, directly between Bridgehampton 
 and Sag-Harbour, is a continuous line of ponds, extending, 
 with short intervals between them, entirely across the island* 
 from Sagg Pond on the south, which is separated from the 
 ocean by the sand beach, to the Olfer Pond on the north, which 
 is connected with the Peconick Bay In their vicinity are 
 extended swamps, some of which are found on the most ele- 
 vated land between these two points, which is probably 50 or 
 61) feet above the sea. 
 
 The Otter Pond is a circular expanse of water 40 or 50 
 rods in diameter and about 13 feet deep, lying in the south 
 part of the village of Sag Harbour, and is separated from the 
 Bay by a low marsh of about 10 rods in extent. The surface 
 
SECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC 33 
 
 of the water is about 15 or 20 feet below the surrounding 
 land, which is composed entirely of sand. This pond was 
 formerly occupiea as a mill seat : and more than 40 years ago, 
 the proprietor, with the hope of increasing the quantity of 
 water, connected two of the adjacent ponds, by a canal of 
 nearly a mile in extent. The success of the project induced 
 the owner of the mill on the south side, to make a similar ex- 
 periment ; which being extended to the central and most ele- 
 vated pond, completely cut off the flow of water to the north. 
 The mill being removed from the mouth of the Otter Pond, 
 and a canal of 8 or 10 feet in breadth being cut to the tide- 
 water, in the course of a few years, the deep waters of this 
 pond became the favourite winter quarters of immense quan- 
 tities of streaked bass. The produce of this pond in a single 
 winter has amounted to more than $1500. Of late years, 
 however, this fishery has entirely failed ; though the pond 
 still furnishes large quantities of eels, of the finest quality. 
 
 It is proper to add, that the waters of this whole line of 
 ponds appear to be gradually diminishing ; and as the clearing 
 of the land advances they may ultimately fail. From the 
 largest of these ponds, there is a natural outlet, forming the 
 Leganee Brook, which is the south-western boundary of the vil- 
 lage of Sag Harbour, and discharges into the Bay a little 
 above that place. In former days, this stream was frequented 
 by large quantities of alewives or herring, which in the open- 
 ing of spring, ascended for the purpose of spawning. 
 
 Passing over a number of extensive swamps and ponds in 
 the town of Easthampton, we come to that most remarkable 
 part of its territory, — the peninsula of Montauk. And here 
 we shall find some of the most notable facts in relation to this 
 topic. 
 
 The reader will recollect, that this entire tract is a promon- 
 tory, 9 miles long and from 1 to 3 miles wide, jutting out 
 into the midst of the Atlantic, with which it is surrounded on 
 all sides, with the bare exception of a low sand beach of 5 
 miles in length, by which it is connected with the rest of the 
 island. The greater part of this tract is, from 50 to 100 feet 
 above the surrounding ocean. With these facts in view, 
 Montauk would seem to be one of the last spots on the earth, 
 where we should look for extensive swamps, copious springs, 
 and large ponds of fresh water. And yet here we find them 
 in the greatest profusion. 
 
 The first collection of fresh water occurs in the northwest 
 corner of the peninsula, immediately after crossing Neapeague 
 
 2* 
 
34 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC [PART 1, 
 
 Beach. It was called by the natives, QuannontowunJc, but by 
 the whites, Fresh Pond. Though situated near the north 
 shore, and its surface elevated somewhat above the level of the 
 sea, it has no outlet. 
 
 Proceeding about 2 miles east, we come to Fort Pond, 
 called by the Indians Konkhonganoch This extends nearly 
 across the peninsula, being separated from the water on 
 both sides, by sandy beaches. The pond itself is about 
 one mile and a half in length, and a quarter of a mile in 
 breadth. 
 
 A mile and a half east of this, where the peninsula attains 
 its greatest breadth, lies what is emphatically called Great 
 Pond. The Indian name is unknown. This is the largest 
 collection of fresh water on Long Island, being 2 miles in 
 length, and covering an area of more than 600 acres. Its 
 depth is generally 18 or "20 feet, and there are 2 small islands 
 embraced within its waters. 
 
 A little to the eastward and near the north shore, occur in 
 succession the Little Reed and the Great Reed Pond, which 
 are considerable bodies of water. And still further east, within 
 a mile and a half of the extreme point is Oyster Pond, which 
 abounds with several kinds of fish, particularly the yellow 
 perch, and in times past, has produced oysters of a fine flavour, 
 and in great abundance. A little north of the light-house are 
 two or three smaller ponds, the largest of which is called 
 Money Pond, but they are of little account. 
 
 " Great Pond, Fort Pond, and Oyster Pond occasionally fill to over- 
 flowing-, and break out into the Sound ; but they are generally let out, by 
 trenches dug with that view, for the purpose of draining the "surrounding 
 meadows, or improving the fishery. The rush of water cuts a channel of 
 considerable size and depth; and then, the tide sometimes ebbs and flows 
 in them for months together. It is now, however, some years since Great 
 Pond has had any connexion with the sea : and its water has become so 
 fresh that it is freely drunk by cattle." 
 
 Besides these vast reservoirs of fresh water on Montauk, 
 there were formerly extensive swamps, which, however, have 
 been greatly diminished, by the destruction of the timber, with 
 which they were formerly "covered. There are also numerous 
 springs, which burst out from the hills a little above tide water. 
 They are not generally very active. "There is one on the 
 north shore near the Oyster Pond, of delicious water, slightly 
 tinctured with iron. It boils up through the sand a little above 
 high water mark." These, together with the rain of heaven, 
 and filtration from the surrounding ocean, form the only visi- 
 
SECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 35 
 
 b\e means of supply to these vast reservoirs of fresh water on 
 this most singularly situated peninsula.* 
 
 And though last, not the least remarkable is a large fresh 
 pond on Shelter Island. The form, situation and extent of 
 this island have been previously noticed. And yet on this 
 small tract of land, surrounded on every side, and in several 
 places, deeply indented by the salt water, constantly ebbing 
 or flowing to and from the ocean, there is a fresh pond, some 
 distance from the shore, elevated a few feet above tide water, 
 occupying an area of 30 acres, and extending to the depth of 
 60 feet 
 
 Besides the general reference that has been made to the 
 springs of Long Island, it would be interesting, if time per- 
 mitted to give them a more particular notice. But, it must 
 suffice to say, that they are very numerous, up on the shores, 
 bursting out from the banks, some of them at a considerable 
 elevation, and others proceeding quite from the interior of the 
 island. In general their temperature is low, but remarkably 
 uniform through the different seasons of the year ; so that 
 they are seldom affected by frost, while the adjacent waters 
 are deeply congealed. Of this, the following fact, mentioned 
 by a respected correspondent, presents a striking illustration. 
 
 "There are three springs on the farm of my brother-in-law, on the 
 north side of this town, (Riverhead,) situated about thirty or forty rods 
 from the cliff, which were never known to fail or freeze. H. visited 
 them one winter, when the Sound was frozen, as far as he could see ; and 
 the springs were open, and a frog was swimming about in one of them 
 The cliff adjoining is about as high as the general face of that region. A 
 little to the east is another spring issuing from the cliff, about half or two- 
 thirds of the distance from its bottom; discharging its waters perfectly 
 clear, and in large quantities." 
 
 This is the tract of table-land previously described, on 
 which there are few wells, and those that have been dug, are 
 from sixty to more than one hundred feet in depth. And yet 
 it is added : — 
 
 " There are several wells here, perhaps thirty or forty rods from tho 
 cliff, which are not more than ten or twelve feet deep." 
 
 * It might have been mentioned before, that, about a mile and a half 
 southwest of Sag Harbour, on the ridgje of land between that village and 
 the western part of Bridgehampton, which there attains the height of 100 
 feet or more, is a spring strongly impregnated with sulphur. About 3 
 miles west of this, near the shore of the Peconick Bay, is a mill, supplied 
 by a copious spring, with a fall of something like 20 feet. This is near 
 the residence of John Osborn, Esq., late Collector of the port of Sag-Har- 
 bour. This locality bears the name of Noyack, or Noeg. It is a pure ab- 
 original name, and tho former is supposed to be the true orthography. 
 
30 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC [PART % 
 
 A similar fact is noticeable in the village of Miller's Place, 
 situated on the same elevation of land, 15 miles to the west, 
 and about a mile from the Sound. A little south, there is a 
 large tract of swampy land, and near the centre of the village, 
 a pond that is supplied by springs, and is seldom affected by 
 drought. On the main street, running east and west for 
 nearly a mile, every house has a fine well, varying from eight 
 to twenty feet deep. And yet, to the east or west of this little 
 settlement, no water can be reached but by digging to a vast 
 depth. Though the site of this village is perfectly flat, and 
 on the same level with the adjacent country, it is supposed, 
 though sufficient excavations have not been made to test the 
 fact, that beneath the surface a natural basin has been formed, 
 of materials that prevent the water from descending to the 
 nether springs. 
 
 Several other similar facts might be adduced, from differ- 
 ent parts of the island ; but this must suffice. 
 
 The elevated character of the northern parts of the island, 
 extends even to the shores, which, in many places, present a 
 bold, precipitous front. About 4 miles of the western coast 
 you find cut up by the deep indentation of the bays and har- 
 bours previously mentioned, into as many distinct promonto- 
 ries, from three to six miles in length, and which, at their ex- 
 tremities, are separated from each other, some by several 
 miles, and others by only a few rods of water. The northern 
 parts of Newtown, Flushing, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay 
 and Huntington, are thus strikingly characterized ; while 
 Lloyd's Neck and Eaton's Neck are complete peninsulas, en- 
 tirely surrounded by water, except a narrow sand beach, with 
 which each is connected with the last-mentioned township. 
 Eaton's Neck Beach is three miles in length, and from ten to 
 thirty rods wide, bearing nothing but a few cedar and beach 
 plum-trees, which are the common produce of the Long Island 
 shores. If, therefore, a traveller, in proceeding from Brook- 
 lyn to Smithtown, which are only 45 miles apart, should pur- 
 sue his journey on the northern shore, tracing all its sinuosi- 
 ties, he would travel not less than 150 miles. 
 
 Crane Neck is a large promontory in Brookhaven, formed 
 by a sudden projection of the land, in a straight line nearly 
 north and south, from the mouth of Stony Brook harbour. It 
 extends farther into the Sound than Eaton's neck, from which 
 it is distant 12 miles. The most northerly part of Crane 
 Neck is called Old Field Point, on which a Light-house was 
 erected in 1823. It was here that one of the hapless surviv- 
 
SECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 37 
 
 ors of the Lexington was drifted to the land, after floating on 
 a bale of cotton during two days and nights. " His fingers 
 and feet were frozen as stiff as marble, and he was without 
 coat or hat." Several bodies, and numerous trunks and other 
 property, drifted on shore in this vicinity. 
 
 From Crane Neck nearly to the east end, the shore is ele- 
 vated and precipitous, slightly curved, but with scarcely a 
 perceptible projection, and, as previously noticed, without a 
 harbour. The most notable peninsulas of the two eastern 
 branches have been sufficiently described, excepting those on 
 the mediterranean bay, which are too numerous to receive dis- 
 tinct notice, and may be sufficiently understood by inspecting 
 the map. 
 
 The following extract from Denton's " Brief Description, 
 &c," already referred to, and which has fallen into the writ- 
 er's hand since the preceding sections were written, remark- 
 ably coincides in many of its statements with the description 
 which has been given. It is also worthy of notice as a cu- 
 riosity : — 
 
 " There are several Navigable Rivers* and Bays, which put mto the 
 North side of Long Island ; but upon the South side, which joins to the sea, 
 it is so fortified with sands and shoals, that it is a sufficient defence against 
 any enemy ; yet the South side is not without Brooks and Riverets, which 
 empty themselves into the sea : yea, you shall scarce travel a mile but 
 you shall meet with one of them, whose Crystal streams run so swift, that 
 they purge themselves of such stinking mud and filth, which the standing 
 or (s)low paced streams of most brooks and rivers westward of this colony 
 leave lying, and arc, by the Sun's exhalation, dissipated, the air corrupted, 
 and many Fevers and other Distempers occasioned, not incident to this 
 colony. Neither do the Brooks and Riverets premised give way to the Frost 
 in Winter, or drought in Summer, but keep their course throughout the 
 year." 
 
 Some parts of the northern coast of Long Island furnish 
 numerous and commodious harbours, for the protection of 
 shipping of any class that navigate the Sound. This is re- 
 markably the case, from New- York as far east as Eaton's 
 Neck, opposite Nor walk, Conn. The Narrows, through their 
 whole extent from the city to Sand's Point, a distance of 20 
 miles, is little else than one continued harbour. Then, after 
 opening the Sound, Hempstead Harbour, Oyster Bay, and 
 
 * By " navigable rivers," the author undoubtedly means those narrow 
 heads of the bays or harbours, now generally called creeks, which in seve- 
 ral instances put up some distance into the land, receiving the waters of 
 large streams. Upon the rise of the tide, these creeks are navigable for 
 sloops of considerable burden. 
 
38 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 Huntington Bay, with their broad mouths and deep waters, 
 afford a safe defence for large shipping, from almost any 
 wind ; while the numerous small harbours with which they 
 are connected, (and the last-mentioned bay has no less than 
 four,) furnish complete protection to smaller craft. 
 
 Smithtown Bay, which lies between Eaton's Neck and 
 Crane Neck, near which the unfortunate Lexington met her 
 fate, is little else than an expanse of the Sound, with no pro- 
 tection on the north, for the distance of 12 miles ; and its 
 harbours are too small and difficult of access, except for 
 small vessels under experienced direction. From Setauket 
 Harbour, near Old Field Point, to Oysterpond Point, a dis- 
 tance of nearly 50 miles, there is scarcely an opening in the 
 land, where even a small vessel can make a harbour in a time 
 of the greatest necessity. 
 
 The Great Bay, by which the eastern part of the island 
 is divided into two branches, of course furnishes numerous 
 harbours, some of which are available for ships of the first 
 class. Gardiner's Bay was a favourite resort for the British 
 fleet, not onlv at the time of the Revolution, but during the 
 war of 1S12-15. 
 
 Sag Harbour with its sixty whaling ships, besides coasting 
 vessels, and Greenport, with its twelve, more or less, and 
 the steamboats connecting with the Long Island Railroad, 
 are always accessible, when the ice does not close up the 
 gate. 
 
 Although the Bays on the south side of the island are nu- 
 merous and large, and completely defended from the rage of 
 the ocean, by the great barrier of sand, more durable than 
 stone ; yet the inlets are so few and difficult of access, even 
 for small craft, that it is impracticable to enter them, when 
 the refuge is most desirable. In the whole length of the 
 island, there are but 10 openings in the Great Beach ; and 
 these are constantly varying, by the violence of the waves, 
 so that after a single storm, the channel, which is never deep, 
 may be materially obstructed or changed. This necessarily 
 renders the coasting business, on the whole south side, ex 
 ceedingly uncertain and precarious ; and at the same time, 
 accounts for those awful disasters which have so often beer 
 attended with the most appalling consequences on this ill-fate< 
 shore. From Coney Island to Montauk Point, there is not 
 the vestige of a harbour, that can be entered by a sea-vessel. 
 If, therefore, by a mistake of reckoning, or other cause, a ship 
 is brought near the coast, with a strong wind bearing ou 
 
SECT. 4.] ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. 39 
 
 shore, or a breeze too light to beat off, her doom is usually 
 sealed. 
 
 A fact, worthy of special notice, as greatly increasing the 
 hazard of life, is, that a sand-bar, or flat, from a quarter to 
 half a mile distant, runs parallel with the beach nearly its en- 
 tire length. On this, vessels frequently ground ; and being 
 alternately lifted up and thrust down, by every successive 
 wave, they are soon dashed in pieces ; or, becoming fixed on 
 the bottom, are immediately surrounded by an embankment 
 of sand, so that they are completely engulfed by the ocean 
 waves. 
 
 These various circumstances, taken in connection with the 
 vast extent of coast, arising from the great length and ex- 
 treme narrowness of the island, which, following the sinuosities 
 of the numerous navigable bays, presents a line of not less 
 than 400 miles, must necessarily render this the scene of nu- 
 merous shipwrecks, attended with a vast loss of property, and 
 a lamentable destruction of human life. Some of these will 
 be noticed hereafter in connexion with the localities with 
 which they are particularly identified. A few cases, however, 
 may be mentioned here. 
 
 Between Christmas, 1790, and the New Year following, the 
 Brig Sally of Stamford, Conn., Capt. Benjamin Keeler, on a 
 return voyage from the West Indies, with a cargo of molasses, 
 was cast away on Eaton's Neck Reef, in a terrible snow- 
 storm, and every person on board perished. This was before 
 the Light House on that point was erected, and no dwelling 
 being in sight, the sad event was not known, till some of the 
 cargo floated across to Lloyd's Neck, and awakened inquiry. 
 The crew was supposed to consist of 10 persons, but only 6 
 bodies were found attached to the rigging or on the shore. 
 The vessel and cargo were an entire loss. 
 
 This point has always been one of the most dangerous in 
 the Sound, and was peculiarly so, till the erection of the Light 
 House in 179S, which is one of the most important beacons 
 in the Sound. 
 
 The remarkable snow-storm of Dec. 23rd, 1811, was the 
 most destructive of both life and property of any that is 
 known to have occurred on the northern shore. The preced- 
 ing day was remarkably warm and fair. The change took 
 place suddenly in the night, the mercury falling almost to zero. 
 A snow-storm commenced, accompanied with a tremendous 
 wind, which lasted without intermission for 24 hours. Be- 
 tween 50 and 60 vessels foundered in the Sound, or were 
 
40 ITS WATERS, PROMONTORIES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 driven on the northern shore of the island in that terrible 
 night. In some cases, the entire crews perished, while in 
 others, those who survived, were objects of greater commisera- 
 tion than the dead, being horribly frozen. The writer can 
 speak with entire confidence on this subject, as he was an eye- 
 witness to some of the ravages of that awful tempest. About 
 20 perished within 10 miles of his residence, 4 of whom, from 
 one vessel, he assisted in burying, on Christmas day ; and in 
 administering to the necessities of tt wretched survivors of the 
 same crew. The bodies taken up from the shore were com- 
 pletely covered with ice of an inch in thickness, through which 
 the features of the face appeared in all the ghastliness of death. 
 That storm will never be forgotten by the last surviver of that 
 generation. And no man that spent that day as the writer 
 spent it, will ever hear that always unappropriate compliment, 
 " a merry Christmas" without conscious pain. 
 
 The burning of the steamboat Lexington, Jan. 13th, 1840, 
 in the Sound, near the Long Island shore, is worthy of record 
 in this connexion. She took fire about 7 o'clock in the even- 
 ing off Eaton's Neck, and in a few moments was enveloped in 
 flames, by which the wretched sufferers were consumed, or 
 forced to precipitate themselves into the water. The night 
 was extremely cold and dark ; and the burning mass rendered 
 the scene indescribably terrific, even on the distant shores ; 
 from which no aid could come, till the lurid flames were 
 quenched in the sea. The number of passengers has, of 
 course, never been exactly ascertained. It is known that 77 
 passengers actually perished, and 4 1 of the boat's crew. Total 
 1 1 8. Only 4 were saved ; after floating for many hours on 
 bales of cotton, with which the boat had been stowed : and 
 they were awfully frozen and nearly exhausted.* 
 
 * In one of the accounts of this terrible disaster, published at the time, 
 the following remark occurs in reference to the actual or supposed embez- 
 zlement of property, some of which was cast on the northern shore of the 
 island. " There arc living along that shore a good many people of Indian 
 mixture, who get a great part of their living by gleanings from the water." 
 Although the writer has a jealous regard for the reputation of his brethren 
 on his native isle, his respect for truth will never reconcile him to the un- 
 righteous defence of their character, at the expense of the poor Indians. It 
 will be seen hereafter, that the remnants of the aboriginal population 
 mingled with African blood, are confined exclusively to the south side. 
 After diligent inquiry, a few months ago, on the northern shore, where 
 many years ago, were a few relics of an Indian tribe, not a single family, 
 and scarcely a single individual was known to live on that part of the island. 
 And however derogatory it may be to the character of the good people of 
 
SECT. 5.] CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. 41 
 
 The loss of H. B. M. Sloop of War Sylph, was one of the 
 most disastrous shipwrecks that ever occurred on the L. I. 
 coast. She came on shore near Southampton, in a snow- 
 storm, Jan. 16th, 1815. Out of a crew of 117 men, only 6 
 survived. This lamentable event took place just one month 
 before the news of peace arrived. The fact of its being an 
 enemy's ship, and one, in particular, that had previously been 
 a great annoyance to our coasting vessels, prevented the pub- 
 lic sympathy from being excited to as great a degree as might 
 have been the case under different circumstances. But no hu- 
 man aid could avail the hapless crew, who perished beneath the 
 fury of the tempest and the waves. 
 
 The wreck of the Bristol and the Mexico, which hap- 
 pened in rapid succession, nearly 10 years ago, with a similar 
 loss of human life, will be found in the annals of Hempstead. 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Its Climate, Diseases, &$c. 
 
 It is obvious, that the climate of Long Island must be con- 
 siderably modified by the proximity of the ocean, which, be- 
 ing cooler in summer and warmer in winter than the adjacent 
 lands, must necessarily render the atmosphere more tempe- 
 rate than the interior of the country, lying in the same lati- 
 tude. Hence it is rare to find the mercury lower than zero, 
 and perhaps equally rare that it rises above 90°. The greatest 
 
 Suffolk, a regard to truth demands the disclosure of the fact, that a strange 
 impression rests on many minds, especially on the north side, that what- 
 ever is driven up by the waves, is the legitimate prey of the finder. There 
 are men who would scorn the imputation of taking the most trifling arti- 
 cle of their neighhour's property, who would not hesitate, under this mis- 
 taken notion of right, to appropriate to their own use, whatever they might 
 find on the shore, without making the least effort to discover the rightful 
 owner; — not to speak of any direct efforts to conceal the fact. In illus- 
 tration, the following fact was recently stated to the writer, by a gentle- 
 man of the first respectability residing on the north side of the island : — 
 " A few years ago, after a great freshet on the Connecticut river, a dwell- 
 ing-house, with all its furniture, floated across the Sound, and grounded 
 on the Long Island shore. The owner of the adjacent farm unhesitatingly 
 took possession of the windfall ; and it is believed that the carpets and 
 beds and other articles are still in his possession and use." This mistaken 
 view of morals seems to obtain, in a greater or less degree, on the sea-coast 
 of every country, whether barbarous or civilized ; and although the writer 
 has a high opinion of the general standard of morals in Suffolk County, he 
 is not willing to believe, that the embezzlement of property cast up by the 
 waves is to be imputed exclusively to " the people of Indian mixture," 
 
42 CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 range in the course of a year is from 95° to 100°, but seldom 
 so great as the latter number. 
 
 The prevailing wind is from the southwest ; and the south- 
 ern parts are regularly fanned, in the summer season, by the 
 sea-breezes, which generally spring up after the middle of the 
 day, sometimes earlier, extending their influence quite across 
 the island. It is frequently subject to dense fogs, which not 
 only envelope the land during cloudy, moist weather, but oc- 
 casionally come in from the ocean, in isolated clouds, beneath 
 the brightest skies, and for an hour or two completely obscure 
 the sun from those parts which they pass over. The traveller, 
 oppressed with heat and dazzled with light, in passing over a 
 plain, sometimes discovers one of these great sheets spread 
 over a circumscribed tract before him. He proceeds a few 
 miles, and suddenly finds himself immersed in a dense vapour, 
 that not only intercepts the sun from his view, but chills him 
 with its cold. After travelling a mile or two, according to the 
 breadth of the sheet, he as suddenly emerges from the vapoury 
 cloud, into the same bright and genial sun-shine of which he 
 had, a short time before, been deprived. The atmosphere is, 
 at all times, more or less surcharged with vapour, which, dur- 
 ing the prevalence of easterly storms, becomes exceedingly 
 oppressive to delicate lungs. 
 
 With these facts in view, the remark will readily be appre- 
 ciated, that the cold of this climate, though inferior in degree, 
 is less easily borne than in the interior of the country. It is 
 so generally accompanied with a sensation of chilliness, or 
 shivering, that it is far less tolerable than a dry, cold atmos- 
 phere of much greater intensity. 
 
 Though heavy falls of snow frequently occur in the winter 
 season, it seldom remains for any considerable length of time, 
 and often dissolves with inconceivable rapidity. It is aston- 
 ishing to witness the effect of a strong southerly breeze, even 
 when unaccompanied with rain, on a large body of snow. Not 
 only affecting the surface, but penetrating every part of the 
 mass, you can almost see the snow-banks sink, beneath its 
 consuming influence. As an illustration of these remarks, a 
 single fact may be stated. On the 24th and 25th of Nov., 
 1809, there was a heavy fall of snow, which, being accompa- 
 nied with a tremendous wind, was driven into heaps so vast, 
 as rendered the roads impassable, and seemed likely to stand, 
 as monuments of the storm, till the close of winter. The 
 clearing off was from the south, which was followed by seve- 
 ral successive days of warm southerly w r ind, attended with a 
 
SECT. 5.] CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. 43 
 
 moist atmosphere and an occasional dash of rain. By the 
 29th of the month, not a vestige of the snow could be discov- 
 ered within a compass of miles. 
 
 From the description which has been given, it might be 
 supposed that the climate of Long Island is unfavourable to 
 health and the prolongation of human life ; but such a con- 
 clusion, it is believed, would be incorrect. It is indeed true, 
 that this pleasant isle is included within the wide domains of 
 " the king of terrors," and that his messengers, in the various 
 forms in which they appear in other parts of this fallen world, 
 find abundant employment here. But there is little pecu- 
 liarity in the character of the diseases incident to this latitude, 
 or in the severity of their attack. The usual fevers of the 
 country, with their varied type, are found here.; and the com- 
 mon epidemics, which sometimes spread consternation and 
 desolation through a community, occasionally invade these re- 
 tired shores. But their prevalence, it is believed, is rarely as 
 extensive or general as often marks their ravages in other 
 parts of the land. 
 
 The same modification or change of prevalent diseases, 
 which has been noticed in various regions of the country, is 
 observable here. The common pleurisy was in ancient times 
 a very prevalent disease on Long Island ; and at the close of 
 every winter, it was a common thing to see the most robust 
 and healthy men, as well as the feebler constitutions of both 
 sexes, prostrated by that disease, which was frequently at- 
 tended with a fatal result. From the best information that 
 can be obtained, it is believed that, for the last 50 or 60 years, 
 the occurrence of this disease is much less frequent ; and either 
 from the diminished force of the attack, or a more skilful 
 mode of treating it, a fatal result is comparatively rare. 
 
 Some of the towns of the island have evidently improved in 
 health, with the increase of their population, and the conse- 
 quent improvement of their soil. For example : the town of 
 Easthampton, for many years after its settlement, experienced 
 a great mortality, in comparison with the number of its in- 
 habitants. 
 
 "From the year 1751 to 1775," says Dr. Beecher, "there were the 
 highest bills of mortality. In this period of 24 years, the bill of mortality 
 arose twice to 3d, once to 37, once to 36, once to 32, once to 30 ; it often ex- 
 ceeded 25, and once arose to 51 — this was in the year 1775. Since that 
 time, a period of 3D years, there have been but two years, before the present, 
 in which the bill of mortality exceeded 20. It has been as low as 9. In 
 this sickly period of 24 years, there died 642. In the 30 years since, there 
 have died 405 ; making a difference of 237. The average mortality per 
 annum of this 24 years was about 26|. The average mortality of the last 
 
44 CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 30 years is 16|; making a difference of 10 persons annually, notwith- 
 standing the increased population of the town, which has been very con. 
 siderable. 
 
 " The cause of this surprising change is ascribed by many to the death 
 of the prim, which constituted a principal part of the fencing of the town, 
 all of which died suddenly and unaccountably, about the time that this fa- 
 vourable change took place. But whether it was the noxious qualities of 
 this plant, or the noxious qualities of the air on which the vegetation of 
 this plant depended, and which being removed produced death to the ve- 
 getable and health to animal life, I shall not attempt to decide. The dis- 
 orders most prevalent in this sickly period were acute fevers, sometimes 
 terminating life in 36 hours, and often in 3 or 4 days. 
 
 " In the year 1726 a remarkable sickness, called the sweating sickness, 
 made its appearance in this place, desolated several families, and threat- 
 ened a very great mortality. It did not, however, become general. The 
 patients were taken with most profuse sweatings, in which state they con- 
 tinued till death. The same disease prevailed in England about the same 
 time, and carried off one half of the inhabitants of many villages. 
 
 "The past year (1805) has been a season of uncommon mortality. 
 There is but one year in the history of the town that exceeds it. Our 
 bill has arisen to 39. The sickness most prevalent was commonly termed 
 the dysentery ; by others termed a bilious diarrhoea. It prevailed al- 
 most universally ; three-fourths of the people being, it was supposed, af- 
 fected by it, in some degree ; but its most fatal influence was confined to 
 the aged, and to children." (Dr. Beechefs Historical Sermon, delivered 
 Jan. 1st, 1806.*) 
 
 The intermittent fever has not been an uncommon disease 
 on Long Island. Even on the eastern branches, where there are 
 no stagnant waters, that disease was frequent, at the com- 
 mencement of the present century. The late Dr. Gilbert of 
 New-Haven, Conn., who was a practitioner in Southold, in 
 1805, informed the writer, that he had frequent cases of that 
 disease, and in two or three instances, attended with fatal re- 
 sults. In each case, death occurred in the third paroxysm, by 
 paralysis, apparently induced by the cold stage. 
 
 * With the noble example of this sermon before them, is it not a matter 
 of deep regret that the clergy of Long Island have not long since favoured 
 the public with a detailed history of their respective towns and congrega- 
 tions ? Had this been done, the present work would have been needless, 
 or, at least, might have been accomplished more effectually, with one tenth 
 part of the labour. Besides, with every generation, numberless incidents 
 of an interesting and instructive character are buried up in the grave. 
 There arc now, doubtless, many such facts, which the writer has been un- 
 able to obtain, that are yet within the reach of the ministers of the seve- 
 ral towns, and may easily be placed in a permanent form, by a little re- 
 search and extra labour. Several of the pastors on the western part of the 
 island have, of late, done good service to their congregations and to the 
 public in this way. Will not every other pastor do the same, by the close 
 of another year ? They cannot do a more popular act for the living, or 
 one that will be more acceptable to posterity. 
 
SECT. 6.] CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. 45 
 
 Fever and Ague have been common, of late years, in many 
 of the western towns. But as the swamps have become more 
 effectually drained, and the lowlands improved, this disease 
 has gradually disappeared, till its occurrence is rarely wit- 
 nessed. 
 
 There is one exception to the general remark, which has 
 been made, on the absence of all peculiarity of diseases on 
 the island, which is deserving of special notice ; and the more 
 so, as the writer is not aware, that public attention has ever 
 been called to the fact. It is confidently believed, that in the 
 eastern towns of Long Island, more cases of tetanus, (lock- 
 jaw,) occur, than in any other part, if not, in all the remain- 
 ing parts of the State. Whether this has always been the case, 
 the writer has not the means of determining. The remark 
 is confined to the last 40 or 50 years, the period of his own 
 observation. This may be pronounced a common disease ; 
 and more or less cases occur every year. And it is worthy 
 of particular remark, that it often results, not only from a 
 slight wound, or puncture of the limbs, but in numerous in- 
 stances, from a sudden cold, without any known or discover- 
 able external injury. 
 
 Nor are the assaults of this disease confined to the human 
 subject. It is quite as common, if not more so, in all its cha- 
 racteristic peculiarities, among the brute tribes. A horse 
 has been known to fall a victim to this disease, from no other 
 known cause than exposure to cold, after suffering a slight 
 gall from the saddle or harness. Lambs and other animals, 
 after undergoing the emasculating operation, frequently fall 
 a prey to this destroyer. 
 
 These attacks are so common, and physicians are so fre- 
 quently constrained to devote attention to the subject, that 
 the disease is not always attended with fatal consequences. 
 The writer has borne witness to the restoration of its subject, 
 even after the development of the malady in its most threat- 
 ening form. But in every case, it appears to leave the consti- 
 tution with an increased liability to a renewed attack, under 
 the influence of the least exciting cause. 
 
 That the climate and other influential causes on Long Is- 
 land are, on the whole, favourable to longevity, may be justly 
 inferred from the large proportion of aged persons to be found 
 there. A stranger cannot enter one of their churches, beyond 
 the atmosphere and moral influence of the great cities, with- 
 out being struck, and the more deeply as he approaches the 
 east end, with the great number of grey heads, and venerable 
 
46 CLIMATE, DISEASES. ETC. [ PART 1, 
 
 forms, which are assembled together. And this fact is re- 
 duced to the certainty of numbers, by referring to the U. S. 
 census. 
 
 In IB 10, the county of Suffolk, with an aggregate popula- 
 tion of 32,469, embraced 841 white persons, (a little more 
 than every fortieth individual,) who were more than three score 
 years and ten. 
 
 To present a comparative view with the interior of the 
 state', take" the county of Schoharie, whose population is with- 
 in 111 of the same amount; and there you rind only 596 
 persons over 70 years of age. Should it be said, that this is 
 comparatively a new county, and as new countries are gene- 
 rally settled by young and enterprising emigrants from older 
 settlements, while the aged are left behind, the comparison is 
 not a fair one. To obviate this objection, take the county of 
 Columbia, which has been settled long enough to remove any 
 disparity arising from this cause. With its population of 
 43,252, which is almost 11,000 more than that of Suffolk, it 
 ought to have 1,130 persons of 70 years and upwards. But 
 its actual number is only 956 — only 111 more than Suffolk. 
 Again, taking the county of Monmouth in New Jersey, 
 whose population exceeds that of Suffolk by 440, and there 
 you find only 637 individuals over 70. From the great simi- 
 larity between these two counties, in the face of the coun- 
 try, the nature of the soil, and their relative position with re- 
 spect to the ocean, it would seem that some other cause than 
 that of climate, must operate in favour of old Suffolk. 
 
 It is a matter of regret, that the prescribed forms, for taking 
 the last census, have grouped together the Insane and Idiots ; 
 two classes of unfortunate beings, involved indeed in a situa- 
 tion similar, so far as destitution of reason is concerned, but 
 from causes as diverse as can well be imagined, thereby ren- 
 dering the result of the investigation nearly as useless, for all 
 physical or physiological inquiries, as if these particulars had 
 been left out of the census. It is especially to be regretted 
 here, as the opinion has sometimes been expressed, that ner- 
 vous diseases are peculiarly prevalent on Long Island. If this 
 is a fact, it might be rationally inferred, that cases of insanity 
 would be somewhat increased here. This inference is not 
 sustained, however by the last census, so far as it throws any 
 light on the subject. The number of Insane and Idiots, in 
 the various counties which have been compared, is severally 
 as follows : Suffolk 24— Schoharie 21— Columbia 38— Mon- 
 mouth, N. J. 45. 
 
SECT. 5.] CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. 47 
 
 l.^n Pr ,°K P T ti0 r n o ° f «- a f d Ve °f e m Queen ' s Count y « "mai- 
 ler than that of Suffolk; and is about on a par with Mon- 
 mouth. ' 
 
 So large a portion of the population of King's County is 
 comprehended in the City of Brooklyn, and the village of 
 Wilhamsburgh, which, besides the evils resulting Wtheir 
 own dense population, are so constantly involved in the at- 
 mosphere, both physical and moral, of the great metropolis, 
 tnat he proportion of aged persons might be expected o be 
 greatly reduced. There is only 1 i„ 113, above 70 years of 
 
 TUl , CoU P t y ° f Ki "S' s - *» Edition to tl/causes 
 which have been hinted at, it will be recollected that the emi- 
 gratior, jnto all our cities, consists principally of the young, 
 while the more advanced are left behind. 
 . On the whole, it is believed that the climate of Loner Island 
 is as salubrious and favourable to longevity as that of any 
 other part of this wide-spread country ' 
 
 In connection with this article, two anomalous cases of dis- 
 eases are here appended, which will not only be interesting 
 to the general reader, but are worthy of the investigation of 
 the naturalist and the intellectual philosopher. 
 nnl D r ■ '' an u h ° f B L ri dgehampton, S. P., a maiden lady is 
 
 O if, Zft W AV Va ? b ° rn ' n that P lace Mar <* 28th, 1778. 
 
 On the 24th of March 1802, after enduring great fatigue in at 
 tending the sick bed of her father, (who died on the 26th of 
 the following month,) she was taken sick. An emetic was 
 administered by the family physician, which operated whh 
 uncontrollable violence, and brought her apparently to the 
 yery verge of Me From that day to the present-^ period 
 of 43 years-she has not borne her weight, nor walked as en 
 
 nte r ra e ii:^; en tf° ',° ? b an 6reCt ^ She ha, fcS 
 hterally bed-ridden, during the whole time, and incapable of 
 
 being moved from one bed to another, except with the great 
 
 est caution, without inducing the most violent vomiting^ 
 
 noe vC rS almot e ; a ^ y "", ° f her c ° nfi "< this^occur- 
 rence was a most daily, and was always provoked by the 
 
 ^IZ fZ T?< th ? jar 7? of the floor > or «» ^ 
 
 were^^l I t hodstead > a "d it would be incredible if it 
 were stated what immense quantities of liquid .bearing a re 
 semblance to coffee-grounds} Ae discharged, in a given^me 
 
 p oceeded to the apparent extinction of almost every vital 
 function, and yet the system would rally again, onW to suffer 
 renewed prostration. At an early stage o, this singular Tm 
 
48 CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC [PART 1, 
 
 disposition, her vocal organs were affected. During one par- 
 oxysm she became sensible, to use her own language, " of 
 something breaking internally, and I thought I must die; and 
 for years I could not speak above a whisper. My stomach 
 has always been the point of disease." For many years she 
 lost all relish for food, and to the present day there are certain 
 common articles of diet, (such as milk, butter, or any fat or 
 acid,) which her stomach cannot bear. 
 
 A diversity of treatment, under the direction of different 
 medical men, has been resorted to, but without relief. Vari- 
 ous expedients were contrived to afford gentle exercise, such 
 as a rockiiig-cradle and a swinging-chair, but always with the 
 same alarming effects. In the latter case, the first two trials 
 were attended with such a result, as to induce her friends to 
 decline the experiment. But she, determined on giving it a 
 fair trial, secretly procured a neighbour to place her in the 
 chair, from which she was taken with the mere breath of life 
 remaining. From that time, by the advice of the physician, 
 no means have been used to promote exercise. 
 
 A change of residence, however, has rendered a removal 
 necessary, in three or four instances. But though conducted 
 with the greatest care, the removal has, in every case, nearly 
 cost her her life. The last was made in 1S19, since which 
 time she has never been placed in a chair. 
 
 What renders the case still more remarkable, is the fact, 
 that during this long period, the patient has repeatedly suffered 
 under acute diseases. In 1805, she was attacked by dysen- 
 tery, and was brought to death's door ; and since that time 
 she has had several attacks of the same complaint. In 1820, 
 she was brought very low by a bilious fever. Of late years 
 her general health appears to be improved. She has become 
 somewhat fleshy, her countenance presents a healthy aspect, 
 her voice strong, and her spirits, as they have ever been, are 
 cheerful and firm. She can even turn herself in bed, though 
 her removal, once a week, from one bed to another, with the 
 greatest care, is the only locomotion which she endures. 
 ° Such is a brief outline of this very"singular case ; and it is 
 related, not on second-hand authority, but from personal 
 knowledge and observation. The writer has been acquainted 
 with the individual, has repeatedly visited her within the 
 last forty years, and has either witnessed, or received from 
 her own mouth, every fact above detailed, and a great deal 
 more. And it has been his privilege to admire the singular 
 
SSCT. 5.J CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC 1 1 
 
 patience and quiet resignation of the sufferer under these un- 
 exampled afflictions. 
 
 As a physical 'phenomenon, the case is sufficiently remark- 
 able ; but, if circumstances permitted a recital of the pecu- 
 liarities of a moral and religious character with which it is 
 connected, it would be as instructive to the Christian as it is 
 interesting to the physician. It may not be improper to add, 
 that during the greater part of this time, the patient, when re- 
 lieved of deadly sickness at the stomach, has enjoyed the free 
 use of her hands ; and it might seem incredible, if stated, how 
 much light work has been performed by one in these untoward 
 circumstances. She commenced v/ith picking cotton, she then 
 acquired the art of making silk buttons, which afforded her a 
 considerable income, till they were superseded, by improved 
 inventions. Then, through the aid of a friend, she obtained 
 the art of manufacturing infant-socks, by which, in a compara- 
 tively short time, she purchased a set of Scott's Commentary, 
 at the price at which it was sold twenty years ago. She is 
 now able to knit men's stockings, which is at present her 
 principal employment. Few persons enjoying perfect health, 
 and free intercourse with the world, are better acquainted 
 with the present state of the Christian world, particularly the 
 missionary cause, than this long-afflicted and enchained indi- 
 vidual. Reading has been her principal entertainment, as it 
 is only now and then that she enjoys, in her secluded situa- 
 tion, the visit of a friend. But no one that loves the Saviour 
 and his reflected image, can spend an hour with this peculiar 
 sufferer without being entertained with her cheerful, pious 
 conversation ; and going away with increased motives to 
 submit quietly to the little ills of human life. 
 
 It may be added that her means of support have long since 
 been exhausted ; and though she may calmly feel, as the 
 writer heard her say not long ago, " that God, who has taken 
 care of me hitherto, will give me all I need : He has not pro- 
 mised me delicacies, but, if I am his child, he will give me all 
 that is best for me ;" yet now, when approaching her three 
 score years and ten, she has a peculiar claim on the sympa- 
 thies and prayers, and substantial aid of pious friends. And 
 this is one object in bringing this singular case to the notice 
 of the churches. There are probably thousands of Christiana 
 on the island, to whom this detail will be entirely new. 
 
 The other case will be found still more remarkable, in its 
 application to the philosophy of the mind. The facts, how- 
 ever, may be relied on, as the writer has been acquainted with 
 
 3 
 
90 CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. [PART 1, 
 
 the individual from the fourth year of his age, and he is still 
 living. 
 
 E. L. was born at Sag Harbour, Oct. 30th, 1802. He was 
 a boy of good common sense, with no striking peculiarity of 
 taste or genius. Enjoying the usual privileges of education, 
 he made very commendable progress in his studies. At the 
 age of fourteen, he had obtained a good common education, 
 and commenced learning the business of rope-making. His 
 health had been uniformly good, until the winter of 18} 5 — 16, 
 when he was attacked with a fever of the typhoid type, by 
 which he was brought very low, and his life despaired of. 
 During this sickness, he was the subject of strong spasmodic 
 affections, by which his frame was distorted, and his lower 
 limbs very much contracted. At length, however, the disease 
 gave way, and he began to recover very gradually. But the 
 contraction of his limbs was protracted, so that for several 
 months after leaving his bed, he was unable to move about, 
 except on his hands and knees. But the most remarkable ef- 
 fect of the disease was upon his mind. He had lost, not only 
 all knowledge of his friends, and everything that he had 
 learned before, but all consciousness of his former identity. 
 The sense of hearing appeared to be annihilated ; and though 
 in the course of a year, he recovered the power of speech, and 
 could use some terms of language, yet the entire misapplica- 
 tion of them proved that he had no idea of their import. A 
 few examples, out of a multitude, will illustrate this. Dollars, 
 he called junks ; one of his best friends, he always addressed 
 by the singular appellation of cakes ; another, he called 
 chestnuts ; and going to church was school. This was, per- 
 haps, the nearest approximation to correctness that could be 
 found in his imperfect vocabulary. For years, his friends 
 could converse with him only by signs, while his replies were 
 made in a similar manner, aided by his singular jargon. 
 
 His restoration to bodily health was marked by the exhibi- 
 tion of acute good sense, though accompanied with tastes and 
 tendencies, which he had never exhibited before ; some of 
 which well deserve the name of whims % and they were per- 
 fectly uncontrollable. He would not taste food in his father's 
 house, and for more than a year, he would regularly crawl 
 some thirty rods to his grandfather's door, to receive his meals. 
 And then, he would sleep nowhere but under his father's roof. 
 In Feb. 1819, his grandfather died, and from that hour he took 
 up his lodging with his widowed grandmother. 
 
 With the recovery of the usp of his limbs, he manifested n 
 
SECT. 5.] CLIMATE, DISEASES, ETC. 51 
 
 disposition for active employment, and following his own in- 
 clination, entered as a common hand on board a coasting 
 vessel. The want of hearing was scarcely an obstruction to 
 the performance of duty. With his keen eye always turned 
 to the commander, and apprehending, at a glance, the import 
 of a motion, no man could vie with him in the execution of an 
 order. In the winter season, being cut off from his favourite 
 occupation, he exhibited a tact for different mechanical em- 
 ployments, for which, in his previous life, he had exhibited no 
 sort of taste. One winter, he worked in a tin-shop, manufac- 
 turing articles of tin-ware. Another he spent in a joiner's 
 shop, where, of his own accord, he commenced a cutter or 
 sleigh ; which, after being far advanced, he never completed, 
 for a reason that will hereafter appear. During this period, 
 he was visited by friends and near relations, to whom he had 
 been ardently attached ; but it was impossible to convince 
 him that he had ever seen them before. Of this number was 
 the writer's family, whom he met and parted with as utter 
 strangers. 
 
 There was one amusement of his former life, to which his 
 attachment appeared to remain undiminished ; and this under 
 a kind Providence, seems to have been the appointed means 
 of restoring him to his former self, or consciousness. He had 
 always been fond of gunning ; and he still loved that sport. 
 In Feb. 1820, he spent a day or two, shooting ducks; and, 
 upon returning home at night, complained of a severe pain in 
 the side of his head. The result is best described in his own 
 language, contained in a letter addressed, a day or two after 
 to the writer, the recollection of whom, had for the first time, 
 since his sickness, recurred to his mind. 
 
 " I went to bed with a dreadful pain in my head. In the course of the 
 night, something ran out of my ear. I woke up, and heard tke wind blow 
 against the house; and it frightened me. I covered up my head, and fell 
 asleep. In the morning I was waked by a cat mewing in the hall, and it 
 scared me dreadfully. At length, I got up, and went down stairs. My 
 father began to make signs to me to rake open the fire and put on some 
 wood. Said I, father, you needn't make signs, I can hear as well as you 
 can." 
 
 The result was, that from that hour his former conscious- 
 ness was restored : or rather, he had apparently awaked the 
 same person, and at the very same point, at which disease had 
 arrested him 4 years before. All his former knowledge was 
 restored ; and although now grown nearly to the stature of a 
 man, be exhibited all the marks of a boy of 14 ; — while the 
 
52 THE ROADS. [pAET 1, 
 
 whole intermediate period was, in its turn, erased from his 
 mind. When shown his unfinished sleigh, he could not be 
 made to believe that it was his own work, as he declared, he 
 never had any taste for mechanical employment ; and it must 
 remain as it was, if its completion depended on him. The 
 only event of the intervening period that had left anything like 
 a permanent impression on his present memory, was the death 
 of his grandfather ; and that, he said, appeared more like the 
 recollection of a dream, than a reality. 
 
 This same individual afterwards became a sea-captain, and 
 has been, for many years, one of the most successful ship- 
 masters, that sail out of the port of New- York. He was among 
 the first that banished intoxicating liquors from his ship ; and 
 though he has encountered storms that have proved fatal to 
 others, he has never met with a serious disaster, at sea or in 
 port. 
 
 Though some account of this singular case was published, 
 in the newspapers of the day, its peculiarity renders it worthy 
 of preservation, in a more permanent form. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 The Roads, 
 
 The roads of Long Island are exceedingly numerous and 
 difficult for strangers. There are three principal avenues run- 
 ning nearly through the whole length of the Island, which are 
 distinguished, as the North, Middle, and South Roads. These 
 are not only intersected by others leading from one town and 
 neighbourhood to another, but, in the most uninhabited parts, 
 there are numberless wood- paths, well-worn by constant cart- 
 ing, which vary so little from the course of the main road, and 
 not unfrequently appear the most direct, and most used, that 
 the stranger is constantly liable to go astray ; and that too, 
 where he might remain a whole day, without meeting a per- 
 son to set him right. Some of these turn-outs have been 
 guarded by guide-boards ; but in general the inhabitants have 
 been too inattentive to this important provision. The only 
 apology is, that they are not great travellers themselves ; and, 
 until of late years, so few from abroad resort thither, either 
 for business or pleasure, that it is scarcely an object to incur 
 the expense, merely for their occasional convenience. 
 
 A large portion of the South and Middle roads, after you 
 enter the County of Suffolk, lead through those large sandy 
 
SECT. 6.] THE ROADS. 53 
 
 plains and forests, which have been previously described. And 
 to one who has never travelled such a region of country, it is 
 impossible to convey an adequate idea of the inconvenience 
 and obstruction to locomotion which are here presented. Af- 
 ter a heavy rain, if only a single carriage has preceded you to 
 open the ruts, you may get along with tolerable speed ; pro- 
 vided (which is a matter of great doubt) your wheels fit the 
 track. But in a time of drought, the sand in many places is 
 so fine, deep and fluid, that you may travel for miles with the 
 lower felloe of your wheels constantly buried out of sight. 
 
 But while the people of Long Island are not to blame for 
 the natural condition of their roads ; for, unlike many other 
 parts of the country, they have not selected the best lands 
 for themselves, and devoted the hills and hollows and slough- 
 holes to the roads, but have given as good as they had ; they 
 are entitled to great credit, in many places, for the efforts 
 which have been made, with vast toil and expense, to improve 
 upon nature. Where a bed of loam has been discovered, 
 they have dug out and hauled thousands and thousands of 
 loads, covering the whole path from six to twelve inches deep, 
 for miles in succession. By this process the road soon becomes 
 compact, and by the gradual admixture with the sand, im- 
 proves for many years ; though, like all human works, it does 
 not become everlasting ; but its advantage is seen for a long 
 period. 
 
 A view of the worst features of Long Island roads has been 
 taken first, that the reader might not be compelled to finish 
 this topic in disgust. Let him not therefore suppose that he 
 has hitherto had a fair specimen of all the roads on this strand 
 of the ocean. The entire counties of King's and Queen's, 
 both in their public roads and numerous turnpikes, present 
 as pleasant journeying for man, and as comfortable travelling 
 for beast, in every direction, and at all seasons of the year, as 
 any other equal district in the state. And the north side of 
 the island throughout furnishes a compact substratum and ex- 
 cellent materials for roads, though there is too much reason to 
 complain of negligence in their improvement. The most of 
 the labour done in cutting down hills and filling up valleys, 
 which are here very frequent, is performed by the direct 
 agency of water, during copious rains. The work thus exe- 
 cuted, without the direction of human intelligence, receives a 
 few finishing strokes from the hand of man, when the neces- 
 sity is imposed by some frightful gully formed, or some huge 
 rock dislodged, by the powerful but senseless agent. 
 
54 THE ROADS. [PART 1, 
 
 The roads on the two eastern branches of the island, are 
 for the most part excellent. And here, fanned by the balmy- 
 sea-breeze, and cheered by the delightful contrast of land and 
 water scenery, you may ride for miles on an unbroken trot. 
 But there is one peculiarity in the main highway, on the 
 southern branch of the island, which must be noticed. As 
 you approach the village of Southampton from the west, at a 
 distance of two miles, you would imagine that the projectors 
 of such a road supposed themselves possessed of a continent, 
 a large portion of which they would never need to cultivate. 
 The high-way is here 16 rods wide, and it continues from that 
 down to 8 or 10 rods, through a distance of 10 miles. Thus 
 hundreds of acres of land, naturally as fertile as the adjoin- 
 ing fields, are permitted to lie, year after year, covered with 
 luxuriant weeds, or split up into triangles and parallelograms 
 by a score of needless paths. The reader may ask, " why was 
 this waste made?" or, if there was a good reason for the ori- 
 ginal arrangement, why it is continued when land has become 
 so valuable ? The most satisfactory answer to the last inquiry 
 probably is, that on this part of the island, the fences are com- 
 posed in a great measure of living material. A removal there- 
 fore, as fencing timber is scarce, might be attended with more 
 expense than the land is worth. 
 
 The same peculiarity exists in Easthampton, with this dif- 
 ference only, that from the first settlement of the town, the 
 middle of the main street has been devoted to the sacred pur- 
 pose of receiving the ashes of the dead ! And it is remark- 
 able, that till within a few years, the two principal burying 
 grounds so situated, and constantly increasing in tenants, till 
 one of them had almost reached the cart-path, remained un- 
 shielded by a single post, or even a tree. To the credit of the 
 present generation, they have both been recently enclosed. 
 
 From Bridgehampton to Sag Harbour the road is naturally 
 sandy ; and here a turnpike of four and a half miles has been 
 constructed, which is a decided improvement. 
 
 The introduction of Turnpikes upon the island was an 
 event of some interest in its history, and one which produced 
 not a little excitement in the public mind. The idea of hav- 
 ing a public highway fenced up, and of obliging every man 
 to pay for the privilege of riding on the road, was even more 
 obnoxious, as an infringement of natural right, than as a pe- 
 cuniary tax on the pockets of the people. Hence, the first 
 applications for the incorporation of Turnpike Companies, 
 met with a determined opposition. 
 
SECT. 6.] THE ROADS. 55 
 
 The Brooklyn and Jamaica Turnpike Company was first 
 incorporated. The experience of a short period, after the 
 road was completed, soon produced a change of public 
 opinion. Hostility was disarmed. The farmers not only 
 found their rights unimpaired, but they soon discovered that 
 the trifling toll they had to pay, was more than compensated 
 by the saving of time, and the wear and tear of their wag- 
 gons and teams. This soon led to the multiplication of turn- 
 pikes. 
 
 The road was extended from Jamaica to Hempstead on the 
 south side of the Plains, and to Jericho on the north. The 
 Jericho turnpike was still further extended to Smithtown. 
 
 On the north side there is a turnpike from Williamsburgh, 
 through Newtown and Flushing, to Hempstead Harbour, 
 which has lately been extended to Oysterbay. 
 
 There is also a turnpike from Williamsburgh to Jamaica, 
 and from Brooklyn to Flatbush. 
 
 A straight turnpike road from Hempstead to Babylon, pass- 
 ing through Farmingdale, has not been completed. 
 
 The short turnpike at Sag Harbour, previously mentioned, 
 completes the list of these roads on the island. 
 
 There is a number of toll-bridges on Long Island. The 
 village of Williamsburgh, being partially surrounded by Bush- 
 wick Creek, has four long bridges on the north and east on 
 the great thoroughfares leading to Jamaica and Newtown. 
 At Flushing, across the head of Flushing Bay, is a noble bridge, 
 which has greatly shortened the* distance between that place 
 and New- York. The bridge across Gowanus Bay in Brooklyn, 
 the little one at Coney Island, and that at Sag Harbour con- 
 necting the village with Hog Neck, complete the list of those 
 that are worthy of distinct notice. 
 
 The Rail Road. 
 
 If free intercourse with the world is desirable for indi- 
 viduals and communities, and if the interests of both are pro- 
 moted by facilities for holding such intercourse, then a rail 
 road would seem to be as desirable for Long Island as almost 
 any part of the world. Its distance from the main land, ex- 
 cepting at one end, its extreme length, and the unsuitable na- 
 ture of a great part of its soil for comfortable roads, have ne- 
 cessarily confined a large portion of its population to the spot 
 on which they were born. True, the facilities of travelling 
 by water have been considerable : but this has always been 
 attended with a great expense of time, and with a degree of 
 
&6 KAII. KOAP. [FART 3, 
 
 danger, that renders it formidable to many minds. Besides 
 this, during at least one third part of the year, even this 
 mode of intercourse is entirely suspended, or attended with 
 such increased hazard, as nothing but imperious necessity 
 would induce a man to incur. The necessary consequence 
 is, that locomotion, at least to any distance from home, is al- 
 most unknown on Long Island. The writer has heard men 
 sixty years of age say, that they were never 20 miles from 
 the spot on which they were born ; and no doubt, there are 
 many now living, who never breathed the atmosphere of more 
 than two towns in their lives. Seclusion from distant parts,, 
 instead of making them restless, seems to have confirmed the 
 habit of staying at home. Even short journeys become irk- 
 some to those who seldom or never make long ones. 
 
 To people thus situated, in almost entire seclusion from the 
 rest of the world, a rail road must open new and unconceived 
 facilities, which, in its operation, must produce an amazing, 
 revolution in the manners and habits of the community. 
 
 The Brooklyn and Jamaica Rail Road Company was in- 
 corporated April 25th, 1832, but the road was not completed 
 and opened till April 18th, 1836. 
 
 On that day ground was broken for its continuance through 
 the island, by the Long Island Rail Road Company, which 
 had been incorporated April 24th, 1834. It was completed 
 to Hicksville and cars placed thereon in August, 1837. — In 
 1841, it was extended to Suffolk Station. 
 
 In 1843-4 the work was prosecuted to the terminus ; and 
 on the 25th of July 1844, the first train of cars passed from 
 Brooklyn to Greenport, 95 miles, where the opening of the 
 road was duly celebrated. 
 
 This event forms a new era in the history of the island ; 
 and in its results, has virtually altered both its form and loca- 
 tion. Even the eastern extremities, are now brought almost 
 into the suburbs of New- York. Thirty years ago, it was m 
 tedious journey of three days, to travel by stage from East- 
 hampton or Oysterponds to Brooklyn. But now the inhabit- 
 ants of either of those towns, may dine at home, and take tea 
 in New- York ; then breakfast in New-York and dine at 
 liome. 
 
 This Rail Road is one of the straightest, and most uniform* 
 ©f its length, in the United States. After proceeding with 
 scarcely a perceptible curvature, from Brooklyn to Jamaica,, 
 it passes in a straight course, through the middle of the Grea's: 
 Plain, to Hicksville, sending off by the way* a branch oi" 
 
SECT. 6.] RAIL E0AI3. 57 
 
 three miles to Hempstead. At Hicksville, it veers for three 
 or four miles to the south, to avoid the hills. Then resuming 
 its easterly course, it proceeds with little variation to tho 
 head of Peconick Bay or Riverhead. Here taking the 
 northern branch it proceeds, with a slight variation to the 
 north, to Greenport, ten miles short of Oysterpond Point ; and 
 the whole distance is ordinarily performed by the Boston train, 
 making two short stops merely to replenish fuel and water, 
 in three and a quarter hours ; and has been accomplished with 
 entire safety in 2 hours and 35 minutes. An accommoda- 
 tion train, making numerous stops, and travelling with less 
 speed, performs the route daily, in alternate directions, in five 
 or six hours. 
 
 It is so common a thing with other Rail Roads, it is scarce- 
 ly necessary to say, that the site of this road is through the 
 most sterile and desolate parts of the island. After leaving 
 Jamaica, you scarcely see a village or a farm of good land, 
 till you reach the terminus ; but barren plains or forests of 
 scrub oak, or stinted pine, environ the traveller on either hand. 
 The principal villages, as well as the best land, are to be found 
 on the sides of the island. 
 
 It is impossible to divine the amazing changes, which this 
 improvement will effect on both the intellectual and secular 
 interests of the eastern parts of the island. The inhabitants 
 have scarcely yet recovered from the consternation produced 
 by the actual opening of this Road. Though during its con- 
 struction, its future facilities were often foretold, multitudes 
 regarded them as the vagaries of a disordered brain ; or, more 
 frequently, the wilful misrepresentations of interested indi- 
 viduals, who wished to obtain a passage through their stinted 
 pines and sandy plains, for a mere song. But, until they be- 
 held with their own eyes, the cumbrous train of cars, drawn 
 by an iron horse, spouting forth smoke and steam, passing 
 like a steed of lightning through their forests and fields, with 
 such velocity that they could not tell whether the countenances 
 of the passengers were human, celestial or infernal, they would 
 not believe that a Rail Road had power almost to annihilate 
 both time and space. But then they cried out with united 
 voice *' The one-half was not told." 
 
 As a sample of the changes produced by this improved mode 
 of travelling and an earnest of what may yet be effected, even 
 on the most retired parts of the island, the following case is 
 stated. About seven miles east of the actual centre of the 
 island, and in the midst of the great pine forests, about mid- 
 
 3* 
 
58 KAIL KOAD. [PA 1, 
 
 way between the middle and south roads, is a little scattered 
 settlement of some twenty or thirty families. The spot on 
 which it stands, was originally a part of a great tract patent- 
 ed under the name of " St. George's Manor." Its ecclesiasti- 
 cal name, bestowed upon it some forty years ago is Brookjield ; 
 but its vernacular appellation, from time immemorial, has been 
 " Punk's Hole," so called from the name of its first pioneer. 
 The retired and almost isolated situation of the settlement, 
 and the principal part of the inhabitants being constantly oc- 
 cupied in cutting down and transporting the surrounding 
 forests, the place was seldom visited by strangers, or even by 
 the inhabitants of the adjacent towns ; unless they happened 
 to get lost in the woods. A more retired solitude, in the 
 midst of an inhabited country, could neither be found nor ima- 
 gined. And had a man, thirty years ago, ventured to pre- 
 dict that this spot was destined to become a daily stopping 
 place for the refreshment of hundreds of travellers between 
 New-York and Boston, he would have been considered a 
 madman ; and possibly might have been bound with cords, 
 for fear he might do injury. The good people would not 
 even have thought it necessary to say, " If the Lord would 
 make windows in heaven, might this thing be ?" And yet 
 such is now the sober fact. Punk's Hole, under the more pa- 
 pistical name of " St. George's Manor," is one of the two stop- 
 ping places between Greenport and Brooklyn, and has even 
 become a landing place for passengers of the adjacent towns. 
 It is to be devoutly wished, that all the advantages of a rail 
 road may be realized by this hitherto secluded island ; and 
 that its inhabitants may be preserved from the demoralizing 
 influences which have, too often accompanied these modern 
 improvements. Without this, the exchange would prove an 
 unprofitable bargain. For a while the most serious apprehen- 
 sions were justly entertained. When the road was completed 
 to Hicksville, and gradually extended, into Suffolk, it was 
 made for years, a regular Sabbath-breaking concern. And in 
 anticipation of its continuance and extension, the good people 
 of the eastern towns, instead of rejoicing in the secular bene- 
 fits which they were to realize, began to " hang their harps 
 on the willows" and pour out bitter lamentations, in view of 
 the moral desolations that were to set in upon them. But a 
 brighter prospect is presented. The Rail Road has been com- 
 pleted, and throughout its entire length, not a car moves on 
 the Sabbath-day. This important concession to correct senti- 
 ment, deserves the approbation and support of all good citi- 
 
SECT. 6.] 
 
 BAIL EOAD. 
 
 59 
 
 zens ; and it is to be hoped that their patronage will make 
 this arrangement profitable to the Company. 
 
 The following exhibit of the elevation above tide-water, of 
 the L. I. Rail Road, at various points, through the whole line, 
 politely furnished the author by James Shipman, Esq., Engi- 
 neer of the road, will afford the reader a very satisfactory idea, 
 of the height of different parts of the Island. 
 
 Brooklyn termination, * 
 
 Bedford, . 
 
 Watering place at East New York, 
 
 Jamaica, . 
 
 Hempstead branch, 
 
 Hicksville, . 
 
 Farmingdale, 
 
 Suffolk Station, 
 
 Med ford Station, 
 
 Millville, . 
 
 St. George's Manor, 
 
 Riverhead, . 
 
 Mattituck, 
 
 Cutchogue, 
 
 Southold, 
 
 Greenport, , 
 
 
 
 Height 
 
 Distance. 
 
 above night. 
 
 tide. 
 
 7 feet 
 
 
 
 miles. 
 
 2| 
 
 
 73 
 
 2 
 
 
 83 
 
 6 
 
 
 40 
 
 7 
 
 
 103 
 
 8 
 
 
 142 
 
 5 
 
 
 63 
 
 13 
 
 
 90 
 
 11 
 
 
 82 
 
 5 
 
 
 49 
 
 7 
 
 
 46 
 
 7 
 
 
 32 
 
 10 
 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 
 47 
 
 5 
 
 
 42 
 
 4 
 
 
 m 
 
 95 
 
 It is a matter to be deeply regretted, that an improvement 
 so intimately connected with the interests of Long Island, 
 should not have been made to the entire satisfaction, and with 
 the favor of the people When we recollect, that most of 
 the rail roads in the country have met with great opposition 
 from those through whose possessions they pass, it cannot be 
 thought strange that these isolated people, with no experi- 
 mental knowledge of the advantages of the scheme, should, 
 from the outset, have regarded the road as an undesirable im- 
 provement. And then, the extensive and awfully destructive 
 fires, which, in the past season, through alleged carelessness, 
 have swept over immense tracts of land, have vastly increased 
 the irritation of the public mind. 
 
 The extent of these disastrous conflagrations can scarcely 
 be conceived of, without ocular examination. To talk of 
 thousands of acres, is scarcely an approximation to the reality. 
 In several places, the entire forests for eight or ten miles in 
 Jength, and from two to four in breadth, have been completely- 
 swept over by the devouring element, which, besides destroy- 
 ing every vestige of vegetation, consumed thousands of cords 
 
60 1 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS % [PART 1? 
 
 of wood that had been cot and piled. The only value attach* 
 ed to these vast tracts of land, is derived from the timber they 
 bear, and when this is destroyed, they become absolutely 
 worthless, at least to the present generation. By these unpre- 
 cedented calamities, multitudes have suffered great losses, 
 many have been deprived of their entire supply of fuel, while 
 some have absolutely lost their all.* 
 
 Under these circumstances, the great excitement among, 
 the people of Suffolk county, is certainly no matter of sur- 
 prise. And, although the violence which has been threatened 
 k> the road, would be a most injudicious mode of showing 
 their resentment, and expose the lives of innocent persons,, 
 without affecting the interests of the Company, it is evident 
 that similar outrages have taken place, in other parts of the 
 country, from much less provocation, And v/hen it is recol- 
 lected, that such unjustifiable proceedings are generally trans- 
 acted by a few reckless individuals, upon whom the discreet 
 and sober have no influence, the people of Suffolk are cer- 
 tainly entitled to great credit, that these hasty threats have 
 never, to any considerable extent, been carried into execution* 
 Had there not been a strong moral influence predominating 
 in the community, it is impossible to say what outrages would' 
 not have been perpetrated, under such powerfully exciting 
 causes. 
 
 It is to be hoped that not only measures may speedily bo 
 adopted to allay the present excitement ; but that such a gene- 
 rous course may hereafter be pursued, as shall reconcile the 
 people to the maintenance of the road. The interests of the 
 Company, no less than the benefit of the island, depend upon it, 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 Civil and political divisions, with some remarks on the genius 
 and character of the people in the several districts- — their 
 husbandry, *fyc. 
 
 The greater part of Long Island having been originally set- 
 tled, either mediately or immediately from New England, the 
 
 * The actual loss sustained by these fire3, ha3 not been confined to ap» 
 Ipropriated property : the brute tribes have been extensive sufferers. Hun- 
 dreds of deer, and rabbits, and other game perished in these fires. Many 
 of them were seen, while the flames were raging, running to and fro, in 
 wild dismay, and frequently rushing headlong into the midst of the fire. 
 Others were seen, after the burning subsided, bearing extensive marks of 
 Ire on their bodies. The huntsman will have reason to regret these disas- 
 ters, for many years to cosae, 
 
SECT. 7.] THEIR HUSBANDRY, ETC. 61 
 
 towns so formed very naturally sought an alliance with the 
 older colonies on the main. And -as they were most conve- 
 niently situated, in respect to Hartford and New Haven, 
 which were subsequently united under the name of Connecti- 
 cut, they voluntarily placed themselves under the government 
 of that colony. This alliance extended as far west, as several 
 of the towns in what is now called Queen's County, and formed 
 a matter of prolonged controversy, between the Dutch govern- 
 ment of New Netherlands and Connecticut ; which was not 
 definitively settled, till the treaty of Hartford in 1650. By 
 that treaty, the west line of Oyster Bay was made the boun- 
 dary between the Dutch and English claims — the former to 
 hold dominion over all the towns west of that line, and the 
 latter to the east. 
 
 After the surrender of the Dutch in 1684, and the establish- 
 ment of the government under the Duke of York, who claimed 
 dominion over the whole island, the eastern towns manifested 
 great reluctance ; and, in some instances, absolutely refused, 
 to submit to his authority. But the question being settled by 
 commissioners, the Duke's government was extended through- 
 out the island. 
 
 Again upon the capture of New York by the Dutch forces 
 in 1673, Capt. Anthony Clove, the temporary Governor, re- 
 gardless of the treaty of 1650, which had been ratified by the 
 government of the Netherlands in 1656, issued a proclama- 
 tion, requiring all the towns to send deputies to New York, 
 " to make their submission to the States General and the Prince 
 of Orange. ' ? Upon their neglect to do so, he despatched com- 
 missioners, to require them to take the oath of allegiance to 
 the Dutch government ; and in some instances this claim was 
 urged by threats of force and arms. Some of the towns were 
 constrained to yield, so far as to consent, that the required 
 oath should be imposed upon their magistrates only ; while 
 certain rights and privileges should be secured to the towns ; 
 to which the commissioners consented. But the three eastern 
 towns, Southold, Southampton and Easthampton, absolutely 
 refused, though threatened by a naval force sent down the 
 Sound. In this emergency they sent deputies to Connecticut 
 to solicit aid, which was readily promised. Connecticut, in 
 conjunction with Massachusetts and Plymouth, having declared 
 war against the Dutch, Nov. 26th, 1673, the Governor at New 
 York found work enough at home, to put his capital in a pos- 
 ture of defence; and, therefore, suspended his operations 
 against the eastern towns. 
 
62 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS ; [tAET 1, 
 
 The restoration of New York to the English, by the treaty 
 of peace in 1674, and the arrival of Gov. A?idros, Oct. 31st, 
 of that year, brought the whole island again under the Duke's 
 government, to which the eastern towns, finally, though with 
 evident reluctance, submitted. 
 
 The right of having a voice in the government, by their own 
 representatives freely chosen, which had long been insisted on 
 by the towns of Long Island, was at length acceded to by the 
 Duke of York. Gov. Dongan arrived, Aug. 27th, 1683, with 
 express instructions to convene a General Assembly without 
 delay. An election in the several towns was immediately or- 
 dered, and the representatives were summoned to meet in 
 New York, Oct. 17th of that year. Several important acts 
 were passed, and among others, one dividing Long Island into 
 three counties, under the names, and with essentially the same 
 boundaries that they now bear, and which will be hereafter 
 given. 
 
 In attempting to ascertain the chronological order of the 
 settlement of the several towns, it is important to notice the 
 wide difference in the mode, by which the eastern and western 
 parts of the island were first occupied. The original settlers 
 of the former proceeded, in almost every instance, on the exact 
 puritanic principle, by forming companies of persons enter- 
 taining similar views and kindred feelings, and carrying with 
 them the materials of establishing divine institutions, and mu- 
 nicipal regulations, at the very commencement, or, at least, at 
 a very early period of their settlement. Some of these actu- 
 ally came with their churches already organized, bringing 
 their pastor with them ; and the enjoyment of divine ordi- 
 nances commenced with the first Sabbath of their history ; 
 while others, fully intent upon the same object, made this a 
 matter of primary consideration from the very outset. By 
 these means, each little settlement, however small the number 
 of pioneers, formed the nucleus of a society, homogeneous in 
 its character, which, by the adoption of judicious regulations, 
 was preserved, in its subsequent increase, from the intrusion 
 of undesirable and unwholesome persons. As a further secu- 
 rity to the enjoyment of these rights and privileges, they were 
 careful, not only to acquire the soil, by a fair and equitable 
 purchase of its original proprietors, but to obtain a patent, 
 from the English government, or those holding title under it, 
 of a sufficient tract of land to constitute a township, which 
 might secure them from the inconvenience of too near neigh- 
 bours. Some of these patents were of the most liberal tenor, 
 
8ECT. 7.] THEIR HUSBANDRY, ETC. 63 
 
 and authorised the settlers, " to make purchases of the In- 
 dians, and settle thereupon, with as full and free liberty, both 
 in church order and civil government, as the plantations in 
 Massachusetts enjoyed." Thus the establishment of both 
 civil and ecclesiastical government, in the eastern towns, 
 commenced with their first settlement. 
 
 But it was not so at the west, particularly in the Dutch 
 towns. Here, every man seems to have acted for himself, 
 and without any forethought of what might be his relative 
 position, with respect to his nearest neighbours. Each looked 
 out for a tract of land, according to his taste, and having 
 secured a grant for as much as he considered a reasonable 
 " bowery" or farm, he set himself down for its improvement ; 
 leaving others to act for themselves, as he had done. Hence, 
 we find no evidence of any general patent given for any of 
 these towns, by the Dutch government till near the close of 
 its existence, in the New Netherlands. 
 
 From the proximity of these western towns to New Am- 
 sterdam, where a trading stand was made by the Dutch some 
 years before the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, it was 
 to be expected, that the settlement of the west end of the 
 island would precede that of the east. But the desultory 
 manner, in which these settlements were commenced, without 
 union of counsel, or concert of action, necessarily rendered 
 their progress slow, and makes it extremely difficult to ascer- 
 tain the true date of their origin. The mere circumstance, 
 that one, or even a few scattered families fixed themselves 
 down, upon a tract of land, that is now included in the bounds 
 of a particular town, is surely not a fact of sufficient conse- 
 quence, to fix the date of its origin. For instance, it is well 
 ascertained that the first European family that settled on 
 Long Island, sat down within the present limits of Brooklyn, 
 in 1625 ; and other families followed after them. But there 
 is no evidence, that they ever assumed, or received the power 
 of municipal jurisdiction, till 1646 : and no distinct ecclesias- 
 tical organization was made there, till several years later. So 
 also in regard to Bushwick. There is reason to believe that 
 some scattered inhabitants planted themselves there, as early 
 as 1648, if not before. And yet no measures were taken to 
 lay out a regular settlement, or to organize a town, till 1660. 
 The fact is, that for a number of years, the scattered inhabit- 
 ants of the whole west end were dependent on New Amster- 
 dam, for all their civil and ecclesiastical privileges ; and all 
 the magistrates, that exercised authority among them, received 
 
64 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS ; [PAET 1, 
 
 their appointment directly from the Governor. The earliest 
 existence of anything like a municipal organization, in any 
 of these towns, of which we have evidence, is that of Brook- 
 lyn in 1646 ; and the first provision for the regular preach- 
 ing of the gospel and the formation of a church, was at Flat- 
 bush in 1654. 
 
 There is another notable fact, which confirms the claim of 
 the eastern towns, to priority in ecclesiastical affairs, that is 
 worthy of distinct recognition. The frst houses of worship or 
 churches erected within the entire province of the New Neth- 
 erlands, were built on the east end of Long Island. A church 
 was erected at Southampton in 1640, and in the same year 
 the church at Southold was commenced though not completed 
 till the year following. But it is a well authenticated fact, 
 that the first Dutch church in the city of New Amsterdam 
 was not commenced till 1642, and not completed till 1647. 
 The first church on the west end of the island was commenced 
 at Flatbush in 1655, in the erection of which the inhabitants 
 of Brooklyn, Flatlands, and indeed all the adjacent settlements 
 were combined ; and assistance obtained from other parts of 
 the province. 
 
 In view of all these facts, it has been deemed proper, in the 
 preparation of this work, to date the origin of the several 
 towns on Long Island, from the time of the actual association 
 of their respective inhabitants into a community, for the exer- 
 cise of civil or ecclesiastical government. And it is upon this 
 principle that the following list has been prepared. 
 
 Southold, - v - - - - 1640 
 
 Southampton, ----- 
 
 Hempstead, - - - - -1644 
 
 Gravesend, ----- 1645 
 
 Flushing, — first called Vlisshingen, - - - 
 
 Brooklyn, " Breucklen, - - 1646 
 
 Easthampton, " Maidstone, - - 1648 
 
 Gardiner's Island, now a part of Easthampton, was taken 
 
 possession of in 1639. 
 
 Flatbush, first called Midwout, - - - 1651 
 
 Shelter Island, ----- 1652 
 
 Huntington, ----- 1653 
 
 Oyster Bay, ----- 
 
 Flatlands, " Amersfort, - - - 1654 
 
 Brookhaven, ----- 1655 
 
 Newtown, first called Middleburgh, - - 
 
SECT. 7.] THEIR HUSBANDRY, ETC 65 
 
 Jamaica, first called Rusdorpe, ... 1656 
 
 New Utrecht, - - - - - 1657 
 
 Bushwick, " Boswijck, - - 1660 
 
 Smithtown, " SmitliMd, - - 1663 
 
 Islip, ....-- 1666 
 
 North Hempstead was a part of Hempstead till - 1784 
 
 Riverhead " Southold " - 1792 
 
 Williamsburgh " Bushwick M - 1840 
 
 The inhabitants of Long Island generally are entitled to as 
 high a character for patriotism and love of freedom, as any 
 part of the state or country. Though in consequence of the 
 island being taken possession of by the British army, at an 
 early period of the revolution, and held under absolute subjec- 
 tion to its close, they had not the opportunity of engaging 
 actively in the contest, yet the sacrifices which they made, 
 the sufferings they endured, and the assistance they rendered 
 to the cause of freedom, whenever an opportunity presented, 
 entitle them to a place among the most patriotic citizens. It 
 is a fact, that the little county of King's alone, while under the 
 constant surveillance of British officers, found means to fur- 
 nish more than 8200,000 in specie, to aid their country, in the 
 prosecution of their rights. Of this sum, $5,500 were fur- 
 nished by a single individual, in whose house a British officer 
 had his quarters, and supposed the owner to be favourable to 
 the royal cause. This whole amount was loaned, with no 
 other security than a scrap of paper, which, in many cases, 
 was buried in the ground, to prevent detection. • 
 
 "From 1776 to 1783," says Mr. Wood, " the island was occupied by 
 British troops. They traversed it from one end to the other, and were sta- 
 tioned at different places during the war. The whole country, within the 
 British lines, was subject to martial law ; the administration of justice was 
 suspended, the army was a sanctuary for crimes and robbery ; and the 
 grossest offences were atoned for by enlistment. — Many of those, who had 
 served as officers of the militia, or as members of the town and county 
 committees, fled into the American lines for safety. Those, who remained 
 at home, were harassed and plundered of their property ; and the inhabit- 
 ants generally were subject to the orders, and their property to the dispo- 
 sal of British officers. They compelled them to do all kinds of personal 
 services, to work at their forts, to go with their teams on foraging parties, 
 and to transport their cannon, ammunition, provisions and baggage, from 
 place to place, as they changed their quarters ; and to go and come, on 
 the order of every petty officer, who had the charge of the most trifling 
 business." 
 
 " During the whole war, the inhabitants of the island, especially those 
 of Suffolk county, were perpetually exposed to the grossest insult and 
 abuse. They had no property of a moveable kind that they could, pro* 
 
66 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS ; fl'ART 1, 
 
 pcrly speaking, call their own ; they were oftentimes deprived of«the 
 stock necessary to the management of their farms, and were deterred from 
 endeavouring to produce more than a bare subsistence, by the apprehen- 
 sion that a surplus would be wrested from them either by the military au- 
 thority of the purveyor, or the ruffian hand of the plunderer. The officers 
 seized and occupied the best rooms in the houses of the inhabitants ; they 
 compelled them to furnish blankets and fuel for the soldiers, and hay and 
 grain for their horses ; they took away their cattle, sheep, hogs and poul- 
 try, and seized, without ceremony and without any compensation, what- 
 ever they desired to gratify their wants or wishes." The single town of 
 Huntington " was compelled, in 1781, to raise £176, by a general tax, as 
 a commutation for personal labour, in digging a well in the fort on Lloyd's 
 Neck. In 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 this town alone, for 
 property taken from them for the use of the army, which were supported 
 by the receipts of British officers, or other evidence, amounted to .£7,249 
 9s. 6d — (more than $35,000 ;) and these accounts were not supposed to 
 comprise one-fourth part of the property which was taken from them with- 
 out compensation." But even this small portion of the demand was never 
 paid. The historian adds : " These accounts were sent to New York, to 
 be laid before the commissioners, but they sailed for "England without at- 
 tending to them." 
 
 " If the other towns on the island suffered half as much in proportion, 
 the whole island must have sustained actual losses by the war exceeding 
 $500,000, besides innumerable other injuries." 
 
 But these pecuniary losses were not the sorest trials that the inhabitants 
 of Long Island endured, under the tyranny of these oppressors. " Besides 
 these violations of the rights of person and property, the British officers 
 did many acts of barbarity, for which there could be no apology. They 
 made garrisons, storehouses, or stables, of the houses of public worship in 
 several towns, and particularly of such as belonged to the Presbyterians." 
 And to put the crown on this 6 years' course of injustice and barbarity, 
 " in the fall of 1782, about the time that the provisional articles of the 
 treaty of peace were signed in Europe, Col. Thompson, (since Count Rum- 
 ford,) who commanded the troops then stationed at Huntington, without 
 any assignable purpose, except that of filling his own pockets, by furnish- 
 ing him with a pretended claim on the British treasury, caused a fort to 
 be erected; and, without any possible motive, except to gratify a malig- 
 nant disposition by vexing the people, he placed it in the centre of the 
 public burying ground, in defiance of a remonstrance of the trustees of the 
 town, against the sacrilege of disturbing the ashes and destroying the mon- 
 uments of the dead." 
 
 But after all this course of opposition and cruelty from a 
 barbarous foe, the people of Long Island were destined to ex- 
 perience an act of equal injustice from the hand of their own 
 country. 
 
 " By an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, passed May 
 6th, 1784, a tax of £100,000 was imposed on the southern district, £37,000 
 of which was assigned to Long Island, as a compensation to the other 
 parts of the State, for not having been in a condition to take an active 
 part in the war against the enemy ! ! ! " 
 
sect. 7.] king's county. 67 
 
 Thus, what had been their misfortune was interpreted a crime ; and 
 because they did not emancipate themselves from a mighty army, to whose 
 power the whole continental force had abandoned them in the very com- 
 mencement of the contest, they must be subjected to a heavy fine : and 
 after being pillaged by a remorseless enemy, and tortured by their con- 
 stant presence for 6 gloomy years, they must be taxed to repair the losses 
 of those who had been subjected only to occasional depredations. 
 
 It is difficult to find, in the whole course of human legislation, a grosser 
 "violation of public law and the immutable principles of justice." 
 
 But we shall now proceed to notice the civil divisions of the 
 island. 
 
 KING'S COUNTY, 
 
 Comprehends the smallest, but at the present time the most 
 populous territory on the island. It occupies the western ex- 
 tremity. The boundary line commences at the mouth of 
 Newtown Creek, about one mile south of the southern end of 
 Manning's, now called BlackwelVs Island, in the strait com- 
 monly called the East River. Pursuing the course of this 
 creek about 2 miles, it proceeds in a straight line south-east- 
 erly, till it reaches the hills, a little to the north of East New 
 York ; where it turns nearly at a right angle, and taking the 
 range of the highlands, runs north-easterly about a mile and a 
 half ; where, again changing to the south-east, it proceeds in 
 a straight line to the head of Spring Creek, a serpentine 
 stream about 2 miles south of the Union Race Course, which 
 then becomes the boundary, till it empties into Jamaica Bay. 
 A part of that bay, the Atlantic Ocean, New York Bay and 
 Harbour, and the East River to Newtown Creek, complete 
 the circuit of this county. It is but 12 miles in length from 
 north to south, and 9 miles in its widest part, containing only 
 76 square miles, which is much less than the area of several 
 single towns in the other counties. 
 
 By the U. S. census of 1840, this county contained 47,613 
 inhabitants. By the recent State census, its number is 
 78,691, which gives 1,035 individuals to the square mile, or 
 nearly 2 to the acre. 
 
 The face of this county is considerably broken with hills, 
 bays and marshes ; but in general the soil is good, and in a 
 high state of cultivation. The southern parts, bordering on 
 the sea, are level and inclining to sand ; while the residue is a 
 stiff, strong soil, and in general much incumbered with stone, 
 both lying on the surface and imbedded in the ground. This, 
 however, instead of being a real incumbrance, is becoming 
 more and more valuable for fencing and building material, 
 
68 
 
 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS ; [PART 1, 
 
 which, from the scarcity of timber on this part of the island, 
 has been in constant demand. 
 
 It may be proper to make a remark here, which will apply 
 to the whole island, that while some parts of it are well sup- 
 plied with stone, and others are as remarkably destitute, there 
 are no quarries or stone in situ throughout its entire extent, 
 except at the narrow strait called Hurl-gate. Though there 
 are some rocks of very large dimensions, they all are, in the 
 language of geology, foreigners to the soil. 
 
 In regard to the moral character of the people of this county, 
 it is sufficient to say here, that their religious views and feelings 
 took their complexion from the Dutch and French Protestants, 
 who together composed the first settlers, and became entirely 
 amalgamated in all their social, civil, and ecclesiastical re- 
 lations. 
 
 This county now comprehends seven towns (originally only 
 six, one having been recently divided,) the names of which, 
 together with their greatest length and breadth, area in square 
 miles, and present population, are presented at a single view 
 in the following schedule : 
 
 Names. 
 
 Greatest 
 
 Greatest 
 
 Area in 
 
 Pop. in 
 
 Pop. in 
 
 Length. 
 
 Breadth. 
 
 sq. miles. 
 
 1840. 
 
 1845. 
 
 Bushwick, 
 
 5 
 
 n 
 
 6^ 
 
 1,295 
 
 1,857 
 
 Williamsburgh, 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 u 
 
 X l 
 
 5,094 
 
 11,338 
 
 Brooklyn, 
 
 
 
 6i 
 
 u 
 
 14J 
 
 36,233 
 
 59,574 
 
 Flatbusk, 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 4k 
 
 16| 
 
 2,099 
 
 2,225 
 
 Flatlands, 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Bi 
 
 14 
 
 810 
 
 936 
 
 New Utrecht, 
 
 
 
 3| 
 
 3 
 
 8* 
 
 1,283 
 
 1,863 
 
 Gravesend, 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 15 
 
 799 
 
 898 
 
 76 
 
 47,613 78,691 
 47,613 
 
 Increase in 5 years, 
 
 31,078 
 
 QUEEN'S COUNTY 
 
 Extends from the eastern boundary of King's, about 25 
 miles eastward, including the whole breadth of the Island. 
 Its eastern boundary is formed in part by that large arm of the 
 Sound called Oysterbay, running up into the land, and form- 
 ing Cold Spring Harbour. From the head of tide water, it 
 follows the general course, and nearly the bed of a stream 
 called Cold Spring, about a mile and a half in a south-easterly 
 direction ; and then due south across the island, to the Great 
 South Bay and Ocean. Lloyd's Neck, though lying on the east 
 of Oysterbay, and connected with the adjoining county by a 
 
sect. 7.] queen's county. 69 
 
 sand beach, which is always passable, is attached to this coun- 
 ty, and forms a part of the town of Oysterbay. This unna- 
 tural and inconvenient arrangement was made, at the desire 
 of one of its former proprietors about the year 1734. 
 
 The greatest length of this county, from the East River 
 near BlackwelPs island, to the eastern boundary is about 27 
 miles ; and its greatest breadth, not far from 18 miles : and 
 is estimated to contain 395^ square miles. Its population by 
 the census of 1840, is 30,324— by that of 1845, 31,849, 
 which gives about 80§ to the square mile, or one to 8 acres. 
 
 Much of the land of this county is naturally good, and has 
 been greatly improved by good husbandry. Its contiguity to 
 the city, and its numerous bays and harbours, which are them- 
 selves sources of many fertilizing materials, afford peculiar 
 facilities for procuring manures, of which the sagacious inhab- 
 itants have long been in the habit of availing themselves. 
 And their fields present to the eye of the traveller as their 
 productions do to the owners, evidence of the wisdom and 
 economy of the practice. 
 
 The great Hempstead Plain, already described, lies entirely 
 within this county. 
 
 The people of this part of the island, are of a more mixed 
 character, both in regard to their origin and religious views, 
 than either of the other counties. In King's, till within a few 
 years, the Dutch character had a decided and obvious prepon- 
 derance, which is still the case in some towns. This was mani- 
 fest to the eye of the transient observer, in the manners and 
 habits of the people, and even in the form and style of their 
 buildings. A Dutch house, or a Dutch barn has been, from time 
 immemorial, a term that conveyed as definite an idea to the 
 mind, as the most detailed description could have given. And 
 till after the commencement of the present century, a Dutch 
 church was invariably conceived to bear a strong resemblance 
 to a Light-house, only occupying more ground at its base, and 
 not extending to so great a height. And so peculiarly appro- 
 priate was this form of church building, in the public esti- 
 mation, that other denominations sometimes erected their 
 houses of worship on the same plan. 
 
 On the other hand, the people of Suffolk County, being al- 
 most exclusively of English or New England origin, present 
 to the present day, the constant evidence of yankee predilec- 
 tion. Overlooking the physical features of the country, the 
 traveller cannot divest his mind of the idea, that he is in the 
 midst of a New England population, living in New England 
 
70 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS; [pAET 1, 
 
 habitations. And had he entered almost any one of their 
 churches, some 30 years ago, before " the spirit of improve- 
 ment" swept over the land, he would have recognised, in the 
 vast pulpit, sufficiently large to hold a dozen ministers, with 
 its deacon's seat beneath, and a sounding board of corres- 
 ponding size above, which always attracted the attention of 
 children more than the preacher, and filled them with constant 
 apprehension, that it might fall and crush the man of God, in 
 the midst of his devotions ; in the large square pews too, 
 which obliged one half the congregation (and these were gene- 
 rally the children) to sit with their backs to the minister, 
 and thus, in spite of themselves, and all their efforts, to be- 
 come listless and sleepy hearers ;• in all these and many other 
 particulars, the observer, if from New England, would recog- 
 nise the fac simile of his native church. 
 
 But in Queen's County there is nothing of this unique, 
 homologous character, either in the manners of the people, 
 the style of their buildings, or the moral aspect of society. 
 Here Yankees and Dutchmen, presbyterians and quakers, men 
 of every religion and no religion, have for almost two centu- 
 ries been mingled together, with all their various affinities and 
 repulsions ; and while the effervescence has been constantly 
 going on, the time is yet future, if it ever is to come, when 
 it is to subside into one homogeneous mass. 
 
 It may therefore be readily inferred from the facts of the 
 case, that there is, and always has been, a greater ersity 
 of religious views, and consequently of the moral haoits of 
 the people of this county, with far less of fellow-feeling and 
 assimilated manners, than in any other district of the island. 
 Except in a few thickly settled spots, houses of religious wor- 
 ship, till of late years, have been much fewer in number, and 
 attended by a less proportion of the population, than in the 
 other counties ; while in many towns, fishing and hunting, 
 travelling and visiting, and even ordinary secular labour, are 
 indulged in, by multitudes, on the Sabbath day. Its proximity 
 to the city has doubtless increased these evils, if it has not 
 been their origin : but it is to be apprehended, that too many 
 of the inhabitants are voluntary panders to the votaries of 
 pleasure from the great metropolis. 
 
 And here it is proper to notice one of the principal means 
 
 * The writer has always heen of the opinion that the devil had as much 
 of a hand in the invention of sounding boards and square pews, as he 
 had in the Salem witchcraft : and that the scheme has been vastly more 
 successful, in its pernicious influences, nn the rising generation. 
 
sect. 7.] queen's county. 71 
 
 of demoralization, with which this county, as well as the ad- 
 jacent parts have been cursed for the space of 180 years. 
 Here has been the permanent arena of " the sports of the 
 turf," as they are denominated in the jockey dialect, since the 
 year following the surrender of New- York to the government 
 of Britain. 
 
 This regular system of horse-racing was established in 1665 
 by Gov. Nicoll. Four years afterwards (1669) his successor 
 Gov. Lovelace issued a proclamation, appointing " trials of 
 speed," to take place in the month of May annually ; and or- 
 dering the justices of Hempstead to receive subscriptions (!) 
 for " a crown of silver, or the value thereof in good wheat," 
 to be the reward of the winner. The ostensible argument 
 for this procedure was " for the purpose of improving and en- 
 couraging a good treed of horses ;" an argument that is most ri- 
 diculously retained in our statute book, to the present day. 
 Every man of reflection knows, that from the first settlement 
 of this country, the breed of race-horses is the last species of 
 the animal, that the exigencies of the people have demanded. 
 In days gone by, those capable of enduring hardship, and of 
 easy support, have been sought after ; while extraordinary 
 speed, b*s been only a secondary consideration, and of limited 
 deman . a the occupations of life. But now, when the iron 
 horse, which travels untired with the speed of a hurricane, 
 has entirely superseded the use of the fleetest steeds, it is to 
 be hoped, that when the current "15 years" shall have expir- 
 ed, the Act, with its baseless reason, will cease to disgrace the 
 statute book of the State, whose laws forbid every species of 
 gambling. 
 
 The Hempstead Plain, or its vicinity, has been the perma- 
 nent theatre of these semi-annual enactments, from their com- 
 mencement in 1665. The "Newmarket Course," called al- 
 so " Salisbury Plain" was in the southwest corner of North 
 Hempstead, 5 miles east of Jamaica ; and was thus occupied 
 more than 150 years. This was exchanged, some 20 years ago, 
 for the " Union Course," 3 miles west of Jamaica, a circle of a 
 mile's circumference, completely palisadoed, for this exclusive 
 purpose. And here are regularly enacted, twice a year, scenes, 
 which no imagination, however fertile, can depict, without 
 the aid of ocular demonstration. It has been stated, and the 
 statement stands uncontradicted, that at a single course of 
 races, 50,000 persons attended, and $200,000 were lost and 
 won ; and that during the 5 days that the " sports" continued, 
 the toll of the Fulton Ferry Company averaged $ 1000 n day ; 
 
72 
 
 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS ; [PART 1, 
 
 and it was supposed, that the other avenues from the city re- 
 alised an equal sum. But the gambling, expense and loss of 
 time attending these scenes of dissipation, form only a part 
 of the evils with which they are connected. The drinking — 
 the swearing — the licentiousness — the contentions and other 
 nameless crimes, which are here periodically committed, with 
 the countenance of law, are enough to sicken the soul of every 
 man that fears God and is disposed to reverence his com- 
 mands ; and must induce him to wish most devoutly for the 
 time to come, and that speedily, when this crying abomination, 
 with all its accompaniments shall be banished, from this once 
 sacred soil of puritans and huguenots. 
 
 There is no reason to doubt that the passion for horse racing, 
 so long and so assiduously cultivated, has had a powerful in- 
 fluence in stamping the character of the people of this coun- 
 ty, with traits so diverse from either of those with which it 
 stands in juxta-position. 
 
 Queen's County is divided into six towns ; Hempstead hav- 
 ing been originally one, is now divided by a line running east 
 and west, through the great Plain, nearly coincident with the 
 site of the L. I. Rail Road. The following schedule exhibits 
 the same statistical particulars, previously given, of the county 
 of King's. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Greatest 
 
 Area in 
 
 Population in 
 
 Length, 
 
 Breadth, 
 
 sq. miles 
 
 1840 | 1845 
 
 Newtown, 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 26i 
 
 5,054 
 
 5,521 
 
 Flushing, 
 
 7i 
 
 5 
 
 28* 
 
 4,124 
 
 3,913 
 
 Jamaica, 
 
 n 
 
 7 
 
 47 
 
 3,781 
 
 3,883 
 
 Hempstead, 
 North Hempstead, 
 
 13 
 
 10 
 
 114 
 
 7,609 
 
 8,269 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 53 
 
 3,891 
 
 3,897 
 
 Oysterbay, 
 
 18 
 
 10 
 
 127 
 
 5,865 
 
 6,361 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 395£ 
 
 30,324 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30,324 
 
 Increase in 5 years 1525 
 
 SUFFOLK COUNTY, 
 
 Embraces the whole of the remaining part of Long Island 
 (proper,) with its adjacent islands. Its greatest length is about 
 90 miles, and its greatest breadth from the extremity of Ea- 
 ton's Neck on the Sound, to the margin of the Great South 
 Bay, 20 miles. Its medium breadth is estimated at 10 or 11 
 miles. From the general description of the Island previously 
 
SEOT. 7.] SUFFOLK COUNTY. 73 
 
 given, it will be borne in mind, that the Eastern part is so cut 
 up by the indentation of bays, harbours, and coves, that, 
 through half the length of the county, it is divided into two 
 separate branches, which are from 6 or 8, down to 1 mile wide. 
 
 The whole county contains 976 square miles ; and its popu- 
 lation in 1840, was 32,469 ; in 1845, 34,579 ; which is 36 to 
 the mile, or 18 to the acre. 
 
 Much of the land as already described is a barren waste. 
 In travelling through it, the stranger finds it difficult to ima- 
 gine, how even the wandering deer can find sustenance ; 
 much more, how human beings can procure an adequate sup- 
 port. And yet it is astonishing to see, in a propitious season, 
 how large crops are raised from these sterile plains. Good 
 Indian corn, may frequently be seen growing in the fine white 
 sea-sand, which has evidently been drifted by the waves and 
 the winds to the distance of miles. This, slightly mingled with 
 sea-mud and vegetable mould, conveyed by the same agency, 
 forms a substratum, if not a soil, in which, in a wet season, 
 (for, on Long Island, water is pre-eminently a main supporter 
 of vegetation,) corn and other grain will grow with astonishig 
 rapidity and luxuriance. 
 
 But while these remarks apply, with strict propriety, to 
 large portions of this county ; there are extensive tracts of ex- 
 cellent land, which amply repay the labor of cultivation. This 
 is true, not only of the numerous necks of land which jut out 
 into the surrounding waters, and the margins of the number- 
 less bays, coves and harbours, but also of large bodies of land 
 situated in almost every part of the island. But the writer 
 would gladly whisper in the ear of many large land-holders, in 
 this his native county, if they could be persuaded to believe it, 
 that there is a great deal more profit in cultivating one acre of 
 land well, than ten acres badly. The fact is, many on Long 
 Island, as in other parts of the country, own and work too much 
 land. The writer has in his mind's eye, a farm of nearly a 
 thousand acres, which, half a century ago, was owned and cul- 
 tivated, under the direction of a single individual, who was 
 called a great farmer. But when he had ruined himself by the 
 operation, and had surrendered the whole to pay his debts, (as 
 honest, but unfortunate men were in the habit of doing in old 
 times,) it was cut up and sold to six or eight persons, who have 
 since supported as many families from its productions. And if 
 it could undergo another, and even another subdivision, it 
 might afford sustenance to double or quadruple the present 
 number ; besides materially improving the aspect of the town, 
 
 4 
 
74 CIVIL AXI? POLITICAL DIVISIONS; [PART 2, 
 
 in which it is situated. The same remarks apply to scores of 
 farms in this county, which, in their present condition, are to 
 their owners, what self-righteousness is to the sinner, " the 
 more they have, the worse they are oif." We have seen that 
 in this county, there is an average of 18 acres to every inha- 
 bitant, while there is many an acre in King's County, that 
 furnishes support to a whole family. And though the proxi- 
 mity of a great market makes a vast difference in the value of 
 vegetable productions, the disparity in the two cases would be 
 exceedingly reduced, by applying more manure and more 
 labor to less ground. There is no knowing, till the experiment 
 is fairly made, how much an acre of land may be made to pro- 
 duce, by good husbandry. 
 
 But it is not intended by these remarks, to convey the idea 
 that all the farmers of old Suffolk, are regardless of the im- 
 provements made in agriculture ; or, that they are in the habit 
 of taxing their fields, without furnishing them the means of an- 
 swering the demand. More or less attention has long been 
 paid, to the importance of manuring, and they would be sin- 
 gularly culpable if this were not the case, since Nature has 
 furnished them with peculiar facilities for the accomplishment 
 of the work. The waters, with which they are surrounded, 
 not only furnish a large supply of provisions for immediate 
 use, but they are the unfailing sources of enriching the land. 
 The sea-iceed, which is cast up in immense quantities on the 
 whole extent of shore, and various other productions of the 
 bays and marshes, are daily yielding vast supplies of fertilizing 
 materials. 
 
 But more than all, the countless multitudes of one peculiar 
 species of fish, which crowd the bays, and press upon the 
 ocean's shore, of which millions are annually taken, for the 
 sole purpose of manure, are the principal source of fertility to 
 the land. In several of the eastern towns, this business is as re- 
 gularly pursued, during a part of the summer, as ploughing and 
 sowing, or mowing and reaping, in their appropriate seasons. 
 For this purpose, the farmers of a neighbourhood form them- 
 selves into a company, sufficiently large to afford a relief of 
 hands, every week, and having provided themselves with a 
 large seine, boats, a fish-house on the shore, and every neces- 
 sary convenience, the party on duty, take up their residence 
 on the water-side ; and it is impossible to convey to a stranger's 
 mind, the immense product of a week's labour. A single haul 
 of a seine has been calculated at 1,000,000 of fish. 
 
 These fish are called by various names, as skip-hog, moss- 
 
SECT. 7.] 8UFF0LK COUNTY. 75 
 
 honker, shad, and bony fish; the last of which is most descrip- 
 tive. 1 hough of a good flavour, and generally very fat, thev 
 nre so perfectly fiHed with fine bones, that it Is hazardous to 
 eat a particle of them. It would seem as if the God of nature 
 had formed and annually sent them in such immense quanti- 
 ties to these shores, for the sole purpose of fertilizing the land 
 By this means alone, the value of much of the land on the east 
 end of the island has been doubled ; and by the same means 
 its presen value is maintained. For many years, Suffolk 
 county did not raise sufficient grain for its domestic supply" 
 * hile of late it has exported a large annual surplus. It may 
 be added here, that m taking these fish, other kinds of an ex- 
 cellent quality for the table, are caught in sufficient quanti- 
 ties to supply the fishermen and the whole vicinity, with fresh 
 fish every day ; while those which are not wanted for food are 
 
 TlTtl T™; 1 rece P tac,e - So «»*. on the whole, 
 
 though this country, from the nature of the land, may never 
 be able to sustain a population proportioned to its superficial 
 extent, m comparison with other portions of the state, it is 
 really questionable whether there is any part of the world in 
 which the means of supporting life, can be more readily ob- 
 ZZ V ^ on ftoing is believed to be certain, that in no 
 pait ot this republican country is there so great an equality, 
 and such a strong sympathy and perfect fellow-feeling, amonj 
 the whole mass of population, as in Suffolk county, especially 
 in the eastern towns. l J 
 
 The following extract from Vol. I. of the « Transactions of 
 the Society instituted in the State of New York for the pro- 
 mo ion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures, in Feb. 1791 
 will give some idea of the fertilizing effects, as well as the vast 
 quantities of these fish which were taken, even at that early 
 
 rela ^^79^^ * *"* "*"»»** *•*■ 
 
 i& " Notwithstanding the great improvements which have been 
 ^ made in husbandry, in different parts of Europe and America, 
 it is far from being ascertained what is the "largest quantity 
 of produce, which may be raised from a given quantity of land 
 by manure. It will no doubt be much more than from the 
 most fertile land m its natural state. I have heard of no 
 instance of new land producing more wheat than 42 bushels 
 to the acre. In Suffolk County, some years ago, at Hun- 
 ^ tington by manure, 52 bushels of wheat were raised by the 
 acre. Since the practice in that county of manuring land by 
 
76 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS ; [PART 1, 
 
 " fish has been in use, between 40 and 50 bushels of wheat 
 " from one acre is not an uncommon crop. And by a late 
 '« accidental experiment, it appears, that the product of grain 
 " from an acre will be in proportion to the quantity of this 
 " manure, and so far as to exceed any production we have 
 " heard of, in any part of the world. A farmer in the town 
 "of Itiverhead in Suffolk Co., Mr. Downs, having four thou- 
 M sand fish called Mossbonkers, or Menhaden, strewed them 
 "about the first of June on 20 rods of ground, being a poor, 
 " Gravelly, dry soil, and which without manure would not pay 
 " for the tillage. These fish were ploughed under a shallow 
 "furrow; at the time of sowing, about the last of September, 
 «' the ground was plowed up again, and a little deeper ; by 
 " harrowing, the putrified fish were well mixed with the earth, 
 " and the ground sown with rye at the rate of one bushel to 
 *' the acre. The ground being well covered in the fall, the 
 " rye was not injured in the winter ; in the spring the growth 
 " was remarkably rapid and luxuriant till it was about nine 
 " inches high, when his neighbour's sheep broke into the inclo- 
 " sure and eat it all off close to the ground. The fence was 
 " mended and the rye grew again, and much thicker than be- 
 " fore, till it got about six inches high, when the same sheep 
 " broke in again, and the second time eat it close to the ground. 
 " It was then supposed the crop would be lost, but it grew 
 "again with additional thickness and great rapidity; it all 
 " stood well, the ears were very long and full, and Mr. Downs 
 "assured me he had 16 bushels of rye from this 20 rods of 
 " ground. This production was so extraordinary, that although 
 " I could have no reason to doubt the assertion of Mr. Downs, 
 " I conversed with some of his neighbours on the subject, who 
 "had seen the rye growing at different times and just before 
 " harvest — they made no doubt of the fact, and observed, the 
 " heads and thickness of the rye far exceeded any thing they 
 " had seen or could have imagined. This piece of land was 
 "manured at the rate of 32,000 fish per acre, which would 
 " cost, including the carting from the shore where they were 
 a taken, 10 shillings per thousand, which would be £\Q. The 
 " product would be 128 bushels, which at that time was worth 
 "8s. per bushel, which is £51 4s. 0d. If we allow 3 dollars 
 " for the ploughing, gathering and threshing the grain per acre 
 " with the straw, which will be fully adequate to the labour, 
 " there will remain 85 dollars clear of expense on the neat 
 " proceeds of one acre of rye thus manured and productive. 
 " And Mr. Downs' profits on the 20 rods of rye were £4 5s. Od. 
 
SECT. 7.] SUFFOLK COUIsTr. 77 
 
 " Mr. Downs as well as his neighbours were of opinion, that 
 " unless the accidents of the sheep eating off the rye twice had 
 " happened, the whole would have been lost by reason of its 
 " falling or lodging. If this opinion be right, by this experi- 
 " ment we are taught the necessity of cutting or feeding off 
 " the grain on lands highly manured, in order to preserve the 
 " crop. Perhaps the thicker such land is sown, the less neces- 
 " sity there will be for cutting or feeding, as there will be more 
 44 original strong stalks. Most lands in this country of the 
 " same quality will bring more bushels of wheat than rye — 
 44 and I trust by improvements on this experiment which was 
 *' merely accidental, we may soon be informed of a much larger 
 " quantity of wheat being raised on an acre, than hitherto has 
 *' been raised in Europe or America. 
 
 ** It was expected, that the taking of these fish in such large 
 " quantities on the sea coast for manure, would in a few years 
 44 destroy them ; but hitherto they have increased. This year 
 *' I saw 250,000 taken at one draught, which must have been 
 " much more than 100 tons. One seine near me caught more 
 " than one million the last season, which season lasts about 
 " one month. Various are the modes of manuring land by 
 44 fish. Those that are taken early in the season are by some 
 44 carted on the land, spread lightly, and ploughed under the fur- 
 " row, for raising Indian corn ; this corn is taken off in the 
 '* fall, and the land ploughed and sowed for wheat. By this 
 14 mode they have two good crops by manuring once." 
 
 The Eastern towns on Long Island were, for the most part, 
 originally settled on a different basis from most of the other 
 colonies of this country. They had no royal charter or pro- 
 prietary patent as the foundation of civil government. Having 
 purchased their lands of the original proprietors of the soil, and 
 secured a corresponding grant from the patentee, without any 
 restrictions to their civil rights, they found themselves abso- 
 lutely in a state of nature, possessing all the personal rights 
 and privileges which the God of nature gave them, but with- 
 out the semblance of authority one over another. From the 
 necessity of the case they were thrown back upon the source 
 of all legitimate authority, the sovereign people ; and entered 
 into a social compact, in which every man had an equal voice 
 and equal authority. On this platform, they founded a pure 
 democracy ; and for several years each town maintained a 
 perfectly independent government ; making their own laws 
 in public town meeting, and executing them by magistrates of 
 
78 CIVIL AND POLITICAL DIVISIONS; [PART 1, 
 
 their own appointment. And it is worthy of remark, that the 
 invaluable privilege of trial by jury was at once introduced, 
 though with this peculiarity, that a majority was sufficient to 
 render a verdict. And when, afterwards, one town after an- 
 other, deemed it expedient to unite themselves with the larger 
 colonies of New-England, it was not because they felt them- 
 selves incapable of managing their own internal affairs ; but 
 solely for defence from foreign aggression. And the nature of 
 the union was rather that of an alliance, than of subjection. 
 
 Being thus trained up in the possession and exercise of all 
 their natural rights and privileges, they exhibited through the 
 whole course of their colonial existence, the most unyielding 
 determination to maintain these sacred immunities. And in 
 this they generally agreed to a man. It is a fact, though lit- 
 tle known, but worthy of being handed down to posterity, that 
 the declaration of rights, and a solemn pledge not to submit to 
 British taxation, proposed in a meeting in the city of New 
 York, April 29th, 1775, and distributed for signatures in every 
 town in the province, was signed, by the 6th of July of that 
 year, by every man capable of bearing arms in the town of 
 Easthampton, to the number of 280 individuals. This is 
 surely a much more notable fact than that since the establish- 
 ment of the present government, the elections of that town 
 have often been returned without a dissenting vote ; and the 
 former gives a ready explanation of the latter. A similar 
 unanimity, though not as entire, characterized the most of 
 the towns of this county during " the times that tried men's 
 souls." 
 
 There is another fact, however great the contrast with the 
 present state of things, which gives this and the adjoining 
 counties a consequence that has long since been lost sight of. 
 There was a period, and that of some considerable duration, 
 when Long Island constituted the great body of the province 
 of New York. It was the first occupied by actual immi- 
 grants for the purpose of a permanent settlement and agricul- 
 tural pursuits. Here the first churches were organized and 
 the first towns formed. And in the easternmost town, within 
 less than twenty miles of Montauk Point, and at Flatbush, 
 near the western extremity, the first incorporated academies in 
 the great state of New York were erected and put in success- 
 ful operation. 
 
 The first Assembly of Deputies that the representative of 
 royal power condescended to convoke for consultation, the year 
 after the surrender of the province to British arms, was held 
 
SECT. 7.] SUFFOLK COUNTY. 79 
 
 at Hempstead, March 1st, 1665, and (with the exception of 
 two,) was composed entirely of representatives from the seve- 
 ral towns of the island. 
 
 The first legislative Assembly convened in 1683, was not 
 only procured through the remonstrances and demands of 
 Long Island, more than any other part of the colony, but was 
 in a great measure made up of its representatives. The first 
 speaker of that body was either then or afterwards a resident 
 of the island, and the same office was afterwards held by one 
 of its representatives 16 out of 21 years. Though now regard- 
 ed as the mere "fag-end" Long Island was once both the body 
 and soul of the Province of New- York. Nor has she deteriorated 
 in her intrinsic worth, though she has been completely lost sight 
 of, and almost cast into oblivion, in the extending glory of a 
 great commonwealth, which has arrogated to itself the proud 
 title of the " Empire State." 
 
 But patriotic views and love of rational liberty do not con- 
 stitute the chi glory of old Suffolk. It is her primitive pu- 
 Q-itanism which, it is believed, has been illustrated here, in 
 piety toward? God, and love to men, for two hundred years, 
 and now exists, in more of its original purity, than can be 
 found on any spot of equal extent, on the American conti- 
 nent Let it be proclaimed in trumpet-tongued accents, that 
 here, no man was ever persecuted and disfranchised for his re- 
 ligious opinions, nor man or woman executed for heresy or 
 witchcraft. On the contrary, from the first organization of 
 their civii institutions, they ordained the widest toleration of 
 religious opinions, so long as it was not exercised for the se- 
 duction of others and the injury of the community ; and that 
 too, while as yet such an article had not been enacted, if it 
 had been conceived, on the continent of America. 
 
 From the natural reserve of a people brought up in seclu- 
 sion from the rest of the world, which still, in a measure, dis- 
 tinguishes them, these traits of character may not be readily 
 recognised by the casual observer. But if the present gene- 
 ration have not greatly degenerated from the sentiments and 
 practices of their immediate predecessors, among whom the 
 writer spent some of the happiest years of his early life, a re- 
 sidence of a few months or even weeks among these primitive 
 people on the east end, will afford complete conviction of the 
 correctness of these remarks. 
 
 Suffolk County contains nine towns, of which the following 
 statistical view is given :— 
 
SO 
 
 LITERARY CHARACTEB* 
 
 [part J, 
 
 Names. 
 
 Southold 
 
 Shelter Island 
 
 Easthampton 
 
 Southampton 
 
 Riverhead 
 
 Brookhaven 
 
 Smithtown 
 
 Islip 
 
 Huntingtorj 
 
 Greatest 
 
 Greatest 
 
 Area in 
 
 Population 
 
 length. 
 
 breadth. 
 
 sq. miles. 
 
 in 1840. 
 
 40 
 
 4 
 
 82 
 
 3,907 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 3H 
 
 379 
 
 22 
 
 8 
 
 110i 
 
 2.076 
 
 25 
 
 8 
 
 143 
 
 6,205 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 &H 
 
 2,449 
 
 22 
 
 16 
 
 238^ 
 
 7,050 
 
 81 
 
 8 
 
 59 
 
 1,932 
 
 18 
 
 8i 
 
 1124 
 
 1,909 
 
 20 
 
 9 
 
 144£ 
 
 6,562 
 
 976 
 
 32,469 
 
 Increase in 5 years, 
 
 Population 
 in 1845. 
 
 4,191 
 446 
 2,155 
 7,212 
 2,373 
 7,461 
 1,897 
 2,098 
 6,74G 
 
 34,579 
 32,469 
 
 2,110 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 Literary Character. 
 
 On this topic, taken in its widest sense, it must be confessed 
 at the outset, that the people of Long Island have not much to> 
 boast of. And yet, upon a candid investigation of the whole 
 ground, it will appear, that they are not entirely destitute of all 
 claims. There is abundant evidence on record, that the first 
 settlers of all these towns, from the east to the west, considered 
 the establishment of schools, as second in importance to no- 
 thing but the institutions of the Gospel \ and many of them 
 were as careful to bring their schoolmasters as their minis- 
 ters with them. Indeed, their schools were regarded as nur- 
 series for the church, and learning, as the handmaid of reli- 
 gion. Then the Bible, instead of being excluded from the 
 school, or read only at its opening, was a principal reading- 
 book, and the writer speaks advisedly when he asserts, that in 
 the use of that blessed volume, greater proficiency was made 
 in the mere art of reading, and the correct orthography of the 
 English language, than is now usually obtained in the use of 
 all the " improved books" for reading, with which the country 
 is inundated. 
 
 But the schools established by the forefathers of the island* 
 were not designed for the acquisition of mere secular know- 
 ledge — they were made the vehicles of moral and religious in- 
 struction. The school was literally a school of morals, where 
 children were taught to understand and practise the relative 
 duties of life — to respect and observe the institutions of reli- 
 gion, and where every immorality was visited with a suitable 
 
SECT. 8.] LITERARY CHARACTER. §1 
 
 recompense. And such the schools of Long Island continued 
 to be, till within the memory of many now living. The wri- 
 ter can well recollect, that, in the first school he ever attend- 
 ed, the recitation of the Catechism was as regular an exercise 
 on Saturday, as the preaching of the Gospel, in the Church, 
 on the succeeding day. Moreover, the schoolmaster was re- 
 garded as occupying a place second only to the minister, and 
 a sort of helper in his sacred work. Hence he was generally 
 the chorister of the congregation, and in the absence of the 
 minister, he was depended on to read a sermon, for the instruc- 
 tion of the people. In the Dutch towns, these and various 
 other duties were generally stipulated, in their contracts with 
 their teachers. 
 
 The following regulations adopted at an early period, and 
 for a long time maintained in the town of Flatbush, may be 
 regarded as a curiosity, and will serve as an illustration. 
 
 44 When the school begins, one of the children shall read the morning 
 prayer, as it stands in the catechism, and close with the prayer before din- 
 ner ; in the afternoon, it shall begin with the prayer after dinner, and end 
 with the evening prayer. The evening school shall begin with the Lord's 
 prayer, and close by singing a psalm. 
 
 " He (the schoolmaster) shall instruct the children on every Wednesday 
 and Saturday, in the common prayers, and the questions and answers in 
 the catechism, to enable them to repeat them the better on Sunday, before 
 the afternoon service, or on Monday, when they shall be catechised before 
 the congregation. Upon all such occasions, the school-master shall be 
 present, and shall require the children to be friendly in their appearance 
 and encourage them to answer freely and distinctly. 
 
 In the Church service, " Before the sermon is commenced, he shall 
 read a chapter out of the Holy Scriptures — the ten commandments, and 
 the twelve articles of our faith, and then take the lead in singing. In the 
 afternoon, he shall read a short chapter or one of the Psalms of David, &c. 
 
 " When the minister shall preach at Brooklyn or New Utrecht, he shall 
 be required to read twice before the congregation, from the book com- 
 monly used for that purpose. In the afternoon, he shall also read a ser- 
 mon, catechise the children, &c. 
 
 " For the administration of holy baptism, he shall provide a basin with 
 water, for which he shail be entitled to receive from the parents, or wit- 
 nesses, 12 stivers. He shall, at the expense of the church, provide bread 
 and wine for the celebration of the Holy Supper. 
 
 '* He shall give the funeral invitations, «fcc, &c, for which service he 
 shall receive for a person of 15 years and upwards, 12 guilders, and for 
 one under that age, 8 guilders." 
 
 Hence, it appears that the schoolmaster was a very import- 
 ant personage in the parish. 
 
 But, it may be asked, what has all this to do with the lite- 
 rary character of Long Island. The answer, if nothing more, 
 it biiows that the persons employed to teach their children, 
 
 4* 
 
82 LITERARY CHARACTER. [PART 1, 
 
 must have been men of respectable character, and of attain, 
 ments beyond the mere ability " to spell, read, write, and cy- 
 pher." Our forefathers never believed, as many of their pos- 
 terity believe, that any one who can spell and read is capable 
 of teaching children their A, B, C. They were doubtless of 
 the opinion, that if scholars ever need an accomplished teacher, 
 it is when they take the first step in a course of education, or 
 when they first enter upon the elements of a new science. 
 And any man who has spent as much time as the writer has, 
 in endeavouring to make scholars unlearn, or forget what they 
 have already learned, will pronounce the opinion correct. If 
 ever you must have an indifferent teacher for your children, 
 let it be after they have got a fair start, and have acquired 
 " the hang of the tools' 5 for themselves ; and then they stand 
 in less need of his imperfect assistance, and will be less likely 
 to be led astray by his deficiencies. 
 
 Another circumstance, which greatly enhanced the value 
 of their schools, was the permanency of their teachers. By 
 proposing an adequate salary, which, in many cases, was but 
 little short of that of the minister, they were not only able to 
 secure those that were capable, but made it an object for them 
 to continue in the station. Hence, we find in several instan- 
 ces, that a teacher remained in the same school more than 20 
 years. Thus, the employment of men of established charac- 
 ter and respectable attainments laid the foundation of a good 
 common school education ; and as their schools were long 
 maintained by a tax on property, the blessings of instruction 
 were extended equally to all. The whole community was 
 educated, and the privilege was highly esteemed and diligently 
 improved. 
 
 In regard to the acquisition of an education beyond what 
 could be attained in the common school, it must be confessed, 
 that many towns on the Island have been greatly deficient : 
 and it should, at the same time be recollected, that peculiar 
 obstacles precluded them from the privileges enjoyed in other 
 parts of the country. Their insular situation necessarily cut 
 them off' from that intercourse with learned men, and all the 
 other stimulants to acquire knowledge, which have such a 
 powerful influence on individuals and the community. The 
 same cause rendered it equally difficult to send their sons to 
 the favoured seats of science on the main, or to bring the 
 means of instruction, in the higher departments of literature 
 and science, within their reach at home. And yet, with all 
 these disadvantages, the people of the island have shown a 
 
SECT. LITERARY CHARACTER. 83 
 
 commendable zeal in the liberal education of their sons ; and 
 although a large portion of them, when thus educated have 
 from necessity or choice, left their native shores, to shine as 
 lights in other parts of our country, the credit should not be lost, 
 with the loss of their influence, to the spot that gave them 
 birth. Where will you find a more striking instance of the 
 estimated value of a liberal education, than in the second mi- 
 nister of Easthampton, three of whose sons Were graduates of 
 Cambridge University, while as yet there was no other in the 
 land ? And had we been able to obtain, as we first intended, 
 a catalogue of educated men, in the several towns, we should 
 find that the Island does not fall so far short, as many suppose, 
 of other parts of the State. 
 
 Although Long Island has never yet aspired to be the seat 
 of a University, nor could she reasonably expect, by her own 
 exclusive patronage, to sustain such an institution, yet the sa- 
 lubrity of her climate, both moral and physical, would seem to 
 render almost any part of her sequestered shores, a far more 
 suitable and alluring site for a literary establishment, than the 
 ceaseless din, and the accumulated temptations of a great city. 
 But while she has never laid claim to so high a distinction, 
 she was among the first in the empire state to found semina- 
 ries of a higher grade than the primary schools. 
 
 Clinton Academy, at Easthampton, is not only the oldest 
 Academy on Long Island, but it is the first institution of the 
 kind incorporated by the Regents of the University of the 
 state of New- York. It was erected in 1784, the very year 
 after the return of peace ; and its charter is dated November 
 17th, 17S7. 
 
 Erasmus Hall, at Flatbush, was erected in 1786 and its 
 charter bears even date with that of Easthampton. 
 
 Union Hall, at Jamaica, was erected in 1791, and its 
 charter was given March 9th, 1792. It was the sixth institu- 
 tion chartered in the state. 
 
 While these three are the only academic institutions on the 
 island, that availed themselves, at any early period, of the 
 patronage of the Regents, other towns were not regardless of 
 the importance of such seminaries. Many others have been 
 erected, which from a mistaken policy have been held under 
 the exclusive control of the community, or association, by 
 which they were founded ; and have generally been governed 
 by Trustees annually elected. 
 
 Huntington Academy was built in 1704, and was opened 
 in the succeeding winter.— -Oysterbay Academy was built in 
 
84 LITEHAKY CHAKACTE3, [pABT 1, 
 
 1800.— The Academy at Southampton in 1831— at Franklin- 
 ville in 1S32— at Riverhead in 1833 — at Miller's Place in 
 1834, and several others of a still later date 7 sufficiently indi- 
 cate that the taste for education, instead of being diminished, ia 
 increasing and extending ; though it is eyident that the mul- 
 tiplication of these institutions beyond a certain point, will 
 surely defeat the object for which they are intended. 
 
 The extensive institutions in the vicinity of the city, are 
 not referred to as indicative of the literary disposition of Long 
 Island people, or having any particular bearing on their gene- 
 ral interests ; as those seminaries under the imposing names 
 of Collegiate Institutes, evidently had their origin in the more 
 refined taste of the city, and were as evidently designed for 
 the special benefit of its more wealthy inhabitants. Their 
 advantages, if desired by the plain inhabitants of the island, 
 w r ould come within the reach of comparatively few of them. 
 
 But the facts which have been detailed are sufficient to 
 show, that here there has been as high an appreciation of the 
 importance of intellectual culture, and according to their 
 means, as noble exertions among the people to secure, for their 
 children, the benefits of instruction in literature and science, 
 as in any other part of this great state. And it is confidently 
 believed, that not a few have spent their lives here, in the ex- 
 ercise of the several learned professions, who had they been 
 in a region of country, to be seen and known, would have 
 been considered an honour to their respective callings, and a 
 blessing to society. 
 
 A single exception to this remark must be made to one of 
 the professions on a part of this island. Till of late years, 
 not a single lawyer would live by the exclusive exercise of 
 his profession, within the bounds of Suffolk County. The 
 writer well remembers the time, when no man could obtain an 
 advocate to plead his cause, in any important case, without 
 sending abroad. And this arose, not from any prejudices 
 against the profession, but from the peaceable disposition of 
 the inhabitants, that entirely superseded, except in a few rare 
 instances, the necessity of their learned assistance. And 
 though times have in some measure changed, and gentlemen 
 of the bar are a little more numerous here than when there 
 was none, yet it is still a fact that Suffolk County is no place, 
 and furnishes no occasion, for laborious investigations in legal 
 science, nor any suitable recompense for those who are capa- 
 ble of making them. 
 
 These remarks, of course, do not apply to the other coun- 
 
SECT. 9.] LITERARY CHARACTER. 85 
 
 ties, where the profession of the law is as well stocked, and 
 by gentlemen as respectable in talents, character and ac- 
 quirements, as in any other part of the country. 
 
 In regard to the other learned professions, it is sufficient to 
 say, that they have usually been rilled by men of respecta- 
 bility and usefulness. And though there may have been few 
 among them who have attained to eminence, (and that, pro- 
 bably, from the circumscribed and retired field of their la- 
 bours,) yet they have enjoyed the confidence and respect of 
 the communities, in which they lived, and their memory is 
 cherished with respect, affection, and gratitude. It may also 
 be remarked, that not a few of the names which have been 
 distinguished in the annals of our country, were of those who 
 were natives of the island, or laid the foundation of their emi- 
 nence in its literary institutions. 
 
 The number of Newspapers published on Long Island, be- 
 sides those taken from the city, afford some indication of the 
 taste of the people for reading. 
 
 The first newspaper published on the island was commenced 
 at Sag Harbour, May 10th, 1791, under the style of the "Long 
 Island Herald." After undergoing several changes, the 
 establishment passed into the hands of Alden Spooner, Esq., 
 who continued the paper, under the name of the " Suffolk 
 Gazette," from Feb. 1S04 to 1811. 
 
 In June 1799, Thomas Kirk issued a paper at Brooklyn, 
 the "Long Island Advertizer," which was discontinued after 
 4 years. In June, 1809, he issued the " Long Island Star" 
 which has continued to sparkle with undiminished splendour 
 to the present day. In May, 1811, this paper became the 
 property of Mr. Spooner, who has conducted it to the present 
 day, and may, with propriety be styled the veteran-editor of 
 Long Island. 
 
 In 1836, the Star was issued as a daily paper, but after 6 
 months' trial, was discontinued for want of adequate patronage. 
 It was renewed March 1841, and has since been continued in 
 its daily form. 
 
 There are now 2 daily papers, besides 3 weekly or semi- 
 weekly published in Brooklyn. 
 
 In addition to these, there are 3 weekly papers published at 
 Wiliiamsburgh, 2 at Jamaica, and one at each of the following 
 places, viz., Hempstead, Huntington, Sag Harbour, and Green- 
 port. There are also 2 or 3 other periodicals published on the 
 island. 
 
86 SPIRIT OF TOLERATION. [PART 1, 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Spirit of Toleration. 
 
 When we consider how little the rights of conscience wero 
 understood two centuries ago, and how ready the fugitives 
 from persecution were to require conformity to their views, 
 when they found themselves in the ascendency, it is a most 
 gratifying fact, in the history of this island, to find its inhabit- 
 ants almost unanimous, in their opposition to the infliction of 
 pains and penalties, for mere matters of opinion. The first 
 settlers of the several towns considered it their right, as un- 
 doubtedly it was, to guard their infant settlements from the 
 encroachment of unwholesome inhabitants, and hence they 
 enacted laws, by which no person should be admitted to a 
 residence among them, without the approbation of the con- 
 stituted authorities ; or, as in some towns, by a public vote in 
 town meeting. And while some of them enacted heavy pe- 
 nalties, to prevent the propagation of heresy or demoralizing 
 principles, mere matters of opinion were not considered pun- 
 ishable unless accompanied with efforts to promulgate them, 
 to the corruption of others, and the disturbance of the public 
 peace. 
 
 The western settlements being for many years without any 
 municipal regulations among themselves, and having no gene- 
 ral patent for the territory which they occupied, exercised no 
 authority over the introduction of new settlers. And hence 
 this region was at first regarded as a safe asylum for the op- 
 pressed and persecuted of other lands. 
 
 It is true, however, that at an early period, the Dutch Go- 
 vernment of the New Netherlands, enacted severe laws against 
 the Quakers and other sects, whom they regarded as heretics. 
 And in numerous instances these laws were enforced with a 
 degree of cruelty that was shocking to every feeling of hu- 
 manity. But the people had no hand in the enactment of 
 those laws, and but few of them could be induced to take any 
 part in their execution. On the contrary the great body of 
 the people exhibited a decided hostility to these measures ; and 
 in some instances boldly remonstrated against them, even at 
 the hazard of incurring the same penalties. 
 
 In Dec. 1657, a remonstrance against the persecution of the 
 Quakers was drawn up and signed by 30 of the principal inha- 
 bitants of Flushing, and some from Jamaica ; which was for- 
 warded and presented by the hand of the Sheriff. The Go- 
 vernor was so exasperated and determined in his course, that 
 
SECT. 9.] SPIRIT OF TOLERATION. 87 
 
 he ordered the Sheriff and two of the magistrates, who had 
 signed the instrument, to be arrested and imprisoned. And 
 for many years these unrighteous persecutions were carried 
 on, by the government and its abettors. 
 
 We have not space to enumerate the various instances of 
 cruelty and injustice, which mark this period. Suffice it to 
 say that the Governor in council, imposed, Sept. 14th, 1662, 
 a fine of j£25 on John Bourne, one of the most respectable in- 
 habitants of Flushing, for lodging some Quakers and permit- 
 ting them to hold meetings at his house. For refusing to pay 
 the fine, he was thrown into prison. After being incarcerated 
 at New Amsterdam three months he was ordered to be trans- 
 ported to the father-land, in a ship about to sail. Bowne be- 
 ing landed in Ireland, proceeded through England to Holland, 
 where he made his appearance before the constituted authori- 
 ties. His case halving been heard and considered, by a Com- 
 mittee of the " West India Company," he was not only fully 
 exonerated and set at liberty, but the following reprimand 
 was sent to the Governor of the New Netherlands : — 
 
 " Amsterdam, April 6th, 1663. 
 
 " Sir :— We perceive from your last letter, that you had ex- 
 iled and transported hither a certain Quaker, named John 
 Bowne. Although it is our anxious desire, that similar and 
 other sectarians may not be found among us, yet we doubt 
 extremely the policy of adopting rigorous measures against 
 them. In the youth of your existence, you ought rather to en- 
 courage than check the population of the colony. The con* 
 sciences of men ought to be free and unshackled, as long as they 
 continue moderate, peaceable, inoffensive, and not hostile to 
 the government. Such have been the maxims of prudence and 
 toleration by which the magistrates of this city (Amsterdam) 
 have been governed ; and the consequences have been, that the 
 oppressed and persecuted from every country, have found, 
 among us, an asylum from distress. Follow in the same steps 
 and you will be blessed." 
 
 The noble sentiments contained in this letter, though re- 
 cognized in all our institutions and universally acknowledged 
 at the present day, indicate a knowledge of the rights of con- 
 science, which, at that period, had scarcely dawned even in 
 these western climes. They probably would have had their 
 full influence on the conduct of the Dutch government here, 
 but soon after the receipt of the letter, and before Bowne re- 
 turned, the province was surrendered to the English. It is 
 said that Stuyvesant afterwards made suitable concessions to 
 Mr. Bowne, and professed to regard him as a worthy citizen. 
 
88 SPIRIT OF TOLERATION. [PART 1, 
 
 This, however, was rather a meagre compensation for the cru- 
 elty, expense and trouble, that he had inflicted upon him. 
 
 The only case of severe treatment of any of these people, 
 which we have been able to find originating in the eastern 
 towns, is that of Humphrey Norton, who had distinguished 
 himself by writing insulting letters, and using opprobrious 
 language to the magistrates of New England. Having come 
 to Southold he entered the church, " interrupted and slandered 
 the minister, vilified the magistrates and disturbed the peace 
 of the jurisdiction." Either from their supposed incompe- 
 tency to try the case, or from his belonging to New England, 
 the magistrates of Southold sent him to New Haven for his 
 trial, which took place in March, 1C58. Besides being con- 
 victed of the acts alleged, " he conducted himself in a very 
 insolent and boisterous manner before the court." He was 
 condemned "to pay a fine of £20, to be severely whipped, 
 branded with the letter H, upon his hand, and banished the 
 jurisdiction ;" the court declaring that '* it was the least they 
 could do and discharge good conscience towards God." 
 
 This, it must be acknowledged, was a severe and cruel sen- 
 tence. But let it be remembered, that in this, and a great 
 many other cases that occurred in New England, the penalty 
 was inflicted, not for a mere difference of religious opinion, or 
 alleged heresy ; but for invading the rights of individuals, and 
 disturbing the public peace. And though the writer has no 
 wish to screen from merited censure the unrighteous and cruel 
 acts even of good men, yet we are apt to forget, that, in most 
 cases, the men who incurred these severe penalties, instead of 
 being that mild, peaceable sect, who now bear the name of 
 quakers, were then wild fanatics, who verily thought they were 
 doing God service by disturbing religious assemblies, vilify- 
 ing ministers of the gospel, insulting the magistrates, and in- 
 vading the peace of society. From overlooking this fact there 
 has been a great deal of sympathy on the one hand, and much 
 unjust opprobrium on the other, misapplied, in relation to those 
 ancient transactions. But, as cruel and disproportioned as 
 Norton's sentence was, it was not inflicted by Long Island 
 magistrates; and therefore our fathers are not chargeable 
 with its severity. 
 
 As nearly allied to this topic, is the subject of trials for al- 
 leged witchcraft. From the strong affinity between the 
 greater part of the inhabitants of Long Island and those of 
 New England, it could scarcely be expected, that the gross 
 delusion and consequent excitement of the Salem witchcraft, 
 would fail to produce similar developments in these secluded 
 
SECT. 9.] SPIRIT OF TOLERATION. 89 
 
 regions. But to the credit of Long Island, it may be stated, 
 that only three cases of this nature are known to have origi- 
 nated here ; and, in not one of these, did the magistrates ven- 
 ture to pass judgment or inflict punishment. 
 
 In 1657, the wife of John Garlicke, of Easthampton, was 
 accused of witchcraft before the magistrates of the town. 
 The evidence was such as to satisfy many of the guilt of the 
 accused, and, of course, produced great excitement in the 
 community. But the magistrates, professing to be ignorant of 
 the science of demonology, resolved to send the accused to 
 the General Court at Hartford, where the subject was suppos- 
 ed to be better understood. The result is not known ; nor, 
 is there any evidence that the accused was ever sent thither. 
 The probability is, that the prosecution was dropped, without 
 further investigation ; as it is known, that Lyon Gardiner ac- 
 tually charged one of the witnesses with causing the death of 
 her own child, which she had ascribed to the witchcraft of 
 " Goody Garlicke." Both of these women had been employ- 
 ed in his household ; the witness had taken an Indian child to 
 nurse ; and, for the sake of the pay, had starved her 
 own child ; and then to shield herself from censure, she 
 imputed its death to the malice of the other. When we 
 consider the high character of Mr. Gardiner, the respect with 
 which his opinions were treated by the people of Easthampton, 
 and, the favourable opportunity he had enjoyed to ascertain 
 the facts in the case, it is scarcely to be supposed, that it was 
 prosecuted further. And then, the entire absen.ce of all re- 
 cord of any further proceedings, renders it more than probable 
 that the case was dropped. 
 
 In 1660, a woman in Oyster Bay, by the name of Mary 
 Wright being suspected of witchcraft, was sent to Massachu- 
 setts for trial. But instead of the crime alleged, she was con- 
 victed of quakeris?n, and sentenced to banishment. 
 
 In 1665, Ralph Hall and his wife, of Brookhaven, were sus- 
 pected of witchcraft, and were sent to New York to be tried 
 by the Court of Assize. The trial is reported at length in 
 Yates' continuation of Smith's History of New York, and re- 
 sulted in the acquittal of the accused. 
 
 These three cases form the beginning, the middle, and the 
 end of the History of witchcraft on Long Island ; though it 
 must be confessed, that the public mind was deeply impregnat- 
 ed with the superstition on that subject which prevailed in 
 former days. And scarcely a generation has passed away 
 since the telling of witch-stories was one of the principal 
 amusements of children, in their evening assemblages, which 
 
90 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 was often continued till they were afraid to look behind them, 
 or disperse to their respective homes. It is a matter of de- 
 vout thankfulness, that more rational entertainments for the 
 youthful mind abound in our day ; and that there is as little 
 taste as reason for these bug-bear amusements. 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 The Aborigines of the Island. 
 
 At the time of the first settlement of Long Island, by the 
 Dutch and English, the whole territory was occupied by thir- 
 teen distinct tribes of Aborigines. In some early records, one 
 or two others are named, but they are believed to have been 
 the mere remnants of tribes, whose locality is unknown. The 
 folio win o- are the names and locations of those above men- 
 
 o 
 
 tioned. 
 
 1. The Canarsee (or Canausie) tribe, who occupied the 
 whole territory, of what is now King's County, together with 
 a portion of Jamaica. 
 
 2. The Rockaway tribe occupied the territory about Rocka- 
 way, and extended across the island including parts of Jamaica 
 and Newtown. 
 
 3. The Matinecock tribe were situated on the north side, 
 extending from Flushing to Fresh Pond, in the eastern part of 
 Huntington. 
 
 4. The Nissequag tribe extended from Fresh pond to Stony 
 Brook. 
 
 5. The Selauket tribe, from Stony Brook to the Wading 
 river ; which is now the western boundary of Riverhead. 
 
 6. The Corchavg tribe possessed the territory east of the 
 Wading river, including the entire townships of Riverhead 
 and Southold, or the northern branch of the Island. 
 
 7 and 8. The Mericoke and Marsapeague tribes were situ- 
 ated on the South side, extending from the Rockaways into 
 the county of Suffolk. 
 
 9. The Secafague tribe were situated east of those last men- 
 tioned and extended to the eastern part of Islip. 
 
 10. The Patchogue tribe extended thence to the western 
 parts of Southampton. 
 
 11. The Shinnecock tribe occupied the region about Canoe 
 Place, and the residue of the southern branch, probably as far 
 as to Eastharnpton line. 
 
 12. The Montauk tribe resided principally on the peninsula 
 of Montauk, though a few were scattered on the shores of 
 Gardiner's Bay, and other adjacent parts. 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND. 91 
 
 13. The Manhasset tribe were the occupants of Shelter 
 Island. 
 
 These thirteen tribes, under their respective Sagamores or 
 Chiefs, as if an emblem of the future government of the whole 
 country, were once united in a grand confederacy, under one 
 great and powerful chief, who was styled the '* Grand Sachem 
 of Paumanacke — or Sewanhacka." 
 
 But before the settlement of the island was commenced by 
 Europeans, the independence of all these tribes had been in- 
 vaded, by the more numerous and powerful nations on the 
 main. The Canarsees had been subdued by the Mohawks, 
 and placed under a fixed tribute of "wampum and dried 
 clams ;" which was annually collected, with the utmost rigidi- 
 ty. The residue of the island, the most of which was still 
 under the jurisdiction of a single Chief, had been laid under 
 tribute to the Pequots in New England ; and after their sub- 
 jugation by the whites, the same allegiance and tribute were 
 claimed by the Narragansetts. 
 
 The Manhasset and the Montauk tribes, though occupying 
 the smallest and most remote territorial limits, were the de- 
 positories of supreme power. Montauk was, in fact, the royal 
 tribe, and Wyandanch, its powerful Chief, was the Grand 
 Sachem, of whom the whites purchased their lands, throughout 
 nearly the whole extent of the island. — While his elder bro- 
 ther Poggatacut, the Sachem of Manhasset, lived, he was in- 
 deed regarded as the supreme chief, but, probably, from his 
 age, and not from any superior claims of the tribe, over 
 which he presided. When he paid the debt of nature, Wyan- 
 danch was regarded as the Grand Sachem, without a rival. 
 Nowedinah — the Chief of the Shinnecock tribe, was also a 
 brother of Wyandanch. 
 
 Besides, Montauk bore evident marks, many of which are 
 not yet obliterated, of being the seat of royal authority, and 
 the citadel of power. Here were the largest and best fortifi- 
 cations, of purely Indian construction, that can be found, in 
 any part of our extended country. The Fort, on the north 
 east side of Fort Pond, erected on what is now called Fort 
 Hill, was about 100 feet square, and its remains are still 
 visible. 
 
 •« The rampart and parapet, (say * the Chronicles of Easthampton,' to 
 which we shall be indebted, for many interesting particulars, especially in 
 this Section,) were of earth, with a ditch at the foot of the glacis; and 
 probably palisadoed with the trunks of fallen trees. At each angle, there 
 was apparently a round tower of earth and stone ; and the whole would 
 
92 THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 probably have held from three to five hundred men. The pond on the 
 south afforded a safe and convenient harbour for canoes, under the imme- 
 diate protection of the fort. Its contiguity to the pond, yielded also an 
 abundant supply of fresh water, on a side, where communication was 
 easily kept up, by the facility of protection. The location was one of de- 
 cided advantage for protection and defence ; and must have been sufficient 
 against any attack, which Indian tactics could have brought to bear upon 
 it. On the west side, the ground descends, almost perpendicularly, to 
 Fort Pond ; and on the east, it is level for some distance. From the Fort, 
 the headland of Wamponomon (Montauk- point) can be seen, and it over- 
 looks the pond and the bay on the north." 
 
 This territory is also remarkable, as the depository of the 
 dead. Here arc several of the largest burying places known 
 on the island ; where hundreds and perhaps thousands of these 
 poor benighted pagans, were committed to their mother earth, 
 amid the lamentations and howlings of their surviving friends. 
 They brought their dead from a great distance, to deposit their 
 ashes in this venerated spot. The remains of Poggatacut were 
 brought from Shelter Island, the greater part of the way on 
 men's shoulders, to be deposited with the royal family at the 
 citadel of the empire. 
 
 There are some remarkable curiosities here too, which are 
 worthy of the traveller's notice, and were objects of supersti- 
 tious reverence, to these children of nature. About half a 
 mile from the Fort, in a south easterly direction, is a granite 
 rock imbedded in the ground, on the upper surface of which, is 
 the apparent impress of a human foot. 
 
 " The figure is as perfect and distinct as would follow from the pressure 
 of the left foot, upon some soft cohesive substance ; except being deficient 
 in a toe : — a deficiency, not at first sight, apparent ; and discernible, only 
 by inspection. No artist could have chiselled a more perfect resemblance. 
 The impression is still fresh, and without the least appearance of injury 
 from time. There are two other tracks less perfect and distinct : the one 
 in the Indian fie'd, and the other west of Fort Pond. The heel of the foot 
 is towards the east, in all of them ;' as though formed in passing to the 
 west. Excepting that ' they are the foot steps of the evil spirit' no record 
 or tradition pretends to give their story. They existed at the first settle- 
 ment by the whites, and were a subject of pawwa to the Indians." 
 
 "• In the first woods, as one enters on Montaukett from the west, called 
 Hither Woods, is a granite rock, flat and smooth, upon the surface of 
 which are several spots of the colour of blood. The tradition of the Indians 
 holds them to have been caused by the flow of blood from the wound of a 
 chief, who was there killed by the arrow of an enemy. It is called the 
 jumping place ; and near the rock is a small cavity in the ground, said to 
 have been made by the expiring leap of the chief." 
 
 In close alliance with the last mentioned fact, and in con- 
 nection with the wonders of Montauk, may be mentioned a 
 similar marvel in the vicinity of Sag Harbour. 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 93 
 
 " The death of Sachem Poggatacut, in 1G51, was an important event 
 with the Indians. His remains were transported, for burial, from Shelter 
 Island to Montaukett. In removing the body, the bearers rested the bier, 
 by the side of the road leading from Sag Harbour to Easthampton, near 
 the 3rd mile stone,* where a small excavation was made to designate the 
 spot. From that time to the present, more than 190 years, this memorial 
 has remained, as fresh seemingly, as if but lately made. Neither leaf, nor 
 stone, nor any other thing, has been suffered to remain in it. The Mon- 
 taukett tribe, though reduced to a beggarly number of some ten or fifteen 
 drunken and degraded beings, have retained, to this day, the memory of 
 the event ; and no one individual of them now passes the spot in his Wan- 
 derings, without removing whatever may have fallen into it. The place 
 is, to them, holy ground ; and the exhibition of this pious act, docs honour 
 to the finest feelings of the human heart. The excavation is about 13 
 inches in depth, and 18 in diameter, in the form of a mortar." 
 
 The reader may be assured that this is no humbug. The 
 writer has been acquainted with the fact, for nearly forty years, 
 and he has examined the hole within the present year, (1845) and 
 -found it in its original form and freshness, as above described. 
 
 From the first immigration of the whites, Wyandanch was their 
 unwavering friend. Though often cajoled and threatened by the 
 N. E. Indians, to induce him to conspire against his new neigh- 
 bours, he not only rejected their overtures, but even delivered 
 their agents into the hands of the English. He reposed un- 
 bounded confidence in Lyon Gardiner ; and communicated 
 to him, without reserve, every thing that involved his own 
 interests, or the safety of the whites. From this source, that 
 gentleman, during a period of 14 years, derived much import- 
 ant information not only to the people of the island, but also 
 to the N. E. colonics. His elder brother, Poggatacut, was 
 of a different disposition. Though he did not venture to act 
 out his hostility, yet ho always regarded the new comers a3 
 intruders, aad disapproved the partiality, which his brother 
 manifested towards them. But he was taken away at an 
 early period, and without a favourable opportunity or pretext, 
 to do any material injury to the infant settlements. 
 
 The aboriginal population of Long Island, previous to its 
 discovery by the whites, must have been very numerous. Of 
 this, the immense shell-banks, on the shores of its numerous 
 harbours and bays, and the extensive tracts devoted to the 
 cultivation of corn, afforded conclusive evidence. Besides 
 these, there are traditions of the same fact, which are entitled 
 to respect. " An ancient Indian, more than a hundred years 
 ago, declared to one of the oldest inhabitants of Easthampton, 
 that within his recollection, the natives were as many as the 
 
 * The 4 th mile stone from Sag Harbour. 
 
94 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 spears of grass ; and if, said he, stretching his hands over the 
 ground, you can count these ; then, when I was a boy, you 
 could have reckoned their number." But frequent wars and 
 successive diseases, had greatly thinned their ranks : and the 
 same causes, increased in power by the vices contracted in 
 their intercourse with their new neighbours, even where the 
 most benevolent efforts were made to prevent the evil, conti- 
 "hued to accelerate the work of death, till they are now 
 brought to the verge of extinction. 
 
 To trace the operation of these causes in all their details, 
 would occupy more space than is consistent with the design 
 of this sketch. A few facts, however, may be mentioned. 
 
 The Canarsee tribe, having, as it is said, by the advice of 
 the whites, withheld their annual tribute from the Mohawks, 
 were invaded, and nearly exterminated, by that powerful na- 
 tion. And after the destruction of the Pequots by the New 
 England colonies, the Narragansetts made war upon the 
 Montauk Indians, which continued for many years ; and, 
 in which, they were reduced to the greatest extremity. They 
 earnestly solicited, and for a while obtained assistance from 
 New England ; but when this was afterwards withheld, they 
 were obliged to desert their citadel, and cast themselves upon 
 the people of Easthampton for protection. 
 
 In one of these assaults* led on by Ninicraft, the chief of 
 the Narragansetts, Wyandanch was surprised, in the midst of 
 the revels of a marriage feast, while he with his braves, was 
 celebrating the nuptials of his only daughter. Their wig- 
 wams were fired, their granaries rifled or destroyed, the prin- 
 cipal warriors slain ; and to complete the triumph of the ene- 
 my, and the misery of the unfortunate chief, the youthful 
 bride was carried away captive, leaving the bridegroom, who 
 had just " plighted his troth," weltering in his own blood. It 
 was for procuring the ransom of this beloved daughter, that 
 Wyandanch, in the last year of his life, gave to Lyon Gardi- 
 ner, a conveyance of the territory now constituting the prin- 
 cipal part of Smithtown. 
 
 The conduct of the Long Island Indians towards the 
 whites, is without a parallel, in the history of this country. 
 It was to be expected that individual acts of aggression 
 would occur, on the part of a barbarous people, for real or 
 supposed injuries. But even these were rare ; and the Indians 
 always showed themselves willing to submit to an impartial 
 investigation, and just decision of alleged wrongs. 
 
 One of the first occurrences, of this kind, was the murder 
 
SECT. 10.] THE AB0KIGINE3 OF THE ISLAND. 95 
 
 of a woman at Southampton, in 1649 ; which instantly spread 
 fearful apprehensions, of a general insurrection against the 
 white settlements. The magistrates of that town, immedi- 
 ately, sent a messenger to Montauk, and summoned Wyan- 
 danch to appear before them. His councillors, fearing that 
 he would be summarily condemned to death, by way of re- 
 taliation, advised him not to obey the summons. Before he* 
 expressed his own opinion, he submitted the case to Mr. 
 Gardiner, who happened to be lodging in his wigwam that 
 same night. By his advice, he set out immediately for 
 Southampton, Mr. G. agreeing to remain as a hostage to the 
 tribe, for the safety of their beloved chief. With amazing 
 celerity, he not only accomplished the journey of twenty-five 
 miles, but actually apprehended on his way, and delivered to 
 the magistrates, the murderers of the woman ; who, instead 
 of being his own subjects, proved to be Pequot Indians from 
 the main ; some of whom were generally lurking on the 
 island, for the purpose of promoting disturbances between the 
 natives and the new settlers. These men being sent to 
 Hartford, were there tried, convicted and executed. 
 
 Both before and after this occurrence, the suspicions of 
 the whites were frequently so strong, that they carried their 
 arms into their fields and their churches ; and forbade the 
 Indians to enter their settlements, with their usual weapons. 
 But except occasional depredations on the property and 
 lives of individuals, the Indians from one end of the island to 
 the other, lived on terms of friendship with the whites. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact, which should be recorded to the eternal 
 honour of the Long Island Indians, that they never formed a 
 general conspiracy, even of a single tribe, against the whites. 
 The only apparent exception to this remark, it being the only 
 instance in which the natives stood upon their arms, against 
 their new neighbours, was the ever to be lamented battle of 
 Fort Neck. And although the origin of this unfortunate ren- 
 counter is veiled in obscurity, there were circumstances con- 
 nected with the event, which induce the belief, that if the whole 
 truth could be developed, instead of implicating the poor na- 
 tives in the guilt of that transaction', they would appear en- 
 titled to the universal respect and gratitude of the settlers. 
 It was generally believed at the time, that the dissatisfaction 
 and aggressions, in which this affair originated, were insti- 
 gated by the Dutch Government, with a view to expel the 
 English from Long Island and Connecticut. The fact is 
 on record, that some of the L. I. Chiefs sent a messenger 
 
96 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [FART 1, 
 
 to Connecticut with the information, that the Dutch 
 Fiscal had offered them arms, ammunition and clothing ; on 
 condition of their joining in the destruction of the English. 
 And it is added, that strong efforts were made to induce the 
 western tribes to renounce their allegiance to the Mont auk 
 chief, who was known to be the staunch friend of the Eng- 
 lish settlers. These statements were indeed, indignantly 
 denied by the Dutch Governor, and an examination invited ; 
 for which Commissioners were appointed. But they broke 
 up, without accomplishing their object, or allaying the sus- 
 picions which had been previously excited. 
 
 These threatening rumours spread fearful apprehension, to 
 the extreme end of the island ; and every town adopted 
 measures of defence. An application was made to the com- 
 missioners of the United colonies of New England for aid ; 
 and although it was defeated by the opposition of Massachu- 
 setts, the Legislature of Rhode Island, alone, resolved to send 
 help to their brethren, in this emergency. They accordingly 
 commissioned three officers to proceed to Long Island, with 
 20 volunteers, and some pieces of ordnance. And it is not 
 the least deplorable circumstance, in this expedition, that the 
 chief command was committed to Capt. John Unclerhill, of 
 Massachusetts notoriety, who, to say nothing of his moral 
 character, had learned the mode of dealing with Indians, in 
 New England, and not on Long Island. 
 
 When matters came to the worst, it appears, that a part 
 only of the Marsapeague tribe, with a few disaffected indi- 
 viduals from other tribes, whose hostility the Dutch had arous- 
 ed, and could not now control, assembled in hostile array. 
 They entrenched themselves in the town of Oysterbay, on the 
 south side, in a redoubt or fort, in extent about 50 by 30 yards, 
 the remains of which are still visible, and has ever since borne 
 the name of Fort Neck. Here, without having made any 
 aggression on the surrounding country, they were attacked by 
 the English, who after slaying a considerable number, com- 
 pletely dispersed the residue.* 
 
 This action, which constitutes the first, and the last battle, 
 between the Long Island Indians and the white settlers, took 
 place in the summer of 1653, though the precise date is not 
 known. And under all the circumstances of the case, there 
 is much reason to question, whether there was any real neces- 
 sity for the chastisement inflicted. 
 
 * Hubbard says that Underhill " having 120 men, killed 150 Indians 
 on Long Island and 300 on the main lar.d." 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABOEIV3INES OP THE ISLAND. 97 
 
 From this time forward, the L. I. Indians gave the whites 
 no cause of alarm. And though in 1675, the Governor of 
 New York, under the apprehension, that they might be se- 
 duced or compelled by the Narragansetts, to engage with them 
 in King Phillip's war, ordered all their canoes from Hurlgate 
 to Montauk to be seized, and guarded ; they tamely submitted 
 to the order, without the smallest act of resistance or aggres- 
 sion. 
 
 It has been supposed, that the native temper of these tribes, 
 was not less savage and cruel than those on the main. If this 
 is correct, their peaceable deportment can be ascribed to no- 
 thing else, than the kind and equitable treatment which they 
 always received from the whites ; and which, in many instan- 
 ces, forms a striking contrast to that which they experienced 
 in some other parts of the land. 
 
 In this connexion the following extract from Hubbard's 
 General History of New England, is worthy of special no- 
 tice. 
 
 " The Indians on Long Island were more fierce and barbarous ; for one 
 Capt. Howe, about this time, going with * or II) men to a wigwam there, 
 to demand an Indian that had killed one Hammond, an Engii-hman, the 
 Indian ran violently out with a knife in his hand, wherewith he wounded 
 one of the company) thinking to escape from them, so as they were forced 
 to kill him upon the place ; which so awed the rest, that they durst not 
 attempt any revenge. If they had been always so handled, they would 
 aot have dared to have rebelled, as they did afterwards." 
 
 Scarcely a more conclusive evidence could be furnished of 
 the inveterate prejudices against the poor Indians, that existed 
 in some parts of the country, and the unreasonable grounds 
 on which they were sustained. Here, a poor Indian was at- 
 tacked in his own domicile, by 8 or 10 armed men ; and, be- 
 cause he seizes the first weapon that lies in his way, and tries 
 to make his escape, and, in rushing through the midst of his 
 assailants, inflicts a wound upon one of them, this is to be 
 set down as conclusive evidence of extreme fierceness and 
 barbarity I And for this act of self defence, he is instantly 
 shot down as a brute. On which side ought the charge of 
 barbarism to be alleged ? The concluding sentence of the 
 above paragraph is equally worthy of animadversion. '* If 
 they had always been so handled," — yes, if such acts of cru- 
 elty had been repeated on Long Island, as they were in many 
 parts of the main, no doubt, the Indians here would have 
 been provoked to the same measures of retaliation and revenge 
 which are there recorded. But the early settlers of the isl- 
 
 5 
 
98 THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 land, by adopting and maintaining a directly opposite policy, 
 were not only preserved from all hostile combinations, but. 
 reaaily obtained redress for occasional aggressions, which 
 were scarcely more numerous here, than now occur among 
 an equal number of civilized inhabitants. 
 
 In confirmation of these views, the writer takes pleasure in 
 citing the oft-repeated testimony of his townsman and per- 
 sonal friend, the Hon. Silas Wood : — ■ 
 
 " The Indians on Long Island seem to have been less troublesome to 
 the whites, than those north of the Sound.' They ' sometimes commit- 
 ted depredations on the property of the whites.' But * it does not ap- 
 pear that they ever formed any general combination against the first set- 
 tlers, or materially interrupted the progress of their improvements.' * The 
 security of the whites must be ascribed to the means they employed to 
 preserve peace with the Indians.' ' Both the English and the Dutch 
 respected the rights of the Indians, and no land was taken up by the se- 
 veral towns, 01 by individuals, until it had been fairly purchased of the 
 chiefs of the tribe, who claimed it.' * Both powers endeavoured to pre- 
 vent the evils which usually result, from the use of spirituous liquors by 
 the Indians.' 'Thus the Dutch on the west, and the English on trie 
 east end, maintained a constant friendship with the Indian tribes in their 
 respective neighbourhoods ; and while they were friendly with each other, 
 the Indians, from one end of the island to the other, were friendly with 
 "both. It may have been partly in consequence of the destruction of their 
 warriors in their recent wars, and of their military spirit being broken by 
 their subjection to successive conquerors — but it was principally, by cul- 
 tivating the friendship of the chiefs, and particularly of the Sachem of 
 the whole— by uniform justice and kindness — by preventing excitement 
 hy artificial means — and by rendering success hopeless, by withholding 
 the means necessary to insure it, that the whites were exempted from any 
 hostile combinations of the Long Island Indians." See Wood's History ; 
 both editions. 
 
 These short extracts tell the whole story ; and it is one 
 that is equally honourable to the first settlers of the island, 
 and the Indians. And while the same judicious author re- 
 marks, '* There is no reason to believe that this exemption 
 from Indian hostilities, was owing to a better disposition, or 
 milder character of the natives of the island," it affords just 
 ground for the inference, that if the rights of the aborigines, 
 in every part of the country, had been as sacredly respected, 
 and the same means had been used to secure and preserve their 
 friendship, the horrors of Indian aggressions, and the bloody 
 measures of retaliation which disgrace the early annals of our 
 country, would have been greatly diminished, if not entirely 
 prevented. The fact is, the Indians have been, not only a 
 deeply injured, but a grossly misrepresented people. And as 
 much as they have been traduced and vilified, the writer can- 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 99 
 
 not but regard them as a noble, generous, high-minded race : 
 and he would rather trust his property or life, in the hand of 
 one of these natives of the forest, if one could be found un- 
 contaminated by the vices of the white man, than-to nine out 
 of ten of their customary revilers. 
 
 To the ravages of war, those of pestilence must be added 
 as a principal means of diminishing the aboriginal population 
 of the island. In 1658, a most terrible disease invaded the 
 Indians, through the whole extent of the island ; and it was 
 supposed that in the course of that year and the next succeed- 
 ing, nearly two thirds of their number were swept into the 
 grave. At this awful period, Wyandanch, the last mighty 
 Chieftain of Paumanacke, fell a victim, not however to the 
 prevailing distemper, but, as it was alleged, by poison; though 
 by whose instigation or agency, is not told. He died in 
 1659, leaving a son, called Weoncombone, and the daughter, 
 who had been rescued from captivity. 
 
 The son, being a minor, then in his 19th year, had been, by 
 his father's appointment, placed under the guardianship of 
 Lyon Gardiner. He was acknowledged, both by the Indians 
 and the whites, as the legitimate successor, but the govern- 
 ment was administered by Wicchitaubit, the widow of the de- 
 ceased chief, under the title of " Sachem or Sung-squaw" a 
 term of similar import with Queen-dowager. She, however, 
 enjoyed the power but a short time, being cut off by disease, 
 Aug. 6th, 1660. The government then devolved on the 
 young Sachem, who exercised supreme authority, under the 
 advice of his guardian.* 
 
 It was at this time that the Indians were compelled to leave 
 their favourite peninsula, and take up their residence near 
 Easthampton, to enjoy the protection of the whites against 
 their foes across the water. And being thus obliged to abandon 
 this delectable spot, the ancient capital of the kingdom, and 
 literally " the land of their fathers' sepulchres," they conveyed 
 the whole peninsula of Montauk from Neapeague Beach to 
 Womponomon, to the inhabitants of the town for <£100. They 
 reserved, however, the right of redemption, if they should ever 
 
 * That the Montauk Sachem, up to this time, was the acknowledged 
 Chief of the whole island, is evident from the fact, that a contract be- 
 tween the people of Hempstead and the Marsapeague, Mericoke and 
 Rockaway Indians, settling the boundaries of their lands, made b}' order 
 of Wyandanch in 1658, has thcfollowing endorsement. 
 
 " Subscribed by Weoncombone, Montauk Sachem, after the death of 
 his father, this 14th day of February, 1660." 
 
 Lore. 
 
100 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 be disposed to return to this beloved spot ; and £ usu-fruct 
 title to a part of the land, which the remnants of the tribe 
 have continued to enjoy. 
 
 In 1662, the small-pox broke out among the Indians, and 
 prevailed so extensively, and with so much virulence, that the 
 inhabitants of the town felt compelled to prohibit, under severe 
 penalties, all intercourse with them. Multitudes were again 
 swept into the grave ; and among others, the young Sachem, 
 who, having just arrived at his majority, had assumed the un- 
 restrained exercise of supreme power. Whether his sister 
 survived him, is not known. But as no mention of her name 
 occurs after this period, it has been supposed that she died of 
 the same loathsome disease. And thus the royal race of Pau- 
 manacke became extinct. The glory of the " Sachems of Se- 
 wanhacka" had expired with the brave and generous Wyan- 
 danch. His son had no opportunity to emulate the noble and 
 amiable qualities of his father. His daughter, made a captive 
 and a widow in the very hour of her espousals, fell an early 
 prey to disease ; and thus " the blood of this mighty Chief, who 
 had been for many years a terror to his enemies, and a bene- 
 factor to his friends, whose influence and authority had been 
 exercised probably over a million and a half* of the human 
 race, like that of the Mingo brave, runs not now in the veins 
 of any living being." 
 
 Many a colossal monument has been reared towards hea- 
 ven, and inscribed with names less worthy of memorial, than 
 that of the Grand Sachem of Sewanhacka. Even Brandt and 
 Red Jacket, and other great warriors of aboriginal descent, 
 are immortalized by their deeds of blood in the annals of the 
 historian, while the name of Wyandanch — the white marts 
 unwavering friend — sleeps in all the silence and solitude of 
 Montauk. It is the fashion of the world to immortalize the 
 destroyers of men ; while their benefactors are permitted to 
 sink into oblivion. 
 
 Since the death of Weoncombone, there has been no Grand 
 Sachem, or even Sagamore of a single tribe, who could com- 
 mand obedience from his subjects, or the respect of their 
 neighbours. Though the dignity was nominally maintained 
 for many years, it was rather the shadow of what had been, 
 than the depository of authority and power. And all the abo- 
 riginal tribes of the island have been, from that time, in the 
 
 * This is probably a large estimate of the former aboriginal population 
 of the island, for which the present writer is not answerable. 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 101 
 
 condition of Israel as described bv the prophet : " Without a 
 king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and with- 
 out an image, and without an ephod, and without a terra- 
 phim," to this day. 
 
 To the ravages of war and pestilence, as direct causes of 
 diminishing the aboriginal population, must be added their 
 instinctive love, or insatiable thirst, for intoxicating liquors ; 
 which, with all the restrictions imposed by the early, conscien- 
 tious settlers, they could not be prevented from indulging. To 
 the honour of many of the towns, their early records contain 
 rigid prohibitions to the introduction of intoxicating drinks 
 among the Indians, either for love or money ; and these laws 
 were strictly enforced. But as the white population increased, 
 the facilities for procuring this destructive element increased, 
 till the work of death, which has been gradually going on, and 
 with constantly-increasing rapidity, through two entire cen- 
 turies, has well-nigh become complete. There are many per- 
 sons now living who can well remember that there were a few 
 remnants of several tribes, in different parts of the island, who 
 formerly travelled about, with a huge back-load of baskets, 
 which they had made and fancifully adorned with various 
 colours ; or a large bundle of hickory brooms and scrub- 
 brushes, by the sale of which they assisted themselves to bread 
 and clothing. But such a sight is now rarely seen. Except- 
 ing here and there an individual, who, by his complexion and 
 straight black hair, gives some evidence of aboriginal descent, 
 the remains of all the original tribes of the island are almost 
 exclusively confined to the two small settlements of Shinne- 
 cock and Montauk. The former consists of about thirty-five 
 families, embracing one hundred and forty individuals, not 
 more than one of whom can boast of pure aboriginal blood ; 
 and the other, only three families, comprehending eight or 
 ten individuals. And the present prospect is, that in a few 
 more years the race will be extinct, and their reserved lands 
 will fall, for the want of a claimant, into the hands of the 
 white man. 
 
 Besides these, there are a few remnants similarly amalga- 
 mated with African blood, at Poosepatuck, near Moriches, in 
 the south part of the town of Brookhaven. If others exist, 
 they consist only of single families scattered in different parts 
 of the island. 
 
 In regard to the arts of life, the Long Island Indians had 
 made little or no progress beyond their brethren on the main. 
 They were, indeed, among (he principal manufacturers of 
 
102 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 wampum, which was the circulating medium of the country, 
 besides being used for ornamental purposes ; and that made 
 by the natives of the island was deemed the most beautiful 
 and valuable. This, it is evident, was the most delicate and 
 difficult art practised among them. To reduce fragments of 
 sea-shells to the size and exterior form of little beads, though 
 a long and tedious process, might be readily done. But then, 
 without an iron-tool, of any description, to perforate each one, 
 so as to be capable of being strung, appears to us perfectly 
 impracticable. How this was accomplished seems never to 
 have been handed down, as it was laid aside very soon after 
 the white settlers came in. In all payments for land, they 
 required, among other articles, a certain number of " muxes," 
 which were small brad-awls, that they then used in the manu- 
 facture of wampum. 
 
 They also manufactured a species of earthern ware, for 
 domestic purposes ; also matting of reeds and rushes, mocca- 
 sins, baskets and wooden bowls. But their greatest labour 
 and skill were applied to the manufacture of the implements 
 of war, and the tools necessary to their production. Their 
 stone axes were among their most difficult and curious pro- 
 ductions, of which specimens still exist. Their arrow-heads, 
 formed out of the flint-stone, and chipped down to a sharp 
 point, with a shank and neck to be attached to the shaft, ap- 
 pear to have been incapable of construction without metallic 
 tools, of which they had none. Their bows and bow-strings 
 of more easy contrivance, were made with singular judgment 
 and taste. But their greatest works of art were their sea- 
 craft. Their canoes were severally formed from trees, cut 
 down with stone axes, and excavated by the alternate use of 
 fire and their rude tools. It is said that some of their canoes 
 were capable of carrying eighty persons ; and that, in these, 
 they made voyages as far as New-York and Boston. As in 
 other parts of the country, the women not only managed the 
 affairs of the wigwam, but performed the labours of the field, 
 with no aid from the other sex except that of the old men and 
 children. 
 
 In regard to their religion, the Long Island Indians were 
 polytheists and idolaters. Besides the good and the evil spirit, 
 to each of which they seemed to ascribe supreme power, they 
 had a god for each of the four corners of the earth, the four 
 seasons of the year, and others of the elements of nature, the 
 productions of the earth, the vicissitudes of day and night, be- 
 sides a number of domestic deities. The good deity they 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 103 
 
 called CauhluntoowuU and the evil spirit was named Mutche- 
 shesumetook ; to both of which they paid homage and offered 
 sacrifices. They had small idols or images which, they sup- 
 posed, were acquainted with the will of the gods, and made it 
 known to the pawwaics, or priests. These possessed unbound- 
 ed influence, from their supposed intercourse with the gods and 
 knowledge of their will. Their religious festivals were at- 
 tended with the most violent gesticulations and horrible yells, 
 as well as other disorders. They firmly believed in a future 
 state of existence, in a far distant country to the west, where 
 the brave and good would enjoy themselves eternally in sing- 
 ing, feasting, hunting and dancing ; while the coward and 
 traitor, the thief and liar, would be eternally condemned to 
 servile labour, so much despised by the Indian ; which, in its 
 results, should be attended with endless disappointment. The 
 dead were buried in all their personal attire ; and if warriors, 
 in their arms. The body was placed in a sitting posture, and 
 after being covered up, a bowl of seaump (pounded corn) was 
 placed on the grave to support the occupant on his imagined 
 journey. The period of mourning continued a full year, the 
 close of which was celebrated with a feast, accompanied with 
 dancing, that continued from the setting to the rising of the 
 sun. It was a peculiar custom of this singular people, never 
 to mention the names of their departed friends, after their re- 
 mains were deposited in tombs ; and it was regarded as an in- 
 sult if repeated by others. Every wigwam in which death oc- 
 curred was immediately demolished, and a new one, if needed, 
 erected in its stead. 
 
 Although the recital of the measures adopted for the chris- 
 tian instruction of the Indians, and the success which attended 
 them, properly belongs to a subsequent part of this work ; it 
 will, for the sake of completing the history of this interesting 
 people, be combined with the present article. 
 
 At a veiy early period after the first settlements on the 
 island were formed, this benevolent work was undertaken. 
 In 1653, the Rev. Mr. Leverich, who was one of the first 
 purchasers of Oysterbay, and had been studying the Indian 
 language in Massachusetts, was employed by the " Society 
 for propagating the gospel in New England" as a teacher of 
 the natives on the island. In this employment he spent five 
 years. How much of his time was devoted to the Indians, 
 or how extensively his services were rendered, there are no 
 means of ascertaining. 
 
 After the settlement of East Hampton, the Rev. Mr. James, 
 
104 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PAXT !» 
 
 the first minister of that town, moved with compassion for the 
 ignorance and moral darkness of the Indians, commenced the 
 study of their language, with the design of instructing thera 
 in the way of life and salvation. It appears that he was em- 
 ployed by the same Society about the year 1660, but how 
 long he continued in the work, cannot be determined. His 
 exertions were principally, if not exclusively, bestowed upon 
 the Montauk tribe. 
 
 There were probably other individuals, in different parts of 
 the island, who devoted more or less time to their religious 
 instruction. But it is lamentable to record the fact, that for 
 about ICO years, these benevolent exertions appear to have 
 been made in vain. The Indians, almost with one consent, 
 adhered to the religious opinions and the senseless rites of 
 their ancestors ; and exhibited no inclination to receive the 
 blessed gospel. It seems probable, that after the experiment 
 of a few years had been made, the work was abandoned, as 
 altogether hopeless. 
 
 This state of things remained until towards the middle of 
 the 18th century. In 1741, the New York Committee of the 
 Society already named, engaged Mr. Azariah Horton, (a na- 
 tive of Southold) as a missionary, to be exclusively employed 
 in the instruction of the Long Island Indians; and for this 
 purpose, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, 
 in that year, by the Presbytery of New York. 
 
 Although human instrumentality, at all times and under all 
 circumstances, is dependent, for its efficacy, on the divine 
 blessing, it will not be out of place to remark, that both the 
 character of the missionary, and the time of his appointment, 
 were peculiarly favourable to the results that were realized. 
 Though the good man has long since gone down to the grave, 
 and no memoir or extended biographical sketch of his life 
 perpetuates his memory, and no memorial remains but the 
 simple and concise record of his daily labours, and some of 
 their obvious results, he was manifestly a humble, laborious, 
 and self denying servant of the cross, His charge extended 
 along the whole southern shore of the island, for more than 
 lOl) miles, upon which the remnants of these once numerous 
 tribes, at that time reduced to " 400, old and young," were 
 scattered. And here, you trace him, four or five times a year, 
 from Montauk to Rockaway, the two extreme points, back and 
 forth, subsisting upon Indian fare — sleeping in their frail 
 wigwams — teaching them to read the word of God, and 
 almost daily preaching to them the gospel of Christ* 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 105 
 
 The time of his appointment was that notable period, at 
 which it had pleased the King of Zion, to bestow such a copious 
 and extensive effusion of his Spirit, on the American churches. 
 And while thousands, in every part of the land, were raising 
 the anxious enquiry, " What must we do to be saved V He, 
 who is " no respecter of persons," saw fit to send his devoted 
 servant, to these benighted savages, with the same message of 
 salvation, and accompanied it with " the dispensation of the 
 same Spirit." And while the sceptic is always ready to 
 raise the cry of fanaticism and priestcraft, against the work of 
 God, in the conversion of souls, the devout christian, and even 
 the candid rationalist, can scarcely fail to acknowledge the 
 general awakening of that day, notwithstanding the human 
 infirmities, with which it was, in some cases, disfigured, as a 
 supernatural operation, when he sees these ignorant and 
 degraded savages, who for 100 years had strenuously rejected 
 a proffered gospel, now melted down, and brought to bow with 
 contrite hearts to the message of grace. And let it be par- 
 ticularly noticed, that these effects were produced, not by the 
 powerful appeals of an eloquent preacher, addressed to the 
 passions and sympathies of his hearers, but often by the slow* 
 communication of divine truth, through the imperfect me« 
 dium of a dull interpreter. And besides this, these astonishing 
 results were realized, not on a few special occasions, and in 
 one or two populous neighbourhoods, but, during several suc- 
 cessive years, and throughout the length of the island. 
 
 A few extracts only can be given from the journal of this 
 indefatigable missionary, to illustrate these remarks. 
 
 " Rockaway, June 6th, 1742; preached. My hearers attended with 
 seriousness, and appeared somewhat thoughtful. 
 
 " Islip, June 8th ; preached. Two awakened to a considerable sense 
 of their sinful dangerous condition ; others concerned before, brought 
 under fresh and strong impressions of their guilty state, of their need of 
 Christ, and to earnest inquiries after an interest in him, and, in general, 
 they are very devout and attentive. 
 
 " Moriches, June 13th ; preached. Two Indians awakened, and seve- 
 ral others under distressing concern of mind, &c. Most of these are 
 endeavouring to learn to read. 
 
 '" Shinnecock, June 15th. Preached ; and surely the Lord was in this 
 place ; his power made known, in bringing some that were concerned 
 before, under distressing apprehensions of the wrath of God, of their need 
 of Christ and his salvation, and in refreshing some that were hopefully his 
 own children, by the refreshing influences of his blessed Spirit. 
 
 " —June 16th. Spent the forenoon in conversing with the In- 
 dians. P. M. preached. Many were under distressing concern, filled 
 with anxiety of mind, and inquired, ' What they must do to be saved.' 
 Some were abundantly refreshed with joy and comfort in the Holy Ghost. 
 
 5* 
 
106 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 what adoring thoughts of free grace and redeeming love ! O what 
 wonder did they express at Christ's stooping to them, poor undeserving 
 creatures ! The Lord was with us of a truth. 
 
 " ' June 18th. Arrived at Montauk. The Indians gladly re- 
 ceived me. Many among them are now Bick. 
 
 " June 19th. Spent most of the day in visiting, from wigwam to wig- 
 wam, both the sick and well. 
 
 " June 20th, preached, &c. 
 
 " June 23d. Spent most of the day in visiting. Conversed with an 
 Indian and three squaws, who, by the accounts they gave, and their con- 
 duct and conversation consequent thereupon, are hopefully converted. 
 And these conversions were wrought, according to their accounts, while 
 
 1 was upon my journey to the western Indians upon Long Island. 
 
 44 July 5th. This day conversed with an Indian girl, by an interpreter, 
 and I hope she has had a saving change wrought in her heart. This, 
 while I was gone westward. 
 
 44 July 8th. Expounded : and at this exercise an Indian, (who was hope- 
 fully converted while I was westward) owned the covenant and was bap- 
 tized, together with four of his children. 
 
 44 July 15th. Preached. Former concern continued. Two squaws owned 
 the covenant, and were baptized. These were hopefully converted last 
 October. 
 
 44 Shinnecock, July 22nd. This evening, gave my dear people some cau- 
 tions and warnings against some irregularities, that abound in our land 
 at this day ; and by which their best interest has been much endangered. 
 After this, preached. Some had their distress renewed and increased. 
 Others appeared to be sweetly composed, and to find, by fresh experience, 
 the ways of religion to be ways of pleasantness, and her paths peace. 
 
 44 Moriches, Aug. 15th. Preached. Some were deeply distressed. 
 Some that attended came 12 miles, and others 20, on purpose to hear the 
 word preached. 
 
 44 Montauk, Aug. 22. Preached. This day the power of the Lord was 
 evidently displayed in strengthening the convictions of some, and height- 
 ening the joy of others. It may be noted, that seven squaws came hither 
 from Shinnecock, on purpose to attend public worship, and that one of the 
 number was hopefully converted in the time of service, and another in 
 the evening. 
 
 44 Shinnecock, Sept. 10th. Visited and preached. The outpourings of 
 the Spirit still evident and conspicuous among my dear people, &c. 
 
 44 Islip, October 6th. Spent the evening in giving instructions and cau- 
 tions to some of my Indian people gathered together for that purpose. 
 They were greedy to hear, and very thankful to me for my instructions. 
 It may be noted, these Indians have frequently gone (since I left them 
 last summer) 16 miles to attend public worship. 
 
 44 Rockaway, Oct. 10th. Preached. The Indians attended with serious- 
 ness, and some appeared to be under some awakenings about their eternal 
 safety. 
 
 44 lslip, Oct. 24th. Preached. Some deeply concerned. 
 
 44 Mastick, Oct. 211th. Preached. They appeared serious and thoughtful. 
 
 44 Moriches, Oct. 31. Preached. Some deeply concerned. 
 
 44 Montauk, Nov. 11th. Conversed with an old Indian, who appears to 
 have found the Lord Jesus by faith. This, while I was gone westward. 
 
 44 Quaog, Dec. 19. Preached. They seriously attended, and some con- 
 s' derable movings accompanied the exercises of the day* 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 107 
 
 •' Moriches, Dec. 20th. In the evening preached. Some few were led 
 to commend the dear Redeemer, from a view of his special love to their 
 souls, and to acknowledge their own meanness and unworthiness. Some 
 were deeply distressed, &c. At this exercise one squaw hopefully con- 
 verted. 
 
 " Quaog, Dec. 24. Visited. In the evening preached, attended with en- 
 couraging appearances. It may be noted, that 9 or 10 Indians came to 
 the meeting 12 miles, in a wet, stormy time. 
 
 " , Dec. 26th. Preached. Some favoured with lively views of the 
 
 glory of Christ, and their mouths filled with praises to him. Others deeply 
 distressed. 
 
 " Montauk, Jan. 2, 1742-3. Preached. Many of God's children fa- 
 voured with almost overcoming discoveries of divine love, which raised 
 their affections on high, and filled their souls with holy transport and 
 sweet nourishment, and made them with pleasure speak forth the praises 
 of their dear Redeemer ; and these discoveries were attended with a deep 
 and abasing sense of their own unworthiness ; and led them to pity their 
 poor Christless friends. 
 
 " Shinnccock, Jan. 30th. Visited. 
 
 " Quaog, Jan. 23rd. Preached. Some were, as I trust, refreshed from 
 on high, and their mouths filled with praises to the blessed and glorious 
 Jesus. Some others were deeply distressed in mind, and brought to inquire 
 with solicitude after an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 " Montauk, Feb. 5th. Conversed with one squaw, and I can't but hope 
 she has received a saving change, and that, a few days ago. 
 
 " Moriches, March 2nd. Preached. They attended with seriousness, 
 and appeared forward to receive instruction. 
 
 " Islip, March 6"th. Some considerably affected with a sense of their un- 
 done estate. 
 
 " Rockaway, April 14th. Preached. Some few appeared somewhat 
 attentive and thoughtful. 
 
 " Islip, April 17th. Preached. Some were made sensible of their sins in 
 some measure, &c. 
 
 " Shinnecock, April 20th. Returned to the Indians there, and they ap. 
 peared much rejoiced, &c. 
 
 Montauk, April 24th. Preached. Some were enlivened and re- 
 freshed, &c. 
 
 " Rockaway, May 8th. Preached. There was a forwardness in some 
 to receive instruction. I cannot well omit observing, the great necessity 
 of one to instruct, caution, and exhort them in a more steady and unin- 
 terrupted method than I possibly can, seeing they, with the Indians of 
 many other places upon Long Island, live at so great a distance from each 
 other, it being at least 100 miles from the two extremes. 
 
 " Smithfield, May 18th. After a long and tedious journey arrived at 
 Smithfield upon Delaware, &c. 
 
 " Moriches, June 2nd. Preached. Some were distressed under a sense 
 of sin. The Indians hereabouts are much reformed, and very ready to re- 
 ceive instruction. 
 
 '■ Shinnecock, Sept. 8th. This day was observed as a day of public 
 thanksgiving. The exercise was attended with seriousness and decency. 
 A beautiful sight to behold, those gathered together to worship and bless 
 God, who before gospel light shone upon them, were wont to meet to sing 
 and dance, carouse and give loose to vain mirth and jollity. 
 
 " Quaog, Dec. 10th. This morning, I had the pleasure to hear three In- 
 
108 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND, [PART I, 
 
 dian children repeat a considerable part of the Assembly's catechism, and 
 to hear each of them spell in ihe Psalter, and the two eldest repeat the 
 two first of David's psalms. Their mother can read well, and is painful, 
 after her capacity, in giving instructions to her children. (This woman 
 was afterwards employed as a school-teacher at Montauk.) 
 
 44 Dec. 13th. After divine service, I told my people the news I had re- 
 ceived from Scotland, viz., of my continuance among the Long Island In- 
 dians. They universally manifested what great joy and satisfaction it 
 was to them, and they explicitly declared their thanks to the great God, 
 for his kind Providence herein. 
 
 44 Montauk, Dec. 25th. Preached. Some of the children of God brought 
 to a deeper acquaintance of their own hearts, and made to mourn bitterly 
 under a sense of their indwelling corruptions. Towards evening, in- 
 Btructed 4 or 5 squaws, who came to visit me, about the great business of 
 salvation, 
 
 44 Quaog, Jan. 8th, 1 743-4. Preached. Some had their concern re- 
 vived and increased. The exercises of this day were attended with much 
 of the divine power. 
 
 44 Moriches, Jan. 23. Preached in the evening. Visibly attended with 
 divine power. A great part of my hearers this evening came from Quaog, 
 which is 12 miles, and the Indians of this place go frequently thereto 
 meeting. 
 
 44 Montauk, Jan. 29. Preached. Some few refreshed. 
 
 41 Quaog, Feb. 5. Preached. Some distressed ; others sweetly refreshed." 
 
 In making these extracts, the object has not been to furnish 
 a few isolated passages of the most remarkable character, but 
 to exhibit several deeply interesting facts connected with the 
 work of grace, among this ignorant and benighted race ; such 
 as the following. 
 
 1. The incessant and extended labours of this devoted and 
 self-denying servant of the cross. He appears to have been 
 untiring in his efforts for the salvation of perishing souls. 
 While the principal settlements of the Indians were at Mon- 
 tauk and Shinnecock, and therefore most of his time was 
 spent there, still we find him travelling, several times a year, 
 from one end of the island to the other, to proclaim the mes- 
 sage of salvation. And then, the extreme caution with which 
 he expresses his hopes of the favorable appearances among 
 them, warrants the highest confidence in the truth of his 
 statements. 
 
 2. While the work of grace was manifestly wrought by 
 the instrumentality of divine truth, communicated in preach- 
 ing and conversation, these hopeful conversions, in numerous 
 instances, did not take place under the excitement of public 
 meetings, but even in the absence of the missionary to other 
 parts of his charge ; plainly showing that it was the work of 
 God and not of man. 
 
 3. The long continumce of this blcssei work furnishes 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND. 109 
 
 another evidence of its genuineness. It was not the hot-bed 
 production of a few days or weeks, originating in special 
 efforts to produce a public excitement, and then subsiding 
 into a death-like coldness, as soon as those exercises were 
 suspended. But it commenced and was continued for months 
 and even years, by the occasional labours of a single mission- 
 ary, travelling back and forth, over a region more than one 
 hundred miles in extent. And yet, in every part of this vast 
 field, the same moral phenomena were exhibited, to a greater 
 or less extent, throughout this protracted season of mercy. 
 And when we take into consideration the numerous disadvan- 
 tages under which these labours were performed, it seems that 
 infidelity itself, if associated with a small degree of candour, 
 must be constrained to acknowledge, that such results could 
 not be ascribed to mere human ingenuity or efficiency. 
 
 Mr. Horton remained in the service of the L. I. Indians, 
 eleven years. During the first three years, which his printed 
 journal covers, he appears to have confined himself constantly 
 to his field of labour. In May, 1742, he attended the Synod 
 in Philadelphia, and in the year following, he spent a fortnight 
 in visiting the Indians on the Delaware river, for the purpose 
 of preparing the way for the establishment of a mission among 
 them. With these short intervals, not of relaxation, but of a 
 mere change of labour, he pursued his solitary work, uncheer- 
 ed by the presence of a single fellow-labourer, except that in 
 February 1742, David Bramard, who was then preparing to 
 set out on a similar embassy of mercy, paid him a short visit, 
 and preached a single discourse to his ' poor dear people.' In 
 1752, Mr. Horton, from what cause is not known, left the 
 island, and was settled, that same year, at South Hanover or 
 Bottle hill, N. J., a settlement that had been formed in part 
 by L. I. people. Here a church had been recently formed, 
 of which Mr. II. was the first pastor. Here he spent his days 
 and laid his bones. His tomb-stone bears the following sim- 
 ple inscription : — 
 
 " In memory of the Rev. Azariah Horton, for 25 years 
 pastor of this church. Died March 27th, 1777, aged 62 
 years." 
 
 Mr. H. was evidently a very respectable minister in his 
 day. He was one of the most constant attendants on the 
 judicatories of the church — was seldom absent from the meet- 
 ings of the Synod, and was frequently appointed on its com- 
 mission. And yet his memory has well nigh passed away. 
 It is still true, that " the righteous perish, and no man layeth 
 
110 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [FART 1, 
 
 it to heart," even while men of far less excellence and useful- 
 ness, obtain a temporary renown, by a splendid monument, or 
 a flattering memoir. But the name of Azariah Horton, 
 though little else of the good man remains, is worthy to live 
 in the history of Indian missions, and should never perish 
 from the annals of Long Island. 
 
 In 1753, which was the year immediately after Mr. 
 Horton left the Island, Sampson Occum was sent as a teacher 
 to the Indians. He was a native of the Mohegan tribe in 
 Connecticut, the remnants of which still exist on the west 
 side of the Thames, between New London and Norwich. 
 He was born in 1723, and was hopefully converted in 1741, 
 being then in his 18th year. Having a strong desire to 
 qualify himself for usefulness, he sought, and in December, 
 1743, obtained admission into the school of the Rev. Eleazar 
 Wheelock, of Lebanon. Here he remained four or five 
 years. His docility and progress were such as not only to 
 give great satisfaction to his instructer, but are supposed 
 to have suggested and encouraged the establishment of 
 ** Moor's Charity School," which Mr. Wheelock soon after- 
 wards founded, for the special instruction of the natives, and, 
 in which Brandt and others were subsequently educated. 
 This school, it is well known became the basis of Dartmouth 
 College in New Hampshire. This, therefore, may be regard- 
 ed as one of those events, which are frequently developed 
 in the scheme of Providence, in which great results flow 
 apparently from the most insignificant causes. 
 
 When Occum was first sent to Long Island, it was simply 
 in the capacity of a teacher : and he devoted himself, with 
 great assiduity, to the instruction of both children and adults. 
 But being afterwards licensed by the Windham Association, 
 he became a stated preacher of the gospel among them. On 
 the 30th of Aug. 1759, he was ordained by the Presbytery of 
 Suffolk, and though he was afterwards variously employed in 
 New England and elsewhere, he retained his connexion 
 with the Presbyterian church, to the day of his death. 
 
 In 1765, Occum was sent by Mr. Wheelock, in company 
 with the Rev. Mr. Whitaker, of Norwich, to England to pro- 
 cure funds for " Moor's Charity School." He was the first 
 Indian preacher that ever appeared in Great Britain, and na- 
 turally awakened great curiosity, and excited much attention ; 
 not only in the country towns, but even at the capital. He 
 travelled through England into Scotland; and from Feb. 16th, 
 3766, to July 22nd, 1767, he preached between 3 and 400 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. Ill 
 
 times. The houses in which he officiated were thronged, and 
 he preached to great acceptance. 
 
 He was eminently successful in regard to the object of his 
 mission. In England he collected about £7,000 ($33,000,) 
 and in Scotland between 2 and £3,000 ; (more than $40,000 
 in all,) which was invested in British funds, for the benevolent 
 object in view. The king himself subscribed £200, and Lord 
 Dartmouth, 50 guineas. 
 
 But the object of his mission seems to have met with little 
 favour from the dignitaries of the established church. The 
 following is an extract from a letter which he wrote, after his 
 return home : — 
 
 " Now I am in my own country, I may freely inform you 
 of what I honestly and soberly think of the bishops, lord-bish- 
 ops, and arch bishops of England. In my view, they don't 
 look like gospel bishops, or ministers of Christ — -1 can't find 
 them in the bible. I think they a good deal resemble the anti- 
 christian popes. I find the gospel bishops resemble, in some 
 good measure, their good Master, and they follow him in the 
 example he has left them. They discover meekness and hu- 
 mility ; are gentle and kind unto all men — ready to do good 
 unto all — they are compassionate and merciful unto the mise- 
 rable, and charitable to the poor. — But I did not find the bish- 
 ops of England so. Upon my word, if I never spoke the 
 truth before, I do now. I waited on a number of bishops and 
 represented to them the miserable and wretched situation of 
 the poor Indians, who are perishing for lack of spiritual know- 
 ledge, and begged their assistance in evangelizing these poor 
 heathen. But, if you can believe me, they never gave us one 
 single brass farthing. It seems to me that they are very in- 
 different whether the poor Indians go to heaven or hell. I 
 can't help my thoughts, and I am apt to think, that they don't 
 want the Indians to go to heaven with them. But I hope, by 
 the grace of God that some of them (the Indians,) will reach 
 heaven ; and I believe they will be as welcome there as the 
 bishops." 
 
 In 1786 Occum removed with a number of the N. E. in- 
 dians, and a few from Long Island, to the Brothertown tract, 
 in Oneida county, where he spent the remainder of his days. 
 In 1790, he was set off from the presbytery of Suffolk, with 
 others, to constitute the presbytery of Albany. He died sud- 
 denly July 14th, 1792, in the 69th year of his age. 
 
 The following account of his departure was prepared from 
 the recital of his wife. 
 
112 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 " For some time he had a presentiment that his death was 
 near. As he accustomed himself, in his earlier life, to the 
 manufacture of pails and cooper-ware, he still devoted what 
 strength he had, when leisure permitted, to the same employ- 
 ment. One day he observed to his wife, that he must finish a 
 churn soon, that he had commenced, or he might not live to do 
 it. He went out to his work, a little distance from the house, 
 finished the churn, and started to return. His wife observed 
 him crossing a run of water near the house, upon a pole ; look- 
 ing towards him again, a few moments after, she saw that he 
 had fallen ; and going to him she found him dead." His fu- 
 neral was attended by more than 300 Indians, who lamented 
 him as a father. The Rev. Mr. Kirkland preached on the oc* 
 casion. 
 
 Occum was in many respects a remarkable man. "He 
 was judged to be well accomplished and peculiarly turned to 
 teach and edify his savage brethren. Nor was he neglected 
 by the polished inhabitants of the capital towns. Though for 
 many years, he was without polite conversation, and destitute 
 of a library, yet he preached to good acceptance in New York, 
 Boston, and other populous places. By the best judges he 
 was said to be an excellent preacher in his own language ; 
 and his influence among the Indians was for a long time 
 great." About the time of his leaving Montauk, Dr. Buel 
 gives the following account of him : "Asa preacher of the 
 gospel, he seems always to have in view the end of the min- 
 istry, the glory of God and the salvation of men. His man- 
 ner of expression when he preaches to the Indians is vastly 
 more natural, free, clear and eloquent, quick and powerful, 
 than when he preaches to others. He is the glory of the In- 
 dian nation." Dr. Dvvight says, "I heard Mr. Occum twice. 
 His discourses, though not proofs of superior talents, were de- 
 cent, and his utterance in some degree, eloquent. There is 
 satisfactory evidence that he was a man of piety." 
 
 Occum was no contemptible poet, though most of his me- 
 trical productions have suffered those mutilations and emen- 
 dations, which the superior wisdom and elastic consciences 
 of the present age, have felt fully authorized to make, in the 
 works of greater men than Occum, both living and dead. 
 But waving the morality of this question, it may be remarked 
 that if the present enlightened age can produce better poetry, 
 especially lyric poetry, than has ever been written before, 
 there is perfect liberty for every one to try his hand. But it 
 does not seem to be exactly right, to mutilate and still pub- 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 113 
 
 lish under their names, the poetry of men who are in their 
 graves, and therefore have not the opportunity to repudiate 
 words and sentiments and rhymes that they never perpe- 
 trated. Especially is this to be regretted in the case that has 
 occasioned these remarks. Every reader wishes to see such 
 a man as Occum, just as he was, and his works just as he left 
 them ; and this is absolutely necessary to a correct estimate 
 of his abilities. 
 
 As fair a specimen of Occum's lyrick poetry as the reader 
 can be referred to, is that hymn, which is to be found in many 
 collections, beginning " Awak'd by Si?iai's awful sound.'' 1 
 The following scrap, written at a later period, though pos- 
 sessing less poetic merit, has probably undergone fewer emen- 
 dations, and while it breathes the same pious spirit, is not un- 
 worthy of preservation. 
 
 11 Give all your time to God 
 
 In prayer and praise, 
 Your thoughts from vanity 
 
 To heaven raise. 
 
 " Our work, so great, requires 
 Our few short years ; 
 Neglected — Heav'n is changed 
 To groans and tears. 
 
 " Except we cultivate 
 What God has giv'n, 
 We shall repent too late 
 And miss of heaven." 
 
 The writer is not aware that Occum ever committed any 
 of his sermons to the press, except a discourse on Rom. vi. 
 23, which he preached at the execution of Moses Paul, an In- 
 dian, at Newhaven, Conn., September 2d, 1772, for murder. 
 There are many parts of this sermon which do equal honour 
 to the head and heart of the preacher ; and it would be well, 
 if all who undertake to teach men the way to heaven, were 
 as explicit and correct in their directions. In applying his 
 subject to the wretched convict, he uses the following lan- 
 guage. 
 
 " This is a call — a gracious call to you, poor Moses, under your present 
 burdens and distresses. Christ alone has a right to call sinners to himself. 
 It would be presumption for a mighty angel to call sinners in this man- 
 ner ; and were it possible for you to apply to all God's creatures, they 
 would, with one voice, tell you, that it was not in them, to help you. Go 
 to all the means of grace, they would prove miserable helps without Christ 
 himself. Yea, apply to all the ministers of the gospel ; they would all 
 say, that it was not in them, but that they were only indexes, as it were, 
 
114 THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 to point out to you the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of sinners. 
 Go to all the angels of heaven they would do the same. Yea, go to 
 God the Father himself; without Christ, he could not help you : to speak 
 after the manner of men, he would also point you to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and say, " This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." 
 Thus you see, poor Moses, there is none in heaven, or on the earth, that 
 can help you, but Christ — he alone has power to save and to give life." 
 
 This is but a small portion of his pointed address to the 
 criminal. He afterwards brings into view the vicarious suf- 
 ferings of Christ, and urges the poor man to rely on his infi- 
 nite merits — exhibiting, in the whole, the clearest views of 
 the gospel plan of salvation, and the most ardent love for 
 perishing souls. 
 
 But it must not be concealed that Occum was in several 
 instances, overtaken with the besetting sin of the poor In- 
 dians, by which his christian and ministerial character was 
 greatly dishonoured, or to use his own penitential language 
 to the Presbytery of Suffolk in a letter dated June 9th, 1664, 
 in which he acknowledges himself " to have been shamefully 
 overtaken with strong drink, by which I have greatly wound- 
 ed the cause of God, blemished the pure religion of Jesus 
 Christ, blackened my own character, and hurt my own soul." 
 But he finally obtained the victory over himself, and lived 
 and died, as was believed, a truly good man. 
 
 The results of his labours with the Long Island Indians, 
 during 6 years, are thus expressed in his own words. " Many 
 of them can read, write, and cypher well , but they are not 
 so zealous in religion now, as they were some years ago." 
 
 From the time that Occum left the island, for about 20 
 years, the writer has been unable to discover any special la- 
 bours bestowed on the Indians, except those of one of their 
 own number, by the name of Peter John, who was ** for many 
 years, a faithful and successful preacher of the gospel, among 
 the native Indians of the island." He was of the Shinnecock 
 tribe, and was born at the Hay ground, in the parish of Bridg- 
 hampton, somewhere about the years 1712-15. He was hope- 
 fully converted, in the great awakening of 1741-4, under the 
 preaching of the Rev. Mr. Davenport. By what ecclesiastical 
 authority he was commissioned is not known, though it is sup- 
 posed, that he was ordained by the separatists of Connecticut. 
 He afterwards took up his residence at St. George's Manor, 
 where he owned property, on which one of his descendants 
 still lives. " Though not learned and eloquent, yet by his 
 zeal, piety and perseverance, he gathered small churches at 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND. 115 
 
 Wading River, Poosepatuck and Islip," to which, with that of 
 Canoe Place, he ministered, till after his grandson and suc- 
 cessor was brought into the ministry. He lived to the ad- 
 vanced age of 88, and died near the commencement of the 
 present century, though the precise date has not been ascer- 
 tained. His remains lie buried at Poosepatuck. 
 
 The Rev. Paul Cuffee " was the second of seven sons of 
 Peter Cuffee, a native Indian of the Shinnecock tribe," and 
 grandson, on his mother's side, of the Rev. Peter John. He 
 was born in the town of Brookhaven, March 4th, 1757. His 
 mother was said to be " an eminently pious woman ; for many 
 years a member of the native Indian church at Wading 
 River." She being of African descent, Paul was of course 
 not of pure aboriginal blood. At an early age, he was inden- 
 tured as a servant to Major Frederick Hudson, at Wading 
 River, with whom he laboured, principally on the farm, until 
 the age of 21 years. " During his minority he is said to have 
 been exceedingly thoughtless, and much addicted to the plea- 
 sures of the revel and the midnight dance. Possessing a 
 great degree of Indian cunning, with a bright and lively ima- 
 gination, and being distinguished by his native powers of 
 mimickry, he was selected as the favourite leader of a thought- 
 less band." 
 
 But though thus eagerly bent on his career of folly, the 
 Lord had marked him as " a chosen vessel, to bear his name 
 before the gentiles" — the remnants of his own once pagan 
 tribes. During a season of religious awakening, in the year 
 1778-9, being the last year of his minority, his attention was 
 called up to the great concern of salvation. His convictions 
 were deep and pungent, and finally became " so intense and 
 overwhelming, that like Saul of Tarsus, he fell to the ground, 
 and for a time his entire physical strength was prostrated. 
 But he soon obtained a delightful relief, in an entire surrender 
 of his heart to the Lord Jesus, and an unreserved consecra- 
 tion to his service." 
 
 From the first moment of his deliverance from the load of 
 conscious guilt, he appears to have been inspired with an ar- 
 dent desire to labour, for the advancement of the divine glory, 
 and the salvation of his fellow men. Though possessed of a 
 very limited education, he early commenced preaching ; upon 
 what authority — whether by the approbation of the church at 
 Wading River, of which he had been admitted as a member, 
 or by a license of a higher ecclesiastical body, is not known. 
 u Soon after completing his term of service, he removed from 
 
116 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 Wading River to Moriches, where he remained about two 
 years ;" and thence, to Poosepatuck, where in 1790, he was 
 " ordained to the work of the ministry by a council of minis- 
 ters from the Connecticut Convention." He afterwards re- 
 moved to Canoe place, which continued to be his residence till 
 his death. 
 
 On the 17th of Oct. 1792, he was admitted a member of 
 the " Strict Congregational Convention of Long Island," 
 which had been organized, about a year before, in fellowship 
 with the "Strict Congregational Convention of Connecticut." 
 
 In 1798, he received a commission, from the " New York 
 Missionary Society," to labour with the remnants of the Long 
 Island Indians, in whose employ he continued till his death, 
 and annually received a liberal compensation. The principal 
 field of his labour was Montauk and Canoe Place ; though 
 he occasionally visited Poosepatuck and Islip, where there 
 were then a few scattered remnants of the native tribes. 
 
 " In the endowments of his mind, for the station he filled, 
 nature seems to have been lavish of her gifts. His memory 
 was retentive — his imagination lively and fruitful — his voice 
 was musical, almost to a charm — his manner graceful, com- 
 bining modesty and humility ; and when the powers of his 
 soul were a little wrought up, with the fire of divine love, his 
 countenance would seem to shine, with more than mortal 
 brightness. In his preaching, he dwelt much on the promi- 
 nent doctrines of the gospel, and the love of a crucified Re- 
 deemer. Multitudes flocked to hear his native eloquence, and 
 hung with intense delight, upon his lips ; indeed.it is a matter 
 of doubt, whether any minister, of that period, would have 
 commanded a more numerous and attentive congregation. 
 He was universally loved and respected. Churches and min- 
 isters, of other denominations, welcomed him to their pulpits, 
 and sought an opportunity of listening to his lovely and affect- 
 ing discourse." 
 
 Although the above description bears evident marks, of the 
 partiality of friendship, and while much of the interest exhi- 
 bited in such cases, is to be ascribed to gratified curiosity, the 
 writer can testify that there is much truth in this delineation. 
 Having enjoyed a personal acquaintance with Paul, for a few 
 years, and had the privilege, in two or three instances, of 
 hearing his public performances, he can bear witness that he 
 was an interesting and affectionate preacher. Though he 
 aimed at no elegance of diction, and frequently committed 
 grammatical inaccuracies, these were soon lost sight of, in the 
 
SECT. 10.] THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. 117 
 
 ardour of his piety, and the pathos of his appeals. But the 
 most amiable and distinguishing trait of Paul's character, 
 both in the pulpit and out of it, was the unaffected humility 
 of his heart. Not only was his spirit imbued with it, but he 
 appeared at all times, clothed therewith, as with a garment. 
 Naturally modest, and graciously lowly in heart, he never 
 aspired to high things, but always condescended to men of 
 low estate ; contented, nay, gratified to be the humble, instru- 
 ment of promoting the glory of God, and the salvation of his 
 fellow men. 
 
 He died as he lived under the smiles of his Saviour. 
 Gradually, though rapidly wasted away by the consumption, 
 he enjoyed his reason and the light of God's countenance to 
 the end. Having given direction about the manner and place 
 of his interment ; selected a text [2. Tim. iv. 7, 8] for his 
 funeral discourse, and taken a fond adieu of his family and 
 friends, exhorting them all to " make Christ their friend," he 
 calmly fell asleep. 
 
 About one mile west of Canoe Place, on the angle formed 
 by the junction of the north and south roads, where the Indian 
 Church formerly stood, among the bushes and trees, which 
 are now considerably grown up, forming a part of the unbro- 
 ken forest, may be discerned a small enclosure of paling just 
 large enough to encompass a single grave ; while other depo- 
 sitories of the dead are scattered around. Within that enclo- 
 sure, lie the mortal remains of the last native preacher to the 
 Long Island Indians. A plain head stone marks the spot, and 
 bears the following inscription : — 
 
 ERECTED 
 
 BY 
 THE NEW- YORK MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 
 
 £ri J&emorg 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 laboured 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 three days. 
 
118 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 Since the death of Paul, the Indians hare been indebted 
 for religious instruction, almost exclusively to the L. I. Con- 
 vention, which has continued to exercise an oversight over 
 them ; and afford such assistance as was within their power. 
 On the 12th of Oct. 1827, the Convention ordained the Rev. 
 William Benjamin, as pastor of the church at Canoe Place ; 
 and he continues to labour there half the time. This church 
 and that at Poosepatuck are the only ones that remain. Those 
 formerly existing at Segatague and the Wading River are 
 entirely extinct ; and at the latter place, not a single indi- 
 vidual of aboriginal descent is to be found. 
 
 The following summary embraces all the remnants of this 
 interesting people, in their present mingled state. 
 
 Montauk, 3 families, consisting of 8 or 9 individuals. 
 
 Shinnecock, 30 " " 140 
 
 Poosepatuck, 6 " " 30 
 
 Before concluding this sketch, it is proper to notice a reli- 
 gious anniversary under the name of the " June Meeting" 
 which has long been maintained by this interesting people, 
 and is kept up to the present time. Its origin is not exactly 
 known, but its design is entirely of a social and religious na- 
 ture. It is a holy convocation of all the remnants of the 
 tribes, and the coloured people connected with them, on the 
 first or second sabbath in June, for the purpose of religious 
 worship. In former days, a delegation from New England 
 was usually present ; but of late years, it has been confined to 
 the residents of the Island. The place of meeting is Poose- 
 patuck, as being the most central ; though this little church is 
 now reduced to a mere remnant. The whole day is spent in 
 the exercises of religious worship, in connexion with which, 
 the Lord's Supper is celebrated ; and could the assemblage 
 be confined exclusively to those for whose benefit it was in- 
 stituted, or even those who take delight in God's worship, it 
 would still be a pleasant and profitable occasion. But it has, 
 of late years, become the resort of hundreds of giddy and 
 thoughtless youth of both sexes, who assemble from all parts 
 of the island, within 20 or 30 miles, for the mere purpose of 
 diversion and dissipation ; making it a scene of tumult and 
 confusion ; while others of the white population, to their burn- 
 ing disgrace, from the mere lust of filthy lucre, embrace the 
 occasion as an opportunity for merchandize and worldly gain. 
 The whole country, for miles around, exhibits all the confusion 
 of a general training ; and the holy sabbath, from morning to 
 night, is polluted with the most bare faced profanations. 
 
SECT. 10.J THE ABORIGINES OP THE ISLAND, 119 
 
 These facts are stated, not on the ground of vague rumour, 
 but from the evidence of sense at the last anniversary. And 
 it will be observed, that the disgrace of these unhallowed pro- 
 ceedings, belongs exclusively to the white population. The 
 conduct of the coloured people is marked with singular pro- 
 priety and circumspection. Those who come from a distance, 
 perform their journey on the preceding day, and return home 
 in the succeeding week. Thus they enjoy the privilege of so- 
 cial intercourse with friends and relatives, besides securing the 
 rest and quiet of the holy sabbath. And but for the annoyance 
 of those who take no interest in the religious exercises of 
 the meeting, it would be both a pleasant and profitable season 
 to their souls. 
 
 In review of all the labours bestowed upon this interesting 
 people, during the last hundred years, it is obvious to remark, 
 that a goodly number of them have doubtless become the 
 humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. And even 
 now, among their scanty remnants, there is a precious seed, 
 who love and serve the Lord. At the same time it must be 
 confessed, that no radical change has been produced on the 
 habits and character of the mass. It is remarked by the 
 Chronicler of Easthampton, that " From their teachers some 
 of them learned to read and write, but their progress in know- 
 ledge neither meliorated their condition, nor diverted them of 
 their natural improvidence. Their thirst for the liquid fire of 
 the white man continued, with few exceptions, as ardent ; and 
 the domestic comforts of the hearth were but little enhanced, 
 beyond the savage state ; notwithstanding all the advantages 
 of intercourse, with a moral and religious people, disposed to 
 treat them with sobriety and kindness." And it may be 
 added, that by mingling with the African race, whose condi- 
 tion in this country is even more depressed than their own, 
 they have degraded instead of elevating their condition, in the 
 eyes of the community, and stamped an infrangible seal upon 
 their condition. In the course of a few more generations, if 
 they shall have any survivors, all the characteristics of their 
 aboriginal ancestry will be swallowed up and lost, in the pre- 
 dominant features of a less noble, but equally injured and des- 
 pised race. 
 
 And here, the writer regrets the necessity of recording a 
 fact, by no means honourable to the inhabitants of the towns, 
 in which these aboriginal remnants are located. For many 
 years past, there has been a growing jealousy, of their claim 
 to the lands reserved by their ancestors ; and an evident 
 desire to see it extinguished. And it is common to hear the 
 
120 THE ABORIGINES OF THE ISLAND. [PART 1, 
 
 assertion, that " these mongrel people have no more right to 
 these lands, than the natives of Africa.'' It must indeed be 
 confessed, that if the Indian title was based on entire purity 
 of Aboriginal blood, it is already extinct, for the want of a 
 claimant. But it is presumed, that no such condition can be 
 found in any instrument of reservation. The circumstance, 
 therefore, that the Indians have seen fit to ally themselves in 
 marriage, with those of a darker hue, can furnish no just ex- 
 cuse for disfranchising and disinheriting their legitimate pos- 
 terity. It is therefore to be most earnestly hoped, that the 
 descendants of men, who could boast, that they never wrong- 
 fully took a foot of land from the Indians, will not dishonour 
 their ancestors, by unjustly depriving the small remnants of 
 the natives of their lawful inheritance. 
 
 The following graphic, but gloomy description of the pre- 
 sent state of the peninsula of Montauk, by the same writer, 
 who has been frequently quoted on this topic, will form an ap- 
 propriate close of this imperfect sketch of Aboriginal history. 
 
 " The place is almost one extended region of solitude. Over its ele- 
 vated surface, the eye seldom rests upon other than natural objects. The 
 large forest, which once covered its face, has fallen before the axe of the 
 husbandman, and the winds of heaven : and the vision has no interrup- 
 tion, over the greater part of the land, to an illimitable expanse of ocean. 
 The extensive swamps, where the warrior waited in ambush the passing 
 of his foe, have most of them become dry, and free of wood. The 
 grounds, where often the battle raged, in the strife for life and victory, are 
 noted only by the many arrow-heads, which the tread of animals and the 
 crumbling of the soil expose to view. The lofty and symmetrical stature 
 of the red man no longer crowns the cliffs and headlands of the 
 shore ; but over the summits, the sea-bird and the eagle may still be seen 
 hovering in the air, or soaring aloft, in beautiful gyrations. All the 
 magnificent features of nature still present, to the visiter, the same su- 
 blime and majestic appearance, which they presented to former successive 
 generations ; but the red man sleeps in his grave. The band of sparkling 
 foam, produced by the waves of the ocean, rolling and dashing on the 
 shore in endless succession, still embraces the land ; but he, who whilom 
 watched the pulsations of the mighty deep, is no longer there. On the 
 bold headland of Wamponomon, where, in the clear dark night, the sig. 
 nal fire was kindled, to give notice to the friendly tribes, on the opposite 
 shore, of the approach of some mutual foe, or of readiness to proceed 
 upon some enterprise of danger or revenge, the centinel no longer holds 
 his midnight vigil. The calm moon, whose bright and soft light was 
 reflected from the undulating surface of the gently rising wave, where the 
 canoe was launched upon its bosom for distant adventure, still sheds its 
 monthly brightness upon the troubled sea, but it no longer guides the bark 
 of the red man. The agitations and tumults, that gave activity and 
 excitement to savage life, and filled the forest with the echoes of the war. 
 hoop, are buried in the grave of the warrior ; and the almost painful 
 stillness of the region is disturbed, only, by the everlasting murmur of the 
 
SECT. 11.] 
 
 STATISTICAL TABLES. 
 
 121 
 
 SECTION XL 
 
 STATISTICAL TABLES. 
 
 I. Population at different periods. 
 
 AD. 
 
 King's, 
 
 Queen's 
 
 Suffolk, 
 
 Total, 
 
 1731 1771 1 1786 
 
 2,150 
 
 7,895 
 7,675 
 
 3,623 3,936 
 
 10,98013,03-4 
 13,123,13,79b 
 
 17,820l27,731 |30,86S 
 
 1790 i 1S00 j 1810 j 1820 
 
 4,495 5,740 8,30311,18" 
 16,014 16,933 19,336 20,51< 
 16,440 19,444 21,113 24,27:- 
 
 J6,949 42,167 4^,75255,96; 
 
 1820 1840 
 
 20,535 47,613 
 22,460 30,324 
 26,780 32.469 
 
 1845 
 
 68,691 
 31,849 
 34,579 
 
 39,775 110,406 135,119 
 
 Note 1. It appears from the preceding table that the aggre- 
 gate population of the island has been nearly doubled in 
 the last period of 15 years. But the principal increase has 
 been in the county of King's, which, chiefly by the rapid 
 growth of the city of Brooklyn, has more than tripled its popu- 
 lation in the same time. 
 
 2. The present population of the island exceeds that of 3 
 several States of the Federal Union. In 1840, the entire 
 population of Rhode Island was 108,830 ; — Delaware, 78,085: 
 — and Arkansas, 97,574. 
 
 II. Classification by the Census of 1840, according to occupw 
 tion, <$fc. 
 
 King's, 
 
 Queen's, 
 
 Suffolk, 
 
 Total, 
 
 In Agri- 
 culture. 
 
 Commerce 
 
 & c ■ 
 
 -2 at <U 
 C « as 
 
 S5 H 
 
 _5 
 
 
 c > z 
 o « rt 
 
 a> a 
 T3 5 
 
 o o 
 a 
 
 13 
 
 5 
 
 3,234 1,770 
 6,138 263 
 7,959 37b 
 
 6,160 
 1,612 
 1,727 
 
 1,443 
 
 202 
 
 1,736 
 
 375 ! 9,732 
 143 7,330 
 
 203 ■ 7,724 
 
 19 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 36 
 35 
 32 
 
 18 
 11 
 11 
 
 17,331 2,409 
 
 9,499 
 
 3,331i 726 24,836 
 
 36 
 
 103 j 40 
 
 Note. — In the preceding table, the aggregate number, be- 
 tween the ages of 5 and 15, includes both the white and col- 
 oured children. But as these different classes of our popula- 
 tion are not classified by the U. S. Census, at the same ages, 
 
 6 
 
122 
 
 STATISTICAL TABLEl, 
 
 [PART 1 
 
 the number of coloured children who are between those ages 
 has been ascertained by calculation, and is believed to be 
 essentially correct. 
 
 III. Aggregate population of different ages, showing the pro- 
 portion between the sexes, at three different periods of human 
 life : of both the white and coloured. 
 
 King's, 
 
 Queen's, 
 
 Suffolk, 
 
 Total, 
 
 White Population. 
 Males. ! Females. 
 
 8 
 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 © 
 
 TSCB 
 
 8 
 
 s 
 
 8? 
 
 
 0) 
 
 S3 S 
 
 $ 
 
 U> 
 
 o 
 
 £ 
 
 
 a 
 
 15,324 6,069 
 
 524 16,666 
 
 5,470 711 
 
 9,492 3,613 
 
 720 
 
 8,560 
 
 3,614 816 
 
 10,251 4,176 
 
 968 
 
 9,751 4,1211,025 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *4 -r- 
 
 35,067,13,853 2,212 32,977 13,205 2,555 
 
 Coloured Population. 
 Males. Females. 
 
 - 
 
 ^^ ! 
 
 
 SI'S 
 
 & 
 
 " 
 
 641 
 
 624 
 
 977 
 
 668 
 
 710 
 
 364 
 
 2,328 
 
 1,656 
 
 a 
 
 673 681 
 9S6 685 
 540 375 
 
 2,14S| 1,741 
 
 Note 1. The well-known law, in regard to the excess of the 
 male sex over the female, is observable here. But it will be 
 noticed, that while this holds good in th«- aggregate, it does 
 not apply to every period of life. After the age of 60 years, 
 the excess is on the other side. In the coloured population 
 the change takes place at an earlier period. 
 
 2. A notable exception to the above law, will generally be 
 found in the dense population of cities. Thus, in the above 
 schedule, King's County contains 1,342 females more than 
 males, wider 30 years of age. This excess is in the city of 
 Brooklyn, which by the Census of 1845, contains in the ag- 
 gregate 2,762 females above the number of males. The same 
 will be found in almost every city in the country. 
 
 3. By the Census of 1840, there were 15 males and 18 
 females on Long Island, over 90 and under 100 years, and 2 
 coloured females over 100. 
 
 o qa The t0tal coloured population, in 1840, was, in King's 
 2,843 ;— Queen's 3,509 ;— Suffolk 2,107,— total S,529. 
 
SECT. 11.] 
 
 STATISTICAL TABLES. 
 
 123 
 
 IV. Comparative population of Long Island anal the City of 
 New York, the State and the United States at different 
 
 1678 
 
 Population 
 of L. Island. 
 
 City of State of 
 New York.l New York. 
 
 United States. 
 
 
 3,430 
 
 
 
 1686 
 
 
 6,000 
 
 
 
 1697 
 
 
 4,302 
 
 
 
 1731 
 
 17,800 
 
 8,628 
 
 50,291 
 
 
 1756 
 
 
 13,040 
 
 
 
 1771 
 
 27,731 
 
 21,163 
 
 163,338 
 
 
 1786 
 
 30,863 
 
 23,614 
 
 238,896 
 
 
 1790 
 
 36,949 
 
 33,131 
 
 340,130 
 
 3,750,000 
 
 1800 
 
 42,167 
 
 60,489 
 
 586,141 
 
 5,305,666 
 
 1810 
 
 48,752 
 
 96,373 
 
 959,049 
 
 7,230,514 
 
 1820 
 
 56.978 
 
 123,706 
 
 1,372,812 
 
 9,654,415 
 
 1830 
 
 69,595 
 
 207,021 
 
 1,923,522 
 
 12,836,426 
 
 1840 
 
 110,406 
 
 312,710 
 
 2,428,921 
 
 17,068,666 
 
 1845 
 
 135,119 
 
 366,785 
 
 
 
 Hence it appears, 
 
 1. That a little more than 100 years ago, the population of 
 Long Island was more than double of the city of New York, 
 and more than one-third of the whole province : and it is about 
 60 years ago, that the population of the city became equal to 
 that of the island. 
 
 2. At the commencement of the present century, the popu- 
 lation of the Island was to that of the State as 1 to 14. In 
 1840 it was as 1 to 22. 
 
 «3. It seems that there was a remarkable decrease in the 
 population of New York from 1686 to 1097. 
 
 V. The number of domestic animals, with some productions of 
 their growth or labour ; from the Census of 1840. 
 
 King's, 
 
 Queen's, 
 
 Suffolk, 
 
 Total, 
 
 Horses and 
 Mules. 
 
 Neat 
 cattle. 
 
 Sheep. 
 
 Swine. 
 
 lb. of 
 Wool. 
 
 Cords of 
 Wood. 
 
 3,019 
 6,517 
 5,473 
 
 5,978 
 14,181 
 22,236 
 
 48 
 26,477 
 46,751 
 
 8,360 
 21,518 
 
 20,534 
 
 150 
 43,200 
 
 84,008 
 
 9,787 
 66,023 
 
 1.5,009 
 
 42,395 
 
 73,276 
 
 50,412 
 
 127,358 
 
 75,810 
 
 Note. The annual exportation of wood has probably nearly 
 equalled the above amount for many years. 
 
124 
 
 STATISTICAL TABLES. 
 
 [PART 1. 
 
 VI. Agricultural Productions. 
 
 King's, 
 
 Queen's, 
 
 Suffolk, 
 
 Total, 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Rye. 
 
 Indian 
 Corn. 
 
 Oats. 
 
 Buck- 
 wheat. 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 Hay. 
 
 5,437 
 31,437 
 42,e91 
 
 24,964 
 
 97,741 
 
 105,778 
 
 8,537 
 105,399 
 79,023 
 
 81,824 72,460 
 336,-101 348,447 
 355,314 258,218 
 
 3,933 
 64,027 
 42,707 
 
 95,805 
 214,121 
 170,236 
 
 223,483 
 
 192,959 
 
 773,539 679,125 1 110,667 
 
 480,162 
 
 79,765 
 
 Note. A few years ago Long Island did not produce suffi- 
 cient bread-stuffs to supply its own population. Now there is 
 a considerable surplus annually exported. The value of all its 
 exports has been estimated at $200,000 annually. 
 
 VII. The following additional items are derived from the State 
 Census of 1845, which has been recently completed. 
 
 
 
 Suffolk County, 
 
 Towns. 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 "3 a 
 .» 5 
 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 S 
 
 
 a 
 .2 
 
 
 
 
 ^*d 
 
 a u 
 
 
 fad 
 
 (H 
 
 
 
 73 
 
 s 
 
 "5 * 
 
 "o ~ 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 !§3 
 
 h 
 
 PP 
 
 O 
 
 U 
 
 U 
 
 < 
 
 0. 
 
 Southold, 
 
 2,102 
 
 2,089 
 
 1,062 
 
 53 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 Riverhead, 
 
 1,186 
 
 1,187 
 
 682 
 
 56 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 Shelter Island, 
 
 208 
 
 238 
 
 106 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Easthampton, 
 
 1,106 
 
 1,049 
 
 430 
 
 215 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Southampton, 
 
 ,3,922 
 
 3,290 
 
 1,709 
 
 451 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 Brookhaven, 
 
 3,741 
 
 3,720 
 
 1,976 
 
 474 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 o 
 
 8 
 
 Smithtown, 
 
 954 
 
 943 
 
 488 
 
 213 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Islip, 
 
 1,096 
 
 1,002 
 
 584 
 
 167 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Huntington, 
 Total, 
 
 3,435 
 
 3,311 
 
 1,790 
 
 266 
 
 18 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 17,750 
 
 16,829 
 
 8,827 
 
 1,907 
 
 79 
 
 S2 
 
 12 
 
 51 
 
 
 
 Queen' 
 
 s Count 
 
 y- 
 
 Oysterbay, 
 
 3.202 
 
 3,159 
 
 1,613 
 
 S02 
 
 16 
 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 Hempstead, 
 
 4,192 
 
 4,077 
 
 2,135 
 
 368 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 N. Hempstead, 
 
 1,953 
 
 1,944 
 
 936 
 
 709 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 Flushing, 
 
 1,972 
 
 1,946 
 
 797 
 
 600 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 Newtown, 
 
 3"009 
 
 2,512 
 
 1,074 
 
 376 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 Jamaica, 
 Total, 
 
 1,913 
 
 1,970 
 
 819 
 
 359 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 16,241 
 
 15,603 
 
 7,424 
 
 3,214 
 
 62 
 
 43 
 
 21 
 
 33 
 
 
 
 King's 
 
 CounUj 
 
 r. 
 
 Bushwick, 
 
 954 
 
 903 
 
 383 
 
 43 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Williamsb'rgh, 
 
 5,565 
 
 5,773 
 
 2,691 
 
 420 
 
 12 
 
 19 
 
 23 
 
 20 
 
 Flatbush, 
 
 1.099 
 
 1,126 
 
 536 
 
 299 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 Flatlands, 
 
 495 
 
 441 
 
 218 
 
 70 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 New Utrecht, 
 
 1.048 
 
 815 
 
 361 
 
 153 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Gravesend, 
 
 468 
 
 430 
 
 199 
 
 119 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 Brooklyn, 
 Total, 
 
 28,406 
 
 31,168 
 40.656 
 
 16,604 
 
 3,030 
 
 45 
 
 50 
 
 97 
 
 96 
 
 38,035 
 
 20,992 
 
 4,134 
 
 72 85 |129 |l24 
 
125 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Ecclesiastical History. 
 
 The original settlers of the whole of Suffolk County, 
 and a large portion of Queen's, were Engli h emigrants, 
 formed into small companies, or associations, either be- 
 fore they left their place of previous residence, or imme- 
 diately after they had established themseives in their new 
 homes. Some of them had resided for a short time in New- 
 England, while others had only made a stop there, to obtain 
 information in regard to the new world. They were, however, 
 puritans, in their religious views, and the advocates of civil 
 as well as religious liberty. They were, without exception, 
 dissenters from the church of England, and were actuated by 
 the same motive that had impelled the Plymouth Pilgrims to 
 bury themselves in a howling wilderness, where they hoped to 
 enjoy an asylum from oppression. 
 
 From the circumstance that the English puritans were di- 
 vided in sentiment, on the form of church government, some 
 of them being in favour cf strict Independency, while others 
 preferred the model of Presbyterianism, it has been supposed, 
 that some of the earliest churches of the island were organ- 
 ised on the Presbyterian basis. It is indeed true, that at a very 
 early period of their history, the name Presbyterian is applied 
 to them. But it will be observed that the term Independent 
 is about as common, in application to the same churches : and 
 neither appears to be used as the distinctive appellation of a 
 different denomination. But the most conclusive fact on this 
 point is, that tfrere is no evidence of the existence of Ruling 
 Elders, or a church session, or the formal adoption of the 
 Presbyterian standards, in any of these churches, till after 
 the commencement of the 18th century. And when we re- 
 collect, that, in those early days, the most of the business of 
 those congregations was transacted in their town meetings, 
 of which there are ample records, it is difficult to imagine, 
 that the distinctive forms of Presbyterianism could have ex- 
 isted, without the recognition of any of its peculiar features, 
 in those transactions. 
 
126 Religious denominations. [part 2. 
 
 It is a well established fact, that the first two churches plant- 
 ed on this island of the sea, were organised in New-England, 
 and there furnished with pastors, who emigrated with them, 
 to these solitary shores. The church at Southold was formed 
 at New-Haven, and the church at Southampton, at Lynn, 
 Mass. There is no reason to doubt, that these were strictly 
 congregational or rather independent ; and for the reasons al- 
 ready assigned, it is believed, that the most of those subse- 
 quently formed, in the course of 60 or 70 years, were organ- 
 ized after the New England model ; from which quarter, their 
 ministers were, for a long time, obtained. 
 
 As preliminary to the history of the different towns, and 
 the several religious congregations therein, the writer had pre- 
 pared, in as many distinct sections, an historical sketch of the 
 rise and progress of the various denominations, that now oc- 
 cupy the ground. But after committing the work to the press, 
 he has found it necessary, in order to confine it within the 
 limits prescribed, to content himself with the following brief 
 abstract, which will afford a comparative view of the present 
 condition of the various ecclesiastical organizations on the 
 island. 
 
 I. CONGREGATIONALISTS. 
 
 The most of the churches bearing this name, were, for a 
 long time, strictly independent, and their ministers without 
 any ecclesiastical association. 
 
 The earliest organization of this kind, was the " Long 
 Island Convention," formed Aug. 26th, 1791. This was com- 
 posed exclusively of those ministers and churches, whose sym- 
 pathies were with the separation that took place in New Eng- 
 land in the great revival of 1740. The Rev. James Damn- 
 port, who was the minister of Southold, at the time, and whose 
 erratic course is the matter of historical record, had a princi- 
 pal agency in disseminating that spirit on the island. This 
 Convention has never been large, though it has received or 
 ordained between 20 and 30 ministers. At*the commence- 
 ment of the present year, it embraced 6 ministers and 4 
 churches. In April last it was, by consent of the members, 
 dissolved. 
 
 A " Long Island Association" was formed in 1836, which 
 was dissolved after existing only 4 years. 
 
 The " Consociation of Long Island" was formed March 
 5th, 1840, which still exists, consisting of 5 ministers and 7 
 churches, and is connected with the General Association of 
 New-York. 
 
PART 2.] RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 127 
 
 There are, at present 20 Congregational churches on the 
 island, (the most of them strictly independent) containing an 
 aggregate of 1589 communicants. These are supplied by 
 about 15 ministers, the most of whom are only temporary sup- 
 plies. 
 
 II. Presbyterians. 
 
 The first date of Presbyterianism, in its distinctive form, 
 on the island, is about the 3^ear 1712. The original " Pres- 
 bytery of Long Island" was set off from the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia in 17 16, and organised at Southampton April 
 17th, 1717. This was the first Presbytery constituted in the 
 state of New-York. It was united May 24th, 1738, with 
 the eastern part of Jersey, under the name of the "Presbytery 
 of New-York." 
 
 The " Presbytery of Suffolk" was organised April 9th, 
 1747, and continued till it was reorganised in Oct. 1790, by 
 the Synod of New- York, under the original name of the 
 " Presbytery of Long Island." 
 
 In 1809, this Presbytery was divided into two bodies, which 
 were reunited in 1840. But the schism, which took place in 
 the Presbyterian church in 1838, has been followed with cor- 
 responding separations and associations on the island ; so 
 that there are now two entire Presbyteries, both bearing the 
 same Game, besides parts of two others, which, for conven- 
 ionce, are connected with the cities. 
 
 The following is a summary of these several bodies. 
 
 The Presbytery of Long Island, (O. S.) 15 Ministers — 17 
 Congregations — 2,620 Communicants. 
 
 Belonging to the Presbytery of New-York : 7 Ministers — 
 6 Congregations — 1,485 Communicants. 
 
 The Presbytery of Long Island, (N. S.) — 9 Ministers — 5 
 Congregations — 471 Communicants. 
 
 Belonging to the Presbytery of Brooklyn — 7 Ministers — 5 
 Congregations — 1,703 Communicants. 
 
 Total, 37 Ministers — 33 Congregations — 6,2S4 Communi- 
 cants. 
 
 III. The Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 The churches of the New Netherlands were founded, and 
 for a long period, were under the government of the Classis of 
 Amsterdam, whence they received their ministerial supplies. 
 
 The first minister sent over to the Dutch colony, was the 
 
 • Rev. Edverardus Bogardus, who commenced his ministry in 
 
 New Amsterdam (New- York) in 1638. The earliest evi- 
 
128 RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. [PART 2. 
 
 dence of the organization of a church in that city, is in the 
 following year. The first house of worship erected there, 
 was that which was commenced in the fort in 1642, and fin- 
 ished in 1647. It has been supposed that this was a second 
 erection, but there is abundant evidence, that this was the 
 first. The testimony of De Vrif.z, contained in Moulton's 
 " View of JNew Orange, 1673," appears conclusive on this 
 point, though other evidence is not wanting. 
 
 For many years the scattered settlements on the west end 
 of Long Island were dependent on the city for all their civil 
 and ecclesiastical privileges. And it was not till 1654, that 
 they enjoyed the services of a minister of their own. It was 
 about this time, that the church of Flatbush was organised, 
 which was the first of this denomination on the island. Other 
 organizations were afterwards formed, which w r ere supplied 
 by collegiate pastors till after the commencement of the pre- 
 sent century. 
 
 The "Classis of Long Island" was formed June 1st, 1813, 
 which was divided into two Classes in May, 1S43. 
 
 The following abstract from their last reports, furnishes 
 their relative numbers. 
 
 The South Classis of L. I. comprehends 9 ministers — 9 
 congregations, and 1,036 communicants. The congregations 
 consist of 775 families, including 4,475 individuals. 
 
 The North Classis (with Bush wick) comprehends 8 minis- 
 ters — 8 congregations, and b56 communicants — 710 families 
 — 3,640 individuals. 
 
 Total, 17 ministers— 17 congregations — 1892 communi- 
 cants. 
 
 IV. Episcopalians. 
 
 Episcopacy was first introduced upon Long Island, in 1702, 
 by missionaries sent out by the " Society for propagating the 
 gospel in foreign parts." These were introduced and forced 
 upon several towns, much against the wishes of the people, by 
 the infamous Cornbury, then recently appointed to the govern- 
 ment of the Province ; some of whose acts will necessarily 
 be noticed in the annals of the towns. The churches of this 
 denomination are principally established in the western coun- 
 ties. 
 
 The Journal of the Convention for 1844, gives the follow- 
 ing as the aggregate of their numbers on the island, viz. : 24 
 Rectors — 25 parishes, and 2,249 communicants. Three or 
 four new parishes have been recognised the present year, 
 which would somewhat enlarge the amount. 
 
PART 2.1 RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 129 
 
 V. Methodists. 
 
 The commencement of Methodist preaching on the island, 
 is nearly coeval with its introduction into the city of New- 
 York, which was in 1766. And though these efforts were 
 interrupted by the war of the revolution, they were renewed, 
 at an early date, after the return of peace, and gradually ex- 
 tended, till this denomination have one or morn organised so- 
 cieties in almost every town ; and their aggregate numbers 
 exceed that of any other distinct communion. By their re- 
 ports of the present year, the whole number of preachers em- 
 ployed on the island is 36, and the aggregate number of 
 members 6,619. 
 
 Oilier Methodist Organizations, 
 
 It is generally known, that since the independent organiza- 
 tion of the Methodist church in America, there has been oc- 
 casional dissatisfaction manifested towards some of its dis- 
 tinguishing features. These are principally two : viz., its epis- 
 copacy, and the concentration of power in the travelling 
 preachers. These and other grounds of dissatisfaction, have 
 produced multiplied secessions, from time to time, which are 
 so numerous that they can only be named ; the most of which 
 have distinct organizations on the island. 
 
 1. The Reformed Methodist Churchy which was organ- 
 ised in 1814. 
 
 2. The Methodist Society (generally known as Stilwell- 
 ites) in 1820. There have been several societies of ^hese on 
 the island, but there are very few remaining. 
 
 3. The Protestant Methodists, organised in 1824. They 
 have 5 organised societies here, with an aggregate of 301 
 members, besides several other places and circuits for preach- 
 ing. 
 
 4. The Wesley an Methodist Church, constituted in May, 
 1S43, which seceded principally on the slavery question. It 
 claims an aggregate of 40,000 ; is said to be rapidly increas- 
 ing, and bids fair to swallow up many of the other sections. 
 It has one infant society of 30 members on the island. 
 
 5. The Primitive Methodists originated in England. They 
 have one society here. 
 
 Besides these, there are nearly as many distinct organiza- 
 tions of coloured Methodists ; the most of which have socie- 
 ties among us. 
 
 1. The African Methodist Episcopal Church formed by se- 
 6* 
 
130 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 cession in Philadelphia in 1816. They have 9 societies on 
 the island, containing 553 members. 
 
 2. The African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) Church, which 
 seceded, in 1820, in the city of New-York. They number 10 
 societies, in as many towns, with 387 members. 
 
 Besides these, there are two other separate organizations of 
 coloured people which will be noticed where they occur. 
 
 VI. The Baptists. 
 
 This denomination have 10 churches and about 1,600 mem- 
 bers. 
 
 VII. The FiiiExns, 
 
 (Including both sections) have 12 Meeting houses. Be- 
 sides these, there are 8 Roman Catholic Churches — 4 Uni- 
 versalists — 1 Unitarian, and 2 small Swedenborgian's socie- 
 ties. These, it is believed, constitute all the associations on 
 the island claiming to be religious societies. 
 
 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. 
 
 Suffolk County. 
 Section 1. — Southold. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - - 23,351 
 
 " " unimproved, - - - - 29,149* 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 12. 
 
 ; This township formerly occupied the entire northern branch 
 of Long Island, including the present territory of the town of 
 Riverhead ; and, of course, extending west to the line of Brook- 
 haven. By an act of the Legislature in 1 792, its western bound- 
 ary was fixed, at about 8 miles east of the head of Peconick 
 Bay, running in a northerly direction from the Bay to the 
 Sound ; a little west of the village of Franklinville. At that 
 point the island is about 4 miles wide, and gradually dimin- 
 ishes, the most of the way, to Oysterpond Point, a distance of 
 twenty-two miles. The township includes Robbings Island, in 
 the Peconick Bay, also Plum Island, the Gulls, and Fisher s 
 
 * These numbers are taken from the last revision of Burr's Statistical 
 Atlas. The returns of the late Census were not received in time to make 
 a comparison. sHence there may be some variation at the present time. 
 
SECT. 1.] SOUTHOLD. 131 
 
 Island, which extend in a direct line from Oysterponds, to 
 within three or four miles of the Connecticut shore ; a dis- 
 tance of eighteen miles. Thus the whole length of the town- 
 ship is about forty miles. 
 
 The old parish, where the first settlement was made, is 
 nearly half way from the present western boundary of the 
 town, to the Point ; and has heretofore been the .largest vil- 
 lage on the territory. The Indian name, of this part of the 
 Island, was Yinnicock. Besides this, there are several other 
 collections of houses, familiarly called villages, in most of 
 which, one or more distinct religious societies exist. Those 
 to the eastward, are Stirling or Greenport — Rocky Point, and 
 Oysterponds, or Orient ; and to the west, Cutchogue, Mattituck 
 and Franklinville. Each of these will be noticed in their 
 proper place. 
 
 Southold was the first town settled on Long Island. The 
 first company established themselves here in 1640, and con- 
 sisted principally of English emigrants, from Norfolkshire, 
 who had spent a short time in the Newhaven colony. There, 
 by the advice and aid of Gov. Eaton, and the Rev. John 
 Davenport, they were organized into a regular church, under 
 a pastor, who accompanied them in their undertaking. Com- 
 ing over to the island, under the patronage of that colony, 
 their municipal regulations were, of course, formed on the 
 principles of that government, and in subjection to their au- 
 thority. The title to the land had been procured, by the 
 magistrates of Newhaven, and was held by them, for a number 
 of years, before it was transferred to the actual settlers. The fun- 
 damental principle of that colony, by which church membership 
 was made essential to the exercise of freemen's rights, was, of 
 course, established here ; and their early political institutions 
 were formed on that basis. Among the first things, provision 
 was made, for the support of the gospel, the education of the 
 children, and the preservation of the public morals. And to 
 preserve the infant settlement from the intrusion of unwhole- 
 some immigrants, a committee was appointed to regulate the 
 admission of settlers; without whose consent no new in- 
 habitant could be admitted, nor any one dispose of his 
 possessions. On this principle, the most of the east- 
 ern towns were regulated, from the outset. Those saga- 
 cious pioneers were fully convinced, that it was far better 
 and much easier to prevent the ingress of undesirable citi- 
 zens, than to correct and reform them, after they had come 
 in. And being the lords of the soil, they did, as they had 
 
132 4NNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 a perfect right to claim the privilege of judging the charac- 
 ter of those who proposed to become members of their com- 
 monwealth. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 One of the first undertakings of the settlement, was the 
 erection of a house of worship. It was commenced in the 
 first year, though probably not completed till 1641. This 
 building, and that at Southampton, were the first sanctuaries 
 erected for the worship of the Livixg God, within the entire 
 province of the New Netherlands. 
 
 This first building was occupied as a house of worship, till 
 1684 ; in which year, it was voted " to take it for a jail ;" and 
 it was thus used till 1725. From this circumstance, it may 
 be inferred that it must have been a substantial building- 
 most probably built of logs. At the same time it was voted 
 *' to sell some windows that were left of the new meeting 
 house;" from which it is supposed that a new church had 
 been erected in that year. 
 
 April 7th, 1700, it was " voted to build a gallery in the east 
 end of'the meeting house." 
 
 In 1711, a third church edifice was erected, which was 
 thirty-two by fifty feet. In the following year, there was a 
 vote passed " to seat the meeting house" and a committee 
 appointed to superintend the work. 
 
 In 1S03, the present house, which is forty by sixty feet, 
 was erected. 
 
 • The basis, on which the Church, was originally organized, 
 was Congregational ; and it retained that form, for the long 
 period of one hundred and ninety-two years. Although seve- 
 ral of its pastors were members of the Presbytery, and were 
 settled and dismissed by that body, yet the church, retained 
 its ancient platform, till April ISth, 1832, at which time it 
 united with the Presbytery. By exchanging its form of gov- 
 ernment, this church made no change of creed. One of its 
 late pastors remarks, " In its doctrine, it was, and still is Cal- 
 vinistic." 
 
 The Methodist Society in this village was organized in 
 1794, and a small building erected not long afterwards, which 
 is now very much in decay. 
 
 An Academy was erected here, in 1S34, and is one of the 
 most spacious edifices of the kind in the county, \>ut not 
 extensively patronized. 
 
 In 1836, a Universalist house of worship was erected. 
 
SECT. 2.] SOUTHOLDo 133 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The first pastor of this church, who came with the first 
 company of settlers, was the Rev. John Youngs. He had 
 been a minister in England, and emigrated to this country, 
 with several of his church, not long before their remofal to 
 the island. He was a man of respectability and excellence. 
 He died in 1672, at the age of 74 years. His descendants 
 are numerous, and among the most respectable on the island. 
 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. Joshua Hobart, who was 
 engaged by a committee sent to Boston to obtain " an hon- 
 est and godly minister." He was settled Oct. 7th, 1074, and 
 died February 28th, 1717 at the age of 88 years. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Woolsey, the third pastor, was ordain- 
 ed here, by an ecclesiastical council in July, 1720. He re- 
 signed his charge, and removed in 1736, to Dosoris, in the 
 northwest part of Oysterbay ; where he spent the remainder 
 of his life on his wife's estate, preaching in the surrounding 
 country. He died August 15th, 1756, aged 70 years. 
 
 The Rev. James Davenport, the-fourlh pastor, was the great 
 grandson of the Rev. John Davenport of Newhaven. He 
 was born at Stamford, Conn., in 1710, graduated at Yale in 
 1732, and was ordained here, Oct. 20th, 1738. His erratic 
 course will be more particularly noticed. He was dismissed 
 in 1746, and was afterwards settled in Hopewell, N. J., where 
 he died in 1755. 
 
 The Rev. William Troop, who had been previously settled 
 in Connecticut, was installed here, Sept. 21st, 1748, by the 
 Presbytery of Suffolk, sitting in council with other ministers. 
 His ministry was short, and attended, as might have been 
 anticipated from the course of his predecessor, with trials. 
 Among the preliminaries to his settlement, the people re- 
 quired a stipulation that he would baptize on the " half-way 
 covenant*' plan. He died Sept. 29th, 1756, aged 36 years, 1 
 month, and 7 days. 
 
 During the succeeding vacancy, " a member of this church 
 married the sister of his deceased wife, who was likewise a 
 member of said church ; which affair occasioned an uneasi- 
 ness and grievance in the church. The deacons of the church 
 did, (in behalf of the church,) relate the case to this Presby- 
 tery and desire the opinion of the Presbytery relating to the 
 case, both as to their present duty, and the lawfulness of the 
 marriage. The Presbytery, after considering and convers- 
 
134 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 ing upon the case, gave it as their opinion and judgment, 
 that the afore-mentioned marriage is unlawful and sinful ; 
 and that consequently the married couple should be set aside 
 from the sacrament, when it is administered, till satisfaction 
 be made." (Records of Suffolk Pres. Oct. 19th, 1757.) 
 
 The Rev. John Slorrs was ordained the sixth pastor, Aug. 
 15th, 1763. He left the island near the commencement of 
 the revolutionary war, and was absent from his charge from 
 Aug. 1776 to June, 1782. He was dismissed April 13th, 1787. 
 
 During the succeeding ten years the church was without a 
 settled pastor, and was supplied for a longer or shorter time, 
 by several different ministers and licentiates ; some of whom 
 were men of peculiar excellence. Nehemiah Baldwin Cook, 
 who was one of them, was a young man of distinguished 
 piety, and a pungent preacher. He was a native of the 
 island, and was licensed by the Suffolk Presbytery in the fall 
 of 1789. His career, though brilliant and successful, was 
 short. He died at Sag Harbour of the small-pox, May 4th, 
 1792, and his remains lie buried in the old burying yard of 
 that place. His humble tomb-stone bears an appropriate epi- 
 taph of his own selection. " Though poor, he desired to make 
 many rich." His memory is still embalmed in the hearts of 
 a surviving few : and his name is familiar to the most of the 
 present generation, on the east end of the island. 
 
 Mr. Herman Dagget, whose name will receive honourable 
 mention in connexion with other churches, was a popular 
 candidate, but as he would not practise on the " half way 
 covenant," he was permitted to leave this congregation. 
 
 The Rev. Elam Potter laboured here from Nov. 1792, till 
 his death, which took place Jan. 5th, 1794. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Hazzard, the seventh pastor, was ordained 
 June 7th, 1797, — was dismissed April, 1806, and died in 
 1817. 
 
 The Rev. Jonathan Huntting, a native of Easthampton, 
 commenced preaching here in June, 1806, and was ordained 
 pastor, Aug. 20th, 1807 ; at which time, the church consented 
 to give up the "half-way covenant." He was dismissed at 
 his own request, Aug. 27th, 1828, and has continued to reside 
 in the place ; though generally employed in preaching the 
 gospel in other congregations. 
 
 At the time of Mr. Huntting's settlement, the church con- 
 sisted of only 56 members. During his ministry, four seasons 
 of special revival were enjoyed ; viz., in 1808-10-15 &; 16- 
 18 & 19. " The whole number added was 129, leaving at 
 
SECT. 1.] SOUTHOLD. 135 
 
 the date of his dismission, 101. The whole number of deaths 
 in the parish had been 325 — the greatest number in one year, 
 26— the least, 9." 
 
 After occasional supplies for 2 years, Mr. William Fuller 
 a licentiate from Connecticut, commenced preaching here, in 
 June 1830. Having been ordained in Oct. following, by a 
 Conn. Association, he united with the Presbytery, and con- 
 tinued with this congregation till June, 1833. During this 
 time, 56 were added to the church. The year 1831 was 
 marked as a season of special refreshing. 
 
 The Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook, (a kinsman of the individual 
 of the same name previously mentioned,) supplied this church 
 from 1833 to 1835. 
 
 The Rev. Ralph Smith, who had commenced preaching 
 here as a licentiate, in Nov. 1835, was ordained pastor of the 
 church, July 15th, 1836. Being dismissed, at his own re- 
 quest, April 18th, 1838, after a temporary absence, he con- 
 tinued as a stated supply, till Dec. 1840. During his admin- 
 istration, 19 were added to the church. 
 
 The Rev. Alonzo Welton was employed from Nov. 1841, 
 to May 1844. During this period 46 were added. 
 
 The Rev. George F. Wisiccll commenced supplying the con- 
 gregation, not long after, and was ordained pastor, June ISth, 
 1845. 
 
 This parish, which now embraces about 100 families, has 
 enjoyed other seasons of revival, besides those which have 
 been mentioned. The church, though never large, has gene- 
 rally maintained a healthful tone of piety. The church now 
 consists of 134 members. 
 
 Greenport, (formerly Stirling,) a village at the termination 
 of the L. I. Rail Road, about 4 miles north east of the old 
 parish, has sprung up since 1827, and is now the largest com- 
 pact settlement, in the town. It has an excellent harbour, and 
 12 ships employed in the whaling business. It is the well- 
 known terminus of the L. 1. Rail Road. 
 
 The Baptist church, which was the first erected here, was 
 removed from Rocky Point, about a mile to the north west, 
 and rebuilt in 1833. It was first occupied about a year by the 
 Rev. Mr. James who was succeeded by the Rev. William 
 Knapp. The Rev. Alvan Acklcy, the present pastor, com- 
 menced his labours here in 1838. The church now consists 
 of 151 members. 
 
 The people of Rocky Point, being dissatisfied with the re- 
 moval of the church, have seen fit to erect another, in the 
 
136 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART % 
 
 last year, about a mile and a half from Greenport, though 
 they have no ecclesiastical organization. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1834 ; and 
 has been supplied by a succession of ministers, according to 
 the discipline of that denomination, whose annual, or biennial 
 changes preclude the record of their names, if they could be 
 obtained. 
 
 The Presbyterian Church was organized Feb. 7th, 1833, and 
 the Rev. Alfred Ketch am was its stated supply about two years. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Beers was installed pastor, Dec. *2, 1835. 
 The house of worship which had been previously erected, was 
 completed in the succeeding year. He was dismissed Jan. 
 31st, 1839. 
 
 The Rev. William Huntting was a stated supply for two or 
 three years. 
 
 The Rev. J. A. Saxton, was ordained the second pastor 
 June Tth, 1843, and was dismissed April 15th, 1845. 
 
 Mr. John Woodbridgc, a licentiate of the L. I. Presbytery, 
 has been labouring for some months, in this congregation and 
 has received a call to become their pastor, and his ordination is 
 expected to take place in November. 
 
 There is also in this village a small society called the Con- 
 gregational church of Greenport, but they have no house of 
 worship, nor stated preacher. Number of members about 15. 
 
 Orient, [formerly Oysterponds,] called by the Indians Po- 
 quatuck, is a peninsula, 4 or 5 miles long, containing about 
 3,000 acres, and forms the termination of the northern branch. 
 On the north shore, the land is somewhat elevated, but the 
 residue is a perfect level, and of a superior quality, eminently 
 deserving the appellation it has received, " The Garden of 
 Long Island." Every rood is capable of cultivation, and am- 
 ply repays the labour of the husbandman. 
 
 The village, recently named Orient, is situated on the south- 
 western part of the peninsula, and has an air of neatness and 
 thrift. A large boarding house has been erected by individ- 
 ual enterprise, at the Point, 3 miles east, and is becoming a 
 place of considerable resort, in " the rusticating season" as a 
 watering place. A more quiet and delightful retreat cannot 
 be found, within 100 miles of the city. 
 
 The settlement of this territory was commenced about 7 
 years after the founding of Southold. But there is scarcely a 
 parish on the Island, whose history is involved in greater obscu- 
 rity. No records of the village or church extend as far back 
 as the memory of persons yet living. When the church was 
 
SECT. 1.] SOUTH OLD. 137 
 
 formed — on what basis — when the first house of worship was 
 erected, and by whom occupied, nobody can tell. 
 
 At the commencement of the present century, a small 
 square church of a peculiar structure, bearing the marks of 
 old age, is recollected to have been standing. But whether 
 it was the first or second house of worship, is unknown. 
 
 In 1817, a new church was built, but so uncomfortable in 
 its construction, that in 1843, it was pulled down and a new 
 one erected in its place. This is a very neat and commodious 
 edifice. 
 
 From the records of Suffolk Presbytery, it appears that a 
 committee of that body met here Nov. 9th, 1757, for the pur- 
 pose of ordaining Mr. Jonathan Barber, " who had laboured 
 there some years," but as they found the church in a very 
 " broken and disjointed state," they proceeded to his ordina- 
 tion on the following day, " without any special relation to 
 the church and congregation — advising him to exercise his 
 ministry there, in order to gather and form a church accord- 
 ing to gospel order." Mr. Barber was a native of West 
 Springfield, Mass., born Jan. 31st., 1712 — graduated at Yale, 
 1730 — licensed b} 7- Springfield Association in 1732, and 
 preached a while at Agawam, in that vicinity. Whitefield, 
 on his first visit to New England, in 1740, met with Mr. 
 Barber, and being pleased with him, employed him as the 
 spiritual superintendent of his Orphan House. There he re- 
 mained 7 years. How long he laboured at Oysterponds, and 
 with what results, is not known. He removed to Groton, 
 Conn., and was settled there. He subsequently fell under a 
 deep melancholy, and died suddenly, Oct. 8th, 1783. 
 
 A Mr. Lee succeeded Mr. B., and left in 1775. 
 
 The Rev. Emerson Foster, is recollected as the pastor of 
 this church, at the commencement of the present century. 
 But when he was settled is not known. About the year 1804 
 or 5, his health failed, and he relinquished his charge : and 
 for several succeeding years, the congregation was vacant. 
 
 The Rev. Ezra Haines was ordained, Aug. 17th, 1819, by 
 the Presbytery of Long Island. He made shipwreck of min- 
 isterial and christian character, and was deposed from the 
 ministry, March 24th, 1813. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas I. de Verell, from England, was ordained 
 here, in Dec. 1819, by the L. I. Convention. He, like his 
 predecessor, forfeited his character and was deposed. 
 
 These repeated defections, as might be expected, produced 
 most unhappy effects upon the interests of religion, in this 
 
138 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 place. The enemies of the cross were emboldened to blas- 
 pheme, and a general distrust of ministerial and christian cha- 
 racter pervaded the community. For several years, the ways 
 of Zion mourned, and her courts lay in ruins. 
 
 About the year 1825, the Rev Jonathan Robinson, a man 
 of great simplicity of character, and ardent piety, who will 
 be more particularly noticed in another place, came among 
 this people. By his manifest honesty of purpose, ancf inde- 
 fatigable labours, which were attended with the divine bless- 
 ing, the public attention was aroused, and the breaches began 
 to be repaired. In the course of 2 years, the way was opened 
 for the re-establishment of gospel ordinances, and in 1827, 
 the Rev. Phinehas Robinson, son of the former, was employed. 
 He remained 4 years as a stated supply. His labours were 
 blessed, and the church was strengthened. Several other sup- 
 plies were employed, for a longer or shorter period, of whom 
 we have no particulars. 
 
 In Feb. 1839, the Rev. Daniel Beers commenced his la- 
 bours here as stated supply, and still continues in that rela- 
 tion. The parish was probably never in a more prosperous 
 condition than at the present time. 
 
 A correspondent remarks, that "between 20 and 30 minis- 
 ters have officiated at different times in this church, but Mr. 
 Foster alone has been installed pastor." It is known to have 
 enjoyed several seasons of revival,' but it is impossible to state 
 particulars. 
 
 A method ist church was erected in the village of Orient, a 
 few years ago, which is constantly supplied. 
 
 The whole number of families on the peninsula probably 
 does not exceed 125. 
 
 Cutchogue is a pleasant settlement, five miles to the west- 
 ward of the old parish of Southold, still bearing the name 
 (with only a slight change in the orthography) of the Indian 
 tribe, that originally occupied the whole of this branch of the 
 island. A church was erected here in 1732. It was repair- 
 ed, and the interior remodeled in 1S38. It is still a sub- 
 stantial building, and bears, internally, more of its antique 
 features, than any other church on the island. The pulpit 
 remains unaltered, and is believed to be the only sample of its 
 kind left.* 
 
 * As an example of the manner, in which ancient dates, of which 
 there is no record, may sometimes be recovered, taka»the following note, 
 kindly furnished by Judg-e London of this parish :— 
 
SECT. 1.] SOUTHOLD. 139 
 
 At what time, and under what form a church was first or- 
 ganized here, or who was its first pastor, it is impossible to 
 determine, as there are no early records. The Rev. Ebenezer 
 Gould is the first of whom* there is any certain information. 
 He had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Green- 
 wich, Cumberland county, N. J., from 1728 to 1740, and 
 came to Long Island in the last mentioned year. A" private 
 memorandum of ministerial changes, kept by an individual in 
 Southold, to which we shall have occasion to make frequent 
 reference, says '« Mr. Gould installed Sept. 1740 :" and though 
 no place is mentioned, it was undoubtedly here. Having pre- 
 viously been a member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Mr. 
 Gould was one of the six ministers, who united in the organi- 
 zation of the Suffolk Presbytery in 174?. And it may be re- 
 marked that a member of this church, though not delegated, 
 was present on that occasion and approved of the plan. 
 
 It appears from the records of the Presbytery that shortly 
 after, Mr. G. and his people, mutually agreed on a separa- 
 tion, which although informal, was approved in Oct. 1747. 
 The following is the record of the Presbytery on the subject : — 
 
 " The main part of the congregation at Cutchogue, to 
 which Mr. Gould ministered, being rigid Congregationalists, 
 things, at the time he and they mutually agreed to be at lib- 
 erty one from another as minister and people, were come to 
 such a crisis, by reason of separations, divisions, and aliena- 
 tion of affection, that his temporal support very much failed, 
 and there was little or no prospect of his serving the interests 
 
 M Extract from Alvah Goldsmith's letter to Mr. Mapes, of Guilford, 
 Connecticut, 
 
 "I have searched, andean find nothing ; only that my grandfather 
 was born May 27th or 28th, 1732, and died in 1816, in the 85th year of 
 his age." 
 
 " Deacon William Wells declares in the most positive terms, that he 
 has often heard his mother say (who was sister to John Goldsmith, the 
 grandfather of the said Alvah*Goldsmith,) that her brother John was born 
 on the next day after the meeting house now standing in Cutchoqne was 
 raised. Deacon William Wells' mother obtained her information from 
 her mother, who often assured her that such was the fact." 
 
 The writer may be permitted to add, in connexion with this venerable 
 building, that here he made his first essays to preach the everlasting gos- 
 pel, having been licensed Oct. 10th, 1805, by the L. I. Presbytery. And 
 he had the melancholy pleasure, on the 30th of March, 1845, of standing 
 in the same old pulpit, and preaching to a congregation consisting, 
 almost entirely, of another generation. Only here and there, was there 
 one, who had occupied those seats in former days. And those, how 
 changed ! as was the speaker. «* Our fathers ; where are they? and the 
 •prophets, do they live forever ?" 
 
140 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 of religion among them : and he being removed into New 
 England, and united with an Association there, upon satis- 
 factory credentials, his dismission and recommendation is 
 approved by the Presbytery." 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Paine was ordained pastor of this 
 church, October 24th, 1750. He was a graduate of Yale, 
 and had been licensed by Suffolk Presbj tery, December 20th, 
 1748, who recommended him to the churches in general, and 
 to Cutchogue in particular. Hence, it is probable that his 
 labours with this people commenced, not far from that time. 
 He was ordained by an ecclesiastical council, which was ap- 
 pointed to meet on the same day with the stated meeting of 
 the Presbytery in another congregation ; for which irregular- 
 ity he was called to an account. His name frequently ap- 
 pears in the records of the Presbytery as " an assistant" but 
 he was received June 15th, 1763, as a constituent member ; 
 and at the same time, the church of Cutchogue was at their 
 own request, taken under the care of the Presbytery. On 
 the 25th of October following, a Committee of the Presby- 
 tery was appointed to visit this church and adjust difficulties. 
 And April 9th, 1766, Deacon Thomas Goldsmith of Cutchogue 
 complained to the Presbytery of the church of Cutchogue 
 ** for acting in opposition to the Presbytery, and for employ- 
 ing unauthorized, heretical, and disorderly men as teachers 
 among them." Another committee was appointed, but the 
 result is not known. These facts, however show, that this 
 church was for a long period agitated with diversities of views 
 and administrations. Mr. Paine died Oct. 14th, 1760, in the 
 43d year of his age, and his remains repose in the parish bu- 
 rial yard. 
 
 For nearly twenty years succeeding the death of Mr. 
 Paine, the writer has been unable to trace any regular ad- 
 ministration in this church. They probably enjoyed the la- 
 bours of temporary supplies, but it is questionable whether 
 they had a stated pastor. 
 
 In 1786, Mr. Zechariah Greene commenced preaching 
 here, and he was ordained June 28th, 17»7, as pastor. He 
 was dismissed and removed to Brookhaven, in 1797, where he 
 will be again noticed. 
 
 From this time, till 1810, this congregation had no settled 
 pastor ; but were served by different individuals, for a longer 
 or shorter time. During this interval the parish became in- 
 volved in a most unhappy controversy among themselves. 
 The occasion was as follows : The founders of the congrega- 
 
SECT. 1. sotjthold: 141 
 
 tion had funded a considerable sum of money, expressly for 
 the support of the gospel ; and more recently, this sum had 
 been considerably increased by individual contributions. 
 About this time a difference of opinion arose as to the man- 
 ner of managing the money ; whether by a committee of 
 trust, as had been the previous practice, or by trustees, chosen 
 under an incorporation, which had then recently been formed 
 according to the statute. It is a matter of astonishment that 
 a question of this kind should have produced such a contro- 
 versy ; but it is a fact, that the contention proceeded till the 
 church was divided, the administration of the special ordi- 
 nances suspended, the house of God, in a great measure, for- 
 saken, and some individuals indiscreetly bound themselves by 
 a vow, " never to enter the church again ;" and to crown the 
 whole, the two parties became involved in an expensive suit 
 in Chancery. 
 
 In November, 1805, a portion of the congregation rallied, 
 and, by their individual subscriptions, (for the funds were 
 now out of their reach,) engaged a supply for a few months. 
 In connection with the preaching of the gospel, direct mea- 
 sures were adopted to reconcile the church and congregation. 
 The 1st of January, 1816, was a notable day, in the history 
 of this parish. A public meeting was held, and after hearing 
 a sermon, the church unanimously agreed to bury all their 
 differences, and proceeded to the election of deacons, which 
 office had long been vacant. In due time, these were set 
 apart, and the administration of the ordinances restored. In 
 the course of .the winter, the contending parties of the con- 
 gregation agreed on terms of settlement — the chancery suit 
 was withdrawn and the whole subject was amicably adjusted, 
 to the satisfaction of all concerned. After temporary sup- 
 plies, 
 
 The Rev. Lalhrop Thompson was installed pastor of this 
 church, May 2d, 1810, and continued in this relation till 
 Aug. 29th, 1826; when he was dismissed, and returned to 
 Vermont, where he died some years afterwards. He was an 
 evangelical man and faithful minister. 
 
 The Rev. Ezra Youngs, a lineal descendant from the 
 first minister of Southold, has been the stated supply of 
 this congregation, with the exception of a single year, from 
 1828 to the present time. But the interests of this congrega- 
 tion, as of many others, are manifestly suffering, under the 
 system of stated supplies, depending on the recurrence of an 
 annual contract, 
 
142 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The Methodists commenced preaching within the bounds 
 of this parish, about 20 years ago, and in 1829, they erected 
 a house of worship, (about a mile east of the other church,) 
 which is regularly supplied. 
 
 The following paragraph forms a part of the religious his- 
 tory of this congregation. 
 
 Near the commencement of the present century, Seth 
 Wells, a native of this parish embraced the faith and practice 
 of the Shakers. He left his father's house, went to Niscayuna, 
 and soon became a leader of that singular sect. In 1803 or 
 '4 he visited his father's family, which consisted of seven 
 sons and two daughters ; and succeeded in making converts 
 of his mother, sisters and five brothers. For a number of 
 weeks, they kept up their dancing exercises, to the great 
 amazement of the neighbourhood, and annoyance of all se- 
 rious-minded people, without making any more proselytes, 
 except a widow of a collateral branch of the family. The 
 mother remained, till the death of her husband, which occur- 
 red several years afterwards. One or two of the sons, who 
 had families, delayed a few years. But sooner or later, nine- 
 teen individuals of this single family have removed, and be- 
 come incorporated with this dancing sect. This, however, is 
 the beginning and the end of Shakerism on Long Island. 
 
 Maitituck is another small parish 2 miles west of Cutchogue. 
 This territory, including the present town of Riverhead, was 
 purchased of the Corchaug Indians, in lo49. Its settlement, 
 it is probable, was commenced soon after ; but it was a con- 
 siderable time, before it became a distinct parish. It has been 
 said that a church was erected here, before the close of that 
 century ; but the earliest authentic information the writer has 
 been able to obtain, is the following : — 
 
 " In 1715, a half acre of land, as a site for a church, and 
 an acre and a half adjoining, for a burying ground, were given 
 by James Reeve. The conveyance bears date Nov. 7th, 1715, 
 and in the following year a house of worship was erected, by 
 Nathaniel Warner, master builder." Shortly after, a church 
 was organized, and the Rev. Joseph Lamb became the pastor. 
 His name first appears in the records of the Synod of N. Y., 
 and Philadelphia, in 1719, from which it may be inferred, 
 that he united with the original Presbytery of Long Island, 
 within the first or second year of its existence. The private 
 record already referred to, says " Joseph Lamb, ordained Dec. 
 4th, 1717." From a monument in the graveyard, it appears 
 that Mrs. Lamb died here in April, 1829. Mr. Lamb left the 
 
SECT. 1.] SOTJTHOLD. 143 
 
 island, some years afterwards, and was settled at Baskingridge, 
 N. J., where he died, in 1749. His death is noticed in the 
 minutes of the Synod in 1750. The estimation, in which he 
 was held by that people, may be inferred from the fact, that 
 they made immediate application to the Presbytery of Suffolk 
 to send them another minister. 
 
 From the time of Mr. Lamb's removal, the congregation 
 appears to have been destitute of any stated preaching, for se- 
 veral years. After this, its history is, in a great measure, 
 identified with that of Lower Aquebogue, a parish about four 
 miles distant, in the town of Riverhead, with which it has been 
 long united in the support of divine institutions. 
 
 On the 10th of June 1752, the Rev. Joseph Paries was 
 regularly installed pastor of these united parishes ; and at the 
 same time, 7 males and 15 females, who, the Presbytery say, 
 ' ; had belonged to the churches of Mr. Lamb and Mr. Mather" 
 were organized into one church. 
 
 These solemn exercises were preceded, by the observance 
 of a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, in which Messrs. 
 Troop and Paine assisted — Mr. Parks was dismissed Feb 11th, 
 1756, having administered 92 baptisms, admitted 6 to the com- 
 munion, and solemnized 23 marriages. 
 
 In June following, the congregation with the approbation of 
 the Presbytery, invited the Rev. Nehemiah Barker, who had 
 been previously settled at Killingly, Conn., to labour with them. 
 Oct. 10th, 1759, the Presbytery gave him leave to return to 
 New England, and recommended him as " a regular member 
 of the Presbytery and a worthy minister of the gospel." It 
 appears, however, that he did not remove, and continued in the 
 charge of the united congregations till 1766 ; from which 
 time, he confined his labours to Mattituck, till his death, which 
 occurred March 10th, 1772, at the age of 52 years. Mr. 
 Barker baptized 133 ; admitted to communion 30, and cele- 
 brated 57 marriages. 
 
 From Oct. 14th, 1772, this congregation employed the Rev. 
 Jesse Ives, one year, during which time, he baptized 7, and 
 solemnized 2 marriages. 
 
 The Rev. John Davenport, was ordained June 4th, 1775, 
 and served this congregation as a stated supply for 2 years. 
 He vas the son of the Rev. James Davenport, of Southold. 
 He was an amiable and excellent man, laboured some years 
 in different places on the island, and was dismissed from the 
 Presbytery of Suffolk April 12th, 17^6. He was settled at 
 Deerfield, N. J., Aug. 12th, 1795, and dismissed, from failure 
 
144 AXNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 of health, in 1S05. He died July 13th, 1821. During the 
 two years he laboured here, he baptized 6, admitted to the 
 communion 4, and celebrated 8 marriages. He was one of 
 the first ministers on the island, that refused to administer 
 baptism on the indulgent plan. While at Mattituck, he mar- 
 ried the widow of Mr. Barker his predecessor, with whom, 
 notwithstanding the great disparity of their ages, he lived 
 happily for many years. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Goldsmith who will be more particularly 
 noticed as the pastor at Aquebogue, took the charge of this 
 congregation in 1777, in connection with the other, of which 
 he had the previous charge, and continued till his death, in 
 1810. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Bailey was ordained pastor, Nov. 6th, 
 1811, and dismissed May 18th, 1816. 
 
 The Rev. Nathaniel Reeve, was employed as a stated supply, 
 from 1817 to 1823, when his health failed, and he was laid 
 aside from active labour. But to the honour of the people, 
 '• he was not wickedly and ungratefully abandoned, but lived 
 on the parsonage, had the avails of the funds ; and his rela- 
 tives and other benevolent persons saw, that he and his family 
 were provided for, during more than nine years." An exam- 
 ple worthy of being held up for the imitation of the churches 
 on Long Island and elsewhere. He died April 9th, 1833, at 
 the age of 72 years. 
 
 For five years, from June 1825, the Rev. A. Abraham Luce 
 acted as stated supply to both these congregations, (now 
 called Union Parish,) dividing his time between them and 
 Westhampton. From June, 1830 to 1835, Mr. Luce's labours 
 were devoted exclusively to Union parish. 
 
 The Rev. Jonathan Huntting was their stated supply for one 
 year, and a Mr. Gilbert, a licentiate of Niagara Presbytery, 
 for two years. 
 
 Jan. 1st, 1839, Mr. Luce again became the stated supply 
 of this parish, in which capacity he still continues. 
 
 A new church was erected at Mattituck in 1830. 
 
 A more particular notice of the state of the church, and the 
 character of the several ministers, will be given in the history 
 of Aquebogue. 
 
 Franklinville is a small village of modern origin, which is 
 situated on the west line of the town of Southold, about half 
 way between Mattituck and Aquebogue ; two parishes, that 
 have been united almost 100 years in the support of divine 
 institutions, being only 4 miles apart. It owes its existence, at 
 
SECT. 1.] SOUTHOLD. 145 
 
 least as a distinct parish, to a fruitless attempt to unite both 
 congregations at a common centre. However desirable such 
 a result might have been, it was evidently an undertaking, 
 which, under existing circumstances, could have presented 
 little hope of success. It was scarcely to be expected, that 
 two distinct settlements, which had had their separate houses 
 of worship, with their burial grounds attached, and their 
 various attachments formed and cemented, through the course 
 of an entire century, would unitedly agree to relinquish all 
 these cherished associations, and erect a house of worship, in 
 a solitary spot between them. Under these influences, the 
 people of the old congregations resolved to rebuild their re- 
 spective churches ; and a few of each determined on erecting 
 a third, about midway between them. 
 
 This new spot was first called the Middle District, but even- 
 tually assumed its present name. The church was commenc- 
 ed in 1830 and dedicated in the spring of 1831. On the 
 15th of June following, a church, consisting of 27 members, 
 was organized by the Presbytery of Long Island. In 1833, 
 a number of families having located in the vicinity, an Acad- 
 emy edifice was erected. Till this time the church bad 
 enjoyed only occasional supplies. In that year the Rev. 
 Phinehas Robinson took charge of the Academy, and was in- 
 stalled Aug. 28th, 1833, as pastor of the church. Under his 
 ministry, the cause of religion was advanced, and the church 
 considerably increased in numbers. He, however, was con- 
 strained, by the state of his health to request a dismission, 
 which was granted Oct. 14th, 1835. 
 
 In 1S36 or 7, some unhappy difficulties arose, by which, in 
 their results, about 20 prominent members were induced 
 to leave the church. 
 
 The Rev. Jonathan Huntting was employed as a stated 
 supply for two years, — Mr. Henry Clark, a licentiate from 
 Connecticut, for a year ; and the Rev. William Toby for a 
 year and a half. 
 
 Mr. Clark, having received ordination in his absence, 
 returned, and is still employed as the teacher of the Academy, 
 and the supply of the church. It is said, that " the state of 
 morals in this small parish, will compare with that of any 
 other, on this part of the island." The church has enjoyed 
 repeated seasons of refreshing, with considerable additions, 
 and now consists of 65 members. In 1835 it numbered 90. - 
 
 Notwithstanding the success, which has attended this under- 
 taking, it cannot be looked upon, by an indifferent eye, but 
 
 7 
 
146 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 with feelings of regret. Standing as it does, ecclesia iti tech. 
 sid, a church in the midst of another church ; being itself a 
 feeble band, it can gain strength, only at the expense of the 
 other two churches, which have been struggling for exist- 
 ence from their commencement. And although the deed is 
 done, and probably will never be undone ; yet it may serve to 
 teach other congregations, that the multiplication of churches, 
 beyond the actual wants of a community, instead of subserv- 
 ing, actually injures the cause of religion. And especially, 
 when they impose on their minister the necessity of following 
 some secular employment, for support, in whole or in part, the 
 spiritual interests of the church must feel the effects. 
 
 Summary. — In this town, there are 13 churches, or houses 
 of worship, viz ; 4 Presbyterian, 3 Congregational, 4 Me- 
 thodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Universalist. 
 
 As the ministry of Mr. Davenport had a deep and abiding 
 influence on the interests of religion, not only in the church 
 of which he was the settled pastor, but in all the eastern towns, 
 a more particular account of his singular career is indispens- 
 able to a correct understanding of ecclesiastical matters on 
 Long Island. 
 
 He was a young man of an amiable disposition, and es- 
 teemed piety. Naturally of an ardent temperament, that 
 trait of character, instead of being controlled and regulated, 
 was lamentably increased, by his associations while in Col- 
 lege. He was the bosom friend of a wild enthusiast, by the 
 name of Ferris, who laid claim to superior attainments in re- 
 ligious matters. " He professed to know the will of God in 
 all things — that he had not committed a sin in six years — 
 he should have a higher seat in Heaven than Moses ; and 
 not one in ten of the communicants, in the church in 
 New Haven, could be saved." This man obtained a great as- 
 cendency over several of the students, but especially Daven- 
 . And to his influence, probably, more than that of any 
 man, is to be imputed the wayward course which Da- 
 rt pursued ; though Ferris afterwards abandoned his 
 own scheme and became a Quaker-preacher. 
 
 ►out 2 years after his settlement at Southold, Davenport 
 < : became that God had revealed to him, that his 
 
 coming with great power, and that he had an 
 nary call to labour for its advancement. He assem- 
 bled his people on one occasion, and addressed them continu- 
 
SECT. 1.] 60UTH0LD. 147 
 
 ously for nearly 24 hours, until he become quite wild. After 
 continuing some time, in exciting labours in his own neigh- 
 bourhood, he passed over into Connecticut," where the same 
 spirit had been developed, and was producing disastrous re- 
 sults in many of the churches. " He soon became animated 
 by a furious zeal," says Dr. Miller, in his life of Edwards, 
 " and imagining that he was called to take a special lead in 
 the work, he began to set at nought all the rules of Christian 
 prudence and order, and to give the most unrestrained liberty 
 to his finatical feelings. He raised his voice to the highest 
 pitch in public services, and accompanied his unnatural ve- 
 hemence and cantatory bawling with the most vehement 
 agitations of body. He encouraged his hearers to give vent, 
 without restraint, both to their distress and their joy, by vio- 
 lent outcries, in the midst of public assemblies. When these 
 things prevailed among the people, accompanied with bodily 
 agitations, he pronounced them tokens of the presence of God. 
 Those who passed immediately from great distress to great 
 joy, he declared, after asking them a few questions, to be con- 
 verts ; though numbers of such converts, in a short time, re- 
 turned to their old way of living, and were as carnal, wicked, 
 and void of experience, as ever they were. He openly en- 
 couraged his new converts to speak in public, and brought for- 
 ward many ignorant and unqualified persons, young and old, 
 to address large assemblies, in his own vehement and magis- 
 terial manner. He led his followers in procession through the 
 streets, singing psalms and hymns. He was a great favourer 
 of visions, trances, imaginations and powerful impressions, 
 and made such impulses and inward feelings the rule of duty 
 for himself and others. He claimed a kind of prescriptive 
 right to sit in judgment on the character of ministers, and af- 
 ter examining them as to their spiritual state, in private, would 
 often pronounce them, in his public prayers, to be unconvert- 
 ed. Those who refused to be examined, were sure to suffer 
 the same fate. He made his prayers the medium of harsh 
 and often indecent attacks on ministers and others, whom he 
 felt disposed, on any account, to censure. And in his ha- 
 rangues, he would inform the people that their ministers were 
 unconverted, and tell them that they had as good eat ratsbane 
 as hear an unconverted minister. On more than one occa- 
 sion he publicly refused to receive the sacramental symbols, 
 because he doubted the piety of the pastors. Congregations 
 were exhorted to eject their ministers ; and dissatisfied minori- 
 ties were encouraged to break off and form new churches ; 
 
148 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 and in this, a number of congregations were greatly weakened 
 and others nearly destroyed. In a number of churches, Mr. 
 Davenport had his blind and servile imitators, who prorogated 
 and extended these disorders, and by their unhallowed mix- 
 tures with the work of grace filled the minds of many with 
 prejudices against the whole, as fanaticism and delusion ; 
 made the very name of a revival odious in the ears of many 
 intelligent Christians, and gave rise to multiplied evils, which, 
 in two-thirds of a century afterwards, had not entirely disap- 
 peared." 
 
 It is also stated on good authority that "he declaimed much 
 against pride in dress, which he styled idolatry ; and on one 
 occasion, at New London, he kindled a large fire at a place 
 previously designated, and calling upon his followers to come 
 forward and destroy their idols, not only many useless orna- 
 ments, but numerous garments, and other valuable articles 
 were committed to the flames. In a similar manner, under 
 the guise of rooting out heresy, many books, and some of them 
 of sterling excellence, such as Beveridge's and Flavel's works, 
 were cast into the fire." 
 
 Of his manner of preaching, and the extravagant measures 
 he pursued, the following description is given by Dr. Bacon : — 
 
 " He would work upon their fancy, till they saw, as with 
 their eyes, the agony, and heard, as with their ears, the groans 
 of Calvary, and felt as the Popish enthusiast feels, when, un- 
 der the spell of music, he looks upon the canvass alive with 
 the agony of Jesus. He would so describe the surprize, con- 
 sternation and despair of the damned, with looks and screams 
 of horror, that those who were capable of being moved by such 
 representations, seemed to see the gate of hell set open, and 
 felt, as it were, the hot and stifling breath, and the " hell- 
 flames" flashing in their faces. And if, by such means, he 
 could cause any to scream out, he considered that as a sign of 
 the special presence of the Holy Spirit, and redoubled his own 
 exertions, till shriek after shriek, bursting from one quarter 
 and another in hideous discord, swelled the horrors of the 
 scene. In one instance, it is recorded of him as follows — this 
 I suppose to be an exaggerated description of the manner in 
 which he ordinarily proceeded, at the close of his sermon when 
 he found sufficient encouragement in the state of his audience : 
 " After a short prayer, he called for all the distressed persons 
 (who were about 20) into the foremost seats. Then he came 
 out of the pulpit, and stripped off* his upper garments, and got 
 into the seats, and leaped up and down some time, and clapped 
 
SECT. 1.] S0T7TH0LD. 149 
 
 his hands, and cried out in these words, ■ The war goes on, 
 the fight goes on, the Devil goes down, the Devil goes down,' 
 and then betook himself to stamping and screaming most 
 dreadfully." 
 
 Although this deluded man did not enact his wildest ex- 
 travagances in the churches of the island ; yet even here, his 
 labours were productive of many unhappy results. Dissen- 
 tions and divisions were produced in many congregations, the 
 effects of which are visible at the present day. And although 
 some good was done and souls were hopefully converted, yet 
 many prejudices against the work of grace were excited, and 
 the enemies of the cross emboldened to blaspheme. 
 
 It is due to the memory of Mr. Davenport to add, that af- 
 ter pursuing this disorderly course for a few years, he became 
 deeply sensible of the error of his ways, and published to the 
 world an ingenuous confession ; in which he acknowledges 
 that " he had been influenced by a false spirit, in judging min- 
 isters ; in exhorting their people to forsake their ministry ; in 
 making impulses a rule of conduct ; in encouraging lay-ex- 
 horters ; and in disorderly singing in the streets." He speaks 
 of burning the books and clothes at New-London, as matter 
 for deep and lasting humiliation ; and prays, that God would 
 guard him from such errors in future, and stop the progress 
 of those who had been corrupted by his word and example. 
 This latter petition was not granted. He found that a care- 
 less child, or a reckless idiot could easily kindle a fire, that a 
 thousand able bodied men .could not control or extinguish. 
 In such a world as this, it is much easier to do mischief, than 
 to arrest its progress or prevent its consequences. And mul- 
 titudes, who have once been set in motion, by one master- 
 spirit, will continue to pursue their devious paths, and even 
 denounce their leader, when he, convinced of his errors, be- 
 gins to retrace his steps and attempts to lead them back to 
 the path of duty. 
 
 Dr. Miller justly remarks, that " this case ought not only 
 to be recorded, but to be kept before the public mind, as a 
 salutary warning." Beside this, it forms an important ele- 
 ment in the history of the Long Island churches. 
 
150 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Section 2.— RIVERHEAD. 
 
 Number of acres improved - - - - 12,802 
 " " unimproved - - - 24,19S 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 15. 
 
 This is the County town of Suffolk, bounded on the north 
 by the Sound — on the east by Southold — on the south by Pe- 
 conick Bay and River, and on the west by Brookhaven. The 
 Court House is situated at the head of the Bay, near the south 
 line of the town ; and, till within a few years, was encircled 
 by one continuous forest, with only a small cluster of houses 
 in sight. It was one of the most cheerless landscapes that 
 could meet the eye ; having not a single bright point, except 
 the stream of water flowing through the sand ; nor any ave- 
 nue to a fairer prospect, except a small opening in the woods 
 produced by the head of the Bay. 
 
 The whole township is one of the most sterile in the coun- 
 ty — only one third of its territory being capable of repaying 
 the labor of cultivation. For 150 years it constituted a part 
 of Southold, and was made a separate town by an Act of 
 the Legislature, dated March 13th, 1792. 
 
 A settlement was commenced here, as early as 1090, by 
 John Griffin and others, who erected a grist-mill, on the mouth 
 of the River ; but the increase of the inhabitants was very 
 small for more than a century. In 1804, after this spot had 
 been the seat of justice for the County almost 80 years, Dr. 
 Dwight describes it as " a miserable hamlet containing about 
 10 or 12 houses," and " the Court House, a poor, decayed 
 building." 
 
 The days of modern improvement have wrought a consider- 
 able change here, as elsewhere. The village has been laid 
 out into streets, and a large accession to the buildings, both 
 public and private, has been made ; till it presents quite an 
 imposing appearance. Besides the Court House, three 
 Churches and an Academy, there are about 70 private dwell- 
 ings, and the village contains nearly 400 inhabitants. 
 
 This village being of very recent origin, no public buildings, 
 except the Court House, were erected here, till within a few 
 years. When this County was first formed, the Courts were 
 held at Southampton and Southold. 
 
 In 1725 a Court House and Jail were erected here ; and 
 from that time, this has been the shire-town. It was former- 
 ly a sorry looking building, of contracted dimensions. The 
 
SECT. 2.] RIVERHEAD. 151 
 
 Court and Jury rooms, and the cells for prisoners, were under 
 the same roof. Within a few years, the Court House was 
 remodeled and repaired ; and a prison separate from the Hall 
 of Justice erected. 
 
 No house appropriated to religious worship, nor even a 
 church organization existed here till some 12 years ago. Pre- 
 viously to that time, occasional preaching by ministers of dif- 
 ferent denominations, was held in the Court Room. 
 
 In 1830, the Methodists commenced regular preaching here, 
 and in 1833, a society of 9 members was constituted. A 
 house of worship, 34 by 42 feet, was erected in 1834, and 
 dedicated in the following year. The number of members is 
 now about 100. 
 
 A Congregational Church was organised in Oct. 1834, 
 consisting of 39 members, who formed part of a secession 
 from the church of Upper Aquebogue, which will be more 
 particularly noticed hereafter. They were first supplied by 
 the Rev. Mr. Moser, until the spring of 1836. A Female 
 Seminary, erected in 1835, afforded a convenient place of 
 worship, which they occupied for several years. From May 
 1836, Mr. Gilbert supplied this church for one year, when he 
 was succeeded by the Rev. Charles I. Knowles ; who removed 
 in 1844, and was succeeded in the spring of 1845, by the Rev. 
 Mr. Brooks, who is now labouring here. This congregation 
 is feeo.o and has been aided several years, by the Home Mis- 
 sionary Society. 
 
 In 1831, Elijah Terry, a respectable resident of this village, 
 embraced the doctrine of Emmanuel Swedenborg and united 
 himself with the New Jerusalem Church at Bating Hollow. 
 On the 12th of May 1839, a church of this order, consisting 
 of 10 members, was organised in this village. Their place of 
 meeting is a comfortable building, which they have erected for 
 the twofold purpose of public worship and a select school ; 
 both of which receive a very limited patronage. Until the 
 past year, they have never enjoyed the stated labours of a min- 
 ister ; but since Nov. 1844, a Mr. Carll has divided his ser- 
 vices between this place and Bating Hollow. Their present 
 number of members is 9. 
 
 In regard to the morals of the village, there has been a very 
 manifest improvement, within a few years, especially in regard 
 to temperance, and the sanctification of the sabbath. There 
 are few places in the land, in which the efforts of the friends 
 of temperance have been crowned with more triumphant sue- 
 
152 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 cess. Most of the Hotels or Taverns are conducted on tem- 
 perance principles. 
 
 From the Annual Report of the Temperance Society of 
 this village, it appears that the quantity of liquor sold in the 
 first year of its existence, was reduced from 3,600 to 900 gal- 
 lons ; and in the next year, down to 600. Can a more favour- 
 able account be given of any other shire-town in the state ? 
 
 Upper Aquebogne. — This is a continuous settlement, the 
 centre of which is about three miles north-easterly, as you 
 proceed from the Court House, down the northern branch of 
 the island. It forms the largest parish in the town ; and al- 
 though its religious history is comprized within the last one 
 hundred years, its commencement is veiled in great ob- 
 scurity. 
 
 The present Congregational Church was organised, March 
 26th, 1758, by the Rev. Elisha Paine, pastor of the Separate 
 Church of Bridgehampton ; and consisted of 16 members. 
 A house of worship, in dimensions 24 by 33 feet, had been 
 previously erected, on the burying-ground, nearly opposite the 
 present church. The first interment in that ground was 
 made in 1755, and it is supposed that the church had been 
 previously erected. 
 
 From an old record, still extant, though deficient in dates 
 and other particulars, it seems probable, that a church had 
 previously existed here, to which a Mr. Lee had ministered, 
 and that it was under Presbyterian organization. It is also 
 said that the Rev. Timothy Symmes supplied it for some years, 
 preceding the middle of the last century. But when he 
 came, and how long he remained, are equally unknown. He 
 must have left the island, as early as 1746, as he was the pas- 
 tor of Connecticut Farms and New Providence, N. J., from 
 that year to 1750. During that period, his name appears in 
 the records of the Synod, as a member of the Presbytery 
 of New York. 
 
 The church organised in 1758, evidently grew out of the 
 separation produced by Mr. Davenport's operations, in these 
 eastern towns. In no part of the island, was that spirit more 
 rife, or attended with more permanent consequences. The 
 lower parish had been much agitated and divided by the new 
 measures introduced among them. In April, 1749, "the dif- 
 ficulties that for sometime past had subsisted among the peo- 
 ple of Aquebogue," say the Presbytery of Suffolk, " were laid 
 before that body-" And after hearing the case set forth " by 
 
SECT. 2.] RIVERHEAD. 153 
 
 each party" a letter was sent to the congregation "containing 
 a Christian reprehension of what had been contrary to the 
 order of the gospel ; and an exhortation to labour after a for- 
 giving and peaceable spirit, one towards another." 
 
 Here it is easy to discover the origin of the subsequent 
 separation, and new organization, which took place a few 
 years afterwards. 
 
 The old church edifice at Upper Aquebogue remained till 
 within the recollection of not a few, who are still living. In 
 1797, a new church 30 by 42 feet, was erected, on the oppo- 
 site side of the street. It had full galleries, and would ac- 
 commodate a large assembly. In 1833, it was remodeled, 
 and, excepting the frame, entirely rebuilt, with the addition 
 of a steeple, which is furnished with a bell. It is now univer- 
 sally known throughout the town and vicinitv as the " Steeple 
 Church." 
 
 Since the above was written, a respected correspondent, to 
 whom the writer is indebted for many facts in the history of 
 this town, says, in relation to the previous organization, " I 
 have since learned that it was a Presbyterian church, and 
 that Mr. Lee was the minister." It is probable that Mr. 
 Symmes preceded this individual. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The Rev. Timothy Wells was the first pastor of this church. 
 He was ordained Oct. 25th, 1759, by Mr. Paine of Bridg- 
 hampton, and Mr. Marshall of Canterbury, Conn. He died 
 at Cutchogue, Jan. 15th, 1783, aged 62. " He was an unedu- 
 cated man,1 but one of considerable talent, and of deep and 
 ardent piety." 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Youngs was called March 28th, 1782, 
 and was ordained in the following year, by the Strict Cong. 
 Convention of Conn. He and Mr. Wells, his predecessor, 
 were both natives of the parish, and were trained up in the 
 exercise of their gifts, in their native church. Mr. Youngs 
 had been preaching, for several years preceding his call to 
 this charge. He was a man of considerable powers and 
 influence. " He was at the head of his own denomination 
 on the island. Considering his limited advantages for prepar- 
 atory studies, he eminently excelled. His reasoning powers 
 were strong. His language, though not always in accord- 
 ance with the niceties of grammatical precision, was, never- 
 . theless, forcible and often sublime. His eloquence was some- 
 times bold and awful." He died in 1814 at the age of 70 years. 
 
 7 # 
 
154 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The Rev. Moses Sweezy succeeded Mr. Youngs, in 1815. 
 He was a native of Brookhaven, but had spent his early life 
 in this parish, and first united with this church. In 1SC8, he 
 was ordained by the L. I. Convention, pastor of a church in 
 New Jersey. He died January 28th, 1^26, aged 55 years. 
 
 From September, 1826 to 1827, the church was supplied 
 by the Rev. Thomas Edwards, from England, and from 
 1827 to 1831, by the Rev. Evan Evans, from Wales. Both 
 of these gentlemen held their ecclesiastical connexion with 
 the New York Association. From 1831 to '34 this church 
 was supplied by the Rev. Parshall Terry, from '34 to '37 by 
 the Rev. John Gibbs, from '37 to '40, by the Rev. William 
 Lyall ; and from 1840 by the Rev. Thomas Harris, who is 
 still employed. 
 
 The history of this church records more than a dozen spe- 
 cial seasons of revival, since the year 1783. The present 
 number of communicants is 275. The church having with- 
 drawn from the Long Island Convention now occupies strictly 
 independent ground. 
 
 Lower Aquebogne. — The first church edifice, within the pre- 
 sent limits of this town, was doubtless erected in this parish, 
 about 6 miles north east of the Court house. It was built in 
 1731. A church had probably been organised a short time 
 before this ; of which the Rev. Nathaniel Mather is supposed 
 to have been the first pastor. From the private record pre- 
 viously referred to, Mr. Mather's ordination is said to have 
 taken place May 22d, 1728. No place is mentioned, but as 
 he afterwards appears to have been the pastor of this church, 
 at the organization of the Presbytery of Suffolk, and his name 
 occurs in connexion with no other congregation, it may be 
 inferred, that he was originally settled here. He died March 
 20th, 1748. 
 
 In April 1749, the Presbytery having licensed Mr. John 
 Darbee, appointed him to preach in this congregation, and at 
 Mattituck, which he continued to do for two years. In the 
 course of his first year, however, a complaint was brought, 
 by certain disaffected individuals, against " Mr. Darbee's 
 preaching and private conversation," which, after a careful 
 investigation by the Presbytery, was judged to be without 
 foundation. Mr. D. subsequently laboured in other congrega- 
 tions, and was ordained as an evangelist, Nov. 10th, 1757, at 
 Oysterponds, at the time of Mr. Barber's ordination. 
 
SECT. 2.] RIVERHEAD. 155 
 
 It has been previously stated, in the history of Mattituck, 
 that at the ordination of Mr. Parks, June 10th, 1752, the 
 two churches were united, and continued under his charge till 
 February 11th, 1756 : and for a number of years after, under 
 the Rev. Nehemiah Barker. He afterwards restricted his la- 
 bours to Mattituck, and the congregation of Aquebogue was 
 left to its own resources. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Goldsmith was ordained pastor of this 
 church June 27th, 1764. After thirteen years devoted- ex- 
 clusively to this congregation, a re-union with Mattituck was 
 formed, and he continued in charge of both, till his death, 
 Nov. 19th, 1810, in the 75th year of his age. 
 
 At the time of his settlement, it would seem, that the church 
 was exceedingly reduced. At the first church meeting, after 
 his installation, only 4 members attended, and only 17 
 at the first communion. There were several seasons of re- 
 freshing, during his ministry, particularly in 1801-2 and 
 1808-9. The whole number added to the church was 94 
 — baptised 771, marriages 380, and he attended ^86 funerals. 
 
 The writer had but a partial acquaintance with Mr. Gold- 
 smith, and he gives the following notice of him furnished by 
 one of his successors. 
 
 " He was a man of sound mind, solid acquirements, plain 
 and unostentatious in his manners and habits — exceedingly 
 diffident of his own powers, " given to hospitality," and of 
 unfeigned piety. His theological views were of the New 
 England stamp. His favourite authors, Edwards. Bellamy 
 and Hopkins. Henry's Commentary was his daily compan- 
 ion. His sermons were unusually well conceived, plain, 
 scriptural, instructive ; and his manner solemn and affection- 
 ate. He was eminently happy in the influence he exerted, 
 to preserve the peace and unity of the church, and the edifi- 
 cation of the body of Christ. Christians were of one mind, 
 and more intelligent and devout than now. The old-fashion- 
 ed " conference-meeting" was well sustained, during Mr. 
 Goldsmith's ministry. The members assembled once a week, 
 usually at the pastor's house, to discuss, in a familiar man- 
 ner, some passage of scripture previously assigned. Some 
 gave their views orally ; others in writing. This meeting 
 was a school" of Theology. The members being familiar 
 with the best standard works, would refer to, and quote them 
 with the utmost readiness and accuracy. They became, to 
 use one of the common words of that day, soundly " indoctri- 
 
156 ANNALS OP THE TOWNf. [PART 2, 
 
 nated." And they were the Aarons and Hurs, to uphold and 
 aid their minister, in every good word and work. Would 
 that the school might be revived, and that love of the truth 
 might once more take the place of a desire to hear or tell 
 some new thing. In those days, the children in the common 
 schools were accustomed to recite the Shorter Catechism, on 
 Saturday of each week ; and Mr. Goldsmith usually attended 
 to the recitation, accompanying it with suitable counsels, ex- 
 hortation and prayer. It was a pastoral visitation, regarded 
 with favour by all. The teacher desired it — the children 
 were gratified with it — public sentiment not merely approved, 
 but required it. How changed the times !" 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Bailey succeeded, as the next regular 
 pastor of this church. He was ordained by the Presbytery 
 of Long Island, Nov. 6th, 1811, and dismissed May 1 8th, 
 1816. After his dismission he removed and settled in the 
 western part of the state, where he is still living without 
 charge. 
 
 The Rev. Nathaniel Reeve was employed here from 1817, 
 to 1823. 
 
 Since that time, excepting one year occupied by the Rev. 
 Jonathan Unfitting, and two years by Mr. Gilbert, as stated 
 in the annals of Mattituck, the Rev. Abraham Luce has been 
 and still continues the stated supply of these two congregations 
 under the name of Union Parish. 
 
 Jamesport is a small settlement of recent origin, a short 
 mile south of the last mentioned parish, and 6 miles below 
 Riverhead. It owes its origin to the speculation-fever of 
 1835-6, in the bosom of a single individual, who ruined him- 
 self by the operation. In 1833, there was not a single human 
 habitation here, now some 40. The object of erecting the 
 village was for the purposes of navigation, and a whaling ship 
 or two are sent out from the port ; but being situated at the 
 extreme point of ship navigation on the Peconick Bay, the 
 harbour difficult of access, and the channel constantly dimin- 
 ishing in depth, there is no reason to anticipate any great 
 enlargement. It has made no advance of late years. 
 
 A Methodist society has been formed here, which consists 
 of 45 members. They worship in a building erected at the 
 commencement of the settlement for a school-house, or place 
 of worship, as need might require. 
 
 Northvillc, is a small settlement, on the north side of the 
 island, about 2 miles from Upper Aquebogue. The church 
 here owes its origin to a secession from the church of Upper 
 
SECT. 2. J RIVERHEAD. 157 
 
 Aquebogue in 1829 ; on account of dissatisfaction with the 
 minister employed by the majority, and the adoption of " a 
 revised Confession of Faith and Covenant." Sixty members, 
 adhering to the Confession and Covenant of 1758, withdrew, 
 and set up separate worship, claiming to be the " First Strict 
 Congregational Church of Riverhead." In 1831, they erect- 
 ed a church edifice, 32 by 42 feet, which was located about 
 a mile south west of the former, and within 2 miles of the 
 Court House. From the time of their separation to 1S34, 
 they were supplied successively by the Rev. Christopher 
 Youngs, Mr. Fuller, the Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook, and the 
 Rev. Mr. Moser, the last two being connected with the L. I. 
 Presbytery. In the fall of 1831, the church was favoured 
 with a refreshing season, and more than 20 were added to its 
 communion. 
 
 In 1834, under the conviction, that the interests of religion 
 required some special exertions to rear a church at Riverhead, 
 this society agreed to divide, and form two congregations — 
 the one at Northville, and the other at the village of River- 
 head. The church was removed to Northville, that portion 
 of the congregation paying a stipulated sum to the other, for 
 the purpose of erecting a house of worship near the Court 
 House. 
 
 In the winter of 1834-5, the Northville church was supplied 
 by the Rev. Jonathan Huntting, and from 1835 to '39, by the 
 Rev. Abraham Luce, both of whom were members of the 
 Presbytery. 
 
 The Rev. William Hodge supplied them from 1839 to 1841. 
 He united with the L. I. Convention in April, 1840, having 
 previously been a baptist minister. He died Jan. 17th 1843. 
 Mr. James Smith, a Presbyterian licentiate succeeded Mr. 
 Hodge until the spring of 1845. 
 
 This congregation is small, consisting of about 40 families, 
 and the church numbers 130 communicants. It is strictly 
 independent, having no connection with Presbytery, Associa- 
 tion or Convention. 
 
 Bating- Hollow is a small parish about 6 miles west of 
 Northville on the same north road. The settlement was 
 commenced as early as 1719, but no house of worship was 
 erected till 1803. At that time, a building, 26 by 30 feet, 
 was reared. 
 
 A church, consisting of 7 or 8 members was organised here 
 in 1792, under the style of the " Third Strict Congregational 
 Church of Riverhead." In Aug. 1793, the L. I. Convention 
 
158 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 ordained the Rev. Manfoy Wells pastor, who died May 8th, 
 1802, in the 55th year of age. The Rev. Nathan Dickinson 
 succeeded, but at what date and how long he remained is not 
 ascertained. In Aug. 1820 the Rev. David Benjamin was 
 ordained here, by the Convention, and is still living. This 
 parish is small, including only about 30 families. 
 
 In 1813 or '14, a member of this church by the name of 
 Horton, imbibed the doctrines of Emmanuel Svvedenborg ; 
 and in 1815, set up a separate place of worship. In 1831, a 
 New Jerusalem Church was organized, consisting of 13 mem- 
 bers. In 1839 a house of worship, 24 by 36 feet, was erected ; 
 but until quite recently Mr. Horton has been the principal 
 conductor of their services. Since Nov. 1844, the Rev. M. M. 
 Carll has been employed here, a part of the time. From 15 
 to 20 families attend, and the present number of members 
 is 24. 
 
 Wading River is situated at the northwest corner of the 
 town of Riverhead, directly on the line, so that about one half 
 of the settlement is within the limits of Brookhaven. The 
 church is only a few yards east of the line. 
 
 It is not known definitely, at what time the first house of 
 worship was erected ; but it is supposed to have been about 
 the middle of the last century. About that time, at the re- 
 quest of the people, the Presbytery of Suffolk repeatedly ap- 
 pointed supplies at this place, and it is confidently asserted, by 
 some, that the first church organised here, was Presbyterian. 
 
 The first building was nearly square, being 26 by 28 feet. 
 It stood till 1837, when a new and very neat edifice 33 by 42 
 feet, was erected, with a steeple and bell. 
 
 The parish consists of about 60 families, and what is re- 
 markable, they are all, without exception, of one denomina- 
 tion. 
 
 A church of 8 or 9 members was organised here, in 1785, 
 by the Rev. Daniel Youngs, with the style of the " Second 
 Strict Cong. Church of Riverhead," and its delegate was pre- 
 sent and took part in the formation of the L. I. Convention, 
 in 1791. 
 
 The Rev. Jacob Corwin, who had preached here a number 
 of years, was ordained as their pastor, by the Convention, 
 in Nov. 1787. He was dismissed in 1800, and died Sept. 
 20th, 1833, in the 88th year of his age. 
 
 He was succeeded by his nephew, the Rev. David Wells. 
 He had been licensed by the Convention in 18U2, and was 
 ordained at this place, in 1809. He died Sept 12th, 1821, 
 in hia 4§th year. 
 
SECT. 2.] RIVERHEAD. 159 
 
 " After the death of Mr. Wells, the church were only oc- 
 casionally supplied with preaching from the ministers of the 
 L. I. Convention, until Nov. 11th, 1881, when the Rev. Par- 
 shall Terry was employed for one half the time, or every 
 other sabbath. Mr. Terry closed his labours with them, May 
 1832, and was succeeded by the Rev. Elizur W. Griswold, 
 a member of the Convention, who continued his labours for 
 one half of the time, until May 1834." Mr. Griswold had 
 been received by the Convention from the " Methodist Socie- 
 ty/' and afterwards united with the " Protestant Methodists." 
 
 The Rev. Christopher Youngs commenced labouring herein 
 the spring of 1835, and continued till 1841. 
 
 The Rev. John H. Thomas, supplied this people for 18 
 months, from 1842. 
 
 Since his removal they have had only occasional supplies 
 for a few months, and are at present entirely vacant. They 
 have had no settled pastor since the death of Mr. Wells in 
 1821. 
 
 In the early settlement of this place, through the benevo- 
 lence of some individuals, though the history of the transaction 
 appears to be well nigh lost, this congregation became possess- 
 ed of a large tract of land, which it is said, would now be 
 worth $20,000. In former days, however, it was considered 
 of small value, and was therefore disposed of with little dis- 
 cretion, till it is now reduced to the value of about $3,000. 
 It may be a matter of surprise that a congregation thus en- 
 dowed, and united in their religious views, should be willing 
 to live with such an irregular supply of the means of grace. 
 
 Summary. In this town, there are 10 distinct religious or- 
 ganizations, and as many houses of worship, viz., 1 Presby- 
 terian, 5 Congregational or Independent, 2 Methodist, and 2 
 Swedenborgians. 
 
 The territory included in this town, being formerly a part 
 of Southold, was a principal seat of those churches, which 
 were organised in affinity with the Separate Churches of New- 
 England. Both there and here, they remained for many 
 years, in a strictly independent form. But, in process of time, 
 those churches in Connecticut, with their ministers, formed 
 an ecclesiastical organization under the style of the " Strict 
 Congregational Convention of Connecticut ;" and in 1781, 
 they published a " Confession of Faith and Form of Govern- 
 ment," which was republished on Long Island in 1823. In 
 
160 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 connexion with this, they gave a " brief history of their sepa- 
 ration from the Standing Order," and an account of the or- 
 ganization of their first church, and the ordination of its first 
 minister. In the same pamphlet they set forth the reasons of 
 their separation, and " some of the errors that attended" that 
 event. 
 
 On the 26th of August, 1791, a similar organization was 
 formed at Upper Aquebogue, in this town, under the style of 
 " The Strict Congregational Convention of Long Island" The 
 original members were the Rev. Messrs. Daniel Youngs — Ja- 
 cob Corwin and Noah Hallock, (all of whom had been ordain- 
 ed by the Connecticut Convention ;) with delegates from the 
 churches of Aquebogue and Wading River. This body has 
 received or ordained between 20 and 30 ministers, and have 
 formed a number of additional churches, in various towns in 
 Suffolk County, and in the northern parts of the state of New 
 Jersey. The Connecticut Convention, it is believed, has been 
 extinct for many years, as the L. I. Convention was called 
 upon, in 1817, to ordain a pastor for the church at Lyme, Ct., 
 who held his connexion with this body, till his death. This 
 Convention has continued its existence till the present year, 
 though at the time of the organization of the L. I. Associa- 
 tion, it was reduced to a single ministerial member. 
 
 These churches have always been the friends of evangeli- 
 cal religion, and have been favoured with many interesting 
 and powerful revivals of religion. 
 
 Asperities of feeling, naturally engendered by circumstances 
 that have been hinted at, kept these ministers and churches 
 and those of the Presbyterian order, aloof from each other for 
 a considerable length of time. But contiguity of situation 
 and occasional intercourse -in the social and religious relations 
 of life, gradually allayed these feelings, and ultimately led to 
 the suggestion of something like an interchange of ministe- 
 rial labour. Accordingly April 10th, 1793, the Presbytery of 
 Long Island " approved of those ministers being invited to 
 preach occasionally, by any of the ministers of their body who 
 should think it expedient." Two ministers and their elders, 
 from the western part of the island, protested against this 
 vote. 
 
 In the review of this record in 1794, the Synod of New- 
 York, in their vote of approval, made an exception to " the 
 determination of that Presbytery to invite certain gentlemen to 
 preach in their pulpits, with respect to whom there was no 
 evidence that they had been introduced into the ministry, in 
 
SECT. 3.] SHELTER ISLAND. 161 
 
 such a way as ought to be approved." And '* the Synod re- 
 commended to the Presbytery of Long Island to reconsider 
 their determination on this subject." In the following year, 
 the Presbytery reported, that " they had proceeded according 
 to the recommendation of the Synod, to reconsider their reso- 
 lutions, as to the admission of certain men occasionally to 
 preach in their pulpits ; and having spent some time in delibe- 
 rating upon it, could not find sufficient reason to reverse their 
 judgment upon this subject, at present." 
 
 This interchange of ministerial labour was kept up, with 
 mutual satisfaction, for a number of years ; till in 1807, it 
 was interrupted, by the reception into the Convention, of a 
 member of the Presbytery, who had fled from discipline ; but 
 in 1812, suitable satisfaction having been given, harmony was 
 restored, and has remained uninterrupted to the present time. 
 
 It may be added that the Long Island Convention, at its 
 meeting in April last was, by consent of the members, dis- 
 solved, and each left to seek such ecclesiastical connexion as 
 he might choose. At that time, it consisted of six ministers 
 and four churches. 
 
 [Section 3.— SHELTER ISLAND. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - - 4,836 
 
 " " " unimproved, - - - 5,164* 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 20. 
 
 The situation of this island, lying in the Great Bay, between 
 the two eastern branches of Long Island, has fyeen previously 
 described. 
 
 The Indian name, like most aboriginal words is variously 
 written. But its most common form is Manhansack-aha-qua- 
 shu-wornock, which is said to mean, *' an island sheltered by 
 islands" The tribe of Indians, that occupied it, bore the 
 name of Manhassetts. 
 
 Its surface is very peculiarly formed, by alternate hills 
 and hollows, so that there is scarcely a single acre of level 
 
 * This number in Burr's Atlas is 15,164, which is manifestly an error ; 
 and was probably designed for the number above stated. But even this 
 is larger lhan the common estimate. It has always been understood, that 
 the area of this island does not exceed 9,000 acres, at which the ratio of 
 the population is stated above. 
 
162 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 land, throughout its whole extent. Some of the intervals 
 between the hills are complete basins, and are occupied by 
 swamps. A few of the elevations on the north and west are 
 supposed to be one hundred feet in height, and afford a very- 
 extensive prospect of both land and water. Its large fresh 
 pond has been previously mentioned, (p. 35.) 
 
 There are many rocks distributed on the shores ; and 
 one of immense bulk, at a considerable elevation, on the 
 north-western part of the island. 
 
 The date of its settlement is generally fixed at 1652 ; but it 
 remained nearly 80 years after that time,an appendageof the 
 town of Southold. In 1730, it was first organised as a distinct 
 municipality ; but the ecclesiastical relations of the people 
 with that town remained even beyond that period. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 It is difficult to ascertain the exact date of the erection of 
 the first house of worship ; but it is supposed to have been 
 somewhere near the middle of the last century. It was built 
 under the supervision of Brindlcy Sylvester, who was the 
 principal proprietor of the island. He died in December, 
 1752, as appears from his funeral sermon, which was preached 
 by the Rev. Mr. Troop of Southold from Prov. xi. 17; and 
 was printed at Boston. At his death, Mr. Sylvester be- 
 queathed to the congregation one hundred pounds, New York 
 currency, to aid in the support of the gospel. At a subse- 
 quent period, Benjamin Conkling, who died February 21st, 
 1826, bequeathed to the church and congregation, a large 
 portion of his property, for the same object. 
 
 The first house was in a central position, and remained 
 with little alteration, except from the hand of time, till 1816, 
 when it was demolished, and the present edifice erected in its 
 place, which was dedicated July 17th, 1817. 
 
 In the erection of this house, the congregation were assisted 
 by subscriptions from abroad. " Several gentlemen in New 
 York city contributed liberally, and Col. Rutgers presented 
 the pulpit, that was taken out of the Rutgers' street church, 
 which was so very high and ill constructed as to have been 
 an equal annoyance to preachers and people, for the space of 
 twenty-five years. It has, however, been removed, in the 
 year past, and a neat and convenient one erected in its 
 place, which gives universal satisfaction." 
 
 There is no evidence of the existence of an organised 
 
SECT. 3.] SHELTER ISLAND. 163 
 
 church on this island, before the present century. It is gene- 
 rally believed that there was none. The congregation was 
 incorporated under the statute of the State, in 1787, and the 
 earliest organization of a church, of which there is any re- 
 cord, was made September 28th, 1808. It consisted of 15 
 members, and adopted the congregational form of govern- 
 ment, which it retained till March 27th, 1812, when it was 
 received under the care of the Presbytery of Long Island. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 It is a singular fact, that this town has never enjoyed the 
 labours of a settled pastor. The first preacher, of whom there 
 is any positive information was the Rev. William Adams, 
 who resided in the family of Brindley Sylvester before his 
 death ; and afterwards in the family of his son-in-law, Col. 
 Thomas Bering. He is supposed to have laboured here, 
 though not constantly, for the space of thirty years. He 
 was here in 1764, as appears from a letter from Whitefield, 
 that will be given in the sequel. 
 
 What other ministers supplied this congregation, during 
 the remainder of that century, is not known. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Hall immediately after his dismission 
 from Sag Harbour removed to this island in April, 1806 ; 
 where he laboured till the close of his life. He died January 
 12th, 1812. His death was occasioned by tetanus, induced 
 by the amputation of a cancerous foot. 
 
 For a number of years after Mr. Hall's decease, this church 
 was destitute of any stated preaching. Since that time, it 
 has been supplied at different intervals, by different individu- 
 als, among whom were the Rev. Messrs. Ezra Youngs, Jona- 
 than Huntting, Daniel M. Lord, Randolph Campbell, William 
 Ingmire, and Anson Sheldon, who is their present supply. Of 
 these, except the last, the Rev. Mr. Huntting laboured the 
 longest among them ; and at a period, when the church and 
 congregation were struggling with difficulties. Mr. Sheldon 
 commenced his labours in the spring of 1842. 
 
 It is worthy of remark that this little church, though des- 
 titute a great part of the time of a preached gospel, were in 
 the habit, when denied this privilege, of meeting together re- 
 gularly, on the Sabbath day, for social worship ; in which 
 they usually had a sermon read. And although we have no 
 record, in their early history, of any powerful revival of re- 
 ligion, yet there were " more or less accessions to the church 
 almost every year." It is supposed, however, that the island 
 
164 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 participated, with the surrounding towns, in the great awaken- 
 ing of 1741-2, and again in 1764. 
 
 The first distinguished work of grace, of which we have 
 distinct knowledge, was in 1816. It commenced in January, 
 and continued through that and the two following months. 
 At this time, the church was vacant, and depended for help, 
 entirely on the neighbouring ministers. The names of 
 Wool-worth and Phillips, among the dead, and Huntting 
 among the living, are mentioned as aiding, by their labours 
 of love, this work of God. During this interesting season, 
 between 40 and 50 are supposed to have become the sub- 
 jects of renewing grace; of whom 37 were added to the 
 Church in the course of that year. 
 
 Since that time, there have been several seasons of refresh- 
 ing, in which Christians have been revived, and some en- 
 couraging accessions made to their number. Under Mr. 
 Huntting's labours, 10 or 12 ; and under Mr. Campbell's 
 ministry of three years, 26 persons were admitted to the 
 communion of the church. During the last three years, 
 under the ministry of the present stated supply, 1 1 indi- 
 viduals have been received. 
 
 Since the organization of this church, about 200 persons 
 have been admitted to membership ; of whom about two-thirds 
 are now numbered with the dead. A single individual of the 
 original members survives. 
 
 By the generous bequest previously mentioned, this con- 
 gregation is possessed of a fund, principally in money at inter- 
 est, to the amount of more than $8,000. And this presents 
 a fact in the history of this parish, that also exists in several 
 other congregations on the northern branch of Long Island, 
 which has too intimate a relation to their spiritual interests, to 
 be passed over in silence. 
 
 It seems to have been a favourite plan with the fathers of 
 some of these towns, to provide funds for the support of the 
 gospel, independent of the voluntary contributions of the peo- 
 ple, from year to year. Hence, by their own subscriptions, 
 in the course of their lives, and by bequests at death, such a 
 fund exists in the congregations of Wading River, Cut- 
 chogue, Southold and Orient, which in the aggregate, including 
 that of Shelter Island, amounts to more than tliirty thousand 
 dollars. In almost all these congregations, the annual income 
 from this source, is nearly equal to the support usually made for 
 the ministry among them ; without any contribution from the 
 people. It might, at first view, be supposed that while they 
 
SECT. 3.] SHELTER ISLAND. 165 
 
 have been in this favoured situation, they must have experi- 
 enced no difficulty, in sustaining the institutions of the gos- 
 pel. And yet, if we carefully review the history of these 
 parishes, for the last sixty or seventy years, we shall find it 
 difficult to produce an example, from any other quarter, 
 where the ordinances of religion have been less permanently 
 enjoyed, or where the enervating and ruinous system of 
 stated supplies by annual contracts, has been more exten- 
 sively practised. One of these churches, we have seen, has 
 never had a settled pastor ; another, only one ; two others 
 have depended on stated supplies, for the last twenty years : 
 and the most favoured one, the old parish of Southold, has en- 
 joyed the labours of a pastor, but a little more than half the 
 time, for the last sixty years. And this is the only Presbyte- 
 rian or Congregational church, (out of thirteen,) in the three 
 towns of Riverhead, Southold and Shelter Island, that has a 
 settled pastor, at the present time. 
 
 Such facts as these render it questionable, whether it is de- 
 sirable for a congregation to have the means of supporting 
 the gospel within themselves, and independent of their indivi- 
 dual contributions. There is a foundation in the constitution 
 of the human mind, at least, as it is perverted by sin, to es- 
 teem that of little value, which costs little or nothing, and gene- 
 ral observation and experience attest, that congregations usu- 
 ally exhibit an interest in attending on the privileges of the 
 gospel, in proportion to the exertions and sacrifices, which 
 they make to sustain them. 
 
 In addition to this, dissentions and painful divisions are apt 
 to arise in endowed congregations. Allusion is not made 
 here, to those differences of opinion and discussions, which 
 are liable to take place, about the economical management of 
 the funds. These, though sometimes unpleasant and product- 
 ive of evil, are small compared with others of a more serious 
 character. When such a parish becomes divided in opinion, 
 on the employment of a minister, or any other question deep- 
 ly involving their spiritual prosperity, there are not the same 
 motives, as under other circumstances, to induce them to 
 unanimity. A majority is under very strong temptations to 
 disregard the feelings and rights of the minority, and to feel, 
 if they do not say — " We do not need your help— we have 
 the means of carrying out our wishes, in our hands — you may 
 come to church, or stay at home, or go elsewhere, as you 
 please." Instances are not wanting, in which a congrega- 
 
166 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 tion, rich in funds, have dwindled down to a small number of 
 hearers. 
 
 There is yet another consideration. The possession of 
 large funds is apt to produce an unhappy influence on the be- 
 nevolence of a congregation. As a general rule, it will be 
 found true, that those individuals and parishes, which are the 
 most generous in supporting the gospel at home, out of their 
 own pockets, are the most liberal in contributing to every be- 
 nevolent and christian enterprise. The congregations, from 
 which the most uniform and substantial aid is derived, to 
 send the blessings of the gospel to the ends of the earth, are 
 not usually those which have public funds to support divine 
 institutions among themselves. Nor are the individuals who 
 are most forward in this work, generally those who abound 
 in wealth. But they are those whose charity, by beginning 
 at home, has learned to walk abroad, and scatter blessings 
 wherever it goes. 
 
 For these and other reasons, it is confidently believed, that 
 the spiritual interests of these, or any other congregations simi- 
 larly situated, would have been in a better condition, if they had 
 never possessed a dollar's worth of property, beyond their 
 church, parsonage, and burying-ground, that they find them- 
 selves, at the present time. 
 
 The reader will pardon this digression. The facts belong 
 to the history of these churches : the remarks which they 
 have elicited are believed to be important and worthy of con- 
 sideration. But, there is yet another evil involved in this 
 connexion, which deserves notice. While some of the con- 
 gregations of Long Island have no parsonage-house for the ac- 
 commodation of a minister's family, others are possessed of a 
 large farm, by the cultivation of which, they expect a minis- 
 ter to obtain a large portion of his support. Both of these 
 are evils — but the latter, much greater than the former. It 
 oftentimes contributes to the speedy settlement of a minister, 
 when a congregation have, at their command, a comfortable 
 house for his accommodation ; the want of which, in some 
 instances, when every thing else appeared favourable, has 
 prevented his stay. And as ministers are not apt to abound 
 in carnal things, such a provision preserves them from the 
 embarrassment of providing their own tenement ; or the great- 
 er inconvenience of a removal from one dwelling to another 
 from year to year. Besides, in this day, when the pastoral 
 relation has become so frail, it is peculiarly undesirable that 
 ministers should be the owners of real estate, in the congre- 
 
 
SECT. 3.] SHELTER ISLAND. 167 
 
 gations of their charge. Instances might be adduced, in 
 which it was evidently for the interests of both minister and 
 people that they should separate ; and yet the nominal union 
 was continued from year to year, with constantly increasing 
 dissatisfaction, from no other cause than that he owned a 
 house, and they were unwilling to purchase it, at a fair 
 price. By this very means, many a congregation has been 
 materially weakened, if not absolutely destroyed. 
 
 But the other arrangement is a still greater evil. When a 
 congregation call a minister " to watch for their souls," and 
 then impose upon him the necessity of becoming a farmer, 
 and labouring with his own hands to obtain his daily bread ; 
 and that too, on land that is already worn out, because its 
 successive occupants have had no inducement to manure and 
 improve the ground, that may pass the next year into other 
 hands, he must surely starve, or else betray the vows im- 
 posed by his holy calling. 
 
 This evil is not obviated by an agreement which is some- 
 times made on the part of the people, to perform all the labour 
 on the parsonage farm. For, even in this case the superin- 
 tendence must lie on the minister's mind, which must neces- 
 sarily divert him from his appropriate duties. On this point, 
 the arrangements of the Levitical economy, though not binding 
 in form, being founded in immutable principles, are full of in- 
 struction. A liberal provision for the priesthood was made, 
 independent of their' personal labour on the soil. And in the 
 division of the land of promise we find this record, " But unto 
 the tribe of Levi, Moses gave not any inheritance : The 
 Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto 
 them." Josh. xiii. 33. And it is added, " Therefore, they 
 gave no part unto the Levites, in the land, save cities to 
 dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle, and for their sub- 
 stance." Chap. xiv. 4. They needed houses, like other peo- 
 ple to live in, and suitable out-houses to protect their personal 
 property ; but not a foot of land for cultivation, because it 
 would interfere with their sacred calling. Has the spirit of this 
 important arrangement changed ? w, is there less reason now, 
 for the ministers of religion to be exclusively devoted to the 
 service of the altar ? 
 
 Whitefield's tour on Long Island. — There is as much 
 propriety here, as any where, in noticing Whitefield's visit to 
 the eastern churches on Long Island, especially as he preached 
 at Shelter Island, as well as in other towns. But it is very 
 remarkable that so little has been handed down upon this sub- 
 
168 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 ject. And there are probably many now living in the eastern 
 towns, who have no knowledge of the fact, that that distin- 
 guished servant of the cross ever honoured their forefathers 
 with a visit. And what renders this still more surprising, is 
 that Whitefield preached in most of those towns, and particu- 
 larly at Easthampton, in the incipient stages of the great 
 revival of 1764, of which Dr. Buel published a detailed Nar- 
 rative without naming that eminent stranger. He indeed 
 says, that " in the beginning of the year 1764, there appeared 
 some hopeful tokens, that the Lord was preparing his own way 
 for a gracious visitation." And he informs us that this revi- 
 val was developed in all its power, on " the 18th of March ;" 
 and yet he makes no allusion to Whitefield or his labours, 
 though his visit to that place was only 6 or 7 weeks preceding 
 that date. It is difficult to account for this singular silence. 
 
 It is known from various authentic sources, that Whitefield 
 had spent the seven weeks preceding the 23d of Jan., of that 
 year, in the city of New York and its vicinity. Between 
 that date and the 3rd of Feb. he visited the eastern towns of 
 Long Island. His head-quarters appear to have been the 
 hospitable mansion of Thomas Dering, Esq., on this island.* 
 
 " Having left New York," says Dr. Gillies, " he preached at 
 Easthampton, Bridgehampton, and Southold on Long Island, 
 and Shelter Island." As this is all the published record of 
 this tour, that the writer has been able to find, the following 
 letters, which are still in the hands of the Dering family, and 
 have been kindly furnished by Dr. Nicoll H. Dering, of Rome, 
 N. Y., to whose excellent grandfather, they were addressed, 
 will not be out of place. It seems that Whitefield completed 
 his excursion through the eastern towns, at Southold, and 
 wrote the first letter on the eve of embarking across the Sound ; 
 after which, he preached at New London, Norwich and Pro- 
 vidence, on his way to Boston. 
 
 " Stirling, Feb. 3, 1764, 
 
 At night. 
 
 "My Dr. Sir, 
 
 What a winding World do we live in ! I have been a 
 good way round, and now am come within sight of your house 
 
 * Samuel II Hommedieu, Esq., who died at Sag Harbour, March 7th, 
 1834, was a young man, at the time of Whitefield's visit, and was hope- 
 fully converted under his preaching ; of which the writer has often heard 
 him speak. It is moreover recollected in his family, that he frequently 
 mentioned his assisting in making a raft, to convey Whitefield, with his 
 horse and carriage, over the ferry from Southold to Shelter Island. 
 
SECT. 3.] SHELTER ISLAND. 169 
 
 again. Yesterday, the boat and all was just gone. To-day, 
 I trust, some have felt themselves undone — one, upon the 
 road, we overtook, sweetly, sorely wounded. Grace ! Grace ! 
 I am now come to wait for sailing. Will you send a poor, but 
 willing pilgrim, the promised sea-provisions. God feed you 
 and yours with the bread that cometh down from heaven. A 
 thousand thanks for all favours. . Add to my obligations by 
 continuing to pray for, my dear friend, 
 
 Yours, in the never- 
 failing Jesus, 
 
 G. W." 
 The next was written after his arrival in Boston. 
 
 " Boston, May 2, 1764. 
 
 " And is Shelter Island become a Patmos ? It seems so 
 by my dear friend's letter. Blessed be God ! Blessed be 
 God ! What cannot a God in Christ do for His people. All 
 things well. Though he leads them seemingly in a round 
 about, yet it is a right way. Though they pass through the 
 fire, yet it does not consume — though through deep, yea, very 
 deep waters, yet it does not overwhelm, so as to destroy them. 
 And all these are only earnests of good things to come. How 
 many assurances, that we shall, at last, be carried through the 
 Jordan of death, and safely landed in the Canaan of everlast- 
 irfg rest. Surely he cannot be far from them now. Such 
 frequent shocks that your earthly tabernacle and mine meet 
 with, must necessarily loosen the silver cords that hold them 
 up. What then ? We have a house not made with hands, 
 — eternal — in the heavens. 
 
 " Though we cannot join in singing, we can in repeating, 
 
 ' By Thee, we shall 
 Break thro' them all, 
 And sing the song of Moses.' 
 
 Methinks, I hear you say, Amen ! Hallelujah ! — and why ? 
 Because His mercy endureth forever. 
 
 " I could enlarge, but must away to my throne. It is but 
 seldom I can climb so high. But an infinitely condescending 
 Jesus vouchsafes to smile upon my feeble labours, here and 
 elsewhere. Who knows but I may ere long come your way. 
 Perhaps the cloud may point towards Patmos. Mr. Wright 
 will be glad. He is better and sends most cordial respects. 
 My poor prayers constantly wait upon your whole self, Mr. 
 Adams, and your rising offspring. 
 
 " In sure and certain hope, if we never meet in this world, 
 \8 
 
170 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 of a glorious resurrection to eternal life, in that which is to 
 come, I subscribe myself, very dear Sir, 
 
 4i Your truly affec. sympathizing friend, 
 And willing servant, in our common never-failing Lord, 
 
 G. Whitefield." 
 
 Although there is nothing peculiarly interesting in these 
 characteristic letters of this man of God, except as identifying 
 the time and scene of his short tour on the island, they are 
 worthy of preservation. And it is to be hoped, if there are 
 any other memorials of that visit, still extant, that they may 
 be rescued from oblivion. 
 
 Section 4.— EASTHAMPTON. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - 17,827 
 
 " " unimproved - - - 52,673 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 33, nearly. 
 
 This is the most eastern town on Long Island, lying on the 
 south branch, and extending from Montauk Point 20 miles 
 west. It includes also Gardiner's Island, and another small 
 one, called Ram Island, lying still nearer the north shore. 
 
 The town plat, or first and principal settlement is situated 
 near the ocean, about 3 miles east of its western boundary. 
 There are several other small settlements, in different parts of 
 the town ; Amagansett, at the east — the Springs and Fireplace 
 at the north, and Wayunscutt at the south-west ; but all be- 
 longing to one congregation. 
 
 The first settlement in this town was commenced in the 
 spring of 1648, by a number of families from Lynn, and other 
 neighbouring towns, in Massachusetts. (Gardiner's Island, 
 however had been purchased and taken possession of by its 
 proprietor as early as 1639.) The town was first called Maid- 
 stone, from the town of that name in England, whence some 
 of the settlers had emigrated ; but the present name was 
 adopted about the year 1662. 
 
 The first settlers from New-England, as well as those who 
 afterwards joined them from the mother country, were strict 
 puritans. The establishment of gospel institutions was made 
 a primary object. This is saying enough to give a correct 
 idea of their regard for religion and morals. But a few of 
 their early municipal regulations will exhibit some of the 
 means by which they endeavoured to guard the interests of 
 their infant community. 
 
SECT. 4.] EASTHAMPTON. 171 
 
 May 16th, 1651, it was ordered, that " Noe man shall sell 
 his accommodation to another, without consent of the tovvne ; 
 and if any purchase without such consent, he shall not enjoy 
 the same." 
 
 ** Noe man shall sell any liquor, but such as are deputed 
 thereto by the towne, and such shall not lett youth and those 
 under authority remaine drinking att unreasonable hours ; and 
 such persons shall not have above half a pint among four 
 men." 
 
 " Goodman Megg's lot shall not be laid out for James Sill 
 to go to work on, and he shall not stay here.'' 
 
 " Noe Indian shall travel up and down, or carry any bur- 
 then in or through our town on the Sabbath day, and whoso- 
 ever is found soe doing shall be liable to corporall punishment." 
 
 In regard to a " false witness" it was ordained that, "there 
 shall be done unto him, as he had thought to have done unto 
 his neighbour, whatever it be, to the taking away of life, limb 
 or goods." And " whosoever shall slander another shall pay a 
 fine of five pounds." 
 
 " For the prevention of abuse among the Indians, by selling 
 them strong waters^ no man shall carry any to them to sell, 
 nor yet send any, nor employ any to sell for them ; nor sell 
 any liquor in said town to any Indian for their present drink- 
 ing, above two drams at a time." 
 
 As a fair illustration of the sentiments of the people, in re- 
 lation to both religious and civil matters, the following plat- 
 form of government adopted at an early period of their his- 
 tory is worthy of preservation. 
 
 " Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God, by the wise 
 dispensation of his providence, so to order and dispose of things, 
 that we, the inhabitants of Easthampton, are now dwelling 
 together; the word of God requires that to maintain the 
 peace and union of such a people, there should be an orderly 
 and decent government established, according to God, to or- 
 der and dispose as occasion shall require, we do therefore so- 
 ciate and conjoin ourselves and successors to be one town or 
 corporation, and do for ourselves and successors, and such as 
 shall be adjoined to us at any time hereafter, enter into com- 
 bination and confederation together, to maintain and preserve 
 the purity of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we 
 now possess ; as also the discipline of the church, which, ac- 
 cording to the truth of said gospel, is now practised among 
 us, as also, in our civil affairs, to be guided and governed by 
 such laws and orders, as shall be made, according to God, and 
 
172 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 which, by the vote of the major part, shall be in force among 
 us. Furthermore, we do engage ourselves that in all votes 
 for choosing officers, or making orders, that it be according 
 to conscience and our best light. And also we do engage our- 
 selves, by this combination, to stand to and maintain the au- 
 thority of the several officers of the town, in their determina- 
 tions and actions, according to their orders and laws, that 
 either are, or shall be made, not swerving therefrom. In wit- 
 ness whereof," &c. 
 
 In the year following the adoption of the preceding instru- 
 ment, a woman was sentenced " to pay a fine of £3, or, stand 
 one hour with a cleft stick upon her tongue, for saying, that 
 her husband had brought her to a place, where there was nei- 
 ther gospel or magistracy." 
 
 The views and feelings, habits and customs of the original 
 inhabitants of this town have probably been transmitted to 
 their posterity with less change, than in any other part of our 
 country : and in more respects than one, the character of the 
 community is more unique, than that of any other settlement 
 of equal extent. On politics, religion and almost every other 
 subject, upon which we generally find a great diversity of sen- 
 timent, the people of Easthampton have always been, and 
 still are remarkably united. In the times of the hottest po- 
 litical contests, about the commencement of the present cen- 
 tury, there were but two dissenting votes usually given at the 
 general elections ; and these were cast by persons living in 
 Sag Harbour, the eastern part of which extends over the line 
 into the territorial limits of this town. And with the excep- 
 tion of this corner of their territory, it is said there is even, 
 to this day, little increase of dissent. 
 
 But their union in religious views is equally remarkable. 
 There never has been but one church, and one place of wor- 
 ship, for the space of nearly 200 years : and, with the excep- 
 tion already made, it is said that there are very few profes- 
 sors of religion of any other denomination of christians than 
 the " standing order. 1 ' 
 
 The steady habits and rigid morals of primitive puritanism 
 are probably retained here in greater purity than in any other 
 part of the new world. Till of late years, there was no ta- 
 vern in the town, as no one could afford to pay the minimum 
 price of a licence established by law. Whenever a traveller 
 entered the place, (which in former times, was a very rare oc- 
 currence,) and inquired for a house of entertainment, he was 
 always directed to the Town-Clerk's residence, or some other 
 
SECT. 4-] EASTHAMPTON. 173 
 
 respectable house, where he was hospitably entertained as long 
 as he had occasion to stay. A law-suit beetween two of its 
 inhabitants was an occurrence scarcely known ; and when 
 a precept from the next town was served on an inhabitant of 
 Easthampton, it was generally compromised without a formal 
 trial. And it is believed that a riot, or breach of the peace, 
 is an occurrence unknown in the annals of this town.* 
 
 The peninsula of Montauk, whose physical features have 
 been previously described (Part 1,) constitutes a part of 
 this township, and is occupied as a common pasturage. 
 It was originally divided into some 30 shares, and these 
 were subdivided into eighths, each of which entitles the 
 owner to the pasturage of 7 neat cattle or 49 sheep. Its 
 elevation in the midst of the ocean — its wonderful supply of 
 fresh water from the springs, swamps and vast ponds previous- 
 ly described — its luxuriant pastures — the refreshing sea- 
 breezes, and the entire absence of flies and moschetoes, which 
 abound in the adjacent marshes, render it one of the most 
 delightful retreats for domestic animals ; where, in the course 
 of a few weeks, they become fat and healthy. It is still sub- 
 ject to the Indian reservation, which, however, must soon be- 
 come extinct, in the extinction of the race. But the people 
 of Easthampton should never permit the name of Wvan- 
 danch, the unwavering friend of the white man, to sinK into 
 oblivion. It is worthy of a monument : at least, let it be in- 
 scribed in Capitals, on one of the Granite Rocks, in the midst 
 of those vast burial grounds which still occupy so large a por- 
 tion of this peculiar spot. 
 
 * At the time this remark was penned, the following instance of the 
 early application of Lynch-law was not recollected ; the record of which, 
 however disgraceful to the good people of this town, truth demands : — 
 
 Just after the close of the American war, a pedler from Conn, who had 
 been in the habit of supplying the east end with gewgaws and nick-nacks, 
 arrived in town on Saturday evening. The next morning, though labour, 
 ing under symptoms of the measles, and in despite of the remonstrances 
 of his hostess, he attended church, as was supposed, merely to let the 
 people know that he was ready to supply them with " Yankee notions." 
 This act of temerity being bruited through the congregation in the after- 
 noon, excited such a torrent of indignation, accompanied with strong in- 
 timations of personal violence, that the wary pedler deemed it prudent to 
 decamp as early as possible in the morning. But he was not early enough 
 for a company of young men, who were soon upon his track ; and after 
 overtaking and bringing him back, they rode him upon a rail through the 
 village, and finally ducked him in the town pond. Nearly 100 people af- 
 terwards had the measles, of which several died ; but whether contracted 
 in church, or in the scrape of Monday morning, of course, could not be 
 determined. The pedler, subsequently, prosecuted the perpetrators of 
 this disgraceful outrage, and obtained a verdict of $1000 damages. 
 
174 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 CHURCHES, &C. 
 
 The first house of worship was erected in 1652, in dimen- 
 sions 20 by 26 feet, and was covered with thatch. The peo- 
 ple had previously worshipped in an " ordinary" or public house, 
 for the use of which the owner was paid 18 pence a week. 
 The church was repaired and enlarged in 1673 ; and again 
 in 1698. 
 
 In 1717 a new edifice was raised, and finished in the fol- 
 lowing yeai\ It was then the largest and most splendid build- 
 ing of the kind on the island. It was furnished with a bell 
 and dock, which have jointly kept and proclaimed the flight 
 of time, for 125 years. To accommodate an increasing con- 
 gregation, in process of time, a second gallery was erected, 
 above the first, which formed a singular feature in the inte- 
 rior of a house of religious worship. 
 
 In 1823, the interior of this church was removed, the build- 
 ing entirely remodeled, and finished in a modern style. It is 
 now probably the oldest church edifice on the island ; (the 
 frame being 128 years old ;) and unless the taste of the peo- 
 ple should demand a new one, it may stand another half cen- 
 tury. 
 
 The first settlers of this town were deeply convinced of the 
 importance of general education, as well as religious instruc- 
 tion ; and hence, they made provision for a permanent school. 
 They employed an approved teacher, to whom they gave a 
 salary of £30 a year (while they gave their minister £40 ;) 
 which was raised by a tax. He was constantly employed in 
 his office till his death in 1663, when another was immediate- 
 ly and permanently engaged. 
 
 This school was kept up till Dr. Buel's day ; when, in 1784 
 by his influence a spacious Brick Edifice was erected, in the 
 centre of the village, and incorporated under the name of 
 " Clinton Academy ;" in honour of George Clinton, then 
 Governor of the State, who presented it with a Bell. This, 
 it has been previously stated, was the first Academy charter- 
 ed by the Regents of the University of this State. It has 
 uniformly enjoyed a liberal patronage from the town, which 
 is more than can be said of many similar institutions ; and 
 was formerly much resorted to by pupils from abroad. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas James was the first pastor of the church 
 
SECT. 4.] EASTHAMPTON. 175 
 
 of Easthampton. His name appears in the list of early set- 
 tlers ; and, if he did not come with the first 8 families, that 
 took possession of the town, he must have followed soon af- 
 ter. He was the son of a minister and a theological student, 
 when he emigrated with his father to the new world in 1G32. 
 He is reputed to have been a man of talents and piety ; and 
 enjoyed the entire confidence of his people, among whom he 
 had great influence, in all secular affairs, as well as in their 
 spiritual concerns. It is generally supposed that he was, with- 
 al, eccentric ; of which his dying injunction is generally re- 
 ferred to as sufficient evidence. He requested, and his affec- 
 tionate people complied with the request, that his body should 
 be interred in the eastern part of the burying ground, with 
 his head to the east ; assigning as a reason, that he wished to 
 arise in the morning of the resurrection, with his face to his 
 people. Whatever singularity may attach to the arrangement, 
 it was doubtless intended to be a standing lesson to the peo- 
 ple of his charge who survived him, by which " though dead, 
 he might yet speak" to them. 
 
 The following is the inscription on his tomb stone, which, 
 from the vast increase of that congregation of the dead, dur- 
 ing the ravages of 150 years, is now to be found near the cen- 
 tre of trb burying yard : — 
 
 Mr. 
 
 Thomas 
 James, dyed 
 THE 16th "day of 
 
 Jvne in the 
 yeare 1696. HE 
 
 was Ministar 
 
 of THE gospel 
 
 and Pastvre 
 
 of the church 
 
 of Christ* 
 
 * The words " THE— HE and THE" printed in Capitals, are en- 
 graved on the Tomb Stone, with only two perpendicular strokes, the T 
 and E being formed on the H. 
 
176 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Several years before his death, Mr. James became so infirm 
 that he was obliged to have an assistant, but his people kindly 
 continued his salary. The Rev. William Jones was employed 
 during the last three years of Mr. J.'s life, and until his suc- 
 cessor was settled. 
 
 The Rev. Nathaniel Huntting was the second pastor of this 
 church. He commenced his labours here in Sept. 1696, and 
 was installed Sept. 13th, 1699. He was a close student and 
 an industrious minister. Dr. Beecher states in his history of 
 this town, that " more than 100 volumes of his manuscript 
 sermons are extant, written in a clear and nervous style." 
 After serving the people just 50 years, he was, through infir- 
 mity, dismissed, at his own request, on the settlement of his 
 successor, Sept. 19th, 1746 ; and died Sept. 21st, 1753, aged 
 80 years, or more. 
 
 For several years preceding the relinquishment of his 
 charge, Mr. H. had been so infirm as to require assistance, 
 and several helpers had been employed. Among these, was 
 the Rev. James Davenport, who, in the height of his zeal, 
 made a deep impression on the people. And here was pre- 
 sented a clear illustration of the influence of the new-light 
 spirit, and its separatical measures, in regularly established 
 churches. Some of the people, not contented with express- 
 ing their admiration of this wonderful man, but imbibing the 
 censorious spirit of the age, soon began to make hard speeches 
 of their aged pastor, who had spent almost half a century in 
 teaching them the way of life ; and at length actually turned 
 their backs upon his ministry. The congregation became so 
 much divided, that they could not unite upon any candidate. 
 A council, convened to consider a call addressed to one who 
 had a majority, refused to proceed to his ordination, for " the 
 want of harmony among the people." The Rev. Mr. Burr, 
 of New Jersey, being one of the number, pledged himself to 
 send them a candidate, who, he believed, would be acceptable. 
 Just after his return home, he met with the Rev. Samuel 
 Buel, who was on his way to Virginia, who, being prevailed 
 on, though with great reluctance, to visit Easthampton, was 
 most cordially received by all parties. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Buel, D.D., the third semi-centenary pas- 
 tor of this church, was born at Coventry, Ct., Sept. 1st, 1716 — 
 graduated at Yale, in 1741 — licensed the same fall — ordained 
 in New England, 1743, and installed in this town, Sept. 19th, 
 1746, on which occasion, his predecessor was dismissed. The 
 year following his installation, he and his church united in the 
 
SECT. 4.] EASTHAMPTON. 177 
 
 organization of the Suffolk Presbytery ; and from that time, it 
 has remained a Presbyterian Church. Shortly after, the ques- 
 tion arose in this congregation as to the propriety of admit- 
 ting to sealing ordinances, " those who had separated from the 
 ministry of Mr. Huntting, without making some reflections 
 upon that conduct of theirs." This question was submitted to 
 the Presbytery, Oct. 25th, 1749, and was not definitively 
 acted on, on account of the absence of several members, till 
 April 4th, 1750 ; when the Presbytery, 
 
 1. " Voted that the adult Christian inhabitants of Easthamp- 
 ton, that separated from the ministry of Mr. Huntting, acted 
 contrary to the order of the gospel, and ought to make proper 
 reflections on their conduct." And, 
 
 2. " Judged it proper that they should make a confession 
 of their misconduct in manner following : — 
 
 "I acknowledge that my separation from the Rev. Mr. 
 Huntting's ministry, and speaking reproachfully of him in a 
 time of great difficulty and ignorance of church government, 
 though a season of special divine influences, was contrary to 
 the order of the gospel and the rules of discipline in Christ's 
 visible church ; and such divisive principles as were the 
 spring of my separation, I now renounce with sorrow, desir- 
 ing forgiveness of all I have offended, and resolve, by divine 
 assistance, upon a regular course for time to come." 
 
 Though new-lightism had taken a deep hold in this church, 
 and there were many things calculated to keep it alive, yet 
 the decided ground taken by the Presbytery, (however inex- 
 pedient it might be deemed now-a-days,) and carried out by 
 the pastor, who by his great popularity with all parties, was 
 able to accomplish it, probably did more to correct the evil, 
 and prevent its resuscitation, than any other measures that 
 could have been devised. While a faithful testimony was 
 borne to the work of God, these irregularities, and unchristian 
 speeches were branded as disorderly and sinful. Happy 
 would it have been for the churches of our day, if our ecclesi- 
 astical judicatories had been as prompt to place the seal of 
 their disapprobation on the same fanatic spirit, with all its dis- 
 tinguishing peculiarities, when it was revived about 20 years 
 ago. But then they were told, " you cannot condemn those 
 things which you consider wrong, without arresting the work 
 of the Spirit, with which they are accompanied." Yielding to 
 this false and delusive doctrine, the watchmen of Zion were 
 constrained to hold their peace, when they saw the flames 
 kindling, that, under the mask of a heavenly fire, have buined 
 
178 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 over the land : desolating some of the fairest portions of God's 
 heritage, — filling the churches with hypocrites, and driving 
 hundreds of pastors from their charge. 
 
 Few ministers have been formed, by both physical and gra- 
 cious endowments, to make a deeper impression on the peo- 
 ple of their charge, or have left a more abiding impress of their 
 own spirit and characteristics, than Dr. Buel. He had come 
 into the gospel field, and commenced his labours in the very 
 dawn of that remarkable revival, which so extensively per- 
 vaded the land, about the time of his licensure. And while 
 others were carried away with the extravagances of the times, 
 he, strongly attached to such men as Edwards and Bellam)', 
 the former of whom, he often said, he regarded, under God, 
 as "his oracle," was saved from imbibing the spirit of fanati- 
 cism and disorganization. And this is the more remarkable, 
 when it is admitted, that in the constitutional temperament and 
 consequently, in the movements of Dr. Buel, there was an ar- 
 dour of zeal, that oftentimes bore a strong resemblance to the 
 enthusiasm of the age. But his discriminating mind, and 
 sound judgment, always prevented it from degenerating into 
 " a zeal not according to knowledge." Detached expressions, 
 and isolated acts are now often rehearsed, which would indi- 
 cate to the hearer, without any other information, that their 
 author, if not an absolute ranter, was, at least, an imprudent 
 and enthusiastic declaimer. But he was a remarkably judi- 
 cious minister — an able divine, a vigilant pastor, and a most 
 pungent and successful preacher of the blessed gospel. His 
 oratorial powers were of a more popular cast, than was com- 
 mon in his day. And when to this are added, the clear and 
 forcible views of gospel truth and duty, which he always ex- 
 hibited, and that earnest, melting flow of soul, that impressed 
 his hearers with the conviction, that he would gladly " pluck 
 them, as brands, from the burning," we may form some idea 
 of his preaching. The writer recollects to have heard him 
 but once, and that in childhood, but the abiding impression 
 left on his mind, confirms the correctness of these remarks. 
 
 Dr. Buel was a man of a cheerful disposition and sprightly 
 wit, and very much of the gentleman in his deportment. 
 These traits in his character might be illustrated by numerous 
 anecdotes, but the following extract from the " Chronicles of 
 Easthampton " will suffice : — 
 
 " Mr. Buel was on friendly and intimate terms with Gov. 
 Tryon, and who, from his lively disposition, ready wit, and 
 fondness for the chase, was a favourite of Sir William Er- 
 
SECT. 4.J EASTHAMPTON. 179 
 
 sklne, (commander of the British forces stationed at East- 
 hampton in the revolutionary war) — and often had jit in his 
 power to mitigate the severity of their orders by his interces- 
 sion, which was seldom refused when timely made. He fre- 
 quently joined their parties, which he enlivened by humorous 
 anecdotes, and agreeable conversation. On one occasion, he 
 was behind the hour appointed for a deer-hunt, to which he 
 had been invited. The commander had detained the party, 
 which was principally composed of younger officers, who 
 were impatient of the delay. Tired of waiting, they had al- 
 ready mounted, when, perceiving his friend Buel approaching, 
 Sir William required them to dismount, and receive him. 
 Lord Percy, afterwards Duke of Northumberland, and then 
 an aid-de-camp, while impatiently pacing the floor, was intro- 
 duced to Mr. Buel, who thereupon asked him, what portion of 
 his Majesty's forces he had the honour to command ? Percy, 
 whose ill-humour had been raised by the order to dismount, 
 (and no doubt with a view to insult the clergyman,) replied, 
 " A legion of devils just from hell /" " Then," said Mr. Buel, 
 with a low obeisance, " I suppose I have the honour to address 
 Beelzebub, the prince of devils" The repartee was so se- 
 verely felt, as to induce his lordship to put his hand upon his 
 sword. This was instantly rebuked by Sir William ; and 
 though the laugh of his friends was turned upon Percy, the 
 pleasantry, politeness, and marked attentions of the parson, 
 had, not only restored him to good humour, long before thff 
 chase was ended, but had forced him to admire and respect 
 the man whom, in the passion of the moment, he had called 
 " an old rebel." — " Mr. Buel made no concealment of his W r hig 
 principles ; and, on proper occasions, did not hesitate to avow 
 them. Meeting with him at another time, and on Saturday 
 of the week, Sir William remarked, that he had ordered the 
 people of his parish to appear on the morrow, with their teams, 
 at Southampton. Mr. Buel replied, that he was aware of it, 
 but that he (himself) was commander-in-chief on that day, 
 and he had annulled the order. The precedence was pleas- 
 santly admitted, and the order revoked." 
 
 Distinguished and admired as Dr. Buel was, as a preacher, 
 his ministry was still more distinguished by its effects. Of 
 these he had numerous seals impressed by the Spirit of grace, 
 which will be noticed under another head. u He was favoured 
 with uncommon health of body, and soundness of mind, to the 
 last of his days." " The day he was 80 years old, he rode 14 
 miles, preached, and returned home at evening." He preach- 
 
180 ANNALS OF THE TOWNSi [PART 2, 
 
 ed the Sabbath but one before his death." He died July 19th, 
 
 1798, being nearly 82 years of age, and having been pastor 
 of this church nearly 52 years. — He had his weaknesses ; and 
 who has not 1 and among these has often been mentioned, his 
 marrying a youthful wife in his old age. This circumstance, 
 however, would not have been adverted to, but to remark, that 
 she survived till the present year, and died a few months since, 
 at an age nearly equal to that of the husband of her youth. A 
 single daughter, the fruit of that marriage, died unmarried 
 several years ago. 
 
 The Rev. -Lyman Beeclier, D.D., was the fourth pastor of 
 this church. He was born at New Haven, Conn., in 1775 — 
 graduated at Yale, in 1797, and ordained here, Sept. 5th, 
 
 1799. Of his character and usefulness, the present genera- 
 tion need no information. When it is required, the pen of a 
 future historian can, with propriety, do him justice. Dr. 
 Beecher is still living. His dismission, which took place 
 April 19th, 1810, was the first event of the kind that the 
 congregation ever realized. It was to them a new and un- 
 tried event. It originated in no real dissatisfaction on the 
 part of minister or people. It is no disparagement to Dr. 
 Beecher, to say, that his mind was so little inclined to the 
 cares and calculations of worldly affairs, and so entirely ab- 
 sorbed with the interests of the church, both at home and 
 abroad, that it was impossible he should make as much of a 
 moderate salary, as many another man would have made. 
 During a great part of his ministry, the deficiency- was in part 
 supplied by the labours of Mrs. Beecher, in teaching a select 
 school of young ladies, for which she was eminently qualified, 
 and to which she untiringly devoted herself. But in 1809, 
 Dr. B. finding himself involved in debt, beyond his means of 
 paying, called upon his people for relief. They expressed 
 their readiness to discharge his debts, but demurred on in- 
 creasing his salary ; which he considered an indispensable se- 
 curity against the speedy recurrence of the same evil. At 
 this conjuncture, he received an invitation to visit Litchfield, 
 Ct., which was then vacant. This fact he frankly communi- 
 cated to his people, and agreed to wait several days, to give 
 them time to decide the question, which was then before them. 
 The result was unfavourable, and Dr. B. immediately set out 
 for Litchfield, where he spent several weeks, and returned un- 
 der a call. At this time his people expressed a willingness to 
 comply with his demands, but it was evidently too late to re- 
 trace the steps which had been taken. His dismission followed, 
 
SECT. 4.] EASTHAMPTON. lSl 
 
 and he left Long Island, with the regrets of all the ministers 
 and all the churches. 
 
 The writer has been the more particular in the details of 
 this case, because it is full of instruction to churches, when 
 possessed of a pastor whom they all love, and whose continu- 
 ance among them depends on the simple question, whether 
 they will make a small addition of their " carnal things " for 
 his support, or put at hazard all their " spiritual things." 
 
 The dismission of Dr. Beecher seems to have overthrown 
 that permanency of the ministry, which had previously cha- 
 racterised this church, almost without a parallel, and to have 
 introduced a new order of things which still remains. Till 
 this time, this congregation had not been vacant but once, in 
 a period of 160 years. 
 
 The Rev. Ebenezer Phillips, the fifth pastor, was ordained 
 May 15th, 1811. He was a man of sound mind and re- 
 spectable acquirements. Failure of health compelled him to 
 give up his charge, and he was dismissed March 16th, 1830. 
 He removed to Carmel, Putnam county, N. Y., where he 
 died within the last two or three years. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph D. Condit, the sixth pastor, was ordained 
 Sept. 1st, 1830. He was dismissed April 22d, 1835, and re- 
 moved to Massachusetts. 
 
 Since that time this church has had no regularly installed 
 pastor; but from 1836, the Rev. Samuel R. Ely has been 
 employed as a stated supply. He was formerly pastor of the 
 church of Red Mills in Putnam county, where he was or- 
 dained April 22d, 1835. It is understood that he is entirely 
 acceptable to the people, and why they are willing to remain 
 in a state so entirely foreign to all the previous feelings and 
 habits of the place, is difficult to explain. 
 
 In review of the last 45 years, the reader will be surprised 
 to find that four ministers have not yet occupied this field, so 
 long as either of the three preceding pastors, whose united 
 ministry continued 150 years, without a vacancy. 
 
 REVIVALS. 
 
 The first special work of grace in this town, of which any 
 distinct mention is made, is said to have occurred " in the 
 Rev. Mr. Huntting's day." This was undoubtedly the revival 
 of 1741-2, which took place under the labours of the Rev. 
 Mr. Davenport. Of this work, the following very judicious 
 remarks are made by Dr. Woolworth in his re-publication of 
 
182 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Dr. BuePs Narrative of the revival of 1764, with a Memoir 
 of the Doctor, printed at Sag Harbour, 1S08. 
 
 " It was occasioned, apparently, by the instrumentality of 
 the Rev. John (it should have been James) Davenport of 
 Southold. It was characterized by many of the impruden- 
 ces peculiar to that man, and in some degree peculiar to that 
 day ; but was, nevertheless, in the midst of human weakness, 
 a glorious work of God. About 100 persons were hopefully 
 converted, 60 of whom were added to the church soon after 
 the installation of Dr. Buel. 
 
 " This revival, though by many at that time deemed a 
 judgment, was, we can now perceive, the commencement of 
 a series of mercies unspeakably great. It revived experi- 
 mental religion, which for a season had been declining, and 
 embodied in the church a host of praying people — the precious 
 seed of following revivals." 
 
 The correctness of these remarks no one acquainted with 
 the case can doubt. At the same time, it must be confessed, 
 that the influence of that misguided man introduced into 
 many churches, on the eastern parts of the island, sentiments 
 and practices which have had an injurious influence on the 
 interests of religion, and are not entirely eradicated at the 
 present day. It is obvious to remark, that in the great dis- 
 parity between the number of professed converts, and those 
 who made a public profession of religion, we see the origin of 
 that antinomian spirit which induced multitudes to take the 
 ground, that " they could go to heaven as easily and safely in a 
 private way, as by joining the church," which has been a mill- 
 stone upon the neck of some of these churches for the space 
 of one hundred years. The writer heard the judicious Dr. 
 Woolworth express the opinion 35 years ago, that " there 
 were in his congregation as many persons living on a hope 
 that they were the subjects of renewing grace, out of the 
 church, as there were in its communion." He is happy to learn, 
 that at the present day, this sentiment and its practical influ- 
 ence are far less prevalent than formerly. 
 
 Though Dr. Buel had been extensively occupied for several 
 years in the great awakening in New England, nothing like 
 a general revival took place till 18 years after his installa- 
 tion. In 1749 there was an unusual attention to religion in 
 some of the outer villages, and a considerable number of 
 hopeful conversions, especially among the youth, took place. 
 This the Doctor called " a small harvest of souls." And he 
 makes mention of other refreshing seasons, in which his 
 
SECT. 4.] EASTHAMPTON. 183 
 
 " hopes ran high," but " the result was not equal to his raised 
 expectations.'' During these 18 years about 80 persons, in- 
 cluding the 60 just mentioned, were admitted to the com- 
 munion of the church. 
 
 In 1664 occurred the great revival, of which he wrote an 
 extended account that is still in print in different forms. 
 Favourable appearances commenced early in the year, but 
 the work was developed in its most wonderful efficacy about 
 the middle of March ; and continued in great power through 
 the summer. And although it afterwards declined, it still 
 progressed with abated and occasionally renewed vigour 
 through the succeeding autumn and winter. It was not one 
 of those evanescent excitements that are got up in a night, 
 and disappear in a night, and are followed with dissentions 
 among christians, and the dissolution of the sacred relation 
 between minister and people. These old fashioned revivals 
 were attended with directly opposite effects, strongly cement- 
 ing the bonds of christian love between the members of the 
 church and their minister, while they furnished large acces- 
 sions to the company of the faithful. In this favoured season, 
 but a little short of 150 persons were added to the communion 
 of the church ; 98 at one time and 24 at another, while the 
 work was still going on : and great caution as well as delay 
 was exercised in the admission of professed converts to seal- 
 ing ordinances. Though the work was powerful in March, 
 these numerous admissions did not take place until July and 
 afterwards. 
 
 Again in 1815, it pleased God to favour this church with a 
 renewed effusion of the Holy Spirit. Of this also, Dr. Buel 
 wrote and published an account. About 100 were added to 
 the church. 
 
 Again, in 1791, a special religious interest was excited, 
 especially among the young. Between 40 and 50 were ad- 
 mitted to the communion of the church. This was the last 
 season of special attention under Dr. Buel's ministry. 
 
 Some months previous to the ordination of Dr. Beecher, 
 in 1799 and while he was preaching as a candidate, there 
 was a deep interest awakened on the subject of religion, and 
 several instances of awakening and hopeful conversion 
 occurred. This state of things continued till the close of the 
 year, when from the 10th of Jan. 1800, for several succeeding 
 weeks " the work was powerful and glorious." As the fruits 
 of this precious season, about 60 were added to the com- 
 munion of the church, and about 20 more professed hope. 
 
184 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Again, the winter of 1808-9 was distinguished in this and 
 several other congregations as a precious season of refreshing 
 from the presence of the Lord. In the course of the latter 
 year 97, and in the subsequent year 29, were added to the 
 church, which then amounted to 370 communicants. In all 
 its essential characteristics this work resembled those in 
 former years. But there was one peculiarity worthy of 
 special notice. In former revivals, the period of conviction 
 was frequently protracted to weeks and months before any 
 relief was experienced. Dr. Buel in his narrative of 1764, 
 in alluding to the revival of 1741-2 says, " in some instances, 
 the concern of that day hath extended down to the present, 
 now hopefully issuing in a saving change." And though 
 such protracted convictions were comparatively rare, yet it was 
 common to find them extended for weeks, even in the midst of 
 a powerful revival. In 1808-9, however, it was equally 
 common to see the careless sinner awakened, and strong con- 
 victions in a few days succeeded by bright hopes of pardon 
 and salvation. This fact, which may be regarded as a feature 
 of most revivals since that time, is worthy of a careful investi- 
 gation as to its causes and effects. The writer recollects 
 that it excited no little inquiry at the time ; and in a meeting 
 of several neighbouring ministers whose churches were shar- 
 ing in this rain of righteousness, they came to the following 
 conclusion : " Let us do our duty in exhibiting clearly the 
 whole counsel of God, and in directing inquiring souls to the 
 Lamb of God, who alone can take away sin ; and then leave 
 the Holy Spirit to do his own work in his own time and way : 
 and whether men are longer or shorter under what has been 
 called ' a law-work,' if they cordially embrace the truth, 
 and continue to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, we 
 are bound to acknowledge them as christians." This, it is 
 believed, is the true and safe principle ; and revivals of re- 
 ligion conducted by this rule will prove a blessing to any 
 community. The greatest danger arises from withholding 
 plain, distinguishing truth, aiming only to produce excite- 
 ment, and hurrying converts, so called, into the church, before 
 they have had time to test the reality of their professed 
 change. 
 
 In 1816, this church experienced another refreshing season ; 
 and in the course of that year, 87 persons were added to its 
 communion, which was then reported to consist of 303 mem- 
 bers. To account for this reduction since 1809, the follow- 
 ing are the only data. It appears from the presbyterial 
 
SECT. 4.] EASTHAMPTON. 185 
 
 reports to the Synod, that during three successive years, 
 1812, '13, '14, only one individual was added to the commu- 
 nion of this church : and during the others, a small number. 
 Deaths and removals, of which the latter must have been 
 numerous, probably make up the deficiency ; so that at the 
 commencement of the revival of 1816, this church was 
 reduced to 216 communicants. And though subsequently in- 
 creased to more than 300, it was again reduced, about 1830, 
 to 245. Does not the religious history of this congregation 
 present a strong case to show the value of a permanent 
 ministry ? 
 
 In 1831, another revival was experienced, in which 116, 
 (including two on certificate,) were added to the church, 
 which was reported to the Synod, in 1832, as having 351 
 members. Since that time, there have been seasons of re- 
 freshing, but no particular facts have been ascertained. The 
 present number of members is 435. 
 
 Summary, Within the territorial limits of this town, there 
 are three houses of worship. But as two of them are in the 
 village of Sag Harbour, which embraces 697 of the population 
 of this town, the balance, viz., 1458, may be considered as 
 belonging to this single congregation. 
 
 And here, the truth of history demands the record of a 
 singular anomaly, in the annals of this eminently religious 
 community. Near the close of Dr. Buel's life, when the 
 effervescence of the French revolution had begun to develop 
 itself, in the dissemination of infidel sentiments through the 
 world, strange as it may appear, in this retired town, where 
 puritanism had reigned 150 years, without even "a dog to 
 move his tongue" against it, a regular Infidel Club was 
 established. Its numbers were indeed small, even with all 
 that could be collected from the adjoining town ; but they 
 were men of talents, and some men of education, and withal 
 as bold and bitter enemies to the cross of Christ and divine 
 revelation, as could be found in the Atheistical Republic. 
 They held frequent soirees, in which they endeavoured to 
 sharpen up the spear of ridicule — Hume's " Test of Truth," 
 and other weapons, by which they expected to " crush the 
 wretch." Even boys in the streets were heard retailing such 
 wonderful arguments against the Bible as the following : that 
 " it was impossible for a whale to swallow Jonah, since it had 
 
186 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 now been ascertained that the throat of a whale is not bigger 
 than a junk bottle." — It is indeed true, that very few decided 
 converts were made to the ranks of these undisguised and 
 zealous champions of infidelity ; but the influence of their 
 sentiments, aided principally by the exceedingly rancorous 
 spirit of party politics at that day, of which our fiercest politi- 
 cal contests at the present time afford no adequate specimen, 
 exerted a power over this moral and religious community, to 
 an extent, that would be perfectly incredible, if not sustained 
 by incontrovertible testimony. The following fact will illus- 
 trate this remark : — 
 
 In 1807, the teacher of the Academy, (in which one of the 
 students, a few years before, to show his manly courage, had 
 burned the Bible,) in preparation for a public exhibition, had 
 got up a Dialogue, written with admirable ability and force, 
 the design of which was to expose the weakness and futility 
 of the arguments of infidelity, against the claims of revelation. 
 The writer, in preparing the piece, had made a free use of 
 Mr. Jefferson's philosophical arguments against the possibility 
 of a general deluge; and the entire indifference, whether 
 " my neighbour believes in one god or twenty gods," and the 
 sentiments of many others, both written and oral ; and he 
 had turned the shafts of ridicule with most tremendous force 
 and withering effect, against those who had claimed that in- 
 strument as their principal weapon of assault. The Dialogue 
 was an extremely well-timed production, and one would have 
 thought, that it would have been hailed with a cordial 
 welcome, not only by Christians, but by every man that re- 
 spected the Bible. But strange to tell, a few days before the 
 exhibition, the free-thinkers took the alarm, and by working 
 on the political prejudices of the community, and making 
 them believe that it was improper to animadvert upon the 
 sentiments, and even expose the infidelity of men occupying 
 exalted offices in the nation, (though the notorious gag-law of 
 the preceding administration had long since been repealed by 
 an insulted and indignant nation,) a meeting of the Trustees 
 was called, and a majority was induced to vote, that the ob- 
 noxious Dialogue should not be presented at the approaching 
 exhibition of the Academy ! 
 
 This weak and thoughtless attempt to hamper the freedom 
 of speech in Easthampton, could not, of course, cramp the 
 liberty of the press. The Dialogue was immediately publish- 
 ed, and thus obtained an influence vastly beyond the original 
 intention of its author. 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 187 
 
 The most of the original members of the infidel clan in this 
 town have gone to their final account. It is questionable 
 whether there is one left, who is willing to stand up before 
 the world and say, that he regards the Bible as a fable. There 
 may be some small fry scattered about the country, whose 
 sceptical notions were first imbibed from these men. But it 
 is believed, that there is as little infidelity in Easthampton, at 
 the present time, as in any town of our country. But this 
 occurrence shows clearly the danger to which even good men 
 are exposed, when they permit their judgment and feelings to 
 be carried away by party strife. 
 
 Section 5.— SOUTHAMPTON. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 23,105 
 " " unimproved, - - 68,395 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 14. 
 
 This township, as now defined, extends from the western 
 line of Easthampton, taking the entire breadth of the south 
 branch of the island, to the head of Peconick Bay ; — thence, 
 about two miles west to Kanungum Pond, through which the 
 Peconick river passes. From this point, the western bounda- 
 ry is a straight line south about 10° west, till it strikes Setuck 
 Creek, near Speonk, which runs into East Bay, which is the 
 eastern part of the great South Bay. 
 
 The settlement of this town was commenced in 1640, by a 
 company from Lynn, Mass. Eight men are named as the 
 first " undertakers" as they were called, with more apparent 
 propriety, than the term is now applied to the buriers of the 
 dead. They sold a vessel to one Captain Howe, whom they 
 admitted as one of the company, with the stipulation, that 
 said vessel should ply, three times a year, between Massachu- 
 setts and Long Island. Before they left Lynn, the number of 
 ** undertakers" was increased to 16; among whom was the 
 Rev. Abraham Pierson, of Boston, who was their first 
 minister. 
 
 They first proceeded to the western part of the island, and 
 landing at Cow Bay, they purchased of the natives, a large 
 tract of land, and immediately commenced their settlement. 
 This territory being claimed by the Dutch, Gov. Kieft sent an 
 armed company, (May 13th, 1640,) and arrested six of the 
 
188 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 men, who were taken to the citadel and thrown into prison. 
 In a few days they were brought before the Governor, and 
 released on a promise of quitting the territory. They accord- 
 ingly " pulled up stakes" and returned to the east end of the 
 island, where they established themselves without further 
 molestation. 
 
 The instrument which they had received from James Far- 
 rett, the agent of Lord Stirling, is dated April 17th, 1640, and 
 authorizes them " to sit down where it best liketh them on 
 Long Island, to make purchases of the Indians, and settle 
 thereupon, with as full and free liberty, both in church order 
 and civil government, as the plantations in Massachusetts en- 
 joyed." The place they now selected was on the south side, 
 in full view of the ocean, about four miles from North Sea, 
 which was the place of their landing on Peconick Bay. 
 
 A specimen of their early legislation will both gratify curi- 
 osity, and give a correct view of the character of the first set- 
 tlers. The following abstract is taken from the earliest 
 records of the town, which are now in a very mutilated condi- 
 tion, and unless speedily transcribed and arranged, will soon 
 be totally illegible : — 
 
 Offences punishable by the magistrate are classified as 
 follows : — 
 
 " 1. Trespasses. If any man's swine, or any other beast, 
 or a fire kind'ed by a man, damage another man's field, he 
 shall make full restitution for the grain and time lost in secur- 
 ing the swine, &c. Exod. xii. 5, 6. — Lev. xxiv. 18. But if 
 a man turn his swine or cattle into another's field, restitution 
 shall be made of the best he possesses, though it be much 
 better than that which is destroyed. Exod. xxi. 34. 
 
 " 2. If a man killeth another's beast, or dig or open a pit, 
 and leave it uncovered, and a beast fall into it, he that killed 
 the beast, and the owner of the pit, shall make restitution. If 
 a man's beast kill the beast of another, the owner of the beast 
 shall make restitution. Exod. xxi. 35, 36. 
 
 " 3. If a man's ox or other beast gore or bite and kill a man 
 or woman, whether child or of riper age, the beast shall be kill- 
 ed, and no benefit of the dead beast reserved to the owner. 
 But if the ox or other beast were wont to push or bite in for- 
 mer time, and the owner hath been told of it, and hath not 
 kept him in, then, the ox or beast shall be forfeited and killed, 
 and the owner also put to death ; or else fined to pay, what 
 
SECT 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 189 
 
 the judges and person damnified shall lay upon him. Exod. 
 xxi. 28, 29. 
 
 " 4. If a man deliver goods to his neighbour to keep, and 
 they be said to be lost or stolen from him, the keeper of the 
 goods shall be put to his oath, — [illegible] — and no evidence to 
 the contrary, he shall be quit. But if he be found false 
 unto his neighbour, or unfaithful, he shall pay double. But 
 if a man take hire for the goods committed unto him, and 
 they be stolen, the keeper shall make restitution. But if the 
 beast kept for hire die, or be hurt, or be driven away, no man 
 seeing of it, an oath shall be taken of the keeper, that it was 
 without his default, and it shall be accepted. But if the 
 beast be tome in pieces, and a piece be brought for witness, it 
 excuseth the keeper. Exod. xxii. 8 — 13. 
 
 "II. Of Crimes. 
 
 " And first, of such as deserve cutting off from a man's 
 people, — [banishment.] 
 
 (l Whosoever shall revile the religion and worship of God 
 as now established, to be cut off by banishment. 
 
 " Wilful perjury, whether public or private, to be punished 
 with banishment — [illegible] — Just it is, that such a man's 
 name should be cut oft' from his people, who profaneth so 
 grossly the name of God before his people. 
 
 li Unreverend and dishonourable carriage to magistrates to 
 to be punished with banishment for a time, till they acknow- 
 ledge their fault and profess reformation. 
 
 " Of Crimes less heinous, such as are to bejwnished with 
 some corporal punishment or fine. 
 
 11 1. Rash and profane swearing and cursing to be pun- 
 ished, 
 
 "1. With loss of honour or office, if it be a magistrate or 
 officer. Meet it is, that their names should be dishonoured, 
 who dishonour God's name. 
 
 " 2. With loss of freedom. 
 
 " 3. With disability to give testimony. 
 
 " 4. By corporal punishment — either by stripes — branding 
 with an hot iron, or boring them through the tongue, as he 
 hath bored and pierced God's name. 
 
 " II. Drunkenness, as transforming God's image into a 
 beast, is to be punished with the punishment of a beast. 
 Prov. xxvi. 3. A whip for a horse — and a rod for a fooVs 
 bach. 
 
 " III. Fornication, to be punished, 
 
 " 1. With a fine or penalty to the father 
 
190 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 " 2. With marriage of the maid, if she and her father 
 consent. 
 
 " 3. With corpora] punishment of stripes ; for this wrong is 
 a real slander. It is worse to make a harlot, than to say- 
 one is a harlot. 
 
 " IV. Maiming or wounding of a free man to be punished 
 with a fine. 
 
 " Crimes, that deserve capital punishment. 
 
 " 1. Blasphemy, which is a cursing of God, or wicked de- 
 nying of God by Atheism or the like. Deut. xxiv. 15. 
 
 " 2. Idolatry — Deut. xvii. 3 — 5. 
 
 u 3. Witchcraft, which is fellowship by covenant with a 
 familiar spirit. Exod. xxii. IS. 
 
 " 4. Consulting with ivitches — death or banishment. Lev. 
 xx. 6. 
 
 *' 5. Heresy, which is the maintenance of some wicked 
 error, overthrowing the foundations of the true religion, with 
 obstinacy, if it be joined with an endeavour to seduce others 
 thereunto. 
 
 "6. To worship God in a molten image. 
 
 " 7. Profaning the Lord's day in a careless and scornful 
 manner, or contempt thereof. Num. xv. 30 — 36. 
 
 " 8. To plot and practise the betraying of the country, or 
 any principal fort therein to the hand of a foreign state, 
 Spanish, French or Dutch, or the like, contrary to the alle- 
 giance which we profess and owe to our dread sovereign Lord, 
 King Charles, his heirs and successors, while he is pleased 
 to protect us as his loyal subjects. 
 
 " 9. Rebellion, sedition or insurrection, by taking up arms 
 against the present government, established in the country. 
 
 '"''Rebellious children, whether they continue in evil or drunk- 
 enness, after due correction from their parents, or whether 
 they curse and smite their parents. Deut. xxi. 18. Lev. x. 
 9, 10 ; xxi. 15, 17. 
 
 " 10. Murder, which is wilful man-slaughter, not in a man's 
 necessary and just defence, or casually committed, but out of 
 hatred and cruelty. 
 
 "11. Adultery — defiling of the marriage bed. 
 
 " 12. Defiling of a woman espoused. 
 
 " 13. Incest, which is the defiling of any that are of kin 
 within the degrees prohibited in Lev. — Unnatural lusts. 
 
 "14. Man-siealing. 
 
 " 15. False-witness against life." 
 
 In the preceding abstract, the scripture references are given 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 191 
 
 as far as legible, but some of them may not be perfectly cor- 
 rect, in consequence of the mutilations of the original. They 
 are sufficient, however, to show the origin of their laws, and 
 their reverence for the word of God. Southampton formed 
 an alliance with Hartford colony in 1644. 
 
 The following municipal regulations show, with what care 
 they guarded against the ingress of unwholesome inhabitants. 
 
 " 1648. It is ordered that Thomas Robinson shall be ac- 
 cepted as an inhabitant, and have a £50 lot granted unto 
 him ; provided, the said Thomas be not under any scandalous 
 crime, which may be laid to his charge, within six months, 
 and that he carry himself, and behave as becometh an honest 
 man. 
 
 " It is further ordered that Samuel Dayton be accepted as 
 an inhabitant, and have a £50 lot granted unto him, provided 
 that the said Samuel (being a stranger to us) were of good 
 approbation in the colony he last lived in, and do demean 
 himself well here, for the time to approbation ; namely, six 
 months to come." 
 
 At an earlier period (1645) it was ordered that "a reward 
 of five shillings" be paid " to any person, who shall discover, 
 and give information of a whale, or part of a whale, cast 
 upon the shore." But it is expressly added, "if any whale 
 be found on the LorcVs day, the above five shillings shall 
 not be due or payable." 
 
 In 1644, " an agreement was made with Edward Howell to 
 build a mill — the people to assist in making the dam — fur- 
 nish the mill-stones and grant a forty acre lot adjoining." 
 This same site is still occupied as a mill-seat, about three 
 miles east of the village, and has always borne the name of 
 " the Water-mill." 
 
 It has been doubted by some, whether a church was regu- 
 larly organized at the commencement of this settlement. 
 The foundation of this doubt is an early instrument in which 
 that event is spoken of as future. But it will be recollected, 
 that this was one of the first agreements entered into by the 
 "undertakers" while forming their company in Massachu- 
 setts. Besides, Hubbard expressly records the fact, that they 
 were organized into a church before they left Lynn, and 
 chose the Rev- Mr. Pierson as their pastor. And this seems 
 to be confirmed by the subsequent conduct of Mr. Pierson, 
 who, possessing the sentiments in regard to government 
 which he afterwards developed, would not have been likely to 
 embark in establishing a colony, in which there was no 
 
192 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 church. It is, therefore, more than probable, that a church 
 had been regularly organized before they came to the island. 
 The precise date of their arrival at Southampton has not 
 been ascertained ; but their disappointment and detention on 
 the western part of the island, make it evident that it was 
 later in the season, than the settlement at Southold, which had 
 been commenced the same year. A patent for 8 miles 
 square, at this place, given by Farrett, is dated July 7th, 
 1640. 
 
 Churches, &c. 
 
 The first house of worship was erected in 1640. [See 
 "A Manual" of this church published in 1843.) ft was pro- 
 bably a small temporary building. 
 
 In 1651 the second was built which remained more than 
 half a century. 
 
 In 1707, the third edifice was erected, which was furnished 
 with a bell ancf clock, probably the first church on the island, 
 that could boast of both these appendages, the drum having 
 been previously used to assemble the people for public 
 worship. 
 
 In 1820, this building was thoroughly repaired, and the in- 
 terior remodeled and modernized. 
 
 In 1843, a new church was erected, which is a handsome 
 building, finished in the gothic style. 
 
 In the following year the old house was disposed of, re- 
 moved, and finished off for a Methodist chapel. 
 
 In 1831, an Academy was erected, and a very respectable 
 school has since been maintained. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The Rev. Abraham Pierson was the first minister. He 
 came with the first company of " undertakers. 1 ' He was a 
 conscientious, able and excellent man. He, however, re- 
 mained here only four years. A majority of the inhabitants 
 deciding to unite with the government of Hartford in prefer- 
 ence to Newhaven, which latter colony made church-member- 
 ship a necessary qualification for exercising the rights of free- 
 men ; and Mr. P. being with the minority, they removed in 
 1644 to Branford, within the jurisdiction of Newhaven. 
 Upon the consolidation of the two colonies in 1662, under 
 the name of Connecticut, Mr. P. and his associates, true to 
 their former principle, removed to New Jersey, and laid the 
 foundation of Newark, where he died in 1680. 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 193 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Fordham, the second minister, was settled 
 not long afterwards — in 1645 or '6, and died in 1674. 
 
 The Rev. John Herriman was the third minister of this 
 church, from 1675 to 1680. Of him, little is known. It ap- 
 pears, ho\v r ever, that after his return, to Connecticut, he ad- 
 dressed a letter to Mr. Thomas Cooper, in which he dunned 
 the congregation for some supposed arrearages of salary. 
 
 The letter having been presented, and considered in town- 
 meeting, the following answer was voted : — 
 
 "Mr. Herriman was so long absent, and the town paid so 
 much for him, which he himself promised to repay ; also 
 considering the manifold inconveniences that he exposed the 
 town unto, Mr. Herriman in equity ought to make the town 
 compensation, than that they should pay him one penny for 
 his last half year's pains among us." 
 
 For aught that appears, this was the final settlement be- 
 tween them. 
 
 There seems to be some difficulty in reconciling all the 
 statements about this gentleman. If the writer is not mis- 
 taken, Dr. Bacon mentions this same Mr. H. as a minister at 
 Newhaven, at least during a part of the time, that he is here 
 recognised as the pastor of Southampton. There may indeed 
 be some mistake of dates, or his being " long absent" may 
 have been occasioned by frequent labours at Newhaven. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Taylor, their fourth pastor, was sent for 
 in 1680. He came and after spending the winter with them, 
 when about to return to his family, they made a contract 
 with him for his permanent support. 
 
 As affording some view of the competency of ministerial 
 support in those days, and also, the mode of payment, in the 
 great scarcity of the precious metals, not only here, but in other 
 settlements on the Island, the following specifications of their 
 agreement will be interesting. 
 
 They promised him "a salary of £100, and the sole use 
 of the house and land formerly built and laid out for the minis- 
 try, together with another end to be built to the said house, 
 and 180 acres of commonage." 
 
 Also %i 100 acres of land in the woods or commons, to him 
 and his heirs for ever," together with 4 acres that was some 
 time part of the ox-pasture, opposite Mr. Herriman's house-lot. 
 This conveyance in fee, is evidently founded on the New 
 England principle of giving a minister what they called " a 
 settlement" which might be 'considered a sort of equivalent 
 
 9 
 
194 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 for the expense incurred in qualifying himself for the sacred 
 office. When the settlement of a minister was regarded as a 
 permanent contract, such an arrangement was not only kind 
 and proper, but strictly just ; and placed him m a situation 
 immediately, to be more useful to his people. 
 It was further stipulated, that 
 
 " The town make up sufficient posting for all the fence 
 against the land for the ministry— the western parcel to be 
 fenced hereafter when Mr. Taylor shall need it." 
 The salary to be paid as follows, viz. : 
 
 " In winter wheat at 5 shillings per bushel 
 " summer wheat 4s. 6d. 
 «' Indian corn - 2 6 
 " Beef - - 40 shillings per cwt. 
 
 » Pork - 10 
 
 " Tallow - - 3 pence per lb. 
 " Green hides - 3 " 
 
 " Dry ditto - 6 " 
 
 " Whalebone - 8 
 
 a Oil - - 30 shillings per bbl. 
 
 All good and merchantable to be collected by the constable." 
 If the difference of the value of these various articles, and 
 consequently the comparative expense of living be taken into 
 consideration, Mr. Taylor's salary will probably be found to 
 have been more liberal than is now paid, in many congregations 
 in Suffolk county. He did not, however, live long to enjoy the 
 liberal provision made for his support. He died at an early 
 age, in 1682. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Wilting was the fifth minister of this 
 place. In what year he came to the town is not certainly 
 known, though it is supposed in 1683. In the town meeting 
 in 1687 it was agreed to pay him the same salary, and at the 
 same rates, as had been agreed on with Mr. Taylor ; with this 
 addition, that " if Mr. Whiting continued with them till his 
 death, and his wife survived him, the town should pay her 
 £100." 
 
 During the ministry of Mr. Whiting (May 27th, 1695,) thr 
 town voted to give to Mr. Ebenezer White and his heirs for 
 ever, 15 acres of land anywhere convenient, on condition of 
 his settling as minister at Saggaponock and Meacox, and 
 continuing till his death or 7 years from the above date. 
 This was the organization of a new congregation 6 miles east, 
 which was afterwards called, and is still known as Bridge- 
 hampton ; whose history will hereafter be given, 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 105 
 
 Mr. Whiting died in 1716, having completed a ministry in 
 this place of more than 30 years. 
 
 In Sept. 1716, a call addressed to Mr. Samuel Gelston, was 
 laid before the Presbytery of Philadelphia, which was the only 
 ecclesiastical body of that denomination in this country at 
 that time ; and had been organized about 1 years before. 
 In this call, the congregation of Southampton promise " to 
 subject themselves to the Presbytery in the Lord." Here, 
 then, is the first evidence of the adoption of the Presbyterian 
 form of government in the County of Suffolk. Mr. Gelston 
 was, at that time a licentiate, and had been received under 
 the care of the Presbytery " on satisfactory credentials," the 
 year preceding. He came from New England, but had recently 
 emigrated from Ireland ; and whether he had been licensed 
 in the old country or the new, is not ascertained. Having 
 accepted the call, he preached a trial sermon by appointment 
 of the Presbytery, which was approved. 
 
 The Presbytery at the close of these sessions, having agreed 
 to divide into four distinct Presbyteries, (united in one Synod) 
 committed the further trials and ordination of Mr, Gelston, to 
 the Presbytery of Long Island, which was one of the four. 
 This was the first Presbytery erected in the Province of New 
 York, and for 20 years or more had jurisdiction over the 
 churches subsequently formed in the city of New York and 
 West Chester. 
 
 The Presbytery of Long Island met and constituted at 
 Southampton, April 17th, 1717, and having completed the 
 trials of Mr. Gelston, " he was ordained by Masters McNish, 
 Phillips and Pamry, according to appointment :" and these 
 three gentlemen undoubtedly constituted the whole of the 
 Presbytery at its organization.* 
 
 Mr. Gelston remained in charge of this congregation till 
 1726, when he was dismissed and removed to Maryland, 
 where he a was settled for a number of years, within the bounds 
 of the Presbytery of New Castle. He subsequently fell under 
 censure, and was suspended from the ministry on the charge 
 ,pf " drunkenness and some other crimes." 
 
 * It is a matter of regret that the Records of this original Presbytery 
 of Long Island are lost. It is barely possible that in the reorganisation of 
 the Presbytery in 1738, they might have been transferred to the keeping of 
 some person in New York or East Jersey, which were then united with 
 Long Island under one Presbytery, bearing the name of New York. If 
 they are yet in existence, their recovery would shed much light on the 
 early history of Presbyterianism on Long Island. 
 
196 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PAUT 2, 
 
 The Rev. Silvanus White, the sixth pastor, was settled Nov. 
 17th, 17*27. He was the son of the Rev. Ebenezer White, at 
 that time pastor of the neighbouring parish of Bridgehampton. 
 He was born in 1704. He was early sent to Massachusetts 
 for education, where he was fitted for college, and graduated 
 at Harvard in 1723, and was ordained to the charge of this 
 church as above stated, in whose service he spent a long and 
 devoted life, in the enjoyment of almost uninterrupted health. 
 His ministry was of 55 years continuance; and he died Oct. 
 22nd, 1782, after a short illness of 7 days, in the full possession 
 of his mental powers, and rejoicing in the hope of a blessed 
 immortality. He is said to have been an able and popular 
 preacher — a laborious and useful pastor. 
 
 During the two succeeding years, this church remained 
 without a pastor, but was supplied with preaching by Messrs. 
 Ozias and James Eels, of whom nothing more than their names 
 has been ascertained. 
 
 The Rev. Joshua Williams, the seventh pastor, was ordained 
 May 26th, 1784, and dismissed April 21st, 1789. 
 
 During another vacancy of 3 years the church was supplied 
 by Messrs. Strong and Mills, of whom even their christian 
 names are not retained. 
 
 The Rev. Herman Dagget, the eighth pastor, was ordained 
 here April 12th, 1792. He was born at Wrentham, Mass., 
 Oct. 3rd, 1765. At an early period after his settlement, diffi- 
 culties arose in the church, which rendered his situation ex- 
 tremely uncomfortable, and called for the interference of the 
 Presbytery, though with very little beneficial effect. The 
 occasion was one of general interest to the churches, and was 
 the prolific cause of agitation for many years. 
 
 It is a matter of record in the history of the New England 
 churches, that a venerable Synod assembled in Boston in 1662, 
 sanctioned the practice of administering baptism to the chil- 
 dren of those parents who were themselves baptized persons, 
 upon their " owning the covenant" as it was called, without 
 any pretensions to personal piety, and with the full under- 
 standing that they might live in the habitual neglect of the 
 other special ordinance. This was called ** the half -way cove, 
 nant," on which a man might stand as the poet describes him — 
 " One foot within the church's pale 
 And t'other out of doors." 
 It was also called " the indulgent plan," and such it proved to 
 be in the widest sense. The practice at first met with violent 
 opposition, but gradually gained ground, till it extended over 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 197 
 
 all the N. E. churches, and into other parts of the land. 
 Long Island was brought universally under its dominion. It 
 was undoubtedly designed by the original inventors of this 
 scheme, that this " privilege" should be restricted to persons 
 of good moral character, and free from scandal. But it is 
 obvious, that when the pale of the church had been once re- 
 moved, no man could tell, and no two could agree, on the pre- 
 cise line of separation between two parts of an unbelieving 
 world. As a necessary consequence, " indulgence" was 
 gradually extended, till in many congregations persons of 
 grossly profane lives were permitted to have their children 
 baptized ; and even those who in presenting their children, 
 publicly admitted that they were guilty of scandalous offences. 
 The writer himself bore witness, in early life, to scores of 
 cases, which justify these remarks. And so violent were such 
 persons in asserting their claims on this subject, that they 
 would often say, they would never sit under the preaching 
 of a minister who would not baptize their children. 
 
 Mr Dagget, though not the first, was among the first minis- 
 ters of the L. I. Presbytery to resist this awful profanation of a 
 divine ordinance. This produced the difficulty at the very 
 outset of his ministry in Southampton, which continued with 
 unabated violence, till he deemed it his duty to resign his 
 charge. He was dismissed June 8th, 1795. It may be added 
 here, that the " half-way covenant'' has many years since 
 been banished from the Presbyterian churches of the Island ; 
 but the church in this place was one of the last to consent to 
 its exile. 
 
 Mr. Dagget continued several years on the Island, and his 
 name will be found in connection with the history of other 
 churches. He was finally dismissed from the Presbytery 
 Aug 17th, 1809, and removed to Connecticut. He however 
 manifested his strong attachment to Presbyterianism, by tak- 
 ing his dismission to unite with the Presbytery of Hudson, 
 which then lay on the western boundary of that state. It 
 appears that he did not find it convenient to form that con- 
 nection, until he became Principal of the Missionary School 
 at Cornwall, Conn. Then he applied, and was received May 
 1st, 1823, into the Presbytery of North River (the Hudson 
 Presbytery having in the mean time been divided, of which he 
 continued a member till his death, which took place May 16th, 
 1S32. 
 
 Having gone to his reward it is proper to state his character, 
 which may be expressed in a few words, though it is worthy 
 of a volume. 
 
198 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Mr. Dagget was a man of sterling talents, respectable ac- 
 quirements, and peculiar excellence of character. To all his 
 other attainments as a scholar, he added singular neatness 
 and an exact systematic arrangement of all his various duties. 
 He was remarkably dignified in his manners, and circumspect 
 in his deportment. Though social in his habits, and cheerful 
 in his intercourse with others, always presenting a pleasant 
 countenance, he was never known to laugh. His christian 
 circumspection, and his characteristic excellence as a minis- 
 ter, were comprehensively expressed by one of his brethren, 
 in a single line, " Brother Dagget is just a Jit man to preach 
 to ministers." 
 
 The Rev. David S. Bogart, the ninth pastor, came here 
 shortly after Mr. Dagget's dismission. He was a licentiate 
 of the Reformed Dutch Church. Being very acceptable to 
 the people, and not having the same scruples with his prede- 
 cessor, he received an early invitation to settle. But before 
 the necessary arrangements were made for his ordination, he 
 received an invitation to a Dutch Church in Albany, which 
 he accepted, and removed thither. la 1798, this church being 
 encouraged to renew their call, Mr. B. accepted it, and was 
 ordained May 31st, 1798. 
 
 In 1806, he received a call to the Dutch church in Bloom- 
 ingdale, and, being dismissed Nov. 6th, he removed to New 
 York. The next spring, this church again renewed their call 
 to Mr. B., and he was re-installed June 17th, 1807. He was 
 finally dismissed April 15th, 1813, and removed to Queen's 
 County, where he will again come under notice. 
 
 From 1813 to '16, this congregation had no settled pastor, 
 and were supplied by various individuals, of whom the Rev. 
 Joshua Hart, and Messrs. Andrews and Fuller, Herman Hal- 
 sey and Amos Bingham were the principal. 
 
 The Rev. John 31. Babbit, the tenth pastor, was installed 
 Nov. 19th, 1817, and was dismissed April 18th, 1821. 
 
 The Rev. Peter H. Shaw, the eleventh pastor, was ordained 
 Sept. 19th, 1821, and dismissed June 2nd, 1829. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Beers, the twelfth pastor, was installed 
 June 8th, 1830, and dismissed April 21st, 1835. 
 
 The Rev. Hugh N. Wilson, the thirteenth and present pas- 
 tor, commenced his labours here in 1835, and was ordained 
 June 29th, 1836. 
 
 This congregation has participated in those blessed seasons 
 of refreshing, which have been noticed, both in the preceding 
 and present century. The last distinguished revival was in 
 1842-3, in which large accessions were made to the church. 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 199 
 
 This town, like most of the others on the island, contains 
 several distinct settlements, which are designated by different 
 names, called "villages," and generally constitute separate 
 parishes ; in some of them, churches of different denomina- 
 tions exist. In this town are Bridgehampton, (including Sagg, 
 Mecocks, the Hay Ground and Scuttle Hole,) Sag Harbour, 
 Shinnecock Neck, Canoe Place, Good Ground, Westhampton 
 (including Quogue, Ketchabonock and Speonk ;) Flanders, 
 with several smaller settlements on the North shore, as Red 
 Creek, Sebonack, North Sea, Noyack and North Side. Such 
 as have ecclesiastical organization, will be successively 
 noticed. 
 
 Bridgehampton is a parish situated 6 miles east of the old 
 town-spot, and was made a distinct congregation nearly 30 
 years after the formation of the first settlement. It was then 
 called Saggaponock and Mecocks. The actual settlement 
 was commenced here as early as in the other part of the 
 town ; though its advance was slower. Thomas Topping, 
 the progenitor of the numerous family bearing that name, 
 established himself in Sagg, as the eastern district is now 
 called, in 1640. When the church was organized here there 
 are no means of determining, though it was probably not far 
 from the time of the settlement of their first minister in 1695. 
 The people of this congregation participated in the same gene- 
 ral views and feelings, with those of Southampton, being 
 strongly allied in affinity and interest. As an evidence of 
 their religious character in the early history of the congrega- 
 tion, it is said, that " family worship was generally maintained, 
 and the sabbath universally sanctified." And they have re- 
 tained to the present day, more of the unaffected simplicity, 
 and unaspiring demeanour of the puritan character, than can 
 be discovered in the aspect of society in the mother settle- 
 ment 
 
 Churches. 
 
 The first House of worship in this parish was erected about 
 the time of Mr. White's settlement, near the close of the 17th 
 century. It was placed on the west side of Sagg Pond, about 
 one mile south-east of the present edifice. 
 
 The second Church was built in 1737, one mile north of 
 the former site, on the road leading from the centre of Sagg 
 Street to Southampton. It was 38 by 54 feet, with full gal- 
 leries, and afforded accommodations for a large congregation. 
 The first sermon in this house was preached by Mr. White, 
 
200 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 the first pastor, from 2 Chron. vi. 18, and the last, by the pre- 
 sent pastor, Mr. Francis, June 12th, 1842, from Lev. xvi. 13. 
 It remained, with little alteration, except in the arrangement 
 of the interior, for the space of 105 years. 
 
 In 1842, the old building was pulled down, and a new one 
 erected about half a mile to the north-west. It was dedicated 
 in December of that year; and for simple beauty, chaste 
 neatness, just proportions, and absolute convenience, it is not 
 exceeded by any church in the county. 
 
 It is not unworthy of notice here, that from the first settle- 
 ment of this parish, there have been three principal burying 
 places, in the different districts, and it has so happened that 
 the remains of the three pastors, who spent their lives in 
 the service of this church, are severally buried in these dif- 
 ferent burial grounds. 
 
 In the time of the great excitement in 1740-50, a separate 
 church was organized here, "and a small house of worship 
 erected in 1748, about 2 miles west of the centre. A more 
 particular notice of this schism will be taken hereafter. This 
 church has long since become extinct ; the building removed 
 and converted into a dwelling. 
 
 A methodist society was organized here, and a small church 
 erected in 1820, near the site of the Presbyterian Church. 
 This was disposed of, and a new and more commodious one 
 erected in 1833. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The Rev. Ebenezer White was the first pastor of this church- 
 He was born in Weymouth, Mass., in 1672 — graduated at 
 Harvard, in 1692, and was ordained here, October 9th, 1695, 
 in which year, as has been previously noticed, the people of 
 Southampton, in town meeting, voted to give him in fee 15 
 acres of land, in consideration of his taking the charge of thi3 
 new congregation. He continued in this relation 53 years, 
 resigned upon the settlement of his successor in 1748, and 
 died February 4th, 1756, at the age of 84 years. He is said 
 to have been an able and useful minister. His descendants of 
 the sixth generation are still living here. 
 
 The Rev. James Brown was ordained the second pastor, 
 June 15th, 1748, at which time Mr. White resigned. Ac- 
 counts differ as to his origin. According to one, he was a na- 
 tive of Mendham, N. J., and according to another, he was a 
 descendant of the Rev. Chad Brown, of Rhode Island. He 
 was a graduate of Yale, in 1747. " He was distinguished for 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 201 
 
 great soundness in his theological views and ably defended 
 the great doctrines of the reformation." In consequence of 
 gi*eat bodily infirmities, he resigned his charge, March 27th, 
 1775, and continued to reside here till his death, which took 
 place April 22d, 1788, at the age of 68 years. 
 
 The congregation remained vacant during the whole of the 
 revolutionary war, and several years afterwards. This was a 
 season of peculiar privation and trial, to all the churches of 
 the island, but especially those that were destitute of the pri- 
 vileges of the gospel. The people of this congregation suffer- 
 ed greatly, in both their temporal and spiritual concerns. To 
 avoid annoyance from the enemy, whose troops were stationed 
 at different points in their vicinity, not a few deserted their 
 homes in the early part of the contest, and were voluntary 
 exiles during the war. Those who remained behind, drew 
 out the tedious years in constant apprehension, solitude and 
 gloom. Religious privileges were almost entirely removed. 
 The holy Sabbath still returned, but it was only to remind 
 them of what they once enjoyed. Their sanctuary was not 
 indeed desecrated, as many of the churches of the island were, 
 by the sacrilegious foe, but it was a deserted house. Add to 
 all this the demoralizing influences of war — and that too, un- 
 der circumstances that almost entirely suspended the operation 
 of those institutions, under which they had lived and prospered. 
 From these causes it is not strange, that the church was re- 
 duced to the verge of extinction, and did not recover strength, 
 till several years after the peace, to re-establish the gospel 
 among them. And even then, they met with several disap- 
 pointments, before their eyes were permitted to behold their 
 teacher. 
 
 The Rev. Aaron Woolworth, D.D., the third pastor, was or- 
 dained August 30th, 1787. He was born at Long Meadow, 
 Mass., October 25th, 1763, and graduated at Yale, in 1784. 
 His honorary degree was conferred at Princeton, in 1809. 
 Though of small stature, and by no means of prepossessing as- 
 pect, he was one of the most able, discriminating, and pious 
 divines that Long Island was ever blessed with. His epitaph, 
 though written by the hand of friendship, contains not a word 
 of fulsome flattery, or empty compliment. He was all that is 
 therein claimed on his behalf. He died of a short illness, in 
 the full vigour of all his powers, April 4th, 1821. His remains 
 lie interred in the burying ground adjoining the new church, 
 over which a table stone has been placed by his affectionate 
 people, bearing the following inscription : — 
 
202 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 SACRED TO THE MEMORY 
 
 of the 
 
 Rev. Aaron Woolworth, D.D., 
 
 Who departed this life 
 April 2, 1821, in the 58th year 
 of his age, and the 34th of his ministry. 
 He was born at Long Meadow, Mass., Oct. 25, 1763, 
 graduated at Yale College in 1784, was 
 ordained and installed Pastor of this congregation, 
 April 30, 17S7, received the honorary degree 
 of D. D. from Princeton College, in 1809, & 
 was constituted a life-member of the American 
 Bible Society by the ladies of his congre- 
 gation, in 1817. 
 Possessed of a sound, active and powerful mind, 
 richly stored with the treasures of literature & 
 science, and of a tender, and benevolent heart early 
 sanctified by divine grace, he adorned the 
 relations of friend, brother, husband, parent & 
 minister. 
 As a christian, he aimed to keep his heart with all 
 diligence, and to adorn the doctrine of God his 
 Saviour in all things. 
 As a divine, he was mighty in the scriptures, 
 & had investigated the whole field of Theolo- 
 gical science. As a Preacher, he was instructive, 
 discriminating &; pungent. And as a Pastor, 
 he was faithful to his flock and abounded in all 
 the duties of the sacred office. 
 His death was peaceful & happy. 
 
 This stone was erected as a testimony of 
 respect and affection by his congregation. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Woolworth, the relict of this excellent man, 
 and daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Buel of Easthampton, died 
 at Homer, N. Y., September 10, 1845 ; aged 76 years. 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 203 
 
 The Rev. Amzi Francis, the fourth pastor, was ordained 
 April 17th, 1823, and still retains a pleasant and useful con- 
 nexion with his people. 
 
 It is a fact highly creditable to this congregation, that they 
 have existed just 150 years, during which time they have had 
 only four pastors ; and that they have never dismissed a min- 
 ister except from failure of health. 
 
 While this work was in press, the following notice appeared 
 in the N. Y. Observer : — 
 
 Died, at Bridgehampton, L. I., on Saturday morning, Oct. 
 18th, the Rev. Amzi Francis, pastor of the Presbyterian 
 church in that place, aged 52 years. In the death of this ex- 
 cellent man, his family and people have experienced an un- 
 speakable affliction, but mingled with peculiar mercy. His 
 sickness was only of twelve days' continuance, and severe ; 
 but his mind was unclouded, and his confidence in the Rock 
 of Ages unshaken till the closing scene. A short time before 
 he expired, after giving direction respecting his funeral, he 
 remarked, that "he had never conceived it possible, in this 
 mortal state, to have such views of the heavenly world, as he 
 was permitted to enjoy." — "Mark the perfect man, and con- 
 sider the upright ; for the end of that man is peace." 
 
 Revivals. 
 
 This church enjoyed great harmony and peace for nearly 
 50 years from its organization ; though we have no record of 
 any season of special refreshing during that period. But in 
 the great awakening of 1741-2, which has been previously 
 referred to, a general, and, in some respects, a salutary ex- 
 citement was produced in this congregation. In its progress, 
 however, the new-light spirit was introduced by the Rev. Mr. 
 Davenport ; and here it was attended with more disastrous 
 and abiding consequences, than in some other congregations. 
 It soon began to develope itself in open denunciations of the 
 aged pastor, and the cry was raised, " Come out and be ye 
 separate." A painful schism was soon made, a separate 
 church formed, a small house of worship erected, and distinct 
 service maintained. 
 
 At the time of Mr. Brown's settlement in June, 1748, the 
 Presbytery spent a whole day in trying to convince " the 
 separatists that they had violated the rules of the gospel in 
 their separation," and they " laboured the point with great 
 pains and industry, but without any visible success till noon." 
 The greater part of the afternoon was spent with as little sue- 
 
204 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 cess, while they say, we " observed much seeming stiffness to 
 our common grief.'' But " towards the close of the day, the 
 following confession was subscribed by the most of the sepa- 
 rate people." 
 
 " We the subscribers, inhabitants or professors in the parish 
 or church of Bridgehampton, who have separated ourselves 
 from the ministry of the Rev. Mr. White, in said Bridgehamp- 
 ton, do freely acknowledge and confess as follows:— 
 
 " That although according to the light we then had, we 
 suppose the cause of our separation to be just, yet as to the 
 manner of our separating, in some respects, we are very sen- 
 sible it was not agreeable to the rules of Christ's visible king- 
 dom, and on that account we ate sorry for it. And we desire 
 and resolve (the grace of God enabling,) for the future, to 
 walk according to the rules of the gospel of Jesus Christ." 
 
 This document was signed by 16 males and 12 females. 
 
 " A pacific and hortatory address" was then prepared to be 
 read to the church and congregation after the adjournment, 
 with a concession of the aged pastor, which seemed calculated 
 to soothe the feelings of the separatists. But little permanent 
 good seemed to result from these gentle measures. Some 
 few, it would seem, returned to the church from which they 
 had withdrawn, but the separate altar was still maintained. 
 For a number of years the Rev. Elisha Paine laboured among 
 them, and they still kept up their distinct organization. But 
 when the excitement of those days had subsided, it was diffi- 
 cult to keep the wheels in motion. The congregation was 
 never large, and instead of increasing, it gradually diminish- 
 ed. The scenes of the revolutionary war and other causes 
 hastened the result. In the early part of Dr. Woolvvorth's 
 ministry, the last remnants of the schism abandoned their 
 separate organization — sold their house of worship, and they 
 principally returned to the old congregation, which now occu- 
 pies the entire territory, with the exception of the Methodist 
 society established of late years. 
 
 At the time of Dr. Woohvorth's settlement, the church con- 
 sisted of only 33 members, a majority of whom were females. 
 The early part of his ministry was not altogether unblessed, 
 but no general revival was enjoyed till the year 1800, of 
 which a detailed account was published. Again in 1809, and 
 yet again in 1816, extensive effusions of the spirit were be- 
 stowed. In 1810 the church consisted of 179 members. Dur- 
 ing the whole period of Dr. W.'s ministry, including the year 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 205 
 
 after his decease, 252 persons had been added, and 166 had 
 died. In the whole congregation more than 600 had died. 
 
 Under the present pastor, the years 1831 and 1842 have 
 been distinguished as seasons of refreshing ; and the congre- 
 gation is probably in as prosperous circumstances, as at any 
 previous period of its history. Since the settlement of Mr. F. 
 147 have been added ; 93 have died, and there are 177 now 
 in communion. 
 
 Since the preceding was written, the writer has providen- 
 tially fallen upon a MSS. of the Rev. Dr. Wool worth, giving 
 somewhat in detail, the religious history of this congregation, 
 from which the following extracts are taken. It was proba- 
 bly written in 1819-20, one or two years before his death. 
 
 " It appears that much harmony had always subsisted be- 
 tween Mr. White and his charge, till quite the latter part of 
 his ministry. The religious state of things had, it is believed, 
 been here, as it was extensively through the country. Sound- 
 ness in the faith was maintained, and the form of godliness 
 observed, with perhaps more strictness than at this day. But 
 there was, in general, a great declension in the power of reli- 
 gion. What are now called ' revivals' were rare — scarcely 
 heard of at all in any direction ; though it is not to be doubt- 
 ed, that there were many pious people in the church, who 
 sighed in secret over the desolations of Zion, and prayed for 
 a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. This 
 state of things continued till the revival of 1742. — This re- 
 vival, which spread extensively in other parts, made its way 
 to Long Island, and to this place, and in various respects was 
 connected with great good. Multitudes, under the powerful 
 preaching of the word, were awakened, convinced, and hope- 
 fully converted to God. Such a time had never been known 
 from the first settlement of the country. But from the long 
 preceding state of supineness, and the novelty of the scene 
 now disclosed, as was perhaps to have been expected, great 
 disorders attended. The grand adversary, fearing the loss of 
 his dominions in one way, sought to retain them in another. 
 
 " As was the case in other parts of the country, a separa- 
 tion took place here connected with no small degree of 
 acrimony, unchristian bitterness, prejudice and recrimination, 
 which greatly marred the work of God, grieved its friends, 
 and afforded to its enemies occasion to blaspheme. This 
 separation, which continued and rendered the state of the 
 
206 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 church, and the evening of the minister's life unhappy, became 
 permanent under the ministry of his successor. Its whole 
 duration was more than 50 years and extended down to the 
 great revival of 1800 ; when an accommodation was brought 
 about, and the individuals, who were then members of the 
 withdrawn church, came and united with their brethren, which 
 has been a source of much mutual comfort and edification. 
 The persons who were concerned have almost universally 
 gone to give up their account, to their righteous Judge. Our 
 great concern should be to profit by the infirmities, imperfec- 
 tions and faults of others — never forgetting the vastly differ- 
 ent light, in which the conduct we may exhibit at any time, 
 "under the impulse and heat of passion, will appear, when our 
 actions shall be reviewed before the impartial bar of God. 
 
 " In the course of Mr. Brown's ministry there were various 
 seasons of special revival. But far the most signal was 
 that of the year 1764. This very memorable period of rich 
 and distinguishing grace, a few of you perhaps remember. 
 But the minister who then preached, and the people who re- 
 ceived his word, have, almost all entered into their rest. 
 The unfaithful are also dead, and how solemn the thought ! 
 — I mention it for the warning of those now living in impeni- 
 tence and unbelief. This revival embodied the great mass of 
 character and influence in the church. Zion prospered. Its 
 salutary effects extended down to the close of Mr. Brown's 
 ministry in 1774. 
 
 " The revolutionary war, you recollect, commenced the next 
 year ; and the desolations, which, during its 7 years' continu- 
 ance passed over the church, were great and dreadful. Many 
 were driven into exile ; and those that remained were as sheep 
 without a shepherd, destitute of the preaching of the word 
 and the administration of gospel ordinances. How similar 
 was their state to that of the Jews in the Babylonish capti- 
 vity ! Civil law, as well as Christian institutions, was, in a 
 great measure suspended — iniquity abounded, divine influ- 
 ence was withdrawn, and the church reduced exceedingly 
 low. This was the state of things till the return of 
 peace in 1783, which opened the way for the restoration of 
 these ruins ; and God in mercy visited his weary heritage. 
 Accordingly, on the regathering of the congregation from 
 their dispersion, laudable attempts were made for the re-settle- 
 ment of the ministry ; which after many failures succeeded 
 in 1787, when your present minister was ordained on the 30th 
 of August in that year. The church at that time renewed 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 207 
 
 covenant, which was signed by only 11 male members. 
 From this time a state of harmony and peace existed for a 
 number of years : but the faith and patience of the pious few- 
 were long tried, before they were permitted to witness signal 
 displays of divine power and grace. Though solitary instan- 
 ces of conviction and hopeful conversion took place, that up- 
 held and rather increased the church, it was a season of 
 general coldness and declension, till the autumn of 1799. 
 Before this there had been seasons which excited the expec- 
 tations of the pious, that a revival was at the door ; but they 
 were not realized. These hopeful appearances proved like 
 the morning cloud. But at this time, the set time to favour 
 Zion, the utmost expectations which had been indulged were 
 far exceeded. The cloud of divine influence completely over- 
 shadowed the congregation, and the rain of righteousness co- 
 piously distilled on every part. The arm of the Lord was 
 revealed, and who did not recognise and acknowledge its 
 power ! The events of that memorable season are distinctly 
 within the recollection of many yet living, when under the 
 powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, this house, for three 
 successive weeks, was every evening crowded with hearers, 
 solemn as the grave, and listening as for their lives to the 
 message of salvation. In the course of a few months, more 
 than 130 indulged hope of their having passed from death to 
 life. The change was by all ascribed to God, and it was 
 marvellous in our eyes. 
 
 " We were again visited in a manner little less signal in 
 1808 and 9. The same humbling doctrines of total depra- 
 vity and sovereign grace through Jesus Christ, as the only 
 possible ground of the sinner's justification before God, with 
 their kindred truths, were preached as before ; and, in the 
 hand of the Spirit produced the same effects in the conviction 
 and hopeful conversion of sinners. 
 
 " In the winter of 1816, we were again favoured with the 
 special displays of divine grace. Though compared with the 
 preceding revivals, and even with those that were simul- 
 taneously going forward at Easthampton, Sag Harbour and 
 Shelter Island, the work here was small, yet nearly 30 ob- 
 tained hope of their reconciliation to God. 
 
 " Since that time it has been a season of much darkness 
 and declension. In the glorious revival in Southampton last 
 winter we had no share. Zion mourns in sackcloth. Frequent 
 breaches within a year or two have been made in the removal 
 of those who were pillars, which have not been repaired." 
 
208 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 It would be grateful to the writer's feelings to transcribe the 
 warm and faithful exhortations with which this narrative of 
 the man of God was followed up to his own people. But it 
 would not comport with the object of this work. It is in 
 point, however, to say, that the breaches, with allusion to 
 which this interesting memoir closes, were vastly enlarged in 
 a year or two after, by the removal of the main pillar of this 
 church, in the death of Dr. Woolworth himself. 
 
 SAG HARBOUR. 
 
 This now important village is situated on the north 
 shore of the south branch of the island, in the north- 
 east corner of the township of Southampton, 5 miles north of 
 Bridgehampton. The dividing line between Southampton 
 and Easlhampton runs through the eastern main street, so 
 that a part of the village, as heretofore intimated, lies in the 
 north-west corner of the latter town. 
 
 The site of the village is a perfect sand-bed ; and, conse- 
 quently, agriculture presented no motive to the settlement of 
 the place, which was commenced but a little more than 100 
 years ago. About the year 1730 a few fishermen's cottages 
 were erected along the shore ; but it was nearly bO years 
 afterwards, before any considerable accession was made to 
 their number. Among the first settlers, the names of Hicks, 
 Fordham and Conklin were found. The descendants of the 
 two latter still remain ; the first name does not now exist in 
 the place. 
 
 In 1760, a considerable addition was made to the popula- 
 tion by the accession of several respectable families, whose 
 enterprising spirit had marked the place as one possessing 
 peculiar advantages for trade and fishing. Between 1760 
 and '70, while as yet the commerce of New York was carried 
 on principally by schooners and sloops, this little retired port 
 had opened a small trade with the West Indies in larger craft. 
 Col. Gardiner, at that time, owned and employed two brigs 
 in that business, while several smaller vessels were busilv en- 
 gaged in the fishing and coasting trade. At this early period, 
 two or three sloops cruised in the Atlantic, a few degrees to 
 the south, for whales, which were then so plenty, that more 
 or less of them were taken every year, by boats, along the 
 whole southern coast of the island.* 
 
 The war of the revolution, as a matter of course, com- 
 pletely interrupted the rising business of the place, which was 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 209 
 
 not resumed till the return of peace. At this time, Dr. Na- 
 thaniel Gardiner and his brother sent out a ship called the 
 Hope upon a whaling voyage, under the command of Capt. 
 Ripley ; and a brig of the tirst class was despatched upon the 
 same business. These voyages proved entirely unsuccessful, 
 and almost an entire loss to the owners — the ship returning 
 with only 30 bbls of oil, and the brig with still less. In 1785, 
 Col. Benjamin Huntting of Southampton, and Capt. Stephen 
 Howell embarked in the same enterprise, and sent out vessels 
 which gradually extended their voyages to the coast of Bra- 
 zil, and usually returned deeply laden with the treasures of 
 the deep. The embargo of 1806, with the troublesome times 
 that succeeded, resulting in the war of 1812-15, necessarily 
 checked, and for a while suspended the increasing enterprise 
 of the place. And a most disastrous fire, which occurred 
 May 26th, 1817, and laid in ruins the most valuable portion 
 of the village, gave a tremendous blow to the energies of the 
 place, which were just beginning to recover from another 7 
 years' suspension of trade, by virtual or actual warfare. But 
 the enterprise of the people soon rose superior to all these un- 
 toward events ; and, in a few years their exertions were not 
 only crowned with success, but extended far beyond their 
 most sanguine expectations, and at this moment are in the full 
 tide of successful operation. 
 
 By the vast extension of the whaling business in the Unit- 
 ed States, and other countries, and the consequent scarcity of 
 whales in the Atlantic, the principal theatre of these operations 
 is now on the bosom of the great Pacific. So that these voy- 
 ages, which, 30 years ago, were of only 10 or 12 months' du- 
 ration, are now necessarily extended to 2 and 3 years. 
 
 In 1807, there were only 4 ships owned and fitted out from 
 this port. Now (1845) there are 61 ships and barks engaged 
 in the whaling business, besides a number of smaller vessels 
 in the coasting trade ; employing a capital of nearly $2,000,- 
 000. The village included within the Fire District, which is 
 the only incorporation that it enjoys, embraces a population, 
 according to the recent State census, of 3,621 souls. Of these, 
 2.924 are within the town of Southampton, and 697 in the 
 town of Easthampton. Between 300 and 400 of the inhabi- 
 tants spend the principal part of their lives on the " vasty 
 deep." 
 
 It is worth while to mention, that as early as 1771, an offi- 
 cer was appointed " to inspect the trade and navigation of the 
 harbours, bays, and creeksi" on the east end of Long Island, 
 
210 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 which was considered as included in the District of New 
 London. Shortly after the organization of the Federal 
 Government, Sag Harbour was made a distinct port of entry, 
 and the necessary Custom House officers appointed. Henry 
 P. Dering was appointed Collector by President Washington, 
 in 1790, and held the office till his death, which occurred 
 April 30th, 1822— a period of 32 years. 
 
 This little port has been signalized by two small, but bril- 
 liant military operations, one in the war of the revolution, and 
 the other in that of 1812, which have rarely been exceeded in 
 the history of our country. 
 
 Every reader of American history, recollects the rapid and 
 successful expedition of Lieut. Col. Meigs, in 1777, to Sag 
 Harbour, for the purpose of destroying a quantity of provis- 
 ions, which the British forces had collected here. Embark- 
 ing at New Haven, on the 21st of May, in whale-boats, he 
 was compelled, by the roughness of the Sound, to hold the 
 Connecticut shore, till the 23rd. In the afternoon of that 
 day, he left Guilford, with 170 men, in whale-boats, under the 
 convoy of two armed sloops, and arrived at Southold about 
 sun-set. Taking 130 men, and transporting their boats across 
 the northern branch of the island, he embarked on the bay, 
 for Sag Harbour, where he arrived after midnight, and land- 
 ed at the foot of the beach, about 2 miles above the village. 
 There concealing his boats in the bushes, and leaving a few 
 men for a guard, he proceeded towards the Harbour. At the 
 house now occupied by Mr. Silas Edwards, which was used as 
 a hospital, he seized two men, who were taking care of the sick, 
 whom he used as guides, and whom he threatened with in- 
 stant death, for the least failure in executing his requirements. 
 Under their direction, he was led to the quarters of the com- 
 manding officer, whom he arrested and secured, while lying 
 in his bed. At this juncture, an alarm was given, and a sin- 
 gle shot was fired from an armed vessel, which, however, was 
 not repeated, from the inability to determine the cause of the 
 alarm. An outpost was immediately carried, with fixed bay- 
 onets, and the land forces secured. He then proceeded to the 
 shipping at the wharf; where, after being exposed to the fire 
 of an armed schooner of 12 guns, and 70 men for nearly an 
 hour, he completely effected the object of the expedition. In 
 a short time, 12 brigs and sloops, one of which carried 12 
 guns, were enveloped in flames— and with them 120 tons of 
 hay, 10 hogsheads of rum, and a large quantity of grain and 
 merchandize were completely destroyed. Of the enemy, 6 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 211 
 
 were killed, and 90 taken prisoners. The same day, Col. 
 Meigs embarked for Guilford, where he arrived, after an 
 absence of only 25 hours, during which he had transported 
 his troops, alternately by land and water, a distance of 90 
 miles, without the loss of a man. A more successful and 
 brilliant affair does not grace the annals of the Revolution.* 
 
 In June, 1813, while a British squadron, under Com. Hardy, 
 lay in Gardiner's Bay, a launch and two barges, with 100 
 men, attempted to surprise this place, in the night. They 
 landed on the wharf, but an alarm being quickly given, the 
 guns of a small fort were opened upon them with such effect, 
 that they had only time to set fire to a single sloop, and re- 
 treated with so much precipitation, as to leave a large quan- 
 tity of guns, swords, and other arms behind them. The 
 flames were speedily extinguished, and no other injury sus- 
 tained. What a striking contrast, on the part of the assail- 
 ants, between the result of this expedition, and that of Col. 
 Meigs ! 
 
 Churches. 
 
 The first house of worship was erected here in 1768 ; and 
 though of ample dimensions, and comfortably seated, it con- 
 sisted of a mere frame and outward covering, without either 
 ceiling or plaster. In this condition, it remained, as the wri- 
 ter can testify, from 3 years' experience, till, if a shower of 
 rain occurred during public worship, the minister was obliged 
 to retreat to a corner of the ample pulpit, to escape the falling 
 drops. And yet the people continued to " dwell in their ceiled 
 houses" and let "this house lie waste." 
 
 But in 1817, (the very year of the great fire,) the old 
 house was pulled down, and another more commodious edi- 
 fice erected on the same site, which still remains. 
 
 In 1843, the congregation having become too numerous to 
 be accommodated in this church, a very large and splendid 
 edifice was erected a short distance from the former site, which 
 was dedicated May 16th, 1844. Its steeple is 200 feet in 
 height, and may be seen from the ocean, and upon the north- 
 ern branch of the island. The whole building is finished in 
 an elegant style, and furnished with a bell and clock, two im- 
 portant and useful appendages of a house of worship. 
 
 * Deacon John White, of Sagg, who died within a few years, was then 
 a young man, and formed one of this brave party. Several of the above- 
 mentioned particulars are derived from his recollections. He was a man 
 of observation and sterling integrity. 
 
212 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2. 
 
 In 1807 or '8, the Methodists commenced preaching in 
 this village ; and in 1809 a small house of worship was erect- 
 ed, which is still standing. In 1837, this congregation hav- 
 ing increased with the increase of the village, a large and 
 handsome edifice was erected in the eastern part of the place, 
 a few rods over the line, within the town of Easthampton. It 
 has a tower, and is furnished with a clock and bell. Plea- 
 santly situated, it presents a commanding appearance on the 
 adjacent waters. 
 
 The former building was sold to the Roman Catholics, and 
 is now of course, surmounted with a cross. 
 
 The Baptists have recently organized a church here, and 
 in 1844 they erected a neat and commodious edifice, which 
 they now occupy. 
 
 In the south-eastern part of the place, just within the East- 
 hampton line, is a continuation of the village, called Snooks- 
 ville, where an African M. E. (Zion,) Church was erected in 
 1840, which has been regularly supplied with a minister. 
 
 In the present year, (18 15,) an Academy has been erected, 
 and the school recently opened, under favourable auspices ; 
 which has heretofore been a great desideratum in this thriv- 
 ing community. 
 
 In the course of the present year, divine service after the 
 forms of the Episcopal church has been commenced in this 
 village. The Rev. H. F. Roberts, recently of the Methodist 
 E. Church, is employed as a missionary here. As yet, no 
 edifice has been erected. Service is at present held in the 
 session-room of the Presbyterian Church. A church of 12 
 communicants has been organized. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 The first church, from the time of its organization, till near 
 the close of the last century, was very feeble, and did not en- 
 joy the labours of a settled pastor. They depended on oc- 
 casional supplies, and now and then employed a temporary 
 preacher for a few months. It was, however, the laudable prac- 
 tice of this little band, when vacant, to meet on the Sabbath, 
 for social devotion and the reading of approved sermons. 
 
 It is impossible, at this late date, to recover the names of all 
 the preachers, who laboured here for a longer or shorter time. 
 The following were among them :— 
 
 On application to the Presbytery, in April, 1789, Mr. John 
 Taylor was appointed to preach at Sag Harbour, and Shelter 
 
(SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 213 
 
 Island. In 1792, the application for a supply was renewed, 
 but no appointment is recorded. 
 
 In 1794, a licentiate, of Mondon Association, Mass., whose 
 name is forgotten, was appointed by the Presbytery to supply 
 this people. 
 
 The late Rev. James Richards, D.D., a name revered and 
 loved throughout the church, made some of his first essays in 
 this place to preach the everlasting gospel. And though he 
 was here but a short time, his "labours of love " were highly 
 appreciated by a pious few ; the most of whom, have already 
 hailed him as the helper of their faith, and are now rejoicing 
 with him in a brighter world. There was one precious saint, 
 long since gone to her rest, whom the writer has often heard 
 speak of the satisfaction and benefit which she derived, from 
 the labours of that youthful servant of Christ, not only in the 
 pulpit, but at the domestic fireside ; and the name of " Rich- 
 ards " was music in her ears, to her dying day. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel Hall, the first settled pastor, was ordained 
 Sept. 21st, 1797, and continued till the spring of 1806, when 
 he was dismissed and removed to Shelter Island. Mr. Hall 
 had been previously a preacher of the flesh-pleasing doctrine 
 of universal salvation, which he unequivocally renounced. He 
 was a remarkably affectionate preacher — a son of consolation, 
 rather than a boanerges. 
 
 Shortly after Mr. Hall's removal, the congregation employed 
 for a few months the Rev. Aaron Jordan Bogue, who after- 
 wards forfeited his character, and was deposed by the Presby- 
 tery of Columbia, of which he was a member. He lived and 
 died a wretched man. 
 
 The Rev. N. S. Prime, then a licentiate, commenced 
 preaching here Oct. 26th, 1806, and continued, with little in- 
 termission till the autumn of 1809. The peculiar circumstan- 
 ces of the congregation at that time, were assigned as the 
 reason for not making a permanent settlement for the minis- 
 try, and Mr. P., though afterwards ordained by the Presbytery, 
 was not installed here. 
 
 The Rev. Stephen Porter, and a Mr. Gaylord from Con- 
 necticut, supplied this congregation, each for some months. 
 
 The Rev. John D. Gardiner was ordained pastor of this 
 church Oct. 1st, 1812. He was dismissed June 16th, 1882, 
 and has continued to reside in the place. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel King commenced labouring here the first 
 Sabbath in August, 1832. Besides his acceptableness as a 
 preacher, he was possessed of peculiar personal excellence ; 
 
214 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART % 
 
 and in a short time endeared himself to the people, who enter- 
 tained highly- raised expectations of his future usefulness. But 
 God, in his inscrutable providence, saw fit to disappoint their 
 hopes. In a little more than a year he was removed by death. 
 It is an evidence of the strong hold which this good man 
 had on the affections of the congregation, that, after the lapse 
 of more than 1 years, in completing the elegant church edi- 
 fice, erected last year, they have placed in the wall, a beauti- 
 ful white marble tablet, with the following inscription : — 
 
 REV. SAMUEL KING, 
 A NATIVE OF ENGLAND, 
 
 Who departed this life Nov. 29th, 1833 ; 
 
 After having ministered to this congregation 
 
 One year and three months ; 
 
 In the 42d year of his age. 
 
 ftijis ©ablet, 
 
 As a token of respect, 
 is devoted to the memory of a stranger and a good man. 
 
 The memory of the just is blessed. 
 
 While admiring the peculiar neatness and simplicity of this 
 memorial of departed excellence, the writer cannot forbear to 
 mention the very appropriate locality which it occupies in the 
 house of God. Instead of being placed within the auditory, 
 as is too frequently the practice, in a conspicuous situation, 
 to attract the attention of the congregation while engaged in 
 divine worship, it is inserted in the wall of the vestibule, on 
 the right of the inner door, where it meets the eye as you enter 
 the outer court. On the left of the same door, is a corres- 
 ponding niche, ready to receive a similar monument to some 
 future worthy. Though it may be rare, it is always grateful 
 to find the righteous held in lasting remembrance. 
 
 The Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury was a stated supply to this 
 congregation in 1834-5. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph A. Copp, the present pastor, commenced 
 his labours here in Oct. 1835, and was installed April 25th, 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 215 
 
 1838. The church and congregation have been greatly 
 prospered under his ministry, and are much increased in num- 
 bers and strength. 
 
 Revivals. 
 
 This church was organized in 1791, and consisted of only 
 4 members, 2 of each sex. It was strictly independent in its 
 organization, and congregational in its form of government, 
 till 1810, when it was placed under the jurisdiction of tho 
 L. I. Presbytery. In 1800 it numbered only 15 members. 
 
 Though evangelical in its character, there was no special 
 attention to religion previously to the year 1808-9; and while 
 iniquity abounded, more or less, among all classes, the youth, 
 without a single exception, appeared to be growing up in for- 
 getfulness of God, and the interests of their immortal souls. 
 As yet the church consisted of little more than 30 members, 
 and only 3 of these ever assisted in maintaining devotional 
 meetings. 
 
 At that juncture it pleased the great Head of the Church 
 to pour out his Spirit, " as rain on the mown grass, and as 
 showers that water the earth." From Nov. 1808 to April 
 1809 the work proceeded with deep solemnity, and a stillness 
 like that of the grave, till more than 100, a large portion of 
 whom were youth, were hopefully brought to the obedience 
 of faith. From causes, which it is not proper here to detail, 
 but which the records of the great day will disclose, the most 
 of these were prevented from making a public profession of 
 religion, till some years afterwards, excepting those who from 
 the existing state of things, attached themselves to another 
 denomination. But from that blessed year, the religious aspect 
 of this village assumed a new colouring ; and from the fruits 
 of that revival, have arisen many of the firmest pillars of this 
 church, some of whom remain to this day, though the most of 
 them " have fallen asleep." A few of the subjects of that 
 blessed work are yet pursuing their pilgrimage, whose hearts 
 will respond with deep intonations to this memento of former 
 days. 
 
 In relation to this first glorious work of grace, in this con- 
 gregation, the present pastor makes the following remarks : — 
 
 " Believers were refreshed in a remarkable manner — sinners 
 were constrained by sovereign grace to bow to the cross of 
 Christ, and numbers were added to the visible Church. The 
 revival gave a great impulse to the cause of Christ, and im- 
 parted to it a character and an influence which it never subse- 
 
S16 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 quently lost. The good effects of this first great work of 
 grace are still seen and felt in the village." 
 
 Again in 1816, a second remarkable refreshing was experi- 
 enced. " The people of God who had greatly declined in 
 his service, and become remiss and worldly, were aroused to 
 duty. The impenitent on every hand, were awakened, alarmed 
 and led to inquire *' What must we do ?" The work advanced 
 with power, till a great and pleasing change was wrought in 
 the whole moral aspect of the place, and multitudes hopefully 
 brought into the fold of Christ. In the course of that year, 
 90 persons were added to the communion of this church. 
 
 The next notable revival occurred in 1842. '« Its first indi- 
 cations became manifest in the preceding autumn, and con- 
 tinued, with increasing power, throughout the winter till 
 the following spring. During ' a part of this season, religion 
 became the all-absorbing subject. In the streets, the shops, 
 and the counting-rooms it was the general topic. A profound 
 solemnity seemed to rest on the public ; and all business for 
 a time was swallowed up in this one great concern. Hun- 
 dreds by this work, were turned to the Lord in this village, 
 and the moral condition of the whole community materially 
 improved." 
 
 During the winter of 1844-5, this village has again enjoyed 
 the outpouring of the Spirit. The general characteristics of 
 its rise and progress have been the same as in former seasons 
 of mercy. 
 
 Besides these remarkable visitations, this place has enjoyed 
 many precious " seasons of refreshing from the presence of the 
 Lord ;" so that this tract of arid sand may, in a spiritual 
 point of view, be regarded as one of the most favoured ** moun- 
 tains of Zion," on which *• the dew of Hermon hath oft de- 
 scended," and " there the Lord hath commanded his blessing, 
 even life for evermore." The present number of church 
 members is 360. 
 
 Shinnecock Neck is situated about 2 miles west of the village 
 of Southampton, and is the residence of the remnants of the 
 Shinnecock tribe of Indians. Their church formerly stood 
 beyond the hills, about 3 miles west, within sight of the isth- 
 mus called Canoe Place. It was afterwards removed a little 
 to the west, at the spot where the grave of the Rev. Paul 
 Cuffee is still to be seen (see page 117). The Indians having 
 taken up their residence some years ago on this Neck, re- 
 moved their church thither, where the Rev. William Benjamin 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. gjy 
 
 supplies them half the time. They have also one of their 
 own people who occasionally preaches among them. 
 
 flw. I? P I T 1 " this Vicinit y a church was organised by 
 the L I Presbytery, m 1319. But being feeble !nd having 
 
 The 1 sf Z aCh{ ? 0I h r^/r S ^ " haS '--me exS 
 bed ca LdT ? memberd " 3d ^st winter, and, on his dying 
 ned, called the few remaining members around him, and re- 
 
 townTl'l' ev,"f *"£? a ' Chul ' Ch ' " nder the nam<? of Wa "^- 
 members '" V ' Cm ' ty ' "' hich COnsists of on! y 12 
 
 Good GrowncZ is about 2 miles west of Canoe Place on the 
 south road ; and though the lightness of the sou rnighl induce 
 a stranger to question its claim to the above appellation it is 
 
 T*t. „ f t , h "{ t and neatne «s about the little '• vfllage," 
 
 In 18^ T C M y J l T Sed t0 dis P U,e the P° iRt - 
 in 1836 the Method.sts erected a house of worship here 
 which is the only one within 5 or 6 miles P ' 
 
 F'anders is another small settlement on the north side 
 
 t" iL m,le T :'r , Rive, ; head - ! fi °z direct, y - th;'p co : 
 
 forest and JZ»? " ^"'S bUt h ™Z su '™nded by the 
 ioi est, and situated on navigable waters, it has been a place 
 
 25 S? trad ,f " tlW .7° ° d line - There »™ h-e some 6 
 fortable but n!!| Wlthl , n a rail %«; hi <=b appear not only com- 
 tortable, but neat ; and some of them are of very respectable 
 dimensions. The most of these families const! uteTnart of 
 
 woXn^eTt °d" f ^ ^^ > a " d a smail ^ of 
 tiZ nT, < ^ ,' S a S ° rt of chaDe! of tha < congrega- 
 mad'o. ecclesiastical organization has yet bfen 
 
 WESTHAMTTOIY. 
 
 Darfof fliT^Z beari , n g. this " ame I!os in tho south- western 
 onk tL cenr; n, ; aC v d ' 1 ngQu ,° SUe ' Ketcha »o»ock and S P e, 
 
 Phme ItTsdlffl ,T t id l " ab ° Ut 8 miles west of Canoe 
 nace. 1 is difficult to trace the origin and progress of this 
 congregation, as its early history is°combined w th tf at of 
 the whole reg,o„ extending from Quogue to Fireplace which 
 
 the m c e enL C °^ tltUt M a tf° ?™ Sh ° f which *S, "as 
 of th! P ' , Cre i*!/ **"** Green^B, by appointment 
 ot the Presbytery, laboured from 1748 to '49 ; and the Rev 
 Abner Reeve was ordained as pastor, Nov. 6th, 755 A more 
 
21S ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 particular history of these individuals will be found under the 
 head of Moriches. 
 
 A house of worship was probably erected here a little after 
 the middle of the last century, but the congregation did not 
 become a distinct parish till after the dismission of Mr. Reeve 
 in 1763. The first house was built at a point, on the south 
 country-road, which had been called from the early settlement 
 of the place, Beaver Dam. It stood in the midst of the pine 
 forest, on a substratum of deep sand, with only 2 or 3 houses 
 in sight, and almost without a vestige of cultivation in view. 
 In 1831, this site was abandoned, and in the course of a few 
 years, all marks of the foundation were so completely obliter- 
 ated, that the writer found it difficult 3 years ago, after a dili- 
 gent search, to determine the spot where this house of God, 
 with which he was once familiar, had formerly stood. 
 
 The present church was erected in the year above men- 
 tioned, and dedicated Jan. 20lh, 1S32, about 2 miles east, at 
 the head of Quantuck bay, surrounded by the same sands and 
 forest, except a clearing on the south east, through which the 
 littie " village" of Quogue and the boundary of the wide ocean 
 may be seen. It is, however, decidedly an improved situation ; 
 and mav " the glory of the latter house," vastly '* exceed that 
 of the former." 
 
 After the dismission of Mr. Reeve, this church was vacant 
 for a period of more than 20 years, having only occasional 
 supplies from the Presbytery, and other sources. In the course 
 of this time, it is said that Mr. Daniel Youngs, afterwards the 
 pastor of Upper x\quebogue, supplied them with preaching on 
 the sabbath, for several years. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Russel was installed here Aug. 8th, 1787, 
 but i only a short time. He was dismissed April 
 
 h, 1789. 
 
 The Rev. Herman Dagget, after leaving Southampton, was 
 installed here Sept. 26lh, 1797, and was dismissed, for the 
 want of support, Sept. 9th, 1801. 
 
 The Rev. Nathaniel Reeve was ordained pastor of this 
 church, Sept. 19th, 1801. He was a native of Mattituck, in 
 Southold, and though not liberally educated, had been licensed 
 to preach, Nov. 9th, 1791. Shortly afterwards, falling into a 
 gloomy state of mind, he left the island, and for several years, 
 buried himself from the knowledge of all his friends, in the 
 retired parts of one of the southern states. Here he support- 
 ed himself by the practice of medicine, which he had pre- 
 viously studied ; til! aroused by the great religious excitement 
 
SECT. 5.] SOUTHAMPTON. 219 
 
 that pervaded the south-western country, about the commence- 
 ment of the present century, he returned to his native isle, 
 with all the ardour of a new convert. Upon being settled in 
 this place, he not only entered upon his pastoral duties with 
 a naming zeal, but devoted much of his time to itinerating, 
 exhorting his ministerial brethren to awake to duty, and warn- 
 ing sinners " to flee from the wrath to come." Though there 
 was much to commend in Mr. R.'s new career, there were 
 some things that induced the most judicious ministers to sup- 
 pose, that his zeal was not, in all cases, " according to know- 
 ledge." His support failing, he was dismissed Nov. 6th, 1S07, 
 and he removed to Deerfield, in West Jersey, where he la- 
 boured about 10 years. In 1817, he returned to the island, 
 and became a stated supply to his native congregation as pre- 
 viously mentioned. The latter part of his life was marked 
 with strong indications of a disordered mind, and he was not 
 only laid aside from the ministry, but deprived, in a great de- 
 gree, of the personal consolations of that gospel which he had 
 so zealously proclaimed. But though he died under a cloud, 
 it is confidently believed he awoke in a brighter world. 
 
 After another vacancy of 6 years, the Rev. Abraham Luce 
 was ordained here, Sept. 14th, 1813. He was dismissed 
 April 18th, 1820, but continued to supply this congregation, 
 half the time till 1825. 
 
 Another vacancy of several years succeeded, which was 
 occupied in part by occasional supplies. 
 
 The Rev. Sylvester Woodbrldge, Jun., was ordained here, 
 April 22, 183G, and was dismissed Oct. 31, 1837, and remov- 
 ed to Hempstead. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Kellogg became a stated supply here for 
 a year or two, and was succeeded in 1811, by the Rev. Si/1- 
 ves'.er Woodbrldge, the father of the former pastor, who still 
 continues to labour with this people. The present number of 
 members is about 75. 
 
 In 1833, a Methodist church was erected at Ketchabonock, 
 about a mile west of Beaver Dam, where a regular society is 
 formed. 
 
 At Speoiin; on the western line of the town a Protestant 
 Methodist society has been formed. They have hitherto wor- 
 shipped in a school-house, but are now taking measures to 
 erect a church. 
 
 The following authentic anecdote forms an item of the his- 
 tory of this congregation, and has a moral in it, that renders 
 it worthy of preservation :— 
 
220 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Speonk and Quogue are two distinct settlements about 5 miles apart, 
 forming extreme parts of the parish of Westhampton. The house of God 
 formerly stood in the midst of the pitch-pine forest, about half way between 
 them. In these two different neighbourhoods once resided two worthy 
 deacons of the same church, tenderly united in the bonds of Christian love, 
 and zealously engaged in promoting the cause of their Lord and Master. 
 The date alluded to was in " the times that tried men's souls." The result 
 of the battle of Long Island had just reached these distant wilds, and the 
 apprehension of British and Tory ravages, which were soon after realized 
 throughout this once peaceful island, (now the first spot of virgin soil pol- 
 luted by an invading army, and drenched in the blood of its own occu- 
 pants,) spread dismay from Gravesend to Montauk and Oysterponds. 
 Deacon T., the citizen of Quoguc, having by industry, economy, and the 
 smiles of Heaven, laid aside against a rainy day a considerable amount of 
 shining dust, in the form of Spanish dollars and British guineas, concluded 
 that he must immediately " remove the deposits," to a place of greater 
 safety. With this view, having secured them in a strong bag, which he 
 placed in his ample coat pocket ; (you know they wore broad skirts in those 
 days ;) he arose an hour before day, and striking out into the trackless wil- 
 derness, in a northwest direction, he travelled full 3 miles, which brought 
 him to a point about 2 miles north from the house of God, in which he 
 loved to dwell. There selecting a solitary oak tree, with wide-spread 
 branches in full leaf, in the midst of the pines, as a notable mark, which 
 he could readily find again, he approached its root. There, with the alter- 
 nate use of a stick and his hand, he soon formed an adequate excavation 
 in the yielding sand. Then straightening himself up, and taking a look to 
 the east and the west, the north and the south, to satisfy himself that no 
 human eye witnessed the transaction, he stealthily drew the precious 
 bag from his pocket, and suddenly dropped it into the hole. Having 
 hastily replaced the sand, and scattered a few bushes and leaves on the 
 spot, he turned and wended his way homeward. Here it is necessary to 
 inform the reader that this wide forest was, and still is, one of the princi- 
 pal dwelling places of the timorous deer: and one of the most successful 
 modes of capturing them for a single huntsman, is to find a tree, against 
 which they are in the habit of rubbing their horns, and which may be de- 
 tected by their pawing at. the root. Having made this discovery, the hunts- 
 man conceals himself in the crotch of another tree, a few rods distant, with 
 gun in hand ; and when the hapless deer comes to his favourite resort, he 
 falls an easy prey to the ingenuity of man. 
 
 It so happened that Deacon J. of Speonk, impelled by a desire for a lit- 
 tle fresh meat from the woods, had arisen that morning, a little earlier lhan 
 his colleague, and taking a north- easterly direction, after travelling 3 or 4 
 miles, he discovered a large "scraping-place" within good gun-shot of a 
 large oak tree. Climbing up and concealing himself in its ample boughs, 
 lie waited in breathless anxiety for the expected game. But the day began 
 to dawn, and no deer appeared. At length, he heard the cracking of dry 
 sticks in a south-easterly direction — the sure indication of approaching 
 footsteps. Instead of a deer, however, he soon discovered, in the grey twi- 
 light of the morning, the venerable figure of his worthy brother T. But 
 as he approached unarmed, he could not divine the cause of his early visit 
 to those distant recesses; and he concluded to wait for further develop- 
 ments. Deacon T. advanced, with unwavering steps, to the very tree on 
 which Deacon J. was perched, and went through all the operations which 
 have been detailed, with his bag of money. 
 
SECT. 6.] BROOKHAVEN. 221 
 
 Deacon X, after waiting till the sun had arisen without obtaining a 
 shot, descended from the tree, and digging out the hidden treasure, safely 
 conveyed it to his own house. A day or two afterwards, Deacon T. saun- 
 tered into the forest to see that all things were safe ; when, to his utter 
 astonishment, the hole was open and his treasure gone. Shortly after, 
 Deacon J. learned that his brother T. was in a very depressed and wretched 
 state of mind— on the very borders of despair. Waiting a few days to 
 11 let patience have its perfect work," he arose one morning, and taking 
 the bag of money in his pocket, left Speonk and hastened to Quogue. 
 Arriving at Deacon T.'s, he found him lying on his bed, rolling from side 
 to side, and groaning like one in the greatest distress. The following col- 
 loquy ensued : — 
 
 Dcac. J.—" Why, brother T., what is the matter ?" 
 
 Deac. T. — " Oh, brother J., I am an undone man — undone for time and 
 eternity." 
 
 J. — « Why, brother T., what do you mean ? Where is the blessedness 
 you have professed to be a partaker of, for so many years ?" 
 
 T. — " Gone — forever gone ; I am ruined." 
 
 J. — " Brother T., this looks to me like ' the sorrow of the world, which 
 worketh death.' Tell me, is not this, after all, the result of some worldly 
 trouble, that has prostrated your mind ?" 
 
 T. — " It is true that I have recently met with some loss, in this world's 
 store ; but it isn't that which distresses me : I have lost my Christian 
 hope." 
 
 At length Deacon J. drew the bag of money out of his pocket, at the 
 sight of which Deacon T.'s countenance flashed with joy, and he earnestly 
 inquired — 
 
 " Brother J., where in the world did you find that ?" 
 
 J. — " That is a matter of no consequence, brother T. I have come 
 here this morning merely to give you a piece of advice. I observed, when 
 you were about to deposit this treasure in the earth, you looked all around 
 you, but you never once looked up. Now my advice is this : Whenever 
 you have any important business to transact, even of a temporal nature, 
 while it is well to look around, above all things, do not forget to look up." 
 
 Summary. In this township there are 14 organised churches 
 and 13 houses of worship, viz. : 4 Presbyterian— 3 Congre- 
 gational— 4 Methodist — 1 Baptist— 1 Episcopalian— 1 Ro- 
 man Catholic. Which give an average of 515 souls to each. 
 
 Section 6.— BROOKHAVEN. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 35,141 
 " " unimproved, - - 117,359 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 20. 
 This is the largest township on Long Island, being more 
 than three times the area of King's County. It extends from 
 the Sound to the ocean, and is bounded on the east by River- 
 head and Southampton ; and on the west by Smithtown and 
 
222 AKWALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Islip. As Islip makes a jut of several miles upon its south- 
 western corner, and Brookhaven. in its turn, makes a similar 
 advance upon Southampton, the township becomes an eio-ht- 
 sided figure, whose area exceeds a square of 15 miles. 
 Z* The first settlement was made in 1655, by a company of 
 some 50 planters, who established themselves on the north 
 side, at the place called Setauket, from the tribe of Indians, 
 who formerly occupied the territory. 
 
 From the great extent of the town, there are various set- 
 tlements, distinguished by different names. These are Stony 
 Brook, Setauket, Drowned Meadow, or Port Jefferson, Old 
 Man's, or Mount Sinai, Miller's Place, Rocky Point, and Wad- 
 ing River, on the north side ; and the last has been previ- 
 ously described as lying partly in the town of Riverhead. 
 On the south side, proceeding from the last, are Moriches, 
 Pooseparuck, Fireplace, Bellport and Patchogue. And near 
 the middle of the island, are in succession from the west, New 
 tillage, Coram, Middletown and St. George's Manor, or 
 Brookfield. 
 
 In the most of these are found one or more religious socie- 
 ties, of different denominations, making in all, more than 20 
 places of worship within the limits of the town. 
 
 Setauket, which was the original settlement, and till late 
 years, the largest village in this large township, is situated on 
 the north side, at the head of a harbour bearing the same 
 name, whose entrance is a little east of Old Field Point. 
 
 Although it is not ascertained at what period a church was 
 organized here, it is known that earlv measures were adopted 
 to establish public worship. Soon after the settlement was 
 commenced, a public building, called a town-house was erect- 
 ed, which, besides the civil purposes it subserved, appears to 
 have been used as the place of religious meetings. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 On the 2nd of Feb. 1671, it was voted to erect a meeting- 
 house 28 feet square, and the vote was soon after carried into 
 execution. 
 
 In 1710, a vote was passed to erect a new church ; but its 
 execution was delayed several years, in consequence of a dif- 
 ference of opinion, in regard to the site. In a town meeting, 
 held Aug. 9th, 1714, it was agreed to decide the question 
 by Lot ; and the decision was in favour of the old site. The 
 house was finished in the following year, as far as was com- 
 mon m those days, without ceiling or plaster. This building 
 
SECT. 6.] BROOKHAVEN. 223 
 
 stood till 1811, with little alteration in its exterior or interior, 
 bearing the marks of the bullets and cannon balls which 
 passed through it, while it was occupied by the British in the 
 revolutionary war. 
 
 The present edifice was erected in 1811, and dedicated 
 May 24th, 1812. 
 
 In 1687, the town voted unanimously to purchase a lot of 
 land, and erect thereon a parsonage-house, to remain such 
 " in perpetuity ;" and its present aspect affords conclusive 
 evidence, that hitherto the vote has been maintained. 
 
 In the same year, it was voted to pay a schoolmaster .£30 
 a year ; of which sum, £20 were to be paid by the scholars, 
 and £10 by the town. 
 
 In 1730, the first Episcopal church on Long Island, erected 
 at the expense of that denomination, was built in this village. 
 Four years afterwards, the town generously voted a piece of 
 ground adjoining, for a cemetery. This building, several times 
 repaired, still remains. 
 
 In 1843, a small Methodist chapel was erected in the vici- 
 nity of these churches. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 In 1655, the Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, who had three sons 
 settled here, came to visit them, and bee i me the minister of 
 the place, and remained here till his death, Dec. 18th, 1690, 
 at the age of 70 years. Mr. B. was a grandson of Elder Wil- 
 liam Brewster, who filled so distinguished a place in the Ply- 
 mouth colony — the pilgrims of the May-Flower. He was a 
 graduate of the first class in Harvard University, and is sup- 
 posed to have been the first native graduate in the new world. 
 He is said to have been a good scholar and an able divine. 
 
 Some years before his death, he was disabled, through in- 
 firmity, for performing ministerial duties ; and the congrega- 
 tion took measures to procure him aid. 
 
 At a town meeting, held Oct. 3rd, 1685, they chose Mr. 
 Samuel Eburne to be their minister. All that is known of 
 this gentleman, is, that his name is recorded among the early 
 settlers, and he had been employed by the town in some of 
 their public concerns. 
 
 This arrangement seems to have been of short duration ; 
 for, soon after, it was voted " that the Rev. Dugald Simson 
 be desired to continue their minister," which seems to imply 
 that he was then with them. 
 
 In 1691, Mr. Jonah Fordham, a son of the Rev. Joseph 
 
224 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PAKT 2, 
 
 Forclham, of Southampton, came to this town, by invitation, 
 and though, from feeble health, he declined a settlement, he 
 continued to labour 4 or 5 years. Returning to Southamp- 
 ton, he died July 17th, 1696, aged 63. 
 
 The Rev. George Phillips was the second permanently set- 
 tled pastor of this congregation. He was a graduate of Har- 
 vard, in 1686, and had preached at Jamaica some 3 or 4 
 years before he came here in 1697. He preached some years 
 without ordination, which he did not receive till the year 1702, 
 about which time this town voted him 100 acres of land, in fee , 
 and subsequently 200 acres more, on condition of his serving 
 them during his life. He died June 17th, 1739, aged 75, and 
 is buried at Setauket. He was esteemed a good man, but 
 many anecdotes are related of him, that indicate a vein of fa- 
 cetiousness not favorable to the dignity of the sacred profes- 
 sion. 
 
 The Rev. David Youngs, the third pastor, was the grandson 
 of the first minister of Southold. He graduated at Yale, in 
 1741, and settled here in 1745. His ministry was short, for 
 he died in 1751 or 1752. He is said to have been a man of 
 more than ordinary powers of mind. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Talmadge, the fourth pastor, was a 
 graduate of Yale in 1747 — ordained here, Oct. 23d, 1754 — 
 dismissed June 15th, 1785, and died Feb. 5th, 1786, aged 61 
 years. He was a fine scholar, and an able divine. His son, 
 Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, of revolutionary memory, and late 
 of Litchfield, Ct., was born in the old parsonage-house still 
 remaining. 
 
 The Rev. Noah Wetmore, the fifth pastor, was a graduate 
 of Yale, and first settled at Bethel, Ct. He was installed here 
 April 17th, 1786, and died March 9th, 1796, at the age of 
 65 years. 
 
 The Rev. Zechariah Green, the sixth and still surviving 
 pastor, was born at Stafford, Conn., Jan. 11th, 1760, graduat- 
 ed at Dartmouth, 1781, licensed in 1785, and ordained at Cut- 
 chogue, in Southold. June 28th, 1787 He was installed here 
 Sept. 27th, 1797. Mr. Green was an early volunteer in the 
 struggle of the revolution. He was in the army, and actively 
 engaged in rearing the fortifications at Dorchester heights, in 
 the battle of White Plains, and in several other skirmishes, in 
 one of which he received a severe wound in the shoulder, 
 which was probably the cause of changing his course of life. 
 Disabled for warfare, he immediately returned to a course of 
 study, which he had relinquished at his country's call, and 
 
SECT. 6.] BKOOKHAVEA. 225 
 
 which eventually led him to the sacred ministry. It is a singular 
 coincidence, not unworthy of recognition, that this very spot 
 of ground, on which Mr. G. has so long fought with " spiritual 
 weapons," was one of the scenes in which he once fought 
 with " carnal weapons." In 1777, he was one of the party, 
 under Col. Parsons, which crossed over to Setauket, with the 
 view of capturing a company of British soldiers and Tories, 
 who had taken possession of, and barricadoed the Presbyterian 
 church, in this place, the very building in which Mr. G. af- 
 terwards preached the gospel during 34 years, and on which 
 ground he is still occasionally preaching at the advanced age 
 of 85 years. 
 
 Mr. Green having become infirm, through age, though he 
 retains much of his natural vivacity, has for some years past, 
 been aided by temporary assistants. The Rev. Ezra^King, 
 for a while, devoted half his time to this congregation* And 
 afterwards, Mr. John Gile was engaged as an assistant, who 
 was regularly ordained as collegiate pastor in Nov. 1R43. It 
 does not appear that this place has ever been distinguished by 
 any great and extensive outpourings of the Spirit. The church 
 has never been large, and now consists of 81 members. 
 
 Jilp is cop a I Min iste. rs . 
 
 An organization, under the forms of the Episcopal Church, 
 was made here in 1725, under the Rev. Mr. Standard, who 
 continued only a year or two. 
 
 In 1729, the Rev. Alexander Campbell came from England, 
 and during his continuance, the church edifice previously 
 mentioned, was erected. He left in 1732, and was succeeded, 
 
 In 1733, by the Rev. Isaac Brown. He was a graduate of 
 Yale, in 1729, and is said to have been a man of talents and 
 education. He removed to New- Jersey in 1747. 
 
 Shortly after, he was succeeded by the Rev. James Lyon, 
 an Irishman by birth, who had been sent over to this country 
 as a missionary. He continued here to the close of his life, in 
 1786, but being a man of violent temper, which seriously im- 
 paired his usefulness, he relinquished his ministerial functions 
 some years before his death. 
 
 During almost 30 years, the regular services in this church 
 were suspended, and only occasional supplies, by different in- 
 dividuals, were enjoyed ; among whom arc mentioned the 
 names of the Rev. Thomas Fowler, Rev. John J. Sands, and 
 Rev. Mr. Burgess. 
 
 In 1814, the Rev. Charles Smbury was placed here as a 
 10* 
 
226 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 missionary, and, for a number of years, divided his labours 
 between this church and that of Islip. He died suddenly, 
 about Christmas, 1844, having, through infirmity, discontinued 
 his regular labours, for some years preceding, during which 
 time, several different supplies were employed whose names 
 have not been ascertained. 
 
 The Rev. F. M. Noll is the present rector. 
 
 Stony Brook, called by the Indians Wopowog, is a small 
 settlement, about three miles southwest of Setauket, on the 
 western boundary of the town. It lies on a harbour of the 
 same name, which is one of the best on the Sound. Its 
 entrance is in the angle formed by the western shore of Crane 
 Neck, which is one of the most conspicuous points on the 
 northern shore of Long Island. This village is a place of 
 considerable ship-building and coasting trade, and is one of the 
 few places whose inhabitants have been wise enough not to 
 be ashamed of its early name. The harbour extends two or 
 three miles inland, to a point bearing the name " head of the 
 harbour," which is in Smithtown. In former days, the peo- 
 ple living here formed a part of the neighbouring congrega- 
 tions. 
 
 In 1817, a church was erected here by the co-operation 
 of several denominations, but it is principally occupied by one 
 of the sections of the Methodist church. 
 
 Port Jefferson, formerly Drowned Meadow, and anciently 
 bearing a more elegant name than either, Sowassett, of 
 aboriginal application, is a small settlement, 3 miles east of 
 Setauket, having a commodious harbour whose entrance is the 
 same with that of Setauket. It has, of late years, become a 
 place of considerable ship-building and navigation. The in- 
 crease of population and improvement in buildings have been 
 great. The village is encompassed with hills. 
 
 In 1836, a Methodist Episcopal church was erected here, 
 which was the first, and is the only house of worship in tins 
 village. 
 
 Old Man's, (now Mount Sinai) of which the Indian name 
 was Nonowantuck, is a parish 3 miles east of that last men- 
 tioned, situated in a very rough region, as its new name suf- 
 ficiently indicates. 
 
 It is said that a house of worship was erected here in the 
 early part of the last century, which was rebuilt in 1805. 
 The first minister settled here was the Rev. Ezra Reeve, who 
 was ordained Oct. 10th, 1759, by the Suffolk Presbytery. At 
 the conclusion of the public solemnities, it was found that 
 
SECT. 6.] BROOKHAVEN. 227 
 
 certain members of the first Presbyterian church and society 
 of Brookhaven " who proposed to submit themselves to Mr, 
 Reeve as their pastor, had not been publicly incorporated in 
 due form, as they ought to have been." A Committee of the 
 Presbytery was therefore appointed to constitute them into a 
 distinct church. This appears to have been delayed for some 
 time, through the unwillingness of the church at Setauket to 
 dismiss them. But the difficulty being at length removed, 
 the church was regularly constituted Sept. 3rd, 1760, and 
 taken under the care of the Presbytery. This was evidently 
 the first church that was ever organized at the Old Man's, and 
 it was a regular Presbyterian church. 
 
 Mr. Reeve did not continue long in this relation. He left 
 his people without consulting the Presbytery, for which he was 
 censured, Nov. 30th 1762, and ordered to return to them. Pie 
 was, however, dismissed, Oct. 25th, 1763 ; and the occasional 
 appointment of supplies is the only additional evidence of the 
 continued existence of this church. Whether it became ex- 
 tinct by the death and removal of its members, or was drawn 
 away to another connexion, it is impossible to determine. 
 
 The next documentary evidence we have in the ecclesias- 
 tical annals of this parish is, that on the 17th of May, 1792, 
 the Long Island Convention received into its connexion the 
 Congregational church at the Old Man's, organized by the 
 Rev. Noah Hallock, with nine members, Dec 23d, 1789 as 
 the 1st Congregational church of Brookhaven. 
 
 Of this church Mr. Hallock became the pastor. He was a 
 native of Rocky Point, a small settlement 5 miles east of the 
 church, where he resided till his death, Oct. 23rd, 1818. 
 During his ministry 100 members were added, principally in 
 three distinct revivals of religion. In Dec. 3 820, the Rev, 
 Noah H. Gillei was ordained pastor of this church. He re- 
 mained in connexion with this church and the Convention, 
 till May 1831, when he united with the Presbytery, and soon 
 after left the island. 
 
 Since that time this parish has had several stated supplies, 
 one of whom, the Rev. Ebcnezer Platf, spent several years in 
 their service. 
 
 The Rev. Prince Hawes is now labouring in this congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 Miller's Place, is a small neat village, 2 miles east of Old 
 Man's, on a beautiful tract of table land in full view of the 
 Sound. The inhabitants generally belong to the adjacent 
 
228 AN1VALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART. 2, 
 
 congregations, and have no distinct ecclesiastical organiza- 
 tion. 
 
 In 1834, an Academy was erected here, which has been re- 
 spectably sustained at home and from abroad. 
 
 Rocky Point, is another small settlement, 3 miles east of 
 Miller's Place, but does not constitute a distinct parish. It ia 
 to be distinguished from another of the same name in Southold. 
 
 Wading Rive?- was settled originally by a vote of the town 
 of Brookhaven, Nov. 17th, 1671, by which appropriation was 
 made for the accommodation of 8 families, who were to take 
 up their residence there. .But as the church, and about half 
 of the village are in the town of Riverhead, the particulars of 
 its ecclesiastical history have been given there. 
 
 Moriches. Proceeding directly across the island to the 
 south-east corner of this town, we find a pleasant little village 
 still bearing this original Indian name. It has been previously 
 stated that this formerly constituted the centre of a parish 
 that extended from Quogue to Fireplace. 
 
 Mr. Nehemiah Greenman, a graduate of Yale, was licensed 
 by the Suffolk Presbytery, Oct. 20, 1748, and on application 
 from the people, he was appointed to preach at Moriches. 
 His health being feeble, and his labours not proving accept- 
 able to the congregation, he was released from the appointment 
 Nov. 14th, 1840. It is probable that during this time there 
 might have been preaching places at Westhampton and Fire- 
 place ; but there is evidence that Mr. Greenman resided here, 
 and this village was regarded as the centre of the parish. 
 Shortly after his release from this place, he left the island, 
 and was subsequently settled within the bounds of the Phila- 
 delphia Presbytery, where he probably ended his da}^s. 
 
 The next account we have of this congregation is presented 
 in the following extract from the records of the Suffolk Pres- 
 bytery under date of Oct. 23rd, 1754 : — 
 
 " Took into consideration the case of Mr. Abner Reeve, 
 originally of Southold, who, though formerly a licensed 
 preacher, had been for a considerable time laid aside on ac- 
 count of intemperance and excessive drinking. He, having 
 hopefully experienced a saving change, and being very desir- 
 ous of preaching the gospel to others, the power of which he 
 hoped he had experienced in his own soul, upon proper peni- 
 tential reflections upon himself, and a visible reformation, was 
 countenanced in his desires, and encouraged to preach by the 
 ministers in Southold, and by them directed to attend this 
 our session for the approbation and advice of the Presbytery. 
 
SECT. 6.] BKOOKHAVEN. 229 
 
 " Application being made to us by the said Mr. Reeve, we, 
 upon suitable inquiries made into his case, and hopeful evi- 
 dences discovered of the reality of his change, and sincerity 
 of his desires to preach the gospel, approved of his preaching. 
 And whereas, he had been preaching for some time at Mo- 
 riches and Ketchabonock, upon application made to us by the 
 people of those parishes for his continuance? the Presbytery 
 advised him to continue preaching among them till further 
 orders might be given." 
 
 It appears from a subsequent record, that at the request of 
 the people the Presbytery met at ftloriches, Nov. 6th, 1755, 
 organized a church and ordained the Rev. Abner Reeve as 
 pastor. From this time till the dismission of Mr. Reeve, there 
 is evidence that both Westhampton and Fireplace were parts 
 of this congregation. 
 
 At a meeting of the Presbytery, Oct. 27th, 1761, the east- 
 ern part of the congregation made a complaint against Mr. 
 Reeve, of hi? " having fallen foully into the awful sin of* 
 drunkenness, and requested that they might be dismissed from 
 his charge, and set off as a separate parish." 
 
 4; Mr. Reeve freely and fully acknowledged the fact, (as be- 
 fore he had done to his congregations severally,) and also pro- 
 posed to make satisfaction to the several churches and congre- 
 gations within the Presbytery, and further if thought proper — 
 as far as a severe reflection and penitential confession will 
 answer that end. 
 
 " His confession was reduced to writing, and ordered to he 
 publicly read in all the churches and congregations under the 
 care of the Presbytery /" And it was further ordered '* in 
 case he be left to fall again into the sin complained of, that 
 he be immediately ipso facto, suspended from the ministry.'' 
 The request of the people of Ketchabonock was postponed, 
 as the other part of the parish had not been consulted. 
 
 The complaint against Mr. Reeve was subsequently re- 
 newed, but under circumstances which led the Presbytery to 
 conclude that he had not incurred the contingent sentence of 
 suspension. His pastoral relation was, however, dissolved in 
 1763. A year or two after he removed to Blooming Grove, 
 Orange county, and transferred his relation to the Presbytery 
 of New York — whose jurisdiction he declined in 1769, and 
 "declared himself an independent." In 1770, he removed to 
 Brattleborough, Vt., where he laboured till within a short 
 period of his death, which took place in 1795, at the advanced 
 age of 85 years. It is understood, that for a number of years 
 
230 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 preceding his death, he obtained the victory over his besetting 
 sin, and lived and died, in the judgment of charity, a good 
 man. 
 
 It is an ungrateful task to record such instances of ministe- 
 rial defection and degradation, but historical truth demands it, 
 and the example of holy writ warrants the recital as " ensam- 
 ples," of which there is need, even in this advanced period of 
 the temperance reformation, to warn ministers and others of 
 their danger from that mighty destroyer, which has slain more 
 than plague, pestilence or famine. 
 
 Shortly after the dismission of Mr. Reeve, Westhampton 
 seems to have become a distinct congregation, and Moriches 
 appears in connexion with Fireplace in its ecclesiastical rela- 
 tions. In process of time, however, the Presbyterian interest 
 in this village declined, and the church became extinct. 
 
 Although a church was organized here, and a minister set- 
 
 lied in 1753, it is not ascertained that any house of worship 
 
 was erected before the commencement of the present century. 
 
 In 1809, a house of worship was erected which was 
 
 occupied by all denominations. 
 
 On the 25th of Dec. 1817, a Congregational church was 
 organized here by the Rev. Moses Sweezy, which was received 
 by the Long Island Convention in May following. It was 
 served principally by supplies from that body till in 1825, Mr. 
 John Icerson, an Englishman, was ordained as pastor. He 
 was dismissed in June 1830. 
 
 On the 14th of November, 1831, the 2nd Presbytery of 
 Long Island organized a church here which was taken under 
 their care. This, at the time, was regarded as an act of intru- 
 sion upon the interests of Congregationalism ; but the preced- 
 ing history of this place, which will be new even to many 
 residing in the vicinity shows most conclusively that this 
 ground was originally Presbyterian, and that by this act, the 
 Presbytery merely re-occupied territory which 'they formerly 
 possessed. 
 
 The Rev. Alfred Ketcham, under whose labours this little 
 church consisting of 15 members was gathered, continued to 
 supply them till 1833. 
 
 The Rev . Christopher Youngs of the Association succeeded 
 a year or two, and preached to both congregations, which 
 assembled in the same house. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Moase followed as a stated supply for about 
 2 years. 
 
 In 1838 Mr. Thomas Owen commenced labouring in the 
 
6ECT. 6. J BROOKHAVEN. 231 
 
 Presbyterian church here, and at Brookfield. In November 
 of that year he was ordained by the Presbytery, and although 
 not installed, he continues to supply this church half the time. 
 The present number of members in the Presbyterian church is 
 49; in the Congregational, 11. 
 
 In 1839 a new house of worship was erected, which is oc- 
 cupied, on alternate sabbaths, by the Congregational and 
 Presbyterian churches. 
 
 In the same year a Methodist Episcopal Church was 
 erected. 
 
 In 1840 the Protestant Methodists erected a house of wor- 
 ship. 
 
 As some of the inhabitants of this village have expressed 
 doubts of the correctness of some facts previously stated, the 
 following extracts from the records of the Suffolk Presbytery 
 are annexed, which will satisfy any candid mind : — 
 
 " Oct. 20th, 1748. Directed Mr. Greenman to preach at 
 Moriches, as a Probationer, till further orders. 
 
 "Nov. 14th, 1749. Mr. Nathaniel Woodhull, Richard 
 Woodhull, William Smith, John Brewster, and Barnabas Ry- 
 der, appeared before the Presbytery in behalf of the people of 
 Mastick and the Fireplace, &c. 
 
 In the result, the Presbytery released Mr. Greenman 
 from his appointment at Moriches. It is then added, 
 
 " The people of Mastick, the Fireplace and the Eastern 
 people in concert with them, manifested their desires, that the 
 Presbytery would afford them relief under their present desti- 
 tute circumstances : the Presbytery agreed to use their en- 
 deavours to that purpose. 
 
 " Oct. 23d, 1754. Upon application made to us by the Pa- 
 rishes of Moriches and Ketchabonock, we advised him (Mr. 
 Reeve) to continue preaching among them. 
 
 " June 4th, 1755. The Parishes of Moriches and Ketch- 
 abonock, by their Committee (Mr. John Brewster, and John 
 Jessup,) laid before the Presbytery their desires respecting the 
 ordination of Mr. Reeve." 
 
 This application being renewed at the next meeting, in 
 Sept., the Presbytery agreed to meet at Moriches, Nov. 4th, 
 for that purpose, at which time, and place, after attending to 
 the examination of Mr. Reeve, and resolving to proceed to 
 the ordination, we have the following record : — 
 
 " Nov. 6th, 1755. Upon receiving proper testimonials from 
 
232 ANNALS Of* THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 sundry persons of their regular standing in the churches of 
 Christ elsewhere, proceeded to their incorporation and visible 
 embodying in church membership, in this place, to walk in the 
 faith and fellowship of the gospel one with another, and as be- 
 coming members of a Presbyterial church under our care. 
 
 " Nextly proceeded to the ordination of Mr. Reeve. Mr. 
 Prime presided. Mr. Brown began with prayer. Mr. Troop 
 preached from 1 Cor. ix. 27. Mr. Park made the prayer at 
 the imposition of hands. Mr. Talimadge gave the right hand 
 of fellowship. Mr. Prime gave the charge and Mr. Buel gave 
 an exhortation to minister and people, and Mr. Dagget made 
 the concluding prayer. 
 
 "Oct. 27 th, 1761. A number of people belonging to the 
 eastern part of Mr. Reeve's parish exhibited to the Presbytery 
 a letter of complaint, &c, and request that they may be dis- 
 charged from his pastoral care, and have the liberty of look- 
 ing out for, and procuring a minister among themselves, in 
 distinction from the western part of the parish, with which 
 they are at present united." 
 
 After acting on the complaint, we find this record : — 
 
 " With regard to the request, [to become a distinct society] 
 the Presbytery judgeth that in order thereto, the people of the 
 parish of Southaven, to which they stand related, ought first 
 to be informed of their proposal and request," and " the Pres- 
 bytery express a willingness to gratify the petitioners in their 
 request, in case it may appear upon due hearing and conside- 
 ration, that the granting thereof may be conducive to the 
 interests of religion among them." 
 
 This request from Ketchabonock was renewed Oct. 2Sth, 
 1762, and in the subsequent year Mr. Reeve was dismissed. 
 About this time, Southaven is spoken of as a distinct parish, 
 and the Presbytery met there for the first time March 23rd, 
 1763. 
 
 Poosepatuck, lies on a neck of land, a little to the south- 
 west of Moriches. Here is a little church composed of the 
 remnants of the Aborigines, mingled, as in other parts of the 
 island, with the African race. They have a small house of 
 worship, and the church is said to have been organized, many 
 years ago, by the Rev. Peter John. It was received into 
 connexion with the L. I. Convention, in 1812. It was for- 
 merly quite respectable in point of numbers, but has been 
 reduced to 20 members by schisms produced by the introduc- 
 tion of new sentiments and practices. In this work, a female 
 preacher, a few years ago, had a principal hand. 
 
SECT. 6.] BROOKHAVEN. 233 
 
 A religious anniversary, under the name of " The June 
 Meeting" which has been previously mentioned, is a great 
 day for the remains of this interesting people throughout the 
 island. It is attended upon devoutly by them ; but is an oc- 
 casion of much Sabbath profanation, and indecorum of con- 
 duct to multitudes of young people, who from motives of 
 curiosity, or baser principles, attend from a distance of 20 or 
 30 miles around. Its present moral influence on the surround- 
 ing country is, at least questionable. 
 
 Fireplace or Southaven, is about 8 miles west of Moriches. 
 Shortly after the dismission of Mr. Reeve, Mr. David Rose, 
 a graduate of Yale, in 1760, commenced preaching "at Mo- 
 riches, Manor of St. George, Southport, and Winthrop's Pat- 
 ent." He received a call, and was ordained by the Presbytery 
 Dec. 4th, 1765. He acted as a physician as well as a pastor, 
 and continued here till his death. Two years after his ordi- 
 nation, a church was organized at Middle Island, and became 
 a part of his charge. He died, as stated in the records of the 
 Synod Jan. 1st, 1799. 
 
 The Rev. Robert H. Chapman received a call to this 
 congregation, in connection with Middle Island, which he de- 
 clined, after preaching with them a few months in the year 
 18C0-1. 
 
 The Rev. Herman Daggett was installed Oct. 20th, 1801. 
 He resided at Middle Island ; and was dismissed April 17th, 
 1807. 
 
 The Rev. Ezra King was ordained pastor of these united 
 congregations, May 11th, 1814, having previously supplied 
 them for a considerable time. He was dismissed April 16th, 
 1809, and since that time, this congregation has been united 
 with Bellport, and supplied by the Rev. Abijah Tomlinson^ 
 who was ordained Sept. 9th, 1840, by the Presbytery, but not 
 installed. 
 
 It is not known at what date a house of worship was first 
 erected at Fireplace. An aged man, still living, says he re- 
 collects when there was none there, and when the first church 
 was built. It was probably not far from the time of Mr. 
 Rose's settlement. The present church was erected in 1728. 
 
 Fire Place Neck, is a small neighbourhood, a little west of 
 the church last mentioned. There is a small Congregational 
 church, of 11 members, that meet in a building, which has 
 been fitted up for the purpose of worship. The Rev. Na- 
 thaniel Hawkins occasionally preached here ; but the congre- 
 gation is very small. 
 
234 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Bellport is a neat little village of modern origin, situated 
 on Occombomock Neck, about 3 miles west of Fireplace. It 
 lies on the south country road, in full view of the Great Bay, 
 and is a place of considerable coasting trade. Its only public 
 building is an Academy which is also occupied as a place of 
 worship. The Rev. Abijah Tomlinson, acts in the double 
 capacity of Principal of the Academy, and minister of the 
 church, which is Congregational or Independent. The pre- 
 sent number of members is 37. 
 
 Patchoguc, is the largest village in Brookhaven, situated on 
 the south road, in the south-west corner of the town. It con- 
 tains 3 churches, nearly 100 dwelling houses, and its popula- 
 tion is estimated at 5 (JO souls. It is a place of very conside- 
 rable water-power, which is improved for various mechanical 
 and manufacturing appliances, [see page 25.) The citizens 
 are an active, enterprising people, and the whole village pre- 
 sents an aspect of industry and thrift. 
 
 A congregational church was organized here Jan. 14 th, 
 1793, by the Rev. Noah Hallock, consisting of 8 members. 
 In May following, it was taken under the care of the L. I. 
 Convention, as " the 2nd Cong. Church of Brookhaven." 
 Mr. Hallock, though connected with another charge, appears 
 to have exercised a supervision over this infant congregation, 
 till his death. His successor at Old Man's, the Rev. Noah 
 H. Gillet, divided his labours with this church from 1822 to 
 1833. After a vacancy of one year, the following persons 
 were successively employed, viz : — 
 
 The Rev Smith P. Gammage, from 1834 to 1835; the Rev. 
 Mr. Moase, to 1836 ; the Rev. Parshall Terry, to 1837 ; and 
 the Rev. Mr. Baty to 1838. In June, 1839, the Rev. B. Mat- 
 thias, commenced his labours with this people, and continued 
 till 1S43, when in consequence of some change of sentiment, 
 and a supposed intention of setting up a new sect, he was in- 
 duced to resign his charge. 
 
 About this time Mr. Gammage was again employed for 8 
 months ; but before his time expired, he became a disciple " of 
 Miller," and after distracting the church with this senseless 
 "midnight-cry," he withdrew, carrying with him 58 members. 
 These organized themselves into a new society, and after 
 electing 7 deacons, and making other preparation for the 
 expected end, they waited, and waited in vain, till the 23d of 
 April, and the 24th of October, and indeed, the entire year 
 1814, had passed away, and all things remained as they were. 
 Mr. Gammage has recently come out and made a public con- 
 
SECT. G.] BROOKHAVEN. 235 
 
 fession of his error, and some of his associates have ap- 
 parently abandoned the scheme, but the deleterious influence 
 of these unscriptural sentiments is manifest, in the diminution 
 of vital piety, and the promotion of a cavilling and sceptical 
 disposition in the whole community, will not be effaced from 
 the present generation. This is one of a very few places on 
 the island where this delusion has been embraced by any con- 
 siderable number. And though, in itself, it is too contempti- 
 ble, to merit a serious notice, historical truth requires, that it 
 should not be passed over in utter silence. It may not be out 
 of place to add, that as many of the advocates of this scheme 
 were regarded as honest in their delusion, before the predicted 
 day arrived, they have now a fair opportunity of proving their 
 claim to this charitable regard, by a frank and full confession 
 of their errors. Can any man who has been led away by 
 such a delusion be considered honest, who refuses to acknow- 
 ledge his error, or even keeps his mouth closed, when the 
 providence of God has stamped his doctrine as a lie ? 
 
 Since May, 1844, the Rev. J. H. Thomas, of the Brooklyn 
 Presbytery has been a stated supply in this congregation. 
 
 At several different periods, this church has been favoured 
 with special seasons of refreshing. In 1817 about 100 were 
 added to its communion, as also under Mr. Gillet's ministry. 
 The whole number of members since its organization is 438, 
 and there are now (April 30th, 1845,) 204 in communion. 
 About 115 families compose the congregation. 
 
 The first house of worship here, was erected in 1794, and 
 rebuilt in 1820. In its erection, Congregationalists, Metho- 
 dists, Presbyterians and Baptists united with the understand- 
 ing, that each denomination should occupy it one fourth of 
 the time. In 1831, the last two denominations "having run 
 down," and the Methodists being in want of a house for 
 a greater proportion of the time, the Congregationalists pur- 
 chased their right, and have since occupied the building as 
 their own. 
 
 The Methodist Epis. Church was erected about the year 
 1833. It is supposed to be in a prosperous state. Though 
 somewhat entrenched upon by the cry of false prophets, it did 
 not lose as many members as the Congregational church. 
 
 A Protestant Episcopal church was erected here in 1843, 
 but its condition has not been ascertained. 
 
 On a neck of land southwest of Patchogue, of which the 
 Indian name was Manowtasquolt, is the village of Blue Point, 
 whose waters were formerly famous for their delicious oysters, 
 
236 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 of immense size. But they are now greatly diminished in 
 quantity if not in quality. There is no ecclesiastical organi- 
 zation here distinct from the adjoining village. 
 
 New Village (or West Middle Island,) about 8 miles north 
 of Patchogue, on the middle road, is a considerable settle- 
 ment, continuous for more than a mile, which bears the above 
 name. This has been occupied, for many years, as a preach- 
 ing station by various denominations. The Methodists have a 
 class here. 
 
 A house of worship called '.' Union Meeting-house," was 
 erected in 1812. 
 
 A church was organized here, April 2d, 1S15, by the Rev. 
 Jacob Corwin, under the style of " the third Congregational 
 Church of Brookhaven," which was taken under the care of 
 the L. I. Convention, May 15th, 1816. Mr. Corwin continu- 
 ed to supply it for a number of years. In May, 1825, Mr. 
 Nathaniel Hawkins was ordained its pastor. Its late history 
 has not been ascertained, except that it now consists of 55 
 members. 
 
 Coram. About three miles east, on the middle road, is an 
 ancient settlement of this name, in the midst of the deepest 
 sand of this sandy island. In its vicinity are some of the 
 highest hills in this county. 
 
 In 1747, a Baptist meeting house was erected here, and, it 
 is believed that a church was early organized, but for a long 
 series of years, it seldom enjoyed gospel ordinances. This is 
 supposed to have been the first, and for a long time, the only 
 church of that denomination in the county. It doubtless 
 became extinct, as the church now existing is mentioned 
 on the records of the Baptist Association of New York, as 
 having been organized in 1809. 
 
 Middletown, (formerly Middle Island.) This parish is situ- 
 ated two miles east of Coram. Its name is well adapted to 
 express its locality, being about the centre of the island, both 
 as to length and breadth. This whole region is generally 
 light and sandy, much of it occupied by forests, and the popu- 
 lation is dispersed. 
 
 A church edifice was erected here in 1766, and in Nov. 
 1767, the Presbytery appointed a committee to organize a 
 church which afterwards united with that of Fireplace, or 
 Southaven, in the support of the gospel. This union continu- 
 ed for the space of 73 years, during which time its history is 
 identified with that congregation, which has been already 
 noticed. 
 
SECT. 6.] BROOKHAVEff. 237 
 
 The Presbyterian church was rebuilt in 1S37. 
 
 The Rev. Ezra King having resigned the pastoral charge 
 of these congregations in 1839, continued as a stated supply- 
 to this parish two or three years, when from the failure of his 
 health, he was obliged to relinquish his labours. 
 
 On the 12th of June, 1844, the Rev. James S. Evans was 
 ordained pastor of this church. 
 
 A Methodist church was erected here in 1840. 
 
 St. George's Manor— Brookfield — Punk's Hole. This place 
 has been previously mentioned as a stopping place on the L. I. 
 rail road. It is near the eastern line of the town, nine miles 
 from Riverhead. The Peconick river runs a little north of 
 the place, and though the face of the country is here 46 feet 
 above tide-water, it abounds with swamps and streams of 
 water. About two miles west is an extensive swamp, bearing 
 the Indian name of Wampmissick, which the writer would re- 
 commend as the name of this village ; as he would Yapuank, 
 instead of Millville, still further west. 
 
 The name "Brookfield" is connected with the religious 
 history of the place, which will be found not the least inter- 
 esting part of the island. 
 
 Towards the close of the last century there was a collec- 
 tion of families in this vicinity, whose principal employ ment 
 was to convert the adjacent forests into cordwood and char- 
 coal. The people laboured hard through the week, and on the 
 Sabbath, being six or eight miles distant from any church, and 
 the roads through deep sand, they felt little inclination to try 
 to reach the sound of the gospel. There was a fair prospect, 
 therefore, that they and their children were to grow up in a 
 state of at least semi-paganism. 
 
 About this time, it pleased God by his grace to call one of 
 their number into his kingdom. He was a man of very small 
 powers of mind, but of peculiar humility of heart, and simpli- 
 city of character. If ever a christian in modern days merit- 
 ed the appellation of a " child," it was Jonathan Robinson. 
 Deeply sensible of his own weakness, yet having tasted that 
 " the Lord is gracious," he longed to have his neighbours be- 
 come "partakers of the like precious faith." With much 
 diffidence and trembling, though with a sincere desire to do 
 them good, he invited them to come together at his house, 
 (which was then the largest in the place,) on the Sabbath 
 and they accepted his invitation. He prayed and sang, read 
 the scriptures, and a sermon ; and from that blessed hour, his 
 house became the Bethel of the place. 
 
23S ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 But Mr. Robinson was not only of a humble and docile 
 disposition-— he was aJso the friend of order. And fearing 
 that the course which he had been constrained, by the force 
 of circumstances, to enter upon, might be regarded as disor- 
 derly, he early sought an opportunity to lay the whole matter 
 before the Presbytery of Suffolk, and ask their advice. After 
 examining the subject in all its bearings, (Oct. 16th, 1783,) 
 those fathers and brethren felt constrained to regard it as a 
 notable indication of providence, and they expressed their ap- 
 probation of the course Mr. R. had pursued, and recognised 
 him as a sort of catechist, to lead the devotions of that retired 
 and isolated people ; and occasionally, besides reading well- 
 selected sermons, to give them a word of exhortation. 
 
 These labours seemed to meet with the divine approbation ; 
 souls were hopefully converted to God ; and at length a little 
 church was organized in the house of Obededom, which was 
 taken under the care of the L. I. Presbytery, April 19th, 1796, 
 bearing the name of Brookfield. 
 
 The Presbytery were induced to regard this as a peculiar 
 case, which could never be made a precedent for lowering the 
 standard of the gospel ministry ; and, therefore, after some 
 trials, and an examination adapted to the case, they regularly 
 licensed Mr. R. to preach the gospel, April 20th, 1796. 
 
 After some years, on an application from Mr. R. and his 
 people, founded on the exigences arising from their peculiar 
 circumstances, the Presbytery agreed to ordain him to the 
 work of the ministry, with a special view to that place, though 
 not to instal him as the pastor. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 26th of November, 1807, the Presby- 
 tery met in Brookfield Meeting House — Father Robinson s own 
 house; — one of the fathers of the Presbytery preached the 
 sermon from Cant. ii. 15, and the ordination was duly con- 
 summated. Although the writer was present on this interest- 
 ing occasion, he does not recollect that the preacher, who was 
 a man of some dry wit, made any special application of his 
 text to the case in hand, but he could not help thinking, as 
 most of his readers will, that he selected rather a singular 
 theme for an ordination sermon. 
 
 Father Robinson continued to labour not only with this 
 people, but elsewhere, as long as his bodiiy vigour endured ; 
 reared up a family, (of which one son is a regularly educated 
 minister of the gospel, and a good instructer ;) and though he 
 still lives, at a very advanced age, he is so infirm both in body 
 and mind that he is completely laid aside. But he still loves 
 
SECT. 6.] BROOKHAVEN. 239 
 
 to talk of the precious Saviour, and ascribe all his hopes to his 
 abounding grace. The subject of religion is all that his me- 
 mory retains. 
 
 The remark that Father Robinson was a man of small natu- 
 ral abilities, demands some qualification. While there was a 
 child-like simplicity about him that seemed to indicate feeble- 
 ness of intellect, there was an originality and shrewdness, 
 that oftentimes rendered his performances deeply interesting 
 and impressive. This remark cannot be better illustrated 
 than by giving some notes of one of the last sermons which 
 he delivered a few years ago, when suddenly invited to preach 
 for a brother, whom he called on, as he passed through his 
 congregation. This brother noted down some of his " bright 
 thoughts" after hearing the discourse. His text was : 
 
 1 Cor. xv. 47, 48. The first man is of the earth, earthy ; 
 the second man is the Lord from Heaven. 
 
 As is the earthy, such are they that are earthy ; and as is 
 the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 
 
 " 1. The text tells us of two men — two Adams. A short 
 history of each, Adam — Christ. 
 
 " II. The text tells us of their children, and they are just 
 like their respective progenitors. 
 
 " The first Adam's children are like him. State some par- 
 ticulars. 1. They are fond of dress. Adam and Eve were 
 placed in the garden, both stark naked, and were not a grain 
 ashamed. But the moment they sinned, they began to look 
 about for something to cover them, and made a dress of fig- 
 leaves. — Just so their children do. Their hearts are set upon 
 dress. Pride acted out in this way more than any other, and 
 yet to be proud of dress is to be proud of what was occasioned 
 by shame. 
 
 i; 2. They are like their parents in making excuses. Adam 
 said, it wasn't me ; it was Eve. Eve said, it wasn't me ; it 
 was the serpent. Just so their children. Adam begat a son 
 in his own likeness, and all his descendants are just like him. 
 Ask any little boy, Are you bad 1 and he says, No, I'm good. 
 
 *' 3. They try to conceal themselves from God. Adam 
 and Eve hid themselves among the trees. Just so their pos- 
 terity try to hide from God. 
 
 '• But Christ's children are like him. 
 
 " 1. He was meek and lowly : so are they. 
 
 " 2. He loved to please his father — so do they. 
 
 " 3. He loved to pray ; so his people. 
 
 " 4. He went about doing good — so do they." 
 
240 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Here he introduced his favourite theme, the scene of Geth- 
 semane and Calvary, and commenting on Heb. x. 14, de- 
 scribed how " all-conquering love" makes them children ; and 
 they, catching the spirit of their divine Saviour, are trans- 
 formed into his image. 
 
 The whole was closed with a warm exhortation founded 
 on this remark : " The time is coming when an interest in 
 Christ will be felt to be of more value than anything and 
 everything else." 
 
 A small but commodious house of worship was erected at 
 Brookfield in 1839. Present number of members is about 25 ; 
 and the church is not in a thriving condition. They have 
 only occasional preaching. 
 
 Recapitulation. 
 
 In this large township there are 22 organized churches, 
 viz. : 5 Presbyterian — 6 Congregational — 6 Epis. Methodist — 
 2 Protestant Methodist — 2 Episcopal and 1 Baptist ; which 
 give an average of 339 souls to each. 
 
 Section 7.— SMITHTOWN. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - - 10,937 
 « " unimproved, - - - 27,063 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 20. 
 
 This town is bounded on the north by the Sound, on the 
 east by Brookhaven, on the south by Islip, and on the west by 
 Huntington. 
 
 The greater part of this territory was given by Wyandanch, 
 the Sagamore of Montauk and Grand Sachem of the Island, 
 under date of July 14th, 1659, to Lyon Gardiner, as a token 
 of gratitude for his agency in redeeming his daughter from 
 captivity. In 1662 a release for this tract was executed by 
 the chief of the Nissequag tribe, within whose limits it was 
 comprehended. 
 
 In 1663 Mr. Gardiner conveyed the territory to Richard 
 Smith, who had come from Rhode Island, and was then living 
 in Brookhaven. Smith obtained a patent from Gov. Nicoll, 
 March 3rd, 1665, in confirmation of his title, in which a con- 
 dition was specified, that ten families should be settled thereon 
 within three years. It was not, however, recognized as a dis- 
 tinct town, till the passage of the act of 1683. 
 
 The first settlement was made at Nissequag on the harbour, 
 
SECT. 7.] SMITHTOWN. 241 
 
 near the north shore ; and here was the first place of assem- 
 bling for the worship of God, and the burial of the dead. 
 For a long time this town was called Smithfield ; which was 
 at length exchanged for its present names, either of which is 
 extremely appropriate, from the large number of the Smiths 
 who still inhabit it. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 The first church was erected at Nissequag, but at what 
 time, no satisfactory account has been obtained. 
 
 In 1750 it was removed to the village called the Branch, 
 lying on the middle road nearer the centre of the town. 
 
 The present building was erected in 1827, and dedicated 
 on the 9th of September in that year. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The records of the Presbytery of Suffolk show that a 
 church, consisting of 7 members, was formed in this town 
 Sept. 17th, 1751. Whether there had been a previous organi- 
 zation cannot be ascertained. Nor can it be determined 
 whether the labours of any minister had been statedly enjoyed, 
 previously to the commencement of that century. It appears 
 that in the contract with Mr. Phillips to settle in Brookhaven 
 in 1697, Smithtown was included as a part of his charge ; 
 but whether he divided his services between the two places is 
 not known. It was, however, during the life time of Mr. 
 Phillips that the name of the Rev. Daniel Taylor occurs as a 
 resident at Nissequag, where he buried his wife. He was a 
 graduate of Yale in 1707, and after residing here some years, 
 removed to New Jersey where he died Jan. 8th, 1748, at the 
 age of 64. Whether he was employed here in the ministry, 
 and if so, how long, is not ascertained. 
 
 A similar uncertainty attends the history of the next indi- 
 vidual, who is found here in the/maracter of a preacher. Mr. 
 Abner Reeve, a native of Southold, and a graduate of Yale in 
 1731, whose history has been given in connexion with the 
 congregations of Moriches and Westhampton, is said to have 
 resided at Nissequag some 12 or 14 years from about 1735. 
 He first received licence from some ministers in Southold, and 
 was not ordained until after he left this town. It must 
 have been during his residence here, that his son Tappan 
 Reeve, the late distinguished jurist of Connecticut, and 
 eminent Christian, was born Oct. 17th, 1744. Here also he 
 buried his wife, who died May 6th, 1747. It is not probable 
 
 11 
 
242 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 that he continued to preach all the time of his residence at 
 Nissequag, as it was during this period, that he was overcome 
 with his besetting sin, which afterwards occasioned him so 
 much mortification and pain. 
 
 The Rev. Naplhali Dagget was the first settled pastor in 
 this town. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Suffolk, 
 Aug. 10th, 1749, and commenced preaching here shortly 
 afterwards. The church having been removed to the Branch 
 in 1750, he was called and ordained pastor Sept. 18th, 1751. 
 He was dismissed, at his own request, for the want of support, 
 Nov. 6th, 1755, and shortly after leaving the island, became 
 connected with Yale College. 
 
 For nearly 20 years succeeding, this Church had no settled 
 pastor, and depended on occasional supplies and temporary 
 engagements. The Rev. Thomas Lewis was emp oyed from 
 1763 to 1769 — and in 1771 Mr. Daniel Avery spent some time 
 here by appointment of the Presbytery. 
 
 The Rev. Joshua Hart was the next pastor. He was born 
 at Huntington Sept. 17th, 1738, graduated at Nassau Hall 
 1770, and ordained as an evangelist, by the Suffolk Presbytery 
 April 2nd, 1772, he being unwilling to preach the gospel as a 
 licentiate. He was installed here April 13th, 1774. During 
 his incumbency, he devoted a part of his time to the service 
 of other churches. In the revolutionary war, being an ardent 
 patriot, he suffered much from imprisonment by the British in 
 the city of New York, He was dismissed Sept. 6th, 1787. 
 He was never settled afterwards, but continued to labour as a 
 stated supply in vacant congregations. He died at Fresh- 
 pond, Oct. 3rd, 1829, at the advanced age of 91 years. 
 
 Another long vacancy intervened, in which occasional sup- 
 plies were enjoyed. A Mr. Halsey was employed from April 
 1793 to June 1795, and a Mr. Perkins for a ^ew months after- 
 wards. 
 
 In Oct., 1796, the Rev. Luther Gleason (who had been 
 ordained in 1788, by the Strict Congregational Convention 
 of Connecticut,) commenced preaching here and at Islip, or 
 Huntington South. He was installed over these congrega- 
 tions, Sept. 28th, 1797, by the Presbytery of Long Island. 
 Though a man of very limited education, he was a ready, and 
 in seme respects, a popular preacher. For a number of years, 
 his services were highly acceptable. But, he was convicted, 
 March 20th, 1804, on charges laid before the Presbytery, of 
 " making too free use of intoxicating liquors," and " a light- 
 ness of deportment unbecoming the sacred profession," both 
 
SECT. 7.] SMITHTOWN. 243 
 
 of which he confessed, with professions of repentance, and 
 was restored to his standing. He was again arraigned, June 
 17th, 1806, on charges of a still more serious nature; and 
 after a trial of 5 days, was convicted and suspended until he 
 should make satisfaction. Notwithstanding Mr. G. had fre- 
 quently declared that he could not confess the allegations al- 
 leged, without lying to his own conscience, he shortly after 
 came before his congregation, and made the prescribed con- 
 fession. An acknowledgment made under these circum- 
 stances, together with new disclosures of a still more serious 
 character, furnished matter for a new series'of charges, which 
 were presented by a member of the Presbytery. Mr. G. refused 
 to submit to a trial, and abruptly left the Presbytery. Having 
 been regularly cited to answer, as required by the Constitu- 
 tion, and not appearing, he was suspended from the ministry, 
 Aug. 20th, 1807, and after another citation, he was deposed, 
 the 16th of Oct. following. Before the completion of this 
 process, Mr. G had, on application, been received into the 
 L. I. Convention.* 
 
 This unhappy event was attended with the most lament- 
 able consequences on the church of Smithtown. It was rent 
 in twain, and a part which renounced the jurisdiction of the 
 Presbytery, were assembled in a separate congregation, and 
 supplied with preaching by the Convention. The church, 
 feeble before, was greatly weakened by this schism, and for 
 several years was destitute of preaching during three- fourths 
 of the time. For six months from Nov. 1809, the Rev. N. 
 S. Prime divided his time, by appointment of the Presbytery, 
 between this church and Freshpond. 
 
 In Sept. 1811, the Rev. Bradford Marcy commenced 
 preaching in this place, and his labours terminated in a most 
 remarkable result. Mr. Marcy was a man who, by constitu- 
 tional temperament, and other peculiarities, seemed, to human 
 appearance, not the best qualified for the existing state of 
 things in this town. And yet, it pleased God to use him as 
 an instrument to effect that, which appeared to be beyond the 
 power of all the clergy on Long Island. The writer may" be 
 permitted to speak with confidence on this subject, as he was 
 
 * The principal reason assigned by the members of the Convention in 
 justification of this act, was, that they considered Mr. Gleason as belong- 
 ing to them, because he had been originally ordained by the Connecticut 
 Convention, from which they had derived their ecclesiastical existence. 
 And this was the principal point afterwards submitted to arbitrators and 
 decided against the claims of the Convention, 
 
244 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 an eye-witness to many of his operations, being present by 
 special invitation from the parties concerned, at several of 
 the meetings held on the subject. 
 
 Mr. Marcy, after preaching a few months to the accept- 
 ance of both parties, and acquiring, rather than seeking their 
 confidence, proposed a joint meeting to try to settle their dif- 
 ferences, and unite in one church. Such meetings were held, 
 and after mutual explanations and concessions to one an- 
 other, a committee consisting of individuals of both parties 
 was appointed to meet with the Presbytery, and effect a re- 
 conciliation with that body. This Committee attended the 
 Presbytery in April, 1812, when the reconciliation was con- 
 summated. From that time to the present, they have remained 
 a united people ; and that church has been, and still continues, 
 in a more prosperous condition than in any previous period of 
 its existence. Mr. Marcy remained with this congregation till 
 Aug., 1814, when, at his own instance, he left the island. 
 
 Some time in 1815, the Rev. Henry Fuller commenced 
 preaching here, and was ordained Oct. 23d, 1819, as pastor of 
 the united churches of Smithtown and Freshpond. He was 
 dismissed in 1S21, and afterwards was settled in North Stam- 
 ford, Conn., where he still remains. 
 
 The Rev. Richard F. Nicoll came to this place in 1822, 
 was ordained June 25th, 1823, and dismissed June 5th, 1827. 
 
 The Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury commenced his labours in this 
 church, Sept. 9th, 1827, but was not installed till April 21st, 
 1830. He was dismissed April 17th, 1833, and after spend- 
 ing a year at Sag Harbour, he, with a chosen company, formed 
 in good old puritanical style, emigrated and settled the town 
 of Andover, III. Mr. Pillsbury is deservedly regarded as the 
 patriarch of this new settlement, — a worthy example for fu- 
 ture emigrants. 
 
 During the following vacancy, the church was supplied 
 by different individuals, among whom are the names of a Mr. 
 Alvoid and a Mr. Lockwood. 
 
 In April, 1S35, the Rev. James C. Edwards, who had been 
 some time in the service of the 8th Avenue Church, in New- 
 York, commencing preaching, under a call, to this church, 
 and was installed the 5th of May following. He is still the 
 pastor, and the congregation is in a prosperous state. 
 
 Revivals. 
 
 There have been seasons of special interest on the great 
 subject of religion at different periods in the history of this 
 
sect. 8.] islip. 245 
 
 church. It has, indeed, always been small, in comparison 
 with the population. But it is remarked by one of the pas- 
 tors, that " the earliest records of the church manifest a spirit 
 of genuine piety, brotherly love, and Christian forbearance, 
 together with unbending fidelity in discipline." But the most 
 interesting seasons resulting in the largest increase of the 
 church, have occurred under the last two pastors. In 1831, 
 and in 1843, the Holy Spirit appears to have been poured out, 
 and numbers were hopefully brought to " the obedience of 
 faith." In the latter case, it is remarked that " the work was 
 silent and deep, while souls were led by the Spirit to Christ, 
 as an all-sufficient Saviour, their only refuge. The church 
 itself was greatly revived and blessed, and the special influ- 
 ences of the Spirit seemed to be enjoyed by God's people, 
 long after the work of conversion had ceased." 
 
 The number of communicants at different periods, has been 
 as follows : — 
 
 In the year 1827— '30— '33— '39— '42— 45. 
 
 Members . 32,— 46,— 78,— 74,— 62,-81. 
 
 A Methodist Episcopal Church was erected at the Haup- 
 paugs, about 2 miles south of the Branch, in 1806. 
 
 In later years, another church of that denomination has 
 been erected at the landing, about 3 miles northwest of the 
 Branch. 
 
 A year or two since, a Roman Catholic Chapel was erected 
 in a small settlement of foreigners, a mile and a half south- 
 east of the Branch, which a Roman priest occasionally visits. 
 
 At the present time, (1845,) a Methodist church is in the 
 process of erection at the Branch. 
 
 Summary. — There are 4 congregations, and as many 
 houses of worship in this town, viz : — 1 Presbyterian, 2 Me- 
 thodist, and 1 Roman Catholic, giving an average of 477 
 souls to each. 
 
 Section 8.— ISLIP. 
 
 Number of acres improved, . . . 8,016 
 
 " " unimproved, . . . 63,984 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 34. 
 This town is bounded on the north by Smithtown and 
 Brookhaven, east by Brookhaven, south by the Gteat Bay, 
 and west by Huntington. 
 
 The township does not, like the others, extend to the ocean ; 
 but a large portion of the great beach in front of it belongs to 
 Brookhaven. 
 
246 ANXALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 And here we have a striking illustration of the pernicious 
 influence on the interests of population, resulting from the 
 accumulation of land in the hands of a few owners ; espe- 
 cially where that accumulation is perpetuated by the old feu- 
 dal law of entailment. Although a large portion of this town- 
 ship is naturally incapable of maintaining a large population, 
 as it embraces extensive tracts of sterile plains and vast 
 swamps, yet the necks and other tracts of land are good, and 
 capable of sustaining a much larger number of inhabitants 
 than it now contains ; and as the law of entailment is now 
 abrogated, it may be expected that the evil will be gradually 
 remedied, though time will be required to render the work 
 effectual. 
 
 The great Nicolls Patent commenced on the east line of 
 the town, about 2 miles west of Patchogue, and extended 10 
 miles west, covering a tract nearly 10 miles square, or about 
 60,000 acres. It was originally purchased of Winnequaheagh, 
 the Sachem of Connectquut, confirmed by a patent from Gov. 
 Dongan, and afterwards by Gov. Fletcher. It has been re- 
 duced about one third, by sales made under a special act of 
 the legislature, passed May 3d, 1786, for the relief of the pro- 
 prietor, who had become embarrassed by debt. The residue 
 of the lands being divided among the heirs at law, they are 
 offered for sale on liberal terms, and are gradually passing 
 into other hands. 
 
 Many of the first settlers, it is supposed, emigrated from 
 Islipe in Oxfordshire, England, whence originated the name 
 of the town. The number, however, was so small, that no 
 regular municipal government was established till after the 
 commencement of the last century. In 1710, an act was 
 passed by the colonial legislature, authorizing such an organi- 
 zation ; but the inhabitants being so few, and more than half 
 of the territory being in the hands of a single individual, they 
 probably felt no inclination to avail themselves of its provis- 
 ions. The first town-meeting of which there is any record, 
 was held on the first Tuesday in April, 1720. 
 
 The principal part of the population of this town is dis- 
 tributed along the great south road, and on the adjacent necks. 
 Till within a few years, nothing like a village or compact set- 
 tlement \v%s to be found within its limits ; now there are two 
 claiming this appellation : Sayville, 5J miles west of Patcho- 
 gue, in the eastern part of the town ; and Mechanicsville, ( for- 
 merly called Sodom 1) in the western part, about 6 miles east 
 of Babylon. 
 
sect. 8.] islip. 247 
 
 The religious history of this town is much more concise 
 than its secular. Till very recently, nothing in the shape of 
 an ecclesiastical organization existed within its bounds. 
 
 In 1769, a small church edifice was erected by the pa- 
 tentee, near the middle of the town, on the south road, de- 
 signed for the celebration of divine worship according to the 
 forms of the Episcopal church ; and was occasionally used for 
 that purpose, though it long remained unblessed by prelatical 
 hands. From 1814, the Rev. Charles Seabury, rector of Caro- 
 line church at Setauket, acted as a missionary to this congre- 
 gation, and devoted a portion of his time to its service. 
 
 In 1843, this church was repaired and enlarged, and on the 
 6th of July duly consecrated by the bishop. Since that time, 
 the Rev. Daniel V. M. Johnson has officiated as rector. The 
 present number of communicants is 14. 
 
 At Mechanicsville, a Methodist church has been erected 
 within a few years, and is regularly supplied. At Sayville, 
 the Protestant Methodists maintain preaching, but no church 
 has yet been erected. 
 
 In the western part of the town, which was originally occu- 
 pied by the Segatague tribe of Indians, there was formerly a 
 small Indian church collected, but whether they had a house 
 of worship is not known. This place was one of the stations 
 at which Azariah Horton and other missionaries occasionally 
 laboured ; and it is one of the few points, at which the re- 
 mains of aboriginal blood may be traced on the shores. Here 
 and there you meet a countenance, even at this day, that bears 
 evident traces of native descent. The church above men- 
 tioned is said to have been organized by Peter John, whose 
 brief history has been previously given ; but it has long since 
 become extinct. 
 
 The central and northern parts of this town form almost one 
 continuous wilderness, with scarcely any inhabitants, and bids 
 fair to remain so. The two small churches which have been 
 mentioned, are the only places of worship within its limits. 
 Some few of the inhabitants on the east and west borders are 
 attached to congregations in the adjacent towns ; but the 
 greater part of the population must be living in utter destitu- 
 tion of the means of grace. From this fact, and the additional 
 consideration that this town is a great resort for sportsmen 
 and men of pleasure, the state of morals may be inferred. 
 Here are several large hotels, furnished with billiard tables, 
 ninepin-alleys, and other means of amusement and dissipa- 
 tion, which doubtless exert a much more powerful effect on 
 
248 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 the public morals than all the counter influences that are here 
 enjoyed. So that, on the whole, to a moral and religious 
 man, this town presents the most undesirable residence of any 
 town in the county. 
 
 It is due to the people of this town, to say that their school- 
 houses present the appearance, externally, of being spacious 
 and comfortable buildings ; and it is to be inferred that the 
 rising generation are favoured with the privilege of good com- 
 mon schools. 
 
 Summary. — Two churches, 1 Episcopal and 1 Methodist, 
 with a population of 2,098 souls. 
 
 Section 9.— HUNTINGTON. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 32,532 
 
 " " " unimproved, - - 59,968 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 14 nearly. 
 
 This is the most western town in Suffolk County, being 
 bounded on the west by Oyster Bay, in Queen's Co. — on the 
 east by Smithtown and Islip ; and extends from L. I. Sound, 
 including Eaton's Neck, on the north to the ocean. It has 
 been previously stated that Lloyd's Neck, (formerly called 
 Horse Neck) though united with this town by a beach, and 
 lying on the east side of Oyster Bay, is attached to Queen's 
 County. 
 
 The first purchase from the natives was made by Gov. Ea- 
 ton, of New Haven, in 1646, and consisted of the Neck, that 
 still bears his name, lying directly east of Lloyd's Neck, and 
 is connected with the north-east corner of the town, by a sand 
 beach 3 miles in length. 
 
 In lw53, a purchase of 6 miles square, on the north side 
 of the island, extending from Cold Spring Harbour on the 
 west, to Cow-Harbour on the east, was made of the Indians, 
 by a company that came from Sandwich, Mass. That colo- 
 ny having been formed of persons collected from different set- 
 tlements, there was less of that homogeneous character in the 
 first settlers of this town, than on the eastern parts of the 
 island. 
 
 As the number of immigrants increased, additional pur- 
 chases were made, till the extent of the town was adjusted to 
 its present boundaries. 
 
 In its original organization, this town, like the most of the 
 others, was a perfectly independent government, founded by 
 the voluntary association of the sovereign people. In 1660, 
 
SECT. 9.] HUNTINGTON. 249 
 
 for the purpose of security against external aggression, and 
 especially to secure themselves from coming under the juris- 
 diction of the Dutch, they were taken, by their own request, 
 under the government of the Hartford colony. After the sur- 
 render of the New Netherlands to the British, this town was 
 with great reluctance, and after much opposition, finally con- 
 strained to submit to the government of the Duke of York. 
 
 The original settlement, still forming the principal village 
 in the town, is on the north side, spread over a considerable 
 territory at the head of the harbour. The entrance of the 
 harbour is the opening into the Sound, between Lloyd's Neck 
 and Eaton's Neck, called Huntington Bay, and extends up 
 into the land, a distance of 5 miles, forming 4 or 5 distinct 
 harbours, or principal landings: viz., Lloyd's harbour — West 
 Neck — Huntington — Little Cow Harbour and Great Cow 
 Harbour. The two latter now claim the name of Centreport 
 and Northport. All these harbours lie within, or adjacent to, 
 the territorial limits of this town, from which a considerable 
 coasting trade is carried on. From a very early period, a 
 ferry has been maintained between this village and Norvvaik, 
 Ct., a distance of 20 miles, which is regulated by the town. 
 
 There are several other settlements or villages within the 
 bounds of this large township, in most of which, are now re- 
 ligious organizations and houses of worship ; which have been 
 increased, of late years, to an enormous extent. The writer 
 can recollect distinctly, when there were only 4 church edi- 
 fices in the town, and divine worship statedly maintained in 
 only one of them. Then, this principal parish occupied a 
 territory of more than 100 square miles, and the parish church 
 was regularly attended by multitudes, many of whom came 
 8 or 9 miles. And it was cheering to the soul, on the sab- 
 bath morning to see the people flocking, in crowds, to the 
 house of God ; while the adjacent lawns were literally 
 covered with their teams and plain covered waggons. Then 
 too, the people did not become tired, by the service of half a 
 day. To see a family get into their carriage and return home 
 at noon, excited universal astonishment, and every body in- 
 quired, what is the matter ? These recollections often awaken 
 in the writer's bosom a melancholy pleasure, and make him 
 feel willing to perform a pilgrimage, only to witness one such 
 gathering on the holy sabbath, as he was familiar with, in his 
 native church, in the days of his childhood. 
 
 But those days are gone ; never to return. The ancient 
 land-marks are, in a great measure, removed, and [ew are left 
 
 11* 
 
250 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 to remember where they stood. Now 18 houses of worship 
 occupy the same ground, which, half a century ago, was al- 
 most exclusively devoted to the support of one : and not one 
 of them is attended by a congregation more than half as large 
 as ordinarily attended the old parish- church — the most of them 
 very small. 
 
 The principal villages or settlements within the town, are 
 the following : viz., Cold Spring — Cow Harbour (Centreport 
 and Northport) — Red Hook or Freshpond — Wm/je-Comack, 
 (the prefix being now seldom used) — Dix-Hills — Long Swamp 
 — West Hills— Sweet Hollow — Half-way Hollow Hills — 
 Babylon and Huntington South. 
 
 There are many things of an interesting character in the 
 annals of this town, particularly daring the revolutionary war, 
 which, though they do not belong strictly to its religious histo- 
 ry, are so intimately connected with its ecclesiastical affairs, 
 that they will demand some notice. 
 
 Churches, &c. 
 
 An ecclesiastical organization was formed here, at an early 
 date ; though the precise time is not ascertained. The church, 
 it is known, was originally congregational or independent, and 
 remained so till March 30lh, 1748, when, by a very unani- 
 mous vote, it united with the Suffolk Presbytery. A church- 
 session was soon after regularly constituted ; and no church 
 on the island has more uniformly and unitedly maintained the 
 Presbyterian form of government. 
 
 The first house cf worship was erected in 1665, on a site 
 in the valley a little west of the present location. It was re- 
 paired and enlarged about 20 years afterwards. 
 
 In 1715, a new building was commenced on the former 
 site ; but after the frame was raised, it was taken down and 
 removed, (in compliance with the desire of a large portion of 
 the people,) to the spot where the present church stands. It 
 was furnished with a bell, which at that day, was a rare ap- 
 pendage to a country church. This building remained till the 
 British took possession of the island, and stationed a consi- 
 derable force in this town. 
 
 Though all the Island, especially the western parts, suffered 
 greatly from the insolence and oppression of the soldiery, and 
 still more from the depredations of the Tories, under their au- 
 thority and protection ; no town was subjected to equal out- 
 rages on their feelings and property, with this town. The 
 seats in the house of God were torn up and the building con- 
 
SECT. 9.] HUNTINGTON. 2*31 
 
 verted into a military depot. The bell was taken away, and 
 though afterwards restored, it was so injured as to be useless. 
 Subsequently (1782) when the contest was virtually ended, 
 the church was entirely pulled down, and the timber used to 
 erect block-houses and barracks for the troops. And to wound 
 the feelings of the inhabitants most deeply, these structures 
 were erected in the centre of the burying ground, the graves 
 levelled and the tomb-stones used for building their fire-places 
 and ovens. The writer has often heard old men testify, from 
 the evidence of their own senses, that they had seen the loaves 
 of bread drawn out of these ovens, with the reversed inscrip- 
 tions of the tomb-stones of their friends on the lower crust. 
 
 The redoubtable commander in these sacrilegious proceed, 
 ings, it has been previously stated, was Colonel Benjamin 
 Thompson, a native of Mass., and the same man that was af- 
 terwards created, by the Duke of Bavaria, and known to the 
 world, as Count Rumfokd. But his acts in this place have 
 given him an immortality, which all his military exploits, his 
 philosophical disquisitions and scientific discoveries will never 
 secure to him, among the descendants of this outraged com- 
 munity. It would seem that during the whole war, no stone 
 was left unturned to annoy the persons, and injure the pro- 
 perty of the inhabitants. Their orchards were cut down, 
 their fences burned, and the scanty crops which they were 
 able to raise under these embarrassments, were often seized by 
 lawless force for the use of the soldiers, or recklessly destroyed 
 to gratify their malice. The aged pastor of the congregation, 
 while he lived, was peculiarly obnoxious, on account of his 
 known patriotic views and feelings. When the troops first 
 entered the town, the officers housed their horses in the pas- 
 tor's stable, and littered thern with sheaves of unthreshed 
 wheat, while they cursed the " old rebel," as they were pleased 
 to call him. They then took possession of his house, for their 
 quarters, breaking the furniture, which they did not need, tear- 
 ing leaves out of his most valuable books, or entirely destroying 
 one volume of a set, as if to render them valueless, without 
 taking the trouble to destroy the whole. While recording 
 these worse than Vandal transactions, the writer is sitting in 
 the identical chair which his grand-sire occupied before him, 
 and which still bears the deep marks of British outrage. 
 And he has books lying before him, with the impress of the 
 same savage hands. Does the reader require any apology, 
 for this apparent digression, in giving vent to feelings of just 
 indignation ? 
 
252 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART. 2, 
 
 In 1784, the year after the peace, the present church edi- 
 fice was erected. It was considered a sort of paragon, being 
 spacious, and finished in the most approved style of that day. 
 It was furnished with a bell, which has called the assembly to 
 the house of God, and tolled the knell of thousands, for more 
 than 50 years. The church has undergone no alteration, ex- 
 cept receiving a modernized pulpit ; and having always been 
 kept in excellent repair, bids fair to last for many years to 
 come. The congregation, once the largest on the island, has 
 been greatly diminished by the erection of new churches, of 
 the same or different denominations in the town, but it is still 
 respectable in point of numbers, property, and piety. 
 
 Ministers* 
 
 The Rev. William Leverich, who was among the first set- 
 tlers of Oysterbay, was the first pastor of this church. He 
 was settled here about the year 1658. He remained in this 
 charge till 1669, when he removed to Newtown. 
 
 The Rev. Eliphalet Jones, was invited to this town in Jan. 
 1676, having previously declined an invitation from the con- 
 gregation of Jamaica. He was, at that time, residing at 
 Greenwich, Ct. He is said to have been the son of the Rev. 
 Mr. Jones, the first minister of Fairfield, and was born at 
 Concord, Mass., on " the 9th of the 11th month, 1640." He 
 appears to have hesitated about accepting the overtures of the 
 people, and did not consent, until he had spent a year among 
 them. He was then settled with great unanimity, and con- 
 tinued in that relation more than half a century. Although the 
 name still exists in this vicinity, " it is pretty well ascertained 
 that he did not leave any posterity." He is believed " to have 
 been a man of great purity and simplicity of manners, and a 
 faithful and successful preacher." Little is known of his ta- 
 lents and acquirements. At the ordination of a colleague, 
 when he was more than 80 years of age, ho delivered the 
 charge, which the candidate transcribed upon the records of 
 the church, and into his own private diary, both of which now 
 lie before the writer. It breathes the spirit of piety, and ex- 
 hibits a deep sense of the responsibilities of the sacred office. 
 He died June 5th, 1731, in the 91st year of his age. Though 
 the place of his sepulture is not known, a number of gentle- 
 men of this congregation, with a laudable respect for his cha- 
 racter, have erected, within a few years, a plain monument 
 to his memory, in the public burying ground. Such acts of 
 
^SECT. 9.] HUNTINGTON. 253 
 
 generosity, especially where there are no ties of blood to 
 prompt them, speak as much for the living as for the dead. 
 
 The Rev. Ebcnezcr Prime commenced his labours as the 
 assistant of Mr. Jones, June 21st, 1719, in which relation he 
 remained 4 years. He was born at Miiford, July 21st, 1700, 
 and graduated at Yale, in 1718. Being regularly called, he 
 was ordained collegiate pastor, June 5th, 1723, by a council 
 of ministers, one half of whom were from Connecticut, and 
 the others from the eastern part of the island. He died Sept. 
 25th, [or Oct. 3d, as another account states,] 1779. 
 
 His character is concisely drawn by another, in the follow- 
 ing brief extract : — " He was a man of sterling character, of 
 powerful intellect, and possessed the reputation of an able and 
 faithful divine. His library was unusually large and valua- 
 ble, for the times. Few clergymen possessed an influence 
 more general ; and few, it may be said, more entirely deserved 
 it." It may, without impropriety, be added, that he was a dili- 
 gent student, and extremety exact and systematic in all his 
 affairs. And although the most of his MSS. as well as many 
 of his valuable books were mutilated and destroyed by the 
 British, yet, it appears from his register of texts, dates, and 
 places of preaching, which was kept, without a single omis- 
 sion, to the close of his life, that he prepared more than 3, (J GO 
 written sermons, which, according to the custom of the day, 
 when people were not easily wearied with the sound of the 
 gospel, were of great length. More of his discourses than 
 those of ordinary pastors at that time, were published, parti- 
 cularly those delivered at ordinations, and on other special 
 occasions, which are still extant. On the subject of the gos- 
 pel commission, he entertained some peculiar views, and be- 
 lieving that as ample qualifications and high authority were 
 required to preach the gospel, as to administer its ordinances, 
 he could not, in conscience, consent to license men to preach, 
 without, at the same time, ordaining them to the work of the 
 ministry. These views he illustrated and defended in two 
 sermons, which were published at the time. And it would 
 seem, that a number of the Presbytery of Suffolk accorded in 
 these views ; as we find in the minutes of the Synod of New- 
 York and Philadelphia, in 1771, a communication from Mr. 
 P., and others of that Presbytery, stating conscientious scru- 
 ples in regard to complying with the order of the Synod, [in 
 1764,] respecting ordination sine titulo. Though Mr. P.'s 
 views remained unchanged, they were somewhat modified, by 
 the scarcity of ministers and the necessities of the times. 
 
254 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [l*ART 2, 
 
 Near the close of his life, he did admit licentiates to preach in 
 his pulpit ; but he would never permit them to pronounce the 
 apostolic benediction ; believing, that this was an official act, 
 which an unordained man had no more right to perform, than 
 to administer the special ordinances. 
 
 The Rev. John Close, the fourth pastor, was called and or- 
 dained as a colleague to Mr. Prime, Oct. 30th, 1766, but he 
 was dismissed April 4th, 1773. He removed to New Wind- 
 sor, and afterwards to Waterford ; where he died. From the 
 time of his removal from Huntington, Mr. P. had no regular 
 aid during his life. Though he was very infirm, and often 
 laid aside, the troubles of the war prevented any measures to 
 procure an assistant. The congregation, having become va- 
 cant in the revolution, and suffering peculiar trials during that 
 gloomy period, remained unsupplied till after the peace. 
 
 The Rev. Nathan JVoodhull, the fifth pastor, was ordained 
 Dec. 22nd, 1785. He remained, however, less than 4 years; 
 was dismissed April 21st, 1789, and removed to Newtown, 
 where he ended his days. 
 
 Here, from peculiar causes, a vacancy of 5 years succeed- 
 ed. But it is worthy of record, that during all this time, when 
 no occasional preaching was enjoyed, regular devotional ser- 
 vices, accompanied with the reading of a sermon, were con- 
 stantly maintained ; principally by the pious zeal and perse- 
 verance of one of the officers of the church, whose memory 
 is embalmed in the hearts of many, with a fragrance, more 
 grateful, than that of precious ointment. James Nostrant 
 was for 54 years an elder of this church ; and though he lived 
 at the time of this vacancy, 5 miles from the sanctuary, 
 he was probably not five times absent from the house of God. 
 Through storms of rain, or hail, or snow, as well as in fair 
 weather, he was always seen, exactly at the hour, ascending 
 the hill of Zion ; and whether the congregation were favoured 
 with preaching, or depended on him to lead their devotions, 
 he was always in his place. Some now living can remember, 
 with what pious ardour he always poured forth the desires of 
 his soul. He was, without exception, the most uniformly de- 
 vout, and consistent Christian, that the writer ever knew. It 
 may be ascribed to the partiality of early respect and friend- 
 ship, but he feels himself more personally indebted, under 
 God, to the counsel and prayers of this man of God, than to 
 those of any other man that ever lived. He died Feb. 7th, 1813, 
 at the advanced age of nearly 90 years. The interests of re- 
 ligion, in this large town, which at that time constituted a sin- 
 
SECT. 9.] HUNTINGTON. 255 
 
 gle congregation, are probably as much indebted to the influ- 
 ence and labours of this individual as to any minister that 
 ever served them.* 
 
 It would appear incredible at the present day, if it should 
 be stated, how generally and with what interest this congre- 
 gation attended, during this long vacancy, on "reading meet- 
 ings," and how ardently they hailed the proclamation of the 
 gospel by an occasional supply. The writer can never forget, 
 though he was a mere child at the time, what a sensation was 
 produced by the unexpected entrance of a clergyman, (who 
 had been detained through the night on the Sound,) just at the 
 close of the morning service, and by the annunciation that 
 there would be preaching in the afternoon. Scarcely any 
 one left the precincts of the church ; the bell sent forth a 
 more significant peal — the tolling (which was always omitted 
 when there was no preacher) was prolonged, that all within 
 the reach of the sound might know that there was an " am- 
 bassador for God" in the place ; and, till the afternoon ser- 
 vice was far advanced, the people were still Hocking to the 
 house of the Lord, most expressively saying by their counte- 
 nances, as they entered, " How beautiful upon the mountains 
 are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth 
 peace ; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth 
 salvation ; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth." Would 
 to God that the days of old might be restored. 
 
 The Rev. William Schenck, the sixth pastor, was installed 
 Dec. 27th, 1793, and was dismissed in 1817, when he removed 
 to Ohio, where the most of his children had previously settled. 
 He was a dignified and excellent man ; though not distin- 
 guished as a great and popular preacher, his labours were ac- 
 ceptable, and the church received large accessions under his 
 ministry. He had been previously settled at Cape May, in 
 Jersey, and subsequently at Ballston, N. Y. He died at 
 
 * An instructive anecdote, in relation to this good man, is worth pre- 
 serving. An irreligious man, whose house Deacon Nostrant always passed 
 in going to church, was in the habit of ridiculing his pious zeal. One sab- 
 bath morning, accompanied by a violent snow-storm, he stood looking 
 out of his window, and observing Deacon N. facing the storm, he said to 
 his wife, " There goes that old fool." Time passed on; and some years 
 afterwards, the Spirit of God arrested this individual, and brought him 
 prostr.ite at the foot of the cross. But he could not quiet his mind, till he 
 had gone to the Deacon, and confessed, with deep humility and regret, 
 the unworthy speech which he had made, years before, and of which the 
 deacon had never been informed. The writer has often heard the good 
 old man tell the story, and " glory in being" esteemed " a fool for Christ's 
 sake." 
 
256 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Franklin, Oh. 3 September 1st, 1822, being nearly 85 years 
 of age. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Robertson was ordained Nov. 28th, 1S16, 
 as a colleague to Mr. Schenck, and was at the same time a 
 stated supply of the church at Hempstead, where he laboured 
 half the time. After Mr. S.'s dismission, he confined his la- 
 bours to this congregation till Nov. 20th, 1823, when he was 
 dismissed and left the island. 
 
 The Rev. Nehemiah Brown, the eighth pastor, was ordained 
 Oct. 18th, 1824, and, after remaining nearly 8 years, was 
 dismissed June 25th, 1832. 
 
 In the settlement of this gentleman, a most unhappy schism 
 was produced in the congregation, not only among them- 
 selves, but in their relation to the Presbytery of Long Island. 
 When the Presbytery met, and entered upon the trials of Mr. 
 B. for ordination, his examination on one of the subjects 
 was not sustained. This decision resulted, probably, not 
 merely from the short interview which the Presbytery had 
 with the candidate, but from a previous acquaintance of some 
 of the members with Mr. B., while he resided near them in 
 the capacity of a teacher. Upon communicating this result 
 to the congregation, great dissatisfaction was produced, and 
 the Presbytery adjourned without being able to allay it. Sub- 
 sequently, in a public meeting, the congregation, by a ma- 
 jority of votes, withdrew from the Presbytery of Long Island, 
 and declared themselves independent. Shortly after, they ap- 
 plied to the 2d Presbytery of New York, who received them, 
 and, on the day above mentioned, ordained and installed Mr. 
 Brown. This unhappy schism, strangely sanctioned by a sis- 
 ter Presbytery, produced the most painful state of things in 
 the church and congregation. Families, even parents and 
 children, were divided, — and, in some instances, bitter animosi- 
 ties were produced and perpetuated ; and the cause of re- 
 ligion, of course, suffered serious injury. Without expressing 
 an opinion on the merits of the original question, for which 
 he has not the needful data, the writer may be allowed to say, 
 that the course taken by the congregation was entirely wrong, 
 and subversive of all order and authority in the church. It 
 would have been far better for them to suffer a wrong, than to 
 have done so manifest a wrong. Their edification and the 
 salvation of their children did not depend on having Mr. B. 
 for their minister^ even though he were the best man in the 
 world, — while the course they took was one, that was fraught 
 with certain evils to them and their posterity. Besides, it 
 
SECT. 9.] HUNTINGTON. 257 
 
 was an act of rebellion against the authority of the Presbytery, 
 of which they were a constituent part, and to which they had 
 promised subjection. And although all human courts are liable 
 to err, it is far better to submit now and then to an incorrect 
 decision, than to hazard everything by dissolving all the bonds 
 of society. Nothing but an extremity will ever justify a revo- 
 lution. , The Synod, in reviewing these transactions the same 
 month, endeavoured, as far as in their power, to obviate the 
 evil consequences naturally resulting from such a procedure, 
 by declaring that there was " great irregularity in the pro- 
 ceedings," and that " the Second Presbytery of New York did 
 not exercise due deliberation in receiving the congregation of 
 Huntington, which withdrew itself irregularly from under the 
 care of the Presbytery of Long Island." But, " upon a gene- 
 ral review of this unhappy case," they deemed it best, and did 
 accordingly "set off" said congregation, " to belong in future 
 to the Second Presbytery of New York." 
 
 After Mr. B.'s dismission, the Synod, in Oct., 1832, in divid- 
 ing the L. I. Presbytery, gave permission to such churches on 
 the island as were connected with the city Presbyteries, to 
 unite with the Second Presbytery of Long Island. Under this 
 permission, the congregation became again united with the 
 neighbouring churches. Since that time it has been happily 
 associated, its affairs have been conducted with great regu- 
 larity, and the effects of that lamentable schism wonderfully 
 effaced from the minds of the people. 
 
 The Rev. Solomon F. Halliday, the ninth pastor, was or- 
 dained April 17th, 1833, but not installed till the 2d of July 
 following. He was dismissed April 19th, 1836. 
 
 The Rev. James JSPDougal, the tenth pastor, was installed 
 Nov. 2d, 1836, and continues in the deserved esteem of his 
 people. 
 
 Revivals, &c. 
 
 There are no records extant of the state and progress of 
 this church during the incumbency of the first two pastors. 
 The third pastor, when driven from his own dwelling, hastily 
 leaving it, with most of its contents, to the depredations of 
 British vassals, appears to have carried away in safety, the 
 annals of his own extended ministry. That venerable volume, 
 now more than 125 years old, lies before the writer, contain- 
 ing in a bold, legible hand, the record of every text on which 
 he had prepared a written discourse — the names of all the 
 persons he had baptized, admitted to the communion of the 
 
258 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 church, or united in marriage, during his ministry of 60 years, 
 together with the proceedings of the session in the adminis- 
 tration of discipline. 
 
 From this, it appears, that at the time of his ordination in 
 1723, there were 41 members in the communion of the church; 
 14 male and 27 female. Afterwards added, 109 males, 219 
 females. In the course of the same time he administered 
 2,381 baptisms, celebrated 822 marriages, and prepared more 
 than 3,000 written sermons. 
 
 In the year 1741, this congregation participated in the 
 general awakening of that day. The work was characterized 
 by the same peculiar marks, as in other parts of the land. 
 The pastor being called upon, on one occasion, to preach at 
 the close of a military " training" which would be deemed a 
 singular preaching occasion in this day, he remarks in his 
 private diary, that at this meeting, several were brought " un- 
 der strong convictions," and " the main part of the congrega- 
 tion were in tears." Of another meeting a few days after, 
 he says, " Preached on John vii. 37, — great numbers cried out 
 in distress — the power of God was marvellous." Numerous 
 hopeful conversions are stated to have taken place, and gene- 
 rally after " convictions of long continuance." 
 
 Again in 1764, this church enjoyed another season of special 
 refreshing. How extensively it prevailed, and how many 
 were the happy subjects of the work, it is difficult to ascertain 
 with precision. The following is an extract from the Rev. 
 Mr. Prime's letter under date of May 8th, of that year, pub- 
 lished by Dr. Buel in his narrative of the revival in Easthamp- 
 ton : " Although there are some among us, I hope but very 
 few, that oppose themselves, yet blessed be God, his glorious 
 work of grace goes on here ! The greatest part of our people 
 seemed to be solemnized and made thoughtful ; not a few 
 wounded deeply at heart, and groaning under burdens insup- 
 portable, some under shuddering horror, and fearful apprehen- 
 sions of divine wrath." The private diary of Mr. P., under 
 date of Sept. 2, 17G4, after noticing the administration of the 
 Lord's Supper, in which he was assisted by Messrs. Buel and 
 Whitaker, he says : " God has poured out his spirit in a sur- 
 prising manner upon this people — glory be to his name." — 
 What renders this work the more remarkable is, that there had 
 been troubles in the church (of what kind is not stated,) that 
 had caused the administration of the ordinance to be suspend- 
 ed from June 5th, 1763, to the time above mentioned. This 
 it seems was very much the practice of some churches in that 
 
SECT. 9.] HUNTINGTON. 259 
 
 day, in times of trial and difficulty. A greater number was 
 added to the church in this revival than in that of 1741-2 ; 
 and, what is worthy of distinct notice, a greater number of 
 males than females. 
 
 No other general awakening is known to have taken place 
 till 1800. In the spring of that year a deep interest on the 
 subject of religion commenced, which spread through the 
 congregation, and continued, with very little abatement, till 
 the succeeding winter, and indeed into the following year. A 
 large number professed to become the subjects of renewing 
 grace. The writer may be allowed to say, that he well re- 
 collects that season of mercy, it being the period at which his 
 own mind was first permanently impressed with a sense of 
 divine things, and in which many of his dear friends and com- 
 panions were hopefully brought into the kingdom. The fruits 
 of this revival have been chiefly gathered into the garner of 
 God, and few remain to tell what was then done for their souls. 
 But a savour has been left behind which will never be lost. 
 
 Again, the years 1810 — '17 — '32 and '42-3 have been dis- 
 tinguished as seasons of special refreshing from the presence 
 of the Lord, and at each of these times, considerable additions 
 were made to the communion of the church. 
 
 The following items will show the different fluctuations of 
 this church for the last 60 years : — 
 
 At the time of Mr. Schenck's settlement in 1793, there 
 were about 40 members of the church. During his ministry 
 were added 331. At the time of his dismission, the whole 
 number surviving was 263. This number was somewhat in- 
 creased under the ministry of Mr. Robertson. But by the 
 dissatisfaction occasioned by Mr. Brown's settlement it was 
 reduced to 200. This number was still further reduced in 
 1829, by the dismission of 45 members, to form the church at 
 Sweet Hollow. By the last report made by Mr. Brown, the 
 total number of members was 130. Since that time, the 
 church has gradually increased. The number of members re- 
 ported the present year is 237. 
 
 An Episcopal Church was erected in this village some- 
 where between 1750 and '60, and the Rev. James Greaton 
 was stationed here in 17G7, and remained till his death, in 
 1773. Though afterwards occasionally supplied, there was 
 no stated service maintained till the close of the century, 
 
260 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Indeed, for many years, the house was not opened, and was 
 literally the undisturbed possession of bats and owls. It was, 
 however, repaired, about 40 years ago, and service re-estab- 
 lished, but with considerable irregularity. Some 10 years 
 ago, this church being placed on the missionary establishment, 
 it has been supplied with more regularity. For several years 
 the Rev. J. Sherwood, of Cold Spring, devoted a part of his 
 time to its service. The Rev. Mr. Hall is the present rector. 
 
 In 1825, a Methodist Epis. church was erected in this 
 village, and the society is supplied with constant preaching. 
 It numbers between 70 and 80 members. 
 
 In 1836-7, a church edifice was erected by the universal- 
 ists, near the burying ground. 
 
 In the eastern part of the village, near the Episcopal 
 church, is a small building erected for a school, that is now 
 occupied as an African Meth. (Zion) church. 
 
 In 1794, an Academy was erected directly opposite the 
 Presbyterian church. This institution was never chartered, 
 or placed on the foundation of the public Academies of the 
 state. Its reputation has been fluctuating. Sometimes a 
 good classical school has been maintained, and at others, it 
 has differed little from a common school. 
 
 By a legacy recently left to this institution, by Nathaniel 
 Potter, Esq., ample provision is made for the gratuitous in- 
 struction of all the poor of the village. Though the validity 
 of the will has been contested, it is to be hoped that the bene- 
 volent design of the testator will not be defeated. 
 
 The same individual bequeathed a similar sum to the Pres- 
 byterian church, which is involved in a like controversy. But 
 when we consider the influence of such endowments on an 
 able religious society, a failure in realizing it would not be the 
 occasion of as much regret as in the former case. 
 
 Cold Spring is a considerable village in the northwest cor- 
 ner of the town, lying on a harbour known by the same name, 
 which constitutes the head of Oyster Bay. The Indian name 
 was Nacliaqaatuck. A Methodist church was erected here 
 in 1842. 
 
 A Baptist church was organized a few years ago, of which 
 a son of the Rev. Mr. Earle, of Oyster Bay, has been pastor 
 for the last two years. A house of worship has been erected 
 the past summer. 
 
 Cenlreport, (formerly Core Harbour,) is a settlement 3 
 miles east of the village of Huntington. A church was erect- 
 ed here some 25 years ago, by that section of the Methodist 
 
SECT. 9.j HUNTINGTON. 261 
 
 church which has been denominated Stilwellites, In 1831 it 
 was taken down and removed to Comack. In 1838 a new 
 house was erected on the same site, and is occupied by the 
 same sect. 
 
 About a mile and a half east, at the head of Great Cow 
 Harbour, near what is now called Northport, a Methodist 
 Epis. church was erected in 1833. 
 
 Freshpond is a vicinage in the northeast corner of the 
 town, where a house of worship was erected some 60 years 
 ago, but the precise date is not ascertained. It was supplied, 
 a part of the time, by the Rev. Joshua Hart, while he con- 
 tinued at Smithtown, and after his dismission from that place. 
 The organisation of a church here was reported to the Pres- 
 bytery by Mr. H., Oct. 12th, 1796. It was, however, small, 
 and continued so, till in 1809 it had become well-nigh ex- 
 tinct. In the autumn of that year, the Rev. N. S. Prime com- 
 menced labouring here, and remained a year and a half. The 
 church was resuscitated, officers elected, a considerable at- 
 tention and seriousness existed. In the course of the year 20 
 were added to the church, which then consisted of about 40 
 members. 
 
 In 1829, the house of worship was taken down, and rebuilt 
 at Red Hook, about a mile and a half west of its former lo- 
 cation, but the church still bears its original name. 
 
 This church remained vacant till 1816, when it was united 
 with Smithtown, in the settlement of the Rev. Henry Fuller, 
 who was dismissed in 1819. 
 
 Mr. Ebenezer Piatt, a licentiate, laboured here from 1822 
 to '24. 
 
 The Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook was ordained pastor of this 
 church and Islip, or Babylon, Jan. 19, 1826, and was dis- 
 missed in 1832. 
 
 A vacancy of 5 years succeeded, in which the church was 
 served by several different ministers. 
 
 The Rev. E. McLaughlin from 1833 to 1834. The Rev. 
 Messrs. Wickham and Sparry, in 1835. The Rev. Mr. Cook 
 from 1835 to 1836. 
 
 In 1837, the Rev. William Townley commenced labouring 
 here, and continued till April, 1843. 
 
 In 1844, the Rev. Ebenezer Piatt, who had laboured here 
 20 years ago, became a stated supply, and is still labouring 
 with this people. 
 
 This church has continued to increase, having enjoyed 
 
262 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PAKT , 
 
 special revivals in 1810, '16, '22, and '32, and now consists of 
 145 members. Its largest number was 154, in 1842. 
 
 Winne-Comack is a small settlement near the eastern L -» 
 of the town, on the middle road. It has been occupied princi- 
 pally by the Methodists ; and they erected a house of worship 
 here in 1789, which was the first belonging to that denomiri- 
 tion in the county, and the second on the Island. It was very 
 thoroughly repaired in 1838. 
 
 More than 20 years ago, a number of this Society became 
 Stilwellites, and a class of that section was organized her". 
 In 1831, the house which had been erected at Centreport, b, 
 their brethren, was taken down and rebuilt in this vicinity, 
 and is still occupied. 
 
 West Hills. — This is a small settlement, about 3 or 4 miles 
 to the southwest of the village of Huntington. It derives its 
 name from the spur of hills which here extends from the high- 
 lands on the north, nearly to the middle of the island. Janes' 
 Hill is one of the highest elevations on Long Island, and has 
 been supposed by some to exceed that at Hempstead Har- 
 bour. Its naked top affords a most extended view of the main, 
 the sound, the island itself, and the ocean. Numerous springs 
 have their origin in these hills, that send forth unfailing 
 streams which, after running to a considerable distance, form 
 ponds that are evaporated by the sun or disappear in the 
 sand. 
 
 This little settlement is about midway between the old par- 
 ish and Sweet Hollow, and the population, which formerly 
 belonged exclusively to the former congregation, is now di- 
 vided between them. 
 
 In 1844, the Methodists erected a small house of worship 
 on the eastern boundary of this neighbourhood, for the mu- 
 tual accommodation of this neighbourhood and Long Swamp 
 — another small settlement a little to the eastward. 
 
 Sweet Hollow is a settlement near the middle of the 
 town, from north to south, which, until 1829, constituted a 
 part of the old congregation. But on the 25th of May in 
 that year, 45 members, dismissed from the village church, 
 were organized into a distinct church, by a committee of the 
 Presbytery of New- York, and received under the care of 
 that body on the 13th of Oct. following. 
 
 On the 20th of March preceding, the erection of a church 
 had been commenced, and was completed and dedicated 
 July 26th, 1829. 
 
-SECT. 9,] HUNTINGTON, 263 
 
 The Rev. N. C. Saxton laboured here for a few months in 
 the summer and fall of that year. 
 
 • The Rev. Joseph Nimmo commenced his labours as a stated 
 supply, in Dec. 1829, and continued till the 1st of May, 1836. 
 The Rev. Chester Long succeeded, on the Sabbath follow- 
 ing Mr. N.'s departure, and still remains with this people. 
 The present number of members in this church is 118. 
 About a mile to the southwest of this place, on the road to 
 Farmingdale, the Methodists have recently commenced the 
 erection of a house of worship, which will probably be com- 
 J pleted this fall. 
 
 Babylon. — In 1730, a small church edifice was erected 
 at Huntington South, in the village now called Babylon, which 
 was occasionally occupied, but by no permanent minister. It 
 was torn down by the British in 1778, and its materials trans- 
 ported to the western part of the island for military purposes. 
 In 1784, anew building was erected, which was supplied with 
 the administration of the gospel only part of the time. The 
 congregation was generally known in former days by the 
 name of Islip, as the church stood near the line of that 
 town, and a part of its attendants were from within its 
 bounds. The Rev. Luther Gleason preached to this congre- 
 gation half the time, during his pastoral relation to the church 
 of Smithtown. 
 
 For several years after Mr. Gleason's removal, this church 
 was in a very destitute condition, and enjoyed only occasional 
 supplies. Mr. Richard S. Siorrs, and others, laboured with 
 them a few months, but they had no settled pastor. 
 
 In 1817, Mr. Samuel Weed commenced preaching, with 
 acceptance, to this people, and was ordained, (but not in- 
 stalled,) May 12th, 1819. Being appointed a Commissioner 
 to the General Assembly in 1820, he was taken sick in Phila- 
 delphia, and died on the 26th of June, in that city. 
 
 The Rev. Alexander Cummins succeeded for the space of 
 3 years, the Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook from 1824 to 1832, and 
 the Rev. Ebenezer Piatt for 4 years succeeding. 
 
 In 1838, the congregation disposed of their old house of 
 worship, and erected a new one, which is a neat and commo- 
 dious building. 
 
 The Rev. Alfred Ketcham commenced preaching here as 
 a stated supply, Jan. 1, 1839, and still remains. During his 
 ministry, more than 100 persons have been added to the 
 church, which now consists of 170 members. 
 
264 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 A Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in this village 
 in 1840. 
 
 Another of a much older date stands within the bounds of 
 the town, 5^ miles west, in a settlement called Huntington 
 South or West Neck. A new and more spacious edifice is 
 now in process of erection by this Society, and will soon be 
 completed. 
 
 Summary. — In this township, there are now 18 organized 
 religious societies, and the same number of houses of wor- 
 ship, viz. : — 4 Presbyterian, 11 Methodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Episco- 
 palian, and 1 Universalist. 
 
 QUEEN'S COUNTY. 
 
 Section 10. — Oysterbay. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 34,261 
 " " " unimproved, - - - 46,709 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 13, nearly. 
 
 This is the most eastern township in Queen's county, and 
 like Brookhaven and Huntington, extends the whole breadth 
 of the island, from the Sound on the north, to the ocean on 
 the south. It is bounded on the east by Huntington, and on 
 the west by the two Hempsteads. It is much wider on the 
 north than on the south, extending from Hempstead Harbour 
 to Oysterbay, and includes Lloyd's Neck which lies on the 
 east of that Bay. 
 
 Several early attempts by the English to effect a settlement 
 on this territory were frustrated by the hostility of the Dutch 
 government. And it was not till after the treaty of 1650, 
 establishing the western line of this town, (which then ex- 
 tended but little west of the present village,) as the boundary 
 between the Dutch and English jurisdiction, that any of these 
 efforts were crowned with success. 
 
 In 1653, a small company of 10 persons, among whom 
 was the Rev. William Leverich, principally from Sandwich, 
 Massachusetts, made a purchase of the Matinecock Indians, 
 and commenced a settlement on the site of the present vil- 
 lage. It increased with considerable rapidity, so that in 10 
 years there were more than 50 landholders. 
 
 At an early period of the settlement, a municipal govern- 
 ment was established, but there is no evidence of any eccle- 
 siastical organization till a much later date. It is believed 
 that the Rev. Mr. Leverich bestowed a portion of his labours 
 
SECT. 10.] OYSTERBA.T. 265 
 
 on this infant settlement, though he appears to have devoted 
 himself principally to the instruction of the natives till he set- 
 tled in Huntington in 1658. 
 
 The early settlers of this town, and indeed of several towns 
 in this county, were of a more diversified character than those 
 of the other counties. This circumstance no doubt was a 
 principal cause of delaying the establishment of religious in- 
 stitutions, the lack of which has had a powerful and abiding 
 influence on the moral habits and general interest of the com- 
 munity. 
 
 The different settlements within the present limits of this 
 town,besides the principal village at the Harbour are Glen Cove, 
 Buckram, Wolver Hollow, Cedar Swamp, Norwich, Jericho, 
 Woodbury, Bethpage, Farmingdal e,and Oysterbay South. Each 
 of these will be noticed, as far as they come within the range 
 of this work, after giving the annals of the original settlement. 
 
 There are few towns on Long Island whose earlv religious 
 history is veiled in greater obscurity than this. For nearly 50 
 years from its first settlement, there is not a particle of evi- 
 dence of the organization of any religious society, or of the 
 stated labours of a religious teacher of any denomination. 
 
 The first religious organization of which we have any 
 authentic information, is that of the Baptist persuasion ; and 
 in relation to this, there are only a few facts, which have 
 been gleaned and kindly furnished by the venerable Marma- 
 duke Earle, the present pastor of that church. 
 
 It appears that somewhere about the year 1700, Mr. Wil- 
 liam Rhodes, a preacher of that denomination, (but not an or- 
 dained minister,) came to this town, having a short tims be- 
 fore emigrated from England to Rhode Island. By his 
 labours he collected a small number of hearers. But whether 
 he was ever ordained, or a church actually organized under 
 his ministry, does not appear. His death occurred in 1724, 
 about which time it is supposed that the first house of worship 
 was erected. This building, which is still standing, is a great 
 curiosity. It is about 20 feet square, with 12 feet posts, and 
 a pyramidal roof running to a sharp point. Though removed 
 to the opposite side of the street and converted into a barn, 
 with a ' lean-to? on each side, it still continues to attract the 
 notice of every stranger. Its venerable door and square win- 
 dows both above and below, still mark it as a building that has 
 been prostituted from its original purpose. 
 
 The present church edifice was erected in 1805. 
 
 Among Mr. Rhodes' converts, was an individual by the 
 12 
 
266 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 name of Robert Feeks. He was the son of a xruaker preacher 
 in this town ; and having early " manifested gifts for the 
 ministry," became the assistant, and afterwards the successor 
 of \lr. Knodes. He was ordained in 1724 by Elders from 
 Rhode Island. He was what is called a " free-will" baptist, 
 and "as no other qualification was considered necessary in 
 a candidate for baptism, than a desire to be saved, his church 
 was of course numerous. His descendants for four genera- 
 tions have been members of the church, one of whom is at 
 present a Deacon. He laboured many years and died in the 
 89th year of his age." 
 
 When he was advanced in life, the Rev. Thomas Davis, a 
 native of Pennsylvania came to this town and was employed 
 in 1745 as a colleague. " He is said to have been a faith- 
 ful and able minister. His sentiments were Calvinistic, and a 
 number of the church became so. This difference of senti- 
 ment occasioned much strife and unhappiness, and finally laid 
 the foundation for another church. Elder Davis, who had 
 been very successful in his ministry, being afflicted with 
 bodily complaints, returned to his native state, and the church 
 was left without a shepherd, except Elder Feeks, whose facul- 
 ties were now greatly impaired by age." 
 
 Shortly after, the Lord was pleased to raise up a youth of 
 uncommon zeal and great promise — Caleb Wright, the grand- 
 son of Elder Rhodes. After preaching about 18 months, 
 " not without sorrow, for unruly men gave him much trouble," 
 arrangements were made for his ordination. But the day ap- 
 pointed for that solemn service proved the day of his burial ; 
 and Elder Isaac Still, of I aw Jersey, who had been invited 
 for the former service, preached his funeral sermon. This 
 painful event took place in November, 1752. 
 
 After this time the church was visited by Elder Davis and 
 other ministers ; but all endeavours to restore peace were vain. 
 Party spirit arose so high, that each side attempted to hold 
 possession of the meeting-house. On one occasion Elder 
 Feeks with a number of others entered the house, fastened 
 the doors, and he ascended the pulpit. Soon after Elder Davis 
 came, and one of his party burst open the door. They all 
 entered the house, and Elder D. went into the pulpit. After 
 some contention between him and Elder F., he proved victo- 
 rious and preached. 
 
 In these unhappy times, in Oct., 1759, a young man from 
 New Jersey by the name of David Sutton was sent for, whose 
 labours were attended with a blessing, and the church was 
 
SECT. 10.] OYSTEKBAY. 267 
 
 restored to some degree of unity. But peace was of short 
 duration. Some who had been excluded from the church, 
 were joined by other disaffected members, and both united in 
 forming a new and distinct society, which was known by the 
 name of the New Light church. They were visited by the 
 separatists or new lights from the eastern part of the island, 
 where that spirit had become rife about those days. 
 
 The prominent leaders of that new organization were Peter 
 Underbill, the grandson of Capt. John Underhill, whose name 
 had become notorious in Massachusetts before he came to 
 Long Island ; and Sarah Townsend, generally called Madam 
 Townsend. Although the former was designated as the Elder 
 of the new church, the latter was manifestly the ruling spirit. 
 She was possessed of talents far above mediocrity, and di- 
 rected all the concerns of the new association, being a zeal- 
 ous advocate for that unrestrained freedom which destroys all 
 decorum in divine worship. Some of the peculiar sentiments 
 which they adopted were the following, viz. : — 
 
 1. That christians sometimes had such travail of soul for 
 the unconverted as to feel assured that God would some time 
 or other convert them. They carried this principle so far as 
 to say, that a believer might be thus exercised and have this 
 assurance, before the unregenerate person was born. 
 
 2. That the saints, at certain times, would have such an 
 impulse of mind to speak to individuals, as was not to be dis- 
 obeyed without great guilt. This they termed a lead — not 
 to be guided by it they considered great unfaithfulness. 
 
 3. That unrestrained liberty should be used by every member 
 of the church, whenever he felt a necessity laid upon him to 
 speak. " The spirit of the prophets, said they, ' must be sub- 
 ject to the prophets ;' and therefore the Preacher must stop 
 in his discourse when a more enlightened brother or sister was 
 moved to speak !" Such are the interpretations and misap- 
 plication of scripture by the spirit of fanaticism. 
 
 Such principles adopted and carried out were productive of 
 the wildest disorder and tumult, till some of the most consi- 
 derate began to feel the necessity of some restraint. For this 
 purpose, about 20 persons drew up a number of articles, cal- 
 culated to maintain order in their assemblies, which they pre- 
 sented to a meeting of the church. As soon as they were 
 read, Madam Townsend arose, and vociferated at the top of 
 her voice, Babylon ! Babylon ! Babylon ! and ran out of the 
 house followed by her adherents, all uniting in the cry of 
 
68 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Babylon, with such tremendous force of lungs, that the cry was 
 heard at the distance of 2 miles. 
 
 For a while this church was greatly prospered in its own 
 way. It enjoyed what they called a great revival, and large 
 numbers were added to its communion; and the regular Bap- 
 tist church became well nigh extinct. At least, for the space 
 of about 30 years, they had no regular administration. Elder 
 Underhill continued to occupy the ground, and both he and 
 Madam Townsend, at length, tired of their own irregularities, 
 became the friends of order, and united in the re-organization 
 of a regular Baptist church. He was. on the whole, esteemed 
 a good man, and died June 27th, 1806 in the 69th year of 
 his age. 
 
 In 177S, the meeting-house which had been erected by the 
 New Lights, was removed by the British towards the harbour, 
 and devoted to military use. It was subsequently removed 
 over Mill-hill, and converted into a dwelling house. 
 
 On the 2Uth of Nov. 1789, a meeting was held for the pur- 
 pose of re-organizing a regular Baptist church. Of this meeting 
 Elder Adam Hamilton was Chairman, and Elder Benjamin 
 Coles was CJerk. The former had been a British soldier, 
 and had now become a Baptist minister. The latter was a 
 native of the town, and after having been settled in Connec- 
 ticut and New Jersey, returned after the war to his patrimo- 
 nial estate at Cedar Swamp. By his instrumentality the 
 church was resuscitated, and he continued to labour there for 
 several years. In the latter part of his life, the infirmities of 
 age, added to a burdensome corpulency, completely disquali- 
 fied him for stated ministerial services. He died in Aug. 
 1810, at the age of 73. 
 
 The Rev. JWarmaduke Earle, having take charge of the 
 Academy in this place, and Mr. Coles being very infirm, 
 commenced his labours in this church April 29, 1802. In 
 18U5 a revival occurred, in which about ICO members were 
 added. Till within 2 years Mr. Earle has pursued the labo- 
 rious occupation of both teacher and minister ; and he still 
 continues in the service of the church at the advanced age of 
 76. The present number of members is about 60. 
 
 An Episcopal church was erected here by the avails of a 
 lottery granted for that purpose by the Colonial legislature, 
 November 4th, 1754, in which divine service was maintained, 
 though not with regularity. This edifice has been rebuilt and 
 presents externally a very handsome appearance. The church 
 
SECT 10.] OYSTERBAY. 
 
 is small, consisting of 1 communicants, and the Rev. Henry 
 Harwood is the present rector. 
 
 A Friends meeting-house was erected here at an early 
 period, but its date has not been ascertained. As there are 
 few of this denomination now in this immediate vicinity, the 
 building is at present occupied by a society of coloured 
 Methodists belonging to the " Zion" church. 
 
 The origin of Quakerism on Long Island, is one of con- 
 siderable interest, especially as many mistakes are current 
 in regard to its true date. And as this town was one of the 
 earliest in which their peculiar sentiments were promulgated 
 and several of the oldest societies exist to this day, this is as 
 proper a place as any to examine this subject. 
 
 It will be found in the history of New England, that the 
 first Quakers that emigrated to Massachusetts, came in the 
 year 1655 — 6. The first that landed in the New Nether- 
 lands, came over in 1657. Among these Robert Hodgson, 
 a preacher, with several others landed at New Amsterdam. 
 Finding their liberty, if not their lives in danger in that 
 city, they dispersed, and a part of them withdrew to Long 
 Island. Here, in various towns, and in this among others, 
 Hodgson promulgated the doctrines and inculcated the prac- 
 tices of the new sect, which not a few seemed prepared to 
 embrace. The bitter persecution of the Dutch government 
 that followed, as is always the case, instead of impeding 
 rather advanced the progress of the system. The surrender 
 of the province to the English, which occurred in a few years, 
 put a stop to the persecution and restored these injured people 
 to the enjoyment of the rights of conscience. 
 
 At how early a period, regular meetings were formed and 
 houses of worship were erected on this island, the writer has 
 been unable to ascertain. He has sought information from 
 several of the denomination who were supposed best quali- 
 fied to give it, but without success. The earliest erection of 
 meeting houses that has been ascertained, was at Jericho 
 in this town in 1689, and at Flushing in the following year. 
 That in Oysterbay village, previously mentioned, was proba- 
 bly one of the oldest, though the date of its erection seems 
 to be lost. 
 
 It was in 1672 that George Fox, the founder of the sect, 
 visited America. Landing in Maryland, he set out for the 
 north — " a tedious journey through woods and wilderness, 
 over bogs and great rivers." Coming to Middletown in Jer- 
 sey, he says — " They could not stay to hold a meeting there, 
 
270 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 as they were anxious to reach Oysterbay at the half-yearly- 
 meeting. Crossing the bay to Gravesend, they spent the 
 night there — the next day they went to Flushing ; and on 
 the day following they arrived in this place ; the half-year's 
 meeting began next day, which lasted four days." 
 
 After spending several days in this vicinity, holding meet- 
 ings in different places, he embarked by water for Rhode 
 Island, where he attended a yearly or half-yearly meeting of 
 six days' continuance. He was treated with hospitality by the 
 Governor, and held a meeting in his house. On returning he 
 says — " we came to Fisher's Island, where at night, we went 
 on shore but were not able**to stay for the moschetoes, a sort of 
 gnats or little flies which abound there and are very trouble- 
 some." These little marauders appear to have given him the 
 greatest annoyance that he met with on his journey. He 
 then visited Shelter Island, where he spent more than a week, 
 preaching to the white people and also to the Indians, of 
 whom he once had an assembly of 100 or more. He then 
 returned to Oysterbay, where he arrived on " the 7th of the 
 6th month." Returning to Flushing and Gravesend, in both 
 of which he held one or more meetings, he re-crossed the bay 
 into Jersey on his way back to the south.* 
 
 * Although we have followed Fox off the island, the following extract 
 from his journal detailing an occurrence that took place a few days after- 
 wards, is worthy of being presented, as illustrative of the sentiments of 
 the age, as well as of the claims of the apostle of this new sect. 
 
 " While we were at Shrewsbury an accident befel, which for the time 
 was a great exercise to us. John Jay, a friend of Barbadoes, who came 
 with us from Rhode Island, and intended to accompany us through the 
 woods to Maryland, being to try a horse, got upon his back and 
 the horse fell a running, cast him down upon his head and broke his 
 neck; as the people said. Those that were near him look him up as 
 dead, carried him a good way and laid him on a tree. I got to him as soon 
 as I could, and feeling him, concluded he was dead. As I stood pitying 
 him and his family, I took hold of his hair and his head turned any way, 
 his neck was so limber. Whereupon I took his head in both my hands, 
 and setting my knees against the tree, I raised his head and perceived 
 there was nothing out or broken that way. Then I put one hand under 
 his chin and the other behind his head, and raised his head two or three 
 times with all my strength, and brought it in. I soon perceived his neck 
 began to grow stiff again, and then he began to rattle in his throat and 
 quickly after to breathe. The people were amazed, but I bade them 
 have a good heart, be of good faith, and carry him into the house. They 
 did so and set him by the fire. I bid them get him something warm to 
 drink and put him to bed. After he had been in the house awhile he 
 began to speak, but did not know where he had been. The next day we 
 passed away, and, he with us, pretty well, about 16 miles, to a meeting 
 at Middletown, through woods and bogs, and over a river where we swam 
 
SECT. 10.] OYSTERBAY. 271 
 
 From this outline of Fox's tour upon the island, it is mani- 
 fest that at that period, there must have been several regular 
 meetings organized in the western towns, to which this de- 
 nomination are still confined. 
 
 Again — Thomas Chalkley, another preacher of this sect, 
 who spent more than forty years in alternately preaching 
 and trading to the West Indies, in his first visit to Long 
 Island in 1698, mentions holding " large meetings" at West- 
 bury, Bethpage, Jerusalem and Matinecock ; all of which are 
 within this town or its immediate vicinity. And in all these 
 places as well as several others, meeting houses exist to the 
 present day. These will, of course, be noticed in their re- 
 spective towns. 
 
 In 1844, a small but neat Presbyterian edifice was erected 
 in this village, and a church was organized the ISth of 
 December, consisting of 10 members, set off for that purpose 
 from the church in Hempstead. This is the first and only 
 church of that denomination within the bounds of this town. 
 Though it has enjoyed stated preaching, it is not yet favoured 
 with a settled pastor. 
 
 At the head of Coldspring Harbour, about 3 miles east of 
 the village and within a few rods of the eastern line of the 
 town, an Episcopal church was erected in 1836 by the aid 
 of the Trinity church in New-York. The Rev. Isaac Sher- 
 wood, who for a number of years divided his labours between 
 this church and that at Huntington, is the present rector. 
 The congregation is not large, and the church numbers IS 
 communicants. 
 
 Buckrum or Buckram (for there are two distinct traditions, 
 in regard to the origin of the name, corresponding with the 
 diverse orthography) is situated two miles west of the village 
 of Oysterbay. Here is a small Methodist Church erected 
 within a few years. And about a mile to the South, is a 
 Friends' Meeting- House, which bears the name of Matinecock 
 Meeting-House, though it is 3 or 4 miles from the Point that 
 is known by that name. It is one of the most ancient edifices 
 
 our horses, and got over ourselves upon a hollow tree. Many a hundred 
 mile did he travel with us after this." 
 
 Whether this is given as an evidence of surgical skill or of nvraculous 
 power, the reader must form his own opinion. In either case, it is suffi- 
 ciently remarkable to be preserved, as it is the only instance of setting a 
 broken neck to be found, either in the annals of surgery or in the record 
 of miracles. 
 
22 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 of that denomination and has been thoroughly repaired of late 
 years. 
 
 Glen Cove (formerly Moscheto Cove,) lies at the head of a 
 Creek extending up into a deep valley more than a mile from 
 the East shore of Hempstead Harbour. It is a neat little vil- 
 lage of a single street, accessible only at its two extremes, be- 
 ing hedged in by impassable hills on the North, and by the 
 stream and milf ponds on the South. It is a place of very 
 considerable water-power, and presents an appearance of 
 thrift and business-like importance. The steam-boat landing 
 about a mile and a quarter to the west, in full view of the 
 head of Long Island Sound, affords daily communication with 
 the city, and renders this spot the outlet for the surrounding 
 .' ountry. 
 
 An Episcopal Church under the name of" St. Paul's" was 
 erected here in 1834, of which the Rev. James P. F. Clark, is 
 the present rector, as also of that at Manhasset. 
 
 There is also a Methodist Society, but they have not yet 
 erected a house of worship. 
 
 An Academy and also a Female School exist in this village. 
 
 Cedar Swamp is a small settlement about three miles to the 
 south-east of Glen Cove. Here is an African Methodist Epis- 
 copal Church which contains 70 members. 
 
 Wolver Hollow is about two miles south of Buckram, or 
 four miles south-west of Oysterbay village. This settlement 
 was originally made in the latter part of the 17th cen- 
 tury, by the Dutch, as this part of the town fell within their 
 jurisdiction, by the treaty of Hartford. A Dutch church was 
 organized here sometime after ; but its date has not been pre- 
 cisely ascertained. No house of worship was erected till 1732. 
 The one that was then built was in the orthodox form, a re- 
 gular octagon with a corresponding roof. The present church 
 was erected in 1832. 
 
 Till after the commencement of the present century, this 
 congregation was a part of the collegiate charge of Queen's 
 County. 
 
 The Rev. David S. Bogart was installed pastor of this 
 church (afterwards in connexion with that in North Hemp- 
 stead,) on the first Sabbath of Sept. 1813. He was dismissed 
 April 1 1th, 1^26, and died in New- York July 10th 1839. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Hermance was ordained Sept. 10th, 1826, 
 and dismissed August 28th, 1827. 
 
 The Rev. James Olterson was installed the 3rd Sabbath in 
 May 1823, and dismissed Dec. 1st 1834. 
 
SECT. 10.] OYSTEBBAY. 273 
 
 The connexion between this congregation and that of 
 North Hempstead, was dissolved Aug. 4th, 1835, and on the 
 5th of Oct. following, the Rev. Robert A. Quia was installed 
 pastor of this church. He was dismissed Oct. 11th, 1841. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas B. Gregory, was installed in May 1842. 
 He has since been dismissed, and the Rev. P. D. Oakey is the 
 present pastor. 
 
 Norwich is a small village about two miles south of Oyster- 
 bav. A Methodist Episcopal Church was erected here in 
 18^5. 
 
 Jericho is situated six miles south of Oysterbay, near the 
 north-east corner of the Great Plain, on the Jericho Turnpike. 
 It was settled at an early period, principally by Friends, and 
 that is the only denomination that have a house of worship 
 there. The Quaker meeting-house, as before stated, was 
 erected in 1689. The present building is spacious and was 
 reared after the revolution. 
 
 This little settlement has obtained celebrity as having been 
 the residence of Elias Hicks, who acquired immortality, by 
 the great schism which his peculiar views occasioned, in that 
 once peaceful and singularly united denomination. A brief 
 notice of the man — his sentiments, and the contentions and 
 final separation which they occasioned will be in place. 
 
 Elias Hicks, was horn within the limits of the present town 
 of North Hempstead, March 19th 1748. Though he enjoyed 
 very limited means of education in early life, and was brought 
 up to the laborious occupation of a carpenter, he was confess- 
 edly, a man of strong powers of mind ; and soon became a 
 distinguished member of this denomination. He settled in 
 early life at Jericho, where he continued to reside till his de- 
 cease. Having become a preacher, he was extremely popular, 
 both at home and abroad. He travelled first through the 
 island, and held one or more meetings in most of the towns. 
 At subsequent periods, he journeyed through most of the 
 United States, and into Canada. His official journeys have 
 been estimated, in the aggregate at 10,000 miles ; and his 
 public discourses on those missions at 1,010. 
 
 It was not till an advanced period of his life, that serious 
 suspicions began to be excited, that the doctrines he taught, 
 were not in strict accordance with the views of the founders 
 of Quakerism. The apprehension, however, at first conlined 
 to a few minds, gradually gained ground, till it gave rise to 
 spirited discussion, and eventually to fierce contention ; and 
 in some instances, to tumultuous proceedings. The extensive 
 
 12* 
 
274 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 acquaintance and great personal influence of this celebrated 
 man caused these discussions to become general throughout 
 the country : and a disposition to try the strength, and deter- 
 mine the members of the respective parties, was manifested in 
 every part of the land. This introduced a new order of things 
 into the meetings, and led to measures hitherto unknown to 
 this denomination. Instead of calm, cool deliberations, in 
 which every measure was settled by general consent, without 
 the formality of a vote ; now, each party was found striving 
 for the mastery, and every question was contested, and finally 
 settled, by a stern and uncompromising majority. In nume- 
 rous instances, the weaker party was excluded from the pre- 
 mises, and doors were locked and barred against their intrusion. 
 This state of things necessarily laid the foundation for much 
 litigation, and in several States, protracted and expensive law- 
 suits were resorted to, to determine who were the rightful 
 possessors of the public property, and consequently, which 
 party had the claim to the title of true and genuine Friends. 
 In some instances, these disputes were settled by a compro- 
 mise between the parties. But in both cases, a complete di- 
 vision has been the result, and the two parties form distinct so- 
 cieties, each claiming the original appellation, distinguished 
 in common parlance, by the names Hicksites and Orthodox. 
 
 This separation has taken place in several societies on 
 Long Island, but here the Hicksite party is by far the most* 
 numerous. Taking the state of New York at large, they are 
 about equally divided ; but the Orthodox are in the majority 
 in the United States. Actual separation took place in the 
 yearly meetings of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Ohio, 
 and Indiana. No schism was made in Virginia and North 
 Carolina, and only a few individuals seceded in New Eng- 
 land. The yearly meetings of London and Dublin keep up 
 their usual intercourse and correspondence with the Orthodox, 
 but have no communication with the other section. 
 
 This division, which was consummated about the year 
 1827, has laid the foundation for the existence of two distinct 
 denominations, both retaining the dress, the language, and the 
 forms of the disciples of George Fox, but differing materially 
 in their theological sentiments. The Orthodox assign, as the 
 cause of the division, " certain opinions promulgated by Elias 
 Hicks, denying or invalidating the miraculous conception, di- 
 vinity and atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also the 
 authenticity and divine authority of the Holy Scriptures. 
 These, with some other sentiments, were so entirely repug- 
 
SECT. 10.] OYSTEBBAY. 275 
 
 nant to the acknowledged and settled principles of the society 
 that endeavours were used to prevent the promulgation of 
 them." 
 
 Of the truth or falsehood of these allegations, it is impos- 
 sible to obtain any evidence from the Journal of Elias Hicks, 
 published since his death, as that work is strangely silent on 
 all those disputed topics. He often records the fact that he 
 met with strong opposition, and was sometimes denied admit- 
 tance into the Friends' meeting-houses ; but the reason does 
 not appear. And while, on other occasions, he tells us that 
 he " had strength and utterance to open many important doc- 
 trines of the Christian religion, in a clear and impressive man- 
 ner," by which many of the hearers " were tendered and con- 
 trited" not the least intimation is given what those doctrines 
 were. 
 
 It is due to the memory of Elias Hicks to say, that there is 
 a letter extant, written by him only a few months before his 
 death, in answer to six queries propounded by a "Friend," in 
 which he declares his belief of the miraculous conception and 
 divinity of Jesus Christ, the use and excellency of the Scrip- 
 tures, the doctrine of human accountability, and a future state 
 of rewards and punishments. It is a matter of gratification, 
 if he was led deliberately to adopt correct views on these im- 
 portant points, before he was summoned to his final account ; 
 but it is manifest, from his letters and public discourses, that, 
 for many years preceding, his sentiments on those topics were 
 of a vastly different character. As early as 1821, he declared, 
 in his letter to Thomas Willis in regard to the miraculous 
 conception of Jesus Christ, that he thought " there was con- 
 siderable more evidence for his being the son of Joseph than 
 otherwise." And in regard to these two opposite sentiments, 
 he adds, *' I conceive, in regard to our salvation, they are both 
 non-essentials : and I may further say, I believe it would be 
 a much greater sin in me to smoke tobacco, that was the pro- 
 duce of the labour of slaves, than it would be to believe either 
 of these positions." And it certainly will not be disputed 
 that, in his subsequent discourses delivered in different parts 
 of the land, as well as in colloquial discourse, he frequently 
 and unreservedly declared his opinion, that " Jesus Christ was 
 a mere man, begotten and brought forth as other men, and 
 undoubtedly was the son of Joseph." On the general subject 
 of Christ's divinity, the inspiration of the Scriptures, and other 
 kindred subjects, it is well known that he promulgated senti- 
 ments vastly different from those expressed in his last letter. 
 
276 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 A man has a perfect right to change his sentiments, even at 
 the close of life ; and it is no disparagement to his character 
 to acknowledge his errors, when convinced of them ; bat such 
 change, however complete, cannot nullify the fact that he 
 had previously entertained and advocated views of an opposite 
 character. 
 
 There are now, within the counties of King's and Queen's, 
 12 meeting-houses belonging to the general denomination of 
 Friends. In only two places, viz., Flushing and Westbury, 
 have they actually erected separate houses of worship. In 
 both of these, the Orthodox society is small, and the houses 
 which they have erected, of corresponding dimensions. 
 
 All the Hicksite Friends oi. Long Island are included under 
 3 monthly meetings, except the society in Brooklyn, which 
 holds its connexion in the city of New York. The Orthodox 
 are all included in a single monthly meeting. 
 
 Woodbury is a scattered vicinage, a little to the east of Jeri- 
 cho, extending to the eastern line of the town. It lies on the 
 continuation of the Jericho turnpike, through the West Hills to 
 Smithtown. In the eastern part of this settlement, which has 
 long borne the name of " East Woods,'" an Episcopal church 
 was erected in 17^7, which bore the name of St. Peter. It 
 was seldom used for religious purposes, and in the course ~ c a 
 few years was burned down. The site has long been occu- 
 pied by a temple of Bacchus. 
 
 Hicksville, although unknown in the ecclesiastical annals 
 of the island, ought probably to receive some notice as we 
 pass by it. It is a "village" of recent origin, situated on the 
 western line of the town, about midway of the great plain. It 
 owes its existence to the temporary termination of the Long 
 Island rail-road at this point. It originally consisted of a 
 large depot and work-shops, a hotel with its out-houses, and 
 5 or 6 small private dwellings. The rail-road having been 
 extended to Greenport in 1844, the depot being burned down 
 about the same time, and no addition whatever being made to 
 the private dwellings, the " village" bids fair to remain in statu 
 quo. Its business, however, is undiminished, as it is a point 
 at which several stages and private conveyances arrive daily, 
 with passengers from the adjacent villages ; and after remain- 
 ing an hour or two, depart with their return cargoes. Of 
 course, its principal trade consists of hay and oats for horses, 
 and cakes and pies, and coffee or whiskey, for men — all of 
 which are articles of foreign production, as there is no land 
 under cultivation. Indeed, all the houses stand " out of doors," 
 
SECT. 10.] OYSTEEBAY. 277 
 
 without any enclosure, except a small garden attached to the 
 hotel. And although the whole territory is as level as a barn- 
 floor, and building-lots can be purchased far cheaper than in 
 New York, the public seem determined not to buy them. It 
 has been said that, 4i by spirit and enterprise, it would become 
 a very desirable and eligible spot for such mechanical branches 
 as do not require the aid of steam or water power ;" but as all 
 mechanics stand in need of a little water to drink and for culi- 
 nary purposes, and as Hicksville is the most elevated point on 
 the whole line of the rail-road, being, according to the state- 
 ment of the engineer, 142 feet above tide- water, it does not 
 seem likely to be selected as a place of residence by any man 
 in his senses. On the whole, Long Island does not furnish, 
 in all its length and breadth, a stronger instance of the folly 
 of attempting to rear cities and villages on the hot-bed princi- 
 ple. East New York and Jamesport are privileged spots com- 
 pared with Hicksville. The name ma)' live, but the " village" 
 is a miserable abortion. 
 
 Bethpage is another ancient Quaker village, about 4 miles 
 south-east of Hicksville, near the line of the rail road. It is 
 impossible to ascertain at what date the Friends' meeting- 
 house was erected here; but there is reason to believe that it 
 was coeval with those of Flushing, Matinecock, and West- 
 bury. The writer has recently conversed with an old gentle- 
 man who was born and spent a life of more than fourscore 
 years in that vicinity, who stated that this house appeared to 
 him an old building when he was a boy. It was rebuilt, or 
 materially repaired, after the Revolutionary War. 
 
 Farmingdale, (formerly Hard-scrabble,) is about one mile 
 east of Bethpage, and near the line of Huntington. The 
 change of names is doubtless one of the improvements pro- 
 duced on the island, by the construction of the rail road. And 
 it seems a little remarkable that two places of such uncouth 
 appellations as Hard-scrabble and Punk's- hole, should have 
 been so situated as to become the only two stopping-places of 
 the Boston train, with its hundreds of passengers every day. 
 And yet this is the fact. Farmingdale is near the 32d mile stone, 
 and Brooktield 66 miles from Brooklyn, or 29 from Green- 
 port. 
 
 A small Methodist Episcopal Church was erected here in 
 1843, which, together with a store and tavern, and a few pri- 
 vate dwellings recently erected, constitute the " village." 
 
 Oysterbay South, is a continuous line of dwellings on the 
 south road, of about 3 miles, which is the breadth of the town 
 
278 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 on this side of the island. Not far from the centre of this 
 population, a neat Episcopal church was erected in 1844 ; but 
 stated worship has not yet been established. 
 
 In the western part of this settlement, near the western line 
 of the town, is the residence of Thomas F. Jones, Esq., whose 
 plantation includes Fort Neck, with its Indian fortifications, 
 which were briefly described in Part I. Among the numerous 
 streams which water this part of the island, is the Massapequa 
 Brook,* running through Mr. Jones' farm, upon which he 
 has raised, at a great expense, a beautiful fish-pond, some 60 
 acres in its area, which is well stocked with trout. Near the 
 centre of the pond is a small island, which its enterprising 
 proprietor has provided with shade-trees and seats, affording 
 a most delightful retreat in a hot summer's day. There is 
 an air of neatness, beauty and comfort about this place that 
 is exceeded by few, if any, country residence on the island. 
 
 Plain Edge, or Turkeyville, is a settlement lying partly 
 in Oysterbay, and partly in Hempstead, between 3 and 4 
 miles from the south road, and about the same distance south 
 of Hicksville. It is a considerable settlement, somewhat 
 scattered, and has two churches, one within the limits of each 
 town. Either of the above names is sufficiently distinctive. 
 The village is situated just on the verge of the Great Plain, 
 whence its ancient name originated. And while the land is 
 excellent, and, in general, well cultivated, the inhabitants ex- 
 cel in the art of raising turkeys. In passing through this vi- 
 cinity, you behold immense flocks of these fowls, spreading 
 over the fields, and often extending their stroll out upon the 
 plain. Thousands of these are annually raised in this vicini- 
 ty ; and on that account, the very appropriate name was ap- 
 plied to it, by one of the oldest inhabitants. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church in this settlement, stands 
 within the town of Oysterbay. The other, situated on the 
 turnpike leading from Hempstead, through Farmingdale to 
 Babylon, was built some years ago by the " Methodist Socie- 
 ty," or the Protestant Methodists. It was in a flourishing con- 
 dition till the " Midnight Cry " was sounded in this retired 
 
 * The name of this brook is an obvious memorial of the Marsapeague 
 tribe, who formerly occupied this territory. It is said that the import of 
 the name has been recently ascertained, and is supposed to have origin, 
 ated from the exclamation of some child of the forest, who, after slaking 
 his thirst in the purling stream, arose from his hands and knees with this 
 expression : — Massapequa — " / have drunk enough, and more than 
 enough." 
 
SECT. 11.] HEMPSTEAD. 279 
 
 region. And when the providence of God had illustrated its 
 falsehood, the society dispersed, and for several months the 
 house has remained unoccupied. 
 
 Summary. — In this town are 17 houses of worship, viz : — 
 7 Methodist, 4 Friends, 3 Episcopalians, 1 Presbyterian, 1 
 Baptist, and 1 Reformed Dutch. 
 
 Section 11.— HEMPSTEAD. 
 
 Number of acres improved, . . . 29,501 
 
 " " unimproved, . . . 42,499 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 8$ nearly. 
 
 This township originally extended from the Sound to the 
 ocean. But by an act of the Legislature, passed April 6th, 
 1784, it was divided by a line running near the middle of the 
 Great Plain, into two towns. It is now bounded on the north 
 by North Hempstead, east by Oysterbay, south by the ocean, 
 and west by Jamaica. This section was first called " South 
 Hempstead," but the prefix was afterwards rejected. 
 
 The first settlers of this town were English emigrants, who 
 had temporarily resided at different places in New England, 
 and last at Stamford, Ct. They sent over agents in 1643, 
 who made a purchase of the natives. A small company came 
 over and commenced the settlement in the Spring of the 
 following year ; and a patent dated Nov. 16th, 1644, was ob- 
 tained from the Dutch governor, which gave them " full 
 power and authority to build a town or towns, with fortifica- 
 tions — a temple or temples, to use and exercise the reformed 
 religion, which they profess, with the discipline thereunto 
 belonging, to erect a body politic or civil combination among 
 themselves, and to nominate certain magistrates,"' subject to 
 the approval of the governor ; M with full power to said mag- 
 istrates to call a court or courts, as often as they shall see ex- 
 pedient, and to hold pleas in all cases civil and criminal." In 
 3 years from this time there were more than 60 land- holders ; 
 and in 1685, the number of taxable inhabitants was 160. 
 
 It is evident that the first settlers of this town were men of 
 character and piety. Whether they came to the island in a 
 duly organized church relation, does not appear, but their 
 minister formed one of the first company, and the regular 
 establishment of divine institutions appears to have been one 
 of the first objects that engaged their attention. And they 
 seem to have gone further, and approximated nearer to the 
 
280 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PAUT 2, 
 
 rigid rules of Connecticut, in requiring a general attendance 
 on public worship, than any other town on the island. In 
 1650, an order was passed in their general court, imposing 
 a fine, which was to b3 doubled for each successive oH'ence, 
 upon every person who, " without just and necessary cause," 
 should neglect to attend "public meetings on the Lord's day, 
 and public days of fasting and thanksgiving, both forenoon 
 and afternoon.''' 1 If such a rule, waiving the pecuniary penalty, 
 were only made a condition of church membership, it is to be 
 apprehended that many of the churches of the present day 
 would be reduced to a very small number. 
 
 The original settlement, which is the principal village in 
 the town, is situated on the south side of the plain, 3 miles 
 from the main line of the railroad, a branch of which extends 
 to the village. It contains about 200 dwellings, and includes 
 nearly one fifth of the whole population of the town. 
 
 Besides this, there are several other settlements of more or 
 less consequence, viz. : — Fosters Meadow, Far Rockaway, 
 JSear Rockaway, Hick's Neck, Raynor South, Merick, New- 
 bridge or Hempstead South, Jerusalem, and Plain Edge or 
 Turkey mile. 
 
 The whole of this town, though remarkably level, and lying 
 directly south of the Great Plain, is as remarkably well- 
 watered. There are 8 or 9 streams, some of them affording 
 a sufficient supply of water for several mills and factories of 
 various kinds ; and what is very remarkable, several of these 
 take their rise along the south part of the Great Plain ; and 
 some of them, at their heads, furnish abundant evidence, that 
 in former days, they proceeded from nearly the middle of the 
 Plain. 
 
 Churches, &c. 
 
 The first house of worship, 24 feet square, was erected in 
 1645, but not completed till 2 or 3 years afterwards. In 1660 
 it underwent some considerable repairs. 
 
 In 1679, anew church, 34 by 24 feet, with 12 feet posts, 
 was erected, and the old one disposed of at public auction. 
 
 This church was enlarged in 1700, only a few years be- 
 fore the congregation was deprived of it by the introduction 
 of episcopacy, as will be more particularly noticed in the 
 sequel. 
 
 The Presbyterian, or Independent congregation, as they 
 were indifferently called, being deprived of their house of 
 worship, accommodated themselves as they could, for a num- 
 
SECT. 11.] IIESirSTEAD. 281 
 
 ber of years ; till somewhere about the years 1716 — 18, 
 they erected a small house near the pond, in the western part 
 of the village. 
 
 In 1762 — 4, they erected the fourth edifice, which they 
 enjoyed the use of till it was taken possession of by the Brit- 
 ish, in the Revolutionary War, and converted into a store- 
 house. In 1784, this building was repaired, but was unfor- 
 tunately burned down in 1603. 
 
 In the following year, the present building was erected, 
 and enlarged in 1825, which the increased congregation are 
 contemplating to replace with a new and larger edifice. 
 
 The first Episcopal Church reared by that denomination in 
 this village, was built in 1734, on the same site with the for- 
 mer, which they had taken possession of 30 years before. 
 
 In 1*22, the present church was erected, and consecrated 
 Sept. 19th, 1823. 
 
 A Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1822, and has 
 since been enlarged. 
 
 The Hempstead Seminary, a noble and elegant edifice, 60 
 by 40 feet, was erected in 1836. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The name of the Rev. Richard Denton is identified with 
 the first settlement of this town. He came over with the 
 first company, in 1614, and continued their pastor till 1659. 
 He then returned to England, where he died in 1602, at the 
 age of 76. 
 
 In 1680, the Rev. Jonas Fordham became the pastor of 
 this church. How long he continued is not ascertained, but 
 probably till within a short time of the settlement of his suc- 
 cessor. He is the same individual who was afterwards em- 
 ployed for a few years at Brookhaven, where he has been 
 previously noticed. 
 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Hobart was settled here in 16S3. He 
 remained some years, but the precise time of his removal is 
 not known. It appears that his salary was so reluctantly paid, 
 that he was obliged to apply to the Court for relief, and in 
 1690, it was ordered to be raised by a tax. This probahly in- 
 creased the dissatisfaction, and led to his speedy removal. It 
 has been supposed that he was afterwards minister at Jamaica, 
 where his name is written Jeremiah HubberU Though the 
 Records of Jamaica show that proposals were made for the 
 employment of a minister of that name, it does not appear 
 
282 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 that he ever accepted them. Mr. Hobart removed, near the 
 close of the century, to Connecticut, where he died in 1717, 
 at the advanced age of 87 years. 
 
 Who was his immediate successor is not known ; nor have 
 we any authentic accounts of a settled ministry in this town 
 for a great number of years. In the beginning of the next 
 century, the severe oppressions of this congregation com- 
 menced ; and the people being disheartened and divided, a 
 few being gained over to " the church," and more being driven 
 into quakerism, so that the Presbyterian church was probably 
 destitute of a regularly settled pastor the greater part of the 
 time, through an entire century. That they were not entire- 
 ly destitute of preaching, during all that scene of troubles, 
 may be inferred from the letter of the Rev. Mr. Jenny, the 
 church-missionary, in which he says, under date of June 27th, 
 1728. " The body of the Presbyterians live here in the town 
 spot, but they are so poor and few, that it is with difficulty 
 they can maintain their minister, and we daily expect he will 
 leave them.'" This was almost 25 years after they had been 
 deprived of their church and other property ; and yet they con- 
 tinued to maintain divine institutions, according to their views 
 of gospel order. But who their minister was at this period 
 is unknown. 
 
 At a later date, the Rev. Benjamin Woolsey supplied this 
 congregation half the time for a number of years. He left 
 Southold and removed to his wife's inheritance in the north- 
 west part of Oysterbay, which he named Dosoris, {the wife's 
 ■portion or dowry) in 1736, and he lived till 1756. It is sup- 
 posed, that the latter years of his life were devoted to this peo- 
 ple.* 
 
 During a large portion of the time that the Rev. Joshua 
 Hart was settled at Smithtown, he divided his time with this 
 congregation. His labours were much interrupted in both 
 places, during the war ; but for many years after the return 
 of peace, he preached more or less to this people. 
 
 Immediately after the close of the revolutionary war, mea- 
 sures were adopted to gather the church, which had been very 
 much dispersed. The Rev. Mr. Burnett, of Jamaica, ad- 
 
 * There is a fact handed down by tradition, that attests the punctuali- 
 ty of this good man to his engagements, and his unwillingness to disap- 
 point the expectations of the congregation. During his engagement here, 
 he lost a son, whose death took place on a Saturday preceding his turn 
 to preach at Hempstead. Being unable to procure any person to supply 
 his place, he felt it to be his duty to leave his afflicted family, which he 
 did, and performed his usual services on the sabbath day. 
 
SECT. 11.] HEMPSTEAD. 283 
 
 ministered the Lord's Supper, and there were only 10 members 
 present. From this time, Messrs. Keltletas, Davenport, Hart, 
 and others, preached here more or less, but there was no set- 
 tled pastor till after the commencement of the present cen- 
 tury. 
 
 June 5th, 1805, the Rev. William P. Kuypers was install- 
 ed pastor by the Presbytery of Long Island. He was dis- 
 missed June 12th, 1811. At this date, the church consisted 
 of only 23 members. 
 
 In 1812, Mr. Samuel Robertson commenced his labours in 
 this place. In 1816, having been ordained collegiate pastor 
 of the church in Huntington, he divided his time between the 
 two places. In the following year, being left sole pastor of 
 that church, he ceased to labour with this people. 
 
 The Rev. Charles Webster was ordained here, March 16th, 
 1818, having commenced his labours sometime previous. He 
 remained in this charge till April 18th, 1837 : when he was 
 dismissed, and removed into Pennsylvania. During his in- 
 cumbency, his labours appear to have been greatly blessed, in 
 " strengthening the things which remained and were ready to 
 die." The church was gradually increased, till it amounted 
 to 150 members. 
 
 The Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge, Junr. the present pastor, 
 was called from Westhampton, and installed Jan. 16th, 1838, 
 The church has continued to increase, and is now in a more 
 prosperous condition, than at any former period. 
 
 The following dates, with the number of communicants 
 under each, will show the resuscitation and gradual increase of 
 this ancient church, which was " scattered and peeled," op- 
 pressed and down-trodden, during one entire century. 
 
 1811 '17 '20 '28 '32 '37 '45 
 
 23 57 75 96 131 150 220 
 
 The Episcopal Church. 
 
 In regard to the introduction of episcopacy into this town, 
 the following extract from a historical note prefixed to the Rev. 
 Selh Hart's sermon, delivered Sept. 21st, 1823, being the first 
 sabbath after the consecration of the present Episcopal church 
 in this village, is in point. 
 
 " The oldest register of the parish of Hempstead, kept in 
 the church, begins in year the 1725, when the Rev. Thomas 
 Jenny was missionary there, from the society in England, for 
 propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. But tradition in- 
 
284 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 forms, that the Rev. Mr. Thomas had previously been a mis- 
 sionary to the same parish. Divine service had been perform- 
 ed in a building, which had been formerly erected, by the in- 
 habitants of said town, for gospel uses, but which was then in 
 a state of decay. In 1734, the building of a new church was 
 commenced, and finished in that or the following year ; and 
 a royal charter obtained in the year 1735, whereby all the 
 freeholders and inhabitants of the said town who were in 
 communion with the church of England, were incorporated 
 and constituted a parish by the style and title of '* St. George's 
 Church, Hempstead," then extending across the island — and 
 whereby also was granted to them, the church then built, to- 
 gether with one half acre of the common land whereon it 
 stood ; and also about three acres and a half of land, where- 
 on the parsonage house then stood, and on which the present 
 parsonage house, which was built by the voluntary contribu- 
 tions of the parishioners, in the year 1793, now stands." 
 
 This is a concise statement of the facts of the case, but 
 some further detail is important. 
 
 " The Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," 
 which was chartered by King William, in 1701, sent out two 
 missionaries, the following year to labour in the colonies. 
 One of these was stationed at Jamaica, under circumstances 
 that will be noticed in the annals of that town. In 1714, the 
 Rev. John Thomas was sent to this village, it has been said, 
 in compliance with the wishes of the people. But the testi- 
 mony of the missionary seems to give a different view of the 
 subject. Aided, however, by the authority of the Governor, 
 the infamous Cornbury, he took possession of the church and 
 parsonage, and commenced the performance of religious ser- 
 vice, according to the ritual of the church of England. With 
 what acceptance among the people, his own letters will tell.* 
 
 Under date of March 1st, 1705, he says, "After much 
 trial and fatigue, I am, through God's assistance, safely arriv- 
 ed, and have been two months settled at Hempstead, where 
 I met with civil reception from the people. They are gene- 
 rally Independents or Presbyterians, and have hitherto been 
 supplied, ever since the settlement of the town, with a dissent- 
 ing ministry. The country is exceedingly attached to a dis- 
 
 * The writer was promised copies of these letters as taken from the 
 original ones in England ; but failing to obtain them in time, the follow- 
 ing extracts arc taken from Thompson's History, which has been some 
 time before the public, without being disputed. It is presumed they are 
 authentic. 
 
6ECT. 11.] HEMPSTEAD. 285 
 
 senting ministry ; and were it not for his Excellency, my Lord 
 Cornbury's most favourable countenance to us, we might ex- 
 pect the severest entertainment here, that dissenting malice, 
 and the rigour of prejudice could afflict us with." 
 
 Again, " I have scarcely a man in the parish steady and 
 real, to the interest and promotion of the church, any farther 
 than they aim at the favour, or dread the displeasure, of his 
 lordship. This is the face of affairs here, according to the 
 best observation I could make, in the short time I have lived 
 here."' 
 
 Again, June 25th, he writes, " The people are all stiff dis- 
 senters ; not above three church-people in the whole parish ; 
 all of them the rebellious offspring of '42. Brother Urquhart 
 and myself, belong to one county, and the only English min- 
 isters on the island." " If it had not been for the counten- 
 ance and support of Lord Cornbury, and his government, it 
 would have been impossible to have settled a church on the 
 island." 
 
 At a still later period, his own account of his prospects ap- 
 pear not much brighter. In 1717 he writes : "I have been 
 a considerable time in these parts, rowing against wind and 
 tide, first in Pennsylvania, against thequakers, and here about 
 12 years against rigid independents. 1 have always observed 
 that the > pious fraud, of a caressing and well modeled hospi- 
 tality, has captivated and inclined their affections more pow- 
 erfully than the best digested discourses out of the pulpit. 
 
 In 1722, he writes : " My last summer's sickness has pro- 
 duced a small dissenting meeting-house in one part of my 
 parish ; but I thank God, it is only the scum that is concern- 
 ed in it ; the people of figure and substance, are entirely of 
 the church-side."* 
 
 These extracts are sufficient to show how averse the people 
 were to the introduction of episcopacy, even after this devoted 
 missionary had laboured here many years. 
 
 Mr. Thomas died in 1724, and was succeeded by the Rev. 
 Robert Jenny, D.D., from Rye, in the following year. Under 
 date of June 27th, 1728, he writes thus : — 
 
 " The church's right to all this, (the church property) is 
 hotly disputed, and I am often threatened with an ejectment ; 
 first, by the heirs of one Ogden, from whom the purchase was 
 
 * The meeting-house here alluded to, is probably the one erected near 
 the pond, the date of which has been given at 171U-18. The true time of 
 its erection may be as 6tated by Mr. Thomas. 
 
286 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART, 2, 
 
 made ; secondly, by the Presbyterians, who plead from the 
 purchase having been made by them, before any church was 
 settled here, and from their minister having been long in pos- 
 session of it, that it belongs to them ; thirdly, by the makers, 
 who are a great body of the people, and argue that it belongs to 
 them, and ought to be hired out, from time to time, as the ma- 
 jor part of the freeholders can agree. The body of the Pres- 
 byterians live here, in the town spot ; but they are so poor and 
 few, that it is with difficulty they can maintain their minister, 
 and we daily expect he will leave them." 
 
 In 1734, a new church was erected by the church-party, as 
 previously stated ; and upon the occasion of its consecration, 
 Gov. Cosby attended, with a number of the state officers, who 
 made numerous presents of great value. But the most valu- 
 able favour conferred, was his Majesty's Royal Charter of In- 
 corporation, wit ; ^e name of " The Rector and inhabitants 
 of the Parish of Hempstead, in Queen's County, on Long 
 Island, in communion with the Church of England, as by law 
 established." This was doubtless designed, as it had the effect, 
 to end the controversy with the poor Presbyterians, or Inde- 
 pendents ; and the cause stands adjourned for a final hearing 
 and decision, at the grand Assizes of the universe. 
 
 In 1742, Dr. Jenny removed to Philadelphia, where he died 
 Oct. 17th, 1745, at the age of 69. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Seabury succeeded in 1742 or '3 ; and 
 died here, June 15th, 1764, aged 58. 
 
 The Rev. Leonard Cutting was rector of this church from 
 1766 to 1784, when he removed to the South. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas L. Moore succeeded in March, 1785, 
 and died here Feb. 20th, 1799. 
 
 The Rev. John H. Hobart, D.D., succeeded June 1st, 
 1800, but was called in Dec. following, to Trinity Church, in 
 New York, where he was afterwards elected assistant-bishop 
 of the diocese, and in 1811, upon the death of Dr. Moore, 
 succeeded to the episcopate. He died at Auburn while on his 
 annual visitation, Sept. 12th, 1830. 
 
 The Rev. Seth Hart succeeded in 1801, and remained till 
 1829, when he resigned on account of infirmity. 
 
 The Rev. Richard D. Hall was rector from 1829, to 1834, 
 when he removed to Philadelphia. 
 
 The Rev. William M. Carmichael, D. D., succeeded in 
 1834, and remained till 1843. 
 
 The Rev. O. Harriman is the present rector. 
 
8ECT. 11.] HEMPSTEAD. 287 
 
 Foster's Meadow is a small settlement 3 or 4 miles to the 
 west and south of Hempstead village. This part of the town 
 was settled at an early period, and constituted a part of the 
 old congregation. But a few years before the revolution, the 
 people hereabouts, erected a Presbyterian church, which was 
 taken down by the British, in the time of the war, and remov- 
 ed to Jamaica, for the construction of barracks, where it was 
 subsequently destroyed. 
 
 A methodist church was erected here in 1836. 
 
 Far Rockaway is a somewhat celebrated watering place, 
 lying in the south-west corner of the town, on the east side of 
 Jamaica Bay. The Marine Pavilion, erected in 1833, is a 
 large edifice, more than 201) feet in length, with two wings of 
 75 and 45 feet respectively, for the accommodation of com- 
 pany. It is situated near the beach, in full view of the ocean, 
 and furnishes every convenience for these who are in pursuit 
 of health or comfort during the heat of summer. There are 
 a few contiguous houses, where the invalid may enjoy more 
 retired quarters, with equal privileges of ocean air, and sea 
 bathing. 
 
 About a mile and a half to the north-east of the Pavilion, 
 is a Methodist E. Church erected some 15 years ago. And 
 at about the same distance still farther on, towards Near 
 Rockaway, is an Episcopal Chapel, erected in 1836, in which 
 the Rev. Dr. Carmichael of Hempstead officiated occasionally, 
 for several years. The Rev. John C. Smith is the present 
 rector. 
 
 Near Rockaway is about 5 miles south of Hempstead village 
 on Parsonage Creek, which discharges into the head of Hemp- 
 stead Bay. It was formerly called Clink-town, from the name 
 of an Indian chief, who resided here, and the frame of his 
 house, it is said, still remains, constituting a part of the old 
 tavern that stands near the church. 
 
 The Methodist Church was erected here in 1790, and was 
 probably the third house of worship built by that denomination 
 on the island. It was repaired, or nearly rebuilt, about 20 
 years ago. The burying ground attached to this church has 
 been rendered an object of peculiar interest, by becoming the 
 depository of the dead from the ill-fated ships Bristol and 
 Mexico. One hundred and thirty-nine bodies lie buried here, 
 in two extended rows ; at the south end of which, a small 
 but neat monument, about 4 feet square at the base and 12 
 feet high, of white marble, has been erected, which bears on 
 
288 ANTCALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 its several sides the following inscriptions, copied verbatim et 
 literatim : — 
 
 (On the South side.) 
 
 To the memory of 77 
 
 Persons chiefly Emigrants 
 
 From England & Ireland, 
 
 being the only remains of 
 
 100 souls composing the 
 
 Passengers and crew of 
 
 the American ship Bristol 
 
 Capt. McKown wrecked on 
 
 far-Rockavvav beach, 
 
 Nov. 21. 1836. 
 
 The inhabitants of the County 
 
 impelled by A generous sensibillity 
 
 have Purchased thirty feet front and rear 
 
 by One hundred and Sixty one feet deep 
 
 of this yard and set it apart exclusively 
 
 as a Marriners Burying ground. 
 
 (On the West side.) 
 
 All the bodies of the 
 
 Bristol and Mexico 
 
 recovered from the Ocean 
 
 and decently interred 
 
 near this spot ; 
 
 were followed to the grave 
 
 by a large concourse of 
 
 Citizens and Strangers 
 
 and an address delivered 
 
 suited to the occasion 
 
 from these words, 
 
 Lord save us, we perish, 
 
 Matth. 8. 25. v. 
 
 (On the North side.) 
 
 To the memory of 
 
 Sixty-two persons chiefly 
 
 Emigrants from England 
 
 and Ireland ; being the only 
 
 remains of 115 souls 
 
 forming the passengers 
 
 
SECT. 11.] HEMPSTEAD. 289 
 
 and crew of the American 
 
 Barque Mexico, 
 
 Capt. Winslow, wrecked 
 
 on Hempstead beach 
 
 Jan. 2. 1837. 
 
 (On the East side.) 
 
 To commemorate the 
 melancholy fate of the 
 
 unfortunate sufferers 
 
 belonging to the Bristol 
 
 and Mexico, this monument 
 
 was erected; partly by the 
 
 money found upon their 
 
 persons, and partly by the 
 
 Contributions of the 
 
 benevolent and humane 
 
 > in the County of Queen's. 
 
 On the base, upon the North side, the foHowin* W- r 
 worse than doggerel poetry are inscribed ,J m0WW S •"■ of 
 
 In this prove, from the wide ocean doth sleep, 
 Thr bodies of those that had crossed the deep 
 And instead of being landed, safe on the shore, 
 In a cold frosty night, they all were no more. 
 
 rn^nf ave > ard f.^ound with similar examples of bad fi ram. 
 mar and contemptible trash, called poetry— 8 
 
 " Enouorh to rouse a dead man into rage 
 And warm with red resentment the wan cheek ;" 
 but surely public monuments ought to be preserved from such 
 
 ltr° e ^ f Ud u hlle thG P e0 ^ Je of *«"n'8 County deserve 
 much credit, for the sympathy and generosity displayed ! on 
 
 rcgiet, that these several inscriptions were prepared and Pn 
 graved with so little regard to accuracy and Lie t he In" 
 correct spelling, the improper use of capitals, and the i Idi' 
 cious arrangement of the various inscriptions were the Suite 
 of an ignorant stone-cutter, the monument ought never to 
 
 *e Ve woT iK? th ° Se Wh ° had thG -Penftenden" f 
 thewo.k. Such obvious inaccuracies will be yarded bv 
 ordinary visitors, and especially by foreigners, as mCments 
 of the ignorance of the country where they exist. And no 
 man can be censured for drawing the inference, however un- 
 
290 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PAHT 2, 
 
 founded it may be in this and other cases, that where such an 
 expense is incurred, those who superintended the work, made 
 use of the best knowledge they possessed. The reputation of 
 a country is involved in its public monuments.* 
 The following particulars may be added : — 
 The Bristol was an American ship nearly new, manned 
 by a crew of 16 officers and men, and having 100 passengers, 
 about 90 of whom were in the steerage. She sailed from 
 Liverpool, Oct. 16th, 1836, and arrived off the Hook, Nov. 
 20th. Not succeeding in obtaining a pilot, she was driven, 
 on the 2Jst, by a violent gale, upon the Rockaway shoals, a 
 few miles west of the Marine Pavilion, and half a mile from 
 the shore. The roughness of the sea, by the continuance of 
 the gale, rendered it impracticable to afford any assistance 
 from the land, till after midnight of the 22nd, when a boat 
 from the shore succeeded, at imminent peril, in rescuing 32 
 individuals from a watery grave. Of course 64 perished, of 
 whom 3 were cabin passengers, and the residue emigrants and 
 seamen. 
 
 The Mexico was an American Barque of 3C0 tons, manned 
 by a crew of 12 men including officers, and having on board 
 112 steerage passengers, as ascertained from her papers, cer- 
 tified by the Collector at Liverpool. She left Liverpool Oct. 
 23rd, 1836 only a week after the Bristol, but did not arrive 
 off the Hook till the 31st of December. Not being able to 
 find a pilot, she stood off to sea ; but on returning to the Hook 
 on the 2nd of Jan. and attempting to enter the Bay, she was 
 driven on Hempstead Beach, about 1(1 miles east of the spot 
 where the Bristol had been wrecked. The weather being in- 
 tensely cold, and the waves constantly breaking over the 
 vessel, the most of the passengers and crew perished in the suc- 
 ceeding night. On the following day, a boat from the shore 
 succeeded in reaching the vessel, and rescued the captain, 4 
 
 * Since the above was written, the following information has been 
 communicated by a gentleman, who was in a situation to become ac- 
 quainted with the circumstances of the case. " In regard to the inscrip- 
 tion upon the Rockaway Monument, I can only say, that the committee 
 who superintended the work, had a number of epitaphs presented to them, 
 some of them very appropriate, and possessed of considerable poetic merit. 
 But the committee finally adopted the one in question, simply for the rea- 
 son, that the individual who prepared it, had pledged a liberal subscription 
 towards the monument, on condition that it should secure the prefer- 
 ence." — This, truly, is one way of purchasing an inglorious immortality, 
 at the expense of the literary reputation of a whole community ; and the 
 word is, that the committee consented to the terms, 
 
SECT. 11.] HEMPSTEAD. 29l 
 
 passengers, and 3 of the crew, who dropped from the bowsprit. 
 The boat was unable to return, and the few survivors were 
 necessarily left to their fate. The whole number that perished 
 was 116. On the 11th of Jan. 43 bodies were buried at the 
 place where the monument is erected, and several others that 
 were afterwards recovered. A few of the bodies were recog- 
 nised and taken by friends for burial elsewhere. 
 
 The whole number that perished from these two vessels 
 only 7 weeks apart, was 200. 
 
 These are the most disastrous shipwrecks that have ever 
 occurred on the coast of Long Island. Though vessels are 
 frequently driven on this shore, there is no instance on record, 
 where so many lives have been put at hazard and actually 
 lost, as in either of these cases, except that of the British 
 sloop of war, Sylph, near the close of the last war, which 
 has been previously mentioned. 
 
 Hick's Neck lies 2 or 3 miles east of Near Rockaway, and 
 here a Methodist E. Church was erected in 1844. 
 
 Raynor South or Raynortown is about 2 miles east of Hick's 
 Neck, and between 5 and 6 miles from the village. It lies 
 on East Meadow Brook? which discharges into the bay, form- 
 ing one of the best mill seats in the County. 'It has a fine 
 landing, and is a place of considerable business. Here a 
 Presbyterian Chapel was erected in 1840, through the exer- 
 tions of the pastor at the village, by whom it is regularly sup- 
 plied. No separate ecclesiastical organization has yet been 
 made here, but it bids fair to become a respectable congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 Mericl; probably an abbreviation of the Indian name, Meri- 
 coke, is a continuous settlement on the south road about 5 miles 
 south-east of the village, and a short distance east of Raynor- 
 town. Here a Methodist church was erected ir 1S30. 
 
 Newbridge is a name applied to the eastern part of the samo 
 continued settlement, in^he south-east corner of the town. 
 A Methodist church was erected here in 1839, about 2 miles 
 east of that last mentioned. A little west of Shis church is a 
 small but neat edifice with a tower, having a very church-like 
 aspect, erected in 1840 as a school-house, for which purpose 
 it is occupied. 
 
 Jerusalem is a small settlement in the south-eastern part of 
 the town north of Newbridge, extending along a brook or 
 stream bearing the same name, which affords a number of mill 
 seats. The principal part of the population are of the deno- 
 
 
292 AJfNALS OE THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 mi nation of Friends, and they have a meeting house erected 
 in 1827. 
 
 Plain Edge, or Turkeyville, has been already described as 
 lying partly in Oyster Bay. One of the houses of worship is 
 within the bounds of this town, though now unoccupied. 
 
 There is one small vicinage in this town, which although 
 unknown in the ecclesiastical annals of the place, is worthy 
 of a passing notice. On the south road about 3 miles 
 south-east of the village of Hempstead, is a small neighbour- 
 hood, which has long borne the name of Rum Point. Why 
 such a forbidding appellation was applied, the writer is not 
 informed. Recent efforts have been made to change the name 
 to Greenwich, which the village-landlord has mounted upon 
 his sign. But, as the writer, in making a recent excursion 
 through this neighbourhood, saw three men, literally reeling 
 through the street, he was inclined to believe that the old 
 name was the most appropriate. 
 
 Summary. — This town contains 13 distinct congregations, 
 and as many houses of worship. 2 Presbyterian, 2 Episco- 
 palian, 8 Methodist and 1 Friends. 
 
 N. B. In the transcript of the late census which the writer 
 obtained, the number of churches in this town is stated at 24. 
 Believing this to be an error made i» transcribing, the writer, 
 when forming the schedule on page 124, ventured to change 
 the number to 14, which he was satisfied would be much 
 nearer the truth, as the result proves. 
 
 Section 12.— NORTH HEMPSTEAD. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 29,708 
 " " unimproved, - - 4,762 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 9, nearly. 
 
 The territory included in this township was erected into a 
 distinct municipality in 17S4. It is bounded on the north by 
 the Sound, east by Oysterbay, south by Hempstead, and west 
 by Flushing and Little Neck Bay. Being confined to the 
 north side of the island, the land is generally elevated, undu- 
 lating, and frequently broken by lofty hiils and deep valleys ; 
 but the soil is generally excellent, and in a high state of culti- 
 vation. 
 
 It is nominally the capital of Queen's county, the Court- 
 
SECT. 12.] KOBTH HEMPSTEAD. 293 
 
 house having been erected in 1786, within its limits, about one 
 mile from its southern boundary, on the verge of the Great 
 Plain. But from the time of its erection, it has remained a 
 solitary building, there being not more than 5 or 6 small dwell- 
 ings within half a mile or more. It is difficult to imagine 
 where or how the good people find accommodations, when ne- 
 cessarily attending on the courts. They might, indeed, carry 
 their provisions with them, as in primitive times, but the diffi- 
 culty of obtaining lodging would still remain. Riverhcad, in 
 Suffolk, is now a capacious city, compared with this solitary 
 spot. 
 
 The principal village in this town is at the head of Hemp- 
 stead Harbour, and bears that name. It is environed on three 
 sides by lofty hills — one of which, about half a mile to the 
 east, called Harbour Hill, rises to the height of 319 feet, and 
 affords a most extended view of both land and water scenery. 
 Hempstead Harbour extends up into the land about 6 miles. 
 At its mouth it is about 3 miles wide, and gradually contracts 
 as it proceeds inland, at the head of which the village is situ- 
 ated, with an unobstructed view of the Sound and Connecticut 
 shore. Copious springs and large streams, constantly pouring 
 from the surrounding hills, afford a greater amount of water- 
 power than is to be found probably in any other part of the 
 island. The lofty hills that surround this harbour seem to 
 contain vast reservoirs of water, which are constantly gushing 
 out in numberless springs and copious streams. The water 
 privileges of this place were inadvertently omitted, in noticing 
 the physical features of the island, in Part I., Section 4. 
 
 The harbour is accessible to within one mile of its head at 
 all times of the tide, and greater quantities of lumber and 
 manure are transported thither, and more produce is conveyed 
 away, than from almost any other landing. Numerous mills 
 and factories already exist, and there is abundant power and 
 room for more. The village contains about 3U0 inhabitants. 
 
 A Methodist Episcopal church is the only house of worship 
 in the village. The time of its erection the writer has not 
 been able to ascertain. But it is known that this was one of 
 the first places on the island in which that denomination com- 
 menced labouring. In 17^7, when " no Conference had been 
 held north of Philadelphia, Bp. Asbury, in company with Dr. 
 Coke, travelled to New York, where, he says, " the Doctor 
 preached with great energy and acceptance ;" and adds, "I 
 rode 20 miles on Long Island, to Hempstead Harbour, and 
 preached with some liberty in the evening." 
 
294 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 There is also a small, but neat, academy edifice in this vil- 
 lage, in which it is said a good school is maintained. 
 
 Wesfbury is a succession rather than an aggregation of 
 dwellings, in the south-east corner of the town, 2 or 3 miles 
 east of the court-house. This settlement is occupied princi- 
 pally by Friends. A meeting-house of that denomination was 
 erected here at an early date. And after the division of 18*27, 
 the Orthodox Friends erected a small separate building for 
 their own accommodation. 
 
 Manhasset is a name of modern application, to a small vil- 
 lage lying on the head of Cow Bay, 2 miles north of Success 
 Pond, and 3 miles west of the head of the harbour. The 
 name is one to be justly admired, being of aboriginal origin, 
 though topographically misapplied. The seat of the Manhas- 
 set Indians, it will be recollected, was Shelter Island ; and to 
 them the name properly belonged. But while the good people 
 of Suffolk are fond of rejecting their aboriginal names, it is 
 gratifying to find the inhabitants of other counties disposed to 
 rescue them from oblivion. Although there are a few elegant 
 mansions in this vicinity, the principal part of the village con- 
 sists of small tenements, undistinguished either for beauty of 
 situation or symmetry of form. 
 
 A Friends' meeting-house w*s erected here in 1720, and 
 was rebuilt in 1810. 
 
 An Episcopal church was erected by subscription from the 
 adjacent population, and " a liberal donation from Trinity 
 Church, New York," in 1803. It was consecrated by Bishop 
 Moore, " by the name and title of Christ's Church, though 
 in union with the church at Hempstead, and under the minis- 
 tration of the same rector." In 1819, it was incorporated as a 
 distinct parish, and the Rev. Eli Wheeler became the rector. 
 He was succeeded by the Rev. James P. F. Clarke, who still 
 officiates here, and also at Glen Cove. 
 
 A Reformed Dutch church was erected in 1816, in 
 which the Rev. David S. Bogart ministered, in connexion 
 with the church at Wolver Hollow, in Oysterbay, till his dis- 
 mission in 1826. The Rev. Henry Hermance and the Rev. 
 James Olterson were successively pastors of these churches 
 till 1834. The connexion of the congregations being dis- 
 solved Aug. 4th, 1835, the Rev. John Robb was on that day 
 ordained pastor of this church. He was dismissed April 17th, 
 1837. The Rev. William R. Gordon was ordained pastor in 
 January, 1838, and dismissed April 13th, 1842. After a va- 
 
SECT. 12.] NORTH HEMPSTEAD. 295 
 
 cancy of more than a year, the Rev. John H. Sheffield was 
 ordained, and is the present pastor. 
 
 All the public buildings previously mentioned are pleasantly 
 situated, in the vicinity of each other, on an elevation of land 
 more than 100 feet above tide-water. 
 
 About one mile south of the village, on the road to Success 
 Pond, is a small African church, belonging to that branch of 
 the Methodists styled " Zion Church," and is said to be one 
 of the most flourishing in that connexion. It numbers 70 
 church members, and has a temperance society of 140 mem- 
 bers. 
 
 Lakeville is a name applied to the vicinage of Success 
 Pond, though there is no settlement here that deserves the 
 name of a village. A Dutch church was erected on the east 
 side of the Pond about the year 1732, which was repaired and 
 occupied for religious worship after the Revolutionary War. 
 In this same building, the county courts were held for a year 
 or two previously to the completion of the County Hall, 
 on the southern line of this town. After the erection of the 
 Dutch church at Manhasset, a separate organization was 
 maintained here, as a part of the collegiate charge of Queen's 
 county, to which the Rev. Z. II. Kuypers ministered till April, 
 1825. The church was dissolved, by order of the Classis, 
 Oct. 6th, 1829. The old edifice was afterwards demolished, 
 and its site is now occupied by a private residence. Some of 
 the old timbers, of immense size, are still to be seen in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 There is no other village, of any consequence, within the 
 limits of this town. It may be proper to add, that the ex- 
 treme point of Cow Neck, the most northerly part of this town, 
 is called Sand's Point, where a Lighthouse was erected by the 
 government in 1809. It is a beautiful spot of ground, as the 
 numerous passengers through the Sound can testify. 
 
 Summary. — This town contains 7 congregations and 7 
 houses of worship : — 1 Episcopalian, 3 Methodist, and 3 
 Friends. 
 
296 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Section 13.— FLUSHING. 
 
 Number of acres improved - - 13,G90 
 " " unimproved - - 4,910 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 4£. 
 
 This town is bounded on the north by the waters of the 
 Narrows and Sound, on the east by North Hempstead, on the 
 south by Jamaica, and on the west by Flushing Bay and 
 Creek, which separate it from Newtown. 
 
 The village is situated near the head of the Bay, or mouth 
 of the Creek, over which is a bridge, erected some 40 years 
 ago, connecting with Newtown. Previously to this, the only 
 way of reaching the city was through Jamaica, a distance of 
 nearly 20 miles. By the improvements of the present century 
 the distance is only 8 miles. 
 
 The set'lement of this town was commenced in 1645, by 
 a company consisting principally of English emigrants, who 
 had taken up a temporary residence in Holland, from which 
 they were probablv; allured, by the flattering accounts from 
 the new world. There were also some among the early set- 
 tlers, who had previously emigrated to New England, and w^re 
 induced to remove, by the storm which had arisen there 
 against dissenters from the common faith. 
 
 They were all non-conformists to Episcopal rites and forms, 
 and had left their native land, to find a place where they 
 might enjoy the rights of conscience. But they found them- 
 selves sadly disappointed, soon after they had taken up their 
 residence here, notwithstanding the assurance from the Dutch 
 Governor, of enjoying "full liberty of conscience, according 
 to the manner and custom of Holland." 
 
 They received a patent or grant of the land from the Gov- 
 ernor, with the liberty of choosing certain town officers ; but 
 for some years they do not appear to have enjoyed the inde- 
 pendent right of municipal government. They were allowed, 
 as some of the other towns were, the privilege of presenting a 
 list of names, out of which the Governor selected the magis- 
 trates and other town officers. To such restrictions, how- 
 ever, they might have submitted without complaint, but in the 
 course of 10 or 12 years, the government commenced that 
 system of religious persecution, which was carried on, with 
 more or less severity, till the province was surrendered to the 
 English. 
 
SECT. 13.] FLUSHING. 297 
 
 What was the precise shade of religious views among the 
 early settlers of this town, is not known. They were not 
 Quakers, as they have sometimes been called, for at that date, 
 that denomination had not arisen in England, and George 
 Fox, their founder, had not then commenced bis public min- 
 istry. But some of them, at least, had adopted opinions in 
 relation to some divine ordinances, which differed from the 
 mass of dissenters, and for which they had been treated with 
 undue severity. And this doubtless prepared the way for the 
 quaker system to obtain that favour which it subsequently 
 met with in this town. 
 
 The first religious teacher in this place was a man by the 
 name of Francis Doughty, who was undoubtedly a Baptist in 
 sentiment, and probably laboured here several years. But 
 after the introduction of Quakerism, in 1(557, he became a 
 convert to that new sect, as was the case with many of the 
 inhabitants of this town. Consequently this was one of the 
 principal scenes of the Quaker persecution. 
 
 Near the close of the 17th century, when upon the revoca- 
 tion of the edict of Nantes, another large immigration of 
 French huguenots came to our shores, a number of these 
 estimable families took up their domicil in this town. But it 
 is said, that a few of the assorted fruit trees that they brought 
 with them, constitute the only memorial of their residence 
 here. And it has been supposed, that this circumstance may 
 have laid the foundation of those splendid nurseries, which now 
 exist in this town. 
 
 Churches, &c. 
 
 At an early period, a building was erected near the town 
 pond, which was called the Block House, and was long used 
 for the transaction of public business, and as a depository for 
 arms and ammunition. It was also occupied occasionally, by 
 different denominations, as a place of public worship. 
 
 The first house erected for the express purpose of religious 
 worship, was the Friends' meeting house, in 1690. It is stdl 
 standing, in a good state of preservation, and is probably the 
 oldest house of worship on the island. 
 
 The Orthodox meeting house was erected after the schism 
 of 1827, but is a small building compared with the other. 
 
 The efforts of the society's missionaries to introduce episco- 
 pacy on the island, were commenced here about the same 
 time as at Jamaica and Hempstead. But it was nearly 50 
 years before an Episcopal church was erected in the town. 
 
 13* 
 
298 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 In 1746, a lot of land was appropriated for this purpose, 
 and in the course of 3 or 4 years a church was erected, which 
 gave place to a new edifice in 1912. 
 
 For many years, this church was connected with the other 
 Episcopal churches in the county, and was supplied by the 
 same rectors. 
 
 The Rev. Barzilla Buckley, commenced officiating here, 
 Nov. 4th, 1809, and died March 2 ( Jth, 1820. — The Rev. John 
 V. E. Thame, from Aug. 1820, to July, 1826.— The Rev. 
 William A. Mulenburgh. D.D., from 1826 to Dec. 23d, 1828. 
 —The Rev. William H. Lewis, from Feb. 1829, to July 29th, 
 1833.— The Rev. John M. Forbes, from 1833 to '34.— The 
 Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, from 1834 to '35 — The Rev. Ro- 
 bert B. Van Kleek, from Oct. 1835, to Dec. 1837.— The Rev. 
 Frederick J. Goodwin, succeeded in Dec. 1837, and resigned 
 Jan. 14th, 1844. — The Rev. George Burcker, the present 
 rector, succeeded in March, 1844. 
 
 In 1838 the church was enlarged and repaired, and is a 
 handsome building, furnished with a bell and clock. 
 
 A small Methodist church was erected many years ago, 
 which gave place to a larger one in 1842. 
 
 A Roman Catholic Chapel was erected some 4 or 5 years 
 ago. # 
 
 A Reformed Dutch church was organized in this village in 
 May, 184*2, and a church edifice was erected in 1844. The 
 Rev. William R. Gordon, who had previously laboured here, 
 from the commencement of the enterprise, was installed pas- 
 tor in the following autumn. 
 
 On the west side of Little Neck Bay, some 3 miles north 
 east of the village, is a small settlement called "Bay Side;" 
 and near the head of the bay, on the east side, an Episcopal 
 church was erected in 1830, by Alderman Van Zandt, under 
 the name of " Zion Church." Here and at Manhasset, the 
 Rev. Eli Wheeler officiated about 7 years. He was succeed- 
 ed by the Rev. Ralph Williston, and he by the Rev. Chris- 
 tian F. Cruse. 
 
 The present rector, the Rev. Henry M. Beare, took charge 
 of the parish in May, 1842. He officiates also at Whitestone 
 Chapel, about 11 miles to the north west. This point is well 
 known, as being the seat of an ancient ferry across the strait, 
 to Throg's Neck.* This Chapel was erected by a member of 
 the society of Friends, for the use of all religious denomina- 
 
 * Throg's Neck is remarkable as the point at which the tides meet 
 through the Sound, and by Sandy Hook. 
 
SECT. 14.] NEWTOWN. 299 
 
 tions, and the place is now dignified with the name of Clin- 
 ionville. 
 
 In this town the African M. E. Church have a society, 
 consisting of 69 members ; and there is also a society of the 
 "Zion" Church, embracing 59 members; but in relation to 
 their places of worship no particulars have been ascertained. 
 
 The literary institutions of this town are worthy of a pass- 
 ing notice. 
 
 The Flushing Institute is a noble edifice, delightfully situ- 
 ated in the centre of the village, and was incorporated in 
 1827. For 10 years it was under the direction of Dr. Mulen- 
 burgh, and was devoted to classical instruction. It has since 
 been consecrated to female education, having exchanged its 
 name for '* St. Ann's Hall," and is under the superintendence 
 of the Rev. J. F. Schroeder, D.D. 
 
 St. Thomas' Hall is another institution founded by the Rev. 
 Francis L. Hawks, D.D. The buildings were commenced in 
 1838, on an extensive scale, which have not yet been com- 
 pleted. 
 
 St. PauVs College is another spacious edifice, erected in 
 1936-7, on the north west part of Tevfs Neck, now called 
 College Point. It is under the charge of Dr. Mulenburgh, 
 assisted by a number of able instructors. 
 
 All these institutions are under episcopal direction, and are 
 devoted especially to the interests of that denomination. 
 
 Summary. In this town there are 10 religious organiza- 
 tions, viz : — 3 Episcopal, 2 Friends, 3 Methodist, 1 Re- 
 formed Dutch, and 1 Roman Catholic. 
 
 Section 14.— NEWTOWN. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 10,683 
 " " unimproved, - - 6,117 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 3. 
 This town is bounded on the north by the strait called the 
 East River, including, however, within its territorial limits, 
 Hiker's Island ; the two Brothers' and Berrien's Island;— on 
 the east by Flushing — south by Jamaica, Flatbush, and Bush- 
 wick ; and west by Bushwick and the East River. The 
 western part of the town was called by the Indians Mispat, 
 whence probably the name of Maspeth is derived. 
 
 Besides the principal village near the centre, Astoria, (for- 
 
300 ATOfALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 merly Hallet's Cove,) Ravenswood, Maspelh, and Middle 
 Village are within the limits of the town. 
 
 The first settlement of the town was commenced about the 
 year 1651, principally by English emigrants. A sort of pa. 
 tent was obtained from the Dutch governor in the following 
 year ; and another, still more liberal in its provisions, in 1655 ; 
 at which time the number of occupants of land had increased 
 to 70 or 80. 
 
 It seems, that at a very early period of the settlement, they 
 instituted a sort of municipal government, and elected magis- 
 trates, or officers, to superintend the affairs of the town ; and 
 there are records, still extant, of adjudications, which indicate 
 a regard to the moral interests of the community. 
 
 At how early a date, an ecclesiastical organization was 
 made, cannot be ascertained with certainty. It has been 
 said that the labours of a minister were enjoyed soon after 
 the settlement was commenced ; but there is no evidence of 
 the erection of a house of worship, till nearly 20 years after- 
 wards. There are no ecclesiastical records previous to the 
 settlement of the second pastor, in 1708, and the book con- 
 taining these is now in a very mutilated state. It may be in- 
 teresting to posterity to know, that this is the result not of 
 wantonness or carelessness, but of the derangement of an in- 
 dividual, who found access to the book. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 In 1660, the first church edifice was erected in the village, 
 which remained without material alteration during 125 years. 
 
 The form of worship first established, was that which was 
 usually denominated Presbyterian or Independent, being the 
 same with that of the New England churches. They proba- 
 bly adopted the Presbyterian form of government, (properly 
 so called) shortly after their second pastor united with the 
 Philadelphia Presbytery, which was in 1715. No ruling el- 
 ders were appointed till 1724. 
 
 Soon after the revolution, a new church edifice was erected, 
 but was not completed till 1791 or '2, and remains to the pre- 
 sent time. It is small, but neat, and sufficient to accommo- 
 date the congregation, which consists of about 70 families, 
 comprehending between 4 and 5C0 souls. 
 
 No Episcopal church was erected in this town till 1734. 
 The Presbyterian congregation, however, were made to par- 
 ticipate with their brethren of Jamaica and Hempstead, in 
 the impositions and persecutions inflicted under the admi- 
 
SECT. 14.] NEWTOWN. 301 
 
 nistration of Lord Cornbury. Their church was frequently 
 taken possession of, and occupied by the missionaries of tho 
 church of England ; and the Rev. John Hampton, a Presby- 
 terian minister, who was occasionally supplying them, was 
 arrested and imprisoned, by Cornbury's order, in 1707, for 
 presuming to preach the gospel without the governor's license. 
 But the church, though temporarily used, was not permanently 
 retained by the friends of prelacy, as in some other places. 
 
 In 1733, a lot was given by the town, to the Episcopalians, 
 and in the following year, a church was erected thereon. 
 
 A Reformed Dutch Church was organized in the village in 
 1704. 
 
 The first church edifice was erected in 1732. The present 
 building in 1831. 
 
 This church formed a part of the collegiate charge of 
 King's county, till 1802. Since that time, it has been united 
 with Jamaica, in the support of a pastor or pastors. 
 
 In 1809, a Baptist church was organized in this village, 
 and soon after a house of worship was erected. It has seldom 
 enjoyed the stated administration of the word and ordinances 
 for any great length of time. It is now, and has been for 
 sometime past, entirely closed. 
 
 In 1839, a small Methodist Episcopal church was erected 
 in the village, which enjoys a part of the labours of the preach- 
 er stationed in the southern part of the town. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The first settled minister in this town was the Rev. Wil- 
 liam Leverich, who removed from Huntington, and took 
 charge of this church in 1670, where he remained till his 
 death, which took place, as nearly as can be ascertained, in 
 1692. 
 
 Mr. Leverich was a native of England, graduated at Cam- 
 bridge University, in 1625, came to N.England, in 1633, 
 where he laboured, in different places, about 20 years. While 
 in Sandwich, Mass., being situated near some of the Indians, 
 and having a desire to qualify himself to instruct them, he 
 acquired their language. After removing to Oysterbay, in 
 16)3, he spent about 5 years in the employment of the So- 
 ciety for propagating the gospel among the aborigines, in in- 
 structing the natives of the island, before he settled as pastor 
 of the church in Huntington. He was highly esteemed as a 
 scholar, a minister, and a counsellor in all the affairs of the 
 town. Cotton Mather records his name among the first of 
 
302 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 the worthies of that day. Hubbard calls him " an able and 
 worthy minister." As the date of his birth is not known, his 
 exact age cannot be ascertained. But, from the date of his 
 graduation, it may be inferred that he must have been nearly 
 90 years old at his death. His descendants of the 4tn and 
 5th generation, still remain among the most respectable inha- 
 bitants of this town. 
 
 The Rev. John Morse, from Massachusetts, succeeded, in 
 1694 ; but little is known of him or of his ministry. He was 
 considerably advanced in life when he came to this place, (be- 
 ing 55,) "where he remained 10 or 12 years; but whether he 
 died here, or removed, is not known. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Pomeroy (Pumroy, and Pumry, for the 
 name is thus variously written) was the next minister. He 
 commenced and kept a very full record of all ecclesiastical 
 matters, from which the following extracts are taken : — 
 
 *' In July, 1708, there was a paper delivered into the hands 
 of Samuel Pumry, being then at Newtown, subscribed by 
 some scores of the heads of families there, desiring him to 
 take the care of them as a minister of Christ, promising sub- 
 jection to his doctrine and discipline, according to the rules of 
 the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
 
 11 Which call was tak<*i into consideration, and a time ap- 
 pointed to resolve. 
 
 "In September following, the people sent two men to N. 
 England, with whom the above Saml. Pumry, his wife and 
 child came, and arrived safe at Newtown, 13th of September 
 1708. 
 
 " Upon the 30th of November, 1709, Saml. Pumry was, at 
 Northampton, before a great congregation, at the earnest re- 
 quest of the members in full communion, and the rest of the 
 congregation of Newtown, by the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of 
 Northampton — the Rev. John Williams, of Deerfleld, and the 
 Rev. William Williams, of Hatfield, ordained a minister of 
 Jesus Christ his gospel, and a pastor of the church of Christ at 
 Newtown." 
 
 From the records of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, it ap- 
 pears that Mr. Pomeroy was received as a member of that 
 body, in 1715 ; and it is altogether probable, that from that 
 time, the affairs of this church began to be regulated, in some 
 measure, by the principles of Presbyterianism. But the fol- 
 lowing extract will show that no session was regularly con- 
 stituted till some years afterwards : — 
 
SECT. 14.] NEWTOWN. 303 
 
 " Newtown, July 15th, 1724. 
 
 "Whereas, some time ago, the Rev. Mr. Samuel Pumry, 
 pa*tor of the Church of Christ, in Newtown, did complain to 
 the church of his wanting some assistance, in the business of 
 governing thereof, — There was by him nominated to the 
 church and congregation, Content Titus, James Renne, and 
 Samuel Coe, to serve in the affairs relating to the church, as 
 ruling elders. And desired, if there were any person or per- 
 sons, that had anything to object against any of them, their 
 taking upon them that office, and their subjection to them as 
 officers of authority, in the business of government, that they 
 would signify it to the said Mr. Pumry, in some convenient 
 time. This was repeated afterwards. 
 
 "After a considerable time, (nothing being objected,) Mr. 
 Pumry, upon the Lord's day, after the evening sermon, did 
 rehearse the above said declaration, and not one person op- 
 posing the motion and proposition, did propose to the men in 
 nomination, whether they were freely willing to undertake 
 the office. They answered, they were willing to do what 
 service they were able to do for Christ in his church. Upon 
 which, after prayer, they were solemnly appointed to the of- 
 fice of ruling elders, and did engage and promise to take care 
 of this branch of the Lord's vine, as far as God should enable. 
 The members of the church were also required and exhorted 
 to acknowledge them as men in authority, and to subject to 
 them in their government in the Lord. This was done upon 
 the 28th June, 1724." 
 
 The session met, at the call of the pastor, July 15th, 1724 : 
 and it is manifest that at this period, this church first assumed 
 the distinctive form of a Presbyterian church. 
 
 These records have been given in detail to show, as it is be- 
 lieved they do, most conclusively, that this church, although 
 often called Presbyterian, as was common in those days, was 
 not originally organized on those distinctive principles. 
 
 The following record is taken from the same book :— - 
 
 " The Reverend Mr. Samuel Pumroy, born the 16th of Sep- 
 tember, in the year 1687, came to live at Newtown, on 
 the 18th of September in the year 1708, and was ordained a 
 minister of the gospel, in Novemr. the 30th, 1709. He 
 preached his last sermon on the 20th day of May, 1744 — his 
 text was in the first of John, the 2nd chapter, & the 15th 
 verse. He was taken amiss the same evening. Departed 
 this life the 30th day of June following, about 8 o'clock in the 
 morning, and was interred the first day of July following, at 
 
304 ANXALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 the burying place in Newtown, and has left his dear bosom 
 friend and congregation to b::wail an unspeakable loss." 
 
 On the inside of the cover of these records, Mr. Pome- 
 roy appears to have noted some of his own domestic affairs. 
 His own birth is given, with which the above record corres- 
 ponds. Then follows, *« Married to Lydia Taylor, July 2!)th, 
 1707. Lydia died Feb. 3n\, 1721-2. " And in the regular list 
 of marriages, it appears that he was afterwards married to a 
 daughter of the Rev. Mr. Webb, of Green's Farms, Ct. One 
 of his daughters married an Edsall,and some of their descend- 
 ants may still survive; but the name of Pome roy is extinct in 
 this vicinity. 
 
 The Rev. Simon Horton was settled here in 1746. He was 
 probably a New England man.* He was born, as appears 
 from his own record, March :30th, 1711. He was a highly 
 respected and laborious minister, — " died May 8th, 1786, and 
 was interred on the 9th," at the age of 75. 
 
 It has been supposed that Mr. Horton was the active pastor 
 of this church till his decease. But there is reason to believe, 
 that he became so infirm, as to need assistance in the ministry 
 more than 10 years before his death. In the records of the 
 Synod of New York and Philadelphia, in May 1776, is the 
 following minute : — 
 
 " The Synod renewed the consideration of Mr. Bay's ap- 
 peal, and after mature deliberation, confirmed that part of the 
 Presbytery's judgment which dissolves the union between Mr. 
 Bay and his congregation ; and with respect to the latter part 
 of said judgment, the Synod are of opinion, that it would have 
 been proper to have recommended to the parties, to leave the 
 settlement of all matters respecting the glebe and its appur- 
 tenances, to arbitrators mutually chosen ; and they further 
 advise, that if any disagreement should hereafter arise be- 
 tween Mr. Bay and the congregation of Newtown, respecting 
 said glebe and appurtenances, that they decide them in the 
 same way." 
 
 From a previous record, it appears that Mr. Bay had been 
 dismissed by the Presbytery of New-York, June 20th, 1775; 
 and the name of Andrew Bay first appears as a member of 
 that Presbytery in 1774, having previously belonged to the 
 
 * It has been said that Mr. Horton graduated at Princeton, in 1731, 
 but this is a manifest mistake, as the College of New Jersey was not in 
 existence at that time. The first class graduated in that institution in 
 1748 ; which was two years after his settlement in Newtown, and he had 
 been settled previously in Jersey, as early as 1733. 
 
SECT, 14.] NEWTOWN. 305 
 
 New Castle Presbytery. From these facts, it is manifest he 
 could have been settled only a year or two in Newtown. 
 Little te known of this man. His name is still repeated by a 
 few survivors of a former generation, but with no association 
 that gives a favourable impression of him as a gospel 
 minister. 
 
 In the records of this church, the name of a Mr. Lyon ap- 
 pears, in connection with some ministerial services in the 
 year preceding Mr. Horton's death ; but whether as an occa- 
 sional supply, or as a stated labourer, is not known. 
 
 The last marriage celebrated by Mr. Horton, is recorded 
 under date of Jan. 21st, 1786, only a little more than 3 
 months before his decease. 
 
 The Rev. Nathan Woodhull was the next pastor. Having 
 been dismissed from Huntington, April 21st, 1789, he entered 
 into an engagement with this congregation, in Feb. following, 
 to preach for one year. He was, however, regularly installed 
 Dec. 1st, 1790, and died March 13th, 1810. He was an 
 amiable man, an affectionate and interesting preacher, lived 
 universally esteemed, and died as universally regretted. His 
 widow and a large family of children have been, for several 
 years, numbered with the dead, and only two of his children 
 have left issue. 
 
 The Rev. William Boardman was installed Oct. 31st, 1811. 
 He had been previously settled at Duanesburgh. He was a 
 man of ardent and active piety, and died, deeply regretted, 
 March 4th, 1818, in the 37th year of his age. 
 
 The Rev. John Goldsmith, the present pastor, a son of the 
 Rev. Benjamin Goldsmith, of Riverhead, was ordained here, 
 Nov. 17th. 1819. - 
 
 It is rather a remarkable fact, that the ashes of 5 of the pas- 
 tors of this church repose in the burying-grounds of the 
 town, and that the monuments of all, except the first, are in 
 a state of perfect preservation. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church of this town having, from its 
 organization, till the commencement of the present century, 
 constituted a part of the collegiate charge of Queen's County, 
 its several pastors will be found in the annals of Jamaica. At 
 the present time, the Rev. Dr. Schoonmaker, residing at Ja- 
 maica, and the Rev. Mr. Garretson in this town, are the col- 
 legiate pastors of the two churches, and alternate in the per- 
 formance of their public services. 
 
 After the erection of the Episcopal Church in this town, in 
 
306 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 1734, it was associated with that of Jamaica and Flushing, 
 and served by the same rector. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Vandyke officiated here from 1797 to 1802. 
 
 The Rev. Abraham L Clarke from 1802 to 1811. 
 
 The Rev. William Wyatt for a short period. 
 
 The Rev. Evan M. Johnson from 1814 to 1827. 
 
 The Rev. George A. Shelton was inducted in 1827, and still 
 remains in the charge. 
 
 Astoria, (Hallet's Cove.) — An Episcopal Church was erect- 
 ed in this village, which is just at the western entrance 
 into Hurlgate, (the Dutch Helle-gat,) in 1828, of which the 
 Rev. Samuel Seabury was the first rector. 
 
 The present rector is the Rev. George W. Brown, who was 
 inducted Oct. 1, 1837. He has charge, also, of a Female 
 Institute, which was established in the following year. 
 
 A church edifice was erected here somewhere about the 
 year 1834, " by the contributions of the friends of the Pres- 
 byterian and Dutch Churches ;" and " the Rev. Mr. Gold- 
 smith, of the Presbyterian, and the Rev. Mr. Garretson, of 
 the Dutch Church in Newtown, preached there alternately on 
 the afternoon of each sabbath, for a length of time. The 
 Presbyterians having r^inquished the church to the Dutch 
 congregation," application was made to the Classis, July 2d, 
 1839, and a Committee appointed to organize a church, which 
 was duly recognised Jan. 7th, 1840, and the Rev. Alexander 
 H. Bishop, was ordained its pastor on the 10th of Nov. fol- 
 lowing, and remains in the charge. 
 
 Maspeth is a small settlement near Newtown Creek, on 
 the southwest line of the town. Here was the country-seat 
 of the late Dewitt Clinton, one of the first statesmen and 
 greatest benefactors of the state. Here, also, is the seat of 
 the Hon. Garrit Furman, who has one of the finest private 
 mineralogical cabinets in the country. 
 
 The only public edifice is an ancient Friends' meeting- 
 house, which is now very much in decay, and is seldom used, 
 as very few of that denomination are to be found in this vi- 
 cinity. It is supposed to be about 100 years old, but there is 
 some reason to believe that it is even more ancient. Thomas 
 Chalkley mentions, in his travels, " a general meeting of 
 Friends held at Newtown," in 1724, and as this is the only 
 meeting-house of that people in the town, it is probable that 
 the meeting was here ; and, in all probability, this house had 
 been previously erected. 
 
 Middle Village is a name applied to a somewhat scattered 
 
SECT. 15.] JAMAICA. 307 
 
 settlement in the southern part of the town, on the turnpike 
 road leading from Williamsburgh to Jamaica. This place is 
 remarkable as being the site of the first Methodist Church 
 erected on Long Island. It was built in 1785, and is still 
 standing, though it has been converted into a dwelling. 
 
 A new edifice was built about a quarter of a mile from 
 the former site, in 1836, and stands directly on the turnpike 
 road. This building was erected principally by the liberality 
 and personal efforts of Mr. Joseph Harper, (the father of 
 James Harper, late Mayor of the cit)^ of New-York,) who was 
 born, and has lived nearly 80 years, in this immediate vicinity. 
 Mr. Harper was one of the earliest members of the Methodist 
 church, and has been a consistent professor of religion and de- 
 voted member of the church about 60 years. 
 
 Summary. — In this town are about 7 religious organiza- 
 tions, and 8 houses of worship, viz : — 1 Presbyterian, 2 Re- 
 formed Dutch, 2 Episcopalian, 2 Methodist, and 1 Friends — 
 the last not occupied. 
 
 Section 15.— JAMAICA. 
 
 Number of acres improved - - - 12,264 
 " " unimproved - - - 18,536 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 8 nearly. 
 
 This town is bounded on the north by Newtown and Flush- 
 ing — east by Hempstead — south by the Bay, and west by 
 Flatlands and Flatbush. 
 
 The town was first called Rusdorpe, and the present name 
 is said to have been derived from an Indian word of similar 
 orthography. 
 
 The first settlement was made in 1656, by a company from 
 the adjoining town of Hempstead. They purchased the land 
 of the natives, and obtained a grant from Gov. Stuyvesant, in 
 that year, giving them " free leave to erect or build a town," 
 and to have " the choice of their own magistrates, as in the 
 other villages or towns, as Middleborough, Breucklin, Midwout 
 and Amersfort." 
 
 The first town meeting was held in Feb. 1657, from which 
 time their records have been carefully preserved : the first 
 volume of which has been faithfully transcribed, by the vol- 
 untary labour of an individual. These records contain the 
 only history of the ecclesiastical as well as civil proceedings 
 of the town, for a long series of years, as both were transact- 
 ed in the town meetings. 
 
308 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The first purchasers of the town were about 17, but in the 
 course of 4 years, the number of landholders was increased 
 to 60. There is reason to believe that public worship was es- 
 tablished at an early period, though they do not appear to have 
 enjoyed the labours of a stated preacher for 4 or 5 years. 
 
 In 1664, a small colony from this town passed over into 
 Jersey and commenced the settlement of Elizabeth Town. 
 The purchase of the Indians there, was made by John Baily, 
 Daniel Denton and Luke Watson. Gov. Nicolls gave a pa- 
 tent to John Baker, of New- York, John Ogden, of North- 
 ampton, John Baily and Luke Watson. Several other towns 
 in New Jersey, are indebted to Long Island for their original 
 settlers, or for subsequent accessions to the number of their 
 inhabitants. 
 
 Churches, &c * 
 
 In Aug. 1663, the town voted to build " a meeting house,' , 
 26 Ccet square, which was carried into effect — a house for the 
 minister having been erected in the preceding year, the di- 
 mensions of which were 26 by 17 feet, and 10 feet posts.. 
 
 A new stone Church was erected somewhere near the close 
 of the 17th century. »The precise date is not known. A vote 
 for its erection was passed in 1689 or '90. It is supposed 
 that the date on the vane, was designed to mark the period of 
 its completion. This however was so much defaced by the 
 bullets of the British soldiers, who had made it a target, dur- 
 ing the revolutionary war, that it was difficult to determine 
 whether the figures were 1693 or 1699. This building was 
 40 feet square, with a pointed roof, and, according to the taste 
 of the age, was placed in the middle of the main street, a lit- 
 tle distance west of the present Presbyterian church. A new 
 parsonage house was erected about the ^ame time. 
 
 The present Presbyterian Church was erected in 1814, with 
 a parsonage on the adjoining lot. 
 
 Somewhere about the year 17i 1 or '2. the Reformed Dutch 
 Church was organized in this town, which was the first of 
 that order in Queen's County. The church edifice, an octa- 
 gon of 34 feet diameter, was erected in 1715. It was used 
 by the British in the time of the war. as a military store house. 
 Upon the return of peace, it was thoroughly repaired, and oc- 
 cupied by the congregation till the erection of the present 
 neat and commodious building cf modern construction, in 
 1*33. 
 
SECT. 15.] JAMAICA. 309 
 
 This town, not less than that of Hempstead, suffered se- 
 verely under the tyranny of Lord Cornbury, though they were 
 more fortunate in finally securing their rights, after many 
 years' privations. No Governor of the province was ever 
 more obnoxious to the mass of the people ; and the highest 
 virtue that his friends could claim for him, was his exceeding 
 madness and zeal for the established church. And it appears 
 to have been for the promotion of its interests, that his op- 
 pressive measures were imposed upon this and other towns of 
 the island. 
 
 In the summer following his Lordship's arrival in the pro- 
 vince (17L2)the city of New-York was visited withan alarm- 
 ing sickness, (since supposed to have bean the yellow freer) 
 which was attended with a dreadful mortality. The Gover- 
 nor, for his own safety, and that of his family, retreated to 
 thn pleasant village of Jamaica. The minister of the Presby- 
 terian church, being in the occupancy of a parsonage house 
 recently built by the congregation, and said to be ** the best 
 house in the town," in compliment to the supreme magistrate 
 of the province, kindly ottered to give up his dwelling, for 
 the accommodation of the Governor's family, while he should 
 be compelled to reside among them. The offer was readily 
 accepted. Smith says, in his history of New-York, Corn- 
 bury " requested 'the use of the house, and the favour was rea- 
 dily granted, though at the great inconvenience of the pastor. 
 The difference is not material. 
 
 But this noble and generous exhibition of respect and kind- 
 ness was speedily requited, with one of the grossest acts of 
 usurpation, that ever disgraced a tyrant. On a sabbath af- 
 ternoon, not long after, as the generous pastor, with his peo- 
 ple, entered their church, at the usual hour, for the worship of 
 God, to their utter astonishment, they found the pulpit occu- 
 pied by an episcopal minister, (one of the Society's mission- 
 aries,) and a few of the principal seats, by the Governor and 
 his dependents. The pastor and his congregation peaceably 
 retired to a neighbouring orchard, where, under the open 
 canopy of heaven, a temple made without hands, they wor- 
 shipped the God of their fathers. And for many years after- 
 wards, they were not permitted to occupy the house of wor- 
 ship, in the erection of which, it is asserted, on unquestion- 
 able authority, that only two individuals of the episcopal order 
 had ever contributed a dollar. 
 
 But this act of perfidy and base ingratitude was even thrown 
 into the shade, by the Governor's subsequent conduct. When 
 
310 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 he returned to the city, instead of restoring the parsonage to its 
 rightful occupant, he left it in the possession of the episcopal 
 missionary, who with his successors, continued to occupy it, 
 under the protection of gubernatorial authority, for the space 
 of 25 years. 
 
 In addition to all this, the early settlers of this town had 
 appropriated a valuable glebe, for the support of the gospel. 
 This was seized by the Sheriff*, doubtless by direction of the 
 Governor, divided into lots and leased out, for the mainte- 
 nance of episcopal worship.* All these acts of gross injustice, 
 the people were obliged to submit to, for a long series of years. 
 And it was not till the year 1728, after a most protracted and 
 expensive course of litigation, adroitly managed for the delay, 
 if not for the defeat of justice, that they were finally put in 
 possession of their property, and the secure enjoyment of their 
 rights. When the final decision was made, in favour of the 
 rightful owners, the independent Judge,f who ventured to do 
 justice in the case, was made the object of the most severe, 
 vituperative abuse ; by which, he was compelled to come out, 
 and publish a full disclosure of the disgraceful facts, by which 
 the tongue of scandal was finally silenced. As a finale to 
 these acts of oppression, it is added, that the Sheriff, who act- 
 ed a conspicuous part in their progress, being afterwards ac- 
 cused of some crime and imprisoned, died the death of the 
 traitor Judas, by becoming his own executioner. After the 
 final adjudication of this case, Episcopal service was main- 
 tained in the Court House till 1734, when the first Church 
 edifice of that denomination was erected in this village. The 
 present edifice was built in 1820. 
 
 The first Methodist preaching on Long Island was com- 
 menced in this place, and was coeval with its introduction into 
 this country. «« The first Methodist sermon preached in Ame- 
 rica was delivered in 1766, in the city of New York, to an 
 assembly of 5 persons." The circumstances attending this 
 
 * Smith says " Jamaica was mostly settled by New England emigrants, 
 encouraged to settled by the Duke of York's conditionsfor plantations ; 
 one of which was, " that every township should be obliged to pay their 
 own ministers, according to such agreement, as they should make with 
 him ; the minister being elected by the major part of the freeholders and 
 inhabitants of the town. These people had erected an edifice, and en- 
 joyed a handsome donation of a parsonage house and glebe, for the use of 
 the minister. A few Episcopalians crept into the town, &c" 
 
 t LEWIS MORRIS, Chief Justice of New- York and New Jersey— 
 afterwards Governor of New-Jersey :— a name to be held in lasting re. 
 membrance. 
 
SECT. 15. J JAMAICA. 311 
 
 event, are so intimately connected with the first labours of 
 that denomination in this town, as to warrant a brief recital. 
 
 A little before the time above-mentioned, a few individuals, 
 who " had been attached to Wesleyan Methodism at home" 
 had emigrated to New York. Among these was Philip 
 Embury, a mechanic, who had been a local preacher in that 
 connexion in Ireland. But upon coming to this country, 
 " not finding any pious acquaintances with whom they could 
 associate, they gradually lost their relish for divine things, 
 sunk away into the spirit of the world, and came very near 
 making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience." These 
 were found by a "pious mother in Israel" (who had subse- 
 quently arrived,) " mingling in the frivolities and sinful 
 amusements of life." Having ascertained the place of their 
 resort, " she suddenly entered the room, seized the pack of 
 cards with which they were playing, and threw them into the 
 fire. After reproving the company, she said to Embury, 
 "You must preach for us, or we shall all go to hell together, 
 and God will require our blood at your hands. Arrange- 
 ments were immediately made, and Embury "accordingly 
 preached his first sermon in his own hired house, to 5 persons 
 only. This, it is believed, was the first Methodist sermon 
 preached in America." 
 
 The year after Embury commenced preaching in the city, 
 a new and more attractive labourer came to his aid. This was 
 Capt. Thomas Webb, a British officer stationed as barrack- 
 master at Albany. He had been a convert at Bristol, under 
 Mr. Wesley's preaching, and finding more pleasure in serving 
 the King of kings, than the king of England, he relinquished 
 his post, and zealously engaged in calling sinners to repent- 
 ance. But still retaining his regimentals and arms, he attracted 
 no little attention. "The novelty of a man's preaching in a 
 scarlet coat, soon brought great numbers to hear him." 
 
 As some of the relations of Capt. Webb's wife resided at 
 Jamaica, he took a house there and commenced preaching 
 in that town and its vicinity. He seems to have been what is 
 called " a rough hewer" and employed himself, to use his 
 own language " in felling trees on Long Island." " Within 
 six months, about 24 persons received justifying grace, nearly 
 half of them whites — the rest negroes." 
 
 If a regular Methodist society was established here, at this 
 early period, there is no record or other evidence of the fact. 
 Even the erection of the existing house of worship belonging 
 to that denomination in this village, has not been ascertained 
 
312 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 with precision: But the deed being dated July 8th, ] 8 ;°» 
 and the certificate of incorporation, May 13th, 1811, it is in- 
 ferrcd that it was built about that time. 
 
 There are also, at the present time, two small Methodist 
 societies of coloured people in this town, each of which has a 
 small house of worship. 
 
 The Roman Catholics have also a small chapel, which was 
 erected about the year 1838. 
 
 About *2 miles to the east, is a small settlement bearing the 
 name of BrushvWe, in which there is a small house of wor- 
 ship erected by individual enterprise, and occasionally occu- 
 pied by different denominations; but as yet no ecclesiastical 
 organization has been formed. 
 
 In 1684, a County Hall was erected in this village, in which 
 the Courts of the North Riding were held, till it was too 
 small to accommodate the people. After the erection of the 
 stone church by the Presbyterian Congregation, the courts 
 were held for some years in that building. 
 
 In 1709, a new Court House was erected, and con- 
 tinued to be used till the seat of justice was removed to 
 North Hempstead. The county offices, however, are still 
 required to be kept r^ere, and suitable buildings have been pro- 
 vided for the purpose. 
 
 Union Hall, the third Academy on Long Island, was 
 erected in 1791 — chartered March 9th, 1792, and opened in 
 the following May. It has been a flourishing institution, and 
 continues deservedly in high repute. 
 
 A new and larger edifice was erected in 1820, and the 
 former appropriated to the education of females ; which 
 being consumed by fire in 1841, a new and elegant edifice 
 was reared in 1843, nearly opposite the Presbyterian church, 
 which is not only an ornament to the village, but furnishes 
 pleasant accommodations, for one of the most flourishing Fe- 
 male institutions in this part of the State. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Mr. Zechariah Walker appears to have been the first 
 stated preacher employed in this town. He was not ordained, 
 and was engaged from time to time, from 16H2 to 1668, at 
 which period he removed to Connecticut, and finally died at 
 Woodbury, Jan., 1099, aged 62 years. 
 
 After an unsuccessful attempt to secure the labours of Mr. 
 Jones of Greenwich, Connecticut, who afterwards settled at 
 
SECT. 15.] JAMAICA. 313 
 
 Huntington, the town voted, March 8th, 1670, to engage Mr. 
 John Prudden for one year. He continued here till January, 
 ] 674, when he informed the people that " he was engaged to 
 another congregation." After a temporary absence, during 
 which time a Mr. Woodruff appears to have been employed, 
 Mr. Prudden returned and supplied this place from June 1 676 
 to 1691. There is no evidence that he was regularly settled, 
 and not far from the date last mentioned, he removed to New- 
 ark, where he died Dec. 11th, 1725, at the advanced age of 
 80 years. 
 
 In the town records under date of Oct. 25th, 1692, is a vote 
 proposing £60 a-year, and one load of wood from "every 
 inhabitant within the said township," as a compensation to Mr. 
 Jeremiah Hubbard or Hobart, for his services in the ministry. 
 Whether he accepted or not does not appear. If he did, he 
 could have remained here only a year or two. 
 
 In 1693 or *4, Mr. George Phillips from Massachusetts was 
 employed. He remained, but without ordination, till 1697, 
 when he removed to Brookhaven, where he has been previ- 
 ously noticed. 
 
 The Rev. John Hubbard, a graduate of Harvard in 1695, 
 was settled here in 1698. He was a man of distinguished piety 
 and general excellence of character. Mather, in his Magna- 
 lia, makes the following statement, as derived from the family : 
 that " he read over the whole bible six times every year ; 
 nevertheless he used to say, that every time he read it, he 
 observed, or collected something which he never did before." 
 He was the incumbent of the parish, whose generosity was 
 basely requited by Lord Cornbury. 
 
 The name of this individual has been so frequently con- 
 founded with that of Jeremiah Hubbard, or Hobart previously 
 mentioned, and in the town records, the names being variously 
 written, Hubbard, Hubard, Hubbert and Hobert, that it has 
 been difficult to guard against some mistakes which have 
 heretofore obtained currency. 
 
 The Rev. Francis Goodhue, laboured here from 1705 to 
 1707, but whether settled or not, does not appear. He died 
 Sept. 15th, 1707, while in New England. 
 
 The Rev. George McNish was called to this place in 1712. 
 He was a native of Scotland or Ireland, had been settled in 
 Maryland, was one of the first members of the Presbyterv of 
 Philadelphia, and bore an active part in the organization and 
 building up of the Presbyterian church in America. 
 
 The settlement of Mr. McNish as pastor of this church, 
 
 14 
 
314 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 furnishes the true date of the introduction of Presbyterianism, 
 in its distinctive forms, upon Long Island. The call address- 
 ed to him by this congregation was laid before the Presbytery 
 of Philadelphia, in Sept. 1711. At the same time, a call 
 from Patuxent, in Maryland, was presented, and the Presby- 
 tery "determined to leave the affair to himself, with advice 
 not to delay fixing himself somewhere." As no further notice 
 occurs in the records of that body, it is impossible to deter- 
 mine the precise date of his settlement here. But the records 
 of the town show, that a vote was passed, July 25th, 1712, to 
 put him in possession of the parsonage and certain lands, at 
 which time he was probably engaged in pastoral service. 
 
 The influence of Mr. McNish was evidently exerted for the 
 dissemination of Presbyterianism, in the churches of the island. 
 In 1715, the Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, of Newtown, became a 
 member of the Philadelphia Presbytery, and in the following 
 year they were set off, to form a Presbytery on Long Is'and, 
 which was duly organized at Southampton, in April, 1717. 
 And this, as it has been previously stated, was the first Pres- 
 byterial association on Long Island, or in the province of New 
 York ; and for many years all the Presbyterian churches 
 formed in Westchester county and the city of New York, 
 were subject to its jurisdiction. 
 
 The records of the Synod of Philadelphia furnish abundant 
 evidence that Mr. McNish was a remarkably punctual and 
 active member of that body, to the close of his life, having 
 been absent but once during the whole time. In the minutes 
 of the Synod, held in Sept. 1723, his death is recorded in the 
 following words : " Upon reading the list of ministers, the 
 Synod found, to their great grief, that Mr. McNish is dead." 
 In the church register of Newtown is the following entry, 
 which undoubtedly gives the correct date of his death : — 
 " The Rev. George McNish died March 10th, 1722-3." The 
 idea, therefore, which has obtained currency to some extent, 
 that he was laid aside from the ministry by bodily infirmity, 
 several years before his death, and removed to Orange county, 
 is evidently without foundation. He may have been possessed 
 of property in that quarter, where some of his descendants re- 
 side at the present time. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Cross was settled here in 1723. He was 
 a native of Ireland, licensed by the New Castle Presbytery, 
 and ordained by them in 1719. Though in the early part of 
 his ministry he had fallen under censure, he not only gave 
 satisfactory evidence of repentance, but by his subsequent 
 
SECT. 15.] JAMAICA. 315 
 
 life established and maintained a highly respectable character. 
 In May, 1737, he was dismissed by the Synod to take charge 
 of the first Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, where he 
 died in Aug. 1766. 
 
 The Rev. Walter Wilmot succeeded Mr. Cross as pastor. 
 He was ordained, April 12th, 1738, Mr. Pemberton, of New 
 York, preaching on the occasion. He was greatly beloved 
 by his people, but his ministry was short. He married a 
 daughter of Jotham Townsend, of the society of Friends, in 
 Oyster Bay. She embraced the views of the Presbyterians, 
 and appears from her private diary to have been a devout 
 christian. She died Feb. 25th, 1744, in the 23d year of her 
 age, and was interred in her native town. Mr. Wilmot died 
 greatly lamented, on the 6th of August following. His tomb- 
 stone bears the following inscription : — 
 
 Here lyes 
 
 the Rev. Walter Wilmot, 
 
 Dec'd Aug. 6th, 1744, 
 
 ^Etatis 35. 
 
 No more from sacred desk I preach, 
 
 You hear my voice no more, 
 Yet from the dead my dust shall teach 
 
 The same I taught before. 
 
 Be ready for this dark abode, 
 
 That when our bodies rise, 
 We meet with joy the Son of God, 
 
 Descending from the skies. 
 
 It has been said that an infant child of Mr. Wilmot sur- 
 vived him, but as no further mention is made of it, there is rea- 
 son to believe, it soon followed its parents to an early grave. 
 But though the family has become extinct, the names of both 
 Walter and Wilmot are common in this congregation even to 
 the present day. In the records of Newtown, Mr. Wilmot's 
 death is noticed, and his mother is mentioned as the only sur- 
 viving relative. 
 
 The Rev. David Bostwick was ordained here Oct. 9th, 
 1745, on which occasion President Burr preached. He was 
 an able minister and highly esteemed by his people, who 
 parted with him with great reluctance ; but being called to 
 the city of New York, the case was submitted to a commission 
 of Synod, who decided in favour of his removal, April 13th, 
 1756. He died in the city, Nov. 12th, 1763, in the 44th 
 year of his age. 
 
316 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The Rev. Elihu Spencer, D.D., who had been previously- 
 settled in Elizabethtovvn, N. J., supplied this congregation, 
 from May 1758 to 1760. He then removed to Shrewsbury, 
 afterwards to Delaware, and still later to Trenton, where he 
 died Dec. 27th, 1784, in the 64th year of his age. 
 
 Mr. Betioni Bradner, preached here from 1760 to '62, 
 being a licentiate. 
 
 The Rev. William Mills, a native of Smithtown, and gradu- 
 ate of Nassau Hall, in 1756, was installed pastor of this church 
 in 1702. In 1767 he received a pressing call to Philadelphia, 
 but the Presbytery of Suffolk decided against it. The Com- 
 missioners appealed to the Synod, where after a full hearing 
 of the case, Mr. Mills declared his own conviction that he 
 ought to remain at Jamaica, and the Synod decided ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 His ministry was not greatly extended. Being affected 
 with a chronic disease, he repaired to New York for medical 
 aid, where he died, March 18th, 1774. The following notice 
 of the event is taken from a city paper, under date of March 
 24th of that year :— 
 
 "On Friday last, died in this city, in the 36th year of his 
 age, the Rev. WUliqm Mills, minister of the Presbyterian 
 church at Jamaica, L. I. His amiable disposition, his peace- 
 ful and prudent conduct, his unaffected piety and rational de- 
 votion, remarkably endeared him to those acquainted with 
 him ; and as his life was a bright example of the christian 
 virtues he inculcated on others, so, in the prospect of dissolu- 
 tion, he enjoyed that calm serenity of soul, and that good 
 hope, which are the peculiar privileges of the righteous. 
 * Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of 
 that man is peace.' 
 
 "His remains were interred on Monday last, at Jamaica ; a 
 large number of the most respectable inhabitants of that town, 
 and the country adjacent, attended at the funeral, when a 
 sermon well adapted to the occasion, was preached by the 
 Rev. Dr. Rodgers, from Matt. xxv. 21." 
 
 It is said, that one or more of the ministers who died in this 
 place, were buried, according to the custom of the times, un- 
 der the church. But it is understood, that when the old stone 
 building in the middle of the street was demolished, their re- 
 mains were removed to the burying yard. 
 
 During Mr. Mills' ministry (probably in 1764,) occurred the 
 first distinguished revival in this town, of which there is any 
 
6ECT. 15. J JAMAICA. 317 
 
 notice. Considerable additions were made to the church, 
 which previously numbered only 13 members. 
 
 Mr. Mills appears to have been a man of wealth, as " three 
 improved farms," constituting a part of his estate, were adver- 
 tised for sale shortly after his death. 
 
 The Rev. Matthias Burnett, D.D., commenced preaching 
 here in 1774, and was ordained by the Presbytery of New 
 York as pastor, in the spring of 1775. He continued here 
 during the whole war. He was dismissed in April, 1785, and 
 removed to Norwalk, where he died suddenly, June 30th, 
 1S06. The writer remembers this event with solemn interest. 
 He preached for Dr. Burnett on the preceding day, and parted 
 from him on Monday morning, about two hours before his 
 sudden exit. 
 
 The Rev. James Glassbrook, a Scotchman by birth and edu- 
 cation, laboured here for 2 or 3 years, and received a call, 
 but some difficulties arising, he was not settled. He was an 
 able preacher, but a man of strong passions, in which the diffi- 
 culties probably originated. Mr., afterwards the Rev. Dr. 
 Hillyer, and also a Mr. White preached here in this va- 
 cancy. 
 
 The Rev. George Faitoute received a call in May, 1789, 
 and was installed on the 15th of December following, on 
 which occasion Dr. McKnight preached, and Dr. Rodgers de- 
 livered the charges. Mr. F. was of huguenot descent, a 
 native of N. Y. city, a graduate of Nassau Hall, in 1774, and 
 had been settled about 8 years in West Jersey. He was an 
 amiable, pious man, and a peculiarly affectionate preacher. 
 He died suddenly on Sabbath, Aug. 21, 1815, having preach- 
 ed with his usual vigour in the morning. 
 
 Mr. F. states under date of April 25th, 1793, that his con- 
 gregation then consisted of 96 families, comprehending 539 
 individuals besides his own family, which was 12 in number. 
 The number of communicants 58. He adds, " God grant a 
 revival of pure religion among us." 
 
 The Rev. Henry R. Weed, D.D., was called in 1815, and 
 ordained Jan. 4th, 1816. He was dismissed in 1822, and re- 
 moved to Albany, whence, after a few years, he went to the 
 West, and is now settled at Wheeling, Va. During Mr. 
 Weed's ministry, a revival was enjoyed, and about 80 were 
 added to the church. 
 
 The Rev. Seymour P. Funk was ordained March 6th, 1823, 
 and was dismissed May 9th, 1825. He died a few years 
 afterwards at Flatlands. 
 
318 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 In the vacancy which succeeded, the church was in a very- 
 distracted state, when the Rev. Asahel Nettleton, D.D., was 
 providentially directed hither. His labours were attended 
 with a peculiar outpouring of the Spirit, and multitudes were 
 hopefully brought into the kingdom. In the course of the 
 current year, 110 members were added to the church, 70 on 
 one occasion. 
 
 The Rev. Ellas W. Crane was installed Oct. 31st, 1826. 
 He was a man of rare excellence, and a peculiarly devoted and 
 faithful pastor. The revival which commenced under Mr. 
 Nettleton was continued after Mr. C.'s settlement. Again, in 
 1828, and yet again in 1831, this congregation was visited 
 from on high, and many were added unto the Lord. In 1835 
 the number of communicants was 333. Mr. Crane was called 
 from his work without premonition, Nov. 10th, 1840, having 
 just returned from preaching on the same evening. 
 
 The Rev. James Macdonald, the present pastor, was install- 
 ed May 5th, 1841. 
 
 This church has continued to enjoy the smiles of heaven, 
 and is now numbered among the largest and most prosperous 
 on the island. Its advancement within the last 35 years has 
 formed a singular contrast with its previous history. In 1810 
 it numbered only 51 communicants, and this was nearly as 
 large a number as at any former period. Since that time, 
 under a series of merciful visitations, it has gradually increas- 
 ed, till its present number of members exceeds 400. 
 
 In connection with this place, though without a pastoral re- 
 lation to any of the churches, the name of the Rev. Abraham 
 KeUletas is deserving of respectful mention. He was born in 
 New York, December 26th, 1732, and graduated at Yale in 
 1752. He was first settled at Elizabethtown, N. J., Septem- 
 ber 14th, 1757, and dismissed in 1759. He removed to Ja- 
 maica, where he occupied a farm, and spent much of his time 
 in preaching to the vacant congregations on the island and 
 elsewhere. He was a man of strong mind and extensive and 
 varied learning. He often preached in three different lan- 
 guages — the Dutch, French and English. He was chosen 
 a member of the Convention of 1777, that formed the first 
 Constitution of the state of New York. Being a zealous and 
 devoted patriot, he was peculiarly obnoxious to British rage, 
 and was therefore, obliged to leave the island during the war. 
 His property was taken possession of — his mansion defaced — 
 his timber destroyed, and his slaves taken and enlisted as 
 soldiers of the king. He was a man of strong feelings and 
 
SECT. 15.] JAMAICA. 319 
 
 of independent spirit. From some dissatisfaction, in 1764 
 or '5, he withdrew from the Presbytery of New York and 
 declined the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian church. He con- 
 tinued, however, to bestow his services wherever they were 
 needed, till the close of life ; and he is still remembered, by 
 the surviving few, in many of the churches of the island. He 
 died September 30th, 1798, at the age of 65 years. 
 
 Ministers of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 The Rev. Patrick Gordon was the first Episcopal minister 
 in this town. He was the individual whom Cornbury placed 
 in the Presbyterian Church, and left in possession of the 
 parsonage and glebe, when he returned to the city in 1702. 
 He was one of the Society's first missionaries, who came 
 over in company with the Rev. George Keith, the apostate 
 Quaker, to introduce episcopacy into the country-towns. He, 
 however, retained these ill-gotten possessions but a short time, 
 being soon removed by death. The Rev. Mr. Honyman offi- 
 ciated here in 1708 — 4, being appointed by a " licence from 
 lord Cornbury, during his lordship's pleasure." He was suc- 
 ceeded temporarily by the Rev. Mr. Mott. 
 
 The Rev. William Urquhart, another missionary of the 
 society was stationed here in 1704 and died in 1709. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Poyer was sent over in 1710 and con- 
 tinued io labour here till 1730, when he returned to Eng- 
 land and died soon after. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Colgan was rector from 1732 to 1755. 
 
 In 1756, the Rev. Samuel Seabury succeeded. He was 
 the first rector of American birth, being a native of New 
 London. But he was also employed by the Society. Mr. 
 Seabury removed to Westchester in 1766, and after the com- 
 mencement of the war, being a royalist, went to New York, 
 where he resided till its close. After the peace, he returned 
 to his native town. In 1784 he went to England, and sought 
 ordination to the episcopate. Being refused by the English 
 bishops, for reasons of a political character, he went to Scot- 
 land and obtained ordination of the non-juring prelates of 
 that section of the Episcopal church. He was the first Epis- 
 copal bishop in the United States. He died February 25th, 
 1796. 
 
 The Rev. Joshua Bloomer succeeded in 1766. He had 
 been an officer in the provincial service, and went to England 
 for orders which he received in 1765. He died June 23rd, 
 1790, aged 55 years. 
 
320 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The Rev. William Hammel officiated here from 1790 to 
 1795, but having lost his sight he resigned. 
 
 The Rev. Charles Seabury in 1795—6. 
 
 The Rev. Elijah D. Rattoone from 1797 to 1802 ; and the 
 Rev. Calvin White from January 1803 to August 1S04. 
 
 The succeeding 6 years were occupied by several ministers, 
 among whom were the Rev. Messrs. George Strebeck — An. 
 drew Fowler — John Ireland — Edmund D. Barry and Timo- 
 thy Clowes, 
 
 The Rev. Gilbert N. Sayre was inducted in May, 1810, 
 and resigned in 1830. 
 
 The Rev. Wdliam L, Johnson succeeded in 1830 and still 
 sustains the charge. 
 
 Ministers of the Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 For many years after the organization of the Dutch church 
 in this town, it was supplied by the collegiate pastors of King's 
 county. 
 
 The Rev. Johann r s Hsnricus Goctschius, a native of 
 Switzerland, was the first pastor of this church, in connection 
 with Newtown, Success or North Hempstead, and Wolver 
 Hollow or Ovsterbay, which continued as one charge till 
 1802. He received ftis education in part in his native 'and, 
 at the University of Zurich ; and was ordained by the Ger- 
 man church in Pennsylvania. He remained here from 1741 
 to '51, and then removed to Hackensack in New Jersey. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Romeyn, a native of Jersey and a gradu- 
 ate at Nassau Hall in 1750, was pastor from 1752 to '6-J. 
 
 The Rev. Hermanus L. Botlen, a minister from Holland, 
 laboured here a few years between 1766 and '70, and then 
 returned home. 
 
 The Rev. Solomon Froeligh was settled in 1775, but when 
 the island fell into the hands of the British in the following 
 year, he removed to New Jersey ; and during the war these 
 churches were without a pastor. 
 
 The Rev. Rynier Van Ness was pastor of the united 
 churches in Queen's county from 17S5 to 1793, when he re- 
 moved. 
 
 The Rev. Zacharias H. Kuypers from 1794 to 1802. After 
 this he is entered in the records of the Classis as pastor of 
 " the churches of Queen's county," and he continued to preach 
 at Success till he was dismissed from the Classis, and removed 
 to New Jersey in 1825. 
 
 In February 1802, the Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker, D.D., was 
 
SECT. 16.] fLATBUSH. 32i 
 
 settled as the pastor of this church and that of Newtown. 
 He graduated at Columbia college in 1799 and still remains 
 in his Charge. 
 
 The Rev. Garret I. Garretson was settled January 6th, 
 1^-35, as collegiate pastor of this church, and that of New- 
 town, in which relation he still continues. 
 
 KING'S COUNTY. 
 
 Section 16. — Flatbush. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 5,177 
 " " unimproved, - - 5,423 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 4f 
 
 As all the churches of King's county constituted a colle- 
 giate charge for the space of 150 years and were served by 
 the same pastors ; and as the church of Flatbush was the 
 mother church, its history necessarily involves that of the other 
 towns. A full detail of its ecclesiastical concerns will super- 
 sede the necessity of numerous repetitions in regard to the 
 others. We therefore commence with this town. 
 
 It is bounded on the north by Brooklyn, Bushwick,and 
 Newtown ; on the east by Jamaica ; on the south by Jamaica 
 Bay, Flatlands and New Utrecht ; and on the west by New 
 Utrecht and Brooklyn. 
 
 The township consists of two principal tracts which are 
 distinguished by the names of Old Town and New Lots. 
 The former includes the village of Flatbush, in nearly a cen- 
 tral position which was the seat of the original settlement ; 
 and the latter, besides the village of New Lots, embraces one 
 of the paper cities of 1835 — 6, known by the name of East 
 New York. 
 
 The settlement of this town, which was first called 3Iid- 
 wout (Middle- woods.) was probably commenced as early as 
 any of the towns in this county, but as in the others, without 
 any direct efforts to establish a town. Hence with the ex- 
 ception of Gravesend, there is no evidence of a general 
 patent for any of the towns in this county until near the 
 close of the Dutch government. " The first purchase from 
 the Indians on Long Island that has been discovered, was in 
 the year 1635;" and "the earliest grant for lands in King's 
 county that has been discovered, was in 1836." If these 
 are facts, then the settlement of these parts of the island 
 could have made little progress, beyond a few scattered fami- 
 lies, previously to this time. Another consideration leads to 
 
 14* 
 
322 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 the same conclusion. The early Dutch settlers were evidently- 
 attached to the institutions of religion. It is therefore, deroga- 
 tory to their character to suppose, that they would have lived 20 
 years beyond the last mentioned date, without erecting a house 
 for God and establishing the regular administration of gospel 
 ordinances, if they had not been very few in number. 
 
 The first patent for a portion of this town, including the 
 site of the present village, was given by Governor Stuyve- 
 sant in 1652, and several of the patentees named therein, 
 were inhabitants of the city of New Amsterdam. By 
 this instrument, they were authorized to found a settle- 
 ment or town, with the privileges usually annexed to simi- 
 lar communities established under the Dutch government. 
 From this time, it is probable, the settlement received con- 
 siderable accessions ; and a door was soon opened for the 
 introduction of gospel privileges. 
 
 The earliest evidence of any attempt to establish divine in- 
 stitutions, in any of the Dutch towns on the island, is an order 
 of Gov. Stuyvesant, (who appears to have exercised supreme 
 authority in ecclesiastical as well as civil matters,*) under the 
 date of Oct. 13th, 1654, " permitting the Rev. Johannes Theo- 
 dorus Polhemus, to preach alternately at Midwout and Amers- 
 fort, (Flatbush and Flatlands ) But as yet no house of wor- 
 ship had been erected, nor any ecclesiastical organization 
 formed in any of these settlements. The subsequent records 
 of the church of Flatbush show that regular contributions, in 
 connexion with public worship, began to be taken up in that 
 place in Jan., 1655. " On the 6th of August following, the 
 Governor ordered the sheriff' to convene the inhabitants of 
 Breucklen, Midwout, and Amersfort, for the purpose of inquir- 
 ing whether they were satisfied with their minister, and what 
 salary they would pay him. The sheriff subsequently re- 
 ported, that they approved of their minister, and would pay him 
 a sum equal to $416 06 per year. This was approved as a 
 good call, and accepted." All these facts go to prove that 
 the organization of a church on the west end of the island 
 must have been about this time, though the precise date can- 
 not be ascertained. 
 
 * As a matter of curiosity, and as further evidence of the power as- 
 sumed by the Governor in ecclesiastical affairs, it may be remarked, that 
 under date of Feb. 26th, 1654, an " ordinance was passed by the Gover- 
 nor and Council, forbidding the keeping of Ash Wednesday and all other 
 holy days, as heathenish and popish institutions, and as dangerous to the 
 public peace." 
 
si'.ct. 16.] flatbush. 323 
 
 Churches, &c. 
 
 On the 15th of Dec, 1654, the governor issued an order, 
 appointing- the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, one of the min- 
 isters of New Amsterdam, John Snedicor, and John Stryker, 
 commissioners, to erect a church at Midwout ; and on the 
 9th of Feb., 1G55, he issued another order, requiring the 
 people of Breucklen and Amersfort to assist in building said 
 church. By his order, the church was built in the form of a cross, 
 23 by 60 or 65 feet, and 12 feet between the beams — the rear 
 to be occupied as the minister's dwelling. It was probably so 
 far advanced as to be used in the year 1655, though a final 
 report of the commissioners was not made till 1660, when the 
 whole cost was stated at 4,637 guilders, ($1,854 80.) Of this 
 sum, a little more than one-sixth part was contributed by the 
 parish, including the adjoining settlements. The greater part 
 was raised by contributions from individuals and congrega- 
 tions in other parts of the province, leaving a debt of 800 
 guilders on the church. 
 
 This house remained till near the close of the century. In 
 the year 1698, a subscription was made by the inhabitants of 
 the town, (including New Lots,) to the amount of 15,728 
 guilders, (more than $6,000,) for the purpose of erecting a new 
 church. At what precise period it was erected does not ap- 
 pear. It was placed on the same site as the former, the walls 
 of stone, 65 feet by 50, with a square roof, which was so badly 
 constructed, that the walls were pressed considerably out of 
 their position. The interior was not divided into pews or 
 slips, but the people were seated on benches and chairs. 
 
 In 1775, the interior of the church was remodeled, and pews 
 erected, which were distributed by lot. 
 
 In August, 1793, the congregation resolved unanimously to 
 erect a new church, which was commenced near the close of 
 the year, and completed in 1796. Its entire cost (exclusive 
 of voluntary labour and cartage) was $12,1S3 44. It is a 
 spacious building, and contains more than HO pews on the 
 floor. A fine bell, imported from Holland, was presented by 
 the Hon. John Vanderbilt, which, the second or third time it 
 was used, was employed in tolling the knell of its liberal 
 donor. 
 
 In the winter of 1836-7, important improvements were 
 made in the interior of the building, and it still remains one 
 of the largest and most substantial church edifices on the 
 island. 
 
324 ANXALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 In 1830-1, a consistory-room, for the accommodation of 
 the Sabbath-school and other purposes, was erected by the 
 congregation, at the expense of $1,195 82. 
 
 Some years ago, a house of worship for the coloured people 
 was erected between the Old Town and New Lots, near the 
 dividing line of Flatbush and Flatland Neck. A regular so- 
 ciety or church exists here, which is connected with the Afri- 
 can M. E. Church. 
 
 In 1836, an Episcopal church was erected in the village of 
 Flatbush, and was consecrated on the 29th of December, in 
 that year. 
 
 A Methodist Episcopal church has been recently erected in 
 the eastern part of the village. The date of its incorporation 
 is May 21st, 1844. 
 
 Under the English government, Gravesend had been the 
 seat of justice for this part of the island ; but Nov. 7th, 1685, 
 an act was passed by the Assembly, transferring the courts to 
 Flatbush. 
 
 In 1686, a Court-house was erected here, and this became 
 the county town. A separate building was also reared for a 
 jail. These remained till the winter of 1757-8, when, one 
 of the buildings being»destroyed by fire, a new court-house, in- 
 cluding the jail under the same roof, was erected in the fol- 
 lowing season. The court-room was converted into a ball- 
 room, by the British officers, during the Revolution. 
 
 This building remained till 1792, when it became necessary 
 to erect a new one, which was completed in 1793, upon a 
 larger scale, the court-room and jail being, like the former, 
 under one roof. 
 
 On the 30th of Nov., 1832, this building also was destroyed 
 by tire ; and from that time Flatbush ceased to be the county 
 town. The courts and all judicial business were transferred 
 to Brooklyn, where the great mass of population was con- 
 centrated. 
 
 From the early organization cf this town, the inhabitants had 
 been careful to maintain a suitable school for the instruction 
 of their children ; and a school-house and proper accommoda- 
 tions for the teacher were deemed second only to the church 
 and parsonage. The first teacher, of whom there is any record, 
 was employed from 1659 to 1671, and several others continued 
 in that occupation from 5 to 22 years. By giving him the 
 office of town-clerk, sexton, and " Foresinger," or chorister, to 
 each of which some perquisites were attached, they made him 
 a very decent support, and brought the rates of tuition low. 
 
SECT. 16.] FLATBUSH. 325 
 
 Instruction was confined to the Dutch language, till some- 
 where between 1762 and 1773. The incumbent during that 
 period, taught both Dutch and English, though it is not known 
 at what date he introduced the latter. From 1776 to 1790, the 
 school was taught by an English school-master ; and though he 
 acquired the Dutch language to qualify himself as chorister, 
 his scholastic instructions were confined to his own language. 
 
 A classical school, distinct from the town school, was opened 
 in this village, some some few years before the Revolution, 
 and was patronised not only by the inhabitants, but by many 
 of the citizens of New York. It was broken up by the war, 
 having probably, however, awakened an interest that led to a 
 more important institution, on the return of peace. 
 
 In 1786, the Academy under the name of "Erasmus Hall" 
 was erected, being 100 feet front and 36 rear, at a cost ex- 
 ceeding $6,000. Its charter from the regents is dated Nov. 
 20ih, 1787. It was the second academy incorporated in the 
 State ; but it was for a long time, the first in the favour of the 
 public, and in the success of its operations. Some of the best 
 scholars in the country have been at its head ; and not a few 
 of the most distinguished of our citizens, both in Church and 
 State, received the elements of their education at this insti- 
 tution. 
 
 The original building remains, having been considerably 
 improved, both in its external appearance and in its internal 
 accommodations — as also the adjoining grounds. An addi- 
 tional wing, of 50 by 25 feet, was erected in 1826-7, at an ex- 
 pense of $1,500. It is furnished with a library of 1,500 volumes, 
 a philosophical and chemical apparatus, and a mineralogical 
 cabinet ; though to what extent and of what value we are not 
 informed. 
 
 Ministers of the Dutch Church. 
 
 It has been previously stated, that by appointment of 
 Gov. Stuyvesant, the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, 
 commenced his labours in the gospel ministry in Flatbush, 
 and Flatlands, in the autumn of 1655. lie was from Holland, 
 as all the Dutch ministers were for many years ; and he was 
 considerably advanced in life, at the time of his appointment. 
 He however, continued to labour more or less till his death, 
 which took place June 8th, 1676. 
 
 In 1660, the church of Brooklyn was permitted to send a 
 call to " the fatherland" for another minister, and the Rev, 
 Henricus tiulimus, (Henri/ Selicyn) came out, and was in* 
 
326 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART. 2, 
 
 stalled at Brooklyn, by order of the Governor, and in the 
 presence of his Fiscal, on the 3d of Sept. in that year. 
 Although installed at this place, it is reasonable to infer from 
 subsequent arrangements that he participated with Mr. Pol- 
 hemus in the service of the other churches, as a collegiate 
 pastor. He did not remain long in this charge ; but in July, 
 1664, returned to Holland. After some years, we find him 
 again in this country, as pastor of the Dutch church in New 
 Amsterdam, which place he occupied from 1682 to 1700. 
 He is said to have been a man of more than ordinary talent* 
 and learning, and a very popular preacher. As evidence of 
 this, an arrangement was made, while he remained at Brook- 
 lyn, by which he preached at the Governor's house, every 
 Sabbath afternoon. 
 
 After Mr. Sel win's departure, the Rev. Johannes Megapo- 
 Icnsis, pastor of the Dutch church in the city, assisted Mr. 
 Polhemus in his extensive charge, till the death of the latter, 
 in 1676. 
 
 The Rev. Casparus Van Zuren was next' sent from Hol- 
 land, and was installed Sept. 6th, 1677. All that is known of 
 him, is that he was an industrious and systematic man. In 
 1685 he returned to Holland, to resume his former charge. 
 
 In a manuscript of the Rev. Peter Lowe, quoted by Mr. 
 Wood, a " a Mr. Clark" is named as occupying this ground, 
 after the departure of Mr. Van Zuren, but of him nothing is 
 known. 
 
 According to other accounts the Rev. Rudolphus Varick, 
 succeeded Mr. Van Z iren, the same year, and continued till 
 1694. 
 
 The Rev. Wilhelmus Lupardus was called in the same, or 
 the following year, and remained until his death which occur- 
 red in 1701 or '2. 
 
 The Rev. Bernardus Freeman was called from Schenectady, 
 in 1702 ; but the opposition which was made to his removal, 
 by the Governor, by the people of his charge, and a minority 
 of the congregation of Flatbush, prevented his transfer for a 
 considerable time; and he was not installed till Nov. 1705. 
 The installation services took place at New Utrecht. 
 
 The Rev. Vincentius Antonides was sent over by the Classis 
 of Amsterdam, in the autumn of 1704, an application having 
 been previously made for a minister. He arrived and en- 
 tered upon his labours, about the same time with Mr. Freeman's 
 settlement. 
 
 For a number of years, an unhappy controversy, originat- 
 
SECT. 16.] FLATBUSH. 327 
 
 ing in the settlement of these gentlemen, continued to agi- 
 tate the churches, and even arose so high, as to call for the 
 interposition of the civil authorities. This, however, was 
 happily terminated by a meeting of delegates from all the 
 congregations in 1714, who mutually agreed to lay aside their 
 differences, and acknowledge Messrs. Freeman and Antonides 
 as their ministers. At this time, the number of collegiate 
 churches had greatly increased. Bushwick, Flatbush, Flat- 
 lands, Brooklyn, New Utrecht, and even Jamaica, were all 
 included in the charge ; and both the ministers resided at 
 Flatbush. They had the reputation of being men of res- 
 pectable talents and acquirements. Mr. Freeman distin- 
 guished himself, both as a preacher and writer. Several of 
 his productions were published during his life-time, and others 
 were left behind. 
 
 During their ministry, the question respecting the organi- 
 zation of a Coetus, or Assembly of Ministers and Elders in 
 this country, subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam, was 
 brought forward, and agitated the churches for many years ; 
 of which some particulars will be given hereafter. 
 
 Mr. Freeman died in 1741, and was succeeded by the Rev. 
 Johannes Arondeus, in 1742. Mr. Antonides died in 1744, 
 and was succeeded by the Rev. Ulpianus Van Sinderin, in 
 1746. 
 
 Mr. Arondeus died in 1754, and was succeeded by the Rev. 
 Anthony Curtenius in 1755, who died in the autumn of 1756, 
 at the age of 58 years. 
 
 The Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel was called in 1759, 
 and continued as colleague with Mr. Van Sinderin, till after 
 the close of the revolutionary war. They differed extremely 
 in their political views. Mr. Van Sinderin was a firm whig, 
 and Mr. Rubel as decided a loyalist. The same difference, 
 to some extent, existed in the several congregations, and each 
 minister had his partisans, which necessarily produced an 
 uncomfortable state of things in the several towns. 
 
 In 1784, Mr. Van Sinderin, at the request of the Consistory, 
 resigned his pastoral charge, though a stated salary was paid 
 him, till his death, which took place July 23, 1796. He was 
 a learned, but eccentric man, and therefore, it is not strange 
 that he was considered " deficient in sound judgment." Who 
 ever saw eccentricity of character and a sound judgment 
 combined in the same individual ? 
 
 Early in the same year, Mr. Rubel was deposed from the 
 ministry, and remained under the censure, till his death which 
 occurred in 1799. 
 
328 AXNALS Of THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The Rev. Martimis Schoonmaker, who was officiating at 
 Harlaem and Gravesend, was called in 1785 to take the charge 
 of the collegiate churches in this county, to which Gravesend 
 was then added. He died May 20th, 1824, aged 87. 
 
 The Rev. Peter Lowe was ordained Oct. 28th, 1787, as 
 colleague to Mr. Schoonmaker. 
 
 In 1792, it was resolved that divine service, which had 
 heretofore bean maintained in the Dutch language, should be 
 thereafter performed in English in the afternoon, whenever 
 Mr. Lowe should preach at Brooklyn, Flalbush and New 
 Utrecht. But Mr. Schoonmaker continued to preach in Dutch, 
 to the time of his death, having never attempted to preach in 
 English but once (in 17S8.) 
 
 The collegiate charge of these churches, which had existed 
 about 150 years, was gradually given up, after the commence- 
 ment of the present century. In lfc>05, the church of Brook- 
 lyn called a pastor to have the exclusive charge of that church. 
 In 18**8, Mr. Lowe was called to the sole charge of Flatbush 
 and Flatlands. The other churches, however, were not all 
 furnished with separate pastors, until after the death of Mr. 
 Schoonmaker. 
 
 Mr. Lowe, whoTiad the reputation of fervent piety, and 
 great usefulness, died June 10th, 1818, aged 54 years, 1 month, 
 and 10 days. 
 
 The Rev. Walter Monteith was installed pastor of Flatbush 
 and Flatlands, in Jan. 1819 ; but he resigned his charge 
 April 13th, 1820 ; having received a call to the Presbyterian 
 Church in Schenectady. 
 
 The union between Flatbush and Flatlands was dissolved 
 May 1st, 1822. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas M. Strong, D.D., the present pastor, 
 was installed Nov. 17th, 1822, with the exclusive charge of 
 Flatbush. 
 
 Ministers of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas S. Brittain was inducted Dec. 23rd, 
 1836, as the first rector, and resigned March 29ih, 1838. 
 
 The Rev. James Coghlan succeeded, and resigned Oct. 21st, 
 1839. 
 
 In March, 1840, the Rev. William Barlow, was inducted. 
 
 The Rev. W. H. Newman is the present rector. 
 New Lots. 
 
 A church edifice was commenced in this part of the town, 
 in 1823, and dedicated in 1824. A distinct church was or- 
 ganized there in August of that year. 
 
SECT. 16.] FIATBUSH. 329 
 
 In Feb. 1825, the Rev. William Crookshank was ordained 
 pastor of this church, and that of Flatlands. He was dis- 
 missed in April, 1835. 
 
 The Rev. J. Abeel Baldwin was ordained March 22nd, 
 1836, and continues in the charge of both congregations. 
 
 East New- York. 
 
 A church was organized here, Jan. 7th, 1840, an edifice 
 having been previously erected. 
 
 In May, 1841', the Rev. William H. Campbell was installed 
 pastor, and was dismissed in the autumn of 1S41. 
 
 The Rev. M. V. Schoonmalcer was ordained pastor, Sept. 
 
 For nearly 100 years, the Reformed Dutch Church in this 
 country enjoyed quietness and peace, under the government 
 of the Classis of Amsterdam, from which source they had 
 received all their ministerial supplies, from the first settlement 
 of the province. But in the former part of the last century, 
 a most unhappy controversy arose which continued to agi- 
 tate them for more than 30 years. The question in dispute 
 was, the propriety and expediency of casting off their depend- 
 ence on the churches of the father-land, and the establishment 
 of an independent ecclesiastical organization. Those, who 
 were in favour of this measure, were styled the " Ccetus par- 
 ty ;" and the opposers, the "Conference party." " So divided 
 and embittered against each other did they become, that the 
 different parties would not worship together, nor even speak to 
 each other. The ministers, and as a necessary consequence, the 
 churches, were divided, on this question ; and the controversy 
 was carried on, with all the acrimony, that existed in any 
 other part of the country. It is related that two of the inha- 
 bitants of Flalbush, who belonged to opposite parties, hap- 
 pened to meet on the highway, in their waggons ; and each 
 being determined not to turn out for the other, after driving 
 their horses up head to head, they took out their pipes and to- 
 bacco, and commenced smoking. The record does not state 
 how the affair terminated, or whether they are still in the 
 road. — It is also asserted, that in one instance, at least, the 
 consummation of a marriage was entirely frustrated, merely 
 because the parlies to the contract, being on different sides in 
 the church, could not agree on the *• dominie," who should 
 have the honour of joining their hands. 
 
330 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 But collisions and contentions, of a more serious nature, 
 sometimes occurred, which actually called for the interference 
 of the civil authorities. In more instances than one, the Go- 
 vernor in council was constrained to issue orders, to quell 
 these disturbances. 
 
 The extreme bigotry and intolerance of the Conferentie 
 party were most strikingly exhibited, in the settlement of the 
 first Dutch minister, at Jamaica, in Queen's County. The 
 Rev. Mr. Goetschius, who had been regularly ordained to the 
 gospel ministry, by the German Reformed Church in Penn- 
 sylvania, was called to this charge. The Conferentie party, 
 professing to believe, that " no ministerial ordination was va- 
 lid, unless obtained in Holland, from the mother-church, or 
 by express permission of that church," refused to recognise 
 him as a minister, unless he would submit to a re-ordination. 
 It is a remarkable evidence of condescension, on the part of 
 this good man, especially in the heat of such a controversy, 
 though its correctness, as a point of gospel order, is exceed- 
 ingly questionable, that, for the sake of peace, he submitted 
 to be re-ordained. But even this concession did not secure 
 him permanent favour with the opposing party. After re- 
 maining here 10 years, he removed to Hackensack, N. J., 
 where he met with the most determined opposition from the 
 same quarter. The doors of the church were often found 
 locked and barred against him and his adherents, on the sab- 
 bath-day ; and he was compelled frequently to preach in 
 barns and private houses, and under shady trees. " On one oc- 
 casion, when Mr. Goetschius had obtained access to the pul- 
 pit, the clerk, or chorister, (who, in those days, read the ten 
 commandments, — a chapter from the Bible, and gave out 
 the first psalm or hymn,) in order to prevent the minister, 
 who was in the pulpit, from preaching, gave out the 119th 
 Psalm, to be sung by the congregation, from beginning to 
 end ; which, according to the mode of Dutch singing, would 
 have occupied the whole day, and the poor minister would 
 have had no chance of a hearing ; but, fortunately, he had 
 courage enough to withstand and resist this novel proceeding." 
 And here, his second ordination was called in question, be- 
 cause it had not been obtained in Holland, nor by express per- 
 mission from the mother church ; and " many of the infants he 
 had baptized, in those churches, were re-baptized, by minis- 
 ters of that party ; the parents and others having been led to 
 question the validity of the ordinance, as administered by 
 him." 
 
SECT. 17.] FLATLANDS. 331 
 
 These occurrences plainly show how this unhappy contro- 
 versy was carried on, with little variation of spirit or overt 
 acts, throughout the bounds of the Dutch church. 
 
 In 1737, the first meeting of ministers was held in the city 
 of New York, for the purpose of considering the question of 
 an independent organization ; at which, a plan for establishing 
 a Ccetus or Assembly of Ministers and Elders in this country, 
 was formed and submitted to the church for their considera- 
 tion and opinion. 
 
 The meeting was assembled again April, 27th, 1738 ; and 
 the plan having been generally approved by the churches, was 
 finally adopted, and ordered to be sent over to the Classis of 
 Amsterdam for their approbation. 
 
 It was several years before anything definitive was heard 
 on the subject; but in 1746, ^letter was received from the 
 Classis of Amsterdam, containing their approval of the plan. 
 In May, 1747, a meeting was held in the city, to act officially 
 on this letter ; and the first Ccetus was appointed to be held 
 in September following. Thus the independent organization 
 of the Reformed Dutch Church was made in this country. 
 But although it was effected with the entire approbation of the 
 mother-church, it was still opposed by several ministers and 
 churches; whereby the controversy was kept up, with the 
 most unhappy consequences, for many years afterwards ; till 
 about the year 1772, it ceased to agitate the public mind. 
 Since that time harmony and peace have generally charac- 
 terized the churches of this denomination on the island, as 
 also in the country at large. 
 
 Section 17.— FLATLANDS. 
 
 Number of acres improved, ... - 2,881 
 " " unimproved, - - - 6,119 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 9i. 
 This town, originally called by the Dutch Amersfort, is 
 bounded on the north by Flatbush, east by Flatbush and 
 Jamaica Bay, south by the Bay, and west by Gravesend. 
 Barren Island, which lies in Jamaica Bay, belongs to this town. 
 There is nothing peculiar in the early history of the place. 
 Its settlement was commenced in the same manner as in the 
 adjoining towns, and gradually increased, till something like 
 the enjoyment of municipal privileges was accorded by the 
 government. As early as 1660, the Governor appointed 
 
232 A.NNALS OF TIIE TOWNS. [pAKT 2, 
 
 magistrates out of a list furnished by the inhabitants. But no 
 general patent was given, till after the province passed into 
 the hands of the English. 
 
 The establishment of the preaching of the gospel here was 
 simultaneous with that of Fiatbush, as Mr. Polhemus was 
 directed by the Governor to preach alternately at Midwout 
 and Amersfort. And in the building of the first church at 
 Fiatbush, the people of this place were required to assist. It 
 is therefore to be inferred, that no distinct ecclesiastical 
 organization was formed in this town till a subsequent date. 
 
 The surface of the town, as its name imports, is remarkably 
 smooth and nearly level. Excepting a large salt marsh on 
 its south eastern border, the soil is a sandy loam, that is well 
 cultivated, and productive. 
 
 The people are remarkable, for their quiet, peaceable and 
 friendly demeanour. Contentions and litigation are scarcely 
 known among them. 
 
 The village of Flatlands is situated about 2 miles south of 
 Fiatbush, and a little short of that distance from the Bay. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 The first house ofrpublic worship was ordered to be erected 
 in 1662, and was probably built in the succeeding year. 
 
 It is said that this house was rebuilt in the course of the 
 last century, but of this the writer could obtain no positive 
 information in the place. 
 
 The existing church was erected about the year 1S04. 
 
 A Protestant Methodist church was built a year or two 
 since, on the Neck, which still bears the aboriginal name of 
 Canarsce, or as now called Canausie, about 2 miles south-east 
 of the village. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The first ministers of this church were the collegiate pas- 
 tors of the churches in the " Five Dutch Towns,' ; whose 
 names and period of service have been recorded in the annals 
 of Fiatbush. They divided their labours among the several 
 congregations on an established scale, according to which, 
 each contributed its due proportion to the support of divine 
 institutions. 
 
 About 40 years ago a disposition was manifested to abandon 
 this plan of ministerial service, and by degrees, each church 
 able to support a pastor, made their own separate arrangements 
 for that purpose. 
 
 In 1808, the Rev. Peter Lowe who had been one of the 
 
SECT. 18.] GRAVESEND. 333 
 
 collegiate pastors from 1787, was invited to take the exclusive 
 charge of the churches of Flatbush and Flatlands, which he 
 accepted and held till his death. 
 
 The Rev. Walter Monteith was installed pastor of these two 
 churches, on the first Sabbath in Jan. 1819, and was dismissed 
 April 13th in the following year. 
 
 The connexion of this church with that of Flatbush being 
 dissolved, the congregation remained vacant for some years. 
 At length it united with the church organized at New Lots, in 
 calling the Rev. William Crookshank, who was ordained thoir 
 pastor Feb. 6th, 1825. lie remained in the charge, till April 
 14th, 1835, when he was dismissed. 
 
 The Rev. J. Abeel Baldwin was ordained March 22nd, 
 1836, and remains in the charge of both congregations. 
 
 Section IS— GRAVESEND. 
 
 Number of acres improved, . . - . 2,5S7 
 " ." unimproved, - - - 6,913 
 
 Ration of population to the acre, 1 to 10^. 
 
 This is the most southern town in King's County, and in- 
 deed of any part of Long Island. Its form is nearly triangular, 
 two of its sides being straight lines, proceeding from a point 
 on the south line of Flatbush, in a south-easterly and south- 
 westerly direction to the sea. It is therefore bounded on the 
 north-west by New Utrecht, on the north-east by Flatlands, 
 and on the south by the ocean. It includes that strand in the 
 sea now called Coney Island, formerly Conyne or Conynen 
 Island, which is connected to the mam land by a toll-bridge. 
 The western end of this island is supposed to be the spot, where 
 John Coleman, one of Sir Henry Hudson's crew, was buried, 
 (having been killed by an arrow from the natives,) and was 
 called Coleman's Point. It is not improbable, that the corrup- 
 tion of this name may have led to the present appellation. 
 It has become a place of great resort in the hot season, for 
 the luxury of sea-bathing, and the enjoyment of the ocean air. 
 
 The surface of this town is low and fiat — the soil light 
 and sanely, and a large portion consists of salt meadows and 
 marshes. But little more than one-third of its whole territory 
 is under cultivation or regarded as arable. 
 
 This, unlike the other towns of this county, was settled 
 almost exclusively by English people, the first company of 
 
334 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 whom came from Massachusetts, whence they were induced 
 to flee, by the spirit of intolerance which began early to mani- 
 fest itself in that infant colony. 
 
 The first patentee of a single farm, within the bounds of this 
 town, was Antonie Jansen de Sake, of whom more particular 
 mention will be made hereafter. His first grant, which is to 
 be found in the state archives at Albany, was dated Aug. 1st, 
 1639, and covers " 100 morgens (nearly 200 acres) of land, 
 lying on the bay, over against Conyne Island." Whether he 
 took immediate possession, and entered upon the cultivation 
 of his farm does not appear. But another patent was issued 
 by Gov. Kieft to the same individual, for the same tract, under 
 date of May 27th, 1643. Another grant, adjoining that of 
 Jansen's, was given about this time, to Robert Pennoyer, who 
 also was probably a descendant of the French exiles. Both 
 these farms were situated in the south-west corner of the town. 
 
 But a general patent for the whole town, (exclusive of these 
 individual grants,) was issued DgJc. 19th, 1645, in favour of 
 Lady Deborah Moody, Sir Henry Dfcoody, Ensign George Bax- 
 ter and Sergeant James Hubbard, their heirs and successors, 
 authorizing them " to, build a town with such necessary fortifi- 
 cations as to them may seem expedient — to have and enjoy 
 free liberty of conscience, according to the customs and 
 manners of Holland, without molestation — to establish courts 
 and elect magistrates, to try all causes not exceeding 50 Hol- 
 land guilders." It would have been for the honour of the 
 government if this pledge had been redeemed. 
 
 These patentees and their associates had come from Mas- 
 sachusetts, whence they had been driven by persecution raised 
 against Roger Williams and his followers. Lady Moody had 
 come over to that colony in 1640, and settled at Lynn, where 
 she united with the church, and received a grant of 400 acres 
 of land ; in addition to which, she had purchased a large estate, 
 called Svvanscut, which had previously belonged to Deputy 
 Gov. Humphrey. She was a woman of consequence, and 
 was treated with great respect till she fell under discipline and 
 was excommunicated from the church, for some religious sen- 
 timents deemed heretical. When her intention to seek an 
 asylum in the Dutch colony was known, she was strongly 
 dissuaded from the undertaking, but without effect. It ap- 
 pears, however, that on her way she made a stop at Newhaven, 
 where she fell into new difficulties, in consequence of having 
 made some converts to her new opinions. At length, accom- 
 panied with a number of persons of both sexes, who sympa- 
 
SECT. 18.] GRAVESEND. 335 
 
 thized with her, she left the land of steady habits, and made 
 an establishment under the Dutch government. 
 
 And here it is necessary to correct a mistake, which has 
 been so often repeated as to be generally believed on Long 
 Island. It has been frequently asserted, that Lady Moody 
 and her associates, who commenced the settlement of Graves- 
 end in 1645, were Friends or Quakers, and that they actually 
 fled from the Quaker persecution in Massachusetts, and sought 
 an asylum in this retired town. When Lady Moody left Eng- 
 land, George Fox, the founder of the new sect, was only 16 
 years of age, an apprentice to a grazier, and was as little 
 known beyond the family circle, as most lads of that age ; 
 and it was not till 2 years after the colony settled Gravesend, 
 that he commenced his public ministry — and several years 
 afterwards, before he organized his followers into regular soci- 
 eties in that kingdom. It will also be recollected, that Lady 
 Moody's troubles in New England originated, not in the adop- 
 tion of any of the peculiar ^sentiments afterwards embraced 
 by that denomination, but simply for the denial of infant bap- 
 tism, which, at that time, had become a matter of warm dis- 
 cussion in Massachusetts. It was the same sentiment that 
 involved her in difficulty after she came to Gravesend ; and 
 it will be particularly observed, that, when she was arraigned 
 before the Dutch authorities at New Amsterdam, she was 
 charged, not with denying the ordinance of baptism, but 
 merely with saying, that " infant baptism was no ordinance of 
 God" No doubt these peculiar views, which she and proba- 
 bly many of her associates entertained, confirmed as they had 
 been, instead of being corrected, by the harsh treatment which 
 they received in both provinces, prepared the way for many 
 of them to adopt the Quaker system when it was subsequently 
 introduced among them. But it was impossible that they 
 should have had any knowledge of a sect, that was not in ex- 
 istence, at the time of their coming to the island. 
 
 Of the subsequent history ofthisdistinguished individual, whom 
 Judge Benson dignifies with the appellation of a second "Dido," 
 leading a colony into an unknown land, very little is known. 
 Although her religious sentiments, at first, rendered her obnox- 
 ious to the Dutch government, she subsequently appears to 
 have been quite in the good graces of the Governor. Upon a 
 disagreement between him and the people of Gravesend, con- 
 cerning the appointment of their magistrates, he, with his 
 council, condescended to hold a meeting at her house, Nov. 
 
336 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 23d, 1654, and finally submitted the appointments entirely to 
 her decision. 
 
 Whether she ever actually became a disciple of George Fox 
 does not appear. Though the step is not rendered improbable 
 by her previous history, there is no direct evidence of the fact. 
 And it is a matter of surprise and regret, that nothing is 
 known of the time of her decease. That she was living in 
 1665, is evident from the record of a resolution of the Gover- 
 nor in council, under the date of June 18th, by which she 
 again received the honour, " as eldest and first patentee, to 
 make a nomination of magistrates for the town." And there 
 is a deed on the town records, dated " Maye 11. 1659," given 
 by her son Henry Mody, (as he signs his name,) conveying 
 to John Johnson ** a certain parcell of land, with the housing," 
 which he describes as having been received " from his deceased 
 mother, Deborah Modye." Her death must have occurred be- 
 tween the two last mentioned periods ; but no record has pre- 
 served the date, and no monument marks the place of her in- 
 terment, or perpetuates the memoir of her name. 
 
 It is worthy of remark here, that the patent of this town is 
 the first general patent given on the west end of the island, in 
 which the patentees are recognised as a political community, 
 and by which the powers of municipal government are con- 
 ferred. The records of the town, which are still preserved 
 almost entire, commence with the year 1015 ; and the elec- 
 tion of town officers, though occasionally attempted to be con- 
 trolled by the Governor, was claimed and exercised by the 
 people. Unlike the " Five Dutch Towns," which constituted 
 the residue of the county, these records were kept from the 
 commencement of the settlement, in the English language. 
 
 The settlement of the town appears to have advanced with 
 unusual vigour — as in 1656, only 11 years from its com- 
 mencement, it contained between 60 and 70 landholders. 
 The town plat or village was laid out with a great deal of 
 taste, in a circular form, with avenues and streets proceeding 
 through the centre. A correct plan is retained to the present 
 day, as an article of curiosity. The design of its framers was 
 never executed ; they appear to have intended it as the found- 
 ation of a great mercantile city, for which they erroneously 
 supposed the locality presented peculiar advantages. But the 
 city perished with its founders. 
 
 It is due to the people of this town to give <he following 
 testimony of their loyalty to the government, and their regard 
 
SECT. 18.] GRAVESEND. 837 
 
 for good morals, notwithstanding the discrepancy of their re- 
 ligious views : — 
 
 " Whereas thier is a prohibition expresse by an order from 
 y 6 Govern 1 ", of all such exercises upon y e first day of y e 
 week, as gunning, ball-playing horse-races, nine-pins, exces- 
 sive drinking and royetting, with others y e like, which greatly 
 tende to y e dishonour of God, y e hindrance of many from and 
 in religious duties, to the reproach of y e Governm* and shame 
 of the place, for y e prevention whereoff, y e officers of this 
 towne, according to their duty, have given due notice, that 
 what person soever shall in the like transgresse, shall pay 10s. 
 and answer it before v e Governor. This act proclaimed y e 
 13 of 8th month 1675." fc J 
 
 A law was also passed in town-meeting, " that whoever 
 should transgress, in word or deed, in defaming, scandalizing, 
 slandering or falsely accusing any one, should receive such 
 condign punishment as should be thought meet by the magis- 
 trates, either by fine, imprisonment, stocking, or standing at a 
 public post." 
 
 Shortly after the surrender of the province to the English 
 government and the establishment of the ridings, this town 
 was made the seat of justice — a Court-house was erected 
 in 166'S, and the courts were regularly held here until 1686, 
 when they were removed to Flatbush. 
 
 The boundary line between this town and New Utrecht 
 has been a matter of dispute and protracted litigation for 
 many years, and still remains unadjusted. 
 
 Churches, &c. 
 
 Of the early religious history of this town, very little au- 
 thentic information has been obtained and the subject is in- 
 volved in doubt and uncertainty. 
 
 It is known that soon after the quakers came upon the isl- 
 and, about the year 1657, this was one of the towns in which 
 their system met with peculiar favour. Many of the inhabi- 
 tants readily embraced their doctrines and discipline, and one 
 of the first regular meetings on the island was organized, and 
 maintained here for many years. Records of this fact, it is 
 said, still remain : though there is no evidence that they ever 
 erected a house of worship. It will be recollected, that George 
 Fox, when upon his eastern tour, both going and returning, 
 visited this place, and held meetings, which were numerously 
 attended. 
 
 15 
 
333 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 And here, though a matter of small importance, it may be 
 worth while to correct a mistake fallen into by Sewel, the 
 historian of that denomination. Speaking of this journey 
 of Fox, he says, »* He went also to the town, formerly called 
 New Amsterdam, which name is now changed unto that of 
 New-York. Here he lodged at the Governor's house, and had 
 also a meeting there.''' Now, it is manifest from Fox's Journal, 
 though no reason is assigned for the fact, that he never en- 
 tered New- York ; nor even mentions that city, except in con- 
 nection with the meeting at Gravesend, which, he says, would 
 have been attended by people from New-York, if the state of 
 the weather had not prevented. Besides this, the fact is still 
 handed down, and often spoken of by the Friends of the pre- 
 sent day, that Fox purposely avoided the city of New- York. 
 There is no way to account for this obvious mistake, but by 
 supposing, that Sewel has inadyertently transferred the atten- 
 tions which Fox received in Rhode Island to New-York. Pos- 
 sibly he supposed, that that city was in New England. Great- 
 er geographical blunders in regard to America are still made 
 by English writers, even at the present day. 
 
 There is equal difficulty in tracing the origin of the Reform- 
 ed Dutch Church in this town, or ascertaining at what period 
 the first house of worship was erected. It has been supposed, 
 that the first erection was made soon after that at Flat bush ; 
 but the writer has been unable to find any evidence of the 
 fact. And there are several circumstances which render such 
 a conclusion highly improbable. 
 
 The first settlers of this town being almost exclusively 
 English, the church that was first organized, seems to have 
 had no connexion with the churches of the Dutch towns, till 
 after the revolutionary war ; probably because the most of the 
 inhabitants could not understand their language. If then, 
 they had a church organization at an early period among 
 them, they must have derived their supplies from some other 
 source. It is also a singular fact that the town records, which 
 cover a period of 2'JO years, and are nearly entire, afford not 
 the least intimation of a church being erected at an early 
 date. And it is remarkable, that the plan of the settlement, 
 previously mentioned, has no^designated site for a house of 
 worship. It aiso appears, that from 16^4 to the end of that 
 century, marriages were usually performed by the civil magis- 
 trate, of which there are numerous records on the town books ; 
 and occasionally, by ministers, who are expressly mentioned 
 as belonging to other towns. For example : — 
 
SECT. IS.] GRAVESETJD. 339 
 
 " Oct. 20th day 16£3, Abraham Emans & Rebecca Still- 
 well pronounced man and wife, by y e Domine Rudolphus Ver- 
 ryck att flattbusch." 
 
 " Nov. 4th day 1693, Andrew Emans and Rebecca Van 
 Cleefe pronounced man and wife, by y e Domine Rudolphus 
 Verryck, flattbusch." 
 
 From these and other circumstances it seems very question- 
 able, whether there was any ecclesiastical organization or 
 house of worship in this town, until the latter part of the 
 17th century. 
 
 The precise date of the second erection is also veiled in 
 obscurity. Nicholas Stilhvell, Esq., who has been for many 
 years Town Clerk, informed the writer that his kinsman, Rut- 
 gert Stilhvell, who died Oct. 9th, 1823, at the age of 76, had 
 often informed him " that when he was a schoo!-boy, and at- 
 tended school in the vicinity, the second church was in build- 
 ing : — that it was smaller than the former, as he noticed the 
 new sills lying within the old ones : and that these remarks 
 were the result of frequent observatipn, as he was in the habit 
 of going within the enclosure to eat his dinner." This 
 would bring the date of the second building not far from 1760. 
 
 The present edifice was erected in 1833, on nearly the same 
 site with the former. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 In 1785, the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker wa^ ministering 
 to the church of Gravesend, in connexion with that of Har- 
 laem. From this it is to be inferred, that a church had been 
 previously organized in the town, and also that it was not 
 connected with the collegiate Dutch churches in the other 
 towns. Upon Mr. Schoon maker's accepting the call to the 
 collegiate charge, the church of Gravesend was admitted into 
 the compact, and participated in the labours of the several 
 pastors, from that time till the dissolution of that connexion. 
 Mr. Schoonmaker died, as previously stated, in 1824. 
 
 For several years after this time, the church remained des- 
 titute of a pastor and was supplied more or less by appoint- 
 ments from the Classis. 
 
 The Rev. Isaac P. Labagh was settled Nov. 7th, 1832, 
 and was dismissed Nov. 7th. 1842. Since that time he 
 has embraced some peculiar sentiments on the second ad- 
 vent and the christian sabbath ; for which, being summoned 
 before the Classis, and refusing to submit to their authority, 
 he was suspended from the ministry. 
 
340 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The Rev. Abraham I. Labagh succeeded to the pastoral 
 charge of this church Jan. 22d, 1843, and remains in that 
 relation. 
 
 In the south-east part of the town, at a place called the 
 Cove., a Methodist Protestant Church was erected in 1844, 
 and incorporated July 24th, the same year. 
 
 Another Methodist church was erected, about the same time, 
 in the south-west corner of the town, near the Fishing Beach, 
 which was incorporated Aug. 14th, 1844, under the style of 
 the " Fishermen's Meth. Epis. Church." 
 
 Section 19.— NEW UTRECHT. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 4,009 
 " " unimproved, - - - 1,191 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 3, nearly. 
 
 This town is bounded on the north by Brooklyn and Flat- 
 bush — and on the east, by Gravesend — on the south, by the 
 Bay, and on the west, by the Narrows. 
 
 Fort Hamilton,-^ United States fortification, is situated 
 on the western extremity of the town. Fort La Fayette 
 (otherwise called Fort Diamond, from its form) is built in the 
 water, a short distance from the Long Is!and shore. These 
 together with Fort Tompkins, Hudson and Richmond on 
 Staten Island, form a strong defence of the Narrows, which 
 are here about a mile and a half wide. 
 
 The settlement of this town was commenced by about 20 
 Dutch families in 1654. In 1660, on application to the Gover- 
 nor, certain officers were appointed to maintain some sort 
 of government in the infant community. 
 
 In 1662, the Governor gave a patent to the town, autho- 
 rizing the inhabitants to elect magistrates, subject to his ap- 
 proval, with power to hold courts having civil jurisdiction in 
 all causes not exceeding the amount of £5 ; and in criminal 
 cases of the degree of petit larceny. A new patent was given 
 in 1668 by Gov. Nicolls under the English government, 
 which was renewed by Gov. Dongan in 1686. 
 
 The repeated requirement of the colonies, to renew their 
 patents, was not one of the least impositions practised by the 
 English Governors : and the exorbitant fees which they ex- 
 torted from the people on these occasions, was undoubtedly 
 the principal reason for the requisition. Some of the towns 
 strenuously resisted the order, but the threat of a forfeiture of 
 their lands, generally forced compliance. 
 
SECT. 19.] NEW UTRECHT. 341 
 
 The village of New Utrecht is situated in the eastern part 
 of the town, about 2 miles east of Fort Hamilton, and 2 miles 
 south-west of Flatbush. 
 
 Bath is the name of a watering establishment less than a 
 mile south of the village, beautifully situated on the shore of 
 the Bay. 
 
 This town, as well as others, particularly in this county, is 
 rendered memorable by many revolutionary incidents, a par- 
 ticular detail of which does not come within the design of this 
 work. It may, however, be remarked in passing, that it was 
 in this town that the British army, under Gen. Howe, effected 
 their landing, Aug. 22nd, 1776, the week before the disastrous 
 battle of Long Island. And in this village the old stone-house 
 is still standing, in which Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull expired in 
 consequence of his wounds, Sept. 20th, 1776. This remark- 
 able mansion, covered with tiles imported from Holland, has 
 stood nearly a century and a half, and is one of the oldest 
 on the island. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 For a long time after the settlement of this town, the inha. 
 bitants had no separate ecclesiastical organization, but attended 
 worship at Flatbush. The formation of a distinct church 
 appears to have taken place about the year 1677, as the first 
 election of Elders and Deacons was made in October of that 
 year. A separate house of worship was not erected till about 
 the year 17U0. This building was of stone in the usual octa- 
 gonal form. It was occupied by the British during the war, 
 as a hospital or prison. In 1783, it underwent considerable re- 
 pairs, and was again devoted to its original purpose during 
 more than 40 years. 
 
 In 182S, it was taken down, and the present edifice erected 
 of the same materials, which was dedicated, Aug. 26lh, 1829. 
 
 In 1835, an Episcopal Church, under the style of St. John's, 
 was erected in the vicinity of Fort Hamilton. 
 
 In 1844, a Methodist Church was erected at Yellow Hook, 
 near the north-west corner of the town. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 The early ministers were, of course, the pastors of the 
 collegiate churches of the county, this being one of them. 
 The installation of Mr. Freeman in 1705 took place, by order 
 of the Governor, in the Church of this town, whether, on 
 
342 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 account of the opposition in Flatbush, to his settlement, or for 
 the particular gratification of this congregation, is not known. 
 
 The collegiate compact being dissolved, the Rev. JohnBeatie 
 was settled as the pastor of this church in 1809. He was dis- 
 missed Oct. 14th, 1834. 
 
 The Rev. Robert O. Currie, the present pastor, was ordained 
 Feb. 15th, 1935. 
 
 The Rev. James D. Carder, the Chaplain of the Military- 
 station at Fort Hamilton, is rector of the Episcopal church 
 there, and his charge consists of the United States troops, 
 connected with the fortifications at the Narrows, and also of 
 families residing in that vicinity. 
 
 Section 20.— BUSHWICK. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - 2,6C0 
 '* " unimproved, - - - 1,334 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 1 to 2. 
 
 This town is bounded on the north and east by Newtown 
 in Queen's county, on the south by Flatbush, and on the 
 west by Brooklyn, Williamsburgh and the East River. Ori- 
 ginally Williamsburgh constituted a part of this township. 
 
 Though scattered families may have located themselves 
 on this territory as early as in the adjacent towns, there is no 
 evidence of any attempt to lay out a regular settlement, or 
 organize a town, until the year 1060 : nor is it known, that 
 the town ever received a patent from the Dutch government. 
 
 The town records commence about this time, from which 
 the following extracts have been translated by Gen. Jeremiah 
 Johnson : — 
 
 "Feb. 14th, 1660, Peter Stuyvesant, Director General and 
 his High Council of the New Netherlands, Ordain, that the 
 outside residents who dwell distant from each other, must re- 
 move and concentrate themselves within the neighbouring 
 towns, and dwell in the same, because we have war with the 
 Indians, who have slain several of our Netherland people. 
 
 "Feb. 16th. As fourteen Frenchmen, with a Dutchman 
 named Peter John Dewit, their interpreter, have arrived here, 
 and as they do not understand the Dutch language, they have 
 been with the Director General, and requested him to cause 
 a town plot to be laid out at a proper place ; whereupon his 
 Honour fixed upon the 19th inst., to visit the place and fix 
 upon a site. 
 
 "Feb. 19th. On this day the Director General, with the 
 
SECT. 20.] BUSHWICK. 343 
 
 Fiscal, Nicarius D. Silla, and his Honour Ser. Van Rauven, 
 with the sworn surveyor Jaques Oorlear came to Mispat 
 (now Maspeth,) and have fixed upon a place between Mispat 
 Hill and Norman's Hill, to establish a village, and have laid 
 out by survey twenty-two house lots, on which dwelling 
 houses are to be built. 
 
 li March 7th. The first house being erected near the 
 Pond, William Traphagen, with his family, and Koert 
 Mourison came to dwell in the same. Other houses were 
 erected during the year. 
 
 " March 14th, 1661. The Director General visited the 
 new village, when the inhabitants requested his honor to 
 give the place a name; whereupon he named the town 
 Boswijck, (Boswyck.)" 
 
 At this time the order was renewed, 
 
 "That all the citizens who dwell within the limits and 
 jurisdiction of the town of Boswijck. and already have vil- 
 lage 1 * f s, shall remove to the same, according to the or- 
 der ci the Director General." And it is added, 
 
 " That all persons whatsoever, who dwell outside of the 
 village, a! iend to the danger they may be in, by remain- 
 ing v, here they be." 
 
 By order of the Governor, six men were chosen by 
 the people* from whom he selected three, viz., Peter Jans 
 Dewidt, Jan Tilje and Jan Comlits, to whom he committed 
 the provisional administration of the justice of the village. 
 
 In the preceding records 24 names appear, and in a muster 
 roll, dated June 14th, 1663, there are 40 names, including 14 
 that appear to be French, of both which the translator re- 
 marks as a singular fact, " that there is not a person now liv- 
 ing in the town of Bushwick bearing the surname of any of 
 these persons." 
 
 The preceding extracts plainly show, that many of the first 
 settlers of this town, as of some of the other towns on this part 
 of the island, were French ; most probably the immediate 
 descendants of French huguenots, who had fled from their 
 native country, to escape the bloody persecution that had been 
 commenced in the latter part of the preceding century, and 
 was continued, with more or less violence, nearly 30 years. * 
 
 * The massacre of the memorable St. Bartholomew's day, was Aug. 
 24th, 1572 — and the edict of Nantes, by virtue of which the French 
 Protestants enjoyed a temporary respite, was issued by Henry IV., in 
 1598. The revocation of that edict by Louis XIV. in 1685, caused an- 
 other emigration of the huguenots to this country, some of whom also 
 settled on Long Island. 
 
344 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 They first fled into Holland, where they enjoyed a temporary 
 asylum from the rage of the oppressor. But, as in the case of 
 the English puritans, who shortly after fled to the same coun- 
 try, for a similar cause, the dissimilarity of language, manners 
 and customs prevented them from regarding it as a permanent 
 home. Hence, upon the opening of the New World, at the 
 commencement of the 17th century, many of the younger 
 members of these French exiles, cheerfully emigrated to these 
 desolate wilds, to which the enterprise of the Dutch Company 
 presented a ready passage. 
 
 In confirmation of these facts, it may be remarked, that 
 there is an aged female, who was born in this town, and is 
 still living at the advanced age of 95 years, who distinctly 
 recollects hearing her mother relate what bitter persecutions 
 their ancestors endured in their native land, and how they 
 were, at length, constrained to fly, — travelling by night, and 
 concealing themselves by day, till they reached Holland ; 
 whence some of their children emigrated to America, 'caving 
 others of their kindred in the land of their first refuge. 
 
 These remarks are important, from the general opinion that 
 has heretofore prevailed, that the west end of the Island was 
 settled exclusively by Dutch emigrants. They were indeed 
 the most numerous, and eventually determined the completion 
 of all the institutions, both civil and ecclesiastical, which were 
 here established; while those of French extract, by contigu- 
 ous residence, and frequent intermarriages, in process of time, 
 adopted their language, and became completely amalgamated 
 as one people. 
 
 It may be added, that many of the names which have ex- 
 isted, or still exist in this and other towns, on this end of the 
 island, and have usually been regarded as Dutch names, were 
 manifestly French. 
 
 When in 1664, the English forces arrived at New Amster- 
 dam, and summoned Governor Stuyvesant to surrender the 
 province, it seems that the Dutch people, both in the city and 
 on the western parts of Long Island, exhibited little inclina- 
 tion to resist the demand, or to aid their Governor, in defence 
 of the fort. Hence the province was given up without a strug- 
 gle. But the people soon found that they had gained little, 
 by an exchange of masters, in regard either to civil or religious 
 liberty. And the town of Buswick was among the first to re- 
 ceive a lesson from their new rulers. 
 
 The following translation of some of the records of this 
 
SECT. 20.] BUSHWICK. 345 
 
 town, made by Gen. Johnson, will show that the English go- 
 vernors early assumed the power which had been exercised by 
 their Dutch predecessors, in ecclesiastical matters ; notwith- 
 standing, it was provided by the 8th Article of the Capitula- 
 tion, that " the Dutch here shall enjoy the liberty of their 
 consciences, in divine worship and church-discipline." It will 
 be observed that this first order was issued the very year after 
 the surrender : — 
 " Beloved Friends, 
 
 " As you have no minister to preach the gospel to the 
 congregation of your town, nor are you able wholly to main- 
 tain a minister, therefore, it seems proper to us, that the neigh- 
 bouring towns, which have no settled minister, should com- 
 bine with you to maintain the gospel ministry, and that you 
 should jointly contribute for that purpose ; Therefore, we 
 deem it proper to order, and firmly and orderly to establish, 
 according to the desire of many of your people, who have 
 conferred with me, therefore, we have ordered that three or 
 four persons, duly authorized, appear, on Thursday or Friday 
 next, further to confer on that matter, for themselves and the 
 timid, and the other inhabitants. 
 
 " Whereupon, we greet you cordially, as honoured and re- 
 spected friends, and as vour friend. RICHARD NICOLL. 
 
 "Fort James, Oct. i7, 1665." 
 
 " Beloved and Honourable Good Friends : 
 
 " Before this time our order has been made known to you, 
 that the honourable ministers of this place, in turn, will preach 
 to your people until you are able to maintain a minister your- 
 selves. By our order presented to you, you were required to 
 raise the sum of 175 guilders, as your proportion of the sa- 
 lary ; but, in consideration of the trouble, in your town, we 
 have deemed it proper, under present circumstances, to reduce 
 the sum of 175 guilders to the sum of 100 guilders, which we 
 deem reasonable, and against which no reasonable complaint 
 can exist, and ought to be satisfactory ; which last sum we 
 demand for the ministers' salary ; therefore, we expect that 
 measures will be adopted, to collect the same, promptly, pur- 
 suant to this order ; and to ensure the same, we have deemed 
 it proper to appoint Evert Hedeman and Peter Jansen Dewit, 
 giving them full power and authority to assess and collect 
 that sum, having regard to the condition and circumstances 
 of the people, and to decide what each of them shall pay, 
 which the said persons shall collect, or cause to be collected, 
 15* 
 
346 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 that is, ICO guilders, in three instalments, and pay the same 
 over to us ; the first, on the last day of December next ; the 
 second, on the last day of April next, and the third, on the 
 last day of August next ensuing. Whereupon, we remain 
 your friend, greeting, RICHARD NICOLL. 
 
 " This will be delivered to Evert Hedeman and Peter Jan- 
 sen Dewit, and read to the congregation. R. N. 
 
 "Fort James, Dec. 26, 1665." 
 
 " Anno 1665, the 27th of December, the minister preached 
 his first sermon at the house of Giesbert Tonissen, who was 
 sent to preach by the Hon. Governor, Richard Nicoli." 
 
 " To the inhabitants ofJBushwick : 
 
 " Beloved Friends — I am authorized, by the governor, to 
 receive the salary of the ministers, being 100 guilders, which 
 is due and now collecting in your town, pursuant to o^der, 
 which I am to pay over to the requiring ministers. Your 
 friend greeting; C. V. Ruyven. 
 
 " New-York, Jan. 5, 1666." 
 
 "Anno 1*666, Jan. 13, O. S. The persons named below, 
 have been obliged to pay to Evert Hedeman and Peter Jan- 
 sen Dewit, (compelled collectors ) for the ministers' salary, 
 the sums set opposite to their respective names which was as- 
 sessed upon their sowed lands." 
 
 Here follow the names of 26 persons, who paid the sum of 
 100 guilders for the ministers' salary. This odious tax ap- 
 pears to have been levied and collected until the colony was 
 re-taken by the Dutch, in 1673. " The name of the minister, 
 who preached the first sermon at the house of Giesbert Tonis- 
 sen, Dec. 27th, 1665, is not mentioned in the record; nor 
 does the name of any of the favoured gentry appear, nor is it 
 said that they were Dutch, French or English clergymen, for 
 whom this tribute was levied." 
 
 The translator adds further, in a note : — 
 
 " From the year 1660, until the Dutch church was built in 
 Bushwick, the people of the town were connected with the 
 church of Brooklyn, and Gov. JSicoll knew it." 
 
 Churches. 
 
 There is no evidence of the organization of a church, or 
 the erection of a house of worship in this town till the com- 
 mencement of the 18th century. A part of the communion 
 service still in use, bears the date of 1708 ; from which it is 
 inferred that the church was formed about that time. 
 
 There is also a receipt still extant, for a church bell, dated 
 
SECT. 20.] BUSHWICK. 347 
 
 in 1711, which renders it probable that the house of worship 
 had been erected not long before. It was in the usual form, 
 an octagon, with a pyramidal roof, surmounted with a cupola. 
 It was a mere inclosure, without pews or gallery, till near the 
 close of the century, the congregation furnishing themselves 
 with benches or chairs. In 1790, the building received a new 
 roof; and in 1795, a front gallery was erected, and the ground 
 floor furnished with pews. 
 
 In 1829, the old building was taken down, and the present 
 neat edifice erected, which was dedicated in the fall of that 
 year. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 From the first organization of a church in this town, it con- 
 stituted a part of the collegiate charge of the County, and 
 was served by the pastors of the five Dutch towns. Of course, 
 from the preceding dates, Messrs. Freeman and Antonides 
 were the first pastors of this church, and they preached here 
 alternately every third sabbath. There is a receipt from the 
 former, for salary, in 17C9. The name of the succeeding 
 pastors, with the dates of their settlement and dismission or 
 decease, will be found in the annals of Flatbush. 
 
 In 18C8, the Rev. Mr. Lowe having withdrawn from the 
 oversight of this church, to the exclusive charge of Flatbush 
 and Flatlands, the Rev. Mr. Schoonmaker continued to preach 
 here occasionally till his death, in the spring of lb24. 
 
 In 1811, the Rev. John Basset, D.D., was installed pastor 
 of this church. On the 1st of June, 1824, he was suspended 
 from the ministry, for intemperance, and died in the succeed- 
 ing autumn. 
 
 The Rev. Stephen H. Meeker was ordained pastor of this 
 church, Feb. 27th, 1826. He was dismissed, April 27th, 
 1830, and was called to the Dutch church in Jersey city. 
 After an absence of about 6 months, he was recalled and re- 
 installed, in the fall of the same year. He still continues in 
 the charge, and the congregation has enjoyed uninterrupted 
 harmony and a gradual accession to its numbers. 
 
 The spring of 1843 was distinguished as a season of special 
 refreshing, which resulted in the addition of 35 to the com- 
 munion of the church. The whole number of members at 
 the present time is 170. 
 
 This church holds its connexion with one of the Classes of 
 the City of New- York. 
 
348 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2 ? 
 
 Section 21.— WILLIAMSBURGH. 
 
 Number of acres improved, - - - - 88J 
 Residue (estimated at) 978 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 10 to 1. 
 
 The territory occupied by this small town having been 
 taken off from Bushvvick, its exact content as above stated, 
 is the result of a rough estimate which is not claimed to be 
 perfectly correct. It is, however a very small township con- 
 taining less than 2 square miles ; being bounded on the north 
 and east by Bushwick — south by Brooklyn, and west by the 
 East river, which separates it from the city of New York. 
 
 This it will be perceived, is the most populous town, in pro- 
 portion to its territory, on the island ; and the increase of its 
 inhabitants during the last few years, is almost without a pa- 
 rallel. Fy the U. S. Census of 1840 its population was 5,094 ; 
 and by the late State Census it is 11,338, having more than 
 doubled in 5 years. 
 
 The early history of the place is of course, identified with 
 that of Bushwick, from which it was separated, and made a 
 distinct town in 1840. From its proximity to the city, it 
 might be supposed to have been the seat of the principal set- 
 tlement in the first occupation of this region. But it was far 
 otherwise. The first town plat was evidently not far from 
 the present site of the village in Bushvvick ; and until 17 
 years ago, the whole territory now embraced within the limits 
 of this town was occupied in separate farms, the whole num- 
 ber of which was 23 ; of which 10 butted on the river. Be- 
 sides the farm houses belonging to these several tracts, there 
 were scarcely any tenements, excepting a few small buildings 
 on the roads connected with North Second-street Ferry. 
 
 The site of this village rises gradually to the height of 
 about 45 feet above the level of the adjacent waters. And 
 though it afterwards suffers a depression about a mile from 
 the river, the surrounding lands will furnish sufficient material 
 to raise the whole to a desirable elevation. The east part of 
 the town, or the "Upper Village" as it is called, a little more 
 than a mile from the ferries, is a peculiarly pleasant and de- 
 sirable residence. On the whole, nature seems to have 
 formed this entire territory as the site of a beautiful town. 
 
 In 1627 an Act was passed by the legislature, conferring 
 the usual village powers. A surveyor was employed by 
 
SECT. 21.] WILLIAMSBUKGH. 340 
 
 public authority, and the village was laid out in its present 
 form. Although there is a great deal of regularity in the plat, 
 it will be a matter of lasting regret, that the streets were not 
 laid out in exact parallels and perpendiculars ; and it is diffi- 
 cult to imagine, on what principle, so many veering and con- 
 verging streets could have been laid down, on a tract of land, 
 that presented no obstacles to a perfectly regular plan. If it 
 were designed to accommodate the existing line of farms, or 
 the few buildings that were previously erected, it must have 
 been a short sighted policy that sacrificed the convenience 
 and beauty of a future city, to the real or imaginary interests 
 of a few individuals. These remarks are made without any 
 knowledge of the views that governed the survey ; and are 
 suggested entirely by the fact, that in the whole circuit of 
 the city of New York, there is not a spot of ground of equal 
 extent, where a village could have been laid out with such 
 perfect regularity, in both the direction and the grade of the 
 streets, as within the entire limits of Williamsburgh. 
 
 From this time the village began to rise, and continued to 
 increase till 1837, when from the universal " pressure of the 
 times," it was brought to a dead stand. The pressure here 
 received additional weight, from the extensive prevalence of 
 " the spirit of speculation" and the rage for " public improve- 
 ment," which had characterized the operations of former 
 years. And so heavy was the blow, that for several years, 
 there was scarcely one step in advance. But wiser counsels 
 and more prudent measures have, in a good degree, restored 
 public confidence. The influx of a healthful and enterpris- 
 ing population, is adding strength and vigour to the com- 
 munity ; and it is now advancing with unprecedented pros- 
 perity. 
 
 As the growth and prosperity of this village are chiefly de- 
 pendent on its connection and means of intercourse with the 
 city of New York, its Ferries are worthy of a brief notice. 
 
 The first ferry was established not far from the commence- 
 ment of the present century, at the foot of what is now North 
 Second-street. 
 
 The Grand-street ferry was commenced in 1812. After 
 a few years it was united with the former. 
 
 The Peck-slip ferry was established in 1836. 
 
 The Houston-street ferry in 1840. 
 
 The last three are in constant operation, and their patron- 
 
350 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 age, as a matter of course, is increasing with the increase of 
 population. 
 
 The natural location of Williamsburgh, and the great ex- 
 tent of the city embraced by its ferries, most unequivocally 
 mark it, as (he appropriate and natural terminus of the L. I. 
 Rail road, and the other great thoroughfares of the island. 
 The distance from Jamaica, is 2 or '6 miles shorter than to 
 Brooklyn, and its ferries afford the traveller or the market- 
 man, the choice of being conveyed directly to the seat of 
 business or to the upper part of the city. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that, by an act of the legislature in 
 1840, Williamsburgh was erected into a separate township, 
 while the viilage organization remains under its charter, which 
 was amended in many important particulars in 1744 ; and 
 thus it has the needless and expensive arrangement of two 
 municipal corporations, with separate elections, and a distinct 
 set of officers to administer government within exactly the 
 same territorial limits. It is difficult to imagine what bene- 
 fit is secured hy such an arrangement, or why the people 
 should be willing to prolong a needless expense, that might be 
 entirely obviated by a slight amendment of the village charter. 
 Notwithstanding all the embarrassments which this village 
 has been labouring under, from the mistakes and errors of for- 
 mer years, its present prospects are peculiarly cheering ; and 
 nothing but a mistaken policy on the part of the village ru- 
 lers and the land proprietors can impede its progress. Within 
 the last 2 years, more than 400 dwelling-houses have been 
 erected — many of them superb buildings ; and there is now 
 scarcely an unoccupied tenement to be found. 
 
 A large portion of the present population consists of those, 
 whose business transactions are carried on in the city of New 
 York, and who have fixed their residence here, for the sake of 
 enjoying a freer air and other corresponding advantages. It 
 is difficult, if not impossible, for persons occupying such a re- 
 lation to a community, to feel all that interest and exert all 
 that influence in its concerns which is desirable. Still, how- 
 ever, the constant increase of citizens from this source is evi- 
 dently exerting a favourable effect on the welfare of the place ; 
 and the more they feel, that the interests of their families are 
 identified with the interests of the community in which they 
 have cast their lot, and that their personal exertions are indis- 
 pensable to its prosperity, the greater benefits may be expected 
 to result. 
 
 One of the most promising indications of the future pros- 
 
8ECT. 21.] WILLIAMSBURGH. 351 
 
 perity of this village is the provision which has been made for 
 popular education. The village is divided into three school 
 districts, in each of which a spacious edifice for instruction 
 was reared in 1843. The schools were opened near the close 
 of that year, and are supported by a tax on the entire popu- 
 lation. In the same manner, books, stationery, and every- 
 thing necessary for the use of the pupils are provider!, so that 
 all the children of the place (of which there are '2,691 between 
 the ages of 5 and 15) have access to the means of education, 
 without charge. It remains to be proved whether this very 
 extensive liberality will be duly appreciated by the commu- 
 nity, and result in extending the benefits of education to the 
 greatest number. It is well known that that which costs no- 
 thing is very apt to be regarded as worth little or nothing. 
 Besides this, education is of very little advantage to that child 
 who does not feel the importance of having books of his own, 
 which are to be preserved with care for future use ; and those 
 parents, who are not willing to furnish their children with 
 books, are not very likely to avail themselves of any advan- 
 tages for educating them. In such a place as this, free in- 
 struction is indeed desirable ; but the furnishing of bocks, 
 &c, to be used or abused at the option of the scholar, is 
 at least very questionable : and that this liberal provision is 
 not yet appreciated, may be inferred from the fact that a large 
 number of the children, of the legitimate age, are not in the 
 habit of attending the schools. 
 
 Besides the public institutions, there are numerous private 
 schools, more or less select, for both sexes, and of various 
 grades ; while many, who can afford it, daily send their chil- 
 dren across the ferries to the schools of the city — the last 
 place, it would seem, in which a cautious parent would be 
 willing to expose his children. It is a disgrace to the vil- 
 lage, that it can boast of no literary institution of a higher 
 grade within its limits, for the improvement of either, sex ; 
 and yet it is obvious that few villages possess greater advan- 
 tages for rearing and maintaining a seminary, of a high order, 
 for the liberal education of their sons and daughters. Nothing 
 is wanting, but united views and combined exertions, to se- 
 cure the important object. 
 
 In connexion with the literary advantages of the place, it is 
 worthy of notice, that a Lyceum was organized here in 1S43, 
 which has maintained a respectable course of useful exercises 
 of a literary and scientific character, during the last two 
 winters. Having recently obtained an act of incorporation, 
 
352 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 it is contemplated to erect a suitable building, to found a libra- 
 ry, and establish a reading-room, with such other appendages 
 as may render it permanently and generally useful. 
 
 A Mechanics' Association was formed shortly after the 
 former, which promises to be useful to those for whose benefit 
 it is designed. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 The first ecclesiastical organization in this village was the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, which was formed about the year 
 1807. Their first house of worship was erected in 1808, on 
 North Second, above Fourth street. It was repaired in 1821, 
 and is still standing. 
 
 In 1837, the society having been greatly enlarged, the 
 foundation of a spacious brick church was laid, which was 
 completed and dedicated Jan. 8th, 1840. It is situated on 
 South Second, between Fifth and Sixth streets, and is the 
 most spacious and comfortable church hitherto completed in 
 the place. 
 
 The corner stone of the Reformed Dutch church bears date 
 Aug. 28th, 1828. It is situated on the corner of Fourth and 
 South Second street. A consistory-room adjoining the church 
 was erected in 1843. The church was organized the 1st Sab- 
 bath in Nov., 1829. 
 
 The first pastor, the Rev. James Demarest, was ordained 
 on the last Sabbath in June, 1830, and dismissed July 2d, 1839. 
 
 The Rev. William H. Van Doren, the present pastor, was 
 ordained Jan. 29th, 1840. 
 
 The Methodist Protestant church was organized in 1833, 
 by a secession of about 35 members from the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church. They immediately adopted measures to erect 
 a church, which was dedicated in the autumn of that year. It 
 is a small, but comfortable edifice, standing on Grand street, 
 between Fourth and Fifth. This congregation are contem- 
 plating a new erection. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal church was erected in 1840, and 
 consecrated April 27th, 1841. It is a stone building, of neat 
 architectural structure, and finished in the Gothic style. The 
 interior, which is painted in fresco, is peculiarly chaste and 
 beautiful, and is said to be one of the finest specimens of the 
 art, that is to be found in this country. 
 
SECT. 21.] WILLIAMSBUKGH. 853 
 
 The Baptist church was organized in 1839. After enjoy- 
 ing the labours of several different individuals, 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Mussey became the pastor, in which re- 
 lation he continued till the autumn of 1843. 
 
 In that year they erected a church edifice, which was 
 dedicated on the 29th of June. 
 
 In May, 1844, the Rev. Alanson P. Mason became their 
 pastor, and the congregation is one of the most respectable in 
 the village. 
 
 "The First Presbyterian Church" was organized and 
 placed under the care of the Presbytery of Brooklyn, May 
 26th, 1842. It then consisted of 7 male and 8 female mem- 
 bers. Shortly after the organization, the members became 
 divided on the subject of abolition, which resulted in the dis- 
 mission of 4 male and 3 female members, who united in a 
 new organization, that will be hereafter noticed. 
 
 After enjoying occasional supplies, the Rev. Joseph R. 
 Johnson commenced labouring here in Nov. 1842, and was 
 installed pastor, June 13th, 1843. A season of special re- 
 freshing had been enjoyed during the preceding winter, and 
 this church was greatly increased. In Feb. 1844, when the 
 number of members amounted to 86, a number of the breth- 
 ren proposed transferring their relation from the Presbytery 
 of Brooklyn to that of New York. The church became di- 
 vided on the question ; and in the result, three elders with 20 
 private members were, at their own request, dismissed, March 
 29th, 1S44, for the purpose of organizing another church, to 
 be placed under the care of the Presbytery of New York. 
 
 In April, 1845, the Rev. Mr. Johnson was dismissed from 
 the pastoral care of this church, and the Rev. James W. 
 McLane was installed on the 2d of September following. 
 
 This congregation have not yet erected a house of worship, 
 but have purchased a lot on the corner of Fourth and South 
 Second street, on which they contemplate building. They have 
 already erected a spacious lecture room for their present ac- 
 commodation, which will be ready to be occupied in the 
 course of a few weeks. 
 
 The First Congregational Church was organized May 28th, 
 1843, consisting principally of the first secession from the 
 Presbyterian church. In the same year they erected a brick 
 edifice on South Third Street, corner of Eleventh. At its or- 
 
354 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 ganization, the Rev. Simeon S. Jocelyn took the pastoral 
 charge, in which relation he still remains. 
 
 " The Presbyterian Church" originated in the second seces- 
 sion from the *' First Presbyterian Church," which has been 
 previously referred to. They first assembled for worship on 
 the 7th of April, 1844, in the public room of school district 
 No. 1, which had been procured for the purpose. On appli- 
 cation to the Presbytery of New York, a committee of that 
 body was appointed, who met on the 19th of April and organ- 
 ized a chinch, consisting of 27 members, which was subse- 
 quently taken under the care of that Presbytery, and the Rev. 
 N. S. Prime, at the request of the session, was engaged as 
 stated supply. 
 
 At a meeting, April 22d, 1844, which had been duly noti- 
 fied according to the statute, trustees were elected, and the 
 congregation became incorporated under the style of " The 
 Presbyterian Church of Wjlliamsburgh." 
 
 The Rev. P. Eugene Stevenson received a unanimous call 
 Oct. 31st, 1844, to the pastoral charge of this church, and 
 shortly after commenced labouring with them. He was in- 
 stalled Feb. 20th, 1845, and continues in the charge. 
 
 This congregation have commenced, and already made en- 
 couraging progress in the erection of a church, on the corner 
 of Fifth and South Third street. The edifice is of brick, 62 
 by 75 fc^t, with a projection of 12 [eet by 20 for a steeple, 
 which is to receive a clock and bell. The ground was broken 
 on the 15th of July — the corner-stone was laid with appropriate 
 religious services on the 18th of August — the building is now 
 enclosed, and is expected to be completed in the course of the 
 winter. 
 
 The African Methodist Epis. (Zion) Church was organ- 
 ized iu 18:15. For some years past, they have worshipped in 
 the old Methodist church, but of late in a school house. 
 A year or two since they attempted to rear a house of their 
 own, on North Second street, above Union Avenue ; but 
 after raising the frame, they have been unable to proceed, and 
 it remains unenclosed. 
 
 The Free Union Meth. Church, (also African,) was organ- 
 ized Feb. 4th, 1842. They erected a small house in the 
 course of the last year, on South Third street, near Ninth, in 
 which they assemble for worship. 
 
 A Wesleyan Methodist church was organized Aug. 23d, 
 
SECT. 21.] WILLIAMSBURGH. 355 
 
 1943, but was dissolved, by consent of the members, April 
 15th, 1844. 
 
 There are two Roman Catholic churches in this village — 
 one on First street, corner of North Eighth, erected in 1810. 
 The other was built in the upper village, in 1841, for the Ger- 
 man Catholics, of whom there is a large population in that 
 vicinity. 
 
 The stated preaching of the doctrine of universal salvation, 
 was commenced in this place the present year, in a building 
 which had been previously erected by individual enterprise ; 
 and the certificate of incorporation of the " Free Universalist 
 Society" was entered in the office of the County Clerk, Aug. 
 24th, 1845. 
 
 To complete the record of all the religious societies that 
 have had a separate organization in this village, it is necessa- 
 ry to add, that about three years ago the " Midnight Cry" was 
 sounded long and loud through these streets, and not a iqw 
 were led to believe that^he time of the end was near. And 
 for a number of months in 1843-4, this place seemed to be 
 one of the favourite resorts of the advocates of this false 
 alarm. Here grove-meetings were held for many successive 
 days, and hundreds assembled to listen to the warning. Hither 
 the author and high priest of this delusion came, for a final 
 visit, just before the expected end, and publicly assured his 
 deceived followers, that " he had no more doubt, that within 
 10 days time, he should see Abraham and David and Paul, and 
 all the holy patriarchs and prophets and apostles, coming with 
 the Lord of glory, than that he was then addressing that as- 
 sembly." That many were duped into the belief of this false 
 doctrine, cannot be doubted. But how much confidence some 
 of the leaders in this scheme reposed in their own predictions, 
 may be inferred from a fact publicly witnessed in the streets. 
 On the very day, which had been so confidently predicted for 
 the final catastrophe, while the sun was shining in all its 
 brightness from a cloudless sky, a large printed hand-bill, 
 which must have been previously prepared, was set up, an- 
 nouncing a course of lectures on the "Second Advent," to 
 commence on some day of the next week, and to be con- 
 tinued in successive weeks. The time of the end was then 
 regularly adjourned for a few months, and the poor deluded 
 multitude unhesitatingly deferred their hopes or their fears, to 
 a more distant day. But in a short time, the providence of 
 
356 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 God re-enstamped the seal of falsehood, upon this impious pre- 
 tence of "knowing the times and seasons, which the Father 
 hath put in his own power." The result, it is to be hoped, 
 has terminated the delusion. 
 
 In view of the recent origin of this entire village, it is ob- 
 vious to remark, that most of the religious societies which 
 exist in the place, are yet in their infancy. It will be per- 
 ceived by a reference to the date of their respective organiza- 
 tions, that with the exception of two or three, they have all 
 arisen, within the last five or six years. And although the 
 population of the village has experienced an unusual increase, 
 in the course of that time, it is not to be supposed, that, 
 among so many distinct associations, any of them have enjoyed 
 proportional accessions. Besides this, it is a melancholy fact, 
 which cannot be concealed, that there is a very large portion 
 of this community, who have no religious attachments, and 
 have yet to learn the value of divine institutions. Multitudes 
 of the rising generation are growing up, without the restraints 
 of moral and religious instruction, either at the domestic fire- 
 side, or in the house of worship ; while they are daily exposed 
 to the allurements of dissipation and vice, which in some parts 
 of the village, are presented more frequently than the corners 
 of every street. 
 
 There is another fact resulting from the local situation of 
 this town, which exerts a most pernicious influence upon the 
 moral interests of the community. Placed in the immediate 
 vicinity, and under the very shadow of a great metropolis, 
 whose overflowing wickedness is constantly pouring forth a 
 torrent of moral desolation at every avenue, this village can- 
 not but feel its demoralizing influences. But most of all, is 
 the truth of this remark realized on the holy Sabbath. On 
 that sacred day, thousands, and tens of thousands in the city, 
 released from the ordinary occupations of life, uniformly spend 
 their time in idleness, amusement or dissipation. And for 
 these purposes, multitudes issue forth into the adjacent vil- 
 lages and towns, to indulge their inclinations without restraint. 
 And in this connexion, it will be observed, that just in propor- 
 tion to the increased vigilance and energy of the city authori- 
 ties to control the haunts of iniquity, and preserve the sanctity 
 of the Sabbath, within their own bounds, is this desolating 
 flood increased in the surrounding country. This, Williams- 
 burgh has long felt, to the great grief of all who respect divine 
 institutions, and love the souls of men. 
 
 But in the midst of all these untoward circumstances, it is 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 357 
 
 grateful to record the fact, and it is one that has an encouraging 
 bearing on the moral aspect of the community, that there is a 
 remarkable spirit of union and fellow-feeling among evangeli- 
 cal christians, in regard to the moral and religious interests of 
 the village. Here may be seen Methodists and Baptists, Re- 
 formed Dutch and Congregationalists, and Presbyterians of 
 both sections of that church, in the exercise of a truly catho- 
 lic spirit, uniting their efforts to restrain the vices of the times, 
 and disseminate the influence of gospel truth. And it is be- 
 lieved, that there are few towns in this christian land, in which 
 there are as many distinct organizations, where it can be said 
 with more propriety, " Ephraim doth not envy Judah, and Ju- 
 dah doth not vex Ephraim." The ministers of these several 
 churches, not only live in harmony, but frequently exchange 
 labours ; and for some time past, they have maintained a so- 
 cial meeting to consult upon the interests of the community ; 
 in connexion with which, a monthly lecture is attended, in 
 their several places of worship in turn. 
 
 This fact may appear to the eye of a stranger as scarcely 
 worthy a distinct recognition. But to those who realize that 
 they are laying foundations for a large community, whose fu- 
 ture destinies are deeply involved in the influences that are 
 now brought to bear upon its infancy, they cannot be regarded 
 with indifference or estimated at a small price. 
 
 Section 22.— BROOKLYN. 
 
 Area. Population. 
 
 Acres improved, 4,421. In 1840, 36,233 
 
 " unimproved, 4,579. In 1845, 59,574 
 
 Ratio of population to the acre, 6^ to 1. 
 
 This town is bounded on the north by the claims of the 
 city of New-York, and by Williamsburgh and Bushwick — 
 east, by Bushwick — south, by Flatbush, and New Utrecht ; 
 and west by New-York harbour. 
 
 Within the present limits of this town, the first European 
 family that settled on Long Island, took up their residence in 
 the spring of 1625, and here the first child of European pa- 
 rentage was born on the 9th of June, the same year. They 
 fixed their abode at the place, which was early named Waale- 
 boght — now, the Wallabout, near the site occupied by the 
 United States Navy Yard. The name is said to be descrip- 
 tive of the place, meaning, " a bend in the shore," or what we 
 call a Cove. 
 
359 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The name of the first settler above mentioned was George 
 Jansen de Rapalje, and his first-born child on the island was 
 Sarah Rapalje. 
 
 As this family, in its various connexions, has borne a con- 
 spicuous part in the annals of the western parts of Long Is- 
 land, and as various and contradictory accounts have been 
 published in regard to several individuals belonging to it, and 
 especially of Sarah Rapalje, who, from the :ircumstances of 
 her birth, has been regarded as a sort of heioine in the early 
 history of this town, the writer has made it a special object to 
 possess himself of the most correct information which could 
 be obtained. 
 
 In the first place, then, let the fact, which has been previ- 
 ously stated, be borne in mind, that this family was not of 
 Dutch, but French descent. They were either natives of 
 France, or the children of French huguenots, who, at the 
 close of the preceding century, had been obliged to fly for their 
 lives from the bloody persecutions in that country. It is 
 a pleasant reflection, that the first settlement of this isle of the 
 sea was consecrated by the prayers of some of that pious race. 
 
 There were three brothers by the name of Jansen, who 
 came over to this country at an early period ; their names are 
 all identified with the history of the western parts of the 
 island, and their ashes repose in its bosom. 
 
 George Jansen de Rapalje was the first immigrant, as above 
 stated. He held his ecclesiastical connexion for some years 
 with the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam, till after the or- 
 ganization of a church in Brooklyn, when, according to the 
 records of that church, h<s relation was transferred in 1662, by 
 a certificate under the hand of the Rev. Johannes Megapo- 
 lensis. 
 
 But it is in relation to his daughter Sarah that we find the 
 greatest discrepancies. According to Judge Benson's ac- 
 count, which has been followed by others, " Sarah was born 
 June 9th, 1625, and was twice married — first to Hans Hanse 
 Bergen, by whom she had six children, viz., Michael, Joris, 
 Jan, Jacob, Breckje, and Marytje. Her second husband was 
 Teunis Guisbertse Bogert, by whom she had six children, viz., 
 Aurtie, Antje, Neeltje, Aultje, Catalyntie, and Guysbert." And 
 it is stated, in addition, that " the archives of the New York 
 Historical Society contain the names of the persons whom 
 eleven of her children married, and the places also where they 
 settled. The twelfth went to Holland/' And still further, 
 that in the journal of the Dutch Council, in 1656, it is record- 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 359 
 
 ed that " the widow of Hems Hanson, the first-born Christian 
 daughter in New Netherlands, burdened with seven children, 
 petitions for a grant of a piece of meadow, in addition to the 
 morgen granted to her at the Waale-Boght." 
 
 Appendix to .Smith's History of New York contains a 
 p eter Vroom, of Raratan,- N. J., in which it is 
 ah I^apalje was born on the 7th (instead of the 
 . , and. that the Dutch records at Albany (Letter P, 
 Vo e, that Sarah was a widow by the name of Forey, 
 
 with sc children, and that she received a grant of land ad- 
 joining her former possessions, " in consideration of her situa- 
 tion and number of births." 
 
 As all accounts agree in the fact that she was born in 1625, 
 she must, according to both these statements, have been a 
 widow with 7 children at the age of 31 years. This, indeed, 
 is not incredible — nor that she might have had 5 or 6 more 
 after that period. But great doubt is thrown on several of 
 these particulars from the account given the writer, by Gen. 
 Jeremiah Johnson, which is derived from the family record, 
 formerly in his possession. His statement is in substance as 
 follows : — 
 
 George Jansen de Rapalje had 8 children — four sons and 
 four daughters. The sons' names were George, Jeromus, 
 Daniel, and Jacob. Jacob was slain by the Indians. The 
 daughters were Sarah, the eldest, (the individual in question,) 
 who was married to Teunis Guysbert Bogart — the very per- 
 son who, according to a former account, is said to have been 
 her second husband ; Jane, to Jeremiah Remsen Vander- 
 beeck ; (they had 16 children, who were all married and 
 attended their father's funeral ;) Judith was married to 
 Martin Ryerse ; and Catharine to Hanse Bergen, who ap- 
 pears to have been the same man, who, according to the 
 former account, was the first husband of Sarah. From the 
 Register of Baptisms in the Dutch church of Brooklyn, it 
 appears, that, on the 30th of September, 1663, George Ra- 
 palje and Sarah his wife stood as sponsors at the baptism of 
 Guysbert, a son" of John Lawrence Bogart and Cornelia 
 Evarts, his wife. Gen. Johnson adds, " it is not known in the 
 family that Sarah ever was a widow." 
 
 It has also been stated, as a tradition, that " the Indians, 
 induced by the circumstance of her being the first white child 
 born here, gave to her father and brethren the lands adjacent 
 to the bay." The following tradition, given by Gen. John- 
 
360 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 son, is equally romantic, and may possibly have been the 
 foundation of the former : — 
 
 When Rapalje first settled at the Wallabout, Minuet was 
 the commander at Fort Amsterdam. Having one day crossed 
 over to the island with three associates, on a gunning excr 
 sion, and becoming extremely hungry, they entered Rap- 
 house to seek refreshment. Finding no one withir 
 helped themselves to an Indian dumpling, the onlv i ,ie 
 they could find. Just as they were concluding their frugal 
 repast, the housewife, with her child in her arms, returned 
 from the field, where she had been assisting her husband. 
 Finding her only provision consumed by a company of law- 
 less intruders, she gave them a severe reprimand, calling them 
 thieves and robbers — but particularly complaining that she 
 had come home on purpose to feed her hungry child, and they 
 had consumed the only article of food, that she had to give it. 
 When she had finished her complaint, the good-natured Cap- 
 tain made himself known, and promised, when the ships came 
 from Europe, to give her a milch-cow, in compensation for the 
 dumpling. Unlike most rulers, he was better than his word ; 
 for, with the cow, he gave her an additional tract of land, for 
 the support of her child. 
 
 This account seems to accord with the fact recognized in 
 the records of the Dutch Council, in 1656, that Sarah Rapalje 
 had previously received " 20 morgen of land at the Waale- 
 Boght," which may have been this very gift of Minuet. 
 
 George Jansen was followed to this country by his brothers, 
 Antonie and William. The latter took up his residence in 
 New Amsterdam, where he entered into trade. He lived un- 
 married, and died without issue. Antonie was the earliest 
 patentee of " 100 morgen," nearly 200 acres of land, at 
 Gravesend. The original patent bears date Aug. 1st, 1639, 
 and is in the office of the State at Albany. Another patent, 
 apparently in confirmation of the same grant, was given by 
 Gov. Kieft, under date of May 27th, 1643, to Antonie Jansen 
 de Salee. In this adjunct to his name, probably originated the 
 unfounded tradition, that he was a Moor by birth ; and the re 
 ports of his prodigious stature and strength may have con- 
 tributed to give it currency. But he was neither more nor 
 less than a native Frenchman, or the son of French exiles, 
 who had sought and obtained a temporary asylum in the Low 
 Countries. The origin of this part of his name is supposed to 
 have been derived from the Salic Franks, who formerly had their 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 361 
 
 residence on the river Sale. And it was this that gave rise to 
 the conjecture that he had como from Sallee in Morocco. 
 
 How early he took possession of his farm at Gravesend is 
 not ascertained ; but it is known that he resided there, when 
 his brother William Jansen retired from New Amsterdam, 
 and died at his house. And this farm was long known by the 
 name of " Anthony Jansen's Bowery." 
 
 The reputed stature and strength of this individual may not 
 be without foundation, and is rendered probable, by the occa- 
 sonal re-appearance of the same peculiarities, in the line of 
 his posterity. His grandson (not his brother, as some have 
 incorrectly stated,) William Jansen, of Gravesend, is known 
 to have been 6 feet 4 inches in height ; and on one occasion, 
 to give a specimen of his strength, he carried 10 bushels of 
 wheat from his barn to the house, and up the chamber stairs. 
 Gen. Johnson says, that when in his youth, he visited his 
 great-uncle at Gravesend, he inquired into the truth of the 
 statement, and the manner of performing the act, to which 
 the old gentlemen replied : " I took one bag on each shoulder, 
 one in each hand, and one in my teeth ;" and then opening 
 the chamber door, he showed the stair case which he ascended, 
 and the place where he deposited his load. He died in the 
 early part of the present century, being above 80 years of 
 age. Another descendant of Antonie Jansen, by the name of 
 Ruleph Vanbrunt, in New Utrecht, being attacked, in the time 
 of the last war, by two workmen whom he caught stealing 
 melons in his field, seized one in each hand, and holding them 
 at arms' length, pummeled their heads and bodies together, 
 till, being let go, they were glad to run away, without making 
 any further aggression.* Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, from 
 whom these facts were obtained, is still living, and is a de- 
 scendant of the 5th generation from Antonie Jansen de Salee 
 of Gravesend. 
 
 It is important to add, here, that the descendants of 
 George, who settled at the Wallabout, dropped the name of 
 Jansen, and retained that of Rapalje, which is now written 
 Rapalyea ; and to this origin, the numerous families of that 
 name may be traced. The descendants of Antonie as ge- 
 nerally rejected the adjunct Salee, and retained the name of 
 Jansen, which has undergone another change, equally impor- 
 tant to be noticed. The descendants of this family on Long 
 
 * The mother of this Vanbrunt was the granddaughter of Antonie Jan. 
 sen, and is now living at Yellow Hook, in New Utrecht, at the advanced 
 age of 95 years. 
 
 16 
 
362 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Island, now invariably write their name Johnson, which 
 although differing in orthography, varies very little from the 
 Dutch pronunciation of the original name. Many of those 
 branches of the family which removed, at an early date, to 
 the counties of Duchess and Orange, retain the ancient name 
 of Jansen ; though, even in those places, it is common at this 
 day, to he,ar the name pronounced Johnson. It will therefore 
 be observed, that these names were originally one and the 
 same, and evidently of French derivation. 
 
 The remarks which were made, in regard to the occurrence 
 of French names, among the early settlers of the town of 
 Bushvvick, apply with equal propriety to many of the first im- 
 migrants, into this, and other towns of King's county. They 
 were not exclusively Dutch, but French exiles, or their imme- 
 diate descendants. 
 
 Although there is no reason to doubt, that the settlement of 
 the west end of the island was commenced as early as 1625, 
 it is believed, that the progress of immigration was much 
 slower than is generally supposed. It will be borne in mind 
 that the first adventurers from Holland came to this country, 
 almost exclusively for the purpose of trade, and not for the 
 cultivation of the soil. And it is possible that some might 
 have taken up their residence here, without leave or license, 
 as is common in a new country, yet these facts plainly show, 
 that the actual settlement of this part of the island could not 
 have made much progress in the first 8 or 10 years. 
 
 Moreover, it is evident that the settlement of this town was 
 made in the same desultory manner, as in most of the adja- 
 cent towns. There seems to have been no compact or con- 
 cert of action among the first settlers, nor any calculations 
 looking forward to the early establishment of municipal regu- 
 lations. And this is undoubtedly the great reason why there 
 is no early evidence of any general patents issued by the 
 Dutch government. Each man appears to have acted for 
 himself; and when he had found a tract of land that suited 
 him, he was content to sit down, with a grant or brief from the 
 Governor, entirely unconcerned as to who might become his 
 next door neighbour. This fully accounts for the great delay 
 in the establishment of regular municipal governments in the 
 Dutch towns, and for the extensive control which the Gover- 
 nors exercised over the acts of the people, after they were 
 established. 
 
 As the population in this region increased, and some sort of 
 magistrates became absolutely necessary, the Governor as- 
 
SECT. 22«] BROOKLYN. 363 
 
 sumed the power of appointing what was called a " Superin- 
 tendant," whose duty it was to preserve the peace, and regu- 
 late the police of the town. At a subsequent period, this 
 office was abolished, and the Governor appointed a " Schout, 
 a Secretary and Assessor." But it was not till 1646, that the 
 people of this town were permitted to elect their own magis- 
 trates; and even then, their election was made subject to the 
 approval or rejection of the Governor. 
 
 Here then is the earliest date of the establishment of any- 
 thing like a municipal government, in which the people were 
 permitted to have any participation ; and for many years 
 afterwards, the arbitrary control of the government over their 
 acts, was the subject of continual discontent, and frequently 
 of warm dispute and contention. 
 
 Up to this time, and for several years afterwards, the peo- 
 ple of Brooklyn were in a similar state of dependence in rela- 
 tion to religious institutions, being obliged to cross over to the 
 city, or travel to the adjoining settlements to enjoy the privi- 
 lege of public worship. And although situated in sight of the 
 metropolis, it does not seem to have been the most popular 
 place of settlement. It was early outstripped by the more 
 inland locations, both in the number and wealth of its inhabi- 
 tants. Even Bedford, a little village within its present char- 
 tered limits, at the distance of 3 miles from the ferry, was an 
 early rival of what is now the metropolis of Long Island. 
 There are many still living who can remember, when almost 
 all the dwellings in Brooklyn (proper) were scattered along, 
 on what are called Fulton and Main streets, with scarcely two 
 of them adjoining ; while above the junction, they were " few 
 and far between." 
 
 The population of this town, at different periods, has been 
 as follows : — 
 
 In 17C6 '64 Freeholders 
 
 " 1802 86 " 
 
 "1814 3,805 Total population. 
 
 "1816 4,402 " 
 
 « 1820 - - . - - - 7,475 " 
 
 "1825 10,791 " 
 
 «1830 15,295 " 
 
 "1835 24,310 
 
 "1840 36,233 M 
 
 "1845 ------ 59,574 
 
 In 1807, that part of the town contiguous to the ferries had 
 
364 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 become so compact, as to be erected into a fire-district, with 
 the powers usually annexed to such an act of incorporation. 
 
 In 1816 an act was obtained, though with a strong opposi- 
 tion from a portion of the inhabitants, investing the most po- 
 pulous part of the town with village powers. This gave a 
 powerful impulse to the growth of the place, which soon be- 
 came so much enlarged, as to induce a desire for more ex- 
 tended privileges. 
 
 Accordingly an Act was passed by the Legislature April 8th, 
 1834, incorporating the whole territory of the town of Brook- 
 lyn, under a City Charter. This gave a mighty impulse to 
 the progress of the place, and under the influence of the 
 spirit of improvement, which, at that juncture pervaded the 
 I land, the guardians of this infant city were disposed and en- 
 couraged to lay its foundations deep and large. The greatest 
 undertaking of that day, and one which involved the heaviest 
 responsibilities, was the erection of a City Hall, upon a 
 scale, and at an expense, that nothing but the sanguine spirit 
 of the day, would seem to excuse. And though the work was 
 arrested, by the revulsion that followed, when the walls had 
 scarcely risen above their foundations, they are calculated to 
 give some idea of the magnitude of the work. And the fol- 
 lowing description, published at the time, will give the reader 
 a more extended view of the details of the plan: — 
 
 " Brooklyn City Hall, now erecting, is situated at the 
 intersection of Fulton, Court and Joralemon streets, occupy- 
 ing an entire block, forming a scalene triangle, of 269 feet 
 on Fulton street, 250 on Court street, and 222 on Joralemon 
 street. The exterior of the building is to be constructed of 
 marble, and to have porticoes on the three fronts, with columns 
 36 feet, 6 inches high, ornamented with capitals of the Gre- 
 cian order, from the design of the Tower of the Winds, rest- 
 ing on a pedestal base, 17 feet high, which when finished, 
 will be 62 feet from the ground to the top of the cornice. 
 The angles are to be surmounted by domes, and rising from 
 the centre of the building, will be a tower of 125 feet high, 
 which will be enriched with a cornice and entablature, sup- 
 ported with Caryatides standing on pedestals. The whole 
 will have a most splendid and imposing appearance when 
 finished. 
 
 " The interior will be finished in the most chaste and dur- 
 able style of architecture, calculated to accommodate the 
 different public offices, courts, &c, attached to the city of 
 Brooklyn." 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 365 * 
 
 In giving this detail for the information of his Long Island 
 readers in general, the writer need not assure the citizens of 
 Brooklyn, that he has no invidious design in relation to them. 
 This stupendous undertaking, though arrested in its commence- 
 ment, by uncontrollable circumstances, not only constitutes 
 an important item in the early history of the city, but is 
 fraught with instruction to individuals and communities. And 
 as corporations, as well as individuals, often learn wisdom by 
 dear-bought experience, should these massive walls never 
 rise higher, the expenditure may not be wholly in vain. 
 They will stand as a friendly beacon to warn the future guar- 
 dians of the city of the mistakes and errors of by-gone 
 days.* 
 
 But the City of Brooklyn, with its constantly increasing 
 energies, and under the smiles of a benignant providence, has 
 already risen superior to all the untoward events of former 
 years. Although still in her teens, she not only embraces, 
 within her own jurisdiction, nearly half of the whole popula- 
 tion of Long Island, but has already attained to the proud 
 eminence of the Second city of the Empire State. And 
 though placed in the shadow of the great commercial metro- 
 polis of the new world, she is sharing the honour, with her 
 elder sister, of increasing the facilities of trade and commerce. 
 The Atlantic Dock, with its extensive store-houses, when 
 completed, will be one of the most stupendous works of the 
 kind in our country. 
 
 The rapid increase in the population of this city, in the last 
 few years, is probably without a parallel. More than one third 
 of its present number has been added, within five years ; and 
 yet scarcely a tenth part of its territory is occupied. When 
 New York becomes what London is at the present time, is it 
 improbable, that Brooklyn will be what New York now is ? 
 
 There is one fact, however, in regard to the increasing popu- 
 lation of this place, which has so important a connexion with 
 its peculiar interests, that it merits particular notice. 
 
 The contiguity of situation and facility of intercourse be- 
 tween Brooklyn and New York, have induced thousands, 
 whose entire business concerns lie in the latter, to make their 
 domicil in the former city. This arrangement, though condu- 
 cive to personal convenience does not, in ordinary cases, ex- 
 
 * Since the above was penned, the writer has been informed, that the 
 Corporation of Brooklyn have recently determined to proceed with the 
 erection of their City Hall on a reduced scale, and consequently at a di- 
 mLoished expense. 
 
366 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART % 
 
 ert the happiest influence on the public weal. It is extremely 
 difficult for any man, to take all that interest in the good 
 government of a place, where he considers himself a mere 
 lodger, that would be felt, if he realized, that all his interests 
 both personal and pecuniary, were identified with the commu- 
 nity, in which his political rights and responsibilities are in- 
 volved. And his daily absence, during the hours of business, 
 from the place of his legal residence, not only prevents him, 
 in multiplied instances, from exercising many important rights, 
 but necessarily precludes him from exerting that influence on 
 society, that he would otherwise possess. And yet it is 
 believed, that every man ought to feel himself under solemn 
 obligations to the communit}', in which the providence of God 
 > has fixed his residence, to labour for the advancement of its 
 intellectual, moral, political and religious interests. This is 
 not the doctrine of selfishness, or the mere spirit of clanship. 
 It is only the extension of the principle, on which the God of 
 nature has founded the domestic circle, for the benefit of hu- 
 man society. And if every man would faithfully discharge 
 his duty to his own family, the whole world would be well 
 taken care of. So, if every man should act up to the responsi- 
 bilities, both civil and sacred, which he owes to the commu- 
 nity of which he is a citizen, there is no reason to doubt, that 
 its interests would be advanced, without any injury to those 
 with which it is surrounded. The writer has witnessed so 
 much loss of salutary influence, resulting from inattention to 
 this great principle, that he feels constrained to urge it upon 
 the serious consideration of all those, who are thus situated in 
 the vicinity of the great city. 
 
 Brooklyn, at this time, exhibits little of the aspect, which 
 it bore at the commencement of the present century. In 
 the city proper, there is scarcely a single edifice of former 
 days remaining. In other parts of the town, there are many 
 of the ancient Dutch houses and barns, which remind the 
 survivors of a former generation, of the days of yore ; among 
 which is the noted stone house, erected on the east side of 
 Gowanus Bay, in 1699, by Nicolas Vechte ; now generally 
 known as the Cortelyou house. It is probably the most 
 ancient dwelling on the island, though it varies little in 
 age, from that mentioned in New Utrecht. As that is immor- 
 talized by the death of Gen. Woodhull, this is celebrated as 
 being the headquarters of the Commander-in-chief, previous 
 to the battle of Long Island. The body of the house is built 
 of stone, the gable ends above the eaves, being of brick, pro- 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 367 
 
 bably imported from Holland ; with the date inserted, in iron 
 figures, in the mason work. It bids fair to stand as long as 
 the taste of the owners may permit. 
 
 The U. S. .Navy Yard, situated on the Wallabout bay, is 
 worthy of notice. This ground, comprising an area of about 
 40 acres, was ceded to the United States in 1801, and has 
 since been occupied as a national depot and ship-yard. And 
 here a large dry dock is to be constructed at a vast expense. 
 There is a large Naval Hospital, in the vicinity, where the 
 sick, aged or disabled seamen are furnished with comfortable 
 quarters, and medical attendance. The adjoining burial 
 ground has already numerous occupants, and their number is 
 annually increasing. 
 
 The Naval Lyceum, established in 1833, by officers of the 
 navy, is worthy of distinct mention, as a literary institution 
 connected with this establishment. It has a library and mu- 
 seum, both of which are receiving constant additions, for 
 which it enjoys peculiar facilities. 
 
 Near the Navy Yard, or within its precincts is the spot, 
 where 11,000 American citizens were buried from the loath- 
 some prison ships, in which they were inhumanly incarcerat- 
 ed, in the revolutionary war. Particulars need not be men- 
 tioned, ns they are detailed at length in every history of those 
 trying tin* s, with which every patriotic reader is familiar. 
 
 When t!ie hill was dug away for the construction of the 
 Navy Yard, the bones of these numerous victims of British 
 cruelty were disclosed, where the bodies had been huddled to- 
 gether, in the most promiscuous manner. The writer recol- 
 lects to have stood by, and beheld skulls and feet, arms and 
 legs, sticking out of the crumbling bank in the wildest disor- 
 der. The bones were all carefully collected by the workmen 
 for future sepulture. 
 
 A small vault was subsequently constructed, a short distance 
 from the spot, on Jackson street, whither the bones were con- 
 veyed and deposited, by one of the grandest processions from 
 the city of New York, that those days had ever witnessed. 
 Thirteen coffins, filled with the bones of these martyrs to li- 
 berty, were carried in the procession, which took place, May 
 2Gth, 1808, under the direction of the Tammany Society. 
 Besides these, 18 hogsheads of bones were collected and 
 deposited in the same vault. 
 
 At this time, no doubt, it was contemplated, that here, 
 these relies might rest, without further molestation or en- 
 croachment, till the trump of the archangel shall wake the 
 
368 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PAHT 2, 
 
 dead. But the march of improvement has already encroached 
 again on the bed of heroes. The vault is surrounded by 
 the habitations of the living, whose tenants doubtless regard it 
 as an undesirable neighbour ; while the patriotism of an indivi- 
 dual, now no more, has been its only protettion.* 
 
 Under these circumstances what can be done ? What 
 ought to be done 1 The answer is obvious. Let the pro- 
 prietors of the " Greenwood Cemetery" appropriate a suitable 
 spot in their grounds for a vault, and let Brooklyn or New 
 York, or both, furnish the means to build it ; and once more 
 remove these revered relics, where they may have a final 
 resting-place. And though the writer is no advocate for 
 splendid mausoleums or expensive monuments, yet if the 
 public decree of 1808 is ever to be carried into effect, there, 
 on one of the highest eminences of Greenwood, is the proper 
 place to rear a shaft, that shall tell to the shipping of all 
 nations, as they enter the harbour, the tale of British cruelty 
 to her own progeny. Though it has long been delayed, yet 
 at last, let justice be done ; and let the venerated dead sleep 
 undisturbed. Another consideration may be added. Green- 
 wood is the daily resort of multitudes of our own citizens as 
 well as strangers. The proposed arrangement would tenth 
 every visiter a lesson, that could not fail to improve his moral 
 and patriotic sensibilities ; and show to the world, that repub- 
 lics are not always ungrateful. 
 
 This necessarily brings to view the " Greenwood Ceme- 
 tery," which is an interesting appendage of the city of 
 Brooklyn. It was purchased by a Company incorporated 
 April 18th, 1838, with a capital of ${00,000 in shares of 
 8100 each, for a public burying-ground. It is situated on 
 the high grounds, 3 miles south-west of the Ferry, near the 
 village of Gowanus, and contains about 200 acres. While the 
 location, the general elevation and unevenness of the ground, 
 all mark it as a spot unlikely to be coveted by the spirit of 
 improvement, and therefore may reasonably be expected to 
 remain undisturbed for ages yet to come, it is impossible to 
 convey to the mind of a stranger, a correct idea of the appro- 
 priateness, beauty and solemn grandeur of the place. The 
 surface is admirably diversified by hill and dale, while every 
 now and then, a beautiful little lake is spread out in the valley. 
 
 * The late Benjamin Romeyn, Esq., at an early period erected a small, 
 but neat building over this vault, and thus protected it from the intrusion 
 of every passer-by. It is said, that he subsequently purchased the ground, 
 which was actually exposed to sale, for a corporation assessment ! 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 369 
 
 The greater part of the area is deeply shaded with dense forest 
 trees, (without underbrush) which give to the whole scene 
 the sombre aspect, of the habitation of the dead. The grounds 
 are not cut up into squares and parallelograms. No such 
 figure is to be seen throughout the whole extent. But 
 spacious avenues neatly gravelled, wind through every valley, 
 encompassing numberless hillocks, and intersecting each other 
 at every turn, The main avenue called the " Tour," in 
 numerous windings forms a circuit of 3 miles. And besides 
 this there are many others, which, in their aggregate, are 
 vastly more extended, and from which it cannot be distin- 
 guished except by the guide-boards, which silently point out 
 the way. You might travel for hours, within this hallowed 
 enclosure, with a fleet horse, and yet at every turn enter a 
 new road. 
 
 The work of appropriation seems to have just commenced. 
 Though the grounds have been in the market more than 7 
 years, and many have availed themselves of the opportunity 
 of providing a narrow house for themselves and their families, 
 and many have already been deposited here, yet they are 
 so extensive and diversified, that it is only here and there you 
 meet with a solitary vault, in the side of a hill, or an occasional 
 monument on its summit. But here is an assembly that will 
 never diminish, and is sure to increase, which it will probably 
 do, till bone touches bone, and ashes mingle with ashes in 
 kindred dust. 
 
 The Ferries. 
 
 The means of intercourse between this place and the city 
 of New York is necessarily a topic of deep interest, not only 
 to Brooklyn, but to all Long Island. In connection with 
 this, the exclusive claims of the corporation of New York, to 
 the jurisdiction and emoluments, not only of all the ferries 
 that have been, or may be established, between these two 
 rapidly increasing cities, but also of all the land lying between 
 high and low water mark, on the Brooklyn shore, have con- 
 stituted a subject of contention for more than a hundred years, 
 and bid fair to be a matter of complaint and dispute in all 
 time to come. 
 
 Many of the inhabitants of Long Island are probably igno- 
 rant of the fact, that the jurisdiction of their towns and right 
 of soil, do not, in all cases, extend to the territory, that is alter- 
 nately covered and laid bare by the flowing and ebbing tide : 
 
 16* 
 
370 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART % 
 
 not even when, by the hand of art, the land has been raised 
 above the level of the water. 
 
 As this is a point of general interest, and involves princi- 
 ples with which even our children should be made acquainted, 
 it is necessary to present the grounds on which this singular 
 claim is made on the one hand, and resisted on the other. 
 And both to save time and insure correctness, the writer avails 
 himself of the following abstract from the various Charters 
 and Acts on which this controversy rests, as contained in 
 Judge Furman's Notes on the town of Brooklyn, published in 
 1S24:— 
 
 " The difference between this town and the city of New 
 York relative to the water rights of the former, has deservedly 
 excited the attention and interest of our inhabitants, as in- 
 volving property to a great amount, and unjustly withholding 
 from our town a revenue, which would enable it to improve 
 with almost unparalleled rapidity. In order that each person 
 so interested may form a correct opinion of the subject matter 
 in dispute, the Compiler has thought proper, under this head, 
 to lay before them the foundations of the claims on both sides 
 of the question. 
 
 "October 18, 1667. In the reign of Charles II., Richard 
 Nicolls, Esq., Governor General of the Province of New York, 
 under his Royal Highness James, the Duke of York, &c, 
 afterwards James II. of England, granted to the inhabitants of 
 this town a confirmatory patent, acknowledging that they were 
 rightfully, legally and by authority, in possession of the pro- 
 perty and privileges they then enjoyed. The patent after 
 naming the patentees, and describing the bounds of the town, 
 and binding by the River and not by high water mark, pro- 
 ceeds to say, ' Together with all havens, harbors, creeks, 
 marshes, waters, rivers, lakes, fisheries.' * Moreover, I do 
 hereby give, ratify and confirm unto the said patentees and 
 their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, all the 
 rights and privileges belonging to a town within this govern- 
 ment." Under this patent the town of Brooklyn justly claims 
 the land between high and low water mark on their shore, in 
 opposition to the claims of the corporation of the city of New 
 York ; and an equal right with them to erect ferries between 
 the town of Brooklyn and the city of New York. 
 
 " It does not appear that there was any adverse claim on 
 the part of New York, until the 27th of April, 1686, nineteen 
 years after the date of the Brooklyn patent, when the Corpo- 
 ration of New York obtained a charter from Governor Don- 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 371 
 
 gan, by which the ferries were granted to them, but not a word 
 mentioned about the land between high and low water mark 
 on the Brooklyn side. From the reading of this charter, it ap- 
 pears as if the Governor was doubtful, as to his right even to 
 grant the ferry, for it contains an express saving of all the 
 rights of all other persons, bodies politic and corporate, their 
 heirs, successors and assigns, in as ample a manner, as if that 
 charter had not been made. 
 
 " May 13, 1686. The freeholders and inhabitants of Brook- 
 lyn, somewhat apprehensive of encroachments by New- York, 
 obtained from Governor Dongan, a patent under the seal of 
 the Colony, fully confirming that granted them by Governor 
 Nicolls. 
 
 " May 6, 1691. An act was passed by the Governor, Coun- 
 cil and General Assembly of the Colony of New-York, " for 
 settling, quieting and confirming unto the cities, towns, ma- 
 nors, and freeholders within this Province, their several grants, 
 patents and rights respectively." By this act the freeholders 
 and inhabitants of the town of Brooklyn were confirmed in 
 the rights they possessed and enjoyed under their two several 
 patents. 
 
 ' 4 October 12, 1694. The Corporation of New- York, not 
 thinking their foothold on the Brooklyn side sufficiently se- 
 cure, purchased of one William Morris, for no specific con- 
 sideration, a piece of land in Brooklyn near the ferry. This 
 deed is the foundation of the Corporation claim to their land 
 in the village of Brooklyn. 
 
 " Bent on unjustly wresting from the town of Brooklyn their 
 water right, the Corporation, on the 19th of April, 1703, ob- 
 tained from Governor Cornbury, a man infamous for his vices, 
 and disregard of justice, another charter, in which they came 
 out more openly than before, and claimed the vacant land to 
 high water mark, on Nassau Island, reserving to the inhabit- 
 ants of Brooklyn the right of transporting themselves in their 
 own boats ferriage free, to and from New- York.* By this 
 charter, no matter how ample soever they might have con- 
 sidered it at the time, they obtained nothing but vacant land 
 to high water mark ; that is, the land which was not already 
 granted, and in the possession of some other person or persons, 
 which was not the fact as to the land on the Brooklyn side, 
 it being vested in the patentees, their heirs, successors and as- 
 
 * Although the bounds of this grant commence about 2.50 yards in 
 the to wo of^Bushwick, (now Williamsburgh,) the Corporation of New- 
 York have made no claim to land beyond the Wallabouglit. 
 
372 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 signs forever ; so that the only power or authority remaining 
 in the Governor was, to grant the Corporation of New- 
 York, the privilege of buying the water rights of the inhab- 
 itants of Brooklyn. But that would not answer their purpose, 
 for those rights could be bought cheaper of Governor Corn- 
 bury, than they could of this town. 
 
 " This proceeding on the part of New-York stimulated the 
 inhabitants of Brooklyn to obtain from the Colonial Legisla- 
 ture in 1721, an act confirming their patent rights. 
 
 " To obviate the effects of this law, and strengthen the 
 charter of Cornbury, which from the circumstances under 
 which it was obtained, the Corporation feared was invalid, on 
 the 15th of January, 1730, they procured from Governor 
 John Montgomerie, a new charter confirming their pretended 
 right to the land to high water mark on our shore* 
 
 " The grants from the Corporation of New- York, under 
 their two charters for the water lots on the Brooklyn side, are 
 very artfully and ingeniously drawn. By those grants are 
 only conveyed " all the estate, right, title, interest, property, 
 claim, and demand whatsoever, in law and equity" of them 
 the said Corporation ; and their covenant for quiet possession 
 only extends to them and their successors, and not against any 
 other persons lawfully claiming the premises. These grants, 
 in order to save the Corporation harmless against the claims 
 of Brooklyn, also contained a covenant to the following ef- 
 fect : " It is hereby covenanted, granted and agreed upon by 
 and between the parlies to these presents, (that is, the Corpo- 
 ration of New-York and the person to whom they give the 
 
 * There was some peculiar circumstances attending the consummation 
 of this charter, which the Compiler thinks ought to be known. A short 
 time previous to obtaining the charter, the Common Council of the City 
 of New- York resolved that the sum of £ 1400 was necessary for the pro- 
 curing of that instrument ; £1000 of which sum they determined to raise 
 immediately by a loan on interest for one year ; which they accordingly 
 did, and gave a mortgage for that amount to James De Lancey, Esq., dat- 
 ed January 14, 1730. Directly after the execution of this mortgage 
 they resolved to address the Governor, " for the great favour and good- 
 ness shewn to this Corporation in granting their petition, in ordering and 
 directing his Majesty's letters patent for a new charter and confirmation 
 to this Corporation," and probably informing him that they had obtained 
 the money. The consequence was, that on the next day, January 15, 
 1730, the charter was completed, and on paying the £1()U0, was deliver- 
 ed to them on the 1 Ith day of February, 173D, almost a month after its 
 date. By which it appears that the Corporation of New- York still con- 
 tinued purchasing the right of the town of Brooklyn from the Colonial 
 Governors. Sec List of Corporation Charters and grants, 1747. 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 373 
 
 grant,) and the true intent and meaning hereof also is, and it 
 is hereby declared, that this present grant, or any words, or 
 any thing in the same expressed, or contained shall not be ad- 
 judged, deemed, construed or taken to be a covenant or cove- 
 nants on the part and behalf of the said parties of the first 
 part, (that is, the Corporation of New-York) or their succes- 
 sors for any purpose or purposes whatsoever, but only to pass 
 the estate, right, and interest, they have or may lawfully claim 
 by virtue of their several charters, of in and to the said pre- 
 mises." Which covenant evidently shews a want of confi- 
 dence in the validity of their title, on the part of the Corpo- 
 ration. 
 
 " October 14, 1732. An act was passed by the General As- 
 sembly of this Colony, " confirming unto the city of New- 
 York its rights and privileges." By this act no addition was 
 made to their former pretended rights. 
 
 "November 14, 1753. The freeholders and inhabitants of 
 this town appointed Jacobus Lefferts, Peter Vandervoort, Ja- 
 cob Remsen, Rem Remsen, and Nicholas Vechte, trustees, 
 11 to defend our patent where in any manner our liberties, 
 privileges and rights in our patent specified is encroached, les- 
 sened or taken away, bv the commonalty of the city of New- 
 York." 
 
 " Not satisfied with the encroachments they had made, the 
 Corporation began to question the right of the inhabitants of 
 Brooklyn to cross to and from New- York, ferriage free in their 
 own boats, and to carry over the inhabitants in those boats; — 
 the result was, that in July, 1745, a suit was commenced by 
 one of the inhabitants of Brooklyn, named Hendrick Remsen, 
 against the Corporation of New-York, which was tried before 
 a jury in Westchester county. A special verdict was found 
 setting forth all its patents and charters, and among other 
 things, that the road from which the said Hendrick Remsen 
 ferried the inhabitants of Brooklyn to and from New-York, 
 " then and long before was laid out for a public highway lead- 
 ing down to low water mark on the East River between the 
 places aforesaid called the Wallaboucht and the Red Hook on 
 Nassau Island, and the jurors aforesaid upon their oath afore- 
 said, do further say, that the River called the East River, over 
 which the said Hendrick did carry the persons and goods 
 aforesaid, from the said lands between the Wallaboucht and 
 the Red Hook, is a large and public and navigable river, used 
 by his Majesty's ships and other ships and smaller vessels em- 
 ployed in trade and commerce, and hath always been so used 
 
374 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 from the first settlement of this Colony." On argument 
 judgment was rendered by the Supreme Court of this Colony 
 in the month of October, 1775, in favour of Hendrick Rem- 
 sen, that he recover his damages against the Mayor, Alder- 
 men and Commonalty of the city of New-York, and the sum 
 of one hundred and eighteen pounds, fourteen shillings and ten 
 pence half penny for his costs and charges. An appeal to the 
 King and Council from this decision, was brought by the Cor- 
 poration, which was not determined in consequence of the 
 Revolutionary war. There is a tradition in this town that 
 the Corporation of New-York were so apprehensive of this 
 claim on the part of the town of Brooklyn, that, in order to 
 disengage Hendrick Remsen from the interest of the town, 
 they gave him a house and lot of land near Coenties Slip, in 
 the city of New-York. How far this tradition is correct, the 
 Compiler is unnble to say. — It appears however, that he, about 
 that time, became in possession of such property, and the 
 same remained in his family within the memory of some of 
 our inhabitants. 
 
 " Our two Patents are confirmed by the Constitution of 
 this State, which confirms all grants of land within the State, 
 made by the authority of the King of Great Britain or his 
 predecessors, prior to the 14lh of August, 1775. 
 
 " The Compiler thinking it would not be uninteresting to 
 his fellow citizens to see a statement of the amount received 
 by the Corporation of New-York for quit rent on the water 
 lots claimed by them, has given the following short statement. 
 
 " The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund of the City of 
 New-York have received, from August 23d, 1313, to Dec* 31, 
 1324. 
 
 For Water lot rents 817,635 24 
 
 Commutation for water lot rents, 17,275 41 
 
 $34,910 65 
 
 " The Corporation of New- York during the present year 
 1824, have received for water lot rents the sum of $8 8G2 97. 
 
 " Within a short time the jurisdiction of the village of Brook- 
 lyn has been extended beyond low water mark, leaving the 
 pretended right of soil still in the Corporation of New- York,* 
 
 * The jurisdiction of New-York by their first charter in 1686, was 
 limited to Jow water mark around Manhattan Island ; but was extended 
 to low water mark on the Brooklyn side by Governor Montgomery's 
 charter in 1730. B v 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 375 
 
 August term, 1821, in the case of Udall vs. the Trustees of 
 Brooklyn, the Supreme Court of this Stale decided, that 
 King's County, of which the village of Brooklyn is part, in- 
 cludes all the wharves, docks, and other artificial erections in 
 the East River, opposite to the City of New-York, though 
 west of the natural low water mark on the Nassau or Long- 
 Island shore ; and the jurisdiction of the village extends to 
 the actual line of low water, whether formed by natural or ar- 
 tificial means. Same term, in the case of Striker vs. the 
 Mayor, &c, of the City of New-York, the Supreme Court 
 decided, that the city and county of New-York includes the 
 whole of the Rivers and harbour adjacent to actual low water 
 mark, on the opposite shores, as the same may be formed, 
 from time to time, by docks, wharves and other permanent 
 erections ; and although the jurisdiction of the city does not 
 extend so as to include such wharves, or artificial erections, 
 yet it extends over the ships and vessels floating on the water, 
 though they be fastened to such wharves or docks. 
 
 April 9, 1824. The Legislature of the State of New-York, 
 in the act to amend the act entitled " an Act to incorporate 
 and vest certain powers in the freeholders and inhabitants of 
 the village of Brooklyn, in the County of King's," granted this 
 town concurrent jurisdiction with the City of New- York in 
 the service of process, in actions civil and criminal, on board 
 of vessels attached to our wharves ; and in the act for the es- 
 tablishment of a Board of Health in the village of Brooklyn, 
 authority is given to the said Board to remove all infected ves- 
 sels from the wharves within the said village." 
 
 Notwithstanding the establishment of the right of concur- 
 rent jurisdiction in certain cases, it is still a mortifying fact 
 to the city of Brooklyn, to see their own natural boundaries 
 encroached upon, by another corporation lying on the other 
 side of an arm of the sea — a public highway of the nation ; 
 and still more to see it monopolizing to itself, the vast income 
 of ferries, in which they have an equal interest, and naturally 
 an equal claim. Under these circumstances, it is not strange 
 that the inhabitants of this city have always exhibited a high 
 degree of sensitiveness on this point, and never become re- 
 conciled to what they regard as a gross usurpation. 
 
 Whether the door is still open for the recovery of what 
 Brooklyn regards as its natural and chartered rights, is a 
 question for the lawyers to argue, and the judges to decide ; 
 but one thing is certain, that its inhabitants will never relin- 
 quish the privilege of complaining, that they have been de- 
 
376 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 frauded of their rights and privileges by a venial, provincial 
 Governor. 
 
 It may be added here, as having a connection with this sub- 
 ject, that an Act was past by the last Legislature of this State, 
 dated May 14th, 1845, taking from the Corporation of New 
 York, the power of granting ferries between New York and 
 Long Island, and vesting it in an independent Board of Com- 
 missioners to be appointed by the Governor, out of any coun- 
 ties other than King's, Queen's, Suffolk, Richmond or New 
 York. What is to be its operation, time only can disclose. 
 
 Location and dates of the several Ferries between New York 
 and Brooklyn. 
 
 The first regular ferry between New York and Brooklyn, 
 was probably established about the middle of the 17th centu- 
 ry, though its precise date cannot be ascertained. In Corn- 
 bury's charter, given in 1708, it is stated that the Mayor, 
 Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city of New York, set 
 forth in their petition, that they had a right, " under divers 
 ancient charters and grants, by divers former Governors and 
 Commanders-in-chief, in a certain ferry from the said city of 
 New York, over the East river to Nassau Island, (alias Long 
 Island,) and from the said Island to the said City again, a^nd 
 have possessed the same, and received all the profits, bene- 
 fits and advantages thereof, for the space of fifty years 
 and upwards. Although it is denied on the part of Brook- 
 lyn, that the Dutch government ever conferred the right of 
 establishing ferries, on the Corporation of New York ; yet the 
 above extract is undoubtedly correct as to the length of time 
 that a ferry had existed. 
 
 "From the Dutch records preserved in the office of the 
 Secretary of State, we find, that on Feb. 13th, 1652, the 
 Burgomasters of New Amsterdam, applied to Gov. Stuyve- 
 sant for the ferry to Breukelen, to defray city expenses. — Re- 
 fused. 
 
 " On Oct. lOlh, 1654, an Ordinance was passed to regulate 
 the ferry. The rates of ferriage were established. Footmen 
 paid 3 stvyvcrs each, except Indians, who paid 6 each, unless 
 there were two or more. 
 
 "March 19th, 1658, Harmanus Van Bossom hired the 
 ferry from Gov. Stuy vesant, at auction, for three years at 300 
 guilders per year. 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 377 
 
 "June 15th, 1663, the said Van Bossom was in possession 
 of the ferry. The Governor then allowed him 50 guilders 
 for publick services at the ferry." 
 
 The last date, it will be observed, was the year before the 
 conquest ; consequently, the ferry remained in the hands of 
 the Governor as long as the Dutch government existed. 
 
 This ferry was established between what is now the foot 
 of Joralemon-street in Brooklyn, and a creek extending up 
 into Broad-street in New York. 
 
 At a subsequent period, it was removed to the Fly-market, 
 at the foot of Maiden-lane, and its present landing in Brook- 
 lyn. In 1814, the landing on the New York side was again 
 changed to its present location. 
 
 August 1st, 1795, a new ferry was established between 
 Catharine-street in New York, and Main-street, Brooklyn, 
 and has remained unchanged. From that time, the former 
 has been familiarly called the Old Ferry, and this the New. 
 
 What is now called the Jackson-street ferry, was first es- 
 tablished between Walnut-street in New York, and Little- 
 street in Brooklyn. The first lease is dated Dec. 1st, 1817. 
 
 The application for the South ferry, between Whitehall and 
 Atlantic-street, was made in 1834, and being met with great 
 opposition, was under discussion nearly 2 years. It was 
 finally carried, and the first lease is dated Sept. 1st, 1835; 
 the rent to commence May 16lh, 1836, at which time the 
 ferry was opened. 
 
 These constitute all the ferries now in operation between 
 New York and Brooklyn. 
 
 Improvements of the Ferries, 
 
 It is scarcely possible to convey to a mind, that has not 
 been conversant with this subject, during the last 40 years, 
 any adequate idea of the improved facilities of these ferries. 
 Within that period, the crossing of this narrow arm of the 
 sea, was frequently more formidable than is now a voyage to 
 Europe. The writer can distinctly recollect, when, within 
 the limits of the present century, the only craft plying on 
 these ferries, consisted of oar-barges for foot passengers, and 
 sprit-sail boats for horses and carriages ; and he himself has 
 waited from morning to night on the Brooklyn side, in a 
 north-east storm, before any boat ventured to cross to the 
 city. And frequently the passage was made with manifest 
 hazard, and sometimes attended with serious disaster and loss 
 
378 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART % 
 
 of life. The writer was once carried overboard in the mid- 
 die of the stream, by the barge being brought in contact with 
 a vessel lying at anchor. 
 
 The first decided improvement was the introduction of a 
 horse boat upon the Catharine-street ferry. This was started 
 April 3rd, 1814. It was a boat of 8 horse power and crossed 
 in from 12 to 20 minutes. 
 
 The first steam-boat (the Nassau) was put on the Fulton 
 ferry, May 8th, 1814. This was a decided improvement in 
 favour of the public, but, on the score of expense in the in- 
 fancy of Steam navigation, was regarded as unprofitable to 
 the company. In consequence of this, horse-boats were in- 
 troduced and continued for several years on this and other 
 ferries ; the latter being entirely precluded from the use of 
 Steam, by the monopoly granted to Fulton and Livingston. 
 The Fulton Company, being obliged by their contract to put 
 a second steam-boat on their ferry in 1819, they were allowed 
 by the Common Council to substitute a horse-boat in its 
 stead. 
 
 After the monopoly above mentioned was annihilated by 
 the decision of the U. S. Court in 1824, the way was opened 
 for the use of steam-boats on all the ferries, which were in- 
 troduced as fast as they were found profitable. 
 
 Near the commencement of the present century, the erec- 
 tion of a bridge between New York and Brooklyn, of a single 
 arch, so lofty as to form no obstruction to navigation, and so 
 strong as to bid defiance to the winds of heaven, had become 
 the great topic of conversation, and was discussed with as 
 much zeal, by all classes of citizens, as the poisonous proper- 
 ties of the poplar worm in 1803, or the building of paper 
 cities on quagmires in 1835 — 6. But now the idea of a 
 bridge is as rare a conception as " a fifth wheel to a coach," 
 and is about as desirable. At any hour of the day or night, 
 you can pass from one city to the other, with equal safety and 
 greater rapidity, than you could walk the same distance on 
 terra firma. 
 
 Formerly the breadth of the strait was much greater than 
 at present. The practice of docking-out has been carried to 
 such an extent on both sides, that the width of the stream is 
 reduced about one third. The following are the direct dis- 
 tances between the landing points on the several ferries. 
 
 The South ferry, 13 CO yards ; or 20 yards less than three 
 quarters of a mile. 
 
 Fulton ferry, 731 yards. 
 
SfiCT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 379 
 
 Catharine street ferry, 736 yards. 
 
 Jackson. street ferry, 707 yards. 
 
 On all of these, steam boats are constantly plying, so that 
 the intervals of their departure, (at least on the Fulton ferry,) 
 rarely exceed 3 minutes, and the passage is made in 3 to 5 
 minutes. Under these circumstances, who would think of 
 crossing on a bridge, if one stood in his way? 
 
 The Rates of Ferriage, 
 
 We have already noticed incidentally, that the charge for 
 a foot passenger in 1654, was 3 stuyvers. 
 
 In 1693 it was " 8 stuyvers in wampum" (which was still 
 used as a circulating medium,) or 2 pence in silver. 
 
 In 1732, the ferriage was '• ten grains of Sevil silver or 
 Mexican plate, or 2 pence in bills of credit." 
 
 During the revolutionary war, it was raised to 6 pence, and 
 was afterwards reduced to 2 pence. It remained at this, till 
 the introduction of steam-boats, when by an act of the Legis- 
 lature the company was authorized to charge 4 cents on those 
 boats, while it remained as before on other craft. 
 
 This law remains unaltered, though the company, some 
 years ago, voluntarily reduced the ferriage to 3 cents, and 
 since Feb. 1844, they have charged only 2 cents. 
 
 The increase of patronage has kept full pace with the in- 
 crease of the facilities for crossing. This will be manifest 
 both from the rents paid by the companies, and the income 
 received. 
 
 The Fulton Ferry Company was founded on a lease given 
 to Robert Fulton and William Cutting, by the Mayor and 
 Common Council of New York, dated Jan. 24th, 1814, for 
 25 years, at an annual rent of $4 000 for the first 18 years, 
 and $4,500 on the remaining 7 years. During the first 18 
 months, the dividends of the company, including the surplus 
 revenue on a capital stock of $68,000, was at the rate of 25 
 per cent., after defraying all expenses. And for the first 7 
 years, according to the statement of the Treasurer, under 
 oath, the dividends varied from 21^ to 16^, giving an average 
 of nearly 20 per cent. 
 
 In consequence of the establishment of the South Ferry, 
 during the existence of the above contract, the Fulton Com- 
 pany obtained an extension of their lease. In lSS'J, the 
 leases of both ferries were renewed to the Fulton Company, 
 at an annual rent of $12,000. 
 
380 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 At the expiration of these leases they were both renewed, 
 May 1st, 1844, to the same company, at an annual rent of 
 $30,5C0. 
 
 The following enumeration, made by a competent person 
 standing at the Fulton Ferry on the days specified, will afford 
 some idea of the actual amount of crossing, at this single 
 ferry, 8 years ago. 
 
 "Sept. 13, 1834. Pleasure wagons, 64 — coaches, 22 — 
 gigs, 43 — saddle horses, 22 — milk carts, 49 — loaded carts, 313 
 — empty, 138 — loaded wagons, 52 — empty, 2 7 — stages, 5 — 
 sulkies, 3 — hand carts, 7 — foot passengers, 7,988. 
 
 "Oct. 3d, 1834. Pleasure wagons, 56 — coaches, 31 — 
 gigs, 60 — saddle horses, 40 — milk carts, 51 — loaded carts, 
 321 — empty, 140 — loaded wagons, 47 — empty, 30— stages, 
 25 — sulkies, 19 — hand carts, 5 — foot passengers, 8,251." 
 
 According to this enumeration, the number of foot passen- 
 gers that crossed this ferry in the course of a year, at that 
 period, would fall little short of 3,000,000; and the annual 
 income from passengers alone must have been $60,000 a year, 
 while the whole amount of ferriage at the established rates, 
 would probably fall little short of $100,000. 
 
 As the population of Brooklyn has considerably more than 
 doubled since that time, and its principal increase is of those 
 who do business in New York, the aggregate amount of actual 
 intercourse between the two cities must have been immensely 
 increased on all the ferries. Add to this the increased facili- 
 ties for travelling on the island, particularly the rail road, 
 which has since been opened, and which, in the first year, 
 conveyed 130,100 passengers, and you can scarcely form an 
 exaggerated estimate of the amount. It has been recently 
 estimated that the average number of foot passengers, that 
 daily cross the Fulton ferry at the present time, is from 
 12,000 to 15,000. And the income from nearly 5,000 is ne- 
 cessary only to pay the lease-rent of the Company. 
 
 Literary Institutions. 
 
 Although Brooklyn abounds with schools, from the abeceda- 
 rian to the seminary of literature, science, and polite accom- 
 plishments, it has no public institution of a strictly educational 
 character, except the system of Public Schools. These are 
 understood to be, in general, in a flourishing condition, and 
 cannot fail, under judicious regulation, to be a great and last- 
 ing blessing to the rapidly increasing population. However 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 381 
 
 highly we may prize our Seminaries and Universities, and 
 they are indispensable to the prosperity of our country, and 
 every man, whether he directly enjoys their advantages or not, 
 has an interest in their prosperity, it is to the primary school 
 that we must look, for that general education of the great mass 
 of mind, on which the perpetuity of our free institutions 
 depends. 
 
 There are numerous schools of a more select character and 
 of a higher grade than the public schools, but as they are all 
 private institutions, conducted by individual enterprise, no 
 special efforts have been made to ascertain their condition. 
 
 The "Brooklyn Collegiate Institute," which was erected 
 by a Company incorporated in 182y, and consecrated to 
 female education, is a noble edifice, and peculiarly adapted to 
 the end designed. For several years, a nourishing Boarding 
 School was maintained, but it is now no more, and the build- 
 ing has been converted into a hotel. 
 
 Amidst the regrets resulting from such a transformation, it 
 is cheering to record the fact, that another Company has been 
 formed in the year past, who have erected and nearly com- 
 pleted a spacious edifice on Pierrepont street, which is to be 
 devoted to female education, under the direction of Mr. Crit- 
 tenden, who has long been known to the public as the accom- 
 plished Principal of the Albany Female Institute. The citi- 
 zens of Brooklyn may, with propriety, felicitate themselves, in 
 the prospects presented in the establishment of this institution. 
 
 But schools are not the only institutions of learning which 
 every community needs, and which this city furnishes. 
 
 The "Brooklyn Apprentices' Library Association" 
 was incorporated in 1S22, and has exerted a salutary influ- 
 ence on those, for whose special benefit it was established. It 
 has a library of nearly 3,000 volumes. 
 
 The "Brooklyn Lyceum" was organized in Oct. 1833, 
 and has been successfully maintained. Both of these institu- 
 tions are now associated or merged in one organization, under 
 the name of the " Brooklyn Institute." The " City Li- 
 brary," which was incorporated in 1839, and now contains 
 3,000 volumes, is connected with the Institute. 
 
 A "Lyceum of Natural History" has also existed for 5 
 or 6 years, and is still maintained with commendable zeal. 
 
 The "Hamilton Literary Association," formed in 1830, 
 and the "Franklin Literary Association," more recently 
 organized, are composed of young men, and designed for their 
 special improvement. All these various institutions, when 
 
382 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 well conducted, cannot fail to produce a beneficial influence 
 on the public mind. A community never will be thoroughly 
 educated, till our young men and women cease to believe and 
 say, they "finished" their education when they left the Semi- 
 nary or the College. That educated man only discharges 
 his duty to himself and to the community in which he lives, 
 who feels that he is to be a scholar — a learner to his dying 
 clay. Human life is one continuous period of tutelage. Educa- 
 tion commences with the first dawnings of reason, and ought 
 to be continued to the end of life. And in the acquisition of 
 knowledge, vastly more depends on the diligence and applica- 
 tion of the scholar, than the ability of the teacher. Hence, 
 these various institutions, which afford the means of self- 
 instruction, and occasionally of mutual instruction, are to be 
 reckoned among the most important facilities for improving 
 the public mind. It is a matter of unspeakable satisfaction, 
 that they are increasing in the land, and find a place in all 
 our cities and villages, and even in many of our country 
 towns. 
 
 Brooklyn has 3 Banks besides the Savings' Bank, with an 
 aggregate capital of 81,000,000, and 2 Insurance Companies, 
 with a capital of $450,000. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 Brooklyn has been recently and not improperly styled "a 
 city of churches." But its title to this appellation has been 
 acquired within the last 20 years. Its previous history, dur- 
 ing almost two entire centuries, furnishes no claim to such a 
 name. For more than 40 years after the first Christian ad- 
 venturer pitched his tent within the present limits of this 
 town, there was no house erected for the worship of the God 
 of heaven. Those who loved the gates of Zion, were obliged 
 to cross the river to New Amsterdam, or travel to Flatbush 
 to enjoy the privilege of public worship. 
 
 The first church erected in the town stood solitary and 
 alone, during a period of 125 years. Just after the close of 
 the revolutionary war, a small house of worship was erected 
 bv another denomination ; and about 10 years after, a third. 
 These three congregations continued in the exclusive occu- 
 pancy of this ground, till after the village incorporation. 
 And it is since the year 18*20, that the wonderful increase of 
 churches has been made. Since that time, a large number 
 of ecclesias ical organizations have been formed, which still 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 383 
 
 exist, most of them in a flourishing condition, and not a few 
 that are now no more. 
 
 [n giving the history of the numerous churches in this city, 
 those of the several denominations will be classed by them- 
 selves, observing as nearly as may be, the chronological order 
 in which they arose. 
 
 The Reformed Dutch Church. 
 
 In 1659, the people of Brooklyn, in view of the badness of 
 the roads to Flatbush, and the inability of the aged minister 
 there to bestow any considerable portion of labour upon them, 
 petitioned the governor for permission to call a minister to 
 reside in their town. As yet, no house of worship had been 
 erected. But their request was granted, and the Rev. Hen- 
 ricus SoJinus (Henry Selwyn) having been called from Hol- 
 land, was installed, Sept. 3rd, 1660. About this time, a se- 
 parate, but collegiate church, was organized, Mr. Polhemus 
 having furnished Mr. Selwyn with a list of the members re- 
 siding in this vicinity. Mr. Selwyn took leave of the con- 
 gregation, July 22nd, 1664, and returned to Holland. And 
 though he afterwards returned to this country, he never re- 
 sumed his charge on the island. 
 
 In 1666, the first house of worship was erected, and accord- 
 ing to the Dutch custom of those days, was placed in the 
 middle of the highway. It stood a little to the east of the 
 junction of Fulton and Joralemon streets, near the present site 
 of the Military Garden. It remained without material altera- 
 tion just ICO years. 
 
 In 1766, it gave place to the old stone church, which many 
 still living can recollect, as occupying the same site at the 
 commencement of this century. The walls were very thick 
 and compact, so that they were demolished, as an eye-witness 
 testifies, with immense labour. 
 
 On the 4th of March, 1807, the Consistory resolved, that 
 it was expedient to erect a new stone church ; and immediate 
 measures were taken to carry the resolution into effect. The 
 foundation was laid by day's work, and when it was prepared 
 to receive the water-table, the corner-stone was laid, with ap- 
 propriate services by the Rev. Peter Lowe, who had been in- 
 vited for the occasion. The precise date is not retained, 
 though it is known to have been before the 15th of May. 
 The building was completed, at a cost of $13,745 53 ; and 
 was dedicated Dec. 23rd, 1807, Dr. Livingston preaching the 
 sermon, from Heb. iv. 12, This edifice was erected on the 
 
384 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 south side of what is now Joralemon street, standing back of 
 the present edifice ; and though a very substantial building, 
 was incapable of enlargement, which the increase of the con- 
 gregation subsequently demanded. Accordingly, 
 
 In J 834, the present brick Church was erected, and dedi- 
 cated May 7th, 1835. It is a spacious edifice having a co- 
 lonnade both in front and rear. 
 
 Although Mr. Solinus, the first minister, was installed in 
 this town, he was undoubtedly regarded as a collegiate pastor 
 of the other churches, as his successors continued to be. 
 Hence the ministers of this church were the same with those 
 already mentioned in connexion with Flatbush, till the disso- 
 lution of the collegiate charge. 
 
 In 18(16, the Rev. Selah S. Woodhull, D.D., was installed 
 sole pastor. He was dismissed in 1825, to enter on a profes- 
 sorship in New Brunswick, where he died, Feb. 27th, in the 
 40th year of his age. 
 
 The Rev. Ebenezer Mason succeeded Dr. W. He resigned 
 his charge, April 16th, 182S. This church having previously 
 held its connexion with the Classis of New-York, was trans- 
 ferred to the Classis of Long Island, Nov. 14th, 1826, under 
 the care of which it has remained. 
 
 The Rev. Peter P. Rouse was installed Oct. 13th, 1828, 
 and died June 4th, 1832, in the 33rd year of his age. 
 
 The Rev. Maurice W. Dwight, D.D., was installed on the 
 4th sabbath in May, 1833, and is the present pastor. 
 
 2. The Second, or Central Dutch Church was gathered by 
 the labours of the Rev. John Garretson, who was appointed 
 by the Board of Missions of the R. D. Church, to labour in 
 Brooklyn. This appointment was unanimously approved by 
 the L. I. Classis, Oct. 11th, 1836 ; and a church, consisting 
 of 11 members was organized March 3rd, 1837. Mr. Garret- 
 son left in November following. 
 
 In Feb. 1N38, a call to Mr. Henry P. Tappan was declared 
 in order, and the Classis met March 12th for the purpose of 
 acting thereon. Mr. T. having accepted the call, the Classis 
 proceeded to his examination ; which was not sustained. 
 This decision was made, by ths unanimous vote of the Classis, 
 consisting of 19 members, besides 2 deputati from sister-Clas- 
 ses. 
 
 The result produced a schism, which will ccme under notice 
 hereafter. But the church proceeded to erect an edifice, the 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 3S5 
 
 corner-stone of which was laid Sept. 16th, 1839. It is a 
 brick building, 60 by 84 feet, and cost about $26,000. It 
 stands on Henry street. 
 
 The Rev. C. C. Van Arsdale laboured sometime with this 
 infant church, and received a call, in April, 1839, to become 
 its pastor ; which, after a considerable delay, he did not accept. 
 
 In April, 1841, the Rev. Jacob Broadhead, D.D., was in- 
 stalled pastor, and remains in the charge. 
 
 3. The Third, or South Dutch Church, (at Gowanus,) was 
 organized, July 14th, 1840. A church edifice had been pre- 
 viously erected, in 1839, about a mile south of that village ; 
 and subsequently, they purchased another in the village, 
 which had been built in 1838, by the Fourth Presbyterian 
 Church. They now occupy both buildings, holding service 
 alternately in each. 
 
 The Rev. Cornelius C. Van Arsdale first laboured about a 
 year with this church in its infancy. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel M. Woodbridge, the present pastor, was 
 ordained, Dec. 12th, 174]. 
 
 Episcopal Churches. 
 
 1. The introduction of the Episcopal service into this 
 town, was nearly coeval with the entrance of the British army. 
 Although it has been conjectured that it was some years an- 
 tecedent to that event, there is no evidence of the fact. Be- 
 fore the revolution, the settlement was still very small, and all 
 the inhabitants, it is believed, were connected with the Dutch 
 congregation, which then constituted the only religious 
 society. 
 
 During the war, as it was natural to expect, the British 
 officers had divine service performed, according to the forms 
 of their own church. Where they usually met, is now not 
 known, but with a truly catholic spirit, the Dutch people kind- 
 ly allowed them the use of their church, when not occupied 
 by their own ministers. This Gen. Johnson recollects as a 
 fact. 
 
 It appears from Mr. Fish's recent publication, that the Rev. 
 James Sayre, officiated from 1778 to about the time of the 
 "evacuation," in 1783. He then removed to Connecticut, 
 where he died, Feb. 18th, 1798. 
 
 The Rev. George Wright officiated in the following year. 
 The place of meeting was a" private dwelling, in what is now 
 
 17 
 
386 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Fulton street. The congregation afterwards occupied a barn, 
 and then a building which had been erected by the British 
 during the war, which was fitted up for the purpose. In 1765, 
 a small frame house, which had been erected on the present 
 Episcopal burying ground in Fulton street, became the place 
 of worship, and was consecrated by bishop Provost, in 1787, 
 and the society was incorporated April *2:id of that year, un- 
 der the style of the " Episcopal Church of Brooklyn." Mr. 
 Wright removed in 1789. 
 
 The Rev. Elijah D. RaVoone succeeded in the fall of 1789, 
 and resigned in March, 1792, upon accepting a professorship 
 in Columbia College. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Ncsbilt was the rector of this church from 
 Jan. 1793 to 179S. June 22 J, 1795, the church was re- 
 organized and incorporated under its present name, " St, 
 Ann's Church" 
 
 The Rev. John Ireland officiated from 179S to 1807. May 
 30th, 18l 5, a new stone church was consecrated, which had 
 been erected in the preceding year, on the corner of Sands 
 and Washington street. The walls of this building were so 
 much injured a few years afterwards, by the explosion of a 
 powder house in the vicinity, that they were deemed unsafe, 
 and the present edifice was erected in 1824. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Fellus, D.D., was rector from 1807 to 
 1814. 
 
 The Rev. John P. K. Henshaw, D.D., from 1814 to '17. 
 He removed to Baltimore, and in 1843 was elected bishop in 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 The Rev. Hugh Smith, D.D., from July 1817, to '19. 
 
 The Rev. Henry XJ. Onderdonk, D.D., was the rector from 
 Nov. 1819 to '27. He removed to Philadelphia, having been 
 elected assistant bishop of that diocese, to the sole charge of 
 which he succeeded on the death of bishop White. He re- 
 signed his episcopate in 1844. 
 
 The Rev. Charles P. Mclhaine, D.D., after officiating here 
 from 1827 to '33, was elected bishop in Ohio in 1S32, and re- 
 moved thither in the following year. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin C. Culler, D. D., the present rector, 
 succeeded in 1833. 
 
 2. St. John's Church was organized in 1826. The edifice 
 was erected by the Rev. Evan M. Johnson, on his own 
 ground, and at his own expense, who still continues to be the 
 rector. It stands on Johnson street, corner of Washington, 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 3S7 
 
 The congregation purchased the building and enlarged it in 
 1832. 
 
 In 1835 the Rev. Jacob W. Diller was employed as an as- 
 sistant minister, who was succeeded by the Rev. Stephen Pat. 
 terson. The Rev. C. S. Henry, D.D., now occupies that 
 station. 
 
 3. Calvary Free Church, (in Pearl street,) arose from the 
 dust of one that had been formed in 1833, under the style of 
 "St. Paul's," and was dissolved in 1840. The new organiza- 
 tion was made in the same year, under the above name, at 
 which time the Rev. William H. Lewis became the rector, 
 and still remains. 
 
 4. Christ's Church, (Clinton street,) was organized in 
 1835. The Rev. Kingston Goddard became the rector, in 
 1837. A temporary place of worship was occupied in Paci- 
 fic street, till the present edifice was consecrated, July 28th, 
 1843. In the summer of 184 1, the Rev. John S. Stone, D.D., 
 succeeded to the rectorship. 
 
 5. St. Luke's Church, (Clinton Avenue,) was organized 
 in 1842, (from the elements of a defunct church which had 
 been formed in 1835, under the name of Trinity Church,) 
 when the Rev. Jacob W. Diller became the rector. The 
 edifice is a stone building, 45 by 60 feet, which had been 
 erected, and was consecrated in 1836. 
 
 6. St. Mary's Church, (on Clason Avenue,) at the Wall- 
 about, was organized in 1837, at which time a small edifice 
 was erected, which was enlarged in 1841, so as to be capable 
 of accommodating 300 persons. The Rev. Joseph Hunter, 
 who commenced this enterprise with a Sabbath school, and 
 acted as lay reader to the small assembly connected with it, is 
 the rector. 
 
 7. Emmanuel Church, (Sidney Place,) was organized in 
 1839, and the edifice was erected in the following year. The 
 Rev. Kingston Goddard was the first rector, and was suc- 
 ceeded in 1844 by the Rev. Francis Vinton, who is now in 
 charge. 
 
 8. St. Th'omas' Church was organized in 1843, as a free 
 church, under the ministry of the Rev. John F. Messenger. 
 
388 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 The place of worship is a small building on Navy street, near 
 Myrtle Avenue, — but the congregation are now engaged in 
 the erection of a new church on Willoughby street. 
 
 " A large Gothic Edifice is now in the progress of erection, 
 by E. J. Bartow, Esq., but whether intended for one of the 
 present congregations, or for a new one, has not transpired." 
 The foundation was laid in Aug. 1844, and is expected to be 
 enclosed before the approaching winter. It is by far the 
 largest edifice in the city, being 145 feet long, (including the 
 tower of 27 feet,) and 80 wide. Besides this a vestry and 
 lecture room attached to the rear, make the whole structure 
 170 feet in length. 
 
 Presbyterian Churches. 
 
 1. The First Presbyterian Church, of Brooklyn, was or- 
 ganized with 10 members, by the Presbytery of New-York, 
 March 10th, 1822. The church edifice was erected of brick, 
 in Cranberry street, the same year, and afterwards enlarged. 
 Its present dimensions are 85 by 55 feet ; the cost was about 
 $15, COO. A lecture-room was subsequently erected at a cost 
 of $7,00 0. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Sanford was ordained Oct. 22d, 1822, 
 the first pastor. He was dismissed Jan. llth, 1829, and re- 
 moved to Philadelphia, where he shortly after died. 
 
 The Rev. Daniel L. Carroll, D.D., the second pastor, was 
 instilled March 18th, 1829, and was dismissed July 9th, 
 1885. 
 
 The church remained vacant nearly 2 years, during which 
 time, the Rev. John C. Backus, Jonathan Brace, and Jona- 
 than D. Condit, were successively called, but declined. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D.D., the third and present 
 pastor, was installed May 8th, 1837. 
 
 In Nov. 1838, immediately after the division of the Synod 
 of New-York, a corresponding division took place in this 
 church. About 40 families, including 3 elders, and about 100 
 members declared their continued adherence to the Presby- 
 tery of New York, which remained attached to the (O. S.) 
 Synod and General Assembly ; and therefore claimed to be 
 " the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn ;" while the pas- 
 tor, 7 elders, and about 550 members acknowledged the juris- 
 diction of the " Presbytery of Brooklyn," which had been 
 erected by the (N.S.) Synod in 1838. 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 389 
 
 2. The minority retired, and maintained public worship in 
 the " Court Room," for about a year; when after various in- 
 effectual efforts, to secure an amicable division of the pro- 
 perty, they resolved on erecting a new edifice, the corner- 
 stone of which was laid, Sept. 3rd, 1339. The building 
 stands on the corner of Fulton and Pine-apple street ; its di- 
 mensions are 85 by 65 feet ; is in the Gothic style of archi- 
 tecture, and cost $40,000, including the ground. It was de- 
 dicated in 1840. 
 
 The Rev. Melancton TV. Jacobus was ordained pastor, in 
 1839, and remains in the charge. 
 
 3. The Second Presbyterian Church was organized, by 
 the Presbytery of New-Yoik, Oct. 25th, 1831, from a colony 
 of the First Church, consisting of 31 members. They first 
 erected a lecture-room on Adams' streefc near Nassau, which 
 was opened, May 1st, 1832. In 1833-4, a church edifice, of 
 brick, 103 feet by 75, was erected on Clinton street, near 
 Fulton, at a cost of about $24,000, and $4,000 for ihe ground. 
 It was dedicated May 4th, 1834. A lecture-room was subse- 
 quently built on an adjoining lot, at a cost of $6,000, the for- 
 mer having been disposed of for $8,000. 
 
 The Rev. Ichabod S. Spencer, D.D., was installed pastor 
 of this church, March 22nd, 1832, and still remains in charge. 
 
 4. The Third Presbyterian Church originated in an effort 
 to extend gospel privileges in the south-east part of the city. 
 A sabbath-school was set up, in a building erected for that 
 purpose, on Nassau street, opposite Stanton, in 1832 or '3. 
 Subsequently, a prayer- meeting was held there, and in the 
 spring of 183 1, a sabbath evening service was regularly main- 
 tained. A church, consisting of 35 or 40 members, was or- 
 ganized April 22d, 1834, and taken under the care of the 
 Third Presbytery of New- York. In the autumn of that year, 
 the Rev. Rollin S. Stone was installed pastor. He was dis- 
 missed April 4th, 1837. About this time, the congregation re- 
 moved to " Classical Hall," where they continued to worship 
 some 2 years. 
 
 In Aug. 1837, the Rev. William B. Lewis commenced 
 labouring here, and was shortly after installed pastor, in which 
 relation he still remains. 
 
 In 1*39, the congregation erected an edifice 75 by 50 feet^ 
 on Jay street, near High, at a cost of $15,000, including the 
 ground. 
 
390 ANNAL9 OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 5. The Fifth Presbyterian Church, now existing, is an en- 
 tirely distinct organization from one which had previously 
 borne the fame name, and will be noticed hereafter. 
 
 The Rev. George Dujfield, Junr. was ordained in Jan. 1841, 
 in the church which had been built by Samuel A. Willoughby,, 
 Esq., on the corner of Pearl, and Willoughby street, in 1839. 
 A short time afterwards, a church of 20 members was or- 
 ganized. The building is 70 by 40 feet, and cost $10,000. 
 
 6. The South Presbyterian Church was organized Sept. 
 18th, 1842, with 72 members, and the Rev. Samuel T. Spear 
 was installed pastor, May 14th, 1843, by the Presbytery of 
 Brooklyn. Their first place of worship was a School house 
 on Pacific street, which they purchased and occupied till the 
 present summer. The foundation of a beautiful edifice, laid 
 in the autumn of 1844, was completed, and first opened 
 for divine service, Aug. 24th, 1845. It stands on Clinton 
 street, corner of Amity, and its dimensions are 60 by 115 feet, 
 including a lecture-room in the rear. The whole cost about 
 $28,000. 
 
 7. The Wallabout Presbyterian Church was organized by 
 the Presbytery of New York, Dec. 20, 1842, and consisted 
 of 16 members, 9 of whom were dismissed from the Presby- 
 terian church, under the Rev. Mr. Jacobus. Their first place 
 of worship was the upper room of the " Academy" in Skill- 
 man street, which they occupied for more than 2 years. 
 
 The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf, by whose indefatigable 
 labours, this enterprise was commenced, was installed pastor, 
 March 8th, 1843. In the latter part of 1844, a church 
 edifice 65 by 50 feet y was commenced, on Franklin Av- 
 enue, near Myrtle Avenue, which was completed, and de- 
 dicated, March 27th, 1845. It is a neat building of wood, 
 with a Lecture Room and other convenient apartments, in 
 the basement, and the whole has been completed without en- 
 cumbering the congregation with debt, at a cost of $5,000, 
 
 A church organization has recently been made at the Na- 
 val Hospital, by the Rev. Charles S. Stewart, the Chaplain ; 
 but of how many members it consists, or on what platform it 
 has been established, has not been ascertained. 
 
 The Baptist Churches. 
 
 1. The "First Baptist Church in Brooklyn" was incorpo- 
 rated Oct. 15th, 1823. The church originally consisted of 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 391 
 
 11 members, though the exact date of its organization has not 
 been ascertained. Their first piace of worship was the Dis- 
 trict School House, No. 1 : but measures were taken at an 
 early period to erect a church edifice. A lot was purchased 
 on Pearl-street, between Concord and Nassau, for $4,000, and 
 a house, 00 by 40 feet, was erected, which the church occu- 
 pied about 10 years. In 1834, a lot was purchased for $7,000 
 on Nassau street, near Fulton, on which they erected, the same 
 year, a brick edifice, 80 by 60 feet, at a cost of $17,000. 
 The former lot and building were sold to an Episcopal con- 
 gregation. 
 
 The Rev. W. C. Hawley or Holly, the first pastor of this 
 church, was ordained, shortly after its organization. He was 
 succeeded by the Rev. Messrs. Lazell, Leljnd, Howard and 
 Silas llsley — though the dates of their settlement and dis- 
 mission have not been ascertained. It was during Mr. How. 
 ard's ministry, that their present house of worship was erected. 
 
 T ! ' lev. James L. Hodge, the present pastor, commenced 
 his idoours here, in the autumn of 1841. 
 
 2. The Pierpont Street Baptist Church was organized of 
 40 members, in April 1810 ; when the Rev. E. E. L. Taylor, 
 who ha i commenced the enterprise, the year before, became 
 the pastor, in which relation he continues. 
 
 The corner stone of a Gothic edifice, 77 by 60 feet, was 
 laid July 20th, 1843, on Pierpont street, corner of Clinton, 
 which was finished the following year, at a cost of more than 
 $14,000, besides the lot which cost $5,000. 
 
 3. The South Baptist Church was organized in April 1845, 
 with 70 members, principally from the First Baptist Church. 
 A small building for a Lecture Room has been erected on 
 Livingston street. This church does not yet enjoy the la- 
 bour of a settled pastor. 
 
 Congregational Churches. 
 
 The first Congregational or Independent church in this 
 town was organized in 1785, which has long since ceased to be. 
 
 A second organization in 18^8, under the style Congrega- 
 tional, having shortly after adopted another platform, will be 
 noticed hereafter. 
 
 1. The " Church of the Pilgrims" was organized by a Con- 
 gregational council assembled Dec. 22nd. 1814, consisting of 
 about 60 members, a large number of whom were dismissed 
 from the Presbyterian churches of this city. It appears to 
 
392 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [p A RT 2, 
 
 have originated in a very natural desire on the part of the 
 emigrants or descendants of New England to enjoy the insti- 
 tutions of the gospel, according to the mode practised by their 
 pious ancestry. 
 
 The incorporation bears date Dec. 24th, 1844. The con- 
 gregation have erected a stone edifice, on Henry street, cor- 
 ner of Remsen, 80 by 100 feet, including a lecture-room in 
 the rear, at a cost of about $50,000, and is nearly completed. 
 The church does not yet enjoy the labours of a settled pastor. 
 
 2. The Free Congregational Church was constituted June 
 16th, 1S45, by a vote of the Free Presbyterian Church wor- 
 shipping on the corner of Tillary and Lawrence street, by 
 which they resolved to change their platform. 
 
 In the month of September they gave a call to the Rev. 
 Isaac N. Sprague of Hartford, Ct. to become their pastor, 
 which, it is understood, he has accepted. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Churches. 
 
 1. The First Meth. Epis. Society in Brooklvn was incorpo- 
 rated May 19th, 1794. A class had probibly been formed 
 some time before, as the itinerating preachers had offi ciated 
 here, more or less, for several years. Their first ho:isc of wor- 
 ship was erected on Sands' Street, about the time of the incor- 
 poration. It was enlarged in 1810, and rebuilt in 1844. It is a 
 substantial brick building, 80 by 60 feet, and cost $10,500. 
 
 2. The York Street Church on the corner of York and Gold 
 was erected in 1823. Its dimensions are 65 by 50 feet and 
 its cost $5,000. y 
 
 3. The Washington Street Churchy 80 by 60 feet, was 
 erected in 1831, at a cost of $15,000, 
 
 4. The Ebenezer Church was organized June 18th, 1837, 
 when a class of 8 persons was formed at the Wallabout. 
 Preaching was first held in a school-house. In 1841 a church 
 edifice, 40 by 35 feet, was erected on Franklin Avenue, at a 
 cost of about $2,000, besides $S00 for the ground. 
 
 5. The Centenary Church owes its origin to the dissatisfac- 
 tion of a large portion of the Washington Street congregation 
 with the appointment of a preacher to that station in 1838. 
 They remonstrated against the appointment, while the Con- 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 393 
 
 ference were still in session, but without effect. The house 
 of worship being under the control of the congregation, the 
 people refused to receive the appointed preacher, and provided 
 themselves with another. 
 
 The preacher appointed by the bishop, and those who ad- 
 hered to him withdrew, and maintained service, during the 
 current year, at •* Classical Hall." 
 
 In 1839 a new society was organized, and a church erected 
 on Johnson Street, corner of Jay, 80 by 50 feet, for $S,000, 
 which was finished and occupied in 1840. It received its 
 name from the date of its commencement, that year being the 
 centenary of methodism. 
 
 6. South Brooklyn Church (at Gowanus, 18th street,) is still 
 in its infancy. A small church edifice was erected in 1842. 
 The incorporation was made Feb. 4th, 1844, under the style 
 " Sixth M. E. Church of Brooklyn." The building is small, 
 25 by 35 feet, and cost $700. 
 
 7. The M. E. Church in Pacific street is of recent organi- 
 zation. A certificate of incorporation with the above title, 
 was recorded Oct. 28th, 1844 ; but under an apprehension of 
 some mistake, was renewed Jan. 29th, 1845. The society at 
 present occupy a small building on Pacific street near Court. 
 Although it does not appear in the reports of the last Confer- 
 ence, a preacher was appointed to this station for the current 
 year. 
 
 8. In the course of the past summer (1845) a small building 
 has been erected on Carleton Avenue, near Myrtle Avenue ; 
 and preaching has been commenced and is continued there, 
 by several local preachers ; but as yet no ecclesiastical organi- 
 zation has been made. A certificate of incorporation of the 
 ** Eighth M. E. Church of Brooklyn" was recorded in the 
 Clerk's office, Feb. 24th, 1845, and is presumed to be this 
 congregation, as no other is known to which it can apply. 
 
 The Bethel Church is an ecclesiastical organization which 
 had its origin in a laudable desire to provide the regular 
 means of grace for seamen, and the floating population along 
 the East River. Accordingly, about the year 1842, a society 
 was formed under the name of " The Brooklyn Bethel So- 
 ciety," for the attainment of the object. A large room was 
 hired on Main street, near the Catharine st. Ferry, and pub- 
 
 17* 
 
394 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 lie worship established there. After some time, Mr. William 
 Burnet, a local preacher of the Methodist connexion, was en- 
 gaged as a stated preacher, and has continued his labours 
 very acceptably to the present time. . 
 
 On the 15th of Jan. 1S44, the Rev. Dr. Cox of the Presby- 
 terian, and the Rev. Mr. Sewall of the Methodist Episcopal 
 Church, Washington street, met at the Bethel, and organized 
 the " Bethel Church." It consisted originally of 22 members ; 
 and at the present time, about 50, with 12 candidates for 
 admission. 
 
 Its articles of faith and order, we have not ascertained ; 
 but it is presumed to be evangelical in its character, though it 
 has no connexion with any of the various christian churches 
 with which it is surrounded. But all regard it as a benevo- 
 lent enterprise, which is worthy of their sympathies and 
 prayers. 
 
 The following churches, though bearing the name of Me. 
 thodist, have no connexion with the regular M. E. Church, or 
 with one another. 
 
 1. The Primitive Methodist Church of Brooklyn was, at 
 first, a branch of that in New York, and they commenced 
 worship here on the 1st Sabbath in July, 1833. The meetings 
 were first held in an orchard at the Wallabout, near what is 
 now Clason Avenue. On the approach of cold weather, they 
 assembled in a private house. The first organization con- 
 sisted of 2 male and 8 female members. They were supplied 
 by travelling preachers. In the fall of that year, they pur- 
 chased a lot, in Graham street, on which they commenced the 
 erection of a small house of worship. The whole cost was 
 about $1,700, for a part of which, they mortgaged the house 
 and lot. For a time, the congregation was enlarged, and the 
 number of church members increased to about 40. But 
 their payments not being regularly made, the premises were 
 sold, in 1839, under foreclosure, for $750, in consequence of 
 which the society lost all that they had previously paid, and 
 were turned out of doors. 
 
 Shortly after a division in the church took place, a part of 
 the society becoming Protestant Methodists. The Primitive 
 established their worship in a more compact part of the city, in 
 a house previously occupied by the Third Presbyterian Church 
 on Nassau street, near Stanton. In the beginning of 1843, 
 they removed to "Classical Hall," and shortly after to a small 
 
SECT. 22. J BROOKLYN. 
 
 building in High street. In 1844, they purchased a lot in 
 Bridge street, between Tillary and Concord, where they have 
 erected a small house, 25 by 28 feet, at a cost of $2,100, in- 
 cluding the ground. The congregation consists of only 15 or 
 20 families, and they have about 35 communicants. Their 
 protracted (rials might excite general sympathy, but for the 
 folly of multiplying ecclesiastical organizations, where there 
 is no radical difference of sentiment. 
 
 2. The Protestant Methodist Church will be the subject of 
 subsequent notice. 
 
 3. The (True) Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized 
 in April, 1845, and consists of 30 members. It is in connex- 
 ion with the organization formed at Utica, May 31st, 1843. 
 This congregation holds worship, at present, in the Hall of an 
 Academy on the corner of Atlantic and Henry street. 
 
 Coloured Churches. 
 
 1. The African M. E. Church is in High street. The 
 date of its organization has not been ascertained, but it is one 
 of the oldest and most flourishing of this denomination. The 
 church now consists of 209 members. The Rev. Levi N, 
 Hall, is the preacher in charge. 
 
 2. Mount Zion African Protestant Methodist Church. In 
 the early part of 1842, the Rev. William Harden, a coloured 
 preacher, commenced preaching in Brooklyn. His hearers 
 assembled temporarily, in a room provided in a Rope- walk, in 
 in Nassau street near Jackson. The Rope-walk being burned 
 down, they assembled for a time in private houses. A church 
 of 15 members was organized June 18th, 1842. It now num- 
 bers 36. The Society was incorporated under the above 
 name June 4th, 1841, and they have procured a small build- 
 ing in Navy street, near Sands, in which they continue to 
 worship. Mr. Harden is still their stated preacher. 
 
 3. The Asbury African Methodist Epis. Church in Brook- 
 lyn was formed of 21 members, Dec. 29th, 1844, and was 
 incorporated June 5th, 1845. They have purchased a lot on 
 Navy street, near Tillary, for 8400, on which they have 
 erected a building 40 by 24 feet, at a cost of $450. The 
 Rev. Enoch C. Harrington is their minister. 
 
 Roman Catholic Churches. 
 
 St. James, on the corner of Jay and Chapel street, was in- 
 
396 ANNALS OFrTHE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 corporated Nov. 22nd, 1822. The building was finished in 
 1826, but enlarged in 1845. The value of the building is 
 estimated at $30,000, and the ground at $'.0,000. Its sue- 
 cessive pastors have been the Rev. John Farman, appointed 
 in 1824— the Rev. John Walsh, in 1830 and the Rev. Charles 
 Smith, the present incumbent, in 1842. The number of com- 
 municants about 4,100. 
 
 St. Paul's on the corner of Court and Chapel street, orga- 
 nized in 1836. The building which is 125 by 75 feet, was 
 finished in 1838 at a value of $20,000— the ground $8,000. 
 The first pastor, appointed in 1838, was succeeded in 1840 by 
 the Rev. Nicolas WDonnell the present incumbent. Number 
 of communicants, about 2,000. 
 
 The Church of the Assumption commenced in 1831. Cost 
 of ground, $3,000, and of the building $1,700. The Rev. 
 Mr. Bacon was appointed pastor, in 1842. 
 
 The church in Kent Avenue was purchased from the Pro- 
 testant Methodists, the present year, and cost $1,200 — im- 
 provements $000. The building is not yet dedicated. The 
 Rev. Hugh Maguire is pastor. 
 
 Friends, or Quakers. 
 
 The families belonging to this denomination in Brooklyn, 
 were connected, till of late years, with the two divisions of 
 the Society in the city of New York. The "Orthodox" still 
 retain that connexion, while the " HicLsites" have made an 
 organization in Brooklyn. They commenced a meeting at 
 the " Apprentices Library" in 1835. In the following year, 
 they erected a Meeting House, on the corner of Henry and 
 Clark street, about 50 by 40 feet, at a cost of $3,000 — the 
 ground $5,000. The Meeting is regularly maintained, though 
 their number is small. 
 
 The First Unitarian Congregational Society under the 
 name of the " Church of the Saviour," is a large edifice of 
 free stone, erected in 1840 on the corner of Pierpont street, 
 and Monroe place. 
 
 The Rev. Frederick A. Farley has been the minister since 
 the spring of 1842. 
 
 The First Univcrsalist Society was incorporated Oct. 10th, 
 1842. A house of worship was erected on the corner of Ful 
 ton and Pine-apple street, w'^ich was opened June 22nd, 1843 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 397 
 
 The Rev. Abel C. Thomas has been the minister, since the 
 autumn of 1842. 
 
 Defunct and Transformed Churches, 
 
 It is a part of the history of the town, and may afford some 
 lessons of instruction, to take a brief notice of the several 
 ecclesiastical organizations, that have existed a longer or 
 shorter time, and then been dissolved or exchanged the plat- 
 form on which they were founded. 
 
 1. As early as 1785, when this ground had been occupied ex- 
 clusively by the Dutch Church, for a century and a quarter, an 
 " Independent Ftleeting House" was erected, and a Congrega- 
 tion regularly incorporated, with a pastor — an assistant — Trea- 
 surer, Secretary, and a board of Trustees. The building stood 
 on the old Episcopal Burying Ground in Fulton street. The 
 congregation did not live long, as a large portion of the mem- 
 bers went over to Episcopacy — the building soon passed into 
 the hands of that denomination, and became their house of 
 worship, till the erection of St. Ann's Church. And thus this 
 congregation expired. This was the church of which the 
 Rev. John Matlock was pastor, whose name is still remembered 
 by some of the inhabitants. 
 
 2. An Episcopal Church, with the name of St. PauVs, was 
 M commenced in Sept. 1883, under the auspices of the Rev. 
 Thomas Pine." After continuing service in a school room, 
 about a year, a place of worship, just vacated by a Baptist 
 church, was purchased. Mr. Pine was succeeded by the Rev. 
 T. S. Brittan. The building was consecrated in June, 1834, 
 the church having been previously " received into connexion." 
 
 As the congregation depended entirely on voluntary contri- 
 butions for its support, which proved insufficient to liquidate 
 the debt incurred, after strenuous efforts to obtain relief, in 
 1839 or '40, u the edifice was sold, and the church suspended 
 or broken up." 
 
 3. Trinity Church was organized in March, 1835. A stone 
 edifice, 45 by 60 feet, was erected on Clinton Avenue. The 
 Rev. D. V. M. Johnson, Dr. Coit, and Rev. Mr. Shimeall, 
 successively officiated. In 1841, the parish having become 
 embarrassed, public worship was suspended. In 1842, the 
 church was re-organized under the name of St. Luke's, which 
 still exists, and has been mentioned on a previous page. 
 
 4. St. Peter's (coloured) Church was formed some years 
 ago, but has been suspended for want of support. 
 
 5. The Fourth Reformed Dutch Church was organized 
 
398 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 Nov. 11th, 1840. at the Wallabout. The Rev. John Knox, 
 who had laboured some months in the place, was invited to 
 take the pastoral charge, but declined. The Rev. William 
 Cahoon, of Cooksackie, also declined a call. In April, 1841, 
 the Rev. Peter S. Williamson accepted a call, and was in- 
 stalled on the 2nd Sabbath in May. He was, however, dis- 
 missed on the 17th of Oct. following. The congregation be* 
 ing feeble, and enjoying only occasional supplies, the enter- 
 prise was abandoned, and the church dissolved by the Classis, 
 in 1844. 
 
 6. The Fourth Presbyterian Church was organized at Go- 
 wanus, by the Third Presbytery of New York, in Feb. 1-88. 
 A House of worship was erected shortly after, and the Rev. 
 Robert R. Kellogg was installed June 4th, 1839. by the Pres- 
 bytery of Brooklyn. He was dismissed on the 17th of Dec. 
 following, and the congregation being few, and oppressed with 
 debt, the church was dissolved by the Presbytery, May 9th, 
 1842 ; and subsequently, the building was purchased by the 
 Third Dutch Church, as has been previously mentioned. 
 
 7. The Fifth Presbyterian Church, which was first organ- 
 ized in this city, was entirely distinct from that respectable and 
 growing congregation, which now bears the same name, and has 
 been previously recorded in the catalogue of existing churches. 
 That, which is now the subject of notice, had its origin, in 
 the schism produced in the infancy of the Central Dutch 
 Church. Those members who were dissatisfied with the re- 
 jection of Mr. Tappan, by the Classis, in 1838, immediately 
 seceded and set up worship, in a School House in Henry street, 
 near Pine-apple ; under the administration of Mr. T., and were, 
 shortly afterwards, organized a " Congregational Church." 
 In the course of a year, the building now occupied by the Fifth 
 Pres. Church, was erected at the sole expense of Samuel A. 
 Willoughby, Esq., and this church removed to that building, 
 which was dedicated May 30th, 1839; Mr. T. still continuing 
 their preacher. In the spring of that year, the church changed 
 its order, and placed itself under the care of the Presbytery 
 of Brooklyn, by the name of the " Fifth Presbyterian Church." 
 In the minutes of the Triennial General Assembly of 1839, 
 this church is reported as consisting of 30 members, and Mr. 
 Tappan, pastor ; but the date of his installation or dismission 
 has not been ascertained, though he left the church in the 
 course of that year. Immediately afterwards, another pastor 
 was called, as appears, from the following notice published 
 in the L. I. Star, under date of Dec. 31st, 1839 :— 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 899 
 
 45 Fifth Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, IV. Y. This little 
 church, gathered by the labours of the Rev. H. P. Tappan, 
 after some serious trials connected with the withdrawment of 
 his valuable ministrations among them, have, as we are happy 
 to learn, called the Rev. Absalom Peters, D. D., with perfect 
 unanimity, to become their pastor. Their prospects are there- 
 fore encouraging ; and our city may rejoice, not only with 
 the congregation, and the neighbourhood, but in the accession 
 of Dr. Peters to the number of our citizens and our clergy." 
 
 It is also added " Note. — The public, especially in this 
 city, ought to know, that, as the neat and commodious edifice, 
 in the south-eastern district of our city, corner of Pearl and 
 Willoughby streets, in which the Fifth Presbyterian Church 
 now worship, was built and owned, at first, by private muni- 
 ficence, so it has been lately purchased, and is now owned by 
 the Congregation.'' 
 
 For some reason, which has not been ascertained, Dr. P. 
 was not installed, though arrangements were made for that 
 purpose ; and the church and congregation shortly after re- 
 moved from the building above mentioned, to a school-room 
 near the South Ferry, where Dr. Peters continued to preach. 
 After a few weeks, information was given, that there would 
 be no more preaching, in that place, until further notice. 
 It is presumed, that the church was soon after disbanded. 
 
 8. The Sixth Presbyterian Church was organized at the 
 Wallabout, Jan. 26th, 1840, by a Committee of the Brooklyn 
 Presbytery. It consisted of 10 members, to whom 8 more were 
 soon after added. At a subsequent meeting for the election 
 of a pastor, the vote was divided, but a majority being for the 
 Rev. James Knox, he was called, but declined. He, how- 
 ever, continued to labour here about 3 months. After his de- 
 parture, the undertaking was abandoned, and whether the 
 church was formally dissolved or not, it has become extinct. 
 
 9. The Free Presbyterian Church was organized with 36 
 members, March 22nd, 1841, and the Rev. Russel J. Judd 
 installed pastor, the 1st of May following, by the Presbytery 
 of Brooklyn. He was dismissed in the autumn of 1843. 
 
 In the spring of 1844, the Rev. Edward Reed was in- 
 stalled, and dismissed in about a year. 
 
 Subsequently, this congregation purchased the edifice erect- 
 ed by the Second Baptist Church on the corner of Tillary 
 and Lawrence street, which stands on leased ground. 
 
 In the spring of 1845, the church, having become vacant, 
 unanimously agreed to change their order and become Con- 
 
400 ANNALS OP THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 gregational. It has been previously noticed among the ex- 
 isting churches. 
 
 10. The Second Baptist Church was organized about the 
 year 1830, with 7 members. They first held worship in a 
 school-house, on the corner of Henry and Pine-apple street, 
 In 1834, a church edifice was erected on a leased lot, corner 
 of Tillary and Lawrence street, at a cost of about $4,000. 
 The Rev. Jacob Price, C. F. Frcy, John Bectham and Octa. 
 vius Winslow successively laboured here ; but whether any 
 of them were settled as pastors is not ascertained. In the 
 autumn of 1838, this church was dissolved, and the building 
 sold to the Free Presbyterian congregation. 
 
 11. The Protestant Methodist Church originated in a 
 schism, which took place among the primitive Methodists, in 
 1839. The secession first assumed the style of '* Wesleyan 
 Methodists," and hired the building that had been erected by 
 the primitive society, and sold for the debt, with which it was 
 encumbered. The preacher of the original society went with 
 the secession. For a while the new organization appeared to 
 prosper, and numbered nearly 100 members. They purchased 
 a lot of ground on Kent street ; and in the autumn of 1840 
 commenced the erection of a church, 30 by 40 feet, which 
 was completed at a cost of about $2,000, and occupied in 
 the spring of 1811. Difficulties subsequently arose, and the 
 society being in debt, and unable to extricate themselves, early 
 in the present year, the church was exposed to sale, and pur- 
 chased by the Roman Catholics, who now occupy it. It is 
 understood that the society is dissolved. 
 
 12. The writer has been informed, that a Unitarian society 
 was collected in this city, previously to that which now ex- 
 ists ; but, of its organization and dissolution no particulars 
 have been ascertained. 
 
 In reviewing this list of churches, the most of which have 
 been formed and become defunct in the last 12 or 15 years, 
 t will be seen that in general, they have arisen and fallen, on 
 th e principle which is becoming quite too popular in ecclesias- 
 tical, as well as in secular concerns, of running into debt. 
 This has evidently been the great root of the evil. 
 
 From the great facility of obtaining money on loan, a little 
 handful of sanguine people, flattered with the idea of becom- 
 ing the founders of a new congregation of their oicn, cut loose 
 from the churches, with which they are connected, and which, 
 in many instances, are neither too strong nor yet overflowing. 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 401 
 
 By their own subscriptions, which are frequently so large as 
 to embarrass themselves, and perhaps with the aid of particu- 
 lar friends, they raise money enough to purchase a lot of 
 ground ; and then a host of money-lenders are ready to loan 
 enough to rear the building, with the safe security, of a mort- 
 gage on the house and grounds, provided the building is kept 
 covered by insurance. But here an additional evil is often 
 permitted to enter. Instead of a plain, but neat edifice, of 
 sufficient dimensions to accommodate the infant congregation, 
 and meet its reasonable expectations, for many years, which 
 might, when necessary, be sold, for its real value, to some 
 other new society, the views and feeling of both borrowers and 
 lenders, demand that it shall be a spacious building, finished 
 both externally and internally in a style that will command 
 notice, and attract occupants. And here lies a capital er- 
 ror of this popular scheme. The fact is entirely overlooked, 
 that those persons, who are to be most relied on, to promote 
 the highest interests of a church, and build up the spiritual 
 temple, are not usually those who are, allured to the house of 
 God, by the beauties of architecture, the splendour of ceilings 
 and cornices, or the softness of cushions. And it should be 
 recollected that even those who deem these accommodations 
 desirable or essential, are very slow to cast in their lot, with a 
 small congregation, who are known to be in debt, for all these 
 comfortable appendages. 
 
 But there is another prominent point from which it is well 
 to take a view of such an enterprise. An infant congrega- 
 tion generally find themselves sufficiently burdened to raise an 
 adequate support for divine institutions, during the first few 
 years. What then must that burden be, when you add to it, 
 the interest of from 10, to $20,000, from year to year ? Is it 
 any wonder, t ha many a congregation soon sinks under the 
 load ; and those that survive, groan under the weight, till an- 
 other generation, provoked at the injustice of their predeces- 
 sors, in imposing upon them such a tax ; in resentment, rather 
 than with a good will, put their hands into their pockets, and 
 wipe offthe disgraceful debt, or what is more common, aban- 
 don the whole concern to the hammer.* 
 
 * Actual injustice to the mechanics and labourers sometimes results from 
 this pernicious practice. The writer is informed of an instance, (not on 
 Long Island,) in which a church, built in the most costly style, was mort- 
 gaged for less than half its cost, for money to finish it ; which was sold 
 under a foreclosure as soon as it was completed, and purchased for the con. 
 gregation in another name, for little more than the mortgage, while many 
 
402 ANNALS OF THE TOWNS. [PART 2, 
 
 " In dropping the thread of simple narration, as he approaches 
 the close of his undertaking, the writer feels as if he ought to 
 ask pardon of the good people of Brooklyn for adopting a 
 strain of didactic remark, that might seem designed for their 
 peculiar instruction. But the present strictures have no ex- 
 clusive bearing on this city. And as the design of the whole 
 work has been to review the past for the benefit of those who 
 are now, or may hereafter come upon the stage, and as this 
 community furnishes some important facts that illustrate gene- 
 ral principles, which are of universal application and use, he 
 feels constrained to continue his remarks a little further. 
 
 The evil which has been referred to, is not confined to those 
 churches and congregations that have become extinct. There 
 are not a k\v of those now existing, and generally considered 
 in a flourishing condition, which are groaning in secret, if not 
 actually withering, under the burden of a heavy debt. The 
 writer has been kindly furnished with a statement of the 
 amount of debt now resting on most of the churches of this 
 city ; and he was advised by some of the ministers to publish 
 the facts, in connection with each congregation ; probably 
 with the hope that the exposure might excite the people to 
 exscind the wasting cancer. But he felt that this would be 
 improper. He may, however, be allowed to say, that, in the 
 list now lying before him, there are eight churches whose 
 several debts vary from $5,000 to $18,000, and in the aggre- 
 gate, amount to $84,000. Such a burden cannot fail to 
 operate as an incubus, on both minister and people, and greatly 
 impair their energies in building up the cause of the Redeemer. 
 And though the load may be sustained from year to year, by 
 putting an increased price upon the "sittings," yet it should 
 be recollected, that this very remedy, in its practical operation, 
 is driving the poor — even the pious poor — the Saviour's own 
 legacy to his people, from the congregations. And, doubtless, 
 our churches would have more of the spirit of primitive Chris- 
 tianity, if it could be said now, with as much propriety as in 
 those early days, "The poor have the gospel preached to 
 them." Among them, we ordinarily find more ardent piety, 
 and more self-denying effort for the spiritual interests of the 
 Church. But they do not ask to enjoy the privileges of the 
 
 of the mechanics, who did the work, were left without their pay. Will 
 such proceedings meet the smiles of a righteous God ? Can a congregation 
 flourish, while such an act of injustice remains unrepaired ? Religious or- 
 ganizations, at least, ought to have consciences, even if it be true that other 
 44 corporations have no souls." 
 
SECT. 22.] BROOKLYN. 403 
 
 gospel for nothing. All they require, is, to have the ordinary- 
 accommodations of our churches brought within the reach of 
 their limited means. .The church that is not in debt can 
 readily do this. 
 
 But human nature is always prone to extremes, and there 
 is often danger of fulling upon Scylla in avoiding Charybdis. 
 And here it is obvious there is an opposite extreme. While 
 there are some, who are fond of multiplying religious organi- 
 zations and building churches, far beyond the necessities of a 
 community, (and this is an extensive evil in many parts of 
 Long Island,) there are more who are disposed to keep a large 
 and overgrown congregation together, even after they have 
 not room to sit or stand. In most of our cities there are 
 churches, whose number of communicants, reported from year 
 to year, is greater than the average number of attendants on 
 public worship ; and if they were ever actually assembled to- 
 gether, would more than fill the seats on the floor of the church. 
 Now it is evident, that these lists must contain a large num- 
 ber of non-residents, (the watch and care of whom rests on 
 nobody,) besides the usual proportion of aged and infirm per- 
 sons ; or else the members of such churches must be exceed- 
 ingly remiss even in attending public worship. If none but 
 they were present, the church would always be full. — But 
 when a church has become thus overgrown, that a single 
 pastor cannot keep himself advised, by personal intercourse 
 and observation, of the spiritual condition of every member, 
 such a church imperiously requires the labours of an additional 
 pastor, or a separation into two churches. The principle 
 of colonizing, properly conducted, is the true mode of forming 
 new churches, especially in cities. And this should be done, 
 not on the mere principle of personal convenience or family 
 gratification, but with a pure and self-denying disposition to 
 enlarge the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 
 There are strong inducements in a large and wealthy con- 
 gration to defer this arrangement too long. It may be painful 
 to sunder sacred associations that have been pleasantly and 
 profitably maintained so long. But these are not to be named 
 among those, who have professed a readiness " to leave father 
 and mother, wife and children, brethren and sisters for the 
 kingdom of God's sake." It will require, at least for a time, 
 enlarged pecuniary contributions ; but these will be cheerfully 
 made, by all those who regard the silver and the gold in their 
 hands as the Lord's. Besides, while they remain with such a 
 multitude, they are not doing as much for the cause of religion 
 
404 CONCLUSION. 
 
 as their Master expects and requires. And what ought to 
 weigh more than all, congregations, like individuals, have 
 their period of infancy, vigorous manhood, and feeble age ; 
 and like the hive that never swarms, they are liable to be 
 filled with drones, who feel not the necessity of labour: or 
 decrepid age, that has lost all its energies. Instances may be 
 found of old congregations, that have neglected the favoured 
 moment to send forth a young and active colony, on ground 
 that has been soon seized and occupied by rival organizations, 
 which are, at this moment, smaller in numbers and feebler in 
 strength than they were 25 or 30 years ago. Therefore while 
 guarding against the needless multiplication of churches, it is 
 important, in every growing city and village, for existing con- 
 gregations to consult, not merely their individual prosperity, 
 but the demands of the increasing population. And it will be 
 found that those denominations that have acted most judi- 
 ciously on the colonization principle, have made the greatest 
 and most abiding progress. 
 
 Summary. — The city of Brooklyn contains 46 organized 
 religious societies, the most of which have houses of worship ; 
 viz., 3 Reformed Dutch — S Episcopal — 7 Presbyterian — 3 
 Baptist — 2 Congregational — 8 Episcopal Methodists— 3 other 
 Methodists — 3 Coloured Methodists — 4 Roman Catholics — 1 
 Friends — 1 Unitarian — 1 Universalist, and 2 without denomi- 
 national distinction. Besides these, there are 2 or 3 others, 
 which are at present in a forming state, but have not as yet 
 been regularly organized. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In reviewing this very imperfect sketch of the annals of 
 Long Island, which have been traced with particular reference 
 to the religious privileges enjoyed by successive generations, 
 through a period of more than 200 years, there are many 
 topics which suggest important lessons of instruction, and 
 which it would be profitable to bring before the mind of the 
 reader. But onl^ two or three suggestions can be made. 
 
 It is obvious to remind the inhabitants of this extended isle 
 that their lot has been cast, if not in a land literally " flowing 
 with milk and honey," yet in a region highly distinguished, 
 
CONCLUSION. 405 
 
 from the first day of its settlement by a civilized people, by 
 gospel privileges. It is a most grateful reflection, that the 
 very first Sabbath after the first colony was planted on the 
 eastern extremity, was cheered by the sound of the blessed 
 gospel proclaimed by a duly authorized minister, to a Christian 
 assembly, regularly united in covenant, and constituted a 
 church of Jesus Christ. And that there, in the course of a 
 few months, stood the first temple that was ever erected to the 
 God of Heaven, within the wide territory of what is now 
 called the " Empire State." And from that day to this, 
 churches have been multiplied, till they are now found in al- 
 most every little neighbourhood from shore to shore, to the 
 number of 2 1 3. And though it is obvious, that in some towns, 
 the rage for building houses of worship, and organizing dis- 
 tinct congregations, has been carried to an extent that has in- 
 jured rather than advanced the cause of religion, by dividing 
 the strength of the population beyond their ability to sustain 
 divine institutions ; yet it must be confessed, that in regard 
 to the privileges of the gospel, the people of this island are a 
 highly favoured people. There is at the present hour, on an 
 average, a place of worship for every assembly of 677 indi- 
 viduals that might be convened. 
 
 Nor are these, to any great extent, silent temples, or those 
 that send forth the cry of " peace, where there is no peace." 
 In the most of them, the voice of prayer and praise, and of 
 faithful instruction is heard every Sabbath day ; and " whoso- 
 ever will may come," and learn the way to heaven. Besides 
 this. Long Island has been blessed, from the time of its settle- 
 ment, with a succession of able, pious, and faithful ministers, 
 some of whom, in a less retired situation, would have been ex- 
 tensively admired and celebrated. But here unknown, and 
 undiverted from their great work, they have spent their lives 
 in trying to save souls. It is believed, that in very few, if in 
 any district of this country, of equal extent, there is a more 
 general knowledge of the only way of life and salvation, than 
 in the greater part of this isle of the sea. On this point, the 
 writer speaks from some personal knowledge. More than 30 
 years ogo, he made two voluntary tours of a fortnight each, 
 preaching one or more times every day, and visiting from 
 house to house, in the most retired situations, where no assem- 
 bly could be collected, and he did not find a single individual 
 of adult years, who appeared to be ignorant of the great plan of 
 salvation. And, in both instances, he returned under the deep 
 conviction, that if any one perished from this highly favoured 
 
408 coxclusios. 
 
 region, it would be most emphatically true, that "his blood 
 would be on his own head." There is reason to apprehend, 
 that this is equally true at the present time. 
 
 In this connexion, the writer is led to a renewed expression 
 of regret in failing to execute one part of his original plan. 
 It was his design, as stated in the preface, to have given a 
 brief outline of every clergyman, who has laboured for any 
 length of time on the island, and has gone to his account. 
 But sufficient has been done on this head to secure the practi- 
 cal benefit intended to be accomplished. 
 
 Will the ministers of the gospel, then, who are now occupy- 
 ing these heights of Zion, in these favoured churches, permit 
 one who is a simple elder, without assuming the attitude of 
 their teacher, to call the attention of those who are also elders, 
 to one obvious fact 1 
 
 In tracing the history of different congregations, or of the 
 same congregation at different j.eriods, it is remarkable to ob- 
 serve, how every minister, who has spent much time in a 
 place, has left the impress of his own image enstamped on 
 the community. This is observable in almost any part of the 
 country, but there are some obvious reasons which will sug- 
 gest themselves to every reflecting mind, why this fact should 
 be more conspicuous, in this isolated situation. The converse 
 of the maxim which the Lord applied to Israel, is here most 
 remarkably illustrated, " Like priest, like people." In almost 
 any congregation, where a minister has had the opportunity of 
 moulding the character of the people for a number of years, it 
 is easy to trace the influence, and even to discern the features 
 of his own character in the aspect of the community, long 
 after he has been laid in the grave. In fact, there are not 
 only individuals, but congregations on Long Island, that at 
 this day, exhibit the peculiar characteristics of the ministers 
 that laboured on that ground more than 100 years ago. And 
 as noxious weeds always more readily take root, and grow 
 with greater luxuriance in this fallen world, than the most 
 precious grain, it is not wonderful that the influence of erro- 
 neous, erratic, and even indolent ministers, should be more 
 effective and abiding, than of the most circumspect and devoted 
 servants of the cross. Still the influence of faithful men, un- 
 der however unfavourable circumstances it may be exerted, 
 is not lost, but will long survive, when they are dead and 
 gone. 
 
 This consideration is well adapted to impress the mind of 
 every minister of the gospel, with a deep sense of the awful 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 407 
 
 responsibility under which he is daily acting. He is not only 
 living for eternity, as it respects his own individual recom- 
 pense, but he is constantly fitting the people of his charge for 
 the awards of the final judgment. And not only those now 
 living, and especially the children and youth who are growing 
 up under his nurturing hand, and forming their characters 
 from his instructions and example, but generations yet unborn 
 are to be trained and moulded by those, whom he is forming 
 to become faithful or unfaithful parents, to those who shall 
 come after them. 
 
 In reviewing his own imperfect ministry of 40 years, the 
 writer is deeply conscious that he has nothing to boast of, but 
 much to be humbled for ; yet a deep sense of his own imper- 
 fections and shortcomings ought not to deter him from exhort- 
 ing and entreating his brethren, with his own soul, to greater 
 circumspection and fidelity in their high and holy calling, re- 
 membering that " they watch for souls, as they that must give 
 account," and that, when they are "dead, they will yet 
 speak" for the weal or wo of those that shall come after them. 
 " Be thou faithful unto death," says the great Head of the 
 church to his servants, " and I will give thee a crown of life." 
 
 And though the writer cannot claim it as a right, he would 
 embrace this opportunity as a privilege, to speak a word of 
 advice to the churches of the Island, to which his earliest 
 attachments were formed, in ail the ardour of a " first love," 
 and which was strengthened and cemented by one of the most 
 glorious seasons of grace, that it has been his privilege ever to 
 enjoy. And now, after having been an exile from his native 
 isle for more than 30 years, he is permitted, in the good pro- 
 vidence of God, to return again, to lay his dying head on its 
 bosom ; — now, when the ardour of youth has long since sub- 
 sided, and the frost of 60 winters has chilled the vital current, 
 and passion has settled down into a calm and genial glow, 
 he still feels it to be a privilege to renew the recollection of 
 years gone by, and recall those happiest days and brightest 
 scenes of a checkered pilgrimage. And though the ground is 
 now occupied, and the churches are composed of almost an 
 entirely new generation, and only a single watchman who 
 stood on these walls at that time, now stands trembling with 
 age, just ready to depart, he still loves these churches for 
 their fathers' sake. 
 
 With these facts in view, the present ministers and churches 
 of Long Island will pardon the presumption of calling their 
 serious attention to one more point, deeply involving the sue- 
 
408 CONCLUSION. 
 
 cession of the church. The great duty of parental instruction 
 and discipline is God's own ordinance, for the formation of 
 the character of each successive generation, and the preserva- 
 tion of religion in the world." " These tvords which I com- 
 mand thee this day shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach 
 them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when 
 thou sittest in thine house, and when thou wall est by the ivay, 
 and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And 
 thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand ; and they 
 shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt 
 write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." 
 Deut. vi. 6-9. 
 
 The Sabbath School is a noble and excellent institution, in 
 its original design, intended for the benefit of those who en- 
 joyed no means of instruction at home : and there will un- 
 doubtedly be countless throngs in glory, who will bless the 
 name of Robert Raikes, for this benovolent scheme. But 
 be it remembered, that this is a human institution, while God's 
 own ordinance remains and will remain, to the end of time, 
 unrepealed. And it is worthy of remark, that there is no 
 good institution, whether of human or divine invention, that 
 the depravity of man, or the mere love of ease has not pros- 
 tituted and perverted. And this has been most manifestly 
 the case, with the sabbath-school. Parents, even christian 
 parents, have found it so much easier to turn over their chil- 
 dren to the S. S. teacher, than to discharge in person, the ar- 
 duous duties which God has imposed upon them, that the in- 
 structions of the domestic circle are almost entirely laid aside, 
 and a thousand encomiums are lavished upon an invention, 
 which they regard as exonerating them from the irksome dis- 
 charge of parental duty, and which they expect will lead their 
 children to heaven, without any personal effort on their part. 
 But parental duty cannot be discharged by -proxy ; and there 
 is no possible substitute for parental love. The faithful sab- 
 bath school teacher, however interested in his beloved charge, 
 cannot feel those yearnings of soul, that the pious parent feels, 
 for his own child. To profess it, is conclusive evidence of 
 consummate ignorance of a parent's love. God knew all 
 this, and therefore he laid hold of this principle, and sancti- 
 fied it as a principal means of perpetuating religion from gene- 
 ration to generation. 
 
 Ye Sons of the Puritans — Descendants of the Huguenots, 
 and of the pious Dutch, (the men that fled their native coun- 
 try, and took up their residence in a trackless wilderness, for 
 
CONCLUSION. 409 
 
 the rights of conscience and the enjoyment of liberty ;) it is 
 right and proper to remind you of your noble ancestry : and 
 duty demands the plain and faithful declaration, that you 
 have greatly declined from the good old ways of your pious 
 fathers, especially in regard to parental duly. We live in an 
 age of refined taste and exquisite "sentimentality." The 
 time-honoured standards of our ancestors have become too 
 old and dry for our dyspeptic stomachs, at the present day. 
 The precious catechisms of our several communions, though 
 differing in form and order, yet essentially the same, in the ex- 
 hibition of the great doctrines of the Reformation, and which 
 our ancestors taught, with untiring diligence to their children, 
 are actually crowded into the back ground, if not entirely 
 out of sight, by countless volumes, adapted to the more fas- 
 tidious taste of the times, and " illustrated" by the inventions 
 of fancy and the refinement of the arts ; till the Bible itself 
 has been made a great picture-book, and its Divine Author 
 exhibited, contrary to his own express prohibition, if not in 
 the bulk of a molten image, with the actual members of a 
 human form. And all this to gratify and keep pace with the 
 improving taste of this picture-book age. Nor is this all. 
 Even the prophecies of the sacred volume, which the great 
 minds of the protestant reformers failed to unfold, for the very 
 obvious reason, that they were not designed 1o be fully un- 
 derstood, till the providence of God should disclose their mys- 
 teries, are now professedly made plain to the eye, by the pro- 
 gress of the arts : and even the ordinances of religion are 
 claimed to be illustrated and confirmed by the same happy 
 means.* 
 
 The day once was, and its light beamed brightly from 
 Gravesend to Montauk and Oysterpond Point, when the Bible 
 and the Catechism were the text books of the common-school, 
 and the familiar companions of every domestic fireside. Then 
 
 * The writer is fully aware, that he has here fallen on an unpopular 
 theme, and that this undisguised expression of opinion will he ridiculed by 
 some, and regarded by more, as resulting from a want of taste. But he 
 is conscientious in the sentiment he has so distinctly expressed, and em- 
 braces this opportunity to enter his dissent from the general sentiment and 
 tendencies of the age. And he is constrained to go one step further, and 
 say, he verily believes, that the influence of book-makers, sustained as it is 
 by the church and the world, is doing more to familiarize and prepare the 
 minds of the rising generation to receive with favour, all the imagery 
 and mummery of a corrupt system of religion, that is making extended 
 and rapid progress in our land, than all the sermons, and speeches and 
 writings of their fathers will or can counteract. 
 
 18 
 
410 CONCLUSION. 
 
 too, a goodly portion of every sabbath day was devoted to the 
 recital, explanation and practical enforcement of those excel- 
 lent forms of sound words. But now, the Holy Scriptures 
 are not only left out of, but actually prohibited from some 
 schools, and what is still more to be lamented, parental in- 
 struction is extensively expected to be discharged by deputies. 
 
 It is surely high time for the church to awake to this sub- 
 ject. Every great reformation, that has ever blessed the 
 world, has been brought about, by the " turning of the heart 
 of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to 
 their fathers ;" and this characteristic will mark the approach 
 of brighter and better days. The writer has no wish to have the 
 Sabbath-school abandoned, or that exertions should be withheld 
 to extend its benign influence over the vast multitudes, who 
 would otherwise grow up in ignorance of God and divine 
 things. But he does insist, that the church is suffering — the 
 cause of truth is declining, for the want of a revival of fam- 
 ily religion — parental fidelity and systematic instruction. 
 The spirit of the age, in which there is much to commend, 
 and by which much good is effected, is in a literal sense, a 
 public spirit. Its field is the world ; its operations are neces- 
 sarily transacted before the public eye ; its cry is on the house- 
 top ; and the deep impression rests on the public mind, that 
 nothing can be effected in a private way. Now, what we 
 want, is not the abandonment of these great and powerful 
 schemes of operation ; but the cultivation of a spirit of hum- 
 ble, unostentatious piety, in the closet and at the domestic al- 
 tar. This is God's own institution, not the invention of wise 
 and good men, and is calculated to give life and vigour to 
 every public measure to extend the gospel through the world. 
 A new and powerful impulse would be given to all our benevo- 
 lent enterprises, if we could only succeed in awakening and 
 securing the general attention of our churches, to the long neg~ 
 lected duties of the family circle. In the faithful discharge 
 of these, many a child would catch the missionary spirit, and 
 many a parent would be prepared to give up a beloved son, to 
 carry the glad tidings of salvation to the perishing heathen. 
 " O ! Lord, revive thy work." 
 
 Inhabitants of Long Island ! remember your high descent, 
 and emulate the example of your pious ancestors. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 No I. — A Statistical View of the Churches of all 
 the Principal Religious Denominations on Long 
 Island. 
 
 Congregational Churches. 
 
 The following schedule contains the names of all the 
 churches, that claim this denomination ; whether belonging 
 to the Consociation, the late Convention, or, occupying 
 strictly independent ground. 
 
 N. B. Those ministers, whose names are included in pa- 
 renthesis, are not known to be stated supplies to the churches, 
 to which their names are annexed, but labour more or less in 
 different congregations. A few variations from the abstract 
 given on pages 125-30, result from subsequent information. 
 
 Those marked with an asterisk (*) are Presbyterian minis- 
 ters. — P. stands for pastor. — S.S. for stated supply. 
 
 Chut ches 
 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Mcmbs. 
 
 Orient, 
 
 
 *Daniel Beers, S.S. - 
 
 73 
 
 Green port, . 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 Cutchogue, . 
 
 . 
 
 *Ezra Youngs, S.S. 
 
 68 
 
 Northville, . 
 
 
 (Azcl Downs,) 
 
 85 
 
 Upper Aquebogue, 
 
 including 
 
 
 
 Flanders, 
 
 ' 
 
 Thomas Harris, 
 
 250 
 
 Riverhead, . 
 
 • 
 
 Brooks, 
 
 72 
 
 Bating Hollow, . 
 
 , 
 
 (David Benjamin,) . 
 
 52 
 
 Wading River, . 
 Old Man's, . 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 
 Prince Hawes, S.S. 
 
 140 
 
 New Village, 
 
 . 
 
 (Erastus Wells,) 
 
 55 
 
 Patchogue, . 
 
 . 
 
 *John II Thomas, S.S. . 
 
 204 
 
 Bcllport, 
 
 
 *George Tomlinson, S.S. 
 
 37 
 
 Fireplace Neck, . 
 
 . . 
 
 (Nathaniel Hawkins,) 
 
 11 
 
 Moriches, 
 
 . 
 
 (Christopher Youngs,) 
 
 It 
 
 Poosepatuck, 
 
 . 
 
 
 17 
 
 Canoe Place, (Shinnecock) . 
 
 William Benjamin, P. . 
 
 70 
 
 Warnertown, (Canoe Place) 
 
 ( Lord,) 
 
 12 
 
 Ch. of the Pilgrims, 
 
 Brookyn, 
 
 
 100 
 
 Free Church, 
 
 «t 
 
 Isaac N. Sprague, P. elect. 
 
 150 
 
 Williamsburgh, . 
 
 20 
 
 Simeon S. Jocelyn, P. 
 
 17 
 
 Total, . 
 
 12 
 
 1589 
 
412 
 
 APPENDIX* 
 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 The Presbytery of Long Island, [O.S.] 
 
 N. B. Those marked with an asterisk are not members of 
 this Presbytery. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 Ministers. 
 >amuel R Ely, S.S. 
 
 iMc/nbs. 
 
 Easthampton, 
 
 435 
 
 Sag Harbour, 
 
 
 
 
 lost ph A. Copp, P. . 
 
 360 
 
 Bridgchampton, 
 
 
 
 
 Vacant, .... 
 
 177 
 
 Southampton, 
 
 
 
 
 3ugh N. Wilson, P. 
 
 267 
 
 Wcpthampton, 
 
 
 
 
 ■iylvcbter Woodbridgc, S.S. 
 
 75 
 
 Brookfidd, . 
 
 
 
 
 Vacant, .... 
 
 25 
 
 Moriches, . 
 
 
 
 
 Thomas Owen, S.S- 
 
 49 
 
 Southaven, . 
 
 
 
 
 George Tomlmson, S.S. . 
 
 37 
 
 Middletown, 
 
 
 
 
 :nnts S. Evans, P. 
 
 128 
 
 Setaukct, 
 
 
 
 
 i Zrchariah Green, ) Collegial 
 ' John Gile, jun. S Pastors 
 
 c 81 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Smithtown, . 
 
 
 
 
 lames C. Edwards, P. 
 
 81 
 
 Freshpond, . 
 
 
 
 
 Ebenezer Piatt, S.S. 
 
 149 
 
 Huntington, 
 
 
 
 
 fames McDougaH, P. 
 
 237 
 
 Sweet Hollow, 
 
 
 
 
 Chester Long. S.S. . 
 
 118 
 
 Babylon, 
 
 
 
 
 Alfred Ketcham. S.S. . 
 
 170 
 
 Hempstead, . 
 
 
 
 
 Sylvester YVoodbric.'ge, jun. 
 
 220 
 
 Oysterbay, . 
 
 
 
 
 /acant, . 
 
 11 
 
 Without charge, . 
 
 
 
 
 3zra King, 
 
 
 Total, . 
 
 
 
 V, 
 
 
 14 2620 
 
 Belonging to the Presbytery of New. York, [O.S.] 
 
 Churches. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Memba. 
 
 First Church, Brooklyn, 
 
 Melancton M Jacobus, P. 
 
 311 
 
 Second *' •* 
 
 Ichabod S. Spencer, D.D., P. '. 
 
 481 
 
 Wallabout, " 
 
 Jonathan Green leaf, P. 
 
 1(16 
 
 Jamaica 
 
 James Macdonald, P. 
 
 404 
 
 Newtown, .... 
 
 John Goldsmith, P. . 
 
 142 
 
 Williamsburg}), . 
 
 P. Eugene Stevenson, P. 
 
 42 
 
 Without charge, . 
 
 Nathaniel S Prime, 
 
 
 
 
 TotaL 
 
 1489 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 413 
 
 The Presbytery of Long Island, (N.S.) 
 
 Miiusiers. 
 
 Union Parish, 
 Franklinville, 
 Southold, . 
 Greenport, . 
 Shelter Island, 
 
 Supplying Cong. Churches, 
 Without charge, . 
 
 Benjamin Luce, S.S. 
 
 Henry Clark, S.S. . 
 
 George F. VViswell, P. 
 
 John Woodbridge, P.t 
 
 Anson Sheldon, S.S. 
 
 ( Daniel Beers, 
 
 \ Ezra Youngs, 
 Jonathan Huntting, 
 John D. Gardiner, 
 
 Membs. 
 
 98 
 
 65 
 
 134 
 
 108 
 
 66 
 
 Total, . 5| 9 471 
 
 t Mr. Woodbridge was ordained Nov. 6th, 1845, after the former part of 
 this work went to press. 
 
 Belonging to the Presbytery of Brooklyn, (N.S.) 
 
 Churches. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Membi. 
 
 First Church, Brooklyn, 
 Third »« ■* . 
 Fifth " " . 
 South " " 
 Williamsburgh, . 
 
 Supplying other churches, . 
 
 Without charge, . 
 
 Samuel H. Cox, D.D., P. 
 William B Lewis, P. 
 George Duffield,jun., P. . 
 Samuel T. Spear, P. 
 James VV. McLane, P. . 
 
 S John H. Thomas, S.S. 
 
 1 Alfred Kctcham, S S. —-„.,_ 
 Names not ascertained, 
 
 840 
 400 
 150 
 250 
 68 
 
 Total, . . i 
 
 7 
 
 1708 
 
 Total on the island, 33 Churches — 37 Ministers — 6288 Communicants. 
 
 Reformed Dutch Church. 
 South Classis of Long Island. 
 
 Congregations. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 1st Church, Brooklyn, 
 
 Central M 
 
 3rd Church, 
 
 Flatbush, 
 
 Flatlands, 
 
 New Lots, 
 
 New Utrecht, . 
 
 Gravesend, 
 
 East New-York, 
 
 Principal, Erasmus Hall, 
 
 Under suspension, . 
 
 Total, 
 
 M. W. Dwight, D.D. 
 J. Broadhead, D.D. 
 S. M. Woodbridge, . 
 T. M. Strong, D.D. 
 
 J. A. Baldwin, 
 
 K. O. Currie, . 
 Abr. I. Labagh, 
 W. V. Schoon maker, 
 R. D. Van Kleck, 
 Isaac P. Labagh, 
 
 18* 
 
 135 
 
 135 
 
 54 
 9(. 
 7( 
 5(, 
 8. : 
 10( 
 51 
 
 776 
 
 800 
 ;800 
 (300 
 jiii. 
 450 
 3>0 
 475 
 550 
 300 
 
 1475 
 
 (200) 
 222 
 
 62 
 133 
 110 
 
 75 
 132 
 
 92 
 
 62 
 
 1088 
 
414 
 
 axtexdix. 
 
 North 
 
 Classis of Long Island. 
 
 
 
 
 Congregations. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Fam 
 
 Ind. 
 
 Com 
 
 Jamaica, 
 
 
 ]. Schoonmaker, D.D. 
 
 200 
 
 110(1 
 
 195 
 
 Newtown, 
 
 
 L». I. Garrctson, 
 
 93 
 
 500 
 
 125 
 
 Oyster Bay, . 
 
 
 r\ D. Oakey, . 
 
 78 
 
 350 
 
 112 
 
 N. Hempstead, 
 
 
 f. H. Sheffield, 
 
 63 
 
 294 
 
 49 
 
 Williamsburgh, 
 
 
 V. H. Van Dorcn, . 
 
 100 
 
 500 
 
 129 
 
 Astoria, . 
 
 
 V. H. Bishop, . 
 
 (i(i 
 
 (350) 
 
 55 
 
 Flushing, 
 
 
 .V. R. Gordon, . 
 
 30 
 
 (176) 
 
 40 
 
 Attached to 
 
 N. Y. Classis. 
 
 
 
 
 Bushwick, 
 
 
 i. II. Meeker, 
 
 80 
 710 
 
 370 
 3640 
 
 148 
 
 8 
 
 . t 
 
 853 
 
 Total, . 
 
 7 
 
 17 
 
 1485 
 
 8015 
 
 1941 
 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Suffolk County. 
 
 Towns. ] Rectors. 
 
 Com. 
 
 St. John's Church 
 
 , Huntington, 
 
 Charles H. Hall, . 
 
 ~26 
 
 St. John's *• 
 
 Islip, 
 
 D. V. M Johnson, 
 
 14 
 
 Caroline " 
 
 Setauket, . 
 
 J. M. Noll, .... 
 
 25 
 
 Christ's 
 
 Sag Harbour, 
 
 H. F. Roberts, . 
 
 12 
 
 
 Patchoguc, 
 
 
 T? 
 
 Queen's County. 
 
 
 
 St. George's Churc 
 
 h, Astoria, . 
 
 J. W. Brown, 
 
 57 
 
 St. James' *• 
 
 Newtown, |Gr. Shehon, . 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 St. George's " 
 
 Flushing, C. Burcker, . 
 
 
 
 155 
 
 Zion " 
 
 Little Neck, | H. M. Beare, 
 
 
 
 27 
 
 Christ's M 
 
 Manhasset, J.P.F. Clarke, . 
 
 
 
 73 
 
 St. Paul's 
 
 Glen Cove, 1 " " 
 
 
 
 J2 
 
 Christ's " 
 
 Qystcrbay, E. Harwood, 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 St. John's 
 
 Cold Spring, 'j. Sherwood, 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 St. George's " 
 
 Hempstead, 
 
 O. Harriman, 
 
 
 
 100 
 
 Trinity " 
 
 Ri>ckaway 
 
 J C. Smith, 
 
 
 
 
 Grace " 
 
 Jamaica, 
 
 VV. L. Johnson, . 
 
 
 
 138 
 
 
 3ysterbay South|(Not organized,) . 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 "639 
 
 King's County. 
 
 
 
 St. Ann's Church 
 
 Brooklyn, 
 
 B. C. Cutler, D.D. . 
 
 380 
 
 St. John's *• 
 
 " 
 
 E. M. Johnson, . 
 
 
 
 143 
 
 Calvary " 
 
 it 
 
 VV. H. Lewis. . 
 
 
 
 301 
 
 Christ's " 
 
 ii 
 
 J. S. Stone, D.D. . 
 
 
 
 230 
 
 St. Mary's •■ 
 
 " 
 
 J. Hunter, . 
 
 
 
 47 
 
 Emmanuel " 
 
 " 
 
 F. Vinton, . 
 
 
 
 160 
 
 St. Luke's •• 
 
 |J. VV. Diller, 
 
 
 
 61 
 
 St. Thomas' " 
 
 " J. F. Mcssinger, . 
 
 
 
 28 
 
 St. Marks' '» 
 
 Williamsburgh. IS. M. Haskins, . 
 
 
 
 120 
 
 St. Paul's •• 
 
 Flatbush, . VV. H.Newman, . 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 St. John's " 
 
 Fort Hamilton. J. D. Carder, 
 
 
 
 33 
 
 
 
 7533 
 
 Total, 
 
 . . . 28 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 2249 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 415 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 John S. Matthias, Presiding Elder. 
 
 King's County. Stations. 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Memba. 
 
 — - 
 
 Sand's street, Brooklyn, . 
 
 S Hart F. Pease, 
 
 \ John Tackaberry, . 
 
 \ 
 
 658 
 
 York, •' 
 
 Hue! Goodsell, . 
 
 
 425 
 
 Washington, " 
 
 C W. Carpenter, 
 
 
 2.-)0 
 
 Centenary Ch , " 
 
 John M. Pease, . 
 
 
 451 
 
 Ebcnczer, " 
 
 Jacoh Shaw, 
 
 
 80 
 
 Pacific street, " 
 
 Luther W. Peck, 
 
 
 
 18th street and New Utrecht, . 
 
 To be supplied, . 
 
 
 5 50 
 \ 153 
 
 Gravescnd and Flatbush, 
 
 L D. Nickerson, 
 
 
 Williamsburgh, 
 
 Paul R Brown, . 
 
 
 318 
 
 Bushwiek, .... 
 
 Anson F. Beach, 
 
 
 62 
 
 Queen's County. 
 
 
 
 2447 
 
 Newtown, .... 
 
 Edward L. Stout, 
 
 
 216 
 9-2 
 226 
 396 
 296 
 100 
 
 Flushing. .... 
 
 David Osborn, . 
 
 
 N. Hempstead, 
 
 Elbert Osborn, . 
 
 
 Hempstead, .... 
 
 Edwin E Griswold, . 
 
 
 Rockaway, .... 
 
 tfenry Hatfield, . 
 
 
 Jamaica, .... 
 
 George W. Collord, 
 
 
 Suffolk County. 
 
 
 
 1326 
 
 
 ( Tim. C. Youngs, 
 
 : \ 
 
 
 Huntington, .... 
 
 < Oliver E. Brown, 
 ' Orlando Starr, 
 
 406 
 
 
 
 Huntington South, . 
 
 S Edmund O. Bates, 
 I Jon. N. Robinson, 
 
 . \ 
 
 425 
 
 Smithtown, .... 
 
 S Gcorjrc Hoi lis, 
 } Marvin R. Lent, 
 
 : \ 
 
 603 
 
 Patchoguc, .... 
 
 David Holmes, . 
 
 
 257 
 
 Westhampton, 
 
 ( Nathan Rice, . 
 ) Isaac H. Lent, 
 
 : \ 
 
 232 
 
 Southampton, 
 
 Thomas G. Osborn, 
 
 
 55 
 
 Bridgehampton, 
 
 Aaron Hunt, Jr., 
 
 
 109 
 
 Sag Harbour, 
 
 Seymour Landon, 
 
 
 331 
 
 Riverhead and Jamesport, 
 
 J. Sanrlford, 
 
 
 136 
 
 Cutchogue and Southold. 
 
 Ezra Jaggcr, 
 
 
 141 
 
 Orient and Grecnport, . 
 
 } Bezaleel Flowe, 
 
 ( George VV. Woodrnl 
 
 r, .' 
 
 61 
 50 
 
 Bcllport and Fireplace, . 
 
 
 
 39 
 
 2846 
 
 Total, , 
 
 31 Preachers, 
 
 
 66J9 
 
416 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The African M. E. C 
 
 'hurch. 
 
 Societies. 
 
 Members. 
 
 Brooklyn, 
 
 209 
 
 Flatbush, 
 
 34 
 
 Jamaica, 
 
 2(5 
 
 Flushing, 
 
 69 
 
 Cedar Swamp, 
 
 70 
 
 Jericho, , 
 
 15 
 
 Huntington, . 
 
 52 
 
 South, 
 
 52 
 
 Setauket, 
 
 26 
 
 Total, 
 
 553 
 
 Societies. 
 
 Membt 
 
 Williamsburgh, 
 
 34 
 
 Train's Meadow, 
 
 20 
 
 Flushing, 
 
 59 
 
 Lakeville, 
 
 78 
 
 Oysterbay, 
 
 46 
 
 Jerusalem, . . . 
 
 47 
 
 Stony Brook, 
 
 7 
 
 Islip and Smithtown, 
 
 25 
 
 Moriches and Mastick, 
 
 21 
 
 Sag Harbour, . 
 
 50 
 
 Total, 
 
 387 
 
 Besides these, there are several other African churches on 
 the island, that are distinguished by different names, and have 
 no connection with each other or either of the preceding de- 
 nominations: As, 
 
 The Free Union M. E. Church, at Williamsburgh, con. 
 
 taming 40 members. 
 
 The As bury African M. E. Church, and Mount Zion Afri- 
 can Protestant M. Church, both in Brooklyn. 
 
 It is really a matter of regret and lamentation, to see the 
 coloured people, of whom there are now more than 8,000 on 
 Long Island, so completely cut up and divided in their reli- 
 gious associations. Instead of combining their efforts for the 
 intellectual, moral, and religious improvement and elevation 
 of their race, we find them separated into four or five distinct 
 communions, professing essentially the same doctrinal princi- 
 ples, and differing only on matters of minor importance. 
 And there is reason to believe, that some of thesp separations 
 at least, have originated in a desire of preeminence, which 
 could not be gratified, but at the expense of schism. How- 
 ever painful the statement of these facts may be, it is due to 
 the christian public, who are often called upon to aid in erect- 
 ing an African church, which their sympathies for this injured 
 race would strongly incline them to patronise, when, if the 
 whole truth were disclosed, it would be found to be a rival or- 
 ganization, originating in secession, and designed to be built 
 up at the expense of the older African churches. Thus we 
 have one independent organization, professing to have a 
 bishop, with several itinerating and local preachers under him, 
 whose entire constituency consists of 3 small churches, the 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 417 
 
 aggregate number of whose members is less than 100; and 
 these standing, side by side, with those very societies from which 
 they have seceded. The coloured people have yet to learn, 
 that the efforts of others to raise them to respectability and 
 usefulness, will be vain, till they can be united among them- 
 selves. Of them it is emphatically true, that "iw union there 
 is strength." The " African Methodist Episcopal Church," 
 appear lo be laudably engaged in promoting the interests of 
 their people. They publish a periodical in New York, which 
 is sustained entirely by contributions from their own members; 
 and many of the articles are very respectable. They have 
 recently held a Convention in Philadelphia, at which they re- 
 solved to establish a literary institution for ministerial educa- 
 tion, as soon as funds can be obtained. Such praiseworthy 
 efforts deserve encouragement, and substantial aid. 
 
 No statistics have been obtained of other sections of the 
 Methodist church. 
 
 Baptist Church. 
 
 Congregations. 
 
 First Church, Brooklyn, 
 
 Pierpont street, " 
 
 South, 
 
 Williamsburgh, 
 
 Newt<»wn, 
 
 Oysterhay, 
 
 Cold Spring, 
 
 Coram, 
 
 Grcenport, 
 
 Sag Harbour, 
 
 Total, 
 
 10 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 ■Membs. 
 
 James L. Hodge, . 
 
 E. E. L. Taylor, . 
 
 Vacant, 
 
 A Ian son P. Mason, 
 
 Vacant, 
 
 Marmuduke Earle, 
 
 Earle, 
 
 Vacant, 
 Alvan Ackley, 
 
 650 
 
 350 
 
 70 
 
 160 
 
 21 
 
 60 
 
 351 
 93 
 
 1563 
 
 SWEDENBORGIANS. 
 
 Congregations. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Membs. 
 
 Rivcihea-l, .... 
 Bating Hollow, 
 
 M. M. Carll, 
 
 9 
 24 
 
 
 Total, .... 
 
 33 
 
418 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Roman Catholics. 
 
 Congregations. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Com'' ta. 
 
 St. James', Brooklyn, 
 
 Charles Smith, 
 
 4000 
 
 St. Paul's, 
 
 Nicolas O'Donnell, 
 
 2000 
 
 Church of the Assumption, 
 Kent Avenue, (not dedicated,) ' 
 
 D3POn 
 
 1700 
 
 Hugh McGuire, 
 
 
 Holy Trinity, Williamsburgh, . 
 
 John Rafeiner, 
 
 500 
 
 St. Mary's, " 
 
 Sylvester Malone, 
 
 500 
 
 Jamaica, 
 
 
 
 Flushing, 
 
 
 
 Smith town, 
 
 
 
 Sag Harbour, 
 
 
 
 Total, .... 
 
 8700 
 
 The statistics of other religious denominations have not 
 been received. 
 
 No. II.— TEMPERANCE DOCUMENT. 
 
 In the preceding history, the reader has probably remarked, 
 that very little has been said in relation to the Temperance 
 reformation. This has arisen, not from any indifference to 
 this great and glorious work, nor from the want of materials 
 to show, that here, as well as elsewhere, the temperance cause 
 has been successful ; but merely from the fact, that there has 
 been little to distinguish its progress, from what has been 
 realized in general throujf.iout the country. In years gone 
 by, intemperance had multiplied its victims on the island ; — 
 here as everywhere else, every grade of the vice might be 
 found, from the occasional dram-drinker or the habitual tip- 
 pler, down to the daily inebriate and helpless sot. Here were 
 taverns and grog-shops, at almost every turn in the road, to 
 help on the work of death. And here, too, were apologists 
 and shameless advocates for the indulgence of a practice, that 
 is sure, in nine instances out of ten, to convert a man into a 
 brute. And these evils, to a certain extent, still exist on 
 Long Island. But it is also true, that here the temperance 
 reformation has found many zealous advocates, and their 
 labours have been crowned with great success. And though 
 the cause cannot be said to be triumphant, and much remains 
 to be accomplished, yet past success has been sufficient to 
 encourage future efforts. And the friends of temperance will 
 not be true to themselves, nor to the cause to which they have 
 pledged themselves, if they do not press on to the victory. 
 
 But the special object of adverting to this subject in this 
 
APPENDIX. 419 
 
 place, is to introduce and preserve a " Document," which will 
 show, that some of the ministers and churches of Long Island 
 were among the earliest pioneers in this benevolent work. 
 In the summer of 1811, the attention of many individuals had 
 been called up to the subject of intemperance, by the perusal 
 of Dr. Rush's "Inquiry," which had been extensively circu- 
 lated through the country. At a meeting of the Presbytery 
 of Long Island at Aquebogue, Nov. 5th of that year, a sermon 
 was preached in reference to this great and prevailing evil. 
 On the succeeding day, a committee was appointed to take 
 the subject into consideration ; who prepared and reported the 
 following resolution, and the accompanying pastoral letter, 
 which were unanimously adopted. 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, — That hereafter ardent spirits and 
 wine shall constitute no part of our entertainment at any of 
 our public meetings; and that it be recommended to their 
 churches, not to treat Christian brethren or others with ardent 
 spirits as a part of hospitality in friendly visits." 
 
 Pastoral Letter. 
 
 " The Presbyter)/ of Long Island to the Churches under 
 their care : — 
 
 " Beloved Brethren, — The Presbytery at their present 
 meeting have taken into their consideration the awful preva- 
 lence of the sin of intemperance, in our congregations and 
 through the country ; and being deeply impressed with a 
 sense of the destructive influence of this crying sin, upon the 
 property, reputation, bodies and souls of men, have thought 
 it their duty to co-operate with their fellow-citizens, in various 
 parts of our land, who, at this time, appear to be extensively 
 waking up to this subject, in attempting to arrest the progress, 
 and if possible, destroy the existence of this formidable enemy. 
 
 " Under these impressions, they feel convinced of the pro- 
 priety and importance of ministers and Christians giving the 
 decided weight of their example, against this land-defiling, 
 God-provoking, and soul-destroying abomination. On this 
 ground, they have adopted the above resolution, which, for 
 themselves, they are determined conscientiously to observe. 
 
 "We are persuaded, brethren, that a strict observance of 
 this simple means is very practicable, and will powerfully 
 tend to the most salutary consequences. Therefore we most 
 earnestly exhort you, as you regard the virtue and respecta- 
 bility and usefulness of individuals — the peace and happiness 
 of families — the welfare of society — the salvation of precior «* 
 
420 appendix. 
 
 souls — the honour of religion and the glory of God, immedi- 
 ately to unite with us, in carrying into effect the above recom- 
 mendation ; and in using your utmost influence to prevail 
 upon others to do the same. Wishing you grace, mercy and 
 peace, we are, dearly beloved, 
 
 " Your brethren and servants in the gospel of Christ." 
 
 The writer knows that this pastoral letter was followed 
 with most salutary effects, on some individuals and churches. 
 How extensive and permanent the change produced was, he 
 has not the means of determining, as he removed from the 
 Island the following year. But he is informed, that from that 
 time, the meetings of that Presbytery ceased to be disgraced 
 with the intoxicating beverage ; and not a few continued with- 
 out wavering, to maintain the ground taken in this resolution, 
 till it was more effectually secured by the formation of socie- 
 ties, on the pledge of total abstinence. The step here taken, 
 at the first onset upon the enemy, with the then existing 
 customs of society in their full force, must be allowed to have 
 been one of no small importance, and could not fail to have a 
 favourable influence in preparing the way for more advanced 
 and energetic operations. It is only in this point of view, 
 that the subject is here adverted to, and credit claimed for the 
 Presbytery of Long Island, as being one of the first to move 
 in the great work of reform, that has blessed the present age. 
 
 A letter recently received from a member of the Presbytery, 
 contains the following remarks : — " The above resolution was 
 afterwards incorporated among their standing rules." And it 
 is added, in relation to that and some other means employed 
 at the same time, '* Much good has resulted here and else- 
 where, from this early effort to arrest the progress of intern- 
 perance. It did much to prepare the way for the glorious 
 reformation, which has since taken place." 
 
 GREAT FIRE AT SAG-HARBOUR. 
 
 Just as the last sheet of this work was going to press, the intelligence 
 arrived, of a very disastrous conflagration at Sag Harbour, on the even- 
 ing of Nov. 13th, in which 35 dwelling houses, o7 stores and warehouses, 
 besides stables and barns, with a largo portion of their contents, were des- 
 troyed, in the most compact part of the village, and the principal seat of 
 bu>incss. The amount of loss is, of course, not yet accurately ascer- 
 tained, but is supposed to fail little short of $200,001). 
 
 THE END. 
 
 H65 89 «l| 
 
 
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