Pkx t^/^CfV-L--

"The. Annals of Hempstead" is the title of a pam
phlet by Henry Onderdonk, Jr., just published in the ¦
flourishing Long Island village of Hempstead. It
contains a great deal of curious matter gathered from
the old records of the ancient township of that name
which formerly included North Hempstead, when it
was called by the Dutch name of Heemsteede. Mr.
Ondefdonk, the compiler, is a well-known Long Is
land antiquarian, who has given the public various
contributions to local history. The extracts made in
the pamphlet from the minutes kept by the town au
thorities and from the journals of individuals give an
idea of the quaint manners of early times on Long Is
land, the regulations adapted to preserve order and
enforce justice and generally the transactions of the
inhabitants with each other and their neighbors in the
adjoining settlements. A chapter is given to " Revo
lutionary Incidents," and two to the Long Island
Quakers, all of which have a special interest for the
residents of that island now rapidly increasing in
population. — William, Cvllen Bryant, m tlte New York
Evening Post.
"I- have read portions of the history pertaining to
Friends, and find it indeed an interesting "document,
as it gives to Long Island and New York, Friends an
epitome of the most interesting features of their history.
1 hardly know of any record that is or ought to be
equally interesting to Friends, as it comprises an ag
gregate of historical materials noivhere else to be
found ; and in so readable and condensed a form that
it may be pronounced a gazetteer of Friends1 history ¦
for Long Island and New York city. I should like, to
have portions of it reprinted in the Friends Intelli
gencer, so that it would with certainty be understood
among Friends as a portion of verified history, and the
record by that means be long perpetuated." Gideon Frost.

raiQuranss

OF THE

HEMPSTEAD,
INCLUDING
OYSTERBAY AND THE
©HraOHM IH BUWWOIM, OOTOfTY,

ILLUSTRATED PROM

ARIES,

By HENRY ONDERDONK, Jr.,

A. B., University of Cambridge ;
A. M., Columbia College.

HEMPSTEAD, N. Y.1.
LOTT VAN de water, printer and publisher,
1880.

PREFACE.

In 1701, some members of the Church of England formed a "Society for
Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Their Missionaries were required to
report to the Society once a year, or oftener, the state of their several Missions.
This volume contains so much of their correspondence relating to Hempstead as
has been procurable : for which privilege the compiler is indebted to the kindly
influence of the Rev. George Williamson Smith and the Rev. Dr. Drowne, and the
obliging courtesy of Bishop Perry, the custodian.
This Venerable Society held, its annual meetings in London, and published
abstracts from the Reports of its Missionaries. Some of these letters seem to
have been subsequently lost or mislaid ; for in the collection made by the Rev.
Dr. Hawks many letters used in making out the Society's Annual Reports are not
now to be found. These printed abstracts are now, however, all incorporated in
the present volume with the Rev. Dr. Hawks' unabridged transcripts; and they
shed additional light on the obscurity of the early history of the Hempstead
Church. After the first selection of these letters had been printed, my generous
publisher, Mr. Lott Van De Water, like a true son of the Church, allowed me
to go over the field again for a second gleaning. Hence the letters do not
follow in a chronological order ; but as the topics are quite independent of
each other this will cause little inconvenience.
Though Mr. Thomas served the parish over twenty years, all remembrance
of him had so faded out that his name does not appear in the list of Ministers
inscribed, in 1823, on a marble tablet in the church. Some extracts from his
correspondence and that of the succeeding Missionaries were published for the
first time in 1841, by the Rev. Dr. Carmichael, in "The Rise and Progress
of St. George's Church."
The Rev. Dr. Moore, the eleventh Minister of this ancient Parish, has for
some years been gathering materials for a more connected, full and complete
history of the Church, brought down to the present time, which it is hoped
may see the light at no distant day.

John J. Latting, Esq., has kindly copied and verified sundry documents
and greatly facilitated my researches.
The author of this compilation has in press : " Antiquities of the Parish
Church, Jamaica, L. I.," which will be a companion volume to this, as the
two will embrace an outline of the early history of the entire Diocese of Long
Island. Henry Underdone, Jr.
Jamaica, L. I., May, 1880.

Other Contributions to Local History hy the Compiler.

" Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County," 1846.
" Letters to J. F. Cooper on the Death of General Woodhull," 1848.
" Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties," 1849.
" Genealogy of the Onderdonk Family," 1852.
"Queens County in Olden Times," 1865.
" Bibliography of Long Island," , 1866.
" Reformed Dutch Churches and Ministers on Long Island," 1866.
" Agriculture, Stock-Breeding and Manufactures in Hempstead," 1867.
" Rise and Growth of Friends on Long Island and in New York City," 1870.
" Annals of Hempstead," 1878.
" Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica, L. I.," 1880.

.xtttqmttes tf femptefr €\mt\.

By HENRT ONDERDONK, Jr.

 *o>tK>
Hempstead was settled in 1643, by Presby
terians and Independents, who built a house
of worship and maintained a minister by a
town rate. We cannot give a clear account
of the early ministers. In 1651 Rev. John
Moore styles himself " Minister of the Church
of Hempstead."
In a letter of the Dutch ministers at New
York (1657) it is stated that " At Hempstead
there are some Independents ; also many of
the Dutch persuasion and Presbyterians.
They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard
Denton, an honest, pious and learned man,
who has in all things conformed to our
Church. The Independents listen attentively
to his preaching, but when he begins to bap
tise the children of parents who are not mem
bers of the church, they sometimes burst out
of the church."
In 1657, July 15th, Gov. Stuyvesant, who
favored the Presbyterian interest, visited
Hempstead in hopes of settling Mr. Denton's
continuance there, and says : " If he cannot be
persuaded to stay, you must then look for
another able and godly man ; but as Mr.
Fordham, sometime yodr minister, left the
place and exercise of the ministry without
our wish or knowledge, and for little or no
reason, we caunot admit of his coming back
again." The quarter's rate for Mr. Denton in 1657
was £17.10, being a levy of 3J pence to the
acre. In 1658 it was paid in wheat at 5s. per
bushel, or oats at 2s. 6d.
In August, 1657, traveling preachers of the
Society of Friends began to visit Hempstead,
and by inveighing against paying money to
" hireling priests," in the course of time drew
off many from the church.
1660, November 10. The town order a
house-end to be set up to Goodman Pearsall's
house, for the entertainment of young Master
Fordham, and that the meeting-house be re
paired and made comfortable to meet in.
In 1661, February 15th, some people of
Hempstead write to Gov. Stuyvesant that :

" From the want of a minister, now so long
continued, many of our children are yet un-
baptised." The Governor sent (March 12th)
Rev. Samuel Drisius to them, who preached
and baptised forty-one children and an aged
woman In 1662, May 16th, the town had voted a
salary of £70 to Mr. Jonah Fordham, who
had been one year amonst them ; but the
magistrates had to send to the Governor for
a warrant against some that refused to pay
the minister's rate.
1670, April 1st. By major vote the minis
ter of the town is allowed to have free pasture
for six oxen.
1671, April 25. The town-house or the par
sonage lot is sold at £9 in corn.
1674, November 30. Some of the towns
people petition the Governor " to install such
authority among us as may be a means under
God for upholding and maintaining the min
istry, the worship of God and the Gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ amongst us, that the
honor of God might be promoted and his Sab
baths observed, for the good of us and our
posterity. "
1678, January 7th. By major vote it was
agreed to build a meeting-house forty by
twenty-six feet, and twelve feet in the stud,
with a leanto on each side.
1679, May 26th. Gov. Andros forbids Qua
ker meetings in Hempstead, but to no pur
pose. 1680, May 12th. The old meetinghouse
and the fort enclosing it were sold at outcry
tor £2.12 in meeting-house pay.
1682, May 6th. By major vote at town-
meeting, Rev. Jeremy Hobart is called to be
minister. A house eighteen by thirty-six feet
is to be built for him to live in. His salary
was by subscription, £70 in corn or cattle,
and his fire wood brought him at free-cost.
Jeremy Wood is allowed 10s. a year for look
ing after ¦ the opening and shutting of the
window-shuts of the meeting-house, and to
look carefully after the hour-glass. Though

2

The Friends having made such inroads into
the Presbyterian Church, there seemed a good
opening for establishing a Church of England.
Accordingly the Rev. George Keith, a con
verted Quaker, but now an itinerant mission
ary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel
in Foreign Parts, resorted to Hempstead sev
eral times in hopes of gaining over both
Friends and Presbyterians to the Church.
On one occasion Keith, following the steps of
one Samuel Bownas, a traveling preacher, to
Hempstead, appointed a meeting at the same
hour as Bownas had, and to preach within
hearing distance. Between the two appoint
ments there was a very large gathering.
The Quaker champion says: "I being very
young and strong, my voice was plainly
heard by the people who were with Keith,
so that they all left his meeting but the
clerk and William Bradford, and came to
ours, for we had room enough for both meet
ings, it being a very large barn of Nathaniel
Pearsall. Keith says: 1702, September 27, (Sunday),
I preached at Hempstead, in the afternoon,
from Luke x, 42. where was such a multitude
that the church [Independent meeting-house]
could not hold them, so that many stood
at the doors and windows to hear, who were
generally well affected and greatly desired
that a Church of England minister should
be settled amongst them. November 26th,
(Thursday), I preached there on Acts, xxvi,
18 ; and November 29, (Sunday), I preached
there again on Hebrews, viii, 10, 11, 12. In
1703. November 21, (Sunday), I again preached
there on 1st Peter, ii, 9, and lodged at Isaac
Smith's, [north side the Plains], four miles
from the church, where I baptized a young
woman of his family, and a boy and girl of
his relations, and a neighbor's child, a boy.
This Smith had formerly been a Quaker, and
was scarce then fully come off, but came and
heard me preach, and was well affected and
did kindly entertain me.
1703, January 12. " At a general town-
meeting, John Pine was chosen church warden,
and Jonathan Smith, Samuel Denton, John
Haviland and  .vestrymen for Hemp
stead ; Mr. Thomas Jones, church warden,
and Edmund Wright, Isaac Doughty, Samuel
Dickinson, Richard Willis and Nathaniel
. . ,, , , . Coles, vestrymen for Oysterbay. Thomas
performed accordingly, and Mr. Vesey returned from J j -j **°
England in Priest's orders."-^*™ to the Bishop of Gildersleeve was chosen, April 1st, in place

the town had ordered a bell from Amsterdam
as long ago as 1656, it seems not to have ar
rived, for Richard Gildersleeve, Sr„ is hired,
at 20s. a year, to beat the drum to announce
the hours of worship.
1687. The people of Great Neck (then in
cluded in the town) complain that Hobart
don't preach and visit amongst them. In
1682 they had built a church by themselves
and hired Rev. Morgan Jones as pastor, but
Hobart forbid his preaching there as being in
his parish.
1690, April 20. Samuel Sewall says, "I
rode to Hempstead to hear Mr. Hobart, hut
he wag at Ycffk. So I staid at Mr. Jackson's,
read chapters, and Mr. Stoughton, my com
panion, prayed."
In 1690, December 4th, Mr. Hobart had to
resort to the Court of Oyer and Terminer to
compel the town to pay the arrears of his
salary. In 1692 he was constrained to leave
Hempstead, " by reason of numbers of the
people turning Quakers and many others
being so irreligious that they would do
nothing toward the support of the Gospel."
In 1694-5, Mr. William Vesey is set down
as an Independent minister here, the same
who in 1697 became first rector of Trinity
Church. New York*
We no longer find the names of the minis
ters on record, but there must have been such.
Roger Gill, a Friend, speaks of having among
his hearers (August 3d, 1699) a candidate for
the Presbyterian pulpit, who took notes of his
discourse. * "In the year 1697, Gov. Fletcher by his example
and countenance promoted the building of Trinity
Church, in New York, by voluntary contribution, and
placed in it the present incumbent, Rev. William Ve
sey, who at that time was a dissenting preacher on
Long Island. He had received his education in Har
vard College, under that rigid Independent, Increase
Mather, and was sent from thence hy him to confirm
the minds of those who had removed for their con
venience from New England to this Province ; for Mr.
Mather having advice that there was a minister of the
Established Church of England come over in quality
of chaplain of the forces at New York, and fearing
that the Common Prayer and the hated ceremonies ol
our Church might gain ground, he spared no pains or
care to spread the warmest of his emissaries through
this Province; but Gov. Fletcher, who saw into this
design, took off Mr. Vesey ty an Invitation to this
liviug, [Trinity Church], a promise to advance his sti
pend considerably, and to recommend him for Holy
Orders to your Lordship's predecessor ; all which was

London (about 1714) from Gov. Hunter's friends.

of John Pine.

The above election was held agreeable to
the Ministry Act of September 22d, 1693,
which seems to have lain dormant hitherto,
but was probably revived by/ the new Gov
ernor, Lord Cornbury. By this act Hemp
stead and Oysterbay were constituted one
parish, and were required to raise £60 per
annum for the support of a good sufficient
Protestant minister.
The successive steps by which a Church of
England minister was eventually settled at
Hempstead are not well known, but we give
all we have discovered.
The Rev. John Bartow, of Westchester,
writes (May 24, 1704,) that " Hempstead has
long expected a Missionary from the Venera
ble Society, and I hope they will soon be an
swered." The Rev. Mr. Pritchard, of Rye, writes
(November 1, 1704,) that *' The Venerable So
ciety would do well to recommend Mr. Stuart
to Hempstead, where they stand very much
in need of a minister, and complain very
much for [want of] a Churchman, it being
the best place in the Province of New York,
and best affected for the Church. I design to
preach there frequently, (God willing), in
order to continue them in a good opinion ol
our Church till a minister comes. Mr. Vesey
and the people of Hempstead have been
very pressing on me to remove thither, say
ing Lord Cornbury would willingly consent
thereto." Lord Cornbury writing (August 23, 1703,)
gives Mr. John Thomas a letter of commen
dation to the Venerable Society. He says he
is a sober, ingenuous gentleman, and has
served as lecturer over three years in Phila
delphia. I hope you will send him to Ja
maica or Hempstead. Keith says (April 2,
1703,) Mr. John Thomas, an ordained deacon,
has set up a school in Philadelphia, and man
aged it well for above two years. He intends
for London a year hence to be ordained pres
byter. He was assistant to Rev. Evan Evans,
and also preached in the country places about
Philadelphia. The vestry of Christ Church
commend him to the favor and patronage of
the Bishop of London, as being discreet and
inoffensive to all. Mr. Thomas had left Phil
adelphia by or before April 7, 1704, and had
returned from England, in December follow
ing, in priest's orders and with an appoint
ment to the church at Hempstead.

MANDATE FOR THE INDUCTION OP JOHN
THOMAS.
EDWARD, the most illustrious Viscount Cornbury,
Captain General and Governor of the Province of
New York in America, Vice-Admiral of the same,
&c.
To all and singular the rectors, vicars, chaplains,
curates, clergymen and ministers whatsoever in and
throughout the whole Province of New York, wherever
established, and also to the present church wardens
of the parochial church of Hempstead, Greeting.
Whereas, I commit to yon jointly and severally
our beloved in Christ, John Thomas, clergyman, pre
sented to the rectory or parochial church of Hemp
stead, now vacant, to be instituted as rector of the
same, and firmly enjoining I command that you col
late and induct, or cause to be inducted, the same
John Thomas (or his lawful proctor for himself and
in his name) into the real, actual and corporal pos
session of said rectory or parochial church, and into
all its rights and appurtenances, and that you defend
him so inducted; and what you shall have done in
the premises you will (when duly required thereto)
certify me or some other competent judge in this
behalf, or he will certify whichever of you being pres
ent may have executed this mandate.
Givkn under the prerogative seal of said Province,
the S6th day of December, Anno Domini 1704.
Cornbukt.
Geo. Clarke, Sec'y. THE RETURN.
We whose names are subscribed, by virtue of the
above instrument have inducted the Reverend Domine
Thomas into the real, actual and corporal possession
of the rectory or parochial church of Hempstead, the
27th day of December, Anno Domini 1704.
William Veset, Rector of Trinity Church, N. Y.
William Urquhart,
Rector of the Parish Church, Jamaica.
Thos! Gildersleeve, \Ch»"* Wardens-
In a letter of March 1st, 1705, Mr. Thomas
thus writes of his new situation, to the Ven
erable Society : " After much toil and fatigue,
I am through God's assistance safely arrived,
and have been two months settled at Hemp
stead, where I met with civil reception from
the people. They are generally Independ
ents or Presbyterians, and have hitherto been
supplied, ever since the settlement of the
town, with a dissenting ministry.
" The prejudice and bias of education is the
greatest difficulty I labor under. The coun
try is extremely wedded to a dissenting min
istry, and were it not for His Excellency my
Lord Cornbury's most favorable countenance
to us, we might expect the severest entertain
ment here that malice and the rigor of preju
dice could afflict us with. All we of the clergy
need the influence of His Lordship's most fa
vorable aspect. Government is our great
asylum and bulwark which My Lord exerts
to the utmost when the necessities and inter-

ests of the Church call for it. His counte
nance, next to the Providence of Heaven, is
my chiefest safety. I have scarce a man in
the parish truly steady and real to the inter
est and promotion of the Church any farther
than they aim at the favor or dread the dis
pleasure of His Lordship. His Lordship's
extraordinary respect to the clergy has set
them above the snarling of the vulgar and
secured to them respect and deference from
the best of the people. The people of Hemp
stead are better disposed to peace and civility
than they are at Jamaica. This is the face of
affairs here according to the best observation
I could make in the short time I have lived
here. " The gall of bitterness of this Independent
kidney is inconceivable — not unlike that of
Demetrius and his associates at the conceived
downfall of the great Diana of the Ephesians.
We have a great work to go through, unruly
beasts (with Daniel) to encounter, but we
trust that the great God whose cause we
stand for will enable us to go on.
" The fathers of these people came from
New England, and I need not tell you how
averse they of that country are to our Church
discipline. The people here being generally
very poor, and utterly averse to the service of
the Church of England. The inhabitants
transported themselves here from New Eng
land, and have been ever since their first set
tlement supplied by a ministry from there.
" I have neither pulpit nor any one neces
sary for the administration of the Holy Eu
charist, and only the beat of a drum to call
the people together. His Excellency Lord
Cornbury is a true nursing father to our
infancy here, his countenance and protection
is never wanting to us, his being by inclina
tion a true son of the Church moves him
zealously to support that wholly. If it had
not been for the countenance and support of
Lord Cornbury and his Government, it would
have been impossible to have settled a Church
on the Island."
,It appears that the possession of the church,
house and lands at Hempstead were willingly
surrendered by the Independent minister,
when demanded by Mr. Thomas.
1705, April 23. Mr. Thomas writes that
"The church is not only better attended now
than it ever was before, under the Dissenters,
according to their confession, but I have ad
mitted to the communion at one time three,

at another four of the most rigid of the Inde
pendents, while twelve had just received the
holy ordinance of baptism, among whom
were several adults."
1705, May 26. Mr. Thomas writes : " My
path here is very thorny; all my steps are
narrowly watched ; I am obliged to walk
very singuly. I have brought some few of
the honestest, best-inclined, to religion, and
the soberest to the holy communion, and hope
in time (if God enable me) to have a plentiful
harvest among them."
1705, May 30. Governor Cornbury orders,
" the parsonage house and home lot to be re
paired so that they may be tenantable, and
the parsonage meadow fenced at the town's
cost, and the church to be repaired, and what
is needful about them all." Town meetings
were held in the church.
1705, June 27. "The people here are all
stiff Dissenters — not above three Church peo
ple in the whole parish — all of them of the
rebellious offspring of '42. Brother Urquhart,
of Jamaica, and myself belong to one county,
and the only English ministers on the Island.
We are the first that brake the ice amongst
this sturdy, obstinate people, who endeavor
what in them lies to crush us in embryo ;
but, blessed be God, by the propitious smiles
of heaven and the particular countenance of
my Lordship's Government, we keep above
water, and, we thank God, have added to our
churches." 1706, April 7. Mr. Thomas writes : " I
have by God's blessing advanced the number
of my communicants from three to twenty-
one, all of them rigid Dissenters, influenced
against conformity to the Church by the
strong bias of deep prejudice, inveteracy, and
a contrary education. I have the prospect of
a plentiful harvest among them, haying al
ready waded, I hope, through the most for-
midible difficulties."
1707, April 22. Mr. Thomas writes that :
" Common Prayer Books are very much want
ing to be given away, for though the people
cannot be prevailed upon to buy, (were they
to be sold), yet being given away, they might .
in time be brought to make use of them. My
Lord Cornbury is very countenancing and as
sisting to me, and it is by an order from him
that this building (a gallery in the church)
gets forward. He is truly our very good
friend : we want nothing that the countenance
of Government can make us happy in."

" The inhabitants of this county are gene
rally Independents, and what are not so are
either Quakers or of no professed religion at
all. The generality are averse to the disci
pline of our Holy Mother the Church of Eng
land, and enraged to see her ministers estab
lished among them. Their prejudice of edu
cation is our misfortune, our Church their
bugbear, and to remove the averseness im
bibed with their first principles must be next
to a miracle."
1709. Mr. Thomas writes that "Though
Hempstead had been settled above sixty
years before my coming, and the people had
some sort of Dissenting ministers, yet for
above fifty-five years the sacrament had never
been administered here. The oldest here
could not remember to have seen or heard of
its being celebrated." I have brought thirty-
three to full communion of the Church, though
at the first time of administering I could per
suade but three to receive. The young grow
up in miserable ignorance, and I can't cate
chise for want of a schoolmaster to teach chil
dren to read."
1710, January 16. The Vestry pay to Job
Bedell 10s. a year for beating the drum on
Sundays and other Church days, and to Daniel
Bedell 20s. for sweeping and ' cleaning the
church, taking care of it, and opening and
shutting the doors.
1710, December 3. "Nothing new or very
memorable since my last. All is well in my
parish in general, and a happy continuance of
mutual accord and affection between me and
my parishioners."
1712. Mr. Thomas writes to the Venerable
Society that the children of Hempstead, for
want of letters and education, are as wild, un
cultivated and unimproved as the soil was
when their forefathers first had it, and re
quests that Mr. Thomas Gildersleeve be ap
pointed catechist and schoolmaster. The
Society grant him £10 yearly to teach the
poorer children (with several others) reading.
writing and to cast accounts, at under 20s.
yearly a head each. The Society also send
paper for the use of the school. The Vestry
write to the Venerable Society that : " With
out your bounty our children would have no
education. Our people are poor and settled
distantly from one another.
1715, February 17. Mr. Thomas writes
that : " The Church is in a tolerably thriving
condition (how powerfully opposed by its ad

versaries, dissenters of all denominations,)
chiefly through the prayer books sent by the
Venerable Society, whose charity was well
answered in that benefaction, consisting of
two dozen prayer books, two dozen '• King's
Inventions of Man," two dozen " Dean of St.
Asaph's Faith and Practice of a Church of
England Man," and one " London Cases
Abridged." 1716, July 21. " The ear-mark of Mr. John
Thomas is a crop on each ear." So he seems
to have kept creatures to graze on the Plains.
1717. " I have been a considerable time in
these parts, rowing against wind and tide ;
first in Pennsylvania, against the Quakers,
and here about twelve years, against rigid In
dependents. I have always observed that
the pious fraud of a caressing, well-modeled
hospitality has captivated and inclined their
affections more powerfully than the best-
digested discourses out of the pulpit."
1718, October 1. Mr. Thomas writes:
" The people did not know it to be their duty
to communicate, having never heard it so
stated, nor seen the sacrament administered
in any way whatever : nor indeed had it ever
been administered, according to the testimony
of the oldest inhabitants, at any time since
the settlement of the town, till my arrival,
embracing a period of more than half a cen
tury of years."
1720, February 17. Mr. Thomas thanks
the Society for some books which have had a
very good influence on many of the most
thinking and sober part of the people.
1722, April 20. Mr. Thomas writes : " My
last summer's sickness has produced a small
Dissenting meetinghouse in one part of my
parish, [Fosters Meadow], but I thank God it
is only the scum that is concerned in it ; the
people of figure and substance being entirely
of the Church's side. This seems a great fe
licity to me, who at my first coming among
them found not three persons in the whole
compass of the parish any way addicted to the
Church, but all of them to the bitterest de
gree prejudiced against it. It is the opinion
of my best friendB that if God will be pleased
to enable me with health and strength to go
on in my duty, this novel meeting and place,
like another phantom, will soon disappear
and come to nothing. The cat in the fable,
transformed to a woman, could not at the
sight of a mouse forget her ancient nature ;
so it is with some of these people."

6

1723, February 21. Mr. Thomas within
eighteen months has baptized at least one
hundred and sixty, many of whom adults.
He inculcates in the people a sense of the
benefit and privileges of the sacraments, and
finds them in the main convinced of the
wholesomeness and necessity of these ordi
nances. 1724, October 1. " Pray, Good Sir, give
my humble duty to the Honorable Society,
and assure them of my utmost fidelity in my
mission as far as lame limbs and a decrepid
state of health will permit. My heart is
warm and sound, though lodged, God knows,
in a crazy, broken carcase. Pray, tell them
that like Epaminondas I shall fight upon the
stumps for that purest and best of Churches
as long as God indulges me with the ieast
ability to do it"
1727, February 16. " A gratuity of £50 is
voted by the Venerable* Society to the widow
of the late Rev. Mr. Thomas, missionai y at
Hempstead, in consideration of his long and
faithful services, upwards of twenty years."
Mr. Thomas' will was made March 17, 1724,
and proved October 28, 1726. He gives his
wife Margaret the management of his farm
in Harrison's Purchase, Westchester County.
He leaves a son John* [born October 23, 1708,]
and two daughters, Margaret and Gloriana.
His wife, his brother-in-law Edmund Smith,
Captain Jonn Tredwell and John Cornell of
Rockaway, are the executors. The witnesses
are Jeremiah Bedell, Elias Dorlin and William
Willis. Tlie last is probably the writer of
the will. He had an undated codicil as to the
disposition of his negro boy Plato. The wit
nesses to it were Katharine Cock, John Mor
ris and Ephraim Golding.
Mr. Thomas appears to have married Mar
garet Floyd, of Brookhaven, who was born
April 25, 1690. Edmund Smith married her
sister Susanna.
In 1706 Queen Anne gave the church a silk
carpet for the communion table, a silver chal
ice and paten, a pulpit cloth, a large Bible, a
Common Prayer, and book of Homilies.
The church into which Mr. Thomas was
inducted was described, in 1728, as " An ordi
nary wooden building, forty feet long and
twenty-six wide, the roof covered with cedar
shingles and the sides clapboarded with oak.
* John Thomas married Abigail Sands, a Quakeress,
daughter of John Sands, living at the bottom of Cow
Neck, February 19, 1729, and lived at the Purchase.

Within, it is not ceiled overhead, but the
sides are boarded with pine. There is no
pulpit, but a raised desk only, having a cloth,
and cushion of silk. A large table stands
before the desk, where the justices and lead
ing men sit when they come to church.
There are no pews except one for the Govern
or's Secretary, Mr. George Clarke. The rest
of the church is filled with open benches.
There is no fence around it, and the burial
place is at some distance from it. It stands
in the open road near a small brook which
runs between it and the parsonage house."
1724, February 19. The Society receive
petitions from a great part of the inhabitants
of Brookhaven for a minister of the Church
of England, which they have been destitute
of hitherto, of whom there is great necessity.
While Mr. Wetmore, catechist, of New York,
was at Brookhaven, he baptized two adults
and seventeen children. At Easter he had
eight communicants, since which five more
have been added. In which place a consider
able number of the better sort are brought
over to the Church, and there is a prospect of
gaining the whole town if a sober, prudent
minister was settled among them.
1725, February 18. Mr. Thomas Standard
is appointed missionary to Brookhaven, at
£50 a year salary.

1725, May 25. Governor Burnet signs a
mandate for the induction of Rev. Robert
Jenney as rector of the parish of Hempstead.
1726, February 17. £10 per year is granted
to Mr. Daniel Denton, of Oysterbay, for teach
ing poor children to read and instructing
them in the catechism.
1727. The Society grant £50 gratuity to
Widow Thomas, in consideration of her hus
band's long and faithful services, upwards of
twenty years.
1727, March 27. Mr. Jenney's ear-mark is a
crop on the off ear and a slit in the end of the
near ear and a nick under it.
1727, May 1. Mr. Jenney writes that he
baptized (in 1726) eleven persons, whereof
two were adults and one negro infant slave
of his own, and has admitted six to the sacra
ment, all persons of piety and strict honesty,
one a negro slave who has all along preserved
his character unblemished.

1728, February 21. Mr. Jenney, since his
last, has baptized eight adults and twenty-
four infants, two of whom negro slaves. He
has one negro communicant, and his own
two negroes were baptized in their infancy,
and shall be carefully instructed while he
hath them.
1728, February 21. Daniel Denton reports
about twenty nine scholars whom he teaches,
with success, and that he likewise teaches to
read and instructs in the Church catechism
three negroes as often as they can get time to
come to him.
1728, June 27. -Mr. Jenney writes that
" The Church's right to all this (the parson
age, &c.,) is hotly disputed, and I am often
threatened with an ejectment, (1) by the heirs
of one Ogden, from whom the purchase was
made; (2) 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 possession
of it, that it belongs to them ; (3) by the Qua
kers, who are a great body of people, and
argue that it belongs to them, and ought to
be hired out from time to time, as the major
part of the freeholders can agree. 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 minis
ter, and we daily expect he will leave them."
1729, February 20. Mr. Jenney writes that
he preaches every Sunday morning and cate
chises, and reads lectures on the catechism
every Sunday afternoon — every third Sun
day at Oysterbay, and the other two at Hemp
stead, at both which places he has an encour
aging number of hearers. He has .baptized,
the last half year, in Hempstead, one woman,
eighteen children, and two negro children.
The Society grant to Mr. Campbell, mission
ary at Brookhaven, £60.
1731, February 18. £70 to Mr. Campbell,
missionary at Brookhaven. £10 each to Gil
dersleeve and Denton.
1732, February 16. £10 to Mr. [Thomas]
Keeble, schoolmaster at Oysterbay. £10 to
Mr. Davies, missionary at South Hampton.
1733, February 15. £10 each to Mr. Kee
ble and Davies, and £60 to Mr. Brown, mis
sionary at Brookhaven.
1734, June 3. Mr. Jenney writes the Soci
ety that he proceeds in the performance of his
duty with success, both at Hempstead and
Oysterbay. In Hempstead his congregation

is so much increased that the old church can
not contain it, and therefore the people have
come to the resolution to build a new one, and
especially as the old church is not worth en
larging. They have already made great
progress in the work, and raised a frame of
timber fifty feet long and thirty-six feet wide,
with a steeple, and hope to finish it so as to
be fit for service by September next. It is
fitted with galleries and will be able to hold
the congregation conveniently. He baptized,
in 1733, twenty-six children and two adults.
1734, April 29. Rev. Isaac Brown, mis
sionary at Brookhaven, writes that he arrived
at his parish December 14th last, where he
hath continued to perform Divine service
twice every Lord's day. He has good reason
to believe the church is in a growing state,
and that many dissenters who had a dislike
to the Common Prayer are come into a good
liking of it. He wishes some Common Prayer
Books sent him to disperse among the poorer
people who are not able to buy. He has dis
tributed almost all the small tracts the So
ciety sent hirn, which were received thank
fully by the people.
The church wardens and vestry of Caroline
Church, in Brookhaven, return thanks to the
Society for sending Mr. Brown there, agreea
ble to their request. They find him well
qualified for the work he is engaged in.
They contribute £16, New York currency,
towards his better support, and promise to
advance their subscriptions as soon as they
have finished the church they are now build
ing. 1735, February 20. Mr. Jenney proceeds
with success in the duties of his mission :
preaches two Sundays at Hempstead and every
third Sunday at Oysterbay. At Hempstead,
where he resides, he has a numerous congre
gation when the weather permits ; but many
live very far from the church, and cannot.
without great inconvenience and some danger,
attend in very bad weather. The people are
building a new church, the old one being too
small and also ruinous. Governor Cosby en
couraged and promoted the work very much.
The church is named St. George's, and was
accordingly opened on that day with Divine
service ; on which occasion His Excellency
and a great number of ladies and gentlemen
were present. The building is fifty feet long
besides the steeple, and thirty-six feet wide.
| The steeple is fourteen feet square. It has a

8

spire and gilded ball about one hundred feet
from the ground. The pitch of the ceiling
within is about twenty-three feet. It is a
timber frame covered with cedar shingles; it
is partly pewed already and soon will be com
pletely pewed. The congregation is very nu
merous, and there are many poor people of it.
They very much want Common Prayer Books,
as not being able to purchase. Several of
these poor people have been with him beg
ging books, and some negroes, too, who can
read, were very desirous of having them ; and
he wishes more sent him. Since his last ac
count he has baptized thirty two, whereof one
adult and one child were negro slaves ; of the
thirty remaining, eight were adults and the
rest children.
1735, February 20. Mr. Brown, of Brook
haven, writes that he takes diligent care of
his parish ; six have been added to his com
municants, and he has baptized fifteen infants.
He has lately preached two sermons at South-
old, fifty miles distant eastwards, where he
had upwards of one hundred hearers, well-
disposed persons.
Erection of a New Church.
1734, April 2. John Mott and Thomas Gil
dersleeve, by order of the town, set apart half
an acre for a new church, west of the old one.
The carpenter gave the vestry a scantling of
the timber. Anthony Yelverton, the head
workman on the church, had 4s. 6d. a day
and found. He boarded at Richard Bedell's.
His apprentices had, some 4s., some 2s. per
day. Joseph Hall, Sr., worked with the car
penters, at 4s. 3d. a day and found himself.
His sons, Joseph, /Benjamin and John also
assisted. At first the church was only half pewed ;
there were eighteen pews, presumably square ;
No. 1 was given to George Clarke, Secretary
to the Governor, who lived at Hyde Park and
was a benefactor to the church.
1734, November 1. At a town meeting the
majority voted to move the seats out of the
old church into the new.
Consecration of St. George's Church.
1735. On Tuesday, April 22, His Excel
lency our Governor, with his lady and family,
attended by his son-in-law and lady, Secretary
Clarke, Chief Justice Delancey, Rev. Mr. Ve
sey, some of the clergy, and a great many of
the principal merchants and gentlemen and

ladies of the city of New York, set out for
Hempstead, to be present at the consecration
of the church lately erected there. About six
miles west of Jamaica he was met by the
troops of horse, who escorted him to Jamaica,
where a handsome dinner was provided for
all the company. In the afternoon he pro
ceeded to Hempstead, (escorted as before),
where he arrived in the evening, and was en
tertained in a very handsome manner by the
Rev. Robert Jenney, minister of that place.
The next day, being St. George's Day, the
regiment of militia and troop being drawn up
on either side, from Mr. Jenney's house to the
church, His Excellency, attended by the most
considerable gentlemen of the county, walked
to the church, where a very excellent sermon
was preached on the occasion, before a most
crowded audience, by the Rev. Mr. Jenney,
from Psalm lxxxiv, 1,2: " How amiable are
Thy tabernacleB," &c.
After Divine service His Excellency re
viewed the regiment of militia and troops
standing under arms, and expressed a partic
ular satisfaction on the appearance both of the
officers and men. His excellency was after
wards entertained in a splendid manner by
Colonel Tredwell, commander of the regi
ment, and in the evening by Colonel Corn-
well, of Rockaway, in the same manner.
The next day the Governor returned, and
arrived in town in good health, pleased with
the reception he everywhere, met with from
all ranks, with the extraordinary concourse
of people from all parts on the occasion, and
with the handsome appearance of the militia,
both horse and foot. — New York Gazette.
A generous collection was made for the
church on this occasion. The Governor gave
the King's arms, painted and gilded ; Secre
tary Clarke, a crimson damask set of furniture
for the communion-table, pulpit and desk ;
and John Marsh a silver basin for baptism.
The Rev. Mr. Vesey and his people had
already contributed about £50.
1735, June 27. Name of petitioners for the
charter of the church :
Rev. Robert Jenney, Rector,
James Albertus, Robert Marvin,
George Balden, Jacamiah Mitchell,
Gerhardus Clowes, Clerk Joseph Mott,
of Vestry, Charles Peters,
William Cornell, Sr. & Jr., James Pine, Sr.,
John Cornell, Jr., John Roe.
John Cornell. Micah Smith,
Richard Cornell, Jr., Peter Smith. Jr.,
William Cornell, Timothy Smith.,
Thomas Cornell, Jr., Peter Smith,

Pfii 1 1 1 KiH i lipiiii ii P - MiiiF ' < 11

ii§Oiy

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, HEMPSTEAD.
Anthony Yelverton, Head Workman.
Opened for divine worship Wednesday, April 23, 1735. Rev. Robert Jenney, Rector.

Isaac Germon,
Thomas Gildersleeve,
George Gildersleeve,
Daniel Hewlett,
James Hugins,
Joseph Langdon,
William Langdon,
Thomas Lee,

Jacob Smith,
Joseph Smith,
Silas Smith,
Robert Sutton,
Richard Thome, Esq.,
Joseph Thorne, Esq.,
Thomas Williams.

The Governor, July 23d, presented His
Majesty's Royal Charter of Incorporation, by
the name of the " Rector and inhabitants of
the parish of Hempstead, in communion of
the Church of England as by law established."
1735-6. Thomas Jecocks was clerk and
sexton, at 35s. a year.
>A\ Jenney writes (May 5, 1737,) that he
has received the box of Common Prayer Books
and has distributed them where he thought
them most wanted, and received for the Soci
ety humble thanks from every one of the re
ceivers of them. He baptized within the last
year thirty-two, viz.: three adults (one a
negro man slave) and twenty-nine infants.
1787 to 1745, Daniel Patrean was clerk for
setting the Psalms.
John Marsh left the church a legacy of
£100 : £25 of it was given for a bell ; the rest
of the money went toward repairing the
church, house and yard fence.
1737, November 14. Mr. Keeble writes
from Oysterbay that he has twenty-seven
scholars under his care, and has received the
Society's present of catechisms, and returns
his humble thanks.
1738, March 25. Mr. Jenney writes that
the year 1737 has offered nothing remarkable
in his parish. He baptized thirty-five, of
whom five were adults and one a young negro
slave. He officiates, as usual, two Sundays at
Hempstead and the third at Oysterbay. At
Hempstead he has a large congregation, when
weather permits, the larger part of his flock
living a great way from the church, many of
them twelve or thirteen miles ; but at Oyster
bay he meets not with the same encourage
ment, owing, as he supposes, to the want of a
resident missionary among them.
1738, May 24. Rev. Isaac Brown, mission
ary at Brookhaven, writes from Boston that
he reads prayers and preaches twice every
Sunday in his parish, and diligently performs
the other duties of his function. In his jour
ney towards Boston he read prayers at Shelter
Island, where, as far as he could learn, the
service of the Church of England had never
been performed, and almost all the inhabit
ants came to it ; and there he baptized a man

more than thirty years old and three of hi«
children, and has baptized in his own parish
twelve infants in the preceeding half year,
and will always make it the study of his life
to promote the interests of religion to the
utmost of his abilities.
1739, September 22. Rev. Isaac Brown
assures the Society that he continues diligent
in the care of his parish and steadily performs
Divine service twice every Sunday ; but he
has some reason to fear that enthusiasm is
creeping into it, chiefly by means of Barclay's
Apology for the Quakers, which hath lately
been sent over and industriously spread among
the people, who seem (many of them) but too
well pleased with the book, which is given
out among the Quakers to be an unanswera
ble piece.
£10 each are granted to Messrs. Gilder
sleeve and Keeble, schoolmasters.
1739. Money paid for pews: Daniel Kis-
sam, £11 ; Justice LewiB Hewlett, £12 ; Henry
Allen, £13; John Hewlett, £5 ; Daniel Hew
lett, £5.
1739-45. Thomas Jones was sexton, at 35s.
a year. 1740. John Rowland finished the steeple*
and arched it from post to post.
1740, April 21. Mr. Jenney writes that he
proceeds carefully in his duty, and has a very
encouraging congregation. He has baptized
within the half year twenty persons, of whom
two are adults and ten negro children. He
recommends and transmits a petition of the
inhabitants of Hempstead, that Mr. Thomas
Temple* be appointed schoolmaster there in
place of Mr. Gildersleeve, deceased. Mr. Tem
ple is well qualified, and has taught school
many years in the neighborhood, with a good
character. 1741. Mr. Jenney went to England.
Jenney was born in Ireland, 1688, educated
at Trinity College, Dublin, ordained priest
1710, and was chaplain in the navy till 1714,
when he became an assistant in Christ Church,
Philadelphia, and in 1715 in Trinity Church,
New York. From 1717 to 1722, he was chap
lain in the Fort at New York ; then rector of
the church at Rye, whence, in 1725, he came

* In 1731, Mr. Temple was schoolmaster at Jamaica.
From 1739 to 1753 he was employed in Hempstead. In
1744, he married Isabella Thorne, and in 1753 the
Widow Denton. In 1756 wo find him in the alms
house. In 1706 Mr. Alexander Raird was licensed by
Lord Cornbury to teach a school [at Fosters Meadcw]
in Hempstead.

10

to Hempstead, where his wife (Sarah) died, on
Christmas, 1738. In 1742, he was chosen rec
tor of Christ Church, Philadelphia, where he
died January 5, 1762, childless. His second
wife (Joanna Elizabeth) survived him only six
days. He had a fit of the dead palsy, and for
over five years, owing to his great bodily in
disposition, was allowed an assistant in his
ministrations.

1742, December 7. The province of New
York is troubled from Methodism and the
New Light, in which a deep tincture of enthu
siasm appeared, which has induced many
serious-thinking dissenters there also to come
to our Church to worship God in sobriety and
truth. Dr. Jenney is removed by the Lord
Bishop of London to Philadelphia, and the
churchwardens and vestry have called Rev.
Mr. Seabury, missionary at New London, to
be their minister, in virtue of a law of the
province, and he has accepted, on condition
that it be approved by the Society, which Mr.
Vesey recommends, as it will very much con
tribute to the peace and edification of the
good people at Hempstead.
1742, December 10. Rev. Samuel Seabury
was inducted as rector by the Rev. Mr. Col-
gan, of Jamaica. Mr. Jenney having resigned
on November 26th.
Mr. Seabury had been a Congregational
minister ; but having doubts of the validity
of his ordination, he conformed and went to
England to obtain orders at the hands of the
Bishop of London. He took the following
letter to the Secretary of the Society :
Boston, 23d March, 1730.
Sir :— This waits upon the Society in the hands of
one Mr. Seabury, a person who upon true and regular
conviction is come into the bosom of our excellent
Church, and now humbly desires a Mission from the
Society in her service.
My acquaintance with him is earlier than my own
Mission, and I have had farther opportunity of in
forming myself of him from the Dissenters among
whom he haB preached, and I find everything in favor
of his sobriety and good conduct, for which reason he
hath my ardent wishes of success in this affair, and
my intercessions for him to the Society, with the
deepest humility and respect due from their and your
obedient, &c, &c, Timothy Cutler.
1742, December 27. At a town meeting,
by major vote, Jeremiah Bedell, John Hall
and John Dorland are appointed to take care
and charge of our old church or town house,

to secure it from any further damage, and to
prosecute those who have pulled and carried
away a greater part of it.
1744, February 17. Rev. Mr. Brown sends
an account of the increase of his congregation.
1745, February 21. Mr. James Lyons, a
laborious and diligent itinerant missionary in
Connecticut, was removed by the Society to
Brookhaven, and granted £50.
1746, March 26 and September 30. Mr.
Seabury writes that the Churcn manifestly
gets ground in the esteem of the people, but
that it is with great difficulty that theyfare
brought to the sacrament of the Lord's Sup- -
per. However, he had gained two new com
municants within the last half year, and has
baptized many adults, after proper instruction,
as well as a great many children, both white
and black, (viz.: forty-six children and eight
adults), within the preceeding year. It would
be a genuine work of charity to put Common
Prayer Books and Catechisms into the hands
of such as are capable of properly using them,
the better to enable them to join in the public
worship. The Society will send some books immedi
ately.* 1747, July 30. The vestry agree to relieve
James Wood, the clerk, from service in the
train-bands. In 1748, Mr. Seabury informed the Society
that " at Huntington a considerable number
of people had conformed and built a church
for the worship of God according to the lit
urgy of the Church of England ; that he had
frequently officiated there, and at their re
quest his son Samuel read prayers and ser
mons for them, under his direction. He re
quested that his son be appointed catechist,
with some small allowance."
The Society grant him £10 a year.
1748, February 17. £10 are allowed to Mr.
Samuel Seabury, catechist at Huntington.
£10 are allowed to Thomas Temple, school
master at Hempstead.
1749, September. Henry Lloyd started a
subscription, by giving £145, toward building
a church at Huntington. £5 were paid John
Davis for the site.
1750, June 14. Christ Church, at Oyster
bay, was dedicated.
* These Prayer Books proved of great benefit to the
yonnger people, who were instructed and made their
responses regularly at church, so that Divine service
was performed with more knowledge and decency.

11

1751, August 19. A gallery is to be put in
Hempstead church, on south and west sides.
1751, August 19. Subscriptions for erecting
a gallery :
David AUgeo, £10 Joseph Kissam, £3
Josiah Martin, 20 John Brown, 3
Richard Thorne, 5 James Wood, 2
Leffert Hagawout, 8 Samuel Seabury, 2
Benjamin Hewlett, 3 Jacob Johnson, 0 8
James Smith, • l.io Daniel Pine, 5
Isaac Golden, l Valentine H. Peters, 3
John Peters 5 Richard Ellison, 1
Robert Marvin, 5
Joseph Kissam and Benjamin Hewlett occu
pied pew No. 10.
1753, March 25. Mr. Seabury writes that
the increase of the congregation at Hemp
stead had brought them to a resolution of
erecting galleries in the church, which were
then almost completed, and his communicants
had increased to seventy-eight.
1755, February 21. Mr. Seabury writes
that the Church in the province of New York
is truly militant, being continually attacked
on one side or the other : sometimes by the
enemies of Revelation, at other times by the
wild enthusiasts ; but in the midst of them
true religion gains ground, and his churches
of Hempstead, Oysterbay and Huntington are
crowded in good weather.
1756, April 19. Mr. Seabury writes that
his parish in general is in a good state, and
at the request of the people of Duchess County
he had made them a visit, staid six days and
preached four times to large assemblies.
1756-8. Miss Millicent Betts occupied half
of No. 1.
1757, May 31. £1 a year for the past year,
and 25s. a year for next year, is allowed to
Newport, the sexton, (probably Mr. Seabury's
slave), for sweeping and keeping the church
clean, and for his service on Sundays in ring
ing the bell. He is to demand 2s. for tolling
a funeral beli.
1757. Jacob Johnson is to build anew the
fence around the church.
1758, April 15. Mr. Seabury, Sr., informs
the Society that he had extended his mission
and taken Duchess County under his care.
He had visited them four times and preached
to very crowded audiences.
1759, April 5. Mr. Seabury had lately
visited Duchess County and found them at
tentive to Divine worship. The war prevents
them from providing means for a missionary.
1759, April 5. Mr. Seabury writes that at
Hempstead no other place is kept up for pub
lic worship except a Quaker's meeting house ;

but at Oysterbay public meetings are multi
plied, and are frequently held by night by a
sect called Separate Anabaptists, as they are
chiefly made up by a separation from the old
Anabaptists, whose meeting at Oysterbay is
well nigh broken up by this separation, which
hath no settled teacher, but is frequently vis
ited by traveling ones. He had baptized
thirty-one children and thirteen instructed
adults in the preceeding twelve months. The
number of his communicants is seventy-six,
1759. Timothy Clowes is employed to pre
vent a leak in the church.
1761. Leffert Hagawout and John Peters
are to collect the Sunday contributions of the
congregation. 1761, October 21. Mr. Seabury writes that
he had the good success to bring several
adults to baptism who he hopes will adorn
their profession. Our church is well filled,
both at Hempstead and Oysterbay, though
Hempstead is supplied with an Independent
preacher, and in Oysterbay Anabaptist and
Separate Baptist meetings are constantly held.
The church at Huntington, where he can
attend but seldom, is well filled, and the zeal
ous members always lament their want of a
minister. At Hempstead are 5,940 inhabitants ; the
number of adults baptized last year was
twenty-one, one of them a negro ; of children
one hundred and nine, of them three negroes ;
communicants, seventy-two ; professors of the
Church of England, seven hundred and fifty.
The rest are dissenters, except a few Indians.
1762, March 26. Mr. Seabury writes that
under God he has been the happy instrument
in bringing 11 adults to baptism, who all ap
peared properly affected on the occasion. One
of them in particular, Joseph Cheeseman, de
clared publicly that it was after considering
most other professions and upon mature de
liberation, he had determined to make the
solemn confession of his faith in the Church
of England, and accordingly himself, his wife
and eight children were baptized.
He had baptized, in the preceeding half
year, thirty-one children.
1762, September 30. Mr. Seabury writes
that he had made a journey to Duchess
County, where he preached two Sundays to
very crowded assemblies, and three week
days, in different parts of the county, and bap
tized one adult and thirty-three children. He
has also preached two Sundays to the people

12

of Huntington, whose application for a mis
sionary he begs leave to recommend. The
people of Huntington, as appears by their
own petition and letters from Dr. Johnson
and others, have already erected an edifice for
the worship of God according to the liturgy
of the Church of England, and purchased a
valuable house and glebe worth about £200,
New York currency, which they are ready to
make a ponveyance of for the use of the
church at Huntington forever, hoping to have
leave, within a year or two, to send over a
candidate for holy orders.
Mr. Seabury adds that his own people con
tinue to attend Divine service in great num
bers, and as usual at Oysterbay, where one of
the Separate Anabaptist assemblies is broken
up and their credit with the people much de
clined. He has baptized, this half year, two
adults and fifty-three children, making in the
whole, since he came intto the mission, one
thousand and thirty-two baptisms.
1763, April 10. Mr. Ebenezer Kneeland,
late Catechist at Flushing, has undertaken,
with the advice of Mr. Seabury, Sr., the office
of reader at Huntington. [Mr. Kneeland died
in April, 1777.]
1764, February 17. In Huntington, which
Dr. Johnson recommends for a mission, there
are about forty families ; and if Oysterbay was
annexed, thirty or forty more ; but on the
south side of Long Island, to which they ex
tend, there are not less than one hundred who
have no teacher of any sort.
The number of inhabitants of Hempstead is
six thousand, of whom seven hundred and
fifty profess themselves of the Church of Eng
land ; the remainder are dissenters, except a
very few heathens and Indians. Mr. Seabury
baptized, within the year, three adults and
thirty-six infants, making in the whole, since
he came into this mission, one thousand and
seventy-one ; and his communicants are sixty-
three. At his request, a number of Common
Prayer Books were sent to be distributed
among the poor.
1764, June 18. Cloth is to be bought for a
funeral pall for the church.
1764, July 12. Eev. Samuel Seabury, of
Jamaica, acquaints the Society with the death
of his father, at Hempstead, by whose death
that laborious and extensive parish is become
vacant, and a, very large congregation of
decent and well-behaved people left desti
tute.

The vestry beg the Society to consider them
still in the number of their missions, and to
permit them to look out for some proper
person to succeed their late worthy minister.
In the meantime Mr. Seabury, of Jamaica,
promises to give them all the assistance in
his power.
1765, October 1. Mr. Seabury writes that
the parish of Hempstead being vacant bj the
death of his father, he has been obliged some
times to leave his own people to assist in
supplying that mission, where he has baptized
ten children.
The church wardens and vestry have called
Mr. Cutting, (who was licensed by the Bishop
of London, December 21, 1763), and petitioned
the Society that he be removed thither; but
his removal from New Brunswick, being at
tended with some difficulty, is not yet deter
mined. 1765, February 15. £10 are allowed Mr. E.
Kneeland, catechist at Huntington. £50
are granted to Mr. James Lyons, missionary
at Brookhaven.
Mr. Seabury has taken one journey to Islip,
preached there, on a week day, to a large con
gregation, and baptized four white' children,
and one negro adult and five negro children.

ADMISSION AND INSTITUTION.
I, Sir Henry Moore. Baronet, CapnTtn-General and
Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New
York and the territories depending thereon, in Amer
ica, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same. * *
* * Have Admitted our beloved in Christ, Leonard
Cut*ing, clergyman, to the Rectory of the Parish and
Parish Church of Hempstead, in Queens Connty, to
which he was presented by the Church- Wardens and
Vestrymen, the true and undoubted patrons of said
Parish vacant, it is said, by the natural death of Sam
uel Seabury, the last incumbent there ; * * * *
and Have Instituted him into the Rectory of said
Parish Church and Parish, with all their rights, mem
bers and appurtenances, observing the laws and canons
of right in that behalf requiring to be observed. * *
Given the 24th day of July Anno Domini, 1766.
H. MOORE.
1766, August 11. Rev. Leonard Cutting
was inducted rector by the Rev. Samuel Sea
bury, of Jamaica, in presence of Daniel Kissam,
Timothy Smith, James Wood, John Peters,
George Watts, James Turner, Leffert Haga
wout, George Ryerson, Adam Seabury, Cor
nelius Van Ostrandt and otherB.

13

1767-74. The salary of Jonathan Gilder
sleeve. sexton, is raised from 27s. a year to £2.
1767, April 9. Mr. Cutting, from Hemp
stead, with pleasure acquaints the Society
that his people testify their gratitude for the
continuance of the missionaries among them,
by endeavoring to render their missionaries'
situation in every respect easy and comforta
ble. Their church is in general well filled,
and persons of different denominations are
very frequent in their attendance, and behave
devoutly. There are in Hempstead about
eighty or ninety families, professed members
of the Church of England, beside the Dutch,
who are numerous and declare their regard
for it. Numbers of adults have applied to
him concerning baptism, whom he hopes soon
to convince of the sacredness and expediency
of that holy institution.
1768, January 7. Mr. Cutting writes that
his new mission is a. large one. He thinks
the people of his parish to be civil, hospitable
and grateful, and mentions one act of their
gratitude, in building a house, at their own
expense, for the widow of their late worthy
missionary. His church is large and in gen
eral full. The spot where he lives is sur
rounded with Presbyterians, who are kind
and obliging neighbors, sober and pious in
their conversation, and averse to religious
animosities. Great numbers remain unbap-
tized, owing to the principles of Quakerism
which prevailed there so long. To the south
of Hempstead are many inhabitants who are
willing to be instructed and among whom he
frequently officiates on week days; but being
a very indigent people they have not the abil
ity to get their children instructed, nor indeed
the opportunity, there being no schoolmaster,
which he thinks would be a real blessing in
those parts. The Society, being of the same
opinion, have desired Mr. Cutting to acquaint
them at what place he wished a school to be
fixed ; and if he can procure a worthy and fit
man, he has their leave to employ him.
At Oysterbay the church (which still re
mains unfinished) is in general well filled
with constant, serious and devout people, but
not equal in numbers to those of other de
nominations. Since April he has at Hempstead baptized
four adults and twenty-seven children, and
admitted two new communicants.
1770, February 19. Mr. Cutting, in a sec
ond letter sent within the year, has observed

that there are in Hempstead eighty or ninety
families. The new school to the south of
Hempstead was opened June 22, 1769, by Mr.
William Leaky, who had before taught in
several places with a good character, and the
Society have accordingly appointed him, with
a grant of £10. Mr. Leaky left in 1771, hav
ing found a more profitable school.
Mr. James Greaton is appointed missionary
at Huntington, with an allowance of £40. He
was licensed January 28, 1760, by the Bishop
of London.
1773, January 13. Mr. Greaton's account
of his mission at Huntington was a very ac
ceptable one to the Society. They lament his
death, which has since happened, and the cir
cumstances of his family, which have been
represented to them as necessitous.
1773. Died, April 17, at Huntington, after
a short illness, (said to be attended with fits),
the Rev. Mr. James Greaton, Episcopal min
ister at that place, and formerly of Christ
Church, Boston.
1774, December 29. Last Sunday sennit, at
Huntington, B. Y. Prime, M. D., was married
to the amiable Mrs. Mary,. [Wheelwright],
relict of the Rev. James Greaton.
1775, February 17. Mr. Cutting lives on
very amicable terms with the dissenters. In
the course of the year he has baptized thirty-
six children and seven adults, and admitted
six men communicants. He hath at last
found out a person (Mr. John Lefferts, a per
son of character,) to undertake the school
erected by the Society to the south of Hemp
stead, and upon his recommendation the Soci
ety have appointed him schoolmaster, with
the usual salary, £10.
1775, February 17. A petition hath very
lately been received from the churchwardens,
vestry and professors of the Church in Hunt
ington, Brookhaven, Islip and Queens Village,
requesting the appointment of a missionary
in the room of their late worthy pastor, Mr.
Greaton, with the former allowance from the
Society, to which they hope they shall be able
to add £20 ; but the Society, considering the
proposed subscription as insufficient, nor prop
erly engaged for on the part of the petition
ers, have thought it advisable for the present
to postpone the application.
1776, January 9. Mr. Cutting says that
Mr. Lefferts continued but a quarter of a year
at his school, and that he hath no encourage
ment to attempt a supply of the vacancy.

14

This church continues in its usual state. He
has baptized thirty-three children and eight
adults, and admitted five new communicants.
Owing to the general disturbance in the
Colonies, the Society say the accounts are
short and imperfect.
1777, January 6. The Society have re
ceived one letter from Mr. Cutting, whence
they learn that his church at Hempstead had
escaped better than was expected, but that he
was obliged to shut it up for three Sundays
before the arrival of the King's troops, and
that in the foregoing year he had not attended
at Huntington, thinking it not advisable to
go out of his own parish. Since his last he
has baptized one negro child and twenty-five
whites, and five white adults and one negro
woman. 1779. John Van Nostrand was clerk, at £5
per year, with the vestry's thanks for past
services. 1779. Leffert Hagawout, treasurer, reported
that he had £8 in paper (which was worth
less) and £25 in gold and silver.
1779, September 20. Rev. Mr. William
Walter, a refugee from Boston, writes : " I
have visited Huntington once. I was glad to
find the state of that mission so much better
than I had expected. The church and par
sonage house are in good repair, but few of
the members have been driven away by the
rage of this rebellion, and their places have
been abundantly supplied by refugees from
the Continent, who have taken up their resi
dence in this pleasing township. If we add
to this the ruinous state of the meeting-house
and the flight of the dissenting minister,
many of whose parishioners, I am told, highly
disapproved of his inflammatory preachments,
and would willingly join to the more sober
and judicious order of the Church of England,
I cannot help thinking the present a very
favorable opportunity of building up and es
tablishing a flourishing church in this place,
if a prudent and sensible clergyman could be
found, who would devote himself to the serv
ice of the people."
1780, February 4. The British commander
in-chief asks of Cutting a part of the church
for a granary. Dr. Samuel Martin and Leffert
Hagawout were appointed by the vestry to
wait on Colonel Birch, the commandant at
Hempstead, and represent the situation and
order of the church. When informed of the
nature of the building, Colonel Birch politely

and generously relinquished all pretensions
to it, and said the congregation should not
be deprived of public worship for an inconsid
erable inconvenience to the army. The veBtry
thank him for his polite behavior.
1780, May 16. Mr. Cutting and the church
wardens waited on Colonel Birch and com
plained of an outrage committed against the
church during Divine service on Whitsunday,
May 14th, by Cornet Searle, of the 17th
Dragoons, and begged redress for it in the
name of the congregation, and. protection in
future, that the congregation may attend the
worship of God in peace and security.
The cornet was compelled to send in a
written apology.
1780, July 20. Mr. John Sayre writes that,
in compliance with the wishes of the Society,
he went to the assistance of the mission at
Huntington twice, and preached, baptized the
children, visited the sick, and gave notice of
his intention to administer the sacrament on
a future day ; but the next night but one after
he was gone, the house where he lodged was
searched by an armed party from Connecticut,
who having neither plundered nor insulted
the family, he conjectured that he was the
object of their search, and therefore he has
been afraid to venture there again.
1781, February 16. Mr. Cutting has writ
ten one letter to the Society, in which he ob
serves that confusion and tumult are not at
all favorable to religion, and the inhabitants
of Hempstead being, many of them, in the
King's service, and frequently employed on
Sundays, are prevented from their regular
attendance on Divine service ; but that in
summer time the church is pretty well filled ;
and upon the whole, he thinks that the church
has by no means lost ground in these factious
times. He goes to Huntington as often as he
can consistently with his safety, and baptizes
the children. Since his last he had baptized
forty-nine, and had five new communicants.
He complains of the great advance in all pro
visions, which bears the more hard upon him
as he receives now nothing from his people,
nor for two years past the small allowance
that was made by Act of Assembly.
1781. Mr. Cutting writes that the Loyal
ists suffer more from the King's troops than
they did from the Insurgents. " We have
nothing that we can call our own." He
especially complains that, having bought a
house and twenty-five acres of land, near the

15

town spot, it was taken last winter by the
British commandant and used as a hospital
for the 17th Dragoons, till July or August,
and no rent allowed him. They left it in a
ruinous condition, merely saying they had no
further use for it. Since then he has repaired
the house and let it, with one acre, to a tenant,
for £50 a year. It had fourteen acres of win
ter grain on it, which is much damaged, the
house being in the midst of it. On October
28th, by order of the commanding officer of
the 17th Dragoons, the house was a second
time taken, broken open and entered by vio
lence, for a hospital.
Mr. Cutting petitions the British command
ing officer at New York that the house be re
stored or the rent paid, as he bought the farm
to eke out his ill-paid salary, and went in
debt for it.
The 17th Dragoons came to Hempstead in
1778, writes Mr. Cutting, and the command
ant, after sundry acts of violence and oppres
sion by which I suffered, he moved a public
building which he used as a guard house to
the school-house, and thus broke np the
school. 1781, December 9. Timothy Wetmore, a
refugee, kept school at Hempstead.
1782, April 11. Mr. Cutting complains to
Captain Archdale, commandant at Hempstead,
of an outrageous insult, on Saturday night
by violently breaking open the doors of the
church by Cornet Sinclair, Lloyd, Delancey
and others. Mr. Cutting's reception was not
satisfactory. The captain, however, said he
gave the soldiers a severe lecture.*
1783, February 21. Mr. Cutting has writ
ten one letter wherein he remarks that occur
rences in an old mission are not very various.
He continues in his duty, and within the year
he had baptized one hundred and nine, viz. :
sixty-six children and ten adults in his own
mission ; nine children and three adults at
Huntington ; the rest were the children of
Hessian Yagers and of the 17th Light Dra
goons.

March 3, 1785. Thomas Lambert Moore
was inducted.
* Mr. Catting had. in 1776, removed the furniture of
the church and the King's coat of arms, and concealed
them in his own house.

1785, November 3d, Thursday. Bishop
Seabury, in St. George's Church, ordained
John Lowe, from Virginia, being the first or
dination in this State. The assembly was
numerous. 1785-6. Jonathan Gildersleeve is sexton,
Mr. Throop had been clerk. The bell, being
extremely bad, had to be carted to and from
Brooklyn. 1786. Hendrick Onderdonk, who became
connected with the church a little before 1770,
was sent as lay delegate to the Diocesan Con
vention. 1787-9. Jacob Bedell was clerk, at £5 a
year. 1788. John Latham waB clerk to the ves
try. Leffert Hagawout is thanked for his past
services, on retiring from the vestry.
1789. Silvanus Bedell is appointed clerk,
provided he proves satisfactory.
1790. Mr. D. Kissam offers to be clerk, if
Bedell won't serve.
1790, October 3. Died at Brookhaven, the
Rev. James Lyons, aged about ninety. He
was a zealous advocate for the Episcopal
Church, and has left a handsome estate to his
surviving relatives.
At the outbreak of the Revolution, Mr.
Lyons sided with the King, and took every
method to seduce the ignorant and counteract
the measures recommended by Congress for
redress of grievances. August 11, 1775, he was
put under guard in General Wooster's camp.
1799, May 15. Mr. Rattoone declined a
call, for sundry reasons which attached him
to Jamaica.
1804. Richard Wiggins was clerk.
Rev. Mr. Hart, rector from 1801 to 1829,
was of an inventive turn of mind and much
given to mechanical contrivances. He in
vented a machine for shearing cloth, and went
over to England to secure a patent for it.
He also got up a machine for making brooms.
He also kept a boarding school. Among his
teachers were Adam Empie (1811) and Mr.
Noble (1813). These, with Eli Wheeler,
(1814), also officiated on Sundays in the
church, being in deacon's orders.
1813, March 2. The vestry of St. George's
Church need $100 to enable them to pay Rev.
Birdseye Glover Noble for ministerial services,
and solicit the friends of the church to pay to
the several collectors what they think their
just proportion. The present subscription for
the rector's yearly salary is about $350, the

16

proportion of each will he about one-third of
their yearly subscription. If the money col
lected overruns the sum immediately wanted,
the overplus shall be applied to procure other
assistant services (as opportunity may offer) in
our churches. Subscribers' Names.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Dr. Benj. Tredwell, 1 Samuel Poole, 2 8
John Tredwell, 1 John Peters, 4 0
Benjamin Piatt, 1 Jonas Denton, 2 8
Samuel Valentine, 2 8
Received May 8, 1813, from Mr. Benjamin
Tredwell, $9, on account of the above sub
scription for Rev. Seth Hart.
Wm. H. Hart.

One Sunday, as the people were coming out
of church, an itinerant Methodist preacher,
who had found his way into Hempstead,
standing on a wagon near the door began to
address them on the subject of religion, and
taking advantage of the crowd that the nov
elty of the thing had collected around him,
urged them to repentance and reformation.
Such, it is said, waB the origin of Methodism
in Hempstead.

OMISSIONS.
1735, June 23. Mr. Jenney writes that a
thunder-clap (Struck the steeple, which was
surmounted by a weather-cock, and did con
siderable damage, but we are proceeding vig
orously in repairing it, and the difficulty is
how to get a bell. Governor Cosby com
mends us and thinks we have done wonders.
We now use Tate & Brady's version of the
Psalms, having discontinued Sternhold &
Hopkins. 1736, July 14. Mr. Jenney complains that
" Justices of the peace take it on themselves
to solemnize the sacred banns of marriage,
which the constables formerly did also, in the
absence of ministers. Colonel Tredwell vends
licenses for the Government. In about fifteen
months he vended forty-four, the greater part
of which were for persons in my parish, of
whom I married but four couples."

1739, May 24. Extract from T. Keble's
letter, at Oysterbay : " There are six schools
kept in this township— one in the town, one
at Norwich, one at Matinecock, one at Mus-
queto Cove, one at Cedar Swamp, and one at
Jericho. At times there are several more
places where schools are kept. The masters
generally that teach in them are necessitous
traveling persons, so that there is seldom
school kept above one-quarter of a year or one-
half a year at a place. I cannot hear that any
of them are of any denomination, and but two
of the masters that teach in them ; the one at
Jericho goes under the denomination of a Qua
ker, and the other, at Cedar Swamp, calls
himself Churchman. Many people of this
townspot and township are of no denomina
tion. Some go constant to church and others
to all sorts of meetings and sects that fall in
their way ; and some seldom go to any, but
are so infatuated in the spirit of enthusiasm,
and say that their inward guide will teach
them all things without going to hear any
religion, which makes some of them run into
infidelity."— Hawks' MSS., ii, 118.
1742, March 26. Mr. Keble, at Oysterbay,
writes : " Since Mr. Jenney went home [on a
visit to Europe] there has been here a volun
tary Anabaptist preacher from North Caro
lina, and tells them there is no other way of
baptizing but plunging, and that infant bap
tism is sinful and mock. His stay here was
short. Since, there have been several of "the
enthusiastic people here baptized in that way,
which has increased their meeting, which
before was so small that there was but little
notice taken of them, for the less reason there
is in their preaching, the more they are
minded amongst such people." — Hawks'
MSS., ii, 143.
1744, June 23. Thomas Keble, Oysterbay,
writes to the Secretary : " Since Mr. Seabury
came he has visited and preached upon
week days, and has roused them up in all
quarters of his parish, amongst all the denom
inations and others, particularly in this place
where I now live. He has preached three
times upon week days, besides several visits,
and has baptized children out of four families,
and one adult, in this place, and has preached
several times at the Dutch church in the
bounds of Hempstead, [Success], being invited
by the Dutch people there, and of late has
preached at Huntington, an old Independent
place within five miles of Oysterbay church,

17

being invited by some of the people there who
of late come constantly to church at Oyster
bay and sometimes to Hempstead ; for the
Independent and voluntary preachers have
infused false notions into the people in these
parts, of the discipline of the Church of Eng
land, particularly of the Liturgy, which Mr.
Seabury takes great pains to explain at all
seasonable times."— Hawks' MSS., ii, 168.
Mr. Thomas writes to the Secretary of the
Venerable Society, (March 1, 1705): "Oyster
bay, thirteen miles from hence, is likewise in
my parish, where I preach every third Sun
day. They have generally been canting
Quakers, but now their society is much broke
and scattered. Deplorable ignorance is their
great misery, not free from a deep tincture of
obstinacy. " I want Common Prayer books and some
small tracts of controversy between us and
the dissenters. ' Bennet's Abridgement,' and
' The Faith and Practice of a Church of Eng
land Man,' would do very great service, and
help blunt the knees of their bias and preju
dice. The people are highly sensible and
gratefully accept of the charity of the Honor
able Society. The £5 worth of books which
you gave me in trust have been distributed
to the best advantage."
Mr. Thomas writes, (May 26, 1705) : " I now
draw for £10, which please deduct out of my
allowance for the year 1705, my time having
commenced on Lady day last. I hope my
drawing so soon will be no offence, my pres
ent exigencies pressing me to it. Our £60
here being paid in ' country pay,' and corn at
present very cheap, makes our allowance here
very poor and dilatory. As for perquisites, I
have none here, marriages being solemnized
by the justices of the peace. Buryings and
christenings we have nothing for. They are
all dissenters, and being easy with them that
way will be one powerful motive to gain upon
them. I thank God I have a very thronged
church, which (were you thoroughly ac
quainted with the inveterate humor of the
people) would seem to you next to a miracle.
It is my misfortune that I have none to an
swer the Responses ; for that anybody should
speak in the church besides the minister is, in
the sense of these people, confusion. My path
here is very thorny — all my steps narrowly
watched— I am obliged to walk very gingerly.
I shall endeavor, by God's assistance, not to
give them the least occasion to calumniate,

and be as cautious in walking as I know they
are in watching."
Mr. Thomas writes, (June 27, 1705) : "lam
very pleasantly situated here, upon an even,
delightsome plain, sixteen miles long, richly
furnished with beef, mutton, and fowls of all
sorts; the air sharp and severe, and not sub
ject to those fulsome fogs so natural to the
English climate. The place is sweet and
pleasant. I have two distinct churches, fif
teen miles asunder, where I preach by turns,
but have neither Bible nor Common Prayer
book in either, so I am necessitated to carry
small ones of my own about with me for to
read Divine service. I know of no place upon
the main that is a truer and more real object
of the Honorable Society's charity than this,
the people being generally very poor and ut
terly averse to the service of the Church of
England." August 23. " The vestry of Oysterbay have
raised a handsome sum to build an addition
to the small church there, and the vestry of
Hempstead a considerable sum to build a gal
lery in the church, (which the ministers of
their kidney neither wanted nor could bring
them to), as also to repair an old, weather-
beaten parsonage-house they have here. Be
tween both they raised about £200. I have
a more constant and numerous congregation
since I came here than ever was known when
they had a dissenter, one of their own kidney,
among them. This building will enflame
the greatest part of them, and I must expect
daily broadsides from them. Though all be
ginnings are difficult, I hope to live to make
it a post easy enough for my successors. I
baptized a dozen, Sunday was a sevennight,
some of them adults. I am very much put
to it here for witnesses; godfathers,- &c, being
a great bugbear among them. I am necessi
tated to qualify the charge given the god
fathers, &c, by the words, ' endeavor and as
far as God shall enable me'; for our baptism
will not go down by any means in the strict
ness of our Liturgy, for it seems to them, as
they say, too severe, the charge being abso
lute and unconditional."
1705, November 9. " Our parishes here are
widely extensive (being eighteen miles one
way and sixteen the other) and the people
much scattered. Besides, two sermons a Sun
day make my private visits and familiar con
ferences with them at their own dwellings
fewer than I could wish. However, I em-

18

them,

brace all occasions of converse with
that are consistent with my studies."
1707, April 22. Mr. Thomas writes: "I
have often laid before my vestry the necessity
of a register book in the parish, but to no
purpose. Having no method of raising a
fund to defray that and such like public exi
gencies, since I came here, I have converted
the communion offerings (the poor here being
very few and provided plentifully for by a
public tax from the government) to buy some
requisite necessaries for the communion table,
&c, and out of our late Easter offerings I hope
to buy a register book, which I bespoke al
ready ; and then I shall take particular care
to register all christenings, marriages and
burials, according to our instructions from the
Venerable Society. I have baptized some
scores of infants and adults since my arrival
here, and married some dozens of couples, but
, would never receive a farthing perquisites for
them hitherto. It was customary here for the
justices to solemnize marriages, who are very
tenacious of that addition to their offices, and
in order to bring marriages to the church I
have solemnized all gratis; first, in order to
reconcile them to our way, and then to take
off that grand aspersion so often in their
mouths against the Church of England's min
isters, that they greedily covet the fleece and
neglect the flock. I have received four pieces
of eight [$4] for one funeral sermon, the per
son dying being a bachelor and ordered it to
me in his will ; and 12 shillings from one
married couple, who going out of my parish
to be married into the city, Mr. Vesey reserved
one-half of his perquisites for me ; and that is
all I accepted of since my coming to this par
ish. The people I live among are poor, and
from their cradles prejudiced and disaffected
to our constitution, and should I have screwed
them up to perquisites I should assuredly
have nipped the church in the bud. I have
been strictly brought up in it, and shall spare
no pains to propagate it. I allow my clerk a
small salary out of my own annually, and
without that I could have none. I have
raised a school in the town since my coming,
and allow towards it (in conjunction with the
inhabitants) £20 a year. We are now build
ing a schoolhouse and settling a piece of land
upon it, which I have contributed unto. A
good precedent of that nature, I presume, is
the most moving rhetoric I can use to per
suade those whose intellectuals are so mean

and earthly that they cannot discern the ad
vantage, worth and excellency of education
for their children's present and future welfare.
In vain I preach to them the superstructures
of Christianity when they are destitute of the
roundworks and fundamentals of religion
by education. I have bought catechisms to
give away among the children, and hope in
some time to have a set of catechumens.
While the Honorable Society are pleased to
continue to us their allowance, we may live
upon honorable terms, independent of our
people and not subject to either their scorns
or contempts. When it is once withdrawn,
we must expect to be assuredly miserable and
subject to their insolencies."
1709, June 12. Mr. Thomas having prose
lyted some [thirty-five] rigid dissenters to the
unity of the Church, the Venerable Society
desire of him " a list of rigid debauchees, de-
moralists and rigid heathen converted to the
faith, that being the chief design of the estab
lishment of the Society." Mr. Thomas con
ceives himself " sent here as the minister of
the parish. He has to prepare for preaching
every Lord's-day twice, besides visiting and
instructing the poor, ignorant people dis
tantly scattered about the wilderness. Is not
this employment enough for one man consci
entiously to perform ? I have within my
district infidels of my own color, too many
upon whom I bend my whole force. To con
vert a heathen into Christianity is a very
good and pious work ; but to reconcile the
English, in a great degree sunk into pagan
ism and infidelity, to the principles of the
Christian faith, is a far worthier employ,
especially since I find the one practicable, the
other morally impossible. As to the infidels
whose conversion you press home on me, they
are of two sorts, negroes and Indians. I have
many negroes who are constant hearers, but
the native Indians are very few hereabouts,
all whalers, sottish, debauched, wholly given
up to drink. They are incapable of any
Christian impression. Rum and strong liquors
being the only deities they care to worship.
" We had a schoolmaster settled among us
for two and a half years. Now we are desti
tute, the people being utterly weary of the
subscriptions I had engaged them in, I hope
in God's due time to induce them to settle an
other. I shall not be wanting to contribute
towards it, both by purse and persuasion, as
heretofore."

19

1723, April 1. Mr. Thomas writes that he
has baptized ninety children and adults,
thirty-seven whereof at one time. 18 of whom
were adults, upon which occasion (it being
performed in a distant private house) he dis
coursed at large, ex tempore, upon the subject
and great necessity of the sacrament of bap
tism. " I have all along inculcated into the
people here a sense of the benefit and privi
lege of the sacraments, that particularly of
the Lord's supper. The word ' damnation,' bo
rendered in our English translation, is a
mighty bugbear to weak, scrupulous con
sciences, which by public preaching and pri
vate conferences I have endeavored to explain.
" My necessary hospitality has all along in
a very great measure amounted to the height
of my salary both here and at home, much
beyond those more cautious limits consistent
with the welfare of my family. I have served
my public view by it, though to the detri
ment of my private self. Burthening the
purses of the new converts to the Church
would soon render our ministry of little effect.
I find affability and hospitality, next to a con
scientious discharge of duty, to be very sinewy,
prevailing arguments to mollify their innate
inveterate principles. It promotes my public
designs. '" I have had a severe return of my distem
per this last March, which for some time un
qualified me for my duty, and the service of
the church was wholly unperformed, for here
are no supernumeraries to assist us when God
is pleased to afflict us with sickness."
1724, October 1. " I am truly sorry," writes
Mr. Thomas, in his last letter, " that Brook
haven is not likely to have a missionary. It
lies forty miles distant from me, but I am
tolerably acquainted with the place, having
married my wife from thence, and am morally
assured that a discreet gentleman settled
there would be of the highest consequence to
the interest of the Church in that country.
They have three times petitioned for a Church
minister, once above twenty years ago.

JENNEY.
Mr. Jenney writes, June 27, 1728: "Our
past winter has been very severe. Mr. Gil
dersleeve, our schoolmaster, says Hempstead

was settled some time before they had any
minister or house for Divine service. The
first church was very small, much less than
the small one we have now. Traveling
preachers, sometimes Independents, some
times Presbyterians, (for the most part from
New England), did now and , then officiate,
without any covenant with the people or set
tlement by law. In 1680 the town agreed to
build a better house by name of a meeting
house ; but after it was built there arose a
great controversy between the Presbyterians
and Independents, in which the Presbyterians
got the better, and one Denton was covenanted
with to be their minister ; but he soon left, as
did several others that were afterwards cov
enanted with after the same manner, till the
arrival of Mr. Thomas from the Honorable
Society. Him they inducted into the posses
sion of the church, parsonage-house and glebe.
* * * The church is not kept in good
repair, which occasions thin congregations in
cold weather. There is a cloth, said to be
presented by Queen Anne, which seems de
signed for a table in front of the desk, which
we are forced to make use of when we receive
the sacrament. The minister's salary is £40
from Hempstead and £20 from Oysterbay, by
an agreement among them. I have in pos
session an old, ruinous house, much out of
repair, near the church, with three acres of
poor, worn-out land, the pasture of which will
not support one horse. There belongs to the
parsonage a farm, about five miles distant, of
one hundred and seventy-two acres of upland
and twenty-five of meadow. I have put a
poor man upon it, but whether to any advan
tage to me I can't yet tell. These two have
been surveyed by Mr. Samuel Clowes, of Ja
maica, who underwrites his draft that the
church has a title to a hundredth part of the
whole township. Besides this there is, abont
seven miles distant, a small lot of meadow,
which I did lease out but got nothing by it.
" But I am threatened with an ejectment,
first, by the heirs of one Ogden, from whom
the purchase was made, in what year I can
not find, for it is not in the records, and the
deeds are lost, and all those concerned in the
purchase are dead ; second, by the Presbyte
rians ; third, by the Quakers, who say it
belongs to the town.
" As to the number of inhabitants at first,
I can't meet with any information, from the
oldest men here being at a loss in this point.

20

But it is certain it is much greater now, for
the whole parish is settled very thick. In
1722 the governor ordered a census. The
constable gave in :
Hempstead. Oysterbay.

"WHITES.
532 Boys I 325 Men,

331 Boys
268 Girls

17 Boys
26 Girls

475 Men,
472 Women, 472 Girls | 325 Women,
NEGROES AND INDIAN SLAVES.
116 Men, 76 Boys I 41 Men,
76 Women, 51 Uirls | 27 Women,
Total, 3,629 in ray parish.
" At the first coming of Mr. Thomas, I am
told, not above five or six adhered to the
Church, and they brought their religion from
England, where they were born. The rest
were Presbyterians or Independents, and the
most Quakers. Our congregation now is very
uncertain, being greater or smaller according
to the weather. In summer we are generally
crowded entirely, especially in the afternoon,
and also in winter when there is snow enough
upon the ground to carry their slays (a very
convenient and easy way of traveling at such
seasons), but they are but rare at other times.
Our church is generally full, but not crowded.
Most of the professed members of the church
live at a distance from it ; the body of the
Presbyterians, at least the much greater part,
live here in the town spot. The people's
manner of living is scattered up and down,
excepting that there are a few very small
villages, as Hempstead, Jerusalem, Success,
Bungy or Westbury, Oysterbay, Bethpage,
Norwich and Wheatly. Those who live in
the villages are the poorest of the people, the
more substantial farmers finding it for their
interest to live at a distance from each other.
There are but two churches in my parish, one
at Hempstead and a very small one at Oyster
bay, where our congregation increases, but is
yet very small.
" The Quakers have two meeting houses,
one at the Head of Cow Neck, another at
Bungy ; but they meet at many places in
barns or houses, according to the bigness of
their congregation.
" In the town spot of Hempstead is but one
Presbyterian meeting house, the only one in
the parish ; but they are so poor and few that
it is with difficulty that they maintain their
minister. We daily expect he will leave
them. " The religions in my parish are a very feW
Presbyterians in Hempstead, and rather fewer
Baptists ; at Oysterbay more of the Church,
more than both together of the Quakers.

But most of all of latitudinarians, who run
from one congregation to another and hold
to that religion whose preacher pleases them
best. " Both the towns of my parish extend across
the Island, sixteen miles from north to south,
from east to west about twenty miles, from
corner to corner near thirty miles. The roads
are good in good weather, but yet traveling
is very troublesome in the heat of summer
and the cold of winter, which are both ex
treme. For great part of my parish being a
plain of sixteen miles long, without shade or
shelter, the wind and sun have their full
strength, and sometimes in winter the snow
is so deep as to make traveling impossible,
and so it has been for a great part of thiB
winter. " There is nothing more inconstant than
schools here, excepting those from the Honor
able Society. The usual custom is for a set
of neighbors to engage a schoolmaster for one
year. 'Tis seldom they keep the same longer,
and often they are without for several years.
The only master that has staid long with his
employers is one Thomas Keble, upon a neck
of land called Musqueto Cove, where he
behaves very well and does good service.
The common rule for payment for the masters
is by subscription, £20 with diet, or £30
without. But Mr. Gildersleeve has five shil
lings per quarter for each scholar.
" The church has no donation ; the minister
and schoolmaster no benefactions ; the library
is only that from the Venerable Society.
" The negroes are so dispersed that it is
impossible for me to instruct them, and scarce
any of their masters or mistresses will.
"There is in the town spot Mr. [Gerardus]
Clowes, who about three quarters of a year
ago began a school, spent the Sunday even
ings in catechising those negroes which would
go to him, during the winter; but in summer
he has no time, the evenings being short and
the day taken up with the service in the
church being twice performed, and then there
went but a few to be instructed by him. I
have one negro a communicant, and my own
were baptized in their infancy, and they
(being two) shall be carefully instructed
while I have them.
" At my first coming here several of the
leading men of the town pressed me earnestly
to represent to the Society the necessity of a
successor to Mr. Gildersleeve. Then Mrs.

21

Thomas was among them, who assured me
that her husband designed to do so if he had
recovered. I enclose a memorial recommend
ing Mr. Clowes. He thereupon has wrote me
a letter, which is also enclosed. ' He is the
son of a very active friend of the missionaries,
Mr. Samuel Clowes, of Jamaica, whose ser
vices, especially to the two parishes of Ja
maica and Hempstead, are upon record."
Mr. Jenney writes, (September 8, 1729) : " A
few Presbyterians at' Hempstead have an un-
ordained preacher, as probationer, to officiate
for them, whom they could not support were
it not for the assistance which they receive
from their brethren in the neighboring parish
of Jamaica. They don't gain on me. So
prevalent is Quakerism, that it is difficult to
persuade constant hearers to be themselves
or have their children baptized. This is more
visible in Oysterbay, and I believe the weak
ness of religion there proceeds greatly from
the want of a minister resident among them.
My indispensable engagements to Hempstead
restrain me from visiting them oftener than
every third Sunday. I have a dozen cate
chumens at Hempstead, and would be more
if I had books. I have been out of pocket for
catechisms and prayer books. My circum
stances won't permit me to answer all the
demands on me. I beg the version of Psalms
by Tate & Brady may be bound in the prayer
books, for that version only do I use in the
congregation. Some negroes who can read
are desirous of using prayer books in Divine
service. I believe it would tend to promote
decency in the public service if they were
supplied." Mr. Jenney writes, (December 5, 1739) :
" The j ustices yet marry. I formerly wrote
you that Colonel Tredwell, who lives not a
half of a quarter of a mile from me, and vends
licenses for the government, in about fifteen
months vended forty-four, by much the
greater number of which were for persons
living in my parish, and of them I married
but four couples. I yesterday saw a new
book of Bonds for Licenses of the same Colo
nel Tredwell, wherein were but ten, all but
one being to persons living in my parish, of
which I married but one couple. The first
was September 29, 1739. I am satisfied that
justices marry, if not all, at least very near
all that are not married by me."

SEABURY.
Mr. Vesey writes, (November 22, 1742) :
" The precinct of Hempstead, as I am credibly
informed, (though they have several dissent
ers among them), are inclined to call the Rev.
Mr. Seabury, of New London, to officiate
there ; which if they should do and he accept
of their call and be inducted, on condition of
the approbation of the Honorable Society, it is
the opinion of the wisest among us that it
would be the most effectual means to preserve
that infant church from disturbances and
lawsuits, confusion and ruin."
Mr. Seabury writes, (September 30, 1746) :
" The people have imbibed Quaker notions,
and are loth to come to the sacrament. I had
two new communicants, and want copies of
the ' Reasonable Communicant.' I have bap
tized many adults and a vast many children
since my mission at Hempstead,* many of
whom are grown to years to join in the public
worship. It is a genuine work of charity to
give them prayer books. I want catechisms
with questions, to try whether the catechu
mens understand the answers."
Mr. Seabury writes, (March 26, 1746) : " The
sectaries of all sorts (who abound in this par
ish) and professed infidels exert themselves
to the utmost to hinder the growth of the
church ; and the more diligence I use, the
more the infidels particularly seem to be
inflamed, yet the church manifestly gets
ground." Mr. Seabury writes, (September 30, 1748) :
" My son is now studying physic, and before
he be of age to present himself to the Society,
I intend he shall spend one or two years at
Edinboro' in the study of physic. I wish the
Society to give him a place in their books,
and grant what Commissary Vesey may rec
ommend in regard to Huntington. He is not
yet nineteen. He may be employed at some
small allowance, as I presume to hope at
Huntington, in reading prayers and sermons,
and in catechising, to good purpose, before he
will be of age for Holy Orders."
1750, October 5. " Religion prospers, though
infidels try to weaken it. The new church
at Oysterbay, which has been some years in
building, is so far completed as to be con
venient for use, and was dedicated to the
service of God according to the Liturgy of
England, on the 14th of June last.
* In compliance with prevailing notions, Mr. Sea
bury, when requested, baptized by immersion.

22

" The church at Huntington is also ren
dered very commodious, and a congregation
of fifty or Bixty persons, and sometimes more,
constantly attend Divine service there, who
behave very devoutly and perform their part
in Divine worship very decently. They had
taken from them in the late mortal sickness
four of their most substantial members, who
bore the principal part of building the church,
which has very much weakened their ability,
and they have desired me to ask of the
Society a folio Bible and Common Prayer
Book, for the use of the church."
1752, March 26. " Religion has gained but
little in our bounds, the winter past, the
church having been troubled with some dis
turbers from a pretence that could hardly
have been suspected. The increase of our
congregation had brought us to a resolution
to build galleries in the church, which were
accordingly erected by subscription, are well-
nigh completed, and are commodious to en
tertain one hundred and fifty people, which
some restless spirits, enemies to the Church
and Revelation in general, envying (as I fear)
the church's prosperity, have made an occa
sion to raise a party who seem zealous for
nothing but contention ; but I hope, by the
moderation of those who have the good of
the church at heart, that the ill effects and
mischief intended will be obviated.
" Never did any place need the means of
religion more than this, or perhaps deserve it
less, a few compared to the whole excepted.
Religion meets with no support from the
Government, except the establishing a sup
port for it by some former laws, nor is it at
all considered in the characters of those
intrusted with commissions, in which ' party'
(with which the country iB terribly harassed)
seems to have the greatest influence. Pro-
faneness meets with no frown from the civil
magistrate, there being none to put any man
to shame for anything ; nor doth the civil
Governor seem to have anything in view but
to secure interest and property, and though
iniquity is not established by law, it is by
custom ; against the prevalence of which we
have nothing to oppose but the public exer
cise of our religion and the example of a few.
"But the church gains ground, maugre all
opposition ; but then the comforts of such a
Mission, where a man must always be strug
gling with gainsayers, must be in the pros
pect of a future reward. Indeed, if a man

will laugh at every jest cracked upon religion
and revelation, and seem pleased with blas
phemy which infidels call wit, he will find
himself caressed by many ; but a grave coun
tenance and serious rebuke will not fail to
get him implacable enemies."
Mr. Seabury writes, (October 13, 1752):
" My son laid down his place as catechist at
Huntington, in July last, and embarked from
New York for Edinburgh in August, to spend
one year in studying of physic and anatomy.
the church has gained ground in Huntington
by his assistance, and under a discreet minis
ter it would be a flourishing church, notwith
standing the loss by death of its best mem
bers. " In Hempstead the church holds its ground
in spite of the great variety of sectaries and
the implacable malice of infidels, who are not
ashamed to scoff at the whole scheme of sal
vation by a mediator.
October 2, 1759. Mr. Seabury says : " The
last time I wrote I sent the Society a pam
phlet containing • Animadversions' upon my
letter to the Society, and under the form of
'A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend,' in
Duchess County with my reply. 1 purpose
to make another visit to that County this
instant October.
'• I attend a full church at Huntington
twice a year, on Sundays ; and at Huntington
South, which is sixteen or seventeen miles
from any church or meeting house except
Quakers, I have preached sundry timeB on
week days, to a congregation of one hundred
people, generally poor, who express great
thankfulness." 17. >1, October 21. " Although the Indepen
dent meeting house in Hempstead has been
constantly supplied with a preacher, and
Anabaptist and Separate Baptist meetings be
held constantly at Oysterbay, our church is
well filled at both places, and they perform
Divine service far more regularly than for
merly. When I can attend Huntington
(which is but seldom) we have generally a
full church, and the zealous members always
lament their want of a minister, and beg me
to mention them to the Society by way of re
membrance." BOARDING SCHOOL.
1762, March 25. " The Rev. Mr. Seabury,
in order to enlarge his school for the instruc
tion of youth in Latin, Greek and the mathe
matics, (or, if desired, in reading, writing and

23

arithmetic), has engaged a young gentleman,
who is a candidate for Holy Orders, to be his
usher, and to give constant attendance in his
school, both in the day time, and also, from
November 1 to March 1, till 9 o'clock in the
evening. " Mr. Seabury will entertain young gentle
men at his own house, in a genteel manner,
at £30 per annum, schooling, washing and
wood for their school-fire included, they find
ing their own bedding. Whatever gentle
men or ladies shall be so good as to entrust
him with the education of their children, may
depend on their being used in the politest
manner ; and the strictest regard will be had
to their morals, by their humble servant,
" Samuel Sbabtjry."
prize in a lottery.
1763, June. Mr. Seabury says, in his diary :
' The ticket No. 5856 in the Light house and
Public lottery of New York drew in my favor,
by the blessing of God, £500, (of which I re
ceived £425, there being a deduction of fifteen
per cent.), for which I now record to my pos
terity my thanks and praise to Almighty God,
the Giver of all good gifts. Amen."
1764, March 26. Mr. Seabury writes that
" Great numbers of people can't be brought
to attend any sort of public worship, under a
pretence of spending the Sunday as well at
home ; and this sort of people seems to be
upon the increase, from the conversation of
some deistical people, the spreading of deisti-
cal books, and the disposition of people of
loose education to throw off all restraint ; be
sides, many seem to interpret the Act of Tol
eration a toleration to be of no religion at all.
From whence, and from a firm attachment to
the Established Church being no recommend
ation to the public honors of the Government,
and most of all from the Quakers' leaven, it
comes to pass that it is an arduous task to
bring people to the sense of their Christian
obligations to attend the two sacraments
which Christ has ordained in His Church."

CUTTING.
Mr. Cutting (April 9. 1767,) writes: "It is
with pleasure I can inform you of the civil
behavior of the congregation of Hempstead
towards me. They have built a barn and put

the house in convenient repair, and endeavor
at present to render my situation easy and
comfortable. The Mission is very extensive,
and as the severity of the weather came on
before I was well settled, I could not take
such a circuit round the country and can't
give bo perfect an account as I could wish.
The church is in general well filled. It is
difficult to form any proper judgment of the
real members from the numbers of those that
attend, as I find persons of different denomi
nations pretty constant in their attendance,
and apparently devout during the perform
ance of Divine service ; but according to the
best calculation I have as yet been able to
make, there are about ninety families, in
Hempstead township, protest members of the
Church of England. The Dutch are numer
ous and powerful, and declare to me their
regard to our Established Church* The
Quakers and their adherents are, I think, the
next in number. The Presbyterians appear
to me at present to be the fewest. I find it
for the interest of religion and the Church to
make in regard to my external behavior no
difference betwixt the members of my own
and other congregations.
" I have baptized at Hempstead fifteen
white children. I find it very difficult to de
mand godfathers. Necessity, I hope, will
excuse me if I accept frequently of the pa
rents. I must go to their houses and comply
sometimes with their humors, or the children
will go unbaptized.
"The communicants that I have seen pres
ent have been about thirty-five at one time.
The long interval betwixt the death of the
late Mr. Seabury and my being appointed has
been of some disservice to the church.
" I officiate at Oysterbay every third Sun
day. The greatest numbers there are Ana
baptists and descendants from Quakers.
This town is of large extent. As the weather
now grows moderate, I propose visiting every
part of the Mission as often as I can on week
days, that I may be enabled to give a more
perfect account to the Society in my next."
1768, January 7. Mr. Cutting writes : " I
have not transmitted an account of my Mission
in the limited time, owing to my being inca
pable of giving so perfect information as I
* It was about this time that Hendrick Onderdonk,
grandfather of the two bishops, joined the Hempstead
church, which probably drew forth the above pleasant
remarks of Mr. Cutting.

24

could have wished. The parish is large, and
I was prevented in the summer, by several
accidents, from visiting every part of it, as I
expected, nor is it an easy matter in so short
a time to form a certain judgment of so great
a number, so dispersed. I have, however,
found the people civil and hospitable, and I
may venture to say, are grateful. As a proof
of this, on the death of their late worthy Mis
sionary, Mr. Seabury, they at their own ex
pense built a handsome house and made it a
present to his widow ; but I am afraid they
are opinionated and not very easy to be per
suaded. The church at Hempstead is large
and in general full ; but that is an imperfect
way of judging of the number of a congrega
tion, as several of other denominations pretty
constantly attend Divine service. The secta
ries here have no settled teacher amongst
them. Many of them, therefore, frequent
the church, and appear devout and attentive.
The spot where I live is surrounded with
Presbyterians. I find them kind and obliging
neighbors, sober and pious in their conversa
tion, and no friends to religious animosities ;
though I am confident the number of those
who profess themselves members of the
Church are superior in number to those of
any other denomination, the Dutch excepted.
Great numbers of every profession, however,
remain unbaptized, owing, I imagine, to the
principles of Quakerism which prevailed here
so long, nor are there so many catechumens
as I might have hoped from so large a parish.
I have proposed to some to attend for that
purpose on evenings, at houses properly situ
ated, and hope that plan will succeed. To
the south of Hempstead, for several miles, are
great numbers of inhabitants, in general in
very indigent circumstances. They say they
can't procure conveniences to come so far to
church. I frequently on week-days go among
them to officiate. I find large numbers of
them assembled, who appear glad of my ser
vices and willing to be instructed ; but are
totally illiterate, great part of them not being
able to read, nor have they abilities or oppor
tunity to get their children instructed. A
school there would be a real blessing.
" At Oysterbay, the church is not finished,
nor are they able to do it. It is indeed in
general well filled, as neither have the dis
senters there (who are mostly Anabaptists
and Quakers) any settled teacher. The mem
bers of the church are constant, serious and

devout, though not equal in numbers to those
of other denominations."
Mr. Cutting writes, (December 28, 1768):
" As we are not in this parish disturbed with
a variety of itinerant preachers, a greater
appearance of regularity, with its happy con
sequences, prevails ; and as no animosity (that
I can discover) reigns amongst those of differ
ent persuasions, no considerable change in
any short time can be expected. Persons of
all denominations attend Divine service, and
the church here is much esteemed, and is cer
tainly, both in respect to the number and im
portance of its friends and professors, superior
to the sects. Amongst the friends to the
church I include the Dutch, (who are a
very respectable congregation), and it is with
pleasure I observe that the disputes which
some evil-minded persons (to serve a present
particular turn) have raised concerning our
earnest desire for Episcopal government in
the Church, has been of real service, as it has
opened the eyes of the people, made them
examine more closely the principles of the
Church, and habituated them to the name of
a Bishop, and taught them to reflect upon
that sacred office without terror or suspicion."
Mr. Cutting writes, (January 8, 1774): " The
dissenting teacher who was settled to the
south of Hempstead made no long continu
ance here. He married, and from the inability
of the people to support him was obliged to
remove. They now depend (as they have for
a long course of years) on those who are
sometimes sent by the Presbytery from the
other congregations. When their meeting
house is shut, numbers attend Divine service
at church, and we live on very amicable
terms. " As to the wild set at Oysterbay, they must
dwindle. They already disagree amongst
themselves. Opposition would raise them to
a character they can't attain of themselves,
and as it is not worth while for any artful
person to make himself their head and form
them into a regular sect, they will, I trust,
soon sink into their primitive insignificance.
The masters of the slaves and the near inhab
itants feel the principal inconvenience."
Mr. Cutting writes. (January 6, 1777): "In
the turbulent and precarious situation this
county has been in since January last, the
churoh here and at Oysterbay has escaped
better than was expected. The people in
; general in this parish and through the whole

25

county were profest steady Loyalists and op
posed to the utmost of their power the choos
ing Delegates, Committees, &c. They were
indeed harassed by parties from almost every
Province ; our houses often filled with an
armed rabble who lived at free quarters ; the
men forced to quit their habitations anq\ con
ceal themselves in woods and swamps ; some
were seized and carried prisoners to Connect
icut. These frequent incursions, however,
and this temporary distress they rather chose
to suffer than submit to the hourly tyranny
of a Committee of the basest and vilest among
themselves ; and in this they persisted till the
King's troops happily landed on this Island.
In this distracted state the church was often
threatened by banditties from the Jerseys and
other Provinces. I continued, however, as
usual. Divine service was uninterrupted for
some weeks after Independence was declared
by the infatuated Congress, and the church
was in general much better filled than I
could expect from the perilous situation the
people were in. Orders were often issued
from some distant parts, to take me out of the
church, but never executed. At last I re
ceived intimation that as this was the only
church in this and the neighboring Provinces
that was kept open, it would be particularly
marked for vengeance ; and as the succeeding
Sunday several armed men were sent from
various* districts, we were advised, though
with reluctance, to shut the doors. I ab
stained from performing Divine service three
Sundays at Hempstead and one at Oysterbay,
when we were (by the blessing of God) re
lieved by His Majesty's forces, since which
time we have been secure and undisturbed,
suffering now only, in common with others,
the natural though great inconvenience that
must attend every place which is the seat of
war, the scarceness and dearness of the neces
sities of life.
" The church here has rather gained, I
think, during this unnatural tumult, for it is
with pleasure said, I can assure you that in
the whole parish there were not above three
who called themselves Churchmen amongst
the malcontents, and as there was no settled
Presbyterian preacher to influence the minds
of the people, the dissenters were left to their
own cool judgment, attended the church-
service, and in general approved of and joined
their neighbors in the opposition to the Con
gress.

" I have not attended the vacant Church at
Huntington this last year, as the principal
persons of my congregations thought it by
no means advisable for me to go out of my
own parish.
" I have written some particulars to the
Rev. Dr. Chandler, which (as he knows the
people) may be agreeable to him."
Mr. Cutting was a graduate of Cambridge,
England, 1747 ; a tutor of Greek and Latin
in Columbia College, New York, from 1756
to 1763 ; rector of Hempstead and Oysterbay,
1766 to 1783 ; rector successively of churches
at Snow Hill and Newbern. He returned to
New York, where he died, January 25, 1794,
aged sixty-nine, beloved equally by his pu
pils, parishioners and friends. He, as well as
Messrs. Seabury, Moore and Hart, kept a
classical school.
An obscurity hangs over the life of Rev.
John Thomas and the circumstances of his
family. Colonel Morris says of him, in 1708 :
" He has the reputation of being a good man.
He has a great deal of warmth in his temper,
but I have not heard of any prej udicial trans
ports of it." The date of his marriage is not
known, nor what became of his widow and
two daughters. His son John, who lived on
the farm in Purchase, is complained of as not
being a church-goer, attending only once or
twice a year. In the Revolution he was a
Whig, and was carried off to the Provost,
where he was inoculated for the small-pox,
but died May 2, 1777, aged seventy, and was
buried in Trinity churchyard.
In 1709, the Rev. John Thomas (by the
help of his wife's money, doubtless,) bought a
half of two-twenty-eighths part of a tract of
land in New Jersey, for £200. How he ac
quired ownership of the farm in Westchester
County we know not.
Bishop Hobart says : " On Friday, Septem
ber 19, 1823, I consecrated St. George's
Church, Hempstead. This building has been
erected near the site of the former church,
which was built about eighty years ago, and
the decayed state of which rendered it neces
sary to take it down. The present church is
of larger dimensions than the former, very
neat in its style, and commodious in its ar
rangements, and reflects great credit on Mr.
Hart, the rector, and parish, by whose exer
tions and liberality its erection has been ac
complished."

26

Mr. Jenney writes from Hempstead, July
30, 1735 : My congregation had grown too
big for the house I officiated in, which is also
very much gone to decay, and too old and
crazy to be repaired and enlarged to any tol
erable purpose. So we resolved to build a
new one. We now make use of it. When I
first set about it I consulted Mr. Commissary
Vesey, and he proved very serviceable, by
contributing largely out of his own purse,
and by the interest he has, of a long standing,
amongst my people, whom he encouraged
and spurred on to the business, and by recom
mending the affairs to his own people, from
whom I have above £50. His Excellency
Governor Cosby* and his lady (under whose
influence and encouragement the church
flourishes continually) have appeared for us
in a public and remarkable manner, so as to
influence others. They have done us the
honor to name our church St. George's, and
appointed St. George's day for the opening of
it. There were present at the Divine service
His Excellency and lady, with their Excel
lencies' son-in-law, with his lady, attended by
Secretary Clarke, Chief Justice Delancey,
Rev. Commissary Vesey, some of the clergy
and a large company of gentlemen and ladies
from New York, and some from other parts of
the Province. At the same time a collection
was made after the sermon, in which the
Governor and lady and the gentlemen and
ladies present were remarkably generous.
Mr. John Marsh, a gentleman from Jamaica,
W. I., now in this Province for the recovery
of his health, gave us a silver bason, to serve
for baptism in the place of a font, which we
are not provided with. His Excellency also
has made us a most noble present of His
Majesty's Royal charter to make us a corpor
ation, &c. Mr. Secretary Clarke has gener
ously remitted the fees of his office. Mr.
Attorney General Bradley has given his fee,
and Messrs. John Chambers and Joseph Mur
ray, counsellors and attorneys at law of great
reputation, have prepared and engrossed the
charter gratis. The chancel is railed in.
Our pulpit and desk is completely finished
and half the church is pewed. We design to
pew the other half. The east end window
only is as yet glazed, and no plastering done ;
but we were in a fair way of completing the
* Governor Cosby had a rural villa on the Edge of
Hempstead Plains (1786) at or near Hyde Park, and
attended Mr. Jenney's church.

whole, when an unhappy accident put a stop
for a while to our proceedings. On the 23d
of June a thunder-clap struck our steeple and
did it considerable damage, but we are now
vigorously proceeding to repair it, and at
present the greatest difficulty we apprehend
is how to get a bell of such size as to be ser
viceable to so large a parish. His Excellency
and all his company have been pleased to ap
prove our proceedings. They commend the
workmanship and think we have done won
ders, considering our circumstances and the
time we have been about it.
1767, May 1. The Methodists now began
itinerating on the Island. Mr. Auchmuty
writes from New York that: " There is one
Lieutenant Webb here who has commenced
preacher. The man is turned mad and does
a good deal of mischief about the country.
His mad zeal is such that I shall not be sur
prised if he lays aside his red coat and en
deavors to get into holy orders, which would
be another affliction to the clergy here."
1776, July. Judge Thomas Jones says
that : " Colonel Cornell, of the Rhode Island
Line, by Washington's orders established his
quarters at Hempstead when hunting for
tories. He converted the Episcopal church
into a store house, forbid the parson to pray
for the King or Royal family, and made use
of the communion table for a conveniency for
his Yankees to eat their pork and molasses
upon." Mr. Cutting says nothing of this.
1781, December 9. Mr. Cutting writes:
" My situation obliges me to trust my letters
to a friend, generally to the gentleman who
takes my bills. In respect to the schools, Mr.
Timothy Wetmore is at present provided for.
Mr. James Wetmore* I know not ; and if I

* James Wetmore writes from New York, (Novem
ber 1, 1779): "I continued my school at Mnsqueto
Cove until the first of August last, to the satisfaction
of my employers ; but a number of my neighbors
being captivated by the Rebels, and I very Providen
tially escaping, and the Loyal inhabitants being
obliged to lodge in the fields for safety, I have thought
it consistent with my duty, and prudent to quit the
school, and am at present unsettled. My wife and a
number of my younger children barely subsist between
the lines, living in continual fear and subject to fre
quent depredations. I long to see the time that Rebels
to God and King may be sensible of their folly and
return to a true sense of their duty and happiness, »
prospect that seems yet at a distance. I have been
three years separated from my wife and children by
the inhumanity of the times. I had forty scholars, at
6 shillings, currency, per quarter. I could afford my
family but little relief were I not assisted by the
Society."

27

did, it would be to no purpose, as the rapacity
of an officer of rank [Col. Birch] has put an
end to all hopes of that kind. When the 17th
Light Dragoons came to Hempstead in 1778,
the commanding officer, after various acts of
violence and oppression too tedious to mention,
(and by which I suffered considerably in my
property), at length moved a public building
[the cage] which he had used as a guard
house, and joined it to a house he had seized
with some land, (the owner [Mr. Samuel Pin-
tard] being then in England), converted the
school to a guard-house, and appropriated to
his own use three acres of land allotted for
the benefit of the schoolmaster. In 1780 this
officer was removed to a very high command
in New York. We then had assurance that
the school and land should be restored. In
this expectation I wrote to the Society ; but
as [yet] his worse than useless regiment has
been scarce out of the smoke of Hempstead
since its first arrival. He still keeps posses
sion of all. This is one, and perhaps the most
trifling instance of a thousand, that might be
produced of the tyranny we groan under.
Where the army is, oppression (such as in
England you have no conception of) univer
sally prevails. We have nothing we can call
our own, and the door to redress is inaccessi
ble. What a state must that people be in
who can find relief neither from law, justice
nor humanity, where the military is con
cerned ! This is the case of the inhabitants
within the King's lines. In regard to myself
I have often applied for redress ; first in 1778,
to Mr. Eden, one of the Commissioners, from
whom I had a letter to head-quarters, which,
however, was ineffectual. On other occasions
I tried memorials to as little purpose. Neces
sity obliged me to apply more attentively to
the earth for subsistence, and an advantageous
purchase presenting, a friend kindly lent me
the money to secure it. I now hoped to pro
vide for my family in spite of oppression.
How I was disappointed the enclosed memo
rial [to Governor Robertson] will show. It
had no effect. Whether it proceeded from
want of power or something else in the Gov
ernor is not for me to determine. Hospitals
and everything of that kind are, I know, fully
charged to governments, and when private
property is thus violently seized, it is only to
fill the purse of the oppressor."
" The memorial of Leonard Cutting humbly
showeth that the means for subsistence for

my family having been much impaired by
the present times, I some time since made a
purchase of a dwelling house and about
twenty-five acres of land near the town-spot
of Hempstead. During the last winter, while
I was proprietor of it, the house was occupied
as a hospital for the 17th Regiment of Light
Dragoons ; that no rent being allowed by
them, I applied to Your Excellency for allow
ance of rent, or for the removal of the troops ;
that the troops continued in it till July or
August last, and then left it in a ruinous con
dition, saying they had no further use for it.
Wishing since to make the most advan
tageous use of it for the support of my fam
ily, I have been at considerable expense in
repairing the house, and have let it to -a
tenant for the ensuing winter, who was put
in possession of it. I have also on the land
upwards of fourteen acres of winter grain,
and have contracted to let the house and one
acre of land for a year from next spring at a
rent of £50. On October 28th, by order of
the commanding officer of the above-said reg
iment, said house was broken open and en
tered into by violence, and possession taken
of it, for the purpose of a hospital ; and I am
the more astonished at a measure so injurious
to me, after sustaining last winter the burden
of having the same house employed for the
public use without receiving any compensa
tion for it. At present my winter grain, in
the midst of which is the house, will be ex
posed to destruction if the hospital is contin
ued in it. I beg leave to complain of an un
justifiable violation of my property and of an
unreasonable imposition on me ; nor can I
help feeling the distresses to which my fam
ily must be exposed when stript of so consid
erable a part of the slender means I have for
their support. I hope for redress from your
humanity and your well-known justice, and
pray Your Excellency will order the house to
be restored to me or rent given for the use
of it."
" However, the house and barn being a
second time ruined, the fences torn away and
the winter grain exposed to certain destruc
tion, will put me even in a worse state than I
was before, as I shall be destitute of grain,
and the land will not only be useless, but I
shall be encumbered with the loan of the
purchase [money]. I am advised to transmit
a copy of my last memorial to the gentleman
who presides over American affairs, with a

28

circumstantial account of the violence and in
dignities both myself and the church have
suffered. Various complaints from various
persons are on their passage home. If they
gain admittance they may, perhaps, raise a
suspicion that more pains have been taken to
subjugate the Loyalists within than to reclaim
the Americans without the lines. The army
has done more essential injury to the King's
cause than the utmost efforts of his enemies.
" As to the church, it is in the same state
as when I wrote last. The building at Oys
terbay is in a ruinous condition, as I men
tioned in my last, and, as it is exposed to
every storm, must grow worse ; nor have the
people spirits or opportunity to repair it at
present. The congregations of Hempstead
and Oysterbay attend Divine service in as
great numbers as the circumstances of the
times will permit, and appear remarkably se
rious and devout."
Rev. Charles Inglis writes from New York,
(November 26, 1779) : " Rev. Epenetus Town-
send's battalion was ordered to Halifax, and
he embarked at New York with his wife and
five children. A most violent storm arose
soon after the fleet in which he sailed left
Sandy Hook. The fleet was dispersed and
several ships perished. He has not been seen
since. " The only vacant mission on Long Island is
that at Huntington ; but no loyal clergyman
dare settle there. That part of the Island is
infested by Rebels who are constantly making
incursions across the Sound, plundering the
inhabitants and carrying many of them off
captives. The only place on the Island where
a clergyman would be safe and have hearers
(besides Hempstead and Jamaica, where mis
sionaries are fixed,) is Brooklyn, where Mr.
James Sayre officiates three Sundays out of
four to a pretty numerous congregation, in a
Dutch church of which he is allowed the use."
1779. Judge Jones says that Colouel Birch
sent a party to Secatogue, twenty miles east
of Hempstead, to pull down a Quaker meeting
house and bring away the materials for his
own use. On their return they also took out
all the saBh windows of a house of Thomas
Jones, at Fort Neck. Every Sunday when
Judge Jones went to church he had the mor
tification of seeing the windows of his house
fixed in a barn which Birch had converted
into a barrack. The same year Birch had
the Presbyterian meeting-house at Fosters

Meadow pulled down, the materials brought
away and converted to his own use. This
sacred edifice was built by the villagers for
the sake of Divine worship. , Every inhabit
ant there was remarkably loyal. A minister
who had prior to the rebellion occasionally
preached in it was a Rebel. This, Birch made
a pretence for robbing the loyal inhabitants
of their church.
Samuel Pintard, a soldier at Oswego (1755)
and wounded at Minden, had retired to Hemp
stead, where he bought a genteel, snug house,
and a neat little farm adjoining the parsonage ;
but being tired of the thieving soldiers, he
removed his furniture to Mr. Cutting's, a rela
tion of his, and then locked up his house and
embarked for Madeira, where he had rela
tions. Birch soon fixed his eyes upon the
place. He forced open a window ; creeping
through, he opened the door and took posses-,
sion, sent his compliments to Mr. Cutting, and
begged the use of Mr. Pintard's furniture for
a few days, till his own could be brought
from New York. Mr. Cutting, not willing
to disoblige so powerful a neighbor, acquiesced
and delivered up the furniture, which the
colonel afterwards refused to return, claiming
it as rebel property! A Mr. Hewlett, five
miles from Hempstead, had laid in Bhingles
for building a house ; these Birch brought
away without leave or license. When -Mr.
Hewlett, a noted Loyalist, applied for pay
ment, he was called a Rebel, threatened with
the provost and turned out of doors ! Birch
next cast his eyes upon a small building
called " The Cage," erected by the inhabit
ants to confine persons convicted of drunk
enness, swearing and petty larcenies. He
thought it would do for a wash-house. On
Justice Clowes' refusiug to give consent to its
removal, the colonel ordered it removed, " For
' The Cage' he would have." Birch's soldiers
were expert at plundering, and nothiDg es
caped their hands. In the course of six
weeks not a lamb nor a calf, a duck nor a
goose, a turkey, a pig nor a fowl, was to be
seen in the town, nor a potato, a turnip nor a
cabbage in the fields.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BROOKLYN.
The earliest account of any attempt to or
ganize a church in Brooklyn is found in the

29

following advertisement from Rivington's
Gazette of March 17, 1774 :
LOTTERY
For raising £600, for building a church at Brooklyn-
ferry, under the patronage of Trinity Church, New
York, there being no place in King's County for pub
lic worship where the English Liturgy is used. The
inhabitants (having long submitted to inconveniences
[in crossing the river to New York] from the inclem
ency of the weather in the winter season and other
causes) intreat the assistance of the Public in pro
moting this laudable method of raising money for the
erection of a. decent building for the service of Al
mighty God.
There are £4,000 in prizes, 4,000 tickets at 20 shil
lings each, 1,332 prizes and 2,668 blanks.
Managers, Alexander Colden, Esq., Capt. St. Payne
Ayde, Messrs. Matthew Gleaves, John Carpenter,
Thomas Everit, John Crawley, Whitehead Cornell and
Thomas Horsfield.
1774, March 31. Many persons have been
misled by an opinion that the church proposed
to be erected by Lottery at Brooklyn is to
be under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Bernard
Page.* It will be a truly orthodox church,
strictly conformable to the doctrine and disci
pline of the Constitutional Church of England
as by law established, and under the patron
age of the Rev. Rector and Vestry of Trinity
Church. — Rivington's Gazette.
1778. On Sunday morning, April 5th, to
the great satisfaction of the inhabitants, the
church at Brooklyn was opened, and Divine
service according to the ritual of the Church
of England, performed by the Rev. Mr. James
Sayre.f who preached an excellent sermon
and baptized a child, which was the first
infant admitted to that sacrament within said
church, where there will be Prayers and a
sermon next Sunday and on Good Friday,
also on the three Sundays, following : every
fourth Sunday, afterwards, the church will be
occupied by the Dutch congregation. — Gaine's
Mercury. 1778, December 23. Rev. Mr. Walter writes
from New York : " I have resided more than
two years in this city and neighborhood.
The first summer I spent in Brooklyn, where
I occasionally officiated to a small congrega-
* Mr. Page was licensed by the Bishop of London,
August 24th, 1772, for Wyoming. He was evangelical,
of the Whitefleld school. He died in Virginia. See
"Meade's Virginia," ii, 259.
t Mr. Sayre lived in the large white house of Isaac
Cortelyou, on the Bay side of New Utrecht, which was
burned November 15, 1779. He published "God's
Thoughts of Peace in War." He went to Nova Scotia,
but returned to Fairfield, where he died, 1798, aged 53.
His brother John died in New Brunswick, 1784.

tion of English, who obtained for this purpose
an order from the Commandant of New York
to make use of the Dutch Church whenever
the Dutch people had no service in it them
selves, which was as often as three Sundays
in five. This summer the Rev. Mr. Sears
[James Sayre] has officiated there in the same
manner, and still continues to do so. Next
[summer] I shall probably reside far down
upon Long Island, and then I propose to be a
frequent visitant to the Society's vacant mis
sion of Huntington, and the people of that
neighborhood, who are at present totally des
titute of all public worship."

Mr. Thomas, the first rector of Hempstead,
was careless in keeping Records. He, how
ever, left the following memorandum in a
Register Book :
" I. John Thomas, of Jesus College, Oxford,
was inducted Rector of Hempstead, December
27, 1704, and since my induction to the pres
ent, July 13th, 1707, have baptized the under
written persons and children. The distinct
time of their initiation into the Church by
baptism I cannot particularly and precisely
notice, this Register Book being lately
brought and delivered into my hands. But
all christenings hereafter shall (God willing)
be duly and precisely registered."
BAPTISMS.
Children of Thomas and Mary Gildersleeve, baptized
1705:

Asa, born March 19, 1685
George, ¦• Oct. 22, 1687 [
Thomas," May 16. 1690 |
Maiy. " March 12, 1693 |

Richard, born April 7, 1695
Elisha, " May 7, 1697
Elizabeth," April 4, 1701
Dorcas, " May 17, 1704

Dorothy (wife of Samuel) Smith, aged 35, and all their
seven children, baptized August 18, 1707:

Dorothy, b'n Oct., aged 13
Samuel, " June, " 12
Jonas, " Oct.

Abraham, b'n June, aged 7
John, " Feb., •' 5
Isaac, " Dec, " 4

Josias, born January, aged 2 years.
Sons of Samuel Syren :
James, born Sept. 23, 1708 | Daniel, born June 10, 1706
John, born November 23, 1707.
John, son of John and Margaret Thomas, was born
October 23, 1708, and baptized November 29th.
John, son of Asa Gildersleeve, bom May 23, 1706.
Hannah Flower, aged 19.
Daughters of Samuel Williams :
Mary, born March 26, 1703 | Miriam, born Dec. 17, 1705
Here end Mr. Thomas' records, as far as can
be now ascertained.
1741, October 19. Mr. Brown writes from
Brookhaven : " My church was never more
flourishing. Some sober religious persons
have been lately added to the communion.
I baptized one brought up a Quaker, and five

30

of his children, and a woman over seventy,
and several infants. Another Quaker has
come over to the Church, the father of a large
family, who attends steadily public worship
on Sundays. I have lately been on the East
end of the Island, fifty or sixty miles east
ward. In . passing through the villages I
preached six or seven times in eight days to
large congregations, and in the meeting
house at East Hampton, a large building
with two rows of galleries, pne above the
other. The house seemed full from bottom
to top. There never was so glorious a pros
pect of increasing the Church as at this day,
if a missionary could be sent among them.
Shelter Island (where are" several families
favorably disposed to the Church, whom I
myself have baptized) lies in the middle of
three towns — East Hampton, Southampton
and Southold. They are too far off for me to
visit, and then there is the expense of time
and money in traveling. In five years past
I don't know three persons who would have
gone in a church sooner than in a Turkish
mosque. I am the first person who performed
the service of the Church of England there.
In Southampton and a neighboring village
the teachers and people conducted me into
their meeting-houses unanimously, and they
everywhere behaved with becoming decen
cy."* 1748. Mr. Henry Barclay made a visitation
as Commissary, and writes, October 5th, that
" Mr. Seabury had preached several times at
Huntington, where he found a good prospect
of making a considerable congregation. On
the good people's solicitation the ministers
recommend Samuel Seabury, Jr., to be their
catechist for the present, to read the Church
service and sermons, with such encourage
ment [pay] as the Venerable Society think
proper. The schoolmasters at Hempstead and
Oysterbay are incapable of further service, the
one being deaf and the other deprived of the
use of his reason. Their salaries might be
paid to Huntington ; although it may seem
hard to turn a superannuated servant out of

* Rev. John Sharpe, Chaplain, had written from
Foit Anne, N. Y., (November 24, 1705), " I think mis
sionaries are wanting. Two for Suffolk County, in
the East end of Long Island, might do good service."
Lord Cornbury also writes, November 22d: "I was
(on a tour to the East end of Long Island) last
summer, at Brookhaven, and my chaplain (Sharpe)
preached twice there. The minister and people came
in to hear him."

bread, it is more unreasonable that the Society
should be burthened with them, when ample
provision is made for the poor by law."
1768, November 30. The church wardens
and vestry of Huntington lay before the
Venerable Society "their unhappy circum
stances." In Huntington and Queens Village,
five miles distant, are upwards of thirty heads
of families, professors of the Church of Eng
land, who are destitute of the administration
of God's Word and Sacraments. We em
ployed Mr. Kneeland to read prayers and
sermons to us and sent him to England for
orders. 'Henry Lloyd, of Boston, recommends
Mr. Greaton, of Boston, at a salary of £20,
with firewood, a house and glebe. His ser
vices to include Islip and Queens Village.
He may revive the Church at Brookhaven,
which is almost ruined and come to nothing,
through Mr. Lyons' misconduct."*
1769, August 8. Mr. Greaton, at Boston,
[on a visit], writes that at Huntington I have
a very decent congregation, who almost con
stantly attend. Frequently a number of dis
senters come to hear me, who behave with
the utmost decency and seem much pleased.
Several times I have had the church so full
that it could not conveniently hold more, and
many were obliged to go away for want of
room. I flatter myself that in time a flourish
ing church may be raised up there, if the
people are so happy as to continue to enjoy
the smiles of the Society. The people have
* 1767, April 23. The Society will continue their
salary to Mr, Lyons till Michaelmas next, and no
longer, as his mission is dwindled down under his
ill conduct [eccentric habits] to almost nothing. Mr.
Lyons replies: "I fling myself on the mercy of the
Society. My enemies would deprive me of bread and
character. They say my behavior is sordid, that I go
to church in a lay dress, with bine cloth cloak ; that I
wear a threadbare coat on week days. This old coat
harmonizes with my house, ready to tumble down,
having for several years been propped within and
without, and no assistance from the people. How
much two or three bold leaders will influence a multi
tude! They are Churchmen in words, but Congrega-
tionalists in discipline. They can't charge me with
omission of duty or immorality. I have been twenty-
five years in the Society's service. I've preached every
Sunday since my last letter, baptized four infants, had
nine communicants last Christmas and seven this
Easter. I've drawn a set of bills for £25 in favor of
Garret Rapelye." Mr. Lyons thanked the Society
(March 25, 1747) for a gratuity of £10, has baptized
eight in his new mission, wants Clark's sermons and
some tracts in opposition to Methodism, as enthusi
asm prevails in these dark regions, through the hot
zeal of canting preachers.

31

purchased a new glebe, with'a good house, at
a cost of £344, currency, which they propose
to make over to the Society in lieu of the old
glebe, which cost only £120.
1780, May 18. Rev. Mr. Walter. writes from
New York that : " I was last Sunday at Hunt
ington, and officiated for the first time this
season at that church, to a small but attentive
congregation. The church, which till last
winter had remained untouched amid the
desolations of war, was then taken by the
[British] army for barracks, and, according to
custom, greatly abused and damaged. The
parsonage house is in tolerable repairs, but
the barn has suffered in common with the
church. Several of the principal families
have gone into the rebellion, but their places
are supplied by a number of refugees from
Connecticut, who, uniting with the remaining
families, are. desirous, notwithstanding their
discouragements, to keep the service of the
Church among them. I have promised to
visit them once a month till winter, and I
hope to prevail on some of our refugee clergy
here to do the same." LOTTERY
For the benefit of Caroline Church, Setauket; 930
prizes, 2,070 blanks, being 3,000 tickets at $4 each
making $12,000, with a deduction of 15 per cent. It is
purely for the assistance of an infant community, not
able to assist themselves, and for the promotion of
the Christian religion. It is hoped every charitable
and well-disposed person will cheerfully contribute
their mite for the completion of so laudable and de
sirable an end. As soon as full, the drawing will com
mence at Brookhaven, under the direction of the
Warden and Vestry, and under the immediate manage
ment of Selah Strong, Esq., John Moore, Esq., Joseph
Brewster and Henry Nicoll. Tickets to be had of the
printers, V. P. Ashfield, and of said Managers. — Biv-
ington's Gazette, January 22,' 1783.
MR. CUTTING'S SALARY NOT PAID.
Nov. 5, 1783.
To Mr. Antony Van Nosteand,
Wolveb Hollow:
Sir— I believe you remember that at a meeting of
the Vestry and Justices of Osyterbay, in April last, I
attended, and that it appeared both from my book and
the receipts produced by Mr. Van Wyck that there
was two years' salary due to me from the 15th of
January last. Mr. Van Wyck paid up to 1779. Mr.
Isaac Hewlett was then chosen church-warden, and
the constable paid into the hands of Mr, Justice John
Hewlett 20 shillings for the year 1780. The years 1781
and 1782 are therefore still unpaid; and this present
year, 1783, is not reckoned. All this, as you remem-
berj appeared plain to the Vestry, who agreed that
they thought it right that the back salary should be
paid, but desired that the present year might not be
brought to account. To this I agreed, and the con

stable then said he would get me the money in a few
days. When I called upon him he told me he was not
prepared. I went to him a second time. He then told
me it was necessary that I should have an order from
the clerk of the Vestry. I accordingly waited upon
you twice, but had not the pleasure of finding you at
home*. Since that I have been very ill, and can scarce
now sit to write. I have therefore sent my son to beg
the favor of you to give an order for the years 1781
and 1782. You must think it hard for services through
all weathers for so long a time, attended with fatigue
to myself and expense in horses, should pass unre
warded. Depending therefore entirely upon your
humanity and justice for giving me that satisfaction
which the Vestry at that time agreed to, I with pleas
ure subscribe myself your very humble servant and
friend, Lbo'd Cutting.

1705", June 14. Lord Cornbury to the Gen
eral Assembly : " The difficulties which some
very worthy ministers of the Church of Eng
land have met with, in the getting the main
tenance settled upon them by Act of General
Assembly of this Province, passed in the year
1693, moves me to recommend to you the
passing an Act explanatory of the above-
mentioned Act, that those worthy, good men,
who have ventured to come so far, for the
service of God and His Church, and the good
and edification of the people, to the salvation
of their souls, may not for the future be vexed,
as Bome of them have been, but may enjoy in
quiet that maintenance which was by a law
provided for them. I further recommend to
you the passing an Act to provide for the
maintenance of some ministers in some of the
towns at the east end of Long Island, where I
do not find any provision has yet been made
for the propagating religion." — Jour. Ass.,
i., 196.
1717, April 13th. The memorial of Rev.
Robert Jenney, master of the Grammar School,
New York, was by order of Council laid be
fore the House of General Assembly and
recommended to their consideration, which
proposed that a sufficient fund may be raised
for building a school house and dwelling
house for the master, and to allow him a
salary of £70 per annum for teaching thirty-
five boys. — Jour, i., 393.
Rev. John C. Rudd, deacon, was a mission
ary for several months in 1806, to the desti
tute congregations of Huntington, Oysterbay,
Setauket and Islip. The three former con
gregations before the Revolution were nu
merous and respectable, but since, having
only occasional services, were fast dwindling
away. In Huntington he found it difficult to

32

arouse the dormant zeal for the Church of
the few scattered families ; but the ministra
tions of the Church revived their former at
tachment, and they arranged to repair their
decayed church.
At Oysterbay the church was totally de
cayed, the few materials that remained were
sold, and an Academy was built on the Church
lot, the right being reserved to use it as a
Church on Sundays. The Church families
had become extinguished or joined other de
nominations. Mr. Rudd could do nothing, as
the establishing a church would (as they
feared) divert the property from the acad
emy* At Setauket the Church people being nu
merous, though destitute of public worship,
yet retained a love for the Liturgy, welcomed
Mr. Rudd, attended his ministrations, and
joined in the responses, bo that the prospects
of the revival of the Church were flattering.
At Islip the congregation was small and
had no' money, yet were zealous and tried to
put their church in decent. repair. A family
prevented its being desecrated, and though
there were no services there, they cleaned out
the church yearly and decked it with Christ
mas greens. In 1786, Mr. Andrew Fowler
had been reader at Islip, Brookhaven and
Oysterbay. CHRIST CHURCH, MANHASSET.
For many years the congregation living
north side the Plains (especially on the
Necks) felt it a great inconvenience to ride
over to the Hempstead church. To relieve
them in some measure, occasional services
were held in the Dutch church at Success.
In 1799, June 26, Rev. J. H. Hobart preached
at Major Kissam's, Flower Hill. On June
22d, 1802, the vestry of St. George's Church
consented that a church should be built at
Cow Neck, and on December 2d, George On-
derdonk, farmer, and Sarah, his wife, for
$195.47 sold two acres and ninety-Beven
square rods, at the Head of Cow Neck, to
John M. Smith, Benjamin Tredwell, William
Mitchell and Thomas C. Thorne, farmers, in
trust for au Episcopal church and cemetery.
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR BUILDING THE CHURCH.
Akerly, Jacamiah $5 | Akerly, Priscilla $5
* The Academy was oponed April 1st, 1802, under
the care of Rev. Marmaduko Earl, a Baptist, who was
born March 1, 1769, and died July 13, 1856.

Allen. Henry $40
Allen, John 2d 5
Allen, Richard 30
Allen, David 105
Allen, James 30
Allen, Gideon 1
Allen, William, Jr., 2
Allen, Philip, Jr., 6
Allen, Jacamiah 5
Allen, Charles P. 50
Allen, Dobson 2
Allen. Maria, daughter
of Philip 50
Allen, Mary, d'ter of S. 10
Allen, Daniel 10
Allen, Eliz.,' wid. John 5
Allen, Richard K. 5
Allen, Benjamin & Co. 20
Appleby, Epenetus 25
Barton, John 2
Baxter, Israel 5
Beadle, Uriah 10
Blades, John 1
Blossom, Elisha 20
Burtis, John 10
Cash, 1
Cheesman. Benjamin 2
Cheesman, Richard 2
Cheesman. Timothy 3
Coles, Abram 1
Cornwall, Charles 20
Cornwall, James 50
Cornwall, Richard H. 20
Cornwell. Daniel 10
Cornell, Hannah, 1
Cornell, Hannah, wld. 1
Cornell, Hannah, wid.
of Japhet 1
Cornell, Henry 2
Cornell, Hewlett 50
Cornell, Joseph 4
Cornell, Joshua 3
Cornell, Morris 2
Cox, William 1
Crommelin, CharleB 2
Crommelin, Charles, Jr. 5
'Davenport, Newbury 20
Davenport, Samuel H. 5
Denton, Jonas 7
Denton, Lawrence 7
Denton, Samuel 6
Dodge, Thomas 2
Dodge, Tristram 2
Dodge, William 3
Dodge, William 6
Ellison, John 5
Ferguson, David 1.50
Hagner, Henry 20
Hagner, Henry, Jr. 15
Hains, Daniel 1
Haviland, William 6
Hawxhurst, Townsend 4
Hewlett, Benj. & Sons 50
Hewlett, Benjamin 85
Hewlett, George J50
Hewlett, Hannah 10
Hewlett, James 60
Hewlett, James, Jr, 20
Hewlett, Joseph L. 75
Hewlett, Lewis S, 45
Hewlett. Samuel 45
Hewlett, Sarah 10
Hewlett, Susan P. 511
Hewlett, Whitehead 11
Hewlett, William 10
Hicks, Samuel 5
Hicks, Sarah, w. Morris 2
Hicks, William 1
Hoogland, Daniel 1
Hutching*, John 4
Hutchings, Stephen 1
Mulchings, William 4
Hutchings, Siun'l 1 p"
Mott, Benj. B. I „•» 1n
Ross, Charles f™5j
Weeks, Nicholas J 3
Keeler, Ebenrzer 20
Kissam, Benjamin T. 35
Kissam, Daniel (PI.) 35
Kissam. Daniel 23

Kissam, Dan.Whiteh'd$18
Kissam, John 120
Kissam, Joseph 25
Kissam, Joseph, Jr. 5
Lawrence, Stephen 2
Marston, Lawrence 1
Mitchell, Allen 20
Mitchell, John 100
Mitchell, Robert 5
Mitchell, Samuel T. 10
Mitchell, Singleton 5
Mitchell, Sing. & Joe. 35
Mitchell, Uriah 10
Mitchell, Whitehead 3
Mitchell, William 100
Morrell, Ann 5
Morrell, John 85
Mott, Jacob 10
Onderdonk, Hendrick

& Sons 150
Onderdonk, Peter 5
Peters, John
Piatt, Benjamin
Poole, James
Reeve, Isaac T.
Keeve, Jonathan
Remsen, Daniel
Salts, Maurice
Silts, William
Sands, John
Sands, John. Jr.
Sands, Ray & Griffin
Schenck, Rulef
Sealey, William
Sealey, Daniel
Searing, Mary
Sell, James
Smith, Hannah
Smith, James 20
Smith, John M. 85
Smith, Jos. & Silvanus, 25
Smith, Richard 35
Smith, Richard R.
Smith, Thomas
Smith. Timothy
Smith, Timothy
Smith, William
Tattersoti, Richard
Thorne, Henry W.
Thorne, John
Thorne, John, Jr.
Thorne, Richard
Thorne, Richard, Jr.
Thorne, Thomas C.
Thorne, William
Thorpe, John B.
Toffey, Daniel
Toffey, Rebecca
Townsend, Hewlett
Townsend, Joseph 2
Townsend, Jothain 2
Townsend. Rich (Hills) 18
Townsend, Ruth and
Freelove, 10
Tredwell, Dr Benjamin 30
Tredwell, Benjamin 100
Tredwell, John 70
Tredwell. Thomas
Uttou. Charles P.
Valentine, Caleb
Valentine. Jacob
Valentine, Philip
Valentine. Richard
Van Wyck, Barnt
Van Wyck, Cornelius
Williams, John H.
Williams. William
Williams, Wilson
Willis, Townsend
Woolley, Benjamin, Jr
Woolley, Benjamin
Woolley, Henry
Woolley, John
Woolley, Samuel
Woolley, Thomas

100 5
5 1<
24 1
5050 1010 1
25
55 1

5
1020 8
6010 10
80
20
100 30 5565 3
20 2
20

$3,725.50
Trinity Church, 2.000.00

Total,

5,725.50

33

SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR

Hagner, Mary $2
Hegeman, Catharine I ,
Hegeman, Rebecca j °
Hewlett, Phebe 12
Kissam, Elizabeth 10
Kissam, Phebe I an
Kissam, Rebecca f
Kissam', Sarah B, 1
Mitchell, Jane II. 5
Mitchell, Itebecca J. 1
Mitchell, Sally 5
Onderdonk, Maria 10
Piatt, Eliza and Sarah 6
Reeves, Caroline A. 5

CHURCH FURNITURE.
Sands, Anna
Sands, Kezia
Sands, Sarah
Smith, Jane
Smith, Rebecca
Sell. Catharine
Townsend, Sarah
Tredwell, Hannah
Tredwell, Pegj^y
Tredwell, Marian
Woolley, Susanna

Total,

$116

At the raising of the church a bountiful
dinner was served up in the open air, on
tables made of rough boards*
On Sunday, November 20th, 1803, Bishop
Moore consecrated the new edifice by the
name of Christ Church, and also confirmed
fifty persons. Mr. Hart read prayers and the
Bishop preached. In 1804, $14 was paid Mr.
Sell, sexton ; and in 1805, $9.37 was paid
Daniel Corn well, parish clerk.f William and
* In 1818, Christ Church Academy (the first in North
Hempstead) was erected by the vestry on the Church
land, and opened in October, under the care of Rev.
Eli Wheeler, who was assisted in succession by Jaines
P. Cotter, William Shelton and Harry Finch, candi
dates for Holy Orders, and Ebenezer Close. In May,
1824, the Rev. J. P. F. Clarke (ordained deacon in St.
George's Church, December 10, 1820,) succeeded him,
among whose assistants were William J, Barry, Fred
erick Craft, Henry Onderdonk, Jr., (1827-8), and Rev.
William Ernenpeutch.
t Mr. Cornwell sat in a little box under the reading
desk. He made the responses, gave out the Psalms to
be sung, and led the singing, there being no musical
instrument as yet in the church. The pulpit was a
gift from St. George's Church, New York. It waB
made of mahogany, being the spar of a ship repaired
in the Bay of Honduras. It was quite too large for
the church. It was covered by a sounding-board of
exquisite workmanship, on the summit of which was
perched the emblematic dove with the olive-sprig in
its mouth. The chancel and commnnion table were
between the three-story pulpit and the rear window,

Dobson Allen built a store and inn near by,
and in 1806 William was sexton and enter
tained the rector and cared for his horse on
Sundays. The rector, Rev. Seth Hart, officiated in the
church every other Lord's day till 1818, when
Mr. Wheeler, (ordained deacon May 8th, 1814,)
who had been a private tutor in Wynant Van.
Zandt's family, became his assistant ;* and
thereafter the church was open every Sunday.
Christ Church was separated from St.
George's, March 29, 1819,f and incorporated,
Mr. Wheeler remaining SQle minister till No
vember 1, 1823 ; and Mr. Clarke was called
December 1st, and resigned in June, 1832 ;
and Joseph F. Phillips was called August
20th, who was ordained priest in this church,
October 17, 1833. In 1835, Nov. 30th, Moses
Marcus came, and left in 1837, when Mr.
Clarke was recalled, May 9th. Mr. Clarke
resigned again, October 17, 1849. The rec
tors thereafter were Samuel Cox, 1849 ; G. W.
Porter, 1854 ; G. F. Bugbee, 1865 ; and James
E. Homans, 1869.

:\

as it was in St. Paul's, New York. This arrangement
was after, the ancient manner, but it prevented the
congregation from having a fair view of the most in
teresting ceremonies of the Divine office.
* To. the Rector, Churchwardens and Ves
try op St. George's Church, Hempstead.
I now have the pleasure of informing you that I
accept the call to the office of Assistant Minister in
the parish, which you were so kind as to give me in
your meeting held at the Court House,
I am, Messrs., Your Ob't H'ble Ser.,
July 17, 1818, Eli Wheeler.
t The writer hereof was present when Mr. Hart
preached his farewell sermon. He shed abundant
tears. Several respectable families had so deep-
seated an affection for their old pastor that they were
loath to part from, him. For a while he met them on
Sunday afternoons in the Reformed Dutch Church at
Success,

UsTDIEIX.

Academy, Adults,Albertns, James
Allen, Allgeo, David
Anabaptists, 11
Archdale, Captain
Ashfield, V. P.
Ayde, St. P.
Baird, Alexander
Baldwin, George
Ball,Baptism, Baptists,Barn, Barracks,
Bartow, Rev. John
Bason,Bedell,

32, 3:)
4, 6

9,33 11

16,

Bell.
Benches, Benefaction,Bethpage,
Betts, Millicent
Bible,Birch, Colonel
Bishop,Boarding school,
Books,Bownas, Samnel
Bradford, "William
Brewster, Joseph
Brookhaven,Brooklyn, Brown, 7,
Bungy,Burying-place, Burying8,Cage, Campbell,Canting,Caroline church,
Carpenter, John
Carpet, Catechise,

2,4,6 11
23. 27
28,31 3
26
5, 6, 15

2, 9, 15, 16, 26 «
20

11
6, 17. 22
14, 27, 282423
5, 17 22
31
6, 7, 30
28,29 11,29 20 6
17, 18
27,28 7
17,30 7, 3129 6
20

8,9.

Delancey, 8, 15, 26
Denomination, 16, 24
Denton, ' 1, 2, 6, 7, 16
Desk, "6, 26, 33
Dickinson, Samuel 2

Dinner, Dissenters, Distemper,
Donation,Dorland,Doughty, Isaac
Dragoons,

8
4, 13, 21, 30 19
20
6, 10 2
14,27
Drisius, Rev, Samuel 1
Drum, 2, 4, 5
Duchess Co., 11, 22
Dutch, 1, 13, 23, 29
Earmarks, 5, 6
Easter, 6, 18, 30
East Hampton, 80
Education, 5, 18
Ellison, Richard 11
Empie, Adam 15
Enthusiasm, 9, 10, 11, 16,30
Episcopal, 24
Eucharist, 4
Evans, Rev. Evan 3
Everit, Thomas 29
Flower, Hannah 29
Floyd, 6
Fogs, 17
Fordham, 1
Fort, 1
Fort-neck, 28
Fosters Meadow, 5, 28
Fowler, Andrew 32
Friends, 1, 2
Funeral bell, 11
Funeral pall, 12
Funeral sermon, 18
Gallery, 4, 7, 11, 22
Geruion, Isaac 9
Gildersleeve, 2, 3, 5, 9, 13, 29
Gill, Roger 2
Gleaves, Matthew 29

Kissam, 9, 11, 15, 32
Kneeland, Rev. E., 12, 30

Catechist, 5, 6, 10, 22, 30
Catechisms, 10, 18
Catechumens, 18, 21, 24
Cedar Swamp, 16
Chalice, 6
Chancel, 26, 33
Chandler, 25
Charter, 9, 26
Cheeseman, JoBeph 11
Christ Church, 10, 32
Christenings, 17, 32
Christmas, 30
Church, 4, 14, 30
Church-days, 5
Ch. of England, 4, 5, 29, 30
Churchman, 3, 16. 25, 30 10 6
3,6,8
8, 11, 19
9, 10, 18
6, 19 6
10 ¦i

2,7,

Churchwarden Clap-board,Clarke, George
Clowes, Clerk, S
Cloth, Cock, Katharine
Colgan, Rev. Thomas
Colden, Alexander
Coles, Nathaniel
Commissary, 21, 26, 30
Communicants, 4, 23
Communion, 5
Comm'n table, 18, 19, 26, 33
Congregationalism 30
Consecration, 8, 10, 25, 33
Cornbury, Lord, 3, 30
Cornell, 6, 8, 26, 29, 33
Cosby, Governor 7, 16
Cow Neck, ' 20, 32
Crawley, John 29
Cutler, Rev. Timothy 10
Cutting, 12, 14, 23, 25, 31
Cushion, 6
Damask, 8
Damnation, 19
Davies, 7
Davis, 10
Deists, 23

Glebe.God-father,Guiding, Good Friday,
Great Neck,
Greaton,Guard-house, Hagawout,
Hali, Hart,Haviland, John
Heathen, Hewlett,Hobart, Holy Orders,
Homilies,Horsrield, Thomas
Hospital, Hospitality,Hour-glass,Hugins, James

18, 30, 31
17,23 6, 112!l 2
13,30 27
11, 14, 15 8
15,33 2
12, 18
9, 28, 31
1, 2, 25, 32
21,23 6
29 27
5,19 19

Huntington, 10, 11, 12, 14,30

Huntington South
Hyde Park,
Immersion.-Independents. Indians,Induction,Infidels,Institution,Insurgents, Islip, Itinerant,
Mr. Jackson,
Jamaica, Jecocks, Thomas
Jenney, Jericho,Jerusalem, Johnson, Jacob
Jones, 2, 3.
Justices, Keble, 7,
Keith, Rev, George
Kidney, King's arms

22
8,26 21 3
11, 18
3, 6, 10, 12
18,21 12 14
12, 13, 30, 32
2, 16, 24 2

Langdon
Lady-day.Latham, John
Latitudinarians, Leaky, William
Lean-to, Lectures,
Lee, Thomas
Lefferts, John
Library, License,
Liturgy,Lloyd, Henry
Lord's day,
Lord's supper,
Lottery, Lowe, John
Loyalist, Lyons, Mandate, Maintenance,Marriages,Martin,
Marvin,Marsh, John
Mather,Matin ecock,
Meadow, Meeting-house,
Methodism, Michaelmas,
Minister,Missionary,Mitchell,Moore, Morris, Mott, John
Musqueto Cove, 16
Negroes, 6, 8, 18, 20
New England, 4
New Light, 10
Nicoll. Henry 31
Noble; 15
Norwich, 16, 20
Ogden, 7, 19
Onderdonk, 15, 23, 32
Ordination, 15
Outcry, 1
Oyst'rb'y,3.6.10,13,16,28,32Page, Rev. Bernard 29
Pall, 12
Paper, 5
Parish, 3, 16, 17, 20, 24
Parish Clerk, 14, 15
Parsonage, 1, 4, 19
Paten, 6
Patrean, Daniel 9
Pearsall, Nathaniel 1, 2
Peters, 8, 11, 16
Perquisites, 17, 18
Pews, 6, 8, 26
Physic, 21, 22
Pine, 2, 8
Pintard, Samuel 27, 28
Plains, 5, 17, 20
Piatt, Benjamin 16
Poole, Samuel 16
Prayer-book, 4, 5, 7, 8, 22
Presbyterians, 3, 7, 20, 24

9
1715
20 13 1
7 9
13
20 21
17, 29, 32
10, 15, 3()
7, 18
10, 19
23, 29, 31 15
25,28
10, 12, 15, 30
3, 6
31
16, 17, 18
11, 14
8,11
8, 9, 26 2
16
19
1,22
10, 16, 26 30
6, 17, 2030
8,32
1, 15,31 6,25

Rockaway,Roe, John
Rowland, John
Rudd, J. C.
Rum, Ryerson, George
Sabbath.Sacrament,Salary,Sands,

8
89
31 18
12 1
5, 6, 21
1,31 6

Sayre. 14, 28, 29
Scantling, 8
School, 15, 16, 20, 22, 26
Schoolhouse. 18
Schoolmaster, 5, 10, 18, 30
Seabury, 10, 12, 21
Seats. 8
Searle, Cornet 14
Secatogue, 28
Sectaries, 21, 24
Sermon, 8, 17, 30
Setauket, 31, 32
Sexton, 9, 11, 13
Sharpe, Rev. J, 30
Shelter Island, 9. 30
Shingles, 6, 8, 28
Sickness, 5, 22
Sinclair, Cornet 15
Silk, 6
Slaves, 6
Slays, 20
Smith, 2, 6, 8, 9, 29
Spire, 8
Snow, 29
Southampton, 7, 30
Southold, 8, 30
Standard, Rev. Thomas 6
Sounding-board,Steeple,St. George,
Strong, Selah
Stoughton,

49
6,8,9 1620 11
26,28 6,21
9, IS, 20
2,3
4, 17
8, 15

Prime, Dr, B. Y
Pritchard, Probationer,
Provost,Profaueness,Proselyte,Psalms, Pulpit,

13 3
21
25,28 22 18
16, 21, 33
4, 6, 26, ""

Quaker, 1, 2, 7, 9, 19, 30
Quakerism, 13, 21
Queens Village, 13, 30
Kapelye, Garret 30
Rattoone, Rev. E. D. 15
Rebels, 28
Refugees, 31
Register-book, 18, 29
Religion, 22
Responses, 17, 32, 33
Robertson, Governor 27

7,16 7
31 23 1
16, 20, 32 11

Stuart,Stuyvesant, Success,Sweeping, Sunday,Sutton, Robert
Syren,
Table, Temple, Thomas
Thomas,Thorne,Throop,Thunder-clap,Toleration,Townsend, Rev. E.
Town-house,Tracts, Train-bands,Tredwell, 6, 8, 16, 21, 32
Trinity Church, 2, 29
Turner, James 12
Urquhart, Rev. Wm. 3, 4
Valentine, Samuel 16
Van Nostrand, 14, 31
Van Ostrant, Cornelias 12
Van Wvck, 31
Vesey, Rev. Wm. 2, 3, 8, 26
Vestry, 5, 15, 31
Visiting. 17
Walter, Rev. Wm. 14, 29, 31
Wattf, George 12
19, 20, 23, 31

9r2 9
29 6
9,10
3, 6. 26, 29
9, 11, 3215
16,26 2328
1,10 7
10

. Eli

Weather,Westbury, Wetmore, Whalers,
Wheatly,Wheeler. Rev.
Whitsunday,
Wiggins. Richard
Williams, Willis,
Windows, 1,
Witnesses,
Wood,
Wolver Hollow,
Wright, Edmund
Yagers,Yelverton, Anthony

6, 15, 26 18
20
15,33 1415
9,29 2.6
26,28,38 17
1,10 31 2
15 8

TBI AN1VA&S

OP

1643 to 1832;
ALSO,
THE RISE AND G-ROWTH
OF THE
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

On Harare Island ami ik H

1 657 to 1 826 ;

HENRY ONDERDONK, JR.

HEMPSTEAD, N. Y. :
LOTT VAN DE WATER, PRINTER AND PUBLISHER,
1878.

PREFACE.

Scarcely anything in this book has heretofore appeared in any history. Its
contents are mostly compiled from the records of the town. The first volume
(from 1643 to 1656) is lost, and three others (A, B and C) are much worn. The
original records (1657 to 1783) were left in North Hempstead at the time that
town was set off from Hempstead. The copies taken from them, and now in
Hempstead, are incomplete and not trustworthy. The books from A to F (1657
to 1782) contain minutes of town meetings and most of the land titles. There is
also a copy of the Duke's Laws, a Book of Land Surveys (1742); and a tattered
record of the town court.
There are no old records of the Presbyterian church ; those of the Episcopal
church are continuous from 1725 to the present time.
Before the Revolution, wills were mostly recorded in the Surrogate's office,
New York ; some, however, and many deeds may be found in books A and C in
the Queens County Clerk's office. The town patents granted by Governors Kieft,
Nieoll and Dongan are on record in Albany, and so are the marriage licenses.
The records of the other towns in Queens County have likewise greatly suf
fered by the ravages of time aiid the carelessness of the custodians.
The first volume of Oysterf-ay records is gone. The land-grants in it were
copied out in 1741 ; but the other minutes (so interesting to the historian) were
not then thought worth copying. There are now nine volumes of deeds and min
utes of town meetings (A to I, 1664 to 1815) in the Clerk's office at East Norwich.
The minutes of the town court are lost. The records of the Reformed (Dutch)
church begin in 1741.
The records of Flushing previous to 1780 were all consumed by the burning
of the Clerk's dwelling.
The earlier records of Newtown have disappeared ; those extant (in seven
volumes) commence at 1659 and continue on to the Revolution. There are also
three stitched volumes of court minutes from 1659 to 1688, which give a lively
idea of homely life. The records of the Reformed (Dutch) church commence in
1741 ; those of the Presbyterian in 1725; of the Episcopal in 1710.
The Jamaica records, though not full, are continuous in four volumes, from
1656 to the present. Most of the court minutes are missing. The records of the
Reformed (Dutch) church commence 1702; of the Presbyterian in 1775; of the
Episcopal (which also contain records of Newtown and Flushing) in 1710.

6

heard the truth declared. " Mr. Gildersleeve
was so annoyed, on his return home from
worship, to find that his dwelling had an
swered all the purposes of a chapel, that his
prisoner had had so favorable an opportunity
for spreading his doctrines, and that he could
not stop his month, that he instantly wrote a
mittimus for his removal to another house ;
for Hempstead did not then boast of a lock
up or house of detention. The change of
place did not, however, prevent the people
from visiting Hodgson, during the latter part
of the day ; so fond were they of noveltj
and excitement. "In the afternoon," says
Hodgson, "many came to me, and even
those that had been mine enemies, after they
had heard truth, confessed to it. "
The probable cause of Hodgson's favorable
reception at Hempstead was that the church
and its support was part and parcel of the
town expenses. The church-goers were di
vided in sentiment : some were Independents
or Brownists, and some Presbyterians. The
tax was burdensome to the free-thinkers and
the lukewarm Christians ; hence, any attack
on the established church was welcome.
Beside these there are always those who are
fond of any "new doctrine. " Hodgson says
there was another magistrate in Hempstead,
(Capt. John Seaman), who disapproved of
Gilders] eeve's course of action, and he insists

at that time, and remanded to prison for the
night. During the interval the officers of the law
were busy searching " for those two women
who had entertained the stranger."
Thus passed the night. Next morning all
was bustle in making preparation for convey
ing the prisoners to the Governor. A cart
was procured, in which were seated the two
women, (one of whom had a child al the
breast), and Hodgson was to trot on behind,
his arms being pinioned, and he fastened to
the hinder part of the cart. In this manner,
under military escort, they travelled to the
city, about twenty miles, over open fields
and through woods ; for the country was yet
new, mostly unsettled, and no roads had yet
been made. As part of the journey was per
formed in the darkness of night, need we
wonder that it was painful to the prisoners,
and that Hodgson's arms were chafed by the
cords and his legs much, bruised and torn by
the briers and brambles that infested his
path? On their arrival at the Fort, the women
were put in prison, but soon after allowed to
return to their families. Hodgson, the chief
offender, being loosed from the cart-tail, was
led by the gaoler to a "dungeon, full of
vermin, and so odious for wet and dirt, as he
never saw before." Next day he was exam-

tliat the most respectable inhabitants of the j ined. He understood not a word of Dutch,

town concurred in that opinion, but that the
persecuting justice, taking counsel of the
ruder sort, as soon as he had committed the
stranger to prison, set off on horseback to
New Amsterdam, to bear the good news in
person to Stuyvesant, who congratulated
him on his efforts to suppress the "Quaker
heresy," and forthwith dispatched to Hemp
stead the sheriff and gaoler with a guard of
twelve musketeers, to bring Hodgson and
those who had entertained him in l heir houses
to the Fort in the city.
As soon as the escort arrived in .Hemp
stead they searched Hodgson and took from
him his little pocket-Bible,* pocket-knife,
papers, and some other articles. He was
then pinioned with cords, as was the custom

* The Quaker preachers always had a Bible at
hand, which they referred to and quoted in support
of their doctrines.

but availed himself of Capt. Willet as an in
terpreter. We have no record of the pro
ceedings of the Court, but Hodgson was no
doubt refractory and defiant. Hence he was
sentenced to pay a fine of 600 guilders ($240),
failing or refusing to do which, he was to
serve two years at a wheel-barrow, locked
with a chain. Hodgson wished to argue the
matter with the Court, but was put off. On
his refusal to work he was severely and re
peatedly scourged. Hodgson concludes his
narrative by saying : " But after I had
wrought one week, I had liberty to speak to
many that did resort unto me." About the
middle of September, at the intercession of
some friends, he was released from prison
and put on board a vessel for Rhode Island.
Thus ended the first Quaker persecution.
It should be remembered that our knowl
edge of this affair is ex parte and derived

from Quaker writers solely. It is much to be
regretted that the Governor has left no ac
count' of his proceedings in the premises ;
but that the authorities at Hempstead were
in substantial accord with him in this matter
appears from their action the next year,
(April 18, 1658), whereby they fined the
wives of Joseph Schott and Francis Weeks
(one or both were inn-keepers in Hempstead)
twenty guilders each for absenting them
selves from public worship and going to a
Quaker meeting in the woods, contrary to
the laws established. They also ordained
that no person should entertain or hold con
verse with that seducing sect, or lodge them
in their house, except for one night. Again,
on the 15th of February, 1661, the people of
Hempstead wrote to Gov. Stuyvesant that,
" from the want of a minister, now so long
continued, many of their children are yet un-
baptized." The Governor sent to them,
March 12th, a Dutch minister, Samuel Dri-
sius, (who could also preach in English),
who preached, and baptized forty-one chil
dren and an aged woman. The Governor
improved the occasion to urge them to pro
cure an able and orthodox minister, which
they soon after did, in the person of Rev.
Jonah Fordham. These proceedings show
that a sort of union of Church and State was
acquiesced in by the settlers. The Governor
favored the Presbyterians as being more in
accord with the Synod of Dort ; but looked
with suspicion on the Independents.
We have already stated that Mr. Denton
was the minister at Hempstead when Hodg
son, the first Quaker preacher, arrived there.
He either died or removed about 1659, and
his successor was the Rev. Jonah Fordham.
In 1674 there was no minister ; and Thomas
Champion, William Jecocks, James Pine,
Simon Searing, Jeremy Wood, Richard Gil
dersleeve, Sr. and Jr., in behalf of some
others, petition Gov. Andros to instal such
authority in the town as to uphold and main
tain the ministry among them, that God's
honor may be promoted and his Sabbaths
observed. From this it would seem that a
constant stream of Quaker preachers had fol
lowed in the wake of Hodgson, and that
their denunciation of "hireling priests" had
had its effect on the people.

In 1679 Justice Gildersleeve, in obedience
to an order from Gov. Andros, informed him
that Capt. John Seaman, although fore
warned, had entertained a very great Quaker
meeting at his house, the last Lord's Day.
In 1682 several town meetings were held
to settle a minister, but the Quaker influence
made itself felt. By a major vote, however,
the town at last called Rev. Jeremiah Hobart,
at a salary of £70, in corn or cattle. He
was allowed a home lot of 3 or 4 acres, 50
acres of woodland, the parsonage land and
meadows, and use of the commons for gra
zing. A house was also to be built for him,
and firewood brought to his door at free cost.
Nathaniel Pearsall, blacksmith, who was
town clerk, and a Quaker, disowned these
acts. John Jackson, Robert Jackson, Joseph
Smith, Joseph Baldwin and George Pearsall,
also protested against carting the firewood.
In, 1687 Henry Willis, a Quaker, com
plained that Richard Minthorn, constable,
and Richard Gildersleeve, collector, had
taken a cow from him fof not paying toward
building the priest's dwelling-house at Hemp
stead ; and within the same year Samuel
Emery, constable, and Francis Chapell, col
lector, had taken from him eight sheep for
priest's wages. Edmond Titus also had five
cattle distrained for the same purpose.
In 1692 Mr. Hobart, finding his salary in
arrears for over eight years past, and his
people either lukewarm or distracted by
Quaker preachers, left Hempstead for Ja
maica. The Presbyterian Church had prob
ably very irregular preaching for some years,
and the Quakers had the field mostly to
themselves. In 1695 we find the Rev. Wil
liam Vesey, who was laboring in the church
here, received a call from the Dissenting
Vestry of Trinity Church, New York ; but
as no Presbyterian or Independent could ac
cept such situation, he qualified himself for
it by going over sea and receiving ordination
at the hands of the Bishop of London. For
years there was no settled minister. It was
under such circumstances that one Roger
Gill, a Quaker preacher from England, in
traveling through this country with Thomas
Story, brought up at Hempstead. We.give
the journal in his own homely language. It
has never before been printed : —

8

" 1699, June 24<A.— We arrived at N. Y. I
from Elizabeth Town in a sloop. In the
evening had a meeting. It was small, and
things very hard. Lodged at John Rodman's.
Next day we went clown the Sound in a
sloop of John Rodman's to Flushing, another
Friend's boat with us being accompanied
with divers good Friends who had come to
the meeting at N. Y. and went with us. We
lodged that night at Thomas Stevenson's.
Next morning we crossed the Sound to
Westchester. * * *
" From Horse Neck we crossed the Sound
to L. I. in two canoes tied together, (Aug.
. 25, 1699), both we and our horses, about
the 9th hour at night. Some Friends, hear
ing of our coming, came to meet us. We
lodged at Samuel Bound's. So Friends re
ceived us very joyfully, and were glad that
we were come ; for on this day (Aug. 26)
began their Quarterly Meeting at Westbury,
and was to be held at the house of  .
So to this meeting we went, and a large
meeting it was ; for at it we were expected,
but we knew not of it until we came to the
Island. A good meeting it was. I lodged
at Edmond Titus's.
'¦'¦Aug. 27. — This day we had a far more
larger meeting. To it came abundance of
people, and some of those called Ranters;
but the Lord's power chained them down, so
that they made no disturbance, and a glori
ous meeting it was ; and so ended this meet
ing, held for two days. We lodged this
night also at Edmond Titus's. We met in a
field. "This day (Aug. 28) a meeting was ap
pointed at Tinecock for a marriage that was
there solemnized. A large meeting it was,
and to it also came several of the Ranters ;
but in the meeting time they were all pretty
civil, except one that stood without and gave
a great hallo, being possessed with an evil
spirit, roaring like a bear, which caused
some lightness. I being standing up a speak
ing, the zeal of the Lord sprang in me, and
the power of the Lord fell upon me, and
judgment from the Spirit of God went out
against them. It was with me to compare
these Ranters to the mad folk in Bedlam. I
also showed the people what Bedlam was,
and what frenzies the mad folks raised there.

As to these people's practices, they are lewd
and lascivious, who would fain be called by
the name of 'New Quakers,' and in their
pretences cry out : ' Liberty to the seed of
God, as in the beginning,' whilst in reality
their desires are neither to come under the
censure of the Spirit of truth, that would re
prove them for their frenzies, nor the punish
ment of any just laws, that would lay hold
on them for their offences ; but liberty to
commit sin without control is what they only
want. So, too, their manner of worship is
this : when they meet, some fall a singing,
some a dancing, some shouting and howling,
some jumping straight upward, some smoking
tobacco, others talking, some preaching,
others praying, and all this is performed to
gether, by which it doth plainly appear that
the seed of the devil hath as much liberty in
them as in the beginning, and jnore than it
ought to have. However, the Lord's power
that day kept them under in the. meeting,
and it ended in a divine sense of the Lord's
presence. But after the meeting was ended,
some Friends spoke a few words to them
that set them a madding, for which I was
grieved, and said to the Friends : ' Words do
but provoke them because their life is in
them ; nothing but God's blessed power can
put them to silence. ' So then we withdrew
into a little room, the meeting being ended ;
and when these Ranters had sung, danced,
halloed a little, away they departed. So
then after meeting we went to Jericho and
lodged at the Widow Willis's.
"This day from Jericho we went to Jeru
salem, and had a meeting there, peaceable
and pretty large. So away to Hempstead
we went, and lodged at Nathaniel Pear-
sail's. This day (Aug. 30th) we had a
meeting at Hempstead, and at it were several
of the town's people, together with their
priest, unknown to us. So the meeting
being settled, up I stood, and out comes the
priest's pen and pocket-book. Not thinking
it was the priest, I began with the 1st of the
Hebrews and the 1st verse : ' God, who at
sundry times, and in divers manners, spake
in time past unto the Fathers by the proph
ets, hath in these last days spoken unto us
by his Son, ' and so went on, admonishing
all to hear the Son and to know God to he

9

their teacher, and not to heap to ' themselves
teachers who at best I compared to a jour
neyman shoemaker, who, when he had
served his time, went about to seek a course
of work ; if he can hear of a seat that is
open, he asketh the master if he hath any
occasion for a man. So upon trial he gives
him a pair or two to do, and if his work
passes — that is to say, is good work — his
master is apt to tell him he may have a win
ter seat ; but if not, off he turns him, and
away he goes to seek another master.
' But, ' said I, ' the priests of New England
swarm rather like catterpillars than journey
men shoemakers. See, ' said I, ' how it runs
parallel. When a priest has served his time
in the college, he listeneth with both ears to
hear of a vacancy in a parish. Away he
goes and tells the people he will preach them
so many sermons upon liking, and if his
craft passes, they hire him not by the pair
but by so much by the year ; but if not,
they give him something for what he hath
done, and away he goes to another township.'
But before I had spoken all this, though
much more opened upon me, up he puts his
pen, ink and paper, being more wiser than
to write his condemnation, it being more
than he could bear to have it read to him.
So up he gets, and away he goes ; but before
he went, whilst I was a speaking, one of my
hearers said : ' We are now about to hire a
preacher ; I would we could light of a good
one.' So the meeting ended, and was a
peaceable, good meeting. Then came some
Friends to me and said : ' That was the
priest that was writing. ' I answered : ' I
knew it not.' 'But,' said he, 'thou hast
preached him the unhappiest sermon imagin
able, for he is newly come into the parish,
and is to preach them five sermons upon
liking, three of them being past. Some of
the people were at a stand whether they
should hire him or no. ' Thus the Lord is
throwing down their bulwarks and laying
their inheritance waste, and rendering to
them the fruit of their own doings.
"From thence to Flushing, (5th Day), to
Samuel Bown's. This day we had a meet
ing at Flushing. A good, and large, and
lively meeting it was.
" This day (6th Day) to a town called Ja

maica, (Sept. 1). i We came and had a meet
ing there, in an orchard. The Lord's power
was there. After this meeting I parted with ^
my friends Samuel Jennings and Thomas ¦
Story; and John Rodman and I to New
York." Shortly after this our friend Roger, in
travelling toward Philadelphia, caught a dis
ease there prevalent, and soon died thereof.
Extracts from the Journal of Thomas
Story, a Traveling Preacher of the
Society of Friends.
1699, June 24th, Saturday. We went
from New York by water, accompanied by
our friend Dr. John Rodman, and some oth
ers, and that night lodged with our friend
Thomas Stephenson, on Long Island. Next
day passed over the Sound to Westchester,
and fell in opportunely with a Yearly
Meeting. August 25. On our way from Horse Neck
we heard of a Quarterly Meeting, to be the
day after, at Westbury, in Long Island ; and
therefore we went that evening over the
Sound to Samuel Bown's, where we had a
comfortable lodging.
On the 26th we went to Westbury, about
16 miles, where we had a good meeting with
Friends; and the next day being the 1st of
the week, had another very large meeting
there. On the 28th we had a meeting at
Matinecock, on occasion of a marriage, about
9 miles thence. To this meeting came some
of the Ranters of Oysterbay, and during the
greatest part of the time were pretty still,
save only an old man, who sometimes hooted
like an owl, and made a ridiculous noise, as
their manner is; and the marriage being
solemnized, he stood up and bare his testi
mony, as he called it, against our set forms,
and cried for liberty to the oppressed seed,
" which," said he, "is oppressed with your
forms," meaning the manner of the celebra
tion of our marriages, generally approved
by mankind as the most decent of all. We
said not much to them, truth being over
them, and the meeting ended well. That
evening we went to Jericho, 8 miles, and
lodged at the widow Mary Willits'. Next
day, 29th, we went from Jericho to Jerusa
lem, and had a pretty good meeting at Ben-

w

jaimih- Seaman's,- and'thence that evening to
Hempstead; to Nathaniel Pearsall's, 6 miles,
amd' next day (30th) had a meeting there;
where came a priest or teacher of a sect, and
some people with him, and he began to
write after my companion, (Roger Gill), who
in- a short time fell so exposingly and heavily
upon the sort, he was of, that the teacher
ceased from writing and departed the place
without offering to defend his exposed pro
fession,. But one among ourselves, who had
professed the truth about 20 years, took ex
ception against something Roger had said
concerning the resurrection of the body —
1st Cor. xv. 37 — "Thou so west not that body
which shall be, but bare grain," &c. ; and
coming- into the Friend's house, after meet
ing, he made his objectio'ns in public, saying
he believed the resurrection of the very same
body. Roger discoursed with him and ad
duced arguments sufficient to satisfy any
sober inquirer ; and yet he continued to
cavil.. Then, for the sake of the people and
others that might be weak among us, I called
for the Bible and read that part to them,
viz.: 1st Cor. xv. 37. "That which thou
sowest, thou sowest not that body which
shall be, but bare grain," &c. Upon this
he was silent, and so the matter ended. But
upon our inquiry what this man was, he ap
peared to be one of those the people called
"Wet Quakers."
After this^ve went with Samuel Bowne and
his wife to Flushing, where we had a glori
ous meeting next day, (31st), and the day
after (Sep. 1st) had a pretty large meeting at
Jamaica, about 4 miles thence, and that
evening we returned to Flushing. Next day
I went over the Sound as far as Horse Neck.
After meeting, next day, we returned over
the Sound in a canoe and lodged that night
at Thomas Stevenson's. Next day (4th) we
had a meeting at Newtown, 3 miles off. The
meeting was not large. That night Samuel
Jennings (from Burlington) and I lodged
with Robert Field, and Roger Gill and John
Rodman returned to New York.
1700, January 27. Landed in Long Island
in the morning, about the 5th hour, and
thence to Newtown, to Robert Field's, 9
miles ; and the same evening, to Thomas
Stevenson's, 3 miles; and the next day (1st

of the week) we went by water to Flushing;
where the Lord gave us a good and, comforts
able meeting; and then rested at Samuel'
Bown's till the 30th< On the 31st we had a--
meeting at Hempstead, 12 miles off, and that'
evening returned to Samuel: Bown's; and'
1st of 12th month, (Februaiy) I was at the
Monthly Meeting at Flushing, where several
marriages were presented; and the counte
nance of the Lord was over us for good; andi
the next day I was at a marriage at New
town, where we were favored with another'
good meeting ; next day I went to New
York and lodged with Dr. John Rodman.
1702, July 23. From Staten Island we;
landed within night on Long Island,. near a
small house of a poor Dutchman, who hadi
only one bed ; and he laid me down a coat
on the floor, and a little chair at one end of
it, with a little pillow upon it, so that I.
lodged but very indifferently ; beside, there
were fleas and musketoes plenty. However,.
I was very well contented, the presence and-
healing virtue and goodness of the Lord being-
with me. I got good water to drink, but
little victuals ; and in the morning set. for
ward and missed my way several times, they
being generally Dutch people in that- part of
the Island, whose directions in the ways I
could nbt well understand. About mid-day
I got well to Widow Stephens', at Newtown>
where I dined and rested some hours, and itt
the evening went to Thomas Stephenson's^,
where I lodged more comfortably that night.
The next morning we went by water to a
meeting at Flushing, and we had an indiffer
ent good meeting there. That night we all
lodged with Samuel Bowne, at Flushing*.
Next day had another good meeting at West
chester, and that evening they returned over
the Sound to Samuel Bowne's, and I went
with Thomas Stephenson. The 26th, being
1st day, we had a large meeting near New
town, where it is kept once a year ; and that
night I returned to the Widow Charity Ste
phens', and the next day back to Flushing ;
and on the 28th had a good meeting at
Hempstead, where I staid that night; and
next day had a meeting at Jericho, and that
evening returned to Flushing ; the next, day
I was at their week-day meeting, which was
hard and shut-up at first, but ended comfort-

10.

ably?;: and- on 31st I visited several families,
and returned in the evening to Samuel
Bowne's, where, next day, I wrote divers
letters. Thence crossed the Sound.
1703-4, March. On the evening of the
8th went from New York into Long Island,
and lodged at John Wey's ; and next day
was at the meeting at Flushing ; and on the
12th (1st day) I went over the Plains to
Westbury, where the Friends of several
meetings were together, and there we had a
large and open meeting.
And this year our friend Samuel Bownas,
a young man, being come over from England
to visit Friends in America, in his testimony
at Hempstead had spoken against the error
of sprinkling infants, and something against
the bread and wine of the priests, which
they call sacraments, of which Lord Corn
bury, then Governor, having been informed,
(and George Keith's work of envy remaining
fresh in memory), he had arbitrarily put
Samuel Bownas in prison at a place called
Jamaica, where he was unjustly confined,
without any law, about 12 months; and at
this place I had a meeting appointed and
held on the 14th of this month, which was
large, very open and well.
On the 16th I was at Flushing week-day
meeting, to which came some strangers.
The meeting was very open and bright, and
many truths of the Gospel were declared in
the authority of it, to their satisfaction ; and
next day had a meeting near Newtown, to
which came several Presbyterians — their
ministers being arbitrarily silenced by Lord
Cornbury, and gone out of the way or ab
sconded ; and things were largely opened
concerning the Passover, and bread and wine
as being part, of it, &c.
After the meeting, as we rode along, Jona.
Whitehead, one of the Justices who, by the
Governor's order, committed Samuel Bow
nas to prison, fell into conversation with me ;
upon which I told him I had observed he
had been at most of the meetings where I
had been in the Island, and asked him if he
had anything to object. To which he an
swered that he had not anything, but was
well satisfied ; and also expressed a consid
erable, dissatisfaction in himself that he had
signed (Nov. 30, 1702) the mittimus against

Samuel' Bownas. He was loving and* re
spectful, and under some more than ordinary
concern of mind, and went out of his way to
accompany us along the road toward Flush
ing, to which we returned that evening. On
the 18lh I rested at Flushing, and wrote let
ters, and on the 19th (1st day) I was at
their meeting, which was large, many people
being there from several parts of the Island
where I had been before. The blessed truth
was over all, and many things were opened
in the authority and dominion of it, to the
praise of the Lord and general satisfaction of
Friends and people. The next day I visited
Samuel Bownas in prison at Jamaica, and-
that evening returned to Flushing, and next
day to Westchester.
1704, August. On the evening of the 20th
we went over the Sound into Long Island,
and lodged at Dr. (Henry) Taylor's. On the
21st we went to Samuel Bowne's, at Flush
ing, where, being well received and kindly
entertained, as he commonly did all traveling
Friends, we staid till next day, and then had
a meeting at Jamaica, which was small but
comfortable ; and here we went to visit our
friend Samuel Bownas, still a prisoner for
the testimony of truth ; and that night we
lotlged at Hugh Cowperthwait's. On the
23d we returned to Samuel Bowne's, and
there staid that night, and the day after were
at their week-day meeting at Flushing, which
was large and well ; and that evening we
went to Dr. Rodman's, and on the 25th to
William Mott's, at Great Neck, where the
Lord favored us with a comfortable meeting ;
and that night lodged at the Widow Pear-
sail's, and on the 26th, being the 7th day of
the week, we were at the Quarterly meeting
at Westbury, which held two days, and was
very large and well, only some of the Rant
ers in that Island came and made a howling
and hideous noise, as is common with them,
and thereby gave the meeting some uneasi
ness, but all ended in great quietness and
peace ; and that evening I returned to Samuel
Bowne's, Flushing. On 28th I went to New
York.

Note. — The Church at Hempstead ordered a bell from
Amsterdam (Dec. 19, 1656) through Gov. Stuyvesant. A
drum was heat to call people to worship.

12

. Samuel Bownas came to Hempstead to'
preach in November, 1702, and George Keith
(once a Quaker, but now an Episcopal
minister,) following his steps, had appointed
a meeting also, to preach within hearing,
and between the two appointments there was
a very large gathering. .
Bownas says : "I being very young and
strong, my voice was plainly heard by the
people who were with Keith, so that they all
left his meeting and came to ours (for we
had room enough for both meetings, it being
a very large barn,) except the Clerk and one
William Bradford, who had been a printer
for Friends at Philadelphia, but deserting the
Society,, Friends took the business from him.
But some time after, Keith and Bradford
agreed that the latter should come and try if
no advantage might be taken of my doctrine :
accordingly he came to my, meeting and
pujled out of his pocket a small blank-book,
with pen and ink, and steadfastly stared in
my face to put me out of countenancedf he
could ; but I was above being daunted at
that time, though at other times very incident
to it. He opened his book and writ about
two lines in it, then shut it again, continuing
his staring to try (as some thought) whether
he could not daunt me ; but I was past his
skill, for. I felt both inward and outward
strength,, and divine power to fill my heart,
and my face was like brass to all opposition.
He. opened his book, writ about two lines
more, and a little after, about two, more, in
the whole about six lines in a small octavo
leaf; and after I had done, he stood up and
said : ' Will you stand by these doctrines in
public that have been now preached?' (mean
ing by public dispute). A worthy man,
John Rodman, desired him to be quiet, and
after meeting was ended, he should be an
swered. "Accordingly the meeting concluded, and
he waited for his answer. To which friend
Rodman said : ' William, thou knowest what
our friend has been concerned to speak
about to-day, are such points as have been
by the Press argued over and over ; and as
the controversy has been some years in the
Press, it is therefore needless, at this time of
day, to reduce it to a verbal dispute. ' Bui
he wanted to hear what I would say to the

matter, and I told him his questions being •:
more for contention than edification, I did
not therefore think myself obliged to answer
them. He turned from me, and in a very
angry manner said I should hear of it another
way. At his return to Keith they laid their
heads together and trumped up the following
depositions from what he, had writ :
" 'I, William Bradford, of New York,
aged 40, depose that on. the 21st of Novem
ber, 1702, going into the Quaker's meeting,
at Nathaniel Pearsall's, deceased, in Hemp
stead, I heard one Bownas, lately come out
of England, preach; and the( first words I
heard him say, were: "The sign of the,
cross ; and thus, friends, having gone through.
the Papist baptism, let us examine the Church
of England. Well, what do they do ? Why,
the Bishop lays his hands upon those who.
have learnt the languages, and ordains them
to be ministers. Well, and what Ao they
do ? Why, they baptize the children, the'
young children, and sprinkle a little water
in their faces, and by this they make the
child a Christian as they say, and for so ¦ .
doing the children's parents must give the.
priest four pence or a groat : indeed, this is
an easy way of making Christians for a
groat! And how do they do this ? Their
own Catechism tells us, The priest says to
the child : ' What is thy name ?' The
child answers, Thomas, James. Maiy, &c.
Well, and ' who gave thee this name ?'
Ans. — 'My godfathers and godmothers in
my baptism, whereby I was made a member
of Christ. ' This is brave, to be a member
of Christ. Who would not have a little
water sprinkled in their faces ? And ' what
did your godfathers and mothers then for
you ?' Ans. — 'They did promise and vow
three things in my name: 1. That 1 should
renounce the Devil and all his works, ' tfec.
Ay ! did they so ? This is brave. Well,
what did they promise more? 'Secondly,
that I should keep God's holy will and com-
fhandments,' &c. And yet, in contradic
tion to this, they plead for sin term of life,
and say they can't keep God's command
ments in this life. Why, this is strange,
that godfathers and mothers should promise
what, they believe they can't perform. Do
they thus promise ? Yes ! they do. But

13

this is strange, that their God should need a
godfather and mother. But, friends, our
God is the true and living God, and hath no
need of godfathers and mothers. Well, and
what do the Presbyterians do ? Why, they
baptize their children also ; but, as I take it,
they do not make use of godfathers or
mothers, nor the cross. They have thrown
away that piece of popery. As to the
Lord's supper I shall be brief. The bread
and wine which they receive and call the
Lord's supper, goes in at the mouth and into
the draught, and profits nothing. They call
it a sign, yea, and an empty sign it is. But
by these ways and forms the hirelings de
ceive the people. They will turn with every
wind, and every turn that will answer their
priests' ends, as we have seen largely fulfilled
in our day." William Bradford.
" 'Sworn- before Edward Burroughs and
Joseph Smith, Justices.
" ' A true copy. Thomas Cardale, Sheriff
of Queens Co. '
" Having patched up this deposition, they
met one Richard Smith, aged 28, who was
at the meeting, and Keith got some words
out of him that he said he had heard spoken.
Then they threatened him, and so he was
prevailed on by this fear to depose as follows :
" ' On Sunday last this deponent was at a
Quaker's meeting in Hempstead, where he
heard him say that the Church of England,
in baptism, made use of godfathers and
mothers, but our God is the ever-living God,
and has no need of a godfather or mother.
" 'Sworn November 24th, 1702.'
"A warrant was then issued for my arrest,
and sundry substantial people (not Friends)
would have had me gone off, but that I would
not do ; so on the 29th, as I was at Flushing,
it being the half-yearly meeting, which was
very large, Keith being expected there,
when the meeting was fully set the Sheriff
came with a very large company, all armed,
some with guns, others with pitchforks ;
others, swords, halberds, clubs, &c. ; as if
they should meet with great opposition in
taking a poor, harmless, silly sheep out of
the flock. The Sheriff stepping up into the
gallery, took me by the hand and told me I
was his prisoner. We pro'd and con'd a
little time, and I got up from my soat, r.nd

John Rodman and Samuel Bowne, and sun
dry other Friends, and walked out of meet
ing, it not being proper to discourse there at
that time. They easily prevailed on the
Sheriff to stay the meeting, with all his reti
nue ; and afterwards they would consider
what was best to be done. They laid down
their arms outside the door and came in,
which increased the throng very much.
Finding the wind like a fire, I could no
longer contain, but standing up had a very
agreeable service. It was the first day of
the meeting, and the 7th of the week. The
Sheriff allowed me to stay with my friends
till 5th day, there being two days of the
meeting yet to come and a funeral of a noted
Friend the day after. The meeting increased,
there being near 2,000 the last day; but
Keith did not come.
I appeared at Jamaica before four Justices.
A great crowd of people were deprived of an
opportunity of hearing my examination, for
want of a large hall, which they might have
had, but by reason of the cold the Justices
would not go there. They wrote a mittimus,
ordering the Sheriff to safely keep in the
common goal of Queens Co. Samuel Bownas,
a Quaker, charged with speaking scandalous
lies of and reflections against the Church of
England, and other misdemeanors done and
spoken in Hempstead, Nov. 21, until he
shall be thence delivered by due course of
law. " Now I was delivered up a prisoner, and
my friends left me, having first got me a
good wholesome room and a very good bed,
taking care that I should want nothing
necessary to life. At the end of three
months a court was held. The judges came,
attended with much company, in great pomp,
wilh trumpets and other music before them.
The grand jury were called over, a very un
common charge given them, and on retiring
a bill was sent them. They had also before
them sundry evidence [prepared by Bownas]
to set Bradford's evidence aside. The Court.
met Feb. 29th, 1703, and the Clerk called
over the Jury : —
"Richard Cornell, Foreman ; Isaac Hicks,
Theodore Vanderwyck, Richard Valentine,
Isaac Doughty, John Searing, Richard Alsop,
William Bloodgood, James Clement, Eph-

14

raim Goulding, Robert Hubbs, Samuel Den
ton, Jr., Nathaniel Cole, Jr., Samuel Emery,
John Oakey, John Hunt, John Clear, Rich-
bell Mott, Joseph Mott, Joseph Dickenson,
John Smith, Samuel Hallet.
"The Jury being asked what business they
had to lay before the Court, presented the
bill against me indorsed Ignoramus. The
Judge [Bridges] was very angry ; the other
Judges, being mostly Presbyterians, said
little or nothing. On the Judge demanding
their reasons for not finding a bill, James
Clement, a bold man and skilled in law, an
swered : ' We are sworn to keep the Queen's
secrets, our fellows' and our own.' The
Judge replied : ' Now, Mr. Wiseman speaks.
You are not so sworn, and I could find it in
my heart to lay you by the heels, and a fine
on your brethren.' Clement retorted that
neither Grand nor Petit Jurors are to be
menaced with threats of stocks or fines, but
they are to act freely to the best of their
judgment on the evidence before them. Now,
the Judge finding he had not children to deal
with, began to flatter, and requested the
Jury to take back the bill and resume con
sideration on it. On this the Jury was in
judgment divided, but at last all consented.
Next morning the Judge asked the Foreman :
'How find you the bill?' Ans. — 'As yes
terday.' The Judge then charged the Jury
with obstructing justice. ' Why V said
Clement ; ' because we can't be of the same
mind as the Court ! We would have you
know that we desire nothing but justice.'
The Clerk called over the jury singly to show
their reasons. Some refused to say more
than: 'That's our verdict.' Others said:
' How unreasonable for the Court to try to
perjure the Jury by revealing their secrets in
the face of the country ! ' The Jury stood
7 for finding a bill and 15 stood firm against
them. "This angered the Judge so that he ad
journed the Court for six weeks, and ordered
the prisoner to be kept closer than before,
on account of crimes and misdemeanors of
the most dangerous consequence, as tending
to subvert Church and State, and threatening
to send me to London.
' ' Thomas Hicks, who had been County
Judge, visited me in prison, took me in his

arms, and said: 'Dear Samuel, the Lord
hath made use of you as an instrument to
put a stop to our arbitrary courts, and never
has so successful a stand been made as now.
The Chief Justice frets, and Lord Cornbury
is disgusted, who expected to have made
considerable advantage by it, but the coun
ty's eyes are now opened, and you are not
alone, but it is the case of every subject.
Had the Presbyterians stood as you have
done, they had not so tamely left their
meeting-houses [at Hempstead and Jamaica]
to the Church. '
" I was now put up in a small room made
of logs, which had been protested against as
an unlawful prison, and my friends denied
coming to me. I appealed to the Governor,
but all in vain. Not wanting to be charge
able to my friends I applied to a Scotch
churchman, Charles Williams, to let me have
tools and teach me to make shoes. By night
I finished one shoe, and next day the other,
and made such improvement as to earn 15
shillings a week, and thus diverted body and
mind, and had plenty of money."
About the beginning of the 8th month
(1703) the Sheriff called 18 men for a jury.
In a short time they came in Court with the
bill signed Ignoramus, which made some of
the lawyers say, in a joke, they had got into
an ignoramus country. Bownas was asked
if he had anything to offer to the Court. He
said he wanted his liberty and reparation for
the injury done him. The Judge offered him
his liberty on paying his fees. On his de
clining to pay, he was discharged by procla
mation, and a large body of Friends, who had
come from all parts of the Island to see him
cleared, bore him away with them in a kind
of triumph ; and even the country people
who were not Friends rejoiced exceedingly.
He had been a prisoner in Jamaica goal a
year, wanting three weeks and two days.
His friends had paid £15 for defraying the
charges of his imprisonment, for chamber
rent, and a present to the goaler, which
Bownas, who had money plenty that he
earned by making shoes in prison, was fain
to refund them. He now visited every cor
ner of the Island, and had very large open
meetings. He also preached at Hempstead
three times. '

ANNALS OF HEMPSTEAD.

Hempstead was bought of the natives by
Rev. Robert Fordham and Mr. John Car
man, in 1643. As it was under Dutch juris
diction, they also obtained a patent from
Gov. Kieft, Nov. 16,' 1644. Some of the
conditions were that they should pay the
government a tax of the tenth of (their farm
ing produce in ten years after the first gene
ral peace with the Indians, to use the Dutch
weights and measures and the new style.
This patent, written on parchment, was in
the Town Clerk's office in North Hempstead
a few years ago. In the suit for the Marshes
a portion of it was copied by the lawyers,
and reprinted in Mr. Thompson's history.
It is recorded in full in New York Deed
Book, iii, 100.
Indian wars were prevalent at the time of
settlement, as appears by the following ex
tracts from Dutch writers :
1643, October 24. — Long Island is stripped
of people, and cattle, except a few insignifi
cant places over against the Main, which are
about to be abandoned. The English who
settled amonst us have not escaped. They,
too, except at one place, are all murdered
and burnt. — Col. His., i, 190.
1644, April. — Rev. Mr. Fordham sent
•word to Gov. Kieft that he had just arrested
seven savages, on a charge of stealing pigs,
and had them confined in a cellar at Hemp
stead, but that he durst not treat them inhu
manly, as he could not answer for the con
sequences to himself. Kieft sent fifteen or
sixteen soldiers, who killed three of the In
dians in the cellar and took the others to
their boat. Two were drowned while being
towed along by a string around their necks,
the other two were dispatched with soldiers'
knives at the Fort.— Doc. IBs., iv, 105.
 Kieft being informed that Penawitz
had killed some people and set their houses
on fire, sent out in three boats one hundred
and twenty soldiers who landed in Cow Bay
and marched toward Hempstead. They

formed in two divisions and destroyed two
villages and killed one hundred and twenty
Indians, with a loss of one slain and three
wounded. — Col. His., i, 186.
1647, May 11.— Peter Stuyvesant e the
Dutch Governor of the Colony till Septem
ber 8, 1664.
1647, August 23. — Delegates from Hemp
stead appear before the Governor and report
that the savages around them are lured on
by Indians from the Main to attack the peo
ple and destroy the village. The Governor
sends his Secretary in a yacht to inquire
into the truth of the report, who also takes a
piece of cloth and some trifling presents for
the chief, in order to a renewal of friendship.
1649. — " Hempstead is superior to all the
settlements in the Island, for it is very rich
in cattle." So say the Dutch writers. In
1657 there were 306 cattle and 74 weaned
calves at pasture, all owned by 38 planters.
SUNDAY LAW.
1650. — These orders made at a General
Court held at Hempstead, September 16, and
consented unto by a full town-meeting held
October 18 :
Forasmuch as the contempt of God's word
and Sabbaths, is the desolating sin of Civil
States and Plantations ; and the public
preaching of the Word by those who are
duly called thereto, is the means ordered of
God for edifying, converting and saving the
souls of men ; it is ordered by the authority
of this Court that all persons in this town
shall duly resort to the public meetings on
the Lord's day and public days of Fasting
and Thanksgiving, forenoon and afternoon?*
under penalty of 5 guilders for the 1st ab
sence, 10 for the 2d and 20 for the 3d. Those
who remain refractory shall be liable lo fur
ther censure of the Court either for aggrava
tion of the fine or for corporal punishment
or banishment. One-half the fine to be
given to the informer.

16

By order from the magistrates was sub
scribed, Daniel Dentonius, Clericus.
After the appearance of the Quakers at
Hempstead, this order was re-enacted by
tne magistrates and approved by the Gov
ernor and Council, October 16, 1657; and
recorded by John James, Town Clerk, June
16, 1658.— Bee. A, 31.
1651, September 25. — The magistrates of
Hempstead write a letter (No. 4) to the Di
rectors at Amsterdam, in which they thank
them for powder and lead and request them
to send some every year ; and " we will sat
isfy you with such pay as we receive."
They complain that Dutch traders at Man
hattans sell powder and lead to the Indians.
" Since our last letters, wherein we besought
reform, hundreds of those Indians coming
on the Island have killed our cattle and car
ried them off to their own plantations to
feast upon, and sold some of the meat to the
Dutch at Manhattans in place of venison.
They have driven out of the pasture through
the swamps our remaining cattle over out
standing corn, so that we have this summer
been damaged more than ' 1000 guilders.
'Tis a matter of small moment in their eyes
to kill a good ox merely for the horns to
carry powder in ; sometimes they slay a man,
sometimes a woman, plunder the houses, pur
loin our guns, pry into our affairs, endeavor
to drown the people, strip the children in
the fields and woods, prowl abroad with
masks, slaughter our hogs, and when we
demand satisfaction challenge us to fight,
boasting of their greater number of men and
guns. " We dread a cruel insurrection, and shall
be obliged to abandon our habitations and
your Honor's jurisdiction. We beg you to
send over some servant men, who are here
as precious as gold, both in regard to our
work and our protection, and provide us
goods on more reasonable terms. We now
buy supplies at excessive prices elsewhere
when liquors are all out at Manhattans. We
shall do our best to make due returns in pro
duce, the proceeds of our servants' labor,
viz.: in corn, beef, pork, butter, tobacco,
staves, or such like wares, in exchange for
such merchandize as we shall receive.
"I, John Moore, minister of the church

of Hempstead, do attest this to be a true
copy."— Col. His., ii, 157.
1652, April 8. — The Governor declares the
election at Hempstead illegal, as they had
not sent him a double set of names as the
Patent required. Consequently, all they had
done since Capt. Thomas Topping went
away was null. ' Richard Gildersleeve, Mr.
Coe and Daniel Whitehead were magistrates
in 1652.— Dutch MSS., xi, 58.
1653, December 11.— John Seaman, Wil
liam Washborn, Robert Coe and John Hicks,
with deputies from other English villages,
send a remonstrance to the Governor on the
abridgement of their freedom and privileges ;
and express fears of an arbitrary govern
ment.— Col. His., i, 552. '
1654, April 30. — Francois Frans was sued
for smuggling from New England into Hemp
stead 670 pounds of gunpowder and a quan
tity of goods, and trading them off there. — ¦
Dutch MSS., v, 249.
1656, March 12. — In the general peace
with Tackpausha and his Indians convened
at Hempstead, it is mutually agreed that all
injuries since 1645 shall be forgiven and for
gotten. The Governor agrees to build on
the Northside a house or fort to be furnished
with Indian trade or commodities. — Rec.
A, 22.
1656, November 16.— The Town Clerk
objects to paying tenths at present, as no
general peace with the Indians was made till
this year, and he demands indemnity of the
Governor (according to covenant) for dam
ages done by the Indians. — Dutch MSS.,
xii, 41.
1656, December 19. — The Directors of the
West India Co. promise to ship from Am
sterdam bells for the churches of Flatbush
and Hempstead, next spring. — Dutch MSS.,
xii, 45.
A drum was yet used at Hempstead in 1705.
1656, December 21. — John Seaman and
Richard Gildersleeve are appointed magis
trates.— Dutch MSS., viii, 308.
The following is the first entry on the first
page of book A. of Hempstead Records. We
give it literally, but hereafter will use the
modern spelling of woi'ds :
March the 17, 1657, Stylo novo. — Choosen
by the towne of Hempsteed for Townesmen

17

for the abovesaid yeere, Fransis Wickes,
Richard Brutnall, Richard Vallingtyne, Ro-
bord Marville, Adam Mott.
Wee the magistrates of Hempsteed doe
herby ingage owrsilves • to stand by and
bare out with full power the abovenamed
Townesmen in all such actos and orders as
shall conduce for the good and benefite of
this towne for this preasant yeere, giveing
oute of land and resaiveing in of inhabbe-
tantes onely exsepted. Given under owr
handes, this 16 of Aprell, 1657, stylo novo.
Ri. Gildersleeve,
Jno. Seaman.
1657, July 17.— The Governor visits Hemp
stead and holds a meeting in hopes both of
the settling of Rev. Mr. Denton's continu
ance there, and in regard to an agreement of
the tenths ; but both were broke off by some
turbulent spirits. As he was in haste to re
turn home he sends word to the town that
he shall expect the tenths on the field for the
year present and the value of them for the
year past. He also says: "Mr. Robert
Fordham, some time minister of Hempstead,
left the place and the exercise of 1he minis
try without our wish or knowledge, and for
little or no reason. Therefore we cannot
admit of his coming back again. "
July 25.— The town sent Capt. Seaman to
the Governor to disavow the act of these tur
bulent spirits and to say that they are con
tent to pay the tenths (100 skeples of wheat)
and desire to embrace Mr. Denton's ministry.
The Governor is appeased and writes, July
29, " About the con tinuancy of Mr. Denton
amongst you we shall use all endeavors we
can. If he cannot be persuaded, you must
look for another able and godly man, where-
unto we on our side shall contribute what is
in our power. — Doc. His., iii, 190.
1657. — A quarter's rate is made for Mr.
Richard Denton for his wages for the year,
the sum being £17.10, the levy being 8Jd.
the acre. The gatherers are William Wash
burn and Thomas Demon t. — Rec. A., 12.
1657, July 6. — It is ordered that whoso
ever shall (on being ordered by the Towns
men) refuse to gather any town rate, shall
pay for his first refusal thereof six carolus
guilders. — Rec. A., 3.
1657, August 5. — At Hempstead (say the

Dutch ministers) there arc some Indepen
dents ; also many of the Dutch persuasion
and Presbyterians. They have a Presbyte
rian preacher, Richard Denton, an honest,
pious and learned man, who has in all things
conformed to our church. The Indepen
dents listen attentively to his preaching, but
when he begins to baptize the children of
parents who are not members of the church,
they sometimes burst out of the church. —
Doc. His., iii, 107.
1657, December. — The Town Clerk com
plains to the Governor that "We cannot get
the Indians to show us the general bounds of
our lands, whereby there is much difference
amongst ourselves concerning our propor
tions ; and of late they have done us much
mischief \>y killing our swine and chasing
our cattle. John Smith of late hath suffered
the loss for £30 or £40 in swine which he
found killed or hurt in their quarters. Being
met together to-day we make our grievances
known to you, and humbly crave redress
under your Honor's direction, how to save
ourselves harmless for the future. Further.
we humbly desire to know when you will be
pleased to accept, your payment concerning
Mr. Denton's quarterage, and to desire you
to accept of oats and some wheat, which is
the best payment we are able to make." —
Col. MSS, viii, 663.
1658, January 30. — The Town Clerk asks
of the Governor some powder, lead and
flints, and 40 soldiers with an officer to com
pel the Indians to carry out their agree
ment, that is, "to layout their lands, and
give satisfaction for past injuries. The Indi
ans only brought in some of their dogs and
killed them, but have reserved some of the
best."— Dutch MSS., xii, 73.
1658, March 4. — Another quarter rate is
made by the Townsmen for the sum of
£17.10, for the payment of Mr. Denton's
last quarter, to be paid in wheat at 5s. per
bushel, or oats -at 2s. 6d. The sum levied
upon this rate at 3£d. per acre of meadow
amounts to £19.1. — Rec. A., 12.
1658, April 12. — Ordered by the town that
whatsoever person shall open the town-gates,
and neglect to put up the bars and shut the
gates, shall forfeit for such defect, 5s. — half
to the informer.— -Bee. A.,. 17.

IS

QUAKERS.
1658. — At a Court holden at Hempstead
the 18th of April, present Mr. Richard Gil
dersleeve, Magistrate, Mr. John Hicks, Mr.
Robert Forman and Richard Willits, Assist
ants. Forasmuch as Mary, wife of Joseph
Schott, and the wife of Francis Weeks, have,
contrary to the laws of God and this place,
not only absented themselves from public
worship but profaned the Lord's day by
going to a conventicle in the woods where
were two Quakers, and now justify their act
by saying they know of no transgression
they had done, for they went to meet the
people of God, it is ordered that each party
shall pay 20 guilders and costs.
Whereas we find by woful experience that
of late a sect hath taken such ill effect
amongst us as to seduce certain of our in
habitants who (giving heed to seducing spirits
under the notion of their being inspired by
the Holy Spirit of God) have profaned the
Sabbath and neglected to join with us in the
true worship of God as formerly they have
done, now be it ordered that no person what
soever shall give entertainment to or hold
converse with the people called Quakers, or
lodge them in their house but for one night
only, and then they are to depart quietly and
without debate next morning.
1658, May 2. — It is ordered that every in
habitant give in to be enlisted by the Town
Clerk all lands plowed, reaped or gathered
by him, viz. : hollows, uplands, and home-
lots (except one Holland's acre or morgen
by patent allowed for each man), whereby
our tythe may be paid unto the Governor
according to our agreement, being 100 sche-
pels of wheat. For neglect hereof 10s. for
feiture for each acre manured ; and if any
give in less than he hath, 10s. for each acre
so concealed. — Bee. A., 20.
1658, May 2. — It is ordered that the cattle
shall have their range 2 miles eastward upon
a direct line beginning at the N. E. corner
of the ox-pasture and so beyond the east
meadow, and no person shall plant or plow
within said bounds southward of said line
and within the cows-walks. — Bee. A., 20.
1658, October 23, was "Humiliation Day,"
new style.
1658, November 27. — John James is cho-

sen Town Clerk, being his second year of
service by the permission of God Almighty.
—Bee. A., 33.
1658, November 27.— All sellers of wine,
beer or any manner of drams or strong liquors
are required to make entry of them unto the
Town Clerk, and pay 5 guilders the anker
for Spanish wines or any kind of drams ; for
the half-fatt of strong beer 2 guilders ; for
the anker of French or other wine 3 guilders.
One-half to be used to buy ammunition for
the town, the other half to pay for the school
ing of orphans and poor children.* — Bee.
A., 32.
1658, November 27. — The Town Clerk
transmits to the Governor the names of
Richard Gildersleeve, William Schadden,
Robert Forman and Henry Pearsall — all men
of honest life — and desires him to appoint
two of them magistrates. He adds, "It
hath pleased God after a sickly and sad sum
mer to give us a seasonable and comfortable
autumn, wherewith we have been (through
mercy) refreshed and gained strength of God,
so that we necessarily have been employed
in getting winter food for our cattle and
thereby have prolonged our wonted time of
choosing magistrates." Gildersleeve and
Forman were appointed. — Dutch MSS.,
xii, 98.
1658, December 19. — Aeltie Cornelissen,
Aaron Forman, Thomas Foster, Jan Har-
man, -John Hicks, Thomas Ireland, James
Pine, John Smith, Simon Searing, Jeremy
Wood and William Yates are summoned be
fore the Governor for non-payment of excise.
On his recommendation they paid it to John
La Montagne, Jr., "the customer," farmer
or collector of the tavern keepers' excise. —
Dutch MSS., viii, 1073.
1659, January 14. — The magistrates re
vive the order against the sin of drunken
ness ; as they find by daily experience that
it is practised in Hempstead to the dishonor
of God. Transgressors to pay for the first
fault 10 guilders ; for the second, 20, and
for the third, to stand to the determination
of the Court.
* 1659, November 11 —Joseph Schott enters 2 ankers
of brandy ; John Smith Rock 2 ankers of drams and
3 of brandy on retail ; John Smith Nau one anker anise
on retail ; Robert Jackson 6 ankers of drams on retail ;
Adam Mott 3 ankers brandy on retail ; Richard Brudnill
2 ankers brandy. — Rev. A., 83.

19

1659, March 24. — Granted to Josias For
man the Walnut Hollow and the Cherry
Tree Hollow, as a free gift for two years,
for the help of him and his family. — Bee.
A., 46.
1659, February 3.— Some of the public
debts and charge of the town for the year
past, brought in by the persons undernamed. £.s.d.
Mr. John Seaman, for killing 2 wolves, 2.
Thomas Langdon, do. 6 do., 6.
Robert Marvin, do. 1 do., 1.
Half-bushel corn to an Indian, do. 1
do., (part pay), 2.
To another Indian (part pay) do. 1 do., 4.
Edward Spragg, for burning the Neck, 12.
Mrs. Washborn, for making 2 Hol
lands shirts for the Sagamore, 2.
James Pine, for drink expended upon
the Sagamore, and for laying out
the town bounds, 1. 5.
Simon Searing, for wine to the Indi
ans, by order, 14.8
Mr. Hicks, for 6J ells of linen, at 2
guilders per ell, 1. 1.8
Do., for 2 ells trading cloth for the In
dians, at 12 guilders, 1.
Robert Jackson, exchange of kettle
to the Indians' use, 1. 1.4
To the same, for a voyage to the Neck
by himself and horse, 5.
Adam Mott, 4 days' beating the drum, 6.
John Smith Rock, for his horse, one
day, lent to the Sagamore, 2. 6
Mr. Gildersleeve, for entertainment of
the Indians, 2.
Henry Pearsall, for a bottle of drams
to the Sagamore, by order, 5.
Goodman Pearsall, for the use of his
team in carrying the corn to the
town-house for the rent, 2. 6
To the same, for viewing the ox-pas
ture fence, 6
Town Clerk, for 18 month's service, 3.
Thomas Rushmore, for mending the
town-fence on the Neck, 9
To the same, for helping carry the
corn for the rent of the town-land, 6
Mr. Gildersleeve, for one journey to
the Dutch concerning the tenths, 15.
George Hewlett, for mending the town-
gate, west side, 1.6

Mr. Seaman, 2 days' travel in laying
out the bounds, 8.
John Ellison, for his horse-hire in lay
ing out the land, 1.8
To those that helpt to quench the fire
when the town was indangered, 10.
Joseph Mead, for a voyage from Stam
ford to Fairfield, about procuring a
minister, with letters from Hemp
stead to Rev. Mr. Wakeman, 9.
— Bee. A., 38.
1659, February 26. — At a town meeting,
Lawrence Ellison, Thomas Langdon, Wil
liam Yates, Edward Titus and Thomas Fos
ter are chosen for Townsmen.
1659, March 6. — It is ordered that if either
of the Townsmen shall be absent after being
warned to meeting, he shall forfeit a pint of
strong liquors, to be paid of the first that is
to be gotten in Hempstead. — Bee. A., 43.
1659, March 24.— To Robert Williams are
let 3 acres of town-land (which was manured,
that is, tilled by John Smith, Jr. , last year)
known by the name of the Hollows, lying in
the bevel, for £3.7 — to be paid in such corn
as by the blessing of God the land shall pro
duce at the crop. — Rec. A., 46.
1659, May 13. — John Smith Rock is li
censed to keep an ordinary and to sell meat,
drink and lodging for strangers with their
retinue, both for horse and man, and to keep
such good order that it may not be offensive
unto the laws of God and this place. — Bee.
A., 54.
1659, September 3. — The Governor sent a
message to Hempstead by Capt. Newton and
Lt. Slillwell for volunteers to go (under pay)
against the Indians, but being busy in har
vest none went. — Bee. A., 57.
1659, October 15. — The Governor appoints
Wednesday as a day of general Fasting and
Prayer on account of the long sickness this
summer and threatened Indian war, a just
judgment of God for our sins. — Col. His.,
ii, 78.
1659, November 18. — If any inhabitant
suffers in person or estate from the Indians,
and the Sachem does not cause satisfaction
to be made according to the treaty of 1656,
the town unanimously agree to prosecute the
Indians till satisfaction be made. If any in
habitant refuse to assist his neighbor or to

20

submit to this order, he shall pay 60 guilders.
We are to acquaint the Governor with our
grievances before we enter on any hostile
course to recover our wrong. — Bee. A., 58.
1658, March 28. — It is ordered that Mr.
Richard Gildersleeve, Mr. John Seaman,
Robert Jackson and William Foster go with
Chekanow, sent and authorized by the Mon-
tauk Sachem to mark and lay out the gene
ral bounds of the town lands, to be known
by marked trees and other places of note to
continue forever. And in case that Tacka-
pousha, Sagamore of Marsapeage, with his
Indians doth come, they all together shall
lay out the bounds. OOUET PROCEEDINGS.
1658, May 7. — At a Court holden at Hemp
stead, Robert Jackson and William Smith,
plaintiffs in an action of abuse and misde
meanor committed by Henry Linington, de
fendant. In the same Court, July 6, Peter
Cornelissen sues Henry Linington in an ac
tion of accounts. — 1659, June 5, James Pine
contra Henry Linington in an action of defa
mation. 1658, July 6.— At a Court holden at
Hempstead. Whereas, Henry Linington,
besides other evil practices unto the disturb
ance of Christian order and peace, and to the
violation of the laws, to the great dishonor
of God and to the evil example of the nations
under which we live, hath solicited Deborah
Sturgis ; Be it therefore ordered that he shall
forthwith be committed to the Marshal's cus
tody (who is hereby authorized to apprehend
him and in sure and safe manner to keep
him in ward, until he shall give sufficient
security in recognizance in the value of 500
guilders for his good behavior, in default
thereof he is to be sent unto Manhattans,
and within 8 months he is to be banished
out of the town's limits.)
His bondsmen were his father and brother-
in-law, Lawrence and John Ellison. To defend
them harmless he bound himself, his chattels
and estate, both moveable and unmoyeable,
to stand in caution and be security.
1659.— At a Court held May 1 : Whereas
Lawrence Ellison hath entered into recogni
zance that Henry Linington should submit
to the sentence of this Court pronounced
against him, viz. : to depart the town, and

mean time to be of good behavior, and now
supplicates to have his bond cancelled, this
Court doth order that the recognizance shall
stand in- force until the sentence of the Court
shall be performed.
At a Court holden by a general town meet
ing, September 3, 1659, at the house of Mr.
Richard Gildersleeve, magistrate, upon the
supplication of Henry Linington, it was
granted that his banishment should be remit
ted, and he was then restored again, upon
promise of reformation, unto the liberties
belonging to an inhabitant.
Teste John James, Clerk.
—Bee. A., 57.
1658, July 25. — Richard Valentine having
reported that Thomas Southard went up and
clown with a club, the latter meeting him
one morning as he was going about his occa
sions, struck him on the face. As Southard
still menaced and threatened to further beat
him, he took oath that he stood in danger
and fear of his life, and required the peace
and that Southard might put in security for
his good behavior. It is therefore ordered
by Mr. Richard Gildersleeve, for that Thomas
Southard did contemptuously resist authority
in refusing to obey the Marshal with his,
warrant, and did fly the same and betook
himself to his own house for his refuge, in
consideration of these outrages and misde
meanors he is required to put in security for
his appearance at Court.
And said Southard doth bind himself and.
all his lands, goods and chattels, to appear
at Court and meantime to keep the peace
and good behavior.
At a Court held December 28, on the sub
mission of Southard, and paying all costs,
the penalty and fault are remitted in hopes
of his reformation. Valentine is also recon
ciled, and doth remit the abuse done unto him.
1659, January 2. — Thomas Ireland com
plains of Richard Brudenell, keeper of an
ordinary, for using deceitful dealings, and
produces in Court the following witnesses :
Mary, wife of Richard Willis, sent her
child for a pint of sack and he afterwards de
manded pay for a quart.
William Jacocks bought four cans of beer,
one day last spring, and was booked seven.
He paid it.

Zl

Thomas Langdon was charged for four
bushels of oats and had but two, and a few
oats in a piggin, and a tray being half a
bushel. Henry Pearsall, three years ago, in making
up his reckoning found half a crown charged,
but he so far convinced Brudenell that he
did wipe it out. A second time he charged
so heavy that he bid him trust him no more :
if he did he would never pay him.
Thomas Foster, four years ago, something
after the time he had Hollands beer, was
charged a pint of sack and a can of Hollands
beer more than ever he had. He did not
pay it.
Richard Lattin, four or five years ago,
agreed with Brudenell for diet of himself and
son for twelve shillings the week, and had
it a week and four days, which did come to
twenty shillings. Lattin said it was ten
days, but Brudenell made it eleven, and said
if he would not pay for eleven he would
show him such a trick as he never had seen,
that is, he would set upon his book a guilder
a meal and eight pence a night for his bed,
and then he should pay whether he would
or not.
The Court find, January 14, that Brude-
nell's books are false and not fit to pass in
law, and he is to pay twelve guilders for call
ing a Court, else execution to follow.
1659, January 14. — Robert Lloyd having
\ spoken unseemly words to the dishonor of
God and the evil example of others, is fined
ten guilders. But having, February 11,
made ' an acknowledgment of his fault, the
Court hath remitted the fine, on his refor
mation. 1659, January 16.— Daniel Whitehead,
when he lived at Hempstead, lost linen and
other goods, and now upon search he found
at Richard Bi-udenell's a brass candlestick
and one small striped linen carpet, and one
table napkin, which he doth judge to be his
own. Whereas Brudenel would not enter
into recognizance and utterly refused the
favor of the Court, he is condemned to re
store fourfold — that is, twenty-eight shillings
sterling — else execution to follow in fourteen
days. He appeals to the Governor, and the
answer in Dutch may be seen in the Hemp
stead Court minutes.

1659, February 11.— Whereas William
Smith hath arrested John Essay, of Rusdorp,
in an action of the case and of debt, who
has made his personal appearance at this
Court, and the plaintiff not being present to
prosecute, neither any attorney for him, the
Court nonsuit the actions.
1659, May 1.— Robert Jackson contra
Richard Lattin — action of the case, defama
tion to the value or £100 sterling damages.
Jackson in his declaration says that having
occasions of account with Lattin, upon some
debate he gave him very bad language tend
ing to his defamation and scandal, and
amongst other evil words called him a ras
cal. Lattin claimed that he had bought a
cow of Jackson, and paid for her. This
Jackson denied. Lattin said he would take
his oath to it. Jackson said if need were he
could depose he never sold her. Then said
Lattin, "If thou wilt take thy oath to that
which is false, thou art a rascal."
Whereas Richard Lattin hath used re
proachful words tending to the disparage
ment of Robert Jackson, the Court, June 5,
sentences him to forty guilders fine, or cor
poral punishment, unless he submissively ac
knowledges, in presence of the Court, that he
hath wronged Mr. Jackson, and is sorry for it.
1659, May 1. — Robert Williams sent to
the mill of Hempstead six bushels of good
Indian corn and delivered it into the keeping
of William, son of Peter Comelissen to be
ground. He received two bushels, but the
rest of the meal lay on the mill-bed and had
been spoiled by the rain beating upon it,
and was grown sour and not fit for man's
food. When Williams demanded satisfac
tion Cornelissen refused and said he had
carried corn himself to Manhattans' mill and
it took damage and he could get no recom
pense. He then desired Cornelissen to put
out the meal and give him the, sack, but he
told him he would not meddle with it.,
The Court adjudge Cornelissen to make
good the damage done unto the sack and
meal by giving him good meal, and in case
they cannot agree, then to stand at the judg
ment of two indifferent men, and Cornelissen
is to pay Court charges and give satisfaction
within fourteen days, or before he depart the
town, else execution to follow.

22

1659, June 11. — It is ordered that all wills
proved in this Court at Hempstead shall pay
six guilders unto the use of the Court, and
the clerk and marshal's fee.
1658. — John, son of William Washborn,
planter, died in the Lord upon Saturday, in
<tlie afternoon, about one hour before sun-
setting, being the thirtieth day of August.
[Will proved in September.]
1658, September 2. — Among other items
in the last will of Nicholas Tanner "is that
a beast shall be sold to buy some linen to
bury me in, and also a sheet and other things
that shall be needful, and the white-faced
cow killed at my burial and given to the
neighbors." 1659, April 24. — Andrew Messenger saith
that in 1658 there was made by Nicholas
Tanner in his sickness a certain donation in
causa mortis to his daughter. Not being
able to obtain a copy of this will, written by
Daniel Denton, clerk, he desires the Court
to order him to deliver a copy thereof.
-Denton answers that he hath not written any
action wherein Tanner hath given Messen
ger's daughter a legacy, and also exhibits
the will. Messenger then desires that Den
ton may confirm by oath that he hath writ
ten no later last will for Tanner. Denton
supplicates, saying he is not bound to do so,
and desires that Messenger should make it
appear that there was another last will writ
ten. Having heard the parties, the Court orders
Messenger, if he is not contented with the
will exhibited, to produce another later ; and
then such order shall be taken as shall be
found requisite.
1657.— The will of William Washborne,
dated September 29, was brought to me,
John James, Town Clerk, by Mrs. Wash-
borne, a week after his decease, made up and
sealed in the form of a letter, and upon the
superscription was written, "This is my
will, Wm. Washborne." I did then break
up the seal and did read it in hearing of the
widow and Richard Willits. And this I tes
tify to be the very truth. Will approved
and recorded by order of Court, June 11,
1659. 1649, Nov.— Richard Lamson put out a
cow to Joseph Schott to winter. He re

moved that winter from Hempstead, and
the cow was to be returned next spring to
Samuel Clark, his agent, but Schott refused,
though Clark tendered security. Schott says
the cow proved unsound in her bag, and the
spring following, being farrow, he put her
down to the common pasture to feed, and in
the fall sold her to D. Whitehead. Her calf
he maintained till it came to be a cow, and
she had one calf, and another which was de
stroyed by wolves. The cow being well so
far forth as he knew, was found dead one
morning, leaving a calf. The Court order
Schott to pay for the cow £6.10, and 20s.
for one summer's milk, with one guilder on
the pound interest upon interest for eight
years, and costs, and 10s. for the plaintiff's
charges for this journey. Schott (ultimo
January, 1659) makes a tender of goods to
the valuation of the aforesaid sum, to be
publicly sold at outcry by the marshal, and
engages to save him harmless. Primo
February, Schott's barn and appurtenance,
with his home-lot, (three acres), is sold to
George Hewlett for £5.4 in present passable
pay. I, Thomas Skidmore, (May 6, 1659),
have received £15.9.6 in full satisfaction of
the above sentence, in behalf of Edward
Higbie of Huntington.
1659, January 2. — Thomas Ireland says
Richard Brudenell hired his team about har
vest time last summer, and lost his bolt and
clevis, and by want thereof hath suffered
much damage, as by testimonj' shall appear,
Henry Pearsall says that while the bolt and
clevis were wanting, he, owing Ireland 8s.,
carted him a load of hay from South for it ;
also two loads of wood at 6s. Abraham
Smith says he carted two loads of hay for
Ireland from South since Indian harvest, and
a load of hay from the Plains, and one of
wood. William Smith says he was em
ployed by Ireland to fetch him two loads of
hay from the Plains by himself, his cart and
two oxen. Thomas Langdon says he carted
for Ireland two loads of wood, about Janur
ary 1st. The Court condemn Brudenell to
pay 12s. and costs and to provide a good and
fitting bolt and clevis.
1659, March 13.— Richard Brudenell, be
ing joined with D. Whitehead in a bond to
Derick Clasen for two oxen and a cow, de-

23

sires the bond to be returned, or security
given him to be saved harmless.
1659, April 3. — John Rodes against Rich
ard Lettin in an action of the case. Josias,
son of Richard Lettin, says he fully remem-
bereth that Rodes did cart for his father,
about 1653, one load of hay, and brought it
to William Smith's ; and that Rodes did
plow the land charged upon the account of
his father, and he did help to plant it and
reap the wheat. Richard Brudenell says
that about Anno 1653, Josias came into his
house and he demanded of him where they
dieted, and he replied at John Rodes'. The
case being put off till next Court, John
Hicks enters a recognizance in £20 for Let-
tin's appearance, and Lettin puts in security,
to save Mr. Hicks harmless, four cows.
1659, April 3.— D. Whitehead, against
Thomas Mathews, an action of the case.
The award is that Mathews shall pay £6.11
and fifty pounds of pork.
1659, May 1. — William Smith contra John
Sturdg. The Court find that Sturdg hath
sold Smith all the right he had in John Cor
nish's Blank, and hath not detained any of
it, and order Smith to pay costs.
William Smith contra Mr. John Seaman,
an action of debt. Mr. Seaman hath made
a tender in open Court of 30 guilders in sea-
want to Smith, and he refused to give a dis
charge. Trial deferred.
1659, May 26.— Whereas I, Thomas Ar-
mitage, now of Oysterbay, of perfect health
and memory, and so have been of a long
time, nor have been deprived of sense or
reason whereby I should have made over my
estate by deed or will to my son Manasses,
now in Cambridge College, only to be allowed
by him a maintenance for life. If any such
shall appear, they are forged and false. He
has fraudulently taken from me several bills,
bonds and writings, to convert them to his
own use. I desire all persons not to pay
him any debt due me, lest they pay in their
own damage. As witness Thomas Martin,
D. Whitehead and John Smith Nants.
The testimony taken (June 3) before Rich
ard Gildersleeve, magistrate.
Robert Ashman says that about nine years
ago I was bound for James Pine to Thomas
Armitage, his father-in-law, for £30 sterling,

as may be seen by the speciality, which he
said he intended to give his son Manasses,
so that his wife Should not have his estate
after death, and deprive his son thereof. He
also said he had £70 in D. Whitehead's
hands, which he intended for Manasses.
Armitage was at my house the past winte'r
(1658) and said: "James Pine had been
with him at Robert- Jackson's the night be
fore ;" and being in some debate about Ma
nasses he told me : " Pine were best be quiet
or else he would make such work with hiih
and Manasses that would make them better
be quiet." Then I replied: "I know you
said you would give him that estate in Good
man Whitehead's and Goodman Pine's hands,
and now I hope you will not deprive him of
what you told me you would give him."
Then Armitage said : "I have now married
a young wife and may have other children,
and therefore may have need of that myself,
to be at my own disposing, that Manasses
hath taken away." William Smith says
about nine years ago Armitage proffered me
cattle to keep for the use of Manasses, and
that at the end of eleven years I should re
turn the cattle and profit. Some time after
he told me he had put the cattle to D. White
head for £70, to be paid to the use of Ma
nasses, so that at his death his widow
should not deprive him of it, but that
he might have a comfortable maintenance.
Jeremy Wood says that upon some confer
ence I had with Armitage, two or three days
after he had passed a deed of gift to his son,
he told me " he had taken an opportunity,
being Mr. Moore and Mr. Wood had been in
the town, and gotten them to make a deed
of gift of the £70 which I and Henry Pear
sall stood bound for D. Whitehead, that at
the end of ten or eleven years he should have
both that, and Ihe moneys due from James
Pine when the time was expired. Anna
Gildersleeve, wife of John Smith Nants,
says that Mr. Wood, of Newtown, lately' de
ceased, being at my father's, told me, upon
some discourse concerning the deed of gift to
Manasses, that to his knowledge there was
such a deed made, but whether he or Mr.
Moore had written it he did not remember,
but both their hands were to it. Elizabeth,
wife of Jeremy Wood, saith that about seven

24

years past, Martha, the late wife of Thomas
Armitage, being at my house, she told me
that "Mr. Wood and Mr. Moore were, as
she supposed, then at her house, and were
about making a deed of gift from her hus
band to her son-in-law ;" and thereupon, I
going forth out of doors with Martha, we saw
both Mr. Moore and Mr. Wood come out of
the house, and then Martha said to me :
" Now, I suppose they have done it ;" and I
having had some discourse with Thomas
concerning the matter, he acknowledged that
he had made a deed of gift of some part of
his estate to Manasses, and that his children
should enjoy his estate, lest the children of
the stepmother should deprive his own chil
dren.— X, 155-162.
1659, June 6. — I, William Smith, have re
ceived of Henry Pearsall, to the use and be
hoof of Alexander Bryan, of Milford, £9.5.9,
and £2.5.6 being paid into the hands of said
Bryan, in hides, together amounting to
£11.11.3. 1660, January 21. — The Court order that
the creditors of Stephen Hudson, deceased,
shall receive their debts by an authentic
book confirmed by oath, or else by their own
oath and with another sufficient testimony ;
or otherwise by speciality, to be paid accord
ing to proportion so far forth as the goods of
the deceased extend.
1660, January 21. — Richard Stiles sues
Jane Washborne, widow, and says that in
1653, when he wont from Mr. Seaman's, he
then agreed with William Washborne to do
his labor weekly, according as wages were
then given, and he to allow for his diet two
days' labor in the week. The Court award
that he hath labored eight weeks, or thirty-
two days, at 2s. 6d. per diem, by allowing
four days' labor to the week, making £4
sterling that shall be paid him in good cur
rent pay.
1660, January 21. — John Smith, Jr., sues
Thomas Ellison in an action for trespass, for
that he did ride his mare double, contrary to
his knowledge, and his mare was lamed to
his damage 40s. Ellison answers that he
was at John Carman's door, and at his wife
Hannah's request did ride before her to Oys
terbay, on Saturday, and on the Lord's day
kept her there, and on Monday rode her

back and delivered her to John Carman.
The Court doth condemn the plaintiff in all
the Court charges, to be paid within four
teen days, else execution to follow.
1660, February 19.— Thomas Hicks, in
behalf of his wife, Mary, late wife of John
Washburn, deceased, demands certain lega
cies bequeathed by William Washburn to his
son John : Imprimis, one-third of Mr.
Washburn's meadow ; item, two sows, one
yearling, one pestle and mortar, two ox-
pastures and five gates in the Neck. The
Court order the above to be delivered to
plaintiff, for the use of John Washburn, Jr.
1660, March 13. — Richard Brudenell
against Thomas Wandall, of Maspeth Kills,
who married William Herrick's widow, an
action of debt. The Court order Wandall to
pay 70 guilders in good and sufficient beaver,
or bring evidence that he hath satisfied the
principal. The cause is referred to the Bur
gers' Court at Manhattans, April 6th.
1660.— A Court held December 21. Henry
Pearsall contra Mr. Robert Ashman in an
action of the case. The plaintiff, being pound
er, declareth that he had horses in the pound
which the defendant released by replevy.
Upon his plea he referreth himself unto the
order to that effect recorded upon the town
book. The Court decide, February 19, that
being there is no new order made for this
year, and that the old order is not confirmed
by writing, " we find the action to be of no
validity." 1666, March 9.— At a Court of the Con
stable and Overseers held at Hempstead, by
the General's appointing, under His Royal
Highness, James, the Duke of York, Richard
Lattin enters an action of debt against Ed
ward Rainer. — Bee. B., 127.
1667, July 3. — Mr. Sticklin hath. entered
a complaint against Henry Disboiuow. Sam
uel Messenger testifieth that in the winter,
when snow was upon the ground, he being
at Disborrow's, Mr. Stickland's grandchild
that lives there fell into the mill-dam up to
the middle, and his master and dame neither
offered to shift him, but let him go in his
wet clothes all day and lie in his wet shirt at
night. And since being there, the child
being come from cow-keeping and in some
way his basket a little torn, she lucked and

25

beat him for it, and said she never see such
a bastard. This testimony taken before
Daniel Denton, June 21. Bernard Smith
says he heard Richard Combs say that he
struck down the child three several times
going, and if it were to do again he will do
it again. John Curtis says that Margaret
saith a servant had more liberty to strike
than a boarder. All the time he lived in the
house, so far as he see, he could not tell but
that the child was well used. Catharine,
wife of Henry Linington, affirms she heard
blows several times, and the boy cry and
beg, into her own house, but she did not see
them.— i?., 315, 330.
July 3. — The testimony of John Chew,
taken by the Justice of the Peace. He doth
affirm that when we went down to South
there was a horse of Adam Mott's, and I said
Mott gave me leave to take him up ; and we
came up both together. Said Daniel Bedell
I will take him up : says John Chew " for
you may if you will, " and John Chew helped
me to catch the horse. — B., 315.
Daniel Bedell enters an action of the case
against Adam Mott. Put off till next Court.
—B., 315.
December 4. — James Still, in an action of
the case against William Osborne, being le
gally called, for non-appearance is non-suited.
—B., 317.
1668, May 6.— The testimony of Edward
Banbury : ' Being at Mr. Elias Doughty's
house, Mr'l Seaman and Thomas Jones came
there and agreed about Jones' wife, and he
agreed to pay Doughty £12, and Thomas
was to come with me to make Doughty a
bill, according as we agreed for his wife
Sarah with Mr. Risden. — B., 316.
Whereas Elias Doughty enters an action
against Edward Banbery, the Court find for
plaintiff. Defendant shall pay the bill which
he made to Doughty the last of October,
1665, and give him 10s. for his trouble. —
B., 168.
May 22. — Herman Steper, of Bushwick,
enters an action of the case against Jeremy
Wood.— B., 317.
August 4. — Richard Lattin, of Oysterbay,
enters an action of the case against Adam
Mott, Sr.

September 2. — Daniel Bedell enters an
action of the case against Adam Mott, Jr.
October 7. — Walter Tailor enters an action
of debt against Abraham Smith.
December 2. — Martha, wife of Thomas
Rushmore, against John Tredwell, for
abusing her swine in a very bad manner.
She prays reasonable damages as shall be
thought meet by the Court. — B., 318.
Samuel Allen enters an action of the case
against Elizabeth Hubbs.
George Hewlett epters an action of debt
against Lawrence Mott.
1670, February 2. — Thomas Seabrook en
ters an action of debt against Cornelius Mott.
The Court award payment of the bill and
15s. damage. — B., 318.
James Pine enters an action of the case
against John Ellison. — B.: 319.
April 6. — Daniel Bedell charges James
Still with spoiling his scythe and cannot
make it appear. The Court sees just cause
that plaintiff shall pay 6s. to defendant and
14s. to the Court, with costs. — B., 319.
May 1. — Lorus Mott against Thomas
Jones, an action of debt.
June 1. — Ensign Thomas Rushmore says
John Smith, Jr., mowed his meadow with
out his leave, as if he owned it. He makes
the meadow appear his own by a bill of sale. '*¦
The Court award him 10s. damage. — B. 320.
July 4. — Joseph Jennings enters an action
of defamation against Robert Bedell and his
son Daniel. He withdraws it and pays costs.
Captain John Seaman enters an action of
trespass upon the case against Joseph Jen
nings. John Story, of Flushing, enters an action
of debt against John Wood.
John Smith, Jr. , complains against George
Balclin and his son Joseph.
August 3. — Thomas Hicks enters an ac
tion of the case against Daniel Bedell.
James Pine enters an action of trespass
against Abraham Smith. The Court con
ceives it is no title of land which is sued for,
and that the Island of trees belongs to them
by virtue of a town order, to be divided be
tween them according to the fence which
each maketh : and if afterward it appear that
Smith hath trespassed within Pine's line by
reaping or mowing his corn or hay, then he

26

shall pay all damage. The line is to be un
derstood as that which was agreed on when
Mr. Woodhnll [the surveyor] was there.
Simon Searing and Edward Titus are ap
pointed to view the land in difference and
give in their report in convenient time. —
B., 321.
December 7. — Whereas John Johnson and
Richard Totten were called before this Court
for setting a fire contrary to law, whereby
the town is much damnified by the feed
being burned up, and likewise by endanger
ing the town to be burnt, the Court orders
that for this time they shall pay 20s. for their
default. Which is already satisfied. — B., 186.
1671, April 5. — Christopher Yeomans en
ters a complaint against John Curtis for
debt and damage, the debt being £4.5 in
corn, aDd pleads great damage for non-pay
ment. The Court having considered the
matter, order Curtis to pay the remaining
part of his first payment within five days, in
any place within this town.
John Ellison addresses himself to this
Court by way of complaint against John
Bates, for security of his estate which lies in
Bates' custody, being two cows let out to hire
according to- an agreement ; but disliking
the present condition of the cattle, he fears
some evil may befall them through Bates'
negligence. The Court order Bates to give
security (if he be capable of so doing) for the
cattle ; otherwise to return them on the con
ditions formerly agreed on. — B., 191.
August 2. — Richard Lattin enters an ac
tion of the case against Lewis Hewlett, for
diet and plowing. Louis Mott, aged twenty-
three, says that Hewlett agreed with Good
man Lattin to pay him 5s. per week for his
diet from May till Michaelmas (September
29) and what he did not pay in work he was
to pay in corn, and Lewis' horse was made
over as security for his diet and for Lattin's
plowing for him. As the pay was not yet
due, the Court, having well weighed the mat
ter, find for defendant. — B., 200.
Richard Lattin declares that Lorus Mott
owes him on divers accounts, but makes
nothing appear saving some quantities of
liquor delivered to Mott, and to prove it
produces several testimonies in writing taken
by the constable and overseers of Oysterbay.

Mott owns to have received nine gallons and
three pints of liquor, which is not the full
proportion due from Lattin, and also pleads
he had no legal notice and was ignorant of
his pretentions till he heard them declared in
Court, and moves for a reference to the next
Court. Ordered that the cause be heard at
next town Court, and that both parties fit
themselves against their sitting. — B., 201.
1672, February 7. — John Hubbs against
Nathaniel Allen, an action of debt. Joseph
Sutton and Thomas Daniels say that Allen
was to give Hubbs 10s. to boot between
Hubbs' horse and Allen's mare, and if
Hubbs did take up the mare, then Allen was
to give him 10s. more, and Allen said he
owed Hubbs 22s. for beef. The Court find
for plaintiff, and order Allen's horse, which
Hubbs hath attached, to be prised, and if the
plaintiff is willing to take him at the prise
he shall return the overplus to the constable,
and also all defendant's tobacco which he
hath in possession, and that plaintiff pay the
constable upon his own charge for going to
the Neck and attaching the horse and tobacco.
Further, Hubbs shall return the tobacco and
the overplus of the horse-money to the con
stable in ten days.— B., 323.
March 6. — Mr. Jonah Fordham enters an
action of debt against John Barker. The
Court find for plaintiff and order defendant
to pay 225 guilders and 9 stivers in wampum
or merchants' goods equivalent, and the
steer attached shall be prised, and plaintiff
shall have the steer to pay the debt so far as
it will go.— B., 324.
May 1.— John Smith N., in behalf of his
son Jonathan, enters an action of debt against
John Chew. The Court order Smith to have
his debt out of a bill which he hath attached,
which Joshua Jaeocks passed to John Chew.
The debt that Chew owes him being seven
and a half yards of Kersey and a pair of
worsted stockings, and ithe bill attached is
fifteen yards of serge. — B., 325.
June 5. — Whereas there have been several
complaints against Matthew Bedell, both of
his bad words and actions, the Court sees
cause to bind him to his good behavior ; and
if further complaints be brought in and
proved against him, then the Court order
that he shall pay 40s. and be presented to

27

the discretion of the next Sessions Court for
further punishment. — B., 203.
July 3. — Nathaniel Pearsall petitions the
Court for money due him from John Chew,
deceased, for several particulars of work
done by him at his trade, [blacksmith], he
proving his debt by taking his oath to his
book. The Court allowed him his debt, 19s.,
to be paid out of Chew's estate. George
Hewlett recovers £1.10.9 in the same way.
— B., 206.
Matthew Bedell enters an action of debt
against Richard Valentine.
October 21. — John Beats enters an action
of the case against Thomas Southard. —
-B., 207.
1673, April 2. — John Ellison enters an
action of the case against Matthew Bedell.
The Court having heard both sides see cause
to fine defendant 40s. to plaintiff, or else be
whipped and pay all costs. — B., 331.
Edward Spragg enters an action of debt
against John Row. The Court order that
Spragg shall have Row's musket, which he
hath attached, (which was left in George
Hewlett's hands), for part of his debt, for so
much as it will come to. — B., 331.
Nathaniel Pearsall in an action of debt
against Nicholas Davis. The Court allow
the debt, 28s. in silver, and plaintiff to have
the wheat attached in John Smith's hands
for part of pay so far as it will go. He shall
have ten bushels of wheat for his debt, be
sides charges. — B., 332.
May 7. — Caleb Carman enters an action
of the case against Matthew Bedell, and de
clares he hath lost several things out of his
house in the time Bedell kept there, as a
scythe, two sickles, and several other things ;
and upon suspicion doth charge him with
them, and to prove his charge produces four
witnesses. The Court having heard both
parties and their witnesses order defendant
to bring the sickle now in controversy, that
sickle that he reaped with at Sticklin's Neck,
to the next Court, or else pay three pecks of
wheat to plaintiff, with costs. — B., 832.
June 4. — Inasmuch as William Wiat hath
presumed to abuse the Authority in words,
and complaints of it have been brought to
tho constable, the Court see cause that he
shall pay 20s. and the charges that have been

expended ; but in case he doth behave him
self, and abuse neither the Authority nor
any other men for the space of one year,
then the 20s. shall be forgiven him.— B., 214.
1674, March.— At a Court held by the
Scout and magistrates, Thomas Willit enters
an action of debt against Minne Johannes.
The Court find for defendant as concerning
the half-ox, and order him to pay all charges
expended by his not performing his cove
nant, and doth allow Is. damage to plaintiff.
—B., 273.
Abraham Frost enters an action of tho
case against Lorus Mott. Referred till next
Court. May 3d. — An agreement was made
between Mott and Frost, about the land
Oliver Trimans bought of Mott, by which
Mott delivers to Frost a sorrel horse at New
town, worth £5, and pays the Court charges,
and Frost is to bear his own charges. Fur
ther, Frost is to assist Mott to recover the
land by counsel, direction and pleading ; and
if it be recovered, Frost is to have half the
land.— B., 216, 273.
April 5. — Joseph Jennings enters an action
of debt against John Tredwell. The Court
order Tredwell to pay the remainder of the
bill that is in difference in ten days, with
this proviso : that if when Ralph Keeler's
estate is divided, and the money now in dif
ference doth then fall to Tred well's portion,
then Jennings shall repay the money to
Tredwell again without further trouble, and
defendant shall pay all charges. — B., 273.
May 3. — Lorus Mott enters an action of the
case against Joseph Jennings. Inasmuch as
Thomas Skidmore was expected to be at
this instant Court to answer the case in be
half of Jennings, and doth not appear, it is
referred till next Court. The Court (June 7)
find for Mott and order Jennings to return
the beast in difference upon demand, with
20s. damage and costs. If he refuse, then
there shall be execution granted. — B., 274,
June 7. — Robert Jackson enters an action
of debt against Peter Petersen, by virtue of
a warrant of May 22d.— B., 275.
June 12. — Thomas Skidmore enters an
action of the case against Lorus Mott. Skid
more not appearing, the Court grant a non
suit to Mott, with 10s. damage. — B., 275.

28

July 5.- — James Mott enters an action of
the case against Jonathan Smith. Referred
till next Court, when both are to appear and
bring their witnesses, and Smith is to fetch
up the mare that is in difference and bring
her to the Court.— B. , 275.
1675, February 3. — John Jennings enters
an action of defamation against Richard
Totten, and declareth he is damnified £5.
John Smith Rock and Daniel Bedell say they
heard Totten say that he heard John Jen
nings should say there were but three or
four honest women in the town. James
Stell says I and Jennings were riding to the
Northside together, and Jennings did com
mend me for riding by and would not take
notice of him when he was in the stocks.
Then I told him I thought he had degraded
some of the town in saying there were but
three or four honest women in it. But he
denied it. Then I said " Don't deny it, for
I think it will be proved to your face. " Then
Jennings said, " It is true, friend, I did say
so." The Court find for defendant, the
plaintiff to pay 6d. damages and costs. —
B., 276.
Richard Stites enters an action of debt
against Minne Johannes, who owes him for
part of a horse that he bought of him, also
he declareth he hath arrested defendant's
swine and desires to have it. Peter Johnson
and Joseph Jennings say Stites sold a horse
to Minne, and then he owed Minne a small
debt, and the bargain was that the debt
should be discounted and Minne pay Stites
£3. The Court having heard plaintiff and
his witnesses, and considered thereof, allow
him his debt, with costs, provided that when
Minne doth come that then it doth not ap
pear that either the whole or a part of it be
paid. Also they order that the swine that
was attached be prised and plaintiff to have
her so.— B. , 277.
March 3.— John Bedell declares that Wil
liam Weir owes him for a borrowed bridle,
and proves it by John Jennings and Richard
Ellison. The Court order Weir to pay as
good a bridle as he borrowed, or else pay 3s.
and charges. — B., 278.
James Stell declares that Thomas Terry
owes him for going to the Northside about
some business with Stites, and he was to

have half a bushel of wheat for his voyage,
and next day he sent him to the Half-neck
eastward at the South, and was to have rea
sonable satisfaction for his pains. John El- i
lison says, " When James came home again
his mare was sick, so James was in haste
one way and Mr. Terry another. So their
reckoning was not made up then. Then
Terry and I went to Mr. Jackson's, and
while there Terry said, " It may be James
will think much because I have not paid
him. " Then Mr. Terry prayed me to bid
John Smith (who owed him some wheat) to
pay James, but he did refuse. " Stell then
arrested this money in Smith's hands, and
desired the Court to consider it and award
him his debt. The Court order -that Stell
shall have his debt out of Terry's estate, and
all his money in Smith's hands Stell is to
have so far as it will go. — B., 279.
April 7. — John Jennings declares to the
Court that James Pine hath wronged him in
reporting he had spoke some slanderous
words against Mr. Jackson. John Marshall
testifies that Jennings said there were two
things that caused him to be set in the stocks.
1. For giving Mr. Jackson a hint of being in
drink by saying he told him of the account,
but he was not capable of hearing it or an
swering to it before he came home ; and 2.
That he dealt injuriously with him about the
account of charges, and that Mr. Jackson
made the account himself. The Governor
had told Jennings he would have some of
the charges taken off, and so would have
him resort to the Governor. Inasmuch as
Jennings prays nothing, the Court, on Pine's
request, nonsuits him. — B., 281.
John Ellison declares that he lent a load of
hay to Matthew Bedell, the beginning of last
winter, and he did engage to deliver him a
good load of salt hay at home at his house
when he wanted it. The Court order him
to deliver the hay in a week's time. — B., 282.
Henry Boman declares that Robert Bedell
owes him for cow-keeping. The Court order
defendant to pay the remainder of the money
yet unpaid for six cows according to the
rate. The same with Mordecai Bedent and
Cornelius Mott.— B., 282.
May 5. — Thomas Ellison .declares that
Robert Bedell owes him for keeping a com-

29

pany of cattle three or four days, and was to
have by bargain 3s. a day. The Court
award 12s.— B. , 283.
Matthew Bedell declares that Thomas Elli
son owes him for two days' work in harvest.
Defendant owns that he worked part of two
days. The Court award 7s. for two days'
work.— B. , 286.
June 2. — Daniel Bedell declares that John
Jennings owes him for a sow which he
bought of him and was by bargain to give
23s., which money is not yet paid. — B.,
286. John Jennings declares that Matthew, son
of Robert Bedell, owes him for a new cart
and wheels, for which he was to have £3, to
be paid when made. Bedell objects that he
did not pin the ear-board on. The Court
decide that Jennings shall finish the work
about the cart according to the last agree
ment made before Mr. Jackson. — B., 287.
July 6. — Robert Jackson declares that
John Jennings owes him by bill 18s. and
fourteen loads of wood. Robert Bedell says
he heard Jennings say he must cut Mr. Jack
son some wood, and for several days Jen
nings came to his house and was there great
part of the day with an ax. John Bedell
says one day he went to mill and Jennings
was at Beats', and when he came from the
mill he went to William Thickston's, and
Jennings was there with an ax, and he asked
him what he was agoing to do, and he said
to cut wood for Mr. Jackson. Matthew Be
dell says, "I was one day in George's lot,
aweeding, and Jennings came to the fence
to me about. 9 or 10 o'clock and smoked it
with me, and said he was agoing to cut wood
for Mr. Jackson, and a while after I_went to
John Smith's, and Jennings was there
asmoking of it ; and thence he went to
Thickston's, thence to Bedell's, thence to
Beats' and thence home again." When this
testimony was given, the Constable asked
Bedell how he knew it to be true. He said
he was told so. Then it was disliked of by
the Court, and no use made of it. The
Court sees cause to throw this case out of
Court.— B., 288, 292.
Robert Jackson declares that John Jen
nings owes him 5s. for a week's diet and 5s.
for a team one day. Ordered that he pay

5s. for his diet and 3s. 6d. for the team. —
B., 289.
Samuel Comstock declares that John Jen
nings owes him the cutting of eight loads of
wood, which is owned. The Court order
defendant to cut the wood within three days,
at the place agreed on, and show it to Com
stock or his order. — B., 289.
Elias Doughty declares that John Store
owes him twenty bushels of wheat. The
Court order the bill satisfied in three weeks'
time.— B., 289.
John Seaman declares that William Wier
owes him three hundred weight of tobacco,
to be delivered in York, in cask, almost two
years ago. The Court order defendant to
satisfy the bill within three weeks' time, and
pay 10s. damage. — B., 290.
James Pine against William Osborne. In
this case the Court sees cause not to take
'cognizance of it, but do cast it out. — B., 290.
1676, January 6. — Cornelius Mott declares
that he planted a small crop of tobacco on
Timothy Halstead's land, and was to have
half the crop for his pains, and that Hal-
stead damnified him in some corn that he
had growing on his land, and that he got
two hundred rails for him, for which he was
never as yet paid. So he is damnified to the
value of 20s. Richard Stites says, being at
Halstead's last summer, he heard him say
the tobacco was between him and Mott.
Then he asked what quantity there was, and
he replied he thought about a hogshead.
Goody Champion says, last summer she was
at Halstead's, and asked his wife for some
tobacco, and she bid her go into the hovel
and get some, and when she come into the
house again she asked Timothy's wife whose
tobacco that was, and she said it was be
tween Cornelius and them. John Treadwell
says that last summer he and Abraham Smith
had some discourse concerning tobacco that
Cornelius was aweeding of, and Abraham
said the tobacco was between Timothy and
Cornelius. Thomas Fese says, " I had
some discourse with Timothy about tobacco,
and I told him he had a good crop, and he
said no, he had not. Then I asked him
what he thought there was. He said he
thought about a hogshead between Cornelius
and him, beside smoking tobacco. " Thomas

30

Ireland says, ' ' Being in the field with Timo
thy, I told him he had brave tobacco. He
said aye, he hoped there would be a hogs
head between him and Cornelius." William
Weir says he heard Timothy say the tobacco
growing in his lot was between Cornelius
and him. The Court order defendant to pay
one hundred pounds of tobacco, the good
with the bad as it was made up, and two
bushels of corn for the damage done in the
cornfield.— £., 293.
Feb. 2. — Christopher Yeomans declares
that Michael Clark owes him upon an ac
count £2.10. Referred till next Court. —
B., 295.
Adam Mott against Peter Johnson, Schol.,
an action of debt. The Court order defend
ant to satisfy the bill between this and the
first of March, else there shall be execution
granted to seize on his estate to satisfy it. —
£., 291.
March 1. — John Searing declares to this
honored Court that he hath done some labor
for Thomas Rushmore, as tending his cattle
and hogs, and plowing his land and burning
his meadow, and 2s. for coals. Josias Starr
says he drove a plow and harrow for Searing
four and a half days in Rushmore's lot and
on his account. John Marvin says he saw
Searing's oxen aplowing in Rushmore's lot,
and either Searing or his father with them,
that spring that Rushmore was at Maryland,
and he saw Searing give Rushmore's cattle
meat several times that winter that Rush-
more was at Maryland. The Court order
defendant to pay £2.7, which is the sum of
the account that plaintiff gave oath to. —
£., 295.
Thomas Rushmore declares that he lent a
hay-hook to John Searing, who also has an
earthen platter of his in his possession, and
refused to deliver them when demanded.
The Court order that plaintiff shall have his
hook and platter. — B., 297.
April 5. — Samuel Denton declares that
John Oakey owes him five gallons, one quart
and two muches of rum. Timothy Plalsted
says he was at Denton's when he delivered
an ox to Oakey, that he had sold him for
rum, and he heard Oakey say that he was to
give Denton three and a half ankers of rum
for the ox. Abraham Smith says he heard

Oakey say he was to give Denton three and
a half ankers of rum for an ox that he bought
of him, and further, he heard Oakey own
that the cask that Denton had the rum in
did hold but twenty-nine gallons and some
odd measure, but Oakey said he would pay
the remainder speedily. The Court order
defendant to pay Denton the remainder of
the rum that is yet unpaid.
Memorandum. — ¦ Oakey 's money that
Denton arrested in Joseph Pettit's hands
doth remain under arrest till the next Court,
and if Oakey doth not satisfy the debt before
the next Court, then it must be satisfied with
the money arrested and with the charges so
far as it will go. Signed, Simon Searing,
Robert Jackson.— B., 297.
1677, January 3. — Richard Chew declares
that Joseph Jennings did undertake to weave
a piece of cloth for him, and did warp the
yarn and weave part of it, and then cut it
out of the loom, so his yarn was spoiled and
he very much damnified. Defendant owns
the charge, and the Court order him to pay
plaintiff four pounds of good strong linen
yarn, sizeable as his own was and fit for
warp, within fourteen days. — B., 300.
Jonathan Smith humbly declares that John
Spencer, of York, owes him one anker of
rum, which should have been paid fiye
months ago, for which debt he hath attached
a cow, and humbly desires judgment for the
beast. The Court order if defendant don't
pay within fourteen days, then the cow shall
be sold at an outcry, or else prised and de
livered to plaintiff. — B., 301.
Cornelius Mott declares that " Thomas
Jones, of Madnan's Neck, and I had some
difference about the payment of two mares
that I bought of him, and he had them back
again. Afterwards an agreement was made
between Jones and Mr. Hicks, in my behalf,
that Jones should pay me £3 in country pay,
and that was to be a full conclusion of our
differences." Mott also did work for Jones
aclearing land, to the value of 30s., also
some other days' work. The Court order
Jones to pay Mott 9s., within fourteen days,
it being his due upon balance of accounts. —
B., 302.
Cornelius Mott declares that he made fifty
rods of five-railed fence for Thomas Jones, at

31

18d. a rod. Thomas Daniels says he helped
Mott set fifty rods of fence and get a parcel
of posts and hole them, and sharp a parcel
of rails, but he did not help Cornelius get the
rails. Cornelius told him he got all the rails
himself, except about fifty that Jones got.
The Court allow 5s. a hundred for the rails,
and order Jones to pay Mott £3.12.6 in cur
rent pay, it being his due on balance of ac
counts, and pay all charges expended about
this business. — B., 303.
Roger Pedly, in an action of debt against
Henry Boman. Plaintiff is nonsuited be
cause Boman's home and being are not in
this Riding.— A, 304.
March 8. — Nathaniel Spratt declares that
John Shepard owes him £4. 14 for a parcel
of goods bought— one cloak, £3, two bottles
of rum, ten yards of Ozenbrigs and one hat ;
and to prove the debt brings his account to
the Court. Joseph Sutton says he saw the
above goods delivered. John Locusson
[Kissam] says he knows Shepard had most
of the above mentioned goods. The Court
orders plaintiff to have his debt out of de
fendant's estate that he hath attached, but
the estate shall lie in the constable's hands
till fourteen days after the next town Court,
and then if Shepard nor none in his behalf
appear to pay the debt, then the estate at
tached shall be sold at an outcry, and satis
faction made to the plaintiff so far as it will
go, and defendant to pay all necessary
charges. — B., 305.
Joseph Sutton declares that John Shepard
owes him 16s. upon an account. The Court
order Sutton to have his debt out of the
estate of Shepard, attached as above. —
B., 306.
April 4. — John Bedell declares that he had
about four loads of hay in a stack on the
Hay -bridge Neck, and that Samuel Denton
and Timothy Halstead set a fire, on the 6th
of March, at Washborn's Neck, being .the
next neck to it, to secure their own hay, and
as he conceives that fire burned his hay. It
is agreed between the parties that the de
fendants are to give Bedell two loads of fresh
hay. The hay stands in a stack at Wash
born's Neck ; and each to bear their own
charges. — B., 307.
Robert Hubbs enters an action of debt

against Joseph Sutton, and declares he is
damnified to the value of  .— _B., 308.
Mr. Nathaniel Spratt declares that John
Shepard owes him, and being run away, he
found some of his estate in Robert Godfrey's
hands, as a horse and some wood, which he
hath attached. John Jackson says : About
February 1st Godfrey came to my house and
inquired for Shepard, who was run away,
£8 in his debt, and he hired me to go with
him after Shepard, and when we came to
Huntington we found him there, and they
had a great deal of discourse together alone.
Then Godfrey came to me and I asked what
he had done. He said they had agreed and
he was to have Shepard's horse and some
other things. The Court, having heard both
sides and their witnesses, order it thus : that
Spratt shall have the horse, remitting £1.9,
(that Godfrey engaged for Shepard to Spratt),
or else Spratt to have the £1. 9 and Godfrey
have the horse. Spratt choses the horse* —
B., 308.
Joseph Sutton declares that Robert Hubbs
did once employ him to go after his daugh
ter that was run away with Thomas Daniels.
" I said I had a great deal of work to do,
and he said he would put a hand to work in
my place. With that I did go after the maid,
and in my absence I suffered great damage
in some of my swine, for I found part of
them dead, and am damnified in my other
business."— B., 309.
July 3. — Richard Gildersleeve declares
that Matthew Bedell owes him a bushel of
wheat for a scythe he had of him, and three
bushels for the hire of a lot of meadow.
Defendant owns the bushel of wheat, and
the three bushels he owned due if he found
the meadow burned. John Smith says he
one time met Bedell coming from the South,
last summer, the latter end of mowing time,
and asked him what he had been doing, and
he said, " Amowing on Gildersleeve's lot at
Coe's Neck." The Court order Bedell to
pay one bushel of wheat for the scythe and
three for the meadow. — B., 309.
August 1. — John Jackson, in an action of
the case, declares that Abraham Smith hath
taken up Jonathan Mills' horse off the com
mon unjustly. Adam Mott, Jr., says: A
little above two years ago Joseph Langdon

32

and I marked a colt for Abel Gale in the ear
with a half-penny and a slit, and this is that
horse, to the best of my knowledge. Benja
min Seaman says : Almost two years ago I
brought up a mare of Isaac Mills', that was
formerly Abel Gale's, and there was a colt of
a year and a vantage old. This is that horse.
Isaac Mills gave John Jackson orders to look
after his jades that run about Hempstead
bounds. Richard Valentine says the same.
Abraham Smith says, a little above three
years ago he marked a sorrel colt, with one
white foot, for Mr. Noble, with a half-penny
and a slit, and this horse now in difference
is that which he marked. Solomon Seaman
says, about three years ago he was at the
Cedar Swamp head, on the east side of
Hempstead Harbor, and there he saw a mare
that is now Jonathan Mills', with a sorrel
colt, and next winter he saw the same mare
and colt on the west side of the East Meadow.
Referred till next Court, and both parties
to appear without any more summons. —
B., 310.
Jonathan Mills, in an action of trespass,
declares that William Noble hath taken up a
horse of his off the common, and produces
witnesses as aforementioned. The Court
order defendant to have the horse. — £., 312.
The Court order that no person that is not
concerned shall speak nor make disturbance
in Court, upon the penalty of 10s. fine, or
more, if the Court sees cause. — £., 310.
November 7. — Jonathan Smith declares
that James Pine, Sr. and Jr., Samuel Pine
and Nathaniel Pine, have lugged, cut and
crippled four or five of his two-year old
swine. Two or three are missing from their
company, and the rest sorely maimed. He
therefore humbly requests that this Honored
Court would be pleased to take his case into
their consideration and award him justice
according to law, and for them he shall ever
pray.— B., 313.
1678, January 2. — Joseph Pettit declares
that John Marshall owes him one cow of a
middling stature, sound and well, to be de
livered at or before the -first of September
last, and to prove it produces a bill, witnessed
by two men, under defendant's hand. —
B., 314.
March 6. — Edward Rainer declares that

Matthew Bedell hath taken away a part of
his cart-tackling, for the use of which he
was to plow and sow a parcel of land with
winter corn, which he did not do. Jeremy
Wood, Jr. , says Bedell was to have the use
of Rainer's tackling for a year, and for it
was to plow and sow for him a piece of land
in season, and they were to have the use of
the cart between them. The Court order
defendant to pay 30s. either in corn (wheat
at 5s. a bushel, Indian corn at 3s.) or else a
young neat beast that comes near the money.
— C, 139.
May 1. — John Skidmore declares that
William Osborne owes him on an account
£1.8.7, and gives his oath to it. Joseph
Langdon says his mother desired him to
fetch three quarts of sack for her from John
Skidmore's, of Jamaica, for she said her son
Osborn had given her order to send for some.
The Court order defendant to pay £1.8.7,
which is the sum of the account. — C, 140.
April 17. — Robert Williams, shoemaker,
in an action of the case against John Smith
Blue. Having had some differences they
came to an agreement lately, and Smith en
gaged to deliver two half-hides of leather,
which he now refuses to do. Thomas Rush-
more says the above named came to an
agreement that Smith did accept of John
Ellison for security for the remaining £13,
and the shoes already arrested to remain to
Smith, and a pair or two of shoes from Rob
ert to make up, if anything were wanting
upon the £7 to be paid to Osborne, and
Smith to deliver to Robert two half-hides,
and Robert to pay Smith one week's diet
and for some buttons, and something to
James, the tailor. Mr. Jonah Fordham says :
John Ellison was to give in a bond to clear
Smith of the £13 that is yet behind on Os
borne's bond, and what the shoes that were
arrested come short of paying the first £7
Robert was to make up in shoes and pay for
a week's diet and some thread, and Smith
was to deliver two half-hides to Robert the
next Wednesday. Jonathan Pine says Rob
ert came to Smith's and asked for his leather,
and Smith told him he should clear him
from Osborne, and then he should have the
leather, or else he should have none then.
The Court order defendant to deliver two

33

half-hides to Williams according to agree
ment forthwith upon demand. — £., 327.
August 9.— John Smith declares that Rob
ert Williams hath wrongfully taken some
tools out of his house, as a pair of pincers,
some awls and leather. He hath also wronged
him deceitfully in his work. William Ja-
cocks says he heard Williams say that those
he had hides of should have good shoes, but
those that have shoes of Smith should take
them as they fall. John Jackson says that
he being at Smith's, Williams came for his
leather, and Smith fetched half an ox-hide
and half a steer's-hide, and Robert said he
had rather have half a cow's-hide in place of
the steer's, and Smith went and fetched half
a cow's-hide and tendered them to Robert,
else he fetched a piece of leather more for
some that was gone off one of the hides.
Thomas Fese testifies the same. The Court
decide for the plaintiff, and order defendant
to give satisfaction to him in a public assem
bly (either in writing or else by word of
mouth) for his ill language. And concern
ing the tools, if John Smith, Jr., will take
his oath that he never sold nor trucked them
with nor to Robert, neither directly nor in
directly, then the tools shall return to Smith ;
otherways they shall remain to Robert. —
£., 271.
Timothy Plum enters an action of debt
against Henry Mott and William Hedger.
The Court order defendant to pay £1.4.6,
which is the sum of the account, only he
hath liberty till the first Wednesday in Octo
ber to prove the debt paid, which if done,
the plaintiff must pay costs of suit, but if not
done, the verdict of the Court stands in full
force.— £., 268.
November 6. — John Ellison, in an action
of unjust molestation, against John Smith
Blue, humbly declares that he is damnified
£3 by being unjustly forced from his occa
sions. Referred to next Court, at defend
ant's request. — £., 269.
1679, February 21.— Mr. William Hill de
clares that Samuel Allen owes him £2.14.10
upon the account of a bill passed by Allen to
him. This action is referred, upon defend
ant's request, till John Skidmore returns
from New England again, plaintiff to pay
the present charges. — £., 268.

May 7.— Ordered by this Court that no
man shall search or post the Records, or
cause the Clerk to do so, without paying him
12d.— £., 266.
December 3. — John Roads enters an action
of the case against John Carpenter. Capt.
John Seaman says : When James Till came
home sick, one First Day, in the afternoon,
John Ellison came to my house and fell into
discourse with James concerning a debt to
John Roads, and asked how he thought to
pay Roads, and he said he would pay in a
horse, and that Roads should have him as
soon as he could be got up. So I bid James
set a price on him, and he answered he might
be worth £5. Ellison said no, he would
not give that. So the conclusion was that
he should be prised by men, of whom Na
thaniel Pearsall was one. Pearsall says :
When James lay sick, he told me I must do
him a kindness — that was to prize a horse
for him that Roads was to have. I asked
what horse, and he told me ' ' it was the
black horse of Terry's that I ride." I told
him I would have him get another man to
prize him, for I would not meddle in prising
of him, and my reason was I apprehend him
to be so bad that I should not value him at
anything. Court find for defendant. — £.,
162-3. John Roads against James Mott — an action
of debt. Roads declareth that James Till,
deceased, being in his debt, and Mott being
in Till's debt, as by evidence given by John
Smith doth appear, and having by warrant
attached the money he oweth Till, he there
upon bringeth his suit. Referred till next
Court.— B. , 164.
1680, April 7.— Capt. Thomas Townsend
enters an action of debt against Thomas
Jones, but not appearing, is nonsuited. —
B., 118.
1681, June 1. — Daniel Whithead declares
that William Wier owes him, and to prove
it delivers two bills under defendant's own
hand. The Court, having perused the bills,
order defendant to satisfy them. — C, 243.
November 23. — John Bayley declares that
he bargained with Matthew Bedell for a good
fat cow for his use, which he now refuseth
to deliver according to bargain, which is
much to my damage, so that I am now forced

34

to make my redress to this Court, desiring I
may have justice according to law. John
Mott, aged twenty-three, says, being at
George Hewlett's, the 7th instant, Bedell
was to deliver, in the beginning of the next
week, a good fat cow to Bayley for another
cow and 15s. in cash to boot. Mary Hew
lett, aged twenty-seven, says she was present
at the bargain. Bayley was to give a lean
cow and 15s. in corn for a good fat cow,
and Bedell said he would not tie him to one
cow, but if one would not do, he should have
another. The Court order defendant to pay
a good fat cow between this and next Satur
day, 11 o'clock, and pay 30s. damage. — C, 1.
December 7. — Daniel Bedell declares that
Matthew Bedell owes him for the most part
of eighteen weeks' diet, and to prove it gives
his oath. Defendant owneth the debt, only
one week, but pretended it paid. The
Court order him to pay £2. 9. 6, eight days
after date, which is his due, their accounts
being balanced. — O, 2.
1682, February 1.— Thomas Oakley de
clares that John Allen, of Foster's Meadow,
owes him 12s. upon an account, and gives
his oath to it. — C, 19.
February 10. — John Underhill, of Matine-
cock, enters an action of trespass upon the
case, and declares that Matthew Bedell has
two of his cattle in his possession, which,
being several times demanded, he refuses to
deliver, and owns them to be his. The par
ties agree this cause as concerning the cattle,
only leaving defendant to the judgment of
the Court for his unequal dealing in this mat
ter, who, having considered of it, see cause
to fine defendant 20s.— C, 20.
March 1. — Whereas Hugh Ford enters an
action of the case against William Wier, but
makes nothing appear, the Court nonsuit
him.— C, 20.
John Bedell declares that Joseph Langdon
owes him 2s. 6d. for killing and dressing a
cow for him. The Court find it to be a vex
atious suit, and plaintiff is to pay charges as
the law directs. — C, 21.
Jonas Valentine declares that James Bate
hath digged a hole in the commons to get
clay to make bricks, in which I have a beast
now drowned. Joseph Pettit and Richard
Totten say there is a place made in a hollow

southward of Fairfield, something like a
ditch, eight or ten feet long, and four or five
feet wide, with a fence about it, only the
fence is set about two feet short of one end
of the place, and there is a beast dead in that
end. Referred to next Court, when both
parties are to appear and make what proof
they can for the clearing of the case. — C, 21.
April 1.— Richard Cornell declares that
Matthew Bedell owes him £3.0.8, to be paid
in good merchantable pork at prices current.
This action is agreed between the parties.—
C, 23.
May 3. — Adam Mott declares that Thomas
Jones owes him £4.9.8 upon an account of
two oxen which he bought of Jones, and
which fell so much short by weight of the
sum agreed on, which Jones was engaged to
make good. Richard Gildersleeve, Jr., and
Mary Freeman say that Mott bought two
oxen of Jones, for which Jones was to have
three cows and calves, and Jones was to up
hold the oxen to come to £14, by weight, at
2d. a pound, at York. Action referred till
next Court.— O, 24.
June 7. — Robert Jackson declares that
Matthew Bedell owes him, upon account of
two bills, £1.11.0, and produces the bills. —
C, 24.
July 5. — Elias Bailey enters an action of
the case against Christopher Yeomans.
Richard Valentine enters an action of debt
against Abraham Smith. John Tredwell
says : Last May day, Smith, being at my
house, promised Valentine he would pay
him Mr. Barker's note of 57s. 6d., in a
month, in a beast, and if they could not agree
of the price they would put it to indifferent
men to prise the beast. Hannah Tredwell
says she heard Abraham promise he would
pay Valentine a beast within a few days, or
a very short time, upon the account of a
note that Mr. Barker sent to Abraham Smith.
The Court order defendant to pay what he
promised according to Mr. Barker's note.—
C, 25.
Abner Ardway enters an action of debt
and damages against Adam Mott, Sr. Chris
tian Yeomans says : Abner asked my wife
what day of the month it was. She said
January 22d ; and next day he went to work
for Mott. Hannah Yeomans says the same,

35

August 2. — Cornelius Mott enters an action
of debt against William Wiate, or Wier.
Abraham Smith and Timothy Halstead say
Wier had a parcel of seven or eight deer
skins of Mott, with the hair on. — C, 26.
Adam Mott, Jr., enters an action of debt
and damage against William Wier. Ad
journed till next Court.
Elias Dorland enters an action of debt
against John Marshall's estate. Adam Mott
says Marshall was 28s. in my debt, and I as
signed it to Dorland. Peter Johnson Schol.
says : Being at Setauket I demanded of Mar
shall a debt he owed Dorland, and he owned
it and said he would be here in a short time
and satisfy it. Miriam Dorland says, con
cerning a debt due her first husband, John
Williams, from Marshall, that she heard her
husband say that he and Marshall had reck
oned, and 28s. was due. Thomas Ellison
says, being at work with Marshall I heard
him say he owed Williams. The Court
award 56s., which appear to be his due. A
chest, two or three pounds of yarn, some
slays and harness of Marshall being attached
by Dorland, were prised by John Pine and
Adam Mott, Jr., at £2 17.— C, 26.
Whereas, an Indian which owns himself
by the name of Sam, being taken by the con
stable late in the night, and had stolen five
lines, was brought before the Court, and
owning that he had stolen the lines, the
Court adjudges that he shall pay fourfold for
the lines, which is 4s., and for the constable's
¦trouble, 10s.. and for a fine to be paid the
Court, 16s., and to the clerk, Is. — C, 27.
August 15. — Thomas Ireland enters an ac
tion of debt and damage against Harman
Johnson. William Wetherly says, Goodman
Frost tendered, at Fosters Meadow, a cow
to be prised, to L-eland, and he had the choice
of five. Hendrick Dosenborow says, that
being at Fosters Meadow at Abraham Frost's,
he heard him tender Ireland a cow and calf,
and Ireland bid him bring the cow to the
place appointed. The Court order the defen
dant to pay as the bill specifieth. — C, 27.
September 6. — Jonathan Smith R. and
Abraham Smith enter an action of debt and
damage against all John Marshall's estate
- that is in Edward Rainer's hands. Jonathan
Smith R.. affirmeth that Marshall justly owed

him in the sum of five days' mowing. Abra
ham Smith says Marshall owes him for seven
days' work and 20 pounds of flax, the flax
was to be paid last March. The Court award
15s. for the mowing, and £2 lis, for seven
days' work and 20 pounds of flax. — C, 28.
November 1. — Adam Mott enters an action
of the case against Robert Bedell. — C, 28.
December 6. — Henry Linington enters an
action of the case against Matthew Bedell.
John Smith, constable, says, being at the
mill Linington told me there was a stray
beast that had no mark. I told him I thought
it was Bedell's, and I told Bedell of it, and
he said he would carry Henry a dram of rum,
and satisfy the old man for keeping the beast.
Jonathan Smith, Sr., says, Bedell desired me
to ask Linington to give the stray beast a little
meat while he come for her, and I did so.
Several times Henry asked when Matthew
would come for her, and I told Matthew, and
he said he would come as soon as ever he
could. Late in the next winter Henry de
sired me to tell Matthew to fetch his beast
away and pay him for wintering her, for he
could not tell whether it was his or no be
cause she was not marked. Richard Gilder
sleeve, Jr., says the same. Solomon Seaman
says, my father-in-law, Linington, wintered
a black heifer that Bedell owned to be his,
and helped to bring her up the second winter
that she was wintered there. The Court or
der Bedell to pay 16s. for the wintering of
the beast one winter and part of another. —
C, 29.
Henry Linington enters an action of tres
pass against Roger Pedly to the damage of
80s., for mowing his meadow without leave,
James Mott says Pedly owned three stacks
of hay (about three loads) that stood on Lin-
ington's meadow, and Pedly sold that hay to
Elias Dorland, who fetched it away. Joseph
Langdon says, being at the mill Pedly asked
me for some grass, and Linington asked what
he wanted, and Pedly said grass, and Lining
ton made answer I don't know but I can help
you, and Roger called me and said, Joseph
I have no need of your grass, I think I shall
be supplied here. The Court order Pedly to
pay 4s. 6d., and no damage being made to
appear the Court do not see cause to give
any.— C, 30, 46, a.

36

1683, January 3.— Abraham Smith, of
Fosters Meadow, enters an action of debt
against William Wier. Non-suited.
Matthew Bedell enters an action of debt
against William Lee, of 30s. and 10s. dam
age. Richard Valentine was present when
the bill of sale was made. Lee was to give
Bedell a cow and a hog, to be taken out of a
company of Lee's hogs. Solomon Seaman
was with Bedell when he went for a hog, and
Lee forewarned him meddling with the hog
that he had reserved before. Daniel Pear
sall says, that about a month ago Bedell
came over to my house and asked me if I see
Lee's hogs, and I told him I did not know
his hogs, and he told me he was going for
one of his that was amongst Lee's, black be
fore and behind and white in the middle.
The Court find the suit to be a vexatious one
and the plaintiff to pay costs. — C, 46 a.
Adam Mott, Jr., enters an action of the
case against Matthew Bedell. Court find for
plaintiff. March 6. Robert Williams enters an ac
tion of debt against Simon Jarmin. James
Bate says, I heard Jarmin say to Williams,
in his shop, that he had brought a young
beast for him and it was in Richard Gilder-
sleeve's yard. Samuel Denton says the
same. The Court award £3. 12. 9.— C, 46, 6.
Daniel Bedell enters an action of the case
against Henry Linington. Thomas Smith
was at Linington's mill and heard him charge
Bedell with stealing swine, but whether it
was a hog or above that I can't tell, for they
were discoursing of both, and Bedell answer
ed that he heard he had often charged him
but he could not prove it, but now he could
prove it and would sue him for a slander. —
C, 47.
April 4. At a court held at Hempstead
by the constable and overseers, by His Maj
esty's authority, Charles the Second, of Great
Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender
of the Faith, et cetera, Thomas Rushmore
enters an action of debt againBt Thomas
Jones for divers particulars of smith's work,
and to the truth thereof hath sworn. The
Court find for the plaintiff. — C, 48.
May 2. Cornelius Mott enters an action of
the case against Robert Bedell.

June 6. Thomas Higham enters an ac
tion of debt against Joseph Jennings. Ad
journed till next court.
John March sues Joseph Langdon. — C, 57.
1684, January 30. Chosen as the law di
rected, by major vote, John Jackson, Na
thaniel Pearsall, and Joseph Smith to be
Commissioners to sit in com'ts of judicature
to try causes under 40s.
March 1. Winifred, wife of William
Thorne, enters an action of defamation
against Hannah, wife of John Cornwell.
Non-suit granted. — C, 54.
April 2. Cornelius Mott enters an action
of debt and damages against William Wier.
John Pine says, Wier did promise to pay
Mott a pair of shoes for himself within ten
days, and without they had some discourse
about Indian corn for the charges that were
then out, but he can't say exactly how much.
Jonathan Smith, Sr., says the same. Plain
tiff withdraws the action, only Cornelius doth
engage the charge for this time. — C, 54, 57.
Charles Abrams sues Matthew and John
Bedell for debt and damage.
May 7. John March sues John Bates, of
Madnan's Neck, for debt and damage. De
ferred.— C, 57.
John Okissam sues John Wilson for debt
and damage.
William Jones enters an action of the case
with damage against Thomas Southard.
1685, April 2. Chosen as the law directs,
John Jackson, Joseph Smith, and Benjamin
Seaman for Commissioners or select men to
sit in court to end differences under 40s. —
C, 50.
1686, January 6. Adam Mott, Jr., in an
action of the case against Cornelius Mott.
April 1. Chosen for Commissioners, Si
mon Searing, John Treadwell and Jonathan
Smith, Sr.
1687, February 2. Timothy Halsted, Jr.,
enters an action of debt, 25s., with damage,
against Samuel Denton, Sr., who did engage
to pay for a sow which he or his servant did
maim or spoil, and now he denieth to make
restitution. Abraham Smith, aged 43, says,
in the beginning of this winter Timothy Hal
sted, Jr., came to his house and desired him
and his son Isaac to go with him to Den
ton's to discourse about a sow which Den-

37

ton's negro had spoiled, and Timothy said
the sow was his, not his father's, and Denton
said he would pay for her or give him an
other as good if she did amiss. James Beate,
aged 35, says, he heard Denton say his negro
had hurt Halsted's sow and that he would
let him have corn to keep her till she was
well.— C, 238.
August 3. Joseph Langdon enters an ac
tion of trespass against Samuel Denton, to
the value of £4.19 current money of this gov
ernment, for going on his meadow and cut
ting and spoiling his grass, whereby he is
damnified and made worse, which causeth
him to bring his action to this court, desiring
judgment for the same and that the trespass
er may suffer according to his demerit, and
the plaintiff shall ever pray. Defendant ap
pears by his attorney, Peter Chock, and
saith he hath not trespassed in manner and
form according to the declaration, and that
he is not indebted for said sum, and therefore
puts himself upon this court, for a trial. The
jury find 20s. damages. — C, 151.
1645. December 2d. — Lysbet Tyssen sues
Goodman Carman for the purchase money
of a red petticoat with blue lining and
trimmed with cord. Referred to Mr. Ogden
and Lt. Baxter for arbitration. — Dutch
MSS., iv., 240.
1648, September 16. — Richard Lamson
sells to William Yates his house and land for
£15.10, to be paid half in wheat and half in
Indian corn.
1657, February 11.— I Mr. John Sticklan,
of Hempstead, in the New Netherlands, do
acquit Lawrence and John Ellison of all clues
from the beginning of the world to this pres
ent day ; as witness Daniel Whithead and
Thomas Poyer, Cler. de Cort. — B., 145.
1657, April 17.— Ordered that all the
fences of the front lots that run into the Field
shall be sufficiently fenced by the 29th inst,
under penalty of 5s. All swine found within
the Field after the 30th inst. shall be pounded.
All who wish their calves kept by the keeper
are to give in their number to Adam Mott*
by the 24th inst., or forever after hold their
peace. — A., 2.

* Adam Mott, of Essex, was married, July 28, 1647,
to .Jane Hewlett, of Buckingham.

1657, April 30.— The town's land belong
ing to the minister's house is let out for the
crop this year. In primis, to Thomas Je-
cocks the home lot for 26s. 6d., to be paid
in good current pay at crop. To Goodman
Weeks five pieces of hollow, one being the
Walnut hollow (three acres in all) f6r £3.1.
To Goodman Chatterton three and a half
acres of hollow lying at the Sandy hollow
for £3.11. To Henry Pearsall the town's
meadow to the minister's house for 30s.
To Robert Ashman four gates belonging to
the town in the east ox-pasture, he to main
tain the fence for the year and pay 5s. —
A., 12.
1657, May 8. — Ordered that all working
oxen and sags (stags) shall be kept out of the
cow-herd by the 14th inst. Also the Neck
fence shall be mended by the 20th inst., 2s.
to be paid for every length of rails defective.
Any calves-turned down unto the Neck but
such as shall have cows drove down with
(hem to suck on, shall be forfeited, half to
the informer. All young and dry cattle
shall be driven down to the Neck by June
4th, and all found in the Field or herd shall
be poundable, None shall drive down more
beasts than he has gates or fencing for ; if
so, the beasts shall be forfeited. A horse
shall stand in place of two cattle. — A. 14.
1657, May 8. — Michael Chatterton is cho
sen pinder. — A., 13.
1657, May 28. — Ordered that any horse-
kind fouud in the Field after the 30th inst.
shall be poundable ; also any swine found in
the South meadows or at the South meadows
that are given out in particular allotments.*
—A., 15.
1657. — No cows, oxen, young cattle, nor
horses, shall go into the Field until October
23. Whatsoever swine shall be found in the
Field after September 24th shall be pounded,
and the pinder shall maintain a guard or
watch until twenty-four hours be past, and
then sell them at an outcry. No cattle shall
be fetched from the Neckf until the Field be
cleared and they be fetched by the town in
general, under penalty of 10s. ahead. — A., 3.
* 1313 acres of meadow had already been allotted. —
A., 19.
f There were 526 gates at the Neck owned by 61 pro
prietors. In June 306 cattle had been turned in. — A., 8.

¦*s

The planters seem to have turned their at
tention from the first to the raising of cattle,
and soon fenced in Rockaway Neck, where
they turned their cattle in proportion to the
gates or lengths of fence each one had made.
The milch cows and calves were kept in
separate* herds and brought in every night.
In the following table we have given a list
(1) of gates, (2) of cattle for 1657, (3) of
milch cows, (4) of calves, (5) of acres of
allotted meadow, and (6) of the rates or pro
portion of taxes for public charges for 1658 :
12 3 4 5 6

Robert Ashman,
Goodman Barker,
Robert Bedell,
Richard Brudnill,
Mr. Bryan,
Thomas Carle,
John Carman,
Caleb Carman,
Thomas Champion,
Michael Chatterton,
Benjamin Coe,
John Coe,
Peter Cornelisen,
Thomas Demont,
Mr. Denton,
Nathaniel Denton,
Lawrence Ellison,
John Ellison,
Thomas Ellison,
John Esser,
Richard Everet,
Thomas Foster,
Aaron Forrnan,
Josias Forman,
Mr. Robert Forman,
Samuel Furman,
Mr. Gildersleeve,
Rich. Gildersleeve, Jr.
Jonas Halsted,
Timothy Halsted,
George Hewlett,
Mr. John Hicks,
Thomas Hicks,
Thomas Ireland,
Robert Jackson,
William Jecocks,
Thomas Jecocks,
Thomas Langdon,
Richard Lettin,
Roger Lynas,
Henry Linington,
Robert Marvin,
Samuel Mathews,
Joseph Mead,
John Mead,
Andrew Messenger,
George Mills,
Adam Mott,

20 21 10 1
6 5
8 1
6 6
6 6 4}6
6 8i

14

1
15 6
8 19

3i 4

6
44 3 8

10 5
6
7 3

7
4
15 8 5
6 2 2
20 24 15
6 4 4
20 20 13
3 3
14 1 4 5
12 8 8 5
6 4
4

10 8 2

40 53
16 26
28 14
38
39 30
32 32
14
13 6$
6 6
20 20
6 6
12 12
24 24
6
29 20
30 30
11 21
6 66
15 21

18 3
8 5 40 40

2 55 55$
1 11
35
4 3514
8 48 48 5
19
2 37 29 7
19 1919
6 6
3 7 7
2 13 13*
41 19i
12 12
2 20 10

12 3 4 5 6

Richard Ogden,
Gisbert Opdyke,
Henry Pearsall,
Joseph Pettit,
James Pine,
Edward Rainer,
John Roads,
Thomas Rushmore,
William Scadding,
Joseph Scott,
John Seaman,
Simon Searing,
Thomas Skidmore,
Abraham Smith,
John Smith Nan.,
John Smith, Jr.,
John Smith Rock,
Samuel Smith,
Thomas Smith,
William Smith,
Samuel Smith,
Thomas Southard,
Edward Sprag,
Mr. Sticklin,
Richard Stites,
John Sturgis,
Ambrose Sutton,
Nicholas Tanner,
William Tbickston,
Edward Titus,
Richard Valentine,
John Washburn,
Mr. Washburn,
Daniel Whitehead,
Francis Wickes,
Robert Williams,
Richard Willis,
Timothy Wood,
Jonas Wood, Hal.,
Jeremy Wood,
Mr. George Woolsey,
William Yates,

1658, March 13.— Richard Gildersleeve,
Henry Pearsall and Robert Marvin are culled
and chosen by lot to lay out to each inhabi
tant their due proportion of land out of the
meadow land undisposed of at Haybridge
Neck, or any other undisposed land conve
nient :

14

4

12 12
714
5 33 39
14 5
6
31 31
6 7
12 12
4
1
1
1 27
6 5
3
4 6 6
8 3
3
1 28 28
20 30
15
43 43
6
8
3 6 6
6
8
8 9
7
1 21 35
10 5
8
4 26 26
8 14
9
5 21 21
6 46
12 8
7
32 6
2
2 12 12
2
6 6
15 8
41
4
6
4 6
64
6 9 9
7 4
2
6 16 16
10
7 9
3
29 29
4
22
6 4
4 7
2 19 19
16 17
9J
12 54 36J
6
27
3
4
28
5
2 41
6 6
6
28 34
6
2210
6 5
6
19 19
6
14 14
6 5
5
1 18 19
For Marrin*
Mr. Gildersleeve,
Robert Ashman,
John Smith, Jr.,
John Ellison.
Laurence Ellison,
John Smith.
Mr. James, ¦
James Pine.
For Gildersleeve. For PearsalL
Mr. Weeks,
Henry Pearsall,
Thos. Rushmore,
Thomas Jecocks,
John Smith, Jr.,
Richard WiUit,
Mr. Ashman,
John Sturg.
Robert Foreman,'.
Ambrose Sutton,
John Sturg1,
Simon Searingi
James Pine,
John Smith,
Thos. Langdon',
Thos. Jecocks.
These three tickets are yet preserved^
being pinned on a page of the record book-. ¦
39

1658, March 15.— A rate of £23.3.11 is
made to be levied on the meadows, to pay
the town's debt, being 4jd. per acre, the sum
levied amounting to £22.19.11. A rate of
£1.9 for burning the Neck and viewing the
fence comes to ljd. the head. — A., 22.
1658, May 2. — Henry Pearsall is chosen
pounder. — A., 33.
1658, May 29. — Ordered that the east ox-
pasture shall be made up with a three-rail
fence* round about, but with five rails be
tween the housing of Joseph Schott and
Robert Forman. — A., 50.
1658, June 5. — The dry cattle now run
ning amongst the cows shall be driven unto
the north neck by the 14th inst., and the
number of them brought in to the town clerk
to be inlisted ; and no cattle or horses shall
be fetched thence but in presence of two
witnesses provided by the Townsmen. —
A., 51.
1658, July 2.— The Fiscal is ordered to
prosecute Simon Searing for abusing Jan
Montagne, Jr., the farmer of the excise on
Long Island. — Dutch MSS., viii, 900.
1655, September 13. — I Gisbert Opdyke
sell to Alexander Bryan all my accommoda
tions in Hempstead for £25. Also I engage
to deliver him both the lots with all the ac
commodations which were Jonas Woods'
and Alexander Knowles' lot.
1657, December 17. — I Alexander Bryan,
of Milford, sell the farm that was Opdyke's
to Thomas Langdon, he being now in pos
session. 1659, March 21.— I Robert Coe, of Rus-
dorp, sell to Robert Marvin half of- my ac
commodations of land with a barn. —
A., 23.
1659; April 3. — I Gisbert Opdyke depose
that I let out to William Smith three hollows,
over the run at East Meadow, which he
afterwards sold to Alexander Bryan. I never
sold them to William Smith, but did let them
for a bushel of wheat a year, and I received
the hire for two years.
1659, April 10. — I Thomas Champion give
Robert Marvin my proportion of meadow
* In 1663 it was one guilder fine for every length de
fective. For labor done to the town's use by William
Jecocks, for 37 1-2 rods of fence made up to the ox-pas-
tare, he received £1.17.6.— A.', 52.

land (thirteen acres) on Coe's Neck, in con
sideration of his paying the half-rate here
after. 1659, May 2. — I Benjamin Coe have sold
all my claim to the corner house and lot in
Hempstead, lying between the cross streets
leading to the Fields to the Northside, and
having to the east the land of Robert Wil
liams, who is to uphold the dividing fence ;
and half the other fence leading to the pound
and adjoining thereto is to be upheld by Mr.
Ashman. — A., 75.
I Robert Coe sell to Thomas Champion
my right to half of my accommodations of
hollows and meadows, with half my wood
land lying on the north side of the town,
Robert Marvin owning the other half. —
—A., 76.
I Robert Coe, in behalf of my son John,
do transport to Thomas Champion his claim
to land and hollows on the plains, with half
an acre of hollows in the Bevel, which I
bought of Richard Everet, for £6 sterling,
to be paid here in corn or cattle not to ex
ceed eight years, at the feast of St. Michael
the archangel. — A., 76.
1659, March 14.— Ordered that John Smith
Nants, Richard Willits, Ambrose Sutton and
John Smith, Jr., be surveyors of highways..
Whosoever refuses to come to do labor shall
pay for a man 4s., and for a man and his
team 8s. — A., 90.
1659, March 14. — Any swine found within
half a mile of the South meadows, or in the
Field, or in the ox-pasture, shall be pounda
ble ; also any cattle or hogs in the cornfield.
Richard Gildersleeve, Richard Willits and
John Ellison shall lay out the ground for the
fencing of the meadows at Rockaway, and
those who send cattle shall give in their num
ber to the Clerk, under penalty of losing
the benefit. A great hollow of two acres at
the southwest, at Little Plains, is granted
for seven years, at 18d. yearly the acre, with
the tythes, to John Rhodes, of Rusdorp,
which he is to fence in. Likewise to John
Ellison one and a half acres lying by an
island of trees. — A., 89.
1659, July 2. — No person shall ride, go on
foot, or drive a cart through any man's corn
field, under penalty of 10s.— A;, 113.

40

OATTLB.
There were two herds of cattle, east and
west, each under the care of a cow-keeper
and his dog ; also a calf-herd kept by a man
with his boy. The contract was somewhat
as follows :
At the sounding of the horn by the time
the sun be half an hour above the horizon,
the cows having been milked, those of the
west herd were driven from private pens by
their owners into the swamp or compass of
ground between Master Gildersleeve's corner
and Master Jackson's corner, where they
were taken in charge by the herdsman.
Those of the east end that lived in the body
of the town drove their cattle into the swamp
beyond Blue Smith's, and they that lived at
South-over drove their cattle to the rear of
Abraham Smith's home lot, where the keeper
was waiting for them.* The herds were
brought in at half an hour before sun-setting. +
The bounds of the west herd were west
ward upon the Plains as far as Master Sea
man's fenced hollow, and northward a mile
from the south woods, and southward as far
in the woods as the keepers have formerly
used to go. The east herd ranged and fed
eastward from the N. E. corner of the east
ox-pasture, and so beyond the east meadow
and southward as far as the south meadows.
The keepers went forth with their herds by
or before the middle of May, and were dis
charged as soon as the Field was cleared of
Indian corn, October 23.
If jury cattle shall do any stray or come to
be lost, the keeper is to use his best endeavor
to look them up next day by driving his
herd that way-ward where he judgeth they
were lost, and if he cannot find them he is to
give notice to the owner. He is to water
them twice a day, and drive them to fresh
feed, and once a week to the south meadows,
and if he shall wrong any cattle by his dogs,
or suffer them to destroy the corn within the
Field, he shall make satisfaction for it.
* In 1661-3. those living north side the bridge. Or swamp
turned their cows over the swamp, and those living at
South-over turned theirs to the rear of John Carpenter's
lot.— B., 26.
f In 1663 he was to bring the east herd within the
town either at the Parsonage g'ate or to the swamp by
Thomas Ireland's. — B., 125.

The keeper had every fourth Sabbath to
himself, and his wages were 14s. a week,
paid as follows : one pound of butter, at 6d.,
for every cow brought to the pail to be
milked ; the rest of his pay was one-third in
wheat, at 5s. per bushel ; one-third in Indian
corn, at 3s., and one-third in oats, at 2s. 6d,
If corn fall short, then in pork, at 4£d., or
beef, at 3d. per pound, at next killing time.
He was to have 5s. more than his weekly
wages for keeping the dry cattle till after
wheat harvest, in case they are not taken
away by the middle of June. *
CALVES.
The calf-keeper was to go out with them
half an hour by sun in the morning, and not
to bring them in before sunset, to water
them twice a day, (once at least), to go
down to the South once in three weeks, (if
time and weather permit), always provided
that at the first going down two persons be
found by the calf-owners, and afterwards
one, to go down with him. If any be lost
through his carelessness he shall make them
good. He was assisted at first for seven
days (in 1657) by Francis Weeks' boy, at
18d. a day. The wages were 16s. per week
for twenty-five weeks, from May 14th, t to
be paid as followeth : one pound of butter a
calf, at 6d. the pound, and 12d. the head, in
good-sized wampum, the rest in corn, half
wheat and half Indian. If the Towusmen
shall see cause, at the latter end of the year,
to have them kept at South, then they shall
find a man to keep with the keeper, and for
the Sabbath days he is to take his turn when
it comes. 1660, January 25. — I Thomas Langdon
sell to Robert Williams, carpenter, half of
my meadow (nineteen acres) belonging to
my accommodations within the limits of
Hempstead.— A., 24.
1660, April 13. — All sheep or calves found
in the ox-pastures shall be poundable.—
A.,- 127. ¦

* In 1658 he was to be discharged of keeping the
wcrMrtg. cattle by June 10, and to keep the younger cat
tle until there be sufficient feeding in the town's Neck.
In 1657 no dry cattle or oxen were to go in the herd after
warning given to drive them to the NeoK,
f'The calves were driven out a fortnight after the
cows, sometimes not till June.

41

1660, March 21.— Ordered that the fence
against the corn-field belonging to every par
ticular man, as also the common fence against
Ihe Field,* shall be sufficiently made up to
Jseep out swine and cattle, and the ox-pas
ture fences are to be made up by the last of
April. If any one shall leave open the Field
igate or bars he shall pay 5s. — A., 126.
1660, January 28. — Thomas Hicks, Jr.,
sells ,to Sarah, widow of Edward Tredwell,
his house and lands, late William Smith's. —
D., 400..
1660, January 12. — Thomas Langdon,
having killed ten wolves, is paid six bushels
of corn for each head, and is to have his
range one mile within the north woods and
in all the south woods. May 13 1661. —
James Pine and John Mead testify that
Langdon killed ten wolves. — A., 117.
1660, January 12. — Chosen by the Towns
men to serve as their successors : Mr. Rob
ert Ashman, James Pine, John Mead, Aaron
Forman and Timothy Halstead.
The Magistrates deny their consent here
unto, because they were hot chosen by lot.
February 26. — The same were chosen by
lot and confirmed to be Townsmen. — A.,
123. 1660, February 26.— Ordered that Thomas
Jacocks shall be paid out of the overplus of
the town rates 20s. sterling for killing a
wolf.— A., 119.
1660, April 3, — Tackapusha, sagamore of
Marsepeack, complains to the Governor of
the Hempstead settlers, that they enter on
his grounds and fence in his planting lands
and threaten to burn his and his people's
houses if they don't leave within eight days.
The settlers are cited before the Governor to
answer this complaint ; and on May 25,
Hicks and Jackson, the magistrates, appeared
and claimed that the town had bought the
land, and that the Indians would not leave
it, ;and that they injure their cattle. The
deputies from the chief Meantinnemin deny
having sold the land, only the grass. Finally
theGovernor allows the Indians to harvest
this year their planted corn, on condition
* In 1661 it was styled u fence belonging to the front
of the Field," and'also the *L Common fence belonging
to the Kield,"— A., 127.-

that they set off their plantation and kill their
big dogs. Meanwhile it remained to be seen
how they would behave.* — Dutch MSS., ix.,
136, 250, 266.
1660, September 3.— I William Smith do
prise the half of Henry Linington's mill,
with all things belonging to her housing and
lands, with the iron bar, mill-bills and iron
sledge, with all privileges belonging to her,
(the hopper, shoe and hoop excepted), at
£40 sterling, to be paid in beef or cattle at
beaver price, thirty bushels Indian corn and
twenty bushels wheat. — B., 5.
1660, November 10. — It is ordered that a
house-end shall be set up to Goodman Pear-
sail's house, upon a town charge, for the en
tertainment of young Master Fordham, Good
man Pearsall paying £7 towards the work if
it be finished. Also that the Townsmen shall
repair the meeting house and make it com
fortable to meet in. — A., 129.
1660, December 5. — Chosen by vote for
Townsmen, Thomas Smythe, Thomas
Hickes, Thomas Ellison, Hope Washburne,
George Hewlett.
1661, February the last. — We the Magistrates ingage
to uphold the Townsmen in all lawful things done for-the
good of the town, &c, but they shall bring in their bills
of charges before they make the rate, and have the town's
approbation oi their orders before that they shall stand
in force.
Eobt, Ashman, Jno. Hickes, Bi. Gildeksleeve.
—A., 132.
1660, December 15. — John Hicks and
Robert Ashman are appointed magistrates.
February 23. — Squire Hicks writes to the
Governor to appoint another in place of Ash
man, who can neither read nor write. —
Dutch MSS., ix., 454, 533.
1660, December 23. — On complaint of
John Hicks, Deputy for the farmer of excise,
a summons is issued to Henry Pearsall for
smuggling wine and anise into Hempstead.
He professed "tapping," but did not pay
excise. — Dutch MSS., ix., 459.
1661, February 25. — As cattle were de
stroyed by the Indians or their dogs, the
town vote that no dog should be given or
sold to them under penalty of 50 guilders';
nor any one buy, hire or receive as a gift
* There is a tz-adition in the Petlit family that the
Indians carried off two boys and a girl. The latter was
found scalped and three arrow wounds in heT waist.

42

any land of the Mearicoke Indians, without
consent of the town.— A., 134.
1661, February the last. — It is ordered
that Thomas Langdon shall hereafter have
(when his ten wolves be killed) four and a
half bushels of Indian corn per head, to be
paid when the cow-rate is paid. — A., 133.
1661, March 29.— The fort about the meet
ing house is sold to Henry Pearsall for 58s.,
to be paid in wampum, within two months ;
otherwise, to be paid in com at prices cur
rent— A.. 135.
1661, July 4. — Leave is granted Thomas
Terry and Samuel Deering, planters, to set
tle seven families at Matinecock, (on the
north side of the Island and east side of our
harbor, bounded west by Hempstead bay,
south by the Harbor hill, and so by an east
line to run as far as our bounds go, and so
down to the North Sea), and Hempstead
shall have liberty to make them up ten fami
lies at least. They are to bring in no Qua
kers or such like opinionists, but such as
shall have letters of commendation and ap
probation from the magistrates, elders or
selected townsmen of the place whence they
came, that they are likely to be good mem
bers ; nor are they to let their cattle come on
the great plains and spoil our corn. — B., 31.
1661, November 1.— Henry Whelply sells
to Adam Mott some meadow on Hicks' neck,
with the dung about the barn-yards, and is to
thatch the south side of the barn. — D., 400.
1661, March 29. — It is ordered that no
horses shall range the Field after May 10,
neither shall sheep nor swine feed in the ox-
pasture, or else they shall be pounded. If
any one resist the person that be abringing
poundable creatures to the pound, he shall
pay 20 guilders. For a horse 2s., for a sheep
2d., and for a swine 4d., shall be paid to the
bringer and half as much to the pinder, : and
the owner to pay all damage. If any one
shall offer to break up the pound, he shall
pay 40 guilders for his offence. — A., 139.
1662, January 25. — Owing to several in
conveniences and irregularities, the Town
alter the rates from meadow-land so as to be
levied upon improved tillage-land, neat cat
tle, horses, sheep and swine ; and if any one
shall withhold the true number, he shall for

feit a fourth of it, half to the informer.—
A., 145.
1662, January 16.— The parsonage home
lot is let to Thomas Jecocks to plant with
Indian corn. He is to fence the rear with
white oak posts and six rails, and 10s. is
given him in the bargain.
Chosen by vote for Townsmen, Richard
Willets, Robert Williams, Ambrose Sutton,
John Ellison and William Jecocks ; and
Jonas Houldsworth for Town Clerk. — B., 5.
1662, February 4. — John Hicks, Robert
Ashman, Robert Jackson, William Scadding,
Henry Pearsall and John Seaman were nomi
nated to the Governor as Magistrates. He
appoints the first three. — Dutch MSS.,x., 43.
1662, March 11. — The town house is let
the ensuing year to William Jecocks for
£3. 1, to be paid in wheat, Indian corn and
oats. The repairs are to be taken out of the
rent. The town barn is let to Robert Wil
liams for 53s., to be paid in com at the usual
prices, the yard to be common to both house
and barn. Two ox-gates in the east ox-
pasture are let to Mr. Robert Ashman for
5s., to be paid in corn. Two hollows are
given to Caleb Carman, one lying between
Fail-fields and the south woods, the other
near the east- meadow point, and he is to se
cure them against all creatures. — A., 141.
1662, April 12. — Complaints having been
made of unfairness, the Governor sends to
the Magistrates of Hempstead the sworn
measurer of grain to measure it. — Dutoh
MSS., x., 116.
In 1663, July 28, Hempstead paid for the tenths one
hundred skepels of wheat, or the value thereof, to be
delivered at the water-side. — Dutch MSS., a., 249.
1662, January 22. — John Hicks, worth
13, 360 guilders, makes an ante-nuptial agree
ment with Rachel Starr, of Oysterbay. The
children of each are to have their parent's
property as inventoried, and the future profits
of the joint estate to be equally divided be
tween the children. He gives her, during
widowhood, the house and all earable and
meadow-land, six cows, four oxen, one horse,
and as much household stuff as she shall
think meet for her necessary use. — B., 3.
1662, May 9. — No creatures known com
monly to leap over or break down a sufficient
fence are to be put in the ox -pasture, under

43

penalty of a guilder a head each time.
Calves, yearlings or two-year olds, that suck
other cows, shall be kept out of either herd,
and the owner fined 12d. a day, besides sat
isfying for the milk sucked. No one shall
kindle a fire in his home lot without consent
of two or three of his neighbors, and have
sufficient help with him, under penalty of 20
guilders for each offence. — B., 7, 19.
1662, June 1.— Ordered that the pond
against the meeting house be forthwith
cleared at the common charge, to be levied
according to men's estate, as the rate was
made for Mr. Fordham. Mr. Hicks to be
overseer, and to appoint a company of men
for every day. A day's work shall be val
ued at two guilders in corn or four guilders
in wampum. Two other watering-places
also shall be cleared as soon as a .fit season
and time will permit, one at the east, the
other at the west end of town. — B., 11.
1663, January 16. — Six acres by Merrick
path near the wolf-pit are granted to Richard
Valentine and William Jecocks. February
4, to Richard Stites and William Thickston
eight acres west of, Herricks, where Stites
formerly burnt coals, to Henry Pearsall ten
or twelve acres upon Watermelon hill, north
west of Herricks. — B., 18, 21.
1663, May 23.— Whoever shall take down
any of the ox-pasture fence, except such loose
bars as are appointed by the town, to put in
and fetch out cattle at, shall pay 2s. 6d. for
each offence, half to the informer. — B., 28.
1663, June. — In the calf-herd were ninety-
three calves to be kept in the north woods
six or seven weeks in the height of fly-time.
— B., 29.
1662, May 16.— The town had voted a
salary of £70 sterling to Mr. Jonah Fordham,
who had then been one year amongst them.
The Magistrates, Hicks and Jackson, write
to the Governor that some persons refuse to
pay the minister's rate, and ask for measures
to enforce it. Whereupon the Governor
issued the following warrant :
1662, May 25. — Whereas we credibly are informed that
some of the inhabitants of Hempstead were opposed and
unwilling to contribute to the maintenance of a Protest
ant minister, the magistrates are by these presents em
powered and authorized not only to constrain those that
are unwilling, but on further denial, to punish them, as
they in equity shall think meet — Dutch MSS., x., 140,

1663, January 16. — John Carman, Thomas
Carle, John Smith, Jr., Simon Searing and
Abraham Smith are chosen Townsmen ;
Jonas Houldsworth Clerk, at 40s. per year,
in corn, as his wages. If he remove in half
a year, then 20s. only. — B., 16.
1663, January 18. — John Hicks, Richard
Gildersleeve, Robert Ashman, Henry Pear
sall, William Scadding and John Carpenter
were nominated to the Governor for Magis
trates. He appointed the first three. —
Dutch MSS., x., 15.
1663, May 19.— For killing a wolf, if in
three weeks from this time, and within four
miles of the town, 25s. in corn were allowed ;
after three weeks, 15s. — B., 27.
1663, May 28. — Henry Disborow having
killed a wolf, 25s. is due him from the town.
— B., 30.
1663, June 20.— Fifty pounds of powder
are delivered by the gunner at Manhattans
to the Magistrates of Hempstead. — Col.
His., ii., 464.
1663, June 23.— The Governor visits
Hempstead to settle the difficulties there.
The settlers complain that the Indians of
Marsepingh have many of their hogs, viz. :
recently of Abraham Smith, 5 ; John Smith,
17 ; Thomas Rushmore, 1 ; Esaias Bormen,
1 ; and of Mr. Hicks, 9. They also shot
Mr. Hicks' mare. The Indians complain
that the English had destroyed several of
their plantations, and had killed fifty of their
dogs. The English retort that the Indians
do not keep their fences tight, which the In
dians say is impossible, as the hogs break
through them underneath. It was finally
arranged that the English should assist in
erecting the fences and be paid out of the in
demnity awarded the Indians.*
To encourage the settlers to assist in the
war against the Esopus Indians, the Gov
ernor promises them all the plunder they
could gain, and whatever Indians they might
take prisoners to be their slaves. — Dutch
MSS., x., 152.
* 1663, December 17. — A Smith and Thomas Langdon
received 24 guilders each in beaver pay for damages
done them by the Indians. Thomas Hicks received 60
guilders on account of his mare for care, attendance and
loss of her colt.— Dutch MSS., a., 441.

.44

1-663, July 9. — Every resident of the town
above one month is to be listed in the train
bands, and this day fortnight to repair in
arms to their colors for martial discipline, at
the second beat of the drum, at 8 o'clock in
the morning ; 2 guilders fine for absentees,
(officers twice as much) ; and if without a
well-fixt gun, 6 guilders. For every soldier
and householder not keeping in store a pound
of powder and two pounds of lead or great
shot, 8 guilders fine ; and if paid in wam
pum, then twice as much. The fines to be
at the company's disposal. — B., 33.
1663, November 10.— About eighty Eng
lishmen, on horseback and afoot, visited
Hempstead, called the people together, told
them not to pay taxes or tenths to the Dutch,
for it was the King's land, deposed the mag
istrates and appointed others. — Col. His.,
ii., 487.
1663, December 7.- — Thomas Jecocks sells
to Thomas Langdon ten acres of woodland
at Little Success in the northwest woods. —
B., 34.
1663, December 14. — Agreed that Thomas
Hicks, John and Thomas Ellison shall have
the Little Neck, or point of land on the east
side of Mathew Garison's bay, which neck
is commonly called Madnan's Neck, in lieu
of their dividend, on condition that they
forthwith go, possess and build on it. —
B., 35.
1663, December 14. — Voted that Mr.
Jonah Fordham should put in for a £200
estate if he pleased. — B., 35.
1664, January 23.— The States General of
Holland caution Hempstead against with
drawing from their allegiance and repairing
under the English government. — Col. His.,
ii., 229.
1664, February 3. — Chosen for Towns
men, John Carpenter, John Smith Nans,
Jeremy Wood, Richard Gildersleeve, Samuel
Denton ; and for Pinder, Samuel Denton. —
B., 36.
1664, February 9. — Three acres of the
town's land lying in the bevel near the
woodedge were let to Richard Stites for 21s.,
to be paid in such corn as is produced thereon.
To Thomas Ellison four ox-gates in the east
ox-pasture for 5s., to be paid in corn, and he
is to maintain the fence. — B., 38.

1664, February 15.— Thomas Hicks as
chosen Town Clerk, and to have ,the wages
that the Clerk used to have. Capt. John
Scott to be the town's agent or attorney to
state and plead their cases about their bounds,
and Mr. Hicks, Mr. Gildersleeve, Mr. Sea
man, Mr. Jackson, Thomas Rushmore,
Henry Pearsall, John Ellison and Samuel
Pine are to help him in stating the affairs
about the bounds in this juncture of affairs ;
Checkano is to be sent for and a considera
tion given him for his pains. — B., 45.
1664, March 3.— To the soldiers who es
corted Governor Stuyvesant to Hempstead,
eight and a half pounds of powder were
issued. — Col. His., ii., 468.
1665, May 1.— Chosen by the Constable
and the "Eight men," James Pine and
Thomas Carle for church wardens. Joseph
Jennings is hired for the beating the drum in
seasons on the Lord's day and town meeting
days, for 25s. a year in good pay. — B., 69.
1664, May 12. — Inhabitants of Hempstead
made freemen of Connecticut.— Tbumbull's
Conn. Rec, i., 429.
Bichard Gildersleeve, Sr. and Jr., Edmund Titus,
Thomas Hicks, William Scadding,
Jeremy Wood, James Pine,
John Carpenter, William Yeates,
John Smith, Jr., Thomas Carle,
Mr. Fordham, Bobert Marvin,
Henry Pearsall, John Smith Nan.
Thomas Bushmore, Constable, is opposed to placing
Hempstead under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and
should thereiore be removed from his office. — Trumb.
Conn. BEC,i.,424.
1664, June. — Governor Wintbrop, with
some Deputies from Hartford, visited Hemp
stead, changed the magistrates, and promised
Uienl assistance against all opponents. So
that town still remains in revolt. — Col. His.,
ii., 407-8.
1665, March 23. — Simon Searing hires
unto Thomas Fese a farm formerly Thomas
Langdon's, deceased, with hollows, improved
lands, &c, with four oxen, cart, cart-rope,
plow and plow-irons, two chains, three yok^s,
a harrow and half the dung in the yard, for
£13 sterling a year, in wheat, corn and oats.
— B., 48.
Capt. John Scott to farm lets to William
Cramer, of Setauket, his messuage, with or
chards, garden and pastures, in the occ.upa-i
tion of Hope Washborn, . now called the

45

Manor of Hope, with full liberty of timber,
at a yearly rent of £12, to be paid in such
grain as is raised in, out of and above the
premises, or in cattle alive, or beef or pork,
all or any of these at merchants' prices in the
town. — B., 47.
1665, February 13. — Record of George Hew
lett's mare. Light bay, white face, four white
feet, cropt on the off ear, a slit in the near
ear, branded on the off buttock with G., and
on the top of the near buttoek H., and on the
near shoulder with G. H. — B., 83.
1665, April 24. — Simon Searing is to burn
the Cow neck, and have 12s. in good pay for
his pains. — B., 52.
1665, May 12. — Harry Linington, of Hog
Island, lets a cow, colored yellow, cropt on
the off ear, and two slits in jthe crop, to
Thomas Jones, for 30s. the year, in good pay.
— B., 72.
1685, May 20. — Thomas Hicks is chosen by
the constable and eight men to record all
horses and horse kind, and brand them and
other cattle that are transported (that is, sold),
and he is to have 6d. a piece for horses and a
penny a piece for cattle. Samuel Denton is
chosen pender. — B., 54.
1665, June 6. — I John Scott assign to Rich
ard More, chirurgeon, 226 acres (No. 5) at
Matinecock neck, that I bought of Mr. Jonah
Fordham.— B., 65.
1665, June 11. — The town is debtor to Capt.
John Scott for 40s., by him paid to Capt.
Nicolls, to be repaid in the next town rate. —
B., 76.
1665, October 2. — I Joseph Jennings sell to
Samuel Allen all my accommodations, hous
ing and lands (excepting the dung that lieth
about the house, for which I am to have 6d.
a load), in consideration of one cow and 38s.
in good and merchantable corn at price cur
rent, ana I engage the premises to be firm
_ and authentic in law. — B., 117.
1665, October 21.— Sold by Mr. John Sea
man to Peter Roelefsen, of the Little Flats,
two oxen and one heifer, all branded G., with
a latch mark on the near ear. — B., 96.
1665, October 27.— I Adam Mott sell to
Hendrick, the packer of pork, two oxen, one
black, with my own mark, the other red, with
Simon Searing's mark, branded on the near
horn with A. M., aged six years and the van
tage.— B., 96.
1685, October 31. — Transported from George
Hewlett to Abel Gale, of Jamaica, a bull-stag,

brown with a white bar, cropped in the near
ear and a swallow-fork in the off ear, branded
on the near horn G. H., and on the off horn
G., aged two years come. — B., 85.
1665, November 4. — Killed by Henry Pear
sall, for his own use, one brown cow, cropped
in the near ear, and a slit in it, and a half
penny under it, aged five years : more, sold
to York two oxen and a three-year old steer.
— B„ 99.
1666, January 9. — Agreed that all home-
lots hereafter given shall contain no rights of
commonage, hut upon the town's courtesy. —
B., 109.
1666, February 10.— Voted that the Field
shall be upheld and maintained for English
and Indian Corn, the ensuing year, according
to custom as it, hath been before. — B., 120.
1666, January 16. — I Simon Searing have
changed with one Matthews, the Dutchman,
sometime Mr. Richbell's servant, a bay horse
with a half-penny under the near ear, branded
G. on the near buttock, and on the off buttock
R. L., for a bay horse with a star in the fore
head and a hole in the near ear, branded E.
nn the off buttock, and on the near buttock
S. S.— B., 113.
1666, March 7, in the seventeenth year of
His Majesty's reign, Charles the Second, by
the Grace of God King of Great Britain,
France and Ireland, Defender of the faith, Jo
seph Jennings hires the parsonage farm, for
merly so called, at £7.5 per year, to be paid
in corn or cattle.
1666, March 12.— Richard Lattin, of Hunt
ington, sells to John Carman his home lot,
formerly Thomas Foster's, for one cow. —
D., 19.
1666, June 7. — Richard Gildersleeve, Thom
as Hicks and John Ellison are chosen to make
answer, in the town's behalf, to what Tacka-
pnusha shall allege against the town, at a
Court of Sessions to be held at Jamaica, June
13.— B., 137.
1666, June. — As Tackapousha is dissatisfied
with the sale of his lands, the Governor ad
vises the town to give the Indians a gratuity,
for peace's sake.
1666, June 23. — Joseph Jennings is hired to
beat the drum on Sabbath and town meeting
days, at 25s. a year. — B., 140.
1666, June 26. — Sold at an outcry to Henry
Pearsall, the old pound fencing and the
ground that is enclosed, for 19s. in corn pay-
— B., 140.

46

1666.— William Scaddin, before the "Towns-
men," makes over to William Thickston all
the estate he stood possessed of, in considera
tion of his maintaining him the time of his
life. So swear Simon Searing, who was then
constable, and Thomas Hicks, Clerk.— C, 161.
1666, December 5. — There was made choice
of by the constable and overseers, Thomas
Hicks and William Jecocks for surveyors
over the highways in and about Hempstead.
— B., 143.
1666, December J 8. — Thomas Southard sells
to Jonah Fordham a black three-year old steer
come, which is a stag, branded C. on the off
horn, and on the near horn T. S., with a
flower de luce cut in the off ear. — B., 122.
1667, February 3. — Nehemiah Smith and
Sarah Puddenton were lawfully married by
Mr. Hicks, Justice of the Peace. — B., 167.
1667, February 5. — Richard Gildersleeve (in
place of Thomas Hicks, who liveth out of the
town) and William Jecocks are chosen sur
veyors of the mending the highways, and are
to appoint men to carry on the work. If any
refuse, the surveyors shall set men at work
and the refusers shall pay them. — B., 166.
1667, latter end of April. — Joseph Sutton is
chosen clerk, and is to have 40s. in corn for
his year's service. — B., 150.
1667, May 2. — Voted to hire a hayward for
the keeping the Field, for the preservation of
the corn ; and every inhabitant shall bring
in the number of acres of corn planted or
sowed by him in the plains commonly called
the Field, upon forfeiture of what is not
brought in ; and each owner shall keep the
herds in his turn on Sabbath days. Simon
Searing is to make up the fence that was Mr.
Washborne's, in the Ox-pasture, so as to secure
jades from going out. He is to have for every
new post 4jd., and for every rail set in the
fence l^d., and to pay himself out of the land
he doth improve of the aforesaid Washborne.
Every inhabitant that hath any fences to
make up on the North neck or Ox-pastures
shall repair them by May 20, upon the pen
alty of 2s. a rod. A five-rail fence shall be
made about the town, upon penalty of 2s. 6d.
for every rod defective. — B., 151.
1667, May 28.— Abraham Smith is hired to
be keeper of the Field— tha,t is, to keep the
jades or cattle or other creatures from de
stroying the corn planted or sown in the
Field ; and if any be destroyed through his
neglect, he shall pay the damage. And for

the true encouragement of his faithful service
he shall have, for every acre of corn saved,
one and a half bushels of Indian corn, only
worms and birds excepted, for what is de
stroyed by them. — B., 152.
1667, June 14. — Mr. Gildersleeve is voted
constable, and then sworn to his office by the
justice of the peace.
1667, July 3. — As the town gates and bars
are often left open, Thomas Ireland is to look
to the gate next his house, John Willy to the
bars by Thomas Ellison's, Abraham Smith to
the bars next his house, William Thickston
to the bars next his house, John Williams to
the gate next his house, Adam Mott to the
bars next to his house, Simon Searing to the
bars next his house. This doth not prohibit
any other from doing so. — B., 153.
1667, July 5. — No man shall mow any of
the common meadows at the South before the
25th instant. He that shall make a breach
of this order shall forfeit the grass or hay, or
10s. a load, half to the complainer. If any
man begins to mow, no other shall come to
cut him out or mow so near as shall hinder
him from cutting a full load of hay. — B., 154.
1667, July 19.— Col. R. Nicolls writes to
the magistrates of Hempstead : " Gentle
men. I have not given you the trouble of
alarums to interrupt your private occasions,
but now the noise of wars sounds from far in
other Plantations, and therefore it becomes
necessary to require of you, in His Majesty's
name, that a third of the foot-militia fit them
selves with horses, saddles and such arms
(pistols, carabines or muskets) as they have,
to he ready to march at an hour's warning,
and the other two-thirds to remain in the
Plantation for the security of their estates
and families, or to send relief to any neigh
boring town, if endangered." — Col. His., iii.,
158. 1688, January 30.— It is ordered that Mr.
Gildersleeve shall go to Jamaica to agitate,
with those appointed by the other towns, con
cerning prefering a petition to the Governor
about our grievances, which being accom
plished he is forthwith to present it to our
honored Governor. — B., 177.
1663, March 6. — Delivered by John Jackson,
to answer the verdict of the Court of Sessions,
to Moses Mudge, one gray horse with a
hollow crop on the near ear and a slit in the
off ear, branded G. on the off buttock, and
one black horse with a star in the forehead

47

and a snip on the nose, a latch mark on the
off ear and a slit in the near ear, branded G.
on the off buttock and R. I. on the near but
tock.— B., 123.
1668, May 22.— Richard" Gildersleeve, Jr.,
chosen clerk, and to have 40s. in corn for his
clerkship this present year. — B., 150.
1668, May 27. — William Jecocks has a bay
mare marked with a half-penny under the
near ear and a slit in the off ear, branded
G. on the off buttock, where is a bite bit by a
wolf— B., 87.
1669, February 18.— Ordered that the Field,
that is to say, the hollows, are to be sown by
every man that will this summer, and are to
be kept by turn according to the number of
acres each man sows, as it was the summer
before.— B., 181.
1669, June 23. — Agreed by general vote to
lay out the meadow to the uttermost bounds
eastward, according to the line run in 1658
by the English and Indians, and if any one
lying next this line, next Mr. Seaman, shall
be disturbed in his property, the town do
ingage to make it good. — Bv 182.
1669, April 9. — Mr. Gildersleeve is chosen
to go to New York to fetch the patent, and to
speak with Capt. Nicolls to know what the
town is indebted to him for the patent, and
what he demands more than ho hath already
had. Mr. G. is to engage, in the town's
behalf, to see him paid. — B., 177.
1669, April 23.— It is agreed that all who
have fence at the Cow Neck shall have a
right there according to the fence he makes
for pasture land, and if ever the neck shall be
lotted, then each shall have lots according to
his fence, and none shall put any more cattle
there than they have made fence for. — B., 179.
1669, May. — Thomas Rushmore is ordered
to give up to Capt. Seaman the colors he got
of the Governor.
1669, May 29.— Mr. Hicks, Mr. Fordham
and John Ellison are chosen to take a view
of the common meadow3 at the South, and
bring in the number of acres of good meadow
to the best of their apprehension, in order to
lay it out into particular allotments. — B., 181.
1669, June 3. — It is agreed that the town
do mutually stand for the line that was given
in to Capt. Nicolls at the horse-race, by the
constable and overseers. The line that began
at Robert Williams' marked tree, and so ran
a north and by west line to the North Sea
or Sound, and so along the Sound, on a west

line until it met with the line of the west
bound. Mr. Hicks and Mr. Gildersleeve are
appointed to treat with the Governor about
the line, and not to lose any part of it, but
rather desire a suit in law at the Court of
Assize.— B., 178.
Nicolls granted a patent to the town, March
6, 1668-1669 ?
1669, June 16. — Richard Gildersleeve is
chosen clerk, at 40s. in corn, and drummer, at
20s.— B., 150.
1670, January 24. — It is agreed that he who
helps fence in the east or west Ox-pasture
shall have the land within the fence for his
own property forever, according to the fence
he maketh. Whoever refuseth to maintain
his fence shall lose his right there. — B., 183.
1670, April 1. — By major vote the minister
of the town shall have liberty for four or six
oxen to go in the east Ox-pasture free. —
B., 183.
1670, May 1. — Richard Gildersleeve is hired
to be drummer, at 25s. a year in corn ; and
town clerk at 40s. In case the schoolmaster*
comes and is made town clerk, then Richard
is to be paid for the time he serveth. — B., 184.
1670, May 4. — It is ordered by the constable
and oversters that Simon Searing is to look
to the buryiug-place and take the fines, ac
cording as it is ordered, for creatures found
there, 4d. a sheep, 6d. a swine, and 12d. a
horse and all other cattle. — B., 183.
1670, June 22.— Sold to Robert Bedell, at
an outcry, the old town barn, and he is to
take it off the ground and to have all the
timber and iron, at £3, to be paid in corn, or
cattle equivalent. — B., 184.
1670, July 28. — Col. Lewis Morris was in
town and did lay claim to the land he bought
of Capt. John Scott.— B., 185.
1670, August 3. — Ordered that every person
who has any town fence, or fence on the Cow
Neck, or fence in the east or west Ox-pasture,
shall see that it be sufficiently marked at both
ends with the first letters of his name, or else
he shall pay 6d. a letter for neglect. Also
5s. fine for any cattle driven in the Ox-pasture
that have no liberty to go there. Mr. Seaman
is made choice of to view the east Ox-pasture
and town fence once a week at least, and
bring in the defects to the constable. — B., 185.

* Richard Charlton was there in July. — In 1671 the
Governor orders the town to pay the schoolmaster, an
they have refused or too long delayed the fulfillment
of their contract.

1671, January 4. — Ordered that every per
son who had cattle that went in the west
pasture do bring in the true number to the
town clerk by Friday, the 13th of this instant
month, to the end that every head may be
rated for the payment of the herdsman. If
neglected, the number of cattle shall be
guessed at and rated accordingly. Also those
who have killed wolves, repaired ftnces, or
done any other public service for the country,
are to bring in an account thereof. — B., 188.
1671, January 14. — Ordered that every one
bring in the valuation of his estate by Satur
day, 21st of this present month, to the intent
that a rate be made for defraying town
charges, otherwise the estate shall be guessed
at and rated accordingly. — B., 189.
1671, April 25.— Sold unto Goodman Robert
Bedell the town house or the parsonage lot,
at £9 in corn, or cattle equivalent. — B., 194.
1671, April 25. — Ordered that no one within
this town or the liberties thereof shall plow
or break up any planting land tor the Indians,
nor any way assist them therein, under pen
alty of forfeiture of 20s., for every day's
work. Also that Mr. John Hicks, George
Hewlett and John Jackson go down to Rock-
away and forewarn all Indians to depart
thence, except, such as do really belong to
that place, and that the Rockaway Indians do
give no encouragement nor suffer any other
strange Indians to reside with them, upon
any pretence whatsoever, and that forty acres
be laid out for planting of corn for the supply
of about ten families of Indians belonging
there. It being formerly so ordered by the
Governor. — B., 192.
1671, June 21. — Mr. Robert Jackson is voted
constable. July 3, it is voted that Mr. John
Seaman and Mr. Gildersleeve do go down to
New York, and treat with the Governor about
the eastern bounds of the town, and have
them confirmed, and to join (if they see cause)
with Mr. Terry, according to the conditions
made between him and the town.
Mr. Robert Jackson and John Smith, B.,
dissent from the vote. — B., 194.
1672, February 13. — Edward Titus sells to
Adam Mott his house and home lot of three
acres, with the orchard and trees, three apple
trees excepted. — B., 209.
1672, February 27.— Nathaniel Pearsall is
chosen clerk.
1672, October 11.— Upon a training-day
there is given to John Johnson a home lot in

the brush, by his father, John Champion's
lot, and afterward he had privilege granted
him to keep half-a-dozen or eight cattle on
the commons in the summer. The same to
Thomas Fesy, and a home lot to John Pine,
by his father's tilsom. — B., 208.
1672, June. — Hempstead is thanked by the
Governor for repairs done on the Fort in New
York. The town also gave £61.2, in cash. —
Council Minutes, iii, 108.
1673, January 16. — Some common meadow
(four or five acres) on the north side of Rock-
away, at the northwest point of Indian land,
by the Indian graves, being northwest from
the old Indian fort, is given to John Smith-
Rock. To Thomas Rushmore are given eight
acres of land on the Great Neck eastward, so
commonly called, being by Jerusalem swamp
or brook, above the upper Indian path, by the
old Indian wigwams. — B., 211.
1673, February 20. — Francis Jecocks gives
to his son-in-law, Thomas Champion, two or
three acres lying on the south side of John
Carman's tilsom. — B., 212.
1673, April 18.— The town vote that half
the possessors of land in the bounds of Hemp
stead (except Madnan's neck) shall go this
year, May 29, to run the bounds, and half next
year. Half to go east and half west. And if
any refuse to go or send, that is well in
health and is pitched on to go, he shall pay
six muches of rum to them that go. — B., 212.
1673, August 22. — After the recapture of
New York by the Dutch, (which they held
for sixteen months), the Deputies of Hemp
stead, having been summoned " with serious
commination," appear before the Council, in
Fort William Hendrick, and deliver in a
petition, and with it one constable's staff, and
promise to send in their English flag on the
first opportunity, and they were strictly
charged to do so. Of one hundred and seven
men at Hempstead, fifty-one have taken the
oath of allegiance to the Dutch ; the rest are
ordered to do so before their sehout and sec
retary. The officers appointed and sworn in,
September 4th, were : William Lawrence,
sehout ; Robert Jackson, John Seaman, Wil
liam Jecocks, schepens ; and Richard Valen
tine, marshal. — Col. His., ii., 581, 591, 596,
628, 728.
1674, April 23.— Agreed that any man that
doth kill any wolves in Hempstead bounds
shall have 25s. a piece for them, in common
pay. John Smith Rock, Jr., and Little [John]

49

Smith, are chosen by major vote to repair the
meeting house, and the charge thereof is to
be defrayed with the town's money. —
B., 215.
The grass on the common meadows was
let out, to be paid in corn, or other pay equiv
alent, at the following prices : £ s. a.
The Parsonage meadow, at Great Neck, 6 3
Parsonage meadow, at Denton's Neck, 1 7
Cow meadow, at. Near Rockaway, 8 6
Cow Neck or Haybridge, 11
Meadow between Near Rockaway and Mr.
Jackson's t-ieli t-aero lol. .1 C>
Meadow liclui-cn Mr. .Iack«uu's lol and the
spring at ( 'ix--" meadow ei-cek. 7
Meadow between Cue's meadow e.rcek and
beach foot, 6
Meadow between beach foot and Widow Pear
sall' s lot. 3
Meadow at Hungry Harbor Island, by Adam
Mott's lot. 8
Parsonage home lot,* 10
£4 12 S
1674, May 14. — Capt. John Seaman was
cho3en to be a committee to keep court with
the sehout at Jamaica. — B., 218.
1674. — I, Thomas Rushmore, of Hempstead,
on Long Island, in the government of New
Orania, sell my home lot and dwelling, join
ing Robert Mervin, to John Mervin, the
house, garden and yards to be delivered when
the crop upon the land is taken off, the 29th
day of September come twelvemonth. —
B.] 228.
1674, November 20. — At a general town
meeting, Mr. Gildersleeve, Mr. Fordham,
Jeremy Wood and John Smith Blue were
made choice of, with the constable and over
seers, to frame and conclude an answer to
send to the Governor. — B., 218.
1674, November 30. — Thomas Champion,
William Jecocks, James Pine.f Simon Sear
ing, Richard Gildersleeve, Sr. and Jr., in be
half of some others, humbly petition the Gov
ernor, as being father of the commonwealth,
" to install such authority amongst us as may
be a means under God for upholding and
maintaining the ministry, the worship of
God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
amongst us, that the honor of God might be
promoted and his Sabbaths observed, for the
good of us and our posterity."
* In 1676 it was let to Mr. Fordham, at 13s. 8d., and
he had liberty either to make use of the land and leave
the fence, or else to take away the fence. — B., 215.
t Mr. Pine must have been a man of some culture,
as we find the following books bequeathed in his will,
(January 1, 1685): — Heylin's Geography, Mr. Hooper's
Works, Dr. Schlater's Works, Mr. Coles' Book, Mr.
Byfield's Works, and Ecclesiastical History of Eng
land.— Queens Co. Rec, A., 27.

Petition read (December 3) and left to fur
ther information at next Sessions. — Doc. His.,
iii., 191.
1675, January 24. — The Indians are to be
disarmed, says the Governor, and their arms
laid up in the several block-houses or forts,
and they are not to ramble or go from place
to place out of the bounds they live in with
out a pass. — Book of Warrants, iii., 174.
1675, March 8. — Agreed that the Cow neck
shall belaid out into |>n i-1 ii-uhir allotments,
iiceui-dino- lo every mini's |ini[>oi-tiiih by fence.
To ('apt. Xieolls were given two hundred
acres in a square piece, on condition that he
be our witness in defence of our rights. —
B., 218.
1675, March 22. — I, Nathaniel Pearsall,
give my brother Daniel one-quarter of the
living (the meadow, lotted lands and hollows
on the plains, the commons and unlotted
meadows) that my father Henry gave me at
his death.— B., 220.
1675, June 6. — Thomas Fese and John Cur
tis were employed by the constable to clear
the way between Hempstead and the Little
plains, and to have 10s. for their pains.—
B., 216.
I, John Seaman, of Hempstead, of Long
Island, within the county of York, in Amer
ica, carpenter, have sold to Henry Willis, of
Oysterbay, carpenter, twenty-two acres, little
more or less, north side the plain's edge, east
of Joseph Jennings' and west of Richard
Stites', this 2d of the 8th month, called Octo
ber, and in the year or birth of our Lord,
1675.— B., 224.
1675, October 23. — The Governor orders
Tackapousha and son, and the Rockaway
sachem, and other Indians, to bring in their
guns to the officers of Hempstead. — Eno.
MSS., xxiv., 195.
1675, November 28. — The town order the
householders to repair defective chimneys -
and have ladders to reach the house-top :*
5s. fine for every day's defect. — B., 223.
1676, March 4. — Half an acre in the town,
that was formerly laid out for a smith, ad
joining John Tredwell's lot, is given him. —
B., 227.
1676, March 14. — Simon Searing writes to
Secretary Nicolls of the apprehension, at
Hempstead, of Robert alias Thomas Williams,

* The houses were probably thatched with straw,
flags or sedge, and the chimnies catted, that is, wood
en slats laid in mortar.

50

accused of murder at the Delaware. — Eng.
MSS., xxv., 91.
1676, March 28.— I, John Smith, of Hemp
stead, of Long Island, in New England, and
in the North Riding of New York shire, have
given to my son Jeremiah a lot of meadow on
the little neck eastward of the town. — B., 258.
1676, April 1. — John Smith Blue is chosen
constable ; Mr. Jackson and John Ellison,
overseers ; and Richard Valentine, overseer
for one year. William Jecocks and John
Smith Rock, Jr., were employed by the con
stable to go with the surveyor, one day to
Rockaway and two to Oysterbay, at a cost of
£1.— B., 229.
1676, May 1.- — I, James Beate, agree to
carry on the husbandry work of the farm of
Thomas Carle, deceased. I am to provide
needful firewood for the house, ox-bows and
yokes, and one-third the seed, and fodder for
the cattle and sheep, and look carefully after
them in winter. Jonas Halsted, of Jamaica,
is to pay me 40s. toward providing for the
cattle, and to provide a horse for my use, six
oxen for the team, a cart and plow, and all
necessary tackling. I am to keep the fence
in repair, and be paid one-third part of what
is made new. For my pains I am to have
my diet, washing, lodging, and one-third of
what corn and pumpkins are produced, and
one-third of all the increase of the cattle,
sheep and swine. The pigs to be divided
when fit to wean. The Widow Sarah's sons
are to join with me in carrying on the work.
What creatures are lost through my negli
gence I am to make good. — B., 230.
1676, September 16.— Mr. Seaman, Mr.
Fordham and Thomas Rushmore were chosen
to lay out the Cow neck on the north side. —
B., 231.
1676, September 20. — George Hewlett, con
stable of Hempstead, being at New York on
the King's business, is arrested by the mayor
for a debt of 257 guilders and 16 stivers. He
prayed to be discharged, and proffered secu
rity, but was refused and threatened with
the gaol. He waB thus forced to pay over
£5 in silver. His arrest was declared to be
illegal, and the money to be restored. — War
rants, iii., 122.
1676, October 14. — Agreed by the major
part of those who had rights on the Cow neck,
that they should all go down there and pull
down the building that John Cornwell had
set up there. — B., 231.

1676, November 1.— Four acres are granted
to John Treadwell, adjoining the north end
of Fairfield ; to Samuel Treadwell, three
acres, adjoining Fairfield, east or west side,
(which he likes best); to James Stell, three
acres, south end of Carman's tilsom ; to Rich
ard Gildersleeve, Jr., and Elias Dorland, three
acres a piece, west side the swamp below the
old tobacco land ; to William Wier, two acres,
adjoining his hollow in the South woods, to
make it square ; to John Ellison, four acres,
on the Great neck, eastward, in and about
his cowyards, and he gives the town two gal
lons of rum to drink. All the above to he
fenced and improved in two years, or else to
return to the town. — B., 233.
1676, December 7. — Agreed that all the
common meadow, except Cow meadow, shall
be allotted to every man according to his
right. Mr. Seaman, Mr. Fordham and Na
thaniel Pearsall are chosen to lay out the
common meadow and what upland is fit to
lay out.— B., 235.
1677, April 2.— Nathaniel Pearsall and Jo
seph Smith have a grant of meadow east side
of Madnan's neck, by their land, and they
must give a gallon of rum a piece to the
town. Given to William Thorne a small
parcel of meadow that lies against his land,
a little above his house, by the bay side, west
side of Madnan's neck. — B., 237.
1677, April 9.— Agreed that all the (forty-
one) proprietors of Hempstead shall have
liberty to take up one hundred acres a piece
of woodland in the north or south woods, ex
cepting Madnan's neck, Cow neck, or Matine-
cock neck and the south necks ; and then the
rest of the inhabitants may take up fifty acres
a piece. To Thomas Southard was given a
small piece of land lying between his folly
and the old ox-pasture. — B., 239.
1677, July 2. — At a hearing, concerning
Hempstead rights to the lands in the bounds
claimed by the Indians, before the Governor
and Council, at New York ; on the part of
Hempstead, Richard Valentine, constable;
John Jackson and John Ellison, overseers;
John Seaman and John Smith Blue, towns
men ; produce (1.) a book of records, contain
ing deeds dated March 12, 1656, July 4, 1657,
and May 11, 1658 ; (2.) a judgment in their
favor of the Court of Sessions, at Jamaica,
(where the Indians were heard by an inter
preter,) June 13 and 14, 1666 ; (3.) the testi
mony of Richard Woodhull, surveyor, June

51

16, 1677, and (4.) the testimony of John
Storge, June 11, 1677.
Inasmuch as these are too general, none
mentioning particular bounds or pay, and the
deeds intricate, the Council resolve that they
of Hempstead do within three weeks give
particulars of the several agreements and
payments for the several parcels of land, and
when, and by whom, and to whom paid ; after
which a day is to be appointed to hear all
parties in order to a final determination.
Here follow the particulars, consisting of
oral testimony :
1677, July 22.— Mr. Gildersleeve, aged
seventy-six, says that Tackapousha and some
of his Indians came to my house, twenty
years ago, to receive pay for their land, and
Mr. flicks and myself delivered to them the
whole pay for the whole tracts of land. Some
things were paid them more than they had
agreed for. It was in several sorts of pay —
great and small kettles, Wampum, hoes,
hatchets, knives, trading cloths and (I think)
powder and lead. They went away, for any
thing I knew, very well satisfied. They only
reserved their old planting land at Meruck ;
and the Montauk sachem went with us to lay
out the bounds.
Mrs. Gildersleeve, aged seventy-six, says
that the sachem and other Indians being at
our house, about twenty-one years ago, I saw
several sorts of goods delivered to them, as a
great heap of wampum, coats, powder, lead,
hoes, hatchets, knives and kettles. The In
dians had a great desire to have some bigger
kettles, and we let them have one great
kettle and Mr. Jackson another* and the
sachem would have some shirts to gratify his
Indians.— Eng. MSS., xxvi., 70, 73.
1677, July 12.— William Yeates, aged fifty-
eight, says that, twenty-one years ago, I saw
at Mr. Gildersleeve's several fathoms of wam
pum, two great kettles and several smaller
ones, some trading cloth, knives, powder, lead
and (I think) guns, and some other goods.
All this I saw delivered to the Indians, and
chiefly to Tackapousha, the sagamore, for all
the land the Hempstead men had, either by
purchase or patent, except their old planting
land at Meruck. They all seemed very well
satisfied.— B., 242.
John Carman, aged sixty-four, says, Thirty-
two years ago I saw my father deliver a

* The extra cost of exchanging these two kettles
was 21s. each.

broad ax (that was Miles More's) to the one-
eyed sachem, for part pay for the first pur
chase of land bought of the Indians.
Edward Spragg, aged sixty-one, says,
Twenty-one years ago, Wandance, the Mon
tauk sachem, was at Hempstead, when the
Indians came to receive their pay for the land
sold, and he asked who was chief of the
Rockaway Indians that did undertake for
them. Then Mangoube said he did. Then
he asked who undertook for the Matinecock
Indians. Tackapousha said they had put
themselves under him, and he did undertake
for them. When the pay was tendered, the
Indians said it was so little that there would
not be some for every one. Then the Mon
tauk sachem desired the Hempstead men to
give them some more. Then they gave the
Indians £12 more, which made the whole
sum £ 12. Then Mr. Hicks and Mr. Gilder
sleeve delivered it to Tackapousha and Man
goube. And all the Indians seemed well sat
isfied with it, it being the last payment for
the whole town bounds. This was paid in
kettles, trading cloth, wampum, powder, lead
and (I think) some hatchets and hoes. And
within a day or two after, some Marsapecke
and other Indians went and marked out the
town bounds west and east. — B., 243.
1678, January 7. — By major vote it was
agreed on that they should build a meeting
house, forty feet long, twenty-six wide, and
twelve feet stud betwixt joints.
April 1. — Mr. Seaman and John Smith
Blue are chosen to agree with Joseph Car
penter to build a meeting house thirty feet
long, twenty-four wide, and twelve feet Stud,
with a lean-to on each side.* — B., 245-8.
1678, April 1. — John Ellison is chosen con
stable, and Mr. Seaman and George Hewlett,
overseers. — B., 247.
* Mr. Jenney says (1728) of this church, " It is an
ordinary wooden building, forty feet long and twenty-
six wide, the roof covered with cedar shingles and the
sides with oak clap-boards. It is not ceiled overhead,
but the side3 within are boarded with pine. There is
no pulpit but a raised desk having a silk cloth and
cushion. A large table stands before the desk, where
the justices and leading men sit. There are no pews
except one for the secretary, Mr. George Clark: the
rest of the church is filled with open benches. There
is no fence around the church, and the burial-place is
at some distance from it. It stands in the open road,
near n small brook which runs between it and the
parsonage house."
The first church, twenty-four feet square, stood a.
few rods northeast of the Burly pond.

52

1678, April 1. — Mr. Seaman, Mr. Jackson
and Blue Smith are chosen to lay out all the
common meadow in Hempstead bounds.
Richard Gildersleeve, Joseph Smith and Na
thaniel Pearsall are to gather in the town's
debts.— B., 248.
1678, June 19. — Richard Gildersleeve is
chosen constable. — B., 251.
1678, August 8. — The town send Simon
Searing, William Jecocks and Nathaniel
Pearsall to go and demand all their writings
from Mr. Thomas Hicks' custody. — B.. 20S.
1H78, December 4.— If any |>cis »a nliull lull
timber, and let it lie by one year and u, day,
and not pile it in heaps or set it upon end, it
shall be free for any person to take it if he
please.— B., 253.
1678, December 25. — Agreed that the one-
hundred acre lots shall be taken up in turn,
(as drawn by lot,) three days being allowed
each to make his choice and mark it. If any
neglect, he shall lose his turn, and the next
shall take his place,
Mr. Seaman and Daniel Bedell are chosen
to lay out, forthwith, all the common meadow
in the town bounds, except the Cow meadow
and the Parsonage meadow. To Mr. Ford
ham ten or twelve acres are given, adjoining
his lot, west side of Madnan's neck ; to Na
thaniel Pearsall six or eight acres by the
spring, west side of the lots lying by Herricks
path, he leaving a highway, four rods wide,
out of his own land, west side of his folly, for
the town's use. — B., 255-8.
1679, February 21. — James Mott, of Hemp
stead, a prisoner in New York, petitions the
Governor to be forgiven for selling liquor to
the Indians. — Eng. MSS., xxviii., 59.
1679, April 1. — John Tredwell is chosen
constable ; Simon Searing and Samuel Emory,
overseers ; and John Jackson, for one year, in
Mr. Seaman's room. Richard Gildersleeve,
George Hewlett and William Osborn are
chosen to lay out the common meadow, and
to have 12d. an acre for their pains. —
B., 259.
1679, May 7. — The constable and overseers
order a rate for defraying the town debts to
be made forthwith with conveniency.
1679, May 19. — Governor Andros grants
Thomas Rushmore the right of setting up a
grist and saw mill (with equal privilege of
other mills) on a stream on the west side of
Madnan's neck, and to cut timber from unap
propriated land. — Q. Co. Rec, B., No. 2, 254.

1679, May 26.— Governor Andros having
laid his commands on Richard Gildersleeve,
constable, to prevent Quaker meetings within
the town, he informs him that Captain John
Seaman (though forewarned) had a very great
meeting at his house last Lord's day. — Doc.
His., iii., 999.
1679, June 3.— At town meeting, a, two-
year-old heifer Was sold at an outcry, by the
constable, to John Oakey, for £2.12 in Indian
corn, at 2s. per bushel ; summer wheat, at
4s.; or wiuter wheat, at 5s. — B., 22 1.
lliSd. January 3. — (iuveruor Audros, on
their petition, allows Major Thomas Willett
and Captain Thomas Hicks liberty to pur
chase lands of the Indians on Cow neck, they
making due return thereof to the office of the
Recorder, in New York. — Q. Co. Rec.
1680, April 1. — Edward French is chosen
clerk ; George Hewlett, constable ; John
Williams and John Smith, Jr., overseers. —
B., 144.
1680, May 12.— Daniel Bedell is to pay the
town a good cow, sound in wind and limb,
for three-quarters of an acre of land, granted
him, lying against his house, part in the
swamp, part upon the side-hill, bounded north
by the brook, west by the crooked tree, south
by the highway. — B., 130.
1680, May 12.— Was sold at outcry, to Rich
ard Gildersleeve, (old Mr. G.'s son,) the fort
and the old meeting house, that part of the
fort excepted that stands in Jeremy Wood's
lot, for £2.12; in meeting house pay. — B.,130.
1680, June 11. — John Curtis is arrested for
using railing language against Governor An
dros and his government. — Eng. MSS., xxix.,
113. 1680. — Samuel, son of Jeremy Wood, Jr.,
was born July 27, and baptized November 23.
Daniel, son of Daniel Bedell, Sr., was born
September 18, and baptized November 23.
Jeremiah, son of Jeremiah Smith, Sr., was
born November 8, and baptized March 16,
1681.— B., 263. '
1681, April 2. — Simon Searing is chosen
constable ; Jonah Halsted, overseer for one
year ; John Tredwell and Joseph Williams,
for two years. — B., 267.
1681, July 7. — At a town meeting, Nathan
iel Pearsall is chosen clerk ; a small parcel of
lime is sold, at vendue, to John Jackson, for
5s. 4d.; and Simon Searing is to go to Thomas
Hicks', to_ fetch what town writings were
there.— B." 285.

53

1681, October 31.— John Smith Rock and
Jonathan Smith Nan were chosen to gather
the town rate, and are to have £3.5 for their
pains. — O, 15.
1682, January 15. — Agreed that the town
will satisfy Doctor Cooper for the cure he did
for Goody Bates, of our town, £3, and her
diet whilst she was at Oysterbay, 35s. — C, 42.
1682, February 10. — At a general meeting
of the inhabitants upon Madnan's neck, in
the bounds of Hempstead, there and then to
give our attendance for the full result of our
minds as to the paying what is legal in our
parts to the meeting house of our said town
as to a rate made, and this our willingness
shall appear: that we in our true obedience
to what is answerably required of us, are
ready and willing to pay our just dues as to
any order truly erected by the town in gene
ral, we enjoying an equal privilege of our
township in due proportion to any estates,
and this our just request being answered, we
are ready and willing as aforesaid. Signed
by me, Joseph Sutton, by order of the consta
ble and inhabitants of said neck, before two
justices. Captain Thomas Hicks and Mr.
Richard Cornwell. — C, 12.
1682, April 1. — It was agreed that no swine
shall have liberty to go on any part of the
bounds of Hempstead after February 1, except
they are yoked and ringed. The constable
did absent himself from this vote, and there
fore it was done by the overseers. — C. 22.
1682, April 1. — John Smith Rock is chosen
constable ; Jonathan Smith Nan and John
Pine, overseers. — C, 6.
1682, May 25. — The town concluded to
prosecute their cause concerning Cow npck,
against the Indians only ; and that William
Nicolls should be added to the three men
already chosen, viz.: Mr. Seaman, William
Osborn and Thomas Rushmore, for the man
aging their cause ; giving one hundred acres
to each, if successful, they clearing the town
of all charges.
No tame geese shall go on the common
after November 5, and it is lawful to shoot
any found there. — O, 7.
1682, May 25. — Simon Searing is chosen
constable ; William Jecocks, John Smith
Rock, Jr., and Joseph Williams, overseers. —
C, 10.
1682, June 23. — Richard Gildersleeve, Sr.,
is chosen clerk ; and Thomas Rushmore is to
present a petition to the next Governor that

shall arrive at New York that is commissioned
to be Governor over Yorkshire in America. —
C, 206.
1682, October 17. — An Indian, Wamassom-
mom, kills two wolves, and gets from John
Smith, constable, 5s., a quart of rum and two
Indian coats, and acknowledges himself fully
satisfied. Tackapousha, the sagamore, brought
to the constable the head of a wolf, and was
fully satisfied to his content. William Je
cocks and Joseph Williams certify that the
constable has satisfied for three wolves' heads
— two to two Indians and one to Captain Sea
man.— C, 38.
1682, May 6. — At u, town meeting, it was
concluded by major vote that Jeremy Hobart
should be called to be minister in this town.
— C, 11.
1682, May 30. — At a town meeting, it was
enacted by major vote that Jeremy Hobart
shall, at his first settling amongst us, have a
home lot of three or four acres, where it shall
be for his conveniency and the town's, as
much as may be ; also, fifty acres ot wood
land, to be taken up where he pleases, within
the same bounds that we ourselves have had
liberty to take up our fifty-acre lots* and his
creatures are to have liberty of the commons,
as ours have, and he shall have the use of the
parsonage land and meadows so long as he
continues our minister.
Also concluded by major vote that there
should be a house built on the town lot,
thirty-six feet long, eighteen feet wide and
nine or ten feet between joints, and to make
it a comfortable house to dwell in, it being
first intended for the use of Jeremy Hobart,
and when he sees cause to leave it, then it is
to return to the town again. — C, 8.
1683, May 24. — We, underwritten, do en
gage each and every of us to give these un
derwritten sums to Jeremy Hobart, yearly,
during the time we live under his ministry,
and to pay it in corn or cattle at price as it
passed current among us. — -C, 9.

Charles Abrahams,
John Bedell.
Robert Bedell, Sr.,
Daniel Bedell,
Robert Bedell. Jr.,
Matthew Bedell,
James Beate,
John Carman, Sr.,
John Carman, Jr.,
Caleb Carman.
Francis Champion,

£ s.
1010
1
1 55
10
2 1010 5

* Mr. Jeremy Hobart's one-hundred-acre lot was laid
out, as given by the town, south side the plains and
east of Meruck path.— C, 219.

54

£

s.

Samuel Denton,

1

10

Duch Mary,

10

Moses Emory,

15

Richard Ellison, Sr.,

10
John Ellison, Sr.,
10
Samuel Emory,
1
Abraham Frost,
10
Harman Flower,
10
Richard Gildersleeve, Sr„
1
15
Richard Gildersleeve, Jr.,
10
Timothy Halsted,
2
George Hewlett,
1
George Hicks,
10
Thomas Higham,
Thomas Ireland,
5
5
Joseph Jennings,
10
William Jecocks,
1
Joshua Jecocks,
10
Robert Jackson,
2
John Jackson,
1
5
Henry Johnson,
li
Harman Johnson,
5
Peter Johnson,
10
John Karle,
• 1
10
Joseph Langdon,
12
Henry Linington,
1
10
Richard Minthorne,
1
Robert, Marvin,
1
John Marvin,
1
John Mott,
7
Cornelius Mott,
10
Adam Mott,
1
Peter Ma6on,
10
Richard Osborn,
10
James Pine, Sr.,
2
James Pine, Jr.,
15
John Pine,
1
10
Samuel Pine,
15
Joseph Pettit,
10
Daniel Pearsall,
15
Samuel Raynor,
7
Thomas Rushmore,
1
5
James liyle,
5
John Searing,
1
10
William Smith,
10
John Smith Blue,
3
John R. Smith, Jr.,
1
10
Joseph Smith,
15
Jeremy Smith,
15
Abraham Smith,
1
Rock Smith,
1
5
Simon Searing,
15
Joseph Sutton,
10
Josias Starr,
10
John Sprag,
10
Thomas Southard, Sr.,
15
John Tredwell,
1
10
William Thickston,
10
Richard Totten,
15
Richard Valentine, Sr. ,
2
Richard Valentine, Jr.,
15
William Valentine,
10
John Waskeate,
10
William Wetherbe,
5
Joseph Williams,
1
10
Robert Williams, shoemaker,
2
Jeremy Wood, Sr.,
1
Jeremy Wood, Jr.,
10
Jonas Wood,
10
Total, £67 4
1632, June 6. — Owned and concluded by
major vote that the town has given Jeremy
Hobart a call to come to be minister in this
town, at £70 a year, in current pay as it
passes amongst us, for his maintenance, and
that he shall have his firewood brought him
at free cost-. — C, 11.
Both these acts were disowned by Nathaniel
Pearsall, clerk, and the firewood by John and
Robert Jackson, Joseph Smith, Joseph Bald
win and George Pearsall.
1683, January 4.— Robert Marvin and Rich
ard Valentine are chosen by major vote forth
with to hire carpenters to build a Parsonage,
house, according to the dimensions already
agreed on and recorded in the town book, and
they are to agree with the carpenters to com
plete all the carpenter work. It is to be un
derstood that the house is a town house. —
Rec. C, 41.
1683, January 15 — By major vote, fifty
acres (to join to the other fifty, if there be
conveniency for it) are granted to Mr. Jeremy
Hobart.— C, 42.
1683, April 26. — Anthony Brockholls, Com
mander-in-Chief, confirms Jeremy Hobart as
minister of Hempstead. — Doo His., iii., 192.
1683, August 1. — The constable and over
seers have agreed to allow Jeremy Wood 10s.
for one year, for the looking after the opening
and shutting of the window-shuts of the
meeting house, and to look carefully after
the hour-glass. — O, 47.
1680, December 9. — Mr. Hobart complains
to the Governor that for almost five years he
has been called as minister of Hempstead, and
the agreement as to house building and com
fortable finishing, and as to annual salary,
neither is by the parish performed, to his
great damage and almost insupportable in
convenience. He begs the Governor to apply
a remedy. The town chose Captain Seaman and Mr.
Searing to go down to York, next Thursday,
to answer Mr. Hobart's petition against the
town, the Governor having cited them to
show cause, on December 23d. — Doc. His.,
iii., 193; C, 141,
1687, January. — The Governor orders Hemp
stead to have the people of Madnan's neck at
their town meetings, to allow them liberty of
commonage for horses and cattle, and that
the minister should go over sometimes
amongst them, to preach and instruct them
and their children in the duties of Christian
ity. Hempstead had rated Madnan's neck to
bear part of the charge of building a town
house and meeting house ; and now, Christo
pher Yeamans, in behalf of said neck, says
that as they were too distant from Hemp
stead to attend worship there, they had built
a house to entertain said minister to preach
in, who in three years came but once. There
fore he prays the Governor that Hempstead
may bear part of the charge of this new
church on the neck, and that they be not
55

obliged to allow the minister anything for
the time past. Had he come over once a
month they would have freely contributed. —
Doc. His., iii., 348.
1687, January 15.— From Edmund Titus,
on a demand of £1.15, for building priest's
house, a cow worth £4.10 ; on a demand for
priest's wages, four young cattle.
1687, February 22. — On the petition from
Madnan's neck being read in council, it is or
dered that the minister of Hempstead preach
to the petitioners at Madnan's neck at least
once a month. — Eng. MSS., xxxv., 32.
Edward Hare, constable, in behalf of the
people of Madnan's neck says to the Governor,
that we have lived here twenty years without
h minister. In June, 1682, we entertained
Rev. Morgan Jones, and were well satisfied ;
but Mr. Hobart forbid his living amongst us.
Though Mr. Hobart was ordered to preach
here once a month, he had not done it on the
Sabbath, but had come three times on the
week-days, when we must labor to maintain
ourselves, and yet he demands four years'
salary of us, without our having received any
benefit by his ministry ; and the collectors
threaten to distrain upon us for his pay. Now,
we want a minister to instruct us and out-
children, otherwise we can't but expect that
atheism or irreligion will grow up amongst
us, for we have near sixty children. We
have motioned Mr. Jones to come again, and
he is willing, and we pray he may be induct
ed, and we be -relieved from paying the min
ister of Hempstead. — Doc. His., iii., 346.
1687, March 15. — Goods distrained from
Henry Willis, on a demand of £1.14, for build
ing priest's dwelling house, a cow worth
£4.10. 1687, May 31. — The Governor orders a copy
of the petition from Madnan's neck to be sent
to Mr. Hobart, for him to show cause, on
Monday next, why he don't preach there. —
Eng. MSS., xxxv., 65.
1687, June 9. — Ordered in council that Mad
nan's neck pay Mr. Hobart all arrears, that
Morgan Jones be inducted, and Madnan's
neck separate hereafter from Hempstead. —
Eng. MSS., xxxv., 67, 68.
1687, Nov. 29.— Henry Willis and Edmund*
Titus, of Hempstead, "in derision called Qua
kers," petition the Governor for relief. They
have already suffered in the spoil of their
goods, for the setting up and upholding a
* Frequently written Edward, in the Records.

worship, in the town aforesaid, which in their
conscience they believe and know to be not
the true worship of God, and are again threat
ened to have a part of their effects taken from
them, towards the maintenance of one Jere
miah Hobart, of the same place, whom in
conscience they cannot maintain, knowing
him to be no minister of Christ, and so are
no ways concerned with him nor any agree
ment, made with him . They allege the taking
of their goods to be contrary to the laws
which give liberty of conscience to all per
suasions, &c. — Eng. MSS., xxxv., 122.
1687, December 30.— On a demand of £2.17,
for priest's wages, eight sheep sold for
£4.14. 1690, December 4. — At a Court of Oyer and
Terminer held at Jamaica — Mr. Jeremiah Ho
bart being directed by the Court of Sessions
to this board to determine the defect of his
salary due to him from the town of Hemp
stead — ordered that said town do perform
their covenant, at £70 per annum, and other
advantages therein contained, and that the
three commissioners of said town do take
diie care that his arrears and remaining salary
be duly paid.— C, 201.
1691, July 3. — Warrant to John Jackson,
sheriff of Queens county, to notify the justices
of Hempstead that they satisfy the arrears
due Mr. HoVart, minister. — Eng. MSS.,
xxxvii., 195.
Governor Sloughter addresses a, letter to
the magistrates of Hempstead, requiring them
to call a meeting of the inhabitants, and assess
the balance due Mr. Hobart. — Eng. MSS.,
xxxvii., 79.
1691, July 3. — Mr. Hobart says he has for
the last eight years and upwards labored
among the people of Hempstead, but is much
afflicted for want of his stipend, not duly paid,
whereby he and his family suffer, his hands
are weakened and his heart discouraged. He
prays the Governor that all arrearages may
be paid, and the burden for the future allevi
ated, so that the Gospel may have encourage
ment* The Governor writes to Jonathan Smith
and Francis Chappell, constables and collect
ors, to take all care for the collection and
payment of what is due, unless they have

* Hobart left Hempstead by reason of numbers turn
ing Quakers, and many others being so irreligious that
they would do nothing toward the support of the
Gospel.

56

some reason to the contrary. — Doc. His., iii...
198. Elias and John Burling were assessed 8s.,
and, on refusal to pay, were distrained of an
iron pot, a pewter dish and a basin, in all
worth £1. ^
Valuation of Hempstead Real Estate, October
11, 1683.— Doc. His., 2, 523.

a

Abrahams, Charles,
Alin, John,
Alin, Samuel,
Avery, Edward,
Balding, Joseph,
Bates, John,
Bedell, John,
Bedient, Mordecai,
Bedell, Matthew,
Bedell, Robert, Sr.,
Bedell, Robert, Jr.,
Bedell, Daniel,
Borge, Jonathan,
Burling, Elias and John,
Carman, John,
Carman, John, Jr.,
Carman, Caleb,
Carl, Widow,
Cheesman, Thomas,
Combes. Richard,
Daniel, Thomas,
Dssboro, Hendrick,
Dinge, Robert,
Dorland, Elias,
Ellison, John, Sr.,
Ellison, Thomas, Sr.,
Frost, Abraham,
Flower, Harman,
Gildersleeve, Richard, Sr.,
Gildersleeve, Richard, Jr.,
Hall, Ralph, .
Halsted, Timothy,
Hanckins, John,
Hewlett. George,
Hadger, Thomas,
Hicks, George,
Hudson, Hannah,
Hutchins, Thomas,
Hubbs, Robert, Sr.,
Hubbs, Robert, Jr.,
Hubbs, John,
Inians, Mr. John,
Ireland, Thomas,
Jackson, John,
Jennings, Joseph,
Johnson, Peter,
Johnson, Harman,
Johnson, William,
Johnson, Hendrick,
Kissam, John,
Langdon, Joseph,
Lee, William,
Linington, Henry,
Marvin, John,
Mott, James,
Mott, John,
Mott, Joseph,
Miller, Robert,
Minthorne, Richard,
Pine, James,
Pine, Samuel,
Pine. John,
Pearsall, Nathaniel,
Pearsall, George,
Pearsall, Thomas,
Pettit, Joseph,
Pedly, Roger,
Riley, James,
Seaman, Captain John,
Seaman, John, Jr.,
Searing, Simon, ¦
Searing, John,
Smith, Jonathan, Sr.,

1 6

4
1 5
2
2
1 10
2
7
1 12
6
30
4
17
1 3
4
8
1 4
4
1
14 3
3
1 23
4
6
3
1 9X
4
10 2 1
1
2 80
10
36
8
2
11
1
2
6
2 66
6
19 7
3
8
1 13
2
9
6
1 2
3
2 50
«
1 9
5
2
22
4
21
2
20
1 10
2
4
1 30
4
9
1
1 25
7
4
13
2
2 50
8
2.3
4
13
12
a
5
2
1 7
6
1
1 30
4
21
8
1 12
5
1 28
7
21
20
3 13
9
3
61
1 10
3
2 10
4
7 5
2 2
1 10
4
8
1
10
2
4
1 18
4
3 130
14
74
20
3
1 15
4 5
13
7
12
1 2
4
1 2%
3
1 12
4
1
25
2
5
1 32
4
9
1 8
6
7
7
2 80
6
27
10
16
2 20
5
23
2
1 14
4
13
2
3
13 6
3
1 6
2
4
9
1
3 40
8
20
4
20
4
6
,-i
1 32
i;
211
1
1 55
2
20
8
10
1 15
4
11
4
1 15
4'
94
34
4
1 14
8
1 3
2
5
1
2 266
14
36
12
70
1 28
4
I'l
2
3
6
1 5
8
18
8
16
24
6
19
12
4
o 5 W S B
Smith, John Nan,
Smith, John Rock, Jr.,
Smith, Abraham,
Smith, William,
Smith, John Rock, Sr.,
Smith, Jonathan Rock,
Smith, Joseph,
Smith, John, shoemaker,
Smith, John Blue,
Southard, Thomas,
Starr, Josias,
Sutton, Joseph,
Thickston, William,
Titus, Edmond,
Totten, Richard,
Thorne, William,
Valentine, Richard, Sr.,
Valentine, Jonas,
Valentine, Richard, Jr.,
Valentine, William,
Wallis, Thomas,
Wiate, William,
Williams, Joseph,
Willis, Hope,
Willis, Henry,
Wood, Jeremy,
Wood, Jeremy, Jr.,
Wood, Jonas,
Yeamans, Christopher,
50 33 14
25 50
23 1
16
2329 16
34 623
24 16
15
40 13
16 18
11 1
6
17
151316 5
11 11 2 1
1313
21 1413
16 1
10
These under- written not having brought in
their valuations, are guessed at :
£ e. d.
Barnat, the tailor,
100
Bates, James,
54
13
Birdsall, Nathaniel,
150
Champion, John,
100
Cornwall, Edward,
60
Cornwall, John,
40
Chapell, Francis,
18
Denton. Samuel,
200
Emery, Samuel,
260
10
Ellison, Richard,
190
Ellison, John, Jr.,
81
10
Emory, Moses,
124
13
Ferman, Jonathan,
30
Jones, William,
64
10
Jecocks, William,
104
13
Jecocks, Joshua,
50
Launcelet, Samuel,
40
March. John,
30
Mott, Mr. Adam, Jr.,
100
Mott, Mr. Adam,
390
Osborn, Richard,
176
Pearsall, Daniel,
125
10
Raynor, Samuel,
80
Seaman, Solomon,
164
13
Seaman, Benjamin,
200
Smith, Jeremiah,
130
Totten, Peter,
40
Tredwell, John,
250
Valentine, Obadiah,
18
Williams, Robert,
40
Wood, Jonathan,
18
1682, December 6. — Richard Gildersleeve,
Sr., is hired to beat the drum on all town oc
casions except training, at 20s. per year. —
C, 41.
1683, April 2. — William Jecocks is made
choice of for constable, Simon Searing and
John Tredwell for overseers. — C, 82.
1683, July 2.— Francis Chapell is chosen
clerk and schoolmaster. — C, 85.
1683, September 24.— The town appoints,
by a full vote, Captain John Seaman and Mr.
William Nicolls, of New York, attorneys to
act for Cow neck.
57

1683, October 3. — I Thomas Higham, tailor,
sell to William Smith, of Foster's meadow, a
negro man who has lost all the fingers on his
right hand, and thumb on the left, to have
and hold as his own proper right forever, and
do hereby uphold this sale as lawful aud good,
free from any other entanglement.
I William Smith do hereby make over this
above specified negro to John Pine and his
heirs forever, March 18, 1685.— C, 75.
1683, October 20. — By reason of an order
sent from New York from the Honored Gov
ernor and Council, the town chose Captain
John Seaman, Simon Searing and Lieutenant
John Jackson to attend their Honorables'
order. — C, 75.
1683, December 9. — Nathaniel Pearsall,
Adam Mott, Jr., and James Beate are chosen
to be presenters and assessors of this town. —
C, 49.
We the inhabitants, out of the dutiful re
spects we owe to our Honored Governor, Sir
Thomas Dongan, have by our full vote given
him one or two hundred acres of land, as the
place will allow of, bordering on the west end
of the great Plains, with right of common
age. — C, 50.
1683, December 15. — It was concluded that,
by the next March come twelve-month, they
should fence in so much of the plains as the
town shall see cause.— C, 48.
1683, December 15. — Agreed that Mr. John
Seaman, Lieutenant John Jackson and Simon
Searing should go down to New York and
agree with Mr. West about, the difference
concerning their land at Cow neck. If he
will agree to defray the charges already out
in law or elsewhere, then to put it to arbitra
tion* But if not, then the town will pay
the money and proceed according to law. —
C, 49.
West's patent originally contained nine
hundred and thirty-one and one-half acres.
1684, January 30. — Mr. John Seaman and
Mr. John Jackson are to go to Jamaica on
Friday, February 1, in behalf of the town, to
meet the agents of the rest of the towns for
choosing a county treasurer. — C, 50.
1684, February 12. — At town meeting an
agreement was made with Francis Chapell,
clerk, that he should write out in a fair, legi
ble hand all these new laws that are now
* 1705, September 16.— The arbitrators allowed seven
hundred and sixty-two and one-half acres to N. Bay
ard, who had bought out West.

made, and bind them in a book. He is to
have 28s. in money, and the town to find the
paper. — C, 51.
1684, February 12.— John Tredwell and
Jonathan Smith, Sr., are chosen to be repre
sentatives in behalf of the town for assessing
and making a just rate for the county's
charges to be levied on this town.
Mr. Seaman, Mr. John Jackson and John
Tredwell are chosen to go down to New York,
in order to the. getting of a patent for the
whole bounds of the town, and according to
the first purchases and draft drawn. — C, 51.
,1684, March 31. — Agreed that those who
go down to New York in respect of getting a
patent for our town bounds, shall get it upon
as good terms as they can.
1684, April 1. — John Pine is chosen consta
ble.— C, 23.
1864, April 1. — The town agree that no one
for the future shall bring in any vote more
than his own, except it be through sickness
or lameness of the voter ; and if so, he shall
have an order to that effect. — C, 41.
1684, April 4.— Mr. John Tredwell, Mr.
John Jackson and Simon Searing are chosen
to go down to New York in behalf of the
town, in order to the Governor's order sent to
the town, and see to the getting a patent, and
to make suit to our Governor for a patent for
our whole town bounds, provided that our
lands shall be assured to us and our heirs for
ever, to be our free land of inheritance, we
rendering and paying such acknowledgment
as shall be agreed unto between the Governor
aud our deputies. — C, 59.
1684, May 24. — Captain John Seaman, Lieu
tenant John Jackson, John Tredwell and
Nathaniel Pearsall are chosen to meet Flush
ing, Jamaica and Oysterbay, and make an
agreement about our town bounds, Ten*
acres between Merrick highway and Whale
neck path are given to Joseph, son of Jeremy
Wood.— C, 60.
1684, June 4. — Richard Gildersleeve, Sr., is
chosen collector to gather the minister's rate.
—a, 60.
1684, August 1. — Josiah Starr is chosen
clerk, and Richard Gildersleeve, collector. —
C, 117.
1684, September 7. — Captain John Seaman,
John Jackson, Simon Searing and John Tred
well are chosen to go to York to make their
deed about their lands, and to end the differ
ence about the Jamaica line. — C, 117.

58

1684, October 9. — Chosen to go to York,
20th instant, and endeavor the purchasing of
a patent : Mr. Seaman, Lieutenant Jackson,
Simon Searing, John Tredwell, John Smith
Blue, Adam Mott, Sr., John Pine, Richard
Gildersleeve, Sr., Nathaniel Pearsall, Jona
than Smith, Sr.— C, 117.
1684, October 23. — William Jecocks sells to
Adrian Andriesse Onderdonk, living in the
New Lots belonging to Flatbush, one hun
dred acres of land at Foster's meadow, south
of Henry Dusenbury's, only a 'highway off,
four rods between, bounded east by a high
way that leads by the meadow side, and so
running west one hundred and sixty rods in
length and one hundred 'rods in breadth. —
Rec. C, 71.
In 1700 this land was sold by Adrian to
Hendrick Onderdonk. Adrian had probably
three sons, Adrian, Hendrick and Andrew.
The last, Andrew Adrianse, "a young man
from New Castle, Delaware, was married No
vember 11, 1683, to Maria Van der Vliet, of
Flatbush." Their children were, 1, Adrian,
born, 1684, and married Sarah Snedeker,
whose descendants removed subsequently, at
different times, up the Raritan and Hudson
rivers, and, 2, Andrew, born June 8, 1686,
and married June 2d, 1706, Gertrude Lott,
from whom are descended the Onderdonks on
Long Island, many of whose tombstones, for
five generations, may be seen in the burying-
ground at Flower Hill, Manhasset.
1684, November 12. — By mutual and joint
assent there was freely given to the Right
Honorable Colonel Thomas Dongan, Gov
ernor, and his heirs, two hundred acres of
woodland as already laid out, joining on the
west side with the four hundred acres given
him by Flushing, running from the edge of
, the great plain to the hills near Success pond,
bounded east by Great neck or Success path,
to an elbow in the path, three or four score
rods from the hills, thence to a marked tree
on the south side of Success pond, the breadth
at the plains and hills being the same. — C,
118, 124.
1084, November 23. — Justice Searing, Lieu
tenant Jackson, Richard Gildersleeve, Wil
liam Jecocks, John Tredwell, Nathaniel Pear
sall and Samuel Denton are chosen to draw
up a petition, to be sent to the Governor, to
allow the town to fence in such part of the
plains as may be for more conveniency. —
C, 118.

1684, November 23.— There was given to
Mr. John Spragg, Secretary, of New York,
one hundred and fifty acres of land to join to
the lot he bought of Mr. Doughty, his front
to come up to the plains, and the remainder
as he seeth convenient, not hindering water
courses and highways.
Mr. Spragg had two hundred and eighty
acres in all, and gave it the name of Boscobel,
in compliment to Charles II. — C, 119, 125.
1684, November 26. — It was concluded that
Lieutenant John Jackson, Justice Searing and
Jonathan Smith, Sr., should go to New York,
to meet the Indians, and there to agitate con
cerning their lands, also to endeavor to the
purchasing of a patent for the town. — C, 119.
1684, December 2.— John Seaman, Lieuten
ant John Jackson, Simon Searing and Mr.
John Smith are empowered to request a pat
ent of the Governor, and end the difference
about the Jamaica bounds. — C, 119.
1684, December 12. — All persons in the pre
cincts of the town possessed of any land,
whether by propriety, purchase or gift, shall
have a proportional right in all the commons,
provided they all join to procure a general
patent.— C, 120.
Justice Searing and Nathaniel Pearsall are
chosen to go and request a patent of the Gov
ernor, and get it on as reasonable terms as
they can.— C, 120.
Lieutenant Jackson, Mr. Seaman, George
Hewlett and John Tredwell are chosen to
agree with the Indians concerning their
deeds. And if they will not agree without,
then they are to give the Indians such a sum
of money as can be agreed on. — C, 120.
Governor Dongan says " I received [for the
patent] from Hempstead £140, and that in
cattle, wbich is far less than my perquisite^
they having upwards of one hundred thou
sand acres, in which is a plain of over forty
thousand acres of good pasture, without a
stick upon it."
Captain Palmer petitioned the Governor
and Council for license to purchase woodland
at Rockaway neck, as being without the
meers and bounds of Hempstead, but Pearsall
got in possession of it, and Palmer was forced
to commence a suit against him, but Pearsall
suffered j udgment to go against him. It was
worth £200. — Col. His., iii., 412, 495.
1685, January 22.— Nathaniel Pearsall is
chosen clerk ; Jonathan Smith Rock, consta
ble ; John Tredwell and Jonathan Smith Sr.,

59

assessors. The last two are to go to Jamaica,
January 26th, to choose a county treasurer. —
C.,121. 1685, April 13. — There was given to Wil
liam Jecocks an acre and a half or two acres
of boggy or hassocky land lying in the slew
just before his door. — C, 122.
1685, April 13. — Chosen to go to York to
get a patent John Jackson, John Tredwell
and Jonathan Smith, Sr., and what they do
shall be authentic. — C, 122.
1685, May. — This may inform all persons
concerned that the eight divisions formerly
laid out on our plains are not to be accounted
part of the town commons, but are to remain
to the proprietors to whom they were first
laid out, as well as all the former allotments
and hollows on the plains and ox-pastures.
Signed, John Seaman, Nathaniel Pearsall,
Richard Gildersleeve, John Smith Blue,
George Hewlett, John Smith Nan, Jonathan
Smith, John Jackson.
A copy of this was set up at tire meeting
house, before any of the rate money that was
to pay for the town's patent was gathered.; —
C, 126.
1685, June 11. — Richard Gildersleeve, Sr.,
is chosen to gather the rate about the town
house and patent, and he is to have 8d. in the
£ for his labor.— C, 122.
1685, August 21. — The gift of two hundred
acres of woodland to Colonel Thomas Dongan
was owned and confirmed ; and Captain John
Seaman, Simon Searing, John Smith and
John Jackson were chosen to go and show
him the bounds of it. The one hundred and
fifty acres to Mr. Spragg is also confirmed. —
C, 123.
1686, February 1. — John Tredwell and
Jonathan Smith, Sr., are chosen for assessors,
to take a valuation of our town's estates, and
also to carry it to Jamaica, February 4, and
there, with their associates, to make a public
rate in their respective precincts, and to make
choice of a county treasurer, and to inquire
how the county's money is disposed of, and
to give account thereof to the town. Also a
rate shall be made forthwith to pay our quit-
rent for three years, amounting to £12, and
to be paid in money.— C, 130.
1686, April 1. — Chosen Richard Minthorn,
constable ; Joseph Pettit, clerk ; John Wool-
ley, marshal and 'constable for Madnan's
neck ; also agreed that the old line of the
west bounds be run out from the marked

tree at Jamaica South to the South Sea, and
that Captain Seaman procure Sergeant Hub
bard to do it ; also that Nathaniel Pearsall,
Joseph and Jonathan Smith agree with some
man or men, on as good terms as they can," to
keep possession, in the town's behalf, of all
the land and meadow at Rockaway. — C, 227.
1686, June 2. — John Smith Nan, John
Smith Blue, John Treadwell, George Hewlett,
Joseph Smith, Jonathan Smith Nan, Henry
Willis and John Ellison, Sr., are appointed to
be joined with the patentees to defend our
interest in our lands against any claimants,
especially at the head of Matagaret's bay. —
C, 134.
1686, July 23. — Record of a horse that John
Jackson bought of Wowachone, an Indian, by
the English called Jeffery. The horse hath
a crop on the near ear, and three half-pennies
on the under side of the off ear, sold and de
livered before Joseph and Jonathan Smith.
1686, September 27. — Joseph Pettit was es
tablished clerk.— C, 135.
1686, November 2. — Captain John Seaman,
Captain Thomas Hicks, Captain John Jackson,
John Tredwell, Adam Mott, Jr., Joseph Smith
and John Pine are chosen to appear, in the
town's behalf, at the Court of Assizes, in Ja
maica, to defend the town's title in Rockaway
against Judge Palmer or any other person.
Elias Dorland and Joseph Pettit are chosen
to go as witnesses. — C, 135.
1686, December 18. — Voted that the justice
issue his warrant to the collector for perfect
ing the collection of the rate for defraying
the charge of the patent. [The people had
given in their lands to the clerk, to make a,
rate, but it was not yet all paid in.] — C, 136.
1687, January 7. — Captain Hicks, Captain
Jackson, Nathaniel Pearsall, John Treadwell
and John Pine are . chosen to agree with the
Oysterbay deputies concerning the lands in
difference. — C, 142.
1687. — The people of Madnan's neck vote
that no wood shall be cut or sold off the
vacant lands thereof ; and if vacant lands are
improved by individuals, they are to be
thrown up in three years, for pasture. This
vote is confirmed at Hempstead town meet
ing.— C„ 104, 169.
1687, January 25. — John Pine shall have
liberty to set up a grist mill on any stream in
the town bounds, where no mill is already,
and five acres of land by it, so long as he
grinds the town's corn for a twelfth. Wil-

CO

liam Smith has liberty to set up a mill upon
the stream of Seaman's Swamp, with five
acres of land. Elias Dorland has liberty of a
stream granted him to set a mill on, with five
acres of land, where no mill is appointed to
be set.— C, 142.
1687, February 14. — Francis Chapell is
chosen collector for the minister's rate, (all
of the minister's salary or old arrears for
three years past,) and is to have 8d. in the £
for his labor. — C, 144.
1687, March 24. — Captain John Jackson re
ceived of Mr. Hewlett £3.2.6, in money, on
account of the town's patent, to pay the quit
rent so far as it goes. — D., 159.
1687, March 28.— The money for Mr. Rich
ard CornwelPs two hundred acres of land,
upon the account of defraying the patent
charges, was received by Captain Jackson. —
C, 240.
1687, April 1.— Edward Avery entered land
to pay in the patent rate, and paid 2s. 3d.
to Mr. Jackson. Henry Willis entered land
and paid £1.6.6.-0., 241.
1687, April 1. — John Pine, Jonathan Smith,
Jr., and John Carman, are chosen commission
ers ; Samuel Emory, constable ; Edward
Haire, constable and marshal for Madnan's
neck ; Joseph Pettit,' Clerk. — C, 145.
1687, April 5. — Captain Jackson is chosen
to go down to York to carry the grant of two
hundred acres of plains to the Governor, and
see if he will sign the conditions, and to make
return of the same. — C, 147.
1687, July 30. — Thomas Hawarden sells to
Christopher Dene, butcher, one Indian boy
slave, named Will, to have and to hold for
ever, as his own proper slave, and will defend
him against all claimants. Dene sells the boy
to Nathaniel Pine, August 4. — C, 192.
1687, December 1. — Adam Mott is chosen
collector ; John Treadwell and Nathaniel
Pearsall, assessors ; and are to go to Jamaica,
January 5th, to act with their associates, to
make a public rate in their precincts, to
choose a county treasurer, and take account
of the money already expended. — C, 148.
1687, December 23. — Abraham Smith and
Richard Valentine are chosen assessors ;
Richard Gildersleeve, collector, to gather all
such rates as shall happen. — C, 149.
1688, February 18.— Jonathan Smith, Sr.,
is chosen collector. There was given to
Michael Belleng, the Frenchman that lives
on Mr. Spragg's land, twenty acres of wood

land, lying on the west side of Mr. Spragg's
land, near the plains. Henry Willis is ap
pointed to go down to York, to carry the
town's quit rent, and take a receipt for it.—
C, 149.
1688, April 2.— Henry Willis, John Smith,
miller, and John Treadwell, are chosen com
missioners ; Jonathan Smith, Sr., constable ;
Urian Roots, constable of Madnan's neck ;
Joseph Pettit, clerk. All the undivided
lands are ordered to be commons, from the
east side of the second west meadow to the
west side of the east meadow, and so half
way from the plains to the south, shall be and
remain for the town's commons for firewood
and grazing, — C, 153.
1688, October 26. — Hempstead voted to
John Spragg, the Governor's secretary, a
tract of land, which he named Boscobel
house, in honor of Charles II, south side the
plains and east of Seaman's hollow, bounded
by the road and commons. May 1, 1699, he
being in -London, sold it (two hundred and
eighty acres) by his attorney, Rev. Alexander
Innes, to William Cornell, for £440.— Q. Co.
Rec, B., 374.
1688, December 28. — Joseph Haviland has
liberty to set up a grist mill upon the stream
of Rockaway swamp, with six acres of land
by it, and to grind for the twelfth. —
C, 236.
1089, March* 26.— To John Treadwell forty-
four acres are laid out, east side of the pole-
fence of the flie of meadow at Coe's neck. —
C, 200.
1689, May -9.— £116.13 (being the arrears
due the men pressed from Queens county,
who were with Colonel Dongan in the late
expedition at Albany) was paid to Captain
John Jackson, as his soldiers are getting mu
tinous. May 11th, Captain Jackson brings
news, to New York of the state of affairs and
jealousy of the people of Hempstead.
1689, June 3, till 1691, March 19.— A period
of civil strife. Jacob Leisler was Governor
of the colony.
1690, March 17. — The town vote that the
representatives should meet at Jamaica, and
go to New York, for to debate on the defence
of the lines and the safety of the government ;
aud that no unresident person shall be per
mitted to settle here without the town's con
sent. If any inhabitant entertain such un
resident above forty-eight hours without
giving notice to the officers, he shall be liable

61

to pay and clear the town of all damages the
town may sustain therefrom. — O, 160.
1690, April 1. — It was voted that Nathaniel
Pearsall, Jonathan Smith, Sr. and Jr., shall
manage the suit for the recovery of the town's
right at Rockaway, according to purchase
and patent, and to employ an attorney. The
town to pay the whole charges.
1690, November 1.— John Marvill and Caleb
Carman chosen assessors, according to Act of
Assembly, and Jonathan Smith, collector. —
C, 150.
1690, December 24. — Jonathan Smith and
Joseph Pettit are chosen to go to Rockaway,
Cow neck and elsewhere, and if they find any
settlers on the town's land without consent,
to give notice to them forthwith to desert the
same. — C, 154.
1691, March 25. — Captain John Jackson
paid 38s. 6d. for hay and oats fed for four
nights, at Brooklyn ferry, to the horses of
twenty-seven of the Hempstead soldiers on
His Majesty's service. — Col. MSS., xxxvii., 29.
1691, July 1.— Nathaniel Pearsall and Sam
uel Pine chosen assessors. — C, 155.
1691, July 2. — Captain Jackson is chosen to
appear before the Governor and Council at
New York, to show cause why the petition of
Madnan's and Cow necks should not be
granted. The town took order that a pound
be made for the town's use, in some conve
nient place, and well-fitted with a lock and
key, to be done on the town's charge. —
C, 155.
1691, October 19. — It was voted that Cap
tain Jackson, Jonathan Smith, Nathaniel
Pearsall and Jonathan Smith, Jr., shall sell
some town land to pay the charges at the
last assizes for the trial about Rockaway, and
give account how they disposed of the money.
— D., 1.
1694, April 2. — James Pine chosen consta
ble ; Joseph Smith, collector ; Jonathan Smith
and John Carle, assessors ; Nathaniel Pear
sall, supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk.
—C., 188.
1695, March 20.— Voted that we will stand
to uphold our town lands, by purchase and
patent, with our persons and estates.
1695, April 1. — Joseph Mott chosen consta
ble ; Henry Willis, collector ; John Pine and
John Carman, assessors ; Joseph Pettit, clerk ;
Nathaniel Pearsall, supervisor. — O, 188.
1695, June 20. — John Searing, Jeremy Wood
and John Williams are chosen townsmen.

1695, October 16. — Jonathan Smith and
John Sands are appointed by the claimants of
Cow neck to make progress in their behalf
till a division of it can be made, so that each
may know where and what his part is. And
each agrees to bear his proportion of the
charge. — D., 161.
1697, October 7. — Voted to make a loan of
£50, silver money, to be paid with the next
county rate, for the vindicating the east
bounds between our town and Oysterbay.
And that Joseph Smith and John Williams
shall receive this loan of the collector, and
dispose it to the town-trustees as they shall
have occasion, and to render an account there
of.— D., 4.
1698, April 2. — Jeremy Wood was chosen
constable ; Nathaniel Pearsall, supervisor ;
John Searing and William Willis, assessors ;
Joseph Smith, collector ; Joseph Pettit, clerk.
To Major Jackson and Hope Willis was
granted the privilege of Jerusalem river, to
set up a grist and fulling mill, within two
years, and to grind for a twelfth part of what
grain he grinds. John Robinson had liberty
to set up a grist and fulling mill on the
stream at the head of the Harbor, on the
same conditions.* — D., 11.
1698, November 22. — Major Jackson, Jus
tice Smith, Joseph Smith and Nathaniel
Pearsall are to take care to get the lines truly
run between our town and those each side of
us.— D., 28.
1699, April 1. — Richard Townsend is chosen
constable ; Jonathan Smith, collector ; John
Searing and William Willis, assessors; Jo
seph Pettit, clerk; Nathaniel Pearsall, su
pervisor. 1699, April 5. — Nathaniel Pearsall, John
Sands, William Peat and Jonathan Smith
petition the Assembly that the town be re
lieved from the oppressions it groans under.
—Eng. MSS., xlii., 161.
1699, November 13.— The vacant land be
tween Henry Dusenbury and William Cor
nell is given to Daniel Thurston, provided he
there settle a blacksmith for the use of the
town.— D., 18.
* 1701, April 1.— Whereas, the grant to John Robin
son is made void by his default, William Wilis, Rich
ard Valentine and Samuel Denton, Jr., are chosen to
agree with him upon the same conditions that the
stream at Cow neck was granted to Nathaniel Pearsall
and Isaac Smith, otherwise to return his answer to
the town. In 1709, John Robinson sold his mill to
Charles Mott.— D., 91.

62

1699, November 22.— Voted that Justice
Smith; Isaac Smith, John Pine, John Foster
and William Willis shall hear the accounts
of those that demand money of the town for
the trial about Rockaway, and make return
to the town for their approbation in the mat
ter.— D., 26.
1700, April 1. — John Carle is chosen con
stable ; James Jackson, clerk ; John Tred
well, collector ; William Willis and Isaac
Smith, assessors ; Nathaniel Pearsall, super
visor. Also, Major Jackson, Nathaniel Pear
sall, Adam Mott, William Willis, Captain
Carman and Joseph Mott chosen to make
prudential orders concerning fences and
swine running on commons, The owners of
swine found on the common and driven to
the pound, are to pay 9d. a head to the driver
and 4Jd. to the pinder. — D., 63.
1701, January 12. — William Smith sells to
Joseph Mott, living north side of Hempstead,
a, mill near Hungry Harbor, on Seaman's
swamp stream, granted by the town on con
dition that he grind for the twelves. — Q. Co.
Rec. A., 208-11.
1701, April 1. — John Tredwell chosen col
lector. It shall be lawful for any person to
alter a ram found, from August 1 till the last
of October, in the streets or commons, or
amongst the town flock. — D., 91.
1701, May 3. — At a town meeting, John
Carle, John Searing and Thomas Gildersleeve
were chosen to repair the meeting house
(what is needful) upon the town's charge. By
order, Joseph Pettit, clerk, — Rec, D., 94.
1702, April 1. — John Tredwell is chosen
constable and collector, and John Searing
and Thomas Gildersleeve were chosen asses-
ors.— D., 112.
1702, July 15. — Fifty acres are laid out to
Daniel Balding, in the North wood, on the
west side of the Harbor path, near the old
fence of the Cow neck. — D., 12.
1702, September 27.— Rev. George Keith
says : " On Sunday I preached at Hempstead,
in the afternoon, from Luke x., 43, where was
such a multitude that the church could not
hold them, so that many stood without at
the doors and windows to hear, who were
generally well affected and greatly desired
that a Church of England minister should be
settled amongst them. November 21, 1703,
Sunday. — I preached for the fourth time at
Hempstead church, and lodged at Isaac
Smith's, four miles from the church, where I

baptized a young woman of his family, and a
boy and girl of his relations, and a neighbor's
child, a boy. This Smith had formerly been
a Quaker, and was scarce then fully come off,
but came and heard me preach, and was well
affected, and did kindly entertain me."
1702, November 11. — The people of Hemp
stead petition to have Oysterbay made a free
port of entry.— Eng. MSS., xlvi., 110.
1703. — Thomas and Sarah Rushmore sell
to Henry and Mary Allen, for £5, one hun
dred feet square of ground, whereon to build
a mill, with right of stream. — Q. Co. Rec,
B., No. 2, 250.
1703, January 12. — At a general town meet
ing are chosen for chureh warden, John Pine ;
for vestrymen, Jonathan Smith, Samuel Den
ton, Daniel Kissam, John Haviland and 
 . These for Hempstead. For Oyster

bay, Mr. Thomas Jones, churchwarden ; Ed
mund Wright, Isaac Doughty, Samuel Dick
inson, Richard Willis and Nathaniel Coles,
vestrymen. — Rec D., 114.
1703, January 14. — Samuel Denton petitions
the Governor for the arrest of his negro slave,
Manda, who has been run off and concealed
in Westchester county. The sheriff's return
is : " Can't find the negro woman." — Ens.
MSS., xlvii., 19.
1703, April 1. — Richard Townsend is chosen
constable ; John Searing and John Tredwell,
overseers ; Joseph Pettit, clerk ; William
Willis, Supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve,
church warden ; Isaac Smith, Captain Jere
miah Smith and Samuel Dorlon, Jr., surveyors
of highways, and to make prudential orders
according to Act of Assembly.
1704, January 23. — The town grant to Mr:
Joseph Mallinson, streams, lands and bogs, at
Haybridge brook and Merock river, to set up
a grist and fulling mill, with privilege of
making a ditch to lead the water of Merock
river and the Cedar swamp brook unto said
mills ; also to cut timber for building, fencing
and firewood from undivided lands, provided
he builds a fence to prevent the cattle coming
off from the Cow meadow from being stopped
by any dyke or dam at the Cedar swamp —
D., 145.
1704, February 26.— It was agreed that any
person may take up one hundred acres of
undivided land, on condition that he pay the
quit rent, except on the North and South
necks, not hindering any highway or water
ing place. To be confirmed by Colonel Jack-

63

son and Justice Tredwell. A book shall be
bought, wherein every person shall enter his
allotted land before William Willis. The
money given to Mr. Nicolls to defend the
town bounds is to he assessed on the free
holders.— D., 146-7.
1704, April 1. — Captain Joseph Smith was
chosen constable and collector ; Joseph Pet
tit, clerk ; John Tredwell and Richard Town-
send, assessors ; Samuel Denton, Jr., Captain
Jeremiah Smith and Joseph Mott, surveyors
of highways, and to put in practice such pru
dential orders as the town shall make. Cap
tain Carman, Benjamin Seaman, William
Willis, Richard Thorne and Christian Snede-
ker are chosen to make prudential orders con
cerning the regulation of fences throughout
the town bounds. Jeremiah Wood aud John
Carle were deputed to gather, in the town's
behalf, all arrears due for land and meadows
let, and to inquire what Captain Smith and
James Jackson have done in the matter, and
make report to the Justices by next election
day.— D., 132.
1705. — Proprietors of Cow neck vs. Nicholas
Bayard. Their names and the award may be
seen in Q. Co. Rec, B., No. 2, 187-8 ; also
474. Seven hundred,,; and sixty-two acres
were awarded to Bayard, out of the patent of
John West of nine hundred acres.
1703.—" The Venerable Sdciety" say a
Church of England minister' is wanted for
Hempstead, who will be allowed £60 per
annum there.
1705, March 1. — Rev. John Thomas says:
" The people of Hempstead are better dis
posed to peace and civility than they are at
Jamaica." 1705, April 27.- — At a meeting of the jus
tices, church wardens and vestry, it was or
dered that there should be added to the min
ister's rate for this year £10 for the use of
the poor. — Rec D., 148.
1705, May 30. — At a general town meeting
were chosen John Searing, Sr,, John Carle
and Thomas Gildersleeve, by major vote, in
•answer to an order from His Excellency,
Governor Cornbury, for to repair the parson
age house and home lot, and fence the par
sonage meadow, so that they may be tenant-
able, at the town's cost and charge, and to
repair the church and what is needful about
them all.— D., 160.
1705, January 23. — The whole liberty of
tie streams oj Jerusalem river, that leads

between the Great and Little neck, and to
lead the Little neck brook into it, to build a
grist and fulling mill, and fifty or sixty acres
adjoining where they set the mills, of up
lands, islands, swamps and bogs, convenient
for buildings, yards and pasturage, were
granted Colonel John Jackson, to grind for
the freeholders for one-twelfth. — D., 143.
1706, February 12.— Whereas, at the first
settling of our town, it was settled upon fifty
proprietary lots and fifty blanks, and by them
our lands and meadows were divided as fol
lows : Home lots, and the old fields and home
bevels, and the divisions on the plains and
the south necks and north necks, and twenty-
two-acre lots, and one hundred and fifty acres
to each proprietor, and fifty acres to every
inhabitant as they are named in record ; these
we do confirm to every man that has a just
right to them ; and if any man has not had
his just right in division, on making it appear,
he shall have it ; also, all former grants and
gifts shall stand, and all our undivided lands
shall be divided, proportionally, to them that
have paid to the patent. Also.'all unjust and
disorderly surveys of land are voted to be
null and void, and to be thrown up till an
other division be made. Every freeholder
shall give in to William Willis all his just
rights of land.— D., 167.
LIST OF PROPRIETORS.

John Smith. Jr.,
John Seaman,
Simon Searing,
Joseph Schott,
Thomas Shearman,
Mr. Stickling, r-
Nicholas Tanner,
Mr. Tappjn,
William Thickston,
William Thorn. -
Richard Valentine,
Henry Whitson,
Daniel Whitehead,
Moyles Williams,
Robert Williams,
Jeremy Wood.
Richard Willits,
William Washburn,
Edmond Wood,
Jonas Wood, Halifax,*
Jonas Wood, Oram,*
Timothy Wood,
Thomas Wickes.

Thomas Armitage,
Samuel Clark,
John Cornis,
Jlr. Coe,
Mr. Carman,
Robert Dean,
Christopher Foster,
Thomas Foster,
John Fooks.
Mr. Robert Fordham,
Richard Gildersleeve,
John Hews,
Stephen Hudson,
Thomas Ireland,
Robert Jackson,
John Lawrence,
John Lum,
Mr. John Ogden,
Richard Ogden,
Henry Pearsall,
William Rogers,
John Roads,
Mr. Rainer,
John Smith, Sr.,
The other three names were eaten out of the book
by the mice.
1706-7, March 3. — Jonathan and Sarah
Whithead sell to Andries Onderdonk, of New
Lots, for £100, fifty-seven acres on Cow neck,
bounded west by land laid out to Thomas
Hicks, Jr., being parted by the middle line,
north mostly by John Smith Blue, now Abel
Smith's, east by land of the Burgesses, and
* The places in England whence they came.

64

south by West's patent.— Q. Co. Rec B.,
No. 2, 289.
1706, April 1.— Richard .Smith is chosen
constable and collector ; James Pine and Isaac
Smith, assessors ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk.
To see that highways and fences be kept in
good repair, for the town, Captain Joseph
Smith ; for Madnan's neck, William Mott ;
for Herricks and all the Northside, Obadiah'
Valentine ; for Jerusalem, John Jackson, Jr.;
for Foster's meadow, Harman Johnson ; for
Cow neck, William Peat. Also, Mr. Thomas
Hicks, Colonel John Jackson, Justice John
Treadwell and Mr. William Nicoll are to run
all the lines of our town bounds, and prose
cute any that shall unjustly come into our
bounds.— D., 182.
1707, January 14. — At a general town
meeting, held according to Act of Assembly,
by major vote of the people, John Searing,
Captain John Carman, John Treadwell, Jr.,
Isaac Doty, Sr., Abraham Underbill, Morris
Shadbolt and Nathaniel Coles are chosen
vestrymen for the present year ; and Thomas
Jones and Thomas Gildersleeve, church war
dens.— Rec D., 193.
1707, January 20. — At a, meeting of the
justices, church wardens and vestry, the as
sessors are ordered to assess every freeholder
and sojourner in Hempstead and the bounds
there, to raise the sum of £40 for the minister,
£5 for the poor, and £2.5 for the collector's
*ees.— Rec. D., 194.
Same, January 30, 1708, and January 18,
1709. 1707, April 1. — At a general town meeting,
by major vote, about four acres of land, lying
at the west end of the meeting-house pond,
part on the south side of the run that runs
from the pond, and part on the north side of
the run (across the run), are granted for the
use of tho town, for to settle a schoolmaster
upon, for to teach our children — such an one
as the town shall like, or such an one as the
subscribers towards building a school -house
shall like of, and the land to be to the use
and privilege of a school forever. October 20,
this act was voted null and void. — Rec. D., 202.
1707, April 1. — Thomas Gildersleeve is
chosen dlerk ; Richard Smith, constable and
collector ; William Willis, supers isor ; Isaac
Smith and John Tredwell, assessors. To take
care that all highways and fences be kept in
sufficient repair, for the town, John Searing ;
for Jerusalem, John Jackson ; for Northside,

Obadiah Valentine ; for Madnan's neck, Wil
liam Mott ; for Cow neck, William Peat ; for
Foster's meadow, Harman Johnson. — D., 201.
1707, July 14.— John and Rem Remsen and
Joshua Carman sell to Peter Monfort, of
Flatlands, for £190, a right of division of
seventeen and one-third gates on Cow neck,
being one hundred and four acres, bounded
north by Joshua Carman, west by Nathaniel
Pearsall, south by land not laid out, east by
the water side. See more in Q. Co. Rec, B.,
No. 2, 330, 337.
1707, August 8. — William Smith, for £200,
sells his land, bounded west by Mill river, to
Thomas Flewelling, who also buys (1708,
March 10,) of Samuel Mills, saddler, of Ja
maica, for £300, his house and mill at Hun
gry harbor, and ten acres near Hendrick Du-
senbury's.— Q. Co. Rec B., No. 2, 355, 406.
1707, October 20.— One hundred acres in,
the South woods, east of Stickling's neck'
path, are given, by major vote, to John Carle,
adjoining his own land, in lieu of a house and
home lot in the Town-spot, and another south
of the town, all which are to be and remain
for the use of the town for a school and
schoolmaster forever.' — D., 203.
1708, January 13. — At a parish meeting,
pursuant to Act of Assembly, there were
chosen for vestrymen for the year ensuing :
John Searing, Captain John Carman, John
Tredwell, Richard Townsend, Joseph Mott
and Samuel Williams, for Hempstead ; Abram
Uunderhill, Nathaniel Coles, Isaac Doty, Jr.,
and Samuel Macoune, for Oysterbay. Church
wardens, Mr. Jones, for Oysterbay, and Rich
ard Gildersleeve, for Hempstead. — D., 202.
1708, January 30. — The justices, vestry and
church wardens did reckon concerning the
poor's money, and there remains in bank
£10.10, with 'the £11.10 of last year unex
pended.— D., 193.
1708, April 1. — Chosen for supervisor, Wil
liam Willis ; for clerk, Thomas Gildersleeve ;
for constable and collector, William Corn-
well ; John Tredwell and Thomas Carman as
sessors ; to see the highways and fences be
kept in good order, for the town, John Searing
and John Tredwell, Jr.; for Jerusalem, Jona
than Seaman, Sr., and John Jackson, Jr.; for
the Northside, Obadiah Valentine and James
Denton ; for Madnan's neck, William Mott
and Henry Allen ; for Cow neck, William
Peat and Joshua Cornwell ; for Foster's
meadow, Christian Snedeker and Harman

65

Johnson ; for pinder, John Tredwell, Jr., for
the term of seven years, if he doth behave
himself as a pinder ought to do, and make
and keep a good, sufficient pound, at his own
cost and charge, and taking such fees as the
town has allowed. If any person shall girdle
or peel the bark of any standing tree on the
undivided lands, he shall pay 6s. in money, to
defray public charges.
At a town meeting held July the first, in
the year of our Lord God 1708, the freeholders
vote that the sheep which go on the plains
are not to be folded at any time, day nor
night, under penalty of £2, current silver
money of Her Majesty's province of New
York, for one day or night, half to the in
former and half to the town, to be paid by the
person that shall drive the sheep into his
close or land fenced in, for to lodge there the
time above said. — D., 203.
1709. — Rev. Mr. Thomas says that, " Though
Hempstead had been settled above sixty
years, yet for above fifty-five the sacrament
had not been administered. The oldest could
not remember seeing or hearing of it. I
have brought thirty-three to full communion,
though at the first time I could persuade but
three to receive. The young grow up in
miserable ignorance, and I can't catechise for
want of a schoolmaster to teach the children
to read."
1709.— Elias Baylis sells to Richbell Mott
half of a grist mill on the creek running into
Matagarison's bay, west side.
1709, January 11. — At a parish meeting,*
the vestrymen chosen by major vote were :
Richard Townsend, Joseph Mott, Samuel
Williams, Captain Joseph Smith, Samuel Em
bury and William Pine, for Hempstead ; Isaac
Doty, Jr., Samuel Macoun, Benjamin Coles
and Josiah Latting, Jr., for Oysterbay ;
Church wardens, Thomas Gildersleeve, for
Hempstead, and Samuel Dickinson, for Oys
terbay.— D., 216.
1709, April 5. — William Willis, is chosen
town clerk ; John Carle, constable and col
lector ; Benjamin Seaman, Sr., to assist
Thomas Carman in making assessments of
every freeholder and sojourner in Hempstead
bounds ; William Willis for supervisor, to
meet the other town supervisors to make a
county rate ; for fence-viewers and surveyors
of highways for the town, John Searing, Sr.,
and John Tredwell, Jr.; for Jerusalem, John
* Oysterbay and Hempstead constituted one parish.

Jackson, Jr., and Thomas Seaman, Sr.; for
the Northside, Obadiah Valentine and James
Denton ; for Madnan's neck, William Mott
and Henry Allen ; for Cow neck, William
Peat and Joshua Cornwell ; for Fosters
Meadow, Harman Johnson and Christian
Snedeker. Ordered that Thomas Gildersleeve
shall deliver to William Willis all the town
books and writings, taking a receipt for
them.— D., 227.
1709,JDecember 12. — The schoolhouse is let
to Isaac Jarmin for a year, (except the lean-to
which is reserved for the use of the school at
any time when a schoolmaster presents), for
£4.18, current money, to be paid to the church
wardens ; and if the town shall hire a school
master, then he shall go forth of said house
at a. quarter's warning, the church wardens
giving account of the money to the town. —
D., 238.
1709, December 12. — At a general town
meeting, held at the public meeting-house,
Isaac Smith is chosen assessor) in place of
Benjamin Seaman, Sr., who has not taken the
oath, as the law in that case made prc-videth.
— D., 237.
1709, December 22. — Town meeting ad
journed, on account of tempestuous weather,
till January 19, when the committee chosen
to maintain the town bounds were continued
for three years to come, and to defray charges
(in endeavoring to recover Matinecock and
other town lands) they are authorized to sell
some of the undivided lands. — D., 251.
1710, January 16. — The justices and vestry
met at Captain Joseph Smith's, and ordered
10s. to Job Bedell, for this year, for beating
the drum every Sunday and all other days
necessary for the service of the church ; £40
for the minister ; 20s. to Daniel Bedell, for
cleaning the church and taking care of it, in
sweeping- and opening and shutting the
doors ; £15 to be gathered for the poor, and
10s. to Thomas Gildersleeve, for entering the
minutes in a book and proportioning the
rates. 1710, January 19. — The town give in trust
to the Supervisors of Queens county all that
piece of land in Jamaica whereon the old
county hall and the two prisons do now
stand, with the land between, to let or sell,
and lay out the produce in another county
hall and prisons. — D., 252.
1710, January 19. — Agreed that some of the
proprietors' lands shall be sold to defray

66

charges. Henry Allen's protest was recorded.
- D., 238.
1710, April 4. — William Willis is chosen
clerk and supervisor ; Captain Joseph Smith,
constable and collector, to serve till another
is chosen in his room ; John Searing, assessor,
to assist Isaac Smith. If any one will kill,
sell or transport a sheep, whether taken off
the commons or out of his pastures, he shall
have two neighbors to see the mark. Whoso
hath stray sheep or cattle in his custody shall,
within ten days, report them "to William Wil
lis, who shall enter the natural and artificial
marks in u, book, for a fee of 6d. a piece for
cattle, for sheep 3d. a head. — D., 260.
1711, January 16. — Reckoned with the jus
tices and vesfry concerning the poor's money,
and there remains for the use of the poor, in
bank, £9.11. Voted to raise £15 for the en
suing year.
1711, February 5. — At a town meeting,
held in the meeting house, the four trustees
of the town (William Nicoll, Colonel John
Jackson, Judge Hicks and Justice John
Treadwell) were chosen to agree with John
Keeble for some timber and wood at Rocka
way, and to set out a parcel of land at Rocka
way for the whalemen belonging to Hemp
stead, from time to time hereafter, as long as
it is thought fit, to cut firewood for the use of
the whaling design. — D., 272.
1711, May 22.— Voted that every freeholder
give an account of what land he holds, and
by what right, to the town clerk, who is to
attend at home third, fifth and seventh days
in each week. If any refuse, their title shall
be deemed invalid. — D., 300.
1712, April 1. — Voted to have the lands on
the south side of the town of Hempstead, set
apart, by a former town meeting, for a per
petual commons, truly surveyed for the more
certain perfecting of the same. The surveyor
is to begin at the wood edge (A), at the second
West meadow, and run thence due south
half way to the Indian path at south (B), then
a line is to be i"un from the point of trees at
the East meadow (C), down by the swamp
side, half way down to the Indian path at
south (D), from which he is to run a straight
line westerly till it meets the first line, half
way to the Indian path at south, which shall
be the south bounds of said land granted for
a perpetual commonage. Such survey shall
be entered in the public books of the town, as
a perpetual memorial of the bounds of the

lands so granted and set apart for the com
mon use and behoof of all the present and
future inhabitants of this town, and Richard
Townsend, John Tredwell, Jr., and Samuel
Williams shall have power to eject, sue, pros
ecute and evict any person who has or here
after shall encroach upon, fence in or take up
any part of said lands, and prevent undue
waste of timber and trees standing thereon.
Benjamin Seaman, Thomas Gildersleeve,
Colonel John Jackson and Caleb Carman, Jr.,
(he being the only patentee now living), pro
test against this vote. — D., 309.
1712, April 1. — At a town meeting, held
in the church, John Tredwell was chosen su
pervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ; Cap
tain Joseph Smith, collector and constable
till another be confirmed ; Thomas Langdon
and Timothy Halsted, assessors. The fence-
viewers and surveyors of highways contin
ued.— D., 306.
1712, April 5. — John Rushmore is chosen
assessor, in room of Thomas Langdon, who
did refuse to be qualified.
1712, April 17. — The commons of Hemp
stead, containing 6,213 acres, was surveyed
and laid, out by Samuel Clowes, according to
two town votes (April 2, 1688, and April 11,
1712), only there is to be excepted out of the
scheme all such land as was lawfully sur
veyed and taken up before the date first
named. Great Plains.

A

C

ai

o
M
£.
O
0
fc"
OS
«D
*1
rr
©
O
^
-a
"5 o
a;
B
East 1 degree
north 1536 rods.
D
A, Large black oak on the east side of the second
West meadow, near the edge of the great plains. B,
Small bending white oak, half way to the Indian path
at south. C, Black oak on the west side of the East
meadow, at the point of trees by the edge of the great
plains. D, Two white oaks, half way to the Indian
t
path, at — — , twenty rods to the eastward of the East
Meadow swamp. — D., 336.
1712-3, February.—" The Venerable Soci
ety" grant £10 to a catechist or schoolmaster
for Hempstead, on the request of Mr. Thomas,
who represents "the children thereof, for
want of letters and education, as wild, uncul
tivated and unimproved as the soil was when
their forefathers first had it."
67

1713, April 7. — John Tredwell is chosen
supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ; John
Jackson and John Rushmore, assessors ; Jo
seph Smith, constable and collector ; John
Mott and Joseph Carle, fence-viewers and sur
veyors of highways for the town ; Obadiah
Valentine and Samuel Denton, for the North-
side ; Harman Johnson and Christian Snede-
ker, for Fosters meadow ; John Jackson and
Thomas Seaman, for Jerusalem ; Richbel
Mott and Robert Mithell, for Madnan's neck ;
Richard Mannering and William Langdon,
for Rockaway. — D., 318.
1713, April 7. — It was voted that no rams
shall run at liberty out of men's closes any
where in Hempstead bounds. If any one be
found anywhere in the streets, the plains or
woods, any person may, take them for their
own, after the , first Monday in August. —
D., 320.
1714, February 18.—" The Venerable Soci
ety" grant £10 to Mr. Thomas Gildersleeve, a
person of good life and conversation, and
sufficiently qualified to answer the wants of
Hempstead, as is attested under the hands of
the rector and inhabitants thereof, for teach
ing the poor with several others, to read,
write and cast-accounts, at under 20s. a head,
each. The vestry write that " Without the
bounty of ' the Venerable Society' our children
would have no education. Our people are
poor, and settled distantly from one another,
and can't board out their children." The
Society sent paper for the use of the school.
1714, April 4. — Chosen for supervisor, John
Tredwell ; for clerk, Thomas Gildersleeve ;
for constable and collector, Captain Joseph
Smith ; for assessors, John Jackson and Isaac
Smith ; for surveyors of highways and fence-
viewers, John Mott and Joseph Carle for the
town, Timothy Halstead and Charles Mott
for Cow Neck ; the others are continued. —
D., 320.
1714, May 3. — Voted that all the sheep run
ning on the plains shall have liberty to run
without molestation neither day nor night,
and if any are found to drive them to any
place to fold, or enclose them in any yard or
field above the time of two hours, he shall
forfeit 40s., current money, half to the
informer.— D., 323.
1714. — Ordered that next Monday, May
10th, is the day concluded on for to part our
sheep, for to wash and shear, at Isaac
Smith's, Herricks ; also, to part our sheep the

first Monday in October next, at same place. —
D., 324.
1714. — Mr. Lack or Lake, on Dongan's
farm, his ear-mark is a crop on the near ear
and two holes in the off ear, one above the
other. 1715, January 11. — Liberty was granted
Henry Allen to set up a grist mill on a creek
that Hubbs had one on formerly, near the
mouth of the creek, on the beach between
Allen's and Abel Smith's land. He is to
grind for the twelfth, and when he throws
up his mill it is to return to the town. —
D„ 337.
1715, February 17. — Mr. Thomas says,
" The Church is in a tolerably thriving con
dition, (how powerfully soever opposed by its
adversaries, dissenters of all denominations),
chiefly through the prayer books sent by
' the Venerable Society,' whose charity was
well answered in that benefaction, consisting
of two dozen prayer books, two dozen 'King's
Inventions of Men,' two dozen 'Dean of St.
Asaph's Faith aud Practice, of a Church of
England Man,' and one ' London Cases
abridged, complete.' "
1715, April 5. — John Tredwell chosen for
supervisor; Isaac Smith and John Jackson,
assessors ; Thomas Gildersleeve. clerk ; John
Tredwell, Jr., constable and collector; John
Mott, Richard Valentine and Isaac Smith,
fence-viewers and surveyors of highways.
Liberty was granted Mr. John Finch to set
up a fulling mill (for the use of the town and
other people also) on the stream where John
Mash formerly had one', with some land for
the convenience of his mill. And if he let
the mill go down and 'be out of repair, so
that they cannot full cloth well, in and for the
time of a year and a day, then it is to return
to the town again. If he should forfeit the
stream by default, he has liberty to take away
his improvements.* — D., 345.
1716, April 3. — John Tredwell is chosen
supervisor ; John Tredwell, Jr., pender, con
stable and collector ; Isaac Smith and John
Jackson, assessors ; Isaac Smith, Richard
Valentine, Sr., and John Mott, Sr., surveyors
of highways. Liberty was granted Solomon
Seaman and John Johnson, Jr., to set up a
grist mill on the stream that runs through
the town, about half a mile above the old mill
that was formerly Henry Linington's, on
* 1726, April 29.— The above grant is voted to be
Henry Seaman's, on the same terms.

68

condition it be set up within a year and a day,
and made fit to grind, for the twelfth part,
and make good meal for those that carry corn
to mill.— D., 340.
1716, April 13.— John Tredwell, Jr., Thomas
Langdon and Thomas Williams are chosen to
look after the land laid out for the use of the
inhabitants for firewood, timber and grassing,
that none trespass on it (as it was granted
April 2, 1688, and April 1, 1712) by survey
ing, fencing in and building thereon. —
D., 347.
1716, April 13. — Colonel Jackson, John
Mott and Thomas Gildersleeve were chosen
to make an order concerning our rams, that
we may not receive so much damage by their
running amongst the sheep all the summer. —
D., 347.
1716, July 21.— Mr. John Thomas* his
ear-mark is a crop on each ear. — D., 150.
1717, April 2.— Mr. John Tredwell, Jr.,
chosen supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve,
clerk ; Timothy Halsted, constable and col
lector ; Isaac Smith, Captain Thomas Tred
well and Martin Wiltse, surveyors of high
ways; Joseph Mott and Samuel Williams,
fence-viewers ; Isaac Smith and Richard
Townsend, assessors. — D., 350.
1718, March 10.— Voted that Colonel John
Jackson, William Willis, Timothy Halsted,
Captain John Tredwell and Theodorus Van
Wyck shall be trustees, to run, with all con
venient speed, the outlines and boundaries of
our town, and give account, once in every six
months, of what they have done therein. —
D., 353.
1718, April 1. — William Willis chosen su
pervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ; Timo
thy Halsted, constable and collector ; Cap
tain John Tredwell and James Seariug,
assessors ; Captain Thomas Tredwell, Isaac
Smith and Martin Wiltse, surveyors of high
ways ; Samuel Williams and Jeremiah Be
dell, fence-viewers ; Isaac Smith and John-
Foster chosen to make conditions with John
Langdon concerning a grist-mill on the Mill
river stream that runs near and on the east
side of his house. — D., 354.
1718, April 1. — The Mill river running by
his house is granted to John Langdon, to

* He received £50 salary and £17 in books, in 1704,
from the "Society for Propagating the Gospel in
Foreign Parts." Mr. Gildersleeve was appointed
catechist and schoolmaster, 1710, at a salary of £10 a
year.

build a grist mill on, and he to cut a ditch
for a water-lane through the town's meadow.
He to" grind the town's corn before others,
and for the eleventh part. He is not to let
the mill be out of good repair a twelve
month and a day, on the forfeit of said stream
— sickness always excepted, and no time pre
fixed for that.— D., 324.
1718, April 22. — We, owners of meadow on
a neck called Hungry Harbor, being met to
fence it according to every man's proportion,
to keep it from damage, beginning at Mill
river, as high as the white oak that Jeremy
Wood marked for his corner tree, thence to
run southerly to the Beaver dam, and thence
a straight line to the creek that parts John
and Joseph Mott's meadow, and we allow
Jeremy Wood to have two acres set out about
his house more than his proportion :
William Willis, John Mott, Samuel Williams,
Samuel Carman, David Bedell, Jeremiah Wood,
Joseph Bedell, Joseph Mott, Thomas Flewelling,
Thomas Williams, James Wood, Arthur Alburtis,
James Abitt, Thomas Gildersleeve. — D., 359.
1718, July 23. — Thomas Carman chosen as
sessor, in room of Captain John Tredwell.
It was voted that the sheep shall be let out to
the highest bidder, to be folded, till they are
parted at the fall of this year. Then John
Mott, Sr., came to the clerk and ordered him
to write his protest against the above-said
vote, and did protest against it, that they
should not keep and fold his sheep. — D., 358.
1719, April 7. — Timothy Halsted chosen
constable and collector ; Captain John Tred
well, supervisor; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk;
James Searing and Thomas Carman, assessors ;
John Mott, Isaac Smith and Martin Wiltse,
surveyors of highways ; Samuel Williams
and Jeremiah Bedell, fence-viewers. Colonel
John Jackson, John Mott and Isaac Smith
chosen to make orders concerning our rams,
when they shall be taken up, and when they
may go amongst the ewes, and what forfeit
shall be laid on any ram that doth trespass. —
D., 360.
1719, July 25. — Because of the evil proceed
ings of some persons in driving, molesting
and folding of our flock of sheep which ought
to feed on the Commons without molestation,
which is a great damage to the owners of
said flock, therefore we, the freeholders and
owners of said sheep, do order that our sheep
shall not be driven or folded anywhere, ex
cept for an hour, when some of the owners
have occasion to take some up for their use,

69

or to part with them, or to draw some for the
butcher, nor shall they be driven or inclosed
in the night time at all, but shall be in quiet
and at liberty on the Commons, unless they
be hired by some one appointed, by vote of
the owners, to hire or let them out. Isaac
Smith is appointed to sue these folders for
40s. damages each. — D., 325.
1720, February 17. — Mr. Thomas returns
" the Venerable Society thanks for the books,
which have had very good influence on many
of the most thinking, sober part of the
people." 1720, April 5. — Timothy Halsted chosen
constable and collector ; Captain John Tred
well, supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ;
James Searing and Thomas Carman, assess
ors ; John Mott, Isaac Smith and Martin
Wiltse, surveyors of highways ; Samuel
Williams and Jeremiah Bedell, fence- viewers.
— D., 321.
To John Rider, of Flushing, were given
about three-quarters of an acre of land joining-
near Matthew Gerritsen's bay, joining to
NicolPs line, which comes where Elias Baily
did formerly live, for to set up a smith's shop
on, and to do smith work for the neighbors
there adjoining as they do want it. Liberty
was given to Arthur Burtis to set up a fulling
mill on Rockaway river, in any plaee he shall
think convenient. Colonel Isaac Hicks, Cap
tain Thomas Tredwell and Isaac Smith were
chosen to take account of the town's money
in the trustee's hands. It must not be applied
to any use without the town's consent, nor
shall it be let to any other townsman till after
April 1, every year. — D., 322.
1720, May 12.— William Lake, of New York,
gardener, petitions the Governor for permis
sion to dispose of his house and lot at Hemp
stead by lottery.— Eng. MSS., lxii, 92.
1720, June 14. — Colonel John Jackson,
Colonel Isaac Hicks, John Carman, William
Willis and Benjamin Seaman are chosen to
take account of every man's proprietary right
that he hath or claimeth in the town. Re
turns to be made at the house of the widow
Jean Smith by the first day of August. —
D., 322.
1721.— Charles Peters, surgeon.— D., 397.
1721, April 4. — Captain John Tredwell cho
sen supervisor; Thomas fiildersloeve. elerk ;
Timothy Halsted. constable and eolleetor :
James Searing and Thomas Carman, assess
ors ; Isaac Smith, John Mott and Martin

Wiltse, surveyors of highways ; Jeremiah
Bedell and Samuel Williams, fence-viewers ;
Robert Mitchell, Joseph Thorn and Richard
Cornell of Cow neck, fencerviewers for Mad
nan's neck, Cow neck and Northside. Colonel
John Jackson, Colonel Isaac Hicks, Captain
John Tredwell and Thomas GiVdersleeve are
chosen trustees to run, with all convenient
speed, all the outlines and boundaries of the
town, according to patent, both east and west,
at the town's cost, to be taken out of the
town's bank of money. — D., 330.
1721, August 7. — David Bedell was chosen
constable and collector. — D., 330.
1722, April 3.— Justice John Tredwell cho
sen supervisor ;, Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ;
David Bedell, constable and collector ; Isaac
Smith and John Mott, Jr., assessors ; Isaac
Smith, John Mott, Sr., and Martin Wiltse,
surveyors of highways ; Samuel Williams
and Jeremy Bedell, fence-viewers for the town
and Southside ; for Madnan's neck and Cow
neck, Richard Cornell and Robert Mitchell ;
for the Northside, Peter Titus and James
Denton, Sr.— D„ 335.
1722, April 3.— By major vote a three-acre
lot that was granted for a school, at the rear
of Joseph Pettit, Sr., is now given to Justice
John Tredwell and his heirs. Thomas Gil
dersleeve, schoolmaster, protests against this
vote.— D., 335.
1722, April 17. — Samuel Carman, Benjamin
Seaman, Jr., Abel Smith, John Mott, Jr.,
Thomas Carman, John Cornwell and Richbell
Mott are chosen to assist William Willis in
finishing the instrument that taxes the asso
ciation in company with the patentees.
1722, June 28. — Joseph Thorn is appointed
captain of militia, in place of Thomas Tred
well.— Eng. MSS., Ixiv, 93.
1722, August 6. — John Jackson, Jr., was
chosen assessor. Liberty was given that the
sheep running on the great plains be let out
by Captain John Tredwell, every week, to
the highest bidder, till October 1 ; also, he is
to make a yard to part the sheep in with the
money that he gets, and also small particular
yards adjoining the great yard, to put them
in as shall be needful.
John Mott, Sr., doth protest against folding
the sheep.
1723, February 21. — Mr. Thomas, within
eighteen months, has baptized ut least one
hundred and sixty, many of whom adults.
He inculcates in the people a sense of the

70

benefit and privilege of the sacraments, and
finds them, in the main, convinced of the
wholesomeness and necessity of those ordi
nances. 1723, April 2. — Justice John Tredwell was
chosen supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve,
clerk ; DavicL. Bedell, constable and collect
or ; John Jackson and John Mott, assessors ;
John Mott and Isaac Smith, surveyors of
highways for the town, and Andries On
derdonk for Cow neck ; Samuel Williams
and Jeremiah Bedell, fence-viewers for the
town, and Robert Mitchell and Richard
Cornell for the Neck. John Baker was cho
sen for a whipper. Colonel John Jackson,
Colonel Hicks, Justice Van Wyck, William
Willis, John Mott, Sr., John Jackson, Jr.,
and Thomas Williams were chosen to run out
our boundaries according to our patent. Jus
tice Van Wyck and William Willis chosen
to adjust accounts with Justice Tredwell, as
concerning the folding of sheep and agreeing
about making yards for catching our sheep
in ; also, Thomas Langdon and John Mott to
take care to prevent all persons from folding
our sheep, day or night. — D., 339.
1723, April 19. — Voted that all our records
shall be copied out by Mr. John Cornell,
William Willis and Benjamin Seaman, and
Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk, to assist them.
They shall be satisfied for their labor out of
the public stock of our town's money.* —
D, 340.
1723, April 30.— Colonel Hicks, Justice
Tredwell, William Willis, Benjamin Seaman,
Captain Carman, John Mott and Abel Smith
were chosen to demand from every one who
has taken up land, by survey or chopping it
out himself, within the last twenty-one years.
Returns to be made on second Mondays in
:May and June, at Mordecai Lester's house, by
10 of the clock in the morning. Such as
refuse to make returns are to be sued. —
D., 340.
, 1723, August 12. — Colonel Isaac Hicks,
William Willis, Benjamin Seaman, Jr., and
James Jackson were chosen to draw a scheme
for regulating and dividing all our lands. —
D., 336.
1723, October 7. — At a town meeting held
in the meeting-house,' to choose men to divide

*1723, April 30.— Then it was considered, concerning
the vote made April 19, that it was in no wise profita
ble to the town in any manner, therefore by major
vote we have vacated and made it void.— D., 340.

the undivided lands, as there was but a very
small appearance of freeholders, Isaac Hicks
and John Tredwell require David Bedell, con
stable, tb take diligent care to give timely
warning and notice to every freeholder of a
meeting to be held on Monday next, at 10
o'clock in the forenoon, at the meeting-house,
in order to proceed to a division of the town
lands.— D., 353.
1723, October 14.— Whereas several persons
not having any right in our town, as well as
some who have a right, have taken upon
themselves to lay out large parcels of land,
without any regulations or orders from the
town, whereby others who have a just right
are hindered from their just dues, now we,
the freeholders, being willing that a division
shall be made, and justice done to each one
that hath any right, do appoint Colonel Isaac
Hicks, James Searing, James Jackson, Wil
liam Willis, Sr., Benjamin Seaman, Jr.,
Joshua Carman and Abel Smith, to divide our
lands as follows : — 1. To lay out their one
hundred, fifty, and twenty-two acres, to such
proprietors and blanks as have not had theirs.
2. Our South and North necks, home-bevels
and all former grants are to remaim as laid
out ; but all other undivided lands, or those
taken up without order from the town.^shall
be viewed and re-surveyed, and where any
one has taken up more than he has a right
to, the overplus shall be laid out to those
who have not had their right, in proportion
to what they paid to the patent ; or if any
one has taken up land he has no right to, it
shall be laid out to those who have not had
their right ; and, except the plains, all other
land in the township shall be equally divided
to each, according as he paid to the patent,
including the large tract laid out April 17,
1712, for town commons, lying between East
and West meadow, which has not answered
our expectations, toy reason that several per
sons make such havoc of the timber* —
D.,356.

* 1742, January 23.— Hicks, Searing, Carman and
Smith report as follows : We began the laying out,
which labor hath proved very tedious and intricate,
by reason of the multitude of conveyances, and hath
extended far beyond our expectation. Three of us
have been taken away by death. We have resumed
the work at intervals, and methodized it thus: 1st. In
pursuance to a vote of February 12, 1706, which stated
and settled fifty proprietors and fifty blanks, taking
their names from the most ancient and authentic, rec
ords, we have laid out to every proprietor a one hun
dred, a fifty, and a twenty-two acre lot j and where

71

Whereas at a general town meeting, April
2, 1723, Colonel John Jackson, Esq., Colonel
Isaac Hicks, Esq., John Jackson, Jr., John
Mott, Thomas Williams, William Willis and
Theodorus Van Wyck, or any three of them,
were chosen to run out side lines of the town ;
pursuant to this order, on December 23, 1723,
we, Isaac Hicks, John Jackson, Jr., William
Willis and Thomas Williams, by the assist
ance of William Moyles, deputy surveyor, and
Richard Searle, his assistant, after three days'
diligent labor, ran and completed a line from
a dead white oak tree, in a point at the east
end of the plains, (being Robert Williams'
southeast boundary,) unto a white oak near
the meadow-edge, on a neck of land called by
the Indians Maskachung, the course being
from said dead tree to the next station, or
white oak, at the South meadow, south seven
degrees thirty minutes west.
The same with Captain Jarvis Mudge,
James Cock and Samuel Underhill, chosen by
Oysterbay, November 2, 1723, did (December
2 and 3) perambulate and re-mark the old
trees, from the east side of Hempstead harbor
right over against the east end of the bar of
beach to a walnut tree at Cantiage point, and
remark the trees with a, splice down the
northwest and southeast side of the old
marked trees, and three chops on the south
west and northwest sides of said trees. —
D., 358.
1723, December 28. — Isaac Smith, John
Foster, Thomas Langdon and Thomas Gilder
sleeve were added to the trustees of Hemp
stead, to meet the trustees of Flushing and
Jamaica, to confer with them what lines shall
be run between the three towns. — D., 358.
1724, April 7. — Justice John Tredwell cho
sen supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ;
David Bedell, constable and collector ; John
Mott, Jr., and Samuel Williams, assessors ;
John Mott, Sr., Samuel Jackson and Andries
Onderdonk, surveyors of highways ; Samuel
Williams, Jeremiah Bedell, Robert Mitchell
and Richard Cornell of Cow neck, fence-
they had them not, we have laid them out to them ;
we have left the grants as they were. After the pro
prietors' blanks and grants were fulfilled, then we laid
out to those (or their heirs) who paid to the patent, ac
cording to what they paid, allowing for Is. paid 30s.
worth of laud. When several claimed the same right
in proprietary or patept right, and the matter proving
obscure, we recorded the right to the heirs of him who
had the original property, so that the lawful owners
may take such regular methods as to enjoy the same.
—Book op Land Suevkts.

viewers. Also voted that the time for looking
up our sheep for to shear is the second Mon
day in May. John Tredwell, Thomas Car
man and John Dorland chosen to prefix a
day for drawing off our sheep from the plains
in the fall of the year, they giving the owners
seven days' notice beforehand, at the least.
Voted that our sheep that run on the plains
may be folded this present summer. — D., 360.
We protest against the above-written vote,
and do allow that our sheep shall run on the
plains at liberty, without a shepherd or any
molestation by day or night.
Colonel John Jackson, Isaac Smith, John Mott, Sr.,
Mr. John Foster, Daniel Pine, John Mott, Jr.,
Thomas Lee.— D., 360.
1724, June 25.— Justice John Tredwell is
chosen by the sheep-owners to let out to the
highest bidder, once a week, all the sheep on
the plains, to be folded from sunset to sunrise,
this summer, till last of September. The
drivers not to drive them above half a mile
into the woods, and if they don't fetch 6s. a
week, they are to run at liberty. John Mott,
Sr,, Captain John Carman, Thomas Lee,
Thomas Langdon," James Pine, Charles Mott,
Benjamin Seaman, do protest against the
above vote. — D., 355.
1724, August 6. — Thomas and Walter Don
gan sell to George Clark, Secretary of the
Province, for £40, their 40s. patent right, and
proprietary right of commonage, &;c. — E., 307.
1725, March 5. — Ephraim Cheesman sees
cause to enter in the town book that he hath
erected himself a pound in his own cellar.
1725, July 81. — It is voted that the sheep
shall be folded until September 10, and Cap
tain John Tredwell is to let out the sheep
weekly; and receive the money, and take a
list of each man's sheep, and divide to each
person according to his sheep ; and if he shall
scruple the account of any one, he shall
oblige him to take his oath or affirmation to
the number of his sheep. John Mott, Cap
tain John Carman, William Pine, Nathaniel
Oakley, James Pine, Jr., Richard Durfey and
Thomas Lee protest against this vote. —
D., 366.
1726, April 5. — -Chosen for supervisor, Jus
tice Van Wyck ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ;
David Bedell, constable and collector ; Jacob
Smith and John Dorland, assessors ; John
Mott, Thomas Williams and Cornelius Van
Wyck, surveyors ; and Samuel Williams,
Jeremiah Bedell, Robert Mitchell, and Rich
ard Cornell of Cow neck, fence-viewers ; Jus-

72

tice Van Wyck, Mr. John Cornell, Isaac
Smith, Thomas Williams and Thomas Gilder
sleeve, trustees to act in behalf of the town,
according to the instructions they shall from
time to time receive of the town ; they shall
take care and find where our town patent is,
and lodge it and all instruments of writing
that doth belong to the town in the hands of
the clerk.— D., 368.
1726, April 29. — Given to Edward Spragg,
Jr., so much land in the South woods as to
make up his father's former grant to twenty
acres, lying some on the east side of the path
that goes to Hicks' neck and on the west side
at the half-way hollow, on condition that he
take care of his parents so long as they live,
that they don't come to be a town charge. —
D., 345.
1727, January 20. — Voted that the patent
rate in the hands of Justice John Tredwell
shall be entered in our town records, and
those names which are found in our records
as having paid to the patent shall be entered
along with the patent rate, and also all others
that have justly paid to the patent. Also,
that Mr. Clark had liberty to take up, upon
his own patent right, thirty acres of plain-
land, on the west end of the plains, lying on
the south side of the path that leads from
Jordan's to Stringham's, between Jordan's
and the- first deep hollow westward. Henry
Allen, Gershom Mott, Cornelius Van Wyck
and Thomas Williams protest- against the
above vote. — D., 373.
1727. — The Reverend Mr. Robert Jenney,
Rector of Hempstead,* his ear-mark is a crop
on the off ear and a slit in the end of the near
ear and a nick under it. Entered by me,
Thomas Gildersleeve, Clerk, March 27. —
D., 58.
1727, April 4.— Justice John Tredwell,
supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ;
David Bedell, constable aud collector ; Jacob
Smith and John Dorland, assessors ; Thomas
Williams, Jeremiah Bedell, Thomas Lang
don, John Ellison, surveyors ; Samuel Wil
liams, Joseph Bedell, fence-viewers. Justice
John Tredwell, Benjamin Hicks, John Elli
son, Jacob Smith, Thomas Williams, John
Mott, Jr., Thomas Gildersleeve, or any four
of them are chosen to take care forthwith to
procure a surveyor upon as reasonable tenris

* He pn-aehed every third Sunday at Oy*terbny,
where Mr. Kt-rbh- was catechisl ami *rhooliiui*tei-,
1731-7, at £10 a year.

as they can, for to run out our side bounda
ries—that is, our west line— according to pur
chase and patent, from the head of Mattagar-
its bay a due south line to the South sea, and
to take money out of our public stock to de
fray the charges thereof. — D., 374.
1727, May 8 and 9. — We, Justice John
Tredwell, Captain Benjamin Hicks, John
Allison, Jacob Smith, Thomas Williams, John
Mott, Jr., and Thomas Gildersleeve, did (pur
suant to vote) aid and assist Dr. Colden, Sur
veyor-General of the Province, in running of
our west line (which is our west, bounds ac
cording to our purchase and patent) which is
a direct line due south from the head of
Matthew Gerritsen's bay to the South sea,
beginning at a birch tree at said bay head,
running through Samuel Smith's barn, on
the south side of the Little plains, and through
Thomas Cornell's barn, on Rockaway, and so
to the sea, the same course as aforesaid. —
D., 373.
1728, May 6.— I certify that when I sur
veyed and laid out the gate rights on Cow
neck, I laid out a public highway from the
head of the neck to Peat's point. Samuel
Clowes.— D., 362.
1729, April 1. — Mr. John Cornell chosen.
supervisor ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk ; Da
vid Bedell, constable and collector ; Thomas
Carman and Captain Joseph Thorne, assess
ors ; Mordecai Lester, Robert Mitchell and
Peter Titus, surveyors ; Mr. Jeremiah Bedell
and Mr. John Tredwell, fence-viewers ; Mor
decai Lester and Jacob Smith, to inventory
deceased men's estates. May 19, voted that
the sheep shall run at large, and not be
folded.— D., 382.
1730, April 7.— Major John Cornell chosen
supervisor ; David Bedell, constable and col
lector ; Captain Joseph Thorne and Thomas
Langdon, assessors ; Peter Titus, Mordecai
Lester and Joseph Halsted, surveyors ; Lieu
tenant Jeremiah Bedell and Mr. John Tred
well, Jr., fence-viewers ; Mordecai Lester and
Jacob Smith, to inventory intestate estates.
Colonel John Tredwell had liberty to fence
in and stop Southard's lane. George Fowler
protests against this vote. Liberty was
granted Joseph Pierce, blacksmith, to set a
house and shop on the place that our old
sheep-pen was, and to have the land that the
old sheep-pen did contain, lie is obliged In
keep n smith's shop and do work for the
I town, aud when he doth let it go down so

73

that he doth not do smith's work, then the
land is to return to the town. Samuel Lang
don, cordwainer, had liberty to set up himself
tan fats on the same place that Robert Wil-
liams did set his tan fats on. — D., 387.
1730, July 21. — It was concluded that our
flock of sheep that runs on the Plains shall
be let out weekly, by Colonel John Tredwell,
to the highest bidder, from this day till Octo
ber 1, and he that hires them is obliged not
to drive the flock above half a mile into the
woods, and to let them out of the fold by the
sun half an hour high in the morning, and
bring them into the fold by sunset. Those
that don't wish theirs folded are desired to
come to him that hath hired the flock and
draw them out, 23d instant, for the flock will
be kept in the fold till 9 of the clock in the
morning. — D., 322.
Liberty was granted to Colonel John Tred
well, Mordecai Lester, Augustus Oldfield,
Joseph Hall, Jr., John Flewelling and Joseph
Thurston to fence in the lane between the
burying-place and Colonel John Tredwell's
lot, and Fossecar's lane at the east end, and
on the west end as far as Searing's corner.
Joseph Smith, Daniel Pine, Daniel Pearsall,
Isaac Jarmin, Gershom Smith, Richard Gil
dersleeve, Timothy Smith, Daniel son of
Widow Jean Smith, Hannah and Jean Smith
protest against stopping the lanes. — D., 322.
1732, April 4. — Jacob Smith chosen super
visor ; David Bedell, constable and collector;
Lieutenant Jeremiah Bedell and Lieutenant
John Tredwell, assessors ; John Pearsall, Cor
nelius Van Wyck and Isaac Jarmin, survey
ors ; Lieutenant Jeremiah Bedell and Lieu
tenant John Tredwell, fence-viewers ; Morde
cai Lester and Jacob Smith, to attest deceased
men's estates ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk.
To Benjamin Valentine was given all the
timber that was left about the school-house
and the house and lean-to. The brick left at
the school-house are allowed for the repair of
the parsonage chimney and house. The town
school lot was let to Colonel John Tredwell
for 27s. for this present year. — D,, 395-6.
1732, October 18. — It was voted and strongly
forbidden that any person should drive any
sheep or cattle to fold them anywhere, either
day or night. We also pray the assembly to
make an Act to establish this vote, and that
no horses, nor mares, nor horse kind should
run at liberty on the Plains. Peter Smith,
John Dorland, Thomas Williams, Silas 3 in th .

Ephraim Valentine, John and Samuel Dusen-
boro protest against the vote about sheep;
and Daniel Pine and Isaac German protest
against the vote about horses. — D., 393.
1734, April 2. — Jacob Smith chosen super
visor ; David Bedell, constable and collector ;
Thomas Williams and John Tredwell, Jr.,
assessors ; Thomas Williams, Isaac Jarmin
and Joseph Mott, Jr., surveyors ; Mordecai
Lester and Isaac Jarmin, prisers of intestate
estates ; Thomas Williams and Michael Smith,
fence-viewers ; Thomas Gildersleeve, clerk.
1734. — By appointment of the freeholders
of the township of Hempstead, at a general
town meeting held April 2d, we have' sur
veyed and laid out half an acre of land
whereon to set a church for divine service
according to the usage of the Church of Eng
land. The first bounds being fifteen feet west
from the old church or meeting-house, by the
side of Colonel John Tredwell's fence, and
thence westward along the side of said Tred
well's fence eighteeu rods, which comes to
the southwest corner of said Tredwell's lot,
and from thence southerly four rods, and from
thence eastwardly such a course as will make
it five rods wide at the east end, at the length
of eighteen rods. Performed April 8th, per
us, John Mott,
Thomas Gildersleeve, Clerk.
The above said survey was done by order
of John Tredwell, William and John Cornell,
and Jacob Smith, Esqs., and John Searing
and Richard Thorne, gentlemen. — D., 416.
1734, November 1. — At a town meeting the
majority voted to move the seats out of the
old church into the new. — D., 417.
CONSECRATION OP ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.
On Tuesday, April 22d, 1735, His Excel
lency our Governor (Cosby), with his lady and
family, attended by his son-in-law and lady,
Secretary Clark, Chief Justice Delancey, Rev.
Mr. Vesey, some of the clergy and » great
many of the principal merchants and gentle
men and ladies of the city of New York, set
out for Hempstead, to be present at the con
secration of the church lately erected there.
About six miles west of Jamaica, he was met
by the troops of horse, who escorted him to
Jamaica, where a handsome dinner was pro
vided for all the company. In the afternoon
he proceeded to Hempstead, escorted as before,
where he arrived in the evening, and was en
tertained in a very handsome manner by the
Rev. Robert Jenney, minister of that place.

74

The next day, being St. George's day, the
regiment of militia and troop being drawn up
on either side from Mr. Jenney's house to the
church, His Excellency, attended by the most
considerable gentlemen of the county, walked
to the church, where a very excellent sermon
was preached on the occasion before a most
crowded audience, by the Rev. Mr. Jenney,
from Psalms Ixxxiv, 1, 2: "How amiable are
thy tabernacles," &c. After divine service,
His Excellency reviewed the regiment of
militia and troops standing under arms, and
expressed a particular satisfaction on the ap
pearance both of the officers and men. His
Excellency was afterwards entertained in a
splendid manner by Colonel Tredwell, com
mander of the regiment, and in the evening
by Colonel Cornwell, at Rockaway, in the
same manner. The next day he returned,
and arrived in town in good health, pleased
with the reception he everywhere met with
from all ranks, with the extraordinary con
course of people from all parts on the occa
sion, and with the handsome appearance of
the militia, both horse and foot.* — Brad
ford's New York Gazette. '
1735, June 27. — Petitioners for a charter of
St. George's Church, Hempstead. — Col. MSS.,
Ixx., 131.

William Langdon,
Robert Marvin,
Jacamiah Mitchell,
Joseph Mott,
Charles Peters,
James Pine, Sr., ,
John Roe,
Peter Smith, Jr.,
Timothy Smith,
Peter Smith,
Jacob Smith,
Joseph Smith,
Titus Smith,
Robert Sutton,
Joseph Thorn,
Thomas Williams.

Rev. Robert Jenney,
George Balden,
Gerhardus Clowes,
William Cornell, Jr.,
Thomas Cornell, Jr.,
John Cornell,
John Cornell,
Richard Cornell, Jr.,
William Cornell,
Isaac Germon,
Thomas Gildersleeve,
George Gildersleeve,
Daniel Hewlett,
James Hugins,
Joseph Langdon,
Thomas Lee,
1736, April 6th. — Samuel Skidmore re
quested of the freeholders to grant him the
stream formerly granted to William Smith,
which his mill now stands on. Granted, pro-
* A generous collection was made on this occasion.
The Governor gave the church the King's arms, painted
and gilded; Secretary Clarke, a crimson damask set of
furniture for the communion, pulpit and desk ; and
John Marsh, a silver basin for baptism ; and to crown
all, the Governor subsequently presented His Majesty's
Royal Charter of Incorporation by the name of the
" Rector and Inhabitants of the parish of Hempstead,
in communion of the Church of England as by law
established." Rev. Mr. Vesey and his people had
already contributed about £50. The church was fifty
feet long and thirty-six wide, with a steeple fourteen
feet square. George Clarke, some time acting Gov
ernor, lived at Hyde Park, which he sold to Josiah
Martin, September 27th, 1738.

vided he doth keep a good mill, and- in good.
repair, and grind all sorts of grain for the-
eleventh part, and for our town before others,
— D., 402.
1736, October 11.— Our sheep-pens shall he
made on the east side of the run, between John
Hall's, Thomas Lee's, John Dusenbury 's and
Richard Seaman's, and said run. — E., 5.
1737, April 5. — A town meeting is warned
to be held at the town-house or old church, on
the first Monday in October, to empower the
trustees to inspect into the arrearages, sur
plusage and moneys due the town by persons
who have bonds, sheep-money, proprietors' or
any other town's money. — E-, 40.
1737, April 5. — It is voted by the majority
that Mr. Robert Jenney, Rector, shall have
the privilege to use and enclose the school-
house lot that joins to his, until the town
shall have occasion of it for a school or school
master, and then he shall have liberty to take
off his fence, if it shall be judged that he hath
not had benefit to the value of his fence.*
Also, John Thurston shall have our old sheep.
pens that stand the south side of Colonel
Tredwell's land.— E., 40.
1737, August 26. — At a. meeting at John
Lester's, Justices John Tredwell, Andreas Onr
derdonk, Joseph and Richard Thorne ; vestry,
Joseph Smith and John Dorland, ordered that
Thomas Jecocks shall be under, the care of
Dr. Peters ; and they have agreed with his
mother to keep and look after him for £8 a
year, being all the cost and charge except the
doctor's. 1738, April 25.— Voted that Jonathan Row
land and John Dorland take the sheep left in
the pens after drawing on the appointed day,
and keep them till next spring, and take their
coats for their wintering, and mark the lambs
by their mother's mark, and turn them into
the general sheep-pasture. All coarse-wooled
rams are to be altered if found running in
the flock. The sheep are not to be folded this
year.— E., 41.
1740, April 1.— Ordered that the burial
ground lot be fenced and taken care of out of
the town's money. — E., 42.
1741, January 27.— To Edmund Mott £5
were paid for supporting Samuel Shelly when
bit by Samuel Sands' dog, and lay under the
doctor's hands. Sands promised to pay the
doctor's bill of £9.

* Samuel Dusenbury protests against this grant to
Jenney.

75

1741, April .7.7— Liberty is granted John
Carpenter to set a fulling mill on the stream
nigh his house, not doing the highway any
damage with his pond, and when the mill
goes down, the stream is to remain the town's
again. — E., 43.
1741, April 23. — John Cornell aud Jacob
Smith are appointed to go down to New York
and pay the quit rent of our general patent,
that is behind, and agree for the charges ac
crued by neglect, and they are to be repaid
with interest at six per cent. — E., 43.
1742, April 6. — Liberty is given Thomas
Frost and Nathaniel Oakley to set a grist mill
on Merock river, on condition of taking the
eleventh part. If they let the mill go down,
the privilege is to return to the town. An
account of the town's money that is in bank :
One bond, in Samuel Clowes' hands, £168.8.4.
— E., 45.
1742, December 27. — At a town meeting, by
major vote, Jeremiah Bedell, John Hall and
John Dorland were appointed to take care
and charge of our old church or town-house,
to secure it from any further damage, and to
prosecute those who have pulled and carried
away a great part of it. — E., 46.
1744, April 3. — Bonds of the town's money
in trustees' hands amounted to £232.3.1.
— E., 47.
1744-5, January 11. — The vestry allow Jus
tice Onderdonk £5, for the relief of Widow
Wilson, if she hath occasion of it.
1745, April 22. — A committee was appointed
to consult and conclude of some measures
concerning our plains, either to have a divi
sion or fencing from other towns, or some
measures, such as taking up, fencing and im
proving the same, that they may be of more
profit to the owners than heretofore.
The committee recommend : 1 . That the
neighboring towns join and settle the limits.
2. Highways be laid out and preserved
across the plains.
3. That former grants be deducted, and the
remainder be measured and bulked, and a
computation of the quantity be made, and
then 4. A fair and j ust division thereof be made
to every patent right. — E., 48.
1745, September 30.— Daniel Denton, pris
oner of war in Havana. — Eng. MSS., lxxv.,
55, 68.
1746, January 24. — A large stone was
brought and fixed at Cantiague point, as a

monument or bounder between Hempstead
and Oysterbay. £1.16 allowed and paid out
of the public stock to Jacob Smith and Benr
jamin Lester, for settling the line on the
plains with Oysterbay.— JE., 48, 129.
1746, July 30.— Captain Peter Wraxall cer
tifies to the services of Lieutenant John Tred
well and Ensign Benjamin Lewis, in his
company. The muster-roll may be seen in
Eng. MSS., lxxv., 79.
1747, April 7. — Joseph Mott is chosen to
prevent persons (who have no right) from
building on or fencing in the plains. — E., 13Q.
1748. — A fulling mill formerly stood on
Oliver Baxter's land, Cow bay.
1748, April 5.— It is voted that Richard
Valentine and John Willis may lake up, on
their own right, an acre for a burying place,
adjoining the south side of the meeting-house
at Westbury.— E., 130.
1748, July 19. — Whereas mowing the grass
on the plains so early as has usually been
done of late years is a great1 damage to the
owners thereof, it not having come to full
growth ; if any mow before August 20,, he
shall pay a fine of 40s. Nine persons protest
against this vote. — E., 131.
1748, August 1. — Letitia, widow of John
Cornell, of Rockaway, knowing it to be the
will of her husband to free his eight slaves,
gratifies her own desire also in liberating
James and Isabel, with their children, and
giving them the additional name of Cornell,
in consideration of a competent sum of money
after her decease* — Q. Co. Rec, D., 195.
1749, April 4.— Voted that there be a public
pound erected at Success, and James Smith
be pounder, who is to make a pound at his
own cost. — E., 131.
1749. — Joseph Thorne and Joseph Kissam,
j ustices, order the constable to warn the pro
prietors and commoners to meet at 10, A. M.,
December 4, at Aaron Place's, in order to come
to some resolutions respecting the severalty
of the lands, by fixing up at least five adver
tisements in the most noted and different
parts of the town. One proposition was to
revise the work of the seven men, and the
other to divide the town lands without refer
ence to their work. Nothing was agreed on.
— E., 146-8.
* In Queens County Court (1755, September 18)
Letitia Cornell's bond for £400 for the manumission
of two slaves is read and filed, pursuant to act of
Assembly. [The bond was to keep the town free of
charges in case the negroes should become paupers.]

76

1750, April 3. — Liberty was granted John
Dingee to fence in the Great pond and the
land about it, at Westbury, lying before
Maurice Simonson's door, except the high
way, on condition that he leave open the pond
north of his barn for a town watering-place.
— E., 156.
1751, April 8. — In order to divide our town
lands and settle our town in peace and quiet
ness, that every man may have his just right,
it is voted that three men shall be chosen to
allow every proprietor one hundred, fifty-two
and twenty acres, and likewise that number
to every blank, and the inhabitants be allowed
fifty acres ; and that all former grants and
the North and South necks remain as they
were laid out ; and then that all the rest of
our lands be divided to every man according
to what he paid towards procuring the pat
ent, and the same be entered in a book.
— E., 174.
1751, August 7. — John Townsend sells to
Rev. Robert Davidson, for £700, one hundred
acres, north side the plains, partly bounded
by Ephraim Cheseman's and Robert Marvin's
land. Josiah Martin, Adam Lawrence and
David Allgeo are witnesses to the deed.
— E„ 190. .
1752, March 30. — By major vote the tenants
in common agree that the plains be divided
to every person that hath a right thereto ac
cording to his right in the patent, after de
ducting former divisions, grants, hollows and
highways, and that a committee of six adjust
men's rights as they are made to appear.
1752, May 18.— Voted that John Williams
and Richard Ellison shall carry a large stone
and fix a bounder at the northeast corner of
Hempstead plains, adjoining Bethpage pur
chase, for which service the trustees are or
dered to pay them, — E., 200.
1752, May 18. — It was voted that the trus
tees pay Richard Ellison, Jr., £4.16 ; John
Williams, £4.13 ; Jacob Smith, £5.2 ; for their
services in bulking the plains ; to Samuel
Willis, 10s., and Isaac Smith, £6.6, for their
services as surveyors of Baid plains ; to V.
H. Peters, 20s., for searching the records and
copies taken out. — E., 198.
1753, April 18.— The Rev. Samuel Seabury
began his school. He, as well as his son
Samuel practiced medicine, also.* His
* Samuel Seabury practiced medicine from May,
1753, to May, 1759. Samuel Seabury, Jr., practiced
from January, 1750, to June, 1753. June 7, 1754, Sam
uel Seabury, Jr., went to New Brunswick to reside.

charges were : For bleeding, tooth-drawing,
a potion powder for diarrhoea, an emetic,
styptic, sudorific, cathartic, blister plaster; Is.
each ; a visit, 2s.; visit in thet night, 4s.; one
visit and drawing a will, 3s.; electuary, 5s.;
jalap, 2s.
Among his scholars were :
1759, Philip Allen's son, Philip.
1754, Justice Simon Cooper's son, of Oysterbay.
1760, James Crommeline, son of Charles.
1754. Henry and Telamon Cruger.
1759, Thomas Frost.
1757, Dr. William Farquhar's son, James, of New
York. 1756, Daniel, Robert and John Grenel.
1756, Philip Hicks ; and 1763, John, son of Benjamin
Hicks. 1754, David Jones.
1756, Arthur, son of Benjamin Jarvis, of New York.
1761, Joseph Kissam, son of Samuel.
Gilbert Lester.
1754, William, son of Dr. Lawrence, of Mosquito
Cove. 1754, Jacob, son of Rev. J. M. Magens, a Lutheran,
of Flushing.
1757, Henry Montre'sor.
1763, Benjamin, son of Hendrick Onderdonk. He
died a doctor. 1772, at Eustatia.
1761, James Peters.
1755, James Rockwell.
1754, Micai and Jotham Townsend.
Epenetus Townsend, son of Captain Micajah.
He became a clergyman, and was lost (1779) on a
voyage to Nova Scotia.
1761, Thomas Truxton, afterward the Commodore.
1756, John Taylor.
1761,. Daniel Wiggins.
1754,' Isaac Wilkins, from Jamaica, West Indies. He
became a tory clergyman.
1754, Charles, son of Jacob Valentine, of Oysterbay.
Rev. Mr. Seabury died of a nervous dis
order and an imposthume in his side, June
15, 1764, aged 58, a gentleman of amiable,
exemplary character, greatly and generally
beloved and lamented. — New York Postboy.
We take the liberty of selecting some of
Mr. Seabury's receipts and expenditures from
his account book, as illustrating the olden
times : £ s. d.
1753, July 29, Cash received at the Communion, 10 9
" " St. George's Church, Dr. to two
quarts wine, 6s.; bread, Id.; 6 1
1754, Paid for 6 pewter plates, h% fi>s., at 2s. 2d.
per fl>.; 6 pewter spoons, at 6d. each ; 14 11
" for one dozen knives and forks, 6 6
1755, " an Indian, for a puppy, 3
1756, Charles Lisk, for a sword. Dr., 10
1757, May 3, Paid David Bedell, for Captain
Smith, towards raising soldiers, /12
Paid for a gun, 2 10
1758, April, PaidT Captain Smith, a donation, 8
1759, Feb. 23, " Joseph Beadle, for a saddle, 6
May 1, John Totten, Dr. for three years'
rent of Parsonage, at £9 per year, 27
1763, November 2, Paid Morris Simonson, for
cider, 3 10
Paid Dr. Tredwell, for spoons, 4 7 8
Bought a hat of Samuel Clowes, 2 8
Paid Mr. Simpson, for a wig, 2 16
" for the brown horse, 13 10
" Thomas Youngs, for cider, 2 3
1764, " for three barrels of cider, 18
" forahorse.£6.10;anotherhorse,£7; 18 10
Received cash from Constable of Oyster
bay, (Minister's rate), 11 13 4
June 19, Paid Richard Townsend, for
wine for the burying [of Mr. Sea
bury], , 8 Jo '
dir

Paid for digging the grave,

6

77

£ s. d.
1764, July 80, Paid for proving the will, to Mr.
Braine, 10
August 30, Paid Mr. V. H. Peters, for
five gallons of rum for the vendue, 1
1765, Paid Henry Gildersleeve, for a chair, 17 4
" for two squirrels, for David, 6
1766, " for hire of a horse and chair to York, 8
In 1755, he was the owner of two slaves,
male and female.
In June, 1763, he drew a £500 pound prize
in the lottery, for which he thanked God,
" the giver of all good gifts."
In 1764, he received, as marriage fees, from
John Foster, Abraham Baldin, Jordan Sea
man, James Clement, James Losee and Rich
ard Weeks, 8s. each, aud from Richard Smith,
24s. Israel Horsfield paid him 20s., for bap
tizing his child.
In 1767, Lieutenant Harry Munroe, Archi
bald Campbell and Colonel Martin's son
(among others) boarded with his widow, who
lived in a house built by contributions from
the parishioners.
1753, September 1. — Benjamin Lester and
Timothy Clowes are appointed a committee
to fee a lawyer for advice and direction how
to prevent the destruction and havoc made of
clams, by inhabitants and others, by raking
great quantities and breaking them for to get
the shells to make merchandize withal,
which if suffered will prove of bad conse
quence, especially to the poorer sort, who
daily receive great benefit and sustenance
from said fishing. October- 13, it is voted
that the free liberty and right privilege of
the piscary and fishing of clams be granted
to James Pine, Leffert Hagewout, Colman
Combs and Abraham Bond, as assignees and
feoffees in trust for the benefit of the town ;
and they are to agree with and assign a cer
tain place to those residents who for their
own covetous humors continue to destroy
clams as aforesaid, and if they will not desist,
then to bring them to an apportionment by
law or equity ; and strangers and idle per
sons who have no right, for each offence shall
pay 20s. fine. The trustees, after paying
themselves, to deliver the overplus to the
church-wardens. — E,, 218.
1754, April. — It being put to vote that men
be appointed to carry copies of our town
records, with such town votes as have from
time to time been passed with respect to set
tling the town lands, to two lawyers, for their
opinion thereon, and inquire in what way it
is necessary to proceed further, and empower

the trustees to pay the fees. This proposition
was rejected. — E., 232.
1755, January 7. — Voted that the parting
of sheep should continue at the pens in the
town-spot, rather than at or nigh Henry
Townsend's on the great plains. April 1, it
is voted to fence off the plains from the adja
cent towns with chestnut rails, and to hang
gates on the roads.* — E., 236-8.
1755, April 24. — Samuel Totten, carpenter,
of Fishkills, sells his grandfather Peter's 3s.
patent right to the plains, woods, marshes,
beach or any commons, to John Smith Rock,
for £4.4.— E., 273.
April, 1755. — A list of the owners of Indian,
negro and mulatto slaves over fourteen years
old, as far as brought in to Captains George
Everitt, Benj amin and John Birdsall :

Allgeo, David
Bedell, Jeremiah
Birdsall, Joshua
Bond, Abraham
Brown, Captain
Carman, John
Carman, Thomas
Carman, Benjamin
Combs, John
Cornell, John
Cornell, John
Cornell, Richard
Cornell, William
Cornell, Thomas, Esq.
Davidson, Alexander,
Dorland, Elias
Dorland. Elias, Jr.
Dorland, Elias, 3d
Downing, Benjamin
Dusenbury, Benjamin
Fish, Ambrose
Foster, John
Gritman, John
Hall, John
Haugewout, Leffert
Hendrickson, Thomas
Hendrickson, Hendrick
Hewlett, George
Hewlett, Daniel, Jr.
Hewlett, Daniel
Hewlett, Benjamin
Hicks, Phebe
Hicks, Thomas

Peters, V. H.
Pettit, Joseph, Jr.
Pine, Daniel
Pine, James
Piatt, Epenetus
Piatt, Uriah
Rowland, John
Rowland, Samuel,
Ryerson, Cornelius
Rycrson, George
Skidmore, Joseph
Seabury, Rev. Mr.
Seaman, Antony
Seaman, Jacob, Esq.
Seaman, James
Seaman, Sarah
Seaman, Solomon
Seaman, Thomas
Seaman, Thomas, Jr.
Searing, Daniel
Searing, Jacob
Searing, John
Searing, Samuel
Southard, Richard
Smith, Benjamin
Smith, Cornell
Smith, Daniel
Smith, Daniel, Jr.
Smith, Isaac
Smith, Jacob
Smith, James
Smith, James
Smith, John

* 1757, January 28. — At Timothy Clowes', it was put
to vote whether the town's money should be applied
to fencing off the plains, when sundry persons drew
off against so applying it, and debates arising there
upon, and a poll being required for deciding the vote,
it was objected against, as the day was far spent and
many people might be gone home, the most active
persons in the dispute consented to adjourn. April
19, the vote was confirmed, seventy-two protesting
against it.— E., 249, 236.
1763, April.— Voted that the fencing stuff purchased
to fence the plains off from the adjacent towns be
sold, and the late trustees to be called to account for
their purchases and what money they have received,
and whosoever has taken stuff and refuses to deliver
it shall be prosecuted, also those who have been paid
for stuff not yet delivered. — F., 1.
1764, April. — The persons appointed to sell the
fencing stuff reported that they had sold to the amount
of £151.6.3, clear of all charges.-*., 9.

78

Hicks, Jacob, Esq.
Hicks, John
Jackson, John
Jackson, Richard
Jackson, Samuel
Lawrence, Jacobus
Lester, Benjamin
Lewis, Benjamin
Lines, William
Linington, Widow
Lucas, Elderd
Martin, Josiah
Marvin, Robert
Montonye, John
Mott, Henry
Mott, James
Mott, Patrick
Mott, Phebe
Peters, Charles
Peters, John

Smith, Benj.,Jas.& Rich.4
Smith, John
Smith, James, Jr.
Smith, Daniel

Smith, Timothy
Titus, Elizabeth
Titus, Mary
Titus, Peter
Titus, Stephen
Titus, Richard
Titus, William
Townsend, John
Townsend, Richard
Tredwell, Thomas
Valentine, Ephraim
Valentine, Jacob
Valentine, Jonah
Williams, John
Williams, Richard
Willis, Samuel

1755, May 12. — Samuel Seabury, clerk, sells
to Samuel Pearsall, wagonwright, for £28,
seven acres lying in the west end of the town-
spot, in the west ox-pasture, bounded east by
Richard Rhoades, Samuel Williams and Sam
uel Langdon, south by the highway, west by
Dr. Charles Peters, and north by the road
leading out to Jamaica. — E., 300.
1755, July 8.— Mr. Thomas Clark began
school. 1755, December 20. — Highways were laid
out to and around sundry ponds, wet holes
and watering places which continue for most
of the year on the plains, to prevent their
being fenced in, for the advantage of crea
tures set at large on the commons. So also
to the clay pits, the windmill* pond, and a
watering place at Herricks. — E., 247.
1756, March 24. — There was a hospital in
Hempstead. 1756, November 19. — Whereas I, Benjamin
Tredwell, Jr., of Great neck, am bound on a
privateering voyage against the French, as
surgeon on board the ship Hercules, Captain
Samuel Bayard, I make my father, Benjamin,
my attorney to receive the prize-money that
may become due me by reason of said cruise.
— E., 258.
1757. — To John Toffey was granted a site
for a fulling-mill on Great neck.
1758, January 17. — Paid Aaron Place, for
wood for the guard, £1.10.
1759, April 26.— £1,013, bounty and enlist
ing money for sixty-four volunteers, was paid
Captain Richard Hewlett. The muster-roll
may be seen in Eng. MSS., lxxxvii, 16.
1759, November 7. — " I, Robert Davidson,
late of Antigua, clerk, and now of London,
appoint my brother, Alexander Davidson, of
Long Island, my attorney to sell my build-
* Secretary Clarke built a windmill at the pond near
the present Hyde Park station.

ings and estate at Herricks." He sells it
March 19, 1761, to Aaron Place, of Hunting.
ton, for £850, 140 acres— E., 289.
1760, There was a hospital in Hempstead
for small-pox patients.
1761, April 18.— Aaron Albertus sells his
house, land and grist mill, at Near Rockaway,
near Isaac Denton's and Richard Hewlett's,
to Isaac Bloom, miller, for £1,002.— F., 4.
1761, August 31. — At a town meeting, at
Timothy Clowes' inn, in the town-spot, it is
voted that no person shall cut grass or sedge
on the marshes until September 1, except
such small quantities of long sedge as people
usually cut in the summer season to salt their
cattle, 20s. fine for each offence. Complaint
is made that those who go to the marsh to
get hay to winter their cattle find difficulty
in curing it, by reason of the ancient public
landing places being fenced in ; and the
fencing of the plains is not likely to be ac
complished, and the fencing stuff purchased
for that use is in a likely way to be lost.
— E., 297.
1763, April 5. — Samuel Clowes, John Dor
land, Leffert Hagewout, Richard Hewlett,
John Jackson, Daniel Kissam, Robert Marvin,
Jacob Mott, Epenetus Piatt, Isaac Smith and
John Townsend petition the town to grant
St. George's church such a parcel of ground
joining on the east side of the church-yard,
so as that the burying ground may be en
larged as much as the town shall see fit,
(since the east end of the burying ground is
filled with graves, and the west end, which is
now enclosed, is necessary to lay open for the
congregation to tie their horses on), as many
families have, of late, begun to bury their
dead in said church-yard. It was voted by a
majority that the land on the east side of the
church-yard, on the south side of the lot of
Jeremiah Bedell, Jr., be set, apart for a public
burying place, to extend as far east as Tot-
ten's lane, and southerly on the road. — F., 1.
1763, April. — Whereas turkeys and geese
frequently destroy grain, pasture and other
things, the person so damaged may detain
them in a close place for two days, giving
notice to the owners, and if they refuse to
pay damages he shall sell them at vendue,
giving three days' notice by two advertise
ments fixed in the neighborhood. — E., 2.
1765, April 2.— Voted that no fish be catched
with a seine between May 25th and Septem
ber 15th, under penalty of 20s. for each

79

haul, to go to the church-wardens. Coleman
Combs, Benjamin Eldert, James Verity, Adam
Carman, Carman Dorlon, Stephen Carman,
Cornelius Miller, William Stites, Edward
Verity, Solomon Doxey, William Gritman,
James Verity, Jr., Henry Abrams, Robert
Gigory, Joseph Southard, Elijah Spragg,
Cornelius Van Nostrand and Gershom Smith
protest.— F., 18.
1765, June 17. — Whereas many persons for
years past, in order to engross to themselves
the sedge growing on the most handy marshes,
as soon as the time comes for mowing, go on
with such a number of hands as to cut down
such large parcels as can't be got off under sev
eral days, and is liable to be carried off by the
tide, and so make a scarcity, and do great in
justice to others who are thus obliged to get
most of their hay from distant marshes ;
it is voted that if any one shall cut down
more sedge before September 20th, on the
south marshes, than he shall bring off
with him the same day, he shall forfeit 20s.
for each offence, unless prevented by stress of
weather or accident, or where a poor person
has no craft of his own and shall cut small
parcels to lie till he can get craft to bring it
off— F., 21.
1766, June 4. — Whereas a marriage is in
tended shortly to be solemnized between John
Cornell, farmer, of Hempstead, (whose son
John, a butcher, lives in Brooklyn), and
Patience Oakley, widow, of Huntington, it is
agreed that she shall have £50 only out of
his estate, in lieu of dower and thirds, if she
survive him. — F., 96.
1766, December 1. — To prevent people from
driving sheep from off the plains into private
yards, in many parts of the town, from day to
day, for some time before the day fixed for a
general parting, in order to pick out their own
sheep, whereby they are so scattered that it is
with difficulty they are collected again, which
is thought to be the reason so many sheep
are yearly missing, a fine of 20s. is ordered
The parting of sheep shall be on the first
Monday in November, at the public yards in
the town-spot. Benjamin Cheeseman, Benja
min Gildersleeve, Carman Rushmore, Isaac
Hendrickson, Joseph Hall, Justice Jackson,
Peter Titus, Silvanus Bedell and Timothy
Clowes are to sell stray sheep, unclaimed at
partings — F., 51.
1767, April. — The town vote to stop the
lane on the east side of the burying ground,

and to set over the land in said lane as an ad
dition to the burying ground, and the trus
tees are to stop up said lane, and fence in the
burying ground, and hire out the pasture
there the ensuing" year. This was confirmed
by the commissioners of highways in 1769. —
F., 44, 82.
1768, April 2. — Joseph Youngs sells a full
ing mill on west side of Great neck to James
Smith, for £140.— F., 59.
1769, April 15.— The lane that formerly led
from the house where Daniel Wait Smith
formerly lived to the old Presbyterian meet
ing house (which has been enclosed many
years by Samuel Clowes and V. H. Peters) is
now allowed to remain closed. — F., 81.
1771, February 4.— Voted that Samuel
Clowes, Esq., Joseph Pettit, Adrian Onder
donk and Richard Townsend, Jr., be a com
mittee to erect convenient buildings in such
place as they j udge most suitable, to accom
modate such persons as may become charge
able to the town. Also (1772) that they buy
fencing stuff and fence in as much of the
common land adjoining the poor house as
they think necessary, that lies east of the
highway that leads by Jeremiah Bedell, Jr.'s
land, so to run east over the brook and to ex
tend north so as not to incommode the sheep
pens nor highways that are necessary; or may
buy land, which said land is to be and remain
annexed to the poor house. Also (1773) that
they erect, nigh the poor house, a building as
a place of confinement ; and that Richard
Ellison assist Samuel and Richard Jack
son in fixing a stone at Half neck, where
the tree formerly stood that is our town's
east boundary. Patrick Mott and David
Batty appointed to inspect the accounts
(£228.18.3) for building the poor house, &c—
F., 101, 112, 122.
1774, January 11. — The vestry allowed to
the old schoolmistress 40s., to be dealt out to
her a little at a time, so as to last her all win
ter. Paid Timothy Clowes (January 17, 1775)
for her coffin, 12s.; to Widow Thurston, for
her grave, 6s.
1774, January 11. — Peter Van Dewater*
was paid 6s. for making a coffin, by the vestry
of Hempstead.
1774, April 13. — Amos Smith sells to George
and Stephen Hewlett a dwelling, with a grist

* 1836, May 6.— Ear-mark of Peter Van Dewater, son
of Lott Van Dewater, of North Hempstead, is a latch
under the off ear and a slit in the end of the near ear.

80

and saw mill, at South, near where Benjamin
Rainer lives.
1778, January 13 — The vestry paid Samuel
Smith £1.10.6, for sundries for Peter Clock's
burial ; and £22 to George Balding, for
taking Jacob Clock to be bound to him ; also
paid John Smith Rous £3.17, for supplying
Daniel McLean's necessities.
1779, January 12.— Joseph Haight died of
small-ppx. The vestry paid Micajah Mott
£42.16 for supporting him, and his family
after his death, (including Captain Wright's
bill); and 6s. was paid John Gildersleeve, for
digging his grave, and 20s. to Thomas
Flower, for his coffin ; £2.13 was paid Joseph
Birdsall and Captain Samuel Seaman, for
supporting Thomas Pigeon's wife ; £1 was
paid Benjamin Fish, for sundries to Stock-
fort's wife ; £3 was paid Richard Smith, of
Herrick's, for making a pound ; 8s. was paid
to Widow Thurston, for going to a wench in
the poor house.
1779, April. — Liberty was granted James
Sealy and Abraham Benee to build a saw or
grist mill upon the stream of water nigh the
late dwelling of Daniel Pine, deceased. —
F., 202.
1780, January 18. — The vestry paid Richard
Sprag £4.13.8, on account of Isaac Brush, who
died at the Widow Samuel Place's ; £2.19.10
Was paid Isaac Denton, for burying a school
master ; £3 was paid Justice Van Wyck, for
burying Widow Underwood ; £1.15 was paid
Benjamin Dorlon, for wood and for plowing
at the poor house ; £31.4 was paid Daniel
Hewlett, for his boarding Thomas Evans ;
16s. was paid Antony Van Nostrand, of
Wolver Hollow, for Granny Rinehart's fees
as midwife.
1781, April 3. — Stephen Carman sells his
grandfather John's 2s. patent right to George
McKein, for £6.— F., 227.
1782, January 15. — The vestry paid
£18.16 to Samuel Shaw, on account of
James Makeless; and 8s. to William Still-
well, for services of his wife as granny to a
woman. 1782, January 15. — To Nehemiah Sammis,
Benjamin Lawrence and George Clerk were
paid £18, for entertaining sundry shipwrecked
mariners of His Majesty's ship, the Swallow;
£3.4 were paid to Increase Pettit, for enter
taining three men belonging to a privateer.
Ordered that Joseph Thorne, collector, pay
up the arrears of taxes, on failure of which

the church-wardens are to complain to the
Police* 1782, July 6.— Charles Titus is chosen col
lector, in room and stead of Joseph Thorne,
who neglected giving security, as ordered at
the town meeting. — F., 262.
Church-wardens and vestrymen of St.
George's Church, Hempstead, 1703-83 :
Pettit, Joseph 1766-75
Pine, James 1742
Pine, John 1703
Pine, William 1709-17
Ryerson, George 1760-74
Searing. John 1707-24
Smith, Benj,R.,Jr. 1762-83
Smith, Isaac 1718-26
Smith, Isaac 1769-70
Smith, Israel 1783
Smith, Jacob 1727-31
Smith, Jacob 1742-56
Smith, Jas. (Herricks) 1771-83
Smith, Jonathan
Smith, Capt. Jos
Smith, Joseph
Smith, Micajah
Smith, Richard
Smith, Richard
Smith, Silas
Smith, Timothy
Smith. Timothy
Snedeker, Christian 1782
Thorn, Capt. Jos. 1718-27
Thorn, Richard
Thorne. William
Titus, Peter
Titus, Peter, Jr.
Titus, Richard
Townsend, Benjamin 1764
Townsend, John 1761-2
Townsend. Rich'd 17118-17
Townsend, Rich'd 1773
Tredwell, John, Jr. 1707-8
Tredwell, Capt. John
Tredwell, Col. John 1728-9
Tredwell, John, Jr. 1728-9
Tredwell, Capt. John 1720
Tredwell, Justice Jno.1722
Tredwell, Capt. Thomas 1713-32
Tredwell, Thomas 1750-61
Valentine, Jacob 1746-9
Valentine.Obadi'h 1718-20
Van Nostrand, Aaron 1775-83
Williams, John 1750-2

1703
1709-171737-43 1732-5 1711
1757-60 1743-5 1750-11765-7

1749-57 1765-7 1713-i
1774-83 1743

Allen, Henry 1755-64
Barnes, Joshua 1723-7
Bedell, Jeremiah 1728-57
Birdsall, Capt.Jno. 1742-59
Birdsall, John, Jr. 1760
Carle, Joseph 1713-14
Carman, Capt.Jno. 1707-14
Carman, Thomas 1715-32
Carman, Samuel 1770-74
Clowes, Samuel
Comes, Coleman 1769
Cornwell, Mr. Jno. 1715-26
Cornwell, John, Jr, 173S-42
Cornwell, Thomas 1728-37
Cornwell, William 1710
Crooker, William 1777-82
Denton, Samuel 1703
Dorlon, John 1736^13
Embury, Samuel 1709-11
Foster. Thomas 1748
Gildersleeve. Thos. 1703-17
Hagewout, Leffert 1743-9
Hal), John 1745
Hall, Joseph 1774-83
Halted, Joseph 1738-42
Haviland, John 1703
Hewlett, Capt. Richard 1761-71
Hewlett, Benjamin 1758-72
Hendrickson, Hendr'k, Jr.
1749
Hicks, Capt. Jacob 1714-25
Jackson, John 1710
Jackson, John, Jr. 1712
Jackson, John 1740-1
Kissam, Daniel 1703
Kissam, Daniel, Esq. 1752^1
Langdon, Joseph 1730-9
Lester, Benjamint 1743-65
Marvin, Robert 1725-7
Mitchell, Robert 1718^11
Montague, John 1763
Morrell, John 1776-83
Mott, Joseph 1708-11
Mott, Joseph 1743-9
Mott, Samuel, 1782
Oakley, Nathaniel 1714-7
Onderdonk,Adrian 1768-75 i Williams^ Samuel 1708-13
Peters, Val'tine H. 1744-74 | Williams, Thomas 1733-6
Pettit, Increase 1776-81 | Williams, John 1763-8
1783, April 8. — At the last town meeting
held under the Crown, Samuel Clowes was
chosen supervisor ; David Bedell and Charles
Titus, constables and collectors ; Peter Titus,
George Hewlett (Merock) and James Smith,
of Herricks, commissioners of highways ;
Benjamin Lester and Justice Bedell, apprizers
of intestate estates ; John Dorlon, Henry
Woolley and Richard Wiggins, fence- viewers ;
Captain Timothy Cornell, Benjamin Lester,
Richard Townsend and John Morrell, assess
ors ; Nehemiah Sammis and James Poole,
penders ; Justice Clowes, Justice Bedell aud
* During the war there were no Courts of law, but
an office of Police was established at Jamaica.
1 1767.— Kept money in his hands— £34.18.2.

81

Joseph Hall, trustees ; Valentine Hewlett
Peters, clerk.
1783, December 22. — At the first town
meeting held by authority under the State of
New York, there were chosen to serve till the
next annual town meeting, for supervisor,
Adrian Onderdonk ; clerk, John Schenck ;
constables and collectors, John Searing (son
of Daniel) and John Burtis (son of John);
commissioners of highways, Peter Onderdonk,
Abraham Schenck and Benjamin Everet ; ap-
prisers of intestate estates, John Allen, Jr.,
and Charles Cornell, of Success ; fence-view
ers, Andries Hegeman, Charles Hicks, Wil
liam Cornell, Foster and Isaac Hendrickson ;
assessors, John Hendrickson, Walter Skid
more, Nathaniel Seaman, Martin Schenck,
William Cornell, William Valentine, John
Williams, Richard Thorne and John Ellison ;
penders, Gilbert Cornell, of Success, and Jaca
miah Bedell, of Hempstead ; trustees, Samuel
Way, Richard Valentine and Gilbert Searing.*
1784, January 24. — Colonel John Sands,
John Allen, Jr., John Hendrickson, Sr., Na
thaniel Seaman and Richard Valentine were
chosen to make provision for the poor till
May 1st, and to require Stephen Carman (who
kept, the poor last year) to render an account,
and to inquire if they are as well clothed as
when he took them, and to take the collectors'
books for 1783 and settle with them, and to
inquire iuto the receipts and expenditures of
public moneys from 1776 to this day.
1784, April 6.— Voted that the town fulfill
the "contract made with Stephen Carman by
the vestry for maintaining the poor last year,
on condition that he make their clothing and
bedding as good as when he received it ; and
that £30 be paid to the Rev. Mr. Cutting, out
of the tax laid on the town last year, it being
the full of his salary yet due him for that
year. As there is a bill before the Legisla
ture for dividing this town,f it is voted to
adjourn, South Hempstead to meet at this
place (Hempstead) on Tuesday, April 13th,
and North Hempstead to meet the next day
at Samuel Searing's, Searingtown, for choos
ing the usual town officers. It is agreed that
the poor and the poorhouse (with its furni
ture) be equally divided between the two

* At this election the loyalists were intimidated and
probably staid away from the polls.
t Hempstead paid an agent £4.15.9, for the expense
of going to New York (where the Legislature then sat)
to prevent the town's being divided.

towns, that the cage should belong to South
Hempstead, and that a small house on Merock
river, with all its rents and privileges, should
belong to North Hempstead.
1784, April 13. — A meeting was held in
the town-spot ; _ present, Justices Cornwell,
Everet and Schenck ; Supervisor Adrian On
derdonk. The following town officers were
chosen : supervisor, Major John Hendrickson ;
clerk, Nathaniel Seaman ; assessors, John
Hendrickson, Walter Skidmore, Nathaniel
Seaman, John Ellison and Richard Jackson ;
commissioners of highways, Benjamin Everet,
Esq., John Birdsall and Zebulon Seaman;
constable and collector, Isaac Hendrickson,
Jr.; fence-viewers, Benjamin Everet and Wil
liam Cornwell, Esqs.; apprisers of intestate
estates, John Birdsall and Major John Hen
drickson ; overseers of the poor, John Hen
drickson, Nathaniel Seaman and Richard
Jackson ; trustees, Joseph Hicks and Joseph
Skidmore ; pender, Jacamiah Bedell.
John Hendrickson and Nathaniel Seaman
met with John Sands and Richard Valentine,
a committee from North Hempstead, and they
agreed that all taxes be equally divided, if
there be an overplus, but if short, then the
deficiency to be equally raised from the towns,
to May 1st, 1784.
May 6th, paid for moving the cage, 12
shillings ; for building stocks, £2.1.
1784, July 14. — The town votes that every
person who shall get or carry away any clams
from our south bays and beaches, in any boat
or vessel, to any part of this State aud other
States, (to our great damage), shall pay one
shilling per thousand for toleration ; nor shall
any one get or sell clams to any boatman,
under 5 shillings per thousand, to be carried
to New York or out of this town, under pen
alty of 40 shillings fine, half to go to the in
former. If any foreigner or boatman shall
dig or get clams, or bring hands to get them,
he shall pay £5 penalty. No boatman shall
take any clams in his boat before he pays his
" toleration" and obtains permission, under
penalty of £5 ; and if he takes more clams in
his boat than he has paid toleration for, he
shall pay £5 penalty. William Pearsall,
James Pine, Thomas Dorlon, Joseph Raynor,
Jr., and Obadiah Jackson are to oversee the
same, and receive the toleration money, and
grant permissions ; and they may arrest and
carry offenders before a justice, sue for the
fines and claim assistance, if needed ; and any

82

one refusing assistance shall pay 40 shillings
fine. For their trouble they are to have two
pence out of a shilling out of the toleration
money. 1786, April 4. — No person shall cut any
plain grass before August 1st, nor sedge on
the marsh before September 10th, under pen
alty of 40 shillings. Antony DeMott and
Nathaniel Seaman are to fix a place for sheep
parting and to agree what shall be done with
the strays. Samuel Clowes and Nathaniel
Seaman are to agree with North Hempstead
to copy the town records and be paid for it.
1786, December 21. — Gerard Bancker re
ceived £33 of Hempstead in full for arrears of
quit-rent and commutation of future quit-rent
arising in the patent granted to Hempstead.
1790. — Ordered that the overseers shall sell
the cage, for the use of the town. The col
lector is to be paid for all the coppers* he has
received for the use of the town and now re
maining in his hands.
1791, August 27. — There was an agreement
of the three towns that a pen should be built
on the east side of the East meadow hollow,
near the road that divides North and South
Hempstead, near the house where John Brush
lives ; that the last Monday in October be the
day of annual parting ;f that the stray sheep
be kept till Monday following, and if not
claimed by 4 o'clock, P. M., to be sold, and
the money kept till April 1st, and then given
to the owner ; otherwise to be applied to re
pairing the pen. No tavern-keeper is to come
within the public yard with his liquors to
sell, nor join his tavern to the public yard,
nor to any man's pen that joins the yard.
Richard Willis and George Townsend are to
deliver two hundred and forty rails and fifty-
four posts, at 6 pence a piece, at the place
agreed on.
1792, April 16.— We certify that, after no
tice given, three Sabbaths, the stated wor
shippers at the house called "Rehoboth,"
at Near Rockaway, David and Michael Demott
and Samuel Osborn were appointed trustees
* Coppers (British coin) were not then current; the
newly-coined cent had superceded them.
t In 1789, the parting was held at the usual place in
South Hempstead where the pens now stand ; but
" Jerusalem may part her sheep from the rest until 10
o'clock, A. M., on the appointed day, at Seaman Bird-
sail's." In 1792, it was voted that the lands whereon
the sheep-pens lately stood be reserved for the town's
use, in case any pens should need to be erected here
after.

for the Methodist Episcopal church, to take
charge of the temporalities for the use of said
church, aud to admit such preachers as shall
be appointed by the Bishop, at Yearly Con
ference, to preach God's word and administer
the ordinances.
Michael Demott, Andrew X Allen.
Teste, Wm. Phcebtjs.
1792. — " None shall fish with eel-nets in
the south bays or creeks, under penalty of 40
shillings." Repealed.
1792, August 14. — Arrived in New York
from Rockaway a schooner of twenty tons
burthen, deeply laden with sand, navigated
solely by a boy aged 14. A number of gen
tlemen on the wharf made up a liberal dona
tion to the boy for his enterprise.
1795, April 7. — The town grants Rev.
Thomas Lambert Moore and his successors in
office all the land in front of the Episcopal
parsonage, down to the brook, reserving the
public roads above and below the hill for the
use of the public, and prohibiting him from
fencing said land or otherways enclosing it,
under penalty of forfeiture.
1797. — Town residents may cut on the
marshes not before sunrise on September 10,
and non-residents on September 20. Horses
and neat cattle shall be taken off the beach
and marshes before June 15th, under penalty
of 40 shillings. The fresh (commons) meadow
at Rockaway is not to be cut before August
1st. 1800, April.— The town vote $50 to enable
Enoch Plummer to go to Ireland, and George
Hewlett is to procure a passage for him on
the easiest terms he can. None shall fence
in or encumber Cow meadow neck. In get
ting hay on the marsh there shall be only
three able hands to one boat, nor shall any
one leave his hands to work on the marsh
while the boat is gone to the shore to dis
charge her freight, under penalty of £5 ; and
if any one shall cut and leave hay on the
marshes, it may be taken by any one and
converted to his own use, except that persons
having no boat may cut and cock two wagon-
loads, and no more.
1802, June 11th.— $200 is voted to the trus
tees. Richard Bedell, William Mott, Esq.,
Joseph Clowes, Stephen Balding and Oliver
Denton are appointed to defend the common
meadows, marshes and beaches in such man
ner as they may think proper, to lay as com-

83

mon for the use and privilege of the free
holders aud inhabitants.
1802, September. — Hempstead Post Office
established. Abraham Bedell, Postmaster.
1802, October 1st. — Died at Hempstead, Dr.
James Searing, aged 66. Few men have left
this stage of life more j ustly regretted in the
line of his profession. He was indefatigable,
no distinction with him, always attentive to
visit the poor or rich. He was a true friend,
kind husband, tender father, and a sincere
Christian. — Long Island Courier.
1804.— Voted that Morris Fosdick, Har-
mones Lott and Richard Bedell copy off the
old records of this town, that are now in
North Hempstead*
1806. — The spring sheep-parting is held at
Abraham Bedell's. [In 1809 it is voted to be
held at the pens and nowhere else, under
penalty of $5.] Voted that the land near the
church and Nathaniel Seaman's smoke-house
shall lay open as a highway, and not be fenced
in or occupied by any one.
1807. — Voted that no non-resident shall cut
sedge on the common marshes and beaches,
under penalty of $12.50, unless they procure
a permit from the " tolerators," and pay for
each freight of sedge 3 shillings, or 18 pence
a load. 1808, April. — $500, if necessary, are to be
raised toward carrying on a lawsuit now
commenced against the town for the meadows,
marshes and beaches, f
1812.— $700 are raised to defend the com
mon rights of the town.
1812. — Hempstead Turnpike. Lewis Hew
lett, Joseph Pettit, William Nicholls, John
Leffert, Abraham Bedell and James Hendrick
son, directors, will meet, March 3d, at Elias
Matthews' inn.
1812, December 28.— Died at Hempstead,
Joseph Rainer, aged 85. He left eleven chil
dren, seventy-seven grandchildren, aud sixty-
six great-grandchildren, being a total of one
hundred and fifty-four descendents.
1813, June 23. — David Mott for assault and
battery on Catherine Hewlett is fined $250.
* At the division of the town, 1784, the clerk, John
Schenck, lived in North Hempstead, and by an over
sight the records were left with him and ever after re
mained in that town. They have since been copied
for Hempstead, but very imperfectly.
+ For a history of these suits against the town by
North Hempstead and the patentees, see (1) Johnson's
Reports, ii, 320-338, Kent's opinion ; (2) Hopkins'
Reports, i, 289-300, Sanford's opinion ; (3) Wendell,
ii, 109-113, Court of Errors.

1815, April 15.— None are to fence in
the plains, brush-land, swamps, meadows,
marshes or beaches, without a permit given
at a regular town meeting. September 14. —
$500 are to be raised or hired to defend a
suit in chancery for the commons.
1816, June 11. — $339.67 are to be raised to
pay Richard Bedell for the marsh suit, being
the sum he had expended more than he had
received. July 16th. — A further sum of
$1,500 is to be raised to defend the common
rights and the marsh suit.
1817. — A public pound is to be built in the
vicinity of Jerusalem. October 2d. — $3,000
are to be raised to defend the common
rights. 1821, February 12.— $500 are voted to the
supervisor and clerk to defend the suit
brought in chancery by North Hempstead,
and a committee is appointed to meet the
committee of North Hempstead, to know
their demands and offer to unite the two
towns again, if they were dissatisfied with
the present division, and North Hempstead
to pay the equal part of the expenses of the
former lawsuit with the patentees. February
19th.— William Pine, Thomas Tredwell and
Edward A. Clowes, of Hempstead," met John
B. Kissam, John Schenck, Singleton Mitchell
and others,, of North Hempstead, but nothing
was agreed on.
1821, March 1. — The house and barn of
Daniel Van De Water, (on the Moncey farm,)
three miles from Rockaway, were burnt on
Sunday evening last. The family had set out
to attend an evening meeting, and when they
had gone two miles they saw a heavy smoke
in the direction of their house. They imme
diately returned and found the buildings
nearly destroyed. It was accidental. — Long
Island Star.
1821, April 3— Voted that the brook leading
through the village from the plains should
be cleared, twelve feet wide, down as far as
the horse brook, by all who do obstruct it, by
July 1st, under penalty of a fine of $5.
1822, April 2. — $500 is raised for the marsh
suit. 1824, October 16.— $250 is raised to defend
the common rights.
1825, April 26. — Any one living on the
common lands, with a house thereon, may
have four acres by paying $1 per acre yearly,
and others, having no house, shall turn the
land out, or be prosecuted.

84

1826, January 4. — $1 ,500 is to be raised to
defend the common rights in the suit now in
the Court of Errors, between Hempstead and
North Hempstead. April 1. — $1,200 is raised
to pay the expenses of the lawsuit formerly
brought by the patentees, &c.
1826, July 23. — A calf was born at Samuel
T. Jackson's, Jerusalem South, weighing one
hundred and thirty-three pounds before suck
ing. It was three feet ten inches long, three
feet around its body, twelve inches around
its fore leg, close up. Thomas Deane and
George Duryea testify to it.
1826, September 1. — William and James
Wright and Alexander Combs was tried be
fore Samuel Willets, Esq., at Hewlett Creed's
inn, Jamaica, for disorderly conduct in the
Methodist church at Near Rockaway, and
fined $5 each.
1827, April.— Daniel Bedell, Butler Coles
and Thomas Jones apply to the town for a
ten years' lease of sixty acres of the common
plains at or near the place formerly used as a
race course, called the Newmarket Course, at
a price to be mutually agreed on. [See act
of Legislature, March 30, 1821, and April 3,
1826.] 1828, April 12.— No non-resident shall dig
or carry away any earth out of the common
lands out of the town, under penalty of $5
fine. In 1831 it was $10 fine for ditching in
the common lands.

1831. — At a town meeting at Daniel Smith's<
it is voted that a lawful fence must be three
feet four inches high, and be made tight. $1
fine for each tree cut on the commons or
swamp. Hogs, cattle, horses and sheep may -
feed on the beach between Hog Island and
New Inlet.
1831, December 15. — A list of village fire
men appointed by the supervisor and jus
tices :

Charles Baldwin,
Jarvis Bedell,
Thomas D. Carman,
Jacob Coles,
Richard DeMott,
Samuel E. Marvin,
Samuel J. Raymond,
Elbert Rushmore,
Robert Seabury,
Alexander W. Seaman,

Joseph D. Gildersleeve,
Joseph B. Gildersleeve,
Stephen Hewlett,
Nelson Jennings,
John Kellnm,
Lattin Smith,
Isaac Snedeker,
Floyd Southard,
James Stephenson,
William Van Nostrand.

Members of Assembly residents of Hemp
stead :
Stephen Carman, 1788-1819 ;*
Samuel Clowes, 1789-96 ;
Whitehead Cornell, 1788-98 ;*
Isaac Denton, 1800 ;
Nathaniel Lawrence, 1791-6 ;
William Mott, 1798-1807 ;*
William Pearsall, 1796-8 ;
Joseph Pettit, 1800-2;
Henry O. Seaman, 1803-8 ;*
Thomas Tredwell, 1820-31.*
Candidates, but not elected :
1804, Hezekiah Bedell received 654 votes in the County;
1788, Nathaniel Seaman " 321 " "
1790, Capt. Timothy Cornell " 324 "
1812, William Nichols " 708 " "

* These figures indicate the first and last years of
service. They occasionally failed of an election during
the intervening years.

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary
struggle, the country was filled with exag
gerated rumors of conspiracies in Hempstead.
the following are the depositions of some wit
nesses :
1775. — " Samuel Nostrand and Isaac Loosie,
of Huntington, were at John Nostrand's,
Hempstead, November 30th, who said there
was a great quantity of powder at Captain
Richard Hewlett's, Rockaway, and he mounted
guard over it the night before. Jacob Nos
trand also said there was a great quantity of
powder, ball, small arms, and some cannon
(and a gunner to work it) landed, with a lieu
tenant and other officers, and Richard Hew
lett, from the Asia man-of-war, and carried to
Hewlett's house. They were at Isaac Den
ton, Jr.'s, who had some of the powder, which
cost him nothing, and they could have more,
if wanted. Denton said he would fight while
he could see a d  d whig left. Benjamin
Eldred and others spoke to the same effect.
December 2. — William Nostrand and John
Smith said the captains of the militia compa
nies met at Captain Hewlett's, Thursday, to
take each powder, to distribute to their com
panies, and they expected people from Con
necticut to land at Huntington and march
amongst them, having first sent word ahead
to John Hewlett [of East Woods] to notify
the people of Hempstead, who would then
fire a cannon, to alarm the country in general.
They kept their fat cattle for the British, who
were expected to land at Rockaway." — Jour
nal of Provincial Congress, p. 216.
1776, May 20. — " John Hendrickson has ob
served that the people of Hempstead and
Rockaway (five or six hundred in number)
are in high spirits of late. A fleet was ex
pected, and most mean to join the King's
troops, when they arrive. Thomas Cornell,
Richard and Stephen Hewlett are leading
men of the disaffected. Isaac Denton, of
Near Rockaway, is active, and has a sloop,
and assists in sending provisions to the ships
of war. James Smith said he would join the
King's troops. People from other places
come to Hempstead for refuge. In Jan uary

and February he saw many strangers going
there, who seemed reserved and cautious ; two.
or three appeared like sailors. Some inhab
itants are yet armed, and of the gunners on
the Southside, every other man has arms.
Gabriel G. Ludlow, Justice S. Clowes, Daniel
Kissam* and Isaac Smith, Esqs., are principal
men. Last winter thirty or forty of the in
habitants met two or three times at George
Ryerson's [Fosters Meadow]. He saw David
Colden, Captain Whitehead, Dr. Arden,
Thomas Cornell, Captain Richard Hewlett
and Isaac Smith go there. Captain Hicks, at
Rockaway, had one hundred and forty men in
his company. The few friends to liberty are
afraid on account of the threats of the disaf
fected. One Akerman told Nathan Smith (a
few days before Captain Parr came up there
with his riflemen) that he had seen beef, pork,
butter, gammons and eggs on board Isaac
Denton's sloop, which proceeded out of Rock
away Inlet towards the ships of war. He has
seen a sloop come in the Inlet three different
times. Lately, at a vendue, at Rockaway,
Jacob Foster was much abused because he
was a whig. The cockade was taken out of
his hat and trod on by Joseph Beagle. Jacob.
Hendrickson had his hair pulled for being a
whig. Joseph Langdon was active there and
disaffected among the people. ' At a sheep-
parting, lately, in Hempstead, there was fresh
lime-punch plenty to be sold in the pens by
Timothy Clowes, a tavern-keeper. — Jour.
Prov. Cong., p. 454.
1776. — On Saturday, June 22d, a party of
whig soldiers went to Hempstead swamp, [at
the head of Michael Demott's mill pond] to
take up some tories who were hiding there.
* On August 1, 1782, Justice Kissam left his home on
business. A few minutes after he left Justice Thomas
Smith, on his way to visit his brother at Oysterbay,
his horse, in passing through Wolver Hollow, made a
blunder, and both were brought to the ground, he
striking a stone on his left temple, and had another
cant, where he lay alone in the road about two hours,
deprived of speech, sight and hearing, one side en
tirely palsied, which baffled the skill of the physicians
that were called in, and so lay till the 4th, when he
died without a struggle.

86

They made some resistance, and fired on the
soldiers in the woods. The soldiers returned
the fire, and wounded George,* son of William
Smith. - They then called for quarter. The
soldiers took six prisoners and put them in
Jamaica jail. Next day the party returned to
camp, with [Henry] Downing, charged with
being in a plotf to rise when the British
landed. 1776, June £2. — List of prisoners taken in
the swamp, who are to appear, on Tuesday
next, June 25th, at John Simonson's tavern,
in Hempstead, at 8 o'clock :
PKISONEES. SECURITIES.
Jacob and Harman Lamberson, Uriah Bedell,
John and Jehu Mott, Samuel Mott,
Israel Smith, Jr., Israel, his father,
David Peterson, Capt. Van Nostrand,
William Pearsall, Abraham Skinner,
Charies Din-land, John Nostrand,
Uriah Bedell, . Benj. Rock Smith,
Benjamin Jackson, Richard Greene,
Elijah and Ezekiel Rainer, Joseph Rainer,
Benjamin Cromwell, Nehemiah Sammis,
Andrew Allen. Samuel Mott.
Jonathan Gildersleeve, John Simonson,
Jacamiah Seaman, Benj. Smith, [Plains,
Michael Flower, Abm. Demott, of the
Joseph Smith, Daniel Smith,
Joseph Rainer, discharged, and promises to appear—
defaults.
Benjamin Rock Smith, promises, on his honor, to ap
pear.
Stephen Balding, on his word, to appear — sick.
Amos Rhodes, on his word — defaults.
John Hall promises to appear. ,
1776, June 23.— Major Webb says : •¦ At 11
o'clock, this evening, two hundred and fifty
men, under Majors Livingston and  ,
marched to rout a number of tories in the
swamps of Long Island, and to pick up such
men as are inimical to the liberties of Amer
ica." In July, 1776, when the British were
about landing on Long Island, the New York
Provincial Congress ordered all the cattle on
the south and west part of the Island to be
driven away from the coast, so that the enemy
might not seize them for food. The following
is the remonstrance of the farmers dwelling
east of Hempstead village :
" We, your humble petitioners, being free
men and inhabitants of the Parish of Hemp
stead, in Queens County, and supporters of
the American cause, are under the disagreea-

* He was attended by Dr. James Scaring, from June
22 to 29, whose charge for dressing the wound, bleed
ing, basilicon ointment, u plaster, cathartics ivory
tube to suck out the blood, and nine visits, was £1.17.6.
He recovered from the wound, but not from the fright.
To the day of his death he would now and then start
up in his sleep and cry out: " They're a coming!"
t Thomas Hickey, one of Washington's guard, was
hanged, on York Island, June 28th, in the presence of
20,000 spectators, for being one of these plotters.

ble necessity of laying before your Honorable
House the difficulties we are under in putting
the order in execution as respects moving the
stock. From the best computation we can
make, there are not less than seven thousand
horned cattle, seven thousand sheep and one
thousand horses in the parish, comprehended
within the above order, and to be removed in
pursuance of it. A number so large, it is con- .
ceived, cannot possibly live long, when they
are drove on the Brushy Plains. They will
be entirely destitute of water, besides having
other very scanty means of subsistence. The
execution of this order must expose many
people with their families to extreme dis
tress, so that some among the poorer
sort, for aught we know, must be left to .
starve. The cattle and sheep that many peo
ple have turned off to fat, for the use of the
Continental army and their own families, will
be lost as to all the purposes of such provi
sion, and their families be destitute of their
necessary supply for the winter. In several
parts of the parish there was last year a dis
temper among the horses, which swept off
such a number of them, that many people
have been obliged since to depend entirely
upon oxen. These being now taken away,
they are deprived of the only means they had
of carrying on any labor upon their farms
that requires a team of horses or oxen. The
consequence of which must be that they can
not secure their present harvest, nor till the
earth for a future one. Aud conceiving that
our case is deplorable, and that we can have
no relief but by the interposition of your
Honorable House, which is the guardian of
the inhabitants of this colony, we do most
humbly pray that you will take the same into
your most serious consideration, and grant
such relief in the premises as to you in your
wisdom shall seem meet." (Signed)
Silvanus Beadle, James Pine,

David Batty,
James Birdsall,
Joseph Birdsall,
John Birdsall,
Oliver.Bii-dsall,
Jaines Bnrch,
Carman Bnrtis,
Smith Brush,
Silas Carman,
Joseph Ctirpenter,
David Casseboom.
William Covert,
Johannes Covert,
Benjamin Cromwell,
Thomas Dean,
Stephen Denton,
Israel Eldert,
John Ellsworth,
Lawrence Fish,
Luke Fleet,

Thomas Place,
Solomon Poole,
Henry Pageot,
James Ryder,
Benjamin Seaman,
John Seaman,
John W. Seaman,
Obadiah Seaman,
Jacob Seaman,
Samuel Seaman,
Solomon Seaman,
Williams Seaman,
Zebulon Seaman,
Embree Shadbolt,
John Simonson,
Nathan Skidmore,
Gershom Smith,
Richard Smith,
Christnffel Stimetson,
Jacob Totten,

8T

Zophar Hawkins, Richard Totten,
Hendrick Hendrickson, Benjamin Tredwell,
Samuel Jackson, Thomas Tredwell,
Jacob Jackson, James Van Cott,
Richard Jackson, Cornelius Van Cott,
Obadiah Jackson, Gabriel Van Cott,
Gilbert Jones, Garret Van Nostrand,
William Jones, Henry Walters,
John Jones, Benjamin Wanser,
Tise Lane, Wiliiam Wanser,
John Lewis, .Jacob Wanser,
Garret Monfort, John Williams,
Daniel Nostrand, ... Zebulon Williams,
Israel Oakley, George Wright,
Valentine. H. Peters, Anthony Wright.
It may be added that the Congress did not
comply with the prayer of the petitioners, and
that the British soon after overrun the Island,
and had most of the fat cattle seized and ap
praised for their own use.
1776, September 4. — A horse was taken
from James Hill, at Huntington, by John Dun
bar, and kept in His Majesty's service ten
months, without pay. The horse never re
turned. 1776, September 9. — Joshua Mills (who took
horses at that time for the use of the British
army) took from Zophar Ketcham a wagon,
horse and driver, and detained them ten days.
September 20. — Barnet- Cain also took from
him a four-year-old mare, worth £20.
1776, September 9.— Theodorus and Gilbert
Van Wyck took from Maltby Burtis, of Hunt
ington, a yoke of oxen, worth £30, for Govern
ment use. September 30. — Barney Cane,
collector of horses, took a horse, worth £25.
1776, September. — Henry Downing and
James Lefford took from Jonas Rogers, for
the King's service, a span of horses, worth
£25, and harness, worth £3.
1776, November 7. — Captain Thomas Wool-
ley, of General Delancey's regiment, took
from Joseph Abit a new saddle and bridle,
value, £3.15.4. November 26, he took from
Scudder Lewis a wagon, two horses and
driver, to go to South, to press teams for Gov
ernment ; gone three days, at 12s. a day, £1.16.
1777, he took from Gilbert Wickes, and put
into the King's service, a horse that cost £13,
which was never returned.
South Hempstead. — These are to certify
that in 1776, before the British troops landed
on Long Island, Colonel Benjamin Birdsall
and Colonel Cornell came to Joseph Pettit's.
and took away one pair of oxen and a five-
year-old steer. Samuel Pettit, Executor.
Hempstead, November 20, 1776.— Sir: Be
pleased to pay the bearer, Samuel Pettit, the
money due for my wagon and horses for
thirty-eight days in His Majesty's service, and

his receipt shall be your discharge in full
from your friend, Flower Hulst.
Hempstead, November 26, 1776.— To Mr.
Ashley — Sir : Please pay to the bearer, Mr.
Samuel Pettit, the money due for my wagon
and horses for thirty-eight days in His Majes
ty's service, and his receipt shall be your dis
charge in full from your humble servant,
Christian Snedecor.
The 17th Light Dragoons and other British
troops were occasionally quartered at Hemp
stead, and having exhausted the supplies of
the farmers round about them, drew largely
on the resources of Huntington, as appears by
the following bills that the farmers presented
for payment :
1776, October. — Job Sammis was employed
two days, at 12 shillings per day, in carrying
baggage to Hempstead, for Lieutenant Roney,
of General Delancey's Brigade.
1776. — A coverlet and Dutch blanket was
taken from N. Harrison by Captain Ellison's
orders, £1.4.
1776, October 16.— Two of Captain Allison's
soldiers were billeted four weeks, at 8 shil
lings a week, on H. Conklin.
1777, January 12. — This is to certify that
N. Harrison has been employed, with ,his
wagon and horses, six days, in carting bag
gage from Huntington to the Narrows, for
the use of my company, £3.12.
Edward Allison, Captain.
1778, May 17.— To Justice Piatt. You are
hereby directed to furnish for His Majesty's
service, for the use of the 3d Battalion of
Brigadier General Delancey's Brigade, now
going upon Lloyd's Neck : 10 pots or kettles,
10 wooden or pewter dishes, 57 spoons, for
which you shall have my receipt. Given un
der my hand. Edward Allison, Captain.
1778, June 8. — Received, at Hempstead, cf
Piatt Veal, (agreeable to an order from Briga
dier General Delancey,) for His Majesty's ser
vice, a horse, of the value of £35, that did be
long to John or Isaac Veal, who are now gone
over to the Rebels. Benjamin Whiting,
Lieut, of Gov. Wentworth's Volunteers.
1778, August 3. — Benjamin Tredwell*
Quartermaster of Colonel Hewlett's Light
Dragoons, Queens County Militia, received
from Thomas Kellum.at Longswamps, ninety-
six sheaves of oats, worth £5.9, for the use of
*Father of Thomas Tredwell, Assemblyman, 1820-31

one troop of light dragoons on His Majesty's
service* 1778, November. — Quartermaster Nicoll, of
the 17th Dragoons, took from Alexander
Concklin fifteen shocks of sheaf-oats, being a
wagon-load, yielding one bushel per shock, at
7 shillings each, and carried to Hempstead.
1779, December.— Taken from Luke Fleet
three and a half bushels Indian corn, worth
£1.15, by Jacob Jackson, of Jerusalem, eol-
lector for the King's cattle. 1780, November
15th. — Pasturing twenty-four sheep, one hun
dred and ninety-three days, at a penny a day
each head, by order of Jacob Jackson, keeper
of cattle for the King, £20.18.2. 1781, June
10th. — Keeping six oxen, one month, to pas
ture, at 2 shillings and 4 pence each per week,
by Jackson's order.
1779, December 27. — Jerusalem. Received
of John Oakley, twenty-one hundred weight
of fresh hay, for which Abijah Willard, Esq.,
commissary of cattle, will pay. J. Jackson.
1780, January 28. — Elisha Gillet was taken,
by a party commanded by Captain John
Clowes, by Colonel Hewlett's orders, to go to
Brookhaven, with sleigh and two horses, gone
three days.
1780, March. — Ichabod Smith had two
wagon-loads of salt hay (twenty hundred)
taken away by William Burns, who was a
collector of forage for the King's magazine at
Jerusalem, and was ordered so to do by Jacob
Jackson, keeper of the King's cattle.
1780, May 10.— To John Cutler, Deputy
Commissary General, &c, &p., at Fosters
Meadow. Received at Dix Hills, from Piatt
Carll, oats for one of the Quartermaster Gene
ral's and five of the 17th Light Dragoon
horses, detailed with me on His Majesty's ser
vice. John Wormington.
1780, July 31.— To Ensign Philip Conklin.
Sir : You are required immediately to furnish
two wagons and horses, with drivers, for His
Majesty's service, to cart provisions at Lloyd's
Neck, and to be at Nathaniel Williams' by 10
o'clock. Stephen Hewlett, Captain.
1780, August 21. — Received from George
Norton, Huntington South, one hundred and
twenty pounds of oats, for the use of my
troops on duty to the east part of Long Island,
commanded by Colonel Simcoe — worth £1.8.
Stephen Hewlett, Captain.
*Many loyalists of Hempstead were sent into Suffolk
county, to forage for the king's troops.

1781, June. — Elijah Wickes was taken, by:
Colonel Riehard Hewlett, with wagon and
horses, to carry baggage from Lloyd's Neck.
to Hempstead, and detained three days, at 12
shillings per day, bearing his own expenses.
1781, July 31. — Received of John Ketcham
one day's rations for fourteen horses of Cap
tain Hewlett's troop of Queens county militia.
Stephen Hewlett, Captain.
1782, February 8. — Received from George
Norton forty hundred weight of salt hay into
His Majesty's magazine at Hempstead.
John Jarvis,
Assistant Commissary of Forage.
1783, February 26.— To Samuel Clayton,
Assistant Commissary of Forage, Hempstead.
Received from Silas Sammis two hundred and
fifty -two pounds of English hay for the Use
of a detachment of 17th Dragoons, escorting
provision wagons to Lloyd's Neck.
D. Lawler, Quartermaster.
Hempstead, January 4, 1777. — Permit the
bearer hereof, Mr. Samuel Pettit, Jr., to pass
without hindrance to New York island, and
from thence to New Jersey, or until he find
his wagon and horses, now in His Majesty'a-
service. Said Samuel has always acted as a
friend to Government. S. Clowes,
A Justice of the Peace of Queens County.
1777, March 31.— To be sold, a, quantity of
good whale-oil, by Samuel Way, of Hemp
stead. 1777, August 22. — " I have this moment re*
ceived an express from Setauket that the
Rebels have invested that post early this
morning. I have ordered the militia compa
nies from the South side to meet me at the
Windmill,* and thence march to Huntington.
" G. G. Ludlow, Colonel."
1778. — At vendue, March 21, a pleasant.
farm of two hundred acres, late of George
Ryerson, Fosters Meadow. Peter Ryerson
and Gilbert Van Wyck, Executors.
1778, June 2. — The captains of Queens
county militia met at Hempstead to settle
their proportion of men to work on the re
doubts near Brooklyn.
1778.— Ephraim Ludlow, at Hempstead
Plains, will pay $5 each, and reasonable
charges, for a black steer and brindled heifer
that strayed, September 25th, from Hellgate
ferry, on York Island.
* The windmill was near Hyde Park station.

89

1778, November 4th. — Anthony Van Nos
trand was prest, at South, of the Seventeenth
Dragoons, for carting of hay to Hempstead :
November 5th, one load of hay from Joseph
Abbet, at South ; November 6th, one load
from Israel Pearsall, at Hempstead Harbor ;
November 7th, one load of his own hay, from
Wolver Hollow ; November 8th, one load
from Israel Underhill, at Cedar Swamp ;
November 9th, one load from old John Rem-
sen, at the Hollow.
1778. — " Died, November 21st, at his seat,
at Rockaway, the Hon. Josiah Martin, aged
seventy-nine." He was father of Dr. Samuel
Martin, of Rock Hall, who died April 19,
1806, aged sixty-six, and was buried in the
chancel of St. George's Church, of which he
had been a great benefactor.
1779, January 20. — To Justice Clowes,
Hempstead — Sir: His Majesty's service re
quiring large aud immediate supplies of hay
and straw, it is expected that every farmer
will bring in to the Magazine all hay and
straw not wanted for carrying his own stock
through the season, or for subsisting the
militia light horse. Payment will be made
for the articles and transportation. I hereby
appoint you Superintendent for the township
of Hempstead, with an assistant, and you are
to proceed on the business with speed and
strictest regard to justice and impartiality.
Should any farmer withhold supplies, from
unjustifiable motives, the surplus will be
taken, without pay, on March 1st, such as
straw unthrashed and grain in the ear.
William Trton, Governor.
1779, March 1. — Major Kissam writes that
on going round among the farmers on the
north side of Hempstead, to see what quanti
ties of forage they could spare for the use of
His Majesty's troops, he found that many of
the principal farmers were entirely destitute
of any fresh hay, and, from their distance off
the salt meadows, they had little salt hay,
likewise; but he found- he could collect, about
thirty tons, and the same quantity of straw,
which he reported to Justice Clowes. Since
which the Light Horse at Hempstead have
taken away several tons of it.
1779, June 4th. — New Market Races, Hemp
stead Course. Hunters' subscription purse
and sweepstakes of 10 guineas each. June
5th. — Ladies and gentlemen's subscription
aud sweepstakes, 10 guineas each. June 6th.

— A whip (bought by the gentlemen of the
army and navy) is to be run for.
1779. — Lost, June 12th, from Thomas Cor
nell's, Rockaway neck, a brown mare — has a
star in her forehead ; and a bay mare, with a
remarkable hoof to her off leg behind. The
finder shall be well rewarded by James Mack-
erell, Flushing.
1779, July 16. — General Oliver Delancey,
commandant of Long Island, orders the mili
tia companies on the south side of the Plains,
with Captain Hewlett's Light Horse, to ren
dezvous at Hempstead, upon any alarm, and
bring three days' provisions with them, and
remain for orders.
1779, July 28.— $5 Reward. Ran away
from John Lefferts, Hempstead, Charles, a
very black negro. He speaks good English,
had on an old homespun bearskin short-coat,
tow shirt and trowsers, and small old felt
hat. 1779, October 15. — The refugee negroes are
to be sent down to Brooklyn, to serve as
drivers in the Quartermaster General's De
partment. 1779, November 9. — Hempstead. Received
from Anthony Van Nostrand, seventeen hun
dred weight of hay, for the use of His Majesty's
troops, foT which George Brindley, Esq.,
Commissary of Forage, will pay.
Samuel Clayton,
Assistant Commissary of Forage.
1779. — New Market Races, on Wednesday,
November 10th. Subscription Purse of 25
guineas, the best of three circular heats, free
for any horse except Dulcimore. The first
horse to have 17 guineas ; the second, 5 guin
eas ; the third best, 3 guineas. No less than
five horses are to start, at 12 o'clock. Also, a
bet of 100 guineas is to be run for by two
horses, at 11 o'clock. A bet of 50 guineas to
be run for, one two-mile heat, to start at half-
past 12. A bet of 40 guineas, for one two-
mile heat, each of the horses to be entered at
9 and 11 o'clock, at Loosley & Elm's tent, near
the starting post ; or pay 2 guineas entrance,
if admitted after. The clerk of the course is
to decide disputes. Whoever erects a tent or
booth, or retails provisions or liquors on the
Plains, will pay 1 guinea to the subscription
purse. 1779, December 9. — At the first alarm, Cap
tain Hewlett's troop of Light Horse will ren
dezvous with all expedition at Brigadier Gen
eral Delancey's quarters at Westbury.

90

1780, January 31— For sale, Mrs. Foster's
excellent good farm of five hundred acres, in
good fence, at Rockaway, a mile from the
Landing. It is well situated for a merchant
or tavern-keeper. The house is large and
elegant, has six fire-places, and commands a
pleasing prospect of the sea and shores adja
cent. 1780, February 2.— It is Colonel A. Hamil
ton's positive orders that I send before him
Benjamin Rainer and his son, Ezekiel, to
answer to the complaint laid againBt them.
I do hereby command Sergeant Elijah Spragg
to take both of them and go to Colonel Ham
ilton's with them, and to press their sled and
horses, to carry himself and them, and desire
the Colonel to let the Sergeant know who
shall pay him for his trouble. By order of
the Colonel. Benjamin Hewlett,
Captain QueenB County Militia.
1780, April 5.— The gray horse Northum
berland, who has won purses elsewhere, and
at the New Market races, will stand at Jacob
Seaman's, Jerusalem, at 2 guineas the season.
He is the sire of many horses useful for the
turf, fox-hunting, or the carriage or road.
Whoever has a pedigree of this famous stal
lion shall be handsomely rewarded, if he will
be so obliging as to leave it with the printer.
Muster-roll of a company commanded by
Captain Thomas Lester, belonging to the
Third Battalion of the Brigade whereof Oliver
Delancey, Esq., is Brigadier General, taken at
Lloyd's neck, April 24, 1780, where the com
pany was then encamped :
Thomas Lester, Captain ; Gerardus Clowes, Lieuten
ant ; Nathan Barnnm, Ensign ; Charles Peters, Peter
Sharpstone, Jonas Garrison, Sergeants; Peter Traves.
¦ David Cloos, James Olmstead, Corporals ; David
Pigeon, Drummer. Privates, 53.
Aims, Francis Knoll, Michael §
rBlaikes, John Legross, John
rBurnell, Aaron Manzer, Christopher
Cain, Isaac* Manzer, Barnet
Cain, Alexander,-)- Manzer, John
Cavally, William Manzer, Martin§
Cook, Thomas Menzies, Gilbert L.
Cook, Jacob Moore, James
fCoonlin, George ?Mott, James
Cronkhite, Frederick Nichols. Abraham
Decker, Garret Owen, Jonathan M.
Decker, James Percey, James
Denton, Seamans Pigeon, Thomas
Diamond. Jacobt Proctor. David**
Done, Johnt Rapelye, Cornelius
Doty, Jacob Raymond, William
Ford, Richard Reeves, John
Hawxhnrst, David II Smith, Joseph
Holdra, Joseph II Smith, John
Huffman, Frederick Thomson. Paul
Jackson, Elijah Thorne, Stephen
* Died, April 24th. || Made prisoner by Rebels.
t Absent on general order. 1 Deserted. April 20th.
i Absent recruiting, ** Absent by leave.
$ Absent on the Avenger.

Tidrick, Christopher Wandzer, Daniel
Traves, John Watson, Clark
Traves, Jacob Weekes, Joseph
Tredwell, Reuben** Williams, Peter
Verity, Samuel Williams, James
1780, April 27.— Wanted for His Majesty's
service, one hundred and twenty-four horses
from Queens County, to be delivered to the
Quartermaster General, for which cash will be
paid. The captains will raise their quota
without delay. The deficiency (if any) will
be made up by a small cess on each district,
agreeable to their estates and ability.
A like requisition for horses was also made
in 1779.
1780, July 5. — A stray horse is at Samuel
Seaman's, captain of Queens county militia,
Jerusalem, branded M. C. on near thigh.
1780, July 5.— To be sold, the ship Carteret,
stranded near Jones' inlet.
1780, August 23. — Captain Edward Allison,
now at Lloyd's neck, offers to let his farm of
one hundred acres, at Fosters Meadow, and a
lot of fresh and salt meadow, four miles dis
tant, that cuts sixty loads of hay yearly. Ap
ply to his father in-law, Samuel Clowes,
Hempstead. 1780, September 18. — A stray black mare
is now on the farm of Whitehead Cornell,
Far Rockaway. The owner will call and
pay charges.
1780, September 30. — A plundering party,
under Frederick Denison, crossed the Sound
to Hempstead Harbor, from Greenwich, in
Skudder Valentine's boat, with Obadiah Val
entine as » guide, and robbed Charles
Daughty, a Quaker shop-keeper, of Foster's
Meadow, of goods, money and apparel, equal
to £1,500.
1781. — Each company of foot in Queens
County is to furnish nine horses, and each
troop four horses, for His Majesty's immediate
service, to be delivered at Jamaica, by 9
o'clock in the morning, May 9th. None but
strong young horses will pass. Lieutenant
Talman and Mr. Oliver Waters will inspect
and value the horses.
1781, May 13.— General Baron De Riedesel,
commanding on Long Island, returns his best
thanks to Queens County militia, for their
alert behavior on many occasions ; but par
ticularly to Captain Stephen Hewlett, of
Hempstead, and his party, for their spirited
conduct in taking the noted rebel partizan
plunderer, Alexander Dickey, with his Lieu
tenant Hendrickson, crew and boat, on the
south side, of L. I.

91

1781. — The creditors of Major Alexander
Menzies, deceased, of Delancey's 3d Battalion,
will present their accounts, by May 1st, to his
widow, Sarah, Administratrix, at Hempstead.
1781.— Cord-wood at vendue, September
29th, at Captain Carman's landing, Hemp
stead. Apply to John Mott, upper end of
Queen street, sign of the Black Horse, New
York. 1782. — On New Year's night some robbers
knocked at the door of John Skidmore, Fos
ter's meadow, and asked for help, pretending
their carriage was broken down. He could
not call up his negro, Jack, for he was out,
" keeping New Year's." John Nostrand,
passing by at the time in his sleigh, noticed
a man in the door, supposed to be one John
Place, a shoemaker who having seen some
papers at Skidmore's, the day before, thought
they must be deeds for the place that Skid
more was about selling, and that he must
have the purchase money by him. But he
had not. They, however, carried off $40 in
cash, some clothing and all his linen, so that
none was left for a winding-sheet that was
soon after needed. The things were hid in
Clements' barn. Skidmore used to keep his
money hid under the tow of the nest of a set
ting hen over which a basket was turned.
Three broods were hatched while the mouey
was thus concealed under her. The robbers
crippled the old couple badly. They cut the
man and bruised the wife, thinking she
would tell where the money was. Their
grand-daughter, Phebe, aged eleven, crawled
under the bed, behind a candle-box. They
hauled out the box, but did not discover her.
A child, through fright, crept between the
feather beds.
1782, February 11. — Received from Mr.
George Norton forty hundred weight of salt
hay, into His Majesty's Magazine, at Hemp
stead. John Jarvis,
Assistant Commissary of Forage.
1782. — The creditors of John Van Nostrand,
Jr., shop-keeper, of Hempstead, will bring
their accounts, by April 5th, to Samuel
Clowes, Assignee.
1782.— To Mr. Samuel Pettit : It is Colonel
Hamilton's orders that the inhabitants fetch
the provisions for the Segoond officers. Sev
eral persons are appointed to go. It fell to
your brother Michael's turn to go to-morrow
morning, but as he is unwell, you must take
his turn of duty, and he shall take yours.

You must go to the Widow Mott's, to take
the things to bring it in, and there will be
some person to go with you. Saturday
morning, April 6th, you must go.
Benjamin Hewlett, Captain.
1782, May 29.— The noted bay horse, Young
Figure, stands at Richard Carman's,* Hemp
stead, at $8 the season. He is a colt of Old
Figure, completely made for shape, strength
and action, and equal to any horse within the
British lines.
1782, June 8. — Permit the bearer hereof,
Silas Pettit, of Hempstead, to pass to New
York and return. By order of
Benjamin Hewlett,
Captain Queens County Militia.
1782, June 11th.— Dr. Benjamin Tredwell
received, in trust for Samuel Miles, 563 guin
eas and 111 Half Joes.
1783, July 21. — Joseph Weeks, Huntington
ferry, offers $5 reward for a young brown
mare, strayed or stolen from Robert Bloomer,
of Hempstead.
1783. — 'To be sold at public vendue, at 1
o'clock, September 2d, the farm of thirteen
acres of good land belonging to Daniel Dor
land, on the Great Plains, in a commodious
place for any public business. Oliver Willis.
1783, November 5. — Rev. Leonard Cutting,
Rector of Hempstead, having been very ill,
so that he can now scarce sit up to write,
complains to Anthony Van Nostrand that his
back salary from Oysterbay, for 1781, 2 and 3,
remains unpaid. It is hard that services
through all weathers, attended with fatigue
and expense in horses, should pass unre
warded. Mr. Van Wyck paid it up to 1779.
Mr. Isaac Hewlett was then chosen warden,
and the constable paid into the hands of Mr.
Justice John Hewlett 20 shillings, for 1780.
The constable promised to get him the money
in a few days, but when called on, said he
was unprepared, and then required an order
from the clerk of the vestry. He now begs
the favor of an order from Mr. Van Nostrand.
At the peace (1783) many of the more active
Loyalists went to Nova Scotia. The follow
ing letter is from one of these exiles :
"Granville, October 4, 1785.
" To Mr. John Kissam. — Sir : It is very
seldom I hear from any of you. I should be
glad to hear how times are with you, and
how they get on. There are several Loyalists
* In May, 1787, Mr. Carman was in Halifax.

92

gone back to the States, and some glad to get
back again by paying some £100, some £500,
as Colonel Barton, old Mr. Ditmars, and Mr.
Jackson and his wife. If times are so that I
can come with safety, I shall take a trip in
the spring, to see you all, provided I can
without being afraid of those evil-designed
men which you know. Give my love to all
enquiring friends, though they are but few,
for they never think it worth their while to
write to me, and so I have dropt writing to
them. I must just mention to you that I
work hard and am clearing off the land at
the Cove, and sowed three bushels of wheat
and one and a half bushels of rye. The land
is as good as any I have seen since I have
been in the Province, and I make no doubt
after a few years to have a good place, but no
fruit as yet, except four apple-trees. I should
be glad, if you have an opportunity, that you
would send me a few small locust treeB, and
some other kinds, for they are scarce here as
yet, and none to be got. Mrs. Thorne begs
the favor of you to send her a few quince
trees. Compliments to Mrs. Kissam and all
friends. Yours to serve.
" Edward Thorne."
1788, September 4.— Isaac Hendrickson sues
Whitehead Cornell, of Rockaway, and recov
ers 10 shillings damages and 6 pence costs.
Witnesses for plaintiff, Martha Davenport and
Uriah Hendrickson ; for defendant, Micajah
Mott, Stephen Bales, John Foster, Richard
Hewlett and Mary Covert.
The above is one of many suits of the
Whigs against the Loyalists, for trespass
during the war. Here follow some others :
1785.
John Skidmore vs. Elijah and Obadiah Pettit.
John Hendrickson vs. Joseph Langdon.
Samuel Norton vs. Samuel Stringham.
John Wright tw. David Seaman.
Dr. David Brooks vs. John Farmer.*
1788.
Jacob Foster vs. Stephen and John Bales.
Jacob Foster vs. Joseph Dorland.
John Sands vs. John Canagy.
Benjamin Birdsall vs. Micah Williams.
Edmund Smith vs. Stephen Hewlett.
John Sands vs. Richard Hewlett.
Increase Carpenter vs. Stephen Carman.
Estate of Elias Baylis vs. George Watts.
John Sands vs. George Elvin.
Sufferings of Friends for Refusing to
do Military Duty.
1777, 4th of 3d month- John Smith Rock
says that Andrew Allen, sergeant under Cap
tain Benjamin Hewlett, took from him a
heifer, worth £4, for his refusing to bear arms.
* Farmer was schoolmaster at Cow neck.

1777, 7th of 6th month.— John Smith says
that Elijah Wood and Elijah Spragg, ser
geants, with a warrant from Captain Benja
min Hewlett, levied on his estate for £5, and
took a cow, worth £6, for his son's not appear
ing upon the alarm to Huntington.
1778, 7th of 1st month.— Edmund Smith*
says that James Baldwin, sergeant under
Captain Samuel Seaman, demanded £3 for his
not going on the alarm, and took off his bed-
coverlet, worth £3, and a sheet, worth £1.
1778, 28th of 2d month.— John Smith says
that Zebulon Seaman, sergeant under Captain
Hewlett demanded of him £1, for his refusing
to let a horse go to an alarm, and for his son
not working on the fort at the ferry, and took
two sheep, worth £4.6.
1778, 30th of 5th month.— Jacob and Mar
tin Van Nostrand, sergeants under Captain
Timothy Cornell, demanded of Silas Hicks 8
shillings, for his not going to help build the
fort at Brooklyn, and took a pair of andirons,
worth 14 shillings.
1778, 25th of 11th month.— Jehu Mott re
quests liberty, in behalf of Friends, south side
of the Plains, to hold meetings at Widow Ke-
ziah Mott's, Rockaway, for the winter season,
as heretofore, to begin at the 11th hour.
1779, 30th of 4th month.— Abraham De
Mott, sergeant, demanded of Jacob Mott
£1.2.6, for not standing on guard, and, search
ing his house, found money, which he took.
1779, 7th month.— Jacob Mott says: The
sergeant demanded of me 10 shillings and 8
pence, to pay the guard, and, searching my
house, he found some money and took his de
mand out of it.
1780, 24th of 2d month.— Silas Hicks was
distrained of a heifer, worth £8, for a demand
of 19 shillings and 6 pence, to pay men for
standing guard, and £4.16, to pay men for
working at the fort, at Brooklyn ferry, and
£1.2.6, to pay for horses to go in the army.f
1780, 23d of 3d month.— John Smith says:
" Silvester Bedle and Lott Carman, sergeants
under Captain Hewlett, demanded of me
£1.15, if willingly paid ; and I refusing, they
took two sheep, worth £4, to- defra'y some
charges to pay the guard."
1780, 17th of 11th month.— John Smith was
distrained of a sheep, worth £2.10,. on a fine
of £1, for not carting wood to Hempstead, for
the soldiers there.

* He died at -Merrick, June 14, 1831, aged 99 years, 5
months and 8 days.
t Two or three times Queens County was required to
furnish horses for the army.

FRIENDS

ON LONG- ISLAND AND IN NEW YORK.

As a sequel to the history of Friends in
Hempstead, it is thought proper to give a
sketch of the settling of adjacent meetings.
Robert Hodgson, an Englishman, after a
prosperous voyage, arrived at Long Island
about the 1st of August, 1657. He says :
" Finding drawings, I and two more with me
left the ship and passed to. Gravesend,
where our testimony was received" by the
settlers, who were mostly emigrants from
New England. Persecution soon followed.
John Tilton was fined (1658) for harboring a
Quakeress. Samuel Spicer was fined (1661)
for entertaining a minister. George Fox held
meetings here (1672) on his way from and to
New Jersey. John Burnyeat had meetings
here in 1671, and Alice Curwen in 1676.
Samuel Spicer and John Tilton, Jr., were fined
(1675) for refusing to labor at building a fort.
But Friends' principles prevailed. In 1679, a
Monthly Meeting was held at Samuel Spicer's,
and in 1680 a Quarterly Meeting. John Til
ton by his will (1687) gave Friends land to be
used as a burying place. The members of
this Meeting having mostly removed to Jer
sey, it was discontinued long ago.
Some persons at Jamaica seemed ready
to embrace Friends' principles before any
preacher had come amongst them. Hodgson,
(August, 1657,) on his way from Gravesend to
Hempstead, held a meeting at the house of
Henry Townsend, for which both were fined
and imprisoned. Though meetings were for
bidden, yet, in 1661, George Wilson came
along and had Samuel Andrews, Richard
Britnell, Richard Chasmore, Samuel Deane
and wife, Richard Harker, Henry Townsend,
John Townsend and wife, to listen to him.
Whereupon the Governor (to prevent future
meetings) quartered soldiers in their houses.
C. Holder (1672) held a meeting. William
Creed and Humphrey Underhill (1674) refused
to contribute to the support of the town's
minister. Samuel Deane had 18 shillings
taken from him for the priests' wages of

Zachary Walker and John Prudden, and
Hugh Cowperthwaite had 10 shillings taken.
Friends held a Quarterly Meeting (1686) at
Samuel Deane's house. Roger Gill had a
pretty large meeting (1699) in an orchard.
William Penn was at a meeting here, (1700),
when Samuel Bowne disbursed £1.10 for the
entertainment of him and other Friends.
Thomas Story (1702) had a large meeting
during a session of the Court, (Jamaica being
then the County town), and several lawyers
were present and very attentive. In 1706 a
plot of ground was bought of Deane, 50 by
80 feet, for £5, to build a meeting house on,
and meetings were held for many years ; but
in 1797, Friends having one after another
moved away, "the Quaker lot" was sold to
William Puntine for £200.
In 1707, Friends at Rocky Hill desired a
Meeting to be appointed every Third-day at
the house of James Jackson. Thomas Chalk-
ley had a meeting here (1725) " attended by
Judge Hicks, [Adam Lawrence] High Sheriff,
with several other persons of note, with
whom and our Friends we had a good time
to set forth the work of grace and reforma
tion." The early history of Friends in Newtown
and Maspeth Kills is marred by the irregu
larities of the Ranters, who claimed to be
Friends, and intruded on their* meetings.
Such was Thomas Case, who (1674) was for
bidden by the Court to entertain the wife of
William Smith. His wife, Mary Case, was
fined £5 for interrupting Rev. William Leve-
ridge, while preaching, by saying to him :
" Come down, thou whited wall that feedest
thyself and starvest the people." Samuel
Scudder sent a long, scandalous letter to Mr.
Leveridge. The Court put Case and Scudder
under bonds not " to seduce and disturb the
people." In 1682 the Quarterly Meeting
joined the Kills to Gravesend, and Newtown
to the Flushing Meeting. In 1686 a quarterly
meeting was held yearly at the Kills, and in

94

1691 monthly meeting was kept at John
Way's. In 1694, meeting was kept every
Fourth-day at Robert Field's. Friends soon
suffered in the loss of their goods. Thomas
Stevenson, father and son, were each dis
trained of a horse, to pay for building the
Presbyterian minister's house ; but the Gov
ernor, on appeal, had them restored. In 1702,
Thomas Story had a large meeting near New
town, and returned to Widow Charity Ste
vens'. In 1704, he had a meeting, to which
came several Presbyterians. He spoke of the
Passover, and bread and wine as part of it.
In 1707, First-day meetings were kept in
course at Robert Field's, Thomas Stevenson's
and John Way's. In 1720, Robert Field
bought of Benjamin Moore half an acre of
ground in the village for a meeting house
and burying place. In 1724, Thomas Chalk-
ley " went to the General Meeting, which was
so large that the house could not contain the
people, and, the weather being hot, those
without doors went to and fro and were un
easy, but those within were very attentive."
In 1725, he had meetings at Widow Way's,
Widow Alsop's, and at Richard Hallett's, at
the Kills, and one near Hell-gate. Several
justices and their wives were present, and one
who had disowned his son for becoming a
Friend. In 1738, meetings were held on
First-days at Newtown, at the 11th hour, and
at the Kills at the 4th hour. In 1755, as
Friends mostly resided near the Kills, the old
site, after long agitation, was sold, and a
house erected (1760) at English Kills, on a
lot eight rods square, given by James Way,
for a meeting house and burying place. The
Society was, however, in a, declining way,
and neglected their collections and answers
to the Queries. In 1762, the overseers, by
order of quarterly meeting, removed all the
gravestones but such as lay buried in the
earth ; but they were ordered to go on and
complete the removal. In 1771, it was pro
posed to discontinue the meeting. In 1781,
a committee visited Newtown and found the
meeting weak, and the house needing repairs
and fuel, and the Fourth-day meeting some
times neglected. In 1789, James Way be
queathed Friends some land and £1000. In
1802, Henry Burnett was appointed overseer.
A new roof and other repairs to the house
cost £47.10.6. In 1804, a committee having
by turns attended the meeting, are of the
mind that it may be best to discontinue it

and that the members give their attendance
to the Flushing particular meeting.
Flushing was settled by New Engend
ers, who early embraced Friends' principles.
When Governor Stuyvesant sent them an
order not to harbor Friends, they met (De
cember 27, 1657,) and agreed on a remon
strance, for which the town officers were pun
ished. Many converts were, however, made,
who assembled secretly in the woods. John
Bowne, being led by his wife to these meet
ings, was convinced. The date of the forma
tion of the Society is not known ; but, under
the name of " Oysterbay Meeting," it was
represented at and subject to the General
Meeting of Rhode Island till 1695. Bowne
says : " On the 11th of 4th month, 1661, we
went from our house toward Rhode Island, to.
the General Meeting, where we stayed nine
days, and on the 28th we came home again."
Bowne was arrested (August 24, 1662,) for
holding meetings every Sunday, and taken
to New York, where he was kept in prison
for refusing to pay his fine, and finally sent
to Holland, but was acquitted, and ever after
was a leading Friend. Meetings were held
by turns at his house, John Farrington's, Hugh
Cowperthwaite's, Benjamin Field's and Dr.
John Rodman's. , 1667, Francis Cooley and,
John Adams find it in their hearts to speak to
James Clement about his absenting himself
from meetings. 1687, John Way and Daniel
Patrick are to go and speak to William No
ble, concerning his selling of drink. 1688,
John Adams and Samuel Haight are to speak
to Morris Smith, Jr., concerning his going
from Truth to take a wife. 1695, the Meet
ing with grief of heart condemn the evil
practice of some [Ranters] who kept on their
hats in time of Friend's praying to God. In
1692, for £40, three acres of land, with dwell
ing house and orchard, were bought for a
public meeting house. In 1696, 30th of 3d
month, (May, O. S.), the first Yearly Meeting
was held in the new meeting house. In 1704,
the house was shingled, plastered and further
repaired. In 1707, the Monthly Meeting was
cumbered with persons having no business
there ; and children and young people dis
turbed the meeting by frequently running in
and out, and spending their time without,
about the house. In 1707, Samuel Haight
made the remainder of the front fence, hung
a gate and provided a lock for it. £2 a year
were paid John Farrington for making fires.

95

In 1716, a second meeting house, sixty-five by
forty-two feet, was built near the old one. In
1748, Samuel Bowne and John Way sat in
the gallery during the Yearly Meeting, to
beep order there in time of public worship.
In 1752, the Yearly Meeting was annoyed by
the rude and unchristian practices of many
rude people who frequently came about the
meeting, to the grief of Friends. In 1760,
Thomas Franklin got an iron stove for the
meeting house. In 1763, the house had con
siderable repairs. The gallery was taken out
and a floor laid overhead, thus making it a
two-story building. The chamber was divided
into two rooms, in one of which a school was
kept. In 1773, Rebecca Walsh was paid £1.10
a year for making fire, and 3 shillings were
paid John Eagles for mending the bellows.
When the King's army came to Flushing,
1776, they occupied the building for a prison,
barrack, hospital and storehouse, whereby it.
sustained great damage, and the fences were
burnt. In 1783 it was restored and repaired,
and the ground rented for £3 a year, reserv
ing the grass for pasture of Friend's horses
during the Yearly Meeting, which was always
held at Flushing till the Revolution, when it
was held at Westbury. In 1794 and after it
was held in New York.
Cow Neck and Great Neck (now Man-
hasset) Meeting. Thomas Story (1702) says :
" We went to Great Neck, to the house of
William Mott, a young man lately convinced
by the ministry of Thomas Thompson, where
we had a large meeting, there being many
Other people with us, and all very sedate."
A meeting was settled at his house. Story
visited Mott's again in 1704. In 1703, Sam
uel Bownas had a meeting at Jacob Doughty's,
Cow Neck, there not having been any there
before. A meeting every First-day was set
tled at Doughty's. In 1706, a meeting was
kept one First-day at Doughty's and the next
at Mott's. In 1708, on Doughty's removal,
the meeting was appointed at Richard Corn-
well's, and the Sixth-day meeting at William
Hutching's, Cow Neck. In 1715, this meet
ing was transferred from the Flushing to the
Westbury Monthly. In 1719, it was con
cluded to build a meeting house at Cow Neck,
the place and dimensions to be left to Joseph
Latham, William Hutchings, James Jackson,
William Mott, Jeremiah Williams and Rich
ard Cornwell* In 1722, John Fothergill

*In 17S7, Joseph Latham, for £6, sold Friends an

had a very large meeting ; many Friends and
others were humbly affected with his testi
mony. On the shortest day in the year,
(1725), it being snowy and stormy, eighteen
persons went, in company with Thomas
Chalkley, from Thomas Pearsall's [Cedar
Swamp] to Cow Neck, where he had a good
meeting, larger than could be expected. They
then went to Joseph Latham's, and had »
tender open meeting. In 1737, Chalkley
went again to Latham's. " Our conversation
was pleasant. We remembered our walking
to and from school in the suburbs of London,
when we were beaten, stoned and abused, for
being the children of Quakers." In 1755 and
1763, the house and stable were repaired. In
1762, Adam Mott was appointed to remove
the gravestones and do up the graves of
those who have no relations. In 1780, half
an acre of land was bought of Adrian Onder
donk, the cost of which, with the fence, was
£19.8. In 1782, the meeting house was occu
pied by the soldiers. Friends apply to Gov
ernor Robertson, who orders Colonel Wormb
to restore it. In 1783, it was again used as a
guard-house, and considerable damage done
to the seats and fence.
In 1785, it was proposed to remove the
place of worship. In 1786, the Westbury
stove was put up in the Cow Neck meeting
house, and more pipe bought, but it did not
answer, and another was bought (1789) for
£10.15.3. In 1788, the Meeting wish a school
house built, the place where the school is now
held being inconvenient. In 1809, it was pro
posed to set the new meeting house on
Thomas Appleby's land, on the Middle Neck
road, one hundred rods north from Appleby's
corner, as being more in the centre of Friends ;
but in 1812, it was concluded, after long agi
tation, to put it on the old ground, northeast
of the old house. The dimensions proposed
were thirty-eight by twenty-eight feet, and
eighteen-feet posts, at an estimated cost of
$1,250. The building, completed in January,
1813, cost $1,547.25; the old stuff sold for
$24.98, so that $272.27 were yet wanting.
At the marriage of Henry Mott and Temper
ance Hicks, the old house was crowded, and a
bench in the gallery broke down with the
weight of those standing thereon, and the
crash created a panic.
acre and nineteen square roods, whereon stands the
meeting house and stable, west side the road leading
from Herricks to Gildersleeve's Creek.

96

It is probable that some persons at Matine-
cock (or Killingworth) became Friends about
1659, and either resorted to Oysterbay or kept
meetings at private houses. In 1671, it was
agreed that First-day meetings should be
one day at Oysterbay and another at Matine-
cock, to begin about the eleventh hour, and
week-day meetings to begin about the first
hour. Friends soon felt the strong arm of
the law in various ways. In 1675, Tnomas
Case, [a Ranter], while preaching, was ar
rested by the constable. Distraints for not
performing military service were frequent.
In 1676, John Underhill refused to train or
work at the fort, and Edward French took a
heifer, prised to £2, and a saddle, worth £1.7.
In 1677, Isaac Horner says : " Being warned
to train three times, but refusing, Matthew
Harvey, constable, and John Wilkes, sergeant,
with seven men more, did arrest a horse on a
demand of 15 shillings, and take him away
from me, also a saddle, worth £1.9. Matthew
Prier and his son John refusing to work on a
fort, and John not training, Robert Cole took
away a cow and prised her at £4.2.6 ; in 1678.
a steer come four years old, worth £3, was
taken from John Feak, for not training ; from
Samuel Andrews was taken a gun, prised at
£1.10. In 1695, Friends received a legacy of
£4.4.4, in part, from Mary Feak ; in 1748,
they received £100 from John Prier ; in 1779,
£50 from Joshua Cock and £5 from Mary
Mott. In 1698, Thomas Chalkley met the
Ranters, who disturbed the meeting. In
1699, Thomas Story had a meeting at John
Feak's, on the marriage of his daughter
Mary to Henry Cock. The Ranters kept
pretty still most of the time, save only an old
man who hooted like an owl, and stood up
and bore testimony against Friends' set forms
of marriage. In 1702, a meeting was kept
yearly at John Feake's house, on the last
First-day of eighth mouth. In 1707, Henry
Cock and John Prier were appointed to visit
Friends in their families, to see that things
were kept in order. In 1722, John Fothergill
" had a meeting where many not of our pro
fession came in." Up to this time Friends
had met at private houses, such as Matthew
Prier's, John Feake's, John Underbill's and
his widow Mary's ; but now a public meeting
house was talked of, and in 1725, Thomas
Pearsall and Samuel Underhill received the
money for building it, near Matinecock. In
1743, John Griffith, with John Sykes, attended

the First-day yearly meeting, many not of
the Society being there. In 1751, "some
gravestones were set up in the burying
ground with superfluous inscriptions en
graved thereon, contrary to the practice of
Friends." The relations of the deceased were
requested to remove them. In 1768, the south
side of the house was shingled and other re
pairs done. In 1776, the cost of repairing the
house and stable was £22.9.4. In 1782, Mary
Post visited Friends' families. In 1784, £4.2.8
was spent on repairs of the house, and in 1785
a new stove and lead was got. In 1786, the
General Meeting was discontinued. In 1797,
Richard Jordan " had a large meeting on
First-day, many not of the Society present.
His spirit was baptised into feeling on account
of a state of infidelity and disbelief in Christ
Jesus, the Saviour of the world, which much
prevailed in that neighborhood. Some pres
ent were supposed to have imbibed the dark
principles of Deism."
The rise of the society in Oysterbay ex
tends so far back in the past as to be veiled
in obscurity. John Taylor, a traveling min
ister, says a meeting was settled in 1659. In
1661, Richard Harker, Samuel Andrews, Rich
ard Chasmore, Nathaniel Cole, Henry and
John Townsend, in order to escape persecu
tion, removed from Jamaica to Oysterbay.
The earliest written document is a record of
the marriage of Samuel Andrews and Mary
Wright (30th of 8th month, 1663,) at the
usual meeting house of Anthony Wright's.
Some of the converts became Ranters, (of
whom were George Dennis, from London, and
Hannah, his wife), who opposed George Fox
aud his doctrines. They were put down by
John Burnyeat, at the Half' Year's Meeting,
in 1671, by Fox* himself, in 1672, and by
William Edmundson, in 1675. Of the newly
convinced, three notable women became mis
sionaries. Mary Wright (September, 1660,)
came to Boston to warn the Court to lay aside
their carnal weapons, and told them they
thirsted for the blood of Friends. She said
her tears had been her meat many days and
nights before she gave herself up to the work
of the Lord. Being found guilty of being a
Quakeress, she was banished. In May, 1665,
Hannah Wright, aged about thirteen or four
teen, came, on the motion of the Lord, to

* Fox stood on a massive rock (the remains are still
shown) in the woods where he addressed a multitude
too large for any house to hojd.

97

Boston, to warn them not to shed the blood
of the innocent any more. John Richbell, a
merchant of Oysterbay, came and requested
her liberty out of their hands. About 1674,
while on a religious visit in Maryland, cross
ing to the western shore, she was drowned,
by the oversetting of a boat, at night. In
1667, Lydia Wright went on a religious visit
to Boston, where she was arrested and tied to
a cart's tail and drawn through the town.
Lydia visited Boston again in 1680, and went
to the West Indies in 1682, while under a
marriage engagement to Isaac Horner. In
1672, Anthony Wright gave Friends six poles
square at the northeast corner of his home
lot, for a burying place, and also forty feet
square at the southeast corner, to set a meet
ing house on. Samuel Andrews and John
Feake built the house, thirty-six by twenty-
four feet, and twelve feet in the stud, for £20,
to be paid in wheat at 4s. 4d. per bushel, peas
at 3s. 6d., Indian corn at 3s. 6d., and pork at
4d. per pound. It had eight windows— two
on one side and two on. the other, and two on
the ends below, all made fit for glass, to
gether with window-shuts ; and two windows
in the gable ends, with shuts ; likewise two
double doors — one in one side and one in the
other side — with two dormant windows. The
carpenters were to have it up for further fin
ishing by the 30th of 1st month, 1673.
In 1677, a Men and Women's Meeting was
held at the house of Richard Crabb. In 1680,
Joan Vokins " came to Oysterbay, where the
Lord had a tender people ; but the Ranters
oppressed Friends, for which my soul was in
deep travail ; and the night before the Gene
ral Meeting I was near unto death, and many
with me did not expect my life, and I was so
weak that two women led me into the meet
ing, aud there was a great meeting of several
sorts of people. In a little time the God of
life filled me with the word of His power,
and I stood up in the strength thereof, and it
was so prevailing over the meeting that
Friends were very much comforted, and the
power of darkness so chained that the op
posing Ranters and apostates could not show
their antic tricks." In 1687, John Dole and
John Underhill spoke to John Dewsbury,
who had outrun into extravagancy. In 1691,
Oysterbay (which included all Frieuds on
Long Island and in New York) was repre
sented in the General Meeting at Newport.
In 1693, the meeting house was taken down

and sold. In 1698, the Man's Meeting at
Mary Cooper's was kept at Nathaniel Sea
man's, Hempstead, and a meeting was kept
at her house every next Fifth-day after the
Man's Meeting at Hempstead. In 1702,
Thomas Story, with John Rodman, had a
small but comfortable meeting. John Rich
ardson and James Bates arrived there also
from Boston. George Keith, a relapsed
Friend, hoping to profit by the dissentions of
Friends, came to Oysterbay, September 17,
1702, and was entertained by Justice Edward
White, at his house, on free cost, several
days. He preached in the town-house and
baptised Mrs. White and her eight children,
Captain Jones' wife. Justice John Townsend
with his three children, Nathaniel Cole, his
wife and three children. 1706, a meeting
was kept the first First-day in the month, at
Simon Cooper's. 1710, a committee go to see
about the bounds of Friends' ground, and set
posts up at the corners, and let it out, reserv
ing liberty of burial. In 1720, a piece of the
land was exchanged. 1721, it is proposed to
buy a certain house for a meeting house,
which may answer for the Yearly Meeting
that is at Matinecock. In 1722, John Fother-
gill " had a large, precious meeting in a barn.
Most of the chief persons of the place and
several justices were present. I believe
Truth will again be exalted there." In the
winter of 1725, Thomas Chalkley had a very
large meeting ; " many not of our Society
were there, who steadily gave attention to
what I declared. I persuaded the young to
give up their blooming years to do the will
of God. Friends said there had not been such
a meeting there in a great while." In 1736,
the burying place is leased to Freelove Un
derbill for two years. In 1741, land was ex
changed with Zebulon Dickinson. In 1743,
Friends or Friendly people subscribe liberally
and petition for a meeting house to be built,
and in 1748 it is repeated ; in 1749, boards
and shingles are bought. In 1751, James
Chichester proposes that a meeting once in
three months be settled. In 1757, Friends
treat with the claimants of the old dwelling
standing on their land, the lease being ex
pired. Friends having declined to give £18
for it, the owner removed it. 1758, William
Reckitt visited " Oysterbay, where there had
been a large Meeting, but now much de
clined." 1762, Robert Townsend desires lib
erty to fence in and make use of a part of

98

Friend's ground. 1775, the holding a meet
ing at Oysterbay is proposed in the Monthly
Meeting. 1782, the meeting house is much
out of repair. The galleries and seats are
destroyed by British soldiers, the doors and
windows shattered and the burying ground
encroached on. A committee is to get the
ground restored, put it in good fence, fix some
monuments on the bounds, and provide a lock
to fasten the house, and repair the doors and
windows. The cost was £58.4. 1784, Meet
ings are to be held once a month, under tbe
inspection of a committee. 1797, Richard
Jordan " had a meeting at Oysterbay, where
are not many Friends ; but a considerable
number of others came, who seemed satisfied."
In conclusion we may add that a meeting
house is yet standing, which is occasionally
visited by traveling preachers.
The origin of the society at Jericho (vari
ously called Lusum, Springfield, or the
Farms,) runs into the hidden past before min
utes were kept. In 1676, " the Quarterly
Meeting desired Friends of the Farms to ob
serve their week-day meetings with diligence
as formerly ordered." For over a century
there was no public meeting house, but
Friends met at private houses. Mary, widow
of Thomas and mother of Richard Willits, " a
mother in Israel," as early as 1678, had
opened her house for meetings and the enter
tainment of traveling Friends. She and her
daughter-in-law Abigail suffered much in the
distraint of their goods for conscience' sake.
In 1703, Morris Shadbolt, constable, came to
their houses, and on a demand of 10s. for the
priest that should be sent from England to
Hempstead, took from Mary ten and a half
yards linen, worth 31s. 6d.; and then going
into Abigail's chamber he took nine and a
half bushels wheat, worth 38s. In 1705,
Henry Townsend, constable, took from Mary,
for John Thomas, priest, what wheat- he
pleased ; and from Abigail's chamber took
what wheat he pleased ; how much they nei
ther knew, as both were abroad, at meeting.
1705, Josiah Lattin, collector, demanded of
Abigail, for the priests' worship-house, 21s.
6d., and going in the yard, took five wethers,
worth 50s.; and on a demand of 12s. he took
from Mary two pairs of new shoes and two
pewter platters, worth 25s. In 170-, Samuel
Macoun, constable, on a demand of money for
the priest, John Thomas, went into Mary's
inner room, got her keys, searched her chest

and took money, she knew not what ; and
going to Abigail's, he likewise demanded
money, and searched till he found it. In
1707, John Weeks, constable, demanded of
both money for the priest, John Thomas, and
searched till he found it. In 1707, Wright
Frost, collector, demanded of Mary a tax-rate,
and when she was telling his money for it, he
pulled another rate out of his pocket for the
priests' worship-house, and took what he
pleased ; then he came to Abigail's house
and demanded £1 and somewhat more, and
searched till he found money, and took she
knew not how much. 1713, " Died, Widow
Mary Willits, of Jericho, aged near eighty-"
five, an ancient, worthy minister in the Church
of Christ. She received the blessed Truth in
early days, and bore a public testimony in
meetings, and continued faithful till the end
of her days." 1757, " Died, Abigail Willits, in
her ninetieth year, having seen her grand
daughter's grandchild. She had lived »
widow upwards of fifty years, in good esteem
and with a sober and religious character
amongst Friends, and died in good unity ;
having an incurable complaint, she longed
for her course to be finished." 1683, " agreed
that Friends' papers be read at the Farms at
the twelfth month every year, that our chil
dren may come to understand the order of
Friends in their marriages and other affairs."
1690, a First-day meeting was held at Jericho
every five weeks, but the week-day meetings
were kept alternately at Westbury and Jeri
cho, Friends of both meetings joining in one.
1713, "the monthly meeting now kept at Jeri
cho is to be hereafter kept at Westbury."
1758, William Reckitt had a meeting of seve
ral hundreds of people, on a First-day, who
heard the Truth declared, with great atten
tion. 1786, it was proposed to divide West
bury Preparative Meeting and settle one at
Jericho, at the house of the two Widows
Seaman. 1787, it was proposed to build a
meeting house, forty-two by thirty-four feet,
and twenty-one feet posts. The cost was
£363 ; stoves, £23.17.9. 1788, Friends' school
fund was divided: Westbury took £81.4.10
aud half the school house, and Jericho had
the other half and £101.4.10.
Thomas Powell, an active Friend, of Hunt
ington, removed to Bethpage, about 1688.
In 1698, it was agreed that a meeting be kept
every five weeks on a, First-day. In 1698,
1704 and 1725, Thomas Chalkley held meet-

99

Ings here. 1706, meetings were kept at
Thomas Powell's the last First-day in every
month. 1722, John Fothergill had an even
ing meeting at Thomas Powell's. 1732,
meetings were kept on First-days and week
days. 1742, subscriptions were begun toward
building a meeting house, and Friends agree
with a carpenter, by the great, to build it, for
Which they had begun to get timber. Joseph
Latham was to buy boards and nails. 1744,
Daniel Powell is paid £47.10 about building
the house and making the seats. Three acres
of land, including the house, (then on the
south side of the road), are laid out by Samuel
Willis, surveyor. 1755, the stable is finished
and benches repaired, cost £1.16.7. 1762,
Henry Whitson and Samuel Willets are ap
pointed to remove the gravestones, and do up
the graves of those who have no near rela
tions. 1764, Samuel Nottingham attended
the Half- Year's Meeting. 1774, it is proposed
to repair the house and make an addition,
(fourteen feet in length). 1781, Bethpage
subscribed £95.9.4 towards Friends' school
stock. 1786, a school house is bnilt, at a cost
of £29.4.1. 1788, the school stock is divided,
and Bethpage's share is £29.14 and their
school house. 181'6, $1,250 is to be raised to
build a new meeting house on the north side
the road; there was a surplus of $175, which
was contributed toward building horse-sheds
at Westbury. In 1826, Thomas Shillitoe
says : '¦ The meeting house is placed in a soli
tude and a retired situation, and pretty much
in the centre of a small, full-grown wood.
The horses are tied to the trees round about
the house. Everything has a rustic appear
ance, a simplicity that strikes a stranger.
Friends gathered irregularly. The rude and
idle manner of sitting of some of the men and
lads so attracted my attention that I recom
mended Friends to bring the young men and
lads up to the top of the meeting, that they
might be more under notice. Some of the
meeting stood up and acknowledged the ne
cessity of such steps as I had proposed."
John Fothergill (1722) had a meeting at
Sequetauge with a few Friends and some
other people. 1725, Thomas Chalkley " had
a serviceable meeting at Amos Willets' house.
He invited his neighbors, who came and re
ceived us with hearts full of good will, and
those not of our Society were well satisfied ;
in 1727, I was at the Yearly Meeting in Sev
enth-month, which was large, many Friends

and others coming to it over the Plains."
1742, meetings were kept on First-days at
Richard Willets'. 1759, a Fifth-day meeting
was appointed, as Friends wished to observe
some other day besides First-day. 1761, the
house where Friends hold their meetings
needs repairing, and they propose to do it
amongst themselves on condition they may
be excused from assisting to repair the West
bury meeting house. 1767, a proposition to
build a public meeting house is referred.
1775, the monthly meeting, considering the
smallness of the meeting, apprehend there
may be a service in visiting it. 1779, the vis
itors are of the mind that it will be best that
the meeting be discontinued and the Friends
there deemed members of Bethpage Prepara
tive Meeting.
At Jerusalem, meetings were early held
at private houses, but of this there is no min
ute. In 1697, it was agreed that meetings
should be kept every five weeks on First-days.
1699, Roger Gill and Thomas Story had a
meeting, peaceable and pretty large, at Ben
jamin Seaman's. 1725, Thomas Chalkley
went, in the evening, to Jerusalem, and had
a large, satisfactory meeting. " One desired
my remembrance, whom I prayed God to pre
serve to the end." In 1786, E. Kirk lodged
at Fry Willis', Jericho, and all went thence
to a meeting at Jerusalem, mostly composed
of other Societies. 1791, a First-day meeting
was appointed at Thomas Seaman's, once a
month, under care of a committee, but in
1793 it was discontinued. In 1826, Thomas
Shillitoe had a meeting in the afternoon, in a
private house, it being a newly -settled meet
ing. 1827, the Jericho Monthly Meeting pro
pose building a meeting house at Jerusalem,
thirty -four by twenty-eight feet and fourteen-
feet posts at a cost of $965.
In 1657, Robert Hodgson attempted to hold
a meeting in an orchard in Hempstead.
1679, a very great meeting was held at Cap
tain John Seaman's, on the Lord's day. 1692,
a meeting was kept at the house of Nathaniel
Pearson, every third First-day after the Five
Weeks Meeting at Jericho. 1699, at a
Monthly Meeting at Nathaniel Seaman's,
Hempstead, it was agreed that the Fourth-
day meeting should be kept by turns at
Hempstead, Jericho and Westbury. 1702,
Samuel Bownas had a meeting in a very large
barn. 1705, as Thomas, son of Nathaniel
Pearsall, has sold his house where the meet-

100

ing used to be kept, Friends appoint it at
Richard Seaman's. 1716, " the meetings at
Hempstead should be kept as usual, but a
meeting is to be kept every First-day at
Westbury, for such as cannot conveniently go
to Hempstead." 1725, Samuel Bownas had
meetings twice. 1731, " for this winter time,
the meeting usually kept at Hempstead is to
be kept at Westbury." 1749, 25th of Seventh-
month, Richard Seaman died, aged seventy-
six, a sound minister of the Gospel for many
years, having led a solid and exemplary life
from his young days. 1793, Joshua Evans
had a large meeting. " The Lord was mouth
and wisdom, tougue and utterance."
Thomas Chalkley (1724) had a large meet
ing at Foster's Meadow, in one Dusenbury 's
barn. In 1725, he was there again, " where
was a large gathering of people, and Christ
filled our hearts with Divine love." D. Stan
ton (1764) came, in the evening, to Benjamin
Dusenbury's and held a meeting. Chalkley
advised the building of a public meeting
house at the upper end of the Great Plains,
near Foster's Meadow, to which Friends and
well-inclined people might come from Hemp
stead, Rockaway and Rocky Hill.
Benjamin Holme (1716) held the first meet
ing in Rockaway; and in 1724, Thomas
Chalkley " had a meeting at Captain Hicks'.
The neighbors not of our Society came in
generally, and there was great openness to
receive the Truth." 1737, John Fothergill
held a meeting in a barn. 1739, a meeting
was settled at Thomas Hicks', on the first
First-day in every month. 1746, " Of late
there hath been neglect in Friends about
Rockaway in not keeping up their meeting."
1761, Jacob Mott requested liberty to hold a
First-day meeting at his house during the
winter. 1772, " the week-day meeting kept
at Jacob Mott's for several years past, in the
winter half-year, is continued. Jehu Mott
and Silas Hicks are to be overseers." 1779,
meetings were held at Keziah Mott's, and in
1781, at Jehu Mott's. In 1793, Joshua Evans
" had a large meeting, where only two mem
bers of our Society were present."
Friends visited Huntington as early as
1663. " Alice Ambrose and Mary Tompkins,
with George Preston, had a dispute with
Priest Leveridge, at his house. They kneeled
down in the court of hiB house, and Mary
prayed amongst the people. The priest ran
upon her and pulled her down. His sons,

being ashamed of his brutishness, pulled him :
off her." In 1677, Samuel Titus, constable, in
behalf of the people of Huntington, prays
Governor Andros that Quakers may not be
suffered to come into their meeting house in
time of God's worship, to disturb them, as
they frequently do.
Thomas Chalkley (1724) " went to Hunting
ton, where some were lately convinced of the
Truth, some of whom were excommunicated
by the Presbyterians. We had a pretty large.
meeting in a Friend's barn, where Priest
Prime opposed me, as he also had my friend
Benjamin Kidd, some time before." 1728, the
Friends of Huntington desire to keep a First-
day meeting among themselves, when they
can't well go elsewhere. 1730, the Monthly
Meeting send a Committee to assist Friends
at Huntington, with their counsel, concerning
the allowing their sons to train. 1732, meet
ings are constantly kept on First-days. James
Chichester asks that the few Friends in and
about Huntington may meet together for
worship on the first First-day in each month
in the winter season. 1769, the monthly
meeting is discontinued, as being of no advan
tage. 1775, Israel Ketcham requests a meet
ing to be held at his house in the winter sea
son on the second First-day in each month.
1797, Richard Jordan went to an appointed
meeting at Hollow Hills, which on the whole
was atime of favor. 1816, Isaac Martin "rode
to Huntington and had a small meeting in
the evening, being the third there since he
came on the Island. The people are very
backward in attending Friends' meetings.
Next evening he had a highly-favored oppor
tunity at Henry Scudders', at which many at
tended ; also one the next evening at Jacob
Harned's." John Taylor says a meeting was settled
(1659) at Setauket. 1704, Samuel Bownas
was at John Halloek's. 1710, John Hallock
wants a meeting appointed once a year at his
house. Friends think well of it and appoint
it upon the next First-day after Yearly Meeti
ing. 1722 and 1737, John Fothergill came to
John Halloek's and had a meeting there, with
a few Friends aud others who came in. 1762,
there being no account received from Setau
ket week-day meeting for near a year, and
there being but few friends living there, the
Monthly Meeting discontinue it, though not
so far as to debar Friends to meet for silent
sittings.

101

1770, the Monthly Meeting appoint a com
mittee to go down and visit the few Friends
keeping a meeting at Stony Brook, to see
whether the First-day meeting was kept up
to the reputation of the Society. In 1774, it
is discontinued, as most Friends have moved
away. 1778, John Hallock left the interest
of $50 for the support of the poor of this
meeting. Humphrey Norton came to Southold, Feb
ruary 12, 1658, on his way to the Dutch
Plantations. He was seized and sent to New
Haven, (1) for going into the meeting house
on the Lord's day and speaking against the
pastor, John Youngs; (2) for seducing the
people from attendance on the minister ; (3)
for his heretical opinions ; (4) for vilifying
the magistrates ; and (5) for disturbing the
peace. 1659, Arthur Smith is whipped for
embracing Friends' opinions. 1661, John
Budd, Sr., is fined £5 for harboring Quakers.
1700, Joseph Mapes desired a meeting to be
appointed once a year at Southold, but Friends
thought best to forbear for the present. 1707,
John Fothergill says : " The preacher and
the justice at Southold consulted together
while we were at a meeting, in the evening,
and contrived to give us some trouble." In
1737. Fothergill came to the upper part of
Southold, and lodged at an inn, where many
of the neighborhood flocked in, and we had a
serviceable meeting.
John Taylor arrived, in the summer of
1659, at Shelter Island, where he was
kindly received by Nathaniel Silvester, who
owned the island and had many Indians living
on it, who served as guides to Friends when
traveling into the country. It came into
Taylor's heart to visit Long Island and seek
the lost. He found in several towns and vil
lages pretty many fine, sober people, that
feared God and were convinced of the Truth,
and received him aud his testimony with
gladness. He traveled twice through Long
Island, and had meetings, sometimes in the
woods and wilderness. 1672, George Fox and
William Edmundson, and in 1675, Alice Cur-
wen visited Shelter Island.
In the beginning of August, 1657, an Eng
lish vessel, with five Friends, reached New
York, then called New Amsterdam. Mary
Weatherhead and Dorothy Waugh went
forth in the streets and declared the Truth.
They were arrested, and, after eight days' im
prisonment, shipped off to Rhode Island.

Soon after, Thomas Newhouse was taken up
for declaring the Word of the Lord in the
Fort. He was kept five days in prison, and
being they could not stop his mouth, sent
him off to New England. 1661, George Rofe,
sailing with two Friends in a boat from
Maryland, landed at New York and gave a
good sound in the chief city of the Dutch, but
they forced him away. John Burnyeat landed
in New York in 1666, and again in 1671, and
set sail thence in 1672, but nowhere speaks
of holding meetings there. The praise of
holding the first meeting belongs to William
Edmundson. He says: "\ landed in New
York, where no Friends lived, and lodged at
the inn of a Dutch woman. I spoke to her of
holding a meeting, and she was very willing,
and furnished a large dining room with seats.
We had a brave, large meeting. Some of the
chief officers, magistrates and leading men
were present and very attentive. The woman
of the house and her daughter wept when I
went away." 1676, Alice Curwen visited New
York, and after her departure sent an epistle
to Friends there. 1675, for refusing to train,
the constable took from William Allon and
George Masters four pair worsted and two
pair woolen stockings, worth 30s., and from
Robert Story a bat, worth 15s. 1677, John
Bowater held meetings. 1677, " Joseph Vack-
elson labored with Abraham Whirley, con
cerning his outrunnings and absenting from
meetings, to regain him to his former condi
tion. Whearlye owns that he has been guilty
of much drinking and of abusing creatures,
being drawn in by much company, who took
delight so to delude him ; but, by the help of
a merciful God, he hopes to return to his
former condition in due season, and not in a
moment, as some Ranters profess to do, but
gaining it gradually, as the Lord shall
give strength." 1680, Joan Vokins arrived
there and said hurt had been done by some,
so that Friends had lost their Fifth-day
meeting. She labored to settle it again.
After her departure she also addressed
epistles to Friends in New York. The first
mention of a settled meeting occurs in the
minutes of the twelfth of Eighth-month,
1681 : " Agreed that the First-day meeting
shall remain at Robert Story's, and the Fifth-
day meeting" at Lewis Morris', until a public
meeting house shall be provided ; and that
William Richardson and William Frampton
hire a convenient house, taking the advice of

102

Lewis Morris, Robert Story and George Mas
ters." 1682, " A committee are to endeavor
to purchase a plot of ground for a meeting
house and burying ground, and prepare tim
ber to build a house twenty feet square."
Nothing was done. 1684, it is agreed that
the meeting continue at Patience Story's.
1686-7, for not training, thirteen yards flan
nel were taken from Philip Richards ; four
teen and a half yards fine draught stuff from
Thomas Phillips ; eleven and three-quarter
yards stuff from Francis Richardson, and
three pieces Holland linen from Albertus
Brandt. 1687, Albertus Brandt and Su
sanna Telner having laid their intentions of
marriage before the meeting, Casper Hoet
andJohn Delavall are to inquire if they
are free from entanglement with any other.
1692, Miles Foster having spread George
Keith's books, the meeting was removed from
his house to Richard Jones'. Richard Gibbs
and James Mills absent themselves from the
meeting. 1696, land for a meeting house was
bought of David Lloyd for £25, bounded upon
Green street, forty by eighty feet. James
Dickinson had a large meeting, and wiped
out the reproaches that Keith had cast on
Friends. 1699, Thomas Story and Roger Gill had
a meeting, and another was appointed at
Thomas Roberts'. 1774, land in Qu'een (now
Pearl) street is bought whereon to build a
second meeting house, at a cost of £1,050. In
1776, the house was finished, and with the
lot cost £3,552.13. Ii. During the war, the
new house was occupied by the British, as
appears by the following advertisement in
Bivington's Gazette, of November 12, 1783 :
"Sales at Auction.— On Saturday, 12 o'clock, at
the Friends' Meeting, upper end of Queen St., a quan
tity of soldiers' cribs, boards, &c, by
James Barclay. "
In 1784, the repairing of the new meeting
house cost £607.10. It was taken down in
1824. The old meeting house being decayed,
in 1794, a new building was put up adjoining
it, but fronting on Liberty street, which was
used as a school for seven years, and a place
of worship. In 1802, both were removed, and
a new house was built, of brick, sixty by
forty feet. This property was sold to Grant
Thorburn, in 1826. In 1819, the Hester street
meeting house was built. 1823, the Rose
street meeting house was built, aB better ac
commodations were required for the women's
yearly meeting, $5,000 is wanted.

Westbury was sometimes called Wood-
edge and Plainedge. When Friends' prinoiv
pies first took root here we cannot say. The
earliest minute is: "1671, 23d of 3d month, it
is adjudged that there shall be a meeting
kept at the Woodedge, the 25th of 4th month,
and so every fifth First-day." Friends met at
the houses of Henry Willis and Edmund
Titus. 1678, Henry Willis was fined £10, for
having his daughter married to George Mas
ters according to Friends' ceremony, and on
refusing to pay it, Joseph Lee, under-sheriff,
seized his barn of corn. 1682, " the settling
of the meeting of Friends at the Farms
[Jericho] and at Woodedge, whether it be
convenient for them to be in two meetings or
not is left to the consideration of the monthly
meeting." 1690, " the matter of dividing
Jericho week-day and Westbury meeting
into two,, coming up, the sense of the monthly
meeting is that Friends of both places keep
their weekly meetings, all together at each
place" alternately. 1697, " a meeting shall
be kept every five weeks, on the First-day, to
begin at Edmund Titus', the next First-day at
Jericho, next at Bethpage, next at Jerusalem,
and next at Hempstead." 1699, the week
day meeting is kept one Fourth-day at Hemp
stead, one at Westbury, and one at Jericho,
and so to keep their turn." 1699, 26th of 6th
month, Roger Gill says : " We went to quar
terly meeting ; 27th, we had a far larger and
.glorious meeting in a field ; to it came abun
dance of people and some Ranters, but the
Lord's power chained them down so that they
made no disturbance. I lodged both nights
at Edmond Titus'." 1701, 30th of 6th month,
in quarterly meeting at Nathaniel Seaman's,
Westbury, the building of a meeting house
was spoken to ; it is left to N. Pearsall, T.
Powell, Richard Willits, B. Seaman and W.
Willis, to inspect into the places spoken of,
and see which may be most convenient, and
treat with the owner to know the terms, who
report that they have concluded of a place
(three and a quarter acres for £4) at the Plain-
edge, that William Willis tenders. It is re
ferred to them to consider of the model and
to treat with workmen. 1702, 29th of 6th
month,,Thomas Story, " accompanied by many
Friends, went from John Rodman's, Bayside,
over the Plains to Westbury quarterly meet
ing, where we had good service, and the busi
ness being all finished, the Lord gave us a
glorious meeting on First-day, in a new meet-

103

ing "house fitted up on that occasion, and
many hundreds of Friends and abundance of
other people were there. The meeting being
ended, there came over the Plains with lis at
least one hundred horse to their several hab
itations in that quarter." 1702, 27th of 12th
month. At a quarterly meeting at Richard
Willits', Jericho, " it is concluded to enter in
this Minute-book, that since it hath pleased
God to increase the number of his dear people
so hereaway, that at Jericho and Matinecock
(the former places of Friends' quarterly meet
ing) they have not sufficient room ; therefore
they have built a meeting house on Hemp
stead Plains for that purpose and for what
further service it may be needed. The first
quarterly meeting at the new house shall
begin tomorrow." 1706, 29th of 3d month,
monthly meeting was held for the first time
in the new house. The First-day meetings
were also held here, except on the last First-
day of every month, and then at T. Powell's
Bethpage. 1708, William Willis built a stable for
Friends' horses. 1716, Nathaniel Seaman, for
35 shillings a year, provides wood, makes
fires, sweeps the meeting house, takes care to
open and shut the do'ors, looks after the
fences and other necessary things. 1716,
meetings, are to be kept every First day at
Westbury; it is not intended but that the
meetings at Bethpage and Hempstead should
be kept as usual. 1722, it will be well to en
large the meeting house. 1722, John Fother
gill attended the quarterly meeting : near
one thousand people supposed to be present.
1724, Thomas Chalkley had a very large
meeting on a First-day, and some were con
vinced. 1729, a stable is built, forty-two by
eighteen feet, with leantos nine feet wide.
1739, John Willis is to get fencing stuff and
make up the fence well about the meeting
house ground. John and Henry Willis, Silas
and Peter Titus, and Nathaniel Seaman are
to take care and mind the shutting up the
gate and putting up of the bars, and also to
speak to such as shall turn their horses into
said ground [to pasture] on a-First-days, when
there is no real occasion. 1751, the partition
of the house was altered so as to hang on
hinges and be hooked up when occasion re
quires. 1752, the fences round the house
are to be repaired, and » gate made wide
enough to pass with a cart or sled. 1753, two
acres of Plain land are added at the south end,

and a good wide gate is made at the west side,
wide enough to pass in and out with a riding
chair ; the house back and the glass win
dows are to be amended. 1755, the benches
are repaired. 1757, Benjamin Smith is to be
reasonably paid for his trouble in helping
Samuel Willis to record Friends' sufferings.
1760, the holes at the ends* and in the south
side of the roof are to be stopped and windows
and benches repaired. 1761, all gravestones
are to be removed. 1762, it being very te
dious to write on monthly meeting days, in
the winter season, and the house being cold,
Samuel Willis, is to get a good stove. 1766,
the meeting house is to be enlarged, for the
accommodation of the quarterly meeting.
1771, John Willis burnt and brought a parcel
of charcoals for the use of the meeting. 1780,
the stable is to be repaired and the pasture
ground manured. " Friends are sorrowfully
affected at the schooling of their children, in
being joined with those not Friends, and mas
ters of not good example being employed,
whereby our youth sustain -great loss, in a
religious sense ; a school house is to be erected,
so near that master and children may attend
meeting. 1781, a school house, forty by
twenty feet, is to be erected on Thomas Sea
man's land, leased for £4 a year ; tuition, 6
shillings per quarter. 1782, soldiers took
possession of the house and broke up the
school. In 1784, it was repaired. 1782, John
Pemberton, on First-day, in the afternoon, had
a large meeting of the black people, who be
haved well. 1784, " it was proposed whether
some advantage may not arise by appointing
some meetings particularly for the negroes."
Four were appointed. 1792, some Friends
have scruples about using the products of
slave labor. 1793, several satisfactory meet
ings for blacks have been held, the considera
tion thereof is left off the minutes for the
present. 1796, 3d month, to the poor of New
York, Westbury meeting sends £4.17 and
eight loads of wood ; Matinecock meeting
sends £16.12.1 and two cords and one load of
wood ; Cow Neck meeting sends £8.2 and one
and three quarters cords of wood. 1799, 5th
month, Westbury contributes to the neces
sitous of New York, cash, £29.16.9 and five
loads of wood, half a hundredweight of
Indian meal, and half a hundredweight of
rye. 1800, a new meeting house is built,

* These end-holes were made by clapes, for their
nests.

104

forty "by fifty-seven feet, and twenty-two
feet posts, at a cost of £822.9.10. 1801, as
there is a scarcity in England and Ireland,
the meeting sends over £108.12.11. 1803,
£15.4 is raised toward civilizing the Indian
natives, and in 1807, £11.10. 1810, more
shelter for horses is needed, and a stable is
built— cost, $218.28. 1818, a horse stable is
built, one hundred and ten feet long and
twenty;feet wide— cost $331.19. " The burial
committee are to attend all funerals in our
ground, and see that 'decency and good order
are observed therein." 1827, $2,000 is to be
raised for a deficiency in the fund for the civ
ilization and improvement of the Indians.

IN MEMORIAM.
Died at Flower Hill, Manhasset, February 8, 1852,
Joseph Onderdonk, in the 86th year of his age. He
was born at Cow Bay, March 14, 1766, and so was bat
little over ten years old at the time of the Declaration
of Independence, a copy of which, in the form of a
handbill, was sent to his father, Adrian O., who was
Deputy Chairman of the Whig Committee. This he
read aloud to his father's family, as they were called
together for that purpose, alter the noontide meal.
The events of the Revolution were deeply impressed
on his mind. He saw the first movements for organ
izing Whig Committees and diffusing Whig principles,
After the euemy got possession of Long Island, he
saw the British light-horse, 17th dragoons, when they
rode up to his father's house (September 21) and car
ried him off, a prisoner, to the Provost in New York.
He also walked amid the ruins of the great fire in New
York, in 1776, and saw the naked walls of Trinity
Church as they stood, black and crumbling from the
effects of heat. He heard, while at work in his
father's cornfield, the booming of cannon at the bat
tle of White Plains. He recollected being in the har
vest-field, in 1778, when his uncle, Hendrick O., rode
in expressly with an extra gazette containing news of
the battle of Monmouth. He caught the small-pox
from a British soldier of the Refugee corps lying at
Herricks. In the hard winter of 1780, he saw the
British outposts as they were marching through the
snow, kuee-deep, having been called in from the east
end of the Island, for the protection of New York city,
whose harbor was for weeks bridged over with ice.
At the time Burr's store, in Manhasset Valley, was
robbed and the owner shot, he was patrolling with a
gun in the locusts near his father's house, aud saw the
whale-boats as they quietly dropped down the bay,
and he even came in contact, with one of the robber
crew who had escaped with a wound in the chin. He
had occasionally to serve as wagoner to the British
forces in carting wood and warlike stores, and was
once sent with his father's team to transport soldiers'
rations from the Dutch Church in Jamaica (then used
by the enemy as a store-house) to Colonel Wormb's
?iiarters at Westbury. At tho evacuation of the
sland, in 1783, he being impressed, with his father's
team, assisted in removing the baggage of the camp-
followers from Success Church by way of Black-stump
to Newtown. He saw the execution, at Jamaica, (No
vember 2, 1784), of two men who robbed Thomas
Thorne, east side of Manhasset. He often used to
repeat, in the Dutch language, portions of the prayer
of Domine Eubell, a tory, who in his Sabbath day in
tercessions never forgot " Our good King, George the
Third, Queen Charlotte, and the Princes and Priu-
cesses of the Royal family, as well as the Lords of
-Parliament." He also saw one of the eye-witnesses
of the execution of Nathan Hale, (who was captured
near Huntington), from whose lips he heard a circum
stantial account of the spy's last moments. He was

present at the Federal procession in New York,* (July
23, 1788), and at the Inauguration of Washington
(April 30, 1789) as President of the United StateB. He
was a spectator in Congress (February 11, 1790,) when
a petition from Friends against the slave-trade was
presented, and heard Mr. Burke, of South Carolina,
denounce it. and " wish it disposed of at once, so that
these people (pointing to Friends in the gallery) who
sit with hats on while others have the decency to take
them off, might go home about their business." He
often saw Washington, sometimes arm in arm with
Clinton, in Cherry street, on his walk out of town,
calling now and then at the ship-yard where he was
at work. He once saw him raise his hand to his hat
in recognition of a respectful salutation from a negro.
He became a thrifty, intelligent farmer, an early
friend of the Temperance cause, always took one or
more newspapers, was a great reader, and ever ready
for improvements in agriculture. He was among the.
first of his neighbors to buy ashes and other manures
from the city, and was much given to the culture of
fruit and other trees. He even planted the nut from
which grew a black-walnut tree of siich magnitude as
to make, when cut down and sawed up into plank,
coffins for himself and wife. His grandson, Joseph
O., a volunteer in the 59th New York Regiment, lost
his life, at the age of twenty-three, at Antietam, bat
tling for the Union.

* The Committee of Arrangements, as a more
especial compliment to Hamilton, decided to substi
tute hi6 name for Washington's, already on the stern
of the Federal ship that was to be mounted on wheels
and move in the procession. He (J. O.) was present
in the ship-yard when the carpenters were contriving
what letters to take off (they being of wood, and
nailed on,) and what to ieave on. Five (W, S, H, N. G.)
were taken off and three (H. M. L.) put in their places.
The other letters were not disturbed. Thus:
H M E,
WASHINGTON.

NAMES OMITTED IN THE ANNALS.
Alexander. William, 1732.
Argent, William, 1668, cow-herd.— B, 86.
Ashley, John, 1726, witness.
Anton, Hendrick, 1709.— D, 118.
Bearsley. John, 1676. land grant to.— B, 117.
Beef, John, 1691, sells land.— C, 56.
Bishop. Walter, 168?, witness.
Brick, John, 1676, witness.
Cocalet, Francis, 1706, blacksmith.— D, 120.
Crow. Christopher. 1680, witness.— B, 40.
Esmond, David, 1685 ; John, 1736, witnesses.
Frensham, Edward, 1661, cow-herd.
Hale, Benjamin. 1691, buys land.
Heath, John, 1668.— B, 149.
Iveson, John, 1679. land granted to.— C, 67.
Keeble, Thomas. 1715, teacher and witness.
Laicey, Jonathan, planter, 1683, buys land.— C, 76.
Mailes, Henry, 1685, buys land.
Mandeville, Hendrick, son of Gilles, buys land, 1684.
— C, 112.
May, Thomas and George, 1713, have land.
Mos, Jan, 1712, witness.
Munccy, Nathaniel, 1713.— D, 157.
Noxson. Thomas, 1689, ear-mark.— C, 81.
Poole, William, 1659, cow-keeper.— A, 54.
Prince. Robert, 1729, buys lund.— D, 383.
Reap, William, 1665, buys a horse of John Hicks— B, 33.
Safford, John, 1713, witness.
Sexton, William, 1658.
Sibley, John, 1688, buys land.
Spencer, Rachel, teacher, died 1687, inventory.— C, 192.
Stuard, John, 1691, cooper.
Tewe, John, 1665, witness.— B, 115.
Wall, Walter, 1659, cowherd*— A, 65.
Wallls, Thomas, 1684, land grant to.— C, 126.
Watson, John, 1676, land grant to. — B, 116. 127.
Wheeler, Samuel, 1665, buys cows.— B, 46, 47. 94.
Whitman, Joseph, 1661, cow-herd.— A, 75 ; B, 23!
^P" A list of Hempstead names in 1673 and 1698
may be seen in the Secretary of State's office, Albany;

INDEX.

Abit,

68-89

Abrams,

36-79

Adams, John

94

Aims, Francis

90

Akerman,

85

Alexander, William 104
Alburtis, 68-78
Algeo, David 76-77
Allen, 25-92
Allison, 19-90
Allon, William 101
Alsop, 13-94
Ambrose, Alice 100
Andrews, Samuel 93-97
Appleby, Thomas 95
Anise, 18-41
Anker, 18-34
Arden, Dr. 85
Argent, William 104
Ardway, Abner 34
Armitage, 23-63
Ashley, 87-104
Ashman, Robert 23-42
Auton, Hendrick 104
Avery, Edward 56-60
Baker, John 70
Baldwin, 7-92
Bales, Stephen & John, 92
Banbury, Edward 25
Bank, 64
Barclay, James 102
Barker, 26-34
Barnes. Joshua 80
Barnum, Nathan 90
Barton, Colonel 92
Bates, 26-97
Batty, David 79-56
Baxter, 37-75
Bayard, 57-78
Bayley, 33-69
Baylis, 34-92
Bayside, 102
Beadle, 92
Bearsley, John 104
Beats, 27-50
Beaver-dam, 68
Beaver-pay, 24-43
Bedell, 25-92
Bedient, Mordecai 28-56
Beef, John 104
Bell, 11-16
Belling, Michael 60
Benee, Abraham 80
Bethpage, 76-99
Bevel, 19-70
Biidsall, 56-92
Bishop, Walter 104
Blaikes, John 90
Bloodgood, William 13
Bloom, Isaac 78
Bloomer, Robert 91
Boman, Henry 28-31
Bond, Abraham 77
Borge, Jonathan 56
Bormen, Esaias 43
Boscobel, 58-60
Bounder, 75
Bowater, John 101
Bownas, Samuel 11-100
Bowne, 8-94
Bradford, William 12
Braine, Mr. 77
Brandt, Albertus 102
Brandy, 18
Brick, John 104
Bridges, John 14

Brindley, George 89
Brooks, Dr. David 92
Brown, Captain 77
Brownists, 6
Brudenell, Richard 17-93
Brush, 80-86
Brushy Plains, 86
Bryan, Alexander 24-39
Budd, John, Sr., 101
Bulked. 75-76
Burch, James 86
Burling, 56
Burgesses, 63
Burnyeat, John 93-101
Burroughs, Edward 13
Bnrnell, Aaron 90
Burnet, Henry 94
Burns, William 88
Burr. James 104
Burtis, 81-86
Burying place, ' 47-78
Butter, 16-40
Cage, 81-82
Cain, 87-90
Calves, 34-40
Campbell, Archibald 77
Can, 20
Canagy, John 92
Cantiage, 71-75
Cardale, Thomas 13
Carle, 38-80
Carman, 15-92
Carpenter, 33-92
Carpet, 21
Case, Thomas 96-93
Casseboom, David 86
Catted, 49
Cavally, William 90
Cedar Swamp, 32-89
Chalkley, Thomas 93-103
Champion, 7-48
Chapell, Francis 7-60
Charlton, Richard 47
Chasmore, Richard 93-96
Chatterton, M. 37-38
Cheesman, 56-79
Cherry tree hollow, 19
Chew, 25-30
Chekanow, 20-44
Chichester, James 97-100
Chock, Peter 37
Clams, 77-81
Clarke, 22-78
Clasen, Derick 22
Clayton, Samuel 89
Clear, John 14
Clement, 13-94
Clerk, George 80
Clock, Peter 80
Cloos [Claus], David 90
Clowes, 66-91
Cocalet, Francis 104
Cock, 71-96
Coe, 16-63
Cook, 90
Coonlin, George 90
Colden, 72-85
Coles, 14-97
Combs, 25-84
Comstock, Samuel 25-29
Cooley, Francis 94
Cooper, 53-97
Corrtbury, 11-63
Cornelius, 18-38
Cornish, John 23-63
Cornwell, 18-95

Cow-bay, 15-104
Cow-neck, 47-61
Cowperthwaite, Hugh 11-93
Covert. 86-92
Crabbe, Richard 97
Cramer, William 44
Creed, William 84-93
Crorameline, 76-90
Cromwell, Benjamin 86
Cronkhite, Frederick 90
Crooker, William 80
Crow, Christopher 104
Cruger, H. and T. 76
Curtis, John 25-52
Cutting, Rev. L. 81-91
Cutler, John 88
Curwin, Alice 93-101
Daniels, Thomas 26-56
Davenport, Martha 92
Davidson, 76-78
Davis, Nicholas 27
Dean, 60-93
Decker, 90
Deerskins, 35
Deering, S. 42-90
Delancey, 73-90
Delavall, John 102
Demont, Thomas 17-38
Demott, 82-92
Denison, Frederick 90
Dennis, George 96
Denton, 5-90
Dewsbury, John 97
Diamond, Jacob 90
Dickey, Alexander 90
Dickinson, 14-102
Dinge, 56-76
Disborow, 24-56
Ditmars, Mr. 92
Dogs, 17-74
Dole, John 97
Done, John 90
Dongan, 57-71
Dorland, 35-92
Dosenboro, Hend'k 35 74
Doty, 64-90
Doughty, 13-9-->
Downing, Henry 77-87
Doxey, Solomon 79
Drams, 18-35
Di-isius, Rev. Samuel 7
Drum, 11-47
Duch, Mary 54
Dunbar, John 87
Dung, 42-45
Durfey, Richard 71
Duryea, George 84
Dusenbury, 58-100
Dutch, 17
Eagles, John 95
Earable, 42
East Meadow, • 32-82
Edmundson, Wm. 96-101
Eldert, 79-86
Eldt-ed, Benjamin 85
Ellison, 19-87
Elms, 89
Ellsworth, John 86
Elvin, George 92
Emery, F. 54-80
Esmond, 104
Essay or Esset, J. 21 38
Evans, 80-100
Everett, 38-81
Fail-field, 34-50

Farmer, John 92
Farms, The 98-102
Farquhar, 76
Farrington, John 94
Feake, John 96-97
Fease, Thomas 29-48
Field, Robert 10-94
Finch, John 67
Fish, 77-86
Fleet, Luke 86
Flewelling, Thomas 64-73
Flie, 60
Flower, 54-86
Flower Hill, 58-104
Flushing, 94
Folly, 50-52
Ford, 34-90
Fordham, 7-63
Forman, 18^41
Forts, 16-C2
Fosdick, Morris 83
Fossecor, John 73
Foster, 18-102
Fosters Meadow, 35-100
Fothergill, John 95-103
Foucks, John 63
Fowler, George 72
Fox, George 93-101
Frampton, William, 101
Franklin, Thomas 95
Frans, Francis 16
Freeman, Mary 34
Frencham, Edward 104
French, Edward 52-96
Friends, 5-93
Frost, 27-98
Fulling-mill, 61-78
Gale, Abel 32-45
Garrison, Jonas 90
Germon, Isaac 73-74
Gibbs, Richard 102
Gigory, Robert 79
Gildersleeve, 5-86
Gill, Roger 7-102
Godfrey, Robert 31
Gouldiug, Ephraim 14
Gravesend, 93
Gravestones, 94-99
Green, Richard 86
Grenel, 76
Griffith, John 96
Gritman, 77-79
Guilder, 7-18
Hagewout, L. 77-80
Haight, 80-94
Hale, Benjamin 104
Half Neck, 28-79
Hall, 56-86
Hallett, 14-94
Hallock, John 100-101
Halstead, 29-80
Hamilton, 90-104
Hankins, John 56
Hare, Edward 55-60
Harker, Richard 93-96
Harned, Jacob 100
Harman, Jonathan 18
Harvey, Matthew 96
Hasock, 7-59
Hawxhurst, David 90
Haviland, 60-80
Hawarden, Thomas 60
Hawkins, Zophar 87
Hay ward, 46
Heath, John 104
Hedger, 33-56

106

Hegeman, Andris

81

Lloyd,

21-102

Hendrickson,

77-92

Loosley & Elms,

89

Herrick, William

24

Lokerson, John

31-36

Herricks,

43-104

Lord's-day,

18-24

Hewlett,

19-92

Losee,

77-85

Hickey, Thomas

, 86

'Lott, HarmoneB

83

Hick6,

13-100

Lucas, Eldert

77-78

Higbie, Edward

22

Ludlow,

85-88

Higham, Thomas
Hill,

36-57

Lum, John

63

33-87

Lusum,

98

Hobart, Jeremy

7-53

Lynas, Roger
Mackerel, James

38

Holder, Christopher 93

89

Hodgson, Robert

5-99

Maconn, Samuel

64-98

Hoet, Caspar

102

McKein, George

80

Holdra, Joseph

90

McLean, Daniel

80

Holme. Benjamin

100

Mad Nan's Neck,

44-59

Hollands beer,

21

Magens,

76

Hollow hills,

100

Mailes, Henry

104

Hollows,

18-59

Makeless, James

80

Horner, Isaac
Horsfield, Israel

96-97

Mallinson, Joseph

62

77

Mandeville,

104

Horse-race,

47-89

Mangoube,

51

Houldsworth, Jonas 42-43

Manee, Abraham

80

Hubbard, Sergeant

59

Mannering, Richard 67

Hubbs,

14-67

Manure,

18-19

Huchings,

56-95

Manzer,

90

Hudson,

24-63

Mapes, Joseph

101

Hughs, John

63

March, John

36-56

Hugins, James

74

Marsapeck,

20-51

Hunt, John

14

Marsh, John

74

Huffman, Frederick 90

Marshall, John

28-35

Hungry-harbor,

62-68

Martin,

23-100

Hulst, Flower

87

Marvin,

17-84

Inians, John

56

Mash, John

67

Innes. Alexander

60

Mason, Peter

54

Ireland,

18-63

Maskachung,

71

Island of Trees,

25-39

Masters, George

101-102

Iveson,

7-104

Mataganets bay,

44-72

Jackson,

7-95

Matinecock,

8-96

Jades,

32-46

Matthews,

23-83

Jamaica,

9-93

May,

104

James, John

16-22

Mead,

19-41

Jarmin,

36-73

Meantinnemin,

41

Jarvis,

76-90

Menzies,

90-91

Jeecocks,

7-74

Merrick,

42-81

Jerusalem,

8-99

Messenger, Andrew 22-38

Jennings,

9-84

Methodist,

82-84

Jenney, Rev. Robert 51-73

Michaelmas,

26-39

Jericho,

8-98

Miles, Samuel

91

Johannes, Minne

27-28

Miller,

56-79

Johnson,

26-67

Mills,

31-102

Jones,

25-10a

Minthorne, Richard 7-59

Jordan,

72-100

Mitchell,

67-83

Keeble,

66-104

Monfort,

64-87

Keeler, Ralph

27

Montauk,

20-51

Keith, Rev. George

11-102

Moutonye, John

78-80

Kellum, John

84

Montresor, Henry

76

Ketcham, Israel

100

Moore,

16-94

Kidd, Benjamin

100

Morgen,

18

Killingworth,

96

Morrell, John

80

Kills,

93-94

Moiris, Lewis

47-102

Kirk, E.

99

Mott,

11-100

Kissam,

56-92

Mos, Jan

104

Knowles, Alexande

' 39

Moyles, William

71

Knoll, Michael

90

Muches,

30-48

Lack, Mr.

67-69

Mudge,

46-71

Laicey, Jonathan

104

Munroe, Harry

77

La Montagne,

10-39

Muncey, Nathaniel

104

Lamberson,

86

Nants, John Smith

23-39

Lamson, Richard

22-37

Newhouse, Thomas

101

Lane, Tice

87

New Crania,

49

Langdon,

19-92

Newton, Captain

19

Latham, Joseph

95-99

Newtown,

93

Latten,

21-98

Nichols,

83-90

Launcelot, Samuel

56

Ni'coll,

45-88

Lawrence,

63-93

Nicolls,

46-66

Lawler, D.

88

Noble, William

32-94

Lean-to,

65-73

Northwoods,

62

Lee,

36-102

Norton,

91-101

Leffert, John

83-90

Nostrand,

85-91

Lefford, James

87

Nottingham, S.

99

Legross, John

90

Noxon, Thomas

104

Lester,

70-90

Oakey, John

14-52

Lewis,

75-87

Oakley,

34-87

Leveridge, William 93-100

Ogden,Okissam, John

37-63

Lines, William

78

81-36

Linington,

20-78

Oldfield, Augustus

73

Lisk, Charles

76

Olmstead, Joseph

90

Little-plains,

39-72

Onderdonk,

58-104

Livingston, Major

86

Opdyke, Gisbert

88-89

Osborne,

25-82

Sagamore,

19-53

Outcry,

31-67

Sammis, Nehemiah 80-86

Owen, Jonathan M

90

Sands,

61-92

Oysterbay,

94-96

Scepel,

17-42

Pageot, Henry

86

Schadden, W.

18-46

Palmer,

58-59

Schenck,

81-83

Parr, Captain

85

Schol,

30-74

Patrick, Daniel

94

Schools,

18-80

Pearsall,

7-102

Schott,

7-63

Pearson, Nathaniel 99

Scott, John

44-47

Peat, William

61-72

Scudder,

93-100

Pedly, Roger

31-56

Seabrook, Thomas

25

Pemberton, John

103

Seabury,

76-84

Penawitz,

15

Sealy, James

80

Penn, William

93

Searle, Richard

71

Perambulate

71

Seaman,

6-103

Percey, James

90

Scaring,

7-86

Peters,

69-90

Searingtown,

81

Peterson,

27-86

Segoond.

91

Pettit,

30-92

Sequetauge,

99

Phillips, Thomas

102

Sexton, William

104

Phoebus, William

82

Setauket,

35-100

Pierce, Joseph

72

Sewaut,

23

Pigeon,

BO-90

Shadbolt,

64-98

Pine,

7-86

Sharpstone. Peter

90

Place,

75-91

Shaw, Samuel

80

Plain-edge,

102

Shearman, Thomas

63

Piatt,

77

Sheep parting,

77-85

Plum, Timothy

33

Shelley, Samuel

74

Plummer, Enoch

82

Shelter Island,

101

Poor-house,

79-81

Shepard, John

31

Poole,

80-104

Sbilletoe, Thomas

99

Post, Mary

96

Sibley, John

104

Pond,

43-78

Silver,

27-65

Pound,

39-83

Silvester, Nathanie

,101

Poyer. Thomas

37

Simcoe, Col.

88

Powell, Thomas

103

Simonson,

76-86

Preston, George

100

Skidmore.

22-92

Prier,

96

Skinner, Abraham

86

Puddenton, Sarah

46

Slaves,

43-77

Prime, Ebenezer

100

Slew.

59

Prince, Robert

104

Small pox,

78-80

Protor, David

90

Smith,

7-92

Prudden, John

94

Snedeker,

58-87

Pumpkins,

50

Southard,

20-84

Puntine, W.

93

Southwoods,

42

Races,

89

Spencer,

30-104

Rainer,

24-90

Spicer, Samuel

93

Ranters,

8-102

Spragg,

19-92

Rapelye, Cornelius

90

Spratt, Nathaniel

31

Raymond.

84-90

Springfield,

98

Reap, William

104

Stags,

37-46

Reckitt, William

97-98

Stanton, D.

100

Reeves, John

90

Starr,

30-57

Remsen,

64-89

Stepfen, Herman

25

Rhoads,

33-86

Stephens, Widow

Richards, Philip

102

Charity

10-94

Richardson,

97-102

Stephenson,
Stell, Joseph

9-94

Richbell, Mr.

45-97

25-50

Rider, John

69

Stevenson, Thomas

8

Riedesel,

90

Sticlin,

24-63

Riley, James

54-56

Stilwell,

19-80

Rhinehart, Granny

80

Stimetson, Christofel 86

Risden. Mr.

25

Stites, Richard

24-79

Roberts, Thomas

102

Stiver,

26

Robinson, John

61

Stockfort,

80

Rock,

19-92

Stocks,

14-81

Rockaway,

48-100

Storg, John

23-51

Rock Hall,

89

Stony Brook,

101

Rockwell, Joseph

76

Story,

9-102

Rocky-hill,

93

Stringham,

72-92

Rodes,

23-86

Stuard, John

104

Rodman, Dr. John

8-102

Sturgis,

20-38

Hoe,

27-74

Success,

44-75

Roelofsin, Peter

45

Sutton,

26-74

Rof e (or Rose), George 101

Sykes, John

96

Rogers,

63

Tackapousha,

16-57

Roney, Lieutenant

87

Talman, Lieutenant

90

Rootes, Uriah

60-63

Tanner, Nicholas

22-63

Rous, John Smith

80

Tappan,Taylor,

63-78

Row, John

27

11-101

Rowland,

74-77

Telner, Susana

102

Rubell, J. C.

104

Tenths,

16-42

Rushmore,

19-84

Terry,

28-48

Ryder, James

86

Tewe, John

104

Ryerson,

77-88

Thickston, William

29-63

Sabbath,

15-18

Thomas, John

63-98

Sack,

20-32

Thompson, Thomas

95

Safford, John

104

Thomson, Paul

90

Sag,

37

Thorburn, Grant

102

107

Thorne, 36-104
Thurston, 61-80
Tidrick, Christopher 90

Till, James

33

Tilton, John

93

Tilsom,

48-68

Titus,

7-103

Tobacco,

26-50

Toffey, John

78

Tompkins, Mary

100

Topping, Thomas

16

Totten,

26-87

Townsend,

33-97

Traves,

90

Tredwell,

25-91

Trimans, Oliver

27

Truxton. Thomas

76

Tryon, Gov. William 89

Tyssen, Elizabeth

37

Underhill,

34-97

Underwood, Widow

80

Vackelson, Joseph

101

Valentine,

13-90

Van Cott,

87

Van Dervleit,

58

Van Derwyck,
Van Dewater,
Van Nostrand,
Van Wyck,
Vokins, Joan,
Verity,
Vesey, William
Wakeman, Rev.
Wall, Walter
Wallis, Thomas
Walker, Zachary
Walnut hollow,
Walters, Henry
Walsh, Rebecca
Wamassomom,Wampum, Wandall, Thomas
Wandance,Wanser,Washborn, Waskeat, John
Watermelon,Waters, Oliver
Watson, Watts, George

13-80
79-83 78-9288-91
97-101 79-90 7-73 19
104
104 93
19-37 879553
26-51 24 51
87-90 16-46 54 43
90
90-104 92

Waugh, Dorothy
Weatherhead, Mary
Webb, Major
Weeks,Weir, William
West, John
Westbury, Wetherby,
Wey, Whale Neck,
Wheeler, Samuel
Whelpley, Henry
Whipper, Whirley, Abraham
Whitehead, White, Edward
Whiting, Benjamin
Whitman, Joseph
Whitson, Wiate, William
Wickes,Wilkes, John
Wiggins,Wilkin s, Isaac
Willard, Abijah

101 101
¦ 86
7-98
28-50 57-63 8
85-54 11-9457-66 104 4270
101
11-85 97 87
104
63-9927-56 7-63 96
76-90 76

Willett, Captain 6-52
Willets, 84
Williams, 14-95
Willi t, Thomas 27
Willits, 9-103
Willis, 7-103
Willy, John 46
Wilson, 36-93
Wiltse, 68-78
Windmill, 78-88
Wolver hollow, 85-89
Woodedge, 44-102
Wood, 7-92
Woodhull, Richard 26-50
Woolley, 59-87
Woolsey, George 38
Wormb, 95-104
Wormington, John 88
Wowachone, 59
Wright, 62-97
Yates, 18-51
Yeomans, Christopher 26-54
Yorkshire, 53
Youngs, 76-101

Documents and Letters
INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE
THE
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS
OF
QFIINi COUNTTTf N. Y.f
WITH
Connecting Narratives, Explanatory Notes,
and Additions,

Henry Onderdonk, Jr.,
A. B., University of Cambridge,
A. M., Columbia College.

[SECOND SERIES.]

HEMPSTEAD, L. I.,
LOTT VAN DE "WATER,
1884.

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL HISTORY,
BY HENRY ONDERDONK, Jk., OF JAMAICA, L. I.

Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County  1846
Letters to J. F. Cooper on the capture and death of General Woodhull (cuttings
from the Home Journal)*  1848
Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties, Battle of Long Island and
British Prisons and Prison Ships  1849
Genealogy of the Onderdonk Family (in Riker's Newtown)  1852
Queens County in Olden Times, first series  1865
" second series, ready for the press  
Suffolk County in Olden Times, Newspaper Cuttings*  1865
Kings County in Olden Times, Newspaper Cuttings*  1 866
Bibliography of Long Island (in Furman's Antiquities)  1866
Reformed Dutch Churches and Ministers on Long Island (cuttings from the Christian
Intelligencer)*  1866
Ancient Agriculture, Stock-breeding and Manufactures in Hempstead (in Report of
Queens County Agricultural Society)  1867
Governor Stuyvesant and the Quakers (cuttings from the Christian Intelligencer)* . . 1868
Rise and Growth of the Society of Friends on Long Island and in New York City
(in American His. Record)  1872
Jamaica Centennial, July 4th, Newspaper Cuttings*  1876
Letters on School and College Life, Newspaper Cuttings*  1876-8
Annals of Hempstead, and Rise and Growth of Friends  1878
Roslyn in Olden (Revolutionary) Times, including Military Correspondence of Gen.
Tryon, Col. Hamilton and Major Kissam, 1777 to 1782, Newspaper Cuttings*. . 1879
Induction of Rev. William Vesey (cuttings from the Churchman)*  1879
Criticism on Thos. Jones' History of New York (in Magazine of American History). 1880
Antiquities of the Parish Church, Hempstead, including Oyster Bay and the Churches
in Suffolk and Kings Counties  1880
Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica, including Newtown and Flushing, being
the first Episcopal Church on Long Island  1880
History of the First Reformed Dutch Church, Jamaica  1884
* These cuttings may be seen in the Astor and some other Libraries.

INDEX.

See also Pages 6€5 and. 67.

A boll,
Abercrombie,Abrahams,Akerly, Albeitson,Alexander, Algar,Alien, Altop,Amerman, A mill,
Appleby,Apthurp, Aiehdate, Arding,Armstrong, Bnche,
Bailey, Baldwin,Banks,Bardin,Bates, Baxter,Bay ell,
Baylio,Beacons,Beuinan,Beats ley,
Bedell,Ballard,Benhain,Beuuei, BtiUSOD,Bergen,Beits. Beven,
Bitch, Birdsall,Bishop, Blakely,Blatchly,Bloodgood,
Bogart, Botfle, BOSS, Bowden,
Bowne, Box,Bragaw, brasher,
Bras-*, Brinckerhoff, Briuley,Brewer ton,
Bricks, Broadstreet,Brooks, Brown, Br a en,
Brusb, Buffit,Burling^Burns, Burr,
Burroughs,
Burtis, Campbell,Cardenj Carll,
Carman, Carnegie,
Carpenter,' Carryer,
Cashow, Casseboom,Cattle,

6

Dhamier,

6-15

Farmer,

65

Hoxie,

62

19-20

Jhichester,

15

Farrington,

27-60

Hubbs,

6-61

28

Christie,

7

Fascines, *

33 42

Hudson,

/ is

51

Clayton,

11

Field,

25-59

Huff,

1465

6-68

Cleaveland,

18

Fish,

25-28

Huntington,

17-32

55-69

Clements,

60-70

Fitch,

8

Hurley,

6

13

Clerk.

28

Fitzsimons,

28

Husted,

60

1-67

Clinton,

6-68

Flag of truce.

52-58

Hti tellings,

51

30- (i5

Clowes,

29 47

Fleet,

20

Huyne,

42

5-65

Cochran,

19

Floyd,

13-15

Inglis,

21

20

Cock,

5-64

Folliot,

. 25

Ireland,

51

44-51

Coe,

25 65

Forage,

35-44

Jackson,

5-47

25

Colden,

16-60

Forbes,

25

James,

37

11

Cole,

80

Ford,

62

Jaiv s.

18-24

85-28

Coles.

5-68

Foster,

55-65

Jauncey,

13

19-47

Coiville,

26

Fowler,

60

Johnson,

fi-57

30

Combes,

23

Franklin,

27-55

Johnston,

9-30

21-22

Comely,

17

Fraser,

16

Jones,

6-67

14 67

Couklin,

19-21

Fredericks,

5 64

Kearney,

18

2:

Cornell,

22-68

French,

22-47

Kelltun,

19

25-31

Cornwallis,

64

Friends,

59-60

Kelly,

25-45

05

Cornwell,

6 65

Fritz,

67

Kelsey,

20-68

47-51

Cortelyou,

30

Froeligh,

62-63

Kerin,

23

27

Covert,

65-67

Frost,

54

Kerr,

18

65

Cowenhoven,

7-63

Fuller,

27

Ketcham,

19-21

84

Cox,

28

Gall) taith,

22

Keteltas,

65

18-59

Coxe,

55

Gallows,

70

Kiersted,

27

29-69

Craft,

54-08

Garden,

16

Kip,

23

6 67

Creed.

23-69

Gardiner,

30

Kirk,

51

24

Creighton,

2t>

Gates,

48

Kissam,

5 65

30

Crew,

11-12

Gildersleeve,

21

Knapp,

33

T-68

Ciommeline,

21-26

Gillet,

19

Knight,

20

30

Crooker,

6

Gleane.

26-65

,Lam bet-son,

26-27

7

Crosoie,

52-57

Goolden,

10

Lambert,

19

22-69

Cross,

29

Gorsline,

70

Langdon,

65

27

Cruder,

20

Graham,

27

I. an man,

28

7 18

Cutler,

20 44

Grant,

24

I.atnam,

51-65

5-65

Cuyler.

24

Greaves,

23

Laton,

22

21

Dashwood,

24

Greene,

7-21

Litting.

54-68

2

Davenport,

6-68

Greswold,

6 26

Lawrence,

2360

19

Davis,

6- 19

Grigg.

26

Lefferts,

12-63

2b

Deane,

23

Griunell,

13-17

Lefford,

18

11-65

Debevoise,

65

Guards,

32-52

Leland,

18-42

2<J

De Lancey,

9 52

Guthry,

69

Lent,

18 30

28

De Milt,

51

Hagner,

28

Leonard,

22-55

27

De Mott,

67

Haines,

49

Lester,

19-31

8-60

Dennis,

18

Hallett,

24-30

Lewis,

19-33

64

Denton,

22-68

Hamilton,

12-59

L'Hommedieu,

8 65

7

Denyse,

10-30

Handheld,

45

Livingston,

7-47

30

De Shaw,

50

Harper,

23

Lloyd,

24

29

Dickey,

53-54

Harriot,

30

Lockwood,

669

27-51

Dickson,

18

Harris,

25

Loines,

61-65

10-37

Diemar,

11

Harrison,

18

Long,

23-38

18-20

Uingey,

63

Hart,

20

Loosley,

5

2b

Ditiuars,

30

Harvey,

8

Loring,

23-56

20

Dix,

10-16

Hauxhurst,

51-68

Losey,

5

22 65

Dodge,

17-64

Haviland,

28

Lott,

30-65

30-36

Doty,

65

Hawley,

13

Loulber,

9

44

Doughty,

28-30

Hazard,

30

Ludlam,

25-65

21-65

Douglass,

65

Heartt,

21-63

Ludlow,

21-59

19

Downing,

18-61

Hegeman,

5-51

Ludlum,

33

22-60

Drummond,

10

Hendrickson,

20-70

Lugrin,

23

18

Dudley,

26-30

Herd.

22

Lutwych,

55

5-70

Dunbar,

7-18

Heron, Wm.

62-53

Luyster,

5-65

23-30

Duncan,

23

Hewlett,

5-69

Lyons,

45

51

Dmihip,

21

Hicks,

8-61

McAuley,

29

21

Durland,

65

Hinchman.

9-70

McConnel,

25

19

Duryea,

51-65

Hildreth,

28

Macoun,

68

6-65

lildert,

30

Hobart,

18

DcDonald,

30

6-67

Kllison,

25

Holland,

10

McDowel,

12

65

lilms,

5

Holroyd,

47

McEvers,

29

7-65

Elwin,

65

Hoogland,

33-60

McFarren,

17

15

Emmot,

21

Horses,

46-53

McGill,

20

5-68

Erskine,

7

Hosmer,

26

McKay,

16

29

Everit.

24-64

Howe,

9-12

Mackrell,

27

6 64

Fanning,

18

Howes,

Si)

1 Marr,

40 42

Marsh,Martin,Matthews,Menzies,Miller,Mills,Mitchell,Moffet, Monfort,
Moore. Morrell,Morrison, Mott,Moxsom,Mudge.Murray, Myers,
Newbury, Nicholson,Nicoll,Nohlet, Norton,Nostrand,Nottingham,Nova Scotia,
Nursery, Oakley,Ochiltree, Ochse,Ockei-son, Ogden,Ogilvie,Oldfield,Onderdonck, Palmer,Parker,
Parole,ParBell, Parsons, Passports,
Paumier, Payne, Pearsall,
Peareee, Peters,
Pettit, Phillips, Pine,Pinfold,
Place, Piatt,Poers,Polhemus, Pool,Poet, Powell,

36-27 7-55 62
18-27 43
5-25
51-70 20
82-64 11-68 18-51 8-29 5-618-59 51
23 49 6
11
10-62 25
10-65 6-30 24
58-63 22
11-61 37 11
30-5721-2 i
2764
16-68 16-8013-45 6-55 29
28-52 7-54 21 7
8-61 69
31-6228-65 48 1533
5-686 55
49-53 12-6510-6826-6860-68

Prentice,

23

Prince,

22

Prior. Edmund

28

Probasco,

9

Provoost,

29

Ptirden,

50-51

Rapelve,

1664

Ray,

28

Eeed,

55

Refugees,

47

Remsen,

6-68

Rhine-lander,

84-62

Rhodes,

5-28

Riedesel,

11-55

Riker,

6

Rinehart,

10

Robbins,

51

Robertson,

13-58

Robinson,

68

Rochford,

28-29

Rodman,

14-25

Roe,

58

Rogers,

18-21

Rome,

55

Roome,

26-28

Rolph,-

18

Roop,

31

Rnorbach,

18

Ropkins,

26

Rowland,

60

Ruggles,

55

Ruland,

19

Rusco,

18-19

Kushmore,

64

hyers,

30

Ryerson,

29

Sackett,

7-65

Saint John,

55

Salt,

17-51

Sammis,

19-28

Sands,

6-63

Sarley,

22

Saunders,

22

Sayre.

27

Schenck,

30-51

Schools,

30-31

Scott,

8-30

Scudder,

18 30

Seabury, A.

47

Seaman,

6 68

Searing,

6-70

Seaton,

15

Sellew,

55

Shepard,

11

Shoals,

12

Signals, Silliman,Simcoe,Simmons,Skidmore,Skinner,Smith,Snedeker, Snethen,Sniffen,Spencer, Spragg,Stanton,Stein,Stewart,Stocker,Stockton, Stringham,Strong,Sutton,Snydam,Sweeten, Talman,
Tanner's bark,
Tarlton, Taverns,Taylor,Terhune,Terry,Thomas,Thompson,Thorne, Thurston,Tilley,
Titus, '
Tobias,Tobine,Toffey,Tom. Townsend,Treadwell,Troup, Trumbull,Tryon,Tuck,Underhill, Upham,
TJstick. Valentine,
Vaughn,Van Ruren,
Van Cortland,
Van Cott.
Van Derbilt,
Van Dervoort,

33-36 14
10-64 65
5 65
6 56
5-70
23-68 18
47206727 5
25-55 7-51
11-1210-65 28
17-5126 31
26
27-69 30
10-1929-46 35 30 68
20-59 21
7-69 6954
6-65 62 6
51 68
1325 5-69
13-51 9 65 6
11-6510-1922-60
11-21

353030
5-68
23-51 10

Van De Water,
Van Dnyne,
Van Dyke,
Van Home,
Van Loo,
Van Mater,
Van Nostrand,
Van Nuyse,
Van Siclen,
Van Wyck,
Wagner, Waldron,Wall,Wallace,Walsh. Walters,Walton,Warne, Washington,Waters,
Watson,
Watts, Way,
Weeks.
Westerhagen,Wetberhead, Whale boats,
Wheeler.Whitman,White, Whitehead,Whitson,Wickes.Wier, D.
Willard, Willets,
Willett,Williams,Williamson, Willis,Wilson,
Wood, Wood.
Woodhull, Woodward,
Woolley,Woolsey,Worden, Wortman, Wright,
Wurmb,Wyckoff.Yagers, Yates,
Youngs,

25-6840-6324-28 20 12
65
10-67 3025
11-68 17
2727
21-23 28
19-68 2427
6-17
25-60 21
65
21-61 51-68 17
30
17-40 26 19
18-64 7-65 60
18-68
11-36 64
14-6510-60 (i-65
24-30 5-61
67-68 17-67
43-56 6-9
21-30 7-67
16-30 4065
17-65
20-53 17-30
10-53

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS
OF QUEENS COUNTY.

We insert some disconnected passages that
were omitted in our Revolutionary Incidents
published in 1846.
1775, Jan. 14. A report was circulated that
unless Queens County organized a committee
(as requested by the Congress) the farmers
would be excluded from the New York mar
ket, and that some had actually been turned
out, which operated as intended. At Jamaica
a few persons assembled privately, two miles
from the village, made a collection for the
Constable, and got him to call a meeting
secretly. They sent for friends from Hemp
stead, to make a show of hands, and yet had
but a small majority. — Bivington's Gazette.
1775, May 10. Thomas Smith, John Hew
lett and John Townsend, Justices, of Oyster
bay, hearing of anonymous advertisements
being set up to notify the people to appear at
Jamaica, 22d instant, to choose Deputies to
form a Convention to carry the Resolves of
the Continental Congress into execution, take
this method to perpetuate to posterity, that
they pay no regard to any matter contrary to
the sacred oath they have taken to preserve
the peace of the county as far as they are
able. This protest they entered on the town
records. At the next town-meeting, April 2, 1776, it
was voted that this protest of Thomas Smith,
Esq., John Hewlett, Esq., and John Town-
send, Esq. , be erased from the records :
For — William Townsend, John Luyster,
Benjamin Birdsall, Samuel Burr, James
Townsend of Duck Pond, Joseph Coles at
Creek, Phillip Youngs, William Willis, Peter
Hegeman, Dr. James Townsend.
Against — Thomas Jackson, Penn Cock,
Mouris Cashow.
1777, April 1. At the annual town-meeting
it was voted to re-enter the narrative of the
three Justices, erased by the vote of ten men,
April 2d, 1776, when the freedom of election
was destroyed, the Congressional party came
into Oysterbay with armed force and took
great numbers of the loyal freeholders and

inhabitants prisoners ; some few they carried
off prisoners, the others they disarmed and
carried off their arms, and obliged them to
sign their paper not to oppose their measures.
This the Congressional party did some months
before the annual town-meeting in April, 1776.
The said narrative being first put on record
to perpetuate to distant ages what a large
majority of loyalists the township contained,
we humbly conceive that if the said narrative
is not re-entered (that now stands erased on
the record) the rising generation may be led
to believe that the great majority of loyalists
that voted against Deputies to form Con
gresses (at the annual town-meeting, April
4, 1775,) changed their sentiments before the
annual town-meeting, April 2, 1776. These
are the reasons of the subscribers. Thos. Smith,
John Townsend.*
Entered by order of said meeting, March
24, 1778. John Cock, Clerk.
1775, Dec. 20. Congress orders the arms
received from William Mills, Dirck Amer-
man, and John Stanson or Stein of Captain
Skidmore's company at Jamaica to be re
turned, and that Jonah Roads, Cornelius Loo-
sie, Mary Mills, Peter Fredericks and Fred
erick Amerman be paid the value of theirs.
1776, Jan. 4. The Congress recommended
that all persons opposed to the Revolution
should be held up as enemies to their country.
This caused petitions like the following to be
sent in : Thomas Place and Gabriel Van Cott
pray to be restored to the good opinion of the
friends of American liberty. Feb. 10, Cap
tain Jacob Mott. Feb. 19, William and
Thomas Cock.
1776, May 29. Charles Loosley and Thomas
Elms, Hempstead Harbor, petition the Pro
vincial Congress to be excused from military
•This John Townsend, aged 44, married (1767)
Judith Townsend, aged 17. He went once to England
during the war. He died of small pox, 1785, having
lived in concealment (for fear of Whig resentment) at
Peter R. Kissam's. His widow kept his death a secret
till she could secure all his property.

6

duty, as they were busy making paper, a
trade they were brought up to in England.
1776, June 27. Judge Thomas Jones,
while peaceably living on his estate at Fort
Neck, was taken by Major Abell and a party
of rebels, by order of Provincial Congress,
and carried to New York, for refusing to ap
pear before a Committee. Discharged, June
30, on his parole. — His. ii, 295.
In Committee, Queens Co. , )
July 1, 1776. J
The Committee took into consideration a
Resolve of Provincial Congress relating to
removal of stock* from the south side of this
county ; and, as many difficulties and impos
sibilities do appear, this Committee has ap
pointed Colonel Remsen, Colonel Robinson
and Samuel Riker to make a representation
thereof to the Provincial Congress and Gene
ral officers of the Continental army ; and of
the defenceless state of this county, and re
quest such force as shall be able, with the
county militia, to prevent our being plun
dered by the Ministerial troops ; and also to
apply for £200. Benj. Sands, Chairman.
Cow Neck, Aug. 1776.
To Geokge Townsend, Esq.,
Chairman of the Committee of Queens Co. :
Sin: As the New Levies under my com
mand are ordered immediately to march to
the west end of this Island, and as their
bounty and rations are absolutely necessary
to this end, you will therefore please to send
by the bearer hereof, Thomas T. Jackson, all
the money in your hands which Convention
have allowed for this purpose, his receipt
being your discharge. Your ccmpliance will
oblige Your very Humble Servant,
John Sands, Col.
To Mr. Samuel Townsend, Esq.:
I desire, Sir, you would deliver the money
for the bounty of Col. Sands' Battalion, agree
able to the within order.
per me,
George Townsend, Chairman.
*After the battle of Brooklyn the stock collected by
General Woodhull fell into the hands of the British,
who kept the fat cattle for army use and delivered the
milch cows, lean and young cattle, to their owners.
Daniel Chamier, Commissary General, would not help
Judge Jones to get payment for his fat cattle.— See his
Journal, i, 116-7.

Revolutionary Incidents
Rec'd, the 9th August, 1776, of Samuel
Townsend, £350, on account of money bor
rowed of the Congress, which, with the £50
paid said Samuel Townsend, makes the whole
sum borrowed from Congress, *350

£400
George Townsend,
Chairman of County Committee.
1776, Aug. 11. Judge Jones was seized
upon by Lieut. Skinner and a parcel of rifle
men, conducted to New York, and carried
before a Board of Officers. By order of
George Washington, August 13th, he was
sent to Connecticut ; August 15th, he set sail ;
19th, arrived at Norwich ; 21st, admitted to
parole within certain limits. After the battle
of Brooklyn, Gov. Trumbull let him return
home on parole. — His., Vol. ii, 297.
Rec'd, Oysterbay, 13th August, 1776, of
George Townsend, for Col. Sands, by the
hands of Samuel Townsend, £622, 14, 8 *
bounty money, sent by the Convention of the
State of New York, to pay the bounty of men
lately raised in Queens County for the pur
pose of guarding the stock of said county.
Thos. T. Jackson, f
Rec'd, the 13th August, 1776, of Samuel
Townsend, fourteen sheets, to the amount of
£68, 2, 8, rec'd per me as Chairman of
County Committee, the said money to pay the
bounty of the late Draughts under Col. John
Sands. George Townsend.
1776, Aug. 23. A list of one- fourth part of
Capt. Phillip Valentine's company, drafted,
July 25, for the American army in Brooklyn:
Benjamin Cornwell, serv't. Uriah Valentine,
Peter, serv't to Qriswold, Samuel Davenport,

William Crooker,
Daniel Willis,
Can- Hubbs,
Lott Carman,
John Newbury,
John Davis,:]:
Samuel Searing %
Samuel Lockwood.t
Richard Seaman,

Austin Williams,
John Carle.
Joseph Smith,
Samuel Place,
Charles Tims,
Peter Hurley, $
Garret Nostrand. %
William Bedle.t
William Johnson, t

*50 sheets, 99s 4d each, is £248. 6. 8
3 do. 72 dollars each, 374, 8
£622. 14, 8
The Continental currency, for convenience, was dis
tributed in sheets, and not yet cut up into separate
bills. +1781, Dec. 15. Major Thomas Tredwell Jackson,
at Peekskill, petitions Gov. Clinton for his brother to
remove from Queens County.
^Substitutes for James Tobine, Bpenetus and Uriah
Piatt, John Searing, Deiick AlbcrtBon, Peter Titus
and Richard Townsend.

At Jamaica, Benjamin Whitehead, Joseph
Dunbar and Peter Mills were drafted, but not
delivered.— Rev. Incid. Q. Co., p. 78.
1776. The Americans burnt nearly "thirty
houses on Long Island, when Washington
abandoned his lines. — Jones' Jour. , ii, 308.
After the British got possession of Long
Island, their vessels sailed up the Sound and
lay to on the west side of Great Neck.
Capt. Brinton Payne, of Westchester, hav
ing observed that a boat went from Woolley's
to two British ships lying under the Long
Island shore opposite Throg's point, crossed
the Sound on the night of August 29th, and
carried off John Woolley, Jr., a ferryman
and an invalid, and brought him before the
Committee of Safety, at Kingsbridge, one
Hewlett, taken at the same time, having es
caped. On being examined, Woolley said
that he and Phillip were brothers of Thomas
and sons of Capt. John Woolley, and that he
was going (Aug. 28) to remove his father's
boat from Thome's dock home to a safer
place to be unrigged, when he was taken,
about noon, by the British barge, and carried
on shipboard, where he saw two of Henry
Allen's negroes. The British asked him to
supply them with provisions. He replied
the cattle were all driven off. So they let
him go. Sept. 5th, Woolley, having given a
bond to the Committee, with Richard Thorne
and Henry Stocker as sureties, that he would
not quit the main land nor aid the British,
was suffered to depart.
Col. Josiah Smith's Journal. — " 1776.
I received orders from the New York Conven
tion ; July 30, was at Huntington, and set out
thence to Queens County, with Col. Sands
and Major Remsen ; 31st, I went down to
Watch Hill, to see the guard at the bottom of
Cow Neck ; Aug. 1, I spent in viewing a
proper place to erect another guard on Great
Neck ; 2d, I set out from Col. Sands' to Suf
folk County; 10th, received an express (Rich
ard [Bragaw] and John Sackett) from the
Convention to march all the new levies to the
west end of the Island ; 12th, I set out on
our march and got as far as Huntington ;
13th, got to Lieut. Increase Carpenter's; 14th,
went down to the Ferry, to Gen. Greene's,
and took up quarters for myself and regiment
at [Rem.] Cowenhoven's ; 22d, the Regulars
landed below New Utrecht, and I, with regi
ment, went down to Flatbush and near the
Regulars, out all night and our advance

Queens County — 2d Series. '
killed several of them ; 23d, all day in the
woods [of Flatbush] and incessant firing all
day— we killed a number and they wounded
four of us, and shot Col. Martin through the
breast — I was out on sentry in the, woods all
night and a dreadful thunder storm ; 26th,
relieved of guard in afternoon; 27th, alarmed
about 2 in the morning, and had many skir
mishes, and they attempted to force our lines
and killed one of my men, we drove them
back and lay in the trenches all night ; 28th,
lay in the lines all day, exceeding heavy rain
and a continual fire kept up between us and
the Regulars all day, and we lay in the
lines all night ; 29th, lay in the lines till
middle of afternoon and then marched over
to New York, staid there all night and were
alarmed about 2 in the morning that our
army was leaving our lines on Long Island ;
30th, marched to Kingsbridge ; 31st, to New
Rochelle, tried to get passage by water to
Long Island, but could not ; Sept. 1st,
marched to Mamaroneck, and there we em
barked on board vessels to go home, and
about 11 o'clock at night got ashore at Capt.
Piatt's, Smithtown ; 2d, I got home ; 3d,
went to Southold to see Col. Livingston, but
he had gone to New England ; 6th, I went to
Mrs. Woodhull's."

Jamaica, Oct. 2, 1776.
To John Hewlett, Esq.:
You are to use your utmost endeavors to
bring me cattle and sheep for the army; when
delivered, a receipt will be given, to be paid
at a certain time and place. If any butcher
or others interfere with you, under pretence
of bringing them to me, without a written
order from me, seize their cattle, put a fair
value on them, and drive them to me, and
the owners shall be paid ; also seize all sheep
and cattle of Rebels who have left their hab
itations ; and employ proper people to assist
you. For doing whereof this shall be your
warrant. Jas. Christie, Com. for Cattle & Sheep.

Jamaica, 29 Aug., 1776.
Permit Isaac Bennet to pass and repass
without molestation. Will. Ehskinb, Brig. Gen.
O  O

Flushing, 26th Sep., 1776.
To Luke Bergen :
Press two wagons for the Service of the
Light Dragoons, S. Birch, Lt. Col.
O  O

Revolutionary Incidents

Long Island,

1776.

You are hereby ordered to preserve for the
KING'S use, 3 loads of hay, 3 of wheat, 3 of
straw, 3 of rye, 3 of barley; 50 bushels of
wheat, 50 of oats, 50 of rye, 50 of barley, 50
of Indian corn ; and not to dispose of the
same, but to an order in writing, from Major
John Morrison, Commissary for forage,
as you will answer the contrary at your peril.
To Israel Pearsall.
A list of creatures taken from John Bowne
by the Major of the Light horse, for the use
of the army, viz. :
21 old sheep, at 13s., £13, 13
15 lambs, at lis., 8, 5
Flushing, 8th Month, 29th, 1776.
9th Mo. , 9th. Taken by Capt. Moxsome,
of the Light horse, for the use of the troop,
31 bush, oats, at 3s., £4, 13
1776. The Americans burnt nearly thirty
houses on Long Island when Washington
abandoned his lines. — Jones's Journal, ii, 308.
Admiral Harvey said he served in the
United States in 1776, when a middy. He
was cast away in the Liverpool in February,
on Rockaway Beach. People kind to him, a
Quaker family of the name of Hicks, and an
other family in particular. Remained quar
tered on them several weeks, part of the
time in tents, always kindly and hospitably
treated. When they (the crew) came to pay
off, and expected to have a great deal above
allowance to pay for, the good people would
take n6thing but the King's allowance, and
told them they were people in distress, and
would take nothing out of their pockets.
The first night of their going ashore and
landing in boats they swamped. The people
came down in wagons and took them up
home, changed and dried their clothes, and
gave them supper. He never forgot it. —
Irving' s Life, ii, 180.
1776, Aug. 31. Ezra L'Hommedieu writes
from Hartford to Col. Josiah Smith, on the
road with his regiment from New York east
ward :
Dear Sir : I am informed that the Regu
lars have been down on the Plains and that
it is unsafe for you to pass into any part of
Queens County. Our worthy friend, Gen
Woodhull, is a prisoner, wounded in the
head and a bayonet run through his arm.
His wound on his head was bad. He was

taken at Increase Carpenter's, alone, in the
afternoon, expecting himself at a place of
safety. I have this information from Col.
Robinson, of Jamaica, who says it may be de
pended on. I am going eastward, in order to
send over a boat to Long Island.
Lieut. Jabez Fitch writes that " On Sep
tember 6, 1776, Gen. Woodhull, of the Long
Island militia, was sent from the Mentor to
the hospital at New Utrecht. He was an
aged gentleman, and was taken by a party of
the enemy's light-horse, at Jamaica, and al
though he was not taken in arms, yet those
bloodthirsty savages cut and wounded him in
the head and other parts of his body, with
their swords, in a most inhuman manner, of
which wounds he died at the hospital ; and
though the director of their affairs took but
little care to preserve his life, yet they were
so generous to his lady as to indulge her with
liberty to carry home the general's corpse
and bury it with decency."
John Morin Scott writes (Sept. 6, 1776,)
from White Plains : "Poor Gen. Woodhull,
with a lieutenant and four men, were made
prisoners on Long Island. I had a letter
from him dated the 1st instant, but not dated
from any place, nor does he tell me how he
was taken. He has lost all his baggage, and
requested of me two shirts and two pairs of
stockings, which I should have sent him,
had not the flag of truce gone before I re
ceived the letter. I shall comply with his
request by the first opportunity."
A descendant of the inn-keeper, Increase
Carpenter, says Woodhull was in the hall as
the British entered. On arresting him, they
bid him say: "God save the King!" He
replied: "God save us all!" That did not
satisfy his captors, and they fell on him with
their swords. He rushed out of the back
door, followed by the soldiers, who stopped
him a few feet from the door, where a maple
tree to commemorate the deed was planted
by the Carpenter family. Carpenter's grand
son said he had heard say that Woodhull was
assaulted by the soldiers for refusing to drink
the King's health.
Judge Thomas Jones says, in his History
of New York, ii, 332, (but don't say who told
him), that " Woodhull took up his quarters
at an inn about two miles east of Jamaica.
His militia, panic-struck, left him and re
turned home, about forty excepted. A party
of light-horse were sent to Jamaica, the even-

Queens County— 2d Series,
ing after the battle, (August 27, 1776), as an
escort to some prisoners taken in the action.
Receiving information where Woodhull was,
they surrounded the house and made him
and his party all prisoners. Not the least
opposition was made, not a gun fired. They
asked for quarter, and it was generously
granted. The general, after his surrender,
favored by the darkness of the night, at
tempted to make his escape, but being dis
covered by the sentries while attempting to
get over a board fence, he received several
strokes from their broadswords, particularly
one upon the arm. He was carried on board
a man-of-war and treated with hospitality.
The surgeons advised amputation. He would
not consent to this. The wound mortified
and he died in a few days."*
This story of Woodhull's attempting to
escape is offset by the sworn testimony of
Robert Troup : " That while he was confined
on board a transport, Brigadier Genera]
Woodhull was also brought on board in a
shocking mangled condition ; that he asked
the general the particulars of his capture,
and was told by the general that he had been
taken by a party of light-horse under com
mand of Capt. Oliver Delancey; that he was
asked by the captain if he would surrender ;
that he answered in the affirmative, provided
he would treat him like a gentleman, which
Capt. Delancey assured him he would; where
upon the general delivered his sword, and
that immediately after said Oliver Delancey,
Jr. , struck him ; and others of said party,
imitating his example, did cruelly cut and
hack him in the manner he then was." See
also " Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk
County," pp. 31-41, and "Queens County in
Olden Times," p. 52.
This fiction of Woodhull's clambering over
a fence may have been borrowed from the
fact that when the British rode up to Robert
Hinchman's house, in Jamaica, he ran out at
the back door, and, as he was getting over
the fence, found himself surrounded on all
sides and had to "beg for quarter. All other
accounts agree in this : that the general re
ceived his wounds (by whomsoever inflicted)
when he was first captured, and none make

any mention of this attempting to escape. —
See "New York Historical Magazine," for
1861, pp. 140-233, and " H. P. Johnston's
Observations," p. 73.
Gen. Woodhull's movements (in removing
cattle out of the way of the enemy) have not
been correctly described by our local histori
ans. They misplace his letters. They are
given in the order they were written, in my
"Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and
Kings Counties," pp. 32-5. It has been
taken for granted that the letter first written
was first received. This is not so. The first
letter, by misadventure, did not reach the
Convention till after the second had been re
ceived and acted on. On August 25th and
26th Woodhull was at Jamaica village, pre
paring to move westward, and on the morn
ing of the 27th he had got to the "west end"
(not westward) of Queens County, probably
where the road runs that serves as a division
line between Kings and Queens Counties,
west of the present Woodhaven. Here he
wrote his first letter of August 27th. Then,
hearing the bad news of the defeat of the
American forces at Brooklyn, he withdrew
eastward to Jamaica village, where he wrote
his second letter of August 27th. He halted
at Jamaica yet on the 28th, whence he dis
patched his third and last letter.*
Queens County, ss.: 12th Sept., 1776.— I
certify that Abram Probasco, of the township
of Oysterbay, who had taken up arms volun
tarily in the American army, hath this day
taken the oath of allegiance to His Majesty
King George, before me, John Townsend,
one of His Majesty's justices of the peace of
Queens County. [Probasco received a pardon
from William Howe, January 1, 1777].
"To whom it may concern." These may
certify that Abraham Probasco hath this day
taken the oath of allegiance to the State of
New York. Dated this 3d day of March, 1784.
Prior Townsend, Justice.
1777. On a tombstone in the churchyard,
Flushing, is this inscription : " William Loul-

*We hesitated to give currency to this story while
the MS. containing it was kept private under lock and
key. It is now published entire ; and the credibility
of the story may be estimated by a comparison with
a score or two of other passages in the two volumes
of the " History of New York during the Revolution."

This letter was, in the lapse of time, torn in two,
one leaf (through the ignorance of the clerk) was
bound up in Vol. xvi, p. 339, of the MSS. of Provin
cial Congress and the other in Vol. xviii. p. 35. I
united the two parts and thus printed the letters en
tire. I made a like discovery in a letter (March 9,
1776,) relating to Daniel Kissam and Timothy Smith,
which was also torn apart and inserted in Vols, xxvii,
p. 23, and xxxv, p. 563.— See "Revolutionary Inci
dents of Queens County," pp. 48-50.

10
her, Ensign and Adjutant in the" Prince of
Wales' Volunteers, died February 14th, aged
35." 1777, July 12. P. Vandervoort and Rich
ardson Sands, at Middletown, intercede for
Thomas T. Jackson, a Whig, taken in the
Sound, June 3.
1778, July 24. Died in Jamaica, Rev. Wil
liam Drummond, a Scotch Refugee from New
Canaan, Ct. He was installed Pastor there
of the Congregational church in 1771 and de
posed in 1777.
1779, June 21. Henry Nicoll was married
to Elsie Willett, of Spring Hill, Flushing.
1780, June 5. The British packet Carteret
was stranded near Jones' Inlet. She was sold
at auction. Four American privateers drove
her ashore, May 24; but they were driven
off by a British fleet before they could get
much from her. Her crew escaped with the
mail to Long Island, and so to New York.

Copies of old papers of Anthony Van Nos
trand, of Wolver Hollow, who was often im
pressed by the British to do their carting :
1777, June 5. My wagon and one horse
and gears gone in the army. 5th July, I got
one horse again at Denyse's ferry at the Nar
rows ; and June 29, Samuel Stringham, the
driver, came home. So I charge the King to
twenty-five days for Stringham and thirty-
one days for the horse.
1777, Dec. 25. Justice Cowenhoven met
the people at Pool's, for to pay off for the
waggons and horses, as they were prised; and
I received for my waggon only £12.
1778, Dec. 23. Oysterbay. Received of
Mr. Antony Van Nostrant 10 bushels of In
dian corn, for use of His Majesty's troops, for
which George Brindley, Esq., Commissary of
Forage, will pay.
Seth Norton, Ass. Com. Forage.
1779. One day to Jamaica for provisions
for John Tuck, Quartermaster of Tarlton's
Legion. One day for Davis, Quartermaster,
to Jamaica and to Town.
1779, Jan. 14. Prest for to go Eastward ;
and 21st, set out from Jericho ; and 24th,
came to Sagg ; and 26th, set out from Sagg
home again ; and 27th, got home again, in
the evening.
1779, Jan. 23 and 24. Prest by the Yagers
from Norridge to go to Jamaica for provisions,
and got home the next night again.

Revolutionary Incidents
1779, Jan. 28. To Mr. Antony Van Nos- <
trand : Sir— You are hereby required to hold
your horses and waggon in readiness at a
moment's warning to cart forage to Oyster
bay. By order of
Jona. Dix, Collector of Forage.
N. B. — All gentlemen of the army will ex
cuse him from other service, as he is in the
forage employ.
1779, March 14. Prest for to go Eastward ;
and 15th, set out from Jericho ; and 17th,
came to Sagg ; and 18th, set out from Sagg
home again ; and 21st, got home at night.
1779, April 2. Oysterbay. Received of
Mr. Anthony Van Nostrant ten hundred of
fresh hay for the use of His Majesty's troops
(for which George Brindley, Esq., Commis
sary of Forage, will pay) and five miles cart
age. Seth Norton, Ass. Com. Forage.
1779, May 28. I do certify that Anthony
Van Nostrant, with his waggon, has been em
ployed in carrying the baggage of the Queen's
Rangers from Oysterbay to Valentine's hill,
from the 17th of May to the above date, being
eleven days inclusive. The above A. V. N.
is now discharged and set at liberty to return
to his respective home, which cannot be less
than two days. J. Graves Simcoe,
Lt. Col. of Queen's Rangers.
1779, Aug.- 25. Oysterbay. Received from
Anthony Van Nostrant twenty-three bushels
of oats for use of His Majesty's troops (for
which George Brindley, Esq. , Commissary of
Forage, will pay,) and six miles cartage.
Seth Norton, Ass. Commissary.
One of Mr. Van Nostrand's bills was partly
written in Dutch, his vernacular : —
Oesterbay, ye 3 October, 1779, Een vraght
rist gereden van Oesterbay na Jericho, voor
Tuck, Quartermaster van de Legion, £0.12.0.
1779, Nov. 14, Sunday. One load of hay
to Jericho for the Legion, fetched by Bill
Davis's son, taken by Holland, Quartermaster
of the Legion.
1779, Dec. 18. Oysterbay. Received from
Anthony Van Nostrand nine hundred of straw,
for use of His Majesty's troops.
N. B. Five miles cartage.
Seth Norton, Ass. Com.' of Forage.
To Geo. Brindley, Esq., Com. of Forage.
1780, June 22. For Granny Rinehart's
fees, [as midwife], paid 16s.
1780. Brought two loads of wood to Jeri
cho for Major Goolden's corps.

Queens County — 2d Series.

11

1780, July 6th. New York, Superintend
ent's office. Pursuant to His Excellency Sir
William Howe's Proclamation of the 17th
July, 1777, Permission is hereby given to
Widow Hegeman in a market craft to Bush
wick, and thence to Oysterbay [with] 14 lbs
sugar, 2 galls, molasses, 2 galls, rum, quart
cwt. rice, 10 yds. calico, 1 lb. whalebone, 7 yds
Russel, 1 lb. tea, 1 lb. coffee, 1 lb. chocolate
1 bush, salt, 1 lb. pepper, 1 pr. gloves, 6 yds
durant ; she having complied with the direc
tions contained in the above mentioned proc
lamation. Lamb't Moore, D. S.
TO THE OFFICERS ATTENDING.
1780, Sept. 23. Received of Isaac Bogart
sixteen hundred of fresh hay for the use of
His Majesty's army, carted twenty miles.
Wm. Shepard, A. C. F.
To Geo. Brindley, Esq., Com. of Forage.
1780, Oct. 15. Jericho. Received of Isaac
Bogart 228 lbs. of flour for the use of the
17th Dragoons, Capt. Diemar's, &c.
Art'r Nicholson, Quartermaster.
Ro. Archdale, Capt. 17th Drag.
To Dan'l Weir, Esq., Com. Gen'l, &c.
1780, Oct. 21. Cedar Swamp. Received
from Isaac Bogart, 7£ bushels of Indian corn
and 3^ bushels of bran, for the use of His
Majesty's troops. Sam'l Clayton, A. C. F.
To Geo. Brindley, Esq., Com. of Forage.
1780, Oct. 23. Cedar Swamp. Received
from Isaac Bogart 238 lbs. of flour, for the
use of His Majesty's troops.
Art'r Nicholson, Quartermaster.
R. Archdale, Capt. 17th Drag.
To Dan'l Wier, Esq., Com. Gen'l, &c.
[END OF VAN NOSTRAND'S PAPERS.]

1781, July 16. De Reidesel to Gen. Delan
cey: "I have to beg of you to let my perfect
satisfaction and thanks be communicated,
through the proper channel, to Capt. Youngs'
officers and troops and Capt. Van Wyck's
company of foot ; also to such of the Queens
County militia as turned out, for their alert
ness and willingness to assist Lt. Col. Upham.
It grieves me to be under the necessity of ex
cluding from this number the Huntington
militia ; but their unwilling conduct and ab
solute neglect in giving any support to
Lloyd's Neck, but too sensibly obliges me to
it." — See " Revolutionary Incidents of Queens
County," p. 223.

All stragglers, especially negroes, were lia
ble to be arrested by the British patrols.
Hence the need of a passport like the follow
ing :—

Cedar Swamp, June 10th, 1782.
The hearer, a negro man, being employed
in carting provisions for the corps of Ya-
fers, is permitted to pass to Flushing Bay
ide unmolested. Ochse, Lt. Adj't Yagers.
O  O
Having been favored by the kind and con
siderate courtesy of John D. Jones with a
copy of the "History of New York," by Judge
Thomas Jones, we select some instances of
outrage committed in Queens County during
the war of the Revolution : —
"Thomas Jones, Esq., one of the Judges-
of the Supreme Court of the Province, was
known for his loyalty and attachment to the
British Constitution. Yet did a quartermas
ter of dragoons take his horses from his
ploughs, in the busiest season of the year,
put them into his own wagons, these wagons
laden with the stores of a sutler, and Jones'
own servants obliged to drive the wagons as
far as Southampton, 100 miles, and detained
for three weeks. The servants were com
pelled to provide for themselves and horses
the whole time, and when discharged received
neither pay nor certificate." — Vol. ii, 89.
" A gentleman who was present told me
that he saw a conductor of a foraging party
put 100 horses into a countryman's barn, and
ordered them littered with oats in the sheaf,
instead of straw, and fed in the same manner.
That above 300 bushels of oats were destroyed
in this way. That the owner in the morning
civilly asked for pay or a certificate. Both
were refused. He was damned for a rebel,
and the party decamped. The name of this
farmer was Israel Oakley, of Queens County,
a loyal subject, and at this very time a Lieu
tenant in the militia by virtue of a commis
sion from His Majesty, granted by Gen.
Tryon, in 1778, under the great seal of the
Province of New York, of which he was then
Civil Governor." — Vol. ii, 88.
"One [Derick] Amberman, a miller, [at
the lower part of Foster's Meadow], had sold
some flour to a Major Stockton, of Skinner's
Brigade, who lived in the neighborhood.
The miller, wanting his money, applied for
payment. This the Major looked upon as an
affront ; therefore the next day, in company
with a Major Crew, he went to the mill fully

12

Revolutionary Incidents

bent upon chastising the insolence of the
miller, in daring to ask for the payment of a
just debt. Upon arriving at the mill, Crew
instantly began to horsewhip the poor miller,
and while he was laboring under the disci
pline of the whip, Stockton deliberately drew
his sword and ran him through the body, of
which wound he instantly died. No inquisi
tion could be taken, the civil law was at an
end, of course we had no Coroner. Stockton
was, however, taken up, confined and tried
by a, Court Martial for the murder, found
guilty, the sentence confirmed, yet, strange
to tell, never carried into execution, and —
what is almost incredible, yet averred as a
fact — Gen. Clinton sent to the widow desiring
her to join in a petition to him to pardon the
murderer of her husband ! This she abso
lutely refused. The Major continued in jail
a few weeks, was then liberated by the Gen
eral's order, and publicly walked the streets.
The military scarcely looked upon it as a
crime, at least a crime not worth punishing.
Where was the offence in murdering, delib
erately murdering in cold blood, with malice
prepense, an honest old miller, a loyal subject
of his sovereign, for daring, or rather having
the impudence to ask from an officer of the
army the payment of a small just debt ?
None, said the Commander-in Chief ; none,
said the military. Stockton was accordingly
discharged, and again employed in His
Majesty's service — a reward for murdering
one of his, good, peaceable and loyal sub
jects." — Vol. ii, 92.
' ' I have seen a conductor of wagons, upon
a foraging party, turn fifty horses into a loyal
farmer's orchard, (one Isaac Lefferts, near
Jamaica), where his apples were gathered
and put into heaps ready for making cider,
aud though the farmer earnestly begged the
conductor to put them into a field where the
ptsture was better, the request was insult
ingly refused, and the apples — which, turned
into cider, would have produced £200 — were
totally destroyed. Mr. Lefferts, upon remon
strating with the conductor against so extra
ordinary a conduct, was called ' a damned old
rebel.' He had, it is true, been a Committee
man, but upon Gen. Howe's first proclama
tion, in November, 1776, he came in, submit
ted, and renewed his oath of allegiance.
What confidence could be put in the procla
mations of Generals, when they were so fla
grantly, unjustly and openly violated? And

yet the proclamation, in consequence of which
the farmers surrendered, pledged the faith
and honor of the Crown that every person
availing himself of it should be protected by
His Majesty in his life, liberty and property."
— Vol ii, 87.
" I have seen sixty horses put into a field
of corn belonging to a farmer by the name of
[Johannes] Polhemus, about three miles
[west] from Jamaica, and the whole abso
lutely destroyed, notwithstanding all his en
treaties to the contrary. The conductor
damned him for a scoundrel, a rebel and a
villain, and swore he would do as he pleased.
This farmer was ever noted for his loyalty,
in consequence of which he had been a con
siderable sufferer while the rebels possessed
the Island."— Vol. ii, 88.
" Thomas Jackson, of Oysterbay, was a
rebel and left the Island with the rebels.
His father was a Quaker, about seventy years
of age, and a loyal subject. Yet because the
son had lived on the father's farm when the
rebellion commenced, the estate was seized
upon by order of the Court of Police; refu
gees put upon it, the wood cut down and sold,
and possession kept till ,the evacuation of
New York in 1783."— Vol. ii, 39.
"John Shoals, of Newtown, (as worthy, as
honest and as steady a loyalist as ever exist
ed), loaned the corporation of New York
£1,000. During eight years he received no
interest. At the peace the charter was re
pealed and he lost all. So obnoxious was he
to the rebels that upon the evacuation of New
York he was obliged to remove with his fam
ily to Nova Scotia." — Vol. ii, 60.
"John Willett, of Flushing, was a noted
old loyalist, nearly eighty years of age, and
had been, for opposing the rebellion, four
months a prisoner in Connecticut, some time
in Philadelphia, and some weeks in New
York. He had a mortgage of £381.12, dated
July 25, 1776, upon a lot of valuable wood
land of John Van Loo, who had gone off the
Island with the rebel army. Permission was
given to Col. Hamilton* to cut down the wood
and carry it away and sell it for his own use.
Not -a tree was left, and the mortgaged prem
ises sank to a trifling value." — Vol. ii, 46.

* Hamilton was a man of opulent fortune, a super
numerary aid-decamp to His Excellency, for which
he received 10 shillings a day for doing nothing, with
rations of all kinds for his family.— Jones, ii, 42.

Queens County— 2d Series.

13

"John Sloss Hobart and Thomas Grinnel,
many years before the rebellion, mortgaged
Eaton's Neck to James Jauncey, a noted loy
alist. The mortgagors both entered into re
bellion, and in August, 1776, abandoned the
Neck. A number of refugees shortly after
took possession without any permission, cut
down, carried off and sold in New York, for
their own benefit, large quantities of wood,
so that the estate became of less value than
the sums due on the incumbrances, while the
interest was increasing. The mortgagors ap
plied to be let into the possession or to have
the twenty refugees restrained from cutting
down, destroying and selling the wood. This
was refused, the Governor (Robertson) say
ing : ' If the poor fellows had not the liberty
of selling wood, how were they to subsist ?'
— Vol. ii, 47.
" In the summer of 1779, the 17th Light
Dragoons were again quartered at Hempstead
Three privates broke open a dwelling house
in the night and plundered it of several valu
able effects. The family being awaked by
the noise, a skirmish ensued, and one soldier
was killed. The others escaped, but being
known and sworn to by the person robbed,
they were taken up, but the British General
discharged them without the shadow of a
trial ! The dead man, however, was fairly
tried, and sentenced to be hanged in chains."
— Vol. ii, 73.
"Philip Kearney, Esq., a loyal refugee,
got an order from the British Governor to
settle on the abandoned farm of a rebel, one
Captain Nathaniel Tom, of Flushing,, but he
was required to pay £60 yearly rent for it,
although he had left a large estate in Jersey
that the rebels had confiscated." — Vol. ii, 157.
"A few weeks before the evacuation of
New York Col. Birch sent out a party upon
the Plains and drove in about 2,000 sheep.
He ordered them into a field and had all of
their ears cut off. He then gave the farmers
notice to come in and prove their property,
desiring each man to select his own, but if
any one took a sheep he could not swear to
or prove to be his property, he should be se
verely punished. The sheep were marked in
the ear and nowhere else ; every farmer had
a mark of his own, and each mark was en
tered on the town records. But the ears
being off of the sheep, not a single man was
able to prove his property. Birch thereupon

sold the sheep, and by this piece of wicked
ness pocketed above £2,000." — Vol. ii, 75.
" In the spring of 1781, three privates of
the 3d Battalion of Delancey's Brigade left
their quarters at Lloyd's Neck, went to a
lonely house a small distance from Jerusalem,
belonging to Parmenas Jackson, an honest,
worthy, loyal Quaker, broke it open, mur
dered the man in the most cruel manner,
robbed the house of £1,200 in cash and went
off. Luckily a woman present knew one of
the villains, and knew the corps to which
they belonged. An express was instantly
sent to the Colonel, the rascals were soon dis
covered, and the greatest part of the money
recovered. The criminals were sent to New
York, tried by a Court Martial, found guilty,
sentenced to be hanged, and the sentence con
firmed by Gen. Clinton. But this sentence,
just as it was, to the surprise and astonish
ment of most people, was never carried into
execution. The culprits lay in jail about
three weeks, and were then discharged upon
paying some trifling fees to the keeper of the
Provost."— Vol. ii, 93.*
1779, on the night of November 6. " The
crews of three whale boats (under one Haw-
ley, a low-lived fellow,) broke into Judge
Thomas Jones' house and plundered it of
property to the amount of several hundred
pounds. They even robbed Mrs. Jones of
her wearing apparel and took that of two
young ladies in the house, [one was Miss
Floyd], the clothes upon their backs only ex
cepted, insulted the family, and regaling
themselves with good old Madeira, ordered
the Judge (and one Willett, his nephew, who
happened to be visiting there,) to proceed
with them. They compelled him to march
in two nights through woods, swamps and
morasses, and over hedges ditches and fences,
sixty miles on foot, and sleep two days in the
woods, without fire, victuals or drink, (a little
mouldy cheese and a hard biscuit with a little
water given him by the party excepted).
They then crossed the Sound to Fairfield.
After six months' captivity, he was ex-

*Drs. James Searing and Benjamin Tredwell's bills
for seventeen visits to Jackson, January 10 to 20, three
dressings, three bleedings, cerat Turneri, gum cam
phor, <fcc, were £13, 19.
Isaac Algar again appeared in Huntington and was
concerned in robbing and beating Piatt Carle, for
which he, with Nathaniel Parker, was hanged, Sep
tember 10, 1783. See Revolutionary Incidents of
OJueens County, p. 199, and of Suffolk County, p. 109.

14

Revolutionary Incidents

changed for Gen. Silliman. The goods were
sold and the proceeds divided among the own
ers and crews of the privateers." — Vol. ii,
277, 300.
"Again in the winter of 1778, when the
snow lay heavy and deep upon the ground,
Judge Jones had twelve pair of his oxen
(which had been hard at work in the woods
the whole day, and were just returned,) put
into a barrack-yard and foddered, then they
were taken away by a party of the British
army, put into his own carts, and loaded with
the materials of a meeting-house which they
had pulled down a few days before. His
own servants were obliged to drive the carts
as far as Jamaica, twenty miles, to provide
for themselves and cattle, and then dis
charged .without pay or certificate." — Vol. ii,
89. "Micah Williams, living with his uncle,
at Jerusalem, a young gentleman of fortune,
character and loyalty, having forbid the en
trance of Quamino, a negro driver, with a
number of horses, into his uncle's stack-yard,
was abused and insulted in the grossest man
ner by the black rascal, who persisting in his
design and attempting to pull down the
fence, Williams gave him a kick or two.
The fellow complained to King, the conduc
tor of the wagons and horses, and he to Arm
strong, the officer commanding the foraging
party. No inquiry was made into the truth
of the complaint. Williams was taken up
and confined. Next day he was escorted,
under a guard of soldiers, as far as Hemp
stead, about eight miles, and there confined
for the night. He was the next day marched
to Jamaica, the officer declaring his intention
of carrying him to New York and trying hira
by a court martial. For what 1 For kicking
a negro runaway in the act of committing
a trespass. As the young gentleman ap
proached New York he became frightened.
He knew the arbitrary, illegal and cruel
judgments and decrees of courts martial, and
got some friends to intercede with the officer
in his behalf. With difficulty he obtained
his discharge, but was first obliged to ask
pardon of the officer, the conductor and the
negro." — Vol. ii, 85
"Joseph Rodman, a farmer, of Flushing,
had bequeathed his property to his widow
during life. She was an old Quaker preacher.
Her eldest son, Thomas, a giddy youth, had
been prevailed on to act as a Committeeman,

and had left the Island in August, 1776, and
died the same year, under age, childless.
The younger son was a loyalist and a Quaker.
The* poor old widow was turned out of doors _
and obliged to be maintained by her friends.
Refugees were put in possession of her farm,
who cut down the wood and sold it, burnt up
the fences, ruined the orchards, and in a
great measure destroyed the buildings." —
Vol. ii, 38.
" Henry Huffe, a loyal subject, near seventy
years of age, lost a son (who was acting guide
to the British) in a rebel skirmish in the
Manor of Cortland. He fled to Long Island,
his native place, (July, 1781), and when he
applied to the British Governor for assist
ance, he was told he should have an asylum
in the work-house, where idlers and vaga
bonds are kept at hard labor and short com
mons. The old man exclaimed, with tears in
his eyes : ' Good God ! am I, after all my suf
ferings and loyalty, and abandoning my farm,
household goods, grain and cattle, to be of
fered a refuge in a house of correction, among
rogues and villains !' He was maintained at
the expense of his former neighbors and a
few relations." — Vol. ii, 158.
"In the spring of 1779, Sir Henry Clinton
with his suite went from New York to South
ampton, to review the troops quartered there
the preceding winter. They took the middle
road, the baggage wagons went the southern
road and formed a junction at Richard Wil
lets', Islip. The escort to the wagons for
nearly twenty miles upon the road robbed
every farmer of as many geese, turkeys and
other poultry as they could lay hand upon,
with calves, lambs and pigs. They even
entered several dwelling houses and plun
dered the inhabitants of their linen, stock
ings, hats, etc. Some of the substantial,
reputable farmers followed as far as Willets',
and made complaint. The General would
not see them, and his attendants cursed them
for rebels, and damned them for impertinent
villains, and they returned without the least
satisfaction." — Vol. ii, 91.
"Joseph Baldwin, of Hempstead, had re
moved to Dutchess County, fifteen years be
fore the rebellion, leaving unsold a valuable
lot of woodland. The wood was all cut down
and sold by a parcel of refugees, under an
order from the Court of Police, under pre
tence that the owner was a rebel, though it
was well known to the refugees that he was

Queens County
a confirmed royalist, and would willingly
have repaired to the Royal army ; but then
he must have brought with him a wife and
seven small children, to have been starved,
or supported by the government. "— Vol. ii, 38.
"Daniel Pine, of Hempstead, a worthy
loyal subject, who during his life had op
posed the rebellion in all its stages, died
during the war, and left the farm on which
he lived to two infant nephews, who were
born and resided at Fishkill. The Court of
Police deemed them rebels, the estate was
seized upon and given by Phillip John Liv
ingston, manager of rebel estates, to some
refugees, who injured the house, sold the
wood, burnt the fences, and ruined the
farm." — Vol. ii, 39.
"In the spring of 1779, one Green Carryer,
an Irish refugee from Albany, to ingratiate
himself with the British authorities, com
plained to Col. Birch, at Hempstead, of two
loyal farmers at Oysterbay, one of whom was
a trooper, the other a lieutenant in the mili
tia, for hoarding corn. Birch sent a quarter
master with forty men and six wagons to
fetch away the corn, but so as not to reach
the house till evening. That night all the
poultry houses in the neighborhood were
broken open, geese, turkeys, fowls, ducks,
guinea hens, sheep, lambs, calves and pigs
were plundered and filled two wagons. Four
wagons held all the hoarded corn, which in
fact was no more than what all farmers com
monly reserve for use on the farm."— Vol.
i, 323. "Thomas Smith, Esq., of Oysterbay, was
a gentleman long in the commission of the
peace, of the utmost veracity and in affluent
circumstances. Living adjoining the Sound,
so many attempts were made by the rebels
from New England to take him off, that they
obliged him to remove from home, and for
more than four years before the close of the
war he lodged every night with some friend
or acquaintance, making it a rule never to
sleep two nights running at one house. By
this means he escaped their vigilance. His
house was, however, twice broken open,
plundered and robbed, his wife insulted, his
daughters, abused and his sons carried off
prisoners to Connecticut." — Vol. i, 268; ii, 158.
" In the spring of 1780 the British garri
sons of Oysterbay, Huntington and Brook
Haven (part of Delancey's Brigade) were
withdrawn and the works demolished, and

2d Series. 15
the troops removed to the neighborhood of
New York. Then Connecticut and New Jer
sey fitted out whale boats which infested the
coasts of Long Island and plundered the in
habitants."— Vol. ii, 299.
" Capt. Woolley, of the militia, about three
miles from Jamaica, had his house broken
open, was robbed of £700 in cash, the furni
ture of his house, of several slaves, and was
carried prisoner to Connecticut." — Vol. i, 268.
"Richard Townsend, Esq., was robbed of
a large store of goods and carried prisoner
into New England. "— Vol. i, 268.
"Judge Thomas Jones had his house
broken open, completely plundered, and him
self carried into Connecticut. Miss Floyd, a
visitor, was also robbed of everything she
had. One Chichester acted as a guide. He
with six others was caught, taken to New
York, put in the Provost, but finally dis
charged." — Vol. i, 294.
' ' John Townsend, Esq. , of Oysterbay, was
served in the same manner, with this addi
tion, that they almost destroyed his house, a
genteel mansion." — Vol. i, 268.
"William Nicoll, Esq., of Suffolk County,
was twice plundered ; Col. Richard Floyd
was twice plundered, his cattle, sheep and
several slaves carried off. Col. Benjamin
Floyd was robbed and carried to Connecticut,
and while released on parole had his house
again broken open in the dead of night by a
party from New England, who took away his
furniture and robbed him of £1,000 in cash."
— Vol. i, 268.
"Mr. Seaton, an Englishman, was plun
dered by the same party, who took away his
furniture and stript his wife and three daugh
ters of the very clothes upon their backs. " —
Vol. i, 269.
"John Hewlett, Esq., of Oysterbay, had
his house broken open and was himself car
ried to Pokeepsie and lodged in jail for five
months." — Vol. i, 269.
"Major Parker and Major Hudson were
also plundered and carried to Connecticut. "
' ' Judge Thomas Jones had his cattle taken
by the rebels in August, 1776, but they were
recovered by the British at Brooklyn after
the battle, and consumed by the soldiers, and
though he proved his property and exhibited
vouchers, Daniel Chamier, Commissary Gen
eral , would not pay him for them. " — Vol.
i, 117.

16

Revolutionary Incidents

" Dr. Benjamin Tredwell, of North Side, a
gentlenian of fortune and character, and of
one of the first families on the Island, a warm
and steady loyalist, was fond of horses and
loved the sports of the turf. Col. Birch, of
the 17th Dragoons, in one of his rides acci
dentally met on the road this Dr. Tredwell,
mounted on a noble horse, descendant of the
famous ' Wildair,' and worth one hundred
and fifty guineas. Birch ordered him to dis
mount and unsaddle. The Doctor told the
Colonel who he was, but it had no effect.
Birch then bid his servant unsaddle the horse
and give the saddle to the Doctor to carry
home on his own back and be damned. He
led away the horse and told the Doctor to be
thankful that the saddle too wasn't taken as
well as the horse. On the Doctor's applica
tion at Headquarters, he was charged with
being a rebel and threatened with the Pro-
vosV'— Vol. i, 114.
"In May, 1781, a British guard ship lay
at the Two Brothers, a mile below White-
stone. Four whale boats came out from the
main shore, made the crew presents of poul
try, lamb, veal, vegetables, &c., and in re
turn were regaled with grog, wine and punch.
In the evening those whale boats went direct
to Thomas Hicks', broke open his house,
robbed him of several hundred pounds in
cash, plate, linen, library, and as much fur
niture as the boats could contain, and re
turned to New Rochelle. As they passed the
guard ship on their return, they gave three
cheers, which the ship cordially returned !" —
Vol. i, 304.
The winter of 1779-80 was uniformly dry
and cold, and the severest ever known in
the middle Colonies. The snow, deep and
drifted, began to fall about November 10, and
continued almost every day till the middle of
March. In the woods it lay at least four
feet upon a level. It was with the utmost
difficulty that the farmers got their wood.
The springs were low. It was called the
" Canada winter." — Jones, i, 320.
In 1780 David Colden, of Flushing, had a
stall-fed ox, which he intended killing, at
New Year's, for his own use. He had him
every day, at sunset, put into his barn, and
the doors secured with padlocks and iron
bars ; but one night the fastenings were
broken open and the ox killed, cut up and
carried away, only the skin and entrails left.
— Jones, iy 363.

1780, July. Gen. Robertson proclaimed
that the farmers should bring half their fresh
hay to the hay-yard, and the rest should re
main untouched, with all the salt hay, to the
owners. But the Commissaries took all the
fresh and half the salt hay, and no redress
was to be had. If Providence had not fa
vored the country with one of the mildest
winters (1780-1) perhaps ever known in
America, not a horse nor a horned beast
could have survived the month of March.
Nay, had the winter been as severe as the
preceding one, all the hogs and sheep upon
the Island must have starved. Among those
who complained of this breach of faith was
Micajah Townsend, (a venerable man of over
eighty years, of fair character and opulent
fortune, who had served His Majesty as a
captain of militia in his younger days), for
which he was taken up, escorted under a
guard of soldiers from his own house to
Hempstead, at least twelve miles, and there
detained close prisoner for several days. —
Jones, i, 367; ii, 28.
Queens County women married to British
subjects : — 1782, August 11, Miss Woolsey,
daughter of Benjamin Woolsey, deceased, to
Mr. Palmer, of 54th Regiment ; Jemima
Townsend to Capt. Fraser ; Jane, daughter
of Abram Rapelye, to William Garden.
On a pane of glass of the Bragaw home
stead, cut with a diamond, is the name of
Finlay McKay, an officer of the Scotch Fusi-
leer Guards, who were quartered at Newtown
during the Revolution.

During the Revolutionary war, the farmers
on Cow Neck (as Manhasset was then called)
suffered many hardships by having soldiers
billeted in their houses, having their teams
taken at the pleasure of the British to cart
warlike stores, and their woodland cut off.
Many of their hardships are now forgotten.
Peter Onderdonk, of Flower Hill, wrote down
in an old account book the following memo
randa : —
Sept. 14, 1776. My wagon and horses en
tered the King's service. Nov. 21, my son
Andrew, who had been taken as a driver, re
turned home sick from the British camp,
leaving my wagon and horses. Oct. 26, Jon
athan Dix, collector of forage, pressed a mare
from me to go in His Majesty's service.

Queens County— 2d Series.

17

1779, April 12. Be it remembered that
eighteen Canadian Frenchmen were billeted
on me in order to cut all the wood belonging
to William Cornwell and Richard Sands.
" When tyranny holds up its head,
Then glorious liberty is fled 1"
The above Frenchmen went away, May 14,
but returned again in parties for a week
afterwards, and then quit, not cutting Rich
ard Sands' woods. Dec. 23, I had Joseph
Thome's order to bring the Hessian guard
one and a quarter cords of wood, being two
sled loads.
1780, July 30. Twelve loads of wood were
cut and carted out of my woods by order of
Robert Sutton, without asking me liberty.
1781, Sept. 24. Hope Mills (a tory from
Jamaica) is debtor to me for two loads of hay
and one pair of wagon sides which he took
from me for the King.
1782, Nov. 13. Capt. Westerhagen came
here with his company to quarters, (a German
hireling), and with violence drove my sick
daughter Elizabeth and Jannetie Rapalye out
of their sick beds. Ingratitude ! He quit
his quarters here January 7, 1783 — a German
hireling !
1783, Jan. 17. Ensign Wagner came here
to quarter with his guard. He left February
28 — a hireling !
Edward Thorne is debtor to me (on account
of the damage I sustained by his neglect of
furnishing the troops with wood who were
quartered at William Dodge's) to cutting
forty walnut saplings and upwards of one
hundred chestnut rails, value £20. The above
damage I received from the troops of Capt.
De Westerhagen and Ensign Wagner, done
in eleven weeks ; some of the wood was car
ried to William Salt's by his soldiers. This
is besides the wood burnt at my house by
Capt. Westerhagen, eighty loads, value £60.

1781, May 12. "Ille quern requiris est in
ventus." This seems to be a message from a
friendly Whig, sent by a spy, and written in
Latin with the hope that if detected it might
not be understood. The purport of it is :
" The man you seek is found."
1781, Aug. 30. Robert Comely, Jr., left
Philadelphia several years ago, and is now at
Lloyd's Neck as a wood-cutter on other men's
land, for the use of the British army. He

has also been a sutler for selling strong drink
for army use.
1781, Nov. 29. Messrs. McFarren and
Thomas Grinnel report that Major Davis and
Capt. Grinnel, who went to Long Island to
fetch clothing for the army of New York
State, were captured on Friday last by the
British and carried into New York city.
1782, Jan. 28. Obadiah Wright has a per
mit from Clinton to bring off from Long
Island goods for the use of this State to the
amount of £10,000, part in goods, part in
specie, -to the Commissioners in Pokeepsie.
1782, Nov. 19. Gov. Clinton (at the re
quest of Gen. Washington) desires Major
Hendrick Wyckoff to visit Long Island, under
pretence of trade, to spy the British for us,
their numbers, commanders, stations, their
winter arrangements, &c.
1782, Nov. 22. Gov. Clinton wishes Capt.
John Grinnel to visit Long Island to spy the
British forces. "It is a disagreeable busi
ness." A whale-boat's crew came to the house of
William (now Thomas) Jones, plundered it
and carried off two slaves, Robin and Dick.
Dick, being old, was left at Blue Point ;
Robin was sold on the Main, and it was a
long time before he returned home.
A whale-boat's crew once came within one
hundred rods of Capt. David Jones' house,
(since Meinell's), when Jones fired a field-
piece, which he kept for his company, on'
them. They returned the fire with small
arms, but Jones beat them off. This same
crew went next day to Rockaway, got embar
rassed in the creeks, and were taken by a
company of militia.

The Services of Huntington in Queens
County.
The farmers of Huntington also were com
pelled by the British authorities to contribute
largely of their labor and produce to the sup
port of the troops in Queens County. We
give a few instances out of a great many:
1776, Aug. By order of John Hewlett,
Esq., Elizabeth Wood sent a pair of oxen to
Head Quarters, for the use of Government.
Never returned nor paid for.
1776, Sept. 1. Ten cattle were driven to
Newtown for the use of His Majesty's troops,
and received by the Quartermaster then pres
ent. Sept. 16, a pair of cattle from Piatt

18

Revolutionary Incidents

Carll and another from Timothy Carll were
driven, by Gen. Delancey's orders, to New
town. Never paid for.
1776, Sept. Henry Downing and James
Lefford took from Jonas Rogers a span of
horses and harness for His Majesty's service.
Never returned nor paid for.
1776, Sept. 4. Isaac Dennis' wagon and
horses were prest into Government service by
Joshua Mills, who was appointed to take
horses and wagons. Not paid for. Two
horses and driver of Jonathan Jarvis were
prest into Government service (Gen. Cleave-
land) by John Dunbar, who took other horses
also. Never returned, and no pay.
1776, Sept. Sarah Scudder says : " There
came three men to my door with Joseph Ben
nett's mare, taken for Col. Birch's service
and never paid for. I asked their names, and
one of them replied, ' My name is William
Burns,' and the other two men afterwards
proved to be Micah Burns and Robert Mor
rell." 1776, Sept. 4. John Dunbar took two
horses of Z. Piatt, and a driver, to Newtown.
The horses were lost and the driver returned.
Piatt sent a careful man, but could not find
them. 1776, Sept. Joshua Mills, wagon-master,
and John Dunbar, inhabitants of Jamaica,
took a mare from N. Harrison and put her
into Government service.
1776, Sept. 4. John Dunbar prest into
Government service a horse of E. Smith,
which was entered in Capt. Beaman's book.
The horse was never returned, but he re
ceived its wages (£3, 18) to Sept. 30, from
Capt. Dickson.
1776, Oct. David Resco's team was prest,
by order of Dr. Johnson, under Col. Birch,
of the 17th Dragoons, to carry fowls or poul
try to Flushing.
1776, Oct. 6. William and Micah Burns,
by order of Col. Birch, took two horses from
Henry Smith.

1776, Nov. 5. Prest from Nathan Valen
tine into His Majesty's service, by Capt.
Thomas Woolley, by order of Major Menzies,
of Gen. Delancey's Regiment, two horses,
sent to Hell Gate ; also from Jonathan Jarvis
three horses and a saddle, taken to White-
stone ferry and never returned ; and Nov. 6,
from Joseph White, a very valuable saddle

horse, lost in the service of Government.
No pay.
1776, Nov. 22. Received of Moses Rolph
one wagon load of English hay, weighing
1000 lbs., for His Majesty's magazine, for
which John Morrison, Commissary, will pay
you, as witness my hand. Barak Snethen.*
1776, Nov. 26. Capt. Thomas Woolley
took Silas Wickes' wagon, horses and driver,
to carry troops eastward to press teams.
1777, May. Michael Bedell carted baggage
for Delancey's troops, 2d Battalion, to Hal-
let's Cove, by order of Col. Brewerton.
1777, June 20. A horse was prest from
Henry Titus, by order of Col. Fanning, to
carry baggage to Hell Gate. Never returned.
1777, Aug. 6. A horse and saddle were
prest from Phillip Skidmore into His Majes
ty's service; by John Dunbar, of Newtown,
and never returned nor paid for.
1777, Dec. N. H. carted baggage for the
troops to the west end of the Plains, by order
of Major Green, of Delancey's Battalion.
1777, Dec. 20. Capt. [Mark] Kerr, of De
lancey's 1st Battalion, took into Government
service Lemuel Carll's mare, and kept her
nine months, and no pay. Carll went to
Flushing three times before he got her, and
then gave Capt. Barent Roorback six guineas
to let him have her again.
1778, Aug. 3. Long Swamp. Received
100 weight of hay and nine bushels oatsf
from Joel Smith, for one troop of Light
Dragoons, on His Majesty's service.
Benjamin Tredwell,:]: Q. M.
of H. L. D., Q. Co. M.
1778, Aug. 3. Long Swamp. I have re
ceived from Phillip Smith two bushels corn,f
for the use of one troop of Light Dragoons,
on His Majesty's service. D. Lent, Qr. Mast.
of N. Y. L. D., Q. Co. M.
1780, Jan. 12. J. Jarvis' ox-team was prest
to cart baggage to Flushing for the Hessian
Regiment, by order of Gen. Leland.
1780, Jan. A load of fresh hay (8J- cwt.)
was taken from John Oakley, by order of
Jacob Jackson, Jerusalem, Collector of For
age.

* Lived at Glen Cove.
t This grain was used for baiting the horses, while
riding through the county.
t Father of Thomas Tredwell, Assemblyman, of
Hempstead.

Queens County — 2d Series.

19

1780, March 22. This certifies that Oba
diah Piatt's wagon and horses have been em
ployed three days to carry the baggage of the
Prince of Wales' American Regiment from
Lloyd's Neck to Flushing Fly.
John Carden,* Major.
1780, July 23. Received of P. Smith, for
the use of Capt. Whitehead's troop of Light
Dragoons, on His Majesty's service, two bush
els Indian corn and eighteen meals of victuals.
Cornelius Rapelye,
Qr. Mas., Q. Co. M.
1780, July 81. Received of John Ketcham
rations for fourteen horses, one day, of Capt.
Hewlett's troop of Queens County Militia.
Stephen Hewlett,
Captain Q. Co. M.
1780, Aug. 21. Huntington South. Re
ceived from George Norton 120 lbs. oats, for
the use of my troops on duty to the east part
of Long Island, commanded by Col. Simcoe.
Never paid for. Stephen Hewlett, Captain.
1780, Sept. 23. Jamaica. I certify that
eight wagons (four ox-teams) were employed
two days in carrying the sick of the 2d Bat
talion Light Infantry from Huntington to Ja
maica. Thomas Armstrong, Maj. Com't.
R. Abercrombie, 1st Capt.
1780, Nov. 21. N. H. carted hay to Her
ricks. 1780, Dec. Capt. Israel Youngs, Deputy
Superintendent of Forage, took a load of salt
hay from Joseph White ; Nov. 21, .he took
a load of English hay.
1781, June. When Colonel Ludlow left
Lloyd's Neck, Captain Lester prest horses,
wagon and driver from John Burnt, to carry
the baggage to Flushing.
1781, Nov. 12. Cold Spring. Received
of Richard Conklin fourteen rations of hay
for the use of the Queens County Brigade
horses now employed carting forage for the
Commissary General.
Isaac Youngs, Supt. of Forage.
To George Brinley, Esq.
1781, Dec. 10. To John Hewlett, Superin
tendent of Forage. I certify that there have
been eight horses of the Queens County Bri
gade (now employed carting forage for the
Commanding General) rationed one night on
English hay belonging to Samuel Lewis.
Peter Walters.
* Carden died at Charleston, 1782.

1782, Feb. 6. I certify that seventeen
horses of the Queens County Brigade, now
employed carting forage for the Commissary
General, have been rationed one night on salt
hay of D. Rusco.
John Hewlett, Supt. of Forage.
To George Brinley.
1783, Feb. 21. East Woods. This is to
certify that Jasper Kellum brought a load of
baggage for the Corps of Guides and Pioneers
from Long Swamp to East Woods, six miles.
Jonathan Williams, Captain.

Colonel Tarlton at Jericho.
1777, Nov. Zophar Piatt was prest, with
his ox-team, by Major Cochran, to carry a
load of boards to Tarlton's quarters at Jeri
cho. He also took forty pounds of butter,
without giving a receipt or pay. Job Sam
mis was employed one day in carting poultry
to Jericho by Tarlton's orders.
1778, Nov. 24. Lieut. -Col. Cochran took
from Henry Smith six geese and two dozen
fowls and twenty pounds of butter, and from
E. Gillet a cheese and fourteen pounds of
butter. 1778, Dec. 10. Quartermaster Davis took
504 feet of boards from Solomon Ketcham
and 400 feet from S. Sammis, and carted
them to Jericho.
1778, Dec. 23. Tarlton's troops, on their
march from Smithtown to Jericho, took four
fat hogs from Jeremiah Ruland and three
from Zebulon Buffet. Daniel Blatchly had
bought five dozen and ten fowls to carry to
New York market for Christmas. They
were taken from him by Tarlton's orders,
also two barrels of cider.
1779, Oct. 7. Received of James Oakley a
small heifer of 248 pounds weight, for the
use of the sick of the Provincial cavalry.
John Tuck, Qr. Mas. Brit. Legion.
Banastre Tarlton, Lt. Col.
1779, Oct. 20. Tarlton, being out on a
party of pleasure and grousing, came to Tim
othy Carll's house and in person took a cow
out of his pasture and killed her for his
troops. No pay.
1780, March 5. Received of Nehemiah
Whitman five bushels oats for the use of the
2d Battalion Jersey Volunteers stationed at
Jericho. Geo. Lambert, Lt. & acting Qr. Mas.
John Colden, 2d Major.

20

Revolutionary Incidents

1780, March 5. Jericho. These certify
that P. Smith's and E. Hart's wagons were
employed one day in collecting forage for the
2d Battalion Jersey Volunteers.
John Antill, 1st Major.
1780, March 8. Received of S. Oakley 10
bushels corn, 12 bushels oats, 3 cwt. fresh
hay, and 25 cwt. Plain hay, for the use of
the 2d Battalion Jersey Volunteers, stationed
at Jericho. John Colden, 2d Major.
To Isaac Brush, Sir : If you can get me
a good quarter of veal, or a good pig, or a
half-dozen good chickens amongst your com
pany, pray do it, for I cannot live on salt
meat every day, and you will oblige,
Sir, yours to serve,
Cor's Van Horne.

Colonel Simcoe at Oysterbay.
Col. Simcoe, of the Queens Rangers, had
his quarters at Oysterbay, 1778, '79 and '80.
He drew his supplies freely from Hunting
ton, and left many bills unpaid.
1778, Dec. 30. Capt. McGill took from off
David Conklin's barn fifty boards. They
were carried to Oysterbay to construct sol
diers' barracks.
1779, Jan. 3. He took from -Israel Wood
115 pine boards, and January 16 he carried
away 100 more.
1779, Jan. 3. Simcoe sent a party and ript
from Stephen Kelsey's barn ninety five al
most new white pine boards, and also took
some new ones in a pile. These Kelsey had
to cart to Oysterbay. They also took a glass
window, turnips and potatoes. In April they
carried off half a ton of English hay ; and
August 19, ten bushels oats were delivered
to the same party, commanded by Spencer
and Broadstreet.
1779, Jan. 23. Zophar Piatt was prest,
with his sled, one day, to carry boards to
Oysterbay. 1779, March 17. Taken from Selah Carll,
by Quartermaster Moffet, of Simcoe's regi
ment, a new saddle, circingle, eight bushels
oats and two bags. No pay.
1779, April. Simon Fleet entertained Sim
coe and his officers and waiters better than
two days, and kept twenty horses on good
keeping, and charged £5. Simcoe left him
only $2.

1779, May. Simcoe sent his men and im
pressed from Jonas Rogers a wagon, horses
and driver to cart wood for Capt. Thomas,
and kept them in his service twelve days, for
which no pay was received.
1779, May 11. John Hendrickson was im
pressed five days, to cart wood to Oysterbay,
by order of Capt. Thomas, under Simcoe.
1779. One Sunday in August, twenty-six
bushels of oats were taken from Solomon
Ketcham, which he was obliged to cart six
miles, to Oysterbay, for Simcoe.
1779. Thomas Conklin carted a load of
hay to Oysterbay, by order of Simcoe. An
ox-team was employed four days in carrying
Simcoe's baggage to Harlem. August 19,
thirty bushels oats were carted to Oysterbay.

Jamaica.
1777, Nov. 20. Josiah Rogers' ox-team
was prest to carry baggage for Col. Cruger,
of Gen. Delancey's Regiment, to Jamaica,
three days.
1777. From Nathan Piatt was taken four
hundred feet of boards, by Thomas Van
Wyck, and carried to Jamaica.
1777, Nov. Job Sammis carted baggage to
Jamaica, by order (as said) of Col. Brewerton.
1778, Sept. Israel Carll's ox -team was em
ployed four days in carting Gen. Tryon's bag
gage to Jamaica.
1779. Thomas Conklin, by order of Col.
Richard Hewlett, went to Jamaica after pro
visions. 1780, Sept. Ichabod Jarvis was three days
carting baggage to Jamaica, commanded by
Col. Abercrombie.
1780, Sept. 15. Jonathan Jarvis carted
baggage for Col. Abercrombie, of the Light
Infantry, to Jamaica.
1780, Nov. 17. Herricks. This may cer
tify that Jonathan Kelsey has delivered eight
cwt. of Plain hay for the use of Col. Wormb's
troop, which Mr. John Cutler will give re
ceipt for. John Knight, Ass't Com'y.
1781. John Carman carted baggage for
Col. Ludlow, from Lloyd's Neck to Jamaica.
1781, Dec. 17. Office of Police, Jamaica.
The Trustees of the township of Huntington
are hereby authorized to raise on the town
£176, in addition to the poor-rate, it being the
sum paid by composition for labor in digging

Queens County— 2d Series.

31

a well for the garrison at Lloyd's Neck, un
der direction of Lt. Col. Upham.
George D. Ludlow, Sup't.
1782, April 26. I certify that M. Heart and
Z. Rogers, with two wagons and horses, were
employed transporting provisions from Ja
maica to Lloyd's Neck, for the use of the
King's troops at this post, April 25 and 26.
J. Upham, Lt. Col. Commandant, &c.
To Peter Paumier, Esq.,
D. Com'y Gen'l.
1782, June 1. To Brook Watson, Esq.,
Commissary General : These certify that
Whitehead Gildersleeve has been employed
two days, with his wagon and horses, in re
moving provisions from Jamaica to Lloyd's
Neck, for the use of His Majesty's troops
here. Thomas Cutler,
Capt. of Volunteers of New England.
Referred to the Wagon Master General,
August 14th, 1783, by Gregory Townsend,
President of the Board of Claims.
1782, Oct. 1. I certify that T. Conklin
was employed three days, with his wagon
and horses, in removing one family from
Lloyd's Neck to Jamaica.
B. Thompson, Lt. Col.
Commanding King's A. Dragoons.
To Brook Watson, Esq.
1782, Dec. Jonathan Brush's span of
horses, wagon and driver carted baggage to
Jamaica, by order of Sergt. Sackett, of Col.
Thompson's Regiment.

Extracts from Gaine's and Rivington's
Newspapers.
1776, Dec. 3. David Colden, Flushing,
offers for sale a span of horses for £60.
1776, Dec. 9. For sale, by Robert Crom-
meline, (for no fault, only he won't live in
the country), a negro man, a very handy fel
low at painting, glazing and house-work.
1777, Jan. 6. Five Dollars reward. Ran
away from Waters Smith, Newtown, (Dec.
23), a negro man, Jack, of yellowish com
plexion, bushy hair, and aged thirty. — Gaine.
1777, Feb. 3. Went off Sunday from his
master, Archibald Hamilton, late Captain
31st Regiment, a negro, Cuffy, a short, thick
set fellow. If he applies to any officer to
serve him, he is requested to secure him. If
any other secures him, two guineas reward. —
Gaine.

1777, March 24. Wanted, an overseer
(with a wife capable of managing the female
business) for a large farm, thirty miles from
the Ferry, southside of Long Island. — Gaine.
1777, March 31. To be sold, a quantity of
good whale oil, by Samuel Way, of Hemp
stead. — Gaine.
1777, March 31. Wanted, in a gentleman's
family on Long Island, a woman capable of
teaching his daughters reading, writing and
needlework. Apply to Rev. Mr. Inglis, New
York. — Gaine.
1777, March 31. To let, a small house, in
a pleasant situation, and two genteel rooms,
on the road from the Ferry to Newtown, Jo
seph Woodward living thereon.
1777, March 31. To let, the farm at Ja
maica occupied by Alexander Wallace, 25
acres of good land, will mow a good burthen
of grass, young orchard, &c. Apply to Wa
ters Smith, Newtown.
1777, April 14. Died lately, in Newtown,
James Emmot, who practiced law many years
in New York, with unblemished character.
1777, April 28. Handsome Reward. Lost,
some time ago, between Flushing and New
York, a box containing prints of different
sorts. 1777, May 12. To let, a farm of over 200
acres, (36 of wood), north side of Hempstead
Plains. 1777, May 12. Died lately, in Newtown,
the wife of Dr. Richard Bailey, much be
loved by all her acquaintance.
1777, June 2. Found, last Friday week, a
bundle of dry goods, on the road from the
Ferry to Jamaica. Apply to the printer.
1777, June 4. Lost, May 20, going through
Jamaica, a black leather pocket-book, with a
strap and " Thos. Dunlap" in gilt letters on
the outside. In it were two half-Joes and
some small money, which the finder is wel
come to, and two dollars reward, by bringing
the book and papers to Major Alexander
Campbell, in Jamaica.
1777, June 30. Board and lodging wanted
in Long Island by three single gentlemen.
They expect only plain victuals and will give
no trouble. A. Bishop, New York.
1777, July 21. Five Dollars Reward. Ran
away from Nicholas Ogden, Long Island, 5th
instant, a negro lad, Duke, or changed to
Dick, aged 20. He had on a white swan
skin double-breasted jacket, white drilling

22

Revolutionary Incidents

breeches, tow-cloth shirt, blue and white
stockings. 1777, July 28. Wanted, twenty or thirty
men to work, on Long Island, to make beef-
barrel staves, the price to be agreed for by
the thousand and received on the spot. A
generous price given to loyal subjects.
J. Saunders, Inspector of Staves.
1777, Aug. 18. Eight Dollars Reward.
Ran away from Abram Lent, Newtown, 14th
instant, a negro man, Wan, this country
born, aged twenty-four. He has a large scar
in his forehead and lip.
1777, Sept. 8. I, Benjamin Carpenter, of
Jamaica, butcher, August 22, beat Joseph
French, Esq., when his hands were held. 1
am sorry for it, and will publish this ac
knowledgment two weeks in the papers, and
read it at the General Muster at the head of
each company of Jamaica militia, and will
pay £5 currency to the Vestry for the use of
the poor.
1777, Sept. 15. Ten Dollars Reward. Ran
away, February last, from Abram Lent, New
town, a negro man, Dick, born in Bermuda,
yellowish complexion, and has lost his left
eye. 1777, Oct. 6. William Prince, Flushing,
has for sale a large collection of fruit trees,
English cherries, all sorts ; peaches, nectar
ines, apricots, apple, pear, plum and quince
trees ; filbert and Barcelona nut trees, the
Illinois and Madeira-nut tree, blackwalnut
and butternut, American medlar or persim
mon tree, fig trees, many sorts ; black, white
and English mulberry trees ; red, white and
black raspberries and currants ; gooseberries
and grapes, many sorts ; a great variety of
strawberry vines ; monthly roses and a great
variety of others ; most kinds of American
shrubs not here mentioned. Any gentleman
who has a mind to see a catalogue may have
any number at Gaine's or Rivington's. Also
a large number of the Newtown and Spitzen-
berg apple trees, fit for sending to England
or elsewhere. Orders left at Gaine's or on
board the Flushing boat, near Fly Market
Ferry stairs, Oliver Thorne, now master.
1777, Oct. 27. To be sold at the New Lots,
November 6, or at private sale, by Isaac Og
den, Jamaica, a two and a three year old filly,
well matched and dark bay. Their sire is
Nathaniel Herd's " Wilkes." Also a yearling
colt and a breeding mare with a foal by her
side, the two last from the noted " Figure."

1777, Nov, 17. To be sold at vendue, 24th
instant, at. the house of Ann Betts, adminis
tratrix, eight miles from the Ferry, on the
Jamaica road, a part of the moveable estate of
late Thomas Betts, horses, cows, hogs, farm.-.
ing utensils and household furniture.
1778, Jan. 5. James Leonard and one Lewis
were loaded, December 10, at Hempstead
Harbor, with wood, for New York, by John
Monfort and David Laton, and have not since
been heard of: If they don't return in four
teen days, as promised, means will be taken
to bring them to justice,
1778, January 15. Twenty shillings ster
ling reward. Deserted, Enos Blakely, of
Connecticut, aged 24, from Capt. P. Bailey's
detachment of Royal Fencible Americans, at
New York, and re-enlisted in Capt. Gal-
braith's company, at Newtown, and absconded
January 13.
1778, Jan. 19. Thomas Brooks, of Leeds,
England, married, at Newtown, Elizabeth
Sarly, of New York.
1778, Feb. 9. Amos Underhill offers a rea
sonable reward for a lee-board that broke
loose and drifted away, 2d instant, from the
" Pembroke," in Hellgate.
1778, Feb. 16. Died, at Flushing, 10th
instant, of small pox, taken by inoculation,
aged 47, Susanna, wife of Hon. Samuel Cor
nell, a refugee from Newborn. Interred,
12th, in the parish church. The husband
died Thursday, [Gaine, Jan. 18, 1781], a gen
tleman of fortune and probity, member of
His Majesty's Council of North Carolina,
leaving five daughters.
1778, March 16. For sale, April 3, the
dwelling house of James Burling, in the
townspot of Flushing, forty rods from the
landing, also plate and furniture.
1778, March 16. For sale, a farm of 150
acres, a quarter mile south of the townspot,
Jamaica, and 50 acres of salt meadow on
Long Neck. Apply to Amos Denton, John
and Samuel Skidmore, executors.
1778, April 6. Samuel Carman, at Fort:
Neck, found concealed upon the beach oppo
site Fort Neck a hogshead nearly full of rum,
supposed to be part of the cargo of Capt.
McDowell, cast away in November.
1778, April 20. Four Dollars Reward.
Ran away (7th instant) from Waters Smith,
Newtown, a negro wench aged thirty-four.
She had on a striped linsey short gown and
petticoat, a scar under one eye, supposed to

Queens County— 2» Series.

be lurking in one of the negro houses in New
York. 1778, May 30. It is requested (to prevent
further trouble) that the officer who was
lately at Mr. Burroughs', Newtown, with a
young bay mare marked T. M. No. 35, on
her back, will send her directly to Lieut.
Murray, Brooklyn Ferry, as she is his prop
erty. 1778, June 27. Wanted, a young lad who
is a good accomptant and can be well recom
mended. Enquire at Mr. Robert Morrell's,
Flushing. 1778, Aug. 8. Suitable reward. Lost, on
the road between Jamaica and Flushing, a
silver watch gilt, " James Duncan" on a sil
ver slide, two steel seals and chain.
1778, August 19. To be sold, a bay horse,
fifteen hands high, performs his actions well,
price £40. To be seen at Mr. Vanderbilt's,
Flushing. 1778, Aug. 31. One guinea reward. Lost,
some time since, between Brooklyn Ferry and
Newtown, a small bundle of lace that had
been worn some time.
1778, Sept. 7. Found, 3d inst., between
Bedford and Newtown, a gold watch. Apply
to the Quartermaster of the 2d Battalion of
Light Infantry, at Bedford.
1778, Sept. 9. Edward Titus, of Newtown,
took up a chestnut mare a fortnight ago.
The owner may have her, paying charges.
1778, Sept. 16. Auction (21st inst.) of all
the household furniture of Mr. Simeon Lu-
grin, Jamaica. Sale to begin at 10 o'clock in
the morning. N. B. To be sold at same time,
a fine-toned double harpsichord. Mr. Lugrin
was schoolmaster at Burton, N. Y., from
1799 to 1809.
1778, Sept. 30. Alexander Wallace, Ja
maica, offers three guineas reward for Bet, a
young negro wench, aged sixteen, yellow,
pock-pitted, had on a green waistcoat and
petticoat, and took a calico gown.
1778, Oct. 5. Four dollars reward paid by
Richard Greaves, at Isaac Kipp's, New York.
Ran away from William Sackett, Newtown,
(Sept. 26), a negro wench, Susan, her right
leg bent forward, had on a light calico gown
and dark blue petticoat.
1778, Oct. 24. To let, a good house of sev
eral rooms, and a barn with stables, in a con
venient retired situation, a quarter mile from
Mr. Underbill's mill, Flushing. Apply to
David Colden.

1778, Nov. 2. The owner will please take
away and pay charges for two pieces of cloth,
left last February, to be dressed, with Isaac
Lawrence, Whitestone.
1778, Nov. 16. Persons wanting to pur
chase wood, may be supplied with any quan
tity by sending boats to Cold Spring Harbor,
delivered on the beach by Israel Youngs.
[Nov. 24, 1779, Youngs gave his parole at
Pokeepsie. July 29, Loring said he might
be exchanged for Johannes Snedeker.]
1779, Jan. 13. To be sold, a plantation of
thirty acres in the centre of Newtown, occu
pied by James Long, an excellent stand for a
trader. Apply to Jacob and Isaac Rapelye.
1779, Feb. 1. To be sold, a farm of 110
acres, on the main road to Flushing, one and
a half miles from the landing, whence boats
pass two or three times a week to New York,
well wooded, meadowed and watered ; thirty
barrels cider can be made one year with an
other ; house one and a half stories high, nine
rooms on a floor, convenient for a store or
tavern, two barns and other outhouses. Ap
ply to James Morrell, Flushing, or Robert
Morrell, on the premises.
1779, Feb. 1. To be sold, a pleasant situ
ated little farm of eighty acres, upland and
salt meadow, in Flushing, within about half
a mile of David Colden's, a two-story house,
with fine prospect of Flushing Bay and all
the vessels that pass through the Sound.
Fence lately made. Apply to John Lawrence,
New York.
1779, Feb. 1. One guinea reward. Lost,
January 14, at Newtown, a silver watch, by
James Harper.
1779, Feb. 1. John Prentice, from Scot
land, went on Long Island, about twelve
months ago, to keep an English school, but
has not since been heard of. Any one giving
information will be thankfully recompensed
for their trouble.
1779, Feb. 3. To let, the house, barn and
other offices, &c, in the townspot of Jamaica,
southeast of the Presbyterian meeting house
and opposite the tavern late of Widow
Combes. Apply to Richard Deane, distiller,
or Terence Kerin, New York.
1779, Feb. 14. For sale, the plantation of
William and Benjamin Creed, 120 acres, a
quarter mile from the townspot, Jamaica, on
the great road to Flushing.
1779, Feb. 23. To be sold, a plantation of
150 acres, three miles from Jamaica, on the

24

Revolutionary Incidents

road to Springfield, a kitchen by the door,
salt meadow three miles distant. Apply to
Benjamin Everit, near by.
1779, March 8. Jaques Johnson offers to
sell his plantation in Flushing, a mile from
Jamaica and four miles from Flushing, [town-
spot], 135 acres upland and 8 salt meadow,
well wooded and watered, the house and
garden in thorough repair, twenty hogsheads
cider can be made from the orchard in a tol
erable season. Its vicinity to Jamaica makes
it worth the attention of any gentleman in
clined to live in such an agreeable neighbor
hood. 1779, March 8. Two guineas reward.
Lost on Long Island, a fortnight ago, a port
manteau trunk, containing papers of no use
but to the owner.
1779, March 17. For sale, a large store
house at Flushing, built of white- pine boards,
34 feet by 128, two stories and has three
floors. Enquire of Oliver Thorne.
1779, March 17. Handsome reward. Lost,
last October, a gilt trunk, containing papers
and articles of value, committed to the care
of Mr. Van Dyke, at Newtown landing, to be
conveyed to Burling Slip. He has since re
moved and can't be found.
1779, April 24. For sale, three frame
buildings on Long Island, twenty-three miles
from New York, near a landing, most new,
(one a storehouse, 22 by 14 feet, and two sto
ries high), and may be removed thence with
little expense to New York, to be put on va
cant or burnt lots. Enquire of William
Mott. 1779, June 7. Married, at Hon. Judge Lud
low's house, Hempstead, May 26, Francis
Dashwood* to Ann Ludlow, sister to the
Judge, a perfectly amiable lady, with a hand
some fortune.
1779, June 23. A second-hand phaeton
to be sold, with harness for two horses. En
quire of William Bellard, next the meeting
house, Jamaica.
1779, June 26. To be sold, a storehouse,
at Flushing, 28 by 34 feet, three floors. En
quire of Oliver Thorne.
1779, July 12. For sale, and immediate
possession given, Samuel Nottingham'sf farm,
in Newtown, a mile from the landing, 92
acres, 10 or 12 of salt meadow on- Flushing
creek.

?Appointed PostmaBter General of Jamaica, in 1782.
tHe was a Quaker preacher and went to England.

1779, Aug. 21. Found, not far from Jeri
cho, a red morocco pocket book, by the con
tents the property of Rev. Epenetus Town-
send, late from Halifax Apply to Samuel
Jarvis and pay for this advertisement.
1779, Aug. 25. At vendue, Aug. 30, the
furniture, farming utensils and farm of
Thomas Hallett, deceased, near the centre of
Flushing, Jamaica and Newtown. It has 90
acres, part in salt meadow, grafted fruit, &c.
" 1779, Sept. 1. Fishkill. Thomas Men
zies, a resident of Fredericksburg, a half pay
British officer, a prisoner since May, 1776, on
parole, is no better than James Grant, a pris
oner who took horse to New York and vio
lated his parole."
1779, Sept. 8. To be sold, 21st instant, 3
o'clock, afternoon, a small place of 26 acres,
agreeably situated at Pembroke, in Oysterbay,
near Hempstead Harbor, in a plentiful and
good neighborhood. ' It has a grove of fine
locust and is in good fence. Also a saddle-
mare, filly, chaise-horse and breeding-mare.
Abram Walton.
1779, Oct. 13. Died, Wednesday, at Ja
maica, of fever, John, son of the late Henry
Cuyler, of New York, merchant.
1779, Oct. 16. Francis Green, New York,
agent for Henry and James Lloyd, offers five
guineas reward for information against tres
passers. The two farms [on Lloyd's Neck]
have a written protection of the Commander-
in-Chief, and are not in the same predicament
as other estates, under the management of
the Barrack Master General. [May 12, 1784,
the Legislature forfeited Henry Lloyd's es
tate.] 1779, Oct. 18. For sale, the farm of 200
acres, salt and fresh, where Isaac Underhill
lives, in Flushing, one and a half miles from
the townspot. The grist-mill makes the best
superfine flour and has a dock where boats of
thirty tons may load, or at the mill-door.
David Underhill, Musqueto Cove, Amos and
Letitia Underhill and William Rhinelander,
New York,
1779, Oct. 25. A large black ox came, a
few days ago, to John Williamson's farm, Ja
maica. 1779, Nov. 6. If Samuel Balding, that
lived at Westbury, will call at Hugh Parker's
office, Brooklyn Ferry, and settle for the arti
cles purchased by him, July 23, at vendue, it
will oblige the above subscriber.

Queens County— 2d Series.

25

1779, Nov. 8. Handsome reward. Ran
away from Edward Bardin, 6th instant, Isa
bella, a negro woman, aged 28, born on Long
Island, and formerly belonged to Capt. White
head, Jamaica. She talks a little thick.
1779, Nov. 20. Lost, five receipts from
Seth Norton, Assistant Commissary of Forage.
to Minnie Van Siclen, for 13 cwt. fresh hay,
27 cwt. straw, and 20 bushels Indian corn,
and one for pasture of several horses, directed
to George Brindley, and endorsed "pay to
John Kelly;" also two promissory notes, one
of £15.12, payable to John Noblet, from Jacob
Moore, the other from Peter Harris to Noblet
for £3.10.3.
1779, Dec. 8. For sale, George Folliot's
dwelling house, in the townspot, Jamaica,
and 24 acres land, and all the furniture and
farming utensils.
1779. If Ebenezer Smith, that had some
cattle on the Jamaica road, December 19, will
call on Mr. French, the first time he goes
along, he shall be well rewarded.
1780, Jan. 30. " Mrs. Hicks, sister to
Capt. Tom's wife, of Long Island, has come
out to live among us, Whigs on the Main."
1780, Feb. 7. Richard Betts, executor,
offers for sale the farm of Capt. Samuel
Fish, in the townspot of Newtown, a mile
from Juniper Swamp.
1780, Feb. 7. Taken up, some days ago, a
long boat, rows with six oars. Apply to
John McConnell, at Hallet's Cove.
1780, Feb. 19. Wanted to rent, by T. B.,
in Jamaica, Flushing, Hempstead or New
town, for this year, a small farm, not over
100 acres, with house, barn and stables,
meadow, orchards, &c.
1780, Feb. 21. Richard Betts, executor of
Capt. Samuel Fish, Newtown, will sell at
vendue, March 7, his homestead of 11 acres,
with orchard and cider-mill, in the townspot.
Also salt meadow and upland, one and a half
miles distant, near Coe's mills, and one-third
of his right to Juniper Swamp, a mile from
the house.
1780, Feb. 23. To be sold, at Flushing, a
well improved farm of 145 acres, genteel
house and convenient outhouses. Dr. Wil
liam Stewart, New York.
1780, Feb. 29. At vendue, March 22, the
farm of Nathaniel Mills, Jamaica, 62 acres
good for grain or grass, 25 acres of wood, or
chard, &c. The house has four rooms and

three fire-places. Charles Arding, Peter and
Nathaniel Mills, executors.
1780, March 1. At vendue, the farm of
Talman Waters, deceased, 230 acres, 30 of
woodland, 35 of orcharding and 30 of salt
meadow, also furniture and farming utensils.
William and John Waters.
1780, March 17. James Cornwell, Her
ricks, offers for sale his two-story dwelling
house, 20 feet by 26, two fireplaces, two bed
rooms portioned off with pine boards, a gar
ret, &c. Apply to John Smith, to know the
value thereof.
1780, March 20. To let, the farm of 25
acres, (8 of which is mowing ground), occu
pied by Thomas Apthorp, Esq., Jamaica.
The house has six rooms, three fire-places,
and cellar under the whole. Enquire of the
owner, Waters Smith, Newtown, or William
Forbes, Jamaica.
1780, March 20. Sarah, widow of Jonathan
Fish, Newtown, has to let a pleasant farm.
1780, March 20. Robert Crommeline, Flush
ing, offers for sale timber, being part of a
storehouse at the landing ; beams 19 feet,
posts 17 feet, plates 35 feet. Enquire of
Thomas Ellison, New York.
1780, April 8. Taken up adrift in the
Sound, a sloop's mainsail. Apply to Henry
Ludlam, Hog Island, Oysterbay.
1780, April 15. For sale, the hull of the
ship Betsey, as she lays ashore on Hell Gate
rocks, also 4 four-pounders, 4 three-pounders,
4 swivels, long-boat, &c.
1780, April 17. At vendue, April 29, the
house, barn, and 8 acres of good land, with
excellent orchard, opposite the church, in
Flushing ; also 9 acres salt meadow, a mile
off, being the estate of Peter Van De Water,
deceased. Also a horse, two cows anU sundry
household furniture. John Rodman and John
Field, executors.
1780, May 13. Wanted to hire or pur
chase, a farm near Jamaica, or between Ja
maica and Brooklyn Ferry.
1780, May 13. Lost, (Wednesday), between
Jamaica and Brooklyn ferry, a bundle of
papers wrapped up in a newspaper, contain
ing a lease of a farm in Jamaica, small ac
count books and accounts against sundry per
sons, sale of goods, receipts, &c. Whoever
delivers it to William Betts, Jamaica, shall
be thanked and rewarded for his trouble.
1780, May 22. Richard Townsend has re
moved from northside of Hempstead Plains

26

Revolutionary Incidents

to a house opposite Fly Market, New York.
Dry goods cheap, also rum, wine, sugar, &c. ,
wholesale and retail.
1780, May 29. Five guineas reward. Sto
len from Nathaniel Underhill, Newtown, a
few days since, a three-year-old chestnut-
brown horse, branded M. C. on the left thigh
— a natural trotter.
1780, June 26. For sale, a house and forty
acres of land, including orchard and meadow,
one-quarter mile from the church and meet
ing-house in Jamaica, well watered, well
calculated for a store and tan-yard. David
Lamberson, on the premises, will give title.
1780, July 1. For sale, the hull of the
snow " Hope," lying in Newtown Creek.
1780, July 10. Charles Crommeline offers
for sale a gentleman's country-seat of 180
acres, 20 of woodland, northside the Plains,
best fruit, &c.
1780, Aug. 9. To be sold and immediate
possession given, the farm, head of Cow
Neck, of 18 acres, 2 of which is woods,
orchard, &c. Apply to Thomas Woolley,
Cherry street, New York.
1780, Aug. 16. James Creighton, attorney-
at-law, Jamaica, at the office of police, draws
all kinds of deeds of sale, mortgages, leases,
wills, bonds, petitions, memorials and every
other instrument of writing, in the most reg
ular and legal manner, upon the former cus
tomary terms.
1780, Aug. 19. Died at Newtown, John
Sweeten, deputy commissary of forage.
1780, Sept. 2. Died, at his seat near Ja
maica, Samuel Sackett, late of New York
city, after a few days' illness.
1780, Sept. 18. For sale, the house where
William, Dudley now lives, in Jamaica, with
the bake-house and two acres of land.
1780, Sept. 25. Died last week, at Ja
maica, Mrs. Marsh, in an advanced age.
1780, Oct. 9. Died last week, on Long
Island, Captain James Hosmer, a refugee
from Connecticut, but has lived in New York
city some time past.
1780, Oct. 21. A pair of chestnut-colored
horses, strong and sound, for sale by David
Colden, Flushing ; price, 40 guineas.
1"<80, Oct. 21. For sale, Oct. 25, the stock
and farming utensils of Samuel Sackett, de
ceased, near Jamaica. Christopher Smith
and Carey Ludlow, Executors.
1780, Oct. 22. To be sold and immediate
possession given, the farm of Daniel Nos-

trandt, Fresh Meadow, two miles from Ja
maica and three from Flushing, 129 acres,
orchard, &c.
1780, Dec. 11. William Glean, Flushing,
offers for sale his valuable farm of 140 acres,
part woodland and 3 acres of meadow, Head
of the Fly.
1780, Dec. 11. John Ropkins, who has re
sided some time on Long Island, intends for
England in the first fleet.
1780', Dec. 11. The creditors of Mrs.
Elizabeth Colville, deceased, of Newtown,
will bring their accounts to William Grigg
or Henry Roome, New York.
1780, Dec. 18. For sale, Daniel Bowne's
farm of 155 acres, three miles east of Flush
ing, called Pigeon Meadow. Enquire of
Jacob Smdam or James Bowne, living near.
1780, Dec. 23. Joseph Greswold, distiller,
New York, offers for sale an elegant country
seat, with over 200 acres of land, north side
of Hempstead Plains.
1781, Jan. 8. Persons having demands on
the estate of Samuel Seaman, late of West
bury, will bring their accounts to John Wil
liams, Samuel Way, or Henry Post, Execu
tors. 1781, Jan. 10. James Way offers for sale
the place of 50 acres where Jacob Hallett
lives, at Newtown landing.
1781, Jan. 10. To be sold and possession
given May 1, a house and half-acre of land
in Flushing, facing the Jamaica road. En
quire of Pepperell Bloodgood, next door.
1781, Jan. 13. Died, (Tuesday), Alice,
wife of Colonel Hamilton, aged 37, and
grand daughter of Lieutenant-Governor Col
den. 1781, Jan. 22. For sale, John Troup's
beautiful farm at Jamaica, at a proper dis
tance from Beaver Pond, with two houses
thereon. One house adjoins the main street
and is a fine stand for business ; the other a
country seat, with rich meadow. Also, a
small house on the road from Jamaica to
Flushing by Blackstump.
1781, Jan. 22. One guinea reward. Ran
away from John Wheeler, living at Jamaica,
a negro fellow, Dick, or Mink.
1781, Jan. 22. To let, the dwelling house
of late Mrs. Marsh, long a noted public
house and eligible stand for any kind of
business, with seven acres of land. Also to
be sold, the house and lot next the above, on
the main street, to the west, in the present

Queens County— 2d Series.

27

occupation of William Warne, Jamaica.
Rev. John Sayre, New York.
1781, Jan. 27. Francis Beven, master of
the schooner Christopher, picked up a small
yawl, with two oars, in the mouth of Cow
Bay. 1781, Jan. 31. Taken up (23d instant) at
Jonathan Lawrence's farm, near Hallett's
Cove, a yawl.
1781, Feb. 2. At vendue, (March 5th), the
farm of Matthew Franklin, deceased, Flush
ing, one and a half miles from the landing,
on the road to Fresh Meadow, half a mile
from a grist mill, one hundred and sixty
acres, fourteen of salt meadow. John Far-
rington and James Bowne, Executors. It
lies south of Jamaica.
1781, Feb. 2.. For sale, the farm of David
Lamberson, of forty acres and six of wood-'
land. The house is now occupied as a store
and has a considerable run of business. It is
suitable for a gentleman's country-seat, or
would support a considerable family, if well
attended to.
1781, Feb. 12. To be sold. A lot of ex
cellent land, being part of the estate of Mrs.
Marsh, deceased, and situate at Janiaica,
L. I., containing 17 acres, a part of which is
an orchard. It joins the cemetery of the
English Church on the east ; lies along the
Main street, and is bounded on the west by
the Dutch parsonage, which is now occupied
by the Rev. Mr. John Bowden, and on the
north by lands of the Widow Banks and oth
ers. Apply to the Rev. John Sayre, No. 33
Smith street, New York.
1781, Feb. 18. Patrick Wall, New York,
cautions people against Thomas Ogilvie, his
apprentice, now residing in Flushing. He
also absconded June, 1799.
1781, Feb. 26. At vendue, (March 20), the
farm of John Mott, deceased, of one hundred
and forty acres, east side of Cow Neck.
Richard Sands and Adam Mott, Executors.
1781, Feb. 26. The creditors of Major Al
exander Menzies, of Delancey's Third Battal
ion will present their accounts, by May 1, to
his widow, Sarah, at Hempstead, Adminis
tratrix. 1781, Feb. 26. To let, by Mary and Sam
uel Franklin, New York, on April next, the
seat of Walter Franklin, deceased, head of
Newtown Creek, seven miles from Brooklyn
ferry, twenty-nine acres upland, manured, a
few acres salt meadow. The creek flows

within a few rods of the house, whence boats
come to market daily, fowl and pigeon
house, &c.
1781, Feb. 28. At vendue, April 2, the
farm of Abraham Brinckerhoff, a mile from
the town spot, Newtown, of one hundred and
fifteen acres, also moveables. Samuel Wal-
dron, Isaac and George Brinckerhoff, Execu
tors. 1781, March 3. To let, as elegant a dwell
ing as any in the Province, thirty miles from
New York, south side of Long Island ; a
noble prospect of the sea, fishing and fowling
abundant the whole year. The house stands
in a fourteen-acre field ; large garden, fruit,
coach-house and stable. Fire-wood quarter
of a mile distant. George Stanton, New
York. 1781, March 17, Gilbert Wright, Jericho,
will sell at vendue (27th instant) his farm of
fifty acres. It has an orchard and timber for
for fences.
1781, March 19. For sale or to let, a house
with twelve acres of land, opposite the Eng
lish Church, Jamaica. It has four rooms on
first floor and four on the second, five fire
places, and a barn for twenty horses. The
garden has asparagus; strawberries, raspber
ries and fruit-trees. Enquire of John Living
ston, on the premises, or Phillip Livingston,
Hellgate. 1781, March 19. At vendue, (April 9), by
James Mackrell, a two-story house and small
lot, an excellent stand for business, in the
town of Flushing, with the stock in trade,
(dry goods and groceries). Also a farm of
forty acres, (fifteen of which is in wheat).
The house has a fine prospect of the water.
1781, March 21. $5 reward. Ran away
from James Fuller, New York, an apprentice
boy, Benjamin Kiersted. He had on a fus
tian jacket, drab velvet breeches and round
hat, supposed to be carried away on board
the pettiauger " Blacksnake," John Graham,
master, of Hog Island, south side of Long
Island. Whoever harbors him will answer
the penalty of the law for damages.
1781, March 21. Vendue at James Bayeu's,
Fort Neck, of farming utensils and stock of
Thomas Jones, Esq.
1781, March 24. One guinea reward. Ran
away from William Talman, Flushing, (19th
instant,) a negro man, Oliver, (now calls him
self Joe), aged 27, of a thin, long face. Had

28

Revolutionary Incidents

on a blue short sailor's coat, gray homespun
waistcoat and breeches.
1781, March 26. The partnership of Sea
man, Willets & Co., of Westbury, is dis
solved. All persons will leave their accounts
with Parsons & Prior, New York.
1781, April 7. For sale, Richard Smith's
farm, Herrick's, of eighty acres, convenient
for a storekeeper or house of entertainment.
The meadow, at Rockaway, cuts eighteen
loads of salt hay. Also his furniture and
farming utensils. Hendrick Hagner, Charles
Doughty and John Allen, creditors.
1781, April 9. Auction, at Bayside, (April
12), at the farm of Whitehead Hicks, de
ceased. A pair of stout, well-tempered coach
horses, breeding and riding mares, an excel
lent breed of hogs, phaeton, riding chair,
sulky, excellent milch cows, fourteen acres
stout, promising green wheat, farming uten
sils, &c.
178^, April 14. Gary Ludlow, near Ja
maica, offers at vendue, (25th instant), at
Rochford's, several lots of woodland, twenty-
nine acres, one and a half miles south of Ja
maica, bounded by Widow Betts, Samuel
Doughty and John Williamson ; and salt
meadow at Jamaica South, bounded north by
meadow late of Isaac Rhodes, east and south
by Nicholas Everet, west by owners un
known. 1781, April 16. To let, part of the large
and pleasant house in Jamaica occupied by
Rochford. Enquire of Dudley, Walsh & Co.,
New York.
1781, June 2. The copartnership of Ray &
Fitzsimons having been dissolved, Robert
Ray continues the business beyond Jamaica ;
Peter Fitzsimons, at Newtown ; where they
will serve their old customers and others who
may please to favor them with their com
mands, upon the lowest terms.
1781, June 18. Charles Arding, being un
der a necessity of leaving this country, will
embark, the first opportunity. He offers for
sale the farm where he lives, near Jamaica,
of sixty acres, half in grain and grass for
mowing. The house is large and neatly fin
ished, has a spacious arched hall through the
middle, and every accommodation for a gen
tleman ; two gardens neatly paled in, plenti
fully stored with all kinds of vegetables, a
variety of the best fruit-trees, and necessary
outbuildings. Cattle, horses and household
furniture sold at same time.

1781, June 21. New Bricks. Any quan
tity of the best sort may be had of Esau Cox
& Co., at the brick-kilns, Whitestone.
1781, July 7. Good brick sold at Abraham
Lawrence's Point. Any quantity supplied
by Strong & Cox.
1781, July 21. Mary, wife of John Boss,
Newtown, being ill-treated by her husband,
left him and cautions buyers of the land.
1781, Sept. 12. Two half-joes reward.
Stolen from Benjamin Hildreth, Bahana
Island, Hellgate, on the night of September
2, a brown horse.
1781, September 24. Vendue, October 2,
at the house of Oliver Willis, near by, of the
elegant farm of Isaac Smith, Esq., Herricks,
of one hundred and fifty acres, and twenty-
five of timber-land adjoining, a spring of
water by the door, twenty-five acres orchard
ing, a lot of meadow at Near Rockaway
South that cuts twenty loads of hay.
1781, Oct. 10. To let, an elegant country
seat, north side of Hempstead Plains, six
miles from Jamaica. Of the two hundred
acres, thirty-six are woodland. John Le
Chevalier Roome, New York.
1781, Oct. 27. Wanted, a private tutor to
teach Latin, &c, to go in a gentleman's fam
ily at Flushing. Apply to Colonel Colden,
New York.
1781, Nov. 24, William Lanman, mer
chant, intends closing his accounts immedi
ately, and will dispose at public sale, (Decem
ber 17), at Jamaica, of dry goods, groceries,
china and glassware. Sale to continue till
all is sold.
1781, Nov. 26. Taken up (12th instant)
by William Lawrence, near Hallett's Cove, a
bay horse with a large blaze in his face, and
legs white up to the knees.
1782, Jan. 5. William Palmer married
Sally, daughter of John Fish, Newtown.
1782, Jan. 9. " December 23, a box of
mine was taken from Isaac Van Dyke's
house, Long Island, and plundered by per
sons unknown. Suspecting Caleb Haviland,
of Queens County, on insufficient grounds, I
propagated false rumors. I am sorry and
make this public reparation. Jacob Abra
hams, January 8, 1782."
1782, Jan. 15. The town of Hempstead
paid Nehemiah Sammis, Benjamin Lawrence
and George Clerk £18, for entertaining sundry
shipwrecked mariners of His Majesty's ship
" Swallow;" and £3, 4s, to Increase Pettit,

Queens County — 2d Series.

29

for entertaining three , men belonging to a
privateer. 1782, Jan. 16. Joshua Carpenter, Jamaica,
offers for sale his house, barn, and farm of
one hundred and twenty acres, with orchard
and salt meadow.
1782, Jan. 28. To let and be entered on
May 1, the church parsonage at Newtown,
seventeen acres, with house, barn and out
houses, and orchard. A handsome situation
for » genteel family. Enquire of Joseph
Burroughs and Jacob Moore, Trustees.
1782, Jan. 30. For sale, the farm of forty-
five acres, formerly of Joseph Provoost, de
ceased, near Hallett's Cove. Apply to John
Bowne, New York.
1782, Feb. 4. The creditors of Malcolm
Morrison, of Jamaica, will send their ac
counts to William Bogle, at Jamaica.
1783, Feb. 11. At private sale, and to be
entered on May 1, the farm of Peter Ryerson,
[Fosters Meadow], on the road from Jamaica
to Hempstead. The house has six finished
rooms, four fire-places, smoke-house, shin
gled barn, stone well by the door, tolerably
well timbered, by estimation one hundred
acres, more or less. It has an excellent store
for a grocery and another for dry goods.
1782, Feb. 20. At vendue, March 12, the
farm of the late Talman Waters, Flushing
Fly, two hundred acres, twenty of orchard,
twenty of woods, and twenty of salt meadow.
The house has four fire-places. Samuel
Doughty, John and William Waters, Execu
tors. 1782, Feb. 25. To be sold and possession
given May 1, the house and lot of one acre
now occupied by Mr. Cross, Jamaica, with
two good shops adjoining.
1782, March 2. Charles Doughty offers to
let one year a farm of one hundred and fifty
acres, one and a half miles from Flushing
landing. 1782, March 2. A gardener wanted by a
gentleman on Long Island, twenty miles from
New York. Enquire of Mr. Beesly, tavern-
keeper, Flushing.
1782, March 4. To be sold on reasonable
terms, and time given for the payment of the
money, if most agreeable to the purchaser, a
two-and-a-half-story house, barns, cow-house,
coach house and two gardens enclosed with
pale fence, together with the demesne there
unto belonging, nineteen acres of extraordi

nary fine meadow-land, in the most pleasant of Bethpage, a lady of fortune.

and healthy part of the town-plat of Jamaica,
being part of the estate of John Troup, Esq.,
now in possession of Charles McEvers. Pos
session given May 1, but the purchaser may
improve the gardens immediately.
1782, March 9. The creditors of John Van
Nostrand, Jr., shopkeeper, of Hempstead,
will bring their accounts (April 5) to Samuel
Clowes, Assignee.
1782, March 11. Edward Bardin presents
his compliments to the public and informs
them that he has removed from New York to
Jamaica and opened a tavern by the name of
Vauxhall, (formerly Thomas Rochford's).
Tea and coffee, and entertainments great and
small, at shortest notice — the best kind of
liquors. 1782, April 1. To let, in Jamaica, two or
three genteel rooms, with cellar and garden,
and privilege in the kitchen, stable, &c. En
quire of Waters Smith, Jamaica.
1782, April 1. At vendue, (April 10), a
valuable farm of one hundred and seventy-
five acres, well situated for a gentleman's
country seat, on the East River, five miles
from New York. The river abounds with
fish, which may be taken the season through;
two stately rows of cherry-trees (one of red,
the other black,) are standing on the river's
bank ; sixteen acres of fresh and eight of
salt meadow and ten of woodland, the whole
well-watered by fine springs. Title given by
John Howes and John Parsell.
1782, April 15. Vendue (April 18) of the
valuable farm of Elias Doughty, deceased, in
Flushing, near the Great Plains, of about
two hundred acres upland. A large lot of
salt meadow, four or five miles distant, yields
sixty or seventy loads of salt hay in good sea
sons. John and Charles Doughty, Executors,
New York Ferry.
1782, April 22. At public auction, 12
o'clock, (April 23), a likely negro wench, aged
22, and her male child, aged 22 months. She
understands all kinds of housework, and was
brought up in Flushing. Sold only for want
of employ. The property warranted.
1782, May 25. Alexander McAuley & Co.
have removed from Jamaica to New York,
and hope friends in the country will continue
to favor them.
1782, June 22. David Casseboom, of East
Woods, married (June 19) Miss Jane Brass,

30

Revolutionary Incidents

1782, July 6. Lost, between Joseph Wood
ward's and Newtown, 32 guineas and $1 in
small change, in a green and white silk purse.
A handsome reward if brought to Thomas
Hallett, Brooklyn Ferry.
1782, July 8. A single man, capable of
instructing about twenty children in reading,
writing and arithmetic, and bringing a good
recommendation, will meet with suitable en
couragement by applying to Joseph Bur
roughs, Newtown.
1782, July 27. Samuel Ockerson, of Long-
bridge, N. J., died on Long Island, aged 55.
1782, Aug. 24. Mr. Palmer, 54th Regiment,
married a daughter of Benjamin Woolsey,
deceased, of Queens County.
1782, Sept. 25. To be sold, several high
bred stallions, among them " Lofty" and
" Brutus," belonging to cavalry officers, both
capital four-mile horses ; also " Comus" and
two or three capital hunters. To be seen at
Jamaica. Enquire of Mi. Betts, Queenshead.
The prices are Jeft with the groom.
1782, Oct. 2. Died, at Newtown, Donald
McDonald, printer.
1783, Nov. 27. For sale, the islands called
Two Brothers, a good house and barn there
on, two miles above -Hellgate. Enquire of
Henry Brasher, Water street, New York.
1782, Dec. 18. Lost, ten days since, on
Long Island, » double-lidded and double-
hinged snuff-box, which opens four different
ways, with a crest on the lid, of a lion ram
pant. A guinea reward, if delivered to the
printer. 1782, Dec. Address of the principal inhab
itants of Queens and Kings Counties to David
Scott, Captain and Commissary of British
Artillery Horse. They lament his departure
for England, admire his civil and military
conduct, his zeal and attention in His Majes
ty's service ; his behavior as a civilian, dis
tinguished with justice and agreeable man
ners, which are so necessary to promote His
Majesty's interest in this country. They
hope his endeavors will be rewarded. Signed
by:-
Arch. Hamilton, Colonel Com. Q. Co. Militia.
Jeremiah Vanderbelt, Major K. Co. Militia,
Nicholas Schei-.ck, Captain K. Co. Militia,
John Rapelye, late Colonel K. Co. Militia,
Dowe Ditmars, Ensign Q. Co. Militia,
Daniel Rapelye, Lieutenant Q. Co. Militia,
Johannes Remsen, Lieutenant K. Co. Militia,
Joseph French, Justice Quorum, Q. Co.,

Daniel Lent, Cornet, Q. Co. Horse,
Christopher Benson, Captain N. Y. Rangers,
Maurice Lott, late Sheriff, Kings Co. ,
Cornelius Wyckoff, Justice Quorum, K. Co.,
Samuel Hallett, Captain Delancey's Brigade,
Jeromus Lott, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Peter Lott, Captain,
Richard Betts, Captain,
John Polhemus, Lieutenant,
Isaac Cortelyou, Thomas Harriot,
Hendrick Eldert, Hendrick Wyckoff,
Denyse Denyse, .John Benham,
Daniel Luyster, William Van Nuise,
Garret Luyster, Albert Terhune,
Nathaniel Moore, 3d, Theophylact Bache,
Nathaniel Moore, 2d, John Johnston,
David Moore, Whitehead Cornell,
Nicholas Wyckoff, Jaques Cortelyou,
Jacob Snedeker, / Simon Cortelyou,
Nicholas Williamson, Joseph Hallett,
John Williamson, William Hallett,
Gozen Ryers, Samuel Doughty,
Henry Van Buren, Charles Doughty,
John Wetherhead, William Doughty,
Isaac Eldert, Johannes Lott,
Isaac Rapelye, Jurrian Lott,
Jacob Rapelye, Joost Wyckoff,
Abraham Lent, William Cowenhoven,
John Moore, August's Van Cortland,
Joseph Moore, John Waters.
1783, Jan. 6. Josiah Brown, grocer, ac
quaints the public that he has removed from
Jamaica, and offers for sale the house now
occupied by John Dudley.
1783, Jan. 18. $3 reward. Lost, between
Newtown and Brooklyn, a hanger, with black
handle and silver lion head.
1783, March 5. At vendue, (20th instant),
all the estate, moveable and immoveable, of
Richard Gardiner, of Flushing, deceased :
a house of two rooms, garret, fourteen acres
of land, brook of water by the door, suitable
for the tanning business. Apply to Daniel
Nostrand, Black Stump.
1783, April 2. To be sold or exchanged
for a house in New York, a house and farm
of sixty acres, near Jamaica, pleasant and
remote from business.
1783, April 28. Bark ! Bark ! Bark !
A generous price given for two hundred
cords. Thomas Hazard, John Cole, Jacob
Polhemus. [Newtown. ]
1783, May 10. The creditors of Mrs. Sarah
Scudder, of Newtown, deceased, will settle
with George Rapelye and Richard Alsop.

Queens County— 2d Series.
1783, June 7. For sale and immediate pos
session given, a blacksmith's shop, an ex
ceeding good stand. One set of tools com
plete, in the centre of Jamaica town. En
quire of Isaac Roop, Brooklyn Ferry.
1783, June 21. The partnership between
Isaac Roop and Jonathan Jones, of Jamaica,
blacksmiths, will be dissolved January 1.
Debtors will pay and creditors be paid.
1783, July 9. Mr. Bennet, who formerly
taught school at Thomas Betts', Esq., be
tween Brooklyn Ferry and Jamaica, is desired
to call on the Printer.
1783, Sept. 10. Thomas Lester offers for
sale or exchange for goods, the house, barn
and three acres of land, a mile from Her
ricks, north side the Plains, commodious for
public business. Apply to James Peters,
New York, for particulars.
1783, Sept. 10. Two guineas reward.
Ran away from Widow Suydam, Flushing;
" Peg," aged 20, very black and thick-set.
1783, Sept. 10. Handsome reward. Ran
away from Edward Bardin, Jamaica, " Sam,"
a mulatto. He had on a striped jacket and
trowsers made of bed-tick. He carried off
a bag of clothes, red waistcoat, buckskin
breeches and two pair of white breeches.

31

War Correspondence of Colonel Ham
ilton and Major Kissam.
To Captain Stephen Thorne, Cow Neck.
Innerwick, June 14th, 1777.
Orders by Archibald Hamilton, Esq. , Colonel
Commandant of the Regiment of Queens
County Militia, for the better regulating
of that corps.
1 . Every Captain is to keep an exact return
or list of the number of men in his district
fit to bear arms.
2. He is to warn all his men regularly to
a field-day or muster with their arms com
plete. No excuse but want of health will be
admitted. 3. He will give particular orders to his
subalterns to attend constantly, as it is the
officers' duty to give good example to the
soldiers. 4. Any of those people commonly called
Quakers, who were aiders or abettors of this
unnatural rebellion, are to be constantly
warned to appear, and to be fined for a non

compliance. At the same time every lenity
will be shown to those few who held fast
their integrity.
5. Any militia man or soldier who shall
neglect to appear when warned, or shall con
tumaciously refuse any lawful order, will not
only be fined but sent to the Provost-guard.
Every Captain is to read these orders at the
head of his company and insert them in an
Orderly book kept for that purpose.
Rules, &c.
Each company is to have a call and size-
roll, in which the men's names are to be in
serted according to their ranks, as front or
rear rank, that they be well instructed in the
rank to which they belong (to facilitate the
drawing them up for field exercises) to place
the smallest men in the front rank.
That when a company is ordered to meet,
that their names be regularly called over.
That the officers see that the men appear .
clean and decent under arms ; that they are
sober and behave with decorum on their way
to and from as well as at the muster or exer
cising ground, and that their arms and accou
trements are in good order.
That the officers be particularly careful in
expediting any orders they may receive ;
that they endeavor to encourage the men in
the attention to muster and training days ;
that both officers and men avoid disobedience,
murmuring or any marks of envy or disre
spect, which betray an ignorance of the value
of subordination, the basis of all good order
and discipline.

Hempstead Plains, )
Friday Morning, 11 o'clock. S
Sir : — I this morning received an express
from Setauket,* that the Rebels invested
that post early this morning, [August 22,
1777]. I have orders from General Delancey
to muster the militia and march to Hunting
ton forthwith. You will therefore order the
Captains on the north side of the Plains to
collect their companies and, with the assist
ance of horses and wagons, meet me at the
windmill, f to which place I have ordered the
companies from the southside. Captains
Coles, Van Wyck and Youngs you'll order

* See Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk County,
p. f>6.
t The windmill tavern was northside of Hempstead
Plains.

directly on for Huntington
your using the utmost expedition, and am
Yours, &c, G. G. Ludlow

Innerwick, near Flushing, )
17th March, 1778. >
Orders for the Militia of Great and Cow
Necks. It is Colonel Hamilton's positive orders
that the companies of Captains Thorne and
Cornwell mount guard every night at the
place that Major Kissam shall think most
requisite. This guard to consist of one ser
geant, one corporal and sixteen privates. No
age to excuse those who are in good circum
stances, as they are hereby ordered to hire
one to do their duty, if they are not able to
do it themselves. The Captains to take care
that this order is strictly complied with. No
person to be excused from this duty but doc
tors, and to continue till further orders.
Archibald Hamilton,
Colonel Commandant of Queens Co. Militia.

Revolutionary Incidents
I doubt not

Orders sent to Major Kissam, for the Militia
of Queens County in the Parishes of Oys
terbay and Hempstead.
Innerwick, 26th March, 1778.
It is Colonel Hamilton's orders that the
Captains of the Regiment of Queens County
Militia in the Parishes of Oysterbay and
Hempstead, do immediately meet and settle
a proper mode for establishing sufficient
guards on Great Neck, Cow Neck and Matin
ecock Point, or any other place that may re
quire it for the defence of that part of the
Island. If the common methods of doing
duty by companies is found inadequate to the
purpose, guards must be hired, and paid by
a general tax on these companies according
to their strength. A return of this plan is to
be sent as soon as possible to Colonel Hamil
ton for his consideration and approbation.
Major Kissam will appoint the place and
be present at the meeting, and make his re
port to Colonel Hamilton. He is likewise to
get a complete return of the strength of their
respective companies, from each of these
Captains. He is also to appoint proper guard
houses and to take care and give orders that
they be supplied with fire- wood.

Innerwick, 1st May, 1778.
Regimental Orders.
Governor Tryon has been pleased to make
the following promotions in the Regiment of
Queens County Militia, whereof Gabriel G.
Ludlow, Esq. , is Colonel : — John Woolley,
Jr., Esq., to be Captain of a Company, in the
room of Stephen Thorne, Esq. , who has leave
to resign upon account of his health. Ed
ward Thorne, gentleman, to be First Lieuten
ant ; Robert Sutton, gentleman, to be Second
Lieutenant ; and Joseph Thorne, gentleman,
to be Ensign in said Company.
Any soldier of Queens County Militia who
refuses or neglects his guards is to be fined
£5 for every offence. The Captains to take
care that this order is strictly put in execu
tion. For neglect of smaller duties, they are
to be fined 20 shillings for every offence, the
Captains to be answerable that this order is
complied with. A. H.
To Major Kissam.

Innerwick, 1st May, 1778.
Orders for the Regiment of Queens County
Militia. It is Colonel Hamilton's order that no sol
dier, upon any pretence, shall quit the troops
or company in which he is now mustered,
without leave from the commanding officer
of the regiment. Those who presume to act
contrary to this order will be fined £10 and
treated as deserters, the captains to be an
swerable, if this order is not complied with.
The guards from Red Spring Point to Oak
Neck are to be very strict in their duty.
They are to seize all persons and boats com
ing from the Rebel shore, and keep them in
custody, reporting them to Colonel Hamilton,
and waiting for his directions. If any one
suffers or assists them to escape, he will be
treated as a traitor to his King. No boats to
be permitted to remain upon the shore along
the Sound, for fear that deserters or Rebels
may make their escape by them. If any
boats are found along shore after this order
is known, the officers are to see that they are
cut to pieces. Any commissioned officer who
neglects his duty or refuses, will be fined
£20, and will be dismissed with infamy.
Whatever things are seized coming from the
Rebel shore are to belong to the persons who
seize them.

Queens County— 2d Series.
Innerwick, 16th May, 1778.
To John Kissam, Major of Queens County
Militia.It is Colonel Hamilton's positive orders
that no further steps shall be taken [by Cap
tain Daniel Youngs] in the affair betwixt Pe
ter Hegeman and Mrs. Knapp, until he
comes to enquire into the merits of the cause
himself, which will be soon. A. H.

33

Herricks, May 28d, 1778.
To Major Kissam.
Sir : — It is Major General Tryon's order
that in future no boats are to go from Long
Island to the Main, and that the ferrymen at
the different ferries be immediately acquaint
ed with the same. You'll therefore please to
forward this order to such ferrymen as are
within your district.
I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
G. G. Ludlow, Colonel.

Head Quarters, New York, \
25th May, 1778. i
General Orders.
Queens County is to furnish one hundred
men, and Kings County fifty, to assemble at
Brooklyn Church, Wednesday morning, at 5
o'clock, to work upon the redoubts near
Brooklyn. The same party are to remain till
the works are finished ; or they may be re
lieved from time to time, as may be thought
most commodious to the county.

Innerwick, 26th May, 1778.
Regimental Orders.
The Captains of the Regiment of Queens
County Militia are immediately to meet and
settle their proportion of men for the work
ing party that is to march to Brooklyn.
They are to parade at Brooklyn Church on
Thursday morning, at 5 o'clock, and are to
carry their provisions with them. They will
be allowed rum by the Government. Every
Captain is to send to Colonel Hamilton, who
will deliver twenty .haversacks for the use of
the working party of such company. Colonel
Hamilton orders this duty to be done by
towriships, and to be relieved every fifth day.
Two commissioned officers are to go with the
working party, who are to remain till they

are relieved, the Captains to be answerable
that their proportion of men is kept up, oth
erwise they (the Captains) will be severely
fined. The townships of Jamaica, Flushing
and Newtown are to furnish the party for
next Thursday, and the other townships to
take it in rotation.
A party of ten soldiers and two non-com
missioned officers are to parade every even
ing in the town of Flushing, opposite the
Meeting-house, with arms and ammunition
complete, who are to mount guard at White-
stone ; one non-commissioned officer and five
men to mount guard at Lewis's house, and
one non-commissioned officer and five men at
Pinfold's, who are to give an alarm in case
of any Rebels landing. Captain Hoogland's
company is to take the guard this evening ;
Captain Ludlum's to-morrow, and Captain
Betts's on Thursday, and so in succession.
Whatever company fails in their guard, the
Captain will be fined £20 for every failure.
A. H,
Col. Commandant Queens Co. Militia.
To Major Kissam.

On His Majesty's Service.
To Major Kissam, Cow Neck.
Innerwick, 28th May, 1778.
Regimental Orders.
Major Kissam and the Captains of the
Regiment of Queens County Militia will meet
at Hempstead, on Tuesday, June 2d, at 12
o'clock, to settle their proportion of men for
the third relief, which will be on Friday, 5th
June, and to be answerable that there is no
stop put to the working party. No Refugee
is to go upon any Fatigue, but to do every
other duty.
Dear Sir : — I beg you will communicate
this order to the Captains in your district,
and take care that they are fulfilled.
I am your most humble servant,
A. H, Col. Com't, &c.

Innerwick, 6th June, 1778.
Orders for the Militia of Queens County.
The Captains and officers, of the Regiment
of Queens County Militia are immediately to
meet and settle the number of fascines each
company must make to furnish one thousand
for the use of His Majesty's works at Brook-

34

Revolutionary Incidents

lyn. They are likewise to furnish one thou
sand pickets or palisades between seven and
eight feet long, sharpened at one end, from
four and five to six inches in diameter, either
round or split, and two thousand sod pins,
about one foot or fifteen inches long, sharp
ened at one end, and about half an inch or
three-quarters of an inch in diameter. They
must be as expeditious as possible, that His
Majesty's service may not be retarded. The
fascines and pickets are to be carried and de
livered at Brooklyn by the wagons of the
country gratis. The drivers will be allowed
fatigue-rum. The reason of this alteration,
by order of His Excellency Governor Tryon,
is owing to the working parties' not having
carried provisions with them, though posi
tively ordered. The fascines and pickets are
to be cut from Rebel woods, or from the
woods of those who have been in rebellion,
as may be most convenient for dispatch.
Colonel Hamilton earnestly recommends it to
the Captains and officers to be very attentive
to this duty, as he is determined to fine those
who are backward or neglectful, in a most
exemplary manner. Major Kissam is to be
answerable that the. companies to the East
ward do their part of this duty. The fas
cines are to be from eight to ten feet long,
well tied together with three or four withes,
cut square at one end, with four pins to each.
A. H, Col. Com't, &c.
To Major Kjssam, &c.

To John Kissam, Major of Queens Co. Militia.
A true return of Captain Seaman's Company,
made this 9th day of June, 1778, agreeable
to orders to me directed.
Captain, Samuel Seaman, (commission bear
ing date the 9th day of December, in the
17th year of His Majesty's reign, 1776).
Lieutenant, Joseph Birdsall.
Ensign, Townsend Jackson.
1 Clerk, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer.
49 rank and file, able bodied men.
4 invalids, not fit for duty.
10 above the age of 50 and not 60.
15 above 60.
Cash by fines, the sum of £12, 13, 4.
Cash paid for the use of the Comp'y, £11, 15, 4.
4 absentees, gone in His Majesty's service.
5 do. moved themselves and families
out of the district.

Innerwick, 13th June, 1778.
To Major Kissam.
Dear Sir : — I am this moment favored
with your letter, and am happy to find that
the fascines and pickets are almost ready. I
beg you will be so good as to enquire into the
case of Henry Allen, and settle it agreeable
to humanity for the one and convenience for
the others. I am, dear sir, yours most sincerely,
A. H.

Hempstead Plains, July 30, 1778.
To Major Kissam.
Sir : — In the absence of Colonel Hamilton,
you will take the command of the Queens
County Militia, and execute such measures as
you shall think necessary for the benefit and
protection of the county. In particular you
will observe the following directions respect
ing the Beacons on Cow Neck and near Nor
wich, and take the steps requisite for their
being carried into execution.
Whenever any Beacons* to the Eastward
are seen on fire, you will immediately set fire
to those under your care ; making one fire or
more, as you observe those to the Eastward
have done, in every instance following their
example ; and whenever you have so done
you will send an express to the commanding
officer of the King's forces at Jamaica, in
forming him that one, two or three beacons
(as the fact shall be) are fired to the East
ward. In all cases when you have certain intelli
gence of the enemy being landed on this
Island in force, you will fire all the three
Beacons, and dispatch an express as above,
with the information, always keeping up the
fires until the intelligence shall have reached
New York. You will of course have three
distinct Beacons at each place in readiness to
be fired ; and if it should happen in the day
time, encourage the smoke as much as pos
sible. A corporal and four men are to mount
guard, at each place, on them, night and day,
always keeping a sentinel looking out for sig
nals. These men you will change weekly,
or at your discretion, and excuse them from
all military duty. A compensation will
moreover be made them in proportion to
their diligence and service.
* See Revolutionary Incidents, pp. 144, 193,

Queens County — 2d Series.

35

These directions, are to be strictly observed I Court Martial, but do not thiuk it can be of

by the Guard at each of the two places fixed
on by Brigadier General Delancey for the
erection of the Beacons ; and the Guard sta
tioned on the hill near Norwich will also ob
serve to send an express to Cow Neck when
ever the Beacons under their care are fired.
William Tryon, M. G.

Innerwick, 29th September, 1778.
Dear Major : — I beg you will enquire
into the dispute betwixt Ensign Thorne and
Mr. Taylor, and settle it agreeable to justice
and military customs. The road for carting
wood for His Majesty's troops is not to be
stopped upon any account.
I am, dear sir, your most humble servant, A. H.
Innerwick, 2d November, 1778.
To Major Kissam.
Dear Sir : — I beg you will be so good as
to enquire into Valentine's affair, and if you
are persuaded that he has gone to the Rebels,
and that there is any collusion in the sale of
his estate, I desire you will put Joseph
Smith, with his family, upon part of it, for
his present support, till further orders.
I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
A. H.
To Major Kissam, at Cow Neck.
Innerwick, 22d November, 1778.
Having had repeated complaints against
one Cutler, in the Forage Department, from
several people in my district, I am, therefore,
to advise him (whoever he is) to be more
careful for the future how he acts, as I am
determined to protect all those under my
command from being ill-used or pillaged, as
they are willing to spare everything they can
for His Majesty's stores.
You are desired to copy several of these
and give them to the inhabitants.
AH,
Colonel Commandant of Queens County Mili
tia and Aid-de-camp to Major Gen. Tryon.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Dec. 31, 1778. I am this moment favored
with your letter, and would have sent it with
Pearsall to the President of the General

any service, pro or con. However, you have
done your duty in sending him, and I shall
acquaint General Vaughan with it to-morrow.
I have again sent them back, and will ac
quaint you with the General's answer. Be
so good as to deliver the enclosed letter.
General Orders. January 2, 1179.
The Commanding Officer of the Queens County
Militia is to establish such guards along the Sound as
he may think sufficient both to prevent the Rebels
from 'landing and to receive such as may make their
escape from them. They are to be very alert, and in
case of a descent are to give the alarm to the tlrst
established post.
Signed, J. Vaughan, Major General.
Jan. 19, 1779. Major Kissam is to see this
order complied with, his way, and to consult
with Captain Brown, of His Majesty's sloop
" Scorpion," about the proper places for
guards. A. H., &c.
Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Jan. 17, 1779. I am desired by General
Tryon to give orders that the militia guards
for the future (your way) shall consist of
hired men, who are to be paid by a tax from
the companies who otherwise would have
mounted in their turn. You will likewise be
so good as to consult with Captain Brown
about the proper places for such guards, who
will be so obliging as to give you a copy of
the Signals sent by General Tryon. I beg
my compliments to your father, and am, with
great regard, dear sir, yours most sincerely.

Circular. Outpost, Kingsbridge, )
20th January, 1779. \
To Justice Samuel Clowes.
Sir : — His Majesty's service requiring large
and immediate supplies of hay and straw,
which can only be obtained from the country,
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton has re
quested my assistance on this occasion.
It is expected from every farmer or inhab
itant that he will bring into such magazine
as the Commissary General shall direct, that
quantity of these articles of forage not wanted
by the proprietor for carrying his own stock
through the season, nor necessary for sub
sisting the Light-horse of the militia. But
it is not the General's intention that this con
tribution should be made to the public exi
gency without a compensation ; for certifi-

36

Revolutionary Incidents

cates are to be given of the quantities re
ceived and payment made both for the article
and transportation according to the regula
tions established by the Commander-in-Chief.
It will afford me much pleasure to find the
wants of the army satisfied without distress
ing the people, and I can devise no better ex
pedient for this purpose than to put the con
duct of the collection under discreet and
trusty superintendents, well known and es
teemed in the quarters whence the supplies
are collected. Mr. Wier, the Commissary
General, has assured me that he will not only
reimburse them and their assistants for their
expenses, but reward them for their trouble.
I therefore hereby appoint you Superin
tendent for the division or township of Hemp
stead, and  , of your county, to
be your assistant, and recommend to you to
proceed on the business with speed and the
strictest regard to justice and impartiality.
You will apprise the inhabitants of the
General's requisitions and the mischiefs of
withholding the supplies from any unjustifia
ble motives ; for in that case the surplus
will be taken without payment ; and consist
ing of straw unthreshed, on the first of
March next, the proprietor will be exposed to
the further loss of the grain in the ear. They
ought also to be informed that no sinister ex
cuses to evade or delay the actual delivery of
the real surplus will be countenanced, the
King's service requiring an immediate com
pliance. In the execution of this trust you will re
port your transactions to the Commissary
General, who will instruct you respecting
the magazines. I have only to add that I
confide in your diligence and prudence, as
well as in the loyalty and zeal of the inhabit
ants, and that I am, sir, your most obedient
servant, William Tryon, Governor.

Signals.
Scorpion, off New City Island, )
January 30th, 1779. )
If the Rebels are attacking any vessels, or
landing or landed between this station and
Hempstead Bay, the signals by night are two
fires on Lawrence Hewlett's Point ; by day,
two smokes on the same. If the attack is
made in Cow Bay, the signal by night is one
fire on Lawrence Hewlett's Point ; if by day,

one smoke on the same. The above signals
will be answered from the " Scorpion ;" by
day, by hoisting the colors, or hauling them
down if hoisted previously ; by night,' with
lights, false-fires or muskets. Phillip Brown.

Signals. — Colonel Hamilton will be so
good as to place a man at the most convenient
height to see Laurel Hill and Morris's house,
[on York Island]. He will observe what sig
nals are made from there — if there are three
guns from Laurel Hill and three fires from
there or Morris's house, two guns and two
fires from ditto, or one gun and one fire from
ditto — and report the same to the Com
mander-in-Chief, on board the ' ' Grand Duke,"
at Whitestone. Oliver Delancey, Aid-de-Camp.

Signals by day and night for Long Island
and Kingsbridge, to be made from Norwich
Hill, Sutton's Hill and Flushing Heights,
viz. :
1. On the enemy's landing in force east
ward of Norwich : by night, one beacon fired
at each ; by day, one large smoke at each.
2. On enemy landing in force westward of
Norwich Hill : by night, two beacons fired at
each ; by day, two large smokes at each.
Signals acknowledged from Morris's house:
by night, first signal, one rocket ; second sig
nal, two rockets ; by day, none.
N. B. — The fires and smokes to be kept up
while the enemy remain on the Island, or
until otherwise observed. After every signal
a Light Dragoon to be sent from Morris's
house to Headquarters with the intelligence.
Mem. — Norwich Hill is two miles south of
Oysterbay, Sutton's Hill* is three miles from
Cow Neck Point, Flushing Heights are near
Ustick's house.
Approved by the Commander-in-Chief,
William Tryon, Major General.
Archibald Hamilton, Aid-de-Camp.

Signals. — On the attack of the Posts at
Kingsbridge, viz. : If at any one of the out
posts on the Main, to fire one gun from the
post attacked, or platoon where there is no

' Now on the farm of Joseph O Hegeman.

Queens County — 2d Series.
cannon. To be answered from Fort Knip
hausen by one gun ; and one gun and two
rockets from Morris's house.
If between Kingsbridge and McGowan's
lines from the North River, two guns and
two rockets from Fort Kniphausen.
If from Harlem Creek, one gun and three
rockets from Fort Kniphausen, and both the
same signals to be respectively repeated from
Morris's house.
N. B. — After every signal a Light Dragoon
to be sent from Morris's house to Headquar
ters with the intelligence.

37

Governor Tryon to Colonel Hamilton.
Five Post, Kingsbridge, \
7th March, 1779. )
As the armed ships in the South Bay are a
sufficient security from every insult of the
enemy on the south side of Long Island, and
as the whaleboats from the Connecticut coast
are continually committing depredations on
the north side, the duty of the militia must
be directed to that quarter ; and whereas the
hiring of guards has been found not only an
indulgence to the inhabitants, but the most
effectual method to guard the necessary
posts, I do hereby order that all persons in
Queens County do bear a proportion of the
expense of such duty, according to the value
of their estates, real or personal, although
exempted from military duty by age or office.
HESTTt is Colonel Hamilton's orders that
Major Kissam see the above orders put in
force immediately in his district.
In pursuance of the above orders to me,
Captain Cornell is ordered to raise the moneys
on the inhabitants in his district for the pay
ment of five men that he has hired to do duty
as guards on Cow Neck, at the rate of six
shillings per day each man, iu such manner
as is ordered by His Excellency Governor
Tryon's letter, for three months, commencing
the 7th of February last.
John Kissam, Major, &c.

Major Kissam to George Brinley.
Cow Neck, 1st March, 1779.
Sir : — On my going round among the
farmers on the northside of Hempstead, in
order to see what quantities of forage they

could spare for the use of His Majesty's
troops, I found that many of the principal
farmers were entirely destitute of any fresh
hay, and from their distance off the salt
meadows, little salt hay likewise ; but I
found I could collect about thirty tons of
fresh and salt hay, and about the same quan
tity of straw, which I have returned to Jus
tice Clowes. Since which the Light Horse
at Hempstead have taken several tons which
I had engaged, which I am afraid will make
my return of hay less.
I should have sent to New York before
this all the hay, but meeting with difficulty,
and being disappointed in procuring boats to
transport the same, have prevented it ; but
hoping in a few days I shall be able to send
what little hay remains, and all the straw
that can possibly be collected, as I have now
engaged two or three boats, The farmers in
general seem to be a good deal distressed on
account of the large quantities of hay that
were taken from them last summer and fall.

Benjamin James to Major Kissam.
Sir : — The above being a copy of your let
ter to Mr, Brinley, the bearer, Mr. Ochiltree,
employed as Deputy Commissary of Forage
at Flushing, being in want of some fresh
hay, by your pointing out to him how he
may get the same, I shall be obliged, and his
receipt shall be paid by yours truly.

To Major Kissam.
Sir : — I leave enclosed for you a note from
Mr. James, Deputy Commissary of Forage
at New York. I would be glad if you could
let me know as soon as possible, if any fresh
hay can be got from this place to send to
Flushing, and by what means you think best
to send it there. You mention in your letter
to Mr. Brinley of having got vessels to trans
port forage to New York. If these vessels
could carry the fresh hay to Flushing, proper
certificates for the carriage would be given
them. I beg you'll write me, as soon as you
can, what can be done, as we are in great
want of fresh hay at Flushing. I am, sir,
your very humble servant,
Duncan Ochiltree,
Assistant Commissary of Forage.
Cow Neck, 10th March, 1779.

Revolutionary Incidents

To Major Kissam, Queens County Militia, at
Co to Neck. On Service.
Newtown, 2d April, 1779.
Sir : — Colonel Hamilton has ordered the
following days and places to be observed for
the purpose of reviewing (11 o'clock, morn
ing,) the Regiment, of which I thought it
necessary you should be informed, viz. .
Monday, 12th inst., at Newtown.
Tuesday, 13th do Beaver Pond, Jamaica.
Wednesday, 14th do Hempstead Town.
Thursday, 15th do Norwich.
I have the pleasure of being, sir, your most
obedient and humble servant, James Long,
Adjutant Queens County Militia.

Orders from-
Hamilton.

General Delancey to Colonel

Headquarters, L. I.,
the 10th July, 1779,

:!-

To the Commander and every commissioned
officer of Delancey's 3d Battalion, at Lloyd's
Neck, &ca., to the Colonel of Kings County
Militia, Colonels of Queens County and
Colonels of Suffolk County Militia, &ca.
As by the duplicity and faint attachment
to loyalty of some persons on this Island, that
enjoy the protection of Government and have
the benefits of a peaceable and profitable life;
who have sons and near relations with the
Rebels, taking a leading part in committing
scandalous robberies, and secretly in the
night carrying off peaceable and inoffensive
inhabitants into captivity, the persons in this
predicament may be assured that on proof of
their connivance, abetting or assisting, se
creting or corresponding with such robbers,
I will send over such fathers or masters with
their whole families to Connecticut, and give
possession of their farm and property to be
enjoyed by His Majesty's true and faithful
subjects, who are to take a just and true in
ventory, on oath, of all the effects left by the
owner, in the presence of three neighbors of
good repute ; one copy to be left with me,
one with the Justice of the Peace or nearest
Captain of the Militia ; that they may be ac
countable for the val ue until they can prevail
on the robbers to desist wholly from such de
testable action. These orders to be put in
execution on due proof, and they are to cause
the heads of such families to be apprehended

and sent to me, with the report and proof of
their crimes, that I may use the speediest
means to rid His Majesty's Lines of such un-
faithful, perjured subjects.
Oliver Delancey, ,
Brigadier General of Long Island.

General Delancey to Colonel Hamilton.
The inhabitants living on the shores and
Necks of Long Island are to give the speedi
est notice, that the militia and other people
near the approach of the enemy may take
the alarm and muster to repel the enemy and
cut off the retreat of their boats, by which
they will merit thanks and rewards from
their country for their alert behavior, of
which thev have a recent instance in the spir
ited conduct of the Hempstead militia.* Any
person knowing where these robbers intend
to land or have landed, and from any feigned
cause do not immediately communicate to the
nearest militia officer his intelligence, will be
treated with the greatest rigor, as being privy
to and abetting the enemy's designs.

R. O. July 14, 1779. Colonel Hamilton
recommends and expects that General Delan
cey's orders will be strictly complied with,
and makes not the least doubt, from the
known spirit and loyalty of Queens County in
general, that they will emulate the praise so
worthily bestowed on the Hempstead compa
nies, by their General.
The Captains are to immediately give in a
return of their ammunition to Colonel Ham
ilton, and to be very punctual in their field-
days for training the men and inspecting
their arms, which they will be careful to
keep in the best order. Colonel Hamilton
will frequently attend such trainings himself.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
R. 0. July 16, 1779. By directions from
General Delancey, Commandant of Long
Island, the company on the southside of
Hempstead Plains, with Captain Hewlett's
troop of Light Horse, are to rendezvous at
Hempstead upon any alarm, and those on the
northside, including the companies of East
Woods and Wolver Hollow, with Captain
* See Revolutionary Incidents, p. 193.

Queens County— 2d Series.

39

Young's troop of Light Horse, are to rendez
vous at the houses of Nathaniel Seaman and
Richard Townsend, near Westbury Meeting
house. They are to bring three days' pro
visions with them and to remain for orders.
This to be done without further orders.
This order is to be given to the different
Captains in Hempstead and Oysterbay.
A true copy. Robert Morrell, Adjutant.
Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
R. O. July 17, 1779. By orders from the
Commander-in-Chief, signified to Colonel
Hamilton by General Delancey, the Major
and Captains of the Regiment of Queens
County Militia are required to meet Colonel
Hamilton at the house of William Betts,
tavern-keeper, in Jamaica, on Monday, 19th
instant, at 9 o'clock, forenoon, on matters of
importance. These orders are to be forwarded from one
Captain to the other, in the Hempstead dis
trict. Signed by Robert Morrell,
Adjutant Queens County Militia.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
R. 0. July 21, 1779. Major Kissam and
the Captains of the Regiment are immedi
ately to give in a return to Colonel Hamilton
of the situation, strength and number of
their different guards, that he may be able to
report the same to General Delancey, com
manding on Long Island. No boat of any
kind, upon any pretence, is to carry passen
gers from Queens County across the Sound
without a proper pass. Those who trans
gress will be severely punished for disobedi
ence of orders.
Signed Robert Morrell,
Adjutant Queens County Militia.

R. 0. Aug. 4, 1779. Colonel Hamilton is
greatly ashamed of and much chagrined with
the misbehavior of the militia on the north-
side of Long Island, the night that Justice
Townsend was taken off.* He is at a loss to
account for the difference of behavior between
those on the northside and those on the south-
side, who by their spirited behavior have
gained honor to themselves and their officers.

* See Revolutionary Incidents (Queens Co., p. 817.

Colonel Hamilton cannot help disapproving,
in this public manner, of the behavior of .Jus
tice Coles, who had the immediate command
of the guard that night. A good soldier may
be overpowered, but he can never be sur
prised. Colonel Hamilton desires that Major
Kissam and the officers will take care that the
guards are sufficiently strong and properly
posted. They ought likewise frequently to
go rounds in the night frequently to see that
the guards are alert, as upon that their own
safety and the safety of the inhabitants de
pend. General Delancey directs that the
hired guards, in place of being taken off,
shall be reinforced, if necessary. The offi
cers are to take care that the guards are well
armed and accoutered and provided with
powder and ball. A particular set of good
arms must always be kept for that duty,
which are to be furnished from the different
companies.

Robert Morrell, Adjutant, to Major Kissam.
R. O. Aug. 29, 1779. Colonel Hamilton
having received orders from General Delan
cey to furnish two hundred and ten men
from the militia of Queens County, as a
working party, who are to march to and
parade on Brooklyn Heights on Monday
morning, 23d instant, and to carry a blanket
each with them. It is therefore Colonel
Hamilton's orders that the Major and Cap
tains meet immediately and settle their pro
portion of men for this duty, and likewise
their proportion of fortifying materials here
after mentioned.
A Captain and two subalterns are to attend
this party. All duties of fatigue are to begin
with the youngest, and every officer to do his
own duty.
3,500 fascines, 9 feet long, well bound, and
stript of their leaves ;
15,000 pickets, of 3 feet and 4 feet long ;
7,000 railing, of 4 inches or 6 inches ;
3,000 palisades, of 7 and 8 inches in diameter
and 10 feet long.
These, when completed, are to be sent to
the Magazine at Brooklyn. Colonel Hamil
ton expects aud requests that both officers
and men will be very assiduous in performing
this service, that we may still deserve the
name of Loyal Queens County.
No person whatsoever is to be excused
from this duty on account of age. Those

40

Revolutionary Incidents

who have not servants must hire a man in
their room, if they can afford it. The work
ing party is to be relieved every Monday
morning, with the same number of men, till
further orders.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
R. 0. Aug. 31, 1779. Colonel Hamilton
having received a letter from General Delan
cey, acquainting him that he has received a
complaint from Kings County that some of
the districts in Queens County have been de
ficient in their quota of men for the working
party, Colonel Hamilton therefore assures
the Regiment that he will make a strict en
quiry where the deficiency has been, and the
Captain of the district may depend upon being
severely fined. Colonel Hamilton is much
hurt and extremely sorry to think that a
complaint should be made from Kings County
against loyal Queens County, of their being
remiss in the service of their King ; they
who have so often stood forth in the(worst of
times in opposition to Delegates and Con
gressmen, which is not the characteristic of
every county. These orders are to be read at
the head of each company.
All militia soldiers who have enlisted in
either of the Regiment Light Troops since
the roster for the working-party has been
settled, are still to be enrolled in their former
companies till the working duty is completed,
and in case of refusal to be fined as formerly.

Samuel Tredwell, Clerk of Regiment, to Major
Kissam. R. 0. Sept. 2, 1779. As Colonel Hamil
ton finds there is a great neglect and remiss
ness in the officers relieving one another in
the working party at the Ferry, to prevent
such neglect for the future, it is Colonel
Hamilton's orders that Lieutenant Marr, of
Captain Van Dyne's company, shall take the
command of the working party till it is fin
ished, and Colonel Hamilton will be answer
able that he shall be sufficiently rewarded for
his trouble by a fine which will be levied
upon all the officers. Lieutenant Marr is im
mediately to join and take command of the
party.

Colonel G. G. Ludlow to Major Kissam.
Hempstead, August 31st, 1779.
Sir : — By good intelligence just received, a
party of Rebels in five whaleboats left Nor-
walk, Friday last, intending to be over on the
Island and carry off General Delancey. They
sent a single whaleboat and left one man that
evening, and another man on Cow Neck on
Saturday night to procure information. The
party are most probably now concealed on
the north shore opposite your Neck, waiting
for a signal. You will therefore take such
steps as you may judge proper to cut off their
boats, or intercept their retreat in case they
should land. The Captain of the "Scor
pion" is already, informed by express. Cap
tain Cornell will inform you respecting the
attempt on Richard Townsend* last night. I
have only to recommend that your measures
may be secret, lest they take the alarm and
put off their enterprise.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Sept. 6, 1779. Dear Sir :— I am this in
stant favored with your letter enclosing the
seaman's affidavit against John Worden,
whom I have set at liberty till he has time to
get his evidence. I must own I think the
affidavits rather vague. I beg my compli
ments to your family.

Samuel Tredwell, Clerk, to Major Kissam.
R. 0. Oct. 9, 1779. All the Captains of
the Regiment of Queens County Militia are
immediately to give in a return to the Adju
tant, of the number of wagons and horses in
each of their districts. The troopers will
each reserve one horse for the troop service,
which is not to be returned in this return.

Samuel Tredwell, Clerk of Regiment of Queen*
County Militia, to Major Kissam.
R. 0. Oct. 15, 1779. As there are several
drivers immediately wanted for His Majesty's
service in the Quartermaster General's de
partment, the Captains of the Regiment of
Queens County Militia are to give in a return,
as soon as possible, to the Adjutant, of the
number of Refugee negroes in each of their
districts, in order that they may be sent down
* See Revolutionary Incidents, p. 184.

Queens County— 2d Series.

41

to Brooklyn. They will be wanted but for a
short time, and probably on the Island only.
Colonel Hamilton flatters himself that the
Captains will exert themselves in this duty.

Headquarters, New York, )
November 24th, 1779. )
Sir : — By order of His Excellency, the
Commander-in-Chief, I send herewith a num
ber of proclamations, which you will please
direct to be put up in different parts of your
district for the information of the inhab
itants. It is also the Commander-in-Chief's desire
that where the wood has not been cut off the
Rebel lands by the persons that obtained the
Commandant's permission for that purpose,
that you do immediately give leave to any
persons that may apply, to cut the same for
the supply of the market ; the wood that
may have been cut in consequence of the
Commandant's permission, and that is still
lying in the woods, from the incapacity of
the owners to bring the same to proper land
ings, it is the Commander-in-Chief's direction
that you immediately order the neighboring
farmers to cart the same to the landings, the
owners paying the rates for carting that shall
be fixed by you, with the advice of three of
the most respectable farmers in your district.
If the owners of such cut wood do not apply
to you for the assistance of the farmers to
cart the same, you are authorized by the
proclamation to allow any person who can
cart the same to the landings, to take the
wood, paying the owner for the cutting, at
such rates as may be settled by you and three
neighboring farmers.
His Excellency also desires that within
fourteen days you make a return to the Com
mandant of this city, of the names of all pro
prietors of woodland who do not, in conse
quence of his proclamation, immediately cut
and send to this market a proper proportion
of their wood. I have the honor to be, sir,
your most obedient humble servant,
Signed John Smith, Secretary.

Regulations for the Captains of the Militia
and Justices of the Peace for Queens
County.

1. The troops cantoned in each district in
Queens County are to be supplied with fuel
by the inhabitants of the neighborhood.
2. The Captain of the Militia and the Jus
tice of the Peace living in the same district
are to join in assessing on the inhabitants of
the beat the requisite quantity of wood.
Those who have no woodlands, and are of
ability, will furnish in proportion.
3. In those districts in which any troops
are hutted, the inhabitants, by direction of
the Captain of Militia, are to cart the wood
to the Common Yard and to unload as or
dered by the Barrack Master, or Quartermas
ter of the Regiment, in his absence ; but
where the troops are cantoned or billeted* on
the inhabitants, the Captains of the Militia
are so to regulate the matter that each inhab
itant may supply the nearest fire, the whole
in the district, nevertheless, to bear an equal
proportion on the quantity requisite, by as
sessment. 4. Such wagons and horses as may from
time to time be wanted by the Commissary
General or Barrack Master General's depart
ment, or by commanding officers of corps, on
emergency, for the purpose of carting pro
visions, forage, feed or baggage, are also to
be supplied by the Captain of the Militia,
who will regulate this service with all possi
ble equality among the inhabitants who have
teams, in their respective districts.
5. Where different corps are billeted in the
same district, the Captain of the Militia will
so regulate the farmers and their teams as
will best facilitate the supplies.
6. In all cases of difficulty that may arise
in the due execution of these regulations, the
Captains of Militia will apply to the Colonel
of Militia for his directions and aid, who will
apply to the General officer of the district, if
necessary, and every inhabitant who shall
pay neglect or disobedience to the order of
the Captain of his district, for the purposes
aforementioned, will be fined according to
the degree of neglect or offence. The fines
to be regulated by the captain and acting
magistrate in their respective districts, and
to be levied by the Captain and reserved by
him for such public use in the township as
may hereafter be directed.
William Tryon, Major General.
Jamaica, 27th November, 1779.

* The billeting of soldiers is explained on page 64 of
Queens County in Olden Times.

43

Revolutionary Incidents

Lieutenant James Marr to Major Kissam.
Brooklyn, October 26th, 1779.
Sir : — I received your letter this day, about
2 o'clock this afternoon, in behalf of Captain
Woolley's company making their proportion
of fascines and pickets in their own districts ;
and the favor is granted by the engineer, and
me likewise. The dimensions for the fas
cines are : they are to he nine feet long, well
bound with five withs each, the leaves stript
off, and made very straight ; the pickets four
feet six inches long, well pointed and straight.
The number each week required by the en
gineer is one thousand fascines, and three
pins for each fascine. The engineer will
try one week's work, and if it will answer,
you may continue them in your own districts
and send them to Brooklyn once every week.
The whole dependence of good fascines lies
on Queens County, for the front part of the
works. No more such favors will be granted
by the engineer to the rest of the militia.

R. 0. Dec. 2, 1779. The Captains of
Queens County Militia are immediately to
give in a return of the quantity of woodland
in each of their districts, to the Adjutant,
specifying those whose former owners were
or are in rebellion. They will likewise dis
tinguish the Rebel lands that have protec
tions, mentioning by whom granted and to
whom. Colonel Hamilton expects that those
who have woodlands will immediately cut a
certain quantity agreeable to His Excellency
the Commander-in-Chief's proclamation, for
supplying the inhabitants of New York.
Any who neglect or refuse may depend upon
having their names returned to the Com
mandant of New York, according to the
Commander-in-Chief's instructions to Colonel
Hamilton, and the Captains of Militia are re
quested to be very particular in seeing this
put in execution.

Dec. 9, 1779. Colonel Hamilton orders
that the three troops of Light Horse will
turn out at the first alarm, and rendez
vous as follows : Captain Whitehead's troop
at Major General Tryon's quarters, at Ja
maica, except a sergeant's party, consisting
of a corporal and ten men, who will immedi
ately repair to Major General Huyne's quar
ters, or officer commanding in Flushing ; and

a corporal and three dragoons to remain in
Newtown, with the commanding officer there.
Captain Hewlett's troop will rendezvous, with
all expedition, at Brigadier General Delan.
cey's quarters, at Westbury, and Captain
Youngs', with equal alertness, at Hunting
ton, Brigadier General Leland's quarters ;
or, in case of that command's being removed,
to rendezvous at Lloyd's Neck, with the pro
vincial troops posted there.

Robert Morrell, Adjutant, to Major Kissam.
Flushing, December 17th, 1779.
Sir : — You will please to send these orders
to the Captains of Oysterbay and Hempstead,
immediately. I should not have troubled
the Major with the whole of them had it not
been for the unhappy misfortune that hap
pened last Sunday in my family, by losing
my youngest child by a scald. Therefore I
humbly beg the Major's assistance at this
present time, whilst under affliction. I could
have wished to write more particularly to
you, sir, but having a heart full of trouble,
so that I am not able to express myself fully
to the Major as I could wish to do, therefore
I hope the Major will excuse me at this pres
ent time. Dear sir, by complying with my
request you will forever oblige your sincere
friend and well-wisher. Sir, I have one
thing more to mention to you, sir : that is to
order the Captains of the Militia in Hemp
stead and Oysterbay to send in a return
agreeable to the proposal, when we met at
Jamaica last, about the number of horses,
wagons and ox-teams. Some of the Captains
have sent in their return, and some have not.
I am, sir, with great regard, sir, and remain
your most obedient humble servant.
P. S. — Sir, you need not send any orders to
the Captains at Oysterbay, for two Captains
of the Militia were at my house, about half
an hour after I wrote this letter to you, sir,
and they promise to send the orders to the
Captains of Oysterbay township ; but the or
ders please send as soon as possible to the
Captains in Hempstead, and one order to
Captain Hewlett, who commands the troop of
horse.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Dec. 18, 1779. I am to beg you will be so
good as to assist Mr. Willett, of the Quarter-

Queens County-
master General's department, in procuring
fire-wood for the troops. In case there is no
Rebel woods, (which ought ever to go the
first), there will be a necessity of allotting a
part of every large wood for His Majesty's
service, which must be valued, and will be
paid for by the Quartermaster General. This
is the mode adopted in Kings County, and
which I think extremely proper. The wood
must be valued standing, by three respecta
ble farmers, and confirmed by you. I beg to
hear from you.

-2d Series.

43

CdUmel Hamilton to Mr. Thorne.
Dec. 31, 1779. The situation of the garri
son qf New York for want of wood is so
alarming that I am to beg (if possible) you
will fall upon some method, and point out
where Mr. Miller may cut about five hun
dred cords of wood, for which he will pay.
You wjll be kind enough to consult the Major
upon tjiis subject, to whom I beg my compli
ments. Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Flushing, January 22d, 1780.
Dear Sir :— I have received a letter from
Governor Tryon, acquainting me that, as the
Quarter Master General's department has
given up Kings County to the Barrack Mas
ter General's department to cut wood in, that
I will therefore purchase a number of acres
from the proprietors of woodlands upon the
Necks and Success Pond, for the use of the
Quartermaster General's department only. I
am therefore to desire that you will be so
good as to assist me in this particular on the
Necks, and prevent any other department
from interfering with the Quartermaster Gen
eral, ^ill further orders. Enclosed I send you
General Tryon's letter, and if you. can fall
upon any plan that will fully answer the pur
pose of Government, and at the same time be
more eligible to the subject, I beg you may
adopt it. I beg to have the pleasure of hear
ing from you upon this head. I am likewise
to beg that you will order large and frequent
patrols in the night along your shore, to give
timely notice in case the Rebels should take
advantage of the ice and attempt a descent.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Feb. 4, 1780. I am this instant favored
with your letter of this date, informing me

of the system you have adopted for furnish
ing the Quartermaster General's department
with a certain quantity of fuel. I very much
approve of it, as it will equally be of service
to the department and moie convenient for
the inhabitants. We are very alert here,
[Flushing]. I have constantly militia dra
goons patroling the shore and avenues during
the night. I wish you would follow the
same method. I am sorry to find you have
got frost-bit. I have just heard, I know not
with what certainty, that General Kniphau
sen marched yesterday, with seven thousand
troops, in search of Washington. I sincerely
wish you better.
R. 0. Feb. 4, 1780. A great jealousy
arises between the Captains of the Foot and
Horse, very prejudicial to the service at pres
ent required, upon account of the soldiers'
leaving the foot companies and enlisting into
the troop. To remedy this evil Colonel Ham
ilton orders that the Captains of the troop,
for the future, shall be answerable for their
men in every respect, as well for carting or
other fatigue, as for their duty as troopers.
The Captains of the foot, therefore, are not to
interfere in warning or fining the troopers,
upon any account or pretence, but are to
apply to the Captains commanding such
troops, who will (and are hereby required to)
take care that such duty is performed. At
the same time, Colonel Hamilton assures the
Regiment that if just complaints are made
against the troopers for any neglect of fa
tigues, the Captain of such troop may depend
upon being severely fined. Any fines that
may have been levied by the Captains of the
foot from the troopers since the patrols were
first in orders, are immediately to be returned
to the owners.

R. O. Feb. 7, 1780. Colonel Hamilton
desires that the officers of the Regiment of
Loyal Queens County will provide them
selves immediately each with a uniform or
regimentals. It is to be scarlet, faced with
blue, with white lining, white waistcoat and
breeches, and silver buttons, with a silver
epaulet, a well cocked hat with silver button
and loops and silver hat-band. Whatever
officer appears upon any duty without his
regimentals or side-arms may depend upon
being fined half a Joe for the entertainment

44

Revolutionar-TIncidents

of his brother officers. Colonel Hamilton
again recommends it to the officers to be very
careful in inspecting the men's arms and am
munition, as we do not know but we may be
called upon every moment.
[A true copy.] Samuel Tredwell,
Clerk of Regiment Queens County Militia.

Major General Tryon to Colonel Hamilton.
New York, February 11th, 1780.
Sir : — Major Bruen, Deputy Quartermaster
General, having represented to me that the
difficulty that attends his wood-cutters in the
vicinity of Great Neck, Little Neck or Suc
cess Pond, for want of having a tract of wood
land contiguous for furnishing his depart
ment with wood, I am to desire you will lay
out thirty acres of good woodland, (or order
the same to be laid out), in one tract, most
commodious for the landing ; agreeing with
the proprietors of the same either for the
purchase of the said tract or to pay for it at
the regulated price per cord, as yourself, the
proprietors and the person employed by
Major Bruen shall think most eligible. The
proprietors of said tract, if necessary, to be
permitted to cut wood from their neighbors'
woodlands, what shall be necessary for their
family or plantation use, they paying the
regulated price for the same.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Feb. 11, 1780. Enclosed I send you a let
ter from His Excellency Governor Tryon,
which you will be so good as to see put in
execution. If you find any difficulty, I beg
to see you.
Samuel Tredwell, Clerk, to Major Kissam.
R. 0. Feb. 25th, 1780. The army being
in great want of forage at present, and Major
General Tryon having given an order that
Queens County shall furnish Mr. Cutler,
Commissary of Forage, with a quantity of
hay for His Majesty's service, Colonel Hamil
ton therefore desires that the Captains will
meet Mr. Cutler and settle with him about it
in proportion to the quantity of hay they
have in each district, retaining as much only
as will be sufficient for their stock of cattle
till the pasture gets up. This mode is
adopted equally for the ease of the inhabit
ants as for the good of the service, and Colo

nel H. therefore trusts it will be cheerfully
complied with. Colonel Hamilton likewise
desires that the Captains will take care that
no straw is destroyed by throwing it into
dung, as that article is much wanted for tlie
troops. Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam, per favor
Mr. Cornell.
March 15, 1780. As I am confident that
Governor Tryon never meant to distress any
person (in particular) under the protection of
Government, and as I am fully convinced
from your representation that the protections
obtained to cut firewood from off the lands of
John Cornell, of Cow Neck, have been from
misinformation, I am therefore to desire that
you will suspend in the mean time any order
for cutting wood that is injurious, until I
have the honor of laying it before His Excel
lency. If there are any others in the same
predicament with John Cornell, I beg you
may inform me of it.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam, per Mr.
Appleby. New York, March 23d, 1780.
I am favored with your letter of 23d March;
by Mr. Appleby, and am to desire you will
suspend any order that you think (from the
situation or quantity of the woodland) may
have been obtained by misrepresentation. I
am in town, now, relative to the affair of
wood-cutting, and expect to acquaint you by
express, on Sunday or Monday, of the final
determination. You may assure the gentle
men in your neighborhood that I will spare
neither trouble nor expense to obtain them
relief.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
March 26th, 1780. I am to desire that you
will suspend any cutting from off the lands
of Mr. Appleby, until you shall hear from
me again, as I mentioned it to General Tryon,
and he left it to me. You will likewise sus
pend the order for cutting upon the lands of
Daniel Hegeman, if you think in justice it
ought to be. But this is left to yourself.
As to the order upon John Cornell, it is en
tirely revoked, by order of General Tryon.
Governor Robertson is now our Governor.
General Tryon goes home. [He is sick abed

Queens County— 3d Series.

45

with gout, at Flatbush]. We must address
him in the most grateful and affectionate
manner.* The sixty cords of wood cut in
John Cornell's woods are to be carried off by
Hicks, he paying the regulated price.
Major General Smith's Orders, March 3, 1780.
The inhabitants having made frequent
complaints of people's cutting their woods
without producing authority for so doing. In
future, if on application the order is not pro
duced or not thought sufficient, the proprie
tor or person who has the care of the wood is
to apply to the Commanding Officer of the
troops nearest him, who is desired to oblige
them to produce their order. If it appears to
be from proper authority, they are to be per
mitted to proceed, complying exactly with
the contents of the order as to quantity, pay
ment, &c. Should any be found cutting
without proper authority, they are to be con
fined and reported to the General or Com
manding Officer in whose district they are.
If the authority to cut wood appears doubt
ful, it is immediately to be sent to Major
General Smith, that it may be cleared up:
This order is to be made public among the
inhabitants and wood-cutters.
Charles Handfie'ld, Aid-de-Camp.
Brooklyn, May 1st, 1780. ,
To Major Kissam.
Sir : — The above copy of an order I have
sent you by direction of Major General Smith,
who desires you will see it complied with by
Andrew Lyons and others cutting the wood
lands on Cow Neck or elsewhere in your
neighborhood. Charles Handfield, Aid-de-Camp.
Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
R. O. April 15, 1780. By order of His
Excellency Governor Robertson, Major Gen
eral of His Majesty's forces, &c, &c., no
standing timber is to be cut for the future by
authority of any former permissions. At the
same time, whatever timber has been cut by
* Died, in London, January 27, 1788, Lieutenant
General William Tryon, Colonel of 29th Foot. His
remains were deposited in the family vault at Twick
enham. He was' a statesman of wisdom and philoso
phy, an illustrious legislator, and of a benevolent
heart. His princely munificence will make his name
revered across the Atlantic while virtue and sensibil
ity remain.— Gentleman's Magazine, 1788 # 1829.

protections from His Excellency Governor
Tryon, or other proper protection, and is still
lying in the woods, the cutters are to be per
mitted to cart it off, they first paying the
regulated price to the owners, which is six
teen shillings for nut and twelve shillings
for oak wood, per cord. Any timber that has
been cut for ship-building, &c. , is to be cal
culated into cords and paid for, agreeable to
the above regulation. Whatever timber has
been cut without proper permission is not to
be carried off upon any pretence, without the
consent of the proprietors. It is expected
that the owners of said timber will have the
generosity and justice to pay the cutters for
their labor. This order is not to interfere
with any of the different departments that
are cutting timber for His Majesty's service.
The Captains of each district are to read this
order at the head of their respective compa
nies. Robert Morrell, Adjutant, &c., to Major Kis
sam.Sir : — You will please to take copy of this
order and send it to the Clerk, so that it may
be forwarded to the Captains of Oysterbay
and Hempstead :
To Mr. Samuel Tredwell, Clerk of Queens
County Militia, Success.
Cow Neck, April 21st, 1780.
You'll please to copy and forward the above
orders to the different Captains in Hempstead
and Oysterbay, as soon as conveniently you
can. John Kissam;
Major Queens County Militia.

On His Majesty's Service. With speed.
Robert Morrell, Adjutant, to Major Kissam.
Colonel Hamilton desired me, last evening,
to give his most respectful compliments to
Major Kissam and beg that he will do him
self the pleasure to meet him on Thursday;
the 23d, at 9 o'clock on the morning, at Hol-
royd's tavern, on Hempstead Plains, as the
Captains of the Regiment are to meet him
there on business of great consequence.
Colonel Hamilton* orders John Parker to
press horse for the purpose of this letter.
* 1778, October. Colonel Hamilton came into a
house, in Flushing, where Thomas Kelly was, and
because he did not pull off his hat he beat him with
the butt-end of hie horsewhip and cut him through
his hat into his head. In December he abused him
in the same manner.

46

Revolutionary Incidents

Regimental Orders, April 27, 1880.
His Excellency Governor Robertson having
made a demand upon Queens County for one
hundred and twenty-four horses for His
Majesty's service, to be delivered to the Quar
termaster General's department, for which
they will receive cash, Colonel Hamilton
therefore desires that the Captains of each
district will without delay raise their quota,
which is nine horses per company, by pur
chase, as they did last spring. The horses
are to be valued by Colonel Hamilton and
some of the principal gentlemen in the neigh
borhood. The deficiency, if any, will be
made up, as formerly, by a small cess upon
each district, agreeable to their estates and
ability, which will be scarcely felt among so
many. Colonel Hamilton has been so long
acquainted with the loyalty of Queens County,
and with their cheerfulness and readiness
upon every occasion where His Majesty's ser
vice was concerned, that he is convinced that
this first request of His Excellency, our new
Governor, will with pleasure be complied
with, as it is His Excellency's wish and
desire that everything should be carried on
with moderation and ease to the subject.
None but good and serviceable horses will be
received, and none above ten years old. The
day and place of delivery will be mentioned
in the next orders.
Major Kissam will please to take a copy of
these orders, and then send them to the
Clerk, and order them to be sent to the Cap
tains of Oysterbay and Hempstead.

Regimental Orders, May 19, 1780.
The Captains of Queens County Militia are
immediately to give a return of every farm,
house and place (belonging to the Rebels or
to people out of His Majesty's Lines) in their
respective districts, to Colonel Hamilton,
specifying the quality of the dwelling-house
and outhouses, with the quantity of land,
distinguishing the arable ground, meadow
and woodland. They are likewise to report
the names of the present occupiers, and by
what authority. This return is to be made
as soon as possible, that Colonel H. may be
enabled to make his report to the gentlemen
authorized by His Excellency Governor Rob
ertson to enquire into these matters.

R. O. June 8, 1780. To Major Kissam.
Colonel Hamilton having received orders
from Major General Smith, Commanding on
Long Island, to be in readiness to march,
with the Regiment of Queens County Militia,
on the least alarm, he therefore directs that
the Captains and officers do immediately pa
rade and inspect into the condition of their
different companies and troops, taking care
that the arms and ammunition be in the best
order both for defence and attack ; and as we
do not know how soon the Rebels may at
tempt to land on this Island, as so many of
the King's troops are gone upon the present
expedition in the Jerseys, Colonel Hamilton
likewise requires that they will be very alert
and give him every information by express
in case of any attempt of the enemy to land,
and he expects that they will gallantly and
loyally make head against them, and give
every exertion of opposition until they are
reinforced, which they may rest assured will
soon be the case. Flushing, June 9th, 1780.
It is Colonel Hamilton's orders that Cap
tains of the Regiment do furnish the remain
der of their horses agreeable to His Excel
lency Major General Robertson's request, on
Tuesday, 13th instant, at 9 o'clock in the
morning, at the Half Moon tavern, in Ja
maica ; and there will be the Quartermaster
General's department to receive them, and
the Colonel intends to be there the same time.

Regimental Orders, June 21, 1780.
Agreeable to His Excellency Governor Rob
ertson's proclamation of the 16th instant.
Colonel Hamilton expects and desires that
Major Kissam and the Captains of Queens
County Militia will meet him on Saturday,
24th instant, at the house of William Betts,
tavern-keeper, in Jamaica, at 11 o'clock, fore
noon, to concert proper measures for furnish
ing our proportion of fuel demanded. This
order to be forwarded from Captain to Cap
tain immediately. Samuel Tredwell, Clerk.

Robert Morrell, Adjutant, to Major Kissam.
Flushing, July 3d, 1780.
Colonel Hamilton desired me to write to
you in respect to settling a dispute betwixt

Queens County— 2d Series.

47

Mr. Woolley and one Baxter & Sniffins, of
Cow Neck, about a craft that was stolen from
Mr. Woolley by a black man, but now in
possession of Baxter & Sniffins. They claim
her as their property, because they say they
bought her from an armed vessel. There
fore the Colonel would be glad if 
would see this matter settled, as he has suffi
cient authority for so doing ; and as it is in
his neighborhood, it will save them some ex
pense.

Regimental Orders. To Major Kissam.
July 26, 1780. Colonel Hamilton having
received orders last night from Major Genera]
Smith, commanding on Long Island, direct
ing that a state of the arms and accoutre
ments, &c, belonging to the Regiment of
Queens County Militia, shall immediately
be given in. He therefore orders that the
Captains do call their different companies to
gether as soon as possible and inspect most
carefully into the state and condition of their
arms, &c. , and giving an immediate return to
him, specifying the number fit for service,
and those that are not, that Colonel Hamilton
may be enabled to report to General Smith,
agreeable to his order.
We cannot be too speedy or too careful
upon this head, when the natural and perfidi
ous enemy of Britain [the French] are so near
us ; and therefore we do not know how soon
we may be called upon to oppose them, which
must fill the breast of every Briton and de
scendant from Britons with real ardor.

Innerwick, July 31st, 1780.
Colonel Hamilton desires that Esq. Kissam,
Major Kissam, the Captains and respectable
inhabitants of Queens County will meet him
at John Holroyd's* inn, on Hempstead Plains,
on Saturday, August 5th, at 12 o'clock, in
* Holroyd kept a tavern called " The Three Tons,"
where Joseph D. Armstrong now lives. The following
gentlemen met aud signed the address in behalf of
the county :
Colonel Hamilton, Valentine H. Peters, Esq.,
Thomas Willett, Esq., Richard Alsop, Esq., Joseph
French, Esq., Captain Charles Hicks, Captain Richard
Betts. Captain Thomas Van Wyck, Captain Albert
Hoogland, Major Kissam. Daniel Kissam, Esq., Saui-
nel Clowes, Esq., John Hewlett, Esq , Dr. Adam Sea
bury, Captain Benjamin Hewlett, Captain Charles
Cornwell, Captain George Rapelye, Thomas Smith,
Esq.— See Revolutionary Incidents, pp. 170, 240.

order to form an address to His Excellency
Governor Robertson.
Samuel Tredwell,
Clerk of Regiment of Queens County Militia.

Phillip John Livingston to Major Kissam,
Oysterbay. Hellgate, September 1, 1780.
Sir : — His Excellency Lieutenant General
Robertson having determined that the prop
erty of Rebels, or persons living amongst
them without the Lines, should be divided
amongst the Refugee families, persons driven
from their estates by the Rebels, or fled on
account of their loyalty; and being informed
that you do not come under the above des
cription, and have obtained an order for the
farm of Richard Jackson, lying in the town
of Oysterbay, which you have hired to oth
ers, has directed me to inform you that he
hereby countermands the order for the above
farm heretofore given you by General Daniel
Jones, and that an order to possess the same
by the first day of October next will be given
to one or more distressed Refugee families,
of which you will be pleased to take notice
and advise the tenant or tenants who now
hold the farm or any part of it under you, or
any others concerned. Your tenant has leave
to take off any fall crops from the ground,
and the tenant who succeeds yours will have
directions to pay you your bill for necessary
repairs' (if any) done the houses and farm,
twelve months' time being allowed for pay
ment of the same ; the amount of which, in
case of dispute, the General has ordered to be
ascertained by three respectable referees of
the neighborhood, chosen by the parties, as
in other cases of reference.

R. O. To Major Kissam, Cow Neck.
Sep. 8, 1780. As Colonel Hamilton has it
much at heart, for the honor of Queens
County, that their proportion of fuel for the
use of the garrison of New York, agreeably
to His Excellency Governor Robertson's re
quest, should be completed in due time, he
therefore again desires that the Major, Cap
tain and officers will exert themselves and
take care that it is properly delivered, the
Captains to be accountable for the wood of
their respective districts, and to receive the

48

Revolutionary Incidents

receipts from the persons appointed by the
Barrack Master General for the quantity de
livered, who will make return at least once a
week to Colonel Hamilton, that he may be
enabled to report from time to time to His
Excellency the Governor and to the Barrack
Master General. Colonel Hamilton cannot
refrain, upon this occasion, to congratulate
the county on the glorious news just con
firmed of the important success gained by His
Majesty's troops in the Carolinas over the
combined legions of misled and infatuated
men under the command of that arch-rebel,
Horatio Gates. Samuel Tredwell, Clerk.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Sept. 16, 1780. As I have it much at
heart, the furnishing of our proportion of
fuel for the garrison of New York, I am to
beg you will be so good as to send me, by the
Orderly dragoon, a return of what has been
cut and carted in your district. Tell Mr.
Okisson I am a good deal surprised that I
have not heard from him before now. The
oftener he communicates with me upon this
head the better. I beg my best compliments
to your father and to all the family.

Regimental Orders, Sept. 20, 1780.
Colonel Hamilton having received an order
from His Excellency Governor Robertson,
desiring that he will give directions to the
inhabitants of Queens County that they do
immediately thresh out their oats, which is
very much wanted at present for His Majes
ty's service, and deliver them to the Commis
sary's, at Jamaica and Flushing, for which
they will receive ready money. Colonel
Hamilton therefore orders that the Captains
of Militia will see this punctually performed
in their respective districts, and be answera
ble that the oats are delivered by Monday,
25th instant, as above directed. Colonel
Hamilton begs that the Major will exert him
self to the eastward, so that this order may
be speedily complied with. Whoever ne
glects or refuses this order must blame them
selves if they are foraged upon. Each
trooper of the Regiment is to retain as much
oats and fresh hay as will serve one troop
horse during the winter. The Captains of

the different troops to be answerable that no
abuse is made of this order.

Regimental Orders, Sept. 28, 1780.
Colonel Hamilton having just received an
order from His Excellency Governor Robert
son to give directions that his proclamation
relative to the forage be immediately carried
into execution and completed by the 20th Oc
tober. Colonel Hamilton therefore desires
and requires that the Captains and officers of
the Militia will exert themselves upon this
head and give in returns of those who are
able to cart it to Brooklyn, and likewise of
those who would wish to deliver it at their
own barns. To prevent mistakes, and that
we may be able to settle both the forage and
fuel service at once, Colonel Hamilton desires
that the Major and all the Captains will meet
him, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, in Jamai
ca, at the house of William Betts, tavern-
keeper, on Monday, October 2d, where an
officer of the Quartermaster General's depart
ment will attend. Any Captain that cannot
come must send an officer of the company.

His Majesty's armed Galley, the)
"Crane," Cow Bay, Dec. 2d, 1780.)
To John Kissam, Major %d Battalion Militia.
Sir : — I received yours and am sorry I
cannot comply with your desire ; it not being
consistent with my duty as an officer in, the
British service, to impress any person and
then to discharge him, upon application from
his friends ; but I assure you I shall make
everything easy to him that is consistent with
the service. I am, sir, your very humble
servant, Rowland Phillips.

Westbury, December 5th, 1780.
To Major Kissam. in His Majesty's service.
Sir : — You are desired to direct some of
my soldiers to get wagons from the inhab
itants of Cow Bay, to carry off the oats from
on board a ship now lying in the Bay. Being
under marching orders every day, I shall em
ploy these here wagons to fetch provisions.
I remain, with great regard, sir, your obedij
ent servant, De Wurmb, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Queens County— 2d Series.

Lieutenant-Colonel De Wurmb to Major Kis
sam. Westbury, December 29th, 1780.
I have repeatedly requested the officers of
the Militia to provide for the necessary fuel
for the troops in quarters and for their differ
ent pickets, on the same footing as has been
usual in former times ; but I cannot yet per
ceive that any regulations have been made
for that purpose ; and if a speedy supply of
fire-wood will not take place, I shall not be
able to account for any disorders which might
attend such unseasonable delays. In order to
prevent this, I am to request you, sir, to be
so kind and give such directions as will in
duce the inhabitants at Cow Neck, the Har
bor, Cedar Swamp, Wheatly, Wolfer's-hol-
low, &c, &c, to bring a sufficient quantity
of fire-wood to Herricks, Searing-town, the
Northside, Westbury, Jericho and Norwich,
without loss of time ; for I think it very
unreasonable that those inhabitants whose
houses are full of men and subject to many
inconveniences attending it, should be obliged
to find every necessaries, and in particular
that of fire-wood, when others, their neigh
bors are free from all incommodities. The
fruitless application which I have heretofore
made to the Captains of the Militia has occa
sioned me to direct my request to you, sir,
and I hope you will have the goodness to ex
pedite the adopting of such measures on the
subject as will prove to the advantage of
both the troops and the inhabitants in gene
ral.

Brig " Argo," January 3d, 1781.
Sir : — I return you thanks for the care and
attention toward my men belonging to His
Majesty's Brig "Argo," under my command.
They were sent by my orders, with an officer.
last Tuesday, in pursuit of Rebel whaleboats,
which I had intelligence of at Matinecock.
They landed and left men to take care of the
boat, and when the officer came down to the
landing he found the boat gone. I was this
day coming over to your place, being very
uneasy about them, but in my way I called
on board the " Crane" galley, where I was
happy to find the Midshipman with five of
them. Since which I have had old Mires on
board, who gives an account that my boat
was at his place, but he could not send her
to me for fear of the Rebels' hurting of him

for so doing, and that the Rebels came and
carried her away yesterday. As to my peo
ple's intention of taking stock, I can vouch
for those who came back's honesty, as the
punishment for such crimes in the navy is
great and severe. Should you come this
way, I should be happy at the enjoyment of
your company for a few hours. Excuse
haste, as the cabin is full of company. I am,
sir, yours, &c, John Poers.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Jan. 8, 1781. As the troops that were can
toned upon this Island for the defence of it
are called off for a particular service, I am
ordered by the Commander-in-Chief and by
the General commanding on Long Island, to
have the Militia in readiness to march on the
shortest notice, in order to oppose any at
tempt the enemy may make to land. You
will therefore be pleased to give orders for
the proper guards and patrols as your zeal
for His Majesty's service may suggest. I am
likewise to desire that you will order the
Captains and officers in your district to call
their companies together immediately to in
spect their arms and ammunition and see
everything in order for a march and for
action, in case the Rebels should dare to land.
You will likewise have an Orderly man or
two constantly in waiting, in order to ac
quaint me and the nearest commanding offi
cer, of the smallest attempt that may be
made by the enemy.
P. S. — Enclosed I send you a copy of yes
terday's orders, which you will send to the
different Captains. When the troopers are
upon duty, they will be paid.

Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
Feb. 19, 1781. Agreeable to your request,
I waited upon the Commissary General of
Prisoners and made a point of Alexander
Haines' being exchanged. I have spoke to
Ensign Thorne about getting some knees for
battoes for the Quartermaster General's de
partment. I am therefore to beg you will be
so good as to give him what assistance you
can in procuring them. I go to town to
morrow, when I will get the commissions for
the company at Oysterbay. I beg my best
compliments to your father and to all the
family.

50

Revolutionary Incidents

Herricks, the 6th of March, 1781.
Sir I — A sloop being come in at Cow Bay
with oats, I beg you will be so good as to or
der the wagons to bring them up to-morrow,
and I would be glad if you would order some
patrols of the Militia the night, to prevent
any attempt of the whale-boats.* I have sent
a guard of twelve men on board the sloop,
and shall send patrols of the Light Horse
along the shore the night, too ; and am, Sir !
your obedient servant,
de Shaw,
Captain of the Mounted Yagers.

Hempstead Plains, )
February 8th, 1781. )
Sir : — The demand from the Barrack officer
for the ensuing winter's wood for the army
has been some time made, and carried into
execution in Kings County. From Queens,
6,000 cords are required to be furnished, from
the Necks on the north side and the lands
within three or four miles of the waters of
the Sound, including Little Neck, on the
west, to Cold Spring. The inconvenient sit
uation of the south side and the middle of the
county will occasion their proportion being
reserved for the consumption in winter quar
ters. And the large demand on this head in
Flushing, Jamaica and Newtown, together
with the quantity required by the Quarter
master General's department, from Law
rence's Neck, will amount to the share of the
western part. Mr. Purden, of the Barrack
office, has brought directions from General
Robertson. I have promised to consult you
on the subject and to endeavor at some regu
lation that the confusion and damage conse
quent on the indiscriminate cutting the near
est wood may be avoided, and the supplies
obtained at the least expense to the farmer.
The proposal made is that each man set off in
proportion to his woodland, and either sell
the wood to Government by the acre, or be
allowed sixteen shillings [per cord] for the
standing wood and twelve shillings for the
carting, as in Kings County. Mr. Purden
meets me again for an answer on Wednesday.
My wish is that you would fall on some plan
with the Captains Woolley, Van Wyck,
Youngs and Coles, and the principal men of
the district in question, and furnish me with
* The " Vaughan" Galley lay in Cow Bay. April 10,
1781. The "Crane" Galley lay at City Island.

such information as may answer the expecta
tions of Government, whose wants, since the
exhausting of Lloyd's Neck, must be princi
pally supplied from this county. I should
be glad to hear from you before Wednesday,
but if that cannot be, I shall expect to see
you then at Jamaica, when an answer will be
required. I am, sir, your most humble ser
vant, George D. Ludlow,
Superintendent of Police.*

Jamaica, February 14th, 1781. )
Office of Police. )
We, the undersigned, appointed by the
inhabitants of the north side of Queens
County to agree with the Barrack Master
General respecting a requisition of 6,000
cords of wood to be furnished for the use of
Government, from the west side of Little
Neck to Cold Spring, to the eastward, agree
and undertake as follows : 1. That 2,000
cords of wood shall be delivered at the wood-
yard at New York by the 1st day of May en
suing ; 2,000 on or before the 1st day of July,
and the remaining 2,000 before the 1st of
October ensuing the date hereof, for which
we are to receive, on behalf of the proprie
tors, at the rate of £3.15 per cord, New York
cordage. 2. To facilitate the transportation
by water, and secure its safe conveyance, two
armed vessels are to be kept by Government
on the proper parts of the coast, to cover the
boats employed and to protect them passing
and repassing.
Signed, Daniel Kissam, Edward Thorne,
David Brooks, John Kissam, John
Remsen, James Townsend, Prior
Townsend, David Valentine.

Cow Neck, February 20th, 1781.
There being a requisition from the Barrack
Office for 6,000 cords of wood to be furnished
for the ensuing winter's supply for the
troops, and a contract being entered into by
several persons in behalf of the inhabitants
from the west side of Little Neck to Cold
Spring, within three or four miles or more of
the Sound, for the faithful performance of
which they have bound themselves, to de
liver 2,000 cords at New York by the 1st of
May, 2,000 more by the 1st of July, and the
remaining 2,000 by the 1st of October next,
- t See Revolutionary Incidents, p. 239.

Queens County— 2d Series.

51

for which the contractors are to receive, on
behalf of the proprietors, £3.15 per cord;
and the quota of your district being fixed at
1,501 cords, I am therefore to desire you'll
immediately quota your proportion on the
whole inhabitants of your district, in order
that the proprietors may deliver the same by
the time, or enable the contractors to fulfill
their engagements to the Barrack Master
General. The utmost exertion is required on
your part and of the inhabitants. Should
any of the inhabitants of your district be so
obstinate as to refuse to cut their proportion
and deliver it at such places as shall be ap
pointed by the contractors, they will be sub
ject to have a double proportion cut on them.
List of Proprietors of Woodland on
Cow Neck, Great Neck, &c. , with
Apportionment of Cords to be Cut.
> 3

Jacob Mott* 5
Mich'l Mudge&sonl8
Israel Pearsall 4(1
Richard Kirk Hi
Jeremiah Kobbins 8
Hend'kOndiTdoncklOJoshua Willie 6
Gwirge Weeks 7
William Valentine in
Wid. (Thos ) Ireland*?
Timothy Smith 24
Thos.Appleby&son4(l
James Hewlett 15
Samuel Hewlett 20
John Burtis 14
William Hutchings 8
John Sands 30
Daniel Kissam 32
Ann\*Elb.Hegemanl5 Dan'l Hegeman* so ti22
Petrus Onderdonck 15
Wid A Dan'l RapelyeT
William Salt*
Obadiah Demilt* 7
Widow Vanderbilt &
Dtirye 18
Hendrick Vanderbilt
& daughter* 22
Widow (Tristram)
Dodge* 6
Joseph Dodge* 15
Lieut. Robert Sutton 5
Adam Mott 25
Stephen Mott 18
Thomas Thorne 10
Henry Sands* 66
Joshua Cornell 10
Simon Sands 14
Richard Sands 15
Edward Sands 4
John Mott's estate 10
John Cornwell 12
Dr. David Brooks 23
Capt. Steph. Thorne 2(1
Thomas Dodge 20
Caleb Cornwell* 1
Israel Baxter* 5
John Mitchell & son 14
Daniel Whitehead
Kissam* 30
Joseph Kissam 10

12

Benjamin Kissam 3
Benjamin Akerly 6
Dr. Samuel Latham 20
Joseph Thorne* 10
Joseph Pearsall 14
Adrian Onderdonck 14
Rich. Thorne, C. N. 6
Elhert Van Nostrand 1
Caleb Morrell 2
Cornelius Cornell 3
Daniel Brinckerhoff 15

John Sclieuck
Peter Schenck
Martin Schenck
William Smith
George Uapelye
John Searing
Widow Lawrence*
Charles Hicks
Robert Mitchell*
John Allen
John Thorne
Richard Thorne
Widow Cornell
George Cornell
Samuel Mott Cornell 7
Charles Corn.-ll 7
Samuel Tredwell 10
William Thorne 14
Phillip Allen & sons 30
Abram Schenck 11
John Allnn. Jr. 8
Henry, Samuel and
James Allen 34
Henry Stocker 8
Benj'imin Woolley 3
John Toffey
Benjamin Hewlett
George Hewlett
John Woolley
Daniel Kissam, Jr.
John Mitchell
Widow Mitchell
Lawrence Hewlett
Widow Tredwell
Thomas Tredwfll*
Benjamin Tredwell 10
William Mott 30
John Morrell 8
Henry Hauxhurst 4

* Name inserted from another list and date.

1st District, Captain Woolley,
2d " Captain Youngs,
3d " Mr. Sands,
4th " Little Neck,
5th " Captain Abram Van Wyck,
6th " Captain Thomas Van Wyck,

Acres.

Coids,

1,096

1,901

679

1.151

654

1,501

73

14T

800

651

, 800

651

3,002 6,002

Prior Townsend to Major Kissam.
Latting-town, February 28th, 1781.
When we parted with you last, you told
us we might send to you on the Friday
following for orders respecting the wood.
George Underhill doth now apply to you for
orders. Our company meets to-morrow after
noon. I shall expect some orders from you,
which will be highly necessary, and when
ever we get them we shall do our endeavors
to put them in execution ; and if the commis
sions are made out, we should be glad that
our officers might have them, in order that
the contract might be fulfilled. I further
would wish to know what number of [boats]
you have in your quarter that undertakes to
carry the wood contracted for, as there is
some with us that is now waiting an answer.

Cow Neck, March 6th, 1781.
To Mr. Purden.
Sir : — You may remember when we con
tracted for the delivery of the requisition of
wood by Government, it was agreed, in order
to facilitate the transportation thereof, that
there should be two armed vessels to cover
the coasts and protect the boats in passing
and repassing. It therefore becomes neces
sary that they should attend on that business
immediately, as any delay must necessarily
retard the matter and prevent a performance
of the contract. We must therefore, sir, beg
your assistance to prevent that mischief, as
there has already been some delay occasioned
thereby. We doubt not, therefore, you will
see it immediately done, as it becomes at
present absolutely necessary. We desire that
one may be stationed at present at Cow Bay
and the other at Hempstead Harbor, with or
ders to remove to the other harbors as occa
sion may require. Your attention to this
matter will much oblige, sir, your most obe
dient and very humble servant,
John Kissam,
In behalf of the contractors.

52

Revolutionary Incidents

New York, March 29th, 1781.
To John Kissam, Esq.
Sir : — Yours of the 28th I have received.
The removal of the armed vessels from
the Sound is an unexpected occurrence, and
which the King's service has made necessary
for the present. As soon as it is practicable,
you may depend that guard-vessels will be
ordered to reassume their stations. But the
contractors may go on with the cutting the
wood, and if they think it safe, cart it to the
landings. I am extremely happy to observe
that most part of the farmers show a disposi
tion to enable the contractors to fulfill their
engagements, and you may be assured that
no censure will fall on the contractors for not
delivering the wood at the fixed periods, if
suitable convoys are not furnished in season.
I am,- sir, your most humble servant,
William Crosbie,
Barrack Master General.

Northside, Hempstead, )
April 1st, 1781. )
Major de Wurmb's compliments to Major
Kissam and acquaints him that there is a
picket of one officer and 40 men from to-day
till to-morrow at Cow Bay, (Dr. Latham's
house), in case any whale-boats should come
this night at Cow Neck, Major Kissam may
send there for support.

4A. list of the wood carted to the landing at
Oysterbay, in Captain Daniel Youngs' Com
pany, March 20, 1781, 50 cords.
A return of the state of the Company of
Militia of Captain Daniel Youngs, at Oyster
bay, March 20, 1781 : 1 Captain, 1 Lieuten
ant, 1 Ensign, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 80
Privates, — Drummer ; 20 Quakers.

Regimental Orders. April 10, 1781.
To Major Kissam, to be forwarded by him to
the Captains to the Eastward.
As the time fast approaches when horses
will be wanted in the Quartermaster Geneial's
department, and that a demand will be made
on Queens County for that purpose, Colonel
Hamilton therefore requests and desires that
the Captains, in their respective districts, will

in the meantime look out for good, servicea
ble horses, as none but young and stout ones
will be taken, and for which a generous price
will be given. The deficiency (if any) will
be made up, as usual, by a small tax, to be
levied by the Captains on every person in the
county, agreeable to the cess-roll, or the value
of their estates. Proper judges will be ap
pointed on each side to inspect and value the
horses as formerly, and Colonel Hamilton
will give them as early notice as possible of
the number demanded and the place of ren
dezvous. Colonel Hamilton is so well ac
quainted with the loyalty of Queens County,
and of their readiness upon every occasion to
serve His Majesty, that he thinks it needless
to say any more upon the head, only to assure
them that he will be happy to assist and
serve them.

Westbury, April 21st, 1781.
To Major Kissam.
Sir : — I had the honor to receive yours this
evening, and have forwarded the letter to
Major Delancey immediately. The bearers
of flags of truce, agreeable to general orders,
are to be sent back as soon as they have de
livered their dispatches ; but if William
Heron has to transact business in his private
affairs on this Island, he must first obtain
His Excellency Governor Robertson's particu
lar leave for that purpose ; and I shall there
fore have the honor to wait upon you, sir, to
morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, in order to
see whether Heron's request is likely to be
granted, and till that time I beg to detain
him at your house or any other proper place.
I am, with great regard, sir, your most obedi
ent, humble servant,
De Wurmb, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Westbury, April 23d, 1781.
To Major Kissam, Cow Bay.
Sir : — I enclose a passport for Mr. Heron,
and should wish for his return to Stamford
whenever the wind will permit of it. I have
not yet received an answer from New York,
but as soon as those things wanted by Gene
ral Parsons shall arrive, I will not fail to for
ward them to the General by another flag. I
have the honor to be, with great regard, sir,
your most obedient, humble servant,
De Wurmb, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Queens County— 2d Series.

58

Brooklyn, April 26th, 1781.
To Captain Poers, Commander of His Majes
ty's Brig "Argo," &ca., &ca., &ca.
Sir : — Major General De Riedesel begs you
will, in compliance with the directions from
headquarters, as you will see by the enclosed
extract of a letter from the Deputy Adjutant
General, order Mr. William Heron's boat,
which you took possession of a few days ago,
back, in all haste, to the place where you
first found her ; and the men who navigated
her will be sent, without any delay, to that
place, to receive their boat ; and it is request
ed, sir, that you will please to give such par
ticular directions to your people, that she and
everything belonging to her may be restored
to them as complete as she was found, with
out any further detention whatever.

Westbury, April 27th, 1781.
Lieutenant-Colonel De Wurmb to Major Kis
sam.Sir : — The enclosed papers will inform you
that the people belonging to the flag of Mr.'
Heron are to be sent to the other side, as soon
as Mr. Heron returns. The prisoners I hereby
send, and beg you will be kind enough to
guard them until they leave the Island ; and
in case of necessity, to furnish them with
provisions, which shall be paid for whenever
you will let me know the price thereof. The
boat, which was taken by the "Argo" brig,
will perhaps arrive at Hempstead Harbor to
day. If you think it necessary, some Yagers
may stay with the prisoners as a guard.

On His Majesty's Immediate Service.
Express by the Orderly Dragoon.
Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam,.
May 5, 1781. I beg you will forward the
enclosed order as fast as possible, for fear of
mistakes. I shall expect to see you by 9
o'clock, on Wednesday, at Jamaica. Your
calf is fit to take away. He eats grass like a
cow. I beg my compliments to the old gen
tleman. R. O. May 5, 1781. Colonel Hamilton
again reminds the Captains of Queens County
that the horses demanded by the Quartermas
ter General for His Majesty's immediate ser
vice are to be delivered on Wednesday, 9th

instant, at Jamaica, by 9 o'clock in the morn
ing. Each company of foot is to furnish
nine horses, and each troop of horse is to fur
nish four horses. Colonel Hamilton need not
repeat that none but strong young horses will
pass ; as he is confident that the Captains and
officers, as well as the men, will do their duty
like loyal subjects who have the good of His
Majesty's service warmly at heart. Lieuten
ant Talman, of Captain Hoogland's company,
and Mr. Oliver Waters, of the troop, are ap
pointed to inspect and value the horses, on
the part of the county, and as some expenses
will attend this duty, these gentlemen will
give in their charge to the Captains, who are
to raise it by a small tax or cess upon every
individual. Colonel Hamilton thinks it nec
essary to inform the inhabitants, who are not
so well acquainted with military matters, that
the life of almost every expedition or enter
prise depends in a great measure on the
Quartermaster General's department being
well supplied with teams and horses for
transporting of guns, ammunition, provi
sions, rum, &c, &c, &c, without which the
best officer or soldier can do but little ! The
smallest reflection upon this head must cer
tainly induce the inhabitants of loyal Queens
County to bring forth their horses on the ap
pointed day, in number and in strength.

Biedesel to Colonel Hamilton.
Brooklyn, May 10th, 1781.
Sir : — I beg you and the Militia under your
command, in particular Captain Hewlett with
the Queens County Militia Light Horse, will
accept my best thanks for their alertness and
spirited conduct in taking the troublesome
plunderer who styles himself Captain Dickey,*
with his Lieutenant Hendrickson and the
crew under his orders, I shall take pleasure
in reporting the same to His Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief, in the favorable light
it merits.
R. O. May 13, 1781. It is with the high
est pleasure and satisfaction that Colonel
Hamilton acquaints the Regiment of Queens
County Militia in general that he is directed
by the Major General Baron de Riedesel, com
manding on Long Island, to return them his
best thanks for their alert behavior upon
* See Revolutionary Incidents, p. 199.

54

Revolutionary Incidents

many occasions ; but particularly to Captain
Stephen Hewlett, of the Troop, and his party,
for their recent alert and spirited conduct in
taking the noted Rebel partizan plunderer,
Alexander Dickey, with his Lieutenant, crew
and boat ; and he assures them he will repre
sent it to His Excellency the Commander-in-
Chief in the favorable light it merits. So
public a testimony of the General's approba
tion must be pleasing to the captors, as it re
dounds honor to themselves, honor to their
commanding officers and honor to the county
at large, and will certainly stimulate them
upon similar occasions in the cause of loyalty.
I beg Major Kissam will be so good as to
send copies of the above orders to the several
Captains in his district, whom he will direct
to read it at the head of their different com
panies. To Major Kissam, to be forwarded by him to
the Officers to the eastward and southward.
R. O. June 1, 1781. Colonel Hamilton
was greatly surprised and much hurt to learn
from the Quartermaster General that loyal
Queens County had been so backward in fur
nishing their proportion of horses for that
department ! He has obtained a farther day
for to make up the deficiency. Colonel Ham
ilton therefore desires and expects that all
the Captains of Horse and Foot do meet him
and Major Kissam at Jamaica, on Tuesday,
12th instant, with the deficient horses, for
which they will receive the full value, pro
vided they are strong young horses. Any
Captain who is absent without sending a good
excuse may depend upon being severely fined
and reported to the Commander-in-Ohief and
Governor for disobedience of orders. Colonel
Hamilton is determined to do his duty, and
let the blame fall where it ought.

Wood.
Musqueto Cove, June 5ra, 1781.
An account of the quantity of the contract
wood at the different landings, from Red
Spring Point to Oak Neck, on the Sound, viz. :
Cords. 7 I
40

John Cock,
David Tilly,
Stephen Frost,
Prior Townsend, 10
William Latting. 10
James and John Sands, 20
Nathaniel Coles, 25
Venus Townsend, 40

Cords.
Henry Cock, 25
-William Cock, 14
John &Dan. Underbill, 34

John Hhwx,
Jacob Valentine,
John Weeks, Ensign,
Daniel Cock,
James Carpenter,

Contract wood within Hempstead Harbor: Cords.
Joseph Craft, 3
Robert Coles, 4
Albert, William and

Cords.
James Townsend, 12
John Jackson, 4
Coles Carpenter, 10
Joseph Wood, 3
Caleb Coles, 10

Derick Coles,

3

Brooklyn, June 4th, 1781.
To Colonel Hamilton, commanding the Queens
County Militia.
Sir : — Having received His Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief's commands, I have to
request you will direct the proper officers of
Militia under your orders to make a search.
through all the roads, woods, houses, huts,
&c. , in Queens County, on the night of Wed
nesday to Thursday next, and take up all
persons under the following descriptions : 1.
People who may or appear to belong to the
navy ; 2. all stragglers who are not inhabit
ants of Long Island, or not well known by
respectable characters for being quiet sub
jects ; 3. such as have not passports as Refu
gees, from His Majesty's officers or others
authorized to give certificates ; 4. or any one
that cannot produce some kind of warranta
ble protection from faithful, loyal subjects,
to testify and prove ther characters.
When you have taken up those who cannot
give the required accounts of themselves, you
will please to send them, with the proper
guard, to the Fort, at Brooklyn, with a report
of the prisoners' names, from whence they
came, where they have resided, and what has
been and is their occupation, profession or
employment, till and when they were taken
up. If the Regular Military assistance should
be wanted, it will be immediately granted by
the nearest posts, on your showing this letter
to the commanding officer, with my request
to grant it. You will have the goodness to
keep the whole secret till the moment of put
ting it into execution ; afterwards to signify
the same to me, with the circumstances of its
success. As it has been particularly men
tioned that there are many of the seamen be
longing to the navy, at and about Rockaway,
it is requested that the officer who may have
the search of that district. will make the
strictest enquiry through it. Your very obe
dient, humble servant, Riedesel, Major General.
pW Colonel Hamilton sends the above to
Major Kissam, for him to forward to the offi
cers to the eastward and southward.

Queens County
Colonel Hamilton to Major Kissam.
June 6, 1781. Enclosed I send you an
order I have received from General De Rie
desel, which you will be pleased to see fully
executed in your district. You will likewise
be so good as to inform me, by express, of
your success, and forward the prisoners to
me with all dispatch. You have likewise an
order respecting the deficient horses, which
you will take care to enforce. Let you and
me do our duty, at all events, and let the
blame fall where it ought.
pg"General Riedesel's orders must be put
in execution this night and to-morrow morn
ing. [1781, June 30. Major Kissam was sur
prised at night, and carried off by the Rebels
to Connecticut. — See Bevolutionary Incidents,
p. 173.]

-2d Series.

55

St. John should not be permitted to come out,
there have been four Captains of whale-boats,
 .  , Sellew and Foster, prisoners
to Colonel Hamilton, which Governor Frank -

Wethersfield, August 16th, 1781.
To Daniel Kissam, Esq.
Honored Sir : — -Mine of 27th July, if it
got safe to you, must have informed you of
my being at this place on parole, with a cir
cuit of three miles from my lodging ; since
which I have remained in the same situation;
and a day or two ago I was informed by Mr.
Reed, who was last week brought away from
East Hampton, that the Commissary of Pris
oners here had made a proposal of a parole,
exchanging Mr. Reed and myself for Colonel
St. John and son, acquainting Governor
Franklin that, should it not take place, he
should be under the necessity of retaliating
on us, which I cannot say but my fears are
greater than my hopes will be the case. I
yesterday got leave and took a ride to Hart
ford to see Mr. Jeremiah Piatt and his brother
Ebenezer, who, on their first hearing of my
being at this place immediately came to see
me, to know whether I was in want of any
thing, and every few days since, Ebenezer
takes a ride to see me, and with me yesterday
made application to the Deputy Commissary
for leave to go to Long Island and New York
on my parole, for a few days, in order to
work an exchange, but he informed us that
he had often been censured for such indul
gences, and could not grant it without leave
from the Commissary General of Prisoners ;
and therefore I cannot do anything at present
myself, and expect I must remain here a long
time, unless some friend make an interest for
some other person to be offered. If Colonel

lin* has had, three of which have been ex
changed for the Associated Refugees since my
being here ; and I think in justice Colonel
Hamilton has a right to expect from the
Board of Directors at least one of their pris
oners for a parole or exchange for me.
If it is concluded I must stay any time, or
winter here, I could wish to have some win
ter clothing sent to me soon, as the morning
and evening already begin to be a little cool,
and I expect by the first frost my pockets will
be nipt pretty well of cash, and consequently
a little of that commodity will be not disa
greeable to me, as I find all places nearly
alike— no living without money, and espe
cially one in my situation, expenses running
much higher than I expected. What way to
get things to me, I cannot inform you of, but
should wish that some friend might come
with them in a flag. At present! quarter at
the house of Captain Absalom Williams, in
Wethersfield, and should I be removed from
here, anything that can be left for me will be
forwarded by him ; and I could wish to hear
from the family and friends, as I have not
heard a word from any one there since my
leaving the Island. Communicate my love to
all and acquaint them I should have written
to them, but the uncertainty of a safe convey
ance renders it difficult. If I had one of my
old social friends with me here, the country
would be. pleasant enough to make it agreea
ble, although a number of the inhabitants, I
find, endeavor to make it so to me, as there
is a good deal of company, and I enjoy health
well. Mr. Ebenezer Piatt, who carries this
for me to Norwalk, is now waiting, and I
wish it might arrive safe to you. If Colonel
Hamilton and friends want my continuance
here, pray send me a good sum of money and
two inkstands. I am, honored sir, your duti
ful son, John Kissam.

Parole.
"I, John Kissam, Major of Militia in
Queens County, on Long Island, in British
* 1781, Jan 8. Board of Directors of Associated
Loyalists : William Franklin, Daniel Coxe, George
Rome, Anthony Stewart, Joiiah Martin, George D.
Ludlow, George Leonard, Timothy Ruggles, Edward
Lutwych and Robert Alexander.

56

Revolutionary Incidents

service, do hereby acknowledge myself a
prisoner of war to the United States of Amer
ica, and being now indulged the liberty of
returning to the city of New York on parole,
do pledge my faith and sacred honor that I
will not say, do, or cause to be said or done,
anything that can be in any shape construed
to injure the welfare of the said United
States ; and that unless I can effect an ex
change of myself for some officer of like rank
or for some other such person as shall be
agreed to and accepted by Abraham Skinner,
Esq. , the American Commissary of Prisoners,
I will return by the way of Elizabethtown
Point, on New Jersey, and render myself a
prisoner to said Commissary General or to his
order, or to some one acting under him, within
thirty days of this-date."
The within is a true copy of parole signed
by Major John Kissam. Whereupon it is de
sired he may pass on directly to Norwalk and
from thence to New York, in such way as
shall be thought best by the Authority there, ,
he behaving as becometh, &c.
Ez. Williams,
Deputy Commissary General of Prisoners.

Exchange.
To whom it may concern. I do certify that
Major Kissam, of the Regiment of Queens
County Militia, of Long Island, was regularly
exchanged for Major George Wright, of the
Pennsylvania Militia, at New York, the 20th
of October, 1781. Joshua Loring,
Commissary General of Prisoners.

Militia Orders.
Whereas the regulations hitherto made for
the protection of Great and Cow Necks are
found by experience to be attended with
many inconveniences ; it is ordered that Cap
tains Thorne and Cornell procure fourteen
sufficient and trusty men to mount guard each
night* on Cow and Great Necks, at such
places as they shall judge proper, the Cap
tains to levy ten shillings per man per month
from every person within their beat, who is
sixteen years of age and upwards ; and out of
this fund to pay each man doing duty six
shillings per day for the service required.
Such persons whose poverty must necessarily
excuse them from the contribution are to be

excepted out of this order, and a return of
their names made to the Commanding Officer.
G. G. Ludlow, Colonel.

Caveat.
Sir : — I having with sundry others entered
into a contract with Government to deliver
six thousand cords of wood to the wood-yards
of the Barrack Master General, by certain
periods, and it being represented to me that
your people have sundry times taken some of
the wood at the landing, to be appropriated
for that use. As this, sir, tends to lessen the
quantity and impose a harder burden upon
us, and to discourage the carting the wood to
the landing ; we must beg that you would
adopt some other methods for furnishing
wood for your vessel, unless by concurrence
of the Barrack Master General, who may ac
count to us for so much. The heavy burden
we are under obliges us to make this applica
tion, as every person's proportion is laid out
for him to supply : [and this action of yours]
must alter the whole mode of our proceeding.
John Kissam.

J

Office of Police,
Jamaica, November 23d, 1781.
To Major Kissam.
Sir: — In pursuance of His Excellency Lieu
tenant Governor Robertson's proclamation,
requiring the inhabitants of Long Island to
furnish an immediate supply of wood for the
citizens of New York in their present distress;
and for the fulfillment of the requisitions
therein contained ; you are hereby called on,
required and empowered to oversee and carry
into execution the following regulation : The
inhabitants of Cow Neck, Great Neck and
Little Neck, and so many of those living to
the eastward as cart to the landings at Hemp
stead Harbor, are hereby ordered to cut and
cart, without delay, to the nearest landing-
places, so much wood each as will amount to
half the quota laid on them, in consequence
of an assessment made with the Barrack Mas
ter General's office last spring, for the supply
of six thousand cords of wood from the
north side of the Island ; and all persons sub
ject to this order are to consider this wood
for the use of the private inhabitants of the
city, and to sell the same at the public affixed
rates for the purpose aforesaid. Those who

Queens County— 2d Series.

57

shall neglect or refuse to comply with the
quota assigned them, are to be compelled, by
employing proper persons to do this duty,
who are to he benefitted by the whole emolu
ment arising from the sale of such refractory
persons' wood.*
In the enforcing this order you will take
such measures as to you shall seem most ef
fectual for the immediate supply so much
wanted, and when any person is found so lost
to his private interest and deaf to the public
call as to decline this necessary business, you
are not only to assign his property (hereby
allotted) to others willing to execute the
same, but to represent him to the Office of
Police. Sir, your most humble servant,
George D. Ludlow.

Office of Police, )
Jamaica, December 21st, 1781. >
To Major Kissam.
Sir : — I have just received a letter from
the Governor, signifying the distress of the
inhabitants of New York, from the want of
wood, and his intentions of sending all the
vessels that can be procured to make one trip
to the Necks. He wishes to know the quan
tity of wood and the landings where it is to
be found. Without your information I can
not answer him particularly. In the mean
while may I say, in general, that the quantity
demanded will be ready for those that call ?
and that the landings are at Little Neck and
both sides of Cow and Great Necks? Your
answer by the bearer will greatly oblige, sir,
your most obedient and humble servant,
George D. Ludlow.

!E, )
I, 1782. i

Office of Police,
Jamaica, March 18th
To Major Kissam.
Sir: — The Barrack Master General informs
me that a considerable part of the six thou
sand cords of wood remain yet due from the
inhabitants, particularly about Oysterbay.
The wants of the wood-yard are great and
immediate. I think it but just that the se
verest measures should be taken to compel
the neglecting farmers, before new demands
are made ; and beg therefore that you would
be at the trouble (with the other gentlemen
* The list of 63 farmers who delivered wood is here
omitted..

who were appointed) to procure a return of
the delinquents as soon as possible. My or
ders are to appoint Refugees and others to
cut their wood without delay, by way of im
mediate supply, and to punish them for con
tempt of the several injunctions. I wish also
to have a return of the residue of wood due
under the proclamation, and from whom,
that the same means may be made use of
against them. The Captains of Militia are
required to furnish you the state of their sev
eral beats and to give whatever assistance
you may think necessary to require. I sub
mit to your consideration whether the most
effectual way to execute the intentions of
Government would not be to authorize Mr.
Okerson to cut and cart by the return-list,
when obtained, he employing persons under
him (and paying them) to make a return of
his proceedings. Colonel Crosby will send
vessels, if required, to any landing, and the
instant execution of some such mode is re
quired for a present supply, as well as to pre
vent the wood in your quarter from being
subject to an establishment under the Barrack
office. I am, sir, with esteem, your most
humble servant, George D. Ludlow.

New York, April 17th, 1782.
To Judge Ludlow, Office of Police, Jamaica.
Dear Sir : — In consequence of a notice
given to the Barrack Master General that
fifteen hundred cords of wood would be ready
to be delivered at Cold Spring Harbor, seven
teen vessels have been sent to take it on
board, and are now lying there idle on pre
tences formed by Captain Van Wyck. Let
me beg that you will immediately give direc
tions that may procure dispatch for these ves
sels. It is a great loss to Government and a
reflection on the Police, if such an obstinate
disobedience should be continued and remain
unpunished. The bearer will carry your or
ders and be assistant in carrying them into
execution. I am, dear sir, your humble ser
vant, James Johnson.

To Major Kissam.
Sir : — Please to issue the necessary orders
and take the wood in question, as well as
compel the farmers to load it. You are fully
informed, and see the expediency of prevent
ing delay. George D. Ludlow, Supt.

58

Revolutionary Incidents

Major Kissam to Captain Thomas Van Wyck.
Cow Neck, April 20th, 1782.
It being represented to His Excellency
Governor Robertson that the inhabitants in
your district have refused to send their pro
portion of contracted wood and load the ves
sels that were sent to take the same on board,
I have received express directions from the
Police to direct that you will, with the . force
of your company, put on board such persons'
proportion of wood as are refractory and re
fuse to send it, whenever a convoy of vessels
attends to receive the same ; and that the
whole quota of six hundred and fifty cords
be ready without delay, and prevent the mis
chief that must necessarily ensue from the
continuance of the obstinate disobedience of
the inhabitants.

Office of Police, )
Jamaica, April 22d, 1782. )
To Major Kissam.
Sir : — By direction of His Excellency Lieu
tenant Governor Robertson, permission is
hereby given William Roe,* of Stamford, to
come with a flag into Oysterbay Harbor and
return with his wife, children and household
goods. Permission is also granted, under the
same authority, to Oliver Lawrence to come
into Cow Bay, with a flag of truce, and fetch
his sister Deborah. These person's are to re
turn as soon as convenient, and not to pass
beyond the habitations of those they are to
take back with them. These conditions are
to be enforced by your orders, or those ap
pointed by you.
George D. Ludlow, Superintendent.

Office of Police, )
Jamaica, June 1st, 1782. f
To Major Kissam.
Sir: — The chief supplies of fuel for the
ensuing winter must be furnished by this
Island, and of course the demand very large.
I have thought it better for the farmer to cut
and cart his share than let it be done by
strangers, and I have proposed a quota. The
demand from Little to Lloyd's Necks will be
* William Roe, of Oysterbay, furnished secret in
telligence to the American cause, in the fall of 1777,
and after, till he was informed against, and then he
had to flee to the Main, in 1780, to escape British ven
geance.

as last year, six thousand cords.* I wish to
see you, with the Captains of that district,
and confer on the best mode to procure a com
pliance and preserve the farmers' property.
Will you acquaint them and meet me at the
office on Wednesday next 1 Could I see you
before that day and talk the matter over, it
would be agreeable to, sir, your most humble
servant, George D. Ludlow, Superintendent,

,\

Office of Police,
Jamaica, November 11th, 1782.
To Major John Kissam.
Sir : — I have seen the Governor on the
subject of the flag. He objects to one ex
pressly for this purpose. But notwithstand
ing, the two persons poipted out may go,
under your directions and safe-conduct. Let
them confine themselves to the errand, and
they will be justified. If the plundering! *s
not stopped by the inhabitants on the other
shore, one general scene of desolation must
be the consequence. It is therefore a com
mon interest there, as well as here, to bring
such villains to punishment. I am, sir, your
most humble servant,
George D. Ludlow, Superintendent.

Shelburn, N. S., )
February 10th, 1786. )
To Mr. John Kissam.
Dear Sir : — I am sorry tliat you have left
our country so soon, for had you not, you
would have been likely to have had your loss
made up. The Commissioners are at Halifax
now, taking in the claims of the Loyalists.
My advice to you is to get a certificate from
your State, of your losses and damages, and
services you did for Government, and come
to Shelburn in the spring ; for they are to be
here and take in all claims. This is from
your friend to serve,
Richard Townsend.

Granville, N. S., )
February 22d, 1786. )
To Mr. John Kissam, at Cow Neck, L. I.
Dear Sir : — I embrace this opportunity,
with the blessing of God, to inform you that
* The list of 90 farmers who delivered wood is here
omitted. t See Revolutionary Incidents, p. 177,

Queens County— 2d Series.

59

I am well, and all the family, and hoping
this may find you and all the family and all
friends the same. These few lines are to
inform you that the Commissioners are com
ing from England to Halifax, respecting the
claims of the Loyalists, and it is expected
they will^go to St. John by the first of May.
I am sorry that you never sent your claims
home, as there was an Act of Parliament for
that purpose. But estimates are going to
them every day, and they are very particular
of asking them why they did not comply with
the Act of Parliament. But I believe that if
you come and give yours in by the first of
May, I make no doubt, as yours stands so
fair, but what you may get some of your
losses again. If you come, you must bring a
certificate of the confiscation of it, [your fa
ther's farm], of the sale of it, when and
where, with the Governor of the State's seal
on it ; as that is requested of every one, of
their claims to have the Governor's seal of
that [State] where it is confiscated and sold,
which I make no doubt but what you can
get. I expect this sloop right back, by which
you may have a chance to come. And if you
come, bring your commission with you, as it
may be of service to you. Mrs. Thorne joins
with me in love to you and all the family and
all enquiring friends. So I remain your
friend to serve, Edward Thorne.

At the close of this interesting correspond
ence we may add that Colonel Hamilton left
in 1783, and died in Edinburgh, 1795. George
Duncan Ludlow and his brother, Gabriel G.,
both died in honored exile, in New Bruns
wick, 1808- Major Kissam, at the peace,
went to Nova Scotia, but shortly returned,
and died on his paternal homestead, in his
81st year, 1828, beloved and respected.*

SUFFERINGS OF FRIENDS IN FLUSH
ING.
1776. Taken from Daniel Bowne, for re
fusing military service, by Captain Hoog-
* Some account of most of the Tories mentioned in
this book may be found in Sabine's Lives of the Loy
alists, wherein are about 1,000 names, (filling 32 pages),
copied, without crediting, from my Revolutionary
Incidents of Queeus County.

land's warrant, a silver watch, worth £7, and
a looking-glass, worth £3.
1776, 29th of 8th month. Taken from
John Bowne, by the Major of the Light
Horse, for the use of the army, 21 old sheep,
at 13 shillings each, and 15 lambs, at 11 shil
lings each ; and 9th of 9th month, taken by
Captain Moxome, 31 bushels of oats, at 3
shillings per bushel.
1776. Distresses made upon the goods of
Ebenezer Beaman, by order of the militia
officers : A dictionary, worth 12 shillings ;
two large pewter basins, 16 shillings ; diaper,
tablecloth, and pewter tunnel, 28 shillings ;
looking-glass, £3 ; an iron-shod cart and tack
ling, £14 ; a horse, £18, 14s. 1781. Jacob
Lawrence, with three others, took a riding
saddle, worth £5.
1776. Taken from John Lawrence by the
militia Sergeant, for not appearing under
arms, a warming-pan, to the value of £1.
1777. Taken from Ann Field, by order of
Captain Hoogland, being to serve military
purposes, a watch, worth £8 ; 2£ bushels of
wheat, £1, 10s.; ahorse, £25. 1781. Three
turkeys, worth 50 shillings, on a demand of
24 shillings for guarding the fort at White-
stone. 1777. Taken from John Bowne, for not
appearing with the militia, a fat hog, £5.
1778. Taken by Captain Hoogland, for not
appearing under arms when required by the
militia officers, household goods, worth £2,
3s. 6d. 1781. On a demand of 39 shillings,
to defray the charge of guarding the fort at
Whitestone, a pair of boots, £2, 8s.
1778, 5th month. Abel Thomas, a travel
ing preacher, says : ' ' After the meeting at
Westchester, we went down to the water-side
to go over to Long Island. There was no
boat there. We made a smoke for a signal
to the ferryman on the other side to come for
us, which he did, but informed us he was
under obligation to send all strangers that he
brought over to Colonel Hamilton's, at Flush
ing. When we were over, he sent a guard
with us to the Colonel. We informed him
that we intended to hold meetings on the
island. His answer to us was that ' if that
was our business it was a pity to hinder us."
He readily gave us a permit to travel through
the island. We visited eight meetings, one
a day, and then crossed the Sound.
1780. Taken from John Farrington, a gun,
worth £2; a table, £3; 2 hogs, £8, 10s.

60

Revolutionary Incidents

1781. Taken by Jacob Lawrence, by Captain
Hoogland's order, linen, worth £3, 12s. ' 1782.
Goods taken, worth £3, lis. 4.
1780, April 3. Isaac Underhill and Thomas
Willett, being desired by the British com
manding officers at Flushing to view the
damages, or quantities of timber cut off a
certain tract of timber land consisting of
about 25 acres, belonging to John Bowne,
conclude there hath been taken 5 standard
cords for the use of His Majesty's troops.
David Colden certifies the above appraisers
to be men of fair character, and well quali
fied to make the estimate.
1781, 12th of 2d month. Jacob Lawrence,
Sergeant, with others, took away from James
Bowne, 11 fowls, worth £3, on a demand of
39 shillings for guarding the fort, &c.
1781, 24th of 2d month. David Rowland,
Sergeant, came to Isaac Underbill's and de
manded £4 for money advanced for a horse
to go in the King's service, and for expense
in guarding the fort, &c, and on his refusing
to pay it, went into his mill and took 8 bush
els of Indian corn, worth £4.
1781, 3d month. There came to John Far-
rington's house, David Rowland, a Sergeant
under Captain Hoogland, for a demand of £3,
8s, took away a piece of linen, worth £3, 3s,
being levied by way of tax, as was said, to
defray the expense of guarding the fort at
Whitestone. 1781. Taken at sundry times, from John
Burling, Jr., for fines, by order of Captain
Hoogland, to answer militia purposes : A
pewter dish, worth 8 shillings ; 6 pewter
plateB, 12 shillings ; a pair of tongs, 12 shil
lings ; a table-cloth, £1, 10s.; 7 pewter
plates, 14 shillings ; a copper sauce-pan, 8
shillings ; a pair of andirons, £2 ; 6 silver tea
spoons, £1, 10s. 1781. Taken by Philip
Husted, 2J- bushels of corn and bag, to defray
the expense of guarding the fort at White-
stone, £1, 10s. 1781. Jacob Lawrence took,
on demand of 27 shillings, an overcoat and a
dung-hill fowl, worth 50 shillings.
1781. Taken from Willet Bowne, at sun
dry times, by order of Captain Hoogland, (be
ing fines to answer military purposes), a ge
ography,, worth 14 shillings ; 6 pewter plates,
12 shillings ; 2 bushels of wheat and the bag,
£2 ; 9 bushels of com, £3, 12s. ; a watch, £8.
1781. Two bushels of corn and the bag,
£1, 4s.

1781, 4th of 3d month. Then came Moses
Fowler, and demanded of Phebe Cornell £4.
On her refusal to pay, he searched her closet
and found money to the value of £3, 18j, be
ing levied by way of tax, as was said, fnr de?
fraying the expense of guarding the fort at
Whitestone. 1781, 29th of 6th month. Philip Husted,
Sergeant, and Jacob Lawrence with him, de
manded 25 shillings of Solomon Underhill,
for guarding the fort, and took wheat to that
value. Total amount of distraints qt Friends in
Flushing, from 1776 to 1782, was £194, lis.
lOd.

A list of Friends who, being opposed to
war, were fined and distressed of their goods
for refusing to stand guard, go on an alarm,
furnish horses for war, work on the fort at
Brooklyn, or do any kind of military servjoe :
1777.
Feb. 27. Stephen Denton and John Wa
ters, having a key with them, unlocked Sam
uel Willets' chest, and took £1, 10s, for his
son not appearing at an alarm ; and Aug.
16, took a saddle, worth 21 shillings, and »
side of leather, 10 shillings. In June, Penn
Weeks took 10 shillings, which he found in a
garment hanging in the house.
Feb. 27. Sergeant John Waters demanded
£1, 10s, of Henry Whitson, Jr., for not ap-
pearing at the alarm. On his refusal to pay,
he searched the house, found the key, un
locked a chest, and took £1, 10s, as he said.
From Charles Clements 3 fowls were taken,
worth 6 shillings.*
March. Henry Post, 2 silk handkerchiefs,
10s. ; and Aug. 28, 15 yards cloth, £5, lOs.f
April 4. Elias Hicks, pair of shoes, 10s.*
Aug. 16. John Powell, a tankard and
steelyards, 20s.*
June 7. A cow, worth £6, was taken from
John Smith, for a fine of £5, levied on him
for not appearing at the alarm to Huntington.
July. Adonijah Underhill, pair stock
ings and silk handkerchief .
Aug. 28. Elias Hicks, pair silver buckles,
18s, 2 pair stockings, 15s, 2 handkerchiefs,
5s. f March 3, a great-coat, 26s, for a fine of
12s.§ Sept. 1. Thomas Seaman, Sr., Westbury,
a watch, £8, for his son. I
* Guard, t Alarm. § Fort.

Queens County — 2d Series.

61

Aug. 15. John Willis, seed-wheat, at 10s.
a bushel, f
Oct. 17. James Oakley, a gun, 24s.
Nov. 3. Williams Seaman, Jr. , 1 silk hand-
.kerchief , 10s, and another, 3s.; deerskin
gloves, 10s. ;* and March 9, 1778, a bag and
2 sides sole leather, 26s.
Nov. Samuel Hicks, 2 pieces of cloth,
34s, 6d.§'
Nov. Joseph Willets, 2 silk handker
chiefs, 10s. ;* and Dec. 2 cakes tallow, 26s.§
Dec. 15. John Titus, side of leather and
pot of butter, 8 lbs.
Dec. 15. Henry Post, £1, 3s. 8£.§
Dec. 17. William Titus, leather and to
bacco, £2, 15s. 1778.
Jan. 7. Edmund Smith, coverlet, £3, and
sheet, 20s, taken from his bed.f
Feb. 17. Thomas Seaman refusing to pay,
they made diligent search and found his
wife's pocket-book, and took, as they said
£2, 2, 11.*
Feb. 28. John Smith, for refusing to let
his horse go on an alarm, £1.
March 11. On Joseph Willets's refusing to
pay his fine, they searched till they found
his daughter's pocket-book and took 8s. in
money. March 11. They took from John Titus's
wife 17 lbs. flax, 15s.*
May 30. Silas Hicks, pair hand -irons, 14s,§
on a demand for 8s.
Oct. 9. John Carl, pot of butter and a bas
ket, 26s. ;* and 1780, Jan. 20, a high chest,
table and wheel, £6, Is.; and July 15, 2
wheels, £2, 12s.*
June. Elias Hicks, pair stockings, 5s, and
razor-case and 2 razors, 4s, for refusing to
pay toward having men to work on the forti
fications near Brooklyn ferry.
Aug. Israel Pearsall, Hempstead Harbor,
6 bushels Indian corn, £2, 8s, taken by Sea-
mans Weeks, by order of Captain John
Woolley. Nov. 9. Samuel Way, 2 cheeses, worth
26s, on a demand of 20s, to pay the guard.
Nov. 10. Richard Mott, a saddle, £3.*
June 20. Jonathan Titus, 6 knives and
forks, 10s. § 1779.
Jan. 25. Thomas Titus, distrained of
£10, Is, for the Fort, guard, and to pay for
horses bought to go for the use of the army.
* Guard, t Alarm. § Fort.

May. From James Hubbs, pair shoes.
Aug. 5. Richard Willis, Jr., saw and bri
dle, 8s. ; handkerchief and bridle, 10s. ; pair
trousers, 10s.; saddle, blanket, leather, bag
and 2 bushels rye, £6, 10s, and Oct. 14, corn,
pair stocks and silk handkerchief.*
Aug. 21. Samuel Hicks, 20.1- lbs. cheese,
£1, 6s, for a fine of 20s.*
Dec. 26. Silas Downing, distrained of 3
bushels wheat, for not complying with an
order to cart wood to Brooklyn ferry for the
use of the army. 1780.
Jan. 18. John Loines distrained of 5 bush
els wheat, £5, for not giving £5 toward pay
ing for horses raised for the use of the army,
and for the guard and Fort.
Jan. 19. Obadiah Valentine and Daniel
Toffey, by two warrants from Captain Cor
nell, came to levy (by sale of goods) a fine of
£7, lis. on Thomas Seaman, for the guard,
Fort and horses, and took 8 bushels wheat,
£7, 4s.
Jan. 26. John Wright, a bushel of rye,
for refusing to pay 8s. dividend due on build
ing the Fort.
July 16. John Searing, 13| yards linen
and 6^ yards cloth, £5, 5s.
Dec. 17. John Smith, 1 sheep, for not
carting wood to Hempstead for the soldiers.

TORIES IN QUEENS COUNTY.
It is well known that at the outbreak of
the Revolution, in 1776, the great majority
of the people of Queens County were Loyal
ists and organized to resist the action of the
Whigs, who were so feeble in the county
that Congress sent thither Colonel Herd with
a regiment of soldiers to disarm the Loyalists.
But when the British arms prevailed, at the
battle of Brooklyn, Queens County was left
at the mercy of the Loyalists, who to a cer
tain degree made reprisals on the now power
less Whigs.
The Legislature of the State of New York,
however, did what they could to relieve their
faithful friends in Queens County, and pro
ceeded to pass sundry laws confiscating the
property of the more active Loyalists. In
dictments were also laid before the Grand
* Guard.

62

Revolutionary Incidents

Juries in Duchess County,* as appears by the
following affidavit :
Duchess County, ss.: Examination and de
position of Abel Smifli, of Poughkeepsie,
goldsmith, taken before the Grand Jury, at a
Court of Oyer and Terminer and general jail
delivery in said county.
Being duly sworn, he says, that he went to
New York city in October, 1777, and contin
ued there and on Long Island till August,
1782 ; that in 1780 he knew the following
persons and in the following offices under the
British Government on Long Island, viz. :
John Kissam, yeoman, of Hempstead, as
Major of the militia ; Joseph Thorne, of
Hempstead, yeoman, as Captain of a company
of militia ; Edward Thorne, of Hempstead,
yeoman, as a Lieutenant of a company of mi
litia ; and in the same year and afterwards
Thomas Thorne, of Hempstead, yeoman,
acted as a private in the horse-guards of the
miMtia ; that in 1781 he knew Stephen Hew
lett, of Hempstead, yeoman, then in the office
of Captain of a troop of horse on Long Island,
under the British Government there ; that in
1777 he knew Israel Youngs, of Oysterbay,
miller, who was then a Captain of a troop of
horse, under said British Government ; that
in 1779 he knew Hewlett Townsend, of
Hempstead, yeoman, who was then and af
terwards employed and acted as a purchaser
of cattle for the use of the British troops
then levying war against the people of this
State ; that in 1780 and 1781 he knew on
Long Island John Hewlett, of Oysterbay,
Esq. , who then acted as collector of forage
for the British army; that in the last men
tioned years he knew Isaac Youngs, of Oys
terbay, miller, who acted as deputy collector
of forage, under said John Hewlett, Esq. ;
that he formerly knew Joseph Tobias, Jr.,
late of Charlotte Precinct, in Duchess County,
laborer, and that he, in 1776 and 1777, fre
quently saw him in Charlotte Precinct, where
he then resided, and that he frequently after
wards saw him in Queens County, on Long
Island, and in New York city in 1781 and
1782, and that he understood he was there of
his own free will, that said Tobias went
sometimes in a boat from Oysterbay to New
York, and for some time in 1781 he attended
* By the Confiscation Act, the Grand Jurors of any
county could indict for offences against this State
committed in another county.— See Jones's Journal,
ii, 512,

a shop of merchandize in New York city; and
that he frequently saw Samuel Hoxie, late of
Charlotte Precinct,* goldsmith, in said Pre
cinct, and that he afterwards voluntarily
went to Oysterbay and since into New York
city, where he continued to reside, and that
he frequently saw said Hoxie in ' 1777, and
since then, in Queens County and New York
city, being then garrisoned by British troops.
Abel Smith.
Sworn and examined in the presence of the
Grand Jury, July 19, 1783, in pursuance of
of an act of the Legislature for the forfeiture
and sale of the estate of persons who have
adhered to the enemies of this State, and for
declaring the sovereignty of the people of this
State in respect to all property within the
same. Before me,
George Froeligh, Foreman.
Preferred into Court July 19, 1783, at the
Duchess County Oyer and Terminer. En
tered in the Supreme Court minutes October
22, 1783.
Here follows another indictment :
Duchess County, ss. : The examination and
deposition of Nehemiah Heartt, of Charlotte
Precinct, Duchess County, merchant, taken
before the Grand Jury of Duchess County.f
at a Court of Oyer and Terminer and general
jail delivery in said county, July 18th, 1783.
Being duly sworn, he says, that in 1779,
and at divers times since, he saw Henry
Nicoll and Henry Peters, of New York city, '
merchants, acting as Captains of militia in
said city, under David Mathews, Esq. , of said
city ; that the militia were paraded for re
view and were trained in aid of the British
troops then levying war against the people
of this State ; that several times in 1779,
1780 and 1781, he saw Frederick Rhinelander,
of New York, and John Carpenter, of Brook
lyn, butcher, in New York city, then garri
soned by British troops ; and that they were
concerned as part owners in one or more ves
sels of war cruising under commissions from
the King of Great Britain, against the vessels
of the United States ; and that in the said
three years he saw Lambert Moore, Esq. , and
* Joseph Ford, a refugee from this precinct, and a
tavern-keeper at Jamaica, had his land, east of the
Quaker lot. forfeited.— See Onderdonk's Qu em Comity
in Olden Times, p. 07.
t These defendants were notified in Loudon's news
paper of the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of August, 1783.
Thomas Betts, of Queens County, was also Indicted.

Queens County— 3d Series.

John Moore, gentleman, of New York, in
employment and directing and managing
business in the Superintendent's office, New
York ; and that at several times in said three
years he saw Israel Youngs, of Oysterbay,
miller, acting as an officer of a troop of horse
on Long Island; also Isaac Youngs, miller,
Penn Weeks, late of Oysterbay and since of
Huntington, Johannis Barnet [or Bennet] and
Thomas Place, Jr., yeomen, of Oysterbay,
employed in service in said troop of horse on
Long Island ; and at several times in said
three years he saw John Hewlett, of Oyster
bay, Esq. , acting as a Commissary in the ser
vice of the King of Great Britain ; and at
different times in said three years he saw Ar
thur Dingey, of Huntington, yeoman, acting
as a Captain of militia in the British service,
and employed in erecting a fort on Lloyd's
Neck, in 1776 and 1777 ; and afterwards he
saw Leffert Lefferts, of Bedford, Esq., and
Nicholas Covenhoven, of Brooklyn, yeoman,
acting as wagon-masters or appraisers and
collectors of wagons and horses for the Brit
ish service, in the present Southern District
of New York ; and at several times in 1778,
and since, he saw John Titus, of New York
city, merchant, employed in merchandizing,
who told deponent that he had been out of
the British Lines for a considerable time since
the war, and had been employed as Commis
sary for the American army, and that he had
got into New York city, in 1778, with about
100 hogsheads of rum, which he had pur
chased out of the British Lines for Conti
nental money. Nehemiah Heartt.
A true bill preferred in Court, July 19,
1783. George Froeligh, Foreman.
Entered in the minutes of the Supreme
Court, October 22, 1783.

New York Supreme Court, ss.: Of the
term of October, in the 8th year of the Inde
pendence of this State.
Be it remembered, that on the 8th day
of June, in the 5th year of the Independence
of the State of New York, the Jurors of the
people of this State, for the body of the
County of Albany, did upon their oath pre
sent, that Dowe Van Dyne, now or late of
Newtown, in Queens County, Captain, on the
15th day of September, in the year of our

Lord 1780, at the 1st ward of the City of Al
bany, in the, County of Albany, with force
and arms, &c. , did adhere to the enemies of
this State, against the. peace of the people of
the State of New York and their dignity.
And the said Dowe Van Dyne having (accord
ing to the form of the Act of the Legislature,
entitled "An Act for the forfeiture and sale
of the estates of persons who have adhered
to the enemies of this State, and for declaring
the Sovereignty of the people of this State in
respect to all property within the same,")
been notified to appear and traverse the said
indictment, and not having appeared and
traversed within the time, and in the manner,
in and by the said Act limited and required ;
it is therefore considered that the said Dowe
Van Dyne do forfeit all and singular the
Estate, both real and personal, whether in
possession, reversion or remainder, held or
claimed by him within this State, to the peo
ple of this State.
Judgment signed this 29th day of Decem
ber, 1783. Robert Yates.

1784, Nov. 16. A petition in favor of Sam
uel Jones, as Judge, was signed by Burr,
Hamilton, Popham, Riker, Crimshier and 24
other eminent lawyers of New York.
At the close of the Revolution there was an
exodus of the more active Tories, who feared
the vengeance of the returning Whigs. Had
they quietly remained on their farms they
would have suffered but little if any harm.
But they dared not trust to the unknown
future, and hastily sold off their possessions
and embarked for Nova Scotia, New Bruns
wick, Canada and the British Isles. The de
parture of so many wealthy, talented and re
spectable inhabitants was no doubt a great
loss to the Island, and a greater loss to the
emigrants themselves. After wasting their
money and their energies in the unpropitious
climate and soil of Nova Scotia, many re
turned to the land of their birth, where, for a
generation at least, they had to bear the
taunts and jeers of the Whigs. But the To
ries at length had their revenge at the polls,
and Queens County was strongly Federal (for
that party favored them) till within the past
thirty years.
After the peace some of the Whigs sued
the Loyalists for trespass. Here follow some
instances :

64

Revolutionary Incidents

1784, March 19. Abraham Monfort sues
John Hewlett for damages, £10, before Jor
dan Seaman, Esq., for a debt due his father,
Jost Monfort.* Hewlett pleads that Monfort
sues without the addition of " Executor" or
"Administrator." Verdict for plaintiff, £6.8,
and costs, £1.8.
1784, April. Benjamin Rushmore vs.
Thomas Van Wyck. Statement of the case.
Governor Tryon, August 5th, 1778, forbid
any person buying cattle in Suffolk County,
except for the British army, under penalty of
forfeiture to either buyer or seller. Benjamin
Rushmore and Clark Cock disobeyed, where
upon Thomas Van Wyck, as Captain of Mili
tia, received orders from Abijah Willard,
Commissary of Cattle, to go with some Light
Dragoons to Rushmore and Cock's to bring
their cattle to Hempstead, which had been
driven by them from Suffolk County, contrary
to the above order, and to require the own
ers (Rushmore and Cock) to assist in driving
them. He did so, and now Rushmore has
lately sued Van Wyck before Jordan Seaman,
Esq., for trespass and £10 damages. Rush-
more said in Court that Van Wyck obliged
him to assist in driving his cattle from his
house to Cock's, and thence to Hempstead.
Whereupon, ore tenus, Van Wyck pleaded
Tryon's proclamation and order. Rushmore
replied that Van Wyck carried him by way
of Cock's house, which was out of the way
and contrary to orders. The Justice gave
judgment 16 shillings damages, and 7 shil
lings and 9 pence costs.
1784, April 24. Joseph White sued John
Hewlett, of Oysterbay, for £10 damages, be
fore Jordan Seaman, at Daniel Dodge's, Jeri
cho, for that John Hewlett by force compelled
him to move a Meeting House at Oysterbay,
when Colonel Simcoe lay there, for which he
charged six days' work, at 16 shillings per
day, and for coming after him in the night to
go with his team to draw the house, 2 shil
lings ; and he further saith that John Hew
lett had billeted nine horses and five men on
him for two days and two nights, at a charge
of 18 shillings ; and for driving cattle for him
to Brooklyn Ferry upon this condition, that
* Soon after the British got possession of the Island,
Hewlett rode around the country and took from the
Whigs live stock, and whatever else was needed by
the King's troops. Hence this suit. The Legislature
(March 17, 1783) enacted that in all cases of trespass
the defendant could not plead the order of the enemy.

John Hewlett was to get a horse out of the
army for him, and he further saith that when
he came to the Ferry, Hewlett said that if he
would prove himself a friend to the British
government he would recover his horse for
him ; therefore Hewlett not performing on
his part, he charges him 32 shillings for
driving the cattle. John Hewlett saith he
confesseth the facts, and he owes White
nothing ; that he had not compelled him to
move the Meeting House, nor engaged to pay
him for his work ; that he did endeavor to
recover White's horse, but could not succeed
unless White would prove, &c. ; and that
White had ordered him with his team to
draw said Meeting House, for which he
charges him 50 shillings, unless he could
produce an order. Verdict for plaintiff, £5,
and costs, 18 shillings and 9 pence. Defend
ant appealed by a writ of certiorari to the
Supreme Court.
1784, April 10. William Wright sues
John Hewlett before Jordan Seaman, Esq.,
for £1.13, for driving sheep to the King's
troops, in September, 1776. Hewlett pleads
that he acted by orders from Headquarters,
Long Island, September 4, 1776, and did ndt
employ him to drive said sheep. Verdict for
plaintiff, £1.10.3.
1784, April 17. William Sackett, of New
town, sues Daniel Rapelye, at William Betts's, .
for false imprisonment. Verdict for plain
tiff, £10 and costs. Rapelye appealed by
certiorari. Johannis Polhemus, a Tory, kept a tavern,
during the Revolution, at what is now Wood-
haven. Before he went in exile to Nova
Scotia he sold his farm (October 4th, 1783,) to
Samuel Van Wyck, for £1,800.
1781, May 22. Peter Frederickson sues
Joseph Oldfield, before Benjamin Everett,
Esq., at Nathaniel Box's Inn, Springfield, for
taking from him a gun and cutlass, damages
£10. Oldfield pleads that he took them un
der orders verbally from Lord Cornwallis,
that Long Island was then under control of
British troops, and that the 6th article of the
Definitive Treaty of Peace was a bar. Plea
overruled and verdict for plaintiff. A certio
rari was issued June 5, 1784.
1784, May 18. Twenty-six persons ban
ished by the Legislature of the State of New
York, for adhering to the King of Great
Britain, have been permitted to return.

Queens County — 2d' Series.

65

1786, July. William Sackett, Newtown,
sues Justice Richard Alsop, Abraham Polhe
mus, Sr. and Jr., and Charles and George
Debevoice, for trespass, in cutting off his
woodland from November 16, 1779, to March,
1780, for the construction of huts, and fuel
for the use of the 37th and 54th Regiments of
British troops and the Regiment de Land
grave, to his damage, £800. The defendants
plead (1.) That Long Island was then con
quered by the enemy, and (2.) An order of
Governor Tryon to take wood from the most
convenient places, giving Rebel woods the
preference. Alsop, it seems, after the receipt
of the above order, requested Abraham Pol
hemus to show the Hessian troops quartered
at his house and neighborhood the way to
Sackett's woods. The Hessians then im
pressed the horses and wagons of Polhemus
and Debevoice, to cart the wood to their quar
ters. Verdict given for plaintiff, £190 dam
ages and 6 pence costs.
1788, Sept. 4. William Cornwell, of Cow
Neck, sues Stephen Thorne, and gets a ver
dict of £418. 12 damages and 6 pence costs.
Witnesses for plaintiff, William Doty and
Richard Sands ; for defendant, John Kissam
and Stephen Thome, Jr.
1788, Sept. 4. Isaac Hendrickson sues
Whitehead Cornell, of Rockaway, and recov
ers 10 shillings damages and 6 pence costs.
Witnesses for plaintiff, Martha Davenport
and Uriah Hendrickson ; for defendant, Mi
cajah Mott, Stephen Bales, John Foster,
Richard Hewlett and Mary Covert.
1788, Sept. 8. George Norton vs. William
and Timothy Cornell, verdict £52, and 6
pence costs. Witnesses for plaintiff, Peter
Huff and Piatt Carll ; for defendant, John
Latham, Richard Thorne, John Remsen,
Isaac and Jacob Willets.
1789, Sept. 1. Henry and Timothy Titus
vs. Isaac Youngs. Robert Troup for plain
tiff, Aaron Burr (in behalf of Harison) for
defendant. The reasons for putting off this
trial are that John Hewlett, Jr., says that
Youngs lives forty miles beyond Albany ;
Thomas Van Wyck, in Nova Scotia, and
Lemuel Douglass, in Demarara, are impor
tant witnesses.
The suits against the Tories (under the
Trespass Act) for damages done the Whigs
did not amount to much. Able lawyers, dis
agreeing jurors, certioraris, and the law's de
lay were obstacles in the way of indemnity.

Other Suits, supposed to be mostly for
Trespass During the War.
1784.
Ezra L'Hommedieu vs. Richard Hewlett, £ —
Rev. Abraham Keteltas, vs. Richard Betts, —
Samuel Cornell and Benjamin Sands vs.
John Kissam and Edward Thorne, —
1785.
John Skidmore vs. Elijah and Obadiah
Pettit, £225
John Hendrickson vs. Joseph Langdon, 30
Uriah Mitchell vs. Benjamin Coe, 60
J. L. Skidmore vs. Samuel Simmons,
(trespass) , 50
Samuel Norton vs. Samuel Stringham, 10
Abraham Keteltas vs. Nicholas Ludlam, 20
John Wright vs. David Seaman, —
David Brooks vs. John Farmer, 18
1787.
June 4, John Luyster vs. John Remsen ;
for plaintiff, Skinner ; for defendant,
D'Harrt. —
Phineas Carll vs. Israel Youngs, 100
1788.
Jacob Foster vs. Stephen and John '
Bates, £12.10.
Jacob Foster vs. Joseph Dorland, 3. 5.6
John Sands vs. John Kanagy, 10.10.
Benjamin Birdsall vs. Michael Williams, —
Isaac Bogart vs. Isaac Remsen, 10. 1.
Edmund Smith vs. Stephen Hewlett, 20. 4.
John Sands vs. Richard Hewlett, 50.
Uriah Mitchell vs. William and Debo
rah Smith, (trespass), 11.11.
(Elizabeth Dorland sworn.)
Phillip Allen vs. John Wortman, 92.17.6
Abraham Keteltas vs. William Talman, 4.
Ephraim Baylis vs. Nicholas Ludlam, 18. 4.
Nehemiah Carpenter vs. Tunis Covert, 12.
Same w. Isaac Ambermau, 12.12.
Thomas Wickes vs. Thomas Van Wyck
and Obadiah Valentine, no plea.
Jesse Brush vs. Henry Van Mater, Judgment.
Increase Carpenter vs. Stephen Carman, £8
Daniel Duryea vs. Abraham Lott, —
William Glean vs. Daniel Whitehead, 10
Mary, Executor of Elias Baylis, vs. George
Watts, 32
John Sands vs. George Elwin, —
William Loines vs. Thomas Van Wyck, of
Oysterbay, £2,789

66

Revolutionary Incidents

List of names, supposed to be Loyalists or
Refugees, taken from the account books of
Drs. Tredwell and Searing, 1776-83 :
Apthorp, James, '75.
Archibald, John, '84.
Akins, Mrs., '81 ; Robert, '86.
Avery, [Samuel], at John Alburtis', '78 ; Jo
seph, '87.
Ayres, Conductor, '78.
Baley, at Jackson Mott's, '83.
Bean, [Thomas ?], '81.
Benning, Colonel.
Blissard, at Joseph Thome's, '78.
Blunt, John, at Townsend Willis', '80.
Bogardus, at Benjamin Cheeseman's, '84.
Booth, Joseph, refugee, '78.
Bowen, Captain, '81.
Bower, Barney, sutler, at James Cornell's, '81.
Braine, Mrs., at Captain Cornell's, '81.
Brill, Mr. and son, '80.
Brotherson, John, '77.
Brown, Lieutenant, Harbor; Mr., at Thomas
Farrington's, Westwoods, '82.
Brundage, John and Jeremiah, '82.
Buffington, Jacob, '81.
Bulson, [Benjamin], '85.
Burgess, '80.
Burket, George, '82.
Burrows, schoolmaster, '78.
Cam, or Carr, Mr. schoolmaster, '81.
Campbell, Molly ; Major, at Success, '82.
Ganaga, John.
Carr, Charles, refugee, '81, at Esq. Smith's.
Carson, '81.
Case, Mr., schoolmaster, '81.
Casted, Mrs., '82.
Chase, Mr., '77.
Charlick, John, '83.
Ciser, [Cheshire], Mr., at John Carle's.
Chyle, John, '83.
Conway, Richard, schoolmaster, '79.
Clark, Adjutant, '79.
Clayton, James, '81.
Close, Lieutenant, '82 ; Benjamin, '78.
Crane, Thomas, at Poole's, '81.
Cochran, Mrs. '77.
Coffee, '80.
Cook, Micah, '80.
Crow, Captain ; son William, '82.
Compton, '83.
Cromwell, Benjamin, '76 ; Isaac, '81.
Cudney, at Francis Davenport's, '82.
Cunningham, '79.
Danford, William, '83.
Delancey, Warren, '76.

Desbrosses, James, '76.
Denny, [Penny?] '81.
Devoe, Andrew, Success, '82 ; Frederick, '80 ;
Daniel, '84.
Def riest, [Dehurst ?], at Philip Valentine's, '78.
Derbrig, at Stephen Cornell's, '82.
Devanport, Lewis and Newberry, '82.
Dikeman, Josiah, at Van Brunt's, '81 ; Eze
kiel, '82.
Dickenson, Major, '78.
Dickerson, Captain Gilbert, '77 ; Stephen,
refugee, '78.
Dickson, John and Thomas, '80.
Docerty, at Colonel Tredwell's, '81.
Dongan, John, '78.
Drisdel, John.
Duffee, Thomas, '76.
Fassha, Peter, '83.
Finch, at Joseph Thome's.
Filkins, Isaac, '81.
Flin, '78.
Follett,' John, Ridgefield, '77.
Gaittar, Charles, Hempstead, '80.
Gardner, Miss, at Thomas Titus's, '83.
Grey, Elizur, '83.
Griffis, Captain, '81.
Gray, silversmith, '83.
Greene, Captain, '81 ; Samuel, '77.
Halse, at Thomas Powell's, '77.
Hambleton, '76.
Hemfer, John, '76.
Halsted, at Philip Allen's, '78.
Houghton, Captain, '80.
Hanford, Thomas, '80.
Hatfield, Philip, at Joseph Thome's, '78.
Holmes, at Stephen Cornell's, '81.
Hosack, Polly, '81.
Hoyt, Isaac, '80; Mr., schoolmaster, '81.
Hubbard, '80.
Johnston, Mrs., at Isaac Latten's, '82.
Jenkins, 82.
Jervis, John, '82.
Jordan John, '78.
Katerhorn, Garrison, '82.
King, Jacob, '76.
Knap, Jonathan, '81.
Lake, Daniel, '77.
Lawson, '82.
Leroy, Francis, '82.
Langdon, refugee, at Jerusalem, '80.
Lapum, [Lapham], at Esq. Smith's, '80.
Lounsbury, at David Jones's, '80.
Mangel, at Mrs. Menzies's, '81.
Marsh, John, '82.
Maybe, Widow Ann, '84.

Queens County — 2d Series.

67

Mayes, '82.
Mays, James and Andrew, '82.
McDonald, Captain, at William Cornell's, '81.
McEvers, Charles, '77.
McLean, Neal, at William Alliby's, '81.
Merrit, Captain, and son, John, '78.
Miles, Captain Samuel, '80.
Miller, Hendrick and William, '78.
Montross, Joseph, '84.
Morehouse, Jonathan, '81 ; James, Sr.
Mullener, William, '76.
Murray, Mr., '78.
Murrow, Daniel, '80.
Mushroc, Miss, at Richard Kirk's, '82.
Nash, Samuel, '81.
Nat, Hannah, '77.
Nicholson, '82.
Nolter, at Mr. Cumming's, '85.
O'Hara, refugee, '78.
Olive, Dr.
Ogden, John, '78 ; Mr. Ogden, Sr., '81.
Olmstead, Ambrose, '78.
Onderwood, Joseph, '82.
Osburn, Captain, Salem, '77. Paid David
Willis, for board.
Palmer, Benjamin, '79.
Parent, Daniel and John, '82.
Pell, Elijah, '82.
Perry, '80.
Perse, Jacob ; William, '80.
Pratt, Jonathan, '77.
Prou, '83.
Pryer, Thomas, at John Searing's, '83.
Purdy, Elias, at Searingtown, '81.
Reynolds, Jacob and Samuel, '78.
Ryder, Zadoc, of Fredericksburg, at Thomas
'Cornell's, '77.
Rix, Mr. and Nancy, '81.
Seacau, Miss, at Richard Kirk's, '82.
Seaman, Adam, refugee, '80.
Series, Mrs., wife of Purser of "Scorpion,"
at Lawrence Hewlett's, '78.
Shaver, paper-maker, '77.
Shapher, '82.
Sharp, Henry, '83.
Sharpston, Jacob, '82.
Sherman, '81.
Sherod, Joseph, '84.
Simpson, William, '76.
Sillabrig, Thomas, '79.
Slover, at John Thome's, '81.
Smith, Joseph, refugee, '78 ; Robert, at Suc
cess, '81 ; James, at H. Allen's, '81 ; Mr.,
"a sutler," '80; Josiah, or Ciah, refugee,
'80.

Southerwick, at James Cornell's, '78.
Stebbins, '76.
Stevens, Thomas, at Esq. Smith's ; Daniel,
at Captain Woolley's, '82 ; Joseph, '76.
Stone, Lieutenant, at Charles Cornell's, '81.
Stoutenburg, Peter, '76.
Sweet, Ruscom, at Captain Cornell's.
Theall, Captain, Cortland's Manor, '77.
Thomas, Peter, '78.
Thompson, '80.
Thurman, Daniel, of Captain Allison's com
pany, '77.
Traves, '81.
Trump, Johannes, Jacob, Herman.
Ustick, '81.
Vernon, '83.
Van Mater, '81.
Waldron, '84.
Ward, William, '77.
Webb, William, '79.
West, James, '83.
Whaley, Peter, '79.
White, Nathaniel, '76.
Whiteman, Colonel, '83.
Whiting, Captain, '82.
Wickham, Major, '80.
Wilson, at Esq. Smith's, Herricks, '79.
Wood, Lieutenant, at H. Hagner's, '81.
Wright, George, '77 ; Captain, '78.

An imperfect list of Militia Officers, 1776
to '83, in the Eastern part of Queens County,
under British authority. There were seven
teen companies in all, and each Captain exer
cised a military control in his district, sub
ject, however, to his superior officers.
1. Captain Benjamin Hewlett, Hempstead ;
Sergeants Elijah Wood, Andrew Allen,
Elijah Spragg, Zebulon Smith, Lott Car
man, Silvester Bedle.
2. Captain Stephen Thorne, Cow Neck ;
Sergeants Seaman Weeks, John Fritz,
Thomas Smith.
3. Captain Woolley, Great Neck.
4. Captain Timothy Cornell, Hempstead ;
Sergeants Abraham DeMott, Jacob and
Martin Van Nostrand.
5. Captain D-ivid Jones, Oysterbay South ;
Sergeants Jacob Covert, William Wood,
Robert Wilson, Tunis Van Cott.
6. Captain Samuel Seaman, Oysterbay South;
Sergeant James Balding.

68

Revolutionary Incidents

7. Captain Charles Cornell, Success ;
Sergeants Obadiah Valentine, Solomon
Powell, David Searing, Samuel Place,
Daniel Toffey, Peter Vandewater, Henry
Post, Richard Hewlett, Pearce Pool, Eli
jah Smith, James and Samuel Davenport.
8. Captain Thomas Van Wyck, Eastwoods ;
Sergeants Daniel Terry, Penn Weeks, Jo
hannes Bennett, Benjamin and John Wal
ters, Joseph and Stephen Denton.
9. Captain Abraham Van Wyck, Wolver
Hollow;
Sergeants Abraham Remsen, Jacob Ca-
show, Nicholas Van Cat, Jost Snedeker.
10. Captain Daniel Youngs, Lieutenant George
Weeks, Oysterbay;
Sergeants Justus Macoun, Daniel Weeks,
Robert Wilson, Joseph Lattin, William
Bennett.
11. Captain Jervis Coles, Musqueto Cove ;
Sergeants Henry Craft, Simon Hauxhurst,
William Frost, Abraham Seamans, Daniel
Albertson.

During the war the civil courts in Queens
County were suspended, the jail torn down,
and military rule prevailed. When the Brit
ish were about evacuating the Island, the in
habitants were apprehensive of outrages from
robbers, and were urgent to have civil au
thority re-established. Hence the following
correspondence :
Duck Pond, April 8th, 1783.
To Samuel Townsend, Esq., Oysterbay.
Dear Sir: — I embrace the earliest oppor
tunity in acquainting you of a meeting pro
posed at Colonel John Sands's, at Cow Neck,
on Thursday next, at 10 o'clock, to consult on
our situation of danger from robbers on the
withdrawing the troops, and a remedy, also,
in the practicability of having a share in the
election for Governor of the State of New
York. The election is to commence the last
Tuesday in this month. Please to attend
yourself, if possible, and inform one of the
substantial men in Suffolk County, and desire
his attendance. Reasons very interesting re
quire our utmost exertions.
Yours, James Townsend.

Queens County, April 10th, 1783.
To Thomas Tredwell and Thomas Wiekes.
Gentlemen: — We have this day met a
number of persons of Queens County at Mr.
Hendrick Onderdonk's, at Hempstead Harbor.
These, as well as ourselves, are under great
apprehensions of the confusions, robberies
and other disagreeable circumstances we shall
labor under until civil government can take
place. They have addressed the Governor,
George Clinton, on the subject for relief. Like
wise, as the election for a Governor is shortly
to take place, and they think themselves en
titled to a voice with the rest of their fellow-
citizens. They have asked the Governor's
opinion and advice. We were deputed by a
number of the people of Huntington to attend
the meeting and approve their measures and
means, as soon as we can collect the sense of
the people more at large, to adopt similar
measures. If time will not permit us to send
a person to His Excellency, we beg that you
will use your influence with the Governor,
and give us the earliest intelligence of its
success. The bearer of this, Mr. Onderdonk,
goes to the Governor for Queens County, and
can give you more particular information.
John Wickes,
. Stephen Kelcy.

April 10th, 1783. ;
To George Clinton, Governor of New York.
We, the subscribers, have been appointed
a Committee, by sundry persons of Flushing,
Hempstead and Oysterbay, to congratulate
your Excellency on the return of peace and
the independence of the United States of
America, and to express our apprehension of
the dangerous situation we are in before civil
government takes place. We wish to have
your advice how we are to proceed. We
think ourselves entitled to a voice with our
fellow-citizens of the State in the approach
ing election. The bearer,  , has
direction to explain our wishes more at
large. [Names omitted].

The jail of Queens County, that stood in
Jamaica, was torn down by the British, during
the occupation of that town, to construct bar
racks for the soldiers quartered there. Hence
the following bills for guarding prisoners,

Queens County— 2d Series.

69

&c. Some were sent to the Bridewell, in
New York.
Account of Emory Hewlett for keeping
three prisoners from November 1st to 29th,
1783 :
Victualling 3 men, at £1.10 per week, £6.
4 cords of wood, at £1.8, 5.12
Use of room for prisoners and guard,* 6.
9 lbs. candles, at 2 shillings, 18
8 pairs of irons, at 4 shillings, 12

£19. 2
1783, Dec. 27. The Constable of West
chester County took up Joseph Lockwood, on
suspicion of murder committed on Long
Island, carried him to Long Island, and
thence, by order of Prior Townsend, Esq. , to
New York jail. In 1787, £12.16.10 was al
lowed him by the Supervisors.

Flushing, July 17th, 1784.
John Thorne, Supervisor, Dr. to Joseph
Beasley, innkeeper, for the guard : £s.d.
To 2 grogs, 1.
3 suppers," at Is. 6d., 4.6
3 pints spirits, 3.
Lodging 2 men, 1.
% lb. candles, 9
July 18th.
2 glasses bitters and 2 breakfasts, 2. 6
1 grog and 1 lb. candles, 2.
1 grog and 3 pints spirits, 3. 6
July 19th.
2 grogs, 1.
1 grog and supper, 1.6
1 dinner, by Esq. Talman, 2.

£1.2.9
Queens County to Jonathan Pearsee, Jailer,
New York, Dr. :
Keeping and maintaining 4 prisoners. f
from June 23d to November 1st, 1784,
at 1 shilling a day, 528 days, £26. 8
Gaol fees, 6 shillings each, 1. 4
Deduct 16 days' maintenance, while on
trial, 16

£26.16

*The Supervisors deducted £4 on the use of room.
•t-They robbed Thomas Thome's house, June 18th,
at night. Two, William Guthry and Joseph Alexan
der, were hnnged at Beaver Pond, Jamaica ; the others
were pardoned.— See Revolutionary Incidents, p. 186.

Jamaica, September 24th, 1784. £s.
To guarding the prisoners one night, 7
To supper, breakfast, and one dram, 16
To John Searing, guarding the prison
ers and expenses of it, 16
To Samuel Burr, do., 16
To Daniel Clement, do. , and going to
Hempstead Harbor and expenses, 1. 5

£4.

1784, Sept. 25. Queens County to Uriah
Mitchell, Dr. :
Expenses of 9 men and horses, going
as a guard to New York for the pris
oners, £5.10.5
Wagon-hire to fetch them up, 1. 4.
Expenses of 12 men, as guard, from
September 22d to 25th, 3 days, at 12
shillings per day each, 21.12.
Expenses of 9 men and horses, as a
guard, 5. 8.
Wagon-hire to carry them down, 1. 4.
William Betts's [innkeeper] account, 10.12.
William Thurston, blacksmith, for sta
ples, &c, 18.
Ringing the bell and cleaning out the
church,* 1.15.
Expenses for horses and Mr. Creed, 5.

£48. 8.5

1784, Nov. 1. Queens County to Uriah
Mitchell, Dr. :
Expenses of myself and horse, going
after prisoners to New York and
returning, £2.
Wagon-hire, 1. 4.
Keeping the horses at the ferry, 10.
Nehemiah Hinchman's account, 8.17.
Blacksmith's work, 17.
Digging the graves, 18.
Rope and handkerchiefs, 14.
Sheriff's fees for hanging, 10.
Mr. Pearsee's account, 26.16.
Under- Sheriff's account, 1. 6. 4
Constables' account, 9.16. 6

£61. 8.10

* The trial was held in the Presbyterian Church,
Jamaica.

70 ,-. Revolutionary Incidents
Jamaica, November 1st, 1784.
Queens County to Nehemiah Hinchman, Dr. :
To timber, boards and spikes, [for a
gallows], £1. 5
To 2 coffins, at 16 shillings, 1.12
To 2 carpenters, 4 days, at 12 shillings
per day, 4.16
To help in raising gallows, 4
To Tike, wagon and horses, to take
gallows to the Pond, 4
To my trouble, 16

Queens County — 2d Series.
Jamaica, November 2d, 1784.
Queens County Dr. :
To Samuel Burr, Constable, for ex
penses for fetching the criminals
to Jamaica, £1.12.9
To John Searing, Daniel Clement,
John Gosline, Piatt Smith, Peter
Hendrickson, £1.12 each, 8.

£8.17

£9.16.6

1784, Nov. 2. Augustine Mitchell's ac
count of expenses fetching the criminals to
Jamaica:New York, 9s. 7d. ; Ferry, 6s. 6d.; Ja
maica, 10s. 3d. ; • £1.6.4

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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