HISTORY OF QUEENS COUNTY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheknow,                   
Martom,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jerusalem purchase was well represented during the Rebellion.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"ROBERT PETIT, Treasurer.

"JULIUS AUERBACH, Secretary."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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