Footnotes to Long Island History
Richard Woodhull, Early Pioneer
by
Thomas R. Bayles
The
Richard Woodhull homestead at Setauket, which was destroyed by fire in 1928
belonged to one of the foremost men among the early settlers of Brookhaven town.
According to Miss Kate Strong of Setauket The house was always owned and
occupied by members of the Woodhull family.
Although the smaller end of the house was
built by the first Richard Woodhull who died in 1690 the rest of the structure
was constructed at unknown date.
Among
the honored names that grace the first pages of American history the one of
Richard Woodhull stands for honor and justice, unselfishness, far-seeing and
devotion to public service.
Born in
Northamphtonshire, England, Richard Woodhull came to this country at the age of
24. He first established himself in Southampton in 1644 and was active in the public service
of the town. His name appears in the records of Brookhaven town in 1657 when on
July 20th of that year he purchased two necks of meadow at Mastic from the Indians
for the town.
Appointed
a magistrate for the town by the court at Hartford on May 16, 1661, Richard
Woodhull became one of the patentees
of the town in 1666 and again in 1686.
His
name appears in a great many of the early documents of the town and he was
appointed to numerous offices and acted on many important commissions. One of
his outstanding accomplishments was masterly stroke of diplomacy by which the
title of the town to the whole northern part was forever freed from
complication of Indian claims.