Footnotes to Long Island History
The Settlement of
Long Island
by
Thomas R. Bayles
In 1620
King James I of England granted a patent to the Plymouth company for all
the land lying between 40 and 48 degrees north latitude, extending from
“sea to sea,” or in other words from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It
was evident that in those times the people of the Old World had but a
very imperfect idea of the distance through the “howling wilderness,” or
across the continent. These bound of course included Long Island. The
territory thus granted was called New England, and the privilege of
“planting, ruling and governing” it was given to the Plymouth company.
After
granting the Plymouth patent in 1621, the Massachusetts patent in 1628,
and the Connecticut patent in 1631, the Plymouth council, on the 22nd
of April 1635, granted a patent for the whole of Long Island to William
Alexander, Earl of Stirling on April 26, 1636, the Earl of Stirling
appointed James Farrett as his agent, to dispose of real estate on Long
Island, and authorized him to act by a power of attorney to that
effect. In consideration of his services Farrett was allowed to take up
a certain amount of land for his own benefit, wherever he might choose
upon Long Island. He made the choice of Shelter Island and Robbins
Island.
Earl
Stirling died in 1640, and was succeeded by his son, who also died a few
months afterwards. His heir surrendered the grant of Long Island soon
after, and it was embodied in the King’s patent to the Duke of York in
1664.
---Settlers
Ran Own Affairs---
During the
years that passed between the time Stirling’s patent was abandoned and
the reception of the new charter of Connecticut in 1662, the eastern
part of Long Island was not claimed by any power, so the settlers held
the controlling power in their own hands, and disposed their
governmental affairs according to their own wishes. during this time
they purchased lands of the Indians without being obliged to obtain
patents for them from any source. Purchases were regulated somewhat by
the towns, and subject to confirmation afterwards by the governors who
presided over the colony under the Duke.
The first
individual English settlement within the bound of Suffolk county was
made by Lyon Gardiner, on Gardiners’ Island, in 1639. He was probably
the first English settler within the territory now occupied by New York
state.
The
following towns were settled by the English, and held undisputed control
over their own affairs until the organization of the Duke’s government
in 1664: Southampton was settled in 1640 and Southold the same year;
East Hampton in 1648; Shelter Island in 1652; Huntington in 1653;
Brookhaven in 1655; Smithtown in 1663. Oyster Bay, settled in 1653 was
on territory claimed by the Dutch.
the
settlers were mostly Englishmen, who came over to the colonies of New
England, and later sailed across the Sound to the shores of Long Island
in companies of 8 to 15 families, and settled here in independent
colonies. They were soon joined by others from the New England
colonies.
---Settlers
Very Religious---
These first
settlers who established their homes on the wild shores of Long Island
were very devoted to religious matters, earnest in cherishing and
extending the influence of Christianity, and profound in their reverence
for the Bible and its teachings. One of their first acts, after landing
on the soil of a new world, was to offer up the sacrifice of thankful
hearts to Him who had preserved them and brought them safely here.
Before the
camp fires and wigwams of the Indians were supplanted by the
civilization of the white man, the principles of Christian religion were
established here. From religious persecution at home our forefathers
fled to this new country, to enjoy the exercise of their own liberal
opinions. the organization of churches, and provision for gospel
preaching were to them matters of the first importance.
(The
material in this article has been taken from “Sketches of Suffolk
County,” by Richard M. Bayles, 1885.)