Footnotes to Long Island History
Settlement of Suffolk Towns
by
Thomas R. Bayles
Southold and Southampton towns were settled in 1640, East Hampton in
1648, Shelter Island in 1652, Huntington in 1653, Brookhaven in 1655,
Smithtown in 1663, Islip in 1666. Riverhead town was formed from the
western part of Southold town in 1702.
The first
white settlement in Suffolk county was made by Lyon Gardiner on
Gardiner’s island in 1639, under a purchase made by him of the natives,
which was confirmed by James Farret, agent of the Earl of Stirling, in
1640.
During the
early years there was very little money circulated, and most of the
trade was among the settlers themselves, business being carried on by
barter and exchange, and contract for the sale of land made in produce.
In 1659 the
town of Hempstead allowed six bushels of corn for each wolf killed.
In 1680, the
town of Southampton agreed to give Joseph Taylor, their minister, the
use of the parsonage, four acres in their ox pasture, and one fiftieth
in the commonage, and 100 acres woods. His yearly salary was 100 pounds,
payable in winter wheat at 5 shillings a bushel, Indian corn at 2
shillings 6 pence a bushel, tallow at 6 pence a pound, green hides at 3
pence, dry hides art 6 pence a pound, beef at 40 shillings a barrel,
pork at 3 pounds a barrel, whale bone at 8 pence a pound, and oil at 30
shillings a barrel. These were to be collected by the constable and
overseers or by men appointed by them.
In 1654 the
magistrates of East Hampton ordered that the town tax rates should be
paid in wheat at 4 shillings, 6 pence a bushel, and Indian corn at 3
shillings, 6 pence per bushel.
In 1664 the
town of Jamaica, in an action of trespass, gave judgement in favor of
the plaintiff for 12 bushels of wheat for his damages.
In 1665 the
assessors of the various towns were ordered by law to estimate stock at
the following prices:
A four-year
old horse, 12 pounds; a four year ox or bull, 6 pounds; a four-year old
cow, 5 pounds; a four year-old steer or heifer, 4 pounds; a one-year old
goat, 8 shillings, a sheep 6 shillings, 8 pence; a hog at 1 pound.
Pork was 3
pence a pound; beef 2 pence a pound; wheat 4 shillings a bushel; rye 2
shillings, 6 pence a bushel; Indian corn, 2 shillings, 3 pence a bushel;
oil 1 pound, 10 shillings a barrel.
Board was 5
shillings a week; meals, 6 pence each; lodging, 2 pence a night; beer, 2
pence a mug, and labor, 2 shillings, 6 pence a day.
The first
settlers were companies of individuals who came from New England, and
who had come over from England but a short time before. Many of these
first settlers were well educated men who had left reputable connections
in business and society in England to settle in this new world
wilderness.
The several
towns were not under the control of any colonial government, nor had
they any political connection with each other. Being too distant from
the mother country to receive any aid from her, and without connections
here, the whole powers of government fell on the inhabitants of each
town. Self-preservation made it absolutely necessary that they should
assume the exercise of these powers.
All questions
were determined by the voice of the major part of the people assembled
in town meeting in each of the towns. In this manner they formed
such-laws as they deemed necessary for the security, peace and
prosperity of their infant settlements.