History of Southold, L. I. Its First Century
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WHITAKER'S SOUTHOLD BEING A SUBSTANTIAL REPRODUCTION OF THE HISTORY OF SOUTHOLD, L. I. ITS FIRST CENTURY BY THE REV. EPHER WHITAKER, D.D. EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY THE REV. CHARLES E. CRAVEN, D.D. Author of A History of Mattitu ck PRINCE'rON PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS 1931 COPYRIGHT, 1931, BY PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINTED BY THE PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY WHIT A KER'S SOUTHOLD DR. EPHER \\!HIT.AKER THE EDITOR'S PREFACE HE original intention in undertaking this work was to issue in one beautiful volume a collection of the most T i1nportant writings of the Rev. Dr. Epher Whitaker, including his History of Southold's First Century, long out of print, and several of his addresses and essays which are scattered and inaccessible. That intention could have been car ried out quickly and the book might have been issued several years ago, but the Editors interest grew as his work pro gressed and with the growing interest the plan grew. Dr. Whitaker's History was published fifty years ago, when pertinent facts that he knew later were unknown to him. If he had issued a new edition in later years he would have rewritten sonie of the early pages. The Editor found he must deal, with that situation. The History was published be fore the Town Records were printed. Dr. Whitaker was won derfully familiar with the Town Records, as his History shows, but the possession of the records in printed form opens up some lines of research formerly impossible. The Editor, having acquired familiarity with the printed records while preparing his History of Mattituck, felt that he 1night prop erly add useful material, pertaining particularly to the location of lands of the early settlers. This enlarged plan of the book has necessarily involved some rearrangenient of Dr. Whitaker's work. The Editor's notes and additions are related to topics, while the History was divided into periods of the ministry of the several pas tors, and any given topic may appear and reappear in several periods. It was necessary, therefore, to a.do pt a topical divi sion for this issue of the History. This has involved a re arrangement, but no 1n1ttilation, of Dr. Whitaker's valuable . Vl THE EDITOR'S PREFACE work. Passages widely separated in the original History are sometimes brought into juxtaposition. In some of the neie.J chapters, as for instance in that concerning "Changes of Gov ernntent," a clear understanding of an important subject is facilita.ted by the grouping of related paragraphs. Through out the book, the reader will observe, Dr. Whitaker's words are distinguished by large type. The Edit.or's notes and addi tions are all in smaller type, excepting this preface and the Editor's introductory sketch of Dr. Whitaker's life. In this edition some sections of Dr. Whitaker's work arre omitted that do not bear directly upon the history of South old and her Founders, such as the extended notice of Pastor Hobart's ancestr')' and the elaborate description of Pastor Woolsey' s family connections. A f ezv other sections ar,e omitted that would merely duplicate sections of Dr. W hifa,.. ker' s addresses and essays that appear earlier in this volume. The Editor has not attempted to carry the history forward through Southold' s second and third centuries. The essential, and vitally important feature of Southold's history lies in the character and achieventent of her Puritan Founders. As a tribute of respect to those wise and stalwart Founders, as a memorial of their honored Historian, Doctor Epher Whita ker, and as an expression of affection and good 1-Uill for old Southold Town, in which twenty-five of the happiest years of his life were spent, this book is offered by Montclair, N.J. The Editor. CONTENTS PAGE Editor·s Preface V The Reverend Epher Whitaker, D.D. I The Founders of Southold II Dr. Whitaker's Introduction to the Printed Town Records Suffolk County's Bicentennial THE HISTORY OF SOUTHOLD Chapter I In the Beginning 43 Chapter II Early Settlers and Their Descendants 57 Chapter III The Times of the Founders 77 Chapter IV Early Home Lots 93 Chapter V Changes of Government 105 Chapter VI The Town's Patent and the Commoners 128 Chapter VII Death of Pastor Youngs 139 Vlll CONTENTS PAGE Chapter VIII Later Pastors 145 Chapter IX Meeting Houses 1 54 Chapter X Changing Population and Industries Chapter XI Modern Southold Chapter XII Southold and South,vold 182 THE REVEREND EPHER WHITAKER, D.D. R. EPHER WHITAKER was in his day the most distinguished resident of Suffolk County and in his D later years was proudly called by his fello\v towns men, "Southold's Grand Old Man." Though a native of New Jersey he began his chosen life-work in Southold and lived there sixty-five years. In his later years none but a few elderly people could recollect the time when he was not there. To most he was as familiar and as much a part of Southold as the natural features of the place. He was their friend and had been the friend of their parents and grandparents. He knew their family history better than they did and he knew the history of the Town. He knew the Founders so well their character, their personal characteristics, their ideals that one can almost imagine him as personally acquainted with them. None of the Founders lived as long in Southold as he, and probably none of them surpassed him in love and service for Southold. He was born in Fairfield, Cumberland County, New J er sey, the son of Reuel and Sarah (Westcott) \Vhitaker, on the 27th of March, 1820. He grew up on his father's farm and loved nature and outdoor life. At the age of fifteen he went to work in a newspaper office in Bridgeton, the county seat, and learned to be a skilful printer. A half year in Nor folk, Virginia, where he was employed in the office of The Daily Herald, broadened his outlook, developed his natural ability as a writer, and brought him into social contact with some of the best people of Norfolk and Portsmouth. He returned to Bridgeton at the age of twenty-one to become 2 WHITAKER'S SOUTHOLD managing editor in the office where he had learned type setting. Evidently this was no common youth-taken from a vil lage school at fifteen to go to work, an editor at twenty-one and resolved to enter college at twenty-three. Where did he get his preparation for coUege? Like Benjamin Franklin he absorbed learning as he set type, he exercised his powers in writing, he broadened his culture through fine friendships, he read and studied constantly. He had uncommon natural gifts, a marvellous memory one of them, and he improved his talents by a habit of steady industry that characterized his whole life. At the age of twenty-three he entered Dela ware College and led his class throughout the course, being the valedictorian at graduation. Later on his alma mater honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. From college he went to the Union Theological Seminary in New York City and completed his preparation for the ministry with high honors at the age of thirty-one-a little older than the average graduate and therefore the better equipped be cause of his maturity. For such a man, if his life should be spared, great achievements were in store. He found his place of conspicuous usefulness in the village of Southold. There he went from the Seminary, and a fe¥1 months later brought to the parsonage his newly wedded wife, Maria Force, a woman -of high culture and fine intel lectual and social gifts, consecrated as he was to Christian service. With such a wife his capacity for high service was doubled. He was ordained pastor of the So~thold Church September 10, 1851. A year or two in a country parish would be good for him, his friends thought, and then the larger call would come. Calls did come but he turned a deaf ear to them. His first parish was his only parish. He and his wife loved Southold and they knew well that in ·Southold was room enough for the diligent exercise of the best gifts. He seems to have had no ambition to gain widespread fame. If THE REV. EPHER WHITAKER, D.D. 3 he had it he repressed it and wisely chose to make a deep and lasting impression in a restricted circle of influence. He was not a man who could be hid and his worth and ability were widely recognized but through all his long and laborious life he chose to devote his strength to the intensive cultivation of his own field. Undoubtedly therefore the sum of his influence was greater far than if he had scattered his efforts more broadly. To few men is it given to do so much good in the world and so greatly to perpetuate their influence for good. Successive generations in Southold were better and wiser, richer and more enlightened, because this man turned from all else to give the best that was in him to them. Such a man's record is written in heaven and he needs no earthly memorial but it is a pleasure to remind the people who were familiar with him, and to tell their children how uncommon was the man whom God gave to Southold for so many years.