factor in the transactions of the early settlers with the Indians. His memory, however, is honored to this day, his name being given to an island in Long Island Sound, near the mouth of the Saugatuck river, in 1652, called "Cockenoe's Island," and is so designated at the present time on the Coast Survey Chart of the United States. It will pay you to read this book, which can be had from our Public Library. One thing, however, I wish to state, namely: This young Indian's literary ability is an evidence to me that God has made of one blood all nations that dwell upon the face of the earth. For just as soon as this Indian's mind was brought in contact with intellectual training, it readily grasped the knowledge that was sought to be conveyed and responded quickly to every intellectual touch, though it were but the mind of a heathen, offspring of a heathen ancestry that perhaps had never known literary characters. To me it was a surprising evidence of the truth that God is the Creator of us all and that we are all, white and red man, the offspring of a common parent.

CHAPTER II.

Our first installment of this historical paper closed with the burial of the great Manhansett chief Yoco and a reference to another celebrated Manhansett Indian named "Cockenoe." We now turn from the red man to the white man, from the aborigines to the original settlers of this island.

It is said that when Mr. Goodyear, Deputy Governor of New Haven, sold this island, in 1651, to Messrs. Middleton, Rouse and the Sylvester brothers, at least one of the four gentlemen, Captain Nathaniel Sylvester, was on the island or had visited it at the time of the purchase. This gentleman, as we have seen, decided to make the island his home. To that end, in due time, he shipped at least one cargo of building material, together with other articles, sending with these goods a force of workmen, who were to prepare a habitation for his coming. He had gone to England, and there early the next year, 1652, married Grissel Brinley, with whom he came to Shelter Island to make it his home. With them there came to America, Francis Brinley, brother of Mrs. Nathaniel Sylvester, who afterwards, according to the inscription on the slab in the aisle of the church at Dachette, received a grant of land in Rhode Island. There was also in the party another bride, sister of Francis Brinley and Mrs. Sylvester, namely, Anne Brinley, who had married Gov. William Coddington of Rhode Island, and finally besides these Giles Sylvester. These first touched at Barbadoes, from whence they sailed in the "Golden Parrot" for Shelter Island, arriving about the middle of 1652; that is, Captain Nathaniel Sylvester and his wife, Giles and Joshua Sylvester, Giles' name, as you will remember, appearing as one of the witnesses of the confirmatory paper of the second purchase of the island by Captain Nathaniel Sylvester and Ensign John Booth from the Indians. Giles is also mentioned in a letter written by Nathaniel Sylvester to Gov. John Winthrop of Connecticut, who lived at that time on Fisher's Island, bearing date of October 10, 1654. Joshua's name appears among the names of the early settlers of Southold in Dr. Whitaker's history of that place. Captain Nathaniel Sylvester brought with him, besides his wife and brothers, several servants and some slaves from Barbadoes. These, with what workmen were upon the island at their coming, constituted the

first white settlement. In the course of time the settlement was increased by natural results, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester becoming the parents of a large family of children, the first of which came upon earth about the middle of August, 1654, for in another letter to Mr. Winthrop, of Fisher's Island, bearing date of September 8, 1655, advice is sought in behalf of this baby, who had become ill, in these pathetic words: "Our grief is great to see the child lay in ye sad condition and here quite out of ye way of help."

Captain Nathaniel Sylvester became in time the owner of the whole island. We shall have occasion later on to trace this development in the ownership of our island. Thus far we have had occasion to mention, since the sale in 1651, in turn, the years of 1652, 1653, 1654, 1655. We now come to another interesting period. It is the period of the persecution of the Quakers in New England, beginning in 1656 and lasting till 1661. To us it is a surprising thing, that in this land of ours, persons should have been persecuted even unto death for their religious belief. Yet such is the truth. Persecuted, tortured, scourged and branded with hot irons. Among those who suffered thus was John Rouse, son of Thomas Rouse, one of the four gentlemen who bought this island from Mr. Goodyear. This John Rouse had his ears cut off for being a Quaker. Others were banished from the New England colonies upon pain of death if they returned. Such was the treatment that the New England settlers meted out to the Quakers. The adherents of this sect were looked upon then in about the same light as we look upon anarchists now. It was during these troublous times that this island became indeed a Shelter Island, as many of these persecuted Quakers found an asylum here and were succored by Captain Nathaniel Sylvester and his family.

Notably among those who found such shelter were Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, an aged couple. After having been put into prison, starved and flogged, they were banished from New England with the threat that if they ever returned they would be put to death. The threat was not needed, for shortly after they had been received upon this island, they died and are believed to have been buried in the ancient graveyard now on the Horsford estate. The poet Whittier, you know, has immortalized this act of sheltering these refugees by making it the subject of one of his finest poems. Mary Dyer, who was hung upon Boston Commons, also received succor for a time on this island. Likewise William Leddra and Joseph Nicholson and wife. These, together with others, were

here kindly treated and cared for, their wounds dressed and healed, and their spirits cheered and strengthened.

Besides these, others of this sect who came from England, notably John Taylor, of York, and William Robinson and George Fox, the great apostle of the Friends or Quakers, touched first at Shelter Island or in time tarried here.

James Bowden, in his "History of the Society of Friends," says that except this island and the colony of Rhode Island, there was not at this time a nook in the colonies of North America on which a Friend could land without exposing himself to severe suffering and the ship-master to a heavy penalty. The possession, therefore, of this island, he adds, by one who loved the truth was a providential circumstance peculiarly favorable to Friends at this juncture, and not to be viewed as one of mere chance.

From all this it has been claimed by one and another that Nathaniel Sylvester and his family were Quakers or Friends. Dr. Charles Evans, author of "Friends in the 17th Century," says that "he either became a Friend at the time he purchased the island, or he was convinced of the principles of the Friends soon after he obtained possession of it. Here the weary exiles, on account of religion, always found a home and a heart to receive, to succor and refresh them, so that the kindness and liberality of Nathaniel Sylvester were widely known and highly appreciated by Friends in America and Great Britain."

James Bowden in his work, to which reference has already been made, says of Nathaniel Sylvester that when he joined in religious professions with Friends, we are uninformed; but as early as the third month of 1659 he is referred to as one who had adopted our principles." This is also the opinion of his descendants, who live upon the estate to-day. Both Bowden and Evans think that these friendly acts of succor and refuge, which the proprietor of this island extended to the persecuted Quakers, gave to this island its present name of Shelter Island. As we shall have occasion to speak of the names given to this island at various times and their origin presently, we shall let this claim stand until then.

There is an interesting paper among the records of Southold, bearing date of the 28th of the eleventh month of 1657, the origin of which is perhaps connected with the persecution of the Quakers. This persecution led the writer to express himself rather strongly, which he afterwards regrets and retracts, as the paper will show.

It is signed by Giles Sylvester, and reads as follows: "Whereas, I am accused to say that all the ministers in New England were worse than witches, I owne I said soe, for which I am heartily sorrowfull, and owne to bee very inconsiderately spoken and to my folly and wickedness in it, and hope the Lord shall guide my wayes and words to be more circumspect and like to himselfe. Then the parties that heard them finding themselves grieved, I told them that I meane noe other than those that were formall and not spirituall, such was my meaning, though not expressed till exception was made; therefore, I say, as I sayed, it is very evill in me or in any man to say any such thing, for we ought not to speak evill of any man.”

28th of the 11m., 1657.

GILES SYLVESTER.

Before leaving the Quakers it is worthy of record that George Fox, the founder of this sect, twice visited this island and was entertained by the Sylvesters. The Rev. Mr. Fox, in his journal of 1672, speaks of his visits to this island, and of his preaching to the Indians and the people, who were deeply impressed by what he said unto them.

And now let me refer briefly to the various names that have been given to this island. The first is Cotjewaminick, which appears upon a deed given to Sir Gardiner by Yoco, the Manhansick chief. It was also called by the Indians "Manhansick Ahaquashuwornock" or "Manhansick Ahaquazuwamuck," which is said to mean "at or about the island sheltered their fishing place," or "their sheltered fishing place at or about the island." The first English name which it bore was Mr. Farrett's Island or Farrett's Island. After Mr. Farrett sold the island to Mr. Goodyear, it was also known as Goodyear's Island, and when Mr. Goodyear disposed of it to the four English gentlemen, one of whom selected it as his dwelling place, namely, Captain Nathaniel Sylvester, it was known as Sylvester Island, appearing as such upon record as late as 1674. However, long before this, it was also called Shelter Island, and this, too, before the Quaker persecution began. Indeed, it is so called in the confirmatory paper, bearing date March 23, 1652, namely, "Wee whose names are here underneath subscribed do hereby testify and declare that Yokee, formerly Sachem of Menhansick Ahaquazuwamuck, now called Shelter Island." Hence Bowden and Evans are wrong in claiming that because of the friendly acts of succor and refuge which the proprietor of this island extended to the persecuted Quakers, the island received its present name of Shelter Island.