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about miles in length, & was fenced about the year 1664 in order to keep the Southampton horses &c. from crossing over the bounds. This line is now much farther to the Eastward than where it was fixed by the General Assembly of Connecticut about 1660 to whose decision it was then referred.

The settlement of Sag Harbor is mostly in Southampton Township, and is a thriving place. It is exceedingly well calculated for the Whale and Cod Fishery.

By the Records, it appears that East Hampton was at first called Maidstone. This name does not appear after the year 1664, when they came under the Duke of York, and soon after received a Patent from Col. Richard Nicolls. By this Patent the Town is called East Hampton, though the records of the Town prior to the year 1664, mention that as the name of the place. It was probably called East, on account of its situation to the East of Southampton.

These

Some of the First Settlers appear, by the Records, to have come from Stansted in the county of Kent in England. Probably some of them might have come from Maidstone in the same County. It is very evident from the Records, that some of the Original 35 settlers and purchasers of the Town removed from Lynn in Massachusetts; and tradition informs us that they came from several of the towns on the Sea coast to the Eastward of Boston. were, probably, natives of England, as New England had not been settled so long as to produce Native Immigrants when E. Hampton was first settled. Those who were received by the Original Settlers as "accepted Inhabitants," might have been born in America. None were received into the Town as Inhabitants but by a vote, and some were forbid settling on account of their principles and laziness.

The names of 13 of these

There were, at first 35 purchasers. are now entirely extinct in the Town. The Christian & Surnames of many of the original settlers are now found to the 4th 5th & 6th degree, counting the first as one. Lands that were at first allotted, have descended in the family, and are, after a space of 150 years, occupied by one of the same family and name.

When the town was first settled only a home-lot at the South

end of the Town, containing from 11 to 13 acres was laid out This was done on both sides of the Pond, called the " Town Pond." This was probably on account of the convenience of getting water for themselves and cattle before they dug wells. It is probable a brook might have discharged itself into the Pond, which, since the land is cleared, has disappeared.

The next lands that was laid out to the Owners, were the Salt Marshes in various parts of the Town. The last of the Woodland was allotted to the owners about 60 years ago.

Excepting the Indian Deed for the Township, there is nothing of an earlier date on Record than the following:

"At a General Court holden at East Hampton, March 7th 1650 [o. s] It is ordered that Ralph Dayton is to go to Keneticut for to procure the Evidence of our Lands, and for an acquittance for the payment of our lands, and for a boddie of laws.

"It was alsoe ordered that any man have libertie to sett gunns for to kill wolves, but not within half a mile of the town" & &c. "No man shall sett any gun, but he shall look to it while the stars appear, and take the gunn up by the sunrising, and no man shall sell any dog or bitch, young or ould to any Indian upon the penaltie of paying of 30s."

Various town laws, similar to the above are on Record. They are styled "Orders." Many of them are relative to laying out vacant lands, making roads, destroying noxious animals &c. in short, laws that were necessary in a new settlement.

The Indian Deed for the land is on Record. It is from the four Indian Sachems, Paggatacut, of Manhansett: Wayandanch of Miantacutt: Momoweta of Corchaki: Nowedonah of Shinacock.

It is dated April 29th 1648, and conveys the land, to the "Eastward of Southampton bounds, to the Worshipful Theophilus Eaton Esquire, Governour of the Colony of New Haven and the Worshipful Edward Hopkins Governour of the Colony of Conecticut and their assocyates . for and in consideration of 20 coats, 24 Looking Glasses, 24 hose, 24 Hatchets, 24 Knives, and one hundred Mucxs, already received by US, and reserve unto ourselves free Liberty to fish in all the cricks & ponds, and hunt up and down in the Woods without molestation, giving the English

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Inhabitants noe just cause of offence: likewise are to have the fynns & tails of all Whales cast up, and desire they may be friendly dealt with in the other part alsoe to fish for shells to make Wampum of, and if the Indyans, in hunting deer shall chase them into the water and the English shall kill them, the English shall have the bodie and the Sachem the skin." The witnesses were, Richard Woodhull, Thomas Stanton, Robert Bond, Job Sayre and Chectanoo (by his mark) the Interpreter.

There is recorded a receipt from Edward Hopkins to "Robert Bond-inhabitant of East Hampton for £34. 4. 8. being the amount of monies paid for the purchase of the Lands," and a certificate of the delivering to said Bond the writings of the said purchase and all the Interest that was thereby purchased dated 16th April 1651. On a blank leaf of one of the old Books of Records are seen these words "Robert Bond delivered unto the Gov' for the purchase of our Lands, for the towns use the sum of £1. 3. 10. Robert Bond for his expenses, going to the Mayne land in the Town's service the sum is £1. 3s. 6d." It appears that the purchase was made by these two Governors in trust & in behalf of the Original Settlers of the Town.

The English & Natives appear to have lived on good terms. The lands on the East end of Long Island as well as the neighbouring Islands-Shelter Island, Gardiners Island, Plum Island & Fishers Island--were purchased of the Natives. Some French writers, I think Raynal, speaks in praise of the Great William Penn for having sett an uncommon Example in purchasing the Soil of Pennsylvania of the Native Indians, and which if it had been followed by the Settlers of New England and Virginia would have prevented some wars that took place. This Frenchman, like many European writers who have never been in the country, did not understand himself sufficiently on this subject. The fact was that the Settlers of Virginia & New England purchased their lands of the Natives before Geo: Fox the Founder of the Quaker's Sect published their principles in England in Oliver Cromwell's time, and a long time before the celebrated William Penn settled in Pennsylvania. There is no doubt but the regular purchase & the warrantie deed from the four abovementioned Sachems, in

1648, prevented difficulties between the Natives & English. Some Indian writings on record in East Hampton speak of the friendship & amity of their neighbours the English about 1660. Gov Winthrop in his Journal, page

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and Gov. Hutchinson in his History of Massachusetts p. 88, mentions that in 1640, a number of families removed from Lynn to the West end of Long Island, and bought land there of James Farrett Agent to the Earl of Sterling but getting into some quarrel with the Dutch, they removed to the East end, and settled at Southampton & chose one Peirson for their Minister. Probably Southampton was settled before East Hampton. Tradition informs us that, before East Hampton people built their first grist mill (which went with cattle), they went to Southampton to mill, and carried their grain. on the back of a Bull that belonged to the Town for the use of their cows. If this is true, no doubt Southampton was settled

first,

Gov Hutchinson says that in 1644 Southampton by an act of the Commissioners of the United Colonies was annext to the Jurisdiction of Connecticut. One might suppose that E. Hampton was settled from Southampton, but the method of pronunciation is quite different, although the Towns join. An East Hampton man may be known from a Southampton man as well as a native of Kent in England may be distinguished from a Yorkshire man. The original settlers of these Towns probably came from different parts of England. Besides the names that prevail in one town are not to be met with in the other. The names of Pierson, Halsey, Howell, Toppin, Sanford, Cooper, White, Post &c are common in Southampton & confined there, as are the names of Mulford, Osborn, Conkling, Baker, Parsons, Miller, Gardiner, Dayton, &c. to East Hampton. The names of Hedges & Hand, are met in the Eastern part of Southampton but originally [they were] from E. Hampton. Very little intercourse took place between the two towns before the Revolutionary war. Since that, visits and intermarriages are more frequent.

What time East Hampton was first settled is not certainly known. Probably soon after Southampton. Neither of the Towns was settled as early as Gardiners Island which was settled

by Lion Gardiner in March 1639. David, son of Lion Gardiner, in a petition presented to Gov. Dongan about 1683, mentions his father as the first Englishman that had settled in the Colony of New York. Southampton put itself under the Jurisdiction of Connecticut in 1644, as Southold did under New Haven in 1648. According to President Stiles History of the three Judges of Charles I., East Hampton was a Plantation or Commonwealth as it is styled, in the Record-that was, Independent of any other Government from the first settlement till about 1657. The magistrates frequently asked advice in difficult cases" of the neighbour Towns of Southampton & Southold" and sometimes of "the Gentlemen at Hartford."

The three Towns on the East are styled the "Three Plantations." The government of the Town of E. Hampton was purely Republican. Their laws were enacted by all the citizens assembled in town meeting; this was stiled "the General Court" and a fine' inflicted on such as did not attend.

In Dec 1653 by a vote of the General Court, "the Capital laws, and the laws and Orders that are notic'd in the bodie of laws that came from Connecticut shall stand in force among us.”

Their public officers were few; three magistrates who were called Townsmen, were chosen annually. Their oath of office points out their duty; it was as follows:

"You being chosen by the Court for the careful and comfortable carrying on of the affairs of this Town, do here swear by the name of the Great & Everliving God, that you will faithfully, and without respect of persons, execute all such laws and orders as are or shall be made & established by this Court, according to God,' according to the trust committed to you during this year for which you are chosen & until new ones be chosen, if you remain among us, so help you God."

A Recorder & Constable were the only other public officers chosen; their oath points out their duty, and is mutatis mutandis, similar to the above. The Constable was always a reputable citizen and of great authority. He, by law, moderated the General Court. The Recorder, or Secretary not only recorded all orders of the General Court, but the decisions of the Magistrates, and by

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