History of Long Island; containing an account of the discovery and settlement, with other important and interesting matters to the present time

Front matter

. , [/O •c/i^p/U^^r^^^ ' t. /ys^-i^^jfcz^r^^- THE HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND; FROM ITS DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT, TO THE PRESENT TIME. WITH many IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING MATTERS; INCLUDING NOTICES OF NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ; ALSO A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND MINISTERS. BY BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON, COUNSELLOR AT LAW. second edition; REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED. "History presents complete examples. Experience is doubly defective; we are born too late to see the beginning, and we die too soon to see the end of many things. History supplies both of these defects: modern history shows ihe causes, when experience presents the effects alone: and ancient history enables us to guess at the effects, when experience presents the causes alone." — Bolingbroke. VOLUME I. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY GOULD, BANKS & Co. NO. 144 NASSAU STREET. 184 3.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and forty-three, by ALEXANDER S. GOULD, in the Office of the Clerk of the Southern District of New York. ALEXANDER S. GOULD, PRINTS*, No. 144 IS'assuu Street, New York. DEDICATION OF THE FIRST EDITION. TO THE HONORABLE SILAS WOOD, LATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM LONG ISLAND Sir : The idea of dedicating this volume to you was co-existent with the resolution to enter upon the compilation of it ; and surely to no individual could it be so justly or appropriately inscribed, as to one, to whose talents, in formation, and indefatigable industry, the public are deeply indebted for the first attempt to perpetuate the civil and political history of Long Island. That publication has received, as it deserved, universal approbation ; and it is there fore much to be regretted that your inclination for repose should have prevented you from preparing a new and enlarged edition of the " Sketch of the first Settlement of the several Towns upon Long Island," in which event the present compilation would not have been undertaken.

The materials of your work have been so fully incorporated into the present, as to give it a particular claim to your favor. With sentiments of esteem and respect, I remain, Sir, Your obedient Servant, BENJ. F. THOMPSON. January 1, 1839, In collecting materials for the History of Long Island, the compiler has sought to avail himself of every source of authentic and valuable information applicable to his design of making the work both interesting and useful. How far these endeavors may have been successful, must be submitted to the deliberate consideration of the reader. In justice to himself he can truly say that he has avoided no reasonable labor or expense to make the publication worthy the approbation of the public, although he has fallen far short of satisfying himself, or of accomplishing all that he had anticipated on his first setting out.