Revolutionary incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties : with an account of the Battle of Long Island and the British prisons and prison-ships at New York

Preface

The present volume completes a plan the compiler had some years since conceived, of collecting and arranging in chronological order, the scattered and fragmentary notices of the events that occurred on Long Island, during our Revolutionary struggle.

The history of the Island during this soul-stirring period has been hitherto clouded in gross darkness. Indeed the very name scarcely appears on the pages of our History, except to record a disastrous defeat of our arms.

The contents of these volumes show that Long Island is not barren in Revolutionary Incidents, unique in their character, and instructive to the student of our country's history.

The Counties of Suffolk, Queens and Kings, each played a different and yet appropriate part in the great drama of the Revolution.

At the first outbreak of rebellion in the port of Boston, we find the Puritans of Suffolk assembling in almost every town, and voting resolutions of aid and sympathy for their brethren of the Massachusetts Bay. Nor were these expressions heartless. The people were ready to follow their leaders in rebellion, the militia were organized, and Suffolk armed for the contest.

Far different was the state of feeling in Queens County. Here the Royal Governors, and other crown officers had occasionally resided, and exerted an overshadowing influence. They were often connected with other wealthy and aristocratic families in the County, who had also their adherents and dependents. Then, there was the peaceable Quaker, the passive Dutchman ; and the Church-of-England-man,

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bound to the King by a double tie, as head of Church and State. All these made a dead weight, that the rampant spirit of rebellion could hardly move, until the Congressional army marched into the County, disarmed the Loyalists and carried off their leaders.

The population of Kings County was mostly Dutch, who made but a tardy and feeble show of resistance to the powers that be ; her Deputies finally absented themselves from the Provincial Congress, and the flagging spirit of revolt quickly subsided at the approach of the British fleet.

After the American army abandoned the Island to the enemy, there was still a difference in the conduct of the Counties. The prominent Whjgs of Suffolk fled to their brethren on the Main, with what movables they could carry, leaving behind their stock, houses and farms to the enemy. Those who remained, reluctantly took an oath of allegiance, which they never meant to regard, and were ever treacherous subjects of a King they had sworn to obey.

The great majority of the people of Queens County, took the oath of allegiance in good faith, and observed it. Most of the leading Whigs, trusting to British proclamations, and not knowing where to go, remained at home, and were punished in various ways for their undutiful conduct. Many suffered imprisonment, which to some ended only in death.

The case of Kings County was somewhat similar to that of Queens. Many of its peace-loving inhabitants had already deserted their homes on the prospect of its becoming the theatre of hostilities. The leading Whigs fled among their Dutch brethren, some to New Jersey, and some up the North River, while a few who remained and trusted to the chances of British clemency, were thrown in the Provost.

Within two months after the American Army had given up the Island, the principal inhabitants of the three Counties had signed a representation of loyalty to King George the

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Third ; and in order that their wholesome example of dutiful return to obedience might have its influence on the other rebellious portions of the State, it was published at length in the New- York Mercury, with the names of all the signers in Queens and Kings Counties.

During the entire period of the revolution, the British held New- York City, apart of Westchester County, and all of Staten and Long Island under military rule. There were no elections — no voting except at annual town meetings — none except town taxes to pay — no judges — no courts of civil judicature, their place being supplied by the arbitrary fiat of a King's justice or some military character. True, a summary Court of Police was after a while established in New- York City ; and at length, in the year 1780, for the greater convenience of His Majesty's loyal subjects on Long Island, a Court of Police was also opened in Jamaica. The inhabitants could not go to or from the city, or bring out goods, without a permit. The price of wood and farmer's produce was regulated by proclamation ; their horses, wagons and persons, could at any time be impressed into the King's service, at a stipulated price. In the winter season almost every village and hamlet was filled with British soldiers and wagoners, billeted in the people's houses, or cantoned in temporary huts. The consequence was, a ready market and high price for such of the farmer's produce as had not been previously pilfered. The farmers flourished on British gold ; but as there were few opportunities for investing it, and no banks of deposit for safe keeping, they were compelled to keep their money by them, and were often robbed. The churches, not of the established faith, were mostly occupied by soldiers, or used as storehouses and prisons ; some were even torn down.

In Suffolk County, the illicit trade forms a striking feature. This consisted in buying imported goods in New- York City, (with the professed design of retailing them to faithful subjects in the County,) and then carrying them

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down the Island to secret landing-places, whence they were sent across the Sound in whale-boats, under cover of night, and exchanged with the people of Connecticut for provisions, and farmer's produce, of which the British army stood in great need. Though this trade was prohibited by both American and British authority, yet the cunning of the smugglers (who often acted as spies) generally eluded the sleepy vigilance of government officials. This trade was protected by the sparse population of Suffolk County, the extensive seaborder, the absence of a British armed force, and the proverbial insincerity of the people in their professed allegiance.

Owing to this Whiggish feeling of the inhabitants, every invading party of their brethren from the Main — whether to Sag Harbor, St. George's, or Slongo — always found ready and effectual aid in guides, food, or information. Indeed "Washington used to say, that he always had more correct knowledge by spies, of the position and designs of the British army on Long Island, than at any other place. In fine, the British authority in Suffolk County, was little more than an empty shadow.

Quite different was the state of things in Queens and Kings Counties. Here the great body of the people were at heart loyal, the settled parts were more compact, and rarely free from the presence of armed troops, spreading dissipation and shining gold with open hand.

Although the people of Long Island had taken an oath of fealty to the British crown in 1776, they were never deemed honaf.de British subjects, and on the return of peace, in 1783, (with the exception of a few who were attainted of treason,) they quietly slipped off their oath with their loyalty, and without the formality of abjuring their allegiance, took their places among the citizens of these free and Independent States.

Jamaica, L. I., May, 1849.