Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ...In Governour Dongans time it was erected into a. manor & Lordship & till the Revolutionary war the several proprietors by common custom had the title of _ ' We-rkbrm is a Dutch word which means workmasten Lord. The present Proprietor is better pleased with the liberty both civil & religious which he enjoys in common with his Countrymen 4&2 fellow citizens than with any empty titles whatever. In the town of Southold about 14 miles from this & nearly opposite Shelter Island is a. small settlement known from time immemorial by the name of Sterling; it derives its name from the Earl of Sterling who had a grant from Charles 1'f of all the Islands from Hudsons River to Cape Cod. He afterwards conveyed his title to these islands to James Duke of York & Albany. By the records of the town of East Hampton it appears that James Farrett Deputy to the right Honourable Earl of Sterling had purchased Shelter Island (Menhansett) of Unkenthie the Sachem & the said Farrett by Deed dated 18 May 1641 conveyed to Stephen Goodyear of N. Haven the said Island &c. 8: said Indian deed. It does not appear that the original settlers of the town had any deed from this James Farrett, but it appears from writers in those times that he claimed the whole of Long Island from the Earl of Sterling. At the close of the last century & the beginning ofthis the Pirates were troublesome on the American Coast. Several of them visited this Island. WT Kidd was here about 1698 he soon after was taken in the town of Boston, sent to England and hung for murder. Wliile he was at this Island he took what provisions &c. &c. he pleased. He left on here a considerable quantity of treasure, the place where he left it is yet pointed out-. He left it in...