Brookhaven TownBrookhaven Town (Suffolk County, Long Island, (Suffolk County, Long Island,

N.Y.)N.Y.)

@ 350 Years@ 350 Years

Part III: Part III: Contact Era: 1497 - 1654Contact Era: 1497 - 1654

comp. & ed. by comp. & ed. by Mark H. RothenbergMark H. Rothenberg

© 2003© 2003

Brookhaven TownBrookhaven Town (Suffolk County, Long Island, (Suffolk County, Long Island,

N.Y.)N.Y.)

@ 350 Years@ 350 Years

Part III: Part III: Contact Era: 1497 - 1654Contact Era: 1497 - 1654

comp. & ed. by comp. & ed. by Mark H. RothenbergMark H. Rothenberg

© 2003© 2003

The Patchogue-Medford LibraryThe Patchogue-Medford LibrarySalutes the Town on its AnniversarySalutes the Town on its Anniversary

The Patchogue-Medford LibraryThe Patchogue-Medford LibrarySalutes the Town on its AnniversarySalutes the Town on its Anniversary

The Honors of European & of General Discovery

A Cart Before the Horse, Pt. 1A Cart Before the Horse, Pt. 1 Candidates abound for the title of first Europeanfirst European to sight the Brookhaven Town area (esp. its south coastline & barrier islands): While a number of semi-mythical contenders

have been advanced or suggested, they presently lack proof; chief among them being Vinland Vikings (perhaps Leif Erickson, himself, ca. 1000 AD/CE).

Portuguese Fishermen, active in the Newfoundland area, are believed to have also operated to the south, and may well have had shoreside whaling & fishing contacts and exchanged techniques with local Indians

John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) of Genoa, & crew, sailing for Henry VI of England, on his 1497 voyage, may have skirted the south coast

Giovanni da Verrazano, & crew, skirted Long Island’s south coast during his 1524 voyage, under the fleur de lis of France, for Francis I, and might have first seen the Brookhaven beaches and coast

Henry Hudson, in 1609, & Adrien Block in 1614, on their voyages for the United Provinces of the Netherlands, could also have been first

The Honors of European & of General Discovery

A Cart Before the Horse, Pt. 2A Cart Before the Horse, Pt. 2 But the first human beingfirst human being to sight the Brookhaven region remains enshrouded in prehistoric mystery, & antedates all the adventurous Europeans just mentioned, by many thousands of years: an epic unsung name, completely lost to lip, pen, or substantive thought.

We tend too easily, too routinely to forget, gloss over, and casually dismiss (particularly in traditional histories of L.I.), over twelve thousand years of human habitation, cultural, spiritual, agricultural, and material development in the Brookhaven area, prior to European contact, discovery, and colonization. This used to be understandable, even excusable, as historical research, by (formally trained) historians, archeological survey reports, and ethnographic studies, had been largely lacking, until recently, in L.I. Studies. This is no longer quite the case. The series, Readings in Long Island Archeology and Ethnohistory, ed. by Gaynell Stone, republishes many essential research studies and threads, incorporating them with new research studies and findings. And much of the research was recently synthesized and interpreted by John Strong in 2 books on L.I.’s Algonquian heritage, past & present. True, we are still learning, and there is much yet to be examined and interpreted. But, we should want to know more, about a signal part of our own fuller heritage, as the current residents of the Town.

Rival European Claims, 1495-1635 (Reconnaissance Roots of a Conflict, Pt. 1)

Competitive Interests – Treaties, Charters , Claims, & Discoveries In 1492, with Columbus’ 1In 1492, with Columbus’ 1stst voyage, the Borgia Pope, Alexander VI, had voyage, the Borgia Pope, Alexander VI, had divided divided

the world between Spain & Portugal,the world between Spain & Portugal, to settle their counter-claims, allowing to settle their counter-claims, allowing the new western discoveries to go to Spain. Portugal renegotiated the the new western discoveries to go to Spain. Portugal renegotiated the boundary westward, by the boundary westward, by the Treaty of Tordesillas (June 7, 1494)Treaty of Tordesillas (June 7, 1494), allowing Brazil , allowing Brazil to go to Portugal, yet still placing what would later become the to go to Portugal, yet still placing what would later become the Brookhaven Brookhaven area area (& Long Island)(& Long Island) clearly within the “hemisphere” assigned to Spain. clearly within the “hemisphere” assigned to Spain.

Portuguese fishermen & whalers straying from the Grand Banks of Portuguese fishermen & whalers straying from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, may have had contact with L.I. Indians. Newfoundland, may have had contact with L.I. Indians.

The The Habsburg-Valois Wars,Habsburg-Valois Wars, between France & Spain, were just underway. between France & Spain, were just underway. Major European powers, esp. those then or later at war with either Spain or Major European powers, esp. those then or later at war with either Spain or Portugal, having been excluded from their share of the world, tended to Portugal, having been excluded from their share of the world, tended to ignore the treaties. ignore the treaties. France France noting that Spain’s claim to the Northern reaches noting that Spain’s claim to the Northern reaches of North America was not aggressively pursued, in the next quarter century, of North America was not aggressively pursued, in the next quarter century, found its opening to colonization. found its opening to colonization. After 1524, FranceAfter 1524, France could reasonably lay could reasonably lay claim to the Brookhaven area on the basis of Giovanni da Verrazano’s coastal claim to the Brookhaven area on the basis of Giovanni da Verrazano’s coastal exploration of the area.exploration of the area. The United Provinces of the Netherlands’ The United Provinces of the Netherlands’ Dutch West Dutch West India CompanyIndia Company, a Protestant enterprise, considered itself not subject to , a Protestant enterprise, considered itself not subject to treaties laid down by the Papacy, also rejecting the Treaty of Tordesillas. treaties laid down by the Papacy, also rejecting the Treaty of Tordesillas. With initial success of the Dutch Revolt (1576-1609), Holland was poised to With initial success of the Dutch Revolt (1576-1609), Holland was poised to secure its position in the world, & about to enter its “Golden Age”. secure its position in the world, & about to enter its “Golden Age”. It based It based its claim to all of Long Island, including the Brookhaven Town area, on Henry its claim to all of Long Island, including the Brookhaven Town area, on Henry Hudson’s 1609 voyage,Hudson’s 1609 voyage, then acting as agent of “Their High & Mightinesses”, then acting as agent of “Their High & Mightinesses”, the Estates-General & Prince of Orange. the Estates-General & Prince of Orange. In 1612 Dutch-sponsored colonists In 1612 Dutch-sponsored colonists began settling Western Long Island, establishing the began settling Western Long Island, establishing the first effective claimfirst effective claim to to the Isle, and by implication, to its Brookhaven area, by right of prior the Isle, and by implication, to its Brookhaven area, by right of prior occupation. occupation. This would be contested later by various English & New England This would be contested later by various English & New England claimants.claimants.

Enter England, 1495-1635Enter England, 1495-1635 (Reconnaissance Roots (Reconnaissance Roots of a Conflict, Pt. 2)of a Conflict, Pt. 2)

Competitive Interests – Early Discoveries, Claims, Competitive Interests – Early Discoveries, Claims, Charters & GiftsCharters & Gifts English roots in North America stem from English roots in North America stem from explorations in 1497-1498explorations in 1497-1498 by by

John & Sebastian CabotJohn & Sebastian Cabot who “discovered” Newfoundland and who “discovered” Newfoundland and explored the coast, probably including that of explored the coast, probably including that of southern Brookhavensouthern Brookhaven.. The abortive Roanoke Colony followed, and the The abortive Roanoke Colony followed, and the Virginia Company Virginia Company CharterCharter effectively effectively granted L.I. & Brookhaven to that Company.granted L.I. & Brookhaven to that Company. “Northern Virginia” was “Northern Virginia” was later granted tolater granted to the the Plymouth CompanyPlymouth Company, , including the Brookhaven area. including the Brookhaven area.

England’s monarchsEngland’s monarchs of this era, not privy to Tordesillas, rejected it, of this era, not privy to Tordesillas, rejected it, and routinely and routinely denied all competing European claims,denied all competing European claims, notably rejecting notably rejecting what were called Dutch “pretensions” to the area, asserting England’s what were called Dutch “pretensions” to the area, asserting England’s claim, by right of prior discovery, claim, by right of prior discovery, freely exercising their “right” to freely exercising their “right” to grant & re-grant the areagrant & re-grant the area (including present-day Brookhaven), to their (including present-day Brookhaven), to their subjects, via successive charters, e.g., to subjects, via successive charters, e.g., to Plymouth Company (1620),Plymouth Company (1620), making the Brookhaven area initially part of making the Brookhaven area initially part of Plymouth Colony, 1620-Plymouth Colony, 1620-16321632; ; Lord PlowdenLord Plowden,, briefly attaching it to an abortive briefly attaching it to an abortive New Albion New Albion Colony (1632-1635); the Colony (1632-1635); the Earl of StirlingEarl of Stirling (1635), (1635), as a as a proprietorshipproprietorship to a to a royal favorite royal favorite

So, by 1635, Spain, England, France, & Holland could So, by 1635, Spain, England, France, & Holland could all all reasonably lay reasonably lay claim to the Brookhaven Town region.claim to the Brookhaven Town region. Yet, only England & Holland Yet, only England & Holland would reinforce theirwould reinforce their claims with claims with settlementssettlements that pressed their title that pressed their title to L. I. & to its Brookhaven region.to L. I. & to its Brookhaven region.

One has to wonder what those already living in the area would have One has to wonder what those already living in the area would have made of all these extra-Continental claims to their home, had they made of all these extra-Continental claims to their home, had they been known to and properly versed in them, and what kind of been known to and properly versed in them, and what kind of reception the European would then have faced?reception the European would then have faced?

First Honors to Whom?:First Honors to Whom?: Some Chief Some Chief Contenders:Contenders:

Self-Invited Guests?: Some Possible Early Self-Invited Guests?: Some Possible Early European DiscoverersEuropean Discoverers

Center: John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) ,John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) , Sailing for the Kingdom of England, 1497

Left: Giovanni da Verrazano,Giovanni da Verrazano, Sailing for the Kingdom of France, 1524

Right: Henry HudsonHenry Hudson,, Sailing for The Dutch West India Company,

and a replica of his ship the Half Moon (Haelve Half Moon (Haelve Maen),Maen),, 1609

Lord Stirling’s Sale of Long Island, August 20, 1639

“I William Earle of Sterline doe make knowne to all men to whom it doth or may concerne, that whereas James Farrett Gent. My lawfull Agent upon Long Island &c in America hath disposed by sale of divers lands in my name and for my use upon the said Island and Islands adjacent within my pattent according to the power given him by myselfe Aprill 1637, unto Edward Howell, Daniel Howe, and their heires and successours for ever as from Peaconnet to ye eastermost poynte of ye said Long Island; and unto John Thomas and Edward Farington and successively to the longest liver of them and to his heires and assignes for ever; and unto Matthew Sunderland and his heires and assignes for ever: I say whatsover bargaine contract and conclusion the above named parties (for them selves heires and assignes for ever) have made with Mr Faret, according to the custome of New England, I the said William Earle of Sterline ratifie and hold of value in law; and doe upon the request of my said Agent James Faret by these presents bind my selfe heires and assignesto doe any further act or thing whereby or wherewith ye titles of ye above named parties (viz) Howell, How, Farringtones, Sunderland and their heires and successors for ever, may be strengthened wch, they have under the hand and seale of my foresaid Agent James Farret, of wch I am by him fully satisfied; and that he hath in full satisfaction for the said lands for my use received a competent sum of money, in consideracon of wch money I doe acquitt all right, title, interest and demand of and to ye sd lands and patent right for ever. Witness my hand and seale. . . .”

Note: The Sterling claim dated from the reign of James I of England. Source: Docuemtns Relative to the Colonial History of the

State of New-York, v. 3. Albany, NY: Weed, Parsons and Company, 1853: p. 22.

New Netherlands vs. New England, 1636-1655New Netherlands vs. New England, 1636-1655Pequots, Dutch-Indians, Swedes & Pequots, Dutch-Indians, Swedes &

PeachesPeaches Early Colonial-AmerIndian Wars & Mixed Results: A Early Colonial-AmerIndian Wars & Mixed Results: A

Town is BornTown is BornThe Pequot WarThe Pequot War (1636)(1636) demonstrateddemonstrated (to New England & L.I. Indians) (to New England & L.I. Indians) the unanticipatedthe unanticipated might & lethality of the New England might & lethality of the New England colonies’ firearms, tactics, & diplomatic alliancescolonies’ firearms, tactics, & diplomatic alliances to rapidly, to rapidly, effectively reduce, & virtually destroy overnight, the single most effectively reduce, & virtually destroy overnight, the single most feared New England tribe (in Western Connecticut), which had allied it feared New England tribe (in Western Connecticut), which had allied it self with Dutch commercial interests, self with Dutch commercial interests, instantly reconfiguring the instantly reconfiguring the entire political & diplomatic regional landscape.entire political & diplomatic regional landscape.

In In 1639, Lord Stirling sold L.I.,1639, Lord Stirling sold L.I., actively encouraging English actively encouraging English settlementsettlement

The seemingly indelible impression of European invincibility was quickly The seemingly indelible impression of European invincibility was quickly dasheddashed by by New Netherlands’ New Netherlands’ ensuing ensuing diplomatic & military diplomatic & military bungling,bungling, esp. under esp. under Director-General Kieft,Director-General Kieft, in its bid to assert the in its bid to assert the right to tax surrounding Indians. A right to tax surrounding Indians. A series of almost continuous, series of almost continuous, often disastrous, often disastrous, Dutch-Indian Wars, 1640-1664,Dutch-Indian Wars, 1640-1664, likelylikely reinforced regional sachems’ impression that it was the reinforced regional sachems’ impression that it was the English English whowho were to be feared, far more than the Dutch.were to be feared, far more than the Dutch. A A Dutch War with New Dutch War with New Sweden, 1654-1655,Sweden, 1654-1655, stretched & diverted New Netherlands’ slender stretched & diverted New Netherlands’ slender military forces southward to the Delaware River. Outbreak of the military forces southward to the Delaware River. Outbreak of the innocuous-sounding, but vicious, Dutch-Indian innocuous-sounding, but vicious, Dutch-Indian Peach War (1655)Peach War (1655) resulted in an initial Dutch L.I. strategic retreat. resulted in an initial Dutch L.I. strategic retreat. This afforded New This afforded New England and English L.I. an England and English L.I. an opportunity to steal a westward opportunity to steal a westward march.march. A new English enclave, founded in A new English enclave, founded in 1655,1655, would lay the would lay the seed of the Town of Brookhaven.seed of the Town of Brookhaven.

New Netherlands’ Pyrrhic Dutch-New Netherlands’ Pyrrhic Dutch-Indian Wars, 1640-1664Indian Wars, 1640-1664

Causes & Consequences: Persecutions, Prosecution of Causes & Consequences: Persecutions, Prosecution of War, Destabilizing a ColonyWar, Destabilizing a Colony Dutch Gov.-General Willem Kieft’s Gross Mishandling of Indian Affairs:Dutch Gov.-General Willem Kieft’s Gross Mishandling of Indian Affairs:

High-handed assertion of Dutch lordship over surrounding Indians Assertion of tax rights over Indians (as well as Europeans), in colony bounds Allowance of bias & inattention in criminal justice cases involving Indians Arrogant, brutal rule: countenancing intimidation, raids, torture, murder Near-fatal overestimations of colonial unity, morale, & military strength Diplomatic insults & ineptitude, compounded by frequent military blundering

All created fertile grounds for the nearly incessant wars that followed,All created fertile grounds for the nearly incessant wars that followed, & all- too-frequent fiascos, that took time, bribery, & occasional aid from resident English settlers & local Indians,to undo.

Admirable Endurance:Admirable Endurance: Yet, this autocratic, commercially-oriented, overextended colony – with its claims from the Connecticut to the Delaware Rivers, northward to Canada –and its meager, polyglot, population, displayed unexpected resiliency. Despite bleeding itself white, discouraging settlement & investment, it managed to eventually gain the upper hand, and to “win” most of its rather pyrrhic Indian Wars. Western Long Island IndiansWestern Long Island Indians participated in an assault on New Amsterdam, later as Dutch

allies & auxiliaries English New Netherlands settlersEnglish New Netherlands settlers, served as soldiers & advisors, notably Captain John

Underhill (portrait above), Pequot War commander, prominent in Dutch success, reputedly quelling the western L.I. Indians via a massacre at Fort Marsapeag (today’s Massapequa, NY). Today, Underhill interpretation is battleground.

Brookhaven region (& Eastern L.I.) Indians’Brookhaven region (& Eastern L.I.) Indians’ diplomatic & military roles (or potential roles) in Dutch-Indian Wars & European colonial rivalries deserve further exploration by historians.

John John UnderhillUnderhill

Lionized Lionized & & DemonizDemonizeded

New England vs. The Netherlands, 1640-1664New England vs. The Netherlands, 1640-1664The Long Pause, Then Squaring OffThe Long Pause, Then Squaring Off

Kieft’s War and those that followed, led influential New Netherlanders, backed by popular support, to protest to the United Provinces’ government (the Estates General), about arbitrary West India Company rule, its bungling of Indian affairs, putting the colony at risk, and denial to colonists of even basic Dutch rights.

This, combined with a general decline in company profitability (it’s raison d’être), led the States General to assert greater control over colonial affairs, & institute limited local rights. By that time, time was running out for the colony.

New Netherlands’ military embarrassments suggested to the English (esp. New England), that New Netherlands was a plum ripe for the picking, as would prove the case, following the major distractions of the 1st Anglo-Dutch War and English Restoration.

With European military primacy re-established, inter-colonial European rivalry revived and intensified, heavy pressure being placed on Indians to adopt European patronage and standards of governance, esp. those relating to land transfers & deeds, used to pry open new territory to European settlement

On L. I., the Dutch moved East, the English, West, leading to inevitable jurisdictional, criminal, & ownership disputes

The Treaty of Hartford (1650), though unratified by England, was initially honored in practice (de facto), by the Dutch. It shifted New England’s boundary with the Dutch well to the West, the demarcation line on Long Island placing what became Brookhaven clearly within the English (or New England) sphere.

That did nothing to relieve intra-English colonies’ and colonists’ claims and counter-claims over the right to buy, sell, and hold Long Island Territory.

1640 – Mr. Terry’s Perspective on the Island’s Appeal1640 – Mr. Terry’s Perspective on the Island’s Appeal In In 1640, Southold1640, Southold and and Southampton were settled Southampton were settled from New England by New from New England by New

Englanders, the “who was there first debate,” raging unabated thereafter.Englanders, the “who was there first debate,” raging unabated thereafter. What were the Attractions of Long Island to Transplanted What were the Attractions of Long Island to Transplanted

New Englanders?New Englanders? In New England, the soil was generally rocky, & more difficult to till. From

experience, Alfred Terry said, he’d pried rocks out with an iron bar, when young, in New England, and it took a great deal of that to farm just a small area.

On L.I., there was generally looser soil, flatter expanses, tilling & planting generally being much easier, a fine layer of topsoil virtually everywhere, the water supply more accessible: Water was everywhere. Just dig a hole in most places, and you had fresh water. Not so true in many parts of New England.

The local Indians were far less ferocious, and more welcoming, than those of New England

Land was relatively unclaimed and fairly abundant, initially. The forests were teeming with food. Building material was abundant Salt hay (fodder), flax, fruit, vegetables, & more were at your finger tips. You had but to go to the shore or a river to find all the seafood you wanted. Travel by boat was relatively easy, and there were gentle rivers leading inland,

and portages on the east end. Bays and harbors were numerous. It had everything to recommend it, for someone just coming from New England.

New settlements soon appeared and spread. Mr. Terry’s ancestors were among Southold’s first settlers, and among the settlers of Brookhaven.

Source: Informal Interview with Alfred Terry. Patchogue, NY: Held in the Patchogue-Medford Library Local History Room, 2-24-04.

The Treaty of Hartford The Treaty of Hartford (1650)(1650)

Setting the Bounds of New England & New Netherlands

Attempt at Neighborly Negotiation of an International AnimusBy its terms a line was drawn across L.I. to

separate the English from the Dutch domains. While Holland’s Estates General ratified it, England did not, and so its colonies generally hesitated to endorse it officially.

By one of its terms, the other New England colonies withheld their support from New Haven in its desire to plant a sub-colony on the Delaware River, on the southern flank of New Netherlands, surrounding it.

For a while it was observed de facto, if not de jure, though war and national designs often intervened.

The Navigation Act (1651)The Navigation Act (1651)Catalyst for WarCatalyst for War

The full text of the Navigation Act of 1651 may be found on the web at http://www.constitution.org/eng/conpur_ap.htm

The act was amended several times, increasingly restricting the variety of goods (usually those most lucrative) that were subject to its terms. Not only were the Dutch affronted by England’s attempt to deny it profitable direct trade with English colonies, but English colonists felt the pinch and inconvenience, having to haul the goods themselves, in English ships, manned by predominantly English sailors. But it gave a significant spur to the flowering of English colonial commerce. England’s interference in colonial affairs set in motion a pattern of American resentment, that was to endure down to the American Revolution.

In 1651, though, Brookhaven Town was still Indian Territory.

To War, Over Restraint of Trade: England vs. The To War, Over Restraint of Trade: England vs. The Netherlands Netherlands

The First Anglo-Dutch War, 1651-1654The First Anglo-Dutch War, 1651-1654 The Navigation Acts (1651), restricting the most profitable British colonial trade goods to English ships, or vessels with predominantly English crews, was seen as a direct challenge to lucrative Dutch trade with England’s colonies. As intended, by Cromwell, it was bitterly resented by Holland (and its West India Company). The gauntlet flung down, war was only a matter of time. The balance in trade would be settled by force.

First Anglo-Dutch War (1651-54): It was launched on spurious grounds, laid down by the prior Stuart monarch, requiring all foreign ships in what England designated her Channel, to salute to any English warship encountered there. When a Dutch fleet refused, it was a convenient enough provocation, or excuse, for war.

War rendered central Long Island a dangerous frontier between belligerents, discouraging its settlement. Yet, in 1653, Huntington was founded, on L.I.’s North shore, just opposite Dutch territory, in a somewhat exposed forward position.

That same year, the restive New Haven Colony (founded 1638), was still smarting over the rebuff by other New England Colonies at the Treaty of Hartford (1650), which thwarted its plans for a settlement on the Delaware River, threatening New Netherlands from both flanks. It also was impatient with the other New England colonies’ arguments over over command precedence, logistical and supply details, and invasion plans to take the Dutch colony, frittering away time and the military initiative. So New Haven (1653) appealed directly to Oliver Cromwell for an invasion force to seize New Netherlands. He dispatched a naval squadron, which arrived, was being reinforced & re-supplied, and about to sail in June 1654, , when fortune smiled, and peace broke out.

Source: The Empire State: A History of New York, ed. by Milton Klein. Cooperstown, NY: Cornell Univ. Pr., 2001: p. 92-96.