Biographical Text
Transcription of Long Island Traveler excerpt, January 23, 1879, by Joseph Wickham Case:
The birthplace and parentage of Kedar are uncertain. He was brought by William Albertson to Hashamomack about the year 1780, a slave. He had with him his wife named Chloe, and one child also named Chloe. During her residence on the Neck, she had another daughter named Bloom, and a son named Maltby. About the year 1781, Kedar’s wife Chloe died, he then married Peg. By her he had 14 children. He continued to live at Hashamomack and with the large force of men and boys always to be found there, he helped to plant the corn, and reap the harvests and herd the cattle, till 1793 when, the mansion, house though large, could scarcely accommodate the rapidly increasing number of both the white and black population, and it was deemed advisable to thin out, and Kedar was accordingly permitted to emigrate, and occupy the house upon the farm of Mr. Alberston at Aquebogue. This farm extended to from the Bay to the Sound and forms the line of division between the Towns of Southold and Riverhead. Here were born some 8 or 9 of his younger children. In 1819, Kedar died, aged about 80 years. He was buried in the old Southold cemetery, where all his family lie. His widow Peg died in November 1820, also aged about 80 years.
Kedar always assumed the sir name of Derby, and his children have always retained it, although neither he nor they could ever tell how they came by it. Kedar was of a social happy disposition, never letting the cares of this world worry him, and never forgetting that hard work and excessive toil might shorten his days. Peg performed her part to the satisfaction of all, most of the time being devoted to the care of her own, and the children of her Mistress.
Kedar and Peg inhabited, with their Master and Mistress, the old mansion erected by Lieut. Joseph Conklin at the water’s edge and helped to pull it down, and on the erection of the new brick house, still had quarters assigned them in its eastern wing. Of the seventeen children born to Kedar, the whole were [sic] steady, honest, and devoted to the interest of those whom they served. As time rolled on, the members of this large family became widely scattered. Some of them hovered around their old paternal hearth through life. And who can tell of the many happy hours, and the kindly greetings the wandering ones enjoyed in visiting their old home. And with what a heartfelt delight, all, both black and white, welcomed them to a cosy seat by the glowing fire by the broad kitchen hearth, and to all the hospitalities the old mansion could offer.