Browse

The Lost Freetown Cemetery: Newspaper item from 1930 hints at slavery-era mysteryFreetown, a section of East Hampton depicted in a 1916 Suffolk atlas, may contain a lost cemetery holding the remains of 20 or more formerly enslaved people who died in…

143 Main St. East Hampton, NY Owned by Wm. Fithian then in 1670 Matthias Burnett, 1776 Burnett Miller, and Jonathan Dayton (1764-1824). An enslaved man, Peter, is left by Matthias Burnett to Burnett Miller, “I leave to my grand son, Burnet Miller,…

Abraham Gardiner, who lived here, became master of Coseo and Will in David Gardiner's will in 1750. Peggy Negro, who is buried in the South End Cemetery, may have been baptised in 1764. A "negro child" died in 1766. A "negro man" died in 1770. He…

From the Hedges account books, we know of Mol, who got a "pair of pumps" in 1771. Steven, who got shoes in 1785. We know of a "negro woman named Aca and her son Silas" sold by Mehitable Baker to Jeremiah Miller in 1787. Cyrus, "the mother of said…

Drusilla Crook, approx age 5 in 1799, called Zillah by the Beecher family. She stayed bound to them until she was 18. When Mary was born (1805) they took a sister of Zillah's named Rachel. Both moved with the Beechers to Litchfield, Conn., and stayed…

Only confirmed enslaved person owned by Rev. Huntting is Gene "my negro girl, died in 1746, age 1 year 9 months." But there are four other people we know about from Huntting's account books, not family members, who are sleeping under "old blankets"…

In 1775, Buell recorded "my negro child Paul" died. In 1784, his "Negro man" purchased a pair of shoes from Hedges. In 1796, Rev. Buell paid "fifty pounds of lawful money of New York" to David Mulford for "my negro Servant man called Gree." We…

Commissioned in 1715. A 1732 town trustees vote formalized that "negroes may sit in the 2nd gallery, west side."In an 1780 town trustee record: “Ned negro to ring the bel for 30/0,” and in a 1784 record as “Jeremiah Osborn’s Ned” agreeing to ring the…

David Gardiner passed down Coseo and Will to Abraham Gardiner in his 1750 will. He also gave his wife "one negro wench as she shall make choice of out of all my negro slaves." But before, Abraham Schellinger, who owned the land, had a 1713 inventory…

In 1724, the Mulford was deeded to Samuel Mulford’s son, Matthew, who later owned “Home, Sweet Home.” Capt. Matthew Mulford can be found in records from the 18th century owning numerous enslaved persons. He baptized enslaved persons named…

In 1751 the house was transferred to Matthew Mulford, son of Samuel Mulford, from John Dayton and Robert Dayton’s wife who co-owned the house. John Dayton left his wife a “negro girl” in his will (died no longer living in the house). London (also…

John "Neiger," a free black man, was recorded having land remarkably early in May 1676. In Town Records Volume I, the town writes, "John Neiger have begun to set himslefe upp a house in the Streete by the side of Mrs. Codners home lot ... to goe from…

Hedges Inn. The site of shoemaker's shop was described as "a small building in the back of the inn" - JER "Main Street". The Hedges kept detailed accounts of their transactions including those with those enslaved. The Hedges also owned slaves and…

South End Cemetery, East Hampton, NY

1751 the house was transferred to Matthew Mulford, son of Samuel Mulford, from John Dayton (grandson) and Robert Dayton’s wife, who owned the house after Robert Dayton left it to them in his will. John Dayton left his wife a “negro girl” in his will…

Records give John Osborne as the owner of the land in 1655. In 1676 it was the sold to Josiah Hobart, high sheriff of Suffolk County, who built the house that stands today. Capt. Josiah Hobart came to East Hampton in the third wave of settlers, found…