The Revolutionary War
Dr. Boardman writes on this milestone period:
THE TIME OF TURMOIL
The period from 1760 to 1800 is being termed "The Time of Turmoil." It was a period of war and violence. Communities and even families were divided to the point of bloodshed. It marked the end of the colonial status and the rise of a new nation of great destiny.
One hundred years elapsed between the time when the English took over from the Dutch to the final showdown struggle with the French in what history terms the French and Indian wars. The Dutch, centered around New York and the Hudson River, were easily defeated by the English with their superior sea power. France, on the other hand, having established good relations with the Indians of the St. Lawrence Valley pushed behind the Appalachians to the Great Lakes and the Ohio River Valley. As the English consolidated their coastal position and moved inland along the seaboard, the French established an empire of trade with the Indian nations.
In the end, the hardy settlers, backed by the English Navy and troops, won out over the French and their allies. Fort after fort was taken until Quebec, the last stronghold, fell and the lands north of Florida to the Mississippi became English territory.
In this conflict we have no specific records of Christian Hook, but Long Island was very much affected and the shape of events must have been felt. Many young men joined the Colonial Army and marched with Sir William Johnson against the French in the Champlain and Mohawk Valleys. Two citizens of neighboring communities served as officers of that army. They were Captains Daniel Wright and Richard Hewlett. In his records, Captain Hewlett listed as one of his young subordinate officers, "G. Washington."
One issue of The New York Mercury carried an item that tells us much about the home effort in support of the army.
"This day 1,015 sheep collected in three days in Queens County, were delivered at New York Ferry to be sent to Albany by water, which were cheerfully given for the use of the army, now at or near Crown Point."
As the marshlands near here were a major sheep growing area, we can assume a fair share came from the local flocks.
The women were busy collecting cheeses to be sent along with the sheep. Knitting and other household activities are also mentioned on contemporary accounts.
Captured French soldiers were sent to Long Island to supplement the labor supply. Of more importance was the revival of privateering and its sister piracy that developed. New York Harbor and the neighboring ports of Freeport and East Rockaway must have been substantially affected.
The fall of Quebec was but an interlude in the time of turmoil. While the English had won the land from the French, forces had been set in motion that would carry on to ultimate independence. The colonists had been trained in military tactics. In many an instance the skill of the American with his hunting musket and his ability to act upon his own initiative in a coordinated effort had caused the militia to save the regular British units from disaster. The Americans had gained confidence in themselves and lost their awe of the "Regulars."
The quartering of troops among the people of Long Island with the unfortunate incidents that were bound to happen had raised barriers between many who thought of themselves as loyal British subjects and his Majesty's Army. The privateer business and free trade had given great impetus to local merchants. They were developing fast sailing vessels fair superior in speed and cargo capacity to the traditionally built vessels of the Old World.
Now England blindly clamped down. It was reasoned that the colonists should be heavily taxed to pay for England's expenses in defending them. The free trade of the war years must stop to give English merchants monopoly. The Revolution was the natural outgrowth.
The year 1775 found bitter differences between those who objected to British rule (Whigs) and those who remained loyal to the King's government (Tories). Governor Tyron found it safer to administer his office from a British warship in the harbor than to risk surprise attack by the Whigs.
A Provincial Congress was formed representing the Whig forces. Some of their resolutions are quite interesting. While strongly pledging their loyalty to the King, at the same time they firmly defied the taxes and other measures which they did not like. "We are very loyal to you, King George, but we will govern ourselves," seems to have been their position.
In May of 1775, the Provisional Congress received a letter from John Hancock calling upon the people to defend themselves against attack.
On June 25, 1775, as General Washington passed through New York on his way to assume command of the Army in Massachusetts, the Congress sent a letter to him pledging full support. Then, just to play it safe, it sent another letter to Governor Tyron in the outer harbor paying due honor to him. This was not as outright double dealing as it might seem. The Provisional Congress reflected the confusion of mind that prevailed. The people did want to be loyal to the King's government, but they also felt that they must stand up for their rights.
Governor Tyron on his part saw the situation rather clearly, for he wrote Lord Darmouth on July 4, 1775, "Oceans of blood may be spilled, but in my opinion America will never receive Parliamentary taxation." In behalf of the thousands who died and the many other thousands who suffered, it is regretted that such sound advice was disregarded. The voices of pride and ambition had the King's ear and events moved toward open war.
For a time, the revolutionaries or "Whigs" were in power in New York and on Long Island. The people of Suffolk seem to have been quite solidly behind the move for independence. Queens and the northern half of Nassau seem to have gone along, but the southern part, Hempstead Village, Raynorville, East Rockaway and Christian Hook were dominated by loyalist or "Tory" sentiment. This was doubtless in part due to the stable nature of the population and the general prosperous local conditions. It doubtless also reflects the influence of one of the most colorful and striking personalities of the time, namely Captain Richard Hewlett, whose home was just across the Mill River in East Rockaway.
He was an ardent loyalist, a Tory of deep conviction and with a will to fight for his cause. There gathered about him those of like mind and their number was increased by those who fled from Whig persecution elsewhere.
As the majority of surrounding areas became militantly rebellious and the forces of Revolution gained headway, Captain Hewlett and his followers became the hunted. The swamps and woodlands of Christian Hook were the hideouts of those pursued. Arms and supplies were hidden away, while secret couriers carried messages by boat to and from the British warships that stood off shore.
Men who expressed openly their loyalty to England became the targets of mobs. Many fled to the British ships and many were imprisoned by the "Whigs". Conditions in such prisons were extremely bad and the families of victims were cruelly treated.
Early summer of 1776 marked the open break with England and the transfer of the center of conflict from Boston to New York. Washington brought his Continental Army to Long Island as the place from which to defend the City.
The "Tory" adherents were really in trouble and the people generally were pressed to give or sell supplies for Washington's army. As South Hempstead was considered as "enemy territory" this became an almost complete confiscation of horses, cattle and produce.
Richard Hewlett, though in hiding, stood firm. He still felt that with a few men he could whip this young rebel, whom he had known as one of his subordinates in the French and Indian Wars. An elaborate plot for the capture of Washington was planned by Hewlett. It did not work out, but it gave the Whigs and Washington something to think about.
In August, the British landed a strong invading force and, with the excellent intelligence information provided by the Tories, did everything right for a change. In the Battle of Long Island, fought on August 27, 1776, Washington's Army was defeated by a larger force better trained for the Old World type of fighting that took place here. Washington was then in very great peril. The capture of his entire army was almost a routine matter with the large British fleet in the waters surrounding Long Island.
That night, rain and one of the "pea soup fogs" we know so well rolled over the land. The British took cover and relaxed in their security. The excellent intelligence which had been provided them failed in the crucial hour. Thus, Washington slipped away to Manhattan under cover of the night and morning following.
One incident reflects the narrowness of the escape. Mrs. John Rapalye, whose husband had been exiled by the Whigs and whose very house had been the subject of "accidental" cannon fire by practicing Continentals, found her home in the midst of the defeated Army. From her hiding she saw the men and supplies being loaded onto boats, and she realized what was happening. Knowing that would have no chance to get through the lines herself, she sent a slave to tip the British as to what was happening. The slave got though the line of Washington's Army and reached the British. He found himself amid the Hessians who could not understand him, and they somehow got the idea he was just an escaped slave, so they put him under guard for the night and until their convenience the next day. The British arrived as the last of Washington's troops crossed to safety.
From August 28, 1776 to the end of the war in 1783, Long Island was firmly in British hands. Now the tables were turned and the Tories were in control. Peter Ross in his "History of Long Island" states:
"They (Tories) availed themselves of the opportunity and added interest in the way of new cruelties and prison horrors that robs the story of their loyalty of all sense of nobleness, and has served to add only a new and sickening page to the history of human oppression and deviltry and persecution."
The School House in Christian Hook was taken over by a detachment of the 60th Regiment sent to the area to keep order and no doubt to back up the authority of Richard Hewlett. One can imagine the stir that their arrival made and what the effort was upon the school, which served all of South Hempstead. As is the case of any occupying army, there were incidents of pilfering and other violence.
The following quotations and fragments of history are offered as a means of showing the impacts of the war upon Christian Hook.
Daniel Bedell in his "Reminiscences of Men and Things on Long Island" states, "A half pay officer hung himself by a strip of linen at the Parsonage Barn."
The REVENUE, a Continental privateer, was run ashore in Reynolds Channel near Island Park by a British warship. Apparently the local papers were no more accurate then than now for a local resident insisted that The New York Gazette publish this corrected statement.
"As the account of the capture of the crew belonging to the rebel privateer sloop REVENUE, published in your paper of the tenth instance is wrong in several particulars, you will please insert the following: Thirteen of the militia of Loyal Queens County commanded by Ensign Elijah Wood, namely Joseph Mott, John Mott, Joseph Raynor, Elijah Raynor, Reuben Pine, Benjamin Pine, Benjamin Palmer, Abel Southard (who was wounded), Richard Green, Amos Shaw, Isaac Smith, Joseph Smith, William R. Smith, assembled and after a skirmish of six hours took ten of the rebels' prisoners together with their boat. Ensign Wood was then reinforced by 26 more, among whom were the following: Abraham Simonson, Joshua Pettit, James Pettit, William Pettit, William Pearsall, James Denton, Joseph Dorlon and Alexander Dunlop."
Those who are at all familiar with the recent past of Oceanside recognize many of these names as familiar. The century and a half which followed was marked by their leadership and our streets, named in their honor, bear witness to their contribution to the growth of the community.
Then, too, the fact that these people insisted that their names appear in public as having fought for the British side is clear evidence of the strong position which the residents of Christian Hook took in the War. Still, it was not a unanimous sentiment for there is an unpublished story of the other side.
It seems that somewhere near the mouth of Parsonage Creek one day, a party saw a man running down the marshes being pursued by Red Coats. As he was being chased toward the bay, the outcome was evident. "Who will help save him"" said Increase Pettit. No one wanted to become involved, so he added, "Then I will." And, jumping into his boat, he rowed hard for the point of land toward which the man was being driven. He arrived in the nick of time; the man jumped into the boat and Mr. Pettit pulled with all his might at the oars. The Red Coats came to the water's edge and raised their muskets, but for some reason did not fire. Perhaps they thought the distance too great, or they admired the gallant rescue. The refugee was secluded by Increase Pettit. He changed his name from Waite to Waite-Smith and in the years that followed became a very active farmer of the community. Not until a generation later, when the son of Increase Pettit wondered why the Waite-Smith family down the road was so very kind to him, did the full story of what had happened come out.
The following direct quotations from Mrs. Heinley's history of Oceanside reflect overall aspects of the war upon economic conditions:
"In every war opportunities present themselves for making huge profit. Many times opposing sides have to work together for mutual benefit. The Revolutionary War was no exception. 150 small boats plied the south shore taking fish, wild fowl and lumber to New York and returning with imported merchandise. There was little danger of being caught because the boats were small and light and could quickly and easily be pulled up into the tall grass and concealed. In this way more goods came than could be used by the Long Islanders so it was transported to the North Shore where it was again smuggled across to New England where it was accepted for sale. Officials of high and low degree on both sides were involved, but the business was so lucrative that it was allowed to continue."
In writing of the other side of the ledger, Mrs. Heinley states:
"Then, too, there was much marauding on the shore. Whale boats, used general for this illegal traffic, would many times come into the bays and up the inlets. The robbers and pilferers were often disappointed and disgusted at the absence of ‘loot.' They cursed the poverty of the residents, not knowing that valuables had been hidden behind bricks in the chimney and under floors. Constant vigils were kept from the housetops, and when a whale boat was seen in the distance a signal was sent and all valuables were hidden away."
At length, there came an end to the war. The British sailed out of New York Harbor and the Continentals took over. As a center of Tory activity, all South Hempstead felt the heavy hand of the victor and the now "Patriots" repaid with interest for the wrongs of the past seven years.
As the British left, they took with them 29,244 refugees, most of whom went to New Brunswick. Many died there, including Colonel Richard Hewlett. Later, his wife returned to Long Island and was able to reclaim a part of the estate.
In 1784, legislation was passed forever barring the Tories from holding any public office or of voting in an election. The predominantly Whig North Hempstead separated himself from the Tory south side, thus forming North Hempstead and Hempstead.
However, as Mrs. Heinley states so well,
"As is always the case, the stringent rules and regulations set up against the vanquished, in a few years disappeared. After the turmoil stirred up by the two factions had subsided, the next generation was again holding office, owning property and in general leading the destinies of the New America. Pettits, Pearsalls, Hewletts, DeMotts who for a few years had been besieged and tormented were again high in esteem and position. Town meetings continued and neighborhood hate subsided. But suffering, privation and early death had been the lot of a whole generation!"
