A VERY EARLY MAP
of
MASTIC
Charles Jefferey Smith was just 12 years old, his neighbor
Henry Nichol was only 3 and although General Nathaniel Woodhull
was already in his grave for forty years, you most likely could
still easily read his headstone, when William Damerum published
this map in 1815 of the Southern Part of The State Of New York,
including Long Island, the sound, and the State of Conneticut
and more.
I found it in the
David Rumsey Collection online which allows you to zoom in
on parts and really study the lay of the land. And this map was
a gem for not only what was on it but also what wasn't.
With that said lets
take a look at what you came here for .....
Amazing Stuff!
Just three roads heading
south off South Country Road. Smith Road straight down the east
bank of Connecticut River to an unmarked Manor Of St. George (what
was that all about? Did the Smiths run surveyor Damerum off their
land?) A road straight to Doctor Robert's (notice there is no
Pattersquash Creek or Island but there are TWO large buildings)
and last but certainly not least a road to FLOYDS! Geez never
heard of the town of Floyd.....nor Carmans for that matter but
Sam Carman's mill and William Floyd's plantation must of been
the major centers of activity in this area then. Also noticibly
absent is the Mastic River. There is a creek called Murmades over
near Centre Moriches but there isn't ANY MORICHES,,,CENTER, EAST
or WEST
When I was growing
up sometimes I'd hear a derogratory name used to describe the
county seat of Riverhead. I was amazed to see a more "politically
correct" term used for part of it 188 years ago. Bigotry
has deep roots.
OUT UNDER A WINTER
SKY ON A LATE JANUARY AFTERNOON AT THE FLOYDS IN 2003.
TIMELESS
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