Manor of St. George

Introduction

The Manor of St. George was established in 1696 by Colonel William Tangier Smith, who was an early settler of Brookhaven. After 1683, Smith arrived on Long Island and was granted a large tract of land from Long Island Sound to the South Shore, and established himself as a leading citizen of Suffolk County. He kept important records relating to Native American laborers and whalers in what is called “The Pigskin Book,” documenting work transactions between him and local Unkechaug natives from 1696 – 1721. After Smith’s death in 1705, occasional entries were made including indenture agreements for African American and Native American children. The book became an important research document pertaining to Long Island Indians and whaling during an earlier period when small, twenty-eight foot cedar boats carrying six-man crews hunted whales within a few miles of the shore.

Reverend Peter John Cuffee, a preacher sometimes referred to as “Priest Peter” and an Unkechaug native, worked and lived at the manor. He was born in Hay Ground, near Bridgehampton, in 1712. After being converted in 1744, he served the Christian ministry following Samsom Occums departure of Long Island. He worked with Indian communities as far west as Islip, founded several churches, and was given a commission by the New York Missionary Society to preach to the Shinnecock. Peter John preached for fifty-six years until his grandson and successor was brought into the missionary – Reverend Paul Cuffee, who was a member of the Shinnecock tribe in Southampton. He died at the age of eighty-eight and was buried on the Poosepatuck Indian Reservation in Mastic, NY.

History

1688

With the help and advice of New York Gov. Dongan, Col. William Smith began to acquire land in southeastern Brookhaven Town in 1688. In May of 1691, a tract of land eastward from Connecticut (Carman’s) River to the Mastic (Forge) River was purchased from the Indian, John Mayhew. A patent for this land was granted by New York Gov. Fletcher on Oct. 9, 1693. This included the beachfront from Huntington East Gut (Old Inlet) to “Cuptwauge” (Cupsogue) at the Southampton Town line. This included the islands near the beach. This property ran north to what today is Middle Country Road (NYS Rt. 25). These lands were confirmed under the title of St. George’s Manor. ¹

1712-1715

Peter John Cuffee, grandfather of Shinnecock Reverend Paul Cuffee (1757-1812) was born in Hayground, NY. He converted to Congregationalism in the Great Revival of 1741-44 and became a minister.

He established churches at Wading River, Poosepatuck, Islip, and Canoe Place (Hampton Bays).

He lived at the Manor of St. George.

1.  http://brookhavensouthhaven.org/history/manorstgeorge/st_george_manor.htm[↩]

Land Loss

In May of 1691, a tract of land eastward from Connecticut (Carman’s) River to the Mastic (Forge) River was purchased from Unkechaug Indian, John Mayhew. A patent for this land was granted by New York Gov. Fletcher on Oct. 9, 1693.

This included the beachfront from Huntington East Gut (Old Inlet) to “Cuptwauge” (Cupsogue) at the Southampton Town line. This included the islands near the beach. This property ran north to what today is Middle Country Road. These lands were confirmed under the title of St. George’s Manor.