SUFFOLK COUNTY, which comprises about two thirds of Long Island, was organized in 1683, at which time the ridings were abolished, and Long Island was divided into three counties, as they have remained ever since.   It is about one hundred and ten miles in length, and in some parts twenty in width.   On the north side next the sound the land is considerably broken and hilly; in the interior, and on the south side it is mostly a sandy plain, covered for the greater part with forests of pine, in which the wild deer is still an inhabitant.   The county is not well watered, the streams being few and small.   The chief business of the inhabitants is agriculture and fishing; they also send large quantities of pine wood to market.   The original settlers of the county were mostly from New England, and the inhabitants have ever retained to a great degree the habits and manners of the Puritans.   The county is divided into 9 towns, all of which, except Riverhead, were organized in 1788.   Pop. 32,468.
    BROOKHAVEN, the largest town in the county, embraces the whole width of the island. It contains more than 103,000 acres, of which only about 35,000 are improved.   The greater part of the inhabitants are distributed along the villages on the sound and the ocean.   The. middle portion is for the most part covered with pine forests, in which deer abound.   Pop. 7,050.
    "The first settlement in the town was commenced at Setauket, in 1655, by which name the town was at first called. Most, if not all, the original planters came from Boston and itsvieinity. The civil affairs of the settlement were conducted by magistrates elected from among themselves, and by rules and ordinances adopted in the primary assemblies of the people. After the conquest of New York in 1664, a patent of confirmation for their purchases of the natives was obtained from Governor Nicol.   The first minister, Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, was settled here in 1665.   He was a grandson of Elder William Brewster, one of the founders of the Plymouth colony, who came over in the May Flower, in 1620.   Mr. Brewster died in 1690.   It would seem that from   e or some other infirmity, he was unable to discharge his pastoral duties for some years bore his death; for at a town meeting held, October 31, 1635, Samuel Ebume was chosen by vote to be minister of the town, and it being proposed unto him, that in regard of some tender consciences, he would omit the ceremony in the book of common prayer, the said Samuel promised, that according to their desire, in regard of their tender consciences, to omit and not use the aforesaid ceremonies in the public worship, except to such as should desire the wane.'   The next minister, Rev. George. Phillips, came to Setauket in 1697, and continued here till his death in 1739.   The next minister was Rev. David Youngs : his successor, Rev. Benjamin Tallmadge was settled here in 1754. Mr. Tallmadge was succeeded by Noah Wetmore, who came here in 1786: Rev. Zachariah Greene was his successor. The following relative to seating the meeting-house, recorded on the town books, is a curious relic of olden times:
    "At a meeting of the trustees of Brookhaven, August 6th, 1703: Whereas there hath been several rude actions of late happened in our church by reason of the people not being seated, which is much to the dishonor of God and the discouragement of virtue. For preventing the like again it is ordered that the inhabitants be seated after the manner and form following All freeholders that have or shall subscribe within a month to pay 40 shillings to Mr. Phillips towards his sallary shall be seated at the table, and that no women are permitted to set there except Col. Smith's lady, nor any women kind; And that the President for the time being shall sit in the right-hand seat under the pulpit, and the clerk on the left : the trustees in the front seat, and the Justices that are inhabitants of the town, are to be seated at the table, whether they pay 40 shillings, or less.   And the pew, No. 1, all such persons as have or shall subscribe 20 shillings; and the pew, No. 2, such as subscribe to pay 15 shillingss in pew, No. 3, such as subscribe to pay 10 shillings; No. 4, 8 shillings; No. 5,.12 shillings; No. 6, 9 shilangs; No. 7, for the young men; No. 8, for the boys; No. 9, for ministers' widows and wives and for those women whose husbands pay 40 shillings, to sit according, to their age ; No. 11, for those men's wives that pay from 20 to 15 shillings   The alley fronting the pews to be for such maids whose parents or selves shall subscribe for two, 6 shillings; No. 11, far those men's wives who pay from 10 to 15 shillings   No. 13, for maids; No. 14, for girls; and No. 15, free for any. Captain Clark and Joseph Cooker to settle the inhabitants according to the above order."
    Caroline church, in Setauket, the first Episcopal church on Long Island was erected in 1730.   This building, after having been repeatedly altered and repaired, is. still standing. The Congregational church at Old Mans, was first erected in 1720, and rebuilt m 1805.   The Presbytenan church was built in 1800, at Middletown, and another at Fire-place, in 1828 ; the first church at this latter place was erected in 1740. The first Congregational church at Patchogue was built in 1767, the present to 1822. The Methodist church at this place was erected in 1830. The Baptist church at Corurm has stood about ninety years. The Methodist church at Stonybrook was erected in 1817.
    Setauket, the oldest and one of the most populous villages in the town, received its name from its being the residence of the Seatalcott tribe of Indians.   It is situated on both sides of the harbor, occupying about two square miles.   The village of Stonybrook is on the western side of the town adjoining the sound, and has one of the best harbors in this part of the island.   There are about 60 dwellings ; shipbuilding to a considerable extent is carried on in this place.   Port Jefferson and Millers Place are small villages.
    Corum is near the centre of the town, and has been the seat of the town business for more than 60 years. It is a small village containing about 150 inhabitants. In, or near the village, the British had accumulated a large quantity of forage in the winter of 1780, which was destroyed by Colonel Tallmadge, a native of Setauket. The plan of this expedition was approved of by a communication from General Washington.
    "In pursuance of this communication, Major Tallmadge ordered the detachment to repair to F airfield.   Here being met by other troops, the party embarked, the 21st of November, 1780, at four o'clock, P. M., in eight whale-boats.   The whole number, including the crews of the boats amounted to eighty men.   They crossed the sound in four hours, and landed at old Mans at nine o'clock.   The troops had marched about five miles, when it began to rain, they returned, and took shelter under their boats, and lay concealed in the bushes all that night and the next day.   At evening the rain abating, the troops were again put in motion, and at three o'clock in the morning were within two miles of the fort.   Here he divided his men into three parties, ordering each to attack the fort at the same time at diflcrent points.   The order was so well executed, that the three divisions arrived nearly at the same moment.   It was a triangular enclosure of several acres, strongly stockaded, well barricaded houses at two of the angles, and at the third a fort, with a deep ditch and wall, encircled by an abatis of sharpened pickets, projecting at an angle of forty-five degrees.   The stockade was cut down, the column led through the grand-parade, and in ten minutes the main fort was carried by the bayonet.   The vessels near the fort, laden with stores, attempted to escape, but the guns of the fort being brought to bear upon them, they were secured and burnt, as were the works and stores.   The number of prisoners was fifty-four, of whom seven were wounded.   While they were marched to the boats under an escort Major Tallmadge proceeded with the remainder of his detachment, destroyed about three hundred tons of hay collected at Corum, and returned to the place of debarkation just as the party with the prisoners had arrived, and reached Fairfield by eleven o'clock the same evening; having accomplished the enterprise, including a march of forty miles by land and as much by water. without the loss of a man.   Congress passed a resolve complimentary to the commander and troops engaged in this expedition, which was said by them to have been  landed and conducted with wisdom and great gallantry by Major Tallmadge, and execute with intrepidity and complete success by the officers and soldiers of his detachment."

    The peninsula of Montauk contains 9,000 acres.   The land is owned by about forty individuals, as tenants in common.   The Indians have non-fructuary interest in a portion of the land; but as the race is nearly extinct, this incumbrance must be of short duration. The soil is generally good, and is used as pasture land.   The surface is rough, and in some places precipitous.   " There is a sublimity and wildness, as well as solitariness here, which leave a powerful impression on the heart.   In a storm, the scene which the ocean presents is awfully grand and terrific. On the extreme point stands the tall white column erected by the government for a lighthouse in 1795, at an expense of $22,300.   It is constructed of stone, in the most substantial manner."   Within five or six miles of this place the Spanish schooner Amistad, in possession of a company of African slaves, was captured and carried into New London.   The following particulars respecting the schooner, &c., was written by one of the officers of the United States brig Washington.-

New London, August 26, 1839.
    "While this vessel was sounding this day between Gardiner's and Montauk Points, a schooner was seen lying in-shore off Culloden Point, under circumstances so suspicious as to authorize Lieutenant-commandant Gedney to stand in to see what was her character. Seeing a number of people on the beach with carts and horses, and a boat passing to and fro, a boat was armed and despatched with an officer to board her. On coming alongside, a number of negroes were discovered on her deck, and twenty or thirty more were on the beach-two white men came forward and claimed the protection of the officer.   The schooner proved to be the Amtistad,' Captain Ramonffues, from the Havanna, bound to Guanajah, Port Principe, with 54 blacks and two passengers on board; the former four nights after they were out, rose and murdered the captain and three of the crew-they then took possession of the vessel, with the intention of returning to the coast of Africa.   Pedro Montez, passenger, and Jose Ruiz, owner of the slaves and a part of the cargo, were only saved to navigate the vessel. After boxing about for four days in the Bahama channel, the vessel was steered for the Island of St. Andrews, near New Providence-from thence she went to Green Key, where the blacks laid in a supply of water.   After leaving this place the vessel was steered by Pedro Montez for New Providence, the negroes being under the impression that she was steering for the coast of Africa-they would not however permit her to enter the port, but anchored every night off the coast.   The situation of the two whites was all this time truly deplorable, being treated with the greatest severity, and Pedro Montez who had charge of the navigation was suffering from two severe wounds, one on the head and one on the arm, their lives being threatened every instant.   He was ordered to change the course again for the coast of Africa, the negroes themselves steering by the sun in the daytime, while at night he would alter their
course so as to bring   them back to their original place of destination.   They remained three days off Long Island., to the eastward of Providence, after which time they were two months on the ocean, sometimes steering to the eastward, and whenever an occasion would permit, the whites would alter the course to the northward and westward, always in hopes of falling in with some vessel of war, or being enabled to run into some port, when they would be relieved from their horrid situation.
    "Several times they were boarded by vessels; once by an American schooner from Kingston; on these occasions the whites were ordered below, while the negroes communicated and traded with the vessels; the schooner from Kingston supplied them with a demijohn of water for the moderate sum of one doubloon-this schooner, whose name was not ascertained, finding that the negroes had plenty of money, remained lashed alongside the  Amistad for twenty four hours, though they must have been aware that all was not right on board, and probably suspected the character of the vessel-this was on the eighteenth of the present month; the vessel was steered to the northward and westward, and on the 20th instant, distant from New York 25 miles, the pilot-boat No. 3 came alongside and gave the negroes some apples. She was also hailed by No. 4; when the latter boat came near, the negroes armed themselves and would not permit her to board them ; they were so exasperated with the two whites for bringing them so much out of their way, that they expected every moment to be murdered.   On the 24th they made Montauk light, and steered for it in the hope of running the vessel ashore, but the tide drifted them up the bay, and they anchored where they were found by the brig Washington, off Culloden point. The negroes were found in communication with the shore, where they laid in a fresh supply of water, and were on the point of sailing again for the coast of Africa.   They had a good eupply of money, some of which it is likely was taken by the people on the beach.   After disarming and sending them on board from the beach, the leader jumped overboard with three hundred doubloons about him, the property of the captain, all of which he succeeded in losing from his person, and then submitted himself to be captured.   The schooner was taken in tow by the brig and carried into New London." The Africans were afterward taken to New Haven; and an investigation was had before the United States court at Hartford. In January, 1840, their case was tried before the United States district court.   Judge Judson decided that they should be delivered up to the President of the United States to be sent back to Africa.   The United States attorney having appealed from this decision, the case was referred to the Supreme Court, at Washington, which set in January, 1841.   This court declared the freedom of the Africans.
    HUNTINGTON, the westernmost town in the county, is bounded on the N. by the sound, and S. by the ocean.   The surface in the N. is rough and hilly, in the centre a high sandy plain, covered with pines and shrub oaks.   The South Bay has on its northern shore a strip of salt meadow nearly a mile wide.   The soil near the sound, and particularly upon the necks, is the best in the town.   Pop. 6,562.   The earliest deed for land in this town was given to Gov. Eaton, of New Haven, for Eaton's Neck, in 1646, the first Indian deed to the original settlers of Huntington, and comprised six square miles.
    "In an early period of the settlement, in this town as well as in others, almost all domestic trade was carried on by means .of exchange. Contracts were made to be satisfied in produce, and even the judgments given m the courts, were made payable in grain, at fixed prices, or in merchantable pay at the current price.   The prices were established by the governor and court of assize ; and in 1665 the assessors were ordered to fix an estimate tbr stock.   Accordingly, a horse or mare four years old and upward, was to be taken in pay at twelve. pounds; a cow four years old and upward, at five pounds; an ox or bull of the same age, at six pounds; and other articles, as pork wheat, corn, &c., at proportionate prices.   In the draft of a. contract between the town and a schoolmaster in 1651, the salary was to be paid in current pay; and in 1686 the town contracted with a. carpenter to make an addition to the meeting-house, to be paid in produce.   Even executions issued by the magistrates, were satisfied in the same way.   At a town meeting, April 4, 1661, it was agreed that a firkin of butter should be paid in, at Stephen Jarvis's house, by the middle of June, for the sati.4'action of a debt due from ye town to Ensigne Briant.'   The more eflectually to preserve the public morals, the people excluded from society those whom they thought likely to injure them.   In 1662, they appointed, by a vote at town meeting, a committee, consisting of the minister and six of their most respectable citizens, to examine the characters of hose coming to settle among them; with power to admit or reject, as they judged most likely to benefit or injure society, with a proviso, that they should not exclude any ` that were honest, and well approved by honest and judicious men and forbid any inhabitant to sell or let house or land to any one not approved by the committee, under the penalty of ten pounds, to be paid to the town.   In 1653, the town forbade any inhabitant to entertain a certain obnoxious individual longer than the space of a week, either gratuitously or for pay, under the penalty of forty shillings."
    In 1660, the town put themselves under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and in 1662, elected two deputies to attend the general court at Hartford.   The connection was dissolved on the conquest of New York, in 1664.   The first minister of the town was William Leveridge, who was established here 1658.   He was succeeded by Rev. Eliphalet Jones in 1677.   Mr. Jones was succeeded by Ebenezer Prime, who died in 1779, who was succeeded by Rev. Nathan Woodhull, and the latter by the Rev. William Schenck.
    The following shows the appearance of the village of Huntington as it is entered from the westward. The Presbyterian church and academy are seen in the distance, near the central part of the engraving. The Universalist church is seen near the burying ground on the right. There are about one hundred dwellings in the vicinity of the churches.   A newspaper is published in this place.   This village is 40 miles W. from Riverhead, and about 45 from New York.   The thriving village of Babylon, 40 miles from New York, on the south side of the island, in full view of the bay and ocean, contains about 250 inhabitants.   It is situated upon Sunquams Neck, and has a fine stream of water on either side, upon which mills have long been erected.   The village of Little Cow Harbor is now called Centre Port, and the name of Great Cow Harbor changed to North Port. The steamer Lexington was burnt near Eaton's Neck, Jan. 13, 1840. ISLIP.   This town, on the S. side of the island, is centrally distant about 45 miles from New York.   It received its name from the first settlers, many of whom came from Islip, in Oxfordshire, England. It has a level surface and a light and sandy soil, rendered productive by manures of sea-weed and fish.   The bay on the south is 4 or 5 miles wide, containing an inexhaustible variety of fish, and is visited by a vast number of wildfowl. Pop. 1,909. The extensive domain known as Nicol's Patent, includes more than sixty square miles of land, and has, since its first purchase from the Indians in 1683 by William Nicol, been by successive entailment preserved as one estate.

The above fac-simile is taken from the deed. given by Richard Smith to his grandson Obadiah; from which it appears that he spelt his name unlike his posterity.

    "Rlchard Smith, patentee of Smithtown, made his will March 5th, 1691, and died soon after. His will was proved, 1692. IIe gave to Lodovica Updike all his homestead, as far south as was then fenced in, with his Sagoge land, on condition of surrendering his Wesi Quoge farm. To Daniel and James Updike the land south of Wickford, then occupied by Jacob Pindor and John Thomas.   To Israel and James Newton, the West Quoge farm.   To Thomas Newton, Hay Island and his house in Bristol.   To Elizabeth Pratt, alias Newman, the Boston neck land, on which Alexander King lived.   He gave legacies to Richard, son of Lodovica Updike, and Smith, son of Thomas Newton, &c., &c., leaving his town on Long Island to his seven children in equal shares.   His son, Obadiah, was drowned in crossing Nessaquake river, August 20th, 1690, and six sons and a daughter survived him, as follows : Jonathan, who married Mary Brewster, who left two children-Richard, who married Elizabeth Tucker, and left 5 children-Job, who married Elizabeth Thompson, and left 7 children-Adam, who married Elizabeth Brown and left I child-Samuel, who married Hannah Longbotham, and left 6 children-Daniel, who married Ruth Tucker, and left 7 children-and Deborah, who married William Lawrence, and left 6 children.
    "On the 13th March, 1735, his grandchildren entered into an agreement to divide the town according to the proprietary rights of their parents, the seven children, and it was surveyed and laid out in pursuance of such agreement.
    "Smith was buried at Nessaquake, near his residence, on land now or late in the possession of Jesse W. Floyd."
    "It is probable," says Thompson, in his History of Long Island, "that horses were very rare during the first settlement of this town, or that they had not as yet been introduced; which accounts for Mr. Smith's having made use of a large bull for many purposes for which horses were afterward used, which occasioned him to be designated as the buU-rider, and his posterity to this day as the Bull Smiths, while the descendants of Col. William Smith of Brookhaven are as familiarly known as the Tangier Smiths, he having once filled the office of governor of Tangier. There are also upon the island two other distinct races of families by the name of Smith, the one called Rock Smiths and the other Blue Smiths, the origin of which is matter of conjecture.   Many singular traits of character, and not a few strange stories, are related concerning this famous progenitor of the Smiths of Smithtown, the records of which have too much the semblance of fiction to be worth perpetuating "
    The first minister of the town was the Rev. Abner Reeve, who was employed here about 173.5.   Ile was the father of the Hon. Tappan Reeve, the founder of the celebrated law school at :Litchfield, Conn.   His successor, the Rev. Napthali Daggett, was settled here in 1751.   Mr.Daggett afterward became President of Yale College.   The next clergymen were Thomas Lewis, Joshua Hart, and Luther Gleason.
    "In a note to Moulton's History of New York, it is stated that an obituary appeared in a newspaper, printed in 1739, of the death of a negro at Smithtown, Long Island, reputed to have been one hundred and forty years old, who declared that he well remembered when there were but three houses in New York. The memory, therefore, of this remarkable individual must, have extended back to the first settlement of New Amsterdam, (as New York was then called) in 1626'."
    SOUTHAMPTON, called by the natives Agawam, was settled in 1640, principally by about forty families from Lynn, Mass.   Its name was given in remembrance of Southampton, Eng.   The surface of the township is generally level, in the W. and N. the soil is light and sandy, in the S. mixed with loam, and when properly manured, produces good crops.   Pop. 6,205.   The people of this town early sought an alliance with Connecticut, and were received into their jurisdiction in 1644.   They were represented by deputies in the general court at Hartford.   The Rev. Abraham Pierson was the first minister; he was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Fordham in 1649, who was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Taylor in 1680, and Rev. Joseph Whiting in 1682.   Rev. Samuel Gelston settled here in 1'717, and remained about 10 years.
    The village of Southampton is built on a single street, 18 miles from Riverhead. Bridgehampton, Westhampton, Good Ground, Flanders Speunk, Quogue, Canoe Place, and Beaverdam, are names of localities and villages.   Shinnecock, or Southampton bay, is a fine sheet of water, 10 miles long, and from 3 to 4 wide.   The territory of Shinnecock, containing some thousands of acres, is little else than a collection of sand hills.   A small remnant of the Shinnecock tribe of Indians still linger on the SE. part of this tract, where they have a small church and a few dwellings.