Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1887 — From Way Down East. [ARTICLE]

From Way Down East.

East HAMILTON., I LtiNc/TsIIAND. N. Y. ( 4* . September 2; 18s7. Editor Republican. ’ Thinking n lines from, this old town might interest some of your readers, 1 concluded th give yon a little description of my visit. This place is beautifully situated the east end of the Island, one hundred, mile's from New York city and twenty hiih-s from Montauk Po|ut, and about ’• mile from the Atlantic e.> t. While 1 am writing 1 can hear the breakers on the shore. The first settlement | was matfe here in U'>|9. by English I Presbyterians, who left England on account of religious peisecution. It is principally built on one street, ajjput two miles long. At each end of the Village Is-JMJ pld-fasllii 'in i t Holland wind-mill, a grave yard I and a goose pond. 1 visited Loth grave yards, and saw some very ancient tomb stopes'.. The ol,dest one 1 saw was over the grave of Rev. David .James, who died in IffilS, their first'minister, who had served them faithfully for 50 years, and his request was that lie be buried with his head facing the east so that on the resurrection day’ he could face his congregation without turning round. In this graveyard are the. graves of 28 men who were lost in storms on two different occasions, their bodies were carried into shore and buried here.

There are a number of very old houses built of wood, one the the second door east of die parsonage-, 'built 250 years ago. and said to be the one where John Howard EPayne the author -of “Home Sweet Home” was boni. At the extreme east end of the village is a settlement of colored people called Fiee-town. They _aie—desceßdents-of negroes who were in slavery, when it was permitted to hold slaves in this state. In company, with my sister Broth-er-in-law and nephew, I visited Gardners bay where wh had an excellent view of Gardners Island, which has been held in one family <nd their descendants since 1G39. .Thu-quu-sent’ owner belongs to ■ the 10th generation. In company with my niece 1 took a surf bath, and enjoyed it very much. There was aliuut 100 persons'in bathing nt the time. I am going this - m<mning to see thH if e saving cre w practice on the bealch. There are two churches in the village and the people are very attentive to their religious duties, [ saw a church buildings in Freetown, owned by the poor colored people, that would put to shame -onio of the churches in ■•’Rensselaer. Will leave today for New York, by way of Sag Harbor, will take a boat and go down Long Island sound to New York and have a magnificent view of the south side of Long Island and the Connecticut shore.

J. W. W.