Richard Woodhull
was an important man in the early life of Brookhaven town and was
the surveyor for the colony and as often entrusted with important
commissions. He was born in Northamptonshire, England Sept. 13,
1620 and located in Brookhaven town in 1657 at Setauket. He was
appointed a magistrate for the town by the court at Hartford on May
16, 1661, and held this position for many years. He was appointed to
many offices and acted on many important commissions. One of the
most important of these was that masterly stroke of diplomacy by
which he secured from the Indians the title to the northern part of
Brookhaven town and freed it from the complication of Indian claims
under which it was liable to fall. Following is a copy of this old
Indian deed, from Stony Brook to Wading River.
“Know all men by
these presents that I Gie of Setaokit, Sachem, and now living in
Setauket in the East Riding of Yorkshire, with all my Associates
That have been the Native proprietors of all the lands of Setauket,
Doth fullya and absolutely Ratify and confirm unto the patentees and
their Associates of Brookhaven alles Setaket: all those parssells of
land that have been bought of any of us or our Anchestors; That is
to say from the west lyne yt Rons from Stony Brook to ye North sea
and south to ye middle of the island, and so to extend to the head
of the Wading River or Red Brook and to the middle of the island
south and so to the north or Sound. I say I Gie doth for myself and
my Assosiates or any that have anything to do with any part or
parsell of land within the lyne above menchened of all that the
Inhabitance have purchased. Doth for ourselves or haires and
assignes Rattifle and confarme unto the inhabitance of Setaket, to
them, theire haires exacutors, administrators and assignes, All
uplands, medoes, timber, treese, with all harbors, creeks,
ponds-fishing, fouling, hunting, with all and singular priviledges
or proffitts any way Doe or shall Belong unto the said tract of land
above menchened, To have and to hold what part or parsill of land
that is within the above said Boundes, yt is to say from west lyne
Stony Brook to ye est lyne the Wadeing River and south to ye middle
of ye Island and North to the Sound, that is ytt onpurchased, I Gie
of Seetokit sachem, myself and my coe partners and associates doth
fully give unto Mr. Richard Woodhull whatsoever upland or madowes,
timber and trees with all and singular prevlidges from us, our Hairs
or any that shall come after us to him the said Mr. Richard
Woodhull, to whom he shall dispose it to him, them, and theire
haires forever to have and to holdwithout Lett or molestation, And
to the full and absolute confermation of all the above said premises
and every part of them we doe Hereunto sett our hands and seal this
nineteen day of November 1675.” Sealed saigned and delivered in the
presence of us
Robert Philipson
Richard Mann
Gy X
his mark
Massetuse X his mark
John
Mahue X his mark
Nasseceage X his mark
Achedons X his mark
Coraway X his mark
On the 23 of November 1675
Richard Woodhull deeded to the town all the above tract of land
which had been deeded to him by the Indians as follows, “I Richard
Woodhull have for my selve my hairs, administrators and assigns
drfly give and make over all that right and title given to me by rhe
Indians to the Inhabettents of Brookhaven, alles Setakett, to them
theire haires and assigns to have and to hold, and to the true
confermation of the same I doe hereunto sett my hand this 23 of
November 1675.”
Richard Woodhull.