Revolutionary War Patriots Buried
in Brookhaven and South Haven Hamlets,
Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York

DRAFT - Incomplete - 02 July 2008

Documentation has been found for BOLDED names.  Huson has been used to develop a preliminary list, which is being compared against primary sources, such as Mather and Roberts.


BARTOW (BARTEAU), NATHAN ROSE
(son of Capt. Nathan Rose, he took his mother’s surname).
Burial: #29 Barteau Cemetery, South Haven.
Source: Mather

He signed the Town of Brookhaven Association of 17 May 1775, Third Company (Capt. Nathan Rose.) The Associators chose Selah Strong in the presence of William Smith, Nathaniel Woodhull, and Josiah Smith. Other Rose's signing at the same time were Jesse (his uncle), Nathan (Capt.) [his father], Nathan Jr, [present] and Thomas (Lt.) [his uncle]. While not confirmed, the evidence of the Association is that he likely served under his brother in the Third Company, First Regiment of Suffolk County.
[He was not found in Roberts.]

HAWKINS, NATHAN (Nathaniel)
Born about 1752 - Died Aug. 31,1823.
Burial: #39 Nathaniel Hawkins Cemetery, Brookhaven.
Source: Huson

[He was not found in Mather or Roberts. Hawkins does not record his Revolutionary War involvement; records name as Nathaniel.]

HAWKINS, ZACHARIAH
Born 1715 - Died 1800.
Burial:  #39 Nathaniel Hawkins Cemetery, Brookhaven.
Sources: Hawkins, Huson, Mather

          Ralph Clymer Hawkins Notes: "Zachariah settled at Oak Island on the Smith Patent, east of Yaphank, and north of where now is the L.I.R.R. on the road [old Upton Rd.] to site of Camp Upton [now Brookhaven National Laboratory]. Later he moved into the Glover house further south on the same property, just east of Carman's Mill, on the east side of Carman River, north of the railroad at South Haven. Just south of the railroad on the east side of the river was Zach's Landing, named after this Zachariah Hawkins, probably because it was from here that he shipped to New York City the cord wood that he cut nearby, there being an inlet at this time from the ocean to the bay just west of Smith's Point. It was also probably near this landing in the woody swamp by the river that Zachariah hid the horses and cattle of General John Smith during the American Revolution to prevent their capture by the British. Zachariah had been placed in charge of the General's extensive property at Smith's Point at St. George's Manor or Tangier. In 1796 he was living again at Oak Island according to the will of William Smith of the Manor of St. George at Smith's Point. In addition to furthering the efforts of General Smith during the Revolution, Zachariah as a patriot signed the Association Papers June 8, 1775, and again in May, 1776. He died about 1800 on the Smith property at South Haven and letters of administration of his estate were granted May 5, 1800, to his son Nathaniel and his grandson Zachariah Hawkins."
          [Huson recorded that Zachariah Hawkins was interred in the "Fireplace Cemetery." By this I have assumed that he meant the "Nathaniel" Hawkins Cemetery, now badly vandalized, as this appears to be the oldest "Hawkins" cemetery in the hamlet. No other indication of his burial site has been found. However, his son Nathaniel, after whom the cemetery is named, is documented as being interred in this cemetery. Nathaniel was an executor of Zachariah's estate, and it seems reasonable that Zachariah also would be interred in the "Fireplace" family cemetery.]
He signed the Town of Brookhaven (Middle Island, Fourth Company Limits) Association of 8 June 1775, witnessed by Ebenezer Dayton, clerk. His son Zachariah and Nathaniel refused to sign. He was on the list of Associators sent to Col. Nathaniel Woodhull on 17 Aug 1775 by Richard Woodhull and Samuel Thompson, Committeemen.
          [Because of his age, it seems unlikely that he served an active role in a field fighting force, or had a formal rank in the military.]
          [While a Zachariah was found in Roberts enlisted in the Line, Fourth Regiment, Col. James Holmes, there is no indication that it is the present Zachariah..]

HOMAN, MORDECAI
Born 1757-1759. Died April 6, 1829.
Burial: Originally interred in the #80 Homan Cemetery (abandoned) in South Haven. Later removed to #21 Oaklawn Cemetery, Brookhaven.
Sources: Husan, Mather

          [Which of the three Mordecai's who signed the Association that date was the present Mordecai is not entirely clear. However, most likely it was Mordecai 3d. The present Mordecai would have been about age eighteen when he signed the Association, too young to himself have had a son of age to sign. As a hypothesis, the other Mordecai's might have been his father and grandfather; Joseph Homan might have been the father to Letita Homan, who became the wife of Thomas Ellison (the elder, grandfather to "Big Tom" Ellison). That these Homan's were at South (southern Brookhaven Town, NY -- the vicinity of Fire Place and South Haven hamlets) is likely, given that Capt. Nathan Rose (of Fire Place) was the company officer, and that the witnesses and other names on the list were at South.]
          Mordecai was also found on the Pay Roll of Lt. Isaac Davis' Company (probably earlier than the above Association as some on the list also appeared on the above Association. His name was recorded as Mordica and he received 0-6-2 (six shillings, two pence).
           A Mordecai Homan also appears on the Town of Brookhaven Association of 8 June 1775, Fourth Company Limits, witnessed by Ebenezer Dayton, clerk. Many of the names on this list are recognized as being from the Middle Island area.
         
[He was not found in Roberts.]
          [A brass D.A.R. plaque has been provided for Mordecai's grave site.]

HOMAN, ISAAC
Born about 1765 - Died 8 Dec 1814
Burial: Said originally to have been interred in the #29 Barteau Cemetery in Brookhaven Hamlet.  Later removed to #49 Old Baptist Cemetery, Yaphank, NY
Source: Huson

[I have a suspicion that Isaac Homan was not originally interred in the Barteau Cemetery.  I think there may have been a clerical error when the entry was recorded in the Town Historian's database -- cemetery 029 was entered instead of 049.  Other such errors were known to have occurred.  Huson when he conducted  his research found Isaac Homan in the record for Barteau Cemetery, and recorded it as such.  My understanding is that by 1939, when the Town of Brookhaven Historian's survey was actually conducted, the Baptist Cemetery was largely abandoned. It seems unlikely that a gravestone would be moved there between 1939 and 1971 when Dayton and Carter conducted an inventory and found it there.  I believe that the Town Historian's office still has the original cemetery inventory work sheets.]

HOWELL, JONATHAN
Born about 1758 - Died Sept. 23,1840.
Burial: Originally interred in the #80 Homan Cemetery (abandoned) in South Haven. Later removed to #21 Oaklawn Cemetery, Brookhaven.
Sources: Roberts

          Jonathan Howell is recorded as having been enlisted in Col. Josiah Smith’s First Regiment of the Suffolk County Militia (Minute Men).

HULSE, DAVID
Born 1755--Died May 4,1808?
Burial: Originally interred #29 Barteau Cemetery in South Haven. Removed to Cedar Hill Cemetery, Port Jefferson.

KETCHAM, SCUDDER
Born about 1741 - Died Jan. 6,1799.
Burial: #30 Rose Family Cemetery, Brookhaven
Source: Huson

          [He was not found in Mather or Roberts.]

RIDER, BARNABAS, FIFER
Born about 1761 - Died Oct. 8, 1830.
Burial: #29 Barteau Cemetery, South Haven.
Sources: Huson, Mather

          It is likely that this is the "Barnardus Rider, Fif." recorded in Mather as being on the Pay Roll of Capt. William Ludlum's (10th) Company of Militia, in Col. Josiah Smith's Regiment, in Queens County.
         
[He was not found in Roberts.]

ROSE, REV. DAVID "PRIEST ROSE"
Born Dec. 11,1736 - Died Jan. 1,1799.
Burial: #04 South Haven Church Cemetery
Source: Huson, Mather, Roberts

Served as minister at South Haven and Middletown (Middle Island) from 1766 to 1799. His church at South Haven was misused by British during the war. He signed the Assn. in 1775. He signed the Town of Brookhaven Association of 17 May 1775, Third Company (Capt. Nathan Rose.) The Associators chose Selah Strong in the presence of William Smith, Nathaniel Woodhull, and Josiah Smith. He is recorded as being enlisted in the Suffolk County Militia, Col. Josiah Smith's First Regiment of Minute Men. His family became refugees to Conn. After the war he was a leader in rehabilitating and rebuilding the southern part of the Town of Brookhaven.
          [A modern memorial monument has been provided]

ROSE, JESSE
Born 30 Dec 1738 - Died 2 Oct 1821.
Burial: #30 Rose Family Cemetery, Brookhaven
Source: Mather

          He signed the Town of Brookhaven Association of 17 May 1775, Third Company (Capt. Nathan Rose.) The Associators chose Selah Strong in the presence of William Smith, Nathaniel Woodhull, and Josiah Smith. Rose's signing at the same time were Jesse [present], Nathan (Capt.) [his brother], Nathan Jr, [his nephew] and Thomas (Lt.) [his brother]. While not confirmed, the evidence of the Association is that he likely served under his brother in the Third Company, First Regiment of Suffolk County.
         
[He was not found in Roberts.]

ROSE, CAPT. NATHAN, JR.
Born about 1731 - Died Oct.21, 1793.
Burial: #30 Rose Family Cemetery, Brookhaven
Sources: Huson, Mather

          He signed the Town of Brookhaven Association of 17 May 1775, Third Company (Capt. Nathan Rose.) The Associators chose Selah Strong in the presence of William Smith, Nathaniel Woodhull, and Josiah Smith. Other Rose's signing at the same time were Jesse [his brother], Nathan (Capt.) [present], Nathan Jr, [his son] and Thomas (Lt.) [his brother].
          On 5 April 1776, his company was under the command of Col. William Floyd, and had a total of 113 men (1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 1 clerk, 1 drummer, 1 fifer, and 98 privates) making it the third largest company in Col. Floyd's First Regiment of Suffolk County. Col Floyd reported to the Provincial Congress that "the Regiment is about two thirds furnished with bayonets and the others are getting them as fast as they can get them made; they are furnished with half pound of powder and two pound of ball per man; and a magazine in the Regiment to furnish them with about as much more when it shall be wanted. They are pretty industrious in fixing their accoutrements , and I hope in a short time they will be tolerably well prepared."
         
[He was not found in Roberts.]
          [A modern memorial monument has been provided]

ROSE, LIEUT. THOMAS
Born Sept. 27,1736 - Died April 3,1780.
Burial: #30 Rose Family Cemetery, Brookhaven
Sources: Huson, Mather

          He signed the Town of Brookhaven Association of 17 May 1775, Third Company (Capt. Nathan Rose.) The Associators chose Selah Strong in the presence of William Smith, Nathaniel Woodhull, and Josiah Smith. Other Rose's signing at the same time were Jesse [his brother], Nathan (Capt.) [his brother], Nathan Jr, [his nephew] and Thomas (Lt.) [present]. While not confirmed, the evidence of the Association is that he likely was one of the lieutenants serving under his brother in the Third Company, First Regiment of Suffolk County.
            [He was not found in Roberts.]
           [A modern memorial monument has been provided]

TERRY, DANIEL
Born ? - Died ?
Burial:#29 Barteau Cemetery?, South Haven.
Sources: Huson, Roberts

          He enlisted in the Suffolk County Militia, Col. Josiah Smith's First Regiment of Minute Men.
          [Both a Daniel Terry and a Daniel Terry, Jr. were recorded in Roberts. It is unlikely that the present Daniel could have had a son of military age, suggesting that he was Daniel, Jr., and that he had a father Daniel.]
          [While Huson recorded that he was interred at the Barteau Family Cemetery, his gravestone cannot be found, and he does not appear on the c. 1939 Town of Brookhaven Historian's Cemetery List. It does seem possible, though, as his children were interred there.]

TERRY, RICHARD
Born about 1729? - Died July 13, 1814.
Burial:  #39 Nathaniel Hawkins Cemetery, Brookhaven.
Sources: Huson, Mather, Roberts

          [There is clearly some confusion about this entry.  The Richard Terry interred in the Nathaniel Hawkins Cemetery is recorded as having died in 1814 at age 35 years, 10 months, 18 days, clearly too young to have been in the Revolutionary War. 
          [While Mather and Roberts recorded a Richard Terry as a Refuge to Connecticut., he appears to have been from Southold.]


Sources:

Husan:

Harry W. Huson, Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in the Town Of Brookhaven (a pamphlet prepared for the Brookhaven Town Bicentennial Committee, 1976).  He does not record his sources for individual names;  he does however, provide the general references he used to develop his list.

Hawkins:

Ralph Clymer Hawkins, A Hawkins genealogy, 1635-1939 : record of the descendants of Robert Hawkins of Charlestown, Massachusetts (Baltimore : Published for the Hawkins Association by Gateway Press, 1987)

Mather:

Frederic Gregory Mather, The refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut (Albany, N.Y.: J.B. Lyon Co., printers, 1913 (reprinted 2006))

Roberts

James A. Roberts, Comptroller, State of New York, New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, 2nd Ed. (1898) with Volume II (Supplement, 1901) (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996).  (Mather was apparently the principal investigator on the staff of the Comptroller when the reports were prepared.)

  

Page revised: 02 July 2008