David, son of Lion Gardiner, in a petition presented to Gov. Dongan

about 1683, mentions his father as the first Englishman that had settled in the Colony of New York.

Southampton put itself under the Jurisdiction of Connecticut in 1644, as Southold did under New According to President Stiles History of the three Judges of Charles I., East Hampton was a Plantation or Commonwealth as it is styled, in the Record that was, Independent of any

Haven in 1648.

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other Government from the first settlement till about 1657. The magistrates frequently asked advice in difficult cases "of the neighbour Towns of Southampton & Southold" and sometimes of " the

Gentlemen at Hartford."

The government of the Town

The three Towns on the East are styled the " Three Plantations." of E. Hampton was purely Republican.

Their laws were enacted by all the citizens assembled in

town meeting this was stiled "the General Court" and a fine inflicted on such as did not attend. In Dec 1653 by a vote of the General Court, "the Capital laws, and the laws and Orders that are ;

1'

notic'd in the bodie of laws that came from Connecticut shall stand in force among us."

Their public nually.

officers

were few

;

three magistrates who were called

Their oath of office points out their duty; it was as follows

:

Townsmen, were chosen an-

PAPERS RELATING TO LONG ISLAND.

"You being chosen by the Court for the careful and comfortable carrying on of the affairs of this Town, do here swear by the name of the Great & Everliving God, that you will faithfully, and without respect of persons, execute all such laws and orders as are or shall be made & established by this Court, according to God, according to the trust committed to you during this year for which you are chosen & until new ones be chosen, if you remain among us, so help you God."