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| Alma E. Bishop, knocking on door; Abbie Halsey, seated on left |
“Founded For Freedom”
August 14-15, 1940
By Abigail Fithian
Halsey
Episode One
The XVIIth Century
Scene 1
The Founding
The Commentator:
Behold an Indian village at the head of North Sea Harbor.
The wigwam of Nowedanah, chief of the Shinnecocks, is in the foreground. In
front of it the young women of the tribe are engaged in a corn planting
ceremony while the elder ones go about their daily tasks. Soon the warriors
return from the hunt. They lay their spoils before the fires and commence a
dance of Happy Hunting.
During the dance we perceive a sloop coming up the harbor. A
brave runs in bringing the news and hard on his arrival we see a band of
English Puritans land Conscience Point. The first woman on shore exclaims, “For
conscience sake we’re on dry and once more.”
The Puritans approach the Indians. They signify their desire
for land. Some men of the party come forward with a chest containing sixteen
coats. At the sight of the splendor the Indians agree to sell.
They draw up an agreement. “We do absolutely and forever
grant to the parties above the mentioned, to them and their heirs and
successors forever, all lands, woods and waters from the place where the
Indians hayle their canoes out of the north Bay to the south side of the
Island, from thence to possess all lands lying eastwood, to have an to hold
forever.”
But the Indians also demand corn to be paid after the second
harvest and the Puritans promise to give the Indians protection from their
enemies.
They then smoke the pipe of peace and guide the colonists to
Old Towne where the settlement is made.
Original Undertakers:
Edward Howell
Edmund Needham
George Welbe
John Cooper
William Harker
Thomas Newell
Thomas Terry
Josiah Stanborough (who came later)
Daniel Howe, Captain of the vessel
Edmond and John Farrington
Thomas and Job Sayre
Hentry Walton
Allen Bread
Thomas Halsey
Richard Odel
Philip and Nathaniel Kyrtland
Thomas Farrington
Episode One
Scene III
Early Days and Early Ways
The Narrator:
The new Towne Street in 1649.
The Colony has grow ad prospered. Each freeholder owns his
three acres of land on the street but farms and woodland are still common.
Incomers must buy on the Great Plains. We see two fence-viewers “perambulating
the bounds” nd with them a small boy who will be spanked at the bound, the
better to impress his memory. The chimney viewers and cow keepers are busy. A
group of young women are quilting a bride quilt for Margaret Howell whose banns
are up. Next month she will marry Rev. John Moore of Southold. The unhappy
Edmund Shaw sits despondent in the stocks ffor his excessive indulgence at John
Cooper’s Tavern. Young Peregrine Stanborough takes his stripes for stealing
green apples from Thomas Sayre’s orchard. Sarah Veale, attended by her faithful
husband, Thomas, sits with a cleft stick on her tongue, while the Constable
recites publicly “exhorbitant words of imprecation” she ahs used to the village
reprobate, George Wood.
The Commentator:
Into this peaceful scene break two Pequot Indians. Phoebe
Halsey (wife of Thomas) is coming from her home with her little daughter,
Elizabeth. The Indians drag phoebe into the house and scalp her. The child
escapes. Thomas Halsey, his three sons, and the nearby men puruse the murderers.
They are met by Wyandanch, Chief of the Montauks, friend of the white man, who
has caught the murderers. He delivers them to the Magistrates, who put them
into the pillory until they can be sent to Hartford.
First Interlude
Children Play In The Olden Way
Their Games:
Farmer in the Dell
Looby Lou
London Bridge
Bull in the Ring
Once there was a Lassie
Episode Two
The XVIIth Century
Scene I
Town Meeting Day During the American Revolution
The Narrator:
Our great day of the year has come again. The street is
filled with men, women and children from the length and breadth of the town of
Southampton. Peddlers crying their wares and visiting Indians scurry about. The
Town crier calls the meeting. The election is interrupted by a rider brining
news of Lexington. Jesse and Elias Halsey and a friend set off by row boat to
Connecticut. Scarcely are they out of sight when the post rider gallops in with
news that Fort Ticonderoga has fallen to the Americans.
At once Captain John Hulburt assembles his Company of Minute
Men. The first Stars and Stripes made by the women of Southampton Town is
presented to the departing company.
Col. William Erskine of his Britannic Majesty’s Army rides
in with his Aides coming to demand provender, to be refused at the Town’s
peril.
When he has ridden away the dejected people return to their
homes while Captain Elias Pelletreau, the old silversmith, organizes a home
defense.
SECOND INTERLUDE
An Anthem to Liberty Sung by the United Choirs of
Southampton, Hampton Bays, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor
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