“Phyrrhus”

By Lizbeth Halsey White | Southampton Press | c1931

Our attention has been called to a copy of the Seaside Times of 1897, in which we find an article from the pen of Historian Wm. S. Pelletreau, entitled “Phyrrhus.” We find an interesting reminder of events which have made history in our community as well as a pleasant reminder of one, who though of humble station, enjoyed the regard and respect of all who knew him.

“Phyrrhus Concer was born March 17, 1814, a slave in the family of Captain Nathan Cooper. When five years old, he was purchased by Mr. Charles Pelletreau for the sum of $25.00; the purchaser receive a bill of sale as for any other article of personal property, but between the owner and the owned there was a strong feeling of personal regard that ended only with the death of the former. When he arrived at boyhood he worked on the farm during the Summer and in the Winter attended the village school in the ancient school house, and had practically the same advantages as other boys in the neighborhood. A few years later when whaling was in its glory he was shipped, at the age of 18, on board the ship ‘Boston,’ under the command of Captain Edward Sayre, who sailed from Norwich, Conn., and cruised in the South Atlantic, returning in seven moths and ten days, with a full cargo. His second voyage was in the ‘Columbia,’ with Captain William Hedges. According to the law of that time he would have remained a slave till the age of 28 years, but the day that he was 21 Mr. Pelletreau gave him a complete sailor’s outfit and some money and told him that he was a free man. He then went to sea, making several voyages on his own account.

“The most remarkable episode in his life was his visit to Japan. When Captain Mercator Cooper, in the ship ‘Manhattan,’ was cruising in the North Pacific, he rescued the crew from a waterlogged Japanese junk, just ready to sink. This led Captain Cooper to exclaim, ‘Now I have a good excuse to visit Japan.’ At that time this was about the same as if a man should congratulate himself as having a good excuse to visit the crater of a raging volcano. He would undoubtedly see things he had never seen before, but whether we would ever return to tell of them was another thing; but such a trouble as that did not disturb the mind of Captain Mercator Cooper. The story has been so often told that it is needless to repeat it here. It is sufficient to say that they entered the harbor of Yeddo, but every precaution that the jealous mind of the Japanese government could devise was used to prevent any of the ship’s crew from putting their foot on shore and the common people from visiting the vessel. One thing that Phyrrhus especially noticed was that every Japanese that came on board was armed with two swords.

This is now sufficient evidence that none but the highest officers were allowed the privilege. The ship was very fortunately permitted to return in safety, but the captain was given to understand in the plainest manner that he must never attempt to repeat the experiment.

“At the time of the excitement caused by the discovery of gold in California in 1849, Phyrrhus was one of the crew who worked his passage to San Francisco in the good ship ‘Sabina,’ carrying 83 men from Eastern Long Island—Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Sag Harbor—sailing around Cape Horn to the gold fields of California.

“Among his fellow sailors was the late Hon. Stephen B. French of Sag Harbor, and between them sprung up the strongest feelings of mutual respect and esteem. As Phyrrhus said, ‘When Stephen B. French was on the ship’s yard, there was a man there who knew exactly what to do and how to do it, and was afraid of nothing.’ Mr. French once told the writer that Phyrrhus Concer was one of the few men he had known who never did anything to be ashamed of, and that he never heard from his lips any word or expression that would bring a blush to the cheeks of modesty. Upon one occasion when Phyrrhus was a witness in a suit at Riverhead, and applied for a room at a hotel, the uppish clerk refusing in an unpleasant manner with the pretext of ‘all full,’ was speedily brought to his sense, when Mr. French exclaimed in a tone that commanded instant attention: ‘Put him in my room.’

“Returning from California with a modest competence the remainder of his life was employed in honest industry; as his former owner and friend expressed it, “There is no lazy blood in Phyrrhus,’ a fact that was fully demonstrated. During a religious revival he joined the Presbyterian Church and was ever after on of its most consistent members. One of his strongest characteristics was the utmost regard for the Sabbath. To him the fourth commandment meant all that it said. On Sunday his place was in the church and the pretext that Sunday was the only day in the week when there is time for recreational enjoyments, found no response from Phyrrhus. His Sabbath belonged to his Maker, to be used for spiritual improvement and no inducement of either business of pleasure could turn him from his purpose.

He passed away leaving behind him an honorable reputation, and if his life had no other moral, he was a living proof that a colored man can command respect when he deserves it.”

To Mr. Pelletreau’s tribte we may add that after many years spent on the seas, Phyrrhus and his good wife Rachel made their home in the little cottage, still standing near the head of Lake Agawam. Just opposite, on the lake, was the tiny wharf or “dock” from which he sailed his boat up and down the lake to the bathing beach for a ten-cent fare, children half price. There were few cottages along the lake at that time, but there were several boarding houses in the village and these with the few villagers who could find the time to go to the beach, kept the little ferry busy. The odd jobs he could pick up between times gave a competence sufficient to supply the simple needs of the old couple, who were so warmly regarded by all who knew them.

In the southwest corner of the old North End Burying Ground we find a stone placed there by his friend and next-door neighbor of “the Ox Pasture,” the Hon. Salem H. Wales, bearing this inscription:

            Phyrrhus Concer

            Born March 17 1814

            Died August 23 1897

            Though born a slave, he possessed those virtues without which even kinds are slaves.

Text courtesy Lizbeth Halsey White Files, Southampton Historical Museum Archives and Research Center