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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Commoners' Preserve V � frJ —wm'14 'ez 11_,-,_ 1. 7777117-777'7-A 1-1,711777,=M'—'z."z-, =nwz�w.- :77Z Ot 1( g M A C413 ri T-h rp" W Southold Town -1911R-1. "I M4 RIIPF g-A Designates N The Commoners' Preserve k W As A Southold Historic Landmark Prese 7 ;Matt nted L n May 28, 1996 Town Supep)lsor ....... ... fq— �,VIAIIXO" M- 'll aran 'IT W g ,1) V ANV r Staff JUDITH T.TERRY Town Hall, 53095 Main Road TOWN CLERK y = P.O. Box 1179 v. Southold,New York 11971 REGISTRAR.OF VITAL STATISTICS ® • Fax(516) 765-1823 MARRIAGE OFFICER ��� a®� Telephone(516) 765-1800 RECORDS MANAGEMENT OFFICER FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK TOWN OF SOUTHOLD THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY THE SOUTHOLD TOWN BOARD AT A REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 28, 1996: RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby designates The Commoners' Preserve and The Cutchogue Diner as Southold Town Landmarks, all in accordance with the recommendation for designation by the Southold Town Landmark Preservation Commission. � r Judith T. Terry Southold Town Clerk May 29, 1996 1 U " ; Town Hall, 53095 Main Road Telephone ' ` P.O. Box 1179 (516) 765-1801 y�'i O'� Southold, New York 11971 SOUTHOLD TOWN LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION THE COMMONERS' PRESERVE Southold's first settlers called themselves the Commoners because , they held "in common" all land between Plum Island and Wading River. The site we recognize today consists of 16 acres of marshland at Little Creek between Indian Neck and Nassau Point and 18 acres of marshy islands in the confluence of Broadwaters, Mud Creek and East Creek. It is the last land remaining in the possession of, the Commoners of this vast tract. In 1648 the New Haven Colony obtained a deed of sale from the Corchaug Chief, Momowetah, and his three brothers for the North Fork (see above) confirming' the original purchases of which the deeds had been lost. The price was 2 fathome of wampum, one iron pott, six coats, ten knives, fower hooks and forty needles. In 1649 Southold bought this land from New Haven for seven pounds of wampum. On December 7, 1665 a deed confirming any and all previous deeds was signed by 43 Indian chiefs. As of 1661 the permanent population of Southold had stabilized to 51 families each of whom had received four homesite acres and "rights" to land as shareholders in all the undivided lands. Rights were given, from one to seven, in proportion to financial and other contributions to the community. Rightholders alone could participate in the great land divisions. eg: Oysterponds, Corchaug and Occabauck "dividends.", They could buy as many lots as they owned rights. The present land was part of the "Corchaug Dividend." In 1796 those who called themselves commoners by right of inherit- ance, or purchase secured from the state legislature their legal incorpor- ation. This act and two additional codicils confirmed their land ownership, allowed them to prosecute for the recovery of undivided land and for actions of trespass, to sell and convey land by deed and file civil suits in court. The official title of the 1796 corporation is "The Proprietors of the Common and Undivided- Lands and Meadows of Southold Town." -2- Today, 13 families and the Southold Historical Society representing 5 additional families still own, by inheritance or purchase, 107 314 rights. Those still living in Southold Town are Bill Bauer, Tom Wickham, Tommie Mayne, Phil Horton, Bob Paul, Howard Terry and Renny Terry. We feel that this parcel of virgin land is of singular historical, sociological and educational significance. The members of the corporation wish to continue the preservation of the remaining 34 virgin acres of the original commoners land for posterity in its pristine state as a visual reminder of our name and history in the historic annals of Southold. The "Commoners' Preserve" can be found as: "East Creek" 16.5, acres Tax Map #134-4-9 and 10 "Arrowhead Lane" 17.5 acres Tax Map #98-2-21 To reinforce and fulfill the corporation's objective, the Southold Town Board is very pleased to establish "The' Commoners' Preserve" as a Southold Town Landmark.