Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-24
An Interesting Occasion.


 Valuable Paper on Lion Gardiner
 Founder of the Manor of Gardiner's
 IsIand-The Scciety's Tribute to Rev.
 Dr. Bacon.
 Despite the extreme cold last evening there was very large gathering of members of the New Hagen Colony Historical society and lady friends at the society's fine rooms in the old State House to listen to the paper by Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, of New York. Its title was "Lion Gardiner, Founder of the Manor of Gardiner's Island, the First English Settlement in the State of New York" The assembly was one of great dignity, including many of our foremost elderly citizens. The paper was preceded by the reading of the resolutions adopted recently by the directors expressive of it's high appreciation of the life and character of the late Rev. Dr. Bacon and paying tribute to his memory one of the leading men of the society. After their reading remarks were called for, and Hon. Henry B. Harrison gave beautiful and inn pressive tribute. In the course of his able and eloquent address he said:
 There are men in our midst in their special departments superior to Dr. Bacon. But set him before your mind consider the versa tility of his gifts, the amplitude of his wis dom, and we must say, without any d1scredlt to them, he was the noblest Roman of them all. He was great oak and when he fell the noblest of the forest fell. It is right that this society should honor his memory. He was by nature of historian tastes and he was lineal successor of John Davenport and deeply interested in colonial history. His mind was treasure house of all facts and information that constitute that history. We Sh hQ hou r01 hut none more worthy of honor than that of Dr. Bacon. This world is transitory. Mems names may fail and pass away, but the whole some influence of the force he brought into this world will endure and bless the world.
 Rev. Dr. Beardsley, president of the socie- ty, announced that Prof Brewer, of Yale s. s. s., had promised the society to read q paper before 1t some time next month on the introduction of merino sheep into this coun- try by General Humphreys, and the results which have followed that introduction, some points regarding which were glanced at at the last meeting.
 Mrs. Lamb was then introduced by Dr. Beardsley, she being, he remarked, the first lady who had read a paper before the New York Historical society and the first to read
 
 the distinguished author of the History of the City of New York.
 Mrs. Lamb was tagtefully attired in black silk with velvet sacque,a a white Gainsborough hat, and upon her bosom rested lovely bunch of pink and red roses. The paper was very much enjoyed and the audience gave close heed. The speaker read rapidly but not too rapidly from the manuscript, and her voice and tones were very pleasing.
 In opening she paid tribute to the heroic men who braved the sea, the savages and the wilderness to settle in this land. The character of these men was therefore sub- ject of interest, as also their influence upon the subsequent history of the country. Lion Gardiner was man of sterling independence of character, fit founder of the race of Gardiners. He purchased in 1639 a settle ment on the island which bears his name. He was by birth an Englishman, by profes- sion military engineer. He lived in Holland for years employed by the Dutch govern ment in building Notifications. In 1885, when 36 years of age, he landed in Boston. He was described as man of fine military
 
 the unmistaEabis stamp of 9 g@ntlaa,an. He was expected in Boston and received s Tarm welcome from the Governor, Thomas Dudley and, ir fact, all the first men. The younger Winthrop just returned from England con- mupicated with Mr. Gardiner. The 1aster's services and ability as military engineer were we'll known in England and Holland. Gardiner was to build notifications at Say brook at the mouth of the Connecticut. He was to have three hundred men from Eng land and supplies from there as required Who was Gardiner? He had served in the English army under Fairfax. His skill as an engineer had attracted royal at- tention He served in Holland, as stated In Holland he found his wife, a ledy of gen. tie birth and every excellence In Holland he was in communication with Peters end with John Davenport Through this con- nection Gardinsr came to America. Gov. Winthrop dispatched him to build fortifca- tions at the mouth of the Connecticut river. It was one of the coldest winters ever known in this section. But no ships came, no men, no supplies, and an Indian war was imminent. He counselled letting fortifea- tions alone for awhile. He had but A men, women and children with him and not food l enough for all. Notwithstanding this pre- carious situation, war was waged with the | Indians The speaker graphically described | the gallant defence of the fort at Saybrook l against the Pequots by Gardiner and Endi- 1 cott The fort was beset by Pequots, the l grass was alive with Pequots. There was l little glory in soldiers death at | the hands of these savages. Mrs. Gardiner l amid such scenes gave birth to child, the | first white child born in Connecticut. The | long endurance, pluck and humor of Gardi- l ner in the contest were worthy of all praise. l His successor at the fort was Colonel George l Fenwick, who brought his lovely bride with 1 him from England, who sleeps in 8 shady | nook in the old Saybrook cemetery. Mir. l Gardiner's next step was the purchase of Gardiner's Island, place remote from strife and din. It is at the eastern extremity of | Long Island. It was thirty miles from the nearest settlement. It is nine by one and a half and has $500 acres. He built con- fortable home and removed there with wife ! and two children. It was a distinct planta- tion, separate from the colonies. Mr. Gardiner was empowered to make and ex- ecute the laws. He named it the Isle of Wight. The speaker narrated it's con- tinued independence. Its history was chapter of romance Its history included valuable Indian legends and visitations by | pirates and buccaneers No spot was more imperially controlled than was this by the lords of the manor. No private estate in America has remained direct through eleven generations like this, and unbroken to the present day. MT. Gardiner was in trequent correspondence with the Governors of New Haven and Massachusetts colonies. His ad- | vice was of great service from his knowledge of the Indians. He commanded the respect and won the lasting regard of the Indians of Long Island Through his influence and friendship with the Indians he was the means of frustrating Indian conspiracies for the destruction of the colonies. His in fuence upon the Long Island Indi- ans was most happy, and Long Island was ever free from wars and rapine. The leading chieftain when he died made Gardiner the guardian of his son, then nineteen. The effect had upon the island by the wars ofssthe Revolution and of 1912 was told, and an interesting chapter in the paper was an account of Captain Kidd's invasion of the island and how he was received, and how he left valuables with the Gardiners with pirate generosity; also was told an invasion by other buccaneers at later period, who stripped the manor of valuables. The lady 1 gave some account of the Gardiners of each generation, closing with the mention of Sam uel Buel Gardiner, who died quite recently, and with reference to many noted families with whom the Gardiners connected.
 At the close of the paper MT. J. B. Sargent read letter received by one of his partners, Mir. Vest bearing upon the subject, and Thomas R. Trowbridge, Esq, told pleasing incident narrated by the late Mrs. Bacon, who died last week. aged 99 years, viz: a visit paid many years ago by some of the deceased JoIu Fria %o orJo 1