The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-02
THE TAyGIER SMITHS Won.
The Great south Bay Oyster War that
Has just Heen Settled.

More than one thousand oystermen in the
town OF Brookhaven. L. l.. are affected by the
decision rendered Saturday by Justice Cullen
in the Brooklyn Supreme Court. which gives to
tho "Tangier" Smith family OF that town pos-
session OF the famous Blue Point oyster beds
in the Great South Bay For generations
tho oystermcn had worked these beds Mt q
nominal fee. and they came to look upon them
Us public property. Last fall. when tho heirs
Of "TanGier" Smith sought to interfere with
their long established customs. all the oyster
men Of the Great South Bay combined and re-
solved. II necessary. to use force in maintain
ing what they considered their rights. Mass
meetings were held In Patchocue and other
villages.
Encounters between the free oystermen and
the lessees Of the Smith heirs were frequent.
and bloodshed was talked about as possible.
Finally an organization known as the Oyster
mems Mutual Protective Association was
formed. with County Judge Wilmot NJ. Smith
as President. and it was decided to Eight the
matter out in court.
The Smith family claiming these oyster beds
is said to be the wealthiest family on Long
Island It descends from William Smith.
Chief Justice OF tho colony of New York. who
made his home in .Brookhaven, in 1892, Pre-
vious to coming to America he was British
Governor Of Tanger. and his descendants are
knGwn tSsm the From T4Psie S%it sm,S to t astp
between whom and them no relationship ex-
lists ro.a,,u, c,,,., ,,,. ~, o-,a,no, ,,
the town had ,patents from Gov. Nicolls and
Gov Donsapn defining certain territory. they
80 For 10 Tang ier" Smith purchased from an
hs and aeras Of an sn4
water: Subsequently he obtained a. patent
d5s. Gitc H. is /, aspSss VIA thS tSxn
Smith. decided to the town for a consolidation
orana Thrsss Gays the
town decided j. b Al T., to him an mndiv1ded one
and smt Also to S
diydod te!wesn them their heirs hse 70 su &C.
annual fee o. 81 per acre. This was known as
the Smith family received one.hait the e"f net
Trouble broke out anew in 1885 when Rob-
ert II. Smith died and his widow Cornela T.
nude Guardians 81 tho two minor Smith ehil.
traion in he e " tie ii oyster beds
and demanded that they be allowed to manage
the oyster beds for themselves. They wanted
trustees Of the town declined to accede to
their. demands, and then the guardians set
where tho light began. The Blue Point oyster
beds are said to DO among the finest in the
world
There were any number OF wealthy speculn-
tors who we're wiling to pay the rent demand-
mon who attempted to Interfere, Eight
thousand acres We're let out by the Smith heirs
when the free oystermcn declared war. I'm
private lessees. who hired men to watch them
DAY, and night. A number IF arrests were
to assume more serious phase. a truce was
called. when the matter wns taken to court
Justice Cullen decides that tho Smith heirs
have fully proved their title to nne-half tho
He also decides that tho nccounts
by tho town nre not correct. 1t Is said
tho only way to avoid u great deal OF trouble
to come. in'spite ri the courts decision. is for
the town to buy the property.