The evening world., 1894-10-01
HISTORIC OLD PLACE SOLD.
The Creeks" at East Hampton Had
Been In the Dayton Family Con-
Siderably Over q Century.
MANY REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
Capt. John Dayton Was Character in His
Day, Full of Courage and Expedi-
ents in Emergencies.

EAST HAMPTON, Sept 3O.-This part !
OF Long Island must continue to be full |
OF romantic interest. Notwithstanding |
the historic old places are being sold to
newcomers and modern mansions are
being built where the plain cottages of
early settlers had stood for more than a
century.
The Creeks" at the head of Geor-
gica Pond not far from where Rev. Dr.
T. De Witt Talmage, of Brooklyn, and
Rev. DIR. r. Heber Newton. of New
York. each have handsome summer
homes, Is one of these old places. 1t
had been In the Dayton family since
many years prior to the Revolutionary
War. II was sold few days ago to a
Mrs. Herter for $lO,50O. The original
owner was Capt. John Dayton, who pur-
chased 1t as seventy-acre tract and
paid go, or Il an acre for the property.
The Sag Harbor Express, In speaking
Of the sale of this property. says the
house which now stands there was built
previous to the Revolution, and was on
n ore than one occasion an object of at
tack by the British soldiers who were
landed on eastern Long Island for pur-
poses of plunder. Capt Dayton was a
recognized leader and quick-witted
man, to whom fear was a stranger.
Ex-Judge Hedges at the celebration of
the two-hundredth anniversary of this
| village held last December, referred to
Capt. Dayton and the old house in his
/ Grafton. He said:
Tradition has handed down no name
more illustrious than that of Capt
| John Dayton, lineal descendant of
Ralph, the first settler of that name.
Capt. Dayton was one of natures un-
educated heroes; reckless, daring,
shrewd, sanguine, he often succeeded
when others dared not hope. His lonely
dwelling. two miles west from the town,
was an inviting locality for the mis-
creant and coward to attack or plunder.
His house was several times beset. 1t
was attacked in the night by the enemy,
and while he was in the act of lighting
| a candle a musket was discharged at
him. This was no time for hesitation;
the ball missed him and lodged in the
beam of his weavers loom. Putting his
| little son, Josiah, out of the back door,
in the midst of a deep snow, and direct
ing him to flee for shelter and safety,
he snatched that long, famous, deadly
carabine of his from its resting place,
| sailed out of the house, returned the
enemies fire and withdrew in the
house. He Immediately began to call of
imaginary names, as If he had regi-
ment of assistants sleeping in his cham
ber-loudly daring the British, mean
while to come on. The shot or the
be or perhsps resred eGie and
marks of blood behind them.
THE next day the Captain, while In
the yard, was visited by the officer of the
astride him, brandished his cutlass,
loaded the Captain with abuse and
threatened to slay him for killing one
of his men. To use the CAPTAINS 9Wn
His blood. boiled. within him. and his
hair stood on end Discovering pitch
fork near, he sprang for 1t. faced his
no second command. The horse bounded
with its rider over the pellets, and left
the hero master OF the neld. ,o.
Ex-Judge Hedges told other stories
of how Dayton quick wit and fund OF
| expedients helpeo to protect the east
enders" from marauds by the British,
tion," he said. "a British fleet anchored
off Montauk. 1t was supposed by the in.
habitants that they were about to land
there and seize the herds of cattle anu
sheep that then, as now, We're there pas
\ tured and fattened. The Captain thought
ri he could prevent their landing and save
the cattle. He offered to lead forty of
{ his neighbors, II SO many could CO. and
Il save their hocks. Forty volunteered to
I accompany the Captain, and they
marched on 10 Montauk. He selected a
company descended into hollow, where
he was OUT of sight from the fleet.
Shifting tn" position Of his men and,
each exchanging his coat, he again led
| al boil In nl.ssa a.xFaH "A
by the fleet, to the starting place and
oven the hill. The manoeuvre was cal
Culated 10 produce the impression upon
the fleet that a large army were march
ing and encamping in the vale below
Whether this stratagem was the cause
or not, the result was that the British
did not land and the fiocks were saved"
Another story is told here which illus.
owner of "The Creeks" was. Capt. Day.
ton, in his later years, was grea
sufferer from rheumatism. He had tried
al known remedies without relief; .Dr
Abel Huntington, his family physician
grandfather of the present Dr. Abe
huntington of Brooklyn, had pro
life a burden. With his indomitablC
will he took matters into his own hands
He succeeded in getting astride his
horse, and provided with heavy blank
ct, and in the cold OF winter, he went l.
he ocean with his son Josiah. Gettinl
off his horse, he told his son to take hin
| IN MS arms bnu up sliu lHTte times IL
| he ocean, In three waves OF the sea
RemountinG his horse and wrapping tn,
blanket about him. he started for home
The shock to his system brought abou
1 reaction and Capt Dayton was cureC
Of the rheumatism.
Next Town Meeting Day, not Ions
after this great cure, when Capt Day
ton entered the towns legislative hall
J | apparently as wei. as ever, DR.. Hunt
ington said to him: II did not expect t,
meet you here" TO which the Revolu
tionary patriot replied: But | am here
and | am ready to run with you. L
jump with you, or TO wrestle with you
The old places are fast disappearing
J One by one handsome homes Of wealthy
New York and Brooklyn people are re
placing the more humble cottages witt
their hewn oak frames and long shingl,
sides. The newcomers, some OF them
are attracted by the picturesque beauty
OF the town, but others come becaus,
away back In their line OF descent they
discover that their family names ap
peared among those OF the or!gina
settlers.