Person:Nathaniel Sylvester (1)

Introducing Nathaniel Sylvester of Roxbury, England_______________________

Who Was Nathaniel Sylvester?

Nathaniel Sylvester was the first proprietor of Shelter Island under a grant from Charles II in 1666. Originally called Manhansack-Ahaqua-Shuwamock, or variations of that, depending upon the source, the island was the land of the Manhansett tribe. The Indian name meant "an island sheltered by island", a perfect description. It lay between Long Island's northern and southern peninsulas, an equal distance from Southold and Easthampton, at the outlet of Peconic Bay. The island was dotted with small bays and coves. The six mile by four mile island belonged to Southold until 1730 when it was incorporated into a separate township. According to Thompson, the island's offices were formerly chosen, taxes assessed, and other matters in relation to the island were transacted at the annual town meetings in Southold; consequently there are no separate records to be found here anterior to 1730.

Nathaniel, along with his brother Constant, Thomas Middleton, and Thomas Rouse; paid 1600 pounds of Muscovado sugar to Stephen Goodyeare. According to Thompson's, "Long Island History", Goodyeare was an extensive and opulent merchant of New Haven. Goodyeare had purchased both Shelter and Robin's Island from James Farrett, an agent of William, the Earl of Stirling, on May 18, 1641. The grantees also procured an agreement with the local Indial chiefs, allowing the English to live in peace on the island.

On May 8, 1656 Thomas Rouse, sold his part of the island to John Booth who transferred it to Nathaniel Sylvester who gave a portion of it to Constant Sylvester, his brother, on September 12, 1662. When the English took jurisdiction over the island, the owners asked Gov. Nicoll for a perpetual exemption from taxes. The governor declared it a town with the same privileges and immunites and requested one lamb per year for taxes, deliverable May 1st of each year.

When the Dutch recaptured the area in 1673, they confiscated the interest in the island belonging to Thomas Middleton and Constant Sylvester, supposedly as a punishment for taking part in the war against the Dutch. On August 28, 1674, the interest formerly belonging to Middleton and Constant were sold to Nathaniel Sylvester, making him sole owner of Shelter Island. Sylvester Manor was built at the northern end of the island. The burial ground, probably the oldest on the island, no longe holds the stones of the Sylvesters. Most were moved to the churchyard near the center of the island.

Mentioned in Colonial History of New York

Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the state of New York, John Romeyn Brodhead, NY State Legislature, 1858

p587

26 Aug 1673 - Nathaniel Silvester part proprietor of Shelter Island appearing, offers his submission and requests confirmation of his previous priveleges granted to him and his island called Shelter Island. Whereupon said Silvester is answered that before a final conclusion could be come to in this matter he must exhibit his privileges which he hath undertaken to do. Furthermore the abovenamed Nathaniel Silvester declares that he has orders from his neighbor David Gardner to offer submission for him and his island, promising that said Gardner would come in like manner in person by the first opportunity.

p588-589

28 Aug 1673 - Nathaniel Silvester delivering in an extract from his privileges was ordered to exhibit the original. He said he had left it at home, whereupon the Register being referred to twas found that the heirs of his late brother Constant and one Coll. Middleton, residing in England, were in like manner partners in his island called Shelter Island, whose share must be confiscated to the behoof of the State; whereupon the aforesaid Nathaniel Silvester replied that large sums of money were due him from the said heirs of Constant Silvester. But after divers arguments pro and con it was agreed that said Nathaniel Silvester shall pay to the government here the sum of %00 pounds in this country’s provisions for the interest of the heirs of Constantine Silvester and Thomas Middleton.

The following is the act of confiscation of Shelter Island and the conveyance thereof to Nathaniel Silvester: ..........among which lands and territories is also found a certain island by the name of Shelter Island situate east of Long Island at present in the possession of Nathaniel Silvester yet a part thereof belonging in real property to the heirs of Constant Silvester and Thomas Middletowne residing in England and Barbados, being subjects and vassals of his said Majesty of England and of a consequence equally open enemies of our Lords and Masters aforementioned to whom in no wise can be granted the freedom accorded to all others our actual good subjects, who have willingly submitted themselves under our obedience but agreeably to the customs and laws of all nations, the goods and effects of the said our enemies ought to be confiscated. therefore have we all the right, property, action and claim which the aforesaid heirs of Constant Silvester and Thomas Middeltowne or any other persons, our lawful enemies have in the aforesaid island called Shelter Island as we do hereby declare forfeited and confiscate their interest and property for the behoof of our Lord Masters with this understanding however that in this confiscation are by no means included but on predetermined deliberation most expressly excluded whatever interest and right said Nathaniel Silvester hath to said island or other his real and personal goods, effects, and furniture, negroes or whatever else is lawfully belonging to him within this government, as because of his submission under our said Lords Masters .....equal protection is granted and allowed to him the same as to all others our good subjects. 28 Aug 1673, Fort Willem Hendrick

p590

On behalf of New Netherlands, the Lord Masters, we have thought it proper and and in like manner agreed with Nathaniel Silvester co-proprietor of Shelter Island to whom we have sold the aforesaid interest and right of the abovenamed heirs of Constant Silvester and Thomas Middletone for the sum of %00 pounds sterling payable agreeably to the us we will cede, transport, and convey to the abovenamed Nathaniel Silvester his heirs and assigns for and in consideration of the said sum all interest, right, titile, and propriety which the aforesaid heirs of Constant Silvester and Thomas Middeltone have to the aforesaid island and dependencies thereof to be by the aforesaid Nathaniel Silvester his heirs and assigns real and free possession forever and hereditarily to be possessed and further to do therewith as he should or could do with any other his patrimonial Lands and effects with additional confirmation of all profits, rights, etc viz freedom from all taxes whether civil or military unless the Lords States-General impose any new tax; he shall not be cited in law before any subaltern courts of justice except before the Supreme Court. Dated 29 Aug 1673, Fort Willem Hendrik

p645

At Council holden in Fort Willem Hendrik, 25 Oct 1673 One Nicolas Eedes dwelling at Southold came to him yesterday saying he had been sent by Colonel Lewis Morris and Nathaniel Silvester with request that his Honor would be pleased to order the sending of a second embassy to the East end of Lond Island so that the innocent may not be punished with the guilty, doubting not but said towns would submit as dutiful subjects.

p656

6 Nov 1673 Towards evening the commission again hoisted sail and anchored before Silvester’s; towards evening at a signal, Silvester sent his son with a boat on board to carry the Commissioners on shore who staid that night with him

Mentioned in Historical Papers of Shelter Island

Historical Papers on Shelter Island and Its Presbyterian Church, Reverend Jacob Edward Mallmann, 1899

p13

Stephen Goodyear on 30 Aug 1641 purchased Shelter Island; he was a Deputy Governor of the New Haven Colony.

In 1651 he sold it to 4 gentlemen - Thomas Middleton, Thomas Rouse, Nathaniel Sylvester, and Constant Sylvester. The amount these men paid for Shelter Island was 1600 pounds of good merchantable muscovado sugar or a cash equivalent of 50-100 dollars.

p15

What did these 4 men have in common? They were all engaged in the West India sugar industry, perhaps partners in the business. This would explain the purchase price being in pounds of sugar. Since Goodyear was a merchant he would be able to market this commodity.

• 1. Thomas Middleton, mentioned as a Captain, may have been the oldest. He did no make the island his home.
• 2. Thomas Rouse, native of Southwold, England, from whence he went to Barbados where he was a wealthy sugar planter and united with the Quakers.
• 3. Nathaniel and Constant Sylvester, brothers, sons of Giles Sylvester of England, had both gone to Barbados and were engaged in the sugar business. They also went to Holland with their father before going to Barbados. Their father died in Holland. Sylvesters were not in sympathy with the established Church. When the father died, the family consisting of the widow, 4 sons, Nathaniel, Constant, Giles, and Joshua, and 2 daughters, moved to Barbados where Nathaniel and Constant at least became prominent merchants, with Constant becoming a member of the Governor’s Council, and remained there until his death in 1671. A fifth son, Peter, stayed in London.

Nathaniel soon changed his residence to Shelter Island, being the only one to do so of the 4 proprietors. He was later followed by brothers Giles and Joshua; Giles only stayed a few years and after he returned to England, he married and died there. Joshua lived with Nathaniel for a few years and then moved on to Southold.

Nathaniel came from Barbados to Shelter Island on the ship, the Golden Parrot, 1652.

Upon coming here to live Nathaniel brought Grissel Brinley, his bride. She was the daughter of Thomas Brinley, Esq, of Datchett, Buckinghamshire, England. Her faher was auditor for Charles I and Charles II, the keeper of the accounts of the dower of Henrietta Maria, a position implying great friendship with the royal family.

In the middle aisle of the church at Datchett, near Windsor, is the inscription for the tombstone of Thomas Brinley, Esq, born in Exon, married Anna Wade of Pettsworth in Sussex, by whom he had 5 sons and 7 daughters. He was born in 1591 and died 1661. One of his daughters married Nathaniel Sylvester, Esq. Francis Brinley, one of his sons, accepted a land grant for his father’s services and went to Newport, RI.

Sylvester Manor

Sylvester Manor, an estate on Shelter Island, New York, offers an extraordinary and rare opportunity to investigate life on a 17th century northern plantation, where European settlers, Native Americans, and enslaved Africans lived and worked, forging a piece of New World society. The project is designed as an interdisciplinary endeavor in Historical Archaeology, combining traditional aspects of field excavation, material culture analysis and documentary research with an entire suite of environmental analysis, remote sensing and geographic information systems, as well as several specialized forms of physical analysis.

Established in 1651, Sylvester Manor was the chief source of provisions for two Barbadian sugar plantations, owned in partnership by Nathaniel Sylvester and his brother, Constant, and two others, Thomas Middleton and Thomas Rouse. At the time it was established, the northern plantation encompassed the entire island (8,000 acres) that sits between the north and south forks of eastern Long Island. Woodlands on Shelter Island and Robins Island, also owned by the partnership, and other properties on eastern Long Island provided the much needed resources for the thousands of barrel staves needed to construct containers for transporting foodstuffs, wine and molasses. The islands also provided safe grazing pastures for livestock including cattle, sheep, pigs and horses, as predators such as wolves and foxes would have been eliminated. The rich soils also provided excellent land for growing crops. Given the long term occupation by Native Americans there seems little doubt that some parts of Shelter Island were cleared, as was common in the prehistoric northeast, by the Manhasset who eventually sold the land to Europeans.

Mentioned in Will of Brother Constant Silvester

CONSTANT SILVESTER. "The last will and Testament of Constant Silvester, of Shelter Island." I doe giveand bequeth to my well beloved brother, Peter Silvester, and to my nephew, Brinley Silvester, the son of my brother,Nathaniel Silvester, all my lands, houses, and meadows upon Shelter Island, with all the appurtenances. To be thus divided,viz. Peter Silvester is to have the farm which I now dwell upon, with all the buildings, and so with that to make up one halfmy land. And my cousin (nephew) Brinley Silvester to have that farm upon which Jacques the Frenchman is now settling,with all the houses, etc., and so with that to make up one half of my land, upon Shelter Island. And the line between the saidfarms shall be equally distant from each house, as they now stand, and to run straight from the west side fronting towardsSouthold, eastward half a mile, and then to vary so as to make an equal division of all the land. Only respect to be had as toquality as well as quantity. And as for my other land which I have, viz., 6 acres on Block Island, and my interest in reversionupon Robins Island, and one lot of Commonage in Southold, with my movable estate, I give the whole to my 5 sisters,Patience, Elizabeth, Mary, Ann, and Mercy, viz., one quarter to my two married sisters, Patience and Mary, and the otherthree quarters to my three unmarried sisters. My brother Peter Silvester, in consideration of my gift, shall pay yearly to mysister Elizabeth, so long as she lives unmarried the sum of €3. If he refuse to do so, then the land is left to my cousin(nephew) Nathaniel, son of my brother Nathaniel Silvester. Makes his brothers Nathaniel and Peter executors.

This edit is entered to the above on 10 Nov 2012, and I am only commenting without making specific statement changes to the above "last will and testament". My observations are as follows: It appears to me, with the absence of any date information provided in the above paragraph, that this "last will and testament" is that of Constant Sylvester (1671), son of Nathaniel Sylvester (1610-1680) rather than this Nathaniel's brother, Constant Sylvester (1612). The brother to Constant Sylvester (1671) indicated in the above paragraph would be his brother, Nathaniel Sylvester (1661-bet.1705). I make this observation making reference to the five sisters listed above which strongly indicate that they are also the children of Nathaniel Sylvester (1610-1680). Further verification of my observations would be to view the children of Giles Sylvester (1584-1652), father of Nathaniel Sylvester (1610-1680) and Constant Sylvester ((1612). --B.wilson73 18:28, 10 November 2012 (EST)

Will of Nathaniel Sylvester

1679-1680. Will of Nathaniel Sylvester (March 19, 1679/80. SIHS)

Source: A Forgotten People: Discovering The Black Experience In Suffolk County. Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, 93 North Country Road, Setauket, N.Y. 11733, p. 51

Nathaniel Sylvester owned over 20 enslaved Africans. His will attempted to keep five couples together but gave several of their children to his own sons and daughters.

The Will of Nathaniel Sylvester Late of Shelter Island Deceased. – I Nathaniel Sylvester of Shelter Island in America being sickly but of sound and Perfect Memory ... now these Presents Wittneseth that I the said Nathaniel Sylvester hereby doe give and bequeath unto my Indeared Wife Grizzell Sylvester Francis Brinly James Floyd Isaak Arnold Lewis Morris and Daniell Gould all of the said Moyetie or half part of Shelter Island and Roberts Island as also the Moyetie or halfe part of the Joynt Stock and increase of such Negros with their increase that is to say Tammaro with his Wife Ayers and all their Children the Negro black John with his Daughter Priscilla the Negro Jo with Maria his wife and the Negro Jenkin ... That the Negros Jacquero and hannah his Wife with their Daughter hope being my Wifes owne is to be at her my said Wifes Disposall forEver ... and I doe give and bequeath unto my sonn Giles two of my Negros that is to say Tony and Nannie his Wife Item I give and bequeath unto my sonn Nathaniell twoe of my Negros that is to say Japhet and Jenine his wife ... I doe therefore give and bequeath my said Negro Tammero and His Wife Ayers unto my sonn Peter, Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Daughter Patience ... my negro girle hester being the Daughter of Tony and Nannie his Wife Item I do give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth ... My Negro girle Isabell being the Daughter of Jaquero and hannah his Wife, Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary ... my Negro Girle abby being the Daughter of Tony and his wife, Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann ... my Negro girle Grace being the Daughter of Tony and Nannie his Wife Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Daughter Marcie ... my Negro girl jenine being the Daughter of Tony and Nannie his Wife ... and whereas Tammero the negro hath four children belonging in Partnership, I do Give and bequeath ... unto my sonns Constant and Benjamin they shall Come to the age of twentie one yeares my sonn Constant taking first his choice ... In Testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand the nineteenth of the Month Called March in the yeare sixteen hundred seaventie nine and eighty ...

Inventory of Nathaniel Sylvester's Estate

Inventory of estate of NATHANIEL SILVESTER, Shelter Island. 280 pounds of Pewter, 14 pounds. Turkey wrought carpet, 1 pound 10s. 1/2 of Shelter Island, 700 pounds. Housing, 150 pounds. Farm at Plum Gut, 30 pounds. 6 acres on Block Island, 12s. Pair of mill stones, 10s. Total amt, 1393 pounds. Taken by John Budd, John Tuttle, James Holdsworth, John Booth. [executors for NS were Wm Nicoll and Henry Pierson]

The 1680 will of Nathaniel Sylvester reveals a great deal about additional production on the plantation as well as the landscape and structures present. The will mentions a mill, cider presses and orchards, in addition to stock and fowl. Twenty African slaves, all grouped by family units, are noted in the document; these were probably skilled and semi-skilled laborers working as coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths, domestics and field hands. The dwelling house and its numerous associated structures, including a barn and a warehouse, are also noted. This complex may have included a separate kitchen and possibly servants' quarters. A house inventory of 1688 suggests a considerable main dwelling.

After the death of Nathaniel Sylvester in 1680, the plantation was maintained by his wife Grissell and their eldest son Giles. A reading of the will indicates that Nathaniel considered himself sole owner of the island at that time; though the document states that he owned half part of the island and all joint stock, including the Africans, it also stated that due to outstanding financial obligation on the part of both Constant Sylvester and Thomas Middleton, Nathaniel assumed the right to convey the entire estate to his wife and children. Therefore, upon his death the property was divided among them, with his wife Grissell maintaining control over the manor house and much of what today represents the core of the estate. Upon her death the property was inherited by her son Giles Sylvester, who himself died childless. After a court contest, Brinley Sylvester, Giles' nephew, gained possession of the manor and is thought to have directed construction of the second manor house in 1735, which still stands today.

A partnership of four wealthy sugar merchants from Barbados purchased Shelter Island from the Manhanset Native Americans. Their intent was to harvest the island’s white oak to build the barrels required for the business. Of the four, only Nathaniel Sylvester settled there, bringing his 16 year old bride Grissel in 1652. Sylvester viewed the island, Fisher Island, and other parts of Long Island as his sole property. However, these estates were owned in a partnership with the other sugar merchants (his brothers) who never visited Long Island. At the time of Sylvester's death in 1680, he believed he was the sole owner of the real estate and left it to his wife and sons. This included what is today called Sylvester Manor, one of the island's most historic properties.

Signature of Nathaniel Sylvester

Shelter Island on Google Earth

1.   An Isaac Arnold was mentioned as a cousin (could also mean nephew?) in Nathaniel Sylvester's 1680 will and also inventoried John Mapes estate in 1682.
   
   The following entries by Torrey have dates that appear to be way too early. There were Arnold children still at home in the above census.
   
   "Arnold, Isaac & __?__ Sylvester?; b 1640; Southold, LI
   Arnold, Isaac & 2/wf Sarah (Cornell) Washburn, w John; 30? Oct 1641 m lic; ?Southold, LI"