Horton Genealogy / or Chronicles of the Descendants of Barnabas Horton, of Southold, L. I., 1640.

by Geo. F. Horton

MORE ABOUT THE OLD HOUSE.

It will be seen by the engraving that the old house is double. The western part is that which was built by Barnabas in 1659–60. The east or two-story part was built by Jonathan I., about 1682. The upper room of this part was used for a court-house for nearly twenty years, as we learn from Thompson's History of Long Island, and some of the old benches used when it was a court-house are still preserved. The old "castle," as Jonathan G. Horton, its last Horton occupant, used to call it, is in all probability the oldest wood house in America. I know of no dwelling-house of any kind, stone or brick, now standing, that can date back as far as this venerable old mansion. There were a few huts on the east of Long Island previous to 1640—two or three it is said on Shelter Island. But these, as well as those built by the Puritans, immediately on their settlement in Southold, soon all passed away. Not a vestige of any of the first generation buildings can be found except this one. It remained for the house that Barnabas built to survive the wreck of ages, and to stand to-day as a noble representative of the dwellings of two hundred and fifteen years ago. But the old house stands to-day not only as peering above all others by its age, but also by its occupancy. It is not very often that we find two generations of the same name, living and dying in the same house—rarely find three. But here we have six generations in succession, all bearing the Horton name, living and dying in the same house, and all born in it except Barnabas I., and his son Jonathan. We may go to the castles and palaces of the old world, and search long and diligently, and fail to find a parallel case.

With a few repairs, the old castle may yet stand for generations far in the future.

It requires some thought and reflection to realize the lapse of time since the old house was built. See the old Puritan himself there twenty years; then his son Jonathan, twenty-eight years; and then Jonathan, Jr., about sixty years; and next Lawrence and his son Jonathan over a half a century; and lastly Jonathan G. Horton, about a half a century; making in all two hundred and thirteen years at the death of Jonathan G. Horton, 3 July, 1873. These six generations all living and dying in the old mansion! Could those old walls re-echo all the words ever spoken there, and exhibit anew all the scenes ever witnessed there—the book containing such a record would vastly exceed in volume the size of the old castle. It would bring to light much that is now in darkness, and must forever remain hidden from the generations of the living.

At the death of Jonathan G. Horton, the old homestead became, by will, the property of the Rev. Mrs. Williams, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who was the adopted daughter of Jonathan G. Horton, he never having had issue, so that on the 3d of July, 1873, the old homestead went out of the Horton name.

Mrs. Williams proposes to sell it, and if some of the Hortons do not buy it, it will indicate a lack of decent respect for the old castle, if not for the Horton name. It should be bought back into the Horton name, suitably repaired and preserved for the wonder and admiration of generations of Hortons yet unborn. Jonathan G. Horton, the short, thick man, and Stuart T. Terry, are the two men seen in the engraving, in front of the old house.

Mr. Stuart T. Terry, of Southold, L. I., has kindly copied and forwarded to me, many interesting facts from the New Haven Colonial Records, some of which are here inserted:

"Concerning some farmers neere Southold, at a place called Hashamamock, aboute whom Barnabas Horton, one of ye Constables last yeare, which was 1656, also, Constable in 1659. 29 May, 1661, Barnabas Horton was a Deputy to the New Haven Court—also, 31 May, 1654, the Deputies from Southold, presented to ye court a wrighting from their towne, wherein it is desired that Barnabas Horton and John Peaken, the two present Deputies of Southold, may be chosen Constables for that plantation; which was done. Barnabas Horton was a Deputy to the Court in New Haven, in 1654-'56-'58-'59 and 1661. In 1655 there was no election, but he wrote a letter to the Court on public affairs. In 1662 he was admitted a Freeman of Connecticut Colony, at Harford, and in 1663 and 1664 he was a Deputy to the General Court, at Harford. He was a Magistrate in 1664, and until his death. He is one of the Patentees of the Town of Southold in 1676." Made his will May 10, 1680. Died 13 July, 1680. Will proved. Lib. 2, N. Y., p. 54.—Vide "Moore's Indexes of Southold."