History of East Hampton

East Hampton was claimed by several Algonquin-speaking tribes (in the Mohegan-Pequot variant) with the most notable being the Montaukett. Chief Wyandanch was to be involved in much of the sale of the town.

The first sale to Lion Gardiner of Gardiners Island for "a large black dog, some powder and shot, and a few Dutch blankets." The next trade involved the land from the Southampton town line to the foot of the bluffs at what is now Hither Hills State Park was sold for 24 hatchets, 24 coats, 20 looking glasses and 100 muxes. According to legend Wyandanch was to have been poisoned for these other deals signing away Long Island property. In 1660 his widow signed away the rest of the land from Hither Hills to the tip of Montauk for 100 pounds to be paid in 10 equal installments of "Indian corn or good wampum at six to a penny".However the tribe was to be permitted to stay on the land and to hunt and fish at will on the land and to havest the tails and fins of whales that washed up dead on the East Hampton shores. Town officials who bought the land were to file for reimbursement for rum they had plied the tribe.

Much of the Montaukett tribe was wiped out by smallpox outbreaks that devastated all tribes. Many members of the tribe relocated with Samson Occom and renounced their tribal heritage after the American Revolution.

A few remaining Montauketts including the legendary Stephen Talkhouse continued to live in an area on Lake Montauk called Indian Fields until 1879 when Arthur W. Benson forced a government auction of Montauk in which he bought virtually the entire east end of the town and evicted the tribe which relocated to Freetown on the northern edge of East Hampton village. The tribe lost in 1896 to 1918 in attempts to get the courts to declare the evictions illegal. In the 1990s the Montauketts again began pressing their case for formal recognition.

Tourist Attractions in East Hampton

Guild Hall of East Hampton
Guild Hall is a fine art museum, a professional theater, and a community education center. Art-related classes, workshops and educational outreach programs are available.

Mulford Farmhouse
This is a complex of farm buildings including a 1680 farmhouse. It is the original settlement of Maidstone. A decorative arts exhibit is on display as well as information on East Hampton architecture.

Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home was the home of John Howard Payne, who was a playwright, actor and diplomat. The house was built in the 1720's and has been filled with authentic 17th and 18th century furniture as well as a collection of English ceramics. The home was opened as a museum in 1928.