Freetown (East Hampton)

Freetown is an area in East Hampton (town), New York originally inhabited by freed slaves and Native Americans.

East Hampton in the early 1800s was lightly populated and one of the biggest slave holders were descendents of Lion Gardiner who owned Gardiner's Island. During the War of 1812 slaves from the island were used to ferry supplies back and forth because they could slip through British lines because it was "obvious" that they were "owned." [The Manor of Gardiners Island - The Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries By John Austin Stevens - January 1885]

After slavery was abolished in New York State in 1827 [ [http://www.slaveryinnewyork.org/about_exhibit.htm "Slavery and the Making of New York - New York Historical Society] ] , freed slaves were relocated to small houses just north of East Hampton (village), New York. An 1858 Chace Map shows only 13 structures in town [ [http://www.easthamptonvillage.org/pdf/history.pdf The History of East Hampton by Bob Hefner - easthamptonvillage.org] ]

In 1879 Arthur W. Benson bought 10,000 acres (40 km²) around Montauk, New York from the Montaukett tribe and relocated tribe members to Freetown. [ [http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs608a,0,7223236.story Shinnecocks and Montauketts fight to regain areas taken in questionable deals By Steve Wick and Thomas Maier - Newsday - Long Island Our Story history] ]

There is little direct connection to the neighborhood now. One of the last structures from the town is the St. Matthews Chapel which was moved in 1976 to what is now East Hampton Pointe. [ [http://www.easthampton.com/history/factoid-frame.html Freetown Chapel - St Mathews Chapel - easthampton.com] ]

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