Carpenter's Shed on Gardiners Island
Encyclopedia
A carpenter's shed built in 1639, on Gardiners Island
in New York
is allegedly the oldest surviving wooden structure built in New York and was purportedly built when Lion Gardiner
first settled on the island.
Gardiner's Island has been owned by the same family for nearly 400 years and is the only American
real estate still intact as part of an original royal grant from the English
Crown
.
In 1639, the island was settled by Lion Gardiner
from a grant by Charles I
as the first colonial English
settlement in present-day New York state. The island was originally in its own jurisdiction affiliated with neither New York nor New England. Lion Gardiner reportedly purchased the island in 1639 from the Montaukett
Indians for "a large black dog, some powder and shot, and a few Dutch
blankets." The Indians called the island Manchonake, while Gardiner initially called it Isle of Wight, because it reminded him of the Isle of Wight
in England
. The Montauketts gave Gardiner title at least in part because of his support for them in the Pequot War
.
The original 1639 royal patent gave Gardiner the "right to possess the land forever" with the island being declared a proprietary colony
with the Gardiners getting the title of Lord of the Manor
and thus able to establish laws for the island.
Gardiners Island
Gardiners Island is a small island in the town of East Hampton, New York, in eastern Suffolk County; it is located in Gardiners Bay between the two peninsulas at the eastern end of Long Island. It is long, wide and has of coastline...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
is allegedly the oldest surviving wooden structure built in New York and was purportedly built when Lion Gardiner
Lion Gardiner
Lion Gardiner , an early English settler and soldier in the New World, founded the first English settlement in what became the state of New York on Long Island. His legacy includes Gardiners Island, which is held by his descendants.-Early life:...
first settled on the island.
Gardiner's Island has been owned by the same family for nearly 400 years and is the only American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
real estate still intact as part of an original royal grant from the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
.
In 1639, the island was settled by Lion Gardiner
Lion Gardiner
Lion Gardiner , an early English settler and soldier in the New World, founded the first English settlement in what became the state of New York on Long Island. His legacy includes Gardiners Island, which is held by his descendants.-Early life:...
from a grant by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
as the first colonial English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
settlement in present-day New York state. The island was originally in its own jurisdiction affiliated with neither New York nor New England. Lion Gardiner reportedly purchased the island in 1639 from the Montaukett
Montaukett
The Montaukett is an Algonquian-speaking Native American group native to the eastern end of Long Island, New York and one of the thirteen historical indigenous centers...
Indians for "a large black dog, some powder and shot, and a few Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
blankets." The Indians called the island Manchonake, while Gardiner initially called it Isle of Wight, because it reminded him of the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Montauketts gave Gardiner title at least in part because of his support for them in the Pequot War
Pequot War
The Pequot War was an armed conflict between 1634–1638 between the Pequot tribe against an alliance of the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies who were aided by their Native American allies . Hundreds were killed; hundreds more were captured and sold into slavery to the West Indies. ...
.
The original 1639 royal patent gave Gardiner the "right to possess the land forever" with the island being declared a proprietary colony
Proprietary colony
A proprietary colony was a colony in which one or more individuals, usually land owners, remaining subject to their parent state's sanctions, retained rights that are today regarded as the privilege of the state, and in all cases eventually became so....
with the Gardiners getting the title of Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
and thus able to establish laws for the island.