HISTORY OF THE COLLECTION

Volunteers from the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association pre-processed some of the photographs, books and memorabilia. Photographs were copied and many were enlarged for easier access.

During the statewide Historical Documents Inventory, archivist, Arthur F. Sniffin documented the need to process the collection and make it available to researchers. The arrangement, processing of the collection and writing of this guide was made possible through a "circuit rider" grant from Long Island Library Resource Council (LILRC).

HISTORY OF THE SUYDAM FAMILY

The earliest ancestor of the Suydam family to come to America was Hendrick Rycken, a blacksmith who emigrated from Suydam in the Netherlands to New Amsterdam. He purchased property in New Amsterdam in 1678. Later, he and his wife Ida Jacobs moved to Flatbush where they prospered, leaving a large estate upon his death in 1701. There were six children of the marriage: three boys and three girls.

About 1710, the sons Jacob, Hendrick and Ryck adopted the name of Suydam (from the Dutch suyt-dam, meaning south of the dam). According to Hendrick Rycken's will, he asked his wife to pay careful attention to the religious education of his children, Jacob, Hendrick, Ryck, Ida, Gertrude and Jane. The attention paid this education of the Suydam children brought benefits in business as well as religion. Several became farmers, producing for developing markets in New York City. Other Suydams became directly involved in shipping. Son Jacob remained in Flatbush where he combined farming, smithing, and in 1706 and 1717, supervisor in local government. Upon his death, his youngest son, Jacob (one of 13 children) inherited the farm.

Cornelius Suydam, another of the 13 children settled in Oyster Bay. Upon his death in 1759, he was survived by his wife, Margaret and twelve children. One of these twelve children, Cornelius, married Anna Van Nostrand and fathered John Suydam who married Abigail Kelsey of Centerport. John and Abigail may have been the first Suydams to live in the Homestead in Centerport. Architectural historians date the building c.1730. The homestead may have been moved from one of the three pieces of property John purchased in 1767. Two of John and Abigail's six children were baptized in Oyster Bay: Ture (Katurah) and Nathaniel. Katurah's 1818 school copy book is preserved in this collection as well as that of her brother.

The family in Centerport is well documented in the records of the Dutch congregation in Oyster Bay published by HA. Stoutenburgh (1904): town and family records. The Suydams were a representative Long Island working class family who supported themselves by farming, oystering, boat building and carpentry. They were active in school and church affairs, fought in national wars, and were solid citizens with a respected place in the community.  

The Suydam Homestead is a vernacular farmhouse representing the 18th and 19th century construction period. It is located in the unincorporated village of Centerport at the crossroads of Route 25A and Centerport Road. No other documented 18th century house survives in the vicinity which historically was sparsely populated by seafaring people and farmers.

The Homestead is also unique because it is one of the few remaining 18th century houses on Long Island which was lived in continuously by one family and their descendants from the late 1700s until 1957. In 1987, the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association succeeded in renting the house with an option to buy when the proper permits were obtained to subdivide the property. Closing took place in January of 1989. By this time the Suydam Homestead had also been placed on the Local, State and National Registers of Historical Places.  

Before the Suydam descendants sold the house, documents, letters, recollections, furniture, etc. had been given to various family members. Ethel Suydam Witting, vitally interested in her family's history, was the keeper of many family documents and memorabilia. As soon as the Historical Association obtained the Homestead, Ethel started donating papers that were valuable to the collection. Through her efforts, other members of the family also became involved.

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