5 Sag Harbor; Whaling Museum & Custom House

Huntting Family History

by Molly Fowler

“The harbour of Sagg” emerged as a coastal port around the mid-18th century, establishing a trade route between Sag Harbor and the West Indies which would give the colonial community a cosmopolitan feel - much unlike other communities in the area. Instances of whaling ships commuting from Sag Harbor have been recorded as early as the 1760’s, cementing the process of whaling as a lifeline for the community. However, it wasn’t until Col. Benjamin Huntting I took a leading role in establishing the local whaling community that the industry flourished. In the wake of the American Revolution, Huntting and his business partner Stephen Howell sent two ships to travel off the coast of Brazil in 1784 using the Atlantic trade winds as a guide to lead them to the whaling grounds. By making use of try pots, which were designed with flat sides to conserve space on an already crowded ship, blubber collected from whales could be stripped, put in the pots, and made into oil while out at sea.

 

Figure 1. Col. Benjamin Huntting I (1753-1807). Well known member of the Sag Harbor community, credited with establishing the local whaling community. Artist Unknown.

 

Figure 2. Try pot (shore whaling variety). While the entire pot isn’t visible in this photograph, the round shape of the pot can be seen, and can be contrasted with the ship-style try pots which are featured in Figure 4.

Following Benjamin Huntting’s death in 1807, his three sons would pursue careers in the whaling industry and maintain status as prominent figures in the trade until the late 1840’s. His most notable son, Benjamin Huntting II, was a well-known figure amongst the local whaling community. Huntting II and his brothers were very successful whaleship owners and merchants in the village, making a fortune off of the whale oil which was brought back. In 1845, he built “The Huntting House” to use as his private residence (also known as the Masonic Temple).

 

Figure 3. Benjamin Huntting II (1796-1867). One of the leaders of the whaling industry until his death. Owner of a number of whaling ships, he used his fathers knowledge to make a name for himself as a wealthy merchant.

The Masonic Temple is now home to the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum, where this week's trip was based out of. Benjamin Huntting II hired New York architect Minard LeFever to design the building, who took inspiration from other Greek Revival designs. The roof of the building is lined with hand-crafted wood carvings, meant to depict blubber spades and whale teeth which were made to pay homage to the family’s whaling background. The interior of the building also nods to the family’s wealth, bearing nicely crafted doorways and intricately designed crown molding. The ceiling of one of the entry rooms possesses an indented ceiling which features carvings resembling ocean waves, further bringing their profession into the craftsmanship of their home. After the death of Benjamin Huntting II, his family left the village and ownership of the house eventually passed onto Mrs. Russell Sage in 1907, who kept close ties to the village during her residency.

 

Figure 4. “The Huntting House”, now home to the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum. Located at 200 Main Street, the museum is home to a number of whaling memorabilia, including harpoons (“irons”). Paying close attention to the roof, you can notice the blubber spades and whale teeth wood carvings. Outside the home, you can see three ship-style try pots visible next to the entrance patio.

All information from this post was gathered from the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum.

Sag Harbor Blog Post

by James Callaghan

Sag Harbor, short for Sagaponack Harbor, is a town on Long Island that is commonly visited because of its classic cosmopolitan airs that it gives off. During our current day, this town is mostly a tourist trap with a lot of old and restored buildings that are signs of its long gone glory days. This town wasn’t always just a historic landmark of New England and maritime history, a place to buy trinkets and touristy gifts for friends and family. It used to be a center of trade and commerce. It used to be the place where fashion forward and those in love with the exotic and unique would thrive and call home.

Sag Harbor being such a wealthy and culturally diverse place came from its very profitable and very prominent whaling industry. This industry sent ships from Sag all the way to places like Brazil and even countries that could be found bordering the Indian Ocean, like China or of course India! The harbor’s location on the south shore of Long Island as well as the fact that the waters at Sag Harbor are some of the deepest on that side made it perfect for large whaling and other kinds of vessels, some even international. This connection to the wider, international trade world allowed for people who lived in Sag Harbor to have items that many others would be lucky to see in their lives. It was commonplace for people to own rare items like china or It wasn't even uncommon in this town to see people owning exotic pets. There is even a record of one inhabitant owning a pet emu!

In this photo there are items that would have been imported into Sag Harbor from international trade. Those pieces would be a show of status and how a person had the excess wealth to buy things for the look rather than just for function like the china bowl (center middle), which was rare in those days especially in nearby towns that were merely farming towns where people would usually only have enough money to survive.

This photo shows more items that only truly well off people could own. Items like silver tea containers (back right) and china cups that had a piece fashioned into them for men so that liquids would not get into their beards and ruin either the waxes or oils they may have used in their mustaches. 

In this picture, there can be seen things like very expensive upholstery and again more china that would be gotten from international trading ships that came into Sag Harbor. Another item of note is the ornate box that would have come from what they called at the time “The Orient”, known now as the countries like China and other Southeast Asian countries. Again these kinds of items would have signified wealth and upperclassmen status in society since these were items that were rare and only could be obtained with possession of excess wealth. 

Evolution of Sag Harbor’s Economy

by Ian Robinson

Founded between 1700 and 1730, Sag Harbor was recognized. Arising off the Harbor of Sagaponack, it received its name. Thanks to its deep water, Sag Harbor became a primary port for the whaling industry. Occasionally washing ashore whales were harvested for oil. Generated by one whale, the translation to oil raised enough fortune to purchase a farm. Realizing the potential whales became significant economic support. From coastal to deep ocean hunting, Sag harbor was able to flourish upon the hunting and processing of whales.

Unfortunately, around the 1830’s whales started becoming scarce, forcing greater efforts and time to be invested to fuel the whale-dependent economy. Thankfully in 1857, a deal was struck with Joseph Fahyr, of France. From this deal, his first watchcase factory was developed within Sag Harbor. While sold at a small scale, the price of a single watch was significant. Adding to the diversity of Sag Harbor’s economy, the watchcase factory allowed for the continuous support of Sag Harbor. Sparking thoughts of industry, the factory attracted future businessmen to take part in the town.

With the lure of its history and its maritime vibe, Sag Harbor thrives off the levels of tourism. Come summertime the town becomes densely filled with individuals traveling to enjoy the ambiance. The town as I know it has come to relish its history with many museums honoring its past. The spectacle of its docks and farm has been the place to visit. Parking at the wharf and looking out into the water has been one of my most enjoyable times spent in Sag Harbor. If wished one may rent one of the large yachts that are anchored on the shore or more reasonablyit is even possible to join a charter to experience a glimpse of the sights of a whaler. Thanks to our acknowledgement of whale extinction, several whales can be spotted of the coast of Long Island.

A Look into the Status of the Dering Family

by Brooke Osekoski

While touring the custom’s house, we were able to see the subtle and not-so-subtle ways the Dering family would have shown off their wealth and status. The largest examples are the expansions that the family had added to the house. The first expansion was added in 1790 and added a few feet onto the office portion of the house. When this was done, Dering also had a small cut-out included in the ceiling to make space for a grandfather clock that was taller than the original ceilings. The next expansion was added in 1795, after his marriage to Anna Fosdick two years prior. This addition doubled the size of the home and made it possible for the post office and customs office to remain separate from the living area. It included raised ceilings in the parlor and dining room which weren’t in the rest of the home or common for the time. Also having a room dedicated just to dining would have been a huge show of wealth.

The dining room was connected to both the parlor and the kitchen on the “living area” side of the house. The photo shows the table set-up along with a dresser against the back wall. A variety of high end items can be seen including ceramic and glass dinnerware. There is also a framed painting and large oil lamps at the back of the room.

Within many of the rooms the Dering’s had a variety of luxury items. These items were either from the local Long Island area, imported from New York City, or imported from abroad. In the parlor, the furniture included a green upholstered couch with decorative carvings around the legs, arms, and back. Most homes at the time didn’t have upholstered furniture and an item like this would have been brought out to Sag Harbor from New York City.

 

Part of the set-up in the parlor showing the green upholstered couch which was imported from New York City. Another focal item is the intricate mirror that sits between the windows. This photo also shows a section of the French floral wallpaper that was in the room.

Another detail that could be easily overlooked is the wallpaper. Both the main entrance and the parlor have detailed floral wallpaper. Items like this would have been imported from France and would have been a flashy way to show the benefits of being the custom’s master. Similar large-scale items could also be seen within the upstairs bedrooms. Besides the general furniture, one interesting item was a full woven carpet made from dried grasses which was imported from the Caribbean.

 
Smaller items that we saw included a variety of ceramic pieces. In both the kitchen and parlor there were multiple pieces of classic blue and white Chinese pottery. 

 

A small ceramic container that was on display in the parlor. It’s made of porcelain and a rural scene is depicted in a navy blue glaze. The container also has the form of a lid. This item would have been imported from China. The background also shows a close up of the floral wallpaper that can be seen in Picture 2. 

As the name “China” implies these items were imported from international markets in China. Also in the dining room were dinner plates that would have been made locally. They were porcelain dishes that included an intricate orange/bronze colored design.

 

One of the dining set-ups from the dining room shown in Picture 1. It includes a napkin, fork, knife, dinner plate, and a glass (a pretty simple set-up). The plate was most likely made locally and features an orange/bronze floral pattern. 

Throughout the first floor, there were a variety of portraits of the family. These included Henry Packer Dering, Anna Dering, and some of their children.

 

Portraits of Henry Packer Dering (left) and Anna Dering (right). These portraits were within the main entrance hall where they could be seen by any guests. The background of this photo also shows the other French imported wallpaper that was in the house. It shows a floral pattern with flower vases and leaves.

These are a clear sign of status because they could be used to show the achievements and personality of each subject. Portraits also require both time and money so it’s easy to imagine how much money was needed to afford multiple portraits over the years. All of the items in the Dering home reflect the status, wealth, and connections that came with being the custom’s master of a busy port, like Sag Harbor.

Henry Packer Dering : Accustomed to Customs

by Matthew Dean

For class this week we toured the Sag Harbor Whaling museum and the Sag Harbor Custom House. Today, customs can be described as an official department or agency of the government that either administers or collects payment on goods being imported or exported from a country. The Sag Harbor customs house was one of the first in New York state, it was a federal building that doubled as a private residence. It was built in 1770, with the Dering family being its first inhabitants, specifically Henry Packer Dering was the person in charge. He was the first postmaster and customs official of the area. The only other customs site in New York state was in New York city. Sag Harbor was the other location being a deep water port allowing for big boats to come to dock, as well as its location on eastern long island is sheltered and sticks out into the ocean, also it allowed for an easy route by land to get goods into the city.

Henry Packer Dering was chosen as the first customs official by Alexander Hamilton, who was the first treasurer of the United States. Hamilton’s criteria for choosing customs officials was choosing men who were considered to be pillars of the local community, respected men who would not be criticized for enforcing taxes on goods because of their earned place in local society. This was important because coming out of the revolutionary war, the newly formed nation was in a heap of debt and the government needed to raise money to pay off those debts by raising taxes, however the revolutionary war was fought partially over taxes so it was important to pick the right people to enforce these new rules, and Henry Packer Dering was just that person for Sag Harbor. In the attached photo you can see some of the items and taxes that Packer and his men were supposed to enforce.

 

Henry Packer Dering was the son of Thomas Dering. Henry would marry Ann Fosdick and they would have nine children. While we didn’t learn the fate of each individual child we did learn that at least one would run off to the west coast in search of gold, with dreams of making it big, in which he did not. The Customs house was also moved from its original location by being rolled on logs down the block which I thought was equally funny as it was fascinating.

The Importance of Sag Harbor to Early America

by Sam Katz

I, as someone much more familiar with NYC and the west end of long Island than the east end, had never heard of Sag Harbor before this class. However, I learned that it was a significant fixture of the early history of the United States.

 
Sag Harbor rose to prominence largely because of its geography. Being all the way out on the east end of Long Island, it was much more convenient for whaling or trading ships to stop at compared to sailing all the way down to new york Harbor. However, it still has a (relative) proximity to NYC, making it a good location for the buying and trading of goods. The harbor is also a deep water harbor, very important for the kinds of large ocean going vessels that trade and fish sound the world. Additionally, the fact that it is almost entirely sheltered by land (Image 1), allowed it to be much more protected for storms, again making it an optimal stopover location.

 

Image 1: Kurt pointing out how the harbor is well enclosed by land, including a recent jetty. This allowed for large ships to dock there, including two huge yachts behind us.

This is what made it logical when the first session of congress met in 1789 that they would name two jurisdictions in New York, NYC and Sag Harbor (Image 2). They were each given one port of federal customs office and port of entry, where goods would be inspected and taxed. This was important because in order to pay off the massive revolutionary war, debts, taxes were required, but having just fought a war over unjust taxation, the implementation was vitally important. That’s why taxation on goods at ports of entry was chosen by secretary Hamilton (Image 3). These duties were administered by locally respected people like Henry Dering, the first customs master of the Sag custom office (which was just his house). This allowed for the taxation of goods somewhat invisible, and palatable because locals could make exceptions and not be hated as outsiders like british tax collectors were. So, because of all of this, despite the incongruity of how it sounds now, there was a period of time where Sag Harbor actually received more imports than NYC.

 

Image 2: This is a copy of the first session of congress in which you can see they divided NY into only two jurisdictions, NYC and Sag Harbor, which stood in for all of Long Island. They also gave each a federal port of entry. This was so cool to see this artifact.

Image 3: This is a blown up copy of the taxation acts on imports in NY from the early USA. You can see which goods were taxed and by how much.

Sag Harbor is also important because of its cosmopolitan makeup. This came about due to the nature of whaling—its chief profession for a great deal of time. Many sailors on whaling ships in the latter years of the trade were free black men, along with indigenous peoples and even some chinese immigrants, trying to find reliable work. This lead to a more diverse local culture than many other places at that time. Then as whaling died down, Sag Harbor stuck a deal to bring a New Jersey factory to their town, which brough the first major jewish community out to that area of long island. All of this diversity lead to Sag Harbor being early on women’s suffrage (Image 4), and generally being more accepting than its neighbors.

 

Image 4: You can see Mary (left) standing next to a suffragette dress as well as a flapper dress. These represent the changing climate of women’s empowerment of the 1920’s.