Historic and Natural Districts Inventory Form

Unless indicated below, this is a transcript of the original Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities/Town of Brookhaven survey form. Corrections to obvious typographical and spelling errors have been made. Corrections to factual errors, updates or comments on the information are either enclosed in [square brackets], or will be clearly indicated as updated material. Since most of the surveys were conducted in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, much of the information reflects that time period.

Sites with an Inventory Code suffix of “S” are supplemental sites not included in the original surveys.

Historic and Natural Districts Inventory Form

Carman and Miller Private Graveyard

If checked, this is a Supplemental Form, not in the original surveys.

Inventory Code:		SH02.1-S
Prepared Date:		2005-10-20
Last Modified:		2008-04-05

Submitter

Submitter Name:	John Deitz
Submitter Address:	7 Locust Rd. Brookhaven, NY 11719
Organization:

Identification

1-Site Name:	Carman and Miller Private Graveyard
2a-County:	Suffolk	2b-Town:	Brookhaven	2c-Village:	Hamlet of Southaven
Address:

3-Description

The Carman and Miller private cemeteries are two adjacent plots located in South Haven, NY, roughly 2500 feet south of Montauk Highway, surrounded by land of the former Carmans River (Robinson) duck farm, now owned by Suffolk County. The Miller plot is approximately 40 feet by 30 feet, and the Carman plot is immediately to its south, and is approximately 40 feet by 70 feet. The Miller plot contains only two extant stones; the Carman plot contains nine.

4-Significance

The Carman cemetery contains nine gravestones, including Samuel Carman, Sr. and Samual Carman, Jr. Samual Carman, Sr., then their children, were proprietors of the mills, farms and merchant establishments of late 18th and early 19th century South Haven. The family eventually owned much of the land on the west bank of the Carman's River, originally known as the Connecticut River.

The Miller site is less certain. The Miller family was also prominent in South Haven in the early 19th century, but the relationship of the two individuals whose gravestones are found in the burying ground to other Miller family members has not been determined.

5-Map

6-Sources

Personal visits.
Town of Brookhaven Cemetery Listing Marty Van Lith and Faith McCutchen, Friends of Wertheim

7-Threats to Area

By Zoning	By Roads
By Developers	By Deterioration
Other	The two sites are in fair to poor condition, and receive little official maintenance. They are subject to deteriation due to age and neglect. The site is somewhat subject to vandalism. The Town of Brookhaven, which has a legal responsibility to maintain the cemetery under New York State law, is not conducting any maintenance. Suffolk County, within whose bounds the sites are contained, also appears not to be providing any maintenance. This is clearly an endangered historic cemetery, important to the heritage of the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County. Without immediate care it may be totally destroyed before another generation arrives.

8-Local Attitudes Toward the Area

While community attitudes are favorabvle to historic preservation, many of the small local family cemeteries are deteriorating due to neglect.

9-Photos

Prepared By:

John Deitz

Supplemental Material

A more comprehensive description of the Carman and Miller cemeteries may be found in the Cemeteries section of the Hamlet People Database. Click on above. This site includes a listing of the gravestones in the cemeteries, and links to their personal histories.