If checked, this site is within the Fire Place (Brookhaven Hamlet) Historic District

19-Initial Const Date: farm huse during 1850's

19-Architect:

19-Builder: George H. Burnett Sr, after his return to Brookhaven from the "Gold Rush" of '48, where it is said he made a fortune selling provisions, but no gold.

This site (Site ID Br18B) includes the Burnett family homestead and the northern section of the old Burnett farm property in Brookhaven hamlet, Suffolk County, NY.

Opposite the house south across Beaver Dam road is the southern section of the farm (Site ID Br18B.4-S).  Both parcels originally contained about fifty acres each, for a total farmstead of about 100 acres.  In addition to the residence, the farm originally had at least two barns and other out buildings.  On the south site, there was a barn at the southeast corner of Beaver Dam road and Burnett lane; it was torn down in 1934.  On this northern site, there was a barn called the “red barn” near the western farm boundary (Site ID Br19.1-S) which was destroyed by fire in 2010.

The northern farm section extended from Beaver Dam road to the farm lot (Site ID Br30C) of Dr. Nathaniel Miller on the north (which stretched from Fire Place Neck road eastward to Little Neck Run; and was essentially one of the lot divisions of the 17th century known as the "cross lots").  The large Burnett farm field at the northern end of the Burnett farm stretched from Miller farm lots on the west to Little Neck Run on the east. This northern section of the Burnett farm was therefore a large invert "L" shape.

The colonial era land records are ambiguous and it has not been determined who originally owned the lots which came to  comprised the Burnett farm.  These lots changed ownership many times during the colonial period.  They were joined and split into different configurations.  In 1833 Nathan Post, a shipbuilder in Bellport sold the property to Thomas Bell of Bellport [Suffolk County Deeds, Book 30, Page 44].  By this time the farm property included the land north and south of Beaver Dam road.  Elisabeth Post, founder of the Post-Morrow Foundation was distantly related to Nathan Post–they were second cousins, three times removed. Thomas Bell, along with his brother John, is of the Bells who named the Village of Bellport.  Thomas sold the property to Henry W. Titus of Bellport in 1835 [Book 30, page 66].  Henry sold the property to George Burnett in 1854 [Book 75, page 197].  The property remained in the Burnett family until 1942/43* when it was acquired by C. Oliver Wellington.

George Burnett was from Southampton.  In 1849, he sailed on the ship Sabrina to the gold fields of California with a group of east end whaling captains.  He is reported to have acquired a “fortune” selling provisions, but no gold.  On his return, he purchased the farm in Fire Place.  He died in 1893.  George and his wife Frances Jagger had six children.  Three sons, George, Isaac, and Henry remained unmarried and continued to live on and work the farm until their deaths–George being the last in 1940. 

The Burnett homestead was separated from the original Burnett farm lots and is now in private ownership.

The large field at the north end of the Burnett farm was acquired by the Post Morrow Foundation in   ?  .  It is now known as Long Meadow Farm (Field).  The western portion of this lot is presently (2012) being farmed by the Hamlet Organic Garden (HOG) organization.  The Post Morrow Foundation maintains a walking trail through this tract. 

Ownership of the field west of the Burnett homestead remains with Wellington heirs and is also being farmed by the HOG organization.  It is on this field that the well know "red barn" once stood (), destroyed by a fire in 2010. The development rights to this land were purchased by the Town of Brookhaven in ? . This means that if the land is ever sold, it will remain an agricultural or natural open space for perpetuity.

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* Quick Claim, in default on taxes.  Final purchase from Burnett heirs in 1943.

** Present site appears to be less extensive than property originally included in Burnett farm, suggesting that the Burnett family sold off some building lots during their tenancy.

[Section Revised: May 2012.]

Nathan Post to Thomas Bell, 9 April 1833.  Suffolk County Deeds.  Book 30, Page 44.  Excerpt.

... The first tract [south of Beaver Dam road] beginning at a certain white oak standing on the south side of the road crossing Fire place neck [modern Beaver Dam road] at the north west corner of the land of Barnabas Rider then running southardly by and with the lands of said Barnabas Rider and John Swezey to the Bay then westardly by the bay to the meadow of Robt. Hawkins then northardly by the said Robt. Hawkins to the northeast corner of the meadow & upland belonging to the sd Robt. Hawkins then westardly & southardly by the said Robt Hawkins to the Bay the westardly by the bay to the tract of meadow belonging to Paul & Amos Hulse then southwardly [sic. meant to be northwardly.  Changed in 1835 deed] & westardly by the said Paul & Amos Hulse to the the land of Selah Hawkins then northardly by the said Selah Hawkins to the road crossing Fireplace Neck then eastardly by said road to the first mentioned bounds by estimation fifty acres reserving for Robt. Hawkins his heirs and assigns & Paul & Amos Hulse their heirs & assigns the privilege of passing there the same to and from their respective shares of meadow according to their rights of access also one other tract of land [north of Beaver Dam road] lying on the front side of the road crossing Fireplace Neck opposite the first tract & bounded as follows beginning at the south west corner of the land belonging to the heirs of Zephaniah Conklin and then running northwardly by & with the lands of the said heirs and Richard Corwin Jr. then eastardly by the sd. Richard Corwin Jr. & Joseph Rose to little neck run then northardly by little neck run to the land of Nathl. Miller than eastardly & southardly by the land of the said Nathl. Miller to the land of Selah Hawkins then eastardly and southardly by the said Selah Hawkins to the road crossing Fireplace Neck then eastardly by said road to the first mentioned bound by estimation fifty five acres To have and to hold all and singular the above described premises with the appurtenances (excepting the reservations as aforesaid) ....

Thomas Bell and wife Amelia V[ictoria] A[gnes] [Huleu]  Bell to Henry W. Titus (of the City of New York), 27 July 1835.  Suffolk County Deeds, Book 30, Page 66.  Description is essentially as above.

Henry W. Titus and Susan his wife (of Town of Brookhaven) to George H. Burnett (of Town of Southampton), 27 February 1854.  Suffolk County Deeds, Book 75, Page 197.  Description is essentially as above.

Henry G. Hand, Frances W. Hand, Alfred B. Hand, Laura Hand Becker, kin & heirs of Inez I. Burnett Hand, daughter of George H. Burnett and Frances M. Burnett, to C. Oliver Wellington, 20 December 1943.  Suffolk County Deeds  book 2333, Page 188.  Excerpts:

... COMMENCING at the northwest corner adjoining the lands of Nathaniel C. Miller [deceased] and running easterly by and with the lands of said Nathaniel C. Miller to the center of Hawkins Creek [Little Neck Run]; thence southerly by and with said Creek and [then westerly & southerly with] the lands of Smith Rose [deceased], Brewster Rose [deceased], Richard Corwin, Egbert Swezey [deceased] and across Fire Place Neck Road [Beaver Dam road] and thence [southerly] by and with the lands of Mrs. Wells, Robert Albin, Chas. Booth, and Gordon Booth to the mowing meadow;  thence westerly by the edge of said meadow to the lands of Robert Hawkins;  thence north by said Hawkins and thence west again by Hawkins' lands and thence southerly by and with said Hawkins' land to the Bay;  thence westerly by and with the edge of said Bay to the lands of Samuel Randall;  thence northerly by and with the said lands of Samuel Randall to a certain ditch;  then west by said ditch to the lands of Hermon Hawkins [deceased];  thence northerly by and with the lands of said Hermon Hawkins, Mrs. Wells and Lewis Hawkins [deceased] to the lands of Elbert Albin [deceased];  thence east and north by the fence as it now stands to Fire Place Neck Road [Beaver Dam road];  thence west by the Fire Place Road to the land of Hermon Hawkins;  thence north by and with the lands of Hermon Hawkins and Nathaniel C. Miller to the place of beginning, containing about 100 acres.

Two addition parcels, each of about two acres each, are also described in the deed.  Based on the names identified as the bounding lots, they appear to be nearby, but it is ambiguous as to whether they are contiguous.

Being and intended to be all the right, title and interest of the Grantors herein in and to the premises described in deeds recorded in the office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk in Liber 231 of Deeds at page 727, Liber 398 of Deeds at page 66, Liber 398 of Deeds at page 65 and Liber 2127 of Deeds at page 522.  [Not examined.]

Inez I. Hand, being the last surviving child of the late George H. Burnett and Frances M. Burnett, his wife, late of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, died June 29, 1942 leaving as her sole next of kin and heirs at law the Grantors herein, consisting of Henry G. Hand, husband, Alfred B. Hand, son, and Frances W. Hand, and Laura Hand Becker, daughters, and it is intended to herein convey all the right, title and interest of the said Inez I. Hand in and to the premises herein described, which said interest was acquired by the said Inez I. Hand by inheritance from her father, George H. Burnett who died intestate April 4, 1893, her mother Frances M. Burnett who died intestate April 15, 1924, her brother George H. Burnett who died intestate and unmarried November 9, 1940, her brother Isaac C. Burnett who died intestate and unmarried May 28, 1932, her brother Henry T. Burnett who died intestate and unmarried August 13, 1935, and her sister Annie F. Burnett who died intestate and unmarried September 19, 1899....