THE LATE BENJAMIN T. HUTCHINSON.
Written for the Signal
Benjamin T. Hutchinson was born at Middle Island, March 2,1808. In the course of his childhood and youth he enjoyed the usual facilities for education which the time and place afforded. At the about the age of seventeen he went to New York and engaged as clerk in the employ of Mr. Charles Swezey, who kept a grocery store there at that time. After occupying this position about four years, and having finished the years of his minority, he embarked in business for himself, in partnership with one Mr. Gifford. This arrangement continued for about two years. It was then dissolved, and Mr. Hutchinson returned to Long Island. He now turned his attention to teaching school, and for about four years, commencing with 1831, he taught in the district schools at Moriches, Coram, and Middle Island. About this time he had a desire to return to the employments of mercantile life, and made arrangements to start a store at Greenport, which was then just commencing its days of prosperity. However, at the earnedt solicitation of his father and friends, he abandoned that plan, and in its stead opened a store in Middle Island. At this time he received the appointment as post master, (1835) which office he held, with the exception of a year or two, up to the time of his death. During the years 1835 to 1838, inclusive, he held the office of Inspector of Schools for the town of Brookhaven. He was married, December 9,1835, to Louis D. Young, of New York. She died on April 21, 1837. Again he was married May 16, 1840 to Minerva Overton, who survives him. By his first wife he had one son, and by his second wife five sons and two daughters, all but one of whom (George H.) are living.
He was elected to the office of Town Clerk in 1848, and has been retained in that office up to the present time, with the exception of his three years, service as County Clerk. He took office in the latter capacity in January, 1850. At this time he closed up his store, and gave his attention to the business growing out of his official positions. He was elected to the office of Town Collector in 1863, and again in1866. He has occupied many other positions of honor and trust, which we have not space here to mention. In them all he has acquitted himself creditably and honorably. He died September 25, 1877.
Mr. Hutchinson was a man of rare qualities. A mental organism so active, so penetrating, and so untiring as that which he possessed is seldom found. Had the title of his fortune directed him into some channel which might lead to wider fields of action, he would have stood favorably in comparison with the foremost men of his day. Always ready to render a friendly service whenever called upon, and honorable in all his conduct toward his fellow men, he was a kind and obliging neighbor and friend at all times more ready to bestow favors than to ask them.
Possessing an inashantible store of information on a wide range of subjects, and a remarkably active mind, he was never at a loss for ideas nor for words with which to instruct or entertain those with whom he met. He believed in the efficacy of friendly jokes and laughter in stimulating the physical organism to healthy action. Although his disposition strongly inclined him to look upon the dark shades of the pictures of life, there was running beneath the surface of his nature a vein of humor which frequently would break forth in sparkling dashes in the midst of the darkest hours of every day life. So he used to say it was better to "cheer along" through the gloomy paths of life.
Mr. Hutchinson, as a political man, belonged to a class of men who are rapidly passing from the stage of action-men who valued the principles which actuated our immortal forefathers, and whose ambition was to promote the welfare of the people and their government, rather than the aggrandizement
and pecuniary gain of themselves or of their own particular friends. He was no political trickster. He would not stoop to the cunning arts and devices which are so often practiced for the furtherance of personal ends, in political circles large or small. His political opponents, he treated with an unusual degree of charity, respect, and fairness, not disposed to criticize their acts with that harshness which we commonly hear from opposing partisans. His voice was never louder than when he deprecated and bewailed the corruption which he saw within the lines of the political party in which he was counted, or when he censured the low-handed dealings of his leaders. He often expressed the sentiment that he valued and respected an open opponent infinitely more than he did a double-dealing ally.
As a public servant he seems to have moved in the sphere for which he was specially fitted. He never seemed to be so well pleased as when he engaged in some service in behalf of the public or of some individual. Thousands of those who have called upon him will remember the smile of satisfaction with
which he used to express the pleasure it afforded him to perform the "kindness of life." Besides being ever ready to confer personal favors, and to give advice whenever sought, as well as to labor for the interests of the community in his own neighborhood, or to be the advocate of the weak and oppressed, and all of this with little or no regard to the matter of remuneration, he was untiring and earnest in his devotion to the interests of his town. As its clerk he never confined his labors to the simple performance of such duties as the law may detail to that office, but was continually bestowing labor, in all matters with which he came in contact, wherever the public interest called him.
For more than a quarter of a century the clerk of Brookhaven town, he had gained a remarkable familiarity with his records and its history, as well as with all points of law pertaining to the town government, in all its departments. Such familiarity had he gained in these matters that he was prepared for almost any question that might arise, and frequently, when not being able to make immediate reference to any book or record on a subject which might have been brought up suddenly, he would reply, "I have it here," at the same time laying his hand upon his broad full forehead. He was the able and persevering counsel of the town in any disputes or litigations into which it might be forced, and his able advice and intelligent action and untiring watchfulness have saved many thousands of dollars to the town. In all the official boards of the town his counsel was sought, and generally obtained. To use an inelegant but forcible expression, he was the "brains" of nearly all those boards.
Living until his age had nearly reached the allotted years of man, he had improved the time given him, and was called away just when his years seemed full and his life complete. Like the weary laborer, who at the close of day lays aside his implements and goes home to rest, so he, having filled the hours of his day full of usefulness, has laid aside the implements of his lifework and gone home to his rest. May that rest be as sweet as his labors been faithful.
written by, Chester G. Osborne
Long Island Forum- July 1971
IN SUFFOLK County and New York State politics of the mid-1880's, one of the most influential and paradoxically one of the most obscure figures was a village (or hamlet) postmaster and tavern keeper named Benjamin T. Hutchinson, (1808-1877).
Around 1834, Hutchinson bought a house and farm in Middle Island which had formerly been the property of Benjamin Brewster, a grandson of Rev. Nathaniel Brewster, and during the following years the dwelling served variously as a local post office, country store, stage coach stop, tavern, voting place, and with Hutchinson's ascendancy as a politician, the office of the Town Clerk of Brookhaven Town.
Aleaflet put out by the Bayles Insurance Agency of Middle Island points out that the post office in that place "has the distinction of being the oldest in Brookhaven Town" and that it dates from 1796. Centrally located, it was an ideal spot for the picking up and passing on of news of all sorts, from local stories to political gossip and maneuverings at state level; it was a vantage point from which Hutchinson did more than just listen to the news; he maintained a lively correspondence with many officials and wielded an increasingly strong influence, to the benefit apparently of everyone but himself.
How many of his letters are still in existence is not known, but a number were found in the papers of his long-time friend and ally, Egbert Tangier Smith of the Manor of St. George at Mastic. An 1847 letter to Smith gives some background on the beginnings of Hutchinson's career as Clerk; M. Homan Esqr. was Mordicai Homan, who had been in that office for forty years:
"Middle Island NY
16 feb
"Dr. Sir
M. Homan Esqr. declines serving any longer as Town Clerk and he and several others have stated a preference for me and my location as most central in the Town, and I have consented to serve if it be the wish of the better part of the people without any jockeying about it, and if it be the people's, choice (separate from any extraneous anti-republican doctrines and jockeyings) to have some other person serve them, I shall willingly acquiesce; thus far I consider it just & honorable to say to friend or foe, and thinking you might not know of M H's declining I take the liberty to inform you that you may do as seemeth best in your sight
Yours respectfully
B.T. Hutchinson
Middle Island
L. I.
16 feby 1847
P.S. I am in favor of good temperance in all things and consequently was sorry to see last March Cold-water made the Principal qualification to the injury of freedom of opinion & destruction of truth & Honest republicanism and hope the repetition may be avoided-
B. T. H."
Hutchinson served as Town Clerk from 1848 to 1850. Another letter tells of his nomination for a similar post at County level,he was elected and served as Clerk of Suffolk County from 1850 to 1852. He writes with eloquent and sometimes flamboyant Prose, the last few phrases may seem incongruous, as if borrowed from a Marriage pronouncement, but it is no pun to say that the writer was sincere and "wedded to his work".
"To Egbert T. Smith, Esqr
Dr. Sir
I feel truly thankful for the kindness shown to me last Tues. eve, by yourself particularly, and the majority of the Convention, and should the people see proper to sanction the nomination, my best abilities shall be given to endeavor to discharge the important duties to which I should be called, with gratitude to friends, and justice and kindness to all, and with this expression of my sincere thanks you will please consider me to be
Very respectfully yours, B. T. Hutchinson.
5 Oct- 1849
Let me mingle my congratulations with yours, at the happily effected Union of the Democracy of Suffolk, for Union alone can lead to Peace, prosperity and the welfare of our Country, and I trust the past late experiences will make all more dearly prize the blessing of union-the source of our strength, the sweetener of our joys, and our comforter in distress-
B. T. H.
Hutchinson's career included a post as Inspector of Schools, 1835 and for some years after, and he returned to the office of Town Clerk from 1860 to 1877. Meetings of the "Democratic Republicans" were held at his home, with the artist William S. Mount, Egbert Smith and other committeemen attending. But he scrupulously avoided any conflict between "politicking" and duty.
"You know when we get through office duties we can be free to converse on other useful things" he wrote from his Suffolk County office on August 6, 1850. And he knew his job. In Book A 4 the Brookhaven Town Records there is a credit from Osborn Shaw, Town Historian: 'During 1848 and 1849 and from 1860 to 1877, Benjamin T Hutchinson . . . added many notes to the Records, explaining some of the entries…"
A brief letter of September 1850 shows the range of his influence and offers Egbert T. Smith some shrewd advice:
Try to get good delegates both ways. Probably as a result of it, Smith was elected to the State Assembly for the next term. L. H. Davis was Lester H. Davis, who was to be Suffolk County Treasurer, 1855-1857. Town elections were held for many years at his home in Coram.
B. R. Platt was Bradford R Platt of Huntington; he ran the newspaper Long Is-lander. C. A. Floyd was Charles Albert Floyd, born in Smithtown in 1791, died in Commack, Feb. 20, 1873. He was County Clerk 1820-21; District Attorney, 1830; a member of the State Assembly, 1836 and 1838; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty- Seventh Congress and served March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843; County Judge 1843 - 1865, and during some of the same years was Supervisor of Huntington. The Democrat was another local newspaper.
Suffolk C H
23rd Sept 1850
"Dr. Sir,
I learnt yesterday from L. H. Davis that the primary meetings would be at his house on Wedneday afternoon next-to choose Delegates to Dist. & County Conventions-I knew nothing of the Dist. one until I got the Democrat Saturday p.m. & L.H.D. says he did not get the paper until in the eve and had written some notices for Wednesday.
B. R. Platt writes to me that he will do all he can for you -C. A. Floyd writes that 'You must be provided for' so that I do not know of any proposed change from our former wishes try to get good delegates both ways-
Yours respectfully
B. T. Hutchinson"
Devoted and honest, Hutchinson was not one to use his influence and prestige to faten his own pocketbook, and after a lifetime of public service he remained a relatively poor man. Indeed, there were times when he found himself losing money at the job: "I think the office was fifty dollars damage to me last year," he complained in an undated letter to Smith
"And this year would you believe it they with Capt. Carman to help them seek to lessen it & allow no commission . . . for my day when we meet 8/-June meeting 1 day 8/ Expenses & collaterals of the day 6/6 leaving me as pay 1/6 for which I wrote 1 day before, that day, 1 day after, 6 nights, went twice an South Side (i.e., business on the south shore) once on North side-been hindered 4 days at home &c &c study law and records in nights and noons to give information to Town officers & others for public good, and 16 pence the pay. Let it be something or nothing, I say, & it should be so for I refuse the 18 pence, for a girl can make more than that in one eve . . . "
And there are these entries in the "Brookhaven Town Records from 1856 to 1886"' quoted not only for what they reveal about Hutchinson, but also for what they show of the scope of the Clerk's position-
"Trustee Meeting, March 5th. 1861 . . . Resolved unanimously that for the extra services rendered the Town by Benjamin T Hutchinson . . . in putting the Military Roll and Assessment into one Book and in Alphabetical order with residences-going to Riverhead" head three times and searching Records to aid Assessors in correcting errors by which many taxes, had been formerly lost-searching Records and copying items and laws in aid of settlement of Boundary with Islip-
Searching records and accounts and making copies of accts. for last 12 years of the Docks, Railways, Shores, Islands, Bays &c showing the arrearages due. and enabling a just settlement of the Rents with all parties-Indexing the last Book of Records-and taking means by which $116 of arrearage Taxes have been collected we tender him in behalf of the Town . . . the sum of Thirty Dollars . . , "
The next month the Trustees admitted that the sum was "insufficient" and directed that another "Twenty Dollars be allowed him for services so freely rendered, and so greatly beneficial to the Town . . .
There are other entries of a similar nature, and finally, "Trustee Meeting, at Coram, Tuesday, March 28th 1882 ... whereas Benjamin T. Hutchinson late of the Town of Brookhaven, in Suffolk County, deceased was indebted to said Town in the sum of Two Hundred Dollars or there-abouts, and the Said Town . . . was indebted to said Benjamin T. Hutchinson for Services by him rendered to said Town to nearly the same amount . . . that said Board of Trustees . . . does hereby release and forever discharge the Estate of said Benjamin T. Hutchinson from the said indebtedness . . . "