BUCKINGHAM, DANIEL

BUCKINGHAM, DANIEL

from the Portrait and Biographical Record

of Suffolk County

Daniel Buckingham and Miss Sarah W. Brown were united in marriage at Bridgehampton in 1821. They then removed to Yaphank, where the father worked at his trade until 1846, when they removed with their family to Peconic and there made their home until the husband and father departed this life, February 14, 1885. At that time he was in his eighty-fifth year, having been born in 1800. He was a man of exemplary habits, honest and upright in all he did, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church of that place, with which he had been connected for many years as an active worker. Personally he was a man of strict integrity and true worth. By trade he was a blacksmith, and, as before stated, he worked at this until 1846, when he gave his attention to farming. In politics he voted the Republican ticket after the formation of the party, and gave his influence toward the promotion of all worthy enterprises.

Our subject and his sister Adelaide, now the wife of Gilbert Howell, of Peconic, are the only members of the parental family surviving. The former was reared to the age of twenty-three years at Yaphank, and in 1846 accompanied the family to Peconic. He acquired a good common school education, after which he assisted his father in the blacksmith-shop and gained a thorough knowledge of the trade. He followed this vocation until 1880, and that year abandoned it and located upon the fine farm on which he now makes his home.

Mr. Buckingham and Miss Urania B. Phillips were united in marriage December 15, 1847. The latter was born in the town of Brook Haven, this county, October 23, 1825, and was the daughter of William Phillips, the third of that name. Her family are enabled to trace their ancestry back to one George Phillips, an Englishman, who emigrated to America with Governor Winthrop in the ship "Arabella," in 1630. He became a noted preacher, holding a charge for many years in Watertown, Mass. His grandson, Samuel, the founder of Andover Academy, died in 1790, aged seventy-six. His grandson John founded Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and died in 1795, aged seventy-one. George Phillips was the first of the name to locate on Long Island, coming here in 1697. He died in 1739, aged seventy-five years. One of his three sons bore the name of William. Among his sons was William (second), who was Quartermaster in the Revolutionary army, and at one time was taken prisoner and confined in the prison ship "Provost. " It is not clearly known whether he made his escape or was exchanged, but he secured his liberty in some manner, and after the war lived for a short time in the town of Brook Haven. His son, William Phillips (third), was the father of Mrs. Buckingham. He was better known as "Squire" Phillips, and was an extensive land-owner and wealthy farmer. He was justice of the Peace of his town for a number of years, and departed this life at Yaphank in 1858, at the age of seventy-two years. He was a gentleman whom it was a pleasure to know, and he had many warm personal friends, not only in the county, but throughout the entire island. Politically he was a Republican. He served for some time as Captain of the militia and in every position which he was called upon to fill gave satisfaction to those most concerned. He was appointed administrator for many valuable estates, and by good judgment and tact always managed to make an amicable settlement. His son, William Phillips (fourth), brother of Mrs. Buckingham, was the owner of a large tract of land on, Long Island and became very wealthy. He cleared up the county farm at Yaphank, and departed this life in 1891, aged sixty-eight. He never married.