The salty air hung thick, carrying the promise of a new beginning. On June 12th, 1640, a small, determined group of English Puritans, weary of the crowded confines of Massachusetts, stepped ashore onto the untouched land that would become Southampton. The scene, simple and unassuming, marked the birth of a community forged in faith and a desire for autonomy.

These were not mere adventurers; they were devout individuals seeking a haven where their strict religious beliefs could dictate their way of life. 

Dissatisfied with what they perceived as the diluted piety of their former home, they sought a fresh start, a blank canvas upon which to paint their vision of a godly society.

Today, Southampton, New York, stands as the oldest English settlement in the state, yet, the origins of its name remain shrouded in a gentle haze of historical debate. 

Some whisper of a connection to the esteemed Earl of Southampton, while others maintain a more direct link to Southampton, Hampshire, the very port from which the Pilgrim Fathers embarked on their momentous journey. 

Regardless of its etymology, the name resonates with a sense of history, a tangible thread connecting the New World to the old.

If these stern, pious pioneers could be transported through time to witness the Southampton of today, they would surely be bewildered. 

The quiet, austere settlement they envisioned has blossomed into a vibrant, opulent enclave within the Hamptons, a glittering jewel on the East Coast, a playground for the super-rich. 

The stark contrast between their humble beginnings and the present-day extravagance would undoubtedly leave them speechless.

But the early days of Southampton were far from glamorous. 

Life was governed by a rigid, unyielding code, a reflection of the Puritans' unwavering commitment to their faith. 

Draconian laws, drawn from biblical texts, shaped every aspect of daily existence, impacting both the settlers and the indigenous Shinnecock tribe, whose land was acquired, perhaps too easily, for "16 coats and a quantity of three score bushels of corn."

Despite the uneasy tension, a fragile coexistence emerged between the English settlers and the Shinnecock. 

The settlers, ever vigilant, forbade the sale of firearms and "firewater," a term that spoke volumes about their perception of alcohol's destructive power.

The legal system was a stark reflection of the times, a world far removed from modern sensibilities. 

Crimes deemed heinous, such as blasphemy, idolatry, witchcraft, heresy, profaning the Sabbath, adultery, rape, and murder, carried the ultimate penalty - death. 

Even more chilling was the law that threatened children who displayed "riotousness and drunkenness" or dared to "curse and smite" their parents with execution.

The records of Southampton's early council and court paint a vivid picture of life under these stringent rules:

  • June 4, 1651: Sarah Veale, was sentenced by the magistrates for exorbitant words of imprecations to stand with her tongue in a cleft stick so long as the offence committed by her was read and declared. 

  • August 13, 1651: Mr Howell shall have 25 shillings (£1.25) a year ensuing for his sounding the drum on Sabbath Day. 

  • October 8, 1652: “Whosoever shall be found sleeping after he hath taken the Watch shall be liable to the censure of four lashes of the whip or else pay ten shillings (50p)..

These glimpses into the past offer a fascinating, albeit unsettling, window into the origins of Southampton. While the Puritans' austere vision has long since faded, their legacy remains, etched in the very fabric of Southampton, a reminder of the town's remarkable and complex past.