Blue Point and the American Revolution

Although the interaction between patriots and torries included much more peaceful engagements than history books typically discuss, it was a war and there were military conflicts between the former neighbors of Long Island. Many whigs that lived on Long Island before the war and knew the waters well led raids to seize ships and goods or even kidnap people.  Blue Point, which was used as a port to ship goods to New York City for the British war effort, was site to a number of these naval invasions.

Privateers were men who participated in naval expeditions that sought to conquer other ships on the water or go up on the land to pillage. Captain Ebenezer Dayton, who fled to Connecticut from Coram, led many privateering excursions in Blue Point.

Those who favored independence- whigs or patriots- were forced to flee while those who wanted the continuance of British rule, torries, could stay after pledging an oath of allegiance.

As told by local historian Gene Horton in his book, Blue Point Remembered, on July 18, 1776, a Dayton led raid resulted in the capture of two Blue Point torries, Nathan and Lazarus Gyer. The brothers were taken from a clam boat near Oyster Bay and brought to jail in Connecticut. 

Under Datyon's leadership, fourteen whigs on two whale boats went to Blue Point on Sunday night, May 10, 1778. The raid successfully captured five oyster boats that contained lumber and produce.

The month of June, 1778 was an eventful one for Captain Dayton. Three sloops, the Dispatch, Polly and Jane, and one pettiaugre, the Lively, were seized. A pettiaugre is a Dutch style boat that was often used in the Hudson River.

In Blue Point Remembered, the November 20, 1778 excusion was described where Dayton was on his sloop, the Ranger, with 45 men and, after commandeering a British brig full of tobacco, lingered in the waters of the Great South Bay too long and was captured by the British. This did not end privateer expeditions at Blue Point.

As indicated by Royal Hinman in A Historical Collection from Official Records, Files & C. of the Part Sustained by Connecticut during the War of the Revolution, David Hawley left with a crew on April 20, 1780 from Fairfield, Connecticut. Under Hawley's leadership, three armed boats went to Blue Point and successfully seized eleven vessels.

The last two recorded excursions to Blue Point were mentioned in Blue Point Remembered. One raid targeted Blue Point in May of 1781. Just under 40 men were involved and were successful in stealing clothes, money and a Tory sloop. The final tour to Blue Point was commanded by Captain Elisha Elderkin. Elderkin and his crew sailed the sloop True Blue and took a 35-ton schooner named Willing Lass that contained various items most likely headed to New York City to aid in the British War effort.