Freeport Village Was Once Raynor South

It was Later Hailed as Raynortown, 
the Raynor Family Being the First Settlers
A Lively Town Even Long Ago
Interesting Reminiscences of the Past 
from a Descendant of the First Settler.

Brooklyn Eagle
1903

       Among the few left who love to talk about the early days of the village, before Freeport came into existence, and of their ancestors, are Captain Alanson RAYNOR and his brother, Mott RAYNOR, who are, so far as is known, the only living male descendants of the first one of that branch of the family which set foot on South Side soil.  They have a sister living, Miss Amanda RAYNOR.  These are the only three remaining children of a family of ten, great-great- grandchildren of Edward RAYNOR, the original settler.

       Captain Alanson RAYNOR is of the quaint type, having been a bayman and captain of sailing vessels nearly all his life of seventy one years, while his brother, Mott, who is four years his senior, has been a farmer until a few years ago.  Both are well preserved for their years and are in fair health.  Their sister, who is younger, also wears her years lightly. 

       The old homestead, where the family was reared still stands on its original site, on lower Main street, opposite the mill road, and within a short distance of where Edward RAYNOR built the first house in Raynor South. The homestead is smaller than it was originally, but remains among the few landmarks of the village, and old-time residents take pride in pointing it out to the younger generation and also in showing the place near it where the first settler built his humble home.  In its early days the homestead was surrounded by nothing but farm and wood land from the junction of Main, Smith and Church streets on the north to Raynor street on the south and Church street on the west, embracing several hundred acres, which were owned by Benjamin RAYNOR, father of Alanson and Mott, who kept the homestead as a boarding house and grocery and sold a few refreshments in the liquid line.

       When an Eagle reporter called on Captain Alanson RAYNOR to procure his photograph and some reminiscences of "Raynor South" and "Raynortown" the venerable descendant of the original settler readily consented to give the desired information, as did his brother, Mott.

       "I allus like ter talk ‘bout Raynor South," said Captain Alanson, in his quaint way, "and tell what I know."

       "My great-great-grandfather settled here in Freeport during the sixteenth century.  He located on Main street, at the head of Freeport Creek, near the homestead where I was born.  My great-grandfather was named Thomas, my grandfather Benjamin and my father, Daniel Raynor.  My father was born in 1791.  My mother was a daughter of General Daniel BEDELL.  Bedell street is named in her honor and Raynor street in honor of my father."

       "In my early days," continued the captain, "Raynor South, or Freeport as it now is, was a great place.  From the homestead to the old Freeport House, now the front of Libby’s block on Pine street.  I could count every house.  There were just eighteen.  No railroad was in existence, and the post office was kept by Joe ‘Rock’ SMITH, a descendant of the original ‘Rock’ SMITH.  The Curtiss boys from Hempstead used to run a stage to Brooklyn, and it took about six hours to make the journey.  If you had any business to transact a night’s stay was necessary.  It was on the Curtiss boys’ stage I first saw the word ‘Raynortown’ painted or used, and I guess they helped to extinguish the name of ‘Raynor South.’

        "The RAYNORS were closely settled in the neck leading to the meadows within a short distance of my home.  My father kept the homestead for public patronage, and talk about sport!  Raynor South was full of it in them days.  Main street from the old Freeport house to the head of Bedell street, near where my brother, Mott, lives, was used for running races.  My grandfather kept a number of running horses and put them in the races.  He was fond of such sport and fox hunting.  I guess I am a chip of the old block, although I have been a boatman nearly all my days.  New Year’s day was the day for a big time, though, in Raynor South.  Every resident got a salute fired over his roof top to herald the new year, and it was impossible to sleep after midnight of the old year.  Horse racing was a feature of the day’s sport.  The fun was continued until late at night. 

       "There were very few business places in Raynor South," continued the captain, and we all went to Hempstead to do our trading.  Everybody was neighborly in them days, and you could get a favor done almost any time, gratis, where now you have got to pay for all that is done in that line.  Wood was used entirely for fuel, and every one helped his neighbor get in his winter’s supply.  I remember my father asking once for eleven wagons to get in his wood, and twenty-two appeared.  The almighty dollar was a second consideration in those times."

       Speaking of wrecks on the coast, the captain said he had seen five at one time. "My father bought a brig which came on," said the captain, "and got it on rollers so that it could be launched and brought to port for repairs.  Everybody in Raynor South was invited to take part in the launching and jollification afterward."

[the rest of the article is missing] 

[Newspaper Clipping provided by Gerald V.S. Raynor, Huntington, L.I.]