The History of Long Island from its Discovery and Settlement to the Present Time

Thompson, Benjamin F. The History of Long Island; from its Discovery and Settlement to the Present Time, with many important and interesting matters; including Notices of numerous Individuals and Families; also a particular Account of the different Churches and Ministers. New York: Gould, Banks & Co., 1843. Second Edition; Revised and Greatly Enlarged. [10611] Two volumes in black blindstamped cloth, gilt titles to spines, edge-worn; the backstrip to vol. ii. has been partly repasted to the spine. 9 x 6 inches. Volume I. Steel engraving of the author by A. L. Dick, after a painting by Wm. S. Mount, with printed signature and tissue guard. Folding map that is tattered at the edges. Six lithographed plates by Endicott of New York City. 511 pp. with light foxing and some pencil marginalia. There is a diagonal surface cut by a penknife or other small blade on the front cover of this volume. Volume II. Lithographed frontispiece "Marine Pavilion, Rockaway, L. I." by Endicott, and six additional lithographs by the same firm; one full-page wood engraving of Brooklyn from Peck Slip; two of currency, and several wood engravings in the text. 554 pages with a general index. The pages in this volume are darkly foxed; the lithographs are relatively clean. Good. Hardcover. Howes T187. Includes, among a vast amount of other historical matter, genealogies of the principal families. "The most comprehensive of the accounts of that island." - Justin Winsor, in Narrative and Critical History of America, vol. 4, p. 441. Benjamin Franklin Thompson (1784-1849), b. Setauket, Long Island; he was a direct descendant of the Rev. William Thompson, who emigrated from England in 1634. His father was a physician at Setauket and Captain of the First Company of Col. Floyd's Long Island Regiment in the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin Thompson began his own career as a medical doctor for about ten years and after studying law, was admitted to the bar in 1821. He served in several civil and military capacities during his career, including as a Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, New York Assembly member, District Attorney, and was attached to the Brookhaven Militia during the War of 1812. "[He was] well known as a lawyer in successful practice a few years ago, which he relinquished for the more congenial pursuits of an antiquarian and historian. His History of Long-Island, which has passed through two editions, will long remain a valuable monument of his labors." - untitled obituary newspaper extract at findagrave online.