| STEPHEN RANDALL, first
child of Samuel and Joanna (Kaiser) Randall, was born in
1736 in Stonington, Connecticut and died the 22 Nov. 1818
in Ridge, L.I., N.Y., "in the eighty-second year of
his age," which is on his gravestone in Ridge. (p.
182). He married in 1763 at Ridge Elizabeth Swezey,
daughter of Stephen and Phebe (Tuthill) Swezey, born 9
Nov. 1747 in Swezeytown, L.I. and died on 9 Nov. 1834 in
Ridge, "in the 87th year of her life" as is
stated on her gravestone in the Ridge Family Cemetery.
Stephen and Elizabeth are buried there which was a part
of the farm of John O. Randall and is on the site of the
original lands of Stephen Randall.
An interesting legend had been handed
down regarding a means of communication known as the
Whiskey Road. Stephen fell in love with a neighbor,
Elizabeth Swezey, who lived about four miles to the west
in Swezeytown. Passing to and fro they thus made a road
which was later made into a public highway.'
"The War of the
Revolution broke out when Stephen was a young man. He
cast his lot with the Continentals. Nearly all his
neighbors, however, especially those in Wading River
joined the British. He lived in a sparsely settled
section on the main road between Wading River and the
South side of Long Island, which was the road used by the
British when they crossed over from Connecticut. The
soldiers made it very uncomfortable for him using his
barns for their horses, and feeding them on the best at
hand.
Stephen soon grew tired of
this, and formed a company for home protection. They
called themselves "The Minute Men," and he was
made commander. They did good service until Stephen was
captured.
Two soldiers were taking him
to Halifax, when they stopped at a Tory's house in Wading
River, to get dinner. They left Stephen Randall bound in
the kitchen with the Tory's wife. While she was preparing
dinner she set him at liberty, telling him that she would
not inform his captors for two or three hours. He hurried
home, got his gun, dog and some warm clothing, and
remained in hiding until peace was declared. "The
Minute Men" then disbanded, but without notifying
the Government, so thus do not appear as veterans.
The old gun remained in the
possession of the family for a time and was highly
prized. However, no one seems to know what has happened
to the gun.
He was a patriot of the
American Revolution, and had signed the Association
Papers at Brookhaven, L.I. on 16 May 1775.
When his children in turn
married and were ready to settle down, he had a farm for
them. They founded the village of Ridgeville. Prior to
this time Ridge was called RANDALLVILLE for a time as
practically all the residents were Randalls.
The will of Stephen Randall
is found at the County Center in Riverhead, L.L. N.Y.
dated 2 May 1817.
Last Will and Testament of
Stephen Randal of the town of Brookhaven in County of
Suffolk and State of New York. I Stephen Randal
considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being
of sound mind and disposing mind and memory blessed by
Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my
last will and Testament in manner and form following vis.
First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth
Randal the sum of twenty five dollars annually for her
support so long as she remains my widow to be paid her by
my son John Randal his heirs Executor or administrator
and provided also my said Wife shall give up and aquit
unto my said son John his heir and or assigns all her
down in my Estate also I give and bequeath to my said
wife two cows and all my household furniture to be hers
and at her disposal. Item I give and bequeath unto my son
Jeffirey Randal and to his heirs or assigns the sum of
Fifty dollars. Item I give and bequeath unto my two
Daughters Betsey Laws and Polly Reeve and to their heirs
or assigns the sum of Fifty dollars each. Item I give and
devise unto my son, Samuel Randal and to his heirs and
assigns forever Eighty acres of land on the Butt line.so
extending southward to contain the said Eighty acres.
Item I give and devise unto my Grandson Stephen Randal
and to his heirs and assigns forever Ten acres of land to
be measured off from the southeast comer of my said
westemmost farm lotts of land and bounded south by the
Whiskey Road and East by the land of John Randal, so
extending Forty rods North and Forty rods west to make
the said ten acres of land. Item I give and devise unto
my said son John Randal and to his heirs and assigns
forever all the residue of my Real Estate consisting of
lands and meadows and also I give and devise unto my said
son John Randal and to his heirs and assigns all the
residue of my personal Estate of whatever nature it may
be and I also order and direct that my said son John
Randal his heirs Executors or administrator pay all my
just debts and,the legacys herein bequeathed which said
legacies are to be paid at the Expiration of one year
from my decease and lastly for my Executors, I hereby
appoint my said wife Elizabeth Randal Executrix and my
two friends Stephen Swezey and Mordecai Homan,
Esq.,Executors to this my last will and Testament to be
the same Executor and performed according to the true
intent and meaning here of hereby revoking all former
wills made by me. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this second day of' May in the year of
our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and seventeen signed
sealed published and declared by the above said Stephen
Randal to be his last will and Testament in presence of
us who have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses
in presence of the Testator.
Stephen Randal
Mordicai Homan
William Homan, Elizabeth Hurtin
Children of Stephen and
Elizabeth (Swczey) Randall all born in Ridge, L.I., N.Y.:
Jeffrey, b. 22 Nov. 1768.
Jeremiah, b. 26 Mar. 1771.
William, b. 4 Dec. 1774.
Elizabeth (Betsey), b. 18 Mar. 1778.
Polly, b. 1779.
John, b. 30 Dec. 1781.
Samuel, b. 29 Dec. 1784.
James, b. 1787.
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