Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

First House at the Branch

First House in Branch Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2018

1. First House in Branch Marker

Inscription. On this site stood the first house at the Branch: built by Joseph Blydenburgh, who married - 1688 - Deborah - daughter of Jonathan - eldest son of Richard Smith - "Bull Rider" - patentee of Smithtown - the property belonged continuously to his descendants until purchased 1923 for a village green.

Gen. George Washington wrote in his diary of 1790

April 23^rd Baited the horses at Smiths Town at a Widow Blidenberg's A decent house

The widow was Ruth Norton, widow of Benj. Blydenburgh II^d ; both graves are marked by stones in the cemetery across the road.

Erected 1932 in memory of the pioneer settlers of Smithtown by their descendant Vail Blydenburgh

Erected 1932 by Vail Blydenburgh.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1688.

Location. 40° 51.387′ N, 73° 11.222′ W. Marker is in Smithtown, New York, in Suffolk County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street and Hauppauge Road, on the right when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Smithtown NY 11787, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Richard Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Smithtown Historical Society Museum

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Schoolhouse (about 400 feet away); Patriot Burials (about 500 feet away); Roseneath Cottage (approx. 0.3 miles away); Smithtown Bull (approx. 1.3 miles away); Smith's Bull Ride (approx. 1.3 miles away); Caleb Smith House (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smithtown.

More about this marker. The marker is located on the lawn of the Smithtown Public Libary.

Also see . . . Smithtown, A History: The Village Green (Patch.com, Rita J. Egan, July 1, 2011). (Submitted on November 28, 2018.)

First House at the Branch Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2018

2. First House at the Branch Marker - wide view

The Smithtown Public Library is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 810 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 28, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.