In the early 17th century, the Anglo-Dutch Sylvester family embarked on an Amsterdam-based transatlantic enterprise of merchant shipping, import and export, and the transportation of kidnapped Africans into slavery in Brazil, the West Indies and the British Colonies in the New World. As a consortium partner, Nathaniel Sylvester and his young bride Grizzell settled on Shelter Island in 1653 and established a provisioning plantation to provide food and livestock to Barbados sugar plantations.
The family and descendents of Grizzell and Nathaniel Sylvester who called Sylvester Manor home were part of the history of the East End of Long Island for 12 generations as land owners, slave holders, farmers, politicians, patriots of the American Revolution, lawyers, scholars and food industrialists. In the 20th Century, Andrew and Alice Fiske, 10th generation descendants, maintained the Manor House, upgrading and preserving the house, windmill and grounds including Miss Alice’s famous garden. The archaeological team from UMass Boston was invited by Alice Fiske following the death of her husband which continues today to lead to the uncovering the past histories of all those who lived at Sylvester Manor.
(Daughters)
(Daughters)
(Children)
(Daughter)
Sylvester Sons
Giles – 1656 – 1708 – m – Hannah Savage – 1685
Constant – 1657 – 1705 – Unmarried
Benjamin – 1659 – 1689 – Unmarried
Nathaniel Jr. – 1661 – 1705 – m – Margaret Hobart – 1683
Peter – 1663 – 1696 – Unmarried
Joshua – 1675 – 1705 – Unmarried
Sylvester Daughters
Grizzell – 1654 – 1691 – m – James Lloyd 1676 – Lloyd’s Neck L.I.
Patience – 1664 – 1719 – m – Benjamin Constant L’Hommedieu – 1694 – Southold
Elizabeth – 1666 – 1734 – m – Bezaleel Osbourne – Southold – Josiah Stanborough – 1687 – Southampton
Ann – 1669 – 1745 – m Jonathan Bowers – 1695 – Boston Ma.
Mercy – 1673 – 1724 – m – Jonathan Viall – 1699 – Bristol Ma.
Mary Mercy – 1675 – 1706 – m – Matthew Carey – 1693 – Bristol/Boston Ma.
Post Office Box 2029
80 North Ferry Road
Shelter Island, NY 11964 info@sylvestermanor.org 631.749.0626
