Colonial Lawsuit

Dr. John Strong told the following story as part of his Jan. 31 lecture on "Wyandanch, Sachem of the Montauketts," saying it was "one of the earliest recorded instances of an Indian plaintiff seeking damages from an Englishman in an English court."

Wyandanch's generosity to two influential East Hampton men may have served him well . . . when he brought suit in the town courts against a young townsman named Jeremy Vaile for damages to his large canoe. The vessel, probably one used for trips across the Sound, may have been 30 or 40 feet long.

Lion Gardiner testified for Wyandanch against Vaile, and charged him with negligence. Vaile and Anthony Waters, another East Hampton man, borrowed the canoe to carry some goods over to Gardiner's Island and ran into some bad weather. They landed the canoe on the island, but failed to secure it properly.

Gardiner ordered them to return and make sure it was safe, but, by the time they got back, the canoe was damaged and full of water.

The court ruled for the plaintiff and awarded Wyandanch 10 shillings.