Richard Mather Bayles, Jr. <

1846 - 1930  (84 years)

• Name	Richard Mather Bayles  [1, 2]
  Suffix	Jr. <
  Birth	23 Mar 1846	Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Burial	1930	Union Cemetery, Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York, United States   [3]
  Death	4 Nov 1930	Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [2, 3]
  Person ID	I3810	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	17 Sep 2023

  
  

  Father	Richard Mather Bayles, <,   b. 20 Aug 1810, Mt. Sinai, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY d. 12 Mar 1846, Coram, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY (Age 35 years)
  Mother	Harmony Sweezey,   b. 11 Dec 1817, Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY d. 16 Jan 1860, Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY (Age 42 years)
  Marriage	24 Jan 1838	Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York, United States
  Family ID	F1981	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Florence V. Rowland, <,   b. 29 Sep 1870, Miller Place, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY d. 31 Oct 1954, Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	13 Jul 1893	Coram, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY   [2, 5]
  Children	1. Thomas Richard Bayles, <,   b. 4 Feb 1895, Coram, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY d. 29 Jun 1977, Middle Island, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY (Age 82 years)   2. Albert Edward Bayles, <,   b. 23 Dec 1897   d. Aft PROB 1944 (Age > 47 years)
  Family ID	F1820	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 May 2025

  
  

• Notes

  Richard Mather Bayles is in the Hamlet People database because of a reference by George Borthwick that a "Mrs. Richard M. Bayles" was a grandaughter of Ezra King, pastor of the Old South Haven Presbyterian Church from 1810-1839. The Mrs. Bayles referenced is likely Florence V.Rowland. ===================================================================== The following was copied from the Worldconnect database entry for Richard Mather Bayles: Suffolk Co., Historical Register. Richard was a Surveyor and Historian. Buried at Union Cemetery - Middle Island, New York. In the 1865 census he is living as a boarder in Brookhaven with Joshua and Mehitabel Sweezey (his Grandparents). Courtesy of the Longwood Public Library, Thomas R. Bayles Collection (CS 28 B-36) Middle Island, NY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ------ Richard M. Bayles was born in Coram, on March 23, 1846. His father had died only eleven days earlier and his mother died in 1860 when Richard was not yet fourteen. Her brother Edward Swezey took Richard and his two older brothers into his home, which he shared with his parents, his wife Cynthia and two young daughters Eliza Ann, and Alda. They lived in Middle Island on the north side of the Middle Country Road just east of the Presbyterian Church. Richard's two brothers were killed June 2, 1864 at the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia. From October 1892 through the following May, Richard taught 18 pupils in the West Middle Island (district 16) school while boarding at the home of J.H. Randall on Middle Country Road. In December he bought one half acre of land on the North side of the highway from Henry P. Hutchinson and constructed a 13ft. By 18 ft. office. That winter while Mr. Randall was in Florida, Miss Florence Rowland from Miller Place came to stay with his wife Lydia who was a cousin of Florence. Richard met her for the first time on February 4, and on July 13, 1893 they were married. Richard soon broke ground for a house next to his small office. Over the years Richard made additional purchases of land until he eventually owned about three acres. After Richard died in 1930 Florence and their son Albert continued to live in the house. Albert lived there until his death in 1963. At various times Richard made additions to his small office. When his other son Thomas married Gertrude Benjamin in 1916 they moved into the west part of the building. They remained there until Thomas died and Gertrude moved to a small house nearby. At this time the old office building was demolished. In 1976 Thomas's son Donald took title to the property and modified Richard's home so that it could be used for offices. The property was sold in 1996. Richard M. Bayles was a man of many talents. He was widely known for his works as a historian. His "Sketches of Suffolk Co.," was published in 1873. He was called on often to give talks on local history. While writing these and other Co., histories, Richard taught school. His next project was a handbook containing descriptions of all the communities on Long Island. When completed it was called "Bayles Long Island Handbook" On a number of occasions he was a candidate for Brookhaven Town Clerk but was defeated each time. His next enterprise had Richard setting up a small hand operated printing press in his office and began a part time printing business. Using the experience acquired conducting research during his history-writing period he now offered to his services in searching land titles. Searching through deeds to prove title provided the information necessary to establish property lines so he now entered a new career as a surveyor. In 1899 he undertook the assignment of surveying the Greenlawn Cemetery at Pinelawn. In addition to the above business pursuits Richard planted and maintained a small apple, pear, and peach orchard from which he sold fruit. Prepared by: Mr. Donald Bayles, Local Historian 1999 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- ------------- From the diary of Richard M. Bayles: "July 13 [1893] Florence and I were married today at 11 o'clock AM at Chas. Jones's. by Rev. E.A, Hazeltine. Present; Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Rowland, Charlie and Mattie Jones, Eva, Herbert, Mrs. Hazeltine, Eliza Ann, Alda, Margie, Jo. & Lydia Randall, Carrie Millard, Edna Randall, Bertha Woodruff."

  
  

• Sources

  [S13] Long Island Genealogy Surname Database, online [http://longislandgenealogy.com ], http://www.longislandsurnames.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I02390&tree=Tuttle. [S311] Howard G. Bayles, The Bayles Families of Long Island and New jersey and their Descendants: and the Ancestors of James Bayles and Julia Halsey Day, Bayles, Howard Green (Houston, TX: Howard G. Bayles, 1944)., p. 171, 178. [S49] Long Island Advance (Long Island Advance, 20 Medford Ave, Patchogue, NY), Friday, November 7, 1930. OBITUARY. Richard M. Bayles died at his home in Middle Island , Tuesday afternoon in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He was one of the most widely known and respected citizens, not only of his native Town of Brookhaven, but of the whole Suffolk country , while among historians, he was widely known. He was born in Coram, March 23, 1846, and was descended on both his fathers and mother's side from some of the earliest settlers in Brookhaven town. His great-grandfather, Daniel Bayles, was born June 6, 1746, and his great- grandmother, Joanna Davis, was born April 22, 1754. They were married October 19, 1777. Her father, David Davis, of Mount Sinai, then known as Old Mans , was born March 11, 1714-15 and her grandfather, Benjamin Davis was the grandson of Joseph Davis, one of the original proprietors of the Town of Brookhaven. Of this marriage of Daniel and Joanna Davis, there was born six children of whom Thomas Bayles, the oldest was born July 28, 1778. He married Phebe Underwood, February 9, 1805, and their third child and oldest son, Richard M. Bayles, Sr., was born April 20, 1810. He married Harmony Swezey, daughter of Joshua Swezey ,a descendant of John Swezey one of the six men who made the first purchase of the Indians in 1655, of the land at Setauket, where the Town of Brookhaven was first begun. Richard M. Bayles, Sr. died March 12, 1846, at the early age of 35 years and eleven months -just eleven days before his son, Richard M. Bayles, Jr., the subject of this sketch was born. When Richard, Jr., was but 13 years old, his mother died and when he was 15, his two brothers, Albert E, and Edward F., of the 139th Regiment , were killed in the Civil War. Mr. Bayles was educated in the common school and at Northville Academy when that institution was under Joseph N. Hallock, who later became the owner and editor of "The Christian Work." Mr. Bayles began his career by writing a historical article for the press when a lad of about 18 years. He spent several years teaching in the schools in Coram, Eastport, Center Moriches, Manorville and Middle Island from 1877 to 1893. In 1872, he began his first important work, "Historical and Descriptive Sketches of Suffolk Country." It was published in 1874. This led to his being engaged by W.W. Munsell & Co., publishers to write the history of Riverhead Town and Brookhaven Town for their "History of Suffolk County," published in 1882. The article on Brookhaven is the most complete and exhaustive ever written, and Brookhaven is indebted to him for having preserved more of our history than anymore with the possible exception of Benjamin F. Thompson. Mr. Bayles took most of his material for this history from the Records of the Town and one can imagine the time this must have consumed for the records at that time were for the most part unpublished and unindexed and in manuscript form-the oldest of them writer in "middle English" script, or the handwriting in use during the time of Queen Elizabeth and the Stuart Kings, requiring an expert to decipher. His next work was a history of Green Country, N.Y., published by J.B. Beers & Co., in 1884. In 1885 , he published his "Handbook of Long Island" containing maps and illustrations and the only thing of the kind ever brought out by any other than the railroad company. His "City of Yonkers appeared in 1885 in the "History of Westchester County" published by L.E. Preston & Co. Folling this in 1886, he composed his History of Richmond County, Staten Island. This was followed by his Newport County", R.I in 1887. Then came his "Windham County", Conn. In 1889 and this in turn was followed in 1890-1, by his last work, a two-volume history of "Providence County", R.I . All of the books are large and no one but a person with a genius for history or one of Mr. Bayles' patience and love of research, would or could have attempted them. Beside compiling these works, he found time to contribute articles for newspapers and periodicals and from 1886 to 1908,he wrote the Long Island articles for the Brooklyn "Eagle Almanac". In 1903, Mr. Bayles married Florence V. Rowland, of Millers Place. Two sons were born to them, Thomas and Albert. The former married Gertrude Benjamin of Center Moriches and has two sons Elwin and Donald. Albert is unmarried and lives at home. Mrs.Bayles, the sons and grandsons survive Mr. Bayles. A number of years ago, he was chosen by the town board , to be the town historian and he acted in that capacity until his death. After the close of the World War, he made a roster of every person of Brookhaven who was in the service, including his or her war record. He assisted Roscoe C. Craft compile the "Directory of the public Schools" and the "Directory and Year Book of the public recently for the Second Supervisory Schools" published recently for the Second Supervisory District of Suffolk County. Mr. Craft wrote a short sketch of Mr. Bayles' life in 1926, and I am indebted to him for many of the statements of this article. Mr. Bayles home was on the Middle Country Road at the top of the hill a rising from Connecticut Hollow in Middle Island. He knew every inch of the country for miles around, and, being a surveyor of excellent calibre for many years, he picked up a wonderful fund of knowledge about places and people with whom he came in contact. He made copies of the names and dates from tombstones for miles around, abstracted data from old wills ancient deeds in documents and had in his collection, many valuable historical genealogical data. Much of this he "carried in his head" and would converse about the people and their characteristics and the events of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries and familiarly as thought they were but yesterday. His home and little office was a mecca for town assessors, surveyors and historians as well as people of all walks in life, seeking information about family ancestory, wanting a title searched, asking advice about a will, wanting a deed made out. His aid was sough by the lawyer the genealogist, the historian. He was an insurance agent, a realtor, and notary public. People who could not call on him personally, wrote for information and his correspondence was always extensive and, must have been a great burden as he invariably answered all his letters personally. With all of his countless duties and tasks of his busy and useful life, he never lost sight of the better side of life and his exemplary character is one to be followed. He was a Christian gentleman of the old school. Sunday and prayer-meeting nights found him at the old Middletown Presbyterian Church until within a short time ago when the infirmities of old age kept him away during cold or stormy weather. He was the oldest of the elders of the parish, was the clerk of the session as well as a teacher in the Sunday School. In the absence of the, minister, he often conducted the meetings. Mr. Bayles was a true friend, a kind neighbor and a courteous man- one never too busy to help any who came to him for help or advice. The time he spent in letter writing to people from far and near, the efforts he made to give help where needed, beside his other excellent qualities, makes his name stand out prominently in this age of hurry and money getting, as one of that fast disappearing, type whose simple, plain and kindly ways made them the true aristocracy of the nation. Funeral services are being held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Presbyterian church, the Rev. William Stewart officiating, with burial in the Middle Island Cemetery. [S311] Howard G. Bayles, The Bayles Families of Long Island and New jersey and their Descendants: and the Ancestors of James Bayles and Julia Halsey Day, Bayles, Howard Green (Houston, TX: Howard G. Bayles, 1944)., p. 171, 178. Records that he was born at Coram, L.I. [S13] Long Island Genealogy Surname Database, online [http://longislandgenealogy.com ], http://www.longislandsurnames.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I02391&tree=Tuttle.