Searching Land Records for School District #3 in Baiting Hollow New York

Land records can share such interesting details of our ancestors’ lives. I became interested in land records after transcribing my paternal great grandmother’s letters (see Carrie’s Letters). Finding the land records that matched the land purchases Carrie Terry Warner talked about in her letters was exciting.

Carrie was a young teacher of 22 years who taught in Baiting Hollow, New York and while there would meet and marry my great grandfather, John Benjamin Warner, in 1885.
The following is an except from a letter Carrie wrote to her mother, Almeda Robinson Terry, on 30 October 1884:

“ With few exceptions I like my school very much, and I think I am generally liked by the pupils. I have not heard from the parents yet. The school is increasing slowly. I have twenty seven pupils now.”

and

“O! What a lot of work to get water here. We have no water at the school house and haven’t had since I have been here. There is a cistern there but no water in it.”

This led me to think about the school itself. Today I believe the school building stands where the Baiting Hollow Library is on Sound Avenue. I wondered what I could find out about the school? I had copies of several old maps that showed the location of the school:

1858 map of Baiting Hollow from the Suffolk County Historical Society

1873 Beers map of Baiting Hollow

• In the 1858 map the school is located between the property of A. Corwin on the West and Daniel Warner on the East. Proceeding East is the property of Lewis Warner and Daniel Warner.
• In the 1873 map the school No. 3 is located between the property of A. Warner on the West and Lewis Warner on the East. Proceeding East is the property of Goldsmith Warner and Daniel Warner.

After looking at the maps I started wondering about the land for the school? Was the land leased, donated or sold to someone for a school? Could my ancestors, who in 1873 lived on both sides of the school have donated or sold the land for the school? Would I ever be able to find the answer? I tried to find records for the “Baiting Hollow School” to no avail and thought I might never know the answer. School records that far back are definitely hard to find. Oh, well, maybe someday I will find the answer.

Fast forward a few years to December 2018. Over the Holidays I was in Riverhead and searching for land records at the Suffolk County Center for my great grandfather John B. Warner.  Land he purchased or sold would help tell the story of his life. While searching for John’s records I stumbled upon the following:

Liber 618 pages 446-448 

Transcription:

This Indenture, Made the Twenty-sixth day of September in the year One thousand nine hundred and Six between Allen M. Warner and Kate S. Warner his wife of the town of Riverhead, Co. of Suffolk and State of New York parts of the first part, and John B. Warner trustee of the third School Dist. Of the town of Riverhead part of the second part. Witnesseth, That the said party of the first part, in consideration of Three hundred dollars ($300.00) lawful money of the United States, paid by the said party of the second part, do hereby grant and release unto the said party of the second part, as trustee of said third school dist. Of the worn of Riverhead and to his successors in office forever for a school house site, All that tract or Parcel of land, situate in the town of Riverhead County of Suffolk and State of New York, being bounded as follows, Commencing at the North East corner of the present School House site and running N23° 30’ W two hundred ninety eight feet nine inches by the land of J.B. Warner then S 66°30’ W One hundred twenty five ft three inches by other land of the party of the first part, thence S 21°22’ E three hundred sixty one feet six inches by other land of the party of the first part thence N 75°25’ E sixty six feet eight inches by the present School House site to the point or place by beginning. Containing one acre by measurement, The party of the second part is to erect maintain and keep a fence around said property. Together with the appurtenances; and all the estate and rights of the said party of the first part in and to said premises. To Have and to Hold the above granted premises unto the said property unto the said party of the second part, his successors in office forever And the said Allen M. Warner and Kate S. Warner does covenant with the said party of the second part as follows; First,-That the parties of the first part are seized of the said premises in fee simple, and have good right to convey the same. Second.-That the party of the second part shall quietly enjoy the said premises. Third.- That the said premises are free of incumbrances. Fourth.- That the parties of the first part will execute or procure any further necessary assurance of the title of said premised. Fifth.- That the said Allen M. Warner and Kate S. Warner will forever warrant the title to said premises. In Witness Whereof, The said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first written.

Allen M. Warner, LS. Kate S. Warner, LS.

In Presence of B. Frank Howell, Jr.

State of New York, County of Suffolk State of New York ss: On this 7 day of May in the year One thousand nine hundred and seven, before me, the subscriber, personally appeared Allen M. Warner and Kate S. Warner to me personally known to be the same person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and they acknowledged to me that they executed the same, B. Frank Howell, Jr. Notary Public Suffolk Co N.Y.

Recorded 9^th May 1907 @ 9 A.M.

Wm. F. Flanagan, Clerk

• I find no mention of this transaction in Carrie’s letters. Her father died just 10 days before this, she had 5 young sons and was about 6 months pregnant with her 6^th child. There are very few letters from this very hectic time period.

Success! Another question answered. I did find the land transaction for School District #3 in Riverhead, commonly known as the Baiting Hollow School. Previously, I had searched under the wrong name for the school. This added some interesting facts to the story of my ancestors’ lives and their involvement in their community.

As always, one question answered leads to other questions…I wonder how the original school came to be at this site years before? How many years before the map above in 1858 did the school exist at this site?

If you have any corrections, additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

I also stumbled upon some  additional School District #3 records from the early 1800s at the Riverhead Town Historian’s Office. Stay tuned to find out about those.