Anyone who has spent some time on this websight probably knows by now that Declaration Of Independence signer William Floyd's cousin Richard did not see things the same way William did. Richard 1731-1792 was a dyed in the wool Tory who welcomed the occupation British troops to Long Island and probably told them a thing or two as to who the rebels were and where they were hiding.

Richard headed for New Brunswick in Oct of 1779 where he lived out his days in exile and when the smoke finally cleared and the rebels slowly returned to Mastic, his large estate known as " Patterquas" on the west bank of Pattersquash Creek was conveyed by the Commission of forfieted estates in 1784 to his brother Benjamin and eventually wound up owned by William Smith of the Manor Of St. George. Some 40 years later in 1835 a formal Deed was drafted between William Smith and Dr. Daniel Robert who had married into the Tangier Smith family and started using the place as early as 1790. And for the next forty eight years remained a private document between the Smith & Robert families. In June of 1883 it was finally filed (with lots of deceased updates) in the county of Suffolk, thereby establishing the boundaries of the land that would change hands several more times in the 1900's (3 families & 4 real estate speculators) before becoming the central town of Mastic Beach with the 1761 Richard Floyd Mansion becoming Doctor Frank Calabro's Bayview Hospital

The deed is handwritten on 8 legal sheets of paper, so in the interest of readability, I am posting a transcription of it....It is long, and very redundant as to the names of the parties involved (it mentions that William Smith and Daniel Robert are deceased at least twenty times) but if you decide to read through it , you will notice many names and locations (the Road that runs east & west through the Neighborhood) that would become part of the deep history of Mastic Beach.

One name removed however is Richard Floyd, all references to his former property are made to Nicoll Floyd.

Though it never gives the total acerage, like most of the deeds that succeed it do, the original land holdings of Richard Floyd was approx 3000 acres and went all the way from William Floyds property westward to the Connecticut River

So .....here is the first official deed of record to what would become a century later, among other things. Sections 4 & 5 of the town of Mastic Beach...(comments in italic parentheses are mine)

This indenture made the eighth day of February in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Five.

Between William Smith of the Manor of St. George in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York and Hannah his wife of the first part, Daniel Robert of the City, County and State of New York and Jane his wife, William S. Robert of Brookhaven aforesaid and Caroline Elizabeth his wife, Christopher R. Robert of the said City of New York and Ann Maria his wife and Jeremiah Manning of the same city and Maria D his wife (late Maria D. Robert)of the second part. Whereas , the said William Smith as a device of his grandfather William Smith formerly of the said Manor of St. George, now deceased claim to be the owner in fee of certain lands & premises last hereinafter released and quit claimed to him. And whereas Mary Robert, now deceased.was one of the children and heirs of the said William Smith now deceased and the said Daniel Robert, William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert and Maria D. Manning are her only children and heirs.

And whereas Daniel Robert now deceased the father of Daniel Robert party hereto, and of the said William S. Robert,Christopher R. Robert, and Maria D. Manning was at the time of her death seized in fee of several pieces or parcels of land which Bounded on parts of the said lands and premises claimed by William Smith party hereto as aforesaid which pieces and parcels of land of the said Daniel Robert deceased have since his death been divided among said children so that each of them owns parts or parcels of land in severalty (sp?) And whereas it has been agreed to put an end to all suits, causes of action , and matters of dispute whatsoever. Between the said William Smith the party hereto, on the one part and the said Daniel Robert party hereto, William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert, and Maria D. Manning (late Maria D. Robert) on the others. Now therefore this indenture Witnesseth, that in consideration of the promises and in order to effect the said agreement, and also in consideration of one dollar,lawful money of the United States of America by is of the parties to these presents in hand paid to the other parties the receipt in hereof is hereby acknowledged, they the said parties to presents do respectively, for themselves, their heirs,and assigns hereby declare that the line of division and boundary separating the land and land under water so claimed by the said William Smith party here from the several pieces or parcels of land which belonged to the said Daniel Robert deceased (wherever the said several pieces or parcels of land which belonged to the said William Smith, party hereto by his said grandfather) shall forever, hereafter be settled, established and to be as follows that is to say.........

Beginning on a line at the mouth of the Pattersquash Creek, drawn from the small point of meadow belonging to Miss Elizabeth Smith on which an oblong stone marked E. P. is now set up in the ground, to the point of meadow formerly belonging to the said Daniel Robert deceased , called Pattersquash Point at a point in the said line equidistant from the said two points of meadow and running thence westerley on said last mentioned line to the said Pattersquash Point. Thence westerley along the edge of the meadow forming part of the farm formerly of Daniel Robert deceased and around the Southern boundary of certain islets or small parcels of meadow near the meadow last mentioned (an supposed heretofore to have formed parts or points of said meadow ) so as to include the said islets north of said boundary line, thence again westerley along the said meadowline or edge to the middle of the mouth of Unkechogue Creek, thence northerly up the middle of said Unkechogue Creek to an oblong stone marked U set up in said creek, thence along the fence and ditch as the same now stand, separating the farm which was of the said Daniel Robert deceased , from land which was of the said William Smith deceased, to an oblong stone set up in the ground where the said ditch or fence forms an angle at or near the south part of a small field, known by the name of Cato's Garden, thence along the said fence or ditch to an oblong stone, marked on the one side S and on the other side R * set up in the ground at a point where the said fence or ditch joins to a fence or ditch leading thence eastwardley through land which was on the said Daniel Robert deceased at or near the southerly side of the road running eastwardly and westwardly through the neighborhood ( Neighborhood Road) of Mastic and leading to and from the enclosure in which the dwelling house of Col Nicoll Floyd stands, from and to the enclosure in which the dwelling house of William Smith stands,which last mentioned point is also near the remains of a fence and gate set up across the said road by the late Gen. John Smith deceased (He's late & deceased too) thence over a straight line to be drawn from the stone last mentioned to another oblong stone marked H.P. set up in the ground and intended to designate the head of Pattersquash, thence northerly on a straight line to an oblong stone set up in the ground near to a road leading from a south post road to the dwelling house of said Nicoll Floyd known as Col. Floyd Road thence northerley on a straight line to another long stone set up in the ground near to the South Country or Post Road on the north side thereof, and thence northerly on a straight line to an oblong stone marked MxM set up in the ground at or near to a certain Pine tree marked, which has heretofore been considered as standing one mile west from the head of the Mastic River. * (It is only an assumption but the S & R on the opposite sides of the boundary marker could refer to William "S" & Christopher "R" Robert)

And the said parties of the first part, for themselves and their heirs do hereby disclaim and release to the said Daniel Robert party hereto William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert and Maria D. Manning, their heirs and assigns forever all lands adjoining the said line of division and boundary by which the establishment and settlement of said line as aforesaid fall within the bounds of the lands in which were of the said Daniel Robert deceased. And the said parties of the second part for themselves and their heirs do respectively hereby disclaim and release the said William Smith party hereto, his heirs and assigns forever all lands adjoining the said line which for the settlement and establishment thereof as aforesaid fall within bounds of the lands which were devised to the said William Smith party hereto by his said grandfather William Smith deceased the said William Smith party hereto, for himself, his heirs and adminstrators doth hereby release and forever discharge the Daniel Robert party hereto William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert Jeremiah Manning and Maria D. his wife and each of them, their heirs, executors and administrators of and from all manners of actions and causes of action, trespass, accounts, verdicts, rules for judgment, costs, damages, claims and demand whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the day next innermost preceding the date of these presents.

And the said Daniel Robert,hereto William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert, Maria D. Manning and Jeremiah Manning, her husband, for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators do jointly and severally release and discharge the William Smith, party hereto of and from all and all manner of action causes of action, trespasses, accounts, debts, costs, damages, claims, demands, whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the day next immediately preceding the date of these presents. And the said party of the second part do for themselves and their heirs hereby revise and forever quit claim to the said William Smith party hereto their heirs and assigns forever all right title, interest, estate , claim, and demand whatsoever which they the said parties of the second part any or either of them, their or any of their heirs or assigns have or might have in possession, reversion, or remainder in equity of in and to_All the land and land covered with water lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, in the county of Suffolk,State of New York being part of the real estate which was of William Smith of the Manor of St. George, now deceased and whereof he died seized, comprised within the following bounds that is to say; Beginning at a point in the westerley bounds of the lands which were of William Smith now deceased,whereof he was seized at the time of his death formed by the intersection with the said bounds a line drawn west from the parting paths, the one whereof leads to a easterly part of the said Manor and the other leads to where Zachariah Hawkins formerly lived and running from the said westerley bounds easterley to the said parting paths, thence running eastward in a straight line until it strikes the westward bounds of land now or late belonging to Nicoll Floyd, thence Southerly along the boundary line which separates the said land now or late of Nicoll Floyd, from land formerly of said William Smith deceased to land formerly belonging to Daniel Robert now deceased, thence southerly along the boundary line herinfore established which separates the said land formerly belonging to Daniel Robert now deceased from land of said William Smith, deceased to other land now or late of said Nickel Floyd, thence southerly along the boundary line which seperates the said last mentioned land now or late of NIcoll Floyd from land formerly of said William Smith deceased to other land formerly belonging to said Daniel Robert now deceased, thence southerly along the boundary line herein before established which separates the said last mentioned land formerly belonging to Daniel Robert now deceased from land formerly of said William Smith deceased to the head of a certain stream , creek or water called Pattersquash, thence southwesterley along the boundary line herein before established between and formerly of said William Smith, now deceased and land formerly belonging to said Daniel Robert now deceased to the water called the South Bay at the middle of the mouth of of Unkechague Creek ,then easterley along the meadow and water boundary herein before established and northerly bounds of the said South Bay to a point where the said bounds are intersected by a line drawn north and south from the most eastern part of an island in the said bay called Pattersquash Island, thence southerley along the said line and in the direction thereof south to the beach which separates the said bay from the the Atlantic ocean ,thence along the northerly line of the said beach. Easterley to that part of said beach which is held and bounded by the said William Smith party hereto and the Trustees of the Freeholders and Commonality of the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, as tenants in common, thence along the westerley boundary line of beach to a point therin where the said southern boundary thereof is intersected by a line drawn south from a certain point of meadow lying on the morth side of the said bay called South Bay and formerly called Odel's Point now called Long Point, then along the westerley boundary of the lands which were of the said William Smith , at the time of his death, to the place of beginning except from the promises above described . The Mills and Mill dam standing on the front of Connecticote River aforesaid comprised in the aforesaid bounds and apppurtances thereto,and also the stream above the said Mills,sufficient for ponding and below these Mills sufficient for venting the run of water and excepting further privilege hertofore granted. William Smith now deceased to M. Homan , his heirs and assigns forever to make their dam as it there stands and to dig earth to make and repair the same as they shall judge convienant, and excepting also all saving a certain share thereof and distinguished by the number thirty four,of all that certain piece of meadowland divided into shares commonly called Nocommack or Nocommack shares of meadow (Nocommack is the area by Section 8 south of Commack Road that would be developed in early 1900 as Woodlands By The Bay ) which said shares of meadow lie together one piece or parcel of land and are collectively bordered northerly,easterly,and southerly by a ditch or dyke dividing the said last piece or parcels of meadowland from lands of William Smith now deceased and westerley by the waters of the South Bay and of the stream or river aforesaid called Connecticut River.

And the said Daniel Robert, party hereto, William S. Robert. Christopher R. Robert (each as to his own acts only) and the said Jeremiah Manning as to the acts of the said, Maria D. now the wife of the said Jeremiah do hereby respectively convant for themselves severally and several heirs, executors, and administrators and with the said William Smith party hereto,his heirs and assigns, that they, the said Daniel Robert, party hereto, William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert and Maria D. Manning have not nor have either of them heretofore done committed or suffered any act, matter or thing,whereby their right, title, interest or estate ( if they have or have had any) in the premises last herein,described and released,has in anywhere been released, conveyed, charged, or encumbered. And the said William Smith party hereto doth herby declare himself, his heirs and assigns,give permission that the dock heretofore erected by the said William S. Robert adjoin the meadow of the said William S. Robert in the South Bay may remain and continue and that the said Daniel Robert party hereto, William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert, and Maria D. Manning, respectively and their respective heirs and assigns, may build at their own peril,as to any injury it may occasion to any person or persons other than the parties hereto, their heirs or assigns at their own proper costs and charges as many docks as they may deem proper. (hey what a great place for a marina! and a fishing station or two! perhaps a bridge over there? for when the city people come out) adjoining to the meadow edge of their respective premises lying between the two creeks Pattersquash and Unkechogue aforesaid provided that the said docks respectively shall not extend further into the bay than may be necessary to reach sufficient depth for vessels navigating the said bay to lade or unlade thereat. And provided further that by erecting the said docks respectively they shall not impede the navigation of the said bay.

And the said William Smith party hereto, for himself and his heirs and assigns,doth convenant and agree to and with the said Daniel Robert, William S. Robert, Christopher R. Robert and Maria D. Manning, respectively and their respectful heirs and assigns in the enjoyment of the docks. In witness whereof, the said parties to these presents have herein set their hands and seals on this day and year first herein........

A whole lot of Roberts signed this deed on that last day of June 1883. Perhaps so many that map makers seemed to add an "S" permanentley to the Robert name for all time. William S ' part of the estate had the most land and was mainly bounded by Unkechogue (later known as Johns Neck Creek then easterly to about the middle of the where Diana Drive is in the current town today. He also seemed to have some parcels on the west side of where Floyd Parkway is on Conneticut (Carmens) River. Christopher Rheinelander Robert got the mansion house and 218 acres that ran from William's east boundary to Pattersquash Creek. Christopher R. Robert who left an estate of over $30,000,000.00 would die of very suspicious circumstances in NYC in 1896. He most likely only used the Mastic estate for hunting, as he had a huge 1000 acre place in Oakdale next to the Vanderbilt's. The last Robert at the Bayview Hospital Mansion was Adelma who died in December of 1912, There will be more to come on the Robert family as they certainly warrant it and I have a lot more info.