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Hamptons.com
May 29, 2013

Orient Point: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, And The British Fleet In The Hamptons

T.J. Clementeby T.J. Clemente
in Entertainment
Home Entertainment

Sailing the east end waters one can’t help but think about all the history. Most of it precedes the 1900’s. Starting off, Orient Point, which is the most north point of the North Fork (that other Fork for you Hamptons’ newbies) was a landing place for Indians commuting between Connecticut and Long Island.

The Indians that dwelled on that outer-most section of the North Fork were called the Poquatuck. It was with this tribe that deals were made to buy many of the hamlets of the Town of Southold, mostly back in the mid 1600’s. Then Orient was actually called Oysterponds because of the large shellfish ponds that are still there to this day. Five now-famous families received land grants from the British throne. The names King, Terry, Vail, Latham, and Tuthill are still everywhere. Of course they also had to deal with the Poquatucks.

The Town of Marion was founded in 1836, to honor local native General Francis Marion, who fought with notation during the American Revolution. During the American Revolution the British Navy sailed some of the evacuated British troops from Boston to the South Fork mostly in Sag Harbor and East Hampton Village. Sag Harbor was already a busy whaling port by then. Many of the homes that housed British troops still exist in Sag Harbor. During the Revolutionary War the British supply and support vessels were parked right off Orient point.

Fort Tyler is now referred to by sailors as the “ruins.” (Photo: Capt. Dave Brennan)


The British used Orient as a staging area to launch attacks on many Connecticut coastal towns knowing many patriots from Long Island were hiding there. One of the first official battles of the American Revolution pitched a raiding party sent by General George Washington to where the Plum Island lighthouse now stands to intercept British cattle raiding parties; of course the colonial troops were routed and fled via Orient Point.

In fact, after Benedict Arnold escaped the West Point fiasco and a traitor’s hanging, he served as a British general operating out of Oysterponds (Orient). The Village Lane Tavern in Orient, the home of the founding Vail family, served as Benedict Arnold’s headquarters during the revolution.

Because of the notoriety of the Long Island Town of Oyster Bay during the Theodore Roosevelt Presidency, the residents of Oysterponds decided to change the town name to Orient, associating itself with the notoriety of Orient Point. Twenty-six years before the revolution Benjamin Franklin himself on a commission from the British governor of New York, who in the 1750’s was sometimes stationed in Riverhead, laid down stone “Postal Markers” from Riverhead to Orient Point. Many still stand today. There is no doubt Benjamin Franklin marveled at the view from Orient Point.

The first U.S. Federal Government, with George Washington as President was located downtown in New York City in Federal Hall for one year. That year, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison reportedly shared a coach that stopped in Mattituck at the Historic Mattituck Tavern on their way to view Orient Point. There are reports that George Washington himself visited Mattituck and stayed at the inn, back in 1751.

During the war of 1812 the British War Fleet returned to blockade the Long Island Sound and Gardiner’s Bay. However when they tried to come ashore at Sag Harbor, they were repelled on the docks by men led by a local American officer named Captain David P. Vail. However it was a menacing sight to see the mighty British War frigates off the Hampton’s shores as they lobbed cannon shells into Sag Harbor. Although Sag Harbor was shelled there are no reports of Orient being shelled. It may have been the shelling of Sag Harbor that led to the construction of Fort Tyler in 1898 at the western tip of Gardiner’s Island a point separating Gardiner’s Bay from Block Island Sound. The old fort is now referred to by sailors as the “ruins.” Closed after World War I in 1921, the fort became a target for live practice bombing runs during World War II. Live ordinance is reportedly still there, or so a “danger” sign warns.

The Plum Island Lighthouse stands on land purchased by the United States government from Richard Jerome for $90 in 1826. The rough stoned lighthouse was completed in 1827. When I sail around the Plum Gut I love to look at it.

My boat goes in the water this week, hope to see you out on the Gardiner’s Bay!

Purchased in 1826 for a mere $90, Plum Island (shown here) is a focal point for anyone on the ferry or boaters in Plum Gut. (Photo: T.J. Clemente)

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🎥 ✨ Full Scholarships Available! Sag Harbor Cinema’s Summer Filmmaking Workshop For High School Students

August 11 @ 09:00 AM - August 22 @ 03:00 PM
Sag Harbor Cinema, 90 Main Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
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The Little Animation Studio and Project Most Present: Stop Motion Animation “Claymation Party”

August 11 @ 10:00 AM - August 15 @ 03:00 PM
44 Meadow Way, East Hampton, 11937
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2025 Clay Camp- Hero Beach Club Drop In

August 11 @ 11:00 AM - August 11 @ 12:30 PM
626 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY 11954
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STEAM n’ Snacks

August 11 @ 04:00 PM - August 11 @ 05:00 PM
The Hampton Library
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Donavon Frankenreiter At The Surf Lodge

August 11 @ 05:00 PM - August 11 @ 11:00 PM
The Surf Lodge 183 Edgemere St, Montauk, NY 11954
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Hamptons Hotspot Pink Elephant Is Back

Hamptons Hotspot Pink Elephant Is Back

  • @cheatcodes, a multi-platinum Los Angeles-based hit-making producer trio, took over the Hamptons’ most iconic venue, The Surf Lodge, with a high-energy, hands-in-the-air set celebrating their new album, Future Renaissance. The DJ Trio mixed fresh tracks with nostalgic throwbacks, all in their signature EDM, pop, and house style.⁠
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The trio–Kevin Ford, Trevor Dahl, and Matthew Russell– delivered hit after hit: “No Promises” with Demi Lovato, “Pretty Girls” with Maggie Lindemann and Cade, “Sex” with Kris Kross Amsterdam. The packed crowd sang every word–one hand holding a drink, the other raised in the air. Strangers quickly became friends as they belted the lyrics “Just be careful, love ain’t simple, promise me, no promises.”⁠
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“Renaissance means ‘rebirth,’ and I feel like that’s exactly what this album was for us. We’ve been a group for 10 years now, and we took this music back to our roots. We’ve collaborated with all different types of artists—from Dolly Parton to Trippie Redd to All-American Rejects, the list goes on. So it was nice to go back to a reimagined version of the original sound that most people might know us for.” – Trevor⁠
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📸: Courtesy of The Surf Lodge⁠
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Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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#cheatcodes #futurerenaissance #surflodge #montauk #album #newmusic
  • @erneandace just celebrated their launch of pickleball active wear. The celebration took place at the East Hampton Clubhouse courts and included custom hat making with @theprettycharmingco as well as touch ups with @beiabeauty 

#pickleball #activewear #clubhouse
  • Check out the top Hamptons events this weekend!⁠
⁠
🎬 Rivian’s Electric Drive-In⁠
🗓 Friday, August 8 | ⏰ 6–9:30PM⁠
📍 Rivian Hamptons Charging Outpost, Southampton⁠
Celebrate Rivian’s new Charging Outpost! Watch The Goonies from your vehicle, reserve a cozy seat, or chill in the back of an R1.⁠
📸 Courtesy of Rivian⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
📚 East Hampton Library’s Authors Night⁠
🗓 Saturday, August 9 | ⏰ 5–7:30PM⁠
📍 Herrick Park, East Hampton⁠
Books, authors & celeb sightings—don’t miss one of the most anticipated lit events of the summer!⁠
📸 Neil deGrasse Tyson | Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for East Hampton Library⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🎶 St. Lucia at Solé East⁠
🗓 Saturday, August 9 | ⏰ 4–9PM⁠
📍 Solé East, Montauk⁠
Vibes, music, and end-of-summer feels. Let’s dance.⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🐶 Puppy Red Carpet Fashion Show⁠
🗓 Sunday, August 10 | ⏰ 2:30PM⁠
📍 Rosie’s, Amagansett⁠
Paw-sitively adorable runway moments + cocktails & bites.⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
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⛵️ Hamptons Challenge Regatta⁠
🗓 Saturday, August 9 | ⏰ 11AM–5PM⁠
📍 Noyack Road, Sag Harbor⁠
The biggest amateur sailing prize on the East Coast. Anchors aweigh!⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🍸 Cocktails to Save the Bays⁠
🗓 Friday, August 8 | ⏰ 6–8PM⁠
📍 Private Home, Southampton⁠
Sip & support Long Island’s waterways with Peconic Baykeeper.⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🍹 Attaboy Pop-Up at Sag Harbor Tavern⁠
🗓 Now thru Sunday, August 10 | ⏰ 5–9:30PM⁠
📍 Sag Harbor Tavern⁠
NYC’s iconic bar takes over the Hamptons—don’t miss it.⁠
📸 Courtesy of Attaboy⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🎥 Films on the Haywall: Life of Brian⁠
🗓 Friday, August 8 | ⏰ 9PM⁠
📍 Marders, Bridgehampton⁠
Free films, under the stars. Bring a blanket and picnic!⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🎨 Beau Rush’s Clay Class⁠
🗓 Tuesday, August 12 | ⏰ 11AM–12:30PM⁠
📍 Hero Beach Club, Montauk⁠
Get your hands dirty and learn clay techniques!
📸 Beau Rush | Photo by Christina Lilly⁠
🔗 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🛍 28th Annual Hamptons Warehouse Sale⁠
🗓 Aug 12–24 | ⏰ 9AM–5:45PM⁠
📍 East Hampton American Legion Post 419⁠
13,000+ shoes, boots & accessories…need we say more?⁠
🔗 Link in bio

#hamptons #weekend #rivian #book #easthampton #hamptonsstyle
  • If all you know about Calissa in Water Mill is the celebrity-packed VIP section, you might be missing the big picture. The real star is the food. Calissa is the best Greek food in the Hamptons – confidently classic, casually chic – just what I’m looking for in a Hamptons dinner. ⁠
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Thankfully, Calissa is not a reincarnation or reinvention. The focus is on execution and quality, not ego and look-what-we-can-do. It’s a classic for a reason.⁠
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I may not be a food critic, but my fiancé is a private chef (actually, she’s “THE” private chef), so you already know how well we eat. That is to say, we had an incredible meal at Calissa, and I don’t think enough people are talking about how phenomenal the restaurant is.⁠
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Read the article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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⁠#calissa #hamptons #dining
  • The 12th Annual Luxury Luncheon returned to Southampton Village with all the sparkle, star power, and style you’d expect from one of the East End’s most exclusive events. Produced by Ticket2Events co-founders Sean Koski and Brian Kelly and hosted by Jill Zarin, the afternoon was a stylish convergence of heritage brands, buzzworthy startups, and well-acclimated Hamptonites (and celebrities) indulging in the best of fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle – all in support of cancer research benefiting Jill Zarin’s late husband, Bobby Zarin.⁠
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Read the full article at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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📸: BFA, Credit: Kevin Czopek⁠
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#luxuryluncheon #southampton #jillzarin #ticket2events #hamptons
  • On Tuesday, July 22nd, Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings hosted a charity Hampton Volley Tournament at Kirk Park Beach in Montauk. The tournament featured eight dynamic teams, uniting elite professional athletes, local lifeguards, and community members. Net proceeds from the tournament will go to the Hampton Lifeguard Association and P1440 Foundation, aiming to unite, empower, and inspire through the transformative sport of beach volleyball. ⁠
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Simultaneously, a VIP gifting suite and lounge at Hero Beach Club in Montauk kept the momentum going with music by Rachel Winters and Ana Boo. To mark the special occasion, guests were treated to Hammitt bags with Montauk Tattoo personalized leather bag tags. In true VIP fashion, drinks flowed all throughout the day, compliments of Tito’s, Saint Spritz, Avaline, and Montauk Brewing Company. ⁠
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Check out the complete gallery at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
⁠
📸: Photography by Daniel Rahal⁠
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@kerrileewalsh  @hamptonlifeguardassociation @p1440foundation⁠
@herobeachclub @hammittla @montauktattoo @titosvodka @saintspritz @drinkavaline @montaukbrewco⁠
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#kerriwalshjennings #volley #hamptons #montauk #lifeguards
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