In 1774, the Continental Congress authorized the establishment of Committees of Safety throughout the 13 colonies to enforce the Articles of Association. Signing of articles by the colonists was an oath of sorts to boycott British goods, i.e., tea, and also provided guidelines to further the American cause. Many Southamptoners signed the Articles of Association.
In time a Committee of Safety emerged here, a kind of shadow government to communicate with and organize the citizenry, and they knew the Declaration of Independence was coming on July 4th, 1776.
The Town conducted its own censuses of inhabitants, playing a key role in gathering demographic information, likely for purposes related to organizing resources, raising militias, and fortification.
The brothers Gelston, David (1744-1828), John (1750-1834), and Hugh (1754-1828), made a particular effort to ensure that Southampton was counted in time for the Declaration. Thus the timing of the statement below.
I, John Gelston, do swear that the aforegoing list contains
a true and faithful account of the number of inhabitants within
the eastern district of Southampton, &c.
Sworn before me 4th July 1776, DAVID GELSTON
Their younger brother, Hugh, was working on enumerating the western portion of Town and finished on July 22, 1776.
Southampton, July 22, 1776. Then appeared before me Hugh Gelston, and declared that the within list of inhabitants of the town aforesaid, westward of a place called Water Mill,
is a true list. THOS. COOPER, Chairman
1775 Town Census total: East of Water Mill: 1,431 West of Water Mill: 1,328
Link to see entire census: https://www.southamptontownny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35333/1776-Census
And now go celebrate the Fourth like a Gelston!
David Gelston (1744-1828), political activist, later became a NYS Assemblyman from Suffolk County.