>1. Robert Norris, b. 1674, Southampton, Suffolk, New York, USA , d. 1729

>2. Hannah Norris, b. 1677, Long Island City, Queens, New York, USA , d. 20 Jul 1729

>3. Sarah Norris, b. 1680, Long Island City, Queens, New York, USA , d. 1729

>4. Mary Norris, b. 9 Sep 1680, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, USA , d. 13 Dec 1753, Litchfield, Litchfield, Connecticut, USA

>5. John Norris, b. 1690, Suffolk, Livingston, New York, USA , d. 1763, Southampton, Suffolk, New York, USA

He was probably born in Roxbury, MA, the son of John Norris.  His parents came to Southampton around 1665, while he was a young boy.  His father may have died while Robert was still under age.  Our earliest record of Robert Norris comes from the fifth volume of the records of Southampton, Long Island, NY, page 177, which indicates that Robert Norris was in Southampton by 1667. On 27 Sep 1678:

Richard Howell conveys to Robert Norris in consideration of 11 years service by indenture well and truly performed, 5 acres of land at a place commonly called by the name of Wickapogue, bounded east by the house lot of Matthew Howell, north by land of Obadiah Rogers, west by said Richard Howell, south by highway.

On 22 Sep 1678, Robert Norris released all claim and demand against "Richard Howell my late master." This land was probably in fulfillment of the contract of indenture that was made eleven years earlier.  If Robert's indenture was made at about 15 years of age, he would have been born in 1652.  In addition, an indenture was usually made between the father of a person and the tradesman to whom he wanted his son to be indentured. This would mean that it was likely that John Norris was still living in 1667.

Robert Norris lived in Southampton, where he was a cooper and carpenter, applying his trade in the service of Richard Howell until 1678.  His wife was Hannah, probably Hannah Sayre (b. 1653; d. 13 Jan 1730), daughter of Thomas and Margaret Aldrich Sayre. We know Hannah's date of death from her grave in Southampton, which also indicated that she was 77 years old at her death. 

The will of her father, Thomas Sayre, made in 1670, indicated that she was under 18 years of age and unmarried when he died. Thomas Sayre (c. 20 Jul 1597; d. 1670) was one of the founders of Southampton in 1640. He was born in Leighton Buzzard, England. He emigrated from England and settled first in Lynn, MA. He built his house in Southampton in 1648 and it was still standing in 1907. He was one of the most active and prominent men of affairs in the community, taking part in all affairs of importance. His will, proved 1 Apr 1671, names his children: Francis, married Sarah Wheeler; Daniel, married Hannah Foster and then Sarah ; Joseph, married Martha; Job, married Sarah , then Hannah Raynor Howell; Damaris, married David Atwater; Mary, married Benjamin Price; Hannah, married Robert Norris; and another daughter.

Thomas Sayre was the son of Francis Sayre and Elizabeth Atkins. Francis Sayre was the son of William and Elizabeth Sayre. William Sayre was the son of William and Alice Squyre Sayre of Hinwich, Bedfordshire, England. This William died in 1564. The Sayres of England had lived there as early as 1200.

Returning to Robert Norris and Hannah, they were probably married in about 1672 in Southampton.  In the Southampton town records from 15 Jul 1680, Richard Howell acknowledged that he gave his son David Howell 13 acres of land, "lying between the house and land of Thomas Jessup at the west, and the land of Robert Norris at the east side."

In 1683 Robert Norris recorded the earmarks for his animals in the Southampton town records, along with Matthew Howell and Abraham Howell, and others.

From the Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial NY, we have a tax record of the inhabitants of Southampton in 1683. Here is an excerpt:

Widdow Hannah Howell.......267 00 00 3

Captain John Howell........442 10 00 2

Lieft Joseph Fordham.......459 10 00 3

Thomas Halsey..............411 16 08 5

Edward Howell..............400 00 00 2

Job Sayre..................064 10 00 1

Peter Norris...............051 00 00 1

Robert Norris..............052 00 00 1

John Rainor................094 00 00 1

John Howell Junior.........121 10 00 0

Southampton Sep ye 1st 1683

The first number by the name indicates the number of poles, a unit of land, allotted to the family. The last numbers indicate the tax in pounds and change. Within the town the lowest taxation was for 10 pounds, the highest that of Joseph Fordham at 459 pounds. 

From this summary, which is not in the record itself but is compiled from the records, we can see that Robert Norris and his brother Peter were in the mainstream of the community, neither considered poor nor wealthy.  The original founders of the town, however, some of whom we have listed above, plus their offspring, made up the more wealthy members of the community.

Robert's other brother, Oliver, was taxed in Easthampton in the same year. Because of the fact that their father is not listed in any of the records of any community nearby, we may assume that John Norris was dead by 1683.  Job Sayre, the brother of Hannah Sayre Norris, Robert's wife, had land adjoining that of Robert and Hannah, land which he undoubtedly inherited from his father Thomas.  Job Sayre was executor of his father's estate.  On 5 Aug 1684, the following deed was recorded in the community of Southold, north of Southampton near the shores of Long Island Sound, which separates Long Island from southern MA and Buzzards Bay, where Robert's brother Oliver lived later:

Know all men by these presents that I, Robert Norris of Southampton, doe for a sum of money bargain and sell, (unto John Goldsmyth) a certain tract or percell of upland scituate and being in ye precincts of Southold, west from ye towne, at a place called and known by ye name of Corchogge, bounded on the east by the land of John Gouldsmython the north by the North Sea (Long Island Sound today )on the west by the land of Samuel King and John Tutthill, and on the south by the highway, the whole percell containing one hundred and sixty acres more or less the same purchased by me of Stephen Baily of Southold... Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of Aug 1684. Robart Norris Witnesses: Symon Grover and Stephen Baily

It is unclear how Robert Norris came up with the funds to purchase this 160 acre parcel of land from Stephen Baily originally, but seems likely that he had acquired money from the death of his father and used it to purchase this land. Since he also had businesses thriving in Southampton it was probably not practical to hold the other parcel.  An additional possibility is that this was land that was near where his father John Norris had lived or even the land where his father had lived, although we have yet to come across any documentation to that effect. This land is on the direct path from Roxbury, MA, to Southampton. One would naturally have landed first at Southold upon arrival on Long Island. Southold was also founded in 1640, at the same time that Southampton was formed. Additionally, one of Robert's oldest daughters, Mary, was married twice to men who were from Southold, Alexander Wilmot and James Landon.

Finally Robert's daughter Mary had a daughter Mary who married Daniel Goldsmith, the son of John Goldsmith who is named in the deed just above. This would seem to indicate that Robert Norris lived in Southold for some time, possibly after his indenture but before settling in Southampton. A likely possibility , then, is that John Norris (Robert's father) died shortly after the indenture of Robert Norris was completed, around 1678, and that Robert inherited his father's land, lived there a few years, then settled across the Little Pequannac Bay in Southampton, selling his land holdings in Southold the next year, 1684.

At a town meeting in Southampton held on 5 Apr 1687 a proclamation was made that:

If any of the inhabitants is minded to buy a fifty of alottment they may have a fifty for three pounds in money, whereupon it is granted unto Robert Norris, and any others of the inhabitants hereunto subscribed, that if they pay forthwith the proportion of money for the patent according to a fifty and pay to the towne into the treasurer at or before ye first day of Apr next three pounds in money for each fifty that then each of the subscribed upon the conditions aforesaid have the grant of a fifty allotment and commonage throughout all the bounds of the town from the Canoe place eastward with all privileges in future devisions of land...

This meeting notation was signed by both Robert Norris and his brother Peter Norris, among others. Two days later, on 7 Apr 1687, the town records report:

The same day layd out to a piece of land unto Robert Norris and Christopher Leaming lying on the west side of the aforesaid land of Henry Pierson and John Howell, being the same length north and south leaving a highway on the south end of 8 pole wide and alsoe a highway on the west side between this land and Mr. Stambrows cloase of 8 pole wide containing in the said piece of land about 25 acres whereof 13 1/2 acres belong to said Robert for soe much exchanged with the town which he layd downe to ye towne, in Scuttle Hole Devision no. 10....It is agreed by the layers out of land aforesaid that Henry Pierson and Major Howell shall let the said Christopher and Robert have three pole off the west side of their land, the whole length and instead thereof they shall have six pole at ye north end of this land, and we do appoint John Howell Jr. to stake the adition to Henry's land aforesaid.

The length of the land north and south was 100 poles long, as was Major Howell's and Henry Pierson's.  In 1687 there were fourteen whaling companies of twelve men each in the town of Southampton who reported an estimate of the oil then in their possession, the result probably of the catch of one season (History of Southampton, 180): Att Ketchabonac John Jessup and Co. 96 Bbls. Easthampton reported 1,456 barrels of whale oil on hand on 15 Apr 1687.

Indians often formed part of the whaling crews, each boat of which held six men. These Indians were selfpossessed and efficient and would go down fighting, according to one historian. Canoes first used in whaling had been superseded by the evolution of the whale boat, which was sharp at each end to override the breaking waves, lower at mid ships to bring the oar near the water and as a model for a sea boat quite efficient. The harpooner was at the front of the boat. The captain steered until the whale was struck and then he took the harpooners place to kill the whale and the harpooner steered. The Indians watched for whales, since their wigwams were often along the coastline. When one was sighted, the watchman mounted the stage pole, swinging his coat as a signal, and then made what was called a "weft", to call the crew together to man the boats.  If the whale came nearer, he would weft harder. The alarm went like the cry of fire. Everyone got excited, and other work stopped. One can easily imagine a sighting in 1687 off "Sagabonick" (Sagaponack) in which both boats of Robert Norris's company as well as a couple boats from another company headed after the whale; an Indian harpooner in Robert Norris's boat hit the whale hard behind the head and Captain Norris killed it after a long and bloody fight joined in by the other three boats and their crews, who helped tow the whale to the Sagaponack shore.

Records show that whale oil was sometimes shipped directly from Southampton to London as early as 1711. The state records of NY show that in 1711 Governor Robert Hunter claimed and took onehalf of the oil and bone of the whales captured by the companies in Southampton which were licensed by himself.  That same year Richard Wood was granted the sole privilege of claiming the chance whales stranded on the beach, with the Governor reserving to himself as before onehalf of the bone and oil. This burden was only removed by the personal application of Samuel Mulford of Easthampton, acting as agent for East and Southampton. He was sent at great expense to England where he temporarily obtained from the king the freedom for whalers from the imposition of the tax on oil and bone. This factor was a significant one that led several colonists to leave Long Island and going to CT, including Robert's brother Oliver Norris. They did so because the tax did not exist in CT or MA. Eventually taxes of this kind led to the Revolutionary War.

After that aside, let us now return to the recorded history of Robert Norris. In 1687 John Anning, a tailor, bought land in Wickapogue from Robert Norris, a yeoman. On 2 Apr 1688, the town records report that they received payment in full from Robert Norris for a "fifty", which is a right to use of a section of common land.  On that same day the records mention land at Sagaponnac "bounded east by Henry Pierson, north by Robert Norris, south by the highway." In 1698, Robert Norris was living "on the west side of Sagg Street, but the exact location is uncertain." From the same book of colonial NY inhabitants we have a census document from Southampton.  The list separates the males from the females, and the slaves as well are separated male and female.  The list is by household apparently as they existed within each neighborhood, rather than alphabetically.  Here is a portion of the list:

A list of ye inhabitants of ye towne of Southampton old and yong Christians and hethen freemen and servants white and black anno 1698

Alexander Wilmot

Mary Willmott (daughter of Robert Norris)

Capt. Elnathan Topping

Mary Topping

Stephen Topping

Sillvanus Topping

Mary Baylee

Josiah Topping

Hannah Topping

Josiah Topping Jr

Hanah Topping

 Temperance Topping

Martha Huse

Robert Noris

Hanah Noris

Robert Noris Jur

Mary Noris

Oliver Noris

Sarah Noris

Bennony Flint

Mary Flint

John Fflint

Mary Flint

Hanah Flint

John Morehouse

John Morehouse Jur

Peter Noris

Sarah Noris

Hanah Noris

Elisabeth Noris

Lift Theophilus Howell

Debro Howell

Theoph: Howell Jur

Phebee Howell

Cilley Howell

Hanah Noris

.........

The number of Christian males is 389

The number of Christian ffemales is349

The number of negro slaves men is 40

The number of women negro slaves is 43

Indian males that are upwards of fifteen years the squas and children few of whom have any name..(Listed)

The nuber of Indians upwards of 15 years is 52

The Indians informes there is about the same number of woomen and as many children, 100

The hethen are so scattered to and frow that they can neither be sumonsed in (manuscript torn)

The above listt of the inhabitants of ye town of Southampton, take by me this 15th day of Sep 1698

Mathew Howell

From this listing we have the names of all the family members of Robert and Peter Norris living at home in 1698.

The listing of Oliver Norris living at the same household has led some to claim that Oliver was the son of Robert Norris.  It is more likely, though, that this Oliver Norris is the same Oliver Norris who was living in Easthampton in 1683 as a single man and who left that village over a dispute concerning land rights.  He then moved in briefly with his older brother Robert for a short time, but then moved out again before 1700, moving across the Long Island Sound into the southern part of Massachusetts (see the listing of his family for more information on his line). This view is not conclusive. However, there is no record of another Oliver Norris in the area, and he is not mentioned as the son of Robert Norris in Robert's will. It is possible that this Oliver was the son of Robert Norris and that he died before reaching maturity. The same may be said about Robert Norris Jr., who was obviously the son of Robert Norris. In fact, it would appear that Robert Norris Jr. died before his father. No further record of this person has been found. Finally, it is unclear at this time who the Mary Norris is in the family of Robert Norris. Robert's own daughter Mary was married in 1698 at the time of this census and was living with her husband, Alexander Wilmot. This Mary Norris may have been the wife of Robert Norris Jr.

We notice that there is a Hanah Norris living alone near Peter Norris. It is not clear at this time to which Norris family she belonged, since both Robert and Peter already had Hannahs in their family. It is possible that she was the mother of Robert and Peter Norris.

On 3 Apr 1711, a town meeting voted that the fatting pasture, common grounds for feeding animals, would be enclosed from 15 Apr until the last day of Jan, and would be improved according to the discretion of the trustees during that year. Robert Norris was the first listed trustee and was probably the head of the committee.

A record of each man's "right or ffifty in commonage throughoutt ye bounds of ye town" was made on 7 Apr 1712, giving to Robert Norris "by towne one fifty bounded from ye Canno place and south eastward" and "one fifty bought of Edmond Howell". Canno was apparently a man's name.

Another "fifty" was held by "Robartt Norris" in the meadow and upland at "Speeunk", according to a list from 1 May 1712. And two fifties are held by Robert Norris on a list of lots in the "South Devision" dated 6 Jun 1712. Finally, at that same time it was "voated that ye loot (lot) 51 is Robart Lorisses and Matthew Lums", apparently a reference to our Robert Norris.
On 16 Jun 1718, at the town meeting:

It was granted to Josiah Pierson to have three acres of land changed at ye north end of Robert Norrises land as you goe to Easthampton path, and he to lay downe to ye towne soe much above Easthampton path out of ye land that was Nathaniel Howells to be don by Capt Topping and Theophilus Howell and Robert Norris acording to their discretion, not damnifiing highways nor watering on his charge.

From this record we know that Robert Norris lived at the end of Southampton closest to Easthampton, and his land may have in fact run to the Easthampton line, since records of his family are found in both areas.

On 3 Apr 1722, Robert Norris was chosen tax collector of Southampton "for 6d on ye pound this yeare", and on the same day he completed a deal on land "to have liberty to come out with his southwest corner of his land adjoining to Edward Howell at Pockgaseboge 8 poles and nothing at ye other end, to run a straight line he laying down to ye towne so much off ye same lot as he takes in for quantity and quality by two men as shall be appointed..." (from Southampton town records).

In 1726 Robert Norris's land "near Edward Howell's" in Southampton is mentioned in a will and in 1725/26 other land he owned "near Josiah Pierson's."

From the town records of Southampton we also know that Robert Norris died on 23 Jul 1729. The following is an abstract of his will of 20 Jul 1729, proved on 10 Sep 1729 (NY Wills, Unrecorded, Vol XI, pp. 162164).

In the name of God amen, the twentieth day of this instant July, in the year of our lord, one thousand, seven hundred and twentynine. I, Robert Norris, of Southampton, in the county of Suffolk, in the colony of New York, husbandman, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind.... and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with.... I give and bequeath as follows: first I give and bequeath to my son, John Norris, the use and improvement of all my housing lands, meadows and commonage during his natural life, excepting what I shall in this will, give and dispose of in other wayes. Likewise I give to him all my cooper tooles, and my carpenter tooles, and my team tacklin and my great Byble, and my old mare, and six sheep, and a bed and bedstead, called the bedroom bed, and a steer called the bull stag, three year old, and the improvement of my team for two years. Also my gun and my sword, and my ammunition.

I leave my wife Hannah Norris; the use of this end of my dwelling house, ye east end, and the improvement of ye east end of my barn, and the use of all ye rest of my moveable estate during her natural life, not hereafter given away. I leave to my daughter, Hannah Howell, three acres of land off my home lot, that part of side joining to David Pierson's home lot, to her and her heirs and assigns forever. In case or provided my son John Norris shall refuse to give her the sum of twenty pounds within five or six years from this time. If he payes this, then the three acres shall belong to him and his heirs and assigns forever. I also leave her one half of my moveable estate after my wifes decease. I give to my daughter, Mary Landon, five shillings current money to be given in convenient time. I leave to my granddaughters, the daughters of Mary Landon, named Mary Goldsmith, and Hannah Munson, and Hebzibah Wilmot, after my wifes decease, one half of my moveables, left to her.

I leave to my granddaughters, the daughters of my son, John Norris, namely Hannah, Rhoda and Keziah, each five pounds, when they are of the age of eighteen years or are married. I give to my grandson, John Norris, a colt. I leave to my grandson, John Norris, after his father's decease, and to his heirs and assigns, all my housing and home lot. And my beach close, bounded partly by the beach, partly by ye narrow lane, partly by Mr. White's land, and partly by the land of Hezekiah Topping. Also that piece of land called Pamer's (Palmer's) lot, bounded on one side by David Pierson's land, and on the other side by the land that was formerly my brother's, Peter Norris. Also one half of all my commonage, and one half of all my meadows. I leave to my grandson, Nathan Norris, all that piece of land called Poxabogue lot, bounded on the south by Edward Howell's land, and on the west and north by common land, and on the east by Captain Sayre's land. Also my wood close lot, bounded on the south and east by Abraham Pierson's land, north and partly east by Josiah Peirson's land, and west by the highway. And all my black pond close, bounded all round by a pond and common land. Also one half of all my meadows and commonage. If either of my said grandsons die under age then the said lands are to go to my grandsons, Peter Norris and Stephen Norris. I appoint my son, John Norris, and Benjamin Howell, executors. I have set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Robert Norris

Witnesses: Josiah Topping, Elnathan White, David Pierson

Robert lived on the west side of Sagg Street. The exact location is unknown. His grandson Nathan lived on the main road just east of Norris Lane. From the deeds and the will it is clear that Robert Norris was a wealthy man in his old age. Having come from servitude to estatehood in one lifetime in America was to become the great dream over the next few hundred years, and remains so today. Robert Norris owned a significant portion of land in Suffolk County, NY, on the tip of Long Island. Today that land is among the most valuable land in the United States. Unfortunately, during the Revolutionary War less than 100 years after his having amassed this fortune, much of this land was lost. The British invaded Long Island early in the war, forcing the inhabitants to flee to CT. By the time they returned, much of their property was in the hands of other people, and they received no help from the colonial government in recovering it.

Robert Norris must have been about 80 years old when he died. His wife Hannah, who outlived him by only six months, is buried in Sagg Cemetery, at Sagg Harbor. It is unknown where Robert Norris is buried. Possibly he was buried on his own land. Of course another possibility is that he is buried near his wife and that his gravestone at the cemetery has disappeared.