Islip's story, told simply
Child-Friendly Timeline
This is the short version of Islip's story, told in plain words for children, families, and anyone who wants the quick tour.
Every moment here links to the full timeline, where you can read the longer story and see the sources.
We only tell what the old records really show. When nobody knows something for sure, we say so.
Before the Town
Before 1683
Indigenous land before colonial Islip
Before Islip had its name, this was the home of Native people, including the Secatogue. Their story here is the oldest one.
Colonial Land and Local Government
November 29, 1683
William Nicoll's first purchase and Islip Grange
A man named William Nicoll bought land from Winnaquaheagh, a Secatogue leader. That purchase started the place later called Islip.
Read the full story: William Nicoll's first purchase and Islip Grange
December 5, 1684
Royal patent to William Nicoll
The king's governor gave Nicoll an official paper for the land. Nicoll had to pay the king a small rent every year.
1692 / 1697
Beginnings of Sagtikos Manor
The land that became Sagtikos Manor got its start. Later, this house saw many important moments in Islip's story.
1706
Carll family acquisition of Sagtikos property
The Carll family bought the Sagtikos land. In early Islip, family land and town jobs often went together.
Read the full story: Carll family acquisition of Sagtikos property
1710
Precinct government authorized
A new law let the people of Islip choose their own local leaders for the first time. This is when Islip's government really began.
1720
Early election by freeholders
Back then, only men who owned land could vote. Women, Native people, Black people, and children were all left out.
1731–1742
Ananias Carll and early town duties
Ananias Carll helped run the town, looking after roads and poor neighbors. Town jobs were work that neighbors shared.
April 1739
The annual town meeting at work
Every April, neighbors met to pick the town's leaders and make rules. In 1739 they also paid for the care of a poor woman named Hannah Hulse.
1758
Jonathan Thompson purchases Sagtikos Manor
Jonathan Thompson bought Sagtikos Manor for his family. His son Isaac would live there during the Revolution.
Read the full story: Jonathan Thompson purchases Sagtikos Manor
April 1765
The town regulates fishing in the bay
The town made a rule: do not invite outsiders to fish in the bay. Rule-breakers paid a fine, and the money went to help the poor.
circa 1765
St. John's / Charlotte Church built
Around this time, Islip's first church building went up. Its old records help us learn about early families.
Revolution and New Nation
April 4, 1775
Islip's last peacetime annual meeting
In April 1775, the town meeting was completely normal: leaders picked, rules continued, no talk of war. Nobody knew everything was about to change.
April 19, 1775
Lexington and Concord
Far away in Massachusetts, the first battles of the American Revolution were fought. The news traveled slowly to Long Island.
May 10, 1775
Islip meeting on the Articles of Association
People in Islip signed a paper promising to support the American cause. Signing took courage, because the king's government called it a crime.
Read the full story: Islip meeting on the Articles of Association
June 26, 1775
Islip census and militia eligibility
The town counted its people: 375 lived here, and 64 men were the right age to serve as part-time soldiers.
February 9, 1776
Islip asks for its own militia company
Islip asked for its very own militia company, with Benajah Strong as captain. About 36 or 37 men would belong to it.
April 1776
Isaac Thompson becomes supervisor
Isaac Thompson was chosen as the town's leader, called the supervisor. He kept that job through all the war years.
April 1776
“A Gun and the accutriments,” town property
The town bought a gun and its gear and wrote down that it belonged to the whole town. The old papers never say why, so it is still a mystery.
Read the full story: “A Gun and the accutriments,” town property
July 22, 1776
The Declaration read at Huntington
The Declaration of Independence was read out loud in nearby Huntington. People celebrated, but danger was on its way.
August 27–29, 1776
The Battle of Long Island
The British army won a big battle in Brooklyn. After that, they controlled all of Long Island, including Islip.
September 1, 1776
British occupation of Long Island begins
British soldiers took charge of Long Island. For about seven years, Islip's people had to live under their rule.
Read the full story: British occupation of Long Island begins
1776
American privateers at Fire Island Inlet
Years later, a town leader remembered three American ships hiding at Fire Island Inlet in 1776 and capturing British ships. We know this only because he wrote it down.
Read the full story: American privateers at Fire Island Inlet
1776–1783
British occupation affects Islip
During the war, soldiers even used Islip's little church. Life was hard for ordinary families.
September–October 1776
Mary Gardiner Thompson and family under occupation
Mary Thompson was expecting a baby when the soldiers came. Her family had to make hard choices to stay safe.
Read the full story: Mary Gardiner Thompson and family under occupation
1777–1783
Town meetings continue under the King's name
Even with soldiers in charge, the town still held its meeting every April. The papers had to use the king's name, but that does not tell us what people really believed.
Read the full story: Town meetings continue under the King's name
June 30, 1778
New York targets “suspected characters”
A new law said people had to promise loyalty to New York. Even staying neutral, not picking a side, could bring trouble.
Read the full story: New York targets “suspected characters”
October 1779
New York punishes loyalty and plans for reoccupation
New York punished people who helped the king's side by taking away their land. The war split neighbors apart.
Read the full story: New York punishes loyalty and plans for reoccupation
1781
Whaleboat raids and the plundering resolution
Raiders in small boats crossed from Connecticut and robbed Long Island farms, even in Islip. People here faced danger from every side.
Read the full story: Whaleboat raids and the plundering resolution
1782–1783
Poor relief in wartime: Johanna Hutton and her child
Even during the war, the town helped a mother named Johanna Hutton and her child. Families took turns caring for them.
Read the full story: Poor relief in wartime: Johanna Hutton and her child
November 23, 1783
The British evacuate; Islip rejoins the state
The British finally sailed away, and the war was over. Islip was part of the new United States at last.
Read the full story: The British evacuate; Islip rejoins the state
1783
St. John's name change and a mixed-population record
A church record from 1783 tells of the wedding of York, a Black man, and Elizabeth, a free Native woman. It shows Islip was home to many kinds of people.
Read the full story: St. John's name change and a mixed-population record
April 21–22, 1790
Washington's Long Island tour and Sagtikos Manor
President George Washington stayed one night at Sagtikos Manor on his trip across Long Island. He came as the leader of the brand-new country.
Read the full story: Washington's Long Island tour and Sagtikos Manor
April 1796
School commissioners elected
The town picked its first school leaders. Islip had five little schoolhouses back then.
January 11, 1798
Nathaniel Conklin describes Islip
Town leader Nathaniel Conklin wrote a long letter describing Islip: its farms, bay, mills, taverns, schools, and about 120 houses.
1790–1800
Early population and people of color in Islip
Old records show that about one out of every five homes in Islip belonged to Native, Black, or mixed families. Islip was never a town of just one people.
Read the full story: Early population and people of color in Islip
Civic Identity and Institutions
1883
Abraham Gardiner Thompson designs the Town Seal
Islip got its town seal, which is a picture puzzle: an eye plus a plant cutting called a slip means “I-slip.” You can still see it today.
Read the full story: Abraham Gardiner Thompson designs the Town Seal
Communities and Belonging
December 10, 1897
Bay Shore United Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery Association recognized
Jewish families started their own cemetery association. It was one of the first big steps for the Jewish community in Islip.
Read the full story: Bay Shore United Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery Association recognized
1918
First synagogue purchased in Islip Town
The Jewish community bought its first synagogue building in Islip Town.
Read the full story: First synagogue purchased in Islip Town
1933
Jewish organizations merge into the Bay Shore Jewish Center
Smaller Jewish groups joined together and became the Bay Shore Jewish Center.
Read the full story: Jewish organizations merge into the Bay Shore Jewish Center
Post–World War II
Holocaust survivors find refuge in Central Islip
After World War II, some Jewish survivors of the Holocaust found a safe new home in Islip. Samuel Sitko was one of them.
Read the full story: Holocaust survivors find refuge in Central Islip
August–September 1958
Brentwood Jewish Center organized
About 30 neighbors met in a living room and decided to start the Brentwood Jewish Center.
July 1964
B'nai Israel Reform Temple founded
Families in East Islip and Sayville started a new temple called B'nai Israel.
Public History Today
2022
Town Historian internship and apprenticeship program
The Town Historian's Office began teaching students how to study and share Islip's history.
Read the full story: Town Historian internship and apprenticeship program
2025–2026
Town Historian's Office expands public history work
The Historian's Office keeps working to open Islip's story to everyone.
Read the full story: Town Historian's Office expands public history work
2025–2026
Patriot markers and the 250th commemoration
Islip is getting ready for America's 250th birthday. New markers honor the town's Revolution-era patriots.
Read the full story: Patriot markers and the 250th commemoration