The Archaeology of Sylvester Manor

It may state two separate claims as one.

The construction and destruction of buildings and the recasting of the landscape were major forces in structuring the archaeological record at Sylvester Manor, making it virtually impossible to isolate deposits that can be linked to a particular group.

“The construction and destruction of buildings and the recasting of the landscape were major forces in structuring the archaeological record at Sylvester Manor, making it virtually impossible to isolate deposits that can be linked to a particular group.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Few undisturbed deposits have been found at Sylvester Manor, yet the bulk of the recovered material appears to have resulted from the intense use of a relatively limited area at the core of the plantation.

“Few undisturbed deposits have been found, yet the bulk of the recovered material appears to have resulted from the intense use of a relatively limited area at the core of the plantation.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

To date, the archaeology at Sylvester Manor has provided traces of working areas associated with the first 80 years of occupation, ca. 1650-1730, while the documentary record provides a broader context for understanding whom these laborers may have been.

“To date the archaeology has provided traces of working areas associated with the first 80 years of occupation, ca. 1650-1730, while the documentary record provides a broader context for understanding whom these laborers may have been.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The buildings unearthed at Sylvester Manor were clearly surrounded by space that was used for work related to the operation of the plantation and its multiple households, although their precise function remains in doubt.

“Although the precise function of the buildings unearthed remains in doubt, they were clearly surrounded by space that was used for work related to the operation of the plantation and its multiple households.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Evidence of earlier events has been unearthed at Sylvester Manor and speaks to periods of construction, destruction and landscape production.

“Evidence of earlier events has also been unearthed and these too speak to periods of construction, destruction and landscape production.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Nathaniel Sylvester's 1680 will notes more than 400 sheep, 40 horses, more than 200 cattle and 120 pigs.

“The size of livestock holdings-both by Sylvester and those owned in partnership-give some measure of the size of the operation at the time with more than 400 sheep, 40 horses, more than 200 cattle and 120 pigs noted in the will (see Sportman, Cipolla and Landon, this volume).”

• cites N. Sylvester 1680Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Nathaniel Sylvester's 1680 will describes buildings that may have surrounded the early manor house, including a warehouse, a barn, a salt house, a cider mill and cider press.

“What it does describe is the nature of the buildings that may have surrounded the early manor house including a warehouse, a barn, a salt house, a cider mill and cider press.”

• cites N. Sylvester 1680Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

The occupational chronology includes the remains of two pre-Contact Native American habitation areas, one directly beneath the 17th-century European deposits, as well as extensive evidence of three generations of Sylvester ownership (ca. 1652-1735).

“These include the remains of two pre-Contact Native American habitation areas, one of which lies directly beneath the 17th-century European deposits, as well as extensive evidence of three generations of Sylvester ownership (ca. 1652-1735).”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The landscaping that accompanied the recasting of the estate had a major impact on the archaeological record of the previous 80 years, yet evidence of intense cultural interaction is visible.

“The landscaping that accompanied the recasting of the estate had a major impact on the archaeological record of the previous 80 years, yet evidence of intense cultural interaction is visible.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Although there are deposits that can be linked to the period before the arrival of the Sylvesters, much of the archaeological record is a complex amalgam of European, Native American and possibly African material culture.

“Although there are deposits that can be linked to the period before the arrival of the Sylvesters, much of the archaeological record is a complex amalgam of European, Native American and possibly African material culture.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Giles Sylvester's account book covering 1680-1701 indicates that he relied heavily upon day laborers in the operations of the plantation and notes transactions with at least 50 individuals.

“An account book (G. Sylvester 1680-1701) covering some of this period indicates that Giles Sylvester relied heavily upon day laborers in the operations of the plantation. Covering years between 1680 and 1701, these accounts note transactions with at least 50 individuals.”

• cites G. Sylvester 1680-1701Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Nathaniel Sylvester's 1680 will mentions a mill, cider presses and orchards, and stock and fowl, as well as 23 enslaved Africans, all in family groups of mother, father and children.

“The 1680 will of Nathaniel Sylvester mentions a mill, cider presses and orchards, and stock and fowl, as well as 23 enslaved Africans, all in family groups of mother, father and children.”

• cites N. Sylvester 1680Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Analysis of the account book indicates that the workers performed a variety of services including cutting wood, collecting produce like pears, cranberries and corn, and most often receiving either cider or alcohol in return.

“Analysis of the account book indicates that the workers performed a variety of services including cutting wood, collecting produce like pears, cranberries and corn, and most often receiving either cider or alcohol in return (Priddy 2002).”

• cites Priddy 2002Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Although many names in the account book suggest racial categories or seem similar to names of known Native Americans, it is impossible to know for certain the ethnic or cultural identities of these laborers.

“Although many of the names that appear in the account book suggest the attribution of racial categories, for example 'Squaw Hannah,' 'John Indian' and 'Black John,' or seem similar to names of known Native Americans, it is impossible to know for certain the ethnic or cultural identities of these laborers.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Sylvesters and their partners purchased Shelter Island twice, because the Manhanset brought legal complaint to the Colonial Commissioners in Hartford that they had never been paid, and the case was settled by payment to them.

“In fact the Sylvesters and their partners purchased the island twice, as the Manhanset brought legal complaint to the Colonial Commissioners in Hartford that they had never been paid for the land by any of the previous Europeans claiming ownership, and this case was settled by payment to them (Mallmann 1899: 16-17).”

• cites Mallmann 1899Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

After a lengthy court battle in which Brinley attempted to regain some of the land his father had sold, he undertook an ambitious program to transform the former plantation into an 18th-century English Georgian estate.

“After a lengthy court battle in which Brinley attempted to regain some of the land his father had sold, he undertook an ambitious program to transform the former plantation into an 18thcentury, English Georgian estate.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

John Taylor, an English Quaker visitor in 1659, noted that a 'great many Indians' lived on Shelter Island and were 'Sober' and 'Serviceable' as guides, and Nathaniel Sylvester arranged for Taylor's Native guide.

“One such visitor was the English Quaker John Taylor who visited in 1659. In recounting his stay he noted the 'great many Indians' who lived on Shelter Island and how 'Sober' and 'Serviceable' they were as guides. Nathaniel Sylvester himself arranged for Taylor's Native guide (Wortis 1973).”

• cites Wortis 1973Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The growth of settled life and an increase in sedentary habitation sites starting approximately 1000 years ago is well documented archaeologically.

“The growth of settled life and an increase in the number of sedentary habitation sites starting approximately 1000 years ago is well documented archaeologically (Lightfoot, Kalin and Moore 1987: 65-77; Strong 1997; Witek 1990: 45-46).”

• cites Lightfoot, Kalin and Moore 1987Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Strong 1997Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Witek 1990Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The clearing that accompanied the adoption of agriculture has been documented through analysis of pollen cores collected throughout the region.

“The clearing that accompanied the adoption of agriculture has also been documented through the analysis of pollen cores collected throughout the region (see Bragdon 1996: 36-43).”

• cites Bragdon 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Articles of Agreement stated that each merchant was free to seek trade with the English, Dutch, Swedish, or Native American neighbors, but had to do so at his own expense as it was ancillary to the Barbadian supply trade.

“The document also stated each of the merchants was free to seek trade with the English, Dutch, Swedish, or Native American neighbors, but they had to do so at their own expense as it was ancillary to the Barbadian supply trade.”

• cites Middleton et al. 1652Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Based upon what is known about the establishment of Sylvester Manor and its early history, there would have been a tremendous need for labor.

“Yet based upon what is known about the establishment of Sylvester Manor and its early history, there would have been a tremendous need for labor.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

Much of the history of early America is dominated by narratives concerning the European colonization of the New World and seldom incorporates post-colonial perspectives generated by the colonized.

“Much of that history is dominated by narratives concerning the European colonization of the New World and seldom incorporate post-colonial perspectives generated by the colonized (see Schmidt and Patterson 1995).”

• cites Schmidt and Patterson 1995Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Gathering barrel staves on a regular basis meant logging the woodlands of the area as well as collecting them from other parts of Long Island, Rhode Island or Connecticut.

“Gathering these staves on a regular basis meant logging the woodlands of the area as well as collecting them from other parts of Long Island, Rhode Island or Connecticut.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The character of the early landscape of Sylvester Manor may have been influenced by Nathaniel's early life in the Netherlands, where he lived in Amsterdam with his parents.

“The character of the early landscape of Sylvester Manor may have been influenced by Nathaniel's early life in the Netherlands where he lived in Amsterdam with his parents, Giles Sylvester and Mary Arnold Sylvester.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The history of the encounter between Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans is a necessary backdrop to the investigations at Sylvester Manor.

“The history of that encounter is a necessary backdrop to our investigations.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Articles of Agreement stated that all profits, commodities, livestock and land were to be split equally, and improvements and additions constructed on the property would be held in common by all members, as all four purchasers contributed equal portions of monies to buy the land.

“The articles stated that all the profits, commodities, livestock and land were to be split equally, and improvements and additions constructed on the property would be held in common by all members of the agreement, as all four purchasers contributed equal portions of monies to buy the land.”

• cites Middleton et al. 1652Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

In the fluid political environment of 1652, a family like the Sylvesters may have seen some advantage in constructing a landscape and material culture that expressed their mixed Dutch/English heritage.

“In this environment a family like the Sylvesters may have seen some advantage in constructing a landscape and material culture that expressed their mixed Dutch/English heritage.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Sylvesters were one of the many English families residing and doing business in Holland in the late-16th and early-17th centuries.

“The Sylvesters were one of the many English families residing and doing business in Holland in the late-16th and early-17th centuries.”

• cites Barbour 1963Not checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim. The authors may not put it forward as true. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.

During this period, Giles sold several large tracts of the island to non-family members, and when he died in 1708, his nephew Brinley Sylvester inherited a much smaller property that was in considerable disrepair.

“During this period, Giles sold several large tracts of the island to non-family mem- Note: With the exception of the Woodland and Contact Periods these period names refer to internal chronological changes specific to Sylvester Manor.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The house described in the Articles of Agreement would serve as a corporate structure for running the northern provisioning business as well as accommodations for the overseer and his retinue.

“This house would serve as a corporate structure for the running of the northern provisioning business as well as accommodations for the overseer and his retinue.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

In this framework, deriving use and consumption are as important as production in understanding the meaning of material culture and space.

“In this framework, deriving use and consumption are as important as production in understanding the meaning of material culture and space (Singleton 1999, see also de Certeau 1984).”

• cites Singleton 1999Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites de Certeau 1984Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

Thomas Rouse sold his quarter portion and share of the business to Thomas Middleton, who shortly turned it over to John Booth; this portion was ultimately sold for 700 pounds sterling to Nathaniel Sylvester.

“In the early years of this agreement Thomas Rouse sold his quarter portion and share of the business to Thomas Middleton, who shortly turned it over to John Booth; this portion was ultimately sold for 700 pounds sterling to Nathaniel Sylvester (Mallman 1899: 25).”

• cites Mallman 1899Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Archaeologies of slavery are most often framed at the singular site level, as the contextualization of such material and spatial evidence does not allow simple comparisons.

“This is perhaps part of the reason why archaeologies of slavery are most often framed at the singular site level, as the contextualization of such material and spatial evidence does not allow simple comparisons.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The picture of a complex amalgam of material culture has emerged over the past nine years as excavations have been carried out along with analysis and documentary research.

“This picture has emerged over the past nine years as excavations have been carried out along with analysis and documentary research.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

These historical studies have a fairly direct bearing on the research and interpretive frameworks at Sylvester Manor.

“These historical studies have a fairly direct bearing on our research and interpretive frameworks at Sylvester Manor.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. It may state two separate claims as one.

In the Colonial period, one must be critical of assumptions about race and status because this was a formative period, with unfamiliar settings and social configurations, without institutionalized rules for interactions.

“Particularly in the Colonial period, we must be critical of our assumptions about race and status (especially slave status), because this was a formative period, with unfamiliar settings and social configurations, without institutionalized rules for interactions (Berlin 1998, 2003; Deetz 1993).”

• cites Berlin 1998, 2003Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Deetz 1993Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Brinley Sylvester had a large Georgian manor house constructed between 1733 and 1735.

“The most visible part of that process was the large Georgian manor house he had constructed between 1733 and 1735.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

After Nathaniel Sylvester died in 1680, his wife and eldest son Giles maintained the plantation, and when Grissell died in 1685, Giles took primary possession of the plantation.

“After the death of Nathaniel Sylvester in 1680, his wife and their eldest son Giles maintained the plantation, and when Grissell died in 1685, Giles took primary possession of the plantation.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

The plantations on Barbados were no longer under the control of Sylvester family members by 1695, and Giles was already living in Boston when the tenancy agreement was written.

“The plantations on Barbados were no longer under the control of Sylvester family members by 1695 and Giles was already living in Boston when the agreement was written.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The 17th-century Manhanset or Manhansacks were linked politically to the Montauk of Eastern Long Island.

“The 17th-century Manhanset or Manhansacks, who were linked politically to the Montauk of Eastern Long Island (Ales 1993; Strong 1994), took full advantage of the rich and diverse resources Peconic Bay and the island had to offer (Lightfoot, Kalin, and Moore 1987: 30).”

• cites Ales 1993Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Strong 1994 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim.

Archaeologists seek evidence of historically contingent practices and strategies that may be tied to populations of enslaved labor through multiple lines of evidence.

“Instead, archaeologists seek evidence of historically contingent practices and strategies that may be tied to populations of enslaved labor through multiple lines of evidence.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

New World slavery was not an institution restricted to Africans; Native Americans were also directly enslaved.

“These histories have also shown that that New World slavery was not an institution restricted to Africans. Native Americans were also embroiled beyond the indirect effects of increasing European economic power, in the direct enslavement of native populations.”

• cites Funari 1999Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Hilden 2000Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Giles and Mary Sylvester were married in Amsterdam in 1613 and raised their family there; Nathaniel was born there ca. 1620.

“The circumstances surrounding Giles and Mary Sylvester's emigration to Holland are not clear; however they were married in Amsterdam in 1613 and raised their family there. Nathaniel was born there ca. 1620.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Native peoples of Shelter Island took advantage of rich and diverse resources including shellfish, wild game, and, after agriculture was adopted around AD 1000, the island's fertile soils.

“These included shellfish, wild game such as deer, turkey and waterfowl, and when agriculture was adopted, ca. ad 1000, the island's fertile soils.”

• cites Lightfoot, Kalin, and Moore 1987Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The overall approach brought to the investigations of Sylvester Manor is both multidisciplinary and multi-scalar.

“The overall approach brought to our investigations of Sylvester Manor is both multidisciplinary and multi-scalar.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Articles of Agreement stated that until the general purse could bear the charge, nothing should be done about building except what needs must be done for convenience, namely a house with six or seven convenient rooms.

“With regards to the plantation infrastructure the articles of agreement stated that until the general purse 'can and will beare the charge nothing shall be done about building but what needs must be done for conveniency sake, to wit a house with six or seven convenient roomes' [sic] (Middleton et al. 1652).”

• cites Middleton et al. 1652Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.