While Zachariah Sandford was running the inn and meeting house in Hartford, his brother Ezekiel Sandford, our 7th great grandfather, was establishing himself in Southampton, Long Island. Born in Hartford in 1647, Ezekiel appeared in Southampton by 1670, probably in search of new beginnings. Southampton had first been settled around 1640 by settlers who had first landed in Lynn, Massachusetts. (Our Wright ancestors came through Lynn around the same time, settling in nearby Oyster Bay, Long Island). By 1670 there were pacts and regular commerce across Long Island Sound, connecting Long Island settlements with those New Haven and Hartford. Ezekiel may have been responding to word of new opportunities near Southhampton. On his trip, he would have passed through New Haven near the estate of another ancestor, William Tuttle, who lived until 1673.
By 1678, Southampton agreed to give Ezekiel fifteen acres of land to remain and carry on his trade of cartwright. The house he built on this land remains to this day, in what is now a very expensive neighborhood.
In 1686, Ezekiel was commissioned to build a bridge across Sag Pond, connecting the villages of Sagg and Mecox, saving residents several miles of travel around the pond. The site of the bridge is a third of a mile down the road from Ezekiel’s house, making for an easy commute. It is this bridge after which the community of Bridgehampton, Long Island, took its name.
Generations of Sandfords and Sandford descendants have remained in and around Bridgehampton through the present day. Seventh cousin Ann Sandford lives there today, and has written books on Bridgehampton and Sandford history.
The bridge has been restored and replaced a few times, but still connects the two small townships on the same narrow road.
According to Ann, the Sandford house recently passed to one of her fourth cousins, so will remain in the family for a while to come.
Our branch of the Sandford family stayed on Long Island for three generations after Ezekiel before resettling in Maine at the time of the American Revolution, the subject of future posts.
On the subject of bridge building, I recently found the following concerning 8th great grandfather Jonathan Tuttle (son of William Tuttle) of New Haven. It is from The Descendants of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, written by George Frederick Tuttle in 1883.
So there were at least two bridge builders in the family. There is no indication that any remnants of Jonathan’s New Haven bridge can be found today.
Bridging the Silences 
Ezekiel Sanford was my 12 great grandfather. I remember visiting the house as a child in the early 80’s to visit dads cousin Nancy who had inherited the house from her mother Bertha Sherlock, sister to my great grandmother, Eva. I know Nancy has since passed, but I can only assume its still in the family. I will be in the Hamptons this weekend and can’t remember where the bridge was but would like to visit it again. Any way we can talk? I would love to know more family history as well.
thank you
SMO
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According to Ann Sandford, local Bridgehampton historian, the house was recently taken over by someone in the family—I’ll have to try to find the email where she told me that. I have other family history on the website sandfordhistory.news.blog —you can filter on the Sandford branch to see the stuff we have in common. At least a couple of the early stories would apply to you (more if your branch of the family went to Maine after Lon Island, like mine did). Happy to talk more—send me a note using the Contact Me feature on the website. Good to hear from a distant cousin.
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I am Floyd Sandford a descendent of Ezekiel Sandford, the “Bridge builder. I grew up in Smithtown but now live in Iowa. I am involved in saving historic structures and am happy to see that the house is still there. I will use an image of the house in a PPT program emphasizing the value of historic preservation. I am interested in genealogy and would enjoy hearing from Sandfords descended from Ezekiel. fsandfor@coe.edu
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I believe Ezekiel Sandford was my 7th great grandfather. Have traced my ancestry to Ezekiel Sandford IV (1754-1811) who was my 4th great grandfather.
His son James Sandford, born 9/7/1779 in Bridgehampton, NY was my 3rd great grandfather. He died 12/31/1858. His son was James Lorenzo Sandford was born May 4,1822 (died 7/8/1889).
James Lorenso was the father of my great grandfather John Rose Sandford who was born 12/20/1857 in Bridgehampton, NY. John Rose Sandford was a Methodist minister who came to Iowa in 1886. He died on February 1, 1906, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Floyd, IA.
My grandfather James Ward Sanford was born in Brandon, IA on 9/19/1889. He dropped the “d” from Sandford when he was a college student at Upper Iowa University. James Ward Sanford died 8/6/1969 and is buried in Okoboji Cemetery, Arnolds Park, IA.
My mother Kathleen Josephine Sanford was born on 4/14/27 in Britt, IA, where my grandfather was a teacher and coach at the time. She was a teacher, farm wife and served 10 years in the Iowa legislature (1984-1993). She died on April 4, 2015 and is buried beside my father (Donald Gruhn) her parents and oldest brother.
I am Sanford Gruhn and currently live I Humboldt, IA.
sandyg50548@yahoo.com
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