Robins Island
Encyclopedia
Robins Island is a 435 acres (1.8 km²) undeveloped island
in Peconic Bay
by the eastern end of Long Island
off the coast of New Suffolk, New York
. The island is privately owned and not accessible to the public and is within the jurisdiction of the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York
in the USA.
, Earl of Stirling
by King Charles I
in which Alexander received all of Long Island
and adjacent islands. Alexander gave James Farret power to act as his agent and attorney in settling Long Island. In reward Farret was allowed to choose 12000 acres (48.6 km²) for his personal use. Farret chose Shelter Island
and Robins Island for his use. Farret in turn sold the islands to Stephen Goodyear, one of the founders of the New Haven Colony
in 1641.
The island was purchased by a Parker Wickham
in 1715. The island and other nearby lands in Suffolk County were confiscated in 1779 during the American Revolution
by act of attainder
, and Wickham, a Loyalist
, was banished from the state. When his property was put up for sale, it was purchased in 1784 by Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge
, who had been members of the Culper Spy Ring
during the American Revolutionary War
. The island was purchased for $1.3 million in 1979 by two German investors, Herbert and Claus Mittermayer, who planned to sell it to private developers. In 1989, Wickham's descendants attempted to regain the property, but their lawsuit was dismissed in 1992.
In 1989, Suffolk County agreed to purchase Robins Island for $9.2 million and turn it into a nature preserve. However, the island never fell into public ownership because of legal disputes, as another developer had signed a contract to purchase the Robins Island for $15.3 million and develop 22 luxury homes on five-acre lots, while preserving much of the island. The deal collapsed after the county determined that an environmental study was necessary before the island could be purchased and developed.
Robins Island is currently owned by Wall Street financier Louis Bacon
, who purchased it in 1993 at a bankruptcy court auction for $11 million. Bacon has invested considerably in restoring the neglected island, going so far as to import full-grown oak trees to replace ones harvested for lumber years earlier. Some non-native grasses were removed from the island and replaced, and hunters reduced an overgrown deer population. The island has the healthiest turtle population in the state, which includes the Eastern mud turtle
. Bacon is known for hosting traditional English "driven pheasant" hunts on the island for wealthy guests.
in 1997 makes it unlikely that any development will occur on the island; however, 2009 satellite images show seven structures and several small outbuildings on the island.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Peconic Bay
Peconic Bay
The Peconic Bay is the parent name for two bays between the North Fork and South Fork of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It is separated from Gardiners Bay by Shelter Island....
by the eastern end of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
off the coast of New Suffolk, New York
New Suffolk, New York
New Suffolk is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The CDP's population was 337 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. The island is privately owned and not accessible to the public and is within the jurisdiction of the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
in the USA.
History
Robins Island was part of the 1615 deed to William AlexanderWilliam Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling
William Alexander, Earl of Stirling was a Scotsman who was an early developer of Scottish colonisation of Port Royal, Nova Scotia and Long Island, New York...
, Earl of Stirling
Earl of Stirling
Earl of Stirling was a title in the Peerage of Scotland created on 14 June 1633, along with the titles Viscount Canada and Lord Alexander of Tullibody, for William Alexander, 1st Viscount Stirling. He had already been created Viscount of Stirling and Lord Alexander of Tullibody on 4 September 1630...
by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in which Alexander received all of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
and adjacent islands. Alexander gave James Farret power to act as his agent and attorney in settling Long Island. In reward Farret was allowed to choose 12000 acres (48.6 km²) for his personal use. Farret chose Shelter Island
Shelter Island (town), New York
Shelter Island is a town and island at the eastern end of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It forms the tip of Suffolk County and is separated from the rest of the county by water. The population was 2,228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
and Robins Island for his use. Farret in turn sold the islands to Stephen Goodyear, one of the founders of the New Haven Colony
New Haven Colony
The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in present-day Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662.- Quinnipiac Colony :A Puritan minister named John Davenport led his flock from exile in the Netherlands back to England and finally to America in the spring of 1637...
in 1641.
The island was purchased by a Parker Wickham
Parker Wickham
Parker Wickham is famous for being a Loyalist politician who was banished from the State of New York under dubious circumstances....
in 1715. The island and other nearby lands in Suffolk County were confiscated in 1779 during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
by act of attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
, and Wickham, a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
, was banished from the state. When his property was put up for sale, it was purchased in 1784 by Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge was a member of the United States House of Representatives. His birth date is alternately listed as February 25, 1754....
, who had been members of the Culper Spy Ring
Culper Ring
The Culper Ring was a spy ring organized by Major Benjamin Tallmadge under the orders of General George Washington in the summer of 1778 during British occupation of New York City at the height of the American Revolutionary War. Their name was derived from the aliases taken by two of its main...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The island was purchased for $1.3 million in 1979 by two German investors, Herbert and Claus Mittermayer, who planned to sell it to private developers. In 1989, Wickham's descendants attempted to regain the property, but their lawsuit was dismissed in 1992.
In 1989, Suffolk County agreed to purchase Robins Island for $9.2 million and turn it into a nature preserve. However, the island never fell into public ownership because of legal disputes, as another developer had signed a contract to purchase the Robins Island for $15.3 million and develop 22 luxury homes on five-acre lots, while preserving much of the island. The deal collapsed after the county determined that an environmental study was necessary before the island could be purchased and developed.
Robins Island is currently owned by Wall Street financier Louis Bacon
Louis Bacon
Louis Moore Bacon is an American hedge fund manager, trader and founder of Moore Capital Management.-Family and education:Bacon was born in Raleigh, North Carolina; his father, Zachary Bacon Jr., founded Bacon & Co. and led Prudential Financial’s and Merrill Lynch’s real estate efforts in North...
, who purchased it in 1993 at a bankruptcy court auction for $11 million. Bacon has invested considerably in restoring the neglected island, going so far as to import full-grown oak trees to replace ones harvested for lumber years earlier. Some non-native grasses were removed from the island and replaced, and hunters reduced an overgrown deer population. The island has the healthiest turtle population in the state, which includes the Eastern mud turtle
Eastern Mud Turtle
The eastern mud turtle or common mud turtle is a common species of turtle found in the United States.-Appearance:...
. Bacon is known for hosting traditional English "driven pheasant" hunts on the island for wealthy guests.
Geography
Robins Island is located between Little Peconic Bay and Great Peconic Bay. The island can be reached by a private vessel. A road runs the length of the island. A conservation easementConservation easement
In the United States, a conservation easement is an encumbrance — sometimes including a transfer of usage rights — which creates a legally enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a qualified land...
in 1997 makes it unlikely that any development will occur on the island; however, 2009 satellite images show seven structures and several small outbuildings on the island.