$20M-Plus Long Island Revolutionary War-Era Property 'Priceless' For Its History

SHIRLEY, NY — One year before colonial settler William Tangier Smith's heir, Eugenia A.T. Smith, died in 1955, she had her attorneys draw up her last will and testament, setting the land, now known as the Manor of St. George in Shirley, which she inherited, aside for public purposes as a museum and parkland.

Smith's property and all its wonders inside, including artwork, furnishings, and priceless historical documents, were to be donated to the Town of Brookhaven upon her death for its people to enjoy — and for scholarly pursuit — in perpetuity.

Hers was a final wish befitting such a vast, untouched property that has trees with roots entrenched in the foundation of the United States. The site was occupied by the British in the American Revolution and later was the site of a grand battle led by Col. Benjamin Tallmadge.

After an early morning attack, the battle was won, and later the first Purple Heart Medal was given to a soldier wounded in the fray.

But though the trustees, the Furman family of Patchogue, who Smith charged with seeing her wishes fulfilled, tried to carry out their duties, Brookhaven's officials at the time declined.

Instead, the Furmans set out to form a foundation, allowing the property to be privately held —kept going through a trust that paid for maintenance, and they gathered more artifacts and documents to add to the wealth of the estate's contents.

The 126-acre land now contains not only the original manor house and its out buildings, but also documents like the original charter from the King of England granting William Tangier Smith the land in the 1600s, including hundreds of years of historical records, Furman family attorney John Scott Prudenti of Center Moriches said Tuesday.

The manor house's contents include "priceless artwork," including period paintings and those by the Dutch masters, original furnishings, as well as Chippendale furniture, according to Prudenti.

The Manor of St. George has never been appraised for its value, however, the estimated worth is "in excess of 20 million," he said.

The manor in all its grand glory is expected to be accepted as a donation to the town soon, Prudenti confirmed.

After 68 years, it will finally be in the hands of the people of Brookhaven.

Prudenti described the Furmans stewardship on the property as a herculean effort since Smith's death.

"It's best described as a multi-generational labor of love, which involved the family traveling through the country, not only adding to the endowment, at their own expense, but also adding to this irreplaceable one-of-a-kind collection of artifacts, furnishings, and documents," Prudenti said.

Town officials believe the property will become one of the crowning jewels of recreational facilities.

On Monday, Supervisor Ed Romaine touted the land donation, calling it an offer he could not pass up.

"It's one of the most historic sites in Brookhaven town," he said. "This is a phenomenal opportunity to do something, which I'm very much in favor of."

Councilman Dan Panico, whose district includes the manor, said Tuesday the property was offered abruptly to the town, and while there are plans to accept it, there are none to make changes.

The property will likely remain in the stewardship of its current caretakers as a passive park, but there is the possibility for some public events in the future.

One of the biggest will be the day of the property transfer, he said.

"It would be a momentous day when the town accepts the donation," he said.

He expects the transfer of ownership from the trust to town to taken place within the next few weeks.

"The property is, you know, from a historical standpoint, priceless," Panico said. "From a land value standpoint — millions, upon millions."

The transfer of ownership is something that Prudenti takes special pride in.

Prudenti hails from the south shore and his father, also an attorney, was a contemporary of George Furman, the original trustee of Eugenia Smith's will.

"I feel very fortunate and blessed to be chosen to carry this over the finish line," he said.

RELATED STORIES:

• LI Town Plans Take Over Of Historic Revolutionary War-Era Manor