Law Land, the son of John Land and Lydia Law, was born in Batley England on December, 29, 1858.

Law was the first child of the second marriage of John Land.

For more information on the family of John Land go to Lands in England now or at the bottom of the page.

The Marriage of Law Land and Elizabeth, Batley England, 1880 Sykes

Law Land, age 23, bachelor, joiner, of Carlinghow, Batley, the son of John Land, cloth drawer, and Elizabeth Sykes, age 24, spinster, of Carlinghow, Batley, the daughter of George Stell Sykes, shoemaker, were married in the Independent Chapel Batley, Congregational Church, Batley, Yorkshire, England on April 25, 1880 in the presence of R. W. Sykes and Anne Hepworth, Certificate of Marriage in the Registration District of Dewsbury. (From a copy of the Marriage Certificate May 18, 2001, General Register Office of England).

R. W. Sykes was Elizabeth's brother. Anne Hepworth was R. W. Sykes wife.

Elizabeth Sykes was born on July 27, 1857 in Adwalton, Yorkshire, the daughter of George Stell Sykes and Sarah Walker.

For more information on Elizabeth Sykes and her family in England, go to Sykes in England now or at the bottom of the page.

Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes in the 1881 Census in Batley, England

Law Land and family at 51 Victoria Street in the township of Batley, Parliamentary District of Dewsbury in St. John's Church, Carlinghow Parish is listed as follows:

• Law, head, age 22, joiner, born in Batley, Yorkshire.
• Elizabeth, wife, age 23, born in Gildersome, Yorkshire.
• Clarence, son, 2 months, infant, born in Batley, Yorkshire.

Law, Elizabeth, and Clarence Land — Immigration to Canada

I believe that Law, Elizabeth and Clarence immigrated to Canada circa 1882. However, I have not found anything on the immigration of Law, Elizabeth and/or Clarence.

Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes in the 1891 Census in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Province of Ontario, District No. 132, York West, Law Land, age 31 born England, Elizabeth age 31 born England, Clarence, age 10 born England, Sarah age 8 born Ontario, Percy age 6 born Ontario, Ethel age 3 born Ontario, Fredrick age 1 born Ontario, carpenter, religion, all listed as "House of Israel".

More on the House of Israel later.

Occupation of Law Land

In the English records Law Land was listed as a joiner.

By the late 1800s the work of the craftsman joiner was increasingly reduced to fitting and finishing factory made goods.

By the 1900s these men were more often small business men than the superior master craftsmen of the previous generations.

Private Lives, Public Spirit: Britain 1870-1914 Jose Harris

To see images of carpenters go to Carpenters

The Children of Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes

Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes had:

1. Clarence Law Land born January 25, 1881 at Victoria Street, Carlinghow, Batley, England, the son of Law Land, joiner, and Elizabeth, Sykes. (Information from Certificate of Birth for Clarence Land, General Register Office, England).
2. Edith Adelaide, born April 9, 1883, the daughter of Law Land, carpenter, and Elizabeth Sykes, 26 Denison Avenue, Toronto Canada (Toronto birth registration).

   Denison Avenue is located in downtown Toronto between Dundas and Queen Streets and Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue, several blocks south and west of the University of Toronto.

   According to family history, Edith was also known as Sarah and Addie. She was listed as Sarah on at least one document and in the 1891 census in Ontario.

3. Percy Arnold Land, born June 8, 1885, the son of Law Land, carpenter, and Elizabeth Sykes, 2 Whites Lane, Toronto, Canada (Toronto birth registration).

   White's Lane is not listed on a current map of Toronto.

4. Ethel May (or Edna M.), born February 7, 1888, the daughter of Law Land, carpenter, and Elizabeth Sykes, Dupont Street, Toronto, Canada (from the Toronto birth registration).

   There is no Street number on this certificate.

5. ✟Frederick, born January 21, 1890, the son of Law Land, carpenter, and Elizabeth Sykes, 1107 Dupont Street, Toronto, Canada (Toronto birth registration).

   1107 Dupont Street is between Bartlett Ave and Gladstone Avenue

   Death: Fred Land died of Malignant Scarlet Fever at 12 Floyd Street in Jersey City on February 21, 1898, age 8 years and 1 month. The death certificate indicates that he had been sick for about 24 hours. He was buried in the Jersey City Cemetery. (New Jersey Death Certificate L122, 1898).

6. Mary Edna, born March 24, 1892, Detroit Michigan (Information from 1930 ship's passenger list)

   March 24, 1893 (Mary Edna Land WO2 US ARMY, dob, 24 Mar 1893, dod 11 Nov 1964, Wife Of Wiedenkeller, Peter Otto, buried 18 Nov 1964, Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery P.O. Box 6237 San Diego, CA 92166 Section A-F Site 392)

   Notes:

   • I sent to the Michigan Department of Health to try and obtain Mary's birth certificate and they returned a birth certificate for another Mary Land.
   • There is no listing in Ontario for the birth of Mary Edna Land
   • She was listed at age 18 in the 1910 census
7. Ruth born March 24, 1894, Detroit Michigan.

   I obtained a modern copy of the birth certificate of Ruth Land from the State of Michigan Vital Records Office. It contains the following information, Ruth Land, date of birth, March 24, 1894, female, birthplace, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, mother's birthplace, England, name, Elizabeth Land, father's birthplace, England, father's name, Law Land, date filed May 10, 1895, no street address. LDS Detroit Birth Index lists the birth in the 5th Ward, Detroit.

   Ancestry: Ruth Land Gender: Female Birth Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan Birth Date: 24 Mar 1894 Father's name: Lan Land Mother's name: Elizabeth Land FHL Film Number: 1377671

8. Joseph, born January 22, 1896, the son of Law Land, carpenter, age 38, born in England, and Elizabeth Sykes, age 39, born in England, the eighth of eighth living children, address 14th Street, Hoboken. I can't read the house number because the ink is faded. (New Jersey birth registration).

   Note: LDS does not have any church records in Hoboken that might include the baptism of Joseph Land.

9. Norman, AKA as Herbert A., was listed on his New Jersey birth registration as "Male", born January 13, 1899, the son of Law Land, age 40, carpenter, born in England, and Elizabeth Sykes, age 41, born in England, 72 Griffith Street, Jersey City, the ninth of 8 living children.

   In the 1900 census Norman is listed as Herbert.

For more information on the children of Law and Elizabeth as adults see below.

Migration

There was an economic depression in England in the late 1870s.

The 1871 census indicated that of 1,173 babies being born every day in Britain, 468 would emigrate.

Over six million Britons emigrated between 1871 and 1911.

Outward movement reached its peak in the 1870s and again in the 1880s.

There was a large immigration of building workers to America in 1885-8. In the 1880s, about 15% of the building labor force in New York State were said to be British seasonal workers. The 1880s was period of prosperity in the U. S. A. Building in England peaked in 1876-78 and was a low level through the 1880s.

Yorkshire had a relatively low rate of emigration in the 1860s and 70s and a relatively high rate of emigration in the 1880s.

A passage to the United States in 1870 cost about five to six weeks of wages.

Private Lives, Public Spirit: Britain 1870-1914 Jose Harris

1. Toronto Canada circa 1882: Elizabeth Sykes Land had two uncles and an aunt who immigrated to Canada circa 1860. Subsequently two of her brothers, Samuel and Robert, also immigrated to Canada. This could explain why Elizabeth and Law were drawn to Canada. However, Law Land was the first child of the second marriage of his father, John Land. Law had a half brother, Samuel, who was living in Philadelphia. Around the time that Law and Elizabeth moved to Toronto Law's mother and her remaining children moved to Philadelphia. Why did Law and Elizabeth choose Toronto over Philadelphia? They stayed in Toronto for about 10 years and then went to Detroit.

2. Detroit, Michigan: On his naturalization papers Law said he immigrated to the United States on February 17, 1892. The Land family moved to Detroit to follow the Prophet Prince Michael Mills of the House of Israel. More on the House of Israel later.

3. Hoboken, New Jersey: Sometime between March 1894 and January 1897 the family moved to Hoboken, New Jersey. They were not listed in the 1895 census in New Jersey. This does not mean that they were definitely NOT in Hoboken.

4. Jersey City New Jersey: Sometime between January 1897 and February 1898 they moved to Jersey City, New Jersey. Norman was born in Jersey City in January 1899.

5. Hauppauge: After January 1899 and before the 1900 Federal census, which is dated June 11, 1900, the Lands moved to Hauppauge, Long Island. However Law and Percy returned to Hoboken to work. Law was naturalized in Jersey City in 1902. Percy received a post card in Hoboken in 1906. He also met Meta Petermann, his future wife, in Hoboken circa 1906.

Why did the Lands make the moves they made?

Elizabeth had family in Toronto.

They moved to Detroit to follow a religious sect called, the New and Latter House of Israel (AKA Jezreelites, Flying Rollers and/or House of David). More below.

The move to Hoboken seems quite unusual. Many immigrants of the time headed west. If the Lands wanted to move east why didn't they go to Philadelphia where Law's mother, four siblings, half brother, and aunt lived?

Bud Land said that Law moved to where there were large construction jobs. However, the building business was fairly healthy in lots of places at the time they moved to Hoboken.

The move from Hoboken to Jersey City is not unusual. Hoboken and Jersey City abut one another. There was quite a bit of movement back and forth between the two cities.

The move to Hauppauge was quite unusual. Up to this point Elizabeth and Law had lived in urban environments. Hauppauge in 1900 was very rural. Law's mother, Lydia Law Land, owned property in Hauppaugue. I have no idea why she chose to buy property on Long Island when she lived in Philadelphia. The move to rural Long Island must have been a big change.

The Lands in Toronto, Canada

Law and Elizabeth and family were in Toronto from about 1881 to 1892. Addie, Percy, Ethel and Frederick were born in Toronto. See 1891 census above.

See Land Migration Route now or at the bottom of the page for more information on their stay in Toronto.

The Lands in Detroit

The Lands moved to Detroit sometime before March 8, 1892. Detroit is about 250 miles southwest of Toronto.

Law and family moved to Detroit to be part of a religious commune called the House of Israel. It was located on 37 [and 47] Hamlin Ave. Detroit. The Lands listed their religion in the 1891 census in Toronto as "House of Israel".

On March 8, 1892 "L. Land of Dupont street, with his wife and family of small children" were listed among the Toronto families who moved to Detroit to join the commune run by Michael Mills (AKA Prince Michael) the leader of the New and Latter House of Israel.

Hamlin Avenue was the home of the "House of Israel". A revealed religion, the House of Israel, was founded in England in the mid 1800s. The sect's main congregation in America gathered in Detroit between 1891 and 1892. House of Israel members believed the "end was near". In fact, it was predicted for the year 1896. The members lived communally. They were vegetarians. Men and woman did not cut their hair, but wore it long and flowing. Men did not shave or cut their beards. There are conflicting reports on celibacy as a doctrine. Some reports say it was practiced. Others talk of marriages "in spirit". There was at least one case of a women being married "in spirit" to a church member after she had left her husband to join the sect with her 10 year old daughter. Elizabeth Land got pregnant during her stay in Detroit, as evidenced by the birth of Ruth in 1894. Michael Mills, the sect's leader, was absolutely NOT celibate.

The House of Israel commune reportedly owned 7 "cottages" on Hamlin Ave, just off Woodward, including the house of the sects leader the "Prophet" Michael Mills, known as Prince Michael. The seven house were reportedly large and were built by the commune members. While the main concentration of the House of Israel membership in Detroit resided on Hamlin avenue some members lived in other parts of the city. Both of the other two known Land address in Detroit were close to Hamlin Ave.

House of Israel members were also called Flying Rollers, Michaelites and Israelites.

Late in 1891 the sect's leader, Prince Michael, moved from Canada to Detroit with about 10 members of his sect. He declared Detroit the City of Salvation, the Mecca and Do-it-Right. He lived with 9 maidens or virgins, his wife, and his "spiritual affinity" a woman named Eliza Courts at 49 Hamlin Avenue.

Law Land was listed in the Detroit papers as a pillar of the "Flying Roll" community in 1892 and 1893.

In March 1892, around the time of the arrival of the Land family, Prince Michael was arrested on morals charges. It was said that he bathed in full view of the neighbors and was minister to in his bath by nine angels or virgins. They were called by such names as: Joy, Peace, Long Suffering, Meekness, Faith, Temperance and Obedience. Obedience got him a five year jail sentence. He was accused of adultery and the felonious assault and statutory rape of Bernice Bickle, age 15. He was accused of sleeping with both Eliza Courts (a senior member of the sect - she was later known as Princess Eliza) and Bernice Bickle in the same bed. His bail was set at $1,000 and the trial was moved to Ann Arbor because members of the sect were threatened by angry mobs. The story was carried by news papers all over the country. Several of the "angels" and male members of the community were called as witnesses and testified to the good character of Prince Michael. Bernice's parents were both members of the sect and her father testified in defense of Prince Michael saying he believed that his daughter was Michael's "spiritual wife". The trial lasted four days. The jury convicted in record time. Michael was sent to the state prison in Jackson and his 32 inch long hair was shorn. He served four years of his 5 year sentence. In his absence Princess Eliza ran the commune and managed to persuade the faithful that Michael was a martyr. In 1893 he appealed his sentence on the grounds that Bernice Bickle was of "unchaste character". His appeal was denied.

As part of Michael's defense it was stated:

that the presence of these people in such large numbers affected the price of real estate in the part of the city where they resided; that a mass meeting of citizens was called to devise means to rid the community of them; that the newspapers published sensational articles, charging them with immorality;

(Michigan Reports: Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Michigan, Volume 94 By Michigan. Supreme Court)

1893: April 28 Digital Michigan Newspapers - Central Michigan University

STARVING THEMSELVES

One of the Followers of "Prince Michael" Dies From Fasting Too Much

The few Flying Roll people who are left in Detroit are starving themselves to death in obedience to orders. Alice Stoneman, nearly 50 years old, died at the house of Law Land, one of the "pillars" of the "Latter Day Israelites". She was a mere skeleton, wasted away by orders of the "pillars" at the head of whom stands Eliza Court, alias "Princess Mike". Taylor, one of the members of colony, made a coffin out of plain board. Into this the body which looked no larger than that of a child was put. The box was placed on the colony's express wagon and William H. Bickel the first "pillar" after Eliza Court, and Law drove off with it to some cemetery. Mrs. Stoneman left seven children, six of whom are in the city and four at the colony, yet none of them were permitted to see her after death. She had fasted 58 days."

At one point the Hamlin Ave. community was said to have numbered about 125 members - 150 was also mentioned. By 1894 it had dwindled to only a handful.

The only civil record I found for the Lands in Detroit was the birth record of Ruth Land in 1894. It did not include an address. The LDS Index of Detroit Births lists this birth in Ward 5.

Law was listed three times in the Detroit city directories, all in Ward 5.

1. 1892-93 - Law Land - 226 Milwaukee Ave, Detroit

   226 E Milwaukee street is one block south of the Grand Boulevard and a few houses in from John R. Street. It is a few blocks from 49 and 107 Hamlin street.

2. 1893 - Law Land 1893 h 107 Hamlin Ave., Detroit

   Hamil Avenue ran east from Woodward for 3 plus blocks to Oakland Avenue. It was three blocks north of the Grand Boulevard.

   Hamlin Ave was listed in Ward 5 in 1890. In 1891 when Hamilin Ave was paved it was described as between Woodward and Oakland.

   Hamlin Avenue is now called E Bethune Avenue. The 1 to 200 block of Hamlin was between Woodward and John R Street - so the first block off Woodward. There is nothing in the block today.

3. Law Land - 1894-95 carpt, h 34 Guilloz, Detroit

   Guilloz St. was a one block street that runs north south between Whitaker Ave and Pallister Ave east of Russell street. It is a few blocks from 49 and 107 Hamlin street. Highway 75 now runs where Guilloz street once was.

Note: Law must have submitted the addresses several months, if not a year, before the directory was printed.

For more information on the House of Israel go to House of Israel

Seven Angels To The Seven Churches Revelation 1:20 The Seven Messengers To The Seven Churches Of Israel At The Latter Day A Brief Historical Time Line

See The Land's Migration Route now or at the bottom of the page.

The Lands in Hoboken and Jersey City

Sometime after the birth of Ruth in March 1894 and before the birth of Joseph in January 1896, the Lands moved to Hoboken, New Jersey.

Sometime before February 1898 the family moved 12 Floyd Street, Jersey City, New Jersey.

They were at 72 Griffith Street, Jersey City in January 1899.

Law Land was not listed in the 1894 through 1896 Directory for Hoboken and Jersey City.

Land, Law, carp, 205 14th Street, Hoboken was listed in the 1897/98 and 1898/99 Directory.

Law Land filed his Statement of Intention to become a US citizen in Jersey City in 1899.

The Lands moved to Hauppauge where they were listed in the 1900 US census.

Law applied for citizenship in Jersey City in 1901 and gave his address as 213 14th Street, Hoboken

Law became a citizen in Jersey City in 1902.

See also The Land's Migration Route

The Lands in Hauppauge

The property on which Law and Elizabeth settled in Hauppauge originally belonged to Law's mother, Lydia, who bought it in 1899. Lydia had been living in Philadelphia with at least four of her children since circa 1882. See below.

The move to Long Island was not a clean break for the Lands. The records show that Law and/or his son, Percy, where back in Hoboken in 1902, 1903 and 1906.

I am sure they moved to Long Island because Lydia owned property there. Why she bought the property so far from Philadelphia is not clear. I do not know if she ever saw it. The transactions for the 1899 sale and the subsequent sale of the property to Law in 1902 were carried out by notaries in Philadelphia.

See Land Migration Route now or at the bottom of the page for more information on their move to Hauppauge.

Bud Land says Law moved to Long Island to be a construction supervisor when the Central Islip Mental Hospital was built.

Helen Land said that Law had a "permanent position with Central Islip State Hospital as of October 1911"

Smithtown was booming in the spring of 1899. Multiple houses and cottages were being constructed.

Law's Property on Long Island 1902 - 1915

Law Land bought three pieces of property in the Smithtown/Islip area between July 1902 and September 1903.

1. On July 26, 1902 Law bought the property that Lydia had purchased in 1899.
2. On March 3, 1903 Law purchased two pieces of property, a three acre tract in "Smithtown", which was actually adjacent of the piece he already owned, and fifty seven acres in Islip. A total of 60 acres on Hauppauge road town of Smithtown from Sarah Soper.
3. On September 24, 1903 Law Land of Hoboken, New Jersey purchased another twenty five acres of property in the Village of Hauppauge from Sarah A. Risley of the city of Pittsburg (sic), Pennsylvania.

To read excerpts from the deeds for these properties go to Law Land's Property on Long Island now or at the bottom of the page.

Friday August 29, 1902, The Long Islander

Recent Transfer of Real Estate

Lydie Land to Law Land lot north side highway, Hauppauge, $200. The Suffolk County News

Real Estate Transfers Town of Smithtown

Law Land and w. to Sarah J Soper, 3 a., n. s. Hauppauge road, adj. land of Zephanniah Smith, Smithtown nom

Law Land and w. to Clarence L Land lot adj land of Sarah J Soper, Hauppauge.....nom

Naturalization of Law Land

Before 1922 the process for becoming a citizen of the United States could be carried out in a local, state, or federal court and involved three steps:

1. The immigrant filed a Statement of Intention to become a citizen. This could be done at any point after his arrival in the United States.
2. After a five-year minimum residency in the US, the immigrant filed a Petition of Naturalization.
3. At a court hearing, where a witness swore that he knew the applicant for at least five years, the request for citizenship was either granted or denied. If denied, the immigrant could sometimes refile.

Only adult males could apply. Wives and foreign-born children under 21 automatically became citizens with their husband and/or father.

Law Land's Citizenship Process as compared to the three steps listed above:

1. Law filed his Statement of Intention to become a citizen on January 10, 1899 in Jersey City, New Jersey in the Hudson County Common Pleas Court. This was only a few months before the Lands moved to Hauppauge where he is listed as a Naturalized citizen in the census in June 1900 (He was not a citizen). The Statement of Intentions contains minimal information. In addition to his name, it states that Law was 40 years old, born in England and came to the United States on February 17, 1892.
2. Even though he had filed his Statement of Intention in New Jersey, Law could have applied for citizenship in New York State after his move to Hauppauge. Law chose to apply for citizenship in Jersey City on September 23, 1901. At this time he stated that he was 43 years old, his occupation was a carpenter and his address was 213 14th Street, Hoboken (213 14th street is at 14th just west of Garden street.) . Even after he had taken the step of applying for his citizenship in New Jersey, Law could have reapplied in the New York State, if it was more convenient for him. He chose to continue the process in New Jersey.

3. Law was naturalized in Jersey City on January 17, 1902. His witness was John Graffe, of 405 East 52nd Street, NYC. There is no other information.

Notes:

• Who was John Graffe and why was he the witness to Law's naturalization? Graffe is not a name that appears in any other connection with Law Land. John Graffe's address was NYC. Why didn't Law use somebody who lived in Hoboken?
• In order for Clarence to become a citizen without filing his own petition, Law had to get his citizenship before Clarence turned 21. It would appear that Law got his naturalization just in time. Clarence turned 21 on the 25th of January, just 8 days after Law was naturalized.
• When Law arrived in Toronto, Canada he was immediately considered a Canadian citizen. Until 1947 all British subjects entering Canada were considered Canadians and did not have to apply for citizenship.

Who Spent Time in Hoboken After the Move to Long Island?

Clearly the whole family was not living on Long Island permanently after 1900. Law and Percy were definitely in Hoboken after 1900.

While Law did not move to Hoboken initially to rebuild the Hoboken piers (as Bud Land always said), it is highly likely that he returned to Hoboken to work on them.

The piers of the North German Lloyd Steamship Company in Hoboken, New Jersey burned on June 30, 1900. It was a tremendous fire. Not only did the piers burn, but also several ocean liners and many smaller boats caught fire. For more information on the fire see below.

According to articles in the Jersey Journal (available on microfilm at the Hoboken library) dated from November 1900 to May of 1901, construction on new piers was started almost immediately after the fire. In November 1900 the North German Lloyd lines decided to rebuild in Hoboken. Also in November of 1900 the Hamburg lines got a mortgage of $1,000,000 to rebuild their piers in Hoboken. Property was purchased from the Pennsylvania Railroads so the piers could be larger than the piers that had burned. Work began on the Hamburg-American line piers in April of 1901. The piers were rebuilt in steel. An aerial photograph taken in 1925, obtained at the Hoboken Library, shows a substantial super structure, which could involve a lot of woodwork.

The Erie Lackawanna Train Station was also build in Hoboken in the early 1900's. According to the plaque on the wall of the waiting room, the Hoboken Train terminal was built in 1906 and opened in 1907.

There was obviously a lot of carpentry work going on in Hoboken between 1900 and 1907.

According to Bud Land, Percy and Clarence apprenticed as cabinetmakers in Hoboken.

Were Elizabeth and the children living on the farm on Long Island while Law was working in Hoboken? Who else, if anyone, was living at 213 14th Street when Law applied for his citizenship in 1901? Clarence would have been 20 and Percy would have been 16 at the time.

The Lands most likely traveled back and forth between Hoboken and Smithtown on the trains. An 1889 map of Long Island show the same basic train tracks on the north and central Long Island lines as there are today. The Land house in Hauppauge was quite close to the train station in Central Islip on the central line.

Law and Elizabeth and the Methodist Church in Hauppauge

February 1910 - Mrs. Law Land led the Epworth Society in a devotional meeting - topic "How to Pray".

June 1911 - Hauppauge - Law Land led a devotional meeting of the Epworth League - the topic was "Truth That Enlightens and Purifies", - Proverbs ii.: 10-22.

Elizabeth Sykes Land on Long Island

According to Bud Land, Elizabeth Sykes Land was a member of the Hauppauge Ladies Aid Society and the Smithtown Gardening Club.

Her tombstone contains an American Legion Auxiliary marker.

Friday August 3, 1928, The Long Islander

Smithtown

The Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Church held their last meeting before the fall in the Parish Hall Thursday afternoon. After the regular business session a social hour was enjoyed which took the form of a birthday party in honor of Mrs. Law Land who is one to the society's oldest members.

Contact With the Law Land's Family in Philadelphia

1. Law's sister, Polly Wooler, visited Long Island in 1929

   "Mrs. Law Land entertained her sister-in-law from Philadelphia" (Long Islander July 12, 1929)

2. Polly (Mary) Wooler visited Long Island in 1934

   "Mrs. Mary Wooler of Philadelphia, Pa. has been a guest at the home of her nephew, Percy Land. Thursday afternoon Mrs. Norman Land was hostess at a bridge tea in Mrs. Wooler's honor." (Long Islander 1934)

3. Polly and two of her granddaughters visited Long Island in 1942

   Helen Land's Notes, 1983 on the visit of Polly Wooler in 1942

   Law's "sister, Polly (Mrs John Wooler) lived in Wessahicken (sic) Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia) died at age 73, September 21, 1944*. She and two granddaughters, Elizabeth and Barbara, visited in Smithtown in 1942." There are Photos from the 1942 visit.

   *Holly Wooler said that Polly died in December, 1951.

4. Percy worked in Philadelphia in 1917

   "Messers. Percy Land, Floyd Sanford and F. C. Courier have gone to Philadelphia where they have employment." (The Long Islander, Friday, November 30, 1917)

   One would assume that he made contact with his grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins while working in Philly.

   See Percy Land

Contact With the Elizabeth's Brothers in Canada

1. 1914

   On September 3, 1914 Elizabeth Sykes Land sent a post card addressed to Mr. Percy Land, Central Islip, L.I. entitled "College Street Baptist Church and Palmerston (edge is torn off the card) Toronto. The message reads,

   Best (I can't read the next word. It looks like "Loset", perhaps it is 'love to" ) all. Mother".

   The address was c/o Sykes, 20 Sully Crescent Toronto, Can.

   Sully Crescent is located on a current map of Toronto just south of College Street several blocks west of the University of Toronto.

   How did Elizabeth get to Toronto? Did Law go with her? Did she travel with anyone else?

2. 1917

   Friday, 2 November 1917

   Hauppauge

   "Mrs. Law Land and her daughter, Miss Edna, have gone to Canada to visit relatives."

   Friday, 23 November 1917

   Hauppauge

   "Mrs. Law Land and daughter, Miss Edna, have returned from a several week visit with relatives in Toronto, Canada."

3. 1924

   Elizabeth, Law, Percy, Meta, Arnold, Helen, Allen and Buddy all went to Toronto in 1924 by car to visit the Canadian Sykes families.

   A Trip To Canada, 1924

   *Bud Land always said they went to Canada in 1922 but the license plate on the car are 1924 and the trip was written up in the Long Islander of August 29, 1924.

   "Mr. and Mrs Percy Land and family, together with Mr. and Mrs. Law Land, are enjoying a motor trip to Toronto Canada, their former home."

   Note: This article in the Long Islander was not listed under a "Law Land" search; it came up under a "Percy Land" search.

4. 1930

   Friday May 9, 1930 The Long Islander

   Mrs Sarah Juergensen* returned to her home in Toronto, Canada, Saturday last, after spending some time as a guest of her cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Land.

   This was actually Sarah Wright "Jenkinson" the daughter of Mary Sykes and William Wright, born in Canada in 1867. Mary Sykes was Elizabeth Sykes's aunt, so Sarah Wright and Elizabeth Sykes were first cousins.

The Family of Law Land in Other Records on Long Island

Census Records

Law and Elizabeth and their children were listed in the 1900, 1910, 1920 Federal Censuses on Long Island. Their children were listed in the 1930 Federal Census. The Land families was also listed in the 1915 and 1925 State Censuses. See Lands in the Censuses on Long Island

1913 Telephone Directory

Law and Elizabeth Land were not listed with a phone number in the 1913 telephone directory for the area. Telephones on Long Island in 1913 were a luxury item. While there were over 60 telephones in Smithtown, there were only two in Hauppauge where the Lands lived in 1913.

There was no listing for Currier or Moseley. Ethel Land married Frank Currier and Addie Land married Edward Moseley. Moir, F.C., New York Ave., Smithtown was listed. Norman Land married Madeline Moir.

1928 Telephone Directory

In the 1928 Smithtown Telephone Directory the following Lands were listed:

• Courier, F.C. pntrs sup Smithtown Branch (Ethel Land)
• Land, Clarence L. Hauppauge
• Land, Elizabeth, Mrs. Linden Pl.
• Land, Norman H. Smithtown Branch
• Land, Percy A. Smithtown Branch

For some unknown reason the 1928 Directory only included names up to the letter P. The rest of the alphabet is missing.

An Interesting Situation

Addie Land married Edward Moseley. Her sister, Ether, married Frank Courier. Ed Moseley and Frank Courier were both house painters and were listed as such in the 1925 New York State census. I had thought that they probably worked together until I came across the following item in the Town Records for the town of Smithtown published in 1930.

In 1921

The following bids for painting the Town Hall were received, publicly opened, and read:

• Frank C. Courier $97.99

• Edw. C. Mosley $145.00

• G Everett Hand $225.00

• Saulman Dixson $240.00

After discussing the bids. Motion: That the bids for painting the Town Hall, owing to the variance of bids, be and the same are hereby rejected. Carried.

Motion: That the town Hall committee be empowered to take up the question of painting the Town Hall by day work or submit same for further bids. Carried.

Death of Law Land, 1926

Bud Land said that Law Land died of a heart attack while chopping wood in the back yard.

His death certificate lists the date of death as February 26, 1926 around 6 P.M., cause of death, acute cardiac, contributory, history of myocarditis, birth date, December 27, 1858, age, 67 years, 1 month and 27 days, occupation, carpenter, parents, John Land and Lydia Law. The information on his death certificate was supplied by Percy A. Land.

Law Land was buried in the Methodist Cemetery in Hauppauge on March 1, 1926. (Information from the death certificate of Law Land was taken from a copy in the possession of Anthony Land.)

LAW LAND

Law Land died suddenly, Friday February 26, of heart failure at the age of 67 years. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church Hauppauge Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock".

Mr. Land has resided in Hauppauge for many years and was very active --- work of the church. He is survived by four sons, and four daughters besides his widow. The sons are Clarence of Hauppauge: Percy, Joseph and Norman of Smithtown: the daughters are Mrs Edward "Mosley", Mrs Frank "Courrier", Mrs. Paul Wiedenkeller of this place and Mrs Peter Wiedenkeller of Governor's Island.

Long Islander, March 5, 1926

"Employees of the State Hospital were shocked on Friday on hearing of the death of Law Land, a carpenter in the Institution at his home in Smithtown."

Law left a hand written Will, dated May 31, 1910, which reads,

"Know all men by these present, that Law Land of Hauppauge, Suffolk County, New York, do make and publish this my last will and testament. I hereby give, devise and bequeath to my Beloved wife, Elizabeth Land, all my real and personal property. And appoint her as sole executrix of my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this thirty first day of May, in the year one thousand nine hundred and ten.

Law Land

Signed, sealed, publisher and declared by the said Law Land as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

Clarence Law Land

Percy A Land"

"Will of Law Land

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Land all my real and personal property and appoint her as sole executrix of this my last will and testament.

Dated May 31, 1910

Clarence Law Land

Percy A. Land"

There appears to have been a small problem with estate taxes and several forms were submitted regarding this question until it was settled in December 1929, when it was decided that Elizabeth did not owe taxes on the estate. In December of 1929, all the children of Elizabeth Land are listed as living in Smithtown Branch, with the exception of Edna who is listed in Honolulu. The estate files include one undated document and one dated document, which list the real properties of Law Land. The first document reads,

"Schedule "A"

Personal Belongings

Real Estate as follows:

All that certain tract of land, situated in the Village of Hauppauge, Township of Smithtown, County of Suffolk and Sate of New York, Bounded and described as follows_ vis. On the North by land of Henry Morris, on the West by land of Nelly McCrone, on the South by the road leading through Hauppauge and on the East by lands of Emma Blydenburgh and Sarah J. Soper. CONTAINING about 2 or 3 acres be the same more or less. 2500.00

ALSO all that certain piece or parcel of woodland, situate, lying and being at East Hauppauge, in the township of Islip, county of Suffolk and State of New York, bounded and described as follows:- North by Mary Smith, East by Hannie Lindster, South by Barberry, and West by Blydenburgh, Road. CONTAINING about 25 acres. 1250.00

House Burned to Ground 1928

Friday March 2, 1928, The Long Islander

"Last Friday morning shortly before ? o'clock the Smithtown Fire Department were summoned to the residence of Reginald Kiefer, at Hauppauge (the former Law Land home) where in some manner a gasoline stove was the cause of a bad fire. The house practically burned to the ground by the time the firemen arrived on the scene. Nothing was saved from the residence. The loss is estimated at about $9,000.

Elizabeth Sykes Land After The Death Of Law Land

According to Bud Land, after Law's death, Elizabeth bought a small house on Linden Place in Smithtown, between Maple and Elm Streets, were she lived until her death in 1930. He death certificate indicates that she move to Smithtown circa August 1926.

October 29, 1926 (Long Islander)

"Mrs. Law Land who recently sold her home at Hauppauge to Reginald Keffer has bought the residence of Alec Edgar."

Surprise Birthday parties were given for Elizabeth Land in August 1928 and August 1929.

February 15, 1929 the Long Islander

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Land, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Land and Mrs. Elizabeth Land recently motored to Washington, D. C. where they visited Mrs. Edna Weidenkeller at the Walter Reed Hospital

Mrs. Law Land of Linden Place had the misfortunate to fall from the porch of her home on Friday and break her wrist.

Smithtown

Mrs. Law Land has been confined to her Linden Place home by illness.

Death of Elizabeth Sykes Land, February 16, 1930

The Long Islander, February 21, 1930

"Mrs Elizabeth Land

Death claimed another older resident Monday when Mrs. Elizabeth Land passed away very suddenly at her home on Linden Place. Her husband, the late Law Land, passed away four years ago. She was 72 year of age and was a woman of fine Christian character, devoted to her church interests and her family. For several years she was president of the Ladies' Aid Society of the local Methodists Chruch and was also and active worker in the Ladies Bible Class, the W. C. T. U. and the American Legion Auxiliary of the James Ely Miller Post.

She is survived by eight children, also twenty-one grandchildren. Her children are Mrs Addie Mosely, Mrs Ethel Courier, Mrs. Ruth Wiedenkeller, Percy, Clarence, Joseph, and Norman Land all of this place and Mrs. Edna Wiedenkeller of Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii.

The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the Hauppauge Methodist Church"

Note:

• Elizabeth's mother was Sarah Walker not Sarah Wright. Wright was the married name of Elizabeth's aunt Mary who lived in Toronto. Sarah Wright was the name of one of Mary's daughters. Death certificate information is notoriously unreliable for birth information.
• If she was really in the US for 38 years it means she immigrated in 1892.

After the death of Elizabeth Land a family named Quade moved into the Linden Place house (August 22, 1930 The Long Islander)

Smithtown Branch Methodist Church

Friday November 6, 1931, The Long Islander

A special service to be held on Sunday evening at the Smithtown Branch Methodist Church when the illuminated cross given in memory of the late Mrs. Law Land will be dedicated. It is a gift of her son, Norman Land.

Hauppauge United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hauppauge, Long Island, New York

The following people are buried in the cemetery of the Hauppauge United Methodist Church in Hauppauge:

• Jean Avery Land, 1911-1998. Jean was the wife of P. Arnold Land
• P. Arnold Land 1908-1992, the son Percy Land and Meta Petermann
• Helen M. Land, 1910-2005, daughter of Percy Land and Meta Petermann
• Mary Ann E. Faircloth, 1945-1946. Mary Ann Faircloth (according to Ted Wiedenkeller) was the daughter of Elizabeth "Libby" Land Faircloth. Elizabeth was the daughter of Joseph Land and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Lorah. Joseph was the son of Law and Elizabeth.
• Frank Courier 1880-1945. Frank Courier was the husband of Elizabeth and Law's daughter, Ethel.
• Meta Land, 1886-1973. Meta Petermann Land was the wife of Percy Land, the son of Law and Elizabeth.
• Percy A. Land, 1885-1950, the son of Law and Elizabeth.
• Elizabeth Land 1858-1930. Elizabeth Land has an American Legion Auxiliary marker, "Elizabeth Land, died February 16, 1930, James Ely Miller #832, Smithtown, L.I."
• Law Land, 1858-1926. Law's head stone has a Masonic symbol on it.
• Clarence Land, 1881-1955, the son of Law and Elizabeth.

Social Events

May 1910 Miss Edna Land was the organist at an event at the Haupppauge Methodist Church.

The misses Edna M and Ruth Land have purchased a runabout - 15 May 1915.

Long Islander, April 20, 1917

"Hauppauge - Mrs Law Land and Miss Ruth Land spent the week-end with relatives in New York City"

"A reception was held Tuesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Law Land for their son, Joseph Land, who last week returned from a year's service as an American Red Cross driver in France. Norman Land and Harry Nichols, both recently discharged from the U. S. N. R. F. were also present besides fifty guests. Refreshments were served under the direction of the ladies of the M.E. church

"Miss Edna Land has gone to New York to pass the winter with her sister, Mrs. Paul Wiedenkeller."

Long Islander, June 25, 1920

"Mrs. Peter Wiedeneller, Mrs. Paul Wiedenkeller and small son and Messrs. Joseph and Norman Land of New York enjoyed the week-end at the parental home."

" Hauppauge - Mrs Law Land has returned from a visit to New York City."

Long Islander, April 13, 1928

Mrs. Paul Wiednekeller gave a large bridge party on Tuesday afternoon in honor of Mrs. Peter Wiedenkeller who returned on Saturday from Hawaii.

Elizabeth Land was elected President of the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Church, Hauppauge.

The 1929 Smithtown High Senior class trip to Washington included the Land grandchildren, May Moseley, Grace Courier, and Helen Land. The were joined by students from Riverhead, East Islip and Southhold. They stopped for a night in Philadelphia before preceding on to Washington where they stayed in the Hotel Hamilton.

"Smithtown, Mrs. Law Land is entertaining her sister-in-law from Philadelphia."

"Mrs. Mary Wooler of Philadelphia, Pa. has been a quest at the home of her nephew, Percy Land. Thursday afternoon Mrs. Norman Land was hostess at a bridge tea in Mrs. Wooler's honor"

Notes: I believe that Percy Land might have visited his aunt and grandmother when he was in Philadelphia in 1917. Mary (AKA Polly) Wooler returned to Long Island a few years later in 1942. Polly Land visited with her two granddaughters, Ruth and Barbara Wooler. There are pictures of them on a beach with my mother and several of her sisters. Helen Land made notes on this visit. See Law and and Elizabeth Sykes Land Photos

Long Islander, September 23, 19-- (year cut off, must be 34 based on the marriage of Grace Courier )

"A number of quests were entertained Friday evening at the home of Mrrs. Paul Wiedenkeller, the occasion being a surprise shower for Miss Grace Courier whose marriage to Burill Seaver will take place Easter Sunday."

Helen Land, the daughter of Percy Land, compiled some notes over the years on the children of Law and Elizabeth. To see a transcription of Helen's notes, click on her photo.

For more information about John Land, the father of Law Land, and his family in England, click on the photo of Law in the bowler hat

For more information abour George Stell sykes, the fahter of Elizabeth Sykes, and his family in England, click on the photo of Elizabeth in the lilac bush.

Lydia Law Land immigrated to the United States (with at least her four youngest children) circa 1882. For more information on Lydia and her children in Philadelphia, click on the photo of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

To see listings of Law and Elizabeth and their children in the United States Federal censuses, click on the photo of the Land cousins and their fathers.

To see photos of the Lands from the collection of Helen Land, click on the photo of Percy and Meta kissing.

Law Land and family were in Toronto, Canada from circa 1881 until circa 1892. To see pictures of Toronto, click on the picture of Queens' Park, Toronto.

Law Land and family lived in Detroit, Michigan from circa 1892 to at least March 1894. To view pictures of Detroit, click on the postcard of Cadillac Square.

Law Land and family lived in Jersey City, New Jersey from at least February 1898 until January 1899. To view some pictures of Jersey City, click on the postcard of the Public Library in Jersey City.

Law Land and family lived in Hoboken, New Jersey from at least January 1896 until no later than February 21, 1898. They moved to Long Island by 1900. However, Law and Percy returned to Hoboken at various intervals until at least 1908. To view pictures of Hoboken, click on the postcard of the River Street.

For a transcription of the New York Times stories on the Hoboken fire, click on the photo of the fire.

To see more information on the property Law Land owned on Long Island, click on the photo of Elizabeth and Meta.

For information of Elizabeth's brothers in Toronto, click on the the photo of Helen Land and a Sykes cousin in Toronto in 1922.

For more detail on the migration route of Law Land and Elizabeth Sykes, click on the photo of Percy as a young man.

To view photos of Smithtown, click on the picture of the Presbyterian Church in Smithtown.

To see pictures of Hauppauge, Long Island click on the image of the Methodist Church

For more information on the House of Israel go to House of Israel, Detroit, Michigan