Huntington's "Historic Documents" on Display for First Time

By Niall Fitzgerald It was a series of "historic firsts" in Huntington, as Town Clerk Andrew Raia, Town Attorney Deborah Misir, and Town Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo hosted an exhibit of the "founding documents" of the Town - some dating back to 1653 - over 370 years ago. The hosts were themselves "historic firsts" for Huntington, as Deborah Misir is the first and only minority-woman Town Attorney on Long Island; and Andrew Raia is the son of the longest-serving Town Clerk of Huntington, his mother Jo-Ann Raia, after whom the historic archives of Huntington are now named. The historic documents displayed include the 1653 "Old First Purchase" - the Deed from "Rasaoton Sagamore of Matinnicoke" a chief of the Matinecock Native Indians and 23 other Matinecock leaders; to Richard Houlbrouk, Robart Williams and Daniell Whithead - all signed by their "marks" - and made on April 2, 1653. "These are priceless documents that chronicle our local and national history," stated Deborah Misir. " They have been locked away for centuries, and I want to thank our Town Clerk Andrew Raia and the Town Archivist Anonia Mattheou, for making them public." The documents were on display at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building for the month of May.