Revolutionary War patriot Henry Scudder honored at gravesite ceremony
The commemoration coincided with Henry Scudder's 283rd birthday and drew local historians and a Scudder family descendant interested in preserving the region's Revolutionary War history.
The Northport Historical Society and the Town of Huntington honored Revolutionary War patriot and Northport native Henry Scudder on Wednesday with the unveiling of a historic marker and a wreath-laying ceremony at his gravesite in the Old Northport Burying Ground.
Scudder served as lieutenant in the Suffolk County Militia during the Revolutionary War. After he was taken prisoner by the British following the Battle of Long Island, Scudder was released and fled to Connecticut, where he later served as a spy and whaleboat raider. Scudder is also credited for a sketch of Fort Slongo that patriot forces used in planning a successful raid on the British-held fort in 1781.
The commemoration coincided with Scudder's 283rd birthday and drew local historians and a Scudder family descendant interested in preserving the region's Revolutionary War history.
“Anytime we have a chance to honor our past we should take it,” said Terry Reid, executive director of the Northport Historical Society. “It just helps people really feel connected to their roots especially here in Northport and East Northport where we have such a strong community and sense of our shared history.”
The new historical marker unveiled by the entrance of the cemetery is part of the Town of Huntington's Liberty250 initiative and was sponsored by the Laurel Group. There originally was a historical marker to Scudder at this same site, but it is believed that it was lost or stolen years ago.
Warren Scudder, of the Scudder History Association, said he appreciates the town and the historical society's efforts to preserve his ancestor's service to the country.
“The Northport Historical Society is key in preserving everything Scudder, because we were here, you know, in magnitude. We had a lot of people here,” Warren Scudder said.
Scudder's legacy remains visible in Huntington today. His name was given to the reproduction armed whaleboat "Henry Scudder," which the Town of Huntington built 50 years ago for the nation's Bicentennial celebration.
Earlier this summer, the town completed a pavilion at the Huntington Arsenal Museum, located at 425 Park Ave., to house the vessel. The exhibit marks the first time the whaleboat has been on public display in 15 years and is intended to help visitors learn about the role whaleboats played during the Revolutionary War.
Officials said the marker unveiling and wreath-laying ceremony were intended to recognize Scudder's contributions to the patriot cause and ensure that his story remains part of the community's historic legacy.
