Last modified: 2005-02-19 by rick wyatt
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I found a letter regarding the Brookhaven town seal and flag in a file at the
Suffolk County Historical Society. It was written by David Overton, the Town
Historian. It is undated, but from the Town Supervisor's name on the letterhead
it was done sometime after 1981 and probably before 1992.
THE BROOKHAVEN TOWN SEAL
The Official Brookhaven Town Flag
The Town of Brookhaven seal and flag go hand in hand with each other. The
ancient seal, used by Town Trustees, placed in the center of a red or "cerise"
background fringed with gold became the official flag for the Town of Brookhaven
in the year 1955.
The use of the Town seal was originally authorized by a Town Patent issued
through Governor Thomas Dongan and dated December 27, 1686. Thomas Dongan, whose
titles included, Captain General, Governor in Chief, and Vice Admiral, served
under his Majesty, King James, the second. Dongan's territory included the
Province of New York. I quote from the Patent, commonly known as the 2nd Patent:
"The said trustees of the freeholders and commonality of the Town of Brookhaven
do, and may have, and use a common Seale."
The seal as we know it today, is different from the first seal which was used
until the mid 1700's. The first seal had no date, was oval in shape, and bore
the words: "Brookhaven" on the left side and "sigillum" (Latin for "seal") on
the right, crossed whaling harpoons, a whale lance, and the letter "D" in the