AUGUST 30, 1879

MONTAUK STEPHEN TALKHOUSE DIED—THE WALKER

Born circa 1821, Stephen Taukus “Talkhouse” Pharaoh, as a child, was an indentured servant to an East Hampton family.  Released at age 21, he worked as a hunter, fisherman and whaler.  Some said he sailed to California in 1849 to look for gold.  During the Civil War, he served with the 129^th Connecticut (colored) Volunteers.  He may also have worked for P.T. Barnum.  He was said to have walked all over the South Fork and Long Island and was considered the last of the Montauk sachems of the Montaukett tribe.  He was said to be a descendant of Chief Wyandanch, who sold much of the eastern end of Long Island to Lion Gardiner.  Famous for his 25-50 mile daily round trip walks, he would charge 25 cents to carry a letter from Montauk, New York, to East Hampton and Sag Harbor.  Talkhouse was buried in a small Indian burial ground on in Montauk, New York.  

Sources:  Wikipedia “Stephen Taukus ‘Talkhouse’ Pharaoh,” Find a Grave.  Retrieved 6/18/2020,  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75843734/stephen-taukus-pharaoh
Photo:  Author unknown, pre-1879.  Public domain in the U.S.:  Pre-1/1/1925.  Public domain elsewhere:  In countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.