Benjamin J and Ellen Van Nostrand married in New York and raised their chil-dren in Brentwood. Their children, Martha born in 1852, Amy born in 1856, Eliza born born in 1862, Charley in 1867 and William in 1873. The Van Nostrands moved to Brentwood before 1870 when Brentwood was known as a resort area. This was after the town had changed its name from Modern Times to Brentwood. According to the 1870 Federal Census Benjamin J was born in New York around 1824 and his wife, Ellen was born in Ireland around 1831. Benjamin was a convert to Catholicism and worked in Brentwood as a pill cutter.

His son, Charles later became the station agent for the Long Island Rail Road. His home was located about two hundred yards west of the Brentwood Station where he taught the local Catholic children their catechism in his home. By 1895 Charles who was 28 at the time petitioned the Bishop to offer mass in Brentwood. Bishop McDonnell provided two curates, to say mass in a rented store next to the old post office on First Avenue. The first official mass was said on July 3, 1895 at the Quanahasset Hotel also located on First Avenue. Two of the boys who were trained by Charles were present at the mass and served as altar boys. Clarence Purick of Hicksville was one of Charles Van Nostrand’s nephews who served as an altar boy for the first mass. At one point Charles and Father Hannigan recommend that the Diocese purchase Pine Park where a religious center and school could be built. On February 21, 1896 Charles gave a tour of the property to Bishop McDonnell on a horse drawn sled .Later this property would be purchased by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. His grand nephews were Msgr. Elwood Purick and Msgr. Myron Purick, who became pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, Bay Shore in 1948.

Martha the oldest daughter married Robert A. Purick when she was 19 years old in 1870 and according to the 1880 Federal Census they lived in Brentwood for a period of time. The Purick family was originally from Germany. They settled in Brookhaven somewhere around 1870. The father, Augusta raised four sons and a daughter. Robert and Martha’s son Julius married Rose Seifert of Brooklyn in February of 1896. Charles Van Nostrand of Brentwood, and his brother William of Hicksville acted as ushers at their nephew’s wedding. The best man was Julius’s brother Benjamin who was still liv-ing in Brentwood at the time. Robert and Martha had two children, William C who was born in August 1886 and Clara A. Purick who was born in December 1877. By the 1900’s the Purricks had moved to Oyster Bay. By that time Benjamin had passed away and Ellen Van Nostrand was living with the Puricks. Four of her six children where liv-ing. By 1930 Charles is living with his niece Clara Purick Dempsey and her family the Demphseys in Hempstead. He is 63 and listed as head of the household. At the time he is single and working as a Court Attendant. Charles served in the military.

-M.Koferl, Local History Room Newsletter, January 2010