by Sue Carbin

It’s a bit hard to describe Robert Lyman. He was a wanderer during the 1600’s, spotted everywhere. Many people thought he was a bit strange. And in truth he was a member of a prominent Northampton family and he was not poor. He had extensive land holdings in New Jersey and rode down to check them every so often. He also sold land and bought land. Robert is not mentioned much in the Lyman family history, most likely because he was thought to be “odd,” men of his station with a lineage back to England were not expected to be wanderers in the woods! However, Robert loved being outside in the woods and meadows. His favorite place was the “Long Division,” what most of Leeds was called way back then. After trips to check on his holdings he would return to his house lot on, what today is, Pomeroy Terrace, and soon head out with his dog and gun or fishing rod to the Long Division. He’d come up over his favorite hill (Robert’s Hill) and hunt or go down into the meadow and fish in the many little streams. He often wandered over into the Mineral Hills. On one of his adventures in the Mineral Hills he stumbled onto the Lead Mines, most likely his only claim to fame in Westhampton history.

In 1691 Robert sold his holdings in New Jersey and other places. When he returned he transfered all of his local property to his wife and eldest son. Court records indicate that Robert could no longer manage his affairs, but that didn’t stop him from wandering up into the Long Division. Its fascinating that these beautiful places in Leeds, Robert’s Hill, Robert’s Meadow, Robert’s Meadow Brook carry not the Lyman family name, but simply the wanderer’s first name, Robert. Robert Lyman died somewhere between 1691 and 1693. Still, after more than 320 years his name still graces some of the most beautiful areas in Leeds. Robert’s life ended while hunting in the place he loved best, Robert’s Hill.