Biography:Isaac Homan
Isaac Homan
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| Given name: | Isaac |
| Middle name: | |
| Family name: | Homan |
| Place of birth: | Yaphank, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY |
| Place of death: | Bellport, Brookhaven, Suffolk, NY |
| Year of birth: | 1816 |
| Year of death: | 1901 |
| Profile: | Musician |
| Source of information: | |
Biographical notes
Isaac Homan was the son of Daniel and Clarissa Overton Homan, and was born at Yaphank, Long Island, not far from Bellport, the Atlantic seaside community where he spent his entire live. In 1841 he married Ann Maria Hedges (1820-1903), with whom he had three children, Herman (1844-191?), Ann Amelia (c. 1851-?) and Mary Emma (1859-193?). Homan was a shipbuilder and ship's captain, and constructed the last merchant vessel in Bellport in 1890, a 45-ton two-masted schooner named Emma E. Overton (note Overton was his wife's maiden name). Homan was also the owner and master of the ship from 1890-1895, when he relinquished it to William Overton, his son-in-law. He previously built several other vessles in his backyard, in the hollow near the corner of Pearl St. and Bellport Lane.
Homan was also a musically literate and accomplished musician. His large, handwritten manuscript collection [held by the Bellport Historical Society] contains a great many dance tunes popular in the mid-19th century, and an impressive number of cottilion sets. Reels, hornpipe, jigs and minstrel tunes were also collected by Homan. Many of the tunes are demand position playing on the violin and indicate Homan was a well-trained instrumentalist; his notation is that of a sophisticated amateur, but of high quality for an amateur fiddler. Finally, there is considerable evidence of part-playing in the manuscripts, indicating that Homan was a social musician and played not only for his own enjoyment but in musical ensembles for dance events and with other local musicians for pleasure.
His obituary notice in the Brooklyn Eagle (1901) reads:
Bellport, L. I., October 23- Isaac Homan died at his home on Bellport avenue yesterday of apoplexy, having been sick since last Friday from a stroke of paralysis. Mr. Homan was born in Middle Island and was in his 86th year. He leaves a widow and two children, Mrs. J. W. Overton of East Patchogue and H.B. Homan of Brooklyn. The funeral will be held on Thursday.