Samuel Schellinger

[8][9] Schellinger established a business in East Hampton, seeking large construction projects, such as windmills, houses, and barns.

In addition to his involvement in large construction projects, Schellinger also dedicated a portion of his time to the creation of furniture, small wooden objects,[10] and tools.

Windmills, with their intricate mechanics including sails, shafts, gears, and two rotating stone platters, gained popularity.

Interestingly, the timbers at the base of these windmills rest on large boulders rather than traditional foundations, allowing for easy mobility and repositioning.

[13][citation needed] A local clock maker named Nathanial Dominy IV made an intriguing discovery regarding the windmill.

Instead of relying solely on a long "tail pole" with a wheel at the end that had to be manually pushed along the ground to move the cap, a set of new gears inside the windmill allowed for a more efficient operation.

According to his apprentice, William Baker, Schellinger built windmills at Brooklyn and Block Island, also in New York; and Nantucket, Massachusetts.

[19][citation needed] The 1814 construction details of the windmill at Amagansett by Schellinger is unclear as to whether it had a tailpole to turn the cap.

[21] Most notable was the addition of a fantail, a mechanism that automatically adjusted the position of the mill's sails to face the wind.

[22][citation needed] Schellinger embarked on the construction of Captain Lester Beebe's windmill on September 5, 1820, and diligently worked for 119 days until its completion in January.

Throughout this project, Schellinger was supported by two apprentices, namely William Baker and Carl, who assisted him in various aspects of the construction process.

[22][citation needed] Additionally, another skilled carpenter, Pardon T. Tabor (1779-1842), played a significant role in the building of the windmill.

[23][citation needed] Although the construction of wind-powered gristmills declined in the region after 1820, the innovations introduced in the Beebe Windmill had a lasting impact.

The concepts pioneered by Schellinger were later adapted and applied to many existing mills in the area, enhancing their functionality and bringing them up to par with the latest advancements.