trator of the estate of Charles (Juinby of the same place, dec'd, in-
testate; and Josiah Quinby "desires" the clerk not to record any
deed or writing pertaining to said estate. No date.
P. 370: Indenture between John Foster of Boston, Esq., and
Abigail his wife late the relict and widow of Thomas Kellond of
Boston, Merchant, and Samuel i'almer of Maniaroneck, January 13,
1701.
P. 375: Deed of gift from William Jones of Mile Stjuare to
daughter Katherine Jones, "after my decease," a certain part of his
movable estate, December 4, 1705.
P. 376: Deed of gift from William Jones of Mile Square to
"daughter Rossomon Joanes," same as above, December 4, 1705.
P- 377 'â– Joseph Hunt, Senr., to son Daniel Hunt, both of West-
chester, land in Ucstchcster. Aug. 27, 1703.
P. 381 : Nathaniel Kctcham of AVest Farms to John l^ggat of
the same place, * * the other three acres of sd meadow, tlie other
part of five acres which I have by virtue of my mother Bethiah
Ketcham's right as one of the co-heiresses of John Richardson dec'd.,
conveyed to me by my mother aforesaid." Aug. 18, 1705.
P. 382: Josiah Hunt. Senr., Alderman of the Burrough and
Town of Westchester, deetl of gift for land in Westchester to son
Thomas Hunt, Aug. i, 1702.
P. 383: Thomas Forgesson of Westchester and wife Mary to
Thomas Hunt of Long Neck, a small share of meadow, lying in the
West meadows of the town "which did formerly belong unto our
father, Thomas Farrington, deceased." Dec. 4, 1705.
P. 387: Richard Osliorne and w'ife Sarah, to Samuel Ferris,
both of Eastchester, land in Eastchester formerly belonging to father
David Osborn, dec'd., Sept. 17, 1705.
P. 392: Joseph Belts of Vonkcrs Patent to John Barrett of the
same place quit-claimed all right in a certain piece of meadow in sd
Patent, sold to "my unkell, Hopestill Belts" of the same place, Apr.
12, 1706.
P. 392 : L;md in New Rochelle sold, l)ounded by land of the
late John NoUeain, dec'd., Dec. 28, 1706.
P- 397- John Calpin of Rye, confirmed unto "Mary Galpin my
now \vife," all parcel! of estate of land "formerly" purchased by
John Morgan my wife's father and anciently the lands of John
Budd." ".^fler her decease to returne unto my two daughters Mary
Galpin and Ruth Galpin." Aug, 9. 1704.
P. 404: Samuel Hueslis and wife Elizabeth of Westchester for
£100 current money, to Beniamin Disbrow of Mamaroneck. several
parcels of land and home in Westchester. .Xug. 4, 1701. John Dis-
brow. of Mamaroneck assigned all right and interest "to this within
deed of qift" "unto my brother Benjamin Disbrow," Feb. 4. 1702-3.
P. 406: Edward Avory of Eastchester sold to Benjamin Disbrow
fnow] of W^cstchester, cordwainer, a certain piece of land which
Samuel Ferris bought of his father John Ferris. Senr., Dec. 8, 1703.
P. 408: Henry Budd, Senior, to John Wescot a tract of land
2 54 Westchester County, N. v.. Miscellanea. [July
lying on the neck called Hepawampis, in Fairfield Co., Conn., on the
Westchester Path, Jan. 27, 1679. "John Wescot, now living in
Rye," in the County of Fairfield, made over this deed to "Henry
Disbrow, now living on Fattens Neck," on Long Island, July 6,
1680.
P. 412: Thomas Hunt, Senr., of West Farms, deed of gift to
"loving grand sone, James Pugley," the issue of Matthew Pugley
and Mary his wife, my daughter" ; land on Long Neck. * * *
"for want of heirs to descend to his next brother." * "Committing
all the above mentioned granted premisis into the actual possession
of Matthew Pugley and Mary his wife, the father and mother"
* * * "until he comes of full age." Nov. 24, 1701.
P. 421 : Deed of gift from Henry Fowler, Senr., of Eastchester,
to son Moses Fowler, for land in Eastchester, Feb. 20, 1706.
P. 425 : Deed of gift from Andrew Naudin, Senr., to son-in-law
Zachariah Angevin, both of New Rochelle, land in New Rochelle,
Apr. 19, 1707. Zachariah Angevin and wife Mary deeded back the
same, May 12, 1707.
P. 428 : Garrett Travis of Rye, deed of gift to son James Travis
of the same place, "after my decease," all lands, etc., in Rye;provided
the other son Phillip Travis "do perform his part ii> the covenant."
May 12, 1707.
P. 430: Joseph Purdy, Senr., John Horton and Daniel Purdy
son of the aforesaid Joseph Purdy of the town of Rye, deeded to
Tamisen Williams, the widow of John Williams of "Madnans
Neck," in Queens Co., on the Island of Nassau, 300 acres of land
in the Patent granted John Clap and Company in Westchester Co.,
May 20, 1707.
The genealogical items contained in Liber C, which have been
given in former articles appearing in this publication, have been
omitted in the foregoing.
Liber D., Westchester Co. Land Records (First Half, Court
records).
P. 6: Hannah Tayne had a daughter, Hannah Brown.
P. 10: Court of Sessions and of ye Peace, June 6, 171 1. Tim-
othy Knapp, Junr., mentioned.
P. II : "John Brown and his wife, later miller and inhabitants of
ye town of New Rochelle are both dead, and have left behind them
3 children, yt is to say 2 boys and one girl, to wit, ye eldest Lydia,
Jacob & , & yt it is absolutely necessary yt ye sd children be
taken care of being yet very young." Mr. Francis Lecount of New
Rochelle offered to take ye girl and ye eldest boy, provided they be
bound to him until of age; and would deliver to them their portion
of such estate as the father died possessed of. "John Langman hath
ye care and custody of ye youngest child w'ch is about a year old"
and "ye Cort" ordered the said "John Langman and Hester his wife
to take ye sd child under yee care until ye age of 21."
P. 11: Jonathan Horton ordered to maintain his natural child,
whose mother was Elizabeth Paldingh. The sd Jonathan Horton
/
1920.) Westchester County, N. Y., Miscellanea. 255
appeared in Court and prayed that he be allowed to chose his guar-
dian which was granted, whereupon he did nominate Mr. Humphrey
Underhill.
P. 12: Deposition of Francis Purdy, constable of ye town of
Rye, aged about 35 years.
P. 14: Deposition of Michael! Jones aged about 25 years, who
was at the home of Mrs. Charlott Straing in Rye on Apr. 27, 171 1.
Depositions of Sarah Tcndall aged about 22 years, and Charlott
Straing, aged about 20 years, both of the town of Rye, June 6, 171 1 ;
Charlotte Straing being at the home of her mother, Mrs. Charlotte
Straing, widow, on the 8th of May, 171 1.
P. 17; Daniel Purdy, son of John Purdy, appointed constable
for Rye, Jtme 3, 1712.
P. 19: Special Court held at Westchester, May 5, 1712. Came
before us Underliill Barnes, a minor abt. 17 years of age, son and
heir of William Barnes of Westchester, Esq., deceased and Hannah
his wife w'ch sd. Hannah since ye death of sd William, married to
one Daniel Clark of Westchester, aforesd., gent., and ye said Han-
nah is also now lately dead, therefore ye sd. Underhill prays to be
admitted to his guardian and hath nominated and chosen ye sd Dan-
iel Clark his father-in-law and Joseph Budd of Rye, Esq., his uncle,
to be his guardian."
P. 19: "Nathan Bayly informs ye Court yt there are two or-
phants of James Murrey, whose mother being lately deceased &
desires yt ye care of ye sd. orphants may be given to him and their
estate delivered into his hands. John Hawkins who was married
to ye wife of ye sd Murrey doth likewise appear and desires }-t ye
children of sd Murrey w'th their estate may be left under his care in
respect yt he hath made considerable improvement on sd land ye
Court have taken into consideration what hath been offered by ye
parties before mentioned & do order & direct yt ye orphans of
James Murrey shall be put out & disposed of — their grandmother
Mrs. Mary Gilpin and Nathaniel Bably their unkel." The Justices
were directed to give them advise and assistance, and an account of
their real and personal estate and what the real estate could be
rented for, to be made at the next Court.
P. 26: Joseph Purdy, son ow Joseph Purdy a Juryman, 1713;
also Thomas Merritt, Jr. ; Timothy Knapp not called Junior.
P. 33: General Sessions of the Peace held at Westchester. Dec.
I, 1 7 13. "Came before us Jno. Quinby. a mmor about 19 years of
age, son and heir of Jno. Quinby, deceased and prays to be ad-
mitted his guardian, and hath nominated and chosen Thomas Baxter,
Junr."
Came before us Joseph Collier, son of Benjamin Collier, de-
ceased, a minor and pravs [etc.] * * * and hath chosen his
mother Elizabeth.
P. 36: Special Court held Apr. 13, 1714. Came before us
Thomas Jennings, son of Jno. Jennings, Junr., dec'd, and hath
chosen Joseph Hunt to be his guardian.
256 Westchester County, N. v.. Miscellanea. [July
P. 39: Court, June 2, 1714. Paulcharpus Nelson, constable
[Mamaroneck], being aged about 34 years, testified that he took for
his assistants, Jno. Horton, Daniel Horton and Joseph Horton the
son of Joseph Horton,* deceased.
P. 40: Abraham Collard appeared and chose John Baxter and
Daniel Clark to be his guardians.
P. 42 : Joseph Appelby, son of Joseph Appelby, dec'd., chose
John Bayly to be his guardian.
P. 45 : The widow Griffin and Katherine Knowlton made their
appearance at Court "also" Dec. 7, 1714.
P. 54: General Sessions of the Peace, the first Tuesday, Dec.
171 5. Thomas Pettit of Jamaica informed the Court that Thomas
Pettit late of New Rochelle, dec'd., being father to sd Thomas, hav-
ing left behind him 5 small children and a movable estate prays that
speedy care be taken of sd children and movables, the creatures be-
ing in danger for want of fodder. The Court ordered that the sd
Thomas Pettit take the sd children and movable estate under his
care and put out the children according to his discretion.
P. 58: William Fowler, son of William Fowler appointed Col-
lector of Rye, 17 1 6.
P. 64: Court held Nov. 2, 1716. "Came before us William
Betts a minor about 13 years of age, son of Samuel Betts late of
Yonkers, dec'd," and chose John Drake, Esq., and Daniel Clark,
both of the county of Westchester, to be his guardians.
P. 65 : Samuel Purdy, son of Joseph Purdy chosen a Grand
Juror, Dec. 1716.
P. 68: Court held Dec. 7, 1716. Elizabeth Shaw makes com-
plaint that a travelling woman came out of ye Jerseys called or
known by ye name of Mary- Empson who kept schools at several
places in Rye Parish and left a child 1 1 mos. old with ye said Eliza-
beth Shaw and she desires relief from ye parish for its maintenance.
Ordered that the Church Wardens, Vestry and Overseers of ye
Poor take care for the bringing up of the child.
Francis Purdy, Junr., says that at the request of his father
Francis Purdy, Senr., yt William Sniffiin, son of Samuel Sniffin,
dec'd who dying when ye sd Wm. Sniffin was but 2 yrs. old, upon his
death bed gave ye sd Wm. Sniffiin unto his grandfather Francis
Purdy, Senr., until he be 21 years. William Sniffiin now 14 years,
requested that he be bound out to a trade.
P. 69: Mr. Jonathan Haight of Rye informs the Court yt one
Thomas Right an orphan in the town has no place of abode, etc., and
the Court ordered Joseph Budd, Esq., and Jonathan Haight to bind
out sd Thomas Right to a good trade until he reach the age of 21.
* This seems a fitting place to note that Dr. William Becker Van Alstyne
has called attention to the fact that Joseph and Sophia "Jane" "Claes"had
two children bapt. in the Huguenot Church in New York, and not before
noted, viz: — Joseph, Aug. 6, 1694, and Sofie, June 11, 1699. (Collections of the
Huguenot Society, Vol. I, pp. 36 and 64.)
1920.] Weslchesler County, N.Y., Miscellanea. 257
P. 70: Court held Feb. 19, 17 16- 17. "Ordered yt Nathaniel
Taylor and Samuel Taylor is to be in equal charge of bringing up
and maintaining ye child w'ch was brought up by them from York
until such times as its parents Henry Swynney and Rose his wife or
either of tluiii appear to take care of sd child or until further or-
ders be given.
P. 72: Court held Feb. 19, 1716-17. "Thomas Rich, son of
Paletear Rich, being a I'allentinc," did appear and chose Noah Bar-
ton, Esq., to be his guardian.
P. "]"]: Court held March ly, 1717. Sarah Shute, daughter of
John Shute late of Eastchester dec'd., a minor, chose her father-in-
law, James Morgan to be her guardian.
P. 80: (ieneral Sessions of the Peace. June 4. 17 18. Court or-
ders yt ye poor infant now living with Henry Fowler, Senr., named
Robert Read is to be bound out to ye sd Henry Fowler as ye law
directs in yt case.
P. 82: Special Court of Sessions, Nov. i, 1718. "Then came
before us John Hunt, a minor, about 19 years of age, and son of
John Hunt, Esq., of Westchester dec'd." and chose Jno. Oakley,
Eiq., to be his guardian.
P. 76: Josc]>h Horton. son of Benjamin Horton of Rye chosen
Assessor, June 2, 17 19.
P. 91 : Special Court of Sessions, Dec. 3, 1719. Joseph Gee, a
minor, about 14, son of Joseph Gee, dec'd of Eastchester, chose
Isaac Lawrance, Junr., to be his guardian. Moses Gee, about 11,
son of Joseph, dec'd chose John I^ncaster, his uncle, to be his
guardian. Edmund Ward, a minor, about 14 years, son of Edmund
Ward of Eastchester, dec'd, chose John Ward his uncle to be his
guardian.
P. 98: Special Court, Apr. 5, 1720. John Leggett, a minor,
aged about 18 years, and son and heir of John I^ggett of West
Farms, dec'd., prays that Nathaniel Underbill be admitted his guar-
dian in the room of Robert Edwards and Cecily Edwards. Josiah
Jennings, son of John Jeiming. dec'd., prays to have Thomas Jen-
nings admitted to be his guardian.
P. 99: William Fowler, son of Hen'y Fowler, Senr., appointed
Assessor in Rye. June 7, 1720.
P. 105: Court of Sessions. Dcbr. 6, 1720. Joshua Tompkins.
son of JohnTompkins, Junr., dec'd chose William White to be his
guardian.
V. 107: Court held Jan. 3. 1720-1. Then appeared Peter Cear
ami declared that his brnther Hcndrick Cear is not cai)aMe of mak-
ing bargains for himself for his own maintenance when he comes of
age, and that he may as formerly from his youth be put into trust
by this Court, etc.
P. 107: Special Court. Feb. 16. 1720-21. John (^kley, Esq..
Alderman of \Vesfchestcr being chosen by word of mouth by Sarah
Bird, widow of James Bird lately dec'd upon her death had to look
after her children and after their estate; ordered that he take care
258 Westchester County, N. Y., Miscellanea. [July
of ye sd estate until further orders. Feb. 17, appeared the person
of John Bird, a minor and chose John Oakley of Westchester to be
his guardian.
P. 119: Court held Dec. 6, 1721. William Betts a minor, son of
Samuel Betts of Yonkers, late dec'd chose Roger Barton of Yonkers,
yeoman, to be his guardian. Also ordered that sd Roger Barton
repay Mrs. Daniel Clark what money he has dispursed on account
of sd estate." ["me"?]. Daniel Clark, Clerk.
P. 127: Court held June 5, 1722. Elizabeth Connell com-
plained yt she was much abused by her son-in-law William Forgu-
son.
Ordered that Richard Curry, son of Richard Curry deceased of
Bedford, be bound unto Nathan Jones of Bedford until 21 ; Thomas
Curry to Edward Griffin ; John Curry to John Pell, son of Thomas
Pell, Esq. ; John Gardner to Peter Simons of New Rochelle to 24
years of age.
Westchester Co. Land Records, Liber D., second half of book.
P. 7: John Grifiin of Westchester to wife Sarah, deed of gift,
"during her widowhood and no longer," to house and lands in
Westchester and Eastchester, during life; if she remarry same to
pass into possession of only and well beloved son John Griffin. Feb.
15, 1705-6. Witnessed by Edward Griffin and John Pliggins.
P. 8: Indenture between Joseph Betts of Yonkers and Thomas
Baxter of Westchester, Alderman, for a certain sum "and other
good causes him more especially moving particularly for ye love
and affection which he beareth unto Abigail Baxter, daughter of ye
sd Thomas Baxter, which ye sd Joseph Betts by ye sufferance of
God do design to marry and take to wife ye sd Abigail Baxter,
* * * have sold to ye sd Thomas Baxter, one half of all my real
estate" * * * "which doth now or hereafter shall become due
unto me ye sd Joseph Betts by virtue of my father John Betts right
or my uncle Hope Betts, in a certain tract of land and meadow com-
monly called by the name of Lower Yonkers, which was purchased
betwixt William Betts and George Tippit," etc. "All my homestead
which did belong unto my Uncle Hope Betts," etc. Same for no
other use, that is to say to ye use benefit and behoofe of ye afore-
said Abigail Baxter, ye sd Thomas Baxter to hold sd lands for the
benefit of sd Abigail Baxter, Aug. 26, 1707.
P. 1 1 : Thomas Baxter, Senr., father of Abigail Betts, wife of
Joseph Betts of Yonkers. made over all right, title and interest and
all land conveyed now or hereafter belonging to sd Abigail Betts
and her heirs forever. May 14, 1708.
P. 14: Joseph Betts of Yonkers with wife Grace sold land
1706-7.
P. 21 : Thomas Baxter, Sr., and wife Rebecca of Westchester,
deed of gift to son John Baxter of Westchester, land next that of
Thomas Baxter, Sr., May 11. 1708.
( To be continued.)
I
1 920.] Comment i and Corrections, Hempstead' i Diary. 259
COMMENTS ON, AND CORRECTIONS OF, SOME
CURIOUS ERRORS, WHICH ARE TO BE FOUND
RECORDED IN THE INTRODUCTION TO
HEMPSTEAD'S DIARY.*
Contributed bv Charles D. Parkiiurst,
ColoDc). U. S. Army (retired) and Mfinb(*r of the Nrw London County (Cona.)
Historical Society.
Naturally one assumes that the Introduction to any book will be
in perfect harmon\' and accord with the contents of the said book;
and, in any statements made, the intro
authorit}', the same as the book itself, without question. Hence, in
the case about to be presented, it is a little curious to find such not
to be the case.
The first mistake is one that cannot be refuted by the book it-
self ; but is of such a nature as to call for comment.
The Introduction to the Hempstead Diary, page ix, has the fol-
lowing:
"From facts recently brought to light it is probable that Robert
Hempstead came from Hempstead, Long Island, rather than with
W'inthrop's men. So far as known all the Hempsteads in this coun-
try are descended from Robert Hempstead and his brother."
The writer has the following before him, sent him in 1895, by
a descendant of the Hempstead Family:
"Robert Hempstead, one of the first nine settlers of New Lon-
don, and in the earliest records of Hartford called Sir Robert, also
so called in Barbour's History of Connecticut, had the three chil-
dren Mary. Joshua. Hannah, of whom Mary was the first English
child born in the new settlement of New London.
He is supposed to have come from Hempstead, Essex Co., Eng-
land, with other English settlers, and to have first settled at Hemp-
stead, Long Island. But, finding that under Dutch control, came to
New London. The tradition is that "Robert Hempstead came to
New London by boat as a young unmarried man."
Now there is nothing "new" about this latter statement, which
is not given as "fact," but merely as supposition; the "facts" are
•Editor's Note: Hempstead's Diary, a most voluminous daily record of
events in New London, Conn, (in published form containing, including index
and excluding the introduction, 750 small type octavo pages) was kept by
Joshua-' Hempstead from Sept.. 171 1, to Nov., 1758, and is, outside of the
actual original town records of New London themselves, the best source of
corroborative evidence available for students of \e\v London family gene-
alog>- between the years which the diary covers. This article is in no way
intended to cast any reflection upon the value and accuracy of the diary
itself, but is written for the purpose of calling attention to, and correcting,
certain errors of statement regarding the ancestry and family of the author
of the diary, Joshua^ Hempstead, which errors are recorded in the Intro-
duction to this work. The introduction was WTitten in 1901.
2 6o Comnifnts and Corrections, Hempstead's Diary. [J^'y
that it is merely the revival of an old family "tradition," probably
brought about by the similarity of names, as they now appear, mak-
ing a supposition only.
When examined critically, however, this supposition, harmless
in itself, becomes very improbable. The Dutch, town of "Heem-
stede" (home-stead), now called "Hempstead," away down in the
western end of Long Island, would be one of the last places to at-
tract an}' English emigrants, as early as 1645. Later on, there ap-
parently was more or less of a struggle in that neighborhood between
the Dutch and the English, and finally the town was given the
English name of Hempstead, which name also means "home-stead."
The "Sir" Robert part of the old family tradition was exploded
long ago. As Miss Caulkins says : "It originated probably from
rude handwriting of the recorder, in which an unskilled reader
might easily mistake the title Mr. for that of Sir." If Robert
Hempstead had been a Knight, and entitled to use, or be called by,
the title of "Sir," he would probably have so stated in his will, which
he does not do.
Again I have before me a copy of a letter written in 1902, from
which I quote the following:
"Isaac Willey of Boston, Mass., married Joanna Luttin; upon
his death she married Richard Hempstead, a Justice of the Courts
on Long Island. At his death she makes a claim against the estate
for her children, stating that it should go to his children by his first
wife [Court Record]. There is some doubts as to the relationship
between Robert and Richard Hempstead ; it is conjectured that Rob-
ert was the son of Richard."
The writer has searched for many years for the origin of this
statement ; but so far without success. It has been suggested that
an error has been made in this case in reading the name of "Holm-
sted" or "Holmstead." the old way of writing the present name of
"Olmstead," as "Hempsted," or "Hempstead." For the old way of
writing "Holmsted," see Jltal Records of Norwich. Vol. I, where the
record reads, "John Holmsted dec'sd Aug. 2, 1686." Also see Man-
waring's Digest, Vol. I, p. 343, Will of Elizabeth Holmstead. where-
in she seems to spell the name both ways, "Holmstead," and "Olm-
stead."
So far as the writer can find, there is not the slightest trace of a
Richard Hempstead to be found, either as father, or brother, of
Robert Hempstead ; and the name "Richard" is not found among the
Hempstead family early descendants at all, as it would have been
likely to have been, had there been a father, or a brother Richard, of
Robert Hempstead.
We can, therefore, dismiss the statements in the Introduction,
as quoted as not borne out by any "facts," "recently brought to
light," or otherwise. Robert Hempstead received a grant of land
in New London among the very earliest given, showing him to have
been here among the very first settlers — and that is all we abso-
lutely know about it.
1920.] Comments and Corrections, Heinpslead's Diary. 26 1
Now come the errors that are of some moment, part of which
can be refuted by the very book for which the Introduction was
written.
On page x. Introduction, api)ears a genealogy of the immediate
families of Robert, Joshua, antl Joshua Hempstead 2d.
First. "Robert Hempstead marriid Joanna Willie."
Now did he? There is not the slightest shred of evidence that
his wife's name was Joanna Willie, or Willey. Miss Caulkins, in
her account of Robert Hempstead, p. 272, History of New London,
says nothing alxiut who his wife was, merely gives the names of his
three children Mary, Joshua, Hannali ; it is only on pat,'e 310, in
her sketch of tlie family of Isaac Willey, that she says 'â– infernctial
testimony leads us to enroll among the meml>ers of this family,
Joanna, wife of Robert Hempstead, and afterwards of Andrew
Lister."
Where the "inferential testimony" comes in does not appear. It
is by no means certain that her first name was even "Joanna ;" in
his will, Robert Ilemj)Stead gives her the name "Joane" — not neces-
sarily a two-syllable word, but ])ronounced as a one-syllable word,
the "oane" sotmding the same as "one," in "Cone."
Savage, who got the most of his New I^ndon data from Miss
Caulkin's Hislorv of New London, or from corresp)ondence with
her, fails to accept her "inferential testimony ;" and there is cer-
tainly nothing about it to warrant the bald, bare-faced, positive state-
ment as given in the Introduction, viz.: "Robert Hempstead married
Joanna Willie."
We come now to the greatest and most curious of all errors in
the lot.
"Joshua Holmstead married Elizabeth I^rrabee. He died 1687.
Children :
Elizabeth, d. an infant, two months old.
Elizabeth, b. Sept. 2. 1672; m. John Plumb, h. 1689; d. 1733.
Mary, b. Jan. — , 1674; m. Green Plumb, May 30, 1694.