Halstead/Halsted Family History

The Genealogy of those with the Halstead, Halsted and related surnames or given names

HALSTEAD, Jonas * [Emigrant Progenitor] [1]

HALSTEAD, Jonas * [Emigrant Progenitor] [1][1, 2]

Male Bef 1611 - Abt 1683  (> 71 years)

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  • Name HALSTEAD, Jonas * [Emigrant Progenitor] [1] 
    Birth Bef 23 Feb 1610/11  Northowram, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    • Seversmith "Colonial Families...."p.1260 notes that Arthur S. Wardwell publish a study of the connections of Jonas Halstead and John Lum in The American Genealogist, Vol. XVIII (1942), pages 146 "...In September, 1940,a search of the unpublished registers of Halifax was instituted for connections of certain Long Island families. The registers after 1593 and up to 1636 were examined for the Halstead surname, and some very interesting information came to light. We are convinced that the parents of Jonas Halstead have been found, together with the record of baptisms of Jonas, his two brothers and a sister, and perhaps some half-brothers and a half-sister." "And Mr. Wardwell shows Jonas Halstead, baptised 23 February of 1611, is reasonably identified with the emigrant to the North American Colonies. Therefore, from records to be recited further, we say that Jonas Halstead was the son of Abraham Halstead m. Susan Whitley, dau of John Whitley and Agnes Maude."
      It appearing reasonably certain that Abraham and Susan [Whitley] Halstead were residing at Westercroft Manor in Northowram in 1612 at the time of Abraham's death, that one could also conclude that Jonas was born at this location also.
    • Seversmith 'Colonial Families....'p.1260 notes that Arthur S. Wardwell publish a study of the connections of Jonas Halstead and John Lum in The American Genealogist, Vol. XVIII (1942), pages 146 '...In September, 1940,a search of the unpublished registers of Halifax was instituted for connections of certain Long Island families. The registers after 1593 and up to 1636 were examined for the Halstead surname, and some very interesting information came to light. We are convinced that the parents of Jonas Halstead have been found, together with the record of baptisms of Jonas, his two brothers and a sister, and perhaps some half-brothers and a half-sister.' 'And Mr. Wardwell shows Jonas Halstead, baptized 23 February of 1611, is reasonably identified with the emigrant to the North American Colonies. Therefore, from records to be recited further, we say that Jonas Halstead was the son of Abraham Halstead m. Susan Whitley, daughter of John Whitley and Agnes Maude.'
      It appearing reasonably certain that Abraham and Susan [Whitley] Halstead were residing at Westercroft Manor in Northowram in 1612 at the time of Abraham's death that one could also conclude that Jonas was born at this location also.
    Baptism 23 Feb 1610/11  Halifax, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 8, 9
    • John Preston Halstead cites "Halifax Parish Reg, vol.2" for this item
    • John Preston Halstead cites 'Halifax Parish Reg, vol.2'
    Gender Male 
    Miscellaneous 7 Jan 1617/18  Northowram, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    mentioned in will of Richard Wood, clothier 
    • "The will of Richard Wood of Northowram, clothier, dated 7 January 1617/8, proved 3 May 1619, mentions Susan, Wife of John Lume, and Jerome, Joseph, and Jonas Halstead"
    Residence Abt 1637  Stratford, [CCT], Fairfield County, Colonial Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 11
    • "Jonas and Mrs. Halstead prob. settled at Stratford shortly after their m. at Weatherfield, and maybe at the same time frame as some of the party went to Saybrook." Wardwell

      From: Jshals127 To: mhalstead Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 01:50:55 EST
      ". In your letter of Oct 27th you stated that Jonas Halstead lived for a time in Stratford CT. I know that William Leon Halstead says this quoting Orcutt. I assume he means Orcutt's History of Stratford CT, 1886. This was the source I was going to check before writing you..
      You've saved me the trouble of checking out Orcutt. I presume he gave no clue as to his sources. It certainly is possible that Jonas stopped off for a while in Stratford, but without documentation we'll never know. Sometimes we genealogists just have to accept that.
      The question is: Where did Orcutt get it? Perhaps you know. I question it, because all of the people Jonas associated with in Hempstead, as far as we know, stopped off on Stamford, not Stratford, on their way from Wethersfield to Hempstead, so if Jonas was in this country before 1655, he probably went along with them. It would be great if we could find something to document his stay in Stratford (or anywhere else, for that matter, before 1655).
      "Orum" refers to North or Southowram, suburbs of Halifax. It was used, along with "Hal" to distinguish between the two Jonas Woods who came form those two places. You'll see that in Mattew Wood's article, where you'll also see a discussion of the name of Jonas's wife. "Butterfield" was only a theory of Wardwell's which Seversmith didn't buy. Unfortunately some others have taken it as gospel. ...John"
    Residence Abt 1637  Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Jonas and Mrs. Halstead prob. settled at Stratford shortly after their m. at Weatherfield, and maybe at the same time frame as some o fthe party went to Saybrook.' Wardwell

      From: Jshals127 To: mhalstead Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 01:50:55 EST
      '. In your letter of Oct 27th you stated that Jonas Halstead lived for a time in Stratford CT. I know that William Leon Halstead saysthis quoting Orcutt. I assume he means Orcutt's History of Stratford CT, 1886. This was the source I was going to check before writing you..
      You've saved me the trouble of checking out Orcutt. I presume he gave no clue as to his sources. It certainly is possible that Jonas stopped off for a while in Stratford, but without documentation we'll never know. Sometimes we genealogists just have to accept that.
      The question is: Where did Orcutt get it? Perhaps you know. I question it, because all of the people Jonas associated with in Hempstead, as far as we know, stopped off on Stamford, not Stratford, on their way from Wethersfield to Hempstead, so if Jonas was in this country before1655, he probably went along with them. It would be great if we could find something to document his stay in Stratford (or anywhere else, for that matter, before 1655).
      'Orum' refers to North or Southowram, suburbs of Halifax. It was used, along with 'Hal' to distinguish between the two Jonas Woods who came form those two places. You'll see that in Mattew Wood's article, where you'll also see a discussion of the name of Jonas's wife. 'Butterfield' was only a theory of Wardwell's which Seversmith didn't buy. Unfortunately some others have taken it as gospel. ...John'
    Residence 1644  Hempstead, Long Island, New Netherland Find all individuals with events at this location  [12, 13, 14
    • one of original 50 proprietors Hempstead

      "The permanent occupation of the plains at Hempstead, in central Long Island, was made in 1644 by a group of men and their families from Stamford, Connecticut"

      From: Diane Cukro To: Halstead Group 10 Nov 2000
      "Records of the Towns of North and South Hempstead, Long Island, NY, (Long Island Farmer Print, Jamaica, NY 1896)."Vol. 1 p. 147 "16 Aprill Ano dom 1672" "John Eleson of Hempsted on Long Island in New Yorkshire do for me my heirs Ex and ...settover my right and titell and interest of my home lott lieing and being in ye Towne of Hempstead as a fforesd the Lott of land at ye first being given and Granted to john Buttres..."
      p. 163 "Aprill 30th 1665" "Know all men by this present whome It may Concarn that I arvn fforeman off ffLvching have and doo sett over att this present ffouer oxpaster gates in Est oxpaster and the home bevel thatwase fformarly John Lomes Ling on the north side of the tound which is in Lankth fforty five Rooeds in Lankth in brath aight Roodes and pesably to inioy him his airs and suckcesers from mee my aires and suckcesers for ever as wittnes my hand the daye and yeare a bove written In the 17th yeare of his mgestyes Raine Charlls th 2d by the grase of god king of ingLand, ScottLand ffrance and IerLand" signed Arvn Fformans - Witness Tho. Hickes, Clerk
      p. 279 17 May 1670 Aaron Forman of Jamaica sells to John Smith Junior of Hempstead 6 acres that was formerly John Lums.
      p. 90 "Feb ye 26th 1660" Thomas Southward granted a "peece of Hollowes lying behinde Timothy Holsteads homelot"
      p. 95 "10 Novo 1660" "Generall Towene Meting" Timothy Halstead one of the signers of the agreement for the grazing agreement for the calves of "Wallter Wall"
      p. 96 "List of Callves" May 1660 Temothy Hollstteade
      Joseph Hollstteade
      Robeartt Marvien
      John Smyth Rocke
      John Smyth Nanes
      p. 164 Jun 5th 1665
      Timothy Hollsted records "one hors Collared black adged 8 aers with a sleate in the of aere...branded with the Leater G"
      p. 177 "May 3 ANo 1665" "sold and delevared in the presents of John willumes by mee Robart marven woone hors culered black sLete in the of aere...Too timothy hoLsted of Hampstede"
      p. 178 "May 3 ANo 1665" "sold and delevared in the presents of John willumes by mee Timothy holsted to Robart marven wone mare CoLLered blacke with whit stare...
      p. 228 "HampsTeed: the 5th: of desumbarANo: 1666 at a mettin of the Cunstable and overssers thar was given and granted the yues of the Cow neck madow Two Thomas Rushmore hanary Parsell John Smith:r: Timothy hollsteed John Smith:n: for the tarme and time of fife years..."
      p. 258 "Hemstead the 11th of January AN 1668 at a Jenerall Toun meten a sartin alotmets of land layd out to Jeames pin and simon sering and John Smith nan and Temithi Holsted"
      p. 262 "Jun the 24 1669 at atoun meting there was leat unto Temothi Holsted the grac on the comman medow for this presunt somar...he is to pay 12s shilens in wheat and endian corn" p. 279 22 July 1671 An Exchange of a Parcel of Meadow Ground between Timothy Halstead and Thomas Ireland
      p. 280 22 July 1671 Timothy Halstead sells 6 acres to John Treadwell p. 281 22 July 1671 Timothy Halstead sells 6 acres to Samuel Embree"
      quoting Excerpts from a Newspaper article, "First Settllements", 23 April 1976, found by Claude Halstead at the Wyoming Co. Historical Society in Tunkhannock, PA. dealing with the family of Isaiah Halstead: "Jonas Halste[a]d, the immigrant from England who settled at Hempstead, L.I.,N.Y. in 1647", but the article loses allot of it's credibility with this writer when it continues..."Jonas' son Richard Halstead (born 1700) moved to Goshen (Orange County.,) NY, where he died." This question of credibility arises from the mis-statement of the relationship between Jonas and great grandson Richard as a father-son relationship.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
      From John Preston Halstead: "Gary,
      Many thanks for sending the Nassau County Histor. Jour. version of the Hempstead original proprietors list. I note that it lists William Herrick as no. 31. I have a copy of a handwritten letter from Art Wardwell to Herb Seversmith giving the same list with one exception. He states that "by study and deduction two of these names have been almost certainly discovered to be 29. William Lawrence and 30. Robert Ashman". This agrees with the Nassau journal list. Wardwell then adds "31. Jonas Halstead (probably)". This was written on March 27, 1949. I wonder what evidence the writer of the journal article found in the intervening eight years to substitute Herrick's name for Halstead's? I've not seen the article, but I'll try to get a copy. Wardwell, incidentally, adds a few clarifying notes to some of the names. He took the names directly from the Hempstead Town Records starting in Volume 8 at page 275. I copied his letter from the Seversmith Mss., Notebook #11 (LDS microfilm # 0569824).
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1538-1940 [shared by Elaine Halstead of MN]

      Halstead, Jonas Place : Long Island
      Year : 1644
      Primary Individual : Halstead, Jonas
      Source Code : 1262
      Source Name : COLKET, MEREDITH B., JR. Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe, 1607-1657. Cleveland: General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, 1975. 366p.
      Source Annotation : Date and place of settlement or date and place of arrival. Names not restricted to the Order of Founders and Patriots of America.
      Source Page # : 133
      Note: a specific date is not given beyond 1644, which we know Jonas had immigrated to Long Island, but this neither proves nor disproves the suppositions made by Art Wardwell that Jonas may have immigrated from England to New England along with Thomas Armitage and other families from Yorkshire, England, on a ship, the "James" of Bristol, which arrived on August 17, 1635. May 2008 G.A.H.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Residence 1644  Hempstead, Queens (Now Nassau) County Long Island, New Netherlands (Now New York), Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 15
    • one of original 50 proprietors Hempstead 'The permanent occupation of the plains at Hempstead, in central Long Island, was made in 1644 by a group of men and their families from Stamford, Connecticut'

      From: Diane Cukro To: Halstead Group 10 Nov 2000
      'Records of the Towns of North and South Hempstead, Long Island, NY,(Long Island Farmer Print, Jamaica, NY 1896).'Vol. 1 p. 147 '16 Aprill Ano dom 1672' 'John Eleson of Hempsted on Long Island in New Yorkshire do for me my heirs Ex and ...settover my right and titell and interestof my home lott lieing and being in ye Towne of Hempstead as a fforesdthe Lott of land at ye first being given and Granted to john Buttres...'
      p. 163 'Aprill 30th 1665' 'Know all men by this present whome It mayConcarn that I arvn fforeman off ffLvching have and doo sett over at tthis present ffouer ox paster gates in Est ox paster and the home bevelthatwase fformarly John Lomes Ling on the north side of the toundwhich is in Lankth fforty five Rooeds in Lankth in brath aight Roodesand pesably to inioy him his airs and suckcesers from mee my aires and suckcesers for ever as wittnes my hand the daye and yeare a bovewritten In the 17th yeare of his mgestyes Raine Charlls th 2d by thegrase of god king of ingLand, ScottLand ffrance and IerLand' signedArvn Fformans - Witness Tho. Hickes, Clerk
      p. 279 17 May 1670 Aaron Forman of Jamaica sells to John Smith Junior of Hempstead 6 acres that was formerly John Lums.
      p. 90 'Feb ye 26th 1660' Thomas Southward granted a 'peece of Hollowes lying behinde Timothy Holsteads homelot'
      p. 95 '10 Novo 1660' 'Generall Towene Meting' Timothy Halstead one ofthe signers of the agreement for the grazing agreement for the calvesof 'Wallter Wall'
      p. 96 'List of Callves' May 1660 Temothy Hollstteade
      Joseph Hollstteade
      Robeartt Marvien
      John Smyth Rocke
      John Smyth Nanes
      p. 164 Jun 5th 1665
      Timothy Hollsted records 'one hors Collared black adged 8 aers with asleate in the of aere...branded with the Leater G'
      p. 177 'May 3 ANo 1665' 'sold and delevared in the presents of Johnwillumes by mee Robart marven woone hors culered black sLete in the ofaere...Too timothy hoLsted of Hampstede'
      p. 178 'May 3 ANo 1665' 'sold and delevared in the presents of John willumes by mee Timothy holsted to Robart marven wone mare CoLLeredblacke with whit stare...
      p. 228 'HampsTeed: the 5th: of desumbarANo: 1666 at a mettin of the Cunstable and overssers thar was given and granted the yues of the Cowneck madow Two Thomas Rushmore hanary Parsell John Smith:r: Timothyhollsteed John Smith:n: for the tarme and time of fife years...'
      p. 258 'Hemstead the 11th of January AN 1668 at a Jenerall Toun metena sartin alotmets of land layd out to Jeames pin and simon sering andJohn Smith nan and Temithi Holsted'
      p. 262 'Jun the 24 1669 at atoun meting there was leat unto Temothi Holsted the grac on the comman medow for this presunt somar...he is topay 12s shilens in wheat and endian corn' p. 279 22 July 1671 AnExchange of a Parcel of Meadow Ground between Timothy Halstead and Thomas Ireland
      p. 280 22 July 1671 Timothy Halstead sells 6 acres to John Treadwell
      p. 281 22 July 1671 Timothy Halstead sells 6 acres to Samuel Embree'
      quoting Excerpts from a Newspaper article, 'First Settllements', 23 April 1976, found by Claude Halstead at the Wyoming Co. Historical Society in Tunkhannock, PA. dealing with the family of Isaiah Halstead: 'Jonas Halste<a>d, the immigrant from England who settled at Hempstead, L.I.,N.Y. in 1647', but the article loses allot of it's credibility with this writer when it continues...'Jonas' son Richard Halstead (born 1700) moved to Goshen (Orange County.,) NY, where he died.' This question of credibility arises from the misstatement of the relationship between Jonas and great grandson Richard as a father-son relationship.
    Occupation 1660  Oyster Bay Dutch Colony, New Netherland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    a carpenter; built and sold houses in Oyster Bay 
    Occupation 1660  Oyster Bay, Queens (Now Nassau) County Long Island, New Netherlands (Now New York), Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    A carpenter; built and sold houses in Oyster Bay 
    Residence 15 Sep 1661  Oyster Bay, Queens (Now Nassau) County Long Island, New Netherlands (Now New York), Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 15
    • 'Oyster Bay was settled soon after Hempstead and Jamaica about 1656.'
    Residence 16 Sep 1661  Oyster Bay Dutch Colony, New Netherland Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 13
    • "Oyster Bay was settled soon after Hempstead and Jamaica about 1656."
    Land sold 5 Oct 1661  Oyster Bay Dutch Colony, New Netherland Find all individuals with events at this location  [16
    land and housing 
    • Gary, Thanks for your reply. It’s a tough one to sort out. I feel like it’s right there and I’m missing the obvious.
      To assist you, I will send this peripheral data:
      Below is an early [1661] connection in Oyster Bay between Halstead and Townsend.
      "Oyster Bay, this 5th day of the 10th month, 1661. Be it known unto all by these presents, that I, Jonas Halstead, of Oyster Bay, on Long Island, in America, do hereby acknowledge that I have sold and delivered all my right, title, and interest of all the housing and land that is here named, as follows: - Richard Holbrook's house or houses, built by him or me, and house, lot, and the shares of meadow on the north side of the Town, and a share of meadow at Matinecock, and one right of meadow at the south, and twenty shares of the Great Plains, that is on the east side of the footpath, near the wood edge, and also all the rights, appurtenances, and privileges that do fall to, or any way belong to the aforesaid house lot, within the Town bounds. I say, I have sold and delivered it all in quiet possession, for full satisfaction already received, unto John Townsend, of the said Town and place, and do also hereby engage to make good the sale of the aforesaid house and lands, against any person or persons that may any wise lay claim thereto: and I do hereby further acknowledge that I have fully sold all the said houses and lands from me, my heirs and assigns, unto him, his heirs and assigns forever, to enjoy without molestation by me, or any from me, as witness my hand, this day and year first above written. Jonas Halstead."

      The above John Townsend [d. 1668] m. Elizabeth [surname unknown]
      i James [d. 1698] m. 3Xs – 1st Delivered Pratt [4 children] 2nd Elizabeth Wright [5 children] Elizabeth is the d/o Peter Wright of Oyster Bay 3rd Jane Rudduck d/o Henry [1 child]
      ii George [d.1697] m. 2Xs – 1st Mary Hawxhurst d/o Christopher & ? Reddocke [sic Rudduck/Redock] one son George who m. Rosanna Coles 2nd Meribah Harcourt d/o Richard & Elizabeth Potter - George & Meribah had: Sarah, Richard & Samuel – this Samuel [1692-1746/47] m. Sarah Cooper [ ?-3/3/1750/51]. Samuel Townsend & Sarah Cooper had 6 children as follows: Samuel m. Meribah Alling, Daniel [d.s.p.], Phebe m. Job Weeks/Wicks, Sarah m. Daniel Underhill, Mercy m. Daniel Birdsall, Joseph m. Hannah Youngs. This Sarah Cooper is d/o Dr Robert Cooper & Mercy Halstead. So, you read the unfinished paper – In Search of Mercy Halstead by Phil Mason & me. Dr Robert Cooper is s/o Simon Cooper & Mery Tucker and the family is as follows: Robert m. Mercy Halstead, Joseph d. young, Mary m. Edward White, Simon m. Martha Prior d/o Matthew.
      iii Sarah
      iv Rose m. John Weeks/Wicks
      v Daniel
      vi Anne
      vii Elizabeth m. Gideon Wright ]of the same family as the above wife of her brother James]
      viii John m. Susanna Harcourt [I think this is a Mrs. Susanna Harcourt, widow of Daniel Harcourt]

      Look forward to your ideas about the ‘puzzle’.
      Diane

      -----Original Message-----
      From: garyah@juno.com [mailto:garyah@juno.com]
      Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 5:45 PM
      To: cukro@optonline.net
      Cc: qlerd@kornet.net; smithf@kscable.com
      Subject: Re: Mercy Halstead
      Diane:
      I Must confess I haven't - - - I have been out of town for the past three days, and had company the three days before then - so am again playing catchup. I'll try to accomplish this task in the next day or two and then get back to you. I am somewhat waiting for Ken's take on this as he is more involved with the allied families than I... Thanks for sharing with us. I have noted a difference in the dates between data Ken provides and what you show...but upon further review, I note that this is obviously due the Gregorian Calendar and have thus changed those which fell within the time frame, "before 1752", i.e. Samuel Townsend b. 1692 d. 2/28/1746/47, etc. Cousin Gary
    Election 8 Mar 1666  Oyster Bay, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 17
    constable 
    • Jonas served as town committeeman, town overseer, etc. in the various towns where he resided throughout his adult life.
    Event-Misc 8 Mar 1666  Oyster Bay, Queens County, New York, Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • now Nassau County; constable Type: Elected Jonas served as town committeeman, town overseer, etc. in the various towns where he resided throughout his adult life.
    Residence 30 May 1667  Staten Island, York County, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [18
    • "Jonas Halsted of Stratton Island, within the county of York in America. He may have lived on "Stratton Island" [Staten Island]..."
    Residence 30 May 1667  Staten Island, York County, New York, Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 19
    • 'Jonas Halsted of Stratton Island, within the county of York in America. He may have lived on 'Stratton Island' [Staten Island]...'
    Election 2 Apr 1681  Hempstead, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [20
    Overseer of Hempstead for one year beginning 
    Event-Misc 2 Apr 1681  Hempstead, Queens County, New York, Colonial Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Overseer of Hempstead for one year beginning Type: Elected
    Miscellaneous variances in spelling of Jonas' surname  [21, 22, 23, 24
    • p.16 "My Kin" - "Jonas' last name appears in various records as Halsted, Holsted, Hlastead I believe this is a typo and meant to be "Halstead", Halsteade, Hallstead none is the incontestable authentic one. I have spelled it as it appeared on the deeds." [Halsted] p.42 "The Story of the Halsteads of the United States" - "Jonas Halstede" was the form of the signature of the first of the line in New York State, but there are variations of this in some of the records such as 'Jonas Halstead', 'Jonas Halsted', and 'Jonah Hallstead', some of which he must either have written or been aware of without objection." "Most of his descendants used 'Halstead', but an Orange County, New York, branch, beginning with Thomas Hallstead [1723-1806], inserted and extra 'l', which some of his descendants have continued. In the New Jersey branch 'Halsted' was adopted early and has prevailed since. The first Halstead in Virginia spelled his name 'Holstead' and it appears in some records as 'Hollstead'. The first generations after him used 'Holstead', but still later ones adopted 'Halstead' almost universally." "The name is always pronounced by its bearers as if it were spelled 'Haulstead'."
      See also: notes "residence 1644" regarding "Town of North Hempstead original records " and the variances in spelling not only of surnames, but also in comparison to commonly accepted spelling of many of the words compared with todays spellings.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      e-mail from Ken Erd: Primarily a question for the Wardwell/Seversmith experts in our gang: Could Jonas Holdsworth or Hold wort be the same as our Jonas Halstead?

      Here is the citation that raised the question in my mind:

      "January the 28th. 1660. This writing witneseth that I thomas Hicks of Hempstead Juner have bargained with and sold unto Sarah Treadwell of Huntinton late wife of Edward Treadwell decesed my hous barne & orchard home Lot with all the priviledges Belonging there unto (viz) all meadowing hollows plain Lands and wood Land with fowre ox gats in the east oxe pasture with sd hous barne orchard home Lote and meadowing hollows & upland weare late William Smiths of Hempstead afore sd with all the rights Priviledges accomodations and appurtinances there unto belonging whether given to the said William Smith by the sd Town of Hempstead or other wise Purchhesed with his money, and also what privileges ye sd William Smith had in the north neck for gats for Young Cattle also twelve gats for pastrege at Rockaway all which sd hous barn orchard home Lot meadowing and hollows Plaine & Wood lands with all privileges and appurtinanses thereunto belonging exsepting a small parsell of meadow or Lotment being upon the necke commonly colled Hixes neck ye sd Sarah Treadwell or her assigns at or before ye tenth day of march nex enseuing the date here of
      In witness whereof I do here unto setto my hand the day and yeare above said
      In presents of John Seaman
      Jonas Holdsworth Thomas Hicks
      This a treu coppy taken out of the origenal and compared and entred by mee Tho Gilersleeve Clarke Know all men by these Presencs that I Henry Whelply do here by assign & make over this writing and all the purchase thereby granted unto Adam Mott of Hempstead for him his hairs and sucsesers forever to enjoy
      Witnes my hand this first day of November 1661. Stilo nova
      In presents of his
      Jonas Holdsworts Henry X Whelply
      John Smith mark
      And further more having a parsell of Lotment of meadow survayed up to mee by Thomas Hicks which lieth on ye Neck commonly Colled Mr. Hickes neck the which ye sd meadow was excepted in ye sd bill of saile I do here by make over ye sd Meadow to ye said Adam Morr and . . . further I do binds myself my hairs executors and administrators to deliver the said Adam Mott full free and quiat possession of the said Lands granted by this bill, of Saill within a month or two after the day of the date hearof and of the house barn at or before the sixtenth day of may next enseuing ye date here of all free from Rats this yeare whether demanded or not demanded except the sd meadow Lying upon Mr. Hickes neck and further I ye sd Henry Whelpley do acknowledge to have Recived of ye sd Adam Mott full payment and full satisfatction for all ye sd house and land spesified in the bill of saile.
      In Witnes wherof I do herunto setoo my hand this first day of November. 1661 Stilo Nova
      In presents of his
      John Smith Henry X Whelpley
      Jonas Holdsworth mark

      This is an interesting document in that it leads to some speculation. Why did Thomas Hicks refer to himself as "Juner"? His father's given name was John, so he was not a Junior in the sense of the use of that word today. Thomas Hicks, Jr., was not born until 1667, so he couldn't have been the principal of this document, and there was no other Thomas Hicks who could have authored this document or made this transaction. Another question is whether Jonas Holdsworth or Holdwort might have been Jonas Halstead. To date I have come across no reference to anyone else with that surname, and only one other reference to this Jonas Holdsworth. This reference occurs in the article "John Smith of Hempstead, New York Beginnings of the "Rock" Smith Family by Rosalie Fellow Bailey, as found on the FTM-CD Long Island Families 1600-1800s, Vol II, p 53. She wrote as follows:
      Hempstead's present-day expert, Arthur S. Wardwell has kindly sent for this article the names of Yorkshire men from Halifax and vicinity who were among the fifty original proprietors of Hempstead: Thomas Armitage [Bradford], John Lum and his half-brother Jonas Halstead, John Strickland, the five Woods (Edmond [Shelf], Jonas [Oram], Jonas [Halifax], Jeremiah, and Timothy), Robert Dean, and Stephen Hudson; among the later arrivals there were the Rev. Richard Denton and his three sons about 1656, Richard Brutnell, Jonas Holdsworth and Alexaner Knowles." Fondly, Ken
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Dear Ken,
      It's an interesting supposition that Jonas Holdsworth might be Jonas Halstead, but what limited evidence we have seems to be against it. The Bailey article mentions that Jonas Holdsworth came to Hempstead about 1656 with the Rev Richard Denton. We know that Jonas Halstead was in Hempstead in May 1655 when he sold some hogs to Jonas Wood, and the fact that he had hogs to sell would indicate that he had been in Hempstead at least a year. I doubt if he would have driven them to Hempstead from Stamford. Regards, John P. Halstead
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
      Thanks everyone,

      The reason I raised the question is that the data I sent out contained the first reference to that surname that I had come across. I have developed some degree of awareness that surnames are not necessarily what they seem to be in ancient records. Also, it is rare that a surname appearing in the early years at Hempstead would not be carried forward so that we would find any number of descendants bearing that same surname.

      However, in this case my suspicions were unfounded. Good old Ace (isn't it great that we've got an Ace up our sleeve?) came up with definitive information that clearly shows Holdsworth is a legitimate surname on its own and has nothing to do with the Halstead surname. My thanks to the many experts who responded to my query. Fondly, Ken
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
    Miscellaneous 3 Apr 1682  Hempstead, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [25
    legal agreement by Jonas Halstead and Richard Harker with Peter Stringham 
    Occupation Bef 1683  Hempstead, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    farmer, and dealer in land and cattle 
    _UID 0E4EE1BFFD70FE4DA25C5B4119A4B66F30E6 
    _UID 40E244DA7A474F60BECA5BDC02CE9D0BE7DE 
    Death Abt 1683  Hempstead, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 26, 27, 28
    • Jonas appears August first 1682 before the Towne Courte (sic) with Richard Harscer (sic) "of Oisterbay" in a suit between Izabel Holstead and Peter Stringham.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Seversmith ms, p. 1,259 "On 30 March 1677 he sold other property which he had had of Mr. Robert Cope, to Jonathan Mills. This last property at Jamaica included the home in which Halstead had been living, and upon conclusion of the sale he returned undoubtly to Hempstead, to be near his children."
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Good Morning Gary
      Following up on your query, I've gone back to my two primary sources, NYG&BS Record Jul 1989 pg 146 and Record Jan 2003 pg 27. The 1989 article by Matthew Wood mentions Jonas "as a resident of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Jamaica". Wood also quotes from Seversmith in that it appears that "he died in late part of 1683", but a location is not given. Seversmith says " he appears to have been a speculator in land"
      In the 2003 article by Mark Halstead, he states "records show him at Oyster Bay, 'Stratton' (Staten) Island, and Jamaica, but Hempstead seems to have been the place Jonas called home."
      Thus from the above information his exact death location does not appear to be known. I assumed Jamaica only because it is the last in the sequence of locations given by Wood.
      And by the way, I appreciate your query, as it is only through questions that information is examined and reaffirmed or modified.
      It appears likely from your Seversmith quotation that Jonas died in Hempstead. Although, Seversmith, Wood and Halstead, via their caveats, speculate on the death location but do not identify it.
      I hope that this is of some help. Have a nice day.
      I would appreciate any further information about the Halstead family that you have available for sharing. Bob Clarke, Cypress TX
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    • Jonas appears August first 1682 before the Towne Courte (sic) with Richard Harscer (sic) 'of Oisterbay' in a suit between Izabel Holstead and Peter Stringham.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Seversmith ms, p. 1,259 'On 30 March 1677 he sold other property which he had of Mr. Robert Cope, to Jonathan Mills. This last property at Jamaica included the home in which Halstead had been living, and upon conclusion of the sale he returned undoubtedly to Hempstead, to be near his children.'
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Good Morning Gary
      Following up on your query, I've gone back to my two primary sources, NYG&BS Record Jul 1989 pg 146 and Record Jan 2003 pg 27. The 1989 article by Matthew Wood mentions Jonas 'as a resident of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Jamaica'. Wood also quotes from Seversmith in that it appears that 'he died in late part of 1683', but a location is not given. Seversmith says ' he appears to have been a speculator in land'
      In the 2003 article by Mark Halstead, he states 'records show him at Oyster Bay, 'Stratton' (Staten) Island, and Jamaica, but Hempstead seems to have been the place Jonas called home.'
      Thus from the above information his exact death location does not appear to be known. I assumed Jamaica only because it is the last in the sequence of locations given by Wood.
      And by the way, I appreciate your query, as it is only through questions that information is examined and reaffirmed or modified.
      It appears likely from your Seversmith quotation that Jonas died in Hempstead. Although, Seversmith, Wood and Halstead, via their caveats, speculate on the death location but do not identify it.
      I hope that this is of some help. Have a nice day.
      I would appreciate any further information about the Halstead family that you have available for sharing. Bob Clarke, Cypress TX
    Person ID I407  Garys-Tree
    Last Modified 7 Feb 2024 

    Father HALSTEAD, Abraham * - 1st husband - [A] Sr.,   b. 5 Sep 1570, Lancashire or Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Nov 1612, Westercroft Manor, Northowram, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 42 years) 
    Mother WHITLEY, Susan,   b. (1 Feb 1572/3), Ovenden, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Jul 1626, Westercroft Manor, Northowram, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage 5 Sep 1596  Ovenden, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [29, 30
    • e-mail from John P. Halstead to Ben Halsted, 2 Sep 2000: "Dear Ben and Gary, The deed to Westercroft, which is in the Calderdale Library in Halifax, is dated 24 Feb.1614/15 and reads: "Admission of Susan Halstead and John Lane[i.e. Lome, or Lume] of Shelf, by surrender of John Boys[sic] of Halifax and Ann, his wife, to copyhold a messuage called Westercroft and closes in Northowram." It also states, I think it was in a preamble, that Westercroft was "now in the tenure and occupation of Susanna Halstead widow of Abraham Halstead deceased.". Here's what I make out of this. John Boyes was a friend of Abraham who in his will charged Boyes with the "education tuition and government" of his son Joseph. Looking at the deed of 1614/15, it appears that Boyes also held the manor which included Westercroft. It would seem reasonable that Susan continued to live in the home occupied by her and Abraham after the latter died. There would be no reason for her to buy a large house like Westercroft. Therefore, since she was in occupation of Westercroft in 1614/15, that's probably where she and Abraham lived. Abraham apparently held the copyhold of that messuage from his friend Boyes, and when he died the copyhold was transferred to Susan, and when she married Lum the copyhold was again transferred to the two of them, as stated in the deed. And the fact that Lum is called "of Shelf" seems to mean that he was living there before his marriage to Susan rather than in Northowram. The reference to "John Lum of Westercroft" which you mention, is easily explained by the fact that in those days (indeed, until quite recently in England) whenever a couple married, the husband assumed ownership of all the wife's property, and she thereafter had very little to say about it. In this case, I think it's unusual for both a husband and wife to be named in a deed, which is one more reason to believe that Susan was the owner of the Westercroft copyhold when she married Lum, so she was in a position to lay down some conditions. BTW, I don't find any reference to John Lum on my copy of p.1,262 in the Seversmith Ms. Are you sure that's the right page? Does the above answer your questions? Regards, John"
      Note: Children listed Seversmith Suppl.p.2,002
    Family ID F164  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family UNKNOWN, Sarah [or Susan] [see notes] *,   b. Abt Apr 1615, Ovenden, Halifax Parish, West Ridings, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1670, Hempstead, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 54 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1636  Wethersfield, Hartford County, Colonial Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36
    • "The name of Susan Butterfield as the wife of Jonas was suggested as a possibility by Mrs. Dorothy Vanderveer Steward of Longmeadow, Mass, in a letter written in January 1973. Frederick A. Virkus states on page 529, Vol.VII, of Bib Ref 41, [THE COMPENDIUM OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY, 6 volumes, 1924-1942. Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co. 1968] that the first name of Jonas' wife was probably 'Sarah' but the family name is not listed." - p. 17, ONE HALSTEAD FAMILY, John W. Harrold, Ph.D., 1975. Dr. Harrold continues on page 18, "It is not agreed among the various researchers of the Halstead family history either when or where the Jonas Halstead family arrived in America. Three writers present three different possibilities." "William Leon Halstead reported in 1934 that it is quite possible that Jonas Halstead first came to a new settlement named Stratford near present day Bridgeport in what was then part of Massachusetts but later became part of the state of Connecticut." However, he states that what members of the Jonas Halstead family, the time of his coming and by what means are unknown." "Arthur S. Wardwell wrote about 1942 that Jonas Halstead is said to have been an early settler of Stratford, Conn. and seemed to agree with what W.L.Halstead had written in 1934. ...Some time later, as a result of further research, Wardwell modified his previous statements and wrote that there was a possibility Jonas Halstead came to New England along with Thomas Armitage and other families from Yorkshire, England, on a ship, 'The James of Bristol", which arrived on August 17, 1635." In a August 7, 1999, letter, Genealogist Hester Halstead-Pier of New Haven, Connecticut, writes: "...we [she and genealogist Claude Halstead 1922-1991] came to the conclusion that Jonas Halstead married Sarah and not Susan Butterfield." John Preston Halstead IV shares a photocopy of a letter his cousin Arthur Wardwell wrote to "Herb" [ Herbert F. Seversmith] on 13 February 1956, which includes Seversmith's notation "No Proof HFS 2/15/56" Although partially conjectural, the text of that letter is included here..."Dear Herb: I have often tried to think out how Jonas Halstead had opportunity to pick out his wife after he landed in N.E. [New England] on August 17, 1635. He married in 1636 and in 1637 his eldest son Timothy was born. I searched the families of other passengers of the James of Bristol to no avail. Now it is different, I feel sure I know who the wife was, the daughter of Thomas Butterfield and his wife Susan Wood, born say April 1615 in Ovenden. Susan Wood was sister of Edmund Wood and she was born about 1589 and married Thomas Butterfield about 1612. The [their] son Samuel [Butterfield] was born in 1613 and his [Thomas Butterfield] will of 4 Sept 1614 was proved 3 Jul 1615. He stated in the will that his wife was with child. Aug 21, 1616 widow Susan married Matthew Mitchell of Ovenden and they removed to Southowram. Banks "Planters of the Commonwealth" p.134-5 show that Matthew and Susan Mitchell came on the James of Bristol with son Jonathan. [See section on Butterfields for information regarding the full family of Mitchells who immigrated on the James of Bristol] Regarding the given name of Jonas' spouse - - - Butterfield, Wardwell notes on page four of this letter that "What name was given to the Butterfield girl when she was born in 1615? Susan Wood [Butterfield-Mitchell] named a daughter by Matthew Mitchell Sarah in 1621. If she had a daughter Sarah Butterfield aged about 6 do you think she would have given Sarah as the name to the Mitchell child.[?]" "I am inclined to drop Sarah as the suggested name for the wife of Jonas Halstead. What do you think?" [On the other hand, Susan Butterfield-Mitchell named her 4th child Susan b. ca 1631 when Jonas' wife would have been about 12 years old, so who knows?]
      Matthew Wood cites [on p.146], "The name of the wife of Jonas Halstead was not known to the earlier genealogists. In "The Ancestry of Arthur Brewster Lawrence" [[Ms., 1984], Harry Macy advances the possibility that it was Sarah. He notes that when Thomas Carle, the son-in-law of Jonas Halstead, purchased a house and land in Hempstead on 27 February 1656, the witnesses signed "Sarah Hallsteade" and "The x Marck of Joseph Hallsteade" [HTR 1:435-6]. Since Thomas Carle married Sarah, daughter of Jonas Halstead, it had been supposed by the earlier authorities that she was the one who witnessed this deed. However, as Macy points out, Sarah [Halstead] Carle always signed with her mark. It seems possible therefore, that this "Sarah Hallsteade" was the wife of Jonas."
      From the notes of Quinten L. [Ken] Erd: "By 1642 Jonas was settled at Stamford, CT. Stamford was first settled in 1641 by 29 persons who left the Wethersfield Church. The first year, Stamford, was called, Rippowam, an Indian name."
    Children 
     1. HALSTEAD, Timothy * [2] [Halsted] Sr.,   b. 1637, New England Colonies Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 10 Mar 1703, Hempstead, Queens [now Nassau] County, Long Island, Colonial New York Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 66 years)
     2. HALSTEAD, Sarah [2],   b. Abt 1638, State of Connecticut, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1683 (Age ~ 46 years)
     3. HALSTEAD, Joseph [2] - 1st husband -,   b. 1642, Stratford, [CT], Fairfield County, Cconnecticut Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1679, Jamaica, Queens County, Long Island, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)
     4. HALSTEAD, Martha [2],   b. Abt 1644, Hempstead, Long Island, New Netherland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1710 (Age ~ 67 years)
    Family ID F22  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 7 Feb 2024 

  • Notes 
    • Notes contained in Ken Erd's e-mail to John P. Halstead 11 Feb 2000:"Atten: John P.
      I wanted to thank you for the insert you sent me, and I thought perhaps you would like to see how that fills out the notes in my file on Jonas Halstead.

      Ken
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------


      By 1642 Jonas was settled at Stamford, Ct. Stamford was first settled in 1641 by 29 persons who left the Weathersfield Church. The first year, Stamford, was called, Rippowam, an Indian name. Later Jonas lived at Hempstead, Jamaica, and Oyster Bay, New York. Jonas owned land, property, cattle and served at different times as constable and overseer (now a superintendent).
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      JONAS HALSTEAD born about 1610; m. about 1632; died about 1683. May have been from the West Riding of Yorkshire in North England. He may have settled first at Stamford Conn., later moving to Long Island, where his name appears on the earliest list of proprietors in the Hempstead town records. He was probably one of the fifty original proprietors of 1644. "All of the Halsteads living up and down the Hudson in 1790 were decedents of this Jonas." JONAS HALSTEAD removed to Oyster Bay about 1660, and in about 1667 to Jamaica (Long Island, New York). He served as Constable and Overseer at Oyster Bay and as Overseer at Jamaica. He owned property, land and cattle in the various communities in which he lived and was a highly respected citizen. He returned to Hemstead, L.I. and died there about 1683.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      JONAS HALSTEAD appears in the second book of Hempstead, Long Island, as a witness as of December 8, 1655. He was in Hempstead for some part of the preceding year, but probably not before 1647. About 1660 Jonas removed to Oyster Bay and shortly after to Jamaica, Long Island. He returned to Hempstead. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      JONNAH HALSTEAD, the first authentic ancestor found on record, settled at Hempstead, Long Island. The town records of that place show that he became the owner of "eight acres and sixty square rods of land lying at ye head of Cow Neck, part of a card of fifteen acres" which had belonged to Thomas Eleson, one of the original proprietors of Hempstead; in 1657 he is mentioned as having eight head of cattle turned onto the Neck; the date of his death is not found, nor his wife's name. Issue among others, a son. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      JONAS HALSTEAD was the immigrant ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Halstead family. He came to Hempstead when middle Long Island was a frontier. It is quite possible that he was first at Stamford, Connecticut, as the historian Orcutt says that Jonas Halstead was there early. The old Dutch and English colonial records and the first town records of Hemstead, Oyster Bay and Jamaica provide all the information that is to be found about Jonas and his family. It is believed that he was born about 1610, was married about 1632, that all his children were born by 1644, and that he died about 1683. Undoubtedly he came to America from England, but what members of his family he first brought there, at what time and by what means are unknown. It is probable that he was from the West Riding of Yorkshire, in the north of England, the same district from which the first Halsteads in New England probably came, and to whom he may have been related. No facts have as yet been found to connect him in relationship with any of the known English Halsteads or the other Halstead immigrants to America. The first book of records of Hempstead, covering the period from its English settlement until 1655, has been lost. The earliest record of Jonas Halstead is in the next, succeeding book, where his name appears as a witness to a land deed as of December 8, 1655. He was in Hempstead for some part of the preceding eleven years, but probably not earlier than 1647, when sixty-six citizens were given their portion of the common land holdings, in the list of which his name does not appear. Again, he was one of thirty-six citizens of Hempstead who, on July 4, 1656, addressed a joint letter to Governor Peter Stuyvesant on the subject of the town's taxes to the province. About 1660 Jonas removed to Oyster Bay and shortly thereafter to Jamaica. He is referred to in a deed dated May 30, 1667, as, "Jonas Halstead of Stratton Island, within the county of York in America." He may have lived on "Stratton Island"(Staten Island) for a short time, but in December of the same year he was a resident of Oyster Bay. He returned to Hempstead, but his name disappears from all records after 1682, from which fact it is supposed that he died there shortly thereafter, seventy or more years of age. There is no record left either of his will or the administration of his estate. In the town records of Oyster Bay, there is a deed executed by him on December 5, 1661 in which the property conveyed is described as:

      " ...Richard Houlbrooke house or houses built by him and me and house lot & two sheres of meadow on ye North Side of ye youne and one right of meadow at the South fours and twenty Ackers of ye great plains, it is on ye East side of ye foot path near ye woods edgg."
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      There is a record at Oyster Bay as of March 8, 1666:

      "These may Sertifie to all whome it may any ways conseren yt I, Jonas Halstead, Constable have made a Legall Seasure of ye two Shipps which do belong to Major Daniel Gotherson for an in behalfe of Matthew Pryer for a debt which is due him from said Getherson."
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      The town of Oyster Bay ordered on December 11, 1667:

      "...yt ye Constable and Overseer shall make a Levie on ye Towne for 6 pounds Which is dew Jonas Holstead for ye higher (hire) of ye forte Neck.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      At Jamaica, March 6, 1674: "At a toune Meeting Jonas Holsteade and John Foster were appointed to go to Mister Pek or any other minister that may be procured to come and live amongst us as our Minister.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      The town of Jamaica elected Jonas overseer on April 13, 1675:
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      "The Toune did make choice of Samuel Smith for Constable and Jonas Holstead overseer for ye year ensuing.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      Jonas Halstead and his son Timothy were overseers of the estate of Thomas Carle, the husband of Jonas' daughter Sarah. On May 1, 1676, Jonas made an agreement for the management of the Carle farm with James Bate, which read in part:

      "...I dwo Ingeage to provid fodder for the Catell and to loock after them in winter & to provid what firewood is nedfull for the house also I dwos Ingeage to keep the fence in Repairs...& the said Jonas Hallstead is to pay Jeames beat forte shillings a yeare during the term of three years... and the said Jeames beat is to have for his Pains a third part of what Corn and pumkins that is produced of the land & he is to provid a third part of the sed... & the said Jonas Hallstead is to provid & maintain six oxen for the term and cart and plow & all tacklin neseary...allso the widow's soens is to join the said Jeames for the carrying on of the worke & Jeames beat is to provid what bous and youchs is nedfull for the oxen & and the said Jonas Hallstead is to provid one hors for Jeames use...and he is to have his dyat washing and lodging..."
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      The remainder of the records show Jonas Halstead as one of the owners of both land and cattle in the several communities in which he lived; as the recorder of an earmark for cattle; as a member of town committees; as a juror, and as a citizen actively generally in village affairs. It would seem that he was successful, trustworthy and well respected. The identity of Jonas' wife, when and where she was born, and when they were married are not known. There are no records of her at Hemstead, Oyster Bay or Jamaica. Inasmuch as both her eldest daughter, and her son Timothy' eldest daughter were named Sarah, it is to be supposed that her name was Sarah also. The history and genealogical record of the first five generations of the Jonas Halstead branch of the family that follow, limited, except in a few instances, to those who were born as Halsteads, has been prepared in part from authentic information, but much of it is conjectural. No public records were kept in that period, as there are now, of births and deaths, and the marriage records are incomplete. In consequence, it is necessary to calculate many of the dates given on the basis of probability from the fragmentary data now obtainable. Some individuals of whom there is a definite record, but no proof of parentage, have been assigned to certain families in the same way. Subsequent exploration will probably result in some revision of the tabulation. The first date given is the year of birth, actual if known, and if not, it is a calculated one. The second date is the year of death, determined in the same ways, and if followed by an &, it is only the last year in which the individual is known to have been alive from having been mentioned in some will, land deed or like recorded document. When a date is omitted, there is no known means of even approximating it. Jonas Halstead had four known children, Timothy, Sarah, Joseph and Martha.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      Additional information was added to the Halstead files on 30 Aug 1999. This material is from the files of Elaine Holstead.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      Also from Elaine: By 1642 Jonas was settled at Stamford Ct. Stamford was first settled in 1641 by 29 persons who left the Weathersfield Church. The first year Stamford was called Rippowam, an old Indian name. Later, Jonas lived at Hempstead, Jamaica, and Oyster Bay, New York. Jonas owned land, property, cattle, and served at different times as constable and overseer ( now known as superintendent.)
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      The long civil war that existed in England, and English America, during the time of the Commonwealth, had wrought many changes in Hempstead. This English town located within the bounds of a Dutch colony, was a place of safety for the Staffordshire loyalists. Hence we find during the years 1643 to 1660 a marked increase therein of families whom the Staffordshire-Shropshire records disclose to be closely related. There was also quite a few of their Old Welsh neighbors and relatives who came to this comparatively peaceful town on the plains of Long Island. In England these men had, as we have seen, been taught that membership
      in the Episcopal Church was the outward sign of loyalty to the crown and many of them were sincerely attached to the Established Church of England. They were therefore restless under the ministrations, or rather want of ministrations of the Presbyterian Church, for at this time the Presbyterians had grown to be very lax in their church duties.
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      From E-mailed photocopy from John P. Halstead:
      "Jonas Halstead, baptized in Halifax parish 23 February 1611, was identified by Wardwell as the Jonas Halstead who settled in Hempstead, Long Island. Exactly when and how he came to the New World is unknown. His name does not appear with the Halsteads and Bairstows in Watertown, now with the Mitchell-Wood-Lum cluster in Wethersfield, Stamford or at the foundation of Hempstead in 1644. He appears to have only come to Hempstead at a late date; he first appears in the records there in December 1655. By this time the Mitchells were settled in Stamford; the children of Edmund Wood lived mostly in Southampton, and John Lum was also there; only Jeremiah Wood remained in Hempstead. It does not appear, Therefore,that Jonas Halstead was seeking to join them. Indeed, one would have to suppose that he did not share that same conservative Puritan orientation, since he moved to a town known for its libertine religious atmosphere. Hempstead in the 1650's was the haven for many dissidents who had been forced to leave New England .
      "During the next twenty years Jonas Halstead appears as a resident of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Jamaica. He is once listed as an inhabitant of 'Stratton Island.' Seversmith explains, 'he appears to have been a speculator in land.' He also writes, 'It is our opinion that he died in the late part of 1683.' (Colonial Families, p 1259).
      "The name of the wife of Jonas Halstead was not known to the earlier genealogists. In 'The Ancestry of Arthur Brewster Lawrence' (Ms. 1984) advances the possibility that it was Sarah. He notes that when Thomas Carle, the son-in-law of Jonas Halstead, purchased a house and land in Hempstead on 27 February 1656, the witnesses signed 'Sarah Hallsteade' and 'The X Marck of Joseph Hallsteade.' (HTR 1:435-6). Since Thomas Carle married Sarah, the daughter of Jonas Halstead, it had been supposed by the earlier authorities that she was the one who witnessed this deed. However, as Macy points out, Sarah (Halstead) Carle always signed with her mark. It seems possible, therefore, that this 'Sarah Hallsteade' was the wife of Jonas.
      "It is stated by Seversmith and others that Jonas Halstead was the father of Martha, wife of Jonathan Mills. In the same work, Harry Macy has shown that it is more likely she was the daughter of Timothy Wood. (see p. 9, supra).
      "Children:
      i. Timothy, b c.1636, d. Mar. 1705; of Hempstead, m. a daughter of Moyles and Ann (Pankhurst) Williams (Rec 11984)
      ii Sarah, b c.1638, m c1659, Capt Thomas Carle.
      iii Joseph, b. c1640, d 1679, of Jamaica, m c1669, Susannah Harcourt, who
      m (2) Peter Stringham (Rec 66:90)."
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      Appearing in the margins of the above document are some handwritten notes (possibly by John P. Halstead).
      Related to the note mentioning Michael Barstow, husband of Grace Halstead,
      is "in NE. 1636."
      Related to the note on Susan(na) is the notation, "in NE 1636"
      Along side the note mentioning John Lum in Hempstead is "not the son of John
      Lum who married Susan Whitley Halstead"
      Above a carat in the entry for daughter of Moyles and Ann Williams is the name
      "Hannah."
      There are two other marginal notes that are not readable..
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
      THE FIFTY ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS

      OF HEMPSTEAD
      1.Jermiah Wood
      2.Mr. Carman-SeeCarman Family History -Website
      3.Richard Gildersleve
      4.Mr Rainer
      5.Mr. Coe
      6.Mr. Tappen
      7.Mr. Ogden
      8.Mr. Stickling
      9.Mr. Fordum
      10.John Lawrence
      11.Jonas Wood Halefax
      12.William Washbourn
      13.John Seaman and
      14.Robert Dean
      15.John Roads
      16.Richard Ogden
      17.Stephen Hudson
      18.Thomas Irland-Ireland Family-website
      19.Richard Valentine
      20.William Thickstone
      21.Nicholas Tanner*
      22.Richard Willits
      23.John Cornis
      24.Edmond Wood
      25.Jonas Wood Orum
      26.John Smith Jun
      27.Thomas Armitage
      28.William Rogers
      29.--
      30.--
      31.--
      32.Simon Searing
      33.Timothy Wood
      34.John Smith Senior
      35.John Fooks
      36.Thomas Foster
      37.John Lum
      38.Christopher Foster
      39.Samuel Clark
      40.Robert Jackson
      41.Thomas Wilks
      42.Robert Williams
      43.Henry Pearsall
      44.Moyles Williams
      45.Daniel Whitehead
      46.Joseph Scot
      47.Henry Whitson- DEVOTED TO HENRY WHITSON- AND HIS DESCENDENTS
      48.William Thorne
      49.Thomas Shearman
      50.John Hews
      William Lawrence, Rober Ashman, and William Herrick are believed to be the missing three.
      The above taken from THE NASSAU COUNTRY HISTORICAL JOURNAL/A Quarterly Devoted to Nassau County Life and Letters./ Vol.XVIII/ Summer, 1957, /No.3
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------


      The name of Jonas Halstead does not appear in this list."
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
      e-mail from John Preston Halstead 24 Dec 2001
      "Gary,
      Many thanks for sending the Nassau County Histor. Jour. version of the Hempstead original proprietors list. I note that it lists William Herrick as no. 31. I have a copy of a handwritten letter from Art Wardwell to Herb Seversmith giving the same list with one exception. He states that "by study and deduction two of these names have been almost certainly discovered to be 29. William Lawrence and 30. Robert Ashman". This agrees with the Nassau journal list. Wardwell then adds "31. Jonas Halstead (probably)". This was written on March 27, 1949. I wonder what evidence the writer of the journal article found in the intervening eight years to substitute Herrick's name for Halstead's? I've not seen the article, but I'll try to get a copy. Wardwell, incidentally, adds a few clarifying notes to some of the names. He took the names directly from the Hempstead Town Records starting in Volume 8 at page 275. I copied his letter from the Seversmith Mss., Notebook #11 (LDS microfilm # 0569824). John "
    • Baptized in the parish church at North Owram Halifax, Yorkshire, England.
      He probably settled first at Stratford, Connecticut, later removing to Long Island, New York. He is thought to be one of the fifty original proprietors of Hempstead, New York, 1644.
      THE COMPENDIUM OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY, published 1942, by Frederick A. Virkus, Volume VII, page 529, states that Jonas's wife was probably Sarah and that they were married in England. However, since 1944, may researchers believe that his wife may have been Susan Butterfield, daughter of Thomas and Susan (Wood) Butterfield, and that they were married after his arrival in America.
      Most sources say his wife's name is unknown, but because Jonas's eldest daughter and his son Timothy's eldest daughter were both names Sarah it has been supposed her name was Sarah. One source has speculated that her given name may have been Butterfield.
      Jonas' name appears among the earliest list of proprietors in the Hempstead, Long Island, records. permanent occupation of the claims at Hempsted was made in 1644 by a group of men, most of whom were from Stanford, Conn. John Lum and Jonas Halsted were likely among them or followed soon after. The settlers had purchased the land from the Indians in December 1643, and were granted a patent by the province of New Netherlands, 16 November, 1644.
      It is known that Jonas Halsted was at Hempsted in 1655. About 1660, he went to Oyster Bay. He was a grantee there in 1657, when he is described as being of "Stratton" or "Staden" (Staten) Island. He served as a Constable to Jamaica, where he served as Overseer. He returned to Hempsted about 1680, and died there about 1683. He left no will.

      JONAS HALSTED born about 1610; m. about 1632; died about 1683. May have been from the West Riding of Yorkshire in North England. He may have settled first at Stratford, Conn., later moving to Long Island, where his name appears on the earliest list of proprietors in the Hempstead town records. He was probably one of the fifty original proprietors of 1644. "All of the Halsted’s living up and down the Hudson in 1790 were descendants of this JONAS." JONAS HALSTED removed to Oyster Bay about 1660, and in about 1667 to Jamaica. He served as Constable and Overseer at Oyster Bay and as Overseer at Jamaica. He owned property, land and cattle in the various communities in which he lived and was a highly respected citizen. He returned to Hempstead, Long Island and died there about 1683.

  • Sources 
    1. [S1415] Halstead-An Outline Descendants of Jonas Halstead.

    2. [S1043] Some Descendants of Jonas Halsted (Reliability: 3).
      page 1

    3. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p. 1,260 - see also Note

    4. [S320] "Hester Halstead Pier Ms 2000".
      p. 1 I.D.#1

    5. [S1043] Some Descendants of Jonas Halsted (Reliability: 3).
      pg 1

    6. [S1415] Halstead-An Outline Descendants of Jonas Halstead (Reliability: 3).
      pg. 1

    7. [S1284] Gedcom Gary A. Halstead, imported march 2008 (Reliability: 3).
      notes from GAH files

    8. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p.1260

    9. [S302] "English Origins of the Mitchell, Wood, Lum [No.3].
      p.145

    10. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p.1,257

    11. [S72] Arthur S. Wardwell ltr 13 Feb 1956.

    12. [S59] "Our Family of Halsteads" - Claude Halstead.
      p.3

    13. [S8] "The Story of The Halsteads In The United States".
      p.56

    14. [S321] "First Settllements" - Wyoming Co. Historical Soci.
      see note

    15. [S1430] The Story of the Halsteads (Reliability: 3).
      page 56

    16. [S66] e-mail.
      and report Diane Cuckro 9 Feb 2002

    17. [S43] "One Halstead Family" - Dr. John W. Harrold.
      p.21

    18. [S8] "The Story of The Halsteads In The United States".
      p.57

    19. [S1430] The Story of the Halsteads (Reliability: 3).
      page 57

    20. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p. 1,259

    21. [S50] "My Kin", Romayne Lockwood Halsted.
      p.16

    22. [S8] "The Story of The Halsteads In The United States".
      p.42 " 'Jonas Halsteade'..."

    23. [S461] "Genealogies of Long Island Families...".
      Vol.I, p. 473 "Dinah,..." - "Jonas Holstead" 1 Apr 1682

    24. [S461] "Genealogies of Long Island Families...".
      Vol.I, p. 473 "Dinah,..." - "Jonas Halsteade" 1 Aug 1682

    25. [S444] "Genealogy of the Descendants of John Bissell of.
      Vol.i p.473

    26. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p.1,258, para.3

    27. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p. 1,259 citing The Town Records of Jamaica, New York Vol I

    28. [S1043] Some Descendants of Jonas Halsted (Reliability: 3).
      pg. 1

    29. [S9] "Colonial Families of L.I., N.Y. & CT"..Seversmith.
      p.1,260 & Suppl.p.2,000 [#15,657]

    30. [S173] Halstead, John Preston IV.
      Halifax Parish Reg v.2 p.12

    31. [S39] Dorothy Vanderveer Steward.
      "Susan Butterfield"

    32. [S43] "One Halstead Family" - Dr. John W. Harrold.
      p.18

    33. [S72] Arthur S. Wardwell ltr 13 Feb 1956.
      speculates, date & place as shown

    34. [S302] "English Origins of the Mitchell, Wood, Lum [No.3].
      p.146 - see notes [Sarah Butterfield]

    35. [S46] Dwight Foquet Halstead, Akron, N.Y.
      gedcom "m. 12 Apr 1632 England"

    36. [S320] "Hester Halstead Pier Ms 2000".
      p. 1 I.D.#1 "Sarah - - - c1632"


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