Complied June 12, 2025 - Person Sheet
Complied June 12, 2025 - Person Sheet
Birth1608, Norfolk, England2311
MemoLikely Norwich
Residencepre 1645, Norwich, Norfolk, England2311 Age: 37
Immigrationpre 16452311 Age: 37
Memofirst records of Townsend in Flushing NY are in 1645
Residence1661, South Street, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York2311 Age: 53
Death1668, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York Age: 60
BurialFort Hill Cemetery, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York
EducationSolid - need parents, birth place
Spouses
Death24 Feb 1684, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York
BurialFort Hill Cemetery, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York2320
EducationSolid - see notes - need parents, birth place, death place
MotherElizabeth? Coles?
Notes for John Townsend
wifes will names his brothers Henry and Richard
SETTLED in Oyster Bay, between the middle of January and the 16th of Septe mber, 1661. As he was living in Jamaica at the first date, and his name be ing upon the Mill grant, he must have been admitted as a Townsman in Oyst er Bay before the last. There is an entry upon the Records, that he boug ht his house in South street in February, 1661, but the deed, in the posse ssion of J. C. Townsend, is dated October. It is as follows:
"Oyster Bay, this 5th day of the 10th month, 1661. Be it known unto a ll by these presents, that I, Jonas Halstead, of Oyster Bay, on Long Islan d, in America, do hereby acknowledge that I have sold and delivered a ll my right, title, and interest of all the housing and land that is he re named, as follows : - Richard Holbrook's house or houses, built by h im or me, and house lot, and two shares of meadow on the north side of t he Town, and a share of meadow at Matinecock, and one right of meadow at t he south, and twenty shares of the Great Plains, that is on the east si de of the footpath, near the wood edge, and also all the rights, appurtena nces, and privileges that do fall to, or any way belong to the aforesaid h ouse lot, within the Town bounds. I say, I have sold and delivered it a ll in quiet possession, for full satisfaction already received, unto Jo hn Townsend, of the said Town and place, and do also hereby engage to ma ke good the sale of the aforesaid house and lands, against any person or p ersons that may any wise lay claim thereto; and I do hereby further acknow ledge that I have fully sold all the said houses and lands from me, my hei rs and assigns, unto him, his heirs and assigns forever, to enjoy witho ut molestation by me, or any from me, as witness my hand, this day and ye ar first above written. JONAS HALSTEAD."
John Townsend must have been quite advanced in years when he settled in Oy ster Bay; having led a most active and laborious life since his emigratio n, he had made three different homes in the wilderness, if not four, befo re he found a final resting-place.
Townsend Memorial pages 84-85
Also see notes under wife Elizabeth.
As we have seen, after leaving this home, he, with others, settled Flushi ng in 1645, and Jamaica in 1656. At his age, and after such toils and priv ations as he had undergone, it is not surprising that he should have retir ed from all public concerns, and have left the burden of organizing and ma naging the new settlement to younger men, especially as he had two so ns of an age to take his place. The office of Overseer is the only o ne he is known to have held here. In 1663, he bought from Thomas Armita ge the homestead next south of his own, and his name frequently appea rs on the Records as a purchaser of property. His wife was Elizabeth Montg omery. He died in 1668, and was buried on his own place, probably the fir st person laid in the graveyard on Fort Hill.
Townsend Memorial, page 86-87
SETTLED in Oyster Bay, between the middle of January and the 16th of Septe mber, 1661. As he was living in Jamaica at the first date, and his name be ing upon the Mill grant, he must have been admitted as a Townsman in Oyst er Bay before the last. There is an entry upon the Records, that he boug ht his house in South street in February, 1661, but the deed, in the posse ssion of J. C. Townsend, is dated October. It is as follows:
"Oyster Bay, this 5th day of the 10th month, 1661. Be it known unto a ll by these presents, that I, Jonas Halstead, of Oyster Bay, on Long Islan d, in America, do hereby acknowledge that I have sold and delivered a ll my right, title, and interest of all the housing and land that is he re named, as follows : - Richard Holbrook's house or houses, built by h im or me, and house lot, and two shares of meadow on the north side of t he Town, and a share of meadow at Matinecock, and one right of meadow at t he south, and twenty shares of the Great Plains, that is on the east si de of the footpath, near the wood edge, and also all the rights, appurtena nces, and privileges that do fall to, or any way belong to the aforesaid h ouse lot, within the Town bounds. I say, I have sold and delivered it a ll in quiet possession, for full satisfaction already received, unto Jo hn Townsend, of the said Town and place, and do also hereby engage to ma ke good the sale of the aforesaid house and lands, against any person or p ersons that may any wise lay claim thereto; and I do hereby further acknow ledge that I have fully sold all the said houses and lands from me, my hei rs and assigns, unto him, his heirs and assigns forever, to enjoy witho ut molestation by me, or any from me, as witness my hand, this day and ye ar first above written. JONAS HALSTEAD."
John Townsend must have been quite advanced in years when he settled in Oy ster Bay; having led a most active and laborious life since his emigratio n, he had made three different homes in the wilderness, if not four, befo re he found a final resting-place.
Townsend Memorial pages 84-85
Also see notes under wife Elizabeth.
As we have seen, after leaving this home, he, with others, settled Flushi ng in 1645, and Jamaica in 1656. At his age, and after such toils and priv ations as he had undergone, it is not surprising that he should have retir ed from all public concerns, and have left the burden of organizing and ma naging the new settlement to younger men, especially as he had two so ns of an age to take his place. The office of Overseer is the only o ne he is known to have held here. In 1663, he bought from Thomas Armita ge the homestead next south of his own, and his name frequently appea rs on the Records as a purchaser of property. His wife was Elizabeth Montg omery. He died in 1668, and was buried on his own place, probably the fir st person laid in the graveyard on Fort Hill.
Townsend Memorial, page 86-87