The Halsey Family of Long Island

Thomas Halsey (1st Spouse) Elizabeth Wheeler

Birth: 2 JAN 1592/93 in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, ENG Death: 27 AUG 1678 in Southampton, Suffolk Co., NY
Immigration: AFT 22 APR 1638 Lynn, Essex Co., MA

"This family is descended from the Halseys of Great Gaddesden in Hertfordshire, England. The first mention of this family by Cussan, in his history of England, was of a Richard Halsey of Great Gaddesden in 1458. In 1559, when the parish registers commence, there are four families of this name in that place: Halsey of the Parsonage; Halsey of the Wood; Halsey of Northend and Halsey of the Lane. John Halsey of the Parsonage was living in 1512."

Thomas Halsey acquired 100 acres in Lynn, MA in 1638. He was a resident of Lynn during 1639 and most of 1640. A number of the colonists of Lynn had resolved to leave and to settle in another place and on 10 March 1639, Edward Howell with others contracted for transport to the future Southampton, Long Island. Thomas was not, at the beginning, one of the adventurers in this project; but upon acceptance by the rest of the party and contribution of eighty pounds, he was included as one of them. The final agreement to settle Southampton was dated at Lynn, 17 April 1640, and the colonists arrived 13 Dec. 1640. The settlers gave the local Indians 16 coats and 60 bushels of corn for the land.
Thomas was a Marshall of Southampton in 1646. He was chosen as Townsman of Southampton from 1650 to 1659, chosen as committee member to partition town meadows on 5 November 1652, chosen as squadron member to dispose of beached whales in 1653, chosen a committee member to establish town boundaries between Southampton and Easthampton in May 1661. He served as Deputy to the General Court on 25 April 1664 in Hartford, CT.

Will proved: 8 JUL 1679 Southampton, Suffolk Co., NY
Sons Isaac and Thomas were confirmed as executors. Some sources show the will proved Mar 1679

"I Thomas Halsey, being in a right mind and sound judgment," leaves to wife, "one woollen wheel and one linnen wheel, my little Iron Pott, and a Yellow Rugg, and one white Dutch blanket, and 4 bushels of wheate to be paid yearly, as long as she liveth, and 4 sheep." Leaves to son Thomas, "my house and home lot, and the beach lot, and the Little Plain close, and the little close on the south side of Mr. Raynor's, commonly called Troublesome, and the close at the mill neck called Peter's close, and the lot I had in the last Division at Meacocks." Leaves to son Isaac, "my close at the head of the creek, and 5 acres adjoining, and 5 acres in the Great Plain in the ten acre lots, and 3 acres at the town pond, and 10 acres in the ox pasture, and the Gin lots, and 4 1/2 acres in the Little Plain, and 20 acres in the next Division, and he is to have his choice out of my 300 pounds of Commonage in lieu of the land at Sagapanack." "The remainder of all Divisions is to be divided equally between my sons Thomas and Daniel, and Hog neck to be divided also. Isaac is also to have the lot of meadow at Seponack on the north side, and one acre at Halsey's neck, and half the meadow on the south beach, the other half to my son Daniel." Leaves to son Daniel, "one lot of meadow at Seponack, and the eastermost two acres in the Little Plain, and the home lot I bought of Mr. Smith, my land at Quogue and North side, and Hog Neck, to be divided equally between my sons." Legacy to daughter Elizabeth, wife of Richard Howell. Witnesses, Richard Barrett, John Else.

NOTE:
Some of this file and information was found on a Rootsweb file submitted by : Donna Mendelsohn.
Additional information was found on "TheTimeTraveler's Genealogy Page."