Notes |
- surname also spelled Symons
"THE SEAMAN FAMILY IN AMERICA AS DECENDED FROM CAPTAIN JOHN SEAMAN OFHEMSTEAD, LONG ISLAND. COMPILED BY MARY THOMAS SEAMAN. PUBLISHED 1928FIRST WIFE HAD FIVE CHILDREN.JOHN SEAMAN DIED EARLY 1695 ACCORDING TO BOOKLET.CAPTAIN JOHN SEAMAN, was born in Essex, England, between 1603 and 1610,came to America in 1630 with the Winthrop fleet of ten vessels, ninehundred immigrants, and died early in 1695 in Hempstead, Long Island. HisUnderhill and others were co-operating with Captain John Mason, John Winthrop and Sir Richard Saltoustall, in the efforts to effect settlements in New Hampshire and these colonizations efforts not being successful, we next find all ofthese, a little later on, in Connecticut and Long Island. adhering to the Church of England. Watertown, Massachusetts, which they left to escape the imposition of a tax, which the Massachusetts Bay Colony proposed to levy on all the settlers for the purpose of fortifying Newtown (now Cambridge). From Watertown they went to Weathersfield, Connecticut, where they stayed but a short time, having some dissensions concerning church matters. In 1636 John Seaman owned two acres of land at Wrights Island in Weathersfield. recorded: "John Seaman, one of the original purchasers of the town of Stamford, where he settled in 1641. It is supposed he moved from Weathersfield to Stamford." The settlers at New Haven who had no charter has purchased property in various places, among them being what is now called Stamford, Connecticut, and an arrangement was then made with thesediscontented settlers of Weathersfield and the settlement at New Haven,by which the Colony from Weathersfieldobtained right to settle Stamford, then called Rippowam. The list of these settlers included the name of John Seaman, the purchase price being on hundred bushels of corn, and John Seaman obtained six acres. Weathersfield, Connecticut, and thence in company with John Seaman whose ancestors were also burned atthe stake in England." Haven, Conn. At this period came the Pequod Indian War, and Captain John Mason was given chief command (as Major) of the Connecticut Troops. To John Seaman he gave command of one of the Companies and John Strickland (who later became his father-in-law) was lieutenant of John Seaman's company. Hence John Seaman's title of Captain. The histories of the day record "John Seaman, later of Hempstead, Long Island, bore arms with demi-seahorse for crest." Another record states that on October 6, 1646, Caleb Seaman was fined 10 shillings for not carrying arms, and on November 3, 1646, "Caleb Seaman desired his fine might be remitted for defect of arms, he going shortly for England. Upon his request it was remitted provided he goe for England." Connecticut) of the Hempstead compact of land, and in 1647 we find himsettled in Hempstead, Long Island, where hebecame one of the most prominent men for half a century "and had left such a host of descendants as to be remarkable, genealogically." coming from the eastern end of the island, had settled land adjoining what wassubsequently the easternboundary of the Hempstead Purchase, and had secured title to a tractcomprising more than twelve thousand acres, which, in 1685, under theDongan patent, became part of the town of Hempstead." recording a lifeof ceaseless activity in the establishment of his section of America. disclaimed his share of it."Governor Stuyvesant, December 11, 1653, John Seaman and William Washburnewere Representatives. December 21, 1656, John Seaman and RichardGildersleeve were nominated by Governor Stuyvesant. Hempstead for townsmen for the abovsaid yeare ffrancis Weeckes, richard brutnall, richard vallingtyne, robert bedille, Addam Mott. our selves to stand by and bare out with full power in all such actes and orders as shall conduce for ye good and benefit of this towne of hempsteed this present yeare giving oute of Land and receiving in the inhabitants onely excepted given under our hands this 16th of April 1657 Stylo Novo. R. Guildersleeve, John Seaman. testeJohn James." days later, July 25th, John Seaman was again sent to theGovernor by the town on errands of peace. March, 1658, John Seaman, andothers were sent by the town in concert with Chekanow, an Indianrepresentative of the Montauk Sachem and other Indians, to lay out bounds of the town to be known by marked trees, and to "continue forever." "Mr. Seaman was allowed 8 s. for two days travel in laying out the boundaries." In 1658 he had 20gates (lengths) of common fence to make, 30 cattle, 15 cows, 43 acres of meadow. for killing two wolves.For many years a bounty of 20 s to 25 s each was paid by the town ofHempstead for killing wolves." "This may sartyfi that the constable hathsatisfied for the woulfs two to two indians and one to Captain John Seaman twenty shilens for ech woulfe." In 1664 John Seaman was again appointed by the town on aCommission about the bounds, and was often subsequently employed in likeservice. New York, October 2. 1665, Captain John Seaman served on a Grand Jury at Hempstead in acharge of witchcraft, "but-let it be recorded to the credit of JohnSeaman-the accused was not convicted." In 1666 the Village of Jerusalem in the Town of Hempstead, was settled by Captain John Seaman and his six sons, to whom a special patent was granted by Governor Nichols, for a considerable tract ofland which had previously been purchased by them from the Meroke tribeof Indians. It is recorded that its location was pleasant and its population about 150. May 1669, Thomas Rushmore was ordered to give up to Captain John Seaman the colors he received from the Govenor. In 1668 and 1669 assessment upon land holders shows Captain John Seaman was one of the largest landowners, his payment being 4 pounds, 3 s., 4 p. From Land Papers Hicks, John Seaman, Richard Guildersleeve and others, freeholders of ye said town." he was sent by the town to New York to treat with the Govenor about the east bounds. August 1673, Schepen for Hempstead. May 14, 1674 appointed to hold Court with the Scout at Jamaica. the yeare 1674 Captain John Seamans was elected as chosen by the Ma Jer Vot to be a committee to keepe Cort with theScout at Jericho. Nathaniel Pearsall Clark." More About John Seaman:Will: August 05, 1694, proved March 20, 1695 (Source: Seaman, MaryThomas, The Seaman Family in America..., (1928).) Marriage Notes for JohnSeaman and Elizabeth Strickland:Captain John Seaman was twice married. He married first in 1644,Elizabeth Strickland, daughter of John and Jane Strickland ofCharlestown, Mass. John Strickland had come to America with the firstparty of "Bay Coherts" to Salem in 1629,took posession of Charlestown and vicinity in 1630, and was made Freemanin May, 1631. John Strickland and all his family except one son(Thwaite) came to Long Island after 1646, and were among the earlysettlers of note in that vicinity.John Seaman married second, 1655, Martha Moore, daughter of Thomas andMartha (Young) Moore, of Southhold, Long Island. She was born in England;baptized in Salem, MA., Oct. 21, 1639; died 1698). They had four sonsand seven daughters. MoreAbout Martha Moore: Baptism: October 21, 1639, Salem, MA (Source: Seaman,Mary Thomas, The Seaman Family in America..., (1928), 22.) MarriageNotes for John Seaman and Martha Moore: Captain John Seaman marriedsecond, 1655, Martha Moore,daughter of Thomas and Martha (Youngs) Moore, of Southhold, Long Island.She was born in England; baptized in Salem, MA., Oct. 21, 1639; died1698). They had four sons and seven daughters:[Seaman.GED]The Progenitor of the SEAMAN Family on Long Island:1. CAPTAIN JOHN SEAMAN, was born in Essex, England, between 1603 and1610, came to America in 1630 with the Winthrop fleet of ten vessels,nine hundred immigrants, and died early in 1695 in Hempstead, LongIsland. His will is dated August 5, 1694 and was proved March 20, 1695.In 1631 and 1632, John Seaman, Thomas Moore, William Cooper, JohnUnderhill and others were co-operating with Captain John Mason, JohnWinthrop and Sir Richard Saltoustall, in the efforts to effectsettlements in New Hampshire and these colonizations efforts not beingsuccessful, we next find all of these, a little later on, in Connecticutand Long Island.They were not Pilgrims, but were a Puritanic section still adheringto the Church of England.Captain John Seaman and others went from their first landing toWatertown, Massachusetts, which they left to escape the imposition of atax, which the Massachusetts Bay Colony proposed to levy on all thesettlers for the purpose of fortifying Newtown (now Cambridge). FromWatertown they went to Weathersfield, Connecticut, where they stayed buta short time, having some dissensions concerning church matters. In 1636John Seaman owned two acres of land at Wrights Island in Weathersfield.In the Catalogue of Puritanic settlers of Connecticut we find itrecorded: "John Seaman, one of the original purchasers of the town ofStamford, where he settled in 1641. It is supposed he moved fromWeathersfield to Stamford." The settlers at New Haven who had no charterhas purchased property in various places, among them being what is nowcalled Stamford, Connecticut, and an arrangement was then made with thesediscontented settlers of Weathersfield and the settlement at New Haven,by which the Colony from Weathersfield obtained right to settle Stamford,then called Rippowam. The list of these settlers included the name ofJohn Seaman, the purchase price being on hundred bushels of corn, andJohn Seaman obtained six acres."From Roxbury, Massachusetts, he (John Carman) went toWeathersfield, Connecticut, and thence in company with John Seaman whoseancestors were also burned at the stake in England."John Seaman owned land in Salem, Mass., in 1643.In 1646 John Seaman and his brother Caleb are recorded in New Haven,Conn. At this period came the Pequod Indian War, and Captain John Masonwas given chief command (as Major) of the Connecticut Troops. To JohnSeaman he gave command of one of the Companies and John Strickland (wholater became his father-in-law) was lieutenant of John Seaman's company.Hence John Seaman's title of Captain. The histories of the day record"John Seaman, later of Hempstead, Long Island, bore arms withdemi-seahorse for crest." Another record states that on October 6, 1646,Caleb Seaman was fined 10 shillings for not carrying arms, and onNovember 3, 1646, "Caleb Seaman desired his fine might be remitted fordefect of arms, he going shortly for England. Upon his request it wasremitted provided
Captain John Seaman married second, 1655, Martha Moore, daughter ofThomas and Martha (Youngs) Moore, of Southhold, Long Island. She wasborn in England; baptized in Salem, MA., Oct. 21, 1639; died 1698). Theyhad four sons and seven daughters:[Seaman.GED]
WILL dated August 5, 1694 and proved March 20, 1695In the name of God, Amen. I, John Seaman the elder, of Hempstead, inQueens County, upon Long Island, alias Nassau, being weake and infirm inbody, and knowing that it appertaineth to every man to set in order allworldly concerns, so yt after decease no suite, trouble, or calamity mayensue. And being well advised with the great and weighty work I am nowabout, do make and declare this my last will and testament. I leave to myoldest son John a certain lot of 22 acres, of which he is now inpossession, and where he now lives; also another lot of 20 acres ofmeadow upon the neck called the Great Neck, being eastward and within thebounds of said town of Hempstead. I leave to my 5 sons Jonathan,Benjamin, Solomon, Thomas and Samuel, 400 acres of land according to aPatent, granted by Governor Richard Nicolls, lying at a place commonlyknown and called by the name of Jerusalem, within the bounds ofHempstead, to be equally divided between them. Also a certain neck ofmeadow lying eastward from said town of Hempstead called in ye Indiantongue Ruskatux Neck. Bounded east by the Oyster Bay line, and uponHempstead west, and to be equally divided. I leave to my 3 sons, John,Nathaniel, and Richard, the remainder of my meadow, whereof one half isalready confirmed to my son in law, Nathaniel Pearsall, with four or fiveacres of upland for his convenience of yardidge, for wintering hiscattle. Which said meadow is situate upon a neck called by the name ofthe Half Neck, or in the Indian tongue Muskachim. I leave to my eightsons, John, Jonathan, Benjamin, Solomon, Thomas, Samuel, Nathaniel andRichard, all the upland lying and situate upon Ruskatux Neck, as alsoupon the neck called Half Neck, except the four or five acres confirmedto my son in law, Nathaniel Pearsall. I leave to my sons Nathaniel, andRichard, my lot of meadow at a neck called Sticklands Neck, as also aparcel of meadow lying upon New Bridge Neck. I also give them 150 acresof upland situated and lying at a place commonly called Success, byvirtue of an order from the Town. Also a certain parcel of land, being316 acres, lying at or near the Harbor head, so called, being alreadyconfirmed to my said two sons by deed of gift. I give all my rights inthe undivided lands in Hempstead to my 8 sons. I leave to my wife Marthaa certain house lot adjoining to the land of James Pine, being threeacres, during her life, and then to my two sons, Nathaniel and Richard. Ialso leave them the remainder of my house lots, and the pasture and thefield at the eastward of the town called the Holly. I leave to my wifeMartha one half of the dwelling house for life and then to my sonRichard, and the other half to my son Nathaniel. I leave to my wife onethird of the movables, and to my two sons Nathaniel and Richard the othertwo thirds. I leave to my daughter Mary Pearsall two cows. I leave to mywife six acres of meadow at the Hay Bridge during her life and then to mysons Richard and Nathaniel. I leave two thirds of my remaining livestocks to my five daughters, Mary Pearsall, Hannah Carman, MarthaPearsall, Sarah Mott, and Deborah Kirk, and to my daughter ElizabethJackson 20 shillings. I leave to my sons Richard and Nathaniel all myarmes except my large gun, which shall be for the use of all my sons.Makes wife Martha and sons Benjamin and Thomas executors, and "my friendsThomas Powell and John Townsend, Sr., overseers."Dated August 5, 1694. Witnesses, John Smith, John Carle, George Fowler
"He was given the rank of Capt in the Pequot War serving under Major John Mason."
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