Abell Gale

I'm wondering if we can disconnect Abel as a son. NEHGR 107:208, NEHGR 106:294; TAG 38:13 all agree he has no known relationship to Edmond Gale. I think the evidence of several of the other children is nonexistent as is his English origins and spouse. But at least Abel we can say has no link at all and should be disconnected.

The Puritans: Early Ancestors To America

For a historical perspective, the first settlers to America were the settlers of Jamestown, VA. They arrived in 1607 and settled in the Southern Colonies. The Pilgrims came in 1620 and began the New England Colonies. Seeking religious freedom, the Puritans began arriving in America in 1624 forming the Massachusetts Bay Colony and got permission to build a colony in New England. The following year, the company sent 1000 colonists and 17 ships. They settled in Massachusetts Bay and elected John Winthrop to lead the new colony. They called their first settlement Boston. The middle colonies grew between 1600s and 1700s when thousands more from Europe came.

Our Puritan Ancestors the GALES

(Ancestors of Jacob Jone’s wife Dinah Stanton)

Since this family dates back to the 1600’s the following information comes from various sources that are not all documented but widely believed to be true.

The Gale family in America dates back to the migration of four brothers from England in the 17th century. They were, John Gale, who settled in Boston, in 1634; Richard at Watertown, Mass, in 1640; Edmund at Cambridge, in 1642; and Hugh at Kittory or York in 1652. These dates refer only to the earliest documented transactions that mention their names. Edmund possibly born in England in 1596 died July 29, 1642 in Boston and therefore would have arrived in America prior to 1642.

The name Gael (Gale) means a native of Wales domiciled in England and the family may have been of Welsh origin in Anglo-Norman times when the country was known as Gales. English writers generally agree that the name is of Scotish derivation, and that the families were Scotch Highlanders who came south and settled in England and were landed gentry who lost their estates to William the Conqueror.

Edmund’s children were Thomas (who settled New Haven, Conn.), Robert, Ambrose of Marblehead, Bartholomew, Edmond II, Abell (born in England), and Eliezer of Salem.

Abell moves to Jamaica, Long Island (currently part of the Borough of Queens)

The history of Jamaica, Long Island, shows that the first settlers were from Massachusetts. A group of English settlers from New England purchased land from the Indians at Hempstead in 1643 and there are many references to connections with the Plymouth Colony and Marblehead.

Abel appeared in Jamaica, Long Island, by 1665 and may have been there for a year or two. He was called a “husbandman” (farm operator) and in 1683, his rate list contained two horses, two oxen, four “cowes”, two three-year olds; three two-year olds, six swine; total value 98 pounds sterling shillings. Subsequent to that he occasionally bought and sold land as shown by deeds still on record. Abel was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

He married Dinah in approximately 1667 and had 8 children. Numerous references are made of Abel from 1665-1721 and it is presumed that he died shortly after the last records of 1721

The Gales of Egg Harbor, New Jersey

Two of Abell and Dinah’s sons, Samuel and David (born approx. 1686 and a husbandman) moved from Jamaica to Great Neck Harbor, NJ and later to Little Egg Harbor. David had a daughter named Dinah who married John Stanton on Oct. 6, 1732. Dinah died (possibly of childbirth) and in 1749 John remarried but it is believed that Dinah and John had a daughter, also named Dinah. Dinah Stanton was born in 1735 in Egg Harbor, New Jersey and married Jacob Jones, September 28, 1763 in Burlington, New Jersey. Little Egg Harbor was a part of Burlington County at the time. Jacob Jones was from Willmington, New Castle Co. Deleware.

John Stanton was a descendant of Dutch founders of New Jersey but no further information has been found about this family.