THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

It is believed that the first meetings of this body of believers were held in

private houses at as early a date as 1648, although no regular organized body

existed until 1660. From the erection of the old Bowne house, in 166?, to 1695

the meetings were held there and on the adjoining grounds when, as was sometimes

the case, the crowds were too great to gain admittance to the house.

Perhaps the most prominent members were the Townsend brothers, Henry and

John, who removed to Newtown and Oyster Bay within a few years, where they still

witnessed for the faith; the Hicks family; John Lawrence, who became a convert

through the influence of his wife; John Bowne, whose exile to Holland we have

already related; his wife, who became a well known and powerful preacher; the

Cornells, Farringtons, Hugh Cowperthwaite, Matthew Franklin, and, in latter

days, the Parsons, Roe, Cocks, and Titus families.

-------------------- History and Genealogy of the Cock, Cocks, Cox Family: Descended from James and Sarah Cock, of Killingworth Upon Matinecock, in the Township of Oyster Bay, Long Island, N.Y.

By George William Cocks, John Cox

Compiled by George William Cocks

Published by privately printed, 1914

HENRY TOWNSEND, (prob.) son of Robert, was admitted as Townsman

at Oyster Bay, Nov. 4, 1661. His first Home lot thereat was on the north

side of the main street, adjoining on the east to the Home lot of Henry Disbrow,

later in possession of James (1) Cock. In 1683 he had laid out to him a lot of

six acres upon east side of Mill Hill upon which he built, and then gave the first

homestead to his son Henry.

In 1661 he was granted я certain mill stream and adjacent lands on which

to build a mill, like unto the one at Norwalk on the Main, for the maintenance

of which, he and his successors were to be free of all rates and taxes (on said

land and «tream) forever. In 1668 he gave the three-fourths of the mill, etc.. to

his sons Henry and John and the remainder to his dau. Rose, wife of Joseph

Dickinson, who sold it to her brothers, reserving one-fourth of the toll. Henry

also gave land to his three daughters. He held sundry Town offices; assisted the

widows of his brothers John and Henry in the management of their estates ;

was one of the overseers of the will of Capt. John Underbill, charged to see that

the children be not wronged If his widow should marry again. He died

between Feb. 6 and Mar. 30, 1695, and was buried on Mill Hill, where a rough

stone, marked "H. T." shows his grave. He m. Providence. R. I., about 1653,

Ann Coles, b. Roxbury about 1635; d. Oyster Bay after 1695; dau. of Robert

and Mary (HawxhursO Coles, of R. I.

Issue, order uncertain :

I Henry, b. — ; m. Deborah Underbill.

II John. b. : m. 1st, Johanna ; m. 2d. Esther Smith.

III Rose. b. ; m. Joseph Dickinson.

IV Mary, b. ; .m. John Wright.

V Susannah, b. ; m. Aaron Forman, Jr.

VI Elizabeth, b. ; d. unm. 16/7 mo. (Sept.) 168O.

VII Robert, b. 4.3.1667 ; d. unm. 1687.