Jonas "Jonathan" A. Halstead, Sr.

The first records from Hempstead are lost, but Jonas appears in the next book as a deed witness on December 8, 1655. The land in the area was acquired from the Indians in Dec. 1643 and settlers arrived the next year, largely from Stamford, CT. Jonas wasn?t on the list of settlers granted land in the initial grants in 1647. The family most likely arrived from England around 1650, by which time the community numbered about 100 families, though it is also possible they were first in Stamford and came after the initial group. He likely came from East Riding, Yorkshire, as that is where the New England Halsteads came from. However, there is no evidence of a direct connection between the families.

About 1660, he moved to Oyster Bay. He appears in a 1667 deed as ?of Staten Island?, but is back in Oyster Bay by December. During the 1670s, he appears in Jamaica, NY (he was elected overseer there on April 13, 1675). He later reappeared in Hempstead until 1682 when records stop. Though there are no records of his wife?s name, since his oldest daughter and his son Timothy?s oldest daughter were named Sarah, that seems a likely choice.

Linkage with his parents was discovered by examining parish registers in Halifax, since several original proprietors of Hempstead were from that area. Turns out John Lum, one of those men, was either his step-father or step-brother.

Taken from "GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF SOUTHERN NEW YORK AND THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY"

'Oyster Bay, this 5th day of the 10th month, 1661. Be it known unto all by these presents, that I, Jonas Halstead, of Oyster Bay, on Long Island, in America, do hereby acknowledge that I have sold and delivered all my right, title and interest of all the housing and land that is here named, as follows:—Richard Holbrook's house or houses; built by him or me, and house-lot, and two shares of meadow at Matinecock, and one right of meadow at the south, and twenty shares of the Great Plains, that is on the east side of the footpath, near the wood edge, and also all the rights, appurtenances, and privileges that do fall to, or any way belong to the aforesaid house-lot, within the Town bounds. I say, I have sold and delivered it all in quiet possession, for full satisfaction already received, unto John Townsend, of the said Town and place, and do also hereby engage to make good the sale of the aforesaid house and lands, against any person or persons that may any wise lay claim thereto; and I do hereby further acknowledge that I have fully sold all the said houses and lands from me, my heirs and assigns, unto him, his heirs and assigns forever, to enjoy without molestation by me, or any from me, as witness my hand, this day and year first above written. Jonas Halstead.

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Jonas Halsted was the immigrant ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Halsted family in America. When or how he came toAmerica is not known . The American Genealogist of January 1942 states John Lume was probably in Stamford, Connecticut in 1642 with his family and stepson John Halsted. The historian Orcutt also claims he was in Connecticut. There is no proof that he was related to the other Halsteds who came earlier to the Massachusetts Bay Colony or to any of the other early immigrant Halsteds. But they all come from the same section of England. It is thought that JonasHalsted came to Hempsted about 1650. The first book of records of Hempsted, covering the period from its English settlement until 1655has been lost. His name first appears in the second book ofrecords, as a witness to a land deed as of Dec 8, 1655. Ab out 1660 Jonas removed to Oyster Bay and shortly thereafter to Jamaica. He is referred to in a deed dated May 30, 1667s "Jonas Halsted of Stratton (Staten) Island, within the county of York in America". In Decemberof 1667 he was in Oyster Bay. He then returned to Hempsted, but his name disappears from all records after 1682. Jonas held land, different town offices and was on public committees in the variousplaces he lived. Jonas' last name appears in various records as Halsted, Holsted, Hlastead, Halsteade, Hallstead, none is the incontestable authentic one. I have spelled it as it appeared on thedeeds. He l eft no will.

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Examination made of the burial registers of Halifax parish to determine the death dates (approximately) of members of this family. An absence of any burial entry for a Jonas Halstead would appear to confirm the connection that is proposed here, and which we believe to be correct [that this is the same Jonas who came to America]." Purchased Land in NY from Indian By 1642, Jonas was settled in Stamford, Ct. Stamford was first settled in 1641 by 29 people who left the Wethersfield Church. The first year Stamford was called "Rippowam", an Indian name. Later Jonas lived at Hempstead, Jamaica and Oyster Bay, New York. Jonas owned land, property, cattle and served at different times as constable and overseer (superintendent). *Ref: Colonial Families of NY, Long Island and Connecticut by Seversmith, page 1224.

About 1660, he went to Oyster Bay, N.Y. He was a grantee there in 1667, when he is described as being of "Stratton" or "Staden" Island (Staten Island).

He served as Constable to Jamaica, where he served as Overseer.

lived in Hempstead LI 12/1655 also lived in Oyster Bay abt 1660

He was married WFT Est. 1630-1661. From "Colonial Families of Long Island, NY, and Connecticut", by Herbert Furman Seversmith, Vol. II & III, 1939:

Jonas Halstead "was born about 1611, and probably at Northowram, Halifax parish, Yorkshire.

He is identified as the one of that name who was recorded as baptised in the parish church at Halifax 23 February, 1611.

Jonas Halstead is said to have been an early settler of Stratford, Connecticut, and was there before December, 1655. From Stratford he removed to Hempstead, New York, where he was witness to a deed in December, 1655.

He is recorded in the 1658 apportionment of 'Gattes' and had fifteen. An undated list, probably of the same time, recorded that he was given thirty-five acres of meadow as his allotment of that kind of land. He appears to have been a speculator in land, for the records of the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, and Jamaica indicate that his residence was in each at various and almost contemporary times....

In Jamaica [now part of Queens, New York City] on 2 May, 1673 he sold land to John Skidmore which he had bought of Mr. Robert Coe. He was evidently domiciled there 13 April, 1675, for he was made overseer for the ensuing year in that place. He and his son Timothy were executors to the estate of his son-in-law Captain Thomas Carle, who had married Jonas' daughter, Sarah Halstead. On 1 May, 1676 Jonas Halstead made an agreement with James Bate for the management of the Carle farm at Hempstead. On 30 March, 1677 he sold other property which he had bought of Mr. Robert Coe, to Jonathan Mills. This last property at Jamaica included the home in which Halstead had been living, and upon conclusion of the sale he returned undoubtedly to Hempstead, to be near his children. He was probably then in his late sixties.

He recorded his earmark for livestock at Hempstead 19 January, 1680-1, and was overseer at Hempstead for the year beginning 2 April, 1681.

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GEDCOM Source

@R1400726690@ Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,5769::1935421

GEDCOM Source

@R1400726690@ Family Data Collection - Deaths Edmund West, comp. Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,5771::1120954

GEDCOM Source

@R1400726690@ West Yorkshire, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D53/1/4; New Reference Number: WDP53/1/1/4 1,2256::8923982

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@R1400726690@ U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc Place: Long Island; Year: 1644; Page Number: 133 1,7486::1282166

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@R1400726690@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=113667298&pi...