Capt. Thomas Carle

Whether Captain Thomas Carle, our earliest traceable ancestor in America, was a ship's captain or a captain in the militia is impossible to say. Marion E. Carll makes the claim that 'the early Carlls were all military men.' (A Century of Brentwood, Dyson.) Whatever he was, Thomas Carle must have been by nature one of those roaming and restless spirits, of that same stuff of which explorers and pioneers are made of.

We first meet the Captain on February 27, 1656. On that date Richard Ogden, one of the original patentees of the Town of Hempstead, Long Island, sold 'unto Thomas Carle inhabytant off hempstead in the new Netherlands' all that he possessed in that town. The purchase included houses and 'planting Land upon the Greate plaines with the south Meddows and geates and fence upon the Neck With: 4 :getes ffor oxen in the east oxpaster.' (Records of the Towns of North and South Hempstead.) It must have been an enormous parcel of land, probably encompassing a good part of the Hempstead Plains and part of Great Neck.

That same year, in the month of March, Thomas Carle along with thirteen others 'who are of Heempstead' for the third time petitioned the Dutch Governor of the New Netherlands, Peter Stuyvesant, for permission to settle the town we now call Jamaica (known then as Conorasset). This, they hoped, would be 'a place where they may hope whith Gods blessing upon theyr Labours more comfortably to subsist.' (The document.) They had purchased the place from the Indians previously for 'two guns, a coat, and a certain quantity of powder and lead.' (A History of Long Island from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Ross.) But they said that they were unwilling 'to remove out of the jurisdiction' until they had the Governor's express permission. (The document.)

They were allowed the land at Jamaica according to a document 'Done at Fort Amsterdam March 21st 1656' and signed by "P. Stuyvesant." However, Captain Thomas chose never to remove there. (Oldest Presbyterian Church in America.)

Thomas married Sarah Halstead 1656-8. She was born in or about the year 1638 in England and was the daughter of Jonas Halstead. Jonas was born circa 1610, probably in the West Riding of Yorkshire in northern England. He emigrated to Stratford, Connecticut, and thence to Long Island. Jonas' parents were Abraham Halstead (married September 5, 1596) and Susan Whitley (baptized February 1, 1572, a daughter of John whitley and Anne Hartley). (The Halstead Family.)

Sarah and the Captain raised a family of six. Their children were Thomas (a Quaker), Elizabeth, Margaret, John, Joseph, and Timothy.

In an inventory of 1659 we learn that the Carles owned 6 gates, 6 milk cows, and 39 acres of allotted meadow, with 30 being the 'rate or proportion of taxes for public charges' they owed for 1658. (Annals of Hempstead, Onderdonk.) By 1659 Thomas owned three calves; by 1661, five. (Ross.) ...

Thomas died about the year 1675. We have no idea how old he was. We do know that he died intestate. On March 25, 1676/7, upon the petition of the 'widow Carle', Letters of Administration were granted her. Her father, Jonas, and her brother, Timothy Halstead, were made overseers of the estate. (Town Records.)

James Beate, a son-in-law of the Captain's (husband of Elizabeth Carle), covenanted with Jonas Halstead 'to cary on and maneage the husbantree work belonging to the Esteat of Thomas Karl' for a time span of three years. He was 'to provide foder for the Catell [and sheep]' and firewood for the house, and to 'kepe the fence in Repaire.' 'For his Pains,' James would have 'a third Part of what Corn an pumpkin that is prodused of the land.' He would also have as his own 'a third part of the incres of the Cattel,' a 'third part of the incres of the Shepe,' a 'third of the Calfes and the lames,' and 'a third part of the incres of the swine.' Jonas Halstead would provide monies, six oxen, a horse, a cart, and a plow so that the work could be carried on. Thomas' sons, Thomas, John, Joseph, and Timothy, were to join in the work with their brother-in-law James Beate. (Town Records.)

In December 1680, Sarah Halstead Carle made over the right and title of certain property to the same James Beate. In a document dated 1682, Sarah ratified the gift of land given by her deceased husband to daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law James. (Town Records.)

The last mention of Sarah Carle, the 'widow Carle,' was in the evaluation of real estate for 1683. She then had in her possession '2 heads, 66 acres, 6 oxen, 19 cows, 3 hogs, 8 sheep,' and those two very well marked horses! (Annals of Hempstead, Onderdonk.)

From "Records of the towns of North and South Hempstead":

"These may Certify any whoame it may concerne that whereass my Husband Thomas Carle did give unto my daughter Elizabeth Carle A Lott of Land Lying at A Neck Knowne by the Name of Madnans Neck my Husband being Deceassed and I being Executor of my Sd. Husbands Estate and my father overseer wee doe hereby both of uss Ratify and Confirme the Said Guift unto James Bate our Son in Law we Say wee doe hereby Ratify and Confirme ye Sd. Lott of Land from uss our Heires Executors Administrators or Assignes unto ye abovesaid James Bate to his Heires Executors Administrators or Assignes to have and to hold ass his owne Proper Right for Ever it being in number the fifty Second Lott and in quantity of Ackers forty Seven ass is wass Laid out at the first and thirty Seven Rod in Breadth bounded on the North by A Lott of Richard Guildersleives and on the South by A Lott of Abraham Smiths wee Say wee doe Ratify and Confirme the Said Lott of Land to ye Said James from any person or Persons that shall hereafter Lay any Just claim thereunto and unto the true performance of premissess wee have Sett to our Hands this 2d of March in ye Yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty two and in the three and thirtieth Yeare of his Maje'ts Raigne Charle the Second by the grace of God King of Great Brittaine ffrance and Ireland Defender of the ffaith Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presents of uss

Witnessess Jonas Halsteade Richard Guildersleve Sarah X Carle John Carle her Marke

More About Thomas Carle and Sarah Halstead: Marriage: 1659, Hempstead, Lewis, New York, USA.125

Children of Thomas Carle and Sarah Halstead are: +Joseph Carle, b. Bef. 1677, Nassau, Livingston, New York/Nassau Co., NY126, d. Bef. 26 Oct 1741, Nassau, Livingston, New York126. John Carle, b. 03 Mar 1662, Nassau, Livingston, New York, USA/Nassau Co., NY127, d. Bef. 21 Jun 1733, Hempstead, New York, USA127. Elizabeth Carle, d. date unknown. +Thomas Carle, d. Bef. 19 May 1709. Timothy Carle, b. 1670, Nassau, Livingston, New York, USA/Nassau Co., NY127, d. 1706, Huntington, Long Island, New York, USA127. Margaret Carle, d. date unknown.