John Hand of East Hampton

• Classic: Long Island Genealogy
• Current: Ancestry
• [http://deepinthewoods.me/sitemap/kentner-families/the-hand-family-1...
• Reference: Deep in the Woods Blog

JOHN AND ALICE GRANDSEN HAND

Immigrant generation to the English Colonies

John Hand was born in 16ll in Stansted, County of Kent in England of unknown parents. The Hand manuscript says that he was born at Maidstone, Kent- Stansted or Landsdale may have been the name of the home. However, subsequent records make it apparent that John Hand was born at Stansted, County Kent which is now near London.

John Hand married Alice Gransden2*, daughter of Henry and Alice Gransden of Turnbridge 4* , Kent. Alice was baptized at Turnbridge 28 Nov, l613 - the daughter of Henry and Alice Gransden. Henry of Gravesend, Gentleman, and Alice Hatcher of Westminster (now London), widow, were married at the Parish Church of St. Martin's- le-Grand the 12th of June, l609. That wooden church was dedicated in 1050, and would now-if extant- be in the shadow of the mighty St. Paul's Cathedral when the sun was in the West. The district is and was then called Cheapside near Westminster. St. Martin's may have been burned in the Great Fire of 1666. The ancestry of Alice Grandsen Hand has been published with interesting details. It is apparent that this generation of Henry and Alice Gransden were people of property and some wealth whether or not Alice had property in her own right after the death of Henry.

John and Alice Gransden Hand came to Lynn, Mass about 1636. The family moved to Southampton, Long Island before the 7th March, l644 where John was listed as a whaleman or whale fisherman. At that time the town had 44 male inhabitants. The Hands apparently left Southampton to be original settlers and founders of Easthampton according to the records there. Thomas Talmage whose daughter married Thomas Hand, s/o John and Alice Hand, was also among the original heads of families at Easthampton. John Hand is mentioned several places in the original town records of Easthampton from 1651 to 1657. The Hamptons are now expensive summer places for the rich and famous.

It is said in the Hand Manuscript at CMCHGS that there were no serfs in old Kent [in old England] and that men of Kent had property and an independence of spirit that goes with property. The point is well made by Paul Kendall3* that by the 15th century the county of Kent was different in that the land was divided by inheritance among the sons and if no sons with the daughters. A legal principle then called gavelkind was used already in the 15th century. That means Kent did not follow the inheritance principle of primogeniture which followed into this country in Virginia for several centuries- the law that the oldest son inherited everything. Kent County did not have the practice of villeinage either which was a requirement of service to a lord for working a piece of land. These changes in law and custom split up wealth in land among more people, and lead to more people of wealth and property albeit smaller shares for more people.

The county of Kent was very different from other places in England in that respect. With the experience of the ownership of land came an attitude of independence. It cannot be too much emphasized that in owning land a man and his family had the independent opportunity to take care of themselves, and the right to fail as well. That is a fact which operated throughout our history while there was cheap land to be bought,- and operates today among us- not perhaps in the same measure. However, in some states in this country such as Virginia the law of primogeniture was in use for a long time. Numerous original settlers of Easthampton were Kent families. John Hand was one of the original nine grantees.

John Hand had financial interest in property in Kent even after coming to the English colonies. His property interests were in Tunbridge, a new market town, in Kent near the river Medway- about 20 miles SE of London; and also at Ashford in Rootern, middle Kent. So even though John Hand was a man of some property in old England he and others like him left old England for opportunity in the new English colonies.

An 1887 publication of records of Easthampton lists the various pieces of ground owned by John Hand. The earliest is that of 1652 being 4 acres in the little plain.' There are thirteen pieces of land listed from _ acre up to 18 acres. The total acreage of the lands were sixty eight+ acres much of which John was able to pass on to his son, Thomas. It should be pointed out that early Eastern towns were what were later called townships with a large piece of land to use for their residents. The towns divided those lands over years as they were needed or could be used. Lands were distributed by the town officers.

THE CHILDREN OF JOHN AND ALICE GRANSDEN HAND;

1. John baptized 29, Jan, l633/4 at Tunbridge, Kent.
2. Stephan 1635
3. Joseph 1638
4. Mary who married Charles Barnes before 1657
5. Shamgar about 1642
6. Benjamin 1644
7. Thomas 1646- according to his will

• Reference: Ancestry

9. John HAND Magistrate (John ) was born about 1611 in , Kent, ENGLAND. He died 1660 in East Hampton.

John married Alice GRANSDEN, daughter of Henry GRANSDEN and Alice HARRIS, on 1633 in , ENGLAND. Alice was christened 28 Nov 1613 in , Tonbridge, Kent, ENGLAND. She died in Saybrook, CT.

They had the following children:

17 M i John HAND was born 1633 in , Tonbridge, Kent, ENGLAND. He died before 1687 in , Richmond, Mass..

+ 18 M ii Stephen HAND

19 F iii Mary HAND was born 1636 in , Mass., USA. She died in , CT. Mary married Charles BARNES.

+ 20 M iv Joseph HAND

21 M v Shamgar HAND was born 1642 in , Mass.. He died 1728 in Cape Cod, Cape May, NJ. 22 M vi Benjamin HAND was born 1644 in South Hampton. He died about 1700 in Cape Cod, Cape May. 23 M vii Thomas HAND was born 1646 in South Hampton. He died 1714 in Cape Cod, Cape May, NJ. 24 M viii JAMES HAND was born 1651 in South Hampton. He died 1733 in East Hampton, Mass.. 25 F ix Alice HAND was born 1653 in South Hampton, NY

• Reference: JEDH

John Hand (M)

b. before June 1609, d. 24-JAN-1659 OR 60

John Hand died 24-JAN-1659 OR 60 at Easthampton, Long Island, New York, USA. He Came to the colonies in 1635, aboard the HMS Falcon. Came first to Lynn, Massachusetts, arriving in April of 1635. Worked as a whaler, and came to Long Island, sometime around 1642/43. He was born before June 1609 at Sundridge, County Kent, England. He was the son of Steven Hand and Ann Buckland. John Hand was baptized on 4 June 1609 at Sundridge, County Kent, England. He married Alice Gransden, daughter of Henry Gransden and Alice Harris, in 1633 at Turnbridge, County Kent, England.

Child of John Hand and Alice Gransden

Shamgar Hand+ b. 28 Sep 1642, d. 28 Apr 1728

• Reference: Ancestry

7436. John HAND (189)(174) was born in 1611 in Stansted,Kent,England. He died in 1660 in East Hampton,Long Island,NY. Per Howell:

"The first of the family of this name in Southampton was John Hand, on the whaling list of 1644. At the time of the settlement of East Hampton, in 1648, he was one of the company from Southampton to found a new plantation. He was, according to the East Hampton records, originally from Stanstede, in the county of Kent, England. The arms of the family, as given by Judge Alfred Hand, of Scranton, to a descendant of John Hand, are as follows:

Argent: a chevron azure between three hands gules.

Crest: on a wreath argent and gules a buck trippant or.

John d. 1663, m. Alice, sister of Josiah Stanborough, who, after her husband's death, m. ____ Codnor, and had ch. John, Stephen, Mary, Joseph (of Guilford, CT, 1693), Benjamin, Thomas, Shamgar and James"

Per Rattray: "Hand, as a family name, is Anglo-Saxon. As used in early England it meant handy, handsome, from a root signifying "to be strong, right, straight", to give a sense of fitness and beauty. It was once called "de Hande" but the "de" was dropped after 1300 by most of the family.

John Hand 1, one of the original grantees of East Hampton, was first of that family to come to America. He was born in Stanstede, County Kent, and owned land in the parishes of Tunbridge and Ashford, near Maidstoner. The Hand coat of arms bears three hands; the motto is "A hand to spare." John Hand came to America between 1630 and 1640 and in March, 1644, was in Southampton. In the spring of 1649 he was in East Hampton. He became one of the leading men of the new settlement. In 1657 he and Thomas Baker were sent to Hartford, Conn. as delegates, to bring East Hampton under that government; and also to take Goodwife Garlick to be tried on charges of witchcraft. She was acquitted.

John Hand I was b. 1611 at Stanstede, Kent; d. in E.H. 1660. He m. Alice, dau. of Henry and Alice Gransden of Tunbridge, Kent; and in Tunbridge their first son John 2 was born Jan. 29, 1633/4. In 1635 they came, with the father of John 1, to America; going first to Lynn, Mass. then to Southampton. The father returned to England to obtain his property and was murdered on the high seas on his way back to America. The earliest recorded writing of John Hand from E.H. is a letter dated Oct. 31, 1649 regarding some lands in Stanstede, Kent. The inventory of property of John Hand 1 mentions the home lot, mill lot, Nor'west Meadow, 1 Great Bible, 2 small Bibles, 1 psalme booke" and one other "litell book."

Benjamin 2, Shamgar 2, and Thomas 2 helped settle Cape May, N.J. Joseph 2 became ancestor to the New England branch. Stephen 2 and James 2 were the only sons to remain in East Hampton and continue the family name here."

7437. Alice GRANSDEN (174) was baptized on 28 Nov 1613 in Tunbridge,Kent,England. Per Rattray: "m. 2nd 1662 or 1663, Capt. Edward Codnor of Saybrook, Conn. She may have m. 3rd William Shipman of Saybrook, Conn." Children were:

i. John HAND(189) (174) was born on 29 Jan 1633/34 in Tunbridge,Kent,England. He died prior 1687. Per Rattray: "b. in England Jan. 29, 1633/4, rem. from E.H. after 1663, perhaps to Richmond, Mass., and d. before 1687. There is no documentary proof that he ever married. On Dec 7, 1637, he quit-claimed to his mother all rights to land in Tunbridge and Ashford, England" 

ii. Stephen HAND(189) (174) was born in 1635. He died on 15 Apr 1693. Per Rattray:
"Was named in the Indian deed for East Hampton 1660...it must have been [this] Stephen Hand for whom Stephen Hand's Path was named. On Nov. 3, 1668, he granted the town of East Hampton leave to put a highway through his woodland, 12 feet wide, 'only to drive carts and oxen in yoake & to ride & lead a horse through; not to drive cattle through out of yoake". Stephen was Constable 1674 and 1680 and in 1683 was chosen one of a committee to join Southampton in selecting a representative for the First Colonial Assembly under Governor Dongan."

iii. Mary HAND(189) (174) was born in 1636. 

iv. Joseph HAND(189) (174) was born in 1638. He died in Jan 1724. Per Rattray: "Joseph Hand is ancestor of Mrs. James M. Perkins of Amagansett, b. Catherine Howard Wilcox; she has lent the writer "Fifty Puritan Ancestors" by Elizabeth Todd Nash, 1902, which includes this branch. The old Hand homestead in East Guilford, Conn., now called Madison, is still in the family. Information on this branch is also in Louis T. Vail's mss. books. (For further data on this line see, later: "The Guilford, Conn. Hands.") One descendant, George E. Hand of Detroit, was Judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan."
3718 v. Shamgar HAND.

vi. Benjamin HAND(189) (174) was born about 1644. He died in Cape May Co,NJ. Per Howell: "removed with his family to Cape May Co, NJ" 

vii. Thomas HAND(189) (174) was born in 1646 in Southampton,NY. He died on 2 Oct 1714 in Cape May Co,NJ. Per Howell: "moved from Wainscott to Cape May Co, NJ"
Per Rattray: "drowned Oct. 2, 1714...lived at Wainscott until abt. 1693; then rem. to Cape May where in 1695 he acquired 400 acres and 1699, 340 acres. He was a whaleman, one of a company that left Southampton and E.H. for the Cape May region around 1692 and participated in the settlement of that region."

viii. James HAND(189) (174) was born in 1651. He died on 13 Mar 1733. Note death date from Howell. 

Per Rattray: "d. Nov. 13, 1733.... He was grantee in deed from Thomas Hand in 1679, and 1697, and in 1712 granted to his s. Nathaniel land at Wainscott"

ix. Alice HAND(174). Listed as a child in Ratrray, not given as a child in Howell.

John Hand born 1611, Stanstead, Kent, England, ref: ColFamCapeMay, married 1633, in Tunbridge, Kent, England, Alice Gransden, born NOV 28, 1613, Turnbridge, Kent, England, (daughter of Henry Gransden and Alice Hatcher) ref: ColFamCapeMay, died bef 1640, (Saybrook, CT) when he married Alice Stansborough. John died Dec 1660, East Hampton, LI, NY, buried: Jan 1661. Moved to whaling settlement at Southampton, LI before Mar 7, 1644. Rev. Howe in "Mayflower Descendants in Cape May Co." indicates he was at Lynn, MA as early as 1636 and moved to the whaling settlement at Southampton, LI before Mar 7, 1644.

Children with Alice Grandsen:

i Mary Hand born C. 1634, Lynn, MA, ref: ColFamCapeMay, married BF. 1657, Charles Barnes, ref: ColFamCapeMay. Mary died East Hampton, LI, NY.

ii John Hand born JAN 29, 1632/3, Turnbridge, Kent, England, ref: ColFamCapeMay, married in Richmond, MA, (?), died Oct 24, 1720, East Hampton, LI, NY. John died 1686, Guilford, CT.

iii Stephen Hand born C. 1635, Lynn, MA, ref: ColFamCapeMay, died APRIL 15, 1693, Southampton, LI, NY.

iv Joseph Hand born 1638, Lynn, MA, ref: ColFamCapeMay, married 1664, Jane Wright. Joseph died 1724/5, East Guilford, CT.

Children with Alice Stansborough:

v Benjamin Hand born Jan 7, 1643.

vi Thomas Hand born 1646/48.

vii Shamgar (Shagmar) Hand born SEP 28, 1648.

viii Alice Hand born 1653, East Hampton, Suffolk, LI, NY, ref: ColFamCapeMay.

ix James Hand born 1651, Wainscott, Suffolk, LI, NY, ref: ColFamCapeMay, died Nov 13, 1733, East Hampton, LI, Suffolk, NY.

Source: Long Island Genealogy

Children:

1. John Hand
2. Stephen Hand
3. Mary Hand
4. Joseph Hand
5. Shamgar Hand
6. Benjamin Hand
7. Thomas Hand
8. James Hand
9. Alice Hand

• Source: Our Dead Relatives

Note: Immigration: ABT. 1644 to Massachusetts Bay Colony Residence: Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts (1644 ) Residence: East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York (ca. 1648) Note: The first settlers of East Hampton were: John Hand, John Stratten, Sr., Thomas Talmage, Jr., Robert Bond, Daniel Howe, Robert Rose, Thomas Thomson, Joshua Barnes and John Mulford. According to source, the earliest instrument of record indicating their residence here is a letter of attorney John Hand [?], concerning some lands in Kent, England, dated October 31st, 1649. According to a different worldconnect source, "John Hand [appears] on the whaling list of 1644. At the time of the settlement of East Hampton, in 1648, he was one of the company from Southampton to found a new plantation. He was, according to the East Hampton records, originally from Stanstede, in the county of Kent, England." Note: Some sources refer to this man as John "the Emigrant" Hand 1 Baptism: baptised 4 JUN 1609 Sundridge, County Kent, ENGLAND 1 Immigration: Departed on board The Peter Bonaventurer 29 APR 1635 Maidstone, County Kent, England

Event: Appears on a whaling list 1644 Suffolk County, Long Island, New York 1 Event: Deposed witnesses in the Goody Garlick witchcraft trial 1657 East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York

Death: DEC 1660 in East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York 1 Burial: buried JAN 1661 East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York Note: According to source, John Hand was probably buried in Southend Burying Ground, but there is no stone for him there. John Jr., born in 1611 in Maidstone, Stanstede, Kent, England. He served in the Indian and Pequot wars and also served as Magistrate of Easthampton, Long Island, New York from 1657 to 1660. He and two other gentlemen founded Easthampton. John married in 1633 to Alice Gransden, Christened on November 28, 1613 in Tombridge, Kent, England. She was the daughter of Henry and Alice Harris Hatcher(widow of Walter Hatcher)Gransden. She had a sister, Frances, born December 22, 1618 and married Josiah Stanborough in 1636. John died on January 24, 1660 in Easthampton. Alice married after John's death secondly to Captain Edward Codnor prior to 1663. Source: purplehazejb@yahoo.com

• Updated from MyHeritage Match via brother Richard Hand by SmartCopy: Sep 15 2014, 20:05:27 UTC'

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• Reference: Family Tree

John Hand ‎(I597919)‎ Birth 1581 Death 1612 ‎(Age 31)‎ -- East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York F286259

Alice Gransden ‎(I597922)‎ Birth 1592 -- Ashland, Kent County, Engllland Death 1615 ‎(Age 23)‎ -- East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York

• Reference: Find-A-Grave