Thomas Vail, Sr.

THOMAS VEALE (Vayle, Vail), [seen as] the second son of John and Alice Veale, was born around 1620. Thomas Vail is known to have been living in Salem, Massachusetts, with his wife, SARAH WENTWORTH, in 1640. Thomas was undoubtedly a Puritan as Salem was settled, basically, by English Puritans. It is not known in which ship they came to America nor is it known from which port they sailed, but there is evidence that Southwold, England was their home before coming to America. Thomas' brother, Jeremiah Vail, is listed as having come to America a year before him, in 1639. Thomas came to Boston around 1645. In 1647, records show that Thomas "Vayle" and his wife, Sarah, purchased land in Southampton, L.I. where they lived for about 13 years.

While in Southampton, Thomas is recorded as taking his turn at "whale-watching," a necessary, civic responsibility of the citizens of Southampton. When a whale was cast upon the shore and stranded, the whale-watchers secured it and all the townsmen gathered to divide the carcass and render the blubber, an important source of revenue for the town. Thomas was paid "three shillings per day for his paines."

In 1660, Thomas, with Thomas Pell and a group of others, purchased land from the Indians and settled the town of Westchester, now within the boundaries of New York City. Westchester was, at that time, under the control of the Dutch and Director General Stuyvesant and Council appointed Thomas Vail a Magistrate for three terms. The office of Magistrate was the most prominent of the local offices held. Thomas' duties included administering justice and regulating matters relating to roads, bridges, schools and other public buildings. His name appears on records affecting major decisions in Westchester. Thomas Vail died between 3 May 1687 and 14 December 1688.

Sarah Wentworth Vail was known for her sharp tongue. She was brought to court, as was the Puritan custom, for angry words to her neighbor and had to stand with her tongue in a cleft stick while the offense was read against her. Since she appears only once in the court records, we'll assume that she learned to hold her tongue after this experience. The date of Sarah's death is unknown.

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Husband of Sarah. Surname also written as "Veale" and spelled "Vayle". Vaile, Vaill and Vaille are other spellings.

1687 - In the division of land, 3 May, 1687, he is allotted lot No. 39, consisting of 10 acres on the East side of Brunks River, We have not the exact date of his death but we gather from the land records that he died somewhere between 3 May, 1687, when he was allotted lot No. 39, and the 14th December, 1688, as noted in the deed of two and a half acres from Samuel Vail and Elizabeth, his wife, to William Richardson.

Family

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/v/a/i/Robert-S-Vail-iii/GENE1-0001.html

Children of Thomas Vail and Sarah Wentworth are:

1. Samuel2 Vail, born 1654 in Southampton, Long Island, New York; died June 26, 1695 in Westchester, Westchester Co., New York, U.S.A..
2. Thomas Vail, Jr., born Abt. 1656 in Eastchester New York; died Aft. 1704 in Eastchester, New York.
3. Joseph Vail, born Abt. 1658 in Huntington, Long Island New York; died April 21, 1698 in Huntington, Long Island New York.
4. John Vail, born Abt. 1660 in Eastchester New York; died 1684 in Eastchester, Westchester County New York.He married Eunice Abt. 1681. More About John Vail and Eunice: Marriage: Abt. 1681
5. James Vail, born Abt. 1662.
6. Philip Vail, born Abt. 1664.He married Mary Ruth Abt. 1685; born Abt. 1664 in East Hampton, Long Island. More About Philip Vail: Occupation: Blacksmith of Huntington. More About Philip Vail and Mary Ruth: Marriage: Abt. 1685
7. Ruth Vail, born Abt. 1666 in Westchester County, New York; died Aft. 1698 in Easthampton, New York.
8. Mary Vail, born Abt. 1668 in Eastchester, New York.

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Son of Thomas Vele Jr. [uncertain date] and Elizabeth (Dawsome) Vele [uncertain date] Brother of Jeremiah Vail Husband of Sarah (Wentworth) Vail — married about 1646 in Salem, Massachusetts Father of Phillip Vail, Samuel Vail, Thomas Vail IV,Joseph Vail, John Vail, James Vail, Ruth Vail andMary Vail Died after 3 May 1687 in Westchester, Westchester, New York

likely immigrated from Southwold England around 1640 - settled in Southampton L. I.

References

• https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/v/a/i/Robert-S-Vail-iii/GENE1-0001.html
• http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/VAIL/2003-01/1042359202
• https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LDK8-C8Y/thomas-vail-sr.-1620...
• http://tree.frela.info/individual.php?pid=I2665&ged=Barnfield-Bonif...
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93015068/thomas-vail