Elizabeth Montgomerie

     Elizabeth was born in Ireland. Elizabeth married an unknown person , son of Father Townsend and ___ (?), circa 1639 probably. She was, according to legend. the cousin of Govenor Thomas Dongan of New York [1682-1688]. John Townsend immigrated to America and almost immediately, in 1640, came to New Amsterdam. His wife Elizabeth, who by tradition he had married in Ireland, and who was reportedly a relative of the English governor, Andros, came with him. The 18th of January 1674, Elizabeth petitioned Sir Edmund Andros, governor of New York, trying to reclaim the land at the "fresh water" being where John had first settled This water was important to John since he was a tanner. His two sons, both of the name Thomas were christened there in 1642 & 1645. They left the "fresh water" or Manhattan, due to the Indian troubles of 1643 as most everything outside of Ft Amsterdam had been laid to waist. He fled from New Amsterdam across the river to what is now Queens County where he was the 2nd person on the original patent of Flushing, the 1st being Thomas Farrington. This is recorded on a patent granted by Wm. Kieft, Govenor General of New Netherlands, dated the 10th of October 1645. He last appeared on the Flushing records the 17th of January 1648. The Dutch governor persistently made it difficult for anyone not willing to accept the Dutch church, particularly those of the Quaker religion. As a result John left Long Island and removed to Rhode Island. In a deed dated the 2nd of July 1649, which confirms John as an inhabitant of the town of Warwick & grants him a house lot & other lands. The description of the lands granted to him confirmed that his brothers, Richard & Henry had preceded him to Warwick. Apparently, the brothers decided to again try settling on Long Island as deeds dated the 21st of January & 18th March 1655, show John had sold his Rhode Island house & holdings. On the 10th day of 6th month 1663, John & his brother Henry, sign over their remaining holdings in Warwick to their brother Richard & his two daughters Dinah & Leah. On the 18th of Febraury 1656, John & his brothers each received a home lot containing six acres in Jamaica and are definitely inhabitants there on 26th of November as they signed a public record of the town stating the signing inhabitants were true owners of the land known as Jamaica. At this same time each of these same inhabitants reserved ten acres of planting land & twenty acres of meadow for each of the signers. On the 27th of February 1658, John & his brothers were among those laying out more land in Jamaica. However, the brothers must have tired of dealing with the Dutch rule & began associating with the original settlers of Oyster Bay with John & his brother Henry having their names affixed to deeds in the early part of 1658. In November 1658, John and Henry were still involved with farming at Jamaica, although Henry was already a freeholder & clerk at Oyster Bay. During the year 1660, John & his two sons, John & Thomas, bought or were granted property in Oyster Bay as they began setting up homes there. It is speculated that John & Richard, although still living in Jamaica, were establishing a second residence in Oyster Bay, if not for themselves, for their sons. Thus, when the struggles with the Dutch again became too great, on the 1st of May 1661, John & his family took up permanent residency at Oyster Bay. The house he bought was originally that of Richard Holbrook and bought from Jonas Halstead. . He died intestate and his wife divided the estate, with the advice of his brothers, amongst their children in 1671. Several of his children were not of age at the time of his death. After the death of her husband, Thomas Pagon she (Governor). May have been a relative. No proof that Elizabeth is a Montgomery. Elizabeth departed this life after 1668 in the Town of Oyster Bay, Queens County, Long Island, New York. She never married after the death of her husband.¹