Jonas Wood "Halifax"1,2,3,4,5,6

M, b. before 20 February 1613/14, d. before 29 July 1662
FatherHenry Wood b. 4 Mar 1593, d. b 2 Mar 1619
MotherPrudence Atkinson b. b 25 Jun 1587, d. 1648
     Jonas was born before 20 February 1613/14 in Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England. On 20 February 1613/14, he was christened in Halifax, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England, at St. John the Baptist Church. Jonas married Mary Drake on 20 August 1635 in Skipton, Yorkshire, England. Jonas was noted as a "chapman"b which was a merchant, on his marriage license. He and Mary were blessed with 3 children. Jonas Wood immigrated from Halifax, Yorkshire, England. The first known record of Jonas in America is a certificate of church membership in Waterton, Massachusetts on 29 March 1636. He later removed to Wethersfield and then to Stamford in 1641. It was about this time he met up with another Jonas Wood known as "Oram" and their paths seemed to follow each other. In 1642. Jonas Wood in company with Rev. Richard Denton and his son, Robert Coe, John Coe, John Karman, Jeremy Wood, Richard Gilderslieve, William Raynor, John Ogden, Jonas Wood, John Fordham, Edmund Wood, Thomas Armitage, Simon Seiring, Henry Pierson, Robert Jackson, Thomas Sherman, John Ellison, and Francis Yates left the mainland and settled at Hempstead. By 1648, he was in Southampton and in 1656, both Jonas' helped establish Huntington.7,8,9,5,6 Jonas's wife, Mary, died before 1648, leaving him a widower. Jonas married 2nd Joanna Strickland, daughter of John Strickland and Jane (?), circa 1648 in Town of Hempstead, Long Island, New Netherlands. In 1648, Jonas hired attornies, Captain Robert Harding of Boston & Mr. Joshua Foote of London iron mongerat the Goulden Cock in Gracious Street, to represent him in attaining his legacy from his mother's will. He acknowledges that he did receive his legacy bequeathed to him in his mother's will.10 He and Joanna were blessed with 1 known child. Jonas departed this life before 29 July 1662 in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. It has been stated that Jonas drowned while attempting to ford the Peconic River near Riverhead. On 29 July 1662, Thomas Matthus, plaintiff against Joanna Wood, widow and administratrix to Jonas Wood. appeared in court at Huntington in an action of debt for fifty-four pounds 2 shillings & two pence. Thus stating Jonas was deceased by this date. No will has been found for either Jonas or Joanna.11

Family 1

Mary Drake b. c 1615, d. b 1648
Children

Family 2

Joanna Strickland
Child

Citations

  1. [S267] Frederick A. Virkus
    , Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy. The Standard Genealogical Encyclopedia of The First Families Of America.

    , page 2746 - Capt. Epenetus (1640-93) m 1667, Phebe, dau. of Jonas Wood;
    page 2453 - Jonas Wood, from England, 1630, settled at Stamford, Conn., later at Hempstead, L.I.
  2. [S268] William Aspinwall
    , A Volume Relating To The Early History Of Boston: Containing The Aspinwall Notarial Records From 1644 To 1651.

  3. [S269] Royal R. Hinman, A Catalogue of the Names of the Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut; with the Time of their arrival in the Country and Colony, Their Standing in Society, Place of Residence, Condition in Life, Where From. Business, &C., Aa Far as is Found on Record. Collected From Records, Royal R. Hinman, of Hartford., Belden, Richard, (spelt Bayldon and Belding, for many years) He was one of the early settlers of Wethersfield. The land record of Wethersfield says, "The 2d month and 7th daie, 1641, the lands of Rich Bayldon, (those given him by the towne, and those he bought of Jonas Woods) lying in Wethersfield, on Connecticut River." Eight pieces were thus "given and bought" and their location and description given. In Oct., 1654, he gave his son Samuel, a piece of land.
  4. [S282] D.C. Herbert F. Smith of Washington, John Strickland of Long Island and His Son-in-laws.
  5. [S283] Matthew Wood, Jonas Wood of "Halifax" of Huntington, Long Island.
  6. [S284] Matthew Wood, Jonas Wood "Halifax" Huntington, Long Island.
  7. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume IV: page 627 - Jonas Wood, Springfield 1636, removed early to Wethersfield, settled at Stamford 1641, unless this settlement refers to rather to weed & in few years was of Hempstead probably under patent of 1644, before 1654 was of Southampton & in few years was a commissioner under the jurisdiction of Connecticut.
  8. [S30] New York Historical Society, Collections of the New York Historical Society Abstract of Wills, Volume I: page 175 - beginning on page 4 of Duke's Laws Book & continuing for several pages is the record of a suit brought for slander on 1 January 1659 by Jonas Wood against Thomas Brush: "the plaintiff do claimeth that Thomas Brush hath slandered him in that he said sd Jonas was about to make him pay money twice and also charged him keeping falls books." ... Brush lost the suit & it is recorded that "Thomas Brush gave public satisfaction before the court to the satisfaction of Jonas Wood."
    Volume II: page 41 - the followers of Denton who moved to Stamford in 1641 included Thomas Wicks, Jonas Woods both later associated with William Rogers... On July 30, 1656, the Matinecock Sachem & other Indians deeded to William Rogers, Jonas Wood, & Thomas Wilks, the land needed for the settlement of Huntington, Long Island.
    Volume II: page 43 - It should be further noted that a Thomas Wilkes was baptized in Stratford-on-Avon on 19 April 1611, and that his marriage or death does not appear in the records. The family name Wood is not infrequent in many localities but it is possibly significant that the name was well known in Stratford-on-Avon. It seems likely that the close relations in America between William Rogers, Jonas Wood, & Thomas Wilkes came about because of their ongin in the same town.
    Volume II: page 52 - Only two of Hempstead's five patentees are on Stamford's records John Ogden & Jonas Wood.
    Volume II: page 53 - a list of names of Yorkshire men from Halifax & vicinity who were among the fifty originals proprietors of Hempstead includes Jonas Wood.
  9. [S268] William Aspinwall
    , A Volume Relating To The Early History Of Boston: Containing The Aspinwall Notarial Records From 1644 To 1651

    , page 249-250 - 1624. John Ellison, then a young man, in company with Rev. Richard Denton and his son, Robert Coe, John Coe, John Karman, Jeremy Wood, Richard Gilderslieve, William Raynor, John Ogden, Jonas Wood, John Fordham, Edmund Wood, Thomas Armitage, Simon Seiring, Henry Pierson, Robert Jackson, Thomas Sherman, and Francis Yates, in 1644, composed a colony, which, according to the history of Stamford, Conn., were aggrieved at the limited franchises granted the town of Stamford by the New Haven colony, left the jurisdiction of England, and took up land under the Dutch government, on the south side of Long Island, N. Y. This was in 1644. In 1647 land was apportioned to him in Hempstead. In 1656 he signed legal documents by "his mark." In 1658 he became one of the sureties for the good behavior of his brother-in-law, John Ellington. On Nov. 29, 1658, ten acres of land were allotted to him in Hempstead. He was chosen townsman in 1662, and in 1663 land was granted to him and others at Mad Nan's Neck, and this same year he was taxed for thirty acres, and on ten acres, two oxen, and four cows. In 1676 he was chosen overseer. He was granted four acres of land, for which he was required to furnish the town with two gallons of rum to drink. At a public meeting in Hempstead, in 1677, land was given to him, and also land on Hempstead Plains. In 1678 he was chosen constable and real estate valuator. He made no will and his property went to relatives.
  10. [S268] William Aspinwall
    , A Volume Relating To The Early History Of Boston: Containing The Aspinwall Notarial Records From 1644 To 1651

    , page 150 - (6) 1648 Jonas Wood of Hempsted upon Long Island in New England: ordeined Capt Robt Harding of Boston in New England. Merchant & Mr Joshua ffoote of London yronmonger at the Goulden Cock in Gracious streete his true & lawfull Attornies: granting his sd Attornies full power &c jointly & severally to ask &c: of the Executors of the last will & Testamt of Prudence Wood late of London (sometime of Halifax in Yorkshire) widdow deceased, A certaine Legacie or Legacies bequeathed to him by the will of his sd mother Prudence Wood, & of the receipt to give acquittance &c: also to compound &c: & to appeare before all Lords &c: to doe say pursue &c: & generally to doe althings, with power to substitute &c: Ratifying whatsoever his sd Attrs: or either of them or either of theire substitutes &c: 1 (6) 1648. Jonas Wood of Hampsteed (ut supra) uppon the payment of a Legacie or Legacies bequeathed to him by the last will & testamt of Prudence Wood late of London (sometimes of Halifax in Yorkshire) his mother deceased, by the Executr of the sd will or by either of them unto Capt Robert Harding of Boston: N: E Mercht. or to Joshua ffoote of London. yronmonger at the Goulden Cock in Gracious streete or to either of them or either of theire subst: doth acknowledge himself fully satisfyed &c: & doth by these prsents acquit & dischardge the sd Executors of the same and from any suits actions & demands in or about the same for ever.
  11. [S33] Mrs. Mary Powell [Seaman] Bunker, Long Island Genealogies. Families of Albertson, Andrews, Bedell, Birdsall, ... Willets, Williams, Willis, Wright, & other families. Being kindred descendants of Thomas Powell of Bethpage, L.I., 1688, page 19-20 - At a Court held in Huntington July 29, 1662. Thomas Matthus plaintiff against Joanna Wood widow and dministratrix to Jonas Wood. An action of debt for fifty-four pounds 2 shillings and two pence. Mr. John Simmons of Hempstead appeared in the case as attorney for Joanna Wood. After relating the circumstances of the case Thomas Powell gave testimony in writing that, "What was in my Master's book--that particular about Master's Good Wood and Good Higbie touching the six pipes of wine and three hhds of rum,--when it was writ my Master read it to him or them and asked if it was well, and one of them answered it was. This was at Oysterbay in Daniel Whitehead's store. living with my Master almost nine years I never knew my master's books questioned in the least." J. Matthews produced his books in Court and the case was decided in his favor.

    JAMES CHICHESTER, RICHARD WILLIAMS, THOMAS JONES, SAMUEL TITUS, Jurymen.
    page 20 - Thomas Matthews sometimes called Captain Matthews was at Flushing, L. I., in 1649, trading with John Bowne delivering goods, &c. In 1659 he was bringing goods in partnership with Jonas Wood and Edward Higbie. In 1669. Thomas Powell, Attorney for Mr. Thomas Matthews, sold land in Oysterbay to Joseph Ludlam. In 1667.