Reverand John Yonges

     John was born in 1598 in County Suffolk, England. John may have become the minister at St. Margaret's Parish in Reydon, County Suffolk, England, after the death of his father in 1626. John had received his B.A. degree from St. Catherine's in 1623. John married Joan Herrington on 23 July 1622 in Southwold Parish, County Suffolk, England.³ John's wife, Joan, died circa 1628 in Southwold Parish, County Suffolk, England, leaving him a widower. John married 2nd Joan Harris circa 1630 in County Suffolk, England. On 15 May 1637, John & his wife, Joan, left their home in England aboard the ship, "Mary Anne", under the command of William Gooch, bound for New England. Listed among the passengers were John Yonges aged 35 years, Joan, his wife, aged 34 years, along with their six children. The comissioners forbade them passage from Yarmouth. It is not known where they boarded the ship but probably at Ipswich. They arrived at the Boston harbor on the 20th of June..^4,5,6 14 August 1637, John was granted land in Salem. Three years later, in 1639, John became paster of the church in Salem. As minister, he gathered a company together and in 1640, founded, with his group, Southold on Long Island, New York where the first church edifice in the State of New York was built, except for perhaps the Dutch Church in New York City. Southold Town Records state on the 28 October 1671 John gave certain lands to his son Thomas. Rev. John was well thought of & held in high regards as he was given large grants of land. "The choicest parcels & most desireable locations were uniformly selected for him. His village lot was the largest of all the lots & the most advantageously situated." He was revered and his loss mourned by all who knew him.⁷ John, brother of Christopher, was in Salem in 1637. He was a merchant.⁸ John's wife, Joan, died circa 1639 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, leaving him a widower. John married 3rd Mary Warren, daughter of Thomas Warren, after 1640 in the Town of Southold. Mary was first married to Thomas Gardiner. She brought to this marriage a daughter, Mary Gardiner. Mary was the sister of Margret Warren the wife of John's brother, Joseph.⁸ John departed this life on Wednesday, 24 February 1672 in the Town of Southold at age 74 years. He was buried at Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, in the Church of Christ in the Town of Southold. The inscription on his alter tombstone reads: Mr. John Yongs Minister of the Word and First Settler of the Church of Christ in South Hold on Long Island Deceased 24th February in the Yeare of Our Lord 1672 and of His Age 74.⁹